Disclaimer: Okay, sadly I don't own any of the gboys, Relena – heck, ANY of the characters for Gundam Wing Drat *snaps finger* nope, only own the doctors and the nurses… ^_^
Oi, forgive me for this part taking so long! ^_^;;; I've been away on a trip… which is were I wrote the whole part…. The only problem was NO COMPUTERS! O.o And I've been having trouble sitting down to write all of this down… school's about to start… *shivers* The horror! Hopefully it won't effect parts coming out in the future… but I wouldn't hold my breath. Though I shall try to be speedy and everything like that.
*looks at reviews* O.O Gee, *beams* I feel so loved!!!! ^___________^
Mary (why thank you very much! I'm glad you like it! And here's the next part ^.^), Sugar Goose (eeek! *points at part 10 shaking in fear of the knife* look!!!! It's long…. Really long!!! I'm…I'm… re…ally glad you like it ^_^ *faints* (knifes scare Anne…)), The Evil Ones… or is it Shinny? (Here's more ^_^ I'm glad you made an exception… with my story! Woohoo! I feel all special now! Don't hit Relena though… *grins* can't tell ya more or else I might give something away. Oh, and I think that my goal was for people to picture Hee-chan as a wee little chibi boy… that Duo has to protect against the evils of everyday life… like eating the scary food from the hospital…. AHHH! *runs away screaming* my only hope is that I didn't make him too chibi… *sweatdrop*), noodle power (ah, gomen… I try very hard not to be evil *bows head in shame* so I humble offer you this part in hopes that… I become somewhat less evil *smiles hopefully*), Grinning Repear (O.O…. Thank-you so much! ^_^ I've never had an otaku before! I feel my confidence shooting through the roof now! Maybe parts will start coming along faster! Yes, I agree with you on the fact that Duo's usually the one who's in trouble and Heero's the knight in shining armor… well, I guess I'm not into tradition… ^_^ I'm so glad that you like my story – you really just don't understand what it means to me to hear - or should I say read – the nice things you said about it! Ah, I'm really glad that you did get around to reviewing; I'm glad that my work has a fan as fantastic as you! And it's fine by me if you call me Moonie-chan – only I'd rather we leave out the threatening manner stuff ^_^ I'll get so scared I can't write! #^_^# Arigato!), sapphire (Wah, I'm sorry! Well, here, here! For you! The next part – shall help you on your quest to find what "bleep" relena did! ^_^ I hope you like it, ne? And Thanks for all the reviews! So here's a how pitcher! DRINK UP! ~_^), Silent Fear (Another review from you! WOW! ^_^ sorry this wasn't very asap… I tried through… I hope you enjoy this part too!), Ivvic (Love? You love it? ^_^ woohoo! Well, here's the next part! Sorry it took so long!), Hikaru (Wow, no cry! Please! It'll break your computer! That'll be sad! Oi, I'm so glad you think it's so beautiful! I'm quite literally tickle pink! #^_^# You guys who write reviews really know how to make a writer happy!!! ^_^ Ah, I'm glad that you could enjoy my story even with the yaoi in it! I try to make it about the people not about their gender… oh, I really hope you like this part! Thanks so much!), and BlueXViolet ( Thanks! I do also notice how we fanfic writers tend to give Relena a lot of evilness… for me I say it's 'cause she keeps screaming "Heero, come and kill me!" Otherwise she really isn't so bad I guess! … maybe it's 'cause I like Heero so much I don't want her to have him ^_^ tehe, just kidding! ^_^ I can't promise that notice will happen to them… but I can – wait no – I can't tell you that! ^_^ Hope you like this next part!).
Sheesh, you guys are really great! Love you all! Thanks for the reviews - *deep breath* AND Hope you enjoy it! ^_______^
Meet Me Half Way
Part 10 ~ It's Not About That
"So, lets get started," Dr. Leigh smiled softly, clipboard in his lap, pen poised to write.
I nodded, looking to Heero, who glared darkly at the floor. His arms were crossed, but he sat stiffly straight in the green cushioned seat.
"Heero?" Dr. Leigh raised an eyebrow, looking over the rims of his glasses.
Dark brown locks shook up and down, but Heero continued to glare at the floor.
"What day is it?"
"'uesday."
Writing.
"Where are we?"
"Hospi'al – rec… rum." Heero keep his answers short, glaring contently at the floor.
More writing.
"Who is this?" Dr. Leigh gestured to me.
"Duo."
"Who is Duo?"
"Mine."
Writing.
"Do you feel like you're recovering, Heero?"
"No."
"What do you think would help you to recover?"
"Duo."
"But Duo's here with you, is he not?"
"No."
"Where is he?"
"Hur…."
"What?"
"Doc'ors not le' him come… I… he… hur…"
Dr. Leigh nodded, pausing in his questions to write what seemed to me to be quite a lot.
"Are you angry?"
"Yes."
"Who are you angry at?"
"'hem."
"Who is them?"
"'hem." Heero said firmly, his glare increasing.
All these questions and answers were scaring me. I mean, I don't know why, but I was clutching at the seat of my chair looking back between the two. Their voices were so haunting and there was no other noise besides them. Creepy!
"Do you think you manage your anger well?"
"Some'himes."
"What would help you manage it better?"
"Duo."
"What would make you manage it worse?"
"Her."
"Who is her?"
"'hem." Heero's eyes widened for a moment before returning to glaring at the floor.
"What frustrates you?"
"Not saying – way – I oose to." Heero forced out the words.
"Meaning?"
"T – alking." He pushed the word out of his mouth like it was fire, hands on the edge of his chair leaning forward as though he might spit.
"Are you understanding what's going on?"
"Yes."
"How much of it?"
"Ewey'hing."
"Do you remember how everything was before?"
"Yes."
"Does this bother you?"
"No ma'er."
"It doesn't matter?" Dr. Leigh clarified.
"no – doesn'"
"Why?"
"I won le' her hur him, no' Duo. She won' ge' him. No' 'hough me." His eyes darkened dangerously, and I dimly remember him having this look about him when he was in the cockpit of Zero.
I shivered.
"Will you tell me who 'she' is?"
"No!" His voice was fast. His eyes had a wild look to them; I could see them from beneath his chocolate locks.
"Why not?" Dr. Leigh stayed calm.
"I can no' reme'ber…" He shook his head violently – refusing, head still bent down.
"Why not?"
"No!" Heero's voice was tight – short and pained – his hands going to clutch his skull; his eyes were shut tight.
"Heero?" I gasped out, but Dr. Leigh put his hand up for me to hush. He looked exhausted, eyes holding a slight hint of anguish for the boy's reaction.
"Heero… I'm going to give you a break now… I brought the blocks with me today. The nurses say you like them. I'll be back… You play with them, ne?" He pushed the box of blocks from under his chair towards Heero; and the Perfect Soldier dropped to his knees in front of them, examining them. "Duo, will you come with me?"
I stood.
"No!" Heero's eyes went wide, and he looked so scared. He had finally looked up – at me, his hands outstretched.
"Yes, it would be better… if you stayed, I see." Dr. Leigh smiled at me, a tired one. But he had already known Heero was going to object – I could tell.
My eyes were wide too as he left. But when I turned back to Heero he was playing with the blocks on the floor in front of the chairs the three of us had been sitting in. I was amazed at the fact I hadn't heard him moving the chairs out of his way or even the noise of the blocks hitting together. Heero was really… being more himself.
I stood there watching him place the blocks in the same formation that seemed important to him… though to be more truthfully honest, I thought it looked like a train wreck. But, hey, I'm no art critic.
No, wait… As I watched him a while longer I realized this was familiar. Yes, this exact setup! I mean, PICTURE PERFECT! And I remembered why! He'd done this before… only he didn't do it all the time just… when he'd been shaken up or something.
Shrugging it away, I fell, almost lifeless, back into my seat.
He turned to look at me then. His eyes, for a change, were wide – not glaring… No, not so much wide… I stared into them as I realized they were pleading with me… but at the same time they were worried. Crawling over to me, he placed his block-clutching hand on my knee – then replaced it with his head, and cautiously, I reached to run a hand through his hair. He let me… looking under thick eyelashes up at me as though inside he was laughing at me to think he would reject me.
But all this time we were silent… no other noise was emitted. I mean complete and utter silence. And let me tell you… that silence… that was golden.
Don't laugh! I mean, it really was… it's as if we understood each other without really doing so at all. No, wait; what I mean is there was very little effort on either of our parts, an, yet, we made an eerie connection.
Yea, yeah, you can laugh and think I'm losing some screws, but that's what happened.
It was Golden.
The blocks… something about the blocks…The way that Heero looked at me… It means something. But he can't tell me… won't tell me… no…no…. that's not fair to him… not fair… not fair to me. When will it be fair to me? Wait, that's selfish! I shouldn't think… that…. But it hurts to see him like this…. It hurts… so much. He says "hur' Duo," what does he mean by that? … What does he mean? Wait what about the –
"BLOCKS!" I sat straight up, eyes round, to find myself in Heero's dark hospital room. I shivered, noticing only then that I was in a cold sweat. I glanced around slowly my eyes taking in the darkness. The moon shined in again, puddling around us like the night before.
The blocks meant something. And that something was very important. For Heero to repeat it so many times… maybe he was trying to show us something instead of telling us.
Turning to his sleeping form, I shook him awake. Blinking at me kittenishly, he yawned away his sleep.
"Heero!" At the sound of his name he turned his attention sharply to me.
"Tell me what the blocks mean," I whispered in his ear. And I've never in my life – to this very day – seen anyone pale so quickly… pull back so defensively.
"No!" He trembled out the mumble. But it was in a voice that was unsure of itself… wavering.
"Heero! You have to!" I pleaded softly inhibit of hiding the urgency in my voice. I pulled him close so that his head rested in the crook of my neck, and I held his trembling body carefully to me for fear it might break. "Heero, I'll always be here!" I whispered, vehemently pressing my lips to the top. "The blocks… Heero, what do they mean?"
He looked up at me fearful. For a moment we just stared at each other. He swallowed hard, turning his gaze to the floor, hands flying up to his head, and he let out a scream.
I jumped back; what was going on?
He clawed at his face, curling up into a defensive ball, his breathing ragged and broken.
"Duo!" He shouted my name, throwing back his head, eyes clinched shut and sweat glistening against his paling kin. "Duo!" He sounded feverish and lost. Tentatively I reached out a hand for him.
"Heero… I'm… right here." I stared at him, almost afraid to speak; God, was he okay? What had I done?
He didn't seem to hear me… off in some other world.
I shivered uncontrollably as I sat frozen, watching his body contort – the sheets tangled mercilessly around his limbs.
"Duo! I'm sorry I'm late!" He screamed… no, whimpered out, but his voice echoed endlessly throughout my body. This was Heero's voice, not the child-like representation of it… but really his voice. I was scared.
His arms flailed around him as though he was trying to ward off some imaginary beast, and he let out a blood-curdling scream, clutching at himself as though he believed his insides might be torn from him.
"No! Wait… someone's… someone's following me! Duo, I'm late – gomen!"
He shook his head, trying helplessly to look over his shoulder –eyes clinched shut, and he pulled his legs in close, clutching them as tears began to leak through… catching on thick eyelashes.
"Where am I? I… Duo… I'm gonna be late! Gods, I'm sorry, I know… I know you'll be upset –"
I instantly felt guilty; he had been hurrying because he knew I'd be upset! I was the cause of his accident!? My stomach did a horrible clenching-up and I felt so miserable that I couldn't throw up – though I needed to.
There was a frantic pause, and, again, his body began to shake; he flung his limbs defensively out.
"She still following!" He screamed – so loud I thought my ears would bleed. "Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Don't you get it!? Are you really so dense!! Leave me ALONE!!!" His voice was thunder, and I cringed, pulling back.
He collapsed into a fit of sobs… no longer screaming and carrying on; his limbs finally still. So cautious of awaking this terror in him again, I reached out to touch him, and jumped – inside my skin – at the static shock that it caused. He didn't seem to notice, so I drew him into my arms, cradling him while he sobbed limply in my embrace.
Somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered why no one had shown up. I mean, no doctors… not even a nurse. And, with all the screaming Heero had done – he wasn't exactly quiet about it – (and in his scary voice, the one he uses when he's kinda lost his sanity on the missions) that surprised me.
*
Driving, driving, driving.
A quick glance in the rear-view mirror, and the pink was still there, hovering in the shadows like a storm seeking the perfect time to attack.
With a sharp turn of the wheel a new road appears before the headlights and the pink is no longer dancing in the rearview mirror. A deep sigh is released and the clock reads barely 8:05. Anger for a brief second looms ominously over the horizon, but suddenly guilty sets in.
A flash of memory of the clock at 7:00 and an image of a cheerful pair of violet eyes flickers past.
Regret.
Hands tighten around the staring wheel. Cobalt eyes focus intently, but mind fading to other matters of ways to make-up without being obvious. And both muss the impending pink squall closing in on them.
Screeching tires, slamming breaks… and eyes shutting with baseless hope, opening in the last second to see…
Pink.
And the damnable curse that forms upon the lips would have frozen blood had the safety belt not snapped as such a critical point, and the shards of un-frozen ice imbed into the lightly tanned skin. Through a world rotating at such a wrong angle… where the music is off key and ear piercing… the car seems to flipping front of cobalt bloody eyes. And wonderment at the image… because it shouldn't be the outside that is seen – but the vehicle doesn't seem to take that into consideration.
The tree seems to fly up to greet… but once having gotten close enough, attacks instead.
It's eerie silence in which the sound of breaking human-steel is heard. The hard white structures of the body nothing more than a pile of broken bones.
Cobalt eyes widen in terror as the pink death-angel sings out of key, running closer. But the red think-ness veils itself around its owner; it can't however stop the pain that sheared through a body so effectively broken.
And the feeling of heat surrounds the senses, as clicking heels die away as doe the engine of death itself.
But before consciousness slips away the faintness of a masculine voice is etched in forever as the last thing remembered.
"Oh, my god! He's still breath!"
*
I sat there, holding him close, a glare settling into my features as I listened.
To be honest I wasn't sure if he was telling me, showing me, or perhaps remembering. I'm not even sure if he was speaking. But I suddenly had the missing piece, and it was all becoming much too clear.
I can't say that he knew what he was doing, because he kept saying, "I don't want to hurt Duo." And I was still at his side – he didn't even know I was there. So I concluded that he'd been shoved bodily into the past by his mind.
"If Duo thinks I've been with her… I … I… I don't know what this is he does to me – but I don't want to hurt him. He'll be hurt by her. She wants to hurt him."
Smoothing down his uncooperative hair, I whispered, "Shh… Duo's fine. He loves you very much, and he wants so completely for you to get better fast." I smiled gently at him. This was my Heero, coming back to me. The gruff-ness in his voice, the confusion, and the slight resentment that he knew he wasn't in control over his surrounds… it was all there. All the child-ness I had finally gotten used to seeing in him had washed away in a matter of seconds. But I didn't like why he was acting more himself….
He still thought he was in the wreck… body lying beaten next to the car he'd been driving, a jeep, one of his secret pride and joys that wasn't really such a secret since the other guys knew he was in love with it too. He still felt the blood pooling around him, slipping over his skin like molten lava; his bones still felt the cracks, his head still felt the blow against the large oak.
Someone was going to pay for all the pain he had felt and was feeling right now. That someone was going to pay dearly. My eyes gleamed dangerous, and secretly I knew I could be much more terrifying than even a sanity-deprived Heero ever could be. Yes, that someone was going to meet my wrath; a dark laugh threatened to escape my lips – I held it back. And that someone was none other than Miss Relena Peacecraft.
But right now I had to take care of Heero; he was more important. Just wait until he fell asleep then she'd be in trouble. "Shh… Heero, I'm right here… she's can't get you now, not ever." My lips turned up in dangerous smile.
As you all know a raging man is always slightly terrifying. But who has it in check, has it hidden behind the tiniest of smiles… he is more feared. And one who is bent on revenge for much lived pain but plays his part as a gentleman – well, my friends, that's the worst.
I smiled slightly, grimly, at my reflection in the mirror straightening my tie to the desired affect. I'd have to look well dressed in front of Relena to show her I meant business. And, boy, did I!
Heero was back to normal… well, I guess it's not really normal… Anyway, he was back to his child-like ways, the way he was after the accident.
I think I must have triggered something when I pressed on him about the blocks… hidden memories that he was never supposed to have. Probably has them because of his training… that's the only way I can explain it. A normal person wouldn't have been able to remember; their brain would never allow them to have a memory of such a traumatic experience. Needless to say Heero had somehow remembered, but now – it was like nothing last night had even happened.
But I knew it had, because now I knew what had occurred in the accidnet. And Relena was going down!
Slipping on my suit's jacket, I carefully removed the hair tie from around my wrist. Having already brushed my hair, I pulled it back into a loose ponytail.
I smiled at his sleeping form, face flushed slightly against the white sheets but dark hair still making him appear angelically pale. I felt lucky suddenly, so dearly lucky. I had come so close to losing him, hadn't I? No one would really ever know how close – and I'm glad – but still, just thinking about it scares me.
Creeping close so as not to wake his slumber, I placed the chaste-est of kisses upon his forehead before slightly slipping from the room.
Buttoning my suit's jacket I smoothed it down, straightening my collar as well. As I looked up I caught sight of Dr. Leigh. He nodded slightly, and I could read volumes in his eyes.
'Don't do something that you'll regret.' 'Heero needs you.' But above all, 'I understand… just… be careful.'
So I nodded back to him, giving a mischievous smile as I passed him.
And on to find Relena… my smile turned insistently dark. Where to start? Where to start? How about that huge mansion she lives in all by herself… with the exception of her mixed up brother, Miliardo, or was it going to be Zechs today?
Actually I have no problems with Zechs or … Miliardo – whatever – for that matter. I think he's a really swell guy… very gentlemanly… he at least waited until Heero was armed before "attacking," which is more than I can say for his sister.
Yep, no hard feeling for Ze – Mil… eh, you get the idea. Truthfully. I kinda admire him. I mean he was trying to do what was right during the war. He wasn't loyal to ane side or the other – no way! That'd be so lame! He was loyal to what he believed in, which few people are nowadays… though Relena is – Loyal to getting Heero killed in the most painful way possible! (I don't like that kind of loyalty – so sue me, I'm picky!)
So when I got to the house – no, what, I mean huge, gigantic, Louvre-sized castle, hundred-zillion story office building, also known as the Peacecracft estate – I'd kindly ask him to step aside while I mutilated his sister.
Yeah, like that'd go over well. I felt my eyes roll around in my head. Oi, this was going to be fun! I felt a shiver run up my spin and second thoughts about this whole thing came charging into my brain like a freight train five hours off of schedule.
I paused in my stalking down the street to storm the Peacecraft mansion. Hey, what if he challenged me to a duel – or something crazy like that? I shivered again, oh dear, what had I gotten myself into now. It never occurred to me that I hadn't gotten into it yet. The adrenaline that had once been coursing through my veins at an alarming rate seemed to have dissipated quite suddenly. Was I crazy? Insane? This was the kind of thing Heero should be doing – not me. My knees felt quaky, maybe I should turn around and go back. I mean, if someone wanted to rough up my little sister – well, saying that I actually had a little sister, I wouldn't let them.
It wasn't as if I really had the thought – it was kind of just floating around in my mind, like I was supposed to have those thoughts of doubt and jazz. I mean, really I never intended to turn around, but it was kind of nice pretending to myself that I didn't have to do this. I really didn't want to upset anybody… not even Relena herself.
And, yeah, I know, you're asking "why, Duo, do you have to do it? You don't have to do anything." Well, I'll tell you. She'd gone too far. See, next time Heero might not be so lucky, next I might not be so lucky. With the blink of an eye we (both Relena and myself) would lose him forever. I really can't say that I had any power over her to leave him alone forever but she sure as hell better not come near him. She could watch from afar – that's the best seat she'd be getting – no back stage passes for her! And with every step I had to reassure myself with these thoughts… because for brief moments I had the feeling that I was doing something wrong – but maybe it was just nerves – from the fear of what's-his-face when he tried to bust my lights out for trying to cut his sister's head off – with the dull side of a blade.
With a hard, harsh, and barely controlled growl, I barged through those dainty iron gates that formed a scrolly "P" where they came together, trying with all my might to look intimidating. But by now whether I did or not, nothing could stop me from getting to Little Miss Princess.
"Either show me to her or I'll find her myself!" I didn't try to mask the danger in my voice as I glared darkly at the servant girl. (Who would have thought little-old me capable of a glare!) Needless to say I was finding it increasingly hard to keep my cool gentleman façade in place. I'd been here for ten minutes and I couldn't get the girl to show me to Relena. Either she was as dense as her employer or she was just playing me. I was voting for the latter – but who knows. Mil – I mean, Zechs was quickly becoming my mentor.
"Sir, please!" She seemed on the verge of tears and I felt a tinge of guilt. "Miss Relena said not to be disturbed! I was sworn to say she was gone – they'll have my job!"
"What's going on, Sasha?" At the deep tenor to my right the girl nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Sir," she bowed respectively, trembling, "This man says that he must speak with Miss Relena – that it's urgent – but she instructed me not to show anyone up." The girl's eyes were rimmed with tears.
"Not to worry, girl. I won't be having any tears from you." He nodded to her; she visibly relaxed, but I noticed that her slender form still shook.
He turned now to look at me… or should I say down at me. His tall frame towering over mine as his blue eyes sized me up.
"Leave us, Sasha," His voice was firm, very persuasive.
I felt he might as well have said "Hold each other at gun point for five hours, fifty-three minutes and two and a half seconds before shooting." And we would have both complied.
Anway… she left us.
Once the girl was gone Miliardo spoke.
"Duo," his lips curled slightly at the tips into a small smile. "What god should I prostrate myself before in thanks for your visit?"
"I'm here for your sister," I said flatly. Then winced as I realized the way it must sound to him.
He raised an eyebrow eloquently, "Oh… do you care to elaborate?" His smile increased as he spoke but his voice still demanding.
And then – I kinda told him more than O cared to tell him. Watching his face grow firmer with each word – grim. No longer was there any amusement in his eyes; they had become quite dark and foreboding.
"She caused Heero's accident, and the worst part is when she was there, at the hospital… she didn't even say she was sorry! She sent Heero into a state of insanity just by being in the same room as him. He can't even look at the color pink without flipping out –"
"I don't want to hurt her or anything," I paused, feeling distress settle over me and finding it hard to pick my words out. "Physically…. I just want to make it perfectly clear to her how close she came – I just want to make sure she doesn't do it again." I finished hands clasping behind my back. Because if she did do it again all hell would break lose, and there would be nowhere she could hide to be safe from me. I clinched my teeth, figuring I shouldn't add that last part out loud as I waited for his reply; my nails were digging into the palms of my hands.
His gaze was hard on me as the seconds dragged on to minutes. He merely raised his left hand, first to fingers bending in a motion that all but –
"Yes, sir?"
Never taking his eyes from me, he whispered, "Relena has a very important visitor, see that she comes immediately to pay her respect."
"Who should I say is calling, sir?"
"Just a visitor and her brother requests her presence at once."
"Yes, sir." The servant bowed deeply, but Miliardo never noticed; his attention was drilling into me.
"How is he?" His voice was tight; his anger seemed barely in check.
I felt instantly confused. Maybe coming was a bad idea. He was kinda scaring me with this anger deal going on. What right had he to be angry? Huh? I'm the one who has the right! Yeah, I had so much right that I could tear this lavishly furnished room into a waste dump with my rage and it'd be A-O-K!
I had the sudden urge to stick out my tongue, but thought better of it as I answered his question.
"Awh, ya know, okay… I guess." If you consider going ballistic over a load of blocks okay – then by all means Heero was GRAND! "I mean, Relena really did set him back," like four months – but, hell, who was counting? Not me! "But he's such a little trooper." Gee wiz, I felt like my mom – only problem is I don't remember my mom, but that's such a motherly thing to say, you know.
He nodded, as though he was used to having basket-cases storm into his house demanding to bust his sister's face in and then start talking like a mother hen about their best friend. "You must except my sincerest apologies," he waved his hand in the air eloquently; his voice grim. "I had no idea she was capable of such horrible acts. I knew she had an infatuation with pilot 1 – Yuy… but I didn't know it was so serious, that she'd take it so far. If there is anything at all that I can do – please let me know." His lips curved in a soft smile, as he leaned in close to me.
Taking a rather all too casual step back – that's me, Duo-the-master-of-playing-it-cool-when-it-seems-that-your-worst-enemy's-brother-is-intent-on-getting-into-your-pants – I let my thoughts run crazy.
Yeah, for starters, how about sending your sister to Neptune or Pluto. Then paying the doctor bills. And how about making the doctor's a little more people oriented instead of money squabbling buffoons. Oh, yeah, and world peace, that'd be nice.
And, of course, last but definitely not least, do ya think you can make Heero back into the way he was before the accident?
That's not too much to ask is it?
I smiled and was about to nod away the rather useless offer when an ear-piercing scream caused me to have a heart attack and die. Well, maybe I was exaggerating a bit about the dying part – but it did make me jump a few feet in the air.
"What's he doing here? Miliardo, you didn't allow this thing in our house, did you? He's disgusting, unfit to lick our boots!" Relena carried on from the doorway, as if to enter would contaminate her with a vile plague, but she talked all along as if I were non-existent.
Miliardo merely turned to look at her, firmly speaking, "Please come in and stop shouting from the doorway; you're doing nothing to ease my migraine." With graceful fingers, he massaged his temple.
To my surprise she did as he bid her. "Relena, Maxwell here was telling me some rather surprising… and altogether interest things… about Yuy… and his accident. Do you know of which he speaks?"
Her eyes grew wide and her skin a deathly pale color. "He lies to you! Whatever he says is a lie! I would never do anything to hurt Heero."
"And how, dear sister, do you know that that is precisely what he was saying! You must have know all along. Which would mean that you are indeed guilty of the crimes, which he has laid bare before me. I didn't think it was so… but it seems I have mistaken my sister's capabilities; it shames me dearly."
She choked on the air as she stared at her brother in horror. She seemed to since that she couldn't deny it anymore for she took a different approach.
"He brainwashed him! Heero loves me!" She said forcefully, pushing her chest out as though she might convince him with her confidence. Her voice was loud as though while convincing her brother she was trying to do the same to herself. "He took him from me, Zechs! Don't you see! Would Heero love someone like him?" She waved her hand around in my direction.
I bit my lip, tears forming in my eyes. Who was she to say whom Heero would love? Why did she have to talk that way about me? What had I done to her anyway? I felt myself tremble beneath my skin. I loved Heero too… and he did love me back, no matter what she said. His eyes said so; his hands said so; even his mumbled words spoke it too.
She was still talking to her brother but her words were alien and hollow to me. How can I explain what I felt? It's utterly impossible. It wasn't anger; it wasn't sorrow; there was no revenge coursing through me now. Perhaps it was the frustration that came from being misunderstood – misused by someone so stubbornly clueless – someone who refused to see the light.
"Look here." I shouted, my whole being lost in a sea of tremors. "Just shut up for once in your life! I. didn't. brainwash. him. Okay? No, don't say a damn thing." I pointed a finger straight at her. "Do you even realize what you've done? What you could have cause?"
"You precious Heero could be dead right now! Dead! Smashed between an oak tree and his jeep. Blood surround his cold, lifeless, exposed body. All of his bones broken cracked against the will he had to survive you. Yeah, he almost didn't survive you! Just because you wanted to be closer to him!" I laughed cruelly – maniacally, my head thrown back, " you almost killed him with your wanting."
"Stop it! Stop it!" She screeched, throwing her hands over her ears. Her eyes shut tight, but I could see tears leaking through them.
She was crying, go figure. I was crying too – kinda. We could have a crying party. Shit, just get Mili – Zechs, whoever the hell he was to start crying and we'd have a record.
"Just stop it! You don't know what you're saying."
Suddenly I did stop, looking at her. "I know exactly what I'm saying, girl. You put him in this – you made him into this weakened form of a child – this defenseless weight, clinging to skirt hems. And who knows if he'll ever make it to something more of himself. I don't know, Quatre, Trowa, Wufei don't either, the doctors definitely don't think it will ever happen. And I doubt that you know.
"At least you can own up to your mistake – that at least you owe him. A "sorry" 'cause that's all you be allowed to give him. You never came to see him, you never came… except that once – and that was so long after the fact.
"I've been there… almost everyday. I've held his hand through all the shots, all his tears I've held him close. To say that you love him – you can't possible mean it! To love someone is more than just being there when it's best for you – you have to be there when he needs you too.
"I admit – I never wanted to see him like this, but I'm still here. You must have wanted it though, because you're the one who cause it. You're the reason why I'm here. You better love him from afar, because if I so much as see you…" I stopped, knowing I could never kill her. I shook my head. "I won't kill you, but I should. You didn't kill him – but you might as well have. He got away with his life – but how good is that if he can't be himself?" My gaze never left her, but I was done.
"You don't understand." She pleaded through a sob.
"What?" I was screaming now. "What don't I understand? That Heero may never be able to walk across a room without stumbling? That he might always talk in that child-like voice with the mingled sentences that sometimes hardly make since? That I may catch him staring off into space with that eerie blank look in his eyes? That he may not be able to do his job anymore – that he'll be dependant on someone else for the rest of his life? That that with physically, mentally crush him? Pick one! Cause I know them so damn well I have to watch him cry himself to sleep in frustration most nights!" I was standing so close to her now we were but a hair's breath away. "He knows what's going on, and that's the worst part. He can't do a thing about it."
She fell to her knees then and I watched her in disgust. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I love him so much. I just wanted him to realize that he loved me too." She choked on a sob, looking up at me – her blue eyes watery. "I just wanted to talk to him." She explained, tears still falling. "I didn't know – didn't think that it'd do any harm." She looked to her brother but seeing no comfort in his gaze continued. "I didn't think it could be so bad – if he'd just stopped and talked to me… it would have all worked out, I'm sure."
I snorted in disgust, pulling away from her, but she followed me on her hands and knees, reaching out for my pants leg.
"Please, I'm so sorry. I didn't think." Her eyes were begging me.
"Of course, you are. That's the problem – you didn't think." As I spoke I could bear the coldness in my voice as I detached her from my clothing with such scorn that it could put Lady Une to shame. (Well, Lady Une with her glasses…)
I left, sweeping out of the room. I didn't look back, not once. My feet carried me straight "home," where I found Heero waiting for me, sleeping like an angel.
Loosing my tie, slipping off my jacket, I sat down in the chair next to his bed. Just content in watching and realizing how lucky I really was… because Heero had been so close to death this time. We'd never know how close – and I didn't want to find out.
I smiled, leaning back in the chair for a moment with a deep sigh.
Suddenly I leaned forward again close to his ear. "You're safe now, Hee-chan. She'll never get you."
"Duo…" he breathed out, never waking from his dreams, his breath even and soothing.
TBC
Oi, so how do you like that, people? Super long compared to the last chapter, ne? ^_^
Again, sorry for how long it took me!
And thanks so much for all the reviews – I've been given some great ideas from some of you ^_^ And you other people are so smart to know what's going to happen next! ~_^
Don't know how long this next part will take – but I'll try to be fast – at the same time not so fast as to write something stupid and bad… ja ne!