Duo opened his eyes, stifling a groan. He hurt like hell. After being knocked around by the newest Mobile Suits from OZ, then being captured and beaten, he felt like he had every right to hurt.
'Fuck this shit, I'm not dying on my knees. If I have to get executed, I'm gonna keep a little pride. Father Maxwell, I'm sorry, but I'm not a martyr. I don't want to die praying for things to get better...' Duo thought, dragging himself to his feet, leaning heavily on the wall.
"This isn't good..." he murmured aloud. There was the sound of something heavy falling. The door opened, a silhouette in the doorway.
/I'll always remember
It was late afternoon
It lasted forever
And ended too soon
You were all by yourself/
"Heya Heero, I didn't expect to see you here! You really are super human, aren't you? OZ was planning on using me to further their evil plans," Duo said as brightly as he was able. Heero merely narrowed his eyes.
[Target: Duo Maxwell, Pilot 02. Mission: Eliminate.] Heero raised his hand, pointing his gun at Duo.
"Well, I guess that it's appropriate that I should be killed by you. Go right ahead and shoot me," Duo said, closing his eyes. He put on a smile, because he'd vowed that he'd die smiling, no matter what happened. He waited. And he waited.
< What are you waiting for 01?! > a harsh voice in Heero's mind demanded.
~I wanted to be like you
I wanted everything
So I tried to be like you
And I got swept away~
[I can't do it. Mission refused. I'm recovering 02,] Heero thought in return. An angry voice reached him.
< 01, this is in direct violation of your orders. >
[J I... can't do this. I will bring him to you... if you promise not to hurt or kill him. If you do, I will kill you myself.]
< Alright 01... but in return, you must promise to obey me, as long as I don't ask you to hurt or kill him. You must also promise not to hurt or kill me. If you keep your vow, I will honour yours. >
[Ninmu ryoukai,] Heero thought shortly.
"Hey, you're really gonna shoot me, aren't you?" Duo asked, eyes now open. Heero let his arm drop. He picked up the guard's weapon and tossed it to Duo.
"You right hand, it still works, doesn't it?" Heero asked. Duo nodded numbly and caught the weapon. He took a step forward and nearly fell. Heero nodded curtly and put an arm around Duo's shoulders, supporting him as they ran.
"Did you have a plan for getting us out of here, or are you making it up as you go along?" Duo demanded. Heero shot him a serious look that quickly melted into a half-sheepish one.
"I had planned on killing you, I never got any farther than that," Heero admitted. Duo chuckled and winced. Heero gave him a look of concern.
"I'll be okay," Duo reassured. They ended up running into a large hanger filled with Leos. Heero looked around nodded, an idea formulating.
"We can use this..." Heero said. "The new mobile dolls respond to automated data. If something fires at them, they attack." Duo nodded, eyes widening.
"And if all of a sudden, a Leo fires at them, they'll target all the Leos here," Duo said, waving at the Leos. Heero nodded, a slight smile parting his lips.
"Exactly," Heero said. Duo pursed his lips, looking at the rest of the hanger.
"Carriers," Duo said. Heero nodded. Heero motioned to Duo to grab an astro suit while he moved the Leos into place. He pulled on an astro suit himself. Duo looked around for a shuttle. He climbed into the first one and set the auto pilot to precede the last shuttle. Moving carefully, he did the same to the second shuttle while prepping the third.
"They really shouldn't depend so much on machine intelligence," Duo murmured to himself. Heero ran over to the shuttle and leaned his head in.
"Ready to go?" Heero asked. Duo nodded and shifted into the copilot seat. Heero cocked his head in concern.
"I'm still a... little sore," Duo said. Heero nodded, climbing into a Leo. This was going to be risky. He fired at a Mobile Doll, then hopped out of the suit as fast as possible. He quickly programmed the carriers with one or two Leos each to take off from the hanger.
Just before turning to the shuttle, Heero took a shot at a Mobile Doll, making very sure that it took a good look at him. Then he disappeared.
From inside the shuttle, Duo watched with heart in throat as Heero made himself a target. Heero climbed into the shuttle, tearing off his helmet and made the shuttle take off. The other two shuttles preceded them, drawing the targeting away from them.
"Heero... you could have been killed!" Duo managed.
"I had to take out the controllers before they reprogrammed the Dolls to come after us," Heero said curtly. He cursed himself for his rudeness. "I mean..."
"I know what you mean. Where do we go now?" Duo said, leaning back.
"There's a safe colony nearby," Heero said, steering the shuttle to a colony. He was fighting as hard as he could, against the voice demanding he bring Duo to J.
Duo stood on the beach. It was currently fall, around late September as far as the simulated weather of the colony was concerned. He watched Heero strip off his boots and socks and wade into the icy water at the edge of the artificial beach.
/Staring up at a dark grey sky
I was changed/
Heero was staring at the sky, seemingly lost in thought. Duo looked at him, truly seeing him for the first time. Heero was... scared... of something.
~I didn't know that it was so cold
And you needed someone to show you the way~
[I don't want to do this...] Heero thought. [But if I don't, J will have me kill Duo.... and I can't do that... not now, not ever. I'm surprised that it's so cold...]
"Duo, come here for a moment," Heero said, looking back. Duo nodded. He gingerly reached down to pull off his own socks and shoes and to roll up the cuffs of his pants. He waded into the water, wincing at the cold.
/In places no one would find
All your feelings so deep inside (deep inside)/
Duo stood beside Heero, letting the water numb his feet. Heero seemed to be fighting with himself. For the first time, he could see past Heero's cold mask. His worry, his conflict reached parts of him that he'd cut off for his own good.
/It was then that I realised
That forever was in your eyes/
< You will bring Duo. Or you will kill him where he stands. >
Duo locked eyes with Heero, reading their pain and sorrow. And to his utter astonishment, he saw tears leaking from Heero's eyes.
/The moment I saw you cry/
[Ninmu.... ryokai...]
"Duo... I have to tell you something," Heero said shakily. Duo nodded. "I've been ordered to take you to my superior, J. And that's what I'm going to do." Heero bowed his head in defeat. Duo stared aghast at him.
"Heero, why? I don't underst-" Duo began but was cut off by a soft, warm hand that was placed on his mouth.
"If there was any other way, I'd take you as far away from J as possible and protect you, but I can't. I..." Heero dropped his hand and looked away.
Duo slipped his hand into Heero's, clasping it tightly. "If you can tell me, I'm ready to listen. I'll go with you. We'll watch the tide come in, then we'll go see J," Duo said gently.
~So I took your hand and we figured out
That when the tide comes I'd take you away~
"Thank you Duo," Heero said.
/The moment that I saw you cry/
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