Hope From the Past - Part 13 by
Keara
Standard disclaimers apply
//Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real//
“Crawling” by: Linkin Park
Heero was worried . . . had been worried ever since it was noted that
Quatre and Trowa were both unaccounted for. He wasn’t worried
for Quatre and Trowa, since he knew who it was who had taken them.
His worry lay with the fragile young man that was clinging to him
and weeping in his arms.
They were in Heero’s quarters now. After it was deemed safe
to return to the base, Heero had brought Duo directly here, knowing
that Duo needed rest, especially after hearing the news that Quatre
and Trowa were missing. The Infirmary was no place for Duo right now
. . . he needed comfort, not sanitary medical attention. Heero was
certain that he would be more comfortable someplace more private,
someplace where they could be alone . . . and that was why there were
here in Heero’s personal living quarters.
Duo had been inconsolable ever since they had returned to the base
after the attack. Quatre was more than a friend to Duo, he was a brother
. . . and therefore was the only family that Duo had. Heero was holding
him now as they lay in his bed, Duo’s leg braces set aside on
the floor near his wheelchair. As it was, Duo was curled up against
Heero, holding himself close to the soldier’s body as he wept.
Heero was trying to help, but didn’t think that he was doing
an adequate job of it, given the fact that Duo was still crying.
Heero took a deep breath, feeling that it was time to tell Duo the
whole truth. “Duo . . . the people who took Quatre and Trowa
won’t hurt them.”
Duo’s voice was miserable. “I believe you about Quatre,
but how can you be sure about Trowa? I just got this incredible anguished
feeling from Quatre . . . as if his heart were breaking.”
Heero took another breath to calm himself. He knew that Zechs had
been responsible for the attack, and for whatever feelings that Quatre
was going through. He also knew that Zechs wouldn’t risk causing
trouble by hurting Trowa. No . . . the answer had to lie with Quatre
discovering the truth. He felt that Duo deserved to know as well .
. . so that he could understand what had caused Quatre’s sudden
heartache.
“I have an idea. I don’t know if you’re ready for
this, but I guess I have little choice.”
Duo looked up at him, his eyes filled with fear. “Heero . .
. what are you talking about? What could be so bad that you can’t
tell me?”
Heero tried to smile at Duo, but shook his head, failing in the kind
gesture. “The people who took Quatre are . . . his family.”
He raised his hand as Duo frowned, needing to get through this now
without interruption. “Duo . . . we wanted to wait until you
and Quatre were stronger to tell you this, but I fear that Zechs has
left me with no choice . . . and I’m so sorry to be the one
to have to tell you. I never wanted to cause you any sort of pain.”
“Heero?” Duo’s voice was small and frightened .
. . as if he were a child.
Heero closed his eyes and pulled Duo close, relieved when Duo held
him as well. “Duo . . . the Taltheans had you and Quatre in
their possession for a very long time.” He felt as Duo nodded
shakily against him, his head against Heero’s chest. “There’s
no easy way for me to tell you this. You were with them . . . for
three centuries.”
Duo stiffened in Heero’s arms. Heero frowned, holding the youth
even as Duo took in a sharp intake of breath, letting it out shakily,
his body trembling terribly. It was barely a second later before the
young man let out a harsh wail, his cries resounding throughout Heero’s
body as if they were his own.
“I’m sorry, Duo . . . I had wanted to tell you before.
But I was afraid it would only hurt you more, that you weren’t
well enough . . .” Heero whispered, laying his cheek against
Duo’s head, trying to hush him, to soothe his anguished cries.
It was several moments before Duo calmed enough to speak. “It’s
not your fault. You got us out of there. Who knows how long those
monsters would have kept us. Quatre deserves to be treated much better
than the way he was.”
Heero tightened his arms a little. “Duo . . . you deserve better,
too. No one deserved the treatment that the two of you got.”
Duo didn’t reply for a few seconds. “Quatre’s from
a rich family . . . I’m just a piece of trash off the street.
Street trash doesn’t deserve anything.” Duo took another
shaky breath. “At least Quatre has a family. Even though they
took him, he’s among his people. He’s better off without
me.”
“Don’t say that!” Heero forced Duo to meet his
gaze. “Duo . . . the two of you went through hell together!
Not one of the people that is related to him by blood can help him
through this just as no one here can help you. You’ve been a
brother to him when he needed one. He needs you.”
Duo snorted. “A filthy little sex toy? At least they were gentler
with Quatre . . . they knew that he was from a wealthy background.
They just assumed that, living on the streets, I’d be used to
the . . . rougher treatment. Oh God!” He broke into sobs again,
his body trembling severely.
‘Not good!’ Heero pulled Duo close, fearing that the
young man would fall ill again if he let himself be plunged into those
painful memories.
Duo wailed, his fingers digging deeply into Heero’s shirt.
Across the room, the glass frame on the picture of Heero’s long-deceased
mother shattered. Heero could feel the hairs on the back of his neck
prickling, a sensation like that of static electricity moving throughout
his limbs.
“Duo?” Heero whispered, looking over to the broken picture,
watching as it toppled off of its place on the shelf, without being
touched by anything so far as Heero could see.
Slowly, Duo raised his red-rimmed eyes, sniffling as he glanced over
to the fallen picture. “I’m sorry, Heero . . . I didn’t
mean to . . .” He cried, pressing his face against Heero’s
chest.
Heero was amazed by that simple show of Duo’s power . . . but
now was not the time to discuss any of this. He had to soothe Duo,
to make him feel better. That was all that Heero cared about doing
right now.
“Sshh. It’s over now, Duo. You’re safe here with
me. I’ve got you. Sshh.” He started rubbing Duo’s
back, feeling as the youth fought his tears. On impulse, Heero pressed
a soft kiss to Duo’s forehead, frowning in worry when Duo froze.
“I’m sorry. You seemed to need something . . . I just
reacted.” Heero apologized, hoping that he hadn’t made
a horrible mistake with that single, simple action.
Duo blinked up at him, confusion and fear in his eyes. As Heero watched,
the fear faded from those glimmering violet eyes. “W-Will you
do that again?”
Heero could feel a smile curling his lips and nodded without thinking.
Gently, he leaned forward, intending only to graze his lips over Duo’s
forehead again. However, Duo seemed to have other ideas in mind. He
turned, shifting his body at just the right moment so that Heero’s
kiss fell upon his lips.
Duo’s lips parted without hesitation. Heero groaned deeply,
taking Duo’s offer and seeking to map out the other youth’s
palate with his tongue. He tasted so sweet . . . delicious. Heero
was lost in the sensation, the feel of those pliant lips, the taste
of the heated cavern. Duo’s hand slipped around, cradling Heero’s
head, pulling him closer, his slender fingers digging into his scalp.
Still, Heero knew better than to pursue this. Duo wasn’t in
the right frame of mind to continue. Heero wouldn’t allow himself
to be used just so that Duo could feel better for a few moments. It
wouldn’t do either of them any good.
“Duo . . . stop.” Heero whispered, pulling his lips a
mere fraction away from Duo’s. He grasped Duo’s hand,
dragging the insistent fingers from his hair.
“You don’t want me?” Duo asked, his eyes filled
with hurt.
Heero smiled, shaking his head as he lay his hand against Duo’s
cheek. “I want you so much that it hurts my very soul not to
touch you.” Heero replied. “Yet . . . I know that to do
this now, would be wrong. You’re hurting. True, it would be
pleasurable for a time . . . but you’d only regret it later
if I took advantage of you.”
“But you wouldn’t be . . .” Duo began, but Heero
silenced him with a chaste kiss.
“Yes, I would.” Heero sighed. “Your body and mind
are not ready for any sort of physical relationship with me . . .
or anyone else for that matter. You’re too wound up in worry
and grief . . . I won’t add to that hurt you’re feeling.”
He pulled Duo into a gentle embrace, feeling as Duo’s tears
once again seeped from his eyes to soak his shirt. “Please,
just allow me to hold you and comfort you . . . I want you to get
better, Duo . . . that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Duo nodded against Heero’s body, not saying a word for several
long moments. He clutched himself to Heero, bringing his one leg up
to wrap around Heero’s form. It left him groaning in discomfort
to move his limb, but the movement brought the two of them closer
to each other.
“T-Thank you, Heero.” Duo whispered, laying his head
down. “I . . . I’m tired, Heero.”
Heero smiled a little, lightly rubbing Duo’s back. “Then
go to sleep. I won’t leave you. I’ll be right here when
you awaken.”
Duo mumbled something incoherently, sleepily sliding even closer.
He snuggled his face against Heero’s chest, his arms lazily
hanging around Heero’s body. Heero smiled again, allowing himself
to hum a meaningless tune in the hope that it would ease Duo into
slumber. He could only hope for Duo to recover from this shock . .
. and that he would someday like to continue where they had left off.
*******
TBC
*******
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