more writing....
This is the unfinished chapter 3 of my current fic. Previous parts can be found at:
http://www.gundam-wing-universe.net/fanfiction/menu.php?id=212
click on "Shadows from the Past" (by ScytheMarquise in case the link goes wrong. it should bring you to my author page)
Do read that first and then without further delay:
Shadows from the Past part 3/?
Cat stood silently, arms bound. Despite his anger, Zechs was impressed by the confidence in the face of death. Cat’s face was a cold, expressionless mask. He did not glance at Zechs though it was obvious he was aware of who was around him. Fury and pain warred in Zechs’ heart. Remembering Cat’s icy denial of any feelings for him brought a surge of anger. Lying son of a bitch, Zechs snarled silently. A small voice in the back of his mind begged for him to stop the execution. But anger and distrust won out. Cat made no move to fight the guards that kept warning hands on his arms. He continued to stare straight ahead even as one of the Government’s officials stepped forward and asked if he had any final words.
“All that must be decided,” the official spoke in a clear voice, “is method of execution. Since the attempt was on your life, Lady Une, do you have a punishment in mind?”
Lady Une’s famous calm won out except for the hint of sadness in her voice, “No. Do as you wish.”
“The method offered by the council is death by firing squad,” the official glanced at the assembled parties, “are there objections to this?” Nearby another official of some sort scribbled down the proceedings.
No answer. Again Cat did not move, though Zechs caught a flash of emotion in the hooded burgundy eyes. Time seemed to move slowly for Zechs. Part of him wondered why Cat would disappear for so long from his life and reappear only to die before his eyes. He pushed the wondering away. Cat wasn’t really his friend. He’d said so himself. It didn’t matter anymore. An attempt on Lady Une’s life could not go unpunished, nor could the long list of other crimes accredited to the Black Prince. So the morals he’d always held so tightly told him. Are you really any better than him? The little voice continued to nag. Zechs forced himself to glare at Cat, summoning the bitter fury to drown out those little voices. For the first time he saw Cat flinch. He tried to believe that he was glad of the pain he saw in the assassin’s eyes.
Louder voices brought his attention back to the gathered council members. Briefly he realized two types of the method chosen existed. One had all nine soldiers fire at once. It was fast, and mostly painless since at least one bullet usually found the heart or head. The other, Zechs had rarely heard of used. Each soldier fired one at a time and they were not to aim for the heart or head. Occasionally the final shot was allowed to be a merciful killing blow. It was agonizing and slow. It sounded as though this would be one of the rare times it was used. An oily man whose name Zechs had forgotten seemed to be lobbying for the final shot to not be merciful.
“This is the deadliest, most vicious assassin the world has encountered. You all heard the list of crimes given under the Black Prince. Even an attempt on our own Preventers’ leader Lady Une,” the man’s tone made Zechs uneasy, “he should be given no mercy.” Zechs saw his own discomfort echoed in others’ faces but none made a move to disagree. Hatred burned in Cat’s eyes. Zechs was glad it was not directed at him. Lady Une did not react, nor did Heero and the others standing nearby, but Zechs could read them well enough to see none were pleased. But they haven’t been betrayed by him! His fury returned, though with less bite.
“It has been decided then,” the first official stated. There was nothing but silence to greet his words. Only the slimy man seemed pleased by the outcome. Distrust curled in Zechs’ belly. A sense of wrongness was growing as he watched the soldiers line up, guns cocked. Someone removed Cat’s shirt and there was a brief gasp. You couldn’t deny beauty when you saw it. For a few endless moments Zechs’ world focused on the smooth, toned muscles of the assassin’s upper body. The flawless honey skin marked only by a striking pattern of tiger-like stripes and sharp ebony tattoos. A reminder that whom they dealt with was not human, something wilder, more primal. That humans, in their arrogance, must face that they were not the top of the food chain.
The spell was shattered by the first crack of the gun. Cat did not flinch when the bullet buried itself in his thigh. The silence was tinged with awe. Pain flared in Zechs as the next three bullets found purchase in Cat’s other leg, stomach and arm. Relief flickered as the next two only skimmed flesh, leaving bloody trails. The next two made Cat stumble, mouth open in silent pain. Ebony blood sprayed, coating the smooth chest. His pants were soaked with it. Zechs’ heart broke as he watched Cat cough and desperately try to breathe. Blood filled his mouth and spilled down his chin. More dripped from his nose, yet the assassin was still beautiful. Zechs remembered Cat’s last comment about games and froze. Something about the conversation had nagged at him since. Something in the younger male’s tone.
He was moving even as he’d realized the game Cat had played. He’d lied all right. But only about lying four years ago. He did care! Zechs reached Cat as the assassin went to his knees. Ignoring the ninth bullet being aimed, Zechs gathered his dying friend in his arms. Cat’s muscles shuddered with the effort of keeping him upright. Blood quickly soaked Zechs’ clothes. “I’m sorry Cat, so sorry,” Zechs whispered, holding the assassin close. “Please forgive me,” he repeated the pleas over and over again. Distantly he heard Heero snarling at the soldier to put the gun down. It must have worked because suddenly the Japanese pilot was at his side. Then Cat’s bonds were cut and a hand found Zechs’ and gripped it with surprising strength. Cat gave him a bloody smile, but a real one. He pressed his other hand to Zechs’ chest, coughing.
“You…know…you...are,” then the beautiful burgundy eyes were closed and his hand was limp in Zechs’ grasp.
******
comments? criticism?
should I end the chapter there? its only 2 pages...but it does leave off in a good spot. suggestions?
http://www.gundam-wing-universe.net/fanfiction/menu.php?id=212
click on "Shadows from the Past" (by ScytheMarquise in case the link goes wrong. it should bring you to my author page)
Do read that first and then without further delay:
Shadows from the Past part 3/?
Cat stood silently, arms bound. Despite his anger, Zechs was impressed by the confidence in the face of death. Cat’s face was a cold, expressionless mask. He did not glance at Zechs though it was obvious he was aware of who was around him. Fury and pain warred in Zechs’ heart. Remembering Cat’s icy denial of any feelings for him brought a surge of anger. Lying son of a bitch, Zechs snarled silently. A small voice in the back of his mind begged for him to stop the execution. But anger and distrust won out. Cat made no move to fight the guards that kept warning hands on his arms. He continued to stare straight ahead even as one of the Government’s officials stepped forward and asked if he had any final words.
“All that must be decided,” the official spoke in a clear voice, “is method of execution. Since the attempt was on your life, Lady Une, do you have a punishment in mind?”
Lady Une’s famous calm won out except for the hint of sadness in her voice, “No. Do as you wish.”
“The method offered by the council is death by firing squad,” the official glanced at the assembled parties, “are there objections to this?” Nearby another official of some sort scribbled down the proceedings.
No answer. Again Cat did not move, though Zechs caught a flash of emotion in the hooded burgundy eyes. Time seemed to move slowly for Zechs. Part of him wondered why Cat would disappear for so long from his life and reappear only to die before his eyes. He pushed the wondering away. Cat wasn’t really his friend. He’d said so himself. It didn’t matter anymore. An attempt on Lady Une’s life could not go unpunished, nor could the long list of other crimes accredited to the Black Prince. So the morals he’d always held so tightly told him. Are you really any better than him? The little voice continued to nag. Zechs forced himself to glare at Cat, summoning the bitter fury to drown out those little voices. For the first time he saw Cat flinch. He tried to believe that he was glad of the pain he saw in the assassin’s eyes.
Louder voices brought his attention back to the gathered council members. Briefly he realized two types of the method chosen existed. One had all nine soldiers fire at once. It was fast, and mostly painless since at least one bullet usually found the heart or head. The other, Zechs had rarely heard of used. Each soldier fired one at a time and they were not to aim for the heart or head. Occasionally the final shot was allowed to be a merciful killing blow. It was agonizing and slow. It sounded as though this would be one of the rare times it was used. An oily man whose name Zechs had forgotten seemed to be lobbying for the final shot to not be merciful.
“This is the deadliest, most vicious assassin the world has encountered. You all heard the list of crimes given under the Black Prince. Even an attempt on our own Preventers’ leader Lady Une,” the man’s tone made Zechs uneasy, “he should be given no mercy.” Zechs saw his own discomfort echoed in others’ faces but none made a move to disagree. Hatred burned in Cat’s eyes. Zechs was glad it was not directed at him. Lady Une did not react, nor did Heero and the others standing nearby, but Zechs could read them well enough to see none were pleased. But they haven’t been betrayed by him! His fury returned, though with less bite.
“It has been decided then,” the first official stated. There was nothing but silence to greet his words. Only the slimy man seemed pleased by the outcome. Distrust curled in Zechs’ belly. A sense of wrongness was growing as he watched the soldiers line up, guns cocked. Someone removed Cat’s shirt and there was a brief gasp. You couldn’t deny beauty when you saw it. For a few endless moments Zechs’ world focused on the smooth, toned muscles of the assassin’s upper body. The flawless honey skin marked only by a striking pattern of tiger-like stripes and sharp ebony tattoos. A reminder that whom they dealt with was not human, something wilder, more primal. That humans, in their arrogance, must face that they were not the top of the food chain.
The spell was shattered by the first crack of the gun. Cat did not flinch when the bullet buried itself in his thigh. The silence was tinged with awe. Pain flared in Zechs as the next three bullets found purchase in Cat’s other leg, stomach and arm. Relief flickered as the next two only skimmed flesh, leaving bloody trails. The next two made Cat stumble, mouth open in silent pain. Ebony blood sprayed, coating the smooth chest. His pants were soaked with it. Zechs’ heart broke as he watched Cat cough and desperately try to breathe. Blood filled his mouth and spilled down his chin. More dripped from his nose, yet the assassin was still beautiful. Zechs remembered Cat’s last comment about games and froze. Something about the conversation had nagged at him since. Something in the younger male’s tone.
He was moving even as he’d realized the game Cat had played. He’d lied all right. But only about lying four years ago. He did care! Zechs reached Cat as the assassin went to his knees. Ignoring the ninth bullet being aimed, Zechs gathered his dying friend in his arms. Cat’s muscles shuddered with the effort of keeping him upright. Blood quickly soaked Zechs’ clothes. “I’m sorry Cat, so sorry,” Zechs whispered, holding the assassin close. “Please forgive me,” he repeated the pleas over and over again. Distantly he heard Heero snarling at the soldier to put the gun down. It must have worked because suddenly the Japanese pilot was at his side. Then Cat’s bonds were cut and a hand found Zechs’ and gripped it with surprising strength. Cat gave him a bloody smile, but a real one. He pressed his other hand to Zechs’ chest, coughing.
“You…know…you...are,” then the beautiful burgundy eyes were closed and his hand was limp in Zechs’ grasp.
******
comments? criticism?
should I end the chapter there? its only 2 pages...but it does leave off in a good spot. suggestions?