Dimensional Warfare : Evil Attracts Evil
by: Trio and Elf
rated: R, Lemon
finished: 2000
Disclaimer: We do not own Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, or The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. We are only using the characters to devise out own special tale of lore. So don't sue us, we're both poor.
C and C: To send the authors comments you can e-mail us at Trio_no_baka@yahoo.com and Slaybrat@aye.net Trio's email is the first, Elf's is the second.
Author Site: Trio's Anime World
www.expage.com/triomain
Author Notes: There is one slightly detailed love scene. What Elf and I would call "mellow" others may call "graphic," so to help warn our readers we have decided to label this chapter as a Lemon.
Chapter Seven
There were two of them, both girls. Twins almost, except one had hair as black as night and the other had hair as white as snow. They both had glowing eyes that shifted color from moment to moment. They were power incarnate almost, but their power was balanced by their childish minds.
They were lovely, but they looked only to be seven years old. The one with the alabaster hair was named Nara, while the one with onyx hair was called Lilith. They held hands as they watched the scenes playing out on their quartz crystal. The God of Death was making love to a healer, their bodies sweatily clinging to each other with passion. Nara grimaced at the image, disgusted.
Lilith squinted and asked, "Wouldn't that hurt? He's so big. She's little. The healer must be in pain."
Nara shook her long, white hair, her eyes turned gray as she looked at the next facet of the crystal. Princess Relena Peacecraft was looking over some official papers in her study, obviously thinking about the enigmatic Heero Yuy. The Perfect Solder was with his battle machine, checking the functions. The people who should be together, Zechs and Noin, were checking up on the Sanq Kingdom. Wufei Chang, the Silent Dragon, was meditating in his bedroom. Trowa Barton, The Mystery, was sitting in the kitchen, his dark green eyes clouded in thought as he waited for something.
She smiled as she looked at the next facet. Quatre Raberba Winner, the Gentle Soul, was talking to the Sailor of Wisdom herself, Athene. The Scouts were powerless, as well as the Sages and Zelda. Link was still the Hero Of Time, but that could easily be dealt with. The main thing was that the Scouts were powerless.
She giggled and said, "We can have so much fun."
Lilith, the more sinister of the two, smiled and replied, "We can play with them all. They'll be our toys."
Lilith's brow furrowed as she looked at the crystal. Nara was concerned about her playmate. She asked, "What is it, Lily?"
Lilith pouted and complained, "Those pilots won't be any fun. Well, Duo would be, but the others would be boring and easily broken. They don't believe in us."
Nara giggled and replied, "Then we must do something about this then, shouldn't we?"
Lilith smiled and said, "Of course. It will be a fun game to play."
******
"So, old friend, it comes down to this?" Angus Campbell looked at the image of John Wallace in his hand. The doctor was smiling, his sherry colored eyes twinkling in the photo and his reddish brown curls still an unruly mop on his forehead. Campbell knew that John was dead. As was Robert Darkfall, a close colleague of his.
Jennifer Darkfall had been their downfall. Her and those damn Gundam pilots. Campbell stood up and grunted. He, unlike John and Robert, didn't have a high sense of honor and purpose. He was on Oz and Romafeller's side. He was only on their side because he wanted power. He wanted to rule.
After all, he had the intelligence to. When the three of them had been at school, Campbell had proposed to the Native American test pilot and the Scottish student that they join forces and rule the world. Robert, the Warrior, had laughed and said that he was being foolish. John smiled and kindly told him that he was being foolish and that power corrupted.
Campbell wanted that power. He had grown up with John in Gloscow, but John was an idealist as well as soft. He had talent, but he didn't know how to use it. Medicine and engineering, both their specialties, except Campbell had been the better engineer. He just wasn't as old as Tubarov to get that satisfaction.
He was on the Mobile DOLL project as well as the Darkfall Project. Both had been demolished by those damn Gundam pilots.
Campbell was tired and he wanted revenge. Get rid of the Gundam pilots and use Relena Peacecraft to gain control of the world. He had a plan, and a weapon. He had a whole factory hidden in an under sea laboratory in Eastern Europe, just 200 miles away from the "beloved" Sanq Kingdom, to build Mobile DOLLs. And he had something else.
A Mobile Suit that was more powerful than a Gundam simply because it couldn't be destroyed. Every damage inflicted on the suit would heal automatically because the suit was organic. And Campbell had the right pilot for it as well.
The Scottish Lord sank back in his chair and hit the button on his comlink. He said, "Joshua, I would like to see you." His accent was still thick, but it wasn't the pleasant accent that John had, no, Campbell's accent was cultured and royal. Commanding.
The chime signaled on the door. Campbell said, "Come in."
He smiled as Joshua Hunters walked into the room. He was handsome with dark red hair, the color of wine, and icy silvery blue eyes. He was only seventeen, but he was very experienced. He had been trained since birth to be a soldier. Just like Heero Yuy.
Hunters straitened up and asked, "Yes, Lord Campbell, what would you like me to do?"
Campbell leaned back in his chair and smiled. He answered, "Send a scouting team to the Sanq Kingdom to tell us what's happening." Rumor had it that all the pilots, even Zechs Marquise, were there. He wanted that confirmed.
Hunters slightly bowed his head and replied, "Consider it done, milord." Campbell smiled as the young warrior walked out of the room. He tapped his fingers on his desk and thought, Now, it's all a matter of waiting.
******
Jennifer was smiling, and she knew it. She had this silly little grin plastered on her face that wouldn't lift away. She stretched, aching pleasantly in places she knew she had, but hadn't experienced before. She looked down at the unslept bed in her room. It had been the first time she'd been in here in the last 24 hours.
As she dawned on a pair of black jogging pants and a red tank top, she remembered the events last night.
******
Giggling like a couple of school children, Jennifer and Duo held hands as they ran down the garden path. Quatre and Athene were forgotten as Duo grinned and bent down for a kiss. She was hungry for him. They were interrupted each time lately, and she was starving for him.
From the way he was kissing her, he was just as ravenous as she was. His mouth was hot and soft against hers. As well as hungry. She felt his hands gently caressing her back and running through her hair, loosing the braid.
He moved kisses from her mouth down to her throat. She gasped as he nipped at her pulse just a little. He looked up at her with lidded violet eyes and grinned wickedly as her hair escaped its braid and tumbled around her.
Then time froze. His expression changed, softened, became vulnerable. She held her breath, just gazing at his face. Her life line. Her love.
Her love.
She knew that she was in love with Duo Maxwell, but she had tried to deny it for so long. She was afraid that if she loved him, then he would die like everyone else that she loved. She didn't want to loose him before she had him. And she wanted him. Very much.
Heero's voice entered her mind as well as a very wise saying, "A person told me to live by my feelings. Live by yours."
She took a deep breath and said, "I love you."
Duo froze and his eyes became huge. He looked surprised and relieved. He traced her face with his long finger tips. She shivered at the light touch, heated beyond belief. He said, his eyes bright with happiness and love, "I love you too, Jennifer."
She smiled and pulled him close for a kiss. His eyes widened just a little bit as she devoured his mouth. She nibbled on his lips for a moment before he licked her lips with his tongue. She shivered as she held onto him. She pressed up even closer to him, feeling his hardness on her stomach.
She felt her heart beat pound. Who knows when something could happen with all the strangeness happening. What if I can't take this moment again? What if Duo and I never have this chance again? What if it's too early? Shouldn't we wait?
What if I never know love in all of its forms?
I need him. I have to have him. Who knows when I'll get this chance again?
Take this chance, Darkfall, and make it count.
Her heart still racing, she pressed up against him, and he moaned, "Oh, god."
"Of Death," she teased him, pressing up against him, whispering in his ear.
"You're gonna kill me, Jennifer," he moaned as she traced her hands down his chest and to the waist band of his pants. She wanted him, no, needed him. The logical part of her mind was already making plans and precautions: birth control, it was going to hurt, where to be.
She was figuring everything out. Then her mind raced to one of the more clinical thoughts of sex. Pain. Her hands started to tremble in fear as she remembered the Oz solder above her right before Duo had been there to save her.
"Jennifer?" he asked, his eyes dilated in the dark, almost all pupil with a glowing ring of violet around them. Lovely to look at. For all eternity. She looked up at him, some of her courage gone.
He traced his fingers on her face and asked, "What is it? Did I do something wrong?" He looked hurt and she hated herself at that moment for putting that look on his face. She hadn't realized all the pain he'd been through. It was clear in his eyes.
The Maxwell Massacre, Father Maxwell and Sister Helen, Solo, the times that he had been tortured, all the people he loved dying around him. He never knew his parents and he had killed countless people. He was the God of Death. He believed that everyone he touched died, but he wasn't about to let anyone see how that affected him.
Both of them had been neck deep in Death for so long that they forgot to live. This wasn't just a deceleration of love. It was a celebration of life in one of the oldest forms possible.
She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him harshly, thoroughly, tasting him, feeling him respond against her.
******
Somehow they got to Duo's room. Jennifer didn't remember breaking away from her Angel of Death, but somehow they had made it up here, and somehow, the room was still clean. She looked around and Duo grinned. He said, "Look, Jennifer, it's not a mess."
Then he reached for her and they were kissing again, hot, passionate and hungry. She needed him so bad, her whole body was aching in ways she had tried to ignore until now.
He tasted warm, like cinnamon and other spices. Exotic and comforting. He smelled like cinnamon, sweat, baby powder, and musk, all combining to make a scent that was wonderfully Duo. She wanted to feel his hair in her hands. She wanted to see what he looked like with that wonderful chestnut brown hair around him.
She reached up and Duo jerked away, startled. She pulled back, afraid that she did something wrong. She looked down and muttered, "Sorry, I didn't . . ."
Duo pulled her close and forced her to look at him. His violet eyes were enough for her to drown in. And it would be a pleasant way to go in Jennifer's humble opinion. He said, "You just startled me, that's all." He chuckled, "Not use to people touching the braid."
Jennifer looked down at her hair all around her, trailing far past her thighs. It was her pride, her one vanity. Her father had loved her hair and he'd never let her cut it. So, after he had died, she had taken good care of it so it wouldn't get split ends and keep it silky and healthy. Robert Darkfall had been the only person in the world that she'd let touch her hair, until now.
She loved it when Duo ran his long, capable fingers down her hair. It felt so good, that intimate contact. She wanted to touch his hair, see if it was as silky as it looked. She reached out and took the meter long braid in her hand.
He grinned, looking adorably nervous, as he said, "I think your hair's longer."
"Good," she said, swallowing the lump in her throat. He laughed. She took the black, elastic band from his hair and began to unbraid the silky mass. It fell in soft waves around his face. It felt like crushed silk between her fingers. She murmured, "It's beautiful."
She looked up at him. The hair fell past his thighs in soft chestnut waves. The moonlight coming from Duo's French doors cast silvery shimmers in the rich mass. It haloed his black clothing and made his eyes look the color of amethysts. He was beautiful. He didn't seem real. Like he was some Faye Prince, who had came down to consort with a mortal.
Jennifer sighed as she looked at him. He moved to her again, taking her in his strong arms. He was warm against her. He began to kiss her again. Furiously, even more hungry. She trembled as his hands slid under her shirt, making contact with her bare skin. Never had the young couple been so intimate.
Shivers of pure pleasure wracked her spine as he withdrew the T-shirt from her body, leaving only her bra covering her. She blushed as he studied her with a wicked gleam in his violet eyes. He reached around her back and undid the clasp, letting the white slip of cotton fall to the ground.
She was bare to his gaze and she blushed. Her heart was pounding as he went down to his knees, gazing at her, his eyes filled with pure worship. He breathed, "You're beautiful." He reached up and caressed one breast gently, enough to cause her to shiver in pleasure.
"Oh," she sighed as he reached up and kissed one of the milky orbs. His eyes took on a wicked gleam as his hot tongue licked her. She shivered as she closed her eyes and he began to suck on her. He soon gave the other the same attention, except this time his hands slid down her hips to the snap of her jeans.
His skillful fingers unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. He guided them down over her waist, her thighs and her legs. Getting what he wanted, she stepped out of her jeans and looked down at him. He had stopped nursing and she stood there, almost perfectly naked, panting with need, as he watched her. His gaze was worshiping, love filled. He was panting as well, watching her.
"Duo," she breathed as she looked down at her Faye Prince. This night the God of Death was gone. He was a prince of the Faye, her prince. There was no way some ordinary mortal could inflict this sort of pleasure. No way.
There was some nagging thought in the back of her mind. Something that she had to remember before they went any further. She whispered, "Havical."
Duo's eyes darkened in understanding. Havical was an anti-conceptive. State of the art, 99.9% accuracy, and it was to be taken right before intercourse. Condoms and other primitive methods were all but dead except among prostitutes among the colonies. Drugs were to be used by either the male or the female.
Duo had a problem with medicines. Jennifer, being raised by a doctor and in med. school herself, was perfectly fine with taking the responsibility of protection. She fished the small syringe from her jeans' pocket and took off the sterile cap. She felt the slight jab of the needle as she injected the yellowish liquid into her arm.
She capped the needle and threw the syringe, knowing it wasn't exactly sterile procedure, into the waist basket in the bedroom. She looked down at him and he smiled that wicked smile she loved. He reached under her underwear and slid a finger into her.
She gasped and closed her eyes. Heat rose in her as the finger found a sensitive spot and caressed, sending her to some place. Right as she was about to get there, that spiral of pleasure, that need for release, he stopped. She whimpered as he took off her underwear in one motion, still grinning wickedly.
"Duo," she moaned as he rose up. He kissed her. She couldn't stand it. He was teasing her, making her burn, and he was grinning wickedly. She ran her hands down his shirt, beginning to unbutton the black shirt. She ran her fingers over smooth, thick muscles as he gasped.
He lifted her and placed her on the bed. She propped herself on her elbows as she looked up at him. He was studying her hungrily. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She wanted to see him like he was seeing her.
He took off the black shirt and the white one under it, leaving his muscled torso bare to her gaze. She wanted to run her hands over those smooth muscles and tickle his bronze nipples. He took off his black belt and his boots. With one motion, his black slacks came off, leaving him in black silk boxers. She looked away, blushing in maidenly modesty.
Curiosity won out though. When she turned around, he was perfectly nude, his chestnut hair floating around his well-toned body and his violet eyes glowing. And his arousal present.
Her first thought was one that was as old as lovers' first times. He's not going to be able to fit in me. He's too big. Her second thought was more clinical, more logical, Of course he can fit. Male and female bodies were made for that. It's just going to hurt a little.
She shut her eyes and braced herself. She felt hair tickle her skin and she shivered. Then Duo's hot mouth on hers. She sighed as she kissed him. His hands ran their way down her body, spreading her legs apart.
She felt him at her opening then with one swift movement, he was inside her. She gasped and shuttered. It hurt. She felt him hit something, break it, then push on. He stopped. She opened her tightly clinched eyes to see Duo trying to control himself, him looking down at her.
The pain began to fade as her body got use to the invasion. Then, she began to burn again. She wrapped her legs around him as he began to move inside of her. Their bodies made their own rhythm together, closing their bond. Sealing them for eternity.
She gasped as she felt her body go to some place beyond her reach. Like before, except more intense. She moaned his name over and over, and realized that he was moaning her name too as their rhythm got more intense. Then, the world exploded. She shuttered as she felt Duo still inside of her as she cried out with the pleasure of it all. Duo moaned as he collapsed on her body.
******
Trowa sat at the kitchen table. Maybe Lita would be back, or maybe not. He liked the girl and he wanted to see her again. Listen to her talk and maybe eat some more of her delicious cooking. He smiled softly.
He knew there was a romance blooming between Quatre and Athene. It was too evident. They were perfect for each other, both gentle souls. Trowa just didn't want to see his best friend hurt.
He had coffee brewing and was drinking a cup of it when he heard a soft voice singing in a language he didn't understand. The voice was familiar that was evident, but he couldn't place the pleasant singing. It sounded almost like Jennifer Darkfall, but it seemed highly unlikely that she would sing.
Jennifer entered the kitchen, softly singing the song. She smiled brightly as she looked at Trowa. She said, in a cheerful voice, "Good morning, Trowa."
Trowa blinked. Jennifer was not a morning person, she didn't sing, and she was never this cheerful and smiling all the time. The most cheerful and happy that he'd ever seen her was when Duo was in the vicinity. All the other times she was thoughtful, despite her short temper, and almost tragic. He knew about the recent slaughter of her family.
Sometimes the pain was still fresh on her face. Trowa knew the feeling all too well. Now, though, she was smiling, almost glowing. Radiant. She was beautiful to look at, her dark green eyes were shining as she looked around the kitchen.
Trowa pointed to the coffee he had just brewed and said, "I made fresh coffee."
She grimaced playfully as she reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of orange juice. She said, "Caffeine stunts your growth." She laughed and looked his tall form over, then her petite, elfin body. She added, "Well, I don't think it stunted your growth anyway." She smiled as she hummed, pouring herself a glass of the yellow juice.
She put the bottle back into the refrigerator as she drank the juice. She drained the glass quickly and placed it in the sink. She said, "I'm gonna go for a jog now." With that, she cheerfully waved and trotted out of the kitchen.
Trowa watched her go, bemused at her strange behavior. He had a feeling that Duo had something to do with her cheerful mood this morning, but he didn't push it. He leaned up against the cabinet and continued to drink his coffee.
After he had placed his mug in the sink he heard a familiar voice say, "Okay, what should I cook?" Trowa turned around to see Lita standing in the doorway, loose strands of her auburn hair floated around her face. She was flushed and sweating from whatever training Athene had put them through. Her face lit up as she saw Trowa.
Trowa nodded and said, "Good morning."
"Hey Trowa, wanna help me cook?" Lita asked as she walked over to the sink. He watched her as she washed her hands. He liked the quick, athletic way she moved. She carried her height with pride.
Trowa nodded and answered, "Sure. On one condition."
"What?" she asked, grinning at him. He noticed that her ear rings were of little, pink roses. The delicate flower seemed out of place with this tall, athletic girl. He found himself liking her the more for it.
Trowa allowed himself a smile. He answered, "If I can help you eat it."
"Deal," she said, holding out her hand for him to shake.
******
Lita couldn't believe it. This totally gorgeous guy was helping her cook. He was gorgeous. Those eyes, that hair, wow, he's amazing, and he's got a mysterious personality to boot. He's perfect, she thought as she studied Trowa. One dark green eye was hidden behind the fall of golden brown hair, and his expression was carefully guarded. And he's as tall as I am, she thought happily as she watched his graceful movements.
He asked in his quiet voice, "What are we going to cook?"
Lita smiled at him and answered, "I dunno. What do you wanna eat?" She watched his thoughtful expression as he looked around the kitchen.
He flashed one of his rare smiles. She knew, despite how little time she'd spent with him, that Trowa didn't talk or smile much. Saying this much must be pretty impressive of the boy. He answered, "Something sweet."
She smiled and cheerfully replied, "Well, Trowa, that's what I'm good at." She rolled up her sleeves, ready to cook.
******
Relena walked around the kingdom, already busy with activity. She saw Heero in the hanger and studied him. He was so handsome with the way his unruly, dark-brown hair fell into his dark blue eyes. She had the urge every time she saw him to push that hair away from his face.
He'd probably bring out his pistol and say, "I will kill you," if she tried that. So, she sighed watching him like a lovesick fool.
That's what I am, isn't it? A lovesick fool. I'm worse than Duo, she thought as she studied the handsome Wing pilot below. He was typing at his computer, sitting on the catwalk, with wires connected to Wing ZERO. Zechs and Noin were on the other side of the hanger, looking at Epyon. The Gundam was damaged pretty badly.
They should get together, Relena thought as she studied her brother and Noin talking together. Their words were strained, nervous. They would make a perfect couple. It was obvious that Noin loved Zechs, and that Zechs loved her in return.
Zechs. He had told everyone that he didn't want to be called Milliardo. Maybe because the man called Milliardo Peacecraft had died and Zechs had replaced him. She would still think of him as Milliardo, though. He was her brother. Her blood.
She sighed and turned away, right into Jennifer Darkfall's smiling face. Jennifer's smile brightened and said, "Hey Relena." She sounded cheerful, not Jennifer's usual grim, bitchy mood.
Relena stood there, speechless. Jennifer waved down at Heero, who kept typing away. Zechs and Noin looked at them, and Jennifer waved. Relena studied the girl.
She was beautiful, radiant, glowing. Her dark green eyes were bright and shining, not her usual hooded look. She was smiling and cheerful. Relena watched her in shock. Jennifer cocked her head, her braid falling to one side of her face.
She asked, "Are you okay, Relena?"
No insults. She was even being polite. Relena shook her head and looked at the smiling, glowing blond.
"Are you feeling all right?" Jennifer asked, reaching out and feeling Relena's forehead. The Peacecraft Princess gasped. Jennifer was now being nurturing. A puzzled look crossed the elfin blonde's face as she pulled her hand away. She said, "No fever. You sure you're okay, Relena?"
"Ummm... yes, I'm fine," Relena managed, still shocked.
Jennifer flashed that brilliant smile again. She said, "Good. Hey, Relena?"
"Yes?" she asked, looking at the blonde girl.
Jennifer tossed her braid off her shoulder and to her back, giving Relena an envious look of her toned muscles and voluminous figure. She was tiny, but she was beautifully formed. She could see why Duo would be physically attracted to her.
The female Gundam pilot asked, "Well, maybe we could try dinner again? Maybe, you know, so we can get to know everyone better."
Relena's mouth fell open in shock. Jennifer was intelligent, an excellent pilot, short tempered, an excellent doctor, but of all the good things she was, diplomatic wasn't one of them. If she was angry, she'd let you know about it, and she couldn't stand people who were ignorant. Relena didn't believe in stupidity.
She slowly nodded, getting her composure again. She answered, "Yes, Jennifer, that seems like a very good idea."
"Good," Jennifer cheerfully chirped before she ran off. She called out, "Say hi to Heero for me!" Relena watched, confused, as the elfin blond trotted out of the room.
She turned back to look down at the Wing pilot. His brow was furrowed in conversation as he typed. She sighed as she leaned on the railing to watch him. He was so handsome. So intense, so Heero. She could get to him. She really could.
She sensed a passionate young man under that stoic veneer. Maybe, with enough time and patience, she could bring that out in him. She sighed softly as she watched him, wondering if this was how Duo and Jennifer felt toward each other. Probably not. They knew what the other felt, or at least had a pretty good idea, and made each other happy.
"Hey, Relena?" Serena's voice called out cheerfully behind her.
Relena jumped, startled. She turned around to see another tiny, smiling blonde, but she knew that this girl was always cheerful. She put a hand to her chest and said, "Serena, you startled me."
"Sorry, Relena, so who you looking at?" Serena teased as she moved toward the railing.
"No one," Relena managed out nervously, looking away.
Serena turned to face her, her dark blue eyes sparkling, as she said, "Sure you are. You have a crush on..." She looked down at Heero. He looked up at them at that moment then, surprisingly, he lifted his hand up to wave at them. Serena cheerfully waved back and shouted, "Hi Heero!"
Heero's dark eyes narrowed at her before he bent down to his work again. Relena blushed and looked away, hoping that her hair would cover her face. Serena's royal blue eyes sparkled in excitement as she said, "You like Heero, don't you?"
"What makes you think that?" Relena managed with a voice that didn't sound too shaky.
Serena giggled and replied, "It's obvious. How you look at him. You're in love with him."
Relena froze. She was in love with Heero. That was her problem.
Serena's expression turned pittying as she said, "But you don't know if he feels the same way about you."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Relena huffed, turning away defensively. How could this blonde girl see past her carefully placed defenses? Unless she's speaking from personal experience, Relena thought as she looked at the smiling young woman.
"Relena, take this advice: Sometimes you've gotta be the one who makes the first move. You know, go do the talking thing," Serena told her before she waved. "See ya later, Relena and go for him. He's pretty cute," Serena giggled as she walked out of the hanger.
Make the first move. Could I do that? She thought as she looked down at Heero.
******
Joshua Hunters watched each of the pilots. They had a lot of visitors there. He had no idea why. He was a hunter more than a soldier. His plan was he was going to chase after each Gundam pilot before killing them.
Hunters narrowed his keen eyes as he watched Jennifer Darkfall run across the grounds. She would not be the easiest target, despite her sex. She was smart and a keen thinker. He stealthily moved again.
He saw one of the visitors, a lovely girl with honey brown hair, going to approach Quatre Raberba Winner. He watched Winner's movements. Maybe start with the weakest link, and he may be it. His mind scanned through all of Winner's information. He had the easiest life out of all the pilots.
He turned away and continued to walk the grounds. Trowa Barton was inside of the library, studying some sort of book. He would be challenging, so Hunters was going to save him for later. He walked away.
Wufei Chang was practicing his kata along the lake. His expression was focused as he moved gracefully. The Chinese boy didn't have any true ties. Hunters sneaked closer as he watched him. He was too single minded and too obsessed with justice. An easy kill.
Hunters sighed as he walked away. Duo Maxwell was heading toward the hanger. The God of Death. Another hunter, someone who was better at hiding than he was. A defiant challenge. One to be saved toward last. He watched as the other boy's chestnut braid swung behind him as he walked. He had a weak link though, Jennifer Darkfall. Hurting the girl would insure Maxwell's anger. And from what he had read of Maxwell, having him angry was not a good way to go.
He snuck into the hanger. Zechs Marquise was looking at Epyon. Some of his edge had been lost after his "death". He was still dangerous and an excellent challenge. But not the best.
The best was sitting on the catwalk with a laptop on his lap that had cables connected to the infamous Wing ZERO suit. Heero Yuy looked up, like he knew he was being watched. Hunters instinctively hid, watching the ZERO pilot. Yuy looked intensely focused as he typed.
He thought like a machine. Each of his moves were perfectly planned. Joshua Hunters looked forward to that hunt.
******
"Quatre, I need to talk to you," Athene said to the cherubic blond young man in front of her.
"Yes, Athene?" Quatre asked in his quiet voice.
She clutched her necklace in her hand, feeling all the familiar contours of it in her hands as she forced herself to meet his aqua eyes. She said, "I want to show you something."
"What Athene?" Quatre asked kindly, smiling brightly.
I can't do it. I just can't. I can't tell him. Not yet, she thought as she looked into his innocent face. Athene didn't know if he could handle it. He probably could, but she didn't want to ruin what had just been started. She knew she shouldn't get connected to anyone too deeply, but she couldn't help it.
There was something about this gentle soul that struck a cord in her. His pale hair and cherubic features, and huge aqua eyes. She lost her nerve and sighed. She slipped the necklace gently in her pocket as she watched him.
She answered, avoiding those honest eyes, "Nothing. Never mind, Quatre."
"You can tell me. Please Athene, whatever you need to say, say it," Quatre pleaded gently. He added, "I won't pass judgment on you." He reached out and lightly touched her hand. He was kindly smiling, his whole face alight.
She turned away from him, her heart pounding. I can't do it. I just can't. Athene told him, "I'll see you later, Quatre." With that, she walked away from him, not wanting to see the hurt expression on her face.
******
Duo was in a great mood. Well, who wouldn't be, after last night? Duo thought with a grin as he whistled. He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't. He didn't think that Jennifer would be ready yet. Things were probably too fresh in her mind.
He was pleasantly proven wrong.
First she surprised him by saying that she loved him. She loved him! She really loved him. And he hadn't felt loved in a long time. He had felt that he was losing hope for humanity. He had told Hilde one time that he was fighting to let people be happy once more.
What was other people's happiness if he couldn't have his own? He was terribly close to slipping until she had stepped into his life. This blond haired, dark green eyed, sharp tongued, steely-willed, angel who was barely five feet tall. He had fallen in love with her when she had walked in front of their class, twitching uncomfortably in her school uniform and with her braid tossed over one shoulder.
He had thought she was cute. He had been proven wrong. She was beautiful. Perfect. Absolutely wonderful.
She made him believe in life again. He didn't feel like the God of Death last night. He felt like a seventeen-year-old boy in love and that everything was going to be all right in the world. Maybe, if they could stick together, they would. He knew that a lot of changes were going to take place, and with Jennifer at his side, he could handle it.
But it was more than that. She'd given him something that she could never take back. He had hurt her last night, that first time, he knew. He had heard her cry out. He knew that she had her eyes shut as tightly as she could and she was bracing herself like she was having a tooth pulled. He had wanted her so badly that it hurt, but he couldn't hurt her. He tried to make it as easy as possible.
He wasn't a total innocent. Sure, she had him beat on medical knowledge, but Duo grew up on one of the worst colonies out there, among gangs and prostitutes and only those who lived there knew what else. He had a certain type of learning that couldn't be found in books or on the Net; personal experience or at least the telling of it anyway.
After that initial pain, it was heaven, or as close as Duo Maxwell ever believed he was going to get. She tasted wonderful, smelled like vanilla, and felt like satin, velvet, and silk branded by fire all around him. The rest of the night was better, holding her sleeping form in his arms, falling asleep against her, waking up only to make love again, then watching her sleep as dawn approached.
Yeah, Duo was in a pretty good mood this day. He whistled as he walked on the grounds. He saw Quatre standing alone, this really depressing look on the Sandrock pilot's face. Did Athene say something to him? What happened? Duo thought as he picked up the pace and approached the down cast boy.
"Hey, Q-Man, what's wrong?" Duo asked as he approached the cherubic pilot. Duo often worried about Quatre. He didn't seem the type to commit mass murder. The Deathscythe pilot knew he was mildly psychotic, and sometimes got a kick out of killing, especially if the person he was killing hurt someone else, especially an innocent. If one attracted Death, then they should deal it as well, Duo thought as he looked at Quatre's darkened aqua eyes.
"Nothing," Quatre grumbled as he began to walk away.
Duo reached out and grabbed his friend's arm. He said, "Look buddy, if you want, you can talk to me about it."
Quatre turned to look at him, raw pain obvious in his eyes. He said, "Duo, I can't tell you."
"Why not? I may run and hide, but I'll never tell a lie," Duo replied to him, leaning on a nearby tree.
"Duo, just leave me alone!" Quatre shouted as he stormed away.
Duo watched him in confusion. It's Athene that's doing this to him. Well, I just have to have a talk with the chick.
******
Athene swiftly moved through the motions of her kata. She felt awful, terrible. She didn't want to do that to Quatre, but she couldn't tell him either. She looked up to see a pair of angry violet-blue eyes and a meter long chestnut braid.
She gasped, startled as she looked at Duo Maxwell. He looks angry. This morning when I saw him he was cheerful and happy. Real happiness. Not a false front. He is angry. I can feel it. There is a lot of fire and passion in this strange young man's heart. He calls himself the God of Death, and has trouble killing innocents. A puzzle, like all of them.
She said, "Hello Duo, I didn't see or hear you coming."
Duo's violet-blue eyes narrowed as he replied in a dark voice, "Yeah, bad habit. I'm really good at going around unnoticed."
When you want to, correct Duo? Athene thought as she looked at the young man. She asked, "Do you need anything?"
"Yeah," Duo answered sharply.
"What?" Athene replied, having an idea of what Duo was getting to.
He answered bluntly, "What did you say to Quatre?"
Athene sighed and answered, "It's complicated."
Duo glared and replied, "Well Baby, I've got all the time in the world." He crossed his arms over his broad chest and glared.
Now I know why he is known as the God of Death. He looks like someone who should be collecting the souls of the dead, Athene thought as she looked into those angry, glowing violet eyes. Another thought occurred to the Sailor of Wisdom: How does he know about Quatre and myself? Did he see us?
She asked him, "How did you know about us?"
Duo lifted his head haltingly, challengingly, as he answered, "Jennifer and I saw you two last night. After you left dinner."
"You followed us," Athene accused.
Duo grinned wickedly and replied, "Yeah, we did. You know, I thought it would be good for Quatre, you know, finding somebody." His face fell to a grim mask as he went on, "He lost so much over the war, you know? So many people died around him that he cared about. In case you didn't notice, Quatre's not exactly the toughest son of a bitch on the block. He grew up nice. He didn't live in Hell."
"You did," Athene realized. This boy had been through more than he wanted to know. His control was slipping. There was so much pain, such a loss of faith in him that it was almost heartbreaking.
"Quatre can't handle that. He's too sweet, too nice. I'm not a nice guy, Athene," he told her with a wicked leer.
"I don't want to hurt your friend, Duo Maxwell," she told him truthfully.
Duo grinned. A true grin as he said, "Well, go tell him that. Quatre's pretty accepting." Duo started to turn away, his chestnut braid swinging behind him. He called back, "After all, if you can befriend the God of Death, you must be a very nice guy."
Athene had to smile at that last comment as he walked away. She stood there, heavy in thought. She wondered what her next course of action would be.
******
Lilith watched the events in her crystal. They were sitting down for dinner. She pushed strands of her raven hair behind her ears as she smiled.
******
Heero sat beside Relena, who was at the head of the table. Duo was sitting beside him, and per usual, Jennifer was right beside him. They were talking, smiling, occasionally reaching out to touch the other, just to make sure that they were there, and probably needing the physical contact. Heero was slightly jealous of his braided best friend. Duo knew what he wanted and went after it.
Heero really didn't know what he wanted and he didn't know how to go after it if he did. So, he just threw himself into his work. He had this feeling that things weren't over yet, and he wanted to keep sharp. Who knew when another attack would be made on them, when another person would emerge to form another Oz?
Trowa was sitting quietly beside the braided blond girl, with Quatre sitting beside him, looking sad and lost. Noin sat beside him, with Zechs sitting beside her, watching everything. Link, Malon, and all the Sages were sitting on the other side of the table, dominating it. Zelda was at the opposite end, looking even more regal than Relena.
The Scouts were scattered on both sides of the table. Rei was sitting beside Zechs, Lita was sitting beside Ruto, Serena and Darien were sitting next to each other beside Rei, Ami was sitting beside Link, looking around nervously, and Mina was sitting next to Zelda. Wufei hadn't shown up for dinner. Athene walked into the dinning hall and sat beside Darien, purposely avoiding Quatre's worried gaze.
Heero watched as Duo strummed his fingers on the table, looking around the room. He leaned over and whispered to him, "Hey buddy, don't you think that things are a little tense around here?"
"Yeah," was Heero's simple answer as he looked around the room. Something didn't feel right though. Heero looked around the room. He swore he saw a head of dark red hair. Duo looked in the same direction that Heero was.
His best friend asked, "Hey Heero, did you see someone?"
"I think so," Heero told him softly. No one else was listening to their conversation, except Jennifer.
She leaned over and asked, "What did you all see?"
Duo took her hand and held it. He answered, "I think someone's watching us, Jennifer."
She tensed up and looked around. Heero reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. She might give it away that she knew something. He told her, "Don't be obvious about it. They'll know that you know that they're watching you."
Jennifer slowly nodded and Duo squeezed her hand. Heero looked around. There was nothing. Maybe he was being paranoid. Who knew? Maybe everything had finally gotten to him.
"Well, thank you all for coming to dinner. Maybe we'll be more successful tonight than last night," Relena's voice said, taking him out of his revere. Heero turned to look at Relena. Her hair was down, falling softly around her face in a dark blond cloud. Her smile was bright and true, and her bright blue eyes were sparkling.
Zelda was smiling as well. Heero looked over at the elf princess as she said, "Well, since we've already introduced ourselves, let us get to know you and your subjects as well."
Duo made a face and Jennifer snickered. Relena glared at them both and Duo just smiled sweetly and Jennifer glared back. Trowa simply shook his head. Quatre was just looking down at his empty plate. Heero wondered what was wrong with the Sandrock pilot.
Relena smiled, nodded, and replied, "That is an excellent idea, Princess Zelda." She looked around the table and asked, "Would you like to begin, Serena?"
******
"Milord, there is a whole group of visitors at the Sanq Kingdom," Hunters told Campbell casually. He added, "And I don't think all of them were human."
"What do you mean?" the Scottish Lord asked as he sipped on his scotch. He leaned back in his overstuffed chair with a fire behind him. The room was decorated in soft green plaids with his family crest of a bat behind him. He looked every inch the elegant ruler that he planned to become.
Hunters put a CD into the laptop on the table. Campbell leaned forward to see his surveillance. There were things about each of the Gundam pilots, of course, and Relena Peacecraft as well, but there was a shot of a table in the grand dinning room. There was a woman who looked to be half fish, and half of the room's occupants had pointed ears.
Faye, as John would be fond of saying. Changelings, children of magic and sorcery, Campbell thought, But any logical man would tell you that magic doesn't exist.
******
Lilith pointed to the crystal and at the image of the man in his early forties. He was tall and handsome with black hair and icy, gray eyes. He spoke with a Scottish lilt. He was watching the Gundam pilots as they were watching the Scouts, the Hero of Time, and the Sages.
Nara tossed back her white hair and asked, "What is it, Lilith?" Her eyes turned bright green as she waited for Lilith's answer.
Lilith smiled and answered, "He's watching the Warriors. He has plans for them. He needs them dead. They stand in the way of a goal he wants. He could be useful to us."
"What about the hunter?" Nara said, idly twirling a strand of white hair between her chubby fingers.
Lilith liked the hunter with his wine dark hair and icy, blue-gray eyes. She smiled and replied, "He would be an excellent player. He lives for the chase."
Nara giggled and replied, "You're right, Lily. Let's see if they want to join us."
Lilith smiled. She was the smarter of the pair, she knew, and she also knew when she had started a good game. She said, "Let us go meet Lord Campbell and this Hunters."
******
"What did you gather from your observations?" Campbell asked as he sipped his scotch. He knew that Hunters wouldn't want to put any "poison" in his fit body, so he didn't offer the lad anything. He watched the boy and waited.
Hunters answered, "Things are in chaos, milord. Eypon is being repaired as we speak, and the pilots themselves are in serious disarray."
"Excellent," Campbell said as he took another drink. He kicked his feet up on his desk and smiled. Then, the door flew open and one of the guards came flying through.
"The hell!" Hunters shouted as he pulled out his pistol. He held it out carefully in front of him. Two little girls, not any older than seven, walked into the room. They were identical, except one had black hair and the other had white. Their eyes kept changing colors as they looked around the room.
The one with white hair said, "We can help you."
"Stay back," Hunters warned.
The one with white hair's eyes turned bright green. She made a fluid motion of snapping her wrist. Hunters went flying across the room with a startled curse. The one with black hair looked at Campbell with dark golden eyes. She said, "You can help us as well."
"Get away from him," Hunters said, standing up and taking a shot at the two girls. The one with white hair turned to the bullet and put her hand up. The projectile stopped in mid air. She looked at it and giggled. It dissolved into sand as she chuckled.
She said, "My name is Nara."
The one with black hair said, "My name is Lilith."
Campbell smiled, wondering what sort of use this power could be to him. He replied, "My name is Angus."
******
Duo watched as Serena stood up. He leaned over and whispered, "Be good, Babe." Jennifer looked up at him with guiltless dark eyes. Damn, she's beautiful, he thought as he looked at her. He looked away. Looking at her too long right now without full contact could be dangerous, especially after he knew what she looked like under those blue jeans and black T- shirt.
Pale and creamy, and delectably rosy at the same time. Damn it Maxwell, stop it! Bad Duo, think of . . . He looked around the room. Ruto, the fish chick. Eeeewwww. That's just sick. Okay, that should be good for now. When lustful thoughts come up, think of Ruto. Yuck.
Serena waved and said, "Hi, I'm um, Serena, and it's really nice to see you." She sat back down, whispering to Darien, "When are we gonna eat?"
Duo's stomach growled. He prayed that no one heard it. He was getting hungry, hell, he was always hungry. He shifted in his seat as Darien stood up.
He said, "Hello, my name's Darien, and I would like to thank you for offering to help us get home. Princess." He nodded at Relena and Zelda. Duo rolled his eyes and thought, Charming pretty boy that's slightly dark and looks dangerous. Yeah, right.
Mina got up and nervously smiled. She said, "Hi, my name's Mina and it's really nice to meet you."
Ami got up and quickly said, even more nervous than the others, "My name is Ami. Hello." She quickly sat back down.
Lita stood up and met Trowa's eyes. Trowa smiled. He actually smiled. Duo's mouth fell open in shock. He leaned over to Jennifer and said, "He smiled."
She nodded and whispered back, "That's really weird. If Heero smiled, I would know that Hell had frozen over."
Lita proudly and cheerfully said, "Hi, my name's Lita and it's really nice to meet you. Sorry to be such a bother. Thank you." She sat down with a smile on her features as she looked around the table.
Athene looked around and stood up. She said, "I am Athene." With that, she sat down, ignoring Quatre's hurt expression. I wonder if she talked to him. With the grumpy look on Quatre's face, I guess not.
Rei stood up, her dark purple eyes sparkling. Jennifer smiled at her, and Rei smiled back. Rei said, "Hi, I'm Rei, and it's really nice of you for helping us."
She sat down. Zelda looked over at Relena and said, "What of your friends? We do not know of them yet?"
Zechs said, without standing, "I am Zechs Marquise. Pleasure to meet you all." Duo frowned and thought, Sure it is, Zechs.
Jennifer sharply elbowed him in the ribs and he flinched. It hurt.
Noin smiled and said, "Hello, I am Lucrazia Noin, and it's really nice to see some new faces around here."
Duo saw an obvious joke in that. He asked, "What's wrong with the old faces around here?"
There were a few laughs around the table as Noin answered, "Well, Duo, maybe you should look in the mirror sometime." That earned more laughs. Duo flinched and looked down at his plate.
He said, "Ouch, that hurt. Sting a man's pride, don't ya, Noin?"
"What are you implying, Duo Maxwell?" Noin asked casually.
"Oh, nothing," Duo said breezily as he looked around the room.
Introductions were soon passed around, and it finally got to Duo. Duo got up, bowed, and said, "I am Duo Maxwell, the God of Death."
"Are you truly a god?" Saria asked with wide eyes.
"Um . . ." Duo began, trying to answer. Hell, me and my big mouth. Shit.
"No, he is not a god," Relena answered, rolling her eyes. Duo looked over at her and didn't say anything because Heero stood up.
He said in his monotone, "I am Heero Yuy. It is a pleasure to meet you." Then he sat down.
Food was soon passed out and Duo was devouring his meal. Except, the little blond girl, Serena, was out eating him. He stopped eating and Jennifer told him, "And I thought you were bad at eating."
"Hey," Duo said in a hurt voice.
Jennifer smiled and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. She said, "But I can live with that fault." He smiled back at her.
While the others were watching Serena eat in disbelief, Darien asked, "So, Miss Darkfall . . ."
"Jennifer," she corrected with a smirk.
"Jennifer, I read that you're a child prodigy. Is that true?" Darien asked.
Jennifer blushed and said, "Great, you found that article." Duo smirked, he remembered the article she had shown him a while back. It had her rated among the most promising students on Earth.
Duo chirped, "She's a med. student."
"At sixteen?" Ami asked in disbelief, with a sort of awe in her voice.
Duo grinned, proud of his lover. He answered, "Yeah. She already has more experience than most doctors."
Impa asked, "What is a doctor?"
Jennifer looked at him. Heero asked, "You don't know what a doctor is?"
All the Hylians shook their heads. Link asked, "Could you explain what one is to us?"
Jennifer thought for a moment and answered, "Well, since magic exists on your world, you probably have Healers, don't you?"
"What's a Healer?" Malon asked, generally curious.
Trowa answered, "Someone who takes care of the sick."
"What is sick?" Link asked.
"When someone becomes ill," Jennifer answered, looking confused.
"What is ill?" Ruto asked, her purple eyes flashing.
Duo answered for Jennifer, who looked really confused at the moment, "When you don't feel well."
Zelda smiled and said, "Well, this sort of thing never happens on our world. We are always well."
"That's really wonderful. Not to need medicine and not to be sick," Ami said with awe in her voice. Jennifer just looked confused. Duo took his lover's hand and squeezed it. She shrugged.
******
Campbell smiled as he looked at the crystal. He asked, "Can you make a plague affecting only the Faye?"
Lilith nodded and answered, "Yes, we can."
"One that Darkfall wouldn't be able to trace?" he asked, smiling even more.
"Yes," Nara answered, her eyes turning dark brown.
Campbell smiled and said, "Then do it."
The girls smiled at each other.
by: Trio and Elf
rated: R, Lemon
finished: 2000
Disclaimer: We do not own Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, or The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. We are only using the characters to devise out own special tale of lore. So don't sue us, we're both poor.
C and C: To send the authors comments you can e-mail us at Trio_no_baka@yahoo.com and Slaybrat@aye.net Trio's email is the first, Elf's is the second.
Author Site: Trio's Anime World
www.expage.com/triomain
Author Notes: There is one slightly detailed love scene. What Elf and I would call "mellow" others may call "graphic," so to help warn our readers we have decided to label this chapter as a Lemon.
Chapter Seven
There were two of them, both girls. Twins almost, except one had hair as black as night and the other had hair as white as snow. They both had glowing eyes that shifted color from moment to moment. They were power incarnate almost, but their power was balanced by their childish minds.
They were lovely, but they looked only to be seven years old. The one with the alabaster hair was named Nara, while the one with onyx hair was called Lilith. They held hands as they watched the scenes playing out on their quartz crystal. The God of Death was making love to a healer, their bodies sweatily clinging to each other with passion. Nara grimaced at the image, disgusted.
Lilith squinted and asked, "Wouldn't that hurt? He's so big. She's little. The healer must be in pain."
Nara shook her long, white hair, her eyes turned gray as she looked at the next facet of the crystal. Princess Relena Peacecraft was looking over some official papers in her study, obviously thinking about the enigmatic Heero Yuy. The Perfect Solder was with his battle machine, checking the functions. The people who should be together, Zechs and Noin, were checking up on the Sanq Kingdom. Wufei Chang, the Silent Dragon, was meditating in his bedroom. Trowa Barton, The Mystery, was sitting in the kitchen, his dark green eyes clouded in thought as he waited for something.
She smiled as she looked at the next facet. Quatre Raberba Winner, the Gentle Soul, was talking to the Sailor of Wisdom herself, Athene. The Scouts were powerless, as well as the Sages and Zelda. Link was still the Hero Of Time, but that could easily be dealt with. The main thing was that the Scouts were powerless.
She giggled and said, "We can have so much fun."
Lilith, the more sinister of the two, smiled and replied, "We can play with them all. They'll be our toys."
Lilith's brow furrowed as she looked at the crystal. Nara was concerned about her playmate. She asked, "What is it, Lily?"
Lilith pouted and complained, "Those pilots won't be any fun. Well, Duo would be, but the others would be boring and easily broken. They don't believe in us."
Nara giggled and replied, "Then we must do something about this then, shouldn't we?"
Lilith smiled and said, "Of course. It will be a fun game to play."
******
"So, old friend, it comes down to this?" Angus Campbell looked at the image of John Wallace in his hand. The doctor was smiling, his sherry colored eyes twinkling in the photo and his reddish brown curls still an unruly mop on his forehead. Campbell knew that John was dead. As was Robert Darkfall, a close colleague of his.
Jennifer Darkfall had been their downfall. Her and those damn Gundam pilots. Campbell stood up and grunted. He, unlike John and Robert, didn't have a high sense of honor and purpose. He was on Oz and Romafeller's side. He was only on their side because he wanted power. He wanted to rule.
After all, he had the intelligence to. When the three of them had been at school, Campbell had proposed to the Native American test pilot and the Scottish student that they join forces and rule the world. Robert, the Warrior, had laughed and said that he was being foolish. John smiled and kindly told him that he was being foolish and that power corrupted.
Campbell wanted that power. He had grown up with John in Gloscow, but John was an idealist as well as soft. He had talent, but he didn't know how to use it. Medicine and engineering, both their specialties, except Campbell had been the better engineer. He just wasn't as old as Tubarov to get that satisfaction.
He was on the Mobile DOLL project as well as the Darkfall Project. Both had been demolished by those damn Gundam pilots.
Campbell was tired and he wanted revenge. Get rid of the Gundam pilots and use Relena Peacecraft to gain control of the world. He had a plan, and a weapon. He had a whole factory hidden in an under sea laboratory in Eastern Europe, just 200 miles away from the "beloved" Sanq Kingdom, to build Mobile DOLLs. And he had something else.
A Mobile Suit that was more powerful than a Gundam simply because it couldn't be destroyed. Every damage inflicted on the suit would heal automatically because the suit was organic. And Campbell had the right pilot for it as well.
The Scottish Lord sank back in his chair and hit the button on his comlink. He said, "Joshua, I would like to see you." His accent was still thick, but it wasn't the pleasant accent that John had, no, Campbell's accent was cultured and royal. Commanding.
The chime signaled on the door. Campbell said, "Come in."
He smiled as Joshua Hunters walked into the room. He was handsome with dark red hair, the color of wine, and icy silvery blue eyes. He was only seventeen, but he was very experienced. He had been trained since birth to be a soldier. Just like Heero Yuy.
Hunters straitened up and asked, "Yes, Lord Campbell, what would you like me to do?"
Campbell leaned back in his chair and smiled. He answered, "Send a scouting team to the Sanq Kingdom to tell us what's happening." Rumor had it that all the pilots, even Zechs Marquise, were there. He wanted that confirmed.
Hunters slightly bowed his head and replied, "Consider it done, milord." Campbell smiled as the young warrior walked out of the room. He tapped his fingers on his desk and thought, Now, it's all a matter of waiting.
******
Jennifer was smiling, and she knew it. She had this silly little grin plastered on her face that wouldn't lift away. She stretched, aching pleasantly in places she knew she had, but hadn't experienced before. She looked down at the unslept bed in her room. It had been the first time she'd been in here in the last 24 hours.
As she dawned on a pair of black jogging pants and a red tank top, she remembered the events last night.
******
Giggling like a couple of school children, Jennifer and Duo held hands as they ran down the garden path. Quatre and Athene were forgotten as Duo grinned and bent down for a kiss. She was hungry for him. They were interrupted each time lately, and she was starving for him.
From the way he was kissing her, he was just as ravenous as she was. His mouth was hot and soft against hers. As well as hungry. She felt his hands gently caressing her back and running through her hair, loosing the braid.
He moved kisses from her mouth down to her throat. She gasped as he nipped at her pulse just a little. He looked up at her with lidded violet eyes and grinned wickedly as her hair escaped its braid and tumbled around her.
Then time froze. His expression changed, softened, became vulnerable. She held her breath, just gazing at his face. Her life line. Her love.
Her love.
She knew that she was in love with Duo Maxwell, but she had tried to deny it for so long. She was afraid that if she loved him, then he would die like everyone else that she loved. She didn't want to loose him before she had him. And she wanted him. Very much.
Heero's voice entered her mind as well as a very wise saying, "A person told me to live by my feelings. Live by yours."
She took a deep breath and said, "I love you."
Duo froze and his eyes became huge. He looked surprised and relieved. He traced her face with his long finger tips. She shivered at the light touch, heated beyond belief. He said, his eyes bright with happiness and love, "I love you too, Jennifer."
She smiled and pulled him close for a kiss. His eyes widened just a little bit as she devoured his mouth. She nibbled on his lips for a moment before he licked her lips with his tongue. She shivered as she held onto him. She pressed up even closer to him, feeling his hardness on her stomach.
She felt her heart beat pound. Who knows when something could happen with all the strangeness happening. What if I can't take this moment again? What if Duo and I never have this chance again? What if it's too early? Shouldn't we wait?
What if I never know love in all of its forms?
I need him. I have to have him. Who knows when I'll get this chance again?
Take this chance, Darkfall, and make it count.
Her heart still racing, she pressed up against him, and he moaned, "Oh, god."
"Of Death," she teased him, pressing up against him, whispering in his ear.
"You're gonna kill me, Jennifer," he moaned as she traced her hands down his chest and to the waist band of his pants. She wanted him, no, needed him. The logical part of her mind was already making plans and precautions: birth control, it was going to hurt, where to be.
She was figuring everything out. Then her mind raced to one of the more clinical thoughts of sex. Pain. Her hands started to tremble in fear as she remembered the Oz solder above her right before Duo had been there to save her.
"Jennifer?" he asked, his eyes dilated in the dark, almost all pupil with a glowing ring of violet around them. Lovely to look at. For all eternity. She looked up at him, some of her courage gone.
He traced his fingers on her face and asked, "What is it? Did I do something wrong?" He looked hurt and she hated herself at that moment for putting that look on his face. She hadn't realized all the pain he'd been through. It was clear in his eyes.
The Maxwell Massacre, Father Maxwell and Sister Helen, Solo, the times that he had been tortured, all the people he loved dying around him. He never knew his parents and he had killed countless people. He was the God of Death. He believed that everyone he touched died, but he wasn't about to let anyone see how that affected him.
Both of them had been neck deep in Death for so long that they forgot to live. This wasn't just a deceleration of love. It was a celebration of life in one of the oldest forms possible.
She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him harshly, thoroughly, tasting him, feeling him respond against her.
******
Somehow they got to Duo's room. Jennifer didn't remember breaking away from her Angel of Death, but somehow they had made it up here, and somehow, the room was still clean. She looked around and Duo grinned. He said, "Look, Jennifer, it's not a mess."
Then he reached for her and they were kissing again, hot, passionate and hungry. She needed him so bad, her whole body was aching in ways she had tried to ignore until now.
He tasted warm, like cinnamon and other spices. Exotic and comforting. He smelled like cinnamon, sweat, baby powder, and musk, all combining to make a scent that was wonderfully Duo. She wanted to feel his hair in her hands. She wanted to see what he looked like with that wonderful chestnut brown hair around him.
She reached up and Duo jerked away, startled. She pulled back, afraid that she did something wrong. She looked down and muttered, "Sorry, I didn't . . ."
Duo pulled her close and forced her to look at him. His violet eyes were enough for her to drown in. And it would be a pleasant way to go in Jennifer's humble opinion. He said, "You just startled me, that's all." He chuckled, "Not use to people touching the braid."
Jennifer looked down at her hair all around her, trailing far past her thighs. It was her pride, her one vanity. Her father had loved her hair and he'd never let her cut it. So, after he had died, she had taken good care of it so it wouldn't get split ends and keep it silky and healthy. Robert Darkfall had been the only person in the world that she'd let touch her hair, until now.
She loved it when Duo ran his long, capable fingers down her hair. It felt so good, that intimate contact. She wanted to touch his hair, see if it was as silky as it looked. She reached out and took the meter long braid in her hand.
He grinned, looking adorably nervous, as he said, "I think your hair's longer."
"Good," she said, swallowing the lump in her throat. He laughed. She took the black, elastic band from his hair and began to unbraid the silky mass. It fell in soft waves around his face. It felt like crushed silk between her fingers. She murmured, "It's beautiful."
She looked up at him. The hair fell past his thighs in soft chestnut waves. The moonlight coming from Duo's French doors cast silvery shimmers in the rich mass. It haloed his black clothing and made his eyes look the color of amethysts. He was beautiful. He didn't seem real. Like he was some Faye Prince, who had came down to consort with a mortal.
Jennifer sighed as she looked at him. He moved to her again, taking her in his strong arms. He was warm against her. He began to kiss her again. Furiously, even more hungry. She trembled as his hands slid under her shirt, making contact with her bare skin. Never had the young couple been so intimate.
Shivers of pure pleasure wracked her spine as he withdrew the T-shirt from her body, leaving only her bra covering her. She blushed as he studied her with a wicked gleam in his violet eyes. He reached around her back and undid the clasp, letting the white slip of cotton fall to the ground.
She was bare to his gaze and she blushed. Her heart was pounding as he went down to his knees, gazing at her, his eyes filled with pure worship. He breathed, "You're beautiful." He reached up and caressed one breast gently, enough to cause her to shiver in pleasure.
"Oh," she sighed as he reached up and kissed one of the milky orbs. His eyes took on a wicked gleam as his hot tongue licked her. She shivered as she closed her eyes and he began to suck on her. He soon gave the other the same attention, except this time his hands slid down her hips to the snap of her jeans.
His skillful fingers unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. He guided them down over her waist, her thighs and her legs. Getting what he wanted, she stepped out of her jeans and looked down at him. He had stopped nursing and she stood there, almost perfectly naked, panting with need, as he watched her. His gaze was worshiping, love filled. He was panting as well, watching her.
"Duo," she breathed as she looked down at her Faye Prince. This night the God of Death was gone. He was a prince of the Faye, her prince. There was no way some ordinary mortal could inflict this sort of pleasure. No way.
There was some nagging thought in the back of her mind. Something that she had to remember before they went any further. She whispered, "Havical."
Duo's eyes darkened in understanding. Havical was an anti-conceptive. State of the art, 99.9% accuracy, and it was to be taken right before intercourse. Condoms and other primitive methods were all but dead except among prostitutes among the colonies. Drugs were to be used by either the male or the female.
Duo had a problem with medicines. Jennifer, being raised by a doctor and in med. school herself, was perfectly fine with taking the responsibility of protection. She fished the small syringe from her jeans' pocket and took off the sterile cap. She felt the slight jab of the needle as she injected the yellowish liquid into her arm.
She capped the needle and threw the syringe, knowing it wasn't exactly sterile procedure, into the waist basket in the bedroom. She looked down at him and he smiled that wicked smile she loved. He reached under her underwear and slid a finger into her.
She gasped and closed her eyes. Heat rose in her as the finger found a sensitive spot and caressed, sending her to some place. Right as she was about to get there, that spiral of pleasure, that need for release, he stopped. She whimpered as he took off her underwear in one motion, still grinning wickedly.
"Duo," she moaned as he rose up. He kissed her. She couldn't stand it. He was teasing her, making her burn, and he was grinning wickedly. She ran her hands down his shirt, beginning to unbutton the black shirt. She ran her fingers over smooth, thick muscles as he gasped.
He lifted her and placed her on the bed. She propped herself on her elbows as she looked up at him. He was studying her hungrily. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She wanted to see him like he was seeing her.
He took off the black shirt and the white one under it, leaving his muscled torso bare to her gaze. She wanted to run her hands over those smooth muscles and tickle his bronze nipples. He took off his black belt and his boots. With one motion, his black slacks came off, leaving him in black silk boxers. She looked away, blushing in maidenly modesty.
Curiosity won out though. When she turned around, he was perfectly nude, his chestnut hair floating around his well-toned body and his violet eyes glowing. And his arousal present.
Her first thought was one that was as old as lovers' first times. He's not going to be able to fit in me. He's too big. Her second thought was more clinical, more logical, Of course he can fit. Male and female bodies were made for that. It's just going to hurt a little.
She shut her eyes and braced herself. She felt hair tickle her skin and she shivered. Then Duo's hot mouth on hers. She sighed as she kissed him. His hands ran their way down her body, spreading her legs apart.
She felt him at her opening then with one swift movement, he was inside her. She gasped and shuttered. It hurt. She felt him hit something, break it, then push on. He stopped. She opened her tightly clinched eyes to see Duo trying to control himself, him looking down at her.
The pain began to fade as her body got use to the invasion. Then, she began to burn again. She wrapped her legs around him as he began to move inside of her. Their bodies made their own rhythm together, closing their bond. Sealing them for eternity.
She gasped as she felt her body go to some place beyond her reach. Like before, except more intense. She moaned his name over and over, and realized that he was moaning her name too as their rhythm got more intense. Then, the world exploded. She shuttered as she felt Duo still inside of her as she cried out with the pleasure of it all. Duo moaned as he collapsed on her body.
******
Trowa sat at the kitchen table. Maybe Lita would be back, or maybe not. He liked the girl and he wanted to see her again. Listen to her talk and maybe eat some more of her delicious cooking. He smiled softly.
He knew there was a romance blooming between Quatre and Athene. It was too evident. They were perfect for each other, both gentle souls. Trowa just didn't want to see his best friend hurt.
He had coffee brewing and was drinking a cup of it when he heard a soft voice singing in a language he didn't understand. The voice was familiar that was evident, but he couldn't place the pleasant singing. It sounded almost like Jennifer Darkfall, but it seemed highly unlikely that she would sing.
Jennifer entered the kitchen, softly singing the song. She smiled brightly as she looked at Trowa. She said, in a cheerful voice, "Good morning, Trowa."
Trowa blinked. Jennifer was not a morning person, she didn't sing, and she was never this cheerful and smiling all the time. The most cheerful and happy that he'd ever seen her was when Duo was in the vicinity. All the other times she was thoughtful, despite her short temper, and almost tragic. He knew about the recent slaughter of her family.
Sometimes the pain was still fresh on her face. Trowa knew the feeling all too well. Now, though, she was smiling, almost glowing. Radiant. She was beautiful to look at, her dark green eyes were shining as she looked around the kitchen.
Trowa pointed to the coffee he had just brewed and said, "I made fresh coffee."
She grimaced playfully as she reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of orange juice. She said, "Caffeine stunts your growth." She laughed and looked his tall form over, then her petite, elfin body. She added, "Well, I don't think it stunted your growth anyway." She smiled as she hummed, pouring herself a glass of the yellow juice.
She put the bottle back into the refrigerator as she drank the juice. She drained the glass quickly and placed it in the sink. She said, "I'm gonna go for a jog now." With that, she cheerfully waved and trotted out of the kitchen.
Trowa watched her go, bemused at her strange behavior. He had a feeling that Duo had something to do with her cheerful mood this morning, but he didn't push it. He leaned up against the cabinet and continued to drink his coffee.
After he had placed his mug in the sink he heard a familiar voice say, "Okay, what should I cook?" Trowa turned around to see Lita standing in the doorway, loose strands of her auburn hair floated around her face. She was flushed and sweating from whatever training Athene had put them through. Her face lit up as she saw Trowa.
Trowa nodded and said, "Good morning."
"Hey Trowa, wanna help me cook?" Lita asked as she walked over to the sink. He watched her as she washed her hands. He liked the quick, athletic way she moved. She carried her height with pride.
Trowa nodded and answered, "Sure. On one condition."
"What?" she asked, grinning at him. He noticed that her ear rings were of little, pink roses. The delicate flower seemed out of place with this tall, athletic girl. He found himself liking her the more for it.
Trowa allowed himself a smile. He answered, "If I can help you eat it."
"Deal," she said, holding out her hand for him to shake.
******
Lita couldn't believe it. This totally gorgeous guy was helping her cook. He was gorgeous. Those eyes, that hair, wow, he's amazing, and he's got a mysterious personality to boot. He's perfect, she thought as she studied Trowa. One dark green eye was hidden behind the fall of golden brown hair, and his expression was carefully guarded. And he's as tall as I am, she thought happily as she watched his graceful movements.
He asked in his quiet voice, "What are we going to cook?"
Lita smiled at him and answered, "I dunno. What do you wanna eat?" She watched his thoughtful expression as he looked around the kitchen.
He flashed one of his rare smiles. She knew, despite how little time she'd spent with him, that Trowa didn't talk or smile much. Saying this much must be pretty impressive of the boy. He answered, "Something sweet."
She smiled and cheerfully replied, "Well, Trowa, that's what I'm good at." She rolled up her sleeves, ready to cook.
******
Relena walked around the kingdom, already busy with activity. She saw Heero in the hanger and studied him. He was so handsome with the way his unruly, dark-brown hair fell into his dark blue eyes. She had the urge every time she saw him to push that hair away from his face.
He'd probably bring out his pistol and say, "I will kill you," if she tried that. So, she sighed watching him like a lovesick fool.
That's what I am, isn't it? A lovesick fool. I'm worse than Duo, she thought as she studied the handsome Wing pilot below. He was typing at his computer, sitting on the catwalk, with wires connected to Wing ZERO. Zechs and Noin were on the other side of the hanger, looking at Epyon. The Gundam was damaged pretty badly.
They should get together, Relena thought as she studied her brother and Noin talking together. Their words were strained, nervous. They would make a perfect couple. It was obvious that Noin loved Zechs, and that Zechs loved her in return.
Zechs. He had told everyone that he didn't want to be called Milliardo. Maybe because the man called Milliardo Peacecraft had died and Zechs had replaced him. She would still think of him as Milliardo, though. He was her brother. Her blood.
She sighed and turned away, right into Jennifer Darkfall's smiling face. Jennifer's smile brightened and said, "Hey Relena." She sounded cheerful, not Jennifer's usual grim, bitchy mood.
Relena stood there, speechless. Jennifer waved down at Heero, who kept typing away. Zechs and Noin looked at them, and Jennifer waved. Relena studied the girl.
She was beautiful, radiant, glowing. Her dark green eyes were bright and shining, not her usual hooded look. She was smiling and cheerful. Relena watched her in shock. Jennifer cocked her head, her braid falling to one side of her face.
She asked, "Are you okay, Relena?"
No insults. She was even being polite. Relena shook her head and looked at the smiling, glowing blond.
"Are you feeling all right?" Jennifer asked, reaching out and feeling Relena's forehead. The Peacecraft Princess gasped. Jennifer was now being nurturing. A puzzled look crossed the elfin blonde's face as she pulled her hand away. She said, "No fever. You sure you're okay, Relena?"
"Ummm... yes, I'm fine," Relena managed, still shocked.
Jennifer flashed that brilliant smile again. She said, "Good. Hey, Relena?"
"Yes?" she asked, looking at the blonde girl.
Jennifer tossed her braid off her shoulder and to her back, giving Relena an envious look of her toned muscles and voluminous figure. She was tiny, but she was beautifully formed. She could see why Duo would be physically attracted to her.
The female Gundam pilot asked, "Well, maybe we could try dinner again? Maybe, you know, so we can get to know everyone better."
Relena's mouth fell open in shock. Jennifer was intelligent, an excellent pilot, short tempered, an excellent doctor, but of all the good things she was, diplomatic wasn't one of them. If she was angry, she'd let you know about it, and she couldn't stand people who were ignorant. Relena didn't believe in stupidity.
She slowly nodded, getting her composure again. She answered, "Yes, Jennifer, that seems like a very good idea."
"Good," Jennifer cheerfully chirped before she ran off. She called out, "Say hi to Heero for me!" Relena watched, confused, as the elfin blond trotted out of the room.
She turned back to look down at the Wing pilot. His brow was furrowed in conversation as he typed. She sighed as she leaned on the railing to watch him. He was so handsome. So intense, so Heero. She could get to him. She really could.
She sensed a passionate young man under that stoic veneer. Maybe, with enough time and patience, she could bring that out in him. She sighed softly as she watched him, wondering if this was how Duo and Jennifer felt toward each other. Probably not. They knew what the other felt, or at least had a pretty good idea, and made each other happy.
"Hey, Relena?" Serena's voice called out cheerfully behind her.
Relena jumped, startled. She turned around to see another tiny, smiling blonde, but she knew that this girl was always cheerful. She put a hand to her chest and said, "Serena, you startled me."
"Sorry, Relena, so who you looking at?" Serena teased as she moved toward the railing.
"No one," Relena managed out nervously, looking away.
Serena turned to face her, her dark blue eyes sparkling, as she said, "Sure you are. You have a crush on..." She looked down at Heero. He looked up at them at that moment then, surprisingly, he lifted his hand up to wave at them. Serena cheerfully waved back and shouted, "Hi Heero!"
Heero's dark eyes narrowed at her before he bent down to his work again. Relena blushed and looked away, hoping that her hair would cover her face. Serena's royal blue eyes sparkled in excitement as she said, "You like Heero, don't you?"
"What makes you think that?" Relena managed with a voice that didn't sound too shaky.
Serena giggled and replied, "It's obvious. How you look at him. You're in love with him."
Relena froze. She was in love with Heero. That was her problem.
Serena's expression turned pittying as she said, "But you don't know if he feels the same way about you."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Relena huffed, turning away defensively. How could this blonde girl see past her carefully placed defenses? Unless she's speaking from personal experience, Relena thought as she looked at the smiling young woman.
"Relena, take this advice: Sometimes you've gotta be the one who makes the first move. You know, go do the talking thing," Serena told her before she waved. "See ya later, Relena and go for him. He's pretty cute," Serena giggled as she walked out of the hanger.
Make the first move. Could I do that? She thought as she looked down at Heero.
******
Joshua Hunters watched each of the pilots. They had a lot of visitors there. He had no idea why. He was a hunter more than a soldier. His plan was he was going to chase after each Gundam pilot before killing them.
Hunters narrowed his keen eyes as he watched Jennifer Darkfall run across the grounds. She would not be the easiest target, despite her sex. She was smart and a keen thinker. He stealthily moved again.
He saw one of the visitors, a lovely girl with honey brown hair, going to approach Quatre Raberba Winner. He watched Winner's movements. Maybe start with the weakest link, and he may be it. His mind scanned through all of Winner's information. He had the easiest life out of all the pilots.
He turned away and continued to walk the grounds. Trowa Barton was inside of the library, studying some sort of book. He would be challenging, so Hunters was going to save him for later. He walked away.
Wufei Chang was practicing his kata along the lake. His expression was focused as he moved gracefully. The Chinese boy didn't have any true ties. Hunters sneaked closer as he watched him. He was too single minded and too obsessed with justice. An easy kill.
Hunters sighed as he walked away. Duo Maxwell was heading toward the hanger. The God of Death. Another hunter, someone who was better at hiding than he was. A defiant challenge. One to be saved toward last. He watched as the other boy's chestnut braid swung behind him as he walked. He had a weak link though, Jennifer Darkfall. Hurting the girl would insure Maxwell's anger. And from what he had read of Maxwell, having him angry was not a good way to go.
He snuck into the hanger. Zechs Marquise was looking at Epyon. Some of his edge had been lost after his "death". He was still dangerous and an excellent challenge. But not the best.
The best was sitting on the catwalk with a laptop on his lap that had cables connected to the infamous Wing ZERO suit. Heero Yuy looked up, like he knew he was being watched. Hunters instinctively hid, watching the ZERO pilot. Yuy looked intensely focused as he typed.
He thought like a machine. Each of his moves were perfectly planned. Joshua Hunters looked forward to that hunt.
******
"Quatre, I need to talk to you," Athene said to the cherubic blond young man in front of her.
"Yes, Athene?" Quatre asked in his quiet voice.
She clutched her necklace in her hand, feeling all the familiar contours of it in her hands as she forced herself to meet his aqua eyes. She said, "I want to show you something."
"What Athene?" Quatre asked kindly, smiling brightly.
I can't do it. I just can't. I can't tell him. Not yet, she thought as she looked into his innocent face. Athene didn't know if he could handle it. He probably could, but she didn't want to ruin what had just been started. She knew she shouldn't get connected to anyone too deeply, but she couldn't help it.
There was something about this gentle soul that struck a cord in her. His pale hair and cherubic features, and huge aqua eyes. She lost her nerve and sighed. She slipped the necklace gently in her pocket as she watched him.
She answered, avoiding those honest eyes, "Nothing. Never mind, Quatre."
"You can tell me. Please Athene, whatever you need to say, say it," Quatre pleaded gently. He added, "I won't pass judgment on you." He reached out and lightly touched her hand. He was kindly smiling, his whole face alight.
She turned away from him, her heart pounding. I can't do it. I just can't. Athene told him, "I'll see you later, Quatre." With that, she walked away from him, not wanting to see the hurt expression on her face.
******
Duo was in a great mood. Well, who wouldn't be, after last night? Duo thought with a grin as he whistled. He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't. He didn't think that Jennifer would be ready yet. Things were probably too fresh in her mind.
He was pleasantly proven wrong.
First she surprised him by saying that she loved him. She loved him! She really loved him. And he hadn't felt loved in a long time. He had felt that he was losing hope for humanity. He had told Hilde one time that he was fighting to let people be happy once more.
What was other people's happiness if he couldn't have his own? He was terribly close to slipping until she had stepped into his life. This blond haired, dark green eyed, sharp tongued, steely-willed, angel who was barely five feet tall. He had fallen in love with her when she had walked in front of their class, twitching uncomfortably in her school uniform and with her braid tossed over one shoulder.
He had thought she was cute. He had been proven wrong. She was beautiful. Perfect. Absolutely wonderful.
She made him believe in life again. He didn't feel like the God of Death last night. He felt like a seventeen-year-old boy in love and that everything was going to be all right in the world. Maybe, if they could stick together, they would. He knew that a lot of changes were going to take place, and with Jennifer at his side, he could handle it.
But it was more than that. She'd given him something that she could never take back. He had hurt her last night, that first time, he knew. He had heard her cry out. He knew that she had her eyes shut as tightly as she could and she was bracing herself like she was having a tooth pulled. He had wanted her so badly that it hurt, but he couldn't hurt her. He tried to make it as easy as possible.
He wasn't a total innocent. Sure, she had him beat on medical knowledge, but Duo grew up on one of the worst colonies out there, among gangs and prostitutes and only those who lived there knew what else. He had a certain type of learning that couldn't be found in books or on the Net; personal experience or at least the telling of it anyway.
After that initial pain, it was heaven, or as close as Duo Maxwell ever believed he was going to get. She tasted wonderful, smelled like vanilla, and felt like satin, velvet, and silk branded by fire all around him. The rest of the night was better, holding her sleeping form in his arms, falling asleep against her, waking up only to make love again, then watching her sleep as dawn approached.
Yeah, Duo was in a pretty good mood this day. He whistled as he walked on the grounds. He saw Quatre standing alone, this really depressing look on the Sandrock pilot's face. Did Athene say something to him? What happened? Duo thought as he picked up the pace and approached the down cast boy.
"Hey, Q-Man, what's wrong?" Duo asked as he approached the cherubic pilot. Duo often worried about Quatre. He didn't seem the type to commit mass murder. The Deathscythe pilot knew he was mildly psychotic, and sometimes got a kick out of killing, especially if the person he was killing hurt someone else, especially an innocent. If one attracted Death, then they should deal it as well, Duo thought as he looked at Quatre's darkened aqua eyes.
"Nothing," Quatre grumbled as he began to walk away.
Duo reached out and grabbed his friend's arm. He said, "Look buddy, if you want, you can talk to me about it."
Quatre turned to look at him, raw pain obvious in his eyes. He said, "Duo, I can't tell you."
"Why not? I may run and hide, but I'll never tell a lie," Duo replied to him, leaning on a nearby tree.
"Duo, just leave me alone!" Quatre shouted as he stormed away.
Duo watched him in confusion. It's Athene that's doing this to him. Well, I just have to have a talk with the chick.
******
Athene swiftly moved through the motions of her kata. She felt awful, terrible. She didn't want to do that to Quatre, but she couldn't tell him either. She looked up to see a pair of angry violet-blue eyes and a meter long chestnut braid.
She gasped, startled as she looked at Duo Maxwell. He looks angry. This morning when I saw him he was cheerful and happy. Real happiness. Not a false front. He is angry. I can feel it. There is a lot of fire and passion in this strange young man's heart. He calls himself the God of Death, and has trouble killing innocents. A puzzle, like all of them.
She said, "Hello Duo, I didn't see or hear you coming."
Duo's violet-blue eyes narrowed as he replied in a dark voice, "Yeah, bad habit. I'm really good at going around unnoticed."
When you want to, correct Duo? Athene thought as she looked at the young man. She asked, "Do you need anything?"
"Yeah," Duo answered sharply.
"What?" Athene replied, having an idea of what Duo was getting to.
He answered bluntly, "What did you say to Quatre?"
Athene sighed and answered, "It's complicated."
Duo glared and replied, "Well Baby, I've got all the time in the world." He crossed his arms over his broad chest and glared.
Now I know why he is known as the God of Death. He looks like someone who should be collecting the souls of the dead, Athene thought as she looked into those angry, glowing violet eyes. Another thought occurred to the Sailor of Wisdom: How does he know about Quatre and myself? Did he see us?
She asked him, "How did you know about us?"
Duo lifted his head haltingly, challengingly, as he answered, "Jennifer and I saw you two last night. After you left dinner."
"You followed us," Athene accused.
Duo grinned wickedly and replied, "Yeah, we did. You know, I thought it would be good for Quatre, you know, finding somebody." His face fell to a grim mask as he went on, "He lost so much over the war, you know? So many people died around him that he cared about. In case you didn't notice, Quatre's not exactly the toughest son of a bitch on the block. He grew up nice. He didn't live in Hell."
"You did," Athene realized. This boy had been through more than he wanted to know. His control was slipping. There was so much pain, such a loss of faith in him that it was almost heartbreaking.
"Quatre can't handle that. He's too sweet, too nice. I'm not a nice guy, Athene," he told her with a wicked leer.
"I don't want to hurt your friend, Duo Maxwell," she told him truthfully.
Duo grinned. A true grin as he said, "Well, go tell him that. Quatre's pretty accepting." Duo started to turn away, his chestnut braid swinging behind him. He called back, "After all, if you can befriend the God of Death, you must be a very nice guy."
Athene had to smile at that last comment as he walked away. She stood there, heavy in thought. She wondered what her next course of action would be.
******
Lilith watched the events in her crystal. They were sitting down for dinner. She pushed strands of her raven hair behind her ears as she smiled.
******
Heero sat beside Relena, who was at the head of the table. Duo was sitting beside him, and per usual, Jennifer was right beside him. They were talking, smiling, occasionally reaching out to touch the other, just to make sure that they were there, and probably needing the physical contact. Heero was slightly jealous of his braided best friend. Duo knew what he wanted and went after it.
Heero really didn't know what he wanted and he didn't know how to go after it if he did. So, he just threw himself into his work. He had this feeling that things weren't over yet, and he wanted to keep sharp. Who knew when another attack would be made on them, when another person would emerge to form another Oz?
Trowa was sitting quietly beside the braided blond girl, with Quatre sitting beside him, looking sad and lost. Noin sat beside him, with Zechs sitting beside her, watching everything. Link, Malon, and all the Sages were sitting on the other side of the table, dominating it. Zelda was at the opposite end, looking even more regal than Relena.
The Scouts were scattered on both sides of the table. Rei was sitting beside Zechs, Lita was sitting beside Ruto, Serena and Darien were sitting next to each other beside Rei, Ami was sitting beside Link, looking around nervously, and Mina was sitting next to Zelda. Wufei hadn't shown up for dinner. Athene walked into the dinning hall and sat beside Darien, purposely avoiding Quatre's worried gaze.
Heero watched as Duo strummed his fingers on the table, looking around the room. He leaned over and whispered to him, "Hey buddy, don't you think that things are a little tense around here?"
"Yeah," was Heero's simple answer as he looked around the room. Something didn't feel right though. Heero looked around the room. He swore he saw a head of dark red hair. Duo looked in the same direction that Heero was.
His best friend asked, "Hey Heero, did you see someone?"
"I think so," Heero told him softly. No one else was listening to their conversation, except Jennifer.
She leaned over and asked, "What did you all see?"
Duo took her hand and held it. He answered, "I think someone's watching us, Jennifer."
She tensed up and looked around. Heero reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. She might give it away that she knew something. He told her, "Don't be obvious about it. They'll know that you know that they're watching you."
Jennifer slowly nodded and Duo squeezed her hand. Heero looked around. There was nothing. Maybe he was being paranoid. Who knew? Maybe everything had finally gotten to him.
"Well, thank you all for coming to dinner. Maybe we'll be more successful tonight than last night," Relena's voice said, taking him out of his revere. Heero turned to look at Relena. Her hair was down, falling softly around her face in a dark blond cloud. Her smile was bright and true, and her bright blue eyes were sparkling.
Zelda was smiling as well. Heero looked over at the elf princess as she said, "Well, since we've already introduced ourselves, let us get to know you and your subjects as well."
Duo made a face and Jennifer snickered. Relena glared at them both and Duo just smiled sweetly and Jennifer glared back. Trowa simply shook his head. Quatre was just looking down at his empty plate. Heero wondered what was wrong with the Sandrock pilot.
Relena smiled, nodded, and replied, "That is an excellent idea, Princess Zelda." She looked around the table and asked, "Would you like to begin, Serena?"
******
"Milord, there is a whole group of visitors at the Sanq Kingdom," Hunters told Campbell casually. He added, "And I don't think all of them were human."
"What do you mean?" the Scottish Lord asked as he sipped on his scotch. He leaned back in his overstuffed chair with a fire behind him. The room was decorated in soft green plaids with his family crest of a bat behind him. He looked every inch the elegant ruler that he planned to become.
Hunters put a CD into the laptop on the table. Campbell leaned forward to see his surveillance. There were things about each of the Gundam pilots, of course, and Relena Peacecraft as well, but there was a shot of a table in the grand dinning room. There was a woman who looked to be half fish, and half of the room's occupants had pointed ears.
Faye, as John would be fond of saying. Changelings, children of magic and sorcery, Campbell thought, But any logical man would tell you that magic doesn't exist.
******
Lilith pointed to the crystal and at the image of the man in his early forties. He was tall and handsome with black hair and icy, gray eyes. He spoke with a Scottish lilt. He was watching the Gundam pilots as they were watching the Scouts, the Hero of Time, and the Sages.
Nara tossed back her white hair and asked, "What is it, Lilith?" Her eyes turned bright green as she waited for Lilith's answer.
Lilith smiled and answered, "He's watching the Warriors. He has plans for them. He needs them dead. They stand in the way of a goal he wants. He could be useful to us."
"What about the hunter?" Nara said, idly twirling a strand of white hair between her chubby fingers.
Lilith liked the hunter with his wine dark hair and icy, blue-gray eyes. She smiled and replied, "He would be an excellent player. He lives for the chase."
Nara giggled and replied, "You're right, Lily. Let's see if they want to join us."
Lilith smiled. She was the smarter of the pair, she knew, and she also knew when she had started a good game. She said, "Let us go meet Lord Campbell and this Hunters."
******
"What did you gather from your observations?" Campbell asked as he sipped his scotch. He knew that Hunters wouldn't want to put any "poison" in his fit body, so he didn't offer the lad anything. He watched the boy and waited.
Hunters answered, "Things are in chaos, milord. Eypon is being repaired as we speak, and the pilots themselves are in serious disarray."
"Excellent," Campbell said as he took another drink. He kicked his feet up on his desk and smiled. Then, the door flew open and one of the guards came flying through.
"The hell!" Hunters shouted as he pulled out his pistol. He held it out carefully in front of him. Two little girls, not any older than seven, walked into the room. They were identical, except one had black hair and the other had white. Their eyes kept changing colors as they looked around the room.
The one with white hair said, "We can help you."
"Stay back," Hunters warned.
The one with white hair's eyes turned bright green. She made a fluid motion of snapping her wrist. Hunters went flying across the room with a startled curse. The one with black hair looked at Campbell with dark golden eyes. She said, "You can help us as well."
"Get away from him," Hunters said, standing up and taking a shot at the two girls. The one with white hair turned to the bullet and put her hand up. The projectile stopped in mid air. She looked at it and giggled. It dissolved into sand as she chuckled.
She said, "My name is Nara."
The one with black hair said, "My name is Lilith."
Campbell smiled, wondering what sort of use this power could be to him. He replied, "My name is Angus."
******
Duo watched as Serena stood up. He leaned over and whispered, "Be good, Babe." Jennifer looked up at him with guiltless dark eyes. Damn, she's beautiful, he thought as he looked at her. He looked away. Looking at her too long right now without full contact could be dangerous, especially after he knew what she looked like under those blue jeans and black T- shirt.
Pale and creamy, and delectably rosy at the same time. Damn it Maxwell, stop it! Bad Duo, think of . . . He looked around the room. Ruto, the fish chick. Eeeewwww. That's just sick. Okay, that should be good for now. When lustful thoughts come up, think of Ruto. Yuck.
Serena waved and said, "Hi, I'm um, Serena, and it's really nice to see you." She sat back down, whispering to Darien, "When are we gonna eat?"
Duo's stomach growled. He prayed that no one heard it. He was getting hungry, hell, he was always hungry. He shifted in his seat as Darien stood up.
He said, "Hello, my name's Darien, and I would like to thank you for offering to help us get home. Princess." He nodded at Relena and Zelda. Duo rolled his eyes and thought, Charming pretty boy that's slightly dark and looks dangerous. Yeah, right.
Mina got up and nervously smiled. She said, "Hi, my name's Mina and it's really nice to meet you."
Ami got up and quickly said, even more nervous than the others, "My name is Ami. Hello." She quickly sat back down.
Lita stood up and met Trowa's eyes. Trowa smiled. He actually smiled. Duo's mouth fell open in shock. He leaned over to Jennifer and said, "He smiled."
She nodded and whispered back, "That's really weird. If Heero smiled, I would know that Hell had frozen over."
Lita proudly and cheerfully said, "Hi, my name's Lita and it's really nice to meet you. Sorry to be such a bother. Thank you." She sat down with a smile on her features as she looked around the table.
Athene looked around and stood up. She said, "I am Athene." With that, she sat down, ignoring Quatre's hurt expression. I wonder if she talked to him. With the grumpy look on Quatre's face, I guess not.
Rei stood up, her dark purple eyes sparkling. Jennifer smiled at her, and Rei smiled back. Rei said, "Hi, I'm Rei, and it's really nice of you for helping us."
She sat down. Zelda looked over at Relena and said, "What of your friends? We do not know of them yet?"
Zechs said, without standing, "I am Zechs Marquise. Pleasure to meet you all." Duo frowned and thought, Sure it is, Zechs.
Jennifer sharply elbowed him in the ribs and he flinched. It hurt.
Noin smiled and said, "Hello, I am Lucrazia Noin, and it's really nice to see some new faces around here."
Duo saw an obvious joke in that. He asked, "What's wrong with the old faces around here?"
There were a few laughs around the table as Noin answered, "Well, Duo, maybe you should look in the mirror sometime." That earned more laughs. Duo flinched and looked down at his plate.
He said, "Ouch, that hurt. Sting a man's pride, don't ya, Noin?"
"What are you implying, Duo Maxwell?" Noin asked casually.
"Oh, nothing," Duo said breezily as he looked around the room.
Introductions were soon passed around, and it finally got to Duo. Duo got up, bowed, and said, "I am Duo Maxwell, the God of Death."
"Are you truly a god?" Saria asked with wide eyes.
"Um . . ." Duo began, trying to answer. Hell, me and my big mouth. Shit.
"No, he is not a god," Relena answered, rolling her eyes. Duo looked over at her and didn't say anything because Heero stood up.
He said in his monotone, "I am Heero Yuy. It is a pleasure to meet you." Then he sat down.
Food was soon passed out and Duo was devouring his meal. Except, the little blond girl, Serena, was out eating him. He stopped eating and Jennifer told him, "And I thought you were bad at eating."
"Hey," Duo said in a hurt voice.
Jennifer smiled and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. She said, "But I can live with that fault." He smiled back at her.
While the others were watching Serena eat in disbelief, Darien asked, "So, Miss Darkfall . . ."
"Jennifer," she corrected with a smirk.
"Jennifer, I read that you're a child prodigy. Is that true?" Darien asked.
Jennifer blushed and said, "Great, you found that article." Duo smirked, he remembered the article she had shown him a while back. It had her rated among the most promising students on Earth.
Duo chirped, "She's a med. student."
"At sixteen?" Ami asked in disbelief, with a sort of awe in her voice.
Duo grinned, proud of his lover. He answered, "Yeah. She already has more experience than most doctors."
Impa asked, "What is a doctor?"
Jennifer looked at him. Heero asked, "You don't know what a doctor is?"
All the Hylians shook their heads. Link asked, "Could you explain what one is to us?"
Jennifer thought for a moment and answered, "Well, since magic exists on your world, you probably have Healers, don't you?"
"What's a Healer?" Malon asked, generally curious.
Trowa answered, "Someone who takes care of the sick."
"What is sick?" Link asked.
"When someone becomes ill," Jennifer answered, looking confused.
"What is ill?" Ruto asked, her purple eyes flashing.
Duo answered for Jennifer, who looked really confused at the moment, "When you don't feel well."
Zelda smiled and said, "Well, this sort of thing never happens on our world. We are always well."
"That's really wonderful. Not to need medicine and not to be sick," Ami said with awe in her voice. Jennifer just looked confused. Duo took his lover's hand and squeezed it. She shrugged.
******
Campbell smiled as he looked at the crystal. He asked, "Can you make a plague affecting only the Faye?"
Lilith nodded and answered, "Yes, we can."
"One that Darkfall wouldn't be able to trace?" he asked, smiling even more.
"Yes," Nara answered, her eyes turning dark brown.
Campbell smiled and said, "Then do it."
The girls smiled at each other.