Real Life 10
By: Anime Redneck
11-14-03
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Disclaimers: I don't own the GW Guys or the SM Gals so no sueing! Thanks! ::goofy grin::
Hey guys! ::sees the glares and quickly high tails it to her hiding spot yelling out:: Don't kill me!! Don't Kill me!! Dude, please don't! heh Though you might in a minute... 'cause ya see... I had this chapter finished last Friday... ::winces from 'er hiding spot as a few well aimed rocks hit it:: I'M SORRA!! Please just read! WHA HELP!!
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X. Humored Fallings and Unknown Sways
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"DUO! Are you coming?" inquiring with a raised brow as Heero snapped the buckle to his helmet on.
Yeah, yeah, yeah! Rolling his eyes, mouth smirking around it's fill, "Lemme finish my Zingers first!"
"Duo" calm collected broke in from beside his mate, "That is your third packet."
Chuckles, "You know he'll be leaving you both behind in the dust when his sugar rush kicks in from eating just the tops, then the chocolate and filing." Quatre's too sweet, smug sounding voice cracked into the three-way conversation slash chiding.
"And you are innocent in this equation, Winner?" white gleamed as Wufei smirked behind his teacup. This coming from the man who paid for this "outing" and insisted that Maxwell be able to have some sweets while camping since there was less for him to break when the sugar ingested rose to the fore.
At the spoken pointed finger, their small Arabian felt heat grow in his cheeks, "Well... He picked them out!" trying to futilely clear his name.
Smirks lit two normally bland faces, Wufei's widened, a snicker even making its way past rosy tiers while Duo shook his head laughing, one hand raised waving at the other two while he joined Heero and Trowa by the bikes Heero had picked up from... somewhere. Duo didn't want to know where as he inspected his own.
It was a red and gold mountain bike, 18speed, nice large tires, all metal workings, none of that plastic crap that tended to break easily even if it was thick and somehow reinforced for strength. The bars were flat, straight, shinning red like the rest with golden-tan grips and shifters. The saddle plain black and a blessed gel seat! He loved the ex-Wing pilot for that.
Maybe he should just start calling Heero, Wing? Angel Wing? You couldn't really make a good nickname from 'Heero' besides 'Hee-chan' and that name gets him killed nearly more then he'd like to admit. 'Hee-man' wouldn't be any better! With his damn luck no one would stop the Oriental teen as he went for his precious gun! Though... that name did wonders for mental pictures!
Whistling lowly climbing onto his bike, Duo tried it around in circles for a few minutes before grinning. Heero hadn't seemed to mess with it. He was safe to ride now.
Later, Shinigami's own would learn to rue that single thought.
"Lets go."
Heero frowned watching the braided American, "Helmet, Duo."
"Awww man no way!" He didn't need a helmet! Wasn't Wing and everyone else always complaining about how damn thick his head was? He didn't need no stinkin' helmet! "Not wearin' it bub."
Picking up the dark violet and black plastic and hard foam headwear, nimble fingers popped it up into the air, hand drawing back before smacking it to fly forward hitting the American in the chest. "Helmet Duo."
"Sure your not twins?" Duo asked lowly, grin turning downwards into a cute frown. He didn't need a stinkin' helmet! They looked... well dorky! Sigh. Violet-blue orbs lifted from inspecting the oval shaped contraption to settle on his two companions heads; they were both wearing helmets. They both had heads just as hard as his if not more so, and... both were wearing helmets... Would Heero - now warmly known as Wing - really make him (let alone himself!) wear such a thing if it wasn't really needed? They didn't have helmets in their Gundams... Should they have? Probably wouldn't have helped much...
Giving a resigned sigh, muttering darkly, the violet and black headgear was placed on and snapped into place. There. He was wearing it! Hades but did it feel weird! His braid sticking out the back didn't help any either... it was pushing the hat just that much more down onto his head... Growling in mock anger Duo ripped the helmet off for show, turned it over and played with the straps, getting them just a bit looser so his braid could breath before putting it back on and nodding. He was ready to go!
"Hn." Turning around on his own bike, blue and silver, Heero grunted his approval before leading the way into the forest. While walking with his Latin one early morning, fog stuck lowly to the ground, parting softly as they walked, they had stumbled across cleared paths, looking well used. Turning, arching brows at one another they had shrugged and started off on one of the paths passing by many small hills, then larger ones further down which dipped a great deal, some up to twelve foot in a narrowly smooth downward slope before it arched up again at the other end, sometimes in the same smooth motion, others a bit steeper, some with logs stuck at the top to add an extra jump in going up it.
It had struck them then... They had hit biking trails.
Purely teenage glints had entered their eyes, if not a bit Evil Kenevil-ish.
They had been men; they had been Soldiers... They had never been Kids - Teenagers... never had a childhood... Not one like normal kids... ones filled without training, fighting, trying to stay alive long enough to see the next day. Now that the Eve Wars were over - they didn't have to fight anymore. They were trying to be the kids that they never were... Trying new things "Fun" things that had anyone ever asked half of them a year ago about - they'd know nothing of.
Now they had the time, the freedom to do so! And they fully intended to do so. With Duo's prodding and teasing, they had done more since the Eve Wars end, then they every had in their life - at least where "fun" was concerned anyhow. Duo's past might not have been a bowl of cherries, but that had never kept the hyper, smiling boy from learning how to have fun along the rough way.
As soon as Trowa walked into an intersecting trail, noticing there was a 4x4 stuck in the ground with a colored top, same colored arrows pointing this way and that, and another colored 4x4 by it with arrows pointing another direction - he smirked, tugging on a well toned, callused hand, pulling his Japanese lover down the other colored path to see if it was as he thought. Another trail.
They returned to camp that afternoon, each bristling with excess energy catching the other three's eyes as they watched them curiously rush into their tent, change, emerge minutes later and snag the truck keys before literally peeling out of the campsite, sand flying, and heading back towards town for... something the others had no clue of whatsoever.
Imagine Quatre, Duo and Wufei's surprise when they came back skidding to a stop with five new bikes.
All were immediately taken off the truck, checked over once more and placed off the side of camp so they could eat lunch over discussing what the Japanese and Latin had found while on their walk. Duo had been more then excited to get out of camp and go exploring - but to go exploring on a bike as well!? Dear Lord that was like utopia to the braided teen! Persistence was something dearly noted, attached and stamped onto his sun kissed forehead that day - bugging everyone to go riding with him.
Trowa and Heero were the only volunteers. Wufei wanted to finish his book, little Quatre declined saying he was going to spend the day wade fishing. No one once thought he'd catch anything, but if he wanted to wade fish, no one was going to stop his attempts - never know, he might actually achieve and catch something!
"Hey watch it buddy!" Duo warned trying to hold back a grin at Heero's grunted response, "I'll take that comment and shove it where-"
"Duo..." it was growled.
"-I can retrieve it later to put some serious thought into it." Duo finished meekly under the threatening glare his tall Latin friend was sending his way from riding behind Heero, who was leading this little expedition into the forest trails.
There came a suspiciously rumbled sound from ahead of them that, had Duo the lesser survival instincts then he had, might had made a comment on for sounding like someone was about to back fire - but, Duo had better control then that (most times) and refrained from commenting as they entered into darker areas where trees shaded everything with their majestic limbs, large trucks formed natural paths, mazes, for anyone who dared to enter their own lands.
Duo was in awe.
Everything was different from inside the forest then from the out. The trees were taller, shooting to the heavens, all fighting for dominance of space, trying to spread their arms wider then the others. Smaller trees of all sorts took up the bottom grounds, their tiny arms reaching up and out, as if wanting to be picked up by their elders.
To Duo's amusement, they pasted up neon orange mushrooms1, red and yellow ones. He didn't even know they CAME in colors other then tan or white!
He was personally waiting to see if any blue ones popped up.
Turning around from staring at the neon orange mushrooms had his poor heart jumping triple time, his hands clenching onto the bars in a death grip as he jumped up from his seat, feet getting a better grip on the peddles as he was suddenly shot downwards VERY quickly letting out a startled "HOLY SHIIIITT!!!"
Apparently. Sometime between admiring the massive trees and nature life around him, and staring at the multicolored mushrooms - they had hit the trails.
And he never noticed this fact.
Even as the ground below him came somewhat smoother - then again his bike DID have shocks, so maybe that wasn't so much a fact to focus on. The fact he SHOULD be focusing on, was that he was going down a steep downward slope that had a frickin' foot straight drop down before the 'slope' - which also had his heart fall into his shoes with thinking his ass was going to go OVER the handlebars from the jolt!
"Damnit to Hell!" Getting the bike under control muttering while his legs pumped, trying to get himself up the other hill after his two comrades - he heard the distinctive sound of snickering. But that in no way should be possible, because Silent Wing (hey that was a good one!) and Muted Clown, didn't laugh, didn't chortle, didn't smile. At least not so you'd really notice it! So them snickering at him was out of the question.
Not that that stopped him; "Keep it up! Just keep it up!" his head shook, "Or I really will stick--!"
Snigger. "...Duo..." Strange, how someone trying to rein their humor in could make a wavering word, sound menacing while still quietly laughing.
"-my nose in someone else's business 'cause I don't know what y'all do, it's probably very scary and I'd rather not know. Yup! That's it."
More snickering.
They were loving this, he was sure of it. Well! He'd show them! ...Just as soon as he knew where the trails went, and how, THEN, he'd really get to play! Until then, he'd be good and watch what was going on, where they went and what he had to be to insure he stayed firmly on his bike and on the trails.
He didn't know about the others... but falling down the fifty-foot plus drops he was seeing from these trails - especially the ones that rode RIGHT on the edge of the creek cliffs - was not in his itinerary for the day. Or ever. Lying down those cliffs were huge ass trees that would HURT on the way down... not to mention the spiky smaller ones, or where the ground caved in a few feet from rushing water carrying it away before it picked back up into sloping downwards more and then hitting the creek.
No. He most certainly did NOT want to take that fall.
Why were the trails - some of them - so damn close to the cliffs?
He could pilot Deathscythe Hell with no problems; no real fear at all, he trusted his buddy! Fighting OZ soldiers wasn't even a problem. Facing down Wing pissed off was more dangerous then those bozo's. But this biking thing... heh He now knew why Wing insisted on the helmets.
One trail... what the hell were they on now anyways? Blue Trail? He couldn't remember what color the post was this time... But he had passed up part of the forest's downward slope coming off it's side (or hill, whatever people wanted to call it) that had the trail running along the creek again, on the banked edge of a fall that was the leading candidate for doing major damage - and it turned. The damn trail turned almost sharply! on this damn downward deal.
Now you take someone going faster then they were (which wasn't fast since they were trying to get a feel for the trails first) taking that curve while going downhill and you had a wonderful chance for rearranging some bones should you loose ground and go over the side of the cliff. Not to mention the trees you'd hit BEFORE going over the side should hurt rather nicely too. Can't over look that fact.
Suddenly Duo was pondering if Heero really hadn't messed with his bike. He had after all, "Omae o koruso'd" him plenty of times during the wars and never once carried it out for some reason or another. Maybe it was 'cause he really liked him as a friend and was just too shy to mention it; Maybe Heero "Wing" Yuy had a crush on him and blushed so much that he couldn't get the words out - or sadly yet - Maybe he was just too good a pilot and soldier to loose during the wars that he couldn't carry out with killing him.
BUT! Now they didn't have to fight. So what was keeping Wing from killing him now? Maybe he had screwed with the bike and he'd go over a cliff one day, perhaps not today, but one day, he just might. It's probably on a time affected thingy. He'd be riding down one of the trails one day "La de da..." all happy and enjoying the scenery around him when "WHOA SHIIITTT!!!!---" *crack* he'd be over the side of the cliff, cracking a ribs, maybe his arm on the way down to sit at the bottom glaring at his bike. He'd probably try to move, wouldn't be able to, then he'd glare some more while cursing the bike and the Japanese slanted eyed devil that gave it to him.
Yup, that just might happen one day... Mayhap not today, but it might.
Nodding to himself, Duo's lips pressed together in a strained humored smirk knowing that his best buddy wouldn't do anything like that to him - Ever. But he had a morbid sense of humor and his mind liked to think up weird shit that might happen. I mean come on! They were riding on open trails - most of which on the harder ones he noticed was wickedly easy to get hurt on if one wasn't paying attention - and wearing nothing protective but for helmets. Granted that was SOME comfort, but not a lot.
True they were damn Gundam pilots (alright ex-pilots), had reinforced skeletal frames of some sort - had to if they were to withstand all the G Force they'd be put through - but bones still cracked. Wing proved that along with them being about to - wince - be self reset. Damn how could he DO that!? He shook his head.
Yeah, so anyways. Duo had a morbid sense of humor - the trails could be wicked, and they weren't helping his imagination much for thinking weird crap up. Still though, he knew if anything happened on the trails it wouldn't be Wing's fault. Duo had seen Muted Clown and lover Silent Wing (god did that ever sound like Indian names or what?) checking the bikes over on his own hadn't he? They were fine. Great 'cause they were new! But riding them, things could come loose, even with being new, so he wouldn't be surprised (well would but wouldn't) and couldn't blame anyone but the bike.
Grinning, Duo hurriedly tried to catch up with the other two, smiling when he saw Trowa edge his bike closer to Heero's, nudging him with his arm before speeding up to drop down another dipping slope with a cry of... joy? happiness? What was that surprised excitement? Duo wasn't sure, but Trowa sounded happy, so he'd love it just as much.
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Duo was thoroughly enjoying himself on their little discovered trails. So much in fact he was playing "Speed Racer" trying to find which speed he could achieve before crashing and quite possibly cracking his head open on tree or rock.
There was a logical reason as to why we insisted he wear the helmet.
Notwithstanding, it was humorous observing Duo try to out peddle my love on most trails. After having found and rode them all once, Duo decided it was time to "kick ass" and proceeded to spin out taking off before either I nor could put one word in edge wise to warn him to be careful; these airn't the Gundams, there's no possibility of getting blown up, but there's still a high chance of loosing control in loose sand or rocks, not being able to stop/slow down in time to take a curve, and wind up going over the edge.
Yet Duo happens to be... Duo and is not prone to heeding advice - or not at least that he'd let you know he had. I believe he just likes seeing whom with worry over him. We all care for him, wish no ill harm on him or the others in our strange little family. His past (much like Heero's and mine) have gifted him with needing to know someone's there for him, someone will take care of him when he's down or unwell. I have never known people to take care of me outside of needing my help with fighting - Heero likewise, has known no one truly caring for him outside of his first mentor, Odin Lowe... It's... different... when you know someone cares for you, will take care of you, because they like *you*, not what you can do for them.
Mi Esperanza2 has enjoyed chasing the "braided idiot" down the trails, though he is not so inclined as to take curves faster then need be. For as much of his risk taking during the Eve Wars, Heero is nearly the opposite of what he was so many months ago - instead of taking stupid risks, he's become cautious. That's not going to say that he wasn't the same during the wars, but that cautious side of him seemed to of been pushed to the back of his head - anything to get the missions done - now however, he's listening to it.
Heero Yuy does not plan on "checking out" earlier then necessary. AKA - he doesn't plan on dying. For that, I am ever grateful.
I watch as Mi Esperanza gives up chase on Duo's dust trail. I chuckle shaking my head, watching briefly as the wind catches and plays with my long bangs before smirking. I do hope Duo realizes we're on the Green Trail once again... And that he is about to come up to a jump, or dip? Does it really matter what one calls them? Which is appropriate?
"RIDER UP!!" someone at the other end I can hardly see yells out.
"WHOA SHIT!!!" Duo, tires grounding against the earth as he tries stopping in time to not go down.
That is one thing I have come to appreciate in such a short time of riding these trails. Most of the other bikers will let you know when they're approaching a sharp curve - where trees and brush hinder ones sight - or about to take the numerous dips or jumps. Some don't, but most do.
I've taken a startling liking to the Green Trail. That in itself shouldn't be so surprising, but to most riding here, it seems it is. Green Trail, as we've come to learn by mouth and riding, is the "wickedest" trail out of them all - there are seven. All of them are in the forest, all covered and shaded. Very relaxing - if you don't stop, if you do, I'm sorry to say that if you do the misquotes have first dibs on your blood.
Not a minute after the shout a rider wearing what looks to be official gear rides our way, his slim legs peddling for all their worth to get up the near straight drop that appears to be right close to two feet. I say "straight drop" because from where I'm waiting with Mi Amor3 behind Duo, it appears that way. You can see the land on which you stand end, then the sudden appearance of land some distance below the "ledge"; yet you cannot tell how far the drop you will be riding down is until - like Duo - you're right on top of it.
There's a similar place like this one, some distance back at the beginning of Green Trail that was a bit more... astonishing... to come upon. I dare say our Poor American had turned quite red with mock anger and not a little humor as I and Mi Amor's laughter as he came around a corner - no idea whatsoever what was up ahead - and went streaming down quicker then silver letting out brightly colorful expletives that I'm sure, would have made a Sailor blush.
You see, the drop there was quite similar in fact that you saw the ground you stood on end, and the ground below some distance of that "ledge" start again. You could not tell what the drop was like. Duo didn't know this small fact. I grin. The drop in question, from ledge, had a near straight foot down before it evened out (using the term lightly) into a steep five-foot slanted slope full of rock and loose dirt. That in and of itself wouldn't have been so bad... It was the curve you had to take right after wards, and the other, and the other, before you climbed upwards: effectively a large, sharp turned 'S'.
"Thanks" the rider nods at us as he passes; we nod back.
Mi Amor and I scoot back behind a fallen tree to the right of the path as Duo starts to back up so he can get a running go at it. With drops like this, I've learned its best if your riding up to them instead of trying to take them form a stand still position. I've watched quite a few people fall that was; either from faulty footing or just not having enough "go" to clear the little 'lift' in the drop.
"Well" Duo turns grinning at us, "here goes nothing!" he winks before facing forward once more, "RIDER!!!" yelling to let anyone close enough to care know he's coming their way; then he goes tearing downwards.
We watch, waiting to see how he'll do on this one. It's part of the trail that has a large drop at one end, slopes then has a little hill to go over before it drips down a little again and then you've got a large climb up that - squinting trying to see the other end I can barely make out a small (little under a foot in diameter) tree trunk halfway buried into the hardened clay there. I nod to myself. This is one of the "funner" drops.
Turning my attention back to Duo after checking on Mi Amor, I'm in time to see his ungraceful plunge (literally) into the soft clay on the side of the drops wall (on above 'wall' a few feet back is a small trail you can take to bypass this drop). "AWWW DAMNIT!!" groaning, fighting with his bike to free his right leg pinned against bike, ground and wall of soft clay, Duo curses before getting free and stumbling backwards, shaking his head.
I observe in mild amusement, lightly shadowing my concern, as his shaking head flings pieces of clay from his helmet, where he went in head first.
Mi Amor grunts, lips pulling back in a slight smirk as I glance over at him, temporarily dismissing Duo from my mind as I watch Heero stumble off his seat where he'd been waiting with one foot on a peddle, the other on the ground, for his chance to go, settling between the seat and bars, his eyes looking a little glassy.
I can't tell if the shine to them would be from humor or something other then... I've been keeping a careful eye on him since Orange Trail... Mi Amor seems to have become distracted after a certain easy drop and climb - the kind that sends your stomach rising and falling, it's so fast. At first I hadn't thought anything of it. Then he swerved on the trail, jerking the bars to the right to narrowly miss a tree. Other times I've caught him trailing off in mid-sentence. That was not like him, Mi Amor...
The sinking sensation that something was wrong entered the pit of my stomach and refused to leave, no matter how many times I tried to reason it out, to dismiss it.
The others say I'm over protective of Mi Amor... Heero Yuy...
The others have also not seen what "The Perfect Soldier" looked like after he self detonated Wing Gundam either.
One has to understand... Heero Yuy during the Eve Wars was a nearly unstoppable being; intent on finishing his missions regardless of what happened to him. If the result of his mission (more a properly how he went about it) was his death - he was OK with it. If it bothered him he never showed it. He had the ungodly notion in his head that his life was of little value. As long as the war ended and the innocents lived, his life was of use somehow. He proved this by self destructing Wing Gundam.
Mi Amor had an uncanny knack for calling deadly situations to himself; thankfully the remaining of use had a sixth sense of when Heero needed our help and were able to bail him out.
After self destructing Wing Gundam, his tendency for reckless risk taking had diminished slightly. However much it was, didn't calm the rising storm in my being that warned something else was going to happen, something would go wrong and we'd - I'd - loose him. I hadn't known back then what those feelings were caused from; I just knew I had to watch him carefully with him knowing I was purposefully doing so. It was difficult, but I managed.
After the Eve Wars, that habit of watching him hadn't died out - I still found myself observing him at the strangest of times... Stopping in a doorway to a room I was passing to see him sitting at his laptop, not typing, just staring at it, as if reading something... seeing him trying to relax in the library with a book, his eyes freed from his icy hard look if only ever so much... at the kitchen table, watching from the cover of my bangs as he ate his meal, how his brows would scrunch up at something someone said... Even shockingly finding myself outside his room some nights, the door lightly cracked so I could peer in at his handsome face, smoothes and calm by sleeps hands...
I guess I was still worried about him going off and doing something, leaving the rest of us here alone without him... Of leaving me...
We're a group, pieces to a puzzle... almost like a body if you will; we need all the pieces to function properly. Quatre's the Brains, Duo the Laughter, Wufei the Focus, Me the Strength, and Mi Amor - Heero, the Heart... It wouldn't be right without Heero Yuy...
But my thoughts digress, running away on me yet again.
I do still worry about Mi Amor's health, and it's not without some for of logic. Doctor J once a long while ago admitted to "adjusting" bits of Heero's biological data, small 'mutations' to make him better able to pilot Wing Gundam and Wing Zero - to be able to withstand the G force and to do... the things he's able to do! That is not wholly normal. Granted none of us could likely ever be able to carry the title "normal" again after piloting the Gundams...
I worry whatever Doctor J had done to him will have adverse side effects somewhere down the line. It's not uncommon for them to show up later on, and I find myself starting to... fear... if they weren't starting to manifest themselves now. I supposed though, lacking in concentration of conversations and eyes on the trail while he could've been looking off at a squirrel - isn't something to get so worried or protective over... Yet I have that coiling feeling back in the pit of my stomach that begs to differ otherwise.
Shaking my head quickly to clear those disturbing thoughts away, Duo's muffled curses come back into focus, my eyes still on Mi Amor. He can feel my gaze on him, like a warm heavy cloak and turns, tilting his head to the side slightly as he smiles at me. Giving a small one in return (if not a bit worried and trying to hide it) I look back down at Duo, he's brushing the clay and sand from his hands and shorts.
"Dude what the hell!?"
"You fell" Mi Amor comments.
Our American stops wiping the brownish-peach sands on his pants and stares, a look bordering on a glare for all the annoyance in it; "I'm not a complete idiot Yuy!"
Mi Amor snorts, his head shaking a little, "No, some parts are missing"4 he deadpans back.
Head snapping sharply to him, I snicker quietly, watching his beautiful Prussian blue eyes glittering back at us both, shoulders slightly shaking. Hn. Maybe I was wrong and nothing was wrong with him... but I wasn't ready to bet my clown mask on it.
Duo's eyes widened, mouth flopping open and closed a few times trying to form a response but failing.
It shouldn't have been so shocking really, Mi Amor has really, honestly, "relaxed" sense the Eve Wars... not so much a stranger would notice it, but to us it's very evident. Admittedly it's still takes a little work and nudging to get him "playing" with us if we're set on a game of frisbee, or volleyball, or board games... I believe this is due to his past (like mine) of not having had the time or pleasure to learn these things, to try them... Now we can; and I, along with Duo, am not letting Heero Yuy get away from trying everything Duo and Quatre can cook up, at least once.
"RIDER UP!" someone shouts, saving Duo from trying to form a coherent and snappy response to Heero's quick wit. Quickly he scrambles over to his bike, lifting and dragging it to the other side safely out of the incoming riders way; eyes every now and then switching from Mi Amor to the passing and back again, still shocked. I like the look, it suits him for all the times he's seen it on all of us (at least once).
The rider passes without a thank you this time. Duo shakes his head and looks at his bike a minute before dropping to one knee, hand going to the pouch under his seat for a tool.
Mi Amor had insisted we carry them "just in case" - yes they were new bikes, but things happen. Good reasoning.
He finds his took and starts trying to... I tilt my head watching a minute before nodding... tightening the bolt on the handlebars. Appears on his attempting the drop, the tire went one way upon hitting ground again, the weight of his upper frame on the handlebars sending them to twist another way, causing him to fall; they must've come loose on one of the other trails earlier.
Tilting to the left I lean down and nuzzle the soft stock of chocolate hair adorning Mi Amor's beautiful head, whispering, "Te quiero, mi Esperanza."5 I feel him sway towards me, leaning against my side contently, a soft rumble like a purring coming from him as I continue to rub my chin across his head comfortingly.
I catch Duo hopping up from his crouched position tightening the bolt, but I don't turn towards him, nor stop, as he exclaims: "There! All done now lets get back on them trails!" He puts the tool away, craning his head around to glance at us, and I can see the way the light hits his violet eyes, can see the way they soften and warm at our positions. I can the feel the corners of my lips twitch up in a small smile at him.
Before anyone else, there has always been Duo "Shinigami" Maxwell in Mi Amor's life when he began fighting. Having met in Mi Amor's earlier missions, his first time on Earth - Duo had found Wing Gundam, attaching it to his beloved Deathscythe for later retrieval. H caught a report of a solder found and captured, a young boy about his age. It didn't take much to put two and two together after breaking him out of the science labs.
It was later the day, or was it the next? that they met once more, Heero on the dock of the base he was about to blow up, Duo on the same mission had having seen Heero pointing a gun at some girl, tried defending her, shooting him twice. They scuffled, Duo pulled out the detonator planning on hitting it just when Deathscythe started to surface carrying Wing Gundam with it. Mi Amor, being the person that he is, tried to blow them both up. We all know this didn't work well at all.
I watch as Duo straightens fully, eyes catching a glimpse at Mi Amor's face, which if Duo's reaction is anything, looks quite peaceful, before turning and jogging to the drops other side to climb up it and wait on us.
Giving a small peck to Mi Amor's temple, I let him have the drop first, watching as he backs up just a little more before taking off without a problem.
Let it be known I'll be the first to admit that Mi Amor and Duo have a strange sort of relationship. Or mayhap it's not so bizarre... How many people do you know that care for someone else as family, as a brother, and get your funny bone tickled by seeing how much you can piss them off in a short period of time? Or seeing how long you can go without beating the life from them? I've heard of some siblings having the most fun when their fighting... but I do not believe this is the sort of thing they had in mind... Yet Mi Amor and Duo seem not to ever tire of trying each other's nerves...
It IS rather amusing though... especially when they start to drag the rest of us into it as well and we just sort of... end up in a big heap on the floor, laughing at different degrees, our limbs all tangled together in something that looks like we did a body pile... which was in actuality, a group wrestling match.
I believe that to be one of my fonder memories of our "group activities". Be it a damn wonderful thing that we don't have to worry about hurting one another in such actions.
Chuckling, watching Mi Amor stand to peddle up the other side, I give a small warning that I'm coming before dropping with a sudden rush that makes my stomach tingle before I'm off, up and over the small hill/rise in the middle then back on flat ground before climbing up the other end to join my friend and Amor.
There are more trails to do today and the sun's light is waning; we head off.
It's around three in the afternoon by the time we go full circle for the second time and end back up on Yellow Trail again. We're all damp from "playing around" on the trails as Duo says. I'm hard pressed not to disagree with him. I had thought it as a workout, perhaps the first two times it was, but now, it's just... enjoyable to ride the twisting, climbing and dropping trails.
This would be the last of the trails we take before going back to camp before it becomes too dark to see by. Technically two trails, seeing as how you can immediately take Orange Trail from the ending of Yellow Trail.
Duo is currently chattering up a storm about what he could do tomorrow; the first of which was to take the trails again at least twice each before going swimming, then eating lunch. This seemed to be able how he planned the next few days in fact, even speaking of taking the bikes back here for the weekends or whenever they had free time (when didn't they?) to ride them some more. The trails are a bit addicting.
My worry for Mi Amor was rising by the trails we took.
Blue Trail #1 has a few small 2-3 foot drops and jumps on them, easy compared to the ones on Green Trail. I had been trailing behind Mi Amor, Duo in the front... I was watching as he stopped at the top of one of them, waiting for Duo to go, when I noticed him tilting to the side, almost to the point of falling over before he caught himself, shaking his head and stomping his right foot on the peddle a few times as if that helped to take his frustrations away.
My heart started to pound double-time watching as he tiled too much, foot sliding off the peddle to catch himself before he did fall. Did I mention both Blue Trails follow the creek that twists all throughout this forest? Yes, this is one of the trails that have the extreme high cliffs on one side or another. Mi Amor came very close to seeing just how far he'd get down one before a tree stopped him.
I've been keeping a closer eye on him since.
Last drop of Yellow Trail, a nine foot steep slope down, four foot of flat surface before you climbed another twelve foot up the other side (another drop that had your stomach tickling) - I'm glad I had been watching him more closely.
Duo had already gone down and back up, cheering the whole way about "doing it again!!" while I followed closely behind him. I had given up my spot behind Mi Amor on this one, to watch what his face showed when he takes it, Duo said he looked happy, free - I wanted to see this for myself, not that I didn't take his good word for it, but to see Heero Yuy looking free? Without any worries? Is priceless, something few rarely see.
It was as we turned back to watch him I knew something was wrong.
His hands were griping the bars harder then necessary, eyes gone glass, glazed over, his body starting to sway to one side before it jerked upright again, only to start tilting that way again. His legs didn't look that steady to me, his arms starting to go slack...
I cast a quick glance to Duo for confirmation of what I was seeing. Maybe I was being to protective over Heero, but I wasn't ready to bet anything I owned on it. Duo nodded worry showing brightly in his lilac orbs.
"Heero? Buddy?" he called out, taking half a step forward before he remembers he was on the bike and that wouldn't work. I had already gotten off of mine, setting it off to the side. "Heero!" louder that time.
Mi Amor's head jerks up to look in our direction, but it's clear he's not focusing on us. His eyes look as if they're turned inwards, seeing but not seeing. That's when it happened, when the air was kicked out of me for all of a few precious seconds before my limbs started working once more. "HEERO!!!"
Heero tiled, this time he didn't stop. Bike and body both tumbled down the drop's slope. He came away from the bike midway down, tumbling side over side before rolling to a stop at the bottom on his left side. He wasn't moving.
I was half way down before I head Duo's feet behind me, hardly reregistering his shouts as I kneeled by Mi Amor, slowly, carefully turning him onto his back, eyes sweeping over him quickly, seeing nothing more then a few scrapes, spots that would surely sport bruises later on.
Duo fell on across from me, "Heero!" his hands wanting to reach out and help, but not sure of what to do. There was no visible damage; I hadn't felt anything while lightly probing.
"Mi Amor?" I murmured softly, lightly tapping his cheeks, silently willing his eyes to open and stare at me, grimace, smile, smirk or grin - give some sign he was all right, or would be shortly.
His eyes fluttered softly, fighting to open but loosing... and then, they opened seconds later, just mere slits, a teasing slice of piercing blue peeking out from his heavy lashes. His eyes were glazed over, in pain, though I could not find any wound! His right arm tried reaching up for my cheek but fell weakly back down to his side... his lashes fluttering again before closing.
"Heero...!" Duo hands shot out, patting his cheeks again; I knew it wouldn't rouse him though... Mi Amor was out for good this time and would only wake when he was ready to, when his body let him... "Trowa?" He looked up uncertain, eyes determined to help in some way. He was Heero Yuy's best friend and be damned if he was going to sit around and not be able to help his friend when something happened to him.
I admired that in him - in them all.
Tiredly I shook my head, putting one arm below Mi Amor's legs, the other around his back before slowly lifting him up as I stood. "Watch the bikes?" asking as I started to make the climb back up hill, carefully; Duo being Mi Amor's bike with us.
"Yeah, no problem..." he fell silent, picking up his own bike, mounting and gripping Mi Amor's tighter. "Can you...?"
I nodded, "Yes." I climbed onto my bike awkwardly while holding Mi Amor, steadying him with one arm while trying to settle him between the handlebars in such a way it wouldn't be hurtful on the ride back. I could hold him with one hand, steer with the other - Duo was capable of bringing himself and Mi Amor's bike back to camp.
"Be careful" his voice warned, worried.
Nodding I headed out, mind going over the things that could possibly be wrong with Mi Love, the other half working on bringing up question that would be asked once I return to camp with an unconscious Heero Yuy, and the answers I might be able to give.
But I hadn't any...
Only a nagging worry...
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~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~
'
1 Neon Orange Mushrooms -- I'm not kidding here! On Blue Trail #1 at Memorial there are frickin' NEON orange mushrooms! And Red ones... I didn't KNOW they came in those colors!
2 Mi Esperanza - My Hope
3 Mi Amor - My Love
4 "I'M NOT A COMPLETE IDOIT - some parts are missing" is from a t-shirt I'd LOVE to have. heh Be great for Oniichan!
5 "Te quiero, mi Esperanza" - I love you, my Hope.... Hope - Trowa's other nickname for Heero he uses at times... mostly though he sticks to calling Heero "Mi Amor" - My Love.
'
Nice, yes? Alright, all you hard core SM fans are probably wanting to kill me for NOT having one speck of dirt in there on the SM side of things. But if your following the fact that there's a Week's time gap between what I show you happening with the Guys and Gals, then some of y'all might get a hine of what just happened. For those lost? Sorra? ::chuckles smirking a little::
This chapter was needed, however which way you look at it. Even I thought it was weird it was just one with the Guys, but it works out rather well. 'Sides, I felt I was ignoring them. I don't want to ignore anyone in this story - Guys or Gals - and I don't want to rush it. I'm terrible at that, I know some of y'all who've read my others are bound to have noticed that on my eairler ones.. or in parts of my others... Bad habit I'm breaking. Sorra.
But please! Please, please, let me know whatcha think of this chapter! Feed back if overly appreaciated. ^_^ next chapter WILL be centered on the Gals.. but will have the Guys back in it, and the times should start to settle back out into the SAME time and no week gap between them. I'm sure y'all notice why that was soon, if you haven't already figured it out.
Welps, do take care y'all! And please, please review! heh Oh, and a little note, I'm starting training to become a manager, so I'll be gone half days (some full days) thus less time for writing, BUT, like hell if I'll stop writing, so please don't fear! ^_~ Prosmise, they'll still be coming out! Review please, thankies!!
'
Keep it kickin'! ~ AR
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By: Anime Redneck
11-14-03
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Disclaimers: I don't own the GW Guys or the SM Gals so no sueing! Thanks! ::goofy grin::
Hey guys! ::sees the glares and quickly high tails it to her hiding spot yelling out:: Don't kill me!! Don't Kill me!! Dude, please don't! heh Though you might in a minute... 'cause ya see... I had this chapter finished last Friday... ::winces from 'er hiding spot as a few well aimed rocks hit it:: I'M SORRA!! Please just read! WHA HELP!!
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~^.^~ * ~^.^~
X. Humored Fallings and Unknown Sways
~^.^~ * ~^.^~
'
"DUO! Are you coming?" inquiring with a raised brow as Heero snapped the buckle to his helmet on.
Yeah, yeah, yeah! Rolling his eyes, mouth smirking around it's fill, "Lemme finish my Zingers first!"
"Duo" calm collected broke in from beside his mate, "That is your third packet."
Chuckles, "You know he'll be leaving you both behind in the dust when his sugar rush kicks in from eating just the tops, then the chocolate and filing." Quatre's too sweet, smug sounding voice cracked into the three-way conversation slash chiding.
"And you are innocent in this equation, Winner?" white gleamed as Wufei smirked behind his teacup. This coming from the man who paid for this "outing" and insisted that Maxwell be able to have some sweets while camping since there was less for him to break when the sugar ingested rose to the fore.
At the spoken pointed finger, their small Arabian felt heat grow in his cheeks, "Well... He picked them out!" trying to futilely clear his name.
Smirks lit two normally bland faces, Wufei's widened, a snicker even making its way past rosy tiers while Duo shook his head laughing, one hand raised waving at the other two while he joined Heero and Trowa by the bikes Heero had picked up from... somewhere. Duo didn't want to know where as he inspected his own.
It was a red and gold mountain bike, 18speed, nice large tires, all metal workings, none of that plastic crap that tended to break easily even if it was thick and somehow reinforced for strength. The bars were flat, straight, shinning red like the rest with golden-tan grips and shifters. The saddle plain black and a blessed gel seat! He loved the ex-Wing pilot for that.
Maybe he should just start calling Heero, Wing? Angel Wing? You couldn't really make a good nickname from 'Heero' besides 'Hee-chan' and that name gets him killed nearly more then he'd like to admit. 'Hee-man' wouldn't be any better! With his damn luck no one would stop the Oriental teen as he went for his precious gun! Though... that name did wonders for mental pictures!
Whistling lowly climbing onto his bike, Duo tried it around in circles for a few minutes before grinning. Heero hadn't seemed to mess with it. He was safe to ride now.
Later, Shinigami's own would learn to rue that single thought.
"Lets go."
Heero frowned watching the braided American, "Helmet, Duo."
"Awww man no way!" He didn't need a helmet! Wasn't Wing and everyone else always complaining about how damn thick his head was? He didn't need no stinkin' helmet! "Not wearin' it bub."
Picking up the dark violet and black plastic and hard foam headwear, nimble fingers popped it up into the air, hand drawing back before smacking it to fly forward hitting the American in the chest. "Helmet Duo."
"Sure your not twins?" Duo asked lowly, grin turning downwards into a cute frown. He didn't need a stinkin' helmet! They looked... well dorky! Sigh. Violet-blue orbs lifted from inspecting the oval shaped contraption to settle on his two companions heads; they were both wearing helmets. They both had heads just as hard as his if not more so, and... both were wearing helmets... Would Heero - now warmly known as Wing - really make him (let alone himself!) wear such a thing if it wasn't really needed? They didn't have helmets in their Gundams... Should they have? Probably wouldn't have helped much...
Giving a resigned sigh, muttering darkly, the violet and black headgear was placed on and snapped into place. There. He was wearing it! Hades but did it feel weird! His braid sticking out the back didn't help any either... it was pushing the hat just that much more down onto his head... Growling in mock anger Duo ripped the helmet off for show, turned it over and played with the straps, getting them just a bit looser so his braid could breath before putting it back on and nodding. He was ready to go!
"Hn." Turning around on his own bike, blue and silver, Heero grunted his approval before leading the way into the forest. While walking with his Latin one early morning, fog stuck lowly to the ground, parting softly as they walked, they had stumbled across cleared paths, looking well used. Turning, arching brows at one another they had shrugged and started off on one of the paths passing by many small hills, then larger ones further down which dipped a great deal, some up to twelve foot in a narrowly smooth downward slope before it arched up again at the other end, sometimes in the same smooth motion, others a bit steeper, some with logs stuck at the top to add an extra jump in going up it.
It had struck them then... They had hit biking trails.
Purely teenage glints had entered their eyes, if not a bit Evil Kenevil-ish.
They had been men; they had been Soldiers... They had never been Kids - Teenagers... never had a childhood... Not one like normal kids... ones filled without training, fighting, trying to stay alive long enough to see the next day. Now that the Eve Wars were over - they didn't have to fight anymore. They were trying to be the kids that they never were... Trying new things "Fun" things that had anyone ever asked half of them a year ago about - they'd know nothing of.
Now they had the time, the freedom to do so! And they fully intended to do so. With Duo's prodding and teasing, they had done more since the Eve Wars end, then they every had in their life - at least where "fun" was concerned anyhow. Duo's past might not have been a bowl of cherries, but that had never kept the hyper, smiling boy from learning how to have fun along the rough way.
As soon as Trowa walked into an intersecting trail, noticing there was a 4x4 stuck in the ground with a colored top, same colored arrows pointing this way and that, and another colored 4x4 by it with arrows pointing another direction - he smirked, tugging on a well toned, callused hand, pulling his Japanese lover down the other colored path to see if it was as he thought. Another trail.
They returned to camp that afternoon, each bristling with excess energy catching the other three's eyes as they watched them curiously rush into their tent, change, emerge minutes later and snag the truck keys before literally peeling out of the campsite, sand flying, and heading back towards town for... something the others had no clue of whatsoever.
Imagine Quatre, Duo and Wufei's surprise when they came back skidding to a stop with five new bikes.
All were immediately taken off the truck, checked over once more and placed off the side of camp so they could eat lunch over discussing what the Japanese and Latin had found while on their walk. Duo had been more then excited to get out of camp and go exploring - but to go exploring on a bike as well!? Dear Lord that was like utopia to the braided teen! Persistence was something dearly noted, attached and stamped onto his sun kissed forehead that day - bugging everyone to go riding with him.
Trowa and Heero were the only volunteers. Wufei wanted to finish his book, little Quatre declined saying he was going to spend the day wade fishing. No one once thought he'd catch anything, but if he wanted to wade fish, no one was going to stop his attempts - never know, he might actually achieve and catch something!
"Hey watch it buddy!" Duo warned trying to hold back a grin at Heero's grunted response, "I'll take that comment and shove it where-"
"Duo..." it was growled.
"-I can retrieve it later to put some serious thought into it." Duo finished meekly under the threatening glare his tall Latin friend was sending his way from riding behind Heero, who was leading this little expedition into the forest trails.
There came a suspiciously rumbled sound from ahead of them that, had Duo the lesser survival instincts then he had, might had made a comment on for sounding like someone was about to back fire - but, Duo had better control then that (most times) and refrained from commenting as they entered into darker areas where trees shaded everything with their majestic limbs, large trucks formed natural paths, mazes, for anyone who dared to enter their own lands.
Duo was in awe.
Everything was different from inside the forest then from the out. The trees were taller, shooting to the heavens, all fighting for dominance of space, trying to spread their arms wider then the others. Smaller trees of all sorts took up the bottom grounds, their tiny arms reaching up and out, as if wanting to be picked up by their elders.
To Duo's amusement, they pasted up neon orange mushrooms1, red and yellow ones. He didn't even know they CAME in colors other then tan or white!
He was personally waiting to see if any blue ones popped up.
Turning around from staring at the neon orange mushrooms had his poor heart jumping triple time, his hands clenching onto the bars in a death grip as he jumped up from his seat, feet getting a better grip on the peddles as he was suddenly shot downwards VERY quickly letting out a startled "HOLY SHIIIITT!!!"
Apparently. Sometime between admiring the massive trees and nature life around him, and staring at the multicolored mushrooms - they had hit the trails.
And he never noticed this fact.
Even as the ground below him came somewhat smoother - then again his bike DID have shocks, so maybe that wasn't so much a fact to focus on. The fact he SHOULD be focusing on, was that he was going down a steep downward slope that had a frickin' foot straight drop down before the 'slope' - which also had his heart fall into his shoes with thinking his ass was going to go OVER the handlebars from the jolt!
"Damnit to Hell!" Getting the bike under control muttering while his legs pumped, trying to get himself up the other hill after his two comrades - he heard the distinctive sound of snickering. But that in no way should be possible, because Silent Wing (hey that was a good one!) and Muted Clown, didn't laugh, didn't chortle, didn't smile. At least not so you'd really notice it! So them snickering at him was out of the question.
Not that that stopped him; "Keep it up! Just keep it up!" his head shook, "Or I really will stick--!"
Snigger. "...Duo..." Strange, how someone trying to rein their humor in could make a wavering word, sound menacing while still quietly laughing.
"-my nose in someone else's business 'cause I don't know what y'all do, it's probably very scary and I'd rather not know. Yup! That's it."
More snickering.
They were loving this, he was sure of it. Well! He'd show them! ...Just as soon as he knew where the trails went, and how, THEN, he'd really get to play! Until then, he'd be good and watch what was going on, where they went and what he had to be to insure he stayed firmly on his bike and on the trails.
He didn't know about the others... but falling down the fifty-foot plus drops he was seeing from these trails - especially the ones that rode RIGHT on the edge of the creek cliffs - was not in his itinerary for the day. Or ever. Lying down those cliffs were huge ass trees that would HURT on the way down... not to mention the spiky smaller ones, or where the ground caved in a few feet from rushing water carrying it away before it picked back up into sloping downwards more and then hitting the creek.
No. He most certainly did NOT want to take that fall.
Why were the trails - some of them - so damn close to the cliffs?
He could pilot Deathscythe Hell with no problems; no real fear at all, he trusted his buddy! Fighting OZ soldiers wasn't even a problem. Facing down Wing pissed off was more dangerous then those bozo's. But this biking thing... heh He now knew why Wing insisted on the helmets.
One trail... what the hell were they on now anyways? Blue Trail? He couldn't remember what color the post was this time... But he had passed up part of the forest's downward slope coming off it's side (or hill, whatever people wanted to call it) that had the trail running along the creek again, on the banked edge of a fall that was the leading candidate for doing major damage - and it turned. The damn trail turned almost sharply! on this damn downward deal.
Now you take someone going faster then they were (which wasn't fast since they were trying to get a feel for the trails first) taking that curve while going downhill and you had a wonderful chance for rearranging some bones should you loose ground and go over the side of the cliff. Not to mention the trees you'd hit BEFORE going over the side should hurt rather nicely too. Can't over look that fact.
Suddenly Duo was pondering if Heero really hadn't messed with his bike. He had after all, "Omae o koruso'd" him plenty of times during the wars and never once carried it out for some reason or another. Maybe it was 'cause he really liked him as a friend and was just too shy to mention it; Maybe Heero "Wing" Yuy had a crush on him and blushed so much that he couldn't get the words out - or sadly yet - Maybe he was just too good a pilot and soldier to loose during the wars that he couldn't carry out with killing him.
BUT! Now they didn't have to fight. So what was keeping Wing from killing him now? Maybe he had screwed with the bike and he'd go over a cliff one day, perhaps not today, but one day, he just might. It's probably on a time affected thingy. He'd be riding down one of the trails one day "La de da..." all happy and enjoying the scenery around him when "WHOA SHIIITTT!!!!---" *crack* he'd be over the side of the cliff, cracking a ribs, maybe his arm on the way down to sit at the bottom glaring at his bike. He'd probably try to move, wouldn't be able to, then he'd glare some more while cursing the bike and the Japanese slanted eyed devil that gave it to him.
Yup, that just might happen one day... Mayhap not today, but it might.
Nodding to himself, Duo's lips pressed together in a strained humored smirk knowing that his best buddy wouldn't do anything like that to him - Ever. But he had a morbid sense of humor and his mind liked to think up weird shit that might happen. I mean come on! They were riding on open trails - most of which on the harder ones he noticed was wickedly easy to get hurt on if one wasn't paying attention - and wearing nothing protective but for helmets. Granted that was SOME comfort, but not a lot.
True they were damn Gundam pilots (alright ex-pilots), had reinforced skeletal frames of some sort - had to if they were to withstand all the G Force they'd be put through - but bones still cracked. Wing proved that along with them being about to - wince - be self reset. Damn how could he DO that!? He shook his head.
Yeah, so anyways. Duo had a morbid sense of humor - the trails could be wicked, and they weren't helping his imagination much for thinking weird crap up. Still though, he knew if anything happened on the trails it wouldn't be Wing's fault. Duo had seen Muted Clown and lover Silent Wing (god did that ever sound like Indian names or what?) checking the bikes over on his own hadn't he? They were fine. Great 'cause they were new! But riding them, things could come loose, even with being new, so he wouldn't be surprised (well would but wouldn't) and couldn't blame anyone but the bike.
Grinning, Duo hurriedly tried to catch up with the other two, smiling when he saw Trowa edge his bike closer to Heero's, nudging him with his arm before speeding up to drop down another dipping slope with a cry of... joy? happiness? What was that surprised excitement? Duo wasn't sure, but Trowa sounded happy, so he'd love it just as much.
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~ * ~ * ~
'
Duo was thoroughly enjoying himself on their little discovered trails. So much in fact he was playing "Speed Racer" trying to find which speed he could achieve before crashing and quite possibly cracking his head open on tree or rock.
There was a logical reason as to why we insisted he wear the helmet.
Notwithstanding, it was humorous observing Duo try to out peddle my love on most trails. After having found and rode them all once, Duo decided it was time to "kick ass" and proceeded to spin out taking off before either I nor could put one word in edge wise to warn him to be careful; these airn't the Gundams, there's no possibility of getting blown up, but there's still a high chance of loosing control in loose sand or rocks, not being able to stop/slow down in time to take a curve, and wind up going over the edge.
Yet Duo happens to be... Duo and is not prone to heeding advice - or not at least that he'd let you know he had. I believe he just likes seeing whom with worry over him. We all care for him, wish no ill harm on him or the others in our strange little family. His past (much like Heero's and mine) have gifted him with needing to know someone's there for him, someone will take care of him when he's down or unwell. I have never known people to take care of me outside of needing my help with fighting - Heero likewise, has known no one truly caring for him outside of his first mentor, Odin Lowe... It's... different... when you know someone cares for you, will take care of you, because they like *you*, not what you can do for them.
Mi Esperanza2 has enjoyed chasing the "braided idiot" down the trails, though he is not so inclined as to take curves faster then need be. For as much of his risk taking during the Eve Wars, Heero is nearly the opposite of what he was so many months ago - instead of taking stupid risks, he's become cautious. That's not going to say that he wasn't the same during the wars, but that cautious side of him seemed to of been pushed to the back of his head - anything to get the missions done - now however, he's listening to it.
Heero Yuy does not plan on "checking out" earlier then necessary. AKA - he doesn't plan on dying. For that, I am ever grateful.
I watch as Mi Esperanza gives up chase on Duo's dust trail. I chuckle shaking my head, watching briefly as the wind catches and plays with my long bangs before smirking. I do hope Duo realizes we're on the Green Trail once again... And that he is about to come up to a jump, or dip? Does it really matter what one calls them? Which is appropriate?
"RIDER UP!!" someone at the other end I can hardly see yells out.
"WHOA SHIT!!!" Duo, tires grounding against the earth as he tries stopping in time to not go down.
That is one thing I have come to appreciate in such a short time of riding these trails. Most of the other bikers will let you know when they're approaching a sharp curve - where trees and brush hinder ones sight - or about to take the numerous dips or jumps. Some don't, but most do.
I've taken a startling liking to the Green Trail. That in itself shouldn't be so surprising, but to most riding here, it seems it is. Green Trail, as we've come to learn by mouth and riding, is the "wickedest" trail out of them all - there are seven. All of them are in the forest, all covered and shaded. Very relaxing - if you don't stop, if you do, I'm sorry to say that if you do the misquotes have first dibs on your blood.
Not a minute after the shout a rider wearing what looks to be official gear rides our way, his slim legs peddling for all their worth to get up the near straight drop that appears to be right close to two feet. I say "straight drop" because from where I'm waiting with Mi Amor3 behind Duo, it appears that way. You can see the land on which you stand end, then the sudden appearance of land some distance below the "ledge"; yet you cannot tell how far the drop you will be riding down is until - like Duo - you're right on top of it.
There's a similar place like this one, some distance back at the beginning of Green Trail that was a bit more... astonishing... to come upon. I dare say our Poor American had turned quite red with mock anger and not a little humor as I and Mi Amor's laughter as he came around a corner - no idea whatsoever what was up ahead - and went streaming down quicker then silver letting out brightly colorful expletives that I'm sure, would have made a Sailor blush.
You see, the drop there was quite similar in fact that you saw the ground you stood on end, and the ground below some distance of that "ledge" start again. You could not tell what the drop was like. Duo didn't know this small fact. I grin. The drop in question, from ledge, had a near straight foot down before it evened out (using the term lightly) into a steep five-foot slanted slope full of rock and loose dirt. That in and of itself wouldn't have been so bad... It was the curve you had to take right after wards, and the other, and the other, before you climbed upwards: effectively a large, sharp turned 'S'.
"Thanks" the rider nods at us as he passes; we nod back.
Mi Amor and I scoot back behind a fallen tree to the right of the path as Duo starts to back up so he can get a running go at it. With drops like this, I've learned its best if your riding up to them instead of trying to take them form a stand still position. I've watched quite a few people fall that was; either from faulty footing or just not having enough "go" to clear the little 'lift' in the drop.
"Well" Duo turns grinning at us, "here goes nothing!" he winks before facing forward once more, "RIDER!!!" yelling to let anyone close enough to care know he's coming their way; then he goes tearing downwards.
We watch, waiting to see how he'll do on this one. It's part of the trail that has a large drop at one end, slopes then has a little hill to go over before it drips down a little again and then you've got a large climb up that - squinting trying to see the other end I can barely make out a small (little under a foot in diameter) tree trunk halfway buried into the hardened clay there. I nod to myself. This is one of the "funner" drops.
Turning my attention back to Duo after checking on Mi Amor, I'm in time to see his ungraceful plunge (literally) into the soft clay on the side of the drops wall (on above 'wall' a few feet back is a small trail you can take to bypass this drop). "AWWW DAMNIT!!" groaning, fighting with his bike to free his right leg pinned against bike, ground and wall of soft clay, Duo curses before getting free and stumbling backwards, shaking his head.
I observe in mild amusement, lightly shadowing my concern, as his shaking head flings pieces of clay from his helmet, where he went in head first.
Mi Amor grunts, lips pulling back in a slight smirk as I glance over at him, temporarily dismissing Duo from my mind as I watch Heero stumble off his seat where he'd been waiting with one foot on a peddle, the other on the ground, for his chance to go, settling between the seat and bars, his eyes looking a little glassy.
I can't tell if the shine to them would be from humor or something other then... I've been keeping a careful eye on him since Orange Trail... Mi Amor seems to have become distracted after a certain easy drop and climb - the kind that sends your stomach rising and falling, it's so fast. At first I hadn't thought anything of it. Then he swerved on the trail, jerking the bars to the right to narrowly miss a tree. Other times I've caught him trailing off in mid-sentence. That was not like him, Mi Amor...
The sinking sensation that something was wrong entered the pit of my stomach and refused to leave, no matter how many times I tried to reason it out, to dismiss it.
The others say I'm over protective of Mi Amor... Heero Yuy...
The others have also not seen what "The Perfect Soldier" looked like after he self detonated Wing Gundam either.
One has to understand... Heero Yuy during the Eve Wars was a nearly unstoppable being; intent on finishing his missions regardless of what happened to him. If the result of his mission (more a properly how he went about it) was his death - he was OK with it. If it bothered him he never showed it. He had the ungodly notion in his head that his life was of little value. As long as the war ended and the innocents lived, his life was of use somehow. He proved this by self destructing Wing Gundam.
Mi Amor had an uncanny knack for calling deadly situations to himself; thankfully the remaining of use had a sixth sense of when Heero needed our help and were able to bail him out.
After self destructing Wing Gundam, his tendency for reckless risk taking had diminished slightly. However much it was, didn't calm the rising storm in my being that warned something else was going to happen, something would go wrong and we'd - I'd - loose him. I hadn't known back then what those feelings were caused from; I just knew I had to watch him carefully with him knowing I was purposefully doing so. It was difficult, but I managed.
After the Eve Wars, that habit of watching him hadn't died out - I still found myself observing him at the strangest of times... Stopping in a doorway to a room I was passing to see him sitting at his laptop, not typing, just staring at it, as if reading something... seeing him trying to relax in the library with a book, his eyes freed from his icy hard look if only ever so much... at the kitchen table, watching from the cover of my bangs as he ate his meal, how his brows would scrunch up at something someone said... Even shockingly finding myself outside his room some nights, the door lightly cracked so I could peer in at his handsome face, smoothes and calm by sleeps hands...
I guess I was still worried about him going off and doing something, leaving the rest of us here alone without him... Of leaving me...
We're a group, pieces to a puzzle... almost like a body if you will; we need all the pieces to function properly. Quatre's the Brains, Duo the Laughter, Wufei the Focus, Me the Strength, and Mi Amor - Heero, the Heart... It wouldn't be right without Heero Yuy...
But my thoughts digress, running away on me yet again.
I do still worry about Mi Amor's health, and it's not without some for of logic. Doctor J once a long while ago admitted to "adjusting" bits of Heero's biological data, small 'mutations' to make him better able to pilot Wing Gundam and Wing Zero - to be able to withstand the G force and to do... the things he's able to do! That is not wholly normal. Granted none of us could likely ever be able to carry the title "normal" again after piloting the Gundams...
I worry whatever Doctor J had done to him will have adverse side effects somewhere down the line. It's not uncommon for them to show up later on, and I find myself starting to... fear... if they weren't starting to manifest themselves now. I supposed though, lacking in concentration of conversations and eyes on the trail while he could've been looking off at a squirrel - isn't something to get so worried or protective over... Yet I have that coiling feeling back in the pit of my stomach that begs to differ otherwise.
Shaking my head quickly to clear those disturbing thoughts away, Duo's muffled curses come back into focus, my eyes still on Mi Amor. He can feel my gaze on him, like a warm heavy cloak and turns, tilting his head to the side slightly as he smiles at me. Giving a small one in return (if not a bit worried and trying to hide it) I look back down at Duo, he's brushing the clay and sand from his hands and shorts.
"Dude what the hell!?"
"You fell" Mi Amor comments.
Our American stops wiping the brownish-peach sands on his pants and stares, a look bordering on a glare for all the annoyance in it; "I'm not a complete idiot Yuy!"
Mi Amor snorts, his head shaking a little, "No, some parts are missing"4 he deadpans back.
Head snapping sharply to him, I snicker quietly, watching his beautiful Prussian blue eyes glittering back at us both, shoulders slightly shaking. Hn. Maybe I was wrong and nothing was wrong with him... but I wasn't ready to bet my clown mask on it.
Duo's eyes widened, mouth flopping open and closed a few times trying to form a response but failing.
It shouldn't have been so shocking really, Mi Amor has really, honestly, "relaxed" sense the Eve Wars... not so much a stranger would notice it, but to us it's very evident. Admittedly it's still takes a little work and nudging to get him "playing" with us if we're set on a game of frisbee, or volleyball, or board games... I believe this is due to his past (like mine) of not having had the time or pleasure to learn these things, to try them... Now we can; and I, along with Duo, am not letting Heero Yuy get away from trying everything Duo and Quatre can cook up, at least once.
"RIDER UP!" someone shouts, saving Duo from trying to form a coherent and snappy response to Heero's quick wit. Quickly he scrambles over to his bike, lifting and dragging it to the other side safely out of the incoming riders way; eyes every now and then switching from Mi Amor to the passing and back again, still shocked. I like the look, it suits him for all the times he's seen it on all of us (at least once).
The rider passes without a thank you this time. Duo shakes his head and looks at his bike a minute before dropping to one knee, hand going to the pouch under his seat for a tool.
Mi Amor had insisted we carry them "just in case" - yes they were new bikes, but things happen. Good reasoning.
He finds his took and starts trying to... I tilt my head watching a minute before nodding... tightening the bolt on the handlebars. Appears on his attempting the drop, the tire went one way upon hitting ground again, the weight of his upper frame on the handlebars sending them to twist another way, causing him to fall; they must've come loose on one of the other trails earlier.
Tilting to the left I lean down and nuzzle the soft stock of chocolate hair adorning Mi Amor's beautiful head, whispering, "Te quiero, mi Esperanza."5 I feel him sway towards me, leaning against my side contently, a soft rumble like a purring coming from him as I continue to rub my chin across his head comfortingly.
I catch Duo hopping up from his crouched position tightening the bolt, but I don't turn towards him, nor stop, as he exclaims: "There! All done now lets get back on them trails!" He puts the tool away, craning his head around to glance at us, and I can see the way the light hits his violet eyes, can see the way they soften and warm at our positions. I can the feel the corners of my lips twitch up in a small smile at him.
Before anyone else, there has always been Duo "Shinigami" Maxwell in Mi Amor's life when he began fighting. Having met in Mi Amor's earlier missions, his first time on Earth - Duo had found Wing Gundam, attaching it to his beloved Deathscythe for later retrieval. H caught a report of a solder found and captured, a young boy about his age. It didn't take much to put two and two together after breaking him out of the science labs.
It was later the day, or was it the next? that they met once more, Heero on the dock of the base he was about to blow up, Duo on the same mission had having seen Heero pointing a gun at some girl, tried defending her, shooting him twice. They scuffled, Duo pulled out the detonator planning on hitting it just when Deathscythe started to surface carrying Wing Gundam with it. Mi Amor, being the person that he is, tried to blow them both up. We all know this didn't work well at all.
I watch as Duo straightens fully, eyes catching a glimpse at Mi Amor's face, which if Duo's reaction is anything, looks quite peaceful, before turning and jogging to the drops other side to climb up it and wait on us.
Giving a small peck to Mi Amor's temple, I let him have the drop first, watching as he backs up just a little more before taking off without a problem.
Let it be known I'll be the first to admit that Mi Amor and Duo have a strange sort of relationship. Or mayhap it's not so bizarre... How many people do you know that care for someone else as family, as a brother, and get your funny bone tickled by seeing how much you can piss them off in a short period of time? Or seeing how long you can go without beating the life from them? I've heard of some siblings having the most fun when their fighting... but I do not believe this is the sort of thing they had in mind... Yet Mi Amor and Duo seem not to ever tire of trying each other's nerves...
It IS rather amusing though... especially when they start to drag the rest of us into it as well and we just sort of... end up in a big heap on the floor, laughing at different degrees, our limbs all tangled together in something that looks like we did a body pile... which was in actuality, a group wrestling match.
I believe that to be one of my fonder memories of our "group activities". Be it a damn wonderful thing that we don't have to worry about hurting one another in such actions.
Chuckling, watching Mi Amor stand to peddle up the other side, I give a small warning that I'm coming before dropping with a sudden rush that makes my stomach tingle before I'm off, up and over the small hill/rise in the middle then back on flat ground before climbing up the other end to join my friend and Amor.
There are more trails to do today and the sun's light is waning; we head off.
It's around three in the afternoon by the time we go full circle for the second time and end back up on Yellow Trail again. We're all damp from "playing around" on the trails as Duo says. I'm hard pressed not to disagree with him. I had thought it as a workout, perhaps the first two times it was, but now, it's just... enjoyable to ride the twisting, climbing and dropping trails.
This would be the last of the trails we take before going back to camp before it becomes too dark to see by. Technically two trails, seeing as how you can immediately take Orange Trail from the ending of Yellow Trail.
Duo is currently chattering up a storm about what he could do tomorrow; the first of which was to take the trails again at least twice each before going swimming, then eating lunch. This seemed to be able how he planned the next few days in fact, even speaking of taking the bikes back here for the weekends or whenever they had free time (when didn't they?) to ride them some more. The trails are a bit addicting.
My worry for Mi Amor was rising by the trails we took.
Blue Trail #1 has a few small 2-3 foot drops and jumps on them, easy compared to the ones on Green Trail. I had been trailing behind Mi Amor, Duo in the front... I was watching as he stopped at the top of one of them, waiting for Duo to go, when I noticed him tilting to the side, almost to the point of falling over before he caught himself, shaking his head and stomping his right foot on the peddle a few times as if that helped to take his frustrations away.
My heart started to pound double-time watching as he tiled too much, foot sliding off the peddle to catch himself before he did fall. Did I mention both Blue Trails follow the creek that twists all throughout this forest? Yes, this is one of the trails that have the extreme high cliffs on one side or another. Mi Amor came very close to seeing just how far he'd get down one before a tree stopped him.
I've been keeping a closer eye on him since.
Last drop of Yellow Trail, a nine foot steep slope down, four foot of flat surface before you climbed another twelve foot up the other side (another drop that had your stomach tickling) - I'm glad I had been watching him more closely.
Duo had already gone down and back up, cheering the whole way about "doing it again!!" while I followed closely behind him. I had given up my spot behind Mi Amor on this one, to watch what his face showed when he takes it, Duo said he looked happy, free - I wanted to see this for myself, not that I didn't take his good word for it, but to see Heero Yuy looking free? Without any worries? Is priceless, something few rarely see.
It was as we turned back to watch him I knew something was wrong.
His hands were griping the bars harder then necessary, eyes gone glass, glazed over, his body starting to sway to one side before it jerked upright again, only to start tilting that way again. His legs didn't look that steady to me, his arms starting to go slack...
I cast a quick glance to Duo for confirmation of what I was seeing. Maybe I was being to protective over Heero, but I wasn't ready to bet anything I owned on it. Duo nodded worry showing brightly in his lilac orbs.
"Heero? Buddy?" he called out, taking half a step forward before he remembers he was on the bike and that wouldn't work. I had already gotten off of mine, setting it off to the side. "Heero!" louder that time.
Mi Amor's head jerks up to look in our direction, but it's clear he's not focusing on us. His eyes look as if they're turned inwards, seeing but not seeing. That's when it happened, when the air was kicked out of me for all of a few precious seconds before my limbs started working once more. "HEERO!!!"
Heero tiled, this time he didn't stop. Bike and body both tumbled down the drop's slope. He came away from the bike midway down, tumbling side over side before rolling to a stop at the bottom on his left side. He wasn't moving.
I was half way down before I head Duo's feet behind me, hardly reregistering his shouts as I kneeled by Mi Amor, slowly, carefully turning him onto his back, eyes sweeping over him quickly, seeing nothing more then a few scrapes, spots that would surely sport bruises later on.
Duo fell on across from me, "Heero!" his hands wanting to reach out and help, but not sure of what to do. There was no visible damage; I hadn't felt anything while lightly probing.
"Mi Amor?" I murmured softly, lightly tapping his cheeks, silently willing his eyes to open and stare at me, grimace, smile, smirk or grin - give some sign he was all right, or would be shortly.
His eyes fluttered softly, fighting to open but loosing... and then, they opened seconds later, just mere slits, a teasing slice of piercing blue peeking out from his heavy lashes. His eyes were glazed over, in pain, though I could not find any wound! His right arm tried reaching up for my cheek but fell weakly back down to his side... his lashes fluttering again before closing.
"Heero...!" Duo hands shot out, patting his cheeks again; I knew it wouldn't rouse him though... Mi Amor was out for good this time and would only wake when he was ready to, when his body let him... "Trowa?" He looked up uncertain, eyes determined to help in some way. He was Heero Yuy's best friend and be damned if he was going to sit around and not be able to help his friend when something happened to him.
I admired that in him - in them all.
Tiredly I shook my head, putting one arm below Mi Amor's legs, the other around his back before slowly lifting him up as I stood. "Watch the bikes?" asking as I started to make the climb back up hill, carefully; Duo being Mi Amor's bike with us.
"Yeah, no problem..." he fell silent, picking up his own bike, mounting and gripping Mi Amor's tighter. "Can you...?"
I nodded, "Yes." I climbed onto my bike awkwardly while holding Mi Amor, steadying him with one arm while trying to settle him between the handlebars in such a way it wouldn't be hurtful on the ride back. I could hold him with one hand, steer with the other - Duo was capable of bringing himself and Mi Amor's bike back to camp.
"Be careful" his voice warned, worried.
Nodding I headed out, mind going over the things that could possibly be wrong with Mi Love, the other half working on bringing up question that would be asked once I return to camp with an unconscious Heero Yuy, and the answers I might be able to give.
But I hadn't any...
Only a nagging worry...
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~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~
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1 Neon Orange Mushrooms -- I'm not kidding here! On Blue Trail #1 at Memorial there are frickin' NEON orange mushrooms! And Red ones... I didn't KNOW they came in those colors!
2 Mi Esperanza - My Hope
3 Mi Amor - My Love
4 "I'M NOT A COMPLETE IDOIT - some parts are missing" is from a t-shirt I'd LOVE to have. heh Be great for Oniichan!
5 "Te quiero, mi Esperanza" - I love you, my Hope.... Hope - Trowa's other nickname for Heero he uses at times... mostly though he sticks to calling Heero "Mi Amor" - My Love.
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Nice, yes? Alright, all you hard core SM fans are probably wanting to kill me for NOT having one speck of dirt in there on the SM side of things. But if your following the fact that there's a Week's time gap between what I show you happening with the Guys and Gals, then some of y'all might get a hine of what just happened. For those lost? Sorra? ::chuckles smirking a little::
This chapter was needed, however which way you look at it. Even I thought it was weird it was just one with the Guys, but it works out rather well. 'Sides, I felt I was ignoring them. I don't want to ignore anyone in this story - Guys or Gals - and I don't want to rush it. I'm terrible at that, I know some of y'all who've read my others are bound to have noticed that on my eairler ones.. or in parts of my others... Bad habit I'm breaking. Sorra.
But please! Please, please, let me know whatcha think of this chapter! Feed back if overly appreaciated. ^_^ next chapter WILL be centered on the Gals.. but will have the Guys back in it, and the times should start to settle back out into the SAME time and no week gap between them. I'm sure y'all notice why that was soon, if you haven't already figured it out.
Welps, do take care y'all! And please, please review! heh Oh, and a little note, I'm starting training to become a manager, so I'll be gone half days (some full days) thus less time for writing, BUT, like hell if I'll stop writing, so please don't fear! ^_~ Prosmise, they'll still be coming out! Review please, thankies!!
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Keep it kickin'! ~ AR
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