Forbidden Love
By Duo's Chick
and
Star Kindler
Chapter Nine
Disclaimer: We don't own GW, never have and never will.
Warnings: Yaoi, Angst, and OOC
***
Heero felt nauseated as he looked down the rows of cots. Bodies, barely alive, lay twisted on each tiny bed. He scanned over the ill inmates; most could hardly be classified as human. Each were so thin, they appeared to be skeletons in a literal sense. At the end of the extensive room was a young man with a yard-long braid hanging to the floor. Heero ran down to the end cot and kneeled beside him.
The young soldier couldn't believe the sight. Duo was as white as the snow outside, and appeared to have trouble breathing. His eyes were closed, but Heero ran a callused hand through the long bangs draping his feverish forehead, nevertheless. Suddenly, his violet orbs appeared behind his silky eyelashes, surprised by the sudden contact to his skin. When he saw who was caressing his forehead, he gasped and pulled back from the touch. Heero sighed, clasped Duo's left hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Duo…" He whispered softly.
Duo didn't reply, instead he turned his face away, not wanting to look the traitorous soldier in the eyes.
"Duo, you have been wronged. I have done nothing but betray you and I understand that you don't want to speak to me. Oh, but please – listen to me."
Again, Heero received no response, but he did notice a single tear glistening in the corner of Duo's eye.
"I cannot get you out of my mind; I know I love you, I refuse to deny that fact. But I cannot convey my feelings, for they will endanger my life – don't you understand? I want to live."
With that Duo turned his face sharply to Heero's; his eyes fiery red with rage.
"And what about the people slaving away in this camp? What about the prisoners dying so cruelly? What about them? Don't you think they want to live, too? You lie, and are allowed to live. You benefit by killing your own kind. You're nothing but a liar and a coward! I don't-" He was cut off with a coughing attack. His body shook violently with each agonizing cough. As it subsided, he laid back onto the pillow, and allowed tears to roll down his pale cheeks.
Heero felt a stabbing pain within his heart as Duo turned to him; his eyes still burning. "I don't want anything to do with you. I hate liars. And I don't want to live anymore, either. Why don't you kill me – just like you killed Quatre!"
The words tore through the young soldier like a sharp arrow. He felt a large lump in his throat, and tears threatening his cobalt eyes. But he kept composure and clasped Duo's hand even tighter.
"Duo…I understand your feelings – no matter how much it pains me. I promised myself when you first entered this hell, that I would not let you die. I'm not going to let go of that promise. I have done many terrible things, that is true – I don't deserve you. But as God as my witness, you are not going to die, not here, not now."
Duo said nothing and closed his eyes, thus ending the conversation. Heero took the hint; but before leaving he bent over and whispered gently in Duo's ear,
"I'm going to get the medicine to cure you, I swear. I'll be back soon, love." And without even cautiously checking over his shoulder, he pushed Duo's bangs back and kissed his forehead.
Heero stood and turned around. None of the sick inmates appeared to have noticed the scene in the corner; most were on the border of consciousness and unconsciousness. Heero walked down the row of cots to the entrance and out the door, into the main corridor. Across the hall in an office, the soldier could see a woman, Dr. Sally Po, standing at a counter, shuffling through some papers. Taking a very big risk at revealing his feelings, Heero quietly crept to the open door and knocked on it to gain her attention. She looked up, somewhat startled.
"Oh, Officer Yuy. Can I help you?" she asked and approached the visitor.
"Um…yeah." He paused, unsure if he should ask her. "There's a prisoner in there…he's very sick-"
"Officer Yuy, they're all sick."
"And he's going to die."
"They're all going to die sooner or later." She sighed. "What are you getting at?"
"The one brought in this morning – he needs to be treated. Perhaps you have some penicillin?"
She let out a laugh. "You're joking. He's just a prisoner – nothing more. And besides, all our medicine in stock is for the soldiers of the camp."
"But-"
"The answer is no. I'm not going to treat any of them. They're only in here so they don't get the other inmates sick. They're not supposed to get better. Now, if you'll excuse me…" She brushed past him, walked down the hall, and out of sight.
Heero sighed; that's what he expected. But he promised Duo he would make sure he'd get better. The room next door held all the medicine. Could he sneak in and get the penicillin without anyone noticing? A nurse walked by. No, there were too many people around. He would have to wait till later tonight. With that last thought, Heero hurried out of the infirmary to the officer's quarters.
***
The cobalt-eyed soldier glanced over at his beside clock. It was shortly past midnight; now seemed to be good time to go retrieve that medicine for Duo. Without even turning on a light, he quietly got out of bed and got dressed. As he crept out of his room, he began to have second thoughts. He was risking his life by stealing medicine and giving it to Duo. But Duo was important to him and that is why he had to go through with it – no matter what the consequences were.
He stepped out of the officer's building and into the cold darkness. No other person was in sight, and Heero safely walked the short distance to the infirmary. He got in with no problems, and judging by the silence in the hall, everyone was asleep – including the doctors and nurses. He crept as quietly as possible down the hallway, and stopped in front of the medical stock room. Praying it wouldn't be locked, he grasped the knob and turned. Thankfully, the door swung open, and Heero wandered in the room. So no one would notice, he pushed the door shut and turned on a light hanging from the ceiling. Bottles and little containers lined the long row of shelves. After studying them, Heero realized they were arranged in alphabetical order. Finally, about midway down, he found several bottles marked 'penicillin'. He selected one that appeared to be unused, and shoved it in his coat pocket. As he was about to leave, he remembered this particular medicine was given by injection. He paused and scanned the room. Over in the corner there were medical supplies, and several syringes sat on the counter. Grabbing one, Heero ran down the center of the room, hurried out, and with of relief, shut the door.
Without a second thought, Heero turned into the sickbay. All was quiet, except for a few coughs and heavy breathing. At the end of the room, Heero could see Duo's thin body outlined by the moonlight from a nearby window. Almost timidly, Heero approached the still form and kneeled down beside him once more. Surprisingly, Duo was still awake, his eyes directed at the full moon outside.
"Duo, I've come back. I have the medicine." Heero whispered, and he pulled the penicillin and syringe out. "Why are you still awake? You need to sleep so you can get better." He asked as he filled the syringe.
"The moon is so beautiful. I can't help but look at it." He replied quietly.
"Relax your arm. This may sting a bit." Carefully, Heero pushed the needle into Duo's skin and released the liquid in his arm. He then pulled the needle out and sat it down. The young soldier gazed at Duo for a moment, admiring how the white moonbeams highlighted his skin. "You're right, the moon is beautiful."
Duo still did not look up at Heero, but said, "My parents died when I was very young, I hardly remember them. I grew up in an orphanage; while I was there, I was hardly cared for. We were left to fend for ourselves. We got little food, and the sleeping arrangements were atrocious. When I turned fifteen, I ran away with a friend. We each got jobs and saved up enough money to buy a small apartment. On many nights, my friend and I would just go outside and look at the moon. There is something mystical about it – it fascinates me." He turned his eyes toward Heero. "Kind of pointless to be thinking about such things now, huh?"
Heero gave him a comforting smile. "No, not at all."
"You're really going to protect me Heero? You're not going to let me die?" The braided boy asked quietly.
"As long as there is air in my lungs, I swear, you will live." Heero said firmly.
"Why?" The braided boy asked softly
"Because, I love you." He paused. "Duo, I understand if you don't forgive me for-"
"No, don't say it, Heero. I do forgive you. You're human just like me. I understand."
A tear of happiness escaped Heero's eye. "Thank you, Duo."
"Maybe once the both of us get outta here, we can watch the moon together, right Heero?" Duo asked hopefully.
Heero felt as if he could fly at that moment. "I wish for nothing more, my love." Duo smiled as Heero bent down kissed him gently on the lips.
***
Comments? Criticism? We wanna know what you think! ~Star Kindler and Duo's Chick