Author's Note: Recently I just listened (i.e. I actually paid attention to the words) of a song by the band Staind called "So Far Away" that for some reason reminded my both of my TMP fics. It just clicked for reason, it's truly bizarre. Anyway, enough with my rambling for the day, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.
Warning: language
Where did you go?
It took some effort but after some pushing, Solo finally managed to shove himself out of his earthly tomb, coughing out the dirt that had gotten into his lungs as he took in a breath of fresh air. Had anybody gotten the numbers off the truck that had hit him? God, if he had whiplash then he was gonna sue!
Taking in a look of surroundings, it took his mind a few seconds to come to terms with the sight of large rocks sticking out of the ground, upturned soil, and an occasional gentle breeze blowing across the barren surroundings. This didn't look anything like what it had been when the fighting had first broken out. What the hell happened? Did someone set off a nuke or something?
Where were the others? As he looked around he caught sight of a half-buried Sigmund, a large rock sticking right out of his chest. Eww…that had to hurt. It'd be a miracle if he was still alive.
The sound of something breaking through the dirt caught his attention and he saw, much to his astonishment, Trowa climbing out of a shallow hole, dragging that small guy he had been holding on to earlier. It was nice to some a familiar face still alive around here but he couldn't help but think that something was missing…
Wait, where the hell was Duo? Frantically, he scanned his surroundings, looking for his missing friend but when he didn't locate anything that might hint at where he might be, he got up to his feet panicky. Taking advantage of his height, he stood on his tippy-toes, trying to see as far out as he could but found absolutely nothing. He tried to remember where he had last seen Duo but his last thoughts were of shouting about the weather. He didn't quite remember what led up to that but everything had went black before he found out what was going on.
Spinning on his heels, he marched over to Trowa and picked him off the ground. "Have you seen Duo?" he demanded, his concern palpable in his voice.
"He's not with you?" Trowa asked and immediately wished he hadn't. The panic that was welling up in those scared green eyes was enough of an answer for him. "I haven't seen him since…since…"
"When?" he barked, resisting the urge to shake Trowa like a rag doll. "Since when?!"
"He was in the tornado," Trowa recalled, his voice light.
"What tornado?!" Solo nearly shouted.
"He was fighting with that boy with the wind powers," Trowa explained hurriedly. "They were fighting inside the tornado, Duo was close to the ground, the wind user above him trying to do something and there was some kind of light flashing between them. I tried to take cover with Yuuan but all my plants were being destroyed—"
"Get ta da point already!" Solo growled menacingly.
"I am," Trowa retorted at him, beginning to lose his patience with the blond. Rushing an answer out of him would get them nowhere and, besides, it was just plain rude. "Yuuan asked me to grow a tree and when I tried, he did something to it, made it glow but then the tree was sucked into the tornado and it hit Duo and the other guy. Everything went crazy then. The winds were going out of control and those two looked like they were torn apart by something. At least I though they were. I broke the earth under myself and Yuuan and tunneled in there but as I did that, I thought I saw Duo, or maybe it was that other one, shooting away, like he was being thrown away by the winds. He might be alive but—"
"Son of a bitch!" Solo shouted as he dropped Trowa onto his ass, cutting off his explanation. "He could be dead for all we know and if he isn't, we don't know where da hell he is!"
"We'll find him, Solo," Trowa said to him. "Just calm down, alright? We won't find him if we don't think straight about this."
"WHY DA HELL WOULD I WANT TA THINK STRAIGHT!" Solo bellowed.
"Calm down Solo," Trowa ordered.
"Duo's like da little brother I never had," Solo snarled back. "He's da only person I care 'bout other than myself an' you're tellin' me ta calm down?!"
Sighing, knowing there was no dealing with Solo when he was like this, grew a flower behind his back, one with a special purpose. As Solo was nearing a rampaging state, he took the flower into a hand and plucked it off its stem. Shoving it into Solo's face, he squeezed it and watched as a cloud of gas shot out from the flower, the blond taking in a large dosage of it into his lungs.
"What da hell—?" Solo demanded before he collapsed into a heap, unconscious.
Natural sleeping gas; you gotta love it.
Looking over at Yuuan who had been a frightened spectator through all this, he said, "Help me lug him back to the church," he ordered.
"But what about Sigmund?" Yuuan asked, looking over at his friend.
Taking a look at Sigmund and the rock that was sticking out of him, he replied, "Sorry but I don't think he'll be getting up anytime soon after that. No more stalling right now; lets get to it."
As the two carried Solo's dead weight away, not an easy task mind you, neither of them saw or heard Sigmund's unconscious body cough blood out of his mouth.
---
Suffice to say when Solo did regain consciousness, again, back at the church, he was not a happy camper, nope, not at all. However, instead of tearing everything around him apart, he just sat down and stewed in his anger, glaring balefully at Trowa whenever the unibanged youth got too close.
Slightly dismayed at this, Trowa chose not to try and antagonize the blond any further, if just sneezing in the nearby vicinity was antagonizing. He'd get over it, Trowa was sure; it was just a matter of time.
Currently, Solo had holed up in the small room that he had been staying in with Duo over the past few days, sitting on his thin mattress, legs bent with his arms wrapped around them. He looked more like he was sulking than pouting but Solo didn't give a shit how he looked to others.
A full day had passed before one of his recent traveling companions dared to enter his room and of all the people it could be it was none other than Dorothy, the girl with the eyebrows and the nice rack. He let his eyes linger on said breasts but nonetheless looked away, not even caring when the girl sat down beside him.
"Had enough?" Dorothy asked, surprising the blond with her choice of words.
"What ya mean by that?" he grumbled, eyeing her.
"You've done nothing but sulk and act like a child in here," Dorothy stated. "Are you done doing that or do you need more time?"
"Ain't ya happy?" he snarked bitterly. "I'm just as miserable as you. I'm alone, my best friend's gone, is there anything else I'm missin'?"
"Don't forget destroying my home and forcing me to do your bidding," Dorothy replied dryly.
"Well, I ain't never had a home so I can't miss it," Solo retorted, "and somebody else already force me ta do their biddin' so your shit out of luck there."
"That's not what I came in here to talk about with you," Dorothy sighed exasperatedly.
"Then why'd ya come in here?" he demanded. "Ta see me sufferin'? Well take a good look, you ain't gonna see more of it anytime soon."
"You think you're the only one who's suffering?" Dorothy hissed.
"'Course not!" Solo said. "You ever been separated from your best friend and not know where they are if they're still alive?"
"Yes!" Dorothy exclaimed.
Blinking at that, it dawned on Solo what that last word meant. "Oh yeah, that China guy's girl."
"He's not Chinese, he's Japanese," Dorothy corrected.
"Same difference," Solo shrugged.
"No it's not," Dorothy argued. "China and Japan are two different countries with two different cultures—"
"And that matters how 'gain?" Solo interrupted. "Anyway, shouldn't you be happy that I'm feelin' da same stuff you are?"
"Of course not," Dorothy stated. "Nobody should feel like that."
"Not even me?" Solo asked skeptically.
Dorothy paused for a moment, actually considering before shaking her head. "Not even…you…" It was a bit forced, Solo could tell, but he had to give her props for that at least.
"Well that's a load off my mind," Solo replied sarcastically, "but it don't do anything to bring Duo back, does it?"
"Then what are you doing in here doing nothing about it?" Dorothy countered.
Though he didn't want to admit it…she had a point there. "And where do I start then?" he half asked, half demanded, still feeling argumentative. "I don't even know where da hell he is!"
"I don't know but what I do know is that you won't find out sitting in here, feeling sorry about yourself!" Dorothy answered heatedly.
Damn it…why'd she have to use logic on him anyway? He couldn't argue with that…or could he? Hmm… "So how do you plan I start?" he asked with an edge in his voice.
"Well, you could start by getting out of this room," Dorothy suggested sardonically. "Why not talk with Trowa, or maybe even Yuuan? They might be able to help."
"Who da hell is Yuuan?" he asked, confused. He was sure he didn't know anybody by that name…
"He helped Trowa carry you into the church," Dorothy answered, rolling her eyes. "What does it matter anyways?"
"I don't know him," Solo told her, honestly. "He could be anybody for all I know, maybe an assassin."
"I doubt Yuuan could be an assassin," Dorothy said dryly. "He doesn't even look like he could hurt a fly. I bet I could beat him up."
"Maybe that's what he wants ya ta think," Solo said, sounding a bit paranoid.
"If he was doing something like that, don't you think he would have tried something while you were out cold?" Dorothy stated, getting tired of this trail of conversation.
"I still don't trust 'um," Solo said, crossing his arms childishly.
"Whatever," Dorothy said, throwing her arms up in the air, as if giving up. "So are you going to get out there or not?"
"Didn't say I wasn't," Solo muttered as he did just that.
---
"What da FUCK is HE doin' here?!"
"Now Solo," Father Maxwell spoke in a soothing tone.
"Don't ya 'now Solo' me!" Solo interrupted as his hackles rose, his intense glare focusing straight on a bound Wufei who was glaring back with equal malice. "Why da hell are ya keepin' this asshole alive?!"
"It is not our place to refuse people from our doors, no matter who they may be," Father Maxwell replied. "I don't think he'd be getting into any trouble anyway; as you can see, your friend, Trowa, had him restrained like this when he was brought in unconscious. The only reason why I am tolerating this treatment is because of the danger he may pose to the children, especially after the account of what happened earlier during your fight."
"Just give me a minute," Solo growled. "I'll snap his neck an' then we won't have ta worry 'bout him anymore."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," Father Maxwell interrupted, his tone grave and disapproving. "This is a house of God and no blood shall be spilled in it."
"Fine, I'll take him outside and do it."
"I won't allow you to do that either."
"So you want to let him live?" Solo demanded. "He can kill us all and not care 'bout your rules and you're just gonna keep him alive?"
"That's right Solo," Father Maxwell confirmed.
"You're crazy," Solo gave up, throwing his hands up. "If he kills ya, don't come runnin' ta me."
"As if I would kill a priest," Wufei snorted, finally entering the conversation. "That would be dishonorable and I will not dishonor myself like that."
"Ooh, that's so comfortin'," Solo replied sarcastically. "How do I know you ain't lyin'?"
"You'll just have to take my word for it," Wufei said, turning his head away in a snobbish manner.
"Look ya Japanese asshole," Solo growled.
Interrupted, an offended Wufei said, "I'm Chinese, not Japanese!"
"Same difference," Solo replied, "I'm da guy that beat ya, remember?"
"I remember," Wufei grumbled.
"That's right, now you're gonna do what I tell ya, got it?" Solo continued, smirking.
"I don't think that's how it works," Trowa cut in. "Just because you beat him doesn't mean he has to do you any favors."
"Thanks a lot, asshole," Solo retorted. "I coulda blackmailed him with that."
"Somehow I doubt that," Trowa replied, a small smile on his face.
"We'll see 'bout that," Solo muttered, turning his attention back to Wufei. "Okay pal, where's Duo?"
"What makes you think I know?" Wufei snorted contemptuously. "If he isn't dead from what I've been hearing, he could be anywhere for all I know. My powers don't allow me to locate others. Jason's did, though, but he's not here, is he?"
"Likely story," Solo replied, "but cut the bullshit and tell me da truth."
"As if I would lie," Wufei snarled, straining against his restraints.
"There's only two people I trust in da world and you ain't one of them," Solo spat. "So get with da program already and tell me what I want ta know!"
"I. Don't. Know," Wufei growled angrily, enunciating each and every word. "What reason would I have to not tell the truth? I'm sure that, if given the choice, you would kill me and not think twice. If telling you where your friend is would preserve my life, I'd tell you where he was in a heartbeat but I don't and that's all there is to it!"
"Well, if ya can't help there, then maybe ya can show me da place where the assholes who sent you are," Solo said, changing the aim of his questioning, a bit miffed at Wufei's angry answer.
"I don't know the answer to that either," Wufei answered. "I was prevented at all times from knowing exactly where that base was by Xavien and his underlings."
"There's that name again," Solo muttered. "Okay, what can ya tell me 'bout this Xavien guy anyway? That's the second time I've heard that name."
"Obviously he's the man in charge of all of this," Wufei explained, irritated with the blond.
"Is that it?" Solo deadpanned.
"Other than giving me my orders, I know very little," Wufei said, put out.
"What can you tell us?" Trowa asked. "It doesn't have to mean anything to you but it might mean something to us."
"Other than Xavien wanting both you and your braided friend back, I have no clue," Wufei admitted, slightly guilty.
"I guess it's no use asking why he wants us back other than to use us as guinea pigs again," Solo said sardonically.
"For once, I agree with you," Wufei said, smirking at the flash of offense in Solo's green eyes.
"What's that suppose ta mean?" the blond demanded, his anger beginning to take over his body with the intent of causing the only Chinese person in the room personal injury.
"Knock it off Solo," Trowa intervened, putting his forehead in the palm of one of his hands. "Wouldn't it be better if you put all your excess energy in searching for Duo than causing Wufei as much pain as possible?"
"I don't know, that second thing ya said sounded pretty good," Solo shrugged.
"Perhaps a break in this 'interrogation' would be beneficial," Father Maxwell suddenly spoke, surprising the three youths who had forgotten that he was still in the same room as them, making sure that nothing escalated to the point of violence. "We are all worried about the whereabouts of our friend Duo—"
"I'm not," Wufei snorted but was talked over by the priest.
"—but getting into pointless arguments isn't going to do anything to bring us any closer to his location," Father Maxwell continued. "We should all take a break and let ourselves cool down before even more time is wasted."
"Then why take a break at all?" Solo demanded. "Wouldn't that be wastin' time?"
"It may be," Father Maxwell acknowledged, "it may just be a huge waste of time to take a break right now but is what you're already doing helping any or is it just 'wasting time?'"
"He's right," Trowa spoke. "Let's take a little time to cool our heads and then get back into this."
"What's ta say this Japanese asshole won't try ta escape?" Solo inquired, not at all pleased by being ganged up on.
"I'm Chinese," Wufei snarled.
"Same difference," Solo waved it away.
"Then I guess someone will have to keep an eye on him," Trowa shrugged. Seeing the eager glint in the blond's eye, he hastily added, "I'll watch him. You just go and cool off, okay?"
Grumbling at the unibanged young man, Solo spun on his heel and marched off. Giving Trowa a small smile of thanks, Father Maxwell followed after the blond to make sure he didn't do anything he might regret.
Looking back at Wufei, Trowa commented, "I guess it's just you and me now, eh?"
---
"Stupid one-eyed son of a bitch!" Solo growled under his breathed as he shoved his way out of the church's main entrance. "I hope he goes blind in his only eye! Self-righteous bastard!"
He ignored the sight of a timid Yuuan who was currently dress in an acolyte's uniform, a new convert to the Catholic's God, much to Solo's ire. James stood nearby, looking miserably at the newly arrived boy but kept an eye on Solo as he left the chapel to go outside, sending a quick nod over to his brother that he would look after the steaming blond.
It wasn't an enviable chore, to say the least, but it was better than stewing in his own misery as he saw yet another victim of his life's work.
Speaking of stewing, Solo was doing just that as he clenched his fists tightly and glared out towards the empty horizon. "I take it things didn't go your way," he said aloud as he took his place next to the tall blond.
"Oh, so you're da expert, huh?" Solo groused, not looking at the older man.
"It's just a guess," James shrugged.
"Yeah, well ya can just guess your ass off for all I care," Solo snapped.
Chuckling as Solo just proved his guess correct, he said nothing back. He thought it would be best to just remain a silent figure as Solo internally ranted and raved. It was obvious that the blond didn't want to talk about his frustrations and James knew what it was that was at the core of it all. Duo's absence was weighing on him and, whether or not he would admit it, Solo was worried. It was just another point that James reveled in; Xavien had been completely wrong about the boys not having any emotions. Solo was just a whirlwind of them; it didn't matter what Xavien used to support his argument.
Something vibrated in his pocket and he frowned. Quickly slipping his hand into said pocket, his frown deepened and he made no move to keep his leaving inconspicuous as he hurried back into the church, heading straight to his private room.
He could only hope that what he thought was about to happen wouldn't.