A/N: Okay, in answer to a question I've had asked many times, SATAN is the God of Death. Duo is not, he says he is in the series. But that's just 'cause everyone he loves dies, right? Anyway, this is an AU, this is not based on Duo the pilot's life. This is Duo the Fallen Angel. He can't be the God of Death because he is an ANGEL. Have I cleared it up now? Good. I also used yet another word in the wrong context. Thank you UnKnown for your advice...(Sweatdrop.) On another note, there is a reason that Quatre and Trowa have been out of action lately. Yes I know, I love them as much as the next fangirl, but I can't bring in them or Wufei until chapter 10. Sorry. Okay, now, you may all very well hate me for this chapter. And I do expect flames, but give me a chance okay? Like I said before, don't judge a book by its cover. Or in this case, a fanfic by a single chapter. All will be cleared up in chapter 10, so don't dispair. And like chapter 8, you'll understand what the hell I'm on about once you've read this. This is like signing my own death contract...
See previous chapters 1-6 for disclaimer an warnings.
Misjudged Fates
Chapter 9 By Forgetful (l)
" Father."
The giant blue candle turned to face Heero. Duo could only watch wide-eyed as the flames consumed his lover, and his heart sank when he realised he couldn't move.
Heero saw the flames surround him, but didn't feel anything like heat or the biting cold when he'd been slapped by a hand coated in them. Instead it became unnaturally quiet and only a slight chill flew on the breeze. Everything outside the flames was frozen, as though he was looking at a blue-tinted painting. He decided he despised the colour blue.
" You have committed unforgivable deeds." Satans voice echoed strangely, Heero just looked at his shoes." I now don't know what to do with you. You must reform yourself, if you do that I suppose you might be brought back into respectable society. Given a second chance, so to speak. Though I do need a suitable punishment." He sighed. This Satan sounded a lot more like a Father dealing with his misbehaved son than the one that had greeted Heero the other night. The one that had him locked up and whipped and...He still wouldn't even entertain the idea of thinking about the other things. "Heero, what happened? You were doing so wonderfully. You were on your way to being a great ruler, and I didn't feel the need to worry about the state of my kingdom once I died. I just, oh I don't know." He shook his head. Heero saw the dissapointment in his eyes, and would have felt bad, only he'd done nothing wrong. He'd been wronged by the man in front of him, and now he was trying to send him on a guilt trip? That just wasn't going to happen.
" You gave permission for Arai to rape me." He stated coldly. Satan's head shot up, and there was fire in his eyes. (An expression, the blue flames hadn't caught onto his hair or anything, however funny that may have been.) But he didn't look like he regretted the action.
" No. I gave him permission to help you..."
" No! Rape and help are two very different words!" Heero screamed." You cannot compare them, they are to seperate! You, you're my Father. At least that's what I've been told you are, you raised me, you played with me, you taught me. You were still willing for that to happen? You wanted and ordered that to happen?" Heero felt the tears streaming down his face, but didn't care. He wanted answers, he wanted to know what had happened to the father from so many years ago that he wouldn't hesitate to admit he loved.
" Heero, you needed to learn..." Satan said sadly.
" Learn what exactly? What could I learn from an act like that?"
" At least hear me out." Satan asked firmly, looking at Heero sternly with the peircing blue eyes the two shared. Heero clenched his jaw and prepared to listen. It would have to be one hell of an excuse.
o.O
Duo's head was spinning. He hadn't heard the beginning of the conversation, but he could hear well enough now, with both of the royals' voices raised. He'd heard...What had he heard? He'd heard that Heero, his Heero, had been raped? No, that couldn't be true. He was to strong, he hadn't shown anything, not even a sad expression. In fact, he'd smiled at him, told him he love him. That wasn't the act of a victim of rape. But now, now Heero was crying and screaming. He was desperately arguing for answers. He was betrayed, in this state Duo could beleive it. He starined against his restraints, whatever they were, but they were to strong. He continued anyway until there was a lull in the shouting, and suddenly fell foreward on his front. Something must have been distracting Satan a great deal for him to pull his magic back. Only now he couldn't hear what it was, the voices were back at a reasonable level, a level which Duo couldn't hear.
" Heero?" He yelled at the couple. Neither seemed to hear him, or if they did they didn't care. Heero was still crying. It broke Duo's heart, and he decided he had to get to him. Comfort him. Protect him from the evil bastard known as God of the Underworld. He reached foreward and touched the flickering fire. It was unbearably cold, so freezing it numbed his finger, he didn't think he could survive if he went into there with Heero. He was stuck.
o.O
" You can't be how you are. You need an heir. You can't love an angel, you have to rule the underworld and you have to be ready for that role. You mustn't be distracted by thoughts of an unrequieted love." Heero scowled, so far the excuse wasn't good enough." You have to keep Hell safe. It would crumble without a ruler. The angels would come in and destroy everything without mercy, they would take Hell for their own. You have to rule." Heero considered all his Father was saying. He wouldn't let the people of Hell die, if it came to that, but there was a compramise.
" Why can't I rule with Duo by my side?" In an instant all traces of the calm, reasonable Satan were gone. That ledgendary, inconvineant wind started up, whipping Heero's hair into his face. Great, it was going to be another 'just escaped death by chair' episode.
o.O
Duo saw the wind start up, the fire had a deep, bloody red burning at the bottom of the blue. Something was gravely wrong, and he had to get Heero out now. He touched the flames again, still ice cold. If not, more so. But a little temperature change wasn't going to stop Duo this time. He stuck his whole arm in and the rest of him followed. Yes, it was cold. Duo was shivering as soon as he got in. It was to cold to open his eyes, the moisture in them felt as though it would freeze over, plus it was to dark to see anything anyway. The small, well lit place Duo had see from outside was gone, replaced by a huge, cold, dark nothing. He stumbled onward, arms outstrestched, legs like lead. He had to find Heero. For Heero's sake, and for his own, since he knew he would die there if he didn't get out soon. Speaking of 'out', where was the exit in this place? Now he was lost, stuck, lonely, hopeless and freezing slowly to death. Plus he was failing at a mission he'd only just begun.
" Heero?" He called through chattering teeth. No reply came. And so he struggled on, further into the freezing depths.
Suddenly, he felt warmth. It may have been his mind playing tricks on him, but he was going to try it anyway. Screw common sense, which told him logically that he was to numb to feel anything, let alone heat. He pushed with all his might, towards the source of warmth, and his fingertips connected with something soft and a lot less freezing that he was. He clung to it, pulling his body right up next to it, praying that he could escape the death-freeze slowly consuming him.
His vision was filled with light, and something wrapped around him. He heard screwed up voices, but was too disillusioned to focus and decipher what they were saying.
o.O
Heero felt something on his arm, something that clung to him like he was the only thing that could save it. He saw it was an arm, and pulled it in realising at once who it must be. Duo. The boy was freezing, and almost as soon as his eyes opened they fluttered closed again. Frost was creeping across his chest and Heero wrapped himself around the shivering Angel, hoping against everything that he could just keep Duo safe. The whole system seemed to be against him, but if he could get Duo out of it alive and preferably well, he would put up with anything, even Arai.
" It's alright Duo, I won't give up on you." He promised solemly into the hair of the head beneath him. Now he'd promised, and Heero Yuy never broke a promise.
o.O
O.o
o.O
O.o
Duo groaned. He wasn't dead at least, or he hoped he wasn't. He realised he was still in a cell. Had he dreamed the whole episode? It had been one hell of a detailed dream if he had. Okay, bad choice of expression, but his brain wasn't in the right mood to worry about insulting anyone with badly placed expressions. Who was he going to insult anyway? His liver?
He rolled over onto his side and felt a cracking, like when you move and somethings dried onto your skin and it all cracks and flakes off. Looking down he saw his whole torso was wet, and shedding bit of ice. It hadn't been a dream. So where was Heero? Why hadn't he dived through the gate and woken Duo up in Earth? He sat up, but then chose to lean against the wall. His strength wasn't exactly at its peak, and to top it off...
" ATISHOO!" Our little fallen Angel had a cold.
o.O
Heero knelt alone in the room where his Father and the big guards had dropped him. Literally, he'd practically been dragged to the room, then dropped onto the floor. That was still after they'd ripped Duo from his grasp and beaten Heero into submission. Now he was in a really high room with a balcony and window. The only way out was through a locked and magically sealed door, sealed by Satan himself, and down a thousand or so steps. Oh, and did I mention that there were demons at the bottom ready to kill him if he did manage to get out? Yes, demons and really big, three headed dogs. Yup, his Father had no imagination and so he'd based his gaurd dogs on the greek impressions of Hell and it's inhabitants. Fun.
He felt like Repunzel in her tower. Only he didn't have any rediculously long hair to get out. And he was supposed to save the Prince, not the other way around. Poor Duo, there was no way Heero could get out. And the Angel was in such a state that there was no way he could escape on his own.
O.o
Duo was hauled up roughly by both arms and dragged into another room. Inside was an old woman, and that was it. The guard just left him in a room with an old woman. One which just blinked at him from behind rimmed glasses. He played with his braid nervously, praying that they would just...let him out? Maybe they would. He didn't suppose he'd done any damage. Perhaps they were going to let him and this little old lady out into Earth.
No way, who are you kidding? You're dead Duo. Face it.
" Well you don't seem to be to bad." The little old lady said with a rhaspy voice. Duo jumped back to his senses as she came towards him, leaning heavilly on an old walking stick. " Just shaken up and cold, eh? Well, let's see here.." She ran her hands over his shoulders and forehead.
" Um, what are you doing?" Duo asked nervously.
" Just giving you a check up Sonny." She then peered at his back.
" What's a, um, check up?" She slapped his back and cackled.
" Don't know much about this place, do you Sonny? Well, you're going to be executed, right?" She waited for him to answer with laughing eyes. She didn't seem affected in the slightest that she'd just mentioned the end of Duo's life.
" I guess so, yeah." Duo shrugged.
" Well, they want a good show don't they?" She winked, and pulled Duo's plait out. She looked at it like an owner at their dirty dog, and then slipped the ribbon off the end.
" Hey! What do you think you're doing lady? Give that back!" He ordered threateningly. The woman just laughed.
" Don't worry Boy, you'll get your ribbon back. I'm just re-doing your hair." And she did, expertly in fact. Within five minutes she'd finished and was tying the ribbon back on in a bow. " So Boy, what did you do?" Duo looked at his feet, crossed in front of him.
" I fell in love with the Prince of the Underworld." He said reluctantly.
" Oooh, which one? I love a bit of gossip. Was it the polite blond one, or the glaring bastard?" Duo grinned.
" Glaring bastard." The woman laughed again. Duo was beginning to wonder if she was mad.
" Oh, I see. You're the tamer of the wild beast are ya'? I thought there was something different about him. And I knew if it was anything, it was love. That can't be all though, surely?" Duo wieghed in his mind whether or not to tell her. Suddenly he unfurled his wings, the pearly white feathers spreading out into the room. " Ahh! Another Angel! I really don't see why they execute you folk." Duo had thought she was going to scream, run away terrified, but no. She was still the cooky old bat she'd been before." Do you know they go looking for you? If you fall, that Satan has no mercy. Don't know how his kids turned out so nice. It's almost weird how they have such high morals where their Father has none. Maybe it was having me as a Nanny." Duo shot her a look. He couldn't imagine Heero with a babysitter.
" You were their nanny?"
" Am. And I'm sure they like having me as a Grandma." She said, tapping him on the nose." Nosey! You know curiosity killed the cat, you know." She didn't seem to notice she said 'you know' twice.
" You're Heero's Grandmother?" Duo asked, Having difficulty keeping his mouth closed. His jaw just wanted to drop to the floor in astonishment.
" Quatre's too. I don't know. Sanity must have skipped a generation because their Father is a lunatic, I tell ya'. He was nice enough as a kid, but then the hormones kicked in and he was never the same..." She walked around muttering. Duo watched, slowly pulling his wings back in. " Oi! Now you stop right there. Those wings need a whole lot of attention." She scurried over and began to smooth out feathers on his left wing. Duo didn't argue. What would be the point?
" So, if you're the mother of Satan, why are you down here?" She pulled out a feather, making Duo wince with pain.
" That one was too bent. Now, oh yes. It's because I disagreed with him. You'd think my own son would listen to my advice, but no! He chucked me down here with the job of getting prisoners ready for execution. Keeps me out the way ya' see." She winked again, and yanked out a twig. " Next." Duo extended his right wing and pulled the left one in. It felt so much more comfortable without all the things caught in it. " They'll want you to have your wings out. They want a good show."
" Yes, you said earlier." She patted his wing and he pulled that one in too. There was a sharp rapping at the door.
" Time for you to go. It was nice meeting you Boy, shame I'll never see you again. You're a nice young man." The guard came in and forced Duo to his feet. The woman gave a happy little wave and shuffled back to doing whatever she'd been doing before Duo arrived. And Duo, well, he was going to his execution wasn't he?
o.O
Heero was marched down the stairs. He was tired, grumpy, worried and no closer to helping Duo. In fact, you could say he was 'washed up'.
" Left." His escort ordered, no emotion in his voice. Heero glared at his head, but said nothing and complied with the orders. They ended up in the city square, where a massive crowd had gathered. His Father came over to him and hugged him. Needless to say, Heero did not hug back.
" Hello son. Today is the last day of your punishment. After this, you can go back to being you, to living in your room and going to parties. Isn't it wonderful?" Heero ignored his Father, instead he wracked his brain as to what this punishment could be. It had to be something very big and very striking, or his Father wouldn't beleive it would work first time. He was led to a chair and sat down in it heavilly. His Father sat beside him. Suddenly, fireworks went off and music started. Dancers came out on the stage and began to twirl. He was going to party Heero into reform? Whatever. Heero already knew his Father was insane.
SometimelatersometimelatersometimelayersometimeleateR
The music stopped, but for the beat of a single drum. Heero, who had been drifting into the corners of the mind, he'd been so bored, snapped into focus. That drum...
O.o
Duo was held tight by the man behind him, as were two more demons. The area in which he stood had suddenly come alive. People rushed about, getting things ready, preparing themselves, for what Duo didn't know. Then he heard a drum. It replaced the music previously playing with an agonisingly slow beat, pounding so hard he could feel the vibrations through the floor. A door was opened some way ahead of him and light streamed in over the bustling crowd, he was shoved foreward by a guard. They wove their way through towards the open door, and emerged onto a stage. A stage surrounded by millions of people, demons. Directly facing the stage was the 'National Bank', never had anything looked so out of place. The two demons had been silently led behind him. They were pushed onto the stage before him and the crowd hissed and booed like a large-scale pantomime. He smiled, he hoped, in a comforting way. One just turned from him disgusted, but the other smiled weakly back. Distress obviously etched into his young features. Duo wondered what one so young could have done to get such a harsh punishment. The pair were led into the middle of the stage, and then shackled to the wall against which it stood. A man in a uniform followed them on, in his hands was a silver sword. He carried it like a general going to war. He obviously did this a lot, perhaps it was his full time job? Duo didn't contemplate the theory long. Simply because one moment the announcer was speaking, next the uniformed man had plunged his sword into the chest of the prisoner that had smiled at Duo. He reeled back, shocked. He could understand an execution against a 'public enemy' such as himself, but citizens? It was an unnecessarilly cruel way of punishment. Fitting of Hell he thought bitterly. He watched as the proceedure was repeated on the other prisoner. They remained on stage until the first went slack. His body, either dead or unconcious, was unshackled and dragged off stage. The other prisoner put up more of a fight. After five minutes he still stood tall, blood streaming from his side, and the sword was swung, slicing through his neck. Quick and painless, if only it had been that way for both.
Once the head and body had been removed, Duo was instructed to open his wings. He did so cautiously, avoiding the eyes of all around him.
" Walk ahead of me. No funny stuff, no flying and no long speaches about peace." He spoke hastilly, as if simply speaking to Duo was a sin beyond beleif, as though he was tainted for every minute of communication with him. So Duo did as he asked, walking slowly, and looking at the stage. The crowd went eerilly silent, as though they were holding their breaths. The shackles were placed around his wrist. They weighed his arms down so that he could hardly move them. He guessed that was perposely done. One sentance ran through his head. You're going to die.
" Without sounding corny, have any last words to say?" The uniformed man sneered. Duo thought for a moment.
" Yes. I don't regret coming to Hell, or being in this situation now." The man's smile dissapeared, he was confused. But it didn't last long and he soon stepped back to deliver the final blow.
o.O
Heero was stood up, two strong demons held him back so he couldn't go charging on stage. But still they were having a job. Heero was twisting and writhing, because it was Duo up there. His Duo. Chained to a wall, helpless. The sword was drawn back and their eyes met. Heero saw a smile flicker over Duo's face, a smile that said 'goodbye'. A flash of silver sparks exploded from the ground, fireworks, and the sword was pushed into its final victim of the day.
Heero heard an anguished cry, and took a few moments to realise he had uttered it. His eyes stung with the threat of tears as the sword was pulled free. Blood spilled onto the stage. The tears came, diamonds flying round him as he struggled against his restraints. Duo's wings sagged, his chest heaved and his head fell down so his eyes were concealed. Knees buckled as the blood stained the perfect white of his wings. The executioner laughed, and he heard other laughs from the crowd, jeering and pointing played in slow motion as he watched his worst fear play out before him. The body slacked, the shackles were removed, and with disgust the body was removed.
He's dead, he's dead. Duo...Is gone.
Heero fell to his kness and openly cried. The men let go of him and looked at him with a mixture of pity and disdain, but Heero didn't see. His head in his hands, he let his heart break. There was nothing anyone could do anymore. Heero Yuy had broken a promise, and in turn, Heero Yuy was now broken himself.
A/N: Oh my God. I just killed Duo? Ahhhh! (Forgetful ducks from rotten vegetables and petrol bombs being thrown at her.) Yes folks, he's dead. Yes, Heero is shattered in pieces on the floor and yes, he is going to tumble into a downward spiral of depression. But don't lose faith yet! There is a wonderfull, amazing, going-to-save-Forgetful's-life surprise in store in chapter 10. (Ducks again after getting hit by tomato) Oi! I said don't lose faith! All will be right in the end. Trust me.
Forgetful.
Oh, and don't hesitate to tell me what an evilo poo I am for killing off everyone's favourite little Shinigami. I'm so sorry. (The realisation of what I just did hits me in the face. Gets on floor and cries.) Sniff, I'm such a bitch...