Present Time (General P.O.V.)
Heero smiled sadly at that memory, before shaking himself and turned his attention to his friends. Wufei was teaching Zander a few easy martial arts moves, while Trowa and Quatre were stealing kisses between turns. Smiling he stood and made his way over to Zander and Wufei. Their food would take awhile if the cheif had anything to say about it. Heero leaned against the other pool table and watched as Wufei instructed Zander on how to pull off whatever move he was learning correctly. Heero laughed as Zander was knocked on his butt again. Wufei looked up.
"Oi Yuy, would you like to show him how its done or laugh at someone elses loss?" Wufei challenged.
"Fie are you sure you want to do this here? I mean there are alot of people here to see you lose." Heero took his challenge. Moving toward the mats Wufei waved Zander to go stand by Trowa and Quatre, grinning the whole time. Taking his stance Wufei beckoned Heero to come at him. Heero complied and soon all that was seen were arms and legs striking at full force. Quatre laughed. Trowa shook his head.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Tie." Was all Trowa said before turning back and knocking the six ball into a pocket.
"Hmm I think you're right. After all that's how it's always ended between the two." Quate chuckled as he watched Wufei knock Heero on his back, but the messy haired teen was back up in a matter of two seconds striking back. Laughter rang from the two as they faught. Zander was twisting his shirt. Quatre squatted down behind him and whispered in his ear. "Don't worry they'll both be alright. They haven't done this in a while so it's fun for them, and it's a way to let them just let the world fade and have fun." Quatre smiled before standing. "Would you like to learn how to play pool?" Aquarium eyes sparkled as he nodded his consent.
"Yes, please."
Quatre grinned. "Yo. Tro we have another player! Can you set the balls up?" Trowa nodded and took the balls from the pockets and reset the game, while Quatre explained the basics of pool. Glancing up Trowa smiled at his little blonde. He looked so at peace with the child infront of him and teaching him how shoot and manuver the pool stick with ease.
"Ready." Trowa moved back just in case. Zander stood on Quatre's bent leg and hit the balls. Knocking several into pockets. Zander beamed at that. "Cool."
"Nicely done." Quatre spoke softly staring at the pool table. "Have you ever played before?"
"Nope."
Quatre shook his head. "Amazing..."
"Okay what do I do now? Do I wait? Or is it still my turn?" Quatre looked at Trowa.
"It's still your turn little one." Trowa smiled at Zander and encouraged him to shoot again. Trowa watched as Zander shot every ball into the pockets useing Quatre as a stool. Heero and Wufei were now panting and slightly sweating but they were both laughing. They probably had bruises with out a doubt. Trowa snorted at that. They can beat the hell out of each other yet remain the best of friends. Trowa chuckled. Well I've done my fair share too. But still on a daily bases mostly, they beat the hell out of each other and yet they sit and laugh about it. We've come a long way... During the wars if this would have happened between the two it would have been the death of both of them. And probably Quatre and Duo for trying to stop them. Duo...Trowa let out a breath. God please let him be alright. It just won't ever be the same if he never wakes up or if he dies. Missing I can deal with but the death of Duo... that would impossible to deal with.
Trowa shook himself free of his morbid thoughts in time to see Ceira place their food on the table. How long have we been playing? "Quatre." Trowa nodded towards the table, making his lover to turn and look at the table. Placing Zander on the floor Quatre took off in a run for the table, signaling the other two that the food was ready. Wufei and Heero both stood straight and flexed all their muscles, groaning as some where pulled tightly. Zander ran over to Heero looking worried but Heero's smile put his thoughts to rest. "Just a little to much."
Wufei huffed. "You weren't so bad yourself." He winched as he pulled his arms over his head and stretched his back."Though I do think you took me to the mat with a little too much force on that last one Yuy." Heero smirked and said nothing. Trowa shook his head at the two and walked over to the table setteling himself by his lover and waiting for the other three to stop argueing and get over here.
"Would you two quit argueing like a married cuople and get your asses over here!" Quatre yelled at the two of them. Both teens blushed at the statement which caused Zander to laugh. Wufei looked at him blushing more.
"Oh now you've done it." He took a step towards Zander, but he bolted for the table and Wufei gave way to the chase. Zander climbed up on Trowa's lap then across him and sat in Quatre's lap grinning. Wufei slammed into the table, throwing his hands down and panting slightly. Zander was laughing. Trowa was shaking his head, while Quatre was glancing between the child and his friend.
"What happened?"
"Little monster." Zander stuck his tongue out at him.
"Now dear that's now way to treat a child, is it?" Heero came up behind Wufei and smirked as his friend turned to him and sputtered.
"Oh my. I missed something important here." Ceira looked between the two Asians. Trowa smirked. Quatre was laughing and trying not to spill his drink down the front of his shirt and on Zander as well. Heero side stepped the attack Wufei threw at him, and laughed.
Zander was grinning at them all, while trying to hold in his laughter. Wufei threw another punch at Heero.
"Now dear this isn't the way we should be behaving in public."
Wufei growled. "I'll throw you to the floor if you keep it up Yuy."
"Kinky Wufei! I wouldn't have figured you for a bondage type of guy." Quatre snorted at his lovers comment, which in turn made him choke on his Dr. Pepper. Wufei turned and looked incredulously at Trowa, a deep red blush gracing his features. Wufei groaned.
"Perverts. All of you." The chinese teen sunk into his seat and glared at his plate.
Heero laughed. "You know we're only teasing Wufei." The Japanese teen laughed again as Quatre chocked on his soda after Trowa whispered into his ear. The Arab's face flushed a bright red.
"TROWA!" Trowa laughed.
"I DON'T want to know." Wufei stated quickly.
Quatre groaned. "Well unless you're into the kinky, bondage stuff I suppose you wouldn't."
"ARGH!" Wufei clamped his hands over his ears. "Shut up!"
Zander started to laugh, he couldn't try to hold it in any more. Heero looked at him and laughed at Quatre's face. The Arab had apperently forgotten that he was there and was now blushing even more.
"You all are funny." Zander managed to get out between his laughter.
"Well I'm glad you like seem to think so. Others think that we're weird, and strange." Trowa mused.
"You all are weird and strange." Ceira stated.
"Geeeeee thanks for the boot in confidence their hun." Quatre replied, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"You're most welcome love!" She walked away from their table to ring up a couple at the front counter.
Heero sat down on the other side of Wufei and silently picked up the extra plate and put a little bit of his food onto it, then passed it to Wufei. The three other ex-gundam pilots did the same and Quatre handed Heero the plate. Heero passed him a questioning glance before he caught onto what the blonde was going to do. Setting the plate down he reached across the table as Quatre hefted Zander up and over it. Heero pulled Zander over the table with ease and set him on his lap. Zanders mouth had fallen and formed a 'O' shape.
"That was cool! You all are strong!" Heero and Quatre laughed.
"We have to be. What with who we are and all."
"You're right Trowa. With who we are, we need to be the strongest there is. It's been that way since before the war." Wufei spoke solemly.
"Okay so what we got here Zander is an arange of foods from all over." Quatre started, officiently distracting them all from the morbid thoughts of before the wars and during them.
"First we got your Japanese foods. We have white rice, Soba and Sashimi. Then your Chinese foods, Fried rice and Lomein with egg rolls. Then you got your Italian foods, Tagiatelle al Ragu. Finally you have the Arabian foods. Hummus and Dates." Heero pointed out each one and let Zander examine them.
"Some of them... look funny." Zander poked them with a fork.
Quatre laughed. "They're all from our respective homelands. Though we tend to switch off on who orders what from where. We normally all share whats on our plates with each other."
"So are you all going to tell me whats in them?" Zander asked questionaly.
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"Because then you probably won't eat them."
"So I have to at least try them? And if I don't like them?"
"Then we won't make you eat them." Zander nodded and forked a Date. He chewed it slowly while the pilots watched. He smiled, and forked another one. Quatre laughed. Trowa shook his head and began eating the food he ordered.(Which happened to be the Chinese dish, Fei got the Arabian and Heero the Italian and Quatre got the Japanese dish.) Chuckling Heero picked up the other fork and started to eat his pasta. The meal passed in relative silence, save for the groans of pleasure by Zander and laughter because of them by the four teens.
After the five were done eating they went back to the game area to just let go for a little bit. Zander went back to try and see if he could conquer the rock climbing wall. He got half way up it before he and the pilots learned he had a fear of heights. It took Heero coming up the wall to get him down.
After that they decided that rock climbing was out. So they settled on pool and basketball. Wufei and Heero took it upon themselves to teach Zander how to play basketball. Trowa was watching while Quatre went to talk to the cheif. No doubt trying to get him to become his personal cook. The two of them had so much fun teaching him how to play. They would lift him out of the others way and let him make the shot, most of the time missing but still it was fun to them. They all laughed and played. Zander had even gotten Trowa to join in on it.
They played for what seemed like only minutes but was truely hours. Quatre had come out and was now watching and laughing at them. Ciera came over and sat down beside Quatre.
"How long have they been going at it?"
"I don't really know. I came out here and found the four of them playing."
"How long do you think they'll be?"
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah but if they want to keep playing thats fine too."
"Naw they're just waiting on us to give'em the go ahead that we're ready to leave."
"Okay then." She stood. "YO! GET YOUR FANCY ASSES OVER HERE! IT'S TIME TO SHUT DOWN AND LEAVE!"
Heero looked up. "Fancy?"
"Quatre's the only one here with a fancy ass." Wufei comented.
"How would you know?" Trowa asked rasing an eye brow.
"You talk about it enough Barton." Trowa laughed and walked over to his lover, wrapping his arms around the blondes waiste while said blonde wrapped his thin arms around the taller mans neck.
"Y'all ready to go?" Ceira asked. Zander picked up the ball and placed it in the basket beside the hoop, nodding at the ball before running over to Heero and taking his hand. Heero didn't look down, he merely tightened his hand slightly. Trowa pulled his blonde lover in for a kiss, Wufei rolled his eyes and muttered to himself. Ceira turned out most of lights and headed for the door. The pilots waiting at the door.
"Okay! Ready for launch!" She grinned and locked the door after them and headed to her car. Wufei headed for Heero's black volvo, while Trowa and Quatre went to take the tall green eyed pilots Rover. Heero waved to the two other cars as they left.
"Do we need to go to anyone's place?" Heero asked.
"Hmmm as far as I know I still have clean clothes at her house." Wufei slipped into the car, while Heero pulled the drivers seat forward and allowed Zander into the back seats. Sliding his seat back into place Heero slid in. Both car doors closed and soon th ecar was started.
"I might need clothes." Heero admitted. "After all, I am going back to HQ."
"Agreed. So, to your house then?"
"Hn."
Zander looked out the back windows as they drove down the countless amount of streets. Heero pulled into the drive way of small one story house. Zander crained his neck to see it.
"Be right back." He left the car running and soon dissapeared into the small house. Lights came on inside. Zander frowned. Wufei looked up in time to see the small frown that graced the childs lips.
"Heero and Duo's home." He stated softly.
"Heero lives here?" Pale blonde eye brows rose.
"Yes." The child reguarded the house with new intrest. The lights went out and Heero soon appeared on the front door step, closing the door. Opening the door he handed the bag to Wufei.
"There's another change of clothes in there for you as well. My clothes should still fit you well."
"Much appreciated." Heero clicked his tounge. He met curious violet eyes in the mirror, smiling softly.
"You'll get to see the inside. Just not tonight."
Zander grinned and sat back in his seat. The drive across town was one of silence. By the time they got to Ceira's appartment it was almost ten thirty and Zander was asleep in the back seat. Heero chuckled and pulled his seat forward. Kneeling into the back of his car, Heero gently lifted the boy into his arms. Backing out of the car slowly, Heero stood straight and met Wufei's eyes. His own held amusement. Shaking his head softly, the chinese teen closed Heero's door and turned towards the appartment complex. Opening the door for the two, Wufei glanced at Zander as they passed. Shaking his head again he followed Heero up the staircases to the top floor. Knocking on the only door, the two pilots waited paiently. When Ceira opened the door, she took one glance at Heero and chuckled.
"Poor kid. Must have been a tough day." She left the door open for them and dissapeared into the large kitchen. Closing the door after Heero and Wufei were inside, Quatre smiled softly at the child in Heero's arms.
"Oh! So cute!" The blonde Arab squeeled softly. Heero smiled and headed for one of the spare rooms they often used. Placing the child on the bed gently. Heero turned to remove the child's shoes.
" 'Ro?" Heero froze completely, he even stopped breathing for a second. Only one person has ever called me that. Turning back to look at the child, Cobalt clashed with Violet. "Mmmmmmm."
"Zander?"
"Where are we?"
"At Ceira's." Drowsy eye lids began to dropagain.
" 'Kay."
"Zander." Heero untied one shoe and removed it, then moved to the next.
"Mmm?"
"I'm going to leave after I get you settled. I should be back by the time you wake tomorrow. If I'm not, then I fell asleep."
" 'Kay." Heero chuckled. The kid was asleep by the time he got his shoes off and removed his jeans and shirt and placed one of his large T-shirt's on his small frame. Placing the small child under the blankets, Heero stood.
"Good night Zander, sleep well." Heero whispered as he walked out the door. Countinuing on into the living room, Heero let the others know he was leaving. When he got into the living room he found Trowa.
"I'm heading out to the hosptial now. Zander's asleep. I should be back by morning, if not then I fell asleep." Green eyes reguarded him with understanding. Heero was unraveling inside. Trowa nodded.
"I'll let everyone know."
"Oh. Tell Wufei to keep the bag here. It has changes of clothes for at least three days." Heero turned to the door, only to stop short.
"Heero?" Trowa's calm voice called softly, the frown obvious by the tone.
"What am I going to do?" He whipped his hands across his face. "A kid and now an injured man -who I happen to love.- God. This sucks ass." Heero groaned. "I really just want to bang my head on something hard." He muttered. Trowa chuckled. Heero turned to him. "What?"
"You admitted it."
"What are you talking about Trowa?" I didn't! Tell me I didn't say that out loud. Stupid stupid stupid! Idiot! Baka! UGGGH!
"Heehee I quote ' an injured man, who I happen to love.' You admitted it. Not only to yourself, but to me. Heero this is really tearing you apart isn't it." Not a question. A statement. Typical Trowa.
Heero groaned again. "Oh god." He really, really, really wanted to smash his head against something really hard now. "Fuck."
"Calm down. Just go and sit with him Heero." Trowa's eyes softened. "Talk to him. Let him know how much it hurt to live without him here. Tell him about what's happened in the time he's been gone. Simply talk to him. It'll get through to him some how."
"You make it sound so easy."
"It is."
Heero sighed and left without another word.
(In the apartment with Trowa and Quatre)
Quatre came from the bedroom he and Trowa stayed in. "Did he just?" He turned to his tall lover.
"He did."
Wufei came into the room. "He's never admitted it. I mean it's obvious but- never has he EVER admitted it to anyone." He turned to stare at the door.
"Poor guy." Ceira muttered.
"This entire situation is tearing him apart slowly." Quatre spoke softly.
"He'll be fine." Trowa stated softly, standing and moving over to his lover. "I promise you sweetheart." Quatre layed his head against Trowa's toned chest. Wrapping his arms around the smaller young man infront of him, Trowa turned his attention to Ceira. "I think it would be wise to head for bed. Wufei you heard what Heero said about the bag right?"
The chinese teen nodded. "I think rest would do us all good." He rubbed wearily at his eyes. "Seeing Maxwell in the state he was in then heading over to Nessun Danno. Nataku! To many mixed emotions." Wufei muttered as headed for the room at the end of the hall. Quatre whimpered. Trowa looked down.
"Come little one, you need sleep." Trowa whispered. "Night Ceira. I'll cook tomorrow." She smiled greatfully.
"Night you all." She turned and headed to her room.
Trowa stood in the living room holding his little blonde love. "Quatre." Said man buried his face deeper into his toned chest. Chuckling Trowa picked his lover up. Quatre sqwaked and wrapped his arms around Trowa neck while buring his face into his shoulder. Trowa continued to their room. Closing the door softly with his foot, he made his way to the bed. Dropping Quatre onto the bed, Trowa kicked off his shoes, then proceeded to strip till he was only clad in his emerald green boxers. Quatre's eyes following his every move. Trowa raised a delecet eyebrow at him, smirking.
Quatre frowned and stood from the bed as Trowa dropped onto it. His blonde lover begand to pull off clothes and moved around the room, pacing the floor.
"I don't understand. Why was he on that colony. What part did he play. Why injure him so bad. Why did he leave. Why didn't he contact us! I mean we could have helped! No this is Duo were talking about he wouldn't let us help him!"
"Quatre."
"I mean I know we could have helped! so why risk his life like that?!"
"Quatre."
"Ugh damnit! What the hell was he thinking!"
"Quatre." Trowa caught him by the wrist. "Calm down love."
Quatre sighed. "I just- I don't understand."
"I know."
"Their are so many questions I want to ask."
"I know."
Smiling softly, Quatre let his hand stray through aburn locks. "Of course you do. You always do." He muttered.
He stood in boxers and his shirt. Though it was open it wasn't off. Trowa let his hands push the material from pale shoulders, hands following the material down. Landing on slim hips. Pulling forward lightly. Quatre moved with the hands, so that he was soon sitting on Trowa's lap, knee's on either side of of Trowa's hips. Hands moved to brush over the firm boxer clad ass of his lover. Quatre placed his hands on strong, powerful shoulders. Smoldering Emerald met burning Teal. Lips brushed.
"I love you." Quatre muttered against soft lushious lips.
"I love you too." Came the soft reply. Trowa slapped his ass softly, earning a squeel from the ex-Sandrock pilot. "Bed."
Quatre pouted before sighing. "Not fair. You shouldn't tease."
Trowa chuckled before pulling the blonde into a heated kiss. Moaning Quatre pushed the taller teen back onto the bed. Hands placed on either side of his head, Trowa let Quatre deepen the kiss more. "Quatre." He managed to mutter before his lips were claimed again. Quatre lowered himself more onto his partner, grinding down slightly. Trowa groaned. "Quatre." Quatre wasn't listening. He was to busy bitting and nipping at the skin show before him. "Quatre." Trowa gasped. Arching off the bed slightly as the blonde arab bit down on a rather sensitive patch of skin on the side of his neck. "Quatre." Trowa managed to breath out.
"Hmmm?" The vibrations sending chills and pleasent shivers down Trowa's spine.
"God. We can't." Even as he spoke. Trowa turned his head to one side offering more to the blonde minx on top of him. Quatre's small pale hand twined with his larger tan ones.
"Wrong. We can, we just have to be quiet about it." Came the huskily muttered reply. Trowa groaned. The hand that wasn't joined with Quatre's traveled up over Quatre's hip and down onto his ass, pulling him closer.
"Then I suggest that you not scream love." Trowa flipped them, hands never breaking. Smirking, Trowa began his slow torture of the pale skin laid before his very eyes. Encouraged by every moan and ever near scream that fell from his little angel's delicate lips. He drove his angel to his nearly breaking point before stopping and starting all over again once he calmed. True they might have went to bed early but neither fell asleep till late into he night.
(With Wufei)
Wufei walked into the room and threw the bag on the bed before dropping to the floor by the terrace doors. Crossing his legs, Wufei took a deep breath and let it out slowly, mumbling under his breath. "Calm yourself Chang. Maxwell will be fine. He will be fine. He'll be fine. He'll be fine. He'll be fine." He chanted this more to calm himself. Eyes opening he stared out the doors and over the terrace space to the lights below. The currtains billowing in the breeze.
"By Kami's grace, let Duo come out of this alive." The broken whisper was spoken to the fullmoon. Onyx eyes glazed over slightly as he looked to where his colony had once been.
"Master I beg of you to watch over him and guide him back to us." He let the wind wash over him, taking that as his Master's reply. "I thank you, Master Long."
"Meilan lend him your strength." His only reply was the twinkling of the stars surrounding where his home once floated in space.
(With Ceira)
Shuting her door softly she sighed. "Oh dear." She sat on her bed softly, brinning her legs up to her chest. Wrapping her arms around them, she rested her chin on her knee's. "Duo please be okay."
Silently tears slowly made their way down her cheeks. "Please." She whispered to the moon. "Please watch after him Mom. Both of them."
Shifting, she let her head drop onto the pillow. Her gaze never leaving the moon.
(With Heero after he left Ceira's apartment)
The japanese teen walked briskly down the stairs and out to his car. Starting the car he noted that was almost eleven, sighing he pulled out of the parking lot. Not paying attention to the road as he made his way back towards Duo. Once parked he locked the car and headed back into the building. Jess was sitting behind the desk in the main lobby.
"Didn't you clock out hours ago? What in the hell are you doing here Heero?" Jess looked at him funny. "You really need a hobby. Or a boyfriend."
Heero snorted but chose not to answer her, simply walking past her and down the corridoor. Once in the hospital wing he made his way to Duo's room. When he got there, no one was around. Opening the door soundlessly he stepped into the room. "God." He whispered to the darkness. Duo was pale. Too pale. He looked small in the bed, wrapped in white bandages and placed in a bed of crisp white sheets. Heero sat on the bed softly beside him. His back to Duo, eyes on the door. Glancing back at Duo, Heero sighed and twisted so he could run his hands lightly over Duo's cheek.
"God Duo. Do you know how worried I've been? Do you know how much I've missed you? Can you even begin to understnad how much pain your leaving suddenly caused me?" Cobalt eyes filled with sadness. "Why? Why did you leave?" He nearly shouted.
"I'm sure he'll let you know when he wakes up." Sally commented from the door frame she was leaning on. "He's in what looks like a coma."
"Looks like?"
"Well his brain activity is very high for a coma patient." She frowned. "Normally there's very little to no brain activity, outside of what's necessary to function with. But Duo- his brain is acting as if he's awake and aware of every thing around him." Shaking her head she sighed. "I should expect the un expected from you all though. So maybe this is normal for him. Or any of you for that matter." Her left hand came up to rub at her eyes.
"Go home Sally." Heero spoke softly.
"Huh?"
"Go home. You need sleep. I'm more then capable of making sure nothing bad happens. Go. You need to sleep. This day has been stressful on you as well." Heero's voice was strong, but his body and eyes showed more of his internal battle with himself.
"Are-are you sure Heero?"
"Go." He said finally.
"Call me if anything happens." She glared. "I mean anything."
"I shall."
"He'll be fine." She spoke softly.
"Hn."
"Good night Heero." By the time he looked up she was gone.
"Good night Sally."
Standing, Heero found a chair in the hallway. Bringing it into the room, he sat at Duo's side.
"Life has been rather hard these last two years. Their hasn't really been a light to look forward to. It's been dark. Since you left it's been cold and dark." His voice rebound back to him in the small, dark room. Taking Duo's hand in his, he started to trace small patterns over it. "I've missed you Duo. We all have. Quatre... god Quatre. It took him the longest to actually let us touch him. He blames himself." Sighed Heero leaned back in his chair, never letting go of Duo's hand.
Dear God I feel like I'm insane. I feel like I've finally cracked. Have I? I should probably ask Sally tomorrow. Looking back to Duo, Heero sighed again. He's home. He's finally home. Never. Never again. He won't leave again. I will NOT allow it! Leaning forward, Heero rested his head on his arms-hand never releasing Duo's-. Heero let his eyes roam over Duo, committing everything to memory. Sighing, Heero let his hair fall into his eyes. "God Duo."
Heero couldn't remember falling asleep, but his wake up call was one that he would never forget. It was still dark outside but for some reason Trowa and Quatre were in the room with Sally. She had just told them that Duo was in a coma. He could remember Quatre crying, he remembered Trowa calling in Wufei, he could remember Trowa and Wufei basically having to drag Quatre from the room, then everything went dark again. He could remeber Une coming in and talking to Sally, but he simply couldn't open his eyes for some odd reason they felt heavy. He could remeber some of the conversation. Something about Une being happy that Pilot 02 was back. How she missed him and about how our lives might go back to the way the were. He could remeber her leaving after making a comment about Heero's hands. He hadn't caught all of the comment. Then he was plunged back into the darkness.
Heero woke shortly after three in the afternoon. Groaning he sat up. Rubbing his eyes against the brightness in the room.
"Welcome back to the land of the living." Sally commented dryly. "When was the last time you slept?"
"A day or two ago." Heero rubbed at his eyes more. "What happened?"
"Well I came in at four and you were out. I decided to run a test or two real quick to see something. Then I called the other three and told them that they needed to get down here. When I voiced that Duo might not wake up, Quatre was... upset to say the least. They had to drag him from the room. Une came in a few hours after them." She smirked at Heero. "She loves the touching scene you made."
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't remember?"
"No."
"Hahahaha! You told her to shut her fucking mouth because Duo was sleeping and her mouthing off was pissing you off. I gave her the excuse that it was eight in the morning and you hadn't had much sleep or coffee yet."
Heero groaned. "Tell me you're kidding."
"No." She laughed. "You managed to amuse her. She was pissed off because she just sat through five hours of old people arguing over a stupid incedent. She said it was... touching."
"Oh god. Kill me now."
"Oh nooooo! We just got the missing one back. I'm not going to let anyone off you!" Sally hissed at him.
"Figurativly Sally!" Heero shouted. Duo's heart rate moniter satrted to beep faster as Sally's and Heero's voices raised. Sally shot a glance at the machine.
"Oh shit. Heero calm down. Duo's heart's going to stop if we don't."
Heero snapped his mouth shut and turned to Duo. Sally moved around Heero and did her job. Duo's heart rate slowed down within moments after the two stopped fighting. Heero let out a breath of relief.
"He'll be okay Heero. We just have to watch what we say and how we say them." She shook her head. "I swear if I hadn't of run the tests I would say that he was simply sleeping and that he'll wake up and expect us to get him all his favorite foods."
Heero smirked slightly. It does sound like him. Sally's pager went off.
"Fuck. Agent Brimestones mission went horrible apperently."
"Go. That man is... something else."
"God only knows what Une was thinking when he was given his code name."
"I never asked. Simply don't want to know."
"Hmmmm thats a good thought there."
"Go Sally."
"I leave Mr. Maxwell in your tender care."
Sally left to go tend to the agents that had most likely earned wounds in their mission. Heero was left to look after Duo. The rest of Heero's afternoon consisted of alternating between looking after Duo and finishing paperwork.
Heero stretched. He'd been sitting by Duo's side working on finishing the last of the paperwork for the last mission. Sally walked through the door as Heero was about to sit down.
"Alright Heero, get out of here already. According to Wufei, there's a child that's been driving them crazy all morning, asking when you'd be back."
Heero groaned and nodded, he glanced down at Duo, running the back of his knuckles down the too pale cheek vefore giving off a frustrated sound and turning his back. Sally bit her lip as he walked out briskly, stack of papers in hand.
"Oh Duo." She whispered, moving forward to brush her hand down his arm. "Come on love, you gotta get back on your feet and soon. Before he goes insane." She muttered, gaze flickering back to the closed door. She blew out a breath. "Alright. Time to check up on you."
Heero's eyes were a stormy mass as he pushed his feet down Une's hallway. He tapped on the door and opened it after giving the secretary a nod.
"Yuy." Une grunted suprised, looking up from her paperwork.
"Mission report." He muttered, waving it. "I've also come to tell you about what we found." He muttered, handing her the stack of papers.
Une swollowed thickly. She'd gotten the jist of the mdical stuff from Sally, but to hear the entire story. This was going to be a long and grueling report. "Begin." She ordered, stealing herself for anything.
Heero took a deep breath, allowing his soldiers mask to fall into place as he reported everything from the moment they left to the moment they got back within Preventers walls.
Une closed her eyes, taking a steadying breath and nodding. "Alright." She whispered. "Keep the child with you for a few more days, while I look into it." She ordered.
Heero gave a grunt and turned.
"Yuy. I know the four of you are dealing with a lot at the moment, but, I need you to keep your focus and head in this. We didn't get anything from this besides some specs and what they left behind." She told him. "This is far from over."
Heero merely looked back over his shoulder, gave a brief nod before he walked out of her office.
"And I've got the feeling it's going to affect you the most." She muttered as her door closed. "Two years." Two long, cruel years.
~Heero~
Heero blew out a breath and made his way back to his office. He leaned against the doorframe, frowning at Duo's desk. With a sigh he pushed off and moved forward, gently settling himself down in Duo's chair. He leaned back and stared at his desk across the room. "What the hell am I going to do?" He muttered, rubbing at his face with his hands. "Damnit Duo." He closed his eyes and faintly heard the braided teen laugh.
With a angered growl he stood and left the office, slamming the door behind him. His glare kept other agents from approaching him as he stalked out of the building. He slipped into his car, turned it on and pulled out of the garage, spinning tires and shifting gears. He pushed his car faster and faster with each passing street sign.
His mind was racing and his breath was coming in quicker breaths then normal. He took a calming breath, down shifting and pulling his foot of the gas pedal. He slowed to a more sedate speed, turning off on random exits, needing the sped and calm and quiet to help calm him. Before he realised it he was sitting in his own driveway.
He closed his eyes. "Damn." It didn't matter how far in the other direction he went, he always ended up back in his driveway. He'd even pushed himself into Frances borders and had somehow ended up back in his own driveway not more then a day after he'd gotten in his car and left. He had been planning on leaving, but when he made his mind go blank, he ended up back in front of the house Duo had conned him into getting.
A faint smirk twitched at his lips as he thought back on that day. With a deep inhale he slipped from his car and up the front porch. He opened his door and stepped into the house. Eereily silent, as it had been since Duo had up and vanished. With a frown he moved down the hall. He stopped outside of Duo's door and let himself lean back against the wall opposite of the door.
He slid down to the floor and braced his arms on his bent knees, hands dangling in front of him. He took another deep breath and let it out slowly, staring at the door.
-Quatre and Trowa-
Quatre rubbed at his chest absently, looking out over Ceira's balcony towards Heero's home.
"What's wrong?" Trowa asked softly from behind him, hands gently landing on his hips.
"Heero's..." Quatre paused and frowned. "I don't know what he's doing but it's not good." He muttered.
Trowa hummed, tracing small patterns over his hips, trying to help calm the blonde. "Should we go?" He asked softly. Quatre shook his head and leaned back into his lover. "Wait?" He asked softly.
"Mmmhm. For now, lets just keep the child occupied while Heero works out whatever it is that's bothering him." Quatre muttered over his shoulder as he turned and dropped a light kiss to Trowa's lips. "Thank you." He grinned and slipped past the teen, into Ceira's apartment to con Wufei into a game of chess with him.
Trowa rolled his eyes and snorted, casting one final look out toward Heero's house.
-Heero-
Heero let out a sigh and stood, stretching abused muscles and walking back out of his house without a glance back. He slipped back into his car, throwing it into reverse and pulled out before shifting it into drive and speeding, faster then he probably should, down the road toward Ceira's.
He pulled into a parking space and shut off his car, leaning back in the seat, calming himself. He nodded to himself and managed to pull himself out of his car and into the building. He knocked once on the door before slipping inside.
Quatre looked up from his chess game and gave him a questioning look. Heero shook his head once and looked around for a small blonde head.
Zander came barreling around the corner and hit him around the waist. Heero blinked before rubbing his head affectionately with a small smirk. "Hello to you too." He murmured, lifting the child with ease.
Quatre grinned. "We all had a day of fun Heero!" He beamed as he took Wufei's rook. "We played games and played cards, watched movies and, gasp, we cooked dinner!" He snickered childishly, much to Heero's amusement.
"You made dinner." Heero deadpanned. "I think I'll skip this meal."
Trowa and Wufei snickered as Quatre's mouth dropped open in mock shock. "But- But!"
Zander giggled into Heero's shoulder and clenched his hands in the Preventer jacket. "Trowa and Quatre made dinner and Wufei and I made dessert." He beamed, looking back at Wufei.
Heero snorted and set the child down. "Alright." Zander took his hand and drug him into the kitchen.
"Ceira's at work so we got the apartment to ourselves." Trowa informed him as he watched Heero put food on a plate, Quatre keeping Zander occupied. Heero grunted as he set the plate down with a sigh, hands bracing himself on the counter. "You don't look to hot." Trowa commented glancing over Heero's paler complextion.
"I'm tired." Heero murmured, running a hand through dishelved hair. "Just...tired Trowa."
Trowa frowned but before he could say anythign else, Zander came prancing back over, latching onto Heero's attention. Heero glad for the distraction, turned his full attention on the child. Trowa's frown deepened when Zander managed to pull the stotic soldier into the living room to watch a movie as he ate. The lines in Heero's forhead were deeper then they had been in over a year.
Quatre took his hand and yanked him out of the kitchen with a firm set to his lips and face. Seems his blonde had noticed as well.
Heero sighed as he looked down at the sleeping child in the bed next to him. He let his hand shift through the blonde shaggy hair and he sighed again. Closing his eyes he was assulted with images of the braided teen, both new and old, injured and near dead mixed with bouncy and joking.
He growled and sat up in the bed, running both hands through his hair. "Damnit."
Slipping out of the bed he slipped out of the room and into the kitchen. Fixing a cup of hot tea he sat down at the bar and starred into the dark liquid. What am I suppose to do? I've got him back, but, he's not here. How the hell am I supose to deal with THAT? The chance that he might not wake up, ever. Damn. That can't happen. He's got to get up. He's Duo fucking Maxwell. God of Death, survivor of two wars and so much more. He can't- Heero took a deep breath and let it out, robotically bringing his cup up and taking a drink.
He groaned and set the cup back down with a sigh. The picture of Duo laying on the ground, bloody and dead flashed before his eyes and he shut them tightly. He gripped the cup handle tightly, clenching his teeth when the image flooded his mind. "No." He whispered harshly. He opened them with a snap of the cup handle and turned sharply to the prescence behind him.
Wide violet eyes starred at him as the a small gasp echoed in the silence, followed by a whimper as the child backed up a step.
"Zander." Heero breathed, forcing his tensed body to relax.
"I'm sorry." The little boy whispered, backing up into the doorjam. He watched with frightened eyes as Heero stood and walked over to him.
Heero flinched when the child flinched away from him and tried to press himself farther back into the doorjam as he knelt and extended his hand. Carefully he laid his hand ontop of the childs head and ran his fingers through straggly blonde strands. "Hey." He called softly. "What are you doing up at this hour?"
Zander flinched at the sound of his voice but otherwise didn't move. "I'm sorry."
Heero sighed. "There's nothing to apologize for little one." Heero murmured, withdrawing his hand. Violet eyes opened and Heero was assulted by Duo. He blinked twice to clear it and swollowed thickly. He tapped Zander on the nose. "What are you doing out of the bed?" He asked again.
A red blush stained pale cheeks. "The bed got cold." The boy mumbled, turning his violet orbs to the floor.
Heero chuckled and was again thinking how much this child and Duo were alike. Heero shook his head and lifted the blonde off the ground and carried him back tot he bedroom. "Alright. Lets get some sleep." He murmured more to himself then to the child as he set the boy in the bed. Heero slid under the covers and snorted when a smaller body pressed itself as close as possible to his chest.
The next three or four days passed in a simliar form as the day after the mission from hell.
Heero spent most of his time when at the office in Duo's room, doing his work while the others came and left at random intervals. He'd then get up from his seat by Duo's bed at eight and leave Sally and Jess in charge of watching over Duo through the night. After leaving he'd always end up back at his own house, spend an hour or two staring at the door in his house that hadn't been opened since the day Duo vanished, then get up and go to Ceria's where he spent the rest of the night with Zander only to get back up and do it again the next morning.
The next day however brought out a revelation that shook the trembled ground Heero was standing on. Another mission. Another mission that had somethign to do with these, people.
He sighed as he stared down at the sleeping form on the bed yet again. "I gotta go little one, but I'll be back soon." He murmured. "Quatre and Ceira will be here with you." He forced himself to leave the bedside and walk out of Ceira's apartment. Wufei and Trowa were already down at the main office, waiting for him to get there. He nodded to Quatre as he walked out of the complexe and to his car.
In the next hour the three of them plus about twenty other agents were on a shuttle on their way to arrest the Hendson family.
The mission its self was simple and easily executed, it was finding the son that was the issue. The mother and father had no idea where their son was. So Wufei and Heero spent a good six hours looking for the man.
They finally found him at a bar, getting drunk. The actual arrest was a bit more difficult. The man put up on hell of a fight, had the two of them running across town before they finally managed to pin his ass and cuff him. By the time they got back, both men were in foul moods. It was made worse when they had to interogate the man.
He sat still as possible save for shrugs and smirks, making smart assed coments. Heero was about an inch away from beating the man to death when Une called an end to it and told them to throw the man into a jail cell for a few days. Heero and Wufei gladly tossed the spoiled little man into a jail cell.
Heero went about the office, slamming doors and glaring people into hell after it. Trowa wisely stayed out of the mans way when he entered the gym, going straight for the punching bags.
Sally frowned when Heero cam back into the hospital wing after a shower following his work out. "I thought you were going home." She comented only to recive a glare. She held up her hands in surrender, backing out of his way as he stalked into Duo's room and closed the door, flipping the lock. She gap at the door before snapping her mouth shut and botling to her lock to grab her phone.
Heero remained locked up in Duo's room well into the next night, his phone shut off and the door firmly locked, chair braced in front of it for good measure. He was sitting at the foot of Duo's bed, willing the man to open his eyes, twitch his hand or something. The pale teen remained perfectly still, the heart monitor beeping steadily. Heero scowled and glowered at the man before sighing and giving him forlorn looks and longing looks, ranting to him.
He finally unlocked the door, allowing Sally in well after three in the morning the next night. He didn't so much as give her a reason as he walked out of the building. He was back at Ceira's apartment before he even realised he started his car. The journey up the stairs was short, even for him. He was in the apartment and in the room the child was sleeping in in a matter of seconds. The door to the room shut with a soft click and he sat in the chair at the desk in the room.
His fingers drummed on the chair arm as he waited for morning to come. Before he realised it, the sun was peaking over the mountain range and he forced his confused and jumbled thoughts out of his mind. He waited with baited breath for the violet orbs to open. They might not be Duo's but they would offer him much more comfort then any other thing at the moment.
Heero's breath stopped for a breif second when those violet eyes did open and land on him. He forced his breath to come back as the boy pushed himself up in the bed and rubbed at his eyes. "Heero?"
"Hai." Heero whispered, watching the little blonde boy slip from the bed and rush over to him, climbing into the chair and snuggling down into the warm chest. Heero wrapped his arms around the boy, burying his face into the smaller body's shoulder. Small arms wrapped around him and he felt himself shudder. He took a calming breath and managed to shove all his fear and anger down, shoving it deep down. It'd do him no good to get too worked up right then. There was still so much that needed to be done and breaking down was not an option.
"Are you okay Heero?" Zander asked in a husky whisper, concerned for the man.
"I will be." Heero murmured back, hugging him closer. He pulled his feet up and tucked himself more firmly in the chair with the child in his arms and lap. "I will be." He murmured again.
That was how Quatre found them two hours later when he went to get Zander up. He smiled gently as he watched Zander run his hands through Heero's hair as the older teen slept, curled up in the chair. The worry floating in the violet orbs had him smiling sadly and backing out of the room. Tears were running down his cheeks when he managed to get back into the living room. The pure concern, fear and worry rolling off the small child was painful. Trowa hadn't asked, he'd merely pulled the blonde into his lap and into his arms. "Hush."
Heero blew out a breath and watched Trowa and Zander play another round of Go Fish. Quatre and Wufei being at work, it left the three of them alone. Ceira being called in for emergancy waitress. Heero sighed and watched the blonde boy throw down two cards for Trowa. He was instantly trapped in a memory when glittering violet orbs turned on him.
Flashback
Duo growled and slammed a card down on the table, muttering viciously under his breath. Heero barely withheld his laugh when glittering violet orbs turned on him. "What the hell is so funny?" Duo demanded, glaring half assed at Heero, turning his attention back to the tall green eyed pilot.
Heero shook his head and held up his hands in surrender when those eyes turned back onto him. "Nothing." He snickered as Duo lost two more cards to Trowa, cursing the ex-HeavyArms pilot feverntly.
End Flashback
Heero shook his head. He caught Trowa's eye and snorted. Oh the pilot was losing on purpose with the boy. Heero grinned and turned his attention back on the boy, moving to sit on the floor behind him, whispering in his ear about which cards he should play, earning a scowl from Trowa.
"Cheater." Trowa grumbled as he handed over a card.
Zander grinned and flashed a peace sign, making both tense for a brief second. Trowa chuckled deeply, jerking Heero out of his melancoly.
Heero burried himself in work for the next two days, going back to Ceira's at the end of the day to the little blonde that was still in his care. He sighed, realising he wouldn't get back to the apartment that night. He phoned and told Quatre before going back to sort through the boxes of blue prints they found on the colony.
He was in for one hell of a long night. Bitting his bottom lip he sighed and tossed the MS prints down on the table. A Leo's print. He frowned and shuffled through the stack. They had one for each modle of MS made, save for the Tallgese and the Gundams.
He rubbed at his forehead wryly and flipped the folder shut as he stood from the chair. He walked the near silent halls with ease, coming to a stop outside of Duo's room. He took a deep breath and slipped inside, nodding to the night nurse, Sally having gone home earlier. He sat in the empty chair by the bed and waited for the woman to leave. "Alright. I really need you to wake up Duo."
"I've got all this info, but nothing to do with it and no way to conect everything. You are the missing link. You know what the hell is happening, but you're silenced, for the time being." He muttered, leaning forward in his chair. "I've got MS prints, I've got machinics and parts, logs, wealthy suppliers and you. An entire colony that'd been taken hostage and, some dead people, but no perp. I've got a child who has something to do with it all but what, I don't know." He muttered, starring at the still form. "Help me out here Duo. I need a sign, anything, point me in the right direction or tell me I'm on the right track." He frowned when all he got was silence, not that he expected any more, but it was still aggrivating.
"Fine. I'll figure it out on my own." He stood and gave a gentle tug on the long strand of hair as he left, looking back over his shoulder quickly before leaving.
He went back to the confrence room and grabbed the folders, looking back over the material he had, looking for any reason everything they had collected would be conected. He got a whole lot of nothing. Groaning, he laid back down on the couch, flicking through the folders once more.
He was jolsted awake when the confrence phone rang out shrilly in the room. With a wince of pain he forced his body to move, picking up the phone. He listened carefully as the man on the other end explained that everything from the disks and drives that had been taken from the compound were no good, they couldn't get anything off of them, they'd been wipped or trashed so bad that nothing was left.
He growled and hung up. So far they had nothing. And everything. But they couldn't DO anything with what they had. He sighed, tossing everything he had strown about into the box it came up in and closed the lid, lifting it and moving it to his office for later.
His meeting with Une hadn't gone well either. She wanted something but he had nothing to give her. That didn't make her happy. He didn't know what to tell her. He couldn't change anything, no matter how much he WANTED to.
His meeting was why he ended up back in Duo's room, staring at the unmoving body before him. It's how Sally found him hours later, staring at the unmoving man/
"Heero." She greeted, moving instantly to Duo's side to check his vitals. He grunted and not moving his eyes from where they were planted on Duo's face.
Sally cleared her throat. "Heero there's a cute little blonde in the lobby with Jess. He's asking for you." Sally glanced up from Duo quickly before returning her eyes to the uncnscious form. Heero sighed and couldn't help but wonder why Quatre would be here now. "I'll look after him. You go deal with the blonde." Sally muttered under her breath picking at the horribly done dressing on the wounds. "He deserves to atleast have one constant in his life. If everyone keeps leaving him like they have, then he'll never trust anyone in his life. We both know that will never be good for him."
Heero ignored her muttering, assuming that it was something to do with a paient of hers, or it could have been the horrible bandageing job done by one of the new interns. He nodded -mostly to himself- and gave Duo's hand a small squeeze. Standing he nodded to Sally and left the room. Heero stopped outside the door. Banging his fist against the door frame, he let out a breath. "Damnit." Pushing off the door he headed out towards the lobby to met Quatre.
Passing Agent Brimestone on the way he stopped to ask about the mission. The man glared and told him they had bad information, and that many of his older agents were injured trying to save new agents in crossfire. Told Heero he personally thought it'd been a set up.
Heero nodded, and polietly excused himself. Stopping just outside the doors that lead into the lobby, he took a deep breath, stealing himself for what was about to happen. Pushing the doors open, Heero had only gotten three steps into the lobby before he was asulted by Zander. The child had ran from the Jess's desk to the door in under ten seconds. The child had plowed into Heero at full speed, nearly throwing him off balance, and sending him back into the door.
"Zander?" Heero breathed. Sucking air into his lungs quickly, and painfully. "You sure do pack a punch." He whispered softly. The blonde boy looked up at him, a smile appeared before he giggled. Cobalt eyes scanned the lobby. "Where is Quatre?"
Zander looked at the floor, a blush spreading across his cheeks. "Uhhhh..."
"Zander? Where are the others?"
"About that." He let go of Heero and stepped back, toeing the ground nervously.
Jess chose that moment to come over. "Now Heero before you find out, I want you to promise that you won't be angry." She stated, looking him square in the eyes.
Eyes narrowing at her statement, Heero looked down. The only thought in his mind was that Zander had come here alone. "I promise you Jess. Now where are they?"
"They're still at Ceira's. They called here to see if your little one had shown up here. At the time he hadn't gotten here though." She smiled softly at the child hiding behind her. "Heero." She glared at him and put her hand on the childs head. Heero's eyes had widened then narrowed. Glancing at the blonde boy, his features softened a little. Sighing he knelt down.
"Zander. Come here." The child shook his head and hid behind Jess a little more. "Zander." Heero's voice was firm. The child moved a little towards the older boy, not letting go of Jess. The secretary/agent was watching with interest. Heero sighed and picked the child up, with few protests.
"Eeehhh." He was nearly in tears when he looked at Heero, his bottom lip quivered.
"How did you get here?" Zander flinched at the harsh tone of his voice, shutting his eys tightly and shaking his head. A few tears escaped the corners of his eyes. Heero looked shocked for a second. "Zander?" The only response he got was the child wrapping his arms around his neck and the gentle sobs of the boy. Jess moved forward to take the boy, Heero shook his head and moved toward one of the chairs in a corner. Jess followed, her blueish-green eyes curious. Heero rocked the child, softly whispering in his ear. It was akward, to watch and for Heero to do it. Jess had to admit if she didn't know better she'd have to say that Heero had done this before.
"Zander. Look at me." The boy shook his head and buried it farther into the strong shoulder. "I simply want to know how you got here if you didn't have one of the others bring you." Hands fisted into his shirt. 'Hey 'Ro. Take it easy on the kid. He's scared. No need to scar him for life. He didn't that bad of a thing.' "Okay. This is not going to be easy, is it?"
Jess sat down. "Heero, have you... have you done this before?"
Nodding at her, he went back to consoling the child. Taking a deep breath he silently apologized to Duo for what he was about to say. "I'm not mad Zander. I won't be mad either. I just need to know." 'Liar.' Duo's voice rang in his head in a very low hiss. Glancing at Jess he saw the surprised look. "What?"
"You've done this before? What do you have some kid hidden away or something?"
"No." His hands moved of their own accord, rubbing gently at Zanders back. "I live about a block or two from an Orphanage."
"O-oh." Smirking he continued.
"Duo." Was the only word he spoke to her before going back to whispering to the boy in his arms.
"Well that would explain a lot." She started to grin. "Do you still go, or?"
"I still go, just not as often as before." His voice soft and barely above a whisper. "Zander." He whispered into an ear. "Please, I promise you I'm not mad. I need to know how you got here though. And I would like to know why you're here." 'Liar. You are mad, but you hide it better than anyone I know!'
"Bus." Was the shaky reply. Heero's shoulders stiffened.
"The... bus?" He glared down at the boy, glad he couldn't see it. "Why would you take the bus? All you had to do was let one of the others know you wanted to come here." The blonde hair tickled his chin as he shook his head.
"Didn't." The boy chocked out between his sobs.
"Didn't what?"
"I didn't" He sobbed. "Didn't want to be a bother." His voice shook. Heero could feel the tears as Zander buried his face into his neck.
"Oh Zander." Heero breathed. "You could never be a bother." His eyes shifted to Jess. She got the message and left. "Look at me." The head shook again, just barely. "Look at me Zander." His voice firm and defined in the silence. He pulled Zander back enough to look at him. The boy held his head down and turned away from Heero. "Look me in the eye Zander." Bottom lip quivering again he met Heero's eyes.
As Heero stared into teary violet eyes, he felt his resolve soften. "You can never be a bother. Do you hear me?" Nodding his head barely, Zander let a soft sob escape on acciedent. He flinched when Heero brought his hand up. 'Be gentle 'Ro. He's scared he did something really wrong.' Laying it gently on a pale flushed cheek, he ran his tumb across and swept away the tears falling.
"Never Zander. Never will you ever be a bother to us." Heero sighed, and let his head fall back against the wall. "Please, please promise me you will never take the bus anywhere alone. Make sure one of us is with you." Looking him in the eyes, Heero sighed. "Zander. Buses are dangerous. With you being a kid anyone could have taken you. Anything could have happened to you and we never would have known." Heero frowned. "Never. Never take the bus again. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, sir." Zander whispered broken heartedly. "I'm sorry." A few more tears escaped his eyes. Heero pulled the child into a tight hug. "I'm sorry." He whispered again. 'See I told you! You're just a big softy when it comes to kids!' Duo's laughter rang through out his mind.
"Why are you here Zander?"
"I wanted to see you. I thought you-"
"You thought I wasn't coming back?" He nodded into Heero's shoulder. "Zander I'm always going to come back. I don't make a habit of leaving those I promised to protect." Heero sat, holding Zander for a good half an hour before he decided he should call the others to let them know that Zander was with him. "Come on." Heero stood with the child in his arms. Walking from their hiding place, he saw Une in the middle of a heated conversation with Jess.
Lady Une turned when Jess nodded behind her. The look of pure shock and disbelief was priceless. She quickly recovered and let her eyes scan over the child's form. "Who-?"
"Zander." Jess whispered softly.
"Oh." Une grinned. "Well Heero I see you've been a busy man." Cobalt eyes narrowed. "Right. I'm here to ask you to tell the other three that they need to hand in mission reports soon. I know they're, helping, but I still need them." Heero gave a sharp nod and shifted the child in his arms.
"Heero go home. You've been by his side for almost 24 hours. You probably barely got any sleep and you have a very upset child in your arms who wants nothing more then to go home with you." She glanced at Une before leveling her eyes on him. "Go home. He'll be fine. I'm sure Jess will volenteer to look after him."
"Yeah Heero I can look after him. I swear if anything happens I'll let you know right away." Jess quickly replied. Heero looked skeptical.
"Heero I'm not leaving it an option. You will go home one way or another." Sally glared at the young man.
Heero sighed. "Fine." Turning with the child safely in his arms, he moved out of the lobby.
(With Sally, Une and Jess.)
Jess watched in utter amazment as Heero left with the child in his arms. "He makes it look almost natural for him to have a kid." Jess smiled wistfully. "Why can't I find a guy like that?" She groaned. "Well onward to Duo." She stood from the desk as another lady came out.
"Well I mite as well accompany you. I need to check on him anyway."
"I would like to see my Agent again, if you don't mind Sally."
"Not at all."
"How- how bad?" Jess asked.
"Really bad."
Une sighed at the answer and followed the other two back to the Medical Wing.
(With Heero and Zander)
Heero walked out to his car, shifting the child to unlock his car door. A shout brought his attetion to a group of Agents behind them.
"Hey Yuy!" Heero turned halfway once he got the door open.
Zander looked up at the four men approaching. "Heero. Do you know them?" He whispered hotly into the older teens ear.
"Not to my knowledge." He whispered back. "May I help you?" He asked the four men.
"Well actually, yeah you can."
Heero narrowed his eyes. "How is that?"
"Well-" One of them shifted self conssiously.
Heero followed the movement before his eys flicked over them again. Setting Zander on his feet, he tensed. "In the car." He told Zander with out moving. The child stood frozen. "Zander. Get in the car now." Startled at the harsh tone, the child moved and got into the front seat before Heero slammed the car door closed, locking it with a flick of his wrist. Silently he slipped into the back.
"Actually Heero it's nothing bad." One of the senior agents held up his hands. "We just came to ask if the rumor was true."
"Rumor?"
"Yeah, the one about you all finding Maxwell." Heero blinked blankly at the man.
"One of the laggies said that you walked from the complex building with a body in your arms. They also said you made Winner and Barton take off before they were suppose to."
Another cut in. "But what really caught our attention was the description of the body."
"Long chestnut braid."
"Black clothing."
"And he was completely covered in cuts and blood. So they weren't totally sure that it was who they thought it was." The four of them had all contributed to the conversation.
"Yes it is true and yes it is Duo."
Three of them looked completely shocked. "Dear god."
"Will he live?"
"Is he alright?"
"Where is he?"
All four statments were spoken at once. Heero let a small snort slip.
"Damn Duo. You've got everyone worried." Heero muttered, eyes downcast and a sad smile playing at his lips. Shaking his head he looked up to see four men staring at him. "What?"
"N-nothing I-I've just never seen you so-" He was searching for a word.
"Scared? Terrified? Utterly lost? Completely frustrated?" Heero filled in the blank.
The oldest of the Agents regarded him with slight interest. "We should go. You need to get the little one back to his parents."
All eyes shifted to Zander. Heero chuckled. "Not really, considering his parents died along time ago." He turned and walked to the other side of his car, back tense as if waiting for the attack. Heero drove off leaving the four Agents starring after him.
Heero glanced up into the rear veiw mirrior. "Zander? Are all right?"
"Hmm yeah. I'm fine." He wrapped his arms around his stomach.
"When did you leave Ceira's?" The boy stiffened. "Let me guess. Before everyone else woke up right?" Violet eyes looked out the back window as a blush made its way across pale cheeks. Heero chuckled. "You two are too much." He muttered. He pulled off the bypass and onto main street. "How about we get food and head back to Ceira's?"
Zander snapped his head around and hesitated. "I'm not really sure if I want to go back." He whispered, eyes flicking back out the window.
"Why?"
"Well..." He chewed his bottom lip.
"You're afraid of what's going to happen?" Heero snorted. "Ceira and Quatre will probably squeeze you to death and Wufei and Trowa will settle for you being unharmed. Quatre will probably fret over you too." Violet eys stared at the back of his head. "You don't believe me do you."
"No."
Shaking his head, Heero pulled into a parking lot. Parking the car he dialed Quatre's cell phone number.
"Trowa Barton speaking. How can I help you?"
"Trowa? Why are you answering Quatre's phone? Scratch it I don't want to know."
"Heero?"
"Yes."
"We have a small situation."
Blue eyes flickered up to hsi mirror before settling back on the sterring wheel. "Let me guess Zander's gone?"
"You don't seem surprised at all."
"Because he's sitting in the backseat of my car." He snorted, looking back over his shoulder.
"Oh thank god!" Trowa groaned. "WE were rudely awoken this morning to Ceira barging in. She was hysterical. I still have no idea what she said."
Heero snorted. "I'm sitting out front of Marnie's. You all hungry?"
"Food would be a gods send Heero. I'll have to let the others know."
"Any suggestions?"
"Anything. We've been looking for this kid since seven this morning."
"Seven?" Heero turned in his seat slightly to look at the blonde boy. Zander was currently watching a mother wrestle her three kids into their van.
"Where was he?"
"Take a guess."
"He went to find you didn't he."
"Hai." He grunted.
Trowa groaned. "When we called, Jess said she hadn't seen him."
"He hadn't gotten of the bus yet."
"BUS!" Quatre's voice suddenly shouted from the other end of the phone. Heero winched at the high pitched shriek, tilting the phone away from hsi ear. "Is he okay? Is he hurt? How did he even get on the bus? OH Allah what if something had happened!" He demanded all at once, still in that high pitched tone.
"Winner! Calm down! I'm sure that if he's with Heero now then he evidently made it off the bus perfectly fine." Wufie growled and heero could only imagne the scowl on the Chinese teens face.
Quatre took a deep breath and let it out. "You're right Wufei, you're right."
"Heero?" Ceira's voice came next.
"Hai?"
"Where in gods name are you?"
"Outside Marnie's. I'm going to bring food back to your place."
There was talking on the other end, before Trowa came back on. "Anything is fine. We're going to head back now."
"Hai." He voice as Trowa ended the call. Heero wipped a hand across his face, muttering something in Japanese. "Come on Zander." Heero opened the door and slid his seat forward, letting the child out. Once out of the car Zander took Heero's hand, leaning into the teenager's leg.
"Are they mad?" Zander gazed at the children in the back seat of the van as they passed. The mother looked up in time to see them pass. Her feature's softened and she smiled at the blonde, before going back to stuffing bags in the trunk. "Heero?"
"Hai?" Heero asnwered, looking back down at the child.
"Are they mad?"
"No."
"Promise?"
"Promise." A can rolled by the two, Zander let go of Heero's hand to go after it.
"Zander!" Heero took off after the child. He pulled him out of the middle of the road before a car could hit him. A long strand of Japanese curses came out in frantic furiousity. The women who had been shoving bags into the back of her van came running down the parking lot aisle.
"Oh dear gracious! Are you okay young man?"
Zander nodded, eyes wide. His hands clutched the can tighter. "Zander." Heero breathed. Thank god. This kid is going to be the death of me.
"I'm okay." Turning in Heero's arms he handed the can back to the lady. The women took it hesitenly.
Heero rested his head on Zander's. He was breathing a little heavier then normal. "Don't ever, ever do that again."
"Okay."
"He's right young man. A can can be replaced but you cannot be." Her soft velvet voice washed over the two on the ground.
Heero looked up in surprise. "Sister Collet?"
She blinked. "Heero?"
"Hai."
"Oh my dear boy." She pulled him into a one armed hug. "We have missed you dearly, my son." Zander looked between the two.
Heero smiled softly. "I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. Just got back from a mission." He set Zander on his feet, keeping a hand in his so the child wouldn't run off again.
"I had no idea you were a father."
Heero would have chocked if he were drinking something. "I'm not." He muttered to her, gaze flickering down when Zander pressed into his leg.
"So this isn't your son then?" She looked at the boy in curiousity. "Oh my." Her gaze softened at the violet eyes and blonde hair. "Is he-?"
"No, he's not Duo's or Quatre's."
"Ohhhhh."
"HEERO!" Looking up the Japanese teen was hit by three children at once.
"Ohhff." A grin broke out on Collet's face.
"Heero where have you been?!" A little girl with black pigtails demanded, her bright blue eyes looking up at him.
"On a secret mission." He winked. The three children giggled. "I take it you're behaving correct?"
The three looked away and Heero sighed. Collet laughed. "Heero I do believe you and Zander were heading into the store right?"
Smirking Heero nodded. "Yeah." He ruffled the hair on the two boys. "Be good and be nice." Tur
ning he picked Zander up. "Sister I'll call you later. I need to speak with Father about something."
"Alright. He'll be glad to hear from you!"
Heero walked across the street and into the store, setting the boy in his arms down. Zander took his hand, looking back at the parking lot. "I'm sorry." Heero blinked and looked down, confusion in his eyes. "I ran off with out thinking."
Heero knelt, turning the child to look at him. "That was not a safe thing to do. I'm just glad I got to you in time."
"So your sister seems nice. I like her!" Zander bounced slightly, easily diverting the conversation to another topic. Heero laughed.
"She's not my sister." Heero chuckled. "She works at the Orphanage not to far from my home. She's a Sister there."
"Oh." His expression fell quickly.
"What's wrong?" Zander shook his head and hugged Heero suddenly. Heero looked down at blonde hair before his arms came under small legs and he lifted him. "It won't be long Zander." Heero muttered.
" 'Kay." Zander's eyes sadened at the thought of an Orphanage. "I don't want to go." He whispered.
"Where?"
"To the Orphanage. I want to stay with you."
Heero froze, hand reaching for a basket. "Zander, you can't stay with me. What I do is way to dangerous."
"Mmmm." Zander's arms tightened around Heero as he started to walk, basket in hand. "Well maybe just for a little while? Please?" He pleaded softly.
"For a little while." Heero voiced with a small frown.
