Duo's Family Outtakes

By Ammie Hawk

Disclaimer: I so need a break.

AN: Okay, here's the fourth installment of my outtakes. Once again, this is in two parts cause I thought it would work best. Anyway, you're all here for a reason, so let's get on with it.

Chapter the Fourth

Extended talk about Harry's blowup

"Tell us what you know about what happened in there," Heero said quietly, slipping his arm around his boyfriend's waist for comfort, still unnerved about his temporary paralysis.

"Back at the hotel," Duo sighed, leaning into his boyfriend's embrace, not sure what it was for but appreciating it nonetheless, "as I was leaving, I overheard the Dursleys talking. They were saying that this Dumbledore person wasn't going to like that Harry was now with me. Vernon had a story all planned out. Apparently, there's an organization called the Order involved and he's going to blame it on them, saying Harry was kidnapped. That's when the topic shifted to money, Harry's money to be exact. It sounded like Dumbledore promised to give it to them when Harry died. Vernon is dead set on getting his hands on it, even threatened to do something about it if Dumbledore refused to pay up."

"Harry is obviously close to this Dumbledore," Quatre shook his head, settling more securely in his lover's arms. "The betrayal he felt was overwhelming. I still can't get over it."

"What else did you feel?" Heero asked, and even though his face remained unreadable, they all knew the underlying concern he was feeling. "Could you tell if it was possibly a misunderstanding?"

"He's a mess," the blonde sighed, having no better explanation for Harry's emotional state. "There were so many emotions running through him. Betrayal was among the most prominent, as well as grief and guilt, which I don't understand at all."

"It looks like we won't get any answers until Harry wakes up," Duo shook his head. "I figured he'd know what the Dursleys were talking about, and it seems I was right." He then added under his breath, "What are you involved in, little brother?"

"Duo, there's something else you should know," Quatre said quietly, but still managed to get everyone's attention. "When he was sedated, his emotions shut down. They weren't lessened, they were completely gone from my senses. I feared for a moment he was dead."

"What?!" the former Deathscythe pilot frowned in his friend's direction.

"Calm down, Duo," Trowa sighed, pulling his lover closer to his side. "While Quatre's Space Heart is rather reliable it isn't always foolproof. Perhaps you shut it down, little one, if the feelings were as overwhelming as you claim."

"That could've been the case," the Arabian nodded, after some thought.

"What about the dishes?" the unibanged teen spoke up again. "Any ideas about that?"

"There could be any number of explanations for that," Heero sighed, cutting off any comments from Duo or Quatre, "from a minor earthquake, to a high frequency pulse. It could have nothing to do with Harry." Though the whole leg thing was still unexplainable to the former Wing pilot.

"You were sure enough to have him sedated," Quatre pointed out, thinking back on his earlier theories.

"I did that so we could get him out of harm's way," the brunette shook his head. "There was no way we could've gotten him out of there in the state he was in."

"Aww, we always knew you were a big softie," Duo smiled, throwing his arms around Heero's neck, effectively breaking the tension that had built up in the room.

"We still need to get the information from him when he wakes up," Quatre sighed, wondering how to broach the topic of magic with the young teen. "Not something I'm looking forward to, but it has to be done if we are to protect him. How long do you think he'll be out, Trowa?"

"I only gave him a mild sedative," the unibanged teen shrugged. "It's hard to say for sure, though. But I'm sure he should be up in time for dinner."

Duo's Dream

Throughout the rest of the day, Duo could tell his lover was unsettled by something, but he wasn't going to pressure him into telling. He knew he wouldn't get the answers from his 'Perfect Soldier' till he was good and ready to give them. With that thought, among others, he did a quick check on his younger brother, who hadn't been up in time for dinner, and then headed off to bed for the night.

As he was falling asleep, the braided teen let his mind wander where it will. He wasn't sure what was going on with his brother but he'd give him a few days to see if he'd come around on his own, otherwise, he'd have to take drastic measures, involving rope, butter, and honey. From there, his mind drifted to the new parts he needed for his mecha, and how he would attain said parts, not that Quatre or Lady Une would let him go through with these plans but they were fun to think about. And with that, he fell into a peaceful sleep in his boyfriend's arms.

Duo found himself sitting in, what he'd unofficially dubbed, Quatre's Tower. It was a room on the fifth (1) floor of the house they were staying in, though the blonde said it was meant for storage, similar to an attic, but the braided teen compared it to a tower on a castle, considering it was the only room on that floor and was round with high windows, perfect for defending the keep.

There were four other people in the tower with him, though he had no idea who any of them were, okay that wasn't true, the boy on his left was his very own little brother. Across from his seat was a beautiful redheaded woman, with emerald green eyes, the exact shade of Harry's. The man beside her had black, flyaway hair and hazel eyes, and looked like he'd be a better candidate for Harry's brother, but Duo was Harry's brother and he wasn't going to give that up without a fight. The third person he didn't know was another man with long black hair and bright blue eyes. This man he was sure he'd seen somewhere before, but he couldn't place it at the moment, though he had a vague sense of it having to do with a prison.

"Devlan," the woman smiled at him, "oh, my baby boy."

"I'm sorry, lady," the braided teen shook his head, "I think you got the wrong guy, name's Duo. Duo Maxwell, I may run and hide but I never tell a lie."

"Of course you are, sweetie," she shook her head, smile still in place. "We are so proud of you. We know what you've done for the people and how you risked your life to bring about the peace they now enjoy."

Amethyst eyes widened in surprise. How could this woman he'd never met know about what he'd done, and why? But for some unfathomable reason, he felt a great swell of his own pride that he'd made her proud.

"Aw, it was nothing," he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"That's my boy," the Harry look-alike beamed at him, slipping his arm around the woman's shoulders, "ever the modest one, just like his old man."

The redhead gave a good natured eye roll, but then turned very serious, the smile vanishing from her face, "However, Duo Maxwell, who never tells a lie, I need you to do something for me."

"What's that?" he asked curiously, not wanting to disappoint her.

"I need you to give me your word," a tear ran down her cheek as she shot a sidelong glance at the other boy. "Please, Duo, my Devlan, protect your brother. Promise me you will do anything within your power to protect him."

"Lady, you don't have to ask me to do that," he shook his head animatedly, as if he'd do anything but.

"You have to promise me," she insisted. "I can help you protect Harry, but I need your word."

"You have it," he said, giving her a slightly confused look but willing to go along with anything to bring that smile back to her face. "I, Duo Maxwell, will do anything within my power to protect Harry Potter, my brother, as long as he is mine to protect."

As he finished the smile returned, bigger and brighter than before. She reached out and placed a hand on his cheek, tears still falling from her vibrant green eyes. Duo felt a shock of something at her touch but it quickly vanished, only to be replaced with a peace of mind he'd never experienced, except in the presence of the other pilots, like he'd finally come home.

Just then the door opened and in walked an old man, who had to be older than dirt. Duo didn't know this character at all, but if the look on his brother's face was anything to go by, he wasn't a nice chap. The old man motioned for the three adults to follow him and they all stood to do so. At this point, Harry jumped up to follow them, and Duo followed suit, knowing he had to stop his brother.

"Let me go," Harry cried, trying to break out of his hold. "I have to stop them."

"No, you stop, Harry!" he yelled to his brother, but he didn't seem able to hear him. "I promised to protect you. You can't follow them." He then added much more quietly, "You have to stay with me. You can't abandon me, too."

As if they'd heard his call, the other four pilots were at his side, helping him restrain his younger brother. He was grateful for their help, he didn't know how he'd ever manage without them.

"Harry," the long haired adult looked back from the doorway, "you have to let us go. We're needed elsewhere. You'll be fine, I promise."

"No, Sirius!" Harry screamed, trying once again to break the pilots' hold on him. "You can't leave me! I need you! SIRIUS!"

Ammie: So there it is: Duo's side of the dream. As for the first bit, there wasn't much added to the original, I just had to add in a few tidbits cause of what I did with the last outtake. Anyway, please tell me what you think.