GS Note: Jeez guys, after reading your reviews I'm so red!! I didn't know you all liked it this much! So many of you guys have reviewed a lot, you have no idea how much it helped! To tell you the truth, I almost missed my fifth period because I was stuck in the library writing and I lost track of time. Doesn't matter, I ended writing for most of fifth too. Hehe, I hated Dekim, especially his voice! It's so weird!
Word of warning! I don't know if I've done it before but in this one I'm gonna have to break scenes. I'll tell you though!
Ack! This ended up making me laugh instead of cackle! I've rewritten it so many times and it still seems to be too funny! God dang it, the one time I want pure angst and emotional torment, the Humour muse came out. Damn you Mors…..
OH! AND IT GETS SORT OF GRAPHIC IN THIS CHAPTER!!! I'm not going to ruin the story with something totally unrealistic, which may work in stories when Duo is really badly off, but not in this one which I've been trying to base on real life. Or at least Duo's life.
Chapter 14
Title
Duo stilled as he heard Dekim say the words he had only just written. His blood froze in his veins as he looked fearfully up and up to Dekim's face. The man seemed to loom high over him, over powering him as he blocked the only exit to the room. Duo slowly took one step back, foolishly clinging to the hope that Dekim really did think he wanted to stay for extra work. His heart pounded wildly under his ribs as Dekim followed him, advancing like an opposing army. Duo took another step, then another until he jumped when he hit a desk. Dekim slowly advanced on him, a satisfied grin on his wrinkled face. Duo leaned back as far as he could go without sitting down and putting himself at a disadvantage.
Dekim reached out and grabbed Duo's sleeves, clipped nails scrapping gently on the skin under it. Duo jumped and dodged the other way, pulled the material out of Dekim's lax grip. Dekim seemed unconcerned as Duo jumped behind another row of desks so there was something between himself and his history teachers. Dekim laughed outloud and Duo felt his neck prickle at the shrill sound.
"So," Dekim tried for a husky voice but ended up sounding really weird. "You think you can get away? I must say Mr Maxwell, for one with your history you'd be a little more co-operative to improve your grades."
Duo bit his lip as Dekim slowly began to swagger over to him. He scrambled behind desks, his eyes too trained on the teacher to look where he was going. Dekim just smiled knowingly and followed more carefully.
*** Break to Heero ***
Heero leaned against Duo's locker as the crush of students threatened to overwhelm him. His narrow alcove of safety immedently in front of the locker was broken when Trowa appeared in front of him, a little shocked to see him. Heero moved into the moving mass of people and braced his feet as bags and shoulders attempted to add his body to its bulk. The colbat eyes boy refused to budge. Eventually though, Trowa had his books and the tail end of the people dissipated.
"Are you still here?" Trowa asked, totally confused now, but hiding it fairly well. "I thought Duo had already picked up his books."
"No," Heero shook his head. Trowa shrugged. "I've been here since Yang let us out of class."
"I noticed the gym clothes," Trowa raised an eyebrow but wisely said nothing. Wufei, Heero and he were in fifth period Gym with Yang. "He's usually not this late though. Maybe his teacher kept him late for something."
Trowa was shocked too much to hide his emotions anymore when Heero gripped his shoulders and held them in a painful grip.
"Do you know where his class is!?" Heero suddenly looked very helpless and young as Trowa looked down at him, stunned. Heero tightened his grip. "Do you?"
"Yea," Trowa answered after a second's hesitation. "It's Dekim's History right? 2002 in Social Science?"
"I guess," Heero didn't release his grip on Trowa. "Sure. Can you take me there?"
"I have to catch my-"
"I'll drive you home!" Heero pleaded desperately. "Please!"
"Ok," Trowa said as Heero sighed in relief and let go of his painful grip on the taller boy's shoulders. Trowa grabbed his bag and put it on as he walked, Heero almost stepping on his heels until e sped up to an almost jog. "What's wrong?"
"I think Duo's teacher was hitting on him," Heero bit his lip. It was so uncharacteristic, even Trowa knew that. Heero just didn't look like he would have nervous habits. "And I think something bad is happening."
Trowa didn't reply but just moved faster.
*** Back to Duo ***
Eventually Duo's hazard way of moving in the room caught up with him. He tripped over a certain blonde girl's forgotten binder and fell on his butt. Dekim almost immedently stood over him. Duo didn't want to see the look of victory in the older man's face so he kept his vision firmly fixed on the puke green trouser knees as he scrambled backwards. Too late he ran into the teacher's desk with a sharp bump to his head. Stunned momentarily, Dekim grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up with surprising strength and pushed Duo back so he was laying on the desk.
Dekim leaned over him, forcing Duo's knees apart with his legs and pressing Duo's shins with his knees so the younger boy's legs were pinned securely. Before Duo could struggle, Dekim grabbed his wrists in one hand and held them together over Duo's chest. Then he leaned his seconds arm across Duo's windpipe and pressed gently. Duo suddenly felt the difference as the air whistled in the compressed space. His lungs gasped painfully as Dekim eased off a little and laughed.
"That was interesting," the old man said with a smirk and moved to press his lips to his student's.
*** Break to Heero and Trowa ***
Trowa got turned around in his panic. Heero bit his tongue to keep from cursing at the taller boy as Trowa stopped and looked around for a minute.
"Damn school," he whispered. Then he stood bolt up and said triumphantly. "This way!"
"You'd better be sure this time," Heero mumbled, not sure if Trowa could hear him and not caring. His thinking process was stopped, however, when Trowa braked to a halt. Heero ran into his back and they went sprawling.
"Trowa Barton? And… Heero Yuy, right? What are you two doing? The buses have left already."
"We're looking for Duo, Miss Sally," Trowa said and scrambled quickly to his feet. Heero was a bit slower but bounced a little on his toes to be off. "I'll see you on Monday then-"
"Wait!" Sally said, a look of dread creeping across her face. "Where is Duo?"
"He didn't come to his locker," Heero snapped, too agitated and worried to bother with being polite. Sally didn't seem to notice his tone.
"But he came out of class…" she frowned, a look of concentration on her face. "Didn't he?"
Trowa shook his head, fidgeting and impatient to keep going but reluctant to have to run away from one of his teachers. Heero was less courteous.
"I'm going, whether or not you're coming," Heero said harshly and stalked down the hall, yellow sneakers squeaking badly. Sally watched him go with deliberation written over her face.
"I'll catch up with you," she said slowly, oblivious to Trowa's fussing. Trowa nodded mutely then darted down the hall after Heero. Sally just stood for minute, a look of utter self-disappointment on her face. Then she turned quickly and hurried down to the office and prayed that VP Une wasn't gone yet.
***Back to Duo***
Dekim yelped and jumped back to the wall, holding his injured lip with one finger. Duo shakily stood up and panted as his tired lungs gasped for air. He wiped his lips and spat on the floor. He shuddered and moved as quickly as possible to the door. Dekim growled and darted after him. The older man moved in front of Duo and blocked the door with his body. Duo backed away a few feet and just glared at his teacher, fear and hate mingling freely.
"Look," Duo said shakily, on the verge of tears but struggling to hold them down as he thought rationally. "I'll just leave and I promise I won't tell anyone. Just let me go."
"Ha!" Dekim barked, anger and a little bit of worry clearly showing in his voice. "Like I would believe that! You, with your past? I seriously doubt you'd keep it under wraps. Not that anyone would believe you anyway."
Duo merely glared, all thoughts about maybe letting this slip by if he got out of here unharmed, flying out of his brain. His violet eyes narrowed and he felt a deathly clam settle over him as Dekim suddenly lost some of the anger and gained more fear. Duo felt his fists clench tightly at his sides as he lifted his chin and then, glowering, started towards the old man.
*** Break to Heero and Trowa***
Trowa counted numbers, quietly muttering the rooms under his breath. Heero was glaring at the back of his neck and made Trowa sweat. Trowa's hands were shaking with relief when he saw room 2002. He pointed to it and was almost bowled over when Heero darted past him. Heero's hand sped towards the handle and jerked it quickly. It was locked. Heero uttered a curse then looked over at Trowa imploringly.
"You're sure this is the class?" Heero asked, shifting from foot to foot in anxious worry.
"Yes," Trowa nodded vigorously, half afraid of Heero's expression. The younger boy growled in frustration and tried the handle again. Then he started to pace in front of the door swearing profusely.
"Sally had better be here soon," he muttered deeply under his breath. "Or I'm going to smash this window."
Trowa didn't doubt him.
*** Back to our D(ude) I(n) D(istress) ***
Dekim glared at the shorter boy with anger and fear flashing dangerously. Duo glared back, white in the face but determination shining. They locked eyes like that until Duo broke away, diverting his gaze to the floor. Dekim smirked in victory as he took a small step forward.
Duo growled in defeat. There was nothing he could do. He just knew that, that, some one would take it the wrong way. Someone would take it the wrong way, just like they did with those three guys. He was just so glad no one found out it had been him. Damn, was everyone's mind on sex these days? At least those others had the excuse of being high, Dekim was just a sick freak. Dekim stood over Duo now, with a looming shadow.
Duo gulped and bowed his head, swallowing pride and silently prayed to a God he didn't believe in that it would be over soon.
*** And now, the final scene break ***
Heero and Trowa looked simitaniously as Sally jogged down the corridor with ease, dragging a woman behind her. She stopped in front of them and VP Une placed her hands on her knees and panted in a most undignified way. Heero looked from Sally to VP Une for a minute before snapping into action.
"Do you have a key?" he demanded, icy steel in his voice cracked with worry. Sally nodded and lifted up a silver piece of metal hanging from a springy green key holder. Heero leapt for it but Sally jerked back. She glared hard as Heero dropped his cold exterior and seemed to implore her with his eyes. Sally almost let him have the key but at the last moment her training came through for her.
"No Heero," she said firmly. "You guys stand back. This may be nothing, but just in case-"
"Before we do anything," VP Une straightened up with considerable effort as she held a stitch on her side. "I would like to know what is going on!"
"I'll explain everything later, Ms Une," Sally said quickly. "But I am on official police business right now."
There was a tense pause as the other three people in the silent hall absorbed that last sentence. Sally smiled grimly and put the key in the lock. She turned it with a silent click. Then she carefully opened the door with one hand, the other reaching in her vest, her eyes sharp and her body tense. Heero was suddenly right behind her, practically breathing on her neck. She took a sharp breath as she saw something then she jerked the rest of the door opened, her and whipping into her vest to pull out a load gun.
"Freeze!" she shouted, a single entity in the doorway, hands poised as the deadly weapon pointed directly at a pair of people.
Heero could see over Sally's shoulder as all five people suddenly stopped when they heard her hard voice. Dekim had his arm wrapped around Duo's chest, the other hand covering his mouth. Duo was limp, his head down and defeated as a red mark shined under his fading black eye. His hands were bleeding slightly, the scabs once gain ripped off. When Sally yelled, his eyes looked up terrified. They fixed on Heero's, a pleading and miserable message transcending plainly to the rich boy. Heero felt a hard emotion well up in his chest and clench at his throat as he saw Dekim's hands on his Duo. Neither of the two people moved. Sally waited tensely, sweat slowly trickling down the back of her neck and distracting her. It was a brief minute that lasted an eternity.
Then, Dekim moved.
He whipped backwards, pulling Duo full across the front of his body as a human shield. He arm still pinned Duo's arms to his sides and his large hand covered Duo's mouth and lightly pinched the younger boy's nose. Duo gave a muffled gasp as his breath was greatly reduced. He looked up with frightened eyes.
"Don't move!" Sally yelled, but it was too late. Dekim grinned on the back of Duo's neck.
"You don't move, or Mr Maxwell will have an unfortunate accident," Dekim said, feeling confident that he had the upper hand.
"I said don't move!" Sally yelled again, her cool mask slipping slightly as her mind whirled off possible scenarios. The scene slid easily from the first tableaux to this one. Dekim smirked as Duo gasped for breath and failing in vain.
The heavy, tense scene was broken again, Heero couldn't stand the look in Duo's expressive eyes any longer. He ducked under Sally's arm, making her gasp and she barely pulled her finger off the trigger in time. Dekim couldn't see Heero's sharp movement but heard Sally and immedently tightened his grip on Duo's nose. Duo started to panic as he started to suffocate.
Heero ducked behind Duo with lightening speeds and manoeuvred behind the pair. With one quick hook, he hit Dekim's venerable body, causing the man to drop to the ground unconscious and Duo to fell with him. The old man's grip went lax and Duo sucked air into his tired lungs with a painful gasp and cough.
Heero appeared immedently on the floor beside Duo, on his knees and he gathered the panting boy in his arms. Sally gasped in shock for minute before moving quickly to the prone man on the floor and hauled him so he was sitting up. His nose bled freely as he stirred slightly in her tight grip. He groaned as she slapped a pair of silver handcuffs on his wrists.
"It may be futile now," she smirked slightly as Heero pulled Duo up and let the boy lean on him as he moved to two nearby chairs. "But you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say and do can and will be used against you in a court of law."
VP Une and Trowa walking into the room in slow and subdued movements, shocked at the sudden scenes that had just portrayed. Sally was still holding Dekim up none to gentle as the history teacher groaned in pain and slowly opened his eyes. Heero had an arm wrapped around Duo's back as the braided boy drew in a heavy breath with his head down and eyes closed. Trowa was torn between going over and punching the old man again or going to soothe his friend. He stood just inside the door instead, and kept an eyes out of any teachers or students staying after school.
Une strode to where Sally was roughly pulling Dekim to his feet and into a chair. Une glared, first at Dekim, then at Sally then just at whatever it was she was looking at.
"What is going on here?" she demanded, still standing and caused the room to quiet down. Duo placed his head in his hands so it was resting on his knees. Heero rubbed his back slowly as he struggled to keep his cool head and not dive at Dekim to kill him. Sally gulped guiltily and looked down.
"I guess I should start from the beginning," the woman said and took a seat beside Dekim, careful not to take her eyes off of him or let go of the handcuffs. Then she turned to Trowa, still keeping half an eye on the waking man. "Trowa, go to the office and ask the secretary to call my home contact number. Tell the person that picks up to get down here right away." Trowa nodded, relieved to leave and have something to do. As soon as he was gone, Une closed the door and pulled another chair up beside Dekim and waited patiently for Sally to start.
"I'm a police officer," she grinned ruefully and used her free hand to pull out a badge and toss it open on the desk beside her. "If you can't tell. I also do private investigations and go under cover. Mr Merquese was worried about young Maxwell over there and after walking on in a scene much like the one today, he call me. He took his leave of absence and I was hired as a supply. No one to was to know, and judging from your reactions, no one even suspected."
"How come I wasn't informed?" VP Une asked.
"Mr Kushrinada was," Sally replied easily. "But he decided it wasn't to be know in case it leaked to Mr Barton here. I've been following Duo around school, which is way I have also been serving Mr Merquese's quarter classes. I've been gathering evidence with a tape recorder and I've been making sure Dekim didn't have a chance to be a lone with Duo."
Sally paused at this, then looked guilty. "I messed up today though."
"Why didn't I know about Mr Maxwell's problems with Dekim? I handle any complaints students have."
"He tried," Heero spoke up softly, still rubbing Duo's back and braid gently while the boy just sat taking deep breathes. "But your secretaries wouldn't let him in. They said something about his past being an issue."
Une was struck into a dumb silence. "What? I haven't even heard Duo Maxwell's past before. His situation at the Church maybe, but I haven't seen him in the four years he has been here. What does his past have to do with it?"
"Theft," Duo spoke for the first time, raised him head a little so he could be heard if only barely. "Drugs. Fights. Stuff."
Heero wrapped an arm around Duo's shoulder and drew him to his shoulder where Duo hid his face, ashamed and exhausted. Une and Sally sat silently for a minute, in case Duo continued but when he didn't Une cleared her throat quietly.
"But still," she insisted. "Students are given the benefit of the doubt when they first some here. And obviously he must have changed if I have never seen him or heard of him. He must be behaving."
"He is," Heero spoke again, anger flashing. "He has. He's changed. But he still wasn't able to see you so he decided to tough it out on his own. I didn't even know until a few days ago when-"
Heero stopped abruptly then lowered his head to whisper soothing nonsense in Duo's ear, hoping VP Une wouldn't connect his unfinished sentence to the fight between the three boys in the hall a few days ago. Unfortunately, she did.
"So that was Duo," she leaned back, and almost laughed but the present situation stopped her. "I was beginning to wonder. The boys wouldn't talk to Mr Treize or I. They only gave a report to the police…" she trailed off as Sally looked down at her feet again. "That was you, right? Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was very…testy," Sally responded with deliberation. "It happened under, unusual circumstances. Those boys provoked Duo and threatened him. I stand by the fact it was self-defence. But, Duo was too scared to come forth and be judged by you."
Une shook her head and sighed. "I am going to have to hire new staff. How many students haven't been able to see me or speak to me? It is a corrupt world when a student can't even come forth with problems as serious as these."
There was an urgent knocking at the door. Une stood up to answer it as she found herself the only one not occupied with someone. Trowa stood hesitantly at the entrance.
"Sally? They said they were on their way."
"Good," Sally nodded sharply. "I want Heero and Duo out of here when they come. It's hard enough right now and it only going to get even more hectic. Heero, go."
"Okay," Heero nodded and stood. Duo let go of his arm but let himself be helped up with Heero's hand. His knees shook slightly. Trowa hurried forward and took Duo's bag as Hero dug one-handed in his bag for his keys and tossed them to Trowa. "We'll take my car. I'll tell you the way. "
Trowa held the keys before absorbing what Heero had told him. He nodded sharply and left with the other two trailing behind him. VP Une slumped in the cheap plastic chair then winced and straightened up. "These chairs are horribly uncomfortable."
It took no time for Trowa to find Heero's old jeep and to climb in. Heero hopping in the small backseat and Duo stumbled after him. The braided boy slumped across Heero's lap in a dead sleep. Heero stoked his hair as Trowa started up the tired vehicle and started to drive out of the parking lot.
"So where do I go?"
"Do you know the old Church on Maxwell Lane?"
"I think. That's near my apartment."
"He lives there."
Trowa's eye widened but he stayed silent as he started down the proper street. The silence was starting to wear down on him so he flicked on the radio.
Father can you hear me?
How have I let you down?
I curse the day that I was born
and all the sorrow in this world
Let me take you to the herding ground
where all good men are trampled down
Just to settle a bet that could not be won
between a prideful father and his son
Will you guide me now for I can't see a reason
for the suffering and this long misery
What if every living soul could be upright and strong?
Well then I do imagine
There will be (sorrow)
Yeah there will be (sorrow)
And there will be sorrow no more
When all soldiers lay their weapons down
or when all kings and all queens relinquish their crowns
Or when the only true messiah rescues us
from ourselves it's easy to imagine
There will be (sorrow)
Yeah there will be (sorrow)
And there will be sorrow no more
There will be (sorrow)
Yeah there will be (sorrow)
And there will be sorrow no more
Yeah there will be (sorrow)
Yeah there will be (sorrow)
And there will be sorrow no more.
Trowa glanced back as the song stopped and the DJ announced the next one. Heero's eyes were closed and he was slumped over a little. His head rested on his chest while his hand rested on Duo's head. They looked so peaceful Trowa didn't have the heart to wake him. He turned the radio down low and drove carefully to the empty parking lot beside the old Church. Trowa sat in the car for minute, he had always assumed the Church was abandoned, or at least very sparsely populated. The front door looked unused. Still, Heero had said this was the place. He unbuckled his seat belt quietly got out of the car. Making sure his charges were still asleep, he moved cautiously towards the front door, and opened them slowly.
The front foyer was empty, swept but in disuse. He stepped inside completely and let the door close behind him. He walked forward uncertainly to the scared door to the front of the church and pushed them open. He stood in the hall between the wall of the confessional and the sacristy, uncertain and nervous. He jumped when a kind voice spoke to him.
"Can I help you?" an old priest stepped out of the sacristy. "You seem confused."
"I was told that a friend of mine lived here," Trowa said, his voice echoing in the empty hall as he scanned the old walls with curiosity. "And I have brought him here."
"Who?" the priest asked with raised eyebrows and a shocked tone.
"Duo Maxwell," Trowa replied slowly. The priest sighed and looked at him with heavy eyes.
"What happened?"
"You might want him to explain it himself."
GS: Well, only one more chapter then an epilogue. I'm so sad to see it end! Oh well, all good things must end, ne? anyway, I have ONE REQUEST! If there is anyone who would let me, I'm putting some of the comments on my page! Past and any posted on this chapter and the next ones. So if you are willing to let me chose the best ones, tell me if you want yours up! I've set up a main page for this story here! It'll be accessible by my page, er, when I update.
http://www.angelfire.com/anime3/gs_stuff/fics/My_Kinda_Fairy_Tale.htm
So tell me if you want your reviews up on the page!
So am I so predictable? Shinigami195, D.A. Maxwell and Pen2 got it in one try. Hey and Pen2 even got the whole thing, here's your Sally , Heero and some nunchaku (Trowa)!
Ja minna-san!