Title:The Hero
Author: AstroKender
Pairings: 1+2
Rating: mild shounen-ai
Warnings: None.
Spoilers: Follows the series.
Notes: I Need a Hero is by Bonnie Tyler
Disclaimers: I own nothing...not even my computer. So obviously GW isn't mine. Don't sue.
I need a hero! I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night.
Physics is boring. Duo thought. As a Gundam pilot, he probably knew more than the teacher. I could definitely teach the class better than this old fart can. Faint whispering could be heard behind him and he listened absently.
"I tell you those Gundams should be bombed back to hell where they belong!"
"Yeah! Those terrorists are nothing but a menace. If I ever met one-"
Duo snuck a glance beside him. Heero was studiously taking notes, seemingly unaware of the conversation taking place behind him. Upon closer look, Duo noticed Heero's jaw was clenched painfully and his pencil was locked in a death grip, knuckles turning white with the strain. Cobalt eyes met his in an intense stare. Duo flushed and looked back down at his empty notebook.
The bell rang, signaling lunch, and the students raced out of the classroom. Heero walked by the braided pilot without a word. Shaking his head, Duo started to leave the room.
"Mr. Maxwell!"
Duo winced and turned to face the very disapproving face of his teacher. Sgt. Laperoski was an ugly that put Professor G to shame, but with less personality. And the worst part, he worked for OZ.
"I know you're new here, Mr. Maxwell. But that does not excuse you for slacking off in my class." The man stepped closer, so close that Duo could feel the man's fetid breath against the back of his neck. The braided boy repressed a shudder. "I felt the need to keep you from lunch, Duo, because I believe there is a way we can work something out that is agreeable to both of us." A clammy hand rested on Duo's thin shoulder.
"What do you mean, Sir?" He gritted out, forcing himself not to kill this man instantly. He couldn't blow their cover. "A man learns certain things in the military, Duo..." Muddy-brown looked deeply into the braided boy's violet ones. "You seem to be having some trouble in this class..." gnarled fingers slowly stoked the back of Duo's neck. "I could...tutor you...privately."
Duo tried to pull away, but the hand held him firmly. An irrational lump of fear lodged in the American's throat and he forced himself to remain calm. He plastered on a false grin.
"That's okay, Laperoski-sama! I already have a tutor!"
The Sergeant's eyes narrowed and the hand holding Duo clenched painfully. "Oh, really? And who might that be?"
"Me."
Duo turned in relief to see Heero standing in the doorway. The Japanese boy held his hands clenched tightly at his sides. Cobalt eyes blazed, yet his voice betrayed no emotion.
The painful grip on Duo's shoulder was loosened as the teacher stepped back slightly. "Ah, Mr. Yuy. It is commendable for you to help a fellow student." The gray haired man shifted to look once more at Duo. "If you find yourself needing any... additional help, feel free to come to my office, Mr. Maxwell."
"That won't be necessary." Heero ground out, dragging Duo from the room.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, Duo absently rubbing his shoulder. He stopped suddenly and slumped against the wall, sliding weakly to the floor. Breathing heavily, he hid his head in his hands. Heero sat next to him uncertainly.
"What made you come back?"
Heero thought for a moment. "You weren't at lunch...you're normally the first one in line."
Duo laughed and drew in a shaky breath. His eyes rose to meet Heero's.
"Thanks man."
Heero shrugged. "I owed you one."
They sat there quietly for a few more moments. Then Heero spoke up.
"Basketball?"
Duo's grin was the only answer he got.
He's got to be strong and he's got to be fast and he's got to be fresh from the fight.
"Nice, Heero." Duo called out cheerfully.
The Japanese boy smiled slightly at the flushed heart-shaped face in front of him. This was a good idea...Heero praised himself. You took his mind off the incident earlier.
Heero vaguely heard the cheers coming from the bleachers, congratulating the two boys on yet again defeating their opponents. A warm and slightly calloused hand rested comfortably on his shoulder.
"Why don't you wave back to them, Heero? Show your appreciation to your loyal fans!"
Heero said nothing and simply walked away. He sat down on a bench overlooking the sea. The ocean waters below sparkled merrily, but Heero's eyes were fastened to a black shape out in the distance.
"There you are!"
The braided boy almost bounced over to the railing beside him. Heero watched as the wind caressed the tan skin; damp with sweat, and traced it's fingers through the chestnut braid, sending it flying like a banner.
"Well, to keep transferring ourselves turned out to be a pretty good idea." Duo announced, leaning precariously over the rail. "Boy's our age are supposed to be in school, after all."
"What are you thinking about?" Heero surprised himself with that question.
Duo seemed startled as well. He smiled softly. "I'm just thinking as usual."
"You stand out." Heero stated. This afternoon had proved that.
Duo seemed unperturbed. "I think it's much more natural for me to be myself than to try hard to hide my identity like you." Indigo eyes seared deep into Heero's. "You should enjoy your childhood too."
The Japanese boy stood up irritably. "I'm not like you."
" 'You're getting in my way', right?" Sinewy arms crossed as Duo contemplated his partner from under unruly bangs. Heero forced himself to ignore the way the braided boy looked in his basketball gear. No wonder everyone's after him... "But we share the same objective." The American continued. "It's useless to pretend otherwise, I can see that airbase reflected in your eyes."
Heero's eyes narrowed dangerously. He had said nothing of his intent to level the base tonight, yet the braided boy had seemingly read his thoughts. I'm I really that visible?
"First come, first serve. What do you say?" One delicate eyebrow rose mischievously. Two heads swiveled to gaze at the base across the dancing waters.
I need a hero! I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light.
Duo looked appreciatively at the destruction around him. Nothing was like taking all your frustrations out on the bad guys. The braided boy had a marvelous time picturing Laperoski's face on every mobile suit he destroyed.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Duo looked around absently. Heero was nowhere to be seen. "Alright! I got here first."
Just then, Duo caught a flash of light off to his left. Wing descended from the skies like an avenging angel...only with a beam rifle. Duo snickered at the thought as he opened the link between the two Gundams.
"You're late, Heero. But, I didn't forget to leave you some."
Heero said nothing but Duo saw a familiar gleam in the Japanese pilot's eyes. Wing rose in the air once more, running down mobile suits like they were soda cans. The beam rifle raised and with a burst of light, the base exploded.
"Mission: Completed."
Duo snorted. He must have not been the only one who needed stress relief.
He's got to be sure and it's got to be soon and he's got to be larger than life.
Heero looked over at the sleeping figure beside him. Duo was slumbering peacefully in the passenger side of the stolen jeep. Heero smiled to himself when he thought of a certain physics teacher that was going to need a new mode of transportation to get to work.
Heero tried to concentrate on the road, but his eyes constantly drifted to the braided boy beside him. It wasn't often that he got to observe Duo without the threat of being seen. The American looked younger somehow, with his arm thrown carelessly over his head and foot resting precariously on the dash.
Heero had expected the braided boy to object when he stated that they were leaving tonight. It did seem suspicious that they left right after the base exploded, but Duo hadn't complained. They had left soon afterwards.
The night Heero had destroyed the shuttle carrying the Alliance peacekeeper he had been in shock. He had stumbled tiredly to the rendezvous spot and collapsed in Duo's arms. He didn't remember much more from that night. Only that he woke up in an unfamiliar hotel room with something warm wrapped around him. He was surprised, to say the least, to find out that the warmth was coming from a slumbering Duo curled around him. They were both fully clothed, so Heero reasoned that nothing untoward had happened. He found himself strangely disappointed at that fact.
He and Duo had woken up the next morning and continued on towards the school they had enrolled it. Duo never once mentioned that night.
Heero shook himself back into the present and once more concentrated on the road, trying hard to forget the slumbering creature beside him.
I need a hero! I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night.
"Mission: Accepted..."
Destroy the Taurus suits...Heero thought. I wonder if Duo-His thoughts were interrupted by the door creaking open. The Japanese boy whirled around, gun in hand.
"Who's there?"
Duo's head slowly came into view. Dark violet eyes looked at Heero. "I came to say goodbye."
Goodbye? The normally boisterous pilot had a grim expression. Heero recognized it instantly and felt a lump claw it's way up his throat.
"Cause I have a bad feeling about this." Duo opened the door wider and leaned against the wall.
"The OZ transportation plan seems perfect." Duo continued. "We've discovered two different plans-on the ground and in the air."
Who is we and how do you know this? Heero wanted to ask. But all he could do is stare at the lanky figure before him. Goodbye?
"Heero," Duo's low voice caressed his name. "Can you go after the air route?"
Heero knew he should speak, or nod, or anything, but he just sat there. Watching as if from a great distance. "I'll check the ground route." Duo looked at him and Heero repressed a shiver at the intensity of that gaze. Duo turned and walked out of the room. He paused.
"And we'd better be very careful. This time, they're well prepared." Then the braided boy was gone.
Heero looked at the empty doorway for a long moment. Numb fingers shut down his laptop absently. Those violet eyes were still burned in his memory.
"Goodbye..." He whispered.
He's got to be strong and he's got to be fast and he's got to be fresh from the fight.
That blond kid was gonna die, Duo realized. He had fallen on the tracks and the train was heading straight for him. There was no way Duo could get to him in time. I can't just let him die...He's one of us.
Without thinking, the braided boy threw himself at the speeding locomotive. DeathScythe clung to the side of the car and Duo pulled desperately. With a groan, the train flipped over onto the black Gundam.
All Duo could see was blackness as he felt the weight of the train collapse on him. The screech of metal screamed in his ears as the momentum dragged DeathScythe and the train across the ground. Blood gushed from a gash on his forehead and Duo closed his eyes, praying that they would stop before they skidded off the cliff.
Finally the wreckage slowed to a halt. Duo found himself buried alive under thousands of pounds of rubble. He lay there, breathing heavily for a moment, before struggling out. He first action was to look for the other Gundam. It had risen from its fallen position and now faced him.
"Hey! Are you alright?"
"Thank you!" The blonde's face popped up on his screen. "I knew you'd come."
Duo grunted and fought to remain conscious, the battle was far from over. "Ah, but we're after the wrong one!"
Around them the derailed cars opened to reveal hundreds of Leos that now surrounded the two Gundams.
I need a hero! I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light.
Sweat beaded across Heero's brow but he ignored it, focusing on the battle with the prototype in from of him. He could hear Duo's battle cries through the com-link. Heero hated that they were so far apart and he didn't know exactly what was happening on his partner's end. He heard the screech of metal and fought to pop on a visual. Finally, though, Duo's voice once more floated the intercom, much weaker than before.
Heero made a vicious swipe at the white suit, but it evaded him easily. He was beginning to think of retreating when a woman's voice blared through intercom.
"To all the Gundam pilots, listen! We are ready to attack all the colonies with ballistic missiles. All the space missile sites formally belonging to the Federation are now under our control. The destiny of all the colonies is now in our hands."
Duo's face popped up on the screen, ashen. The other pilot, the blonde, popped up beside him.
"This is not a bluff!" The voice continued harshly. "The pilots must surrender and hand over the Gundams to us immediately!"
"The colonies are in danger!" The blonde boy said, wide eyed.
"Hand over the Gundams?" Duo whispered, meeting Heero's eyes through the screen.
He's got to be sure and it's got to be soon and he's got to be larger than life.
"OZ!" A mysterious voice boomed out. "I had no idea OZ was a bunch of idiots. For the last time: the colonies never wanted a war with you. It is only me, who is challenging you."
"Who is this guy?" Duo asked, looking curiously at the picture of the old man on his screen.
"He must be the one who's been giving orders to one of us." The blonde boy stated.
Duo didn't hear him though. He was watching the now-pale face on his screen. He's the one who gives you the missions, isn't he, Heero? Heero met his eyes and nodded, as if he read the braided boy's thoughts.
"Dr. J..."
"Attacking innocent colonies?" Dr. J spat. "What an inhumane strategy that is! You will indeed do anything to achieve your goal...I have no choice. I hereby declare that we surrender." Duo looked at Heero's picture, wide eyed. The Japanese boy had a resigned expression on his face. Duo watched as the hatch to Wing's cockpit opened.
"Heero! What are you doing? Heero!"
Heero looked at Duo and smiled softly. Duo found himself as close to tears as he had been since Maxwell church.
"Heero...don't..."
A calloused hand pressed up against the screen and Duo placed his own hand over it. Cobalt eyes met violet for another instant, and then both hand and Heero were gone.
"We surrender, but we will not hand the Gundams over. I repeat. We surrender. But we will not hand over the Gundams."
The braided boy heard Heero's voice float through the silence. "Mission acknowledged."
Duo watched as Wing's cockpit glowed with a blinding light, then the screen when blank.
I need a hero!
"HEEERRROOO!!!!!"
I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night.
Owari
(:./astrokender/hero4)
