Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dead Ground ❯ Ceramic ( Chapter 10 )

Duo stood once again near the window. He leaned on the window sill as he watched Heero sleep. The Japanese boy didn't give anymore information regarding who or what might be in the attic. From the little Heero said, it sounded as if there were a whole host of people up there.

 

Duo mulled Heero's words over in his mind. “They're up there! Them... all of them.” Duo sighed. All of them, all of them... all of who? He thought.

 

Heero calmed when Duo promised to stay with him, and Duo had kept his promise. Here he was, watching over the boy who slept a drug induced sleep. Well, promise kept. He thought. He had stayed, but he needed to get up there and check the attic before it got dark. Duo walked away from the window and checked Heero's sleeping form. He'd have to be quick. Duo didn't want Heero waking up with no one there.

 

Silently, Duo slipped out the door. As the braided boy walked down the stairs he noticed how quiet the cabin was. The sound of his footsteps on the wooden floor seemed very loud to his ears, and the air seemed dusty in the late afternoon light. The main floor of the cabin was much cooler with the coming storm then the upstairs. Duo shivered slightly and wrapped his arms around himself. Duo walked toward Wufei's room and stopped.

 

Darkness seemed to be coming out of the room the way light would. Duo swallowed. He didn't know what to make of the bazaar phenomenon. Duo had to stare for a few minutes to let the reverse effect register in his brain. Cautiously the American walked toward the room then stopped before letting the darkness touch him. Duo tensed as he slowly reached his hand toward the darkness, as if the shadow were poisonous. The area seemed to swallow his hand and the further he reached in, the more difficult it became to see his his hand.

 

Duo peered in and saw two forms in the darkness. One was laying on the bed and the other was sitting on the floor, back to the bed, legs outstretched. He guessed the one on the bed was Wufei and, since the figure on the floor had killer bangs, the other one was Trowa.

 

Duo chewed on the inside of his cheek. He really didn't want to talk to Trowa again, but he needed someone to cover his back. He would ask Wufei, but he had a feeling the Chinese boy might not be up for the job.

 

“Trowa.” Duo whispered. Not wanting to walk into the dark abyss that was now Wufei's room.

 

No response.

 

“Trowa!” Duo hissed a little louder.

 

Again, no response.

 

Duo sighed and walked into the dark pillar. Reaching into the room, he felt around for the light switch intending to turn on the light. However, finding the light switch didn't do him any good when he realized it was already on.

 

Cursing under his breath, Duo inched into the room. The darkness was heavy and oppressive and the usually light hearted boy began to feel drained and depressed. Kneeling beside Trowa, Duo gently shook his shoulder and whispered for the tall boy to wake up.

 

Nothing.

 

Duo checked the tall boy's breathing just to make sure Trowa hadn't died on him or something. Not that Duo really thought Trowa had died but...

 

Better to be safe then sorry.

 

Duo exhaled slowly and slumped his shoulders. He really didn't want to go into the attic alone, but he would if he had to. Lightning flashed outside, but with the window as dingy as it was, very little of the bright bolt lit the small room. Duo glanced at the window and waited for the thunder.

 

One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand... The boy chanted in his head. He made it to eight one thousand before the thunder came.

 

Pressing his lips together, Duo brought his attention back to the matter at hand and thought of his options. Trowa was not a backup option, being out cold. The American looked over to Wufei's, obviously, sleeping form. The black haired boy was also not an option. Heero... also not an option. All three asleep.

 

Duo's eyes slid to one of Wufei's walls.

 

Quatre...

 

Duo stood and left the room as quietly as he could. Finding himself at the blonde boy's door, Duo paused.

 

It's a long shot, but I guess ya never know unless ya check. Duo thought.

 

Duo decided not to knock. He knew Quatre had pretended to be asleep earlier and Duo had decided, at the time, to let it be. This time though he didn't want to give the blonde any opportunity to do the same thing.

 

Opening the door, Duo stuck his head inside the room. Quatre was standing near the window, gazing out at something. At the creaking of the door opening, Quatre spun around quickly with a scared look on his face.

 

“It's just me Quatre.” Duo said quickly. This statement, however, didn't seem to help the Arabian boy feel at peace. Quatre's eyes narrowed slightly and his stance became tense and defensive. Duo moved into the room and shut the door behind him. “How are you feeling?” The braided boy asked.

 

The pale boy only shrugged and watched Duo warily. Duo felt nervous. There was something in Quatre's eyes that was... off... somehow.

 

“So... Whatcha lookin at?” Duo said, trying to feel the uncomfortable silence with small talk.

 

“Them.”

 

Duo tensed as Heero's words came back to him once more. Them... all of them. The American waited for Quatre to elaborate, and when he didn't, Duo asked, “Them who?”

 

Quatre stared at Duo for almost a minute before he said, “Come see.”

 

As Duo walked closer he got a better look at the blonde boy. Quatre's eyes were bloodshot and the skin around his eyes was dry and pinkish-red. Dark circles told of how little the boy had slept. The blonde boy also looked pale and weak. Duo looked out the window and saw sand, rocks and in the distance, the forest.

 

Nothing else.

 

Thinking he must have missed something, Duo searched the landscape again. With a confused look on his face, Duo turned to Quatre and said, “What am I looking for?”

 

“Them.”

 

Scrunching his eyebrows together even more, Duo looked out the window again. Sand. Rocks. Distant forest.

 

Duo sighed in defeat and looked back at Quatre. “I don't see anyone.”

 

“They're there.”

 

“Who?”

 

“Trowa and Wufei.”

 

Duo whipped his head around and stared out the window. After a moment of searching he turned back to Quatre. “I hate to tell you this, but... Trowa and Wufei are in Wufei's room.”

 

Quatre shrugged. “Maybe.”

 

Duo looked closer at the small blonde. Maybe? What kind of an answer is that? The American opened his mouth, then closed it again.

 

Quatre looked into Duo's eyes. “Do you think I'm crazy?”

 

Duo looked away and sighed. He didn't want to go down this train of thought. Not right now. Not today.

 

Deciding to change the subject, Duo said, “I'm going to go up to the attic to check for...” Duo waved his hand in the air

 

“...what scared Heero.” Quatre finished for Duo.

 

“Yeah. I kinda think I should have some backup when I go up there. I was gonna ask Trowa, but he's...” Duo stopped and looked at Quatre. The braided boy's gaze went to the window then back to Quatre.

 

“...asleep.” Quatre again finished Duo's sentence.

 

Duo brought a hand to his head. He was getting a major headache. “Uh... Yeah... So I was thinking if you were feeling any better maybe you could be my backup.”

 

“You don't need backup.”

 

Duo dropped the hand he had been using to massage his temple. “What do you mean, 'I don't need backup'? You saw how Heero was, and you haven't even seen the gashes on Heero's side...”

 

Quatre shook his head. “It doesn't matter.”

 

“What doesn't matter?”

 

“Where you go.”

 

Duo rubbed his eyes. “Do you think you can be any more vague?”

 

“Yes.”

 

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Trowa walked toward the cabin for what seemed like hours, although he knew in the back of his mind that it had only been minutes. Thunder rumbled above him and Trowa looked up to see a clear sky. Dark clouds were on the way but they hadn't arrived yet.

 

Strange...

 

He turned his gaze back to the cabin and his eyes opened in surprise. Just a few feet away from where Trowa stood, someone was kneeling on the ground. Trowa was sure he knew who it was, but then he wasn't sure. The brunette walked cautiously forward until he stood over the kneeling boy. The voice inside his head that had been insisting he needed Quatre, now decided Trowa also knew this boy. He thought hard but was unable to retrieve the other boy's name from his memory. All he knew was that he knew this boy and he didn't want any harm to come to him.

 

One of the five... His mind whispered to him.

 

Trowa stopped his mind searching as the kneeling boy slowly stood. The tall boy expected, wanted, the dark haired boy to turn around, but he didn't.

 

“Wufei.” Trowa said without thinking. As soon as the name fell from his lips, Trowa knew it belonged to the boy in front of him.

 

Instead of turning toward Trowa, the Chinese boy started walking forward, away from Trowa. The tall boy sighed and looked at the ground. His eyes narrowed in worry as he saw the dirt red with blood. Even though Trowa could only vaguely think he knew this person, he was concerned with how the other boy was acting, and of course the blood on the ground merited some worry as well.

 

Thinking to help, Trowa walked swiftly after the unsteady boy. The brunette put a hand on the Chinese boy's shoulder and shook him gently. The moment Trowa's hand connected with the other boy, memories washed through his mind, and left just as quickly.

 

“Wufei!” Trowa said in urgent concern.

 

The dark haired boy seemed not to hear Trowa and continued his slow pace. In desperation Trowa grabbed both of Wufei's shoulders and forcefully turned him around. Trowa flinched at the look in Wufei's eyes. The Chinese boy's gaze was unfocused and seemed almost dead. Trowa shivered as he experienced the feeling that this all seemed so... familiar in a way.

 

He shook Wufei again, this time a little harder, and Wufei blinked slowly and moved his gaze lazily over Trowa's face.

 

“Wufei?!” Trowa said, unable to keep the worry out of his voice.

 

Wufei looked slowly looked around then said in a slurred tone, “How did I get here?”

 

Trowa opened his mouth to speak when he heard a scream.

 

Quatre?!

 

Trowa whipped his head around...

 

...only to find himself sitting on the floor staring at a wall.

 

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

 

Duo moved his fingers and peered at the blonde boy.

 

Yes?! What the hell did he mean by that?

 

Duo's head was throbbing and he decided to turn the conversation away from the attic and Quatre's cryptic words for a few minutes. Glancing over to the dresser, Duo spied the pancake he had brought in for the other boy earlier.

 

The American dropped his hand. “Dude. Quatre. You have to eat something.”

 

Ignoring Quatre's narrowing eyes, Duo walked over to the dresser and picked up the plate.

 

“I'm not hungry. Besides, I had some of Wufei's...”

 

“Nu uh. Wufei's `Toxic Smell from Hell' doesn't count.” Duo interrupted. “Sustenance man! Look at you! You're totally wasting away.” Duo held the plate out to the small blonde boy. “Eat.” Duo commanded.

 

Quatre's eyes widened as he stared at the plate. Duo rolled his eyes and stepped closer to the other boy. “It's not going to kill you.”

 

The Arabian flinched at Duo's words and retreated away from the advancing American. Quatre's back met the wall. Duo's eyebrows knit together.

 

What's wrong with you Quatre? Duo thought desperately.

 

“It's only a pancake Quatre.” Duo was half begging the blonde to eat. He just wanted someone to do something normal! Trying one last time, Duo, now quite close to the other boy, thrust the plate out to Quatre.

 

Suddenly, Quatre screamed and pushed the plate away sending it flying from Duo's hands and to the wall where the ceramic dish shattered. Duo stood paralyzed with shock at the unusual show of aggression from his comrade. Quatre took advantage of this and rushed to the broken ceramic and found a large sharp piece.

 

“Stay away.” Quatre said in a soft warning tone.

 

Duo could see the blonde shaking and felt a pain in his chest. Something was obviously wrong with the other boy, and he had a feeling it had to do with Quatre's 'sickness'.

 

Why didn't we see it before? How could we be so blind? Duo thought.

 

Inching closer to Quatre, Duo stretched out his hand. “Quatre.” The braided boy whispered softly.

 

“Stay away” Quatre repeated.

 

The blonde boy was obviously scared and Duo had no idea why.

 

“What's wrong Quatre?” Duo asked gently.

 

The other boy swiped at him with the broken shard, but Duo dodged the attack easily.

 

“Quatre?” Duo tried to put all the caring feeling he could into talking to the other boy.

 

The Arabian's face contorted into a look of pure pain, and Duo could see Quatre was near tears. Duo stepped forward and removed the ceramic from Quatre's hand. The other boy gave it up easily, though Duo didn't know if this was because Quatre was no longer angry at him or if the blonde was just too weak to continue.

 

Duo grabbed the exhausted looking Quatre by the arm and pulled him close. The blonde boy resisted a little, but he was too frail to break away. Quatre pulled his arms up between himself and Duo, as if the blonde believed he could still protect himself from the braided boy, when Duo wrapped his arms around the blonde boy. Quatre's fists pressed hard against Duo's cross, digging it painfully into the American's chest.

 

“Quatre... what's wrong. Please...” Duo could tell that Quatre was trying hard not to cry. “Quatre?”

 

“Trowa...” The blonde boy whispered the name with a depth of agony Duo had never heard before. Suddenly Duo felt angry with the tall boy all over again.

 

“What did that bastard do to you?” Duo asked, trying hard to keep his anger in check.

 

“Nothing!” Quatre moaned, and Duo could feel the other boy grab a hold of his shirt and the cross underneath causing the chain to pull against Duo's neck. “He didn't do anything... not really... and now... it's all my fault... now he hates me... I'm sure of it! But I can't help it... I don't know... I just don't understand... I'm so sca...

 

Quatre stopped in mid-sentence as a squeaking sound alerted both the boys to the bedroom door being opened. Duo and Quatre both turned their heads and saw Trowa standing in the doorway.