K I still don't know Japanese terms that well. Yaoiness (I thinkagain)
violence - not so much, bit of swearing (makes u wonder y I put it in R,
don't worry, there'll be a lemon sooner or later) 1x2, more than usual 3x4
Im really really sorry but this chap got a bit er. screwed, but since ive got the weekend, mayb I can make chap 5 good. Then again, that's what I always say.
Alright just for the record, my idea of night is till like 6Am which means I was only 10 minutes late! I stayd up all night riting it coz I suck so much and hate making ppl wait (coz I hate waiting for fanfic riters who take like a month 2 post a chapter) and I was too much of a lazyass to do b4
Oh and 2 lora Helen - I didn't mean it! Sappiness duznt piss me off, that was an exaggaration hehe (
And I say this be4 I get growled at: there will be a plot!! (eventually) duo and heero will eventually get together! I really don't know where Trowa nad Quatre r going so recommend!
Ooo and I know duo's not cool anymore, so I'll try n make him cool 4 evry1 who likes him again 'kay? Meaning: recommend! And if ne1 wants to help me, feel free, tell me what stories I should read to get ideeeas.
Wellses, enjoy.
Chapter Four
"Wha? I. uh." Duo shrank back. "Gundam?"
"Baka." Duo flinched. The nickname lacked any of its usual familiarity.
Heero's hand lashed out, smacking Duo's face to the side with a crack. Duo blinked back tears; not even registering the slap until the entire left side of his face began to ache. His braid swung free, and Duo snatched it back, clutching it to his chest like a lifeline.
He rose up from his elbows into a sitting position, watching as Heero slid mutely off him. "Hee-chan?" Duo asked meekly.
"Don't call me that."
Heero turned around, removing something at his side. Despite the throbbing in Duo's face, and certain other parts of his body, Duo forced a grin. "Why not? It suits you, Hee-cha__"
"Shut up." Heero cut in coldly.
Duo ignored the part of him that told him to obey that order. He kept on grinning, regardless of the fact that Heero had left him hard and needy enough to beg for it. But did Heero even know what he was doing to him?
Duo's smile evaporated, and his eyes widened when Heero turned back around, and pulled out his handgun. He shrank back against the wall, making every effort not to curl up too. Thankfully, the gun hung loosely at Heero's side. Heero wouldn't just shoot him for bringing a Gundam, would he?
God what was wrong with Heero these days?
"Get up."
Duo got up. He stood close to Heero, bracing himself for another hit, or maybe a bullet wound.
Even though Duo was almost his height, he seemed so much smaller. Those big, watering eyes blinked innocently at him. There was a large red handprint staining his left cheek, stretching down his jaw and almost covering the entire expanse of the left side of his face. Within hours, the bruises Heero had inflicted would surface on Duo's flawless skin.
Heero wanted to snarl, but nothing showed on his face. Duo's appearance during the mission had rendered Heero's vow to stay away from the baka useless. Though he hated to admit it, seeing Duo had revitalised every memory of Heero's emotions, and the need he felt for Duo had been the repercussion for repressing them.
Heero slid the handgun's safety off and on with a satisfying click. Without looking, he sensed Duo's slender fingers tightening around his chestnut rope.
Heero ignored what symbolic meaning the chestnut rope might hold, and lifted his eyes to Duo's face instead. His expressions had always been so easy to read, and now, this close, Heero could feel it. Duo was afraid of him.
Duo met his gaze, and then ducked his head slightly, although he did not lose eye contact. Several locks of hair fell across his eyes, but Duo made no attempt to remove them. Heero's hands clenched into fists to stop himself from brushing away the bangs that obscured those violet orbs.
He steeled his muscles. Heero could not afford to lose his control, not now.
Against all logic, and every smart brain cell God had ever been stupid enough to give him, Duo asked. "Why is it so bad I brought my baby anyway?"
Duo held back the impulse to slap himself on the head. He knew all of Heero's signs, and what they meant. The fisted hands and bloodless knuckles implied he was restraining himself. From doing what? Probably from shooting a fellow Gundam pilot.
Duo swept the hair back from his eyes. He didn't look at Heero, afraid at what he might see.
"Heero?" He hesitated weakly.
"A search is being conducted." Heero slid the gun back into his spandex and said robotically, "We leave now"
Duo swallowed, fiddling with the end of his plait. He'd probably just screwed up the entire mission. "Sorry, Hee-chan."
His back hit the wall with a violent thud, making the whole room shake. He squirmed helplessly against the hands that pinned his shoulders down. "I said: Don't call me that."
Trowa slipped inside stealthily, his steps cat-light as he'd been taught. He was about to announce his entry, but he saw Heero and Duo. He was stealing back out, when Trowa stiffened internally, hearing a thud. He turned in time to see Heero lean over the slender boy and say, "I said, don't call me that."
Even at that distance, Trowa swore he saw something flicker in Duo's eyes. A silent, tense moment passed, and then Heero and Duo broke apart. Heero spun on his heel and walked off, but Duo remained, bracing himself against the wall as if he had lost the ability to stand.
Trowa relaxed. He was certain, despite Heero's threats, that he would never hurt Duo seriously unless there was a good reason. Seeing a dazed Duo, still staring blankly at the wall, Trowa greeted. "Duo."
Duo jumped at the unexpected noise, turned, and then smiled a big, happy grin. "Trow!" He cried.
Duo burst into a run and headed for Trowa, tripping over the bags he had sensibly dropped in the middle of the floor. He barrelled into Trowa's long legs with a startled squawk. Smooth, Duo. Trowa, being the graceful acrobat that he was, didn't budge, except for easily lifting Duo in the fashion he'd come to expect. Duo wrapped his arms around Trowa's ribs and squeezed, nuzzling his head against the taller boy's chest.
After squeezing Trowa for enough time to tell Quatre and make him sufficiently jealous, Duo pulled away.
Wariness glinted in Trowa's eyes as Duo rose up on the tips of his toes and propped an elbow on Trowa's shoulder.
His smile widened mischievously. "So Trowa," Duo began innocently, "How's Quatre?"
Heero exited the cabin through the back door. He glided with the swift grace of a predator, his steps silent and sure. Too bad he didn't feel that way. His heart pounded unnaturally and his legs threatened to balk, it was so unfamiliar, so uncontrolled. He wanted it to stop.
Heero pulled to a halt, furious with himself. Why couldn't he control the hammering in his chest? Why couldn't he control his body, even something as minimal as his hands? Why couldn't he restrain himself from emotion. from. Duo?
Heero gathered up his rage and fuelled it into a single punch. He opened his eyes upon hearing a violent crack, and watched, fascinated as the tree before him began to topple. He hadn't even known he'd struck.
His eyes followed it until it hit the ground with a dry snap, its branches and dead leaves crumbling beneath it. Heero only looked away when the back of his hand began to sting. Blood beaded on his knuckles, leaving sticky red trails between his fingers. Heero didn't care, he considered it punishment. Punishment for his lack of control.
Yesterday, he had erased every ounce of humanity from his mind, and vowed never to 'feel' again. But then the braided baka had come, shattering Heero's illusions of control over his body, and mind.
Heero focused on his heartbeat, slowing the frantic throb to a soldier's pace. He cast a look at the horizon. The soldiers would arrive soon. He needed to prepare, be ready to ignore all distractions.
Heero glided back towards the cabin. A step before he entered, he stropped, stripping any lingering emotion from his face.
Duo could never learn what he.. That he 'felt'.
Heero stepped across the threshold.
"Let's have a playfight!" The braided pilot exclaimed, hopping off the lounge.
Trowa stared at Duo, and then ever-so-slightly, raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, Trowa!" Duo whined, curling his hands into loose boxing fists. "It'll be fun!" He shifted eagerly from one foot to another, anticipating Trowa's next answer.
One green eye sparkled.
"So it's a yes!" Duo shouted triumphantly.
"I don't. playfight." Trowa replied, the word sounding foreign on his tongue.
Duo didn't care. "But Trrooooowwwwwaaa!" He whined. "I mean, I'd ask Heero to fight but he'd probably take it way too seriously and just throw me up against a wall and pull his gun on me, I mean, not that I have any complaints about Heero throwing me up against a wall, but the whole gun thing is such a turn off, not that he'd see it that way cause he's probably not gay, but___"
"Duo."
"Mm?"
"You were babbling."
Duo grinned sheepishly. "He he, got a little off track there."
Duo pumped his fists. "So, fight?"
Heero stepped inside the doorway; suppressing a surge of something Duo might have called. affection? Trowa's hand was holding Duo's face at arm's length as he swung his fists in blind punches, getting nothing but air. He'd seen similar fights between Duo and Wufei.
He walked closer, unnoticed.
"Let's go." He said tonelessly.
Duo gave a startled yelp and fell forward when Trowa let go of his face, and then Heero was there, catching him before he hit the floor.
Duo clung to him, shaking his head to get his bearings. Duo blinked at Heero, but the other boy shoved him back.
Duo half swayed on his feet, still recovering his balance. "Okie dokie Hee- chan."
He wondered if Heero would beat him up for saying Hee-chan, and as Heero approached, Duo cringed a little each step. By the time Heero actually walked past him, Duo had shut both of his eyes, and was in a full whole- hearted wince.
"Duo."
Duo opened his eyes and watched Heero's perfectly sculpt back until it disappeared behind the door. Then, for some incomprehensible reason, his knees liquefied, and he pooled into Trowa's waiting arms. Duo leaned into him, breathing deep, trying hard not to cry.
It was so stupid. With one look, Heero could do this to him, could hurt him so much. He felt like a girl going through PMS. Or maybe some sick, twisted little scientist had made him pregnant, and he was doomed to nine months of bitchiness and mood swings.
Duo grabbed small fistfuls of Trowa's shirt, and buried his face in it. Or maybe it was all bullshit just to help Duo hold back the tears. He was grateful when Trowa didn't speak, simply wrapped his arms around Duo and pulled him against him.
Duo muffled a short sob and felt hot tears run down his cheeks. He began blubbering on Trowa's shirt, but he didn't care. Why couldn't Heero ever be this nice? If Duo ever cried in front of him, Heero would probably just hit him.
Duo started crying again.
Trowa held Duo, his face expressionless. It wasn't that he didn't care; it was simply that he didn't know how to express emotion. His anger boiled slightly at the hand-shaped reddening on Duo's cheek, but he forced it down until it disappeared.
Poor Duo, Quatre would have said. He probably would have said 'Poor Heero' too. The only thing that could force Quatre over the edge was something as horrible as rape, and even then he'd have to be convinced of it first.
For Duo, his angel had probably donned a mask and smiled, never showing a hint of the pain he still felt. He would blame himself, of course, for Duo being harmed. He blamed himself when anyone was harmed.
He loved Quatre. But it was impossible to believe his 'Little One' still loved him back. He hadn't called him that since three weeks before. He still hugged Quatre, still soothed him when he hurt, still held him when he cried, but things had never been the same.
Trowa closed his eyes.
They'd returned from a mission, cold, hungry and tired. But Quatre, being the impossible little angel that he was, had wanted to tend to Trowa's wounds. Heero, Duo and Wufei had slunk off to their rooms, leaving Quatre and Trowa to battle it out in the lounge. Or rather, Quatre to scold angrily and Trowa to dodge his attempts to capture the injured hand.
"You're just making it worse!" Quatre had reprimanded, his hands on his hips.
Trowa had crept backwards warily. Quatre had been, as usual, exaggerating the injury, it had been aching, but Trowa hadn't been in excruciating pain.
Quatre wouldn't accept it. And amazingly, he had pounced on Trowa, and pushed him down on the couch. Trowa had let himself fold beneath Quatre, not wanting to flip them around and crush the smaller boy.
Quatre's blue eyes had been sparkling a brighter blue than usual, his body exuding radiance that even a stranger would recognize. His skin veritably glowed, and he blinked in that shy, sweet way that made him irresistible.
And then he did something totally unexpected. Quatre had reached out, placed trembling fingertips on the smooth line of Trowa's jaw and leaned forward. Trowa hadn't believed what was happening, and had only closed his eyes when their lips met.
The kiss had been tender, a soft merging of lips that was gentle and timid, so like his blond angel. But Trowa hadn't moved, hadn't been able to move. Then when he'd felt Quatre try to move away, he'd kissed back, his arms pulling Quatre against him.
Passion had seized Quatre in such a rush that the small boy squirmed and moaned in response, his head tilting as he parted his lips, slipping his tongue into the wet warmth of Trowa's mouth. His tongue lingered, unsure, and then Trowa had mingled his with the one he loved.
"Ai shiteru." Quatre had half-moaned, half-gasped, half-whispered. His eyes opened so tenderly, so gently, so utterly vulnerably, that Trowa simply hadn't known how to react. So he'd stopped, frozen.
Quatre had lifted his blond head and asked quietly. "Trowa?" He'd stared at him with such sweet confusion in those round blue eyes, and Trowa had only felt like an intruder. How dare he contaminate such a pure, perfect being?
Trowa had pushed Quatre off him, reversing their positions. He balanced himself on his hands, not wanting their bodies to touch, lest he taint the angel anymore.
"Trowa?"
Trowa had swallowed, his throat dry. "I'm sorry, Little One."
His body ached with need, but he couldn't bear to look at Quatre any longer, for fear that he'd try to kiss him again. Trowa had slid off the couch, and turned his back on Quatre, not even hearing the sound of Quatre breaking into sobs.
Trowa jerked out of his memories as he felt Duo pull away, and he chided himself for forgetting him.
Duo released Trowa's shirt a little. He wasn't embarrassed. He'd cried with most people, excluding Wufei and Heero. Never Heero. Did the perfect soldier even 'care' for him?
Duo wiped a hand across his eyes and sniffed. "I think he hates me, Trow." He said sadly, his hands stroking his braid for comfort. Duo shut his eyes and released the plait; he didn't need to remember who'd been holding it only moments before.
Trowa lowered Duo gently to the floor as Duo's hands slid loose. Duo slumped once he was sitting, his arms resting on his thighs. "Man, I'm depressed."
Trowa just watched him.
"Why do I keep liking him when he's such a bastard to me, Trowa? He just keeps getting meaner and meaner, but I just can't stop lov__" Duo corrected himself, "I just can't stop liking him."
Duo smiled miserably. "Am I that shit?"
Trowa crouched down from his height, and put a hand on his chin, lifting it. "Duo." He said tonelessly, but not cold. "Heero was trained to be the perfect soldier, but you can change that."
Duo gaped. Trowa had the sense to eye him warily for a moment, before Duo leapt on top of him and knocked him onto his back with a hug. Trowa lifted himself off the floor, seeing Duo grinning like a baka. "Congratulations Trow, you actually said a whole, complete, sentence!
A whole one!" Duo repeated.
Duo thought he saw a twinkle in Trowa's eye, before he slipped out expertly from under Duo, who grinned at the natural acrobat. Duo flipped over onto his back and was about to wail, "help me up," when Trowa offered his hand.
Duo promptly shut his mouth, and grabbed Trowa's hand, growling at the knowing smile - make that knowing curve - on Trowa's lips.
At that moment, something like cold steel interrupted Duo's grin. "What have you been doing?"
Duo made an effort to hide the sudden mixture of emotions he felt then, shame, anger, hurt, desire. He abruptly released Trowa's hand, getting to his feet on his own. He looked up, and instantly regretted it.
God Heero looked good.
He hadn't even noticed, but it had started pouring like hell outside, and Heero was saturated. Duo's eyes travelled up Heero's body, lingering on every drenched part of his perfect physique.
His tank was soaked and stuck to the smooth muscles of his chest, water dripping off the hard planes of his body. The rain had made his silky skin slippery; the lights illuminating muscles Duo hadn't even known existed.
His groin stirred.
Shit! Duo closed his hands into tight fists and bit his lip. "Um, coming!" He squeaked.
Heero nodded at Trowa, who nodded back. Heero turned and the other pilot followed him out, picking up bags by the door as he passed. A moment later, Trowa popped his head back in. His eyes lingered on Duo, who was standing in the middle of the room with his hands in little fists and his eyes clenched shut.
"Duo?"
Duo released his pent-up breath, praying that his reaction wasn't on display. A light blush reached his cheeks and he grinned, calling in a too- merry voice, "coming Trow!"
Trowa nodded, and Duo sagged with relief, letting out a small sigh. He concentrated on anything but Heero as he walked out the door, not even feeling the rain.
Heero watched Duo head toward where Deathscythe was hidden. It had been foolish to bring the Gundam, but put into consideration, how many times Duo's inconvenient arrivals had saved the pilots, and an ordinary person might have granted him leniency.
Heero wasn't ordinary. He wasn't even human, and he was determined to keep it that way. As long as Duo piloted the Gundam so that it was unseen, it would not jeopardize the mission. Duo had landed it outside of the search area, which meant he wouldn't have to self-destruct the Deathscythe.
Heero automatically reached for his handgun when Trowa turned to say something. "Where are we going?" His fingers relaxed.
"South. Duo will return with the Gundam. Our mission will be delayed one day, but we will use it for reconnaissance."
Trowa nodded, and kept moving.
Duo flipped his long braid behind his shoulders and turned around to say something, when he realised no one was there. "What the_?" Duo asked the forest, doing a little perspective spin.
Sure it wasn't like he'd actually said a word to the other two, but somehow, he'd decided that Heero and Trowa were right behind him. Duo brushed his hair back from his face. "Aw crap."
"Heeeeeeeeee-rrrrooooooo!"
Heero spun, killing about half the world's vegetation in the process.
"Heeeeeeeeee-rrrrooooooo!"
Trowa turned slightly, and had he been any normal person, would have fallen over when Heero tore past him.
Quickly regaining any lost balance, Trowa followed suit, losing sight of the boy, but sticking to the trail of flattened plant life.
"Heeeeeeeee-rrrrooooooo!" Duo called again, cupping his hands around his mouth. They couldn't have left already could they? Duo didn't even know where to meet them.
"Heeeeeeee-rrrroooooooo!" Duo giggled, he sounded like Relena. He almost added, 'come and kill me,' and then thought better of it.
Duo prepared to call him again and opened his mouth, when something dashed out of the bush so fast Duo only felt the impact as Heero slammed into him, driving him into the dirt.
While Duo recovered from the ache in his back, Heero was feeling something quite different. It came so unexpected, like liquid fire shooting through his veins. Duo's body, so different, more slender, smoother and yet muscled all the same.
Duo laid stock still beneath him, his eyes popping open. Why? Why wasn't the baka squirming to get free? Heero's eyes were glazed, his breath faster than usual, almost matching the short panting of Duo. His braid was squashed beneath him, coming apart.
Heero had to touch him, he had too. He had too see Duo close his eyes and moan as if in ecstasy, shudder at the mere contact of skin. Heero ran a finger up Duo's arm, feeling the boy shiver wonderfully.
He wanted to thread his fingers through Duo's hair, separate that restricted braid and see him crowned by a chestnut halo. He reached for Duo's plait, but Duo stopped him, holding Heero's wrist. "Not the hair, Hee- chan." He pleaded.
Heero broke free of the boy's grasp easily, lifting the braid in his hand and gently sliding the band off its end. Heero slid his thigh down Duo's response, feeling the boy arch and moan against him, "Heero." He gasped.
Heero watched Duo, feeding off his pleasure. He rested the silken strands of Duo's hair in his palm, watching them slide off, running his free hand beneath Duo's shirt, and down the smooth skin of his chest.
He tried to force away the soldier in the back of his mind screamed at him to stop. 'Don't lose control, Heero, keep your mind focused.'
'Lose control and the mission fails, you die, Heero."
Pain. 'I told you not to lose control.' Pain. 'Do you see what it brought you?'
Agony. 'Without the mission, you are nothing. Nothing. You're a soldier Heero, DON'T LOSE CONTROL.'
Heero fell back into soldier mode. His senses became alert, his thoughts entirely rational, and his eyes grew cold. 'Don't lose control' the voices echoed. Moving so mechanical that he appeared inhuman, Heero began lightly wrapping a hand around Duo's wrist.
Duo whimpered when he felt Heero rise off him. He grabbed blindly at the other boy, but Heero caught his wrists in a loose grip.
Duo sensed rather than felt the subtle change. His eyes flung wide open, and the hand on his wrists tightened with bruising force. Duo squirmed, "Hee-chan?"
He met Heero's eyes and suddenly, all the desire, all the need, seemed to rush out of his system.
Heero was going to kill him.
Heero stared at Duo's pale, wide-eyed face. He hadn't even remembered removing his gun and aiming it, but the situation compromised his intention. He flicked the safety off, watching Duo's growing fear.
He'd promised Duo that he'd kill him a thousand times before. Empty threats in comparison to what he felt now. Duo was a danger, a hazard to the mission. He had the ability to influence Heero's actions.
It must end now.
Heero's eyes were glassy and cold, the situation almost surreal. Heero couldn't kill him, could he? Not a Gundam pilot? Not someone who'd tried to be his friend.?
God, if only he could move his hands. He tried, but Heero's grip only constricted, making Duo release an involuntary whimper.
Heero's face was impassive to the pain he caused, the barrel of his gun resting between Duo's eyes.
"Omae o korosu, Duo." He said softly, looking into them.
The sound of the gunshot rang through the forest.
Duo inched open an eye and sat up, startled by another gunshot. Heero spun, one hand clutching his shoulder, the other levelling his handgun. Expression vanished from his face when he saw Quatre.
"Don't you dare shoot, Heero." Wufei growled, stepping out from behind the other boy, his own handgun poised. They were at a standoff. "Quatre may have quirks about peppering your body with bullet holes, but I don't."
Ah, Wufei had shot him, that made more sense.
"Heero," Quatre said, slightly bewildered. "You were really going to kill him this time, weren't you?" Tears filled the corners of his eyes, "but I felt your pain before. I did."
Blood seeped through Heero's fingers; running down his arm. Duo wasn't even listening to the dialogue between the other three pilots. Something teased at his memory, and he struggled to catch the tail of it.
"Shut up," Wufei told Quatre. "Duo came here to help you, Heero." Wufei spat. "Though why he would, I can't fathom. Unless you lured him here__"
"Why else." Heero lied. He wanted them to hate him.
Wufei's face flushed burgundy as he unleashed a violent snarl and charged at Heero, forgetting about his handgun. The harsh sound brought Duo back as he watched, knowing Heero couldn't fight in his condition. Hell, he shouldn't be able to stand.
At the last moment before impact, Heero sidestepped Wufei, and smashed a fist into the boy's back, forcing Wufei into a forward stagger and into the undergrowth.
Suddenly, Duo scrambled to his feet, his eyes growing large.
Wufei whipped his head around, his eyes filled with hatred. He hissed at the mark on Duo's face, "What, he didn't want you back?"
"Guys." Duo mumbled, peering around the group at the rustling forest behind them.
The chinese boy fixed his gaze on Heero, challenging him.
"Uh, Wufei."
"Shut up Duo, don't you dare defend him."
Duo bit his lip and pointed at the figures darting around inside the bushes. "They're coming."
A series of gunshots rang out in the air, and Quatre jumped. Everyone turned around, and then Quatre asked tentatively, "Where's Trowa?"
Duo didn't move his hand, "in there."
Quatre's eyes grew huge. "TROWA!"
He broke into a run, but Wufei caught him around the waist. "Baka. Stop. You'll get yourself killed."
Wufei held fast to Quatre and pulled him down the floor. He tried to wrap his arms around the smaller boy, but Quatre was fighting to get free.
"Noo! Wufei let me go!" He wailed, flailing his limbs in every which way.
"Let me goooooooooo! I love him and he doesn't know! He doesn't know that I love him, and that I've always loved him, and that I'll always love him even if he never loves me back." Quatre broke into sobs, collapsing limply in Wufei's arms.
When Wufei felt the sobs die, he loosened his arms a little.
He cursed when Quatre scrambled up. Wufei grabbed his ankle and dragged him back down, but Quatre yanked his foot out of his grasp.
"Quatre!" Wufei called. Quatre rushed into the bush. Wufei growled an annoyed, "shit!" and ripped after him.
"Fuck!" Duo snapped, preparing to follow. He tried to run, but something snagged his braid and yanked him back.
"Itaiiii!"
"They're gone. We're leaving." Heero said, dragging him back.
Duo struggled against his grasp, not caring that it hurt like hell. "Let go of me Heero I'm going to help them!"
Heero grabbed his flailing arm and spun Duo around so that he faced him. Then Heero grabbed Duo's arm and mercilessly twisted it behind his back. Duo whimpered and fell against him. "We're leaving." He repeated emotionlessly.
"No Heero." Duo shook his head wildly, his violet eyes filling with tears.
Heero whisked out his gun and fired at the stirring bushes. Duo heard strangled screams as soldiers fell. Heero flung Duo ahead of him, still firing. "Go." He ordered.
Duo looked back, his vision blurring. No. He couldn't leave Quatre and Trowa and Wufei. He couldn't leave them all there to die. Something rammed him between the shoulder blades, sending him staggering forward.
"Go!" Heero shouted.
Duo shook his head.
Heero seized Duo by the wrist and hauled him into a sprint. Duo pulled against it, but Heero was practically lifting him off his feet with one arm. They sped through acres of forest and underbrush, Heero never tiring.
Duo felt surprisingly numb, emotion didn't touch him. Was this what Heero felt? He wondered.
Duo sat, cross-legged on the end of his bed. Heero leaned against the opposite bed's headboard, typing on his laptop. The last thing he remembered really was being dragged into the forest after Quatre, Trowa and Wufei had disappeared, and then everything had gone black. Which meant, Duo had gone hysterical, and Heero had knocked him out.
Had Duo been in the mood, it would have been the ideal time to perve on his fantasy. But he still felt numb. Even watching Heero pry a bullet from his wound hadn't grossed Duo out. Duo absently reached for his braid, playing with the split ends, brushing the hair along his palm.
He watched Heero; there wasn't even a frown on the boy's face. You'd think it would be creased in concentration, but his face was. expressionless. Duo marvelled at the ability. He'd never been able to hide his emotions.
Duo bit his lip. Oh yeah, he was the Master at emotion hiding. Why couldn't he be like Heero, who'd been ready to kill him, who would have killed him except that Quatre and Wufei had arrived?
Well maybe not.
Duo balked guiltily. What was he doing here, talking to himself about the relationship between him and Heero, when all three of the others could be sitting in a cell, waiting to die?
Duo tensed when he saw Heero stop, his fingers freezing over the laptop keys. Duo imagined a pair of fuzzy ears on Heero's head, pricking at the slightest sound, like a big fuzzy cat. He almost mustered a smile at the image. Yeah right. Heero, a big fuzzy cat.
Heero slid his gun out of his spandex, and flicked off the safety. He slipped off the bed soundlessly, stalking silently toward the door. Duo swayed, hypnotized by the way that Heero moved. His steps were executed with perfect, panther grace, and that was sensuous, beautiful and deadly all at the same time.
Heero motioned with a flexed hand for Duo not to move. That was dandy, he hadn't been planning on moving anyway. "What is it?" He whispered.
A flash of annoyance passed on Heero's face, and Duo hastily shut his overlarge mouth. Heero clutched the gun in his hands and stood so that when the door opened, he would have what they had called, the best 'killing point'.
Holding the gun close and low, Heero waited silently.
Three pairs of feet thundered in at the same time Heero poised to aim and destroy. The blonde, blue-eyed pilot swept back his long lashes and said softly, "Heero."
The he closed his eyes and his chin dropped. His arms dangled around Wufei and Trowa's shoulders loosely as they lifted him inside.
Duo slapped a hand across his mouth. "God - Quatre!" He cried, jumping off the bed and scampering to the blonde pilot's side.
The pilot was too far-gone to notice, but Duo fawned over him anyway. He laid a supporting hand on Quatre's waist, asking, "What happened?" He bit his lip when he pulled his hand away, wet with blood.
"He was shot." Wufei growled.
Trowa's face displayed no signs of distress, but Duo knew better. Behind the mask of smooth impassivity, Trowa was probably screaming. Duo would have been if it were Heero.
"I'll take him." Trowa murmured, cradling Quatre in his arms.
Heero still stood by the door analysing the situation.
Trowa gently lowered Quatre's limp body onto the sheets, and smoothed the slight crease in his forehead. Trowa stroked the bangs from his face affectionately, his eyes seemingly unable to leave the fallen angel.
Duo tore his eyes away from the heartbreaking scene, and ran to Heero, latching onto his arm. "You have to help him, Heero!"
Wufei snarled, "it's the least you can do."
"No."
Wufei spun, "what the hell do you mean, 'no'?" the same time Duo contributed, "what?!
From where Trowa sat beside Quatre, he spoke softly. "He can't." His movements were slightly mechanical. Stroke. Stroke.
All eyes turned to Trowa, but Heero still spoke, his voice utterly emotionless. All around Duo, the air felt thick, as though in anticipation of what Heero would say.
"It wasn't a bullet. Quatre has a 40 percent chance of living."
The End of Chapter Four
I know what ure saying, gee it's just a TAD long. And okay so I got a little sidetracked, I know it's soo not what the story orgianlly was, but like I sed, I write it as it comes.
So yeps, I will change the description.
Chowies (
Pweease review and recommend
(tankooz 2 all of u guys who haf! I luv u alllllll!) I know it's really quite sad but I live for ure reviews!!!
Im really really sorry but this chap got a bit er. screwed, but since ive got the weekend, mayb I can make chap 5 good. Then again, that's what I always say.
Alright just for the record, my idea of night is till like 6Am which means I was only 10 minutes late! I stayd up all night riting it coz I suck so much and hate making ppl wait (coz I hate waiting for fanfic riters who take like a month 2 post a chapter) and I was too much of a lazyass to do b4
Oh and 2 lora Helen - I didn't mean it! Sappiness duznt piss me off, that was an exaggaration hehe (
And I say this be4 I get growled at: there will be a plot!! (eventually) duo and heero will eventually get together! I really don't know where Trowa nad Quatre r going so recommend!
Ooo and I know duo's not cool anymore, so I'll try n make him cool 4 evry1 who likes him again 'kay? Meaning: recommend! And if ne1 wants to help me, feel free, tell me what stories I should read to get ideeeas.
Wellses, enjoy.
Chapter Four
"Wha? I. uh." Duo shrank back. "Gundam?"
"Baka." Duo flinched. The nickname lacked any of its usual familiarity.
Heero's hand lashed out, smacking Duo's face to the side with a crack. Duo blinked back tears; not even registering the slap until the entire left side of his face began to ache. His braid swung free, and Duo snatched it back, clutching it to his chest like a lifeline.
He rose up from his elbows into a sitting position, watching as Heero slid mutely off him. "Hee-chan?" Duo asked meekly.
"Don't call me that."
Heero turned around, removing something at his side. Despite the throbbing in Duo's face, and certain other parts of his body, Duo forced a grin. "Why not? It suits you, Hee-cha__"
"Shut up." Heero cut in coldly.
Duo ignored the part of him that told him to obey that order. He kept on grinning, regardless of the fact that Heero had left him hard and needy enough to beg for it. But did Heero even know what he was doing to him?
Duo's smile evaporated, and his eyes widened when Heero turned back around, and pulled out his handgun. He shrank back against the wall, making every effort not to curl up too. Thankfully, the gun hung loosely at Heero's side. Heero wouldn't just shoot him for bringing a Gundam, would he?
God what was wrong with Heero these days?
"Get up."
Duo got up. He stood close to Heero, bracing himself for another hit, or maybe a bullet wound.
Even though Duo was almost his height, he seemed so much smaller. Those big, watering eyes blinked innocently at him. There was a large red handprint staining his left cheek, stretching down his jaw and almost covering the entire expanse of the left side of his face. Within hours, the bruises Heero had inflicted would surface on Duo's flawless skin.
Heero wanted to snarl, but nothing showed on his face. Duo's appearance during the mission had rendered Heero's vow to stay away from the baka useless. Though he hated to admit it, seeing Duo had revitalised every memory of Heero's emotions, and the need he felt for Duo had been the repercussion for repressing them.
Heero slid the handgun's safety off and on with a satisfying click. Without looking, he sensed Duo's slender fingers tightening around his chestnut rope.
Heero ignored what symbolic meaning the chestnut rope might hold, and lifted his eyes to Duo's face instead. His expressions had always been so easy to read, and now, this close, Heero could feel it. Duo was afraid of him.
Duo met his gaze, and then ducked his head slightly, although he did not lose eye contact. Several locks of hair fell across his eyes, but Duo made no attempt to remove them. Heero's hands clenched into fists to stop himself from brushing away the bangs that obscured those violet orbs.
He steeled his muscles. Heero could not afford to lose his control, not now.
Against all logic, and every smart brain cell God had ever been stupid enough to give him, Duo asked. "Why is it so bad I brought my baby anyway?"
Duo held back the impulse to slap himself on the head. He knew all of Heero's signs, and what they meant. The fisted hands and bloodless knuckles implied he was restraining himself. From doing what? Probably from shooting a fellow Gundam pilot.
Duo swept the hair back from his eyes. He didn't look at Heero, afraid at what he might see.
"Heero?" He hesitated weakly.
"A search is being conducted." Heero slid the gun back into his spandex and said robotically, "We leave now"
Duo swallowed, fiddling with the end of his plait. He'd probably just screwed up the entire mission. "Sorry, Hee-chan."
His back hit the wall with a violent thud, making the whole room shake. He squirmed helplessly against the hands that pinned his shoulders down. "I said: Don't call me that."
Trowa slipped inside stealthily, his steps cat-light as he'd been taught. He was about to announce his entry, but he saw Heero and Duo. He was stealing back out, when Trowa stiffened internally, hearing a thud. He turned in time to see Heero lean over the slender boy and say, "I said, don't call me that."
Even at that distance, Trowa swore he saw something flicker in Duo's eyes. A silent, tense moment passed, and then Heero and Duo broke apart. Heero spun on his heel and walked off, but Duo remained, bracing himself against the wall as if he had lost the ability to stand.
Trowa relaxed. He was certain, despite Heero's threats, that he would never hurt Duo seriously unless there was a good reason. Seeing a dazed Duo, still staring blankly at the wall, Trowa greeted. "Duo."
Duo jumped at the unexpected noise, turned, and then smiled a big, happy grin. "Trow!" He cried.
Duo burst into a run and headed for Trowa, tripping over the bags he had sensibly dropped in the middle of the floor. He barrelled into Trowa's long legs with a startled squawk. Smooth, Duo. Trowa, being the graceful acrobat that he was, didn't budge, except for easily lifting Duo in the fashion he'd come to expect. Duo wrapped his arms around Trowa's ribs and squeezed, nuzzling his head against the taller boy's chest.
After squeezing Trowa for enough time to tell Quatre and make him sufficiently jealous, Duo pulled away.
Wariness glinted in Trowa's eyes as Duo rose up on the tips of his toes and propped an elbow on Trowa's shoulder.
His smile widened mischievously. "So Trowa," Duo began innocently, "How's Quatre?"
Heero exited the cabin through the back door. He glided with the swift grace of a predator, his steps silent and sure. Too bad he didn't feel that way. His heart pounded unnaturally and his legs threatened to balk, it was so unfamiliar, so uncontrolled. He wanted it to stop.
Heero pulled to a halt, furious with himself. Why couldn't he control the hammering in his chest? Why couldn't he control his body, even something as minimal as his hands? Why couldn't he restrain himself from emotion. from. Duo?
Heero gathered up his rage and fuelled it into a single punch. He opened his eyes upon hearing a violent crack, and watched, fascinated as the tree before him began to topple. He hadn't even known he'd struck.
His eyes followed it until it hit the ground with a dry snap, its branches and dead leaves crumbling beneath it. Heero only looked away when the back of his hand began to sting. Blood beaded on his knuckles, leaving sticky red trails between his fingers. Heero didn't care, he considered it punishment. Punishment for his lack of control.
Yesterday, he had erased every ounce of humanity from his mind, and vowed never to 'feel' again. But then the braided baka had come, shattering Heero's illusions of control over his body, and mind.
Heero focused on his heartbeat, slowing the frantic throb to a soldier's pace. He cast a look at the horizon. The soldiers would arrive soon. He needed to prepare, be ready to ignore all distractions.
Heero glided back towards the cabin. A step before he entered, he stropped, stripping any lingering emotion from his face.
Duo could never learn what he.. That he 'felt'.
Heero stepped across the threshold.
"Let's have a playfight!" The braided pilot exclaimed, hopping off the lounge.
Trowa stared at Duo, and then ever-so-slightly, raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, Trowa!" Duo whined, curling his hands into loose boxing fists. "It'll be fun!" He shifted eagerly from one foot to another, anticipating Trowa's next answer.
One green eye sparkled.
"So it's a yes!" Duo shouted triumphantly.
"I don't. playfight." Trowa replied, the word sounding foreign on his tongue.
Duo didn't care. "But Trrooooowwwwwaaa!" He whined. "I mean, I'd ask Heero to fight but he'd probably take it way too seriously and just throw me up against a wall and pull his gun on me, I mean, not that I have any complaints about Heero throwing me up against a wall, but the whole gun thing is such a turn off, not that he'd see it that way cause he's probably not gay, but___"
"Duo."
"Mm?"
"You were babbling."
Duo grinned sheepishly. "He he, got a little off track there."
Duo pumped his fists. "So, fight?"
Heero stepped inside the doorway; suppressing a surge of something Duo might have called. affection? Trowa's hand was holding Duo's face at arm's length as he swung his fists in blind punches, getting nothing but air. He'd seen similar fights between Duo and Wufei.
He walked closer, unnoticed.
"Let's go." He said tonelessly.
Duo gave a startled yelp and fell forward when Trowa let go of his face, and then Heero was there, catching him before he hit the floor.
Duo clung to him, shaking his head to get his bearings. Duo blinked at Heero, but the other boy shoved him back.
Duo half swayed on his feet, still recovering his balance. "Okie dokie Hee- chan."
He wondered if Heero would beat him up for saying Hee-chan, and as Heero approached, Duo cringed a little each step. By the time Heero actually walked past him, Duo had shut both of his eyes, and was in a full whole- hearted wince.
"Duo."
Duo opened his eyes and watched Heero's perfectly sculpt back until it disappeared behind the door. Then, for some incomprehensible reason, his knees liquefied, and he pooled into Trowa's waiting arms. Duo leaned into him, breathing deep, trying hard not to cry.
It was so stupid. With one look, Heero could do this to him, could hurt him so much. He felt like a girl going through PMS. Or maybe some sick, twisted little scientist had made him pregnant, and he was doomed to nine months of bitchiness and mood swings.
Duo grabbed small fistfuls of Trowa's shirt, and buried his face in it. Or maybe it was all bullshit just to help Duo hold back the tears. He was grateful when Trowa didn't speak, simply wrapped his arms around Duo and pulled him against him.
Duo muffled a short sob and felt hot tears run down his cheeks. He began blubbering on Trowa's shirt, but he didn't care. Why couldn't Heero ever be this nice? If Duo ever cried in front of him, Heero would probably just hit him.
Duo started crying again.
Trowa held Duo, his face expressionless. It wasn't that he didn't care; it was simply that he didn't know how to express emotion. His anger boiled slightly at the hand-shaped reddening on Duo's cheek, but he forced it down until it disappeared.
Poor Duo, Quatre would have said. He probably would have said 'Poor Heero' too. The only thing that could force Quatre over the edge was something as horrible as rape, and even then he'd have to be convinced of it first.
For Duo, his angel had probably donned a mask and smiled, never showing a hint of the pain he still felt. He would blame himself, of course, for Duo being harmed. He blamed himself when anyone was harmed.
He loved Quatre. But it was impossible to believe his 'Little One' still loved him back. He hadn't called him that since three weeks before. He still hugged Quatre, still soothed him when he hurt, still held him when he cried, but things had never been the same.
Trowa closed his eyes.
They'd returned from a mission, cold, hungry and tired. But Quatre, being the impossible little angel that he was, had wanted to tend to Trowa's wounds. Heero, Duo and Wufei had slunk off to their rooms, leaving Quatre and Trowa to battle it out in the lounge. Or rather, Quatre to scold angrily and Trowa to dodge his attempts to capture the injured hand.
"You're just making it worse!" Quatre had reprimanded, his hands on his hips.
Trowa had crept backwards warily. Quatre had been, as usual, exaggerating the injury, it had been aching, but Trowa hadn't been in excruciating pain.
Quatre wouldn't accept it. And amazingly, he had pounced on Trowa, and pushed him down on the couch. Trowa had let himself fold beneath Quatre, not wanting to flip them around and crush the smaller boy.
Quatre's blue eyes had been sparkling a brighter blue than usual, his body exuding radiance that even a stranger would recognize. His skin veritably glowed, and he blinked in that shy, sweet way that made him irresistible.
And then he did something totally unexpected. Quatre had reached out, placed trembling fingertips on the smooth line of Trowa's jaw and leaned forward. Trowa hadn't believed what was happening, and had only closed his eyes when their lips met.
The kiss had been tender, a soft merging of lips that was gentle and timid, so like his blond angel. But Trowa hadn't moved, hadn't been able to move. Then when he'd felt Quatre try to move away, he'd kissed back, his arms pulling Quatre against him.
Passion had seized Quatre in such a rush that the small boy squirmed and moaned in response, his head tilting as he parted his lips, slipping his tongue into the wet warmth of Trowa's mouth. His tongue lingered, unsure, and then Trowa had mingled his with the one he loved.
"Ai shiteru." Quatre had half-moaned, half-gasped, half-whispered. His eyes opened so tenderly, so gently, so utterly vulnerably, that Trowa simply hadn't known how to react. So he'd stopped, frozen.
Quatre had lifted his blond head and asked quietly. "Trowa?" He'd stared at him with such sweet confusion in those round blue eyes, and Trowa had only felt like an intruder. How dare he contaminate such a pure, perfect being?
Trowa had pushed Quatre off him, reversing their positions. He balanced himself on his hands, not wanting their bodies to touch, lest he taint the angel anymore.
"Trowa?"
Trowa had swallowed, his throat dry. "I'm sorry, Little One."
His body ached with need, but he couldn't bear to look at Quatre any longer, for fear that he'd try to kiss him again. Trowa had slid off the couch, and turned his back on Quatre, not even hearing the sound of Quatre breaking into sobs.
Trowa jerked out of his memories as he felt Duo pull away, and he chided himself for forgetting him.
Duo released Trowa's shirt a little. He wasn't embarrassed. He'd cried with most people, excluding Wufei and Heero. Never Heero. Did the perfect soldier even 'care' for him?
Duo wiped a hand across his eyes and sniffed. "I think he hates me, Trow." He said sadly, his hands stroking his braid for comfort. Duo shut his eyes and released the plait; he didn't need to remember who'd been holding it only moments before.
Trowa lowered Duo gently to the floor as Duo's hands slid loose. Duo slumped once he was sitting, his arms resting on his thighs. "Man, I'm depressed."
Trowa just watched him.
"Why do I keep liking him when he's such a bastard to me, Trowa? He just keeps getting meaner and meaner, but I just can't stop lov__" Duo corrected himself, "I just can't stop liking him."
Duo smiled miserably. "Am I that shit?"
Trowa crouched down from his height, and put a hand on his chin, lifting it. "Duo." He said tonelessly, but not cold. "Heero was trained to be the perfect soldier, but you can change that."
Duo gaped. Trowa had the sense to eye him warily for a moment, before Duo leapt on top of him and knocked him onto his back with a hug. Trowa lifted himself off the floor, seeing Duo grinning like a baka. "Congratulations Trow, you actually said a whole, complete, sentence!
A whole one!" Duo repeated.
Duo thought he saw a twinkle in Trowa's eye, before he slipped out expertly from under Duo, who grinned at the natural acrobat. Duo flipped over onto his back and was about to wail, "help me up," when Trowa offered his hand.
Duo promptly shut his mouth, and grabbed Trowa's hand, growling at the knowing smile - make that knowing curve - on Trowa's lips.
At that moment, something like cold steel interrupted Duo's grin. "What have you been doing?"
Duo made an effort to hide the sudden mixture of emotions he felt then, shame, anger, hurt, desire. He abruptly released Trowa's hand, getting to his feet on his own. He looked up, and instantly regretted it.
God Heero looked good.
He hadn't even noticed, but it had started pouring like hell outside, and Heero was saturated. Duo's eyes travelled up Heero's body, lingering on every drenched part of his perfect physique.
His tank was soaked and stuck to the smooth muscles of his chest, water dripping off the hard planes of his body. The rain had made his silky skin slippery; the lights illuminating muscles Duo hadn't even known existed.
His groin stirred.
Shit! Duo closed his hands into tight fists and bit his lip. "Um, coming!" He squeaked.
Heero nodded at Trowa, who nodded back. Heero turned and the other pilot followed him out, picking up bags by the door as he passed. A moment later, Trowa popped his head back in. His eyes lingered on Duo, who was standing in the middle of the room with his hands in little fists and his eyes clenched shut.
"Duo?"
Duo released his pent-up breath, praying that his reaction wasn't on display. A light blush reached his cheeks and he grinned, calling in a too- merry voice, "coming Trow!"
Trowa nodded, and Duo sagged with relief, letting out a small sigh. He concentrated on anything but Heero as he walked out the door, not even feeling the rain.
Heero watched Duo head toward where Deathscythe was hidden. It had been foolish to bring the Gundam, but put into consideration, how many times Duo's inconvenient arrivals had saved the pilots, and an ordinary person might have granted him leniency.
Heero wasn't ordinary. He wasn't even human, and he was determined to keep it that way. As long as Duo piloted the Gundam so that it was unseen, it would not jeopardize the mission. Duo had landed it outside of the search area, which meant he wouldn't have to self-destruct the Deathscythe.
Heero automatically reached for his handgun when Trowa turned to say something. "Where are we going?" His fingers relaxed.
"South. Duo will return with the Gundam. Our mission will be delayed one day, but we will use it for reconnaissance."
Trowa nodded, and kept moving.
Duo flipped his long braid behind his shoulders and turned around to say something, when he realised no one was there. "What the_?" Duo asked the forest, doing a little perspective spin.
Sure it wasn't like he'd actually said a word to the other two, but somehow, he'd decided that Heero and Trowa were right behind him. Duo brushed his hair back from his face. "Aw crap."
"Heeeeeeeeee-rrrrooooooo!"
Heero spun, killing about half the world's vegetation in the process.
"Heeeeeeeeee-rrrrooooooo!"
Trowa turned slightly, and had he been any normal person, would have fallen over when Heero tore past him.
Quickly regaining any lost balance, Trowa followed suit, losing sight of the boy, but sticking to the trail of flattened plant life.
"Heeeeeeeee-rrrrooooooo!" Duo called again, cupping his hands around his mouth. They couldn't have left already could they? Duo didn't even know where to meet them.
"Heeeeeeee-rrrroooooooo!" Duo giggled, he sounded like Relena. He almost added, 'come and kill me,' and then thought better of it.
Duo prepared to call him again and opened his mouth, when something dashed out of the bush so fast Duo only felt the impact as Heero slammed into him, driving him into the dirt.
While Duo recovered from the ache in his back, Heero was feeling something quite different. It came so unexpected, like liquid fire shooting through his veins. Duo's body, so different, more slender, smoother and yet muscled all the same.
Duo laid stock still beneath him, his eyes popping open. Why? Why wasn't the baka squirming to get free? Heero's eyes were glazed, his breath faster than usual, almost matching the short panting of Duo. His braid was squashed beneath him, coming apart.
Heero had to touch him, he had too. He had too see Duo close his eyes and moan as if in ecstasy, shudder at the mere contact of skin. Heero ran a finger up Duo's arm, feeling the boy shiver wonderfully.
He wanted to thread his fingers through Duo's hair, separate that restricted braid and see him crowned by a chestnut halo. He reached for Duo's plait, but Duo stopped him, holding Heero's wrist. "Not the hair, Hee- chan." He pleaded.
Heero broke free of the boy's grasp easily, lifting the braid in his hand and gently sliding the band off its end. Heero slid his thigh down Duo's response, feeling the boy arch and moan against him, "Heero." He gasped.
Heero watched Duo, feeding off his pleasure. He rested the silken strands of Duo's hair in his palm, watching them slide off, running his free hand beneath Duo's shirt, and down the smooth skin of his chest.
He tried to force away the soldier in the back of his mind screamed at him to stop. 'Don't lose control, Heero, keep your mind focused.'
'Lose control and the mission fails, you die, Heero."
Pain. 'I told you not to lose control.' Pain. 'Do you see what it brought you?'
Agony. 'Without the mission, you are nothing. Nothing. You're a soldier Heero, DON'T LOSE CONTROL.'
Heero fell back into soldier mode. His senses became alert, his thoughts entirely rational, and his eyes grew cold. 'Don't lose control' the voices echoed. Moving so mechanical that he appeared inhuman, Heero began lightly wrapping a hand around Duo's wrist.
Duo whimpered when he felt Heero rise off him. He grabbed blindly at the other boy, but Heero caught his wrists in a loose grip.
Duo sensed rather than felt the subtle change. His eyes flung wide open, and the hand on his wrists tightened with bruising force. Duo squirmed, "Hee-chan?"
He met Heero's eyes and suddenly, all the desire, all the need, seemed to rush out of his system.
Heero was going to kill him.
Heero stared at Duo's pale, wide-eyed face. He hadn't even remembered removing his gun and aiming it, but the situation compromised his intention. He flicked the safety off, watching Duo's growing fear.
He'd promised Duo that he'd kill him a thousand times before. Empty threats in comparison to what he felt now. Duo was a danger, a hazard to the mission. He had the ability to influence Heero's actions.
It must end now.
Heero's eyes were glassy and cold, the situation almost surreal. Heero couldn't kill him, could he? Not a Gundam pilot? Not someone who'd tried to be his friend.?
God, if only he could move his hands. He tried, but Heero's grip only constricted, making Duo release an involuntary whimper.
Heero's face was impassive to the pain he caused, the barrel of his gun resting between Duo's eyes.
"Omae o korosu, Duo." He said softly, looking into them.
The sound of the gunshot rang through the forest.
Duo inched open an eye and sat up, startled by another gunshot. Heero spun, one hand clutching his shoulder, the other levelling his handgun. Expression vanished from his face when he saw Quatre.
"Don't you dare shoot, Heero." Wufei growled, stepping out from behind the other boy, his own handgun poised. They were at a standoff. "Quatre may have quirks about peppering your body with bullet holes, but I don't."
Ah, Wufei had shot him, that made more sense.
"Heero," Quatre said, slightly bewildered. "You were really going to kill him this time, weren't you?" Tears filled the corners of his eyes, "but I felt your pain before. I did."
Blood seeped through Heero's fingers; running down his arm. Duo wasn't even listening to the dialogue between the other three pilots. Something teased at his memory, and he struggled to catch the tail of it.
"Shut up," Wufei told Quatre. "Duo came here to help you, Heero." Wufei spat. "Though why he would, I can't fathom. Unless you lured him here__"
"Why else." Heero lied. He wanted them to hate him.
Wufei's face flushed burgundy as he unleashed a violent snarl and charged at Heero, forgetting about his handgun. The harsh sound brought Duo back as he watched, knowing Heero couldn't fight in his condition. Hell, he shouldn't be able to stand.
At the last moment before impact, Heero sidestepped Wufei, and smashed a fist into the boy's back, forcing Wufei into a forward stagger and into the undergrowth.
Suddenly, Duo scrambled to his feet, his eyes growing large.
Wufei whipped his head around, his eyes filled with hatred. He hissed at the mark on Duo's face, "What, he didn't want you back?"
"Guys." Duo mumbled, peering around the group at the rustling forest behind them.
The chinese boy fixed his gaze on Heero, challenging him.
"Uh, Wufei."
"Shut up Duo, don't you dare defend him."
Duo bit his lip and pointed at the figures darting around inside the bushes. "They're coming."
A series of gunshots rang out in the air, and Quatre jumped. Everyone turned around, and then Quatre asked tentatively, "Where's Trowa?"
Duo didn't move his hand, "in there."
Quatre's eyes grew huge. "TROWA!"
He broke into a run, but Wufei caught him around the waist. "Baka. Stop. You'll get yourself killed."
Wufei held fast to Quatre and pulled him down the floor. He tried to wrap his arms around the smaller boy, but Quatre was fighting to get free.
"Noo! Wufei let me go!" He wailed, flailing his limbs in every which way.
"Let me goooooooooo! I love him and he doesn't know! He doesn't know that I love him, and that I've always loved him, and that I'll always love him even if he never loves me back." Quatre broke into sobs, collapsing limply in Wufei's arms.
When Wufei felt the sobs die, he loosened his arms a little.
He cursed when Quatre scrambled up. Wufei grabbed his ankle and dragged him back down, but Quatre yanked his foot out of his grasp.
"Quatre!" Wufei called. Quatre rushed into the bush. Wufei growled an annoyed, "shit!" and ripped after him.
"Fuck!" Duo snapped, preparing to follow. He tried to run, but something snagged his braid and yanked him back.
"Itaiiii!"
"They're gone. We're leaving." Heero said, dragging him back.
Duo struggled against his grasp, not caring that it hurt like hell. "Let go of me Heero I'm going to help them!"
Heero grabbed his flailing arm and spun Duo around so that he faced him. Then Heero grabbed Duo's arm and mercilessly twisted it behind his back. Duo whimpered and fell against him. "We're leaving." He repeated emotionlessly.
"No Heero." Duo shook his head wildly, his violet eyes filling with tears.
Heero whisked out his gun and fired at the stirring bushes. Duo heard strangled screams as soldiers fell. Heero flung Duo ahead of him, still firing. "Go." He ordered.
Duo looked back, his vision blurring. No. He couldn't leave Quatre and Trowa and Wufei. He couldn't leave them all there to die. Something rammed him between the shoulder blades, sending him staggering forward.
"Go!" Heero shouted.
Duo shook his head.
Heero seized Duo by the wrist and hauled him into a sprint. Duo pulled against it, but Heero was practically lifting him off his feet with one arm. They sped through acres of forest and underbrush, Heero never tiring.
Duo felt surprisingly numb, emotion didn't touch him. Was this what Heero felt? He wondered.
Duo sat, cross-legged on the end of his bed. Heero leaned against the opposite bed's headboard, typing on his laptop. The last thing he remembered really was being dragged into the forest after Quatre, Trowa and Wufei had disappeared, and then everything had gone black. Which meant, Duo had gone hysterical, and Heero had knocked him out.
Had Duo been in the mood, it would have been the ideal time to perve on his fantasy. But he still felt numb. Even watching Heero pry a bullet from his wound hadn't grossed Duo out. Duo absently reached for his braid, playing with the split ends, brushing the hair along his palm.
He watched Heero; there wasn't even a frown on the boy's face. You'd think it would be creased in concentration, but his face was. expressionless. Duo marvelled at the ability. He'd never been able to hide his emotions.
Duo bit his lip. Oh yeah, he was the Master at emotion hiding. Why couldn't he be like Heero, who'd been ready to kill him, who would have killed him except that Quatre and Wufei had arrived?
Well maybe not.
Duo balked guiltily. What was he doing here, talking to himself about the relationship between him and Heero, when all three of the others could be sitting in a cell, waiting to die?
Duo tensed when he saw Heero stop, his fingers freezing over the laptop keys. Duo imagined a pair of fuzzy ears on Heero's head, pricking at the slightest sound, like a big fuzzy cat. He almost mustered a smile at the image. Yeah right. Heero, a big fuzzy cat.
Heero slid his gun out of his spandex, and flicked off the safety. He slipped off the bed soundlessly, stalking silently toward the door. Duo swayed, hypnotized by the way that Heero moved. His steps were executed with perfect, panther grace, and that was sensuous, beautiful and deadly all at the same time.
Heero motioned with a flexed hand for Duo not to move. That was dandy, he hadn't been planning on moving anyway. "What is it?" He whispered.
A flash of annoyance passed on Heero's face, and Duo hastily shut his overlarge mouth. Heero clutched the gun in his hands and stood so that when the door opened, he would have what they had called, the best 'killing point'.
Holding the gun close and low, Heero waited silently.
Three pairs of feet thundered in at the same time Heero poised to aim and destroy. The blonde, blue-eyed pilot swept back his long lashes and said softly, "Heero."
The he closed his eyes and his chin dropped. His arms dangled around Wufei and Trowa's shoulders loosely as they lifted him inside.
Duo slapped a hand across his mouth. "God - Quatre!" He cried, jumping off the bed and scampering to the blonde pilot's side.
The pilot was too far-gone to notice, but Duo fawned over him anyway. He laid a supporting hand on Quatre's waist, asking, "What happened?" He bit his lip when he pulled his hand away, wet with blood.
"He was shot." Wufei growled.
Trowa's face displayed no signs of distress, but Duo knew better. Behind the mask of smooth impassivity, Trowa was probably screaming. Duo would have been if it were Heero.
"I'll take him." Trowa murmured, cradling Quatre in his arms.
Heero still stood by the door analysing the situation.
Trowa gently lowered Quatre's limp body onto the sheets, and smoothed the slight crease in his forehead. Trowa stroked the bangs from his face affectionately, his eyes seemingly unable to leave the fallen angel.
Duo tore his eyes away from the heartbreaking scene, and ran to Heero, latching onto his arm. "You have to help him, Heero!"
Wufei snarled, "it's the least you can do."
"No."
Wufei spun, "what the hell do you mean, 'no'?" the same time Duo contributed, "what?!
From where Trowa sat beside Quatre, he spoke softly. "He can't." His movements were slightly mechanical. Stroke. Stroke.
All eyes turned to Trowa, but Heero still spoke, his voice utterly emotionless. All around Duo, the air felt thick, as though in anticipation of what Heero would say.
"It wasn't a bullet. Quatre has a 40 percent chance of living."
The End of Chapter Four
I know what ure saying, gee it's just a TAD long. And okay so I got a little sidetracked, I know it's soo not what the story orgianlly was, but like I sed, I write it as it comes.
So yeps, I will change the description.
Chowies (
Pweease review and recommend
(tankooz 2 all of u guys who haf! I luv u alllllll!) I know it's really quite sad but I live for ure reviews!!!
