Author's Note: This chapter is set in Duo's POV.

Warning: NCS OCx2, 5x2 Lime

Worth Fighting For Part 15
Storm

No one in the world could say that Quatre was a happy bunny in the mornings when he was denied his coffee.

"I can't believe you drank the last of the coffee." Quatre snapped at the longhaired boy across the table.

"Hay, I need this more than you mate."

"I can't survive without coffee and it is way too early in the morning for me to wonder out to buy coffee."

"You have coffee on the brain." Duo said, drowning the rest of his hot drink and slamming the mug on to the table.

"We have tea, little one."

"Tea? I drunk tea at night, I have coffee in the morning. Now, Trowa, if you really love me, you will go and fetch me some coffee... some very, very strong coffee."

Trowa sighed and reached over Duo to grab the keys to one of the motorcycles.

"I'll be back soon." He grumbled before leaving.

Quatre flopped into one of the chairs by the breakfast bar and he poured himself a glass of fresh orange juice and he sat there moaning about Duo drinking the coffee.

"If it helps, I only get to drink the disgusting dregs. Wufei had the last decent cup."

Quatre raised his head and glared full-force at Duo.

"Ok, so it doesn't help." Duo muttered raising his hands in surrender and turning back to his pancake breakfast,

The two things that Duo needed to kick start his day was strong black coffee and sugary sweet pancakes... without them, he was in the same state that Quatre was in right now.

"Good morning!" Mike greeted cheerfully as he strolled into the kitchen. Quatre glared at him for being so happy and Duo nodded back in greeting. "What? Nothing to say to me?"

Quatre ignored him.

"There's no coffee." Duo pointed out.

"What? None at all?"

"No." Quatre growled.

"Quatre sent Trowa out to buy some. Poor kid." Duo chuckled as Mike set about making himself a cup of tea.

Mike laughed. "You should cheer up in the mornings, you two."

Mike was a morning person, he got up at 6am everyday to go for a jog before returning to laugh at the other four males in the house that hated anytime before eleven o'clock.

"How are you doing Duo?" Mike asked, sitting down next to him.

"I'm ok. I'm gonna work out for a bit this morning."

"Don't tire yourself out, you need all the energy you can get for this afternoon."

"I know." Duo sighed. "Water."

"You have nothing to worry about, you are the best swimmer I know and I know a hell of a lot of people."

"Oh no, it's not that. I love swimming; I'm just wondering what kind of sick twisted thing Devalin has planned for me."

Quatre raised his head, his morning drink forgotten. "How many things can you do in water anyway?" He asked and Mike blushed as Duo began to laugh. "What?" Quatre asked.

"Mike has done everything you can do in water." Duo winked and Quatre gave a burst of laugh as Wufei came in.

He raised an eyebrow at Quatre. "What's wrong with him?"

"Hasn't had his coffee fix yet, someone drank it all and I don't know who."

"Duo drank my coffee." Quatre sulked moodily.

"I did not, Wufei did."

"I can reheat my cup if you want it Quatre, I haven't drank it."

"You mean I had to drink cold dregs for no reason at all!" Duo shouted and Wufei smirked.

"I did on purpose Maxwell."

Duo's mouth fell open and he gasped at Wufei. "I can't believe you, that was so dishonourable."

Mike smiled as Duo and Wufei managed to start a fight, it was almost as if they were back to normal and Duo wasn't about to fight for his and Heero's life.

"What do you know about honour Maxwell?"

"A lot more than you do Wuffles."

"Wuffles? How dare you... you..."

"You what?"

"AH, Scumbag!"

"That's it? That's the best you can do?!" Duo laughed.

"I can't be bothered to waste my breath on you."

"Really? Short of a few brain cells right?"

"How dare you..."

Quatre rubbed his head, praying for Trowa to hurry with his coffee while Mike sat there smiling at the argument.

Yes, it was just another morning at the SPC house.

*   *   *

The room was cold.

The wind froze him to the bone.

The sheets had fallen from his body leaving his nearly naked body to the mercy of the wind and rain.

He was so cold he couldn't feel the bed against his bareback.

His arms hurt for no reason.

Slowly he forced his blue eyes open and he gasped at the sight before him.

No wonder he was cold and couldn't feel the bed. There was no bed. His arms were chained above his head and he was hanging a few meters... ok, it was more about fifty meters in the air above the lake. There was a platform just below him, within inches of his feet but he was still dangling from his arms and it killed. He was dressed in only his boxers and his skin was so cold it was burning with fever. His head was pounding as he tried to fight the wave of darkness and sickness that came over him.

"Having fun?"

Heero snarled at Devalin. "Is this your idea?"

"Of course, who else who come up with something so perfect?" Devalin glanced at his watch. "He should be here within five minutes."

"What's the idea of this?" Heero asked, sneezing.

"If you are out here much longer, you'll freeze to death."

Devalin pressed his hand against Heero's forehead.

"You are already burning up with fever, it won't take much for you to fall so ill that you will not make it."

Heero tried to send a death glare at Devalin but failed when his whole body was gripped in a violent sneezing fit and when he finally recovered Devalin was gone, heading towards the side of the lake where a black car had pulled up and five men climbed out.

Heero gave a sigh and another sneeze. He cursed Devalin and prayed to Shinigami, Duo's favourite god, that Duo reached him as soon as possible.

*   *   *

"Shit." Quatre swore surprising everyone in the car as they pulled to a stop. Quatre didn't normally use such filthy language, but he did manage to sum up the situation pretty well with the one word.

The guys stepped out of the car and studied the lake and surrounding area.

A large crowd had gathered around the lake and were gazing up in wonder at the complicated activity course that was over it and hanging, dead centre, almost naked, by his arms, was Heero, looking incredibly cold.

"Double shit." Duo agreed, as, what had been a light rain turned into a sudden downpour.

"He'll freeze to death." Mike informed the others as Quatre shivered from the blast of wind that wrapped itself round everyone standing outside. "You cold Quat?" Quatre gave a shaky nod. "It's ten times worst for him."

Duo snarled as Devalin appeared in front of them, a wide amused grin on his face.

"Good afternoon, lovely weather isn't it for a nice relaxing swim, don't you think?"

Wufei snorted. "You have no honour. You are a coward Devalin."

Devalin laughed. "Yes, but I hold the key." He smiled. "There is no sense in having honour my dear Shenlong, life wouldn't be fun if you have honour. And anyway, if I had honour, I would be just like you. I would have my own cock up my ass."

"Least someone would then be fucking you." Duo commented. "Now, if you don't mind, I would like to get this over with."

"It's a simple task Maxwell." Devalin began, his voice turning ice-cold. "You have to go to the middle of the lake, untie Mr Yuy and bring him to me. If you, or him fall into the water then the you would have failed, and if he falls into the water he will be dead within seconds. Do you understand? One touch of you to water and the task fails and I drop Mr Yuy in. Do you accept the task?"

Duo's eyes travailed up and along the course, tracking the course and taking in the dangers of it, but he didn't need to look to know that he would, accept the task without question.

He gave a sharp nod. "I accept."

"Then begin when you are ready." Devalin sneered, his thin lips turned up at the sides. He lead Duo to the starting point and his hand lingered on Duo's back as he pushed Duo forward. His hand moved downwards and every muscle in Duo's body tensed up.

A growl ripped from Duo's throat, a warning that would send any man with a brain running away in fear, but Devalin continued until his hand came to a stop, resting lightly on Duo's left bum cheek.

Devalin leaned forward and licked his lips.

"It could be so much easier for you Duo. Give yourself to me, save Heero and give me your life for the rest of it."

Duo shoved Devalin back. "Never. I would rather die to save Heero than degrade myself to be your whore."

Devalin made no return comment, he turned his back on Duo and spoke out to the crowd.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce, Preventer Deathscythe. The man who plans on saving that man, Heero Yuy, out there today."

The crowd gave a wide cheer of approval as Devalin pointed out towards Heero.

"A countdown please?" Devalin asked politely, and the crowd gave one.

*   *   *

Trowa watched as a look of horror spread over Duo's face as Devalin moved too close to him. Trowa's hand automatically moved to his gun and he tensed his arm up, ready to move and shot encase Devalin tried something funny, but Trowa's fear was misplaced, Devalin stepped back and greeted the crowd, who roared back in greeting.

"I bet they don't know the real reason as to why Duo and Heero are up there." Wufei muttered bitterly.

"That's a good thing." Mike pointed out. "If they did it would be a very bad rep for Devalin and us."

"FIVE!" The countdown began.

"He must move quickly, this weather is quickly turning into a s..." Quatre's last word was drowned out by the crowd.

"FOUR!"

"I agree!" Wufei nodded, his hands wrung tightly together.

"THREE!"

Mike's eyes fixed onto Heero and he turned back to the car, radio suddenly appearing in his hand. "Sally?" He yelled trying to make the doctor hear him so she would get there, he had a horrible feeling she would be needed.

"TWO!"

"Ready Duo?" Trowa asked as he saw Duo's shoulder muscles roll forward, loosing up.

"ONE!"

Duo licked his lips and trying to dry his wet hands on his wet shirt.

"GO!"

A final yell was received by a gunshot that Devalin fired high into the air and Duo leapt forward, one thought flashing through his head, Get To Heero!

*   *   *

Solo's eyes were glued to the television screen as the gun went off. Relena shot up in her seat where she had been dozing.

"What was that?" She asked, her eyes wide in fear.

"Devalin has the TV crews down at the boating lake. It's just started."

Relena took one look at the close-up of Duo's face on the TV screen before she raced from the room.

Solo ignored her, his eyes fixed on the screen as his son gave a leap for the bank to a platform and he hurried along it.

Jane looked up from her dolls house and she blinked at Solo, trying to work him out.

"Daddy?" She asked as Solo bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

"What's wrong Daddy?" She asked with wide-eyed innocence as she crawled across the floor until she rested at her father's feet. When Solo paid her no attention she looked round at the TV screen that held his attention.

"Duo?" She spoke her brother's name as she saw him reach up for another ledge and his hands gripped it, testing it would hold his weight before he used his arms to pulled him up onto the higher platform.

"Why is Duo on telly Daddy?"

"Shh Jane."

Jane stuck out her bottom lip and pouted.

The front door banged shut as Helen entered the den, looking worried.

"Why did Relena just run out of here like the dogs of Hell were on her heels?" She asked.

"Huh?" Solo grunted.

"Relena just left."

Solo's eyes widen more, if that was possible.

"No." He breathed. "Grab your coats." He ordered his family, switching the TV of and standing up.

"Why?" Helen asked picking up Jane.

"Because our son needs us."

*   *   *

Quatre huddled closer to Trowa, trying to get warm against the cold weather as he watched his friend claw his way onto a higher platform.

"It's a simple route, Duo just has to follow the path, the only problem is that the gaps are bigger than normal and the platforms are wet. Makes it so much more difficult. Devalin couldn't of asked for a better day to make this task as hard as possible for Duo. If..."

"Wufei, shut up!" Mike snapped and he stepped forward as Duo paused, his eyes searching the gap, looking for something he couldn't see.

*   *   *

Duo shivered again as a fresh gust of wind hit him and blew his hair back. Most of it had already fallen loose from the normal braid and was in his face, blocking his view. He pushed it back as he eyed the gap between the platform he was on, to the one that was just off to his left by a couple of meters. He could run and jump it, but the platform he was trying to jump to was only small and Duo feared his jump would take him too far and he would skid off the end of the platform into the lake.

He looked up and over to his right to where Heero hung, his head down and his eyes closed.

"SHIT!" Duo cursed. "HEERO!" He yelled his love's name but wither Heero could hear him over the noise of the wind, or couldn't hear him because he was out cold, Duo didn't know. He didn't want to think what would happen to Heero if it was the latter of the two and so Duo prepared himself for the jump.

*   *   *

Solo had just pulled to a stop and jumped out of the car just as Duo jumped from his platform. Relena, who they had picked up on the way, let out a scream as Duo's heels gave him no grip as he skidded across the wet surface.

Duo grabbed hold of the edge of the platform as the rest of his body fell off it and he was left dangling there, breathing heavily as his feet rested just inches above the lake.

Wufei gripped Relena's hand in greeting and she smiled at him, making his heart leap as she moved close to him, their hands still joined.

"What's going on? Why is Devalin doing this?!" Solo asked.

"Because it increases the pressure upon Duo. Duo has to move quickly in order to save Heero, Heero's body will start to shut itself down soon."

"Oh no!" Relena gasped and tighten her grip on Wufei's hand as Duo pulled himself roughly back onto the platform, his clothes soaked and cling to him like a second skin.

"It'll be alright." Mike reassured her. "Our best man is out there."

Relena nodded at Mike, her throat too tight to speak as Duo clambered up onto the last platform. Now the only thing that stood between him and Heero was a gap that was about ten meters wide, but a rope had been offered to Duo to help him.

But as Duo studied the rope, he realised that if he pulled on the rope it would drop Heero down and the platform that Heero was on, was at a slight tilt and therefore using the rope would cause Heero to fall straight into the lake.

But from where Relena, Mike and the others stood, this could not been seen.

*   *   *

"There is no choice is there." Duo muttered, taking hold of the rope, being carefully not to pull on it.

*   *   *

Devalin gave a wide smirk as he saw Duo take hold of the rope.

"You're mine." He hissed as Duo prepared to risk Heero's life in order to save it.

*   *   *

Relena suddenly flung herself against Wufei's chest and Wufei, started just stood there in shook.

"He's not going to do it." She cried and Wufei wrapped his arms around her, holding her and calming her like he had done to Duo so many times before.

"Mike, I'm here!"

"Doctor Poo!" Mike breathed a sigh of relief as she joined him, only Solo wasn't watching her and it was him who saw Heero begin to slide as Duo swung.

*   *   *

Devalin laughed as a scream rented the air from the crowd.

*   *   *

Quatre mimicked Relena by burying his head in Trowa's chest while Relena huddled closer to Wufei. Neither of them could watch the scene playing out above them.

*   *   *

Duo let go of the rope, as his feet hit the surface of the metal platform, he dived forward and grabbed the other end of the rope, causing Heero's descent to stop but not before he heard the horrifying crack. Unable to do anything else, Duo pulled Heero's limp body back on to the platform and he untied the boy.

*   *   *

"Is he safe?" Relena asked.

"Oh my god." Helen gasped. "You asshole!" She suddenly yelled at Mike.

"Pardon?"

"This is all your fault! How dare you force my sweet baby to do such dangerous things? This is all your fault and I will see that you get you..."

"Helen, stop it." Solo told his wife.

"I didn't force Duo to do anything!" Mike yelled back. "I care about him just as much as you do."

"GUYS! Heero and Duo are both safe." Sally pointed out as Duo cradled Heero to him.

*   *   *

"Damn it!" Devalin hissed and he turned on his heel, not caring if they made it back or not.

*   *   *

"Heero? Heero, love, please open your eyes for me." Duo held Heero to his body on the platform; he needed to wake Heero up. "I'm such a baka." He cursed himself as his eyes fell on Heero's broken wrist, which had snapped under the pressure of the rope.

"I'm so sorry Heero. Please, wake up, please wake up for me. Show me your pretty eyes. Please." Duo broke off, turning away from the pale face of his love.

"D-d-d-u-o-o-o-o-o-o?" Heero stammered. (Duo)

"Oh my love!" Duo gave a cry of joy.

"S-s-s-s-s-o co-l-l-d." (So cold)

"I know, I know. I'll get you to safety, but you must stay awake." Heero's eyes blinked shut. "No, no, no, no, Hee-chan!"

"Don't-t-t-t c-all-l-l m-m-m-me th-a-a-t-t!" (Don't call me that)

"You stay awake and I promise I'll never call you that again."

"K."

"Hold on to me as tightly as you can. I'm sorry about hurting you love but I had no real choice and I didn't mean to."

"C-c-can't-t-t fe-e-e-e-e-l my-y h-h-and-d." (Can't feel my hand)

Duo stood up and held Heero tightly.

"No love, that's because it's broken, but Sally will mend it with no problem. Now hold on to me and don't let go."

Using one hand to keep Heero to him Duo grabbed the rope again and began their way over the platforms back to the edge of the lake.

Devalin was there, as was Sally, Mike and Solo.

"Well done Maxwell." Devalin growled. "Now give me Heero and we will be seeing you tomorrow."

"No, not yet." Duo hissed. "Heero needs a doctor and the only doc I trust is Sally. You can have Heero when I know he is well and safe." Duo nodded at Sally who began to lead them towards the ambulance she had brought.

Devalin followed. "I'm coming with you, to make sure you don't do anything funny."

Duo snarled but made no other objection.

"Can I come too?" Solo asked and Duo gave a slight nod.

"We'll met you back at the HQ, k Deathscythe?"

"Hai."

Solo and Devalin climbed in after Duo, Sally and Heero and sat there, watching as Sally tended to Heero's body and Duo sat beside Heero, his hand clenched tightly in his.

After a few minutes Sally stepped back. "I can't do anything else for him until we reach the hospital. He will be alright." She reassured. "But, I would like him to spend the night in hospital."

"Very well." Devalin said, "As long as I can have him back tomorrow for the task."

Suddenly, without warning Devalin's face jerked backwards as blood began to flow from his broken nose.

"SHIT!" He moaned in pain and Solo smirked. "Heero isn't a piece of meat to be passed around. He will be back with you when he is fit and well again and not a moment before, but not even that will be for long because my son is going to make you pay for what you have done."

Sally helped patch Devalin up while Duo chuckled at his father's action.

"Duo?" A faint whisper came from the bed and Duo felt Heero's hand tighten beneath his.

"Yes love, I'm here."

Prussian eyes smiled at Duo. "I'm glad. Thank you." The eyes closed once before opening again.

"Sleep Heero. I'll be right here when you wake."

Heero gave a sluggish nod and Duo bent over, his lips brushed against Heero's causing Solo and Sally to smile at the loving gesture and Devalin to start mutter and cursing at it.

When Duo pulled back Heero's eyes were closed and his breathing was relaxed and he was fast asleep.

Duo's eyes travelled to the cross that rested on Heero's chest and he gave a soft smile before kissing the back of Heero's hand before spinning round to tell Devalin to shut the fuck up.

TBC...

Author's Note: Big Cheer for Duo and Solo!!! Who knew that Solo had it in him? If you can't work out, it was Solo who smacked Devalin in the face (that little bit of torture to Devalin was for Vialana).

 

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