It’s been three years after the war and No one ever takes me serious anymore. I tell them that I am going to do it…but the just won’t listen. They all just laugh at me and say, “Sure Maxwell whatever…” I’ll show them…if they won’t listen to me then I’ll get the point across in some other way. He thought to himself. He smiled as he walked into the bathroom. I’m fed up with it. They just go…’baka’ and ‘stupid braided one’…yeah well, if I can’t get your guys’s attention then I’m going to do it. He stopped in front of the mirror and opened the medicine cabinet and looked down at the pair of gleaming scissors. He picked them up slowly with a shaky breath and held them in his hands.
The war is over Father Maxwell…sister…this braid doesn’t remind me of you anymore but of the pain and death that I have inflicted on others. He picked the braid up in one had and held the scissors up to it.
“Duo…where are you?” A voice asked in the other room.
He quickly dropped the scissors in the sink and walked out. It was Quatre. “What?” He asked impatiently.
“Dinner.” He said as he turned back out of his room without another word.
Duo took in a deep breath of air and walked back into the washroom. He leaned over the sink and looked at the scissors. He picked them up slowly and held them in his hands. He picked the braid up and then put the scissors to the thick rope of hair.
“Goodbye memories.” He muttered as he cut the braid off. It fell into the sink and he shook uncontrollably. He grabbed it and then ran into the room and threw on a hoodie and stuffed the braid in the pocket, threw up the hood and ran down the stairs. He stopped at the door and yelled, “I’m going out for a bit! Bye!” And without another word he ran out the front door and down the street. He stopped at the barber shop and walked in, still shaking and white from what he had just done, they took his name and told him to wait. He sat down and put his hands in his pockets and felt the braid with reassurance.
“Duo Maxwell?” A woman asked as she held a piece of paper up. He got up and quietly followed her. He sat down in the chair and she asked what he wanted done.
“Shave it please.” He ordered politely.
“Okay.” She said cheerfully as she picked up the razor. “How short?” She asked.
“An inch.” He said quietly as he looked at the pieces for the razor. She picked the one that was needed and turned it on. The razor buzzed and itched his scalp.
After around five minutes she was done and she turned off the razor and set it down. She wiped the hair off of his shoulders and then took the cape off of him. “There you are Mr. Maxwell.” She smiled as she walked over to the counter.
He paid quietly and thanked her then pulled the hoodie up and walked out of the store and towards the Winner Estate. He smiled as he walked in the door and pulled the hood closer around him.
“What’s up with you?” Wufei asked suspiciously as he glanced his way.
“Nothing.” He said quickly as he walked into the kitchen and took the plate of food off the counter. He popped it in the microwave and heated it up and then when it was done, he stuffed the food down his mouth quickly. He choked couple of times and then when he was done he got up quickly and stuffed his plates in the dishwasher and ran back upstairs.
He walked into the bathroom that led off to his room and closed the door. He took off the hood and stared in the mirror at the figure that was unrecognizable. He rubbed his head and smiled weakly. He shrugged and pulled off the sweater and dropped it on the floor. He walked out of the room and went down the stairs. Nobody was paying attention to him. He whipped the braid out and threw it at Heero. Heero caught it and made a choking sound. He held the foot long braid up, everyone stared at it.
“I thought I needed a change.” Duo grinned stupidly, he opened his mouth to say more but Heero lunged out of the chair but was caught by Trowa.
“YOU IDIOT!” he yelled.
“I told you that you guys never take me serious so I thought I would do something to show you guys that I mean what I say.” Duo shrugged as he looked from Heero and Trowa to Quatre and Wufei.
“So you decided to take the one thing that means the most to you and destroy it? Good thinking.” Quatre said sarcastically as he got up and shoved Duo out of the way. He stopped and looked at Heero, who had stopped struggling. “Heero, I’d knock some sense into him.” Quatre growled uncharacteristically.
“Shut up Quatre.” Duo growled as he walked up the stairs and into his room. He collapsed on the bed shaking. His head felt strangely light and he went to move his braid but nothing was there. He covered his face and sighed deeply.
The door opened and there was a growl as Heero ran over and grabbed him by the hair and yanked him upwards. He straddled his lap and looked him in the eyes. “You are a stupid, stupid boy.” He growled as he raised his fist to punch him.
Duo stood up and Heero slid off of his lap and landed hard on the floor. “Shut the fuck up Heero. I am sick and tired of being ridiculed and laughed at. If you don’t like it then get the fuck out of my sight before I really do something stupid. You are the most self-centered person that I have ever met, you are totally oblivious to everyone else’s feelings but your own. Wake up call…I AM NOT PUTTING UP WITH THIS BULLSHIT ANY MORE!” He screamed. He stood silent and still as Heero got up and looked at him. His cobalt blue eye were now a steel colour and the look on his face was far wore than any that Duo had seen before, he swore that if there was a gun around Heero would have used it without a doubt. “If that’s how you feel then fine, I’ll leave.” He said in a low voice.
Duo shook his head and looked at him. “Don’t bother Heero, I’m the one who’s leaving.” He muttered as he walked into the bathroom and took the discarded Sweater in his hands and walked out of the room not looking back. He walked down the stairs and into the now abandoned living room and took the discarded braid and stuffed it back in his pockets and walked out the door.
He had no clue where he was going to go so he sat down on the step and thought of where he could go.
“Hilde.” Was all he said as he got up and checked his wallet for his credit card. He walked down the road and called a cab. When he got in he ordered it to drive to the airport where he caught the next shuttle to the colonies.
It was three hours after he had left earth and the colony was now in view. The shuttle stopped when it touched down and the passengers where filing out. He walked down the plank way to the airport landing and was met by Hilde who wore a look of sheer disgust on her face.
He beamed a smile at her and tried to hug her. “Don’t touch me Maxwell.” She muttered as she walked away, Duo followed after her.
“What’s a wrong with you?” He asked, scared to find out.
“I know what you did, Quatre phoned me and told me the whole thing. He was crying and seemed extremely upset. Heero has gone off the handle and disappeared muttering something about killing you.” She said as she got into the car.
The two drove in silence, when they got to her house. She walked in the door and threw the door open and invited him inside, he stepped in and frowned at the figure sitting on the couch. He didn’t turn to look at him or even move a muscle, there was another person standing in the shadows off the room.
“Hello Quatre and Heero.” Duo muttered as he turned to leave. Hilde stood in his way, her arms crossed and her contorted with anger. He shook his head and looked from the back of Heero’s head to Hilde. “Let me go, Hilde.” Duo growled angrily.
“No, I can’t do that.” She shook her head.
Heero got up and walked calmly to him. He looked into his eyes coolly and quickly raised a fist and punched hard in the face, with all the strength he could conjure. Duo stumbled backwards and slammed up side of the wall. Heero walked over and grabbed his head and slammed his knee into Duo’s face. Duo fell to the floor and held his nose, which was clearly broken. There was blood pouring from all directions. Heero grabbed his head and hoisted him up to his feet. He growled in his ear “I’ve said my bit, now it’s your turn.”
“Fuck you.” He growled as he wiped the blood from his chin with his sleeve.
“That’s what you cut your braid off for?” Quatre said darkly as he stepped into the light.
“Why do you guys care what I do?” Duo whispered as he held a sleeve up to his nose to stop the bleeding.
“We care because we are the ones who always look out for you like a little child because we’re scared that you are going to do something stupid.” Quatre retorted.
“A little child? That’s what you think? That I’m just some lost little child that everyone can laugh at and take pity on? Maybe you guys don’t know but I’m nineteen! I’ve seen things that other would never dream of seeing!” He yelled until his voice went rasp.
“STOP ACTING LIKE ONE!” Hilde yelled at the top of her lungs. “In case you haven’t noticed Duo, you’ve been acting like a child since the war ended. Maybe if you stopped acting so self-centered and opened your bloody eyes you’ll see!” She explained.
“I don’t act like a child. I have never had the chance to leave you guys since the war, I fell like a prisoner and if I do get out of the house, one of your goonies are always following me!” Duo yelled as he turned to face Quatre. “Don’t act so innocent Quatre, I know all of your men’s habits when they follow me. Peering around corners, following me in cars. Don’t you forget that I’ve fought in the same war as you did and I’m also trained.” The tear welled in his eyes. “Do you think that I’m going to set a bomb I town or something?” His voice wavered.
Heero clasped him roughly on the back of the neck, Duo shied away, expecting to get hit again. “Look at me.” Heero demanded quietly.
Duo looked at him, he frowned to see Heero’s Cobalt eyes glazing with tears. It seemed odd to see Heero cry so openly…well it was just odd to see Heero cry in the first place. Duo looked at him uncomfortably, trying to break to the gaze between them.
“Come back to me.” Heero said quietly as the tears spilled in his eyes.
Duo tried to sniffle but the air was cut off in his nose. “I can’t…please, just let me go. I thought that this would make you stop loving me. Just leave me alone Heero…I…I don’t want you anymore.” Duo said quietly as he walked out of Heero’s grasp. He pushed Hilde out of the way and walked out of the door. He ran down the street and didn’t stop running. He ran until he was blind with tears and his lungs where going to burst. He got on a bus, he didn’t care where it went as long as it got him out of there as quick as he could go.
He stared out the window and wiped the tears away.
“Sonny are you okay?” An old women asked from the other side of the bench.
“Yes ma’am…” He said as he wiped the dried blood away from his face.
“Here sonny.” She said as she stood and moved over to the seat besides him. She handed him a wet nap.
“Thank you.” He said as he took it and wiped his face.
Her face wore a withered smile. “What is wrong?” She asked looking at him with concern on her withered brow.
“I did something very, very stupid and I can’t brig myself to say sorry.” He whispered as new tears flowed down his face, silently.
“Oh…it couldn’t be that bad is it?” She asked.
“Oh…it is.” He said as he pulled out the beautiful braid from his pocket and held it up.
“Oh my, what is that?” She asked as she took the braid in her wrinkled hands.
“It’s my braid.” He whispered as he looked at the braid sadly.
“And this is your big mistake?” She said as she fondled the braid. “The colour reminds me of my husbands.” She whispered affectionately.
“Yes, it was a burden and it is also my memories.” He said.
She smiled and looked at him, her watery blue eyes met his brilliant blue violet ones. “Dear, if this is what you based your memories on then, it’s time to make new ones. Don’t live on the past. My husband said that before he died.” She smiled as she clutched the braid. She blinked and then looked at him, passing the braid to him. “This is my stop.” She said as she got up.
“Thank you.” He said as she walked down the aisle.
She stepped down and looked at him “Remember dear, hair always grows back.” She smiled and said nothing more. She walked out of the door slowly and the bus hissed and drove away. He looked at the old lady as she walked slowly down the street and disappeared around the corner.
He smiled down at the braid that he stroked with his thumb. The stop that he had gotten on at came up and he got off the bus, he slowly walked to the park and sat at the bench and thought about what the lady had said.
Something dawned on him. “Of course!” He hissed as he jumped up from the bench and ran down the street to Hilde’s house. He burst through the door to see Heero sitting on the couch, he looked up and smiled weakly at him. Duo ran over and got to his knees in front of him.
“My braid, what do you think that this means?” Duo said as he grabbed Heero’s hands.
“It’s you’re memories…Father Maxwell and the Sister.” Heero said.
“Yes, but it also reminds me of war and blood and pain…it reminds me so much that I forget why I have it…I forget father Maxwell and Sister Helen. The war is done and I am trying to move on and I’m going to grow my hair out and remember the good things that I have after the war…with you.” He said as he looked up and into Heero’s eyes.
Heero smiled and kissed his forehead affectionately. “Good…come home with me?” He said as he looked at him hopefully.
“Let’s go.” Duo said as he got up and pulled Heero with him.
They two arrived at the Mansion and walked inside. Duo grinned and yelled “HEEELLLLLOOOO!!”
“DUO!” Quatre yelled as he ran down the hall and threw his arms around him. Duo almost fell over from the wait. “I was worried.” He said as he hugged him tighter.
“Okay Quatre, buddy, you’re choking me.” Duo gasped.
Quatre withdrew his hug and accidentally hit his nose. Duo cussed and held his throbbing nose. “Gomen Nasai.” Quatre said as he looked at him sheepishly.
“It’s alright Quatre…just warn me next time.” He said as tears gathered in the corners of his eyes.
“Hey baldy…you looked stupid with the braid but now…you look like elephant man.” Wufei said sarcastically as he made a face.
“Yeah well, at least you have nothing to yank on now.” Duo said.
Wufei turned white and clasped at his bleeding nose.
“BAKA NO HENTAI!!” Duo yelled in delight as he chased after Wufei.
“Are you sure you want everything back to normal?” Trowa asked quietly as he walked through the door from the living room.
Heero cringed as he heard a yelp in pain from the kitchen. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.” He said slyly as he walked off to rescue his koiboto from Wufei’s head lock.