Author's Note: Here we go, only three more chapters after this, including a lemon that I am a big fan of. So here it is, sorry haven't finished posting been working on a new sci-fi ish sort of fic another action adventure. Kind of tossing around the idea of a zombie fic not sure if I could do it, but an interesting idea not going to lie.

Fourth and Goal

10th Quarter - Help

His heart was thumping with excitement, blood pounding and rushing, high from his performance. Heero stared at Duo he was gorgeous with his hair unbraided, the shredded leggings that offered tantalizing glimpses of well muscles calves and thighs. Throwing caution to the wind he did something he'd been dying to do for weeks leaning forward he awkwardly kissed poorly applied lipstick lips. It was brief, tender, and over just as fast as it began.

Heero realized what he'd done with a jolt, he looked at Duo wide eyed, a deer in headlights. "I.." he began not knowing what to say and thinking that Duo was going to turn tail at any moment. Violet eyes where staring at him, "Heero…" reaching towards him they where interrupted by Jimmy barging through the curtain and yelling loudly. "That was awesome, you guys rocked the house." Both jumped guiltily looking at their teammate. "Something wrong?" Jimmy asked pausing, "Nope, not at all…just damn uncomfortable in these tight pants." Duo joked sounding rather flat to Heero but Jimmy seemed to accept it. "Well done guys," they called heading back to change.

Things where hectic, unable to talk about what had happened they where hurried out to the practice field. With everyone around there was nothing to say, it was the longest football practice of his life followed by the longest shower, social team visit and finally they where alone walking towards Duo's home.

Heero Yuy was scared, he didn't know what to do, did he deny his crush? Did he man up and admit it? Did he beg Duo to forget it and just remain friends? "Heero?" Came the soft pensive voice, "Y-yes…" he said just as soft. "Can I ask you about earlier? Why you did that?" Heero swallowed thickly moment of truth time did he come clean or not? "Cause…umm…because I like you…" he finished in a voice no louder then a whisper. Duo was silent a moment. "I think I like you to Heero." He said again softly. Heero who'd been waiting for a rejection stumbled a little, "Beg pardon." He asked softly, "I like you too Heero," he said again with a small shy smile. Grinning Heero gently grabbed long slender fingers with his own thicker ones, walking hand in hand towards the orphanage each flushed red.

-#-#-#-

"You are shitting me…" Heero mumbled looking at the final schedule, they where to play Ashbury this week… "What? Duo leaned over him looking at the paper, resting his chin on his shoulder pads. Violet eyes rolled across the paper the coach had just handed Heero, the wind trying to whip it from his hands. "Your old school…" Duo said softly looking at Heero compassionately. "You going to be ok?" Nodding Heero crumpled it up, "Yup and we are going to win to." Duo looked at him a slow smile, one just for him crossing his face. They where a grand total of three days into there sort of budding relationship, having done some cuddling and kissing they where still painfully shy when it came to this new level of intimacy in their relationship.

Training, work, and homework had put a crimp in their alone time Duo's volleyball season had started already with special training. Despite his continued battles with the volleyball coach Duo, had maintained his position on the football team. Agreeing to take on extra training and workouts in preparation for the upcoming season. Heero had tagged along with him to the gym, to work out or go to his yoga class, on his own while Duo practiced with the team. Quatre had been right, Duo was phenomenal at volleyball…he was beyond good, and there wasn't a doubt in Heero's mind he was going places with it.

"Well, no point worrying now…got all week to do that." Duo laughed, "Good! New plays to learn." Groaning he pulled his helmet on, "Alright lets run'em." Heero had promised to work more on the project tonight and he was looking forward to this work session, almost naked with Duo… new relationship. They had decided to take it slow see where things go, but Heero could always hope for a make out session. He loved kissing, and cuddling…who would have thought.

Practice was brutal, the offense was having trouble getting the new plays together and Trowa had done his part to make Heero's life miserable. Sore, muddy, and grumpy Heero limped his way off the field. Only cheering when they where walking the now familiar route to the house. "I feel bad always staying over," Heero said pulling his coat up against the wind. "No worries, the Sisters love having you around your such a help with the kids…and I think they get lonely when the kids start leaving." Nodding Heero brushed the mittened hand of Duo with his bare one, throwing caution to the wind he grasped it as they walked the last little way to the house.

Up the stairs and inside to the holler of the kids enjoying themselves, it was the usual routine of dinner, play time, bath and bed. Heero had taken over helping Helen and Emily giving Duo time to catch up on homework. Followed by some repair work to the bathroom a leaking facet, clogged drain…straight forward stuff. It was an hour or so later when Duo hunted him down. "Ready for some work?" Nodding put the tools away following Duo up to his room. "I want some close ups, " Getting him stripped down to his underwear he was all business. "Arm out…flex please?" he focused his camera, snapping the picture he looked at the viewer screen with a soft 'hmmm…" Heero sat patiently as Duo went thorough what he had to do. It was an hour into his work and Duo had him laying on his stomach as he worked looking at his back taking pictures of the muscles, getting Heero to flex and hold them. The warm body above him, the soft hands on him, and the comfy bed tugged at his tired body.

Duo knew the second he fell asleep and his breathing evened out. When no muscles flexed at his softly asked command he knew he was down for the count. Sighing he set the camera aside, Heero put in a hard day, the new plays relied heavily on him. Duo felt a little guilt at how hard he'd been pushing him, he was far and away the best player they had and he and the coach wanted that championship bad. "You've come so far though…" Duo muttered gently tracing the little wings on his shoulder blades…"You still have so much further to go…your going to be a bright star Heero," Laying down beside him, he felt a large arm settle across him pulling him close. Closing his eyes he rested close inhaling his warm scent. "I just hope you'll remember me, when that star takes off." He mumbled yawning maybe sleep was a good idea.

-#-#-#-

It was a crisp clear November afternoon, the sun was surprisingly warm as Heero stepped off the bus in front of the well manicured lawn. The school was an old fashioned 'rustic' building, sort of a façade for the elite. "So how's it feel to be back?" Trowa stepped off the bus behind him squinting in the sun to looking around, "Meh," Heero muttered the aviators sliding off his nose, "Dude what is with the hair lately?" Wufei grabbed the ponytail holding Heero's bangs out of his face, it was bright pink elastic today with Namaste symbol "Keeps my eyes clear," he said not the least bit embarrassed by the tail bobbing on top of his head. "Your one to talk," Duo gave the other a sharp pull on his own ponytail. Before throwing his own long braid over his shoulder.

Laughing they jostled each other, insulting and yelling good naturedly they moved towards the large stadium, "Wow…" muttered Trowa looking around as students in the yard turned to give them their attention sneers firmly in place. "Ignore them," Heero muttered looking away feeling good about himself, he could careless what they thought. He was walking through the sunshine equipment in hand with three people who where far and away his best friends. "Heero did you wear that uniform with that little bow tie thing?" Trowa asked looking at the figures lining up to stare. "Yeah?" he said wondering where he was going with that, "Know how I know your gay?" the auburn haired teen said Heero started to laugh, joined by Duo as the tall teen leaned against him. "Shut up Tro, we got a game to win focus," Still laughing they where followed by the rest of the team into the change room.

"Nice facilities," Wufei muttered as they started stripping down and gearing up. Heero was jazzed up more then he should be for a game, he knew he had to calm down he was facing not just another team but the whole school. Stripping down he got on his spandex and bent in half taking a deep breath he spread his feet going into warrior one. Little yoga to calm his mind, "Nice form Heero," Duo said joining him they went through some stretches using another sometimes as props. "How do you two bend like that?" Trowa and Wufei where watching them moving through their poses. Grinning Duo leaned against Heero as the twisted around each other. Loosened up Heero rolled muscles, and his arms. "Ready?" Duo asked as they suited up and settled in waiting for the coach's normal speech. "That yoga work?" Jimmy asked, looking at Heero who looked calm and ready to do battle. "Yeah, it really does." He said the rest of the team nodded, so their quarterback worked at a Nameste and did yoga…he was still the best player they had.

"Alright boys, I don't want to add pressure to you but we need this game to face Evergreen, in the Championship." They all nodded, "Also there are some big name scouts out there today looking," There was mutters and glances at one another, Duo glanced at Heero "This is your chance," he whispered looking at him with a smile. Heero nodded slowly, "Yeah but I got a game to win, not impress some scouts." Duo gave him a wide smile, standing Heero gave a yell, time to go.

The reception was not a warm one, the majority of fans where for the home team and as Heero ran an eye across the sea of faces he recognized most of them. One in particular on her phone was looking at him, with that smug bitch face of hers. "Is that the one?" Heero hadn't realized he'd stopped running standing on the sidelines. He nodded mutely looking away and down, amazed how just seeing her made his stomach ache and his head hurt. "Forget about her, your better then that." He said softly putting a hand on his shoulder turning he looked at the open honest face, there wasn't a sneer, or a hateful look. Just Duo, beautiful Duo, Heero reached out gently touching his cheek, "Your right lets go."

Brief jog, little more stretching and soon he was standing centerfield with Duo looking at the faces of his old team mates. "Well, well…" came the mutter form Steve the number one quarterback for Ashbury, "Bringing your poor team here Heero?" Not even looking at them Duo called it winning the kick and choosing to receive. Steve gave his parting shot. "Watch your back Yuy," he called grunting Heero turned away. Duo and Heero jogged back to the side pulling on helmets as they went. "Bring it on," Heero yelled as the receiving team lined up for the kick and the game was on.