Thank the Reaper

Thank the Reaper

By Gundam Bravo

Neither the Gundam Pilots, nor their mecha or their universe belong to me, I merely twist them to my evil little will on occasion. Don't sue me!

"Thank The Reaper" is the property of Jenni Bravo, all rights reserved.


1

Thank the Reaper

He takes away the pain

The memories fade, the songs die away

All things die away

"Duo! Get out of there!" Heero's voice registered so faintly through Deathscythe's cockpit that Duo almost paid no attention.
"I can't leave now, Heero."

"It's a trap! Get out of there or they'll kill you!" In some part of Duo's mind, a triumphant grin erupted. Heero was worried about him! He did care! But Duo made no move to acknowledge Heero's words.
"I am Shinigami. Death cannot die, Heero." Duo turned to look at Wing nearby. "We cannot die."

"Duo..." Heero sounded fainter... the system must be faulty, Duo thought. "We're going to die today."

"No!" for the first time since they had arrived and been attacked the haze of battle left his eyes, his vision clearing. Wing was battered and heavily damaged... a screen appeared in front of his face. Had Heero lost that much blood? Surely it wasn't as much as it looked like...

"Duo..." he looked up. Wing's pilot's spiky mop of brown hair was matted with blood and clung to his skull. "Duo... it's the end." A small smile on a face that never smiled. Duo was struck by the strangeness of the expression on Heero's stony face. Even during their most tender moments, his koi had never smiled often. It was a gentle smile, awkward and out of place on the features of the Perfect Soldier.

"No... Heero..." Duo reached towards the screen as it vanished in a burst of static and for the first time felt his own wounds. Bruised and battered, he couldn't remember being tossed around the cockpit enough to warrant this... He blinked his eyes; one eye wouldn't open without some difficulty. Blood. Blood all over him. Shards from the cockpit's interior were imbedded in his arm and face. A hand reached up to touch his face; it came away a dark crimson. So much blood...

"Duo! Behind you!" Quatre's voice was thin through the static. A blinding flash of light... There was a scream, though whether it was out loud or inside his head, Duo had no idea. He was paralyzed. Everything was frozen in time, there was no time, only now, only that instant.

"Heero... I love you..."

"I love you, too, Duo." There was a tenderness in his eyes I've never seen before...

"Duo no baka." Yeah, Heero, I love you too.
"
Omae o korosu." But you can't, can you, koi?

"Cut your hair." You'd never forgive me.

"If you ever cut your hair, I'll kill you." See?

"Please... don't make me kill you..." You couldn't do it... You care for me as much as I care for you...

"Shut up." I can't help talking when I'm happy. And you make me happy.

"I love you, too, Duo." Forever, Heero? I promise...

Heero... I love you...

Death can't die...

But in Death lies an escape...

Freedom mere mortals never experience...

Relief from the fighting...

Peace at last...

Forgive me...

HEERO!

2

Thank the Reaper

He brings the silence

The words are lost, faces forgotten

All things die away

"Duo... It's the end..." Heero managed a weak smile before terminating communication. Then he slumped over, bringing his hand away from his abdomen. Not even he could survive the loss of so much blood. His vision was hazy, he couldn't breathe... there was a movement behind Duo... a scream from the Shinigami pilot made him look up, his vision clearing for just long enough to see the one thing he'd hoped he'd never have to witness...

"NO!"

"Heero... I love you..."

Heero cried out as Deathscythe exploded in a myriad of sparks and shrapnel. He couldn't move, the salty tears on his face stung as they crossed the cuts and mingled with his blood to pool on his cheeks. His face twisted with a grimace as he swung Wing around for the last time. They had killed Duo... his Duo... and for that they would die... Better that they had killed him. He screamed and threw himself at the attacking mobile suits, slashing left and right with a beam saber that was rapidly using up the last of Wing's energy reserves. When it was gone, he stood alone, untouched in the blackness of space, surrounded on every side by a ring of enemy suits. A metal angel, a tool of destruction and the bringer of salvation to those he touched. Then the attack came as the other suits overwhelmed the helpess, dying Gundam.

A blinding light, a freezing blackness, a burning pain and an instant of revelation...

"I love you, Heero!" I love you too, koi... more than you can know...

"Where would I be without you?" you laugh... but I would be worthless without you by my side...

"What? Cut my hair? Not on your life!" good... it's beautiful... you're beautiful...

"Are you gonna sit in front of the computer all day?" Oh yes... the computer's there... I've been watching you instead.

"If you self-destruct again, I'll kill you!" I can't kill myself now... not now that I have something to live for...

"Some people just don't appreciate the true beauty of life." I appreciate you... you are the only true beauty in my life, Duo... you are my life... forgive me...

I never expected death so soon...

A blessing to one undeserving...

I fought for peace...

Perhaps now I will find it...

I love you...

I'll join you soon...

DUO!

3

Say goodbye

The world is ending

Make your peace

And fade away

"Duo! Behind you!" Quatre called out weakly. The fragile blond pilot had taken more damage than anyone else had, his suit wasn't intended for space battles and would never be able to fully compete with the others. Trowa had stayed around his gentle lover even on the battlefield, protecting him and taking much of the damage intended for the Sandrock Gundam. But Heavyarms was not invincible, and together the sheer numbers of the enemy troops had worn them down. Now Quatre was desperately trying to warn a dying Duo of the danger behind him - backup troops.

"NO!" Heero's anguished voice echoed through Quatre's cockpit and his eyes filled with tears. Duo was gone. A second explosion marked Heero's exit from the mortal realm moments later.

"Together again... forever..." Quatre murmured, turning his head with difficulty to look out and see Heavyarms, floating uselessly in space as near to him as possible. "Trowa?" nothing. "Trowa!"

"Quatre... hush, little one..." tears rolled down the Arabian pilot's cheeks at the sound of the soft voice he knew so well. "It will all be over soon."

"I don't want to leave you, Trowa..."

"I'm going with you, Quatre... I won't leave you alone... I promise..." Trowa coughed, and Quatre could see blood trickling from his mouth. "We're going to be together always..." the mobile suits were advancing upon the pair. Out of ammunition and lacking enough energy reserves to move their suits far enough away to buy any time, the wounded boys awaited the fate that overcame them in seconds that lasted an eternity.

"I love you, Trowa."

"I love you too, little one." I know...

"Hush, little one, I'm here." Thank you... you're always there...

"Quatre, do you think this will last?" Until my dying breath and beyond, koi...

"How can we fight so hard for a peace that seems unreachable?" We fight for those who can't fight... we fight to protect our families... those we love... each other...

"Wait for me, Quatre." I would never leave you behind...

"I love you." I will always love you, Trowa...

Death is so inviting to those who are weary of fighting...

I will wait for you, Trowa.

Don't take too long...

I'll be lonely without you...

TROWA!

4

Say goodnight

The final bow

One last kiss,

Then fade away

"We're going to be together always..."

"I love you, Trowa." There was a blast that finally destroyed Sandrock's defenses. Trowa looked up in time to see Quatre's smiling face, marred only by a few trickles of blood, before the transmission ended and Sandrock was demolished.

"Now for me... Take me to him." Trowa spat blood onto the floor of the cockpit. "I won't live without him." He closed his eyes in his last seconds, remembering Quatre's smile. An angel on the battlefield, his Quatre... fallen from heaven to grace the presence of mortals, returned now. "Please," he whispered. "Take me with you..."

An explosion answered his plea.

"I love you..."

"Why do we fight, Trowa?" For peace, little one. For each other. For our future.

"You love me?" You were so surprised the first time I said it... But how could I not?

"Don't leave me..." I will never leave you.

"I wish we didn't have to fight." I wish I could protect you from the ugly sights of the battlefield.

"Forget about me, you have to help the others!" I will never forget about you, koi. You are first. Always.

The fight is over...

My final performance...

Goodbye...

Hello, Quatre...

I've missed you...

I love you...

QUATRE!

5

Just one more time

Face the Reaper

Then go with him

Quietly

"There is no shame in dying on the battlefield, Nataku." Wufei said quietly. "Nataku... you were strong... very strong... I could not keep you ahead of them. Forgive me." He lowered his head, watching as his blood dripped onto the controls. "I am wounded, Nataku, as are you. But we cannot back down now. We will die fighting, with honor! That is how it should be!" Wufei reached for the controls, which were jarred from his hand by a sudden impact. Parts of mobile suits had slammed into the Shenlong Gundam - parts of the suits used by his companions... Wufei's eyes widened. "We fight alone, Nataku. We will die fighting for them!" A blast shot out and a mobile suit was stopped dead. But there were more, so many more, swarming towards him. Wufei screamed a challenge. "Dead, lifeless dolls! I will not be destroyed at the hands of soulless machines! I cannot be!" Shenlong moved sluggishly on such low power. All the Gundams had fought too hard for too long. The final battle was a crushing defeat... they could not compete with the sheer numbers. Wufei slammed his fist down on the controls. "There is no justice! Defeated by mobile dolls... Not even the honor of dying at the hands of a warrior!" His eyes narrowed. "If I'm going to die... You're going with me!" He pushed his Gundam to its limits, charging straight ahead into the mass of mobile suits. They kept firing... as he approached the thickest part of the cloud of dolls and manned suits; he could feel the heat from their blasts.

Forgive me, Nataku... I could not be stronger...

I will die without ensuring justice...

But Perhaps... with no one left who can truly fight...

Perhaps there will be peace now...

I knew peace, once...

Meiran... I have returned to you...

Hello, Nataku...


Thank the Reaper

Thank the Reaper

He takes away the pain

The memories fade, the songs die away

All things die away

Thank the Reaper

He brings the silence

The words are lost, faces forgotten

All things die away

The fire burns, erasing the memories

Time passes, healing the wounds

The scythe falls once more, take me with you

Thank the Reaper, he brings me peace

Say goodbye

The world is ending

Make your peace

And fade away

Say goodnight

The final bow

One last kiss,

Then fade away

The fire burns, erasing memories

Time passes, healing the wounds

The scythe falls once more, take me with you

Thank the Reaper, he'll bring you peace

Just one more time

Face the Reaper

Then go with him

Quietly

Say your prayers, the Reaper's coming

The fire burns, fueling memories

Time passes, opening the wounds

The scythe falls once more, take me with you

Reaper... bring me peace