17
Title: Stop The World Part 17...
Rated: PG-14
Warnings: A.U., mystery!, shounen ai 1x2 of course with background 3x4 and Rx13, slight suggestion of 5xS (can't have Wuffers all alone, LOL). Cursing, tons of P.O.V. switching, drama, and sap. Small, small amount of future angst.
PART 17
My city my home my prison was quiet tonight yet quiet were not my thoughts. Oh, they were numerous and I felt scalded from questions. Few in number, but painful. Quatre's. The detectives'. Why did I have to be so cold?! I swung my arms angrily out against the icy air, fighting things that I couldn't see or protect myself against. I was guilty but I wasn't!
How can they suspect me? I have no connection to Iria. Those feathers aren't mine-- But the detectives didn't know that. Quatre, who had seen mine and must have compared it to the ones found, didn't know. I myself had touched one... it wasn't mine... wasn't...
Another angel, but a hidden one. Unlike me. I glanced up into the sky that was missing stars. As I had noticed before, the streets were quiet and empty, and I was alone. I can be seen and... accused.
So I had been set up for my fall. I laughed soundlessly. For both of them. The motor of my world was fueled by the Fates, obviously. They considered me an amusing plaything? This isn't funny, I cursed them.
No sound, not even laughter, followed me. Footsteps heavy on concrete and pinched were all that I could count my passage by. Humans couldn't feel the earth turning under them. The only way they kept track of that was by watching the sky.
I can't see the sky tonight. All I see is black.
"Alright, you're going to be fine? I mean, you do look kind of shaky, buddy..."
Duo neatened Quatre's shirt collar and patted his hair. I'll never forgive myself if he keels over and I'm not here. Duo hugged his smallest and best friend tightly, almost desperately. He's lost so much weight... so much *everything*...
Quatre patted Duo's shoulder faintly. "Can't breathe--" he huffed. Duo jumped back with a yelp and steadied Quatre's wobbly figure. But they laughed, both of them, and Quatre even smiled a little, returning a long lost warmth to his hollowed eyes.
"I'm going straight to bed, I promise. Just... go see Heero." Quatre sighed thickly and offered Duo a pained frown. "I don't know why I asked him-- that. I know he didn't..."
Duo pushed back Quatre's hair in a motherly fashion and smiled hugely, teeth flashing and lips curled back by force.
"I'll tell him, chibi. Just you take care-- drink some of that tree tea, or something, and sleep well. I'll be back late, or tomorrow, which ever comes first!" Duo laughed and shoved Quatre's shoulders lightly in the direction of the stairs. He watched for a moment as his angel buddy ascended, then he exploded out into the nighttime street where the slap of sneakers on concrete echoed and rhymed down the sidewalk.
Wow. Nice and... drafty, Duo decided. He shivered a little in the cold barren hall, and knocked on what he hoped was Heero's door. Open says me.
A minute, perhaps two, followed, before the sound of footsteps offered Duo hope. With a grinding crunch the door opened, and a familiar downcast expression greeted him.
One mighty leap later Duo was clinging to Heero and slamming the door behind him, jumping up and down excitedly as he pulled his silent friend back into the apartment regardless of whether or not he was welcome.
"Heero!" Duo admonished upon entering the sleeping area. "It's cold!" This exclamation resounded from the kitchen, and was followed by a groan when Duo found only ice cubes in the freezer, and nothing in the refrigerator. Heero remained motionless in the middle of his apartment as Duo skipped by to inspect the bathroom. He returned soon enough, and his braid swung brightly through the air behind him.
"Nice pad," he offered. Heero gave him a weak glance, and returned to his vacated dent on his bed. Mischief returned and was welcome, even if Heero was being a little unreceptive. I guess I'm doing alright-- he hasn't kicked me out, yet...
Duo sauntered over to Heero's curled form, and jumped! up, over Heero, and onto the other side of the bed. Springs creaked warningly as Duo scrambled to burrow under the covers, but all calmed when he was covered and comfortably extended beside Heero, whom he smiled charmingly at.
Heero's expression was priceless, a first possibly. Duo blinked once as he stared, and caught his breath because damn. What a beautiful mouth.
Heero's amused and sad smile wavered tentatively on his lips, and fell altogether as he spoke and turned his head to stare up at the ceiling.
"Comfortable?" He inquired softly.
Duo laughed easily and sat up to stare down at Heero. "Of course!" He winked slyly then, and dove at Heero. "I love you man!" He burrowed his head in the blanket on Heero's chest and continued his outburst muffled. "Besides. It's cold in here! How can you stand it with just one blanket, I have to have ten in winter..."
His chatter droned on and he knew it, but silence had never helped anybody. He was remarkably comfortable, considering the mattress had lumps and he was freezing! Duo took another breath to return to his tangent, and in that millisecond of silence he heard Heero sigh, just a little, softly so Duo wouldn't hear...
"Hey Heero," he began, a little less brightly. "You remember when you asked me about angels?" Heero acknowledged the question with a mere nod, and Duo continued. "You mentioned fallen angels, I think. I saw this movie once where this angel fell because he loved some girl. Do they really do that, my angel expert friend?" Duo grinned jokingly and pulled some of the blanket over his cold hands while waiting, actually waiting, for an answer.
I blinked at Duo's innocent, wondering inquiry. They do, of course. Almost all of them have... Relena fell, for that...
Love was one of many human qualities considered contagious, and curious at worst. And it was the deepest, respected even by Guardians as a powerful agent. I angled my gaze to Duo's. My ears were still echoing with his dramatic 'I love you!' Of course he was joking.
"Yes," I replied softly. I met his eyes at a close range and they were so blue-- maybe I had been correct in my first impression of violet. The deeper rings closer to his pupil were liquid, churning like clouds and I was flying again, like angels do. My breath caught at the sensation, and at the analogy. Like I'm flying--
"They fall for love..."
Wufei knocked softly on the hospital room door and shuffled his feet in an uncharacteristically nervous manner. He never did like hospitals, and coming to one to question a newly admitted patient in intensive care... It's the damn feathers' fault, he grumbled. I wouldn't be here if this case wasn't centered around feathers....
The door opened and a glare pinned Wufei to the spot. Powerful blue eyes, beautiful blue eyes, he noted absently, were all that he was offered of the room.
"Detective Chang, 32nd Precinct," Wufei stammered. He held up his badge so the blue eyes could see, and Trowa mirrored his action. The eyes gave either evidence of authority a cursory pass before the door cracked open an inch further, allowing only the dainty young doctor on the other side to exit. She closed the door behind her and stared Wufei down again.
"Mrs. Peacecraft is in a stable condition, Detectives, but I'd prefer if you waited to see her until tomorrow. She needs rest." The doctor raised her chin, warning or daring them to challenge her.
Wufei bristled at the woman's rebuff and took a breath in preparation for an important rant.
"Dr.-- Poe," Trowa interrupted suddenly. He neatly pushed Wufei aside and held out his hand for the dainty doctor to shake. Dr. Poe gripped it warily and waited for the more mannerly detective to present his case.
"We only have a few questions to ask Mrs. Peacecraft. It won't take more than five minutes, and her answers may be extremely important in solving our case sooner..." Trowa gave his partner a sharp stare as he huffed indignantly. I could have handled the woman, Wufei pouted.
The doctor hesitated appropriately, then nodded. "But if Relena gets even the slightest bit agitated, you're both out and *banned* from her room!" She waved her finger threateningly, making sure both of them nodded and remained cowed. Wufei's face was a neat tomato red, but he nodded, and waited.
Dr. Poe led the way back into Relena's room. The lights were dimmed slightly and Relena's was the only bed. Another figure was hovering beside the bed, speaking softly to the head wrapped in white gauze, spotted slightly with red...
"Treize," Dr. Poe called softly. Her voice had changed from 'get the hell out' tone to a more civilized, compassionate murmur. The figure of the worried husband stood swiftly and approached frowning. "Detective Chang and Detective Barton are here to speak to Relena... if she's up to it."
Treize's broad figure loomed threateningly over the leaner pair of detectives. They did not at all doubt his displeasure, and silent warnings against upsetting his love. Barely offering the two officers more than a withering gaze., Treize Kushrenada stalked back over to the hospital bed and leaned down to Relena's head. Only one eye was visible, and it was watching everything quite consciously. Her lips beneath the gauze mumbled a response, and Treize straightened.
Glare. "She says go ahead." Glare.
Wufei stood a few feet from the end of the bed and motioned for Trowa to produce his voice recorder.
"Mrs. Peacecraft, I'm Detective Chang, this is my partner Detective Barton. We're head of the Iria Winner murder investigation," he paused as Relena's single aqua eye flashed with recognition, as well as something deeper... "We received the notion that you may have some information... preferably anything about Heero Yuy." Again that flash--
"I know Heero," was the whisper soft response from the bandages. Wufei moved slightly closer to hear. "You-- think he killed Iria?"
Wufei couldn't stop his mouth from opening slightly in surprise. She knows more than I thought--. He saved his dignity however by playing his dropped jaw off as speech.
"We have theories, Mrs. Peacecraft. That is one of them. Can you tell me anything about Yuy?"
Relena answered breathlessly, anxious almost to get the truth out-- "He did not kill Iria. I know who did..." She paused as her voice broke. Treize lifted a small plastic cup of water with a straw. Relena nodded emphatically, and drank swiftly. A tear escaped as her husband caressed the gauze covering her cheek.
"Mrs. Peacecraft," Wufei burst, rather loudly. Dr. Poe scowled, and he quieted. "Please, tell us everything you can. I have a feeling this case could break overnight, with your help."
Relena closed her eye and sighed a shallow sigh. It sounded sad, but her voice was as strong and as purposeful as during any peace sermon she'd ever given.
"My brother... must have loved Iria... He called her too pure for-- the earth. He framed Heero for it." Relena opened her eye again to reveal a gathering pool of tears. They fell, and were absorbed by her bandages. "He did this to me," she whispered.
Wufei's expression sharpened, almost hungrily. "Is his name Zechs?"
Relena's tears became a small stream, and she nodded past them. "... Zechs killed her." Treize's comforting hand descended to grip Relena's clenched fist.
"Do you know where your brother is, Mrs. Peacecraft? If this is true it can clear Heero's name and give Iria Winner's death closure--" Wufei was already inching toward the door. This was it-- he could feel it in his bones--
"You'll never find him," she warbled. "He's crazy-- he can hide himself anywh--" Her eye widened suddenly, and the rest of her words were garbled and choked as if hands were around her neck and were squeezing. Her hands scratched frantically at the air and her face, while blood began seeping through the bandages and splattering on her lips as she screamed.
Dr. Poe was quick-- she shoved Trowa aside and pressed a panic button near Relena's bed, and shouted for Treize to back off. As pounding footsteps approached the door, Relena's fit ended, as suddenly as it had begun. Bandages wrinkled and stained as they were, Relena's eye was still bright with pain and urgency; they stared forward and up into the air, focusing on nothing--
Wufei stepped through the doorway as Relena's last liquid cry resounded--
"Heero!!"
^__^;;; couldn't resist...
