Author: Crazy
Pairings: none
Warnings: language, mention of minor character death
Disclaimers: I don`t own them, though I would LOVE to take a couple of them home with me. And I`m not making any money off them, just expanding my meager skills.
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Chapter 2
Foot
tapping with nervous energy, Duo raked his fingers through unruly bangs. It had
only been twenty minutes since he had made his decision to leave. It didn't
take long after that for the doubts to begin plaguing him.
Never before had he worried about being alone, but now.... He leaned back to
stare at the ceiling. Who was he kidding? It had been so long since he had been
on his own. ~I don't think I have the courage to do this anymore.~ A sarcastic
sound escaped him.
"Duo?"
~ All I can do is try. How hard would it be to disappear once we get to the
shuttle port? ~ He laced his fingers behind his head. ~ Yeah, I could jump
another shuttle heading somewhere they'd never find me. I think I should stay
on earth. L2 is the first place they'll look. ~ A Picture of Hilde flashed
through his memory. ~ Uh...I don't think I could go back there anyway.... ~ He
squeezed his brimming eyes shut.
"Duo."
~ There has * got * to be a place .... New York, Paris, London. ~ He listed
off places using the fingers of one hand. ~ Um .... Naples, Rome. Nope. None
of those will do. ~ He sighed softly
when he realized those were all places that THEY would look in. He could just
hear Quatre saying they are so 'Duo-like'. ~ Guess I should try something new.
Something smaller, Like..Um ... ~
"DUO!"
The braided Preventer started violently. Eyes wide, he looked around feeling
like the proverbial 'deer caught in headlights.'
Finally his eyes came to rest on the features of a concerned Arab. "Hey Quatre!" He drawled, trying to
vie for time to let his heart to slow down. "Don't get your panties in a
bundle." Tiredly, he rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.
"What do ya need?"
"Re-entry." Quatre enlightened. "Time to buckle up."
Duo ducked his head in acknowledgement. "Thanks." He murmured as memories
flooded him again.
"What happened?" Hilde asked with concern.
"Baka." Heero snorted as he helped Duo into
a chair.
"What? Tell me!" Hilde urged, bringing a
first aid kit over.
"Heero was driving." Wufei supplied, coming
in the front door, carrying an armload of
groceries.
Hilde threw a glare at the messy haired man.
"That's right. It was HIS fault!" Duo whined.
"No Duo, it is YOUR fault." Quatre provided,
following the Asian.
"Quatre! Whose side are you on anyway?" Duo
barked incredulous. "He was the one driving!
Doesn't he know how to STOP? Oh no! He just
decides to go right through any obstacle.
Passengers-be-damned!"
"YOU were warned." Was all the Arab would say
in his defense.
"If you had worn your seatbelt, you would be
just fine." Wufei pointed out, as he headed back
out the door, passing a chuckling Trowa.
"But, Bu....HE... Who's idea was it to let the
maniac drive anyway?" Duo pouted.
Heero purposefully bumped his wounded leg.
"OW!"
That had been a good day for them. Despite the bickering, they had all had a
good laugh in the end. And Hilde had been alive.... It always came back to
Hilde.
Duo pulled the straps tighter, before wiping the stray tear that slipped down
his cheek. He remained unaware of the hard blue eyes that studied him through
the reflection of the cockpit window.
* * *
Heero`s brow creased a moment when he saw the tear. He was having such a hard
time controlling his emotions, and it pained him to see the others struggling
as well. His hands clenched in his lap, turning his knuckles white. He had not
been close to Hilde, but she
had been a part of their family, a part that had slid into his little world
without him noticing. Perhaps he would have never noticed, except now she was
gone, leaving a gaping hole that was rendering his world vulnerable.
He still had some grieving to do himself, but Duo concerned him more. The
American was so distant now. He stared down at his fists. It was almost as if
he were slipping away....
~"I...run and...hide..."~
Startled at the thought, Heero brought his head up and stared at the sad face
in the window reflection. ~ Duo, don't run from us. If not for yourself, please
do it for us....Do it for me. ~ He
continued to watch as the braided man wrapped his arms around himself. ~ It's
time to stop the running, Duo. ~
With a sigh, he turned his attention to the task at hand. As much as he wanted
to get up and shake some sense into Duo, now was not the time.
"Head Quarters, this is P shuttle 2 asking for re-entry clearance." Heero monotoned into a com unit.
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