Angelic Gamble
By Snow Tigra
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Pairings: 2x1, 3x4/4x3, 13x6, 13x5... am I missing any?
Author's note: This fic was inspired by the huge amount of pix there are of the Gundam pilots with wings. Being that I already love angels I only found it fair. Warning: Quatre torture. I apologize but I started this around finals, which means that I picked one character to have a really shitty time, that character just happened to be Quatre. To be honest I love the little Arabian, but he turns out to be the most hurt in this story. I apologize to all Quatre fans. Don't worry, this is not a death fic.
LIMY LEMON (which means I describe but not too much :P)
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"Oh, Heero, it's good to see you again."
Heero nodded silently to the teacher and held out a stack of papers. The teacher took them and ruffled through the papers, her eyebrow going up in question.
"Duo delivered my homework but left his at my house. I figured I'd return the favor."
"Of course. But Duo wasn't in class today."
Heero nodded once more and left the classroom. He wasn't planning on staying for class, he wasn't even planning on ever going back to class. So why was he even at the school right now anyway? He knew the answer to that, he was looking for Duo.
Duo had disappeared that night and left him in complete confusion. It wasn't as if he didn't have enough to worry about with Quatre missing and the black angels appearing all over town. Thanks to Duo he had missed another night of searching for Quatre, and now he'd had to start the search all over again just to make sure he'd looked everywhere. Then again... he knew he would keep searching until he found his younger brother, however hopeless it might seem.
Last night had been the most confusing night of his life. He'd started out thinking he was hallucinating and then he and Duo had... and then Duo's wings had shown at the last moment. Why had Duo raced out of the room? Had he not planned to reveal his wings? Had he been scared? Or was it just the most convent time to leave, where Heero could barley move from the waves of pleasure. Had any of it even been real? Heero frowned slightly at that thought as he crossed the school yard.
He silenced his thoughts as he heard footsteps behind him. Heero stopped and glared straight ahead. "Come out Relena."
Relena stepped out from behind the bushes and timidly walked toward him, an innocent smile on her face. He turned and glared at her.
"I thought I made myself clear the last time we met. Do NOT follow me."
Her smile wilted, but only slightly. "But Heero, I want to help. I know how much you must be hurting because of Quatre, remember my brother disappeared as well."
"How long have you been following me?" Heero asked in a low growl. He wasn't sure why but something in him was afraid she'd been watching the night before.
"Just today... about as long as he has." Relena nodded toward the shadows of the school building and Heero's glare intensified. Suddenly there was a snapping of wings and a shadowy figure took off. Heero cursed silently as Relena's wings snapped out of her back and pearl pink armor covered her street clothes. She took off in pursuit, whip in hand.
Heero watched silently as Relena pursued the black winged angel, snapping her wrist and sending the whip out like a striking snake. The black angel was jerked back as the end of the whip curled around his neck. Relena yanked the whip and Duo fell back into her arms. Relena quickly landed, pushing a struggling Duo to the ground hard.
Duo coughed and sputtered, quickly wrestling the whip off his own neck. He looked up with the intention of glaring evilly at Relena but came face to face with Heero, he swallowed and managed to pull on his grin before he showed his fear. Heero looked back to Relena.
"Relena, leave."
"But, Heero! I want to help!"
Heero glared at her whine. "Relena, if you want to help, go find Quatre. He is running out of time and I don't have time to argue. If you want to help go look for him."
Relena opened her mouth to protest but swallowed it. She nodded and flapped her wings, taking to the sky. Meanwhile Duo stood up and brushed off his black priest's outfit, then glanced back at his dusty wings.
"Thanks He-chan, she really scared me. How can you stand that little-"
"Duo."
Duo met Heero's eyes but this time his mask didn't fade, not even under Heero's icy glare. The great Heero? Hmph, he wasn't that scary. "Hai?"
Heero's eyes narrowed. "Where's Quatre?"
Duo blinked quietly, well that wasn't the response he'd expected. Frankly he was kind of hurt. He had expected Heero to ask about the night before, the time they had spent together... but apparently not. No, Heero was all business and now was no exception. Heero didn't care about last night... the bastard.
"Nani? I don't know who you're talking about."
Heero moved with speed and snatched to the front of Duo's shirt, yanking the boy kissably close. His voice hissed between angry thin lips. "Where is he?"
Duo hit away his arms and smoothed out his shirt. "Hey! Don't ruin the shirt!"
Heero glared and said nothing, still expecting an answer.
"Fine, look I didn't take the little twerp, he left on his own. I just happened to run into him..." Duo grinned.
"Don't make me repeat myself," Heero threatened.
Duo shrugged. "Find him yourself. Or..." He paused and grinned. "Or you could fight against me, and if you win I might tell you." Duo immediately regretted those words. Silently he prayed that Heero wouldn't accept, he didn't want to fight him!
"Ryoukai."
Duo swallowed. "Tonight... right here."
Heero only nodded. But as he watched Duo fly off something struck him... Duo had four wings!
*
Duo grumbled to himself as he walked down the halls toward Treize's room. It figures, he had to botch everything up again. I can't do anything right can I? He muttered to himself. The plan was working perfectly and then he had to go and fall in love with Heero, now, as a result, he didn't want to fight. He just wanted to spend the rest of the time in Heero's arms and completely forget about the little war that was going on among their people. He wanted to completely forget about the gamble, Quatre, Treize, Zechs, Hilde, Wufei and everything else. Just Heero.
But no! Of course not! Now he had to fight Heero and he had to win. He still wasn't sure how he was going to do that. How was he supposed to win now that his search for a weakness had only given Heero the upper hand? Duo sighed and knocked on Treize's door.
"Enter."
Duo pushed the door open and froze at the sight he saw. Treize lay across his chair sideways, long legs draped over the arm rests, sipping a glass of wine. Meanwhile Wufei lay on the bed sleeping, covered by his large black wings. His smooth black hair was now loose and spilling out of his hair tie as his body gleamed with sweat. Treize smirked slightly as Duo struggled to hide his shock.
"Yes, Duo?"
"I..." Duo swallowed regathered himself. "I've come to request the return of my scythe."
Treize raised an elegant eyebrow and sat up in the chair. "The deathscythe? What could you possibly need that for?"
Duo frowned. "It's not like you're ever going to use it," he muttered. Louder "I fight Heero tonight. I need the deathscythe for the challenge."
Treize nodded. "It is yours."
Duo turned and headed for the back wall. Reaching up he brushed away a silk curtain to reveal a long rod made of dark obsidian. Pulling it off the hooks he grinned as he felt the familiar weight in his hands. It had been such a long time...
"You realize... this breaks our contract. We are no longer even."
Duo nodded slowly. "Yes, I owe you now."
"Remember that."
Duo nodded and grinned, happy to finally have his weapon of choice back. As he left the room he quickly snuck a glance to where Wufei lay on the bed. Oh gods, he prayed silently, don't let him claim my debt like that. Just not like that.
Duo left the room, swinging the long pole over his shoulder. He stopped cold outside the door. In front of him stood Quatre... a very different Quatre. The young blond's wings were completely gone save for the lengths of smooth creamy bone. He wore the garb of the black angels, the long black cloak and black bandana close to his eyes. The look on his face was also different. Gone was the sweet innocence, now it was replaced with a cool calculating look. Duo grinned back at the quiet brother of Heero, yet he felt uneasy under the boy's stare.
"Duo, haven't seen you for a while."
Duo shrugged. "I've been busy."
"Of course." Quatre smiled sweetly. "And how is my brother?"
Duo suddenly felt quite uneasy. Losing his wings had changed Quatre, and not for the better. "Don't interfere Quatre, the deal is between myself and Wu."
"I would never dream of interfering. However..." Quatre frowned slightly and walked toward Duo, eyeing his double set of wings and the large scythe. "I just remembered something. You're the only one I've ever seen with double wings before, Duo, black or white."
"So? What's your point?"
"Oh nothing. I just seem to remember an old myth told to me as a child... about the old ones who had many many wings. About the powers they possessed. But I had heard they were all dead."
Duo shrugged. "That's just a myth for children."
Quatre grinned. "Is it?"
"Yes." Duo clutched the deathscythe tightly and walked off. Quatre watched him leave with a small smile on his face.
"I wonder, is it really?"
**
"Heero?"
Heero glanced in Trowa's direction and gave a small nod as he entered the room. Trowa nodded back. "Did you find... him?"
Heero shook his head and leaned up against the wall in contemplative silence. After a moment he looked over to Trowa who still stood in the doorway. "Trowa, have you ever seen one of our kind with double wings?"
Trowa stepped into the room, closer to Heero. "No, I have never seen any. But there are many old tales..."
Saying nothing Heero waited for the boy to explain.
"They say that our kind originally had four wings, and that the oldest ones still do. The old named ones that the humans called gods were usually those kind. Members of our race that had lived so long they gained many sets of wings and powers along with them. But the Old Ones haven't been seen, ever. Either it's a myth or they are well hidden."
Heero frowned. "One is here, in this city. He has black wings and he has Quatre."
No emotion showed on Trowa's quiet face but surprise could be heard in his voice. "Who?"
"He calls himself Duo."
"Duo... the boy that was here earlier?"
Heero nodded and frowned. Nothing more needed to be said. He wasn't about to try and explain to Trowa what had happened after the 'homework'. Then again he supposed he didn't need to explain. Trowa had most likely heard all of it, so there was nothing to explain.
Yes there was. Heero may not have needed to explain to Trowa what had happened but he still needed to explain it to himself, because he still didn't understand. He still didn't understand why he'd let Duo... had it been the hair? That long, soft beautiful hair? Or perhaps it had been his mystical purple eyes? His soft skin? The way his body shimmered bathed in the fading moonlight? Or maybe...
Maybe it had just been Duo himself. Everything about him all at once. Heero could still taste Duo's flesh on his lips and when he'd seen him just those few minutes ago... All he'd wanted to do was wrap his arms around the other boy and never let go. But that wouldn't do, he couldn't have done that, even after Relena was gone. By definition Duo was the enemy, because of his black wings. So falling in love with him was completely out of the question, he had his mission to complete. Not to mention that he wasn't even sure if Duo felt the same way. It was perfectly possible, and most likely, that this was all some plan to catch him off guard. Heero wouldn't put such a thing past Treize, the one who led the black angels. But it had seemed so real at the time...
"He challenged me, tonight. I need to know what kind of powers he has."
Trowa frowned only the slightest bit. "I couldn't tell you. You would have to know his name... his real name. That is, of course, assuming the stories are true."
Heero growled and advanced toward Trowa. "This is not a joke."
Trowa met his gaze with complete seriousness. "I know. But that is all the information I can give you. The only thing you can do is expect the unexpected. If Duo is truly one of the Old Ones... you will have to watch yourself." Trowa turned to leave the room. He paused at the door to Quatre's room without looking back. "Good luck Heero."
Heero didn't respond. But as Trowa left he could have sworn he heard the emotionless boy say something else.
"You're going to need it."
**
That night found Quatre's room empty. The room at the house where he and Heero had stayed was completely empty once Heero stepped out the front door to meet Duo's challenge. However Heero didn't know that Trowa had also left only moments before, his two large white wings carrying him through the sky to where the duel would take place, flying with complete silence. He intended to be present during the duel, if only hiding in the shadows.
Was it true? Did Duo really have double wings? Did that mean there were other Old Ones in the world? He had no way of knowing until he saw Duo again, saw him without the guise of a human. And maybe, by some slim chance, maybe he would be able to help Heero. If Duo was an Old One then his powers could be anything, not to mention if he held a weapon...
Trowa landed next to the dark school in the shadows. With a thought his white wings sunk into his back and he jumped into a tree, perching in silence among the branches and leaves. Here he could watch, here he could see the ground and the sky, so no matter where the duel took place he would have a clear view. Now all he had to do was wait.
Heero landed in the school yard a few minutes later. Gone was his human guise, and in place of it he looked every bit as angelic as the ancient human pictures from their strange religions. Silver armor glinted in the moonlight, edged in green and emerald. He landed and placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword, surveying the area.
"Heero, so you did come."
Trowa watched as a shape stepped out of the shadows, he was sure it hadn't been there moments ago. It was Duo, but not the human Duo that Trowa knew. Instead this Duo wore his hair loose, the wind causing it to swirl around his body as if it were alive. He still wore the black priests outfit but over it was a dark obsidian armor that shone with its own glow. Purple highlights covered his clothing, making him seem like a walking shadow of death. As Duo stepped forward Trowa could see the long black pole he carried... his weapon of choice? Strange.
Heero glared at Duo.
"You ready?" Duo clutched the pole in both hands as if it were a shield.
Heero unsheathed his sword and gave a short curt nod.
"Then lets see what you've got, mister White Angel of Justice." Duo spit out the words as if they were poison. He swung the pole around and it was suddenly covered with a deep purple light. Heero shielded his eyes and Trowa blinked as the glow slipped to the end of the pole to create two blades. A scythe! Trowa's eyes widened. He knew exactly which Old One this was... but he was still alive? It was impossible.
**
Duo glared at Heero and swung the scythe straight at his chest. There was no point in making this battle last any longer, no point in dawdling. Better to just get it over with and then present Heero's head to Treize. Maybe that would buy him freedom... though he'd come to like being around the others of his kind. Asking for freedom would be the easy way out... and somehow I never take the easy way, he thought with a mental sigh.
Time to get this over with, as soon as possible. Then he could banish Heero from his thoughts and continue on with life with out ever thinking of him again. Just like before. Heero wasn't really one of his kind and he had no business dealing with him, no did he have any business dealing with the others... he his own life to live and if it weren't for Treize he would have been living that life long ago.
"Time to end it all," Duo growled into the night. Gripping the pole burning with the purple energy of his power he charged at Heero, swinging the scythe in large swipes. Amazingly the first swipe struck home and made a large gash in the side of Heero's armor. Heero backed away and glanced at the armor covering his arm, the scythe had only made a scratch. Or had it. Duo grinned as he watched the small amount of purple energy fizzle and eat away at the armor. He watched as Heero winced from the acid like energy hitting his skin and toss that particular piece of armor to the ground.
When Heero looked back at Duo there was nothing in his eyes, only quietness and death. But Duo was beyond caring what Heero thought. It had been such a long time since he'd been in a real battle and he found it was incredibly easy to shove his feelings deep down as he fought Heero... it was incredibly easy to forget it was Heero he was fighting. Instead the white winged angel in front of him became a nameless person... a nameless one just like Treize who'd threatened his freedom.
And that was fine by him. No one took his freedom... and there was no way he was going to lose and let Wufei take his hair.
**
Heero tossed away the armor with alarm and watched as it landed on the grass and continued to fizzle. He turned back to his opponent. It was confirmed now... Duo hadn't cared one bit about that night, it was all part of a plot. Which meant there was no reason for him not to kill Duo... so then why the hesitation? Why wasn't he rushing forward to get this battle over with? He could easily defeat Duo, even with his strange weapon and double wings... but he held back. Heero's glare intensified and he took an angry swing at Duo as he realized he didn't really want to fight Duo, not at all. Heero gritted his teeth as steel met steel and the force made his arms shake. Duo was strong... and Duo wanted to win.
Jumping back he moved his wings creating a spray of feathers as he dove forward once again. This time his sword connected and slashed through Duo's robes to cut his leg, but at the same time the purple glow from the scythe shot out and hit him in the back. Heero stumbled slightly but managed to keep his footing and swing around to meet the scythe in a deadlock once again. Thankfully the energy had only shot him in the back, creating a small burn. As far as he could tell there was no acidic like substance this time.
He was starting to figure out Duo's strategy. The weapon was obviously his, no doubt about that, and so was the energy. But Duo also hesitated to use it completely. Heero had no doubt that if Duo used the weapon exactly the way it was supposed to be used he'd be a smoking pile of ash right now. So the question remained... was Duo toying with him or was he hesitating for some other reason?
The purple energy began to grow as the two moved quicker at each other, slashing and dodging and connecting the steel weapons. Long purple tethers swirled around the steel staff like snakes and each time Heero's sword connected they wrapped around his sword toward his arms. Heero was finally forced to throw his sword to the ground as one of the purple 'snakes' wrapped around his hand. He hissed in pain and jumped backward, shaking out his hand. It felt numb and cold. Cold as death...
Heero looked up as Duo advanced at him. He didn't have much of a chance, not when Duo had powers like this. But the question remained, why? Why did Duo bother to challenge him now? Why hadn't Duo just killed him before? And what was stopping him now?
Heero watched with a glare of death as Duo raised the scythe to strike a death blow. He had a small chance... if he could grab Duo when the energy hit maybe it would also kill the black winged angel. It would be a suicide mission and he would die in the attempt but it was better then giving up. Heero clutched his strangely dead hand and watched as the scythe came down toward his body... one chance...
Suddenly a bright flash of red energy snapped between them and Duo cried out in surprise. Heero took his chance to knock the rod from Duo's hands, hissing as the purple energy crackled up his arms. He rolled across the ground and lay there breathing hard, moving his arms quickly to keep any kind of feeling in them. As he moved his arms he looked up toward the tree where the red energy had come from. Duo was looking that direction as well.
"Shinigami... it's been a long time." Trowa dropped down from the tree wearing his normal street clothes of a blue turtle neck and black jeans. He dropped down out of the tree with a small flip and landed without removing his hands from his pockets. His face remained emotionless as usual but there was something in his eyes.. a silent challenge.
"You... this duel is between Heero and myself, no one else." Duo frowned and eyed his rod on the ground, out of reach. Damn.
Trowa frowned. "I had thought you'd died long ago Shinigami."
Duo frowned. "How do you know that name?" He took a step toward Trowa, seeming to forget Heero for a moment. "I don't know you."
Trowa allowed a very small smile to cross his lips. From behind the two Heero watched as wings snapped from Trowa's back. FOUR white wings shot out while his clothing melted over into a long while robe and a half mask appeared on his face, covering the side his hair hung over. Trowa's green eye watched Duo carefully as he revealed his form.
"Y... Pierrot. I should have known." Duo let out a small laugh. "But it doesn't matter, the duel is still between myself and our little solder here. You can wait until he is dead can't you?" Duo turned his back to Trowa and walked to where his staff was, kneeling down to pick it up. But a small dagger made of red energy struck his hand as he reached for his rod. Duo turned and glared at Trowa.
"You will not finish this duel. Heero and Quatre are under my protection. That is a protection you can not break."
"Damn you and the old rules!"
Trowa walked over and offered a hand to help Heero to his feet, but Heero made no move to grasp it. He couldn't have if he'd wanted to, his arms refused to move. Duo grinned slightly and leaned against the school wall.
"Offer your hand all you want, he can't move his arms. Not after touching the deathscythe like he did. And knowing Heero there is no way he's going to let you carry him, ne Heero?" he taunted. Both Heero and Trowa ignored him. Trowa knelt down and grasped Heero under his shoulders hauling him to his feet then letting him go. His arms may not work but Heero could walk and for now that was fine. They both turned back to look at Duo. Duo opened his mouth to say something but they all turned as they heard a sound behind them. Duo's jaw dropped open as he watched Quatre step out of the bushes and pick up the dead steel rod that had been the deathscythe. Quatre smiled sweetly at the group.
"I'm under your protection, am I Trowa? Or should I call you Pierrot?"
"Quatre." Trowa breathed quietly. A pained look crossed his face as he eyed the shimmering bones which had taken the place of the blond's once beautiful wings. From behind Quatre may tall black shapes emerged. All had wings as dark as the night and weapons to match. Duo backed away but found Wufei's sword resting against the back of his neck. Slowly he raised his hands.
"It seems you lost the duel, Duo." Wufei said quietly.
Duo swallowed and made no response, only looked toward Treize with questioning eyes. Treize took the deathscythe from Quatre and smiled at them both. "Shinigami... our partnership is hereby completely terminated. I no longer owe you any favors and you no longer owe me any. With the deathscythe in my hands you are free to go, and he..." Treize nodded to Wufei. "Is free to do as he pleases."
"Treize you bas-!" Duo was cut off as Wufei jammed the butt of the sword into the back of his neck. Duo crumbled to the ground with a soft moan, but landed with his eyes open. He wasn't unconscious... yet.
"And them?" Quatre asked in his sweet voice. He asked like a child inquiring about candy, yet his face held a look of hope... hope that he would be able to do something horrible. Trowa watched with surprise written across his usually emotionless face. This couldn't be Quatre! This certainly wasn't the Quatre he knew!
Treize waved a hand in dismissal. "They are yours to deal with, but they may not live, they will disrupt our plans."
Quatre nodded and then glanced toward the other black angels, as if giving a silent order for their execution. The emotion lifted from Trowa's face and he stepped closer to Duo, a slight step away from Heero. He couldn't stay here and he couldn't fight them, it wasn't worth the risk. He could, however, get Duo and Heero out of here. It meant leaving Quatre... but it would have to do.
Trowa's wings fluttered for a second and red energy surged around his body. He ignored everything around him as the crackling energy grew out and created a wall around him, Heero and Duo. Still concentrating on the energy he knelt down and scooped up Duo, then took Heero around the waste. Moving his wings and using the energy as a boost he shot up into the sky, almost too fast to see. And then he was gone.
Quatre watched them disappear quietly then shrugged. There would be other times. Knowing his brother he'd come back. Heero wouldn't give up on Quatre...
He won't give up on me. And I'll make sure he gets everything he deserves.
By Snow Tigra
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Pairings: 2x1, 3x4/4x3, 13x6, 13x5... am I missing any?
Author's note: This fic was inspired by the huge amount of pix there are of the Gundam pilots with wings. Being that I already love angels I only found it fair. Warning: Quatre torture. I apologize but I started this around finals, which means that I picked one character to have a really shitty time, that character just happened to be Quatre. To be honest I love the little Arabian, but he turns out to be the most hurt in this story. I apologize to all Quatre fans. Don't worry, this is not a death fic.
LIMY LEMON (which means I describe but not too much :P)
*****************************************************************************
"Oh, Heero, it's good to see you again."
Heero nodded silently to the teacher and held out a stack of papers. The teacher took them and ruffled through the papers, her eyebrow going up in question.
"Duo delivered my homework but left his at my house. I figured I'd return the favor."
"Of course. But Duo wasn't in class today."
Heero nodded once more and left the classroom. He wasn't planning on staying for class, he wasn't even planning on ever going back to class. So why was he even at the school right now anyway? He knew the answer to that, he was looking for Duo.
Duo had disappeared that night and left him in complete confusion. It wasn't as if he didn't have enough to worry about with Quatre missing and the black angels appearing all over town. Thanks to Duo he had missed another night of searching for Quatre, and now he'd had to start the search all over again just to make sure he'd looked everywhere. Then again... he knew he would keep searching until he found his younger brother, however hopeless it might seem.
Last night had been the most confusing night of his life. He'd started out thinking he was hallucinating and then he and Duo had... and then Duo's wings had shown at the last moment. Why had Duo raced out of the room? Had he not planned to reveal his wings? Had he been scared? Or was it just the most convent time to leave, where Heero could barley move from the waves of pleasure. Had any of it even been real? Heero frowned slightly at that thought as he crossed the school yard.
He silenced his thoughts as he heard footsteps behind him. Heero stopped and glared straight ahead. "Come out Relena."
Relena stepped out from behind the bushes and timidly walked toward him, an innocent smile on her face. He turned and glared at her.
"I thought I made myself clear the last time we met. Do NOT follow me."
Her smile wilted, but only slightly. "But Heero, I want to help. I know how much you must be hurting because of Quatre, remember my brother disappeared as well."
"How long have you been following me?" Heero asked in a low growl. He wasn't sure why but something in him was afraid she'd been watching the night before.
"Just today... about as long as he has." Relena nodded toward the shadows of the school building and Heero's glare intensified. Suddenly there was a snapping of wings and a shadowy figure took off. Heero cursed silently as Relena's wings snapped out of her back and pearl pink armor covered her street clothes. She took off in pursuit, whip in hand.
Heero watched silently as Relena pursued the black winged angel, snapping her wrist and sending the whip out like a striking snake. The black angel was jerked back as the end of the whip curled around his neck. Relena yanked the whip and Duo fell back into her arms. Relena quickly landed, pushing a struggling Duo to the ground hard.
Duo coughed and sputtered, quickly wrestling the whip off his own neck. He looked up with the intention of glaring evilly at Relena but came face to face with Heero, he swallowed and managed to pull on his grin before he showed his fear. Heero looked back to Relena.
"Relena, leave."
"But, Heero! I want to help!"
Heero glared at her whine. "Relena, if you want to help, go find Quatre. He is running out of time and I don't have time to argue. If you want to help go look for him."
Relena opened her mouth to protest but swallowed it. She nodded and flapped her wings, taking to the sky. Meanwhile Duo stood up and brushed off his black priest's outfit, then glanced back at his dusty wings.
"Thanks He-chan, she really scared me. How can you stand that little-"
"Duo."
Duo met Heero's eyes but this time his mask didn't fade, not even under Heero's icy glare. The great Heero? Hmph, he wasn't that scary. "Hai?"
Heero's eyes narrowed. "Where's Quatre?"
Duo blinked quietly, well that wasn't the response he'd expected. Frankly he was kind of hurt. He had expected Heero to ask about the night before, the time they had spent together... but apparently not. No, Heero was all business and now was no exception. Heero didn't care about last night... the bastard.
"Nani? I don't know who you're talking about."
Heero moved with speed and snatched to the front of Duo's shirt, yanking the boy kissably close. His voice hissed between angry thin lips. "Where is he?"
Duo hit away his arms and smoothed out his shirt. "Hey! Don't ruin the shirt!"
Heero glared and said nothing, still expecting an answer.
"Fine, look I didn't take the little twerp, he left on his own. I just happened to run into him..." Duo grinned.
"Don't make me repeat myself," Heero threatened.
Duo shrugged. "Find him yourself. Or..." He paused and grinned. "Or you could fight against me, and if you win I might tell you." Duo immediately regretted those words. Silently he prayed that Heero wouldn't accept, he didn't want to fight him!
"Ryoukai."
Duo swallowed. "Tonight... right here."
Heero only nodded. But as he watched Duo fly off something struck him... Duo had four wings!
*
Duo grumbled to himself as he walked down the halls toward Treize's room. It figures, he had to botch everything up again. I can't do anything right can I? He muttered to himself. The plan was working perfectly and then he had to go and fall in love with Heero, now, as a result, he didn't want to fight. He just wanted to spend the rest of the time in Heero's arms and completely forget about the little war that was going on among their people. He wanted to completely forget about the gamble, Quatre, Treize, Zechs, Hilde, Wufei and everything else. Just Heero.
But no! Of course not! Now he had to fight Heero and he had to win. He still wasn't sure how he was going to do that. How was he supposed to win now that his search for a weakness had only given Heero the upper hand? Duo sighed and knocked on Treize's door.
"Enter."
Duo pushed the door open and froze at the sight he saw. Treize lay across his chair sideways, long legs draped over the arm rests, sipping a glass of wine. Meanwhile Wufei lay on the bed sleeping, covered by his large black wings. His smooth black hair was now loose and spilling out of his hair tie as his body gleamed with sweat. Treize smirked slightly as Duo struggled to hide his shock.
"Yes, Duo?"
"I..." Duo swallowed regathered himself. "I've come to request the return of my scythe."
Treize raised an elegant eyebrow and sat up in the chair. "The deathscythe? What could you possibly need that for?"
Duo frowned. "It's not like you're ever going to use it," he muttered. Louder "I fight Heero tonight. I need the deathscythe for the challenge."
Treize nodded. "It is yours."
Duo turned and headed for the back wall. Reaching up he brushed away a silk curtain to reveal a long rod made of dark obsidian. Pulling it off the hooks he grinned as he felt the familiar weight in his hands. It had been such a long time...
"You realize... this breaks our contract. We are no longer even."
Duo nodded slowly. "Yes, I owe you now."
"Remember that."
Duo nodded and grinned, happy to finally have his weapon of choice back. As he left the room he quickly snuck a glance to where Wufei lay on the bed. Oh gods, he prayed silently, don't let him claim my debt like that. Just not like that.
Duo left the room, swinging the long pole over his shoulder. He stopped cold outside the door. In front of him stood Quatre... a very different Quatre. The young blond's wings were completely gone save for the lengths of smooth creamy bone. He wore the garb of the black angels, the long black cloak and black bandana close to his eyes. The look on his face was also different. Gone was the sweet innocence, now it was replaced with a cool calculating look. Duo grinned back at the quiet brother of Heero, yet he felt uneasy under the boy's stare.
"Duo, haven't seen you for a while."
Duo shrugged. "I've been busy."
"Of course." Quatre smiled sweetly. "And how is my brother?"
Duo suddenly felt quite uneasy. Losing his wings had changed Quatre, and not for the better. "Don't interfere Quatre, the deal is between myself and Wu."
"I would never dream of interfering. However..." Quatre frowned slightly and walked toward Duo, eyeing his double set of wings and the large scythe. "I just remembered something. You're the only one I've ever seen with double wings before, Duo, black or white."
"So? What's your point?"
"Oh nothing. I just seem to remember an old myth told to me as a child... about the old ones who had many many wings. About the powers they possessed. But I had heard they were all dead."
Duo shrugged. "That's just a myth for children."
Quatre grinned. "Is it?"
"Yes." Duo clutched the deathscythe tightly and walked off. Quatre watched him leave with a small smile on his face.
"I wonder, is it really?"
**
"Heero?"
Heero glanced in Trowa's direction and gave a small nod as he entered the room. Trowa nodded back. "Did you find... him?"
Heero shook his head and leaned up against the wall in contemplative silence. After a moment he looked over to Trowa who still stood in the doorway. "Trowa, have you ever seen one of our kind with double wings?"
Trowa stepped into the room, closer to Heero. "No, I have never seen any. But there are many old tales..."
Saying nothing Heero waited for the boy to explain.
"They say that our kind originally had four wings, and that the oldest ones still do. The old named ones that the humans called gods were usually those kind. Members of our race that had lived so long they gained many sets of wings and powers along with them. But the Old Ones haven't been seen, ever. Either it's a myth or they are well hidden."
Heero frowned. "One is here, in this city. He has black wings and he has Quatre."
No emotion showed on Trowa's quiet face but surprise could be heard in his voice. "Who?"
"He calls himself Duo."
"Duo... the boy that was here earlier?"
Heero nodded and frowned. Nothing more needed to be said. He wasn't about to try and explain to Trowa what had happened after the 'homework'. Then again he supposed he didn't need to explain. Trowa had most likely heard all of it, so there was nothing to explain.
Yes there was. Heero may not have needed to explain to Trowa what had happened but he still needed to explain it to himself, because he still didn't understand. He still didn't understand why he'd let Duo... had it been the hair? That long, soft beautiful hair? Or perhaps it had been his mystical purple eyes? His soft skin? The way his body shimmered bathed in the fading moonlight? Or maybe...
Maybe it had just been Duo himself. Everything about him all at once. Heero could still taste Duo's flesh on his lips and when he'd seen him just those few minutes ago... All he'd wanted to do was wrap his arms around the other boy and never let go. But that wouldn't do, he couldn't have done that, even after Relena was gone. By definition Duo was the enemy, because of his black wings. So falling in love with him was completely out of the question, he had his mission to complete. Not to mention that he wasn't even sure if Duo felt the same way. It was perfectly possible, and most likely, that this was all some plan to catch him off guard. Heero wouldn't put such a thing past Treize, the one who led the black angels. But it had seemed so real at the time...
"He challenged me, tonight. I need to know what kind of powers he has."
Trowa frowned only the slightest bit. "I couldn't tell you. You would have to know his name... his real name. That is, of course, assuming the stories are true."
Heero growled and advanced toward Trowa. "This is not a joke."
Trowa met his gaze with complete seriousness. "I know. But that is all the information I can give you. The only thing you can do is expect the unexpected. If Duo is truly one of the Old Ones... you will have to watch yourself." Trowa turned to leave the room. He paused at the door to Quatre's room without looking back. "Good luck Heero."
Heero didn't respond. But as Trowa left he could have sworn he heard the emotionless boy say something else.
"You're going to need it."
**
That night found Quatre's room empty. The room at the house where he and Heero had stayed was completely empty once Heero stepped out the front door to meet Duo's challenge. However Heero didn't know that Trowa had also left only moments before, his two large white wings carrying him through the sky to where the duel would take place, flying with complete silence. He intended to be present during the duel, if only hiding in the shadows.
Was it true? Did Duo really have double wings? Did that mean there were other Old Ones in the world? He had no way of knowing until he saw Duo again, saw him without the guise of a human. And maybe, by some slim chance, maybe he would be able to help Heero. If Duo was an Old One then his powers could be anything, not to mention if he held a weapon...
Trowa landed next to the dark school in the shadows. With a thought his white wings sunk into his back and he jumped into a tree, perching in silence among the branches and leaves. Here he could watch, here he could see the ground and the sky, so no matter where the duel took place he would have a clear view. Now all he had to do was wait.
Heero landed in the school yard a few minutes later. Gone was his human guise, and in place of it he looked every bit as angelic as the ancient human pictures from their strange religions. Silver armor glinted in the moonlight, edged in green and emerald. He landed and placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword, surveying the area.
"Heero, so you did come."
Trowa watched as a shape stepped out of the shadows, he was sure it hadn't been there moments ago. It was Duo, but not the human Duo that Trowa knew. Instead this Duo wore his hair loose, the wind causing it to swirl around his body as if it were alive. He still wore the black priests outfit but over it was a dark obsidian armor that shone with its own glow. Purple highlights covered his clothing, making him seem like a walking shadow of death. As Duo stepped forward Trowa could see the long black pole he carried... his weapon of choice? Strange.
Heero glared at Duo.
"You ready?" Duo clutched the pole in both hands as if it were a shield.
Heero unsheathed his sword and gave a short curt nod.
"Then lets see what you've got, mister White Angel of Justice." Duo spit out the words as if they were poison. He swung the pole around and it was suddenly covered with a deep purple light. Heero shielded his eyes and Trowa blinked as the glow slipped to the end of the pole to create two blades. A scythe! Trowa's eyes widened. He knew exactly which Old One this was... but he was still alive? It was impossible.
**
Duo glared at Heero and swung the scythe straight at his chest. There was no point in making this battle last any longer, no point in dawdling. Better to just get it over with and then present Heero's head to Treize. Maybe that would buy him freedom... though he'd come to like being around the others of his kind. Asking for freedom would be the easy way out... and somehow I never take the easy way, he thought with a mental sigh.
Time to get this over with, as soon as possible. Then he could banish Heero from his thoughts and continue on with life with out ever thinking of him again. Just like before. Heero wasn't really one of his kind and he had no business dealing with him, no did he have any business dealing with the others... he his own life to live and if it weren't for Treize he would have been living that life long ago.
"Time to end it all," Duo growled into the night. Gripping the pole burning with the purple energy of his power he charged at Heero, swinging the scythe in large swipes. Amazingly the first swipe struck home and made a large gash in the side of Heero's armor. Heero backed away and glanced at the armor covering his arm, the scythe had only made a scratch. Or had it. Duo grinned as he watched the small amount of purple energy fizzle and eat away at the armor. He watched as Heero winced from the acid like energy hitting his skin and toss that particular piece of armor to the ground.
When Heero looked back at Duo there was nothing in his eyes, only quietness and death. But Duo was beyond caring what Heero thought. It had been such a long time since he'd been in a real battle and he found it was incredibly easy to shove his feelings deep down as he fought Heero... it was incredibly easy to forget it was Heero he was fighting. Instead the white winged angel in front of him became a nameless person... a nameless one just like Treize who'd threatened his freedom.
And that was fine by him. No one took his freedom... and there was no way he was going to lose and let Wufei take his hair.
**
Heero tossed away the armor with alarm and watched as it landed on the grass and continued to fizzle. He turned back to his opponent. It was confirmed now... Duo hadn't cared one bit about that night, it was all part of a plot. Which meant there was no reason for him not to kill Duo... so then why the hesitation? Why wasn't he rushing forward to get this battle over with? He could easily defeat Duo, even with his strange weapon and double wings... but he held back. Heero's glare intensified and he took an angry swing at Duo as he realized he didn't really want to fight Duo, not at all. Heero gritted his teeth as steel met steel and the force made his arms shake. Duo was strong... and Duo wanted to win.
Jumping back he moved his wings creating a spray of feathers as he dove forward once again. This time his sword connected and slashed through Duo's robes to cut his leg, but at the same time the purple glow from the scythe shot out and hit him in the back. Heero stumbled slightly but managed to keep his footing and swing around to meet the scythe in a deadlock once again. Thankfully the energy had only shot him in the back, creating a small burn. As far as he could tell there was no acidic like substance this time.
He was starting to figure out Duo's strategy. The weapon was obviously his, no doubt about that, and so was the energy. But Duo also hesitated to use it completely. Heero had no doubt that if Duo used the weapon exactly the way it was supposed to be used he'd be a smoking pile of ash right now. So the question remained... was Duo toying with him or was he hesitating for some other reason?
The purple energy began to grow as the two moved quicker at each other, slashing and dodging and connecting the steel weapons. Long purple tethers swirled around the steel staff like snakes and each time Heero's sword connected they wrapped around his sword toward his arms. Heero was finally forced to throw his sword to the ground as one of the purple 'snakes' wrapped around his hand. He hissed in pain and jumped backward, shaking out his hand. It felt numb and cold. Cold as death...
Heero looked up as Duo advanced at him. He didn't have much of a chance, not when Duo had powers like this. But the question remained, why? Why did Duo bother to challenge him now? Why hadn't Duo just killed him before? And what was stopping him now?
Heero watched with a glare of death as Duo raised the scythe to strike a death blow. He had a small chance... if he could grab Duo when the energy hit maybe it would also kill the black winged angel. It would be a suicide mission and he would die in the attempt but it was better then giving up. Heero clutched his strangely dead hand and watched as the scythe came down toward his body... one chance...
Suddenly a bright flash of red energy snapped between them and Duo cried out in surprise. Heero took his chance to knock the rod from Duo's hands, hissing as the purple energy crackled up his arms. He rolled across the ground and lay there breathing hard, moving his arms quickly to keep any kind of feeling in them. As he moved his arms he looked up toward the tree where the red energy had come from. Duo was looking that direction as well.
"Shinigami... it's been a long time." Trowa dropped down from the tree wearing his normal street clothes of a blue turtle neck and black jeans. He dropped down out of the tree with a small flip and landed without removing his hands from his pockets. His face remained emotionless as usual but there was something in his eyes.. a silent challenge.
"You... this duel is between Heero and myself, no one else." Duo frowned and eyed his rod on the ground, out of reach. Damn.
Trowa frowned. "I had thought you'd died long ago Shinigami."
Duo frowned. "How do you know that name?" He took a step toward Trowa, seeming to forget Heero for a moment. "I don't know you."
Trowa allowed a very small smile to cross his lips. From behind the two Heero watched as wings snapped from Trowa's back. FOUR white wings shot out while his clothing melted over into a long while robe and a half mask appeared on his face, covering the side his hair hung over. Trowa's green eye watched Duo carefully as he revealed his form.
"Y... Pierrot. I should have known." Duo let out a small laugh. "But it doesn't matter, the duel is still between myself and our little solder here. You can wait until he is dead can't you?" Duo turned his back to Trowa and walked to where his staff was, kneeling down to pick it up. But a small dagger made of red energy struck his hand as he reached for his rod. Duo turned and glared at Trowa.
"You will not finish this duel. Heero and Quatre are under my protection. That is a protection you can not break."
"Damn you and the old rules!"
Trowa walked over and offered a hand to help Heero to his feet, but Heero made no move to grasp it. He couldn't have if he'd wanted to, his arms refused to move. Duo grinned slightly and leaned against the school wall.
"Offer your hand all you want, he can't move his arms. Not after touching the deathscythe like he did. And knowing Heero there is no way he's going to let you carry him, ne Heero?" he taunted. Both Heero and Trowa ignored him. Trowa knelt down and grasped Heero under his shoulders hauling him to his feet then letting him go. His arms may not work but Heero could walk and for now that was fine. They both turned back to look at Duo. Duo opened his mouth to say something but they all turned as they heard a sound behind them. Duo's jaw dropped open as he watched Quatre step out of the bushes and pick up the dead steel rod that had been the deathscythe. Quatre smiled sweetly at the group.
"I'm under your protection, am I Trowa? Or should I call you Pierrot?"
"Quatre." Trowa breathed quietly. A pained look crossed his face as he eyed the shimmering bones which had taken the place of the blond's once beautiful wings. From behind Quatre may tall black shapes emerged. All had wings as dark as the night and weapons to match. Duo backed away but found Wufei's sword resting against the back of his neck. Slowly he raised his hands.
"It seems you lost the duel, Duo." Wufei said quietly.
Duo swallowed and made no response, only looked toward Treize with questioning eyes. Treize took the deathscythe from Quatre and smiled at them both. "Shinigami... our partnership is hereby completely terminated. I no longer owe you any favors and you no longer owe me any. With the deathscythe in my hands you are free to go, and he..." Treize nodded to Wufei. "Is free to do as he pleases."
"Treize you bas-!" Duo was cut off as Wufei jammed the butt of the sword into the back of his neck. Duo crumbled to the ground with a soft moan, but landed with his eyes open. He wasn't unconscious... yet.
"And them?" Quatre asked in his sweet voice. He asked like a child inquiring about candy, yet his face held a look of hope... hope that he would be able to do something horrible. Trowa watched with surprise written across his usually emotionless face. This couldn't be Quatre! This certainly wasn't the Quatre he knew!
Treize waved a hand in dismissal. "They are yours to deal with, but they may not live, they will disrupt our plans."
Quatre nodded and then glanced toward the other black angels, as if giving a silent order for their execution. The emotion lifted from Trowa's face and he stepped closer to Duo, a slight step away from Heero. He couldn't stay here and he couldn't fight them, it wasn't worth the risk. He could, however, get Duo and Heero out of here. It meant leaving Quatre... but it would have to do.
Trowa's wings fluttered for a second and red energy surged around his body. He ignored everything around him as the crackling energy grew out and created a wall around him, Heero and Duo. Still concentrating on the energy he knelt down and scooped up Duo, then took Heero around the waste. Moving his wings and using the energy as a boost he shot up into the sky, almost too fast to see. And then he was gone.
Quatre watched them disappear quietly then shrugged. There would be other times. Knowing his brother he'd come back. Heero wouldn't give up on Quatre...
He won't give up on me. And I'll make sure he gets everything he deserves.
