Then it was down to Quatre Zechs and the joker on the computer screen. "I'm following you Quatre." Quatre left a moment later, trusting Zechs to follow him. He smiled as he passed the black Mercedes still sitting in the yard. Quatre was the only one that was going to get to talk to anyone on this trip.

Quatre made good time through the forest, reaching Sandrock in no time at all. He waited for Zechs before lowering the cable and hoisting himself up into the hatch. Then he lowered it to Zechs, wondering how he was going to secure him while he flew.

Zechs reached up to take the cable, then held on as he was pulled up to the hatch, his balance having mightily improved. "Soon I should be able to fight again."

Quatre smiled and nodded. He began to boot Sandrock up, slowly, letting him warm up as he sat down and buckled himself up. "I'm afraid gundams aren't really made for two travelers. I can guess you would be safest sitting on the floor here." Quatre indicated the space right between his legs.

Zechs looked around and nodded slightly. "It's tiny in here." Zechs curled into the indicated space, turning a baleful gaze up to Quatre as the smaller blond closed the hatch.

"Yeah. It is." Quatre agreed and waited until Zechs took a seat and began his flight.

Zechs moved a little, shifting up against Quatre's legs, but it was the biggest space in the area. "Are they all like this inside? If they are I can understand why you are all so short."

"Wing Zero is a little bigger. But only slightly. I haven't piloted any other suit." Quatre replied, frowning a little at being called short, he'd grown a little in the past few years... Though, he wasn't any taller than the rest of the pilots.

Zechs nodded a little. "Tallgeese was far larger inside than this."

"Where's Tallgeese now?" Quatre asked interested. He was going to fly manual all the way there, lest his gundam was being monitored. *It will be harder to track if I don't put it on auto pilot and fly in a random pattern.*

"Destroyed... I was sent into a no win battle as a parting gift from Treize. He was trying hard to make sure that he could call me dead politically so I would be safe." Zechs snorted. "It didn't work out how I'd have liked."

Quatre just nodded. "I can get you a suit... But I'm afraid it may not be very good. It certainly won't be up to Tallgeese's standard..."

Zechs smirked. "If you can get me something to start with, I can bring it up to my own private standards."

"That I can do." Quatre announced sure of himself. "If you are hungry or anything, I have some snacks in that compartment to your left."

Zechs tilted his head. "Of course... I'd need access to parts as well."

"Don't take mine." Quatre replied with a slight smirk.

"In other words I need to get my own parts. This should be interesting." Zechs leaned back as much as he could, working over in his mind what to do through his private sources. Not everything he had was connected to OZ in some fashion.

"You could steal them from Heero." Quatre replied grinning as he changed his flight path, heading east now.

"No, I have a way to get parts that I cannot get from any of you." Zechs turned his head. "I have nearly enough... I just need a base to work on and I'll have my machine back."

"Ah good. Nice to know we won't have any parts thieves on our team. Nice to have someone who's responsible." Quatre gave Zechs a little kick with his foot, more of nudge.

Zechs smiled a little to himself. "Oz was never a forever thing for me Quatre. I had alternatives set up."

"That's good." Quatre replied.

"Yes." Zechs closed his eyes, dropping his head back. "What have you all lost to this never ending war Quatre?"

"Can you pass me a chocolate bar?" Quatre asked, suddenly frowning.

Zechs leaned over, getting the chocolate for Quatre, and a granola bar for himself.

"Thanks." Quatre replied and unwrapped the bar and began to nibble.

"So you have." Zechs nodded once, not pressing the issue as he opened his own snack.

Quatre said nothing for a moment, continuing to chew. Zechs accepted the silence, looking down from Quatre to the food in his hands. Quatre finished his chocolate bar and handed the wrappings to Zechs, to put back in the compartment.

Zechs did as silently asked. "You know Sanq was once destroyed?" He put the wrappers back in the compartment.

Quatre turned his full attention on the controls, already knowing he wouldn't be able to return the effort of what was being said. "Yes. I know."

"I remember it." Zechs turned his hands, wrists up, showing Quatre the burns that licked up the inside of his wrists, and a wry smile twisted his lips. "I was with my parents when it all started you see."

"Is that why you call yourself Zechs?" Quatre asked, his tone very soft, but also curious.

"I took up that name after, on the street. I'd killed to defend my mother, during the fall, and it hadn't done any good, so I had to find another name to call myself." Zechs shrugged slightly, looking at his burns. It wasn't a lie... It wasn't the entire truth either. His name was a private matter. "Treize's faction found me when I was eleven. I think he knew who he was."

Quatre's expression softened hearing Zechs speak, but he said nothing.

"I didn't manage to defend Sanq after though. I failed then too. Then this new problem..." Zechs paused with a self-derisive smirk. "At least I officially do not recognize myself as a Peacecraft, I hear Relena is a horrible little girl, no matter how sweet she was as a baby."

"Yeah, I'll agree to that!" Quatre nodded, with a slight laugh in his voice.

Zechs laughed a little, and shook his head. "I haven't seen her in person since I was six. Not sure I want to anymore." There was a little bit of longing in his voice, but it was well stifled.

"I think I could die a happy man if I never saw her again. No offense of course." Quatre added, he picked up on the feeling. He didn't even have to hear it; he could feel it.

Zechs smiled a little. "So, I'm an orphan. I hear things have been up in the air for your family...?"

"I suppose so." Quatre replied. His tone turned slightly sour, and he shrugged, not wanting to continue this line of conversation.

"Of course. It was rude of me to presume that you would return any information." Zechs shrugged and fell silent, looking out the view screen pointedly.

"Maybe some other time, alright?" Quatre let out a deep sigh.

Zechs merely shook his head. "Being around you pilots has gotten to me."

"What do you mean?" Quatre asked.

"I'm trusting." Zechs made the comment as flat and distasteful sounding as possible.

"What's wrong with that?" Quatre replied, slightly offended. "I trust the other pilots with my life, and vice versa." This was his belief and nothing could shake it.

Zechs turned on Quatre, anger flaring in his eyes. "And just who have I *ever* been able to trust with my life Winner? Tell me."

"Me." Quatre countered, not immediately being able to think of anyone.

"Before I came to you pilots Quatre. I don't mean what happened since I came to you. Before you found me out in that forest, who?" Zechs continued to stare at Quatre. He'd had only one, and now he was starting to trust the pilots, and he didn't understand it.

Quatre just shrugged. He didn't know what to say. He thought about saying Treize. But after a second figured it wasn't the best answer.

"Exactly. You pilots are the only ones that I've had any reason to trust in a long while. I trusted Treize, not with my life, but I trusted. Look where it landed me." Zechs moved a hand patting Quatre a little.

Quatre returned the pat with a small nudge; he couldn't exactly return the pat. "It landed you with us." he replied. "That's not a bad place..."

"No, it isn't, even if you are rather insane half the time." Zechs nodded, leaning his head against the dash and closing his eyes.

"Well we all have to do things to keep our sanity every once in a while." Quatre replied amusingly thinking about all the things that happened this past week.

Zechs snorted quietly. "I always thought competing with Heero was perfect for that... Looks like that might have changed a bit. It's bad form to try killing off someone on your own side... You guys are your own side now aren't you?" Zechs seemed to have just realized it.

Quatre sighed. "Yeah..." he didn't like it, but yet at the same time he did. They would call their own shots now. But he was also worried, now that they were working for themselves, they would probably argue.

"I wish I could be of more help, but the last couple months I've been steadily filtered out of political matters." Zechs didn't move, getting quiet as he started inching towards sleep. Quatre nodded again, not saying anything in case Zechs wanted to sleep. Zechs dozed off shortly after, leaning into Quatre's legs and the control panel. Quatre smiled taking his hand off one of the controls to pat Zechs' head softly. Zechs leaned into the touch, a soft sigh escaping him. He was still tense, even in sleep, but it just showed his new trust that he didn't wake.

Quatre smiled and picked up his speed a tad. He hoped the other were doing all right.

Duo had taken off from his gundam without a word to Wufei aside from a quick hug and a wave; his mind too preoccupied trying to figure out all the implications of the day's revelations. Wufei was a little hurt that he rated so lowly, but climbed in his Gundam anyway, extremely nervous about being apart from Duo. The logical part of his consciousness was telling him that Duo would be fine, he still shivered as he climbed in and followed Duo, making sure Deathscythe was in his view the whole time.

Zechs attempted to move, trying to stretch out a charley horse, without waking up, only to hit his knee on the underside of Quatre's pilot chair. "Itai..."

"Are you alright?" Quatre asked, hearing the curse. "You've been asleep for nearly nine hours." It was understandable that Zechs would wake up rather sore. Quatre smirked as a particularly kinky thought crossed his mind, but he shook it off quickly.

Zechs started rubbing his calf, wincing as he looked at his knee. "I'm too injured to sit like this for so long."

"Don't worry, I'm already starting the landing process now." Quatre replied and began to flick a few switches.

"Thank the being. I need to walk this cramp out." Zechs continued to rub, gritting his teeth as the pain got worse. Damn muscles.

Quatre said nothing as he landed his gundam in the hangar of the underground stronghold. "Brace yourself." He replied somewhere between half smirking, and sighing. He shut Sandrock down, the cooling mechanisms kicking in to bring down the suit's temperature.

"Brace myself? I'll be lucky if I can move out of this spot without help." Zechs shook his head a little, lips quirking as he looked to Quatre.

The hatch opened a moment later. "Quatre-sama! I knew you would return to us! How the gods have praised us by granting us a vision of your warm face again!" Abdul jumped into the cabin, swiftly grabbed Quatre, hoisted him over his shoulder, and hopped out. "Quatre-sama has returned to us!" He announced to loud cheers below.

Zechs blinked, looking out the hatch in bewilderment. He didn't think he'd even been seen. Zechs pushed himself up, gritting his teeth as mostly healed scratches, quasi-new bruises, and stiffness from the position, all begged him not to move. He shrugged the pack onto his back again, then peered out of the hatch. He wasn't sure he could make the ground in his condition, but he'd give it a damn good effort.

On the ground, amid all the hugs and praise, Quatre was hurriedly trying to explain their situation to Rashid. He pointed up at Zechs, his lips making the words 'mobile suit' very clearly. The Quatre signaled him with a wave to follow them out of the underground hangar.

Zechs took a deep breath and jumped, bypassing the idea of the climb entirely, and landed in a roll that ended him in a crouch. After a second of stillness, he slowly stood. He was unhurt, something he was rather grateful for.

"Are you hungry, Milliardo-sama?" One of the Maguanacs asked, him, reaching out with a hand to help him to his feet. Another Maguanac appeared at Zechs' other side to help him along.

Zechs looked from one to the other, shrugging his backpack of clothes closer into place. He nearly winced at how loud the big men sounded. Zechs accepted the hand up though. "Please, don't speak so loud. And Zechs if you must." Zechs was rather prepared to be thrown since they likely put more force than needed due to his size, if not weight.

"Yes, sir!" They both intoned in unison, lowering their voices. "Come. It's dinner time!" Another Maguanac cheered from off to the side and ran ahead.

It was disconcerting to be called Milliardo-sama, he hadn't heard that term since he was a child. It still made him flinch. Zechs only nodded though, hoping his correction stuck. "Lead the way, I haven't eaten in quite a few hours."

They smiled and continued down a long cold hall, before beginning onto an incline that led into a more lavish hallway. Of course, anything would be compared to the hangar. After another left turn past a small courtyard and into the dining hall. Most of the Maguanacs were already seated, eating, and Quatre was conversing with Rashid, his face awash with smiles. Quatre waved when he saw Zechs come in and gestured him over patting the seat next to him.

Zechs looked around all the faces in the place then walked over, shrugging off his backpack before sitting down. "So this is that mysterious army huh?" It was said in good humor, his blue eyes looking towards Quatre.

"I wouldn't say mysterious." Quatre smiled, giving a little wink to Rashid as he did so. "We are safe here." He then began to eat his meal. "Eat."

"Mysterious from my side of things..." Zechs shrugged, then did at told and started to eat.

Soon, they were finished and Quatre was tired. He hadn't slept in quite a long time, and flying for such a ways and being around all the Maguanacs really made exhausted him. "I'm going to retire. Milliardo would you like to join me or would you prefer to stay in the company of my," he smirked "army?"

Zechs shook his head. "I'll stay down here for a while. It'll be good to see how well I've recovered if these guys care to help."

"Suit yourself. If you feel the need to rest have Rashid show you to my room. By the way Rashid, are the other rooms tidy for my friends?"

Rashid nodded, with a smile on his face. "How soon should we be expecting them, Quatre-sama?"

Quatre yawned loudly. "Heero and Trowa should be here in approximately seven hours. Wufei and Duo won't be here until sometime around sunrise the day after tomorrow." Quatre yawned again and then just left without giving a formal goodbye. He was really tired.

Zechs watched them talk, head tilted forward a little so his hair was shielding his face. Now that he was among others, he was starting to feel uneasy about having his face visible.

"Milliardo-sama, is there anything I can do for you?" Rashid asked. "Would you like a bath? Maybe a tour? Some clothes?"

Zechs tried to hide the twitch that accompanied his original name. "Does anyone have sunglasses and a hat I could use?" Zechs finally got to his feet, wincing as his bruised ribs protested his motion, and not even considering that the Maguanacs would *notice*.

"My clothes are in my bag..." Zechs looked down to his bag, not wanting to bend down to pick it up, but he did anyway.

"Of course, Milliardo-sama! Faheed, may you loan us your sunglasses?" Rashid asked and the wish was immediately granted.

Faheed continued down the hall whistling all the while, as if nothing had happened at all. "Here you are." He handed the sunglasses to Zechs.

"We can put your things in Quatre-sama's rooms" Rashid replied and took Zechs bag and walked up the hall towards Quatre's room. "Come! I'll show you the way." He nearly cheered a bounce in his step as he walked.

Zechs quirked his lips, slipping the sunglasses on with a feeling of relief. Both because his face wasn't as exposed and because everything wasn't quite as bright. He moved down the hall after Rashid, taking a deep breath. His original cuts had reopened, and he'd never even noticed, though some blood as starting to seep through his shirt.

"Ah. Here we are Milliardo-sama." Rashid smiled as he opened the door and walked in, whispering softly, he indicated for Zechs to follow him. Quatre was asleep on the bed, the windows open, and a slight breeze blowing through the room. The room was quite large, but not overly huge, with a door on each wall. Rashid set the bags down near a small round table with 3 chairs. He looked up to see Zechs in the doorway.

Zechs nodded slightly, following after his backpack. He didn't own much at the moment, but it was all in the bag. He was doing his best to ignore some lightheadedness that was prodding at him and he swayed a bit as he crossed the room.

"The bathroom is the door on the left and goodness Milliardo-sama, are you alright?" Rashid asked and hurried to his side. "You're bleeding." He announced suddenly, pulling Zechs to Quatre's bed and having him sit down.

"I am?" Zechs peered down at himself, confused. He was so certain everything was healing well enough that he'd not be *bleeding* anymore. He supposed that all the activities over the last day might have ruined that...

"Yes." Rashid replied and quickly got up to disappear into the bathroom. He returned a moment later a huge medical kit in his hands. "Take off your clothes. I'll bandage you up."

"Now, how does this seem familiar?" Zechs' mutter is rather quiet but he does as instructed, taking off his shirt to show the array of scrapes, scratches, knife wounds, rope marks, these being as though lashed, burns, and bruises. There was also the *old* bandages on him still, and they were damp with more than blood from the hose.

"How did you get these?" Rashid asked, a small amount of shock and disbelief in his words as he began to pull off the old bandages to apply a healing salve and disinfectant to the wounds so he could re-dress them. "I'm afraid while you're here, I'm going to have to restrict you to bed rest so as not to further agitate your injuries."

"Some are from the escape... Some are because I ticked off the slightly feral boy... At least the needle marks are gone." Zechs frowned then, looking at Rashid. "I'll never get used to my changes if I'm confined to bed rest!"

"Escape? Feral boy? Needle marks?" Rashid shook his head. "I'm sorry Milliardo-sama. But bed rest it is. Movement will only make these wounds worse."

"Needle marks are why I can't do bed rest! They screwed with me so I've got to relearn how to defend myself all over again! The same establishment that made the one I just dubbed feral boy, or rather, Duo, the way he is currently, caught me. You'll see when they get here." Zechs looked over at Quatre, shocked if his outburst hadn't woken him. At least, he hadn't moved.

Quatre had awoken, and he wasn't happy about it either. "Shut up and do what he says, or I'll drug you myself." Quatre replied his voice sharp and cold. "Tie you to the bed," he mumbled as he rolled over onto his stomach and fell back asleep.

Zechs looked from one to the other with a glare, showing how not happy about this he was. Quatre and the others had seen his injuries already and he was only choosing *now* to enforce him staying put?

"Sorry Milliardo-sama. Quatre-sama's orders. You rest, you lie still and if I see you walking about I will tie you to the bed." Rashid smiled pleasantly, his grin saying 'I'll do it too, if you don't follow orders.'

Zechs lifted his chin, annoyed for multiple reasons, one being the casual use of his first name. "I can't improve if I'm confined like that." Feeble argument, but he'd try hard to keep his ability to at least walk around.

"Then I suggest you make the wise choice and do as Quatre-sama suggests, before we need to take drastic measures." Rashid replied and took a seat at the table taking out a small book and beginning to read. The sun was just setting outside the windows and like a traditional Arabian palace, the Maguanac stronghold had no electricity in the sleeping quarters.

Zechs scowled, then laid back in the bed, admitting only to himself how tired he was as he passed out nearly the second he lay down.

Trowa was glad to finally have arrived, recognizing the Maguanac's stronghold immediately. The sun was going to rise in a few hours, and he was exhausted. He landed his gundam next to Sandrock and opened the hatch, to be greeted by a small group of Maguanacs who had stayed up to greet them.

Heero landed Wing near Heavyarms then jumped out, his bag slung over his shoulders. "The other two make it here alright?" He was still dressed in that black shirt, now refastened, and in black tight pants.

"Yes. They've been asleep for some time now. I'm afraid Quatre-sama was quite exhausted and went to bed before he could lighten our hearts with tales of his travels." Jamal made a wailing sound and very nearly pretended to faint. Trowa smiled at the action and rolled his eyes.

Heero quirked his lips, curious to see the reaction his differently dressed presence would merit among the other Maguanacs. "Miri was injured when he left, any word on his condition?"

"Who's Miri?" Jamal asked, he turned to Kaheem who just shrugged.

"Zechs?" Heero looked at Jamal, hoping that was the magic name.

"Quatre-sama brought a young gentleman named Milliardo." Kaheem put in, he hadn't expected Heero to show up in this outfit, but it really didn't bother him. He hadn't seen Heero in anything that wasn't somehow revealing. Just consider the spandex! Now, if 'Quatre-sama' had shown up in that outfit...

Trowa yawned loudly. "If you don't mind..." He trailed off and indicated toward the hallway.

"Is that what he's calling him?" Heero blinked, then shook his head. "How many names does the man have?" Heero then looked over at Trowa. "Yes, sleep would be a good idea."

Trowa nodded. "Yes. I remember the way." Trowa said, noticing Jamal and Kaheem stood up to show them the way. "You wait here and wait for the last two." He tried again, the Maguanacs could be very insistent given motivation. "Come on Heero."

Heero nodded a little, readjusting his bag, before setting off to the rooms, nodding greeting to any still awake. Trowa quickly lead them through the halls, and opened the door to Quatre's room and led them in shutting it behind them.

Heero put his bag down, bemusedly considering the fact that they were ignoring their own rooms. He was sure they had some.

"Trowa-sama! So good to see you again!" Rashid cheered softly, and swept Trowa into a hug before Trowa knew what hit him.

"You too Rashid." Trowa replied, trying to catch his breath, Rashid hugged him so tightly.

Heero watched Rashid, an Odin-like look of playfulness crossing his face. Heero was going to let his counterpart deal with Rashid for the moment. "Don't I get a hug?" His voice is nearly pouty.

"Would you like to stay in Quatre-sama's room? I can fetch an extra futon. Oh I'm terribly sorry Heero-sama! I didn't see you there!" He swept Heero into a huge hug as well, having to bend down a little to get to him.

Heero chuckled a little. "Since when did I become invisible?"

"I am not sure Heero-sama, especially considering your attire, are you sure someone of your importance should wear such a thing?" Rashid asked as he pulled away, studying Heero intently.

Heero grinned at him. It was actually scarier than his glares if you considered it. "I like this outfit. I just got it yesterday. I have other clothes though." Heero tilted his head; arms tilted out a little to show off the outfit, and his speech patterns thrown completely out of his normal scale.

Rashid smiled, delighted that the serious boy had seemed to loosen up. "It does look nice though." He complimented Heero so that the other might hang on to the less chilled demeanor.

"Of course. I picked it out." Heero shook his head, hair falling into his eyes. He was trying desperately not to giggle, that would show Rashid more than he wanted to, and make him wonder.

Trowa yawned again and looked over to the bed, Quatre was sprawled all over it and Zechs was taking up the rest. He wanted to go to bed. "Rashid... I hate to interrupt, but how about that futon?" He asked, his eyes blinking frequently. Trowa was ready to crash on the carpet.

Heero pouted at Trowa and straightened up, tone going flat again. "Spoilsport."

"Yes. Of course Trowa-sama, I will return in a moment. Are either you hungry? I can fetch something to eat as well." Rashid gave Trowa a sympathetic look.

Heero nodded once. "Food would be good." Heero then wandered over to Quatre and Zechs, having pushed his bag against the wall.

"Maybe you can entertain me later with your shirt... On the floor, where it belongs." Trowa whispered a light grin on his face. Rashid nodded, not hearing Trowa's comment, and left the room. "That is... If you don't hate me." Trowa continued as memories came back to him, and he sat down on the Arabian rug adorning most of the floor.

Heero shook his head at Trowa. "Flirt." Heero frowned a little, seeing the array of fresh bandages that were hiding the marks all over the taller blond. He had no idea he was that injured under Quatre's bandages. Heero tucked the blanket back into place and looked over at Trowa. "Why would I hate you?"

Trowa sighed and flopped back on the rug, his eyes darting to the ceiling. He didn't really know how to voice his thoughts into words, and for once wish he had Quatre elegance with speech.

Heero walked over, casually straddling Trowa's chest, giving Trowa the first unrestricted view of a few of the marks on his skin from Quatre's advances. "Tell me."

"First tell me how you got those." Trowa replied a hand reaching up and running over Heero's chest and shoulders.

"Quatre." Heero moved his hands, undoing the collar, showing the marks beneath, including the healing bite mark that had been bleeding, and the fingerprints, then putting it back. His fingers then moved to his wrists to undo the leather straps, showing the raw marks the cuffs left, before putting that back as well, a small grin on his lips.

"Are you alright?" Trowa asked his voice taking a deep concern. "Quatre?" *Quatre did those? That didn't compute.*

Heero grinned widely, nodding with a small giggle. "I'm fine! Of course Quatre. It certainly wasn't any of the other three."

"Good. I might get jealous." Trowa teased, and took Heero's hands in his own, lacing their fingers together. He couldn't say anything about how clearly violent the array of marks left made things seem if Heero was pleased about it. His expression turned somber quickly, and he sighed again.

"So why would I hate you?" Heero stared down at Trowa, waiting.

"Because... I..." Trowa looked up to Heero's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"For?" Heero was still waiting for the answer he wanted, and that wasn't it.

"I like you Heero. You are a lot like me." Trowa squeezed their hands together. "And I fucked that up. I pushed you, when I shouldn't have, and then I ran, and I got drunk and I took some drugs, and then I... I just didn't want to turn into..." Trowa looked away.

Heero regarded Trowa thoughtfully. "You didn't want to turn into who?"

Trowa shook his head. "It's not important anymore. Do you forgive me?"

"Didn't want to turn into who?" Heero wasn't going to let go until he had all the information.

"I told you, it's not important anymore." Trowa's tone turned a little harsher.

"Then I don't see how I can forgive you for something that could have endangered us all like those drugs." Heero's voice was simply stating a fact, like he was shrugging it off.

Trowa sighed, frustrated and tired. He leaned his head back, crashing it to the floor. It wasn't the first time someone had lectured him about his drug use.

Heero sighed then climbed off Trowa to move back over to the pair in the bed, sitting by Zechs to untangle the long strands with his fingers while he waited for Rashid to return with the things they requested. Heero quirked his lips, pulling a pair of sunglasses off the tall blond and setting them by the lamp.

Rashid returned with a tray, as well as a teakettle with several things to eat, and sat it on the table. "Trowa-sama, I'm sorry I took so long. Please, the futon will be much more comfortable." Rashid set the futon on the floor and Trowa immediately climbed onto it, while Rashid went out into the hall to fetch the blankets, draping them over Trowa who was fast falling asleep. "Do you need anything else Heero-sama?" Rashid asked.

Heero glanced over and shook his head in a no, moving to the food that had been brought to eat. "Wait. When Duo and Wufei get here, come get me, please?"

"I will escort them here myself." Rashid replied with a bow and stepped out of the room, eager for his own rest.

Heero looked at the door for a moment then ate. "I hope they don't take that badly." Heero climbed into bed beside Quatre, snuggling the blond and falling into a light sleep. He wanted to see how the pair reacted to other people.

Duo set his gundam down, then leaned on the control panel. He wasn't sure what he was going to do once they met up with the others. He had a looming feeling that just screamed test at him.

Wufei was tense and on edge. He hadn't spoken to Duo in nearly 10 hours now. He hurriedly landed his gundam and nearly tripped in his haste to get out. He didn't bother taking any of his things out with him, he was just going to grab Duo and sleep next to him for the next few hours. He knew he was safe in Nataku, with the gundanium doors shut tight, but the feeling of being alone still made him fidgety and anxious.

Duo finally opened his hatch, climbing down his gundam. That looming feeling was still on him, but he shoved it away. Time would tell.

"Duo!" Wufei ran towards him in a flying tackle, knocking them both to the ground. "I missed you," he purred, giving Duo kisses all over his face.

Duo was shocked back into the present, and wrapped his arms around Wufei. "Hello there."

"Hi." Wufei smiled.

Duo blinked at Wufei a little. "I'm tired."

"Yeah, I am too." Wufei lifted himself into a sitting position and yawned, his eyes blinking. "Let's get into this house and sleep." He nodded towards the house behind them.

Duo nodded in reply, rising to his feet and moving towards the safe house, leaving his things in his Gundam. They wouldn't be here long enough for him to need them anyway.

Wufei quickly grabbed Duo's hand, lest he get away, and followed him in.

Duo glanced over his shoulder, just moving into the small stop over of a safe house, and kicking off his shoes before crawling into bed. Wufei repeated the motions, pulling Duo into his arms and kissing his forehead, before he started to drift off.

Duo settled down to sleep, getting it while he could. Duo woke first a few hours later, nuzzling into Wufei a moment before he realized how much he was wearing, and how bright it was. "Fei, gotta get up."

"Mm-hmm." Wufei mumbled, trying to go back to sleep. He was not a morning person.

"We gotta go soon. We're expected." Duo nuzzled at Wufei, trying to wake him nicely.

Wufei grumbled again, and attempted to roll over away from Duo. He was having a nice dream and wanted to stay there. Duo followed, suddenly curious if Wufei would roll out of bed. Wufei tried to roll away again, this time pulling the covers with him. Duo inched closer, noting that Wufei was almost on the edge of the bed. Wufei moaned and rolled over again, and fell right off the bed, taking all the blankets with him and getting lost in them on his way down. "Ack!" He yelled. He couldn't see anything.

"Wufei? Why'd you decide to kiss the floor before me this morning?" Duo tried desperately to keep the humor from his voice.

Wufei mumbled something from the mess of blankets and he struggled to get into a sitting position. He looked like attack of the blob this morning.

Duo giggled, then crawled out of bed, freeing Wufei from the blankets. "We gotta get to the new safe house."

Wufei huffed, his cheeks bright red. "Yes. That would be good."

Duo giggled, giving him a brief, yet deep kiss before moving to slip his boots on.

Wufei gathered up his own clothes and got dressed rather slowly, he couldn't wait to arrive and take a nap!

Duo's hair was all mussed up, but he seemed less than inclined to fix the braid. "C'mon, I wanna see where Quatre put us this time."

Wufei nodded. "Let's go then. The sooner we get there, the sooner I can go back to sleep." Wufei sighed loudly.

Duo laughed, swinging up into his Gundam and powering up while his fingers got a snack out. It'd be an hour before he'd get a real meal.

Wufei stood at the bottom of Duo's gundam somewhat shell-shocked. *He didn't even kiss me!* Wufei turned and retreated to his own gundam, shaking as he walked. Duo set out, maintaining the radio silence of before. Wufei followed, his vision becoming blurry with tears he refused to let spill over.

It wasn't meant to be mean, but Duo was starting to feel decidedly worried about the upcoming meeting. The coordinates seemed familiar. Of course, when they landed and he saw the Maguanacs, he powered down, but did not open the hatch, keeping everyone out.

Wufei hopped out, eager to see Duo, but looked up to Deathscythe, to see the hatch still closed. *What did I do?* He frowned as the Maguanacs who were waiting for them came up to say hello. He flinched and backed away. He knew then, but without Duo around he was slowly starting to slip into his bad memories.

"Duo-sama! Come out!" one of the Maguanacs cheered loudly and banged on Deathscythe's foot.

Duo finally shoved the worry away as nerves and opened the hatch, spotting Wufei below before he climbed down. He moved forward to hug Wufei from behind, without thinking about his fast, instinctive actions, as he put Wufei between him and the Maguanacs.

Duo snickered quietly. "I moved to fast for you?"

"Duo-sama! We've been so worried about you!? Where have you been?"

Wufei stiffened before he realized it was just Duo, and relaxed. *Since Duo is here, they won't hurt me...* He smiled at the nearest one. "Duo and I are really tired after our trip perhaps you could show us to a room?"

"Had an unannounced stopover in an OZ cell. You know how it goes." No matter how carefree Duo sounded, he was clinging to Wufei a wee bit too tightly. Duo widened his grin a little. "Would one of you get my bag outta Scythe? I forgot it when I came down."

Wufei squirmed a little. *As much as I love Duo's affections, that's starting to hurt.* "Please, we're really tired, can we get a room?" Wufei didn't know where one was, or he would have already been pulling Duo to one.

Duo seemed to start. "Oh, I know where they are." Duo continued to grin, but it was starting to get a slightly brittle edge.

"Already got it Duo-sama! You too Chang-sama! Follow me!" Jaheem announced, leading them out of the hanger and running down the hallway. Jaheem ran ahead to the rooms, he knew that Duo knew where they were, and knocked on the door before he opened it. "Duo and Wufei have arrived!" he cheered loudly and threw Duo and Wufei's bags into a corner.

Duo finally relaxed his hold a little; wrapping his fingers tightly into Wufei's as he started to determinably move for the sanctuary that the rooms were. He was almost dragging Wufei he was moving so quickly, only waving at the Maguanacs, and giving them no chances to hug him.

Wufei was puzzled, he thought for sure *he'd* be the one dragging Duo down the hallway.

Duo's gaze was flicking around at all the people he passed and he was holding up his cheery attitude by force of will. He abruptly halted at the door their bags had been thrown into, noting it was with the other boys, and walked in. "We'll check in first."

Wufei nodded. That meant a bed. He wasn't so keen on dealing with the others, but fortunately the Maguanacs had kept their distance.

Duo moved into the room and closed the door behind them, only then releasing Wufei as the shakes set in while he slid down the door to the floor. *There were only the pilots in here. The pilots were safe.*

"Duo are you alright?" Wufei asked, worried, as he crouched down next to Duo.

Heero had only just stood when the two hurried in, and froze as he watched the sudden breakdown from grinning to all appearances to about to cry in Duo.

Duo gave Wufei a shaky smile. "What'd be the matter Fei?" His voice was less than convincing, and his trembling was something horrible.

Wufei wrapped his arms around Duo's shoulders and cuddled him close. "You're shivering." Wufei said.

"I'm not cold..." Duo huddled up against Wufei, taking deep breaths. He didn't understand why he was shaking. He understood possible reasons, but they didn't make much sense to him.

"No, we're in the desert." Wufei replied. He looked around the room, noticing that Heero was moving closer to them. He scowled.

Heero sighed a little. "He wouldn't have stopped in here if he was upset like that unless he wanted us around him, and you know it Wufei." Heero glanced to the three sleeping forms, cautious steps moving closer, but nowhere near a threat range.

"Yeah I know, a desert. I was cool out there, though nobody saw it. I moved too fast through the crowd, an all." Duo wrapped his arms tightly around Wufei, making it impossible for the boy to move away.

Wufei moved in closer to Duo, encouraging the clinging. He didn't want Heero near him. Something was telling him that Heero would do those bad things to him. A flash of pain raced across his head and he forced it back. "No... Duo is here... You can't hurt me..." he whispered, his voice muffled by Duo's shoulder.

Duo laughed a little, the sound close to a quiet sob. "No Fei, no one will get you while I'm near. Not you." Duo tilted his head, looking to Heero with a slight, sad smile. Heero knew, and Wufei didn't. "See though, shakes going away, I'll be fine."

Wufei sighed. His head hurt, and he was trying to make it go away. He didn't want this. He couldn't understand why it hurt, and why every time it did, he didn't feel right. Sounds didn't sound right, things didn't feel right. *He* didn't feel like himself and he felt like he could lose control at any minute. Now Wufei started to shake.

Duo nuzzled at Wufei. "We gotta stop doing this Fei, it isn't doing anybody any good."

Wufei nodded. "I need some sleep now. I have a headache." He pulled away from Duo and began to look around the room, grabbing his head with his left hand as his vision started to swim.

"I don't wanna go back out in the hall Fei... Can we just curl up in here for a while, please?" There was an undertone that bordered on begging in Duo's voice and he barely tilted his head as Heero crawled back into bed.

"Yes. Floor's fine." Wufei grumbled as he sank to the floor, passing out completely.

Duo moved over to where Wufei was splayed out on the carpet after rising to his feet and getting a pillow away from Heero and Zechs, then a blanket from Trowa, before curling up, wrapped firmly around the smaller form, the blankets tossed over them both.

Trowa awoke then, one of his blankets being taken from him, and sat up roughly, fearing for his life. He looked to his left to see Duo had it and was snuggling up to Wufei so he calmed down, but he wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep. Heero looked over at Trowa from the bed where he was curled between Quatre and Zechs again, looking amused. He wasn't going to sleep either, but he was going to rest. Trowa gave a frustrated grunt, and got up heading for the bathroom to relieve himself.

Duo cracked an eye, noting there was an empty futon... He hadn't quite gotten to sleep. Taking advantage of the moment, he picked Wufei up, slid the other boy in, then spread out over the remaining space. *Then* Duo went to sleep.