Here With Me
By Mystical Star
A Kitty-Chan Production
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing (darn it!!). However, I do own Anya Katsumi so if you plan on using her, please ask J thanks.
Author's Note: Unless you enjoy being very confused, go read Gundam Wing: Desecration before you read this. J
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Part II
Kat woke up in her new apartment, feeling as though a car had hit her. She'd been crying herself to sleep for the past week and a half since she and Duo had gotten back.
Her family's attorney had given Kat her inheritance, the house, her parent's money, and property in storage. Katsumi, not wanting to be in a place where all of her memories could torture her, gave her house as an orphanage and left. She got an apartment close to Preventer HQ. It was a fairly modest apartment, considering how large her inheritance was. She was frugal though, and didn't want to spend it all in one place.
The young woman dragged herself out of bed and into the shower, where she remained until the hot water ran out.
"Shouldn't have done that," Kat said to herself as she got out of the shower. "Now I'm even more tired than before," She grumbled as she wrapped her bathrobe around her and toweled her hair. She walked back into her bedroom to find some clothes when she noticed the light on her answering machine was blinking. The young woman raised an eyebrow, but pushed the button.
"Hey Kat! It is I, Severina!" Her friend's voice declared in a heroic tone. Kat giggled. "We heard you got your own place, so we're heading over there tonight to throw you a homecoming party!"
"Wha--? Hey!" Kat objected to the recording.
"No ifs ands or buts about it, Duo, Quatre, Tom, Li, and I should be over there around seven or so. We might get a few others to tag along, but you can be sure that we'll be there! See you!"
"Oh for God's sake!" Kat sighed as she walked out onto her balcony. The synthetic wind blew through her damp hair as she looked out onto the colony.
"Oh well. It's better than spending the night rotting in front of the TV." She decided as she leaned on the railing. Her apartment was ten stories up, so she tried not to look down, but she did.
"The only way to commit suicide," She commented to herself. She meant for it to be a joke, but the words made her afraid of herself. What did I just say? She questioned.
"I need to go rent a funny movie," She concluded as she walked inside to get dressed.
6:30 PM…
Severina and Quatre had just arrived. They had made arrangements to stay at Preventer HQ for the night and were going to drop their bags off before heading to Kat's apartment.
"It's good to be back," Severina sighed as she looked out of the window at the buildings they were passing.
"Yeah. I wonder how everyone's been doing?" Quatre asked as he turned into Preventer HQ's parking lot. "Do you think it's a good idea that we didn't even tell Duo that we're bringing him? What if he's made plans?" He added.
"Well then, too bad for his plans! We'll kidnap him for the night," Severina announced, smiling at Quatre, who laughed. "Speak of the devil," She added, pointing towards the sidewalk. There was none other than Duo Maxwell, wearing his normal black jacket, red shirt, and blue jeans. Quatre pulled into a parking space right in front of where Duo was walking.
"Hey Duo!" Severina greeted as she emerged from the car. Duo looked a little surprised.
"What are you guys doing here?" He asked.
"On business," Quatre answered, trying not to laugh. "Do you have any plans for tonight?" he asked as he retrieved his bag from the back of the car.
"Uh…no, I don't think so," Duo stuttered, a little confused.
"Good! Because we're kidnapping you!" Severina said, grabbing the young American and handcuffing him.
"WHAT?!" Duo shrieked.
"Severina?! Where did you get those?" Quatre asked, a little embarrassed. Severina looked at her friend with total innocence in her eyes.
"From Instructor H, he said to use them to keep my enemies out of the way." She explained. "Keep your mind out of the gutter!" She scolded Quatre as she shoved Duo into the backseat of the car. Winner blushed furiously.
"We'll be back, Duo. We're going to drop our bags off inside and then we're going to Kat's place," Severina said as she grabbed her duffle bag and shut the door.
"Hey!" Duo screeched as Severina locked the doors.
"Severina, I don't think he would have resisted if we had just told him straight out," Quatre pointed out.
"I know, it's just more fun this way," Severina smiled. Quatre scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"This should make for an interesting story for Kat," He thought aloud as they walked into Preventer HQ.
Twenty minutes later-Kat's Apartment…
Katsumi was on the balcony again, looking out at the darkening sky, if you could call a colony wall a sky.
"I wish I could see the stars," She whispered as she leaned on the railing that was holding her in. Car horns from ten stories down honked in annoyance at each other. Kat looked down again, wondering if one of the cars below her had Severina, Quatre, Duo, Tom, or Li in it. Of course, she couldn't recognize any of the vehicles from ten stories up, but it was interesting to imagine it.
"I wonder what they're doing-"
The doorbell rang, answering Kat's question before she could even finish asking it. "Hey, Kat! Open up!" It was Severina's voice. Katsumi hurried to the door and opened it. Severina glomped onto her.
"Long time no see!" Severina said.
"Welcome to my humble abode!" Kat laughed, noticing Duo and Quatre behind Severina.
"Hi!" Quatre greeted as Severina started to take off her shoes.
"Hey, Severina, what're you doing?" Duo asked, regarding her stocking feet. Kat laughed.
"It's a Japanese custom to take off your shoes when you enter a house or building. Dr. J. always thought it was weird that I'd take my shoes off whenever I came into the base and wore slippers around. I guess the SIA missed that part of me," Kat said. Duo nodded and then took off his shoes.
"But you don't have to, I just left the mat there for anyone who wants to," Kat said. Duo smiled at her.
"Yeah, but I want to," He said. Katsumi smiled. "So is everybody coming? Or just Tom and Li?" She asked.
"More than likely just Tom and Li. Trowa and Wufei are off on assignment, and Relena is off speaking. Heero's on her security team." Quatre explained, also taking off his shoes. Kat brushed the hair out of her face, one of her nervous habits.
They don't need to do that! She thought to herself.
"Go figure Heero's got the security detail. He's been really edgy since the 'incident'*, or whatever they're calling it now," Duo sighed. Severina shrugged and walked into the apartment further.
"Cool place," She commented.
"Thanks," Kat said, walking towards the kitchenette. "Do you guys want something to drink?" She asked, opening the refrigerator.
"Whadya have?" Duo asked, peeking over her shoulder. "No alcohol, if that's what you're wondering," Kat sniggered at him.
"Well, you're no fun!" Duo laughed, slapping her on the back playfully. There was a knock at the door.
"The party's here!" Tom's distinct voice called out. Severina bounded to the door and opened it, feeling rather giddy to be reunited with friends.
"Howdy!" Tom greeted.
"Hello!" Li said from behind him. "I brought something with me, hope you guys don't mind," He added, holding up a bag full of alcoholic drinks. Tom sighed and shook his head.
"I tried to talk him out of it," The young Australian man pointed out.
"I don't mind really, just don't let it get out of hand, I have neighbors, you know," Kat said, pointing towards the wall.
"Don't worry, it shouldn't," Tom said, glaring at Li, who grinned stupidly back at him.
As the night progressed, the six friends talked about random things. Severina kept eyeing Kat and Duo, who were sitting next to each other on the love seat, but were as far away from each other as they could get. She noticed that Duo tried to put his arm around Kat once, but she got tense so he retracted his arm. That's when his drinking began to get out of hand.
"Hey, Kat, I have a quick question for ya, c'mere," Severina said getting up from the chair and grabbing her friend's hand.
"We'll be back!" Kat said, wondering what her friend was doing. Severina pulled Kat out to the balcony and closed the door.
"What's up? You look a little nervous sitting by Duo, is there something wrong?" She asked. Kat looked away.
"I…I don't know," She said, holding her left elbow with her right hand nervously. Severina bit her lower lip in frustration.
"Is everything okay?" Severina continued to ask. Kat sighed.
"I've been having weird dreams ever since Obasan…my grandmother, died." She admitted, looking up at her friend.
"Is it the SIA?" Severina asked, slightly worried.
"No…they're more like premonitions or something. I go to sleep and suddenly, I'm in this black room with Duo. He looks sad, and I try to reach out to him, but the second my hand touches his, the blackness swallows him up…It's like someone's telling me that if I get close to him, he'll die,"
"Now wait a minute! I thought that we had just cleared up this whole mess about being Death and all of that stuff a few weeks ago**," Severina stated, a little puzzled.
"I know I won't kill him…I'd never do anything like that…but I think being me being around him reminds him of Hilde. I can see this sadness in his eyes sometimes when he looks at me," Kat said. Severina made an annoyed face and ran her fingers through her hair.
"At least don't push him away," She suggested. "Quatre told me that when Duo gets depressed sometimes, he drinks a lot, I'm kind of worried about that," Severina said, nodding towards the inside of the apartment. Kat looked over at her friends through the glass door and saw how incredibly intoxicated Duo looked, and he was still drinking. She bit her lip.
"I didn't realize," She whispered.
"He likes you," Severina pointed out. "Maybe the sadness in his eyes is for you,"
"I've been such an idiot," Kat said, grabbing the door handle and walking back into the apartment. Severina followed her.
"We're back!" Kat announced as she plopped down next to Duo, close this time. Maxwell looked a little surprised, and his drinking slowed down.
Soon, it was midnight and everyone figured it was time to get home. Tom and Li had already left. Li had gotten a little out of hand himself and Tom, always being the designated driver, took Li home. Kat was a little concerned for Duo, who was insisting on walking home, despite his obvious state of drunkenness.
"Don't worry, Kat, we'll take him back home," Severina said as she tried to lead Duo out of the door.
"I'm…wawlking hommme," He slurred, and being rather stubborn about it. He wouldn't let Severina touch him.
"Duo," Quatre tried to plea as Duo headed for the door.
"Duo Maxwell! Stop!" Katsumi cried in a rather defiant tone. Duo whirled around, swearing he heard someone else say his name.
"Hilde?" He asked.
"No, Duo, it's me, Kat," Anya said sympathetically, walking towards him.
"Kat…?" Duo said the name slowly as if he were tasting each letter, he suddenly held his head. "I'm dizzy…" he said, closing his eyes. Kat rushed forward to support him as he began to pass out.
"I think someone's had a wee bit too much to drink," Kat laughed, taking his arm and putting it over her shoulders to carry him back in. Quatre helped her take Duo to the couch.
"He can stay here tonight," Kat said fondly; looking down on Duo, now fast asleep.
"Okay. Anything's better than walking around the streets at night in a drunken rampage," Severina said, smiling at Katsumi as she and Quatre walked out of the door.
"See you guys around! Kat said, waving goodbye to her friends as they began their walk towards the elevator.
"G'night!" Severina and Quatre said, waving back.
Kat shut the door to her apartment and turned back to Duo, who was completely zonked out on the couch. Katsumi couldn't help but stare at him as he lay there sleeping. She smiled at him just before going back to her room to grab and extra blanket to give him.
After wrapping him in a blanket, the young woman kneeled down next to him and took his hand.
"I'm sorry, Duo…" She whispered, putting the back of his hand to her cheek, feeling his warmth.
"Good night," Katsumi whispered as she put his hand back beneath the blanket and went to bed herself.
Unfortunately, sleep did not come easily for her, and when it did, it brought unwanted sights.
Dream~
Katsumi felt rather cold as she looked around herself. Black. Everything was black around her, except for the person standing in front of her, Duo. She looked into his eyes and saw such a sad and cold look about them.
"Duo, are you okay?" Kat asked. Duo looked away.
"Duo?" She repeated, feeling a wave of remorse wash over her. Maxwell didn't look back at her, or say anything.
"Duo, please," Kat was nearly crying as she reached out a hand to touch his hand, but as her skin made contact with him, Duo dissipated into the blackness surrounding her.
~End dream
"Duo! No!" She cried sitting straight up in bed. Once she realized where she was, Kat calmed down.
"Just another stupid dream," She muttered to herself as she wiped the hair out of her face. Kat looked over to the clock to see it was three in the morning, and she flopped back down onto the pillow with a moan.
Suddenly, she heard a door close. The young woman raised an eyebrow, wondering what had caused the noise. She was pretty sure Duo wasn't up, but she went to go check anyway.
Katsumi walked out into the living room/kitchen area and peered over the back of the couch to see it empty.
"Duo?" She asked, seeing if she'd get an answer. She got a cold breeze on her back from the slightly opened balcony door. Kat turned to see if he was there, he was. When he closed the door, it must have bounced back open. She told herself. A thought hit her.
Duo was on the balcony, ten stories up. An image of his sad face flashed past her, and then him vanishing into the darkness. Kat was suddenly scared.
"Duo!" She cried, bursting through the balcony door and glomping onto Duo from behind.
"Kat? What the-" Duo looked behind him to see Kat sobbing a she held onto him.
"What's wrong?" He asked, turning around and embracing her.
"I thought…I thought you were going to jump…"
"What gave you that idea?" Duo laughed. When Kat didn't look up at him, he saw it wasn't funny.
"I've been having these dreams…when I touch you, you disappear…I was afraid that you'd disappear, Duo…"
"What?"
"Duo, I'm sorry for treating you the way I did tonight…"
"Kat, hold it," Duo said, lifting her chin with his hand.
"I've been really out of it lately. I've been wanting to talk to you like this for a while, ever since I saw that guy put a gun to your head**…I got so worried about you after that. And when your grandma died, you really closed up and it scared me, because I've been alone all of my life and I was afraid you would leave me alone," Duo said softly.
"No…I wouldn't. Duo. I won't let you be alone," Kat whispered. "I love you too much," she added.
Duo, rather stupefied by her last remark, twitched at the words, he smiled widely and softly brushed away Kat's tears as she looked up at him.
Their eyes locked together, they could see each other's pain, hopes, and sorrows all through their eyes. Duo leaned down and met Kat's forehead and he closed his eyes.
"We'll never be alone," He whispered, stroking her cheek again. Somehow, it doesn't matter how, their lips met for the first time as a soft synthetic breeze moved past them in the dark of the night.
When the kiss ended, the two moved back into the house, arm in arm, back to Katsumi's room. They spent the night there, holding each other so the other would not feel alone.
Their nightmares were gone. They were no longer alone.
The End=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Notes*The "Incident" is what Gundam Wing: Desecration is all about. Go read it if you want to know ;)
**See "Black Clouds", chapter one.
Author's Note: I do believe there were a few readers who saw the Duo/Kat pairing coming a long while ago…such good insight ^^. Actually, when GWD was "The Return of the Gundams", the romance was written into the plot, which was one of the reasons why it sucked. However, romance was one of the things that I intended to write in (because I always seem to anyway) so I figured instead of putting it in the original story when I rewrote it, why not drop hints and make a sequel? I'm a genius, ne? Right… More like a hapless romantic running out of ideas. ^^;
