Hiya!

This is a crap chapter. I couldn't be bothered editing it, so... it's gonna sound gay. Plus, I suck at angst, sorry.

It's mostly plot development, so if you don't like my story except for the sex, skip it.

I'm really starting to get pissed at vulnerable Duo; I tried to keep him the same as I've been doing, but yea. If u guys want him stronger or sumfin, tell me.

And for the record, I only watched like 3 eps before I began writing this story. Which is why it's so OOC! Sorry... Duo's quote 'boy's don't cry,' yup, I did a good one there.

Oh yea, and if u guys r getting bored, I'll stop it.

Good luck

Warnings: language, sap, 1x2 3x4 teeeny, blood



Chapter Seven

Trowa watched Heero down the slender barrel of his gun. The Perfect Soldier's eyes rested on him easily, his handgun close enough to kill, even without Heero's expertise.

Heero ignored the pistol aimed at him, and instead, he returned Trowa's stare coolly; the only feature in motion, his lips. "You know, Barton, there were times when you left Quatre's side..."

Trowa stiffened, the words ringing in his hears. Though he made no reply, his heart raced. 'What have you done, Heero?' He asked silently, fear turning his blood cold.

"...and I never understood until now," Heero continued in that cold, flat, monotone, "why you'd want such a weak fuck."

Trowa said nothing. Rage narrowed his eyes to slits, and the fingers clutching his gun trembled with the effort to remain still. Heero was lying, he had to be.

As though to ridicule that thought, Heero continued, "Quat___"

Trowa lunged at Heero, knocking the Japanese boy to the ground so he wouldn't have to hear any more. "You're lying, Heero," he accused.

He pinned Heero with his body, but the boy wasn't struggling to break free. A look of relief crossed his features as Trowa calmly rammed the gunpoint up under Heero's chin.

"Admit it." Trowa demanded.

Trowa's self-restraint already hung by a thread, and Heero's silence was not making it any better. Powerless to do much else, Trowa forced out his greatest conviction. "I know you Heero," he uttered, as though to convince himself.

"Admit it."

Heero just stared at him.

In the past, Heero had almost always been readable. Even with that emotionless mask on his features, Trowa had always been able to see through him. So why then, was this time so different? Why then, couldn't he break open Heero's shell and discover his true motives?

A shiver of doubt whispered up his spine. No... it wasn't possible, was it? Heero couldn't have.

"H-hey you guys - stop!" A voice sounded. Trowa looked up sharply to be greeted with the sight of Duo. He was panting lightly from the sprint down the staircase, but Trowa barely saw that at all.

He snapped his gaze back to Heero, back to that look of indifference, those cold, dead eyes. 'Were you lying, Heero?'



A soft, inaudible sigh escaped Heero's lips. 'It's over,' he thought. 'It's finally over. I don't have to kill anymore.'

The link of trust between he and Trowa had been utterly shattered about the same time Quatre had become involved. Heero knew what the blond boy meant to him, and Trowa knew Heero would never play that way, unless he was deadly serious.

Heero ruthlessly squashed his regrets before they surfaced in his eyes. If he displayed any feelings at all, Trowa would know he was lying. Trowa wouldn't kill him, and Heero could not allow that.

"Admit it."

Nothing.

"I know you Heero."

Kill me.

"Admit it."

An uncharted voice broke the silence. "H-hey you guys - stop!"

Heero's eyes skated past Trowa, and halted at a smooth fall of chestnut. Knowing what lay beyond that, he slid his gaze down until he met a big pair of beautiful violet spheres. His heart caught in his chest. His ribs hurt with the effort to contain that small word, but it slipped right past his lips. "...Duo?"



The sound of his name startled Duo into snapping his gaze to Heero. He was sure his face was a model of dumb shock as he gazed openly at the boy who'd just fucked him, ditched him, and now had the nerve to sound so... small.

Sandwiched between Trowa and the tiles, Heero's liquid eyes fixed on him desperately. What he saw in them, almost made Duo break down and bawl right then and there. The word 'pain' did not begin to describe the sadness Duo witnessed in those eyes. His heart was breaking, but he couldn't bring himself to look away.

"Hee-chan?" Duo whispered.

It was as though that was all Heero needed to revert back to his former self. Instantaneously, the tirade of emotions fled his hard face, and that cold mask of vacancy returned.

Something caught Duo's eye, and his gaze flew to Heero's arm. The hand loosely gripping Heero's handgun was flexing dangerously.

Duo panicked as Heero leaned forward, his lips whispering across Trowa's ear. His eyes reached back to claim Duo's as that sensuous mouth moved slowly, accentuating each word. For not the first time, Duo cursed his inability to read lips.

Then Duo's eyes grew very large.



'Please... you can't ask me to go back out there...' Heero pleaded. He didn't want to leave, he hated it out there. It was so much warmer inside, and it was so nice feeling again. Heero hated the thought of losing that niceness; he didn't want to be the Perfect Soldier anymore.

'Let me go... let me die... just don't make me go back out there...' His voice begged. 'Please... I want to die...'

The voice replying was deep and somber. It was his voice, but kinder, softer, laced with a compassion Heero could never possess. 'Not yet, Heero. You'll never die. I'm part of you, but I'm not everything.'

'Come with me then! If I can't die, come back with me... just don't make me go alone...'

'You have to; you have to live for the others. If you don't go back out, you'll fail the mission. If you fail the mission, they'll die.'

Heero's thoughts vanished before he could voice them. They'd all die? He couldn't handle that, they made him feel... they made him human... he didn't want them to die.

Heero's tongue became thick, his voice quiet, he had to know. 'All of them?'

'All of them. Even Duo'

'Duo...' Heero repeated reverently.

He loved the sound of that name, even if he couldn't connect it with a face. In his detached state, Heero could feel what the Heero on the outside world wanted him to do. He knew this Duo meant everything to him.

Heero closed his eyes and nodded. 'I'll go," he said softly, as he drifted out of the abyss. 'For Duo, I'll go...'



Heero opened his eyes.

Only a second had elapsed, and Heero had no recollection of that time. His body throbbed with an inexplicably fierce need to complete his mission, and the cold clarity of it felt wonderful.

Heero analyzed his position. This was almost too easy. He swiftly calculated the distance between him and Duo. The American was close, but if Heero whispered, it would be heard by Trowa alone. He secured his grip on the handgun, mindful of those large violet eyes.

As Heero lifted his head, he found his own eyes strangely fixed on Duo's. For some reason, Heero could not look away. Those enigmatic orbs had him mesmerized, even without their joyful character. Why?

Heero shook himself, he could address that later. Right now, as Duo would've had him say it, Heero needed to piss Trowa off enough to want him dead. Heero pushed aside his emotional quandaries; feelings were inconsequential.

He leaned forward, the cool circle of metal under his chin, following the movement. His lips brushed by Trowa's ear as he whispered. "On his hips..."

Trowa flinched, shoving Heero's chin up with his gun. It didn't faze Heero in the least; death threats were insignificant. "Low..." He continued, slowly lifting his hands. Duo spotted it, but the wide-eyed American was rooted to the spot.

"On the left..." Heero's hand stilled, hovering inches away from Trowa's right shoulder. The tip of his handgun sighed over skin concealing an artery in Trowa's upper left arm. Perfect.

Without giving him time to react, Heero dug his fingers into Trowa's shoulder and yanked him close. His lips moved against Trowa's cheek, "Did you give him that scar?"

Faster than lightning, Heero drew his arm back and punched. The blow caught Trowa in the shoulder, dislodging it, and throwing his aim.

A sharp, "No!" distracted Heero and he foolishly lost his concentration, losing a precious second as he looked for its source. It was far too late when he faced Trowa again, the tip of the gun barrel pressing just above his right lung. So Heero did the only thing he could do: he braced himself for the pain.

"Heero!!!"

The sharp crack of gunfire exploded in Heero's ears, and he smacked back down on the floor as it hit him, sucking in a breathless gasp, as pain rang up his shoulder blades. He choked, feeling the bullet tear through flesh and muscle.

'The mission!' His mind shouted.

Heero aimed at Trowa's arm, and fired. The force of the bullet threw him backwards and he slammed against the tiles as blood sprayed across the room and showered his face.

"Heero!!!"

Red stained Heero's vision, and he blinked furiously in an effort to clear it. He knew he had to shift NOW or Trowa would finish him off. Heero struck blindly, shutting his eyes and wincing as he rammed his fist up into Trowa's middle.

Forcing his eyes open, Heero slid out from under Trowa and staggered to his feet, favouring his right side. His eyes burned, and each time he moved, pain lanced through his chest and he lost the ability to breathe. But Heero had suffered far worse, this paled in comparison.

A second later, Trowa rose and straightened opposite him, his eyes dead with hatred. Heero stared coldly, revealing nothing. Now that he'd provided Trowa with proof, there was no turning back.

Blood gushed down Trowa's arm. The amount was unnatural, Heero considered. But it didn't matter. He had hit the artery directly, and Trowa would soon suffer from blood loss if it was not sealed. He had counted on Trowa's fury to distract him from such an obvious solution.

Trowa leveled the pistol with his bloodied left arm, his dislocated shoulder making it impossible for him to use his right. The arm hung uselessly at his side.

"Last chance, Heero." Trowa murmured motionlessly, but from the odium in his eyes, Heero knew his last chance had come and gone.

Trowa's arm muscles tensed, re-rupturing the wound and sending a fresh burst of blood down his trembling limb.

"Stop it!" Duo cried from the sidelines.

Heero ignored the voice. Usually something so irrelevant would not have distracted him. It distracted him more, that it did. Unable to resist, Heero slid his gaze to the right. He started, lingering on the empty area where Duo should have been, a second longer than he had intended. Where.? A strangled yelp snapped Heero's attention back to the arena.

"I don't want to hurt you, Duo, but you're in my way," Trowa warned. Duo had been knocked to the floor, a rivulet of blood trickling down his cheek.

"I won't let you kill him!" Duo shouted, sounding more aghast than desperate.

As if Duo's words had struck a chord, Trowa whirled around, his gun aimed at the original target. Heero paid him no heed. He was too busy watching Duo, enthralled by the transformation the boy was about to undergo.

Though Heero's face remained impassive, his heart raced with anticipation. He stared in awe as Duo's usually clumsy appendages adopted a smooth elegance, and that dark, deadly character manifested inside him.

Trowa didn't realize the danger until it pulled him down by the legs. His eyes flared with shock when Duo caught him before he hit the tiles, and he started rolling away to get to his feet. Duo, however, was quicker than that. He promptly knocked Trowa out, letting the lifeless body flop back into his arms.

Mission, accomplished.

Crimson spilled onto Duo's creamy arms, and by the startled panic in his eyes, Heero knew Shinigami had vanished. He stared emotionlessly as Duo frantically ripped off his shirt and began shredding it with his hands.

Cloth fibers landed in Trowa's blood, sinking in the expanding pool. Trowa's death would be unfortunate, and the unending flow of blood was adding probability points to that possibility. The increasing intensity in his side was as unusual as the rate of Trowa's blood-loss, but Doctor J had predicted this.

Heero discarded his blood-saturated tank on the floor. Where the cloth had touched him, his skin burned. He pressed two fingers to his gunshot wound, ignoring the ambush of pain as he did so.

Heero's hand dropped to his side. It was exactly as he had thought.



Duo wanted to throw up. He was kneeling in a pool of Trowa's blood, and his hands were drenched in it. Its coppery scent wafted up his nostrils as he applied pressure to Trowa's arm, praying to a nonexistent God that the day would turn out fine.

Fat chance. The streets, plus Heero, had taught him to expect the worst. They'd also taught him virtually every medical practice you could execute without the proper instruments, and he'd be fucked if this was going right.

"Heero what the fuck!" Duo shouted as he bundled a great wad of his shirt and pressed it to Trowa's arm. What the hell was that bastard doing? Sure he'd been shot, but it wasn't as though he hadn't nearly killed himself like a zillion times before.

"Heero, what do I do!!" Duo cried, twisting around, his hands still clutching the blood-saturated cloth. That whole pressure thing wasn't working and___

Duo let the material drop. "Fuck me..." he whispered, failing to see the irony in that comment.

Heero bent to retrieve his crimson tank off the floor, allowing Duo only a transitory glimpse of his blood splattered face and wounded chest. It hadn't been that bad before!

Heero straightened, presenting Duo with the full, uncut view of his injury.

"Heero you stupid Fuck lie down!!!" Duo cried shrilly.

He pushed himself off the floor into a standing position and latched onto Heero's arm, scanning the room desperately for a place to drag him. Superman just shook him off and loomed over Duo without even trying, making him cower and slip on the blood-slick floor to land on his ass.

"It will stop." Heero said flatly.

"Great! Thanks, I am soo reassured," Duo drawled sarcastically, his pitch bordering on hysteria.

Duo rolled his shining eyes and spun off his ass, back to the rapidly increasing blood spill. At the sight, Duo hastily began binding more material around Trowa's arm. Even though he knew it was futile, what else could he do? Sit there and watch him die?

Duo knotted the makeshift bandage with a quick jerk, choking when he realized that the blooms of dark red were already surfacing. Duo bit his lip. It wasn't natural to spill this much blood, he knew it wasn't natural. The technique should have worked, it should have stopped.

"It's not stopping!" Duo burst out frantically, the barricade on his hysteria finally toppling loose. "Shitshitshitshit!" Duo shouted, his eyes filming with tears as he wrapped more cloth around Trowa's wound.

Once the task was finished, Duo scrambled to his feet and whirled around. He seized Heero's arms, trying to make him look at him. "Heero what do I do!" Duo asked, a tremor betraying his desperation.

A thick bubble of fear welled up in his throat, leaving Duo speechless when he realized he was practically holding the Japanese boy up. Heero swayed like a drunk, his Prussian eyes glazing. Duo wished it was that simple.

"It will stop," Heero muttered, his eyes fluttering shut.

"No!" Duo clasped Heero's shoulders, all memories of the reaction that usually provoked, forgotten. "Heero, you're weak, tell me what to do!"

Heero opened and closed his eyes like shutters, whether it was with shock or disorientation, Duo couldn't tell. "Heero..." he said insistently.

Without warning, Heero's eyes flew wide open, definite shock flashing through them. Heero seemed to be staring right past him; but call him stupid, but Duo didn't really care what was behind him right now.

That opinion changed drastically after Heero uttered one simple word in his ear. Duo's eyes bulged, and he spun, his jaw working until he could echo it.

"Relena..."



Relena passed off knocking. Albeit she was prone to simple courtesies, such consideration eluded the Gundam pilots. If was forgivable, of course, when one considered the environments they had developed in. Relena needed no invite anyway. She was desperate to see Heero, and nothing would stand in her way.

He'd become such an important part of her life. So important, that it hurt to imagine life without him. Death was preferable to a worthless life, and that's what hers would have been without him. Heero's existence gave her meaning.

His successes were hers, and his survival strengthened her resolve for peace instead of war. He was such a perfect example for all that she stood for, a trained assassin, a child made a killer. What situation would call for such extremity? Relena had faith in what she preached, but without Heero, her words of peace were nothing but meaningless banter. Heero was her reason. He was her life.

Relena had to see him. Just once, if that was all she was allowed. A few miniscule seconds at least, would restore her strength; return her to her post in the Sanq Kingdom. His image would renew her, revitalize her, and ready her to dictate her people in the way of peace.

Relena strode through the corridor, surprised to hear someone's high- pitched voice. It sounded almost, distraught... She increased her pace, her heeled shoes crushing the carpet soundlessly.

"Heero?" She called softly, rolling the 'r' on her tongue with delight. The call was more for her than he, he'd flee the moment he saw her, anyway.

Relena lifted her chin, her pace slowing to a more dignified speed. If Heero was to encounter her, he would see the poised woman she had become, not the obsessed child of her past. All she needed was a glance. Just one glance, and then she would be gone.

Relena stepped around the last corner, and closed her eyes. She walked forward a few paces, until the carpet underfoot became tile. Her heart pounded with anticipation as Relena popped her eyes open.

Horror gripped her. Her stomach convulsed as her eyes scoured the room. The floor was washed in red, Trowa, ashen-faced, was lying in the middle of it, and Duo, shirtless, was gripping her Heero's arms.

In a quick flash, jealousy wreathed through her horror, just as quickly banished by a wave of guilt. How could she be so pathetic, so lacking in self-control? How, in a situation like this, could she be jealous?

Her eyes fell on Heero's, her heart breaking as it always did, when she realized he was gazing into Duo's. It was never her, always Duo. He always stood between them.

But she knew they weren't lovers, only Duo had those affections. Suddenly Heero looked up, his eyes meeting hers, displaying shock at the sight of her. To Relena, her name left his lips like a sweet caress, "Relena..."

Duo spun, his dumb, child-like eyes widening as he repeated her name. Relena disregarded him completely; her eyes were trained on Heero alone.

Her heart raced. Heero was still gazing at her, was he going to ask her for help? He'd never done such a thing before. To help Heero, to be allowed to touch him, why that would be___ she quickly snapped out of her daze.

'Jesus Christ, Trowa!'

"What the hell did you do, Duo?" Relena snapped as she turned on him, her voice unintentionally severe. She couldn't help it, she knew Duo loved Heero, he was a rival. Even though inside his heart, Heero loved her, she couldn't bring herself to be nice to someone who dared love Heero too.

Duo flinched, washing Relena in guilt as his face crumbled. His expression turned desperate, his teary eyes begging. "Nothing! I did noth___"

"Exactly!" Relena spat, bending down next to Trowa's body. "Of course you did nothing, what good are you?" She knew it was her jealousy speaking.

"Just help them..." Duo whispered.

Relena resented herself for hurting him; she almost wished she could pull back her words. Her voice softened as she pulled out her mobile. "I am, Duo. I'll call a private doctor."

Without thinking, Relena sought out Heero's eyes again. Oh they were amazing eyes, pools of bottomless blue, liquid sapphires that mirrored his soul, always masked from her.

She met his gaze, a smile curving the corners of her lips. She traced his features with her eyes, just enjoying the sheer pleasure of looking at him. As the planes of his face came into sharp focus, Relena frowned, there was.... red paint?

"Heero!" She gasped, the phone slipping from her fingers. Duo expertly slid under and caught it before it smashed to bits on the floor, but Relena raced past him, her concern too narrowed to notice.

"Relena!" Duo called her in his irritating voice.

"Oh God Heero..." Relena whispered tenderly, running her hands all over his impassive face. "What happened to you?" She asked. She pressed one palm to his heart, feeling sticky, dried blood on her hands, but not caring. All that mattered was that she was touching Heero, and he was letting her.

"Relena!"

"What!" She snapped, craning her neck around. In a rush, everything came back to her. "Oh, God!" She cried, slapping a hand across her mouth.

She lurched forward and snatched the phone away from Duo, dialing with frenetic haste. A hand, however immediately clamped down on her wrist and stopped her in mid-dial, her fingers poised over the keys.

"Heero?" She whispered, a bewildered look in her eyes. She raised them up to meet Heero's glacial ones, her gaze filled with confusion, "what is it, Heero?"

"No doctors." Heero replied coldly.

"But Heero! You need___"

Duo swiftly whisked the phone out of her hand and away from Heero. Standing a fair distance away, Duo growled, "what's the rest of the number, Relena?"

Relena stammered under Heero's icy glare. "I-it's___"

"I'm not seeing a doctor, Duo. Drop the phone."

"But I___"

Heero pulled out his gun and clicked the safety off.

"Duo, drop the phone."

Duo dropped the phone.

Relena snarled at Duo. "What are you doing, you idiot! Heero needs a doctor! He's in no state to fight you and he's not that cold-blooded anyway!" She lunged for the mobile, its loud buzzing signaling that it remained alive.

Heero jerked her back by the arm, eliciting a short cry of pain and surprise as she almost lost her footing. As close to passing out as Heero was, his strength remained, when he desired it. He yanked her up so she stood beside him.

Misinterpreting that as an invitation, Relena turned to him, her eyes naively understanding. "Heero," she spoke softly. "It's not just you, you know. Trowa's ill too, don't you see? Don't you care about Trowa?"

Heero didn't look at her. He was watching Duo, that stupid, idiot, Duo, who now squatted next to Trowa, amazement mirrored in his eyes. Heero spoke in a flat, bored, voice, "he's stopped bleeding. All he needs is a blood transfusion."

"You're right..." Duo said in wonderment, his hysterics dormant for now.

"He needs a doctor!" Relena cried out desperately, biting back a retort at the insolent fool. She was losing the composure she had so meticulously constructed for the public. How could Heero do this to her?



Something was happening to his body. The pain had spread like wildfire. Heero's skin was aflame, and it tingled and burned with sensitivity. Thankfully however, Heero had been fed this type of agony daily during his training.

They'd taught him to block his nerves through countless sessions of excruciating pain, even though it really only depended on his body's capability. He knew there was only so much he could take, and if he stayed conscious for long enough, Duo and Relena would not call a doctor.

Heero trusted that the pain would pass, but a lesson learned through experience burned at the back of his mind. Heero knew he could fall unconscious at any time.



"Heero!!" Relena shrieked as Heero's body flopped limply in her arms. Duo just stared in shock, while Relena crumbled beneath the weight, her legs buckling. "Duo help me!" She cried, fear feeding her strength.

Immediately Duo sprung into action, swiftly ducking beneath the pair and sliding Heero into his arms. Relena begrudged Duo stealing her burden, but there was nothing she could do.

Duo cradled Heero, and started moving toward the door. Relena automatically turned to follow, but Duo turned on her, hissing, "Call the doctor!"

"But Heero said___"

Duo silenced her with a livid glare. His eyes were still wet, but his vulnerability had disappeared. "Which do you care more for," Duo began angrily, "Heero and Trowa's lives, or Heero's obsession with the mission? Trowa has stopped bleeding, but he's weak. If he doesn't get a transfusion, he may die. And Heero? Do you know what it takes to knock the Perfect Soldier out? He's probably dying as I waste time explaining to you." Duo glared at her a moment longer, and then turned his back on her.

"Call the Doctor, Relena."

Relena stared in dumb shock. Nodding, she stepped backwards and crouched down to pick up the phone. She couldn't tear her eyes away until from Duo and Heero until they disappeared through the doorway.

Her pale fingers trembled as she dialed.

"Good morning, this is Terri speaking." A woman's voice came through.

"I-I need to speak to Doctor Andem, please." Relena replied tremulously, struggling to hold her voice strong.

"Please hold the line."



It was like Trowa and Quatre all over again. Duo gazed down at Heero bleary- eyed, dabbing speckles of dried blood from his olive skin with a towel. The plush white cloth was blemished now, dotted with scarlet. It was funny how he cared so much about the towel.

His skin was still crusted with blood, but it had cracked. The red flakes kept chafing off and rubbing into the carpet, staining that, too. Strange, how easy it was...

Trowa lay lifelessly under the duvet of Duo's bed. They hadn't slotted him in next to Quat, not yet. Duo didn't want him to see his Love that way.

Duo let his eyes slide over to Trowa. Gaunt from so much blood-loss, his cheekbones jutted out from his face, and the delicate skin ringing his eyes had coloured a deep shade of purplish grey. Duo was so thankful Quatre hadn't woken yet.

Relena, she was bustling about in the kitchen, doing who knew what. Who cared? Duo turned back to Heero, tracing the smooth line of his jaw with his fingers. You'd think, if she loved him that much, she'd have been by his side too.

"Hee-chan," Duo whispered tenderly, banishing thoughts of Relena so he could enjoy the moment. "Dai suki des, dai suki des, dai suki des - Hah!" Duo grinned triumphantly, snatching his hand back. "You can't punch me now, can ya Heero? Not so tough now."

Duo smiled bitterly. He was kneeling beside the bed as his fingers lost their grip on the towel and it dropped uselessly to the carpet. It made a wet, slosh, sound as it landed, dosing Duo's leg with water.

His smile became more ironic as he leaned forward and folded his arms on Heero's bed. He laid his chin on them, listening to the soft groan of springs as they shrunk under his weight.

"Why do I still care about you, Hee-chan?" Duo murmured. His eyes stung with tears as he turned his head to look at him. "Why do I even give a damn after what you did to me?"

He raised his head up, and reached over to take one of Heero's hands in his own. Turning it, he planted a soft kiss on the palm, drawing his lips up the smooth skin of his wrist affectionately. "All you do is hurt me, fuck me, break me, and..." Duo stopped to smear the beads of warmth running down his cheeks. "And I can't stop feeling for you..." He pressed Heero's palm to his cheek. "I can't stop wanting you..."

Duo released the hand, watching it fall back limply on the sheets. He rose off his knees, and gently lowered himself down on the bed beside Heero. Very tenderly, he laid one palm on Heero's cheek and leaned down to kiss those soft, sensual lips.

An inch away from the silken pillows, Duo stopped. "What is it about you, Heero, that makes me want you so much?" He asked softly, breathing Heero's air.

Duo leaned in closer, so close... "Just wanted you to know, I'm only doing this to piss you off. You'd never kiss me, Hee-chan, and I..." Duo trailed off, sensing someone behind him.

Duo rolled off the bed and straightened, turning around. "Relena," he acknowledged, glaring at the shadow that blocked out the sun.

"Hey, Duo," Relena responded, her voice surprisingly kind. She gestured with a wave of her hand, "come on Duo, let's get out of this room, it'll do us some good."



As much as she regarded Duo as a threat, Relena couldn't help feeling sympathetic toward him. After all, they were in exactly the same position. 'And I can't stop feeling for you... I can't stop wanting you,' Duo had said, unaware of her presence then.

Oh Heero, she sighed to herself. See what you do to us? Relena almost felt a kinship with Duo. He was trapped, like her. Only her chances were far better than Duo's, and that only made her empathize for him more.

The Doctor was yet to arrive and patch the boys up, and Relena had to force her fear that he wouldn't come into the very pit of her stomach. She closed her eyes resolutely. Relena could not afford to think so negatively. For Heero's sake, she had to keep her head.

Relena opened her eyes and looked around the room. She suppressed the insistent urge to wrinkle her nose at her surroundings. Though she had the funds to afford far better luxuries for the pilots; none of them desired such opulence. It was a foolish undertaking to offer gifts, for they were always refused politely, the pilots claiming such wealth could be traced back to her.

But surely she could provide some assistance! This room's only adornments consisted of three straight-backed chairs, and an awkward hexagonal table between them.

Relena seated herself with grace, crossing her legs daintily at the ankle, hoping the hem of her white dress wouldn't brush the floor. To distract her, she settled her gaze on Duo, who was sprawled languidly opposite her.

"So Duo," Relena began politely, "how have you been?"

Duo just glared at her darkly. He looked a mess. His supple locks of chestnut sprang out in odd directions and those usually sparkling eyes had a dull, defeated look about them. It was almost like that cheery part of him had been brutally blunted and locked away.

Relena shook herself. Impossible. Duo was periodically foolishly optimistic, and that stupidity was so difficult to arrest he was frustrating at times. Duo could never lose his strongest personality trait.

Then again, she considered, since when had Duo voluntarily ceased talking? Relena frequently sat with he and the other pilots, listening to him chatter endlessly about anything, the entire conversation was always an animated performance. But now, he simply sat. And glared.

That look was starting to unnerve her. With nothing else to do, Relena lapsed back into the task of analyzing Duo's appearance. His pants were blotted with blood, and his shirtless upper body sported a large, fading, hand-shaped bruise. Relena was shocked to note another similar discolouration on his cheek. Where had they come from?

Far too courteous to ask, Relena cleared her throat delicately. If Duo wouldn't answer a civil, standard question, there was no hope for him. She was a master of making light, of dark situations, but clearly Duo wasn't in the mood.

Trying to pitch her voice as though it was an absent thought, Relena asked, "How's Heero been?"

Duo wasn't fooled in the least. So he isn't as dumb as he looks, Relena thought, curiously. Perhaps they could achieve intellectual conversation.

She perused him hopefully, wondering if he would answer. His voice came out with toned aggression. "Heero's been dandy, we all have." From his manner, Relena doubted the validity of that answer, but she accepted what small tidbits of dialogue Duo's intelligence offered.

Relena cringed as she realized the path her thoughts had taken. It was pure envy obviously, that made her so contemptuous of Duo. Of course he possessed excellent mental capability; he was a Gundam pilot for God's sake!

"Oh Duo," Relena sighed remorsefully, hating herself for how she thought. "I'm so sorry for what I said before..." she trailed off. How could she rectify what she'd said? "You were completely undeserving of the names I've called you and I know you always act in the pilots' best interest." She laid her hands on the table imploringly. "Can you forgive me Duo? I never meant what I said."

Her heart skipped with happiness as Duo's austere expression softened. Gradually, a grin climbed up his amiable face, warming her to the core. "No sweat, Lena."

The tension left her in a rush. She smiled faintly. That personal nickname had been adopted by a fonder Duo a long time ago; she'd thought he'd forgotten.

"I know you were just worried," Duo smiled.

Relena's smile detracted ever-so-slightly. She could sense a change in Duo, but she was in no mood to pursue it. It was probably a trivial matter anyway, where he wouldn't want her intervention.

"I was worried, and I know that's no excuse." Relena sighed, "I love him so much, I just need him to show his feelings, that's all."

Duo's form stiffened noticeably, and she cursed herself for her carelessness. She must bear in mind Duo's fallacies with Heero; she should have been more considerate.

"I don't think that'll be happenin' soon, Lena," Duo replied.

Relena forced an impetuous retort down her throat. Duo was entitled to his own opinions. Smiling tersely, she argued, "Oh I know it doesn't seem that way, but he's truly a kind heart, and I know he loves___ I mean... I know he loves life, he wants to live it."

Duo cocked an eyebrow, his lips quirking slightly. "I'm sorry to break this to ya sweetheart, but Heero's not into girls."

Relena's eyes widened at his audacity, how could Duo speak of such an indecent thing so casually? She cleared her throat again, her expression slightly irked. "Heero is not a... a homosexual, Duo, and," Relena paused, her voice honing to a dagger's point, "I am sorry to break this to you, but Heero loves me, and you... you can't change that by simply saying otherwise."

Something stirred in Duo's eyes as he leaned forward in his chair, his braid slipping off his shoulder and tumbling into his lap. "Don't get me started, Relena," he warned.

Stung, Relena bit her lip. She'd deserved it, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. Again, the fond nickname had been substituted for a cold, formal 'Relena.' The familiarity in Duo's eyes was gone. "Duo..." she began.

Duo's smile didn't quite reach his eyes, "Don't, Relena. There's no point. Heero's gay, and there's no point in denying that either, but you seem to have found grounds, and I respect that."

It was Relena's turn to glare, hot fury flushing her cheeks. Was he mocking her? "Now you listen here, Duo. Heero is NOT gay, and he does not love you. These delusions should stop; I've seen how Heero treats you."

Duo's blasé expression distorted and she saw her words had hit the mark. A hint of regret tingled in the back of her mind.

"And how do you think he treats me?" Duo asked quietly.

Relena sighed, her anger swiftly replaced by pity. "I'm sorry, Duo. I wish I could lie to you, but it's for your own good. I've seen the way you look at Heero, and I won't let you mislead yourself any longer."

A mixture of pity and regret etched in her features, Relena reached across the table, and took Duo's hands in her own. "Heero doesn't love you, Duo, he never did, and he never will. He threatens your life, he won't talk to you, he ignores you, and no matter what you do, he doesn't care." She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "If Heero loved you, why would he hit you like that?" She pointed at the contusion on his chest.

From the shock in Duo's eyes, he hadn't expected her to know. "I'm sorry, Duo, but he doesn't love you. You don't hurt the ones you love. That's the way it is." She squeezed Duo's hand lightly.

His eyes exposed hidden pain, the expressive globes shining with the beginnings of tears. Relena's heart went out to him. 'Now he knows,' she thought sadly. Although from the look in Duo's eyes, he had known all along.

"I'm so sorry, Duo..." She crooned softly.

Duo ripped his hands away from her. He bounded to his feet, knocking his chair over backwards in the process. Relena gazed up at him with sympathy in her eyes.

"Duo..."

He shook his head at her, "You're wrong, Relena." He said softly. He began backing away, tears spilling down his heart shaped face. "You're wrong, and I'll prove it to you."

Duo staggered backwards, his unsteady steps catching on a chair leg.

"Duo..." she tried again. Poor Duo...

He smiled at her. "Tell me when the Doc comes, Lena," he said, his smile faltering. Relena nodded sadly and looked down at her shoes. She couldn't bear to see Duo this way; it hurt her to tell him, too.

"Of course I will, Duo."

She looked up to reassure him, but he had already left. "Oh Duo..." Relena sighed, putting a hand to her face. Her whole world would have collapsed, had she been told so harshly.

"Thank God Heero loves me, I'd die otherwise."



Duo didn't go straight to his room, where Heero and Trowa lay. Instead, he flung himself into the first empty room he could find. Leaning against the locked door, he squeezed his eyes shut, feeling tears roll down his cheeks.

Damn her. Damn Relena and her cutting tongue. Her cruel, honest, cutting tongue. Those words, only laced with the truth really, had hurt him more than he would ever let her know.

And when had Duo ever claimed that Heero loved him! Never! He had never presumed anything of the Perfect Soldier, not even to himself. She'd seen the way he looked at Heero his ass! It was lust in Duo's eyes, that was all. Simple lust. And Duo had never hoped for anything more.

Duo opened his eyes, rocking his head back so he could see the ceiling. When his blurry vision refocused, he tilted his gaze to the floor. With a jolt, Duo realized he was in Wufei's quarters. Wufei?

Wufei?! To have not heeded this morning's ruckus you had to be either unconscious, or stoned, and as much as he would've liked to see Wufei rocking on cloud nine, the latter seemed more likely.

Duo scanned the room quickly, his gaze reeling back to a slumped outline on the candle-lit floor.

"Wufei....?" He whispered, catapulting himself off the door and rushing to the figure's side. Once there, he dropped to his bruised knees with a wince, and cautiously propped Wufei up by his back, shaking him.

"Wu-man, you dead?" Duo asked, trying to curb the anxious tone in his voice. He blinked away tears. Not another friend. If Wufei was down, Relena might try and talk to him again.

Duo broke into a hysterical laugh. He held Wufei up, supporting him under the arms so the Chinese boy's back rested against him. Duo glanced at Wufei, biting his lip as Wufei's head lolled lifelessly against his chest. "Wu man?" Duo begged.

He jerked him up, jangling him again. For once, he actually wanted Wufei to jolt awake and punch him. "Come on buddy, time for wakies," Duo grinned, his voice wavering.

The Chinese boy's eyelids fluttered. Lightheaded relief swooped through Duo and he took a moment to calm his hammering heart. He tipped his head to the side to see Wufei. "You alright?"

He felt his braid slip off his shoulder and swing behind him like the pendulum of a clock. Irritated, Duo caught it and tossed it around his neck, cringing when it hit Wufei in the face.

"Eh, Wuffie, you there?"

He squawked in surprise when a low growl rumbled in Wufei's throat and a tug on his braid jerked him forward. "You're not dead!" Duo cried, pulling Wufei into a fierce hug and squeezing hard.

Wufei struggled weakly, but Duo just embraced him like a big cuddly Chinese teddy bear. "Wu-bear!" Duo squealed delightedly, pressing a sloppy kiss to the pissed off boy's cheek.

A violent yank on his braid reminded Duo that Wufei still had some strength left. He yipped uncertainly and untangled his arms, grinning at Wufei's fierce, I'll-get-you-back-for-this glare.

"Bleuh," Duo stuck out his tongue, the animation back in his eyes.



Quatre awoke in complete darkness. He shrunk beneath the bedding, his eyes darting from side to side. "T-Trowa?" He stammered. The air around him was silent.

He crawled out from under the damp sheets, shivering from the cold. "A-are you there...? Quatre whispered, extending his weak arms. Usually Trowa gathered him up in their divan, pulling him back to the bed. Quatre would smile and cuddle up against his body, feeling strong, warm arms wrap around him.

There was none of that now. Quatre closed his eyes, growing scared. Edging backwards, he gasped in fright when his back hit the headboard. Quatre looked around, disoriented, and then curled his knees into his chest and hugged himself. He shuddered and ducked his head, holding back the urge to cry.

Why was it so dark? Even at night, there should at least be a sliver of moonlight. Quatre trembled, he felt so terribly alone. Icy fingers came through a window he couldn't see and rifled his floppy bangs. He buried his face in his arms. "Trowa...where are you....?"



Relena clamped a hand across her mouth as tears stung her eyes. She'd never watched anything so tragic. Why he, of all the pilots? How could God do this to him, how could he impair one of his kindest angels?

She struggled not to make a sound. She didn't want to be the one to tell him, not yet. She couldn't bear too; the sight alone was just too much. To have to listen to him weep at his loss....?

An inarticulate sound escaped Relena's lips. She gasped and pressed her hand against her mouth, but it was too late. The boy's eyes flashed wide, and he looked up, staring emptily into space.

"Trowa?" Quatre called hopefully. He squinted as he tried to see past invisible barriers. "Trowa is that you? Please, can you turn on the lights, I can't see you."

Relena bit her lower lip, tasting blood on her tongue.

The lights were already on.

The whole room was bathed in a yellow glow. The bulb overhead shined brightly, and the light streaming in through the door illuminated what that didn't. Quatre's pale skin was gold with it and his eyes turned quicksilver as the light hit them.

"Oh Quatre..." she said mournfully.

His smooth brow knitted with confusion. "Relena, is that you? What are you doing here? What's wrong? I can feel something's wrong, Relena?"

She stifled a sob.

Quatre uncoiled from his fetal position and came toward her, crawling blindly across the piles of bed sheets. "Relena, can you turn on the lights? It's so dark I can barely see..."

Her lips wouldn't move.

"Relena? Relena, are you there?"

"I-I'm here."

"Is there something wrong with the lights?"

She was silent.

Quatre pulled to a stop where he knelt, sitting back on his heels. "Relena?" He asked, scanning the room uncomprehendingly. "Why can't I see you?" Desperation was entering his voice.

"Quat___"

"Relena, why can't I see you?"

"Quat..."

"Can't you turn on the lights?"

She said nothing.

His eyes filmed over with tears as his voice rose shrilly. "Relena can't you turn on the lights? Please turn on the lights?"

Relena pressed her lips together. How could this be happening?

"Relena....?" His voice broke, "Relena, where are you?"

She couldn't bring herself to reply.

Quatre's lower lip trembled. First one tear, and then a second, rolled down his pale cheeks. He looked up slightly, glistening blue eyes staring unseeingly into her face. Another tear trickled down his face as his lips lifted in the slightest, softest smile.

"Relena?" He asked quietly.

"I'm here."

His sweet gaze followed the sound of her voice, finally resting on a wall beside her. Her heart broke as he smiled, his sad eyes shining.

"I'm blind, aren't I?"

Silence.



"I'm so sorry Quat..."



The End of Chapter Seven

Next time: duo realizations, duo bastardizations, wuffie gets it on with someone I wont reveal, maybe 3x4 sadness, angst for all.

I no it was crap so pleeease don't review 2 say so. If u want me 2 keep going, can u say? N u don't have 2 b nice, just do it if u actually care

Sorry, but I had 2 introduce Relena, which meant an extra 3000 words so I know that was a bit boring, but hey. I had 2 giv u guys a boring chap coz if I hadn't it'd be like 20000 words, and that's just too long.

Oh and I don't actually know how you'd look after you lost lots of blood, so if that was wrong, just imagine it how it should be. Same with all the other medical stuff.

Chowchow!