~runs out holding her sign. the first side is blinking~ "Shounen Ai warning!!"
~flips it~ "WAHAHAHAHAHA!"
~flips it again~ "R-E-V-I-E-W!!!! REVIEW!!!!!!!!"
Okays, I'm done.
Slip of a Knife: Part 4: Crimson
~by Chibi Lurrel, who sees a long continuation of this ahead~
~*~*~*~
Duo stood in the shower, letting the warm water wash over him, rinsing away the pain and hardship of the mission before. He wished it would take away the pain that a recent conversation with Heero had brought.
~*~*~*~
Duo had been sitting on his bed, reading, when Heero had stepped into his bedroom and closed the door. Duo could sense the other boy's apprehension. "What's wrong, Heero?" He had asked as Heero sat down beside him on the bed. "I've got something to tell you. I had to tell someone!" Duo's eye widened as he propped himself up on one arm. "Yeah?" Could he dare hope...? Did Heero return his affections? Maybe that's what he had to say.... "Duo, you're a really good friend." Heero started out tentatively. "In fact, you're more than a friend..." Duo's heart began whaling against his chest. "Heero...." he said softly, so that Heero might not have even heard it. Was Heero about to say what Duo's very being hoped he was? "You're my best friend, Duo." All the breath rushed out of Duo's lungs. No.....
But his carefully placed mask didn't miss a beat, regardless of the inner turmoil inside of him. He *smiled* at Heero, who seemed to be sitting there crushing Duo's heart in his hands with every word. "I trust you, so I might as well say it. Duo, I think I'm in love!" His eyes looked on the verge of becoming starry. Duo wanted to scream. There was a rushing sound around his eyes. "Yeah, Duo. I think I'm in love with Relena Peacecraft." Duo made an un-definable sound in the back of his throat. "Eh?" "Nothing, Heero. You really think it's love? Love is such a strong word." His voice sounded odd, even to Heero, who seemed to be oblivious to the pain and suffering raging on behind Duo's wide violet eyes. "I'm almost positive." "Then I guess that means you're not gonna kill her, neh?" Always the joker. Duo's mask was perfect, even if Duo was not. "Duo no baka!" cried Heero as he playfully thwapped Duo up-side the head. "So, ya gonna tell her?" asked Duo. His insides were slowly ripping apart, but he couldn't let Heero see that. He couldn't let him think he was weak. "Tonight. I've asked her to go out for dinner." Heero said solemnly. "Aa." was all he said. "Thanks for letting me talk. I feel better now."
Heero got up and left, leaving Duo alone. All alone. No more hopes, no more dreams.
~*~*~*~
Back in the shower, Duo could feel his tears mingling with the water in the shower. "No... I'm not gonna cry. Boys don't cry!" But he was lying to himself. "Damn it!" he cried, slamming a fist up against the wall. Pain jolted up through his arms. Pain. It was soothing in a way. He looked down at his arms, down at the all too familiar scars that lined them. He ran a hand down the one long line that crossed his right arm. He only had one like that, that ran from elbow to wrist. He sighed a reached an arm out of the shower, into his clothes that lay in a heap beside it. He found what he was looking for in his pants' pocket and pulled it back into the shower.
It was a small knife. A switchblade. The handle was black, and the blade a sparkling silver steel. He flipped it out, and studied it. The way the water from the shower ran over it and drained off in rivets
It was fascinating. Will it bring the same relief and the same peace as before? He wondered. Only one way to find out. He lifted it carefully up, like a skilled artist with a brush and brought it down on one of the scars. Not the long one. A smaller one, on his other arm. He made sure to make it a shallow cut, so as not to lose too much blood.
Duo stared as the ruby liquid ran down his arm and joined the warm shower water. Fascinating. So crimson and peaceful. It stung. It brought the relief, as promised when the knife was given to him. But that was a story he didn't want to remember then. He closed his eyes and he could feel the day's tensions ebbing out of him with the blood. But he still felt empty. Empty.
He stared at the now clean knife, then at the scar on his arm. Was it worth it, that again?
I was destined to be killed by you, Heero. Would this count? Killing me with words, looking right past my love?
His arm was throbbing a bit now. He shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. Donning a towel, he returned to his bedroom to bandage his wrist, leaving the knife on the counter by the sink, forgotten.
~*~*~*~
That night, at dinner, Wufei was upset. Maxwell had shown up at dinner with a bandage on his wrist. He claimed to have cut it on his mission, but Wufei wasn't that dense. He didn't buy into that one bit. He had seen the other scars that marred the pale porcelain skin. He excused himself and stepped into the bathroom. Just as he suspected, there was a knife lying there. But what could have driven Maxwell this far. He promised himself he would have a talk with him after dinner, pocketed the knife, and stepped back out.
As he sat down at the table, Quatre glanced around. "Where's Heero tonight? He didn't have a mission, did he?" Wufei noticed Duo stiffen. "He's...he's on a date with Relena." Quatre smiled. "Ooooh." "Yeah." Wufei nodded. Maybe that's what was bothering Maxwell. Quatre looked as though he was going to say something more, but then he thought better of it. Duo smiled, not his normal grin, Wufei noted, and said, "Hey, this stuff is really good! Who cooked tonight?" Quatre giggled and said, "Trowa did!" Trowa looked at Quatre oddly, who giggled again. Duo rolled his eyes and sighed softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Wufei POV
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After dinner, I ventured after Duo into his room. He shut the door softly behind him. "We should talk." Duo rolled his eyes. "I hope not! The last 'talk' I had today ended quite badly for at least one of the parties. Namely, me!" He had the look of someone who had said too much, but wasn't going to feel guilty about it. "Wanna tell me about it, Maxwell?" Duo looked up. He looked as though he was actually going to be serious. "You really wanna know? Promise not to be disgusted, or angry, or anything like that?" I nodded solemnly. "Promise?" he asked, a pleading look in his eyes. "Yes. I promise not to be disgusted, or angry, or anything like that. I'll be pleasantly indifferent." Duo laughed. "Okay. But this is your own fault. I have a crush on someone."
"Really?!" I was stunned. I had thought it would take something far more drastic than that to drive him over the edge like. "On who? Hirde?"
Duo laughed again. "Naw, I like her like a sister, I guess. But not like that. Keep on guessing, though, you won't get it!"
I ran over the possible females that were currently in his life. Besides Hirde, only one name came up... "It's not...it isn't Relena, is it?"
Duo shuddered. "Good God, I hope not!"
I smiled at him. "I give up! Who is she?" Duo shook his head sadly. "Not she. He. I have a crush on..." He took a deep breath. "Heero."
I goggled at him. "Remember, you promised!" he reminded me. "But..but....he's..."
"A guy? Another *boy*? A fellow pilot? Hmm? What!?" he prompted, his voice dripping callousness.
"Well, yes. And I thought he was going out with Relena."
"*One* date does not constitute a relationship!" he squealed. I shook my head. "Duo...is this it? Is this what's bothering you?"
He pouted. "No." His voice was squeaky and emotional. "No, dammit! Today, he came in and started talking. The way he was saying this stuff, it really got my hopes up, ya know? And then he goes and drops the bomb. 'Duo, I'm in love with Relena!'" He said the last part with a shake of his head. "He didn't really say that, did he?" I prompted. "Yes!" he cried miserably. "Duo...that still doesn't explain this." I said, grabbing hi bandaged wrist. "Huh? Wha...What do ya mean, huh? Are you accusing me of lying! I run, I hide, but I never lie!" he yelled out, squirming and trying to get his wrist out of my grasp. "I'm not accusing you of lying, per se, just bending the truth." "Wufei, lemme go. I don't wanna talk about it." I dropped his wrist, but not his gaze. "You should." "I don't. I'll be sure to tell you first thing when I do." I snorted, reached a hand into his pocket and tossed him the knife. Duo caught in on reflex. Holding it in his lap, he stared at, then looked up at me. "Wufei?" he asked in a muted voice.
"Yes?"
"Don't tell anyone, k? Please?"
"I wouldn't dream of it." I paused. "Duo?"
"Yeah?"
"Promise I'll be the first one to talk to?"
Duo laughed softly. "Sure."
I exited.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Quatre's POV
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I sat down on the bed beside Trowa. We hadn't spoken much after the mission. I think he was embarrassed. We hadn't done anything, not really. Nothing *drastic* anyway. I think maybe that's one of the reasons he was embarrassed. I don't know why it haunts him so, though. I was the one who pulled away, who stopped. It's not as if I didn't want it. Oh, I did! But...it just didn't seem right, not there and then, on a couch. Maybe he thinks I didn't want him or something. Jeez, I hope not!
Trowa looked up at me. His normally clear green eyes were oddly clouded with emotions that I couldn't place. He didn't start the conversation, but then again, he rarely did. "Trowa, what's wrong?" He blinked. "Why, nothing Quatre. I was just thinking." "Liar." I accused softly. "Hm?" I giggled. "Liar!" I flung my arms around him. "Trowa, are thinking about what happened....during the mission?" He looked at me. I was currently sitting in his lap. "How did you guess, little guy?" "I'm not that much shorter than you!" I ruffled his hair. "Besides, it's not hard to guess what was bothering you, anyway." The corners of his mouth twitched. I kissed him, and he kissed back. I smiled at him. "Ai shiteru, Trowa." I whispered as I leaned in and stole his mouth with my own. When we pulled away for air, he smiled at me with the smile I have learned to love. "Ai shiteru Quatre."
*END PART 4*
Soooo, whatcha think? You people had better well tell meeeeee! Or.... I'll....er....kill you!!! No, not really. =P Also, I'm running into writer's block. What're are Heero's intentions? Does he love Relena? Or does he realize his secret crush for Duo? Oooor is Duo left heart-broken and does he turn to Wufei for love? Not that it matters, but I want reader feedback. What do ya'll want, huh? ô_ô Oh well. *sigh* JUST REVIEW IT OKAY!? I'm done now. That is all. Part 5 coming soon! ^_~