Different Worlds, Same hearts,
Chapter nine.
"Holy . . . " Duo trailed off as he steadied the horse he sat upon.
"Shit." WuFei finished for him. Duo turned sharply to look at one of his best friends. He had never heard the male curse before, and no matter how humoring it was, Duo had to focus back on the coming battle.
"I don't think we're going to win this." Quatre said desperately. "We don't have the soldiers, or the stamina." The Prince, and soon to be King stated. And it was true. Thousands of men, some upon horses and some on foot, were behind them, ready to fight to the death. But for every man behind them, three shadow creatures marched towards him. "I hope your mother sends some serious reinforcements, Duo, or else this kingdom is going to fall, and it's going to fall today.
Duo nodded and drew his sword, giving one final look at the men and woman that surrounded him. WuFei had drawn his sword and Quatre held his awkwardly. To his left he watched Trowa, Heero and surprisingly Cathy beginning to draw their power. At least Heero and Cathy saw that they would have to fight to breathe. "Quatre . . ." Duo began and Quatre exhaled loudly, purposely.
"I know, stay with the reinforcements until you need us." Duo watched Quatre and Trowa share a look.
"I mean it, don't come charging down the hill if it looks like I'm about to be killed. This is the biggest battle we will have ever fought in. And when it is over, if we win, you will be needed to take the throne and guide your people." Sweat covered his brows as the shadow figures became closer and closer, it would only be a few moments now.
Duo looked quickly to Heero before holding his sword up high towards the gods and any other beings above them. "We ride to win! And we will never back down from what we believe in, because we live, breathe, and love!" Duo screamed as he, WuFei and three hundred other men and women charged towards the creatures.
"Trowa," Quatre spoke to Trowa but looked towards Heero with suggestion. "Duo will not die, believe me when I say this." The blonde's regular smile had fled long ago and now he watched with clear eyes as the first row of soldiers, Duo's row, encountered the shadows. It was a blood bath.
Duo couldn't take much more, as he slashed at another creature. Five minutes, they had only been fighting minutes and they had already lost half of their group. It was a feat in its self that Duo and WuFei had remained side by side, protecting each other.
"You're moving slower today, Maxwell!" WuFei called over the sounds of clashing metal and cries of pain.
"You know me WuFei, I'm always slow!" With a crash Duo paled. He had lost his sword. He had just taken the head off another demon creature when it snapped. Whether under strain or not, it had broken, and he now was left without a way to protect himself.
Jumping out of the way he grabbed a shield off the trampled grass. He raised it just in time to protect himself and then dropped it again as a man ran into him accidentally. A dark creature stood over him ready to kill, and it was now that he saw the fangs upon the creature's mouth and sharp claws ready to slash.
He covered his face as best he could and waited for the pain. He opened his eyes just seconds later to see the creature floating in mid air. Suddenly it exploded, showering everyone in a fifteen-foot radius with black blood. Duo looked up to the other troops waiting atop a large hill, specifically to Heero. Duo nodded in thanks at Heero's raised hands. The damn Druid had saved his life.
Reaching down, he pulled a sword out of a dead man's body, but first offering a quick prayer and thanks. And again he resumed his fight.
"They're being slaughtered." Trowa stated watching one-man fall after another. "There's barely thirty men left, we should move in now." Quatre bit his lip in thought before nodding quickly.
"We will ride to help them in five minutes, not before, and certainly not after." Quatre smiled warmly when Trowa's warm hands covered his own shaking cold ones. No words were spoken, no words needed to be spoken.
"Duo!" WuFei screamed as a large dark creature plunged its claws into Duo's stomach. The Elvin prince collapsed to the ground gasping in short ragged breaths. "Duo, are you all right!" WuFei fought his way over to Duo who had managed to pull himself back up to his feet.
Duo reached down to grab his sword and managed to kill the creature that had caused him such pain. "I-I'll be a-all right." Duo stumbled over his words as his voice began to waver. "B-but I-I-I think I m-might b-be po- poisoned." He now slurred his words, and WuFei wrapped an arm around Duo's narrow shoulders.
"I'm taking you back to the castle!" WuFei decided in a split second.
"No!" Duo pushed away from him and pointed his sword at WuFei's chest. "W- we're fi-fighting for this c-castle. G-get out there a-and kill s- something." WuFei nodded slowly, understanding Duo completely.
"Here come the first reinforcements!" Duo heard WuFei call, then another call was added by a solider he couldn't identify. "The Elves are here too! And they've brought the fairies!" Duo smiled faintly, he knew he could count on his race.
It was just seconds later that Duo lost all of his strength and sank to the floor again. This time he knew he wouldn't be getting up. His energy was spent, the world was spinning, and he was beginning to lose feeling in his body.
"What did I tell you, WuFei?" Duo demanded when warm arms wrapped around him again.
"I'm not WuFei." Came a strong but gentle voice. Duo looked to the one assisting him and shook his head.
"I don't need your help." Duo stated stubbornly.
Heero brought up his sword to block a blow by one of the creatures. He was relieved to see that when the reinforcements had come, it had been enough to tip it in favor of the side of good.
"You do, now stop struggling." Duo watched Heero close his eyes and suddenly a warm feeling washed over the both of them. "It's a shield, but it'll only last so long, so listen carefully." Heero propped Duo up again. "I'm a good swordsmen, but I'm not that good. I'm going to transfer my power to you, in order for you to finish this battle. It will only last for a minute or two, but it should be enough time."
Now Duo felt a second warmth spread over him, this one was much different from the one before. "Why are you doing this?" Duo asked, with feverish eyes.
"Because-" Heero trailed off, not really sure on what his answer should be. Suddenly he sprang forward just centimeters to press his warm lips to Duo's cold. They shared a brief kiss before Heero pulled back. "Remember to hurry." With all of his strength he pressed hard on Duo's heart and with a blinding light the power had transferred.
Duo felt immediately great. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, it was calming, soothing, and yet he felt another presence in his mind. And for some strange reason, he could venture it was Heero. Heero had somehow made his way into his mind, not just his heart.
Duo looked to Heero concerned. The druid suddenly looked younger and fragile. He struggled on his feet as Duo stood firmly on his own. "Will you be al-" Duo began to ask but Heero cut him off with a weak voice.
"Go!" He pushed against Duo and sent him off in another direction.
Filled with new power, he blazed through the shadows, destroying one after another. Not only was he fighting to protect Quatre, and to avenge his brother, but he was also fighting for himself. He was fighting to have a future, and just because he wasn't quite sure where it was going didn't mean he couldn't look forward to it. His mind thought fast and calculated there were maybe twenty creatures left, and with the reinforcements, there were plenty of men.
Duo suddenly felt something drain out of his chest. He paused immediately to press a hand to his chest. He pulled his hand back bloody, but he had known that was there. So what was bothering him? What was making him feel like he had just lost something important?
Heero!
He turned from the creature he had wanted to kill just seconds ago to run back to Heero. His eyes widened when he spotted the Druid. Apparently some of the creatures had noticed Heero's lack of strength and were targeting him.
"I'm not going to make it!" He screamed to himself. He knew there wasn't enough time to get Heero and himself out of the way. There wasn't enough time to warn Heero and there wasn't enough time to think up a different way to deal with a situation.
It took the forcing of cold steel into his upper right shoulder to force him back into reality. He cried out in pain alerting those around them. Those soldiers in return killed the last of the shadow creatures and Duo feel to the earth next to an unconscious Heero.
All of Heero's energy had left him and the burning where a shadow's claws had penetrated the skin, remained.
"Buddy," Duo spoke slowly, gasping for air. "You owe me big time." He gave one more gasp of breath before collapsing onto Heero's chest.
'Who's crying?' Heero asked himself as he slowly gained consciousness. His limbs ached and he felt the dull throb of a headache, but he noted he was still alive. And if he wasn't mistaken, quite warm.
"Heero's waking up." He recognized that voice as Trowa's. "Do you want me to tell him?"
'Tell me what?' Heero asked himself. 'Who's crying?' He could hear soft sobs muffled by some kind of clothing.
He opened his eyes and slowly forced his body upwards. He noticed the room was finely furnished, and it took him just a few more seconds to decide it was the room he had been given when they had first arrived.
"Trowa?" He noticed his best friend holding Quatre, silently rocking the blonde back and forth. "What's wrong?" He had seen the young prince smile, laugh, and risk his life fighting with his people. But now the blonde was a pile of goo in his lover's arms. It seemed to Heero that the sobs that wracked his body were stronger then he could take.
"We took a lot of hard hits in that last battle." Heero frowned and propped himself up farther, Trowa and Quatre occupied the chair just a bit from him.
"How bad?" His eyes searched the room for Duo, Duo and that male who was always with him, WuFei.
"Bad." Trowa spoke low as he rubbed circles over Quatre's back. "I will speak to you alone." He kissed Quatre's head and calmed him. "Everything will be all right. My father always told me that when a man faces dark times, he can either let it consume him or he can fight back and win. We won't let this darkness beat us, and we'll live in peace again."
Trowa stood swiftly and walked from the room, Quatre still in his arms. "He doesn't want to tell you." Heero jumped slightly as WuFei stepped away from the window, he hadn't seen the male there.
"Trowa won't tell me what?" WuFei shook his head and crossed the room.
"I didn't say he wouldn't tell you. I just said he doesn't want to tell you. He knows how you'll react, much like I did."
"React?" Heero asked confused as he pushed the covers back and threw his legs over the bed. He made to get up but did not move. "And where's Duo?"
"Fighting for his life." WuFei uncrossed his arms and sat in the spare seat. "Hear me out before you go charging down to the healer's wing." WuFei requested. "One of the shadow creatures struck him in the abdomen with its claws. Those claws, apparently, contain some kind of poison. As if that wasn't enough, he took a blade for you." WuFei almost seemed to spit on Heero. "He's fighting for his life, because he loved you so much. He loved you to the point that he pushed you out of the way and took a sword almost through the heart. I was the first one to reach him, and I saw the sword go strait through his body.
"I don't have much in this world. All of my family is either dead or back in my old country. Quatre and Duo are all I have. Quatre is going to be king, he's known it since he was born, so I can't bother him with wanting company. But Duo is different, I think you know that. Duo always made time for me. It didn't matter what he was doing, who he was talking to, he saw I needed a friend; someone to talk to and he made the time. He's all I could ever ask for in a friend, and that's about to be taken away from me. All because of you!" WuFei stood suddenly and kicked the chair out from under him. "If he didn't love you so much I'd kill you."
"I-I-I-I didn't -" Heero stumbled over his words, taken back on the usually calm boy's rage.
"I he dies, you die." WuFei became calm again. "They found the king's body. Quatre's officially the New King. But he's not taking it very well, with Trowa's sister's death."
Heero looked wide eyes at him. "Cathy's dead? But Trowa didn't seem very upset!" Heero said.
"Did you not see Quatre? Trowa can't afford to be sad or upset. He's got to take care of Quatre. Quatre's devastated that Duo is more then likely going to die and only Trowa can help him. We all mourn the dead in our own way. Trowa's is by supporting Quatre."
"How did she die?" Heero asked, standing slowly, his knees shaking.
"That's part of the reason Quatre's so upset." WuFei extended a hand to Heero, intending to help him down to the healer's wing. "She died protecting Quatre. She knew how much Trowa loved Quatre, and she loved Trowa. She knew her brother would waste away into nothing if Quatre died, as would this land and all of its people."
WuFei supported much of Heero's weight as they made their way over to the door. "Let it be noted right now that I'm only doing this because Duo loves you. He might deny it, but I saw the way he looked at you in the battlefield and how he was willing to sacrifice his life for you." WuFei helped him down the first of many corridors. "But if you break his heart, or allow him to pass from the world," WuFei paused in speech and walking. "I'll kill you slow and as painfully as possible."
Heero simply nodded.
Quatre sobbed into the soft silk sheets of his bed, he tried his best to ignore the soothing voice of his lover. His tiny body shook with pain, not physical pain, but mental. He felt Trowa's anguish and Heero's. And while they had won the battle and driven back the dark creatures for at least a few days, a week at the most, he still felt terrible.
And the way he saw it, he had reason to feel terrible. No, not terrible, he felt like an awful person. He had invited Trowa, Heero and Cathy to stay with him and bond somehow. He had promised them an enjoyable time where they could all get along. And what had he given them? He had thrown them into battle, and gotten Cathy killed. He had killed Trowa's sister. 'Trowa should hate me.' Quatre reasoned to himself. 'And if he's supposed to hate me, why is he being so nice to me? How can he still love me?'
"I love you Quatre," Trowa stated, "Because you taught me how to live. The first time I saw you, I knew I loved you. And Cathy saw that too. She knew I loved you, she knew, and she gave up her life. I mourn as you do Quatre, I'm sure you can tell." Trowa smiled faintly as Quatre raised puffy-red aquamarine eyes to emerald green eyes. "Cathy saw what I needed, and that was for you to live. I loved my sister dearly and nothing has ever hurt so much as this, but she did what she had to do."
"How can you stand to be around me?" Quatre asked, his voice a soft steady rhythm. "I killed your sister."
"NO." Trowa pulled Quatre into a deep and safe embrace. "You did not kill her, and her memory will live on." He pressed a kiss to Quatre's head. "Because we will remember her together."
Trowa pulled away from Quatre and moved to the other side of the room. Once there he picked an object up and brought it slowly over to Quatre. "But now it's time for you to rise up. Your father is dead and the only thing your people have left is you. I will stand by your side as you fight, and I will help you win." He slowly set the kings crown upon Quatre's head. "We'll win, as long as we fight."
"Holy . . . " Duo trailed off as he steadied the horse he sat upon.
"Shit." WuFei finished for him. Duo turned sharply to look at one of his best friends. He had never heard the male curse before, and no matter how humoring it was, Duo had to focus back on the coming battle.
"I don't think we're going to win this." Quatre said desperately. "We don't have the soldiers, or the stamina." The Prince, and soon to be King stated. And it was true. Thousands of men, some upon horses and some on foot, were behind them, ready to fight to the death. But for every man behind them, three shadow creatures marched towards him. "I hope your mother sends some serious reinforcements, Duo, or else this kingdom is going to fall, and it's going to fall today.
Duo nodded and drew his sword, giving one final look at the men and woman that surrounded him. WuFei had drawn his sword and Quatre held his awkwardly. To his left he watched Trowa, Heero and surprisingly Cathy beginning to draw their power. At least Heero and Cathy saw that they would have to fight to breathe. "Quatre . . ." Duo began and Quatre exhaled loudly, purposely.
"I know, stay with the reinforcements until you need us." Duo watched Quatre and Trowa share a look.
"I mean it, don't come charging down the hill if it looks like I'm about to be killed. This is the biggest battle we will have ever fought in. And when it is over, if we win, you will be needed to take the throne and guide your people." Sweat covered his brows as the shadow figures became closer and closer, it would only be a few moments now.
Duo looked quickly to Heero before holding his sword up high towards the gods and any other beings above them. "We ride to win! And we will never back down from what we believe in, because we live, breathe, and love!" Duo screamed as he, WuFei and three hundred other men and women charged towards the creatures.
"Trowa," Quatre spoke to Trowa but looked towards Heero with suggestion. "Duo will not die, believe me when I say this." The blonde's regular smile had fled long ago and now he watched with clear eyes as the first row of soldiers, Duo's row, encountered the shadows. It was a blood bath.
Duo couldn't take much more, as he slashed at another creature. Five minutes, they had only been fighting minutes and they had already lost half of their group. It was a feat in its self that Duo and WuFei had remained side by side, protecting each other.
"You're moving slower today, Maxwell!" WuFei called over the sounds of clashing metal and cries of pain.
"You know me WuFei, I'm always slow!" With a crash Duo paled. He had lost his sword. He had just taken the head off another demon creature when it snapped. Whether under strain or not, it had broken, and he now was left without a way to protect himself.
Jumping out of the way he grabbed a shield off the trampled grass. He raised it just in time to protect himself and then dropped it again as a man ran into him accidentally. A dark creature stood over him ready to kill, and it was now that he saw the fangs upon the creature's mouth and sharp claws ready to slash.
He covered his face as best he could and waited for the pain. He opened his eyes just seconds later to see the creature floating in mid air. Suddenly it exploded, showering everyone in a fifteen-foot radius with black blood. Duo looked up to the other troops waiting atop a large hill, specifically to Heero. Duo nodded in thanks at Heero's raised hands. The damn Druid had saved his life.
Reaching down, he pulled a sword out of a dead man's body, but first offering a quick prayer and thanks. And again he resumed his fight.
"They're being slaughtered." Trowa stated watching one-man fall after another. "There's barely thirty men left, we should move in now." Quatre bit his lip in thought before nodding quickly.
"We will ride to help them in five minutes, not before, and certainly not after." Quatre smiled warmly when Trowa's warm hands covered his own shaking cold ones. No words were spoken, no words needed to be spoken.
"Duo!" WuFei screamed as a large dark creature plunged its claws into Duo's stomach. The Elvin prince collapsed to the ground gasping in short ragged breaths. "Duo, are you all right!" WuFei fought his way over to Duo who had managed to pull himself back up to his feet.
Duo reached down to grab his sword and managed to kill the creature that had caused him such pain. "I-I'll be a-all right." Duo stumbled over his words as his voice began to waver. "B-but I-I-I think I m-might b-be po- poisoned." He now slurred his words, and WuFei wrapped an arm around Duo's narrow shoulders.
"I'm taking you back to the castle!" WuFei decided in a split second.
"No!" Duo pushed away from him and pointed his sword at WuFei's chest. "W- we're fi-fighting for this c-castle. G-get out there a-and kill s- something." WuFei nodded slowly, understanding Duo completely.
"Here come the first reinforcements!" Duo heard WuFei call, then another call was added by a solider he couldn't identify. "The Elves are here too! And they've brought the fairies!" Duo smiled faintly, he knew he could count on his race.
It was just seconds later that Duo lost all of his strength and sank to the floor again. This time he knew he wouldn't be getting up. His energy was spent, the world was spinning, and he was beginning to lose feeling in his body.
"What did I tell you, WuFei?" Duo demanded when warm arms wrapped around him again.
"I'm not WuFei." Came a strong but gentle voice. Duo looked to the one assisting him and shook his head.
"I don't need your help." Duo stated stubbornly.
Heero brought up his sword to block a blow by one of the creatures. He was relieved to see that when the reinforcements had come, it had been enough to tip it in favor of the side of good.
"You do, now stop struggling." Duo watched Heero close his eyes and suddenly a warm feeling washed over the both of them. "It's a shield, but it'll only last so long, so listen carefully." Heero propped Duo up again. "I'm a good swordsmen, but I'm not that good. I'm going to transfer my power to you, in order for you to finish this battle. It will only last for a minute or two, but it should be enough time."
Now Duo felt a second warmth spread over him, this one was much different from the one before. "Why are you doing this?" Duo asked, with feverish eyes.
"Because-" Heero trailed off, not really sure on what his answer should be. Suddenly he sprang forward just centimeters to press his warm lips to Duo's cold. They shared a brief kiss before Heero pulled back. "Remember to hurry." With all of his strength he pressed hard on Duo's heart and with a blinding light the power had transferred.
Duo felt immediately great. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, it was calming, soothing, and yet he felt another presence in his mind. And for some strange reason, he could venture it was Heero. Heero had somehow made his way into his mind, not just his heart.
Duo looked to Heero concerned. The druid suddenly looked younger and fragile. He struggled on his feet as Duo stood firmly on his own. "Will you be al-" Duo began to ask but Heero cut him off with a weak voice.
"Go!" He pushed against Duo and sent him off in another direction.
Filled with new power, he blazed through the shadows, destroying one after another. Not only was he fighting to protect Quatre, and to avenge his brother, but he was also fighting for himself. He was fighting to have a future, and just because he wasn't quite sure where it was going didn't mean he couldn't look forward to it. His mind thought fast and calculated there were maybe twenty creatures left, and with the reinforcements, there were plenty of men.
Duo suddenly felt something drain out of his chest. He paused immediately to press a hand to his chest. He pulled his hand back bloody, but he had known that was there. So what was bothering him? What was making him feel like he had just lost something important?
Heero!
He turned from the creature he had wanted to kill just seconds ago to run back to Heero. His eyes widened when he spotted the Druid. Apparently some of the creatures had noticed Heero's lack of strength and were targeting him.
"I'm not going to make it!" He screamed to himself. He knew there wasn't enough time to get Heero and himself out of the way. There wasn't enough time to warn Heero and there wasn't enough time to think up a different way to deal with a situation.
It took the forcing of cold steel into his upper right shoulder to force him back into reality. He cried out in pain alerting those around them. Those soldiers in return killed the last of the shadow creatures and Duo feel to the earth next to an unconscious Heero.
All of Heero's energy had left him and the burning where a shadow's claws had penetrated the skin, remained.
"Buddy," Duo spoke slowly, gasping for air. "You owe me big time." He gave one more gasp of breath before collapsing onto Heero's chest.
'Who's crying?' Heero asked himself as he slowly gained consciousness. His limbs ached and he felt the dull throb of a headache, but he noted he was still alive. And if he wasn't mistaken, quite warm.
"Heero's waking up." He recognized that voice as Trowa's. "Do you want me to tell him?"
'Tell me what?' Heero asked himself. 'Who's crying?' He could hear soft sobs muffled by some kind of clothing.
He opened his eyes and slowly forced his body upwards. He noticed the room was finely furnished, and it took him just a few more seconds to decide it was the room he had been given when they had first arrived.
"Trowa?" He noticed his best friend holding Quatre, silently rocking the blonde back and forth. "What's wrong?" He had seen the young prince smile, laugh, and risk his life fighting with his people. But now the blonde was a pile of goo in his lover's arms. It seemed to Heero that the sobs that wracked his body were stronger then he could take.
"We took a lot of hard hits in that last battle." Heero frowned and propped himself up farther, Trowa and Quatre occupied the chair just a bit from him.
"How bad?" His eyes searched the room for Duo, Duo and that male who was always with him, WuFei.
"Bad." Trowa spoke low as he rubbed circles over Quatre's back. "I will speak to you alone." He kissed Quatre's head and calmed him. "Everything will be all right. My father always told me that when a man faces dark times, he can either let it consume him or he can fight back and win. We won't let this darkness beat us, and we'll live in peace again."
Trowa stood swiftly and walked from the room, Quatre still in his arms. "He doesn't want to tell you." Heero jumped slightly as WuFei stepped away from the window, he hadn't seen the male there.
"Trowa won't tell me what?" WuFei shook his head and crossed the room.
"I didn't say he wouldn't tell you. I just said he doesn't want to tell you. He knows how you'll react, much like I did."
"React?" Heero asked confused as he pushed the covers back and threw his legs over the bed. He made to get up but did not move. "And where's Duo?"
"Fighting for his life." WuFei uncrossed his arms and sat in the spare seat. "Hear me out before you go charging down to the healer's wing." WuFei requested. "One of the shadow creatures struck him in the abdomen with its claws. Those claws, apparently, contain some kind of poison. As if that wasn't enough, he took a blade for you." WuFei almost seemed to spit on Heero. "He's fighting for his life, because he loved you so much. He loved you to the point that he pushed you out of the way and took a sword almost through the heart. I was the first one to reach him, and I saw the sword go strait through his body.
"I don't have much in this world. All of my family is either dead or back in my old country. Quatre and Duo are all I have. Quatre is going to be king, he's known it since he was born, so I can't bother him with wanting company. But Duo is different, I think you know that. Duo always made time for me. It didn't matter what he was doing, who he was talking to, he saw I needed a friend; someone to talk to and he made the time. He's all I could ever ask for in a friend, and that's about to be taken away from me. All because of you!" WuFei stood suddenly and kicked the chair out from under him. "If he didn't love you so much I'd kill you."
"I-I-I-I didn't -" Heero stumbled over his words, taken back on the usually calm boy's rage.
"I he dies, you die." WuFei became calm again. "They found the king's body. Quatre's officially the New King. But he's not taking it very well, with Trowa's sister's death."
Heero looked wide eyes at him. "Cathy's dead? But Trowa didn't seem very upset!" Heero said.
"Did you not see Quatre? Trowa can't afford to be sad or upset. He's got to take care of Quatre. Quatre's devastated that Duo is more then likely going to die and only Trowa can help him. We all mourn the dead in our own way. Trowa's is by supporting Quatre."
"How did she die?" Heero asked, standing slowly, his knees shaking.
"That's part of the reason Quatre's so upset." WuFei extended a hand to Heero, intending to help him down to the healer's wing. "She died protecting Quatre. She knew how much Trowa loved Quatre, and she loved Trowa. She knew her brother would waste away into nothing if Quatre died, as would this land and all of its people."
WuFei supported much of Heero's weight as they made their way over to the door. "Let it be noted right now that I'm only doing this because Duo loves you. He might deny it, but I saw the way he looked at you in the battlefield and how he was willing to sacrifice his life for you." WuFei helped him down the first of many corridors. "But if you break his heart, or allow him to pass from the world," WuFei paused in speech and walking. "I'll kill you slow and as painfully as possible."
Heero simply nodded.
Quatre sobbed into the soft silk sheets of his bed, he tried his best to ignore the soothing voice of his lover. His tiny body shook with pain, not physical pain, but mental. He felt Trowa's anguish and Heero's. And while they had won the battle and driven back the dark creatures for at least a few days, a week at the most, he still felt terrible.
And the way he saw it, he had reason to feel terrible. No, not terrible, he felt like an awful person. He had invited Trowa, Heero and Cathy to stay with him and bond somehow. He had promised them an enjoyable time where they could all get along. And what had he given them? He had thrown them into battle, and gotten Cathy killed. He had killed Trowa's sister. 'Trowa should hate me.' Quatre reasoned to himself. 'And if he's supposed to hate me, why is he being so nice to me? How can he still love me?'
"I love you Quatre," Trowa stated, "Because you taught me how to live. The first time I saw you, I knew I loved you. And Cathy saw that too. She knew I loved you, she knew, and she gave up her life. I mourn as you do Quatre, I'm sure you can tell." Trowa smiled faintly as Quatre raised puffy-red aquamarine eyes to emerald green eyes. "Cathy saw what I needed, and that was for you to live. I loved my sister dearly and nothing has ever hurt so much as this, but she did what she had to do."
"How can you stand to be around me?" Quatre asked, his voice a soft steady rhythm. "I killed your sister."
"NO." Trowa pulled Quatre into a deep and safe embrace. "You did not kill her, and her memory will live on." He pressed a kiss to Quatre's head. "Because we will remember her together."
Trowa pulled away from Quatre and moved to the other side of the room. Once there he picked an object up and brought it slowly over to Quatre. "But now it's time for you to rise up. Your father is dead and the only thing your people have left is you. I will stand by your side as you fight, and I will help you win." He slowly set the kings crown upon Quatre's head. "We'll win, as long as we fight."