29-Jul-2000
Ohayo, minna-san! MadCat here... =^-^= Does anyone remember me?
*giggles* I've been lurking, I guess... Anyway, I finally(!!) finished more pieces of Separate Selves, in case anyone's interested! Previous parts are posted at Tyr's site if you need to reacquaint yourselves with the storyline.. =^-^=;;;
Um... I live on feedback, I need it, I crave it, but please send it
to johnston_parkridge@yahoo.com. Please write! *offers chibi and pocky* Anyway, I'm babbling!! Here's part Six, and I'm also posting part seven, separately.
Standard Disclaimers, not mine, AU, Yaoi (someday), weirdness, etc etc. Tyr's better at these than me...;;;;;
"It's... my parents."
The words echoed in Duo's ears for a moment, but his mind refused to comprehend. Slowly, however, awareness dawned, followed by shock, confusion, and ultimate incredulity.
"No way, man!" he exclaimed, head shaking wildly in disbelief. "Heero, there is absolutely nothing vaguely parental in that-- thing..." he trailed off, waving his hand vaguely in the direction of the glass chamber. "It's not even human, is it?"
Heero shook his head, torn between frustration, defensiveness, and... longing? He didn't understand the feeling, or its source -- was it Duo's understanding he desired, or was it the primal call pounding in his blood, drawing him toward the softly pulsing mass that had given him life?
Finally, unwilling -- or unable, to answer either Duo or himself, he moved toward the chamber. Slowly, his hand twitched upward, moving to touch the glass, faintly cool under the warmth of his hand. Small arcs of energy shot between his fingertips and the mass, startling him, and causing him to draw his hand away. The tissue and liquid stirred slightly, and when he touched it again, it was as warm as his flesh. The energy flashed once more, and he moved his fingers experimentally around the glass, watching the trails move with him.
Entranced, Duo moved forward, watching Heero examine the sparks, his face slack with curiousity and amazement. The prussian eyes were distant and focused on his own fingers, seeming almost delighted, as far as Duo could tell. <He looks... beautiful... like that. So open, like I've always wanted him to be. I--> "Heero..." his voice was soft, uncertain; the moment was almost too precious to break, but the words escaped without his control.
Heero shook his head softly, still bemused, but slowly returning to reality. "It's.... hard to explain, Duo. I --" Quatre's voice interrupted them suddenly, crackling from the device in Duo's pocket. "Minna, we have company! Mobile suits approaching fast! I'll try to hold them off, but you'd better get out quick!"
Duo's eyes locked with his partner's, now hard and determined. "Heero--" His partner cut him off with a curt gesture. "I can get everything we need. You'd be in the way. Go help Quatre." A sudden flash of -- hurt?-- ran through Duo, confusing him. But he had no time to ponder why Heero's words cut him like they did. Instead, he nodded quickly and ran for the entrance.
Heero turned back toward the tube, which was now pulsing, the entity within writhing and drawing in upon itself, already sensing and responding to the danger. He nodded, satisfied, and moved to retrieve the data they needed. <Let's go, okaasan,> he thought. <More souls to send to Hell!> Shinigami exulted grimly, as Duo swung the thermal scythe, slicing effortlessly through his enemies. His hands clenched the controls tightly, sweat running down his forehead from the fight outside, as well as his own fight within, strugglng to push Shinigami back into the darkness. <Go back! You've had your fun, you've killed! Leave me alone!> The last line was almost a mental sob, desperate for release from his personal demon.
<You think I'm satisfied?> his dark twin purred. <Not even close. But I'll go -- for now. I can always come back again, and you know it...> Duo shuddered, tears slipping unnoticed down his cheeks, but the voice vanished, and he straightened, refocusing on the task at hand.
A flash of movement caught his eye, several minutes later -- green and black and dark brown, running toward Wing. Heero. The Gundam came to life, cockpit flying open as Heero scrambled up the side. For a moment, though, Duo could have sworn he saw TWO figures moving into the Gundam. But that was impossible. Who could be there?
Wing took to the skies immediately, turning and focusing his beam rifle on the laboratory below. Energy gathered, exploding outward, and the building was reduced to a smoking crater. A few more slashes of saber, scythe, and scimitar, and it was over. Together, they flew toward the safehouse. Duo opened a communication channel to Wing, desperate to hear Heero's voice, but not at all sure why.
"Oi, Heero... everything taken care of in there?" he asked, almost breathlessly. Heero's picture did not appear on his screens, but over the speakers came his voice. "Ninmu kanryou." Duo sighed with satisfaction. "Let's go home then, ne? Man, I could use a bath!" Heero's soft snort was the only reply, and Duo laughed. After a moment, it gained a slightly manic edge, relief from the stress of his battles, but he turned off the speakers before the other pilots could hear the sob of exhaustion that trailed off into lingering silence.
The safehouse they arrived at was not the one they had left; instead, they flew to one of Quatre's outlying safehouses, tucked away in the forests, out of sight. Wufei and Trowa would have brought their belongings during the mission, and all would be in readiness. Duo was looking forward to a hot shower, good food, and a long nap, in exactly that order. Touching down inside the hangar near the house, he powered down Deathscythe and crawled from the cockpit, dropping unsteadily to the ground, already plastering his trademark grin across his features.
<Never let them see you sweat, ne?> he joked to himself, moving toward Quatre, who had already emerged from Sandrock, mussed and sweaty, sporting a few mixed bruises, but none the worse for wear.
"Oi, Quatre, you gonna show us our rooms? When's dinner?" He tossed a friendly arm around the Arabian's shoulders, squeezing softly, in dire need of the comfort. "Maybe we can convince Heero to pull his nose out of his mission logs, ne? Go grab some--"
A soft gasp from Quatre stopped him short, as one of the blonde's hands flew up to his mouth, the other clutching his chest.
"By Allah..." Quatre's voice was barely a whisper. Duo turned slowly, his skin prickling in anticipation, in the direction of Wing... where there were TWO Heero Yuys.
End Part 6
Hope you liked it!! C&C onegai!! *glomphuggle*
(:./madcat/separate6)
