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Disclaimer:…….9,999,990 dollars left to raise….
(P.S. I don't own it YET AHAHAHAH)
~Life aint no bowl of cherries~
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Heero and Duo still hadn't come to the fullest realization that what had happened was just a random act of violence against someone who wasn't full prepared. It was deeper than both of them could imagine.
~*~
"Strip her."
"WHAT!?"
"You thought we were going to put her in clothed?"
"NO! Well…yes…"
"You're wasting time!" Heero growled and moved quickly towards her. Ayame recoiled behind Duo, like he was a wall between herself and her offender.
"She's not going to trust me…*you * do it…"
"…Okay…" Having thrown what was left of his values into the nearby toilet, he turned to Ayame, who still clung to the soaking wet comforter. Her lips lined in blue, eyes darkened and so dead, she was nothing like the shy, bright-faced girl he remembered.
Moving in small increments towards her, the massively knotted-haired young man reassured the frail animal with a shushing from his dried lips, finally getting close enough to rest his hands on her shoulders. She flinched.
"We're only trying to help Aya-chan. You need to get washed off and bandaged. It's only a few scratches…"
And with that, something changed in her eyes. Emotions shifted as embarrassment wiped the fear from her body. Ayame clung to the covering, replying to Duo in body language that she'd rather die like this than give up the yellow, bloodstained shielding.
"Fine. I'll let you get undressed yourself. And I'll make sure that perv Heero doesn't look either, I just need that blanket okay?"
Unfortunately both pilots were too dense to realize that there wasn't much to take off under that blanket.
Duo's smile was so comforting and warm. Without another option she loosened her grip. Duo slid his palms down his Aya-chan's shoulders bringing with them the last line of defense.
"H-eero…" The lump. The lump in his throat had revived and this time it was holding back with all it's strength a wave of vomit that had boiled up inside.
"What." Cobalt eyes, locked on the warm water cupped in his hands he was testing for temperature purposes, shifted coldly from the tub of water to the pair behind him.
"WHAT THE FUCK DUO!?!"
There wasn't a scrap of cloth on her body. It was sickening. Flesh chunks were actually hanging off her legs as blood seemed to pour out like sweat from her body. She hugged her chest, trying to cover up herself or maybe hold in the last scrap of dignity she had. Duo, never in his life saw something as soul-wrenching as this. Arms, legs, stomach, chest, all bleeding and bruised.
::Why the fuck didn't I see it before…::
Blood ran down between her shaking, pale legs.
::No. Please no.::
Even the perfect solider was too rocked to put anything into words. There was a mask, an almost humorous expression slapped on the once expressionless face that paled with every inch his eyes scanned.
Ayame looked on the verge of having a suicidal break down.
::GODDAMIT DO SOMETHING!!!:: His subconscious screamed at him. Duo Maxwell, the almighty shinigami, was staring a rape victim dead in the face with the most disgusted look. God, this was worse than the sexual torture she had been put through moments ago.
"I-it's okay…" Duo shifted foreward and pulled her into himself. He didn't care at that moment if Heero was watching. The whole world coulda been staring at him and it wouldn't have affected the course of actions he took.
"I'm here for ya Ayame…" He picked her up, eyes closed, stinging with an unfamiliar pain, one he hadn't felt since he was ten (1). Warm water pooled around the weak doll he placed in the bath that immediately was tainted with crimson. Duo knelt down on the cool tile floor picking up the wet rag that rested on the floor. He wiped away the dried blood from her lower lip. "And I'll be here for as long as ya need me…"
Duo smiled. Ayame smiled back.
1) Duo was ten in the Episode Zero manga when he cried over Sister Helen when she died, I believe. If I'm wrong, MAY I BURN IN HELL! (with shinigami)