Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lord of War ❯ Insomnia ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 05: Insomnia

Duo soaked in the bath, thinking about last night, while Sally applied a new coat of medicine to his shoulder. It was just too weird. What did Heero dream about anyway? And why did he stay up all night from it? Had it really been that bad of a dream? Duo just couldn’t imagine that such a spoiled brat could have that bad of a past. But he didn’t strike Duo as a wimp either. He thought back to when Heero told him about the dagger under the pillow. Nope, definitely not a wimp. But then, what was bothering him?

“Good, you’re wound should be completely healed by tomorrow,” Sally announced. “But, you’ll definitely have a scar from it.”

Duo shrugged, happy that he could do so without a sharp pain coursing through his side anymore. “Ah, no biggie. Scars add character, anyway.”

Sally smiled then got up to leave. “Hey Sally,” She turned back around. “Does Heero have bad dreams a lot?”

Sally looked concerned as she walked back over to the bath. “Why?”

“It’s just,” Duo started. He wasn’t concerned about the guy, he was just curious…really. “He had a dream last night…and whatever it was about, it kept him up all night.”

With a defeated look on her face, Sally sank down to the ground. “He did, huh?”

The look on her face made even Duo worry about Heero. He had a hunch that he had just stumbled on to something that was more detailed than a few nightmares. Sally’s face had it written all over it. “This happen often?”

“Unfortunately,” Sally sighed, hanging her head. “I was just--just so happy when he slept the whole night, with you, that…”

So this happened more often than not. “That what?”

“I guess I just wanted to believe that he was cured.”

“Cured?” Okay, now Duo was even more lost. Not sleeping was a sickness?

“Perhaps cured isn’t the right word. I don’t know.” Sally’s head shot up. “Wait, did you say he didn’t sleep at all?” Sally looked at him with wide eyes.

“He might have gotten a little out on the balcony.” As far as Duo knew, he could have been sleeping on the balcony the whole time. But he doubted it. The guy looked really fatigued when Duo spied on him this morning. It hadn’t looked like he had moved either, like he was on watch duty or something.

“He usually just waits for the sun to rise, then gets some sleep.” Sally brought her hand up to her face, striking a thinking pose.

So what, he’s afraid of the dark? Duo pondered that, doubting it completely. He didn’t strike Duo as a man that had petty fears. But something keeps him up at night. Something deeper than a kid afraid of the dark. “He always does this?”

Sally got up to leave. “Damn, I should go check on him.”

“Wait--” But she wasn’t listening, and slipped out of the door to look for Heero, leaving Duo with his mouth still open. He grumbled to himself as he got out of the bath and got dressed. He had barely learned anything, just that this was almost the norm around here…until he came. Duo blushed; the guy slept soundly that night, like a rock. He didn’t know if he really liked that fact, Heero being so comfortable with him. It was already entirely too obvious that the guy wasn’t afraid of him, and that just took away Duo’s last hope of having any intimidation skills.

Not quite sure how he should feel about what he had learned, Duo made his way back to his room and launched himself on to the bed. He wanted to know more. He wanted to know what the hell “Chichi-ue” meant. Duo knew that was the clue to Heero’s dreams, but Sally had ran off too fast before he could ask her. Maybe Tricieus would know? Nah, it wasn’t worth being titled as a gossiper like everyone else. Grumbling yet again, Duo buried his head in the pillow.

“You look depressed.”

Duo popped up, knowing that voice. “You.”

Phinneaus smiled, “Yep, me. How’z it goin’?”

Duo tried to ignore the man, the asshole who had given him away as a ‘gift’, //gagged me too, the fucker//. It was his fault Duo was here in the first place. He felt like hitting the guy. But, socking him wouldn’t change anything; all it would do is piss Heero off, since apparently this guy was his best friend. And that would go against Duo’s promise to Eutal to stay alive. And there was no way he was going to break a promise to that man.

Phinneaus strode over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Aw, come on. Heero can’t be that bad in bed.”

“Why don’t you sleep with him and find out,” Duo chided, even though he didn’t have a doubt in the world that the good Lord wasn’t //no way he could be, with that body//.

“Sorry,” Phinneaus held up his left hand, which had a ring on it. “I’m married.”

Phinneaus kept that annoying smile on his face, the same way he did the first time they had met. Phinneaus wasn’t bad looking. With light brow hair and brown eyes, He dressed pretty well too, very clean. He was a little taller that Duo, but defiantly not as well built. The first thing that Duo thought when he was dragged out to the cart where Phinneaus sat was ‘I could take ‘em’. But, Phinneaus wasn’t alone. There were three other guys with him and with Duo being bound; there was no way he could escape. So, he fell back on his best weapon, and started to swear like there was no tomorrow. Phinneaus put up with it through most of the ride, but as soon as they made it to Heero’s, he had gagged Duo for good measure. The memory searing in his mind, Duo glared at him, praying the guy would leave already. He really wasn’t in the mood.

Tucking his hands behind his head, Phinneaus laid down on the bed. “I came here to see Heero. But, apparently he’ll be in meetings for a while, and Sal’s gone too. So, guess I’ll have to hang out with you until then.”

“Go away,” Duo ordered.

“At least your language is better now. I was expecting some more colorful words from you, based on our first meeting.”

“Go the fuck away.”

“Yeah, like that,” Phinneaus joked. Duo was not amused, and he made sure to show it. “Oookay, maybe we got off on the wrong foot.” Phinneaus sat up. “Let’s start again. My name is Phinneaus. And your name is…?”

“Eat shit and die.”

“Hmmm, a bit long to remember, but I’ll try.” Phinneaus smiled.

Duo rolled his eyes, but more at the fact that what Phinneaus had said was a lot like what Duo would have said if the circumstances were reversed. That fact was a little unsettling.

Phinneaus leaned down to recline on his elbows. “Aw, come on. In reality, you should be happy that I bought you. Imagine who else could have.”

Duo had to admit he had a point. He doubted another rich and handsome Lord would have come along. But, in someone else’s care, he wouldn’t have these damn sai rings, which were the main obstacle when it came to his escape. Duo was about to disagree with the bastard when Phinneaus cut him off. “And they would have trained you.”

Duo raised an eyebrow. “Trained me?”

“Yep, there are a few different methods. Slavers can be real assholes. Of course, I don’t need to tell you that, huh?”

“Not really.”

“Anyway, there are three methods. The First Method, which is basically training an Aiko without actually penetrating them. That is the one most Aiko are trained with, if they were born in Lorlia. Not just the city Lorlia, but the Kingdom Lorlia. We have stricter rules than most places in the training area, especially if they are trying to sell Aiko to Lords.”

“‘Kingdom’ Lorlia?” Duo gave Phinneaus a quizzical look. What the hell was the difference between the Kingdom and the City?

“Lorlia is a huge Kingdom by most peoples’ standards. It stretches a few hundred miles, while the city, which is where we’re at, is also known as just Lorlia. The City of Lorlia is the heart of the Kingdom, where all the higher ups live. I’m sure you’ve figured that one out by now.”

Duo nodded. So, Lorlia was pretty big. Really big, compared to what he was use to. His tribe consisted of five villages, a mile or two away from each other at best. He couldn’t really comprehend hundreds of miles. How the hell do they control all that land anyway. It seemed like more trouble than it was worth to Duo.

“Anyway, there was no way they would have used the First Method on you.” Phinneaus announced.

Duo narrowed his eyes. Not that he really cared or wanted to know, but Phinneaus’s voice had a certain tone of challenge in it that Duo couldn’t ignore. “Why?”

“Well, would you suck a compete stranger’s cock if you were told to do so?”

“Hell no,” Duo spat out, insulted. Like hell he would ever do that.

Phinneaus smiled. “Exactly. That’s basically what the First Method is: learn by doing. They would have had to use the Third Method on you.”

“Why, what’s the Second?” Duo asked, damning his curiosity as he did so.

“Punishment and reward, that type of stuff. You do as you’re told, they’re nicer. You don’t, they nearly drown you.”

“Drown?”

“Yep, all the pain and panic and no marks on the body.” Phinneaus flicked at the sai rings on Duo’s wrists. “From what I’ve seen, you’re more stubborn than that. So they would have used their last resort. Lorlia doesn’t allow that method, so they would have waited until they were out of the city at least. But, as soon as they were…”

Duo shuddered at the thought. He had no doubt what the Third Method was and Phinneaus confirmed it. “They’d basically fuck and torture you until you couldn’t stand it and you bend to their will to save your own ass…literally.”

Duo gave him a disgusted look. “You people are sick.”

“Hey, I just said Lorlia doesn’t allow that.”

“Then how do you explain lower Aiko?” Duo shot back.

Phinneaus raised his eyebrows. “That’s different. They break the law. They’re criminals, until their Lord pardons them.”

“It’s still the same thing: being fucked when you don’t want to be!”

“You’re exaggerating,” Phinneaus declared, rolling his eyes. “It’s not like lower Aiko are condemned to perpetual orgies or something, jeeze.”

“Orgies?” Quatre blinked at them from the doorway. “I take it I missed something?”

Duo couldn’t help smile, seeing the blonde. He really did like him, though Duo couldn’t quite figure out why. He was just one of those people you couldn’t help but like. Quatre smiled back and walked though the doorway, settling on the other side of Duo on the bed.

“Yep, orgies,” Phinneaus smiled as he shifted his eyebrows up and down. “Care to join Q?”

“I forbid it,” another voice from the doorway announced.

Phinneaus laughed and beckoned for the man to join them. “Oh, you can join too, Tro.”

Quatre giggled as Trowa walked over and scooted behind him on the bed, wrapping his arms around him possessively. Trowa leaned his chin on Quatre’s shoulder and gave them a quiet yet menacing smile. “Mine.”

Phinneaus just smiled and tried not to laugh while Duo sat there in the mist of it all, confused and surprised at Trowa’s show of intimacy towards the blonde. He really didn’t strike Duo as the touchy-feely type the first time they’d met. //Guess I was wrong//.

Duo felt a hand on his shoulder and saw it was Quatre’s as he turned to him. “Sorry to barge in on you, but we ran into Sally. We came here to see Heero and heard a familiar voice coming from your room.” Quatre gave Phinneaus a playful, goofy looking grin.

A wide smile graced Phinneaus’s features. “And you couldn’t resist not seeing me.”

Quatre stuck his tongue out playfully at Phinneaus. “You wish. So Duo, how have you been?”

Duo blinked a few times from being addressed so suddenly. The others were doing such a fine job at it that even he had almost forgotten he was here. “Fine, you?”

Trowa opened his mouth as if he was going to say something until Quatre elbowed him in the chest. “Leave him alone about the ‘Lord’ bit, Tro.” Trowa rubbed his chest and glared at Quatre, but didn’t say anything. “And to answer your question Duo, I would be better if we hadn’t run into Sally.”

“Why, what’s she doin’.” Phinneaus asked for him, and in almost the same way he was going to ask, too. That was really starting to irritate him.

Quatre, however, answered as if Duo had been the one who had asked. “Because of what you told her. She’s all worried Heero is going to pass out from exhaustion or something.” From the way Quatre said that last bit, Duo could tell he wasn’t nearly as worried. The added effect of Quatre rolling his eyes confirmed it.

“Why would Heero pass out?” Phinneaus asked, obviously trying to play catch-up.

Trowa loosened up from Quatre a little. “I guess he didn’t sleep at all last night, from what we understand.”

Quatre nodded. “So, we came here to ask Duo about it.”

Everyone’s eyes fell on Duo. Well, at least this time he might be able to get his own questions answered. So Duo relayed what he had seen last night to the others, including his observations this morning. “I’m not sure if he did sleep, but it didn’t look like it.”

“Damn it all…” Phinneaus said under his breath.

“What?” Duo asked, forgetting he was supposed to hate this man for the time being.

“I was hoping he would stop doing that. I know he says that it’s not affecting him, but we all know that’s bull shit. If word gets out that he’s had this problem…”

“Hn.” Trowa nodded at the unspoken consequence, apparently agreeing.

Duo raised an eyebrow to Quatre. “Is it that big of a deal that he doesn’t sleep like a normal person? I mean, you’ve said so yourself that he does sleep, just later than most people. So, what’s the big deal?”

“That is the big deal,” Phinneaus explained. “Heero works, goes to meetings and trains the army on the same schedule as everyone else. So while others have had a full night’s sleep, Heero may have only gone to bed three or four hours ago. A schedule like that will eventually wear out the body and mind. Badly.”

“But, he’s been doing this for years, right? Shouldn’t he be use to it?”

“He’s use to it now, but as soon as he reaches the adult age, which he does in two days, his duties will become even more in number.” Phinneaus sighed. “He won’t be able to keep this up. There is such a thing as dying from exhaustion, you know.”

“Plus he has the tendency to worry about more than just his own house.” Trowa added on, sounding really annoyed about it.

Quatre sank back into Trowa’s arms. “You can’t blame him there, love.”

“I know,” Trowa groaned with an airy voice. Phinneaus had the same look as Trowa; annoyed and worried at the same time. These people really did worry about Heero, and not just because he was their ‘Lord’. He could tell that they honestly cared about Heero’s health, which made him do so too. If these people cared about his so much, maybe Heero wasn’t such a bad guy to like. At least he wasn’t like that perverted Magic guy, or the asshole that took Eutal’s manhood away. Maybe it was okay to start liking him, instead of beating himself up about it.

Duo went though these thought’s in head as Quatre spoke up. “You’re right, it is okay to like him.”

Duo’s head shot up in surprise and embarrassment. He felt his cheeks color as everyone looked at him, all with the same grin on their faces. //Well, almost all// Duo noted Trowa’s look. He was giving Duo the look you would give a dog that had almost bitten its master. Duo shrugged it off and opted to change the subject. “Hey Quatre, what does ‘chichi-ue’ mean?”

Quatre blinked at him. “Why?”

“Because that’s what Heero said in his sleep.”

Quatre struck a thinking pose. “It means something in the old language, I know that.”

So, Q didn’t know either. Damn it. Duo figured that it was Lorlian term or something…guess not. But he had to admit, he was impressed. Heero actually knew the old language fluently enough to dream in it. The old language was a dead language. Thus the name ‘old language’, no one even knows what it was originally called and barely anyone in the world could speak it anymore. Most people who did know a little of it were mages, and they only knew it because you have to say spells in it. A lot of mages don’t even know what exactly they’re saying, they just do the chant mechanically, never mind the actual translation. Which is what usually gets mages in trouble: they mispronounce it. Duo has seen some pretty bad ‘spell goes wrong’ incidents in his lifetime, hence why he never bothered to learn any magic. Too damn dangerous. When one syllable can make the difference between a sleep spell and a death spell, it makes you a little nervous.

“Primitivus may know.” Trowa offered.

Phinneaus made a disgusted face. “Yeah, but who would want to ask him?”

Quatre smiled. “If it’s something he used to say when he was little, Sally may know.”

Duo shrugged. “Or we could just ask Heero.” Why should they sneak around and ask other people when Heero would obviously know what it meant?

“Okay, that’s your job.” Phinneaus announced to everyone as he slapped Duo on the back, like they were playing a game of tag or something.

Duo’s brow furrowed. “Why me?”

Phinneaus held up his pointer finger. “One, because you’re alone with him a hell of a lot more than any of us.” He held up another finger. “Two, it was you’re idea.” Then another. “And three; Tro, Q and I voted…and you lost.”

Duo just glared at him while Quatre cracked-up and Trowa smiled broadly, which was probably the equivalent in Trowa’s terms to laughing.

“Fine,” Duo growled as he saw a few servants run past his door. Apparently, everyone else saw it too.

Phinneaus stood up and stretched. “Welp, guess that means the Lord of the House is home.”

Quatre and Trowa got up to follow as Phinneaus made his way out the door. Duo lingered for a bit until Quatre peaked his head back through the door and motioned for him to follow. Shrugging, Duo followed.

A minute later, Duo’s eyes were met with a very annoyed, if not fully pissed off Heero, as he walked through the main door of the house; Sally scurrying behind him. Worried for a minute that Heero was pissed off at him, Duo instinctually broke eye contact. One thing was for sure, the man could do one hell of a glare.

Heero brushed past them, ignoring their presence completely, and stalked into his bed chamber. Sally, looking a bit pale, began to dig for some clothes from the dresser. “I was just worried.” Her voice was a little off…weaker sounding than normal.

“I am not a child. I can take care of myself.” Duo could tell Heero was trying to stay calm, though he had no idea why. What was the big deal about Sally checking up on him?

Sally seemed scared to turn and face Heero, so she talked with her head down, still rummaging through the dresser. “I-I know…I didn’t think--”

“You’re right, you didn’t think!” Heero cut her off, finally loosing his temper. “You know you’re not allowed in the Royal Court! And of all the people, you let Primitivus find you!” Duo could tell by the tone of his voice that Heero was more upset about what could have happened to Sally then her actual prying. “Do you know how many lashes they would have given you Sally, and just to start off, if I hadn’t been right behind him?! I wouldn’t have even had the authority to do anything about it! By the Gods what were you thinking?!”

Sally moved from the dresser empty handed and made her way over to the next one. She was frantically looking for something but couldn’t find it, from what Duo could tell. “I didn’t mean to go there. I didn’t know where I was! I asked where you were and they just pointed in your general direction. I didn’t know that was the Royal Court!” Sally’s face was hidden, but Duo heard her voice crack, giving him the sense she was fighting back tears.

Duo looked to his side to see the other three, Quatre, Trowa and Phinneaus, standing at the doorway, afraid to move forward, much like Duo was. They just watched the scene in silence, feeling sorry for Sally. She was obviously was off kilter. Not that he blamed her; Duo would be too if he was being stared at angrily with those intense blue eyes.

“Whether you knew or not does not change anything,” Heero practically hissed. Duo saw Quatre grab onto Trowa out of the corner of his eye. Man, Heero could be fucking scary if he wanted to be. Sally just nodded as she continued to delve in to the clothes drawer. Heero went to the next dresser and began looking through it as well.

“Now, I have no choice but to punish you, ask Primitivus to stay quiet and pray he does, apologize to the Emperor for being late--and where the hell is my red court sash!!” Heero banged his fists on the dresser top, causing everyone in the vicinity to jump.

Sally finally found the sash and handed to Heero with shaking hands, tears pouring from her eyes at a steady pace. Heero snatched it out of her hands, threw it over his shoulder and stalked out of the room, Duo and the others parting as he walked by. Heero had only taken a few steps out of the room when he turned around to face Sally again. “Give someone else your duties for the rest of the night and stay in your quarters until I come back. Do not talk to any of the other servants. Am I understood?”

Sally gave him a weak nod and Heero was off. As soon as he left the room, Sally fell to the floor and began to cry in earnest. Phinneaus and the other two ran in to comfort Sally while Duo just stood there in shock. He never imagined that Heero would ever yell at Sally, let alone…//I have no choice but to punish you//.

Phinneaus lifted her up from the floor as she clung to the front of his shirt and carried her to her room. Trowa and Quatre followed, along with Duo lagging behind, absorbed in his own thoughts. Sally didn’t show any signs of loosening her grip on Phinneaus’s shirt as they walked toward her bed, so Phinneaus sat down with Sally still cradled in his arms. Trowa and Quatre sat down beside them, Quatre rubbing her shoulder, trying to coax her in to calming down. Duo sat on the other side of Sally, at a loss of what to do or say. So he just stared at her tear stained face, or what you could see of it, she was burrowed so far into Phinneaus’s chest.

“I-I was so s-s-stupid,” Sally muttered out from Phinneaus’s shirt. Phinneaus hugged her tight and rubbed her back, but obviously couldn’t think of what to say. As a matter of fact, it seemed like no one did. Duo could tell that this must not have ever happened before, at least to them. They were all in shock, shaken from what they saw, namely seeing Heero so pissed.

“You do know why he was mad, right?” Duo whispered, in an attempt to comfort her. But everyone must have misunderstood, for they all glared at him. Duo shook it off. He had an idea what Heero was really pissed off about. Duo had come across it before, with Solo’s mom, who was practically Duo’s as well. He had done something really stupid one day when he was little. Duo had randomly drunk one of the potions that the village mage had simply because it looked good. When Solo’s mom found out, she was raving mad. But not mad at him really… “He was mad at the fact that you scared the hell outta him.”

Sally looked up from her hiding place with hopeful eyes. “Really?” It was almost an inaudible whisper.

Duo nodded. “The only things that really came out of his mouth were worries about what could have happened to you.”

Sally let herself up from Phinneaus’s shirt and looked at Duo, smiling quietly. “You think so?”

Duo gave her a goofy grin. “Hell, I don’t even like the guy and I picked up on that.”

“Duo!” Sally gave him a playful slap on the arm. “I told you not to say things like that.”

Duo rubbed his arm at the place where she slapped him and laughed. “Now that’s the Sally I’m use to. I wouldn’t know what to think if you would have let me slide with that one.”

Sally had her usual look back in her eyes. The look that told anyone who saw it that she didn’t take shit from anyone. He was glad to see it. He would rather the woman who had almost drowned him look like that then the weeping girl she was just now. Otherwise, it was way too embarrassing a fact.

# # # #

Quatre smiled appreciatively at Duo. Who would have thought that Duo of all people would be the first to try and cheer Sally up? Phinneaus and Trowa mirrored Quatre’s face as well; stunned yet happy for it.

Sally finally let go of Phinneaus’s shirt and wiped her eyes. “Thanks, Duo.”

“No problem, just promise me you won’t try and drown me again and we’re even.”

Quatre could only imagine where that came from and had to laugh. Trowa dawned a smirk and Phinneaus gave Sally a quizzical look, who was glairing at Duo. “Well, what did you expect after calling Heero a pompous ass?”

“You forgot ‘rich’ and ‘stuck-up’--Ow! Okay, okay, I’m sorry.” Sally managed to smack Duo in the same area again, turning the red mark even darker. “Jeeze, maybe I would rather you drown me. Ya left a mark.”

“I thought you were supposed to be a warrior?” Sally chided.

Duo kept rubbing his arm. “Yeah, well, I’m retired now…apparently. Plus, warriors don’t usually slap each other.”

Quatre giggled as they kept on quarreling. It was fun and relaxing to see Duo acting that way with others now, not just with Quatre. He really was a nice guy, and very funny. Actually, he was a lot like Phinneaus; he just had the added element of being a warrior that Heero could relate to. Perhaps that is why Heero noticed him out of all the Aiko he saw that day. It was true that Heero had thought of making Phinneaus his Aiko, no that he would ever admit it, but Quatre had sensed it. But when Phinneaus told him of Antoina, Heero backed off, wanting his friend’s happiness to come first. But Quatre sensed at that time Heero really was depressed. The loss of Phinneaus, who he held very close to his heart, depressed him to no end. It took him a while to get over it, but seeing Phinneaus happy with a wife and a baby on the way practically erased all depression from him. It even made him a bit more light-hearted, Quatre had noticed.

But what they had seen earlier…not even Quatre or Phinneaus had ever witnessed. Heero would get mad at his troops sometimes, but he rarely ever raised his voice. A cool statement from Heero was usually enough to jump anyone into obeying him. Not to mention the glare he could give people. Those piercing blue eyes could really do a number on you and your self-esteem.

Duo had been right though. Heero wasn’t actually mad at Sally, he was scared shitless, to use his own word that had been echoing in his head. Quatre had heard it the whole time. People had to be really upset for Quatre to pick up the actual words running through their head. He’s an empath, not a mind reader. But Heero’s worries had spilled out from behind the doors in his mind so fast it almost knocked Quatre out. They were a jumble then, like a paragraph with no punctuation or spaces between the words. Not that Quatre could blame him. Neither Quatre nor Trowa were allowed in the Royal Court even. Their punishment would be the stripping of their title, which was only a step up from the death penalty. If a servant were to be caught there…

“Heero isn’t really going to punish you though…is he?” Duo’s comment broke Quatre out of his thoughts. Sally seemed to ignore Duo as she stood up and straitened herself out while everyone followed her with their eyes. Sally peaked through the door and called for one of the other servants. A young woman answered her call. She was very cute, with light brown hair and hazel eyes, but Quatre had never met her. Which was no wonder. Heero had over seventy-five servants just in his home.

Sally folded her arms, but smiled as she addressed the young woman. “Lydia, take over my duties for tonight.” The young woman smiled and bowed slightly, then walked off towards the kitchen.

Quatre saw Sally chuckle as the girl left. “What?”

“One of my duties is giving Heero dinner, which he prefers to have in his room…in his robe. Lydia has had quite the crush on Heero for some time now.” Sally smiled.

Quatre saw Sally’s smile fade as she came to sit back down. He could tell that she really didn’t want to answer the question, and since Duo was the only one in the room who didn’t know, that made it even worse. The air seemed a lot thicker in the room as tension welled from everyone. Quatre decided to take away the sting and do it himself. “It’s not that he wants to, Duo. But if word goes around that she wasn’t punished, then it will be ten times worse…and Heero wouldn’t be in control of picking her sentence anymore…she’ll get the norm.”

Duo cocked his head to the side. “The norm?”

Quatre explained how not even he himself wasn’t allowed in the Royal Court, let alone a servant. “The usual punishment for trespassing would be removal of the tongue, an ear, a public flogging and the demotion to hard labor.” Quatre opted to leave the fact out that no one has ever actually lived through the flogging.

Duo just gawked at him. “All that for going to some building you’re not suppose to?”

Quatre was sure it sounded cruel, but the Royal Court was where the Four Houses and the Emperor discussed the most sensitive topics concerning the Kingdom. They couldn’t afford prying ears or eyes. Servants wondering into the halls couldn’t be tolerated, no matter how loyal they are.

Sally laid her hand on top of Duo’s. “It’s alright Duo. It was stupid of me to go blindly looking for him.”

Duo lowered his eyes. “I shouldn’t have told you…”

Sally shook her head. “No, I’m glad you did. We all are. Heero has a habit of not looking after himself. So we do it for him.”

“We always have,” Phinneaus chimed in, almost in a sad tone.

Duo smiled shyly, almost throwing even Quatre off. That look wasn’t exactly normal for him. “You people really care for him, huh?”

Quatre leaned back into Trowa again and smiled. “You’ll see why, once you’ve been here long enough.”

Duo seemed to think on that for a while then excused himself. Quatre watched as he slipped out the door, happy that Duo was starting to act like what Quatre figured was the norm for him. “What do you think of him now, Phinneaus?”

Phinneaus got up to stretch. “He’s much nicer now, I’ll give you that. But I still don’t see what Heero and you do.”

“Of course not. You and Duo are too much alike. You can’t see it,” Quatre explained.

Sally got up and playfully pulled on the back of Phinneaus’s hair as she talked to Quatre. “You noticed that too, huh?”

Quatre giggled as he nodded. It was beyond apparent. They were so much alike that they probably couldn’t stand each other. And from the look he was getting from Phinneaus…he was certain of it.

They all stayed in Sally’s room until they heard the announcement that Heero had returned. It was pretty late. The moon had been out for hours. Sally fidgeted nervously as they left her. Phinneaus turned back around. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“He told me to stay in my quarters, so I am.”

Phinneaus nodded and walked away along with Trowa and Quatre. They made their way to Heero’s bed chamber in silence, all not sure what to say once they got there. Quatre could pick up a bunch of feelings coming from them; from worry to tension, to even a little bit of fear. But all of those other feeling faded when they walked into Heero’s bed chamber and were once again replaced with worry.

They could tell he had been drinking by the way he was swaying as he sat. The crook of his arm was bandaged up for some unknown reason as well. You could really tell that he hadn’t slept at all last night now, he looked so disheveled. He looked like hell…and he just sat there, leaning against the wall next to the balcony entrance with his head in his hands. Heero’s eyes were downcast, but not closed, as they stared down the marble floor. He didn’t even seem to notice their presence as they walked up to him. So the fact that he spoke up made Quatre jump.

“This has been a real shitty day.”

“Heero…” Phinneaus started, but obviously didn’t know what else to say. Heero finally looked up as he leaned his head on the wall behind him.

“I yelled.” It was barely a whisper. Heero closed his eyes. “I yelled at Sally.”

“Unfortunately, it was understandable for you to do so.” Trowa offered.

“Why? Why did she even go there?” Heero seemed to be talking to himself, since none of his comments were directed at anyone specifically. And theirs were being ignored. Phinneaus seemed to really want to say something, but just couldn’t manage it. Quatre turned and smiled at the two.

“Can you guys leave us for a bit?” Quatre asked the others politely. Trowa nodded and began to leave as Phinneaus gave Heero one last look of worry. Quatre sensed a lot of feelings from Phinneaus, ones they would have to talk about later. But right now, he was more worried about Heero. With all that happened today, coupled with no sleep the previous night, Heero was worse for wear. It was true that Heero had very irregular sleeping patterns, which many feared could cause him illness, but he did sleep. Last night really shook everyone up, not to mention what happened earlier. They were now afraid that getting him an Aiko was having the opposite effect on him then they had hoped for.

Phinneaus finally turned to go as Quatre tried to read Heero. It was hard. After all the years they have been friends, Heero had learned how to block himself from Quatre if he wanted to. Apparently, right now he wanted to. The alcohol in his system wasn’t helping either. Thank the gods that Heero wasn’t a sloppy drunk, or tonight could have been really bad. Quatre sank down beside him on the floor and waited for him so say something. A minute of silence went by, making Quatre worry that Heero might pass out on him.

“I’m fine,” Heero finally said. “Really.”

“Are you sure? You’re not acting like it.” Quatre asked. Heero finally lifted his head from his hands. He really was pale, paler than even Quatre had ever see him. “You really lost it earlier, and I can’t seem to help blaming it on last night. You’re making even Duo worry, you know.”

Heero turned to him and blinked. “Duo?”

“He was faking sleeping last night and saw you get out of bed and stay out. He’s the one who told Sally that you were up all night on the balcony. And that’s why she went to look for you.” Quatre couldn’t help but be happy that it was Duo who had said something. He had felt it from him earlier, as well, his concern. Not to mention the way he lifted Sally’s spirits before. Duo really was worried, even more than he was confused, though that was also very much apparent in him.

“That’s why she came looking for me? Because I didn’t sleep last night?”

“Yeah, didn’t you know?”

“No. I just found her being held by the wrist by Primitivus in the Royal Court and my heart skipped a beat.” Quatre couldn’t help but smile at that. Heero reclined his head to stare at the ceiling once again. “Then, when I asked her why she was there, all she said was ‘I was worried about you’. Her, worried about me, in that situation…I though she had lost her mind.”

Heero hung his head and shook it as he talked. “I shouldn’t have yelled at her. I should have sent her to her room and found my sash myself.”

Quatre scooted closed to Heero, but only a little, and spoke very quietly. “Do you think that maybe why you yelled at her was because you were high strung to begin with?”

“Duo was awake, huh?” Heero asked, making Quatre think he was trying to change the subject. Not like he could do much; if Heero didn’t want to talk about it, than that was that.

“Uh-huh.” Quatre nodded.

“Then he told you that I woke from a dream?”

Quatre held back a smile, happy to hear that maybe he could find out what was going on in that head of his. “Yeah. What was it about?” Quatre pressed delicately.

Heero lifted his head once again and faced Quatre. “Nothing…just old fears resurfacing on me. They’re not health threatening, I promise.” Heero even gave his a slight grin.

“Are you sure?” Quatre asked, noting Heero’s bandaged arm.

“I’m not that drunk, Quatre.”

“Why are you drunk?”

“Primitivus had a banquet tonight.”

Quatre frowned at the mention of Primitivus’s name. He was the one who had caught Sally. “Don’t worry, he’ll keep quiet.” Heero answered Quatre’s silent question.

“And why would he?”

“You know him. As long as he gets something he wants, he’s happy.”

Quatre shot up an eyebrow. “Which was…?”

Heero pointed at Quatre. “Don’t worry about it…either of you.”

Quatre was confused for a moment, but grinned widely as soon as he understood. “I thought you weren’t that drunk?”

“I’m not,” Heero defended himself. “I only see two of you. Three and four are the numbers that make me worry.”

Heero made a joke…Quatre was cracking up. It had been so long since Heero was last drunk that Quatre forgot that his sense of humor always seemed to leak out whenever he was so. Heero waited until Quatre regained himself. “Speaking of seeing, is Fin here?”

Quatre nodded and smiled since Heero used Phinneaus’s name from when they were younger. Heero rubbed his forehead with his hand and groaned. “Great. My best friend that rode in from miles away comes to visit me and I don’t ever notice him.”

“He’ll forgive you.”

Heero groaned again as he tried to stand up. “Do you need any help?” Quatre asked, concerned from the way he was swaying.

“No, I’m fine. Go home Kat. Tell Tro and Fin…”

“I know, I know, go to bed.”

Heero nodded once and slumped on to the bed. He was out as soon as hid head hit the comforter. Quatre smiled and shook his head, then walked out into the hallway where the others were waiting.

# # # #

Duo paced in his room as the thoughts in his head refused to disperse. He had so many questions, which was starting to be normality for him. People here just didn’t seem to like to give strait fucking answers. They always talk as if a person already knows everything, when Duo was positive they knew he didn’t. It was aggravating! Duo was about to do his daily ritual of screaming in his pillow when Quatre showed up. “Can you help Heero into bed?”

Duo blinked at him. “Why, how is he?”

Quatre scratched his head. “He drank a bit at the banquet.”

Duo slumped. Great, now he had to deal with an angry, drunk Heero. Fun. But, it was Q asking him. “Yeah, sure.”

“Thanks,” Quatre smiled. The blonde left and Duo made his way to Heero’s quarters. Bracing himself for what he may see before he walked in, Duo almost laughed when he saw Heero passed out and laying halfway off the bed. Seeing him like that made Duo see how human Heero really was, despite his Lordly position in Lorlia. Even if he wasn’t halfway off the bed, you could tell he’d been drinking by the high blush on his face. That, added to the way he was passed out, surprised Duo how…cute, for lack of a better word, he looked right now. Duo couldn’t help but smile as he walked over to Heero and shook him awake. He just groaned and looked up at Duo, then tried to fall back asleep. “Hey, at least get under the sheets or Q will kill me.” Duo ordered.

Heero grumbled but got up and unsteadily walked over to the dresser. Duo turned around as Heero undressed and slipped on his night toga. //It would be so easy right now// Duo thought darkly, peaking over his shoulder at Heero trying to keep balance by holding onto the dresser. All he would have to do was pin him to the ground by the neck and demand him to remove these damn sai rings. And with everyone’s eyes on Heero, it would be easy to sneak out. Plain child’s play, even.

Duo caught the sight of Heero swaying a bit too much and turned around in time to catch him before he fell. Duo’s hands itched to go around that neck and regain his freedom. He slipped a hand around Heero’s wrist and prepared to pin him to the floor. All he needed was the right timing, the right…

“Did I make Sally cry?”

Duo blinked. It was hard to tell if Heero sounded sincerely sad about it, but his voice was a little softer that it normal. Duo gripped Heero’s wrist harder, being a little protective of the woman now. “Yeah, you did.”

“I’m such an ass.” He sounded so depressed…so guilty, so…not like the Heero he was getting to know. Duo loosened his grip a little. “Yeah, you are.”

“Pry why you can’t stand me, huh?”

//Not true…// Duo let go of his wrist all together as Heero sat down on the edge of the bed. Remembering previous conversations, Duo noted that Heero wasn’t use to people not liking him. Duo then thought back to earlier today //Heero has a habit of not looking after himself. So we do it for him//. If this man was good enough to have friends like them, especially Q, then perhaps Duo really hasn’t learned much about him.

Heero pulled back the sheets and slid under them, motioning Duo to come lie down. He did so, but hesitantly. He was a little weary of sleeping next to a drunken Heero, but he decided he did want to learn more about this man and slipped under the covers. For a moment, Duo thought his fears were justified as Heero slid on top of him and pinned his wrists to the bed. Duo was about to buck him off and deck him when Heero spoke up. “I’ll promise you something.”

Intrigued, but still fully aware of his position, Duo furrowed his eyebrows. “What?”

“I’ll never take you without your consent.”

Duo’s eyebrows shot up. He knew Heero legally didn’t need Duo’s consent to do anything. “Why?”

“I’d be a hypocrite,” Heero muttered.

“What do you mean?”

Heero rolled off him. “Don’t worry about it.”

Duo was about to object when he noticed Heero had passed out once again. Glaring at the sleeping, inebriated Lord, Duo rolled over and fell asleep.

# # # #

He didn’t know how long he had been asleep until he felt the bed shift, but he knew it couldn’t have been long. Duo opened his eyes to see Heero sitting on the edge of the bed, a sheen coat of sweat on his back. //Another dream?// Heero turned around and noticed Duo was awake. “You’re a light sleeper.”

“You’re a non-sleeper.”

Heero frowned a bit. “I sleep.”

“Prove it,” Duo smiled. If there was one thing Duo wanted to accomplish while being imprisoned, it was fixing a problem that everyone would thank him for. Plus he owed Sally, Q, and even Trowa for not turning him in and condemning him to be a lower Aiko.

Heero glared at him and Duo raised a challenging eyebrow. Breathing out heavily, Heero lay back under the covers. “Fine.”

Duo congratulated himself on his success, but he counted a total of three times Heero woke up from a dream that night. That did it. He wanted to know more about Heero and more importantly, about his dreams.


TBC…
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Sorry it took me so long to update. School is killing me. Anyway, please review! Please, please, please!

PS: If anyone would like to be my beta reader, please write it in your review. I would really appreciate it, since my usual beta reader has abandoned me… : (