The regular rules and pattern of their lives changed after Duo's visit. Heero was somewhat more leniant, but that was about it. Where Heero was usually the only one who went out to get grocieries or something, Serena sometimes joined him now. She was 'allowed' to call and talk to Quatre (even if she had done that behind Heero's back). But, with the new 'freedoms' came new precautions.
"Why do I need a gun?" screeched Usagi.
The inside of Heero's head exploded in pain; he'd had a headache all week and the girls' screeching, yelling, whatever you wanted to call it, was not helping it. He kept his poker face in tact.
"Since you'll be going out more, you could run off somewhere without me. If something were to happen, you'd need protection," he replied smoothly.
"Then I'll buy a dog," said the stubborn female.
Heero's eyes narrowed a little. He didn't hate dogs, he just didn't think they needed one. "What would a poodle do? Bark until the person's ears bleed?"
Serena's eyes widened a fraction. "Heero Yuy, did you just use sarcasm? Hm, maybe there's hope for you yet."
Inside his mind, Heero wondered what she meant by that but instead said, "No, I just used logic."
"What makes you think that I'd get a poodle?" She folded her arms across her chest and gazed steadily at him. Heero was sitting across the room from her, in a kitchen table chair, typing on his laptop. He glanced at her for a split second, then returned his attention to the computer screen.
"I'm not sure. Would you?"
A delicate frown marred her brows as she thought. "Now that I think about it, no, I would not. In fact, I don't think I would get a dog. Too slobbery." Heero heard her pause. "Maybe a cat." He supressed a groan. That was even worse; a cat wouldn't be able to do hardly any protecting.
"All the more reason for you to get a gun," was the simple statement.
Her anger boiled again. "I don't even know how to use a gun!"
"I can teach you. There's nothing to it."
"Maybe not for a superhuman killer." She couldn't stop herself in time.
For the first time in four hours, Heero stopped typing. He looked at her, no emotion reading on his face or eyes. But he was hurt, Usagi could feel it. For the space of a few breathes, the two were locked in eye combat. Heero resumed typing, ignoring her.
"Heero, I'm so-"
"You are going to get a gun, you are going to learn how to use it, and that is the end of it."
She nodded, knowing he didn't care if she agreed or not. The last thing that was on her mind was to hurt him, but that's what she'd ended up doing. With a sigh Serena leaned her head against the couch and felt herself drift into a restless slumber.
It was hot. Not a dry heat, but a smoldering heat, the kind that came with fires. Serenity ran down the great hallway, the normally white marble reflecting the golden orange flames that were engulfing the palace. Her mother, she had to find her mother. Mother would be able to make things better. Serenity lifted the smoke blackened fabric of her dress farther up, enabling her to run faster. Her silver hair flew behind her, still flowing gracefully even with her panic. Mother, where was her mother? She heard the screams of the unfortunate people that had not managed to escape the flames.
The throne room was bright. Fire was eating the once beautiful drapes and other upolsteries. Smoke choked her and she coughed. "Mother!" she half screamed, half choked out. "Mother, where are you?"
Serenity heard a loud crack and looked up quickly. The ceiling was falling right on top of her. Instinctively she fell to her knees and covered her head with her small arms. She screamed for her mother even when she felt the heat of the fire against her pale skin, felt it burn. Serenity screamed over and over, wondering where her mother was and why she wasn't helping her...
Someone was shaking her, calling her name. With a gasp Serena woke, bright blue eyes darting around. They rested on the face of Heero. His hands were on her shoulders, the warmth from his fingers penatrating through the fabric of her shirt. She felt the tears running down her face, heard herself cough to rid her lungs of the dream smoke. Her body shook from fright.
"Are you alright?"
Serena didn't answer for a while, she just stared at his face. He wasn't concerned or worried, he just had to make sure he didn't fail this particular mission. He asked her the same question again.
"Yes," she croaked out.
"You were screaming." He hadn't moved away from her yet.
"Was I? I'm sorry." She tried to laugh and was pleased to find that her voice didn't crack or she didn't squeak. "I'm okay now, just a bad dream."
Heero frowned. Usagi had to admit, the expression was too foreign, too strange for him. Duo had said that once he'd laughed, but she couldn't imagine that.
"You were calling out for your mother to help you," he continued.
"I told you, I'm fine. Nothing to worry..." Her stomach clenched. Pushing past him she fled to the bathroom, fresh tears streaming down her face in shame. Heero stood in the exact same spot he had been in when she came back. Her head felt funny, her balance shaky. In the next instant he was holding her up and putting a hand to her forehead.
"You've got a fever."
"Really? I wonder why..." Subconsiously she leaned her head against his chest, her body steadily growing limp. Heero picked her up, carried her to his room, and laid her down carefully on the bed. She mumbled something but turned to her side soon after. After a few minutes of watching her, Heero went into the kitchen to fill a bowl of cold water and attempt to lift her fever.
Black-Angel-001: just something i came up with, what real purpose it has, i don't know.