This was
just a little inspiration that drifted into my mind durin' a
chemistry quiz. Ah, such works one can create when workin'
stoichiometry. Not much to warn against. Some angst I guess, and
you could call this a death fic, sort of. Beware, I'm not quite sure
how good this piece is. I winged alot of it since it strayed from
the line I had previously imagined and it was an hour by day work.
Norm disclaimer. GW no mine, though how I wouldn't mind it bein' so.
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The Turtledove
By RenataUsha
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Sunshine...and birdsong...terror screams...and death.
Shouts are surrounding, suffocating us. Why are they yelling so
much? There's no reason to. The table is a complete mess while
guests are running around fleeing in horror. The crack of shattering
dinery and the rustles of swinging tableclothes and curtains. I
can't see what's happening! Trying to break the way though the
massive crowd. It's only one person. What happened...where-is-? My
view clears onto the open hall end...no... A view between the
scurrying people...
The scent of lavender and lilacs floats in the vibrant air...
He's waving that weapon around. Why is he-doing?... His eyes are
locking this way, cold, calculating...but what is he pointing that
gun at? What-his harsh gaze trails around the open hall, over the
rafters, the violet curtains before resting here again. A step
forward... his eyes narrow, a flash of something in them...
Oblivious movement echoes behind... The sameunusual feeling as he
raises the black metal toward here, safety off and trigger
squeezing. Wh-? The same feeling in the word..."No one, but me."
And his arm is blown through. The others tackle him to the ground
and push the gun away. 'No-one-' No, past the table, catch his eyes
as they lead him off. The crimson slowly wades out over the oak
floor as I fall to my knees...
One small birdsong watches in the sunny trees...
~ ~ ~
"Sir. Sir. Wake up, sir." A soft vibration fanned through the old
mattress. An exhausted groan escaped him as he shifted his stiff
bones. The deep purple irises sized when the warm sunlight touched
them. The golden bath poured though the raised window revealing worn
pine furniture that lined the whitewashed walls, the large double bed
in the middle. The same light reflected off of the golden head of
the lady who hovered over the bed's occupant. She lightly rapped the
sterile sheets again. "Mister Maxwell, it's time for your
medication." When his tired eyes came to rest on her, she flashed a
kind smile before turning to the old nightstand cluttered with
inhalers and pill bottles. She poured some from each vial and gently
lifted the ceramic pitcher to pour a glass of water. After carefully
setting the glass and medication down, the young murse helped her
patient tp prop himself up against the light pine headboard. She
fetched the supplies again and placed them in his thin hands. "Here
you are, Mister Maxwell."
A soft call chirped through the window with the breeze from the
nearby cyress tree. Another cheery smile washed overthe nurse's
face. She turned back to her patient and took the empty glass
away. "Your friends have come calling again today?"
"Mm-hmm. Only Livia today, though," Duo replied watching the tree
branches rustling. "I guess the others were busy, but Liv is always
here. I swear, she's been with me ever since-then..." He let his
sentence trail off as a griefing rememberance flashed over his
features. After a moment, he shook it off and turned toward the
lady. "Tell me, Kat, what's she doing now?"
Kat moved to the breezy window and peeked outside. A giggle escaped
her once she spied the oddly little turtledove, dusty grey and
fluttery, bouncing along a thin branch cooing out high soprano
notes. "She's having a lively time out there," she reported
back. "Livia nearly never has a rest, doesn't she?" she inquired
back to Duo.
"No, she rests though sometimes she visits me at night. She been
coming more frequently nowadays." Suddenly, a spasm chain of racks
and coughs overcame him. Kat rushed back to his side and helped him
to lay back down onto the rumpled bed covers. She reached down and
pulled up the thick throw over him. As she announded her normal
leave, he reached out a wizzled hand grabbing her wrist. In a hoarse
voice, he asked her to tell him how everything was going. He insisted
despite her saying he needed rest.
Finally she convinced him to release her. Kat pulled a cream
upholstered chair over to the bedside and settled herself into it.
He tiredly closed his eyes and released a deep breath. Her sweet
alto voice filled the room about them in her normal happy tone.
Listening to the soft, familiar drone of young Kat, his mind drifted
back to his dream, a vague memory to his eternal milestone and their
last promise to each other. Thoughts drifting back to the past and
his dreams along the silent birdsong echoing from the cypress tree.
~ ~ ~
Kat softly shut the door behind her with a heavy sigh. She stood
there motionless and her hand still on the brass knob, her
sympathetic mind lingering on the sad man inside. Only the steady
ticking oof the grandfather at the end of the hall stirred the
darkened space. After a minute, heavy steps echoed down the black
hall. A warm hand clutched her shoulder as a warm breath leaked onto
the neck under her bunned tresses. She let one hand release the knob
and rest on the one on her shoulder. "How are you, Kat?" the deep
voice inquired in a concerned tone.
Kast turned aroundand smiled reassuringly. "I'm okay, Trieze. I'm
only worried aobut Mister Maxwell. He's getting worse. I don't
think this is just another relapse." She let another series of tears
escape as she leaned on against Trieze. He wrapped his other arm
around her waist drawing her in closer for comfort.
He let a dampened sigh out as he peered down at her golden head. "I
know. Maybe Mister Maxwell's just tired of it all. He lost more
than just his heart long ago."
Kat's face sharpened in anger. She clutched Trieze's pale button up
and leaned in closer. "Only beacause *he* killed her. She was his
heart," she snipped out venomly.
A tired look took over Trieze's features. "Because *he* lovered her,
too, but she loved Mister Maxwell. Besides, he's probably still on a
penal colony in some remote cluster." He pushed her out at arms
length to look into her eyes. "Now. How about we get ready?" he
perked out. She softly smiled an affimative excusing him off saying
she'd be down after one final check.
Suddenly, an odd melody floated in through the hall end window. Kat
quietly stepped overan lifted the pane. Leaning out on the white
painted beam, she peered out over the still neighborhood aglow under
pale moonlight. A soft smile passed over Kat's lips as she
recognized Mister Maxwell's turtledove companion. She turned to go
down the hall, but halted for a moment. Shaking her head slightly,
she rushed down the stair with a bewildered expression adorning her
toward the odd floral scent lingering in the hallway end.
~ ~ ~
How long ago had it been? That norming. How long? Her hair in the
breeze looking out that window. Watching...watching her closed eyes,
her spun hair, her small hands fidgeting that chain. How long...
She didn't know me. Everyone else could see my heart. They were
also after me to go get her. Even her brother took me aside and said
it was okay. But... crap... she-she didn't even notice me. In her
lofty room she said and I watched. Hm... yeah... watched her watch
him.
But he left then, didn't he? She still didn't turn an ear to me.
Well, till I decided on my project...
~ ~ ~
Kat walked up ont othe podium at the end of the banquet hall. The
lavender gown swaying around her as she faced the audience of a
hundred guests. She flashed a bright smile and leaned into the
microphone. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for
attending the fiftith anniversary of the Maxwell Oraphanage."
~ ~ ~
I have seen so many kids out on the streets. Even here on earth
stealing to live or killing only to the end up dying themselves. I
won't let it happen to others.
How long had it been running? God, I can't even keep track of time
anymore. I didn't even care, it-it got started. A rocky start, but
it got started... because of her. She gave me what I needed...
and ... and... had me stay for supper.
God, please get my mind off of this. I-remember the candles. Her
fuse box had gone dead and the electrician couldn't come. Thousands
all around reflecting in the glass and mirrors, reflecting back...
onto... her. She was at the living room table reading before.
Sandwiches and chips. All this only because I was asking her for
money.
~ ~ ~
A heavy breath escaped him as he lay among the orderly placed
covers. A pained expression settled on his face growing with each
rack of air. Slowly the moon drifted through the silent room. A low
mist waved through the summer air into the open window and past the
swaying curtains with a gentle breeze. An odd stillness settled with
the mist. A small gleam showered from between his white fingers.
~ ~ ~
What had we started? A streetrat and a princess. When I went there,
I had resolved to start nothing, keep that disappearing line before
us. No one was surprised. God, they could be asses sometimes. Arab
boy was the worst. I admit. We ate, we kissed, we got together...
we... together. I got my orphanage up and we kept our distance in
politics, but ... we-stayed-together. Her aquamarine eyes, the only
way to describe them. She was still vice foreign minister, I a
Sweeper.
When did it change? Beyond my work and her work... how... I don't
know... I don't care. I had waht I wanted, then. My life was full.
All my loves were there. My company, my home, my gundam in heart, my
orphanage, my lady-all my goal, my peace, my heart, my... soul.
But... God, help me... I lost the important part. She was going to
join me. When... when... why? When he returned... with his new wish.
~ ~ ~
A cool summer breeze collecting one after antoher through the square
chamber, blowing around loose papers and waving loose fabrics hanging
about in the open closet and over furniture. Beams of silver
moonlight poured out bathing the lonely man struggling in the thrown
bed. A thin curtain of sweat beaded along his brow. He yanked his
head toward the window letting the calm gust brush his grey locks and
he balled his hands whittening his knobby knuckles. Suddenly, bright
beams poked through the cracks around the door and through the
keyhole. Soft flutter rustlings echoed out around the area. A faint
fragrance drifted on the vibrating air.
~ ~ ~
He came back. He came back for her... for her... to tell her now.
Now, NOW! After-how long was it? Years, years he had waited. Waited
to find it. To find what... his humanity... his being...his self-
worth...his heart... his *soul*? No. If he thought she was them,
then he was wrong. Wrong because she was my heart, my *soul*, not
his. One doesn't leave to find something he thinks is right under
his nose!
But... he-believed...she was... and... Oh, Lord... 'No one, but
me'... he had said it after stealing my heart. He should have killed
me............ No.
She would want me to go one. I should come later. I had others to
save. Fifty years I've carried and am ready to pass on the load.
Someone else can have my one joy left after her, my single living
dream. They'll take good careo of it.
What was our last promise? The early one? No, God, I can't forget,
I can't forget. Angel of Death, you let my life go that day, will
you fail me now? What is our golden promise?
~ ~ ~
A single tear slipped down her pale cheek as she stood up in Trieze's
arms. He led her up onto the podium and the two young people faced
the old substitute director. His blue green eyes warmed at their
proud faces. Holding out a white parchment to them, he
announced, "In the place of Mister Duo Maxwell, I name Miss Katherine
Barton and her fiance, Trieze Mariques, the new directors of the
Maxwell Orphanage. Congratulations." He handed the deed over to Kat
and shook Trieze's hand.
A smile spread on her face as she witnessed the heavy applause
following the transactions. 'Quatre did well. Now, Duo.'
~ ~ ~
A vague memory.
The pouring sunlight paints all in a golden hue. she sits there
quietly, placidly. Small strands play around in the twirling
breezes.The old cypress tree towers out front and catches in her
aquamarine eyes.
Her fingers lace around with the golden chain. The small smile
breaks as he wraps his arms aroundm her an his hands over her own.
They only sit for a moment staring at the pressed palms until he
gently prys opem them. The engraved hearts cut into the golden top.
Silence but the wind. A whisper from her. Their gazes turn to
meet. A simple question for a simple promise. Only with a smile he
answers. He lays his head upon hers and wraps his arms tighter.
A still cooing echos down on the two lovers as she watched them keep
for dear life in each other's arms.
~ ~ ~
The faint blanket of summer river mist hovered over the dented oak
floor swirling here and there in minute curls. The silver-white
moonlight bathed over the tired man gasping for breath, an exhausted
hold over his pale face. A warm glow spread through the room.
Faintly an outline lingered in the corner by the open window, a shady
figure obscured in the passing light. It turned toward the dicrepite
patient.
His violet eyes struggled their way open at the scent, the old scent,
the sweet scent, the familiar scent of lavender and lilacs. They
concentrated on the glass light globe mounted on the stacco ceiling,
his mind bewildered for a few moments. Slowly, his eyes wondered
around the oddly brightened room until they came to rest upon the
window shade. A look of astonishment and question crossed his face
as he struggled to lean up to see if his eyes were decieving him.
She merely stood there peering out onto the cypress tree. The soft
moonlight pouring in through showing her hands lightly clasped
together over the swaying lavender gown. A crown of cypress adorned
her honey tresses framing her placid features. 'Just like...'
Suddenly he was sent back onto the matress in another coughing
spasm. When he cracked open his eyes again, she was approaching over
to him. The unnatural light poured through her eyes reflecting an
eerie, bright aquamarine. Duo shakingly raised up his arm to reach
for her. A minute spark shone from the object in his hand. He
released a gurgling breath as she stood inches from his flexing
fingers. "Relena," he hoarsely pleaded.
The apparition seated upon the bedside and grasped the old hand. She
cast a bright smile down toward the weary man. Leaning in closer to
him, the golden strands fanned out over them. She placed her free
hand over his papery cheek adn locked hteir eyes together exhausted
violet to unearthly aquamarine. "I'm here, Duo. As we promised,"
she whispered softly.
His brows furrowed in question as a familiar scene ran thorugh his
mind. The sunlight before when they held each other. "As we
promised?"
A quiet glow shone deep in her eyes. "Yes." She gently squeezed his
hand and brought theirs joined up between them. "So long ago on that
tree." She nodded toward the moonshone cypress rustling lightly in
the cyclone of breezes. "And upon this." His hand opened revealing
the small engraved locket, two hearts cut together upon the golden
top. "Your first gift to me. Our promise to always be together."
The bewilderment returning to his faace caused her to hush him before
he started questioning again. "Our angel didn't abandon you."
"Our angel?"
She gently nodded her head slightly rustling the cypress wreath on
her head. "She always watched over us. It just wasn't your time,
then, but she has always watched over you." Deciding not to
question, Duo only laid observing Relena after fifty years. He
reached up his free hadn and brushed it against her pale cheek then
ran it through her honey hair. Sitting in blissful tranquility, the
two lovers merely stared into each other's eyes.
A deep, sinking chime reverberated through the hall. One stroke, two
stroke up th twelve. Duo's breath began to finally fail him. He
cast a sorrowful eyes to his lost love. A tint of worry in her eyes,
she whispered to him, "She let me come for you. Please, Duo."
Relena pulled away from his weak hold and stood up, but still kept
their hands joined. She lowered her eerie eyes down to him. "It's
time for us again." A swift glance was cast to the open window.
Leaves now floated in on an increasing summer wind. "She's here."
A soft tug and a whisper. A hard gasp pounded in Duo's throat as all
air escaped his struggling lungs. Three short stutters and a gargled
release.
Dou sat up and whirled his head around. A sudden sensation flooded
him casuing him to jump off of hte bed in surprise. Nothing brushed
his leg. He turned on heel and his violet eyes widened. The shell
was laid out under the sheets, a blank expression on its lifeless
face. The once clutched hand now relaxed and pale around the locket.
He peered down toward his own hands. The limbs, transparent and
faint, were the ones he lost fifty years ago. The locket lay in his
right palm. Duo faced the window and Relena. His old smirk was on
his mouth once again when he approached her. Watching her in the
trans moonlight, he reached over her and clasped the golden object
around her pale neck. Relena grasped his hand and he delicately
draped his other arm around her shoulder.
The two turned out toaward the large cypress tree. She stood out
there a shady shilouette against the silver-white moon perched on the
treetop. The skirt swayed just above her knee along with the few
curly strands that peeked out of her hat. She raised her left hand
an inche from under the large leather coat. The lovers smiled at
each other before Relena turned toward the figure and stated, "We're
ready." A faint smile perked the wraith's lips as he arms slowed
arched out a bit. A massive pair of elegant wings streatched out
from behind her, dusty grey and fluttery. She raised her left hand.
A silver ball releasing out sliver beams formed there; then exploded
in a conflagation of heavenly light.
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Fin