I was fighting in Deathscythe when it happened-10 to 15 missles shot at me and a good majority hit my Gundam. I was shaking with so much force,and I thought that would kill me. A video link of Heero appeared on the vibrating screen. I screamed and I begged for the shaking to stop.
"Duo??" Heero shouted to me. I am guessing at his side of the link,it looked pretty strange.
I let out another sharp cry of pain and then finally realized that the shaking wasn't going to stop anytime soon. I could feel blood welling up in my throat and I coughed it out. Another missle hit the top of my Gundam. I was jerked forward and my head hit the screen in front of me.
Heero was infront of me in a minute,and he was fighting the enemy himself. Trowa and Quatre were inside searching for some files and setting explosives,so me and Heero were out holding the mobile suits back and getting them away from the base. I let out another startled scream as a missle hit my Gundam's backside.
"Duo..hang in there.." Heero's voice sounded so distant,but I could sense concern..maybe.
I started to drift off,but Heero's voice brought me back.
"Duo..you'll be safe..don't worry!" Heero shouted,slicing through a line of enemy suits.
Blackness swallowed me up,and I couldn't hear or see anymore.
***
My eyes fluttered open then they quickly shut because of the brightness.
"Duo?" Quatre's voice was a little echo.
I coughed and I could feel the blood coming from my throat and exiting from my mouth. I didn't care where or who it landed on. I couldn't move.
"Duo?" Quatre's voice was closer,but it seemed very far away.
The next voice I heard was a little to loud.
"Duo,open your eyes." Heero demanded.
"Don't..yell.." I whispered.
"I wasn't yelling." Heero said.
"You are..and Quatre sounded like he was out floating in space somewhere.." I mumbled and I felt a thin hand brush against my cheek.
I realized the thin hand to be Trowa's and I smiled. Was Wufei here also? Were they all worried? Seems like it..
"You ok,Maxwell?" Wufei asked.
"Yeah,Wu-man." I yawned and attempted to open my eyes again. I failed.
"....." Trowa stared at me---well,I think he did. I could feel his gaze burning into me.
I once again cracked my eyes open,and this time I could see. I sighed and then I felt some hands grasp my clothes,and roughly pulled me up.
"Hey..Heero..stop..I feel kinda sick.." I whined and then the hands let go of my clothes.
"Sorry..." Heero mumbled.
*****
I automatically started to attacked the mobile dolls. I was out numbered-correction,me and Quatre were out numbered. OZ's new model certainly was fast,and I hate to admit that! We got surrounded 17 minutes and 49 seconds into the battle. We failed. Me and Quatre would be captured....unless----
I turned on the video link and stared at Quatre.
"I'm going to self-destruct..it's the only way." I whispered and Quatre glared at me through the link. The blonde's expression softened and he nodded.
"We both have to.." Quatre whispered back.
I sighed sadly and pressed the self-destruct button to the side of the cockpit. The red light started flashing and I leaned back. Quatre pressed the button in his Gundam,and the countdown started. I waited patiently,then closed my eyes right before Deathscythe blew up. I saw Quatre's explosion,then I blacked out.
In the blackness that was my mind,I simply floated. It was like I was face down in a swimming pool,but I could breathe and I could see everything-which was only blackness. Am I dead? I just don't know..I floated around in the blackness and then I sighed. My braid must have unraveled in the explosion,because I could feel the ends tickle my arms and face. Then the darkness disappeared.
My body lay crumpled on pieces of gundanium that used to be my sweet Deathscythe. I couldn't move,but I could breathe. The pain struck me like a thousand gunshots. I lived through self-destruction...I wanted to find Quatre,but I could not move at all. I was in shock. My eyes stared in one direction-straight-and I saw Quatre's body laying 13 yards away. I felt tears rush down my face before the blackness claimed me again.
*****
I heard distant talking. Very distant talking. It echoed,but I could not make out even one word. I couldn't feel my body,or the bed I was on. In my mind,I was still laying in the scattered pieces of my Gundam,staring straight ahead at Quatre. I felt something brush against my cheek and I wondered if it was maybe a bug. The talking became louder and I could make out the words.
"I wish he'd wake up.."
"He was much worse than you,Quatre. I was surprised when you got up a day after we came to get you. Duo's been out for a few weeks.."
"We had no choice..we were cornered by mobile dolls.."
"It's in the past."
"I know..."
I heard someone sigh sadly.
"Do you think he can hear us?"
"Maxwell always has his ears open."
"Hn."
"Aren't you worried about him,Heero?"
"Aa."
"Why do you always act like that?"
"It's the way I act."
"We should get some rest..He's obviously not going to wake up tonight."
The familiar voices that I had grown to love,disappeared. Darkness took over yet again.
*****
I felt air sweep around me,and the darkness left. I still could not move or open my eyes,but I was very pleased that I could still hear. It told me I was alive.
I heard a soft click,and the sound of footsteps.
"Quatre,you've been by Duo for a week straight,maybe you should rest."
"Trowa,I can't leave him!"
"You can."
"I won't!"
"...Ok,Quatre,as you wish."
The footsteps walked further away from me and I heard the soft click. The door. I felt a cold hand grab mine and then I felt slight pressure as the person,I guessed Quatre,squeezed my hand. I suddenly had the strength to squeeze back. I was weak,so my hand relaxed and turned lifeless,like my body.
"Duo..?"
I heard Quatre's voice. So angelic. I wish Heero would sound like that. Trowa and Quatre would be great together,I admit. They do avoid each other most of the time,but I could tell that the two have secret feelings for each other. I would like Heero to grab me and hold me just for a few minutes,so I can see that he doesn't hate me. I have feelings for the stoic pilot. His messy brown hair,his cobalt blue eyes..and I shot him when I first met him. Yeah,he's going to like me. My own thoughts depressed me. I shot the one I love...........
"Duo?"
Quatre's voice shook me from my thoughts. I wish I could tell him I was ok. How was he ok? I guess I am not really used to recovering from self-destruct. Why wouldn't I just die?? Self-destruct-I was supposed to be dead when Deathscythe fell to the ground! Blah! Think about Quatre..yeah. I sometimes wonder if Quatre isn't some angel sent from heaven. I would like to take his shirt off and look for his wings. If he is an angel,then angels really are beautiful. But I am Death..I wouldn't want to hurt an angel..and this angel is obviously being so kind me. Something was forcing me-forcing me through the darkness and towards the brightness. I flinched from how bright the light truly was,then something shoved me back into my body and I realized where I was.
"Duo.."
I felt the soft bed underneath my wounded body. I felt refreshed,yet the pain was terrible. I cautiously cracked an eye open and looked at Quatre. I saw the tears..
"Don't cry,Quatre." I said.
Quatre looked up quickly and stared at me. Tears continued to stream down his face but he looked rather relieved. I smiled faintly.
"You're awake!" Quatre said.
"How long have I been out?" I asked,and I admit,I felt like shit.
"2 and a half months. I was afraid that Heero was just going to shoot you.." Quatre smiled at me. I half-grinned up at the blonde and then my eyes rolled to the back of my head as the blackness tried to claim me again.
"Duo?"
Quatre sounded so distant. I fought the blackness. I fought as hard as I could. The darkness swept through my body,trying to claim my mind,but it disappeared and I opened my eyes. I saw Quatre's worried light blue eyes and I smiled.
"Sorry.." I said.
"You ok?"
"Yep." I whispered. "I'm hungry..I'm gonna get up."
I sat up and swung my feet around so they were on the floor. I stood and headed towards the door. Quatre was right by me,and I knew that he was worried. We walked out of mine and Heero's room,and we headed down to the kitchen. I was walking kind of slow so I told Quatre to walk ahead of me. He did,but reluctantly.
When I walked into the kitchen,4 sets of worried eyes were staring at me. I stared at the other pilots,and I suddenly became dizzy. The darkness was trying its best to take me,but I had to fight it. I staggered to the side and gripped onto the door frame.
"Duo? Duo,are you ok?" Quatre asked.
"Fine. Don't get up. Please..I am fine." I said and I rested my hand on my forehead.
I put a smile on my face,and I heard the other pilots' voices. I went limp and I hit the floor. I heard chairs scraping and I heard a chair fall. I was guessing my friends didn't listen when I said don't get up. I grinned and I focused on the 4 blurry figures kneeling around me. I heard someone ask if I was just joking. That made me grin again. They must have thought that was my answer,because the 4 blurry figures got up and went back to the table. I stayed on the floor.
"Maxwell,get up." Wufei said.
I smiled and put my hand over my head. I felt like shit,and I made it look like I was playing some silly joke. I am good. I wish I could get up so that I could make it look like a joke. I couldn't. I felt like shit. I leaned against the wall and shut my eyes. Breathe. Gotta breathe..
"Duo,are you alright?" Quatre asked me.
I feel like shit,Quatre,but yeah..fine..I would tell Quatre that,but he is to nice to be yelled at.
"I'm fine." I said.
"Will you come to the table?" Quatre stood.
"I would like to stay here...please.." I said,and I sounded pathetic.
"Don't you want anything to eat? That's what you said you wanted." Quatre said.
"I'm not..i'm not..hungry anymore.." I mumbled.
"Duo,what the hell is wrong with you?" Heero asked.
As much as I love to hear that voice,I wanted to kill the son of a bitch for being so cold. I suddenly had the urge to speak up.
"Heero,why do you have to be such a fucking bastard??" I asked,keeping my hand firmly on my forehead,and my eyes closed.
Heero didn't answer me so I laughed.
"There you go again." I shook my head and groaned. "You know what,buddy. I wish I would have shot you in the god damn head the first time I met you. It would have saved us all a lot of trouble." Oops..well,that just popped out of my mouth. I heard Quatre gasp,and I could only imagine how the others looked. Oh joy..
Heero stayed quiet. Hmmm..I'm still alive..that's odd..Well..Should I continue to talk? Maybe not.
"Maxwell?" Wufei asked.
Ah,good ol' Chang..always breaking the silence. I wish the guy would just call me Duo for once. I decided to stay quiet. Good move,Duo. Despite the fact that the blackness was trying to steal my god damn body,I stood and started towards the table. Maybe standing was a bad move. I reached the table just fine,but my body was taken,and I ended up falling on it. At least it was there. It's going to suck replacing all the dishes I ruined. Oh well,they got the best of me,I could feel the blood rushing from cuts. Heh heh..Good ol' Maxwell. I passed out.
I woke up on the table. My friends are swell,aren't they? The dishes were still under me. Funny how no one seems to care about me. Wait,oh no..they're here. Oops..Look at those eyes..light blue,dark blue,brown,and green. So many colors. I can't remain still long because I hate to be stared at. I pushed myself off the table and looked down at my clothes. I frowned. I glanced at the table to see blood all over the broken glasses and plates. Hmmm..I bled more than normal..Quatre stood and came towards me. I stepped back. I don't know why but I stepped back again.
"Stay away from me!" I said. That just popped out..I did not mean that. Quatre stopped.
I stepped back again and my I met the wall. Quatre held his hand out and his mouth started moving. Hell,I couldn't make out the words.
"What?" I asked.
Quatre's lips started moving again.
"What??" I asked,squinting my eyes to look at him.
I saw his lips start moving again. No words. I couldn't make out any words.
"I-I..what??" I asked,pressing my back tightly against the wall. Am I afraid of Quatre? I watched him take a step forward,arm still extended towards me. I slid to the side,trying to get away. Why was I trying to get away from Qautre?
The blonde's lips moved again and I frowned. This boy is not making any sense.
"Huh?" I asked. I bet I sounded real dumb. "I can't hear you,Quatre,speak up."
Quatre frowned and spoke again.
Wufei scowled and said something.
I looked around. I couldn't hear. Oh god. I couldn't hear. I raised my hands and put them over my ears. I couldn't hear. I started to panic. Quatre's mouth moved and he came foward. I ran to the side and slipped out of the kitchen. I ran to the living room and fell on the couch. I picked up the remote and turned it on. Nothing. I couldn't hear. The people on the television moved their mouths,but that's all I could see. I couldn't hear. I grabbed a pad of paper and a pen off of the coffee table then ran back to the kitchen and scribbled down: I can't hear. I held the note up and showed it to the other pilots.
Quatre looked at the note,then at me. His mouth moved and I jumped up and down in pure anger. The anger left my body and I felt tears fall from my eyes. Quatre took the notepad then wrote: Are you sure?
Yes! I can't hear anything!!
We need to get you to a..doctor?
No! No doctors...
I wiped the tears away then I walked from the room slowly. I turned to see the others standing in the kitchen's wide doorway. Heero was leaning against the frame. Trowa was standing next to Heero,Quatre was standing next to Trowa,and Wufei was standing next to Quatre. I started to cry again. I turned to the TV and flipped the station. Maybe it was just the station..yeah. Tears streamed down my face and I turned the TV up a little. No luck. The remote dropped from my hands and they came to my face. Boys don't cry..they don't! But I was..and I couldn't stop.
Quatre came to me. He handed me the notepad and I stared down at the note that he wrote.
Duo,don't cry. Please. It makes me so sad to see you like this..
I can't hear.
I know.
It's not something I want to be happy about.
I know.
I hate to cry..
I know.
Everyone is watching.
I know.
I sniffled and looked up at Quatre.
Fine choice of words.
I know..
I laughed a little and smiled.
I need to get this checked out.
I know.
I laughed again and looked at Quatre. Only he could make me happy in a time like this. I couldn't hear and he was acting stupid just to make me feel better. I grabbed Quatre's arm and pulled him towards the door. The others stared at me and I looked at them. I wrote: Come on! and I threw the pad at them.
I pulled Quatre out the door,and the other 3 followed closely behind. We went to our car. Actually,we stole it. None of us even have a license. We're just five 15 year old kids..we are THE Gundam pilots. If anyone wants to pull us over,then i'll tell them 'fuck you'. We are kids. We are Gundam pilots. I wish we could mention that..it would make things so much easier. I got in the back seat and scooted over to the other side. Heero got in after me,moved to the middle,and Quatre got on the other side. Trowa sat in the driver's seat,and Wufei got into the passenger side.
Heero elbowed me as he shifted. He did that on purpose. I know he did. That son of a bitch! I did something that I didn't mean to do,I attacked him. I just started punching him. Tears were rushing from my eyes and Heero grabbed both of my hands and held them tightly. He said something to Trowa. I glared at Heero,and he let my hands go. I sat back in my seat and sighed.
The car started and we drove off. Yeah,the cops got us. We got pulled over.
Trowa talked to the cop,and the cop stared at me. His lips moved and I narrowed my eyes,trying to make out the words. Nothing. Trowa handed him the pad of paper and the cop stared at it. Trowa scratched his head and said something else and the cop wrote something down and handed it to me. I stared at the note.
You can't hear?
Dumb question,Serlock. I shook me head. The cop stared at Trowa,said a few things,then left.
Trowa started the car and drove off. I sighed. We reached the hospital and I got out and entered the front door. The others drove off to find a parking place. I knew that Quatre must have complained about letting me go in alone. I walked to the front counter and the lady moved her lips. That really pissed me off. I got the note pad out and wrote: I can't hear,then I showed it to her. She nodded,stood,and walked away.
A doctor came around the counter and started doing wierd things with his hands. Sign language.
I wrote: I don't know sign language,Mister. This happened just like an hour ago. I can't hear.
The doctor read the note and looked at me. He smiled at me and took my pen and paper and wrote down: Do you have friends or family here?
Parking the car.
Ok,would you like to wait for them?
Sure.
A few minutes passed then the other four pilots came through the door and they walked towards us.
That's them.
I held the pad in front of the doctor's face,he read it,then looked at the four boys walking down the hall. He stared at me,took the pad,and wrote: Them?
Them.
The doctor smiled and scratched his head. He shrugged and turned to greet the four boys that just showed up. He looked at me and grabbed the pad. He wrote: Are you guys old enough to drive? then he showed it only to me. I grinned at the doctor. He nodded and turned his attention back to my friends.
-----
I paced around. I had nothing else to do. The doc and the others were talking. Heh heh..I couldn't be a part of the conversation. La la la la la...At least my thoughts were in order. A hand touched my shoulder and I spun around and gazed into Quatre's light blue eyes. He pulled me down the hall to the room where the doc and the pilots were. The doctor held up a note that said: I want you to go to that room,put the earphones on,and tell me if you can hear anything. I will continue to turn the volume up. If you hear anything at all,raise you hand or something.
I walked into the small room,sat down,and placed the earphones over my head. I sat there. I saw the doctor press a button,and I knew he must have turned the volume up. I heard nothing. The doc pressed the same button then turned his attention back to me. Quatre,Heero,Trowa,and Wufei were watching me. I yawned. I couldn't hear anything. I am deaf. I yawned again. Sitting in that room sucked. Boring. 5 sets of eyes watching me do nothing..that must be fun,too. I grinned and lowered my head. My bangs hung in my eyes like they always did. I yawned again. The doctor banged on the glass,the movement got my attention,so I looked up.
I sat in there for about another 5 minutes,then I sorta lost it. I stood and jerked the earphones off my head. I left the room,stole the pad from Heero,and wrote: I am deaf. I can even see that. I only needed to know that..I'm going home now.
I turned and headed for the door but Heero grabbed my arm and pulled me back. He shook his head at me and somehow I knew that I wasn't leaving. I scoffed at him and turned back to the doctor. He looked amused. I could kick his ass if I wanted to. Ha!
The doctor moved his lips slowly and I made out: You need to stay so I can find out what is wrong with you. This doesn't normally happen.
I narrowed my eyes and nodded. Then I got mad. Doesn't normally happen? Of course it doesn't normally happen! But,then again..people don't go self-destructing!!! Maybe that has something to do with it..hmmm..
NOTE: Send questions,comments,or insults to PureFire25@hotmail.com and I will probabaly reply.
Go to Part 2!!!
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