Part 8: Falling and Love
Noises were surrounding me...
Wait a minute; I was laying flat on my back. Wasn't I supposed to be heading with Relena? I sat up from my fallen position and looked around. I saw a flash of chestnut hair mixed with wheat-blonde hair. I concentrated on the image in front of me. Relena and Duo were on the floor. He was kneeling at her side, kissing her.
...Kissing her?
My chest tightened involuntarily. I didn't want to believe it.
But it had to be a truth, Relena was sitting propped up on the floor, Duo was leaning down to her and kissing her, hands cupped around her face. My breathing had stopped, I was so confused, wasn't he supposed to be in bed? Wasn't Relena supposed to be leading me to where ever it was we were going?
Duo broke the kiss, leaning back, breathless. Relena's face was blooded ever so slightly. Duo glared at me once more. He stalked over to me and grabbed a handful of my hair, not gently at all. It was forceful and I could tell that he was pissed. What the hell was going on here?!
He crushed my lips once again.
A different perspective.
I was walking toward an empty room and as I looked back I saw me. This wasn't Duo's perspective. Then it had to be...
Relena's?
I felt a hand grasp a handful of my long hair and tear backwards. Tearing at my scalp, I looked around to face myself again. "You little bitch, I'll never let you have him. I know what you are trying to do and I won't let you. You think you can get away with this just because he cares about you, you can't!" Myself was shouting at me and I was thrown to the ground.
I looked up and out came a feminine voice. "What are you talking about?! What's wrong with you?!"
"Hn."
My eyes widened. "You're... you're the other Heero!"
"No shit, at least you were able to figure that much out. Why is Duo protecting you now? You mean nothing to this world any more. Just a worthless princess with a destroyed kingdom."
I stood up strong. "Heero, you protected me at a time, how can you say things like that?"
"That was when you were somebody, now you're only a waste of space and time."
"What happened to you? I knew that you were cold, but this isn't like you. I heard what had happened earlier during the training. You're just a ghost that possesses this Heero, why?"
His eyes closed for a moment and then a smirk engulfed his face. This was what was happening, the old Heero was possessing me. Why?
"When a medium between hell and this world is present why not take it?"
A medium, my body. He could travel back and forth like that. Was it at any given time? Why wasn't I possessed now? Damnit, there were so many questions that weren't answered, damnit.
"What happened to you, you aren't the Heero that I knew. What happened?!"
"Don't demand things like this, it has nothing to do with you!"
I tired to smile. "Heero, why would you hurt the people that loved you when you could love them back in the time you were back?"
"Is that another spin-off of that pacifist shit?"
I shook my head; I could feel the determination in her heart. "No, it's the truth. Heero, why don't you talk to Duo instead of doing something that will be regretted later? Heero, we are beginning to win in this battle, we killed Dorothy."
"I know. I was talking with her earlier." He said coldly. "Why did you bring the other Heero in here, Relena?"
My mouth went dry. As if I could say it. "I was going to talk to Heero about Duo." He walked over to me slowly, counting every step. My body was trembling.
"What about Duo?"
I took waiting a moment longer, before even beginning to answer. I couldn't get it out, his hand lashed across my face and I stood still as a bruise began to visibly form. "I was going to talk to Heero about his health."
Heero glared. "Why would that concern me?"
"Because I think that you would want to be included."
"After all, I am his lover, aren't I?"
"You were."
"I still am."
My heart throbbed, much like it had inside my own chest. She felt the same as I had when I saw Duo kissing her on the floor. But this is what had been leading up to it, even though reality was passing slowly on the outside while I was here, living the past once again.
I lunged to him, throwing my foot into the air; it looked like I was aiming for my jaw. Easily dodging, he side-stepped the assault and I tried to curve my kick in his direction, hoping for a hit.
Then in the game of hit-and-miss, I missed. I was thrown back once again to the floor and then as I looked to the door Duo. Heero hadn't seen his shadow or seen him all together. I knew that he shouldn't have been out here, he might hurt himself. But I watched as Heero dropped to the ground. There was no reason, he just... did.
Duo rushed over to my side. "What the hell just happened?!" He shouted and looked to me, the unconscious me, before Relena.
The vision ended by Duo's mouth was still protectively on mine. He traced his tongue along the edge of my mouth, he was telling me that even though Relena was there, he still loved me and she didn't have to know. My heart was aching even more then before, Heero, the other one was in complete control over me. Maybe the kiss was also in pity. He knew how I felt; he knew that I couldn't do anything about it.
When would Heero come back? He didn't really think anything about killing, even Relena. I don't think he would kill Duo, but he didn't seem to be against hurting him. I wrapped my arms around his waist. I was scared. I had promised not to let anything hurt Duo, but now I was the number one threat. He pulled away and I laid my head on his chest.
"Are you okay?"
I shook my head. "I feel so pathetic and powerless."
He chuckled. "We'll figure something out, don't worry, okay?"
I wanted to believe that, I wanted to so bad. But I didn't know what I could believe at all. I shook my head but Duo stopped it, by more or less holding my head still. I looked to him.
"I don't want to get that form you, we will figure something out. Promise."
Was that supposed to make me feel better? It did, more or less. I looked over to Relena that moment. "Gomen nasai." I said weakly.
She stood up, trying to smile. It was a forced one but it wasn't from my previous actions. But even so, she accepted my apology. I felt bad for her; she was being put through all kinds of shit right now. Not that I wasn't, I was trying to convince myself that I wasn't the only one with a problem.
"Well, what's the next game plan?"
Duo pulled me to my feet and suddenly gripped his side, wincing. Shit, I had forgotten all about his wound. "Are you okay?" I said forcefully but not demanding anything.
He nodded, standing straightly up once again. "I'm fine, just hurts. It'll go away as soon as I take some pain killers." I wanted to believe him but I couldn't help but be worried about him.
"Then let's get back to your room." We began to walk; for once I was his support instead of the other way around. I got back to his room and walked in as Relena left. It looked as if she had done a little bit of cleaning up, making the bed and other things like that.
I set him down on his bed and he chuckled looking up to me. "What?" I questioned as he laid back.
"I'm just thinking about how much in love Relena was with you back then, and how much she seems to hate you now."
"Ironic, isn't it?"
"Nothing less."
"You were going to tell me, where do we head from here? I like to get ideas about where we should be."
"Well, if I'm right some more forces should be heading here to check out the other plan, we'll knock 'em down as then come until either the big guys come, or they loose interest."
I nodded and felt a little self-conscious when he pulled me closer. "Heero, I think you may be blushing!" If I weren't blushing before this would have been the moment that I did.
He grinned. "Why are you being shy all of a sudden?" I had no damn idea. I shook my head instead of using that direct phrase. He pulled me closer and I had to have been drug a little. He continued to laugh. I wasn't taken back by that at all, I liked it when he laughed. As I was drug further I curled up beside him, laying my head on his chest. I made sure not to touch his side; I didn't want him to be in any more pain.
I could feel his arm move from its position and then stop as it wrapped around my waist. I began to smile and the blush finally subsided. He was stroking my forehead; his breathing was slowing slightly every moment. Before I knew it, he had fallen asleep again. That tranquilizer must have had some effect on him, even now. For the moment I lay there, not wanting to move.
There was a faint knocking at the door and I knew that was calling to get up once again. Extracting Duo's arm from my waist, I crept to the door and cracked it, just enough to get out. I looked to the officer in front of me. "What is it?"
I asked him, he stood at attention. "I have an urgent message for Duo."
"What is it? I'll give it to him as soon as he wakes up."
"I would prefer to give it to him now, and in person." I narrowed my eyes.
"I'll make sure that it is delivered." He must have understood my intentions if he didn't deliver the message. The other Heero possessing me was mostly a bad thing but it did have its advantages. Now I got respect from the other, respect that I wouldn't have earned otherwise.
"Well I was told to tell him that about five minutes ago we noticed a large group of mobile suites coming this way. We told our troops to get ready and now we are awaiting his orders."
I nodded. "I'll tell him that now. How many was it?"
"Fifteen or so. More than we have, that's for sure. We have moved the wounded down underground. The others are waiting to be ordered to take action."
Looking back to the door I shook my head. "Yeah, I'll let him know now. Tell the troops to get their mobile suites ready and wait five minutes. As soon as they get into firing range, do so."
He thought about my orders and whether or not to accept them. He nodded and started to jog back to the main area.
I opened the door again and noticed Duo sitting up. "Did you hear any of that?"
He nodded. "You need to learn to keep your voices down." He proceeded to stand up and then grimaced in pain at his side wound.
"Duo, you shouldn't fight this time."
He shook his head. "If they are only a group of mobile suites then the other soldiers trained as guerillas won't be of much help. If there is only thing we're short on, it's the mobile suites. They couldn't have picked a better attack stage."
"But what are you going to do? You said it yourself that you can't fight because you're the lead guerilla-"
"No, who do you think taught all of them to pilot? True, that is what I seem to specialize it, however piloting comes naturally. We had more soldiers that were talented in piloting but not enough suites. I needed to strengthen the other factions so that's why you have only seen me doing that. I haven't been in a mobile suite in five years, even though I have been instructing. There haven't been any advancements in the mobile suite technology so I'm fine there. But I think I'm going to have to fight in this one."
"No. You aren't in the shape to pilot!"
He merely grinned. "You'd be surprised." I felt like a parent; my son and Duo were too similar. Hell, they even had the same name. "Duo, you're rushing the chapters, let them play out slowly." I tried from a different angle but I should have known that Duo would counter just the same.
"Heh, this author is getting on my nerves, they rush everything no matter what."
There was nothing I could do as he walked out of the door. No, he wasn't walking out the door, he was hobbling. I was the one most familiar with suicide missions and this was just another example. I walked out, following him.
He was talking to one of the officials. He looked back to me. "The odds are even slimmer this time. 0.993% chance of victory." Shit, what was going to happen this time? "The odds would normally be 12%, however there is a special general in the lead with a special mobile suite." Oh god, I could only guess at that point.
"Who is it?" I was getting even more desperate.
He tried to smiled. "Two guesses. But you'll only need one."
"Treize." I said, the word general always brought a picture of him into my mind. "Yes. But I brought up our percent chances by 0.993%!" He cheered. So Duo was our only chance?
"Wait, could I pilot a mobile suite?" I said suddenly and Duo cocked his head. "I know that is one thing that I can do, no doubt."
I watched as he took a deep breath. "We have four suites, but I feel that I can trust you..." Now there was another weight placed on my chest.
Duo turned back to the officer. "Okay, I'll pilot 09, Heero will pilot 13, Relena will pilot 20,"
Relena could pilot? Well, it wouldn't surprise me; she /had/ received special training. But in this entire unit, she was one of the best? "And Link will pilot 18." Link? I hadn't met him yet. Relena walked up and behind her was a man that had to be in his late 20's.
He stood taller then Duo, with dark, bronze skin and light blonde hair. The blonde came down to his jaw and was cut in layers.
"Link." He said, extending his hand.
"Heero." I said and shook it.
He looked to me as if I had been joking. My eyes told him different.
"Okay, does everyone get the operation? Relena, you get the five flanking Treize's left. Link, the five to his right. Heero, the four behind him. As soon as you get done with those, help each other with their but don't touch Treize."
"Duo, you know you can't beat him yourself. Don't you remember what happened to Wufei and Sally?!" Relena growled over to him.
Duo nodded. "Yeah, but I have a little score to settle. It's pride and I need to take it out on him 100% by myself." He empathized the last part. He needed to do that himself; I knew it. I looked to Link who stood silent.
"Duo, if I get done with mine and the others are done as well I can't guarantee not going after the ring leader." Duo's eyes narrowed and he grabbed the collar of Link's neck.
Link was shoved against the wall with the wind knocked out of him. "Link, I need you to promise that you are not going to touch him. You know, bullets tend to ricochet and it wouldn't surprise me if one accidentally flew through your forehead causing a nasty little mess in your cockpit." It was forcefully sweet, but to make his point he slapped Link across his face. He backed away and Link went back to standing strong.
"Any more questions?" There was a brief silence and then Duo motioned for us to follow. We walked down the long winding hallways to a flight of stairs. We picked up the pace, hurrying down the steps. Then there was a door, a normal door that Duo shoved open. Past that was a large open space, I could feel the drafts. But it was pitch black. I followed the foot steps as they ran. Then a light flickered and devoured the room till there wasn't a shadow left.
It was a hanger. We were standing on one of the suspended cases that were next to the mobile suites. There were two Taurus, one Aries, and then one that I didn't recognize. "A Gemini." I heard from my left. Link was smiling to me. "I don't think you would have know about it. It's another land battle suite, they were rarely manufactured because of its need for a special ammunition."
"What kind?" I asked and then from my other side came an answer.
"Gundanium. We were only able to keep this mobile suit functioning because of frequent visits to the colonies."
Link jumped into the Aries, as did Relena. I had the Taurus and Duo had the other mobile suite. I watched as the others were starting them up. I looked around in the cockpit, locating all the controls. I was also happy for the advancements, since there weren't any. I knew my way through this perfectly, now all I needed to worry about was the other pilot's skills.
I quickly strapped into the seat belt and as Relena left the hanger first. She was followed by Link, and then me. I fired up the engines and dashed my fingers across the control panel. Duo followed behind me and the four of us took to the air. The enemy forces were spread out across the horizon. The next thing I knew was a volley of shots fired to our base. As soon as I made the move to fire back, Link and Relena shot ahead to their appointed sides.
I followed, waiting for an opening. I looked to the status of the suites. They were one mile away from the base now, it was too close for my liking. I opened a connect with the Gemini as quick as I could. Duo looked to me through the box with a questioning statement. I gave him what would have been called a death glare. "Duo, you are not going to die here so don't rush it."
To my glare he gave me a smile. My glare wasn't showing because I was mad at him, but it was just for empathize.
"Hey, what ever happens, ne? Don't worry! Everything's going to great!"
He winked at me and I just had to say one more thing. It was a little hard to say in that situation, "Duo, just remember that I do love you." His smile was shot for a moment but it came again. "I know." The transmission was ended and then we fired our first shots way within range.
Relena's shot hit its intend target which began to sink through the sky, in flames, to the ground. The flames tore at the Earth and my stomach began to tear at the sight. War, more war. Link shot another and I let a series of bullets fly from my gun. The soldiers they had hadn't improved. The one I shot at flew to the ground to meet up with his comrade. I couldn't look back at Duo to see how things were going on his end. I couldn't bring myself to at all. For now, the fight in front of me was all there way.
"Shit-" I cursed to myself as an impact from behind hit me. I could feel a stream of blood fall to my brow. I moved the suite around as fast as my fingers would let me. Two suites where double-teamed against me from different angles. With the odds, a double-team would have been easy for now. I flew below them both and hit them from underneath. The two burst into flames and sailed downward. I looked around. There were only five suites remaining. I had one, Link had two, Relena had two and we all knew without a doubt where the last suite was.
I looked to the last one in front of me and shot, it dodged. I moved again, over to the left; far, far, left. As I did, another transmission was put through into my suit. "Heero, you have two more to deal with." That was Links voice and as I questioned what he had meant I looked to his face and then out the window to him mobile suite. He was covered in blood and his mobile suite was covered in flames.
End of part eight
Into the Rain Index
Gundam Wing Fanfiction Index