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ship_manifestoTitle: I'll be Your Shooting Star
The 'ship: Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing)
Author: Freya-sama (sonkikyo@livejournal.com)
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.
Warning: Spoilers from the anime series, Endless Waltz, Episode Zero, and Blind Target.
A big thanks to:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tailfluff, mad_about_yaoi, and blkros who beta-read for me and helped me out, and miyuki_mina who got me to write this in the first place.
---
This is my personal take on the possible romance that could happen between the two Gundam pilots, Heero Yuy (pilot 01) and Duo Maxwell (pilot 02).
Before we get to that, I have three major things I need to point out before you begin to read this:
- Heero and Duo are not a canon pairing. Traditional, but not canon. Whether the things that go on between them are romantic, platonic, or just nothing is completely up to who's watching.
- Upon not being a canon pairing, I do believe the creators intended other pairings much more than this one. This essay's more like a "what if" kind of thing. I'm trying to prove how it could work, not how real it is.
- I respect all characters. There'll be no bashing or bastardization of any character in this.
This, my friends, is an essay I took very seriously. I hope all of you will take it just as seriously, and give me any input you have. Enjoy!
Heero Yuy is the main male character of the show. Since the beginning of the series, it was obvious to me that he wouldn't be your average cartoon super hero. Pretty ironic if you think about it, considering that his code name is "Heero" (it just has an extra 'e'.) Yes, it's only his code name. "Heero Yuy" was the name of the pacifist leader of the colonies, who was assassinated in After Colony 175, thus brewing up more conflict between space and the earth. Doctor J., the man who trained our Heero to be a Gundam pilot, gave him the code name "Heero Yuy", because he was assigned the task of being the ultimate achiever of peace, just as the late Heero Yuy could have been.
Try as Doctor J. did, he never could turn Heero's heart off completely. Despite his high expectations, Heero really isn't the "Perfect Soldier" he appears to be. He is an assassin who hates to kill; and hates to fight in the war. I think his hatred for war and killing is what made him a bit crazy (suicidal) in the beginning of the series. The guy jumped out a window over fifty stories high (Episode 3), pointed a gun to his own head (Episode Zero), and self-detonated his Gundam while standing on the opening hatch (Episode 10).
On the outside, we see a badass character who takes everything to the extreme, and doesn't care about anything (including himself) but his "mission". What's on the inside is still a mystery, as it is with the other pilots. It's pretty easy to assume that Heero's "mission" is the only thing that keeps him alive; perhaps the only thing he thinks he's good for. He was brought up in the world with no family, no love, no life, and no name, so he probably thinks nothing more of himself than a simple tool for war.
His hands are stained with the blood of many, some of which were innocent. The way Heero thinks and feels isn't as quite as apparent during the series as it is during Endless Waltz. In his memory of the innocent little girl and the puppy he killed by mistake, you could see the horrified look on his face. That death in particular stuck with him for so long, which I think is the ultimate indicator that he is not impure of heart; not just a war tool.
But, what turned this nameless orphan into a soldier?
When he was just a child, he was taught how to survive in a warring world by Odin Lowe, who happens to be the one who killed the actual Heero Yuy. (Small world, isn't it?) They don't mention how Lowe finds Heero, or exactly how long they've been traveling together (just that it's been a few years), but this was still a very important time in the young boy's life. They became like father and son, until Lowe took him to Colony X-18999 to abandon him.
Heero: "Who are you going to kill this time?"
Lowe: "Septum, of the Alliance Space Force. This'll be my last job. So you should go to school and live a normal life." (Episode Zero 39)
I think Odin Lowe cared a lot about the mysterious young boy he spent years traveling with, thus wanting him to go live a "normal" life, and not wanting him involved in his last job. Lowe was practically Heero's father, and he watched that man die right before his eyes. He acted pretty nonchalant, in spite of what he probably really felt about the whole thing.
Odin Lowe never really left him. One bit of advice Lowe gave stuck hard with Heero, even in the series.
"I was once told that the only good way to live is to act on your emotions." - Heero to Trowa, episode 12.
That's actually a paraphrased version of Lowe's advice. He tells Heero to "do what your heart tells you" and Heero does. Even at the cost of his life, Heero puts what his heart tells him above all else, even logic. In the beginning, Relena could have been a serious flaw in his mission, yet he let her live, despite all his threats. In episode 19, Duo became a "negative factor" to Heero, and logically, killing the "negative factor" would have been the best course of action. Once he had that damn gun pointed between Duo's eyes, he grew very reluctant, and once Duo asked "Are you gonna really do it?" Heero's response was "If that's what you really want me to do." But, did Duo really want to die? Hell no he didn't; he still had a job to do. Heero didn't want to be the one to kill him, either. His mind said "Yes" but his heart said "No" and he ended up busting Duo out and getting him off Barge.
Lowe: "Do what your heart tells you."
Duo Maxwell is also one of the main characters in the anime. His role isn't quite as big as Heero's, but he's still a significant character in the series.
Duo's the type of character whom requires a lot of observation to understand. One minute the guy's got a mile-wide smile on his face, and the next he's feeling depressed, or angry. He's much more verbal than the other pilots, making his character SEEM less subtle and more outgoing, though he really isn't as outgoing as he seems.
Duo loves to smile; everybody knows that. Even more, Duo likes to see others smile. Like Heero, he hates war, and ironically enough, he became "The God of Death."
To me, it's painfully obvious that the person he is during the series was deeply affected by his childhood.
The braid, for one, was something Sister Helen gave him. I think the braid is very symbolic, and represents a wonderful piece of his past that he wants to keep with him while he fights.
He lost three families in his childhood: his real parents whom he never got to know, Solo + gang, and the people at Maxwell Church. He'd always been able to cheat death (and did several times in the series.) When the plague affected Solo and the others, Duo was the last survivor, leaving him to live alone with much grief and despair. When he was taken in by Maxwell Church, Sister Helen and Father Maxwell treated him with the love and caring a child needs from their parents. Just when he started getting used to life in the church, it was attacked by OZ troops and destroyed by the Alliance, killing everybody, except for Duo. He tried to save the church by giving a stolen mobile suit to OZ, but it was too late, and Sister Helen died right before his eyes.
"You'll be killed. Anyone who sees me has got a date with his maker." - Duo, episode 2.
That line may just have been spoken through an adrenaline rush, but Duo might actually believe that anyone who becomes too close with him could end up getting killed. He's even bequeathed himself the nickname "God of Death" and takes the roll pretty seriously, so it is very possible, in my personal opinion.
From time to time, Duo worries that Heero might end up getting himself totaled in battle. He also worries about the others, but from what I've seen, he worries about Heero most. Perhaps it's because Heero was the first Gundam pilot, aside from himself, that he ever saw. One can only imagine how much Duo really values Heero Yuy's life, as well as the lives of the other pilots. From what I've seen, Duo has been very protective and helpful in battle with all of his allies.
Duo (to Heero): "Are you crazy!? Hurry up and release your parachute!" (episode 3)
Duo: "I always fought believing I'd be better off dead rather than living under OZ's rule."
Quatre: "Me too, but to kill yourself."
Duo (sadly): "Heero ended up doing it. He took his life." (episode 11)
Duo: "Heero, be careful yourself. I know you can control the ZERO now, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a dangerous system."
Heero: "You're right."
Duo: "I can't believe he agreed." (episode 45)
"How does a lonely orphan best keep his new - and only - family together and safe?" (Blind Target 41)
I've been totally hooked on Heero and Duo since the second time I ever saw Gundam Wing (I didn't like it the first time I saw it.) I accidentally got myself sucked into this fandom for a rather silly reason. Back when I was in the InuYasha fandom, and was the InuYasha/Kagome fan who worshipped Kikyou, I had randomly noticed one day that many Heero and Duo fans hated Relena, and I wanted to know why. I wanted to know so badly that I ended up downloading the episodes to see for myself. I started getting into the series fast.
I fell hopelessly in love with Relena, and the Duo/Heero pairing by episode 7.
I always like being the person who "likes both things" in a common "you can only like one or the other" kind of situation. I wanted to be the weird Duo/Heero fan who loves Relena, just for the hell of it. After awhile, it became so much more than that. Once I really took the opportunity to really analyze the story of Gundam Wing and all of the characters (and character development), I became obsessed.
I no longer searched for reasons to hate Relena after awhile, because I saw SO MANY reasons others have proposed, and I thought they were all stupid. Having gotten bored with that, I looked to Heero and Duo for a new adventure in the GW fandom, and so far, it's been one hell of a ride.
I do love Heero and Duo together oh so much (perhaps even too much.) They have such a strong dynamic going on between them. As I mentioned in the beginning, it's totally up to the GW fan to decide whether this dynamic is romantic or platonic. I, however, saw how a romance between them could work, and work quite well actually.
They're such strong, devoted boys who believe that their main purpose in life is to fight to protect others. They are so much alike, you know. Often, it's been said that these two are exact opposites of one another, but I really couldn't disagree with that more. From what I've seen, there are no real differences between Heero and Duo, aside from their personalities and how they handle love in their lives.
In retrospect, Heero and Duo are the same. They were both orphans brought up in the world homeless, nameless, and seemingly hopeless. They both had their temporary parental figures (Odin Lowe for Heero; Sister Helen and Father Maxwell for Duo) murdered, thus having to live completely on their own for awhile.
They both know how it feels to truly be lonely, and both put the lives of others above their own. When they first met, Duo shot him to save Relena, though she and Duo never met. Duo doesn't like watching others get hurt, so he attacked Heero without hesitating.
Relena: "Stop it! What do you want to shoot him for?"
Since that moment, Duo seemed quite curious about this enigma called Heero Yuy. So curious, that Duo helped him escape from the hospital when he was straped down to the bed. He didn't even know this guy, yet he took a huge risk for him. That risk nearly went in vain when Heero refused to release his parachute. Once he hit the ground, an angry Duo told him he should find some other way to kill himself, and carried Heero's injured body up to Howard's so they could get their Gundams repaired (after Heero attempted to blow them up.)
That night, while Duo was asleep, Heero stole parts from Deathscythe in order to fix his Gundam, and took off the next morning without a goodbye. To say the least, Duo was pissed. He even called Heero a "traitor" though they weren't even really allies to begin with.
They have another brief encounter in episode 5 where Duo challenges Heero to a battle. His Gundam nearly loses it's balance at one point, and Heero fires his beam rifle. While coming toward him, Duo thought the blast was intended for him, but in reality, there was a Mobile Suit behind him, and was ready to attack. That's what Heero really shot at.
Heero: "There, I've returned the favor. *laughs*"
Duo: "Damn you! I'll get you." (Episode 5)
So, here's the beginning of their friendship, if you could even call it that. Already, Heero enjoys teasing him, which keeps Duo right on his toes.
He still doesn't even know this boy's name, yet Heero didn't leave his mind.
Duo: "He should try enjoying life instead of spending his time trying to outsmart me... while he's alive, that is." (Episode 6)
Heero and Duo meet up again in episode 7, where they hijack a carrier for their Gundams and take off for the New Edwards base.
Duo: "Oh man, this is gonna be quite the battle, isn't it?"
Heero: "This mission is really big. I don't think you get it."
Duo: "You bet I DO. This is our chance to finally destroy the OZ organization."
Heero: "This time is different. We're gonna eliminate every OZ leader."
Duo: "Yeah, then I go back to space." (Episode 7)
Heero gives Duo a really curious look, after being told what he plans to do after the mission. This is where we first see that Duo wants to have a future, and I'll bet that gets a few gears turning in Heero's head.
After making the critical mistake of killing Noventa and the other pacifists at New Edwards, Heero just sits in his Gundam, frozen in place. He'd just killed a ship full of innocent people, and on top of that, failed to complete his mission. He didn't know what to do from there, so he just sat, until Sally Po informed the others that the base was set to explode. She begged Heero to stop the explosion.
Heero: "A failed mission means death, but my card hasn't come up yet." (Episode 8)
He ended up saving himself and the other pilots. I think his own personal mission from there was to stay alive, as long as he has the strength and the will to protect others.
Heero never had anyone love him before. I don't think he ever thought he was worthy of it. When others compliment him, he's pretty negligent about it. It's almost like he doesn't want to hear it. Every good thing he's ever done was just part of his job. Plus, I don't think he knows how to handle the idea of being loved. He's taken so many lives at such a young age, it's not unreasonable to think that he'd put the happiness and well-being of the world above his own.
He even did so for Duo, in what I think is THE biggest Duo/Heero scene in the entire series. (Note: this is debatable.)
Duo: "So, which way is it? Where's your Gundam?"
Heero: "I left it on Earth. It'd stick out too much in space, so I'd probably wind up getting caught like you did."
Duo: "Yeah, well, pardon me. So, how did you plan on getting us out of here anyway?"
Heero: "I came here so I could kill you. I hadn't gotten around to thinking up an escape plan yet."
Duo: "And, if we don't make it?"
Heero: "It's as simple as silencing the two of us." (episode 19)
As silencing the two of us. Heero basically told him that he'd be willing to die right by Duo's side if it came down to that. Duo's not the only person Heero would risk his life for, but this was still a pretty intense scene. He wanted to "kill" Duo; he was going to take his own comrade's future, just to cancel out a "negative factor." Duo's desire to have a future probably had Heero's heart screaming at him "Don't kill him! He's not an enemy."
Duo: "Then I go back to space." (I want a future.)
Heero: "I came here so I could kill you. I hadn't gotten around to thinking up an escape plan yet." (You can have a future.)
Duo never came close to throwing away that gift. After episode 20, his actions were never quite as reckless.
That never stopped him for putting the lives of others above his own. Duo knows what it's like to be loved and love back, then lose the ones who felt that way about him in the blink of an eye. Duo's very scared that the people he cares for are going to die, so he doesn't stick around them for too long. The scene with him and Hilde in episode 39 is a great example of this. When the White Fang came knocking on her door, he left as soon as he could to keep her out of danger.
So, how would Heero and Duo work out?
What we have is Heero, a boy who doesn't know how to be loved, and Duo, a boy who thinks loving someone and staying with them will only cause them pain, or death. If the two of them lived together, they wouldn’t have to worry about the other forcing strenuous affection on them. They trust in each other's strength, so neither one of them are going to get killed; at least not easily. Heero and Duo could develop a comfortable friendship, and build a great wall of respect, trust, and faith in the other. Post-Endless Waltz, I see them growing up and letting go of their fears together.
They almost fit together like puzzle pieces. Once Duo allows himself to believe in the goodness of his love, and Heero allows himself to accept the care of others, I can see them easily spending their lives together.
On top of how sweet them getting together would be, how sweet they would be together just blows me away. Both boys are so strong and mature for their age. Both of them have tragic pasts. Both of them have no specific home to go to, and they're both very lonely. If they were to get into a romantic relationship, I think they'd be able to understand each other totally. There would be no secrets; there would be nothing to hide; no more tears to cry; no more changes; and no more death. They would simply have each other in the low-class, aimless lives they'd become so accustomed to. They'd be "lost together" if you will. Personally, I think that's more than enough for both of them, just to have someone there who's strong and devoted; someone who won't die easily; and someone who will understand the pain and loneliness the other suffers through. I think Heero and Duo are nothing short of a perfect match; a match made in heaven.
A few authors I highly recommend (and links to their fics)
BadMomma
Kebzero
Jei
Merith
Mookie
Natea2x1
Websites
GWYaoi.org
Gundam Wing Addiction
A Little Piece of Gundam Wing
SweetlySour.net
Gundam Wing Yaoi Haven
The Vault
Under the Bridge
Destiny Interrupted
Moments of Rapture
Shinigami and Wing
Jurty's Gallery
Contests
Fanlistings
1x2x1 fans
1x2x1 fanfiction fans
1x2x1 doujinshi fans
LiveJournal
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1x2_fans (Heero/Duo community.)
gundam_herald (GW fanwork updates.)
gw500 (GW drabble community.)
the_hanyou_cons (my personal icon/graphic journal. You'll find many 1x2/2x1 icons there.)
Misc.
Heero/Duo sprite
Heero/Duo is Love
I adore this pairing. 1x2 support!
The banner, the colorbar, and the sprite were made by me.
The 'ship: Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing)
Author: Freya-sama (sonkikyo@livejournal.com)
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.
Warning: Spoilers from the anime series, Endless Waltz, Episode Zero, and Blind Target.
A big thanks to:
tailfluff, mad_about_yaoi, and blkros who beta-read for me and helped me out, and miyuki_mina who got me to write this in the first place.---
I'll be Your Shooting Star
A Complex Love Story
by: Freya-sama
A Complex Love Story
by: Freya-sama
This is my personal take on the possible romance that could happen between the two Gundam pilots, Heero Yuy (pilot 01) and Duo Maxwell (pilot 02).
Before we get to that, I have three major things I need to point out before you begin to read this:
- Heero and Duo are not a canon pairing. Traditional, but not canon. Whether the things that go on between them are romantic, platonic, or just nothing is completely up to who's watching.
- Upon not being a canon pairing, I do believe the creators intended other pairings much more than this one. This essay's more like a "what if" kind of thing. I'm trying to prove how it could work, not how real it is.
- I respect all characters. There'll be no bashing or bastardization of any character in this.
This, my friends, is an essay I took very seriously. I hope all of you will take it just as seriously, and give me any input you have. Enjoy!
The "Imperfect" Soldier
Heero Yuy is the main male character of the show. Since the beginning of the series, it was obvious to me that he wouldn't be your average cartoon super hero. Pretty ironic if you think about it, considering that his code name is "Heero" (it just has an extra 'e'.) Yes, it's only his code name. "Heero Yuy" was the name of the pacifist leader of the colonies, who was assassinated in After Colony 175, thus brewing up more conflict between space and the earth. Doctor J., the man who trained our Heero to be a Gundam pilot, gave him the code name "Heero Yuy", because he was assigned the task of being the ultimate achiever of peace, just as the late Heero Yuy could have been.
Try as Doctor J. did, he never could turn Heero's heart off completely. Despite his high expectations, Heero really isn't the "Perfect Soldier" he appears to be. He is an assassin who hates to kill; and hates to fight in the war. I think his hatred for war and killing is what made him a bit crazy (suicidal) in the beginning of the series. The guy jumped out a window over fifty stories high (Episode 3), pointed a gun to his own head (Episode Zero), and self-detonated his Gundam while standing on the opening hatch (Episode 10).
On the outside, we see a badass character who takes everything to the extreme, and doesn't care about anything (including himself) but his "mission". What's on the inside is still a mystery, as it is with the other pilots. It's pretty easy to assume that Heero's "mission" is the only thing that keeps him alive; perhaps the only thing he thinks he's good for. He was brought up in the world with no family, no love, no life, and no name, so he probably thinks nothing more of himself than a simple tool for war.
His hands are stained with the blood of many, some of which were innocent. The way Heero thinks and feels isn't as quite as apparent during the series as it is during Endless Waltz. In his memory of the innocent little girl and the puppy he killed by mistake, you could see the horrified look on his face. That death in particular stuck with him for so long, which I think is the ultimate indicator that he is not impure of heart; not just a war tool.
But, what turned this nameless orphan into a soldier?
When he was just a child, he was taught how to survive in a warring world by Odin Lowe, who happens to be the one who killed the actual Heero Yuy. (Small world, isn't it?) They don't mention how Lowe finds Heero, or exactly how long they've been traveling together (just that it's been a few years), but this was still a very important time in the young boy's life. They became like father and son, until Lowe took him to Colony X-18999 to abandon him.
Heero: "Who are you going to kill this time?"
Lowe: "Septum, of the Alliance Space Force. This'll be my last job. So you should go to school and live a normal life." (Episode Zero 39)
I think Odin Lowe cared a lot about the mysterious young boy he spent years traveling with, thus wanting him to go live a "normal" life, and not wanting him involved in his last job. Lowe was practically Heero's father, and he watched that man die right before his eyes. He acted pretty nonchalant, in spite of what he probably really felt about the whole thing.
Odin Lowe never really left him. One bit of advice Lowe gave stuck hard with Heero, even in the series.
"I was once told that the only good way to live is to act on your emotions." - Heero to Trowa, episode 12.
That's actually a paraphrased version of Lowe's advice. He tells Heero to "do what your heart tells you" and Heero does. Even at the cost of his life, Heero puts what his heart tells him above all else, even logic. In the beginning, Relena could have been a serious flaw in his mission, yet he let her live, despite all his threats. In episode 19, Duo became a "negative factor" to Heero, and logically, killing the "negative factor" would have been the best course of action. Once he had that damn gun pointed between Duo's eyes, he grew very reluctant, and once Duo asked "Are you gonna really do it?" Heero's response was "If that's what you really want me to do." But, did Duo really want to die? Hell no he didn't; he still had a job to do. Heero didn't want to be the one to kill him, either. His mind said "Yes" but his heart said "No" and he ended up busting Duo out and getting him off Barge.
Lowe: "Do what your heart tells you."
Love and Loss
Duo Maxwell is also one of the main characters in the anime. His role isn't quite as big as Heero's, but he's still a significant character in the series.
Duo's the type of character whom requires a lot of observation to understand. One minute the guy's got a mile-wide smile on his face, and the next he's feeling depressed, or angry. He's much more verbal than the other pilots, making his character SEEM less subtle and more outgoing, though he really isn't as outgoing as he seems.
Duo loves to smile; everybody knows that. Even more, Duo likes to see others smile. Like Heero, he hates war, and ironically enough, he became "The God of Death."
To me, it's painfully obvious that the person he is during the series was deeply affected by his childhood.
The braid, for one, was something Sister Helen gave him. I think the braid is very symbolic, and represents a wonderful piece of his past that he wants to keep with him while he fights.
He lost three families in his childhood: his real parents whom he never got to know, Solo + gang, and the people at Maxwell Church. He'd always been able to cheat death (and did several times in the series.) When the plague affected Solo and the others, Duo was the last survivor, leaving him to live alone with much grief and despair. When he was taken in by Maxwell Church, Sister Helen and Father Maxwell treated him with the love and caring a child needs from their parents. Just when he started getting used to life in the church, it was attacked by OZ troops and destroyed by the Alliance, killing everybody, except for Duo. He tried to save the church by giving a stolen mobile suit to OZ, but it was too late, and Sister Helen died right before his eyes.
"You'll be killed. Anyone who sees me has got a date with his maker." - Duo, episode 2.
That line may just have been spoken through an adrenaline rush, but Duo might actually believe that anyone who becomes too close with him could end up getting killed. He's even bequeathed himself the nickname "God of Death" and takes the roll pretty seriously, so it is very possible, in my personal opinion.
From time to time, Duo worries that Heero might end up getting himself totaled in battle. He also worries about the others, but from what I've seen, he worries about Heero most. Perhaps it's because Heero was the first Gundam pilot, aside from himself, that he ever saw. One can only imagine how much Duo really values Heero Yuy's life, as well as the lives of the other pilots. From what I've seen, Duo has been very protective and helpful in battle with all of his allies.
Duo (to Heero): "Are you crazy!? Hurry up and release your parachute!" (episode 3)
Duo: "I always fought believing I'd be better off dead rather than living under OZ's rule."
Quatre: "Me too, but to kill yourself."
Duo (sadly): "Heero ended up doing it. He took his life." (episode 11)
Duo: "Heero, be careful yourself. I know you can control the ZERO now, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a dangerous system."
Heero: "You're right."
Duo: "I can't believe he agreed." (episode 45)
"How does a lonely orphan best keep his new - and only - family together and safe?" (Blind Target 41)
A Match Made in Heaven
I've been totally hooked on Heero and Duo since the second time I ever saw Gundam Wing (I didn't like it the first time I saw it.) I accidentally got myself sucked into this fandom for a rather silly reason. Back when I was in the InuYasha fandom, and was the InuYasha/Kagome fan who worshipped Kikyou, I had randomly noticed one day that many Heero and Duo fans hated Relena, and I wanted to know why. I wanted to know so badly that I ended up downloading the episodes to see for myself. I started getting into the series fast.
I fell hopelessly in love with Relena, and the Duo/Heero pairing by episode 7.
I always like being the person who "likes both things" in a common "you can only like one or the other" kind of situation. I wanted to be the weird Duo/Heero fan who loves Relena, just for the hell of it. After awhile, it became so much more than that. Once I really took the opportunity to really analyze the story of Gundam Wing and all of the characters (and character development), I became obsessed.
I no longer searched for reasons to hate Relena after awhile, because I saw SO MANY reasons others have proposed, and I thought they were all stupid. Having gotten bored with that, I looked to Heero and Duo for a new adventure in the GW fandom, and so far, it's been one hell of a ride.
I do love Heero and Duo together oh so much (perhaps even too much.) They have such a strong dynamic going on between them. As I mentioned in the beginning, it's totally up to the GW fan to decide whether this dynamic is romantic or platonic. I, however, saw how a romance between them could work, and work quite well actually.
They're such strong, devoted boys who believe that their main purpose in life is to fight to protect others. They are so much alike, you know. Often, it's been said that these two are exact opposites of one another, but I really couldn't disagree with that more. From what I've seen, there are no real differences between Heero and Duo, aside from their personalities and how they handle love in their lives.
In retrospect, Heero and Duo are the same. They were both orphans brought up in the world homeless, nameless, and seemingly hopeless. They both had their temporary parental figures (Odin Lowe for Heero; Sister Helen and Father Maxwell for Duo) murdered, thus having to live completely on their own for awhile.
They both know how it feels to truly be lonely, and both put the lives of others above their own. When they first met, Duo shot him to save Relena, though she and Duo never met. Duo doesn't like watching others get hurt, so he attacked Heero without hesitating.
Relena: "Stop it! What do you want to shoot him for?"
Since that moment, Duo seemed quite curious about this enigma called Heero Yuy. So curious, that Duo helped him escape from the hospital when he was straped down to the bed. He didn't even know this guy, yet he took a huge risk for him. That risk nearly went in vain when Heero refused to release his parachute. Once he hit the ground, an angry Duo told him he should find some other way to kill himself, and carried Heero's injured body up to Howard's so they could get their Gundams repaired (after Heero attempted to blow them up.)
That night, while Duo was asleep, Heero stole parts from Deathscythe in order to fix his Gundam, and took off the next morning without a goodbye. To say the least, Duo was pissed. He even called Heero a "traitor" though they weren't even really allies to begin with.
They have another brief encounter in episode 5 where Duo challenges Heero to a battle. His Gundam nearly loses it's balance at one point, and Heero fires his beam rifle. While coming toward him, Duo thought the blast was intended for him, but in reality, there was a Mobile Suit behind him, and was ready to attack. That's what Heero really shot at.
Heero: "There, I've returned the favor. *laughs*"
Duo: "Damn you! I'll get you." (Episode 5)
So, here's the beginning of their friendship, if you could even call it that. Already, Heero enjoys teasing him, which keeps Duo right on his toes.
He still doesn't even know this boy's name, yet Heero didn't leave his mind.
Duo: "He should try enjoying life instead of spending his time trying to outsmart me... while he's alive, that is." (Episode 6)
Heero and Duo meet up again in episode 7, where they hijack a carrier for their Gundams and take off for the New Edwards base.
Duo: "Oh man, this is gonna be quite the battle, isn't it?"
Heero: "This mission is really big. I don't think you get it."
Duo: "You bet I DO. This is our chance to finally destroy the OZ organization."
Heero: "This time is different. We're gonna eliminate every OZ leader."
Duo: "Yeah, then I go back to space." (Episode 7)
Heero gives Duo a really curious look, after being told what he plans to do after the mission. This is where we first see that Duo wants to have a future, and I'll bet that gets a few gears turning in Heero's head.
After making the critical mistake of killing Noventa and the other pacifists at New Edwards, Heero just sits in his Gundam, frozen in place. He'd just killed a ship full of innocent people, and on top of that, failed to complete his mission. He didn't know what to do from there, so he just sat, until Sally Po informed the others that the base was set to explode. She begged Heero to stop the explosion.
Heero: "A failed mission means death, but my card hasn't come up yet." (Episode 8)
He ended up saving himself and the other pilots. I think his own personal mission from there was to stay alive, as long as he has the strength and the will to protect others.
Heero never had anyone love him before. I don't think he ever thought he was worthy of it. When others compliment him, he's pretty negligent about it. It's almost like he doesn't want to hear it. Every good thing he's ever done was just part of his job. Plus, I don't think he knows how to handle the idea of being loved. He's taken so many lives at such a young age, it's not unreasonable to think that he'd put the happiness and well-being of the world above his own.
He even did so for Duo, in what I think is THE biggest Duo/Heero scene in the entire series. (Note: this is debatable.)
Duo: "So, which way is it? Where's your Gundam?"
Heero: "I left it on Earth. It'd stick out too much in space, so I'd probably wind up getting caught like you did."
Duo: "Yeah, well, pardon me. So, how did you plan on getting us out of here anyway?"
Heero: "I came here so I could kill you. I hadn't gotten around to thinking up an escape plan yet."
Duo: "And, if we don't make it?"
Heero: "It's as simple as silencing the two of us." (episode 19)
As silencing the two of us. Heero basically told him that he'd be willing to die right by Duo's side if it came down to that. Duo's not the only person Heero would risk his life for, but this was still a pretty intense scene. He wanted to "kill" Duo; he was going to take his own comrade's future, just to cancel out a "negative factor." Duo's desire to have a future probably had Heero's heart screaming at him "Don't kill him! He's not an enemy."
Duo: "Then I go back to space." (I want a future.)
Heero: "I came here so I could kill you. I hadn't gotten around to thinking up an escape plan yet." (You can have a future.)
Duo never came close to throwing away that gift. After episode 20, his actions were never quite as reckless.
That never stopped him for putting the lives of others above his own. Duo knows what it's like to be loved and love back, then lose the ones who felt that way about him in the blink of an eye. Duo's very scared that the people he cares for are going to die, so he doesn't stick around them for too long. The scene with him and Hilde in episode 39 is a great example of this. When the White Fang came knocking on her door, he left as soon as he could to keep her out of danger.
So, how would Heero and Duo work out?
What we have is Heero, a boy who doesn't know how to be loved, and Duo, a boy who thinks loving someone and staying with them will only cause them pain, or death. If the two of them lived together, they wouldn’t have to worry about the other forcing strenuous affection on them. They trust in each other's strength, so neither one of them are going to get killed; at least not easily. Heero and Duo could develop a comfortable friendship, and build a great wall of respect, trust, and faith in the other. Post-Endless Waltz, I see them growing up and letting go of their fears together.
They almost fit together like puzzle pieces. Once Duo allows himself to believe in the goodness of his love, and Heero allows himself to accept the care of others, I can see them easily spending their lives together.
On top of how sweet them getting together would be, how sweet they would be together just blows me away. Both boys are so strong and mature for their age. Both of them have tragic pasts. Both of them have no specific home to go to, and they're both very lonely. If they were to get into a romantic relationship, I think they'd be able to understand each other totally. There would be no secrets; there would be nothing to hide; no more tears to cry; no more changes; and no more death. They would simply have each other in the low-class, aimless lives they'd become so accustomed to. They'd be "lost together" if you will. Personally, I think that's more than enough for both of them, just to have someone there who's strong and devoted; someone who won't die easily; and someone who will understand the pain and loneliness the other suffers through. I think Heero and Duo are nothing short of a perfect match; a match made in heaven.
Fanwork Recs
A few authors I highly recommend (and links to their fics)
BadMomma
Kebzero
Jei
Merith
Mookie
Natea2x1
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GWYaoi.org
Gundam Wing Addiction
A Little Piece of Gundam Wing
SweetlySour.net
Gundam Wing Yaoi Haven
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Under the Bridge
Destiny Interrupted
Moments of Rapture
Shinigami and Wing
Jurty's Gallery
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1x2_fans (Heero/Duo community.)gundam_herald (GW fanwork updates.)gw500 (GW drabble community.)the_hanyou_cons (my personal icon/graphic journal. You'll find many 1x2/2x1 icons there.)Misc.
Heero/Duo sprite
Heero/Duo is Love
I adore this pairing. 1x2 support!
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Date: 2005-04-17 07:41 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading this, Tara. I didn't really expect you to, let alone be the first review as well. ^^; I'm glad I made some sense to you. I do adore mah boys. *snuggles them*
you were the best person to do this essay
I don't know about that. ^^; I'm not that well educated on the series (well, I did see all 49 episodes, so I guess that counts for something.) This essay was based more on my own personal opinions than actual canon evidence. I did do better than I thought I would. It sure was nice to finally be able to explain exactly WHAT I see in Duo/Heero, rather than them just being slashy pretty boys, LOL.
*hugs again* Thanks for the comment. This means a lot to me. <3