The Password
(7) The Getaway


Author: Tan
Rated: Somewhere between PG-14 and R... so far
Disclaimer: ?... Don't own anything?....?
Notes & Warnings: ***Shounen ai*** alert. Mentioned that, have I? Nah, forgot it on the previous chapter. 1x2 (HeeroxDuo), 3x4 (TrowaxQuatre), no specific order or uke seme, and the 'x' doesn't mean anything more or less than a plus + would. ::shrug::. Did I mention some lovely cursing? Maybe I should rate this R...
Alternate universe from Duo's P.O.V., loosely based on The Matrix, and my own warped interpretation of a bit from philosophy class.
Should probably mention this, even though it's a bit late...? I have a tendency to ramble. This is an older piece of mine... XD An' I ramble a lot! Have I mentioned this has no plot, as of yet? Sigh.





(7) The Getaway



I didn't have a watch, but I think Quatre must have because a faint ticking sound echoed through the motel room. I counted the ticks for entertainment, and I kept track of everyone's breathing.

Quatre slept shallowly, with small sighs in between his tossing. Trowa slept like a rock-- he didn't move, twitch, or make any sound louder than his even breathing and light inconspicuous snoring.

Wufei was a big snorer-- I'd get on him later about it-- wait, there would be no later. I was fleeing this chicken coop before I was damaged any further. These bastards had me thinking again about all the whispering in my head. I had managed to block it out for years.

Back again full force, it wouldn't allow me a decent twenty-minutes of sleep so I'd be able to run away instead of stagger. Damnit.

I couldn't hear Heero. Maybe it was because he was so far away, lounging in the chair seemingly asleep... I raised myself up on my elbows cautiously-- yeah; eyes were closed, chest risinging and falling... Man, he was built. I wonder if his real body looks like that? Ahhg-- I almost slapped my head in desperation. Stop thinking like they do! Quatre said I have the choice of waking up, or going back into that perfect computer world. I've chosen.

Deciding that Heero was too suspicous for me to attempt a straight on bolt for the door, I sat up further and rolled off of the bed. Wufei's snoring faltered as the bed moved-- yes, he was sleeping on the other side of the bed. One can imagine how ruffled his feathers were over that one.

I purposely shuffled my feet lightly against the carpet-- didn't want anyone who was half listening to wonder why I was tiptoeing toward the bathroom. Too suspicious.

Once safely enclosed within the four or so feet of bathroom space, I locked my eyes on the little window above the shower. If I squeezed, quietly mind you, I'd just be able to slip through and run for it.

I stuffed my braid down the back of my shirt and rubbed my hands together, trying to pump myself up, but failing miserably. I listened for movement in the rest of the room-- snoring. Hmm.



;__; My butt was stuck. I'd shimmied halfway through the window so that my arms were dangling precariously in the air, when my hips, which are *not that big* got stuck. So I wiggled, and then my ass was wedged neatly into the little window space, not to mention the pocket of my jeans had ripped unforgivably.

"Shit," I huffed. One more desperate wiggle-- *thump*. I was a messy pile of Duo on the ground. So exhuberant was I to have escaped, that at first I didn't remember why I'd tried to squeeze through that torture hole anyway-- my poor butt x_x.

The sound of footsteps revived me. And a knock on the bathroom door... Shit. I scrambled up and tripped around the back of the motel. Hm. Nothing but grass for miles... Damnit.

Muffled voices, pounding and even a shout. Oooh, they suspected something. Quick buggers...

I bounced frantically for a moment, trying to think in my moment of panic what to do-- Wufei had the keys, and hotwiring a car was the single thing I had neglected to learn over the years-- damnit! I hoofed it around to the front of the motel, and sprinted down the short walk, looking for an empty room, an unlocked car, a hole or something equally useful to hid in--

-- splat, or thunk, whichever you wish. I pancaked myself against an immovable deterrent, which unforgivably barred any attempt of mine to escape. Damn, I'm stupid.

"You just don't get it," a snide voice purred in my ear. I coughed weakly, and stumbled away from Heero. He was steaming mad. Don't know what he had to be upset about. He wasn't the one that had been kidnapped. Poor kidnapped Duo-- go on, say it.

"What's there to get?" I huffed angrily. Really, he knew how to push my buttons. Five words, and I wanted to brain him. ::snort:: "You're all fuckin' nuts-- squirly if that's a better adjective."

I wiggled my fingers, trying to act as spooky as Quatre was. "'My body is *really* somewhere marinating in a 'vat'?!" Can ya feel the sarcasm?.

"You believe us," Heero accused, ignoring my obvious attempts at blowing him off. He moved forward to invade upon my personal space (as if there weren't any clear boundary markers-- hey, I could see them) "You know exactly what it feels like to never feel right."

There was something in Heero's words, or maybe it was the way his eyes got all cold as he said 'feel'... whatever the hell it was it made me shiver. Dude was pushing it.

"I can't believe *you* believe it," I shot back. I was wondering how I'd backed myself into a corner, how I was going to get myself out, and it was quite curious that I was worrying over Heero's hair as it fell over his eyes, interrupting his glare-- not diminishing-- He really is a pretty boy, I thought dreamily. Oookay, off subject. Stupid bishounen.

"I'm obviously more aware of myself," Heero stated softly. "I know what I want, and where I'm going. You don't. Simple, really."

I'd like to say that he stood back up on that soap box and preached for a bit more, soon after converting me to the side of humanity versus program. It'd be one of those fairy tale endings if I had collapsed into Heero's arms, eyes shining and begging to be saved.

But it didn't happen that way. Nope, not at all.

Heero turned around and sauntered coldly back to the open motel door. Wufei stepped back to let him pass, then moved forward to stare blandly at me. Then the door closed with a soft click, and I was alone on the walkway.

I had felt as abandonned only once in my life; when my house burned down.

And you wanna know what my pride did to me? It took me back to the car to pick up my duffel bag, and good old pride had me shuffling along the high way soon enough, thumbing for a ride and getting dust spattered across my back real good, just like old times.







Dawn came sweet and slow. The sun was never in any hurry, and today, neither was I.

I really, really have no where to go, I realized, although not for the first time in the past six hours. That idea had been running tight circles in my head, creating a fine rut for my thoughts and my feet.

"Can't believe they just let me go," I complained weakly to my eggs. Yes, I'd cracked (pun intended) and decided to spend money on breakfast. Runny eggs and dry toast. Chez Ritz, for Death, yesiree. "Ya'd think, after all the trouble they went through in abducting me, that I'd be worth going after one more time." The eggs' reply: o_O. The eggs were quite expressive. My stomach protested that idea, and I pushed the plate away.

"Instead they let me leave... not like I care... everything they said was probably all shit, anyway..."

"Some coffee, hon?" A devilishly sweet voice inquired. Those waitresses; always pitying the scrawny dusty lil' hitchiker bit. I nodded without looking up. "Somethin' wrong, sweety?"

Insert deep, heartfelt sigh. "Nope." I turned my face up and beamed at her. "Just contemplating the world at large. Thanks!" Wink wink, smile.

She surewas looking at me funny. Or should I say staring at me funny. Her eyes were really wide and blue; powerful like Quatre's. 'Relena' as her nametag so deemed her, finished refilling my mug with a deft twist of her wrist and the coffee pot.

"Am I so utterly handsome that you can't take your eyes off of me?" I attempted a light laugh to break Relena out of her trance. I ain't that good lookin'. Sheesh.

"You're not like the others," she whispered softly. I had to lean forward to hear her, and when I did I felt those little hairs on the back of my neck twitch. Oh wait, that was me. I twitched, and pulled away, slinking into the back of my booth and hoping vainly that she'd go away. Girl was much more creepy than Quatre, Trowa, Wufei and Heero; combined.

"I-I'd like the check please." I cleared my throat because the way my voice was embarrassing. "Please."

Relena slithered away, yes slithered, and I fidgeted with one stray thought flashing in my widdle brain every now and then.

Shit.

Colorful, I know, but also quite meaningful. She's acting like Quatre and company; all superior like. But... it's not the same. A question mark lodged itself between that thought and Relena returning with the check. I scrambled to pull out crumpled bills and dirty change from my pocket. Relena, leaning over me as she was, was blocking my exit. I resisted the urge to whimper, and smiled hugely instead.

"Excuse me, ma'am." Warning proffered, I shoved Relena the waitress away, and scampered out of the cow poke restaurant, not stopping in my scamper until I was a bit down the road and thumbing frantically for a ride.

Panicking, panicking for no reason, I chided myself. She was just some chick; probably desperate for a date or something; maybe as horny as I am, I dunno. That was doubtful. Hadn't played around for months... Woo, wears a guy down, ya know?

Remember that prickly feeling on my neck? And the panic...? Those were my only warnings before a scary black car came roaring up the street toward me. It wasn't going to run me down. It was going to stop and pick me up. My previous desire, I know... but I didn't want a ride from that car. Why?

Oh, maybe because Relena was in the passenger seat. That's all.

"This'll be the only time I'll say this," I muttered as I turned around and started to run. "I really, really wish I'd stayed with you guys." I skidded to a halt in the restaurant's parking lot,and jumped behind a vehicle. I had nowhere to go. I wanted Heero, and/or any really strong and fast substitute (which could include Quatre, Trowa, or Wufei, hell, maybe all of them).

What good did my hiding do? No good at all. No good, no good, because Relena's car just pulled up calmly along side my hiding spot, and parked. The passenger door clicked open, and the sound of feet crunching in gravel made my heart speed up. A megaphone like voice was shouting in my head; "danger, danger Will Robinson-- er, Duo. Danger--" What, you've never seen 'Lost In Space?'-.-;;

"Duo Maxwell," the waitress Relena purred. I looked up from my curled position on the ground. She sure as hell didn't look like a waitress anymore. Black form fitting business suit and shiny black shades that fortunately shielded me from her eerie gaze. Bitch was still creepy. "There's no use in running."

Well *duh* state the obvious why don't you. I wrinkled my nose and gave her a dirty look. Yeah, real effective. Relena just grabbed my arm and yanked, effortlessly bringing me to my feet and dragging me toward her ominous black car.

Well, shit.