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, fluffiness, darkness, paranormalness (Is that a word?), extreme mushiness and a lickle bit of Quatre torture for a little added spice!
Thank yous – Princess of Destruction (I really think u should! There are not 1, but 2 cliffs in this part!), Myst (U'll soon find out if its 4 the best or not! *cackles*), Relwarc, sprite, CobaltPrincess (So many qu's! I think this part answers 2 of 'em!), Tuski Tenshi and Katie (#It's the end of the world as we know it!#) . . .Huggles and kisses to all reviewers! Please send me more!
A/N – Well, my muse certainly has a firm grip on this fic at the minute! A bit faster than my last post, ne? My offer of a gift fic to the 200th reviewer still stands btw! It has come to my attention that many glorious readers have come under the impression that everything is going to be peachy-keen for our Heero now . . .prepare to be disillusioned . . .
Heero Yuy strapped himself firmly into the pilot's seat of Wing ZERO, his heart heavy with a reluctance he had never experienced before when a mission was involved. His nimble hands flew over the keyboard, inputting code after code in order to start the mecha giant. He swallowed back nervousness and anticipation as Wing rumbled into action. This was the first mission, that he could remember, that he had ever started with fear fluttering around inside him. ZERO back, safe and sound, in its metal home and although would remain inactive until battle Heero could feel its presence. Strong fingers gripped the controls as the pilot guided his partner out of the hangar before shifting the Gundam into bird-mode and taking off into the sky.
* * *
"Stupid, evil, mean old man," Duo Maxwell muttered beneath his breath as he watched his new boyfriend and long-time love leave on yet another solo mission. Lately Heero had been sent off on his own a lot, leaving Duo to either go solo himself or team up with Wufei; something that the Chinese man was not too pleased about. The braided man was certain that there was a reason behind this increase. Dr. J may not have raped Heero but he had hurt him . . .badly . . .and Duo would be damned if the scientist ever got his claws into Heero again. The American frowned as he remembered the few precious minutes he had stolen with Heero before the Wing pilot was torn away by the call of duty. His lips throbbed and he traced his tongue over them, savouring the taste of Heero on his flesh. He couldn't help but hope that the Japanese boy completed his task soon so that he could taste his love once more. "Moronic, /perverted/, son of a . . ."
* * *
" #Your love is better than ice cream# " Quatre sang brightly and very out of tune as he strolled slowly down the stairs. " #Better than anything else that I've tried, your love is - # Um, ummmmm . . . #laaa laa laaa#" The words escaped the Arabian and he settled for 'la-ing' the rest of the song. He reached his destination and smiled at nothing, feeling proud, although a little out of breath. He turned the key in the door handle and opened the entrance to the basement, peering inside, using the light from the hallway to find the light switch. Dull yellow light flickered from the single light bulb, as Quatre made his way inside he left the door open to add that extra bit of light. The blond walked slowly down the stairs. Piles upon piles of unopened boxes greeted him as he reached the cement floor. Packed up in here were all of the pilot's possessions which had been shipped forward from their last safe house. Feeling determined and stubborn the Sandrock pilot began to rummage through the boxes, climbing over some until he sank to the floor to catch his breath. /It's got to be in here somewhere! / He thought desperately.
* * *
Wufei stalked quickly towards the kitchen, his parched throat demanding water. In his left hand he clutched his book tightly, knuckles white with strain, the title of the book could be glimpsed through slim fingers. "Empathic Abilities" was written in gold leaf on the spine. As he paced down the hallway he noticed the door of the basement was wide-open, allowing cold air to draft through the house. Wufei glanced inside. Seeing no one, he switched off the light and shut the door, locking it as he did so. Presuming one of the other pilots had left the door open Wufei dismissed the issue, headed to the kitchen for refreshments, then out into the garden to continue his research in the comfort of nature.
* * *
Trowa awoke from sleep with a start as the vid-phone rang loudly. Straightening his mussed bangs the European boy answered the phone to be greeted by his cheerful adoptive sister. Greeting her with a nod and small smile he excused himself as he closed the door to his room. Although he would never admit it Catherine had a tendency to be more than slightly embarrassing and he didn't wish or any of his fellow war comrades to overhear her questions and opinions. Returning to the phone Trowa sat down resignedly and listened with half an ear as the protective brunette filled him in with the latest gossip from the circus.
* * *
Quatre Rabera Winner froze as he was plunged into darkness, his search for his violin forgotten in an instant
"Hello?" He yelled, but received no response. His training as a fighter held away the inherent human fear of being alone in the dark. Grumbling to himself Quatre fumbled around in the dark, desperately trying to recall the route he had taken. He clambered over a box and cursed as his foot went through it and a dull smash filled the basement. Hoping that he hadn't broken anything important the blonde stumbled on, hands flailing out in front of him in an attempt to find a wall. After several falls, much cussing and a bruised head the Arabian finally managed to find the staircase and climbed in gingerly. He reached the top and sighed with relief as he felt for the door handle. He gripped the cool metal and turned. Nothing happened. The door was locked.
"Hello? Can anyone hear me?" Quatre yelled. "Trowa! Wufei! Duo! Heero? Anyone? HELP!" Eventually the Sandrock was forced to stop by his raw throat. With a defeated sigh he sank to the floor and hugged his knees to his body. Quatre shivered, uncomfortable with the deafening silence that surrounded him. Needing some comfort, Quatre sank into himself and reached for the threads of light which linked him to those closest to his heart. They were gone. Panic set in and Quatre threw down all of his defensive barriers, he needed to feel something, anything, even if it hurt him. There was nothing there; just the emptiness. The blond was unaware of the tears slipping down his face as he desperately continued to try and pick up anything with his space heart. Quatre's breath came in quick gasping breaths; his eyes wide open in the darkness streamed with tears as he submitted to a panic attack. For the first time in his entire life Quatre Rabera Winner knew what it meant to be completely and utterly alone.
* * *
The lone Gundam stood on the barren field faced with a small regiment of low-grade mobile suits. Heero had enough confidence in his abilities as a pilot to know that this battle was going to be easy. The suits charged and Heero snorted in disgust at the lack of discipline in the ranks and seemingly non-existent battle plan they were using. The Wing pilot brought out his beam sabre and stood ready; a small flash of surprise hit him when ZERO didn't take the chance to throw images at him, but it was quickly pushed aside as the first suit reached him. It was suicidal really, the low-grade suit and the low-calibre pilot rushed Wing ZERO straight on and Heero didn't hesitate to carve the MS and its owner in half. Heero sucked in a strangled gasp as a blinding flash seared his vision.
// "C'mon Marie, don't worry dhar'lin," Jack Hopkins smiled warmly at his heavily pregnant wife. "Jus' one more mission then I'm outta there. It'll jus' be me, you, Carrie and our lil' boy forever, I promise." //
// "Daddy! I made yoo a card, come back soon ok? I'll miss yoo!" //
//Pain. Searing hot pain. The shadow of Death. /I never got to hold my son . . ./ //
A scream of pain tore itself from Heero Yuy's throat as he experienced Jack Hopkins death. The main wave passed but the Japanese youth still shook in its after tremors as the next suit charged him. Heero knew then why the ZERO system hadn't assaulted him with its usual barrage of horrifying images: it was using a new strategy to try and break the pilot. ZERO had taken Quatre's empathic abilities and magnified them until Heero could feel everything his enemy felt. He struggled valiantly to continue, his body fighting one half of the battle while his heart saw the other side. Wave after wave of anger, hate and pain battered Heero until he became lost in the storm. The fraction fighters landed blow after blow on Wing as its pilot was left unsure of which side he was fighting on.
So lost was the Perfect Soldier that he didn't hear the rumble which signified reinforcements. He didn't feel the Earth shake as they landed. He didn't see new models of mobile suits pour out of air carriers emblazoned with the Oz insignia and form tight, ordered formations around the Gundam. All Heero Yuy could see, hear and feel was the hatred towards himself . . .
To be Continued . . .
A/N – This chapter is sponsered by "Don't Speak" by No Doubtand "Ice Cream" by Sarah McLachlan as sung by the wonderful Q.R. Winner. Pls review! Feed my addiction!