The world has caught on fire from what I've been told.

[selfdetonation.livejournal.com]

[Heero kicks open the door to his apartment, not caring that the top hinge pops loose. He's carrying an unconscious Dorothy in his arms, who is covered in soot, ash, blood, dirt, scrapes, bruises... Heero isn't unscathed, but unlike Dorothy, he won't be needing stitches. Just a shower. But there are more important things right now...

He ignores the gun that falls out of his pocket as he goes to lay her down on the couch, kicking the door one more time to keep it open for Duo. The kick is enough to knock the top hinge a little bit looser.]

Comments

[maxwellian.livejournal.com]

[He flinched forward, wincing as a bruise he hadn't realized he had protested the movement.]

Goddamn, I thought you were out! [That outburst out of the way, he moved so that he could look at her full-on.

You're at Heero's, you got pretty banged up [Duo couldn't keep all of the concern out of his tone — seeing someone he considered a kind of halfways-rival (if not in the way that word made it sound) out cold had shaken him. Another level of reality had seeped its way into this end-of-the-world thing and he had a feeling it wouldn't stop going.]

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[She opened one eye to glance at Duo, and the corner of her lip twitched into a smile that was transient at best -- she was glad it was someone she knew, anyway.]

I guess I did. I tried to get out of there... [She slowly moved to sit, but once she picked herself up to a certain point, the pain was too much. She actually cried out, in spite of her best efforts not to, and she even cut it short and abrupt when she'd realized what she'd done. No one was allowed to hear something like that... And she lowered herself back down to the sofa, one hand over her eyes.] I have you to thank, don't I?

[maxwellian.livejournal.com]

[Duo flinched, hands up and almost going to try and help support her, but relieved when she settled herself down.]

Not me. Heero. I mean, I helped Heero, but.. mostly just him. Don't move so much. We're— he's going to take you to a hospital tomorrow. They're probably busy. [When all else fails, there's nothing wrong with a good old word dump.]

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

You still helped... Thank you, Duo. And I'll thank Heero later...

[She had a feeling she was going to have to explain herself. She settled back down into the couch, not wanting to attempt sitting again for a while. While she was down, she may as well start thinking of a good alibi...]

[maxwellian.livejournal.com]

I'm sure he'll be glad to hear it. You're lucky he spotted you. How the hell'd you end up there, anyway?

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[Just the question she didn't want. Maybe silence would be okay for now...]

[maxwellian.livejournal.com]

Dorothy..? [He stood so he could make sure she didn't pass out again] You okay over there?

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[She nodded a few times.] Yeah. I'll live.

[She licked her lips, and winced at how painful it was given that the bottom one was split and the top was dry and chapped enough that it nearly cracked as she spoke.] ... Ugh, can I even sit up...?

[maxwellian.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't try it, if I were you. You should stay still and rest. No way you can get better if you keep testing what hurts.

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

Right. I know. ... I'm just already tired of lying down... [A short, slightly bitter laugh.]

[She wanted to talk about it, but knew better. They didn't know her position in this, nor did they realize that she knew theirs, and the longer it could stay that way, the better. Still... She tried more neutral ground.] Are you okay?

[maxwellian.livejournal.com]

Huh? Me? Yeah, sure. Just a little scratched up. It looks worse than it feels. [Not that she could really have seen it, it just seemed like a good response to that. And dammit, where was Heero with that ice, anyway?]

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[She looked up at him and shook her head.] Given how bad it looks, that's good news. [She sighed. What about her? Who was it that attacked her? He had to be dealt with soon, but how could she...? No, the thinking was giving her a headache, as well as making everything else ache even more than it already was. And in her current state, she couldn't keep that from showing. She curled in on herself, but only a bit, and rubbed at her face with both hands.] ... Does Heero have any painkillers?

[maxwellian.livejournal.com]

I'll go get some. I think he's getting some ice, too. [Duo made his way into the kitchen]

[selfdetonation.livejournal.com]

[A while later, Heero came back, ice in a bag and a roll of paper towels just in case. He sat on the table near her.]

How are you feeling?

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[Dorothy moved her hands away from her face, looking up at Heero. She gave him a very, very faint twitch of a smile.] I believe I've seen... better days.

[selfdetonation.livejournal.com]

Agreed. [He held both hands out to her.]

I'm going to sit you up, but you're going to have to be careful. The cut in your side is very, very deep.

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[She nodded, taking his hands and using them to pull herself up very slowly. She then slid back into the corner of the couch to support herself, but putting weight on her left arm sent a jolt of pain into her shoulder. She bit her lip to keep from crying out again.]

[selfdetonation.livejournal.com]

[Heero grabbed the ice pack, placing it against her shoulder in an effort to keep the swelling down. He then handed over some medicine and a glass of water.]

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[She took them both, finishing the glass off quickly.]

Thank you, Heero. ... I owe you. Both of you.

[selfdetonation.livejournal.com]

[Heero nodded.] We couldn't leave you there.

.... What were you doing there, anyway?

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[Maybe the silence would work just as well with Heero. She let her eyes drift closed...]

[selfdetonation.livejournal.com]

Catalonia. Answer me.

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[She feigned snapping back to attention, mentally scrambling for a decent alibi. She wasn't so lucky this time, apparently. Did he just call her by her last name? That always meant trouble, coming from him. The last time he used it was to chastise her for leaving Relena's side for only a moment...]

A moment, Heero. It's... hard to focus like this. [A laugh, somewhere in the midst of humorless, nervous and maybe a little bit bitter.] I was meeting someone. [She frowned, shaking her head.] He never showed, though. At least he's safe...

[She could only hope that he'd buy that.]

[selfdetonation.livejournal.com]

[Heero had no reason to suspect otherwise. He nodded once.] He should be, yes. And you're fortunate that we spotted you.

[warbeauty.livejournal.com]

[Dorothy's gaze dropped to the floor. How much longer could she keep this up? Heero was sharp. She'd have to really stay on top of it. Good thing she'd had practice in her lifetime so far...]

I know I am. I can't thank you enough...