Hey, everyone
Many apologies for being so late! Life has been putting us through the wringer the past year, but we are back on track and here with another update! Full throttle! and stuff . . .
on to reviews:
Eanshi-Hui: Thank you so much for your praise! We are glad that we're in-depth. We try. We actually hate those stereotypes you mentioned. As to the flamer, we think the flamer is incorrect. We disagree with the broad idea of "it's fanfiction, so do what you want" (and we have a feeling you do as well, from your comments). It's true that in fanfiction, everyone has their own ways of dissecting and reading the characters. However, that only leaves a small margin for error. There has to be an attempt to study the characters, and people like that Flamer don't bother to really take a deep look. They are just like the people you mentioned who assume that Relena is a stalker, or Heero is a robot, or Duo is a hyper-active moron who can't tie his own shoes. The characters are great ones, and we feel that this means they deserve the respect of being studied. Kudos to you for doing that yourself and seeing them for the complex personalities that they are! We're glad to have another person on our side. LOL.
Genkai Lady: No problem! We also feel that while Duo is a well-loved character, people don't seem inclined to really dig in deep with his personality and background. But that's important, because that's what made him the way he is. In a lot of ways, his cliche is one that fangirls adore, but it's still a cliche. No one is perfect, and we think that they don't want to see Duo as anything but perfect. This adoration may be cute and funny, but in fanfiction it's a fatal flaw in logic and thus, writing. An author can't write for Duo if they only see the outside, not the inside.
As to Wu Fei and Relena, we're glad you liked it, and there is another scene wit them in the following chapter. Hope it's just as interesting! Thanks for sticking with us, and we're over-joyed to have another intelligent person on board!
Hououza: I think everyone has self-worth issues. It's more difficult when you actually have done bad things and you need to get past them. What alot of people forget (intentionally, we think) but something you caught (we believe), is that Duo really did kill a great many people. And he's only a teenager. Not all of these people were soldiers, some of them were technicians, mechanics, civilians. Casualties of war, but he still killed them, and what's worse, he enjoyed doing it. He liked being the God of Death. Getting past something like that will take a long time.
Heero will be dealing with his humanity in this fanfic heavily. It will probably take a long time for him as well. LOL, the Relena and Dorothy scene was just a bit of fun. And we all know Dorothy will do anything to get a reaction. She always seemed to like making people squirm and getting their attention. If she can't find chaos (like she did in the series,) we figured she'd make her own. Thanks and we love your review and you!
Kamineko: The Relena we have is more mature because this is set 4 months after the end of the movie. As to Heero and Duo, you'll see that there is a reason that they've gotten back on poor terms with each other in this chapter. (CEP: it's so sad that everyone things we're missing things but they're all things we've thought about and prepared for. TRUST US!) As to Heero's nuances growing, we're not sure how much more we could do without slipping out of character. Heero will grow slowly with everyone else, and it's hard to dig much deeper into his characterisation.
As to Episode 0, we don't believe in it at all. While we own it, we don't rely on it whatsoever. It's written by a man (Katsuyuki Sumisawa) who only worked on the scripts and screenplay of the series, but was not the only one doing so. Thus, having him write a manga without anyone editing it to make sure it matched the series makes it come out as a much different story - with a lesser quality. Because of this, it contradicts characterizations shown in the series, not to mention contradicting the science and common sense of the series.
In the case of Heero liking luxury, I think you're not thinking outside the box. He was living on the streets in our fanfic for months. It's ridiculous to call a hotel room and a pair of clean clothes "luxury". The mahogany table was something he noticed. He noted that they had been put in a conference room without the normal niceties, and he realized that this meant that the Preventers had less resources than they usually did. Heero's ideas of luxury are being clothed, fed, and clean. Re-read it, and I'm sure you'll see this.
Heero's job possibilities are another problem you seem to have missed. He can't become a doctor without a high school diploma, and then a college education. His IQ has nothing to do with it. Neither does shyness. It's just a plain fact. There are many people in the world who are brilliant, but still homeless and jobless because of a lack of proper education. As we've already shown, Heero can't get a GED because he has no Social Security Number. He has no identity. It shows, in the series, Heero hacking into a school network. If he had a foolproof ID, he wouldn't need to. And he can't hack into every computer system across the Earth Sphere. It wouldn't fly. Someone, somewhere, would catch onto him, and he would be incarcerated for identity fraud, hacking, and illegal access to federal databases. Crimes that could land him in prison for many years. Being incarcerated isn't much good if he wants to be a doctor. Don't forget, if you do absolutely nothing, your name goes through 11 computers a day. And that's just right now. In GW, which takes place many years from now, I'm sure the number increases significantly.
And finally, as to Duo being attached to Hilde and Heero . . . give it time. Don't forget, they haven't even gotten to high school yet, and it will be a few more in-story days before they do. There is plenty of time for Duo to spend time with other characters.
Thanks for the review and sorry if we sound harsh - we're only trying to show you the reasonings we used to write what we've written.
C-chuu: Yea! Thanks, plausibility is our number 1 goal! And the guys ARE on a mission, bwa ha ha. They just don't know what it is . . . You are the only one who's really grasped the sense of mystery and suspense. There's something going on. We just wish more readers saw this and felt it as you have. We do our best, thanks for the praise! We love situational humor too, and it's really the best humor for GW. The characters are all so serious, even Duo. They don't often do funny things of their own accord.
And yes, you are right, Duo's character is often overlooked when it comes to depth and reality. People want Duo to be jolly and wonderful and have no psychological problems. They also want him to still call himself the God of Death, or they want him to never think about it and become a model father and sing gospel songs. They need to get a clue. Duo is just as messed up in the head as Heero, if not more so. Thanks for the support! And Trowa, towards the end of the series, he really started to seem more stoic yet serene, an interesting change. He's like a Jedi, so we kinda write him that way.
We're glad you like it and approve of it - high praise coming from someone as smart as you! We miss you a lot and hopefully another MUSH will be a good meeting place for us. And we are so touched that you feel that ours is how good fanfiction should be. We arrogantly agree.
EclipsedbytheSon: OKAY! Wow, another smart person! We love you! More people need to use their brains when it comes to characterization. Sorry we've been so late, I hope this is good for you!
Wing: Duo was hurt from more than Heero, as we had hoped would be shown from the shower scene. And there are more things in this chapter. The next chapter will reveal why it is so important for Relena to not be a pain this day. Hopefully school will arrive soon, but no way to tell that yet!
Lachwen & Moonjava: Thanks, we hope this pleases! (CEP: Sure, no prob.)
Rikku Urashima: Yea! Well, it's hard to pick genres, there is so much in our fic! Just like life. Aw, you make us all warm and fuzzy. We will continue to try to be the creme-de-la-creme of fanfiction.
Pam: THIS IS!
Chapter 8
Earth, Izumo
April 14th – 9:59 am
"It's such a beautiful morning, isn't it Miss Relena?"
Relena rubbed her temples harder as she clattered down the stairs, trailing the bright-eyed and vibrant Catalonia behind her. Not dignifying the comment with a response, the shorter blonde grated back, "How can you be so cheerful? Don't you have a hangover from last night?"
Blinking as they reached the bottom step, Dorothy pouted and spun after her down the hallway. "Not really. I must just be lucky!"
Praying for the medication she took to finally take effect, the Minister looked up to find everyone waiting for her in the smaller dining room. "Wonderful for you, Dorothy." She forced a smile for them all and entered quickly, sitting down almost too fast in the seat pulled back for her.
Silence descended as the cook swiftly set an omelet with toast in front of her on the table. Sitting up straighter in his chair, the Chinese bodyguard was the first to break the quiet, smirking, "Welcome back to the land of the living. Did you have fun last night?"
Flushing, Relena glanced up to see her brother staring at her stoically from the other side of the table. "Yes," she murmured, azure eyes flashing from Milliardo to Wu Fei. "I did." Out of the corner of her eye she could see Dorothy behind her, yawning as she flounced into a seat.
"Oh," the dark-haired woman next to her brother drawled, "let her eat. You'll have plenty of time to bother her later." Lucrezia gifted Relena with a forgiving smile and elbowed her husband. "Let her live a little, will you? No harm done."
With a snort, Milliardo's eyes narrowed on his handsome face and he turned the glare onto the brunette. "As you said, we'll talk about it later. Now isn't the time."
Guilt washed over the girl as she continued to eat as quickly as she could manage. This just isn't fair. But I shouldn't be quarreling with him, especially not today.
Seeing Relena's downcast face, Wu Fei's smile fell and his mouth twisted into an expression of exasperated regret. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his brown Preventer's jacket, and glanced over at Milliardo, then turned his attention toward the quietly beaming Catalonia. "So, Miss Dorothy. Would you like me to see you out?" he asked calmly, suspicious nature bristling beneath his veneer.
All eyes turned to her toward where she leaned languidly back in her chair, and she shook her head, chuckling lightly. "Oh, no. I was intending on coming along. After all, I am here. Why bother leaving and then meeting you all later? And this way I and Mister Milliardo can catch up on things." Dorothy turned her bright eyes to Zechs and fluttered her eyelashes. "It's been so long since we've chatted."
The strangeness of the silence that followed, and the coy surety in her eyes coupled with the cold expression on Milliardo's features caused Wu Fei to frown, ebony glance quickly taking in their body languages. Something is going on here with Lady Catalonia, he told himself. Perhaps she is extending her machinations beyond her sphere of influence again. I'm going to have to watch out for her and her tricks.
Relena, however, appeared not to notice any of it, her sad eyes on her food as she shoveled it into her mouth with an expression akin to someone taking distasteful medicine. The Chinese boy was certain that the food held as much flavor as that which could be found in a gourmet restaurant, but a hangover and her brother's ire couldn't have whetted an appetite.
Plate clean, the Minister stood with a suddenness that surprised her friends and family, but one her bodyguard took in stride, rising with her. The girl's commanding azure gaze flew over them all, and she announced, "Well then. I'm late enough as it is, and we have a jet to catch. If you're all going with me to Tokyo, you'd better get into the limousine."
A bubbly smile on her face, Dorothy chortled, "Why, of course!" and began heading for the door, the platinum-blond man following with a stony glare shooting at everyone he passed. Noin lagged behind to give Relena a worried, kind expression before she too strode after her husband, leaving the maid to pick up the dishes while Relena looked after them, straightening her shell-pink sundress uncertainly.
Stepping around the table as quickly as his grace allowed in the cluttered room – after all, he didn't want to risk knocking over some expensive trinket of her mother's – Wu Fei came to stand next to her. "Relena. Time to go. Are you alright?" He frowned with concern and stared directly into her eyes, daring her to avoid him.
She took a final look at the door, then flicked her gaze to his dark one, and graced him with a small smile before she grabbed her bag and began walking toward the hall. "Of course. Last night just took a lot out of me."
Right on her heels, the teen shook his head and straightened his jacket. "You'll forgive me, Minister, if I think there might be more on your mind than being tired or hung-over." He raised a brow at her, and was rewarded with her coloring as she glanced away.
"Maybe." As they passed into the foyer and headed for the door, she admitted, "I accepted William's offer to go to school with him. Has Quatre told you yet?"
Nodding, the dark-haired boy opened the front door for her and watched her closely as they walked down the steps, his peripheral vision diligently studying their surroundings. "He has. I assume I'm to go with you."
Smiling shyly, Relena nodded to him, her deep blue eyes wide and innocent as she watched him. "I hope you don't mind. I know being my bodyguard must be unimaginably boring."
He shook his head, eyes catching on her own for a moment, as they both stopped together a few yards from the white limousine waiting in the drive. "No. I don't mind." You bastard, Heero Yui, he thought, his throat constricting as her eyes lit up and relief flowed across her features.
"Thank you, Wu Fei," Relena beamed happily up at him as she put a hand on his shoulder. "It really means a lot to me. I always feel safer with you around."
Wu Fei nodded and cast his gaze to the side, frowning as a deep flush flooded his cheeks. "Let's go. You're still late, woman."
As they walked to the car, he fell behind a few paces, the desires to watch her and to avoiding looking at her warring with each other. How can you live with yourself knowing she still pines after you, Heero? She will never have true happiness as long as she thinks that you might return her feelings.
Wu Fei scowled up into the blue summer sky before following her to the car, nodding absently to the man holding the door before taking his place on Relena's other side in the spacious automobile. Once seated, he glared down, avoiding his superiors across from him and the Catalonia wench on the other side of his charge, and most of all avoiding the Minister herself.
But his troubled mind still worried over her.
Is it safe to let them be brought together? She is so much more than a princess for peace. She is a fragile flower, innocent and pure and far too easily used as a tool. She may be the only way to keep peace alive, as a symbol to the people.
But the personal cost is great.
Hundreds of times had these thoughts gone through his head, but the situation was different now. If they brought Relena and Heero together, even in a controlled environment such as a high school, it would change her life forever.
It could be the most volatile and risky thing they could do, but it could also finally free the Minister from her greatest burden – the man who would not return her love.
Brooding as the automobile purred along its route, Wu Fei barely registered the uncomfortable silence within the interior. Trees and lush landscape flew passed the undarkened windows, but his mind remained locked onto his dilemma.
I'll make her happy, Wu Fei swore to himself. No matter how much pain it brings her in the short term, she ought to be freed from the demons from her past.
It's the least that she deserves for the blessing of peace she has brought us all.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Earth, Moscow
April 14th – 5:15 am
The dream, and the fear, still clung to him like a thick shroud, and he could almost feel the stench of death clutching at him – if he didn't know better, he would swear the sour smell had caught in his nostrils.
Duo glanced up into the darkened skies as he followed Heero through the abandoned streets of Moscow, and shivered in the chill morning air, the hairs on the back of his neck extending. He felt as if someone was watching him . . . and every time he closed his eyes, those glowing red embers stared back.
Telling himself that none of the sensations were real, the long-haired boy forced his fear away, and instead concentrated his anger, and his eyes, on Heero's well-dressed back . . . determined not to close them again until he only saw black. Well, Mister Congeniality sure is taking advantage of the situation, he told himself, eyes darkening as he forced a glare. I bet he's just going to take the diploma and run, the bastard. Unforgiving prick just takes advantage of everyone . . . then leaves us all to rot.
The streetlights across the city glowed in clusters, and a lone car drove past them, headlights blazing through the darkness before it slipped away down the street. "Where are we going, anyways?" Duo grumbled, shuffling his feet behind the dark-haired pilot.
Heero turned to glance back at him, and Duo put as much hatred as he could into the glare he returned. "We're headed for the river." He brought his gaze forward again as he strode down the cobblestone streets, apparently undaunted.
Duo grumbled as he hurried after the quicker boy, swinging around an old-fashioned lamppost with one hand before glancing up at the glowing ball of light, a swarm of fluttering moths dancing around it. This has to be one of the strangest nights of my life. As they passed, the insects slowly dropped, one by one, to the ground, fluttering uselessly before they stilled.
His heartbeat danced in his ears softly as the silence lingered, his eyes returning to Heero's back ever-so-often. When Duo was finally convinced that no words would ever be spoken, after walking through and across side-streets and ancient sections of the city, the spires of churches highlighted against the slowly illuminated grayness . . . Heero finally slowed at the steps down to an area lush with vegetation; a path and landscaping that stretched to the left and right until vanishing around bends. And in front of them sat the glittering, shimmering river, faint light of the moon shining from the dark depths.
The other pilot glanced over to him, his Prussian stare calm, almost serene . . . not normal for Heero.
"Well?" Duo finally said, trying to sound angry. His word just came out tired, though, and he sighed, glowering down at the plants at his feet. "You couldn't have just asked me out here to watch the sunrise with you. That's a little too gay for me, man."
Those eyes widened, and then Heero snorted, his mouth actually turning up into a semblance of a smile, before he looked back out over the slowly flowing river. "Shut up, Duo," he said, voice almost – sort of – soft. "If you don't stop talking about buying me flowers and being gay, I'm going to wonder if you are."
(-(-(-)-)-)
Heero headed down the stone steps, a stunned Duo left in his wake. This is becoming amusing, the normally stoic young man mused, one brow rising on his forehead. "You coming?" he called back, tone flat and only vaguely curious, before he began strolling along the river-walk.
"Dude," Duo quickly clomped down the steps after him, skipping two at a time, "I am NOT gay." As Heero watched, the boy pulled his still-dripping hair forward and yanked up the ends, a brush appearing like magic in his hands, before he began tugging it through the ends. "You're the one who wanted me to go with you."
With the petulant, angry look in his violet eyes, Heero could now see what he had missed before. There was something very familiar in the uncertainty that lay in his gaze . . . but Heero couldn't place it just yet. Still, it appeared that Hilde was right. Duo, for whatever reason, seemed to seriously concern himself with Heero's opinion.
Slipping his hands into the pockets of his gray slacks, Heero's head fell, and he gazed at the concrete path he walked upon, thinking. His unruly bangs drooped over his eyes, and through them, the world seemed darker. Now what? he wondered, an odd tightness growing in his chest. I have absolutely no experience in befriending people.
Which made Heero have to wonder, why on earth did so many people seek him out and attempt to befriend him? To him, half a dozen was a large number when referencing that. The idea that anyone would see him as anything other than a weapon or a tool . . . it just didn't make sense.
But it gave him a feeling of freedom that he was rather unfamiliar with.
The tension flickered, and a vague memory of the past returned to him. He hadn't felt this sensation often, but the few times he had, he would never forget. Looking back to the teen following behind him, he recognized the flickering uncertainty in his gaze as well. I guess we're both afraid.
This time together – the things that were about to occur, and the feelings associated with it, and them – were things neither of them were accustomed to.
They were orphans. Both had never known a real family . . . Heero wasn't even sure if either of them had ever even known peace or the ability to choose. To truly, completely, choose their destinies.
Calm filled Heero once again, a calm he had always been able to call upon in the worst of times. It was just another step, he knew. And it was the right one. But as he stopped, and gazed out over the waters, up toward the growing brightness of the horizon, he absently wondered how he was supposed to take it.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Duo glared up at the glowing sky and watched as the golden light spilled out across them, throwing faint shadows across the landscape. Finding it difficult to stay mad at the coming sun, he turned his rage-filled eyes to his companion.
"So," Duo drawled tightly, still brushing through the lengths of his auburn hair, "here we are. The sun is almost up, and we're both still awake when we're supposed to be asleep. Are we finally gonna get to the point of this little escapade?"
With another sigh, Heero just sent him an annoyed glance. "The point is watching the sun rise. To do that, you have to be quiet."
"Well excuse me!" the brunet snapped, violet eyes narrowing angrily as he tossed the brush into the air, making it vanish again. "But I'm getting a little sick and tired of this – this whole 'mystery' outing of yours. I don't buy what you're selling, buddy. There's a reason you asked me to come along, and it's obviously not to actually talk to me like a normal person!"
On a roll, Duo didn't even notice the sun popping up over the horizon in a bright glow until Heero snapped, "Quiet," and he saw the stark shadows and light fall across the obstinate pilot's face.
"Jesus," Duo muttered, wringing out his newly combed hair again before tossing it over his shoulder and staring up at the sunrise once more. "I don't think I can take much more of your crap, Heero," he raised a finger menacingly, voice rising in warning.
"You took it before," came the unassuming baritone reply, and Duo flinched in surprise, then glanced over to watch the other boy as he gazed at the sun. "I don't really see what the difference is now."
Put off by this, Duo frowned, then shrugged and stuffed his hands into his jean pockets. "I donno'. Maybe I'm tired of being your punching bag. Ever think of joining a martial arts dojo, man? You wanna kick somebody's ass, go do that."
Silence followed for a few moments, until Heero's dry voice said, "You might want to try being less annoying."
Mouth quirking with annoyance, the long-haired teen snapped, "You are such a dick. Dee. I. Cee. Kay."
"Takes one to know one."
Narrowing his eyes, Duo raised an index finger, and was about to retort, when he stopped. "Heero, what the fuck has gotten into you? I think this is the most worthless chit-chat I've ever heard outta you. Hell, this is more than I think anybody has heard outta you. Ever."
For a moment, Duo wasn't sure what Heero was going to say. The cocoa-haired teenager looked at him solidly, almost stared. It was enough that he wondered if he had managed to surprise the other boy.
Then Heero glanced aside, and reached into his back pocket, taking out a carefully folded white piece of paper. "Here," he told him, slowly holding it up and out to him. "I'm not good at talking." And as Duo took it, Heero turned his head away to watch the rising sun again.
Oookay, Duo mused nervously, frowning down at the paper before beginning to unfold it. "This ain't no love letter, is it? Because I'm gonna have to kick your ass if it is." A mock-shiver ran down his back and he tried to make light of the situation.
Heero simply glared at him. "You are gay, aren't you."
Just as he was about to retort, Duo's eyes dropped to the name scrawled across the envelope, and a gnawing fear started quaking through his ribcage.
Aw, shit. God DAMN stupid . . . Duo forced himself to quell the series of curses he wanted to dish out onto the girl in question. Well, no way I could mistake that chicken-scratch for anyone else's. God dammit, Hilde . . .
The fear closed up his esophagus as he opened it and pulled out the paper, swallowing against the pressure. Please tell me there is no way this day could get any worse, he begged before beginning to read.
After just a few lines, he knew his prayer had gone unanswered.
Figures, he told himself as his skin began to get clammy, there's only one god in this world.
Might as well pray to myself.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Heero watched Duo as he scanned the note first, flipping it over to the back with thinly disguised horror before returning to the front to read more slowly a second time. I hope this doesn't take all morning, he grumbled to himself, politely refraining from demanding that Duo finish studying the letter after the second run.
Finally, after the long-haired boy turned at least three shades of white and a collection of seconds when Heero wondered if he would need to sit down, Duo glanced furtively back up at him, a wane, wincing smile on his face. "Umm." Coughing, he began, "Wow, Hilde sure does overreact, doesn't she? Heh, heh . . ."
Giving him a stern glare, Heero slowly crossed his arms over his chest. "You're a horrible liar."
Duo sighed, one brow rising as he realized Heero wasn't convinced. Ducking his head, his messy bangs barely concealed the anxiety growing within his eyes.
Annoyed, Heero turned his gaze from him, feeling a bit too familiar with the other pilot himself. "She really cares about you. You should feel lucky to have someone like her trying to help you."
The other pilot nodded, looking a bit less worried. "Yeah."
Staring out over the water, the two were silent a moment before Heero spoke again. "You've been living together for a year and a half. That's a pretty long time."
Confused, Duo looked over at Heero and shrugged. "What's your point?"
The short-haired boy snorted with amusement. "I can't believe you're still just friends. It doesn't seem like you."
"Oh, shut-up man," he glared back, "what do you know? Mister 'tragic romance'." Crossing his arms, he turned his head away petulantly.
Exhaling, Heero slipped his hands into his pockets again and looked flatly into the river water. "My situation hardly compares with yours. You live together. You're practically married as it is. In some countries you can get tax breaks."
Duo grumbled and shot him a violet glare from the corner of his eye. "Listen, there is nothing going on between us any more than there's something between you and the Princess."
Silence was the only reply as Duo's expression blackened with frustrated rage. "You think I haven't thought about it?" the long-haired boy hissed, turning fully to glower at his companion. "What kind of husband would I make, Heero? A murderer, a terrorist – hell, I don't even classify as sane. I'm damaged goods, and you know it." With a sigh, the teen bleakly tossed his gaze out onto the glittering river, anger leeching out of him until nothing was left but the tired slump of his shoulders. "I couldn't condemn any woman to that horrible fate."
In the quiet that was left, Heero nodded slowly, Prussian eyes still locked onto the rushing water and the blossoming sunrise above them. "I understand."
"Do you?" Duo asked, voice lacking the harshness from before. "I mean . . . I know you haven't been to see Relena since . . . y'know." At Heero's surprised glance, he amended, "Well, Hilde and Relena talk quite a bit, now. Ever since the, um . . . the wedding." Guiltily, Duo looked away and winced. "You can't tell me she doesn't mean something to ya, man."
Heero's dark head bobbed once, and he sighed. "I'd be lying if I did. But you're right. It's best this way. Some day Relena is going to realize that she doesn't need me in her life. Her happiness doesn't lie with me."
"No way, man!" Duo suddenly announced, steady eyes locking onto Heero like a vice. "Listen, you deserve some happiness, you guys are made for each other. Don't follow my lead just 'cause it sounds right. I'm different. There's no reason that you can't have a normal life."
"That's not the life for me," Heero quietly replied. "I shouldn't even entertain the notion. At least you understand your emotions, Duo. I'm more 'damaged goods' than you'll ever be."
Angry violet eyes met blue and Duo cursed, tossing his head away. "Heero, you're a damned fool. I have more psychological problems than you can count on both hands. All I've ever known is being a criminal. I couldn't raise a family! Hell, Hilde doesn't even think of me that way. But Relena would do anything for you if you let her."
"She doesn't understand," Heero informed him tersely. "Eventually she will. But until she does, I can't give her false hope." He looked away once more, expression clouded. "For all the faults that you think you have, at least you have one thing you can know to be true." Closing his eyes, the pilot let out his breath slowly. "You're actually human. You were born, not built. You grew up . . . you weren't implanted with data like a computer." When Duo simply gaped, no retort at hand, Heero shot him a quick look. "Lead a good life, Duo. Follow your feelings and let her know what you feel."
"What about you?" the boy asked, brows furrowed with concern.
Heero shook his head and turned to head back down the path, toward the way they had come. "I can't live a 'good life without regrets'. No matter what you might think, that's one thing I don't deserve. I'm a soldier. It's what I was created to be. And I'm not going to ruin her life by trying to be anything else."
Taking his place behind him, Duo strolled after, sighing. "I guess we're both just too stubborn, huh."
"Guess so," Heero smirked darkly, tossing a look back at him.
Gazing up at the sun where it was rising further into the sky, wispy clouds of salmon and gold spun around it, the long-haired boy shook his head, a memory resurfacing at that moment. "Hey, Heero?" The teen next to him grunted, and Duo swallowed before continuing. "I'm really sorry about . . . what happened at the wedding."
Heero shook his head. "You were drunk, Duo. You're normally rather . . . effervescent – alcohol merely increases the effect."
Shooting him a glare, Duo muttered, "I'm not gay . . . But anyway, Relena was really sad that she didn't get to dance with you."
With a sigh, Heero headed up the steps sprawling among the foliage. "I didn't say you were gay."
"No, but you insinuated it," Duo stressed, words snapping and a wounded look on his face. "And I know exactly why you did. You just want to avoid talking about Relena."
Heero led his companion onto the street, newly bustling with early morning activity. "There's nothing to talk about," he murmured, eyes scanning the scattered people carefully.
"Oh yes there is. Relena was sooo sad after you left," Duo sighed melodramatically, making his comb reappear magically in his hand once more. Shaking his head, he pointed at Heero with the instrument, "She cried, do you know that?"
Glaring back at the long-haired boy - who was once again brushing out the ends of his hair – Heero snapped, "She was not sad. Relena doesn't cry in public."
"Oh, no, she didn't cry in public, I mean, I didn't see her cry," the teen continued, combing the thick, damp plaits of hair into smooth, shiny locks, "but I could sure imagine it." His voice dropped sorrowfully, the twang forcefully reasserting itself. "All alone. Takin' off her makeup by herself, cryin' into her mirror, no one but her butler there to comfort her. Which," he waved the comb at Heero meaningfully, "is really disturbing. To think that Pagan is her best friend. That girl needs to get out more. I mean, it's kinda creepy, that old guy hangin' out with a little girl."
Heero swung around suddenly and came to an abrupt halt, leaving Duo to stumble over his own feet and hold his arms out to steady himself. "Whoa, man, what's the problem?" the thief exclaimed.
Prussian eyes stabbing straight through him, Heero snarled, "That's far from the truth. If anyone is her best friend, it's Quatre." With a final growl, he turned his back to Duo again and began stomping across an intersection.
"Wait up, Heero!" Duo called after, weaving his way through the crowd to keep up. "What do you mean? Is this why you were so bitchy around Quatre yesterday?"
Grumbling under his breath, Heero pushed aside a surprised pair of older men, then grabbed Duo's arm to pull him into a corner store. "Here. I'm certain that you're as far from society as possible so this must have evaded you," he hissed, dragging the youth to a halt in front of a wall lined with magazines. "There," he pointed to a group, eyes hard. "I'm sure you can't miss it."
Leaning over and flushing from the scrutiny they were receiving from the other patrons, Duo blinked as his eyes fell across a certain publication. Grabbing it up, he shook his head. "Jeeze, this is horrible!"
"Yes, I know," rumbled Heero as he crossed his arms tightly over the green dress-shirt. Turning his back on the rack, he leaned against the wall it lined, taut with repressed rage.
"I mean, I've never seen such a hatchet photo-job!" continued his companion, jabbing a finger at a certain part. "Look at this. This isn't even Quatre's body, they stuck his head onto somebody else's."
"How can you tell?" Heero frowned, staring closer at the image. "It seems like a pretty good fake to me."
"Dude, look at this! Since when does Quatre have breasts?"
Eyes narrowing further, the stoic young man leaned a bit closer to stare at the picture. "I don't see any breasts. It looks like a man to me."
Laughing, Duo snatched the magazine away, "Ha-ha, made'ja look! Heero, you are so hard up for breasts that you're lookin' for 'em on another guy!"
"I am NOT," Heero grunted, glowering once more. "You're just being a fool again."
"Right, right," handing over the magazine and raising his hands, Duo nodded, "so, you think Quatre's mackin' on your girl. Well I hate to say it, but it's just a rag. It's a crappy, fake magazine. Look at what's next to 'em. 'Alien Sheep Demand Surrender From Earth Sphere President and Insist that all Big Foot Prostitutes Service Them For a Year'. Does that sound real to you?"
An auburn brow rising above his suddenly serious gaze, Duo shook his head. "Let it go, buddy. It's not worth it. And even if Quatre does feel anything for her, she likes you best. And you said yourself that you don't want her to, so you shouldn't be upset."
A low rumble began in Heero's chest and he glared at his friend. "I'm not mad that Quatre might like her . . . I'm mad because," his dark blue eyes slid away from Duo's, "they're making her out to be promiscuous."
"Now who's a horrible liar?" Duo grinned, then shook his head, hair splaying around him like a long cloak. "You know, seriously. You gotta get control of this situation. Otherwise, you're gonna be the one making her unhappy for the rest of her life."
"I don't need you to lecture me, Duo," Heero's angry eyes locked onto him again, and he straightened to push past him. "Come on, it's time we got back to the hotel."
"Yeah, I know," sighed the former God of Death as he scrambled after. "Listen, man, I'm sorry. I just want you to be happy and you definitely don't look like you're getting there any time soon."
Nodding, Heero shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks and shrugged, not looking back. "Thanks."
Stumbling again, Duo scratched his head, then grinned. "Hey, you're, uh, you're welcome?" Noticing the stir that his long, flowing hair was generating, he turned to glare at the crowds, then caught up to his companion. "Hey, Heero? Hang on a second, man."
Heero slowed and pivoted to face him, expression still rather dour. "Hmm?"
"Well, I know I've been a pain, but . . ." Shuffling his feet, Duo looked away, then stuck out his hand. "Um, friends?" He glanced up uncertainly, violet eyes wide and hopeful.
With a sigh, Heero nodded, tension draining from his features as he took Duo's hand with his own and shook firmly. "No." His mouth slipped into a tiny smile as Duo looked disappointed. "Brothers."
Leaving Duo behind with a stunned expression across his face, Heero let go and smirked, "Come on, Repunzel. You'd better braid your hair before one of the locals tries to buy you a drink."
"Hey, that's not fair!" Duo yelled after him, "Only Hilde gets to call me that!"