Author's Note: Ha! Another one finished, I'm not entirely happy with the ending and I didn't write a lemon for it but I think it ended respectably. It's been sort of sitting around gathering dust so to speak, so it feels nice to get it done and out of the way be posting more of it as the week gets on.
Just a Love Song
Game 7 - Noses and Breaks
Duo was whistling happily, a bounce in his step heading for home. It had been two days since the auspicious first date, and the memory made him somehow both cringing and smile. He sometimes wished that things where like the romance movies he sometimes secretly watched on TV when they where on. Where things seemed to come together, long lost loves rekindled…"Dare to dream Duo." He muttered to himself as he all but jumped up his stairs to his apartment still whistling, the tune trailing off as he saw what was sitting outside his door. It was a box, a box that was moving. A dark eyebrow lifted looking at the small shaking box, he moved closer hearing a plaintive meow issuing from inside it.
A small card was tucked between the flaps, he pulled if out picking up the box and moving inside his apartment he set it down carefully on the counter. He opened the flaps to revel a very fluffy black and white cat. A small purple ribbon was tied around it's neck, and he playfully batted at fingers as he gently fluffed the cats ears. He read the card, done in a loopy long hand he recognized. He smiled a little at Heero's note,
Duo,
I am so sorry about the other night, wanted to get you something as an apology.
Sincerely,
Heero
Duo lifted the fluffy cat out looking at the playful face, bright green eyes white chin, and bib, he looked like he was wearing a black coat that was unzipped. He looked at the note and the cat, wondering what had made him send the gift. He smiled as the curious cat purred as he pet it, surprised as a sudden sneeze caught him unawares. Blinking he felt his eyes begin to water, wiping them away he set the cat down letting him wander as he sneezed again wondering what was wrong with him.
-#-#-#-
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Trowa was looking at Duo with something akin to horror. The man looked terrible, his eyes where swollen and red he was sneezing, his nose was also swollen and red. "I think I'm allergic to the cat," he mumbled sounding like his head was full of cotton. It was evening and they where sitting on the bench post soccer game, which Duo had had a hell of time. "What cat?" Trowa asked feeling the first fingers of unease creep up his back. "The one Heero sent me," he mumbled wiping at his streaming nose. Trowa groaned as he stood helping Duo to stand, "Come on we'll get you some anti-histamines, and I'll take the cat." Wiping his streaming eyes Duo nodded thankfully, following his friend off the field.
It was an hour later when Trowa returned to the house cradling the small furry body under one arm. "Trowa that you? Where you been?" Quatre called out rounding the corner to the front entryway. He paused taking in the scene before him, eyes widening looking at the kitten cradled under his arm. Heero hearing the blonde call out came from the direction of the living room. "What are you doing with Duo's cat?" he blurted out rather bewildered. Trowa sighed looking down at the cute fluffy face, "Duo is apparently very allergic to cats." He said rolling green eyes upwards recalling the battle he'd had with the man as he tried to take the cat away.
Heero's face went from bewildered to surprised, finally settling on sadness. "Oh no…" Quatre muttered looking rather stricken. "It's my fault, I had no idea." Heero moaned sadly as the now freed cat wandered over to twine about his feet. "Well Duo had no idea either if it makes you feel better, I had to take the cat his eyes where all puffy and running. So was his nose, his head full of cotton, he struggled through the game tonight was having breathing issues." The tall man was kicking off his runners feeling a smile tug at his lips, despite Heero's stricken look and Quatre's moaning it was all sort of hilarious. Careful to keep his face neutral he turned back to Heero, "He says he's really sorry but he can't keep the cat…" that hadn't been what he said at all. He had said he was keeping the damn cat, because it was a gift from Heero.
It didn't matter at all that he could barely breathe and his face was all swollen up. Trowa didn't know what was worse though as he settled in the living room listening as Quatre and Heero spoke quietly in the hall, the fact his best friend had been willing to suffer that because of something Heero had got him; or that said kitten was curling contentedly beside him purring loudly.
Heero was almost beside himself, he was two for two in terrible ideas. Even as Quatre assured him there was no way they could have known he was allergic, he couldn't help feeling that once again it was his fault. "Really Heero, it's a minor setback we have other options." The shaggy headed man perked up at that, "Really?" the blonde was smiling widely now as he drew out an envelope, "There's a baseball game Friday night and I got prime seats right down on the green." Heero looked at him frowning, "I know it sounds boring but Trowa and Duo love sporting events so he should really enjoy that."
Heero accepted the envelope with a grateful smile, "Thank you Quatre, you're a life saver." The other nodded, "Well I don't think you can get into to much trouble at a ball game." He said with gentle good teasing making the other chuckle. "Don't worry things will get better." He threw an arm around the other and steered them towards the living room to join Trowa and his new found friend.
-#-#-#-
"Wow Heero these are prime seats!" Violet eyes sparkled in happiness he was feeling much better tonight, after three days of antihistamines, red puffy eyes, and runny nose he was doing much better. He had been more put out with the fact he couldn't keep the cat his one and only gift from Heero. But soon after Heero had called him apologizing and asking if he could make it up to him by taking him to a baseball game.
"Glad you like them," his companion was wearing large dark glasses, as well as a borrowed ball cap from Duo. He had put it on him after there last debacle of their date. Things where looking up though no one had recognized him, they where sitting in awesome seats, and Duo had nachos. Life was as good as could be.
It was the bottom of the sixth and despite being bored out of his tree Heero felt like they where finally having a good time together. Duo was very much into the game jumping up when the home team got a run. Duo had explained the game to him but he was still a little confused sports had not really been a thing with him. Still it was a beautifully clear night, and the crowd was having a great time and Heero soon found himself rooting for the home team.
The third out came they cheered; and Duo wrapped an arm around Heero pulling him close to his side. Excited by the turn of events Heero felt his heart rate speed up, his adrenaline already pumping from the game Duo turned to him a wide grin on his face Heero was staring at his lips through the dark glasses. He vaguely heard the crack of the bat, the crowed was on its feet, but Heero had eyes for only Duo. He leaned up moving closer, there lips inch's apart when a yell of "Look out!" and Duo snapped his head around in time to see a small white orb traveling at high velocity. There was a crack, Duo's head whipped back and forward again the ball settling in his lap. The crowd gave a sympathic "Oooh!" Heero reached out grabbing Duo, "Oh my god Heero are you ok?" He cried, violet eyes looked at him through a film of water, he fingers cupped over his nose even as he felt the warm wetness drip through his fingers.
"No Heero, I believe I broke my nose," he mumbled as he pulled his hands away watching the blood soak his shirt and splatter onto the white leather of the ball. Heero looked stricken, Duo's nose was definitely not sitting straight anymore.
-#-#-#-
Trowa was dozing in his favorite armchair in the living room, the one that Quatre was consistently threatening to throw away but never seemed to have the heart too. After all a man's easy chair was his kingdom, and he had this one he had finally molded to himself. He'd been watching the soccer game on dozing the small furry body of his now cat resting warm on his chest. The banging of the front door and the muffled footfalls that went up the stairs, followed but a "Heero wait!" but Trowa could tell without opening his eyes that Heero had gone into his room slamming the door just as well as he knew that Duo had called after him.
There was a great sigh, followed by a soft "Ouch," sharp ears listened as the footfalls where headed back to the door. He was wondering if he should call out when the steps paused noticing the glare from the TV. "Trowa?" green eyes finally opened wondering why his voice sounded so weird. "So how'd the date go?" Duo flopped down on the couch wincing as the sitting jarred his nose, "Was a bust…again….spent the last three hours in the emergency room." Trowa sat up a little straighter, "You or him?" the lanky man smiled "Me, broke my nose." There was what he assumed was muffled laugh, "How'd you manage that one, O'graceful one?'
"Big words for a man with a kitten on his chest."
"Shut up and tell me or I'll give him back and you can swell up and look like a tomato."
"Well can't breath out my nose so doesn't really matter does it?" there was a non-committal grunt from the chair. "Got clocked with a homerun ball at a 100 km an hour." Trowa winced, "Brutal."
"Worse part is I think Heero blames himself, he sat with me in the hospital then insisted I come spend the night so someone could keep an eye on me." Trowa laughed heartily this time dislodging the cat, who looked at him with a weary eye before settling on the raised footrest instead.
"Wow you guys are like the worst couple ever," Trowa was still grinning Duo shot him a look, "We aren't even a couple, just rotten luck so far is all. I don't blame Heero though." Picking the cat up he pushed the extension down. Tossing the remote to him he headed upstairs, "Don't stay up to late," he was almost out of ear shot when he called out "Take the damn pain killers Duo, don't try and tough it out." Duo grunted an affirmative and the other was gone.
Duo reached up gingerly touching his nose. The doctors had reset it, and got the bleeding stopped, and stitched up the gash, he could feel the bandage and the swelling. He knew he'd have two shiners in the morning and that made him wince all the more. His eyes rolled towards the ceiling where he knew Heero was. He worried his lip wondering if he should go up there and make sure he understood that he did not hold him responsible in the slightest. Sighing he moved closer to the TV his glasses at home and it was time for the latest episode of Gundam.
He listened as the theme song played, grinning at Heero's voice as he sung the song that had catapulted him to fame in Japan. As it faded out the scene faded in and he was looking at the bedroom of some new house of some sort the figures that where sprawled on the bed however; where of more interest to him at the moment. The figures where moaning and twisting in the sheets, the one that was supposed to be him was what he had learned was considered a 'top' or in the world of yaoi anime a 'semi' and the Heero character was considered a 'bottom' or a 'uke'. It made him wonder if something like that was to actually occur in real life…he smiled a little to himself. "For now I dream," he muttered to himself as he watched the scene feeling his own rather straining erection, aching to be touched.
The him in the show was sitting up now the slim figure on his lap riding him with abandon. "The war would have been a lot more tolerable if I was doing that every night in the safe house." The scene ended several minutes later, the plot progressing currently 01 and 02 where at a school on mission secretly. The first mission together since their mutual feelings expressed. The plot of the episode revolved around them mixing business and pleasure, in doing so Heero was wounded badly, well the character that was Heero. The episode ended with a to be continued as his character sat over the injured teen on the bed. A bitter promise was made to walk away to forever protect his lover. The credits rolled, Duo stood turning off the TV and heading up to his room, the one that Quatre always had for him.
Stretching out in bed he stared up at the dark ceiling thinking over the days events. Even though the days events had ended up with him breaking his nose, he'd been abut to kiss Heero. The thought made him grin in the dark, for now though it was time to sleep tomorrow was after all another day.
Across the hall way in a similar room Heero was laying in the dark staring at his bedside table where he now blood stained baseball sat. He had rescued it unable to let it go after all it had been there date. He sighed turning over in bed , his eyes wandering over the ceiling and deep in thought. It was maybe time to move on to another part of Quatre's recommendation. He felt himself becoming resolute, after all how much trouble can he get in with the plan to seduce Duo?
TBC…
