Bizarre Love Triangle
Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You'll say the words that I can't say
Duo could not stop him. Heero barreled into him abruptly. His body slammed into Duo, sending him careening into the wall, sparing him from the volley of bullets. As Duo caught himself on the gritty brick wall of the alleyway he heard the bullets rip through his partner's chest, exploding through the flesh. A spray of blood speckled Duo's cheek. Stark fear uncoiled in him, instantly transforming to blind rage. He curtly pivoted; swiftly raising his 9mm. Duo's facial expression was deadpan as he aimed his gun, its barrel effortlessly aligning to the man fleeing. Rapid gunfire reverberated in the side street. Emptying his clip into Heero's assailant, it was overkill.
Heero had collapsed onto the asphalt, blood profusely seeping out from under his awkwardly crumpled body. Duo paled, the 9mm fell from his hand. The fear returned.
"Fuck! Heero!" Duo decried in a frenzied panic. Rushing to Heero's side, Duo retrieved his handheld transmitter from his jacket, yelling into receiver, "This is Agent Maxwell. We have an agent down! Repeat we have an agent down! We require emergency assistance immediately!"
Kneeling in the warm blood, he rashly pulled Heero from pavement. Duo held Heero in his arms, clinging to him, griping on to his blood-soaked jacket. Heero's head limply fell against Duo's shoulder, his breath was ragged and laboriously. Heero sluggishly angled his neck, gazing up at Duo through half-lidded eyes. Duo forced a weak smile, striving to control his body from shaking.
"Hold on Heero. C'mon buddy. You aren't going to die here--" Duo encouraged, his voice faltering, gripping Heero's arm tightly. Heero wheezed, sounding wet. Lethargically his mouth moved, but Duo could not hear any words. Desperately Duo searched the desolate alleyway, help was not sight.
There's no sense in telling me
The wisdom of a fool won't set you free
But that's the way that it goes
And it's what nobody knows
While every day my confusion grows
Duo sat in a chair adjacent to Heero's hospital bed in the ICU, still wearing blood. He had remained steadfast in the waiting room for the hours Heero had been in surgery, ignoring instructions to leave. Duo endured the entire night without sleep, vigilant over Heero. Plastic tubes were threaded into Heero's skin and nose, providing oxygen, blood, fluid, and morphine. The fluorescent light waxed over Heero's clammy complexion. . His stark pallor suggested how close death was, ready to steal what little life remained. Duo overstretched is hands, gingerly ensnaring Heero's hand in his, entwining his fingers with Heero's, which were limp and tepid.
He could never put his feelings for Heero into words. Fear and misgivings repressed Duo's affections for the man supine on the bed, barely alive. Despite disavowing the existence of God, his Catholic upbringing haunted him. Love, even being entrapped and countlessly denied, remained. Tears brimmed in his eyes, streaking his face; his grip tightened on Heero's listless hand. Duo lost everyone he had ever loved; he desperately hoped forsaking his love for Heero would keep him alive.
Memories unmercifully surged into his mind, consuming his thoughts. That warm summer night on Earth, twilight had smeared rich colors on the sky, rebelling before night fell. Duo and Heero had to endure Preventer Agent training, despite being skillful soldiers. Une demanded the former Gundam pilot complete the training regiment to form solidarity with their peers. It was futile, fellow agents either instantly revered or hated them. The day spent on skirmish tactics left Duo's muscles heavy. Leaving the military grounds, Heero suggested dinner. Duo had been so naïve, such a fool. He had not even contemplated why Heero insisted on paying the bill. After dinner, they had returned to Duo's room. Heero sat nonchalantly upon his bed's edge. Ignorantly, Duo sat at his side. Abrupt and headstrong, Heero's hand guided Duo's chin, urging Duo to face him, imposing a hungry kiss on Duo's lips. Duo blushed brightly and quickly recoiled, his breath ripped from his lungs. In an awkward panic he stammered Heero's name. Heero nonchalantly stood, and spoke low and steady, "I thought- never mind. I apologize." Duo sat agape upon the mattress, witnessing Heero exit. He could not muster the strength to ask Heero to stay. They had been seventeen.
Over three years had past, the situation was never addressed. Heero had become Duo's partner, and best friend. Now Duo was threatened with losing both, and the possibility of more. Morning light smeared over the outside glass of the window, unable to affect the harsh light of the hospital room. Duo's tears spattered on the linoleum flooring between his boots.
"Heero, you have to make it. I need to tell you something –" Duo's morose plea was interrupted
"Heero!" a young man burst into the room, rushing in, taking stance at the foot of the bed. Duo shamefully released Heero's hand and angrily stood, scraping the chair over the floor, glaring at the unknown male. Duo swiped his wet face roughly with the back of his hand. His height towered over the stranger, with ghostly pale blonde hair framing a boyish handsome face. The intruder's outfit consisted of absurd neon green sweat-shirt, ripped jeans, and dirty pink sneakers. Duo's glower overlooked the raw concern contorting his features.
"Who the hell are you?" Duo seethed while approaching the shorter male. The male's regard focused on Duo, studying him intently.
"You must be Duo." He spoke friendly. Duo's brow lifted in confusion. "I'm Heero's boyfriend, Stephen." He told Duo causally. But the words were sharp, piercing Duo, spurring immediate pangs of disbelief and jealousy.
"Boyfriend?" Duo spat his tone infuriated, his voice much too loud. Images cruelly flashed in Duo's head of Heero holding this man in his strong arms, kissing him firmly, fucking him until ecstasy. Stephen curiously studied Duo, his lips pouted in thought.
"I don't know why Heero didn't tell you … He told me all about you." Heero's boyfriend mused quietly. He took several steps towards Duo, undauntedly stretching to his hands to gently straighten Duo's jacket. Stephen calmly urged, "You look tired, hun. Go and get some rest. I'll watch over him."
"No!" Duo blurted out. His composure slowly ebbing back, "I want to stay." He stated lowly. Stephen took a step back, furrowing his brow, but an uneasy smile stretched over his mouth.
"Oh-- okay." Stephen replied quietly after initial hesitation. Backing away, he grabbed a chair to place at Heero's bedside on the opposite side of Duo's. Stephen leaned over Heero, softly placing a kiss on his brow. Duo could not hear the tender words murmured in Heero's ear, nor did he want to. Duo stubbornly took his seat, crossing his arms as he brooded. His mind was afire. How could Heero not tell him he was in a relationship? How could this random citizen have Heero's affection? He looked weak, he was skinny and frail. Duo silently scoffed at his flamboyant attire. He bitterly wondered how Stephen could connect to the pilot of Wing. Duo haphazardly concluded that Stephen could not or ever could, not like Duo could.
Time lapsed; an exhausted Duo could not perceive its passing. He had briefly succumbed to sleep. Duo flinched as he was awoken by a cup of coffee gently being urged into his hands. Quickly Duo surveyed his surroundings trying to learn how much time had slipped by. Duo gravely nodded to Heero's boyfriend, refusing to thank him. Sipping the hot liquid, Duo eyed the motionless body in the bed, no changes in his condition. Sullenly Duo witnessed Stephen coddle an unresponsive Heero for what seemed like hours. An intense hostility mounted in him, as he crushed the empty styrofoam cup. Duo perceived the clicking of heels approaching, and tensed. Relena entered the room, donning a large rose-hued overcoat.
"I came as soon as I heard." She announced, her voiced laden with concern. Stephen stood and walked to Relena, incredulously Duo watched them embrace tightly.
"He's going to be okay, Stephen." Relena delicately spoke, trying to inspire hope. Heero's boyfriend sadly mustered words to agree. Anger blanched Duo's features. Relena knew him when Duo did not? Duo was outraged, silently stewing his indignation. His trance of resentment was disrupted as Relena's hand gripped Duo's shoulder and kindly queried, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine." Duo answered detached, glaring at Heero's lover, hating his pretty face and blonde hair. He was in perfect health because Heero protected him. Duo relished in the idea momentarily, before the sharp reality surfaced that Heero would have probably safeguarded Relena and his fucking boyfriend too. Relena pulled a chair next to Stephen, hugging him, comforting him. Duo felt hopeless and alone.
Duo was outright determined to remain at Heero's side, ignoring Relena's gentle insisting he leave and rest. The window showcased daylight waning, night soon claimed victory over the sky. Hours crept by Duo's tired heavy eyes. He felt exceedingly numb, viewing Relena and the slender blonde male dozing awkwardly while seated. Disdain distorted his perception, warping their pristine and benign faces into something evil. The camaraderie he felt with the soldier in the bed paled to any affection they had for Heero, Duo believed this keenly.
Heero stirred. Alerted, Duo pitched forward in his seat, intently scrutinizing Heero's body. Slowly Heero peeled his lids back, idly focusing on his partner. Duo grinned stupidly and wide.
"Did you kill him?" Heero asked weakly, tensing his hand which wrist was punctured by several intravenous needles.
"Yeah" Duo paused before stoically affirming, "I did." Heero emitted a humming noise. Lethargically Heero's gaze fell upon Stephen and Relena, still sleeping soundly. A slight smile manifested upon Heero's chapped lips. A spasm of resentment washed over Duo.
"You are a fucking idiot. Don't try and rescue me again." Duo muttered in a tense whisper. Heero lifted his brow, studying Duo curiously. "Or I'll fucking kill you." Duo added wryly.
"You could not kill me." Heero uttered evenly and smugly.
"I'll kill you right now." Duo vainly threatened. Heero eyed Duo with skepticism, his gaze lingering upon Duo's face. Duo's lips curved into a smirk despite himself, he shook his head slightly.
"I did not want you to get hurt," he firmly averred to Duo.
"It was stupid." Duo spat, no matter how sentimental he felt. Heero stiffly nodded. Despite being elated that Heero gained consciousness, Duo could not stop the question spilling from his lips, asking "Why didn't you tell me?"
Heero closed his eyes for a moment, refocusing on Duo.
"I could not find the words." Heero murmured his confession. Duo emitted a heavy sigh. Digging his hand into his pant pocket, Duo produced a beaded necklace with a cross attached.
"I want you to have this." Duo whispered his tone wavering, faltering under heavy emotion. He carefully spun the marred aged rosary around Heero's wrist. Heero fingertips grazed wooden beads barely kept strung together. Solemnly Duo stood, sweeping his eyes over his partner, his best friend.
"I hope he makes you happy." Duo whispered detached. He turned towards the door, steadily making his exit.
"Duo-" Heero called out, his voice rousing Stephen and Relena. Duo did not yield, he proceeded to leave.
I feel fine and I feel good
I'm feeling like I never should
Whenever I get this way, I just don't know what to say
Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday
To Heather, happy birthday! Here's to all the days and hours we spent musing about Heero and Duo, passing notes in class, and laughing. XOXO
Lyrics from Bizarre Love Triangle, copyrighted by New Order.
At this point this story is completed, perhaps when I finish one of my other multi-part fanfiction I'll continue. Or if Heather badgers me into. Hah hah.
Because I am a whore for feedback, and do love the character of Stephen, I will continue this.