If you can't tell by my first chapter, I am a cruel person when it comes to writing. I love cliffhangers when I write and read, so many of my chapters might end like that. So...yeah... Sorry if you don't like them, but I love suspense in stories. It keeps people coming back for more! ^.^
Tell me if I'm doing a good job here. I'm not use to writing serious stories so tell me if I'm doing a good job. Thanks and please do review! Melyn loves reviews.
*****
When the dream ends
Chapter 2: Paranoia
*****
"Duo!" Quatre flagged the former Gundam pilot down. They were alone, but it seemed as if Duo was in a daze for the past week and the only way to ever get his attention anymore was to yell and flail your arms until he took notice.
Today seemed like a day where Duo was on top of things. He immediately noticed Quatre and walked over, but he still appeared to be in zombie mode.
"Can we talk?" The blonds eyes were full of concern.
Duo blinked back to reality when he realized Quatre was talking. He let Quatre's words sink in for a minute. "Uh...sure. I don't see why not." Duo put on his trademark crooked smile.
"Are you ok? You looked really down yesterday."
Duo's bright violet eyes dimmed. It appeared not to be a subject Duo really wanted to talk about. "I'm fine. Really." His smile looked more forced now. "Nothing's wrong. I...I'm just...I was just feeling down yesterday. That's all."
"Duo, if you want to talk--"
"I said I was fine!" Duo snarled.
Quatre stepped back and prepared to defend himself. Duo looked like a wild animal. His eyes were blazing and his fists were clenched at his sides. "I...I'm sorry..."
Duo took a few deep breaths to calm himself. "Sorry, Quatre." Duo mumbled. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just having a bad day. " Duo turned and walked away.
Quatre gulped. "If...if there's anything I can do to help..." He trailed off as he realized Duo was not listening.
******
Duo sighed and fell on his bed. It seemed he had been doing a lot of hiding in his room lately.
He couldn't blame them for being concern. It was in Quatre's nature to make sure everyone was alright. He didn't think twice about what the others thought. They were worried as well, though it would be a cold day in hell when Heero and Wufei openly admitting they were worried about him of all people.
He felt bad for yelling. He really did. But he doubted Quatre would believe him. Not after that outburst.
There was just so much they didn't know. And there was so much they wouldn't understand. No one ever would understand. His whole life, his whole goddamn life, no one ever realized exactly what he was. And once they did, they would shut him out forever. That's why he would never tell them.
Duo bolted upright in his bed as the door flew open. Heero's eyes blazed as he walked up to Duo and hit him across the face. Hard.
"What the hell is your problem!" Duo screamed and rubbed his injured jaw.
"My problem?" Heero glared. "What the hell is your problem?!"
"What?"
"Why are you acting like a fucking child?"
Duo glared at the former perfect soldier. "I told Quatre it was personal. I thought I made that perfectly clear." He snarled.
Heero glared back with just as much intensity. "I don't care how personal it is. And just because it is, doesn't give you the right to take it out on us. Quatre was trying to help." He said low in his throat. "Now what the hell is your problem"
Duo sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."
"I don't care. I want an answer."
Duo looked into his friends eyes. He was taking this just as he had any other mission. He was not going to leave or give up unless Duo either told him or killed him. The braided American sighed in defeat. He wasn't about to kill his best friend, no matter how cold he was at times. "It's something from my past, alright. That's all."
Heero blinked. "Your...past?" It appeared he was looking for a different answer than the one he got. Duo saw a million questions play in Heero's eyes, but not one was voiced. "I understand." He said as monotone as he usually did in this type of situation. "I didn't realize."
Heero turned and left the room and shut the door behind him.
Duo sighed and fell onto his bed. For once he was grateful Heero never inquired about others history. If it was any other person, they would have immediately wanted to know more details, Duo wouldn't have known how to answer those questions.
Duo groaned. They were getting close to him. Why did they have to be so damn curious? Heero would tell the others, that was obvious. But what would they say? 'Sure, Duo's past is a good answer, but what about his past?' That's what they would say.
"They're going to find out soon." He sighed and looked into the mirror. "What the hell are you getting yourself into, Maxwell?"
******
"It's Solo." Heero sat down at the kitchen table with the other three ex-pilots later that evening. Duo was usually on the internet at this time of night, reading fanfics (or so he said). The others didn't fear him coming downstairs for anything. He always zoned out while reading anything. They were free to talk.
"Solo?" Wufei repeated.
Heero nodded. "Duo told me something in his past was what was bugging him. Two days ago was when he said he first became Duo, which was the day Solo died."
Quatre groaned and hit his head against the table. "We should have figured that out." The blond laughed slightly. "Funny how we missed the most obvious answer, isn't it?"
Trowa rubbed the Arabian's back. "Sometimes the obvious is the hardest to find." He smiled. At least they now knew what was the matter with Duo. He didn't blame the American for not talking about it. Nobody could have. Duo's grief was personal. No one else knew the other boy from L2 so it would be hard for Duo to talk about it.
"Let's give Duo a few more days to grieve."
*****
Duo sank to the floor and felt like laughing right along with Quatre. Solo was the obvious answer. Why didn't he think of it?
Duo was very glad he came down to get a coke. He know knew a way to keep them from hounding him. It was lying, yes. But if they knew the truth, it would hurt them. It might even get them killed. And the reason he didn't lie was to keep the people he cared about safe...so this really wasn't lying...was it?
Solo. It still amazed him they came to that conclusion.
"If that was only it..." Duo sighed and ran his fingers threw his hair. He hoped his fear was only a paranoia. If it wasn't...oh God he didn't want to think of what would happen if it wasn't.
*****
So? What do you think? Intriguing yet? I sure hope so!
Remember to review! Melyn Loves reviews.
