She didn’t know why she was so eager to trust him...after all, he obviously knew what had just happened. He probably was working with Heero Yuy, or... But Heero wanted to kill me...and if this boy is going to do the same...why doesn’t he do it already...? He wasn’t doing much of anything--just looking at her with those cool, unaffected eyes--she wondered if anything in the world could disturb that gaze. It was comforting, somehow...she wasn’t sure exactly why.

Eliza met his gaze, marvelling at the lack of force behind those green eyes. With Heero...she could see cruelty and hatred burning behind his cool stare, but this boy...it was like she was looking into a pool of still water. “W...what do you want?” she found herself asking.

Not surprisingly, the boy’s expression didn’t change. “Just some information,” he told her, remarkably casual in his response.

She fell silent, her eyes lowering to the ground. This is stupid. This is so stupid. Why did she feel safe, even if it was just for a second? It wasn’t any different from before... But when she dared to lift her head again, something on the boy’s face had changed. She didn’t know why she noticed--it was only a faint change--but there was something different about the way he was looking at her now. Does he...feel sorry for me...? But she didn’t find an answer to that...it faded away in a moment, leaving her more than a little bewildered.

He spoke then, his voice quiet and calm. “You should come with me, Eliza Cinque.”

She couldn’t hear any hatred in his words, or any threat...there was nothing at all. I don’t understand...why is he doing this to me? If that boy I hurt...and Heero Yuy...if they’re friends... He wasn’t even forcing her--just telling her in that steady, unemotional manner...if he was planning on killing her, he certainly didn’t give it away. He didn’t even seem upset by what had happened a short time ago...he wasn’t feeling at all. Maybe they’re not...maybe he doesn’t have any friends.

At that moment, she couldn’t remember ever envying a person so much.

The boy spoke again, addressing her as quietly as before. “Are you coming?”

That’s it. I did what I was supposed to...I can’t run now. If I have to-- She nodded faintly, only half-wondering what was going to happen to her. But...she couldn’t leave without figuring this out. She was fairly sure the boy wouldn’t hurt her...if he truly didn’t feel, he couldn’t hate. And she wanted to trust him so badly...even though she still wasn’t sure why. She had nothing else to turn to...

Quatre turned around suddenly, startled to hear somebody come up behind him. “Heero...” he faltered, realizing who it was. He watched the boy’s face closely, puzzled at how his eyes, while appearing blank at first glance, were beginning to burn with some unreadable emotion. Quatre moved away from the couch, sensing what Heero was intending to do. He blinked as the other boy drew up to the couch, then picked up one of Duo’s limp arms. He draped it over his shoulders, then turned to Quatre, giving him an odd look.

What? Is he trying to get him out of here or something...? Quatre slowly moved to Duo’s other side, half-guessing what Heero had expected him to do. He must’ve been correct--Heero watched him take Duo’s other arm, silent.

The Arabian pilot flinched upon hearing Duo’s ragged breathing. He couldn’t have been completely unconscious...but he was too weak to stand, even with support. He began to sag to the floor. “Heero...” Quatre started to say.

Not saying a word, Heero bent over slightly, slipping his free arm under the sick boy’s knees. Quatre watched, amazed, as Heero lifted him into his arms as if he weighed no more than a small child. “If that girl--that Eliza--can live here, there has to be a bed around here somewhere,” he finally said.

A...bed? He’s going to keep him here? Quatre didn’t know what to make of this. But something in Heero’s voice told him not to question him any further--he just wanted to do whatever he could...he had to be as helpful as possible. “Over there,” he said, gesturing faintly to the nearest door. “This is a small apartment, so it should--”

Heero began to move toward the door, not even waiting for him to finish his sentence. Quatre followed close behind, thoroughly confused. If he didn’t know any better... Is he worried about him...? It couldn’t be...but he wished it was. Anything... Duo wasn’t even protesting...his fever must’ve still been out of control. He silently cursed himself for not doing anything to bring it down. He doubted anything would have worked...but he hadn’t even tried. He opened the door for Heero as soon as they reached it, revealing that it did in fact hide a bedroom. It was almost completely bare...save for a bed and a chest of drawers. Just looking at it made his heart ache. Eliza...from what he had seen of her, she didn’t look any older than twelve or thirteen. How could she live like this...?

There was something on the bed...something pink, and utterly incongruous with the rest of the room. A stuffed rabbit...? Maybe her mother gave it to her... Quatre watched silently as Heero laid Duo on the bed, pushing the rabbit out of the way awkwardly. Once this was done, he spoke. “Stay in here.”

Quatre assumed he was the one being addressed. Stay in here...? He can’t mean... “Duo needs help,” he protested. “We can’t keep him here. You know we--”

“I know,” Heero interrupted. “Stay in here.” He exited the room then. However, it wasn’t for long--he returned a few minutes later, holding something. A glass of water.

Quatre stared at him, startled. Before he had a chance to say anything, Heero thrust the glass into his hands. “Here,” he said flatly. “Now both of you, stay out of my way.”

As Heero’s retreating form disappeared once more, Quatre felt a strange sense of uneasiness wash over him. It wasn’t just because of Duo’s condition--it was about Heero. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being somehow set up...like Heero didn’t want him interfering in the rest of the mission. He’s planning something. He’s definitely planning something. And if he could find out what that “something” was...he might have to stop him.

She didn’t ask him where they were going...she supposed she didn’t care. Every place would be the same...but she couldn’t go back home. Not to her father. Not now, not ever again. I wonder...what will he think when he realizes what I’ve done...? She supposed he’d be angry--he always said that she was all he had, and he was all she had... But would he understand if she told him why she had done it? Oh, he’ll love the effect...but he won’t be too pleased about the cause. The thought made her feel a little queasy...but only a little. After all, he had ruined her childhood...she supposed he would ruin the rest of her life as well...but could he blame her for trying to fight it? Had she fought it at all?

Suddenly she had the urge to say something, to do something. Anything. “What’s your name?” she blurted out.

The boy didn’t answer at first...just stared ahead blankly. Then he blinked, his green eyes clear. “Trowa,” he said. “Trowa Barton.”

Trowa...Barton...? That name sounded vaguely familiar, but she kept quiet, regretting that she had even spoken. What had she been thinking? She continued behind the boy--Trowa--the darkness of the street obscuring her senses. She felt tired. It was funny...she never would’ve guessed everything would end like this. But she was so tired...she just wanted it to be over. I’m losing my will to fight...trusting a complete stranger. Maybe my father wasn’t so successful after all. No...that couldn’t be it. She couldn’t ever imagine changing so much...but it was an interesting thought.

Trowa had stopped suddenly, and she did as well--then blinked, realizing where they were. I’m...back here? She was standing in front of her apartment! W...what...? She cast a glance in the direction of her companion, but it wasn’t returned...he was already making his way over to the front door. There was a loud creaking sound...and it opened before he had even reached it.

Eliza felt her heart nearly stop. There was somebody in the doorway...holding a gun. And she knew who it was.

Heero Yuy.

Part Six
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