The Mexican (Part 2)

yue kato

210501

"You're going to WHAT???"

Quatre winced, he was very sure they could probably hear Duo all the way to Vegas, considering the volume of his voice at the moment.

"Please, Duo, you have to understand. This is the very last time--" he offered feebly as he beat a hasty retreat down the staircase to regroup. However, it had slipped his mind that by doing so, he had left the higher ground to his passionate, impetuous, and now thoroughly enraged partner.

Random items began raining down on him, and he vainly tried to catch some of them before giving up and just concentrating on making it out alive.

"The last time? Did I just hear you say the last time?? That was what you said the LAST time, and the second last time, and the third last time. Everytime I think I finally get to spend a little time with you, something crops up. Well, I believed you the first 5 times when you said it was gonna be the last. But I'd be a complete idiot to even think that you're going to keep your word again. So tell me, you bloody liar, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME GONNA BE THE FUCKING LAST??!!"

There was a pause in the raining debris, and he lowered his arms from above his head in relief, trying to muster some form of argument. His shirt hit him smack in the face, and he pulled it on, thankful it wasn't something harder.

"Duo, you know how my sisters are, the only way to get them off our backs is if I fulfill my end of the deal with them!"

"Our backs? You mean YOUR back. Your sisters hate me and the feeling is mutual."

"Can't you just be reasonable for a minute? I'm trying to get them to accept us here, and even if it means I have to hit 60 billion credits by the end of this month, I'm going to do it! Then they'll have no choice but to accept that we're gonna get married." It made perfect sense to Quatre: why couldn't Duo just calm down and see his point of view?

Duo gripped the railing hard for a moment, his knuckles turning white. Then he flung loose and paced up and down, his long hair whipping behind him with every turn. "I! I! I! That's all I ever hear. 'I can't make it this time, I have a deal coming up.' 'Can we cancel? This job is really critical.' 'Can you try to get along with my sisters? It's really important to me.' It's just all about you, isn't it, Quatre Raberba Winner? I've tolerated all the times you stood me up, I've tried to be nice to your sisters, though God knows that they're just bigoted bitches who'd rather you be with any hag than with me." He stopped in mid-pace, spinning around to look down at Quatre, eyes flashing. "Well, this is the final straw, Quatre. The job or me. Make your choice."

Quatre's heart sank. It was even worse than he thought. Duo was issuing ultimatums now. Gazing up at the stormy glare coming his way, such an unusual expression on a face more accustomed to smiles and laughter, he could feel himself being pulled in different directions.

With the money Treize was paying for this operation, he would hit 60 billion credits with millions to spare, and he would have fulfilled his sisters' unreasonable demands. He had been hoping to resolve their conflict peaceably. He knew that his sisters had expected him to marry a girl and carry on the family line and he'd been fully planning on doing that, even though he'd realised he was gay since he was 12. His sisters had worked hard to maintain their company after their parents had died, and the eldest, Iria, had been more like a mother than sister to him. The last thing he wanted to do in the world was disappoint them. But the day he met Duo, he had known that there could be no one else for him.

So one day, he'd introduced Duo to his 29 sisters. It was like tossing dynamite into a fire, the results were explosive. Way too explosive. He still shuddered at the memory of that day.

He was at cold war with his sisters for months, much as it hurt him - he hated the rejection implicit in their words and actions. So when Iria finally suggested that if he could bring in 60 billion credits for their company within the next 12 months, they would let him do what he wanted, he had grabbed it like a lifeline.

That had been the beginning of his problems with Duo. To take on the extra deals he was making, he had to cut down on his time with his beloved, and though the American was pretty agreeable initially, his patience was gradually worn thin. Then the arguments started. At times he wondered if it wasn't for the best to just give it up and run away with Duo, but he just couldn't let go of his ties to his family.

But if Duo was going to leave him, what was the point of doing all this? The strategist in his mind was plotting away even as he looked up pleadingly at Duo, hoping to get him to soften.

The deal with Treize... was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. It signified the end of his family conflict and a happy-ever-after with Duo. Staring up at the gorgeous heart-shaped face, he hardened his heart.

He couldn't let go of this opportunity. He'd just try to explain and win Duo back after this. "I'm sorry, Duo. I have to go. Please, believe me, this really is the last time."

Duo released a gasp of shock. He hadn't really thought Quatre would really go through with it. "Fine, then. Go!" His breath hitched, and he choked back a sob. "Just go! Take your filthy stuff and go! I'll forget I ever met a JERK like you!!" He punctuated his last sentence by throwing Quatre's bag over the railing.

Quatre caught the bag with a 'whoomph'! Silently, he picked a few items off the floor and added them to his bag. Then, he gazed up one last time at the love of his life, and walked out of the door.

End part 2