Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / GetBackers Fan Fiction / Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Consequences of our past ❯ Chapter 19 ( Chapter 20 )

 

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Chapter 19

 

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The limitless fortress loomed high above them. With a shudder and a harsh swallow, Quatre climbed off of the commandeered motorcycle. “I never wanted to return here.” He whispered, a dark feeling starting to grow in his heart. “Remember, Fei… Guns will have little to no effect once we are in there.”

 

“So you've said… I've never seen anything like this…” Wu Fei stated in awe as he absentmindedly secured his sword to his back. The blonde had insisted on stopping by the Chinese Preventer's apartment to pick it, among some other helpful items, up. “I didn't even know it was here.”

 

“Many people on the outside think this is just a large abandoned building. Anyone who knows differently has either been there or was told by someone who had. This place is one big mystery that few have even come close to solving.” The empath frowned, shouldering the one of the packs that held their supplies while Wu Fei took the other. “Only those who were brave enough to reach for the highest floors of Babylon City know its secrets.”

 

“You've been there.” The Preventer asked, studying his partner intently.

 

“Once.” The other replied evasively. “Shall we go? We need to reach Gen before dark. He's a pharmacist that lives halfway through Lower Town. If anyone could tell us where The Lightening Emperor is, it's him.”

 

“You have a lot of secrets, Quatre.” Chang frowned, as he followed the smaller teen through a hidden door. “Why do you keep them to yourself? Is it that you don't trust us?”

 

The blonde paused, surprised at the question. After a moment's thought, he started to walk again, leading his partner through the maze of rundown buildings, alley ways and garbage heaps. “It's not that I don't trust you or any of the others…”

 

“But?”

 

“Some things are better not being shared.” Quatre continued, climbing over an old railing and onto a rooftop. “For safety, personal and other reasons… It's like during the war. We all had confidential information that we kept to ourselves in order to protect the team. If OZ had tortured us and more than one of us had the info, then the chances of someone talking were greater… This is no different. Lives stand to be lost if the Secret of the Limitless Fortress is revealed.”

 

“… It seems so lonely.” Wu Fei mused, an aura of sadness for the empath radiating from him.

 

“It can be.” The blonde admitted before pointing out a direction. “We need to head over that way. After the disbanding of the Volts, smaller, more violent, gangs started taking over different territories. Some of them are easier to deal with than others.”

 

“Will we have much trouble with them?”

 

“Not if the boundaries are still the same.” Quatre smiled reassuringly at his partner.

 

“And if they're not?”

 

The smaller teen rolled his eyes, “You worry too much!”

 

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“So are we knocking or sneaking?” Duo asked as they surveyed the perimeter of their friend's hiding place.

 

“He already knows we're here.” Trowa stated, “Sneaking would be pointless.”

 

“How do you know that?” The braided boy glared.

 

“Quatre is standing on the veranda railing, waiting for us.” Wu Fei pointed to the new-type that was glaring in their direction, despite the fact that they were concealed by the highly grown shrubs that surrounded the property. Behind the smallest pilot stood the towering Rashid as a visual threat if things were to bode badly.

 

“Oh.” He frowned before stepping out into plain view, the others close behind. Duo plastered on a wide, cheerful, grin and shouted, “Q-MAN!”

 

“You should not have come.” The empath condemned coldly, his arms crossed at his chest, a furious glare set firmly on the frightfully pale face.

 

“Quatre, we-” Trowa started only to be cut off by a car horn.

 

The blonde snorted with a roll of his eyes. “And now the taxi comes.”

 

“You know we won't let you go.” Hiiro warned. “We'll fight you if necessary.”

 

“Why were you going to leave, Quat?” Wu Fei asked as he approached, a swarm of emotions swirling in his eyes.

 

“I'd think it'd be obvious.” Quatre sneered before stepping off his precarious perch on the railing and disappearing into the elaborate house. “Rashid, please pay the cab driver for his time.” With a curt nod, the man did as he was asked.

 

His former teammates continued to the front door where they were then led to the sitting room by another Maganuac.

 

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Taking a seat in the far chair, the empath studied the other pilots beneath half-lidded eyes as they filed in. Hiiro and Duo looked pissed, but otherwise good as they curled together on the couch. He hadn't seen them face-to-face since the end of the fighting. They both had grown slightly during the war, though Hiiro was now at least three inches taller than his lover. Their once skinny bodies had filled out more, but each retained the lethal teenage grace that made them effective killers. Duo's braid was even longer than before, impressively reaching to his knees.

 

Wu Fei looked about the same as he had the last time they had been together- as did Trowa- both of them took spots against the wall. If any difference were to be noted, it would be the way they carried themselves: although they maintained their pilot's grace, there was an underlining sense of exhaustion and sadness that permeated from both of his former lovers.

 

“Don't do that.” Trowa frowned, glaring at Quatre from beneath his bangs. “Ask us, don't read us.”

 

“Would I get an honest answer?” The blonde raised an eyebrow.

 

“Cut the crap, Winner!” Wu Fei snapped, “Drop this high-and-mighty act!”

 

“Winner is it?” Quatre flinched, unable to hide the pain that caused. “You come to my house, prevent me from catching my flight and accuse me of being high and mighty? You're an arrogant ass, Chang.”

 

“Q…” Duo started only to drift off as a glare fixed itself on him.

 

“I don't know what you hope to accomplish here, Duo.” The empath stated, “But I guarantee it's a waste of time.”

 

Hiiro gently caressed his lover's tense back as he addressed his friend, “Quatre, you're being a prick. Get over yourself.”

 

“I warned him not to get involved! That it was none of his business!” The smaller teen nearly yelled, “Now everything is in jeopardy! The Earth! The colonies! They'll be coming! You've lead them right to me!”

 

Trowa and Wu Fei paled. The banged boy pushed up from the wall, snatched the new-type's shoulders, pulling him to his feet. “They?” He demanded, making Quatre hold eye contact.

 

“They.”

 

“Why didn't you tell us?” The Chinese teen frowned, coming up behind Trowa. “Why didn't you ask us for help!?”

 

“After what happened last time?” The empath shook his head with a defeated sigh, “I couldn't… Not again.” He leaned into the taller pilot's chest, breathing in familiar scents as 03 wrapped him in a tight embrace.

 

“Quatre…” Startled, Trowa's concerned frown deepened as he shivered at the frigidness radiating from the heir of the desert. “Why are you so cold?”

 

“And your eyes are red.” Wu Fei stated, “When was the last time you slept?”

 

Sadly, the smaller teen shook his head without lifting it. “It's nothing to worry about… There's nothing anyone can do.”

 

“What aren't you telling us?” The stubborn Chinese boy demanded while the banged teen held the empath tighter, closer, and trying to chase away the iciness of the pale pilot's skin.

 

All the feigned arrogance drained from the new-type as he allowed his emotions to break free with a heart-wrenching sob. “…`Choose', they said, `one or none'...”

 

The banged teen soothingly held the smaller teen while the Chinese boy whispered softly to the blonde until his crying ceased. “Even the strongest warrior, Quat.” Wu Fei reminded.

 

Mutely the boy nodded.

 

Hiiro exchanged a perplexed glance with his lover. “Okay, I'm confused.” The braided teen announced. “Q, I thought that Trowa and Wu Fei were the ones making you pick?”

 

“No.” Wu Fei answered. “Not exactly anyway...”

 

“Well, maybe you should define `Not exactly'.” Duo scowled.

 

The three teens silently nodded. In an unspoken agreement, Wu Fei sat in Quatre's chair, pulling the smaller boy onto his lap so that his golden head was resting beneath the ebony-haired teen's chin. Almost immediately, the empath's eyes slipped closed as he fell asleep.

 

Trowa sat besides the pair on the floor, a hand resting on the blonde's thigh while the other held the boy's thin hand. Once again, he frowned at how cold the new-type's skin was to the touch. “Wu Fei…”

 

“I know.” The Chinese Preventer whispered, rubbing his hands up and down the smaller teen's arms, trying to warm them up, as he allowed his strength to flow into the exhausted teen. “He's freezing!”

 

“Think they're responsible?”

 

“What's wrong?” Duo demanded, receiving no answer.

 

“Who else?”

 

“Is Q alright?” The braided pilot persisted.

 

“Damn!” The banged boy swore, staring worriedly at his former lover.

 

“Will someone tell me what the hell is the matter!?” Shinigami yelled only to be shushed by his friends.

 

“Maybe it's time that I take over telling the story?” Trowa suggested quietly, his gaze not leaving the pale Arabian.

 

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To be continued…