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"Halfway to Sublimity"Written By: Kaeru Shisho Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing
or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, male/male pairings, language Pairings: 1x2x1 Summary: When Duo moves to a new town on the river,
he meets a young man running the river and a rich boy who seems nice.
Maybe he'll settle down for awhile, or maybe not. "Halfway to Sublimity" Chapter Six Duo POV (to start) No birdsong graced his ears or rays of sunshine warmed his face this morning. Instead, he felt coated in sweat from the humidity and heard the sound of the fir trees sighing in the wind. Duo languished in bed a moment longer, wishing the night to return and with it his time with the boy in the dream; at least, the part where he was holding his dream-Heero and kissing him. Enfolded in that smooth golden-hued shin beneath rippling muscles with firm, resilient lips pressed to his as hips drove forward, insistent and demanding more-God, yes, yes, yes! His arm swept experimentally across the bed, only to discover the imaginary boy was just that, and that the real Heero Yuy was already up and doing something meaningful, most likely. One of these days he was going to blow it big time and act on his feelings in his sleep-by accident. And then he'd die with a well-placed bullet hole right between the eyes from the gun Heero kept near to his heart at all times. Saved again. His look out the window revealed an overcast day, which meant it would likely be raining and miserable on the river. His heart sank where he figured it would remain for the rest of the trip, maybe indefinitely, maybe forever, maybe get digested by his stomach and thus Duo Maxwell would die by stomach attack! Damn! They were going to Serendipity where they would encounter Hilde and Howard and the rest of his old "chums". Heero would find out how much of a misfit he'd been there. Hilde wouldn't be able to keep her mouth shut, even though he'd written to her over and over pressing the need to "clam up!" No, she would tell Heero to watch out for Duo-or something equally embarrassing. His worry over how Heero would feel about him overshadowed all the concerns he should have had over executing Quatre's "bait and trap the pirates" plan. Suck it up, Maxwell, he told himself, and get outta bed! Heero hadn't so much as looked him in the eyes for days. There had been a time, Duo recalled fondly, that the guy hadn't been able to keep his hands off his hair and now, nada. If Heero had been interested in him, it had dried up about the time Wufei Chang started hanging around them. Why now? The bastard had all year since he'd moved here to run into Heero and woo him. Why now? Duo squelched the jealous feelings struggling to take over his mind with a firm fist to the mattress. Pound, pound, pound Chang's smug mug into the mattress. It didn't help, though. His pompous face stared back at him from the ruined sheets. Heero and Wufei both shared that Asian penchant for wearing inscrutable masks, making it difficult to tell what they were thinking at will. Of course, what was better than Heero's eyes checking him out from under his bangs when he didn't think Duo was paying attention? Answer: that tiny smile that said, "You're the man, Duo, and I like you." Yeah, Heero and him were tight, as friends. It was very clear, however, that Wufei certainly didn't like him, Duo. That meant Wufei was coming to their cabin, helping with the remodeling, in order to attract Heero. They were head to head working almost every evening on that damned addition. It wasn't Duo's fault that he wasn't so handy with woodworking tools! He was a whiz with metal! And gears! And all things mechanical! Except that Heero was good with wood. And...Wufei, naturally, was, too. He'd been okay with the plumbing, but that was all done now. No, things weren't looking too good, Duo thought, which meant maybe he should try some last ditch attempt to own up to his own feelings and tell Heero how he felt. Before it was too late. And at that point Duo realized that he was out of his league. Laying in bed with the air they breathed separating them seemed like the ideal time tell Heero how he had the hots for him. But he hadn't yet. He had never tried romancing another guy-or girl for that matter. Oh, sure, there was Solo. That went swell! Telling his first crush that he'd give him a blowjob was a failure in so many ways. His budding romance with Solo had blown up in his face big time. Being direct was not good, but neither was too much subtlety. Man, he'd been so crafty he'd built a bridge from Wufei to Heero. He dressed wondering where Heero had gone to.He wandered about the quiet house. What Heero was up to? When he couldn't find boy or dog he just shouted, "Ruggles, where's Heero?" The call returned him a "Yip!" from out-of-doors. Duo skipped across the narrow boardwalk over the dugout corner of the new addition. The foundation would be poured as soon as the weather and work schedules permitted. then maybe the building could get done and Wufei wouldn't have any excuse to hang around. And that couldn't be soon enough. When the old tub room had been dismantled, Duo recalled, he and Heero invited both Wufei and Quatre to join them in a rustic river swim and soak. A lovely soak under the stars. Quatre had politely refused. "I'm sensitive to something in the river water," he explained. "It makes my skin break out." Wufei had muttered rapid-fire with a generous blend of Chinese thrown in, "...exposed... lack of privacy... shameless... ," paused to catch his breath, and then had added, "but when it's all done, I'll consider initiating the final result." Duo and Heero ended up skipping that last soak in light of the "shamelessness" of it, and now Duo missed those bonding times with Heero more than anything. Nothing had replaced it and there was a humiliation-in-the-making to look forward to, because meeting the Sweepers would mean that for Duo, sure as hell was waiting to swallow him up when his time came. He sighed. There was Heero in the garden. "Hey, 'Ro? Why'dya let me sleep so long? Don't we gotta lot to do?" "Yeah." Heero straightened from his dirt plot, hoe in hand. "Weeding while I can. It will be too wet later." "Yeah, looks like rain, fer sure. Oh!" Duo noticed the rows and rows of tiny green leaves and slender plants emerging from the dark soil. "That was quick." "It's good, rich soil here," Heero said. "I'm almost done. Our haversacks are by the door. I left the food for you to pack." "On it!" Duo chirped spinning on a heel and dashing for the door in order to avoid being put to work grubbing in the dirt. He and the earth had no mutual love or history he needed to reinforce. He was happy that Heero had he found a rewarding hobby hobnobbing with the worms, but Duo Maxwell was definitively ill-suited to gardening. He was good for what? Housework. Duo wrinkled his nose in distaste, but he swept the floor and tidied the clothes in the bedroom. Lucifer was undisturbed by the proceedings. He slumbered away onto his camouflage of rags by the fireplace, only partly roused when the broom swiped the floor near his nose. The kitchen was nothing more than a sink and work area connecting the living room to the pantry, but Duo cleaned and cleared as he packed food for a couple days away. And he had Lucifer and Ruggles to feed. He set out enough for two days, knowing Todd would stop by if for some reason they didn't return by then. Fifteen minutes later, Duo and Heero were on their way to the Watergardens estate to collect the faux gold bullion. Heero had been quieter than usual, and it bothered Duo to no end, so he blathered for the both of them. He pointed out: birds--"robins," Heero told him; flowers-- "larkspur, columbine... lilies"; and twists and turns in the road that Heero tirelessly told him "have been there on all our previous trips." When the estate was in sight, Duo began to get to the point. "Look, I know you think I'm nuts, being so nervous about seeing the ole gang and all, but, well-" "If is about me," Heero cut in, "don't think you have to introduce me." "No, it's not that, it's, well, I dunno. It's just that they might say stuff about me that's not really true but makes me look kinda dumb." And worse. "Hey, look! It's the Fei-man." "Chang," Heero greeted him in a stilted, clipped fashion, and fingered his ever-ready gun. "Yuy, Maxwell." "Shouldn't you be learning them little kiddies their letters and numbers?" Duo asked. This is my time with Heero! Go back to that hole you crawled out from under. Wufei's stern face darkened further. "As I explained before, summer school is only for make-up work. Primarily, it is for the boys who work at the meatpacker's and who miss class in the busy early winter and spring months. I don't have to offer classes at all, which is why I closed the school for two days, while I accompany you to Serendipity." "That won't be necessary." Believe me, it won't. "No, nada, non, nein!" It was a multicultural denial. Wufei frosted over Duo's objection. "Yes it is." He touched the sword hanging from an ornamental scabbard at his side. "I am in Winner's employ to guard his cache." Well, aren't you important, Duo thought to himself. Actually, he also thought Wufei looked deadly, and only part of the effect was coming from his blistering dark glare. "Quat hired you to guard his fake gold?" "Armed guards always accompany his payments. It is expected and I am qualified." Duo patted his spanking-new, twin-holstered firearms, care of Quatre's fine store room. "Yer kiddin' me Wuuh-" Duo was looking down the wrong end of a drawn sword before he could finish saying "Wufei", but that wasn't all. "Don't move," Heero ground out between clenched teeth. His cocked colt 47 revolver pressed harder into Wufei's temple. "Oh, dear!" another voice called out. "I'm sorry. I didn't inform you about the guard., did I? My company stipulates that payments must be accompanied by adequate protection. Insurance and all." While Quatre explained his situation, Heero and Wufei slowly lowered their weapons. Wufei sheathed his sword with a flourish, demonstrating his superiority. Heero was far slower. When he felt threatened, his trained reflex was to draw his gun and shoot the source of his danger. He had to fight his twitching trigger finger not to now. "Good, I'm glad that misunderstanding is past us." Quatre smiled with growing excitement. "I want to show you the tempting bait." Quatre walked them to an open carriage where a crate rested beneath a wool blanket. He lifted the cover and lid to reveal stacks of tissue-wrapped bricks. "Unless you assay a sample, these are indistinguishable from the real thing." Duo agreed and hefted one. "'Bout as close as I'm ever gonna get to the real thing," he said. Quatre placed his hand on Duo's arm. "It's not real. Remember that. Don't any of you risk your lives over a box of gold-leafed bricks. Promise me that?" Wufei nodded brusquely and shouldered his knapsack. Heero grumbled his assent. Duo could tell that Heero hated the uncomfortable discussion in every way possible. "Okay, Quat, ole bud. Listen, the weather's gonna suck big time, so we oughta go pronto." Wufei, Heero, and Duo hopped aboard the carriage and let the driver drop them and the crate near the dock where Heero's flatboat was moored. Heero clutched at the crate's handle. He intended to heft the immensely heavy crate alone, Duo guessed, and, so, Duo grabbed the other handle and wrestled him for position. They stood there entangled, staring, and willing the other to give in. Duo would move. Soon. Any minute now. As soon as he could sense what Heero was going to do. "Share the load, buddy." Heero tugged irritably, but gave way and allowed Duo one side. Even so, it was nearly too heavy for the both of them. The dark cloud which had settled over Heero competed in "ominous-ity" with the ones overhead. Duo thought about saying "sorry", but for what? Doing his share of the work? Heero's continued bad mood was getting to Duo, but he wasn't going to wilt in the guy's heated glares. He could play at 'tough" too. They stowed their gear, while Wufei settled on what would be his 'seat'-- the crate of bricks-- holding his own bag between his feet. "Damn it all!" Duo swatted at the flies that chose his exposed body parts in particular to satisfy their nutritional requirements. "What is it about me that they just can't get enough of?" "Your sweat is fly bait." Wufei said. "What I said!" Duo glared at the annoying young man. "My point being: why not you?" "Cleanliness." Heero snorted at that. "You smell like citron, not soap." "And," Wufei conceded without argument, "ointment. An old family recipe." He dragged his bag onto his lap and dug around inside. "The active ingredients don't grow here so I send for them." He held the small jar within Duo's reach. "Flies detest its smell." Duo snatched the jar and thrust a finger in the cream. He sniffed it and hated it, but not wanting to be paired with the flies, said, "Not bad," and wiped some on the back of his neck. Wufei suggested a couple other key places and when Duo was done, returned the jar to his satchel resting more securely now on his knees. Duo snatched a peek inside. "You've got a shitload of crap!" "I have assembled a cornucopia of anodynes and amulets containing the secrets of the ancient Chinese. I go nowhere without it. One never knows." "Got that straight," Duo agreed, "er...ah, and thanks. Stuff works like a charm." He wanted to ask if he had any aphrodisiacs in his bag of tricks, but on second thought, decided he didn't want to give the guy any ideas. Duo and Heero took up their punts and launched the boat out toward the river. They maneuvered the nose into the current of the Rogue, and let the steady southern flow carry them on their way. Unfortunately, they were heading into the wind. (o) The storm grew in intensity with wind whipping their clothes and the first rain drops stinging their faces before they were halfway to Tumbletown. Heero yanked a pair of waterproof capes and their hats from the boat's cabin while Duo fought the boat away from the shallows. They took turns dressing for the turn in the weather and keeping the boat from running aground. It required the two of them to handle the boat for any length of time, and the wind was getting worse as they tired. Duo didn't feel like conversation, and Heero seemed to be angry at everything. Wufei had already donned his own raingear and already begun his lecture series on the pirates of Sanc. "Not all infesting rebels and pirates come from the desperate poor," Wufei told them. "Some have included adventurers, according to Governor Treize Khushrenada, who has jailed and put to death many." "Most deserve whatever they get," Heero said. "They stop a flatboat, beat to death the master of the boat and throw them in the water. Then they plunder the freight and burn the boat so there's no proof. They take the looted merchandise to dishonest storekeepers in various towns who give them half of their worth at best. I shoot to kill any and all thieves." Duo grunted. "You must be pretty sure of yourself." Oh great, point that loaded glare at someone else, Heero! If he hadn't run from Solo, and run fast, and, later, run into Howard and been saved, he might be one of those pirates today, or worse yet, a dead whore. Would he have deserved death for stealing to stay alive? A crack of lighting overhead startled them out of their conversation. The storm was on them, ruffling the river. It took both Heero and Duo's strength to force the boat into the wind. "The tiller!" Heero shouted. Wufei stumbled as he moved, gripping the end of the boat just in time, preventing himself from being cast overboard by a gust of wind. He found solid footing and seized the tiller with white-knuckled determination. (o) "I see a light ahead to the right," Wufei shouted. "Starboard," Duo shouted back. "That's the mill at Tumbletown," Heero said. "Lamp's a signal they need a pickup. Can you tell if it's hanging on the up or downstream post?" "South one." Heero lunged into his pole to slow the boat. "We're going in. Chang, hold the tiller!" Docking was hard in the rough water, leaving them breathless. Wufei scraped his hand when the tiller snapped back at him unexpectedly and Duo got a rope burn while trying to tie them off. "I'll check on the shipment," Heero said, then ordered Duo, "You stay with the boat." Why me, Duo wondered? Wufei was going nowhere, his ramrod straight posture reminding Duo of Lucifer guarding his food bowl. He had his sword drawn in the same manner the cat extended his claws. He didn't know what to think of Heero in his authoritative, dominating state of mind. He didn't want to cross him, but he hated being bossed around. "Yeah, right." Duo climbed onto the wharf intending to follow Heero anyway, when a figure moving stealthily into the shadows caught his eye. He remained poised to jump the man, the moment he made his position clear. Were the pirates so bold as to attack this soon, he wondered? He heard traces of a wind-ripped conversation between Heero and another man, and then the two appeared, the stranger leading a mule cart of bagged flour beneath a snapping tarp. Duo's eyes slipped back to the shadows, but nothing moved. "Duo, this is Paul. He's the miller. Paul, this is my partner, Duo Maxwell." Duo greeted the middle-aged, bearded miller with a smile and handshake, the wind whipping his cape mercilessly. "I'm glad Heero found a partner. Been worried about him since Mr. Lowe died. You young folk shouldn't work alone. Dangerous on the river." The miller's voice became lost in a rumble of thunder after that. Duo was eager to get moving. It was all-in-all a bad day. The weather was shit. Heero was in a dark mood. The guy watching them from the shadows gave him the creeps. His back itched with the feel of his braid against skin, where he'd stuffed it out of the way. Being the bait to trap a bunch of pirates had to be better than getting eaten alive here! If it's not bugs it's something else, he groused to himself. Paul helped Heero and Duo haul the bags to the boat and adjust the oilcloth covering. "I'll be right back," Heero said to Duo as he hopped back onto the wharf with the other man. "Yeah, yeah, stay and guard-huh?" Duo gasped when Wufei's face was inches from his. Wufei clutched his arm and spoke directly in his ear so his words couldn't carry in the wind. "There's a man over there who has been watching you ever since we arrived." Duo's eyes followed the imaginary line from Wufei's eyes to the far end of the wharf. Same guy as before, but he'd moved. How had he done that without Duo seeing him? Duo growled, "On it," and pulled free. "Prob'ly a pirate, or a secret admirer, no doubt," he said, casting a broad smile back over his shoulder. Wufei stepped back alarmed by his crazed grin. Duo used the rumble of more thunder to cover his sounds and shadows of creates and ropes to disguise his form as he moved unseen. There was a young man untying the rope securing a narrow slip of a boat. Without pause, Duo leaped onto the smaller boat, gun drawn and directed at the other man as the shallow boat racked dangerously. "Hey!" The figure froze in place. Beneath the wide-brimmed hat dripping water down the back, was a tawny shank of hair and one bright eye. A cigarette burned close to his lips as he spoke through clenched teeth. "Uh, hi?" Duo relaxed fractionally. "I saw you in Tumult. A gambler." He reached over his shoulder and scratched at the nape of his neck. "Sometimes." He moved slowly, pinching the cigarette between the fingers of one hand. "A little money on de side. Bouree' is my specialty." Duo wrestled with the man's accent in his mind, but couldn't place it. The heat under the cape and sweat and bites without ointment and the tickling hair were about to drive him nuts. He yanked at the braid, pulling it free. The single, visible eye followed Duo's hand as it tried another angle to reach his itch. "Got de mange?" "Huh? Shit, no!" Duo noticed the man had green eyes and couldn't be any older than him. "Have you tried herbs? Of course, depends on ware de itch is." His insinuating smile flashed on and off as his green eye roved below Duo's waist area. That set off Duo big time. "Fuck! No! I ain't got a disease or nothing. Fly bites and my hair's pushed under to stay dry... stuff." He whipped out the last of his braid wiggled it for show, and then tucked it safely between his shirt and cape, where it should have been in the first place. "Hair--? Oh, de braid. Showy." The young man counted off ingredients on his fingers, "For de bites natives use a balm wit' chamomile, galium, marigold, curly dock root, an' de bark from weepin' ash you could try." "You a trader with the natives, then?" Where are you from? "Some, once." Trowa dropped his stubby cigarette to the bottom of his boat and ground out the sizzling butt. He adjusted the cuffs of his oilcloth duster and extended one hand. "Name's Trowa," he said. "You plannin' on shootin' me?" "I'm Duo Maxwell." He held out his free hand and touched palms lightly. "And the answer to that depends on whether or not you come clean. You planning on fucking up our delivery?" "No." Trowa uncoiled the last of the rope from the anchoring tie, sending the boat to drifting. "I'm not yer enemy, but dey out dere, sure 'nuff. Dey all heard 'bout de gold. Anyway, I'm goin' t'ru now, but, I gotta warnin'-watch yer back up ahead, mon ami, an' dat of de drover wit' de long pole-ing stick." Duo had to scramble to gain purchase on the dock and heave himself up before the boat moved out from under him. He just made the jump as it was. By the time he looked back, the skiff carrying Trowa had disappeared. "Damned, creepy, prickass CAJUN!" he shouted into the storm. Yeah, he'd finally placed the accent in the southern swamps. Not that knowing that did any more than give him the satisfaction of having figured it out. Yeah, but what was a Cajun who traded with the natives doing gambling the river and sticking his nose into other people's business? Heero waved his arms, signaling for Duo to return to the boat. "I told you to stay with freight, Duo," he said, exasperated. Duo apologized, unwilling to fight Heero and the elements. Blinded by lighting, deafened by thunder and the constant racket of the pelting rain was just no fun. He felt a hand on his arm, and Heero's head leaned in close, his eyes furtive. "I don't like this," Heero said. "Me or the storm or the being bait?" "You are... fine," Heero said, his voice catching either with emotion or the effort of shouting over the thunder. "Have you ever killed a man?" Duo noticed Wufei stiffen. His wary glance towards the other two young men indicted he was listening. Duo wanted to look tough, but he had announced that he wasn't a liar, and he wanted to keep it that way. "No, but I'm a good shot and I've never lost a knife fight." "Let's hope it doesn't come down to hand-to-hand combat with brigands," Wufei said with an adjustment to his sheathed sword. "It's all right." Heero nudged Duo gently. "Apple?" Duo guessed he was attempting to appear in control, but his clipped sentences meant anxiety, Heero-style. When they would get another opportunity to eat again? In a brilliant lightening flash, Duo caught a glimpse of Heero's deep blue eyes, brimming with longing then the vision was lost to the overhanging hat brim. Shaken from that look into his friend's soul, Duo bounded away to the rucksack to search for his composure and the wrinkled apples. What was going on in Heero's head, he wondered, and not for the first or last time. (o) As they progressed down river, Duo wondered how Trowa was faring in his little skiff, but he never caught any sign of him. "The cliffs!" Wufei shouted. Apparently, he had a natural feel for steering and guided the flatboat cross current with accuracy. "I'm taking us closer, but I see nothing." They passed Quatre's inlet and cliffs, but no pirates appeared. No boats at all. Traffic was extremely light on the river, but that was common in terrible weather. Heero directed them in a wide, lazy pattern buying time, lying in wait, and tempting the pirates to attack. But the attack never came. "Winner guessed wrong," Heero said. "We'll head into Serendipity, drop off the flour, and find a place for the night. We'll have a cargo of tobacco and pelts to pick up in the morning then we'll go back to Sublimity." Duo thought Heero sounded disappointed, but not battling brigands was a good thing, wasn't it? "What was that?" Wufei snapped. His eyes scanned the not-to-distant shore. "There! A man!" "I'll have to nickname you Eagle-eye Wu-" "You shall do nothing of the sort!" "Shut up!" Heero roared over the others and the storm. "Listen!" "Isn't that that butt-faced, hodaddy by the docks that-" "Sogran," Heero provided. "Yes, that's him." "He's calling you by name, Yuy," Wufei pointed out. "Yeah. Life's a bitch. Let him find his own fucking ride with someone else." Duo held no warm memories of the man and smelled a fellow thief, but this one wasn't a reformed one. "I must agree (reluctantly) with Maxwell. We should just leave him to his fate and go find a berth for the night." "He's calling for help. Go closer," Heero said. "'Ro, the guy's bad. This place, it's givin' off really bad vibes." Duo's eyes darted about, looking for trouble he was certain was in the offing. "Re-eealy bad, 'Ro." Wufei aimed toward shore. Heero poled forward. "He's never 'hooked up' with pirates, Duo. If we do him this favor we'll have him on our side next time." "Ah, Jeez, 'Ro. Not a rescue to land? We'll be sittin' ducks!" As the boat began to pull in, Eagle-eye Wufei spotted men hiding along the shore. "Hold up, Yuy!" Wufei shouted. "Those men, are they holding him or about to ambush us?" "Fuckitall! Move it!" Duo screamed, plunging his pole into the steel-gray water and throwing his weight into it. "Steer back to the center of the river-NOW!" Wufei looked to Heero for orders, ignoring Duo. Heero rammed his pole past the surging waves and pushed with all his strength wheeling the boat around to catch the current. "Go!" he yelled back to Wufei, not questioning Duo's decision any longer. As they escaped the ambush, another boat launched from its hiding place between the cliffs, and closed in on them. The keelboat was larger than Heero's boat, about seventy feet long and built with a pointed nose and stern. The deck was halfway roofed over, and sported a mast for a sail. There was also a rope so that it could be pulled from men on land, hence, the legends of the keelboating men-- heavy drinking, heavy fighting, and "half-alligator, half-horse." "That's got to be a canal boat from north of Tumult!" Heero said. "No use around here." "Forget that! This is bad," Duo groaned. "We've been had. They're coming too fast." He and Heero poled with all their might and Wufei channeled the current's strongest drift. Even against the wind and rain, they raced downstream toward the outer Serendipity docks. Just when Duo thought they were going to make it and beat the other boat to the relative safety, the keelboat raced alongside and they were suddenly boarded by pirates. (o) Wufei stood his ground, sword drawn, looking confident and totally not intimidated by the size of the men. Still, Heero didn't know the measure of the man. Would he shrink at spilling blood? The pirates wouldn't, he knew. Heero spun putting his back to the wind and cocking his large colt 47, aimed past Wufei's head, and blew away the nearest man. He kicked the body into the water then moved on the next. "Get the gold!" cried some faceless bandit. The wind carried the shouts over the keelboat, menace and evil intent intact. Duo, danced around, edging over to the side. He leaped over the raised edge and onto the keelboat, avoiding his attackers with almost laughable ease. Heero heard guns firing and men falling. He aimed and fired again, using the pole to poke another man overboard. He heard a scream and watched as Wufei amputated a man's hand, collected the firearm from the separated limb, and then fired. The gun looked corroded from neglect and failed on the first try. On the second, Wufei shot him in the head. Heero flinched at the startling brutally. Over the roar of the wind, Heero heard the shouting of men, Duo included-and then not. Where was Duo? Heero glanced around in desperation, terror griping at his heart A cry of "Gold!" cut through the cacophony of sound over and over. With a frantic need to locate Duo, Heero cleared his line of sight with his pole, knocking a man senseless and sweeping him to the floor of the boat. He took two steps then jumped, hurdling the raised edge of his boat, and landing on the pirates' craft. Bullets whined past his ear as others returned his fire, while he blasted a path to Duo. A tall man wrapped an arm around Duo holding a knife to Duo's throat and clutching him to his chest. Greasy blond hair hung in soggy locks that spilled water over Duo's hat. They stood in a puddle of red and Heero found the source. Duo's fist held a blade deep in his captors' thigh and blood mixed with rain ran down the man's leg; his revolvers were gone. Heero aimed to kill. Duo saw him and froze. Don't move. Duo jerked. The bullet blasted into the man's chest just below the shoulder, nicking the heart muscle. Duo's hat flew into the air as the man began to fall. His grip on Duo's shoulder ripped the cape sideways and freed his braid. "K-kid? D-Duo?" the pirate uttered in a sputtering gasp. He tracked the wet brown rope, his eyes loosing focus while staring at the braid slithering just out of reach. Heero plowed forward, Wufei laying down a barrage of gunfire until the revolver ran out of ammunition. He tossed the weapon then backed up Heero with his sword. He batted men away, slicing and stabbing with trained precision, leaving a trail of gore. A cluster of smaller boats, which had set out from the Serendipity docks, circled the battling boats. One, more slender than the others, pulled out ahead and glided into the shadow of Heero's craft. Trowa secured his craft and climbed aboard, hiding behind the cabin while he studied the scene. He drew a pair of knives from a boot, clenched one between his teeth, and slunk forward. Heero bashed a man in the face with the butt of his spent revolver then rushed to Duo who was slumped on the wood boat bottom twisting in the arms of his attacker. The pirate held a hunk of Duo's braid, stroking it with a thumb. As Heero fell to his knees and reached for Duo, he was close enough to overhear the man as he spoke. "Loveya, kid...Shoulda left when yuh did, little bro'. Shoulda..." Blood trickled from the man's mouth and he shuddered. His blood-filled lungs no longer drawing breath, his eyes glazed over, and his body went completely still. A chill washed over Heero's steaming body as he assimilated what he understood: he just shot and killed Duo's brother! "Oh, God... Duo... Forgive me," Heero croaked. "Solo's down! Kill them!" Shouted curses didn't bring Heero out of his shock. A rifle fired and a bullet hit Duo, another pounded into the boat, inches from Heero's hand, and splintering the wood. Wufei's sword rang out and Heero cried out, "Duo! Noooo!" Duo pressed a hand to his bleeding arm and tried to use the dead body as a shield. The effort was too much, however, and as Heero watched, helpless, the violet eyes rolled backwards and closed. "Duo!" Trowa dove for Heero, knocking him flat as more bullets strafed the airspace by his head. "You do him no good dead. Stay down. Boucherie (BOOSHREE-butchering) time is excitin', but now is de time to leave dis Fais Do Do (fay doe doe-- a party featuring Cajun dancing usually in the street or outside)." Heero kicked and pushed the stranger off then clamored to his feet. He caught the stranger by the collar of his long coat. "Who are you?" A sly whip of a smile was his answer, and then a bullet ripped through Trowa's leg, knocking him off his feet.
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