Beta written by Snow Tigra.
Gundam Wing: The First Chapter Part 15
"Heero."
At the soft whisper of his name, the Wing pilot's cobalt eyes slowly opened. Blinking against the bright light filling the room, he moaned softly. With a soft gasp, Heero sat up in his bed. "What..." his thick voice began softly as he searched his surroundings. Gazing around the extravagant area, he quickly recognized it as his guest room.
Clothed only in the sheets that were pulled past his waist, Heero lowered his head as he rubbed his face with his hands. After his first experience with Epyon, he only vaguely remembered returning to this room the night prior. It was hard to recall what was real and what wasn't after utilizing the Zero System. Sighing deeply, he lowered his hands and slowly reopened his eyes.
Lifting his head, the Japanese boy whispered to himself, "It... it all seemed so real." Wrapping his arms around his waist, Heero thought back to the embrace that he and Duo had shared. Running a hand through his unruly hair, he shook his head and frowned, "I let myself become afraid."
"Heero," Duo's voice whispered in his mind again. The sight of the braided pilot appeared to him again in a flash. Naked, the other boy kneelt before him as he smiled, "Your emotions can't be hidden forever, Heero. You were raised to be a weapon, but you're a human being, too."
Blinking his wide eyes when the vision disappeared again, the Wing pilot lowered his head as he bit his lower lip. "He called me a human being," he whispered softly to himself with sad eyes. Taking a deep breath after a long, heavy silence, Heero opened his hands and turned them palms up. Studying them with his softened eyes, he asked faintly, "Is it even possible?"
Somewhere deep inside of him, Heero hoped that it was.
* * * * * *
In an abandoned warehouse on L2, a group of eight young, armed men gathered to discuss their plans of action. The only source of light came from the candle centered on the table where they sat. The man in charge leaned forward in his seat as his dark hair shined in the dim glow as he stated, "Our enemy isn't OZ, it's the Romefeller Foundation, a ruling class on Earth."
The brunette to his right spoke up to ask, "But would you seriously consider teaming up with the Treize Faction?"
Gently running a finger over the riffle lying on the table before him as he turned to his comrade beside him to answer, "Our first priority is to regain control of Outer Space. We'll need to take in soldiers of the former Alliance."
Slamming his fist on the table, the blonde across from him shouted, "Absurd! There're no way we could team up with them!"
Calmly, the man in charge replied in a grave tone, "Unless those of us who consider Romefeller an enemy all team up there's no way we can break their control."
"Maybe," the brunette to his right said softly as he turned his head away. Looking to the dimly lit doorway to the storage room, he asked, "What do you think, Duo?"
Leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed and his head lowered, the braided pilot's face was almost concealed by the brim of his black cap. Duo remained silent for a moment in thought before he finally spoke, "Well, it's true that Romefeller is an enemy to us, the Treize Faction and to the former Alliance." He paused once more to consider.
Pushing himself from the doorframe, Duo turned his back to the men as he gazed over his shoulder. Frustration threaded his tone as he warned, "But still, it's just as important to think about what happens once we defeat them. Get in touch with me again once you figured that out." At that, he walked through the doorway to excuse himself.
Sitting up with wide eyes, the leader of the meeting called, "Hey there! Duo!"
Without looking back or pausing in his steps, the American raised a hand as he concluded, "Until then, I'll continue fighting alone... to defeat Romefeller." The men gathered watched as the pilot disappeared into the darkness.
* * * * * *
Waiting in a nearby park for her friend to return, Hilde sat at a bench as she patted a shaggy dog that belonged to a group of children playing in the field before them. As Duo made his way towards her, she smiled up at him, "Hey. How did it go?"
Sighing deeply as he sat beside her, the braided pilot rested his elbows to rest on the back of the bench. Looking up to the sky, he answered, "That meeting was going nowhere." The laughter of the children at play filled the air as the two at the bench remained silent.
Before attending the meeting, Duo had hoped that perhaps there was a chance that the war would be close to an end. There was still the fact that the Colonies were not all aligned in their support for the Gundam pilots and what they were trying to accomplish. Until they had at least that much, the war would never end peacefully. After a long break in the conversation, Duo said softly, "Yea. I wonder what true peace means, anyway." Hilde gasped with a confused 'huh' as she sat up and turned to him with wide eyes.
His own violet eyes wide in realization of what he just said, Duo sat up as he held out his hands before him and shouted quickly, "Uh, nothing! Just delete that!" Laughing nervously, he rested a hand at the back of his capped head as he smiled, "Whoa, was that totally out of character or what?"
Rising to her feet, Hilde folded her hands with a soft laugh and suggested, "Hey, Duo, let's go somewhere really fun."
Blinking his wide, nervous eyes, Duo questioned, "Somewhere fun?" He didn't have a chance to respond as the girl took hold of his arm.
"Yea, let's go!" she smiled before pulling him from the bench. She ran and tugged Duo behind her as the pilot worked to keep up her pace. She urged him to hurry as his 'okay okay's' followed her.
* * * * * *
The circus was filed with people in the stands as the crowd laughed and cheered at the acrobats and jugglers. Clapping from where they sat, Hilde's voice was filled with awe as she said softly, "Amazing." Turning to her friend beside her, she smiled, "See. Isn't this fun?"
Returning the smile, Duo nodded, "You said it."
The ringmaster stepped into the ring as he stood just before the curtains with the spotlight him as he announced, "Next, a performance with a lion- King of the Animals- and a young clown." As the lights came up, a teenage boy in green, baggy pants flipped his way to the center of the ring. Standing in the middle of the stage's red star, dressed in a black-and white checkered top with gold suspenders. A white clown mask hid half of his face while his brunette hair came forward and down in a long bang shielded the remainder.
Behind the clown, the curtains opened to reveal a huge lion as it roared loudly. The crowd gasped and shouted as the beast charged forward as the boy kept his back to him. Hilde's eyed as she folded her hands and leaned forward to yell, "Oh, watch out!"
Just as the lion was about to take him down, the young clown flipped high into the air to land gracefully with one hand on the back of the large animal as it ran around the ring. Applause and cheers rang through the crowd as relieved sighs also filled the air. Hilde smiled brightly, "Excellent!" Awe in her eyes as she rested a hand under her face and sighed wistfully, "I could fall for that clown."
Rubbing the back of his head, Duo's gaze turned up to the tent's top as he snickered, "Yea, whatever." Looking back down on the boy, the braided pilot could have sworn that there was something familiar about him. The clown rode on the lion's back as he waved at the crown in passing.
As he rode before the stands, the boy turned his head to the right, revealing the unmasked side of his face. Instantly, Duo rose to his feet with wide eyes as a huge smile spread on his face. "It's him," Duo announced, "Trowa!"
Backstage, Trowa sat on one of the large crates as he gently blew over a cup surrounded by both of his hands. "Great show, Trowa," a familiar and welcoming voice greeted him across the room. Peering up towards the curtains, the young pilot met Catherine's eyes as she leaned against the wall with her hands behind her back. Dressed in her pink and purple costume, she smiled warmly at him.
"How did I do?" he asked timidly.
The redhead's smile grew and she tilted her head a bit to reply sincerely, "Great! The crowd sure did love you."
Smiling in relief at her reassurance, Trowa said quietly, "That's good."
A hand moved to open the curtain beside Catherine as a braided teenager peeked inside, calling, "Hey, Trowa." The young girl's eyes widened as the boy's eyes lit up at the sight of the clown. His smile grew as wide as it could as he shouted, "It is you, Trowa! Hey!"
Pushing the rest of the curtain out of his way, Duo ran towards his friend. Catherine reached forward a bit too late to stop him as she narrowed her eyes and yelled, "Excuse me!"
Resting his hands on the other pilot's shoulders, the American's gently shook him as he spoke in a loud, hurried rush, "So you were here! Where are the others!? How's Heero!?" Wide, frightened emerald eyes gazed back at him Trowa never replied. Concern filled Duo's voice hen he asked, "Isn't he with you?" A small whimper escaped the other boy as he turned his head away. His own eyes widening in confusion and fear, Duo spoke gently, "Trowa?"
Catherine pushed the braided pilot away as she growled, "Get out." Gently, she rested her hands around the frightened boy's shoulders in support as she glared up at Duo after he stepped back with a confused grunt. "You must be an old acquaintance from his past, but Trowa's not going to be doing anymore fighting," the redhead snapped firmly.
Duo's eyes narrowed in response as he took a step closer to ask, "Trowa? What's gotten into you, anyway?" The brunette trembled in fear as he watched the American with wide eyes.
Hugging Trowa close for comfort, Catherine soothed his whimpers as she told Duo, "Get out of here." Resting his head against her shoulder, Trowa closed his eyes as the young woman's face softened into a sad expression. "Just leave us," she pleaded softly.
Duo's wide eyes fell on his friend in concern as he whispered sadly, "Trowa..."
He stepped back, trying to sort his own thoughts. The back of his foot knocked against another crate behind him. Stumbling to regain his balance, Duo reached behind him to catch the edge of the box. He felt his hand knock something off the top of the crate in his efforts. Quickly, he turned to recover the fallen item when he stopped with a shocked gasp. It was the remains of the small ceramic house that he had given Heero.
"Wait a minute," the braided pilot whispered with wide eyes. "It don't believe it!" His hand reached forward to retrieve the small gift when Trowa rose to his feet suddenly.
"Please be careful with that," the tall pilot said timidly as he took the small trinket in his own hands before Duo could reach it. Duo watched in shock as the other boy gently brushed the dirt from the side of the house.
Beside himself, the American asked, "Trowa...?"
Turning his back to the other boy, Trowa gazed down on the small trinket in his hands as he explained, "I found this when I was wandering the streets of another Colony, but there's something familiar about it." Closing his eyes, he brought the cool ceramic to his lips as he said quietly, "I'm sorry that I don't remember you. I can't remember any of my past or who I really am. I'm not even sure I want to remember." Gazing down on the house in his hands, he begged in a small voice, "Please let me move on with what little I find comfort in."
Duo swallowed back a lump in his throat as he replied faintly, "But... you must remember something."
Glaring at him, Catherine growled deeply, "I'm not going to ask you nicely. Trowa has been through too much to be taken in by the likes of you again. If you don't want security involved, I suggest that you leave." She paused before biting out, "Now."
Lowering his head, Duo made no move to retort. He walked back to the curtains and pulled them aside. Turing back one last time, he frowned sadly as he gazed on Trowa as the young girl hugged him. Closing his troubled eyes, the braided pilot walked through the curtain and let it fall closed behind him.
All around as he walked through the fair grounds, children laughed as they held their parents' hands. Duo walked among them with his head low and his hands in his black pant pockets as his mind wandered. "How did he recognize that house I gave to Heero?" Kicking a small rock, he said to himself, "It doesn't make any sense."
Turning around, he watched as a young boy laughed and tugged his mother's hand with one of his own. The child's other hand clung around the string of a red balloon. His small hand let loose enough for the balloon to float free as the thread slipped through his fingers. The boy began to cry as he called, "Momma! Mommy!"
Duo gasped sharply and clutched his gut as it suddenly wretched. Falling to his knees, he fought the urge to throw up as he covered his mouth. His skin was pale as he panted though his hand, sweat dropping from his brow. The young woman took her son in his arms as she smiled lovingly and kissed his tears away. Sniffing, the boy smiled and hugged his mother's neck tightly. As they walked away, Duo struggled to his shaky feet after a long pause following their departure.
"God, not again," he whispered breathlessly as he wiped away the sweat from his face with the back of his arm. Grunting in effort, he forced his legs to move as he left the fair grounds.
Back in the circus tent, Trowa lifted the small ceramic house before him as he tilted his head and pondered the earlier events. "Heero," he repeated quietly. "That was who that guy was asking about. Running a finger along the edge where the roof had been on the trinket, he said to himself, "I wonder if this belonged to this... Heero he mentioned. He seemed to recognize this when he knocked it over."
Looking up to the ceiling, the tall pilot thought aloud, "I wonder if there is any connection. Maybe if I meet this person I'll be able to put the pieces back together." Gazing back down at the house he commented, "Somehow, all of this has to be tied together." Smirking, Trowa tested the name again, "Heero." Shrugging, he leaned back against the wall. "If anyone could help me, he may be the one."
* * * * * *
Quatre walked towards the large main tent of the circus that he had come across. As he approached the back entrance, he gasped sharply as he froze in his steps. Before him, a teenage boy had his back to him as he knelt before a lion cage. As the lion purred loudly at the boy stroked its sides gently, Trowa spoke to it softly, "Okay. Okay. I'll go get you food."
As he turned his head back, the tall teenager's eyes met wide aquamarine as Quatre whispered, "Trowa?" The blonde's eyes filled with tears as a bright smile of relief lit his face. He whimpered softly as the brunette watched him in uncertainty. "Trowa. It's really you."
Rising to his feet, the Latin boy asked, "Who are you?"
"Trowa!?" Quatre gasped as he took a step closer, only seeming to frighten his friend further.
Crouching forward immediately at the Arabian's voice, Trowa prepared himself to run away as he spoke timidly, "Sorry. Do I know you or something!?"
With fear and shock, Quatre's widened eyes lost their tears as he all but shouted, "What!? Don't you recognize me!?" His feet lifted from the ground as he ran towards his lost comrade.
A few feet from them, a metal pail crashed to the ground as the blonde pilot halted instantly. Both he and Trowa turned to find Catherine standing with wide eyes on Quatre. Quickly, she yelled, "Trowa, get back to the tent!"
The brunette's emerald eyes widened slightly as he replied, "Yea, sure, but sis-"
"Sis?" Quatre's voice broke in softly as he looked back to Trowa.
Catherine's eyes widened as she shouted, "Get going!" Calming herself, the redhead sighed softly and smiled as she soothed, "I'll look after feeding the animals. You go and help the manager, 'k?"
Trowa physically relaxed at her words as he nodded, "'K." Without looking back to the boy who seemed to recognize him, he turned and made his way back to the tent.
Quatre called after his friend, "Wait!" Quickly, he moved to run after him when Catherine growled deeply as she quickly blocked his path, her arms stretched out at other side as she glared threateningly at the Gundam pilot.
The intensity in that girl's eyes was enough lock Quatre in his place. Catherine's voice snapped bitterly, "Why'd you come here? Are you planning on taking him out to fight again?"
Finally, the Arabian's own eyes narrowed as he asked, "Who are you?"
Placing a hand over her chest, the young woman replied, "Trowa's like my brother." Stretching her arms out again, her eyes never lost their fierceness as she added, "He belongs here with us!"
Quatre's eyes widened as he began to protest, "But Trowa is-"
Catherine's eyes saddened as she lowered her arms and pleaded quietly, "I can't bear to see him suffer any more than he already has. He's lost his memories of the past." Her eyes gazed down to the grass at their feet as she whispered, "Because they're too painful for him." Bitterness returned face as her eyes closed to drive the final stake home. "He doesn't want to remember."
Lowering his head, Quatre's own eyes saddened as he said sincerely, "It's my fault. It's all my fault. And I truly am sorry. Trowa sacrificed himself to correct a mistake... that I had made, myself. I know that apologizing won't fix things..." His eyes squeezed closed tightly as his fists clenched. "But I really am sorry," he concluded.
Her own fists clenched, Catherine stepped towards the blonde as he fought to keep himself together. "If that's the way you feel," she bit, "just leave him. Trowa's a lot happier being here at the circus with us." At that, she turned on her heels and ran back towards the tent.
Gazing up as she disappeared, Quatre whispered, "Trowa. I'm sorry." Turning, he made his way quietly from the fair grounds.
Inside the tent, Trowa was sitting in the back room, gazing down on the small remains of the ceramic house he had found. At the sight of Catherine as she pulled the curtain aside, the tall pilot quickly set the house down beside the crate he sat on. The redhead sighed deeply as she walked towards him. "Trowa. I'm sorry about that," she said gently.
Taking a deep breath, the tall boy gave a small smile as he replied, "I know that you're looking out for me, Catherine. But, I don't need to be babysat. I can't hide from the past forever."
Shaking her head desperately, Catherine spoke up, "You want to remember those painful times you blocked out? I'm only doing what I can to look out for you." Concern filled Trowa's eyes as he listened closely. The girl's voice cracked as she continued, "you've been through too much already, Trowa. And you're the only family that I have." Tears rimmed her eyelids before she closed them and lowered her head. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
Rising to his feet, Trowa smiled sadly as he wrapped his arms around her. As she rested her head against his chest with a small sniff, he said quietly, "Catherine... You know that you can't watch after me forever."
Lifting her head to meet his eyes, Catherine's cheeks were streaked with tears as she whispered, "Trowa..."
Gently drying her tears, the tall boy asked, "What happens when the past catches up with me? We both know I'll remember everything eventually. I can't hide from that. I don't want to hide from that." Pulling back, he smiled, "The day's going to come when I have to look out for myself and whatever it is I have to do."
Sniffing softly, Catherine wiped a few more stray tears as she replied softly, "But Trowa..."
Trowa's smile remained as he said, "A parent has to let their kid grow up at some point." Winking at the young woman, he stepped from the room, the curtain swaying closed behind him.
All arguments that swirled in her mind prior to that statement were suddenly forgotten. Catherine stared as the curtain as Trowa's words echoed through her mind, trying to think of something to say in return... Something that would make him want to stay... Something that would prove her own concerns as more valid than that one comment...
In the end, she couldn't think of one thing.
* * * * * *
In the backyard of the small house that he shared with his friend, Duo stared up at Deathscythe. A gentle breeze caused his braid to sway to the side as the silent mobile suit waited. "Leaving already?" a familiar voice asked from behind.
Turning his head over his shoulder, he saw Hilde standing with her hands folded before her. They had not spoken since their earlier argument over the White Fang. Duo was not looking for the recognition that Hilde insisted that he and the other Gundam pilots deserved. He came to conclude that she just couldn't understand. When the war began, neither he nor the other pilots were in the fight to be recognized. They were in it for survival and for the survival of those on the Colonies. He smiled and nodded simply, "Yea."
Sighing softly, Hilde asked, "Do you really think you'll be able to find the others?"
Looking back up to Deathscythe, the braided pilot answered, "They're out there somewhere. I doubt that I'll have too hard of a time. We always seemed to run each other when we least expected." He thought of Heero. A small smile lit the Wing pilot's face in Duo's mind as the American said softly, "This is the longest I've been separated from them, but I know they're always been close somehow." The vision of the Japanese boy faded. With finality in his voice, he concluded, "I'll find them."
* * * * * *
Wing Zero stepped through the fiery remains of a base that it had just taken out. The suit cast its gaze up to a tall rocket standing before it. Looking up the rocket on his monitor, Heero told himself, "My enemy is in space."
His scanners began to beep in warning of an approaching craft as he turned to his right screen. Flying towards him was a large carrier. His eyes narrowed, the Japanese pilot turned his suit to face the craft as he raised Wing's Buster Riffle. Heero's eyes narrowed further as he growled softly. Suddenly, the gold haze from the Zero system reflected in his eyes faded as they widened. "Sally Po?" he asked softly in disbelief.
The braided woman smiled in the window of the carrier as she greeted in relief, "I'm so glad I made it here in time." Heero never moved to lower the riffle as she flew closer. Sally spoke into the microphone as she smiled, "Don't go firing on me. I've got something important to give you. It was a pain finding it, so I want to be sure you get it." Her smiled warmed as she gazed down on the familiar suit.
"Finally, the pieces were coming together," she whispered to herself as she prepared to land.
* * * * * *
In the control room of the massive, silver ship known as Peace Million, the main computers began to ring as they picked up a foreign craft. A brunette officer at his station glimpsed at his screen before turning to the back to the room to announce, "An object's approaching us from behind."
Noin stiffened in her seat as her eyes met the young man. "What!?" she all but shouted back. Howard remained standing at her side as he listened to the exchange.
"It appears to be a shuttle," the young man answered before turning back to his monitor.
Taking a closer look at the old craft approaching them, the young woman noted it gaining speed to keep up with them. Noin's eyes narrowed as she asked softly, "An enemy?"
Howard reassured her, "No. An enemy would have started attacking us long ago."
Taping into the shuttle's channel, Noin's voice took on its authoritarian sharpness as she stated, "This is Peace Million, here. I demand the approaching shuttle respond."
No sooner had her order been sent did a familiar woman's face appear on her screen. She smirked, "I figured you'd be there... Miss Noin."
The ex-Lieutenant smiled brightly at her friend as she responded, "Sally Po."
Sally's smile grew as she informed, "I brought a coupe of strong allies. How about letting us come aboard your ship?"
Meanwhile, at the other end of Peace Million, Duo walked down the halls towards one of the ship's many hangers. As he stepped inside, his eyes fell on Trowa's back as the tall pilot leaned over the railing of the balcony they were on.
"How's it going, Tro?" Duo greeted with a friendly smile as he moved to stand beside his friend.
Trowa turned his gaze back to the American as he returned the warn smile and shrugged, "Not too bad, thanks. Just trying to get adjusted to all of this."
Duo nodded and adjusted his white collar of his priest outfit before asking, "Any luck remembering any of your past?"
Frowning, the tall pilot gazed back down to the floor a good number of feel below them. "I don't remember any more now than I did before I left the circus." Duo's own smile faded as concern filled his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Duo finally asked what had been burning in his mind for quite some time. As much as he wanted to know the answer, his voice questioned timidly, "That little house that I gave Heero... how did you end up finding it?"
Gasping softly, Trowa's eyes widened as he turned to the other boy. "Heero..." he whispered, "I didn't realize that you had given that to him. I thought... It seemed so familiar..." Shaking his head in fear, he said, "I didn't realize."
Sincere confusion filled Duo's eyes and voice as he asked, "Didn't realize what?"
Turning his head away, Trowa replied, "When you first mentioned Heero's name, back at the circus, it was only the second familiar thing to me other than that small house. I thought that maybe that meant-" his voice trailed as he shook his head again. Finally, he smiled back to the other pilot, "I didn't know that the two of you were involved."
Duo gasped as his violet eyes widened in shock. Turning his back to lean against the steel railing, he rubbed the back of his head as he laughed nervously and fought the blush threatening to burn his cheeks. His voice reflected his embarrassment as he sputtered, "Oh... Well... See... We're not really..."
Closing his own eyes, Trowa lowered his head as he chuckled softly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed that so quickly. You must think the thought to be pretty foolish."
"Yea..." the American whispered faintly, "...pretty foolish." Folding his hands behind his back, Duo changed the subject. With a deep breath, he asked softly, "You know that old phrase about everything happening for a reason and everything in life having a purpose... do you think that there's any truth behind that?"
Smiling as he turned to his friend, Trowa nodded, "Of course. Life would be pretty empty if it wasn't."
A small lopsided smirk fell on the braided pilot's lips as he gazed up to the ceiling. Relief threaded his soft voice as he said, "Thanks, man. I needed to hear that."
The doors to the hanger opened suddenly as Quatre ran into the room. An elated smile lit his face as he panted and shouted to his friends, "Duo! Trowa! Hurry! In the ninth hanger! You'll never believe who's here!"
As he stood frozen with wide eyes, Duo didn't need to guess who the Arabian was speaking of. His heart already knew... It skipped a beat at the announcement.
TBC...
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