Title: Crystalline Tears Drop
Author: Little Trowa-san
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Part: 3/2
Pairings: None stated obviously, but we can always wonder.
Warnings: Random silliness. Duo remembers a flashback that puts him in a panic. And a bit of OOC Heero.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Gundam Wing characters, if I did I certainly wouldn't just be wasting my time writing about them. ::pulls Trowa away and locks him in a closet with her::
Part Three
A week later...
Duo waltzed slowly across the silver floor, his shoes, tapping slightly on its surface. His face was a solemn white as he danced, moving his arms to the sweet cherub like music. He rocked back and forth gently, his hair barely touching the silvery floor. He was just about to twirl once more, when an obscene laughter from the far corner was heard. Duo stopped dancing when he caught site of Heero.
What in hell do you call that jig you were doing just a minute ago?
Duo narrowed his eyes but eased them up a little, watching Heero laugh.
Nothing... I was just messing around. Trying to dance I guess... he paused and stared at Heero, who was now blue in the face in laughter. Duo's tone was so solemn, and he wasn't in the mood for Heero's intrusion.
You were... dancing as if... you... were... drunk, Baka! he said in between bits of laughter. Duo narrowed his eyes again.
Oi, Heero! It surely wasn't all that funny, was it? Heero held his sides trying to contain from from laughing, but it just wasn't working.
As if... you were dancing with air as your partner and... you.... whoops! he laughed and suddenly lost his balance falling to his stomach on the floor, laughing even harder. Duo forced a chuckle at the sight of the Wing pilot on the floor, but he crossed his arms.
Do you need anything?
Heero covered his mouth, and tried to get up.
Need? No... I was just going to tell you we have a new schedule change this week. We move to yet another town. Duo nodded, and heard a knock outside his dorm door. Pulling the door open Heero plainly looked at Quatre, seeming that all the humor had fled his cheeks, at least for the moment.
You should of seen him a minute ago... worst drunken dance I ever seen. Heero chuckled calmly and left the room. Quatre watched Heero leave and then turned to look at a rather annoyed Duo. He raised a brow.
Duo? What was that about?
Duo sighed and plopped himself down on his bunk bed.
I was attempting to dance... I don't know why... I just got this spontaneous urge... against all things that have been happening. I popped in some corny music and my legs just kicked in. I don't think I've seen Heero laugh harder. Duo sighed again, pulling his arms over his head while he leaned the rest of his weight on the bed.
Quatre smiled.
Dance? Well I can show you how to do it properly! And before Duo could even open his mouth to protest he was yanked up by the eager blonde. Here, let me take your arm... and I can wrap your other arm around my waist, like this, Quatre instructed, showing Duo. Duo did it easily and before he knew it Quatre was leading him through the steps of a graceful waltz. Duo was actually spinning Quatre across the marble floor, and twirling him back into his arms. But when Quatre was face to face with Duo, he saw something so unusual he pulled away.
Duo's eyes were so sad. Quatre lifted Duo's chin, while the Shinigami pilot had been staring at his stocking feet.
Duo, what's the matter?
Duo shrugged, and tried to push it off like any old thing that encircled his mind.
No, really, Duo. You never act like this! For the past week you've been nothing but quiet, nothing but soundless and solemn. What's-
What else could be wrong!? Duo interrupted, his voice soaring higher than it had for days. This weeks been nothing but hell... people from all sides of me threatening my life, and me stumbling around like an idiot the whole time. I mumble one of my obscene thoughts out loud during class and then find Heero cackling at anything and everything I do and say! My whole life's a trip... and everything leads up to this week...
Quatre watched the way Duo talked, and his face stayed stern.
That's not it is it? That happens every week, doesn't it? What's really bugging at you? he said concerned and gentle.
Duo's face shrank away and he sat back to the bunk beside him. /How can he read through me like that?/
Duo finally responded.
Quatre nodded.
I knew it.
Duo looked at him defensively.
Ever since that morning in the park. I knew you must be thinking of him all this time!
Duo looked a bit unnerved at Quatre's present discoveries, especially the tone of voice the blonde was giving him. Duo swallowed a lump in his throat.
Well who wouldn't?! He's been missing for over a week! I guess I'm just... worried about him and even more... curious. The night I saw him, there was something wrong, Quatre. He... Duo eyed his friend, He started yelling at me even... you know that isn't like Trowa. He never gets angry like he was. He told me to get lost, and he wouldn't tell me what was wrong, and there was definitely something wrong, Duo babbled.
That certainly isn't Trowa. But its not like Trowa hasn't ever been gone for a full week without telling us where he's going. Quatre sighed. I think maybe you are just... getting worked up Duo. There's nothing to worry about, I'm sure he'll show up sooner or later.
But what if he doesn't? What if he's in big trouble, and can't reach us? I mean... I wouldn't be as worried if he hadn't acted the way he did last time I saw him. When I found him he was coughing up blood!
Quatre's eyes grew wide.
Oh, God! No wonder you're so worried...
Duo nodded, his stomach churning at the sight he remembered once again. In no means had blood ever bothered him before, but when he saw it like this, coming from Trowa, he felt sick to his stomach.
Quatre thought for a moment.
I don't really know where he could be by now... but the best thing we could do would be to wait, you know what I mean? he placed his hand on Duo's shoulder comfortably, and turned to the door. Duo nodded staring down below him.
Quatre forced a smile. He knew it wasn't like Duo to worry so much, at least so obviously, and about Trowa, but he, himself was outright worried. Trowa hadn't talked to him since he last saw him. Trowa had said he just didn't feel like talking, and as much as that had hurt Quatre, he brushed it aside, thinking he should just stay quiet and respect his friends feelings, but soon after, Trowa had gone off, with no trace as of where, or why...
Quatre shook his head. Trowa would make it, he had too.
Duo slowly brought his head up, thoughts flying through his mind unsteadily. Wufei and I made some dinner, so if you want to join us... we're just around the corner! He smiled. Duo nodded slowly.
I'll be there soon. And with that Quatre closed the door and left Duo to the complete silence of his room. He hung his head, his face looking solemn, and then he sat up, his eyes full of confusion.
What's the matter with me?! Why am I worrying' about Trowa like this? He's probably fine, he can take care of himself... I've never really worried about him before anyhow... he'll probably be back soon... I need to ease off, Duo said talking to himself as usual.
He plopped on his back on the bed, and sighed, breathing out heavily. Then he bolted up again. I'm bored... I might as well listen to some music... my music, that fancy stuff was just a little too depressing, and with that he pulled out of a drawer, on a small table side thing, a CD, and he popped it in his player, and stuck headphones on his head. He laid back on the bed, and listened the the music, as it blasted his ears out, but the longer he lay there the quieter the music got.
Finally, frustrated he threw the headphones off and let them bounce to the floor. He shook his head, his eyes growing with rage.
Trowa, Trowa, Trowa, is that all I can think about!?! I'm crazy... I have to get out of here, I have to stop thinking about... him I can't believe this.... Duo said and stood to his feet, pulling on a short sleeved brown shirt, and grabbing a light coat, that was laying in the corner of the room. Walking into the main kitchen' type room, he passed right by Heero, Wufei, and Quatre, who was wearing a blue apron.
Where do you think your going? Heero snapped and Duo shook his head, throwing the coat over his shoulder.
I don't know, for a walk. Don't worry, just eat whatever, I can always grab a bite to eat somewhere else, With that he opened the exit door and disappeared.
What the- Duo! Get back here! Heero glared ahead of him and dropped his meal. I'm gonna kill him, what does he think he's doing?
But before Heero started after him, Wufei grabbed his arm, immediately regretting it. Heero demanded rather than asked.
Wufei's face paled a few shades.
I just... d-don't think that you should go after him... Heero's glare stayed constant.
That's what I thought you'd say. Well tough, I'm going after... Duo can't just leave like that.... but this time Quatre reached out an arm to stop Heero, who's face was considerably looking red in rage by now.
Heero, just this once... let Duo leave your sight... he's really distressed, I think it'd be for the best, he gave on his best innocent smile, that he knew even sometimes melted Heero to at least contain his outrages to a low bubble. Heero jerked his arm back and grabbed the omelet on his plate, sitting down at a far chair in the corner of the room, and said nothing.
***
Duo had finally stopped running through the area, and now was taking a slow jog through the overcrowded park trails and pathways. He had long needed to get out of the steam from the many dorms that he and his friends were crammed into. He was tired of sitting around either trying to ignore something that would happen, or was already happening. He couldn't really take it anymore. Even if he couldn't do anything. But why this so suddenly? His mind always wandered to the same point, each time over and over he replayed the scene in his head, but he couldn't get it out, not at all. He didn't know why he dwelled on it so much, but every time he tried to just lay back and think, it replayed itself in his mind.
[[ The loud hiss of running water started and Duo hurried, kicking off one shoe and then another. He scrambled fast to get his dirty socks off.
K'so! Don't tell me Heero's beat me to the shower again! This'll be the third time in a row!' he grumbled, nearly wrenching his hair out of its sloppy braid.
My hair's dying for a wash!' Duo finally stood, stark naked and barging into the bathroom, instantly being filled with steam rushing heat, floating over his face and hair, damping his body.
The water... was... extremely hot, he figured, as small water droplets of moisture appeared on his skin, almost instantly. Duo rushed to the shower curtain, and in his rush, he hadn't noticed the red trickling down over the bathtub side.
Ahhiii!' Duo said, throwing back the curtain for a moment, realizing it wasn't Heero that had hogged his wash. Slowly Duo pulled the curtain open again. Fear gripped his throat as he stared on at a fallen Trowa, massed in blood at the bottom of the tub. Duo's face paled and he began to panic.
Trowa-san!!?? Shit! What's happened?' He found himself clambering over the edge, to prop the half unconscious boy up. Once Trowa regained his vision, he caught sight of the American pilot in front of him. Trowa pulled back the curtain embarrassed, but Duo gave a nervous frown and yanked it back open.
Duo...do you mind I-'
What the hell did you do!? What happened to you? Your bleeding everywhere and...'
Trowa's nervous look glanced split secondly at a sharp, and stained razor laying on the bottom of the tub. Duo's eyes shot out at Trowa.
What did you... you do?' he said again. Trowa said nothing pulling his hands behind his bare back. Duo, almost standing in the shower with Trowa, yanked them forward, not surprised to see deep gashed across his wrists, blood straining from them. Duo gasped back, against almost knowing what he would see, not that he wanted to see it. Trowa jerked back his body, a little too fast, hitting the back wall of the shower. Blood spread slowly across the wall, and Duo's eyes widened, grabbing a hold of Trowa's arm, pulling him to his face. Duo's body was stained with blood as he touched him.
Trowa... Trowa... speak to me... what's wrong? Why did you do this?' Duo said dramatically and Trowa gasped looking down.
Duo... promise me... you won't tell them...' his voice was so unnatural, it scared Duo, but he didn't let go of Trowa's arm.
Tell who? Who!?' Duo shouted and Trowa gulped in a bloody air.
The rest of the guys. Please don't tell them...' he said, his voice nearly a whisper. Duo nodded, slowly, still not quite understanding and shut the scolding water off, which he had finally began to notice, plummeting onto his back.
Duo led Trowa into his room, pulled a pair of boxers on, as he did so. Just a while before, he hadn't even noticed his sheer appearance to Trowa, he just went on as if he was presentable. Trowa didn't jerk away or argue, that night, as Duo did up tight bandages around his lacerated wrists. When he finally finished fixing up Trowa, he spotted a strange scar like slit wound around his lower thigh. Trowa had been so silent then, it was a wonder that Duo didn't use this as a time to babble on, but Duo, for one of the first times in his life, was just as speechless.
Too many thoughts wound them self around in his brain for them to come to his mouth. And he was almost afraid to speak any of them, just because of the eerie mood Trowa was giving off.
What's that?' Duo said pointing and touching momentarily the scar like abrasion across Trowa's bare thigh. Trowa looked down and then up to Duo his eyes showing fear.
I... its... nothing... just... a cut, from long ago... ' Duo screwed up his nose, highly doubting the strange texture of the scar.
I'm not too sure about that. It seems too circular to be an accident... it isn't a burn is it?' Duo looked at Trowa's thigh, seeing the scar wind all around his leg.
Trowa's eyes turned on to Duo, pleading with him.
Duo, please don't breath a word... please... promise me...'
Duo took in a slow breath, his eyes darting from Trowa's eyes to his bare sheen body.
I promise.' ]]
Duo's hand slowly trailed back to his face. He blinked his eyes rapidly, seeing that he was now sitting on a damp iron bench in the middle of the park. He shook his head, his reoccurring remembrances were potentially dangerous, he could barely decipher that he had walked to this bench. Upon better inspection, Duo found the bench rather familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. His mouth ran dry, when he spotted the medium amount of dry and caked blood on the side of the bench and the sidewalk below it.
~Trowa...~
His mind immediately wandered. This was the very place, a few nights ago, when he saw him struggling. Biting his lip, Duo found it impossible to think of anything but that pilot. He stared at his folded hands below him.
~Trowa... only a few weeks ago... that incident that won't leave my mind. I'm a crazy baka... I know Trowa's hurting...something's going on that I dare not ask, dare not venture into..yet..I am so curious, as always. Ever since I found him in that shower... and ever since I helped him... I have been wondering them from the start... but something about that day, about that look he gave me kept my lips locked tight. So tight... that if I opened them... I'd be afraid to hear what answer might be shown to me... if he'd show me.~
Duo shook his head. He knew he was always crazy, but his non-stop thoughts of his green-eyed friend were getting out of hand. Soon he'd have more missions, and thoughts like this would get in the way, and ruin his concentration. Duo found himself mumbling to himself as he leaned back on the bench, more comfortably.
Maxwell? Is that you? God, don't tell me... came a recognizable and annoyed voice somewhere behind the braided pilot. Duo didn't respond, deep in his own mind, and wrapped his arms out and underneath his head, in a sort of cradling position. A dark, lean shadow, towered over Duo's form, and a pair of angry onyx eyes stared down deftly at him.
Duo jumped back in surprise and horror.
Wu!!! Shit, don't scare me like that! Wufei glared down tapping his foot.
What do you mean, don't scare you?! Have you even been paying attention to what time it is? Its late! And they are just about to lock the doors, he paused glancing up at the 4th floor, of a building not too far off, where they resided, again, mind it you baka! Duo found himself being dragged to his feet, but he pulled himself away from the Chinese pilot's grasp.
Let go of my you twirp! I'm trying to relax out here, before another day of school starts. Haven't you been able to tell? I'm getting restless with this laid back style. I want some action. When's the next mission gonna be?
Wufei brushed his hand back against his plastered hair and gave a drawn out sigh.
Your starting to sound like Heero, now come inside. You know we're tired of you sleeping out here like this, all the time... Wufei continued to cross his arms. Duo leapt up, grabbing Wufei around the waist and hugged him strangely.
Aww, Wufei...I didn't know you cared!!! He squealed, squeezing Wufei's stomach.
Wufei gave a look of disgust and pried Duo off of him.
Stop it Maxwell...and I didn't say it was just me who wanted you in, its mainly Quatre, and Heero, even if he won't say it.
Aw, but you gotta admit you were a part of all this plot, you came after me, did you not?
Wufei ignored his question and started walking back to their rooms.
Why did you wander out here anyway? Quatre said you've been worried about Trowa, I'm sure he's fine, the dark haired boy said, glaring as Duo barely followed.
Trowa? Yeah... he became silent for a while, his expression changing to a light look. I guess I'm a little worried about him... he's been gone for a while... didn't even tell us he had a mission, though I expect that's where he is... I guess its stupid to worry, its only been a week...without contact... and...
Wufei rolled his eyes, interrupting.
Don't break a blood vessel, Maxwell! Trowa-kun's fine, I know it! with that he opened the main, and still unlocked door of the school and disappeared inside. Duo found himself glancing to the stars before he entered in for the night.
Its almost as if I should count the starts for you Trowa... I find myself thinking of you more, day after day... your a part of my life now... I'm involved, you can't push me out... Suddenly Duo felt a warm arm clasp around his shoulder and he was roughly jerked inside.
11/21/99
