A/N A couple of things….First of all, I'm on winter break till the end of January, so I hope to finish this story, plus the stories I have up for Ninja Turtles and X-Men Evolution (or at least make head way in them), so look often for updates for all of them (that means you Lomesir!)
Secondly, this story starts in late August of AC 197. It's told from Duo's point of view. (I'm sorry if it's a little ooc at points, I try really hard to stick to the character's personalities)
Thirdly, I'm not entirely sure where this story is going. If you have any suggestions, just let me know!
Pairing: eventual 2xOC, past 2xH
Chapter One: The Order
I glanced up at the clock on the wall. I had been waiting for over an hour, sitting there on that hard wooden bench, waiting for the verdict that would be my future.
I could hear voices on the other side of the door. I couldn't make out what was being said, only who was speaking. Sally Po spoke, then the social worker would answer, then the psychologist, then Lady Une, then the psychologist again, then the social worker again. Around and around the conversation went, back and forth, questions and answers, and arguments and rebuttals. Just thinking about it made me dizzy. The conversation was about me, but they didn't consult me. They hadn't consulted me throughout the whole process. Now, here they were, deciding my fate, and I had no say in it. Story of my life, I guess.
I was just about to get up and look for a drinking fountain when the door opened, and Sally stepped out. "Duo, do you mind coming in and joining us?" she asked. I could see the other adults in the room beyond her, all exchanging looks that I couldn't read. I could read the look on Sally's face though, and I knew that what had been decided would not make me happy.
"Sure thing," I said, standing up and following her into the office. I closed the door behind me without being asked. I had to act responsible and mature for my age. If I did, maybe they would change their minds.
The social worker, Miss Renée, sat behind her desk smiling at me. My file was spread out in front of her. It looked as though she had been pouring over it since the meeting began. A note pad sat beside it, filled with her neat cursive script. "Duo," she said graciously. "Please sit down. Thank you for being so patient with us. We had a lot to discuss."
I briefly returned her smile, trying to hide how anxious I was to hear the decision they had made. Once I was seated in the chair across the desk from her, Miss Renée continued. "I would like to start off by saying, Duo, that out of all the children I have worked with, you have grown on me the most. You're intelligent, funny, and optimistic; I wish all of my cases were like you. Sadly, children these days just don't seem to be as happy as they once were."
I winced slightly every time she called me a child. Hell, I was sixteen for God sakes! And I had fought in the war. There was no way in hell I could possibly still be considered a child. But I fought the urge to say anything, and sat in polite silence listening to her.
Miss Renée paused, took a deep breath, and went on. "When I look over your records Duo, I cannot understand how you could be as optimistic as you are. The tragedies you faced before the age of ten alone would have caused most children to suffer from depression and pessimism. And your experiences in the war, well, I know personally many people twice your age that come back from the battlefield disillusioned and bitter. I commend you on your ability to stay strong throughout your difficulties."
I smiled, half in thanks to the compliment, half because if she knew how hard Heero had punched me a few times, she would have used a stronger word than 'difficulties'. A much stronger word.
"Duo." It was Lady Une's turn to speak. I turned my head to her, trying to hide my scowl. She was the whole reason I was there. "You are a very strong person. I have known that since I first met you. And while I would be glad to have a person like yourself working with the Preventers, I don't think you yourself are ready for such a job. I think it would be much healthier for you if you took time to learn what it is to be a real child, and not just an orphan and soldier."
I frowned. "Well, what about Heero? He's more in the mind set of a soldier than I am, and he's an orphan too."
Lady Une returned my frown. "Sadly, yes, that is true. However, we have information that indicates that while Heero was a young boy, he did have an adult acting as a parental figure for him. He has had an influence of family in his life. You haven't. In fact, out of all the pilots, you are the one who has had the least exposure to a family environment. Quatre and WuFei both grew up in families, and Trowa had parental figures in his past, as well as the family he seems to have adopted at the circus. Relena is slowly taming Heero. You, however, you never had any one—except Farther Maxwell and Sister Helen for a few months at the Maxwell Church—and you have no one now."
I openly scowled at her. I knew she meant well, but she was brushing Father Maxwell and Sister Helen off like they were nothing. I sighed after a moment. "Okay, just put it down plain for me. You don't want me to work for the Preventers, fine…but you guys have something else up your sleeves. I can tell."
The adults were quiet for a moment, and the then psychologist, Dr. Thomas, spoke up. "Duo, in the light of recent events, I think outer space is the last place you should be. You need to have a change of scenery and a chance at a different lifestyle. I have come to the conclusion that it would be most conducive to your development for you to be exposed to a family environment…away from the colonies."
I didn't understand. I looked up at Sally, hoping for a clearer explanation. Sally opened her mouth to speak, but Miss Renée spoke first. "We have decided that you will be going to Earth to live with a foster family, Duo. We already have a family decided on that we think will be best for you…"
She kept talking, but my brain was still stuck on her first sentence. "…going to Earth to live with a foster family…" Earth? They were sending me to EARTH?? To live with a foster family? I felt my body go numb. No. I didn't want to go. All my friends were here in the colonies. All my memories, all the things that made me me…it was all here in colonies. What were they thinking sending me to Earth?
"Duo, I know how difficult this is for you to understand," Miss Renée said when she saw the look of shock and horror on my face.
"No, I don't think you do," I growled, standing up. As far as I was concerned, the meeting was over. I knew no matter what I said to them, their minds were made up. There was no point in me staying. "You're shipping me off to Earth to get me and my 'no family influence' past out of your hair. Fine, have it your way. It's not like I had any plans for the rest of my life." I turned and headed to the door.
"Duo!" Sally grabbed my arm, and I pulled away. "DUO!" But I was already gone.
I charged down the hall of the office building, my eyesight blurred with tears. I had to get out of that building; I had to get back to the scrap yard, back to my familiar junk. I bolted past the security guards, out the revolving doors, and down the street. I ran blindly, shedding hot tears, not really caring where I was going, just wanting to get away from reality.
I knew I would be going to earth whether I wanted to or not. I was a minor, and as an orphan I was technically a ward of the government until I was eighteen. But I thought that maybe after being a Gundam pilot, they would have let me alone to live my life and to deal with the things of life I had missed by myself. Of course I wouldn't be that lucky, though. Even the God of Death's luck ran out eventually. Even the God of Death wasn't invincible.
Eventually I slowed as my legs began to get weak, and my lungs were burning for oxygen. Looking around, I found myself across the street from the park in my neighbor hood. I crossed the street into the park and sat down on a bench.
I tried to take in the sights as best I could to log them into my memory, but as I sat there, I found myself almost looking forward to going to Earth. The grass on Earth was a lot greener because it got real sunlight. And the trees were taller on earth. And when you looked up at the sky, you saw clouds instead of more colony. And on Earth, I wouldn't be reminded of Hilde wherever I went. I would be able to think of other things.
I sighed and leaned back on the bench. "Okay Earth, you get another shot at making friends with me. Maybe it'll work a little better this time, eh?"