Worth Fighting For Part 6
The DVD
Relena entered the Special Units office two weeks later early one morning to discover that the preventers, over the night, had found out who had kidnapped Heero, they didn't know the reason why but when Duo and the others showed Relena the dvd that had been posted to them, she knew that things were more involved than anyone else suspected. But her brother refused to tell her why. So Duo sent her away, but she refused to leave and stubbornly told Duo that she was going to stay and help. That was before Wufei took hold of her arm and pulled her away for an early lunch.
Quatre touched Trowa's arm gently and he pulled his lover from the room and closed the door leaving Duo and Mike in the office together.
Duo rubbed his face and pushed his hair back away from his face.
Mike watched his team leader. "Duo?"
"It's my fault."
"It isn't."
Duo turned and glared at Mike. "It is, you know this guy, he's a monster, he'll..."
"THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT!" Mike hissed angrily. "What happened to you is not your fault, you are not to blame."
"Not that Mike, this!" Duo waved his hand at the tv and dvd combo sitting in the corner.
Duo sat down in a nearby chair and sighed again for the 100th time since he had first watched the dvd.
"Why don't you go home? Get some sleep. This has come as a shock to you."
Duo looked up at Mike and smiled. "I'll think I'll do that."
But as Duo reached to get his coat, Mike didn't see Duo take the dvd from the player and put it back into the case and slide the case into his coat pocket.
* * *
The room was pitch black, the lights were off and the thick heavy curtains were drawn so they blocked out the midday sun.
Duo Maxwell sat cross-legged on his bed, his eyes fixed on the tv in his room and his hand picked up the remote and he pressed play.
:: "Hello Special Core, it's been a while hasn't it. I do wish I could see your faces right now, when you watch this, it would be such a funny picture. You weren't expecting to ever see me again were you? I bet you are wondering why I am, why I have sent this message to you. I know that you are working on a case, you always are, it is your job after all, but I also know this case is puzzling you. No one seems to know where poor Heero Yuy has disappeared to or who is responsible for his disappearance. That's why I thought I should send you this little clue." ::
The view of the camera slipped across a blank stone room that looked a lot like a medieval castle dungeon, it left the man know as Devalin Donavere behind and moved on to show a large wooden cross and on it, chained to it, like Jesus Christ was when he was crucified, was Heero Yuy.
Duo paused the dvd and studied the still image closely.
The boy had his head flopped forward so that his chin was resting on his chest, but the unmistakable messy chocolate brown hair gave the owner away. He was naked, and ropes strapped him to the cross, there was a line of blood down Heero's arm, the rope had been tied too tightly and had dug deep into Heero's skin leaving a small tickle of blood to flow free from his system and down his arm on to his right hand. Other than that, there was no sign that he had been hurt in anyway. There was no silver cross hanging round his neck and as Duo stared at the spot it was meant to be, his own right hand moved to clutch the cross that he was wearing beneath his green preventer shirt.
"Oh Heero." Duo breathed to the still picture.
As he continued to stare at the image of his love being hung like a piece of meat, he felt his eyes begin to water but he didn't realize he was crying until small cool drops of water fell from his cheeks onto his hand holding the cross.
Duo shook his head and used the back of his hand to dry his eyes and face.
He then pressed play on the dvd.
The camera stayed on the cross for a few minutes before it swung back to Devalin Donavere.
Duo paused it again; he frowned at the man's face. He had unpleasant memories of this man and he hadn't changed on small little bit.
Devalin still had bottomless black pits as eyes, which could stare deep into your soul and would make you very afraid of them, his eyes were soulless, they held no emotion in them, no hint of kindness or warmth and it was that which made you shiver with fear when you looked into them. His hair was also black and hung loose just above his shoulder's, it looked very greasy, it shined in the dim light and made Duo wonder how much gel how put on it, or when it was last washed. His skin was deadly pale, he obviously hadn't been out in the sun much, not that there was much sun about at this time of the year.
Duo closed his eyes and took a very deep breath and slowly he let it out to relax himself. He repeated it again, and again before finally continuing the dvd.
:: "I will reassure that I have done nothing to harm him and he will remain safe depending on what your actions are, Duo Maxwell.
"I want to met you for dinner. On Saturday, 7 o'clock in the restaurant opposite the Regenace Hall. I would be honoured if you join us, please bring your darling sister along." ::
Devalin smiled at the camera.
:: "I need to see you again Duo." :: Devalin's voice dropped down to a low whisper. :: "You better come or when you go in to the office on Monday Morning, his," :: Devalin nodded towards the cross that was out of sight. :: "Head will be on your desk." ::
And then the camera turned off.
Duo was left staring at a grey fuzzy tv screen. He pressed stop and turned the power off before he threw the remote to the floor and crawled under the blankets. He pressed his head against the soft pillow and gave a soft sob. He refused to give in to the tears that threatened to spill over his eyelids, and finally Duo's eyelids dropped down to close his eyes and he fell into a deep, but not peaceful, sleep.
* * *
Wufei looked in on Duo later that day to find his friend laying in bed, the covers twisted around his body and he was trying to toss and turn in his sleep. His forehead was sweaty and his face was an expression of pain. Wufei felt a big tug at his heart.
He loved Duo, more than a friend. When Treize and Zechs had died during a preventer mission, Wufei had been left with a broken heart, and it was Duo that had mended it for him and then it was Duo who had wormed his way in to it even though he hadn't been trying.
Wufei knew Duo would never love him back, he was still madly in love with Heero, everyone knew it and it had become even more clearer since this mission had started. He knew Duo would go to the restaurant Saturday night; he would have dinner with Devalin because if Duo didn't, it would cost Heero his life. Devalin was going to push Duo as hard as he could, and then he was going to break him again. Wufei could already see it happening.
Today, he had spent it with Relena, she was just like Duo, she had a golden heart and she was innocent, and yet she was so very different from Duo but Wufei found that he was slowly beginning to like the girl more than a friend. He had already made a promise to himself that as soon as the mission was over; he was going to ask Relena out on a date, after getting Duo's permission of course.
Quietly Wufei crept across the room and he sat down on the bed beside Duo. As Duo turned towards him, he reached out and held the boy's arms. He then laid down beside Duo and gathered him into the warmth of his arms. Duo had done this to him after Treize and Zech's deaths and Wufei had returned the favour when Duo had first come back from Devalin. He held Duo gently but firmly and slowly the look on Duo's face disappeared and left him sleeping like an angel.
"Heero."
Wufei felt a joint of pain in his heart as Duo whispered the name of the man he loved, but he continued to hold Duo even though his love would never be returned.
TBC...
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