Timeless Obsession

Duo ran up the steps of the hospital's non-emergency entrance and made his way to the Visitor's check-in desk.  Quatre was barely catching up to him, having been left behind to finish parking and turning off the car.

"You really shouldn't jump out of a moving vehicle," scolded Quatre, catching his breath.

Duo waved  off the comment with both hands.  "Pfft. Like exploding bombs and bullets are less dangerous than that."

"Well, no, but what if I accidentally ran you over!! It's not like I shot at you during the wars."

"Dude! I apologized to Heero numerous times, give me a break!"

Quatre's face turned pink.  "That's not what I meant. I simply meant I never put you... oh, never mind!"

Duo grinned and handed Quatre his visitor's pass.  To his amusement, Quatre snatched the sticker from his hand and smacked it onto his chest with a huff.  Then he just glared at Duo daringly.

They turned towards the elevator, one grinning, the other pouting.  

A door marked "stairwell" burst outward, and a black form shot out from it, heading towards Quatre and Duo.

Both boys froze, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.

It was as if all time slowed down.  

Duo watched it as it moved towards him. It was like watching an ink blot suspended in mid air.  It bobbed about, trying to keep itself together, stretching through the air like it would in water dripped on paper. Then it seemed to stretch out even more, tendrils reaching out to touch his face.

It was cold, and he felt his skin go numb.  His body became paralyzed as the tendrils trailed downward, caressing him.  The frigid temperature went through his clothes, wrapping his entire body, reaching deep inside.  He felt himself falling, and could make out Quatre turning around.  

His name was said in such a slow way, and Quatre's voice sounded so deep.

Huh...I always thought the slow deep voices were only for movie effects.

He watched it as it turned and headed for Quatre, it's tendril becoming thin and pointy, aiming for the blond's forehead.

He felt himself hit the floor, then all time resumed back to normal.

Quatre let out a pained scream as he ,too, collapsed to the floor.

Duo gasped for breath, as his skin began to feel again, all his nerves tingling.  He felt his fingers twitch as the employee at the desk rushed over to them.  He could see a couple of the medical staff standing over them, asking questions too fast to answer.

"C-c-cold," was all he was able to say.

"Get a blanket!" shouted one of the doctors, as the receptionist ran down the hall.

Duo tried to look at Quatre. His friend was so pale, and his lips were blue.  But he was breathing.  Maybe being unconscious he got the better half of the deal.

It felt like needles were pricking at his skin!

A moment later, stretchers were laid down next to them, and they were transferred to them.  Duo's last hold on consciousness finally slipped away, and he fell into painless unconsciousness. X Shido watched as the crime scene technologists snapped pictures of the grisly scene.  Only officers and some of the  medical staff were on this floor, all patients having been evacuated to temporary rooms. One of the victims, a nurse, was lying on her back, face froze in terror. The front part of her scrubs had been ripped open, exposing one intact breast.  The other was hanging off her chest.  Blood covered the floor, all coming from the gaping wound that started at her throat, and ended near her hip.  The broken spinal cord just rested to one side. Some of the officers held handkerchiefs to block out the smell of excretement.  Shido was glad he didn't need to breathe all the time.  However, seeing all the intact organs slowly sliding past the pertruding ribs and out of the body was enough to almost give into the gagging reflex. Shido looked towards the bed where the patient Stevens was once breathing was in.  His face had a blissful look of sleep on it.  A drop of blood touched his cheeks. His stomach had been splayed open, and the contents half eaten. "What a shame that hospital food was the last thing he ate," commented Guni, her face twisted in disgust. "Guni," murmured Shido, trying not to look at the half digested food that was visible. A woman in a uniform stepped up to him. Shido turned to greet her.  "Sally..." A woman in a uniform nodded in return.  "Let's step out into the hall," she said. Shido moved out of the room, allowing the police to continue taking pictures of the grisly scene. "Have you any reliable witnesses?" Shido asked. Sally remained silent for a moment.  "Not exactly," she said.  "The only reason the Preventers are  finally getting involved in this is that two of our agents were sort of attacked right at the front receptions desk.  They're both unconscious right now.  They're the only ones who saw the thing head on." Shido stared at her in surprise.  "They're both alive?" he asked. Sally nodded.  "If you'll follow me."  She turned and headed towards the elevator. "One would think that a cannibalistic half breed would just as well kill whoever is in their way," Shido heard Guni say. "One would think," Shido repeated, unsure if the victims staying alive was a blessing or not. X Shit.... I hurt. "They're kids!!" Too loud! "These kids helped create peace," retorted a familiar voice, slightly lower than the first. Duo let out a groan. "Duo?" he heard a woman ask. Sally... "Are you okay?" He tried to speak, but nothing came out.  Instead, he let out a small but pain-filled moan. "Open your eyes, sweetie." Oh, good God, she called me 'sweetie.' I must be dying. Duo tried to open his eyes.  At first, he could see nothing--just two big blurs hovering over him. Then they cleared up. He recognized one of them. "Hey, Po," he murmured, figuring it was easier to mutter out two syllables, rather than three.  Besides, one didn't need the tongue to make the "Po" sound. He focused on the other person.  This one was a stranger.   "Love the hair," he said. The man looked slightly amused.  "Likewise," he said. Duo felt his eyes closing again, sending him into oblivion. The memory of a loud scream jolted him back awake.  "Q?" he croaked out, the desperation still clear in his voice. "He's in the next bed over.  He still hasn't woken up, but all vitals are showing he's healthy." The man stepped closer to Duo.  "The name's Shido.  I just need to know a few things." Duo nodded.  "Um, remote?" "What?" Sally searched the side of Duo's bed and pulled out a small box with a wire.  She handed it to Duo. Duo pushed a button, and the bed moved so that he was in sitting position.   "Sit down, man.  Don't you know it's rude to make a person stare up at you?" he said, a small and wary grin on his face. Sally chuckled as Shido pulled up a chair. "The boy certainly has spunk," said Guni. Shido refrained from responding, knowing that the kid probably hadn't heard her, but would hear him if he responded. Duo, on the other hand, swore he heard someone say something.  Must be from the other room. "Mr. Maxwell," said Shido. "Duo," responded the young man, making a face. "Duo, do you recall anything that happened by the front desk?" Duo  closed his eyes.  "Something black...It moved like ooze, but it was nothing but air.  And cold.  Real cold.  It felt like someone was touching me with a huge block of ice." A shuddering gasp interrupted them. Turning around, they spotted Quatre sitting up straight, eyes wide in panicked and wild--Zero system overdrive, as Duo secretly referred it to. "Duo!" he exclaimed. "Right here," Duo responded, soothingly, his voice clearing up with each word spoken.  "And not going anywhere anytime soon." He turned to Sally.  "You'd think with all the technology we have, they'd come up with something better than these gowns that expose our asses to the world. And was taking our clothes really necessary?" Quatre gave a shaky grin.  If Duo was making jokes, then maybe things weren't that bad.  He looked okay. Then he noticed Sally and Shido. There was a strange vibe coming from the man. . . but it seemed harmless so far.  And since he was with Sally... the guy couldn't be that bad. X Quatre sighed deeply as he stared at his hands. He was alone with Shido, having requested it after realizing what the man wanted to know. "I-it was cold," he said softly.  "B-but, that wasn't the only thing I picked up.  I...it... I could f-feel anger...and...l-l-l," the boy started to stammer, flushing a deep red.  "Lust," he finally forced out.  "I...I could feel it's desire of D-duo.  Of n-needing him and ... uh... claiming him." God, if Duo ever found out what he had felt, even if it wasn't his own feelings, he'd just die of shame.  It wasn't just claiming him... he was bombarded with the image of completely owning a helpless and submissive Duo.  He shook his head as he added the final sensation he experienced. "And...it's hunger for b-blood." Shido nodded, watching the boy before him turning pale.  "Are you two good friends?" he asked, trying to distract the blonde. Quatre smiled softly.  "Yes. He sort of grounds us all." "Us?" "There's five in all.  We're a pretty close knit group." "The thing that attacked you... have you ever encountered anything like that?" Quatre scowled.  "No. And I pray to Allah that I'll never feel or see that thing again!" X Hospitals sucked. They just did.  Everything was so...sterile. Even Quatre looked unhappy. "I'm fine!" Duo finally snapped as a nurse came in to poke him some more. The nurse just threw up his hands in surrender and walked out the door. "Duo," Quatre gently admonished. "I want out," Duo responded.  "Only reason they're keeping us is 'cause we have our insurance through the Preventers.  And because perverts like that guy just want to see our privates.  Why couldn't we have had a girl nurse?  I wouldn't have minded then." Duo waggled his eyebrows and Quatre felt himself flush. Another person walked in.  Duo whirled his head around, ready to bite off the head of the next unfortunate guest. His scathing comment was cut short when he saw who the visitor was. "Heero!" Duo gave a blinding smile. "Man, am I ever glad to see you!" "Hn. I have a change of clothes for the both of you." Heero dropped a small black bag on the floor.  "Lady Une is signing you out." "Yes!" Duo exclaimed, leaping out of the bed and reaching down  to grab the bag.  He heard a choking sound coming from Quatre. He turned around in time to see Quatre closing his eyes and turning away, cheeks blazing red, hand over his mouth, the other arm stretched out towards him, hand up in a 'stop' position. That's when a draft of cold air reminded him of the other reason he hated hospitals, and a whistle from out in the hall didn't help. Duo turned back around towards Heero, one hand holding the back of his gown closed. His eyes were wide and he knew he was blushing, too. Heero had turned his face away, his cheeks tinted pink, gaze averted to the wall. Duo wished he could just die. X Heero patiently waited outside of the hospital room. Duo and Quatre were getting ready to leave this place. When he had first heard that they were in the hospital, he had felt something. . . something stronger than when Duo had told him that Relena was on board the Libra. He promptly asked the status of their health, then went to collect  a change of clothes for each of them when informed that the matter didn't seem serious...just unexpected. Of course, seeing Duo's bare back-side was unexpected, too. Heero tried to fight back the blush that threatened to reappear.  For once, it was hard trying to control his body temperature and keeping his heart rhythm in check.  It was never this difficult during the war.   The door opened.  Quatre stepped out first, followed by Duo. Duo, upon seeing him, began to turn red and did a 180, right back into the room. Quatre laughed while Heero had to redouble his efforts not to blush. A moment later, Duo came back out, a smile on his face, but his eyes looking past both Heero and Quatre.  "All righty then, let's get out of this hell hole!" Quatre nodded.   "Shit! We forgot about Stevens!" Duo turned and ran towards the nearest desk. Quatre and Heero trailed after him. By the time Heero arrived at the desk, he saw Duo being pulled aside by some man.  He immediately tensed up. "Oh, Shido's still here," he heard Quatre say, which made him relax slightly.  "I wonder why." A moment later, Sally Po came into view, and said something to Duo. They watched as Duo stepped back, shaking his head, his face in apparent shock. "I'm sorry," they heard Sally say. Duo looked at the floor, shoulders slumping. Quatre and Heero came up behind him. "Duo?" Quatre called out. "He's dead," Duo said, lifelessly.  "That thing that attacked us had already killed him."  Duo turned around, a sickly smile on his face, eyes bright from unshed tears.  "He was going to go home next week.  His sister was going to get married, and he was looking forward to it." The smiled faded and he looked away, composure failing him. Quatre and Heero looked at each other, while the man Shido, and Sally, looked on in sympathy. During the missions, it was hard enough trying not to get attached because of the fear of compromising situations.  But at school, where assignments weren't life threatening. . . it was easy to fall into the trap of  caring for others outside the group. Duo had apparently become friends with Stevens. "Duo," said Heero, softly. Duo's breath hitched as one tear began to roll down his cheek.  "The war's over. . . people shouldn't be dying from violence..." An irrational thought. . . but to those who grieve, it's those irrational thoughts that keep them sane. Heero gave in to the feeling he was fighting.  He reached towards Duo and pulled him into an embrace. Duo clutched at him and began to cry softly.  "It's not fair," he kept saying.  "They always leave me. . ." Quatre shed some silent tears as well as he too embraced Duo from behind. Shido watched with a sad expression as the three boys sought solace in each other. Sally turned away.  "He's right though.  It's not fair.  Their childhood was stolen from them, and it seems like life is against them finding happiness." She turned to look at Shido, spotting a little green face from under his hair.  "And that's what can put them in danger, making them the perfect targets for nightbreed," said Guni. Sally nodded. X Clarence stared at the mirror before him, running his hand through his hair.   Cold blue eyes stared back. A moment later, he heard a rush of air. "You were gone long," he said. "Just feeding. . . tying up loose ends," whispered a voice.  "Checking out the potential merchandise." Clarence froze. "He's got lots of friends. . . handsome friends. . . but he only needs one, right?" "Right." "And you want to be that friend. . ." "Yes." "You should be careful. . . his friends will always pose a threat.  Let me have full control just for a bit. . . I can help. . ." Clarence snorted. "Not likely.  I summoned you to do what I want you to do . . . not allow you to do what you want with me." "But I can help more if you let me take control. . ." the voice whispered back. Clarence turned to face the transparent form behind him, only to be stunned into silence as he found himself looking down at a ghostly image of Duo. "Don't you want him?" said the voice, as the ghostly Duo looked up at him, eyes watching him in adoration. "Don't you want him to want you?" Hands reached up to run across his chest, and down his stomach, resting right above his crotch. "It would feel good if you can have him all to yourself. . ." Duo dropped to his knees, a small blush gracing his cheeks as he licked his lips nervously. Clarence let out a groan.  If only it were real. Duo rubbed his face into his crotch, and it was a cold sensation he was feeling. . . but if it were the real Duo. . . it would be hot. Clarence gasped for breath, wishing he had the real Duo in his hands now. He watched as the ghost Duo began to stand back and move towards the bed, a teasing grin on his face as he slowly took off his shirt and began to touch himself. Clarence moved forward. "I can help you ensnare him," the voice continued to whisper.  "But I can't do it in this form.  If you really want to run your hands all over him. . ." Ghost Duo was now sprawled out in his bed, hand tugging at his pant's button.  "You need to let me be you.  Then, your wish will be granted.  You'll have your one and only. . . and I'll make sure he never leaves your side." Duo faded away, and Clarence felt a stab of pain in his heart. "Yes," he hissed.  "I want him.  Grant me that wish!" Clarence whirled around to face the mirror once more. He watched as his eyes began to glow, and for a moment, his features became sharper.  He began to giggle.   Duo will be mine. . . one way or  another. . . tbc   A/N: Still plodding along.  Quick things that slow me down.  Working on Never Meant to Be, a Disney Gargoyle fan fic which really has my priority in terms of working on it and length.  Next is my online comic found at http://fadinginnocence.keenspace.com .  Gory and het and slash and comedy and drama, you name it, it should be there in one form or another.  For those that are reading this and haven't read my other GW fic, Living Hell, take the time to read that and let me know what you think.  I'm toying with the idea of making a manga variation of that one, see if I can do spooky, not just gory.  Any personal messages can be sent to my email, or you can check out my Live Journal, link found at the bottom of my online comic book page.