Chapter 3 / 20
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
Morning came, as it had a habit of doing. When the first rays of the warm spring sunlight struck Duo's eyes, he woke with a start. He was sitting on the couch, where he had fallen asleep as he had waited for Quatre. The other pilots had migrated to their bedrooms sometime during the night, leaving Duo alone at his silent vigil. Duo leaped to his feet and dashed to the bedroom Quatre had been using. His heart thumped as he flung open the door. He whimpered slightly at the sight of the empty room.
Not quite giving up hope yet, he dashed outside to check the garage they were using, hoping that Sandrock would be sitting in there, or more importantly, it's pilot. Again, empty. Duo was on the verge of despairing as he darted back inside. He yanked open his computer, looking for any messages. He brightened as he saw the email icon flashing. His heart pounded in his chest as he opened it. He couldn't help the nearly heartbroken moan that came from his throat as he saw the advertisement for real-estate in his Inbox.
Duo made up his mind, grabbing his coat and heading for the door. He was just about to run out when some semblance of rationality returned to him. // Man, the dudes took down Q. They have to be pretty badass to do that...maybe I should get some help with this one.// Duo made up his mind and went headed back inside.
Duo charged into the first room that he encountered as he headed down the hall. Wufei lay there, sleeping, looking much more innocent and sweet with his severe ponytail undone and his eyes closed, his expressions calm and peaceful. Duo smiled as he contemplated that for about five seconds, mental images of a hentai nature flickering through his mind, then went back to the matter at hand.
"Wu! Wufei! Wake up, man, wake up!" Duo said, shaking the Chinese pilot. Wufei's onyx eyes flickered open, and looked with confusion and annoyance at who was shaking him out of his peaceful dream. He blinked, realizing that this was MAXWELL, waking HIM up, not the other way around. Wufei couldn't remember a time the braided baka had gotten up before being awakened. Well, he amended, perhaps once or twice. But most definitely not often. He looked groggily at his clock and watched the number switch to 5:29 A.M.
"Three questions, Maxwell, you baka!" he grumbled, dragging himself to a sitting position. "WHY are you up at 5:30 in the morning, why must *I* also be up at 5:30 in the morning, and, should this be one of your STUPID, ASININE stunts, is your insurance paid for?" Wufei growled. Duo didn't even quirk a smile as he usually did at any of the others' grumblings about him. Worry and fear were swirling through his huge violet eyes, and he didn't say anything, merely looked at the floor. He was VERY upset. Wufei softened a bit. "Quatre isn't back yet?" he asked, getting up and beginning to dress, already guessing the rest. Duo wanted to go after the Sandrock pilot, find out WHY Quatre wasn't back. And he had thought rationally...not just run out the door on his own...k'so, he must be REALLY upset. Duo only nodded.
"I'm gonna go get the rest of the guys, Wu. Thanks, man." Duo said as he flitted out of the room. He went into Trowa's room, and saw the Heavyarms pilot sleeping soundly in a fat, overstuffed armchair. He shook him and told him to wake up. "Hey Trowa...c'mon, time to get up. Rise and shine." Trowa's emerald eyes opened, and he looked at Duo's forced smile, nodded, and got up. Duo didn't pause for conversation, as he normally would have. He headed quickly down the hall and flung open Heero's door. He met with a surprise.
As he threw the door open, the first thing he noticed was that Heero was airborne, flying straight at him. The pilot of Wing Zero landed in front of him, and Duo found himself staring down the barrel of the gun, so close to his face he actually had to cross his eyes to see it. He stood there, frozen with shock, and blinked. Heero scowled and lowered his gun.
"Um...good...uh...morning, Heero...we're going off to find Quatre. He isn't back yet..."
"Aa." Heero said, grabbing for his shoes. Duo left the room and went to the living room, curling up in a corner of the couch. He wondered about Quatre. What if he was kidnapped and being tortured for information even as he sat there? Duo sniffed, realizing he had been crying. Oh God, poor Quatre...God...no. God was dead, there was only Shinigami, and Shinigami was impartial. This proved it. Duo wiped his sleeve across his eyes and sniffed as the other 3 emerged. He wouldn't cry. Boys didn't cry.
Wufei saw Duo wipe his eyes, as did Heero and Trowa. None of them said anything. The house seemed strange...so insanely QUIET, with Quatre not around and Duo silent. Wufei shivered inwardly. It was creepy in a way. The four pilots left the building, locking the door behind them and heading for the garage. Within minutes, four Gundams emerged from the garage and were in flight to the Guenivere Base.