Title: Seven Heavens
Chapter: 9
Story Notes: I know very little of religion, so I am researching as I go. I also may 'make up' as I go. You have been warned.
I also don't tend to write stories with pairings. Everything you see is strictly friendship.
Chapter Notes: Poor boys. They are just not getting any breaks here :) Curiosity is tiresome.
"If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."
"You are abnormally quiet."
Heero glanced over his shoulder as the speaker shut the door leading to the small backyard area he had all to himself. The houses in the city were not big by any means, but this one's particular closed off outdoor area for each section of the main building was what had sold him on it. They were very private, surrounding by high brick walls, just how he preferred.
The police officer had stepped outside to take care of his normal daily routine while the rest finished waking up and took turns with the single shower. The few plants and grass he had were all tenderly taken care of with a hidden passion only those closest to him knew of.
Wufei inspected a new additional to his collection. A small Japanese Blood Maple tree. The deep maroon leaves were an interesting color to begin with, but once the fall came is when it would really show its beauty. Turning a brilliant crimson unlike any native foliage in the area. It was a slow growing tree, but one Heero hoped to become the center of attention once he did a bit of rearranging.
"I'm thinking."
Cocking a thin eyebrow, Wufei was use to the short and sweet answers he often got from his friend. "We enjoy a 'thinking' session most mornings, I'll remind you. And you know what I mean. There are two very lost foreigners in your house. One is being very clever about the information he lets slip. And the other appears like a babe fresh to the world. I don't care where they originally came from... cars, tvs, donuts... surely he would have seen at least one of these even if they were from a secluded area. Are you not worried about what they are not telling us?"
"I'm a cop... of course I do. But Duo isn't lying either... Even if he is not telling us the whole truth. We are strangers to them, as well. If there was any ill intent then Trowa would have been the prime target. Quatre stayed with him, alone, for several days."
Sighing, the Japanese man wiped a bit of sweat from his brow before patting the soil of the re-potted plant he had just finished with. "You should have seen Duo last night. If I hadn't been coming from the precinct and still in my uniform, he would have ended up in the back of a police car. He was clearly a danger to himself and to others around him. Desperation is never rational."
An unfocused gaze starred at the dirt under his hands, that small uncharacteristic gesture was a simple telling that Heero was fighting the hard facts he had gathered with the emotions that some believed he did not possess. Wufei watched the gears turning from his seat on the stairs leading back into the house. "So we have two people with nothing to their name, no baggage, no identification and no friends or family to call in an emergency. What are our next steps then, Mister Officer?"
Dark blue eyes narrowed in his direction. The Heero hated that title coming from the few he called friends. And those few used it, knowing it was a pet peeve. "I want to get Trowa out of the house and his mind on something else. At least until I hear from Lady Une. There is a small festival at Loreal's Park and you know how he gets about fair food."
"About the same as yourself..."
Heero noisily cleared his throat without making eye contact.
"That, however, does not solve the problem of your new roommates."
"I realize... That thought process is what you interrupted when you arrived. But between the case with the wolf, and now the fire... My hands are already overflowing. And..."
"What?"
"I get the feeling Duo is not looking for a solution to their problem. His side stepping of possible solutions to their problem is an obvious sign. Even contacting a nearby embassy would help them both get back to their native land. No matter that they are penniless."
"You think they ran away from something?"
"The thought is one I have, yes. Not all countries are like ours after all. And it would give light to some of the glaring 'oddities' about them. The world is not as peaceful and many would lead you to believe."
"So you are saying...?" Wufei could tell Heero was stalling, not wanting to have come to a wrong conclusion even if it was only one of a few he was throwing around in his mind.
The small, dirt covered, spade was put back where it had come from and the newly potted ferns were set in a shaded corner of the small enclosure. Heero removed his gloves and dusted off dirtied knees before taking a position in front of the Chinese man. All his weight tipped to single foot and a hand rubbing his temple. "What if... the country they came from... still practiced slavery. And Quatre was one of those... slaves."
Wufei hissed, lowering his voice. "You can't be serious!"
"Wouldn't a lot of unanswered questions be explained then? If he has never 'been' outside of the house that owns him-"
CRASH!
The sound of breaking glass and a heavy object hitting the floor had both men swinging back towards the door leading inside Where the sound had come from.
Heero moved first, slipping passed his friend and up the stairs in two large strides. He swung the door open and took the narrow hallway back to the main living area. Wufei following close behind with quick steps.
The glass scattered across his living room floor had once been a oddly shaped vase. Trowa's sister had thought the piece would make the room more 'homey'. It had been set in the center of his coffee table, which was currently tipped on to its side. Making it the heavier of the two sounds they had heard.
The source of the 'rearranging' had made no move to right the furniture he had knocked over. Stunned purple eyes starred, impossibly wide, up at Quatre from his ungraceful tangle with the legs of the small but heavy table. Sharp glass spread all around him, but was not noticed by the braided boy.
"Duo are you okay?!" Trowa had been startled out churning thoughts by the crash. His body jumpy beyond its normal measures. "Don't move! We need to clean up that glass first." The words were lost on the young man seated, on his backside, in the middle of the commotion. Chest rising and falling quickly with the choppy gasps forced through clenched teeth.
Quatre was seated on the couch... still. Looking from one piece of broken glass to the next. The small pieces were spread through the expanse of wood floor. Sparkling in the natural light. He picked up the nearest piece, next to his bare feet and held it up to the window letting in the sun. It was beautiful.
A slightly dirtied hand gently took the piece of glass from him and set a firm hand on his shoulder. "Be careful, it could cut you."
Heero left his hand in place, and in turn kept the blond from getting up off the couch. Broken shards crunched under the shoes he had been wearing outside. Wufei grabbed several hand towels and wetted them before going over the areas Trowa swept. Anything finer then the broom could move would be trapped in the slightly damp cloth and he could thrown it away immediately after.
"Duo?"
Heero call was ignore, just like Trowa's. The terrified look in the boy's wide eyes was disturbing, haunting. Bringing back a flash of the desperation he had seen the night before. He was also going to hyperventilate if he didn't take control of his breathing shortly.
Finally, Duo shifted his weight, never hearing the three telling him to not move. A small red smear was left behind on the floor. The palm of his hand pierced by a piece of glass under it. He pushed himself forward, slowly kneeling between Quatre's legs.
His world blurred, a sparkle of gold holding stressed vision. Duo gently cupped one hand to Quatre's cheek before reaching a finger towards the necklace the other wore, a plain golden ring on a thin chain. It appearance was so simple, but the ache spreading through his chest was not. It hurt.
When the Seeker first noticed it, falling from its hiding spot under the blonde's shirt, his whole world was engulfed with the purest white. He had jerked out of his seat next to Quatre on the couch, and tripped over the coffee table in blind confusion.
Fingers never reached their destination. Duo couldn't bring himself to lay a single finger to the metal, afraid of tarnishing that which it was. Instead curling his hand into a fist over his hammering heart.
Duo cut off his source of air forcefully. Holding his breath as the blood pounded behind his ears loudly. His next breath was larger, and when he held this one he met Quatre's clear eyes. "How did you..." He swallowed, afraid, barely able to whisper. "Quat... how did you get this? When?" Again his eyes were locked to the shining gold ring around the boy's delicate neck. Surely he understood the signification of the jewelry he wore.
"Arc..." Quatre stopped himself, barely. "Gabriel gave it to me. He sent me to find you after. He... he said-"
"Stop!" The trembling fingers on Quatre's cheek tensed, leaving impressions. But the blond always listened to him and the sentence was left unfinished. No matter the topic of discussion. He was the only one who would listen that Duo felt he could speak his mind to, and now this! It was far too soon for this...
Not wanting the moisture pooling on eye lids to be noticed, Duo turned the cherub's face downward and left a small kiss on the boy's forehead before standing and brushing past the one's trying to help. "I-I... need a some air. I'll be back."
The front door closed quietly with four sets of eyes watching it.
"Come on Quatre."
Blue-green eyes tore themselves from the exit Duo had to taken to Heero who was still standing next to him. The Japanese man double checked the area around his pale feet before helping him away from the mess. Once out of the way the rest made quick work of picking the glass up and righting the coffee table. Cathy would just have to pick Heero out a new vase. Though, probably not before scolding him on being so careless with the first one of course.
The clocked ticked on, oddly alone as it filled the house's interior. The one who had chatted his ear off already the first day they could talk, Quatre, was silent. Looking out the bay window to the side street. Curled up on the seat positioned within the large panes of glass with a throw pillow. Fingers gently petting it's soft surface. He had not asked a single question since Duo had left.
Trowa was still in the shower, wrestling with the smoke and soot that covered his body. Heero had grumbled about the other's tall stature while digging for some clothes that 'might' fit. He wasn't one to keep around anything if it did not fit properly. The space could be better used for more important things. Like air.
When a full hour ticked past Wufei announced he was going to find their missing fifth. There was no point in wasting a precious day off.
He didn't have to go far. Duo was seated in a slumped position on the second to last step of Heero's stoop. The crumpled leaf stuck in his braid was a sign that he had not been occupying the stairs the whole time he had been outside.
Duo didn't bother to look over when Wufei gracefully sat next to him on the cement. His far away gaze mimicking that which Heero had been doing in the back yard.
"Thinking?"
Knees were pulled up to Duo's chest and his chin was set on top. It took him several moments before replying. "I would rather not. But it seems my brain has other ideas." Reeling from the sight of the ring Gabriel had once worn. Had 'always' worn... until now.
"Quatre hasn't said a thing since you left the house. Even the little I know you two, that seems out of place."
Duo chuckled. "Yeah, Quat being quiet is a dangerous thing. He is probably recharging his bank of questions he is going to ask. Or he is plotting a way to corner someone so he can as many answers as possible in one go. The little bugger is far too clever when he wants something."
"Or..." Wufei leaned back, enjoying to warmth the sun spread over his upturned face. "He is worried about you." He heard the the rustle of fabric, and felt the other's gaze finally turned in his direction. But black eyes remained upward bound, casually watching the clouds pass overhead.
It did not take much persuading to get the foreigners to agree to a day out at a festival. Quatre wanted to know what a 'festival' was and rather then try to explain, Duo just told him that he would have to see it with his own eyes in order to understand.
Trowa was a little bit harder. He was hoping to go back to his building to see if he could get inside and see the damage. It was not until Heero put in a call to his superior officer did they find out the building had just been deemed unsafe and no residents would be allowed in the area any time soon. Personal possessions would be removed by a qualified team then boxed up for collection by the owners over the next few months.
He didn't have many things, but they were still 'his' things. And it had been 'his' home. Trowa's mind was already working in overdrive trying to figure out what he was going to do, he had to contact his insurance company. What about clothes? He could probably stay with Cathy, but that meant a couch for who knew how long. They didn't have the extra space for another body on a permanent basis. Maybe the office instead?
"Trowa, you are muttering."
Thin lips pressed shut. The taller man was not aware he had been speaking out loud until Wufei brought it up. "Sorry, I just... I'm a little lost on what to do."
The black tail of hair bobbed as Wufei gave a nod of his head. "Understandable... How about I help you with that. You can stay at my dojo for as long as you need."
"Wufei! I can't do that. It would be an incon-"
"Barton!" Wufei cut the other off. "If it was an issue I would not have offered, don't dishonor my right to help a friend in need." The long bang of hair covered up Trowa's eyes as he lowered his head mildly shamed. "As I was saying. You know I rarely use the living quarter in it. You are welcome to it, as long as you don't mind me coming and going ever so often."
"Of course I wouldn't..."
"AND... if you have no issues with a couple of roommates."
"Roommates?" Trowa confusion was evident. No one had lived at the home attached to the dojo since Wufei's parents passed away. Green eyes questioned this to his long time friend. Wufei's answer was not voiced. Instead he waved a hand in the direction of Duo and Quatre.
Taken by surprise, Duo wildly waved his hands in front of person. "No, nah-uh! Not a chance! We have put you all out enough as it is. I thank you, but we will be fine now that we are together. We will take our leave tomorrow if that is okay with Heero."
"It is not..." Heero crossed his arms over his chest.
"Then, we can be out of your hair later this evening, that is not a problem." Duo's hair waved over his lower back as his eyes swung between the pair of eyes on him.
"You misunderstand." They stopped on the Japanese man when he continued speaking. Feeling Quatre set a hand over his own. "You can stay here tonight. I have no problems with that, you are more then welcome to even. But you mistook what Wufei said as 'optional', when it is not."
"But...!"
"Or were you planning on sleeping at the church instead? Perhaps in an alleyway instead? I would not suggest the parks, they can be dangerous at night." Heero's eyes half lidded as he spoke, precise and to the point. "While you seem to have done well enough on the streets, you are no longer alone, and need to think about Quatre now. If Trowa had not found him during that storm... I doubt he would have survived."
The chair Duo had been sitting on tipped backward dangerously when he stood abruptly, hackles rising. "Fuck you buddy! Don't you think I know that!?" Fists clenched in the air between the two. "I hold his life far above my own and everything I do is to make sure he is kept safe!" Duo let his hands fall to either side of his body. "You could never understand... You just can't..."
"Of course not... You will not tell us. And, for now, I'll leave that subject alone. I'm sure the reason is justified. BUT you 'will' stay at the dojo. If not for yourself, then for your friend. Not all in the cities justice force will take 'you will not understand' as an answer. I am normally one of those people, just so you understand the effort that is being put into this situation."
Duo's anger snuffed out like flame in a puff of wind. He sat back down, heavily, defeated, nodding his head. Whispering a hitched "Thank you".
Piercing blue eyes locked onto Trowa, daring his friend to give an excuse of his own. But the other held up his hands in defeat immediately. There was no arguing with Heero when he was in 'commander' mode.
"Good, now that we are in agreement. I'm hungry."
There was a moment of pity for Duo... But only a brief moment. Without a care in the world Quatre ran from vendor to vendor as soon as they stepped inside the front gates of the park festival. Duo made a valiant effort to remain close to his side at every moment. But he was no match for the curiosity the other contained, and was often facing a moment of panic when the blond was not in line of sight. He had to apologize to more then one person for his heavy braid hitting them as he swung it around while searching the crowd.
He didn't have to worry, really. The three locals, remaining back a few steps, were easily able to see when Duo lost his friend and keep an eye on the blond for him. At a point it was comical and entertainment to all watching.
But even with the momentary freak-outs and frantic searching, the wide smile on Duo's face when the two stood side by side and he pointed out objects of interest to explain, arms waving in gesture. They could all see that Duo never felt that it was a burden. Better him then any of them. It looked exhausting!
It was the perfect distraction for anyone forget their worries, if even for just a few hours.
Trowa was pulled enthusiastically to the petting zoo. Every animal was questioned, petted, and patted gently on the head. The favorite being the tall horse that brushed curious lips through Quatre's hair. The blond laughed merrily and struck up a one sided conversation with the sturdy animal. Talking about the cat he was friends with at the clinic and wondering if the horse would, in turn, like the feline himself.
Heero indulged in foods he rarely obtained, but secretly dreamed about. He made a poor act of hiding that he was letting Quatre steal half of everything he bought from the food stands. It allowed him, after all, more stomach room to fill with delicious food himself. Though curiosity flared when he saw Duo sneak the half of hot dog out from the bun under the disguise of a large bite before handing it over to the smaller young man. Not that there wasn't enough other toppings on the bun to make a decent meal. Quatre never even knew the difference.
Wufei caught the small foreigner from tipping backwards when he looked up and up to the very top of the ferris wheel and proceeded to lose his balance. "It's a ferris wheel, would you like to ride it?" He asked before the eventual question could be voiced.
"You can ride it? All the way up there?" Glimmering blue eyes followed the rotation of the giant wheel reaching into the sky.
"Of course. You get on at the bottom over there." His pointing arm was traced to the area where the ride attendant was helping people off the swinging seats.
Quatre smiled and finally righted his posture from the other's supporting arms. "Yes please! It looks fun."
Three tickets were purchased. One for Quatre, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet while waiting in line. One for Duo, who was sticking next to his friend no matter what ride he wanted to try out. And one for Trowa, who wasn't sure why he was now in line. But the look he got from the Chinese man when being handed his ticket left no room to turn down the offer.
When their turn came, each was happily pulled toward the chair by Quatre's strong grasping hand. Sandwiching him in the middle on the three seat chair ride. The worker went through his monotone dialog while securing the safety bar. Soon enough none of their feet touched the ground.
Wufei chuckled at the sight. Quatre's feet swung back and forth, rocking the chair needlessly, head turning on a non-stop swivel. But he was certainly not the only one. The height of the ferris wheel took it easily over the tree tops of the park. The people would become small compared to the scenery of the entire festival below them. Then there was the downtown skyline to the west, faded from the atmosphere between them. But the tall skyscrapers lumped in one location was always a grand sight. They couldn't be built just anywhere. So when the land allowed for them to be properly supported, they seemed to spring from the ground surrounded by nothing.
Then to the east...
Beside him, Heero gasped, a uncharacteristic show of fright. "The hell is he doing!"
Wufei, pulled from his thoughts, threw a surprised look to his friend before following the other's line of sight to the very apex of the metal circle's path. His teeth clicked painfully together as his heart leap into his throat.
Near the entrance to the ride a lady screamed in fright, pointing upwards. Several more surprised gasps followed soon after. The young ride worker was one of the last to notice something was not right by the collected heads pointed to the sky.
The ride was halted in a display of jarring swings. Both Asian men swore hotly at the sudden shut down by the attendant. Heero tore off to the base of the ride with the phrase 'stupid idiot' trailing in his wake. Pushing through the crowd that was becoming thicker around them.
Wufei moved forward in an attempt to keep up with the police officer.
In the rides gently rocking seat, Trowa had been enjoying the high top view one second, then wondering how Quatre had wiggled out from under the safety bar the next. Before either himself or Duo noticed what was happening the blond was standing on the metal seat bench between them. The same horrified expression flashed over the face of each young man before both immediately latched a death grip to the leg that was nearest to them.
"Duo look!" The blond turned his gaze downwards, not registering the fear filled eyes that looked back up at him. The little angel, whom had fallen the farthest of any of them, had no fears of heights. Even without the glory of God's given wings to grace his back. He stood straight up as if he was on solid ground and pointed off into the distance, shading his eyes from the high sun above.
"Lord above... Quat! You 'need' to sit down! NOW!"
"But Duo?"
The ride came to a abrupt halt, throwing the three back into their seat and causing the blond to lose his precious balance and teeter over the back of the swing before righting himself with the hand he had caught himself on. Violet eyes met green as the two, sane, participants let out a shaky breath in relief.
"It's amazing Duo. More then I could ever imagine."
Trowa took a fistful of shirt hem, ready to force the smallest of them back to the safety of a sitting position. "Please Quatre, sit back down before you give us all a heart attack." Not that you haven't already, he added silently. A quick glance to the ground and he could see the large crowd of people below them. No doubt wondering why some idiot kid hadn't read the sign stating to 'remain seated at all times'. He also hoped he was just imagining the yelling voice that sounded much like Heero's over the drone of the mass of people gawking at their peril.
Curious eyes look to each man holding him safely in place. Quatre was unsure why neither were listening to him and looking to the amazing sight that could be seen now that they were so high in the air.
Water, sparkling in the sunshine. A lovely shade of bluish-green fading out to a deep blue the farther he looked. A perfect match to the hue of the sky Duo and him would look up at whenever the Seeker was back in Heaven from his duties. Duo spoke often of it, but it was hard to imagine that much water in one place. There was nothing like it in all seven heavens. As far as he could see, there was no end to the liquid's reach.
"The ocean..." Quatre smiled, spread his arms wide, greeting the splendid sight with happy laughter. Filling the air with joy.
