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: I'm sorry for making everybody wait so long!!! *bows head in shame* It's not entirely my fault! I had to go camping with my folks, came back, dealt with emails and stuff that I was sent, typed up the second part to a Harry Potter fic I'm writing, had my online time cut back by six hours (parental intervention), etc. etc...
Okay, I'll shut up with the excuses ^^; and get on with the pleasantries and chapter! My humblest gratitude go out to my four reviewers:
Keikan-Yui (Kei-chan) - Hey, am I a devout 1x2/2x1 fan or not? *snort* Do you really think I'd let them have a sad ending? (eh heh... with the exception of my R&J parody... ^^;)
I wonder if guitars burn... - Just ta let ya know, puppydog eyes don't work on me... unless they're Duo's... =)
Shi Sensou - lol, Heero *knows* he should have gone after Duo, leave him alone! ^^;
Shkira - here's the more you couldn't wait to see! =) Sorry it's short, hey, I'm fairly newish to *writing* fics!
Part Four: Heero's Thoughts
This has been driving me crazy. What was Duo thinking!? My best friend just suddenly begins making out with me, then vanishes for days. Where the hell was he? And who did he think he was, pulling a stunt like that on me!?
Oh, he's nobody... nobody but the guy you've been dreaming about ever since you met him, but you were so certain he wasn't gay you never made a move, I sneer. I hate myself sometimes, I really do. Now is one of those times.
Despite how I'm berating myself for being such a fool for allowing him to get away and frustrated at him for doing so, I can't help being insanely worried about him. He isn't answering my phone calls- hell, he's rarely, if ever, even home.
Kami-sama, I pray silently just as Trowa is coming into the room. ~Don't let him do anything stupid!~ If anything happens to Duo, I know I could never forgive myself.
Trowa is a family friend of mine. I pretty much grew up with him and his sister, Cathrine, and their father Dekim Barton was my father's closest friend.
He gives me a concerned look as he sits down. "Heero... are you all right? You've lost weight, and it's only been a few days..."
"Have you heard anything from Quatre?" I ask, ignoring his statement. Quatre is, to Duo, much like what Trowa is to me. Not only that, but the two boys disregard society's opinions and are openly gay- and dating.
Trowa nods. "Actually, yes."
I practically jump out of my seat. "What!? Where is he? How is he doing? Is he okay? Why the hell hasn't he come to school or returned my calls!?" I ask, completely unlike myself. Trowa raises an eyebrow, and while fighting to regain my self-control, I sit down.
He slides a glass of water towards me and takes a sip of his own before speaking.
"I didn't get to speak to Quatre about it until today. Apparently, right after he left your house, Duo ran to Quatre's place in tears. He thinks you hate him, and he's desperate. He..." his voice trails off, and I give him my fiercest glare. Trowa knows me well enough that I mean business with that look. "He wouldn't promise Quatre not to hurt himself if you rejected him."
The words are taking a few moments to sink in. When they do, however, Trowa's statement hits me head-on like a ten-ton truck.
"Oh, shit..." I whisper. Trowa looks surprised, and it's no wonder. I rarely swear as it is, and the look of horror on my face was not one I used in front of people. Hell, it's not one I use, *period*. "Did he say anything else? Does he know where Duo *is*?"
Trowa shakes his head. "That was the last time he, or anyone that we know of, saw or heard from him."
I'm trembling, I know, but I've forced my voice at least to remain calm while attempting to sort out my thoughts. Still, it cracks slightly as I stand. "I had better get going back home. Please... please, if you hear anything, tell me." Trowa nods and stands as well. I shake my head and beckon for him to stay put. "I know my way out." I cast him a look that begs to be left alone, and he complies. Not for the first time, I'm glad I have friends that know me so well.
After I arrive home, I head straight upstairs. Ever since Duo disappeared, I found that I no longer had an appetite. I guess Trowa's right, I have lost weight, but I reallyd ont' care. I can't stop thinking of Duo- he even haunts my dreams, a ghost crying that it's my fault he's gone. Whenever I try eating, an image of him comes to mind: scared, hurt, hungry...
I'm probably overreacting. I didn't hurt him badly enough for him to do something drastic, did I? Quatre said Duo would... leave... if I rejected him, but I hadn't... I couldn't. How could I possibly cause the boy I love such pain?
But you already did, my cursed mind spits at me. I growl and shove the voice aside, but knew that it's the truth. I shouldn't have broken the kiss, shouldn't have spoken so coldly, should have gone after him...
So many Should-Haves. So many Did-Nots.
I sit down at the edge of my bed and unconsciously bring my fingers to my lips. He had tasted so sweet, felt so right... better than anything my wistful daydreams could ever make him as. I'm longing for his touch again, and so much more. It goes beyond just a physical yearning. I want him to smile a special smile meant only for me. I want to see that look of trust and devotion in his eyes. I want to be there for him, support him and take care of him. I want to share his life.
I am aware that I can accomplish all of this just by being his best friend, but the feeling is so much stronger than that. It goes beyond friendship. He is like my other half. Without him, I'm nothing.
Not that I don't want the touches either.
I realize that I'm pacing anxiously around my room now. Feeling somewhat like an idiot for spacing out so badly, I try to find something to do but fail. My mind can't stay focused on anything besides worrying about Duo and trying to figure out where he's gone.
I absently pick up a picture from my desk. It's a photo of Duo and myself, just a couple of weeks ago. We'd dropped by the park after school and were just goofing off like the teenagers we are. The picture had been taken by a friend of ours who had come with us and snapped it just as he had let go of the swings and gone flying into my arms. I smiled thinking about it.
Come to think of it, I remembered something he said that day... about when he was beginning to overcome a fear of heights and learning to let go of the swing... what was it again? Oh, right.
Another light smile ghosted on my lips before vanishing. When he was young, he had gotten pushed off the side of a tall flight of stairs and had broken several bones, not to mention fallen into a coma. It took him years to conquer his fear of heights, but when visiting a relative- his grandfather, Howard- out in the country, he achieved doing so. He said that visiting the area, or even thinking about it, left him feeling calm and at peace. At that point, he had shaken his head and laughed away the nostalgic memories.
I suddenly gasp. Bloody hell... how could I have forgotten...
I have to get going *now*. Even as I'm scribbling a quick, crude note as to where I'm going, I know my mom is going to roast me alive, but nothing is going to keep me away from Duo. Not now. Not when I suddenly realize I know where he was.
I grabbed my coat, money and keys and get to the train station in no time.
"If you love him, and if he loves you back, then you'll find a way to happiness. You're both too bloody stubborn to let it defeat you." HP fic "Happily Ever After vs. Draco Malfoy"