Disclaimer: I don't own GW.
Warnings: Shounen ai (didn't you just see that coming?) and slight OOC.
~ Two Pilots and A Baby~
Chapter Two
By Cherry Blossom
Heero sat staring dismally at the screen of his laptop. He bit his lip and moved his hand over the mouse. Slowly, and with infinite concentration he positioned the mouse exactly on the screen and took a deep breath. Small beads of sweat formed on his forehead and the hand on the mouse trembled slightly with anticipation. Icy blue eyes, bright with concentration, observed the screen intently. Finally, after a breathless moment of total stillness, Heero clicked the mouse.
The tiny gray blocks on the screen suddenly disappeared and the yellow smiley face at the top now displayed two X's where eyes should have been.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!"
Heero banged his head against the desk and immediately regretted it.
"Ow…"
He sighed and looked at the screen, clicking the icon that said "new game" resignedly. He was so close to winning and that one, stupid move had cost him everything.
"It's a good thing I'm better than this in real life," he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, a noise sounded from out in the hallway and the echo of shoes slapping on the hardwood floor was heard.
Hastily, Heero closed the game of Minesweeper, not wanting his partner to know what he actually did all day on that computer, and waited for the braided baka to call out and pounce on him like he always did.
He waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Then he pulled his gun from where he had tucked it in the back of his shorts. Something was wrong; Duo was never this quiet. Heero crept silently out the door to his room and headed out to the living area, holding the gun cautiously out in front of him. There was a faint snuffling sound coming from around the corner and what sounded like a quickly hushed cry. Heero glared and tightened the finger on the trigger slightly. If someone was hurting his Duo…
Darting around the corner, Heero yelled, "Freeze!" and aimed the gun directly at the head of the intruder. The braided head of the intruder.
Heero sighed and tucked the gun back into his pants, as Duo spun around, hands in the air. He blushed and then glared when he saw Heero.
"Jeez, what are you tryin' to do, give me a heart attack? And for God's sake quit pointing that gun at me every chance you get. One of these days your itchy trigger finger is going to get me killed!" he complained, loudly.
"Hn," Heero replied. "And that would be a bad thing?"
Duo staggered back, putting a hand to his heart dramatically. "Heero! You've cut me to the quick! Shinigami had feelings too, ya know."
A strange sound, halfway between a gurgle and a cry, reached Heero's ears. His eyes narrowed.
"What was that?"
Duo looked at the ceiling innocently.
"What was what?"
"That noise," Heero growled.
"I didn't hear anything. You must be working too hard again, Hee-chan. You know, you should really try and get some sleep—"
The cry sounded again, louder this time.
"There it is again! It sounded like a baby cry…"
Duo's eyes widened and he inched closer to the couch behind him.
"What that? Oh nononono! That was me. You see *cough* I think I might be getting a cold *cough cough*."
Heero glared and tried to edge around Duo.
"What are you hiding, baka? If you brought home another stray cat I swear I'm gonna…"
Heero's voice trailed off as he finally caught a glimpse of what Duo had been hiding behind him. There, laying on the couch in a bundle of blankets, was a happily gurgling baby, trying hard to grab the end of Duo's braid, which was just out of reach, with her chubby hands. Duo cringed and waited for the explosion.
He was not disappointed.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?"
Tori, startled by the volume of Heero's exclamation, started to cry loudly. Duo hurried to pick her up and cuddle her to his chest.
"It's a baby," he said, calmly. "And now look what you've done! You've upset her! Do you know how long it took me to get her to stop crying?"
Heero blinked. He shook his head and continued with his rant.
"I know it's a baby. What is it doing here?"
"Well…it's kind of a long story," Duo started.
Heero crossed his arms over his chest and sat down on the arm of the couch.
"I'm waiting," he growled. "And it had better be good."
Duo gulped audibly and clutched Tori a bit tighter to his chest, rocking her back and forth quickly to quiet her.
"It all started when I went to mass…"
~A couple minutes later~
"…and that's basically it."
Heero looked at the infant huddled in Duo's arms. Tori's big blue eyes observed him quietly for a few seconds before she gurgled and blew spit bubbles at him. Heero sighed and rubbed his temples. He could feel a headache coming on.
"Why didn't you take her to the police? They're much better equipped to handle situations like these."
Duo shifted uncomfortably on the couch.
"They would only put her in an orphanage or a foster home. They wouldn't make sure she had a good home with parents who love her. And I saw the way her mother looked at her. She really does love her kid. I know she does!"
When this comment was met by stony silence, Duo's face fell and he studied the carpet intently.
"I just…I don't want her to grow up without a mother. Like I did," he murmured softly, feeling tears sting the back of his eyes.
Heero's glare softened and he looked once again at the tiny child in Duo's arms. Biting his lip, he came to a decision.
"Okay."
Duo looked up, not believing his ears.
"Wha-what did you say?"
Heero shrugged. "I said okay. You can take care of her until I find her mother. But ONLY until I find her mother and she is YOUR responsibility, understand?"
Duo nodded, a huge grin spreading across his face. He leaped off the couch and swung the baby in the air. "Did you hear that little princess? You're gonna stay with me an' Heero! I'm gonna take such good care of you, yes I am! Yes I am!"
Tori squealed and laughed, reaching for Duo's nose but getting his cross instead. She shoved it in her mouth and chewed on it contentedly.
"Leggo, munchkin, that's not food," Duo laughed. "Which reminds me…we gotta go shopping for some baby supplies. Something tells me we're gonna need some diapers for you real soon. C'mon Hee-chan!"
Heero crossed his arms and scowled. "I'm not going."
"Aw, come on," Duo whined. "I could use an extra pair of hands."
"No. I was doing important work when you interrupted me with your…baby."
Duo snorted and shook his head. "Yeah, like playing Minesweeper is soooooo important. Whatever Heero. Let's go, Torikins!"
Heero watched Duo bound out of the room, vein twitching in his forehead. Finally he sighed and lowered his head.
"I must have ticked off someone pretty important to deserve this…" he muttered, returning to his laptop. There was a game of Minesweeper waiting with his name on it.
To Be Continued…