Drums Disclaimer -   Don't own it, never will. There! Are you happy?! sniffle
Drums
by DragonUK

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Blood caked the rims of the swollen lips; eyes like saucers focused intently on the ceiling above. Short, gasping breaths ripped at the insides of his chest.

God it hurts...

Once rounded cheeks were hollow, gaunt, bruised and battered and red with abuse. His neck was a dark purple mess, with finger marks clearly embedded into the once soft flesh that was now a shaking mass. Let it end... Please.

Huddled on a concrete floor, Duo Maxwell was experiencing the more intense levels of pain. His laboured breathing had deteriorated considerably during the last few hours and the gaping wounds that adorned his back bled painfully. He had little hope of leaving the cell.

  "Damn it... Damn it all..." He swore, spitting out the bloody saliva. It left a metallic taste in him mouth, which made Duo swear even more. "It was a trap... A fucking.... Trap...>" Try as he might, Duo struggled to keep the heavy lids of his eyes open, but found his efforts in vain as they closed, sending him into a state of unconsciousness.

When he awoke, a white light that burned his eyes and made him cringe shrouded him.

Am I dead?

Struggling to raise himself off the ground, he dimly noticed the polished boots that stood before his nose. He only managed to sit onto his knees however, before the said boots connected with his stomach, sending his mind reeling. Abused ribs screamed in protest as Duo battled to breath, drawing in the shallow breaths and sucking in the life they provided. They could not take away his pain.

"I'm going to ask you once, and once only, Mr Maxwell >– where the hell are those scrolls?!>" The voice barely registered in his mind >– it was rough and booming, attacking the insides of his head with vicious intent. His despair was ignored. Half heartedly, Duo batted away the large hands that reached for what was left of his collar, trying desperately with what little energy he had to stop them from intruding.

"I don't know what you're talking about..." He whispered hoarsely, pushing away the hands that were intent only on wrapping themselves around his neck – a neck that he was sure would break if it underwent any more abuse.

"Do not try and evade me, Mr Maxwell – I know you know where they are. Those scrolls are of great importance to me...>"

He was past caring.

Just let me go... Please just let me go...

"I can assure you that it is in your best interest to provide me with the information on their whereabouts!" There it was again... That booming voice... Like the voice of God.

Duo squeezed his eyes shut, hoping that by blocking out the world, he would block out his pain. It didn't work. The sharp throb to his side pounded away harder than ever, his head was spinning and he had the unpleasant feeling of being sick. His lips were chapped and dry, and licking his lips did not help, as his mouth was hoarse from the absence of water.

"Hm... Not going to tell me, eh? Well... I'll just send the boys in and see if they can get you to talk..."

"Uh..." Struggling for air, and dazed form the fall; Duo struggled to stay awake, trying his hardest to push himself up from the ground. "Please... I don't know where it is! I don't know what you're talking about!>" The door closed with a click, and the key turned in the lock – leaving Duo alone in the room once more.

Azure eyes stared, unseeing at the high ceiling. His chest hurt, breathing was becoming a problem, and pain wracked his chest with every intake that made his vision swim before his eyes. Soon, Duo Maxwell found himself drifting off to sleep – where he began to dream.

In his dream Duo was back at the orphanage on L2, watching as the rooms around him blazed with red fury, sweeping fire destroying anything in its path. There was no sound in this dream, which he was thankful for, as he was sure that if there had have been sound he would had heard the screams of his fellow orphans as they burned to death. He had been lucky to escape. In his dream, he began to wander the burning halls, untouched by the fire, observing the damage caused by the inferno.

There was no pain. He felt no remorse, nor anger, nor pain. It scared him, how he could look on one of the worst moments of his life, and feel nothing.

He guessed that he had already accepted it. Had already learned to live with the fact that nothing could be changed. That there were reasons. It was what made him go on in life, the thought that there would always be a tomorrow.

Coming out of his dream, Duo seriously doubted that. His breaths now came out in audible gasps, blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth – and he didn't have the energy to wipe it away. There was pain beyond belief. He couldn't bare it.

Take me... Please oh God Take me...

Something inside told Duo to accept death... But he was having trouble listening to it. Life! Give me life!

No... Let me go...

Coughing, spluttering blood, Duo hauled his heavy limbs off the ground – crying in pain as his battered limbs screamed protest. There had to be a way out. With a new mission, Duo scanned the walls of his cell. It was concrete >– thick, impermeable concrete. There were no windows. The door stood at the other side of the room; thick, heavy metal >– more than his weakened body could handle.

"I can't be defeated... Shingami cannot be defeated...>" He cried, stumbling over to the wall to gain some support. It only aided him for a short while, as fatigue won him over and he slid down the wall to sit on the floor.

Dizziness overwhelmed him, and he was indulged once again into darkness. Only this time he didn't dream of the orphanage, he dreamed of Heero.

Silent Heero. Heero who could barely uphold a conversation for more than a few minutes. Heero was intoxicating, contagious, bewitching. Heero who was just, Heero.

Memories of the war came flooding into his thoughts, and he smiled painfully as he remembered the times that Heero had arrived just in time to save him – to save him from death.

"You're too late now buddy... They won... They fricken won... " He whispered, opening his eyes to peer into the darkness.

Tears formed in the corners of his eyes, and Duo could do nothing but let them cascade. It was unlikely that he would leave this place alive. It was unlikely he would ever see his friends again... He wouldn't see Heero.

Please... Come and rescue me again, Heero...

Chocking back a sob, it was all Duo could do not to break down. All he needed was for some one to walk in while he was bawling like a child - and see that they had truly broken him. He couldn't let them win... even to the end he would stand tall.. Proud... Dignified...

Damn, if only he could stand. Duo snickered at the thought, sharing a small smile and laugh. It was all he could do.

Feeling the familiar feeling of darkness swallow him again, Duo decided not to struggle, and let himself be enveloped in its warm embrace.

No dreams accompanied Duo as he slept, he was only comforted by the feeling of peace that dwelled within him as he slept. The darkness was no longer endearing, it held no fear or danger anymore; it only gave him a comforting hand and whisper into his ear. Until, he could hear the slow beat of drums.

Duo jolted awake, coughing uncontrollably, wincing as the blood fell onto his hand as it spluttered from his mouth.

They weren't drums, they were too quiet. Weakly, Duo pushed himself onto his hands and knees, and began to crawl across the floor, fueled by sheer will power alone. He could hear something behind the door; voices? His arms gave way once he was a quarter of a way across the floor. In a shuddering heap, he listened intently, trying to make sense of what was happening - which was hard as his head was still dizzy and disorientated.

Were they - cries? Or was it laughter? Trying to decide only made Duo's head hurt more, and it was already pounding away at the inside of his scull.

I can't take much more... Please... Take me...

Closing his eyes again, Duo's mind wandered away, and he imagined he could hear those drums again...

But they weren't drums, were they?

No. Not drums... Then what...?  

Footsteps... Someone's coming.

What?!

Unsuccessfully trying to open his eyes, Duo listened to the noise, listened to the door as it swung open.

His mind slipped in and out of consciousness, even as he fought to keep awake.

"Duo!"

Heero...

Inwardly, Duo smirked, so Heero had come to save him after all.

You're too late this time... buddy... They got me.

"Duo, get up, we're going - I'll get you a doctor. Oh God Duo, don't die! Please don't die!"

Was Heero... Begging him not to die? Heero? Begging?

"Hold on." Heero whispered, lifting Duo up into his arms. "Hold on!"

I would Heero... I would - if I had something to hold on to...

Cradled safely in Heero's arms, Duo opened his eyes weakly, peering onto the face of his saviour, trying to take in every detail of his face.

You're so beautiful...  

The bodies decorating the ground were unnoticed to the braided boy as he gazed dimly at the face that was only inches away from his own.

I'm so close... Yet so far.

His eyes became unfocused again, and he was faintly aware of the pain.

"Hold on - don't die. You'll be fine."

Duo smirked, if only that were true.

"I'm sorry." Duo whispered, mustering his strength to lift his arm, as if in greeting. Gently, fondly, Duo stroked the side of Heero's face, lavishing in the warmth it gave him. "I'm sorry for being weak."

Heero glared sharply down at the braided boy, "You're not weak - and I should be the one who is sorry; I arrived later than I should have."

That's him twisting his words... It should be 'I arrived too late'. You're too late to save me, baka...

"No..." Duo sighed, letting his hand fall onto his chest, "I always wanted to die in the arms of someone I... I..."

But did he? Duo forced his eyes to focus, as he thought about what he was about to say. Did he love Heero?

"Duo... You won't die."  Murmured Heero, cradling the body closer to his chest as he ran. "We'll save you."

"No..." Shaking his head, Duo glared furiously from beneath his heavy lids. "No... I want to die in the arms of the one I... Love..."

Duo could have sworn he saw tears in Heero's eyes - but he was unsure, as his eyes became obscured themselves by water. Duo cried, and Heero wept with him - both shedding tears and holding back silent sobs.

"I love you... Heero Yuy." Duo whispered, clutching Heero's shirt between his fist, he let go as his vision darkened. This time, he wasn't falling asleep.

"I... Love... You Duo." Came the pained reply.

"Heh..."

Duo fell silent, as the sound of drums pounded beneath him - crescendoing until he was finally taken - and Shingami welcomed him with open arms.