Author: Aaeth Payne

Warnings: Yaoi, AU, Angst, Lemon!!!

Pairings: 1x2/2x1, 3x4x5x/5x4x3

Rating: NC-17

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing! *curls up into the foetal position crying* But I can play with them right?

Notes: In this AU, Duo is slightly younger than the rest of the G-boys. I'd say that Heero and the crew, including Relena are about 20-22 and Duo is about 18.

Asbestos Gelos Prologue

Diana Maxwell hastily locked the door and windows of her small cottage. Living at the edge of the forest was always a dangerous situation, though sometimes she wondered where the real dangers lie... in the horrible beast that supposedly lurked in the dark forest, or in the deeply superstitious people that inhabited the nearby town.

As woman alone- with a child she was already highly suspect. But that was not her main concern. What scared her was the way they looked at her son. Little Duo was the most delightful child ever, possessing a quick wit and an even quicker smile.

But that didn't matter to them. All they saw were his wide violet eyes- violet. That was the only visible sign that he was not fully human.

Diana hadn't known that the stranger was one of the Fey. All she knew was that for one, someone saw her. She knew she was no beauty. Her long chestnut hair was her only true asset, and it wasn't nearly enough to compensate for her overall homeliness.

Xander with his black hair and Mediterranean blue eyes hadn't cared. He wooed her, won her, and she gave him her virginity.

In the morning he was gone, but he left his mark. When Diana woke up she was no longer plain and scrawny. She was shapely and quite beautiful.

Instantly, the entire village that had been no more than happy to ignore her fell in love. The men wanted to wed her and the women wanted to befriend her. But what Diana had always dreamed of didn't bring her any joy. She only wanted Xander.

A few months later it became extremely obvious that Xander had left her another gift. Again the feelings of the village changed. The men seethed with jealousy and the women scorned her as a fallen woman. So Diana fled.

She fled to this tiny cottage on the edge of the most feared place in the entire kingdom. Because of the location no one had lived there for years, and no one cared when Diana appropriated it.

Not soon after settling there Diana gave birth to a small bundle of hair.

She smiled as she remembered her first look at her son. He already had hair that was five inches long. Then he opened his eyes and Diana had felt her heart melt. She cleaned him up and fed him for the first time.

It only occurred to her later that he didn't cry once.

::Momma?:: A small voice in her head and tug at her skirt brought Diana out of her thoughts.

"Duo!" She scooped him up into her arms and tiredly walked to the bedroom. "How many times must I tell you, munchkin, use your mouth!" Secretly she loved that her son had such a talent, but she lived in fear that the locals would find out.

"I'm sorry momma... but..."

She sighed and smiled down at him. There was no use in trying to stay mad at him for any length of time. "But what munchkin?"

"The- the animals are scared... something is wrong."

Diana had always trusted her son's feelings. His talents were too uncanny for them to be anything but genuine, and if he said something was wrong- something was wrong. "Listen baby, I want you to concentrate- why are the animals frightened? Try real hard ok?"

Duo scrunched his little face in deep concentration. "Fire... men. Lots of men talking loud. I think they're coming this way."

Closing her eyes momentarily Diana took a deep breath and ran to the bedroom. She set Duo down on the bed and opened the only window in the bedroom. She placed a chair under it before turning to her son.

"Do you remember what we talked about?"

He nodded silently, but his eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Diana wished she could reassure her son, but she could hear a loud noise coming from the way of the village. Their time here was coming to an end.

"If you hear me say the word 'safe' you are to run to the big tree in the forest, and you will not look back." If all went well she would be able to convince the people to leave them be. If not... then she would give Duo a chance to get away.

Duo lowered his head to look at his hands, but she raised his chin. "I want you to promise me, and don't lie. You remember what I told you?"

"Never lie and never break a promise." He looked up and gave her his brave face. "I promise momma."

"That's a good boy." Diana reached up and removed her necklace. "I will always be with you." She tied the cord around Duo's throat- a shiny piece of hematite rested on his chest. "And I will always protect you."

Suddenly there was a loud pounding on the door.

Diana glanced toward the door then back to Duo. "Always remember momma loves you!" She kissed his forehead before rushing to the door.

Diana slipped out the door and closed it behind her. She squared her shoulders and faced the angry mob. "What is the meaning of this?!"

The apparent leader of the group stepped forward, Jeb Septum pointed his torch at the house. "Our crops and livestock are dying! We want the demon spawn!"

She would not let herself be intimidated by the pathetic blowhard. "My son has nothing to do with your crops!"

Septum smiled detestably. "I'm just trying to keep the women and children of the village safe from the hell spawn."

'Safe.' This could be her only chance to warn Duo without tipping off the villagers. "SAFE?! SAFE!!" Diana yelled the words- knowing full well that Duo could hear her. The rest would be stalling for Duo to have more time, and a show for the village idiots.

She had to choke back a laugh... 'village idiots'. Truer words had never been spoken... err thought as the case may be. ~Oh my... I'm becoming quite hysterical, aren't I?~

"The only people who need to be kept safe around here are my son and myself!"

Septum gestured with his left hand. Diana was instantly on her guard, but it was too late. An instant later Zeke Tsuberov stabbed her in the stomach with a pitchfork.

Diana fell to her knees, clutching her stomach. Distantly she noticed how the crowd grew silent... or maybe it was just that she couldn't hear them over the sound of her blood pounding in her ears.

She looked up at the mob- perhaps to say something, but she was silenced as she saw a newcomer come to the front. It was Mayor Peacecraft with his young daughter, Relena.

His usually pleasant face was grim and hard as he stood before her. "My daughter has seen you consorting with demons! She has told me it is you and your get that has brought this upon us!"

Diana's mouth fell open as she stared at the seemingly innocent child's face. Those blue eyes, which should have looked sweet, only shone with malevolence... how could she have ever mistaken the tiny thing for a child. Relena was the only demon here.

"See how she does not protest, father!" A sharp little voice issued from the masquerading thing. Diana wondered if there even had been a Relena, or if it had always been this creature.

"Burn her! Burn her and the boy! That is the only way to save us all!!"

Diana felt herself be lifted by the mayor and be returned to her home.

"Where is the boy?"

"Sleeping!" Diana thought quickly. "Please! Let him die painlessly in his sleep! That is all I ask." She saw him waver. "He is my child just let it be painless!"

He nodded once and walked out- closing the door behind him.

Not a moment later, flames licked at the ceiling and walls. Her home became a raging inferno and Diana could feel the heat blister her skin. "Duo..." As she closed her eyes Diana swore she saw Mediterranean blue. And then it was darkness.

~*~

Duo curled up into a tight ball in the safety of the hollow tree. He opened his mind, searching for the familiar presence of his mother. After a moment he felt it- ::painfearlovefearloveloveloveDuoDuoDuoDuoDuo:: And then there was nothing.

::Momma?::

::MOMMA??!::

There was no answer.

"MOMMA!!!"

TBC...

 

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