Til' death do us part
By Akemi Maxwell, standard disclaimers apply
10/11/03
~
Duo held the needle to his arm. His heart raced and it was as if he could hear his own heartbeat. His eyes twitched, and his grip on the needle tightened. His body trembled. Why was he shaking?
~
Three months earlier: A.C. 197
"Duo, do you want to' come over to my place after school?" Quatre smiled waving over to the ex-pilot.
"Sorry, I have loads of homework, maybe some other time, k?" Duo patted the blonde on the shoulder, "You know how it is around here."
"Yeah, I guess so, see ya' later!" Quatre jogged across the street, looking both ways.
Duo watched for a while before stuffing a hand in his pocket and continuing down the sidewalk. He listened to the voices of fellow students walking home from school. Buses drove by, the choking exhaust emitting from the rear. As he passed the plaza, one store after another, he watched kids scurry into a comic store. He smiled momentarily and entered too.
After five minutes, Duo continued now reading his manga. He tried to watch where he was going, how fast and read the book at the same time. "Oof!"
"Oh, I'm sorry sir I-" Duo cut himself off and blinked, "Heero?"
"Yeah?" Heero glanced back at Duo with a nonchalant look. He seemed to be watching a channel on one of the TVs in the window of an electronic store.
"Um, nothing, see you when you make it home," without giving him another look, Duo continued on home. He had meant to ask Heero what he was doing, to start a conversation, but he knew better than anyone that that wouldn't happen. If it had been a question about war, machinery or electronics, Heero would've been interested. There was no use just asking for the time.
Duo tossed his books onto his bed, "Another day accomplished," he said with a sigh. He kicked off his shoes and sprawled over his bed, "So much to do. I wish it would just all disappear."
Half an hour later, Heero returned to his home, an apartment just above Duo's. Duo had insisted that they share an apartment, but Heero had made his mind up. Somehow Duo could see them sharing an apartment anyway.
Duo grabbed a broom and jabbed the ceiling of his bathroom, which, in Heero's apartment, would be where Heero's computer desk was located, "Come help with my homework!"
A faint 'screw you!' emitted from above.
"Bitch," Duo spat before grabbing the books off his bed and leaving his apartment. He climbed the stairs to the rooms above, muttering under his breath.
He knocked quickly on Heero's door. Twenty seconds passed and not even the patter of feet could be heard. Duo growled and rapped hard on the door this time. Finally the pitter-patter of angry feet could be heard approaching. Heero opened the door, "What the hell's wrong with you!? Get your ass inside!" were Heero's first words, "Beatin' on my damn door like it's a god damn-" Heero muttered as if he didn't know what to say next.
Duo plopped down on the end of Heero's bed, flipping through his textbooks for the right page, "Here."
Heero inspected the problem, "Why is this hard for you? I'm already finished and I got home an hour after you."
"Well, I took a nap! School is stressful and I need time for myself, unlike you!" Duo retorted, "I do hope that you're not trying to call me 'retarded', I'll kick your ass!"
"Calm down," Heero said and began to explain the problem.
Later on that night Duo crawled into his bed, ready for a night of well- deserved rest. He grabbed his broom and jabbed the ceiling again, "Goodnight, bitch!"
"Screw you," came back from the ceiling.
Duo stayed awake for a few hours, thinking. He wanted his life right where it is now. He wanted time to stay still. As he closed his eyes to sleep, he would have never guessed his fate . . .
~
A few days later:
"This will calm you down," The man said, giving the bottle to Duo.
"Are you sure this stuff won't mess me up?" Duo looked at the red liquid inside.
"It's just aroma therapy," The man smiled, "You've never seen this stuff in stores? I'm just selling it for cheap!"
Duo somehow doubted this, but he was willing to give it a try. ~
One month later:
Duo coughed up blood and spat it onto the black top.
"C'mon! You said you'd prove you're a man! Stupid faggot!" The boy kicked Duo over.
Duo held his ribs and slowly stood up. His body was weak, but not from this fight. It was something much worse.
"Stop fooling around and listen to yourself! What makes you think something like this is worth fighting over?" Duo wiped blood from his mouth.
The boy's friends laughed, "It doesn't matter, this is fun!"
"You bastards!" Duo braced himself as a punch came flying at him.
Nothing happened. Duo opened one eye, then both, "Heero!"
Heero was standing in front of Duo, blocking the boy's fist with one hand, "What do you think you are doing?"
"That's none of your business, dickhead!" The boy growled through clenched teeth.
Heero squeezed the boy's fist until bones popped and cracked, "You should reconsider."
By then the boy was screaming and trying to free himself from Heero's strong grasp. Heero released his grip and together, the boys took off, not looking back.
Heero turned to Duo, "You okay?"
Duo's left eye would not open, and he guessed it was black. His ribs and left leg screamed murder as well.
Heero didn't wait for an answer, and seeing Duo raise his hurt leg, he moved to that side and put Duo's arm around his shoulders, steadying him. He watched Duo's feet as he began to walk, "What happened, I thought you could take people like this."
"Hey, I haven't been to well these days," Duo croaked.
Heero lay Duo down on his bed. He removed Duo's shoes and coat, placing them on a chair next to Duo's desk. Heero left shortly to retrieve a first aid kit from his apartment, returning with the kit already open and the correct tools in his hand. He felt along Duo's left leg until Duo whimpered. He placed a bag of ice on Duo's eye, before moving to Duo's chest. He lifted up Duo's shirt and instantly saw the blue and purple blotches. He gingerly pressed his palm on them. Duo's breath came short. Heero confirmed his suspicions, "Cracked," he searched the room for a closet and returning with a big blanket, "Don't do anything harsh for the next several weeks."
Duo simply nodded and held the iced pack to his eye, "Thank you, you're a true friend, bud."
Heero just shrug with a little shyness in his face and left.
Twenty minutes after Heero left, Duo reached under his bed and retrieved a bottle, "Type S," he whispered to himself, "Sinnomon," He held up a lighter, lighting it. He sprinkled a drop of the liquid onto the flame and it turned red. He let the sweet scent control his thoughts, "Yes," Duo smiled, "Take away my doubts and pain."
~
Seven weeks later:
"Another D-," Duo sighed crinkling up his paper. The bell rang and he tossed it into the trash before leaving the room.
"Maybe," Heero said, catching up to him, "If you studied and did your homework, you'd get better grades."
"That's none of your concern," Duo muttered rubbing his eyes.
"Are you okay? You haven't been looking to healthy lately," A voice emitted from a body behind him.
"You too, Quatre?" Duo sighed.
"It's true," Heero said with a little 'I told you so' tune to it.
"You don't have to worry about me, I'm fine," Duo stuffed his hands in his pockets and lumbered off.
Heero and Quatre watched Duo turn the corner, "Something's not right," Quatre held his breath, not wanting to think about it.
"Yeah," Heero said in his monotone voice, "And I'm going to find out what it is."
At six Heero returned to check up on Duo. For the past few weeks, Duo hasn't been jabbing the ceiling with his broom, a sign of emotional withdrawal.
Duo was sleeping when Heero arrived. This didn't set Heero back one bit. Duo's black eye had healed, and the leg was still a bit bruised, but Heero was still looking after the ribs. Heero pressed down on the rib cage with the palm of his hand, and Duo still came short of breath, but held it for a shorter time. The ribs would be fine in a few weeks.
Heero noticed the paleness in Duo's face. Heero was convinced it wasn't lack of sleep, for Duo was sleeping at that very moment. Perhaps Duo wasn't eating enough.
Heero left Duo's apartment, going back to his own, thinking about the possibilities. Duo was always stressed over school. Maybe it is lack of sleep after all.
~
Next chapter:
"More Type S . . .please!"
"Where did you get this!?"
"Call an ambulance!"
"Living in a dream is much more fun."
Chapter two: The meaning of Death
By Akemi Maxwell, standard disclaimers apply
10/11/03
~
Duo held the needle to his arm. His heart raced and it was as if he could hear his own heartbeat. His eyes twitched, and his grip on the needle tightened. His body trembled. Why was he shaking?
~
Three months earlier: A.C. 197
"Duo, do you want to' come over to my place after school?" Quatre smiled waving over to the ex-pilot.
"Sorry, I have loads of homework, maybe some other time, k?" Duo patted the blonde on the shoulder, "You know how it is around here."
"Yeah, I guess so, see ya' later!" Quatre jogged across the street, looking both ways.
Duo watched for a while before stuffing a hand in his pocket and continuing down the sidewalk. He listened to the voices of fellow students walking home from school. Buses drove by, the choking exhaust emitting from the rear. As he passed the plaza, one store after another, he watched kids scurry into a comic store. He smiled momentarily and entered too.
After five minutes, Duo continued now reading his manga. He tried to watch where he was going, how fast and read the book at the same time. "Oof!"
"Oh, I'm sorry sir I-" Duo cut himself off and blinked, "Heero?"
"Yeah?" Heero glanced back at Duo with a nonchalant look. He seemed to be watching a channel on one of the TVs in the window of an electronic store.
"Um, nothing, see you when you make it home," without giving him another look, Duo continued on home. He had meant to ask Heero what he was doing, to start a conversation, but he knew better than anyone that that wouldn't happen. If it had been a question about war, machinery or electronics, Heero would've been interested. There was no use just asking for the time.
Duo tossed his books onto his bed, "Another day accomplished," he said with a sigh. He kicked off his shoes and sprawled over his bed, "So much to do. I wish it would just all disappear."
Half an hour later, Heero returned to his home, an apartment just above Duo's. Duo had insisted that they share an apartment, but Heero had made his mind up. Somehow Duo could see them sharing an apartment anyway.
Duo grabbed a broom and jabbed the ceiling of his bathroom, which, in Heero's apartment, would be where Heero's computer desk was located, "Come help with my homework!"
A faint 'screw you!' emitted from above.
"Bitch," Duo spat before grabbing the books off his bed and leaving his apartment. He climbed the stairs to the rooms above, muttering under his breath.
He knocked quickly on Heero's door. Twenty seconds passed and not even the patter of feet could be heard. Duo growled and rapped hard on the door this time. Finally the pitter-patter of angry feet could be heard approaching. Heero opened the door, "What the hell's wrong with you!? Get your ass inside!" were Heero's first words, "Beatin' on my damn door like it's a god damn-" Heero muttered as if he didn't know what to say next.
Duo plopped down on the end of Heero's bed, flipping through his textbooks for the right page, "Here."
Heero inspected the problem, "Why is this hard for you? I'm already finished and I got home an hour after you."
"Well, I took a nap! School is stressful and I need time for myself, unlike you!" Duo retorted, "I do hope that you're not trying to call me 'retarded', I'll kick your ass!"
"Calm down," Heero said and began to explain the problem.
Later on that night Duo crawled into his bed, ready for a night of well- deserved rest. He grabbed his broom and jabbed the ceiling again, "Goodnight, bitch!"
"Screw you," came back from the ceiling.
Duo stayed awake for a few hours, thinking. He wanted his life right where it is now. He wanted time to stay still. As he closed his eyes to sleep, he would have never guessed his fate . . .
~
A few days later:
"This will calm you down," The man said, giving the bottle to Duo.
"Are you sure this stuff won't mess me up?" Duo looked at the red liquid inside.
"It's just aroma therapy," The man smiled, "You've never seen this stuff in stores? I'm just selling it for cheap!"
Duo somehow doubted this, but he was willing to give it a try. ~
One month later:
Duo coughed up blood and spat it onto the black top.
"C'mon! You said you'd prove you're a man! Stupid faggot!" The boy kicked Duo over.
Duo held his ribs and slowly stood up. His body was weak, but not from this fight. It was something much worse.
"Stop fooling around and listen to yourself! What makes you think something like this is worth fighting over?" Duo wiped blood from his mouth.
The boy's friends laughed, "It doesn't matter, this is fun!"
"You bastards!" Duo braced himself as a punch came flying at him.
Nothing happened. Duo opened one eye, then both, "Heero!"
Heero was standing in front of Duo, blocking the boy's fist with one hand, "What do you think you are doing?"
"That's none of your business, dickhead!" The boy growled through clenched teeth.
Heero squeezed the boy's fist until bones popped and cracked, "You should reconsider."
By then the boy was screaming and trying to free himself from Heero's strong grasp. Heero released his grip and together, the boys took off, not looking back.
Heero turned to Duo, "You okay?"
Duo's left eye would not open, and he guessed it was black. His ribs and left leg screamed murder as well.
Heero didn't wait for an answer, and seeing Duo raise his hurt leg, he moved to that side and put Duo's arm around his shoulders, steadying him. He watched Duo's feet as he began to walk, "What happened, I thought you could take people like this."
"Hey, I haven't been to well these days," Duo croaked.
Heero lay Duo down on his bed. He removed Duo's shoes and coat, placing them on a chair next to Duo's desk. Heero left shortly to retrieve a first aid kit from his apartment, returning with the kit already open and the correct tools in his hand. He felt along Duo's left leg until Duo whimpered. He placed a bag of ice on Duo's eye, before moving to Duo's chest. He lifted up Duo's shirt and instantly saw the blue and purple blotches. He gingerly pressed his palm on them. Duo's breath came short. Heero confirmed his suspicions, "Cracked," he searched the room for a closet and returning with a big blanket, "Don't do anything harsh for the next several weeks."
Duo simply nodded and held the iced pack to his eye, "Thank you, you're a true friend, bud."
Heero just shrug with a little shyness in his face and left.
Twenty minutes after Heero left, Duo reached under his bed and retrieved a bottle, "Type S," he whispered to himself, "Sinnomon," He held up a lighter, lighting it. He sprinkled a drop of the liquid onto the flame and it turned red. He let the sweet scent control his thoughts, "Yes," Duo smiled, "Take away my doubts and pain."
~
Seven weeks later:
"Another D-," Duo sighed crinkling up his paper. The bell rang and he tossed it into the trash before leaving the room.
"Maybe," Heero said, catching up to him, "If you studied and did your homework, you'd get better grades."
"That's none of your concern," Duo muttered rubbing his eyes.
"Are you okay? You haven't been looking to healthy lately," A voice emitted from a body behind him.
"You too, Quatre?" Duo sighed.
"It's true," Heero said with a little 'I told you so' tune to it.
"You don't have to worry about me, I'm fine," Duo stuffed his hands in his pockets and lumbered off.
Heero and Quatre watched Duo turn the corner, "Something's not right," Quatre held his breath, not wanting to think about it.
"Yeah," Heero said in his monotone voice, "And I'm going to find out what it is."
At six Heero returned to check up on Duo. For the past few weeks, Duo hasn't been jabbing the ceiling with his broom, a sign of emotional withdrawal.
Duo was sleeping when Heero arrived. This didn't set Heero back one bit. Duo's black eye had healed, and the leg was still a bit bruised, but Heero was still looking after the ribs. Heero pressed down on the rib cage with the palm of his hand, and Duo still came short of breath, but held it for a shorter time. The ribs would be fine in a few weeks.
Heero noticed the paleness in Duo's face. Heero was convinced it wasn't lack of sleep, for Duo was sleeping at that very moment. Perhaps Duo wasn't eating enough.
Heero left Duo's apartment, going back to his own, thinking about the possibilities. Duo was always stressed over school. Maybe it is lack of sleep after all.
~
Next chapter:
"More Type S . . .please!"
"Where did you get this!?"
"Call an ambulance!"
"Living in a dream is much more fun."
Chapter two: The meaning of Death
