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Chapter 1: A Battle Won
Four older teens gathered in a kitchen, three holding mugs of steaming drinks and one in front of the stove cooking breakfast. The blonde in front of the stove looked over his shoulder at the two sitting at the kitchen table. "Duo still hasn't shown back up?" He asked, sounding slightly worried.
An Asian teen with black hair pulled back into a pig-tail and dark eyes took a sip of his steaming tea. "No. I still haven't heard from the baka." The unibanged teen sitting across from him let out a negative grunt as well. The blonde teen sighed and turned back to the pans on the stove and continued cooking their breakfast.
The fourth teen spoke up from his position leaning against the counter near the coffee machine, his eyes still closed as he sipped at his coffee. "He'll turn up."
The blonde had just finished cooking and dishing up the food when they heard someone call out from the entryway. "Yoohoo! I'm hooome!" The four in the kitchen all relaxed slightly, and the blonde smiled and called out, "In the kitchen!"
A fifth teen bounced into the kitchen, his long braid flowing behind him. "Hey, guys! Oh! This looks good, Quat. I'm starving!" he says, grabbing a plate and piling food onto it from the stove. He moved over to the table and fell into one of the chairs, digging in to the eggs and hash.
Quatre smiled happily at seeing his friend home safely. "Thank you, Duo. Welcome home." He said as he and the prussian-eyed teen sat at the table as well, starting on their own breakfasts.
The other two short-haired teens didn't say anything, not feeling the need. Meanwhile, beside Duo, the dark-eyed Chinese teen glared at the him. "What the hell, Maxwell?! You've been gone for two weeks!" he growled out, annoyed at Duo's flippant return.
Duo just grinned. "Awe, Wufei! You missed me!" He teased, leaning close to the dark-eyed teen.
Wufei's glare sharpened. "Where the hell were you? You disappeared, and Une wouldn't say a word!"
"Duo smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I had to leave fast, and I had asked her not to say anything. So, I kind of have something to tell you all. I'm going to be moving out." The kitchen became quiet and the other four teens looked at him in shock.
Quatre was the first to recover. "W-what? What do you mean, Duo? What is going on?"
Duo's happy smile dropped a bit and his eyes became sad and a bit wary. "Well, it has to do with the reason I left so fast. Ya see.. I finally got custody of my baby brother. He landed in the hospital a couple weeks ago, and he had my contact info on him when he got hurt, so they called me when he was brought in. They put him in an induced coma so he could heal, and he just woke up a couple days ago. The legal paperwork finally went through, so I came back to get a place set up that I could bring him."
The other four were quiet, struggling to process the new information about their friend. He had never mentioned having family of any sort, much less a living brother. Quatre was once again the first to regain his wits and respond. "I didn't realize you had a younger brother?" He hedged, trying to gently encourage the braided pilot to explain a bit more about what was going on.
Duo nodded, getting up and going over to the coffee pot to fix himself a mug. He turned to face the table and leaned back against the counter, keeping his eyes on his drink. The others looked at each other, recognizing the defense actions for what they were: a subconscious attempt to put distance between him and the perceived threat. "Yeah, we were both dropped off on that L2 colony when we were kids. I was about six and he was around four. We were separated after the Massacre, and by the time I found him again, we were in the middle of the war, and I couldn't take him with me. If it wasn't for Une.. I don't think they would've given me custody even after him being landed in the hospital." He said with a falsely light tone, trying to make it sound as if none of it mattered. "Anyway, so yeah, I have a couple days before he can be discharged, so I have to get somewhere ready to bring him." He took a few gulps of his coffee and put his mug in the sink before heading out of the kitchen. "Well, I have a lot to do, so I'm going to get started. I'll see you all later." He said, making a quick exit from the kitchen.
The other pilots sat around the table for several long minutes, absorbing the information they had just been given. Finally, the green-eyed teen spoke up softly. "He's running."
Wufei snorted and slammed his mug down on the table. "Of course he's running. He's a damn coward. Why else would we just be hearing about this." He ground out, his jaw clenched and eyebrows furrowed.
The others glanced at each other, hearing the hurt behind the anger of their comrade's words. Quatre spoke up hesitantly. "I don't.. think we should let him move out. I mean, his brother is hurt, and he will need support, if not help. He needs to stay here where he has us."
Prussian blue eyes meet green as the two silent teens communicate. Prussian eyes close and the green-eyed teen spoke up for the two. "Agreed. It'd be best if he brought his brother here."
Wufei stood without commenting and walked out of the room. The three left behind looked at each other, Quatre's eyes showing worry as he lifted a hand to rub at his chest. "Wufei is not taking this very well. He's very angry. And hurt." He told the other two.
The tall, green-eyed teen hmed in agreement. "He doesn't like secrets. And he will see this as a large one."
The Prussian-eyed Japanese teen nodded in agreement before standing. "I think we should find out more about the situation. I'll see what I can find." He said, heading out of the kitchen.
Quatre smiled. "Thank you, Heero. Let me know." He then turned to the green-eyed teen. "Well, Trowa, want to help me get started on fixing up a room for Duo's brother? We need a room that's close enough to Wufei and Duo's for him to be able to get to his brother, and one that's big enough to accommodate whatever he needs medically." Trowa nodded and helped Quatre clean the breakfast dishes before heading upstairs to choose a room for their new charge.
Wufei paused outside of the room he shared with Duo, trying to get his thoughts together. Finally, he opened the door and walked in, closing the door behind him. His long-haired boyfriend sat cross-legged on the upper-right side of their king-sized bed on the side further away from the door and closer to the windows, showing how on edge he was currently. His fingers danced across the keyboard as he scrolled through what Wufei assumed was adds for apartments and houses near the Preventers Headquarters./p
Taking a breath to try to smother the feelings of hurt and anger, he walked over to the bed and stood beside it, crossing his arms in front of him as he leaned against the headboard. "So you're looking for a place for you and your brother?" He asked, staring at the side of his boyfriend's head.
Duo froze for a moment before forcing himself to continue with his task. "Yeah. It's going to be a bit before he's back to 100%. I need somewhere close to work where I can get to him easily if something happens."
Wufei clenched his jaw and dug his fingers into his arms where they crossed. "You never mentioned having a brother."
Duo gave a non-committal grunt. "The subject never came up, and I didn't think it was necessary."
The comment was the last straw for Wufei, and he finally snapped. "You didn't think it was necessary? It never came up? It never came up when I talked to you about the slaughter of my entire clan, my wife?! It wasn't necessary for you to tell me that you were disappearing for two weeks, with no word! Never checking in to let us know that you were all right and alive! And now you've decided it's not necessary to talk to us, to me, before you just decide to move out!" He started softly and ended yelling, banging a fist against the headboard as he leaned over his boyfriend aggressively.
Duo's cobalt eyes flashed as he turned and glared at the fuming Chinese teen, curling in on himself in a manner reminiscent of an injured and cornered predator about to strike. "Yes, I didn't think it was necessary. I didn't think it was necessary to tell a possible enemy soldier that I had a dead brother. And then, I didn't find it necessary to tell my friend who is telling me about his WIFE being slaughtered that I found my brother alive but couldn't take him with me because then he WOULD end up dead! And no, I didn't think it would do a damn bit of good to whine about how the damn courts were blocking me from getting him back because the judges were corrupt and taking bribes, no matter how skinny or full of bruises the kid was. Or how I finally had to go and beg Une to step in because he almost died! You're damn right I didn't find it necessary! Everything I've ever done has been for that kid, and I'll be damned if that kid isn't my number one priority. He is the ONLY reason I've bothered to stay alive, and I'm going to make sure he never has to spend another second feeling like he has no one, like he's on his own! And if you have a problem with that then that's just too fuckin' bad, because that kid will ALWAYS come first!"
The two glared at each other and Wufei turned and stormed out before he could do or say something he couldn't take back. Slamming the door behind him, he headed downstairs and out to the garage, starting up his bike and speeding down the driveway of the manor. Back in their bedroom, Duo rests his back against the headboard and slams the side of his fist into the mattress, his entire body shaking with suppressed emotions.
In a room across and down the hall from the braided pilot, Quatre was doubled over in pain, clutching his chest and gasping. Trowa stood beside the blond, a hand on his shoulder in concern. Quatre smiled shakily up at the uni-banged teen. "They're both very hurt and angry." He breathed out and straightened up as Wufei traveled further away from the mansion, the volatile emotions from at least one of his housemates becoming muted. He looked up worriedly at Trowa who turned and walked to the door.
The green-eyed teen paused at the door and glanced back at the blond. "Why don't you go to Duo?" He suggested softly before walking out. Quatre smiled gratefully in the direction the tall teen had gone before following him out into the hall but heading in a different direction.
Trowa walked over to the room that he shares with his own partner and slips inside to see Heero typing away at his laptop. The teen from the L1 cluster looked completely absorbed in what he was doing, but Trowa knew he was fully aware of his surroundings. He approached his boyfriend sitting on the bed and sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at him from the corner of his eye.
The smaller teen spoke in his usual monotone manner. "Hadrian Evans, Age 16. Parents: Unknown. First known records: Colony V-08744 in the L2 cluster. Maxwell Church Orphanage. Presumed dead at age 9 after the Massacre. Next known record London, England. Previous Guardians: Vernon and Petunia Dursley, Surrey England. Albus Dumbledore, Scotland, Headmaster of.." He trailed off, his eyes widening slightly. Trowa raised an eyebrow in concern for the unusual reaction. "Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Advanced Studies."
Trowa's own eyes widened slightly. "Isn't that the school that was a cover for training kids to be soldiers and assasins?" He asked in shock.
Heero nodded. "Hardrian attended there from A.C. 191 to 196 when the operation was discovered. He was brought into government custody, but the former leader, Albus Dumbledore, kept interceding and awarded custody to Vernon and Petunia Dursley, citing relation of maternal aunt. It looks like he was the one who kept intervening in Duo obtaining custody."
After contemplating the information, Trowa spoke up. "Do you think Duo knows?"
Heero grunted negatively. "Doubt it. No explosions."
Trowa let out a small laugh, agreeing completely with the other teen's blunt assessment. He breathed in and then remembered what he came to the room for. "Wufei talked to Duo. Took off on his bike."
Heero looked over at Trowa and nodded, closing his laptop and standing up to follow the Shenlong Pilot. Before he could walk away, Trowa reached out and took his wrist softly, causing Heero to look at him. Standing up and moving close to his boyfriend, Trowa bent slightly and brushed his lips softly over his boyfriend's and murmered a quiet "Be safe." Heero nodded before grabbing his leather jacket and walking out, heading to the garage for his own bike to catch up with Wufei.
Quatre made his way to Duo and Wufei's room and knocked on the door. After a few moments pause, a strained cheerful voice called out for him to come in. Quatre slipped inside and closed the door behind himself. He took a moment to observe the braided teen's red eyes and weak smile. "Hey, Quatre! What brings you to my humble abode?"
Smiling softly, Quatre walked over to the bed and sat beside the shorter teen, putting an arm around him and pulling Duo into a comforting embrace. "You're not going anywhere, you know. Trowa, Heero, and I talked and decided that you needed support, and we don't want you that far away, so we are getting a suite ready for your brother."
Duo tensed and braced as if to pull away, but Quatre tightened his hold slightly, letting him know that he wasn't running away that easily. Letting out a soft sigh, Duo relaxed in his friend's arms, leaning against him. Quatre spoke up softly, "I know you're used to doing things on your own, and you're still getting used to having people around to help, but you need to trust us enough to lean on us. We're not going to let you go through things like this on your own, Duo. We all love you. Even if some of us aren't very good at saying it." Quatre joked lightly, eliciting a choked laugh from Duo.
"Thanks, Quat. I'll try to remember that." He said, not making any further move to remove himself from his friend's arms.
Heero, meanwhile, was pulling up to a park that he knew his temperamental friend liked to go to when he needed some quiet. Finding Wufei's bike, he parked beside it and killed the engine before dismounting and heading into the park. He walked for a bit before he came to the clearing by a lake where he saw the Chinese teen going through a Kata. The other teen's movements were fast and choppy, showing how upset he was. Heero watched him for several minutes before removing his jacket and moving over to stand in front of the other teen. Wufei started slightly when Heero appeared in his vision. He took a stance and waited. Wufei furrowed his eyebrows before taking his own stance. The two stared at each other for a few moments before Wufei struck hard and fast. Heero deflected the blow with his left arm and used the momentum to execute a strike of his own. The two sparred fast and hard for over an hour, allowing Wufei to vent all of his hurt, frustration, and agression. Wufei finally stepped back and bowed to Heero, who returned it, both covered in sweat and breathing heavily.
When they straightened up, Wufei walked slowly over to the lakeside and sat down cross-legged, looking out over the water. Heero sat beside him, one leg straight out and the other bent, resting an arm across it. He waited quietly until Wufei started to speak. "I was married to a woman chosen by the clan elders when I was 14. We didn't love each other. Love had no place in a marriage. I knew who I would marry to continue the clan. I never expected I would be with someone out of more than duty. That I would feel something more than mutual respect, that there would ever be someone I actually wanted to be around." Wufei confided softly. Heero listened silently, letting his friend voice his thoughts. Wufei watched the morning sun reflecting off of the lake while he thought over what he wanted to say. "I never thought I would love someone. That I would let someone that close. I've told him more than I ever imagined I'd tell anyone. He has been going through this for longer than I've known him, and he never said a word. There was an entire part of his life I was completely unaware of."
Heero grunted in agreement. "So, what are you going to do about it?" He asked. Wufei looked at him in confusion, and Heero explained. "He's kept this quiet for three years. Two since you two finally did something about all of the flirting." He ignored the annoyed look Wufei gave him. "So what are you going to do about it? Leave him? Move out?" He watched Wufei out of the corner of his eye. "He didn't tell you about his brother, and now he's taking him in. It's not your responsibility. He hasn't asked for your help. He's doing it whatever you have to say about it." Heero fell silent, having said more than he normally felt necessary.
Wufei thought deeply before answering. "No, I don't want to leave him. I understand why he is taking in his brother. It's his responsibility. But is this the only secret he's kept?" He murmers.
"No." Heero said succinctly.
Wufei blinks a few times, looking at Heero, before the corner of his mouth twitched up. He started chuckling an then broke out into laughter. Heero smirked, watching his friend out of the corner of his eye, before chuckling along with Wufei's laughter. Wufei calmed down, a small smile still on his lips. "You're right. He wouldn't be Duo if he actually said anything." He took a breath. "I'll head back and help the baka figure out what he needs before he brings his brother home."
Heero nodded and the two stood and headed back for their bikes, Heero pausing to scoop up his jacket from where he dropped it before their spar. As the two mounted their bikes, Wufei stopped, causing Heero to pause as well and look over at his friend. "Thanks." Heero nodded in acknowledgement and the two started their bikes and headed back for the manor.
= = = = = = = = = = End of Chapter = = = = = = =
So, how is it so far? let me know what you think!
XOXO - Lavenderkissesatmidnight
