Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing
Duty

	- by Melissa Koh: safyre@jade-court.darkgod.net -
	- website: http://safyre.tsx.org -



They stood in the middle of the meadow, facing each other. Heero, as 
usual, was emotionless, his prussian-blue eyes devoid of any human 
feeling he might have. He stared straight ahead, in Duo's direction 
without really seeing him.

Duo, on the other hand, was gazing at Heero with hatred in his eyes. His 
long brown hair was dishevelled, as though he had not found time to 
pleat them neatly for days. He was full of sorrow and hatred. Hatred for 
Heero, and sorrow...for someone else.

"Why, Heero? Why? Why did you blow up that colony?" demanded Duo in a 
low voice. That beautiful deep voice was marred by the hate within him.

Heero levelled him an emotionless look and stated simply, "My duty. The 
colony harboured half of the remaining OZ troops."

"Has it ever occurred to you that the OZ soldiers can't do anything 
anymore, now that Treize is dead? Has it even gone through that thick 
head of yours that our mutual friend has killed him? Did you even realise 
that you have just claimed thousands of lives, and among them was Hilde?" 
screamed Duo in anguish. With murder in his eyes, he whipped out his 
pistol and aimed at Heero's chest, forefinger on the trigger.

"Your duty, my duty, everything ends in death, even when OZ is supposed 
to be dead. Relena, Hilde, Dorothy, Catherine and Sally...everyone the 
Gundam pilots cares about, loves, will eventually die, all thanks to 
our god-forsaken duty! Damn duty to the pits of hell!" 

"I loved Hilde, and you killed her, so why shouldn't I kill you?!" asked 
Duo inaudibly. The question was directed more to himself than to Heero 
as he searched his soul for reasons to shoot Heero in cold blood then 
and there.

To his complete surprise and shock, Heero actually replied. "I do not 
wish to defend myself. If I must die, then I die..."

"As much as I love Relena, my duty, my mission, means more to me than 
anything or anyone else. Unlike you, Duo, I cannot and will not give up 
my duty for the sake of love. The fate of Earth and the Colonies depend 
on our success..."

Duo stared at Heero. This was perhaps one of the few times when he 
actually made a long speech like this, a speech that revealed his 
feelings, his thoughts. For the first time since they had met, Heero 
looked almost vulnerable, almost...human.

A playful breeze teased their hair, ruffling their hair, oblivious to 
the grave, solemn atmosphere. They remained still, waiting either one of 
them, someone, to break the endless silence between them. Heero hung his 
head in such a way that Duo could not see his face. Neither did he 
expect to.

Time passed, refusing to stop for them at all. Heero finally raised his 
head, his beautiful sad eyes meeting Duo's own cobalt-blue ones. In a 
weary voice, he said, "I had no idea that Hilde was on the colony, yet, 
even if I knew, I still would not hesitate to blow up the place. And if 
you must kill me, then do it fast. I have no wish to die, but neither 
do I have the wish to live, not even for Relena."

Lowering his pistol, Duo rasped with a tight throat, "I can't, even if I 
want to, no matter how badly. I simply cannot find the courage to do so, 
not if it means causing suffering to Relena..." 

He let the gun drop onto the grass. 

Heero stared at Duo in the same flat, emotionless face. Duo sat down 
cross-legged on the grass, and buried his face in his hands, his knees 
supporting the weight of his elbows. In a muffled voice, he whispered, 
"I can't forget Hilde, and neither will I. Not in this lifetime. I 
will always remember her beautiful face, her sweet voice." He tilted his 
head and gazed into the blue sky, staring at a particularly fluffy white 
cloud as it took on the image of Hilde's features.

He heard the sound of footsteps behind him, and thought that Heero had 
left. It was simply too typical of him. Heero was never one for emotion, 
and for him to stay that long was already a miracle. 

Then Duo felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and saw Heero's 
gentle face up-close .

Heero whispered, "I can't bring back Hilde, but I can at least give you 
some comfort..."

Duo gazed at him with misty eyes, buried his head on Heero's shoulder, 
and wept.

..........................................


Author's Notes: This was inspired by a dream. Really, I'm not joking. 
It's probably inspired by my subconscious jealousy of Hilde's unwanted 
existence, though I have to admit, I'm past and over that stage already. 
In my personal opinion, Duo and Heero would make a much better couple 
than Heero + Relena or Duo + Hilde...ahhh...the obsessions of a 
fanfiction writer...


- End Fic -