Run and Hide Part 11
Quatre and Trowa were waiting for us in Quatre's room. They had already ordered dinner. Heero excused himself for a moment to go check in with Relena, but he was back just a few minutes later.
Quatre had been keeping the conversation on the school and what I did there until Heero came back. Then we sat around the table and I saw Quatre give Trowa a look.
"Duo," Trowa leaned over the table, "you know we've missed you, right?" I nodded, unsure of where this was going. "You've missed us too?"
"Yes," I answered, still not sure of what Trowa was getting at. I knew it was going to lead up to a lecture at some point- or a scolding at least. "I really am sorry..."
"Duo-" Quatre stopped me this time. "Why? Why did you go? I don't understand. What spooked you so badly?" Heero shifted next to me, but I shook my head at him.
"You deserve to know," I told them. And I did. I told them about Solo and the kids dying because of the boy I had brought to the safe house. I told them about the Maxwell church and how it had been my fault that it had been destroyed. My dinner sat untouched, growing cold in front of me as it spilled out. No one else ate either. Heero had heard or guessed some of it, but it was new to the others. I told them about Shinigami- how I feared that anyone who loved me died.
Quatre stopped me at that one.
"That day- in the bookstore- you said Suzie saw Shinigami...."
"Yes." I nodded. "I hadn't- felt- that way since the war. I thought that part of me was gone- but it wasn't. It was just waiting for me to use him-it again."
"And we were pushing you to use it again- to join the Preventers," Heero said softly.
"I didn't want anyone to get hurt." I looked down at my plate. "I know it sounds crazy- like I need to be locked up somewhere..."
Trowa laughed. "Duo, you were a gundam pilot. I think we all had to be a little certifiable to even do that job in the first place." Quatre was staring off into space, Heero had reached out to take a hold of my hand.
"That's for sure," my blond friend muttered and I knew he was thinking of the Zero system. We all got quiet for a moment and the comm unit beeped, making us all jump.
"Who'd be calling this late?" Trowa looked over at the unit.
"That's my private code," Quatre got to his feet. "Must be one of my sisters."
He flipped the switch and I heard a very familiar voice.
"Quatre! Wonderful news!" Wufei. He sounded incredibly happy.
"What is it Fei?" Quatre answered.
"Sally's pregnant!"
"That's great news!" Quatre gushed back. Trowa got to his feet and went to lean over Quatre's shoulder to congratulate Wufei. I glanced at Heero. He was smiling, no signs of distress.
"You okay, Heero?" I asked him, slipping my hand into his.
"Fine, Duo," his smile warmed even more as he looked at me. "I'm just fine now. Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I could still hear Fei talking happily. "You're right, he sounds really happy. I'm glad for him." Heero raised my hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
"So, how's the L2 tour going?" I heard Fei ask.
"Well, we had an interesting discovery..." Trowa glanced my way and arched an eyebrow in a question. I nodded back.
"Didn't you go to the schools today?"
"Yes. We met a very interesting teacher, invited him to dinner. He teaches computers and mechanics to the students." Quatre answered.
"Sounds talented. Trying to steal him for your school on L4?" Wufei teased. I gave Heero's hand a squeeze and got to my feet.
"I hadn't actually thought of that," Quatre replied. "But I don't intend to let him slip through my fingers." I sat down next to Quatre and looked at the screen.
"Fei," I said, as he gaped at me. "It's good to see you." Wufei stared at me for nearly a full minute before he found his voice.
"Duo?"
TBC...
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