Young Hearts - Part 10 by Keara
Standard disclaimers apply
Trowa hated the road that he was currently driving along.
It was full of potholes and uneven pavement and all sorts of things
that could cause his clone to awaken. After one particularly harsh
bump, Trowa glanced over, noting the slight flinch the child made
in his sleep. It was obvious that he would wake up soon. Trowa only
hoped that he wouldn’t react too badly.
Only moments later, the entire truck was rocked by a rather rough
spot. Trowa heard a frightened gasp, looking over just in time to
see as the clone whimpered and tried ineffectually to pull at the
seatbelt binding him to the seat. He was terrified . . . it was apparent
on his features, and with the way he wriggled. The clone was panicking,
fear of confinement overriding his common senses. He managed to get
out of his seatbelt, then began rolling down the window, rising to
stand on the seat.
Trowa quickly pulled over onto the side of the road and slowed to
a halt. He didn’t want the child to jump out the window and
hurt himself. Frowning, Trowa reached over and wrapped his arms around
the child’s body, pulling the thrashing boy back and closer
to him.
The clone reacted by biting Trowa’s arm harshly, yelping and
crying as he tried to wriggle away from his elder self. He fought
and clawed at Trowa’s arms, kicking and shaking his head from
side to side. Through all of this, Trowa merely held him, not too
tightly though . . . he didn’t want to hurt the boy.
“Sshh.” Trowa hushed, his arms secure around the young
clone. “It’s me . . . it’s Trowa. Do you remember
me?” Trowa asked, keeping his tone quiet and calm.
Slowly, the clone stopped thrashing. He lay in Trowa’s embrace,
breathing raggedly in short pants and gasps. He grunted lightly, nodding
his head in affirmation of Trowa’s query.
“You’re safe with me . . . you know that, right?”
Trowa asked, loosening his hold.
The child squirmed out of Trowa’s arms, moving farther away
and facing Trowa. Once again he nodded, his eyes roaming over Trowa’s
features as if to make sure it was the right person, then he looked
down at the floor.
“I’m going to take you shopping for new clothes, and
then we will go and spend time with a friend of mine. We’ll
be staying the night with her. Okay?” Trowa wanted to be sure
that the child knew just what was to be happening. It would keep him
relatively calm, or at least more at ease if he knew where he was
heading.
The clone nodded, watching Trowa out of the corner of his eye every
now and then. He quietly put his seatbelt back on, curling his legs
close to his body as Trowa drove the truck back onto the road. The
clone was frightened, but Trowa knew that nothing would be able to
help that. So he just carried on with his plans, heading for the nearest
shopping establishment.
As he parked in one of only a few empty spaces, Trowa heard a sharp
gasp. He looked over, watching in concern as his clone shivered. The
child’s eyes were darting around wildly, his attention focused
on the many people that walked around outside.
“I know this won’t be easy for you, but you need clothes.”
Trowa said, seeing how terrified the boy had become once again. He
wasn’t too thrilled about being around so many people himself,
but he knew that he had a job to do. The child did need clothes.
The boy turned to Trowa, his eyes wide with fear. He shook his head,
sliding back away from Trowa slightly. He did not want to go out there.
Trowa unbuckled his seatbelt. “I’m sorry. But you do
have to come with me. You won’t be alone with all those people,
I’ll be there with you.” Trowa assured him, watching as
the child uncurled his body.
The child hesitantly unbuckled his own seat belt. Then he moved closer
to Trowa, slipping his hand into Trowa’s palm. Trowa lightly
held the boy’s hand, knowing that it had taken a good deal of
trust for the clone to do even that. Trowa moved slowly, getting himself
out of the truck and guiding his clone along with him. The boy jumped
in fear as Trowa shut the door of the truck, sticking close to his
elder self as Trowa walked across the parking lot and into the department
store.
However, once he was inside, Trowa paused, unsure of what to do.
He wasn’t an expert at shopping . . . didn’t truly know
what to buy for a child. Perhaps he should have asked for help from
one of the others. Trowa threw that thought out quickly. He couldn’t
have allowed anyone else to come with them . . . the clone was frightened
enough as it was.
Well, clothing should be first, Trowa decided . . . all he had to
do was find out where boys’ clothes were located. Trowa looked
around, seeing a number of signs to lead the way around the store.
He squinted, trying to read the printing on one, but just couldn’t
make it out. With a sigh, he gave up, lowering his head and shaking
it in annoyance.
When he raised his gaze, Trowa looked around again. This time he
sought out employees of this place. When he found one, a perky red-haired
girl, he walked over to her, tapping on her shoulder lightly to gain
her attention. “May I help you?” She asked politely, a
warm smile on her face.
With the clone hiding behind him, Trowa nodded. “Yes, where
can I find the boys’ clothing department?” He asked.
The girl smiled again, pointing down a wide aisle. “Go that
way, turn right and just head straight ahead. Boys and mens’
clothes are located at the back of the store.”
Trowa nodded. “Thank you.” He replied, then headed in
the direction that he had been shown, the young clone fearfully following
him close. He paused for a moment near a cart return, taking one of
them. He would rather not carry everything. Trowa pushed it with one
hand, his other hand still held firmly by the child beside him.
When they reached the clothing department, Trowa looked around. He
pushed the cart into the section, finding first a shelf display containing
underwear. He looked down at the clone, frowning when he had no idea
as to the size of the child. With a shrug, Trowa reached over and
grabbed the first pair he found. He knelt down, shaking the loose
pair unfolded, then held them to the clone’s waist. They would
be too large, he decided. He did this until he found the right size,
then grabbed a couple packages of several pairs and tossed them in
the cart.
Next he picked up several pairs of socks, then moved to the back
wall and stood in front of the jeans. He looked to the child beside
him. “You will need to try these on.” Trowa said. “I
don’t know your size.”
The clone shook his head, apparently not wanting to do that. Still,
Trowa knew that he would have to. He couldn’t get the child
appropriate clothes if they were unsure of his size. Different companies
sometimes had different views of sizes . . . the ones that fit the
child here, might not be the same as the size of the jeans the Preventers
had issued for him to wear. With a sigh, Trowa chose several pairs
of jeans of varying sizes and deposited them in the cart.
“You’ll need shirts. Do you have any preferences?”
Trowa asked.
Slowly, the child reached up, grasping the front of Trowa’s
shirt and tugged, grunting lightly.
“You want to dress like me?” Trowa asked, wanting to
be sure he understood.
The clone nodded.
“You do not have to dress like me.” Trowa said, but when
he saw that the child actually did want to wear garments like his,
he sighed again.
He quickly made his way over to a rack of shirts, picking dark-colored
turtlenecks. Again, he knew that the clone would have to try them
on first. He also chose a number of T-shirts and one or two dress
shirts, then several pairs of pajamas once they reached that section.
He stopped by the dressing rooms, looking down at the clone by his
side. “Come on.” He said, taking the clothes from the
cart and nodding to the assistant on duty outside. She showed them
to a closet-sized room, then hung a colored hanger on the outside
of the door, returning to her station without a word.
The clone stopped just outside the room. Trowa dropped the clothes
on the bench, then turned to face the boy. “Come on.”
He said quietly, reaching out to take the child’s hand, gently
urging him to step inside the small compartment. “You do have
to try these on. If you want, I will stand outside.”
The child nodded, then looked at the clothes.
Trowa smiled faintly, then strode out. “If you need me, I will
be out here. Make sure you keep track of what fits you or what you
like.” He said, then closed the door and stood just outside,
knowing that he would have to be close if he wanted to offer assistance
when needed.
It took a while, but eventually, the child emerged from the room,
his small arms loaded with clothes. Trowa took them from him, smiling
faintly. “Are these the ones that fit?” Trowa asked.
The clone nodded, then went back into the room and got the ones that
didn’t fit him. Trowa dropped the clothes they were going to
buy into the cart, then took the ones they weren’t buying and
put them in the child seat of the cart. They returned to the clothing
section and returned the clothes that didn’t fit, then made
their way to the shoe department, briefly stopping to get a winter
coat as well as accessories. After getting sneakers, it was a quick
walk to get the child some towels, then to the health and beauty aides’
department, where they picked up the necessary toiletries that he
would need.
Trowa stopped by the toy department, debating with himself whether
to buy something for the child or not. He had never had toys as a
child, but maybe they would help the clone fit in more if he got them.
“Find something you like, and I’ll buy it for you.”
Trowa said.
The clone looked up at him, a genuine look of surprise on his face.
Apparently, he had not expected to be given toys. Still, the child
made his way down the aisle, looking over the various toys while Trowa
followed behind him with the cart. He bypassed the action figures
completely, ignoring the imitation weaponry. The doll aisle was passed
by, as well as toy cars.
Finally, the clone stopped, looking back to Trowa unsurely before
he reached up and grabbed a stuffed animal. It was just a simple black
bear with bright green eyes. Trowa knelt down beside his clone. “Do
you want this?” He asked, running his fingers over the soft
fur on the stuffed animal’s back.
The clone nodded, biting his lip as he looked to Trowa. He looked
worried, as if he was fearing that Trowa would snatch the bear away
from him and put it back on the shelf.
Trowa smiled, rising to his feet again. “You may have it then.
Why don’t you carry it until we reach the checkout.” Trowa
said, his heart warming as the child gave him a tentative smile. As
small as it was, it still made Trowa feel pleased to see it. They
finished their shopping a few minutes later, waiting in line so that
they could leave. Next to him, the clone hugged his bear, still staying
close to Trowa.
*****
Heero sighed, loading the bags into the trunk of the car. They had
gotten clothes for the clones, and Heero had volunteered to take them
to the car. Duo and the clones were still inside the mall, Duo shopping
for a pair of jeans and a shirt that weren’t either black or
red. Heero knew where they were, so he wasn’t worried. The box
containing his new shoes was the first to go in the trunk, Heero had
already bought them while waiting for Duo and his clone to emerge
from the dressing room. He knew his size, what he wanted. It had been
no trouble to go to the nearest footwear store and purchase them.
When he had gotten back, Heero assisted his own clone in getting
clothes, watching as Odin stayed with neutral colors. White and black
tops with blue and black jeans . . . that had been what Odin had chosen
for his wardrobe. His pajamas were simple, functional and comfortable,
nothing more, nothing less.
As soon as they had left the store, Heero had said that he would
transport their new things to the car, leaving the clones their coats
and winter garments. He didn’t want them catching a chill. Duo
rummaged around in the bags before Heero took them, finding a small
package of elastic bands. Heero wondered what he meant to do with
them, since Duo and his clone had already braided their hair.
Once Heero finished shoving the bags of clothes into the rather spacious
trunk, he closed it. He turned on his heel and walked back into the
mall, heading into the store that Duo told him they would be in. Within
only a few minutes, Heero found the children crowded around a dressing
room, most of them looking rather bored as they waited for Duo to
come out.
Duo stepped out, nervously picking at the blue shirt he wore and
looking quite unsure. “I don’t know if I like this.”
He said, looking down at the blue jeans he wore. Then he looked up
and noticed Heero. “Oh, Heero . . . you’re back.”
He said, then smirked. “So . . . um . . . what do you think?”
He asked.
“It looks good on you, Duo.” Heero said, nodding. All
of the clones agreed with him, Chibi-Duo clapping energetically.
Duo blushed, then ducked back into the dressing room. A few minutes
later, he came back out, dressed in the clothes he had been wearing
before. “I’ll get them then.” He said, heading over
to the checkout line. As they walked out of the store, Duo tied the
handles of the bag together, then looked down at the kids. “Hey,
you guys hungry?” He asked.
Chibi-Duo nodded. “Yeah!” He announced happily. The other
children also answered affirmatively.
“Good, what do you say we get the kids some lunch at the food
court?” Duo asked.
“Yes, I think that would be wise.” Heero replied, setting
his hand on Odin’s shoulder and leading the child away. He knew
that Duo would follow behind him, all the other clones in tow.
They ordered their food. Heero chose to stay at the counter to await
the meal, with Odin by his side to help him carry it all. Duo took
his own clone and the girls and went to find a place for them all
to sit. When Heero finally made his way over to the table, he found
Duo sitting in a seat, pulling Lena’s hair into a single ponytail.
“There ya go, little lady.” Duo said, smiling brightly
as he hefted Lena onto the seat beside his.
“Thank you, sir.” Lena politely replied.
Heero couldn’t help the trace of a smirk that made its way
across his face. He set the food down on the table, Odin doing the
same. Then Heero handed out the appropriate food to each person seated
around the table. It wasn’t a good deal of food, just enough
to hold them until dinner. Duo proclaimed that he was going to take
them all someplace great . . . Heero wondered where he possibly wanted
to go.
The meal was relatively quiet. Duo ate quickly, then got up to throw
his trash away. Heero felt a light tap on his arm as he finished eating
his own meal. He looked to the side and down at Une’s clone.
“Yes?” He asked.
“Will you braid my hair for me?” She asked timidly.
Heero nodded, seeing no reason not to. He wiped his hands off on
a napkin. “How would you like it?” He asked.
Une’s clone blushed a little. “Two braids, please . .
. Duo bought me some ribbons.” She held out her hand, which
had two long violet ribbons on them.
Heero took them, urging the girl to turn. He silently ran his fingers
through her hair, then separated it into halves. He set one half of
the hair over the girl’s shoulder, then separated the remaining
half into sections. Once the hair was evenly set into plaits, Heero
began to weave it, twisting the ribbon in with the strands of hair.
When Heero finished, he was left with a braid, but no way to tie
it off. He looked around for something to use, only to blink as an
elastic band was held out to him. He looked up, seeing Duo smiling
down at him. “Nice job.” Duo commented as Heero took the
band.
Heero said nothing. He secured the elastic around the end of the
braid, then silently went to work on the other half of the girl’s
hair. “There, done.” Heero said, completing the task.
Une’s clone turned to him and he quickly found himself being
hugged. “Thank you.” Une’s clone said, happily.
Heero only blinked, not sure how to react. Eventually, Une’s
clone moved away. He wasn’t used to hugs, so he had not known
how to react. Perhaps the next time he got one, if he did, he would
be better prepared to deal with it.
*******
TBC
*******
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