A New Life to Live
Disclaimer: Check chapter 1
Warning: This story is YAIO.
Konnichi-wa minna-san, here's my third chapter. I'm doing good, ne? I would like to thank EVERYONE who has reviewed my stories, arigatou gozaimasu!
On with the fic..!
Chapter 3
Quatre realised he must not have been out long because, when he woke, he realised he was still in the alleyway. He winced when the pain in his head reached him; it felt like someone was hitting him in the head repeatedly with a plank of wood. And finally, he noticed that he was not alone in that alleyway. When he noticed that, he leapt up and stood defensively facing the other person, despite the throbbing in his head.
"Whoa! Slow down there, buddy. I'm not gonna hurt you." The other said and raised his hands in a non-aggressive manner. Quatre relaxed, although he still stayed quite a distance away from the stranger. He then asked the stranger who he was.
"My name's Duo Maxwell. I run, I hide, but I never tell a lie." He replied. Quatre blinked. That was a…unique way of introducing yourself.
"My name is Quatre," he told Duo, 'and I was wondering just what the hell happened here."
"Well when I got here I saw you unconscious on the floor and 4 men around you. I didn't know what they were going to do to you but I knew it wasn't going to be good so I uh…intervened. They got scared when I knocked one of them unconscious and ran off. I stayed and checked you over for any injuries. Apart from a few bumps and bruises, I couldn't find any serious ones." Quatre winced again. He could feel those 'few bumps and bruises' alright. "Then I stayed with you until you woke up." Duo explained. They set off walking out of the alleyway together (well Duo was walking, Quatre was limping-slash-lumbering out of the alleyway), by some silent agreement, each was thinking over what had just transpired.
I could have been seriously injured or…worse if Duo hadn't intervened when he had. But…
Quatre's thoughts were cut short by Duo's question.
"So Quatre, why are you travelling all by yourself?" Quatre didn't like this question, didn't like it one bit. He really didn't want to answer the question, so he tried to turn it back on Duo. "What are you doing travelling all by yourself?"
"Hey, I've been by myself for most of my life and I can look after myself. But your magic isn't strong enough if something like that happens again and more than one person attacks you. For one-on-one circumstances, you are certainly strong enough but..." Quatre bristled at this and Duo noticed, so he went on. "Hey I'm not being rude, just truthful, and if those thugs could take you out so easily, then maybe I should travel with you."
"Would you? Thank you so much! It gets so lonely travelling by yourself and I hate to admit it but I do need the protection. I haven't been learning magic all that long or from a proper instructor." Quatre said sheepishly.
It looks like he forgot about that question. I got away with it.
Wrong.
"You still haven't told me why you're by yourself." Duo said.
Damn
"It's a long and nasty story, one I do not wish to repeat. But I just want to get away from the palace as possible." Quatre sighed. Duo's eyes got impossibly big.
"You're not the prince are you? I mean I heard some rumours but I thought…" Duo's ramblings were cut short when he noticed Quatre's defeated expression. He didn't need an answer, the expression answered for him.
"Please, you're not going to treat me different, are you? O-Or try to send me back. Please don't start treating me differently. I beg you to carry on treating me as you were. I'm still the silly little boy that needs your protection." Duo nodded, unable to speak through his shock. But the hurt, pained look in Quatre's eyes forced him speak, to reassure him.
"There is no need to worry Quatre," he said softly, "this information does not change how I will treat you or how I feel about you." So much relief burst through Quatre that it left him feeling weak.
"And just how do you feel about me?"
"That even though we just met today, I consider you my friend and I hope you'll consider me yours." Liquid happiness sprung to Quatre's eyes as he latched himself onto Duo in a fierce hug.
Maybe…maybe finally I've found a real friend. Not like the fakes in the palace.
xXx
It was day two and King Milliardo was still furious. Not only had Quatre not come back, but the rumours were getting so bad that everyone in the palace were asking where Quatre was. He had to lie and say that his son was bed-ridden with sickness. And now, his daughters were sending filthy looks his way every time they saw him and his wife refused to talk to him unless necessary.
That boy is in so much trouble when he gets home.
xXx
Duo and Quatre sat in a tavern, chatting amiably about anything and everything. It turned out that Duo had lived on the streets all his life because his parents had left him as soon as he was old enough to walk. He had been looked after by some kid named Solo who had ended up been killed by the police after he was caught stealing some food for the both of them. Quatre's heart went out to his friend. He thought his life was bad but compared to Duo's, it was fantastic. And yet astonishingly, Duo was the kindest person he'd met. He wasn't the least bitter. Quatre held a fierce admiration for Duo.
"Hey Quatre, since we don't have enough money to stay in an inn, why don't we head out tonight, steal a horse and camp in the forest. I'll even help you with your magic, you know, make it better." Duo saw Quatre's look of apprehension and reassured him,
"Don't worry, I'll steal the horse. I'm a pro at these things."
And so they waited until the inn had closed because even though it was already dark, the inn doesn't close until very late. Quatre waited out front while Duo went round the back. But Duo was taking an awfully long time, at least, that was what it felt like to Quatre, who was getting more and more anxious, having never done this before. So Quatre went round to Duo, and stopped in shock at what he saw. Duo was talking to the horse. Then the horse nodded and followed Duo as he walked passed Quatre, to the front.
"How did you do that?" Quatre demanded.
Duo laughed then he winked and whispered "Magic!" And with that, he hauled himself up onto the horse and extended a hand to Quatre, who took it and heaved himself onto it. Then the horse just took off with no command from either man.
They reached the forest that led them to the next town, Gaia, in no time, where they then proceeded to weave in and out of the trees with no hesitation. When they felt that they were far enough into the forest not to be caught if the owner noticed the horse missing before they set off again, they stopped. Quatre got the wood and Duo lit a fire with his magic, and then cast a spell to sustain the fire while they were sleeping. They settled their heads on leaves and fell into the darkness which was sleep.
xXx
Hey that's another chappie done. If you give me a review I'll lend you Duo
Ja ne minna-san until next time
