WARNINGS - Angst (by the shovel full!), shounen ai (Guyxguy), OOC Heero (Make that OOC everyone!), Heero torture, hints of NCS (Non-consensual sex, rape), abuse of Wufei's name, foul language (*Gasps* Oo, shocking!), bastardised Dr. J, violence (Hmm probably should have included that in the last chapter, ne?), fluffiness, darkness (But I guess that's been there all along!), paranormalness (Is that a word?) and extreme mushiness (*gags* I can't believe I wrote something this sweet! Beware of the angst of the next Harmless Heart! Mwahah-*coughs*)
Thank yous – Yosomi (don't worry, theres more angst to come! *cackles*), Sakura Usagi, WildfireFriendship, I am the nameless one, Dreamer, Soulsister, Artica, Lissa, mistress shinimegami (ur 'mail is in the post! Anyone else want emails when new parts come out?), Sarasi, Kriss, Katie (Its not gonna give Q a glimpse into Heero's past, I don't feel that would fit the flo of the fic at the mo!), Betrayed, Sakura Maxwell (*giggles at image of Heero in a pink shirt*), Empress Yue, Sylvia Black, Princess Lightina, sapphire, Unholy Quintet (Brick of Doom? Should I reall ask? ^_^), Venus-chan (Aw, thanks *blushes*), ColbaltPrincess (Um, I'm not sure about that! //Insert evil grin here//), Princess of Destruction (I hope ur arms aren't acihng 2 much cus theres another cliff at the end! ^_^;;) . . .*Huggles all the lovely reviewers* I'm nearly at 200 reviews!!!! I can't believe it! As a thank u 2 all u /wonderful/ people I'm gonna write a one-shot fic and the 200th reviewer gets to chose genre and pairing . . .just please no 1xR I don't think I could do that to Hee-chan . . .Leave ur email addy or write ur request in the review!
A/N – I apologise profoundly for the disgraceful amount of time this chapter took me. Writers block is a bitch as I'm sure all my fellow fic writers know!
ON WITH THE FIC!!!
Heero Yuy rocked back and forth on his chair slowly, the small movement being the only thing holding him to the physical world as his mind raced with thoughts and his heart pounded with conflicting emotions. In the last few days Heero had undergone more emotional turmoil than he had ever experienced before. He had fallen in love and admitted it, his Perfect Soldier mask had been shattered beyond repair, he had been heartbroken, hopeful, terrified, shamed, enraged and lost to a sea of darkness. His life had suddenly changed from a cold singular purpose to a snarled tangle of love and despair, leaving him sprinting to catch up. The cause of this infinite change: Duo Maxwell.
Duo Maxwell. Two words but the name fitted the person so well. The duel personalities of the hyperactive, warm, over-emotional teenager and the cold, deadly, maniacal killer. The Maxwell Church, Duo's home for a short while and the fuel to Shinigami's fiery hatred for Oz. The lovable idiot who had made it his purpose in life to bury his way through the Perfect Soldiers icy shell.
What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?
The question had been asked and Heero had discovered the answer. There is no such thing as an immovable object when Duo Maxwell was the irresistible force. The braided boy had succeeded where no one else would even dare to try and Heero knew he would be forever grateful. Just like the question Duo was a paradox. He claimed to love Heero. His previous actions proved contradictory.
// "How could I bring myself to love a thing like you?" //
// A stolen kiss. A confession of love. A hasty exit. "I . . .I . . ." //
The dark memories threatened to overwhelm him and Heero's gentle rocking intensified. A small voice cried out for him to give Duo a second chance and Heero froze, knowing instantly that this wasn't one of his usual retinue of inner demons. A tune sprang into his mind and he began to hum under his breath. The image of a petite blond with soulful blue eyes half shut in concentration as he played the violin appeared before him. /Quatre? / He thought in confusion, but the voice was gone. Taking slow breaths Heero sank into meditation feeling his consciousness expand. Instead of the usual blankness he found Heero could feel the faint glow of alien emotions. He could feel warmth, concern, love and darker undertones of anger and hatred. Blue eyes shot open as Heero jerked from his meditative state at the shock of realising he now possessed Quatre's empathic abilities. A dim memory of a foreign presence in his mind was all that he could connect to this unexpected discovery. Heero hauled himself to his feet and walked as fast as he could manage out of his room to find Duo, as the full potential of this gift hit him. With this gift all of his questions could be satisfied.
* * *
Duo and Wufei stood hastily and excused themselves from the room, the tension levels becoming more then they would willingly stand. Duo threw a concerned glance at the uni-banged boy, who was staring at the floors wooden panelling with an unreadable expression in his eyes, and a sympathetic one to the blond on the bed, before making his exit.
"Trowa?" The Arabian man ventured quietly. His lover had said all of three words in the explanation and conversation which had followed. Quatre stretched out with his Space Heart tentatively and frowned when he couldn't pick up Trowa's emotions. / I must have burned myself out. / He thought and dismissed it in favour of discovered what troubled his loved one the hard way. "What's wrong?" Silence. For a long moment Quatre was certain he wasn't going to get an answer then emerald eyes rose from their view of the floor and pinned him to the bed. Quatre didn't need his Space Heart to see the fear and the love in Trowa's eyes. The pull between them was too strong and in an instant the acrobat was on the bed, holding the Arabian gentle and murmuring softly in his ear. Quatre strained his ears to try and catch the whispered words but caught only a few; they were enough.
"I love . . .so much . . .you scared me . . .never again . . ." The violinist leaned forwards to capture his loves lips in a kiss which was meant to reassure and comfort, but was interrupted by the slamming open of the door. Heero Yuy stood poised in the doorway, swathed in bandages, prussian blue drawn to cornflower like a magnet. Time paused as Quatre and Heero stared at each other entranced. Trowa broke the spell by shifting on the bed and catching the Japanese boy's eyes with his own frustrated glare.
"Where's Duo?" Heero demanded, his voice husky.
"He left" Quatre revealed. "Should you really be up and . . .Heero?"
The Japanese boy had already gone. Blinking Quatre turned to his lover, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Where were we?"
* * *
Heero stalked through the safe house, throwing open random doors as he went. One such door swung open to reveal Chang Wufei sitting at a desk, nose buried in a book. Onyx eyes shot up from the page to focus on the intruder, peering at Heero inquisitively over his glasses.
"Have you seen Duo?" Heero demanded before Wufei could even open his mouth. The Chinese man shook his head implying the negative and the brunette spun on his heel, intent on continuing his search.
"Heero?" Wufei's powerful voice echoed after him. "Could I have a word?" Heero paused in surprise at hearing Wufei use his first name before turning around and re-entering the study. The dark haired man gestured to a seat which Heero took reluctantly, every nerve in his body urging him to find the braided man. Silence prevaded for a few moments as Wufei struggled with his pride and his words. Eventually the Nataku pilot gave up spoke from the heart.
"I owe you an apology Heero," Wufei began seriously, cutting off Heero's attempted denial with a wave of his hand. "I have made some bad choices and said some dishonourable things over the last week. I am deeply sorry if you have taken offence to anything I have said and I hope that I have not shattered your trust in me completely." Wufei looked up into Heero's eyes and the Japanese boy could feel the sincerity and regret coming from Wufei in waves.
"I trust you Chang Wufei," Heero stated sombrely, causing a small relieved smile to appear on the scholars face.
"Thank you, Yuy," Wufei smiled. "Now get out! I'm attempting to get some peace!" But the words were said with black humour and Heero made no effort to disguise the rueful smile that lit his face as he left the room.
* * *
"Duo," a husky voice startled the American from his thoughts. Violet eyes rose slowly to focus on his love's face and a genuine smile graced Duo's features. "Duo, do you love me?" Heero's voice was timid as he asked the ultimate question and stretched out empathically to pick up Duo's true answer. He knew without a doubt that this would be one of the defining moments of his life. With one word Duo Maxwell could save or destroy his life. The Deathscythe pilot's answer was immediate and without hesitation.
"With all my heart," Tears sprang to prussian eyes as sincerity, love and devotion radiated from Duo like a beacon. With a heartfelt cry Heero threw himself into Duo's open arms and broke down. Violet eyes were wide with panic as for the first time he witnessed Heero Yuy in tears. Sobs racked the smaller frame he held in his arms and Duo ran a tender hand through chocolate locks while murmuring sweet nothings. A fierce protectiveness grew inside the one-time street rat as he swore to himself that he would never let anything or anyone hurt Heero again.
* * *
In Heero Yuy's bedroom a laptop beeped insistently. Announcing in its own electronic way the arrival of a new mission. News of a new fraction planning to join Oz had reached the ears of Dr. J who had decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to get his toy soldier back onto the battlefield where he belonged and away from G's demented little prodigy. It went without saying that the mission was a solo one and it contained explicit orders that Heero /was/ to use the ZERO system no matter what the consequences. Dr. J may not have issued these instructions had he been aware with the merger his creation had undergone with pilot 04. He may have understood that an unstable Perfect Soldier combined with Quatre Rabera Winner and the ZERO system was Armageddon waiting to happen . . .
To be Continued . . .
A/N – This part was inspired by the beautiful Cello Conerto first movement by Elgar.