O Aijo Katsute O Aijo Itsumo des
(To Love Once is To Love Forever)
Sagitta
A/N: Death and angst up ahead; I swear, I don't like killing off MK characters! (Cringes against angry readers who have just read about their fav bishounen blown to bits). But this was just the type of fic I wanted to try once. So sue me (jk, please don't). Pairings: Hiead/Zero (duh), Zero/Erts (for a very short time), Yamagi/Roose (uh....don't know where I got that from), and Rio/Yu (is that pairing even possible?)
1 Chapter One: Unfinished Goodbyes
1.1.1 To love once is to love forever; you never let them go
And once you do your life is a barren field of snow
You deny yourself the truth, and your mind says only nay
But your heart knows and yearns for them throughout the livelong day.
Hiead's POV
You don't snore in your sleep, you know. Contrary to popular belief. You just kinda. . .drift, sinks into the sands of the Shores of Sleep like the coarse grains are pillows. Unlike me; I can't sleep, not when *you* keep calling me back.
Damnit, I'm thinking of you again. I would give anything to erase your image from my mind; erase your name from my memory. Or maybe I wouldn't.
It's funny how everyone thinks that *I'm* the strong one. Hiead, the cold, selfish bastard. The one that picks on you just because you are the perfect pilot to pick on. The one that is secretly obsessed with you and anything that has anything to do with you (I have a clandestine list of items that I believe are Zero-ish).
I don't know when this obsession began. Maybe from the moment I saw you, I knew you were going to be my rival. Maybe it just *clicked*, like we were destined to be together, like....love at first sight?
No, I don't think our relationship's built on love, Zero.
*We* weren't meant to be, Zero. *You* were. You're probably fated to become the greatest pilot there ever was. I just hijacked history and decided to make sure that your getting there would be a major pain in the ass.
Or maybe it's me. Maybe I'm going to be the winner, the victorious one. People will follow me because I'm strong. .
And they'll follow you because they want to.
I shift slightly. Staring at you all night has made my neck cramped. But I'm getting used to it; I've done it so often. And it's worth it.
You look so vulnerable in your sleep, Zero. Not the great, gallant warrior everyone sees in the day. Your chestnut hair billows across your face like a curtain, and you sometimes smile in your dreams. Sweet dreams, Zero.
No. I shouldn't be saying that. Why am I saying that? You're my rival. I'm supposed to be the victor. One way or another, I'll be the pilot of the White Goddess. The world's just not big enough for the two of us.
When the time comes for the final battle between us, I'll be the one standing before you, with the blade drawn. . .
But will I strike?
~*~
Zero clutched the control panel, ready to defend if another onslaught came. He had never seen Hiead attack with such a fury before, as if venting all he had on this battle. "Hiead, most of the outside communications are blocked by the glitch! Stop it now!"
Hiead didn't reply, and instead rammed the saber at the AHW's shoulder. Zero grunted as he was shoved back, skidding a few feet. He blocked the next attack and glanced at the panel; his left arm was only at 30% capacity, but he had been through worse before. "Damnit! Alright, Hiead, you want a battle?! *You got one*!" With that, he opened fire suddenly at the enemy's vulnerable side, but Hiead had already anticipated the attack and dove to the side. Zero could hear Kizna's frantic pleads calling at him to come out, wait till the glitch's fixed.... "I can't," he growled.
Hiead raised the saber again and faked a right, coming down with the ammunition at the legs. But Zero had fought too long to actually fall for it; he raised a shield to take the blow and countered the saber. "I told you, stop it!"
Hiead's voice was a shock to him when it came, like a chilly wind, harsh and cold. "What, because you're losing now?" He stepped back slightly, looking for more open spots.
Zero was slightly taken back before his temper flared again. "I'm not gonna lose, Hiead! You're the one who's going down!" And then he charged, not at Hiead's suit, but at the boy's saber at the right.
Hiead was surprised, expecting a frontal assault, and the hand holding the saber was sliced off. Zero was already seeing red, and he didn't hesitate to ram the partially immobilized AHW to the ground, pinning him under the bulk. "Cede?"
Hiead suddenly kneed up (much like when he and Zero would fight without suits), forcing Zero back, and loosed a barrage of some of his last ammunition. Zero cursed when he realized most of his parts were knocked out.
Hiead yanked Zero's gunblade out of his grasp and held it above him. Zero sighed in defeat and closed his eyes. But then Hiead spoke.
"I. . .cede." He moved back and threw down the gunblade. Zero opened his eyes and stared in astonishment at the retreating form.
". . . huh?"
~*~
1.2
1.3 Zero's POV
Kizna and Erts greeted me outside. They were ecstatic; they hadn't seen the battle, but knew that Hiead had taken the advantage since I tried to defend and pull out. I pushed them away.
I hadn't won. It wasn't my victory by right. I tried to tell them that, but they told me I was being modest.
"You've got the Ingrid now, Zero! I think I should call up the others and see if a party's up for tonight, eh?" Kizna chatted cheerfully, tugging at my arm.
"Hiead. . ." I protested, trying to free my arm, which was already numb from lack of circulation. I looked desperately to the hall where he had walked out without a word.
"The Iceberg?" Kizna made a face. "Oh come on, who cares about him? Let's go grab some drinks – "
"Let him go, Kizna," Erts whispered softly, smiling at me angelically. Any other time I would have melted, but this was urgent. I needed to find Hiead. And fast.
I bolted down the hallway, ignoring other pilots' looks or congrats. I stopped at my – our – room and stared.
Hiead was packing. Just shoving his things down his bag, not like Hiead. The normal Hiead would have folded everything. I hesitated to speak and break the silence – that would seem like sacrilege, for some absurd reason. ". .Hiead?"
Hiead stops still and turns around to look at me. "Are you coming for another congratulations?" His voice is flat and bitter. "Or just to gloat?"
"Not to gloat," I mutter. I look at him. "Hiead, why did you. .?" Some questions don't have to be said.
Hiead didn't look back at me. "My suit broke down. That's all."
"No, it didn't."
"You weren't in that suit," he snapped sullenly. "Just leave me alone, alright?"
I stepped in. It was now or never. "Why are you packing then?"
Hiead zipped the bag. "I'm leaving," he said calmly. "I'm going to a colony."
I was stunned. I suspected it since a few moments ago but. . .to hear Hiead say it was like a confirmed death sentence. "Why? Just because of one fake loss?"
He didn't respond, and shouldered past me to the hallway. I ran after him. "Hiead, you damn bastard, speak to me!" I grabbed his shoulder. His look was so bitingly cold it was as if a Victim had seized me in its jaws. "Just tell me why you forfeited!"
Hiead kept silent, and continued walking past me. Then he looked back once, and there was so much of Hiead in those ruby eyes that I stopped still, breathtaken. "I didn't strike," he finally said. "I don't deserve to be a pilot." He pushed the door open. I grabbed it as he walked away.
"Hiead, wait! *Wait*!"
Hiead kept walking.
"Wait. . ."
He didn't look back again.
(To Love Once is To Love Forever)
Sagitta
A/N: Death and angst up ahead; I swear, I don't like killing off MK characters! (Cringes against angry readers who have just read about their fav bishounen blown to bits). But this was just the type of fic I wanted to try once. So sue me (jk, please don't). Pairings: Hiead/Zero (duh), Zero/Erts (for a very short time), Yamagi/Roose (uh....don't know where I got that from), and Rio/Yu (is that pairing even possible?)
1 Chapter One: Unfinished Goodbyes
1.1.1 To love once is to love forever; you never let them go
And once you do your life is a barren field of snow
You deny yourself the truth, and your mind says only nay
But your heart knows and yearns for them throughout the livelong day.
Hiead's POV
You don't snore in your sleep, you know. Contrary to popular belief. You just kinda. . .drift, sinks into the sands of the Shores of Sleep like the coarse grains are pillows. Unlike me; I can't sleep, not when *you* keep calling me back.
Damnit, I'm thinking of you again. I would give anything to erase your image from my mind; erase your name from my memory. Or maybe I wouldn't.
It's funny how everyone thinks that *I'm* the strong one. Hiead, the cold, selfish bastard. The one that picks on you just because you are the perfect pilot to pick on. The one that is secretly obsessed with you and anything that has anything to do with you (I have a clandestine list of items that I believe are Zero-ish).
I don't know when this obsession began. Maybe from the moment I saw you, I knew you were going to be my rival. Maybe it just *clicked*, like we were destined to be together, like....love at first sight?
No, I don't think our relationship's built on love, Zero.
*We* weren't meant to be, Zero. *You* were. You're probably fated to become the greatest pilot there ever was. I just hijacked history and decided to make sure that your getting there would be a major pain in the ass.
Or maybe it's me. Maybe I'm going to be the winner, the victorious one. People will follow me because I'm strong. .
And they'll follow you because they want to.
I shift slightly. Staring at you all night has made my neck cramped. But I'm getting used to it; I've done it so often. And it's worth it.
You look so vulnerable in your sleep, Zero. Not the great, gallant warrior everyone sees in the day. Your chestnut hair billows across your face like a curtain, and you sometimes smile in your dreams. Sweet dreams, Zero.
No. I shouldn't be saying that. Why am I saying that? You're my rival. I'm supposed to be the victor. One way or another, I'll be the pilot of the White Goddess. The world's just not big enough for the two of us.
When the time comes for the final battle between us, I'll be the one standing before you, with the blade drawn. . .
But will I strike?
~*~
Zero clutched the control panel, ready to defend if another onslaught came. He had never seen Hiead attack with such a fury before, as if venting all he had on this battle. "Hiead, most of the outside communications are blocked by the glitch! Stop it now!"
Hiead didn't reply, and instead rammed the saber at the AHW's shoulder. Zero grunted as he was shoved back, skidding a few feet. He blocked the next attack and glanced at the panel; his left arm was only at 30% capacity, but he had been through worse before. "Damnit! Alright, Hiead, you want a battle?! *You got one*!" With that, he opened fire suddenly at the enemy's vulnerable side, but Hiead had already anticipated the attack and dove to the side. Zero could hear Kizna's frantic pleads calling at him to come out, wait till the glitch's fixed.... "I can't," he growled.
Hiead raised the saber again and faked a right, coming down with the ammunition at the legs. But Zero had fought too long to actually fall for it; he raised a shield to take the blow and countered the saber. "I told you, stop it!"
Hiead's voice was a shock to him when it came, like a chilly wind, harsh and cold. "What, because you're losing now?" He stepped back slightly, looking for more open spots.
Zero was slightly taken back before his temper flared again. "I'm not gonna lose, Hiead! You're the one who's going down!" And then he charged, not at Hiead's suit, but at the boy's saber at the right.
Hiead was surprised, expecting a frontal assault, and the hand holding the saber was sliced off. Zero was already seeing red, and he didn't hesitate to ram the partially immobilized AHW to the ground, pinning him under the bulk. "Cede?"
Hiead suddenly kneed up (much like when he and Zero would fight without suits), forcing Zero back, and loosed a barrage of some of his last ammunition. Zero cursed when he realized most of his parts were knocked out.
Hiead yanked Zero's gunblade out of his grasp and held it above him. Zero sighed in defeat and closed his eyes. But then Hiead spoke.
"I. . .cede." He moved back and threw down the gunblade. Zero opened his eyes and stared in astonishment at the retreating form.
". . . huh?"
~*~
1.2
1.3 Zero's POV
Kizna and Erts greeted me outside. They were ecstatic; they hadn't seen the battle, but knew that Hiead had taken the advantage since I tried to defend and pull out. I pushed them away.
I hadn't won. It wasn't my victory by right. I tried to tell them that, but they told me I was being modest.
"You've got the Ingrid now, Zero! I think I should call up the others and see if a party's up for tonight, eh?" Kizna chatted cheerfully, tugging at my arm.
"Hiead. . ." I protested, trying to free my arm, which was already numb from lack of circulation. I looked desperately to the hall where he had walked out without a word.
"The Iceberg?" Kizna made a face. "Oh come on, who cares about him? Let's go grab some drinks – "
"Let him go, Kizna," Erts whispered softly, smiling at me angelically. Any other time I would have melted, but this was urgent. I needed to find Hiead. And fast.
I bolted down the hallway, ignoring other pilots' looks or congrats. I stopped at my – our – room and stared.
Hiead was packing. Just shoving his things down his bag, not like Hiead. The normal Hiead would have folded everything. I hesitated to speak and break the silence – that would seem like sacrilege, for some absurd reason. ". .Hiead?"
Hiead stops still and turns around to look at me. "Are you coming for another congratulations?" His voice is flat and bitter. "Or just to gloat?"
"Not to gloat," I mutter. I look at him. "Hiead, why did you. .?" Some questions don't have to be said.
Hiead didn't look back at me. "My suit broke down. That's all."
"No, it didn't."
"You weren't in that suit," he snapped sullenly. "Just leave me alone, alright?"
I stepped in. It was now or never. "Why are you packing then?"
Hiead zipped the bag. "I'm leaving," he said calmly. "I'm going to a colony."
I was stunned. I suspected it since a few moments ago but. . .to hear Hiead say it was like a confirmed death sentence. "Why? Just because of one fake loss?"
He didn't respond, and shouldered past me to the hallway. I ran after him. "Hiead, you damn bastard, speak to me!" I grabbed his shoulder. His look was so bitingly cold it was as if a Victim had seized me in its jaws. "Just tell me why you forfeited!"
Hiead kept silent, and continued walking past me. Then he looked back once, and there was so much of Hiead in those ruby eyes that I stopped still, breathtaken. "I didn't strike," he finally said. "I don't deserve to be a pilot." He pushed the door open. I grabbed it as he walked away.
"Hiead, wait! *Wait*!"
Hiead kept walking.
"Wait. . ."
He didn't look back again.