Disclaimer: I do not own GW or any of the characters.
Warnings: Shounen-ai, Quatre/Duo. Once again: Don't like? Don't read.
Sorry 'bout all grammar and/or spelling mistakes.
Sorry this took so long to get out. Haven't had much inspiration to continue, despite having this fic almost completely written. Just can't get any farther. Not getting much feedback. Now, I know most – if not all – of you like 1x2, 3x4 better than this, and, to those of you who have reviewed: thank you. I appreciate it. n.n I just hope you'll continue to do so. Thanks to you readers as well. n.n
Now that that's all said and done let's get on with this, shall we? n.n Hope you enjoy.
In the Hands of Another
Chapter Two: No Assurance
It was now dawn, the sun's golden rays streaming through the forest's leaves; onto the destroyed Sandrock, reflecting the light onto the ground surrounding the two pilots.
Duo had stayed up all night watching over Quatre, watching for any signs of discomfort or improvement. He had nearly fallen asleep too many times to count and had finally forced his weary body to get up.
He walked in circles around the small camp, never taking his eyes off his lover. He had checked and rechecked the blonde's injuries – and pulse – over and over again, trying to ease his mind and heart.
Still, he paced their camp, waiting for the severely injured pilot to regain consciousness. He knew he should be trying to contact the other pilots. He should have been looking for a way back to Deathscythe. However, he could not leave his lover in his current condition and he couldn't really move him. He could not allow him to die. He would not die, it was impossible. Quatre was his life, his soul, everything; he would not be able to survive without him.
The braided pilot was getting increasingly tired as the hours slowly crept by, taking their sweet time. He knew that pacing wouldn't keep him awake much longer, if anything it was wearing him down now.
Finally, he stopped and heavily sat down next to Quatre, hoping beyond all hope that he would soon wake. He was sure, that if his lover woke up, he would be wide awake.
Duo felt his head loll to his chest as sleep threatened to pull him under. Snapping his head up, he refused the blissful invitation.
He let his fingers rest on Quatre's pulse under the blanket so he could be sure of the continuous beat. Though the pulse was weak, it was reassuring.
It was an hour later that Duo was startled into full awareness by a movement from Quatre. He knew he hadn't imagined it, for when he opened his eyes all the way he saw that the blonde's breathing had changed, it was no longer so shallow, but heavy instead as wheezing gasps escaped the chapped lips. The pulse had also quickened under his fingers.
The brunette could barely contain his excitement as he leaned over Quatre, getting a better look at him.
"How do you feel, Quatre?" he asked when the blonde gave no signs of acknowledgement. It was a foolish question really, but he needed to know if the blonde was coherent or not. He didn't know how much damage the head injury had caused.
Quatre merely closed his eyes tightly, groaning in pain, trying to shift his body.
Duo gently placed his hand on Quatre's chest to stop his movements, which were only causing him more pain.
"Quatre, open your eyes for me, love," he said soothingly, trying to sound calm, though his heart was hammering against his ribs.
Quatre reluctantly opened his eyes half-way against the pounding in his head. Even with the agony lacing through his torn body, he couldn't deny Duo's desperate pleas. He wished to reassure him; to give some type of assurance.
Every muscle was on fire, even opening his eyes had hurt, the brightness of the sun not helping in the least. He couldn't remember ever feeling so completely miserable.
He vaguely recalled what had happened before he had blacked out. All he really knew was that they were on a mission; he and Duo had been caught in a battle…
Thinking did nothing to help his throbbing head. All he wanted to do was fall back into the blissful sleep he had been in, the sleep where pain could not follow but… neither could Duo, or the real Duo in any case. The real one was the one who needed him; the real one was the one who now had silent tears marring his handsome features and smooth skin.
Quatre wanted to raise his hand to Duo's face, to wipe away the saddened trails, but that required far more strength than he currently had.
His eyes were extremely heavy and closing on their own. He had to keep forcing them open and even then it was only on his lover's desperate requests.
The braided pilot was frightened by Quatre's behavior and lack of responses. What could he do, though? He shouldn't be moving the blonde, for he was sure he had at least one cracked rib. He couldn't very well just leave him either. That was definitely out of the question. He didn't know how far away Deathscythe was now; he had been too blinded by his panic to really pay attention to his surroundings.
He supposed he would just have to hold out until the other pilots showed up. They had to eventually, for they would have to retrieve Sandrock and Deathscythe if nothing else. They couldn't allow the enemies to get their hands on the gundams.
Which made him wonder if the ones who had been chasing him before were after him or if they had found his gundam. He doubted that they had found his gundam, since he hadn't seen or heard anything besides the usual sounds of the forest.
Duo noticed, fearfully, that Quatre had stopped responding to his pleas/commands to keep his eyes open.
"Quatre? Quatre!" he yelled in panic, trying to wake the injured pilot.
Upon receiving no type of acknowledgement, he quickly reached for Quatre's neck, to find a pulse.
He held his fingers steady, even after he had found the heart-beat and could see the shallow rise and fall of his chest. He let the continuous pulse feed relief – and breath – into his body; let it reassure him that his lover was still alive.
How much more of this could he endure? How many more times would his heart be able to handle the panic that ripped through it?
Please, come soon! the brunette begged silently to the other pilots, eyes staring at the blonde.
Duo sighed heavily, flopping back down beside his lover. Now he had to wait again. However, he was in higher spirits, if only a little. Quatre regaining consciousness had helped a little. It hadn't helped that he had said nothing or stayed conscious for such a short amount of time, but it was something at least.
He sat back up, needing to keep a watchful eye on his ailing lover.
Throughout the entire day Duo constantly checked and rechecked Quatre's state of health (made sure he was still breathing, rewrapped his injuries, etc.). Whenever he thought he could spare the moment, the braided pilot would try the communication system in Sandrock again, seeing if he could talk to the other pilots.
Thus far he had been unable to even get past the static that still sounded in the damaged gundam. The sparks had died down a lot so it was easier to get around but that was about all that had changed in the gundam.
Quatre had awoken a few times too, but never for long; each time seemed shorter and shorter to the brunette. In fact, the blonde hadn't even seemed aware at all and Duo feared that one or more of his lover's injuries would become infected, which was an all too real threat.
The braided pilot was weary and exhausted beyond belief. His body wishing for sleep that he could not receive; his eyes kept closing against his will. He wanted to watch over Quatre; make sure he was going to be alright. He wouldn't sleep until Sandrock's pilot was in a stable condition and with the other pilots as well, someone who would be able to keep an eye on him in his stead. Even then Duo didn't know if he would be able to bring himself to leave his lover's side.
He snapped his eyes open again when he realize they had forced themselves shut for the umpteenth time.
He started when he felt the blonde pilot beside him move (he had placed his hand on his chest again to feel for changes) and he immediately turned his full attention to him, sitting up straight and facing him, his hand clutching Quatre's in anticipation, eyes glued to his face, watching for signs of him waking.
A couple minutes later (which felt like an eternity for the anxious pilot), Quatre finally opened his eyes, revealing his sapphire orbs, filled with agony.
He slowly shifted his gaze onto Duo after realizing he was now awake. Pain still held fast and threatened to pull him back under, but he was more aware than before.
"How are you feeling, love?" the braided pilot asked quickly, wanting to know how coherent he was – if he was.
Quatre didn't say anything after the question had processed, for his throat was extremely dry and caused even more pain. Instead, he just smiled, glad to see his lover.
Duo was relieved to see Quatre smiling but he could still see the pain clearly in the blue eyes and with how tense his body was. He knew that the blonde wanted water and he quickly looked around for it. Picking up the container, he helped his lover drink it, very carefully so as not to choke on it.
He felt guilty for Quatre's current condition. He could have prevented it. He should have kept a closer eye on him.
There hadn't been much water left in the container and he knew how much Quatre needed the water.
However, he pulled it back when he thought that the blonde had had enough to drink. He didn't tell Quatre anything about this being all the water they had. He did not wish to get him worried over nothing. He hoped it was nothing at least…
Soon he would have to go back to Deathscythe, to try and find the damaged gundam. He would have to risk carrying his lover if the other pilots didn't show up within a day or two since that was the longest he could stretch the water. Luckily, the health kit came with food and water, but the water was still a problem since he needed it to treat Quatre's injuries as well as to drink for the both of them.
"Do you remember what happened?" Duo questioned to check for brain damage, he didn't know how hard the blonde pilot had hit his head.
It took a moment for Quatre to respond, and when he did it was a breathless and strained, "Mission." Short and to the point.
While Duo didn't like the sound of the blonde's voice, for it did not bode well for his health, he was grateful that he remembered what had happened, or at least the main part.
"Is your vision blurred?" he asked in concern. He was glad he had the opportunity to ask these questions now.
A whispered "a little" was his answer.
"Do you feel nauseous?"
"Slightly." Again, whispered.
"What about dizzy?"
A short nod.
He was starting to fall back asleep, this was becoming too much for the severely injured pilot and that greatly worried Duo. He wouldn't question anymore if not for the necessity. He needed to know more so he could take care of him.
"Where does it hurt most, Quatre?" Wherever it hurt most, it was more than likely the most serious injury.
Quatre struggled to think past the intense pain that consumed him. There was no one place that hurt, though. Everywhere hurt.
He closed his eyes the rest of the way. He only wanted to sleep. There was no pain there.
Duo's panic rose again when Quatre didn't answer. He knew the blonde needed sleep, but he thought he should be able to stay awake longer than this. He didn't like how weak Quatre was. It was also far too obvious with how much pain he was in by how tightly his eyes were shut. It tore his heart to see the agony his lover was in and to know that he could do nothing to help.
Duo tried to keep Quatre awake, tried as hard as he could, but it was to no avail. The blonde was just too exhausted and in too much pain.
He had to do something to help Quatre. But what could he do?
He had no idea and he was becoming more frustrated every minute. He needed to do something for him!
He couldn't just leave him, though, that definitely wasn't going to happen. Even if he did go back to Deathscythe, what then? His gundam was also in bad shape; however, the communication system should still be up…
If he hadn't been so panicked at seeing Sandrock get hit and go down he would have been able to think of checking before going after the blonde pilot. He also could have contacted the others.
He didn't know how much longer he could wait for the other pilots to show up. Quatre needed better treatment than what he had to offer him. He didn't know how much longer Quatre could wait.
What could he do?
So, what'd you think? I'm iffy 'bout this myself, but I was tired of messing with it. XD I hope some of you are satisfied with it at least.
I'd really appreciate it if you guys could give me some feedback, too. Updates would definitely be a lot faster. n.n;;; Don't mind me. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed. n.n
Ja ne