Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ I. The Great Escape ❯ Take me Down ( Chapter 3 )

Two months, three months… Time flew buy. All but one bill Wufei left me was given over to the cause of supplies when two of the men announced they would be heading to the city. They returned quickly with many things, including a shirt of Djara. Granted, I'd asked them to pick her something up…well, evidently Wufei had left me a small fortune, because I'd asked them to pick things up for Vasu, the boy I'd saved, and for Nassaiya, his mother. They brought her back a skirt and jeans for the boy, and gave me money back. There was plenty of foodstuffs, snack-foods, a lot of it. They also had brought long-term items.

 

They gave it all to me.

 

Indra explained that the money used to buy it had been mine, so the goods were mine by right. All I claimed from the lot was a bag or two of chips and a candy bar before calling the children forward.

 

I was very loved that day.

 

Among other things, however, I'd taken on getting food for the widows. There were three of them in our little enclave, and Nassaiya was the only one that had a single child. It wasn't expected of me; actually, I was only expected to help Indra get food for Narsi and Mama. My family. When I started taking food to the widows it had been shocking to them. Overall it seemed to have helped immensely for the entire village. Some of the men had three or four siblings to feed, or children of their own. It was a group responsibility to feed the women with no men, and since the only woman I could claim was a girl who lived in another village… Well, we took care of our own, and I really did feel I was part of the family.

 

For three years, since I was nineteen, I had lived in fear of him. For three years I'd bowed to his ideals, watching television with him or helping him at his tasks. He had not let me take on anything for myself and became angry with me at the drop of a hat. In all fairness, the continuation of the situation was my fault. I'd let him cow me, I'd let him dominate me. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, and if you've seen it all before, don't let it happen again. I had no intentions of doing so.

 

However, taking on my tasks the way I did was my own way of…making up for lost time. Having to work for my own and working for others at the same time made me feel real. Of course, supporting the widows almost made me a father in the children's eyes, and hardly a day went by that I didn't have at least two of the five in tow.

 

And then there was Djara.

 

Indra had laughingly informed me that she was eighteen years old, though she only looked about sixteen…fourteen…she looked young. He seemed to have an innate need to flick me endless amounts of shit over the girl. She didn't live at our village, and after the incident with Wufei, she'd been forced to come home at night. She'd taken to rowing over in her own little boat, though, so it was rare that a day went by when I didn't see her.

 

My grasp of the language broadened, and one night tossing and turning while Mama snored, I'd recalled a bit-fact that had been shoved at me when I was still a boy. If you could grasp a language while you were young, before you were eighteen, then learning languages would be much easier for you. I'd learned Chinese when I was fourteen, and that language was one of the hardest. My ability to speak that made my ability to learn other languages much easier. Of course, I also knew Japanese to an extent, and Spanish.

 

The language here was very similar to Spanish, actually, but not one I knew.

 

I had to assume we were in South America somewhere.

 

“Oi!”

 

“Yeah?” I returned, moving to the door to see Indra waving me to him. I bounced down the stairs as Vasu and one other little boy came around the edge of the building—they'd been playing with toys outside my hut. I ran my hand through Vasu's hair, focusing on what Indra and another male were saying.

 

“He wants you to marry Vasu's mother,” Indra muttered quietly to me, raising his eyebrows, “He says you're dishonoring her.”

 

“I've been taking care of three women,” I returned, raising my eyebrow in return, “And I don't think I'm allowed a harem.” Indra blinked at me in confusion as I realized I'd said the last in English. I laughed, “More than one wife,” I explained.

 

He laughed a minute, thinking about it, then shrugged at me, “I don't recall any such law.”

”Indra!” I protested.

 

He laughed happily, turning back to the highly offended looking male in front of us, “Your sister sleeps in her own hut, and Oi sleeps in mine.”

 

We both realized what it sounded like he'd said and exchanged a wary glance before focusing on the man a moment—as Indra snickered.

 

I covered my mouth with my hand, pretending to cough, “Yeah, you treat me right…”

 

Indra started to actually laugh.

 

Nassaiya's brother narrowed his eyes at me as I licked my lips, not sure what to say to him. I didn't want to marry his sister. Nassaiya was a sweet girl, and Vasu was really like my own son, but…marriage? Hell, I'd only ever had sex once.

 

“I treat you right, baby,” Indra muttered in a low voice, draping his arm around my shoulders and meeting my eyes, “You like that, huh?”

 

I died laughing along with him, shoving him off the deck and into the water—which brought a lot of attention our way as he splashed at me…so I jumped in after him.

 

The only way to have a real water-fight, after all, was in the water.

 

ï• ï” ï— ï– ï˜ ï— ï” ï•

 

It was wearing to fish for five children and three adults other than myself. To be sure, it wasn't only my task, but I really did bring in a majority of the food for the widows. With the weight of taking care of another's family off their shoulders, the men of the village turned in fine-form. As long as we were all in good spirits, I basically fished my myself and Nassaiya. The woman's brother was right, she really was like a wife to me. She made my food for me so Mama could make food for Indra and Narsi; when my clothing turned up with holes in it, she went and darned it for me. She was the one to cut my hair and keep it trim—a new thing for me. I hadn't had short hair…ever. Not in my memory. She kept it trimmed up for me, and in return I fished for her. If anything around her hut needed mending I mended it—she wasn't the only one I did this for, actually, my presence eased up the tension in the place to take care of everyone. I was that one set of extra hands that made everything run smooth.

 

“Good morning!” Djara called to me as I waited at the end of the dock to help her bring her boat in.

 

“Good morning,” I returned, smiling at her.

 

“Did you sleep well?” she asked, pulling in her oars and allowing the natural flow of water to lead her to the dock.

 

“Yeah. Did you get home all right?”

 

She smiled sweetly at me as I caught the end of her boat and started to tie it up, “Yes.” She watched me work then offered her hands so I could pull her from the boat, “Are you hungry? I made treats.”

 

“What kind of treats?” I muttered, looking back to her boat and a cloth-wrapped bundle. I wasn't sure what her family situation was at home, but she seemed to be the extra child with nothing to do. That was the only reasoning I could come up with to explain her presence in my village daily.

 

She unwrapped a ball of sweet rice and offered it to me with a small blush.

 

“Ooh,” I muttered, taking it from her and biting into it. I'd come to realize that these little treats were very simple to make. Nassaiya always had a small bowl of them in her hut for the children. I had them at will, but I also knew that Djara was still too young to cook consistently for herself or her family. Her manner suggested that these had been made especially for me. I grinned at her, relieving her of the bundle to see how many she'd made, which caused her to beam as she moved to my side, walking with me up the docks.

 

“Good morning, Djara!” a few of the girls called down to us, waving happily. There were probably twenty children in the village, and just as many teenagers. Narsi being one of them. There were another twenty men ranging in age from early twenties to late forties…and I'd never bothered to figure out the rest.

 

“I made treats!” Djara informed them all as we cleared the deck in the near-dawn sunlight. I grinned, snatching two more from the bundle as Djara took the lot from me and offered them to her friends. The fact that I was still munching on them suggested the thing weren't bad—they were good, so the entire parcel was emptied before I could grab more.

 

“I've got to go work,” I muttered, leaning over and kissing her cheek before heading back into the hut I shared with Indra, Mama, and Narsi. My mornings were simple, but around the time Djara showed up each day, it was about the time it was to go fishing.

 

“That girl's family really loves you,” Indra informed me, watching me eat another rice-ball.

 

“Why do you say that?” I muttered, tossing him the last one.

 

“Because normally a girl wouldn't be allowed to cook for anyone…well, her beau, which you aren't, exactly.”

 

“Yeah,” I muttered in English, digging out a different pair of pants, “I'd have to be trying for her.”

 

“What?” he asked blankly.

 

I grinned at him, “Nothing.”

 

He raised an eyebrow at me, but also turned to dig out his fishing things, “I thought we'd go southeast today.”

 

“Sure, just not close to the base,” I muttered, changing pants, “I don't want to be near them.”

 

“I don't understand,” he muttered, turning to look at me. It was an issue I'd known was on his mind for the last month—since Wufei showed up. “Why are you scared of them?”

 

“He beat me,” I muttered distantly, focusing out the window, “He hit me whenever he got angry…and…well, the other one burned me with cigarettes.”

 

“Why did you let them?” he asked quietly, moving around to see my face, “You are strong.”

 

I sighed, focusing on my shoes as I sat on my bed, then met his eyes and shook my head, “I didn't have a choice. It didn't seem like anyone cared about me. They wouldn't let me leave, either. The track me down and find me every time…”

 

“Are we in danger?” he demanded seriously, studying me closely, “The one who came here cared about you, but you were scared of him.”

 

“I'm scared of all of them,” I admitted quietly, staring at the floor. “But I didn't have a reason to live before.”

”And you do now?”

 

“You,” I agreed, “Narsi, Djara…Mama,” I met his eyes, “You care about me and my well being…but you are in danger.”

 

“My sister works at the base,” he muttered, “She'll be here in a week.”

 

I didn't know what to say to that.

 

He looked to the floor, “She's loyal to Mr. Yuy. He treats her good.”

 

A sick sensation settled in my stomach as I took the warning to heart.

 

If she really were loyal to him, I could be in real danger.

 

ï• ï” ï— ï– ï˜ ï— ï” ï•

 

“I'm home,” a soft voice rang across the open waters, “I'm here, with things to share…” the tune was odd, but the instant stir it caused in the village seemed to be pleased.

 

“Who is that?” I demanded, blinking around the deck until I met Djara's confused eyes.

 

“My sister!” Indra exclaimed happily, running past as Narsi appeared from whatever hut she'd been hiding in. Mama was close on her heels and not much slower. In a matter of moments half the village was waiting on the dock as the unfamiliar voice sang a song of joy and treasure.

 

I joined the throng at the dock end, and when I leaned down to catch the bow of her boat, she stared at me in utter astonishment. “How did you get here?” she demanded in English.

 

I nearly lost my hold on the boat as I recognized her voice and met her eyes—I let the boat go, backing away from her in something like fear.

 

She was the one who sang at the base. She was the one who made the food…

 

“Catch it, catch it!” she cried as the boat started away again, and Indra darted forward to do so, glancing at me in concern as I stared at her in amazement.

 

“Mr. Yuy has been looking for you for three months!” she snapped at me as her brother tied her boat off, scrambling onto the deck to get in my face, “Why are you here?”

 

“Don't tell them I'm here,” I countered instantly, trying to fight my quickly rising panic, “I don't want to go back!”

 

“Why not?” the woman demanded, hands on her hips, “You have no reason not to! You shouldn't be a burden on my family!”

 

“He's taking care of the widows,” Indra snapped at her, “Natalie, just…”

 

“Just nothing!” she turned to glare at her brother, “What right does he have…”

 

“Do you have any idea who I am?” I snarled, moving forward to be in her face, “Any clue whatsoever how I lived?”

 

“You were the pet dog in the master's bedroom,” she returned acidly.

 

“Who got hit for sitting in the window,” I returned just as coldly, “And burned just because Mr. Winner could get away with it…I'm not going back, and I'm not a burden! I take care of my own and then some!”

 

She stared at me as Indra moved forward to whisper in her ear, then focused on me a moment. “He is my brother.”

 

Narsi moved forward around Mama, grabbing her sister's hand, “He's helping everyone, Natalie. He even gets me fish sometimes.”

 

Natalie, as it seemed her name was, focused on me again, frowning. “He really misses you.”

 

“He misses controlling me,” I spat in English, walking away from her and up to Djara, who was at the top of the stairs. The girl followed me quickly, stepping in time with me until we reached the highest level of huts. It was a far-off wing of the compound, and the building where a handful of the young men lived. There was a similar wing on the other end for the girls who didn't want to stay in their hut.

 

“She made you angry,” Djara muttered, sliding between me and the railing as I stared down at the flowing water. “What did she say?”

 

“She doesn't understand why I'm here,” I returned, meeting the girl's eyes and realizing that when I did leave, I'd have to take her with me. If he ever found out how I treated her…he'd get over Indra and Nassaiya after hearing the stories. He'd even dismiss the other two widows and their children. I was living in a community, and I truly hoped he would understand that if it ever came to his attention where I was—but Djara came to me daily, and Djara relied on me for something more than food and shelter.

 

“My father doesn't understand why you are here either,” she muttered, winding her fingers into mine. “He doesn't understand why you just showed up, or how you saved me—or why. He said the gods wanted me for some reason, and you intervened.”

 

I folded my fingers over her small hand and studied her face for a long moment in silence. She stared at my chest as she waited, and I realized that I really did love her. Maybe not the way she would prefer, but I had saved her life. I had done it on my own, and that had been the first step I'd taken toward leaving.

 

“I…” she started, then looked to the floor, “It's just…”

 

“Sh,” I muttered, resting my head on her shoulder, “If the gods wanted you, they would have taken you.” She raised arms and wrapped them around my neck slowly. It seemed odd to me, being held. Almost wrong, but very right at the same time, feeling her heartbeat against my chest had a sedative effect on me and I closed my eyes.

 

“I have to leave here when the flood goes,” I informed her quietly, pulling away again to study here yes, “When I do, will you come with me?”

 

“I can't leave,” she breathed, taken aback, her eyes going wide again.

 

“Then you can't talk about me, either—and I'm not coming back.”

 

She stared at me in dismay.

 

“Those men at that base…the leaders…they…want me.” I considered her eyes for along moment, shaking my head, “They want to make me stay there with them.”

 

“You said the one wouldn't hurt me,” she protested, her eyes looking slightly hurt and very confused.

 

“He wouldn't,” I agreed, thinking about Wufei and what he had said to me, “But…two of them would just as soon hurt me over you as….ignore you.”

 

“Why?” she demanded, drawing herself up slightly, “Why do they want you? Why would they hurt you? Why are you running from them? I've heard Indra talk about finding you once. He said you were sitting on a rock with an obviously hurt leg, that he'd marked out your tracks because they were too obvious. Why were you running?”

 

I met here eyes again, studying her, “Because he wants to control me,” I returned simply, “He wants me to do anything and everything he says.”

 

She considered the words, looking upset.

 

“I hate him, Djara,” I added quietly, a wash of something cold running through my veins, “I can't stand to look at him…to be near him. He always wants me to stay with him, and claims that he only ahs my best interest at heart, but he doesn't care. He refuses to let me be me…and he scares me. Not a good combination.” I pulled away from her, deciding I'd have to talk to Natalie. “I'll warn you before I leave…and whether or not you show up will be your call.”

 

I wasn't leaving her behind, however—even if I had to kidnap her. It had taken Wufei a single moment to see what she was to me, and she would not be able to pretend she didn't know me when I was gone.

 

She had no idea what he was like, or what Winner might say or do to get under her skin—and that asylum-bound-fool would read her like an open book. She wouldn't be safe here without me…and I had no intentions of leaving her in danger.