Egypt Story Part 2
Quatre looked down at his friend. Heero lay on the bed, silent and still. Trowa had scooped his body up from the wreckage and brought him back to the safe house. Quatre had done everything he could think of to help his friend while the others had hid the gundams.
"What do we do?" Trowa joined him by Heero's bedside. He looked down at the unconscious angel. "He's still alive..."
"I know," Quatre shrugged helplessly. "We vanish when we rejoin the creator. His injuries are nearly healed already. Nothing seems wrong with him. He should be awake. I don't know what else to do."
"Should we call the doctors?" Wufei suggested.
"I already did," Quatre sighed. "They told me that they are not experts in wounded angels."
"Maybe we need to appeal to a higher source..."
"Hi guys."
Duo was standing in the doorway, looking very weary.
"Duo?" Quatre managed. Duo nodded and stepped into the room. His eyes fixed on Heero's still form and he bit his lip.
"I know I said I'd wait... but I couldn't. I had to see if he was all right." He moved closer, looking down at the figure on the bed. His hand reached down, gently brushing Heero's bangs out of his eyes.
"I wouldn't call him all right," Wufei shook his head. "He's been out since we got him back."
"Was he badly injured?"
"He was- but everything is healing, or is healed." Quatre explained. "I've checked him a dozen times over..."
"You can't find anything? That explosion... I'm amazed he survived it..."
"Like I said- he seems to be healing well- he's just not awake. Can you wake him?" Quatre asked.
Duo shook his head. "Healing is not one of my powers."
"It's not one of ours either," Trowa leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. "It's too opposite of what we were created for."
Duo nodded understandingly and sat down on the bed next to Heero, his hand still touching Heero's hair. "What was he doing? Why didn't he get clear?"
"Heero has not been himself at all since you left." Quatre sat down on the other side, watching Duo intently. "He's been withdrawn- and... sad."
"He looked like he wanted oblivion." Duo's hand trembled. "I don't understand. I know he loves me. I know it. He can't hide that from me." He looked up at Quatre. "Did he tell you why he refused to contact me?"
"Heero wasn't speaking much at all these last weeks." Quatre explained. "No matter what we said or did he refused to talk about any of it."
"It doesn't make any sense..." Duo frowned at the still figure on the bed.
"Still so young," another voice echoed from the doorway.
Wufei jumped, glaring at the dark haired woman who stood there. "I need to check our damn security," he muttered.
"Your security is fine, angel." The woman moved further into the room, her green eyes crinkling in amusement. "Relax, I come in peace, I mean no harm, I'm here to help.... Do those phrases reassure you?"
"Aunt," Duo's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"
"Your lover needs my help." She moved closer to the bed and waved her hand at him. "Move Anpu. Give me some space."
Duo moved away from the bed, gesturing at Quatre to do the same. The woman bent over the bed, humming softly as she ran her hands over Heero.
"Duo- who is that?"
"My aunt Isis. She's a very powerful magician..."
"Can she heal?"
"She brought her husband back from the dead." Duo gave him a wan smile. "How's that for her credentials?"
~*~
Heero floated in the darkness. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to exist anymore.
Had his creator rejected him? Had he wandered so far away from the light after all?
He missed Duo. Anubis. Whoever he was...
He remembered night after night of curling up beside Duo in the dark, feeling his warmth, listening to him breathe, soothing his nightmares... and what had those nightmares been about? Duo had only said 'the past' when Heero asked.
He remembered kissing him, holding him, whispering words of love against sweat-soaked skin...
He remembered Duo standing in the doorway, glowing with power, talking about casting his uncle down...
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
It seemed like an easy command- when you knew that there were no other gods... but when you knew the opposite...
He had done some reading even as Quatre had; making sure the others didn't see him, learning about the one that he had taken into his heart...
Heero knew that he'd kept his own secrets from Duo. Or he thought he had been- which was not exactly the same, but close enough. It wasn't the secret keeping that worried him.
It was the realization he'd had when he discovered what Duo was. The realization that he'd turned the focus of his heart towards another god... the betrayal of his own...
The realization that if a conflict did arise, if the pacts broke down, that he would choose Duo's side rather than his own...
And a conflict would arise eventually. Pacts were broken, promises were not kept... Look at the Light-bringer- he had sworn not involve himself in this current war and yet he had...
He was not worthy of his place. He was not worthy of his creator. He was flawed, imperfect and soiled.
"Think you so little of him?" Heero looked around. He could see nothing but the darkness. Who had spoken?
"Who's there?"
"Me." A woman appeared out of the darkness and extended her hand to him. "You forget, Angel of Destruction, that your creator loves every one of his creations."
"I have made mistakes..."
"And by them you learn. Everything that lives makes mistakes. You think He could not forgive you?"
"I love Duo. Another god, how could he...?"
The woman shook her head. "You have forgotten your own words. You know perfectly well that love is to be cherished however and wherever it's found. He won't be mad at you."
Heero blinked at her and she stepped closer.
"The pacts between your kin and mine have held for a long time. They will not break. Do not fret over that."
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure. Take my hand. Your love is waiting for you. He is worried for you. I would not have Anpu upset over this anymore. I owe him too much and he has been alone for too long."
Heero reached out and touched her hand. She smiled.
~*~
Duo stood fidgeting beside the door, watching as his aunt leaned over his lover. Please, he begged her silently, bring him back to me. I'll make him listen to me; I'll make him accept those feelings he holds in his heart for me... I'll show him how much I need him...
Isis straightened up and turned her head, giving her nephew a beautiful smile. "Come here."
Duo was at her side a split second later. She moved out of the way, allowing him access to Heero.
Heero's eyes were opening, and Duo felt relief sweep through him. Now, if only Heero would...
"Duo," the angel smiled and reached out a hand to him.
"Heero," he answered, taking the hand and putting it against his own cheek. "Don't ever do that again."
OWARI
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