Author's Note: Well, I think this should be the end, right? It's not quite
long because I tried not to push the issue further, since we all know Duo
doesn't like people talking about his past. Touchy thing for anyone.
So…here you go, I am finishing my first fanfic now…
"Believing in Angels"
Chapter Seven
"We got trouble!" –Duo practically jumped.
"Oz carriers!" –Heero started to run.
Pilots 02 and 04 ran behind him, heading towards their own ship in the pirate's hangar.
"Where have you been? OZ is attacking L2!" –Wufei scowled when the 3 missing pilots arrived.
"Break is over" –Trowa murmured as he opened the gate of their ship, revealing the 5 enormous Mobile Suits. Their 5 Gundams- "The show must go on…"
Every single pirate was petrified in the spot when they caught sight of the Gundams. Was it possible? Was it possible that those 5 youngsters were….?
"Hey, Duo! I suppose this is good-bye then…" –Gene exclaimed when he saw the 02 pilot ready to climb up to DeathScythe's cockpit. Duo backed off and walked towards him.
"Gene…"-Duo said seriously- "You have no idea how much I want to crack a punch to you…" –he threatened the pirate.
"I know, I know…Sorry for never tell you that I…..well, ya know. I'll let you punch me next time you come around, deal?" –the man said smiling and offering his hand.
"Deal." –Duo smiled, shaking hands with Gene- "Thanks anyway, captain"
"Maxwell! Hurry up!" –Wufei called from Nataku's cockpit.
Duo waved his hand in good-bye to every one and then, he climbed and entered into his Gundam.
"So…let's go protect L2" –he murmured taking off beside the others, flying right among enemy lines.
-------------------0-------------------
Half hour later, almost all the Oz's MS had been destroyed. The ones that were still fighting were the improved versions of the Mobile Dolls. (MD)
"Wufei, target the north zone and attack there. Trowa, cover Wufei from enemy fire. We are the MD's automatic target and their speed is their strongest point…don't let them get closer to you…"
Quatre guided the battle perfectly, as the strategist of the team he was, but closer to L2, Gundam 01 and 02 had gotten away from the team, trying to get rid of the MD that threatened the colony.
Heero was facing three MD at once, playing his role of the "perfect soldier" as always, as Duo sarcastically used to describe it. But he wasn't giving his full attention into the fight. No.
His attention was directed over Gundam DeathScythe Hell that was facing another three MD not far away from him. And Heero couldn't believe his eyes.
Duo had always presumed of being the fastest of the team, and well, they had to admit he surely was, but right here, Duo was actually having problems in the battle. Heero narrowed his eyes.
"What is this baka doing?" His attack and defense reactions are slower…really slower…is he still thinking about…" –Heero started to murmured as he initiated the connection with 02.
"Duo, report…Duo, answer…Duo, answer at once!
"What?!" –Duo, visibly exasperated, appeared in the screen.
"What?!" –Heero repeated sort of annoyed- "What's wrong with you? Can't you cope with three Dolls?"
"Of course I can!!!" –Duo answered ashamed.
"Then what the hell are you doing?!" –Heero said out loud.
But his suspects were correct, because Duo looked down, towards L2 without answering. They were so close. You could almost see the houses, the streets… a white cross in front of a place in ruins…
"Damn, Duo! I though it was over, I though you have understood it!" –Heero exclaimed.
"I have" –Duo replied, flinching as if Heero was about to hit him through the screen- "But…we are so close…I can almost see…their graves…his grave…" –Duo whispered with his eyes bright with emotions. An only, fragile, white feather fell in front of his face.
"Solo" –Duo gasped.
Near explosions brought him back to reality. Heero had just saved him from the attack of two Dolls.
"I can't believe it, Duo! I can't believe you are being so fool! Open your eyes! It wasn't your fault. Your friend is dead. You can't change that…I am sorry, but Solo is dead and he won't come back to life" –Heero replied, looking strangely concerned and angry at a time- "I have realized I don't know you half I though I did, but even though this, I am sure the Duo Maxwell who survived all this time fighting for the colonies can't be so stupid! ….."
"Listen, Duo, you can't continue searching for peace in a grave. You are the one who believed in Heaven, right? So, he is not down there. He is in Heaven if you want to say so…though I believe someone who loved you so much, would rather be here with you, right? He is here with you…"
Duo widened his eyes in stupor. Like the blow of the wind, that old memory of his promise in front of Solo's crypt came back to his mind…
******************flashback***************
"I will never forget my promise, or you. Because I will take you with me. We will be together. Never again, you and I won't be alone, because from now on, with you, I'll be two. I'll be Duo. Maxwell… Duo Maxwell…"
*********************end flashback***************
Heero stayed silent, watching carefully his friend's face. He wasn't sure what was going on into Duo's mind, but he seemed to be transported somewhere else, though his eyes were locked with the blue cobalt ones…
"Look out!" –Duo suddenly launched himself towards Wing Zero, pushing him out of an enemy's shot. DeathScythe extended its black bat wings and wielded firmly its glittering weapon.
"Enough! I'm damn tired of risking the people I care about!" –he said between his clenched teeth. Then he smiled his usual mischievous smile, the battle wicked grin.
"Shinigami is back!"
In just few minutes, the remained Dolls were destroyed, turned into smoking ruins by the Gundam 02. Shinigami had really come back, and Duo with it…
"So…are you going to go down there?" –Heero cut the silence. Duo and he had stayed there, floating over L2 a couple of minutes now.
Duo turned to see him, smiling. He didn't answer, but he started to descend. Heero nodded in agreement. Duo was back.
After thinking it for a while, 01 also descended over a huge abandoned yard. He jumped from his cockpit in one fluid motion, and walked forward, leaving behind both Wing Zero and DeathScythe. Duo was standing there, silently observing the surroundings some steps ahead.
The ruins of the destroyed church laid there, an unforgettable monument for the boy. The cross at the gates and, at the middle of the back garden, a lonely white crypt.
Heero stayed there, supposing Duo could be a little sentimental and he didn't want to make him uncomfortable. But this time, he was wrong.
Duo turned around to see him, smiling like the most normal thing in the world.
"And what are ya doing here?" –he asked raising an eyebrow.
Heero frowned at that look. He knew what it meant. And no way he was going to allow Duo suspect he was worried.
"I am just checking on you, in order to be sure that you return to be the pilot we need in our missions and not a liability like these days…" -Heero growled, folding arms.
Duo blinked twice at that, and then, he burst out laughing.
'Same old Heero, never changes…' –he thought with affection.
"In that case, I … I don't have anything else to say…"-Duo sighed. His hand went up to his chest as he continued- "Everything is right here. It has always been, I just needed to be reminded…" –he smiled somehow sadly.
And like a familiar but still stunning dream, a white feather flew his way in front of the amethyst eyes, lingering there for an instant. The sad smiled remained in Duo's features.
"My dear illusion…so real…" –he thought as his glance followed the feather, which floated towards the sky, leaving Duo and Heero behind.
But Heero also looked up, his blue eyes following the feather until it disappeared, carried by the wind. Duo's eyes widened.
"It's…real. It's real…the feather…" –his thoughts crossed his mind as he lowered his glance towards the figure of the angel carved over the crypt…
Heero returned his face in order to see Duo, and he was a bit amused to see his friend taking two more steps close to the crave, and Duo, maybe forgetting Heero was still there, put his hands together at chest's heights and closed his eyes, like in a silent prayer.
He stayed like that for a few seconds. Then, he looked up and smiling, he traced the cross sign over his chest.
"Well….." Duo enlarged the word purposely and starting to walk back, towards their Gundams- "Are we leaving or what?
Heero looked at him seriously, then he looked the crypt and returned his glance to Duo again.
"I thought…" –Heero mused- "I thought you didn't believe or do that anymore…" –he said, talking about the prayer.
"I used to think that sometimes" –the American pilot answered also seriously, then, his trademark smile returned- "But, ya know what? Even though I've been through a lot of terrible stuff, I think I never quit believing…-he said looking Solo's crypt and then at Heero.
'Yeah. In friends and angels…they are always here for me…' –Duo thought as he smiled his most beautiful smile.
Suddenly, the familiar roar of the other 3 Gundams reminded them they were waiting for 01 and 02. And up in space, inside Sandrock's cockpit, Quatre was smiling, relieved and happy for his friend.
"C'mon, Heero-man…"-Duo said starting to run towards DeathScythe- "Bet ya can't catch me! You're way too slow, perfect soldier!" –he said out loud, a naughty smile in his lips.
Heero frowned, but he also started running. Not in a thousand years he was going to let Duo win a bet!
Gundam 01 and 02 lifted gracefully from L2, heading towards space. But in DeathScythe's cockpit, Duo Maxwell glanced down once again, just for a brief second, smiling while he murmured.
"Always believing in angels…"
And the angel carved over a white crypt smiled as he batted his fragile wings…
End.
************Shinigami's Voice****************
A/N: There! I have finished now. Thanks the ones who have R&R and I hope you like this. I added the religious touch here 'cause we can't just obviate the fact Duo is still wearing a priest collar and all that…hope you guys understand.
I'm gonna be cynical enough to advertise myself here (je je je) : I'll be posting another fanfic called "Of Good-byes and Returns" . If you consider I am not such a bad writer, please come and read it. Yeah, Duo stuff!!
"Believing in Angels"
Chapter Seven
"We got trouble!" –Duo practically jumped.
"Oz carriers!" –Heero started to run.
Pilots 02 and 04 ran behind him, heading towards their own ship in the pirate's hangar.
"Where have you been? OZ is attacking L2!" –Wufei scowled when the 3 missing pilots arrived.
"Break is over" –Trowa murmured as he opened the gate of their ship, revealing the 5 enormous Mobile Suits. Their 5 Gundams- "The show must go on…"
Every single pirate was petrified in the spot when they caught sight of the Gundams. Was it possible? Was it possible that those 5 youngsters were….?
"Hey, Duo! I suppose this is good-bye then…" –Gene exclaimed when he saw the 02 pilot ready to climb up to DeathScythe's cockpit. Duo backed off and walked towards him.
"Gene…"-Duo said seriously- "You have no idea how much I want to crack a punch to you…" –he threatened the pirate.
"I know, I know…Sorry for never tell you that I…..well, ya know. I'll let you punch me next time you come around, deal?" –the man said smiling and offering his hand.
"Deal." –Duo smiled, shaking hands with Gene- "Thanks anyway, captain"
"Maxwell! Hurry up!" –Wufei called from Nataku's cockpit.
Duo waved his hand in good-bye to every one and then, he climbed and entered into his Gundam.
"So…let's go protect L2" –he murmured taking off beside the others, flying right among enemy lines.
-------------------0-------------------
Half hour later, almost all the Oz's MS had been destroyed. The ones that were still fighting were the improved versions of the Mobile Dolls. (MD)
"Wufei, target the north zone and attack there. Trowa, cover Wufei from enemy fire. We are the MD's automatic target and their speed is their strongest point…don't let them get closer to you…"
Quatre guided the battle perfectly, as the strategist of the team he was, but closer to L2, Gundam 01 and 02 had gotten away from the team, trying to get rid of the MD that threatened the colony.
Heero was facing three MD at once, playing his role of the "perfect soldier" as always, as Duo sarcastically used to describe it. But he wasn't giving his full attention into the fight. No.
His attention was directed over Gundam DeathScythe Hell that was facing another three MD not far away from him. And Heero couldn't believe his eyes.
Duo had always presumed of being the fastest of the team, and well, they had to admit he surely was, but right here, Duo was actually having problems in the battle. Heero narrowed his eyes.
"What is this baka doing?" His attack and defense reactions are slower…really slower…is he still thinking about…" –Heero started to murmured as he initiated the connection with 02.
"Duo, report…Duo, answer…Duo, answer at once!
"What?!" –Duo, visibly exasperated, appeared in the screen.
"What?!" –Heero repeated sort of annoyed- "What's wrong with you? Can't you cope with three Dolls?"
"Of course I can!!!" –Duo answered ashamed.
"Then what the hell are you doing?!" –Heero said out loud.
But his suspects were correct, because Duo looked down, towards L2 without answering. They were so close. You could almost see the houses, the streets… a white cross in front of a place in ruins…
"Damn, Duo! I though it was over, I though you have understood it!" –Heero exclaimed.
"I have" –Duo replied, flinching as if Heero was about to hit him through the screen- "But…we are so close…I can almost see…their graves…his grave…" –Duo whispered with his eyes bright with emotions. An only, fragile, white feather fell in front of his face.
"Solo" –Duo gasped.
Near explosions brought him back to reality. Heero had just saved him from the attack of two Dolls.
"I can't believe it, Duo! I can't believe you are being so fool! Open your eyes! It wasn't your fault. Your friend is dead. You can't change that…I am sorry, but Solo is dead and he won't come back to life" –Heero replied, looking strangely concerned and angry at a time- "I have realized I don't know you half I though I did, but even though this, I am sure the Duo Maxwell who survived all this time fighting for the colonies can't be so stupid! ….."
"Listen, Duo, you can't continue searching for peace in a grave. You are the one who believed in Heaven, right? So, he is not down there. He is in Heaven if you want to say so…though I believe someone who loved you so much, would rather be here with you, right? He is here with you…"
Duo widened his eyes in stupor. Like the blow of the wind, that old memory of his promise in front of Solo's crypt came back to his mind…
******************flashback***************
"I will never forget my promise, or you. Because I will take you with me. We will be together. Never again, you and I won't be alone, because from now on, with you, I'll be two. I'll be Duo. Maxwell… Duo Maxwell…"
*********************end flashback***************
Heero stayed silent, watching carefully his friend's face. He wasn't sure what was going on into Duo's mind, but he seemed to be transported somewhere else, though his eyes were locked with the blue cobalt ones…
"Look out!" –Duo suddenly launched himself towards Wing Zero, pushing him out of an enemy's shot. DeathScythe extended its black bat wings and wielded firmly its glittering weapon.
"Enough! I'm damn tired of risking the people I care about!" –he said between his clenched teeth. Then he smiled his usual mischievous smile, the battle wicked grin.
"Shinigami is back!"
In just few minutes, the remained Dolls were destroyed, turned into smoking ruins by the Gundam 02. Shinigami had really come back, and Duo with it…
"So…are you going to go down there?" –Heero cut the silence. Duo and he had stayed there, floating over L2 a couple of minutes now.
Duo turned to see him, smiling. He didn't answer, but he started to descend. Heero nodded in agreement. Duo was back.
After thinking it for a while, 01 also descended over a huge abandoned yard. He jumped from his cockpit in one fluid motion, and walked forward, leaving behind both Wing Zero and DeathScythe. Duo was standing there, silently observing the surroundings some steps ahead.
The ruins of the destroyed church laid there, an unforgettable monument for the boy. The cross at the gates and, at the middle of the back garden, a lonely white crypt.
Heero stayed there, supposing Duo could be a little sentimental and he didn't want to make him uncomfortable. But this time, he was wrong.
Duo turned around to see him, smiling like the most normal thing in the world.
"And what are ya doing here?" –he asked raising an eyebrow.
Heero frowned at that look. He knew what it meant. And no way he was going to allow Duo suspect he was worried.
"I am just checking on you, in order to be sure that you return to be the pilot we need in our missions and not a liability like these days…" -Heero growled, folding arms.
Duo blinked twice at that, and then, he burst out laughing.
'Same old Heero, never changes…' –he thought with affection.
"In that case, I … I don't have anything else to say…"-Duo sighed. His hand went up to his chest as he continued- "Everything is right here. It has always been, I just needed to be reminded…" –he smiled somehow sadly.
And like a familiar but still stunning dream, a white feather flew his way in front of the amethyst eyes, lingering there for an instant. The sad smiled remained in Duo's features.
"My dear illusion…so real…" –he thought as his glance followed the feather, which floated towards the sky, leaving Duo and Heero behind.
But Heero also looked up, his blue eyes following the feather until it disappeared, carried by the wind. Duo's eyes widened.
"It's…real. It's real…the feather…" –his thoughts crossed his mind as he lowered his glance towards the figure of the angel carved over the crypt…
Heero returned his face in order to see Duo, and he was a bit amused to see his friend taking two more steps close to the crave, and Duo, maybe forgetting Heero was still there, put his hands together at chest's heights and closed his eyes, like in a silent prayer.
He stayed like that for a few seconds. Then, he looked up and smiling, he traced the cross sign over his chest.
"Well….." Duo enlarged the word purposely and starting to walk back, towards their Gundams- "Are we leaving or what?
Heero looked at him seriously, then he looked the crypt and returned his glance to Duo again.
"I thought…" –Heero mused- "I thought you didn't believe or do that anymore…" –he said, talking about the prayer.
"I used to think that sometimes" –the American pilot answered also seriously, then, his trademark smile returned- "But, ya know what? Even though I've been through a lot of terrible stuff, I think I never quit believing…-he said looking Solo's crypt and then at Heero.
'Yeah. In friends and angels…they are always here for me…' –Duo thought as he smiled his most beautiful smile.
Suddenly, the familiar roar of the other 3 Gundams reminded them they were waiting for 01 and 02. And up in space, inside Sandrock's cockpit, Quatre was smiling, relieved and happy for his friend.
"C'mon, Heero-man…"-Duo said starting to run towards DeathScythe- "Bet ya can't catch me! You're way too slow, perfect soldier!" –he said out loud, a naughty smile in his lips.
Heero frowned, but he also started running. Not in a thousand years he was going to let Duo win a bet!
Gundam 01 and 02 lifted gracefully from L2, heading towards space. But in DeathScythe's cockpit, Duo Maxwell glanced down once again, just for a brief second, smiling while he murmured.
"Always believing in angels…"
And the angel carved over a white crypt smiled as he batted his fragile wings…
End.
************Shinigami's Voice****************
A/N: There! I have finished now. Thanks the ones who have R&R and I hope you like this. I added the religious touch here 'cause we can't just obviate the fact Duo is still wearing a priest collar and all that…hope you guys understand.
I'm gonna be cynical enough to advertise myself here (je je je) : I'll be posting another fanfic called "Of Good-byes and Returns" . If you consider I am not such a bad writer, please come and read it. Yeah, Duo stuff!!