Chapter Seven: Wufei & Others
"Hey Wufei," Duo said, his voice a fraction of what it used to be.
"Hello Duo," Wufei replied. Duo was surprised. Wufei rarely called anyone by their first name. "Only one question from me."
"Then go for it," Duo sighed.
"Did you accomplish everything you wanted to in your life?" he asked.
"You know, I think I did. I got off the streets, I helped people out in some way or another, I fell in love... Yeah, I think I did," Duo answere quickly and surely.
Wufei smiled a little and nodded before leaving.
Saint Peter stepped forward. "We asked some other figures from your past if they'd like to come in, so... here they are. Hilde Schbiker."
Duo's face lit up at the sight of another good friend. Hilde smiled genuinely at seeing Duo again.
"Long time no see, huh?" she commented.
"You could say that," Duo laughed. "So, do you have an interrogation lined up or are you gonna keep it short and sweet?"
"Short," Hilde answered. "Do you feel responsible for our deaths?"
Duo nearly fell over. "What?"
"I remember that 'curse' of yours. How everyone close to you dies. Do you feel responsible for our deaths?" She gestured to the other pilots and herself.
Duo swallowed. "Yeah. Sometimes. Some I know I couldn't help, like Quatre, 'cause he was sick, and others I just knew it was time, like Heero, but I still blame myself sometimes. It still doesn't make losing them any easier, but I still do it..." He sighed. "By now, though, I figure it wasn't me. It was just life fucking with me."
"Okay," Hilde said, her face the same look of sorry sympathy as everyone else's as she left.
"Father Simon Maxwell."
Duo's eyes widened. "What? Oh God..." he whispered. There he was, Father Maxwell, same as Duo remembered. Duo stood shakily.
"Sit down, Duo," Father Maxwell said in his warm, gentle voice. Duo sat.
"Father... It's been so long..." Duo whispered.
"Yes, I know," he replied. "I just came to tell you how very proud I am of you."
"Proud of me?" Duo repeated.
"Yes," the old priest said. "I always watched over you, Duo, with Sister Helen. There are some things I wish you hadn't have done, but overall, I'm proud. You grew up wonderfully, made something of yourself, and gave back to the world. You never gave up, Duo."
Duo had barely heard a word Father Maxwell had said. He was too busy studying the priest's face, remembering everything, tears coming to his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you."
"Solo... ah..." Saint Peter squinted at the name on the paper, "L... no, is that an I... nevermind."
"Heya Duo!" a blonde boy called, entering the room with a rather loud clatter. "Sorry I'm late, Pete, had some business to take care of, if you know what I mean." He elbowed the angel in the ribs, receiving a sour look in return.
"Solo!" Duo laughed, seeing the goofy grin on his old friend and mentor's face. "How are ya?"
"I'm great. Now, Duo, I'd love to sit around and talk, but they're not giving us enough time for that," Solo said. "So here we go: What'll you do if you don't make it? Like, how will you feel?"
Duo sighed. "You were always asking me that." He thought. "I'd scream. I'd be angry, I'd be sad, I'd be disappointed and scared."
"And if you do?"
"I'd be elated! Probably hug the person standing closest to me, and then everyone else in the room, jump around, make a fool of myself." Both boys laughed.
"And then?"
Duo looked thoughtful. He glanced at Heero over Solo's shoulder. "Then... settle down with Heero, I guess."
Solo nodded. "Sounds like a plan," he said. "Well, I gotta take off, but I'll be seeing you later, 'kay?"
"Yup. Later."
As Solo left, it was announced that the hearing was over, and there would be another recess until the final verdict had been made.
"Woah! Wait a second! Don't I get a chance to speak?" Duo objected loudly.
Saint Peter looked at Metatron, who looked skyward. Duo fidgeted anxiously. Heero started formulating a reply if the answer was no. Luckily, he didn't have to use it. Metatron annoucnced that Duo did have a chance to speak on his own behalf.
"Do you have your argument ready now, Mr. Maxwell?"
"No," Duo admitted.
"Then we shall reconvene in two hours, at which time Mr. Maxwell shall present his argument and closing remarks will be made," Metatron declared. The sound of a mallet hitting a gavel echoed through the court.
Duo sat nervously as he waited for the court to clear out, at which point he stood and sank into the comfort of Heero's arms. "Fuck shit. I have nothing to say," he muttered into Heero's shoulder. "I'm just delaying the inevitable."
"We'll help you, don't worry," Heero assured him. "Come on, let's go to my place."
Duo found himself walking the same street that he'd been on earlier and suddenly a question popped into his head. "Heero?"
"Yeah?"
"How come we're all young again?"
Heero looked at him funny. "What?"
"Everyone looks just like they did in AC 195. You, Trowa, Quatre, Wufei, you all look fifteen to me," Duo explained. "Obviously Solo and Father Maxwell are an exception, but that's just how I remembered them. You guys all look fifteen. Hilde too."
Heero thought a moment. "It has to do with a person's perception of life and afterlife. It's a really complicated thing, but the simple explanation is that everyone looks just like you remember them best. I see everyone like I did the last time I saw them, and that's because that's the way I remember them best. Everyone sees everyone else differently. I guess you see us as being 15 'cause that's how you remember us best."
"Sounds logical to me, I guess," Duo shrugged. "A little weird though."
"Yeah, that's what I thought too, but you get used to it" Heero said. "Now, come on, let's work on that speech of yours..."