There Were Roses

(... And the Tears of the People Ran Together In the Rain)

By: Madisonne

Part: 1/?

Warnings: Yaoi, angst, dark things in general

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing does NOT belong to me... (Damn, damn, damn...) No infringement on the rights of the owners of said anime intended. Don't sue me, suing isn't nice. As for the fic, don't steal it! Criticism accepted (feed me feed-back at Fire_Elf_Rei@hotmail.com!!!), flames laughed at.

Notes: * * * * * : Scene Change

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ : Memory/Flash-back

--- : Written

Confused yet? Good! ;-)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Heero sighed shakily, as he felt the gentle rise and fall of his lover's chest behind him, realizing that, finally, the young man was asleep.

Moving slowly and quietly, he unwound the arm around his waist and tip-toed into the bathroom. He closed the door behind him, and turned on the lights. Slowly, he looked down at his wrists.

Despite his caution, he gasped at the sight of blood running down his arms from the painful red slash marks on his wrists.

Shuddering, he pulled open the drawer under the sink, pulling out some gauze and a cotton wrap. He gently eased the water on and washed away the blood on his wrists, grimacing slightly at the feel of the cool water on his open wounds. He reached behind him for a towel, and dried of his arms, watching with a morbid fascination as the light blue towel turned dark red. Cursing softly, he placed gauze on his right wrist, then wrapped it in a length of cotton wrap. Methodically, he repeated that treatment for the other arm.

After his wounds were treated, he leaned his head against the mirror in front of him and closed his eyes. After a minute, he pulled back and shook his head slowly. He took a quick look in the mirror. Hair tousled, as usual; eyes, bleary with lack of sleep, deep circles underneath; face, nothing wrong there; neck, scratch marks; shoulders... Wait a second!!! Neck?!! SCRATCH MARKS?!! Heero winced as he looked at the three bloody marks on his neck. When did THAT happen?!! Shit, I didn't even feel it! He sighed, and used the already blood-soaked towel to clean the wounds gently. Hissing in pain, he pressed gauze to the injuries and used surgical tape to make sure the gauze would stay in place.

He put back the medical supplies and hesitantly walked back to bed.

* * * * *

Quatre sipped his tea slowly. He was enjoying the peace of the morning before the other pilots got up, and was reading the newspaper.

Hm, nothing interesting... Looks like we're in for some cold weather for a change. A storm, maybe. Quatre shivered with childish excitement. If I'm lucky, it'll snow lots and Duo and I can go sledding, like we did last year. He smiled at the memory.

Quatre's peace was broken by the sound of someone thundering down the stairs. That somebody skipped into the kitchen, and poured himself a cup of coffee, stirring in spoonful after spoonful of sugar.

"Good morning, Duo." Quatre greeted the pilot of DeathScythe.

"Morning!" Duo smiled.

"Sleep well?"

"Mm-hmmm!" Duo drained his coffee cup and started towards the door.

"Duo? It's supposed to get cold today, don't stay out too long!" Quatre warned.

"Hm? 'Kay!" Duo yelled over his shoulder as he ran out of the door.

Quatre shook his head and went back to reading the newspaper. Again, the silence was broken by somebody coming down the stairs, but this time, the person walked slowly and almost methodically.

"Hey Heero!" Quatre called to his friend, not looking up.

Heero walked into the kitchen and sat down across from Quatre, grabbing an apple and biting into it. "Hn."

A few minutes passed.

"Talkative, as always." Quatre jibbed.

Heero walked passed him and opened the refrigerator.

Slightly startled that he hadn't gotten even a deadly stare and a "I will destroy you", Quatre looked behind him. He was puzzled when he saw Heero wearing a black turtle-neck shirt and his usual spandex shorts. That's odd... Heero HATES long-sleeved turtle-necked shirts...

"Ne, Heero, is everything okay?"

Heero pulled out a jug of milk and poured himself a glass. "Why wouldn't it be?" He replied in a monotone.

Quatre could have sworn that a pained expression crossed the young man's face. "Are you sure?"

Heero blinked and sat back down at the table with his glass of milk. "Hai."

Quatre frowned and decided to let the issue rest... For now. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Heero rub his neck tenderly, pain flitting across his face instantaneously. He rose, and before Heero could stop him, he had the 'Perfect Soldier's' shirt off. He gasped as he saw the three bandages, one on each arm, and one on his neck. The glaring young man's chest was spotted with bruises, some fresh, and some near to disappearance.

Heero tried to get away, but Quatre caught his upper arm, stopping him.

"I suppose you're going to tell me that you fell AGAIN?" Quatre asked. Damn, this is just... Creepy. All these times... Quatre shuddered as he remembered the times Heero had 'lost his balance' before.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Quatre blanched as Heero staggered down the stairs, clutching his side. "Heero! What... What happened?!!"

"Got... Got hurt."

"I can see that!" Quatre exclaimed as he brought out some of the medical supplies the pilots had on hand. "How did it happen?"

"An accident, a clumsy one really. I... I got out of the shower, the floor was slippery, I fell back onto the edge of the sink and cut my stomach."

Quatre grimaced as he bandaged the softly hissing Heero's side. "That's a nasty cut, be sure you keep it clean!"

Heero nodded and went outside to work on Wing.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Heero stiffened, his back still to Quatre.

"I said, turn around, let me see your face!" Quatre insisted.

Slowly, the Wing pilot turned around, revealing a painful looking bruise of the side of his face.

"How did this happen?!!"

"I... I fell again... Down the stairs..."

~* ~ * ~ * ~

Quatre frowned, noticing the way Heero winced as Wufei patted his shoulder. Come to think of it, he's been holding that shoulder rather stiffly... "Ne, Heero, how's your shoulder? It seems to be bothering you." Quatre walked over to put his hand on Heero's shoulder.

Heero flinched away. "It's fine."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Quatre's mind reeled as he recalled incident after incident. "Heero, I'm not buying your stories about falling and all. I think someone's doing this to you."

Heero jerked in surprise. "I... It's... H-he... Never mind!" Heero grabbed his shirt and ran up the stairs, the sound of his door slamming and locking behind him ringing in Quatre's ears.

On his way out of the kitchen, Heero had passed Wufei, who had been watching the interchange from the hall. Hissing softly, he muttered, "I am going to KILL him... He will suffer for the pain he has brought Heero..."

* * * * *

Heero slumped against the door to his room, leaning his weight against it. That was close. Too close. They can't... The can't find out... What... What happened. What happens... I... I am... Scared...

* * * * *

Quatre shook with barely controlled anger. He slammed his fist into the table in front of him. "I WILL KILL HIM!!! HOW DARE HE?!!" He screamed.

Quatre whirled around as someone behind him coughed politely. He came face to face with a just as angered Wufei.

"Let's make this a joint murder, shall we?" Wufei growled.

* * * * *

Heero tried not to cry, but found his attempts were in vain. Tears coursed down his cheeks as he rocked back and forth.

* * * * *

Duo was humming quietly to himself as he worked on DeathScythe. He smiled at himself, knowing he must look ridiculous, on his back under his Gundam, humming a tuneless melody. His relative peace and quiet was broken by the appearance of four black boots.

Duo felt himself being pulled out from under his Gundam by his booted foot. He was upside down, being hauled outside. He was dropped, falling to the ground in a graceless heap of arms and legs.

Duo quickly got to his feet, fearing assassins. He sighed in relief as he realized that it was only Wufei and Quatre. Then, processing their identical glares, he decided that he might prefer assassins to these two.

"Nani?!! What's wrong?"

"WHAT'S WRONG?!!" Quatre screamed at the cowering pilot of DeathScythe.

"I'LL DAMN WELL TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG!" Wufei screamed, just as loudly. "Heero's up in his room, crying. And do you know WHY he's crying?!!" The enraged pilot's voice suddenly got deadly soft. "He's crying because somebody hurt him. Somebody hurt him badly. Someone he trusts, or used to. Someone he cares about. Someone whom he loves."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Duo blinked.

"Damn you and your fucking 'I don't know's to HELL!!!" Quatre cursed.

Quatre cussing. One of the millions of things I never thought I'd see... Duo smirked. Well, you hear something new every day... "Excuse me?!!" He asked.

"We're talking about someone who tortures another pilot." Wufei growled.

"Somebody who claims they love someone yet abuses them." Quatre added.

"Someone who betrays another man's trust."

"Someone who hurts another man... Constantly."

"Someone who hurts another pilot."

"Someone who hurts a friend."

"Someone who hurts his lover."

"Someone who hurts the 'Perfect Soldier'."

"Someone who hurts Heero." Wufei accused.

Duo gasped. "You think I hurt Heero?!!"

"Well, it all fits together!" Quatre glared at the braided pilot.

"I... I couldn't!"

"Don't lie to us, Duo." Wufei warned.

"N-no... I didn't!"

Quatre bit back a sob and hit the hypocritical pilot across the face, knocking the pilot of DeathScythe to the ground. "Be glad I don't kill you right here and now. We're giving you one night. ONE night to repent and to apologize."

And the two pilots left Duo on the ground.

* * * * *

Heero put his head in his hands as his body shook violently. What did I do wrong?!! He wasn't like this before! Heero smiled at the memory of Duo when they had first discovered their love for each other. He was kind... Gentle. We were equals... But then... Duo's love started to have a new, menacing quality. Duo had started to couple his kisses with blows, and cuts... And it started to scare me...

Heero remembered one time, when Duo had scared him so much, he asked Duo to kill him. Duo had beaten him harder than ever that night. Telling Heero that he didn't deserve the mercy of death. Ever since then, Heero had held his frightened feelings inside, trying not to anger Duo again.

Heero flinched as he heard someone knocking on his door.

"Wh-who is it?" He asked hesitantly.

"Heero, it's me. Let me in."

Heero contemplated not letting Duo in, but then he remembered the last time he had tried to keep his fellow pilot out.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Heero. Let me in."

"N-no!"

"Heero, I'm going to count to three. If this door is not open by then..."

Heero shrank against the opposite wall, wishing to become one with the solid wood. He choked back a shriek as the door cracked, then burst open, revealing a VERY angry Duo.

"How dare you?" Duo coldly asked.

~* ~ *~ * ~

Heero sighed shakily and slowly opened the door.

Duo stepped in and quietly locked the door behind him.

"What did you tell them?!!" He quietly hissed.

"N-nothing!"

"That's not what I would have guessed, given their little chat with me this afternoon." Duo glared, roughly shaking Heero by his shoulders.

"R-really, I d-didn't!"

* * * * *

Quatre and Wufei leaned against the wall opposite Heero's bedroom, watching Duo walk into the room.

"If ANYthing happens, we storm the place, agreed?" Quatre asked.

"Hai." Wufei returned, glaring at the door.

* * * * *

"Well, that's too bad for you," Duo hit Heero on the side of the face. "Because I believe other wise!"

Heero tried to sit up, after the blow from the angered pilot knocked him to the floor, but he was stopped by Duo, who sat on his stomach, pinning him to the floor.

"What did you tell them?!!" Duo growled, glaring into Heero's blue eyes which were wide with fright.

"N-nothing! R-really!" Heero repeated himself.

"Really?" Duo asked, his voice cold. "And why should I believe you?" He leaned down, kissing Heero with bruising force, all the while digging his fingers into the other pilot's hand.

Heero tried to turn his face away, but was punished with a blow to the side of his head.

"Damn you to hell!" Duo hissed.

Heero gasped for air. "I'll s-see you there!"

Duo growled and dug his fingernails into Heero's hand even harder, tearing at the well-muscled flesh. "You bastard." He stood up and kicked Heero in the ribs, eliciting no response. Hissing in frustration, he kicked him again, harder.

Heero yelped in pain.

Duo cursed violently, and tried to distract the pilot from the pain by kissing him passionately.

Heero, however, continued to yelp in pain, and then his yelps turned to shrieking as Duo hit him over and over.

* * * * *

Quatre jumped as he heard someone shriek in pain. He quickly pulled his friend to his feet, and he tried to open the door, but cursed as he saw it was locked.

"DUO, LET US IN!!!"

* * * * *

Duo froze for an instant at the angry voice at the other side of the door. Then, he smirked down at Heero. "They can't get in. Aw, poor little Heero's saviour can't come to his rescue."

Suddenly, the door burst in, and Quatre stumbled into the room, followed by Wufei.

"W-what?!!" Duo asked, trying to appear innocent.

Quatre just glared at him and threw him off of Heero, picked the boy up effortlessly, and walked out of the room.

Wufei stared at Duo icily. "Go to hell, you slime." He kicked the cowering pilot once, and followed Quatre out of the room.

* * * * *

Duo awoke slowly the next morning, taking awhile to register his surroundings. He recalled the last night's events and groaned.

Grimacing at the lances of pain shooting across his chest, Duo got out of bed and absent-mindedly pulled on some clothes. He was aware, in a small part of his brain, that the shirt was Heero's, but he really didn't care enough to change again.

He walked out of the door and down the stairs, surprised at the empty kitchen. Duo noticed a piece of paper, folded in half, on the kitchen table with his name written on it.

--- Duo,

I have Heero. Don't come after us. I can't assure that I won't kill you if I see you again.

Quatre ---

"WHAT THE FUCK?!!" Duo raged.

"Would you pipe down?!! SOME of us are trying to sleep!" An angry voice admonished him from the couch in the living room.

"Wufei?" Duo asked. "When did they leave?"

"Last night. Either go back to bed or to hell, either one, just leave me alone." Wufei growled, flinging an arm over his eyes.

* * * * *

Quatre sighed and held Heero's sleeping form in his arms as the shuttle took off for his home. Soon, we'll be back at my house, and I can help you put your self back together.

As if conscious of Quatre's thoughts, Heero sighed softly, and completely relaxed against Quatre's chest.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ha ha ha! I looooove the evilness of leaving you all HANGING here... In the next part, I'll explain exactly WHAT Duo thought he was doing during this fic. But, until then, you can send complaints about the time I'm taking to write the next part to: Fire_Elf_Rei@hotmail.com

Ja ne!