09-Oct-2000
Title: Demons
Authors: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com
)
Archive: GW Addiction http://www.oocities.org/fenris_wolf0/ and if she chooses, Darkflame http://members.xoom.com/riouka/gwpage.html
Category: yaoi, angst
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 1x2, 6x5, various
Warnings: LEMON. Angst. AU - we do not guarantee that our interpretations of characters or events will agree with yours, so a general OOC warning.
Spoilers: Series, EW
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here. As with all our fics so far, while our goal is to stay as in character as possible, any discrepancies are our mistakes.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
NOTES: This is part of the Frozen Colony Arc, and takes place following The Hunt. If you are not familiar with the timeline and are curious, you can find the stories on GW Addiction and on DF's site. On GWA on the Bonne&Von page, there are numbers denoting which stories are FC Arc and should be read in what order.
Duo's demons appeared first in Down Time in Hell, and reappeared in Dancin With My Mirror. This is a fic to explore their existence and origins. Liberties are taken with Duo's history and original characters from ESO appear, and events from that fic are referred to.
Heero shivered slightly, taking Duo's tongue deep into his mouth, devouring his lover. Moving his hands around Duo's shoulders, Heero pushed him down gently on the bunk and moved over Duo's body. He sighed, feeling Duo's fingers in his hair and that incredible acceptance and intoxicating touch that never failed to ignite his senses.
Breathing deeply, Heero moved back slightly, kissing Duo's jaw. "We'll go back to the bay later, when they've all calmed down a bit," he said, quietly. "We can make a better assessment and grab what we need and go. That sound like a plan to you?" he added, unfastening Duo's top, and leaning down to kiss and taste Duo's warm skin.
Duo lay back against the bunk. It wasn't very wide and with Heero leaning over him he felt... snug. Safe. He heard the Japanese boy's words and processed them slowly, through his increasing heat. "Y-yeah," he said, as those wonderfully soft lips moved over his skin. "A plan... grab and go..." That was almost exactly what he had been thinking when they got there. Seeing the large ship fragment had stirred something up in the back of his mind, but he couldn't think about it just now. He reached up and pulled Heero's top over his head and dropped it on the floor.
Heero felt the cool air touch his skin and pulled Duo's shirt off and deposited it with his own on the floor. Leaning back down, he kissed Duo's stomach and moved his mouth upward, taking one of the braided pilot's nipples into his mouth. He felt Duo move underneath him and moved to the other side of Duo's body, repeating his actions.
Duo's back arched and his eyes closed as he felt Heero's mouth move over him. He was already hard and aching. His hands moved down Heero's neck, across his back, stroking skin, then raking fingernails lightly. Familiar voices in his head taunted him merrily, pointing out his weakness, commenting on his inability to concentrate on anything when Heero touched him, kissed him, wanted him. Even the taunting didn't bother him. It was all very true.
Duo lifted his mouth to the warm skin of Heero's neck and shoulder, kissing and licking the skin, teething briefly, then licking again. Taste, scent, feel, filling his senses. He pushed his hips upward, against the body pressing down.
Heero inhaled deeply as he lifted his head slightly. Moving up, slightly, he pressed his mouth to Duo's once again, groaning as he felt press against him. He then moved his hand down and between the two of them, finding the fastening of Duo's pants and opening them. Deftly, he slid his hand inside, seeking and finding Duo's hardened flesh, then grasping him and claiming him once again.
"Heero..." Duo breathed, pressing harder into his lover's hand. His teeth closed over the skin of Heero's shoulder, biting, not to hurt, but wanting to feel the skin and muscle. Duo suddenly shifted, moving Heero onto his side with the wall behind him. Reaching down, Duo performed a similar capture, pushing his fingers deeply into his lover's pants to wrap around what belonged to him.
Heero moaned as he felt Duo's fingers wrap around his aching flesh. His hips moved forward of their own volition as he reached out for Duo with his free hand. Looking into Duo's beautiful eyes, he swallowed hard. "You ... are..." he began, then licked his parched lips. "I... want you... a lot," he managed, pulling Duo in for a deep, hard kiss.
Groaning into the kiss, Duo flexed his fingers, pulling and moving back in time with the kiss. Those words from Heero, as always, went deep into his core. Heero never lied. His emotions were too real to ever be mistaken. There was never any possibility of doubt.
"I know," Duo breathed into Heero's ear, kissing and licking it. Then his eyes sought those deep blue pools. "I don't know why..." he said, his voice thick. "But I know you do..." Suddenly Duo laughed, blinking away some excess moisture from somewhere. "You could have anyone... why me... makes no sense..." Duo kissed those beautiful lips again, and released his grip, so he could begin pulling at the Japanese boy's pants to get them off.
Heero moved his hips in an effort to assist Duo removing his pants. He shook his head, looking at Duo. "You cared about me," he answered. "I didn't expect that. I saw it in your eyes."
Duo looked up at those words, suddenly feeling his heart in his throat. His eyes went wide, vulnerable, almost shocked. He started to say something but words wouldn't come. Closing his eyes, he suddenly clung to Heero tightly, as a little more liquid spilled down his cheeks. Where was that coming from?
Heero looked down, feeling his chest tighten. "Damn," he swore quietly as he wrapped his arms around Duo, holding him against his chest. He felt the sting of tears behind his eyes and glared at the wall. "It's ok," he said, as his vision blurred, irritating him to no end. "Don't worry about it, koi. I didn't mean to scare you." Blinking a few times, he found that his vision cleared up substantially, but the result was that his cheeks were damp. Straighten up, soldier, he commanded himself.
Duo shook his head. Heero's arms were very solid and strong. Tucking his head onto Heero's shoulder, so he wouldn't be looking into his eyes, he made some words come out.
"Heero," he managed. "I said... I was all right... and I am... but I'm not..." He swallowed. "I'm okay, because I have to be, you know? Like we always... had to be. But... everything... it makes me think about things... I don't want to. Makes me remember... and that makes me feel...." the last word was a whisper, "...unworthy."
Heero felt his shoulders slump a little. He understood Duo completely. Moving back a little, he looked into Duo's eyes. "I understand," he said. "Because I'm still trying to figure out what it is you see when you look at me. All I have ever known is fighting, and getting through it. I tried to explain it to Relena once, but I don't think she understood. I just did what I was told to do." Cupping his hands around Duo's face, Heero leaned forward and kissed him softly. "You helped make me feel human. Whether you deserve anything or not, I don't know. I'm here because you touched me. That's all. You don't have to be worthy to love. I got that from you."
Duo heard the words and once again felt a shock go through him, because they were... the right words. He wrapped his arms around Heero and kissed back, pouring his heart into it. He had just been given permission to be unworthy.
After the deep, breathless kiss, Duo leaned back for a moment. "Ai shiteru, Heero," he said. "I love you." It felt... easier. It was okay. Reaching down, he quickly wriggled out of his own pants. kicking them off the bunk. He kissed Heero's neck and rubbed his body against the Japanese boy... against that beautiful body housing the most amazing soul. The beauty Heero could not see himself... but which Duo knew was apparent to everyone around him.
Heero's eyes closed as he felt Duo move against him. Duo's precious words to him sent shivers through his body and washed through his soul. Heero had no doubts. He believed. Moving, he shifted Duo back down against the bunk fully. He kissed Duo's neck, chest and stomach, then moved lower, opening his mouth to claim his prize. Taking Duo's flesh into his mouth, Heero closed his eyes and moved down capturing the entire length of his love, tasting him. He felt the familiar heat rise within his body, but something more pronounced became apparent to him. Moving his head up and down over the hardened shaft, Heero felt the luxury of time stretch out before him. He didn't need to rush or hurry. Duo wasn't going anywhere. They had time.
Gasping, Duo's back arched as he felt Heero's mouth surround his aching flesh. His hands moved, twining into thick locks of hair. He moaned, surrendering completely. You want me, Heero? Whatever you want is yours to take. His hips flexed, controlled by the hot wet touch. It didn't take long. Soon he cried out, thrusting upwards helplessly as his body released its fluid.
Heero held onto Duo, feeling the warm liquid coat his throat. He drank deeply from his lover and opened his eyes only when he felt Duo's body settle. "Hn," he remarked, moving up finally. "I love you, too, Duo," he said, and it felt solid. Placing his hand on Duo's thigh, he gently stroked him, still feeling his own body aching deliciously.
Heero then moved his hand between Duo's legs and underneath, as he rubbed along the small entrance at his lover's rear.
Duo groaned, and spread his legs apart, hooking one over Heero's thigh, giving greater access. His hands flattened on Heero's chest, then slid around his body drawing them together. "Yes, yes, *yes*," he growled in his lover's ear, pressing towards those fingers.
Heero did not disappoint. He removed his hand briefly and brought his fingers to his mouth, making them wet. Reaching back down, he slid one of them into Duo's body, moving it back and forth, before adding another. He felt Duo's body tighten and relax around his hand as he built up a steady pace. "This is where I wanna be," he said, against Duo's ear.
Rocking with the touch, Duo turned and nipped Heero's neck. "Then get in there!" he growled softly. His hands tightened, kneading the flesh of Heero's back and moving down to his rear. "Please..."
"Hai," Heero said, moving his body into position quickly and efficiently. Soon, he felt Duo's body envelope him in its warm tight sheath. "Duo," Heero breathed, moving all the way inside his koi.
"Ahhh..." Duo breathed, as Heero moved inside him. He kissed Heero's cheeks and neck. His eyelids dropped down and he pressed against the invading flesh, impaling himself deeper.
Heero chuckled a little, then began rocking in and out of Duo's body. Moving his arms underneath Duo's shoulders, he held the braided one securely as his body took over with its own rhythm. His hips rocked faster, plunging him deeply into Duo's body, repeatedly. Heero closed his eyes and held on.
Duo moaned softly as the movement and impact brought little explosions of pleasure into his body. He held on tightly to Heero, again surrendering to the sensations. As the pace increased, he began to shudder, pushed to the edge by the feel of his lover's shaft moving inside. He cried out as his body clenched hard around Heero.
Heero heard Duo's cries and a moment later, added his own to the space. His body stiffened and shuddered as he released deep inside Duo's body. A few more thrusts and Heero felt drained and breathless. He leaned his head against Duo's shoulder for a moment, then moved around to kiss Duo deeply and lovingly. "I don't know who has who," he said, quietly. "And I don't care."
Duo sighed, relaxing against Heero's solid form. "Someday," he whispered, "I'll show you what I see." He dropped light kisses on each of Heero's eyelids. "I'll find a way."
Heero nodded and then settled down against Duo. "Hai," he said, breathing in Duo's scent.
Stretching a little, Duo settled also.
'There will be consequences,' Eligor yawned, unable to fight the lassitude.
'There are always consequences,' Astaroth murmured. 'It was needed. Wasn't it, darkchild?'
'What consequences?' Duo thought uncertainly. To Heero? No!
'Lovesick idiot,' Eligor quipped before he stilled completely.
'No, to you, darkchild,' the midnight voice was fainter. 'You trade protection now for strength later... it's a choice.'
Oh, Duo thought, not understanding but content with the first answer. To *me* is okay. What does it all mean?
His mind pulled pieces together slowly. Purity... exhaustion... love...
"It weakens them for a while," he murmured aloud. "No, not weakens... tranquilizes... *satiates*..."
Heero's eyes blinked open as he listened to Duo speak softly. He was becoming accustomed to paying attention to what was said. Somehow, he felt as though Duo's demons were speaking to him. "Hn," he remarked softly, turning the words over in his mind. Leaning his head down, he gently kissed Duo's forehead. Tranquilizes, he thought. Is this what this is... what I've been doing? He sighed deeply. "So what *are* you doing Heero?" he murmured aloud.
Duo reached up, touching Heero's face. He looked searchingly into his lover's deep blue eyes. Then he felt a sudden spasm of internal tension. "I... I have to..." Blinking, he kissed Heero hurriedly, as if being pulled away, and swung off the bunk. He grabbed his clothes and began pulling them on. As he moved, his hands began to shake slightly.
Heero frowned, moving to get dressed as well. He didn't say anything, but made himself at the ready, mentally ticking off things like Duo's shaking hands and his demeanor. Suddenly, there wasn't enough time or room for reflection of self-recrimination. The mission was on.
Looking into Duo's eyes, he nodded once. "Let's go," he said and headed towards the door.
Duo finished getting dressed, noticing Heero was ready before he was. His mouth quirked in a slight smile, then he felt his stomach twist. Pressure... inside... urgency...
*Bring me such an artifact.*
...swallowing hard, he tried to get a grip on himself, and the words came back to him. They... they had been shielding him from this... this compulsion... dimming it, giving him time and space to think. He'd felt it, pulling, more distantly in the bay, but compared to this... protection now for strength later. They'd given him his moments with Heero so he would be stronger, later, but for now they could no longer shield him from the force inside that pushed him to move... no... to obey...
He caught up with Heero, grabbing his hand and squeezing it hard. Then he slipped around the Perfect Soldier and took the lead, heading for the bay not quite at a run, slowing to the appearance of a normal pace by using all his will.
Heero felt the familiar calm slide over his senses as his temperature cooled. The Perfect Soldier followed at the God of Death's heel, open and alert. He had been informed that heavy artillery was not needed in this situation, but Heero never included his personal sidearm as a part of any catalog of weapons. His hand moved back in a quick gesture touch-confirming that he was indeed prepared.
Civilian personnel, elimination unnecessary, he thought to himself, mentally including Alfa in his calculations as well.
Duo took a deep breath, forcing his heart to slow. It was almost impossible with this *urgency* squeezing his chest but he had to find a way. 'Gotta get a grip,' he muttered to himself, and then suddenly he knew how to do it. A part, and yet not a part of those internal voices...
When the door to the bay opened, Shinigami walked through it.
Alfa looked up as the bay door opened and saw Duo and Heero enter. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned them both quickly. She didn't need a sixth sense to tell her something was wrong, only the eyes of each of them. Duo's wide violet eyes were... cold. Her son's.... calculating targets. There was no point in wondering or speculating what might have happened. Alfa recognized the feeling in her own gut. It started happening long before this moment. Things were simply starting to become unsheathed.
Professor G's attention was focused on Duo. He'd seen that expression before. So we're back to playing with an armed weapon, eh? he thought.
A ferocious scowl flickered over his mostly hidden features as he realized this troubled him. The boy... what trouble was he in now? This was the real reason Alfa was here, not the wreck. She cared about all these boys, not just her son. Uncomfortably, G began to realize that he cared more than he liked.
"I found your flop," Duo said to Alfa as they crossed the space. "Did you manage to pry anything out of Professor Tightlip here?"
"Some," Alfa said. "Apparently he has a specialist working on recreating a battle simulation. This is supposed to help them project where in the Belt to hunt for more pieces of the wreckage."
"Hn," Duo said, his eyes scanning information on the monitor over Alfa's shoulder.
"What about a catalog of what they've picked up so far?" he asked.
"I have that, right here, young pilot," a new voice said, as someone entered from the other side of the bay.
The tall man studied the small group gathered around the Professor's main working console as he walked over to them.
Alfa looked over sharply and her eyes narrowed as she looked over the young man, who appeared to be in his twenties.
The gun was in Heero's hand before he could think. Visually, he confirmed the target as he asked and answered questions that were flying through his mind. What the hell is he doing here? was followed quickly by *Epyon*. The barrel of the gun tilted up slowly. So, this was their expert? he thought, as the irony of it stretched his lips into a small smile. He glanced back at Duo and then to the Professor. In a way, he felt a small amount of pity for the old man.
"Treize," Heero said, walking over to him and extending a hand for the disk of information.
Treize glanced from Heero's face, to the gun, still out but no longer aimed directly at his chest. He smiled slightly and placed a disk into Heero's other, extended hand.
Duo watched impassively. He recognized Treize and a part of his mind also asked, and answered the same questions Heero had been doing, as he realized that Treize had somehow managed to get involved in the Sweepers' project. However his normally amiable expression was absent. He noted Heero's gun materializing with an internal approval.
Treize... Kushrenada? Alfa thought. Great, just effing great.
Heero looked up at Treize as he took the disk from him. "Day job programming," he said. "At least, they got the best."
Treize tilted his head slightly as his eyebrows rose. "A compliment from 01?" he said, smiling slightly.
"Just because I didn't quite understand your mobile suit, doesn't mean that I didn't admire its design," Heero replied. "And don't make me say it twice." he added.
Treize bowed.
Alfa listened to this exchange and snorted softly.
Heero took the disk over to Duo.
Duo accepted the disk, looking at it with narrowed eyes. He handed it to Alfa.
Then he looked at Treize. "Now, what did you leave off the catalog?" he said.
Professor G's eyebrows rose invisibly under his mop of hair. The boy's instincts were never wrong.
Treize studied Duo. "Several things," he said. "Including this."
The tall man reached into a pocket and pulled out an object roughly the size of his palm. It had once had a symmetrical shape but along one edge it looked damaged... as if the solid had become liquid for a short time and run slightly. It was possible to see that it had once been an eight-sided polyhedron, flat, with two or three graceful, simplistic markings or irregularities along the flat upper surface.
Treize stroked one of the irregularities with a fingertip and what appeared to be a visible field sprang into existence in a spherical shape about three feet in diameter around the object. This apparent field also seemed affected by the damage to the object, being slightly warped along the corresponding edge. The field glowed slightly and threads or tendrils or shapes of light, or different colors and intensities appeared to move and change inside the field. There was also a barely-audible vibration that could be felt for some distance outside the field itself.
"Are you inside or outside?" Heero asked Treize. "And can you tell if it's protection or weapon?"
"Neither," Treize answered. "At least as far as I have been able to determine. This is the only thing that has been recovered so far that has any type of active energy at all. What it is or what it was supposed to be for," he shook his head. "I can guess endlessly, speculate, but even those speculations are at this point without foundation. My... hope... is that it is a recording of something. The patterns repeat... but it takes a full 36 hour cycle, roughly, before they do."
Heero nodded as he looked up at Treize. "Could it be a beacon of some kind?" he asked. "You know, a signal to others like itself, or something?"
Alfa managed to not knock over her chair as she stood up abruptly.
"I have been unable to detect anything being broadcast, or projected, beyond a distance of a few feet," Treize said, watching Heero closely.
Heero looked over at Duo. "Is this what you need?" he asked.
Duo studied Treize's face. "It will probably do," he said. "Or would, if it wasn't a fake."
The smile that lit up Treize's face was completely uncontrolled. "You're good," he said, admiringly.
"Get real, it's an old trick," Duo said.
Alfa sat back down, mentally cussing out everyone in the room.
The barrel of the Perfect Soldier's gun angled back up towards the former Oz general. "Your call," he said to Duo.
Treize touched the object and the light show disappeared as well as the vibration. Then he reached into his pocket again and removed another small object of close to the same size. It looked a lot like the first one, though the damage to the edge was more severe. Treize also handled it carefully, touching only the undamaged part. He did not touch any of the irregularities or anything and nothing happened. He simply held it up.
"I got the idea from this. It's the real thing. If it does anything, I have not been able to detect it, but there is a faint energy reading, barely detectable," Treize said.
"Another fake?" Alfa growled softly. She was not happy about the scare she'd just gotten.
Duo walked up to Treize and reached out for the object.
"Be cautious," Treize warned. "I don't know why, but if you touch the damaged part... it's painful."
Duo plucked the object from Treize's fingers deftly, handling it the way Treize did.
The moment he touched the small artifact, he felt something stir in the darkest corners of his consciousness. He felt a slight wash of vertigo. From the shadows in his mind, they murmured at him, unintelligible, almost inaudible. It was the first time he could remember the Old Ones making any effort to communicate except in his dreams. The faint effort left him shaken and dizzy.
"This... is real," he said softly, trying to focus. He turned and handed it to Heero, as carefully as he could, as the murmuring grew louder in his head.
Heero took the object, holding it as he had seen Treize do it. "Hn," he remarked. The object felt odd in his hand, and he had a very slight urge to put it down and wipe or wash his hands.
Heero looked at the object in his hand and glared down at it. "It's strange," he said, softly.
Duo released it as quickly as he could to Heero and then his hands went involuntarily up to his head as the murmuring disoriented him. He closed his eyes and breathed rapidly, but the murmuring subsided slowly as soon as the object left his hand. After a moment, his eyes opened and he dropped his hands.
Alfa watched everything intently. Duo's reaction to the object moved her forward and the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the woman's cobalt blues staring at him from inches away. She touched his face for temperature and then his wrist for pulse. Though not a doctor like Oma, she had still picked up a number of basic skills over the years.
Duo blinked, stepping back. Alfa smiled slightly, then stalked over to Professor G, who had been watching with a scowl covering his confusion.
"You make note of that, Gordon?" she hissed softly.
"Jumping to conclusions again, Alfa?" Professor G said, concealing his emotions.
"Damn skippy," she growled back.
Heero looked back at the object. "Settle down," he said, softly as he put his gun away. He placed his now free hand on Duo's shoulder. "Is it time to go?" he asked.
Duo dragged his attention back from Alfa and the Professor. He found he could feel the object through the contact with Heero. "Nearly," he said. "Need... some kind of insulator, something to put it in."
"Hn," Heero remarked and walked over to Treize. "You weren't just packing this thing in your pocket, or were you?"
Treize smiled slightly, his attention going rapidly from one focus point to another throughout this. "Actually I was. But I think I can rig something for you. Something to keep it in. Curious... do you feel anything, Heero?"
Heero sighed. "It just feels, well it felt a little weird when I took it. Like I wanted to put it down and wash up. Did you get that reaction?"
Treize shook his head, his expression quizzical. "No. But most of the Sweeper crew members who've handled it had a similar reaction. Nothing as strong as young Maxwell."
"Hn," Heero remarked again as his mind worked through a sudden idea, quickly. "Duo," he called. "Treize seems to be immune to the effects. Wanna take him with us to visit the Monsignor?"
Treize eyebrows shot up.
Duo looked at Heero and a ghost of his usual grin flickered into place. Then he shook his head. "Can't," he said. "Just you... I can't... trust it to anyone else, Heero..."
"Can't?" Treize murmured softly. "Intriguing." Then he turned. "I'll be right back. With something you can use to carry it."
"Fine," Heero said, watching the tall man leave. Walking over to Alfa, he asked. "So, why isn't he being affected by this thing?" he asked.
Alfa looked at her son sharply. She met his eyes for a long moment. "It might have something to do with the fact that he's not Colony-bred," she said softly.
Heero's head tilted at the answer. "So, we're different," he said.
Alfa touched his check gently. "Seems so," she said.
"Pity," Heero said. "I was kinda looking forward to Elvay's reaction when we handed him this thing." He looked into Alfa's eyes. "But it doesn't matter that much, the differences. We all seem to think the same way... human."
Alfa hesitated, then she put her arms around her son. "It's doesn't matter at all," she said. "Because there's nothing anyone can do about it. It was man's choice to move into space. Man... adapts."
She gave him a quick hug, then moved back.
Heero listened carefully, thinking about Alfa's last comment. He nodded in agreement. "Hey," he said, "I find that I like hugs. Makes me feel human."
Alfa smiled.
Heero smiled back and then his expression changed as a new thought came to the forefront. "If we're different, then Duo's even more different. So far, this thing has affected him the most, the strongest. The only other person who has reacted this strongly has been Quatre," he said, then shook his head. "Don't know if that's relevant or not, just a thought..."
Alfa nodded. "I've been thinking about that too. Been looking at you guys' DNA information. I don't know anything yet, not sure if I ever will figure it out. But there's more to it than that, isn't there, Heero? Duo and this man, this Monsignor?"
"Yes," Heero said, unable to keep the anger, frustration and pain from his eyes. "I have my own suspicions and few answers, but it's... complicated. My inability to act as my will and conscience direct me to is causing a little stress."
"You mean you want to blow the guy away," Alfa guessed. She sighed. "That's caused me a few problems over the years too."
Heero looked at Alfa somewhat relieved. She understood. "I just console myself with the notion that it's going to be completed soon. I have some ideas how I would like to see it end, but I don't know how it will all work out. If I don't wind up having my way, I'll be spending some time on a practice range or a dark room somewhere," he answered. "You have my respect. I couldn't handle this for years."
"Yes you could," she said, grimacing. "It's just a question of how well. I didn't always do too good at it so don't use me as your role model, okay? I have faith in your heart," she said, touching his shoulder. "And if you need help kicking the guy's ass to bits, let me know."
"Hai," Heero replied with a slight bow.
Alfa tilted her head slightly. "There's one other thing I want to pass along to you. I don't know exactly what is going on, but as far as Duo is concerned, the main thing that's important isn't whether there is some genetic reason, some psychological reason, or something beyond those, which results in a perception of the world that may be different from other people's. What matters is that he has someone he trusts, who will support and accept his view. I was luckier than I deserved to be, Heero. Follow what your heart tells you in this, as in everything."
Heero nodded. "I will and thank you. It helps," he said. Then he wrapped his arms around Alfa and hugged her tightly for a long while. "You're my bonus, Alfa," he said, quietly, before letting her go.
While they were talking, the Professor walked over to Duo. He studied the young man closely as he did so.
Duo turned and watched the gray-haired scientist approach.
They looked at each other for a moment or two.
"What's happening, Duo?" Professor G said finally.
Duo met the piercing gaze. "I don't know, Prof," he said. "I never know. You're usually the one with the answers."
G looked at the boy in front of him, remembering with crystal clarity the first time he'd seen Duo, a stow-away on a Sweeper ship when he was twelve, all defiance and spunk.
"Perhaps not all those answers were right, Duo," he said slowly.
Duo tilted his head. As he looked at the scientist, G ducked his head slightly, and turned, going back to the console to return to his work.
Duo stared after him for a moment. He shook his head slightly. It wasn't possible, was it? For that old man to care about him?
End of Part 16 - TBC
What do you think?
bonnejeanne & vonceia
Please send comments to: bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com