1-Mar-2001
Title: Chasing the Crown, an Extended Family Fic
ExFam Authors:
RavynFyre - ravynfyre@hotmail.com
Diane Davis - fenwyck@radiks.net
von - sablexo1@yahoo.com
bonnejeanne - bonnejeanne@yahoo.com
*Guests to be announced*
Category: yaoi, AU
Rating: PG-13 for now, that will change
Pairings: 1x2, 3+4
Spoilers: Series, Endless Waltz, Mission: Arcadia
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners.
Kenny, Duan, Wufan, Tryan, Carter, Jack and the Ripper, and everything relating to Rip & Jack's universe are ours. No money being made here.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Please feel free to direct feedback to any or all of the authors!
WARNINGS: AU (Alternate Universe), Original Characters, LEMON in some sections. Kiddie-Angst.
NOTES: This section begins to crank up the angst a bit. Gomen, and be forewarned. Also, Heero is going to be absent for the next couple of sections, also gomen, but he will be back.
Duan pushed the door to Duo and Heero's room open. "Come on, he's sleep," he said to Kenny who was making sure that Heero's vehicle was really gone and not doubling back. They needed to speak to Duo and preferably alone.
Kenny moved up, following Duan into the bigger boy's room. His expression was impassive but a look in his dark eyes would have revealed a disquiet in the boy. His own instincts told him to insure Heero's absence, but the implicit betrayal in the thought itself troubled him down to his soul.
Duan padded over to the bed and sat down beside Duo's sleeping form. Placing his hand on Duo's shoulder, he shook the violet eyed pilot. "Duo," he said, urgently. "Wake up, Duo. We got a problem!"
At the sound of the younger boy's voice, Duo's body stiffened, and a familiar shape materialized in Duo's hand. His eyes snapped open before he could swing his arm around, fixing on Duan's face with surprise as awareness seeped into his hazy mind.
"Kiddo? Problem? What problem?" he asked quietly, sliding the gun back under his pillow as he sat up.
Kenny's eyes had widened as he saw the amazing gun from Arcadia "appear" in Duo's hand as if by magic and he prepared to dive for Duan the next second. Seeing Duo wake and move his hand back, he relaxed only slightly, filing the information away quickly. Wow!
Duan's eyebrows rose and he blinked catching the quick exchange, then he relaxed as he watched Duo sit up. "We need to talk to you," Duan said, glancing at Kenny. "It's Carter. He's having bad dreams...real bad dreams."
"Bad dreams? How often? How did you find out?" Duo asked, his voice concerned as he shifted up, now more alert.
"Tryan told me. He says that Carter said not to tell, but they're getting worse. Tryan says Carter wakes up at night and goes to your secret spot in the roof cause he's scared," Duan said.
"Does Tryan know anything else about them? What they're about or anything?" Duo asked, shifting to swing his legs out of bed.
Duan shook his head in the negative. "No, Carter won't tell what the dreams are about. He doesn't want Heero to find out about them," he replied.
Duo frowned thoughtfully to himself.
"Wonder why..." he murmured before turning his attention back to the boys. He cocked his head as he peered at them both, and then fixed his attention on Kenny for a moment.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
Kenny glanced away and then back. He nodded. "Fine," he said firmly but softly. His hands however were tightly fisted in contrast with the calmly answered word.
Duan looked at Kenny, then to the ground, hearing Duo ponder why. He heard Duo's question and looked back up at his friend, unable to suppress a slight wince. Reaching out, he took Kenny's hand, noting the balled up fist. "Are you?" he asked, quietly, as his gaze swung back to Duo.
"Who? Me?"
"Yes," Duan answered, looking at the older boy squarely.
Duo cocked his head and contemplated the boys for a moment before answering.
"Why do you ask?"
"Cause you seem tense," Kenny said, calm but with tight overtones.
The braided pilot blinked, his gaze un-focusing as he concentrated on Kenny's statement. After a moment he glanced back up and nodded slowly.
"I don't know why, though," he said carefully, before shaking his head and giving them both a tired smile, "I'm okay, though. Honest."
Kenny glanced at Duan.
Duan sighed. "I don't know nothin'," he said. "Maybe it's just all in my head or something, but something's not right. It's not just Carter and his bad dreams. That's not what I can feel." Lowering his eyes, Duan looked back at the ground and shrugged. "I don't know."
"What can you feel?"
Duan looked up at Duo, his eyes shining. "I feel wrong! Something is wrong! You and Kenny say you're fine, but that's not all true. I can tell! Sifu says, you can feel it when the chi is not balanced!" he said, feeling unspoken thoughts and feeling erupt. Looking up at Duo, Duan frowned deeply, trying to hold himself together. "It's Heero," he said, "Something is wrong. He's not keeping his word."
Kenny jerked away and ran over to the bedroom's window, looking out as if it were important to see something outside the room.
"Not keeping his word?" Duo echoed quietly. His eyes tracked Kenny's flight, and his brow furrowed, finding himself somewhat at a loss.
"Kenny?"
The younger boy didn't turn around. "Hn?"
Duo shook his head, trying to clear the confusion from his mind. After a moment, he looked back down, his gaze darting between Duan's face and Kenny's back.
"Do you guys know what a 'Priest' is?" he asked.
"A priest is a church leader, right?" Duan said, feeling his shoulders slump.
"Yes. He's a special kind of church leader. One of the things he does is listen to people. Anything people tell him at certain times becomes their secret. He keeps it all safe and won't tell anyone if the people don't want him to. He also helps them when they have problems, no matter what. I was raised by a priest when I was your age. I told him all sorts of really terrible things about me and about things I'd done and thought... And I knew he'd never share, and he wouldn't be mad at me for them. I- You guys... I can be that for you. No matter what, you can tell me anything you need to... okay?"
"Ok," Duan answered. "So, we just did. What happens if you're in the bad we tell you? Can you go talk to the Priest too?"
Duo nodded. "If I need to. We can work anything out, if we all work together. I'm sure of it. What about you guys?"
Duan took a deep breath and let it all out. "I know we can work it out together. I'm just not sure you understand what I'm saying. Is this how it works here?" he asked.
"I guess 'm not understanding," Duo replied, "Is this how what works here?"
Duan placed his hands on Duo's knees. "Duo, are you listening to me with parents ears or pals ears?" he asked.
"It's real hard for me to be one or the other... Kinda both, I guess."
"Why didn't you want Heero to know about the room upstairs?" Kenny said without turning around.
Duo sighed, his posture slumping in something like defeat.
"Because Rip and Jack stay up there, and Hero doesn't always get along well with Rip. I didn't want them to fight."
"So are we really together? All of us?"
"Would you think less of me if I said I didn't know?" Duo answered honestly.
"I don't know what you mean by less of you," Kenny said, his words extremely precise. "But I think the answer is no. Don't you understand we don't wanna make trouble? We want everything to be right? I can make it right for me if I have to, no matter what. But Carter... it's not going to work for him."
"You guys aren't causing trouble. It's the Crown. Everything's been weird since the Crown," Duo looked as if he was about to say something else, but went strangely silent, his gaze darting off to the side as he contemplated something.
Kenny turned around abruptly, his face impassive but his eyes burning with deep pain. There was a flare of tragic hope in them somewhere at Duo's words. "That's what I mean! It's not his fault! It's not..." He turned around again and grabbed the window frame tightly, his lips snapping shut as if to keep more words from escaping.
Duan listened to the exchange as his mind worked furiously. He nodded, feeling a small measure of relief. "Ok," he said. "The Crown messes things up, probably messes all of us up too."
"Not all of us actually touched the damned thing," Duo murmured almost too quietly to be heard. He shook his head then, and looked back up, glancing between the boys.
"I'll talk to Carter. I'll help him. We'll help him," He paused then, turning his attention fully to the boy at the window, "Kenny."
"What?"
"We'll help *him*. I promise. You're right." He was not talking about Carter this time and Kenny knew it.
Kenny's knuckles whitened. His voice when he answered was low and strained. "Maybe he doesn't need any help. Maybe it's us. Maybe ... why can't he do whatever he wants? Why should he have to keep his word? He's done everything for everybody. It's just wrong and ungrateful to be doing this. He does what's right... always... so maybe this is what's wrong... me... us... me..."
"Neither one of us is perfect, Kenny. We aren't right all the time. We can't be, because we're human, and being human is a good thing. It's not ungrateful to have doubts about anything. It just proves that you really are human, and you're pretty smart. Neither one of us always do what's right. We try, but... we really are human. I- What did you mean when you both said he didn't keep his word?"
Duan heard Kenny's words and his gaze dropped to the floor once more. He felt them, felt the truth in them. They were his fears. Taking a deep breath, he clenched his teeth together. He felt he's said enough.
Duo watched as Duan steeled himself and then remained quiet. He cocked his head at the boy, his violet gaze questioning.
"What word?"
Duan looked up. His eyes moved to the window and Kenny. "It's ok, Duo." he said, softly. "Kenny's right. Heero and you have been good to us. That's gotta count."
Duo slipped from the bed, dropping a comforting hand on Duan's shoulder and gently tugging him over to the window. He knelt down before the quiet boys and reached out to lay a hand on Kenny's shoulder.
"It's okay to worry about someone who's important to you. That's why I worry about all of you guys. You aren't wrong to be worried or afraid or anything. I- I'm not saying this right, but... I love you guys, and I will be here for you, no matter what... And if I'm doing something wrong, I need you to tell me, okay?"
Duan listened to Duo's words carefully. He bit his lower lip and kept his eyes on Kenny, remembering a person from an ancient history book. His name was Benedict Arnold. He nodded his answer to Duo.
Kenny's shoulder was as rigid as a rock.
"He hurts you sometimes," Kenny said very, very softly, his voice devoid of any inflection.
Duo blinked, surprised. He glanced out the window, thinking hard.
"My braid..." he whispered quietly, "He... doesn't mean it... like that I think."
"It's okay because of the sex, right?" Kenny said in the same soft, flat voice.
Duo's jaw dropped open for a brief moment before he collected himself again.
"Uh... No... It's not okay... I just never thought about it before... because.. I..love him."
Duan turned to look at Duo squarely. He felt his stomach twist, but he was unable to stop his words. "So, because you love him, you lie for him too..." he said.
"I... what?"
"You lie for Heero because you love him...because of the sex."
Duo lost his balance, dropping back to a seat on the floor with a dull thud. His stricken expression was aimed at the floor, unheeding, for the moment, of his small audience, as the words tumbled among his thoughts.
"I wasn't... was I?"
"You said you didn't tell him about the room because you didn't want him to fight with Ripper, but that's not all the reason. You don't want Heero to know cause you like Ripper too. You're scared Heero will be mad at you," Duan said.
Duo leaned back against the wall, dropping his eyes to stare at his hands lying unresponsively in his lap.
"I told you I wasn't perfect," he said softly.
Duan moved over to Duo and placed his hands around the older boy's face. "You don't have to be perfect," he said. Then, very softly, "Remember, runs and hides ..but never lies... That's why I thought something was wrong."
"It was fine before we came and messed it up," Kenny whispered savagely.
"I don't know how to make you understand... how to make you really believe that you guys are the best thing that's ever happened to me... I'm sorry I'm letting you down, because you guys didn't 'mess' anything up," Duo said, his voice cracking a bit near the end.
Kenny put his hands over his face for a moment and then straightened. "It's not you, Duo," he said after that.
"And it's not you either," Duo replied fiercely protective.
"Maybe," Kenny agreed, more as a concession to the older boy to soothe him. He shrugged, forcing it through tense shoulders. "This was supposed to be about Carter. We just wanted you to know. The rest of the stuff don't matter."
"We're all together here. Anything that affects one of us, affects us all. It matters. You all matter. I'll talk to Carter. Maybe he can help us all too, when we help him. But... It really isn't you. If you can still believe in me... please... believe in that too..."
Kenny turned and went down on his knees in front of where Duo sat.
"I believe in you," he said, keeping the words as even as possible. "I... I believe in him too. I wish I could do it better."
"I believe in him too... And you. And you're dong it just fine. At least from where I stand..." Duo said, his voice trailing off as he tried to keep his thoughts ordered, and restrain the impulse to gather them both up and tuck them away someplace safe where nothing bad could ever get at them again.
Kenny bowed his head, trying not to think about the words they had all been saying.
"We'll work this out. And maybe someday, you guys will really believe me when I tell you that you're wonderful and good and the best thing that I've ever had the honor of being involved with," Duo said.
Duan nodded. "It's ok, Duo," he said. "You don't have to tell us that a lot of times. We know you and Heero love us. We know it will work out, too. We just had people tell us a bunch of things that weren't true or try and get us to do something or get out of the way. That's why we like it when you tell us the truth." He sighed.
"And that's why I wanna always tell you guys the truth... I'll try real hard not to screw up," Duo answered quietly.
"You should both go get some more rest. You were up early," Duo finally said.
Kenny looked up and shrugged. "Okay if you want," he said. He took Duan's hand.
"Unless there's anything else you wanna talk about?" Duo said, his voice softly hopeful.
Kenny looked at Duo and then at Duan. He looked a little helpless.
Duan looked down at Duo. "I think that's it," he said. "I'm going down for some juice first, you want some?" he asked.
"Sure. I'll join you for some juice. Kenny?"
Kenny nodded. "Um. Carter's up there. Now."
"Hm... Then I might pass on the juice for just a bit... I'll head down with you, though," he said, climbing to his feet and snagging a pair of baggy sweatpants off of the floor.
He pulled the sweats on over his boxers, and detoured past the bed, slipping the gun into the back waistband as a matter of course.
Duo followed the boys downstairs to the kitchen, making sure they had everything under control before turning towards the back door.
"I'll be up there if you need me, okay?"
Kenny nodded, his demeanor calming as things moved into a more practical vein and a bit away from what he found so disturbing.
"Ok," Duan said, finding the juice and glasses.
"Okay," Duo replied, slipping out the door into the chill morning air.
With practiced ease, he swung himself up into the branches and climbed steadily towards the top of the tree, pausing once to berate himself for forgetting shoes as the rough bark dug into the soles of his feet.
"Smart, Maxwell. No wonder they worry about you sometimes," he grumbled to himself as he neared the top.
"Olly olly oxen free... Anyone awake in there?" Duo called softly, unwilling to risk getting knifed in the dark by climbing in unannounced at this time of morning.
He was answered by silence.
Duo heaved a sigh, his bangs floating about his face as he shifted on the last few sturdy branches.
"In for a fish," he muttered, crossing the last short distance to the window and pushing it open to slip in. With a soft grunt, he slid through and into the attic room.
The walls were lightening in sync with the artificial colony dawn. In the far corner, he saw blond curls, Carter was curled up on the futon, his eyes closed, fast asleep. There were fading smudges under the little boy's eyes shadowing his fair skin but they were faint.
Curled around him was another body, arm carelessly draped over the child almost protectively. Ripper's long form was folded around Carter, his legs covered in black pants and his torso in a white shirt, un-tucked. His eyes were closed and the expression was oddly akin to the child's.
Duo padded silently over to the futon, glancing around for Jack along the way, before coming to a halt beside the low bed. He knelt down on Carter's side, and simply stared at them both for a long moment, his expression thoughtful as he concentrated on thinking soothing thoughts towards the small boy.
Carter smiled slightly in his sleep and sighed.
His companion stirred slightly and opened brown eyes under the disarrayed red hair and looked up at Duo with mild interest. He yawned abruptly, like a cat.
"Morning," Duo whispered, "When did he come up here?"
Rip grinned slightly. He sat up, somehow managing not to disturb the sleeping child and stretched.
"Always an interesting question from my point of view," he answered softly in return. "Um... several hours? Three? Why, is his absence finally being noticed?"
Duo winced, turning his guilt-filled amethyst gaze down on the boy, he reminded himself firmly to maintain his constant stream of comforting thoughts at the small blonde.
"So I'm not the sharpest knife in the box..." he murmured.
Rip cocked his head. "In a serious mood today then," he nodded. "Too bad. Nothing to worry about, old chap. The little sprite will be fine. Just having a few subconscious brushes with an old friend."
"How long can that thing mess with someone?" Duo asked thoughtfully, still gazing down at Carter.
One wickedly arched eyebrow lifted. "Another of those pesky time interrogatives," Rip commented. "How long? As long as there is matter and energy... what sort of answer would make sense to you?"
Duo glanced up at Rip and grinned lopsidedly.
"One of these days, I'm gonna figure out that I can't ask you some things and expect a coherent answer," he replied with amusement.
Rip grinned. "How very clever you will be then," he answered agreeably. He watched the young man's face. "Something on your mind."
"There's always something on my mind. Usually it's something useful like the coefficient of the trajectory of a properly filled water balloon or some such thing."
"Very scientific!" Rip commented. "As you will. Do you wish to wake him? Not thinking of trying to carry him down the tree?"
Duo peered down at the peacefully slumbering child for a moment.
"Do I have to? Wake him, I mean... He looks... quiet now."
Rip's face took on a thoughtful expression. "Hmmm... let's see... I think I gave up eating children for Lent..."
"I seem to recall you gave up quite a bit for Lent," Duo retorted wryly.
Grinning, Rip shot back, "Yes of course! It's always Lent somewhere... some when... but then it also always isn't!" He then stuck his tongue out at Duo in an utterly childish manner.
"And the really scary thing is, that made perfect sense to me," Duo chuckled softly, "That's quite charming you know."
The grin widened. "That's not what I usually get... usually it's either disgusting or threatening... have to work on that."
"And which of the two were you aiming for this time, oh pulchritudinous one?"
Eyes widening in admiration, Rip replied, "Oh, both, of course!"
Duo grinned back, arching an eyebrow at Rip's admiring look.
"What? Surprised that my vocabulary extends beyond words like 'food', 'video game', and 'gundam'?" he asked dryly.
"Utterly shocked!" Rip agreed. "Nonplussed even. Close to impressed. Well and truly put in my bloody place," he finished, the grin undimmed.
"Good then. Seems that 'm doing my job right, in that case," Duo quipped back archly, settling back to sit on the floor and drawing one knee up to his chest with a prim air.
Rip snorted softly. "Doing a job... how very thrilling you make it sound. You do seem to be having a slight bit more fun than the last time we spoke. For all the parental concern..."
"Hey, not everyone can live the glamorous life of Duo Maxwell. Besides... You and I both know what a lousy parent I make," Duo replied, his own expression still amused.
"Oh do we? I never had a very high opinion of the position, personally. I suppose there are those who have done worse than you," Rip answered, still smiling pleasantly, with the faintest of sparks in those amused brown eyes.
Duo's brow furrowed as he considered that for a moment.
"Guess you're right."
"There now, be careful, you're going to have me thinking you enjoy conversing with me if you continue in that vein," Rip cautioned, shaking a long finger expressively. The grin returned in full force.
"Dear lord, you're right again," Duo replied with mock astonishment, "Is this where I snatch him up and hurtle us both from the window to escape you and your boorish ways?"
Rip nodded immediately. "After snarling some vague threat or accusation," he added helpfully. "It should be quite exciting."
"Shall I challenge you to a duel or something, just to round the whole thing out? Before we flee, I mean," Duo asked curiously.
Rip considered thoughtfully. "No... no I shouldn't think so... not your style. Maybe a pointed, and pithy remark of some kind, preferably insulting..."
"Pithy... Pithy..." Duo considered, "I think I'm fresh out of pithy this week. Will sardonic do?"
"Well if you don't mind letting the side down, old man, I suppose...." Rip said, grinning happily. "I suppose sardonic will do. That might be entertaining."
Duo nodded in agreement, glancing back down at Carter and shaking his head.
"But he looks so peaceful... I hate to throw him out the window when he looks so peaceful. Tryan would kick my butt, I think."
Rip pouted. "You're just not getting into the spirit of the thing," he said complainingly. "Clearly you don't feel threatened. How disappointing."
"Sorry," Duo apologized pleasantly, "It's tough to really fear someone who's so quaintly sleep-mussed."
Rip lifted his head and stared down a nose that was just a tiny bit too short for his long face. "It's not quaintly mussed, it's sexually enticingly mussed, I tell you!" He lowered his lids in an exaggerated fashion and licked his lips.
"I sit corrected," Duo replied agreeably.
Rip smiled. "Good! Quite right, too!" He grinned, and winked. "And though I know you are simply humoring me, I think it's very sporting of you, old man."
"Oh you think so, do you?" Duo asked, cocking his head off to the side bemusedly, "How little you know me then."
He snorted softly before shaking his head and glancing over Rip once more. "Sporting?" he asked with a wry smile.
"Quite. Sporting. Cricket," Rip explained. He grinned, which turned into a leer. "We used to call Americans colonists, and here you are again, the colonist twice over."
"Does that make me square?" Duo asked, a faint pout hovering at the edge of his lips.
"Not anywhere I've been able to observe," Rip answered promptly. He let his brown eyes dance over Duo's slender form.
"If that bothered me, it'd bother me. Thankfully, it doesn't, otherwise I'd be pissed at myself for forgetting a shirt along with the shoes," Duo responded, wiggling his bare toes in the thick blue carpet.
Rip smiled. "There was a time when I'd have had you on the floor by now," he said softly, his voice losing none of the good humor. "Perhaps you best take the little one down to his bed now. Before it occurs to me how much I'm enjoying this."
Duo's smile faltered a bit for a brief moment before he nodded and knelt up to reach for Carter.
"Thanks for letting him curl up with you, Rip," he said quietly.
The redhead simply smiled back. "Costs me nothing. Sweet child. Good instincts. This room is soundproofed, among other things. He's safe here," he said, with a slight stress on the last word.
"As he wouldn't be anywhere else?" Duo asked, pausing mid-reach.
"He's been searching for it," Rip answered. "Sometimes it searches back. Dangerous game. It's pleasant to see courage, or foolhardiness, in such a child."
Duo's expression softened as he glanced down.
"Yeah. It is," he murmured before he looked back up to meet Rip's eyes. "Is there anything... anything more I could do? For him?"
Rip shrugged. "I don't know that I could say. He's an oddling... child of the Storm, yet raised in reach of the Serpent. Unique. It's your destiny, you'll work it out."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Duo retorted with a smirk.
Rip chuckled. "Think nothing of it," he grinned easily. He reached up and slid his hand to the back of his neck. A familiar weapon appeared in dexterous fingers. "Thanks for the souvenir. I like it. It has a good edge," he said, his eyes taking a momentarily dreamy expression of intense pleasure.
"It had better," Duo responded, ruefully glancing down at the scar down his thumb, "I thought if anyone would appreciate it..." he let his voice trail off into a soft snicker.
Rip inclined his head, returning the blade to its neck sheath. "It whispers of death and other pleasant things," he said happily. "It tastes of your dark side. Nice that you haven't forgotten it."
Duo's eyes narrowed in a wicked smirk.
"You're such a pill, Rip."
Nodding, the redhead agreed without hesitation. "True. Now scat before I'm tempted to have you take me with a glass of water."
He stood up as he spoke and picked up a pair of boots that were under the edge of the futon in negligent fingers.
"How romantic," Duo muttered cheerfully, leaning over the futon to gently shake Carter's shoulder, "Carter... Kiddo, time to wake up a little."
The small blond yawned and blinked up at the braided boy. Without a word he lifted his arms and wrapped them around Duo's neck.
Duo smiled tenderly down at the boy and gathered him into his arms, snuggling the child against his bare chest before he rose smoothly to his feet.
"Thanks again, Rip."
"Oh stop," Rip smirked. He slid his feet into the boots and then reached for his back, hand moving. There was the barest troubling of something there and he walked towards the far wall and then melted through it.
Duo blinked at the vanished redhead for a moment before glancing down at Carter with a faintly amused smile.
"How unique."
Carter settled where he was and kept any sleepy comments that might have occurred to him to himself.
Ripper passed through the solid wall by using his bass to vibrate the molecules of his body in phase with the molecules of the barrier.
On the other side, a slightly shorter blond looked up from the keyboard and monitors around him in an almost-cockpit-like area at the far end of the room. This room resembled the other, and completed the length of the house, but did not have a window in the outside wall. In fact there were no doors either. The floor, walls and ceiling were a neutral silver grey and there was a bed, covered in something black and plush looking, but the room was dominated by equipment - a strange collection of computers and apparent musical synthesizers. Half a dozen flatscreen monitors of various sizes. There was a corner with plumbing, and a tall cabinet that might contain anything from clothes to heavy ordinance, metallic and sleek-looking.
Jack turned cool green eyes on his partner, his painted lips slightly curved.
"Well wasn't that special," he remarked. "And you're waiting for what? An engraved invitation? Or do you find the idea of handling his enraged lover so much more appealing?"
Rip chuckled, not needled in the slightest by his partner's cool tone. "It was you who taught me the value of patience in some things. To enjoy anticipation..."
Jack snorted softly. "As if." He watched Ripper sprawl on his bed, smiling indulgently as the redhead unfastened his pants and slid long fingers down to touch himself. The little violet-eyed ex-pilot had definitely gotten under Ripper's skin.
Sighing at the slight easement of tension, Rip looked up at Jack through auburn bangs and stuck his tongue out at the expression on the blond's face.
"You could help me out with this..." Rip suggested.
Jack rolled his jewel-green eyes. "Ha. Get yourself in that state and expect me to deal with you? You know what that means, don't you? My terms."
Hand moving rhythmically inside the loosened black pants, Rip pouted. " 'My terms'," he mimicked with wicked accuracy. "You're such a prick, Jack."
The blond nodded. Then he smiled and turned back to the keyboards and computer screens.
"All right!"
Jack chuckled. "Sad. Letting the little one get to you like this."
Rip grumbled, his voice huskier as he continued to stroke his straining erection. "You're the one with control issues, little Jackie."
"I have no issues," Jack said, rising from the seat and walking indolently over to the bed. Looking down, he smiled. "Give me your wrist."
"I'll break your toys... again," Rip warned, offering his unoccupied hand.
"Then I'll replace them. But these are new toys anyway. There are more uses for gundanium than making sharp playthings for little heathens like you."
Duo pulled Carter gently against his chest as he nudged open the door to an unoccupied room with his toe. Pausing at the threshold to quietly kick the door shut behind him, he crossed over to the empty bed and reached down to pull back the blankets. The pale cream sheets glowed sunnily up at him as he slowly crawled onto the bed, turning to settle down onto its enticing surface with the small blonde still cradled in his arms.
Once settled, he shifted Carter against him until the boy was resting comfortably half on the bed, and half on his own chest, with Duo's arms wrapped protectively around the blond's small shoulders. He pulled his hand away long enough to smooth the pale curls away from Carter's face for a moment, his expression softly thoughtful.
Carter remained malleable throughout this process but when Duo looked down, he realized that the little boy was watching him quietly with still, blue green eyes.
"I'm here... if you ever need to talk to someone about anything. I'll be here for you, no matter what... You know that?" Duo whispered gently.
Carter smiled slightly. "Thank you, Duo," he said quietly. He sighed. "Tryan ratted, didn't he?"
"Tryan cares about you a lot. We all do," Duo replied.
Carter smiled again, his expression one of gratitude for that caring. "I know," he said simply.
"So. Anything you wanna talk about?" Duo asked, cocking his head in inquiry at the boy.
"You want me to talk about the nightmares, don't you?" Carter said, watching Duo's face. "They're not so bad."
"I want you to talk about anything that might be bothering you."
"It's not bothering me," Carter explained. "They just come sometimes. It's okay."
"Is there anything I can do?" Duo asked.
"I don't think so," Carter said, thinking about it. "It's just taking a while cause it's kinda far away. And there are things here that sort of, get in the way just a little."
"Things here that get in the way? Like what?" Duo asked curiously.
"Feelings..." Carter said slowly. "People's feelings. Like the other day, when Kenny was sad and went away inside."
"With the tree?" Duo asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he searched his memory.
Carter nodded. "And when we went trick or treating and you and Heero walked home later..." He dropped his eyes, afraid of trespassing on the bigger boy's space.
Duo reached out and gently took Carter's chin in his free hand, drawing the boy's gaze back up to his own. "You... don't have to keep that all inside just you... You... I won't be mad, no matter what you tell me... I can help, maybe... And maybe... you can help me?"
Carter looked up. "I want to help," he said softly. "I thought if I found it, maybe that would help. Even if he... he didn't want me to."
"He? Heero?" Duo guessed, some of his own suspicions coalescing in his brain.
Carter nodded, dropping his eyes. "Just cause he wanted to protect me," he added, looking at his knees.
"We both want to protect you. All of you. You're all very special. And not because of what your... 'destiny' is supposed to be... Because of how... alive you make us feel... You give me hope, kiddo. I wish... I wish there was more I could do for you. To thank you. All I can do, though, is love you and promise to be here for you..." he said, his voice trailing off uncertainly.
Carter wormed his fingers into Duo's hand. "I know," he said softly. "It's okay, Duo."
"Is it?"
Carter nodded. "We all love you."
Duo smiled gently at the slight boy, absently smoothing Carter's bangs out of his eyes again. "Why didn't you want Heero to know about the dreams?"
Carter looked down but leaned slightly into the brief touch. "He's in 'em," he said slowly.
Duo shifted, pulling Carter closer, wrapping his free arm down around the boy's shoulders again, and soothingly stroking his back, like Helen used to do to him when he awoke from bad dreams as a child. "Heero's in them?" he asked quietly, his voice low and gentle.
Carter sighed, leaning into the older boy. He nodded. "He's inside, looking around. Everything's gone... dead... everything on Earth."
"He's inside? Inside what?"
"Inside looking out. Inside the machine. With It."
"Is that all the dream?" Duo asked.
Carter shook his head. "Sometimes we're in it. And you and Wufei and... some other people. But we always die."
"Other people?"
"I don't know all of them," Carter said, his voice a little strained. "But the two who... Quatre and... Tro-wa," he pronounced the names carefully. "And others. Does it matter? everybody is dead."
Duo tightened his hold on the boy for a moment. "It's just a trick. It's just trying to scare you. I won't fail you guys... I promise," Duo said, his low voice rough with fierce determination.
Carter nodded. Then he added softly, "...everybody but Heero." It wasn't an answer to Duo's words but a finish of his own from before.
Duo frowned thoughtfully, turning his amethyst gaze down to the side as he focused his thoughts. "He... was there before. Once. Inside. But... that was so long ago... " Duo's voice trailed off in confusion.
"It was his future," Carter answered softly, twisting Duo's fingers unconsciously.
"How often do you... have dreams like that?" Duo asked, offering Carter the tip of his braid.
Carter curled his fingers around the silky tassel and smiled unconsciously. "Most nights," he said, and yawned.
Duo glanced down and smiled at the sleepy boy, his eyes warm with vague amusement. "You're allowed to tell me to bugger off, too, you know," he said, flicking the tip of Carter's nose playfully with one long finger.
Carter giggled, wrinkling his nose. "Bugger... off?" he repeated. "That's like go away? Nope! Don't want to."
Duo's arms shifted down and tightened against the boy again. "Good. 'Cause I'd do it if you asked, but I wouldn't want to."
Carter yawned again, snuggling down into the pillows. "They're all outside, waiting on ya," he murmured. " 'M okay. No more today. I can tell."
"You see a lot, don't you, kiddo?" Duo asked ponderingly.
Carter shook his head, closing his eyes. Then he opened them and peered at Duo. "Is there something you want me to see? For you?"
"Not just yet, little one. But... you'd tell me if you saw something important... wouldn't you? Even if it was something that I might not want to hear right then?" he asked, still trying to order his thoughts.
Carter peered into Duo's face. "I'm not sure," he said slowly. "And I don't always see everything." he added, afraid of letting the older boy down.
"You don't have to see everything," Duo assured him gently, "I won't ask you to promise me you'll tell me what you do see... That wouldn't be fair... But... Things are strange now, and... I have the feeling that they're only going to get stranger. If... I'll make you a promise. I will always be here for you to talk to. I promise that no matter what you tell me, even if it's something I don't like, I'll listen and think about it, okay?"
"Okay," Carter said, and smiled trustingly at the older boy. "I'll tell you things, Duo. I promise."
Duo hugged Carter tightly again, shaking his head to himself as he realized how much he was coming to rely upon the child. "Don't let me use you, kiddo. You're allowed to tell me no if you want," the braided youth said with a slight chuckle as he loosened his near stranglehold on the boy.
"I don't mind if you use me, Duo," Carter said earnestly. "That's what I was made for, but if it's you, it's okay - I want to!"
Duo felt a flash of dark anger flash up within him at the boy's words. Anger at anyone who could have raised such a wonderful, bright, cheerful young boy to think it was "okay" to be used by anyone. Rip's earlier words about his dark side flashed back to his mind as he found himself regretting not having been able to deal more personally with Carter's "Instructor". With a soft growl, Duo vowed to himself that he would do whatever it took to keep them all safe from that kind of harm again. For Solo, for Sister Helen and Father Maxwell, for all the people in Maxwell Church and everyone since then that Duo had failed, he would make amends. These children, they would be his salvation. No matter what.
Carter placed his hand on Duo's chest gently, vibrating with the older boy's emotions. He didn't try and argue with the violet-eyed boy, simply resonated with him, and from the small hand pressed against Duo's chest came a gentle, soothing warmth.
Duo closed his eyes, concentrating on that calming contact for a long, peaceful moment. "Thank you," he whispered almost inaudibly.
Carter leaned forward and kissed Duo's cheek quite naturally. "You're welcome," he said, and smiled.
"Do you want to get some more sleep now?" Duo asked.
Carter nodded. "If that's okay, Duo," he said.
"Of course, kiddo. shall I take you back to your room, or is here okay?"
"Here is fine," Carter said, snuggling down. He yawned again.
"All right. I'd better go check on the others then," Duo said, reluctantly loosing his grip on the boy, "You'll be okay?"
Carter nodded, eyes closing. "He's old, but he's not," he muttered sleepily.
"Huh?"
Carter lifted a hand vaguely towards the ceiling as sleep began to overtake him.
Duo's gaze tracked upwards, fixing on the solid barrier, although, clearly his thoughts were of the occupant beyond. He snorted fondly to himself as he shifted out from under Carter and tucked the boy under the blankets carefully. "Sleep tight, kiddo. Thanks," he murmured, slipping off the bed and bending down to drop a gentle kiss on Carter's brow.
Carter nodded and smiled with his eyes closed. A soft sigh and he was gone to the world for a while.
Duo straightened, standing by the bedside and watching the young boy for long moments, both willing him peace, and stealing a bit of it for himself. "I'll do you proud... I promise Father... Sister..." he whispered silently before turning to slip out of the still room.
TBC
End of Part 6
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