The very end of Heero�s eyelid twitched at the digging Trowa was accomplishing. Triton didn�t stop as usual though, he�d reached an edge that he�d never ventured past, but plunged headlong anyway, �I got some quality time with the council as I was one of them, until that illusionist�s fear became to great. Uriel left her seat with grace, encouraging me to continue, but I was a threat to someone else! I was too powerful for him to handle and he knew it! Just like you! You know that I�m more powerful than you and that�s why you always keep me under such tight thumb, I�ve always been able to take you!� Golden black energy pulsed from his heart, growing strength with every passing moment. However, he didn�t form it into the feathered masses but instead let it remain as an intimidation tool. Heero�s nerves of iron were the only things keeping him from flinching away from the rather large and powerful being, �Hell is calling.� The swell of energy dwindled but didn�t fade altogether but even as faux relief had started across the perfect soldier�s muscles, it began to peak again. �Hell will welcome me! Demons were created by fallen angels you fool, we are their ancestors! That place is beginning to seem like paradise compared to this.� Stretching out to his last but most dangerous option, Helios grinned, �And what�s she going to do while you�re trying to get back? You know she�s no match for me, let alone Wufei. Who will protect her? You know, you do have to wonder where do mixed breeds go when they die? Heaven won�t take them and the demons in Hell will tear her apart for her feathers�quite an enigma.� The power plummeted into a trough lower than any the silver archangel had ever felt him in, �Good. Now, perhaps I should teach you a lesson for that outburst.�
A stabbing throb had set into pilot three�s wounds before his healing ability returned to him. He lay, face down, on the chilled cement floor of the basement. His own blood splattered the ground around him, though not as much as the last time he�d been �punished�, as Heero so lightly managed to put it. As the steady warmth of power seeped back into his exhausted body, Trowa reached to pull a broken feather from one of the many gouges in his back, �Ow�� Sitting up, Trowa cast a weary glance around the dark room. He knew without getting up that the door was locked. It would be until he cleaned the blood off the floor, cleaned his blood off the floor. Picking up the already stained shirt, he moped up the rest of his life.
The door a level above him creaked faintly as a small blonde head poked in, �Trowa? Are you alright?� Poseidon subconsciously blocked the Arabian out of his head, �Yeah, I�m fine. Still, in a bit of pain, but how is that new?� He didn�t hear pilot four come down the stairs or cross the room. He was only aware of his being there when he put small hands on Trowa�s scarlet-crusted back. �He hurt you again. God damn him!� Triton forced a thick and unbelievable laugh, �You don�t have the power to damn a higher figure Quatre. Besides, you know he can�t hear even us. He continued on to create other universes, leaving us in charge of this war-mongering world with inhabitants that lust for death�� Quatre tossed his arms around Triton�s shaking body, �What aren�t you telling me? You�re blocking me; you only do that when you�re hiding. What is it?� Trowa sucked in his breath sharply but only released it in a torn sob, �To many things to say�I can�t live like this anymore! He won�t let me be with Amber! If I so much as blink when he doesn�t tell me to, it�s a danger to his control.�
War callused fingers felt the decorative ridges and grooves in an ornate vodka bottle. The bottle under these fingers was more than half-empty, though the seal that had kept it fresh lie on the table beside it. Emerald eyes that showed the poor mood of the face they were set into gazed far beyond what they looked at, seeing nothing. Rational thought had long since been drowned by the alcohol poured over it and uncertainty of a promise had been snuffed out along with it. Trowa didn�t bother to transfer the amber liquid into a glass, as a shot glass would be too much of a bother to refill. Some piece of him that alcohol couldn�t reach knew that the huntress would be furious with him if she found him but sleep took over before he could even begin to consider it.
Humming faintly, pilot six finished folding the last bit of laundry and picked up the basket. She paused to consider a rust colored fleck of crust on the chrome surface of the washer. Previous knowledge of nursing and war told her that it was blood, but she wondered how it could�ve come to be where it was. As there wasn�t much of it, she shrugged it off. A quick glance at the clock informed her that it was nearly seven and, to her surprise, Trowa had not made his morning appearance. Upstairs, she knocked lightly on his door, �Hey you! Why aren�t you up yet big guy?� Amber pushed it open with her shoulder and set down the bin of clothes on a chair in the corner, �You�re still asleep?�
The curled up mass of blankets continued to move in the steady rhythm of breath so pilot six came to the bed�s edge, �Wake up! It�s practically seven! You must be pretty sick if you�re still in bed at this hour!� Chuckling slightly, she reached under the blankets and touched Trowa�s forehead, �Nope, no fever. Come on Trowa; get up! I�m lonely.� He stirred a little and rolled over. Amber moved closer to shake him but her foot found something solid beneath his bed. Curious, she kneeled and peered beneath it.
The good humor that had been smiling on her face faded at an instant as she took the bottle into her hand, �No way�� The mass on the bed groaned and sat up in an awkward movement, �Amber?� The words were barely a mutter. She sat back on her heels, �Good morning Trowa, bad night last night? You don�t usually need to drink quite like this unless it is.� Guilt wrapped itself around his heart, all but stilling it, �Amber, let me explain�I�I didn�t�I don�t�I don�t have a decent excuse. I was just so angry and upset and �I couldn�t think of anything else.� She nodded as she considered the nearly empty bottle, �Why didn�t you come to me? Am I not a better option than this?�
Once the latch to her room was in place, Amber rushed into her bathroom, �I can�t believe that he did this! Behind my back! Makes me wonder how many of those bottles he�s hidden from me!� She yanked open the cabinet over her sink and picked up a covered cup half full of pills, �If he�s going to break his promise, what makes him think that I have to keep mine?� Throwing back her head, she swallowed a majority of the blue and white capsules. Putting the bottle down, she thought about what she�d just done, �Oh crap, that was really stupid.� Her mind fogged rapidly and she fell to the floor, loosing consciousness instantly.
Well-seated worry made itself at home in Trowa�s mind over the next few days as Amber didn�t make an appearance for food or anything else. He left several trays beneath her door but always returned to find them untouched. On the third day, frustration replaced his worry, �Amber, stop pouting! Let me in so we can talk about this!� Still nothing responded to him. Thinking about it for a moment, Triton cut through Quatre�s room and opened the window, �If she�s going to be difficult, I�m going to take things into my own hands.� Climbing out onto the thin ledge, he swung himself up onto the roof and made his way up as nimbly as a cat. The carnie forced up one of the two windows to the room above and slipped inside, �Amber, we need to talk.� A quick glance around showed that she wasn�t to be found. He stepped further into the silent room with fresh concern, �Where are you?� A limp hand spilling out of the bathroom caught his eye, �Amber?� Rushing to the inert form, the Latino felt for her pulse. The beat was slow, but present. Scooping the young woman into his arms, Trowa cursed himself for being so idiotic and set her down on her bed, �Please be alright!�
Jess was fetched from the hospital several days later, though was commanded to lie down at all times. The demon waited upon her hand and foot even as she told him that it was unnecessary. The freckled redhead reached her arms out to her dark counterpart, �Stop looking so worried, I�m fine. I�ve got enough morphine in my blood system to last me weeks.� He came willingly into her weak grasp, �I thought I was going to loose you. What would I have done if you�d died?� A sharp nibble on his ear dragged a chuckle from Duo, �But I guess that we don�t have to worry about that now.� A slight crease in the young girl�s brow came to pilot two�s attention, �What�s up?� She pulled away from him enough to see his face, �Is Amber ok? I know that Trowa�s watching her and probably won�t rest until she wakes up, but shouldn�t she be taken to real medical attention?� Pushing back her bangs, the death of darkness kissed her forehead, �Maybe, if you could pry her away from her guardian. I don�t think he�s going to want her out of his sight if even for a little while.�
Amber�s medication, with luck, managed to wear off after nearly two weeks in constant slumber.She woke up to find a sleeping pilot by her side. Trowa had his arms tucked under his head, his breath coming out softly. He was lying over on the edge of the bed from a chair beside it. The slender and still groggy German sat up with a groan, �Seems that luck was on my side this time�� A dark shadow shifted out of sight from the edges of the room, it whispered an inaudible curse as it faded. It never had its chance to act, as the immortal by her side had never left her. Thanatos growled faintly, �I�ll find a way around you, you stubborn bastard. She won�t be safe forever.�
Sliding out of bed, pilot six didn�t take notice of the presence in the corner before it was gone. �I need something to do�� her whisper caused Trowa to stir slightly. The young man opened his dark green eyes and focused them on Amber, �You�re awake�You�re awake!� He refrained from the urge to pull her into an unexpected hug, �I was really starting to worry about you.� She shook her head, �I�m fine�Trowa, that expanse of lawn outside the kitchen, is it used for anything?� Puzzled, Triton frowned faintly, �No, not that I know of. Why?� �Nothing really, I was just thinking of doing some gardening.� Uncomfortable silence settled in the wake of her words. Trowa cleared his throat to break it, �You�re still mad at me�aren�t you? If it�s any solace, I�m sorry. I�ve had plenty of time to think about it while you were out�I want to try again, if your willing.� Amber, being the hard to deal with girl she was, only nodded.
Despite the apology and acceptance, it remained an uncomfortable subject in the emergent affection that was beginning to show. The grass just outside the cooking area blossomed with life. Flowers, bushes, and small trees found their way there through Amber�s guidance. She accepted no assistance in any of the work, insisting on her solitude. Most every other member of the dysfunctional household was more than willing to grant her wish. Only one longing gaze ever watched her work, and it soon found something that it disapproved of.
Weeds had come to make an appearance in the growing garden, as they did anywhere they weren�t wanted. The huntress tackled them with a need to vent her frustrations. Too many subjects graced her mind with their presence: Jess�s wound, Trowa�s alcoholic tendencies, her own sleep deprivation, and Duo�s rampant darkness. The attention she actually put into her work was at a bare minimum; only managing to tell the difference between flower and weed. Trowa�s deep voice startled her out of her head, �I know you�re pissed and have a good reason to be so�but why are you pulling out plants with thorns without gloves?� Amber turned her frayed attention to her blood stained hands and the angry wounds beneath the crimson, �Oh�Just forgot I suppose.� Triton gave her a sharp glare as he started dabbing the blood off her hands. He sighed heavily as he wrapped gauze around her palms. Neither spoke for some time, at last the silencer released her freshly bandaged hands, �I�m going for a while; I need a vacation. I don�t want you to worry about me drinking because where I�m going there are people who will stop me if I do.�
Once this was said, he got up and went inside. Amber went back to work for the time being, only coming inside after the sun had gone down. She found that Trowa had already left to continue on where ever he meant to go for his �vacation�. The huntress still felt a knot in her guts and was well aware that it wouldn�t go away until she truly accepted his apology. �Well then, you�ve tracked me and now it seems to be my turn.�
Hunting skills were not of up-most necessity as Trowa did nothing to cover his trail. He�d only gotten a few hours head start and his booked shuttle ticket was easily accessed and reproduced. Once landed on one of the L4 colony cluster, his path became slightly more smudged. It finally led it�s tracker to the entrance of a place she least expected. The red striped tents rose high into the human created atmosphere with alluring sounds floating all about them. Calliope tunes mixed with the cries of numerous creatures was the call to all those near enough to hear them. Amber whistled faintly as she shut of the engine of the rented motorcycle, �The circus? Wonder what he�s doing here.�
She paid the required fee to enter and wandered about in search of her missing companion. The maze of spectacles had eaten nearly an hour from her life when she pushed open the flap to the main tent. There her quest ended but before she had even called out to the emerald eyed youth, a flying dagger slammed into the wood near his head. The event instantly called her gun into hand as she twisted to aim at the blade�s owner. The surprised woman that met her gaze still held three blades identical to the one that had skimmed past Triton. Amber nearly shouted at her, �Drop them!�
�Amber, what are you doing?! We�re practicing!� The confused German lowered her weapon, but not so far as it wasn�t obtainable in an instant; �What�s going on, why is she throwing knives at you?� With a chuckle, Trowa pushed himself off the board he�d been leaning against, �Because she�s a knife thrower and I�ve been her target even on her bad days. Now what are you doing here?� The ebony muzzle of Amber�s gun completely left the air as she put it away, �Well, I couldn�t just let you wander off on your own; at least not without a proper stalker. After all, heaven knows that I owe you as much from my own attempted vacation.�
Catherine came over once the threat was gone, �Who is this?� The silencer grinned at his older sibling, �This is my best friend Amber. By the way, Amber, this is my sister Catherine.� She extended a battle worn hand to grasp the knife thrower�s, �Pleasant to meet you. I�m sorry about that, I thought you were trying to hit him.� The flashed smile that returned to her told of mischief, �Only on PMS, then he suffers.� Trowa rolled his eyes at their laughter, �Sure, blame it on that. Maybe it�s just because you can�t aim some days.� The resulting glare sent him edging towards the tent flap, �Joking! Jeez, tough crowd. Come on Amber.�
As she followed, pilot six bid farewell to her new acquaintance. �So now that you�ve found me, I�m suspecting that you won�t want to leave but you can�t stay here for nothing. I propose that you help me with my new act. How�s that sound?� She regarded him coolly, �I�m not so sure that I want to work, I was thinking that I could just stay here and mooch off of you�If I have to though�� Chuckling, Trowa put a casual arm around her waist, �What are you really doing here? You didn�t come just to follow me.� Grey-green eyes strayed across animals, faces, and the make-up of entertainers rather than meet the pair that sought them, �I wanted to apologize for not really forgiving you. I was being irrational, but I still have faith that you can quit. I want to try again.� A light brush of his lips left a tingling sensation at the base of her spine that slowly wormed its way up her, �Good. Then there are no hard feelings?� She shook her head softly, �And none on your part?� �No.�
A welcoming growl startled Amber into clutching at Trowa�s bicep. The massive male lion came over to the bars to be stroked affectionately behind his ears, �This is Kiro. He was just being friendly�They asked me to do the lion tamer�s act because I�m so good with them. If they take to you, perhaps you could be my assistant.� The huntress reached out a slender hand to touch the golden eyed feline on the brow, �They�re beautiful creatures, savage and yet graceful�actually, they remind me of you.� A faint crease in his forehead caused her to smirk, �You don�t know why, do you? Lions have the capacity and strength to kill almost anything, but despite that, they are quite gentle. Just like you.� No response came after her words as Triton continued to finger the big cat�s face. He pulled the key of its peg and unlocked the cage, �You want to get to know them?�
The two teens worked tirelessly on the additions needed for Amber to participate. The man contained pride quickly grew accustomed to the young woman�s presence and greeted her with the same enthusiasm as they did their older companion. The cubs soon stuck to her as though she might be their mother, giving her her own act with the small ones. She was taken to be measured for her costume, though the other outfits hanging all about the tent were none to comforting for her modesty. She was regrettably informed that it wouldn�t be ready until the day of their first show and she would have no time for a remake if it wasn�t decent. Only practice and sleeping brought the two into each other�s company as Triton was occupied with several other acts. He often came in near exhausted but always managed to make up for his absence during the day.
The first joint performance came on a cool, overcast afternoon along with a bit of nervousness on Amber�s part. Trowa changed behind a screen the seamstress kept for those who always seemed to wait until the last minute, �Don�t worry about it. Think of it this way, if you do mess up, you�ll never see any of these people again.� An exasperated groan punctured the curtain, �That�s not what I�m worried about! I�m just�more of worried�� Her words were cut short by an excited cry of, �There! Finished it just in time!� The doughy puff of a woman came from her permanent seat at her sewing machine to present pilot six with neatly folded tatters of tiger-striped fabric, �Make sure that you don�t fool with the tail too much, the stitches on it are thin.� The crease in Amber�s forehead deepened as she took them, �Tail? I�m guessing the head banded ears go with it too?� Slightly flushed from her speedy finish, the pudgy woman smiled, �Of coarse they do! You two will make such a cute pair out there!� She stated this as she shoved the reluctant teen into the second dressing area, �Now you better get changed, the show starts in ten minutes.�
Trowa came out in his own shredded attire and gave the costume designer a questioning glance, �Hers isn�t too much like mine, is it?� His outfit consisted of knee length shorts that were thoroughly mauled at the bottom and an open vest constructed of the same rugged material. A lion�s tail hung from the seat of his pants, the matching ears adorning the top of his head. The last items were a pair of knee high boots that buckled rather than laced and a thickly braided whip that he had no intention of using. To answer his slightly desperate question, the seamstress blatantly stated the obvious, �You wouldn�t be working together if your costumes didn�t match.�
�I am not coming out!� Anticipating this, pilot three held a robe into Amber�s changing area, �You have to, we don�t have time to change it. That and there�s practically none of your fabric left. A strip almost fit for a bandanna, if you try hard with it.� A deep crimson across her cheeks and wrapped firmly in the terrycloth robe, the stubborn German emerged, �There is no way that I�m going out there in front of people in this!� Trowa sighed heavily and glanced at the digital clock on the table, �We only have seven minutes to argue this, let�s see it.� �No.� Rather than waste any more time, the Latino snatched his graciously donated robe. The outfit he revealed could nearly be considered a skimpy two-piece swimsuit. The fabric barely covered the essentials, exposing much more than Amber ever wanted to see the light of day. Turned a deeper shade of red, she snatched at her cover, �Give it back!�
Interrupting their quarrel, the seamstress maneuvered them so they were standing shoulder to shoulder, �Something is missing�but I can�t place my finger on it�� Her face lit up as it dawned on her and she dug through the hanging back she�d had Trowa�s costume in. She withdrew a thin collar that she promptly fastened about his neck, �Perfect. I can�t believe you forgot it!� The gentle tinkling of the bell secured to it drew Amber�s immediate attention, �There�s a bell on it! How cute!� She proceeded to bat at it with a great deal of amusement. Trowa was the one to take on a different tint at this, �Now that we�ve both been humiliated, can we go before the show starts without us and I get in major trouble?�
