Chapter 10 / 20
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
Duo was released from the hospital a couple weeks later, having regained mostly normal function of his body. If anything went wrong, he was to be taken to the hospital immediately. But he was mostly fine, save for weakness and depression. Wufei, Trowa, and Heero took their turns keeping a close watch on him to make sure he didn't try to do anything like that again. It was Wufei's turn, since the other two were out on a mission.
"Wu?..." Duo asked cautiously. The pilot in question swiveled his head around and looked at Duo.
"Hai, Maxwell?"
Duo smiled slightly. "I DO have a first name, ya know..."
"Fine. Yes, Duo?" Wufei asked, reigning in the first tinges of minor annoyance. He would not snap at Duo; Duo seemed to be in a decent mood. He would try not to be the one to ruin it.
"I was acting a lot like Heero, wasn't I?" Duo asked quietly. "I was gonna just self-destruct when the mission looked to be a failure..."
Wufei looked at him, allowing a bit of sympathy into his eyes. "I understand. But you have to be strong, if you want Quatre back. If we are weak, we will only lose."
Duo looked at Wufei, narrowing his eyes slightly. The stoic Chinese pilot was trying to console him in the only way he knew how. Duo smiled at Wufei, eyes glistening. Wufei looked at his eyes, trying to figure what precisely was making his smile so...sad looking, when Duo burst into tears and threw himself at him. Wufei caught the braided boy as best he could, unsure of what to do. He tentatively wrapped his arms around Duo, stroking his silky chestnut braid. "Shh...Duo, it's...gonna be ok..."
Wufei wished he was as sure of himself as he sounded...
~ ^ * ^ ~
Heero and Trowa trudged in the door wearily. It had been a hellish battle; the damn soldiers were well trained, stubborn, and fought dirty. Nothing they couldn't handle, but still very annoying and tiring. Heero and Trowa exchanged glances at the sight of Wufei sitting on the couch cradling a sleeping Duo in his arms and murmuring to him. Wufei looked up and finally noticed them, and proceeded to turn bright red. Heero walked over and lifted Duo from Wufei's lap and carried the braided pilot to his bedroom, tucked him in, and walked out the door. He eyed Wufei, who was giving him a glare.
"Nani?" Heero asked innocently, smirking slightly at the blushing Chinese pilot.
"No, Heero. Don't even say it. Don't. I...I'll...Omae o korosu!" Wufei growled. Trowa smirked and laughed quietly. Heero blinked a few times, as if to say 'Hey, that's my line...'
~ ^ * ^ ~
A few hours later, Heero snapped shut his laptop and headed for the room he shared with Duo, intent on sleeping for 8 hours so he would be at his maximum rested efficiency. Before he even entered the room he realized something was wrong. He drew his gun and ran in, and was met by...nothing. Nothing, including the lack of Duo. Heero growled, and turned towards the door, but stopped when he noticed a note on Duo's fuzzy black pillowcase. He plucked it up and rapidly read through the page of Duo's spidery, oddly elegant handwriting.
Heero,
I know, I know, Omae o korosu, and I should be in bed, and all that jazz...but I just can't do it. I've been in the hospital for a few weeks, been here for a while, and Quatre is obviously not coming back. I have to pay my respects. Don't worry for me; I'll be back before morning. I promise. I won't kill myself, I swear. Don't worry about it. Gomenasai...
Duo
Heero crumpled the note into a ball and pitched it across the room. The baka...oh well. If he said he would be back, he would. He faintly remembered Duo saying something along the lines of 'I run, I hide, but I never lie.' Alright, then. All was well in that case. Heero lay down and fell asleep.