Author's Notes: Don't groan, please? I know...she's at it again . But I swear! I'm liking this idea more than I did *G-men* and I really like that fic. Please, just read the first part, then, if you're sick, or if you stopped with the pairings...heh-heh...then I'll shut up and leave you alone. I *have* to share this...I have no choice. (I've finally come to the conclusion that I have *no* muse...just me and my quirky bouts of inspiration. This came to me while I was working...at Holliday World! Read the part, you'll understand how odd that is...)
Category: AU, Gundam Wing
Pairings: will be 1x2, 5x2, 1x5x2, 3x4
Warnings: minor angst at best
Author: Arigatomina
Email: arigatoumina@hotmail.com
Complete Archive: www.fanfiction.net

Sufferance

Prologue

***date???***

"You are certain of this?" The man's voice was low, his dark eyes darting again to the door through which he could hear low moans and the sound of someone moving.

"I know he *believes* he is possessed by something," the priest said softly, his wide eyes damp. "We've done everything we can for him, we tried to convince him he was deluded. That's when the marks appeared."

"Let me see them. If it *is* a case, I'll begin immediately."

The priest nodded quickly, but he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket when he reached for the doornob. "The temperature fluxuates. It was so hot I had to undress him earlier, then it dropped to below freezing. In a matter of seconds."

"That's a sign," the other man said, his hands curling around his bible as he straightened his dark sash. "Open the door, Father."

"Yes..."

As soon as the door opened, the sounds inside the room stopped, and the tall man's eyes widened when candles suddenly burst into flames around the room. They were everywhere, but the only occupant was still on the bed, his face an expression of missery as he didn't move. A glance at the priest showed that this was nothing out of the normal, and he raised an eyebrow at him.

"He kept saying it wanted out. That he has to keep it in, but it wants out." The man's face was pale, and he stared at the floor, making no move to enter the room. "I cannot go in."

"Stay, then." The tall man took three steps forward, and he couldn't stop himself from jumping lightly when the door slammed shut behind him. Then the figure on the bed let out a scream and he stared at him. He'd seen pictures of the boy, knew he was not more than nine years old, but the mass of hair on the bed was almost abnormally long. And the boy's muscles were tensed so much that the cloths tying him down seemed to be straining from the tension in them.

"NO! I won't let go! I won't let you--"

The man swallowed sharply as the boy's scream was cut off, his thin body clenching as he moaned from what sounded like horrible pain. "Duo..." The name came to him easily as he'd heard much about the case before he'd decided to check on if for himself. At his whisper, the boy stilled, and he opened his eyes. They glowed with a violet light that made him want to run for the door.

"Please...don't let it out..." The boy choked, and then his expression changed suddenly, his eyes dimming as a small smile curved his lips. "I don't know what's wrong with me," the boy said, his voice completely changed as he sighed. "The Father told me I have a split personality, but I can't seem to help myself. Please, you could help me, couldn't you?"

Blinking at the abrupt change, the man walked to the edge of the bed, noting the clear gaze as the boy turned his head to look at him. "You want me to do this, then? And how would it help? If it isn't a demon, then why would you need this?"

"Because nothing else has worked," Duo remarked, his smile sad as he closed his eyes. "And I scare myself."

It was lying. This much was obvious, and the man found himself focusing on the boy's hands, those thin wrists tied securely to the bed posts. His hands were clenched so tightly that the knuckles had turned white. "Who are you?"

"You're quick, I'll give you that." The formerly cheerful voice grew soft, and Duo's smile was evil. "You don't need to know my name, he hasn't given me one yet. But he will. Once you free him, of course."

"Free him...the boy..."

Duo gasped suddenly, his body shaking and he blinked rapidly before gazing at the man standing beside him. Violet eyes widened. "Oh no...please no...." The man's gaze was dim, but his movements were fluid as he slowly opened the book he held. "Wake up! Stop!" The man's soft voice made his body burn, and Duo screamed as he pulled uselessly at the straps holding him down. "You don't know what you're doing! Stop! I won't let you *do* this!" The man didn't so much as blink, then the boy felt it, lifting from him, that presence. "NO! I won't let you go!!!"

It was the unearthly scream that made the priest enter the room, and he had to leap back as the door was blown off its hinges. Then he gave a cry of terror as he stared at the boy. His face was ashen, his expression one of extreme effort, and his hands were curled in front of him, the straps hanging limp from his wrists. Palms facing his neck, Duo's head was tilted back so his closed eyes were raised to the ceiling, and he was shaking. But he wasn't breathing.

"Duo!?" The priest ran forward, bypassing the tall man, whose words still flowed out, echoing in the room. The screeches somehow quieter than them, and they weren't coming from the boy. He didn't think as he reached the boy who sat on the bed, and he slapped him with all the strength in his body. The sound was like a thunderclap, then the ceiling blew outward and two males cowered from the deafening laughter, the third dead when he hit the floor.

"Oh God...I tried...so...hard...I'm sorry..." The light blue sky visible through the gaping roof grew dark, purplish black storm clouds churning suddenly. "Forgive me...? Please..."

***6yrs, 6mnths, 6days later--actual date?--don't know yet...***

The wars had started with a suddenness that was uncanny, but those left alive afterward were too stricken to wonder what had gone wrong. No nation was spared as even those who refused to choose sides were cleared with the growing chaos. Atomic bombs did most of the damage, as it seemed even the smaller seemingly weak countries suddenly found themselves with the weapons. In the beginning, it was as if a madness had come over the people, those few who were left with the ability to think rationally were either snuffed or sent into hiding. The rest were blood-thirsty, and they annihalated their enemies.

Then, six and a half years later, the war was suddenly over. No one knew what had ended it any more than why it had started in the first place, but the ravaged remains of the world's cities were searched slowly by the survivors. And slowly, the remaining population was gathered together. So few, and without their technology, even these died as people were lost to simple sickness and accidents. But there were survivors, and some were leaders. Some...were the ones who'd driven the war on...and these were the ones who came to rule what was left of the world.

* * *
TBC

Category: AU, Gundam Wing
Pairings: will be 1x2, 5x2, 1x5x2, 3x4
Warnings: reference to angst
Author: Arigatomina
Email: arigatoumina@hotmail.com
Complete Archive: www.fanfiction.net

Sufferance

Part 1

He really didn't know what to expect, but the building was in surprisingly good condition for having survived the six year war. Of course, Heero was certain it had really been rebuilt, but he could still tell that it had once been used as some sort of restraining facility. The fact that it was circled by a sixteen foot electrified fence spoke much of the type of facility it was. The armed guards also told a tale. But then, he didn't really question the control, as the same was happening all over the world. People his age had to be protected. This was what he'd been told when he'd been escorted across the seas on a horribly antiquated ship. While he hadn't seen any of the much-talked-about-rebels, he didn't doubt that they existed. What he doubted was that he'd be safer in the hands of the people who sought to protect him. And he didn't need the protection.

Little choice he had, though, since the men with him kept him under guard, guns that had somehow managed to survive as well. And from the looks of them, they had enough ammo to be completely unworried about one fifteen year old boy. They didn't even know he could speak their language, assuming that since he'd been found in Japan, that was the only language he knew. Luckily for him, he'd been taught well in the last five years. The war had prepared him for this, for the pain of a questionable peace after a massacre.

Heero quickly found that he'd overestimated his new protectors, they were anything but ordered and nothing was said to him as he was given a push. He didn't stumble, and he turned his head to stare at the man who'd prodded him into the doorway, only to find that the door had already been shut. Then he turned to look at the people he'd been thrown in with. They were children.

Actually, they were all around his age, and he could tell by their different appearances that they'd been found all over the world. While he expected them to peruse him as he was them, only one or two of the multitude looked up, the others focused on the food they ate. They were seated at long tables that were lined up in the large room, and Heero wondered if it wasn't some sort of cafeteria. There were no adults in evidence and the Japanese boy was at a complete loss as to what he should do. Standing in the doorway didn't seem to be the answer, but he didn't want to join the others.

He blinked when a tall boy walked to him, and he turned his head to look him over. His form was slender, and he was dressed in a dark grey turtleneck and pale jeans. Heero couldn't tell what origin he was, but green eyes met him with an ease that made him raise an eyebrow. The boy's reddish brown hair was odd, short yet long in the front as it hung down to nearly cover half of his face.

"I'm supposed to ask you to join us," the tall boy said, his voice monotone as he stared at the dark-haired boy. "Will you join us?"

Heero blinked sharply, frowning at the boy. Then he followed a long-fingered hand as the boy gestured toward the back of the room and he spotted a table that was more empty than any of the others. There were three boys sitting at it, and they were watching him. "If I say no?" he asked, his cobalt blue eyes narrowing.

"Then you say no," the tall boy murmured. He turned, and walked back to the table, not glancing behind him.

Heero stared after him. He couldn't figure out what had just happened, but he suddenly found himself following the tall boy. It would do him no good to stand, and he was curious despite himself. Green eyes glinted briefly as the boy sat, and Heero moved to the bench across from the four youths.

"Thank you, Trowa."

He stared at the blonde boy who'd spoken, his mind jotting down the name as he took in the one who'd spoken. Rather pale, the boy looked to be a head shorter as the tall boy, Trowa, sat beside him, and his pale blue-green eyes were clear of any hostility as he met Heero's gaze.

"Hi, I'm Quatre." Smiling, the blonde boy shook his head. "I didn't want you to just stand over there by yourself, I remember how I felt when they first brought me here."

"Where are you from?" Heero noticed that the boy didn't seem at all bothered by his cold voice, and he blinked when the blonde smiled at him.

"Arabia. You wouldn't have guessed, right?" Quatre smiled wider when the boy looked doubtful, and he sighed. "No one ever believes it when I tell them, but I *am* Arabic."

"And you're Japanese, right? I've never met anyone from Japan before."

Heero frowned as his eyes moved to the boy seated to Quatre's right, and he raised an eyebrow at the boy's cheerful smile. "Yes. Heero Yuy."

"The name's Duo," the long-haired boy smiled. "Duo Maxwell, at your service. And I'll be the first to welcome you to what I've dubbed...Alcatraz."

The name was lost on him, but Heero was caught as the boy laughed, violet eyes sparkling merrily. Then the black haired boy sitting beside Duo jabbed him sharply in the side and the long-haired boy winced with more pain than the gesture called for.

"Damnit Wufei!" Glaring at the boy, Duo rubbed his side, then flushed when he noticed the new boy's gaze. "This is Chang Wufei. But he goes by Wufei. He's Chinese."

"And you're an idiot," Wufei said coldly, his black eyes narrowing as he stared at the boy beside him. He'd only meant the blow as a mild reproof for acting immature, but Duo's reaction brought a always present anger to the surface. "What did you do, Duo, hit yourself?" The violet eyed boy flinched back, looking down sharply. "Why do you keep doing that?"

Heero kept his expression blank, but his eyes moved between the two boys. Then the long-haired boy stood quickly.

"You're a real bastard..."

Wufei flinched, but his glare doubled and he watched as Duo moved away from the table, his black clothing disappearing as some of the others were now standing in groups and talking together. "Damn him..." He turned slowly, his teeth grinding together at Quatre's reproachful glare, and he nodded when he saw Heero watching him. "He hurts himself. He's been doing it since I came here, but it's gotten worse lately."

"Why?"

Quatre sighed and shook his head. "We don't know why, he won't say. I don't even know how he does it. I mean, we're with him most of the time, and he couldn't go anywhere at night without waking us up."

"His nightmares wake us up," Wufei said, nodding to Heero. He wasn't at all bothered to be telling about his comrade, as he already knew the Japanese boy was a part of their group. As friendly as Quatre was, he'd never asked anyone else to join them before. "Quatre and Trowa have been here for at least a month, but Duo came two weeks ago, a day or so before I did. If he hadn't tried to kill himself we wouldn't have known what he was doing."

Quatre had his head bowed, but Trowa's gaze was steady and Heero looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "And he failed?" He'd tried to kill himself before, but that had been as a weapon, and his death would have furthered his side. Never had he thought to end his life without a good reason.

"I don't think he really wanted to die," Quatre whispered. When he looked up, his eyes were damp. "He said he didn't do it and...I believe him."

"Right," Wufei glared, sneering at the blonde boy. "Someone else came into the dorm and slit his wrists. That's what you're saying."

He wanted to snarl at his friend, but Quatre held himself in check. They hadn't known the American long, but he'd managed to get to all of them, and the blonde boy was certain the reason Wufei was so cold was because he liked Duo. "He didn't have a razor, not even a knife."

"And he had wrapped his blanket around the cuts," Trowa said, his eyes boring into Heero's. Quatre was certain Duo hadn't been lying, and after seeing the evidence for himself, Trowa knew the incident hadn't been a mere attempted suicide. The long-haired boy had been in a panic and he'd been terrified of dying. "He woke us up to help him."

"I'm surprised they didn't lock him up," Heero said slowly. "They're supposed to be protecting us. Even from ourselves."

"They would have," Wufei said, his gaze still dark with anger. "If we'd told anyone. We don't actually see much of the adults. They bring us supplies and lock the doors so we can't get out, but they don't interfere with us."

"Where is this dorm? Is that and this room the only places we have access to?"

Trowa's eyes narrowed as he looked at Heero, and his mouth curved into a smirk. "You were a part of the war, weren't you."

It wasn't a question, but Heero nodded anyway. "Yes, I was."

"Wufei and I were, too," the tall boy said, his visible eye glinting. "Quatre's family were pascifists, so he didn't participate. And we don't know what Duo did during the war. But he's an American."

"I noticed. The war started in America." Heero didn't react when Quatre's suddenly wary eyes flew to him, but he saw that the Chinese boy was glaring at him.

"Blame Duo for the war and I'll kill you."

He was usually the one saying that to his enemies, and Heero actually smirked at the black-haired boy's dark glare. "I'm not. And you couldn't kill me, Wufei. You'd lose your life trying."

"Please don't fight," Quatre said softly, his eyes moving between the two boys. "I hate it, the war is *over*."

"Maybe," Trowa nodded, moving his arm around the slender boy as he gave his shoulder a light squeeze. "It should be. There aren't enough people left to fight anymore."

"Besides," the blonde boy said, his eyes on the table. "Duo already blames himself for the war. I just can't figure out why..."

"It's stupid," Wufei said scathingly. "He's fifteen, our age. He'd have been nine when the war started, ten at the oldest. It's a weakness of his and it makes me sick to my stomach." He glared at Heero, leaning forward. "So if you do *anything* to make him think there's *reason* behind his blaming himself, I'll make you regret it. Maybe I *can't* kill you, but you will be sorry."

"Don't make me repeat myself," Heero said back, not the least bit bothered. He'd seen people defend their friends before, it was evident where the boy's anger came from. "I don't blame him, American or not. Everyone who participated is responsible for the war, if he didn't fight than you, Trowa, and I are more to blame than him."

"That's right."

Quatre smiled at the way the two boys were watching each other as it was obvious they were in agreement. "I wish Duo could hear you say that. You shouldn't have run him off, Wufei."

"Do you expect me to sit back while he does it?" Wufei asked, glaring again as his mind returned to the previous subject. "Forget it. You can accept it as a fact if that's what you want," the blonde boy grew sad, but Wufei's eyes only narrowed more, "but I won't. Not until he stops."

"Quatre, go ahead." Trowa knew the others didn't understand what he was talking about, but he could feel how tense the boy was under his arm. "Go find him, I know you want to." The blonde smiled at him, and his patient expression softened a bit as a swift kiss was pressed to his cheek before the boy stood quickly.

"Okay. Heero? I'll see you later, right? They'll show you around." Quatre smiled again as the dark-haired boy nodded, then he turned and crossed the crowded room. Knowing Duo, he'd find him in the dorm. Aside from that, the bathing facilities, and the outdoor excercise area, there wasn't anywhere else he could be.

The dorm was rather empty, and Quatre passed a few closed doors, the others left open to the hall. It was nice to have separate wings, and as much as it had surprised him originally, he now took the slight privacy they had for granted. As it was, there were only five cots in the room he and his friends had chosen, luck was on their side. //With Heero, we won't have to worry about them sending someone else in with us. And Heero won't tell. I know he won't.// Their largest worry had been that someone outside of their room would notice the cries that sounded at night. But the walls were too thick, and so far they'd been able to hide Duo's nightly torment.

The door to their room was open a bit, and Quatre slowed, stopping outside as he could hear a soft voice muttering something. He knew it was Duo, and he listened, hoping to learn more about the boy. As he'd told the others, he believed the American when he'd said he never lied, and if someone was hurting him, as impossible as it seemed, Quatre was determined to find out who.

"I'm stronger than you...*that* doesn't matter, why don't you get it? I'll never let you go. You won't get free...No, never again..."

Quatre bit his lip hard, his eyes burning as he realized the boy was talking to himself. It was worse than he'd thought. While he'd lived a sheltered childhood before the war, he'd seen more than his share of the madness, and he knew it was bad when a person talked to himself. Especially since Duo seemed to be having a silent conversation and the blonde boy could only hear one side of it. //I should do something...go in there...something...//

"I *don't* hate him! No!"

The muted groan was too much, and Quatre moved quickly, shoving the door open. Duo was sitting on his bed, his fists curled beneath his chin, and the boy gasped roughly, slightly glazed eyes snapping in his direction. Shaking his head, the blonde boy didn't know what to say. "Duo..."

"Quatre." Clearing his throat, the violet-eyed boy managed a weak smile, and his hands falling limp to his lap. "Hi, there."

"What's happening to you? Can't you tell me?" The boy's eyes widened, and Quatre stepped forward, sitting lightly beside the boy. "Duo, you know you can trust me."

"Ah...Quatre." Duo smirked, looking at the boy with a wistfull expression. "It's like Wufei said, I'm an idiot. And I'm insane, but we already knew that, right?" The blonde's eyes looked suspiciously bright, and he shook his head. "Don't worry about it."

"I *have* to worry," Quatre said roughly, resisting the urge to shake the boy. //I can't even touch him! I might hit a bruise...// "That's *who* I am. You're my friend."

//I had a friend once...for six years...//

The boy beside him had bowed his head, and Quatre gasped as a tear suddenly slipped down Duo's cheek. Suddenly, it didn't matter how he touched him, and he wrapped his arms around the long-haired boy, holding him close. "Duo, let me help you?"

"I can't," Duo said sofly, marveling in the boy's warm touch. "I can't let anything happen to you. You're *my* friend too...all of you."

"Including me?"

Duo jerked away from Quatre, flushing and glaring as he saw the three boys standing in the doorway. "You're not high on my list right now, Wufei." The Chinese boy raised an eyebrow, but Duo didn't think he was upset. The Japanese boy was staring at him, and he flushed a bit more as he knew they would have told him. "Hey, Heero. Guess you heard *all* about psychotic Duo, eh? Well, it's nothing that didn't happen during the war, so get over it." Cobalt eyes continued to meet his, not so much as blinking and Duo frowned. "Have you seen the yard, yet?"

"No."

The boy's voice wasn't condescending, or condemning, and Duo smirked suddenly. "Let's go for a walk, guys. Show Heero the sites. After all, he's new here."

* * *
TBC
--notes--
I know there have been fics about Duo having demons in his head, I've read a trully *excellent* one. But I'm *not* stealing that person's idea. I swear! This fic isn't like that one at all. In fact, this fic was inspired not by a different fic, but by the *bible* of all places. Not that I read the bible...with all of its little known tales of how horrible humans can be...and those stories that you never hear from members of the church since they want to keep their congregation from knowing about them.... ::looks at ceiling, whistling loudly:: Ahem! Anyway...as I was saying, this isn't like those other fics. I've put my spin on the entire idea, and I don't care if it's been done before or not because I can *guarantee* it hasn't been done like *this* before. God, I *hope* not. I think this is my most original idea yet, even if it does seem old to me for some reason...I guess I've always thought about an end of the world story and you'll see...this is sort of like that. Anyway, I don't want to give *everything* away. I'll just say that this fic will have lots of angst in it, plenty of lemons, a *romantic* threesome (a first for me since I'm a devote 1x2 lover and I used to *hate* 5x2, but...it works...it really really works...), lots of Duo torture, maybe some Quatre torture (not sure yet but I think so), some odd stuff, demons and religion, some bad guys resembling something from Mad Max (anyone know that movie? I think I saw one or two of them, but it was a *long* time ago), and whatever else my odd mind thinks up. On a different note, no, this place they're at isn't just for boys, I just don't care about the other kids there and I'm pretty sure the GW girls *won't* be showing up in this fic. And it isn't a school, more like a comfy concentration camp (is that an oxymoron???). Anyway, I'd really like some feedback for this. I think it's gonna be a really cool fic. And I'll figure out what that date is at the very beginning soon, I just have to get a book that my mom has at her workplace and that may take a day or so. I couldn't wait to post this. And *no*, Duo did *not* I repeat *not* attempt suicide...not in *this* fic. Again, feedback? Anyone want me to write more? I kinda want to...but it'll be angsty...and...odd...I love this fic idea!!! ::gasps:: Okay...I'm going now...