Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Eyes Cold As Death ❯ Nine ( Chapter 9 )

Eyes Cold As Death

Chapter Nine -- Brothers

The front door opened easily to the sound of screaming. A blur raced out from the bedroom and flung itself at Duo, hands tangling in his shirt while a warm, trembling body pressed against his back.

"Point that fucking needle at someone else! I won't have it in me!" A snarl practically filled the apartment and Sally emerged from the bedroom.

"Its nothing bad, Quatre. It's an antibiotic."

"I don't care! I won't let you inject me with poison!" Duo tried to turn his head to look at Quatre huddling against him.

"Hey, buddy, its okay! Sally doesn't mean any harm." Duo turned in Quatre's death grip. Quatre moved with him. Duo shrugged, looking at Heero for some sort of answer. Heero, of course, just folded his arms and grunted. "Some conversationalist, huh?" Duo asked, well no one, but still voiced. Trowa soon made his appearance.

"Quatre," Trowa sighed, "Sally's not going to hurt you. It will help you, I promise." An arm slipped under Duo's arm, pointing solidly at Trowa.

"I don't care! It's a fucking needle, that in of itself makes it evil!"

"Evil? I like this." Duo chuckled, winking at Sally. "Now I don't have to have shots any more if they're evil." Heero snorted from his perch on the wall. "I wasn't addressing you, last I checked I was still upset at you for using me for as a hurdle." Duo pointed at Heero.

"I didn't spend three years getting the shit beat out of me so I could have you give me that shit at first sight!" Duo winced at Quatre's words; he knew exactly what Quatre had been through. Fucked up gang members and desperate drug dealers wanted you to try their shit so you'd get hooked and buy. It was their way of advertisement. Unfortunately, if you refused, you'd end up in a hospital or worse. He turned his eyes to Sally who was trying to approach; hopefully she'd forgive him.

"Sally, don't. He doesn't need it." Sally's eyes narrowed.

"Of course he does! These antibiotics will prevent infection in his wounds." Duo shook his head, pointedly avoiding Trowa's glare.

"He doesn't need it and that's final." Duo's voice held no room for argument, though he was sure everyone would still try. He could feel Quatre move, probably peeking out from behind him.

"Finally! Someone here who has some reason!" Quatre called. Duo noticed Trowa's face twist in an inexplicable manner. This was probably not going to be good. He looked at Heero who was watching the whole thing in confusion.

"Quatre," Trowa began, "You should take the medicine." Duo was shaking his head furiously at Trowa, and he could feel the movements echoed behind his back.

"No fucking way is she going to touch me with that thing! Are you going to ask me to suck your dick next?" Duo closed his eyes. It was obvious that Quatre had been used.

"You can't remember, can you?" He whispered. He could see Trowa shake his head, and they made eye contact, giving weight to the fact that Trowa had heard him. There were tears rolling down Trowa's face, most likely from Quatre's fear driven words. This was going to end. He took a deep breath, preparing to shout -- something he did very rarely, but he knew exactly what Quatre was going through.

"Enough!" Everyone turned to him in surprise. He continued in his normal voice. "Quatre does not need the medicine. Period. It will end up doing him more harm than good, and I don't really think that's its worth it. If you want to give him that injection, Sally, you'll have to go through me." He could tell that Sally wasn't happy, but she turned to place the needle down.

"You will be explaining this, because I don't understand, but I'll concede for now." Duo breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Trowa who was just staring at Quatre.

"Now," Duo began, "What happened?" He turned to face Quatre whom, to his credit, or maybe to Duo's actions, didn't back away. "What's up with you, little buddy?" Quatre drew himself up, eyes flashing.

"Who the fuck are you calling little? Trust me," Quatre brought his fists up, ready for a fight, "I can throw these things." Duo took a sincere step back, noticing that even Heero's eyes widened slightly.

"Shit, I believe you. I've been there myself." Quatre stretched a hand out timidly, eyes drifting to where Trowa leaned against the wall. Duo followed Quatre's glance. "Trowa's a decent guy." He got a smile.

"I know." Duo wasn't sure if anyone else heard the admission, since it was so soft. Duo turned his gaze back to Quatre.

"Look, I know this bar," Duo shrugged knowing that Heero would kill him later, but it seemed the only way to get Quatre to open up, "I could buy us drinks, and we could compare stories. So? Whatch'a think?" Quatre's eyes darted around the room before nodding. He reached over his shoulder and pulled a thick braid in front of him and wrapped his hands around it. Duo swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. It was all too familiar, as if he were watching a movie about himself. He grinned, though, seeking out the bright side of things like Quatre had told him. He pulled his own braid over his shoulder.

"Mine's longer than yours." Quatre relaxed and grinned in return.

"You've survived much." Duo nodded, slowly placing a hand on Quatre's shoulder, feeling the muscles tense up before slowly relaxing. Quatre didn't pull away.

"Yeah. I have." Duo grinned. "Are you ready? I'll drink you under the table." Trowa coughed, Heero rolled his eyes and Quatre's mouth spread into an evil grin.

"I think not, my friend." Friend! YES! Duo cheered inside, Quatre wasn't going to kill him today.

"Well, we'll see." Duo wrapped his arm around Quatre's shoulders, leaning in so he could whisper to Quatre without the others hearing. "I'll protect you. You'll never have to worry about going through any of that again." Quatre looked at him, his face was clear.

"Wufei called me his brother, and promised the same thing." Duo smiled; go Wufei.

"I've always thought of you as my brother, I think we'll be closer now." He shrugged. "If you want to, anyway." Quatre nodded, eyes never leaving Duo's face.

"Thank you brother." Duo felt tears stinging the back of his eyes. He could tell that the laws of the streets hadn't changed. He and Quatre, and Wufei unknowingly, had just made an unbreakable pact. It was like a blood oath, only much, much more serious. If either of them broke their pact, the other two would kill him. Bonding to others on the streets was dangerous, so when this pact was made, and brothers and sisters were created, they watched your back and you watched theirs. If the pact was broken, it was worse than being a traitor. It was committing murder. Duo rubbed his hand over his face and began steering Quatre to the door. Fortunately, Quatre was already dressed so they could just go.

"Let's go, I need a fucking drink." Quatre nodded his agreement.

Moments later they were all walking toward the closest bar, minus Sally who had said she was to meet up with Wufei. Duo was positive they were going to fuck like bunnies, but he was able to restrain himself from making a rude comment, simply because Wufei was not there. He walked in front with his arm slung around Quatre's shoulders.

He could hear Heero and Trowa making comments to each other behind him, but he deigned not to ask, seeing as it was probably about Quatre. So, instead, he busied himself with instructing Quatre into the proper way to take a shot. Quatre just stared at him the entire way as though he was speaking Iblichinata, whatever the fuck that was. He steered Quatre into the establishment and up to the polished bar.

"I need a Fat Tire for him," he pointed at Heero, "a glass of water for him," Trowa, "and two, um, two shots of your best Scotch." The bartender began getting the drinks as Trowa chuckled, shaking his head.

"I'll have a Smirnoff Ice, please." The bartender nodded his head at Trowa's editing of the order, and soon all of the drinks were waiting on the bar.

"Welcome back, Quat." He and Quatre slammed back their shots. He placed his shot glass on the bar and noticed that Quatre's was already turned over, and Quatre's fingers were gently drumming on the bar. He whistled appreciatively. "I see a challenge?"

"Of course."

"Tequila?"

"Sure."

"Bartender."

"Got it. I'll bring the bottle over to one of the tables."

"Cool." Duo settled himself into one of the chairs as Quatre slid in across from him. Heero and Trowa took their seats, content just to watch.

"Am I going to have to drag you home, Duo?" Duo grinned.

"Probably, Heero." Heero stayed silent. Trowa just took a large gulp of his drink before rubbing his face with his free hand. Quatre watched Trowa with rapt attention. The bartender placed ten shot glasses on the table and a bottle of Tequila -- minus the worm. If there was anything Duo hated about drinking Tequila, it was the worm.

"Five shots each. That should be a good start. What do you think?" Quatre nodded in agreement. Heero and Trowa both rolled their eyes. Duo began pouring the alcohol as Quatre set up the glasses. Once everything was in place Duo wrapped his fingers around his first shot glass while watching Quatre do the same. "Heero? Can you count us off?" Heero groaned.

"There's no way I can talk you out of this, is there?" Duo grinned widely and shook his head proudly.

"Nope!" Heero passed a hand over his face.

"Fine. On three. One. Two. Three." As soon as the words were out of Heero's mouth, Duo and Quatre were slamming their glasses back. Rapid thumps echoed through the bar as the drained glasses were slammed upside down on the table. Trowa's mouth hung open. Heero watched his drink shake from the vibrations.

"Done. You lose." Quatre's voice rang out. Duo growled as he set his last glass down, not turning it over because he had lost.

"Fuck." Trowa chuckled in the background. "Fine. We go again."

"No problem." Duo turned to Trowa as the shots were being poured.

"You count us off this time?" Heero snorted as Trowa began the count. Three rounds later, Quatre was the undisputed winner and Duo was fucking plowed.

He hung onto Quatre for dear life because the ground didn't want to stay still. It kept moving from side to side or up and down or sometimes in circles that left Duo gripping his head and moaning in pain. He could vaguely hear Heero offering to take him off of Quatre's hands. Quatre refused, saying that he was his brother and therefore his responsibility.

"Quatre, you're drunk too. Let Heero take Duo home and you can head straight home. Duo will be in good hands." That was Trowa's voice. God, how his head pounded, and he was still drunk. Oh shit -- he was gonna puke.

"Quat . . . " Quatre seemed to get the hint because the next thing he knew, he was being held over the curb with his hair gently swept out of the way. He purged himself until his stomach was empty, and then he purged some more.

"Trowa, he's my brother. I helped get him drunk; I can at least get him home. Anyway, I'm not as drunk as you think I am." Thank you, Quatre. Duo tried to form the words, but his lips didn't want to respond. It felt as though there was a vice clamped to his head and being cranked tighter and tighter.

"I can take care of him, Quatre. Trowa, take Quatre home." That was Heero. He raised his head to look at Quatre.

"'S'okay, Quatre. Heero can get me home. Let Trowa take care of you. Trust me. 'S'okay." He could have been wrong, because everything kept shifting and twisting, but it seemed like Quatre was about to argue, but he conceded.

"If you insist."

"I do. 'Sides, maybe I can get Heero in bed." Heero snorted as Quatre laughed. Duo winced. "Okay, maybe tomorrow."

"That's what I thought, Duo." Duo scowled at Heero. It hurt to scowl. He was transferred to Heero's arms and he felt Heero stumble a bit with him. Damn, Quatre was strong. Even drunk! Duo made a mental note to be impressed with Quatre's strength tomorrow. He was too damned drunk tonight.

"G'night, Brother."

"'Night, Quat." Duo knew no more.