Beauty's Beast
Chapter 6- Fragile
Authors note: Ridiculously short, I know, but I wanted to get a new chapter up.
Heero frowned. For a second he could have sworn there had been something on the girls forehead. It was bare now though. Refusing to admit he was seeing things, he glanced to Trowa. Trowa neither confirmed or disproved it though.
Trowa sighed, still cradling the frail girl in his arms. He glanced to Rei, his eyes asking for directions. Rei took the lead, showing the small group the way to the apartment.
"Just lie her down on the couch for now," Rei murmured, feeling at Hotaru's forehead before Trowa sat her down. She glanced to Minako, a curious expression greeting her. Hotaru had always been frail, true. What exactly had she been doing outside of the bar though?
Rei sighed, glancing to the now shut door. Heero frowned from his position against it. Their eyes met, and an understanding came between the two. The unspoken understanding of uncertainty. "Thank you," Minako smiled warmly at Trowa.
Trowa simply nodded, his eyes still lingering on the unconscious girl. Duo scratched at his head a moment. Breakfast was certainly out of the question now. It felt to him that he should do something more though, so he spoke, "Are you guys going to be okay tonight?"
Rei nodded, her pride overpowering her uncertainty. Duo gave a short nod, his eyes wandering to Heero. Heero's eyes were currently glued on Rei, and Duo tried to hide his smirk.
Wufei and Quatre had remained rather silent, until now. "I think it's time to leave then," Wufei said, his voice steady. The others nodded, turning and exiting. Duo paused though, turning and letting his eyes linger on the blond.
Minako gave him a weak smile, allowing him to leave slightly less uneasy. Duo sighed, jamming his hands into his pockets after shutting the door. His pace kept him parallel with Heero. He glanced to the fellow soldier, before grinning.
"I notice He-man is a legs man," Duo's cocky smirk glared back at Heero. Heero's face took on a bitter expression, dismissing the playful companion. Heero frowned though afterwards.
Great legs or not, there was something eerily familiar about the trio. He turned to Trowa thoughtfully, as the group arrived at their own stop, the safe house. "You don't think," Heero glanced to Trowa, his voice trailing off.
Trowa frowned, "There'd be more of them," he shook his head. "We still need the one though," Heero argued. Trowa watched as Duo and Wufei departed for bed, Quatre heading to the bathroom.
"Death is not fragile," Trowa whispered, heading off to his own bed. Instantly, Heero understood, though his doubts still plagued his mind.
His mind got the better of him, and he disappeared with his laptop into the dark confines of his room.
Ami Mizuno had followed the group to the safe house, and her displeasure was evident. "Setsuna could have at least mentioned them," she murmured, making a mental note of the location before doubling around.
She had the feeling the five boys were going to interfere greatly.
Minako shook the smaller girl gently as she could, "Don't you dare," she whispered. Glancing to the back of the house, she confirmed with herself that Rei had gone to sleep.
Hotaru woke up, Minako's glare greeting her inches from her face. She shuddered at the blonds expression, pushing her off of her.
"Well?" Minako demanded,her voice a frantic whisper.
"Well what?" Hotaru murmured, rubbing her eyes and sitting up, leaning upon one arm of the couch for support.
"What were you doing out?" Minako whispered in a hushed tone. Hotaru blinked at her, her refusal to answer evident. Minako sighed, "Hota, It's dangerous," Minako urged, shaking her head.
Hotaru sighed, jumping from the couch and storming to her room. She knew they wouldn't understand, it was just like them to dismiss these things. Hotaru growled, pressing her face into her pillow. If she told them, things could be worse. For all of them.