Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ So Far Away ❯ Four ( Chapter 4 )

Title: So Far Away (4/6 + ep)

Author: Shinigamis_Soul (AKA Starlight Soul, AzureInk_Parchment)

Beta: XxNonxIamxX

Disclaimer: I don't own them; I only like to play with them.

Status: finished but being beta'd (life just dropped a flaming pile on us… it may take a while to get the rest out…)

Pairings: 2xOFC, 1=2 get together, 3=4, 5=R

Warnings: Abuse, Angst, OOC, citrus

Summary: When the life he created takes a turn for the worst, Duo finds himself returning to the people that abandoned him years before. Nothing is as it seems as his life is turned upside down.

Author Notes: See the end.

 

::writing::

“Talk”

`thought'

 

“Now that we're here,
It's so far away
All the struggle we thought was in vain
All the mistakes,
One life contained
They all finally start to go away
Now that we're here its so far away
And I feel like I can face the day
I can forgive and I'm not ashamed to be the person that I am today” - `So Far Away' Staind

 

 

So Far away

Part Four

It was warm and safe. For the first time in a long time he didn't feel the need to let his instincts fuel his fight for consciousness. A warm weight was settled around his waist, as he stirred fingers rubbed gentle circles against the bare skin of his stomach. He stirred a little more; curious about what that hand would do if he didn't settle.

 

“Shh… it's okay,” Heero murmured; his voice a gentle rumble against Duo's back.

 

“`M awake,” sighed Duo before carefully rolling over to lie facing Heero without falling off the couch. “Morning, `Ro.”

 

“Feel better?” He asked letting his hand slip back under Duo's sweatshirt to rub his back.

 

Duo wiggled closer to Heero, soaking in the other man's warmth. Heero smelled uniquely masculine, a soothing mix of something woodsy and light with something spicy and warm. Sometime in the night he had removed his t-shirt, giving Duo free range on his torso. Without thought or hesitation, Duo pressed his lips against Heero's collarbone. Heero's hand stilled against his back and his breath released slowly, steadily. He couldn't help the small moan that escaped when those lips found a sensitive spot to focus on. A slight frown made an appearance when Heero's hand left his back. Looking up he found Heero's lips descending on his own, making him forget about the spot he found. The hand that disappeared returned and slipped along his skin warming it as he went.

 

When they were both breathless, Heero finally pulled away. Duo's head fell back to his chest to listen to his heart return to a normal speed while Heero let his head rest gently on Duo's, enjoying the silky smooth feel of his hair against his cheek. His hand continued its lazy trail, taking in the play of muscle.

 

“I think, I like that kind of wake up,” moaned Duo as nimble fingers coaxed away a knot. “You're nice and warm too.”

 

“I see,” joked Heero, letting his fingers delve lower, “I'm a heated blanket now.”

 

Violet eyes lifted to glare at laughing blue ones. “Not funny,” he said, an old argument fueling his sudden upset.

 

“I think you were more insulted by their attempt to make me a weapon than I was,” Heero sighed while rubbing his cheek against Duo's bangs like a giant cat. “Then again, maybe that's a good thing.”

 

“They had no right Heero. You're a person, a living breathing loving human being and no one has a right to take that from you.”

 

“You're right, I know that.” He placed an apologetic kiss on Duo's face. “What do you want to do today while we wait for Rahne to come home?”

 

“Rashid said the truck would be here around noon and I need to replace her toys too,” answered Duo letting the tension drain from his body.

 

“And you both need warm clothes. We may not have snow but it is only February, there will be more cold weather,” added Heero. “Shower or coffee?”

 

“Both?” questioned Duo hopefully.

 

“Baka, which one first?”

 

“Coffee,” replied Duo snuggling in a little more. “What time is it?”

 

“Almost nine,” replied Heero chuckling, “Have you really been that cold?”

 

“I'm always that cold, always have been.”

 

“Let's get you some warm coffee so we can get moving. Rashid finds it too amusing to `Father' us,” grumbled Heero.

 

“I kinda like it,” yawned Duo rolling off the couch, taking the blanket with him. “Rashid's a big teddy bear, with guns and knives and the knowledge to use them if necessary. He took one look at me during the war and curbed Q's enthusiasm a little bit. He also warned me that he's armed and dangerous even if he wasn't packing.”

 

“I also received the warnings about messing with his `Master' Quatre. He was very wary of me,” answered Heero, “I don't think he likes me much.”

 

“Nah, I think it's more that he knows you're okay on your own. Quatre needed him for some kind of grounding in the real world and backup. Trowa needed him for the Maguanac's; he was always a little lost without merc's to understand his ways even if the circus is his family. Wufei needed proof that that kind of loyalty still exists. I guess I don't really know why I need him.”

 

“You need people,” said Heero leading the way into the kitchen where the coffee was already brewing, “You need a group to surround yourself with and feel needed and useful.”

 

Duo took down two cups and poured out their coffee. To Heero's he added a teaspoon of honey before handing the cup over and beginning his own. The creamer and sugar mixed in his cup turning it a nice honey brown before he took a long sniff of his cup. Heero watched, taken back in time by such a simple habit.

 

“Why do you do that?” Heero questioned across their shared office.

 

“What?” asked Duo shuffling a report into the box to go to Une.

 

“Smell your coffee like that? It's strange.”

 

Duo looked away coffee cup settled between his hands, elbows tucked, and body arced protectively around the cup. His violet eyes settled on the park just outside Preventor headquarters and the group of children playing there.

 

“Coffee is a treat that not everyone gets. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford coffee whenever I want it but not everyone can. People forget to appreciate the little things.”

 

“… do you think?” Heero's thoughts came back to the present in the middle of Duo's question forcing him to scramble to look back at what was said. “You drifted off on me buddy.” Duo said with a smile.

 

“Sorry, I was remembering something,” Heero answered, hiding his scowl behind his coffee. “I think we can get what we need at just a few stores.”

 

“Yeah, I was thinking we'd be okay with just two stops for bedroom furniture and to replace some of her toys. I need to take her with us to get new clothes.”

 

***

 

Zechs led the way into the small waterpark and found himself laughing at Rahne's absolute glee at the sight of the four story twin tube slides. Relena made them find a table near the kiddie pool, keeping everyone together, before allowing the three children to pull the adults away. Jade moved shyly to Relena's side, a small frown gracing her face.

 

Rahne instantly had Trowa by the hand. “Come on Uncle Trowa; let's go on the big slide.”

 

Trowa laughed as Quatre glance up at the brightly colored tubes. “It looks like they're for racing.”

 

“Come on, Uncle Kat, We'll race!” She exclaimed shrilly.

 

“We need tubes,” explained Trowa picking up a large yellow inner tube and offering it to the blonde.

 

Rahne rushed in and grabbed a bright pink one. The tube, caught at the bottom of the pile, brought a florescent avalanche as it succumbed to her pulling. Her shrieking giggle was barely heard over the roar of the water as the giant bucket dumped on the landing above them. Once freed from the pile, the three of them made their way up the many stairs leading to the slides.

 

“I wanna race,” Rahne explained to a bored looking attendant.

 

He glanced at the three of them a tired, blank expression on his face. “Sit down and hold the edge, She'll ride on your lap.”

 

Trowa winced as Rahne climbed on him, her young mind having no understanding of knees and elbows and their impact on soft tissue. “Careful Munchkin.”

 

Quatre winced in sympathy as he watched from his own tube. “Are you ready? I bet I beat you!”

 

“Nu-uh,” cried Rahne as the guard released them.

 

Down below, standing at the edge of the pool, Relena waited with the less than adventurous Jade. They heard Rahne long before they saw her, as she shrieked her way through the dark tubes in her excitement. Wufei and Meilin followed racing Zechs; the adventurous girl clinging to her daddy unsure whether to be excited or scared.

 

“Well?” questioned Relena when they finally climbed out of the pool.

 

“It was fun!” proclaimed Rahne. She took one look at Jade, the other girls eyes filled with fear, and grabbed her hand. “Let's go on those slides!” she cried her purple eyes locked on the little pink and blue slides in the kiddie pool. “Catch us Uncle Trowa!”

 

Rahne pulled Jade around to the top of the slide. The dark eyed little girl seemed to hesitate at the top but Rahne said something and she sat, one small hand clinging to Rahne's.

 

“Catch us!” exclaimed Rahne before pushing off and pulling Jade down the other side.

 

Trowa and Quatre were ready at the bottom, strong arms catching them before they could go under and get scared. Jade's wide eyes crinkled in excitement. As soon as her feet hit the deck, she rushed to Relena.

 

“I did it,” she cried rushing up to her mother.

 

“We have coaxed and cajoled her, for months, to try them; how did Rahne do it on the first try?” questioned Zechs from just behind his sister.

 

“It is the Maxwell factor,” answered Wufei, “He is the only person I know that can convince anyone to do just about anything; she must get it from him.”

 

“It's impossible to dislike him,” added Relena as the three girls took off towards the play structure. “We better follow, I having a feeling that Rahne is good at finding trouble.”

 

“Never on purpose,” supplied Quatre watching the long haired child coax Jade to the top of the green body slide.

 

The five adults followed the kids from attraction to attraction, allowing themselves to be pulled into the water on a whim. Relena spent a lot of her time watching from the edge or riding around the lazy river with a tired child taking a break, her advanced pregnancy making several of the attractions risky. After a while they were joined by Noin. The dark haired woman joined Relena, choosing to keep her friend company rather than join the others playing.

 

After several hours of play, the group took a break by floating in the lazy river. Rahne settled herself in Zech's lap, her little fingers playing nimbly with the end of his hair. It was obvious that the leisurely floating wasn't keeping her occupied, the split second thoughts flitted through her eyes for all to read. Finally, after several circuits around the river, her eyes glittered mischievously.

 

“Uncle Zechs, play a game with me,” she requested.

 

“What kind of game?” he asked tiredly.

 

“What if!” she exclaimed. “What if a sea monster appeared?”

 

Zechs looked stunned for a moment giving Quatre, the only one with knowledge of the game, time to respond. “We'd have to swim away really fast.”

 

“What if it swims after us?” she asked.

 

“We'd have to climb out and run away,” said Zechs.

 

“That's no fun,” protested Rahne making a face at him. “I'd throw a tube at it and it would pop scaring the monster away.”

 

Trowa joined the game, his eyes twinkling in amusement. “What if the frog started swimming around the big pool?” He asked, indicating the big floating foam frog.

 

“I'd run and jump on its back for a ride!” said Meilin joining the game.

 

“What if it thought you were a fly?” asked Zechs.

 

“I'd stick a tube to its tongue and swim away,” explained Rahne with a roll of her eyes, as though it was the obvious answer.

 

“What if the water started getting faster and faster?” asked Wufei, “and we can't touch the bottom?”

 

Rahne grinned happily before answering, “Me and Jade will kick our feet till we get to the edge then hold on till we get to the stairs.”

 

Noin's eyebrows shot up at such a well made plan from such a young child. “Where did this game come from?” she asked softly.

 

“Duo plays it with her,” explained Quatre. “He said it keeps her occupied and out of trouble. The questions and their answers will get progressively serious. It's no wonder she was able to take apart the hinges to escape the closet.”

 

“I think,” interrupted Relena, seeing the stairs come closer, “it's time to get out and get some lunch.”

 

“That's a good idea,” said Wufei, taking in his wife's tired expression. He stood and helped her out of the tube she was floating in. “Why don't you take a break, after lunch we'll do one last ride then head home,” he murmured softly.

 

“That sounds good,” she replied softly.

 

“What shall we have for lunch?” Zechs wondered as he set Rahne on the deck. “I'll take the girls up and they can choose.”

 

Meilin wrapped her hand around Relena's and leaned against her leg. It was obvious from the set of her jaw she was going to be stubborn. “I wanna stay with Mommy.”

 

“Okay,” replied Zechs not wanting to fight with a tired Chang over something trivial.

 

Zechs led the way, Rahne and Jade just behind him as they joined the line for the food window. Rahne and Jade chattered on behind him, playing some game between them. Zechs let his attention turn to the menu before him. It was not the kind of food he preferred but the kids enjoyed it and he was willing to deal with it once in a while for them. He was so focused on ordering for the group that he didn't pay attention to one man among many brushing through the line.

 

Rahne and Jade were making up a story when it happened. A man in shorts and a t-shirt brushed through the line and grabbed Rahne's hand as he passed. She was stunned at first, as he tugged her towards the door. Before she could respond he scooped her up and showed her a picture of Cassy.

 

“I'm gonna take you to your Mommy where you belong,” he said softly.

 

He was unprepared for the reaction his words received. She opened her mouth and started screaming as loud and long as she could. Arms and legs flailed, her bony knees catching him in the gut. Small fingernails went for his eyes and he was caught between letting go and trying to keep the bundle of fighting child from causing any real damage. He reached out, attempting to grab her by the shoulders and she sank her teeth around his fingers, biting as hard as she could. Her hands gave up on his eyes and settled for pulling off his cap and ripping out handfuls of his hair. Her knee came up; catching him in the chin and making his head spin as her elbow came down on his eye.

 

Jade saw the man grab Rahne's hand and keep walking. Uncle Zechs wasn't paying attention, and she didn't know the man. Fear filled her as the stranger picked Rahne up and she grabbed her necklace, pushing the button hidden there. The alarm blared just as Rahne opened her mouth to scream, causing Zechs to spin in place. Training kicked in and he stalked towards the man, a smirk gracing his face as he saw the mess Rahne was making of him. He grabbed the little girl, pulling her from his grasp even a Wufei rushed in to subdue the man none to gently.

 

Noin followed a moment later with her duffle bag. She pulled from within her badge and cuffs, her dark eyes glaring as she moved to arrest the man. “Go meet the Preventors at the front,” she snapped at the employee rushing towards her, “They should be here in about a minute.”

 

A few steps away Rahne had wrapped herself around Zechs. She sobbed against his neck and tangled her hands in his hair, her whole body trembling against him. Trowa appeared a moment later and took the distraught child.

 

***

 

Duo stretched and glanced around Heero's previously clean living room. `Our living room' he corrected himself. Boxes littered the room, some still filled while many others were broken down. Stretch finished, he turned to seek out his partner.

 

He found Heero in Rahne's room, elbow deep in parts. A bunk bed with the desk and bookshelves beneath it was partially assembled in front of him. He looked like a kid with a new toy. Duo realized that he hadn't been noticed and leaned against the doorframe to study the other man.

 

Chocolate hair was just a little longer than he remembered, as though it was time for a hair cut, and healthier. The little bit of baby fat he had after the war was long gone, his jaw squared and masculine. His shoulders were wider though he still had the lean muscle of a swimmer. Strong hands caught his attention as they connected the last piece of the base. They were wide across the palm with long fingers; the silvered sheen of small scars, the product of years working on machines, only seemed to enhance their appeal.

 

“Are you just going to stand there and stare or come and help me finish this?” questioned Heero after a while.

 

“I don't know I was kinda enjoying the view.”

 

Heero gifted him with a small smile, which caused his eyes to crinkle at the corners. A small gasp escaped Duo at the sight of the rare smile. Heero set aside his tools before approaching the braided man. The smile curled on one side becoming mischievous before moving in to kiss him.

 

Duo's hands slipped into the thick chocolate hair. Hands, strong enough to bend steel, slipped up the back of his t-shirt to caress his back and sides. It started soft, gentle as the night before, but Duo had other ideas. With a gentle questioning swipe of his tongue he deepened the kiss. With a groan Heero pulled their hips together.

 

When air ran out, Heero dropped his forehead to Duo's. “We're not going to finish if we keep this up.”

 

“I know,” sighed Duo.

 

Heero backed him up to the wall and plundered his mouth until he was left supporting the long haired man.

 

“I thought we had work to do?” Duo questioned with a smirk.

 

“I reevaluated the situation and came to the conclusion that we have time. Lu will feed them before letting them go. Heero snaked his hands back up Duo's shirt to glide across warm skin.

 

One hand settled on the small of his back while the other traced along his ribs and abs. Heero made the kiss long, languorous; worshiping with lips and tongue. All the while his hand kept moving, a tantalizing flutter leaving tingling heat in its wake. His fingertips brushed questioningly over one sensitive nipple drawing a moan from the skinny man.

 

“Heero,” groaned Duo dropping his head back against the wall.

 

See the pale column of flesh offered up, Heero turned his attention to nibbling and kissing along its length. He kissed up to his ear, lips just brushing the shell, and began to whisper.

 

“Did you know,” questioned Heero softly, “that I used to dream about you?” He lightly kissed the spot just behind Duo's ear before continuing; “the feel of you in my hands, hearing you moan my name; I wanna taste you.”

 

The inarticulate moan, breathless and trembling, that escaped Duo's swollen lips as Heero dropped to his knees only fueled the blue eyed man's passion. Duo's hands clutched spasmodically at his shoulders as he slid his fingers forward following the waistband to the button. With a careful twist the button was open and his hands dipped inside, cupping and squeezing as he went. In one easy motion, Heero slid the jeans and boxers down, fingers tracing muscular hips and thighs, releasing him.

 

Blue eyes glance up to find Duo's head thrown back, open mouth panting, and his eyes squeezed shut. Heero returned his hands to Duo's hips, thumbs rubbing calming circles.

 

“Should I stop?” Heero questioned softly. Duo's head shook no while his body trembled from the warm breath against him. “Open your eyes, Duo,” he commanded.

 

Violet eyes flew open just in time to see pink tongue dart out to gather the pearly drop forming. Cerulean locked with amethyst as he guided Duo's swollen cock into his mouth. Duo's hands gripped his hair, his moans filling the quiet of the house. Heero swirled his tongue around the head before taking it as deep as he could. Heero's name became a mantra, a prayer to some unknown deity as he found a good rhythm. As he licked and sucked, he adjusted Duo's stance allowing him access to gently tease his opening. Duo's hips bucked startling Heero into nearly choking but he quickly compensated. Neither was prepared for the alarm that started blaring through the house.

 

Duo groaned and banged his head back against the wall, “What the hell is that?”

 

Heero was already in motion, dragging Duo's pants up. Something in Heero's posture triggered age old instincts, instantly putting Duo on edge. He followed Heero through the house, fixing his clothing while Heero grabbed his cell phone, a small hand held computer, and his car keys.

 

“That's Jade's panic button. Relena, Meilin, and Jade each have them. They are triggered by either a panic button or the removal of the panic button.”

 

“Removal?” questioned Duo as they got in the car.

 

“The pendants on their necklaces are the panic buttons. There is a small button concealed inside a locket. They also have an implanted bio-chip that acts as tracking device and the secondary panic switch. If the panic button is removed it automatically triggers.”

 

“What kind of range are we talking about and how many false alarms have you had?” he asked, bracing as Heero made a sharp turn.

 

“Fifty mile radius, though I'm still working on a way to increase the range. False alarm depends on your definition. Relena panicked when taken into hiding by unknown Preventors. Jade wandered away from Relena because she saw Zechs and Noin…” Heero's cell phone rang; he flipped it open and hit speaker. “Status?”

 

“All clear,” answered Wufei, “Someone tried to grab Rahne and Jade hit her panic button. He didn't get far; paramedics are assisting him under Preventor guard as we speak.”

 

“Rahne?” questioned Duo.

 

“Paramedics?”

 

“Rahne is unharmed though distressed. Trowa has her; as she wanted. She turned hostile on her abductor. She fought hard, biting him to the bone at least once. She kicked, flailed, and screamed like nothing I have ever seen.”

 

“That's what she was taught to do,” explained Duo, “We're almost there. Fei, who is he?”

 

“Gregory Edwards; he specializes in finding and returning children involved in some of the nastier custody battles,” answered a familiar voice.

 

“Lu!” exclaimed Duo, “How are you and how do you know him?”

 

“Preventors is currently trying to hire him and end his business,” She answered, “I'm well Duo, how are you?”

 

“Doing better. How's Rahne looking?”

 

“She's starting to fall asleep. Zechs reached her first. Edwards had his hands full, she's quite the fighter. He made the mistake of telling her he was going to take her to her Mommy, picture and all. He's used to working for the right parent. Rahne clung to Zechs until Trowa arrived.”

 

“How badly did she hurt him?” he asked in morbid curiosity.

 

“She bit to the bone on two fingers, broke his nose, ripped out a good amount of his hair, and appears to have been scratching at his eyes,” she chuckled, “He's going to have a black eye and probably a bruised jaw too.”

 

“Looks like we're here,” sighed Duo, “see ya in a minute.”

 

Heero and Duo rushed inside, flashing their Preventors badges as they went. Once inside, they were faced with a dozen Preventors standing guard around the group. In the center, Trowa sat with his long legs stretched out in front of him; Quatre stood guard at his shoulder. Rahne was cradled in his arms, her arms securely wrapped around her `Uncle' even in sleep. One small hand was stuck in the back of his short hair, seeking familiar comfort; the charcoal line of her eyelashes rested against her tear blotched cheeks and her breath still hitched occasionally.

 

Duo rushed to gather her in his arms, careful not to wake her with the transfer. She settled against his chest, her hand tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck. He took the opportunity to check her for injuries, her Disney's “Mulan” swimsuit allowing him to see the remaining red marks from the fight.

 

“Yo, Kid, that you?” called a voice from where the Paramedics were packing up.

 

Duo spun, recognizing the voice but not expecting to know the man trying to steal his daughter. “Ed?”

 

“Okay, now I know I got the assignment from hell,” grimaced the man. “Sorry Kid, I didn't know she was yours. I never woulda believed her if I had known; woulda saved myself a world of hurt too.”

 

“If you didn't know she was mine, how did you know where to find her?” asked Duo, Shinigami shining in his eyes.

 

“She called me and told me where I could find the kid. Called about two hours ago, from a local number. Kid, what's going on? What kind of mess did I get myself into with this one?” he asked.

 

“Join Preventor Ed or go back to Howard. Cassy pulled you into some deep shit,” his glare turned deadly. “You ever touch my daughter again; you won't live long enough to regret it.”

 

“Kid,” called Ed as Duo stalked away. “I did three jobs for this chick this week. I got birth records proving they're all hers despite their ages. Her story is that because of you they took `em all and gave `em to their deadbeat fathers.”

 

“Shit,” snarled Duo. “Heero, we need to call Une.”

 

“How did she do it?” questioned Relena from where she was sitting. “The way I understood it, they were all born within weeks of each other.”

 

“Surrogates,” answered Noin. “We just got the reports this morning; that's why I was so late.”

 

“She was pregnant,” said Duo stunned, “We all saw her, she was pregnant and there was no denying it.”

 

“She carried at least one of the children,” Noin answered. “We don't know for sure which one.”

 

Heero turned just as Une entered the area, her long hair in a ponytail. “We need to put an end to this.”

 

“Which one of you knows the base at Niigata?” she questioned looked around the group.

 

“I hit that base fairly early in the war,” responded Wufei, his eyes downcast. “I had faulty information. There were civilians on base and the shelters were not coded as shelters. A mobile suit fell on the `shelter'… there were forty people inside including six children. The higher ups were hidden in drainage pipes a hundred yards away that would have been able to withstand Maxwell blowing the place.” He rubbed at a burn scar along the inside of his forearm. “I was furious, dragged them out of their shelter and forced them to help me dig out the bodies.” He glanced over at his wife and children playing in the shallow pool, a Preventor standing guard only a few feet away. “Can we take this somewhere else? This place does not need to be soiled by these memories.”

 

 

 

Author notes: Rahne's fight is based on my niece and the lady down the block who tried to force her into the car to bring her home because she had been fighting with her daughter. Mrs. Kinley walked away with bruised ribs and a police record.