Eleven
Despite Chang's best efforts meditation had not succeeded. Heero grew more impatient with each passing day. Why couldn't a nice smack snap the ex-pilot out of it? Of course Heero knew that that was not the answer, but what was? His frustration was increasing incrementally to the increase of Duo's silent days. And he was still enduring sporadic bouts of Duo's "night terrors", as he'd come to think of them.
It was not just that Heero was tired of the whole situation; he missed his best friend terribly. He found himself feeling so alone even though he and Duo were together contantly. He missed the joking around, the banter, the way Duo could get him to do things he would never consider, like when they went to the games arcade. Heero had really enjoyed that evening. Everything was better for him, when Duo was involved.
Heero decided to do some research. He found a method he found disagreeable, but at this point he was willing to try anything.
Heero told Duo that they were going to see a movie. After the movie he brought him to an abandoned building in the east end of town. Duo silently balked at the prospect of going in the dilapidated pile of flats but Heero propelled him along, trying not to force him too much. Clearly his friend was agitated, twitching and feebly trying to free his arm from Heero's grasp, but Heero bulled on, determined.
The building was one Heero remembered from a couple of years ago: a white slavery ring had based its operations there. As a particularly cruel form of torture to get the abducted women to cooperate, they were locked in a room in the basement with no windows. Once the door was closed it was so dark without lights that you couldn't see your own hand in front of your face. This was how the slavers broke the womens' spirits.
Heero wondered if Duo remembered that case. He continued down stairs that creaked questionably until he brought them to the room. He entered, this time dragging Duo with him. Then he closed the door. It was so dark. He felt Duo skitter away and drop to the floor. Heero took a deep breath. This would either work or make things so much worse.