Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sufferance ❯ Chapter 3
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Arigatomina 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Hentai / Fantasy / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.08.2002 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.9K | Visits: 416 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Hentai / Fantasy / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.08.2002 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.9K | Visits: 416 | Status: Work In Progress
Category: AU, Yaoi, Gundam Wing
Warnings: hints of shonen ai, minor angst, slight violence
Pairings: 5+2, 3+4/4+3, will be 1x2, 5x2, 1x2x5, 3x4
Author: Arigatomina
Email: arigatoumina@hotmail.com
Complete Archive: www.geocities.com/arigatomina
Sufferance
Part 3
Duo breathed through his mouth, limiting the sounds he made so the room couldn't echo them. His eyes flicked to the mirrors on the right wall, then away again. Stalls lined the left side of the room, a bare wall blocked his way and he turned, his black shoes streaking the white floor. //Dead end, nice job.// His teeth clenched in anger, and he looked around again. There had to be some place to hide. //Why bother? All they want are answers.// For the first time in his memory, Duo actually listened to it, hesitating. //And to keep you where they can see you. Who would want a dangerous threat at their back?// A low growl escaped his lips, and Duo turned again, scanning the room. His eyes lit on the ceiling and he caught his breath. //Planning to hide in a dark hole? Oh, that is *perfect*.// Eyes narrowed to slits, Duo gripped the railing of the last stall, ignoring the voice as he hefted himself onto it.
The thin metal creaked, but he shifted so his weight fell on the tall shafts that supported the doors. The ceiling was made up of square panels of some synthetic material, and the segment above him gave way with little pressure. It lifted, and he pushed it aside enough to leave a small gap. He couldn't hear anyone stirring in the interconnected rooms, but he wasn't willing to take any chances. Even if the demon was wrong, he knew Quatre would seek him out if only because the boy cared too much to be cautious. The boy's stricken expression had been enough to make him pause before bolting, but only momentarily. His fingers found a tenuous grip on the metal framing, but it was enough for him to pull his body upward. Standing on the balls of his feet, he reached a hand into the black space, a soft sigh brushing his lips when he didn't feel a ceiling.
The segment wasn't strong enough to support him, but the squares were only thirty-six inches wide, and he crouched in the dark, his knees resting on the metal braces. A soft sound reached him as he was replacing the square, but the light was blocked off so he couldn't be sure. Palms pressed carefully on the metal supports, he listened, silencing his breathing as well as he could. //The lion, stalking. He is so quiet...and angry.// Duo shivered for a moment, then he glared, furious with himself. He wasn't afraid of Trowa, or any of them. //You should be. The serpent is revealed, the hunt has begun, and you hide in this black hole.// The abrupt laughter was so loud he flinched, then he glared darker. He was too angry, too hurt and emotional, he had to calm down and fast before he made a mistake. There wasn't any doubt in his mind that Trowa was in the room beneath him, for whatever reason. //Not just him, they're all looking for you. And they'll find you, there are only so many places to hide.//
Its voice was soft, as if they were in confidence with each other. That meant it was enjoying itself. Despite his anger, Duo knew better than to let the opportunity pass. //Is he still there?// Silence met his directed thought, then he had the distinct impression that it grinned.
//No, Duo, but he will be back. Do you want to know what he's thinking?//
He did, but he wasn't willing to ask. He knew the demon too well, any information it gave him would hurt, and he wasn't sure he could take it. That was, of course, assuming it didn't lie. Instead, he focused on moving, his hand stretching to his left. The square he'd entered through had been a few feet from the wall, and he could feel hollow metal above him, some sort of duct maybe. He couldn't shift without making a bit of noise, but he believed that the boy was no longer beneath him. As he'd thought, the wall didn't extend into the space, and he stretched out on the thin partition that separated the toilets from the shower room. There was no way he'd risk sleeping, but he figured he might as well make himself comfortable. He couldn't hide forever, but he had to think of something to tell them. But he didn't even know what they'd seen that had frightened them so much.
//They saw evil they were incapable of understanding, they saw *you*.//
Lying on his side, Duo lowered his head, resting his cheek on his folded arm. //They saw something...but I didn't do anything to them. It must have been the dream. If my dreams were visible to them...but that wouldn't explain it. They would have seen something sooner, before now. What was different this time?// Cold anger seeped through his mind, and he was almost surprised by it.
//He *hit* you.//
Its voice was dripping with hate, more than he'd ever heard and Duo's eyes closed. //What difference would that make? I didn't wake up immediately, you pulled me back, stabbed me. Though I don't see why, asserting your power? I still woke up, is that it? No. I've woken up before.//
//They never came close enough to see before. The only difference was him.//
"Why are you so angry?" Duo whispered, his eyes opening to the black air. He wasn't afraid while he was awake, he knew he could silence it if he concentrated enough. But the horrible fury was too much to take, with his eyes closed and his attention focused inward. //Because you were interrupted?// Silence met him, and minutes passed before he realized it wasn't going to talk anymore. With no distractions, he set his mind to deciding what he was going to do. The only thing he could think of would be to tell them the truth, but that was the last thing he wanted to do.
* * *
Trowa was the last one to come back, and he shut the door quietly behind him. "Nothing."
"This is impossible," Wufei spat, pacing the room. "We've checked everywhere."
"Could he have gone into a different room?" Heero asked.
"No. I checked the unoccupied rooms, there's no way he'd go into the occupied ones. We've checked all the wings, the cafeteria, the showers. I even looked in the courtyard! He can't have just vanished like this." Wufei paused when Quatre laid a hand on his arm, but he shook his head at the boy's comforting expression. "We must have missed something."
"Let me walk the route again," Heero offered, "have someone stay here in case he comes back. Trowa, hold position in the hall between the mess area and the courtyard. Wufei, you take the opposite wing. If we're spread out, he'll hit us. Assuming he's still mobile, which would explain why we haven't seen him yet."
"You're good," Trowa commented, nodding slowly. "I'll do it. Quatre can wait here."
"If Quatre stays just outside the door, he can watch the right wing," Wufei argued, "I'm going with you."
"Right."
"If you find him," Quatre said, moving in front of the door, "just keep him there and get me, okay?" Heero gave him a nod before they left the room but he didn't fail to notice that Wufei hadn't agreed. But he doubted if they'd let him run again if they found him.
* * *
They both noticed the evidence at the same time, though Wufei was more certain that it was Duo who'd made the scuffmark. The boy's black shoes were familiar to him. Their eyes met, then Heero crouched on the floor, looking under the stalls without moving toward the wall. Shaking his head, he stood slowly and walked forward, Wufei following him till they were facing the last two stalls. They met with nothing when they looked inside, and Wufei started to curse but held off when Heero raised a hand to his mouth. At least, he thought he was motioning for silence until he saw the boy's finger was pointing upward.
Looking up, Wufei's eyes crept over the low ceiling before he glanced back to Heero. The dark-haired boy was raising an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. Heero gestured to himself and he bent, offering him his cupped hands. The boy was light on his feet and he balanced well on the thin metal frame. He watched as Heero pressed his ear to the panel of the ceiling, frowning when the boy shook his head. It was an odd idea, and Wufei wouldn't have thought of it. That is, he wouldn't have expected Duo to think of it, he wasn't used to the idea of him having experience hiding. Then Heero pushed up one of the square segments.
* * *
//Someone's coming for you.//
There hadn't been anything for minutes, and Duo flinched when that low voice sounded in his mind. //Is it them?//
//There are security cameras in the halls, guess I should have told you sooner.//
Duo's heart leapt into his throat and he didn't even have time to panic. His hiding place had been temporary, but now it was nothing more than a dark trap. He didn't have to ask to know what they would do with him if he was caught, and his breath caught painfully. //God! What do I do?!// He wasn't talking to the demon, and he knew better than to expect help from it, but he couldn't think clearly. The dark suddenly didn't seem as dark to him and he curled back farther along the solid wall beneath him, not knowing which direction they'd come from. A crack of light told him and he cringed back, closing his eyes.
* * *
Wufei didn't know what to make of it, one minute Heero was lifting the segment and the next he was on the floor in a shower of glass as every light in the room blew out at the same second. Crouching himself, he threw his arms over his head as the mirrors shattered, a few splinters cutting him. He didn't know what had hit him until he felt arms around his waist and he was shoved back just as the doors to the stalls slammed open, one falling onto his legs as it was torn off the frame. The light from the other room shone around the corner, giving a dim visual and they ducked under the sinks as the stall-frames seemed to curve outward, tearing from the wall with loud groans.
"What the hell is this?!" Heero asked, his voice a rough whisper.
"This is going to gain attention," Wufei said, his eyes wide as the metal pieces seemed to be separating themselves. The door that lay on the floor was clattering, rocking as if it were trying to stand up. That in itself was enough to make him grab Heero's arm and jerk the boy toward the exit. The moment they ducked into the hall the noises stopped, and Heero rocked back onto him with a startled cry. The bathroom looked as if nothing had happened and they stayed on the floor for long minutes. Then Wufei looked down at his arm and showed the small cuts to Heero.
"No glass," Heero whispered, touching one of the dots of blood. "Do you think he's in there?"
"That makes as much sense as anything else that's happened tonight." Wufei stood slowly, breathing deeply as he calmed his racing heart. He didn't spook, but that was something else. The Japanese boy had also gained his feet, and they approached the room together. Wufei half expected the room to revert to its torn state the moment they stepped into it, but nothing happened at all. Swallowing, he glared up at the ceiling. "Duo?" Silence met him and he looked at Heero. "Want to try that again?"
"Not really," Heero admitted, "but I will."
"I can go this time," Wufei said, but he was relieved when Heero shook his head.
"One more time, then we change tactics." He really wasn't looking forward to a repeat performance. An enemy he could handle, but not one he couldn't see or comprehend. Wufei gave him a boost again but he hesitated this time, touching the segment he'd pushed on before. "It's like ice," he said, not bothering to whisper. Obviously Duo either couldn't hear them, or he wasn't willing to answer. Warning Wufei to be ready, he slammed his fist against the divider, not actually moving the segment. Almost simultaneously, the wide mirror cracked. "What now?"
"Damnit Duo! We just want to talk to you!" Wufei ducked when the mirror shattered outward and he had to dive to the floor as a large shard somehow buried itself in the tile where he'd been standing. "Shit!"
"This is too dangerous," Heero commented, his eyes on the ceiling above him. "Why would he want to hurt you?"
"I don't know," Wufei whispered, still staring at the piece of glass. "I don't know anything. Maybe we should...leave him alone."
"How is he doing it?"
"Why are you asking me?" Wufei returned, staring up at the boy crouched near the ceiling. "Just get down, we have to try something else." Heero stared at him for a minute, then dropped lightly to the floor.
* * *
Someone was talking to him. The voice was soft, soothing, and he felt pulled toward it. His eyes opened to darkness, and he shivered as he found himself covered in a cold sweat. At first he didn't know where he was, then he remembered and his body tensed, his ears straining to hear what was being said. He couldn't quite make out the words, they were so soft, and he wondered why he'd thought the person was talking to him. Still, he inched forward, leaning close to the segments that separated him from the room below. The voice in his head was oddly silent and he blinked suddenly. "Quatre...?" The blonde boy gave a surprised gasp when he lifted the segment, and Duo grabbed his wrist, jerking him back so he wouldn't fall from his precarious perch.
"Duo!" Quatre's eyes were wide as he looked up at the boy warily and he balanced himself against the wall. "Are you okay, Duo? Will you come down and talk to me? The others won't come in if you don't want them to."
Duo blinked and leaned down, glancing at the room. He couldn't see anyone else and he frowned, longing to rub his forehead as he had a splitting headache. Quatre must have taken his silence as a no because the boy shook his head quickly.
"You don't have to, I just want to make sure you're all right. I was worried about you. We didn't mean to scare you earlier."
"Scare me?" Duo whispered, flushing with embarrassment. "I'm the one who scared *you* guys." His brows drew together, and he wondered if he'd fallen asleep or something. He remembered being terrified that he was about to be taken away, but evidently that hadn't happened. Quatre's eyes were damp, his face even paler than usual and Duo sighed. "Can you get down? Where's Trowa?"
"We didn't want to startle you," Quatre said, glancing behind him, his hand tightening around Duo's wrist as he used the boy for an anchor. He couldn't see the boy, but he knew Trowa was just out of sight. "Can I call him?"
"Sure," Duo said quickly, frowning when Quatre gave a sigh of obvious relief.
"Trowa, it's okay to come in." The tall boy reached them within seconds, his long-legged gait making his progress quicker. Quatre gave him a grateful smile when he was lifted down, and he motioned for Trowa to step back as Duo lowered himself onto the metal frame. "Do you need help, Duo?"
"I got it." Crouching for a moment, Duo gripped the edges of the hole as his vision swam briefly. Then he replaced the segment and dropped to the floor. The two boys moved back quickly and he winced. "I'm not going to attack you," he said lightly, a small forced smile not quite making it to his lips. Quatre looked at Trowa and he frowned, wondering what they were thinking. The demon had said they were afraid of what they'd seen during his nightmare, nothing more. Now, he wondered if it had been lying. "So why are the two of you here, if you're afraid of me?"
"We were worried about you," Quatre said, laying a tentative hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Yeah? Then where's Wufei? And Heero?" The blonde flinched, his pale blue-green eyes wary and Duo had a rush of cold over his back. "Quatre...did something happen? What's wrong?"
"You don't remember?" Quatre asked, looking at Trowa again. "They're waiting, do you want to go back to our room? You don't have to talk if you don't want to."
"No," Duo muttered, a wry smirk marring his face. "I pretty much figured I'd have to talk after I ran off earlier. But I wasn't sure if you guys were up to seeing me again. I know I wouldn't be."
"Come on," Quatre said again, resisting the urge to put an arm around the boy. "Let's go back to our room."
* * *
TBC
Warnings: hints of shonen ai, minor angst, slight violence
Pairings: 5+2, 3+4/4+3, will be 1x2, 5x2, 1x2x5, 3x4
Author: Arigatomina
Email: arigatoumina@hotmail.com
Complete Archive: www.geocities.com/arigatomina
Sufferance
Part 3
Duo breathed through his mouth, limiting the sounds he made so the room couldn't echo them. His eyes flicked to the mirrors on the right wall, then away again. Stalls lined the left side of the room, a bare wall blocked his way and he turned, his black shoes streaking the white floor. //Dead end, nice job.// His teeth clenched in anger, and he looked around again. There had to be some place to hide. //Why bother? All they want are answers.// For the first time in his memory, Duo actually listened to it, hesitating. //And to keep you where they can see you. Who would want a dangerous threat at their back?// A low growl escaped his lips, and Duo turned again, scanning the room. His eyes lit on the ceiling and he caught his breath. //Planning to hide in a dark hole? Oh, that is *perfect*.// Eyes narrowed to slits, Duo gripped the railing of the last stall, ignoring the voice as he hefted himself onto it.
The thin metal creaked, but he shifted so his weight fell on the tall shafts that supported the doors. The ceiling was made up of square panels of some synthetic material, and the segment above him gave way with little pressure. It lifted, and he pushed it aside enough to leave a small gap. He couldn't hear anyone stirring in the interconnected rooms, but he wasn't willing to take any chances. Even if the demon was wrong, he knew Quatre would seek him out if only because the boy cared too much to be cautious. The boy's stricken expression had been enough to make him pause before bolting, but only momentarily. His fingers found a tenuous grip on the metal framing, but it was enough for him to pull his body upward. Standing on the balls of his feet, he reached a hand into the black space, a soft sigh brushing his lips when he didn't feel a ceiling.
The segment wasn't strong enough to support him, but the squares were only thirty-six inches wide, and he crouched in the dark, his knees resting on the metal braces. A soft sound reached him as he was replacing the square, but the light was blocked off so he couldn't be sure. Palms pressed carefully on the metal supports, he listened, silencing his breathing as well as he could. //The lion, stalking. He is so quiet...and angry.// Duo shivered for a moment, then he glared, furious with himself. He wasn't afraid of Trowa, or any of them. //You should be. The serpent is revealed, the hunt has begun, and you hide in this black hole.// The abrupt laughter was so loud he flinched, then he glared darker. He was too angry, too hurt and emotional, he had to calm down and fast before he made a mistake. There wasn't any doubt in his mind that Trowa was in the room beneath him, for whatever reason. //Not just him, they're all looking for you. And they'll find you, there are only so many places to hide.//
Its voice was soft, as if they were in confidence with each other. That meant it was enjoying itself. Despite his anger, Duo knew better than to let the opportunity pass. //Is he still there?// Silence met his directed thought, then he had the distinct impression that it grinned.
//No, Duo, but he will be back. Do you want to know what he's thinking?//
He did, but he wasn't willing to ask. He knew the demon too well, any information it gave him would hurt, and he wasn't sure he could take it. That was, of course, assuming it didn't lie. Instead, he focused on moving, his hand stretching to his left. The square he'd entered through had been a few feet from the wall, and he could feel hollow metal above him, some sort of duct maybe. He couldn't shift without making a bit of noise, but he believed that the boy was no longer beneath him. As he'd thought, the wall didn't extend into the space, and he stretched out on the thin partition that separated the toilets from the shower room. There was no way he'd risk sleeping, but he figured he might as well make himself comfortable. He couldn't hide forever, but he had to think of something to tell them. But he didn't even know what they'd seen that had frightened them so much.
//They saw evil they were incapable of understanding, they saw *you*.//
Lying on his side, Duo lowered his head, resting his cheek on his folded arm. //They saw something...but I didn't do anything to them. It must have been the dream. If my dreams were visible to them...but that wouldn't explain it. They would have seen something sooner, before now. What was different this time?// Cold anger seeped through his mind, and he was almost surprised by it.
//He *hit* you.//
Its voice was dripping with hate, more than he'd ever heard and Duo's eyes closed. //What difference would that make? I didn't wake up immediately, you pulled me back, stabbed me. Though I don't see why, asserting your power? I still woke up, is that it? No. I've woken up before.//
//They never came close enough to see before. The only difference was him.//
"Why are you so angry?" Duo whispered, his eyes opening to the black air. He wasn't afraid while he was awake, he knew he could silence it if he concentrated enough. But the horrible fury was too much to take, with his eyes closed and his attention focused inward. //Because you were interrupted?// Silence met him, and minutes passed before he realized it wasn't going to talk anymore. With no distractions, he set his mind to deciding what he was going to do. The only thing he could think of would be to tell them the truth, but that was the last thing he wanted to do.
* * *
Trowa was the last one to come back, and he shut the door quietly behind him. "Nothing."
"This is impossible," Wufei spat, pacing the room. "We've checked everywhere."
"Could he have gone into a different room?" Heero asked.
"No. I checked the unoccupied rooms, there's no way he'd go into the occupied ones. We've checked all the wings, the cafeteria, the showers. I even looked in the courtyard! He can't have just vanished like this." Wufei paused when Quatre laid a hand on his arm, but he shook his head at the boy's comforting expression. "We must have missed something."
"Let me walk the route again," Heero offered, "have someone stay here in case he comes back. Trowa, hold position in the hall between the mess area and the courtyard. Wufei, you take the opposite wing. If we're spread out, he'll hit us. Assuming he's still mobile, which would explain why we haven't seen him yet."
"You're good," Trowa commented, nodding slowly. "I'll do it. Quatre can wait here."
"If Quatre stays just outside the door, he can watch the right wing," Wufei argued, "I'm going with you."
"Right."
"If you find him," Quatre said, moving in front of the door, "just keep him there and get me, okay?" Heero gave him a nod before they left the room but he didn't fail to notice that Wufei hadn't agreed. But he doubted if they'd let him run again if they found him.
* * *
They both noticed the evidence at the same time, though Wufei was more certain that it was Duo who'd made the scuffmark. The boy's black shoes were familiar to him. Their eyes met, then Heero crouched on the floor, looking under the stalls without moving toward the wall. Shaking his head, he stood slowly and walked forward, Wufei following him till they were facing the last two stalls. They met with nothing when they looked inside, and Wufei started to curse but held off when Heero raised a hand to his mouth. At least, he thought he was motioning for silence until he saw the boy's finger was pointing upward.
Looking up, Wufei's eyes crept over the low ceiling before he glanced back to Heero. The dark-haired boy was raising an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. Heero gestured to himself and he bent, offering him his cupped hands. The boy was light on his feet and he balanced well on the thin metal frame. He watched as Heero pressed his ear to the panel of the ceiling, frowning when the boy shook his head. It was an odd idea, and Wufei wouldn't have thought of it. That is, he wouldn't have expected Duo to think of it, he wasn't used to the idea of him having experience hiding. Then Heero pushed up one of the square segments.
* * *
//Someone's coming for you.//
There hadn't been anything for minutes, and Duo flinched when that low voice sounded in his mind. //Is it them?//
//There are security cameras in the halls, guess I should have told you sooner.//
Duo's heart leapt into his throat and he didn't even have time to panic. His hiding place had been temporary, but now it was nothing more than a dark trap. He didn't have to ask to know what they would do with him if he was caught, and his breath caught painfully. //God! What do I do?!// He wasn't talking to the demon, and he knew better than to expect help from it, but he couldn't think clearly. The dark suddenly didn't seem as dark to him and he curled back farther along the solid wall beneath him, not knowing which direction they'd come from. A crack of light told him and he cringed back, closing his eyes.
* * *
Wufei didn't know what to make of it, one minute Heero was lifting the segment and the next he was on the floor in a shower of glass as every light in the room blew out at the same second. Crouching himself, he threw his arms over his head as the mirrors shattered, a few splinters cutting him. He didn't know what had hit him until he felt arms around his waist and he was shoved back just as the doors to the stalls slammed open, one falling onto his legs as it was torn off the frame. The light from the other room shone around the corner, giving a dim visual and they ducked under the sinks as the stall-frames seemed to curve outward, tearing from the wall with loud groans.
"What the hell is this?!" Heero asked, his voice a rough whisper.
"This is going to gain attention," Wufei said, his eyes wide as the metal pieces seemed to be separating themselves. The door that lay on the floor was clattering, rocking as if it were trying to stand up. That in itself was enough to make him grab Heero's arm and jerk the boy toward the exit. The moment they ducked into the hall the noises stopped, and Heero rocked back onto him with a startled cry. The bathroom looked as if nothing had happened and they stayed on the floor for long minutes. Then Wufei looked down at his arm and showed the small cuts to Heero.
"No glass," Heero whispered, touching one of the dots of blood. "Do you think he's in there?"
"That makes as much sense as anything else that's happened tonight." Wufei stood slowly, breathing deeply as he calmed his racing heart. He didn't spook, but that was something else. The Japanese boy had also gained his feet, and they approached the room together. Wufei half expected the room to revert to its torn state the moment they stepped into it, but nothing happened at all. Swallowing, he glared up at the ceiling. "Duo?" Silence met him and he looked at Heero. "Want to try that again?"
"Not really," Heero admitted, "but I will."
"I can go this time," Wufei said, but he was relieved when Heero shook his head.
"One more time, then we change tactics." He really wasn't looking forward to a repeat performance. An enemy he could handle, but not one he couldn't see or comprehend. Wufei gave him a boost again but he hesitated this time, touching the segment he'd pushed on before. "It's like ice," he said, not bothering to whisper. Obviously Duo either couldn't hear them, or he wasn't willing to answer. Warning Wufei to be ready, he slammed his fist against the divider, not actually moving the segment. Almost simultaneously, the wide mirror cracked. "What now?"
"Damnit Duo! We just want to talk to you!" Wufei ducked when the mirror shattered outward and he had to dive to the floor as a large shard somehow buried itself in the tile where he'd been standing. "Shit!"
"This is too dangerous," Heero commented, his eyes on the ceiling above him. "Why would he want to hurt you?"
"I don't know," Wufei whispered, still staring at the piece of glass. "I don't know anything. Maybe we should...leave him alone."
"How is he doing it?"
"Why are you asking me?" Wufei returned, staring up at the boy crouched near the ceiling. "Just get down, we have to try something else." Heero stared at him for a minute, then dropped lightly to the floor.
* * *
Someone was talking to him. The voice was soft, soothing, and he felt pulled toward it. His eyes opened to darkness, and he shivered as he found himself covered in a cold sweat. At first he didn't know where he was, then he remembered and his body tensed, his ears straining to hear what was being said. He couldn't quite make out the words, they were so soft, and he wondered why he'd thought the person was talking to him. Still, he inched forward, leaning close to the segments that separated him from the room below. The voice in his head was oddly silent and he blinked suddenly. "Quatre...?" The blonde boy gave a surprised gasp when he lifted the segment, and Duo grabbed his wrist, jerking him back so he wouldn't fall from his precarious perch.
"Duo!" Quatre's eyes were wide as he looked up at the boy warily and he balanced himself against the wall. "Are you okay, Duo? Will you come down and talk to me? The others won't come in if you don't want them to."
Duo blinked and leaned down, glancing at the room. He couldn't see anyone else and he frowned, longing to rub his forehead as he had a splitting headache. Quatre must have taken his silence as a no because the boy shook his head quickly.
"You don't have to, I just want to make sure you're all right. I was worried about you. We didn't mean to scare you earlier."
"Scare me?" Duo whispered, flushing with embarrassment. "I'm the one who scared *you* guys." His brows drew together, and he wondered if he'd fallen asleep or something. He remembered being terrified that he was about to be taken away, but evidently that hadn't happened. Quatre's eyes were damp, his face even paler than usual and Duo sighed. "Can you get down? Where's Trowa?"
"We didn't want to startle you," Quatre said, glancing behind him, his hand tightening around Duo's wrist as he used the boy for an anchor. He couldn't see the boy, but he knew Trowa was just out of sight. "Can I call him?"
"Sure," Duo said quickly, frowning when Quatre gave a sigh of obvious relief.
"Trowa, it's okay to come in." The tall boy reached them within seconds, his long-legged gait making his progress quicker. Quatre gave him a grateful smile when he was lifted down, and he motioned for Trowa to step back as Duo lowered himself onto the metal frame. "Do you need help, Duo?"
"I got it." Crouching for a moment, Duo gripped the edges of the hole as his vision swam briefly. Then he replaced the segment and dropped to the floor. The two boys moved back quickly and he winced. "I'm not going to attack you," he said lightly, a small forced smile not quite making it to his lips. Quatre looked at Trowa and he frowned, wondering what they were thinking. The demon had said they were afraid of what they'd seen during his nightmare, nothing more. Now, he wondered if it had been lying. "So why are the two of you here, if you're afraid of me?"
"We were worried about you," Quatre said, laying a tentative hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Yeah? Then where's Wufei? And Heero?" The blonde flinched, his pale blue-green eyes wary and Duo had a rush of cold over his back. "Quatre...did something happen? What's wrong?"
"You don't remember?" Quatre asked, looking at Trowa again. "They're waiting, do you want to go back to our room? You don't have to talk if you don't want to."
"No," Duo muttered, a wry smirk marring his face. "I pretty much figured I'd have to talk after I ran off earlier. But I wasn't sure if you guys were up to seeing me again. I know I wouldn't be."
"Come on," Quatre said again, resisting the urge to put an arm around the boy. "Let's go back to our room."
* * *
TBC