Another Murder of Crows
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Title: Another Murder of Crows
Author: Karen
Part: 12/?
Warnings: None really in this part. A mushy Wufei and cryptic Heero,
that's about it as far as warnings go. Still in pairing free for all.
This part is kinda short, because of where I want to start the next
part, so don't kick my butt--yet.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Don't own GW, don't own GW, don't own GW....
Feedback: Wanted like a sunny day.
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Another Murder of Crows: Part 12
By Karen
"How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck
wood. How much wood would a wood–oh forget it!" I rolled onto my
stomach, my face buried in the pillow, and started pounding on the
bed with balled fists, screaming into the pillow. It is now–I glanced
at the clock–two thirty eight in the morning, and I'm awake. Wide
awake. Wide awake and aware. Utterly wide awake and aware.
Wufei left me alone to sleep, and I have done everything except that.
I repacked my clothes, rearranged the clothes in the guest closet,
moved the furniture around a bit before returning them back to their
original place, twice, and dusted the window. Not only am I awake,
I'm also bored. Oh yeah, I managed to jab myself with the Bowie a few
times, if not to make me bleed then just to keep me up. Yay.
I flopped on my back and stared at the ceiling. I already tried to
count sheep. That didn't work. I recited the alphabet in English and
Arabic. That didn't go over too well either. Gah. I hope Relena
doesn't have anything important planned for tomorrow, because I will
be completely useless. That's all I need to hear. I can see it
now, `Peace attempts fail: Billionaire Quatre Winner snores through
Convention.' The papers will eat it up.
I decided to get out of bed, since I wasn't sleeping anyway, and
paced the room, trying to find the root of my problem. I'm usually
out like a light when my head touches the pillow, but tonight seems
to be the exception.
What's my problem? I know what it is, but I
don't want to face it. Trowa. That's my problem. I'm worried. I know
his abilities. I know his strengths. Statistically, he is fine. I
should share in Duo's and Wufei's confidence, but I can't. That's
just me. He has always come out on top, never really been defeated,
and the one time he was, it was because of me. So why am I worried?
Because all it takes is that one time. It happened before, so it can
happen again.
After I stubbed my toe on the legs of the bed, for the umpteenth
time, I decided to sit down. I don't need a broken foot to add to my
list of woes. So, sitting on the edge, I began swinging my legs, a
sudden burst of energy flowing through my veins. Pretty soon, I'm
going to have to be scrapped from the ceiling. And to add to my
troubles, I know that Iria actually practices our religion, so there
isn't a trace of alcohol in the house. There goes my chance of
drinking my way to oblivion.
I hopped off the bed again, this time intending to go downstairs in
search of sleeping pills when the phone rang. That, in itself, nearly
gave me a heart attack. I'm staying in one of the guest rooms, where
the main phone line is usually called and transferred up to this
room, not calls coming here directly, adding to the fact that its
nearly three in the morning. However, since I'm up, and have nothing
else better to do, I might as well answer it. For all I know, it
could be the sandman.
"Uh...hello?"
"So you are awake," came the simple reply. The screen was then
illuminated somewhat by nearby candles and I could see Heero's face
appear in the soft glow.
"Odin! How was your trip, and what are you doing up?"
He ran his fingers through his hair, for it to only fall back to its
previous place. "It was fine, and I couldn't sleep. I figured you
couldn't either. Everything okay?"
I shook my head slowly, a smirk tugging at my lips. "And they say I'm
an empath."
He smiled back. "I only have a connection with you and a very select
few. That doesn't make me an empath. I think its because of being
around you for so long."
I snorted. "Whatever."
"So what's bothering you?" He crossed his arms across his bare chest
and leaned back on what appears to be a papa san. "Something's
obviously the matter, else you wouldn't have even answered the phone."
I tucked some loose strands of hair behind my ears, and looked back
at the vid–screen. "I got some bad news today."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, Catherine called today. She said that....that. Huh. She said
that her brother is missing."
Heero stiffened. "Trowa?"
I rolled my eyes. "Duh, Odin. How many brothers does she have?"
He stiffened even more. "Why did she call you?"
I snorted again and spread my arms out in bewilderment. "I don't
know! I guess she thought that I could track him down or something,"
I shrugged, "but Duo and Wufei think he just split again, maybe
because of crazy carnies was Duo's explanation. In either case....I'm
worried."
Heero's jaw seemed to be set in a tight lock for a moment before he
spoke again. "How is Duo?"
I managed not to smile...from ear to ear. "He's fine, just great. But
he and Hilde are starting to drive me crazy. How's Relena?"
"Fine." His response was very clipped.
"What happened now?" I swung my legs around me so that I could lay on
my stomach, and prop up on my elbows.
This time he ran both hands through his hair. "She and Noin wanted to
see a play today. It was called the Nutcracker."
"Yeah, it's a classic."
"Well," he stopped looking at me and started staring at his
hands, "she and Noin made me and Zechs go."
I choked on my spit from my sudden outburst of laughter. Oh, what I
would give to have seen the look on his face when he had to go. It's
almost worth fighting another war. Almost.
When I finally calmed down, and was able to breathe again, I saw that
Heero did not seem happy. Whoops. "Odin," I managed to say past my
chuckles, "its just a play. That's not the problem though. If Wufei
or Duo ever found out you went, you'll never live it down."
He blanched slightly at that thought, and that sent me on another
round of choking/laughing. When I finally got back in control of
myself, which was still very, very shaky, I saw that he had a small
smile on his lips. "Go to sleep," he whispered, "you will have a
rough day tomorrow."
I didn't want to ask what he meant by that, but I trusted Heero with
my life, so I'll take his word for it. "Okay, good night, Odin. Kiss
Relena for me."
He gave me another small smile before bowing his head slightly and
disconnecting the call. I decided to go for a small walk around the
house, or better yet, relax on the balcony before going to bed. So,
getting up and walking out of the room, I quietly sidled down the
hallway, sure not to wake up anybody, or that if someone was awake,
they would know I'm walking down the hall and not trying to break in
and steal something. Anyway, I turned the conversation over in my
mind, stifling the laughter that keeps trying to escape. I hope to
Allah Dorothy or somebody took pictures. Heero in a tux is something
I can't possibly imagine.
I also turned over what he meant by a `rough day' tomorrow. Could it
be that something happened? If White Fang attacked, surely we
would've been the first to be notified. That can't be it. I should've
asked how, but knowing him, he wouldn't say anything over an
unsecured line. Might as well not worry about it.
I finally made it to the balcony, and stepped through the glass doors
just as the cold wind nipped delicately at my skin. Turning my nose
up, I inhaled the ventilated air, enjoying its scent but longing to
smell that of purity, which is only found on Earth. I opened my eyes
to see the moon–well–you can't help *but* see the moon, and traced
over its cracks with my index finger, memorizing its secrets.
Tomorrow, I will see it from afar, and the details won't be there.
I heard footsteps stop right behind me and before I realized what I
was doing, I reached over to my side to grab the knife, which wasn't
there. I left it upstairs. Quickly, I turned around and saw Wufei
standing there, with a smug smirk on his face.
"And you say Duo and I are jumpy."
I smirked back at him. "Shut up. Why are you awake anyway? Heard from
Sally?"
He walked up to the rail and leaned against it, facing me. "Yeah, I
called her from the office. She's doing fine. They all are, and the
situation is just about under control. Nobody else is getting sick
and everyone who is sick is getting treatment. Besides that, I'm just
awake. Must be a case of insomnia."
I nodded my head. "That seems to be going around tonight."
Wufei raised an eyebrow at me but didn't comment. "So what's up with
you?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "Barton. What's yours?"
He sighed irritably but didn't comment. "It's not worth bringing up."
I slowly walked up to him and shook my head. "You're breaking the
rules Fei. Talk."
Wufei's entire demeanor changed. Suddenly, he seemed very angry and
frustrated, perhaps even violent. Pacing the length of the balcony,
he began his rant. "This whole thing," he growled, "is a god damn cat–
and–mouse game."
"What is?"
He stopped in front of me and flailed his arms about wildy, trying to
point in every possible direction. "This is. Everything was so subtle
at first. A crow showed up, then you and that guy at the mall. Now
the shit's getting bigger. The mirror and the hole in the wall, and
now you being attacked on a train? That's bullshit! Quatre, you are a
great fighter, one of the best in the universe, don't you know that?
Some smuck off the street can't just up and kick you ass on a whim!
Not even beating you up really, just trying to...trying to..."
Wufei only distastefully spit at the ground, unable to complete his
sentence. I glad he didn't, I really didn't need the reminder. I'm
reminded every time I look in the mirror, or at my wrists.
"He's playing a game," he finally managed to say, his head dropping
to his chest, "he's playing a game with us. We're the mouse. He lets
us run around in our maze a little bit before he slams his paw down
on our tail, then releases us so that he can catch us again. He's
playing a fucking game with us. He could've had you and has had you
without you even realizing it. It could've even started before Duo or
I ever noticed it. The next time something like this happens, *when*
it happens, he might decide that enough's enough, and someone could
die...." He looked up at me, his shoulders slumping in resignation.
I stared back at him. What do you say to that? I'm sorry? It's not my
fault? Those words mean nothing now. It doesn't matter how or why it
happened anymore, just what do you do to fix it?
"I'm worried about you," he confessed, "I'm worried you might get
killed. Okay? I'm worried something might happen to Duo in the
process. You are important to peace. You and Relena are the key to
peace, but as you know, this peace is a delicate one. If anything
happens to you, or to Relena and her brother, everything we ever
fought for, and every one who died for it, will die with you, and we
can't wait another twenty years for another great leader, like your
son, to come along and set things right again."
He then grabbed both of my shoulders and shook me a bit. "Also
Quatre, you are one of my best and closest friends. It would ruin
*me* if I lost you. Go to bed now. Tomorrow's trip is going to be
long and you'll need your rest." Wufei gave me one last shake and
left me, presumably to go back to his room. I didn't turn to watch
him leave, I just stood there staring straight ahead at nothing.
Wufei's words touched me deeply, more so than anything ever has, and
I wanted to absorb them and keep them locked away in my memory,
because it was likely that what he said he would never say again.
With tears stinging my eyes, I dragged myself into the kitchen for
sleeping pills. After flipping through a couple of cabinets, I
finally found what I was looking for. On my way back upstairs, I
passed through the living room, trying to get a glimpse of the moon
before I went upstairs, when I heard something move. I paused,
wanting to make sure that it was some noise the house made or that I
was hearing things. I heard it again, and when I turned my head, I
saw Duo's head pop up from the couch, before he completely stood up
to look at me.
"Cat, you alright?"
I shook my head at him, trying not to laugh at his disheveled braid
and boxers, which were this time black with silver scythes all over
them. "Yeah, having trouble sleeping. Just needed some sleeping
pills."
"Well, alright then."
"Duo, what are you doing down here?" Suddenly, another head popped
up. This one belonged to a young boy, about our age, dusty blonde
hair, with bright blue eyes. Must be the cook.
"Oh, uh, sorry," I replied quickly and scurried out of the room,
hoping to Allah that they didn't see my blush.
Once I was safe in my room, I found my Bowie, which was this time
under the mattress, and placed it on the night stand next to the
clock. I had this insane urge to lick it, but I fought it off.
Pulling the covers back, I slid in the bed and encased myself in,
letting the bottle of sleeping pills sit on top of the clock.
Fluffing my pillow until it was just right, I laid my head down and
in three seconds flat I fell asleep.
I was exhausted.
© 2001 by KKChitown. Please do not remove without permission.
