Redemption
by Jason Resno
A/N: You guys have earned this chapter. It's been so long and I apologize so much. Enjoy it and also know that I am going to try and update this story every Wednesday or so!
Young Duo Maxwell was a second away from deciding on something he could never undo. His heart exploded over and over in painful pulses in his chest and his eyes closed tightly in some serene and horrific impersonation of sleep.
Then his jaw exploded in fire and his body was flying to the ground. The bottle of pills was flung out of his hands and were thrown clear from their container like so many ripped skittle bags before.
The braided pilot landed on the carpet with a rough thud and then was still.
'Am I dead?'
He groaned and began to prop himself on his elbows when he was roughly slammed back onto the ground. His head bounced and pain seared through his skull.
"What's...what?" His words came out slurred and sluggish. Drunk.
He felt a heavy weight as a man pinned him down.
"You stupid bastard." The words came out punctuated with rage.
Duo opened his eyes all the way and almost shuddered. He looked into the very visage of Death.
"Did you swallow?"
An uncomprehending silence.
"Duo did you swallow any?" There was a twinge of worry tangled in Heeros furious monotone.
"No...Heero..."
Duo Maxwell, God of Death, began to tremble. He brought his arms up and wrapped them around his head.
For a moment there was complete silence and then Duo snorted a small laugh.
Heero groaned inwardly, had he finally cracked?
"How could I have swallowed any? You swatted them eeeverrywhere."
The boy moments away from suicide laughed again. A real and genuine laugh.
The Perfect Soldier was at a loss and then despite himself he cracked a dry grin. But at that moment his younger friend exploded into real sobs.
"I don't...I don't...I"
Heero instinctively pulled Duo to a sitting position and cradled his drunk and bereft friend.
For a moment he was lost in a flashback. Blonde hair clouding his vision and tears pouring and pouring...never stopping...
He shook his head and muttered quietly, "It's fine. You're ok."
Disregarding those meager words of comfort Duo plunged on.
"I'm so sorry. I knew it was wrong. Heero. I saw her tonight."
From down the hall Relena silently watched, a knowing glint in her eye.
TO LOVE TO LIVE TO LOSE
Trowa dropped back a few yards and threw the pigskin. It spiraled in the sunlight of the beautiful day.
Duo, wearing an uncharacteristic pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt, jumped lightly to catch the ball.
"Nice toss Trow."
The unibanged former pilot smiled and laughed. "Jealous I see."
Duo faked a frown and threw his own spiral right back. Trowa caught it easily and then immediately dropped the ball.
"Throwin' bullets out here."
From a spread blanket fifteen or so yards away Relena, Heero, Catherine and Quatre watched and ate their lunch.
Relena took a draught of her coke and slapped a sloppy kiss on Heeros cheek. He glared at her, returned the kiss, and then immediately decided to go play catch with the other two.
His beautiful blond wife stuck her tongue out at his back.
"He's no fun." She took a bite from her sandwich and smiled at her friends.
Quatre, dressed as proper as ever in his khaki pants and dress t shirt, smiled with a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm so glad we all survived the war."
Catherine nodded with a small smile as she let her fingers trace the small of Quatres palm. He leaned over and lightly kissed her on the lips.
The two didn't know of Duo's attempted suicide and nor did Relena think it right for them to be told. Some things...some things are just better left a secret...
With chocolate bangs dancing Heero jumped into the air and in front of the braided pilot in time to perfectly intercept the ball. He landed on the green grassy field lightly and then quickly fired the ball back at their friend, Trowa.
"Hey, no fair!" The protest was half hearted and ruined by a grin.
"It's not fair that you can't keep up, Maxwell."
Heero and Duo both turned around in time to see Chang WuFei jog towards them from the parking lot. Five yards behind him trailed Sally, arms loaded with foodstuff and drinks.
"Hey Chang."
"Hey Heero."
"Sup Wuff?"
Wufei bit back his typical angered response and just let a smile play at the tip of his lips. A very feigned smile.
Trowa nodded, his forest green eyes sparkling in the sunlight, and fired a perfect pass down field. Wufei ran and easily caught up with the throw. The ball fell into his hands.
Wufei threw the ball back and then stretched his arms. "Vacation really gets you out of shape."
From the picnic blanket Sally grimaced, "Not vacation...it was a honeymoon!"
Wufei snorted and laughed a genuine laugh. Marriage had done him well. Lines that seemed to have aged his face during the war all but dissapeared. He was no less stoic, of course, but he did understand how to enjoy a real joke or two.
He was dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and a red t shirt hung loosely on his muscular frame. His wedding band glinted in the sunlight on his hand.
Duo glanced at the ring balefully but quickly dismissed any notion of becoming upset. Today was perfect.
"Hey Q-Tip get out here we need an all time QB!"
From the blanket Quatre began to shake his head but Catherine whispered something in his ear. His eyes widened and he nodded slowly.
A minute later he was on the field warming up his arm.
"Aight," Duo surveyed the other men on the field. "Being first team captain I pick...Wuff!"
Wufei groaned but kept his head held high. This was competition after all.
Trowa grinned hugely and looked at Heero, "I guess I'm stuck with the perfect soldier. I'll take him."
And so the men became boys of a childhood they never were granted. Running back and forth in the grass...ruining jeans...laughing and sometimes yelping from a surprise tackle (which had Relena immediately scolding Heero for being too rough and would leave Duo blushing)...and the game was good. Heero would score a touchdown (to the catcalls of Relena) or Quatre would break a tackle and run it down the field himself to earn the whoops of Catherine (which was a further admonishment to her brother, Trowa). The game was fun and it was the first time any of the players relaxed in a long time.
TO LOVE LIVE LOSE
Duo collapsed onto the picnic blanket, now strewn with food, and leaned his head slightly in one direction so as to survey his choices. Sweat pooled down his face and various grass and dirt stains had appeared on at least 60 of his body. But he grinned a real grin for the first time in days.
Heero sat, leaning back on his arms, next to Relena as she eased a bottle of water to his mouth. He winked at her and she blushed.
Trowa sat off to the farthest corner of the wide blanket with his phone on his lap. Every few minutes it would buzz to life and the long banged pilot would grab it and read the text message with a smile before sending his own back.
There was much gossip as to who was on the other end of the line. Some said it was one Midii Une...still others thought of a Dorothy Catalonia...all thought it was an enjoyable topic to groom to make their stoic friend anxious.
Wufei had a plate loaded with sandwiches and chips and had Sally in his lap helping to feed him. Often he'd forget the food and instead plant a passionate kiss on to her soft and inviting lips.
Slowly the sun eased out of the way and let the moon and stars take over. The air was cool and inviting on their bodies.
"A crystal clear night to cap off a perfect day." Quatre grinned and raised a glass of wine.
Duo grinned broadly and raised a beer, "I'll toast to that!"
The American threw back the drink and gulped it down. Only Heero saw the agonized glint in his eyes.
Duo fell back with his hands behind his head. All was well.
Well, until Duo noticed a very familiar woman emerging from a very familiar car. He blanched.
A/N: That's all for now folks! I'm sorry for such the long delay. I was really suffering from lack of motivation. But have no fear. I'm back. I'll try to update this once a week. I think I'm only going to have a chapter or two more after this...not much more of the story to tell! There may be a sequel later on after I finish my other story, "The First Day" (check it out. gundam wing and zombies.) Other than that just review! All people who leave comments get cookies!