Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing
Deceptions Part 15: The Return
By Symee-Sama
It was late at night when Duo stumbled into
Hilde’s apartment. He had flown on the last shuttle
out to L2, and it was well past
He walked into her bedroom, closing the door behind him, and sat on the edge of the bed. “Hil,” he said softly, shaking her shoulder. “Wake up.” Her eyes opened lazily before she shut them again. “Hil,” Duo said again. “If you don’t get up, I’m going to dump a bucket of water over your head.”
She turned to face him quickly, glaring at him. “You are such an asshole.”
“Nice to see you too.” He smiled slightly, and gathered her into his arms. “God Hil, I missed you.” She let him hold her for a moment, still dazed with sleep before she pulled away, and looked at him.
“Duo, it’s-” She glanced over at the digital clock beside the bed. “After three in the morning. What was so important that it couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” She asked him, concern in her voice. “Or couldn’t be said over the vid-phone?”
Duo stared at her for a moment, running over his reasons in his head. They all seemed so stupid now, so pointless, and he was sure that she would laugh at him, or call him an idiot for coming all the way out here to tell her something so trivial.
“I –It’s just what happened today.” Duo began, trying to figure out a way to make it seem more important. After a few moments of trying he accepted the inevitable. There was no way to build it up, it would be better if he just came out with it. “Relena visited Heero in jail today, and –” He cut off as remnants of their conversation came back to him. “It was heartbreaking. I don’t know how they could stand it.”
She laid her head on his chest, and asked him to continue, so he did. He told her everything. From the shocked look on Heero’s face when Relena walked in to the pained look in his eyes when she walked out. Hilde didn’t say a thing until he was finished. “They don’t deserve this.” A strange mix of anger and helplessness in his eyes. “They were both so brave during the war, and afterwards, when Mariemaia attempted to take over. They were so…” He trailed off, searching for the right word.
“Selfless,” Hilde supplied, and Duo nodded. “They were both ready to give their lives for the sake of peace.” She continued softly. “Only to be forced through this.” She looked up at Duo, seeing all the emotions in his eyes. Anger, uncertainty, helplessness… They were all there, but hope was there too, and she wished with all her heart that she didn’t have to dispel it. She took a deep breath before continuing. He deserved to know the truth.
“Duo…” She began, hating what she had to say. “She won’t forgive him.” He turned his head so he was looking at her, and she kept talking, destroying his hope. “Relena will never forgive Heero for what he’s done.”
“She’s strong,” Duo rasped. “She’ll make it through this and grow from it. She’ll learn to trust him again.” He was trembling with conviction. “She loves him. I know she does. And he feels the same way for her. So why can’t it work out?”
“She won’t be able to forget.” Hilde said softly. “And he will never forgive himself for what he did to her.”
“It wasn’t his fault!” Duo protested. “He couldn’t help himself!”
“I know that,” Hilde assured him. “But you have to look at it from their perspective, Duo. Imagine if you were Heero and I was Relena. Do you think that I would be able to just forget it and move on? Would you be able to forget what you did, and act like everything was like it used to be? Duo-” Hilde paused for a moment to catch her breath. “I love you more than anything, but if you did that to me… I would never be able to forget it. Never.”
She heard his breath catch at her last statement, and he stiffened. “Never?” He whispered, and she nodded. “Hilde, they don’t deserve this. They deserve a ‘happily ever after’…” He closed his eyes miserably. “It’s not fair. It’s just not fair.”
Hilde wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his neck. “It never is.” She said softly and held him tighter. “It never is.”
* * * * *
Trowa glanced at the blonde man beside him as they entered the mental institution. “Are you sure this will work?” He asked and Quatre shook his head. “Then why are we doing this?”
“We’ve tried everything else.” Quatre said simply. “And it is an interesting theory. I never would have thought of it.”
They had been searching for a way to bring Catherine back to the way that she was for four years now, but all their searching had come to naught. That is, until Heero requested that they visit him. He had an idea. One that might help Catherine.
Trowa had hated the idea, only willing to go along with it because there was a chance that it would bring his sister back. He didn’t trust Heero, and would never accept what he said. But Quatre had been intrigued by Heero’s theory.
If Quatre could find Heero within the recesses of his mind and fend off the Zero system, he was probably strong enough to go inside Catherine’s mind and bring her back to the surface. That was the theory anyway, and Quatre was more than willing to try it.
They nodded politely to the nurses as they passed them, walking quickly down the halls until they reached Catherine’s room. Trowa gestured inside and Quatre entered the room, looking sadly at the woman who sat on the bed in front of him. She was in a fetal postion, her knees pulled tightly to her chest as she rocked mindlessly back and forth, humming a lullaby to herself.
“Cathy?” Trowa walked up to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched away from his touch. “Cathy, I’ve brought someone to see you.” She continued rocking back and forth, staring out the window beside her bed. “Cathy, say something.”
“I’m a murderer.” She whispered, and Trowa felt his heart break a little more. “I killed him.” She said in the same soft tone. Four years now, but she still wouldn’t say anything other than those two sentences. She didn’t talk, or even move from her bed. She simply rocked back and forth, day after day.
He visited her everyday. He had even moved to L1 so he could be near her, and prayed to the God that he had never had faith in for divine intervention. He would do anything to bring her back. Anything.
He glanced at Quatre, hiding his feelings behind his emotionless mask. He knew that it was pointless to try and hide what he felt. Quatre could feel what he did, but it made him feel secure to know that no one else would be able to know how hurt he was inside.
Trowa stepped back from the bed, nodding to Quatre, and letting him take his place beside Catherine. Quatre grabbed one of her hands, gripping it tightly in his, and with his other hand, he brushed away her bangs, placing his hand on her forehead. He smiled reassuringly at Trowa as he closed his eyes and forced his way into Catherine’s mind. “Everything will be fine.” He said softly before his eyes went blank and he exited reality.
* * * * *
This is different. Quatre marvelled, looking around the darkness. This is different from Heero’s mind. He really should have expected differences, after all Heero and Catherine were completely different people, but he hadn’t expected differences to the extent that he felt here.
Heero’s mind had been dangerous. Full of hidden pitfalls, traps, and the merciless Zero system, but Catherine… her mind was the complete opposite. Her mind was open to him, and it would not be very difficult for him to find her.
Catherine? Quatre listened to his voice echo through her mind. Where are you? He felt a slight presence behind him, and turned around. Catherine? He asked quietly as he found himself face to face with a little girl with brown curls. She could have been the splitting image of the Catherine that he knew. What’s your name? Quatre asked, and the little girl glanced up at him before casting her eyes down at the ground.
Catherine. She said shyly, kicking the ground. Why are you here? She asked innocently. This isn’t your place. You don’t belong here.
You’re right. Quatre agreed. I don’t belong here, but I have to stay for awhile. I have a certain duty to perform. Is that all right with you? He asked and she nodded. Thank you, Little One. She grinned at the nickname for a moment before becoming serious once more.
Could you help me? Catherine asked and Quatre nodded slightly, asking her what she needed help with. You don’t belong here. She stated, and Quatre nodded again. Neither do I. This isn’t my place. My place has rainbows and sunsets… She glanced around at the darkness. Not like this place. It’s scary here.
Take
my hand, Little One. Quatre
said softly and pulled her to her feet. I
will try to help you, but I can make no promises. Catherine nodded
seriously, and Quatre knelt beside her. Think of what is keeping you here, and I
will make it go away.
She squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating as hard as she could, and Heero appeared in front of him. He was lying in a crumpled heap with her knife sticking out of his back. I kilt him. She whispered, and Quatre shook his head.
No. He said softly, and Catherine gave him a strange look. Heero is alive, Little One. He’s in jail. He focused on the corpse, willing it to go away, but it remained. Quatre wanted to curse with frustration. Maybe he had been wrong before. Maybe this mind was even more dangerous than Heero’s. He couldn’t control what happened in this mind. He could only hang on and enjoy the ride.
I didn’t kill him? Quatre nodded and Catherine’s eyes filled with tears of happiness. I’m not a murderer? He nodded again and Heero’s corpse shimmered slightly before disappearing. Catherine was all smiles and laughter until she realised that she was fading as well. What’s happening?
You said that you don’t belong here. Quatre explained softly. So I’m sending you home, and bringing back the person who does belong here. He smiled at her, and ruffled her hair before he knelt beside her. Do you see that man? He asked, and pointed at a spot in front of her where Trowa had appeared. She nodded. He will protect you and bring you back to where you belong. Go to him, Little One.
Catherine’s smile returned as she ran towards Trowa and jumped into his arms. She was going home! She snuggled into his chest, and this time, when she started to fade, she wasn’t scared. Because she knew that no matter where she went, he would always be with her.
Quatre smiled at the touching scene in front of him, and walked over to the spot that they disappeared. Catherine. He said softly. You can come out now. She’s gone. He smiled as she shimmered into being in the same spot as Trowa had been.
She’s
not here? Catherine lifted her head, and smiled at
the blond man. I feel like I’ve slept for
years. Her smile grew. How is Trowa?
He will be better when he sees that you are safe. Quatre informed her, and grasped her hand. You’ve been away for a very long time. Let’s leave this place. He said as he exited her mind, pulling her along with him.
* *
* * *
Trowa rushed to Catherine’s side when her eyes fluttered open, and she unfolded her legs, stretching her arms. “Cathy?” He said in a shocked voice. “Is it you?” He pulled her into his arms. “Is it really you?”
She laughed, and he could’ve kissed her for it. He hadn’t heard her laugh in four years. “It’s me, Trowa.” She assured him. “I’m so sorry for leaving you...” She began but Trowa stopped her.
“You’re here now.” He said softly. “And that’s all that matters to me.”
* * * * *
Heero smiled in the darkness of his cell. Catherine was better, and Trowa had come to thank him. He was slowly gaining back the trust of his friends, and he was happier than he had been in years. He had never realised just how much he had needed and wanted their trust until he lost it.
//Why
do you need them?// Zero’s voice entered his mind. //You’ve got
Relena’s face appeared in his mind, and his eyes snapped open. It was true. He would never feel pain again if he let Zero take over, but what about her? Would he cause her more pain than he already had? He wasn’t sure if he could bear causing her more pain.
I don’t need you, Zero. Heero said, pushing the light away. I will never need you again.
//You
can’t escape
You’re right. Heero said smugly. I will never escape you… but I will always fight you Zero. And you will never win. Not again.
//You
can not refuse me for long.// Zero sneered, and the light attempted to surround him again. //You need me!//
No, Heero countered. I don’t need you. You will never control me again because I don’t need you anymore. His eyes softened as a delicate hand appeared through the light, and he grasped it, letting it pull him away from Zero’s grasp. Relena smiled at him, and his heart soared. She was his salvation, she would always be his salvation. Why would I need you when I have her? He asked, and for once, Zero did not have an answer.
The End