Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dead Ground ❯ Tea ( Chapter 5 )

Heero Yuy sat on his bed, typing a report that wouldn't be sent anytime soon. He stopped typing for a moment and looked blankly at the wall. A small frown appeared on his face, and he looked back to the laptop. Lifting a hand from the keyboard, he slid his fingers over the top of the flat-screen. The slim machine had been a faithful companion through many missions, the bringer of useful information, and a way to send and receive important messages. His laptop had also kept him company when he was bored out of his mind. The other pilots most likely would never have believed the library of games he had installed on the thing.

 

Most importantly, his laptop never made jokes at his expense. It never mocked him or laughed at him. It didn't judge him by what was on the outside. In fact, it didn't judge him at all. Not like people did. Of course, what could he expect? He never made a real effort to get to know anyone and no one really made the effort to get to know him. He didn't even want to know himself, so why should he think anyone else would want to?

 

Bringing his fingers back to the keyboard he resumed his typing. He had decided to prepare the report on a whim. Having something to send to Dr. J would be good, but it wasn't something that had to be done right now. He glanced out the window. He needed to figure something out. If he couldn't restore the link with the world outside of this forest, what would he do? He felt useless enough as it was, not having anything to do. He hated feeling useless, because when he felt useless he felt worthless. And if he wasn't worth anything, then what was the use of continuing on?

 

The others were right.

 

He did live for the mission.

 

He lived for the mission, because it was all he had.

 

It was the only thing that made him feel like he was worth something.

 

A small knock on his door brought him out of his dark thoughts. He looked at the small clock located on the bottom right corner of his computer screen. Who would be bothering him at this time of the night?

 

The knock came again.

 

After saving his work, then minimizing the window, Heero got up and walked to the door. Upon opening the door, his eyes rested on Duo, wrapped in a blanket, head down, fist raised and ready to knock again.

 

Realizing the door had been opened; Duo lifted his head and lowered his fist. He looked at Heero for a moment, then looked away quickly, looking for all the world, like a lost puppy.

 

“Uhhh...” Duo finally decided on something to say and brought his eyes back to Heero. “Sooo, you're still awake, that's great, so am I. Can I come in?” The last said with one of his trademark smiles.

 

Heero folded his arms, irritation showing on his face. Had Duo been able to read Heero's heart, he would have realized irritation was the last thing Heero was feeling. As it was however, the boy in the hallway could only read the expression on Heero's face.

 

“Come on Heero.” Duo whined. “I can't sleep. Let me hang out in here. Pleeeaaase.”

 

Heero stood in the doorway a moment longer, then turned around and went back to his bed. Duo let himself in and shut the door.

 

“Sooo. Whatcha doin'?”

 

“Typing a report.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Heero brought up the window again and began typing. After about five minutes he finished his report, saved again, and closed the word processor. Looking up, he realized Duo was in the same spot that he had been five minutes ago. Not only that, but he had remained quiet while Heero had finished. Heero was about to ask Duo if he was ill, but decided against it. Looking at the ceiling with a worried look on his face, Duo shifted his weight to his other foot. Heero looked up to see what Duo was staring at, but there was only the ceiling.

 

“Duo.”

 

Startled, Duo jumped a little and turned his attention to Heero.

 

“Uh, sorry. I was just thinking about the creaking and stuff.”

 

“What creaking?”

 

Duo's eyes widened. “You didn't hear it? Ten, maybe fifteen minutes ago there was some noises coming from up there.” The last words were punctuated by Duo pointing his finger up at the ceiling.

 

Heero just stared at him.

 

“You didn't hear anything?”

 

Heero shook his head slowly.

 

Duo looked at Heero for a minute then said, “It was pretty loud. I can't believe you didn't hear it.” He narrowed his eyes. “You have to be joking.”

 

Heero raised an eyebrow.

 

“Ooookay. Maybe not. But I still can't believe you didn't hear it.”

 

“This house is old Duo. It will creak. Deal with it.”

 

Duo looked up, then back at Heero.

 

Heero shook his head and began shutting down his laptop. Duo stuck out his lower lip, pouting. It wasn't just some random 'house creaking'. He knew that much for sure. Heero closed the laptop, walked over to the dresser and set the laptop down. Duo moved closer to Heero.

 

“Look. Heero. I know what I heard.” Duo lowered his voice to a whisper. “There is something up there.” Duo's eyes were wide and nervous.

 

Heero leaned in close to Duo. “Duo,” He whispered calmly. “There. Is. Nothing. Up. There.”

 

The two boys stood staring at each other for several minutes. Then Duo sighed and slumped his shoulders.

 

“Fine. Maybe you're right. But still...” Duo shook his head. “Can I stay in here, just for tonight? It might be nothing, but I'm pretty spooked and I just know that I won't be able to get to sleep if I'm alone.” The braided boy's eyes pleaded with the other boy to say yes.

 

Heero once again donned the irritated look. “And waste one of the few chances I have for a good night's sleep?” Heero said, hoping it didn't sound as hollow to Duo as it did to himself.

 

Duo frowned and made 'puppy dog' eyes at Heero. “Pleeeese.” He begged, and began to make small whimpering noises.

 

Heero narrowed his eyes. It was a habit he had developed to keep himself from showing what he truly felt when Duo did such things. Folding his arms, Heero said, forcing an irritated tone, “Fine, as long as you stop that annoying sound.”

 

Duo quit the charade immediately, and grinned. Turning his attention to the floor, he looked around. Finding an acceptable spot, he laid down, trying to get as comfortable as he could. Heero watched all this, then shook his head.

 

“Maxwell, take the bed.”

 

Duo lifted his head, a surprised look on his face. “What? Are you sure? Where will you sleep?” Duo hoped he wouldn't blush.

 

“I'll take the floor.”

 

Duo felt slightly disappointed. He was half hoping Heero would suggest sharing the bed.

 

“I don't want to kick you out of your bed. I don't mind sleeping here.”

 

Heero folded his arms. “Look. I'm doing you a favor by letting you stay in here when I don't have to. That means you sleep where I tell you to sleep, and I'm telling you to sleep on the bed.”

 

“But, why?”

 

“Because the bed will be warmer.”

 

Confused by that answer, Duo said, “What does that have to do with anything?”

 

Heero exhaled in exasperation. “Duo. I've shared enough rooms with you to know that you don't own any pajamas and you usually sleep in just your boxers, even if it's below zero outside. I happen to be smarter than you, so I brought something warm to sleep in.” He pulled on the sweats he was wearing as if to prove that point.

 

Duo pressed his lips together and glared at Heero. He hated it when Heero insulted him for no reason. Yes, he had slept in just his boxers when it was below zero outside one time, but that was it. He also knew it was stupid, but he didn't need to have his intelligence insulted. Why he was attracted to Heero was beyond him. You think the guy might be half way decent one minute, but realize your mistake in the next when he shows you just how much of a arrogant bastard he is.

 

“No thank-you, I'm just fine where I am.” Duo said tersely and rolled over on his side.

 

He heard Heero walk to the bed and pull the blanket roughly off the bed. A moment later it was in a pile on the floor next to him. Duo had only a second to process that thought when he felt Heero pick him up and through him bodily onto the bed.

 

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” Duo said angrily.

 

Instead of answering, Heero went about laying his blanket on the floor.

 

Fine, He thought, and turned around to face the wall. Forcefully, he slammed his body into the mattress and pulled his blanket tighter around himself. Let him sleep on the floor! Who gives a rat's ass anyway?

 

Duo could hear some faint rustling as Heero settled into his blanket, then silence. He decided he would stay awake until Heero was asleep and get even. Formulating what little prank he would play on his comrade, he lay there, waiting for Heero's breathing to even out. Soon, however, sleep overtook him. He never felt the weight of the second blanket that was laid on top of him, or the hand that hesitantly caressed the long braid that hung off the side of the bed.

----------------------------

 

The door opened and Wufei slipped out of his room. He silently padded across the floor, taking note of Trowa's sleeping form on the couch, and slipped into the kitchen. Filling a small pot with water, he set it on the stove to boil. It was still quite dark in the cabin, but the pre-dawn light lit the cabin enough for him to see without turning on a light.

 

Turning, he opened one of the cupboards and removed a cup. His nose wrinkled in disgust. He didn't like the dishes that were already here when they arrived. Even though he had washed them all, they still seemed dirty, greasy somehow. Everything seemed dirty, even though they had gone through and cleaned the place.

 

He leaned back against one of the counters while he waited for the water to boil. He folded his arms and idly looked around the kitchen. He didn't like being inside the old cabin. It didn't help that the morning hours were the worst. The air smelled old and damp, as if they were living in the middle of a swamp.

 

He frowned as he realized he was concentrating on how much he disliked the cabin, so he wouldn't think of her. Since yesterday, he had found that if he didn't force himself to think about something else, he would end up thinking about her. Why did he think he had heard her voice yesterday? He could have sworn that he had heard it.

 

He set the cup down on the counter, and stared at it. It's not like they had loved each other. Not really. How could they? It was an arranged marriage and they were both so young.

 

Only children.

 

They fought all the time. They had hated each other at first. They were so different. But they had done what was expected of them. Even when they consummated the marriage, it was done because it was expected of them. After that one time, she had refused to let him touch her in that way again. When the time came for them to have children, she would have, but not until then.

 

He frowned at the horrid, greasy cup.

 

Not that he had wanted to. Losing his virginity to someone he didn't love was bad enough, but losing it to someone who just laid there, judging every move he made, was excruciatingly painful. Even now, he felt inadequate and embarrassed by the things she had said.

 

He looked away from the cup to check the water.

 

Over time things had became easier with one another. They still didn't like each other much, but they didn't outright hate each other. She insulted him and he ignored her. Eventually however, little things started happening. She would say something or do something thoughtful. He would respond to her and even talk a bit with her.

 

But then, she had told him of her decision to fight.

 

He had forbid it...

 

He looked away from the water and bowed his head to look at the floor.

 

He had dreamed of her last night.

 

Dreamed of her alive. Dreamed of how she had scorned him for not fighting, for being a weak, cowardly scholar who didn't care about anyone but himself. She had told him that she would fight no matter what he did or said...

 

He had dreamed of her death. How he had held her in her last dying moments, and realized that she had been the honorable one, not he. She had been the strong one, not he. She shouldn't have had to fight. He should have fought. It should have been him who had died...

 

He had dreamed of how he had vowed to her that he would fight in her place. Fight to protect the weak...

 

He had dreamed of how she had died in his arms...

 

He cried when he awoke from the dream. It didn't matter that they had hated each other at first. It didn't matter that she had insulted him, ridiculed him, rejected him. She was his wife. His wife. Maybe someday they would have loved each other.

 

Maybe.

 

But now he would never know.

 

He silently willed the water to boil faster. He wanted to be done with what he was doing so he could go outside, concentrate on his forms, and try to forget.

 

Forget about the pain and the loneliness.

 

Reaching in his pocket he pulled out a cloth teabag. This particular blend of herbs was one that she had insisted on giving him when he had been ill. He brought the small bag close to his face and breathed in deeply. The smell reminded him of how tender she had been during those few days. It didn't really smell that great, and it tasted worse, but it did help.

 

Glancing over to the small pot, he realized the water was boiling. He breathed in the smell of the herbs one more time, a tear rolling down his cheek unnoticed, before he placed the teabag gently into the boiling water.

 

-------------------------

 

Wufei quietly opened Quatre's door and let himself into the room. The light from the continually brightening morning lit the small room. Wufei's eyebrows knit together in confusion. The small blanket Quatre had asked for yesterday, was now hanging over the mirror, hiding the reflective glass. He looked around. The empty milk jug was nowhere in sight. He looked over at the small form laying on the bed and realized Quatre was awake and staring at him.

 

He checked his emotions quickly. The closer one was to Quatre, the easier Quatre seemed to be able to pick up on emotions. Especially strong emotions.

 

Wufei walked over to the bed and knelt down, putting himself at eye level with the other boy. One look told the dark haired boy that Quatre hadn't slept. The blonde's eyes were red and there were dark circles under his eyes. It seemed to Wufei, that Quatre's eyes looked like the eyes of a scared animal, watchful and afraid.

 

“I brought you more tea.” Wufei said quietly.

 

Quatre looked at the cup, then back at Wufei. After a moment of indecision, Quatre sat up and took the cup. Wufei studied the other boy as he sipped the tea. The pilot of the gundam Sandrock looked incredibly pale, more so than usual. It almost seemed as if his skin were becoming the same color as the white t-shirt hanging off of the blond boy's thin shoulders.

 

“Wufei?” Quatre spoke quietly.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Do you think we're being cowards by hiding here?”

 

The question caught Wufei off guard and it took him a moment to answer.

 

“I don't know. Maybe.”

 

Quatre took another sip from the cup, then held it out for Wufei to take. Wufei shook his head. “Just keep it here. I will tell Trowa to replace this with some fresh tea in about an hour.” He stood and walked toward the door. “Drink as much as you can. It will help.” With that said he opened the door and slipped out of the room.

 

-----------------------------

 

As Duo slowly regained consciousness, he remembered where he was, and what had happened last night. He had meant to apologize to Heero about yesterday in the kitchen, not get in a fight with him. He yawned and opened his eyes. He was still laying on his side facing the wall. He snuggled into the blankets, enjoying the warmth. It wasn't too light in the room, which meant that it was still early. Maybe around six or seven in the morning. Way to early for him. He groaned, knowing there was no way he was going to get back to sleep.

 

As he turned onto his other side he saw that Heero wasn't in the room. No surprise there. Heero was an early riser. Taking note of the fact that the laptop was also missing from the room, Duo thought, He must be working on that little project of his already.

 

Duo looked at the blankets that covered his body. No wonder he was so warm. Heero's blanket was laid out on top of his own. Duo wondered when the other boy had done that. Suddenly he felt ashamed of the mean things he had been thinking about the other boy the night before.

 

Deciding to take the plunge, Duo quickly got out of bed. The air was cold on his exposed skin and he quickly stripped Heero's blanket off his own and wrapped his own blanket around himself. He looked at the bed and decided he would come back in to make it up after he was dressed.

 

He quickly left Heero's room and entered his. He threw his blanket on the bed, not bothering to make it up. He quickly dressed, then undid his braid. Standing in front of the mirror he quickly brushed and re-braided it.

 

He felt impatient and grouchy.

 

Coffee.

 

He needed his coffee.

 

Before the thought of coffee completely took over his thoughts, he remembered he was going to make Heero's bed right after he dressed. Sighing, he hurried out of the room.

 

His reflection, however, didn't leave as quickly. It stared, with a dark expression on its face, in the direction Duo had exited. Slowly it walked in the direction of the door's reflection. Had the room had another occupant at the time, they would have heard the sound of a door opening, then closing.