Twenty-six

Fighting Friends

      “Trowa!”
      My voice seemed to echo in the halls.
      Heero slammed his hand back against the door, locking it as Trowa’s door opened along with a few others.
      “You didn’t have to do that.” he informed me, his eyes like glass...pure obsidian.
      I knew things were fucked up now...not just screwed up...
      I couldn’t say anything. He was utterly pissed at me, completely. He’d never been this pissed with me...I’d seen him this pissed at others...but never at me...
      It occurred to me why, I was messing with him and his friends.
      There was the sound of someone trying to open the door, then pounding, “What’s going on!” that was Duo.
      “Nothing, she’s being a bitch again.” Heero replied calmly.
      “Unlock the door!”
      I could hear Trowa and Wufei also, but their protests weren’t as audible as Duo’s.
      “Go back to bed.” Heero hadn’t looked away from me.
      “Like we were sleeping.”
      I heard the sound of keys, “Here...move...” Quatre muttered, unlocking the door.
      Heero didn’t fight it as they pushed their way in, he was glaring at me as he stepped out of the way of the door...toward me...I backed up, meeting his eyes.
      He was right, I hadn’t needed to do that...and it hadn’t occurred to me how much shit I could have just caused, tension between us was pulling us all apart...even Kris and Kat were backing away from me...
      If I didn’t knock my shit off, I would lose him.
      I was given appraising looks as Duo pushed through the other two and came to me, looking me over.
      Quatre also pushed past them and stepped up to Heero...and punched him.
      Shit...that went a bit far.
      Suddenly they were fighting...Quatre because his friends weren’t exactly being friendly and he was being drawn into it for no reason, and Heero because...I couldn’t tell why other than the fact that Quatre’d punched him...but there was more to it than that...I just didn’t know what.
      “Are you okay?” Duo muttered, ignoring them, holding my wrists so I couldn’t try and stop them.
      “I’m fine...stop them...” I tried to pull my wrists away.
      “Why’d you call?” he asked me, pulling me off to one side of the door.
      “He wouldn’t move and I wanted to leave...stop them...” he wouldn’t let me go.
      “You’re a pain in the ass.” he said it too normally.
      I looked at him sharply. What was going on? “But you love me anyway, right?” I asked him, my tone too sweet, “Stop them!” I was trying not to panic. I was scared for Heero...and Quatre, of course...scared for what was going on.
      I hated fighting...hated Heero fighting...
      “Don’t worry, they both need this. Just stay calm, they won’t really hurt each other...”
      “Duo!” I yanked harder and his grip stayed just too strong...
      “You can stay in my room if you want to.”
      “She was going to stay with me.” Wufei informed him, also moving away to clear an area for them, watching as they fought and I could hear Sam, Kris, and Kat coming.
      “She’s not now.” Duo replied in that same calm, firm, near ice voice.
      How could he be so calm?
      Wufei looked a bit pouty, but Duo’s manner was unnerving us all, so he didn’t argue the point.
      Sam, Kris, and Kat were standing in the door, watching the display, flinching back when they got too near.
      I continued to try and pry my hands from Duo’s grip as he watched his friends end up rolling on the floor.
      I finally gave up, he wasn’t going to let me go. I couldn’t believe he was just letting them fight like that...I buried my face in his shoulder for an instant, but the noise caught my attention, this didn’t sound like a normal fight...it wasn’t fierce enough...it wasn’t drawing chills down my spine...I watched a little closer, realizing Duo was right.
      They weren’t trying to hurt each other.
      After a time, Heero was on his back, one arm guarding his face and Quatre was about to punch him again...but he stopped, holding the position.
      A second passed and Heero moved his arm back, they stared at each other, not moving...the moment seemed to last forever...then they broke into laughter, Quatre sitting back and Heero sitting up.
      I stared at them, fear turning to anger. In a split second, I was utterly pissed.
      Duo finally let go of me.
      I hesitated a second, then approached Heero, Quatre put one arm up, stopping me, still laughing.
      Heero met my eyes, his own confusing me, I couldn’t figure him out.
      “Let’s go, Duo.” I said, my voice ice, Heero stopped laughing.
      Duo led me back to his room, not saying anything, “You can have the bed. I’m fine on the floor.” he said as he opened the door.
      “Why?” I asked, “Scared to sleep with me?” I was feeling a bit better now.
      “Nikki...” his voice had a wary cast to it as we stepped over the threshold.
      “You’re bed’s big enough...” I said, looking at it, “I’ll be a good girl...”
      He shook his head after a moment, “Whatever...” he sighed finally, “Just keep in mind that you promised to be good.”
      I chuckled evilly, I didn’t intend to do anything, but he had an interesting word choice.
      He seemed to realize it and I could tell he was getting ready to re-phrase it.
      “Oh, I will...” I reassured him, “I will be good...” I headed for the bed, wishing I had clothes to strip off.
      Duo recovered his composure, “As good as ever, I assume?”
      I lay on the bed and turned to him as he approached, “Better.”
      He made as if to lay on me, then laughed when I didn’t move, “Move over.” he ordered, holding himself up with one hand and gesturing with the other, shaking his head.
      I laughed in return, rolling so he could lay down too. He hesitated, then started to strip.
      “Oh yeah, baby, take it all off...” I pulled the blanket out from under me as he laughed, then covered myself.
      He rolled his eyes and sat on the bed, then hesitated again, “Uh...”
      “Yeah?” I asked, turning to look at him.
      He shook his head, “Nevermind.”
      I gave him a look and he lay back.
      “I was just thinking of the last time we shared a bed...you were wearing that perfume...”
      I decided it best not to comment on that.


      Kris and Kat stood with me in the doorway. Quatre and Heero were fighting. They pushed and punched and kicked...Every time they got to close to the doorway, all three of us flinched back. Finally, Quatre didn’t throw a punch. It was his turn...It had become almost predictable, who would hit who next, but Quatre just stopped. They sat back, laughing. Nikki started toward them again, as she had been trying to do since it started, but Duo held her back again. She subsided, then started toward Heero, a bit more calmly. Quatre held up a hand to stop her, still laughing.
      “Let’s go, Duo,” she said dangerously.
      Heero stopped laughing.
      Wufei followed them out, but didn’t put up a fuss about the new sleeping arrangements.
      She brushed past us, ostensibly oblivious to everyone and everything, but I knew better. Oh well. She’d get over it sooner or later. Probably later with Nikki, but hey...
      Kitty and Trowa left together, leaving Kris and I to help the fools on the floor.
      She shot me a withering glance before going to get ice. I ignored her and went to kneel by Quatre to inspect the bruise swelling around his eye. Kris came back with the ice and knelt by Heero, who was bleeding, incidentally. Kris was a very...efficient... nurse for Heero. Just not very sympathetic. In spite of my...annoyance...I was much more gentle with Quatre. At least he was appreciative. Heero looked as if he’d be just as happy with a monkey to hand him ice and bandages. He wasn’t exactly ungrateful; he just wasn’t grateful.
      “What happened, anyway?” I asked at length.
      “He punched me,” Heero replied petulantly. He sounded like a spoiled child who didn’t get his way once.
      “Yep,” Quatre confirmed calmly. I looked back and forth between them in disbelief. I gave Quatre a hard shove.
      “Why?” I demanded. “Because you heard Nikki yell? You should know better than that by now. Why?”
      “I was mad at him. And at Nikki. And Wufei. And even you, sort of,” he explained. “Sorry.”
      “And what about you?” I hissed, turning on Heero. “I suppose you’ll just claim self defense? I’m not buying it.”
      He looked about ready to say something, but shrugged instead, “Take it or leave it. Your boy toy came in and hit me, what was I supposed to do? Let him use me as a punching bag?”
      I raised one eyebrow. That was a load of bullshit if I’d ever heard one, but I decided to let it slide...if I hadn’t said anything then he might have come up with a plausible lie.
      “I’m going to go watch tv. Coming, Quatre?” I was sick of listening to real people fight; a movie fight would be very soothing...
      I left Nikki and Heero’s room and headed toward Quatre’s, Quatre following quietly behind me. I heard more footsteps than Quatre could account for, and turned to look. Kris was going back to her room and Heero was following Quatre and I. I sighed. Yay. Boy time. Yippee.
      We went to Quatre’s room and I turned the tv on and threw myself onto the couch, remote in hand. The guys sat on either side of me, trying to carry on a conversation literally over my head. I kept turning up the volume notch by notch. Each time I clicked the button, they started talking louder. Finally I turned it off and sighed. I turned to Heero.
      “Really?” I asked. “I bought a new lipstick last week.”
      “Really? What color?” he asked, willing to talk about anything as long as he didn’t have to go back to the empty room...I felt bad for him. Nikki was really being a bitch. She had her reasons, but wow...
      “Just watch the tv and shut up, please? Both of you?” I looked at Heero with puppy dog eyes before turning them on Quatre.
      “Fine.” That was Heero.
      I opened my eyes a little wider and pouted a little more,“Please?”
      “Whatever. Turn it back on,” Quatre capitulated.
      “Yay!” I exclaimed, clapping my hands and clicking the tv back on. “Now, c’mere, both of you,” I growled.
      They turned so they were facing the tv, and I put my arms around their shoulders. That lasted for almost an hour, just sitting there watching tv like that. Heero fell asleep after a while, and I eased my arm off of him. I curled up against Quatre and checked his eye again. It was several lovely shades of blue, purple and green. I sighed and looked back at the tv. I guess I fell asleep, because the next thing I was really aware of was Quatre picking me up and carrying me to my room. That woke me up.
      “Heero staying on the couch?” I asked sleepily.
      “Mm-hmm. I’ll even get him a blanket in a minute. Goodnight. Morning. Sleep; whatever.”


      I could hear movement, but I didn’t want to wake up...that would mean...I felt a blanket cover me and situated myself better, opening my eyes briefly.
      Quatre grinned wryly at me as he straightened, then, without a word he disappeared. At least I didn’t have to go back to my room...

      A sharp pain in my face woke me.
      I glanced around, the room was bright, but empty. My face throbbed and I sat up, focusing.
      I was on the couch in Quatre’s room.
      I remembered him straightening and disappearing, then looked around.
      The door to his personal room was closed, and so was the one to Sam’s. I had a blanket on me and the tv was off. I laid back down.
      I sighed as last night came back to me...how could she be such a bitch?
      But I needed to talk to her before she could manage a grudge, even if we didn’t forgive each other right away.
      Maybe she’d feel bad ‘cause I’d gotten the shit beat out of me...sort of...and she was right about it not being up to me who she slept with, but she wasn’t sleeping with Wufei.
      I looked at my watch, ten.
      Yesterday at this time I’d just been getting back from breakfast with Relena.
      I didn’t move, that would mean I was awake and that I’d have to go back to my room...empty room. Very empty.
      After a while I decided I’d better get up and go do something about the cut that seemed to be a bit more painful than it had been last night...I sighed.
      As I folded the blanket I heard a door open. There was near silence for a second, then another door opened...and closed.
      That was the door to our room.
      I stood and headed to the room, hesitating outside the door, noticing that Duo’s wasn’t closed.
      Nikki was standing in the bathroom brushing her teeth.
      We met eyes in the mirror a second before she refocused.
      I pulled my shoes off and my shirt, then crawled into the bed...right now was the test. If she already had a grudge, she’d leave without saying anything. If not, then she’d talk to me...maybe lay down with me...
      I had a pit in my stomach, knowing I had every right to be pissed at her, but not actually managing it.
      I fell into a half doze, hearing her as she moved around in the bathroom...started the shower...suddenly I could smell her shampoo and perfume, the bed shifted.
      I woke up as she crawled beside me on the bed and lay there, meeting my eyes.
      “I’m sorry.” I muttered, knowing that she wouldn’t say anything first.
      She nodded, “Me too. But I’m still mad at you. You’re not my keeper.”
      I sighed, “Can you just do this one thing for me? Please?”
      She thought about that, “Why?”
      I looked away, “There are reasons...just...please?”
      She thought about it a bit longer, then sighed, “We’ll see.”
      I sighed, relieved, that was the closest thing to assent she’d give me. “You gonna scream if I put my arm on you?”
      She smiled slightly at that, then cuddled closer to me.
      I smiled in reply, laying an arm across her, feeling relieved that we were at least being civil now...

      “You two...drive me insane!”
      I woke with a start, grabbing my gun and aiming.
      Nikki opened her eyes and looked at Duo sleepily, “What?” she muttered.
      I exchanged a look with Duo, who was still pissed at me, and smiled, setting the gun back down. I couldn’t help it. I’d won. I’d pissed her off and got away with it...all the time shoving in Wufei’s face that Nikki was mine. He could hear Duo, I was sure of it...and if I knew Duo, he’d go off on us.
      “Tcch...” Nikki said, annoyed, shoving my shoulder, “Knock it off.”
      I smiled at her in a pouty way and she got an evil grin...
      Suddenly she was kissing me...her tongue focusing on my lip...and it hurt...I pulled back, confused...until I remembered that Quatre’d split my lip.
      “Don’t...” I told her, running my tongue over the spot, checking for blood.
      She laughed, “Why not? You were being an ass...”
      “Yeah...well...that hurt.”
      She gave me a facetious look.
      For some reason I’d known that wouldn’t work.
      “You drive me insane!” Duo repeated, slamming the door.
      We focused on him.
      “I’m sorry...” she offered.
      “I feel for your plights...” he said sarcastically, starting to pace, “I really do...but do you have to drag everyone into them? Then you get over it like that...” he snapped his fingers, “Oh...” he said, turning to us, one hand outstretched, “And then you neglect to give any sign at all...” he shook his head, focusing on Nikki, “I’d never heard that tone before. Do you know how bad my heart stopped? I had no idea what to expect...then you come in here to take your shower and shit...and you’re gone forever.”
      “I’m sorry...” she offered again, her voice meek.
      I hated that tone...it made me feel bad even if it wasn’t on me.
      Duo nodded tersely, subsiding...it was a very effective tone...but he was still pacing, “So I went to go talk to Quatre, because I knew you,” he gestured to me with his head, “Had slept in there last night...only for Quatre to say, ‘No, he left some time this morning...’”
      I sighed, they were all pissed at me. Nothing was going to change that for a while...
      “So I come in here, not knowing what to expect...and find you sleeping in his arms...” his arms moved a bit much as he gestured at us.
      So that had all been to Nikki...only incidental that I was here...
      I shook my head, “Well, Duo, I’m sorry if my friends forgive me when I’m stupid...”
      “Or at least accept the apology...” Nikki interrupted.
      I gave her a look which she returned.
      “Accept my apology...” I amended, “And you know...actually trust me.”
      He looked at her, “Why did you yell if he wasn’t threatening you?”
      She gave him a look, “He wasn’t letting me leave.”
      “Because you were going to go see Wufei.” I informed her, my voice rising.
      She looked at me, “Not like you had a choice...”
      “Seems I had the choice last night...” I looked at Duo, “Seems I had a major choice last night...even though I fucked up.” I looked back at her, “Oh well, though.” I shrugged, “Because I won.”
      She stared at me, “Is that how you’re planning on getting me to agree with you?”
      I shook my head, looking to a distant point above her head, “No. You’re starting to piss me off again.”
      “You two are around each other too much.” Duo explained, sitting at the foot of the bed and covering his face with his hands, “It happens about once a year...I’ve noticed.”
      We exchanged a glance.
      “And you’re driven to distraction when you finally take the time off.” he started rubbing his temples as the door opened and Quatre came in, focusing on Duo, then looking up to Nikki and me.
      “What?” he demanded, exasperated.
      Nikki tilted her head slightly, “We didn’t say anything...”
      “I know that, Angel...”
      “Good morning, Quatre,” I said brightly, “I hope you slept well?”
      He was too polite to overlook that.
      He shook his head in disgust, “I slept fine, thanks...good morning to you too...”
      I smiled at him and he rolled his eyes, focusing on Nikki. “You make no sense.” he informed her calmly.
      She smiled at him in a coy fashion...sort of... “But you love me anyways, don’t you?” she asked innocently.
      I rolled my eyes slightly, letting her know I realized she was wrapping them around her little finger...again.
      He rolled his eyes, shaking his head, “Of course I do. What’s going on?”
      She shrugged, “We’re on our way to getting over being pissed. Are you okay? That eye looks like it hurts...”

<--

-->

Kyeian