Disclaimer: I don't own anything Gundam Wing related :*( But I do own any OCs in this story(there will be a lot)
Note: Please Please tell me if there are any inconsitancy errors, I'm actually rewriting this from a very long time ago. Let me know if you enjoy!
Pairings: None for now
Death Intriguing
A.C. 197
Duo stared at the Kitchen countertop for a good five minutes, his eyes blank and void of emotions as he reached to the top drawer and pulled it open. He reached in and pulled out one of the steak knives, the sharp blade reflecting the light from outside. He held his wrist up towards him, taking the knife and neatly piercing the skin.
The door to the house burst open, as Hilde walked in carrying groceries. "Duo, I need you to…" She screamed, dropping the paper bag of fruit and spilling it all over the floor.
Duo looked up at her curiously, the knife pressed to his skin as a couple drops of red liquid ran down his wrist. Hilde looked at him in shock, before rage overcame her and she marched over to her boyfriend and yanked the sharp object from his grasp. "Duo! What the hell are you doing?!"
"It's not what it looks like, I swear!" He said, backing up and giving her a nervous look.
The seventeen-year old former OZ soldier gave him a warning glare. "Then what were you doing? Because it looked like you were cutting yourself!"
"I'm not suicidal, I'm experimenting." He reasoned, leaning down to salvage what was left of the fruit on the floor.
Hilde stood over him and folded her arms, clearly not convinced. "What kind of experiment would involve you risking your life?! If you had cut any deeper, you could have hit an artery and died! Does that not mean anything to you?!"
Duo stood, giving her a bored expression. "Look, I know I sound crazy, but I honestly believe I can't die."
Hilde threw her arms in the air and sighed with exasperation, turning to leave. "Not this again. Please, not now!"
"I'm serious!" He said, following after her. "Every time I've nearly encountered Death, some miracle happens and I end up seeing another day! Like just now! You walked in right at the perfect moment to stop me."
"That was a fluke." She said, reaching her car and opening the trunk.
"Oh yeah? What about the time we first met, when you showed up just before a Mobile Doll was about to kill me?"
"Duo…"
"And after that! When I was suffocating in my cell and the door magically opened just when we were about to die!"
Hilde shook her head, grabbing another bag from the trunk.
"Then there was the time I tried to self-detonate, but it wouldn't work. And before that, when I tried to blow up Deathscythe and the building I was in, but Professor G rigged the detonation switch. When I was three, my house got blown up by missiles, and I barely missed them because I was playing outside and the tree covered me from the blast. There was also the Maxwell Church, which got blown up too when I just so happened to be away. And you wanna know how many times I've been shot at? And they all missed!"
"If I remember correctly, I shot you and made a hit." She said, entering the kitchen and setting the food on the counter.
"That was my mobile suit, and sorry baby, but you still missed my vitals."
She glared at him, leaning against the counter with an annoyed look. "Duo, so maybe you have a Guardian Angel, but it doesn't mean you're "death"-retardant. You can still die. You bleed mortal."
"But what if I'm not? What if I'm immortal?" He questioned, though it was more out of sarcasm and humor than seriousness.
Hilde rolled her eyes. "Duo, come on, this is getting ridiculous…"
"But I'm serious! It's like I have a protection spell on me or something."
"Protection Spell? Please, Duo. You don't really believe in witchcraft, do you?"
"No, but what other explanation is there?"
"A stroke of good luck?"
He gave her a serious look, but she shook her head and walked out to get more groceries. "What about the wreck the other day, you have to admit that was strange."
"It was luck."
"I was about to get hit by a car! When another car knocked it out of the way! In a one way street! No passing zone!"
"Duo, please, just stop."
"And it's not like I wasn't ready to die. I've always been ready to die. In fact, I'm curious to know what happens when we do die."
"Duo!" She yelled, swerving around and glaring at him. "What is your fascination with death?! I thought the whole 'God of Death' thing was pretty cool, especially given the reason behind it, but you really don't believe you are, right?"
He thought for a moment. "That could be a possibility…"
"Duo!"
"What?! I'm kidding!" He said, throwing his hands up in defense as she marched inside with another bag of groceries. Duo followed behind, carrying the last bag. "I don't even believe in God. I worked with scientists, and I'm a realist. Quatre's the only one who believes in that stuff. I just think I've had one too many brushes with death for it to not be a coincidence."
"Then what could it be?" She questioned. "Go on, explain this to me."
He sighed, realizing she was beyond reasoning with now, and figured this was a losing battle. "You know what, nevermind. I have work to do." He said, turning on his heel and marching out.
"Duo, wait, Duo!" She called, following after him. But he was already gone, and she was left alone to sort the groceries by herself.
Duo mumbled incoherent curses to himself as he made his way through the bustling streets of the colony, occasionally glancing at his phone to check if he had any calls. It wasn't like he was purposely trying to upset her; she just didn't understand his situation. He knew there was something wrong with him, ever since that wreck that could have killed him, he knew. And it wasn't a fluke that he was standing in front of it either.
He didn't want to die; well, not in the selfish way. Death was simply fascinating to him, and he wished he knew more about it; about what happened when people died, where their souls went, if there really were Reapers of Death. He wanted to know why he couldn't die, when everyone else around him seemed to. Everyone eventually dies, but Duo had seen more of his loved ones-and not so loved ones-pass away than he wanted to remember. His parents, Father Maxwell and Sister Helen, Solo, Professor G… He dreaded the day Hilde would disappear, but it seemed she would be walking out sooner than breathing her last breath, if he continued with his tirade.
He sometimes felt like he was purposely trying to push her out, since she herself had had too many scrapes with death. There was the time he saved her when they first met, then when she stole information from Libra, and again when she tried to join a mission with the Preventers to help rescue Relena on her Seventeenth birthday. Everything had gone according to plan, but Hilde just didn't know how to stay still. Of course, they probably would have died if she hadn't snuck in and learned the plans of the enemy, but she got shot and put in the hospital as a result. Her dealing with battles usually ended in near fatal disasters, and he wasn't willing to let that happen again.
Feigning desire for suicide was really the only thing he could come up with, at least for now. Besides, it wasn't hard when things seemed to go his way and somehow, miraculously control the events to keep him from dying. It was almost like some god was up there smiting him for the mere hell of it. Or… not smiting him…
Duo's thoughts were interrupted by his cell phone blaring to life, and he looked at it half expecting Hilde to be calling to beg him to come home. It was usually how their fights ended, which had been more frequent the past couple months. However, he was delighted to see Wufei's number flashing on the screen, and he knew the only reason he called was for a mission.
"Hello?" He answered, listening to the voice on the other end giving him details of the new mission. "Right! I'll be right there!" He said, hanging up and inwardly cheering. I haven't been on a mission in months! It's more like a vacation to me. He thought to himself, heading down the streets towards the spaceport. Once he crossed the large intersection up ahead, he figured he would call for a taxi to take him the rest of the way.
He was frightened, alone, wondering the streets of the bustling crowds in fear as he glanced around his shoulder every chance he got. The small boy tried to maneuver through the multitude of people, pushing passed them and unable to see around him. He was barely tall enough to reach a counter top, let alone see where he was going. He had to get away, he had to find someone who could take him home.
"If you are ever lost in the Mortal World, find Death, and it will lead you home." Said the voice of his mother echoing through his head. The boy looked around, seeing white transparent numbers over the heads of the people. They were counting down to some event, but none of them looked even remotely close to zero.
He was beginning to panic, as he felt a dark shadow looming over him. He raced down the streets, ducking and squeezing between passerby's to get away from the darkness.
He paused, seeing a figure walking along the streets. It was a young man, with a long braid swaying as he walked. He could see the dark aura around him, and the small number that should have been over him was missing. The boy began to inwardly rejoice, because it meant one thing; it was his ticket home.
The boy raced after him, following the young man as he began to cross the four-way intersection up ahead. He knew that if he didn't catch up, he would probably lose him, and then he might never get home. He had to act fast, he had to get home.
However, he was too far away, and once the boy made it to the intersection, the stop sign was flashing, and the lights turned green.
I have to run! He thought, jumping into traffic anyway. He was more scared of the dark figure chasing him than the chance of getting run over. At least if a car hit him, he would survive.
Horns started blaring loudly, and a couple cars had to swerve to miss him. The boy ignored them, his eyes trained on the figure he had to reach. His mind was racing, and he was beginning to stumble, until finally he fell flat on his face and skinned his knees on the pavement.
He got up, his limbs weak from running, almost giving way beneath him. A loud sound pierced his thoughts, and he looked up just as a car was speeding for him.
He closed his eyes and waited for impact.
Then it hit him.
Duo was lost in thought about his new mission, the only highlight of his day so far. He was actually humming an unfamiliar tune as he made it across the street. He stood at the corner and got ready to wave for a taxi, when suddenly his thoughts were penetrated by the sound of multiple car horns.
People began to gasp and scream, and he looked up to see a child crossing the street in the middle of traffic, headed his way. What the hell is that kid thinking?! He thought to himself, as cars started to swerve to miss him.
People stood to the side watching and pointing, whispering about the poor boy and that someone should help him. That was one reason why he hated civilians; they always wanted someone else to save the innocent.
Suddenly the boy tripped and fell to the ground, and more people started to murmur and gasp. Duo decided to take it upon himself to help the kid, and headed into traffic.
The crosswalk was rather large, fitting eight lanes total since they were in such a large city. He didn't bother to worry if he would get hit, he never did.
Suddenly something caught his attention, and he saw a car speeding toward the kid. The driver honked, but he didn't bother to swerve out of the way or even stomp on his breaks. Duo turned and made a mad dash for the kid.
He slammed into the boy, shoving him out of the way and holding him close to keep from hurting him more than he already was. They rolled to the side just as the light turned red and traffic finally came to a stop.
People started gathering around then, a couple calling 911 to make sure the two were alright. Duo sat up, the kid clinging to him for dear life, and sighed when he realized he was okay.
That's strike 57 for me, and none for Death… again… Duo thought to himself, trying to push the boy away. His grip was strong, and he was obviously scared. "Hey, kid, you alright?"
The boy looked up at him, his large deep blue orbs filled with fear until he realized who had saved him. He nodded, loosening his grip and calming his nerves.
Duo sighed, standing up and pulling the kid with him, the boy barely tall enough to reach his waist. He didn't look any older than seven or eight, with a mess of the deepest coal black hair he had ever seen. Duo would have figured it to be a die job, but who would let a child change the color of their hair?
"Are you two okay?" Asked a random person, as the police started to show up. Some of the cars that did swerve were stopped to make sure the two were alright.
"We're fine." Said Duo to the woman with a large yellow hat. He turned to the kid, who had a death grip on his hand. He didn't know why, but the boy seemed to cling to him while shying away from everyone else. Probably because he saved him. "Hey, what were you doing running out into traffic like that? Did you want to get yourself killed?"
The boy shook his head and buried his face into the side of Duo's shirt. Duo felt awkward, but he really didn't know what to do.
"Awe, is that your brother?" Asked another person.
"No…"
A couple of officers walked up and started asking questions, and Duo realized he would probably be there for another couple hours.
The paramedics arrived to check them, but the boy wouldn't let any of them near him. He wouldn't talk to anyone, he wouldn't let anyone touch him, and if they got too close he would shy away and burry his face in Duo's shirt. Duo didn't know what to make of him, and he would have figured the boy to probably run off, but he continued to cling to Duo like he was his big brother or something. Even after an hour of trying to get him to talk, he wouldn't leave his side for nothing.
Finally people started to leave and the Ambulance drove off, thankfully empty handed. The two Officers continued to try and question the boy, if only to find out where he lived so they could take him home.
"Where are your parents?" Asked one of the cops, a young man with short brown hair and a badge that read Wilson. "And why were you wondering the streets alone?"
The boy didn't answer, but kept his hand in Duo's and his face buried. He refused to acknowledge anyone else.
Duo sighed; the boy was like a leech. He couldn't get rid of him for nothing. He felt bad, but he had somewhere he needed to be. He figured since the boy wouldn't leave him, he could probably get him to talk if they were alone.
"Look, I'm a Preventer, so I could take him to the Headquarters and get this straightened out from there." Said Duo, the boy looking up at him like he was his savior. Duo pulled out his badge, something he always had on him just in case of an emergency, and showed it to the officers.
"Very well." Said Wilson. "Be careful kid." The man ruffled the boy's hair, and the kid looked at him like he had been touched by a vial creature. The two officers ignored the boy's reaction and left.
Duo sighed and looked down at the kid. "So, I guess I'm stuck with you for now, huh?"
The boy didn't answer, only buried his face in his shirt again. He was cute, but he was starting to annoy Duo only because he wouldn't say anything. He hadn't even spoken a word since they met.
"Well I'm headed to the Space Port, but I can't pay for your ticket. Won't you tell me where you live so I can take you home?" He tried again.
"I thought you would know." The kid said innocently, looking up at him in confusion.
Duo paused. "Huh? How would I know?"
"Because you're like me."
Duo started to become confused. What was this kid talking about? He had never met him before in his life. "What do you mean, like you? I've never met you."
"Yeah, but, we're the same."
"How are we the same?"
"We're both apart of Death."
To be continued
And there's the first chapter! XD I'm excited to be publishing this one, I started it years ago and it was really good, but I got stuck. When I went back to it, so many more ideas came to me, I think I just needed a break from it lol. Please leave reviews!
