semi AU

will be 1x2/2x1, some 3x4, citrus in later chapters

Warning: If you don't like yaoi, don't read, no one is twisting your arm and you won't change my mind.

Takes place AC 195, only four gundams are being used, Deathscythe is unpiloted as it has been deemed unmanageable after killing two pilots and making three more insane. It is semi-AI (ZERO prototype).

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Sunrise, Shotsu Agency, Bandai, and other corporations, and has been used without permission, purely for entertainment purposes. Come on, they're meant to be played with just like the little toy Gundam models that I have!

Author's notes: Big thanks to kcgal and Zelda for their persistence in posting and reposting (and even re-reposting) their reviews! Gave me enough of a boost to get this chapter out now instead of waiting for Christmas break when I had planned to write. Damn, those things are addictive (the reviews), well that and the coffee, too.

CHAPTER FOUR – Duo's Story

I put the whole technician-info transfer idea off for a later time and reflected on Duo's body count as I helped Wufei with the dishes.

"We need to find out more about him," the Chinese pilot mumbled under his breath.

"Do you think he meant directly or responsible for?" I asked quietly. The others were all in the living room next door watching the evening news on TV in an attempt to give our strange guest an idea of what kind of world he had dropped into.

"I'll be conservative on this one and say ....responsible for".

Even still, that was an awfully high number. I was trained as an assassin by Odin Lowe himself. One of the best, and I doubt that even he reached that number in his life-time. Duo looked to be around our age. Wait - he had an obvious aversion to magic or sorcery. Perhaps the explanation lay in that direction. We finished up and joined the others.

I lowered myself into "my" armchair – I tend to be territorial or possessive by nature – and took a good long look at the youth draped around one arm of the couch across from me. Duo's posture (or lack thereof) reminded me of a panther lounging on a tree limb. Relaxed, but poised for movement, a predator.

I examined that thought carefully. Was it because of what he said regarding his profession, or did his body language alone actually convey that kind of message? Hnn. Eyes were glued to the TV – no wait – he would do a quick sweep of the room – there! Almost missed it. Damn, he was good. If I wasn't watching for the eye movement I wouldn't have noticed how he disguised it by a slow lowering of his lashing in a long-seeming blink. Hmpf! He could probably get away with anything with lashes that long. I don't think I've seen any of the hunting cat family with eyes that unusual colour either. Nor any human.

Fuck! Heero no baka, ever thought that Duo might NOT be human? This needed to be addressed, now!

"Quatre, shut the TV," I ordered. He took a quick look at my expression and complied readily.

Hn. He runs, he hides, he never lies – I can do this short and sweet. Like 20 questions. He may have some trouble with our language but I had the impression he could use that and play with it – for time, or to stall or disseminate. I wasn't sure. Just a gut feeling.

"We need more information. About you. Your world." I began, glaring directly at our problem.

He looked thoughtful. "How do I describe.....no machines...or science as you have here," he said looking around the room and gesturing to the TV and stereo. "People are born into different classes. If you're not nobility, then you belong to a guild. Those are mostly passed down in families, but there is some room for movement. Like if you show a special talent."

"What about magic," I interrupted – I was looking for short answers here, not long-winded explanations.

"Um, yeah. If someone shows an ability in magic then they are taken by the mages or sorcerers. They aren't a guild, though. More like a ....shit, I can't find a word for it. They like "possess" you – keep you, body and soul. You never leave their .....group, family. And you always answer to your master – usually a high ranking Lord or something like that." He sounded distasteful of the whole thing.

"You don't like sorcerers?" Quatre asked, he looked intensely interested in all this – perhaps he had an affinity for magic, being more than slightly empathic.

"Hell no!" Duo said with a snort. "I've nothing but baaaaad experiences with their kind."

"Can you do magic?" I asked. There was something here he was avoiding, I was sure.

Ah, big hesitation there. Yeah, thought so – avoiding big time. I watched as he looked up at the ceiling and laced his fingers behind his head. Then he let out a big sigh.

"Can I answer that later? It won't make sense to you unless you know my story."

"Shoot then."

He looked startled, then understanding dawned on his face. He brought his hands down and placed them carefully on his lap. Leaning forward, his head caught the trailing rays of the sunset coming in the side window. His hair lit up with a reddish gold glow that also washed colour across his pale skin. Luminous violet eyes raised their gaze at me. He looked ethereal. Beautiful. God damn, focus here, Yuy!

"I'm an orphan. A street kid ever since I could remember. I joined the thieves guild when I was about five, 'cause I was really good at sneaking things and getting away. They were like a family, I was with them about three years. But they all died. Plague wiped out our whole chapter house in town. I survived. Was taken by a church orphanage with some other kids. Stayed there for two years. They died too, some sort of fight with some sorcerers. Father Ma......Father Maxw.......anyway I was away at the time and missed it. Got caught by one of the sorcerer, escaped. Decided to join the assassins guild – revenge and all that. They accepted me because of my thieves training. I stayed with them for nine years. Worked my way up. There are three levels. Each with a special mark. First is Red Hand – your regular type assassin. Then Black Hand – the elite and priced waaaay up there too, I might add. The last is Shadow Hand – not that any assassin's guild will admit to it even existing. They're the "assassins who kill the assassins". Like ghosts, they exist only as rumour. Anyway, I had decided to quit the guild and try something else. Tired of dealing death all the time. So I travelled a bit. I left the city where our mother-house is and was taking a nice morning bath in a stream when I was "pulled" here – to your world. That's about it."

Trowa looked at me and then back at Duo. "What level assassin were you when you left?"

"Shadow Hand. My last job was to take out the mother house. I did."

TBC