The Smallest Pilot
Chapter 1
The computer system clicked on when Duo was close enough to jet his way down to the Earth. He knew his objectives, and that to accomplish such a task, he'd have to meet up with someone who knew their suits. 'Let us just hope this Howard guy can help me, like the Doc said.', Duo thought to himself.
Once he landed Duo hid his gundam in a safe place, along with the supplies and stuff he'd need. Now he was a teenager, about the size of a person's thumb, and ready to try his best at completing what he needed to. "Now, where to start?", Duo wondered aloud, "I know I should use this hologram thing that he gave me to look normal size, but, nah, no one's around, I can stay like this.",
So, he headed off, it was a long while before he even reached the nearest town, in which, Duo helped a man who had lost his kid, Duo, being able to see over the rest of the crowd, managed to spot the kid crying by a bench, hence, he got a night's stay, and meal, and even a map, and ride back to the hidden gundam. When he seen that the hardest hit place was a seaside town near which the Dorlins lived, Duo decided to go there, so, he packed up his gear, and flew out in the dead of night, making it there by morning. That's when Howard found him, just as he was getting ready to hide his mobile suit. "Well, looks like I finally found you.", Duo said, laughing, "Or, is it the other way around?",
"It doesn't matter, I have a boat not far from here, which can hide that no problem, Duo.", Howard replied, "And shouldn't your hologram be on?",
"Nah, no one's around to see me.", Duo sighed.
"Well, let us get going, before the sun fully rises, okay?", Howard said.
"Right.", Duo agreed.
So, Duo stayed with Howard a while, hitting a few Oz bases while he was at it, but the best day came when he found the other Gundam, and decided to take it for extra parts. However, it was near that time Duo worked the best at, near nightfall, that a young, messy haired boy came to ruin his chances. Luckily, this time Duo had decided to actually bring that silly hologram projector with him. Duo shot at the man, wounding his left shoulder. (A few things about the gun, it had bullets that opened up, using claw like things to cause injury.) However, the lady that was with him decided to look up just as the gundams surfaced. Knowing he had to distract her, Duo held up a flare, and, using the hologram projector, projected his own image. "Now, that's som'thing you do not need to be seeing, Lady.", Duo chided.
Upon which, the other man launched missiles re- sinking the two. Duo growled inwardly before running to see if the guy was even still alive. Luckily, he was, with a broken leg, no less. The woman had fled to get help, apparently, and luckily, Howard came just in time to take him to the boat, and help get the two gundams out of the watery depths that they lay.
....
Duo sat, without his projection at all as the man lay, knocked out in bed, who'd that lady call him? Heero wasn't it? Duo sighed, as he watched the guy laying on the bed out. "Gross nails, nasty hair, with split ends....", Duo muttered to himself.
"If you need anything, Duo, just ask, kay?", Howard said, before leaving.
The guy groaned a bit, his head rolling to the side. It took a while, but his eyes eventually fluttered open....
....
Heero looked to his side, there, standing not even two feet from his nose was a tiny man. Having never seen such a thing, Heero tried to sit up quickly, bumping his head on the headboard. "Glad to see you awake, and well.", he joked.
"If hallucinating is your idea of well, then I guess so.", Heero replied.
"You're not, yes, I am really this small....", he waved, "I'm Duo Maxwell, and you, I presume are Heero?",
"Yes, what are you an inch?", Heero asked.
"Actually three and a half.", Duo corrected.
"Okay, then, why when I seen you earlier were you normal height?", Heero asked.
"Hologram.", Duo said.
"Why a hologram?", Heero asked.
"Honestly, do you think it'd be pleasant to be mistaken for a mouse by some girl, only to get stepped to death, I don't think so.", Duo explained.
"I see your point.", Heero flatly said.
"Well, supper's ready if you're interested.", Duo replied, "All you have to do is head to the lower deck of the ship, and it's there.",
"How are you going to get there?", Heero asked.
"I have my ways, mostly involves the system of ropes, and chains in this ship.", Duo said, "It'll take a good half a hour, but, it's like a daily workout.",
Heero shrugged, before leaving the room.
....
Duo was right, it did take about a half a hour for him to show up. Heero watched as he climbed up a chair leg and unto a chair, before climbing unto the arm of it, and then, using the table cloth to make it to the top of the table. "Here, Duo, eat up.", Howard said, sitting a plate of what looked almost like large crumbs to Heero.
"Thanks, Howard.", Duo grinned, before picking up the tiny spoon, and tiny fork, and digging into it, "This is good.",
"So.... Does he really pilot that gundam?", Heero asked Howard.
"I said I did earlier, and you didn't believe me!", Duo blurted.
"Yes, he does, Heero, though, I doubt anyone else could fit in it's cockpit except him.", Howard explained, "The thing was just finishing construction when Duo arrived, they caught him in a mouse trap, back then, about three quaters the size of your thumb, but for being so small he's got a large amount of courage. Not to mention a big heart.",
"See? I told you I did.", Duo smiled smugly, "And tomorrow, we fix up our gundams from their watery injuries!",
Heero didn't pay mind to Duo at all instead, he turned towards Howard. "Do any of you have anyone back home?", Heero asked.
"Me, nah, and Duo, he doesn't either.", Howard said, "What about you, have a girl, or a guy you like back home?",
"No, I have gone ahead and had it with people, but, I do wish I had at least one special person to love.", Heero said.
"At least you can have sex!", Duo all of a sudden burst out, "I can't even have that.",
"Duo... You know he di-", Howard started.
"I'm not hungry anymore, I think I'll go for a very long walk....", Duo said, in a dangerously hushed tone of voice.
"Let me he-", Howard once again tried.
"I don't need any help, thank- you, I'm not helpless.", Duo snapped up at him, then, proceeded to leave.
As soon as Duo was gone, Heero couldn't help but ask. "What was that all about, Howard?", Heero wondered.
"Well, you see, Heero. Duo's been a live for fifteen years already, and he's helped a lot of people....", Howard spoke, "But, no one seems to understand that the only thing he wants is for someone to fully, truly love him, however, all most want is a sex partner, and you absolutely know Duo can't fulfill that role.",
"I see... So, he thinks he'll never find anyone who truly loves him enough to deal with the fact they'll never be pleased with physical sex.", Heero said.
"That's the whole point, most look for that pleasure, and Duo can't have it.", Howard muttered, "He's really touchy on that subject fort those reasons.",
"Poor, Duo.", Heero said, quietly.
"If you're finished I'll go ahead and show you to your room.", Howard offered.
"Thanks, that would be helpful.", Heero said.
So, Howard lead Heero up a couple of stairs, and into a room. Heero entered, he noted that it had a bed, and dresser. Heero settled in as Howard gave one rule to staying in that room. "Leave the bottom dresser drawer alone, that's where Duo sleeps.", Howard explained.
"Right.", Heero responded.
Heero took a nice, hot shower, then, read a little of a book he'd been into lately, before laying down to sleep by ten fifteen.
....
It was late at night when Heero heard the sounds of someone kicking at something, and soft, barely audible sounds of crying. "Duo?", Heero asked, "What is it?",
"This st-stupid drawer won't open.", Duo muttered, "It wo- Damn it, damn it!", Duo cussed.
"Here.", Heero said opening it for him, "Now, is that better?",
Duo just nodded sniffling a bit, "It's just that I- I'm useless...",
"You're not, you can pilot a gundam, you can all lot of other things too. It's just that people judge you by the way you look..", Heero explained, setting Duo inside the drawer, "They never get to know you for who you are.",
"Thank- you, Heero...", Duo whispered.
"Good night, Duo, see you tomorrow.", Heero said, quietly.
End Chapter
