Companions of a Kind – Trowa
Quatre felt awkward at first as Heero taught him about the ship. After learning about the replicators, Quatre also chose new attire. Brown dress pants and a pink dress shirt, two buttons opened on top, covered his skinny but strong build. Comfortable black dress shoes covered his feet, and on occasion the ensemble would be accompanied by a vest the same color as his pants.
His room was identical to Heero's, but across the hall. Quatre had been amazed to discover that he could eat as much as he wanted and for the first few days seemed to always have food of some sort in his hand. After the first day of learning and exploring, Quatre was thoroughly sick of the dark cold demeanor of the ship. He started his side project, using the replicators to first decorate his room and then he started on the bridge and most used rooms. Although it drew a raised eyebrow from Cassandra, she didn't comment so Quatre took it as permission to continue. It was slow work, done in-between his work on the map, meals, and rest, but it was coming along.
His presents soon fit in with the ship and her small crew and the awkwardness quickly dissipated. Heero was quiet but easy to get along with and the comfort that he and Cassandra had with everything they did was easy to fit into. Quatre had a kind and passive temperament; he worked manly with the physical samples but also with the computer. With three working on the project it was done in much less the time that it had taken to map out 01.
Quatre yawned and stretched, he glanced at Heero. The tingling sensation that meant that Cassandra and Heero were mentally communicating again made his ears itch. Quatre had never been somewhere as silent as the ship was. Heero would answer his question with mono syllables and Cassandra had never said a word to him. Quatre didn't trust her; he only did express it because Heero seemed to. Every time he had brought it up, Heero had treated it like a none issue.
"We will map planet 03 next," Quatre pronounced as his eyes shifted to the glowing ball in front of him. With a quick command it shrank back into the larger map of the entire voidus. "I still think that we could work as traders between the planets. My planet is starving due to lack of earth and Heero's was dehydrated."
"Hn," Heero responded. Quatre wrinkled his nose but didn't comment. Quatre had been horrified the first time a command had slipped out of his mouth. He had been so used to commanding a fleet of healers that when he had seen the inefficiency with which they were working it had been automatic. What had surprised him more was when he turned to apologize his ears had itched and then Heero's screen showed that he was following Quatre's orders.
Although neither Cassandra nor Heero waited for Quatre's orders, if he gave them they were always followed. When Quatre had gotten Heero alone, which wasn't hard he has asked about it. And Heero had simply stated that neither Heero nor Cassandra had worked with more than one other person before and Quatre's orders were always more logical, except in fewer words.
Quatre had accepted that and, although there had been no official anything, he had slowly begun to take command of the ship.
"03, seems to have little land as well," Quatre began to say out loud as his attention was brought to the initial scans from the planets surface. "But it is also lacking in water, but not as much as 01 or 04. It looks like its main center is at points GP497 and GP35. Cassandra's I'm sending the list of all the physical supplies we will need and Heero, I'm sending you the configuration for the scans. We will leave in two hours," Quatre said as he skimmed the rest of the initial scans.
Two hours later the three were in the little shuttle, Heero and Cassandra at the helm while Quatre sat in a newly built and cushioned chair, toward the back of the shuttle. He watch in rapid attention as the shuttle entered the atmosphere. When the red of it stopped, the shuttle was engulfed in gray. Cassandra's hands brought up a screen in the corner that showed where the ship was and what was in their way based on radar. They would use this to figure out where they needed to go.
"These are clouds," Quatre suddenly realized as they moved through the gray. There were few physical obstacles in their way, and except for where they were heading there seemed to be no land with in a mile. It wasn't until the shuttle was on top of the land that they could see it and Heero put it down with ease on the gray rocky ground.
"Keep your transmitters on and meet back in two hours," Quatre stated as he picked up his own basket. Quatre and Cassandra headed off in different directions to collect different physical samples while Heero stayed at the ship to run the scanners. Quatre brushed his hand against the staff strapped to his back. Heero had constructed a holster for his staff as well.
The clouds were so thick around Quatre that he moved slowly, checking each step before he took it. He felt like a disembodied ghost, he couldn't see past his waist. Although he preferred to depend on his eyes he moved his triquarter close to his face to let it scan for what he was looking for. Quatre froze when the present of another person etched itself on his empathy.
"Who is out there?" Quatre quested, more curious than worried. The emotions he was sensing were curious and extremely rained in; it was hard to tell the person's intent. Before Quatre could holler again he felt the emotions move fast and then the bump of a staff as it rested against his back.
Quatre gulped and moved his hand's into the air.
"I mean no harm, I am just an explorer trying to map this planet," Quatre explained, lacing his words with soothing and trusting feelings. "My name is Quatre..." Quatre started but before he could finish the staff behind his back suddenly scraped up it with a clang. Quatre turned his attention to his empathy and identified his assailant's attacker as Heero. Quatre looked at the disembodied forms of the two men. Both had their staffs in front of them, the dirty yellow of Heero's raw power glowed in preparation to fight while the dark brown of earth glowed from the other young man's.
Quatre's eyed what he could of his assailant. The young man was tall; one of his sharp green eyes was covered by long, impossibly pointy reddish brown bangs while the other emotionlessly watched Heero. His dark brown robes covered his pail body completely before they disappeared into the fog.
Before Quatre could gather his wits the two darted toward each other. The fog took on the tint of their staff power as balls of dirty yellow and brown hit and mixed, making the fog swirl around them before they exploded on each other. Quatre dived for the ground at the intensity of the explosion.
But he was up in a flash, his empathy telling him of the battle at had as the two young men used both magic and limbs to go at each other. Quatre suppressed the anger and grief that began to build up in him and yelled, pulling his staff into his hands. The white crystal of mind flashed a brilliant white before a shield formed around him. Quatre controlled the power as he pushed the shield out further and further, willing the clouds to show him Heero.
Sense his shield was only meant for the clouds it passed right through the form of Heero and his attacker. Quatre winced as he felt Heero get nailed in the jaw but then almost fell to his knees as the attacker's should was burned by a ball of fire and a foot connected with his ribs at the same time.
"Stop!" Quatre screamed as he grabbed his shoulder and ran forward. He let got of his shoulder and flung his arms out between the two boys, his back to Heero. "We shouldn't be fighting!" Quatre said more calmly as his crystal blue orbs locked on sharp green. The clouds slowly began to creep back in on the three figures as Quatre broke the stair and looked over the tall young man.
His robes were torn and spotted in blood, both his own and Heero's. Blood dripped from a split lip and a small burse was forming on his lower jaw. Quatre reflexively reached for his healing powers and walked toward the young man.
"Quatre," Heero's dead voice warned. Quatre stopped his healing magic still active. He once again locked eyes with the stranger and brought one had up to his chest. The clouds had completely engulfed them once again as he called upon his empathy... his uchuu no kokoro.
"He won't hurt me, the only reason he was fighting was because you attacked him," Quatre bodily stated. Heero's emotions didn't change and Quatre immediately turned his attention back on the tall young man, his hand stretched out in friend ship with a ball of healing magic on it.
Quatre approached the young man like he was a wild animal and was rewarded for his patients when the little ball of purple light was absorbed by the bruise on the young man's face. Quatre let his had stay of the cold and smooth skin for a moment before blushing and removing it.
"My name is Quatre, what is your name?" Quatre asked as his mind shaped his healing magic to heal the split lip.
"I have no name, but if you must call me something, it's Trowa," the young man stated. Quatre smiled up at Trowa and brought his hand to his lip to heal the split lip.
"We'll friend Trowa. I am not only an explorer but a healer and I need to make sure there is nothing else wrong with you that I can't see," Quatre explained as he sent his magic through Trowa's body. Quatre winced as it came back to him reporting broken bones and bruises. But only his freshly cracked ribs and bruise on his side were thanks to his most recent fight, the rest were old.
"You're ribs are cracked," Quatre stated. "Along with a few other wounds... Heero, how are you fairing?" Quatre asked.
"Functioning," Heero stated. Quatre bit his lip but didn't bother to comment.
"Come here and help me get Trowa back to the ship," Quatre stated as he grabbed Trowa's arm and slipped it over his shoulder. "It's your fault his ribs are cracked and I don't want to heal them crooked," Quatre said annoyed that Heero was not following his orders. His empathy easily picked up the miss trust the two young men felt toward each other but Quatre ignored it. It was not laced with anger or hatred or any of the emotions that kept people apart so the two boys could get over it.
Quatre slowly began to move Trowa and that seemed to force Heero into action, he quickly replaced his staff on his back and took Trowa's other arm, the one still tightly grasping his staff.
"I can walk on my own," Trowa blankly stated.
"It will hurt your ribs more," Quatre stated in return.
"I have broken my ribs before," Trowa stated as he tried to remove himself from Heero and Quatre's arms. Quatre felt his ribs flare up, his empathy trying take away Trowa's pain by putting it on him self. Quatre didn't block it out and grabbed his rib cage.
"But never around an empath," Quatre wheezed. God his ribs hurt, how Trowa could even stand was beyond him. Trowa suddenly stopped walking and Quatre felt the pain ease up along with the amount of weight he was baring increase. He quickly blocked out Trowa's pain and smiled at the tall young man. "I'm ok now, it's just sometimes I feel other's pain," Quatre said.
It was a short way back to the shuttle and Trowa remained as still as possible as to not make Quatre feel his pain. Quatre smiled at Trowa as he lay him down on the floor of the shuttle. Quatre felt some kind of connection to him... an instant trust that had had never felt before. He glanced over at Trowa's staff.
The wood was lighter than Heero's but darker than Quatre's but it was the exact same design. The crystals were the same size as Heero's. The biggest being the dark brown of Earth at the top followed by the deep blue of water. Mind was only slightly smaller then the light blue of air and last but not least the reddish-orange of fire.
"I'm going to start healing you now," Quatre stated, taking his eyes off Trowa's staff. "It takes both the energy of the healer and the healed, and you have many wounds..." Quatre trailed off at that. He didn't want to pry into Trowa's past, but at the same time he didn't want to pass up the chance to learn about him.
"Heero seems to carry an arsenal under his clothing," Trowa stated. "I understand the healing... and I trust that you will do your job."
Quatre bit his lip to try and keep his emotions off his face. That part about doing his job had stung but it would be pointless to argue with Trowa, so instead he began shaping his healing powers as his hands pulled opened the top of Trowa's robe. Quatre had to stop himself from starring at the firm chest and six pack that were now opened to for his viewing. He swallowed a hunk of spit and focused on his healing magic.
"I didn't know that about Heero, although I could have guessed," Quatre said as he started healing the cracked ribs, and bruised organs behind them.
"Why are you healing me before your friend?" Trowa suddenly asked after his ribs were as good as new. Quatre blinked and then glanced out the door; the clouds were so thick that he couldn't even make out Heero's form working on the scanning equipment.
"Heero... well, I would feel it if he was really hurt and I'm mad at him for attacking you with no real cause. I know that it looked like you were going to attack me but even if you were planning on it I could have talked you out of it. Violence is not the answer to all problems," Quatre explained as he moved to a fresh knife wound on Trowa's arm.
"Hum," Trowa breathed in response. Quatre let her eyes linger over Trowa's who was starring at the ceiling.
"So what do you do on this planet?" Quatre asked, trying to make small talk.
"I am part of a mercenary band," Trowa stated. Quatre winced inwardly; he had basically just told Trowa that he thought his profession was wrong. Quatre decided to bite his tongue rather than stick his foot further into his mouth. As he healed he lost track of the time and like always Cassandra presents was not felt until he saw Trowa shift his gaze to the door.
"Ah, Cassandra. I left my basket..." Quatre started to say but before he could finish he saw his empty basket by the door. Cassandra's soft moccasins let her silently glide into the shuttle where her green eyes looked over Quatre and Trowa. "Cassandra you can't..." but before Quatre could even finish his thought Cassandra eyes lids flew up and those hateful green eyes bore into Trowa.
There was a flash of emotion in Trowa's face before it was gone, once again replaced by the mask of indifference. Cassandra's eyes were already half lidded as she glided back to the door, picking up Quatre's basket on her way out.
"Cassandra," Quatre called angrily. His emotions were so strong that he didn't notice that his ears were itching again. But Cassandra didn't even acknowledge his words as she walked out of the ship, the clouds swirling around her dark figure before swallowing it. Quatre didn't know what to do. He cursed himself for brining Trowa back to the ship. He madly rubbed his eyes to keep the tears that were trying to form from falling down his face.
Quatre was surprised when he felt a hand on his lower arm. He looked down at Trowa's fingers unable to look him in the eye. Quatre didn't know how long they stayed like that but it was Heero that broke the moment.
"Trowa has clearance to join," Heero dead panned. Quatre looked over at Heero whose eyes were locked on Trowa. Something seemed to pass between the two stoic young men before Heero turned. "We are taking off in one hour," he stated before being swallowed by the fog.
Quatre turned and looked down at Trowa's hand, still unable to meet his eyes. Trowa had trusted him, and Quatre had already let him down. He had let Cassandra mentally rape his friend.
"Trowa..." Quatre started. He was surprised when a cold hand pushed his chin up and forced blue eyes to meet green.
"Do not blame your self," Trowa stated. He let his hand drop to his side and moved his eyes to the door. "What was... Heero... speaking about?" Trowa quietly asked. Quatre suddenly remember that Heero had come in and said some thing and the idea that Trowa could join them suddenly made his energy level go up.
"If you want to come with us you can," Quatre happily said. "It's not always the best life. I'm still working on making the ship more inhabitable but it's all you can eat and drink. Like I said before we are explorers, although I hope that we can start trading between the planets as well eventually. Its just the three of us right now the woman's name is Cassandra..." Quatre trailed off at the mention of Cassandra and he started to lower his head again.
"It sounds intriguing," Trowa stated before Quatre could completely lower his head. Quatre looked at Trowa and opened his empathy up fully. He could feel a dull ach in the young man's chest and a general mistrust and hurt for the world but like the two before him the damage from the mental rape was as good as gone, only knowledge of the fact remained.
"Cassandra... she never brings it up or treats you differently for what she knows. She and Heero seem pretty close but other wise, she isn't even around," Quatre tried desperately to explain.
"It is logical to want to know everything about the people around you, then there can be no misunderstandings," Trowa stated. Quatre looked over at him as he pulled his body into a sitting position. "I need some space to think," Trowa stated. Quatre nodded, Trowa was completely healed now, and walked out the door. It wasn't too hard to find Heero using his empathy and he sat down hard, almost crushing a scanner, in an attempt to control his emotions.
The silent constant presents of Heero helped calm him down and he absently helped Heero pack up. When they returned to the shuttle Trowa was sitting against the back wall, his staff resting in his opened palms on his lap. His sharp green eyes looked up at them as they came in hauling the equipment.
"I will take you up on your offer," Trowa stated. His eyes rested on the wall in front of him and his body was once again fully covered by his dark brown robes. As if she had heard Cassandra appeared out of the fog, a full basket in her hand.
Except for Quatre trying to get Trowa to take his seat and double checking that he was leaving nothing that he wanted behind, not a word was said as the shuttle swam through the clouds. It broke through into the vast and dark space and made its way back to the main ship.
mtc
Quatre felt awkward at first as Heero taught him about the ship. After learning about the replicators, Quatre also chose new attire. Brown dress pants and a pink dress shirt, two buttons opened on top, covered his skinny but strong build. Comfortable black dress shoes covered his feet, and on occasion the ensemble would be accompanied by a vest the same color as his pants.
His room was identical to Heero's, but across the hall. Quatre had been amazed to discover that he could eat as much as he wanted and for the first few days seemed to always have food of some sort in his hand. After the first day of learning and exploring, Quatre was thoroughly sick of the dark cold demeanor of the ship. He started his side project, using the replicators to first decorate his room and then he started on the bridge and most used rooms. Although it drew a raised eyebrow from Cassandra, she didn't comment so Quatre took it as permission to continue. It was slow work, done in-between his work on the map, meals, and rest, but it was coming along.
His presents soon fit in with the ship and her small crew and the awkwardness quickly dissipated. Heero was quiet but easy to get along with and the comfort that he and Cassandra had with everything they did was easy to fit into. Quatre had a kind and passive temperament; he worked manly with the physical samples but also with the computer. With three working on the project it was done in much less the time that it had taken to map out 01.
Quatre yawned and stretched, he glanced at Heero. The tingling sensation that meant that Cassandra and Heero were mentally communicating again made his ears itch. Quatre had never been somewhere as silent as the ship was. Heero would answer his question with mono syllables and Cassandra had never said a word to him. Quatre didn't trust her; he only did express it because Heero seemed to. Every time he had brought it up, Heero had treated it like a none issue.
"We will map planet 03 next," Quatre pronounced as his eyes shifted to the glowing ball in front of him. With a quick command it shrank back into the larger map of the entire voidus. "I still think that we could work as traders between the planets. My planet is starving due to lack of earth and Heero's was dehydrated."
"Hn," Heero responded. Quatre wrinkled his nose but didn't comment. Quatre had been horrified the first time a command had slipped out of his mouth. He had been so used to commanding a fleet of healers that when he had seen the inefficiency with which they were working it had been automatic. What had surprised him more was when he turned to apologize his ears had itched and then Heero's screen showed that he was following Quatre's orders.
Although neither Cassandra nor Heero waited for Quatre's orders, if he gave them they were always followed. When Quatre had gotten Heero alone, which wasn't hard he has asked about it. And Heero had simply stated that neither Heero nor Cassandra had worked with more than one other person before and Quatre's orders were always more logical, except in fewer words.
Quatre had accepted that and, although there had been no official anything, he had slowly begun to take command of the ship.
"03, seems to have little land as well," Quatre began to say out loud as his attention was brought to the initial scans from the planets surface. "But it is also lacking in water, but not as much as 01 or 04. It looks like its main center is at points GP497 and GP35. Cassandra's I'm sending the list of all the physical supplies we will need and Heero, I'm sending you the configuration for the scans. We will leave in two hours," Quatre said as he skimmed the rest of the initial scans.
Two hours later the three were in the little shuttle, Heero and Cassandra at the helm while Quatre sat in a newly built and cushioned chair, toward the back of the shuttle. He watch in rapid attention as the shuttle entered the atmosphere. When the red of it stopped, the shuttle was engulfed in gray. Cassandra's hands brought up a screen in the corner that showed where the ship was and what was in their way based on radar. They would use this to figure out where they needed to go.
"These are clouds," Quatre suddenly realized as they moved through the gray. There were few physical obstacles in their way, and except for where they were heading there seemed to be no land with in a mile. It wasn't until the shuttle was on top of the land that they could see it and Heero put it down with ease on the gray rocky ground.
"Keep your transmitters on and meet back in two hours," Quatre stated as he picked up his own basket. Quatre and Cassandra headed off in different directions to collect different physical samples while Heero stayed at the ship to run the scanners. Quatre brushed his hand against the staff strapped to his back. Heero had constructed a holster for his staff as well.
The clouds were so thick around Quatre that he moved slowly, checking each step before he took it. He felt like a disembodied ghost, he couldn't see past his waist. Although he preferred to depend on his eyes he moved his triquarter close to his face to let it scan for what he was looking for. Quatre froze when the present of another person etched itself on his empathy.
"Who is out there?" Quatre quested, more curious than worried. The emotions he was sensing were curious and extremely rained in; it was hard to tell the person's intent. Before Quatre could holler again he felt the emotions move fast and then the bump of a staff as it rested against his back.
Quatre gulped and moved his hand's into the air.
"I mean no harm, I am just an explorer trying to map this planet," Quatre explained, lacing his words with soothing and trusting feelings. "My name is Quatre..." Quatre started but before he could finish the staff behind his back suddenly scraped up it with a clang. Quatre turned his attention to his empathy and identified his assailant's attacker as Heero. Quatre looked at the disembodied forms of the two men. Both had their staffs in front of them, the dirty yellow of Heero's raw power glowed in preparation to fight while the dark brown of earth glowed from the other young man's.
Quatre's eyed what he could of his assailant. The young man was tall; one of his sharp green eyes was covered by long, impossibly pointy reddish brown bangs while the other emotionlessly watched Heero. His dark brown robes covered his pail body completely before they disappeared into the fog.
Before Quatre could gather his wits the two darted toward each other. The fog took on the tint of their staff power as balls of dirty yellow and brown hit and mixed, making the fog swirl around them before they exploded on each other. Quatre dived for the ground at the intensity of the explosion.
But he was up in a flash, his empathy telling him of the battle at had as the two young men used both magic and limbs to go at each other. Quatre suppressed the anger and grief that began to build up in him and yelled, pulling his staff into his hands. The white crystal of mind flashed a brilliant white before a shield formed around him. Quatre controlled the power as he pushed the shield out further and further, willing the clouds to show him Heero.
Sense his shield was only meant for the clouds it passed right through the form of Heero and his attacker. Quatre winced as he felt Heero get nailed in the jaw but then almost fell to his knees as the attacker's should was burned by a ball of fire and a foot connected with his ribs at the same time.
"Stop!" Quatre screamed as he grabbed his shoulder and ran forward. He let got of his shoulder and flung his arms out between the two boys, his back to Heero. "We shouldn't be fighting!" Quatre said more calmly as his crystal blue orbs locked on sharp green. The clouds slowly began to creep back in on the three figures as Quatre broke the stair and looked over the tall young man.
His robes were torn and spotted in blood, both his own and Heero's. Blood dripped from a split lip and a small burse was forming on his lower jaw. Quatre reflexively reached for his healing powers and walked toward the young man.
"Quatre," Heero's dead voice warned. Quatre stopped his healing magic still active. He once again locked eyes with the stranger and brought one had up to his chest. The clouds had completely engulfed them once again as he called upon his empathy... his uchuu no kokoro.
"He won't hurt me, the only reason he was fighting was because you attacked him," Quatre bodily stated. Heero's emotions didn't change and Quatre immediately turned his attention back on the tall young man, his hand stretched out in friend ship with a ball of healing magic on it.
Quatre approached the young man like he was a wild animal and was rewarded for his patients when the little ball of purple light was absorbed by the bruise on the young man's face. Quatre let his had stay of the cold and smooth skin for a moment before blushing and removing it.
"My name is Quatre, what is your name?" Quatre asked as his mind shaped his healing magic to heal the split lip.
"I have no name, but if you must call me something, it's Trowa," the young man stated. Quatre smiled up at Trowa and brought his hand to his lip to heal the split lip.
"We'll friend Trowa. I am not only an explorer but a healer and I need to make sure there is nothing else wrong with you that I can't see," Quatre explained as he sent his magic through Trowa's body. Quatre winced as it came back to him reporting broken bones and bruises. But only his freshly cracked ribs and bruise on his side were thanks to his most recent fight, the rest were old.
"You're ribs are cracked," Quatre stated. "Along with a few other wounds... Heero, how are you fairing?" Quatre asked.
"Functioning," Heero stated. Quatre bit his lip but didn't bother to comment.
"Come here and help me get Trowa back to the ship," Quatre stated as he grabbed Trowa's arm and slipped it over his shoulder. "It's your fault his ribs are cracked and I don't want to heal them crooked," Quatre said annoyed that Heero was not following his orders. His empathy easily picked up the miss trust the two young men felt toward each other but Quatre ignored it. It was not laced with anger or hatred or any of the emotions that kept people apart so the two boys could get over it.
Quatre slowly began to move Trowa and that seemed to force Heero into action, he quickly replaced his staff on his back and took Trowa's other arm, the one still tightly grasping his staff.
"I can walk on my own," Trowa blankly stated.
"It will hurt your ribs more," Quatre stated in return.
"I have broken my ribs before," Trowa stated as he tried to remove himself from Heero and Quatre's arms. Quatre felt his ribs flare up, his empathy trying take away Trowa's pain by putting it on him self. Quatre didn't block it out and grabbed his rib cage.
"But never around an empath," Quatre wheezed. God his ribs hurt, how Trowa could even stand was beyond him. Trowa suddenly stopped walking and Quatre felt the pain ease up along with the amount of weight he was baring increase. He quickly blocked out Trowa's pain and smiled at the tall young man. "I'm ok now, it's just sometimes I feel other's pain," Quatre said.
It was a short way back to the shuttle and Trowa remained as still as possible as to not make Quatre feel his pain. Quatre smiled at Trowa as he lay him down on the floor of the shuttle. Quatre felt some kind of connection to him... an instant trust that had had never felt before. He glanced over at Trowa's staff.
The wood was lighter than Heero's but darker than Quatre's but it was the exact same design. The crystals were the same size as Heero's. The biggest being the dark brown of Earth at the top followed by the deep blue of water. Mind was only slightly smaller then the light blue of air and last but not least the reddish-orange of fire.
"I'm going to start healing you now," Quatre stated, taking his eyes off Trowa's staff. "It takes both the energy of the healer and the healed, and you have many wounds..." Quatre trailed off at that. He didn't want to pry into Trowa's past, but at the same time he didn't want to pass up the chance to learn about him.
"Heero seems to carry an arsenal under his clothing," Trowa stated. "I understand the healing... and I trust that you will do your job."
Quatre bit his lip to try and keep his emotions off his face. That part about doing his job had stung but it would be pointless to argue with Trowa, so instead he began shaping his healing powers as his hands pulled opened the top of Trowa's robe. Quatre had to stop himself from starring at the firm chest and six pack that were now opened to for his viewing. He swallowed a hunk of spit and focused on his healing magic.
"I didn't know that about Heero, although I could have guessed," Quatre said as he started healing the cracked ribs, and bruised organs behind them.
"Why are you healing me before your friend?" Trowa suddenly asked after his ribs were as good as new. Quatre blinked and then glanced out the door; the clouds were so thick that he couldn't even make out Heero's form working on the scanning equipment.
"Heero... well, I would feel it if he was really hurt and I'm mad at him for attacking you with no real cause. I know that it looked like you were going to attack me but even if you were planning on it I could have talked you out of it. Violence is not the answer to all problems," Quatre explained as he moved to a fresh knife wound on Trowa's arm.
"Hum," Trowa breathed in response. Quatre let her eyes linger over Trowa's who was starring at the ceiling.
"So what do you do on this planet?" Quatre asked, trying to make small talk.
"I am part of a mercenary band," Trowa stated. Quatre winced inwardly; he had basically just told Trowa that he thought his profession was wrong. Quatre decided to bite his tongue rather than stick his foot further into his mouth. As he healed he lost track of the time and like always Cassandra presents was not felt until he saw Trowa shift his gaze to the door.
"Ah, Cassandra. I left my basket..." Quatre started to say but before he could finish he saw his empty basket by the door. Cassandra's soft moccasins let her silently glide into the shuttle where her green eyes looked over Quatre and Trowa. "Cassandra you can't..." but before Quatre could even finish his thought Cassandra eyes lids flew up and those hateful green eyes bore into Trowa.
There was a flash of emotion in Trowa's face before it was gone, once again replaced by the mask of indifference. Cassandra's eyes were already half lidded as she glided back to the door, picking up Quatre's basket on her way out.
"Cassandra," Quatre called angrily. His emotions were so strong that he didn't notice that his ears were itching again. But Cassandra didn't even acknowledge his words as she walked out of the ship, the clouds swirling around her dark figure before swallowing it. Quatre didn't know what to do. He cursed himself for brining Trowa back to the ship. He madly rubbed his eyes to keep the tears that were trying to form from falling down his face.
Quatre was surprised when he felt a hand on his lower arm. He looked down at Trowa's fingers unable to look him in the eye. Quatre didn't know how long they stayed like that but it was Heero that broke the moment.
"Trowa has clearance to join," Heero dead panned. Quatre looked over at Heero whose eyes were locked on Trowa. Something seemed to pass between the two stoic young men before Heero turned. "We are taking off in one hour," he stated before being swallowed by the fog.
Quatre turned and looked down at Trowa's hand, still unable to meet his eyes. Trowa had trusted him, and Quatre had already let him down. He had let Cassandra mentally rape his friend.
"Trowa..." Quatre started. He was surprised when a cold hand pushed his chin up and forced blue eyes to meet green.
"Do not blame your self," Trowa stated. He let his hand drop to his side and moved his eyes to the door. "What was... Heero... speaking about?" Trowa quietly asked. Quatre suddenly remember that Heero had come in and said some thing and the idea that Trowa could join them suddenly made his energy level go up.
"If you want to come with us you can," Quatre happily said. "It's not always the best life. I'm still working on making the ship more inhabitable but it's all you can eat and drink. Like I said before we are explorers, although I hope that we can start trading between the planets as well eventually. Its just the three of us right now the woman's name is Cassandra..." Quatre trailed off at the mention of Cassandra and he started to lower his head again.
"It sounds intriguing," Trowa stated before Quatre could completely lower his head. Quatre looked at Trowa and opened his empathy up fully. He could feel a dull ach in the young man's chest and a general mistrust and hurt for the world but like the two before him the damage from the mental rape was as good as gone, only knowledge of the fact remained.
"Cassandra... she never brings it up or treats you differently for what she knows. She and Heero seem pretty close but other wise, she isn't even around," Quatre tried desperately to explain.
"It is logical to want to know everything about the people around you, then there can be no misunderstandings," Trowa stated. Quatre looked over at him as he pulled his body into a sitting position. "I need some space to think," Trowa stated. Quatre nodded, Trowa was completely healed now, and walked out the door. It wasn't too hard to find Heero using his empathy and he sat down hard, almost crushing a scanner, in an attempt to control his emotions.
The silent constant presents of Heero helped calm him down and he absently helped Heero pack up. When they returned to the shuttle Trowa was sitting against the back wall, his staff resting in his opened palms on his lap. His sharp green eyes looked up at them as they came in hauling the equipment.
"I will take you up on your offer," Trowa stated. His eyes rested on the wall in front of him and his body was once again fully covered by his dark brown robes. As if she had heard Cassandra appeared out of the fog, a full basket in her hand.
Except for Quatre trying to get Trowa to take his seat and double checking that he was leaving nothing that he wanted behind, not a word was said as the shuttle swam through the clouds. It broke through into the vast and dark space and made its way back to the main ship.
mtc