July 2000
Category: Adventure, Action, Friendship.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine no money being sought.
Pairings: Those established in my time-line (PB, OCT, Shades...) this is just Duo and Quatre out and about at the moment.
NOTES: Alright, this is where the fic starts to get a little rough. The 4th colony of L2 is NOT A NICE PLACE. This is NOT a bastardization of Duo. He's just a bit wound up at the moment. BE WARNED!
Quatre remained quiet for the rest of the walk. He forced himself to look around, taking in landmarks and noticing details about the inhospitable environment. One thing that jumped out at him was the fact that people moved or hung out in groups.
Never single, never alone.
A couple of times hostile eyes had locked on to his and someone had moved towards him in a threatening manner. Each time, Quatre had calmly pulled back the sweep of his duster, exposing the heavy hand gun that rested against his side. A few large men had sneered but no one had challenged further.
As they walked along, Quatre found himself reaching deep down into his memories. Tapping the emotions he'd felt when he'd been under the influence of Zero. It was difficult, he'd worked hard at shunting those memories aside but he'd come to realize that the 4th Colony of L2 was no place for Quatre Raberba Winner.
So, slowly, F.C. began to emerge in Quatre's eyes.
Quatre felt his features slide into the pale, slightly wild-eyed expression that had dominated his face everytime he'd flown Wing Zero. Carefully, Quatre began to investigate F.C. F.C. wouldn't talk much. Quatre was wise enough to realize that his voice, dialect and diction would give him away almost immediately. The most effective way to get around this was to be a man of few words. It would also allow for more icy glares. For those, Quatre pulled up some of Heero and Trowa's best expressive silences. Throwing in a little of Wufei's self-assured calm, he then added a touch of his own enraged arrogance and pooled it all together.
Duo stopped in front of a building that looked tired but in better repair then those around it. It was about three stories tall and looked as if someone tried to keep it neat and inviting in appearance but they were fighting against age and repairs done with improper materials.
"Home sweet hovel." Duo muttered.
When Quatre said nothing, Duo turned and looked at the small blonde. Eyes, more blue then turquoise, stared at him from a face saved from total neutrality by the presence of a hint of self-assured arrogance in the sweep of the brows. Duo studied the stranger staring at him through Quatre's eyes and felt a small shiver go down his own spine.
Maybe he'd pushed the little Arabian too far. Maybe he'd asked too much. Duo had heard stories of Quatre under the influence of the Zero system and in that moment he also remembered the news feeds, relating the suicides of the men Quatre had destroyed in revenge for the Preventer cock-ups. Duo's violet eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to ask a question... any question... just something to make Quatre talk when all of a sudden Quatre's eyes brightened, more green faded into the icy blue irises and a small welcoming smile flickered about his pale lips.
Duo blinked in surprise at the sudden change. It was as if the man he had been looking at, had washed away in a hard summer rain, leaving behind the Quatre, Duo knew. Suddenly Duo realized Quatre was no longer looking at *him* but rather at his legs. Duo looked down quickly and met the large brown eyes of an inquisitive two year old.
The young child had a clean face but wore clothes that were a size too big for her young body. In her right hand she held what Duo assumed was a stuffed animal of some sort but it had been passed along so often that most of it's faux fur had worn off and the stitched features were nearly erased. Still the child held it close, a talisman against the night. The small thumb of the left hand was currently stuffed into a pale mouth, being suckled vigorously. A poor substitute for a nonexistent pacifier.
Still, a child's blind trust glowed in her bright eyes as she studied the young man in front of her. Wobbly legs gave way and she plunked, without concern, onto her cushioned bottom, still looking up at Duo.
"Hey." Duo said softly. Old, old instincts kicking in as he crouched down and smiled. "What are you doing out hmm?"
*Blink.*
"Ah, yeah I understand. I often liked to go exploring too."
*Blink, suckle suckle.*
"Yeah, it was pretty dull in those cribs. You sneak out behind Nurse's back?"
*Slurp.*
Quatre watched in fascination as Duo nodded his head agreeably, "Yep, right out the hole in the screen door. I used to do the exact same thing."
Duo dropped his duffle and reached down, picking the child up with practiced ease. The little girl wove her arms automatically around the boy's neck. Her face twisting into a bit of a frown as she obviously tried to figure out how to hold her stuffed toy, suck her thumb and get ahold of that wonderful long shiny braid at the same time. Duo got her settled against his hip and reached around, grabbing his braid and holding it where the four tiny fingers, not currently being sucked on, could get ahold of it.
Quatre had to stifle a chuckle as the child eagerly transferred her mouth from her thumb to Duo's braid, gnawing with obvious glee.
"Teething." Duo spoke over his shoulder, walking up the stairs, leaving his duffle for Quatre to pick up.
"Indeed." Quatre whispered as he dutifully picked up the duffle and watched his friend's retreating back.
One moment, Duo was snarling, sarcastic, angry, bitter almost violent. The next he was showing an unheard of patience and understanding with an escapee toddler. Quatre turned to look around the street once more. Now, more so then when they approached, he felt as if the building Duo was disappearing into was a haven, fighting for it's existence in hell.
Turning to walk up the crumbling stairs, Quatre began to feel some of Duo's urgency. This place must be protected.
End Part 4
Laekin
Please send comments to: seregill@aol.com
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