Hellllooooooooo allll!
3x4 sap, 1xR (euuu), _?x5, teeny language, bit of angst (overall not much)
thankuu 2 every1 who reviewed last chapter!! U all nicied me out! I won't bore u guys by actually saying stuff individually but I really, really, really appreciated them!!!
:D yayyayyay!
Here u go, unfortunately its kinda short :( but I should haf another up soon. And duo's not a bastard yet. sorry!
Chapter Eight
Duo clasped the frail hand softly, towing his pajama-clad friend towards his lover. "This way, Quat, we're here___" Quick as lightning, Quat's hand clamped down on his wrist, his grip cutting off the circulation to Duo's fingers.
Duo winced. "Ow."
Quat's vice-grip didn't ease, so Duo, holding back tears, continued trying to tug the boy gently. Quatre was immobilized, his muscles were rigid with tension, and his body had turned as stiff as a board. Prying his own lips open, Duo urged quietly. "Come on Quat, Trow doesn't have all day."
The boy showed no response, so Duo, getting slightly worried, nudged him with an elbow. Like a child waking from a nightmare, Quatre blinked owlishly, and his panic-struck expression vanished. Quat's fingers loosened, and Duo hastily made his escape, slithering around the boy until he stood opposite him. "Quat...?" He asked.
A long silence followed before the blonde actually spoke. "You know, Duo," he began softly, his eyes drifting past Duo's head. "The worst part of this is, is that I won't ever see Trowa again. I'll feel him, and I'll know he's there but..." Quatre trailed off, smiling ironically. "I won't be able to play pretend anymore Duo. Trowa never loved me, but sometimes when he smiled, I could make myself believe he did."
Duo was painfully silent, everything inside him screamed denial. Taking a step forward, he grasped Quat's forearms lightly, and inclined his head. "Quat, you don't know what you're saying, of course Trowa loves you, he's always loved you." Unwilling to let the boy chicken out, Duo placed a forefinger under his chin and lifted it. Although he knew Quat saw nothing but blackness, he hoped he was picturing Duo in his mind's eye.
"Quat, listen to me." Duo ordered.
"Yes, Duo?"
Seeing as he was obliged to speak, Duo hemmed his hands around Quat's and added a squeeze for effect. "Quat, if Trowa doesn't love you, I'm not gay. And I'm sure we can all profess to that."
The Arab stifled a soft laugh, but his eyes lacked their usual luster. "You're not that gay Duo, you've had girls before."
Sputtering indignantly, Duo said, "Quat; girls are a thing of my past, I'm very much a faggot these days." The other smiled exasperatedly, and Duo grinned. "But that wasn't the point." Raising Quat's chin to get his attention, Duo spoke softly, "Quat, no one loves you more than that guy over there. I've seen the way he looks at you when you don't know. He stares at the back of your head every chance he gets, you think you're the only one who does that?" Duo added lightly, "now that you can't tell, he'll probably watch you 24/7 while you're sitting there pining away for something that's already yours, and has been yours."
Duo laid a hand on the small boy's shoulder, rotating him en route for Trowa's bed. He gave Quat a gentle push forward. "Trowa gave you his heart a long time ago, Quat, you just didn't recognize it for what it was."
Silence fell across them both.
After several long moments had passed, Duo started fiddling with the tail of his braid. He ventured a swift glance at the blonde, and was instantly relieved to see a generous, lovely smile. "Thanks, Duo, I'm so lucky to have a friend like you."
Duo snorted. And he was lucky to have a fuckbuddy like Heero.
"-Can you take me to him please?' Quat asked softly, taking Duo's hand.
Quat waited a moment, and when Duo didn't respond, his face puckered in a frown. "Duo?" He asked, puzzled.
Quat released a startled squeak when Duo hoisted him up into his arms, and carried him the rest of the way to Trowa's bedside. Duo plunked his flailing victim down cheerily. "There you go, Quat."
The rumpled pilot glowered at him. "I didn't mean like that, Duo."
"I know." Duo chirped. Quat was about to make some half-hearted retort, but Duo put his hands on the smaller boy's shoulders and turned him so he was facing Trowa's bed. "He's right there, Quat."
Duo started heading for the door, and then realized Quatre couldn't see his departure. Glancing over his shoulder before he slipped out, Duo called. "I'm leaving now Quat, holler when you need to... go somewhere."
Quat nodded, though Duo doubted he'd comprehended a word. His trembling hand slid across a cushion, on a mission to touch Trowa's face. In respect of his friend, Duo slid out the door and shut it softly behind him.
Grateful to be out of sight, he closed his eyes and leaned his back against the shoddy timber, willing energy back into his exhausted body. After recounting yesterday's tale to Wufei, being lavished with another delightful talk from Relena and spending a sleepless night, bawling and hugging Quat, Duo was spent. His emotional reserves were dried up. It was useless trying to feel, the only thing that could heal him now, was time. Like so many others.
There was still one thing left to do, but Duo desperately needed to rest. Opening hot and gritty eyes, he clenched his teeth, braced a foot against the door, and shoved himself off it with an exaggerated heave. Telling himself he'd do whatever it was he'd planned to do, tomorrow, Duo dragged his feet down the corridor, retreated into the first empty bedroom he could find and collapsed on the divan, falling into a deep, exhausted, sleep.
At the last, wavering moment, Quatre yanked back his hand and pulled it to his chest. He stared, wide-eyed at the blackness for a while, and then let his hand fall limply to his side.
Rather unsteadily, Quatre smiled for the other boy's benefit. "Hey, Trowa..." he exhaled softly.
Gathering courage, Quatre reached out to clasp the bed frame, and slowly lowered himself to his knees. He fixed his eyes where he thought Trowa's face must be, and continued quietly. "Duo told me what happened. We don't know why you shot Heero, but, according to Wufei, that justifies him shooting you."
Trembling slightly, Quatre slid out a hand. He closed his eyes as it ascended the mound that was Trowa's arm, and as he moved to withdraw it, he found himself held there by an intangible force. Quatre sighed contentedly, lapping his fingers against the silky skin.
Remembering what he'd come for though, Quatre frowned. He quickly pulled back and dropped down on his heels, folding both hands in his lap. Quatre ducked his head, bangs of blonde falling forward to hood his face. "I... I'm sorry Trowa." Quatre whispered. "I know you can't hear me, but... I'm sorry for what I did to you."
Tears glistened in his eyes. "It's just... I thought you loved me. You always called me Love, and Little One, and yours, and that night when we came back from the mission and you were hurt... and I tried to kiss you, I..." his voice dropped to a whisper, "I thought I saw love in your eyes, I thought you wanted me too... I'd never been so happy in all my life when you kissed me back, Trowa but..." two tears spilled down his cheeks, "but then you pushed me away..."
Quatre lapsed back into silence. He played with his hands, flipping them in his lap. He was glad Trowa hadn't heard his pathetic excuse for an apology. Trowa had spent 15 years of his life closed off in an emotional shell, and in that time he'd only ever allowed one person in. Quatre had wriggled beneath Trowa's armour, snuggled up close, and thinking too much of the friendship, had abused what Trowa had never given anyone else. He'd broken the rules, and had probably destroyed the only amity Trowa had ever known. And now this was all he could come up with?
After a while, a small smile formed on Quatre's lips. Using a sleeve, he wiped his cheeks clean of the tear tracks. Thinking of the better days, or rather, nights, he said, "You used to sing to me." His voice was laced with happiness as he continued, "You thought I never knew, but I was always awake, and I was always listening."
He opened his eyes. It didn't matter, shut or open; the room looked the same anyway. He sought out some shape along the black landscape, but sight was now only a thing of the past. "You know that night, Trowa, when we kissed?" Quatre asked, his voice almost matter-of-fact, "That was the first time you didn't sing to me."
He lowered his lids, yearning for Trowa's warm embrace, that soft, soothing voice. "Little One..." Quatre murmured quietly, "Though you came from Heaven..."
*Flashback*
"To Heaven, you will return..."
Quatre cuddled closer, sighing softly as Trowa's arms wrapped around him. "Little angel," Trowa whispered, "Though you'd fallen..."
He paused to brush the locks of platinum back from his angel's forehead. He pressed a soft kiss to the exposed skin, not looking away as he murmured, "you taught me love, I'd never earned..."
*End*
Quatre smiled at the memory, his eyes sad. "You never called me Little One again, too."
Quatre rose up, his fingers skating across the blankets until they found what he was looking for. Slipping his hand down Trowa's arm, Quatre intertwined their fingers with a relaxed sigh. He folded an arm beneath his head and lay it down next to Trowa's arm, closing his eyes.
"Little love..."
The Next Day
*Heero's flashback*
A six year old boy struggled in leather restraints, his head whipping from side to side with terror. "J? Doctor J?"
One figure in a white jacket stood at each corner of the board he laid on, ensuring the four buckled bindings would hold him fast. Doctor J strode into the room, his coat billowing out behind him.
"Doctor J! What's happening?" Heero called, his Prussian eyes filled with worry. "Doctor J!" He cried again when the old man swept past. He strained against his bonds, bucking off the angled board with clenched teeth. "Doctor J!"
"Silence him," The scientist ordered.
Heero's eyes grew wide as a man grasped his mouth in his hand, uttered two words, and then freed him. "Who are you?" Heero asked. Without hesitation the dark-haired man slapped him, cranking his head to the side. "Shut up," he repeated.
Heero obeyed instantly, clamping his lips together.
"Heero," a voice echoed out over the amplifier. Heero stiffened, listening intently for his next words. "Now I need you to hold still, Heero, this may hurt a bit."
Heero blinked. Raising his face to the ceiling, he saw a huge circular sift- like object sliding toward him. It radiated an odd light, one Heero didn't recognize. He watched, fascinated as the edge touched his skin.
His neck prickled.
"Try not to make a noise, Heero."
A burning sensation slithered across his body, under his skin, through his blood. It started as small pinpricks and grew until razor blades stabbed at every patch of skin and bone. It crawled up his neck and scorched his face, "It's almost over. You're doing good."
Heero didn't hear him. All he could feel was the pain, the incomprehensible, untold agony. Heero arched his back in convulsion, violently snapping the leather on his left wrist. The others rushed forward to rebind him, and the voice echoed in his ears, "Calm down, Heero."
Heero ripped the leather on his right arm, thrusting the men aside who tried to hold him. They were flung halfway across the room, but Heero didn't notice, slamming back down on the board as another fit of pain seized him. Strong hands dug into his flesh, holding him down, and the agony returned with vengeance. "Heero." the voice reprimanded. Heero couldn't stop himself, he couldn't bear it. His child's mind wasn't capable of holding back the sound. As Heero's world exploded, he threw his head back, opened his mouth, and screamed, and screamed, and screamed.
*End*
Heero's eyes snapped open and he pulled in a ragged gasp, pushing himself up off the bed. Pain lanced up his side like barbed wire, but he ignored it. Having re-experienced one of his earliest training sessions, it seemed pathetic to wince at something so negligible.
In a glance he saw Duo, Relena and the Doctor by his bed, each pair of eyes growing wide with astonishment.
"Heero!" Relena gasped, her shrill cry shattering the silence. She rushed to his side, fussing and propping him up with her hands. One supported him on the back, and the other fell lightly onto his abdomen. "Heero are you alright?" She asked, genuine concern in her eyes.
"He's awake." Duo said, dumbfounded.
Ignoring Duo's obvious pronouncement, Heero thrust Relena's hands away. She gave a little squeak, and before the pilot, Doctor or fanatic could stop him, Heero flung back the sheets and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Straightening neutrally, he didn't spare them a glance as he walked out the door.
"Heero!" Relena cried, dashing out after him, "Heero wait!"
Duo rolled his eyes as he watched her go. He could've told Relena there was no use chasing the guy, but since she got such a kick out of pursuing her potential killers, he let her leave. As much as Duo cared for his 'friends', he wasn't particularly partial to death by Heero. And so he figured he'd lay low for a while, chill for a few minutes, wait until Heero's destructive impulses were sufficiently subdued.
"H-he sh-sh-shouldn't be able to walk..." Remembering the Doctor, Duo spun around, a huge grin replacing his shock. "Wh-who___"
"Oh, Heero?" Duo cut in, backing towards the exit. "Nah!" He waved his hand wildly, "you don't have to worry 'bout him! He's a joker, you know? A real funnyman, you know the kind! Being a Doc and all you must have a lot of experience in that field!" Duo turned to look down the corridor, "Knowing Hee-chan he's probably playing a prank right now!!! HahaHA!"
Duo added, "I better go help."
Duo darted off down the hall, his grin falling away like a mask. That idiot! That damn hypocrite! Always accusing Duo of endangering the mission, and there he goes, trudging off down the hall like it doesn't matter that he was half-dead two seconds ago. By all rights, Duo now had the authority to whack Heero around, return the favour so to speak.
He scuttled halfway down the stairs and threw his legs up and over the railing, free falling for six feet before he landed painfully flat-footed on an unyielding carpet floor. Now even more pissed off; Duo straightened and narrowed his eyes. But before he could transfer his foot from carpet to tile, Duo halted, the carpet burns on his heels throbbing.
Duo stared, unable to register what he saw. Daytime sounds blurred together like dilute paint, and the only distinctive noise became the cold thundering inside his chest. Confusion rendered his voice unsteady. "What...?" He whispered.
Duo squinted; hurt stealing across his eyes. Was that Heero and Relena? His eyes narrowed, it couldn't be. Heero hated Relena, or at least something close! So why was he doing... 'that' with her? One olive-skinned hand cupped the girl's head, while the other lifted her chin. The girl sighed, and a shiver rolled up her spine, his hand slipping gently down her waist and pulling her close.
It wasn't possible! Duo rose up on the balls of his feet and strained to see past that head of sandy-blond hair. The boy's back was braced against the wall, his face so well hidden that Duo couldn't be sure of his identity. Then the girl tipped her head to the side, and her long mane swished to her shoulder, revealing that gorgeous, Japanese face.
For a split second, those cold Prussian eyes stared at him, and then Heero turned away. Duo's jaw locked as Heero's eyes fluttered closed, and he lowered his lips to Relena's. He nuzzled Relena's lips softly, and that hurt all the more because Heero had never been tender with him. It hurt, and it burned, but Duo kept on watching.
Relena moaned into Heero's mouth, her arms rising and winding around his neck as he deepened the kiss. Looking away with disgust, Duo decided he best leave before memories of Relena kissing gave him nightmares.
Duo pivoted stiffly. But as he walked to the base of the stairs, he forced himself to relax. Duo uncurled his clenched fists, and loosened his rigid jaw. Now that he was sufficiently calmed down he could start thinking tactics. Duo began climbing the stairs. Heero wanted to play games? Fine. If Heero wanted games, he'd get them. That bastard could toy with Relena all he wanted, because Duo was the master at sex ploys.
He wandered down the hallway, vowing something he was confident he could fulfill. Spying the bedroom at the end of the hall, Duo grinned inwardly. Duo had let Heero play with him for far too long, and now he was going to get his revenge. He pulled to a stop in front of a closed door, contemplating silently. What he was about to do, left no room for regrets.
Duo clutched the door handle, turned it until he heard a sharp click, and slipped inside.
He stared at her. Not strongly enough to make her wilt, but enough to make her squirm. "How long was I in coma?" Heero asked.
Relena blinked. "Not long, two nights..."
"Hn." Heero nodded, reaching for his laptop. He stopped a few-inches short, sharp pain spearing up his side. Willing himself to conquer it, Heero pushed on, shutting the agony out as it increased.
"Heero!" Relena reproved, snatching the laptop out of his reach. "You mustn't stress your body before it's at its full strength." She passed the laptop gently into his hands. "There you go. You must ask next time, alright?"
Feeling the needles in his side fade away, Heero took the offered computer without a word of thanks. He heard the muffled plunk of a painful landing from not far off, and recognizing that clumsiness, Heero smirked.
"You know," a voice cut in. "Duo adores you, but he should know what's truly in your heart." Pressing a hand to her chest, Relena continued, "I tried to tell him, but he wouldn't accept the truth. You must tell him, Heero."
Usually, Heero ignored her idle chatter, but her mention of Duo had snagged his complete and utter attention. His reaction disturbed him.
"...Now I know you don't want to hurt him Heero, but you must prove you don't love him. I know it's hard, but sometimes we are forced to be cruel, to be kind. In this situation, it would be kinder to let him know the truth."
Heero had stopped listening.
Spying Duo out of the corner of his eye, Heero grabbed Relena and pulled her against him. She gasped, startled, and clung to him, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. Not leaving a moment to spare, Heero passed off her embarrassment as unimportant, and leaned his back against the wall, weaving his fingers through her hair until they cupped the back of her head.
He felt no guilt using her this way; it would eventually go to the cause of peace further down the track, anyhow. Moving with deliberate tenderness, Heero slid a hand under her chin and lifted it, sensing those eyes still on them. "Heero," Relena whispered, not understanding the charade.
She closed her eyes as Heero lowered his lips, and as her hair fell to the side of him, Heero couldn't help but look up. Duo's beautiful, hurting violet eyes bored into him, tugging at his heart. But this weakness he felt was dangerous, so forbidden in a soldier. Heero closed his eyes and met Relena's kiss halfway, strangling the instinct to thrust her aside.
Why wasn't Duo leaving? Out of the corner of his eye, Heero could still see that black-dressed figure. He should have gone by now. Perhaps Heero needed to strengthen the fervor. Pulling Relena tight against his body, Heero invaded her mouth with his tongue, feeling paltry arms wrap around his neck as she moaned.
He listened for the sound of rapid, desperate footfalls on the stairs, but instead, all he heard was a soft, controlled ascent. Had that been Duo? Relena's wet tongue caressed his, wrenching him back to a painful reality. Sickened, Heero excised the chains binding his instincts, and literally shoved her off him.
A startled cry left her throat as she was thrown backwards, the table behind, saving her from a nasty fall.
Heero took a step forward, whipped out his gun. "Who called the Doctor?" He asked her coldly.
Relena's eyes widened. "Heero...?" She asked, so confused.
"Why did you call a Doctor?"
Relena blinked. "Well I." She floundered for words, "I___ it was Duo really, he told me___"
"Duo." Heero echoed. He slid the gun back into his spandex, turning to leave. Relena opened her mouth to speak, but he ignored her, brushing aside her protests and hands. His pivoted on his heel, and began gliding out the door, 'Duo no baka.'
Expecting to encounter a door, Quatre lost his balance and began to fall face-first into the floor. His arm lashed out and he clung to the empty doorframe in the nick of time. Scrabbling for a proper hold, Quatre hauled himself vertical again, breathing heavy. He swung around to the inside wall for support and laughed, his heart thudding against his ribcage, "Wow," he breathed.
After a minute of recovery, Quatre was ready to venture out into the unknown again. He had almost died about ten times today, and there was no way he was stopping there. Facing the treacherous doorway, Quatre braced his hands on its frame. "Ow!" Quatre yelped, recoiling. Realizing what the sharp pain had been, he sighed. "Splinter..."
Deciding there was nothing he could do at present, Quatre stretched out his arms. He took a step forward, and panicked as his foot plummeted far lower than he'd predicted. Just as he was reaching for support to halt his fall, the earth slammed back up to meet his foot, jarring his body and shooting fierce arrows up his shinbone. "Doorstep..." He groaned.
His other foot followed the second more gracefully, and Quatre reached the outside yard without further injury. Smiling with pride, he gulped a lungful of Earth's precious atmosphere, feeling warmth - daylight - spill across his features.
Quatre squatted down by the door, resting his elbows on his thighs. When his fingers brushed some feathery leaves, Quatre gave an excited yelp and flipped around into a crawling position. He reached blindly for the bush that his fingers had contacted, and, finding it, plucked a forget-me-not, careful not to pull the flower out by its roots.
Sighing with happiness, Quatre turned back around and sat down. He twirled the stem between his finger and thumb, raising his sightless eyes to the sky. 'I should've asked Duo today,' he thought, 'is the sky blue, or overcast?' In the past, Quatre might've called a grey sky dull, but now? Now he'd give anything to see that colour again.
Quatre sighed. Upon his arrival, and for many days afterward, he'd been awe- struck by the Earth's beauty. He'd observed it for many hours, simply watching, worshipping the colour and the life. He'd never seen anything more wonderful. Quatre closed his eyes, remembering those first few days.
"I wish..." Quatre trailed off, and sighed. He shook his head, smiling slightly. You should never wish for anything.
Quatre's smile broadened as a gusty breeze ruffled his hair. He hummed softly, enjoying the songs of the wind and the birds, and the texture of the forget-me-not spinning between his fingers.
An aeroplane roared overhead and Quatre leaned his head back slightl___ "Ow!" Quatre rubbed the back of his cranium grudgingly. "Wall..." he growled.
Tears sprang from Relena's eyes in an unabashed torrent. Heero had been so close to admitting his feelings, so close to accepting her! If she'd only had a second more she might've had time to convince him. Denying his wants wouldn't save him, it only guaranteed him pain.
The stupid, white-clad Doctor toddled into the kitchen meekly, his skin blending in with his attire. "Miss Relena? I know this is a bad time, but there are other appointments back home, and I mustn't be late."
Relena glared at him with the force of ten thousand daggers. Bad time? Bad time! This wasn't a bad time, this was a horrible time! Call the end of the world upon her and she could not feel any worse! Relena ignored him and collapsed back on the counter, her body shuddering with sobs.
"Uh, Miss Relena? If you'll just sign this..."
Incensed, Relena snatched the forms out of his hand. How could the man be so insensitive, couldn't he see she was distressed? Had it been her private doctor, Mr Andem, he'd have never bothered her at a time like this. Scribbling her signature next to the X, she left blotches of running ink all over the text with her tears.
She handed the documents back to the man, and as he reached to take them from her, she yanked them back and began rifling through the forms.
"Miss Relena...?" He stammered.
"You haven't treated Quatre yet!" Relena barked, inadvertently loud.
"Uh-what? I was told there were only two pilots___ er, patients to tend to."
Relena narrowed her eyes. How did he know they were pilots? She opened her mouth to ask so, but he interrupted quickly, "I can treat him now, but it must be fast, I really am in a hurry." The Doctor offered.
Relena nodded, brushing aside her suspicions. She swabbed her tears with a handkerchief, hopped off the counter, and began leading the way. "Well come along, I think he's in his room."
It almost felt like Space. Not one noise infiltrated his concentration, and his body felt as light - no, lighter than - a feather. It was a remarkable and wonderful sensation, knowing that those mind-numbing headaches couldn't plague him here.
One flickering candle illuminated the entire room, or rather, had been cursed with that impossible task. It burned low now, the short, melting rod on a slant like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, in a pool of cooled wax. As always, no sunlight penetrated this room, everything around Wufei was blanketed in darkness.
If he had kept track of the correct time, Wufei had been awake all night. After the paralysis had seized him two nights ago, he'd sought out meditation like an addict sought out heroin. Wufei hated being helpless, and he truly had been that night.
And now he found himself caught in a trance, enduring powerful temperatures and humidity. The odd thing was, not a drop of sweat beaded on his skin. His room had heated like an oven, and the air was so thick now you could swallow it. But his body was perspiration-free.
In all honesty, Wufei knew where he was headed. Few had traveled this road, though the state achieved at the end was one worth dying for. Taught by the best, Wufei knew that that was just what would happen if he kept going. So being the fighter he was, Wufei rejected the land of pure bliss and all its promises.
Beginning his return, Wufei retracted out of his semi conscious state, bit by bit, his body feeling more like a burden with each second. From lessons and experience, Wufei knew there was only one thing that could go wrong at this time. The consequence could be death, or worse, but for that to happen, there had to be outside intervention, and what were the chances of that?
Suddenly a pair of sleek hands rolled over his shoulders, snapping Wufei out of his trance wickedly fast. He crashed back into his body with bone- breaking force, collapsing limply onto the person behind him. Wufei scrunched up his eyes and moaned, momentarily crippled because he'd come back faster than his body would permit. He felt as though he weighed a thousand tons, and his brain hammered violently against his skull.
Wufei had escaped death by a finger's breadth, and though he knew he'd regain his strength in a minute, it infuriated him that he could not lift his eyelids to identify the culprit.
Uneasiness whispered up his spine, as the hands holding him caressed his skin. He flinched when soft lips claimed his neck, sucking hard enough to leave a love-bite. "Wufei." a voice whispered. Wufei shuddered, trying desperately to move. Male fingers began slinking down his chest, and as something fell into his lap, his eyes widened in recognition.
The End of Chapter Eight
Next Chapter: _?x5 - though uve probably already figured out who the person is, relena's really dumb, mission, duo bastardization,
Chowwwwwwiies :)
3x4 sap, 1xR (euuu), _?x5, teeny language, bit of angst (overall not much)
thankuu 2 every1 who reviewed last chapter!! U all nicied me out! I won't bore u guys by actually saying stuff individually but I really, really, really appreciated them!!!
:D yayyayyay!
Here u go, unfortunately its kinda short :( but I should haf another up soon. And duo's not a bastard yet. sorry!
Chapter Eight
Duo clasped the frail hand softly, towing his pajama-clad friend towards his lover. "This way, Quat, we're here___" Quick as lightning, Quat's hand clamped down on his wrist, his grip cutting off the circulation to Duo's fingers.
Duo winced. "Ow."
Quat's vice-grip didn't ease, so Duo, holding back tears, continued trying to tug the boy gently. Quatre was immobilized, his muscles were rigid with tension, and his body had turned as stiff as a board. Prying his own lips open, Duo urged quietly. "Come on Quat, Trow doesn't have all day."
The boy showed no response, so Duo, getting slightly worried, nudged him with an elbow. Like a child waking from a nightmare, Quatre blinked owlishly, and his panic-struck expression vanished. Quat's fingers loosened, and Duo hastily made his escape, slithering around the boy until he stood opposite him. "Quat...?" He asked.
A long silence followed before the blonde actually spoke. "You know, Duo," he began softly, his eyes drifting past Duo's head. "The worst part of this is, is that I won't ever see Trowa again. I'll feel him, and I'll know he's there but..." Quatre trailed off, smiling ironically. "I won't be able to play pretend anymore Duo. Trowa never loved me, but sometimes when he smiled, I could make myself believe he did."
Duo was painfully silent, everything inside him screamed denial. Taking a step forward, he grasped Quat's forearms lightly, and inclined his head. "Quat, you don't know what you're saying, of course Trowa loves you, he's always loved you." Unwilling to let the boy chicken out, Duo placed a forefinger under his chin and lifted it. Although he knew Quat saw nothing but blackness, he hoped he was picturing Duo in his mind's eye.
"Quat, listen to me." Duo ordered.
"Yes, Duo?"
Seeing as he was obliged to speak, Duo hemmed his hands around Quat's and added a squeeze for effect. "Quat, if Trowa doesn't love you, I'm not gay. And I'm sure we can all profess to that."
The Arab stifled a soft laugh, but his eyes lacked their usual luster. "You're not that gay Duo, you've had girls before."
Sputtering indignantly, Duo said, "Quat; girls are a thing of my past, I'm very much a faggot these days." The other smiled exasperatedly, and Duo grinned. "But that wasn't the point." Raising Quat's chin to get his attention, Duo spoke softly, "Quat, no one loves you more than that guy over there. I've seen the way he looks at you when you don't know. He stares at the back of your head every chance he gets, you think you're the only one who does that?" Duo added lightly, "now that you can't tell, he'll probably watch you 24/7 while you're sitting there pining away for something that's already yours, and has been yours."
Duo laid a hand on the small boy's shoulder, rotating him en route for Trowa's bed. He gave Quat a gentle push forward. "Trowa gave you his heart a long time ago, Quat, you just didn't recognize it for what it was."
Silence fell across them both.
After several long moments had passed, Duo started fiddling with the tail of his braid. He ventured a swift glance at the blonde, and was instantly relieved to see a generous, lovely smile. "Thanks, Duo, I'm so lucky to have a friend like you."
Duo snorted. And he was lucky to have a fuckbuddy like Heero.
"-Can you take me to him please?' Quat asked softly, taking Duo's hand.
Quat waited a moment, and when Duo didn't respond, his face puckered in a frown. "Duo?" He asked, puzzled.
Quat released a startled squeak when Duo hoisted him up into his arms, and carried him the rest of the way to Trowa's bedside. Duo plunked his flailing victim down cheerily. "There you go, Quat."
The rumpled pilot glowered at him. "I didn't mean like that, Duo."
"I know." Duo chirped. Quat was about to make some half-hearted retort, but Duo put his hands on the smaller boy's shoulders and turned him so he was facing Trowa's bed. "He's right there, Quat."
Duo started heading for the door, and then realized Quatre couldn't see his departure. Glancing over his shoulder before he slipped out, Duo called. "I'm leaving now Quat, holler when you need to... go somewhere."
Quat nodded, though Duo doubted he'd comprehended a word. His trembling hand slid across a cushion, on a mission to touch Trowa's face. In respect of his friend, Duo slid out the door and shut it softly behind him.
Grateful to be out of sight, he closed his eyes and leaned his back against the shoddy timber, willing energy back into his exhausted body. After recounting yesterday's tale to Wufei, being lavished with another delightful talk from Relena and spending a sleepless night, bawling and hugging Quat, Duo was spent. His emotional reserves were dried up. It was useless trying to feel, the only thing that could heal him now, was time. Like so many others.
There was still one thing left to do, but Duo desperately needed to rest. Opening hot and gritty eyes, he clenched his teeth, braced a foot against the door, and shoved himself off it with an exaggerated heave. Telling himself he'd do whatever it was he'd planned to do, tomorrow, Duo dragged his feet down the corridor, retreated into the first empty bedroom he could find and collapsed on the divan, falling into a deep, exhausted, sleep.
At the last, wavering moment, Quatre yanked back his hand and pulled it to his chest. He stared, wide-eyed at the blackness for a while, and then let his hand fall limply to his side.
Rather unsteadily, Quatre smiled for the other boy's benefit. "Hey, Trowa..." he exhaled softly.
Gathering courage, Quatre reached out to clasp the bed frame, and slowly lowered himself to his knees. He fixed his eyes where he thought Trowa's face must be, and continued quietly. "Duo told me what happened. We don't know why you shot Heero, but, according to Wufei, that justifies him shooting you."
Trembling slightly, Quatre slid out a hand. He closed his eyes as it ascended the mound that was Trowa's arm, and as he moved to withdraw it, he found himself held there by an intangible force. Quatre sighed contentedly, lapping his fingers against the silky skin.
Remembering what he'd come for though, Quatre frowned. He quickly pulled back and dropped down on his heels, folding both hands in his lap. Quatre ducked his head, bangs of blonde falling forward to hood his face. "I... I'm sorry Trowa." Quatre whispered. "I know you can't hear me, but... I'm sorry for what I did to you."
Tears glistened in his eyes. "It's just... I thought you loved me. You always called me Love, and Little One, and yours, and that night when we came back from the mission and you were hurt... and I tried to kiss you, I..." his voice dropped to a whisper, "I thought I saw love in your eyes, I thought you wanted me too... I'd never been so happy in all my life when you kissed me back, Trowa but..." two tears spilled down his cheeks, "but then you pushed me away..."
Quatre lapsed back into silence. He played with his hands, flipping them in his lap. He was glad Trowa hadn't heard his pathetic excuse for an apology. Trowa had spent 15 years of his life closed off in an emotional shell, and in that time he'd only ever allowed one person in. Quatre had wriggled beneath Trowa's armour, snuggled up close, and thinking too much of the friendship, had abused what Trowa had never given anyone else. He'd broken the rules, and had probably destroyed the only amity Trowa had ever known. And now this was all he could come up with?
After a while, a small smile formed on Quatre's lips. Using a sleeve, he wiped his cheeks clean of the tear tracks. Thinking of the better days, or rather, nights, he said, "You used to sing to me." His voice was laced with happiness as he continued, "You thought I never knew, but I was always awake, and I was always listening."
He opened his eyes. It didn't matter, shut or open; the room looked the same anyway. He sought out some shape along the black landscape, but sight was now only a thing of the past. "You know that night, Trowa, when we kissed?" Quatre asked, his voice almost matter-of-fact, "That was the first time you didn't sing to me."
He lowered his lids, yearning for Trowa's warm embrace, that soft, soothing voice. "Little One..." Quatre murmured quietly, "Though you came from Heaven..."
*Flashback*
"To Heaven, you will return..."
Quatre cuddled closer, sighing softly as Trowa's arms wrapped around him. "Little angel," Trowa whispered, "Though you'd fallen..."
He paused to brush the locks of platinum back from his angel's forehead. He pressed a soft kiss to the exposed skin, not looking away as he murmured, "you taught me love, I'd never earned..."
*End*
Quatre smiled at the memory, his eyes sad. "You never called me Little One again, too."
Quatre rose up, his fingers skating across the blankets until they found what he was looking for. Slipping his hand down Trowa's arm, Quatre intertwined their fingers with a relaxed sigh. He folded an arm beneath his head and lay it down next to Trowa's arm, closing his eyes.
"Little love..."
The Next Day
*Heero's flashback*
A six year old boy struggled in leather restraints, his head whipping from side to side with terror. "J? Doctor J?"
One figure in a white jacket stood at each corner of the board he laid on, ensuring the four buckled bindings would hold him fast. Doctor J strode into the room, his coat billowing out behind him.
"Doctor J! What's happening?" Heero called, his Prussian eyes filled with worry. "Doctor J!" He cried again when the old man swept past. He strained against his bonds, bucking off the angled board with clenched teeth. "Doctor J!"
"Silence him," The scientist ordered.
Heero's eyes grew wide as a man grasped his mouth in his hand, uttered two words, and then freed him. "Who are you?" Heero asked. Without hesitation the dark-haired man slapped him, cranking his head to the side. "Shut up," he repeated.
Heero obeyed instantly, clamping his lips together.
"Heero," a voice echoed out over the amplifier. Heero stiffened, listening intently for his next words. "Now I need you to hold still, Heero, this may hurt a bit."
Heero blinked. Raising his face to the ceiling, he saw a huge circular sift- like object sliding toward him. It radiated an odd light, one Heero didn't recognize. He watched, fascinated as the edge touched his skin.
His neck prickled.
"Try not to make a noise, Heero."
A burning sensation slithered across his body, under his skin, through his blood. It started as small pinpricks and grew until razor blades stabbed at every patch of skin and bone. It crawled up his neck and scorched his face, "It's almost over. You're doing good."
Heero didn't hear him. All he could feel was the pain, the incomprehensible, untold agony. Heero arched his back in convulsion, violently snapping the leather on his left wrist. The others rushed forward to rebind him, and the voice echoed in his ears, "Calm down, Heero."
Heero ripped the leather on his right arm, thrusting the men aside who tried to hold him. They were flung halfway across the room, but Heero didn't notice, slamming back down on the board as another fit of pain seized him. Strong hands dug into his flesh, holding him down, and the agony returned with vengeance. "Heero." the voice reprimanded. Heero couldn't stop himself, he couldn't bear it. His child's mind wasn't capable of holding back the sound. As Heero's world exploded, he threw his head back, opened his mouth, and screamed, and screamed, and screamed.
*End*
Heero's eyes snapped open and he pulled in a ragged gasp, pushing himself up off the bed. Pain lanced up his side like barbed wire, but he ignored it. Having re-experienced one of his earliest training sessions, it seemed pathetic to wince at something so negligible.
In a glance he saw Duo, Relena and the Doctor by his bed, each pair of eyes growing wide with astonishment.
"Heero!" Relena gasped, her shrill cry shattering the silence. She rushed to his side, fussing and propping him up with her hands. One supported him on the back, and the other fell lightly onto his abdomen. "Heero are you alright?" She asked, genuine concern in her eyes.
"He's awake." Duo said, dumbfounded.
Ignoring Duo's obvious pronouncement, Heero thrust Relena's hands away. She gave a little squeak, and before the pilot, Doctor or fanatic could stop him, Heero flung back the sheets and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Straightening neutrally, he didn't spare them a glance as he walked out the door.
"Heero!" Relena cried, dashing out after him, "Heero wait!"
Duo rolled his eyes as he watched her go. He could've told Relena there was no use chasing the guy, but since she got such a kick out of pursuing her potential killers, he let her leave. As much as Duo cared for his 'friends', he wasn't particularly partial to death by Heero. And so he figured he'd lay low for a while, chill for a few minutes, wait until Heero's destructive impulses were sufficiently subdued.
"H-he sh-sh-shouldn't be able to walk..." Remembering the Doctor, Duo spun around, a huge grin replacing his shock. "Wh-who___"
"Oh, Heero?" Duo cut in, backing towards the exit. "Nah!" He waved his hand wildly, "you don't have to worry 'bout him! He's a joker, you know? A real funnyman, you know the kind! Being a Doc and all you must have a lot of experience in that field!" Duo turned to look down the corridor, "Knowing Hee-chan he's probably playing a prank right now!!! HahaHA!"
Duo added, "I better go help."
Duo darted off down the hall, his grin falling away like a mask. That idiot! That damn hypocrite! Always accusing Duo of endangering the mission, and there he goes, trudging off down the hall like it doesn't matter that he was half-dead two seconds ago. By all rights, Duo now had the authority to whack Heero around, return the favour so to speak.
He scuttled halfway down the stairs and threw his legs up and over the railing, free falling for six feet before he landed painfully flat-footed on an unyielding carpet floor. Now even more pissed off; Duo straightened and narrowed his eyes. But before he could transfer his foot from carpet to tile, Duo halted, the carpet burns on his heels throbbing.
Duo stared, unable to register what he saw. Daytime sounds blurred together like dilute paint, and the only distinctive noise became the cold thundering inside his chest. Confusion rendered his voice unsteady. "What...?" He whispered.
Duo squinted; hurt stealing across his eyes. Was that Heero and Relena? His eyes narrowed, it couldn't be. Heero hated Relena, or at least something close! So why was he doing... 'that' with her? One olive-skinned hand cupped the girl's head, while the other lifted her chin. The girl sighed, and a shiver rolled up her spine, his hand slipping gently down her waist and pulling her close.
It wasn't possible! Duo rose up on the balls of his feet and strained to see past that head of sandy-blond hair. The boy's back was braced against the wall, his face so well hidden that Duo couldn't be sure of his identity. Then the girl tipped her head to the side, and her long mane swished to her shoulder, revealing that gorgeous, Japanese face.
For a split second, those cold Prussian eyes stared at him, and then Heero turned away. Duo's jaw locked as Heero's eyes fluttered closed, and he lowered his lips to Relena's. He nuzzled Relena's lips softly, and that hurt all the more because Heero had never been tender with him. It hurt, and it burned, but Duo kept on watching.
Relena moaned into Heero's mouth, her arms rising and winding around his neck as he deepened the kiss. Looking away with disgust, Duo decided he best leave before memories of Relena kissing gave him nightmares.
Duo pivoted stiffly. But as he walked to the base of the stairs, he forced himself to relax. Duo uncurled his clenched fists, and loosened his rigid jaw. Now that he was sufficiently calmed down he could start thinking tactics. Duo began climbing the stairs. Heero wanted to play games? Fine. If Heero wanted games, he'd get them. That bastard could toy with Relena all he wanted, because Duo was the master at sex ploys.
He wandered down the hallway, vowing something he was confident he could fulfill. Spying the bedroom at the end of the hall, Duo grinned inwardly. Duo had let Heero play with him for far too long, and now he was going to get his revenge. He pulled to a stop in front of a closed door, contemplating silently. What he was about to do, left no room for regrets.
Duo clutched the door handle, turned it until he heard a sharp click, and slipped inside.
He stared at her. Not strongly enough to make her wilt, but enough to make her squirm. "How long was I in coma?" Heero asked.
Relena blinked. "Not long, two nights..."
"Hn." Heero nodded, reaching for his laptop. He stopped a few-inches short, sharp pain spearing up his side. Willing himself to conquer it, Heero pushed on, shutting the agony out as it increased.
"Heero!" Relena reproved, snatching the laptop out of his reach. "You mustn't stress your body before it's at its full strength." She passed the laptop gently into his hands. "There you go. You must ask next time, alright?"
Feeling the needles in his side fade away, Heero took the offered computer without a word of thanks. He heard the muffled plunk of a painful landing from not far off, and recognizing that clumsiness, Heero smirked.
"You know," a voice cut in. "Duo adores you, but he should know what's truly in your heart." Pressing a hand to her chest, Relena continued, "I tried to tell him, but he wouldn't accept the truth. You must tell him, Heero."
Usually, Heero ignored her idle chatter, but her mention of Duo had snagged his complete and utter attention. His reaction disturbed him.
"...Now I know you don't want to hurt him Heero, but you must prove you don't love him. I know it's hard, but sometimes we are forced to be cruel, to be kind. In this situation, it would be kinder to let him know the truth."
Heero had stopped listening.
Spying Duo out of the corner of his eye, Heero grabbed Relena and pulled her against him. She gasped, startled, and clung to him, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. Not leaving a moment to spare, Heero passed off her embarrassment as unimportant, and leaned his back against the wall, weaving his fingers through her hair until they cupped the back of her head.
He felt no guilt using her this way; it would eventually go to the cause of peace further down the track, anyhow. Moving with deliberate tenderness, Heero slid a hand under her chin and lifted it, sensing those eyes still on them. "Heero," Relena whispered, not understanding the charade.
She closed her eyes as Heero lowered his lips, and as her hair fell to the side of him, Heero couldn't help but look up. Duo's beautiful, hurting violet eyes bored into him, tugging at his heart. But this weakness he felt was dangerous, so forbidden in a soldier. Heero closed his eyes and met Relena's kiss halfway, strangling the instinct to thrust her aside.
Why wasn't Duo leaving? Out of the corner of his eye, Heero could still see that black-dressed figure. He should have gone by now. Perhaps Heero needed to strengthen the fervor. Pulling Relena tight against his body, Heero invaded her mouth with his tongue, feeling paltry arms wrap around his neck as she moaned.
He listened for the sound of rapid, desperate footfalls on the stairs, but instead, all he heard was a soft, controlled ascent. Had that been Duo? Relena's wet tongue caressed his, wrenching him back to a painful reality. Sickened, Heero excised the chains binding his instincts, and literally shoved her off him.
A startled cry left her throat as she was thrown backwards, the table behind, saving her from a nasty fall.
Heero took a step forward, whipped out his gun. "Who called the Doctor?" He asked her coldly.
Relena's eyes widened. "Heero...?" She asked, so confused.
"Why did you call a Doctor?"
Relena blinked. "Well I." She floundered for words, "I___ it was Duo really, he told me___"
"Duo." Heero echoed. He slid the gun back into his spandex, turning to leave. Relena opened her mouth to speak, but he ignored her, brushing aside her protests and hands. His pivoted on his heel, and began gliding out the door, 'Duo no baka.'
Expecting to encounter a door, Quatre lost his balance and began to fall face-first into the floor. His arm lashed out and he clung to the empty doorframe in the nick of time. Scrabbling for a proper hold, Quatre hauled himself vertical again, breathing heavy. He swung around to the inside wall for support and laughed, his heart thudding against his ribcage, "Wow," he breathed.
After a minute of recovery, Quatre was ready to venture out into the unknown again. He had almost died about ten times today, and there was no way he was stopping there. Facing the treacherous doorway, Quatre braced his hands on its frame. "Ow!" Quatre yelped, recoiling. Realizing what the sharp pain had been, he sighed. "Splinter..."
Deciding there was nothing he could do at present, Quatre stretched out his arms. He took a step forward, and panicked as his foot plummeted far lower than he'd predicted. Just as he was reaching for support to halt his fall, the earth slammed back up to meet his foot, jarring his body and shooting fierce arrows up his shinbone. "Doorstep..." He groaned.
His other foot followed the second more gracefully, and Quatre reached the outside yard without further injury. Smiling with pride, he gulped a lungful of Earth's precious atmosphere, feeling warmth - daylight - spill across his features.
Quatre squatted down by the door, resting his elbows on his thighs. When his fingers brushed some feathery leaves, Quatre gave an excited yelp and flipped around into a crawling position. He reached blindly for the bush that his fingers had contacted, and, finding it, plucked a forget-me-not, careful not to pull the flower out by its roots.
Sighing with happiness, Quatre turned back around and sat down. He twirled the stem between his finger and thumb, raising his sightless eyes to the sky. 'I should've asked Duo today,' he thought, 'is the sky blue, or overcast?' In the past, Quatre might've called a grey sky dull, but now? Now he'd give anything to see that colour again.
Quatre sighed. Upon his arrival, and for many days afterward, he'd been awe- struck by the Earth's beauty. He'd observed it for many hours, simply watching, worshipping the colour and the life. He'd never seen anything more wonderful. Quatre closed his eyes, remembering those first few days.
"I wish..." Quatre trailed off, and sighed. He shook his head, smiling slightly. You should never wish for anything.
Quatre's smile broadened as a gusty breeze ruffled his hair. He hummed softly, enjoying the songs of the wind and the birds, and the texture of the forget-me-not spinning between his fingers.
An aeroplane roared overhead and Quatre leaned his head back slightl___ "Ow!" Quatre rubbed the back of his cranium grudgingly. "Wall..." he growled.
Tears sprang from Relena's eyes in an unabashed torrent. Heero had been so close to admitting his feelings, so close to accepting her! If she'd only had a second more she might've had time to convince him. Denying his wants wouldn't save him, it only guaranteed him pain.
The stupid, white-clad Doctor toddled into the kitchen meekly, his skin blending in with his attire. "Miss Relena? I know this is a bad time, but there are other appointments back home, and I mustn't be late."
Relena glared at him with the force of ten thousand daggers. Bad time? Bad time! This wasn't a bad time, this was a horrible time! Call the end of the world upon her and she could not feel any worse! Relena ignored him and collapsed back on the counter, her body shuddering with sobs.
"Uh, Miss Relena? If you'll just sign this..."
Incensed, Relena snatched the forms out of his hand. How could the man be so insensitive, couldn't he see she was distressed? Had it been her private doctor, Mr Andem, he'd have never bothered her at a time like this. Scribbling her signature next to the X, she left blotches of running ink all over the text with her tears.
She handed the documents back to the man, and as he reached to take them from her, she yanked them back and began rifling through the forms.
"Miss Relena...?" He stammered.
"You haven't treated Quatre yet!" Relena barked, inadvertently loud.
"Uh-what? I was told there were only two pilots___ er, patients to tend to."
Relena narrowed her eyes. How did he know they were pilots? She opened her mouth to ask so, but he interrupted quickly, "I can treat him now, but it must be fast, I really am in a hurry." The Doctor offered.
Relena nodded, brushing aside her suspicions. She swabbed her tears with a handkerchief, hopped off the counter, and began leading the way. "Well come along, I think he's in his room."
It almost felt like Space. Not one noise infiltrated his concentration, and his body felt as light - no, lighter than - a feather. It was a remarkable and wonderful sensation, knowing that those mind-numbing headaches couldn't plague him here.
One flickering candle illuminated the entire room, or rather, had been cursed with that impossible task. It burned low now, the short, melting rod on a slant like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, in a pool of cooled wax. As always, no sunlight penetrated this room, everything around Wufei was blanketed in darkness.
If he had kept track of the correct time, Wufei had been awake all night. After the paralysis had seized him two nights ago, he'd sought out meditation like an addict sought out heroin. Wufei hated being helpless, and he truly had been that night.
And now he found himself caught in a trance, enduring powerful temperatures and humidity. The odd thing was, not a drop of sweat beaded on his skin. His room had heated like an oven, and the air was so thick now you could swallow it. But his body was perspiration-free.
In all honesty, Wufei knew where he was headed. Few had traveled this road, though the state achieved at the end was one worth dying for. Taught by the best, Wufei knew that that was just what would happen if he kept going. So being the fighter he was, Wufei rejected the land of pure bliss and all its promises.
Beginning his return, Wufei retracted out of his semi conscious state, bit by bit, his body feeling more like a burden with each second. From lessons and experience, Wufei knew there was only one thing that could go wrong at this time. The consequence could be death, or worse, but for that to happen, there had to be outside intervention, and what were the chances of that?
Suddenly a pair of sleek hands rolled over his shoulders, snapping Wufei out of his trance wickedly fast. He crashed back into his body with bone- breaking force, collapsing limply onto the person behind him. Wufei scrunched up his eyes and moaned, momentarily crippled because he'd come back faster than his body would permit. He felt as though he weighed a thousand tons, and his brain hammered violently against his skull.
Wufei had escaped death by a finger's breadth, and though he knew he'd regain his strength in a minute, it infuriated him that he could not lift his eyelids to identify the culprit.
Uneasiness whispered up his spine, as the hands holding him caressed his skin. He flinched when soft lips claimed his neck, sucking hard enough to leave a love-bite. "Wufei." a voice whispered. Wufei shuddered, trying desperately to move. Male fingers began slinking down his chest, and as something fell into his lap, his eyes widened in recognition.
The End of Chapter Eight
Next Chapter: _?x5 - though uve probably already figured out who the person is, relena's really dumb, mission, duo bastardization,
Chowwwwwwiies :)
