Disclaimer: Gundam Wing Hot guys that in no way belong to me or are real as much as I think it'd cool.

Story: Building a Better Mousetrap 101

Warnings: Serious angst, implied yaoi, basically some bad things.

Being a Mouse doesn't mean you're helpless or weak.

Current Pairings: 1xR, 2xOC, 3x4, 5xS, HxOC, 6xN and OCxOC (past 1x2)

Chapter 14 – The Ravages of War

Wufei worked on perfecting his version of the Death Glare the days following the Halloween party. Unfortunately the effect was totally ruined, by the half dozen Hickey's gracing his slim neck. Which were the main reason he was trying to Death Glare his friends into submission. Over the years during and since the wars the others had all ended up with the distinctive bruises at one time or another, Quatre and Trowa usually being the biggest offenders. Though Trowa did prefer wearing turtle necks and his were often not as visible as Quatre's. Heero and Duo had both had them on and off as well. Though they thought no one other than themselves, Relena and now Mouse were aware that the ones they had gotten during the war years were from each other. It was one of the few things that Heero was somewhat naïve about. The other 3 pilots had figured it out pretty quickly. A pair can only show up with nearly identical hickey's flashing on the monitors, before people catch on. And Heero has always favored that green tank top of his, not exactly the prefect camouflage for Hickey's. After the war of course, all of Heero's Hickey's had come basically from Relena, and Duo's from the one night stands he indulged in before going to college and meeting a certain 'Mouse'.

That Tuesday night, four days after the Halloween party, Duo finally 'crashed' as Heero refered to it. It had been coming on for a while now, and Heero had been watching for the signs. The first had been the unconscious rubbing of the scars around his wrists, from the manacles that had held him more than once after he had been captured by OZ. But even so, he'd still been caught unawares, the ex-02 pilot had seemed ridiculously happy since the Halloween Party. But that night he'd accidentally broken the bathroom mirror and had cut his hand open while picking up a piece of glass. The blood running from the cut on his hand had been the trigger. Heero had been returning from his evening run when Quatre had come looking for him, panic clearly showing in his huge blue green eyes.

"H-Heero, its Duo, come quick he's crashing, and crashing fast."

"Where?"

"He's still in your dorm room as far as I can feel."

Heero didn't need to hear anything else, he just took off. Quatre didn't mind, there was no way he could have kept up with the ex-wing pilot, even if he had wanted too. Also he knew that Heero would be able to do what needed to be done for the tormented Shinigami. Heero found Duo still on his knees in the bathroom, the ex-02 pilot had obviously been getting ready for bed when he'd slammed the mirrored cabinet over the sink a little too hard and the mirror had broken. He was now kneeling on the floor staring at his blood stained hands rocking back and forth mumbling to himself about… Blood, so much blood, everywhere he looked there was blood…..

Heero had heard it before many times, each time the tormented pilot crashed, he saw the blood of all those he had killed during the war running over and thru his fingers as rivers of red. And nothing would drive away the bloody fixation except to be punished for his supposed crimes, punished as those who had captured him had 'punished' him. Heero hated that he had to do this to, and for his Best Friend. But do it he would, because the Baka meant more to him than anyone other than Relena. So upon reaching the slightly smaller male he didn't even bother talking to him, instead he just turned Duo's face enough so could see the glazed violet eye's and holding nothing back punched him for all he was worth. Knocking out his Best Friend and the Brother of his Heart.

By the time Duo regained consciousness, Heero had managed to cart him unobserved to Relena's room. Seeing the unconscious teen slung over Heero's shoulder Relena had left without a word. Both knowing and saddened by what was about to happen, but unable to do anything more for the long haired teenager than what her lover was already planning to do. Heero had trussed him up using the Gundamium alloy handcuffs, that were the only thing capable of holding the frantic ex-Gundam pilot. Especially once Heero began the long process of bringing his friend back from the depths of hell. Heero always took care tie up his braid, as well padding the cuffs so as to not add to the scars already decorating the slender wrists of the naked dangling boy. He had hung him from a hook he had embedded in a sturdy load bearing beam for just such an occasion.

On the other side of the campus Mouse had been in choir practice when she suddenly fainted, so it had taken her a few minutes to come back to herself. When she did she tore off across the campus looking for the source of the emptiness and pain she felt. She came across Quatre making his way slowly back to his dorm room.

"Q, where is he? I-I feel like something, something terrible has happened. All the light, happiness and joy, i-it was like it just all went away suddenly, and now there is only darkness and pain."

Quatre stared at the distraught girl before him, because that 'feeling'…. it was exactly what he felt from Duo whenever he crashed. Like the normally outgoing perky American's personality had just disappeared and in its place was nothing but darkness.

"I-I think Heero took him to Relena's room. That is where I sense Heero at right now."

"Thanks Q." And she ran off towards the girls Dorm. Not patient enough for elevators she ran up the stairs to the third floor where she found Relena sitting on the top step, her head buried beneath her arms. Mouse barely slowed down, she grabbed the other girl and dragged her back to her room.

"N-no Mouse, please don't, it's for the best, Really."

"Open it. Now."

Relena did as she was told, the only other person who had ever addressed her in such a cold and hard voice had been Heero, and she knew 'that' kind voice meant business. After she opened the door it was like time stood still and everything was in slow motion. Heero had already started in on Duo, and the braided pilot had several stripes to show for it, but his eyes were still glazed, lost in a dark and terrible place. Mouse flew across the room as yet another lash, already in motion sang thru the air. She and the end of whip got to Duo at the same time. Mouse threw herself over his unprotected body and took it on herself.

"Down, down, down, down. Get him the fuck down." Mouse cradled the trim form of the long haired ex-pilot and tried to unhook the cuffs from the ceiling herself. Heero stunned, dropped the whip he had been using to 'punish' his Best Friend and ran to help her. Once Heero unhooked the other male, he and the woman holding him fell to the floor. Mouse held onto Duo and with pleading eyes asked..

"W-Why Heero, why?"

"Because, it's the only way to bring him back."

"Back from where? Where is he Heero? I felt it, It was like the light,… died." Heero blinked and then told her.

"He's lost, lost to the darkness within him." Then Heero broke down, the pressure of having to do such a thing to his Best Friend getting the better of him. "Fuck, you think I 'like' doing this to him? I HATE it, But if it's the only way to bring him back, then I will do it. I'll do whatever it takes to bring him back from that terrible place. I, oh god, I don't know anymore, I-I just want my friend back. "

"What can I do Heero? What do I need to do?"

"I-I don't know. I, I just know that somehow you 'might' be able to do what I have not."

Mouse blinked back her tears and nodded, she looked back down at the unseeing man in her arms. He was lost in the dark, and was still muttering about blood stained hands…Mouse shook him.

"Come on Duo, come back, Please."

"B-blood, everywhere, on my hands it won't go away…" That did it she shook him even harder.

"That's it! DAMNIT MAXWELL, STOP QUOTING 'MACBETH' AT ME, OR I'M GONNA SLAP YOU SILLY!!!!!"

'B-blood…" Raising her hand Mouse backhanded him for all she was worth. You learn things growing up with monsters for Cousins. The glazed eye's cleared and then....

"M-mouse? OH God, Mouse, it's so terrible, I-I k-k-killed s-so many people."

Duo broke. Sobs racked his body as he returned from the dark. Mouse slipped her head between his still cuffed wrists, so his arms were around her neck as she held him close, rocking him and soothing him as best she could listening to all he had to tell her. She had told him, right from the start, that she would always listen, and she meant it.

Heero fell to his knees, put his face in his hands, and wept. Relena had closed the door and silently she knelt behind the normally stoic Japanese boy and held him. As he cried for all the times, he had had to hurt one of the few people he loved, and cried in relief at the thought that maybe, just maybe he would never have to do such a terrible thing again.

Eventually Heero managed to unlock the cuffs and toss a blanket over the still sobbing, but rather naked Ex-Deathscythe pilot. Mouse looked up and smiled in gratitude at the ex-Wing pilot.

"Y-You don't hate me?"

"No Heero, how can I hate someone who loves him SO much. You did it out of love. But um, let's see if we can't try to not do it again, all right?"

"I've been trying to get him into therapy since the war. Only Quatre and I are currently getting any help."

"Hm, well that explains it."

"Explains what?"

"Why Wufei wears a hair shirt under his clothing."

"T-That Asshole, I'm gonna go kick me some Chinese butt. I can't believe him." Heero started heading for the door, firmly intent on kicking Wufei into next week.

"Heero."

"What!"

"Ah, go kick Trowa's ass first, I think he's cutting, and Quatre is covering for him." Mouse had twice seen small blood stains on the banged boys arm's staining the usual long sleeve shirts he always wore. She knew the signs, she'd seen it before. Heero stopped and looked at her, how had she noticed this and he hadn't? The question was there in his cobalt blue eyes. She smiled sadly, even Duo had stopped crying and was now listening, between hiccups.

"All of the cousins, my age and older fought in the wars, there used to be 20 of us all together. Three died, right away in OZ's overthrow of the alliance. Seeing the look that pasted over Heero's face she was quick to reassure him and Duo.

"Don't worry, you guys were never near them, we fought mostly in North American and only as far south as Brazil. The others joined the rebels and two more of my cousins perished here on earth. But after the wars, 2 of them started cutting, and three more tried committing suicide and Josh took to burning himself. Their all in therapy now."

'Rick?"

"Cutter, he was the one who noticed the signs in Trowa, and told me what to look out for. I wasn't positive until now." Duo looked over at Heero and extended a hand.

"Hey, 'Ro." Heero came over and took his friends hand and clasped them in both of his, Duo tried to give his friend a cocky grin, the effect was somewhat ruined by the tearstained cheeks, but it lightened Heero's heart nonetheless.

"Man, I'm a complete ass, a guy never had a better friend than you. I have no idea why I thought I could beat this thing on my own. But you're right I need help. Professional help, we all do. Now go kick some serious European and Chinese butt so we can all start therapy together, preferably tomorrow. Hm, and kick Q a few times just for good measure."

"You got it." Heero got up and started for the door."

"Ah an 'Ro, you did remember to bring me some clothes right?" Heero smirked as he headed out the door, turned and looked over at his friend.

"Nope, you'll just have to borrow one of Relena's robes. I totally forgot." Heero snickered.

"Damnit Heero, That's not funny. Fine! Once you tucker yourself out on Trowa, Wufei and Quat I'm kicking your ass. How dare you even suggest I wear a frilly robe all the way back to the guy's dorm. Hey, are you even listening to me? Fuck , that it's, once I stop shaking you're history man."

-

AN: Interesting Ne? Hope you liked.