Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Fly on Broken Wings ❯ Breaking Down ( Chapter 14 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

LSE // 1-30-05

(Fly on Broken Wings - Chapter Fourteen: Breaking Down)

rated: R - language, content, violence

shounen-ai/yaoi

Breaking Down

Sunday passed much the same as Saturday, only as the day crept later, Duo started to look less and less confident. Mid-afternoon found Quatre curled in one of the armchairs staring up at the television screen in mindless boredom. Wufei sat nearby engrossed in his paperback, his shoulder-length black hair loosely gathered back in a single bundle. Glancing up from the novel, Wufei's eyes skimmed over Duo and then paused as he lowered the book more.

A cluster of young women stood by the nurse's station, all three women sharing the same shining gold hair. The nurse pointed directly to where the three friends sat, and as one of the women turned Wufei sat up straighter in his chair. "Winner," he called, turning his head slightly, "do you know any of those women?"

Quatre looked away from the television and then went rigid, eyes going wide with either panic or fear. "Quatre!" the young woman called, brushing back her chin-length hair as she and the two others started walking towards them.

The boy barely had time to stand up before they reached him, the lead woman snatching Quatre into a hug. From where he sat, Wufei couldn't see his face, but if the stiff set to those frail shoulders were any indication, Quatre wasn't overflowing with joy to see the women.

"What are you doing here?" Quatre asked, alarmed, as he was passed between the three of them for hugs.

"Why wouldn't we come see our darling little brother?" returned one of the women, shorter than the other two, but dressed in a fashionable skirt and jacket. All three women were taller than Quatre, although the shortest just barely.

"Are these your friends?" the third, who had yet to speak, asked, looking at Wufei and Trowa as if she expected them to lunge up and bite her. It was the look one gave animals in the zoo. She was the tallest of the three, a willowy sort of woman, dressed in a simple floral dress. Honey curls fell to her shoulders, clipped back away from her face.

Quatre nodded, eyes to the floor, and mumbled out a hasty introduction. "Wufei and Trowa, these are my sisters Iria, Meredith, and Constance." He gestured to each in turn, Iria being the one with chin-length, wavy hair. She wore jeans and a ruffled top and gave the two boys a genuine smile.

"The others couldn't make it", Meredith, the shortest sister, explained to her brother.

Constance, the taller woman, started to speak, but Iria shifted to set her foot on top the other's, silencing her. "I'm glad to see you're doing well, Quatre," Iria said, setting her hand to the boy's cheek.

Only Wufei saw the way Quatre's hands clenched tighter around his bear at the touch. The young boy still looked more stunned than anything at his sisters' sudden appearance. Trowa caught Wufei's eyes and gestured slightly with his head. Wufei nodded and they started to remove themselves from the little group, slowly trying to give Quatre some privacy.

The small blonde glanced up from the top of his bear and met Trowa's eyes, startled panic welling in aquamarine hues. Trowa shrugged slightly before turning away, following Wufei over to where Duo sat.

"Who are they?" Duo asked, eyes skittering away from his vigil momentarily.

"Winner's sisters," Wufei answered shortly, looking not at the small blonde as he spoke. The Chinese youth's dark eyes were focused entirely on Duo, taking in the tense set to the older boy's shoulders and the crushing sense of desperation so thick, Wufei felt he could almost reach out and touch it.

Duo nodded slightly and gripped the papers in his lap tighter.

"Maxwell," Wufei started to say, but the words refused to form when Duo glanced over at him, amethyst holding onyx for the briefest of seconds. Scowling, Wufei gained his feet and tried to ignore the heat rising to his cheeks. Without saying anything, he started walking towards the library, hoping to lose himself in books for the rest of the afternoon.

Trowa remained sitting where he was, watching Quatre and his sisters from the corner of one eye. It came as a surprise to him when Duo suddenly spoke, looking at Trowa instead of the doorway. "He's just going to hurt you."

Green eyes snapped with fury as they turned to meet Duo.

"Maybe not on purpose," Duo continued with a small nod towards Quatre. "But you will end up hurt because of him. You're just a friend to him, and what are friends in this place?"

Trowa turned his head away, shoulders stiff with silent anger as he ignored Duo's jabs.

"He doesn't love you."

Hands forming fists at his side, Trowa jolted up out of his chair and spun to face Duo. Duo smiled placidly up at the silent rage his words had summoned and pointedly looked away. After a long moment, Trowa shoved his hands into his pockets and sat back down, an uncharacteristic petulance on his face and in his stance.

"You'll see," Duo said quietly.

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Although the chimes for dinner signaled his sisters' leaving, it was with great reluctance Quatre turned toward the dining hall. Having beaten his friends to the line, Quatre hurriedly grabbed his lumpy dinner and found a seat at their usual table, but he secretly hoped to finish before any of them could arrive. He didn't want them to ask questions. He didn't want to think about the sideways looks his sisters had given him. Why did they have to visit? Did they want to see for themselves...?

No!

A tray hit the table across from him with an unmistakable plastic sound, but Quatre kept his eyes lowered to his food. After a few minutes when the other person remained silent, Quatre looked up expecting Trowa, but instead saw Duo, his posture mirroring Quatre's as he chased a pea around his plate. Of Wufei and Trowa there was no sign, and Quatre suddenly found himself longing for one of them.

Duo didn't look up.

Duo didn't speak.

It sent a chill down Quatre's spine. The hairs along the back of his neck started to stand on end, and he decided right then that he wasn't hungry after all. Jerking to his feet, he grabbed his still-full tray and hurried out, dumping the food in the trash as he went. The small blond nearly collided with Trowa at the doorway, the taller boy grabbing Quatre's elbow to help him stay balanced.

Green eyes met his own startled gaze with concern, but Quatre shrugged free and muttered something before breaking away. Despite his rush, he did remember to stop by the nurse's station to collect his medication. Even taking in his dislike of the pills, taking them was easier than risking a confrontation with Doctor G or the nurses. Since it was too early for sleep, Quatre looked desperately around for something to occupy him. Somewhere safe from Duo.

His eyes fell on the points board next to the station. Duo lacked any points at all, still, but Quatre saw, much to his amazement, ten points next to his own name. Glancing nervously to the cafeteria as he passed it, Quatre made his way across the common area to the library doors. The bored-looking librarian at the desk asked for his name, and Quatre hugged Sandy close as he replied.

The young man nodded and waved him through. Relieved, Quatre stepped deep into the scholastic sanctuary, safe from Duo's strange silence. He liked his roommate, but something was very wrong with Duo. Quatre had the feeling something bad was going to happen, and he didn't want to be around for it.

Idly browsing the small library, Quatre stumbled across a few chairs near the back, pushed into an alcove with large windows. As Quatre stared out at the early-evening sky, it occurred to him he had not been outside since entering the asylum. Would he eventually waste away without sunlight? If he closed his eyes, could he still feel sun kiss his face?

Suddenly, the hospital seemed a very grey and bleak indeed.

"Hello, Winner," said a composed voice, and Quatre broke his train of thought with a slight jump. Wufei sat curled in one of the chairs, his position so at odds with the boy's usual attitude that Quatre doubted which personality held control. The glasses and hair suggested Wufei, and the pose seemed out of place for Meiran and Trieze as well, so Quatre was left wondering stupidly who it was he conversed.

As if sensing Quatre's hesitance, Wufei unfolded his legs slightly and gestured to the second chair. "Would you like to sit?"

Still watching Wufei in confusion, Quatre did so and tried to think of something to say. He suddenly and desperately wished Trowa was there to confirm the boy's personality. Thinking of the quiet, older boy made Quatre's heart beat faster, and he felt an embarrassed blush start across his face. He glanced sheepishly through his bangs, expecting to see Wufei frowning at him, as the Chinese boy sometimes did. Onyx eyes, however, looked not at Quatre, but rather stared blankly out at the bookcases.

Quatre sat straighter and couldn't help but openly stare. Was it just his imagination, or were the boy's dark eyes... wet? "Um, Wufei...?" the young blonde questioned timidly, leaning forward slightly. "Is everything all right?"

"Yuy never comes," Wufei said slowly, not looking at Quatre. "But Maxwell always waits for him. He will wait until he can no longer make up excuses, until lack of sleep and skipped medicine destroys him. It's happened before. It'll continue to happen, so long as Maxwell loves him."

"Maybe..." Quatre bit his lip and then shrugged. "How do we know Heero doesn't love Duo? I think... I mean, Duo says he does."

Wufei smiled slightly and shook his head, "Remember what I told you? I've seen them together. I've barely heard Yuy say a dozen words to Maxwell, and none of them included anything affectionate."

Quatre persisted, not wanting to argue, but desperately hoping for his roommate's sake that Wufei was mistaken. "But just because he doesn't say anything... Trowa doesn't talk, but..." Quatre flushed a deep crimson and the rest of the sentence faded off into acute embarrassment. He dropped his eyes and fiddled with the hem of his shirt, and when he looked up, Wufei was staring at him with an unreadable look on his face.

Quatre blinked in surprise, but before he could say anything the other boy broke his gaze and spoke. "Like I said, though, this has happened before. Maxwell isn't sleeping, and he isn't taking his medication either. He's been manic for the past week and it's only getting worse. Please watch out for yourself."

"He isn't ... dangerous, is he?"

Was it just Quatre's imagination, or did Wufei hesitate before answering? "No. He would never hurt a friend on purpose."

Hugging Sandy close, Quatre tried to ignore the ominous chill that crept down his spine. At that moment, he would have given anything to be anyone else's roommate instead of Duo's. He could avoid Duo all day long, but at night he was trapped in the room they shared.

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So worked up was he that Quatre laid awake all night staring at the ceiling and hearing the quiet sounds of Duo writing from across the room. Sometime in the early morning he finally fell into uneasy slumber, only to be jarred awake at seven prompt when the lights automatically flooded the room. It was with some relief that he resumed the everyday schedule of therapy and boredom.

He knew better than to wish for something exciting to happen, and in truth, the lazy attitude of the hospital did seem rather soothing. In group therapy he worked on his painting and did his best to remain hidden near the back while Richards went around observing their work. The doctor seemed disappointed with Meiran's picture, and when he saw Relena's, a fairly decent self-portrait, he had to calmly explain the assignment again to her.

Since he liked drawing, Quatre found he actually enjoyed the session. He found it easier than individual therapy with Doctor G, but the hour passed mercifully quick and he was free again to do nothing. He first wandered around the library, hoping to run into Wufei again, but the Chinese youth proved elusive. Trowa turned up right before dinner and they had time to play a round of cards.

As they were leaving the cafeteria, Quatre started to ask Trowa if he wanted to continue their game, but before he could, Wufei came barreling between them, knocking Quatre off balance. Trowa swiftly gripped Quatre's arm to keep the small blonde from falling, and they both stared after Wufei in amazement. The boy slowed before he hit the doors that led out of the common area, taking a sharp right down a small corridor Quatre had never visited before.

In response to the sudden, curious look Quatre flashed him, Trowa frowned slightly and lifted his hand to his face, thumb to against his ear and pinky extended to his mouth. "The telephones?" Quatre guessed, and was rewarded with a nod. "Why would Wufei..."

Trowa's eyes widened slightly and he gripped Quatre's hand, jerking the smaller boy along as he hurried in the same direction. Quatre thought for sure the nurses would notice them, as Trowa was nearly running, but, miraculously, they made it without attracting attention. Rounding the corner to the small nook where the three pay-phones stood, Quatre finally understood the other two boys' rush.

Duo sat on the floor, hands over his head and the phone tucked between his head and shoulder. He was shaking, the sound of his sobs audible from where Quatre stood, rooted to the spot. Wufei hovered an arms length away from Duo, arms clenched into fists at his side, the boy clearly torn between allowing Duo privacy and wanting to offer comfort. Trowa took a step forward, still holding on to Quatre's hand, a fact the young blonde noticed acutely with a blush.

"Why?" Duo said suddenly into the phone, and Quatre realized Duo probably didn't realize they all stood around watching, silent spectators to the boy's pain. Quatre felt awkward, it didn't seem right. He tugged on Trowa's hand to get the taller boy's attention, hoping to convince him to leave, but to Quatre's great disappoint, Trowa merely let go of his hand, instead of turning around.

"Why, Heero? I waited! You said you'd come, you said... Why? Why won't you answer me? Answer me, Heero!" Duo shrieked, suddenly surging to his feet. Violet eyes flew open as he saw Wufei, and then Trowa and Quatre further back. Duo averted his eyes, leaning against the wall as he lowered his voice back to a whisper. "Maybe... you weren't feeling well? You were in the hospital just a few days ago. Did your head hurt, so you couldn't make it?"

As Duo made excuses for Heero, Quatre watched a dark look come over Wufei's face. He wondered if the anger was for the love-struck Duo, or the ever-silent Heero Yuy, who remained a mystery to Quatre. What Duo was saying did make sense, in a way. He felt a strange sense of loyalty to a boy he had never met, simply for the fact Duo held him in such high regard.

"If Yuy was not feeling well enough to come visit you, was he also too ill to call and tell you that?" the Chinese boy spoke suddenly, in a clear, loud voice.

Duo lifted his head from the wall and stared at Wufei in utter disbelief. Wufei stared back with a challenge clear in his dark eyes, and it was in that moment Quatre realized it was Trieze who stood there, holding Wufei's glasses in his hand. The change had happened so quick they had all missed it, as Quatre was absolutely sure Wufei had been present just moments before.

"Well?" Trieze sneered slightly, stepping forward and snatching the phone out of Duo's stunned grip. "Did you hear that, Heero?"

The way he said the name made it almost seem as if Trieze doubted Heero's very existence, or at least, whether or not he really was on the other end of the line. However, that suspicion didn't last very long, as whatever Heero said in reply made Trieze give a heated scowl. Duo recovered him his shock and snatched the phone back, holding it protectively to his chest. "Trieze! Fuck off!" he hissed.

Trieze took an involuntary step back, face flickering strangely. Quatre looked between his two friends with alarm. It almost looked as if Trieze were in pain, or as if... Quatre's eyes went wide as he realized Wufei, or maybe Meiran, was trying to break free. The hesitance in Trieze's face went away as he closed the gap between him and Duo. "Hang up the phone, Duo," he commanded.

"Go away!" Duo turned away and lifted the phone again. "Heero? ...Heero! Don't hang up! Please, don't hang up! Heero...? You'll be here this weekend, right? Heero...?"

Quatre turned his head away, unable to watch or listen anymore to his friend in such pain. He didn't realize he was crying, an echo of Duo's heart-break, until warm fingers brushed tears from his cheeks. He looked up to see Trowa looking sympathetically down at him, and Quatre tried to feign an apologetic smile as he scrubbed his face with one fist. Trowa returned the smile, but their moment was shattered by Trieze, having snatched the pone from Duo, slamming the receiver down on to the base.

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Author's Notes: Whew. Did you forget about me? I can only apologize. A lot has happened since I last posted a chapter! I'm still working and attending school, so not a whole lot of free time. I've moved into my own dorm room, which means I can keep longer hours and not annoy my roommate with the light being on. This all, of course, means I have no idea when I'll have the next chapter out. I'd like to say very soon.

I keep taking a break from this story to work on others, and for that I apologize. This is really and truly my baby, so there is no way I will ever simply give up on it. Like always, I urge you to be patient! I know it may seem forever, but there *will* be a next chapter.

All your reviews mean the world to me and give me the encouragement I need to keep writing. Thank you!

Feedback/reviews are very much appreciated!

LSE - Violet Nyte (ManzokuBiscuit@aol.com)

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