Falling into Darkness
The chamber was dark and foreboding with a tinge of death in every corner. It was cold, for no fire graced the hearth., the only piece of furniture being a large stone chair in the room's center. A throne by all appearances carved with skulls, serpents, and symbols more satanic than any seen on earth and far more powerful. Light from the huge floating mirror before the throne threw it's occupant into shadow, the only light source in the room.
"Come to me oracle, let us look and see how my prize has been holding up. It has been long since I have gazed on his beauty." The room's keeper commanded with a graceful sweep of his right arm. His voice was ominous and powerful, full of hate and dark fury. He gestured at the doorway, beckoning in the Oracle.
The young girl who entered the throne room could not have been more than 16 years old when she lived, a thin specter, rather tiny even by human standards, not frail in build, but soft looking. Her crimson robes swished gently against the floor as she walked, covering her hands in soft velvet and concealing her face from view; all save her eyes. Eyes of striking turquoise green pierced the darkness, glowing in the dim blue light of the mirror. She stepped fearfully forward, her eyes downcast and stormy to stand obediently behind the stone throne.
"Show him to me Oracle. I wish to look on his face again, before I destroy him once more." The Oracle sighed, and yet she obeyed quickly, her eyes glowing even brighter as the magic of the mirror coursed through her veins.
An image appeared in the mirror, a view of the world above this room. The magic's eye fixed on one being, a young boy with a long chestnut braid….
Duo hummed as he worked, repairing the arm of his mobile suit, affectionately called Death scythe Hell. The song was a catchy and up beat tune, something he had heard while on the streets long ago. Heero and Trowa were also doing repair work nearby, trying to ignore the constant noise their fellow pilot was making. The group of fie pilots had just returned from another mission involving the destruction of an Oz space station. Now, they retreated to the newest in a long line of safe houses to regroup, a run down shack of a house with only 2 bedrooms, but surprisingly still had internet access, thanks to the neighbors just down the road, and a modern heating system.
Duo heard an irritated growl from across the room and poked his head out to investigate. "Problems Heero?" He teased, always trying to get a rise out of the stoic pilot.
"I can't concentrate with you making that infernal racket all the time!" Heero shouted back, giving Duo a mild glare encouraging him roughly to cease the disturbance.
"But I thought the perfect soldier couldn't get distracted." Duo chimed, a Cheshire cat grin on his face. Heero glared a moment more, and returned to his repairs without a word, determined to ignore the braided pilot.
Duo pouted. "Fine Heero, have it your way. I won't hum." Duo retreated back underneath his Gundam, and after a moment's pause began to sing, "It's a small world after all" as loud as he possibly could.
"Duo!" Heero screamed and flung his wrench in the general direction of Duo's voice. The tool made a loud clank as it struck Death scythe Hell's hull. Duo eeped, but couldn't help but laugh.
"Sorry Heero, I couldn't help myself." Duo climbed out from under the gundam, inspecting the mobile suit for dents where the wrench had struck it. Finding none, he turned toward the door. "Well guys, I'm done. I'll see you back at the safe house." Duo looked back a moment to see if they had heard him, the pair were still working diligently on their suits, not really paying much attention to what Duo had said. With a sigh he retreated from the hanger without a sound.
"Was it necessary to chase him off?" Trowa asked when he was sure Duo was out of earshot.
"What are you talking about?" Heero looked up, a mildly confused expression crossing his face.
Trowa sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. "Never mind Heero. You'll figure it out on your own." Heero gave Trowa an inquisitive look, but the lanky pilot had returned to his repairs, ignoring the questioning eyes on him. Heero huffed, but continued to work.
Duo bounced into the safe house looking for Quatre. He walked into the kitchen to find the blonde Arab mixing several ingredients into a bowl.
"Hi Duo." He glanced up cheerfully, brilliant blue eyes sparkling in good humor. "All done with your repairs?"
"Yep." Duo smiled, his good spirits returning immediately. "Deathsyche's all fixed." Quatre nodded, his eyes returning to the mixing bowl on the counter in front of him.
"Did Trowa look like he would be finished soon?" He asked blushing beneath his golden bangs.
Duo grinned from ear to ear, "I'm sure he'll be done soon. Now aren't you glad you're going to have to share a room with him?" Duo stood and headed for the one bathroom at the end of the hall, glancing back to catch the deep red blush creep up Quatre's neck at his suggestion.
"What are you talking about Duo?" Quatre frowned feigning innocence his eyes moving to where Duo had been, but the braided pilot had snuck silently away. Quatre sighed. 'I hope the two of you realize soon that you love each other, before it's too late. Heero, you're hurting him so much and you don't even know it. I don't know how much of it he can continue to take.' The thoughts came unbidden to the forefront of his mind while he returned to his cooking, no longer in good spirits.
Duo locked the bathroom door with a resounding click. His hand lingering on the latch and his forehead pressed into the cool plywood. The door resounded hollowly as his head connected with the cheap material. He sighed heavily and squeezed his eyes shut, his usually jubilant attitude abandoned once he was alone.
'It's getting harder and harder to keep this up. I need a solo mission soon, or I'm going to go insane trying to fool them day and night.' Duo thought dispassionately, the mass of chestnut hair that was his braid falling gently over one shoulder. He pushed away from the door and over to the shower, turning on the hot water as high as it would go. He stripped himself of shirt and pants, catching a glimpse of his back in the mirror.
Duo stopped, staring hard at the web of scarring across his back, his eyes wandered over the criss crossed scars made by a forked whip, the jagged marks of flying shrapnel and the clean lines of an old knife wound. All testaments to the horrors of his life as an orphan living on the streets and as a soldier. The braided pilot turned around and faced the mirror as if he were facing an opponent in battle. Hundreds of small scars littered his shoulders and parts of his chest, the only evidence of the turmoil within. The mirror began to fog with steam as he ran his fingers over the marks he'd made himself, mesmerized by the memory of razor blades cutting into once pristine flesh. His image wavered as steam filled the tiny bathroom, drawing the pilot back to reality.
'Poor little Duo. Having problems playing with others again?' the voice resounded through Duo's head like the tolling of a bell. He closed his eyes against the internal voice with disgust.
"Go away Shinigami. I don't need to deal with you right now." The command fell from his lips in the same monotone that Heero often used around him, halting the voice he had dubbed his split personality, affectionately naming it Shinigami.
Duo's whole life had been based around this voice, even his name. There was Duo, the boy from the orphanage that was scared and alone. The side of his personality that was weak and full of feelings, but also cheerful and jubilant. the part that hurt after battle and took out the pain on his own skin. This was mask he downed when he spoke to others, being the annoyingly talkative pilot so no one would look too deep into his eyes and see the pain hidden there.
The other half was Shinigami. The soldier in battle was Shinigami, the one who killed with no remorse and appeared unafraid of death. This was the side that was able to cope with the deaths of those around him, the only reason he hadn't killed himself already. Zero had brought the split even more to light when Duo was faced with the prospect of fighting himself. The thought of his greatest enemy being his own mind terrified him, it meant that he might never win, that he might always be broken.
'Is the mask slipping again poor Duo? Do they suspect your weakness?' Came his alter ego again, full of sarcasm.
"I don't have the patience for you right now Shinigami. Go away." Duo stepped into the steaming water of the shower with a sigh, pulling his hair from it's braid, letting the wet strands cling around his thighs; the feel of wet warm hair was heavenly.
'I can help….' Shinigami's husky whisper filled the pilot's mind.
"NO," Duo commanded water running down his face.
"Hnn." Heero growled as he opened the door to the bathroom. Duo jumped instinctively pulling the shower curtain as closed as he could get it; not that it did him any good being mostly clear, save for the steam clinging to the low grade plastic.
"I know I locked that door Heero. What are you doing in here?" The pilot pulled long thick strands of hair down to cover his lower body as best he could, not really sure why he bothered, they'd both seen much worse than their partner naked before.
"I am removing the oil and other particles from my arms with water." 01 began washing his hands methodically, paying special attention to his cuticles and the crevices in his knuckles.
Duo snorted. "It's called 'washing your hands' Heero, and can't you wait a few minutes?" He slowly began soaping up his hair with a tiny bottle of shampoo he had plundered off a hotel months ago.
"No there's only one bathroom." Heero glanced toward the shower stealthily, catching a glimpse of Duo's bare skin through the waterfall of rich auburn color hair. He swallowed convulsively and shook his head returning to washing his hands.
Duo kept his back turned away from his fellow pilot, desperately trying to keep his emotions under control. 'I am not reacting this way. I do no want him like that. He's just a friend. I am not gay….' Duo told himself mainly to keep his mouth moving and keep from thinking.
'Yes you are.' Shinigami chastised with a demonic laugh. ' You know you want him.'
'I don't!' The mental scream echoed even in his own head, his body shaking from the power of the unvoiced scream. Shinigami backed down slowly.
'Very well oh powerful one.' Came the dismissive chuckle, a cover for the nervousness he now felt. 'You shall soon be falling at his feet.' Shinigami's voice disappeared leaving Duo leaning against the shower wall with one hand in complete silence save for the sound of running water. Duo took a breath and looked past the shower curtain, meeting the strange look of concern on Heero's face in the mirror before it vanished as well…