Part 8

"Where is he ?"

Wufei let out a sigh both of relief and exasperation, before he frowned when he realized where Duo was coming from. The young American had arrived from the right, not from where both the elevators and the stairs were supposed to be, which apparently meant he hadn't used them to get there.

"How did you come up ?", Wufei asked, unable to resist.

"Stupid dumbass at the reception wouldn't let me in", Duo grumbled. "Wouldn't blame her on that one, though, she knows me, I broke into this joint quite some times when I was a kid."

Wufei raised both eyebrows, first at hearing the best hotel of L2 be called a joint and then, when he understood what Duo had actually done to come up there.

"You climbed the building ?", he asked in disbelief.

"Wu, if ya don't mind, I didn't come here to discuss my way of sneaking into a hotel", Duo snapped. "Where is he ?"

"The name's still Wufei, Maxwell, and he is in his bed", Wufei snapped back.

The Chinese felt that something was wrong. Duo was angry, and Wufei understood only too well why part of that anger was directed towards him. But there was also something else in Duo's blazing eyes, and in the ironic smile on his lips.

"You were supposed to watch him", Duo said very low and menacingly, his eyes slowly starting to turn to that creepy blue color Wufei had seen in the junkyard. "Tell me, Chang, just how much of his back did you really watch for him to end up in that state ?"

Wufei's face closed immediately, and he shot Duo the coldest look. He had understood.

"And tell me Maxwell, just how much of this has to do with your little ego and jealousy ?"

Duo gaped.

"In case you haven't noticed, Maxwell, I am not interested in Quatre that way. Even if I was, I fail to see how this would be your problem anyway. He is a big boy and as you clearly stated yourself, he only does what he wants to do. As for 'watching his back', I can't protect someone who doesn't want to be protected."

Some color crept on Duo's cheeks as the young American looked away, a bit embarrassed. Wufei's expression softened. He could understand Duo's feeling, but he was just too tired to take all the blame. Waking up to Quatre screaming, kicking the killer out of his room and then watching Quatre collapse helplessly on the floor were not his ideas of spending a nice quiet night.

"I'm sorry I wasn't up to the mission you entrusted to me, but if there had been anything else I could have done, I would have. You know it. The only reason you're biting my head off right now is because you blame yourself for not having been there, and that's stupid. I'm one to know", he added bitterly, his mind, drifting off to an old memory, of him cradling Meiran's body in that awful street where he had found her.

Duo caught that expression on his face, and had to admit that Wufei was right. He had almost banged his head on the wall when he had heard the short message on his answering machine asking him to come as soon as possible. Duo sighed heavily and reached out to Wufei, carefully placing his hand on the man's shoulder. Wufei shook his head, his eyes regaining focus. Duo smiled apologetically.

"Sorry about that", he said. "I know I speak too much, and some times I don't think before I do. I shouldn't have said that. Ya did what ya had to do."

Wufei smiled back. Duo began to turn towards the doors, but stopped in shock when he realized in what state they were.

"Did you break the doors ?", he asked, his eyes widening.

Wufei shrugged, as if it was something he did everyday.

"I didn't have the key", he said, "and I needed to get in quick."

"Cat wasn't jokin' when he said you were the best", Duo said, scratching his head, and looking at the dismembered doors. "And to think I bother with lock picks …"

This reminded Wufei of one thing.

"I wonder how he came in. The doors were just closed when I arrived, no signs of anyone trying to break in. If you except those two lumps lying on the floor", he added with a cold look towards the bodyguards.

"Fake card", Duo said. "Just a plain-lookin' electronic card, with some micro-computer that tries all the combinations. If you get yourself a good one, it can decipher the code in less than a second."

"How do you know … Wait, I'm not sure I want to know the answer", Wufei said, frowning.

"Wu-man, I was a street-child for half of my life", Duo said offhandedly. "Picking locks was one of the first things I was ever taught. It's always useful. Got me out of the police station in no time the rare times they actually managed to catch me."

Duo's tone was light, but Wufei caught the darker implications of what that meant. Apparently, when Quatre said Duo had had it rough, it was because there was no other word accurate enough to describe it. Wufei's trail of thoughts was interrupted by a big yawn, reminding him that it was only 2 AM and that he still needed some sleep.

"I put him in his bed", he said to Duo. "He seemed to be in shock, and I think he's starting a fever. I tried to cool him off before you arrived, but it didn't work that well."

"It's normal", Duo said. "It's all in his head. His body will calm down once his mind will. Call it secondary effects."

"You've been doing that often ?", Wufei asked

"Quite some times. I was living with Quatre when he first … when this started. I was the only one who could calm him down, and then he practiced to block everyone out. But when he's got a big crisis, like this, he needs me. What did he do by the way ?"

Wufei hesitated before he answered.

"I think you should ask him that. I only witnessed the end, and I am not the best person to ask. I'll just hit my bed, or I am going to fall down. My room is just there, if you need anything, just knock."

"Thanks, man."

Duo turned to get in Quatre's room, but Wufei stopped him. The American looked at him interrogatively.

"Just one last thing, to make sure we don't start that kind of little scene again", Wufei said. "I want for you to understand that I am not going to be between you and Quatre. We are friends, but I am not trying to take your place in his life. First it would be a lost battle and a waste of time, and then, I am not such a dishonorable brat that I would try to estrange him from you."

Duo listened intently and nodded.

"Sure thing, dude", he said with a smile. "I'm a bit possessive with him, that's all. And if you tried to do that anyway, I could lose control and kill you."

Wufei had the strange feeling that the last sentence was not fully a joke, although it had been said on the same cheerful tone than the rest. He yawned again. Time to sleep. He gave a sharp nod to Duo and watched him slip inside the darkened room, before he went back to his own bed.

O.O.O.O.O

Duo didn't light any lamp as he made his way towards the bed. Quatre was very pale (paler than usual, at any rate), and his breath was coming out in short gasps. Duo reached out for Quatre's brow and frowned. Wufei was right, he was burning. And talking nonsense under his breath, and not even in English. Duo shook his head. He was in a for a long night, but there was not much he could do before Cat would come around. What he needed right now was an anchor, someone he knew to hang onto and come back from where his mind was wandering.

Duo unlaced his boots and kicked them off. He removed his jacket, his gloves, and after some hesitation, his pants too. Quatre was literally exuding heat, and getting into a bed with leather pants was not exactly comfortable. Just in his black boxers and red T-shirt, he opened the covers and went into the bed. Reaching out for Quatre, he pulled the blond young man into a tight embrace. Quatre didn't resist, he just settled more comfortably against the familiar presence, his body acting of its own will. Duo kissed the sweat-covered brow, and began murmuring a flow of appeasing words.

"Cat, come back. It's Duo. You know me, remember ? You've gone too far. Listen to my voice, you know it, right ? You know the way to come back … so take it."

O.O.O.O.O

Quatre's confused mind was lost in a middle of a storm. Quatre hated being in that state, because, it usually meant he had pushed himself too far, and had lost control. Now he was far too weak to be able to differentiate his own feelings from Heero's, which left him exhausted. The despair, sadness, and underlying hatred directed to an unknown someone coming from the killer's mind were intoxicating him, and he didn't know how to make them go away.

Suddenly, a warm and familiar presence brushed his consciousness. Long arms wrapped themselves around his body, and a voice he knew only too well began to call him.

'Duo …'

Quatre tried to concentrate on the confidence and love emanating from his friend. That was hard. The pain was still there, fighting back to regain control of his mind. Quatre clung desperately to the soft voice murmuring in his ear. Duo would help him to get out of it.

O.O.O.O.O

When Quatre's breathing finally eased, Duo let out a sigh of relief. The blond young man was beginning to come back, troubled unconsciousness being gradually replaced by real sleep. Quatre stopped moving, and nuzzled in Duo's T-shirt, settling his head in the crook of the American's neck. Duo blew a few strands of pale blond hair from under his nose, and closed his eyes too. There was nothing to be done now before Quatre would wake up.

O.O.O.O.O

Wufei was woken up for the second time this night when someone banged insistently on his door. The Chinese crawled out of his bed, put his pants on and opened the door. He was expecting to find Duo on the other side, but it wasn't him. A short woman with black hair and blue eyes was there, holding a backpack and her hand still held up.

"Yes ?", Wufei asked, a bit confused and quite sure he had never seen her before.

He was also sure that his hair was a complete mess, that his eyes were red from the lack of sleep, and that he looked quite grumpy. That didn't seem to disarm the woman, though. A smile appeared on her face, a smile that immediately reminded Wufei of …

"I'm Hilde Schbeicker, Duo's sister", she said. "Sorry to disturb you like this, but …"

"It's okay", Wufei assured her. "Maybe it would be best if you came in, I think they're sleeping and the doors … can't be closed for now."

Hilde shot a look to the discarded doors, but she didn't say a thing and slipped into Wufei's room.

"I just stopped on my way to the junkyard", she explained. "Duo left me a message, he explained everything. I just came to drop a few things he might need. His clothes and things for his hair are in the backpack. Oh, and could you please tell him that he doesn't need to come to work today ? I can handle a day on my own, and David will come if it's really too much. Tell him to stay with Quatre, and that I'll drop by to take him home when I've finished working, okay ?"

"Uh …" was the only thing Wufei found to answer, as his sleepy mind tried to understand what was going on. Hilde smiled gently.

"Maybe you should go back to sleep, you look like you need it."

"Sounds like a good idea."

"Just a question. Quatre is alright ?"

Wufei looked at her more closely. She looked kinda worried, now that he paid attention to it.

"Physically, he is alright. And he told me he would be fine if Duo came, so I guess that's true."

"I just wanted to be sure that he hadn't been, … you know … hurt or anything. Duo told me about the killer."

"Does Maxwell know when to shut up ?", Wufei whispered exasperatedly.

"You'd be surprised", Hilde answered with another smile. "Actually, you'll see that my lil' bro knows exactly 'when' to shut up."

"When is that ?"

"Before the person in front of him becomes a lethal danger to his throat. He trained with me, mind you, so he knows quite well. Just tell them I came, okay ?", she said, getting out.

"Okay", Wufei answered to the closing door, before he finally went back to his bed.

O.O.O.O.O

Quatre woke up slowly, but didn't open his eyes right away, trying to remember what had happened last night. It came back quite soon. Heero had come. He hadn't even really tried to kill him. Then his pain had washed over Quatre, leaving him completely devastated. Quatre also remembered preventing someone from shooting Heero before everything became black.

He tried to move, but someone was holding him very tight. Quatre opened his eyes and blinked several times, before realizing that the red thing in front of him was actually a T-shirt, and that it was worn by the person who was holding him. He didn't even have to look up to know who it was. That was right, he had asked Wufei to call Duo before he had blacked out. Quatre smiled as he snuggled even closer to Duo, wrapping his arm around the other boy's waist. He could remember other mornings, waking up like that and feeling home, secure, safe.

Duo stirred slowly, stifling a big yawn as he did so. His violet eyes opened slowly, met Quatre's and he smiled.

"Welcome back, Cat", he whispered.

"Hey, Duo", Quatre whispered back.

They remained like this for a while in comfortable silence, Quatre absentmindedly rubbing his cheek on Duo's T-shirt.

"What happened this time, Cat ?", Duo finally asked.

"Wufei didn't tell you ?", Quatre asked, surprised.

"He said it was your story and he only knew the end of it, so you should be the one to tell me. And then, he just kinda left me with you. Just as if he knew he couldn't do anything else. I almost thought at first that he would want to come with me, but he didn't."

Quatre smiled brightly, the kind of smile Duo liked best on his friend's face.

"Wufei is just like that. He knows when his presence is not necessary. And if you needed proof that he trusts you, well, here you go."

"Yeah, he is cool, you know. But I'm not sure he likes me."

"If you earn his respect, that will be good enough. If you two could just try not to kill each other under my poor eyes, that would be just fine. If you would be so kind as to make an effort and be friends, that will be heaven on Earth."

"Well, I'll try for my part, but you know me. Ya have to take me as I am."

"I know how you are, Duo", Quatre said very quietly, snuggling a bit closer and locking his arms around Duo's neck.

"You know that you used my trick quite nicely, Cat."

"What trick ?", Quatre said, blushing a bit.

"Changing the subject so you wouldn't answer my question. That was quite a smooth move, very well-done."

"You noticed, uh ?"

"Cat, I invented that stuff and turned it into an Olympic discipline, of which I win the gold medal every time. Ya can't fool the champions !"

"Yeah, of course not. I still need practice", Quatre admitted.

"So ?"

Quatre fingered Duo's golden cross for a while before he trusted himself enough to look up at Duo again.

"I … He came to kill me, Duo. But he couldn't do it. I talked with him, and he could have shot me at least a hundred times, but he didn't. And then, I … felt him."

Duo remained silent, waiting for Quatre to let it all out.

"I told it to Wufei, and also to you on the phone, he's just the saddest thing I ever met apart from Wufei. There was so much hurt, so much pain. It was unbearable. I mean, I knew he had been crushed. I knew he was broken inside, but to this extent … I had no idea … except that I never want to feel that way again. And yet, … I … I want to see him again, Duo."

Duo frowned.

"You do ? Why ?"

Quatre blushed again. Duo couldn't help smiling at the sight. Quatre always looked cute when he was blushing, no matter if it was in shame or embarrassment.

"You remember what you told me, Duo ?", Quatre said in a little voice. "That some day, I would find someone who would love just me, as I am, and not what he thinks I am."

"I remember."

"Well, I … I think I found him."

The silence that followed was almost deafening. Duo was gaping, his brain refusing to process the information.

"Rewind, KittyCat. Tell that again. You are in love with that killer ? Did I get it right ? Gee, I think I shouldn't have drunk that much last night, I must have heard it wrong."

"Duo, you … I … Listen, I don't … I am not really sure, but I've been thinking a lot about it."

"Sure, you have. You always think a lot, that's what you do. You think and suddenly you jump to crazy conclusions !"

"Duo, you're babbling."

"I know I'm babbling. I always do when I'm nervous or worried or whatever."

"You're worried about me ?"

"Well, since you're obviously not, and Wufei must be sleeping, I guess I am the one who has to be, uh ?"

Quatre suddenly pulled Duo closer and brushed his lips against the American's, which was efficient enough to silence him.

"Duo, do you remember what we had ? How it was ?"

"I do remember, Cat."

"Well, it's like this, only, it's like a million times stronger and different at the same time."

"Are you saying I'm just a one time affair and I'm not a good date, Cat ?", Duo asked.

"Duo, no !", Quatre said, horrified, before he realize that Duo was grinning widely at him. "You're making fun of me. You're making fun of my crush."

"Most definitely. Aow !"

Quatre had hit him with one of the pillows. Duo hit back, but it did not degenerate into the big pillow fight it should have been. They were not in the mood.

"You have a gift to make my day, Cat", Duo finally said when his laughter died. "You almost kill yourself by getting into a killer's mind and then you come and tell me you got a crush on him ! What else ? Did you suddenly discover that you're the heir of an immense fortune ? Oh no, wait, you 'are' the heir of an immense fortune. I always forget that one doesn't work on you !"

"It's not a crush, Duo", Quatre said seriously. "In the beginning it was just a game for me. I did it 'cause I was furious against those people who wanted me dead, and because I wanted to prove I could take care of myself. But then … I met him."

"I thought last night was the first time you saw him."

"I saw him for real for the first time, but I've been knowing him for longer than that. I … met his soul, Duo. And it was so lost that I had to do something. And … I guess I got caught."

"Cat", Duo sighed, "they are zillions of people who are unhappy in the world. Ya can't help them all."

"I helped you, Duo. And I can help him. I want to help him. I … I need to help him."

Duo sighed some more.

"Ya always get yourself in impossible situations, and I'm the one they call a troublemaker when I spend half of my time trying to get your sorry ass outta said impossible situations."

"I know, Duo, I'm so sorry to just launch this on you, but …"

"Cat, it's okay."

Quatre's eyes widened.

"What do you mean, it's okay ? You give me the big brother lecture and then you say it's okay ?"

"Cat, I already told you that a thousand times, so that's one thousand and one and I hope it's the last. That day you found me and Hilde on the pavement, you pretty much saved our lives. Who knows where we would be now if you and Iria hadn't taken us with you ? Hell, I'd probably be dead or worse ! Ever since, I swore to myself that I would see you happy, Cat. 'Cause from the first day, I knew you weren't satisfied with your life. I knew something was missing, and you didn't know how to find it. For some time, I thought that something might just be me, and you know how it turned out."

"Yeah, I know."

"You need someone, Cat, to love you like you deserve to be loved. So … even if that person is a trained killer that was sent after you, as long as I get to beat the crap out of him for even trying, then you can have him."

Quatre glowed. Literally. It was like all the light in the room had left to shine in his eyes.

"Duo, I … You're amazing, you know ?"

"I know. And, in case you want to know, I stole the big bro speech from Hilde."

"I recognized it", Quatre chuckled. "You know, I happened to be there quite some time when she gave it to you."

"Right, I forgot."

Duo stretched and yawned.

"Now comes the funny part for me", he said.

"What is it ?"

"I get to watch Wufei's reaction when you tell him !"

"Oh, shit, I had completely forgotten !"

"Looks like it ! Come on, you need to clean up, and me too. I called Hilde last night and she said she would drop by to bring me fresh clothes and stuff. Guess she left them in the Wu-man's room. Start the shower, you are allowed to help me with my hair."

"Great !"

O.O.O.O.O

Much to Duo's dismay, Wufei took the thing very calmly. Apparently, at least. Duo was sitting on Quatre's bed, and the blond young man was explaining everything to Wufei while brushing Duo's hair. Duo knew why Quatre was doing this : brushing his hair had always been one of the blonde's favorite activities, and it helped to have something to do while he was talking.

Wufei, for his part, was fighting very hard not to give up the last bit of self-control he still had. When he spoke, his voice was very even. Maybe a bit too even.

"How do you expect me to react exactly, Quatre ? Because if you want me to jump for joy, I'm afraid I won't be able to do that."

Quatre looked shyly at Wufei from behind Duo.

"I know you did a lot for me on this, Wufei. You took of your time to protect me, and you actually did save my life. But remember what you said. I said you would do what you want if he tried something. You did. But you also said you would let me do what I want if it turned out I was right about him."

"Yeah, I did tell that."

"And I am right about him."

"It certainly looks like it."

"Wufei, please, tell me you're not mad at me", Quatre said pleadingly with what Duo usually called 'the look.' When Quatre poured all the innocence of the world into his eyes and begged to be understood. It was simply irresistible.

The Chinese frowned at the sight.

"I am not mad at you, Quatre. I'm just … mad, that's all. I don't know at whom I'm mad, but I am."

"I don't want you to feel like you failed or something, 'cause we already covered that subject", Quatre said warningly.

"I don't. It's just … it's a lot, don't you think ?"

"I know", Quatre mumbled. "It's a lot for me too. I didn't expect 'that' of all things to happen."

"Well, who did ?", Duo asked. "You messed up with the killer's head, and now you want him in your bed, it's all a bit AAAOW!"

Quatre had yanked on Duo's hair to make him shut up. It didn't make him shut up, since Duo ranted for about ten minutes about how Quatre was mean and wanted him bald, but it prevented him from adding another word on that subject.

"So, what are we supposed to do now ?", Wufei asked. "I told your bodyguards not to talk, and I'm sure they won't. They're not too proud of their little performance."

"I'll dismiss them", Quatre said. "They are more a hindrance than anything else, and they can't even do their job."

"It was quite some enemy they had to face, Quatre", Wufei said.

"Don't try to talk for their defense, you're thinking the same thing."

"Yeah", Wufei admitted. "I just … Never mind. Now we three know about the Perfect Soldier. We know what he looks like, and we know his real name. It's bound to be dangerous for us if he decides we are embarrassing witnesses."

"Wufei, I told you …", Quatre started, but Wufei interrupted.

"Yes, I know. If you don't mind, I'll save the cheering for when I will have met the guy in happier circumstances."

"I understand", Quatre sighed. "I'm so sorry I had to drag you along with me in this."

"S'okay", the two other young men answered exactly at the same time.

Duo shot an awkward look to Wufei, who looked back as awkwardly before he decided to shrug.

"We're your friends, Quatre. What makes you happy is fine by me, I just want to be sure I can trust that Heero. The fact that you two met because he was hired to kill you doesn't really speak for him."

"I know it doesn't. I'll have him explain if I can. But first, I need you to help me."

"For what ?", Wufei asked.

"I need to intensify my training to block people out, and you can help me on that during my training sessions. I can't afford to become a useless lump every time I see him just because his despair is too deep for me to ignore."

"Sounds like a good start", Wufei agreed.

"How are ya supposed to get in touch with him, Cat ?", Duo said, apparently tired of being silent. "I suppose he didn't have time to leave you his phone number last night before he had to leave !"

"He hacked into the Winner database, I'm sure of that. He must have my e-mail somewhere."

"So you just wait for a sign ?"

"I have absolutely no means to contact him. And I think he has questions only I can answer. He'll come back."

"And, of course, we tell no one about this", Wufei said.

Quatre looked at him, a twinge of worry in his eyes.

"Do you mind ?"

"I … I'm not really ecstatic about the whole thing, Quatre. But if nothing else, I trust your judgement on people. You demonstrated quite efficiently on myself that people can't lie to you. If you're telling me that he will do no harm to you, I believe you. But I will still be watching him."

"That's fair", Quatre admitted

"I also have a request, Quatre."

"Yes ?"

"I was wondering if you would mind for Duo to come with us on the rest of the tour. If you dismiss your bodyguards, then I would feel better if the two of us were watching your back instead of me alone."

Duo's violet eyes widened a bit. He looked at the Chinese as if wondering what had happened to the other man.

"Whoaow, you really mean that, Wuffie ?"

"That's Wufei, Maxwell, and yes, I really mean that. Quatre trusts you, I trust you. I can't think of anybody else."

"Well, I guess I'll have to tell my sis I won't be 'round for a while, but it should be alright. Hey, does it meant I get to sleep in a room like this one for the next two weeks ?"

"Yes", Quatre said. "That's brilliant, Wufei."

The blond young man mouthed something else behind Duo's back, so that only the Chinese saw it.

'Thank you.'

"We're still goin' out for your birthday, Cat ? And you're still comin' at my house for a sleepover, right ?"

"Of course. I wouldn't miss that, you know it, Duo. A birthday party on L2 is exactly what I need right now."

There was a soft knock on the broken door, and Hilde's head appeared.

"Hey everyone ! Can I come in ?"

"Hi, Hilde !" Quatre said, jumping off the bed and running to hug the young woman.

The hug was returned enthusiastically.

"You look just fine, Cat", she said. "That's great. I see my bro is taking good care of you."

"No, he isn't", Quatre pouted. "He's forcing me to brush his hair."

"You scumbag liar !", Duo shouted. "You as well ordered me to sit here while you brushed my hair !"

Duo threw the hairbrush at the two youngsters to make his point. They both ducked, and the hairbrush went smashing the great mirror on the wall. Duo burst out laughing, and so did Quatre and Hilde. Wufei was merely watching the scene, puzzled and missing the fun in that.

"You just broke the mirror, Maxwell."

"Whatever ! You broke the doors, pal ! I think that's worse, uh ?"

"It was a life or death situation."

"This will become a life or death situation if Cat doesn't help me braid my hair now !"

"See ?", Quatre said to Hilde. "He's starting it again. I'm his slave."

"Yes, and you're sooo miserable to be", Hilde snickered. "We all know you love his hair. Now go and tie him his damn braid, or he'll be shouting some more."

"No fair", Quatre pouted again, forcing laughs out of everyone this time.