Chapter 3: ANOTHER ONE IN THE DUST
Duo swayed his way along the corridors of the long line of cells.
"Get up, weakling!" the guard gripped his uniform's collar and started dragging him to his cell. Duo could feel the stares at him. They were prisoners alike, slaves in the pitiful den of no escape. He could feel how they sympathize his forlorn appearance, but then all helpless they turn away. The guard pushed Duo back to his cell. "Stay there! And be ready if anyone else wants you!"
Duo hit hard on the floor. He crawled himself to the single blanket laid. Damn it, my whole body hurts… He closed his eyes as he successfully felt the blanket in his hands. He touched his forehead. Ugh… these drugs are making me weak.
Duo felt the heavy weight of his eyelids. He began to close them. "Heero… I was a fool. I should have never expected you to love me. If I have learned this earlier, I shouldn't have been here at all," small whispers escaped Duo's lips. "But if given another chance… I know I'll still do what I have done."
Slowly, his vision of the past engulfed him. He could see himself stand guard near Heero while he hacks the main computer of one of Oz' research bases.
He was watching him perform the task perfectly, while thoughts ran through his mind. Somehow he sensed that something was about to go wrong, and it urged him to tell just how he felt about him. It was as if he doesn't have any more chances to tell him. Something dictates him to tell it now, but the mission and Heero's probable reaction made him think twice.
Heero ejected the diskette. He activated the self-destruct sequence and turned to Duo. "Let's go."
Heero's words woke Duo from his rummaging thoughts. "Oh… uhh… yes…" Duo stammered. He followed Heero from behind, still uncertain of what to do. He shook his head in disagreement to what he was planning to say, but the feeling came to him more. It pinned his heart down, wanting him to stop. Helpless, he followed his heart's desire. "Heero, please wait."
Heero stopped and turned his eyes to Duo.
"I… I need to say something," Duo said catching Heero's eyes, but the blank expression on them made him look away. Thoughts confused him again. What Heero would say, how their situation made it worse, what would happen after all of these. He was uncertain, but the feeling he felt was too strong.
Heero silently watched Duo, waiting for an answer.
"Duo," he said. Duo's attention was brought back to him. "The self-destruct sequence will start in less than a minute. If we don't hurry, the alarm will sound and they might catch us. I only allotted 30 seconds for the research base to be destroyed, we may not escape."
Heero's words ate Duo's heart. He was flushed with pain. He bowed his head down, his long bangs covering his watery eyes.
"If it's nothing connected with the mission, tell it when we're back in our base."
Heero started running towards the location of Wing, not giving a chance for Duo to say anything more. The alarm sounded and Duo disregarded his mixed emotions. He started running for his life. He caught up with Heero, hiding the tears that tracked his perfectly shaped cheeks. He entered Deatschythe's cockpit and activated it, but the gundam responded slowly. Kuso… I forgot that this isn't fully repaired yet. I'll have to hold on with this situation.
A pack of soldiers came running and tried to halt the two gundams. Duo sped up, leaving the hangar. A series of gunfire followed, Duo barely escaping them. If this continues, Deathscythe will overheat. Shimatta… Duo said having a hard time.
"Oi, Heero." Duo appeared on Heero's screen. "This place should have been blown up by now. What happened?"
"They might have discovered us earlier than we expected. If we don't hurry the Aries mobile suits will start chasing us."
Duo felt guilty. If it weren't for him, they could have escaped successfully. His feelings started teasing him again, his eyes shouted in protest and began crying.
"Duo… you're…" Heero was shocked by his comrade's actions. He stood off guard but Duo was busy hiding his tears to see Heero's reaction.
The sound of an Aries alarmed Duo's ears, while Heero's thoughts made him stand still.
"Look out!" Duo shouted while two mobile suits started attacking Wing from behind. Duo thrusted his gundam to prevent the Aries from shooting down Wing.
Deathscythe ate the rapid attacks without defense and a second later Duo was out of control. He jammed the control panel. "No… not now." The metals were beginning to erupt signs of overheat.
"Duo!" Heero's voice sounded in his ears.
I know. I know. It's my fault, stop reminding me of it already. Duo hesitated on his controls.
"DUO!!!"
It was the last thing he heard. He felt bright light conquer his sight and the feeling of heat overwhelmed. He could smell an aroma of fresh blood while his body seem to float in space, pain engulfing him. And then darkness came.
A tear fell on Duo's blanket, as the thoughts of his last moments with Heero faded away. "I should have died then. Maybe it could have been better. But then I still have to suffer in this place. Worst of all, still in love with Heero…"
The gate of Duo's cell opened and he pretended to be asleep. Not again. Don't tell me, it'll be more than three today, he could hear the guard's sarcastic laugh while he pushes the gate open.
Oh please, God, no. I couldn't handle more than what I had today. Besides, these drugs are still killing me.
"Hey idiot, you have a new cell mate!"
Duo turned. Someone new? he thought.
The guard smirked. "So you are awake after all. Here he is!"
Duo looked closely. It's a young boy. He looks younger than me.
The boy entered the room, looking at Duo. He had a short light blue hair with spiky ends, as if cut forcefully. His big green eyes made contact with Duo's, a pitiful look on his face.
"From now on, you'll be cellmates… till you die." The guard locked the gate and laughed harder, echoing in the halls until it faded. In the cell, the two remained staring at each other, the future uncertain.