Torment of Paradise

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Chapter 11

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With a heavy sigh, Quatre looked out the car window, seeing the endless stretches of sand that he knew so well. 'From the flames and into the pit.'

"You OK Quatre?"

He looked over at Duo. "I'm about to have my ears talked off; you tell me Duo."

"True I suppose." Duo shrugged as he peered ahead of the driver. "And why didn't Rashid or the others come to meet you at the airport?"

"I told him not too." Quatre gave a dry laugh. "But that will probably make him even more edgy."

"Great. A large Arab out for blood. What the hell have you dragged me into Quatre?! I don't wanna die yet!! I'm young, I'm beautiful, I-"

"Oh would you stop being so dramatic?" Quatre said. "Besides knowing you, you don't want to die until you've-"

"Hey Quatre!!" Duo looked at him slightly amazed. "Some things stay out of the eye of things." he shook his head. "Man…you have changed a lot. Before you couldn't even go near the subject without your entire face going red."

"It's amazing what a beating can do to a person." Quatre smiled a bit. "Makes them re-evaluate some things."

"Uh-huh. Re-evaluate…hey if that's what you want to call it." he shrugged, sinking back into his chair. "So when the party starts do ya want me there?"

"I'm fine thank you. They're going to lecture me, not string me up by my thumbs or something."

"If you say so." Duo looked over at him. "So what did you and Jess talk about when she kicked me out?"

"You think I'd tell you?" Quatre looked at him. "This was something you couldn't possibly understand Duo; in more ways than one."

Duo nodded his head, remaining silent as the car started down a long stretch of road. "This is it." he looked over at his blond friend. "Did you at least make a will or something?"

"Nope." he looked up at the house as it drew closer. "I don't need it."

Duo shook his head. "Sometimes I don't think that Heero is the crazy one out of all of us."

Quatre couldn't help but laugh as the stepped out of the car and started up the steps; at least there was something left to laugh about. He paused at the door before opening it hesitantly and stepping in. The house was the same as it had been as before but now he could hear the voice drifting in from the kitchen.

"Shouldn't Master Quatre be back by now?" Abdul's voice was followed by the sound of pacing feet.

Quatre looked back at Duo. "Maybe we should give them a moment." he whispered.

"Quatre, this was your idea not mine." he muttered seeing the look on his face.

Making a slight face he kept walking, the kitchen entrance drawing steadily closer. Carefully he peered around the edge of the door to see Rashid and Abdul in the kitchen apparently in the middle of a discussion, a few of the other Maganacs milling around.

"Master Quatre will arrive when he does, I can't predict what time that might possibly be. Calm down Abdul; I am sure he's perfectly fine, wherever he is."

"Speaking of which," Duo said loudly, entering the kitchen, pulling Quatre in behind him. "guess who's back?'

The effect was electric. All the Maganacs whipped around to face them, guns drawn, a few chairs knocked over. The look of surprise was replaced on the present faces with relief and growing wonderment.

"Master Quatre, you shouldn't sneak up on a person like that." Rashid sighed as he reholstered his gun. "When did you arrive?"

"We just got here." Quatre looked around at everyone. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Oh, only the fact that you simply ran off on us!! You should have let us accompany you on your mission Master Quatre because apparently something happened!!" Abdul said in a less than pleased tone. "Master Quatre….." he wagged a finger disapprovingly. "this is by far the worst thing you have ever done to us. We were worried sick about you! Allah knows where you may have ended up-"

"I'm fine Abdul. It's only a few scratches; nothing too serious." he said walking into the kitchen a bit more. "Duo was there with me as well."

Duo shot him a look. "Yeah I was there. I did my best but Quatre got a bit stubborn on me. Wouldn't even talk to me."

"What about?" Rashid asked finally after a moment of silence.

Now Quatre shot Duo a look. "It's all right Rashid, it's not that important now."

"Yeah, 'cause ya talked to Jess about it and-" Duo was cut off by a slightly sharp elbow nudging in his ribs.

"You talk too much Duo." he hissed underneath his breath.

"For the love of God Quatre, I can see it as well as everyone else!" Duo said a bit exasperated

The Maganacs looked between the two boys; the blond and the brunette were now glaring at each other. A few of them scratched their heads, sensing something they weren't too sure of.

"That's none of your business Duo." he replied.

"Oh sorry for caring. Jeez." Duo muttered rubbing his ribs. "I swear we'll never get back the old Quatre ever."

"Master Quatre…are you sure that you're fine?" Rashid asked looking at him intently.

"I am perfectly fine Rashid. Please stop worrying about me." he said.

Rashid looked at him for a few seconds. "All right Master Quatre. Your father called from the colonies while you were gone. He wanted to talk to you."

Quatre cringed inside; he had a good idea what his father wanted to talk about. "Thank you Rashid. What did you tell him?"

"I told him you were 'occupied' with your appointed tasks," a light of humor came to his eyes. "and would be hard pressed to come to the phone. Was I correct in my judgment?"

"Very Rashid. Do you still want to lecture me?"

"I was prepared to do so but you seemed to have learnt your lesson the hard way. I suggest you go and call your father now."

"I will." he looked around at the other Maganacs standing around the room. "I'm very sorry to have caused you any worry."

General acceptances came from the large group, before they filed out of the kitchen, shaking their heads while commenting about the ways of teenagers. As soon as the room was empty Quatre looked over at Duo, not quite to sure what to say.

"Hadn't you better call your father Quatre? "Duo finally said.

"Why? I'd rather not have him lecturing me about the things I already know." he sat down in a kitchen seat heavily. "It's not as if I don't know."

"What does he get on your case about?" Duo took a seat opposite him. "You must do the duty thing or something?"

"More or less. Wants me to run the company, get married and all…" he paused. "but I don't want any of the things he wants for me."

"So tell him." Duo shrugged. "He's gotta listen to you at some point."

"You'd think that, huh? My father can be stubborn sometimes. The only reason why I am a Gundam pilot now is because of Instructor H and that my father didn't know until it was too late."

"Gee, I wonder where you get it from then?" Duo smirked a bit. "He really won't listen to you?"

"A good portion of the time he won't. If I want something small then yeah, but making my own decisions is 'far beyond me'. And to think he wants me to run the company." Quatre gave a sort of bitter sigh. "How can I make decisions if he insists on making them for me?"

Duo remained silent, unsure of what to say.

"It really does stink being rich sometimes. I wish I was normal, just like everybody else."

"You are Quatre…just that your father seems to not really trust ya." Duo paused scratching his head. "Did you think of doing anything after the war?"

"'I'll worry about that when I get there." Quatre sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry I snapped at you earlier Duo…guess I was more nervous than I realized."

Duo waved away his apology. "People fight and get over it." he smiled nostalgically. "Or sometimes they get even…one of the two."

"Sounds like you've had experience there."

"Yeah. Lots of experience it that particular department." a faint shadow crossed his face. "Anyways, since you're here and all now, I better get going. Still have that mission to take care of and it ain't gonna get done with me standing here."

"Thanks Duo. You really didn't have to come you know."

Duo rolled his eyes. "I stand corrected…we are going to get back the old Quatre. You must have said word at least five times. You don't have to thank me."

"Yeah…you're right…now I have to call my father."

"See? Justify it somehow." Duo grinned as he headed out of the kitchen. "Later Quatre!"

"Bye." he watched Duo leave before turning back to his seat. "What must Father nag me about now?" he muttered; he could feel another headache coming up just thinking about it.

Finally he rose, heading for the vidphone in his room. Seating himself at the desk, he dialed the number, feeling a sort of weariness settle inside. It really didn't improve when his father's face popped up on the screen.

"Quatre, I'm glad you were able to return my call." his father said right off the bat.

"Hello Father." he replied. "How are you doing?"

"Fine. Did you finish those reports like I asked you to?"

"Yes. I'll fax them tonight, if I have some time."

There came a pause. "What happened to your face Quatre? Why is it all scarred?"

'I knew that was coming.' "I got into a scuffle. I at least made it out in one piece."

"About time you started toughening up. You shouldn't let people walk all over you Quatre. I am very-"

Quatre rubbed his temple, blocking out the words. 'It's the 'Time you became a man' speech all over again.' He nodded at all the appropriate times, making his father think that he was listening and paying attention. He only really listened and spoke up when his father raised another point.

"I told you Father, I don't want to get married as soon as the war is over."

"Quatre, we've been over this plenty of times before."

'You've been over it you mean.' "Father I just can't marry someone I know nothing about or don't love for that matter."

"Quatre, love is a by-product of an arranged marriage-"

"Listen to yourself Father…you make it sound like a business deal. By- product…I don't want it to be that way for me." he paused. "Is that all that really matters to you now? Business deals and getting the job done?"

"Quatre, I only want what's best for you."

"Then why are we having this conversation when you know how I feel?" he asked with a sigh.

"Because you are young and aren't too sure what you may want out of life."

"Not what you want for me, that's for sure." Quatre finally looked at his father. "I can make my own decisions you know. I'm not a little child anymore."

"Quatre…we'll continue this discussion when I come down to Earth."

"You're coming down? Why? The business is colony based. Or are you looking to expand?"

"Yes. Earth would be a good place to start. I was thinking of holding a small function with some people. And I'm sure you'll attend seeing as you will be running the company one day."

"Of course." he replied; those weren't the words he wanted to say.

"Excellent. Then I shall see you in a few days."

"Is Iria coming down too?" he asked before his father hung up; it wouldn't be so tedious if Iria was there too. "Or any other one of my sisters?"

"No; they all decided to stay up here; they don't like the business parties. Make sure you have your suit ready for this party. I plan to have it in about two to three weeks time; before if possible."

"Yes Father." he replied, sinking down into his chair. "I did figure I would have to wear a suit…like I always do."

"Hm. I'll see you when I get down and then we can talk more about this." the screen went dark.

Slowly, he pushed the button deactivating is screen. "Bye Father."

He sat at his desk for awhile, simply looking out the window. Now he could contend with his father person to person rather than over the phone. And in a few days none the less. 'It's going to be different this time around.' He rose from the chair, pausing to look at the papers he needed to fax. Then he simply left them there, leaving his room silently. Wandering aimlessly through the house, he let his mind wander; 'What can I say to Father to make him see that I want such different things out of life and not the traditional things; I certainly don't want to run the company or get married. I just want to be myself.'

"Master Quatre…are you OK?"

Startled he looked up to see Abdul standing in front of him…outside…in the backyard overlooking the wide backyard. "I'm fine Abdul. Just a bit preoccupied that's all."

"All right. Sorry if I was a bit harsh on you earlier on in the day Master Quatre…but you really did worry us and-"

"It's all right Abdul. I did deserve it in a way." he paused, looking up at the sky. "Father is coming down to Earth."

"Really?" Abdul fixed his glasses. "When is he arriving?"

"I'm not too sure. A few days perhaps." he fell silent for a bit. "Abdul…do you think that I'm cut out for business? Or marriage for that matter?"

"Whoa…take a step back there Master Quatre." Abdul said peering at him. "What's spurred all these questions?"

"What do you think Father's been getting on my case about? All he ever talks about is when I inherit the family business or when I get married. I don't want either. Why can't I just worry about stuff like going to the mall or getting my schoolwork done? Why do I have to worry about net profit and loss and all that other stuff?"

"Well…what's stopping you? You are the only Winner heir after all, but it is your life Master Quatre." Abdul shrugged. "Run it as you want to."

"Try saying that to my father." he sighed, hands in his pockets.

Abdul chuckled. "You have a very good point there. Well…why don't you want to do any of that stuff…barring aside that fact that you may be going through 'teen rebellion'?"

"Maybe because I've seen far too many things to ever sit in an office all day 'happily' poring over numbers. Maybe because I want to get outside of the house more often now. Maybe because I want to see what I am really good at…besides playing the violin."

"And this would have absolutely nothing to do with a certain black-haired friend of yours would it?"

"Wufei?" he asked, slightly puzzled.

Abdul gave an exasperated sigh. "No. The other black-haired friend Master Quatre."

"Oh. Jess" he didn't reply, looking back up at the stars.

"Is that a slight blush I see on your face Master Quatre?" Abdul asked in a slightly teasing voice.

"It's bit chilly out here, you do realize that Abdul?" he asked with a silly sort of smile before looking at Abdul.

"Uh-huh. Tell me about her Master Quatre. Like maybe how she pulled off that poker hand on me?"

Quatre laughed. "I can't tell you that; I don't think I want to play her in poker, the game would be done in a minute." he paused. "What can I tell you about Jess?"

"Starting from the top would be a good idea." Abdul offered after a few minutes silence from Quatre. "Like when you met her…or realized that she was a pilot."

"I guess so. It was awhile before I met her really; I saw her before, walking down the street. She had come out of this shop with a couple of bags in her hands." he chuckled a bit. "Actually more like a few handfuls of bags; she went into the bookstore."

"She likes books?"

"Yeah; history books in particular. You know, after we found out we were both pilots, she talked for hours about ancient Rome?"

"Hours as in…" Abdul asked, gesturing with his hand.

"About five…six I think." he shook his head. "And I wasn't bored once. She just made it sound interesting and relevant. She's also addicted to chocolate in any form…liquid or food."

"Is that why you keep making all those chocolates Master Quatre?"

"Yeah." he got a sheepish sort of grin. "I tell her I buy them at the store though cause I know she'd tell me to save my time and not make her any. She likes chocolates as much as books and shopping sometimes…more or less given on her mood that day."

"Uh-huh." Abdul nodded his head, before rocking slightly on his heels. "Go on."

"She doesn't have favorite color at all, she just picks one for the day and wears it…she says that but she tends to wear a lot of red and jeans. Then she complains that she looks awful."

"And what do you do? Agree with her?"

"No. I don't see what she's going on about half the time; she always looks good. Besides, don't girls usually get mad at you if you do that?"

"Uh-huh, a good portion of them do. If she's got a sense of humor, she'll laugh and agree with you."

"Yeah…she's got that too. Not quite laugh out loud funny; more of a witty funny." Quatre looked over at Abdul. "Why do you want to know about her anyway?"

"No reason." he shrugged. "She seems like a good kid. We must be careful and keep you out of trouble."

"Yeah, if I don't run off on you guys."

"Then you seem to find trouble yourself." Abdul chuckled. "We were just glad to see that you were all right for ourselves."

"Hm." Quatre looked down at the sand beneath his feet. "I think I'd better call it a night now. I have all that work to do in the morning when I wake up and all." he gave a sigh.

Abdul laughed. "You make it sound like the battle against Oz is much easier."

"In some ways…it is." he shook his head as he headed in. "Night Abdul."

"Night Master Quatre." Abdul said as he watched the blond boy walk into the house.

A slight frown came upon his face and it was with this look that Rashid found him about fifteen minutes later.

"Is something worrying you Abdul?" Rashid asked.

He looked around to see the larger man towering over him. "Yes. Have you heard Master Quatre talk of his 'friend' Jess?"

Rashid arched an eyebrow at the meaning of word. "You think he's going to have a problem?"

"Yes; you know how adamant his father is about the marriage thing. Her…no. His father is what really worries me. What if Quatre defies his? It's not quite the same thing as defying us."

Rashid remained silent for a moment. "I remember seeing Master Quatre out there on that battlefield and risking his life for us. And I distinctly remember Master Quatre telling us to go while he held off the other suits." Rashid shrugged. "It is a simple matter Abdul."

"Rashid…" Abdul sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "These things always start off as simple matters and then they get out of control sometimes."

~*~

Feeling his mind start to numb already, Quatre looked at himself in the mirror. 'Every bit the business man.' He made a slight face while removing the bit of dust on the shoulder of his suit. 'Why does Father expect me to be just like him?' Feet dragging slightly, he made his way down the stairs to be there by his father's side to greet the guests in the main room.

"Quatre, you made it down just in time." his father said, seeing his son come down the stairs. "The first guests are arriving."

"Wonderful." he said in a slightly sarcastic tone, not too mention a bored look on his face.

"I know you don't really like these things but you have to learn to like them; they are a crucial part of business Quatre."

"Unfortunately." he replied back in a low voice so the first entering guest couldn't hear.

The next hour passed by in a blur of faces, some business entrepreneurs, others from the ranks of Oz itself; all he knew was that by the time the left the front foyer to begin circulating the room was that his mind was completely numb from all the prattle of business and the war. And no one would give him the time of day, seeing as how he was still a 'child'; he felt about ready to leave and try to at least enjoy himself on some level tonight.

"I'm going to get some more punch." he said detaching himself from the group his father was currently discussing with.

Walking up to the bowl, he slowly lifted up the dipper filling his glass. 'I swear this evening will never end.' He had just turned around when a strange emotion filled him; it felt so sad and…wretched that he found himself speechless and frozen.

"Quatre!! Come over here!!"

The voice got him moving again. With a sigh he made his way back to his father's side, the feeling intensifying as he made his way through the moving people.

"Quatre," his father said as he made it through the thicket of people. "I'd like you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Orton."

Quatre felt his grip start to loosen on the cup handle. He caught himself in time, holding the cup in two hands. Samuel looked the same as ever, faint recognition flickering in his grey eyes. 'This isn't good.' His gaze swung around to the bent figure by Samuel's side. Jess looked absolutely miserable, her gaze was listless, she had no life to her slight movements; her arm just hung limply in Samuel's. Her eyes met his and he could see the spirit inside her, fractured and tired; so very fractured.

"A pleasure." he managed, shaking Samuel's hand.

"Likewise." Samuel's voice replied with the barest hint of warmth. "My wife, Jessica."

"Jessica." he said taking her hand and raising it to his lips. "I hope you shall enjoy yourself tonight here."

Her gaze flickered down to his eyes again. "I'm sure I shall." her bare whisper even sounded dead.

"So Samuel, you're a colonel in the Oz army?" Quatre's father said starting conversation.

"Yes. I believe that you are trying to expand your business to Earth?"

"Yes, it would be a wise move to branch out instead of having it centered in the colonies."

"A wise move indeed." Samuel affirmed with a nod of his head. "Oz would be most interested in what services you may have to offer."

"Colonel Orton, how about my son shows your wife around while you and I discuss business? We can go into a deal perhaps if we reach an agreement."

Quatre looked up hiding the eager look on his face; this was too good to be true.

A slightly unhappy look crossed Samuel's face. "Sounds like a very good idea." he released Jess' arm. "I would like my wife back Mr. Winner."

He barely nodded his head as he took Jess' arm gently. "We'll be back."

"And I would like to talk to you later on this evening as well Quatre."

He barely nodded his head again as they walked away through the crowd. "How have you been Jess?" he asked in a whisper.

She shrugged slightly, not responding, but her arm pulled his closer.

Quatre simply guided her through the crowd, trying to find a quiet spot to talk to her; it seemed as if the sadness was simply sitting there and slowly growing inside. It was killing him to see her like this. 'The sooner I talk to her the better.' Finally, making sure that Samuel didn't see them, he ducked into a hallway, finding a lonely room at the end of hall.

"Jess, what's wrong?" he immediately asked as soon as the door was shut.

She shrugged as if not caring, but her eyes started to gleam with coming tears.

"Look for once would you just talk to me." he looked at her. "That's all I want; I want to know why you're so miserable…even thought that's apparent."

"I want it all to end Quatre." she whispered. "I just want it all to end. I'm tired of constantly fighting Oz, I'm tired of fighting Samuel…I'm just so tired of all of it. I fight and fight…and for what? For people to go about making the same mistakes that started this all in the first place? For not having the guts to say something to my parents that day before he showed up on the doorstep? I am just so tired of all of it Quatre." she slid down the door, resting her head on her knees, dress billowing beneath her.

Quatre sat down in front of her down, running a hand over her hair. "He's still beating you isn't he?"

Jess didn't respond, simply slipping off the shoulder of her dress. There was a nasty black and blue bruise on her upper arm; no wonder she had such strange sleeves on her dress.

"I can't escape this time Quatre. The house is like a fortress…bars on the window, padlocks on the doors…he doesn't want me to ever escape. This one is for when I tried to."

His hand went down to her face. "Jess, tell me that you can hang on for a bit."

"Why should I bother? I am totally expendable…I would either die in the war or from all these beatings I get one day. I'm not fighting now so-"

"I don't want to hear you talk like that Jess." he raised her head up. "Don't ever think that you are expendable."

"But I am Quatre. I can die so easily… I don't even now some things about myself…like who my real parents are…did I have any siblings…God Quatre, it's like I have no past before being adopted. Like I was some reject that my real parents didn't want so they left me to die or something. I have no value to anyone; I may as well be no one."

"Jess," Quatre said drawing her up. "you have to stop thinking this way; you have plenty of people who care about you. Duo does, your parents do from what you told me online…I do."

"You're just saying that so I don't feel so miserable about myself now."

"Jess…all I really want is for you to be happy. And I know that you're not now." he gazed deep into her eyes. "Jess, please. You asked something of me once, now I ask something of you; don't give up."

She sighed heavily, a single tear running down her cheek. "All right. Why do you always have to go and cheer me up? Can't I be a bit depressed?"

"No. you're not allowed to be depressed. I much prefer to see you happy." he gave her a smile.

"I can't win can I?" she wiped away the tear.

"No you can't sometimes." he took her arm gently again. "I'll walk you around for a bit before you have to leave again. Then I'll start planning Operation Bust-Out"

She nodded her head with a slight laugh as they walked back into the ballroom. "Quatre?" she whispered so only he could hear.

"Yes?"

"Can the horse be dappled?"

He looked down at her, seeing hope in her eyes. "Yeah, sure. Dappled."

~*~