JEALOUSY


Heero was running. To run: it always helped you to forget. To forget the war, to forget the battle, to forget your fear, and more, to forget your feelings. Like your jealousy, to forget Trowa and Quatre - it was because of them that he had to run... but it had got off to a bad start.

Each foot he put on the road, each exhalation, he thought of it. In his head, he again saw the same thing... He had leaned out of the window to call Trowa and Quatre, and there, on the terrace, where a setting sun brought an orange light, he saw... He saw them talking, he saw Trowa smiling, and then he saw him taking Quatre in his arms and kissing him on his blushing cheek. And he saw that kiss again and again and again...

Heero was still running. And the memory of the kiss was still there. Trowa's face as he leaned over, his lips that touched lightly Quatre's cheek, who closed his eyes because of pleasure. What had happened after? Rage. Fury. This strange feeling that gave him stomach cramps, and this pain to his heart. He had banged his fist against the window, and then slammed the door. He had to go. Had to go out of the house… and run.

Now he was here. He had been running for three hours; the sun had been setting for a long time, but for Heero, it still was the twilight, as the time had stopped at that second where a shiver of pleasure had climbed up Quatre's spinal column...

His steps always took him to the same place. And here he stopped, near the wood where Wing was hidden. To go nearer to it was dangerous. He always stopped in this clearing.

He dropped into the grass and contemplated the sky. A sky full of stars. And up there, there were the colonies. Those colonies that were the reason for his presence on Earth, and for Trowa's presence... Trowa who leans over, his lips... Stop it.


AND CONSEQUENCES


A familiar face. A familiar smile.

"Hi! I was sure to find you here. Quatre told me that you left banging the door. He was worried about you, so I told him I was going to search for you."

"Duo...go away," sighed Heero.

"Mmm, you're happy to see me," Duo said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "That makes me feel so glad, thanks..."

Frowning, Duo watched Heero more closely. He was stretched out on the grass, his eyes blank, fixed on the stars. Every assurance had vanished from his face. He seemed lost.

Duo sat down near him. He placed his hand on Heero's shoulder. At this contact, Heero quivered, grew tense, and then sat straight again. And then he was face to face with Duo.

Duo swallowed, unnerved by Heero's odd behaviour. "You know, if something is wrong, if you need to talk… I know, you're the "perfect soldier" but... well you see what I'm trying to say..."

Heero shivered, his attention on Duo's mouth. His lips formed words that he felt blow over his neck. He was so close that he could feel the warmth of Duo's body.

"You couldn't understand," he said, staring unerringly into the other pilot's violet eyes.

"I can try. Explain."

Duo waited for words that Heero never found. Moving quickly, he caught Duo by the scruff of the neck, holding firmly but gently. Then, without taking his eyes off him, Heero leaned over and put his lips against Duo's.

Heero felt his heart accelerate, and sweet warmth invaded him.

Then he stood up and left suddenly, leaving Duo in total confusion, incapable of moving.



REACTIONS


When Duo came home - to Quatre's house where the pilots were staying, waiting for their new missions - he went directly to Heero's room.

He didn't want to talk with him; in fact he hoped his friend was sleeping. He just wanted to see if Heero was back; his behaviour was more than strange, and Quatre was right to be worried.

He knocked at the door. No answer. Cautiously he half-opened the door.

The bedroom was in darkness. He groped his way to Heero's bed before letting out a sigh of relief. Heero was here, sleeping deeply. He hadn't changed his clothes, and was just stretched on the coverlet, his breathing slow and regular.

"I like him."

Duo listened to his breathing; and when his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he could see his friend.

In front of him was not the strained and controlled face from before. Before, when... He felt uneasy when his eyes stopped on Heero's lips. On those lips, so soft, and so firm...

Duo made an about-turn and went to his own room soon falling into a confused sleep.


When Heero woke up in the morning, he didn't open his eyes immediately.

It was the first night for some weeks he hadn't dreamt of Trowa. His eyelids still closed, he put a hand to his lips.

"Duo... What I have done?"