Chimera of Life
Story Six: Wisdom's Harmony
Chapter Nine
By Heartfire
~*~
His train of thought left him when he saw her aim the gun to her chest and he had all that he could take. He thought he was out of practice, but he moved as swiftly as the way he did during the war and he was beside her before anyone could even take a full breath of air, at the same time, had easily wrestled the gun from her hands.
Onie gave a startled gasp. "Wha-?!" She nearly fell off her stool, managed to balance her weight against the table and stared up at Trowa's… very angry countenance! Onie glared at him but before she could demand what he thought he was doing so he was able to speak first.
"Don't you ever, ever do that again." His voice was eerily calm and soft that one could almost think he wasn't at all angry, but one look at his usual expressionless eyes, and Onie flinched as though she had touched a burning flame. He was angry with her, furious, in fact was the best word to describe it. Yet, she couldn't understand why…
Trowa couldn't believe the raging fire in him. It was consuming… he could… he could… damn! He could hit her! He was practically seeing red! Instead, he imagined wringing her average neck while he crushed the pistol in his hands. He couldn't understand her willingness to just die in such a manner! Was she so selfish that she would willingly leave the people who counted on her behind in this way?! Was she so uncaring that she would leave her plants?! Was she so utterly crazy that she couldn't care how others might feel?! Didn't she know that she was… that she was…
The sense of unadulterated anger left him, replaced by a cold wave of anxiety as he finished his sentence…
She was precious.
Onie shifted away from Trowa while he looked down on her as though for the first time. It was making her nervous, the way all these emotions were wild in his eyes. It was so unlike him… It was not the Trowa she knew.
"Never do that again. Do you understand?"
His voice was barely a whisper, but it seemed as though he had shouted at her. He was practically only an inch away from her face and she had that cowardly feeling of leaning backwards on her seat, but she couldn't understand that sense of… haughtiness that overcame her as she titled her chin up, squared her shoulders and… erringly whispered instead of shouting- "You don't have to talk to me as though a child."
That, she wasn't. And he was more than aware of it… Had been, these past few weeks… She needn't remind him.
"Besides," her tone strengthened, though she still spoke softly. "What right have you to just grab that from me? It could have blown someone's head off. Specifically, mine!"
Trowa frowned as he digested the words and her insolent tone. "Then…" His tight hold upon the pistol loosened as he stared straight into her eyes. "You weren't…"
"Weren't what?" Onie frowned in confusion.
Trowa swallowed and forced the words from his lips. "About to shoot your self?"
Her expression turned from confusion to surprise. "Why should I? I haven't finished my work here, and besides," She wrinkled her nose as she looked around her garden. "I have no intention of spilling my blood and guts in my garden. My plants will die with no one to take care of them."
Relief flooded through him, and then unadulterated happiness as he repeated her words in his mind. He wasn't only glad that she wasn't going to shoot herself, but it was so like her to worry about her work and her garden instead of herself, even through the process of killing herself- which she wasn't going to do- that he moved before he could check his actions.
He only had to lean down. Her lips were already there. Those full lips that had so enchantingly caught his attention were ready for plucking… 'More than ready,' Trowa thought as her lips opened in a gasp. He took advantage of the opportunity presented to him and placed his weight on his hands at either side of her.
He was frustrated at her, he would argue later, he was angry and he wanted to teach her a lesson. Yet a small voice would also answer back- what lesson was there to be taught by touching his lips with hers? And in such… intimacy?
Trowa could feel her innocence as his tongue outlined her full lower lips and it just tempted him more to explore her. She was stiff and hadn't moved since the seconds ago when he had first touched her, but instead of peeling away with a dampened mood, he was aroused instead. He could very well be the first man to kiss her and he was damn proud of it! He aimed for one thing- to garner a reaction from her.
His lips slanted upon hers, his tongue still languishing with lining her lips. He was beginning to feel heady, as though intoxicated.
God! She was addictive! And she had yet to move under him! Reason started to knock some sense into his idiot of a mind, though his body was slow to follow. Slowly, he drew back, feeling disappointment like no other that she hadn't responded-
A sound of protest left Onie's lips when his lips left hers, and this time it was Trowa's turn to gasp in surprise when she trapped his face with her small hands and planted her lips on his. His surprise turned to pleasure when she hesitantly touched her tongue on his lower lips and re-enacted the same trick he had given her. But Trowa hadn't expected the fierce sweetness that overcame him from her touch. He hadn't expected to be so easily be swayed by a woman… or to be so easily tempted that he didn't let her finish outlining his lips with her tongue… instead, he met hers with his own.
She uttered a strangled moan in the back of her throat.
Passion.
He had almost convinced himself that it was a fairy tale for him. That he would never know it in his lifetime, and yet here he was, lost within its velvety feel… her feel… with his control on the verge of slipping.
Her hands traveled from his cheeks to the back of his neck, holding him in place, twining her hands in his locks and he…? He enjoyed it. He reveled in it as he began to let his hands roam her shoulders, the back of her neck, her soft hair and that curve of her neck.
She sighed blissfully in his mouth- or was that him who sighed? He wanted to move closer to her but her knees were in the way. Yet, as though she could read his thoughts, her knees opened and he took a step closer to her, eliminating even the merest hint of distance between them… and shocking them both when, akin to a jigsaw puzzle, their cores touched and locked into place.
"Oh!"
"Dear Lord!"
Their lips broke contact to utter the words and Trowa was so painfully aware of where he was… of their position. She, upon a stool with her legs wide open for him, and he within the embrace of those legs. Unfortunately, he couldn't seem to move his body- not that he wanted to- and when he looked into her hazy eyes, he knew that she knew something was on the verge of happening between them… that she could feel him.
Her lips were still open in a cute small 'oh!' then it closed and he saw her swallow quite obviously. He did the same. He saw a blush begin to gather on her face and he so wanted to kiss both her rosy cheeks.
Dear Lord! Kiss her cheeks?! He was about ready to ravish her upon her table! No—her chair! If she had not been wearing this damn unflattering uniform, he was sure they would have gone farther along in the act.
A sense of guilt began to worm in his heart before he could stop it. She was an innocent and he took advantage of her. Though he hadn't moved from his place, he began to stutter. Stutter! He was more affected than he had thought! "I… I a-apologize…"
Curious, confused, chocolate brown eyes peered up at him. "Should I be, too?"
He suddenly wanted to know if she was. "Are you?"
Silence encompassed them. They were still entwined in a loose hug, their lower bodies intimate, and he desperately needed to hear her answer. She met his eyes with utter seriousness and thank God she shook her head.
"I am not. Is it wrong not to feel apologetic after what…" her blush became more pronounced but she forced herself to say it. "We have done?"
Trowa nearly fell on his knees and buried his face into her hands. Instead, he couldn't help himself as he touched her face, cupped her chin in his palms, and outlined her cheeks with his thumbs. Mentally, he thanked whatever spirits have helped him for such a precious answer while physically he shook his head. It would be a cold day in Hades before he could tell her that it was wrong. It had felt so right! "It is not wrong."
"Then, why did you apologize?" Onie reached out to imitate his actions, stroking his cheeks, his eyebrows, the frame of his face…
"I wasn't thinking," Trowa whispered as he stilled his hands and let his eyes do the caressing.
Having a befuddled mind herself, she half smiled. "Yes," her fingers trailed a path from his eyebrows, down his cheeks, and then to his lips. Her breath hitched as she started to outline his lips with her right index finger. "It is quite hard to think… at the moment."
'Verily,' Trowa thought to himself, not expecting the sigh that left his lips. God! Her finger was hardening him so fast it was laughable! Yet, he couldn't stop himself as he kissed her finger when it stopped upon the middle of his lips, then licked it.
Her reaction, that darkening in her eyes, made him smile softly, and while staring at her to gauge her reaction, he opened his lips and took her finger in. Her eyes widened, startled, then she shivered and Trowa nearly laughed in delight when she uncurled her middle finger and touched his lips… offering it.
He took her offering and played with them with his tongue. Her lips had dropped open and she closed her eyes in pleasure as she breathed in deeply with each stroke. But he wasn't at all unaffected, as he thought he would be and with each labored breath she took, his thoughts became more indecent than ever.
'Dear Lord, help me!' He thought as he slowly let her fingers go. Her eyes opened, darker and more sinful than the sweetest chocolates, and he had to swallow and breathe for almost a minute to bring his control to surface. "Maybe we should sit down."
Onie wondered if she should agree to that, though she was quite comfortable where she was at the moment. Then a thought struck her that Trowa had just come from her brother and he had been standing for the longest of time in front of her. Thinking only of easing his probably tired legs, she nodded.
Trowa stamped on the protest of his body when he walked out of her legs' embrace and found that he couldn't quite fathom letting her go as yet. He held out his palm to her, hoping against hope that she would place her hand upon his, and when she did, so trustfully, his heart sang another song of joy.
They walked silently to the couch. Trowa didn't need his imagination to know that the couch was the worst place they should be- not adding his bed- but he told himself that he would not have her tonight. This wasn't the time or the place. So, with great control, they sat upon the couch.
When Onie turned to him to snuggle at his side, he let his control slip a bit to place an arm around her shoulders.
"Tell me what you've been doing all day." She whispered as she laid her head at the crook of his neck.
For all his lusty thoughts, he was surprised that he was actually starting to calm down, surprised that he was, for the moment, content to just embrace her… surprised that he had opened his mouth and told her about his day.
…
"Good…" Blake whispered down at the sleeping couple in the couch who looked very comfortable in each other's arms. "Very good of you to end it before it could begin." He whispered again, dangerously low. He looked like a man of utter relaxation, but the shaking fists, one clutching a silvery point, belied his anger.
He saw the whole thing. He had been disturbed to hear his daughter's wonderings about kisses and making love. He had nearly walked into the garden when he spotted the two of them, Brigham nearly devouring her.
His sweet daughter. She does not need Brigham! He would taint her! He could tell that he wasn't under his influence anymore. Any man who showed that much ardor was not under any type of brainwashing. Yet, who would have been able to overcome his programming?! Who could have bypassed his-
An image flittered in his mind, and he knew that he found the one. "Jessie Matthew."
He nearly broke the object in his hand. After taking a couple of breaths, he leaned down to the couple, syringe in hand, then unceremoniously inserted the tip of the needle into Tristan Brigham's arm.
The damn man jerked then became motionless.
Blake walked to the main door of the garden, opened it, then let in two soldiers, giving out his order in a low voice to not wake his daughter. He watched as the soldiers picked Tristan Brigham up, then he led the way, half planning how to torture Tristan, and half planning how and to whom he should implement the new program James Morley had sent his way.
…
Her hands traveled to her right as she tried to find that warmth that had kept her so comfortable throughout the night. When she only found emptiness, she opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Trowa…?"
She looked around her and saw that he wasn't in the garden. An icy hand wrapped itself around her heart but she forced herself to think clearly. Onie looked outside and measured the sun. It was nearing lunchtime. Knowing how early Trowa wakes up, and how anxious he has been to keep the company of his brother, she finally figured that he had left to go to Tristan.
A small smile curved on her lips as she walked around her garden, noting which flowers were blooming and inhaling their wondrous scents. Last night was…
Her small smile became dreamy as she sat down next to a lily by the waterfall. There were no words to describe last night. What feelings had rushed through her. A wonder that she was still able to breathe and walk right now! She wrapped her arms around her as a- what she could only describe as a giggle left her lips. Then slowly, she brought her right hand up in front of her face, curled her fingers to her palm, save for her index and middle fingers, and remembered how he had them inside his lips.
Slowly, she closed her eyes, revived his face in her memory, then touched her fingers to her lips. It wasn't the same, but it was something, and she sighed blissfully.
"So that was making love…" she whispered as she leaned over to her small pool to look at her reflection on the water. "Lamoure… de amo… ashima… ai…" She murmured the words, unable to stop herself.
She was so surprised at her own boldness last night, imitating his actions. Ah! Jessie would be proud of her, and she was too. She felt proud of what she did last night… a bit embarrassed and scared, anxious, too, but she wouldn't have traded a single moment of it.
How perfect today would have been if she had only woken up in his arms, but then, she could very well understand Trowa's need for family, too.
Idly, she stroked a white lily's petal as she thought of him and wondered if he would make love to her again tonight… She was naïve and innocent enough to believe that he would, after all, he did so last night.
…
He slowly regained consciousness… It would have struck him odd that he did not come to a full awareness of his surroundings, if his mind was only not so sleep numbed. He moved his hands and found that he couldn't.
'What… is… going on?'
Even forming a coherent sentence was hard! And his mouth feels so dry! This was not at all how he had expected to wake up after a night of Onie's kisses- heady as they were. His head started to throb, and he thought he heard a man announce that he was coming to.
Trowa tried to open his eyes and found that he had such a hard time doing so. When he finally did, he had to close it once again, the light around him so bright he thought he might go blind!
That was when he felt that jaw-shattering blow. He gasped, both in surprise and pain, not expecting it at all. He tried to open his mouth to talk but found he was too weak, and his jaw too numbed, to do so.
Someone was saying something to him, but the ringing in his ears wasn't at all helping him to understand. Then, he felt irritation from the one in front of him and he steeled himself from another blow.
His instinct was correct in leading him to harden his muscles, but the kick in his stomach was still painful. The one that came next was just as much and he felt blood spill from his cottony mouth.
He was gasping for air… he almost couldn't breathe. Where was he? What was going on? Where was Onie-
A whack at the back of his head, so savagely infused, made his body slack and he felt himself fall back into the numb darkness.
…
She couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. She had been waiting for him, bathed and dressed in her favorite gown, and he still hasn't gotten back home!
Onie paced through her garden then stopped. Maybe she shouldn't be worried or angry. After all, Trowa and Tristan only found each other once again. Of course they are entitled to be selfish with each other. She knew she would like to spend her waking moments with her sister or brother, if she ever had one, and most especially if it were a twin!
A bit more relaxed than she had been a bit ago, she walked back to the couch, lay down, and closed her eyes. She should be in her room, but she would like to be here once he arrives.
…
He forced himself not to move. He learned early on that if he didn't give any indication that he was coming to, then he wouldn't be beaten, of course there were times when he was still beaten for no reason at all… He had the distinct impression that the person beating him, or having him beaten, was very angry with him.
Trowa tried to open his eyes but unlike the heavy lids he had earlier that day, he was having a hard time opening his eyes due to pain. He had been brutally socked in the eyes more than once and he could be quite sure that both his eyes are black and blue already, aside from being bloodshot. He still tried, though and found himself alone in a room.
Thankfully, his senses were correct with telling him that nobody was around. Slowly, painstakingly, he turned to look at his wrists. They were chained to the wall… Thankfully, that blinding light has dimmed into a luminescent yellow and much better with the way his eyes were acting up.
He wished he could swipe the dried blood that had ran down the corner of his lips and his tongue carefully touched the split on his lower lip and then grimaced. It hurt. It's been a long time since he had felt this kind of pain, but he was trying very hard to be familiar with it once again.
Trowa made sure that there were no other doors around him. If he was down here, where was Onie? Why was he taken? He was certain that they wouldn't just leave Onie behind… and if she was taken too, then he could only hope she wasn't experiencing the same pain he was.
His hands turned into fists at the thought of anyone kicking her in her stomach. 'They just dare try… they just dare…'
…
He never came back.
Onie bit her lower lip in worry while she crumpled a fistful of her dress. This was the first time Trowa had ever done such a thing… And she wasn't at all feeling that everything was fine. In fact, she had the most distressing sensation that something's happened to-
"Doctor."
Onie nearly shrieked at the sound of that voice. She hadn't heard the door hiss to announce that someone had walked inside. Slowly, telling her heart to calm down, she turned toward the door, and faced her father. "Y-yes sir."
She frowned when he looked around her, almost as if pleased. A first, if anyone had asked. It was very disgruntling.
"Where is 874?" Blake asked as he casually walked to his daughter's desk. He would like to see what she would say.
Onie swallowed, hard. What could she say? Must she lie? Must she tell the truth? If only Jessie was here, he would know. Reaching a decision, she took a deep breath. "I do not know where 874 is, sir. I asked him to fetch me some herbs and roots, and he has yet to return." She forced herself to meet her father's gaze that seemed to bore a hole through her, and then he raised an eyebrow then shrugged.
"Very well…" He wasn't sure if his daughter lied to him. He didn't exactly listen through the entire conversation she and Brigham had, so she may as well be telling him the truth - that she had asked him to run an errand for her the morning after their tryst, and maybe she really think he's just lost somewhere… A load off his back.
"Do you want to send out a rescue party?"
How she was able to keep her gaze level with his, she didn't know… She must have her mother's backbone. "I don't think so, sir." Onie stifled a shiver. 'There's that look again…' It was as if her father knew she was hiding something. She doesn't like this at all…
"If you need me, I'll be in the practice room."
A frown marred her forehead. "Have you implemented Mr. Morley's new program?"
Blake nodded absently. "They're doing quite well, under the given circumstances. I believe Morley does have the right programming this time… They are much more reactive than the others." He was not going to tell her of the recent accident that happened in the outside world… How was he to know that Morley had encrypted a code to kill the President. It was a sad thing that Relena Dorlian was the one who received the bullet though…
'And deadlier.' Onie thought as she clamped her hands together behind her. 'Trowa, wherever you are, please come back soon.'
An uncomfortable silence descended on the couple, then Blake jerked a nod. "Focus on your research."
"Yes sir," she answered just before the door closed behind him. With one quick thought, she bounded to the mess room, grabbed some food, ran back to the garden, out through the glass door and was running toward the cabin before you could say 'Good bye'. Thoughts flashed before her, questions. 'What if Trowa isn't there? Where could he be? .How would she act? Poor Tristan…'
When she saw the roof, she slowed her run and tried to catch her breath. It just wouldn't do to alarm Trowa's brother. Schooling her face, she forced a small smile and hoped her face didn't betray anything. Finally, she opened the door. "Hello?"
Tristan stood up from the table, a welcoming smile on his face. "Doctor! Nice of you to drop by."
Onie saw how Tristan's eyes searched behind her then dimmed a bit. She felt awful.
"Is Trowa with you?" Tristan asked, wondering why his brother didn't show up yesterday.
"Er…" Onie looked away, unsure if the lie would show in her face. "Mr. Blake assigned him a task…" She inwardly cringed, and quickly thrust her hands in front of her. "Here, I brought you something…uhm… Trowa wants to make sure that you're eating."
Tristan chuckled as he took the offered food and thanked Trowa mentally. "Midii does her best to save me some of her rations… I eat okay." He walked back to the table then looked at her inquiringly. "Would you like to join me?"
'I wish I could.' Onie closed her eyes to hide. "I apologize. I can not. I'm needed at the compound." Another lie… but it was only a partial lie. She was needed… to find Trowa.
"Okay, well… tell my brother thanks."
Onie gave a faltering smile in response to Tristan's bright one, then she ran out of the cabin. The sun's rays were hot against her back and sweat poured down her forehead. It never was a good idea to be running in the middle of the day in India. She reached the compound and entered her garden. Gasping, she turned on her computer and ran a search for Trowa. 'He must be inside the compound… but where?' She didn't find him and she ran her hand through her hair in frustration.
She tried to remember what happened when she last saw him… She was sleeping in his arms… 'Oh no!' Her eyes widened as a possibility came to mind.
"Oh no… Please no…" She ran out of her garden and into the hallway. There was only one part of the compound she never went to, and was never used… but that was because there had never been any traitor in her father's army to lock up in a prison.
She knew her father sometimes passes by to check up on her, what if he found her and Trowa together…? What would he have thought? More importantly, what would he have done?!
She stopped in front of a double steel door. After placing her palm upon a sensor box to the right wall, a bright, orange red light flickered on the screen then the door opened. Onie breathed in deeply for courage then walked into the small hallway.
This room was located at the very bottom of the compound. Half of the compound was underground, and this was the lowest level. The light was turned on dim, but she didn't mind. She knew the floor plan of this room like the back of her hand. She was forced to memorize every room, every floor… everything.
She peered into the shadows of each cell to her left. Every time she didn't find him, she breathed a sigh of relief only to be extinguished with worse possibilities… that maybe Trowa wasn't even brought down here, just… executed.
Her hand went up to her throat and she paused against the last cell of the row. Just the thought of Trowa's death was making her sick. Her throat seemed to be closing on her and she leaned against the wall, embarrassingly panting and then…
Onie stopped.
She pushed herself away from the wall and listened, making sure she was breathing as quietly as possible.
There it was again. That irregular, raspy breathing…
"Trowa…?" Onie whispered into the dark cell to her right.
There wasn't any answer. She slanted her eyes and tried to spear through the shadows. Something moved from within, a soft clang of chains followed.
Following her instincts, Onie walked towards the back wall, to that small control box in the middle, then typed in a code.
The thick bars of the last cell shifted to the right, giving a rectangular opening for just one person.
Swallowing away her fear, she walked into the cell and instantly smelled sweat. The dim light from the hallway didn't reach far in any of the small spaces, but that was all right because she knew-
A small bulb flickered at the far end of the wall.
Well, so far, the programming for the room has functioned properly enough, but those thoughts didn't last as her eyes took in the man that half lay on the floor and half sat against the wall all because his arms were chained.
"Oh, Trowa…" For a moment, she couldn't move. He was so battered one could almost not distinguish who he was! His hair was matted against his face, dried drops of blood was on the floor and against his skin… his wrists were raw from scraping against the chains, and his face was just… black and blue. Tears clouded her eyes as she whispered his name once again. "Trowa…"
Thinking only of him, she ran outside of the cell and typed in another code on the control box. When she heard the clank of chains, she ran back inside and ended kneeling beside him. Her hands gingerly touched his face and she wished that she brought some medicine with her.
"Trowa…? Trowa, wake up." There was a catch in her voice as she tenderly brushed back the hair on his face and tears fell down her cheeks. "I'm sorry…" She couldn't stop herself as she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against the side of his forehead.
A moan left his lips and Onie sat back to study his face. When she saw a twitch on his lids, she touched his face once again. "No, don't open your eyes."
He heard her, but he didn't listen. He needed to see her, and when he opened his eyes in a narrow slit, he was thankful that she seemed in good health. Yet, was this truly her? Or was he just dreaming of her? "O…nie…?"
His voice was raspy and she reached out to touch his hands. "I'm here, Trowa."
"… glad… didn't get you…" It was so hard to talk… His whole body was aching so badly that breathing alone was already a chore.
She had to strain to hear what he was saying. "No, they didn't get me." Oh God, she felt awful. Here he was, beaten half to death, and he was still worried about her? "Trowa, I-"
"Onie!"
Onie shrieked as hands grabbed her arms and she was jerked away. She landed unceremoniously on her buttocks, a few steps away from Trowa. Grimacing in pain, she looked up and wished she hadn't. Her father's furious face was glaring down at her. "S-sir…!"
Blake didn't have any words for such an occasion. The anger he felt was the same as when he saw his beaten wife, and during these times, there were just no words…
Trowa tried to move. He ignored his aching body as he tried to stand up and ended up landing on his side. "Get… away… from her…"
"No! Trowa, stay there!" Onie shouted, knowing how painful it was for him to move.
Blake turned his fury on his prisoner, walked to him and raised his foot to grind it into Brigham's stomach for the hundredth time, but before he could do it, he stumbled backwards, his hands trapped to his sides in a tight embrace that felt anything but love...
"No! Don't do it!" Onie held on for dear life as she embraced her father. When she saw what he was about to do, this was the first thing that came to mind… but now, holding him this way, she knew that she was going to be punished.
She pulled away, took a couple of steps back, then looked at her father's boots… but she couldn't stop her lips from moving. "How could you?! How could you do this to him?! He didn't do anything to you at all!"
Trowa continued to force his eyes open. He wished he had regained function of his body to shield Onie. He could tell, even if he couldn't see Blake's face, that he was ready to strike her.
Blake couldn't believe it. He stared at his daughter's head and his voice shook with undisguised fury. "Are you taking his side…? Are you choosing him over me…?"
Trowa frowned, wondering what hold Blake has over Onie.
Onie gasped as she tilted her head back to look at her father. There it was… that question once again. "I…" Was she supposed to choose right now? "I…" She looked from her father to Trowa. Her eyes brimmed with tears and then her feet moved of its own accord as she whispered, "I can't…" She ran… she ran outside the cell, outside that room… she ran and hid inside her garden… leaving Trowa who needed her, and leaving her father…
Trowa closed his eyes. He couldn't quite believe that she just left him like that… The pain that he felt now was worse than his physical ones. She-
"She chose me."
Trowa needn't open his eyes to see the gloat in his face. He could already hear it in his voice.
"She chose me over you."
Trowa wished he could put his palms on his ears and not hear those words. He felt his arms pulled and the chains wrapped on his wrists once again, but he didn't care any more… She left him. Why?! 'Why did she choose him over me…?' Why was he even asking that question?!
He felt the air stir near his ears.
"You see… blood is thicker than water…"
At that, Trowa opened his eyes. Pain shot to the back of his head but he stared at Blake all the same. The man had a triumphant smile on his lips, but that wasn't what Trowa was looking for… Faint as it was, he saw the similarity between Onie and Blake…
She was his daughter…Stupid… Idiotic… Dumb… He was all that and more.
She was his daughter…Trowa closed his eyes and tried to close himself to the onslaught of betrayal that flowed through his veins.
She was his daughter…He heard the bars slide back in place.
She was his daughter…What the hell is wrong with him that he always becomes partial to the enemy?
'Damn you…' He pressed his eyelids hard but something still fell down his cheek… something warm and liquid. "Damn you all…"
…
She looked up from the couch as she rubbed her sleep-hazed eyes. It was dark outside. Nighttime.
So… She fell asleep.
She supposed she should be happy, at least she was given reprieve from everything… The bad thing about sleeping through her problems was that, it's still there when you wake up. Ugly as ever.
She stood up from her couch and began to walk around her garden, checking the time as she did so. It was early evening.
Time to stop running and for her to make a decision.
Onie stopped near her waterfall and sat on one of the rocks. She must make a decision soon… She closed her eyes and wished she would just fall asleep once again, but she already had her nap, and she was energized.
She opened her eyes and looked at the night sky outside the glass. It was a clear night… and she had made a decision.
…
Trowa came out of his sleep when his arms fell to his sides. He squinted against the dim lighting. Even the mere movement of his lids made him wince but at least he saw the figure against the light.
"Trowa…?"
He blinked and painfully shook his head, just to make sure that he wasn't seeing or hearing things. He focused on the figure who now dropped beside him, and under that cap, he saw her face. "Onie…"
"Can you stand?" Onie whispered as she tenderly circled an arm around his waist, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Trowa grunted as he forced his body to stand. "What…," he swallowed. "What are you… doing here?"
He swayed against her and though he was supposed to hate her, when she wrapped both her hands around him to steady him, he felt better. He steadied, but she didn't let him go… He felt her breath against his neck, and a butterfly kiss on his cheek.
"I can't leave you here…"
He saw and felt a backpack, and slowly, he understood. She was helping him… She chose him. She chose him after all… "You chose me."
She stiffened against him then she moved away, not looking at him. This was harder than she thought. "We need to move… now."
"Onie…? What's wrong?" Trowa asked, surprising himself at finding strength enough to stop her.
She shook her head. "I will tell you later…" Then she was pulling him. Pulling him to the only safe place she knew.
Trowa lost track of where they were. His head was pounding. It was as if they were in a maze. Suddenly, a wall appeared in front of them, and then they were outside, running away from the compound.
…
"Onie… how could you do this to me?" There could be no one else. Blake overturned the table in the middle of the hallway before he walked to the practice room. Jessie Matthew must have affected his daughter more than he had thought. He was going to give him a punishment to remember.
It was time to take matters into his own hands and take his daughter back.
He opened a door and stared at the last three men who had undergone the program Morley gave, modified by him, of course. He had to take out that encryption to kill the President. Hopefully, he hadn't missed any other secret codes. Although they were more than ready to show who and what they could do, he doesn't want to do so, yet.
He only hesitated once, still unsure about the program Morley sent him, but then he shoved his indecision aside and gave out his orders. "There are two rebels in the field. Bring back the girl, but kill the man."
The three saluted, grabbed their firearms and bombs, then exited.
Blake hoped he hadn't done anything foolish. He started to walk back to his office, but changed his mind. He was going to follow those three and see their performance.
…
His brain was still not in its full working order and he was surprised that Onie was able to move fast with him leaning so much against her, half dragging her backwards. They stumbled countless of times, and she half dragged him now and then. They seemed to have been walking for a long time. He was about to ask her where they were going, when a soft beeping sound startled them both.
They stumbled to the ground and Trowa saw Onie push a button on that small square mechanism she was carrying. She looked at him and he was surprised at the tears in her eyes.
"They found out that you've escaped…" Onie whispered as she looked at the face she wished she would never forget.
Trowa struggled to get up. "Then we must hurry."
Onie shook her head as she removed her backpack. "You…" She paused when she choked then tried again. "You must hurry. Here." She shoved the backpack to him then stood and turned away. "Go north, and you'll find the cabin."
Trowa frowned, not understanding. "Onie…?" he asked her back.
"There's still time. Go on, Trowa. Go to Tristan and leave with him."
Trowa grabbed the trunk of a tree to steady himself. "Tell me…"
"Can't you understand?" Onie half turned to face him, tears streaming down her cheek. "I need to go back… I can't leave my father alone."
Now that the words were out of her mouth… he finally understood. She never really chose him… but yet, she still risked herself. "If you go back…"
"My father won't hurt me… but I can't let him hurt you again." She turned to fully face him, her hands shaking beside her, forcing herself not to run to him. "Go, Trowa. Please leave… Please…"
If she hadn't said the word 'please'… if she hadn't risked her life… Trowa sighed. He more than understood… They cannot be together. He closed his eyes. He hadn't even really thought of having a life together with Onie, but he knew that he was looking forward to one. She was one of the few people he could go along well… and… he… he cared for her. He could tell she cared for him too, as much as he does for her, but… they could never be.
"Thank you." Trowa whispered as he grabbed the bag and forced his body to move.
"Take care, Trowa…" Onie whispered to Trowa's back as he walked away from her. She turned, her heart wrenching in an aching pain, then she started to run back to her garden. She was on the other side, they had taken the long way around the compound, and because of that, they lost time.
She hoped she was right. She hoped that her father would not hurt her.
…
Trowa stumbled again into the ground, and he grimaced in pain as he forced his body to move. He was hurting… more than hurting. What he was feeling was more than pain. His battered body won't last any longer. He could barely walk. Maybe if he caught a couple of breaths right now, he'd be able to stand up again.
He pulled the backpack next to him and opened it, nearly smiling at what's inside, only for it to turn into a grimace of pain. Trowa pulled out a gun, and with Onie's own logic she had attached a silencer on the end. It was thoughtful of her.
There were medicines in it for him, some food, and water. She cared enough for him to make sure he would be able to survive. And how was he repaying her? He was just sitting out here in the open, ready to be shot.
With a deep breath, he pulled himself up and started to walk. When he saw the cabin rooftop, he felt a bittersweet relief. He received freedom in exchange of her. He was about to walk into the open when he saw a shadow move. Trowa tensed and looked around…
There was another shadow lurking at the far eastern side of the cabin…
But, he was sure that nobody had followed him unless…
It was a trap…!
Onie had betrayed him! They were probably holding Tristan and Midii inside right now… Just waiting for him to show up!
Fury fueled his veins and he gripped the gun in his hands. 'How could she?' He thought… Trowa shook his head. How many times was he going to be fooled by her?
He was about to make a move when the shadow by the eastern side did an action he had seen too often during the war. His eyes widened. 'No!'
…
Blake moved closer to the window. There was no light, of course so as not to betray their presence inside the cabin, but he could easily see two shadows, huddled together- and one of the shadows was clearly a woman.
"Onie…"
He closed his eyes, and sighed… yet, he wasn't at all that sad. He remembered how his wife and he… how they did just the very same thing. 'Has it been so long that I've forgotten how it is when one's in love?'
Memories assailed him and he forlornly walked back towards the trees. Maybe he should not be so hard on his daughter, after all, there was a time in his life when he had chosen love over society's norms.
He saw a movement in the shadows to his right and noticed that one of his men had slinked back to the shadows from the cabin. Well, it was time for him to call them back…
Blake was about to raise his hand in a signal to retreat when the shadow threw something in the air. His eyes went wide as he followed that object sail in the night sky, darker than the evening skies.
It crashed through the small cabin window and Blake froze in shock.
…
She was close to her garden entrance when a loud explosion from the forest made her turn around. Her jaw dropped as her eyes took in the blaze in the direction of the cabin.
"Oh my God…!"
Her garden was forgotten as she ran towards the licking red-orange flame. 'Trowa… Tristan… Midii…' She shook her head, unable to accept it. They're supposed to be in a safe place… She was sending Trowa to that safe place. It's supposed to be safe!
"Please… oh please let him… them be all right." In her mind's eye, she calculated where Trowa would have been coming out from if he had followed her directions. She turned away from their usual path to the cabin and made sure she stayed in the shadows.
Was this her father's work? Was he so consumed with anger that he would attack in such a vulgar way? "Please no…"
Onie saw the clearing as she gasped in air. She knew better than to start shouting for Trowa. So, with the smoke blowing her way, and without the moon's guiding light, she started to look for him.
…
Blake slowly pushed himself from the ground then stared at the blazing fire. His daughter was inside.
He closed his eyes, cursing everything he knew as reality seeped in his mind.
His daughter's dead.
Why did it have to be her? Why couldn't it have been him? 'Damn that Brigham… Damn that Matthew…' If it weren't for Matthew putting all those silly ideas of love in his daughter's mind, she would still be working in her garden… If it hadn't been for Brigham, she would still be safe within the compound.
He wanted to stay where he was and cry, but sounds from within the forest made him hide and he saw people in uniform walk near the clearing.
People who were not his soldiers.
It was time to leave, though it pained his heart.
For the last time, he looked at the burning pile of wood where he last saw his daughter, then he told himself he would monitor any radio broadcast of find from the fire. With an aching heart, he became one with the shadows and walked back to his safe haven.
…
Onie almost didn't find him. If she hadn't stumbled on his foot, she never would have. She bit her tongue to stop herself from blurting his name, and parted the bush where he fell.
His head was resting at the base of a large tree, and he was on his side, the backpack next to him, and the gun she gave him still clutched in his hand.
He was unconscious but- she kneeled next to him and checked his pulse then sighed in relief- still very much alive. There was no other choice now. Trowa needs her more than her father. His clothes were singed, his face and hands were blistered and there were new wounds on him.
Her hands fluttered over his body and another sigh of relief left her lips when she concluded that he has no broken bones, although he does have a very large bump on the head. She knew they couldn't stay around the area for long. Her father would most likely have the area combed. If not him, then a swarm of government soldiers who will be trying to douse the fire.
She knew they couldn't stay, but she hadn't expected on having to leave as fast as she could. She just didn't anticipate the gunfire that erupted so very close to where they were! Or rather, it sounded so close.
"I have to get us out of here…" She donned the backpack on, grabbed the gun from Trowa's hand, then pulled Trowa up with all her might. She already had a hard time earlier during the evening when he was half leaning against her, but this time around, he was unconscious and that meant, his full weight. It was a surprise that she was able drag him so far away. It was also a surprise that she was able to think clearly throughout that night!
She remembered the river that flowed a few meters away from the cabin, and she remembered a small cave, more of a crevice against a hill, a few meters down from the river. If they stay on the river until they reach that hill, nobody would be able to track them.
Onie thanked no one in particular when the river came to view. Then, she dropped Trowa and the backpack near the bank, grabbed a fallen branch with leaves and started back where they came from. She must cover their trail, and hope she doesn't meet any hurdles because… she was ready to use her gun.
A few minutes later, she returned to Trowa's side, then pulled him into the river with her. She half hoped that the cold water would wake him up, but he didn't. Silently, she worried that maybe he hit his head harder than she could have imagined, and she could only pray that there were no internal injuries of which she doesn't know how to handle.