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The Hazards of Magic III

A Gundam W - Ruin Explorers Fusion

By Sefilin

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Chapter 3: Quatre

The sole blonde Gundam pilot - since Epyon wasn't really considered one, (though really, he thought it should be, given the similarities) and it and its pilot were dead anyway - was waiting impatiently for Wing Zero to land. He had been waiting for quite some time, having been unable to get in touch with Heero for a number of hours - though the call _had_ gone through to Wing - and he wanted to know what had happened to Duo. Both because he wanted to know what had happened, along with everyone else, but also because there was no one else on the entire Peacemillion who really knew how to party. Some of the technicians admittedly came close, but Duo had every talent required for a real celebration and Quatre had decided a long time ago that he wouldn't attend the End-of-War parties without him.

His train of thought ground briefly to a halt then picked up, having gained an extra passenger.

Duo, he recalled, had mentioned something about Hilde having a similar capacity for fun as he himself did, but he'd checked on her a short while ago and she was still rather unconscious, which put a bit of a damper on things.

So he was _really_ hoping Duo would get back _soon_.

He hopped from foot to foot as Wing Zero powered down. Surely it didn't normally take this long for the scary - at least it was meant to be scary, though Deathscythe and Epyon were really the only mobile suits that did sinister well, due to colouring or something (maybe the scythe and whip?) - glow to its eyes.

There was a delay between the final cooling, the final vibrations - which were rather more pronounced than usual due to the damage Wing had sustained - and the opening of the hatch, revealing a short, skinny Japanese pilot. Quatre tilted his head to one side as he mused again how unflattering the spandex and tank top were, it made him look far more emaciated than necessary. Still, maybe it would help if he ended up captured, people feeling sorry for him and... but for it to be really effective, he'd need to adjust his attitude a little.

Somehow, while his thoughts were caught up in the merits and demerits of Heero's customary outfit, Quatre had managed to move across to stand by the foot of the giant mech. The movement itself, though, didn't impinge upon his consciousness, as more than the vague and fading sensations within his body. Which was rather strange, given he was far more aware of his body currently since it was geared for celebration - dancing, drinking, laughing - all of them were rather dependant on the body.

Then Heero was stalking towards him and Quatre just managed to refrain from throwing himself at the other boy and demanding to know where Duo was. Heero wasn't, after all, very well known for his touchie-feelie-ness or his tolerance towards glomping.

It was not, therefore, surprising at all, that he found himself surprised - well, shocked really - when the Japanese pilot was the one to throw himself forwards instead.

"AAaaaaAAaaaaAAaaaaAAaaAAaaaAaaaaah..."

His head tossed around by Heero's shaking of his body - pretty thoroughly, too - Quatre almost swore he could hear birds chirping. His hands moved slowly upwards as he gathered his wits as well as he could and grabbed Heero's wrists and stopped the shaking. For some reason though he could still hear the bird chirping - wait a minute - it actually sounded more like...

His gaze locked onto the tiny chipmunk standing on Heero's shoulder, holding onto his hair with one tiny paw to keep from falling and waving the other wildly at Quatre with the other.

He blinked.

"Quatre! You've _got_ to save me from him!" Heero began, almost yelling as he grabbed Quatre's shoulders again, threatening another shaking.

Quatre couldn't help but notice the totally unbalanced, crazed look in the blue eyes - as opposed to the mostly unbalanced look that usually resided there, and had from the moment they'd met, and before. It had scared him and he'd been extra polite to the Japanese pilot ever since - but this...

"Uh," he replied, not really knowing what else to do.

For some reason Heero took it as an agreement to help and wrapped a hand around the chipmunk, tugging it until it's hold on his hair broke and shoved it across to Quatre, who held his hand out to take it automatically. He looked down at the tiny creature on the palm of his hand, noticed it bore a passing resemblance to Duo, and smiled sweetly. "Kawaii."

He looked back up to ask where Heero had got the critter from just in time to see the Japanese pilot leaving the hangar in what looked to be a panicked dash. Quatre watched him disappear then looked back down at the chipmunk who was waving a tiny fist in the direction the other pilot had gone.

He smiled.

Definitely kawaii.

"You _ have_ to be Duo's, right?"

He wasn't really expecting an answer, so when the chipmunk shook his head emphatically and pointed to itself, he wasn't sure what to think.

"Um..."

The chipmunk began to wander round on his palm, seemingly drawing letters onto its surface. Only by concentrating fully on the chipmunk's motions could he resist curling his fingers into his palm.

I...

The first letter.

A...

The second.

M...

Third.

D...

U...

O...

Fourth, fifth and sixth.

So, that would make it...Iamduo? What sort of word was that?

Quatre puzzled over this for a few moments, broke off to wonder briefly at the intelligence of this little creature, then went back to deciphering the words meaning.

Then suddenly his eyebrows contracted as it distinguished itself into three words instead of one 'I am Duo' and everything clicked in to place.

"D-Duo?"

The chipmunk nodded happily.

Panic welled and Quatre ran quickly through a list of possible locations before taking off, ignoring the squeak from Duo-chipmunk as his hand closed around him a little more tightly than was comfortable.

He crashed into the room he'd chosen and sighed gratefully at its occupants. He jumped forwards and thrust Duo-chipmunk towards one of them.

"Trowa! You're good with animals...here!"

And he left, knowing Trowa could handle this better than anyone, and besides, he had some partying to do.