Disclaimers: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing nor it's characters. Merely borrowing them for a little torture.
Warnings: Shounen-ai, OOCs, angst (I think)
A/N: Gomen, gomen, gomen, gomen. I had been having some problems (read: lazy bones) and I am only updating now. Sooooooooooooo… sorry. For all of you that read, reviewed and waited, this is dedicated to all of you. Muahz… loves you all! ^^*
On with the story.
Life Altering Decisions
Part 7
Duo lapsed into a sort of drowse. He was tired but he was also abuzz with questions that crowded around in his mind, and that refused to allow him to fully knock off into la la land. He dosed for a while but he found himself waking up soon after. He also needed a nice little dose of pain reducers before he was reduced to a pile of convulsing mass. It's not that he couldn't take the pain, but after years of complacency, he just wasn't the soldier he was trained to be anymore. He had left that far behind when he decided to leave the guys and the Preventors and go to school.
Soon his body started to make a fuss about the pain and he was pushed further into consciousness. He wasn't very much aware of his surroundings, but heard faint sounds of conversation. His still groggy mind could make out Heero's voice and someone else's. Heero was talking to someone, it was hushed but it filtered to Duo's ears slowly.
"…that you weren't with Sally." That was Heero, Duo recognised, his mind becoming almost fully awake now, and the pain becoming an increasing annoyance.
Sally? Wufei? Heero was talking to Wufei? Could it be him? He worked to breathe evenly, not wanting to give away the fact he was wide awake and finally getting some answers that Heero refused him. Well, maybe some answers, the rest was just plain old curiosity.
"He left because of me, didn't he? I chased him away." Damn, it was Wufei. Duo would have crowed in victory if 1) it wouldn't have given him away and 2) he had the strength to do so. Wufei had so much hurt in his voice, so much pain and shame. Duo felt his heart clench for him. He wanted to cry out that Wufei didn't cause his running away. It was all of Duo's fault and cowardice.
He heard Heero sigh and then silence for a while. "That was part of it, true, but I guessed he had wanted something like that for a long time now. Something normal. Something that a guy our age would do," Heero made a soft sound before qualifying the statement. "Okay, so maybe going to college at MIT at seventeen wasn't exactly normal."
Shit, did everyone think his leaving was Wufei's fault… wait a minute, Wufei wasn't with Dr Sally Po?
"……to make things right with him," Wufei was saying, his voice filled with determined conviction. "And it's not because of some misplaced guilt. Yes, that's there, but I've wanted this for as long as I've know Duo. I've always loved him. I always thought he was taken and…"
Duo's mind did his famous 'What the hell' flip. Did Wufei just say he loved Duo? Was this another one of his crazy dreams? The ones where Wufei was always around, where he looked at Duo with all the love in the world shining in those dark eyes? So, it was not a dream? Not something his imagination cooked up because he wanted it so bad? Because even after three years, he couldn't forget Chang Wufei? He heart swelled as a lump formed in his throat. He bit back a soft sob that threatened. It was a blessed lifting of the pain in his heart, a pain that he didn't even know was there all this time. He wanted very much to open his eyes right now and…
"I was an ass, I never though Duo would love me like…"
Oh my God, Duo thought horrified. Did he, in some delirium confess to Wufei? Oh shit. What other things did he say to the Chinese? That he liked looking at his ass?? Through this time he was aware of someone checking him over carefully, fiddling with IV and taking his temperature.
Silence, why was there a tense silence? It was the kind that awoke the soldier inside in all of them. The hands on him stilled as well.
Then Heero yelled. "Who the hell are you?"
Instinctively, Duo's eyes snapped open as he saw the nurse inject something into his IV line. Without really thinking about it and unsure where he got the strength to do it, his free hand came up and ripped off his IV, an arc of crimson flowing out in its wake. Levering himself up on one shoulder, he gripped the woman's hand tightly and squeezed.
"What did you just do?" Duo asked menacingly, violet orbs narrowed.
"Duo, are you alright?" Wufei asked frantically, rushing over while Heero grab hold of the woman was who was now struggling uselessly against the Perfect Soldier's superior strength.
Two men Duo didn't recognise burst into the room. The American found himself trying to sit despite the painful pull on his wound and tried to protect himself. One woman he could still put up a good fight, but with two burly men like the ones who barged in, he felt completely helpless. He felt himself toppling over the edge of the bed before he completed the manoeuvre.
"Shit," Wufei cursed, catching Duo before he fell off the bed. "Get this woman out of here!" He ordered the two burly men that burst in. He clamped his hand over Duo's bleeding vein while trying to shift him back onto the bed without hurting him further. Judging by the tense lines around the American's mouth and eyes he was hurting badly as it is. "And get a doctor in here," he called to Heero, who was dragging the now fearful and almost blubbering nurse out the door.
"'Fei," Duo whispered, safe in Wufei's arms as the Chinese man tried to move him back onto the bed.
"Shit, Duo, did she hurt you?" Wufei asked worriedly, checking the injured man over, making sure the stitches were not pulled open.
"'Fei," Duo repeated softly, making sure the Chinese had to bent down close to him to listen.
"What Duo?" Wufei asked, just as softly, looking deeply into Duo's amethyst eyes and was surprised at the lucidity there.
Making up his mind, Duo stretched up the small distance it took to reach Wufei and gently brought their lips together. Wufei gasped at the contact and made to pull away. Not wanting to lose this precious contact, Duo followed Wufei, keeping their lips together. Their breaths mingle as Wufei finally relaxed against Duo's soft lips, his hand cupping the curve of the American's neck to support him and lowered him back onto the pillow. This was exactly how Duo dreamt it would be, lips firm and soft, sweet and passionate. This was exactly how Duo imagined Wufei would taste, would feel like. They teased each other, knowing that they couldn't go very far. At least, not right now.
It was Wufei who ended the kiss, albeit regretfully. At first he thought he had hurt Duo but the injured man was almost asleep with a small goofy smile on his face that spoke strongly of satisfaction. Wufei found an answering smile on his own lips as he rubbed his thumb across Duo's slightly swollen lips. It felt… good, more than good, it felt… right. It was as if he had finally found something he had lost for a long time and he didn't even know he had lost it. Abruptly, he realised what exactly it was that he lost - his poor tattered heart to a loud mouth, braided American Gundam pilot who had kept it safe all those years. Years later, Wufei would always be glad Duo decided that pussy footing around each other would be a complete waste of time and made the first move.
Duo had made the first move, now, it was time for Wufei to make the second one.
Wufei was unwilling to move too far from Duo, and kept stroking his cheek, pleased with the way the American turned into his touch instinctively. Besides, he had to keep pressure on the vein where Duo had carelessly ripped out the IV and…
A polite cough caused Wufei to jump. Only one person could sneak up to him like that without making a sound.
"Yuy, is the doctor coming?" Wufei tried to cover up his embarrassment but it was obvious from the amusement written on Heero's face that he probably saw everything.
"Yes, I wanted a sample of what she tried to inject into Duo." Then Heero frowned. "Did he get any into his system?"
Wufei frowned slightly, but shook his head. "I don't think so. What do you think it is?"
Before Heero could answer, the doctor came bustling in looking harassed. "Can't you boys stay out trouble for just one day?" His keen eyes took quick stock of his patient and seeing none the worse for wear, relaxed slightly.
"We wouldn't be in this trouble if your security didn't suck so badly," Wufei snapped, mostly angry with himself for letting an assassin into the room.
Dr Wesley bristled at the implication. "I thought security was your responsibility," he countered brushing Wufei aside to tend to the injured young man who seemed to be sleeping comfortably.
Both Wufei and Heero flinched at the reminder that it was they who almost failed. Both men stood there while another small team of nurses came in and took care of Duo. They both flatly refused to leave the room despite scathing glares for the medical team and watched over everyone like a hawk.
Watching Duo deep in slumber despite the noise and jostling everyone in the room was making caused an intense wave of protectiveness rose in Wufei. No matter what happens, nothing will ever happen to Duo.
~*~
"'Feeeeei…." Duo whined. "I'm bored…." He tilted his head slightly at the serious Chinese Preventors agent who sat by his bedside, reading a book.
Wufei looked up to see the American smiling brightly at him and felt his heart skip a beat. If someone told him Duo Maxwell would grin this way at him a month ago, he would have had them institutionalised. As it was, he often had to check if this was all not a dream. This wasn't the usual smile Duo had on for Devon or when he was at MIT. This smile was hauntingly familiar. It was the teasing grin Duo had on when he sparred with Wufei for some silly thing or another. It was intimate and endearing.
"Then read something," Wufei grunted shortly, passing Duo one of many books Quatre had been kind enough to provide.
Duo stifled a chuckle at the mock reticence of his boyfriend? He quickly hid a frown. Okay, so maybe he wasn't so sure what to classify Wufei as, but in the week and a half that he initiated the kiss, the Chinese man was constantly by his side. There was rarely a day that passed without Wufei touching him in some intimate manner or smiling at him in a way that was totally unWufei-like. All in all, it was pretty confusing. Still, from the endearments Wufei sometimes peppered their conversation, Duo was safe to assume that he now had a new boyfriend to replace Devon. He still grins when he thought of that.
They had spoken during the idyllic week that had passed about their feelings and Duo's odd relationship with Devon. Wufei had smiled most happily when Duo told him how Devon Clay managed to become his boyfriend. He had been mostly amused than delighted as if he already knew something. Something was happening and the braided American intended sooner or later to find out what exactly. That topic had brought about another round of Duo asking where Devon was and Wufei hedging. The American was getting heartily sick of being pushed around like that but his wheedling was getting him no where. Instead, he found himself pressed against the bed with Wufei's tongue idly swirling within his own wet access, tasting him and from the low primitive moan coming from Wufei, Duo guessed his newly acquired, hopefully boyfriend liked how he tasted.
They had also talked about the whole scene Duo saw with Sally. Apparently, Wufei had been asking for advice on how to deal with him. That they had never been together, not that Wufei hadn't considered it. He just wasn't attracted to Sally in that way. And the only person he had been attracted to was Duo. There has been so much misunderstanding in their lives and both of them were determined not to make any more mistakes. Wufei had told Duo rather embarrassingly that the braided man had confessed his love to him when he had lay bleeding in the Chinese man's arms and then again during the week long delirium. Duo had blushed, yes blushed like a girl, a deep crimson and thought for a second he was going to explode into flames of embarrassment. Then he decided it was a good thing he did, or not they would still be pussy footing around each other till eternity. At least now they were getting somewhere. Duo wondered idly if he would be able to write a thank you note to his would be assassin, or maybe send him a tasteful fruit basket.
But if Duo was expecting Wufei to be anyone other than his serious self, he was completely abused. Which brought him back to the current dilemma of wanting Wufei to cure his boredom and the Chinese not completely cooperative.
"I want you to talk to me," Duo pouted, knowing it would get Wufei's attention.
The Chinese man sighed exasperatedly and put down his book. He schooled his features into one of strained patience and clasped his hand in front of him. "Yes, Mr Maxwell, what can I do for you?"
"Tell me who has been trying to kill me," Duo began without preamble, his expression empty of his earlier humour.
Wufei felt as if he had been sucker punched. He did walk into this trap after all. "What makes you think someone is trying to kill you?" He tried for innocence but knew he was failing miserably. All of them had been changing subjects when this had been brought up.
At first Duo was easy to evade, as he was still groggy from drugs but as the days passed, it got harder for them to dismiss the subject. The nurse and her little vial of poison had been the last so far but Duo wasn't ignorant of the fact that there were at least three Preventor agents outside his room at all times not to mention at least one of his friends in the room with him. There now a short list of names that were allowed entry into his room. The names on it had gone through extensive background check and were observed carefully when they moved about in his room.
The nurse apprehended for the attempt on Duo's life had been an unfortunate victim of William Rotherford, current regent of Hyrd Kingdom. She had an ill mother who needed money for an expensive surgery and had been fodder of sacrifice. The cocktail she tried to inject into Duo would have caused him to lapse into a coma before stopping his heart. It was, in Wufei's opinion, a pretty humane way to dispatch a rival to the throne and the drug would have been absorbed into the system and dissipated within seconds of death.
Trowa had received reports that the civil unrest in Hyrd was escalating, with the citizens demanding the return of their king. Since the king had abdicated a long time ago, the throne was left to either Alastair or Clayton Rotherford. Alastair Rotherford, as Devon admitted, wasn't exactly sovereign material and would be easily manipulated by a more intimidating personality. The remaining choice would be Clayton Rotherford. William was desperate to get rid of this wild card in his deck because knowing Clayton's history, there was no way William would be successful in manipulating the throne behind the scene. Wufei guessed he would be lucky if 'Clayton' didn't have him thrown into the nearest body of water and drowned. This was the man technically responsible for his childhood pain.
"I'm injured, in pain and bored out of my mind, but I'm so not stupid, 'Fei," Duo complained, crossing his arms in front of him in annoyance. "The first bullet was aimed at something behind Devon and guess who was behind Devon?" He spoke as if he was addressing a child. "If he hadn't dropped his bag I think I would have a hole in my head right now."
Wufei shuddered at the memory and his hand reached out to grip Duo's by its own volition.
Duo felt his annoyance evaporate at the naked fear bleeding from Wufei and returned the grip with a comforting squeeze of his own. "I'm fine now." Then he grimaced at the pain that was still present. "Okay, let me amend that to a little worse for wear but all here." Sensing Wufei still needed reassurance; Duo gave their clasped hands a little tug and got the Chinese man to sit on his bed, next to his hip. He cupped the back of Wufei's neck and pulled his head closer. When they were an inch apart, Duo rubbed their noses playfully together and murmured softly. "I'm not going anywhere, 'Fei."
Wufei tried his best to swallow the lump that has form and managed to choke out, "Make sure you don't, love," before claiming the braided man's lips with a desperation born out of fear. He coaxed Duo's mouth open and the other man accepted the invasion with a moan of pleasure. Wufei's hands came to grip the sheets on either side Duo's head, clenching convulsively. Mouths suckled and teased, until desire became almost unbearable and coherent thoughts fled their minds.
That was until the handle of the room door clicked and instantly, Wufei pulled away from Duo, his gun out of his holster in a flash, trained carefully on the door.
tbc…
Reviews for the poor, charity sir? Please?
