Disclaimer: I own... I own... Hmm... Okay, Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu own Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I own the story text. Huh? I think Bandai, Sunrise & Sotsu have the better end of the bargain. Oh, well! Story inspiration goes to Ladybug Oblivion. Thanks, babe. (to Lady O) And I'm still waiting for the companion story "Tenryu"! Hurry it up will ya!
It was not alone. Heero Yuy fell into pace behind it, almost invisible, stalking his prey at a distance that would ensure he remained hidden from that which he was hunting. With each twist Heero's curiosity grew and with each turn his suspicions became more intense. The path chosen was obviously meant to throw off or discourage any stalkers and Heero did not for one second like that fact. What the ultimate destination was, Heero could not fathom, so when his quarry halted at the edge of the river, he was sure it had only paused to consider a means of crossing.
He was wrong.
The figure slipped his arms above his head, raised his gaze to the sky and then whispered something in a puff of breath too quiet for Heero to make out. The sky opened up, clouds parting to bathe the boy in pure silvery moonlight. But, the face revealed was distinctly different from the features of the Duo Maxwell that Heero had come to know in the last couple of months. The angles of the face were sharper, the skin paler and the eyes were such a bright shade of amethyst that they seemed to glow with a shallow violet light.
Duo shed his shirt, letting it fall to the snow of the river's edge and then strode directly into the icy current, pausing only when the water whipped about his waist. Duo's hands lowered, his fingertips tasting the waters, before rising again to touch those fingers to his lips in a gentle kiss.
An unexplained sense of discomfort hit Heero, as if he were spying on an intimate moment and then his stomach cramped, cutting off his air and forcing him to look away for an instant. When his focus returned Duo's appearance had gone through an additional metamorphosis. Now, aside from the eyes, which actually were glowing, Duo's shoulder blades supported enormous wings that were so black they were only visible through a peculiar lack of light.
Those wings spread out in a stretch, straining to the very tips of each feather and Duo turned his face heavenward again, cheeks glistening with tears. It was in this pose he stood stone still in the freezing river, a virtual ice statue. The only indication of life in the body was a slow rhythm of steaming breath.
And then the world vanished, dropped off into a sea of blackness. Heero stiffened against the complete darkness, bracing against an attack that never came. What did come was a flash of blinding white that brought tears to Heero's eyes, though he refused to allow them to close. He could not afford to miss what was happening. He still didn't know what was going on. Everything he'd seen so far only raised more questions, but he sure as hell was going to find out. With or without Duo's cooperation.
As the light faded and Duo's shadowy silhouette reformed, Heero noticed how cold his feet had become. He looked down and found himself standing in the water at edge of the river, utterly exposed. At some point he'd wandered away from the shadows that concealed him and now the nearest shelter big enough to hide in was more than a hundred feet away. He'd never avoid detection.
Duo made an effortless turn in the current, his attention immediately ensnaring Heero. He paused only for a second and then smiled, though Heero could tell that it was merely a shield. "Luuucy!" Duo cried out. "You got some 'splainin' to do." The smile vanished and he took a step forward. "That's your line, Heero." Within the next step he spread his hands out. "You can put the gun down. I'm unarmed."
Heero twitched. He hadn't even realized he'd drawn the gun, but there it sat comfortably against his palm. It felt good in his hand and he really didn't want to put it away. When did he get so jumpy? "Whether or not you have a weapon, you're never unarmed, Duo."
"Okay, then." Duo halted his forward progress. "Can I at least have my shirt? A guy deserves a shirt in weather like this, right?"
The subject change only served to fuel Heero's newfound sense of paranoia. He'd always been suspicious of pretty much anything and everything, but that was only caution born from experience. He couldn't rightly comprehend the feeling of fear that chilled the base of his neck at the sight of the thing that Duo had become. "Why?"
Duo gave an exasperated breath, rolling his eyes for impact. "'Cause it's frikkin' freezing, you dolt! Or hadn't you noticed, Mr. Impervious?"
The unexpected answer warmed up the chill a bit. "You're the only person I know who'd insult the guy holding you at gunpoint."
"While I'm half nakkid!" Duo added, grinning. "And besides, I know for sure you've met Wufei. He'd insult the guy holding his first born at gunpoint."
Heero hid a smile. His paranoia had completely fled at the "half nakkid" comment. It seemed Duo was Duo, freaky wings, glowing eyes and all. He hit Duo in the face with the shirt and holstered his gun.
"Thanks man." Duo slipped the shirt on, somehow without disturbing his wings. They still fanned out behind him. "Now, watch the real magic. Abracadabra!" He held out a golden crucifix, "Hocus pocus," tied it about his neck, "Alakazaam!" and his wings dissolved, features rounded off and the shine in his eyes dissipated. He became Duo Maxwell again. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"Not as cool as your cold, dead corpse if I don't get some answers soon."
Duo chuckled, caught Heero's deadpan stare and then flinched. "I know this kind of thing is new to you and all, but you're supposed to laugh after you make a joke." Heero's expression didn't falter. "Or at least chuckle. Grin? Curl up one side of your mouth?"
"Listen," Duo began after a moment of contemplation, "You don't really want to have this discussion out in the open, do you? 'Cause I know, I sure as hell don't."
He had a point. If this, whatever "this" was, got out it was something that could endanger both of their lives and Heero didn't want any curious little birds listening in on them either. "Negative."
"Great! Then how 'bout we head back to Le Chateau d'Firetrap before the rats sneeze and the whole place implodes?"