A/N: First of all.. Thanks to all you guys who submitted your guesses.. We all find out who -she- is today! Secondly. This chapter was inspired by the somewhat unpredictable weather of my hometown. And Thirdly.. I'd like to wish a happy belated independence day to all the Americans out there and thank you all for the wonderful fireworks you give me on my B-day every year!
Next, I'd like to bid welcome to my new reviewers Duo-23 and aint-got-a- name.
For the rest of you:
Raven'sLight: Thanks. Hopefully now that I'm done school there won't be anymore delays like that.
Weissangel24: Yes.. I know... Disappointing style but it's good because it leaves ya wanting more, no? And. No.. Even I can't stand Hilde.
AnimeOnna: Okay. I pick you... Now care to share with the rest of the class her identity?
RikoRishodeathangeloflight( Love that name too..): I know what you mean.. I can't stand Blondie(No offence to Q, his fans, or Relena fans) either but oh well.. too late to change it now huh? And I'm glad I'm back too.. And I shouldn't be disappearing again for a while.
MysticHeero: Aw.. Thanks! I'll try to update more regularly from now on. And is this soon enough for your liking?
A loud clap of thunder woke Duo a couple of hours later. The storm that had brewed outside was unexpected and with its ferocity, someone would have to be crazy to be caught out in it. Another loud peal of thunder cause Duo to curl into a ball, his eyes clenched shut and his hand over his ears as he whimpered. Soothingly I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and realized he was trembling.... I never knew he was afraid of thunder..
Softly, I stroked his hair and tried to calm him as he continued to whimper, curling tighter at each clap of thunder. Quietly I whispered gentle reassurances to him as he grabbed hold of my shirt and clung to it as if holding on for dear life. I had never realized how much thunderstorms had bothered him. As far as I knew, he loved the rain. So why would this bother him?
I woke up immediately when I heard a large clap of thunder. I've always liked the rain.. But I've never quite like thunder and lightning... it reminds me of my childhood. Life on the streets isn't easy. Especially when everybody wants something from you and would do anything to get it. But that's not why I dislike thunder. It was after then.. While staying at the Maxwell Church I was put into several foster homes.. Most of which were okay I guess. But, there was this one house.. I'll never forget it.. Sure, the people there were nice enough.. Well, most of them anyway..
It was my foster father. He would always stay out late.. Drinking and gambling with his buddies.. He would always come back really late.. Well, one night he came back late, later than usual.. It had begun to rain and I was getting worried.. When he came back, he was drunk and flaming pissed.. And I just happened to be there... When his gaze landed on me, a dark grin fell across his lips. Slowly he sauntered over. "Hey," he said as I looked up at him. Every nerve in my entire body screamed at me to run, but I couldn't. I stood there, frozen. Before I had realized anything I was sprawled across the floor and I could taste the coppery tang of blood in my mouth.
Bewildered I slowly began to sit up and looked at him confused. He sneered down at me and kicked me in the ribs, causing me to fall again. "It's all your fault!" He bellowed, kicking me again. I didn't understand, what was my fault? I hadn't done anything. He let me stand before lightning lit up his face and he backhanded my face, sending me reeling.
The abuse continued for about an hour before he finally grabbed my braid and lifted my up to be eye level with him and spat in my face. Then he dropped me and walked away, leaving me broken and bleeding on the floor...
Since then I haven't been able to handle thunderstorms. Of course.. None of the other guys know that.. I don't think they'd understand.
Why Duo was afraid of thunderstorms I didn't know. But the one person I didn't expect to understand something so complex that even the perfect soldier couldn't get it was the very same person that rang our doorbell. I slowly rose and answered the door. Her golden blonde hair was tied messily back in a ponytail. She obviously had not planned to be at our door.
Her crystal blue eyes sparkled with the usual joy that came from seeing me. She was my own personal stalker and beautiful though she was, she could not compare to my duo. During the war I will admit I had a slight crush on her but I would not allow it to interfere with my mission. Then I met Duo. I felt such strong feelings for him it was... magical. So what was Relena Peacecraft doing here? I was thrown for a damn loop when Quatre came out and helped her inside.
After a long and lengthy talk and many death glares thrown at Quatre Wu Fei and Trowa I realized she was here to help. So I explained to her of Duo's newfound fear of thunderstorms. To my surprise she actually seemed to understand. "He was probably hurt by someone close, someone he trusted when he was younger..." She explained. I could not believe I had not thought of that before. I knew that he had grown up on the streets. It made sense, however she chose then to continue her statement. "It might even be possible that person raped him." At that moment, all time for me seemed to cease.
Raped him... why hadn't I seen it?... The signs were all there clear as daylight... I had researched the subject... but it had still evaded me. Many human emotions evade me. I have been trained to understand the most advanced technology there is to date but the human emotion still evades me. However it does not evade Relena. How is it that someone who barely knows Duo at all was still able to see something in him that I could not?
It was as I was pondering this that Duo stirred in the next room. I walked quietly over to the couch leaving the others to talk more and sat on the couch letting him curl into my arms. I listened to the quiet chirping of birds outside as I tried to sort out my own thoughts and feelings. Duo put his chin on my shoulder and let me make slow deliberate circles on his back with my hand to comfort him. I whispered a few comforting words that I remembered from somewhere that I couldn't quite place. It was then that I realized Duo was seeking attention and comfort the same way that you might expect from a young child who had been hurt. He never sought attention like a child unless he was very hurt or extremely frightened... and my suspicion was option b.