Unresolved
(part III)
by Quelirain
Heero walked into the room, swinging the door shut behind him, his feet silent on the hardwood floor. "How did you know I was there?"
"Just a feeling," Duo replied lightly. "Sit down."
After surveying his options, Heero selected the chair that Wufei had occupied minutes earlier.
"I'm surprised that you came to L-2." Duo waited for a response from Heero, but when none came, he filled the silence. "You haven't been in my room in the middle of the night for a long time."
"It hasn't been that long."
"Over three years." //Three years, three months, two weeks and five days, but who's counting?// Duo thought. "So what brings you here?"
"Wufei wanted to come."
Duo laughed. "That's it? Wufei wanted to come? Boy, he's got you whipped." Heero didn't smile. His penetrating stare was sharp enough to piece steel, but Duo didn't flinch under the intense scrutiny. "C'mon, Heero, I heard a rumor that you'd developed a sense of humor since I saw you last."
"Hn."
//Okay, maybe I gave him too much credit. I guess we'll skip the small talk.// "So, whatcha been doing lately? I hear you still spend more time with your laptop than with human beings." The glare intensified. Duo rolled his eyes. "Oh, give it up, Heero, you're not intimidating anyone. How long were you listening outside the door? It'll save me long explanations."
"...."
"All right, I'll stick to 'hn' or '....' questions." Heero didn't let up with his icy stare. "Did you know you're driving Wufei nuts?"
Confusion played briefly across cold features. "How so?"
"You share a room with Wufei; how could you *not* realize he was upset? Or does he usually leave your bed at two in the morning to visit old friends?" Duo asked, ladling all the sarcasm he could manage into the question. "I knew you two had an... interesting relationship, but I didn't think that was part of it."
A muscle tightened in Heero's jaw. "You've changed," he said.
"So have you," Duo retorted. "You were a fairly decent human when I left, so why are you pretending to be the perfect soldier again?"
The muscle began to twitch. "You don't know what you're talking about, Duo."
Duo laughed harshly. "*I* don't know what I'm talking about? If anyone doesn't know what he's talking about, it's *you.*" Heero blinked as Duo continued. "Do you realize how badly you hurt Wufei tonight?"
"...."
"You really don't get it?" Duo asked incredulously, leaning forward. "Even I could see that Wufei had a shitty time. When the five of us get together—just the five of us—you and I usually pair off. So do Trowa and Quatre, making Wufei the odd man out. I thought things would be different now that you and Fei are together, but apparently some things never change." He sighed and raked a hand through his bangs. "He probably just wanted to talk to you. Even justice-boy gets insecure sometimes." There were occasional sparks in Heero's eyes as Duo spoke, but not nearly enough for the American's satisfaction. Quietly, he added, "I know how badly it hurt when I needed you, but you just needed your laptop. So I got the privilege of comforting your boyfriend tonight."
Heero's eyes narrowed.
"I suppose I could have done a better job, though. Katas are only so effective for working off tension," he added thoughtfully.
The muscle in Heero's jaw flexed rhythmically. "This isn't your concern."
Coldly, Duo met Heero's eyes. "Apparently it's not yours either, otherwise you'd be talking to *him* right now and not me. And you'd be giving a damn good explanation about why you seem to think your computer is more important than the people who love you. Then, if I were you, I'd listen damn close to anything and everything Wufei cares to say to you. And you know the last thing I'd do?" Duo hissed. "The last thing I'd do would be to take that fucking laptop outside and shoot the thing with the 12 gauge shotgun hanging downstairs."
Heero stood, his hands balled into fists at his side. "Shut up, Maxwell."
"Fuck you, Yuy." Duo swung his legs off the side of the bed, intending to show Heero the door, but he instead he was thrown to the floor. Heero loomed over him. "What the fuck is your problem?"
Almost casually, Heero swung his leg back and kicked Duo. "You talk too much."
//Bingo.// Duo took a long, painful breath, the he grabbed Heero's leg, flipping him onto the floor. The two wrestled, but Heero had always been the stronger of the two. It didn't take long for the Japanese to straddle him, one hand holding the American's hands over his head, the other balled into a threatening fist.
Duo closed his eyes and laughed. "I'm not afraid of what you can do to me, Heero. Been there, done that, remember?"
The first punch made lights flash behind Duo's eyes. The second made him see double. The third knocked him out.
***
Heero wasn't sure how long he'd been on top of Duo before he'd stopped struggling. He looked down and saw the bruises forming on Duo's face, feeling the tension in his right arm as it hovered behind his head, waiting to strike on his command. He couldn't speak, couldn't move.
//What... what have I done?//
"Stop, Heero." The voice came from behind him, familiar and quiet.
//Wufei. He's seen... this? How—//
"Let him go, Heero." They both knew that Wufei wasn't referring to Duo.
//The rage, the pain, the sadness... the soldier keeps them in line.// "Without him, I am vulnerable," Heero whispered.
"It takes more strength to be vulnerable than to hide behind walls." Gentle hands touched his shoulder and the tensed muscles of his right arm.
Heero began to shake. //No... not again. Not again!// Viciously, he drove his fist down into the wooden floor next to Duo's head, ignoring the sickening crack that followed and drove pain through his hand. Wet spots appeared on Duo's face, then the world was tilting, and somehow Wufei was holding him.
***
Wufei studied Duo over Heero's shoulder. Although the American wouldn't be pain free for a while, it looked like Heero had focused his attack on Duo's face. His nose didn't appear to be broken, and thankfully, he was still breathing, although his eyes were closed. //Such injustice.//
He'd been looking for Heero after he didn't return to their room. Once he'd seen Duo's light still on and heard the noises of a struggle, he'd opened to door and seen Heero frozen over Duo, his arm pulled back, taut and ready to strike. And now he held a trembling—who would have thought Heero *could* tremble—boy in his arms, the fingers on his right hand probably fractured from the abuse they'd suffered today.
Wufei held his lover's shaking form stiffly at first, but the inarticulate sounds coming from Heero's mouth demanded a softer touch. Stroking Heero's hair, Wufei hummed nonsensically—//Like an onna,// a voice whispered in his head—as he guided them both to Duo's bed. Eventually, Heero fell asleep, his tearstained face buried in Wufei's chest.
//And now what?// Wufei wondered. //I can't handle both of them at the same time... and even if I could, I'm not sure I *want* to get in the middle of this.// He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. //At least no one will be up for a while.//
Wufei slipped out of Heero's slack grasp to the floor to check on Duo. His eyes were open, his breathing shallow. "Maxwell."
"Remind me... never piss off Heero... particularly when it comes.. to you." His brief smile changed into a grimace as Wufei methodically probed Duo's abdomen. "Do you really... have to do that... now?"
"Either that or I haul you to the hospital." //Which I may do anyway—I know Heero's hand is injured beyond anything I can do, and Duo could have internal injuries or a concussion, although nothing seems too severe. Not to mention the hospital does have beds with restraints... though I doubt that would keep either of them in bed for long.// "Nothing seems broken."
"Good." Duo struggled to sit up, but Wufei held him down.
"Stay there, Maxwell."
"Can't... Heero might... get in a... sucker punch..." Duo smiled weakly, cracking open his already swollen and bloody lip.
"Stop it, baka. You're going to make it worse."
"Just... take me home..."
Wufei looked at Duo, surprised. "What?"
"Take.. me... home. The others..."
Wufei cursed under his breath. //Quatre and Trowa will want to know what happened, and to lie would be unjust... Even if he did go home, the others would want to know why, and what could they be told?// "Shinigami runs, hides, and also lies?" he demanded.
A dark look crossed Duo's face. "I didn't say.. tell them..."
"They would ask." Duo nodded, and Wufei knew he understood the meaning behind the words. Neither of them lied, even when a few simple lies would solve many problems. "Even if you were to go home, Quatre would want to see you again before you left. Heero as well. He is a man of honor."
Duo chuckled weakly. "Honor... yes... damned honor... attacking a... man with... glasses..."
Wufei stood. "I'll get a first aid kit."
"Bathroom... first cabinet... left side..." The Chinese turned and looked at the shining violet eyes. "Quatre told me... knows I tend to... get into... trouble." He closed his eyes.
Wufei retrieved the first aid kit and proceeded to clean off the worst of Duo's injuries. Although it must have stung, Duo didn't complain as the antiseptic washed over his face, nor did he flinch. "Maxwell?" No response. "Maxwell," he barked. Duo opened his eyes; his left pupil was dilated, absorbing the violet iris. "Stay awake. You can't go to sleep."
"Tired..."
"I know, but don't sleep. Heero could wake up." That got Duo. His eyes widened. "You probably have a concussion. Heero hurt his hand."
"Must be... 'cause I'm so... hard... headed..." Duo's eyelids obscured the purple eyes.
Wufei glanced at Heero, who still appeared to be asleep, and evaluated his options. //No choice.// He shook Duo awake again, then slipped out of the room and down the hall.
***
"Quatre." The voice came from outside the door and was accompanied by a brisk knock.
Trowa groaned sleepily as Quatre disentangled himself from his lover's embrace before calling "Come in."
The door opened, revealing a fully-dressed Wufei. "Duo is injured," he said shortly. "He needs to see a doctor."
"Now?" Quatre questioned. Wufei nodded.
"What could he have been doing, alone, at this time in the morning?" Trowa mumbled grumpily.
"Heero was also injured. He will be coming as well," Wufei reported.
Quatre sat up. "We're coming. Where are they?"
"Duo's room." Wufei turned and strode out, leaving the door open. Quatre and Trowa exchanged concerned glances.
"You don't suppose that Heero had something to do with Duo's injuries?" Quatre worried.
"It's possible." Trowa stood and walked to the closet. He tossed a pair of khakis and shirt to Quatre, then pulled out a pair of jeans and a turtleneck for himself. The two dressed rapidly and walked down the hall. Wufei waited for them, carrying a blanket with a long chestnut braid hanging from one end. He handed the bundle carefully to Trowa, then reached between the blankets.
Duo yelped. "Lemme sleep..."
"Keep him awake. He's probably got a concussion." Trowa nodded, then headed down the hallway. "Quatre, the car."
"It's waiting downstairs. Where's Heero?" Silently, Heero appeared beside Wufei. It took all of Quatre's self-control, combined with a cold look from Wufei, not to comment on Heero's obviously red-rimmed eyes.
"Let's go," Wufei said without turning around. Heero followed him, and Quatre brought up the end of the strange procession.
After a mostly silent drive—Wufei continued to pinch Duo at various intervals to keep him awake—Trowa carried Duo into the emergency room, followed by Quatre. Wufei said something to Heero that Quatre couldn't quite make out, but convinced the Japanese to get out of the car and walk briskly inside. Duo was whisked away immediately. Wufei followed him, leaving the others outside to wait for the nurse to call Heero's name. Quatre and Heero sat while Trowa stood silently, watching Heero with a look as close to a glare as Quatre had ever seen on Trowa's face.
"What happened?" Trowa asked Heero suddenly. Quatre looked at Trowa, surprised. Duo had been the only person stupid or daring enough to bother the former pilot of Wing Zero when he was in a bad mood. Yet Trowa's tone of voice made it clear he wasn't asking for answers—he was demanding them. Quatre opened his mouth to speak, but an edge in Trowa's voice made him pause. He looked at Heero and waited.
When no explanation came, Trowa moved in front of Heero before continuing icily, "You did this. Why?"
Quatre watched Heero grind his teeth for a moment before saying, "You can't be sure—"
"I know what a beating looks like," Trowa snapped.
Quatre's jaw dropped. //He's serious... he really believes that Heero is responsible.// Still, the Arabian tried to reason with his lover. "Trowa, this isn't the time—"
"Quatre, be quiet." The blonde leaned back in his chair, shocked. //He's angry! But Trowa never gets angry, not like this.// While Quatre reeled amid unfolding events, Trowa reached down and grabbed Heero by the shirt. He didn't resist. "I've seen beatings. I've lived through them. I want to know what Duo said or did to deserve such treatment. You will explain your actions."
"Trowa! Put him down!" Quatre ordered, standing. He touched Trowa's arm. "Leave it alone for now. We'll figure things out later."
Trowa glanced at Quatre's pale face and bright blue eyes, then turned to Heero. "You—" He stopped speaking as suddenly as he had started, his eyes riveted to Heero's face. Quatre followed Trowa's gaze to see tears glistening on Heero's cheeks.
"Heero..." Quatre whispered. //What is going on?//
Carefully, Trowa settled Heero back into his chair, where Heero promptly slumped forward, cradling his injured hand in his lap, his good hand holding his forehead and hiding his face from the others.
"Heero?" Wufei walked over to the sitting area. "They're ready to see you now." He stopped, staring at Trowa's smoldering green eye focused on the dark-haired boy with one hand buried in his bangs. Wufei placed a hand on Heero's shoulder. He looked up at the Chinese, who looked back at him flatly. "Come on." Heero stood, his eyes the color of a stormy sea and twice as turbulent. Together, they walked into the back of the emergency room.
A few moments later, a nurse walked by. She paused to look at them before asking, "Mr. Barton and Mr. Winner?" The boys nodded. "Mr. Maxwell has been asking for you. Please come with me." Trowa and Quatre followed her down pale hallways to a small curtained-off room..
"Thank you," Quatre said.
"The doctor will be in shortly," she said, checking something off on a clipboard that hung from the wall.
Trowa was already at Duo's bedside, examining the knot on Duo's head. "Trowa, man, I'm fine. Relax. It's just a bump to the head. I've had worse, you know that," Duo insisted, although it was evident his words weren't having any effect on Trowa. "Quatre, would you talk to him? Tell him I'm fine."
"He wants to know what happened, Duo, and I must admit, I'm curious too." Quatre sat on the other bed. "So what happened?"
Duo sighed. "Nothing special. Heero and I got into a fight, and things went a little far, that's all."
"It looks like Heero won," Quatre noted dryly.
The American smiled shrugged. "Heero lost, actually."
Quatre gaped at Duo. "Heero *lost*?"
"It is possible for Heero to lose." Duo smiled mischievously. "So when do I get breakfast?"
"In a few hours. You'll be here for the next day or so for observation," a voice said from the doorway. The boys turned to see a slender woman with short, curly black hair and glasses standing in the doorway. "I've looked at your charts. Aside from the superficial cuts and bruises, you've got two cracked ribs and a concussion. We'll need to run some more tests to make sure that you don't have any other surprises." The doctor looked up. "You've got quite a medical history, Mr. Maxwell."
Duo shrugged and tried to look innocently at the doctor.
"Also, Mr. Chang and Mr. Yuy asked me to let you know that they'll be headed home shortly. I suggest you go with them, as Mr. Maxwell will need his rest."
"Aw, man! I'm not even tired," Duo complained, yawning. "Well, maybe a little..."
"We're leaving." Quatre grabbed Trowa's hand and led him toward the door. "Duo, don't make too much trouble for the staff, okay? We'll be back later today."
"I'll be good," Duo promised.
The boys said their goodbyes, then joined Wufei and Heero in the waiting room. Heero's hand was bandaged and his head hung low as they walked to the car.
***
The ride home was tense. Heero stared out the window at the sunrise, ignoring Trowa's fixed glare and Quatre's penetrating gaze, and pretending not to notice the still expression on Wufei's face. He could understand their reactions. If he were watching himself, he'd probably be giving himself the same types of stares he was receiving.
"Heero, we're here." Heero let Wufei guide him out of the car.
//How can he even look at me? I'm surprised he didn't just call me a honorless onna and leave me to fend for myself.// Heero caught a glimpse of Wufei's expressionless features and bit his lip.
He walked into the house and quietly climbed the stairs. //But I brought it on myself. I lost control. How did I lose control like that?//
And this time, there's no mission to protect you,>> a voice taunted from the back of his head.
"Heero." He turned at the sound of Wufei's voice from the bottom of the stairs. "I'll be up with your pain medication in a bit. Why don't you get some rest." Heero nodded, feeling his heart wrench at the carefully neutral tones Wufei used with him. Obediently, he went to their room and laid down. His hand ached, but it wasn't enough for him to complain. His thoughts contrived to keep him from sleep.
//After all this time, Duo still knows how to get under my skin.//
Or maybe you're just that easy to read.>>
Heero sighed. That was probably more true than he cared to admit. There just didn't seem to be a middle ground—either he felt or he didn't. And sometimes, like tonight, his emotions surged and overwhelmed him.
But it wasn't just that, now, was it?>>
//No... no. It was seeing Duo again, talking to him.//
And?>>
//I didn't want to disappoint Wufei. He wanted to come.//
How did you know what he wanted?>>
//It was the way Wufei asked me if we should go. He wanted me to come, but he wouldn't ask me to come, which was unusual.//
Suddenly, Wufei's words before he left popped into Heero's head.
//"Heero? What are you working on? .... Going to take a break soon?"//
Granted, it wasn't as persistent or unclear as Duo's signals had been, but the underlying message was there, emphasized by how uncharacteristic it was of Wufei to be that indirect. //Something must have been up. The indications were there. I should have seen them.//
And why didn't you see them?>>
//I was distracted, working.//
The little voice inside his head laughed. And when did you start lying to yourself?>>
Heero clenched his good hand, then released it. He knew the truth; it had happened before, many times. When situations got too charged, he'd shut down to stem the tide of emotion and let the perfect soldier take over. It had been effective until Duo started making him feel again. Once that had happened, the mask of the perfect soldier could only hold for so long before it shattered under the force of Heero's repressed emotions.
Unless someone rips it off first,>> the voice whispered. Someone who's willing to take the heat.>>
And Duo had said that he wasn't afraid because he'd been through this before.
//Duo *was* angry, but he knew I was building up to explode. No one else would have seen the signs. So he set me off.//
Before Wufei could,>> the voice added coolly. Heero closed his eyes as the full truth of the situation hit him.
//Duo knew what was going to happen. That was why he told Wufei what happened between us all those years ago... he may not have sounded serious, but it was a warning.//
One he shouldn't have had to give.>>
Heero rolled over on his side, careful to avoid crushing his wrapped hand. //Heero no baka.//
***
Wufei watched the stairs long after his lover had disappeared up them. He hadn't expected Duo's presence to rattle Heero so badly. //Just a quick trip to L-2 to put Maxwell in the hospital... good thinking, Chang.//
He turned and headed for the kitchen, where he knew his Arabian host was brewing tea and waiting for him. //We'll talk later, Yuy.//
As predicted, Quatre was waiting for him, sipping tea. A small pot sat on the table behind a second teacup. Wufei sat down and poured the tea. "Where's Trowa?"
"Out. I'll meet him at the hospital later this afternoon."
Wufei didn't ask, grateful that Quatre had gotten Trowa to burn off some of the obvious anger in his system. "I assume that Duo told you what happened?" he said stiffly.
"He hinted at it, but I'd like to hear your version," Quatre said neutrally.
"It was late. I was looking for Heero. I found him in Duo's room. Duo was already in bad shape by then. I pulled Heero off of him, put him to sleep, then patched up Duo. I realized later he had a concussion, and that's why I woke you." Wufei sipped his tea and waited for a response.
"What were they fighting about?"
Wufei recalled Duo's first words to him this morning as he studied his reflection in the dark tea. "Something to do with me," he said flatly. "That's all I know."
"Trowa's very angry about this."
"I know." Wufei drank the last of the tea and set his cup down.
"He almost attacked Heero." Dark brown eyes darted up to meet crystal blue ones. "Sounds odd, doesn't it? But he did. In the waiting room, just before you came in. It was easier for Trowa to back off since Heero showed some remorse," Quatre mused.
Wufei nodded. He'd seen the tears on Heero's face. They hadn't stopped falling until the doctor came in to examine Heero's hand. "What now?" he asked.
"I'm not entirely sure," Quatre admitted. "I can be gone for a while, take care of business from here, and Trowa doesn't have to be back anytime soon. What about you?"
"Heero has quite a bit of sick leave stocked up, and I'll work things out with Sally," Wufei replied.
"As for Duo, I have no idea who to contact, or if we even need to contact someone." Quatre offered the teapot to Wufei before refilling his own cup. "We can check with Duo later today, I suppose."
"Hilde would know."
Quatre considered the idea. "He does need a break. I doubt he'd want to return to school looking like he'd been in a fight." He chuckled softly. "What would the children think?"
Wufei drank the last of his tea, then stood. "So you'll contact Hilde?"
"All right." Quatre set his teacup down. "Will you be joining us at the hospital this afternoon? I'm sure Duo will be bored silly by the time we get there."
Wufei considered, then shook his head. "Heero shouldn't be alone, and based on what you've said, it may be best to keep Heero and Trowa apart for a while." The blonde nodded, and Wufei turned to leave.
"Wufei?"
He glanced back at the blonde seated at the table. "Yes."
"About Heero..." Quatre hesitated.
"Yes?" Wufei repeated.
"This *is* the first time this has happened, isn't it?"
Wufei sighed and closed his eyes. He'd hoped this question wouldn't come up, as his honor wouldn't let him answer with anything but the truth. He could sense Quatre studying him.
"Wufei? Is everything all right?"
Wufei met Quatre's concerned gaze before answering quietly. "It happened once, during the war. He told us that Duo was injured on a mission." The Chinese turned to leave. "This isn't the first time, my friend, but it will be the last." With that, he turned and left the kitchen, leaving a stunned Quatre sitting with his rapidly cooling tea.
(AN: Now that the season of holiday bliss is over, I'm going to
finish this off, hopefully in two more parts, and maybe an epilogue.
Thanks to everyone who's been keeping up with this series. I live
for feedback, please please please pretty please r'n'r!!!)