Intro: Major trauma. Wufei finds out why Duo reacted so badly and Duo bares his soul.
Author: Zalia Chimera a.k.a. Shadow Sorceress
Archiving: Sure! Just ask me first.
Warnings: For this chapter, major darkness and I feel so bad. Major
Duo angst!! Yaoi and het! 5x2/2x5, 3x4, 13+11. Errm, Angst, NCS
(nothing graphic though... err, physically at least.) and Evil Zechs
and Heero (okay, I normally don't like making the characters evil,
but since the bad guy, Ariel, in Obernewtyn is a tall, long haired
blond, blue eyed guy, Zechs kinda seemed appropriate.)
Notes: This is a crossover between Gundam Wing and one of my fave
book series, the Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing (Damn!!) or the Obernewtyn Chronicles (*sniff* Not even Ariel or Domick!). So please don't sue.
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Duo stood above him, eyes furious and terrified and the hurt and betrayal in his voice when he spoke cut Wufei like a knife. I trusted you!
He turned and darted towards the door, the movement shaking Wufei from his stunned silence. Worried about what could happen if Duo left in his current state, he moved forwards suddenly as Duo fumbled with the door handle and wrapped his arms around the braided boy's legs, pulling him to the floor.
He had expected Duo to fight him and had braced himself for the blows that he was sure must fall upon him. What he did not expect was for Duo to freeze completely, laying unmoving where he had fallen. Wufei released him and rested a hand softly on his back, closing his eyes in shame as a shudder ran through Duo's body at the contact.
He sat back on his heels, away from his friend. Please Duo. Look at me.
Duo did as asked, twisting so he sat facing Wufei with his arms wrapped around himself, back pressed against the wall and eyes locked firmly on the floor.
To Wufei, it was as though he were looking at another person entirely, one who was scarily familiar to him. He's terrified, Wufei thought.
The broken whisper was so quiet that Wufei could hardly believe he'd heard it and he leaned forwards to hear better. I trusted you. I even let myself care for you. Why do you want to hurt me?
Wufei gasped, and moved towards Duo who cowered away from him. What did I do Duo? Tell me please. I don't want to hurt you, but I don't know what to do.
You... you... you were by my... b-bed and you were... you were g-going to... he broke off sobbing and something clicked in Wufei's mind. The dreams. Oh no! He was... a choked sound escaped Wufei's throat. He thought I was going to... Wufei felt sick and he shook his head fervently. He could never, ever do that to anyone, not after his own experiences.
No Duo! I swear to you on everything, I would never hurt you intentionally. I... I just wanted... I wanted to kiss you again. Nothing more. Please believe me! He was nearly in tears as he spoke and Duo's shoulders were shaking. When there was no reply, Wufei slumped in defeat and he stood. I'll move my things in the morning and find another room. You won't have to ever see me again.
He paused, not sure whether he should simply leave or offer to help Duo back to bed. He was stopped short by the sound of Duo's voice. You... you don't have to.
Wufei smiled sadly at him. I scared you. I don't want you to be afraid of me and if my being here will do that, then I have to leave.
No! Stay, please. I... it's not your fault. I should have warned you. I can't... I can't stand people touching me when I sleep, except when I dream and then I can never wake up anyway.
Tell me what happened? Wufei said.
Duo stared at him for a long moment before giving a tiny nod. Wufei pulled the duvet from his bed and sat down next to Duo, close enough to offer comfort but not enough to scare.
Duo began slowly, voice racked with sobs that he tried to muffle in the blanket while Wufei listened with eyes closed in pain.
*~*~*~*~*
Duo ate his nightmeal slowly while half listening to Quatre talk, at the same time watching everything that was happening in the hall. Across the room a girl with long raven hair was talking with a couple of boys and a slightly younger, fragile looking girl. A couple of tables over, two dark haired boys were conversing in low voices. A normal day at the House on Obernewtyn.
Would you like the rest of this Duo? Quatre asked, waving a piece of bread in front of him. I'm not really very hungry.
Duo looked at him. You sure Quatre? The blond boy nodded and pushed the bread over to him. In that case, thanks! He picked up the bread and munched it hungrily.
Another boy came over to them and sat down, his long hair hanging down and covering one of his emerald eyes. Hi Trowa, Duo said. Trowa often sat with the two of them and they were certain that he wasn't an informant for Madam Vega, the head Guardian of Obernewtyn. Trowa nodded to him. He never spoke out loud and only communicated mind to mind with his friends. Duo smirked as he noticed Quatre's blush at Trowa's arrival.
Duo felt a knock at his mindshield and he dissolved it carefully, just enough to let Trowa's probe enter. Duo. I have something to tell you. Even Trowa's mindvoice was quiet. Duo retreated into his mind to answer. What is it Trowa? he asked noticing a trace of worry in his thought.
Yuy wants to see you.
Duo froze in panic. Heero Yuy was a favoured misfit and one of Vega's two assistants. Yuy was the one who had created the vicious dogs that guarded the House by torturing wolf cubs and driving them into an insane blood rage. He was the one who had destroyed the mind one of the misfits at the house, Selmar, making her thoughts a ruined mess. Having to see him was not an appealing prospect. Why?
Trowa shook his head, hair flying. I don't know. He's probably just been told to investigate a few of us to keep us in line.
Duo brightened. You think?
Trowa shrugged and Quatre glared at them. You know, it's not nice to shut me out of a conversation like that, he whispered, making sure that no-one could overhear them. What were you talking about?
Don't tell him Trowa, Duo sent. I don't want him to worry.
We were just talking about whether they'll need more workers on the farms soon, Duo said to Quatre, shielding his mind fiercely to stop the blond boy picking up his emotions. Quatre looked sceptical but then sighed.
Duo finished the rest of his meal quickly and then slipped off, claiming that he was tired. He headed for the chamber that he shared with three other boys, hoping that he wouldn't see Heero and could escape him, at least for today. He heaved a sigh of relief as he reached the door of his room without meeting anyone and pushed it open. Duo Maxwell, the statement issued from the lips of Heero Yuy, silhouetted against the window by the fading sunlight. Duo's heart fell.
An aura of dread emanated from the dark haired boy and Duo shivered involuntarily in reaction. Heero laughed, a cold, hard sound, that brought goose bumps to Duo's arms. I've been waiting for you.
Duo balled up all his courage and spoke back in a sarcastic voice, Yeah? What for? Heero walked towards him and grabbed his arm roughly. Come with me. He stalked from the room, obviously expecting Duo to follow him. When he didn't Heero turned back and looked at him. Unless you would prefer to be sent to the Specials that is. Duo paled and followed him immediately. Obernewtyn, no matter how bad, was better than being burned by those fanatics.
The two wove their way through the corridors of the house until they reached a large private study. Duo stood nervously and then gaped as the large fireplace in the room slid open, revealing a dark tunnel. Where does that go? He asked softly.
Keep your mouth shut and follow me, Heero snapped, ducking into the entrance, Duo following at his heels. It seemed that they walked for a long time and in complete silence, the only sounds were the echoing of their footsteps and the drip of water from the tunnel roof.
Eventually they emerged, stepping into a small cave lit with a glaring fluorescent light which made Duo's eyes hurt after the gloom of the tunnel. Heero was across the room, fiddling with an array of buttons and dials on a machine. He turned around and smirked at Duo, who pressed back against the wall. He tried to calm himself, knowing that a lot of his fear was being projected into him by Heero, in the same way that Quatre projected feelings of peace, but the look in Heero's eyes was terrifying.
Come over here and lie down, Heero ordered, gesturing to the table next to the machine. Duo shook his head violently making Heero frown in annoyance. He crossed the room to stand in front of him, face expressionless, then suddenly, brought his hand up to connect sharply with Duo's face. I told you what to do. Now do it! He hissed, a glint of insanity in his eyes.
Duo nodded mutely and crossed the room with a sullen scowl and rubbing his face, knowing that there was no way he could defy Heero indefinitely, he'd only anger the boy further. He pulled himself onto the table and lay down, the cold metal chilling the flesh of his back even through the material of his shirt. Heero followed him and he cringed as he felt the leather straps being fastened around his ankles and wrists.
Heero left the table and turned to the machine once more and pressed a switch, making it begin to hum slightly. He took a bowl shaped metal helmet and fitted it over Duo's head. Immediately, a low buzzing began in his mind, annoying, but hardly the danger that he had been expecting from Heero.
The dark haired boy came and stood over the table, watching him carefully. This is called the Zero System machine. I have to test it for Vega. There was an almost remorseful expression on his face that was quickly erased. He turned back to the machine, turning one of the dials with a click. At once the buzzing increased along with a new sensation, one of his mindshield being eroded slowly, leaving his thoughts vulnerable to the outer, and inner, world.
Another few clicks and it now hurt. The buzzing turning into a strange non noise, like the sensation of being cut turned into a sound. Duo shuddered as images began to trickle into his mind from his subconscious, from the mindstream where all minds merge, slipping through the tears in his mindshield. The dial turned again and the trickle became a torrent, washing through his mind coupled with the pain the machine inflicted. Heero was smiling now with sadistic pleasure as he watched Duo writhe. Just a little more Duo, he whispered with false comfort. His hand rested on the dial, waiting for a moment to watch Duo's movements, and then moved, pushing the machine to its highest setting.
Duo screamed. The pain was so bad, not just from the machine but the images. He could see and hear everything, feel everything, and it was too much for one mind to take. The mindstream fed the scenes through his mind quickly, far too fast to see each one clearly, but he was living each one at the same time and it hurt so badly. Too much to understand, too much to see and taste and smell and feel. So much hurt. The deaths of everyone before and after him slipping through his mind. Bloody tears slid down his cheeks and still the assault on his senses continued, pushing him to the limit of sanity.
It stopped suddenly and he was dropped back into reality, but he couldn't tell, still riding the horror of the Zero System. All he could do was stare at the ceiling and wait for it to end. A hand caressed the side of his face and he flinched away from the unwanted contact that burned against his raw nerves. His vision returned slowly and he could see Heero looking down at him, the gentle smile on his face in complete opposition to the cruel look in his eyes.
Breathing heavily, Duo mentally checked his condition. His head was still buzzing from the machine and his mind felt like something had set fire to it and then cut it up. What worried him the most however was that his mindshield was completely destroyed, allowing anyone access to his thoughts. he whispered, licking dry lips. Poor Duo, Heero said, running his fingers through Duo's bangs. Duo stared at him, wondering what this sudden comfort was about.
Before he realised what was happening, Heero leaned in, pressing his lips to Duo's in a hard, bruising kiss. Duo's eyes widened in shock but he couldn't stop him. Heero forced Duo's lips open and slipped his tongue inside his mouth. Duo writhed beneath him as the skin to skin contact and loss of his mindshield allowed Heero complete access with his Talent.
Heero's coercive probe ravaged his mind and Duo was too weak to resist, the cold tendrils of Heero's Talent wrapping around his thoughts. Meshing with them. He screamed mentally and physically but Heero ignored him. Heero's mind meshed completely until he could feel Duo's mind as clearly as his own, while making sure that Duo could not gain access to his thoughts.
Heero tasted every part of Duo's mind, knowing his every thought, every memory. what he liked and what terrified him. Entering places that no-one else was ever meant to see. So intimate. Far more intimate than physical contact could ever be, it was an ultimate nakedness that should only have been shared with a lover. And Heero took him unwillingly, painfully, brutally. A rape more intrusive and terrible than an untalent could imagine. Mindrape.
Finally Heero withdrew, leaving Duo sobbing softly on the table. He unstrapped Duo's arms and legs and then dragged the braided boy to his feet where he stood, eyes to the floor. Heero commanded and left the room, entering the tunnel once more.
******
The sky was dark when they reached the house again. Heero escorted Duo to his chamber, ordering him to collect his meagre belongings from the room. When he returned, he was taken to Heero's own chamber. You'll sleep here from now on, he was told and he quailed at the look in Heero's eyes. He packed his things away and then waited, preparing himself for another assault.
However, Heero just watched him for a moment before speaking. I have to go now. You will stay here. Duo nodded, not daring to defy the tone of authority in Heero's voice. Satisfied, Heero left, locking the door behind him and leaving Duo alone. Silently he slipped down onto the room's bed and cried until he fell asleep.