Disclaimer: I am a fifteen year old kid. Therefore it should be pretty damn obvious that I don't own Gundam Wing or any affiliated characters. Enjoy.
Duo: The Great Destroyer Never Again
Chapter 1
The shuttle was jarred by a massive explosion. The dorsal fin disintegrated as the engines overloaded. The passenger section spiraled silently through space. For a moment it seemed unharmed. Then it continued to rotate, revealing a charred gaping hole. Bodies floated freely in the airless abyss. They were to far away to see details, but... Desperate thoughts whirled through his mind. She wasn't on-board, She was in the cockpit, she had gotten to a pressure suit. But no, he knew it wasn't true. Floating almost mockingly by the wreckage was that damn mysterious suit. Then he saw her body...
"Hilde!!!!" Duo sat bolt upright in his bed, cold sweat pouring down his brow. Desperately he felt the bed beside him, but it was empty, it would always be empty now. Leaning forward and holding his head in his hands, he let the tears stream down his face. Racked by sobs he whispered her name, "Hilde..."
Early morning sunlight streamed through the window. Duo groaned and sat upright, rubbing his eyes. Squinting, he surveyed his apartment. It was dirty and cramped. Too full of memories. Hilde had picked it out, said it would be perfect for the two of them. Shaking his head, he pushed those thoughts away. He had to get out. Go talk to someone, someone who would listen.
Groggily he stumbled to the phone. Leaning against the table, he punched one of the auto dial buttons. After a few moments a person appeared on the screen.
"Morning Duo, what's up?" Quatre asked, "Then he noticed Duo's expression. "Duo, what's wrong?"
Duo cleared his throat, "Quatre, I need a place to stay for a while. This place hurts too much."
Quatre smiled sympathetically, "Feel free to come here any time Duo. I've got more than enough room in this house. I'll send a shuttle. When do you want it?"
"Soon as possible. New York's the closest space port."
"It'll be there in an hour."
Duo forced a smile, "Thanks old buddy. I owe you one."
Smiling warmly Quatre replied, "No problem, I'll see you soon." The screen blinked off. Duo stood for a moment, starring at the unit. Then he slowly made his way to the bathroom.
Standing under the shower, he leaned his head against the tile wall and let the steam envelop him. His mind wandered, the first time he'd met her, the times they'd spent together on the colonies, the celebrations after the war, asking her to marry him...
Shaking his head angrily he stepped out of the shower. He glanced at the mirror, a haggard, bloodshot face starred back. Growling angrily, he punched the mirror, cracking the glass. Pain shot through his hand. He starred at it dumbly as blood trickled from his knuckles. Grabbing a white cloth he bound his hand.
A half hour later, Duo stood at the New York space port. He had forsaken his minister's outfit in favor of jeans and a brown leather jacket. His hair was not braided but hung free at his back. He had no suitcase. In his pockets he had his wallet with as much money as the bank would let him withdraw, A small package, and a picture of Hilde.
A tall Arabic man strode forward. "Are you Duo Maxwell?" He asked. Duo nodded. "Master Quatre's shuttle is right this way." Nodding again Duo followed him silently.
Quatre's shuttle was empty. Duo chose a seat towards the back and collapsed into it. The engines thrummed to life. A minute later Duo was asleep.
When he awoke, Duo found himself lying on a bed in what seemed to be a guest room. Stretching, Duo rolled to his feet. Walking to the door, he peeked out the door. A hall led to an elaborate staircase. Shrugging he wandered downstairs. His stomach led him to the kitchen. Walking over to the fridge he opened. Sitting in front was a slice of Sausage pizza, Hilde's favorite. Fighting tears he slammed the door shut. Miserably he walked back to the living room.
Quatre was sitting on the couch starring out the window. Turning, he smiled, "Afternoon Duo, I was wondering when you'd wake up."
Duo nodded noncommittally and sat down in an armchair across from Quatre. Sensing that Duo was not in the mood for pleasantries, Quatre merely handed him a cup of tea. Duo smiled weakly and accepted it.
After a few minutes, he sighed, "It's been a month now." Quatre said nothing and waited for him to continue. "Routine mission. Damn it Quatre, it wasn't even a mission!" Duo exploded. Springing to his feet he started to pace. "It was a freaking shuttle flight. The only reason I wasn't on it was because I was too damn cheap to ship my Mobile Suit. Those pirates attacked for no reason. Fifty Torus models. With Deathscythe Hell it should have been a slaughter. The shuttle shouldn't have been scratched. And there was a contingent of Virgos with us. Virgos! But there was a suit. I never got a good look at it. It was everywhere at once." Duo seemed to have expended all of his energy and slumped into his chair trembling. "I tried Quatre. I tried so hard." Tears began to leak from his eyes and he closed them.
Quatre reached out and patted his hand sympathetically. "Duo, it's not your faul-"
"Of course it's my fault!" Duo was up and pacing again. "I was there Quatre, I was there. I was hacking my way through a bunch of Toruses while that, that suit, was killing her. How is it not my fault?" He collapsed again, panting from his outburst.
Quatre kept his voice placating as he answered. "That suit was superior to yours. How could you fight it?"
This time Duo did not explode he just put his hand over his eyes and said quietly, "Quatre, during the war, there wasn't a pilot we couldn't take out, a suit we couldn't beat. How is it that in two years we've become so weak? Wuffei would be calling us all foolish children if he wasn't to busy fighting in the border colonies."
Quatre stayed quiet for a few moments and mulled over what he had said. "What you need, I think, is something to take your mind off of the tragedy." Brightening he said, "You should come to Heero and Releena's wedding. All of our friends will be there. Zechs will probably show up and I know he and Heero won't be able to resist competing at something."
"Yeah, I guess." Duo said hollowly. Starring forlornely into space he downed his tea. "When is the," He paused for a moment as though he were about to choke. "When's the wedding."
"Next Saturday. Didn't you get an invitation?"
"I haven't bothered looking at my mail since, since," He couldn't finish the sentence, "I haven't looked at my mail for a month." He glanced down at the floor, embarrassed at his inability to finish a sentence.
Quatre drew Duo into a friendly embrace. "It's all going to be Ok. I'm here for you, we're all here for you. Me, Trowa, Heero, even Wuffei, any of us will try and help you any way we can. Everything's going to be fine, all right?"
Duo nodded and gave another weak smile, "Thanks Quatre. You're not gonna lock me in my room or anything are you?"
Quatre laughed, "Of course not, Duo! Feel free to roam the grounds all you like. I usually swim in the Oasis at dawn, it's so peaceful. You should join me some morning. And remember if you need anything at all just come find me."
For the first time in a month Duo smiled, a real genuine smile. "Thanks alot old buddy." With that he stood and wandered off to explore the house.
Quatre watched him leave and smiled. "I think he's going to be all right," he murmured.
Duo: The Great Destroyer Never Again
Chapter 1
The shuttle was jarred by a massive explosion. The dorsal fin disintegrated as the engines overloaded. The passenger section spiraled silently through space. For a moment it seemed unharmed. Then it continued to rotate, revealing a charred gaping hole. Bodies floated freely in the airless abyss. They were to far away to see details, but... Desperate thoughts whirled through his mind. She wasn't on-board, She was in the cockpit, she had gotten to a pressure suit. But no, he knew it wasn't true. Floating almost mockingly by the wreckage was that damn mysterious suit. Then he saw her body...
"Hilde!!!!" Duo sat bolt upright in his bed, cold sweat pouring down his brow. Desperately he felt the bed beside him, but it was empty, it would always be empty now. Leaning forward and holding his head in his hands, he let the tears stream down his face. Racked by sobs he whispered her name, "Hilde..."
Early morning sunlight streamed through the window. Duo groaned and sat upright, rubbing his eyes. Squinting, he surveyed his apartment. It was dirty and cramped. Too full of memories. Hilde had picked it out, said it would be perfect for the two of them. Shaking his head, he pushed those thoughts away. He had to get out. Go talk to someone, someone who would listen.
Groggily he stumbled to the phone. Leaning against the table, he punched one of the auto dial buttons. After a few moments a person appeared on the screen.
"Morning Duo, what's up?" Quatre asked, "Then he noticed Duo's expression. "Duo, what's wrong?"
Duo cleared his throat, "Quatre, I need a place to stay for a while. This place hurts too much."
Quatre smiled sympathetically, "Feel free to come here any time Duo. I've got more than enough room in this house. I'll send a shuttle. When do you want it?"
"Soon as possible. New York's the closest space port."
"It'll be there in an hour."
Duo forced a smile, "Thanks old buddy. I owe you one."
Smiling warmly Quatre replied, "No problem, I'll see you soon." The screen blinked off. Duo stood for a moment, starring at the unit. Then he slowly made his way to the bathroom.
Standing under the shower, he leaned his head against the tile wall and let the steam envelop him. His mind wandered, the first time he'd met her, the times they'd spent together on the colonies, the celebrations after the war, asking her to marry him...
Shaking his head angrily he stepped out of the shower. He glanced at the mirror, a haggard, bloodshot face starred back. Growling angrily, he punched the mirror, cracking the glass. Pain shot through his hand. He starred at it dumbly as blood trickled from his knuckles. Grabbing a white cloth he bound his hand.
A half hour later, Duo stood at the New York space port. He had forsaken his minister's outfit in favor of jeans and a brown leather jacket. His hair was not braided but hung free at his back. He had no suitcase. In his pockets he had his wallet with as much money as the bank would let him withdraw, A small package, and a picture of Hilde.
A tall Arabic man strode forward. "Are you Duo Maxwell?" He asked. Duo nodded. "Master Quatre's shuttle is right this way." Nodding again Duo followed him silently.
Quatre's shuttle was empty. Duo chose a seat towards the back and collapsed into it. The engines thrummed to life. A minute later Duo was asleep.
When he awoke, Duo found himself lying on a bed in what seemed to be a guest room. Stretching, Duo rolled to his feet. Walking to the door, he peeked out the door. A hall led to an elaborate staircase. Shrugging he wandered downstairs. His stomach led him to the kitchen. Walking over to the fridge he opened. Sitting in front was a slice of Sausage pizza, Hilde's favorite. Fighting tears he slammed the door shut. Miserably he walked back to the living room.
Quatre was sitting on the couch starring out the window. Turning, he smiled, "Afternoon Duo, I was wondering when you'd wake up."
Duo nodded noncommittally and sat down in an armchair across from Quatre. Sensing that Duo was not in the mood for pleasantries, Quatre merely handed him a cup of tea. Duo smiled weakly and accepted it.
After a few minutes, he sighed, "It's been a month now." Quatre said nothing and waited for him to continue. "Routine mission. Damn it Quatre, it wasn't even a mission!" Duo exploded. Springing to his feet he started to pace. "It was a freaking shuttle flight. The only reason I wasn't on it was because I was too damn cheap to ship my Mobile Suit. Those pirates attacked for no reason. Fifty Torus models. With Deathscythe Hell it should have been a slaughter. The shuttle shouldn't have been scratched. And there was a contingent of Virgos with us. Virgos! But there was a suit. I never got a good look at it. It was everywhere at once." Duo seemed to have expended all of his energy and slumped into his chair trembling. "I tried Quatre. I tried so hard." Tears began to leak from his eyes and he closed them.
Quatre reached out and patted his hand sympathetically. "Duo, it's not your faul-"
"Of course it's my fault!" Duo was up and pacing again. "I was there Quatre, I was there. I was hacking my way through a bunch of Toruses while that, that suit, was killing her. How is it not my fault?" He collapsed again, panting from his outburst.
Quatre kept his voice placating as he answered. "That suit was superior to yours. How could you fight it?"
This time Duo did not explode he just put his hand over his eyes and said quietly, "Quatre, during the war, there wasn't a pilot we couldn't take out, a suit we couldn't beat. How is it that in two years we've become so weak? Wuffei would be calling us all foolish children if he wasn't to busy fighting in the border colonies."
Quatre stayed quiet for a few moments and mulled over what he had said. "What you need, I think, is something to take your mind off of the tragedy." Brightening he said, "You should come to Heero and Releena's wedding. All of our friends will be there. Zechs will probably show up and I know he and Heero won't be able to resist competing at something."
"Yeah, I guess." Duo said hollowly. Starring forlornely into space he downed his tea. "When is the," He paused for a moment as though he were about to choke. "When's the wedding."
"Next Saturday. Didn't you get an invitation?"
"I haven't bothered looking at my mail since, since," He couldn't finish the sentence, "I haven't looked at my mail for a month." He glanced down at the floor, embarrassed at his inability to finish a sentence.
Quatre drew Duo into a friendly embrace. "It's all going to be Ok. I'm here for you, we're all here for you. Me, Trowa, Heero, even Wuffei, any of us will try and help you any way we can. Everything's going to be fine, all right?"
Duo nodded and gave another weak smile, "Thanks Quatre. You're not gonna lock me in my room or anything are you?"
Quatre laughed, "Of course not, Duo! Feel free to roam the grounds all you like. I usually swim in the Oasis at dawn, it's so peaceful. You should join me some morning. And remember if you need anything at all just come find me."
For the first time in a month Duo smiled, a real genuine smile. "Thanks alot old buddy." With that he stood and wandered off to explore the house.
Quatre watched him leave and smiled. "I think he's going to be all right," he murmured.