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SongBird
by Snow Tigra
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Another day and Heero was back at work, putting away books in
library while he left Duo to sleep in the basement and fill his time paging
through the various books there. Heero hated to leave Duo all by himself, even
for a moment, but he also realized that he had a life of his own. And if he
wanted avoid suspicion about the basement room having someone living there then
this was the best way to do it. Thus, life, classes and work went on.
As
Heero climbing the small stepping stool to put away books on the top shelf his
mind kept drifting back to the conversation from the night before. Duo didn't
remember any of his past, not a single bit of it. Was he an orphan? Did he have
parents? Did they know he was alive?
Frowning he placed away the last
book then headed over to the office computer. A quick look over his shoulder
told him no one was watching so he opened up the internet to a search engine. It
didn't take long for him to find a webpage with a relatively reliable list of
missing children from the last few years, along with pictures and even aged
examples in some cases.
Scrolling down the page he scanned the pictures
and the names, trying to find any with Duo's features. Unfortunately the
database was huge. How many kids disappeared in a given year? Far too many!
Sighing he tried one last thing on the page and typed in so it would search the
database just for children with violet eyes. It took a few minutes but the list
came up, showing their names and mini versions of their pictures beside
it.
He scrolled down the page halfheartedly, pretty much deciding this
search was pointless. There were far to many people on this database and
apparently Duo's eye color wasn't nearly as rare as he thought it was. Not to
mention that this list also included in people who had been found
and-
Heero's eyes widened and he stopped scrolling down as he spotted one
picture.
It was of a very young boy, about eight or so years old. He was
dressed in a baggy stripped polo shirt and a pair of khaki pants and didn't look
very happy to be wearing them at all, his pose showing that he kept squirming
while they tried to take the picture. His hair was quite long for his age,
reaching just past his waist in a long braid that was starting to fall apart
from the day's activities. His dirt smudged face held a bright grin and his eyes
sparkled with life as he stared back at the camera.
Chestnut colored
hair.
Violet eyes.
Heero had to remind himself to breathe. It was
Duo! It looked exactly like him! His eyes scanned the page for a name but he
froze once again as they came across a different line.
Found.
The
word was in bold letters, standing out from the rest of the information. This
boy had been found after he'd gone missing? And apparently found...
murdered.
Those words sent a cold chill down Heero's spine and he sighed
softly. No, it couldn't be Duo. The database listed this boy as murdered nearly
ten years ago, which meant there was no way it could be the same person who was
sitting down in the basement at this very moment. Shaking his head lightly he
ran a hand through his hair and closed the page. So now where did he
look?
"Heero?"
Pulled out of his thoughts Heero glanced up from
the computer to find the head of the library standing before him with another
man. Another man who managed to give Heero his third heart attack for the
day.
Zechs.
It took effort but Heero managed to hide his shock and
fear as he saw the taller blond man. Instead he slipped on a calm expression and
nodded to the teacher, waiting for him to say what he wanted.
"This man
was searching for ancient myths surrounding a creature called a songbird. If I
remember correctly those books are in the research room. Would you be able to
take him down there and help him find the books?"
Stiffly and numbly
Heero nodded and stood up, closing the internet off the computer. Nodding to
Zechs he led him to the stairs with a simple "This way."
And though he
may have seemed calm on the outside his mind was flying. No! Duo was in the
research room! He couldn't lead Zechs down there to find where duo was hiding...
but at the same time he didn't have much of a choice and there didn't seem like
any other way out.
**
Heero led Zechs down the stairs, the fear
building up in his chest. By the time they were half way down the flight his
stomach was crying out, twisting and feeling like butterflies were swirling
around in a typhoon. How did he solve this?! He couldn't let Zechs into the
room. Not with Duo there! No!
Swallowing hard he stepped off the stairs
and on to the floor, up to the door. Reaching into his pocket his hand shook and
then he got a sudden idea. For a moment he just stood there, moving his hands
through his pockets, then he began to search his other pockets.
Zechs
watching him quietly and raised an eyebrow.
"I don't... no, its not here."
Heero frown and searched his pockets again, but, as far as Zechs could tell, he
couldn't find the keys. In reality they were right in his pocket, but Zechs
wasn't going to check his pockets, Heero knew that. So maybe this would work. It
may have been one of the lamest tricks in the book but it still might
work.
Zechs frowned and walked up to the door, trying the knob. It didn't
turn, the lock staying secure.
"I'm real sorry about this..." Heero said,
giving him a helpless look.
"No, don't worry about it. It's not that big
of a deal."
"If you tell me what you were looking for I'll make sure I
set the book out for you tomorrow morning so you can look at it and this doesn't
happen again."
Zechs nodded. "I was looking for references to 'song
birds'. It's mostly old mythology and there wasn't much... it's not a big deal.
I'll just stop back tomorrow."
Heero stared in surprise as Zechs passed
him and started back up the stairs. It took him a second to register that he
should follow, since he didn't have the keys and there was nothing else in the
basement level. Sighing silently with relief he followed Zechs back up the
stairs and watched the man leave the library, then he dropped back into the
chair near the computer.
That had been too close.
Far too
close!
**
Duo smiled when the door opened and Heero entered the
room. He'd waited patiently for Heero to get back from his job. While Heero was
gone Duo had actually ventured to stand up and move around the room, glancing at
the books. Most of them didn't peak his interest though since he had no idea how
to read.
He turned a bright smile to Heero but it wilted when he saw the
look on Heero's face.
"What's wrong?" He asked softly.
Heero
leaned back against the closed door and took a deep breath. "Zechs was here
today. He wanted a book... from this room."
Duo's eyes widened in fear.
Zechs? Zechs had been here? Did Zechs know where he was? Did Zechs know where he
was hiding? "I..." He swallowed and looked away from Heero, his eyes roaming the
bookshelves. "I have to leave don't I?"
Duo didn't look up to wait for
Heero's answer, he only watched the old books on the shelves. He was nearly
trembling with fear. He didn't want to go back! But at the same time he was
scared, he didn't know what to do. He had no where else to go. No where else but
with Heero. And if he couldn't stay with Heero...
Two arms slowly slid
around Duo, pulling him into a soft embrace. Duo's first instinct was to jerk
away, but he didn't. Instead, without really realizing it, he leaned into the
embrace, letting Heero's arms encircle him tightly.
"I don't want to go
back," Duo whispered softly.
"I know." Heero whispered back. "We're
getting out of here tonight. I'll take you back to my room."
Duo blinked.
"But you said..."
"Fuck the rules," Heero bit out, surprising Duo with his
harsh tone. "I'm keeping you safe, I will not let him hurt you again. I made you
a promise and I'm going to keep it, no matter what."
Duo turned around in
Heero's arms and looked at the boy who was holding him, with a determined look
on his face. Duo smiled softly and laid his head against Heero's chest, pulling
himself closer to the boy. He didn't understand it but he felt quite safe in
Heero's arms. He knew Heero would stop at nothing to protect him.
"Thank
you," Duo whispered softly.
Moments later they were preparing to leave
the room. Duo helped Heero as much as he could, but his arm mostly only let him
watch. Quickly Heero folded up the quilts and stuffed them out of sight in the
corner, leaving them so he could pick them up later. He wrapped Duo carefully in
his own jacket, knowing that it was a little too cold outside for Duo. Then
Heero gathered up the things he could carry, took Duo's hand and they were ready
to go.
Heero led them up the stairs into the darkened library, and Duo
had only a moment to look around at the huge number of shelves and books, then
they were outside in the cold air. The wind bit at his skin and he shivered, but
he kept close hold on Heero's hand, following the boy out the door, toward the
street.
If only the two had looked around before stepping out into the
open they might have noticed the two men by the door. One smoking and talking
while the other leaned against the building. Both boys froze and Duo's body
began to tremble and Heero's eyes narrowed.
It was Zechs and the Heero's
professor. What were they doing at the library this late?!
Zechs pushed
off the wall and glared, his eyes locking right with Duo's. "So this is where
you've been hiding," he said in a low tone.
Duo let go of Heero's hand
and backed away, shaking his head. But he couldn't turn and run, all he could do
was stare at the blond haired man before him. No! No! No!
Heero jumped
forward, between them and stuck out his arms, preventing Zechs from getting any
closer. "Don't touch him!" He growled angrily.
Zechs' eyes narrowed. "Out
of my way," he snarled back.
"No! I won't let you hurt him
ag-"
Heero words were cut off sharply as Zechs' fist met with his face.
Heero was thrown to the ground, landing hard on the pavement. But he stood up,
wincing, and moved back toward Zechs. The blond haired man glared at Heero and
punched at him again, this time knocking him hard in the shoulder.
Duo
watched in fear, his entire body frozen as he saw Zechs beat up Heero. He wanted
to move, he wanted to help, but all he could see was the pain Zechs was
inflicting. His mind overlaid the image of what Zechs had done to him and the
result was he only ended up standing there, shaking uncontrollably. Tears filled
his eyes as he saw Heero get knocked to the ground again, the boy falling
struggling to stand, but his arms and legs wouldn't support his
weight.
"Stop!" Duo screamed out.
Zechs glanced up at the boy, who
stood there, shaking and huddled in Heero's coat. Beneath him, on the ground,
Heero coughed painfully, clutching his stomach where Zechs had kicked
him.
"Don't hurt him..." Duo whispered.
The blond man stepped past
Heero and held out his hand toward Duo, meeting eyes with the longhaired beauty.
"Let's go home." He said simply.
Duo's eyes widened and he stared at
Zechs home. No... no he didn't want to go back! He couldn't go back there! He knew
Zechs would hurt him again! But... but Heero...
Duo glanced from Zechs' hand
to the huddled form of Heero groaning in pain on the pavement. He bit his
lip.
"If you come back, I won't touch him again."
Violet eyes shot
to Zechs' face. Then Duo swallowed hard and forced himself to nod. He didn't
want to see Heero get hurt, not anymore. And after all... even Heero didn't have a
place to hide him any more.
Timidly he reached forward and placed his
hand in Zechs', sealing his fate.
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