Ratings: Shonen-ai . . . PG for very mild swearing and homosexuality
Pairings: 2x1/1x2
Summary: Duo Maxwell accepts a challenge he regrets involving his best friend. But how will Heero react? *AU* Rated PG for homosexuality and very mild swearing
Author's Notes: No, there is no evil Relena. I don't mind Relena-bashing, but I don't hate the girl. There really is nothing to hate. She is a boring character, with no characteristics that are really hateable. But I DO strongly dislike Hilde. =) She's so underdeveloped, and she is just stupid. The way she talks, how she pretends to be tough... whatever. And what's with that hair!? *cough* Complete tangent there. Anyway... on to the fic!
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own anything except the story. Gundam and all things of it belong to Hajime Yadate and Yoshiyuki Tomino.
Part One: Duo's POV: Relena's Challenge
It started out as a bet. That's it, I swear. Just a bet.
Okay, so maybe it was a teensy bit more than a bet. Maybe I had a tiny crush on him.
Fine, you win. I was nuts about him. Heh, I run and hide, but at least I never tell a lie. Well, if you saw him, I bet you'd fall for him too! *glare* I don't think so. Hands off! I saw him first! His untamed, dark brown hair... his deep, prussian blue eyes... the well-toned arms and that amazing six-pack...
Okay, maybe, just maybe I was a tad bit obsessed.
Wondering who this wonder guy is? This absolute model of perfection?
Heero Yuy. My best friend. Yeah, I'm in love with my best friend. So stop snickering. So what if we're only sixteen? I know it's love, and that's all that matters.
Well, maybe not all that matters. But pretty damn close.
Anyway, back to my first point- just a bet! Really!
Oh, well. In a way, I guess I've got Relena to thank for that stupid bet. Without it, who knew how things would have ended up?
***
"HEEEEEROOOOOO!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, the front door to his house slamming shut behind me. Ugh, that sounded awful- almost as bad as the way his cousin belts it out.
Ah, speak of the devil. Who should have walked down the hall towards me but Relena herself?
"Heero's out running an errand," she said with a smile. I glanced at her, puzzled. What was she doing here? "My parents are out on a business dinner, and decided to drop me off here." Ah. That explained it.
"Okay," I replied, edging back towards the girl. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against her. But her intensity and the way she looks at you with those blue eyes when she wants to get something outta you can really grind your nerves. Guess what look she was giving me now? "I'll just get going then... have him call me, okay? I need the English- OOF!"
The 'oof' was me. The cause was Relena suddenly grabbing my arm and yanking me down the hall.
"Hey, hey, hey! Where do you think you're taking me?" I asked, stumbling behind her. YOU try keeping up with a crazy girl on a mission with your arm about to be pulled out of its socket!
She stopped and plopped me down on a chair. Man, what on Earth was she thinking? Under her predatory stare, I swear I could picture myself tied down in a cold, metal room, a single bulb shining from the ceiling and being glared at by an interogator.
"You like him, don't you?"
I could feel my face starting to go slightly pink. "Like who?" I asked, playing dumb. Okay, maybe I fib once in a while...
Relena rolled her eyes. "You know who I mean. My cousin. Your best friend. Heero." Now my face was really burning. I was grateful for the low lighting.
"Well, no duh, he's my best friend! You said so yourself!"
"I don't mean like that," she replied curtly. I winced. How had she found out? And if she knew, then did Heero!?
She eyed me, expression unreadable. She wasn't the one with an emotionless mask for her normal facial expression- that was Heero. But I really couldn't figure out what she was thinking, and I'm usually pretty good at reading people.
"Why haven't you made a move yet?"
I facevaulted. I was out of that chair in a second. "ARE YOU INSANE!?" I roared. "Heero would KILL me!"
She didn't even flinch. Man, their entire family must have nerves of steel! Either that, or no reflexes- which I knew was NOT the case with Heero, mister Perfect-Athlete. Perfect-Grades. Perfect-Eyes. Perfect-Perfect.
Relena snapped me out of my moment of adoration with smirk and a 'hmph'. "You won't know unless you try."
My jaw nearly dropped to the floor again. Was this really Relena, the all-mighty, spoiled, self-assured, psychotic cousin of my beloved Heero? What was she DOING? Giving me her blessings to go all out for her cousin?
"Listen," she began. "You're not making it obvious. I can just tell because I can read people like the pages of a book. But unless you do something about this little infatuation of yours, you're not gonna get anywhere with Heero."
Okay, the little infatuation bit pissed me off, but I decided not to show it. "Why are you so interested in this anyway?" I asked, the question punctuated with a glare. "It's none of your business what I do or don't do."
She rolled her eyes as if the answer should be obvious. "Heero, as I'm sure you firmly believe, is the best. And he deserves the best. If you're too chicken to even 'act on your emotions', like he says to do, then you're not even good enough to call yourself his friend."
Now that was going too far.
"Don't even bring that quote into this! HE doens't follow his emotions, does he? He acts as if he doesn't have anyway!"
"Then why are you so interested in him?"
That had me stumped. "Um... uh..."
"Because there IS emotion there, you can see it," she pointed out. How many times had she practiced exactly what she was gonna say?
"Man, 'lena, you're off your rocker!" She had lost it, that had to be the explanation. If I so much as invaded Heero's personal space as a hair, he'd make sure I were black and blue for weeks!
But the sad thing was, I knew I wouldn't mind too much. Even if he were beating up on me, I'd be in heaven just because he were touching me... odd reaction to get from your best friend, huh? But if ya think about it, guys aren't usually the casual-touch kind of people, are they?
"Prove it," she hissed. "Prove you're worth his time." I had always known that she was sorta psychotic, but did she even know what she was talking about?
Just then, a door slammed shut down the hall. I could hear the familiar sound of Heero's boots coming towards us- but faintly. More felt it than heard it, he was so quiet.
Relena shoved me away from her. "What's wrong, chicken? He's coming right now. I bet you don't have the guts to do anything about it!"
Once again, she went too far. I, Duo Maxwell, NEVER back down from a challenge.
"Oh, yeah? What's in it for you if I don't do anything?"
She smirked. "The satisfaction of knowing that you're a loser with the prize all wrapped up and ready in front of you but too scared to grab it."
"And if I DO do something?"
She turned away, but I could still feel her self-satisfaction. "Do you really need another prize? You'd get Heero."
"But... if he doesn't want me? If he rejects- no, WHEN he rejects me?" I asked, voice barely above a whisper. I didn't think I could handle losing his friendship.
"You won't," she reassured me. Won't what? I wondered, when I realized that I had been thinking out loud. "But I've gotta run- and know that somehow, I WILL be watching you! Don't forget our little bet!" With that annoying little closing statement, she flounced off, waving goodbye as Heero entered the room.
I sucked in my breath. Oh, man, what had I gotten myself into?
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There, happy Shi Sensou? I actually posted something! =)---
I have most of the third chapter done, and bits and pieces of the others, but I've gotta finish writing the second first before posting them... *blush* Oops, got ahead of myself in the plot... =) Working on a HarryxDraco one, too- my first non-Gundam Wing fic! Heck, more like my fifth or so fic total! ^^