| Sorry for the crossposties again. Disclaimer: I don't own any Gundam Stuff in any way, shape or form. Warnings: same as the last one The Bell Tower: 2 Heero wrapped his fingers carefully around the cold metal of his gun. Running through the flames, he carefully took aim at the figure that stood before him. With a single bullet, he dispatched the murderer, ignoring the expression of pain on the man's strangely blurred face. It was so hot in the building.. a place of hell rather than a place of god. Bodies lay everywhere, resting in pools of their own blood. Some of them were already charred, and some were easily recognizable. He had seen the scene a thousand times, and every time was like the first. The cold outrage and horror that filled his heart tore the mask of the perfect soldier away, leaving a man fully intent on saving the one he loved. Heero ran faster through the flames, only stopping to kill those few assassins that made a stand against him. They were not important, but his goal was. He caught a glimpse of the frightened child as he slipped behind the altar, running to disappear in a hidden door. Heero knew where the door was.. he had run up those stairs a thousand times.. failed a thousand more.. He was so close this time. He had never come this close... Reaching out to touch the handle, he suddenly found himself unable to move. / NO! / Heero screamed in his mind. He had come too close to give up now. Struggling, he tried to force himself through whatever held him, but to no avail. Dark laughter surrounded him as the burning cathedral fell away from him, leaving him stranded in complete darkness. "You try so hard, little one... you should know you cannot change the past." The raspy, masculine voice throbbed into him, coming from all directions at once. "I've watched you play this game for over a year now... what do you expect to get from this? It has been amusement for me, little one.. you attempt the impossible, all for something that doesn't matter." "It matters to me." Heero hissed through clenched teeth, shaking with rage. "That's Duo in there, and I will do everything I can to save him." "Why?" "Because that's Duo." "Why does Duo matter so much? One mortal is much like the next.." "Because I love him!" Heero shouted, balling his fists and struggling once more. "I won't ever stop. I don't care if I never succeed, I won't give up!" Fighting his way forward in the darkness, he nearly fell as flames once more surrounded him. "Go on up, mortal. I weary of this game. I owe you something for this year of amusement." Heero found himself back at the base of the steps, running, he dropped his empty gun, hitting the trap door with the full force of his body. This time, the lock gave easily, old wood and metal splintering to allow him access to the world above the fires. A small child rested near the edge of the platform, his shoulders heaving with silent sobs. Looking up in terror, Duo clutched a crucifix to his chest. "No!" his childish voice screamed as he stared at Heero in horror. Jumping to the edge of the rail, he quickly threw himself off. Sprinting after him, Heero leapt, and caught the boy in midair. Tucking himself around the fragile body, he protected him from the brutal impact with the earth. He felt some of his bones break as he hit the ground, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was the frightened child held safely in his arms. ****** "Heero-koi, wake up... you're having another nightmare!" Duo's voice brought him instantly awake, unable to believe he had won. Staring around in shock, he nearly jumped out of his skin as Duo's body pressed closer against him, fully and gloriously nude. "What's the matter?" Duo asked, snuggling closer and running his hands carefully over every inch of Heero's flesh. "Duo, you said you could never love anyone until you came to peace with yourself... why are you acting like this?" Heero said, biting his lip, hoping the pain would distract him from the unreal vision before him. "That must have been some nightmare, lover. You know I've always loved you." Duo smiled cheekily. "I knew I was meant for you the moment I met you. You looked exactly like the angel that saved me." Duo fastened his lips onto Heero's, silencing his protests and questions. *** Somewhere, Shinigami laughed. |