Changes Part 5
It took Heero a moment to find his voice. "What are you doing here? How did you-"
"Nope," Duo cut him off, shaking his head. "I'll answer questions after you explain."
Always so damn stubborn! "But Trowa- you didn't just leave him in the spaceport? Did you?"
Duo's eyes narrowed. "You knew Trowa was there?"
"I saw you two earlier, in the cafe."
"We didn't see you- and it wasn't until after you changed-" He gestured at Heero's hair.
"No, I- " Better to show than explain. A quick thought returned him to normal and Duo made a soft sound.
"So that's how you did it. J's work?"
Heero nodded. "One of his modifications."
"He made more than one? No, don't answer that, of course he did." Duo leaned back a little in the chair, studying Heero with a faint frown. "What else?"
Again, it was easier to simply demonstrate. Heero held out his arm. "Find my pulse." Duo did so, his fingers cool on Heero's wrist.
He felt Duo's fingers tighten on his wrist, searching. He leaned forward and touched his fingertips to Heero's neck, looking for the one there.
"I can't feel it- and you... aren't breathing..."
"I don't need to," Heero took a deep breath and started his heart again. Duo gave his wrist a squeeze, looking faintly relieved.
"You started again."
"It feels odd not to- I can't get used to it."
"So that's how you fooled the monitors."
"Yes."
"But the bullets...?" Duo held up a hand. "No demonstration on that one please. You do bleed- and I know you do- we found your blood all over the pirates' control room. Just tell me what he did, okay? I'm freaked out enough as it is."
Heero wondered if he should offer to turn the ship around. If Duo was freaked out- maybe he wouldn't argue about it now that he realized what he'd stuck himself with?
"I heal fast," Heero shrugged, turning back to the console. "I'm not sure how he did any of it- he said the process was too complicated to go into when all I needed to know was how to control what he gave me." Should he ask? Or just turn the ship around?
"Yeah, that sounds like the docs- it was always need-to-know with them," Duo sighed. "But what about now? You said you had to be dead- I don't see why-"
"Duo," Heero cut him off. "Don't you see? I wasn't supposed to stay in one place for long because then people might figure out what I am. J gave me orders- once the war was over I was supposed to go into hiding until I was needed. Then I could assume a new name, a new appearance- and start again." He didn't mention the non-aging, he didn't want to make Duo more afraid of him...
"But you didn't-"
"Things happened- and then the Preventers needed me. Without their efforts we'd be in the middle of another war- you know we would."
"Understood. But now-"
"Now they don't need me. You know that- you left, Trowa and Wufei left- you all said the same thing."
Duo nodded. "Okay- but why not just leave then, like we did?"
"If I was still alive, I'd be getting called back all the time. I don't have a family, I don't have any obligations outside the Preventers- what excuse could I use? If I simply vanished, they'd look for me- you know they would. J said that faking a death was the best way to create a break. I was just- waiting for an opportunity."
"And we gave you one." He couldn't read Duo's expression.
"I am sorry, Duo. But I was stuck in a bad situation- it would've looked suspicious if I had gotten out of it without an injury. It was different when I was on my own- but you two were with me- and I'd have witnesses to my death-"
Duo hunched over in his seat. "Don't remind me-"
"I am sorry. I should have chosen a different time."
That made Duo frown at him. "So you still would've done it. Didn't you think it would upset ...us? That it would hurt?"
"Of course I did, but- Duo, we've all lost friends. You mourn and then you move on. That's what happens."
"Move on? Why would you think we'd move on! How could we without you-?"
Heero didn't understand this reaction at all. "Why wouldn't you? It's not like we were all fighting in the war- or even at the Preventers together. Trowa left to be with Quatre- Wufei left to work for Relena- you left to be with Hilde. We talked maybe what? Once a month? Emailed occasionally? It's not like you couldn't live without me."
"I-" Duo stopped, took a deep breath. "I guess it would seem like that..."
Heero waited for a moment, hoping Duo would continue. "I really am sorry," he said again, when Duo didn't speak. "I didn't think it would matter so much-" He stopped when Duo flinched at his words. He was doing this all wrong somehow...
Pushing his bangs out of his face, Duo sighed. "I understand, I do. I mean, why would you think we'd really care? We... I left you- started a new life- hardly even stayed in contact with you- no wonder you thought it'd be okay-"
Heero wasn't sure what Duo was getting at. "I am sorry-"
"Can I ask- if I hadn't left- or if one of the others had stayed- do you think you'd have done the same thing?"
Heero thought about it for a moment. "Probably not- at least not so soon. The other agents are good- but- well, you know. Though Chang could work with Po just fine, so maybe if it was just him-"
"What if it was me? Would you have left?"
"Eventually," Heero could see the anger rising in Duo's face, so he quickly added: "I'd have to leave. Dr. J said that I'd stop aging- it would be noticeable after a certain period of time."
"Oh," was all Duo said and Heero wondered if he should turn the ship around. He was sure Duo wouldn't object now...
TBC...
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