A Scythe In The Night (Part Two)

 

As the Gundam Wing reached the bar, the taller pilot brought it to a sudden stop. As Wing decelerated in mere instants, Shi managed to slam his head against the side of the cramped cockpit. Shi let out a high-pitched yelp as a resounding CRACK echoed briefly through the compacted space as his head collided with one of the high durability panels. Like lightning, Heero quickly grabbed Shi across the chest and pressed the smaller boy’s boy flush against his own to keep him from rebounding into another display panel.

 

After a few moments, Heero released the boy. “You okay?” He asked his voice carrying a slight tinge of worry.

 

“Errgh…” Shi groaned softly, “It feels like a Mobile Suit just stepped on my head.”

 

Heero let a slight smile tease the corner of his mouth at Shi’s comment. “Aah. But can you still pilot your Gundam?”

 

Shi replied with a jaunty flip of his head and a slightly pained smile. “Of course I can! I could pilot the thing home deaf, blind, asleep and drunk!”

 

The more masculine pilot paused for a moment and then nodded. “Fine. I’ll let you down here, then you take the Deathlust and then we’ll head back to the safe house. Ne?”

 

The braided pilot nodded solemnly in response to Heero’s dull monotone. “Hai.”

 

Heero rapidly pushed a series of buttons on the panel above his head. The platform extended from the center of the Gundam’s chest rapidly, coming to a sudden stop as it reached its full length. Shi stood up on the platform with a little help from Heero. The braided boy walked to the edge of the platform, pausing briefly to flash Heero a smile.

 

Then he jumped.

 

As Shi fell from the platform he went into a head-over-feet flip followed by a sideways spiral. He then pulled his knees into his chest for a somersault. As the ground came rushing up, he repositioned himself for impact, bending his knees and straightening as his feet hit the ground.

 

Heero watched the view screen as Shi winked, flipped his braid behind his shoulder and then dashed over to the feet of his Gundam and clambered up into the cockpit. Seconds later, Heero’s comm. Bleeped at him as Shi’s smiling face popped up. “Yo! Heero-kun, ya ready to go?” Shi inquired with a smirk.

 

Heero nodded to the affirmative. “Hnn.”

 

Shi flashed an award-winning smile at the CommScreen. “Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

 

Heero smiled slightly at the other pilot’s over enthusiasm, but he could still sense that something was wrong. He absently wondered exactly what Duo had done to him. He’d have to have a talk with Duo when they got back. Though, now that he thought about it, Shinoko was probably already doing the same thing.

 

Heero and Shi made it back to the safe house in record time. When Heero and Shi walked into the impromptu living room, Shinoko looked up and nodded at Heero, gesturing at the corridor to the left. Heero shook his head grimly. “I need to find something out first…” Shinoko nodded and turned back to the novel that she’d been reading. The taller Gundam pilot turned to Shi with a panicked look reflected in his eyes. Then, grabbing the slighter boy forcefully by the wrists, he dragged him into the room they shared, which was at the end of the other corridor.

 

Quatre observed the proceeding mutely, watching over the rim of his teacup. As Heero and Shi disappeared from view, he took a small measured sip. “Well… Right then…” He murmured softly turning to look beseechingly at Trowa, who held his free hand in consolation.

 

Heero opened the door, harshly shoving Shi into the room, then stepped into the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

 

Shi looked up at Heero like a rabbit cornered by a wolf, his eyes betraying his pain and fear. “Saa... Heero-kun… What did you want to talk about?” He asked nonchalantly flipping his braid back over his shoulder as his voice broke the stale silence.

 

Heero seethed with confusion and barely contained rage. “What… What did he… do… to you?”

 

“Umm… ‘He’?” Shi asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

 

“Duo!” Heero yelled, forcefully pinning the slighter boy up against the wall with his body. “I saw him… you… together in the… Deathscythe…” Heero said in a soft voice that shuddered with barely contained anger. He snaked his fingers over the collar of Shi’s (well, Duo’s actually, but…) shirt and pulled hard, revealing a small bite mark laced with still wet blood.

 

“H-he… He bit me.” Shi explained, shakily closing his eyes and hanging his head. Heero simply stood there, stoic as always, his panicked thoughts unseen in his face. Then four measured knocks echoed against the other side of the door. Heero gently pushed Shi towards the bed, and shockingly he felt his lips trail over the other boy’s soft skin. He didn’t remember giving clearance for that action.

 

Shi stumbled in shock, regaining his footing just in time and taking a seat on the edge of the bed. The older boy then went and calmly opened the door. When he saw that it was Duo he quietly ordered him into the room, without listening to a single word he had said.

 

Duo looked at Heero apprehensively and took a seat next to Shi, who was shaking in confusion and anxiety. Duo flashed him a reassuring smile as Heero pulled up at chair directly across from the braided pair.

 

“We need to talk.” Heero said, thoughtlessly shattering the whisper-worthy atmosphere.

 

“About what?” Duo asked casually, acting as if he really didn’t have a clue.

 

Heero fixed Duo with an icy glare. “About what ‘activities’ you were engaging in, while the rest of us were busy rescuing you.”