What makes him Duo Maxwell.
"YEOWCH!"
Duo Maxwell couldn't help but cry out in pain when a strong hand wrapped around his braid and he was pulled back, his butt hitting the floor with a solid 'thump'.
He attempted to turn his head, failing miserabely as the bastard held his braid tightly and - damned - painfully.
He raised his head as best as he could, looking ahead and feeling his heart nearly stop beating at the sight that met him.
There, a small crowd of punks were beating his partner and best friend - Heero Yuy - severely. Every punch, every slap and every kick causing Duo's heart to ache more and more. There were too many. There was no way that Heero could win.
"Heero!" He screamed, attempting to jump forward but once again being restrained by his braid. He couldn't have been more frustrated. And the fact that it was the one thing that had been an important point in his life that was frustrating him made him grow all the more frustrated!
"What's wrong, kid? Can't do anything to help your friend?" His attacker's mocking voice came, causing Duo to snarl dangerously. "Don't worry, they'll finish him off soon enough. Just sit back and enjoy the show!"
Duo couldn't take it anymore. Whether it was the man's disgusting tone of voice, the throbbing pain in his scalp or the fact that Heero was now crying out in pain - silently, but it might as well have been screams to Duo - he didn't know. All he knew was that enough was enough. This needed to end.
Now.
Reaching into his boot, Duo pulled out a pair of scissors which he had previously used to cut the electricity wires with, holding them firmly in his hand as he kept his eyes locked on Heero. He needed to save him... No matter what. They needed to get out of here.
"What're you gonna do with that, kid? You really think that small thing can save you? Don' make me lau-"
Before the man could've even finished his words, Duo had raised the scissors and put them to the back of his head, applying pressure on the handle and cutting off his braid in one fluid motion. The one thing Duo had been proud of. The one thing Duo cherished more than anything. But it was gone now. It had landed by the attacker's feet with a soft thud.
The man gulped as he suddenly found himself face to face with the male known as the God of death - Shinigami. And he looked pissed.
Kicking legs, punching fists and flying bullets were suddenly all around the room, startling and quickly overpowering each and every one that dared to block Duo's path.
The ones who were granted mercy were the ones whose lives were taken with one single bullet to the head. The unlucky ones were left to bleed out and suffer; watch their companions die before their very eyes. Duo was on a killing spree and there was no one who could stop him.
He reached Heero's side within minutes, a trail of bloodied and beaten bastards in his wake. He couldn't have cared less, though. What held all of his concern was the bloodied and beaten body now in front of him. The bloodied, beaten and unmoving body that belonged to his best friend.
"Heero?" Duo managed in a surprising calm. "Heero, man, can you hear me? It's Duo. C'mon, wake up, huh?"
He ran his hands lightly over the limp body, sighing relief when Heero finally stirred and groaned.
"Heero, you awake buddy?" Duo's voice was soft - as if fearing to startle the injured man.
Cobalt eyes blinked open, widening almost immediately in shock when taking in the form that was hovering over him. "Duo?"
His face was undoubtly stained with blood and scratches; a large enough collection to even shock Heero. He couldn't have cared less, though.
Managing a watery grin, Duo nodded. "That's me. I may run and hide but I never tell a- "
"Don't bother. I've heard that one too many times," Heero grumbled, shifting on the floor before forcing himself to sit upright, ignoring the arm that slid behind his back to support him as he did. "What happened?"
Duo made sure Heero was seated comfortably and firm enough to prevent himself from falling over before he turned to lock worried eyes with the guy. "They ambushed you, remember? You were-"
Heero glared then, eyes fierce and strong as he shook his head. "Not that. I remember that part. I meant what happened to your hair, Duo. Your braid is gone. Did these bastards cut it off? I swear I'll fucking kill them for it."
Duo blinked in shocked surprise. And it wasn't just at the fact that he had just heard Heero say "fuck" for the very first time - it was mostly at the pure rage the boy was expressing. Heh. One would think he actually cared.
"Nah, 'Ro. They didn't. I did."
Heero's face took on an expression of shocked surprise that mirrored Duo's earlier one before his face softened as realization dawned. "You did it to save me."
It wasn't a question but Duo nodded his head anyway. "And I'd do it again if it means I can keep you around for a longer time... Always."
Before Duo could say more, a pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders and he found himself being pulled into a tight hug - Heero's steady heartbeat and strong scent making him melt deeper into the hug as he wrapped his own arms around the male, albeit more carefully to not stir any of the male's wounds.
It was when Heero's hand touched his back - the place where the weight of his braid was now missing - that Duo's eyes suddenly stung with tears and he felt the unfamiliar moisture well up in his eyes before rolling down his cheeks. He didn't know why, but his heart suddenly hurt. Not feeling the presence of the braid; the weight of something that made him who he was made his heart clench. The one thing that truly made him Duo Maxwell was now no more.
The arms holding him tightened slightly and Duo couldn't hold back the sobs any longer as he started crying broken-heartedly into his best friend's shoulder.
The last time anyone had held him like that and allowed him to cry in such a way was at the Maxwell church. Sister Helen had held him against her warm body and hugged him close as he cried and screamed and cried some more. In a way, it had felt nice. And now doing the same with Heero... It was too much.
Pulling away, Duo clumsily rubbed at his eyes with his fists, willing the moisture to stop flowing as he sniffled. "I... Uh... I'm s-sorry, man. I d-dunno w-w-why I... Damnit, I c-can't s-st-stop c-cry-crying."
Heero merely watched as Duo rose to his feet and turned his back to him, clearly embarassed about the situation. To Heero, holding him had seemed like the most natural thing to do at that moment. Though he honestly hadn't expected such a reaction.
Scrambling to his feet, Heero swayed on his feet for a few seconds before his body steadied itself and he dared to move forward. It was hard to move but he ignored the aching and painful jabs that coursed through his beaten-up body as he kneeled down and wrapped his fingers around the object he had been so determined to reach.
"Heero?" Duo's voice came from somewhere behind him and it had taken every ounce of strength left in Heero's body to move into the male's direction, the object still clenched tightly in his hand.
After having gained some composure, Duo had turned around to find Heero to have dissapeared from his spot on the floor. It had surprised him; especially since he was pretty damn sure that Heero's ankle was fractured. But what had surprised him even more was that Heero was somewhere in the back. Standing on his own two feet.
He had called out his name and then Heero came walking back. Though it looked more like wobbling to Duo.
"What're you doing?" Duo questioned as he launched forward, managing to catch Heero just in time before his knees gave out. "You idiot, you shouldn't be walki-"
The words died on Duo's lips as he caught sight of something in Heero's hand. The chestnut-colored object seemed to almost shine as the light reflected off of it. Was that how it always looked in this type of lighting? Duo wasn't sure. It looked almost foreign now.
"W-why did you get it? You idiot! Your body is weak... You shouldn't have been walking! Now you're out of energy and I have to carry your ass back to base, moron!"
Despite the name-calling and shouting, Heero could clearly see the fresh tears welling up in Duo's eyes as well as the smile he fought hard to hide. He was happy.
"I'm sorry," Heero said, a weak grin taking form on his face. "I know how much you hate getting blood on your braid."
Drops of salty liquid landed on Heero's face as Duo finally allowed the tears to fall. Though, in stead of sobbing, the male was laughing almost hysterically. The tears flowing more and more freely with every burst of laughter that escaped Duo Maxwell's throat.
Heero wasn't sure whether the male looked happy or sad at that moment but he was more than glad to hear the laughter and see those eyes filled with emotion again. He was content enough to allow his body to relax and slump into the darkness that came with unconsiousness as more warm drops landed on his body and Duo's laughter guided him to the abyss.
The end.
What do you guys think?
This idea smacked me in the face this morning and I was lucky enough to be able to write it down before it flew me by.
It's written as well as it willed to take form - have mercy, it WAS 4AM after all.
Please be so kind as to review - feedback is what every fanfiction writer craves.
I hope you enjoyed.
