004 | Back in Black | Open

[stillshinigami]

So he's feeling better, that's pretty clear by the fact that he's goofing off in the courtyard. With his exploring track record? Getting assaulted near every time he's gone out to look about? He'd made a point to stick around for a while until he had completely recovered before doing anything, but now he was fed and feeling stir crazy. So there he was. Out in the court yard taking a spin on his hover boots. They shorted out plenty but they did what they were designed to do. Faster, higher jumps? When they worked it was great and he was having some fun, yelling out for the sheer joy of it.

"Hah!" He said as he jumped over a length of the pond with ease and continued on. He looked back to marvel at the distance he'd jumped, not really paying any mind to what was in front of him.

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[stillshinigami]

"You wanna go now?" Duo asked, looking back to the entrance back into the common hall. He knew Quatre would enjoy the company.

Couldn't help but crack a smile then, realizing from Heero's face and the way he said that that he did genuinely care about Quatre. That was good. The guy needed plenty of support here.

[stoicperfection]

"Yeah." Heero stood, brushed the grass of his jeans before he held a hand out to help Duo up.

This was better than just sitting around. Had he known Quatre had also been captured by the shadows, he would have seen him a lot sooner than now. Because yes, he was worried about him.

[stillshinigami]

Duo clasp his hand into Heero's and helped to pull himself to his feet. He nodded with some enthusiasm and gestured to the door.

Absently, he watched as Heero went on ahead. He was really starting to like this version of his old comrade. It was refreshing to see him care about the well being of his...family?

They were kind of like brothers after all of that, weren't they?

[stoicperfection]

The other Heero must have cared in his own way, at least about one of them. But this version definitely did. He cared about the other four pilots in his own way, offering whatever words of wisdom he could to them. That was what he was going to do now. Speak to this Quatre and hope he could make him feel better.

He went on ahead first, looking back to check and see if Duo was still following him. "Coming?"

[stillshinigami]

He was a little slow, but he moved on after his partner once he got his boots back on his feet. He jogged forward to meet with Heero, walking at his sides with his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah. Yeah. Just hold your horses, hey?"

[stoicperfection]

"I'm working perfectly fine." He retorted, keeping his hands clenched at his sides. It wasn't all seriousness. He was even a bit teasing. "You're just too slow."

[stillshinigami]

"M'tired." He mumbled, walking at his friends side. He was thankful that the hover boots took a lot of the work of what he was doing earlier, but he was getting a little work out in some muscles in his core he didn't seem to use often enough.

[stoicperfection]

"Work through it." Gripping Duo by his upper arm, he pulled the older pilot forward some so his pace matched his own. It was a little unbelievable that Duo was already tired from walking not so far. He had, in fact, gotten some sleep the night before, so what the hell was wrong?

[stillshinigami]

After weeks of avoiding that food they were offered and trying to survive almost strictly on the fish he caught and the apples from the courtyard, he was burning through the energy just too fast.

Fact is he just didn't even feel the hunger pains anymore. He grunted at the other man's grip on his arm and moved on forward, faster. "Would it kill you to hold on a damn second?"

[stoicperfection]

That "slop" they were fed was probably what was keeping up with his own energy demands. Duo needed to reconsider eating it if he wanted to keep himself going day after day.

Letting out an annoyed breath, he released Duo's arm and stopped. Fine. He could slow his step down for the man so he could catch a break.

[stillshinigami]

Yeah, but he was just so sick of this stuff. The same thing every day? The same tasteless MREs or this gruel? He'd had enough. Once Heero stopped he grunted.

"I didn't mean stop, Heero. I'm just tired." He nodded over to Quatre's room and sidled on over at his own pace, rapping his knuckles on the door.

"Quatre? It's us!"

[shadeofawinner]

Quatre looked up at the door tiredly for a moment before getting up and moving over to the door causing it to open. The blond looked tired and frazzled, and he was beyond the point of caring about that frankly.

"Hey..." He greeted them rather listlessly, giving Duo a hard look and once over. "Are you alright Duo? You seem..." Quatre motioned at Duo then rubbed at his temple, "...off."

[stoicperfection]

"I was giving you the chance to rest."

Heero followed Duo's nod towards Quatre's room, letting the older man go first and following up behind. He'd deal with Duo's lack of energy later.

Once Quatre opened the door, he quickly looked him over and frowned slightly. Things were worse than he originally thought. "Can we come in?"

[stillshinigami]

Sure. Rest.

He didn't need rest. He shrugged at Heero and looked to Quatre. Him too? he was fine!

"I'm good, Quatre. We're here to check up and keep you company."

[shadeofawinner]

"Oh...well come in." He moved away from the door, taking a deep breath and trying to smile. "Sorry I haven't been...out. I just..." His eyes dropped to the floor. Quatre knew he wasn't doing well, and that some fresh air, and getting out of the stone confines of the castle would do him some good. He just didn't really trust himself to be able to make it all the way outside without collapsing.

[stoicperfection]

Don't complain about being tired then. Being tired implies rest is needed.

"Thanks, Quatre." He moved into the bedroom after Quatre stepped aside for the both of them. Moving across the bare space, he settled at the edge of one of the beds and crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the both of them.

[stillshinigami]

'Work through it'. Right.

He stretched his arms out and went to sit on Quatre's bed, folding his hands and resting his elbows against his knees.

"I know, Quatre. I know." He offered a smile to his blond comrade. "You know if there's anything you need I don't mind getting it' for ya."

[shadeofawinner]

Staying next to the door, Quatre watched both of them warily. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, he was just jumpy after not sleeping for the better part of the last two weeks. They'd been trained to stay awake for days if need be, and that was not helping this horrible bout of insomnia. The few times he'd been able to fall asleep, they'd been short and nightmare filled. "Thanks Duo..."

[stoicperfection]

Heero didn't say anything while Duo and Quatre spoke, not that much had been said. He took the time to look over the blond, noting his body language and over all appearance. It was obvious he hadn't slept in a good while, but from his tense set it was also obvious the whole experience with the shadows set him on edge.

He couldn't blame him. He was a bit more on guard himself, hence his reaction to Duo flying into him.

[stillshinigami]

"I told Heero a little about what happened to you and why you'd be feelin' this way." He admitted. Quatre'd understand. He didn't give him all the details either.

"You shouldn't be alone when you're feelin' like this. And hey. Y'know? You haven't really spent much time with Heero either." This is a good guy. It was pretty clear Duo favored him, probably more than even his own Heero.

[shadeofawinner]

He nodded before finally crossing the room to sit down next to Duo on his bed. "I'm really sorry Heero. I didn't mean to ignore you." Quatre avoided making eye contact, but he easily picked up the emotional triggers rolling off of Duo. The Heero they knew had tried to kill him, of course Duo would feel more comfortable around this other Heero. He smiled a little, that made him happy. That Duo was able to be friends with this Heero and not let past experiences taint a new friendship.

[stoicperfection]

"It's alright." He wasn't expecting Quatre to be a typical host. It was better that he was acting this way, rather than trying to hide how he was really feeling.

Uncrossing his arms, he rested his hands in his lap and shifted his eyes from Quatre to Duo momentarily before returning to the blond. Despite wanting to talk to Quatre, he wasn't sure how to start up a conversation with him. Not this one at least.

[stillshinigami]

"A few weeks back, the other me and Toph managed to salvage some metal to make some weapons with. We have that club and a sickle, but that's it. I think if we got a few more bars we might be able to accommodate both of you guys." He said, leaning back on his arms.

"You guys have any ideas what you want?" Good way to break the ice.

"Swords would be easiest."

[shadeofawinner]

"I'm honestly more comfortable with Sandrock's weapons. I haven't picked up a sword in years." Quatre replied, looking down at his hands. He didn't know how well they would work against the shadows, but metal seemed to work better against the shadows than the various sticks they'd found laying around.

[stoicperfection]

"Swords are fine." He would just have to get to work with it a little bit. There were lots a things he could do with a sword that a gun would run out too fast with.

"I could work with you, if you wanted Quatre,"