Title: First Person Plural

Author: Darkestar

Status: Incomplete because of edit

Category: Psychological; Action; Other Assorted

Spoilers: None

Sequel/Season Info: One side story set in future: It Means He's Mine (may not be posted at this time).

Rating: R

Warnings: Expect language, minor violence, mentions of past abuse, mentions of self mutilation, etc.; Each chapter will contain warnings if contents of chapter make it necessary.

Summary: Duo has been hiding a secret from his fellow pilots but it all comes to a head with the extension of a mission and an unexpected and pain-triggering event during an already strained assignment. Now Heero is learning things about his friend that he never knew. With truth they move hesitantly towards a romantic relationship in the midst of great struggles externally and internally.

Disclaimer: I do not own them (the characters, environment, concept) but I do own the plot and the ideas herein and any original characters I may add.

Notes: Given how long this story has been around, no reason not to just out and out say it. This story is about Duo having multiple personalities. But at the same time I like to think that while the backbone of the story is about Duo having multiple personalities, and therefore much of the story revolves around that, that the story isn't actually about that. I like to think this story is about two people who realize that they could mean more to each other than they realized if only they have the courage and strength to move forward. I like to think this story is about overcoming personal obstacles and not allowing a condition to keep you from living. I like to think this story is a little something about simply being.

Many people may find that this story isn't very realistic in that someone with multiple personalities would be that deeply involved in a war and in such a position as a Gundam Pilot. I would like to say to those who feel that way: I agree with you. But at the same time I don't think that that takes away from the reality of the story I'm trying to tell, a story about simply being despite the obstacles in your life. And also, I think it must be said that while being a Gundam Pilot may be an extreme, living a life isn't. There are more people out there with multiple personalities than most people realize, every day people you'd never even expect - doctors, lawyers, artists, teachers, etc. This is a little something like a tribute to these people.

Notes 2: I finished this story at one point and then realized that it wasn't very good in its finished form. I left out important details and skipped over chunks of time without explaining that the time was passing. So I took it down and began to revise it back in July of 2002. And then I lost interest in fanfiction, and then in writing, and then in writing fanfiction. But it's coming back, and so is this story. New readers, enjoy. Old readers, I think you'll find this story is better for the revision and long absence. I think I've improved as a writer during my time away. I hope you think so, too.

Reposted March 2007 with some editing.

Additionally, I now have a fanfiction yahoo group. You can find the url for that in my profile. This site will eat it if I try to put it here. There's a good chance that new chapters and tidbits will be posted there before I get around to messing with this site.

Additional Comments: A review recently pointed out several things to me that I feel need mentioning.

Timeline: While I try very hard to make this story seem as though it could fit into the actual canon timeline I fully acknowledge that it can't for more reasons than just the multiple personality. I realize that the pilots are not called together as a group for a mission of this kind at any time during the canon and that this is a fanon created idea. This story is in fact an AU, one I want to have seem almost possible but that I and I hope my readers realize is not actually possible. Along this same line of thought the reviewer expressed feelings about how I plan to keep it within that almost possible and have the events at the end of the first conflict still occur more or less, i.e. Heero and Duo's relationship/close friendship and the lack of it and Heero's actions and decisions regarding Relena. To that I say "just keep reading "

Book Inspiration: I have also failed to give credit where credit is very much due. The title for this story, the inspiration for the story and the guiding force behind how this story unfolds is not of my own making. The book by the same name: First Person Plural by Dr. Cameron West. I fully urge readers to check it out, and I claim very little of the tale I'm weaving and instead bow to the book. In a way you could almost say it's a crossover of the book.

Thank you Terra for your thoughtful review.