Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sanctuaire ❯ Eclipsed Hubris ( Chapter 6 )

(I do not own Gundam Wing, blah blah blah. I apologize for the late update- my muse hates me~)

"Eclipsed Hubris"

~*~

Placing his hands upon the bottom trim of his shirt, Quatre gripped the fabric with a small grasp as he pulled it over his shoulders, letting it fall carelessly to the floor, leaving his chest bare. He looked at himself in the mirror, making a face at the bruises that were beginning to appear upon his chest and abdomen. It hurt whenever he would turn a certain way, or when he would sit himself up. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, deciding it would be better to take a shower and tend to his wounds, before anybody suspected anything.

Turning away from the beaten sight in the mirror, the school boy made his way across his room, his brief destination being the towel closet just outside of his quarters. As he withdrew himself from his room and opened the rather large closet door, he heard a distant gasp. Before he could turn around to see who had seen him, his oldest sister had approached him at record speed.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!"

Parted lips began to offer an explanation, though he was too late to even pronounce the first syllable. Quatre's oldest sister's hands grasped his upper arms almost firmly, squeezing them as her eyes quickly scanned over his body.

"Who did this to you, Quatre?!"

"A-Ah! Irea, that hur-"

"WHO?!"

"You're hurting me!"

Biting her lower lip, the taller blonde released her older brother, giving a small apology as she ushered him back into his room. Having no other choice but to follow his sister's orders, Quatre steadily made his way back into his chambers, making a gradual beeline for the edge of his bed. As he sat upon it, his oldest sister stood before him, her knees bent with her hands upon them as she continued to observe her brother.

"Sorry about that. Now tell me, what happened, and who did this to you?"

Now it was his turn to bite his lower lip. He lifted his arms as directed by his sibling, exposing even more dreadful bruises to the young doctor.

"I... ran into some trouble at school..."

"And?" Her fingertips were now exploring and prodding the young man's skin, searching for any signs of disorder. Quatre winced at the sudden investigation.

"And... this is the result."

A sigh slipping from her, Irea stood up fully, though her eyes were still locked onto her brother's chest and abdomen, performing once more visual scan, "Well, setting aside a couple of bruised ribs, I don't see anything serious... However, I'd like to check up on you again soon..."

A brief silence ensued her update, Quatre averting his gaze to the soft carpeted floor in response. With that silence came Irea taking a seat beside her brother, looking to him with a concerned look in her eyes, the kind that expressed her consideration and worry regarding her beloved brother.

"What's been happening at school, Quatre?"

Still keeping his attention focused onto the carpet, Quatre's small fists gradually turned into fists. However, soon after, he felt his sister's arms wrap themselves around his petite shoulders, drawing him into a close embrace. As he unconsciously sunk into her warmth, she reached up and began wiping away her brother's tears.

~*~

"So what's up with you and Hee-"

"Shut up!"

"Duo! I'm serious! I know something went on between you tw-"

"LALA LA LA LA FUCKING LA~!"

"DUO!"

Duo sat himself upon a tree, rotting with a blackened hue, yet strong enough to support the demons weight. He had his palms placed firmly against his ears as he purposely blacked out Hilde from his hearing. The girl was standing at the foot of the tree, her wings outstretched as she attempted to keep her calm. It was rare when her superior performed such an act, not to mention it annoyed her greatly.

"Duo, I'm serious! What kind of teacher are you?!"

Instantly halting with his childish act, the braided demon paused, his palms still placed at his ears, though his eyes averted down to the female. He sighed as he then rested his arms at his side, grasping the branch briefly before slipping himself down from it, his feet landing in the warm, vividly crimson liquid that pooled about the scenery. There was no sun, nor moon; only the unusual color in the supposed sky was brightening up the landscape with a red hue. More dead trees as the one Duo was perched upon occupied the area, their branches eerily twisting and reaching for the air. Perfect silence attended the lonely place. It was so quiet, that even thoughts were almost heard.

"Hilde, how many times have I told you that what went on during my life doesn't concern you?" the shinigami asked, approaching the smaller demon. Hilde, however, kept her ground as her narrowed eyes challenged her teacher.

"It's unfair... I told you how I died and what happened!"

"Yeah, your drunken father raped you and you killed yourself."

"-And about you-"

"I killed myself as well."

"But... why? It has to do with Heero, doesn't it?"

It was Duo's turn to narrow his eyes in a deadly glare at the girl. In the far distance, the sound of ruffling feathers of a crow would be heard, its squawks signifying another life having found its way to the forlorn set.

"Is it really that fucking important?" the braided shinigami growled, his teeth gritted. Hilde, still keeping her ground, only took a step forward.

"Was it really that traumatizing?"

Wings fully outstretched behind him, Duo began to reach up with his left hand, anger clearly written upon his face. In almost an instant, he had transformed from childish joker to enraged reaper, as was clearly inscribed in his violet orbs.

"Duo."

The calm voice summoned the two demons attention back towards the tree where Duo was first perched. Lady Une advanced towards the conflicting two with slow steps, each one parting the deep liquid beneath her to allow her access. Her hair hung below her shoulders, her glasses absent from her face.

"You requested to speak with Treize."

Duo perked a brow at the women, gradually lowering his hand back down to his side as he turned to face her, "Yeah?"

"He can't see you at the moment, however, I'm here as his representative. What were your questions?" she asked, her voice as soft as a whispering angel's. Quite odd, considering the fact that Une was a dominating succubus half of the time.

Duo took a step back, the palm of his left hand attaching itself to his left hip, his head cocked to the side somewhat as his bangs fell over his features, a puzzled look over passing his anger only seconds ago, "Yeah, tell me, when the hell am I supposed to kill Quatre? I mean, one minute, Treize told me to kill him, and next, I'm being told to stop. Mind giving me the 411?"

Without an expression change, Une slipped both her hands into her lap, refusing to break eye contact with the other brunette.

"I apologize on behalf of Treize. Yes, we'd prefer you not kill Quatre. Reason being that he may actually be of value to us, once he passes on with his life. The angels have put a halt to their plans as well."

Duo face faulted at her words, soon before replying, "Waiting for Quatre to `awaken'. Yeah yeah, I heard that before. Why the sudden change of plans, though?"

"Having recent meetings with Milliardo Peacecraft."

The demon's expression instantly changed to that of understanding, his left brow perking at his information, "Oh."

"Also, Mr. Maxwell, as you keep your eye upon Mr. Winner, you have another life to take later this evening. However, you're required to take Hilde with you, for you may have to take this individual by force."

"Feh. All right. Y'hear that, Hild-"

Just as Duo turned around to his student, he was greeted with the crimson desert.

~*~

Rapid footsteps made their way down the hallway of St. Alexandria Catholic School. It was lunch break now, as the narrow hall was overwhelmed by various students. However, there was one student in particular shoving and making his way down the said hall. As an assortment of young men and women were literally shoved out of the way by an angered Wu Fei, his target now in view.

"BARTON!"

The tall young man stopped as he reached up for his locker. Before he could even begin to register who had called him, he was grabbed by the collar of his school uniform and shoved violently against his locker. He didn't even do as much as grunt.

"Where the hell were you yesterday?!"

Various ongoing students cast a glance to the two boys, though giving no more. Trowa stared at Wu Fei with an un-amused expression at the abrupt action.

"I wasn't feeling well."

"Bullshit! Do you know what happened to Quatre yesterday?!" Wu Fei barked. Trowa's eyes widened ever so slightly in realization at the other student's words. The latter gradually began to subside his grip upon the brunette.

"We're going on a little trip after school, Barton," the Chinese growled. Unable to do much else other than nod in agreement, Trowa did just that.