Heero hadn't asked for any help to get the supplies, and for once Duo was happy not to give it. He was, in fact, perfectly content to pretend he wasn't a gundam pilot for a little while, to forget the pain and stress of battle and chill out, do a little window shopping, maybe relax at the park or something. Better than to help out a silent statue, or hang around the forest where Trowa was trying to comfort Quatre, who had looked ready to burst into tears all day, but who wouldn't talk about it with the braided pilot.
Duo had tried not to care, but it still bothered him. Was he not sympathetic enough or something? The blonde wouldn't say.
When the red light turned on, he walked quickly across the street along with several other people. He reached the other side, turned the corner, and suddenly saw someone who made his heart leap.
"Hey, Hilde!" he cried, breaking into a wide smile and running up to the girl. She would know what fun things there were to do in this town. She'd know how to help him forget the battle.
"Hey, girl. Intense as ever," he teased, still grinning, catching up and walking in the same stride.
She did look serious- in a yellow jumpsuit, carrying a bag of groceries and a red beret perched atop her spikes, she had the best imitation of the Huy Death Glare he had ever seen.
She walked on without a word.
Duo started walking backward, arms behind his head. After a few moments of the silent treatment, his smile faded.
"Hey," he said, walking forward again. "What's the matter?"
Hilde lowered her head and walked more quickly, brushing into people without apology.
"Hey- Hilde!" Duo cried as she ran away from him. After a moment of hesitation, he ran after her.
He ran after Hilde all the way home, catching up with her at the door.
She flung it open and didn't close it as she rushed in; Duo took this as an invitation.
"What the hell's up with you?!" he demanded as she slammed down the groceries on the table and started putting them away.
"I just came back from this really terrible mission, you know?! I was just gonna ask you if you knew anything we could do together!"
Hilde had been putting away boxes of rice in the cupboard by the sink, in a slow, self-controlled manner. Now she stopped and rigidly stood, hands flat against the counter. For a minute her long, ragged breaths were all that could be heard in the kitchen.
Then, slowly, she leaned over the counter and buried her face in her hands. A choked sob echoed through the room.
Duo stood there, not knowing what to do. For whatever reason Hilde was in so much pain, he wanted to help her. But although he stood only a couple of feet away, he felt a huge barrier between the two, like they were miles apart.
"Hilde..." he said softly, putting his hand out to grip her shoulder. It hovered an inch away, unable to contact. What was wrong with him?! Why couldn't he comfort her when she needed him?
"Duo..." she whispered, in-between heavy gasps. A drop of water fell on her floor. A tear.
"What?" he asked. Maybe now she would tell him what was so wrong.
"You... promised me after the battle at Kingston Base you'd... come back and help me with the business...You promised. But... your promises are cheap. And you went off...battling again." Duo smiled. Was that all?
"Aw, I'm sorry Hilde... I really meant it this time, but this facility was really important. We couldn't let OZ have it, and I couldn't have the others do it for me, you know? Anyways, I hope I can-"
"JERK!" Hilde cried suddenly. Duo flinched like he'd been slapped.
"JERK!" Hilde sobbed. "Never keep your promises- never! Not one single, solitary time! How could you do this to me?! Were you even planning to come back?!"
"JERK! Jerk! Jerk, jerk, jerk, jerk..." her repetition melded into one long croaking gasp, as her tears made a puddle on the counter.
Duo took a step back, as rage built up on his face, frustration in his heart. Anger at her for getting so upset over the stupidest thing, anger at himself for being such a coward. And frustration at the war, which started fights like this.
"Fine," he muttered darkly. "Call me whatever the hell you want. But until you get that this is a WAR, and that I can't always decide to do what I want... When you're finally ready to stop blaming me and start talking about this, I'll be here. Until then- I'm so gone."
With that Duo walked out the still-open door and slammed it shut. Inside, he heard Hilde gasp.
Too emotional. Quatre and Hilde and even Wufei... don't they know that this is a war? That there's pain and suffering and death in battles? They act like it's just started, as if they've never known war before today. Not that I want them to be more like Heero... it's just...they should learn to be stronger. Sure. Yeah, right. They're three of the strongest people I know... Maybe I'm the weak one- maybe I'm weak cause I try to forget the battles, instead of coping with them. Maybe? Yeah. Maybe.
The sun was starting to set, casting stretched black shadows over orange sidewalks and buildings. Without thinking it, Duo had walked into the residential area. Little kids laughed on the streets, playing soccer or street hockey. A puck came right at him and he laughed despite himself, dodging it easily.
Losing his mirth far too quickly, Duo sighed and rounded the corner. Why'd he come here? There must have been some reason.
He looked up the street of giggling kids, laughing neighbors, and babies starting to fall asleep in gossiping mothers' arms.
Such a peaceful town... such harmony. Duo had never been gladder they destroyed that facility. Without it, there was a good chance this city would not know much war at all.
He looked at the people, sitting on their steps, running in the street, all bathed in orange sunlight. One particular set of front steps caught his eye...
He walked over. Sitting on the steps was a little girl. Actually, sitting on the steps was a huge, ancient book of Latin, held by small, cute fingers with red fingernails, bright crimson boots sticking out beneath, and a fluff of pale blonde hair above.
"Hey, kid," Duo greeted her. He smiled at the book. "You a scholar or something?"
Slowly, the girl lowered the book. She had large brown eyes.
She smiled back, revealing large dimples.
"Nah," she said. "It's just that this town gets a lot of people who don't speak Japanese or English... I figured Latin was the place to start. What's your name, Mr.?"
"Duo Maxwell," he said, putting out his hand to shake hers. She ignored it.
"You need some advice, Mr. Maxwell?" she said, putting down her book.
Surprised, he looked closely at her, trying to figure her out. But the girl's face revealed nothing.
He sighed, and laughed sadly. "I guess...Yeah."
The girl looked out at the street, smile fading into a concerned look.
"You were in a battle, werncha, Mr.?" Duo blinked.
"How'd ya..." The girl sighed.
"Despite the looks of this city, the people haven't been spared the pain of war. Haven't been spared the death." She turned back to Duo. "When there are battles, people die. A lot of people don't know how to deal with death. They come to ask me for advice."
Truly puzzled, Duo asked, "But why you?" The girl shrugged.
"I dunno. I guess I've had a lot of dealings with death. And a lot of times after people talk with me, they learn how to deal with it themselves."
Without waiting for a response, the girl bored her eyes into Duo's and talked sternly.
"You want advice? Here's some: go to the person you care about who's in the most pain. That's the person who cares most for you. Go to them and make amends for the pain you've caused them. Only then will you be able to deal."
Pretty wise for a kid, thought Duo wistfully as the girl brushed a strand of stark white hair from her face.
"But when?"
"Now. Right now. Only now- or you'll never be brave enough to do it."
Duo didn't ask why- didn't need to know. He was just glad the girl didn't string him on a loop with riddles or junk. Just told him what he needed to do.
"Thank you," he said, smiling. Jumping off the step, he sped down the sidewalk to where he was needed.
The girl sighed, and smiled sadly at the stars just coming out.
He smiled bitterly as he saw her sprawled, sleeping form on the couch in front of the TV. It was on- a news report. Something about the battle at the facility.
Duo shivered in the air-conditioned room.
"Sorry," he said, smiling apologetically, leaning over her. "I didn't know you were down for the night. I'll go now."
"...no. Please don't go, Duo," she breathed in her sleep. He blinked in surprise, then smiled in recognition.
"I thought you wanted me to leave."
"...no. I was just mad... mad that you left me. I was being such a..."
"It's okay...I forgive you."
"But why... didja have to leave?"
"I had to... the others needed me in the battle..."
"But why... why couldn't you have come back? I miss you."
"Why? I'm right here."
Suddenly, a bright glint of gold under the couch caught his eye. Puzzled, he stooped down to pick it up. Dumbfounded, he stared at the golden cross lying in shadow.
But how? Duo still felt the heavy cross against his chest. Put his hand to it. It was still there.
Duo stepped back in confusion.
"What..."
The announcer was talking.
"After the battle, OZ officials were quick to destroy the remains of Gundam 02, known as the Deathscythe..."
The others... They were never planning to come back for it, were they?
Duo gasped and hit the wall.
FLASH!
...the frigid air... lone figure... possibly the most-laid back... clear cobalt eyes that glistened in the sun... No answer...
...had looked ready to burst into tears all day...but who wouldn't talk about it...
...best imitation of the Huy Death Glare... walked on without a word... as her tears made a puddle on the counter...
..."Were you even planning to come back?!"
..."A lot of people don't know how to deal with death. They come to ask me for advice."
..."But why... why couldn't you have come back? I miss you."
Numb, Duo stared down at his stomach. The midsection of his black outfit was tinted red and damp with blood.
The Deathscythe had been wrecked in the battle. Duo had been badly injured inside. And Trowa had taken him in Heavyarms's fist as the five had retreated.
They had run away to the forest, where they could conceal their gundams. There they looked at Duo's wounds. But it had been too late.
"Hold on, Duo," Quatre said, trying not to cry. "Just hold on until we can get a doctor from the city..." He looked down at his dying fellow pilot, who just smiled faintly.
"Don't worry yourself about it, buddy. I'm already done for... just... just tell Hilde I died fighting, okay? Tell her I was brave. And... and give her my..."
The cross. Duo had told Quatre to give Hilde the cross.
Duo walked back over to her.
"I'll miss you..." she whispered. "I love you." Duo smiled wistfully.
"I love you, too. Now...get a good sleep. Things will be different in the morning."
"Goodbye, Hilde..." Gently he kissed her on the cheek. His were wet with tears.
"Goodbye, Duo."
There was a bright flash, and then Duo was gone.
RaJa's Note: I was just hunting for a snack one day in the kitchen when an idea hit me: Why not do a spin-off of The Sixth Sense in a Gundam Wing fic? Just totally out of the blue.
It seemed like a great idea... but I had to be careful. The fic could easily be too obvious or stupid-sounding, see... or too unlike the movie, people'd find flaws in it. So I just tried my best to be true to the film, without copying it. Anyhow, I hoped you liked it. ^_^