Disclaimers: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing nor it's characters. Merely borrowing them for a little torture.

Warnings: Shounen-ai (because I suck at yaoi) , major A.U, some OOC I think, probably future mpreg

Fates and Choices

Part 3 : Of Suspicions and Werebeasts

"Are you sure you are okay?" Trowa asked his leader's estranged mate who now sat in one of the rooms in his and Quatre's dwelling.

Duo shrugged. "Yeah," he said, listlessly. "I've always been the bounce back kind of person. Don't worry."

Trowa frowned, wishing fervently that killing his tribe chief wasn't a crime. He and Quatre both agreed that Heero went overboard this time. The poor Shifter was in a village all alone with no familiar face and was almost brutally been tossed out of his own mate's dwelling. While the stubborn Heero had tried to apologise for his cold welcome through various gifts, he had not tried in anyway to speak Duo in reconciliation.

"Trowa," Duo asked hesitantly. "Did you feel something at the patrol yesterday?"

The taller Shifter's warrior instincts quickly shifted into gear and he studied Duo. "What do you mean?"

Duo shivered slightly. "I think I might be imagining it, but I felt someone staring at me at yesterday's patrol." Now that he was an official warrior, he was required to go on patrols or to investigate anything Heero Heard from the Forest.

The tribe chief was required to be a Hearer and was almost all were gifted by the Ancient with it. A Hearer was a rare talent. The Forest spoke directly to a Hearer, telling him about the movements in the Forest. It was through this way, the tribe chief was able to sense when there was trouble within the Forest and send reinforcements accordingly. His father was a Hearer, so was his brother and his cousin as well. Duo was sure that if the Ancient hadn't chosen him as a Healer, would be a Hearer as well. The blood of it ran thick within the family.

Trowa smirked. "That would be Heero."

Duo felt a warmth flood him at that. "Heero?" Heero was staring at him? Then he frowned. It was a malevolent feeling, like someone meaning him harm. "Unless Heero wants me dead, I don't think so."

"Heero wants you dead?" Quatre joined the conversation, having just walked in.

"Explain," Trowa ordered.

"I have been having the same feeling for some time now." Duo squeezed his eyes shut, trying to remember a ghost of a memory. "I think it had been going on ever since…. Ever since… I began…" He bit his tongue at almost saying Healing. "…Going on patrols. I had always felt something observing me from afar. It had always made me uncomfortable, but it didn't seem as bad or as evil as I felt these past few days." He struggled to explain. "I know Shifters have been seen as peacekeepers and therefore, not really welcomed, so I thought it was just something like that."

"Then?" Quatre asked, scooting closer. His empathy told him that Duo was seriously troubled. For some reason, he trusted Duo's instincts.

Duo shrugged, unable to explain the vague unease. It just seemed he felt something like this before something bad happened to him. "I just thought this feeling would go away when I came here, but…"

"It followed you?" Trowa's interest sharpened.

"I… I don't know," Duo finished, uncertainly. He rubbed his arms lightly. "I just wished it would stop."

Silence pierced the room as the three stared at each other uneasily. Quatre cleared his throat loudly, breaking the tension as he intended.

"This is another apology," Quatre forced a sunny smile, lifting a dagger. He passed it to Duo.

Duo touched it almost reverently. He had come with almost nothing, but over the past few weeks, Heero had managed to gift him with clothes, weapons and other things a tribe chief would give his mate as mating gifts. Still a little stung from the welcome he received, Duo had tossed the more extravagant gifts into a Return-To-Heero-Mr-Stick-Up-His-Ass-Yuy Pile. The more practical ones had been kept and used. He tossed the dagger into that pile.

"Not keeping it?" Trowa lifted an auburn brow.

Duo shrugged. "Not practical."

"Duo, it's not like you hate him or anything you know," Quatre smirked. "I don't understand why the both of you can't be friends."

"I tried speaking to him and what did I get? Grunts. If he didn't have two legs, I would have thought he was a wild boar in disguise," Duo grouched, crossing his arms in front of himself, then wincing at the sore muscles there.

"Does it still hurt?" Quatre reached for him, concerned.

Duo smiled. "That's for being careless and clumsy. Don't worry, I was like that a lot in my previous tribe as well."

The Healer and his mate exchanged a look. They didn't seem to think Duo was clumsy in the least. During the last few patrols, Duo had come back hurt in some way, sometimes quite serious, like the gash to the head that bled badly, other times just a few bruises. Trowa had told Quatre that it seemed like Duo was targeted every time, yet, there was no reason for it. It was just very mysterious.

Trowa was about to mention it when a call came out.

"Warriors gather!"

Quatre watched in apprehension as Duo and Trowa rushed out the dwelling.

XXxxXX

Wufei had managed to corner Heero after many tries. It was as if the tribe chief was avoiding his closest friends, who was now siding with Duo against Heero's pigheaded stubbornness.

"I know you are my leader and all, but you are one big idiot," Wufei announced, falling into step with Heero.

"What do you want, Wufei?" Heero growled. "I'm in no mood to speak with you right now."

"I've seen how you stare at him when he's not looking. You like him," Wufei had on a small smile of satisfaction.

Heero turned on Wufei with a glare in his blue eyes. "I don't…."

"Don't lie to me, Heero. I know you better than anyone. I recognise that look," the dark haired Shifter warned. "You used to look at me that way."

Heero's eyes softened. He knew if his parents hadn't perished during one of the patrols, he and Wufei would have been mated now. They had grown up together but the death of Heero's parents had changed him as he was elevated to tribe chief. His duties to the tribe had taken him away from Wufei. While the two of them still pondered over what might have been, there really wasn't too much regret in it. They still cared for each other and Wufei wanted more than anything for Heero to let some of his sense of duty go and actually have a normal life for once. One that included a mate and hopefully children.

"He's a careless incompetent," Heero said, changing the subject. "He manages to get himself hurt almost all the time we go out. He also manages some how to take himself away from the main battle. I don't believe he has even killed anything before." Of course, he left out the fact his stomach clenched every time Duo ended a patrol bleeding. He refused to believe concern he felt for Duo was any different from that of a tribe member.

Right, his heart mocked viciously. Keep telling yourself that and one eternity later, it just might come true.

Wufei's forehead furrowed with concern. "Heero, you've seen him move. He knows how to use weapons and his body. And we are supposed to protect, not kill all the time. But…" He grew speculative. "He does try to shy away from killing, doesn't he?"

"Yes, he is extremely graceful. Even with that silly long braid of his," Heero stared into space, a soft smile on his lips.

Wufei recognised that smile. He hadn't seen that in a long while and his heart leapt at knowing it was Duo who was bringing out in Heero once again.

"And, I don't think Duo clumsy. There is something wrong about the way things happen around him. Don't you find it odd?"

Heero was about to answer when a soft whisper that only he could hear came floating to him. He raised his voice, calling, "Warriors gather!"

The Forest needed the Shifters.

XXxxXX

"Look, Mr Stick-Up-My-Ass," Duo chattered, walking next to Heero during a patrol. "We are mated now, but since it isn't consummated or anything, I would just like us to be friends. Is that a problem?"

Heero turned to the long haired Shifter and stared at him. It had been over a month now ever since Duo came to the tribe and had since moved into Quatre's dwelling. The two appeared to be fast friends. At the blond's behest, Duo had tried to establish a friendship with him, hoping to chip away at the animosity. The braided Shifter had long given up hope that Heero would ever feel anything for him, which was all the better. At least it wouldn't hurt anyone of them when it was time for him to leave.

Duo was surprised at the pain that suddenly shot through his body.

I don't want to leave, his mind whispered but he quickly squashed it. He had no place here and he couldn't carry out his duty as a Healer. Not if he wanted to escape with his life.

"You are supposed to be concentrating, Duo," Heero reprimanded harshly. "This is a patrol, not a party. We have no use for conversation in situations such as these."

Duo stopped abruptly, turning Heero at the same time. "Look, I'm not attracted to you…" Liar. "… And you are clearly not attracted to me as well. Why can't we be friends? I could always help you find another mate? We could find one we both like?" He tried to ignore the unexpected pang at that statement. For some reason, imagining Heero with someone else hurt.

If he admitted to himself, he came to Heero with some preconceived notion that the tribe chief would be like his father, strict and quick to discipline. Other than respect, he had not seen the villagers cower from Heero like his own tribe had sometimes did from his father. From his observation, Duo decided that Heero Yuy was a patient man who did everything for his tribe and was loved for it. He had seen the younger children clamber all over him once like a friendly tree, but instead of admonishing them as his father would have, Heero had merely played along, running after them, playing the monster. Duo felt his heart turn over at that sight.

Duo little apology pile grew higher, even if Heero never spoke to him in any other way but by way of command. He had told himself that he wanted to return Heero his gifts, but somehow or other, Duo kept all of them, looking through each item at night. He touched them, handled them, knowing it had come from Heero's hands. Duo knew his heart was on its way to being Heero's yet there was nothing he could do about it. Unfortunately, a very stubborn part of his mind refused to believe he, the exalted Lead Healer for the Western Shifters couldn't resist one Heero Yuy before he was Duo Maxwell's downfall.

Choose a mate with you.

Heero was rooted to the spot, too shocked to form coherent thoughts and blurted the first thing that came to his mind. "You're my mate, I don't need another," before stalking off. He blush a deep crimson when he realised what he just said.

Despite the fact that they didn't stay together, Heero was ever aware of Duo's presence. A glimpse of his ridiculous braid or the sparkling violet of his eyes. He was always at the edge of Heero's awareness. The tribe chief didn't understand it, but it felt painful not seeing Duo and the ache eased abruptly when the annoying idiot came blabbering something or other. He remembered the conversation with Wufei a few weeks ago where the dark eyed Shifter had accused him of being in love with the braided idiot. He was obviously wrong and this was just a passing fancy. It would pass.

"I think you are attracted to him," Trowa said, in that deep silent tone of his.

Heero jumped.

"He has gotten you so distracted that you don't even hear me? I'm changing my observation, I think you are in love with him," Trowa said, dryly.

"I have no experience with that emotion nor will I ever experience it." Heero brushed it off, his eyes scanning the Forest for the werebeasts that was supposed to be there, hiding.

"You heart clenches when you think about him, your stomach twists when he smiles at you. When he touches you, you feel like you have died and gone to heaven. You are not truly alive until you see him in the morning," Trowa rattled off.

Heero blinked, his mind stopped working a while ago. Could Trowa be right? Could he be in love? It was too short a time for that. The long haired freak was at this tribe for only a short time.

"I fell in love with Quatre within minutes of meeting him. There is no long or short about it, Heero."

Did he just say it out loud?

Trowa laughed. "Yes, you did, twice now." His voice turned serious. "Heero, I have never seen you attracted to anyone like this and I think you should seriously consider what Duo is to you. Don't let him get away."

Heero turned to study the long haired Shifter he just walked away from. Duo looked good, as he stood relaxed speaking to Wufei about something. What was he feeling every time he stared at Duo? This nervousness? This sense of completeness. Was it what Trowa said? Was it really love?

XXxxXX

"Stop toying with him, Duo," Wufei warned. "He's a good friend and I don't like him being teased like that."

"You like him, don't you?" Duo asked, eyes wide.

Wufei blushed. "That was a long time ago. We decided it was not to be," he said, gruffly.

"I'm not teasing him, Wufei," Duo said quietly, his booted feet, scuffing the dirt beneath his shoes. "I think I may be falling for him, but that can't happen."

"Why not?" Wufei asked, confused.

Duo trained his eyes on the ground. "It just can't."

Wufei snorted softly. "I don't think you may be falling for him, you are have." At Duo's shocked look, he forged on. "I've seen the way you look at him, that dreamy eyed nonsense."

"I… I need more proof."

"From yourself?" Wufei was incredulous.

"How am I to know if this is not just some dumb infatuation?" Duo reasoned.

Wufei appeared deep in thought. "Well, I have heard that if you are willing to die for someone, that usually means you are in love."

Duo barked a short laugh. "That usually means you are insane. Nothing is more precious than life," he stated with his Healer's conviction. He would never trade a life like this, it was just too much insult to the Ancient.

"Werebeast attack!" Came a cry and every Shifter went into defensive mode.

The creatures were coming out of the shadows in dozens, their ruby red eyes flashing and their sharp fangs flashing. In their hands were clutched long deadly spears. The battle began in earnest around Duo, who gripped his own weapon indecisively. He couldn't kill. He musn't.

"Damn it, Duo," Wufei called out, his Shifted hands of claws ripping the heart out of one of the attacking creatures. "Snap out of it."

Out of the corner of Duo's eye he saw Heero backed into a corner, fending off two of them and a third crept from behind, weapon poised intent on killing.

"No," he cried. "Heero! Look out!" And Duo ran, faster than he had ever done in his life to Heero, to someone he never wanted to see hurt, ever. The werebeast threw the spear and time slowed. Duo felt himself skitter to a stop behind Heero's unprotected back just as the spear found its mark, in Duo chest.

He fell to the ground in an agonised cry, clutching at the bleeding wound, his last thought was, 'I'm willing to die for him', before the Forest faded to darkness.

tbc…