Title: Collide (Heero)
Author: Haliaetus
Rating: M (to be on the safe side for later chapters)
Disclaimer: Don't own GW. Or related articles. Or really anything mentioned in this fic.
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5 by his sad widdle lonesome…for now
Warnings: lots of very bad language, shonen-ai, Heero POV, magic, supernatural jazz, Hellish fiends (AKA Treize, Une and Dorothy. And Relena), Senile old men, yaoi, possible lemons in other chapters.
A/N: This is a joint fiction with Pathetic Otaku Child. I write Heero's POV, she writes Duo's. They're posted separately. You can probably read just one and be able to get it if you're too lazy or don't have the time to go look her up as well, but you should anyway. (Yes, that was shameless promotion of a friend. Deal with it.)
Chapter 3: Here's the Deal…
By the end of Specials, I was about ready to just toss Maxwell to the dogs and let him fend for himself in the school. Zechs had just paused to begin the lesson when the long-haired boy had stood up and said, "Yeah? Well, what if I don't fucking belong here? I'm not a teek, or anything like that. If you can just give a lift to the nearest town, I'd be happy enough to leave." Shocked and appropriately worried, Wufei and I tried to tug him back down into his seat unobtrusively, though he resisted and remained standing.
Zechs looked faintly confused and frowned slightly before replying. "Well, I know you have something. Just sit tight and I'll get to you later. For now, I would like for all those who have already been tested to get into their respectful groups." With one last scan of the three of us, he turned to deal with the students who had already grouped themselves.
Beside me, Maxwell didn't seem too happy, if the scowl was to be believed. Finally giving in to our insistent tugs, he sat down huffily, still glaring at Zechs. Apparently deciding that there was nothing more he could do about the matter for now, he glanced at Wufei and I. "So…what now?"
Wufei leaned back casually, crossing his arms and closing his eyes, but I could see the faint lines of tension in his shoulder and back that betrayed his inner turmoil at Maxwell's demonstration. "We wait for him to come and say that he can't tell what we are."
Maxwell spent a moment staring at Wufei, apparently nonplussed by the Chinese boy's answer. Turning to me with an expression that clearly hoped I would be more forthcoming, he asked, "Is he serious? What the hell is wrong with you guys anyway?"
I didn't reply for a few moments, opting instead to watch as Zechs went from group to group on the gym floor, helping the students with a few things. "I said that everything will be explained. And it will. Later. You have to trust us for now."
"Oh, yeah. I'm just gonna sit here and trust," I glanced at him as he snorted, "some people who I'm definitely thinking had something to do with my goddamn kidnapping. Sure, all right, whatever you say. Ya want fries with that?" Catching the glare he sent my way as I turned away again, I frowned right back. "Bloody Fucking NO! Like Hell! I seriously recommend that you guys take me right back where you found me." He had started out whispering, but now his voice was growing louder with thinly veiled panic. "I'll have you know that I killed a couple of those damn goons you sent to take me. Do NOT get on my bad side, I'm warning you."
I think the reaction was rather instinctive, but both Wufei and I had been focused intensely on Maxwell since he began his little rant and as soon as his hand shot down to where I could see the outline of a knife through his pants, we secured his arms. As soon as I was sure he wasn't going to try and break away, I turned my attention briefly away to see if anyone else had noticed. No one had, so I silently sighed in relief and turned back to Maxwell.
"Calm down you idiot." I hissed, still wanting to avoid undue attention. Maxwell took several deep breaths and visibly forced himself to relax a bit more. Almost as soon as the enraged trembling I could feel in his arms stopped, he opened his eyes (he'd closed them to help calm himself down) and leveled a glare at me that I remembered from this morning as having been directed at Ms. Une.
"Get. Your. God. Fucking. Damn. Hands. Off. Me." He growled through clenched teeth, apparently not as relaxed as he appeared to be. Still, I complied and Wufei followed my example, though he didn't even give the appearance of being relaxed anymore. Maxwell immediately curled in on himself and seemed to withdraw into some place inside.
Zechs finished with the other students a moment after that and came up the bleachers to face us a level down, crossing his arms as he looked at each of us in turn. "You three…" he muttered, half to himself. "You three are a conundrum. I usually can read people very well, but… You seem different. Same as those other two, last hour. Barton and Winner. I also was unable to get any readings from them. I know you lot have something, but as to what…."
A quick glance at Wufei and Maxwell told me that neither of them were prepared to give an answer, so I quickly spoke up. "Would you be able to let us work on it privately during class, sir? That way you have more time to work with the other students." Honestly, it would be better for all around if we weren't with the other students while practicing our powers.
The teacher seemed to think the possibility over for a long moment before nodding slowly. "That would be fine. As long as you let me see what you've been learning every once in a while. There's another gym connected to this one. You can use that. Or the smaller one just outside." Wufei and I nodded and the Chinese boy mumbled something about class ending, so we headed for the doors.
Wufei glanced at me and I gave him a quick nod behind Maxwell's back. He nodded back before speaking. "I can use the smaller gym," he offered. "I tend to get a little….destructive. You probably won't want to be in the same room. And I have history next, so I'll see you later." I nodded shortly and the Chinese boy headed off and I dragged Maxwell after me to our next class, Arts.
"Okay, big guy. What's the big idea? Where the hell are we headed? To the nearest closet so can have your nasty way with me? Or behind the wood shed so you can chop me into itty bitty Duo pieces?" He asked after a moment. I turned one of my glares on him before smirking as a thought occurred to me.
"The Arts Class. Those come later." I left him to figure out what I meant as I pulled ahead, dropping the arm that I had had a death hold on. Just then, we arrived at the classroom and I decided to concentrate on the stuff being taught.
As it turned out, the Arts included everything from sculpting to writing biographies of famous deceased guys. Which allowed for quite a bit of leeway regarding what we got to study; it was a student driven curriculum where you got to choose what you studied. Scanning the paper we'd been given with the different subjects, I snuck a glance at the long-haired boy next to me.
Maxwell was slumped down on his desk, chin on his arms. He was still probably a bit disoriented what with all that had happened. Not that I blamed him. He had every right to be pissed at the world in general. I was tempted to start enlightening him right then and there, but I held back, knowing the others would be mad that they weren't included in that discussion. Besides, I'd probably need damage control from what I'd seen of Maxwell's reactions so far.
At some point, I think he fell asleep, his face tilted slightly towards me. Although I was working on my first assignment, a diagnostic essay on the effect Abraham Lincoln would have had on America if he hadn't been assassinated, I found my eyes straying to his face more and more often.
He didn't look half bad when he wasn't mouthing off at something or other, I decided. In fact, with his mouth closed, he looked almost innocent. Quickly pushing that image out of my mind before it could take hold, I forced my concentration back to the essay.
The essay was finished by the end of class, but it was a close call what with the amount of time I spent simply sitting there, staring at Maxwell. He woke when the bell rang to signal the end of class, but he wasn't really awake as he followed me back to the dorm.
Along the way, I caught sight of Quatre and Trowa, also heading back to the dorm. Signaling them to wait for me, I turned to look at Maxwell. "Go on back to the room and wait there. I'll be up in a moment with the others." He nodded and started off. Then he seemed to realize what I'd said and stopped abruptly, turning to give me an odd look.
"You said you'd tell me what the hell is going on here." He accused. I sighed.
"Yes, I did and I will. Just not right this instant. I'm going to get the other guys and then we'll all explain things. Okay?" Apparently satisfied with my answer, he nodded and continued on to the dorm. I made sure he went in before going over to join Quatre and Trowa.
The blond Arab smiled at me as I approached. "How was your first day, Heero?" Quatre asked, honest curiosity emanating from him in waves. I twitched my lips into what passed as a smile for me before answering.
"It was fine. Could you two come up to my room in about ten minutes? I have to go find Wufei and then we need to explain things to Maxwell." Trowa raised his visible eyebrow at the mention of the fifth boy.
"So he's here." The tall brunette didn't intend it as a question, but I nodded anyway. Quatre also nodded.
"Yeah. He was in our History class first period. Remember, Trowa? He didn't know the events leading up to WWII."
Trowa frowned. "Oh, right. Whatever. We'll be there. I saw Wufei over by the library just after class, so he's probably still there."
"Thank you. See you in a few." I excused myself and headed for the library, in the main building. Wufei was indeed there, looking at a book on the history of the Revolutionary war nonetheless, but he came when I told him what we were doing.
"How much have you told him?" He asked as we crossed the courtyard in between the four buildings.
"Not much." I admitted. "I was waiting for when we could all be there to help explain, especially since he hasn't taken the rest of this very well." Wufei nodded, seeing the wisdom in that.
We were silent the rest of the way to my room. I was lost in my thoughts of trying to figure out a way to present the situation without too explosive of a reaction from Maxwell. Being blunt would get the point across, but that would probably simply get my head figuratively ripped off in the reaction. Maxwell probably wouldn't settle for anything subtle, either, if his demands to know what was going on were any indication.
Then we were at the door to my room and I wasn't given any more time to think. Steeling myself mentally, I opened the door and ushered Wufei in before me. Closing the—regrettably thin—piece of wood behind me, I looked around the room, taking stock of where things were.
Trowa and Quatre were already there, the blonde sitting on my bed and the taller boy leaning against the wall nearby with his arms crossed. Maxwell was reclining in his own bed, casting occasional glances towards the other two occupants of the room until he caught sight of Wufei and I.
"What took you so long?" He demanded without moving from his position on the bed. "I was about ready to send out a rescue team to search for you."
Well, if he could keep a handle on his sense of humor, odd though it might be, I just might be able to get through this explanation with all digits and limbs intact. I sighed, indicated that Quatre should scoot over and took a seat on the edge of my bed, facing Maxwell.
"You said you wanted to know why you were…"
"Kidnapped," Maxwell supplied when I faltered at using the term. He grinned grimly at whatever expression I showed. "Say it like it is, Yuy. I've probably heard worse."
"Why you were kidnapped, then." I amended, still uncomfortable with the wording. "Where do you want me to start?"
"Hmm…How 'bout at the beginning? That's usually where things start, isn't it?" He drawled, closing one eye in what was obviously an effort to show me that he could care less where I started. I resisted the urge to rub at my temple to relieve the slight headache I could feel building.
"The beginning." I repeated, trying to get my thoughts in order. Finally, I lighted on a possible opening, so I took a deep breath to begin. "I don't know about the very beginning. I've been told that it's as old as the world is, possibly even older. I don't know. I will tell you what I've been told, what I've found on my own and what I have experience personally. None of us can do any better than that." Maxwell's expression hadn't changed, but there was a slight tension in his posture that said he was very attentive to what I was saying.
"It happens every fifty years without fail. A great power is brought into this world, seeking to harm it. How it is manifested is never clear or consistent. It could be a world leader, a revolution, a virus, anything at all. Something of such magnitude that, if left to spread unchecked, would bring the world to its knees." I paused, unused to saying so much at one time; my years with the quiet and taciturn doctor had influence me in more than one way. Still, I continued, knowing that I could ask for one of the others to take up the tale if it grew uncomfortable for me.
"At the same time, an equal force is born into the world to oppose this power. Five," I had to amend what I had always assumed; there were five, not four, "children are born with powers that echo that of nature.
"Water." I produced an ice dagger that balanced between my fingertips almost precariously.
"Fire." Flames crackled into existence around Wufei's hands, giving off harsh light and some heat.
"Earth." The ivy on the wall outside reached in through the now open window to curl around Trowa.
"Life and light." Quatre seemed to glow with a soft light that put the sun- and fire-light to shame and filled the room with a warmth that had nothing to do with the temperature.
It all disappeared abruptly as I continued to talk. "These are the four that we have so far this time around. The men who found us and have taught us how to use our powers were the ones who had them fifty years ago. We have all trained since we were young to prepare for the time when the evil would come into the world yet again. We have trained to fight, to defend our home. It is why we are here, it is why you are here. Do you understand?"
There was a moment of silence, then Maxwell finally reacted, sitting up on his bed and looking at each us, myself last. "You have got to be shitting me." He said flatly.
"There's no such thing as magic, or destiny or whatever else you're spouting off." He continued before any of us could respond. "You all must be smoking something if you think I'm gonna believe all that shit you just tried to feed me. Though, how did you do those cool illusions? That might come in handy someday…" He trailed off as he caught the looks on our faces. "Or not. That works too."
"They're not illusions." Wufei's voice. Much colder than I had ever heard it. We all turned to look at him in surprise. "If you think they are illusions, then you have been living with your head in a rock all your life. Surely even you can tell what's true and what's not." I frowned at the amount of scorn in the younger boy's voice. Surely that hadn't been called for.
Maxwell looked astounded, as if someone had just told him the grass was pink and the sky was yellow. "But…it's impossible!" He seemed desperate to prove it untrue. I frowned and the ice dagger flickered again between my fingers.
"Care to test that belief? I'm prepared to bet that this ice will hurt just as much as a real dagger would." I said, my voice carefully controlled to be just as icy as the dagger.
The flinch was probably involuntary, I decided, but the glare that followed it definitely wasn't.
"You wouldn't!" He retorted hotly, but I could see that he was shaken more than he'd admit. He knew what a real dagger felt like, I'd bet, if that display in Specials earlier had been any indication of his life up to now. I refused to let my expression change, however.
"He would." Trowa's voice was calm, almost emotionless, but it startled me; the green-eyed boy rarely spoke up, even among the group, that hearing him talk was always a surprise. "None of us would hesitate if it meant getting you on track."
Quatre nodded in agreement. "Trowa's right. We know what is coming and we'll do everything within our—granted, rather considerable—powers to stop it. Including forcing you to fight with us."
Maxwell was silent a moment, his eyes closed. Then he took a deep breath and started talking without opening his eyes. "Okay. Let's say I believe you, for the sake of the argument, 'kay? Where does that leave me? I mean, you guys seem to know what you're doing, have been trained since you could walk almost and know what you're going to face. Mostly. I, on the other hand, have just been dragged off the streets into something I know nothing about, without prior warning much less formal training, and no clue as to what the hell I'm doing. Also, you guys all know your powers, but what's mine?"
The rest of us shared an uneasy look. We had discussed this very topic for a full two and a half hours last night after I had received the message that Maxwell would arrive this morning.
Our conclusion? We had no frickin' idea.
That's not entirely true. We had some idea, but we weren't at all sure. There was the traditional four elements—fire, water, earth and air—so he might be air, but when you considered Quatre's powers (life and light and all that, remember?), it made us think that maybe there was something else we were missing. It felt almost like putting a puzzle together where you only had the barest idea of what it was supposed to look like.
The long-haired boy seemed to sense the tension running in the air around him, since he opened one eye slowly and let his gaze travel around the room to look at each of us in turn, last of all me. "Well, don't everybody speak up at once." He tried to joke, but it was obviously forced. "Don't you guys know?"
I bit my lip on the inside, my mind racing to figure out a way to breach the silence without seeming too—
"No, we don't." Well, Wufei's approach always worked, too. Be blunt and hope for the best. Maxwell's other eye flew open as he understood the full import of those three words.
"What?!" He practically jumped from his reclining position on the bed to a very tense standing one in about half a second. "You guys have me kidnapped, tell me all this bullshit and then say you have no idea what powers I have, if any?! Do you have any idea how fucked up that is?!"
Quatre stood from where he'd been sitting on the bed and stepped forward. I forced myself to relax, having tensed when Maxwell had leapt up, shouting. The ice dagger that had once again formed between my fingers was also forcibly dismissed and I thought I caught a flicker of flame as Wufei did the same. Good. Of the four of us, Quatre was the best equipped to deal with this situation, his powers making him a natural middle-man.
"We don't know what your power is because we didn't know that there was a fifth until just a few days ago." He said slowly, his hands spread in an entreaty. Maxwell seemed to focus on him, intent on the blonde boy's words. "However, we will talk to our mentors and find out what it is. When we have done that, you will be the first to know. Until then, there are some things that you can work on, such as mental and spiritual control, that any one of us can teach you. Do you have Specials with any of us?"
I blinked, confused, before remembering that Quatre and Trowa weren't in our class, so they wouldn't know. Maxwell nodded before I could speak, though. "Yeah. Chang and He-Yuy." I wondered if anyone else had caught the almost slip. "Why?"
"They can work with you to teach you the basics of what you need to know until we find out what you actually are. It might be a while, though that's probably a good thing since we'll be starting from scratch with you." Quatre trailed off with a thoughtful look and Trowa reached out and pulled him back towards the wall. I decided to take up the slack.
"Is any of this making sense?" I asked, trying to keep my tenseness from showing in my voice. I must have succeeded, since Maxwell didn't give me a funny look before he answered.
"Mostly. Lemmee see if I got this straight." He crossed his arms as he looked at us. "One, you all have funky powers. Two, you have to use said powers to defeat the almighty evil that's coming to take over the world. Three, I'm apparently one of you guys. Four, you have no idea what my powers are, just that I have them. Five, we're all apparently just unlucky pawns in this shitty game of fate and the less I question it the easier it'll be. Six, you guys can teach me the basics of controlling my unknown powers while you figure out that particular puzzle. Seven, you're expecting the shit to hit the fan sometime soon. That about it?"
I think my slight bemusement was shared by everyone except Quatre, who was still lost in thought. "Well…when you put it that way…" Wufei certainly didn't look to confident.
Something Maxwell had said suddenly occurred to me and I frowned. "How did you know we were expecting the shit to hit the fan soon?" I asked sharply, bringing Maxwell's focus back to me.
He looked at me as if I was several cents short of a dollar. "Uh, maybe the fact that we're all here together?" He asked in a voice that obviously meant that no answer was required or even needed. I didn't answer and he shrugged. "Well, it just seemed obvious to me. Are you sure you have the time to teach me?"
Quatre dragged himself back to the real world and sent a concerned look in Maxwell's direction. "Duo, you need to understand." He pleaded. "This isn't just about us. The whole earth is at stake here and we can't afford any mistakes."
Wufei sighed and rubbed at his temple where he was probably getting the beginning of a migraine. "Put plainly, we can't do it without you Maxwell."
