Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / GetBackers Fan Fiction / Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Consequences of our past ❯ Chapter 32 ( Chapter 33 )

 

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Chapter 32

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Quatre's cheeks tinted rosily as he remembered that night. It had felt wonderful to be in the banged pilot's arms again. The memories were as much of a comfort when he was cold and alone as the night he spent with the Chinese teen; especially when their relationship had ended abruptly and on less than friendly terms months before the events at the Limitless Fortress.

“It's not too late, you know.” Hiiro pointed out, studying the expressions that played on the smaller teen's face.

The blonde sighed, avoiding his friend's eyes and ignoring what the other pilot was trying to imply. “The next morning I was torn from Trowa's arms by the NWF. I think Tro received some cracked ribs for his efforts to protect me… They're not in the habit of being merciful to rebellious pawns… I can understand how Kazu got so freaked out though… The stasis pod was no bigger than a coffin and enclosed on all sides…” The empath shuddered, hugging himself. “And so dark… I-I don't know how long I was in there before I was rescued.”

“Too long.” Wu Fei growled as he, Trowa and Duo returned from the hall.

“I thought I told you three to leave.” Hiiro glared.

“Ya did.” The braided teen grinned, glomping his lover and planting an excited kiss on the Japanese boy's lips. “But `cha never said for how long!”

The empath smiled uncertainly as he was surrounded on either side by his love interests. They were radiating pure joy. Resisting the urge to read them deeper than the surface emotions, Quatre swallowed, stifling his rising hope. “W-what's gotten you two so… enthused?”

“We think we may have figured something out.”

“Oh?” The blonde pressed, shifting slightly as they seemed to lean closer.

Emerald and onyx eyes beamed happily as first one, then the other, proceeded to capture the smaller teen's lips in fiery passion, leaving the newtype breathlessly confused.

Laughing, Duo cheered his friends on before a sharp tug on his braid made him yelp in pain, “DAMN IT, HIIRO! That's ATTACHED!”

“Don't tease them.” Hiiro scolded before returning his partner's greeting kiss.

“But it's so fun!” The mischievous teen pouted as he shifted his body to straddle his boyfriend's lap. “I haven't been able to torture any of them since the end of the war, ya know.” He wiggled slightly until the other boy smacked his upper thigh.

“Behave, or you'll sleep on the couch for the next month.”

“You wouldn't dare.” Shinigami's glare narrowed, “Not after what happened the last time…”

“Don't push me.” Hiiro warned, before turning his attention to where Trowa and Wu Fei cuddled an uncomfortably-uncertain Quatre. Impossible as it was, the empath looked even paler than before and very close to hyperventilating.

“Wouldn't dream of it.” Duo purred, turning an expectant glance towards the storytellers.

“Ginji was correct when he said that Midou would come for him.” Wu Fei continued ruefully, “Made quite the racket.” The oriental brushed his fingers through the empath's blonde locks. “He broke into our cell, and then proceeded to the heart of the city. It was like he was on a rampage. Any fighter that opposed him didn't for long.”

“They found where I was being locked up and released me.” Trowa shook his head. “From there I was able to return Chang's sword and lead them to where Quatre, Nagi and Kazuki were being… stored… for lack of a better word.”

Duo's expression scrunched up with distain, just as his lover quirked an eyebrow and asked, “Stored?”

The banged teen looked uncomfortable as he tried to explain, “There was a room filled with rows of… walls- standing in them. Each wall was like a honeycomb with individual compartments that held a stasis pod.” Here Quatre shivered and unconsciously shifted closer to Wu Fei, who rubbed his back comfortingly.

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“This way!” The banged teen prompted, supporting his left side as he led the group down the rows.

The group followed him silently, tense and ready for ambush. Schuldig and Omi were mentally searching for any sign of their lost comrade. Ban kept double checking that Ginji was by his side, not that the blonde would straying far. The electrical newtype was still struggling to control the pent up voltage that threatened to lash out unexpectedly.

The Chinese Preventer tightly gripped his sword, as he grumbled obscenities under his breath in several different languages. He was in an inner turmoil over his necessity to find Quatre and the strong desire to punch his former comrade. He knew that something had changed between the empath and the former zero-three- not that the banged teen had said anything- but he knew… He could sense it and that made him anxious. Chang Wu Fei did not like feeling anxious.

“Nagi!” Omi gasped, stopping in front of a particular section.

“Are you certain?” The telepath demanded.

The younger assassin nodded, “I'm positive.”

Convinced, the red-head reached up and opened the compartment, allowing the pod to slide out. It clamored loudly as it hit the floor and echoed loudly against the walls. The glass was covered with frost, and Omi hastily wiped it off to reveal the peaceful slumbering face of his missing soul mate. “Nagi…” He breathed with relief, tracing the outline of his lover's face. “Can we wake him?”

Schuldig studied the readings on the machine. “His life signs are stable… but he's been in stasis almost the entire time he's been missing… It could kill him if we remove him.”

“We can't transport him in this-this thing!” The sandy-haired teen protested.

“Would you rather he die?”

“NO! Of course not!” Omi denied, horrified at the notion, “I just want him home! Safe and sound!”

“He was in a coma before he was kidnapped, Kitten.” Schuldig reminded him. “Even if we removed him from stasis, he may not wake up.”

Heartbroken, the teen gazed at the other half of his heart, tracing his fingers along his lover's features again.

“KAZU!” Ginji exclaimed pulling out another pod and wiping the glass clean. He whimpered at what he saw, turning towards his partner, random sparks emanating from his body as his control wavered. “…Ban…”

Midou swallowed as he took in the condition of their friend. Unlike the telekinetic, the Thread Master looked far from peaceful. The long-haired newtype appeared to have been petrified terrified. His face was covered in tear tracks and blood; while his meager clothing was shredded and covered with crimson stains.

“He's afraid of closed spaces…” The blonde whispered. “We have to get him out of there!”

“Hold your horses, Ginj.” Ban chastised studying the readings on the machine. “Our job is to recover him, and we'll do that.” He glanced over at the assassins, “Oi, Mind Reader! Come tell us what this shit means!”

Schuldig rolled his eyes, `You call me as if I'm a common dog? Especially rude, when you're looking for my aid… bad idea, don't you think?'

Ban snorted as the telepathic thought passed through his mind, `Bite me.' He passed back before Ginji verbally added a `please' to his lover's demand.

With a smirk, the German sauntered over and took a look at the second pod's charts. “He hasn't been in stasis as long as the Chibi has… Vitals are a little erratic, but stable… It should be alright to remove him.”

“How?” Ginji pressed.

Schuldig shook his head, “That, I'm afraid, I don't know.” He examined the instruments and control panel. “I think it's got something to do with this here…” He gestured to a set of buttons, “But without the correct combination, there's no way to unlock the pod.”

“So where do we find the code?” Ginji whispered.

“Let me.” The Weiss Assassin requested, pushing between the young adults to kneel at the base of the pod. After studying the contraption, Omi pulled out an electronic device from one of his inner pockets and hooked it to the computer console. Within a couple of minutes, the machine beeped and the pod hissed open, ejecting its occupant.

Ginji and Ban caught the long-haired teen and anxiously waited for the brunette to wake up.

“Here.” Schuldig offered, shrugging off his coat. “Wrap him up so he doesn't get shock.”

“Thank you.” The Electric Newtype nodded gratefully, accepting the garment and enfolding it around the battered scantly-clad body of their friend. “He'll be alright, won't he?”

“No doubt.” Ban nodded, gathering the young man in his arms. “We just need to get him to Gen.”

“I can't allow that.”

“Juubei!” Ginji growled, sparks emanating from his body. “YOU did this to Kazu!”

The blind Needle Welder snorted, “And what are you going to do about it?”

The Lightening Emperor flashed in Ginji's eyes as he lunged at his former friend-electricity lashing out. ­­­

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“Quatre should be down this way.” Trowa motioned the Preventer to follow him.

Wu Fei tightened his grip on his sword, “I don't like this. These bastards make Quatre out to be this lost treasure. If he were down here, wouldn't there be more guards?”

The banged teen nodded, checking the clip on the handgun the Chinese Preventer had given him. “I'm sure the Hunters will make an appearance before we get too far. In any case, I know that he has extra security measures beyond what Kazuki and Nagi. You'll need the Newtype that set them to release them.”

“And who would that be!?” The raven-haired teen demanded, fury sparking in his obsidian eyes.

“Obake.”

“How do we find him!?”

The taller teen shrugged, “He'll find us.”

“We don't have time to wait! We have to get Quatre out of here!” Wu Fei exclaimed as a lightening bolt hit the pod to his right, frying the circuitry and causing sparks to lash out, making adjacent stasis pods to malfunction and fail.

“Shit!” Trowa hissed, jumping back from the wall as burst into flames, disintegrating the helpless occupants of the glass coffins. “Quatre!” He called, frantically running down the next wall, searching for the blonde.

“He can't hear you!” The Preventer chastised, “But the Hunters certainly will if you don't shut up!”

“Quatre can't hear me, but Obake can and will.” The banged teen retorted, reaching out and pulling Chang out of the way of a series of wayward flying needles that dug into the control panel.

“Damn it, they're tearing this place apart.”

“Come on, this way.” Barton, urged turning around a corner.

“Do you have any idea where you're going!?”

Trowa didn't answer, but rather called out Quatre's name again.

“Are you trying to draw the Hunters attention!?” Wu Fei snarled, pushing the taller teen up against the nearest wall. “Do you have even the slightest idea of what they're capable of!? Of what they want with Winner?”

“Of course I do.” Emerald eyes narrowed dangerously, “I have been their prisoner for nearly three weeks.”

“Three weeks?” Chang frowned, looking confused. “It hasn't been three weeks, hell, it hasn't even been two. You were just in his apartment.”

“That was me.” Trowa nodded, seeming troubled as his hand went to his still healing bullet wound, “But at the same time, it wasn't me. I-I wasn't myself… I couldn't stop what was happening…”

“Quatre mentioned something about you being controlled.” Wu Fei acquiesced, releasing the taller pilot.

“Then you should realize I know very well what those bastards are like.” The banged teen stated coldly, sighing he brushed by the oriental and continuing to search down the next row.

“You two shouldn't be at odds.” A hollow voice cautioned, as a shadow of a child emerged from the solid wall. “It's what they want.”

“It's about time you showed yourself, damned ghost.” The emerald eyed teen glared. “Where is he?”

“The Heart?” Obake raised an intrigued eyebrow. “Do you plan on taking him away from here?”

“Yes. Now where is he?” Trowa repeated.

“Follow me.” The child ordered, turning down an isle and around a corner. “Here he is.”

Wu Fei swallowed as he reached out to wipe the condensation obscuring the glass away. Inside was Quatre's lifeless form. His pale skin had an ashen look to it, making the Chinese preventer question whether his partner was alive or not. “H-How do we get him out of there?”

“Allow me.” Obake suggested solemnly, reaching out to press his hand against a computer pad. “Only a Newtype can open it without being killed.”

The former Gundam Pilots waited anxiously as the translucent child put the machine through its shut down procedures. Behind them, they could still hear the battle raging between the Lightening Emperor and one of his former teammates. They were positive that the fight would be to the death.

Finally, the stasis pod hissed as it opened and ejected its occupant into the waiting arms of his banged lover. Trowa held the slight teen close while Wu Fei shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around the empath's frigid naked body.

“Let's get out of here.” Wu Fei encouraged. “He needs a doctor.”

“There's a side door.” Trowa nodded, lifting the blonde into a bridal carry. “Obake…”

“You know I cannot leave this place.” The child declined the unspoken offer. “Don't forget what I've told you. The Heart's life will depend on it. Now quickly, go.” ­­­

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“The escape was surprisingly and uncomfortably easy.” Wu Fei recalled. “We ended up rendezvousing with everyone at Gen's Pharmacy.”

“Gen and his granddaughter, Ren, helped fix all our injuries, except the ones that Nagi, Kazu, and I sustained.” Quatre continued quietly. “It was agreed that we would all spend the night there and head in our own separate ways the next morning… only…”

“When Fei and I woke up, Quatre was gone.” ­­­

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To Be Continued…