Chapter 3- Hurt; Past and Present
"What are you doing?" Heero interrogated.
"I'm going to go get Gilly." Duo said slipping his gun into his pocket as he turned to Heero.
"You're not serious."
"Of course I am."
"You're not taking," He motioned to the huge black Gundam behind him, "D...?"
"Deathscythe?" Duo asked walking to the edge of the ship.
"What reason have you to take it?"
"Gilly..."
"The girl?"
"Gilly. She's been given' the evil eye by some of the locals." Duo joked.
"You're just encouraging her to get involved."
"I'm rescuing her butt. She'll leave this battle. What more can she do? She's a girl, what can you expect?"
Duo hoped for the response of, "not much" but he got no such luck from Heero.
"Uh-huh." He said accusingly, "Well, I've got to stop by her room."
"Why?"
"To get the gun she has hidden under her mattress. If I'm correct, she'll either want or need it, or both."
"Gun?"
"Why not? This is a dangerous world. And after what she's seen and been through? Of course she's going to have a gun hidden somewhere in her room."
"Interesting logic."
"Well," Duo smiled, "I am quite the smart ass. I'll see you later." He walked off.
* * * * *
Gilly sat on the bench just inside the building. She sat there in pain and lament over the evening's events. Why had she cried? She hadn't before. Why, now? She contemplated it over and over again. Time passed quickly and it was late. She saw someone walk up to her and tap her on the shoulder, but just out of the corner of her eye.
"Hey there, cutie." She heard Duo say.
"Duo?" She asked, drained.
"Hey," He sat next to her, "what's wrong?"
"My heart hurts." She pointed to her chest.
"What happened?" He asked.
"I just want to go home."
Duo reached for Gilly's hands and held them in his own, "Than," He pulled her up, "that is where I shall take you."
Gilly walked along side him at his right and he put his right arm around her shoulders. The two walked out of the building and around it. Gilly took no notice that they weren't heading towards the parking lot. Than, they were stopped from behind.
"You may have convinced Mr. Trieze, girl, but you didn't fool me." Lady Une called from 50 yards away.
"Crap." Duo muttered under his breath.
"Arrest her." She ordered, "And you, what's your part in her scheme? An accomplice?"
"Nooo..." Duo retorted.
"Surrender!"
"Never!" Duo yelled triumphantly.
Gilly saw one of the soldiers pull the trigger on his gun, as the moon hit them just right. She immediately took action and shoved Duo behind a tree. She heard the bang after she felt the bullet graze her left thigh. She fell on him with a thud.
"Crap," Duo protested, "Gilly, are you alright?" He pulled her to his chest.
"Yeah." Gilly managed through the pain of the wound.
"You idiot!" He snarled at her.
"Sorry," Gilly sighed, "I had no other choice. You would've been killed."
"I'm going for Deathscythe," He told her, "We're gonna need him."
"Deathscythe?"
"You'll see." He reached in his pocket and pulled something shiny out, "This is for you." He handed her, her gun, "In case you need it, I'll be right back."
He ran off without another word. Gilly watched him go as she lay against the tree, starring at the gun in her hand. She half closed her eyes, she was tired, but she mustn't fall asleep, for it could be fatal.
She watched the soldier walk up to her. She moaned a little, hid her gun, and opened her eyes.
"Gotcha!" He said, pulling his gun, "Are you alright, miss?" He was noticing her wound.
He bent down to see if he could help, and Gilly gave an evil smile as she pulled out her gun from behind her.
"What the?" The soldier cried as Gilly pulled the trigger.
He dropped to the ground and Gilly uttered an apology, before half standing. She leaned against the tree and waited. A black shape came closer and closer to her. It was Gundam 02.
So, this is Gundam 02. She thought, "Deathscythe." She whispered.
It bent down and the cockpit opened, revealing Duo. He climbed down to where Gilly leaned. He put his left arm around her waist, and helped her into the cockpit.
Duo sat in the seat, and Gilly sat on the right side of his lap. He closed the door and prepared for flight.
"All systems go." Duo said as he flipped a switch, "Now, just relax." He told Gilly.
Gilly rested her head on Duo's shoulder and again she half closed her eyes. Duo smiled at her as Deathscythe took off. Gilly felt faint, she was losing way too much blood.
When they landed, Duo helped Gilly down from the cockpit. Gilly didn't notice that there was a big red mark on Duo's left leg where she had leaned up against him.
"How's your leg?" He asked seeing the pain in her eyes.
"It's fine." She replied weakly.
"No, I mean really, how's your leg?" He repeated as they began walking.
"It hurts a lot," She admitted, "but I'll be okay. I just have to clean and bandage it."
"Will you need help?"
"No, I think I can handle it."
"Okay."
"Just help me to my room."
"No prob." He smiled, "I'm going to transfer to Centennial Jr. High in Troveta, it's best to move around. Heero's going, too. If you want I can arrange so that you come, as well."
"Would you?"
"Sure." He assured her. A lull than fell onto the conversation. It was Duo who again broke the silence. "You know," He smiled, "I shot Heero twice, once." "Really?" Gilly asked in surprise.
"Yeah, he got a broken knee. He than set the bone on his own. Grossed me out."
Gilly laughed aloud. She suddenly noticed Duo's leg.
"Oh, crap!" She frowned, "I seem to have gotten blood on your leg."
"It's alright. It'll wash right out."
Gilly attempted to limp down the path, towards the school. When she nearly fell over, Duo came up behind her and offered his shoulder. Gilly gratefully accepted it.
"You'll leave tomorrow for Troveta."
"So soon?"
"Yeah, than I'll leave the day after and Heero will go whenever, if at all."
"I couldn't care less about Heero."
"It's better if we all got at different times."
"Does Centennial have uniforms?"
"Yeah, unfortunately."
"Damn!"
Duo chuckled as he led Gilly under a fallen log.
"It's a private school, but the dorms are coed, so our rooms will be right next to each other." He smiled mischievously, "And, they'll be suites."
Gilly waited before she spoke again, "Duo, why are you staying with me?" She asked shyly.
"You need me."
"What?"
"You heard me, you need me."
"Seriously." She pressed.
"Allies are always nice to have in times of war."
"I though Heero didn't want me to get involved."
"He doesn't, but why should that matter?"
"Do you?"
"No, but it doesn't seem like you're going to leave me alone."
Gilly blushed, "What gave you that idea?"
He only looked at her.
"Is it because I'm of use to you?"
"Well, that's one reason."
"There's more?"
"You're a pleasant person. Plus, the stolen data isn't the only reason OZ was after you."
"There's another." She asked dumbly even though she knew.
"I don't know what it is, but there is another."
"Oh."
"Do you know?"
She shook her head.
"Who're the other Gundam pilots?" She asked abruptly.
"I have a feeling you'll meet them eventually, and I'll introduce you then."
"You're not the only one with secrets." She blurted.
"Huh?"
"You heard me." They cam upon the building.
"Gilly, will you tell me?'
"One of these days, but it's just not all that important now."
"And if it is?"
"It's not. And when it is, you'll be the first to know." She let go of his shoulder and limped over to the girl's dorm.
She turned back to Duo; "I'm going to leave as soon as I can tomorrow. So, if I don't see you before I go, good bye."
"No," He grabbed her arm and pulled her to his chest, "not good bye. I'll see you soon, that's all."
"Right." Gilly stammered, "Later."
"Good." Duo kissed her gently on the cheek and than let her go.
Gilly walked towards the building, glancing over her shoulder every few steps. Duo just stood there, waiting for her to get in. She got into the building and took one last glance over her shoulder and he was still there. She smiled and limped up the stairs.
She made it to her room and wanted to fall asleep, but she had to tend to herself. Her body and mind yearned for her attention, but her body had to come first, or she'd die.
She shoved her gun under her pillow and began to undress. She grabbed a big white bath towel and wrapped its warmth and fuzziness around her, than she sat down to tend to her wound. It was red as an apple and blood caked around the edges.
She walked into the bathroom, flung the towel on the ground, and jumped into the shower. She scrubbed the Hell out of her thigh and the rest of her body. It stung to clean it, but it also felt good. She came out of the shower and dried her hair off as best she could.
When Gilly sat down on her bed to bandage the wound, it bled, but the blood was weak and Gilly felt very faint. She quickly cleaned it off again and bandaged it as fast as possible. After she was done she finished drying her hair. She looked at her jeans and sighed at the big hole in the left thigh. She had other pairs of jeans, but these were her favorite. She'd have to fix them later, but now she had to wash them and the rest of her clothes.
She put her dirty clothes in a basket and slipped into her robe. She walked down to the laundry area and began to wash her clothes. She sat next to the washer and listened to the hum. It peacefully lulled her to sleep. When her first load was over she awoke, and juggled everything around, and didn't even notice Lt. Troit standing behind her.
Gilly turned around and there Sienna stood. Gilly gasped and dropped the bra she held.
"Are you alright?" Sienna asked.
"What happened back there?" Gilly replied.
"Lady Une lost it. She wanted to prove to Trieze that she was right, but she went about it all the wrong way. She was called back to Trieze and he reprimanded her. He sent me to come see if you were alright, considering Lady Une caused you some physical and mental pain."
"I'm fine, except for my thigh."
"Thigh?"
"Yeah, I was shot."
"Did you know that the soldier who shot you was the one who turned up dead?"
"I shot the one who shot me?"
"You shot him?"
"I guess."
"Well, I wish you the very best of luck with your life."
"Thank you. And you do the same."
And she was gone. She finished loading her laundry, ran two more washes and fell asleep again while the last load was in the dryer. When she woke up, she could see the dawn breaking through the window. She quickly gathered her laundry and walked as fast as she could back to her room. She flung the basket on a chair and flopped into bed, she was incredibly tired.
* * * * *
"Buzz!" Went Duo's alarm.
"Oh, man," He mumbled, "7 already? I didn't get any sleep at all last night. I should be used to this by now, but NO I'm a Gundam pilot. Oh well, this was my choice." He complained as he climbed out of bed, "I wonder how Gilly's doin'. I hope she's not dead." He slipped into his uniform and prepared for his last day here.
* * * * *
Gilly awoke at 10, she got up slowly, working the tension out of her thigh, and finished packing. She would leave at noon, and she had to make sure her luggage was secure on her crotch rocket. She slipped into her darkest blue jeans and a black button-up top. She put on her shoes and put on her jacket. Her thigh throbbed, but she could almost walk. She looked in her mirror.
"I look like last nigh never happened," She told her reflection, "too bad I don't feel that way." She carefully walked over to her computer and neatly put it in its bag. She than picked her bags up, room-key, and uniform and walked out the door.
Down at the office Gilly turned in her key and uniform. She than walked outside and to the parking lot. She walked up to her motorcycle and carefully loaded her bags onto it. She starred at the school building long and hard. She would see Duo again tomorrow, but she was feeling lonely.
She hopped onto her bike and rode off. She had to drive about 60 miles to Troveta, it would take her an hour to get there, and her appointment for introduction was at 1:30.
She drove and kept her eye on the scenery. She enjoyed looking at the beauty of nature, for it made her feel free. Her helmet held her hair down, but what stuck out still blew around wildly. She felt wonderful in the breeze. Half an hour into her ride, she felt a synapse pulse. She felt her hands move the steering and she turned down a dirt road leading to who knows where. Finally she gathered her wits and stopped. She turned around and went back the way she'd come. She continued down the main road, and another half an hour later she arrived in Troveta.
"What are you doing?" Heero interrogated.
"I'm going to go get Gilly." Duo said slipping his gun into his pocket as he turned to Heero.
"You're not serious."
"Of course I am."
"You're not taking," He motioned to the huge black Gundam behind him, "D...?"
"Deathscythe?" Duo asked walking to the edge of the ship.
"What reason have you to take it?"
"Gilly..."
"The girl?"
"Gilly. She's been given' the evil eye by some of the locals." Duo joked.
"You're just encouraging her to get involved."
"I'm rescuing her butt. She'll leave this battle. What more can she do? She's a girl, what can you expect?"
Duo hoped for the response of, "not much" but he got no such luck from Heero.
"Uh-huh." He said accusingly, "Well, I've got to stop by her room."
"Why?"
"To get the gun she has hidden under her mattress. If I'm correct, she'll either want or need it, or both."
"Gun?"
"Why not? This is a dangerous world. And after what she's seen and been through? Of course she's going to have a gun hidden somewhere in her room."
"Interesting logic."
"Well," Duo smiled, "I am quite the smart ass. I'll see you later." He walked off.
* * * * *
Gilly sat on the bench just inside the building. She sat there in pain and lament over the evening's events. Why had she cried? She hadn't before. Why, now? She contemplated it over and over again. Time passed quickly and it was late. She saw someone walk up to her and tap her on the shoulder, but just out of the corner of her eye.
"Hey there, cutie." She heard Duo say.
"Duo?" She asked, drained.
"Hey," He sat next to her, "what's wrong?"
"My heart hurts." She pointed to her chest.
"What happened?" He asked.
"I just want to go home."
Duo reached for Gilly's hands and held them in his own, "Than," He pulled her up, "that is where I shall take you."
Gilly walked along side him at his right and he put his right arm around her shoulders. The two walked out of the building and around it. Gilly took no notice that they weren't heading towards the parking lot. Than, they were stopped from behind.
"You may have convinced Mr. Trieze, girl, but you didn't fool me." Lady Une called from 50 yards away.
"Crap." Duo muttered under his breath.
"Arrest her." She ordered, "And you, what's your part in her scheme? An accomplice?"
"Nooo..." Duo retorted.
"Surrender!"
"Never!" Duo yelled triumphantly.
Gilly saw one of the soldiers pull the trigger on his gun, as the moon hit them just right. She immediately took action and shoved Duo behind a tree. She heard the bang after she felt the bullet graze her left thigh. She fell on him with a thud.
"Crap," Duo protested, "Gilly, are you alright?" He pulled her to his chest.
"Yeah." Gilly managed through the pain of the wound.
"You idiot!" He snarled at her.
"Sorry," Gilly sighed, "I had no other choice. You would've been killed."
"I'm going for Deathscythe," He told her, "We're gonna need him."
"Deathscythe?"
"You'll see." He reached in his pocket and pulled something shiny out, "This is for you." He handed her, her gun, "In case you need it, I'll be right back."
He ran off without another word. Gilly watched him go as she lay against the tree, starring at the gun in her hand. She half closed her eyes, she was tired, but she mustn't fall asleep, for it could be fatal.
She watched the soldier walk up to her. She moaned a little, hid her gun, and opened her eyes.
"Gotcha!" He said, pulling his gun, "Are you alright, miss?" He was noticing her wound.
He bent down to see if he could help, and Gilly gave an evil smile as she pulled out her gun from behind her.
"What the?" The soldier cried as Gilly pulled the trigger.
He dropped to the ground and Gilly uttered an apology, before half standing. She leaned against the tree and waited. A black shape came closer and closer to her. It was Gundam 02.
So, this is Gundam 02. She thought, "Deathscythe." She whispered.
It bent down and the cockpit opened, revealing Duo. He climbed down to where Gilly leaned. He put his left arm around her waist, and helped her into the cockpit.
Duo sat in the seat, and Gilly sat on the right side of his lap. He closed the door and prepared for flight.
"All systems go." Duo said as he flipped a switch, "Now, just relax." He told Gilly.
Gilly rested her head on Duo's shoulder and again she half closed her eyes. Duo smiled at her as Deathscythe took off. Gilly felt faint, she was losing way too much blood.
When they landed, Duo helped Gilly down from the cockpit. Gilly didn't notice that there was a big red mark on Duo's left leg where she had leaned up against him.
"How's your leg?" He asked seeing the pain in her eyes.
"It's fine." She replied weakly.
"No, I mean really, how's your leg?" He repeated as they began walking.
"It hurts a lot," She admitted, "but I'll be okay. I just have to clean and bandage it."
"Will you need help?"
"No, I think I can handle it."
"Okay."
"Just help me to my room."
"No prob." He smiled, "I'm going to transfer to Centennial Jr. High in Troveta, it's best to move around. Heero's going, too. If you want I can arrange so that you come, as well."
"Would you?"
"Sure." He assured her. A lull than fell onto the conversation. It was Duo who again broke the silence. "You know," He smiled, "I shot Heero twice, once." "Really?" Gilly asked in surprise.
"Yeah, he got a broken knee. He than set the bone on his own. Grossed me out."
Gilly laughed aloud. She suddenly noticed Duo's leg.
"Oh, crap!" She frowned, "I seem to have gotten blood on your leg."
"It's alright. It'll wash right out."
Gilly attempted to limp down the path, towards the school. When she nearly fell over, Duo came up behind her and offered his shoulder. Gilly gratefully accepted it.
"You'll leave tomorrow for Troveta."
"So soon?"
"Yeah, than I'll leave the day after and Heero will go whenever, if at all."
"I couldn't care less about Heero."
"It's better if we all got at different times."
"Does Centennial have uniforms?"
"Yeah, unfortunately."
"Damn!"
Duo chuckled as he led Gilly under a fallen log.
"It's a private school, but the dorms are coed, so our rooms will be right next to each other." He smiled mischievously, "And, they'll be suites."
Gilly waited before she spoke again, "Duo, why are you staying with me?" She asked shyly.
"You need me."
"What?"
"You heard me, you need me."
"Seriously." She pressed.
"Allies are always nice to have in times of war."
"I though Heero didn't want me to get involved."
"He doesn't, but why should that matter?"
"Do you?"
"No, but it doesn't seem like you're going to leave me alone."
Gilly blushed, "What gave you that idea?"
He only looked at her.
"Is it because I'm of use to you?"
"Well, that's one reason."
"There's more?"
"You're a pleasant person. Plus, the stolen data isn't the only reason OZ was after you."
"There's another." She asked dumbly even though she knew.
"I don't know what it is, but there is another."
"Oh."
"Do you know?"
She shook her head.
"Who're the other Gundam pilots?" She asked abruptly.
"I have a feeling you'll meet them eventually, and I'll introduce you then."
"You're not the only one with secrets." She blurted.
"Huh?"
"You heard me." They cam upon the building.
"Gilly, will you tell me?'
"One of these days, but it's just not all that important now."
"And if it is?"
"It's not. And when it is, you'll be the first to know." She let go of his shoulder and limped over to the girl's dorm.
She turned back to Duo; "I'm going to leave as soon as I can tomorrow. So, if I don't see you before I go, good bye."
"No," He grabbed her arm and pulled her to his chest, "not good bye. I'll see you soon, that's all."
"Right." Gilly stammered, "Later."
"Good." Duo kissed her gently on the cheek and than let her go.
Gilly walked towards the building, glancing over her shoulder every few steps. Duo just stood there, waiting for her to get in. She got into the building and took one last glance over her shoulder and he was still there. She smiled and limped up the stairs.
She made it to her room and wanted to fall asleep, but she had to tend to herself. Her body and mind yearned for her attention, but her body had to come first, or she'd die.
She shoved her gun under her pillow and began to undress. She grabbed a big white bath towel and wrapped its warmth and fuzziness around her, than she sat down to tend to her wound. It was red as an apple and blood caked around the edges.
She walked into the bathroom, flung the towel on the ground, and jumped into the shower. She scrubbed the Hell out of her thigh and the rest of her body. It stung to clean it, but it also felt good. She came out of the shower and dried her hair off as best she could.
When Gilly sat down on her bed to bandage the wound, it bled, but the blood was weak and Gilly felt very faint. She quickly cleaned it off again and bandaged it as fast as possible. After she was done she finished drying her hair. She looked at her jeans and sighed at the big hole in the left thigh. She had other pairs of jeans, but these were her favorite. She'd have to fix them later, but now she had to wash them and the rest of her clothes.
She put her dirty clothes in a basket and slipped into her robe. She walked down to the laundry area and began to wash her clothes. She sat next to the washer and listened to the hum. It peacefully lulled her to sleep. When her first load was over she awoke, and juggled everything around, and didn't even notice Lt. Troit standing behind her.
Gilly turned around and there Sienna stood. Gilly gasped and dropped the bra she held.
"Are you alright?" Sienna asked.
"What happened back there?" Gilly replied.
"Lady Une lost it. She wanted to prove to Trieze that she was right, but she went about it all the wrong way. She was called back to Trieze and he reprimanded her. He sent me to come see if you were alright, considering Lady Une caused you some physical and mental pain."
"I'm fine, except for my thigh."
"Thigh?"
"Yeah, I was shot."
"Did you know that the soldier who shot you was the one who turned up dead?"
"I shot the one who shot me?"
"You shot him?"
"I guess."
"Well, I wish you the very best of luck with your life."
"Thank you. And you do the same."
And she was gone. She finished loading her laundry, ran two more washes and fell asleep again while the last load was in the dryer. When she woke up, she could see the dawn breaking through the window. She quickly gathered her laundry and walked as fast as she could back to her room. She flung the basket on a chair and flopped into bed, she was incredibly tired.
* * * * *
"Buzz!" Went Duo's alarm.
"Oh, man," He mumbled, "7 already? I didn't get any sleep at all last night. I should be used to this by now, but NO I'm a Gundam pilot. Oh well, this was my choice." He complained as he climbed out of bed, "I wonder how Gilly's doin'. I hope she's not dead." He slipped into his uniform and prepared for his last day here.
* * * * *
Gilly awoke at 10, she got up slowly, working the tension out of her thigh, and finished packing. She would leave at noon, and she had to make sure her luggage was secure on her crotch rocket. She slipped into her darkest blue jeans and a black button-up top. She put on her shoes and put on her jacket. Her thigh throbbed, but she could almost walk. She looked in her mirror.
"I look like last nigh never happened," She told her reflection, "too bad I don't feel that way." She carefully walked over to her computer and neatly put it in its bag. She than picked her bags up, room-key, and uniform and walked out the door.
Down at the office Gilly turned in her key and uniform. She than walked outside and to the parking lot. She walked up to her motorcycle and carefully loaded her bags onto it. She starred at the school building long and hard. She would see Duo again tomorrow, but she was feeling lonely.
She hopped onto her bike and rode off. She had to drive about 60 miles to Troveta, it would take her an hour to get there, and her appointment for introduction was at 1:30.
She drove and kept her eye on the scenery. She enjoyed looking at the beauty of nature, for it made her feel free. Her helmet held her hair down, but what stuck out still blew around wildly. She felt wonderful in the breeze. Half an hour into her ride, she felt a synapse pulse. She felt her hands move the steering and she turned down a dirt road leading to who knows where. Finally she gathered her wits and stopped. She turned around and went back the way she'd come. She continued down the main road, and another half an hour later she arrived in Troveta.