Ch. 3 Tension

Heero stormed out of the house as a mixture of anger and sorrow coursed through his body. He should have expected something like this to happen; it wasn't like he ever really "told" Duo how he felt; just naturally assumed that he knew. When did he even start to have feelings for the guy anyway? He had royally screwed things up this time and he wasn't sure if he could even fix it.

He was so deep in thought over the afternoon's events that he didn't see Zechs walking back towards the house. Heero walked right into him and almost sent them both crashing to the ground. Moving out of the way he started on his way when the voice stopped him.

"What, the perfect soldier doesn't have any manners." Came Zechs' voice.

Heero spun around to look at him face to face. His temper changed from angry to blind rage. This man had taken Duo, his Duo away and now acted as if were the most normal thing in the world to converse with the newly dumped ex back from war. Heero was not in a forgiving mood at the moment and wanted nothing to do with Duo's new fling.

He wasn't sure if it was energy pent up from his last mission or the fact that Zechs enraged him so much just by associating with Duo let alone dating him, but he snapped. Before the Marquise even knew what was going on Heero hit him square in the face sending him toppling over backwards. His whole body shook from the rage he felt towards the man and he had the sudden urge to shoot him. Instead, he managed to control himself enough to walk away. It wasn't Zechs fault for all of this, though it did feel good to hit him. No, he had no one to blame but himself and no one else could fix this mess for him. We wandered off aimlessly into the vast forest that surrounded the house.

(o)(o)(o)

Quatre couldn't take the tension any more; it was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Heero had reverted to his old ways with his emotionless mask on all the time. He rarely spoke except to acknowledge someone and half the time that was just a "hm". He hadn't eaten in at least a week and it was starting to show. Avoiding Duo had become some sort of mission of his. Once, when Duo was coming up the stairs, Heero jumped out the window and scaled down the trellis to avoid seeing him. There was a slight change in him, however, and Quatre wasn't sure if it was for the better, or worse. Heero no longer faced things head on any more, instead he chose to avoid confrontation every chance he got.

Duo, on the other hand, paraded around the house like Heero had never returned. He continued to see Zechs, which no one could fault him for, but he seemed to be rubbing it into Heero's face every chance he got. If he thought Heero might be watching, he would lavish Zechs with affection.

The subtle war that was being waged more or less by Duo was becoming an annoyance. Wufei had all but moved out, staying with Sally Po almost every day of the week. Trowa was threatening to find an apartment and drag Quatre off with him until things died down a little. They rarely spoke to one another and when they did, it all ways ended in an argument.

"Duo, you have to talk to him. This isn't working." Quatre said angrily at breakfast one morning. "It's been three weeks since Heero came back and you haven't said more than two words to the guy."

"Sure I have." Duo replied stuffing a piece of pancake in his mouth. "When he came back I said 'Hey Heero! You just get back?'"

Quatre glared at him but Duo just laughed it off. Quatre didn't scare him when he was angry. He was a kind, gentle person and always tried to help, in this case he was genuinely angry.

"Can't you see that he loves you Duo?"

"He sure does have an odd way of showing it by hitting Zechs."

"You don't get it do you? He could have killed him, but he chose to walk away. He only hit him out of jealousy."

"Then why doesn't he speak up about it?"

"Because that isn't who he is Duo and you know that."

"Well, he'll just have change then."

"You're so stubborn, the both of you!" Quatre yelled as he stormed out of the room to find Trowa.

Duo sat in the kitchen finishing his breakfast when Heero walked in. He noticed that Heero looked a little on the thin side, his face gaunt; he wondered about it. He said nothing as he watched Heero pour himself some coffee then leave the room, his face a blank mask. His stomach twisted with guilt. He shouldn't have flaunted his relationship with Zechs in Heero's face. Though he had strong feelings for Zechs, the emotional and physical attraction was much greater towards Heero.

He missed the nights he had spent curled up on Heero's chest sleeping. Or the way he ran his fingers through his hair in the morning to wake him up followed by gentle kisses along his collar bone. He had all ways been amazed at how gentle Heero could be when he want to. Those moments were few and far between and Duo had to relish every moment they had before another mission came in. That's when he took a back seat in Heero's life and became the second priority.

Zechs, on the other hand made him feel wanted, important. They went out in public and weren't afraid to show affection. He would drop what ever he was doing if Duo ever needed him. If they planned something, Zechs was sure to show up early so that he wouldn't miss anything. That's what he liked most about him; that he never ditched out on him like Heero always did. He felt loved and was happy, but not like he was with Heero.

(o)(o)(o)

Heero hadn't eaten in the past week and a half and the noises from his stomach were a testament to that. Food did not sound appealing at the moment as so often was the case. Depression had taken over some time during the second week after he returned. Duo constantly had Zechs over to show him how happy he was with someone else, which started his lack of interest in eating. He knew he had lost weight, he could see it in the mirror, but he didn't care. If he wasted away what would it matter?

He desperately wanted to tell Duo how he felt but couldn't bring himself to do it, that and the blonde god was always at Duo's side. Instead he worked endless hours at the Preventers office and took every assignment that came his way regardless of how petty it was. Anything that could get him out of the house and away from the nightmare he was living with every day.

Pushing open the kitchen door he saw Duo sitting at the table eating his breakfast and butterflies replaced his hunger pains. Duo lounged casually in his chair wearing only a pair of pants. His tanned chest exposed to the world. How he missed rubbing his hands down his chest and over his abs, making him moan with pleasure. Those days were gone now and Duo no longer wanted him. He poured himself a cup of coffee and headed back to his room.

The sight of Duo would be forever burned into his memory. It would be the last memory he had of him because he was leaving the house today and had no plans to return. He didn't exactly know where he was going, but it was going to be far away from Duo.

Returning to his room he set the coffee cup down and changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He then threw what little belongings he had into a bag and removed the gun from under his pillow, hiding it on himself in case he needed it. Heading down the hallway he didn't see Quatre who was also deep in thought and slammed into him.

"Sorry." Quatre mumbled, about to continue on when he noticed the bag Heero was carrying. "What's all that?"

"I'm moving out Quatre." Heero said sounding a little depressed.

"Where? You don't have any where to go." Quatre fumbled over the words, stunned that

Heero would leave the house to go who knows where.

"I don't know and at this point I really don't care. I can't take any more of Duo parading that blonde jerk in my face."

"Then why don't you do something about it?"

"I am, by moving out. Duo is obviously better off without me, so I'm going to let him move on with his life."

"That's not what I meant. Duo still has feelings for you he's just waiting for you to tell him." It was an endless cycle and Quatre couldn't seem to get out of it. He was constantly repeating the same things and neither one was listening to him.

"I shouldn't have to tell him, he should already know how I feel."

"Some times they just need to be heard."

Heero shrugged and continued down the stairs.

Quatre stood at the top of the stairs as he watched the Wing pilot disappear out the door. This was going to end and it was going to end now, even if he had to strangle both pilots to accomplish it.

(o)(o)(o)

Ok, I'm not sure how much I like this chapter, but it gets me to the next one which I have a great idea for. So if this one seems a little out in left field, I apologize. I may end up rewriting this one at a later date. Hope you enjoy this update.