Hi! I'm finally back! Murder me if you want, but then there'd be no chance of me updating ever! I'm supremely upset with how little time I have on the comp, now that it's working again. There are three people fighting for this thing, and school is throwing homework and projects until I'm buried under all of the damn paperwork.
*Warning* - There is a lot of angst, and Duo memories that hint at spoilers for Episode Zero, but don't really hit on the things in there. There is also angst, sadness, and ... wow ... of course, there's cursing and all that jazz, but that's it. O_O Wow.
Disclaimer - They aren't mine. Nothing is. Except my anime. And you'll have to pry that from my cold, dead fingers!
Only You
Chapter 9
Duo stepped off of the bus briskly, whistling an old song sung by Evanescence. It was a song of anguish and turmoil, and he damn well liked it. His fingers fiddled in his pocket, noting the only other measly thing inside - his last twenty. He'd been lucky enough to score a whopping forty-five bucks in just that one day. He wanted to smack himself for giving Sharon that other twenty, but hindsight was the thing that was always 20/20. You never gained experience until just after you needed it.
Duo found his thoughts dropping depressingly and switched songs, now humming a Japanese song. Heero would probably flip if he knew Duo took any sort of interest in Japan. Duo played with the thought as he twisted through alleys and shadows in the dark, dark night of very early morning. His eyes constantly scanned the flickering movements around him, old habits kicking in unconsciously. His good hand was poised over his hunting knife, which was strapped to his leg. It would be out in a second if needed. His other arm was held protectively to his chest, making it almost impossible for an enemy to hit without coming directly into Duo's line of sight.
He knew that Heero was going to be pissed beyond measure when he showed up at the safehouse. He also knew that the man's first concern would be the mission. So, he took care to cover his tracks. He'd taken at least 3 buses, walking from one town to another before taking another one. It was almost three or four in the morning. He had sold his watch to make the rent, so he had no exact clue. Besides, did it really matter when he decided to show up and scare Heero shitless?
He touched his arm and looked up at the stars wonderingly. What was it like, far away from Earth, maybe in a different galaxy altogether? What would that be like?
It was something he had thought about when he was a kid, staring up into the ebony night as the stars sparkled at him. He usually found himself unable to sleep back then, always aware of every minute sound made. He never really thought about it like he was daydreaming, only that he was seeking a sort of refuge, and that it wasn't on L2, and that it couldn't be anywhere near here, like Earth, so it had to be up there somewhere. Solo had caught him gazing at them one time.
////////***////////
`What're ya doin', kid?'
`Heya, Solo.'
`So? Ya gonna answer me?'
`Just tryin' to find ... I dunno ... a home, I guess.'
`We're da closest ta a family you'll find, Dodger.'
He had sighed. `I know, Solo.'
`Get some rest, kid. It'll be a big day `morrow.'
`Right.'
////////***////////
Duo sighed and looked around. He should be fairly close to the safehouse by now. He had been traveling on foot for a while now. He wished he had a watch. Unlike Heero, he didn't have a mental clock ticking behind his ears. All he had was the moon, which was slowly descending. The sky was beginning to turn gray. It was time to get out of the alleys, where he was easily cornered. Time to steal food from the opening shops.
He shook his head, amazed at how quickly his body and mind had reverted back to the street days. He half expected Solo to pop from a corner and tell him that they had selected a target. But Solo was dead. Dead and rotting in a pathetic grave dug by a kid with long brown hair that had quickly grown up.
Duo found that he had long given up the Japanese tune for Evanescence again and just gave up. He took a winding path through another alley and cut through a motel, just in case someone was tagging him. He went through the motel, came out the back - no one was in to notice him, and he was dead careful with the alarms - and hiked up a hill, then waded in a river for a while. He looked at the forest on the right and shrugged, stepping out of the water to jog over to the thicket, quickly losing himself in the foliage.
Birds seemed to be awakening as he jumped into the trees and acted like a monkey, swinging himself from one oak to another, almost losing his balance as his left arm couldn't act as a balancing rod. He sat on a thick branch and watched the sun rise. If his contacts were right, he was only a mile or so from Heero now. His stomach quivered a bit as he thought of Heero's reaction to his arrival. He definitely wouldn't be happy. Duo would be more of a hindrance.
But he couldn't just sit home and wait. He'd rather be shot ... again. Quatre would come over, and he would drag Trowa, and Duo would be trapped with the two and would be completely under their command. Guilt would follow him enough as it was. He didn't need any more reason to hate himself. Besides, it would kill him to be waiting for Heero, unable to know what was going on with him, to see if he was alright, or know if there was anything he could have done to help.
So, his decision reinforced, he gently slid from the branch and walked carefully, sidestepping twigs and dead leaves. He wanted to be as quiet as possible, lest he had pursuers. Heero would be beyond pissed if he brought the enemy to the doorstep with him. He didn't want that. Miss Paisley was a nice, sweet woman. She reminded him a little of Sister Helen.
////////***////////
`Oh! Duo, there you are!' Sister Helen called, and Duo stopped and turned to her, his journey to the pews halted. He was secretly grateful that she'd shown up. He wanted to prolong his chores as long as possible. Oh, he could shoulder his own weight, but that didn't mean that he had to enjoy doing the mundane chores like waxing the pews. Bor-ing.
`What is it, Sister?' he asked, also glad that it was Sister Helen who'd caught him. Just because he liked her. She was nice. Actually, she was the one who had not only shown him how to put his hair in a braid, she had also given him back his self-confidence and self-esteem, when he'd lost it after a boy at the school had told him he smelled like a sewer. She, with Father Maxwell, had taken up Solo's place in his life. They were everything.
`Oh, I was hoping you could take care of a mouse in my room. You're the only one I know who won't want to hurt it.'
An animal! Duo's eyes brightened, then dimmed as he looked at the rows of pews that lay before him.
She noticed and smiled at him. `If you get it out of my room, I promise to do the waxing.'
Tempting. But unfair. `Naw, I'll do both. I'll be back soon, Sister.'
He raced off to take care of the mouse, and came back later to find the pews gleaming from a new, waxy shine. He repaid the debt by getting rid of all the mice. From then on was a sort of challenge between one another to see what they could do for the other.
It had been his turn that night.
////////***////////
He found himself sinking into a dark depression that always came with these memories. They were horribly bittersweet. He found himself, once again, going over what he could have done different, better, to save them. But there was nothing. And everything. Run faster. Been smarter. Had them leave the church.
It all left him horribly empty. Would they be alive if he'd done just the smallest thing better? And where would he be now, if they were? Would he have ever met Heero?
Then he saw the safehouse looming before him, daunting in its horrible familiarity. How many places just like this had he sheltered inside during the war? And how many times had he slept in places far worse?
The place was disgustingly simple. A tiny log cabin in the heart of Nowhere-ville. A stream trickled behind it, and trees surrounded it. He stepped silently up to it, staring at the wooden door for a long moment. He blew out an exasperated breath and berated himself. Him standing out here would only attract attention that could not be attracted for the safety of Miss Paisley. He lifted his hand to knock, emboldened by the thought.
The door was flung open, and the muzzle of a gun was thrown against his forehead. He kept his soldier's instincts in check, making sure he stood stock still. He saw, above the nozzle, cobalt eyes widen in shock and a little horror. The gun finally dropped away from his head.
"Just what the fuck are you doing here?!"
*
A/N: Sorry it's so short, especially after all this time. The advancements I make in my stories will be slow, because school really is taking over. It's everything I have to be maintaining B's and, in Math, a C. So here you go for now. I'm terribly sorry for the incredible wait, but there's little I can do about it. *Sighs* Oh, well. Anyway, please review. If you give me a date to get the next one out, I'll strive to get it out around there.
Take care, and be good!!! ^_^;;;
*Warning* - There is a lot of angst, and Duo memories that hint at spoilers for Episode Zero, but don't really hit on the things in there. There is also angst, sadness, and ... wow ... of course, there's cursing and all that jazz, but that's it. O_O Wow.
Disclaimer - They aren't mine. Nothing is. Except my anime. And you'll have to pry that from my cold, dead fingers!
Only You
Chapter 9
Duo stepped off of the bus briskly, whistling an old song sung by Evanescence. It was a song of anguish and turmoil, and he damn well liked it. His fingers fiddled in his pocket, noting the only other measly thing inside - his last twenty. He'd been lucky enough to score a whopping forty-five bucks in just that one day. He wanted to smack himself for giving Sharon that other twenty, but hindsight was the thing that was always 20/20. You never gained experience until just after you needed it.
Duo found his thoughts dropping depressingly and switched songs, now humming a Japanese song. Heero would probably flip if he knew Duo took any sort of interest in Japan. Duo played with the thought as he twisted through alleys and shadows in the dark, dark night of very early morning. His eyes constantly scanned the flickering movements around him, old habits kicking in unconsciously. His good hand was poised over his hunting knife, which was strapped to his leg. It would be out in a second if needed. His other arm was held protectively to his chest, making it almost impossible for an enemy to hit without coming directly into Duo's line of sight.
He knew that Heero was going to be pissed beyond measure when he showed up at the safehouse. He also knew that the man's first concern would be the mission. So, he took care to cover his tracks. He'd taken at least 3 buses, walking from one town to another before taking another one. It was almost three or four in the morning. He had sold his watch to make the rent, so he had no exact clue. Besides, did it really matter when he decided to show up and scare Heero shitless?
He touched his arm and looked up at the stars wonderingly. What was it like, far away from Earth, maybe in a different galaxy altogether? What would that be like?
It was something he had thought about when he was a kid, staring up into the ebony night as the stars sparkled at him. He usually found himself unable to sleep back then, always aware of every minute sound made. He never really thought about it like he was daydreaming, only that he was seeking a sort of refuge, and that it wasn't on L2, and that it couldn't be anywhere near here, like Earth, so it had to be up there somewhere. Solo had caught him gazing at them one time.
////////***////////
`What're ya doin', kid?'
`Heya, Solo.'
`So? Ya gonna answer me?'
`Just tryin' to find ... I dunno ... a home, I guess.'
`We're da closest ta a family you'll find, Dodger.'
He had sighed. `I know, Solo.'
`Get some rest, kid. It'll be a big day `morrow.'
`Right.'
////////***////////
Duo sighed and looked around. He should be fairly close to the safehouse by now. He had been traveling on foot for a while now. He wished he had a watch. Unlike Heero, he didn't have a mental clock ticking behind his ears. All he had was the moon, which was slowly descending. The sky was beginning to turn gray. It was time to get out of the alleys, where he was easily cornered. Time to steal food from the opening shops.
He shook his head, amazed at how quickly his body and mind had reverted back to the street days. He half expected Solo to pop from a corner and tell him that they had selected a target. But Solo was dead. Dead and rotting in a pathetic grave dug by a kid with long brown hair that had quickly grown up.
Duo found that he had long given up the Japanese tune for Evanescence again and just gave up. He took a winding path through another alley and cut through a motel, just in case someone was tagging him. He went through the motel, came out the back - no one was in to notice him, and he was dead careful with the alarms - and hiked up a hill, then waded in a river for a while. He looked at the forest on the right and shrugged, stepping out of the water to jog over to the thicket, quickly losing himself in the foliage.
Birds seemed to be awakening as he jumped into the trees and acted like a monkey, swinging himself from one oak to another, almost losing his balance as his left arm couldn't act as a balancing rod. He sat on a thick branch and watched the sun rise. If his contacts were right, he was only a mile or so from Heero now. His stomach quivered a bit as he thought of Heero's reaction to his arrival. He definitely wouldn't be happy. Duo would be more of a hindrance.
But he couldn't just sit home and wait. He'd rather be shot ... again. Quatre would come over, and he would drag Trowa, and Duo would be trapped with the two and would be completely under their command. Guilt would follow him enough as it was. He didn't need any more reason to hate himself. Besides, it would kill him to be waiting for Heero, unable to know what was going on with him, to see if he was alright, or know if there was anything he could have done to help.
So, his decision reinforced, he gently slid from the branch and walked carefully, sidestepping twigs and dead leaves. He wanted to be as quiet as possible, lest he had pursuers. Heero would be beyond pissed if he brought the enemy to the doorstep with him. He didn't want that. Miss Paisley was a nice, sweet woman. She reminded him a little of Sister Helen.
////////***////////
`Oh! Duo, there you are!' Sister Helen called, and Duo stopped and turned to her, his journey to the pews halted. He was secretly grateful that she'd shown up. He wanted to prolong his chores as long as possible. Oh, he could shoulder his own weight, but that didn't mean that he had to enjoy doing the mundane chores like waxing the pews. Bor-ing.
`What is it, Sister?' he asked, also glad that it was Sister Helen who'd caught him. Just because he liked her. She was nice. Actually, she was the one who had not only shown him how to put his hair in a braid, she had also given him back his self-confidence and self-esteem, when he'd lost it after a boy at the school had told him he smelled like a sewer. She, with Father Maxwell, had taken up Solo's place in his life. They were everything.
`Oh, I was hoping you could take care of a mouse in my room. You're the only one I know who won't want to hurt it.'
An animal! Duo's eyes brightened, then dimmed as he looked at the rows of pews that lay before him.
She noticed and smiled at him. `If you get it out of my room, I promise to do the waxing.'
Tempting. But unfair. `Naw, I'll do both. I'll be back soon, Sister.'
He raced off to take care of the mouse, and came back later to find the pews gleaming from a new, waxy shine. He repaid the debt by getting rid of all the mice. From then on was a sort of challenge between one another to see what they could do for the other.
It had been his turn that night.
////////***////////
He found himself sinking into a dark depression that always came with these memories. They were horribly bittersweet. He found himself, once again, going over what he could have done different, better, to save them. But there was nothing. And everything. Run faster. Been smarter. Had them leave the church.
It all left him horribly empty. Would they be alive if he'd done just the smallest thing better? And where would he be now, if they were? Would he have ever met Heero?
Then he saw the safehouse looming before him, daunting in its horrible familiarity. How many places just like this had he sheltered inside during the war? And how many times had he slept in places far worse?
The place was disgustingly simple. A tiny log cabin in the heart of Nowhere-ville. A stream trickled behind it, and trees surrounded it. He stepped silently up to it, staring at the wooden door for a long moment. He blew out an exasperated breath and berated himself. Him standing out here would only attract attention that could not be attracted for the safety of Miss Paisley. He lifted his hand to knock, emboldened by the thought.
The door was flung open, and the muzzle of a gun was thrown against his forehead. He kept his soldier's instincts in check, making sure he stood stock still. He saw, above the nozzle, cobalt eyes widen in shock and a little horror. The gun finally dropped away from his head.
"Just what the fuck are you doing here?!"
*
A/N: Sorry it's so short, especially after all this time. The advancements I make in my stories will be slow, because school really is taking over. It's everything I have to be maintaining B's and, in Math, a C. So here you go for now. I'm terribly sorry for the incredible wait, but there's little I can do about it. *Sighs* Oh, well. Anyway, please review. If you give me a date to get the next one out, I'll strive to get it out around there.
Take care, and be good!!! ^_^;;;