Just a Shadow
Disclaimer: - I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters!
Chapter 6: The Hard Truth
Krage: Here is chapter 6, up quickly so you don't hae to wait too long! I hope you like it! Thank you for the great review! More Heero progress to come!
Nolwe the Lady Dragon: I'm glad you like the yoghurt ordeal and yes, it was supposed to be funny. I think I'll be changing one of the genres to humour, but which one do you think I should change?
Lady Masiden: Thanks for reviewing. It's okay that you didn't review until now even though you read the last chapters. You're reviewing now and that's what matters. I hope you lke this chapter!
Ms Son: Hey! I'm glad you liked the elastic band explanation! I tried to give people a very simple visual of why Heero can sometimes focus and when he can't. I kind of saw it as an elastic band ad that's how I got the idea! I'm really happy you liked the chapter!
Normal – Present day
Bold Italics – Past/Flashbacks
"Friends" Duo remembered kneeling next to Heero "He called us friends"
Quatre gently petted Heero's unruly hair and smiled as it stubbornly fell back into place.
"It's been so long since we've been here" Trowa whispered
"Speak for yourself" Duo replied "I hardly leave! It's not exactly easy when Heero doesn't feel like going out"
"I'm … sorry … we haven't been here to help you Maxwell"
"Eh, no prob Fei" Duo dismissed "I was the only one that could really quit their job other than Trowa, and I wasn't gonna face his sister when he told her why he quit!"
That comment earned a few chuckles out of the group as they settled back down to silence. Heero continued to babble incoherent words, occasionally gesturing to things around him.
"Hey Duo?" Quatre called "How does it work?"
"Huh? What?"
"The machine and surgery" the young blonde elaborated "How will it help him?"
"Apparently, like I said, Heero's logical mind and stuff have been cut off and he can't access them, but they are still there"
"So this operation will connect it?"
"Yeah"
"So what's the machine for then?"
"Well, Heero's brain pathways and stuff haven't been used since the accident, so they're kinda dusty and out of use"
"So this machine will give them a jump start?" Wufei finished
"Exactly"
Another few moments of silence passed before the Duo stood up and walked into the kitchen. The sound of pots and pans being bashed together and moved around filled the boys ears and not long after, the braided man reappeared with a simple meal. They ate in silence and Trowa tried his hand at feeding Heero.
"You look tired" Wufei stated as he swallowed the last of his meal "Why don't you get some rest Maxwell?"
"Rest? What's that?" Duo joked "Sound pretty good. You got a tempting offer there Wufei"
"Are you going to take it?"
"What about Heero? He doesn't like strangers"
"Are we strangers?"
"I guess not, but you don't know what he likes!"
The man looked at each other before dragging a yawning duo up to bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
"I feel guilty for not being here" Trowa stated as they walked downstairs
"Hopefully things will get better now that we are"
"So we all agree to stay no matter what?" Quatre asked
"No matter what" the others agreed
"That's what friends are for…"
"Friends?" Duo repeated smiling "We're your friends?"
"Well, yeah" Heero replied
"I thought perfect soldiers couldn't have friends"
"I guess I'm not a perfect soldier then"
The pilots looked at their comrade stunned for a moment before Quatre flashed him a brilliant smile and enveloped him in a hug. The stoic man stiffened for a moment before relaxing. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around the Arabian and returning the hug.
A few minutes passed before the two boys broke apart and Heero escorted them into the lounge.
"I … I've been … researching … human behaviour…" Heero explained, trying to find the right words to express what he was feeling "I wanted to learn how to be … human … so I … had to leave…"
"Why didn't you tell us?" Quatre asked "We could have helped you!"
"You wouldn't have helped" Heero stated plainly "I … trusted you … no … trust you too much, so it just wouldn't have worked"
"Why not man?" Duo asked confused "We've been worried about you!"
"Sorry"
The room fell silent before Heero tried again to explain why he had left.
"When I was around you … you considered my behaviour to be … normal … even though it wasn't…" Heero explained "I needed to learn to behave normal like … other people … and express what I'm feeling instead of…"
Heero paused, unable to express what he wanted to say.
"Bottling things up?" Quatre offered and Heero nodded
"Acting like the perfect soldier?" Wufei added and again the stoic man nodded
"Hitting your braided buddy round the head for pranking you and dying your hair pink?"
"I wouldn't go that far Maxwell" Heero stated in his old monotone voice and the others laughed
"But why the rooms bud?" Duo asked "I mean I absolutely love it, but it must have cost you a fortune!"
"Finances really are no problem" Heero stated
The next hour was spent explaining how Dr J had left money for all the pilots should they survive the war and why he had used it to decorate his house.
"You see" Heero started "I was almost finished so I was hoping to contact you guys soon"
"How soon?" Duo asked
"Some time next year?"
"And you did all this for us?"
"I had this stupid dream that we could all live together someday, you know, kind of like a…"
Heero paused and Trowa finished his sentence.
"Family?" the uni-banged young man finished.
"Yeah"
"But Heero" Quatre said "We all have our businesses and homes to tend to"
"Plus" Duo added "I know this might seem harsh Heero, but it's been 5 years man, we've all got families and loved ones back home waiting for us"
Heero hung his head and hid his face behind his bangs.
"I know" he whispered "I told you it was silly"
A long moment of silence reigned before the ex-wing pilot looked up again.
"It's late" he stated "You can sleep here tonight and I'll give you a ride to the airport in the morning okay?"
The others nodded and stood up to go to bed. They looked at each other guiltily as they watched they former leader slowly ascend the stairs.
"You know Heero" Duo stated "You could always come back with us tomorrow!"
"Go to bed Duo" Heero said quietly "I'll dive you to the airport in the morning"
With that said he slowly walked into his bedroom and quietly closed the door behind him.
"Hey guys?" Duo asked as he stared at the closed door "Was it my imagination or did Heero have nothing in his room"
"I saw no colour or carpet" Trowa confirmed
"I didn't see any furniture" Wufei added
"The only thing in there was a bed" Quatre stated sadly
All of the pilots left and entered their respective rooms, lying awake in bed until sleep finally claimed them.
Quatre's POV
The floorboards creaked and my eyes shot open. Old war habits die hard, and this was one of them. I slowly and silently got out of bed to investigate. When I poked my head round the door, I saw that I wasn't the only one awake.
I approached my comrades quietly. They knew was there but none turned in my direction. I was about to ask what they were doing when Trowa turned to face me and put a finger to his lips in a sign of silence. I complied and walked forward to stand beside them. It was then I noticed we were outside Heero's room.
After a few seconds it became painfully aware of what we were doing n the hallway. We were listening. I could hear Heero's ragged breath and all at once knew he was having a nightmare, and by the sounds of it a bad one.
We looked at each other helplessly before slowly returning to our beds. We could do no good here. If we offered Heero any help he would only see it as pity and Heero hates pity.
I snuggle into the soft satin and close my eyes. I feel sorry for Duo. Though the walls are almost entirely soundproof, he still knows that his best friend is next door suffering. Heero is the only thing on my mind as sleep claims me.
Normal
In Heero's room, quiet, but harsh breaths were the only thing heard from underneath the covers where the wing pilot resided. He had woken up less than five minutes ago and had listened to his friends hovering outside the door.
"I wish you guys knew how hard I tried to change" he whispered, almost silently "I wish we could be a family together. You guys are the only family I have"
Heero rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. His eyes hardened and his breathing calmed.
"If only I could say it to their faces without looking like an idiot" he mumbled to himself as he kicked off the covers and sat up on the bed "I won't be sleeping any more tonight"
That was chapter 6! I hope you guys liked it! I was thinking about changing one of the genres to humour, but which one do you think less fits the fic? Drama or Tragedy? I'll let you decide. Please leave a comment in your review, or I can't update! I'm useless at deciding!
As always, all I need is ¾ reviews to update. Just write the genre you want to get rid of in your review e.g. This fic id doing okay. Tragedy.
Until Next Time!
Clarobell