| The people at the table gaped at her then quickly regained their composures. �If you had found him, why didn�t you turn him over to the proper authorities?� Zechs asked, fuming. �He could have been interrogated and we wouldn�t be fighting right now.� �Because, Lieutenant,� she said, on the verge of snapping. �He�s fragile now. I found him at a slave auction.� �A slave auction! The poor boy�� the Lady said, tears coming to her eyes but Noin ignored her. �Besides, he had no memory of who he is; he doesn�t even remember his own name. Those people there have trained this boy for the passed three months and what ever they did, it worked. He cringes and grovels at your feet even if you raise your voice; he won�t even sleep unless you give him permission. The only thing left of Heero Yuy, the Gundam pilot is his body; his spirit and his mind is broken and in so many pieces I�m not even sure if he can be put back together again.� Noin took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. �I am sorry for speaking out of turn, sir,� she said, turning her gaze unflinchingly on Treize. �If I get discharged for keeping him a secrete then so be it but I�m not going to let them turn some muscle bound guy on that kid. Half the people here a no better than some of the people that work for Nade.� Treize met her gaze calmly before sitting back down. �I believe that Lt. Noin is correct,� he said simply and Zechs tilted his head in confusion. �Sir?� �I�ve seen the condition of some of these children and it�s disheartening. I believe that I am leaving him in capable hands,� Treize said, steeping his fingers in front of his face. �Although when he has adjusted, I would like to see him. I think he might be skittish around males considering the treatment he�s probably received and he might need to be reacquainted.� Noin fought the urge to roll her eyes. �So you can probably screw him into oblivion. Thanks but no thanks but what can I say?� �I understand sir,� was all she said out loud. Tugging off a white glove, Treize cast a glance at Zechs and Noin. �However, I think the job is better suited for Lt. Zechs than me. Take him to the infirmary once he�s calmed down and comfortable then have Zechs meet him. I�m sure he might benefit.� �Yes sir,� Noin said automatically but she and Zechs� eyes met in a glance. �That will be all, dismissed.� Both Lieutenants saluted and walked out the door together but Noin wanted to go see if Heero was all right and speed up. �Noin, wait,� she heard Zechs called and she reluctantly slowed down. �I don�t have time for this�� she thought and hoped her eyes carried that thought. �What is it?� �I just want to say that I�m sorry about back there�I overreacted without seeing the situation wholly,� he said softly and Noin�s heart softened a little. An �I�m sorry� from Zechs was rare. �Apology accepted,� she replied and continued walking, Zechs falling in step beside her. �Besides, I don�t think I could handle children as well as you do,� he said, turning a corner. �Why do you say that?� Noin asked reaching the elevator and hitting the button. �Because I�m a woman?� Zechs shook his head. �Partly. But also the fact that you two share a common past; you�ve had the same experience.� The elevator dinged and they stepped on. It was Noin�s turn shake her head. �I try not to remember that, you know. But I guess you can�t forget something out of you�re past,� she whispered, closing her eyes. Suddenly, Noin felt a hand on her shoulder and her eyes flashed open. Zechs was directly in front of her, looking at her with a softer expression. �What I wouldn�t give to see behind that mask again; you took it off once but now it�s become a part you, just like this war, oh Zechs�� �I�ve learned a good lesson: don�t try to forget your past. It�s a part of you and forgetting it only hurts you worse,� Zechs replied. Noin nodded and his hand fell away. �I know Zechs. But I just don�t know what to do with him; he�s so scared,� she sighed. The elevator stopped at Noin�s floor and she stepped off, turning again to look at Zechs. The Lighting Count only nodded slightly before saying, �Trust you�re instincts and you can�t go wrong.� Then the door closed and he was gone. Noin stood for a moment, thinking before turning and walking down the hall, key card to her room in hand. �I hope he was alright while I was gone; I think he might be afraid of being left alone,� she thought before opening the door carefully. Noin stepped into her apartment slowly, not seeing anyone around. �Heero?� she called but then realized that the boy might not know his name anymore. Taking a peek in the bedroom, Noin found what she was looking for and smiled slightly. Heero was curled up on her bed, sound asleep, long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. The young soldier found a blanket and covered her charge in it, brushing some of his hair out of his face. �Do you have any idea how amazing you are, Heero?� she thought before shaking that thought off. �He�s only a child�an incredible child but a child nevertheless.� Sighing, the lieutenant dimmed the lights a little and walked out, shutting the door softly behind her. Noin took off her boots and shrugged off the heavy uniform jacket she wore before settling on the couch. �I think it�d be easier for me to sleep out here than in there with him�he might get the wrong idea,� she considered before snorting. �The idea he gets might not be far from the truth,� Noin muttered, stretching out, her thin frame taking up most of the couch. �How long can I take care of him though, before some of the brass gets hold of him?� was her final thought before letting sleep claim her. *** Heero tried to escape the man�s grasp and for his troubles, received a sickening blow to the head. Falling to the ground, he tried to get up but felt the energy charged whip in his back adding another welt to the dozens that already had found their mark. "Still feisty huh?� he heard the guard remark, sneering at the young man�s form on the floor, bleeding and covered in grime and sweat. �Please�� Heero heard himself say, trying to get up but the whip bit into him again making him fall face down into the muck of his cell. He�d been here for what seemed like forever. He only memory before this place was a guy, not too far from his age, with long hair in a braid and violet eyes, making a remark about not getting killed then�his memory went blank. �Maybe I�m not supposed to remember�� he barely had time to think before he felt the whip again, searing and slashing his skin. �You�re going to learn some respect, boy,� the man said, dropping his pants and all Heero could do was cry, feeling the tears well up in his eyes. �There�s nothing I can do�it always hurts�somebody, help me. Somebody! DUO!�� Next |