Worthless Game That Only Has Losers (Part 2)

"Not? Well." His uncertainty again. "I know you really angry, Dorothy. More than just the situation, I can feel you boiling inside about this. I'm trying to make this as easy as I can. That is bothering you though. You don't want me to coddle you, you just want something done. But? I can't do anything," he said. "You'll be angry and stressed with me no matter what."

Ugh. He was right about that, but it didn't make her feel any better.

"I knew I'd have to eventually tell you, so I tried to think of things to say," he admitted. "You weren't aiming to kill me, and you know enough that I was just injured. I'm not going to bring up Libra, I know you followed your own thoughts and feelings, and you feel like war actually brings-"

"It did! Eventually. People couldn't just roll over for Mariemaia." Hmph. That little phrase somehow made him happier. Why?

"I spent most of the time trying to retrieve the gundams. The preventors were fighting with theirs. You, though? Those people who stood in front of Mariemaia's residence and protested, were all brought there with a very large and familiar assembly of vehicles, all registered to you."

"So?"

"You never said your name to them. You just, got under their skin and made them fight for their freedom. Without weapons. Without anything. You did it in the right way. I'm glad you found your way through it all, Dorothy."

Oh. Gee, now she didn't know what to do with him feeling happy. "Yes, we are speaking of the past, but what is the point of all this?"

"I care more about how you helped with Mariemaia, more than you stabbing me."

Fine. He was just trying to get the past out of the way. "I understand the information now, Mister Quatre Raberba Winner." Still, they were not that close. "I will take the first guest bedroom you showed us too, thank you." She bowed lightly, turned and tried to leave. Her back was turned against him. She was almost there.

"Acting formal isn't going to change the fact your pregnant, Dorothy." His voice had to reach her ears. She didn't like that. While they hadn't been close, he had still affected her in the past. He'd seen into her, past even the depths she had known about herself. "Nor will it change that it's mine, and you are now in danger. This group does not kid around. You need to stay near."

In his room? "Like the winning prize out of a grab bag at a lovely birthday party?"

"You're not happy. I'm not either, but I couldn't have changed anything. You are mad at the wrong person," he insisted. "I know that you see that. For the innocent inside of you, you need to listen."

An innocent. An innocent within her. "While I am a decent lady, Mister Winner, I also know how to defend myself quite well."

"They don't come straight at you. It isn't a fight of hands and feet or guns or weapons of any kind," Quatre insisted. "They come in a way you least expect it. Besides, you're my responsibility too."

"Chivalry isn't needed for this moment, Mister Winner."

"How am I supposed to live with myself, knowing I let an innocent woman carrying my own child die? That's not chivalry, that's being human."

Damn it! This. Guy. She took a deep breath. He still made so much sense. She squeezed the dress she wore abruptly and turned back around to face him. "A fine point, Mister Winner. I won't leave your abode until anything is confirmed to be true or false."

His eyes were still lingering on her though. "You know, Miss Dorothy? I can't believe you actually managed to keep your hat on after all that running."

Miss Dorothy. That was better. "One of my finest hats."

"Your sunglasses too, Miss Dorothy," he offered again. "You'd think you would have taken those off by now."

Why? Why did he have to go and do that? Why did he have to know that? Not again. She didn't move as he strolled over and took off her sunglasses, making her feel like a fraud. That.

"You don't have to say anything. You don't have to do anything. You don't have to prove anything. You've done nothing wrong, and none of this is your fault."

She knew what was coming, but couldn't stop it. She took a step back, yet it happened anyhow.

He hugged her. "I'm not a gundam pilot anymore, I don't have my precious Sandrock, but I still want to protect the innocent."

"I don't want to be the innocent! I don't want to be the victim!"

"I know, but you are. Someone's hurting you, not because of what you've done, but because of something out of your control. I'm sorry."

"I hate this! This is absolute garbage!" Why'd he have to take off her glasses. "Why me, for you? What were they thinking?!"

"We just fit to them. I don't know why." He couldn't offer anything else.

"You're useless than, Quatre Raberba Winner!"

"I'm not demanding anything extravagant from you," Quatre assured her. "I just want to keep you safe. I'm just asking you to stay, and nothing more. If you do, I promise I'll give you everything I possibly can to keep you safe until we take down Revenge of the Lost."

Gaw! She wanted to scream that she wanted nothing to do with him, that she didn't want him bothering her and this baby later, but she didn't really know if she wanted any of that. She was too emotional to trust her own words.

One of those moments in life. Where you don't know what's right or what's wrong. Just stuck there with a man holding her, almost in desperation. Yet herself faring no better. She could watch herself as close as possible, but she knew Quatre was right. She was better off staying near him. Her chances of surviving this sickening twist were greater. Had it just been her, maybe she could think more clearly. But Quatre Winner called it right. An innocent. Not her though, this baby. If she died, then so did an innocent of no fault. No blame. No shame. No regret. No nothing. Fine. But? She would stay in her own style. "Ask me politely."

"Will you stay here where I can keep an eye on you, Miss Dorothy?"

There. "Fine."

"Will you follow me off the colonies when I get a chance to sneak you to Earth?"

Made sense. "Fine."

"Will you stay in my room with me, and share a bed?"

What was this obsession with bed sharing? Even Heero had it with Relena.

"Revenge of the Lost, although they aren't known to kill, they usually attack when someone is off guard. A simple injection could keep you from waking up the next morning, it seemed to be a favorite tactic in the past."

Oh. This group truly was ruthless. "Fine. Until it's safer, I will remain within your escorted presence." Yes, that did feel better. "It's best to do what I can to survive. Who knows if I can contribute someday to make a difference in the world?"

Quatre let her go. "A very fine line of thought, Miss Dorothy. We all have to survive, to stop this enemy."