Title: Redemption
Author: Akima The Stampede Maxwell
Written: November 27, 2001
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: 1+2, 2+1(eventually), 3+4, 4+3
Category: angst, violence, yaoi
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and other stuff mentioned that is anime is not mine (which really sux `cause GW kicks so much ass!) :)

Chapter 1: Reunion


Cobalt blue eyes looked over the computer screen searching over emails for anything he could read about missions. He knew that it was pointless. The world had been at peace for several years now. Four to be exact. He noticed a particular message from Quatre. It informed him of a get-together at his mansion. Everyone was promised to be there-except for a certain braided pilot.

`We haven`t seen him in four years since the wars ended...when he was finally rescued. `

*Flashback* Four years ago...

"Now let peace live forever!" Relena exclaimed after her return to the throne as Queen of the World once again. The four pilots minus Duo stood in front of the stage.

"Do you think they will find out what happened to Duo?" Quatre asked. Heero shrugged.

"Maxwell was probably living it up while we did all the dirty work." Wufei said. Relena cleared her throat. The room quieted down.

"Several of our pilots involved in the war were captured. Thankfully this morning several of them were rescued. I have a list of them. After the speech please come by the stage and look for any friends or family members. Their current location is mentioned as well. Thank you."

Cheers filled the room. Quatre was the first one to run forward and grab the sheet. Heero smirked.

"The baka`s not in there! Wufei`s right! He`s probably somewhere...."

"Here he is!"

"Huh?!" three voices asked at the same time. The four crowded the sheet. Wufei`s eyes widened.

"It says here that he was one of the first to actually be captured! No wonder Maxwell never checked in with us!"

"Not just that but he sent out a distress call while we were taking a break! Remember?"

They all nodded. Quatre`s mouth twisted into a frown.

"Guys...what if he doesn`t want to see us? We did leave him. We didn`t even look for him."

"Hmm...Quatre has a point." Trowa muttered "But I still want to see him."

"Trowa`s right. We still need to try and fix this."

"Maxwell should realize that this was a war."

They all left to get to a hospital downtown in New York where Duo was being held. They entered the room to find Duo facing the window in a wheelchair. All they could see was the top of his chestnut colored head. His braid lay off to his left. Quatre began to run forward when Duo`s bandaged hand came up.

"Hold it right there."

Quatre froze halfway across the room. He looked confused. Wufei took a few steps forward until he stood beside Quatre.

"Maxwell, we..."

"Don`t say another damn word."

Duo`s hands reached down and clenched to the wheels of his chair. He slowly turned around with a bit of resistance in the tires. Cuts and bruises littered his face. A deep cut lay across his lips which were twisted into an ugly scowl. Both of his legs were obviously broken. No one could tell how extense the damage underneath the hospital garment. His eyes twitched. They were glittered and glazed over. Anyone could tell that he had gone through serious hell. Quatre took a step forward.

"God, Duo..."

"Shut up. I thought that at least you would have gotten information on my whereabouts but you also left me for dead. How could you?"

Wufei backed up by a few steps. Trowa`s mouth was stuck open. Heero had already backed up to the door. He put his hand on the knob and twisted. Duo`s eyes darted to him. The look of pure hatred made Heero stop cold.

"So you want to leave me alone again, eh, Heero? Fine. Go. See if I care. I survived this long by myself then I should be by myself."

Heero let go of the knob. Duo`s eyes narrowed to slits.

"I want you all to leave now. From this moment on we are no longer friends."

"Maxwell, don`t be foolish! We..."

"Had to finish your mission even though friends should matter more. After the war what is left? Friends. I can see now that I had the wrong friends. Do have any idea what it`s like to be in a dank, pitch black cell with complete silence as soldiers beat you nearly everyday while you pray to be rescued by your friends to be rewarded with only a realization that they left you? You will never know. Now...go or I will tell them that you all are bothering me."

No one spoke. Duo turned back towards the window. Trowa was the first to turn away followed by Wufei. As soon as they left the room Quatre, after looking back at Duo one last time, was next. Heero stood for a moment and stared at Duo. He left Duo there by the window.

*Present*

Something warm trickled down Heero`s cheek. He wiped it away fiercely.

`Stupid tears! The Perfect Soldier doesn`t cry! Wait...how am I the Perfect Soldier anymore? The war is over. What am I to do? Perhaps Quatre`s party will be the start.`

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After putting on a nice green shirt jacket and a pair of green khakis with dark brown boots he left on a plane. He hailed a taxi once in city limits. Heero pulled up to the Winner Estate. He looked over it.

`I had forgotten how impressive this was.`

"Heero, you came!" a familiar voice exclaimed. He saw the blond ex-pilot run over to him with a big smile on his face. The blond`s hair was a bit longer but not by much. He wore a pink long sleeve dress shirt and a pair of black slacks along with black dress shoes. He shook hands with Heero vigorously.

"Who else is here?", Heero asked.

"Trowa. Wufei will be here shortly. Several other guests are here including Zechs and Noin. Relena will also be arriving but a little in the evening."

Heero rolled his eyes. Quatre laughed.

"She still after you?"

"Yep. She sent me so many emails that I had to open a new account."

They both laughed. Quatre was the first to stop.

"It feels good to laugh. So many bad things happened because of the war that it`s hard to find a reason to laugh. I had the idea for this party so we could find that reason."

"It was a good idea, Quatre."

Quatre beamed. Heero turned towards the mansion. He suddenly felt guilt overtake him as a slight memory of his former partner flitted through his mind. He shook his head from side to side to shake it. He looked back at Quatre.

"Show me around?"

"Gladly!"

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Heero greeted people inside. He stopped briefly to speak with and congradulate Zechs and Noin who were engaged to be married. He sucked in his breath as Hilde approached him with a wide grin.

"Hey, Heero! I didn`t know that you were coming!"

"Spur-of-the-moment thing."

"I know what you mean! I was given the invitation by email just this morning! I had to come! I missed you guys! We should have done this a long time ago!"

Heero nodded in agreement. Hide slightly frowned.

"What`s wrong?" Heero asked.

"I wish that Duo could come. I wish that the fight between you guys could have been righted back then. It`s just not the same without him."

"...Yeah. Too bad."

Heero felt that sick feeling again in the pit of his stomach. He really did not want to have this conversation right then. He needed air. He put up a hand.

"I need to get some air. Do you know where..."

"Come on, Heero! You wanted me to show you around, right?" Quatre asked. Heero nodded. He shook hands with Hilde.

"Good seeing you. I must go now."

Hilde waved.

"See ya later, guys!"

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Quatre lead Heero through nearly every room and bathroom in the mansion. Neither was very tired. Quatre sighed.

"So that`s about it. If you want to stay here overnight then I`ll let you pick a room."

"That would be good."

"Great!"

"I`d like some fresh air now. Where is a balcony?"

"Right around that corner. You can`t miss it."

"Thanks." Heero muttered.

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Heero stared off into the distance. The beautiful landscape of trees and grasslands went for miles. He sighed.

`Funny. Around peace I can not have peace. I still feel the same emptiness I felt when Duo told us to leave. What is my problem? Why can`t I recover?`

He chuckled to himself. He had been trained for so long to hide his feelings that he denied feeling anything. He knew that something was there but he could not describe it. His mind would not let him call it a feeling. He was accustomed to being emotionless. He welcomed it. He needed it. It gave him strength. With the wall failing he felt vulnerable. Without war there was no way to repair it.

`Do I really want to feel nothing? Everybody seems to like me better when I...feel but do I really care what they think?`

He looked back at the mansion.

`Yes....No....I don`t know anymore.`

He stared back at the scenary. Suddenly he felt cold again. If it were possible to die of grief he felt would be the first.

He thought back to that mission four years ago. Duo had left the battle field during their first attack. Weeks had gone by without a single word from him. They all assumed that he was okay. They believed that he was just working on another part of the mission or even slacking off in some place where he was safe.

During that time he was being beaten and screamed at with obsenities that the lighthearted braided boy did not deserve. Maybe Duo was right. Maybe they did leave him behind. Maybe the silence for a change had been a blessing. It had been…until they found out about Duo`s whereabouts during the time.

Footsteps behind Heero made him come out of his thoughts.

"I`ll come in, Quatre. Just let me stand here a bit longer."

"Take your time."

That wasn`t Quatre. That voice was definitely not trowa`s or Wufei`s or Zechs or anybody else`s but one.

That was Duo.