Of House and Home Part 3
June 5
Quatre had woken up with a start when the sunlight hit his eyes. He still wasn't used to it. He knew, however, that he would never take the sun for granted. He smiled as he hopped down from his bunk. Duo had sounded really worried about being stuck in bed all day, so Quatre decided he'd have to help Duo out a little by finding something to keep the braided boy occupied. Several somethings just in case Duo had a short attention span.
"What're you doin' up so early?"
Quatre turned and smiled at Trowa. "I'm getting some things together to keep Duo occupied. Dr. Po said that she wanted him to stay in bed today."
Trowa returned the smile sleepily. "Okay. See ya later." With that, he turned over and fell back to sleep.
Quatre found what he was looking for and ran downstairs.
Lucrezia looked up at the sound of feet and smiled at Quatre. "Good morning! Are you here for your breakfast?"
Quatre nodded. "And for Duo's as well. I'm bringing him some things to keep him occupied, but I figured he'd be in a better mood if I woke him while carrying food."
"Wise choice." She pointed to a tray that had a small portion of scrambled eggs, half a slice of toast, a 4 ounce glass of Orange juice, and a 4 ounce cup of milk. "He should eat a little of everything." With that, she handed Quatre a plate with a larger portion of eggs and a whole slice of toast.
While she was pouring the milk, Quatre cleared his throat. "May I have a cup of tea instead of milk, Miss Noin? I'm lactose intolerant. I can't have dairy products. Thank you for the thought, though."
Lucrezia shook her head and chuckled. "Duo has hypoglycemia, you're lactose intolerant, Trowa is a vegetarian... next thing you know we'll find out that Wufei is diabetic."
Wufei chose that moment to walk in. "Hmph! I'm not, but it runs in my family. Which is precisely WHY I watch what I eat."
Quatre tilted his head. "If I may ask... did you ever have an eating condition?"
"When I was a teenager, I was anorexic. Mill helped me quit hurting myself like that before I ended up in a hospital and got me on an exercise plan. It's how we became friends." Lucrezia smiled at Quatre. "Read the rulebook. If you ask a question, I have to answer it or tell you that I don't know the answer." She handed the milk she had poured for Quatre to Wufei. "Is there any particular type of tea you would like? I have non-dairy creamer."
Quatre's eyes lit up. "I won't need it. If you have chamomile, I'd like a cup of that. It's very soothing."
Noin chuckled. "Cupboard over the stove. I'll get some soy milk for you later."
Quatre smiled warmly. "Thank you." With that, he quickly prepared a cup of tea. Since there was already a pot of water on the stove, it took only fifteen seconds to get the water poured, the teabag in, and a teaspoon of sugar added. "I'll bring Duo's breakfast up now."
*****
Soft... cool... clean... the scent of food nearby.
Duo opened his eyes and frowned as they focused on a white ceiling. 'Where am I?' He tried to move, but he felt oddly lethargic. 'Shit! Anyone could attack and I'd be defenseless against them!' He tensed as the door opened. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't the pale blonde that peeked in. 'Quatre... Oh! I forgot!'
Quatre smiled. "You're awake! Good! I brought you some breakfast! Do you think you can manage to eat on your own, or would you like some assistance?" He set the tray he was carrying down and walked over to help Duo sit up.
Duo was grateful for the offer of help. "Thanks, Quatre. I can't seem to get my limbs to move too much."
Quatre smiled in apparent understanding. "Dr. Po said that might be the case." He brought the tray over.
"You're awake."
Duo started at the matter-of-fact tone. He glanced over and dredged up the strength to smile again. "Heero. Hi!"
Heero stepped in and promptly took Duo's food from Quatre. "Quatre... you have your own breakfast to worry about. I'll see to Duo for a while."
Quatre nodded. He remembered from the previous day that Heero did not eat breakfast... he just swallowed a vitamin. The boy more than made up for the missed meal at lunch time. Heero's explanation was that his stomach rejected anything beyond a vitamin in the mornings.
Duo blushed as Heero handed him his own vitamin to take. "Thanks. I'm sorry to be a bother."
Heero let Duo eat a little on his own, and helped out whenever Duo looked like he needed to rest. In his own way, Heero was pleased that Duo managed to eat all of his breakfast.
"Ummm... Heero? Thanks... thanks for braiding my hair for me."
Heero nodded and gave Duo a tiny smile. It was nice to have someone to look after. He decided he'd let Quatre take care of entertaining Duo. Heero would be in charge of making sure he was fed and clean. He'd never had someone to look after. "If you think you can eat some more, I'll go get you another slice of toast with some jam on it."
Duo shook his head. "Nah. Thanks, though." He relaxed against the soft pillows. "Man... I can't remember the last time I felt full!"
Heero grinned a little. "Do you need to use the bathroom?"
Duo blinked and blushed as Heero's statement brought his need to go to the bathroom to the front of his mind. "Ummm..."
Heero nodded and helped Duo to stand. "I'll help you to the bathroom. You're on your own while you use the toilet. If you really need help, don't hesitate to call me. You don't have anything I haven't already seen yesterday."
Duo blushed deeper and nodded. "Ummm... if you keep me upright... I can take care of the rest."
Heero had a determined look on his face. "If it helps, I'll close my eyes."
"Thanks! It does help."
Heero was all business as he helped Duo to the bathroom. True to his word, he kept his eyes closed as he heard the sound of Duo answering nature's call.
Duo was blushing furiously, but was glad of Heero's help. He somehow knew he would collapse if Heero were to let go. He wondered why that was the case. After all... he'd been fine until his legs had given out on him. Perhaps that was it. He'd just pushed himself too far. He tucked himself back into his loose pajamas and slowly pushed the snaps together. "Done."
Heero nodded and led Duo out of the bathroom. Instead of leading Duo back to his room, Heero led him downstairs.
Duo frowned in confusion. "The Doc wants me resting."
Heero nodded. "You can rest on the sofa while watching a movie. Don't tell me you won't be bored in your room... all by yourself with nothing to do." He smirked as Duo blushed a little. "I'll make a trip to get your blanket, but you shouldn't be cooped up."
Duo ducked his head with a tiny smile. "Thanks. I WOULD have been bored silly."
"Besides... even though you're not putting any weight on your feet, the movement is good for your legs."
Duo's smile widened. "Are you going to be bringing me back up to my room later? Feed me lunch? Answer if I ring a little silver bell?"
Heero glared a moment, but nodded. "I hadn't thought of a bell. It would be easier for you than shouting. I think I have a pair of walkie talkies."
Duo's mouth dropped open as Heero settled him on the couch. He'd been kidding about the bell, but he wasn't about to complain about being waited on. He was also smart enough to see that it was in his best interest to have Heero as his ally in this strange environment. Quatre was nice... almost too nice. Heero had a toughness about him. Duo gathered Heero could survive on the street if he had to. He was still in a daze as Heero tucked the blanket around him and handed him a walkie talkie. Duo blinked at it. He'd expected a cheap toy... the object he had was a sophisticated piece of equipment.
"You know Morse code for S.O.S. right? That's only if you're hurt and you can't talk. Three short, three long, three short with the red button. Otherwise... press the yellow button to talk. Got it? Any time of day if you need anything at all... you let me know."
Duo nodded. "What's the range?"
"About five miles... which is perfect since the shopping plaza is only four miles away." Heero turned the television on. "Is there any station you like to watch?"
Duo shook his head. "There was never really much chance for me to watch tv. I would have been arrested for loitering."
Heero bit his lip in thought. "You seem to be the type of person who likes to laugh. I could turn on the all-comedy channel."
Duo offered a smile. "That'd be great! Thanks!"
Quatre came in and smiled when he saw Duo. "So HERE you are! I got something here to keep you occupied!" He walked in carrying a shoe box and set it on Duo's lap.
Duo opened the box and gave Quatre a confused look. "You brought me strips of paper. Do I want to know WHY you brought me strips of paper?"
Quatre nodded enthusiastically. "So you can make stars! Look!" Quatre took a strip of paper and basically tied one end in a knot. He tucked the little end of paper into the paper pentagon and proceeded to fold the rest of the strip around. He tucked the other end in and gently squashed the sides in so the points were more pronounced. He held up a perfect little star and tossed it into the shoebox. "I had a five-gallon jug filled with these. Iria promised to send it to me."
Duo furrowed his brows. "You had time to fill a jug with these tiny things?"
Quatre nodded sadly. "When your whole world is a basement with no windows... you find things to occupy your time."
"Ah." Duo looked at the strips of paper again before turning to the television.
Quatre blinked. "Did I say something wrong?"
Duo shook his head. "No... no you didn't say anything wrong. I was just thinking."
Quatre thought for a moment and then his eyes widened. "Oh! I'm sorry! How selfish of me to complain when I had shelter."
Duo smiled a little. "Don't worry about it. I don't want ya ta be careful 'bout whatcha say. I'm glad ya brought it up, actually. I'll try not to gripe when ya complain 'bout where you lived. 'Snot yer fault I got stuck on the streets."
Heero frowned at Duo. The boy's speech patterns had changed drastically. Without thinking, he placed a hand on Duo's shoulder and gave him a concerned look.
Duo hadn't even been aware of how he'd been talking until Heero brought him back to reality. He'd been using his street-gang mode. It was a defence mechanism to act tough. "Sorry... I didn't realize how much it bothered me."
Quatre smiled sadly. "The old habits die hard. I know how that is. I still expect to wake up locked in a dark room. Are you ready to go, Heero?"
Heero nodded. "Is there anything you'd like me to get for you while I'm at the store, Duo?"
Duo shook his head. "I'm okay. Thanks for asking, though."
"I'll see you in a while, though." Heero stood. "Just remember... if you need anything, you can contact me on the walkie talkie."
Duo held up his unit with a smile. "Got it!" He let the smile fall as Heero left the room. "Ch! Don't be so nice to me." With that, he turned the TV off and slid to the floor. He was too used to sleeping on the ground. Even if he realized that he wanted something, he wouldn't bother Heero or anyone else for it. It was enough that he had a roof over his head and the prospect of steady meals for the first time in ten years.
TBC...
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