Chapter three: Blankets of Onyx
Friday night: 10 pm at the Maxwell's home.
"Come on, Duo!! It's your turn!"
Duo rolled his eyes as the little pipsqueak greatly resembling
his older brother but with curly crimson locks rather than
Treize's wavy hair and bright blue eyes. It was a wonder
the almost seven-year old wasn't a loan shark the way the
girl played poker.
Trieze chuckled, looking up from his reports on the pair.
He had warned his little brother how precocious his daughte
r was. Each turn of the season, young Marie's intelligence
level increased and because of this she was placed in a
special program for gifted children. The main goal of the
program was to concentrate on the child, keeping the child
a child and not a machine. "What was it about the intelligence
in his family?" Trieze thought silently. "And what happened to
his father in that department?
Duo smiled, knowing he had his niece hands down with his
hand. Getting up from his chair in slow motion, with the grace
of a dancer, he slammed his cards on the table yelling his battle
cry! "YES! FLUSH!!!" The feeling of winning surged through
his blood, finally beating this little genius of a girl!! There was
no way in hell Marie could beat him…the only way would be
having a royal flush and recognizing every card that passed
before them there was no way she could have one. Energy
flowed through him as he danced around the coffee table
not giving a damn who saw him.
But this victory would be short lived. Marie smiled up at her
uncle's back as he shook his butt in front of her face, shaking
her head as she gracefully placed her hand squarely on the
table. "Uh…Uncle Duo. I'm sorry to tell you this but...
Royal Flush."
Lightening clashed in the room as the smile on Duo's face
evaporated causing him to turn around millisecond by
millisecond. Treize laughed his head off, his blue eyes filling
with tears watching his only child get up from the table from
her squatting position to symbolically lift Duo's face off the
floor. Violet eyes squinted at his young adversary in disbelief
but his expression changed when he noticed something fall
from the little girl's side pocket onto the hard wood floor.
Poor Marie didn't notice until she caught Duo's line of sight,
staring at the fallen cards on the floor. With teeth beaming
sheepishly at her uncle, she replied, "Oops?!" and bolted
from the table, running directly to her father.
Violet eyes turned dark as night as the intensity of his anger
was flaring by the seconds. The minx tricked him and she
was going to pay. "MARIE!! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
"DADDY?" Marie whined, tugging on her father's sleeve,
trying to hide from her rapidly approaching uncle whom had
death written across his face. Marie screeched even louder.
"DADDY!!! YOU'VE GOT TO HELP ME!" She nearly
got caught as she ran circles around Treize's desk trying
to dodge hands. Hiding behind her father again, she
pleaded her case. "It was a joke!" She put on her best
baby doll face, blinking big blue eyes trying to get her way.
"Princess…" the ginger haired man quietly replied, his blue
eyes lifting momentarily to chastised his cheating daughter.
"What did Daddy say when you were wrong?"
Mariemea blinked her eyes, knowing automatically her father
was not going to aide her in this fight. Pouting adorably, her
face scrunched up. "Accept the consequences and apologize."
Duo just stood there, his lithe arms crossed over his Limp
Biskit t-shirt while trying to control his anger. One of the rules
he tried to enforce to Marie was to never cheat at cards.
Since it was all in good fun but cheaters never win. It was just
as bad as lying, a family rule highly enforced in their house.
Dewy eyes looked up at Duo momentarily expressing their
sorrow within its depths.
"I'm sorry, Duo. I was only joking. I didn't mean for you
to get upset."
A smirk magically changed Duo's angry face into one
of love as he bend down picking up the little girl. "Now
listen, Meme. You know how your dad and me feel about
lying and cheating. But as long as you know to never do
it again, I won't punish you."
"Punish me?!" The little girl's large eyes blinked in suspicion,
"For cheating at cards?"
Duo nodded, smirking. "Yup!"
"But I'm only six?! We do stupid stuff like that. Man, you
guys are too serious for your own good!"
Duo and Treize looked at each other, both wondering
how a grown person got stuck in a little girl. Looking at his
watch, Treize noticed it was way passed Marie's bedtime.
"Okay, young lady." Grabbing his daughter from the younger
man. "It's time for bed."
Arn Daddy! It's Friday. What can't I stay up like you
and uncle Duo.?"
"Because..." He began gently brushing a lock of hair from her
eyes,
"we are going to the zoo tomorrow and I don't want to hear
'Daddy I'm too tired to walk. Please carry me like you did the
last time. So you are going to sleep and if you are good, maybe
we'll go to that new restaurant they opened on Starett Blvd."
Treize watched as his daughter's eyes bubbled with excitement.
She loved spending time with him and every weekend the three
of them would have outings. Last week, Duo met them at the
museum later that day and then they went roller-skating. It was
so funny watching Duo teach Marie how to roller-skate. His
poor baby limped after her falls but the expression on her face
was priceless. Now she begged for a pair of skates for
Christmas.
Treize sighed, carrying his precious bundle to bed as she laid
her head on his shoulder. He loved his little family…just him,
his brother and his daughter. Though Duo was older and
yearned for his independence, he respected the boy when
he somehow met them even when he hung out with classmates
at the mall. But Treize knew the real reason. Duo needed
someone, someone other than him and Marie. Someone
his own age that could relate to the problems of being a
teenager and open up the young man lost inside this child.
Studying all the time was not cool in his book for the boy.
He still regretted his leaving the basketball team.
But it all boiled down to one thing. Duo needed a girlfriend.
The frown of Treize changed that way of thinking. A
boyfriend would be more appropriate judging from all
the playgirl magazines hidden in the far back of the
teenager's closet. He had come full circle with his bisexuality
after his therapy with Dr. Po. The pain of his past was
recognized and in his healing he moved on. Finding out you
have mental blocks about your childhood because you were
sexually abused was something Treize could now come to
cope with. That was one of the reason he was still single.
His life was too much focused on the angel in his arms and
the shy one in the living room cleaning up. He still didn't
confront Duo about the phone call he received from his
counselor concerning his missing credits and he wouldn't
press the issue waiting patiently for his younger brother to tell him.
Standing before Marie's door, he opened it and silently
entered. Marie's room, covered with walls of pink and
white roses, was a mess. Dolls and stuffed animals were
scattered all over the floor, out of the authentic play chest
that was her mothe's, saved for Marie. Books were opened
and spilled across the floor, thrown precariously on her book
bag and under the uniform the little girl didn't want to see until
Monday. He kissed her delicate auburn curls. "You know
this room is going to be cleaned before we go anywhere
tomorrow?"
Nodding in agreement, Marie yawned in her father's arms.
She wasn't that tired but the moment her daddy picked her
up, she felt so safe and comfortable. The warmth from his
body always seemed to sooth her, like the father swan at
the zoo. The majestic bird always gathered his children to
him under his great wings. Such security…her daddy made
her feel like that, warm and protected. Laying her down in
her bed, Treize arranged her teddy bears around her, while
pulling the covering up to her chin. He kissed her forehead
as he always did each night. "Goodnight princess."
"Goodnight Daddy…"
He kissed her again, leaving the room and prayed all her
dreams were filled with teddy bears and red roses.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the living room, Duo had just
finished straightening up. He was placing the throw pillows
back on the couch when the sounds of his brother's footsteps
alerted him. Smiling at Treize, he pushed his braid back over
his shoulder, smiling as Treize sat back at his desk.
"Is the brat sleep yet?"
"Yes. But that's what you get for teaching her poker, Duo."
"Hell…I didn't teach her to cheat. Must be that Discovery
channel. They had a show about gambling and the secrets
of the cards. I bet she recorded it."
Treize giggled, ginger eyebrow rising at his brother in
suspicion. "Just admit it. You were just as bad when
you were her age! Mom would teach us cards and you had
the uncanny knack to always win."
Duo just stuck his tongue out at him, violet eyes twinkling
mischievously. "Could I help it? I'm just naturally adorable."
"You are hopeless, little brother." Treize shook his head
and looked down on his work.
Giggling, Duo waited for Treize to sit back down, coming
around the desk pulling up a chair, and turning it around
so the chair's back rested against the table. He smiled,
as he looked over his elder brother's shoulder downward
at the papers catalogued across the desk. "So…how that
coming along?"
"Fine. Just have to go over last year's numbers and import
them into the formula."
Duo watched the pencil glided across the paper in his
brother's hands. Treize was a genius yet because of their
position, he wasn't supposed to make himself attract too
much attention. So even though he could own the company,
he preferred to be a simple consultant and work from his
home. The job, in itself, was paying lovely and everyone
wanted the bright man yet…he was only cutting himself
short and Duo knew it.
"Niisan?"
"Huh?"
"Dr. Noin told me I had to take some extra classes. I'm
missing some credits."
Treize knew this was coming. "It's because of the hospital right?"
Nodding, Duo continued to tell him how he would have to
attend school on Saturday. "I guess that messes up our
family days this year."
Treize shook his head in disagreement. "Nonsense.
We'll just have to have them on Sunday. Your education
is more important, Duo." The face on Duo still didn't
reassure him. "Duo…is anything wrong?"
"Treize…I'm seeing him in my dreams again."
Treize sighed. The nightmares, the fear of their father
coming after them. He motioned his brother to move
his chair over, draping an arm over him trying to reassure
him. Whenever one of these episodes occurred, Duo had
to speak out what he was feeling. Holding in the pain for so
long was not good on the boy so Duo was told by his
therapist to express his feelings all the time. That was the
reason for his hyper activeness, the happy go luck boy
with the irreplaceable charm.
"He's not going to hurt us anymore, Duo."
"I know that." He exclaimed. Chestnut bangs covering
his violet eyes. "But the dreams were different somehow."
"Someone protecting me…saving me Niisan…like an
avenging angel. Everytime, Dad reached out to touch me,
another hand slaps him back. Its weird and when I turn to
thank the person, all I see is black. Is this a premonition,
Niisan?"
Treize blinked at the boy. "Maybe…or maybe you just
need to get some…"
Duo frowned at his older brother. Since turning seventeen,
Duo guarded himself against any type of intimate
relationship other than his immediate family and Dr. Noin.
He had finally gotten to grips with his past and not ready
for one. Sure girls and guys left him tiny gifts of appreciation
in his lockers but to him they only wanted him because of his
looks and body. Why couldn't someone like him because he
was smart? Anyone could have violet eyes or chestnut colored
hair mixed with blonde and auburn.
That's why he always let any interested person down telling
some excuse of not dating because he was too busy. Until
a true savior, the one from his dreams appeared before
him…he thought he would remain single for the rest of his
life. But this person in his entity in his dreams…who
respected his mind first, constantly protected his dreams.
Could he be real? It was going to be a tall feat to revert to
born again virgin when he knew about sex since the age of
six. Poor him. Even the urge to jerk off sent him fleeing to
the bathroom, terrified of spiritually calling his father and
alerting him of their whereabouts.
"Don't joke around like that, Treize. Anyway, my classes
start tomorrow and I have to be with the sultan
and the dragon."
"Eh?" Treize questioned, raising an eyebrow."
"Oh…Quarte Winner who I can't believe is from Arabia.
That boy is too smart for his own good and his older
brother Zechs…damn that boy is fine. And then there
is the dragon. Mr. Wufei Chang or rather the
appropiate way of his name is Chang Wufei. I call him
dragon because even though he's a bookworm, he's
on the martial arts team. Looking at him he doesn't
seem the type though."
"Isn't that Xi-Shin's little brother?"
"Xi-Shin?"
"Mr. Chang, he's one of our associates. Just went on leave
today for two weeks because his wife went into labor this
afternoon. He told me he has a little brother going to your
school. Might be the same one."
"Could be. Wufei's smart. What I wouldn't do for a mind
like that?"
"You seemed impressed with this young man."
"Who wouldn't be? Dr. Noin told me he's gotten straight
A's since preschool. Talk about pressure. School work
must come easy for him."
A yawn signaled Treize of his fatigue. "Well I 'm exhausted.
Don't stay up too late, Duo. I'll set your alarm okay.
Good night." And he got up going up the stairs to his
bedroom.
"Night Niisan. Sweet dreams." Turning back towards
the 27 inch television off the side, he started flipping the
channels searching from something to watch. HBO was
showing "What lies beneath" again so he kept it at that
station. He didn't even realize how sleepy he was until
a yawn escaped his mouth. Grabbing the throw cover
weaved by his deceased mother when he was a baby,
he covered his lithe form settling into its warmth. Very
soon the television was watching him.
The dreams began as usual. He would be in his bed,
covered by his favorite Robotech blanket safe and warm.
The little robot night light, covered with the violet and black
shade stood as his beacon on his little desk guiding him
in his dreams. He loved that nightlight. Though six months
had passed since his beloved mother's death, he still felt the
security of her warm arms. To a child, a mother was always
near them even when they lost their physical form.
But then, as Duo's eyes began to flutter, shifting beneath
their lids he felt the dark man began to come into his room.
Even though he cowered underneath the covers, he could
still hear his bedroom door slowly being pushed open
when he could have sworn he locked it.
Footsteps light but firm coming closer, approaching
his small form lying in the platfoom bed.
He could feel the dark gaze travel up and down his body.
His body shivering beneath his comforter, praying the
man would just leave him alone tonight.
The games. He was tired of the games. Why couldn't the
dark man be normal and treat him like his son instead
of the sick play toy the evil man desperately wanted?
And why did he always say he loved him? Is this pain an
act of love? Did he really love him or just a way to pacify
the sin he was doing to him? He prayed to his mother,
prayed that dark man would leave him alone…but the
evil always wanted to play and little Duo always had to
play, always touched in ways a child his age shouldn't be touched.
The callused hand reached closer to his blanket, gripping
a corner from the floor about to tug the protection off his
small body when something or rather someone entered.
What was to happen next was still a mystery to the young child.
Screams. Loud screams began bouncing off the dark blue
walls striking fear and terror into the dark man's soul.
Little Duo did not believe it as he lowered the covers
slowly from his eyes. The fight before him was nothing he
had seen in any of his dreams. His large violet orbs caught
view of his savior. Long hair like his yet sleek and black
as night and judging from his back it appeared to be an
angel because from his back spurt wings, large white wings
blocking his form from the evil that was his father. He could
still hear the man struggle for breath yet the intruder just
stood there crossing his arms over his chest defying any
further advancement.
And then it was over as the remains that were his father
hissed into smoke. Duo looked down…gazing at his form.
No longer was he a child but as he was now. The angel
remained where he was yet he would not turn around
feeling the human orbs gazing at this back. Before Duo
could ask him anything, the angel spoke.
"I will protect you, my angel."
Duo blinked in his dreams. "Angel? I'm not an angel.
Who are you?"
The entity giggled, shaking his head black hair swaying
from side to side. "You will know soon enough, my
eternal one. But you must first begin to open your
heart, Duo. Release the locks and I will come to you."
Duo sat on his bed confused. "You scaring me.
What are you talking about?"
"Shhhh…sleep." Large wings opened, brushing over Duo and
caressing him to the point of falling into a deep sleep. Darkness
covered the room but thousand of feathers fell over the sleeping
boy in the dream while the real one was sighing in relief to finally
have someone on his side.
Author notes: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you
noticed Duo's father is like a demon in his dreams and
apparently Duo's has a guardian angel protecting now.
Is it real or Duo's subconscious battling itself?
Continue reading and your questions will be answered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
comments so far? e-mail Sparky @ either:
Sparkysama4662@aol.com or dreamerisle@hotmail.com
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