Forlorn Angel here. Now before we move on to the chapter, I need to have a
serious discussion with you all. Why is nobody reading Insomnia? I would
like to know what you guys at least hate about it so I can change that, ya
know? Slight warnings. Lack of attention being paid to that fic results in
my being punished by my beta/muse Pegasus. And we don't want that, do we?
Now then thanks to all those who reviewed after I put the fic on Hiatus..
*mentioned in the previous 'chapter'* Especially NeptuneHelena, your
reviews mad me feel so much better.. Now then, On to the fic!
Chapter 4:
The recovery process was long and slow. And during the whole time, Heero never once left Duo's side.
"He looks terrible." Quatre commented quietly from just outside the doorway of Duo's bedroom to Trowa, who was sitting on the floor in the living room, playing a game of chess with Wu Fei. "He's barely moved or even slept!" He turned to look at Trowa. "I'm worried."
"Don't be." Came Trowa's calm response, as he made his move on the chessboard. Relax Quatre. He'll be fine once Duo wakes up and they have a chance to talk things out."
"But. He's in so much pain. Maybe not physically. But emotionally. I can feel it Trowa." Quatre looked through the open door towards Heero once again.
"It's because he did this to Maxwell." Wu Fei stated coldly as he examined the board in front of him.
"Huh?" Quatre and Trowa said in unison as they looked at Wu Fei.
Wu Fei continued to examine the board as he explained. " Maxwell's had a very unstable childhood. And because of that his emotions tend to be felt on an extreme level."
" What are you talking about Wu Fei?" The blond asked from the door, a look of confusion on his face. "Duo's the cheeriest guy I know. He wouldn't let anything bother him that badly."
"That's what he wants us to believe. Haven't you ever noticed how that stupid grin of his is never reflected in his eyes? The truth is. Maxwell is hiding behind a mask of cheerfulness." He continued to examine the chessboard.
"You aren't making any sense Wu Fei..." Trowa commented, just as confused as his koi.
" Maxwell just acts cheerful when he's around others... Especially us." Wu Fei said, looking up at his fellow ex-pilots. "I'm guessing he figures we've enough problems without him adding his emotional strife, despite what he told me, so he keeps his feelings hidden behind that jester's mask."
"Okay. But that doesn't explain how this is Heero's fault." Trowa stated.
"That's where things get a little more difficult. Some of the blame falls on Maxwell for keeping his problems from us, however depending on what Yuy said, or did during their argument and how upset it made Maxwell may vary how much of it is Yuy's fault. And I'm assuming that it must have been somewhat upsetting considering he came here. And from that point until you two arrived he was alone so he no longer had to mask his emotions for anyone, hence he didn't. I'm betting he went through a massive depression. And during that depression he caught the illness that put him where he is. And since He hates doctors so much, he neglected to visit one."
" I see.* Sighed Quatre as he glanced into the room at Heero and Duo before walking over to sit beside Trowa. " Now I just have one more question. How would you know whether or not Duo's had an unstable childhood?"
"I confronted him about why he always hide his emotions behind that infernal mask, after I caught him alone once. He didn't realize it until later. But, I saw his pain. He had no choice but to explain, since he never lies." Wu Fei glanced down at the chessboard and realized a move he hadn't noticed before. Without looking up he grabbed his pawn and moved it. "Check mate." Then he stood up and went into the kitchen to get some coffee, leaving Quatre and Trowa to stare dumbfounded at where he had been sitting moments ago.
~Flash back~
Wu Fei stormed into the hangar, an angry scowl on his face. "Maxwell! We need to talk!" He yelled as he looked around him. The Hangar was empty except for his Gundam, the Shenlong, and the Deathscythe. // Maxwell has to be in here.// Wu Fei had spent the better portion of his morning searching the safe house for the braided American, with no success. And since it was only him and the American in the house the task should've been simple. //Seriously, how long should it take to find that braided, loud-mouthed American in a house by himself? Not this long. // Too bad said American was a stealth expert, and was actually being quiet. Which only convinced Wu Fei that Duo was purposely avoiding him.
Duo flinched at the tone of the Chinese youth's voice. /Aw man.. Wonder what he wants to yell at me about this time? Probably another justice rant about why I shouldn't paint his gundam pink or something.. Hmm. Paint the Shenlong pink.. Sounds fun.. I should try--//
"Maxwell!! I know you're in here!" Wu Fei cut off Duo's thoughts with his rather loud yells causing him to flinch again. He didn't like that tone of voice.
"Sheesh! Down the decibels! I do want to keep my hearing for a while longer ya know!" He answered, as he poked his head out of the Deathscythe's cockpit.
"Maxwell! Get down here this instant!" Wu Fei yelled as he stalked towards the towering black Gundam.
"I'll be down as soon as I'm done this systems check!" Duo withdrew into the cockpit while Wu Fei leaned against the gundam's huge foot, folding his arms over his chest. There was no way he was going to let Maxwell escape giving him an explanation Wu Fei waited for another half hour before Duo finally emerged from the cockpit. As the American grabbed the booster cable and descended, the Asian youth turned to watch him. "Finally."
"Nice greeting." The braided boy snorted. "So, Wufferz.. What did you wanna talk about?" He asked as he punched in the code to close up the huge mecha, turning to his comrade.
Wu Fei watched the boy in front of him warily. "Don't call me that." He growled as he examined the American. // He's damned good. This façade of his is damn near perfect.// he noted to himself as Duo grinned at his ability to so thoroughly annoy the Chinese warrior with a simple pet name.
"Alrighty then. How about Wuffie? Or Wufflez? Oh I got it! WU-WU!" He countered brightly, his grin growing as Wu Fei's face went beet red.
" My name is Wu Fei. Not Wufferz, Wuffie, Wufflez, or Wu-Wu.. And so I would appreciate it if you would call me by my name, Maxwell." The Chinese youth said after taking a deep breath, trying to calm down. " And I need to talk to you about last night."
"L-last night? What about last night?" Duo faltered momentarily.
"You've been hiding your feelings from us.. Covering everything up with that jester's mask of yours. And don't you dare even try to deny it.." He warned, his voice taking on a feral tone. " I saw your little 'ritual'."
Duo's eyes went wide with horror. "Y-you. saw?" His voice quivered a little as he tried to imagine the look on Wu Fei's face the previous night.
Wu Fei just nodded. "What you've been doing is an injustice not only to us, your fellow pilots and comrades at arms, but to yourself."
Duo just stood there looking shell-shocked momentarily. "You won't tell anyone, will you?" He finally ventured, his voice sounding small.
Wu Fei sighed, noting the sudden change in Duo's demeanor. "On one condition."
"And what's that?" The American asked, his voice still sounding small and weak.
"That you'll promise to be more open with me at least and you'll explain what that 'ritual' was all about."
"Okay." Duo gulped and nodded slowly, then took a deep breath before he began to explain to his comrade..
The recovery process was long and slow. And during the whole time, Heero never once left Duo's side.
"He looks terrible." Quatre commented quietly from just outside the doorway of Duo's bedroom to Trowa, who was sitting on the floor in the living room, playing a game of chess with Wu Fei. "He's barely moved or even slept!" He turned to look at Trowa. "I'm worried."
"Don't be." Came Trowa's calm response, as he made his move on the chessboard. Relax Quatre. He'll be fine once Duo wakes up and they have a chance to talk things out."
"But. He's in so much pain. Maybe not physically. But emotionally. I can feel it Trowa." Quatre looked through the open door towards Heero once again.
"It's because he did this to Maxwell." Wu Fei stated coldly as he examined the board in front of him.
"Huh?" Quatre and Trowa said in unison as they looked at Wu Fei.
Wu Fei continued to examine the board as he explained. " Maxwell's had a very unstable childhood. And because of that his emotions tend to be felt on an extreme level."
" What are you talking about Wu Fei?" The blond asked from the door, a look of confusion on his face. "Duo's the cheeriest guy I know. He wouldn't let anything bother him that badly."
"That's what he wants us to believe. Haven't you ever noticed how that stupid grin of his is never reflected in his eyes? The truth is. Maxwell is hiding behind a mask of cheerfulness." He continued to examine the chessboard.
"You aren't making any sense Wu Fei..." Trowa commented, just as confused as his koi.
" Maxwell just acts cheerful when he's around others... Especially us." Wu Fei said, looking up at his fellow ex-pilots. "I'm guessing he figures we've enough problems without him adding his emotional strife, despite what he told me, so he keeps his feelings hidden behind that jester's mask."
"Okay. But that doesn't explain how this is Heero's fault." Trowa stated.
"That's where things get a little more difficult. Some of the blame falls on Maxwell for keeping his problems from us, however depending on what Yuy said, or did during their argument and how upset it made Maxwell may vary how much of it is Yuy's fault. And I'm assuming that it must have been somewhat upsetting considering he came here. And from that point until you two arrived he was alone so he no longer had to mask his emotions for anyone, hence he didn't. I'm betting he went through a massive depression. And during that depression he caught the illness that put him where he is. And since He hates doctors so much, he neglected to visit one."
" I see.* Sighed Quatre as he glanced into the room at Heero and Duo before walking over to sit beside Trowa. " Now I just have one more question. How would you know whether or not Duo's had an unstable childhood?"
"I confronted him about why he always hide his emotions behind that infernal mask, after I caught him alone once. He didn't realize it until later. But, I saw his pain. He had no choice but to explain, since he never lies." Wu Fei glanced down at the chessboard and realized a move he hadn't noticed before. Without looking up he grabbed his pawn and moved it. "Check mate." Then he stood up and went into the kitchen to get some coffee, leaving Quatre and Trowa to stare dumbfounded at where he had been sitting moments ago.
~Flash back~
Wu Fei stormed into the hangar, an angry scowl on his face. "Maxwell! We need to talk!" He yelled as he looked around him. The Hangar was empty except for his Gundam, the Shenlong, and the Deathscythe. // Maxwell has to be in here.// Wu Fei had spent the better portion of his morning searching the safe house for the braided American, with no success. And since it was only him and the American in the house the task should've been simple. //Seriously, how long should it take to find that braided, loud-mouthed American in a house by himself? Not this long. // Too bad said American was a stealth expert, and was actually being quiet. Which only convinced Wu Fei that Duo was purposely avoiding him.
Duo flinched at the tone of the Chinese youth's voice. /Aw man.. Wonder what he wants to yell at me about this time? Probably another justice rant about why I shouldn't paint his gundam pink or something.. Hmm. Paint the Shenlong pink.. Sounds fun.. I should try--//
"Maxwell!! I know you're in here!" Wu Fei cut off Duo's thoughts with his rather loud yells causing him to flinch again. He didn't like that tone of voice.
"Sheesh! Down the decibels! I do want to keep my hearing for a while longer ya know!" He answered, as he poked his head out of the Deathscythe's cockpit.
"Maxwell! Get down here this instant!" Wu Fei yelled as he stalked towards the towering black Gundam.
"I'll be down as soon as I'm done this systems check!" Duo withdrew into the cockpit while Wu Fei leaned against the gundam's huge foot, folding his arms over his chest. There was no way he was going to let Maxwell escape giving him an explanation Wu Fei waited for another half hour before Duo finally emerged from the cockpit. As the American grabbed the booster cable and descended, the Asian youth turned to watch him. "Finally."
"Nice greeting." The braided boy snorted. "So, Wufferz.. What did you wanna talk about?" He asked as he punched in the code to close up the huge mecha, turning to his comrade.
Wu Fei watched the boy in front of him warily. "Don't call me that." He growled as he examined the American. // He's damned good. This façade of his is damn near perfect.// he noted to himself as Duo grinned at his ability to so thoroughly annoy the Chinese warrior with a simple pet name.
"Alrighty then. How about Wuffie? Or Wufflez? Oh I got it! WU-WU!" He countered brightly, his grin growing as Wu Fei's face went beet red.
" My name is Wu Fei. Not Wufferz, Wuffie, Wufflez, or Wu-Wu.. And so I would appreciate it if you would call me by my name, Maxwell." The Chinese youth said after taking a deep breath, trying to calm down. " And I need to talk to you about last night."
"L-last night? What about last night?" Duo faltered momentarily.
"You've been hiding your feelings from us.. Covering everything up with that jester's mask of yours. And don't you dare even try to deny it.." He warned, his voice taking on a feral tone. " I saw your little 'ritual'."
Duo's eyes went wide with horror. "Y-you. saw?" His voice quivered a little as he tried to imagine the look on Wu Fei's face the previous night.
Wu Fei just nodded. "What you've been doing is an injustice not only to us, your fellow pilots and comrades at arms, but to yourself."
Duo just stood there looking shell-shocked momentarily. "You won't tell anyone, will you?" He finally ventured, his voice sounding small.
Wu Fei sighed, noting the sudden change in Duo's demeanor. "On one condition."
"And what's that?" The American asked, his voice still sounding small and weak.
"That you'll promise to be more open with me at least and you'll explain what that 'ritual' was all about."
"Okay." Duo gulped and nodded slowly, then took a deep breath before he began to explain to his comrade..