Disclaimer: I think it's extremely obvious that I don't own anything to do with GW.
Warnings: Shounen-ai, Quatre/Duo. I really think there should be more fics between these two. ..:nods:..
Sorry 'bout any grammar and/or spelling mistakes.
So, here you all go. Only seven days. XD Whatever. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Please let me know what you think. It would be greatly appreciated. n.n
In the Hands of Another
Chapter Three: Circles
Duo was once again pacing the small camp anxiously.
What should I do? What can I do? he thought at a loss. I can't leave him…
The brunette stopped in his tracks, turning to the unconscious pilot on the ground.
Quatre hadn't improved much, even with the passing of another day. His pulse was quick as his heart struggled to push blood through his veins, his breathing was labored, face lined with pain; as white as the clouds above the trees.
The trees served as a savior and a hindrance, for the enemies couldn't see past them, but neither could the other gundam pilots. If it weren't for the fact that Quatre had been unconscious and therefore unable to land, then they would probably see Sandrock. However, since he hadn't been able to land at all, the gundam was lying down and was completely hidden from the sides. From above all you could see was the damage done by the rough descent the gundam had made.
Morning had dawned and Duo was beyond exhausted but still refused sleep, forcing himself to stay awake, if not that alert. The whole night he had his fingers resting on his lover's pulse, making sure it didn't leave.
Even with the pulse continuously beating, the blonde had awoken only once more and no more coherent or pain-free than before. In fact, he seemed to be worsening.
Duo had no idea what to do; he couldn't just leave the severely injured – and dying – pilot on his own. The only other option was to carry the blonde to Deathsycthe, but with the cracked rib he did not think it wise to move him far.
Did he really have a choice, though…?
These thoughts would not leave his mind and kept circling, making it hard to think of anything else.
He resumed his pacing, unable to make a decision.
Why weren't the others there yet? They were going to come, right?
They had to be on their way. They had to be.
Should he continue to wait for them?
He had never been so confused or so desperate in his life.
His decision would affect someone that he could not lose, someone who meant everything to him.
Never before had he felt so lost.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by a sudden movement he saw out of the corner of his eye.
He quickly dove to his lover's side, protecting him.
A gun fired at the same time; the bullet piercing the brunette's skin, catching his arm. At least he had protected Quatre.
He had been expecting this: they had been found.
Duo cursed violently at himself for not being vigilant and mindful of their surroundings. He knew that the enemy could show up at any given moment; yet he had been caught off-guard.
Quatre could have died – would have if he hadn't reacted so quickly.
What made matters worse was that the blonde pilot was now conscious and in extreme pain. In his desperate move to save his lover Duo had accidentally jarred his body, undoubtedly causing the pain to flare up.
He regretted that he couldn't relieve Quatre's pain, but he needed to focus on saving his life from the enemy.
Duo turned his full attention on the black-haired man before him, hoping that there was only this one enemy.
He quickly reached for the knife he kept near him for such a situation and threw it at the man. He didn't know why he hadn't kept his gun close to him. But to say he had been thinking straight would be a blatant lie.
It struck the enemy in the arm, knocking the gun from his grasp.
Before the black-haired man had time to react, Duo charged.
The braided pilot tackled him, ignoring the pain it sent through his arm. He pulled the knife from the man's arm and slit his throat.
He hated killing, but had no choice.
This was war and he could not afford to let him live. Not only could he go back for reinforcements, but he could kill either Duo or Quatre, even both. The blonde was in no condition to be moving, let alone fighting.
Duo quickly bound his wounded arm and then dragged the body far away from where they were camping at, just in case more enemies should come.
The brunette ran back to his lover. He knew he had been in pain when all this had started and he feared what state he might be in now, for a good twenty minutes must have passed.
Duo first picked up the gun left by the dead man and then joined Quatre on the ground.
His heart missed a beat at the sight.
It was all too obvious that the blonde had suffered while he had been taking care of the enemy. Well, that couldn't be helped, though he did feel horrible.
"Who…?" Quatre gasped out, unable to say anything more through the pain that gripped his body tightly.
"Shh, he's gone, love," the braided pilot tried to reassure the blonde. "Relax, Quatre. Slow your breathing."
The injured pilot was breathing much too fast as he tried to cope with the pain.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to obey Duo's pleas.
The heavy breathing was only causing a lot more pain because of his cracked rib.
It took a while, but Quatre finally got the upper-hand on his breathing.
"Gomen, koibito," Duo said quietly, feeling guilty for not giving the blonde more painkillers sooner.
"Iie," the injured pilot barely managed to the push air out of his mouth. He didn't want his lover feel as though this was his fault.
Duo was deeply concerned with how weak Quatre was, but he was glad that he was aware.
The blonde had to wonder how long they had been there and how much longer they would be. However, he couldn't summon the strength to ask.
He wearily closed his eyes again, as he tried to shift himself into a more comfortable position, but it only sent a sharp stab of pain throughout his body.
"Don't move," Duo commanded softly, brushing a stray of blonde hair out of the tightly clenched eyes.
Quatre didn't seem to hear him, though, as he tried to move again. No matter his position he just couldn't ease the pain.
"Quatre, stay still," the brunette said sternly, pushing gently on the blonde's shoulders, mindful of his injuries.
Quatre heard nothing of what was being said to him, but vaguely felt hands hold him down.
He knew he needed to calm down; he could feel the strain he was putting on his injuries.
Quatre forced himself to lie still as he continued to keep his blue eyes hidden. He weakly attempted to clench his hands into fists to deal with the pain; however, he was too drained; exhausted beyond belief, even for such a simple movement.
"Quatre," Duo said in the hopes of getting the blonde's attention, "daijoubu?" /alright/
Quatre's eyes only flickered, showing that he had heard, but was too close to unconsciousness.
Duo was unable to convince his lover to open his eyes and stay awake and the blonde dropped back into the painless oblivion he had been visiting too often for his liking.
"Dammit," he swore, slamming his fist onto the ground. He didn't know what to do! There was nothing he could do. Nothing until the other pilots found them. He also knew there was no possible way he would be able to stay up a third night, though he would try his hardest regardless.
Duo shot up from his defeated position. He had to try again; perhaps it would work now.
Knowing it would be a while before Quatre awoke, he ran in to Sandrock. Trying the communication system agains – despite the static – he swore viciously when no one responded.
He sighed heavily as he sat down next to his lover again. Drawing his knees to his chest, he rested his arms on them and buried his head in the crook of his arms.
He didn't know what else he could do. With the arrival of the enemy he knew that they were still in search of them. And with how much pain Quatre was in from simply shifting his body in the slightest, he now knew he could not be moved until absolutely necessary.
He hoped the other three pilots would be prepared when they arrived. Most of all, he hoped that they would show up soon.
Exhaustion, panic, fear and too many other emotions gripped his already weary mind, pulling him farther into his depression.
Duo spent the rest of the evening much like the other days. He either paced the camp to force himself to stay away or treated and checked Quatre's injuries.
The next time Quatre made any sound or movement was when it was pitch black, where neither would have been able to see if not for the fire that still burned.
The blonde had groaned in pain and shifted. It was too hot. How close is the fire? he wondered.
Duo was by his lover's side in an instant, holding him down just in case he decided to move again.
The braided pilot frowned deeply when he noticed the pale face looked flushed.
He placed a hand under the blonde strands and was dismayed to find that the skin burned with fever.
He had been terrified that this would happen. Now that it had, he felt horror squeeze his heart and steal his breath. Quatre couldn't handle this on top of his critical injuries, not without proper treatment; not the limited supplies he had.
Despair ate at the little hope he had left.
"Quatre, open your eyes for me," Duo tried, needing to see how aware the blonde was – if at all. His voice was heavy with exhaustion and the stress he was under was clearly heard, though his love for the one before him was absolute and over-road his own health.
Quatre was unable to obey his lover's plea as he fought with the agony that constantly consumed him and now this new feeling of lightheadedness that made it even harder to concentrate.
Duo's heart threatened to beat right out of his chest at the complete panic he felt.
His lover was deteriorating right before his eyes. He was helpless to stop it.
This time he could do nothing to stop the tears as they trickled down onto Quatre.
Duo forced himself to regain control of his emotions, for he knew he could not afford to falter even once more. Quatre's life was hanging in the balance; he dare not tip the scale against him.
He had placed a spare cloth (that he had found in the health kit) over the blonde's forehead after wetting it.
He knew he shouldn't be using what little precious water they had, but he needed to lower Quatre's fever and he had no other mean to do so.
He feared Quatre wouldn't make it through the night. With the fever, the blood loss, being stranded where they were, with few supplies…
Duo choked back a sob. He couldn't fall apart again.
…………
Later that night there was a rustle of leaves from the same direction the last enemy had come from.
Duo quickly shot up from his exhausted stupor. Grabbing the gun he had acquired earlier, he crouched low over Quatre's ailing body.
His shaky hands aimed in the direction he had heard the noise and his weary eyes tried to see the cause.
Then the ones who had caused it stepped into his field of vision. There were three of them. With three night's worth of exhaustion, Duo was unable to focus clearly on the forms. He figured the three to be more enemies from before. Therefore, he aimed and would have shot at them if not for a pained groan from Quatre, serving as a great distraction.
The braided pilot turned back to the enemies, but before his mind could even register what had happened, the gun had been ripped from his trembling grasp.
"What do you think you're doing, Maxwell?" an angry voice shouted at him.
Confused, he looked at the one who now had his gun.
A wide grin graced his weary features at the sight: Wufei, Trowa, and Heero were there! He knew they couldn't abandon them!
However, his smile was fast to fade as he remembered the fallen pilot beside him. Not that he had truly forgotten.
"Quatre…" he started, but when he turned to look at the blonde, he found Heero already kneeling next to him.
Closing his eyes, he let out a deep breath of relief.
"He won't make it much longer," Heero stated, not looking up, after briefly checking Quatre.
This pulled Duo back out of his relieved state as his eyes flew open.
Were they too late? Was there no hope for him?
"No!" he suddenly shouted, jumping up and actually startling the others. "He can't die! He'll live! He will." The words were barely above a whisper at the end when Duo broke off.
Without warning, the braided pilot started to fall forward, as consciousness left him, three sleepless nights finally catching up to him.
So, what do you all think? Hm? Let me know please. And I'm sorry if this sounds repetitive. I try to make this good. I really do. But… ..:shrugs:.. If you don't like it, you don't like it. Nothin' I can do.
Yeah, so… whatever. I don't know what to say. Last chapter is the last. Shocker, huh? This fic is really short, I'm surprised, though not really. I'm actually pretty glad it's short.
Mmhmmm, so let me know what ya think, alright? I'd really appreciate it. n.n
Ja ne