WARNINGS - Angst (by the shovel full!), shounen ai (Guyxguy), OOC Heero, Heero torture, hints of NCS (Non-consensual sex, rape), abuse of Wufei's name . . .that's all! ^_^

Thank yous – moonbunny312, Myst (Thank yous!  I changed the rating to R), ~**IceDaggerz**~ (Owie!), Broken Angel (Hes my fave 2! ^_^ Not that u can tell!), grinsandgigglez, female herro yuy, hopper, Rena (Yay!  This fic is sum1s fave!),and Samantha . . .Thanks all!  No group hug this time . . .aww if u insist! *Glomps all*        

*BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!*

            Duo's watch screeched as the three hours ran out.  He came out of the almost trance like state he sank into when working on Death Scythe and stretched his lithe body to relieve his tense muscles.  He cracked his knuckles and flashed a grin at the screen in front of him.  He rapidly typed in the log off codes, not needing to look at the keyboard, all pilots were touch type trained for maximum speed and efficiency.  He then clamboured out of the cockpit and use the winch to lower himself to the feet of the mecha giant.  As soon as his feet touched the ground he looked over to Wing, expecting to see Heero busily repairing the wounded machine.  Instead of this he was met with the exact same sight of three hours ago.  Worry crept back into Duo's mind once again. He tore his eyes away from the mangled Gundam to look at Nataku and Wufei, whose slender hands were still flying over the consoles keyboard. 

            "Hey Fei!  Chow time!" Duo hollered, determined that if he couldn't help Heero he would at least see that his other friend was well fed.  Black eyes snapped away from the screen to focus on the figure of Duo below.  His brow creased in a small frown at one of many nick-names Maxwell had seen fit to lumber him with, but neglected to make a comment knowing that it would only go in one ear and out the other.  Wufei nodded sharply at the American man and swiftly exited the cockpit. Once he hit the ground he cast his evaluating gaze over ZERO.

            "Where is Yuy?" He questioned casually, but Duo could see the concern in his eyes.  The five were acutely away of each other's particular quirks.  Wufei and his obsession with justice.  Quatre and his space heart.  Trowa and his fight to understand his past.  Duo and his cross and braid.  Heero and his fixation with the perfect working condition of his weapons.  "It is not safe for Yuy to leave his Gundam in such a state!"  Wufei exclaimed, masking his concern for Heero's out of character behaviour with anger.

            "Don't I know it!" Duo remarked, his voice light, his eyes dark.  "But ya know Heero, he's probably hacking into some OZ database or something equally thrilling on that damned laptop of his!"  Wufei's delicate eyebrows drew together at the undertone of trepidation in Maxwell's voice and the obviously forced grin that marred his features.  /Something's wrong with Yuy. /  Wufei thought, but didn't voice his guess, knowing his involvement wouldn't be welcomed.  The black haired boy was about to suggest that he should be the one to cook, he didn't feel up facing one of Duo's culinary monstrosities, when a faint whimper reached their ears.  Both pilots immediately switched into battle mode, adrenaline flooding their systems as they pulled pistols from hidden holsters and removing the safety.  Black met violet, as Wufei looked to Duo for orders.  Maybe it sounds strange to hear that last sentence, but Wufei was no fool and acknowledged the fact that Duo's skill in handling situations requiring stealth surpassed his own.  Using hand signals as communication they traced the strange, hoarse cries to Heero's room and stood outside the closed door.  Wufei slowly turned the door handle while Duo covered him with his gun.  The door was thrown open and the two war weary pilot who had seen the worst the world had to offer stood in shock. 

            Heero lay in his bed, writhing in the grip of a nightmare.  His skin was slick with sweat, his face creased in concentration or pain and terrible heart-wrenching whimpers escape his full lips.  Duo took a step forwards, holstering his gun as he did so, wanting nothing more than to comfort the vulnerable boy sleeping fitfully on the bed.

            /Don't, / Duo froze in his tracks as his last conversation with Heero entered his mind.  If he went in there now and comforted his friend Heero might misinterpret his actions and take hope again.  A hope that Duo would have to crush, again.  The Great Destroyer wasn't sure that he could do it a second time.  Duo turned around and left the room, as he marched down he hall he called over his shoulder.

            "Take care of him Wuffers!  I've got some more work to do on ol' Death Scythe!"  Wufei watched Duo's retreating figure with disbelief, how could he be so callous?!  At that very moment Heero's back arched off the bed and he screamed in agony.  The sound caused Wufei to jump and Duo to pause.  If was only for a split second but Wufei saw it and saw the tensed shoulders and hurried steps that he took afterwards.  The black haired boy realised that Heero's disturbing behaviour was linked with Duo.  Whatever had happened between them was causing them both pain.  Taking a deep breath Wufei entered the Perfect Soldiers room and closed the door behind him.

*          *          *

            "Pain is the only path to perfection 01, you must embrace it!"

            Heero quivered as blow upon blow rained down on his young body.

            "Now lay still like a good boy 01 and I promise, this will only hurt a little!"

            Heero bit back a scream as the man above him thrust into him.

            "They aren't people 01, only targets to be destroyed.  Do what you have to!"

            Heero held a smoking gun in his small hand and surveyed the pile of bodies before him, the dropped the weapon to the floor as he started to tremble and received a beating as punishment.

            " . . take note, this experiment is being conducted without the use of anaesthetic.  01 you may feel a slight stinging sensation.

            Heero cried out as the scalpel bit into his skin. 

            His body thrashed as he tried to escape his imaginary bonds, Wufei called out to him in vain.  Biting his lip in a rare show of frustration and climbed onto the bed, grabbing Heero's flailing arms by the wrists and holding them to the bed.  Heero's prussian blue eyes flew open.  His sleep-clouded mind didn't see a friend trying to help him, only a man, pinning him to a bed.  His lower legs curled up on themselves, feet finding purchase on the mans chest.  Wufei had no time to be surprised as Heero's legs kicked out, causing him to release his grip and fly across the room.  He rolled and came to his feet with no damage caused.  He caught Heero's panicked gaze with his own.

            "You were having a nightmare." He said flatly, deciding that the best way to shock Heero back to himself was to give him what he did best, a mission.  He cast unreadable eyes over to the closed laptop.  "Pull yourself together!  I assume you have a mission report to write and Wing is damaged.  J will not be pleased if you neglect your mission requirements!"  Recognition flooded blue eyes and Heero bowed his head.

            "Wufei,"  his voice was hoarse from screaming.  "I apologise for my behaviour," 

            "See that it doesn't happen again," Wufei ordered, slightly disturbed to see this weakness in perfection.  "Screaming like an onna in your sleep is not good enough for a mission, it could lead to discovery!"  That said the Solitary Dragon spun an his heel and left, snapping the door shut as he left.

            Heero sat on the bed hugging his knees as he tried and failed to banish his emotional turmoil from his mind.  / . . .Not good enough.  I'm not good enough.  Not good enough for the mission, not good enough for Duo, not good enough for anything . . . /