Library Part 10
Heero woke up, gasping for air, the fragments of his dreams making his heart race. The person beside his bed leaned over and placed a hand on his arm. "Are you all right?"
Blinking, he stared at the woman beside the bed. His room was flooded with sunlight- it was late- had he really slept that long? Where was Duo? "Medic Po?"
"That's me," she smiled warmly. "Duo had to go out this morning, so I came to sit with you. I gave you another healing- I think we can take your stitches out."
Po nudged him out of bed and into a chair. She worked with brisk efficiency, cutting the stitches free gently. She didn't talk much other than to ask him to move a little so she could reach the wounds. As she worked, Heero thought about asking her where Duo had gone- but he knew that he shouldn't. He had to make a clean break... maybe, maybe Duo had thought about it and realized Heero was right?
The thought hurt, but Heero could deal with that. It was for the best.
"All finished! Go and take a shower, wash off and wake up a little." She smiled at him as she poked his shoulder. "I'm going to make some coffee- if that's okay?"
"Please do- anything you like. I can't thank you enough-"
"It's my job," Po gave him another nudge and busied herself with his hot plate as Heero headed for the shower.
The aches from yesterday had vanished. Heero washed himself throughly, marveling at the very faint bruises. His arms didn't ache at all- another miracle after the strain he'd put them through.
Another day or so and he wouldn't have anything but his memories to remind him of that fight...
He dried off and got dressed, meaning to go back out and send Po home. He didn't need anyone to sit with him, he felt fine- maybe he'd go see if they needed help in the sorting room.
Po was on the phone when he left the bathroom, she was shaking her head and making faint noises of disapproval. "Well, what did he expect? I mean, really? The Ruler-" she stopped when she saw Heero. "He's finished, I have to go. Yes of course I will. Right away." She hung up and gave Heero a quick once over. "You look better. Do you mind if I leave you for a bit?"
"It's fine. I'm feeling much better." She'd mentioned The Ruler... "Is someone hurt?" Had he decided to test out a few other mutations?
She rolled her eyes. "Yes. Idiot that he is, challenging the Ruler like that..." She picked up her med case and headed for the door. "I'll send him to you when I finish-"
"Send him to me?" Heero repeated. Who would be stupid enough to challenge-? Oh no-!! "Send who?" He asked, though he was fairly sure he already knew the answer... Why would he do something like that?!
Po looked faintly surprised. "Duo, of course. He didn't tell- oh, no I guess he couldn't." She reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "It's okay! Don't look like that. I'm sure he's going to be fine- he's already back at the security offices-"
~*~
"What possessed you to do something so idiotic?" Chang growled at Duo as he handed over the ice pack.
Duo hissed softly as he placed the ice pack against his cheek. He looked at Winner who was kneeling beside him, one hand supporting Duo's ankle. "It wasn't idiotic, was it? I mean, the Ruler agreed and everything-"
"He agreed to letting you demonstrate how your version of Heero's mutation would be better for his guards," Winner didn't look up from his prodding. "I don't think he realized you were going to make him part of that demonstration." He sat back with a sigh. "I think this is just sprained."
"I called Po, she should be here in a minute or two," Wufei fluffed his feathers out and sat down on the edge of Duo's desk. "Whatever possessed you?"
"You know why I did it," Duo looked up, his eyes narrowing. "That bastard needed a taste of his own medicine."
Wufei sighed. "Heero's not going to be happy with this."
Duo echoed the sigh, looking down at his ankle. "Heero might not care. He's determined to end our relationship."
"Still thinks he's a monster?"
"Those pets of the Ruler's thought he was one of them."
"Crap."
"No kidding. I was sort of hoping they'd recognize me too, but... no such luck. I told Heero that I didn't care, that I loved him, but... I think he's planning on cutting me out of his life no matter what I do."
"Don't let him."
"I'm not planning on it, but Heero's very stubborn-"
"So are you."
Winner looked up, a smile curving his lips. "It will be okay, Duo. Don't worry."
"Easy for you to say," Duo snapped.
Grin widening, Winner turned back to his contemplation of Duo's ankle. "I think you forgot my mutation."
The door to the offices slammed open. Heero stood there, frowning, his anger a near tangible thing, his extra limbs folded forbiddingly across his chest. Po stood behind him, looking amused.
"Duo Maxwell, what the hell did you do?" Heero demanded, stalking into the room. Duo dropped the ice pack. He'd never seen Heero like this before! "You didn't do anything stupid-"
"Depends on your definition of stupid," Wufei drawled before Duo could speak. "He went to the Ruler this morning and said that he'd heard the Ruler had tested out a mutation for his guard. He said that his was better- and even more- he was a trained security officer. Said he was the one that should've been asked in the first place. Then he asked if he could give a demonstration." Chang ignored the glare Duo shot him and grinned.
"So you fought those things?" Heero's glare went up a notch. "All by yourself? After-"
"Oh no," Winner broke in as Duo slunk down in his seat a little. "He just tossed the Ruler in with them."
"You WHAT?!"
"It was part of the demonstration!" If the others were going to tell Heero about it, the least Duo could do was make sure the story was told right. "I tossed him in, they attacked him, and I went in and rescued him. Proved I could fight them off and get him to safety. He loved it."
"He was unconscious," Chang pointed out.
"He didn't faint until after I got him to safety- and that was just because he finally noticed the cut on his leg. Before that he was fine." Duo shrugged. "I didn't think he was the type to faint at the sight of a little blood."
"Blood loss," Winner corrected and rolled his eyes. "Still," he said, turning to Heero, "the Ruler wasn't upset. He didn't want to repeat it, but he thought Duo showed great initiative in his demonstration- and proved his guard wasn't up to the task, since not one of them stopped Duo from grabbing him- and none of them went in to help either."
Heero stood quietly for a moment, still frowning. Duo bit his lip. How mad was he? "How badly are you injured?" One of his extra limbs snagged the ice pack from the floor and applied it to the bruise on Duo's cheek.
"Let's see." Po shook her head and knelt beside Duo, placing a hand on his ankle.
"Not too much," Duo winced a little as Po poked at his ankle. "I didn't try and attack those things- I just evaded- and they didn't really even try to hurt me. They did try to hurt him though," he added, a smile curving his lips.
Heero dropped into the empty seat beside him, still holding the ice pack to Duo's cheek. "I can't believe you'd do something like this- you could've been killed-"
"We've been telling Duo for years that he needs someone around to keep an eye on him." Wufei stood up, shaking his feathers into place. "I'm going to go file a report."
"I'll come with you." Winner got to his feet as well. "I need to check in with Trowa."
Duo sat silently as Po worked on his ankle. At least Heero wasn't radiating anger anymore- more like annoyance. He regarded Heero out of the corner of his eye, and a thought occurred to him.
"Did you come right over from the library- like that?"
Heero plainly was going to say, 'like what?' but then he glanced down at himself and turned faintly pink. "Oh... I didn't notice... Medic Po just said you'd challenged the Ruler and I... sort of..."
"He charged out of the library and right over here," Po said, laughing. "I had to nearly run to catch up with him."
Heero turned a deeper pink. "I hope I didn't- I mean, I didn't see anyone get upset-"
"Only the people who had to get out of your way," Po assured him and gave Duo a smile. "You did just sprain this. I healed it, but you need to be careful for a few days, all right?" She left the room, leaving them alone.
Heero lifted the ice pack off of Duo's cheek and looked at the bruise. "It's fading. Does it still hurt?"
"Not really."
"I can't believe you'd do something like this. What were you thinking?"
Duo was getting tired of the question. "I was angry! He took you and he hurt you! He made you attack those poor pets of his! Made you think you were a monster! You were so hurt and he-! I couldn't- you wouldn't-" Duo stopped and drew in a breath, trying to calm himself. "I wasn't really thinking at all," he admitted. "I just- I wanted to hurt him as badly as he hurt you- and I... I didn't really think I had all that much to lose. After all- you told me to go away..."
Heero reached out and pulled him close. "You really do need someone to take care of you," he said softly and Duo tightened his arms around him.
"See? I told you I needed you."
"I'm not sure I can be what you need- a tentacled agoraphobic-"
"Librarian," Duo finished quickly. "Yes. You are exactly what I need."
Heero sighed. "Promise me that you won't do something like this again."
"The only way to be sure is if you stay with me."
"I'll... try, Duo. But- if it gets bad- if you change your mind- I'll understand."
Duo knew there was no way in hell he was going to change his mind, but he knew that it would have to be proved to Heero that things could work. He could do that- now that Heero had agreed to try.
"Let me walk you back to the library," he said, placing his lips on Heero's jawline. "I'm sure we can find you a coat or something..."
Heero took a deep breath. "I got over here without one. I might as well try going back without one too."
"You sure?"
"Not really," Heero admitted. "But I did promise to try."
"I'll be with you every step of the way," Duo assured him. "Let's go."
OWARI
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