Tori: TOBIAS DIES!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Stanton: …you're an embarrassment…
Tori: *sticks tongue out at Stanton* Don't make fun of me! Just because I had a crush on Tobias…
Stanton: *shakes head* …would you please ACT like you're Japanese…? Just once?
~*~*~*~
"Hello!" The boy in the drivers seat turned around and smiled at us, then focused on the road again. He had short blonde hair and wide blue eyes and I liked him immediately. There was a small smile on his face as if he knew what had just happened at the restaurant and regarded such events as common daily exhaustions.
"I figured you were driving, Quatre… You're the only one of us I know that obeys the speed limit…"
Quatre? Not… "Quatre Winner?" I frowned and he flinched.
"That's me," he murmured and gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white.
"I used to live on L4." He relaxed a bit.
"Trowa… You shouldn't be dragging civilians into these things…"
"I didn't. Those braided idiots did."
Quatre regarded me over his shoulder. "There are consequences, you know. Are you sure this is something you want to be involved in?"
Trowa nodded and fixed me with those emerald eyes of his. "This is your last chance…" he said.
I looked at the one named Trowa. "You said you would protect me. Until this is over."
"Yeah, I did. And I will."
"Then I'm staying with you."
"Alright then." With that, Quatre slammed his foot on the gas pedal and the van shot off down the street. It took an impressive bit of steering to avoid the running down the people and other cars that were simply minding their own law-abiding business.
Fun! Ugh, what a sick thought…but I was actually enjoying this. A sharp turn sent me careening into Trowa and he grunted in surprise. After that, the van slowed down and eventually pulled into a scrap yard.
There were two other cars in the lot; a jeep with the nylon roof draped over the frame but not secured and a banged-up black SUV with all its windows rolled down and its moon roof open. I don't know what I was expecting terrorists to drive, but those vehicles seemed fitting.
Fleeting memories flitted through my head again, and I snatched one of them to analyze. I had to laugh at my own mistake. These terrorists didn't drive such petty civilian vehicles…at least not when they had a choice.
"What's so funny?"
I shut my mouth and searched for the owner of the voice.
"Decided to join us for a bit, I see."
To my left, leaning casually into the open sliding doorway, was the braided boy from the restaurant. He smiled, straightened up, and offered me his hand. "Shinigami, at your service!" I blushed. "But you can call me Duo. Duo Maxwell! Good to have you aboard, Cassie."
He helped me out of the van and handed me a water bottle.
"Thanks," I smiled weakly and took a long sip, grateful for the drink after my sprint.
"C'mon inside and meet the rest of the crew," Duo offered, resting a gentle hand on my shoulder to steer me in the right direction. He was so charming and charismatic (on top of his God-given looks) I found my heart pounding a littler quicker. Realizing this though I was filled with shame. How could I forget about Jake? And wasn't Duo spoken for? My irresponsibility made me feel childish and I shrunk away from the braided boy a bit, following obediently as he led us across the small dirt yard to the bungalow against the fence to the right.
"Now, listen," he explained, trying to sound serious, "If anyone gives you any trouble, you just come tell me and I'll kick their ass, okay?"
I nodded, afraid the others would resent having a civilian around to get in their way.
"But don't worry! I'm sure they'll love ya!"
His words were too late. I was already brimming with fear. These were rebel soldiers. They wouldn't think twice about killing me. I was a superfluous member of their society…
I glanced over my shoulder back at the van, wondering if I could use it to escape if I had to. If they turned on me… Oh God, what was I getting myself into? I didn't know what kind of people they were. My irresponsibility burned inside of me. I'd been so stupid. What were they going to do to me?
Duo's hand rested on the doorknob and I cringed as he turned it. I expected it to be dark inside… To see bottles and syringes scattered over the floor and piled in corners. To see murky, glowering people lurking in the shadows; grimy men and ragged women.
The door swung inwards and, slowly, I opened my eyes upon their world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tori: Aww… Now you guys got me all into the story!
Stanton: DOES THIS MEAN MORE CHAPTERS!?
Tori: …perhaps… *grin*
Stanton: YES!
Tori: And… just a quick question. By a show of hands, how many people have felt that way about Duo before? Or, if not Duo, anyone else in the guild (or on the show for non-guild people)? ^____^ *raises hand* Ain't Quatre just the sweetest damn thing on two legs?