Chapter 12
Rei and the others returned to the storage room to find everyone else already there. Trowa and Quatre were going through one of the books that had been in Relena's bag, Relena herself was sitting on a box not too far from Zechs, Treize stood against the wall, staring at nothing, and Duo was sitting up on a box near Trowa and Quatre, swinging his legs contentedly. Heero went to lean next to the largest box, where the large machine stood, now with an open, empty compartment in the side. Wufei hesitated, and leaned against the wall furthest from Treize.
Rei stood at the door, feeling suddenly awkward and left out. (Stop that. Let them rest.)
"Are we going to go, or what?" Relena asked tentatively, her attitude gone.
(For the moment.)Rei cleared her throat and moved away from the door as all eyes shifted to her. "We still-" A sudden wave of numbness washed over her, and Rei fell to her knees. "What?" She asked shakily, and the wave came again.
"The Ash Ixupi!" Someone shouted and Rei felt a warm presence nearby and looked up to see Prussian blue eyes scanning her, for once filled with concern.
"You'll get-" Rei tried to whisper a warning, but it came too late and Heero leaned over her as his own energy was stolen.
"The jar-" Rei gasped as she was hit again. "Connect it to the talisman..." She managed to get out.
Heero emitted a low grunt as more energy was pulled from him.
"Hurry!" Duo's voice seemed soft and far away.
"Not it, doesn't fit, not the right one..." Quatre's voice drifted off as another wave took a hold of Rei. She got a vague vision of Heero beside her, one hand holding against the floor, the other supporting Rei against him.
"Found it!" Rei couldn't identify the shout, but as darkness clouded her vision, she heard a single voice.
"Don't die..." Rei heaved a breath and concentrated, and she was barely able to hear Heero pull in the same breath.
"I got it!"
Something cool swept over Rei and she opened her eyes. Strength pooled inside her and she looked up at Heero, also awake and watching her.
"Are you-" He started.
"I'm fine. You?"
"Hn."
Rei smiled weakly. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Hn."
Heero helped Rei up and both of their heads jerked over as they saw Zechs stand up as well. Rei stared at him. "You took some of it." She stated simply.
He nodded. "Though you may not know as much as you say about this place, you seem to have kept them," He jerked his head towards the boys, standing silently nearby. "Out of trouble. And since they apparently trust you..." His backwards glance at Relena was swift, but Rei caught it. "I will trust you." The hardness that passed across Relena's face was hard to miss.
Relena's P.O.V.
Relena had to force herself not to glare at Zechs for helping Rei. (He says he'll help me, but then goes back and protects her!) Relena's admitted, she hadn't known what to think when she saw the green sparks flickering behind Rei, but when someone shouted wheat they saw, Relena had to resist jumping for joy. But, when Heero rushed to her side, her joy was replaced by indignation, and when Zechs too ran to her aid, the indignation quickly boiled over into anger. (When I was nearly given a heart attack, did anyone bother to ask me if I was okay?! No!)
Relena dropped down off the box. (Well, if I won't have any help, I had better get on the offensive.) It was then she noticed the bloody rag tied to Heero's arm. (Perfect. Now, just wait for the right time.) Instead, she stood up, shifting awkwardly, trying to look as though she didn't know what to do.
Duo P.O.V.
Duo stood off to the side, allowing Rei and Heero to have their space with Zechs. He silently cursed Relena. (Rei could have died because of Relena freaking out and dumping that ash on her!) He took a deep breath and steadied himself. Glancing around, he saw the same expression on the others' faces, suppressed anger and discreet looks towards Relena.
I am so sorry it's so short!!! And for not updating sooner!! I've had major writer's block and, well, this is all I have... I hope you all aren't too mad... Please review...
Rei and the others returned to the storage room to find everyone else already there. Trowa and Quatre were going through one of the books that had been in Relena's bag, Relena herself was sitting on a box not too far from Zechs, Treize stood against the wall, staring at nothing, and Duo was sitting up on a box near Trowa and Quatre, swinging his legs contentedly. Heero went to lean next to the largest box, where the large machine stood, now with an open, empty compartment in the side. Wufei hesitated, and leaned against the wall furthest from Treize.
Rei stood at the door, feeling suddenly awkward and left out. (Stop that. Let them rest.)
"Are we going to go, or what?" Relena asked tentatively, her attitude gone.
(For the moment.)Rei cleared her throat and moved away from the door as all eyes shifted to her. "We still-" A sudden wave of numbness washed over her, and Rei fell to her knees. "What?" She asked shakily, and the wave came again.
"The Ash Ixupi!" Someone shouted and Rei felt a warm presence nearby and looked up to see Prussian blue eyes scanning her, for once filled with concern.
"You'll get-" Rei tried to whisper a warning, but it came too late and Heero leaned over her as his own energy was stolen.
"The jar-" Rei gasped as she was hit again. "Connect it to the talisman..." She managed to get out.
Heero emitted a low grunt as more energy was pulled from him.
"Hurry!" Duo's voice seemed soft and far away.
"Not it, doesn't fit, not the right one..." Quatre's voice drifted off as another wave took a hold of Rei. She got a vague vision of Heero beside her, one hand holding against the floor, the other supporting Rei against him.
"Found it!" Rei couldn't identify the shout, but as darkness clouded her vision, she heard a single voice.
"Don't die..." Rei heaved a breath and concentrated, and she was barely able to hear Heero pull in the same breath.
"I got it!"
Something cool swept over Rei and she opened her eyes. Strength pooled inside her and she looked up at Heero, also awake and watching her.
"Are you-" He started.
"I'm fine. You?"
"Hn."
Rei smiled weakly. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Hn."
Heero helped Rei up and both of their heads jerked over as they saw Zechs stand up as well. Rei stared at him. "You took some of it." She stated simply.
He nodded. "Though you may not know as much as you say about this place, you seem to have kept them," He jerked his head towards the boys, standing silently nearby. "Out of trouble. And since they apparently trust you..." His backwards glance at Relena was swift, but Rei caught it. "I will trust you." The hardness that passed across Relena's face was hard to miss.
Relena's P.O.V.
Relena had to force herself not to glare at Zechs for helping Rei. (He says he'll help me, but then goes back and protects her!) Relena's admitted, she hadn't known what to think when she saw the green sparks flickering behind Rei, but when someone shouted wheat they saw, Relena had to resist jumping for joy. But, when Heero rushed to her side, her joy was replaced by indignation, and when Zechs too ran to her aid, the indignation quickly boiled over into anger. (When I was nearly given a heart attack, did anyone bother to ask me if I was okay?! No!)
Relena dropped down off the box. (Well, if I won't have any help, I had better get on the offensive.) It was then she noticed the bloody rag tied to Heero's arm. (Perfect. Now, just wait for the right time.) Instead, she stood up, shifting awkwardly, trying to look as though she didn't know what to do.
Duo P.O.V.
Duo stood off to the side, allowing Rei and Heero to have their space with Zechs. He silently cursed Relena. (Rei could have died because of Relena freaking out and dumping that ash on her!) He took a deep breath and steadied himself. Glancing around, he saw the same expression on the others' faces, suppressed anger and discreet looks towards Relena.
I am so sorry it's so short!!! And for not updating sooner!! I've had major writer's block and, well, this is all I have... I hope you all aren't too mad... Please review...