_______________Chapter 6: Stage Set- Emotion: No more doubts
That night didn't change much of anything, so it seemed. I woke on the
ground as I had the morning before and went to school with Heero, dull
conversation ringing monotonously in both of our ears.
Classes passed like airplanes. Sure, you can see them flying overhead, but it's not like looking at it is going to do you any good. As soon as it flies by, you realize that you might've not seen it at all. It wouldn't make much of a difference, now would it?
By the time history class was over I was smiling insanely, knowing that lunch was next. I saw Heero waiting in the lunch line, and I came from behind him.
"HEE-CHAN!"
Yuy death glare.
"You're day was that bad, huh?"
"."
"Yeah, that's what I thought," I glanced at today's meal behind the counter and cringed, "And the day gets more dismal by the hour."
"Hn" Heero finally graced me with a word, when he would have knocked any other kid flat on his face without another thought about it. He must love me.well either that or he just wanted me to shut up, which was much more likely, but I guy can dream, can't he?
In the lunch line I knew that words weren't getting through to Heero, so I thought I'd better let my actions do the talking.
I squeezed closer to him every chance I got, and brushed my hand against his shoulder once as I intentionally reached over him to get a fork. I didn't need a fork to eat my lunch. Heero gasped a little as he felt the heat of my hand. I smiled at him, and his face became emotionless once again. I was going to break him out of that stone if it killed me. (Talk about empty promises.hehe get it?...ARGH! You guys are hopeless.)
We sat down with Trowa and Quatre. I made sure not to sit next to Wufei because of two things. Number one, Wufei was fun to tease, but if I did, he'd just leave like last time. And number two, Quatre had warned me about his mini-katana that he seemed to enjoy carrying around.for an unknown reason. It might get ugly if he swung at me with the thing (which was not at all unlikely, all things considered) and I didn't bleed.
Heero rarely said anything, quietly observing Trowa, making sure that he was OK. After all, this was the boy he was supposed to be guarding. I observed Relena make her way to the table, and she noticed me sitting next to Heero. She jealously narrowed her eyes.
It was show-time! All the players were staged, and the first act was about to begin.
"Heero" I whispered so that no one could hear, ".Heero?"
"Hn" he mumbled back. It was better than nothing.
"You remember what I told you about getting Tro and Q together?" I was excited, but managed to keep my voice down low enough so that only Heero could understand.
"Hn" Great, that means he remembered! Now, if I could just expand his vocabulary.
"Well, I've set the stage for them. They're totally in love! Only they don't know it yet. They're both really unsure of their sexuality and." I was interrupted.
"Good. What do I have to do?"
"Well.you know.show them it's ok to like each other.and you're gonna have to help me." I paused to make sure Relena was watching. Perfect.
"Duo, what is it we have to do?" Heero was impatient.
I looked into his cobalt eyes, and my violet ones sparkled mischievously. I could see he was surprised by this, but also I saw his eyes show something.was the angel feeling emotion, feeling emotion for me. I guess this would decide it once and for all.
".for the mission?"
"Yes, of course for the mission, baka."
I smiled insanely.
"Then kiss me."
Heero froze at this request. It was for the mission, yeah, but also for my sick and twisted pleasure. Hey, I just needed to know if Heero loved me, too. But as I said, Heero was frozen in shock, and everyone at the table noticed our inaudible conversation, looking quizzically and curiously in our direction.
Wu-man was drinking milk and staring disapprovingly (no surprise there). Quatre was watching with interest, trying to lip-read, I suppose, but we all know that Heero is much better at that. Relena was heading to the table with her best frown on, turning green with envy at Heero's attention to me. Trowa was.well, Trowa was actually watching the kid behind us fall backwards onto the slippery cafeteria floor and drop his lunch on his shirt as all this was happening; he was raising an eyebrow nonetheless.
All of their faces were truly priceless, though, when Heero leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine.
Trowa, ever silent, raised his one visible eyebrow dangerously high. Quatre smiled at briefly glanced at Trowa. Out of the corner of his eye, Trowa saw this and looked straight back at the lovely blond boy, smiling, and slightly surprised. Wufei, isolated on the other end of the table, was now choking on the milk coming through his nose and mouth, and eventually running out of the cafeteria in shock and disgust. And wait, here's my favorite part, Relena was seen with the color escaping her cheeks as she swiftly fainted on the floor and was rushed to the nurse's office by a nearby teacher. I had this feeling Relena wouldn't get in the way any more.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ HERE'S WHERE WE LEFT OFF_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I don't think I noticed when Heero pulled away from the kiss. I still had my eyes closed and I felt like if I had been standing, my knees would have given way a long time ago. I opened my eyes and found that Heero had been staring at me, with eyes closed and all. I must have looked like an idiot, and I was surprised when Heero didn't call me one. I think he was lost for words, too, because he looked confused, almost as if to say 'what just happened?' My sentiments exactly; I hadn't actually expected him to kiss me, but damn, it felt good!
It was then that I realized it was the mission. Heero had only kissed me because of the mission! He'd been on this mission for what, 7 years or something. He would have done just about anything to get Quatre and Trowa together at this point. But the way he looked at me, I wanted to believe that it was real, I really did, but I probably was just imagining things. Well, at least something good had come of the kiss. I had successfully found that I was hopelessly in love, and it hurt.
I must have turned my eyes away from Heero at some point in my train of thought, because I found I was looking at my hands, playing nervously with them. I asked him to play the part. I was the casting director, and I'd just dug myself deeper into this unrequited love. Maybe I wasn't such a genius after all. Nah, I'm still a genius. It was just a minor setback. But then again, if it was just a minor thing, than why did I feel so horrible?
Suddenly I found myself staring at Heero's eyes with sadness and then anger at what I knew I couldn't have. I averted my eyes.
"You're one hell of an actor, you know that Heero?"
My eyes watered as I said this, and although I was on the brink of tears, I refused to cry. I got up and started to leave when I noticed Heero was coming after me. He touched my arm gently. I stopped and turned painfully into his intense eyes and I couldn't turn away.
"Who says I'm acting?"
I melted as he kissed me a second time, and as I closed my eyes the tears that had been on the brink of falling were forced to drip silently down my cheeks. But I assure you, these were not tears of sadness. I had never felt such joy.
Heero pulled away softly, and he wiped the tears away from my smiling face. I thought that he was smiling, too. He didn't say anything else, because there was no need. He had said all that I needed to hear. It was enough, and I had no intention of spoiling it.
As we walked back to the table, I started chuckling at the blond Arab and his stoic friend, who were both staring questioningly, and then happily, as Heero and I approached the table. I was so intent on getting Heero and me together that I'd almost forgotten about Trowa and Quatre.
Heero and I sat down, and I moved closer to him so that we were just touching. He felt a little uncomfortable, I could tell, but he was so cute when he was uncomfortable. I'd probably have done something else to make him even more uncomfortable, too, if I hadn't realized that Trowa and Quatre were still staring at us. Teasing Heero would have to wait till later; I had a mission to complete.
"What are you looking at?" I smirked at them both, and then looked at Heero as I took his hand in mine underneath the table.
"Nothing," Quatre replied with a sweet smile, but with sadness in his eyes. I knew that sadness was for Trowa, who looked solemn as usual.
I looked at Trowa, waiting for a response, knowing that I'd probably never get one, but it was worth a try.
"Hey Tro, what about you?" He looked up at me with the same pain as Quatre had in his eyes, and then turned to Quatre.
"Quatre, I." He started. I watched him stop; but he was so close. He had already decided the time wasn't right, and he assumed his normal state once more, ".Nothing." He finished.
"You know Trowa," the blond began, and Trowa widened his eye and looked at Quatre, "you can tell me anything."
As I watched the stoic boy deliberating, I could almost see the gears turning in his head. I hadn't seen anything so concentrated since I caught Wufei meditating in the empty gym after school, listening to classical music on his walkman. I chuckled inwardly at the remembrance.
"I know, Quatre," Trowa answered quietly and looked into the blue eyes with longing, "I know."
It was hard for me to just sit there, knowing that the person I was guarding was struggling with his feelings. I had promised myself before that I would let them tell each other. It was more romantic that way, but it was very hard not to. It was cruel to watch friends suffer like that. It wasn't fair to them. Something had to happen, I just knew it. I looked at Heero and he nodded. He knew what to do. I hadn't forgotten he was Trowa's guardian, and right now Trowa needed help more than ever before.
"It's okay Trowa," Heero said gently, "we're all friends here. What's wrong?"
I felt kind of bad that we were putting the pressure on Trowa to come out and say something, but it made more sense that way. Quatre was so obvious, while Trowa was not. Quatre had been trying so hard for so long to get the green-eyed boy's attention, while he didn't need to. Trowa had liked him all along, and now it was his turn to do something about it. It had to be him this time around.
Trowa turned to Quatre, and Quatre widened his blue eyes, surprised at his crush's actions.
"Trowa." Quatre started, but was cut off by a word from the boy he had addressed.
"Wait." Trowa said.
"Why?"
"Because there's something I have to tell you."
"Yes?"
"I think, I think I love you." Trowa took a short, but sharp inhalation of breath and bit his lip in the realization of what he had just said. And something told me he wasn't prepared when Quatre's eyes became a waterworks.
"Really, Trowa." The blond boy was shedding silent tears of happiness. Surprised as he was, Trowa was able to manage a nod as Quatre wrapped his arms around him. I can only assume they felt the same joy that Heero and I had, and I was re-living the moment as I watched the two realize their love for one another.
I looked at Heero with a huge grin as Trowa and Quatre shared a first kiss.
"I told ya they'd make a cute couple."
"Hn" he smiled at them. The stone boy wasn't coming off so emotionless after all. I think I'd warmed him up a bit, don't you?
Well, it seemed there was only one thing to say at a time like this, and Heero came in right on cue.
"Mission accomplished."
Classes passed like airplanes. Sure, you can see them flying overhead, but it's not like looking at it is going to do you any good. As soon as it flies by, you realize that you might've not seen it at all. It wouldn't make much of a difference, now would it?
By the time history class was over I was smiling insanely, knowing that lunch was next. I saw Heero waiting in the lunch line, and I came from behind him.
"HEE-CHAN!"
Yuy death glare.
"You're day was that bad, huh?"
"."
"Yeah, that's what I thought," I glanced at today's meal behind the counter and cringed, "And the day gets more dismal by the hour."
"Hn" Heero finally graced me with a word, when he would have knocked any other kid flat on his face without another thought about it. He must love me.well either that or he just wanted me to shut up, which was much more likely, but I guy can dream, can't he?
In the lunch line I knew that words weren't getting through to Heero, so I thought I'd better let my actions do the talking.
I squeezed closer to him every chance I got, and brushed my hand against his shoulder once as I intentionally reached over him to get a fork. I didn't need a fork to eat my lunch. Heero gasped a little as he felt the heat of my hand. I smiled at him, and his face became emotionless once again. I was going to break him out of that stone if it killed me. (Talk about empty promises.hehe get it?...ARGH! You guys are hopeless.)
We sat down with Trowa and Quatre. I made sure not to sit next to Wufei because of two things. Number one, Wufei was fun to tease, but if I did, he'd just leave like last time. And number two, Quatre had warned me about his mini-katana that he seemed to enjoy carrying around.for an unknown reason. It might get ugly if he swung at me with the thing (which was not at all unlikely, all things considered) and I didn't bleed.
Heero rarely said anything, quietly observing Trowa, making sure that he was OK. After all, this was the boy he was supposed to be guarding. I observed Relena make her way to the table, and she noticed me sitting next to Heero. She jealously narrowed her eyes.
It was show-time! All the players were staged, and the first act was about to begin.
"Heero" I whispered so that no one could hear, ".Heero?"
"Hn" he mumbled back. It was better than nothing.
"You remember what I told you about getting Tro and Q together?" I was excited, but managed to keep my voice down low enough so that only Heero could understand.
"Hn" Great, that means he remembered! Now, if I could just expand his vocabulary.
"Well, I've set the stage for them. They're totally in love! Only they don't know it yet. They're both really unsure of their sexuality and." I was interrupted.
"Good. What do I have to do?"
"Well.you know.show them it's ok to like each other.and you're gonna have to help me." I paused to make sure Relena was watching. Perfect.
"Duo, what is it we have to do?" Heero was impatient.
I looked into his cobalt eyes, and my violet ones sparkled mischievously. I could see he was surprised by this, but also I saw his eyes show something.was the angel feeling emotion, feeling emotion for me. I guess this would decide it once and for all.
".for the mission?"
"Yes, of course for the mission, baka."
I smiled insanely.
"Then kiss me."
Heero froze at this request. It was for the mission, yeah, but also for my sick and twisted pleasure. Hey, I just needed to know if Heero loved me, too. But as I said, Heero was frozen in shock, and everyone at the table noticed our inaudible conversation, looking quizzically and curiously in our direction.
Wu-man was drinking milk and staring disapprovingly (no surprise there). Quatre was watching with interest, trying to lip-read, I suppose, but we all know that Heero is much better at that. Relena was heading to the table with her best frown on, turning green with envy at Heero's attention to me. Trowa was.well, Trowa was actually watching the kid behind us fall backwards onto the slippery cafeteria floor and drop his lunch on his shirt as all this was happening; he was raising an eyebrow nonetheless.
All of their faces were truly priceless, though, when Heero leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine.
Trowa, ever silent, raised his one visible eyebrow dangerously high. Quatre smiled at briefly glanced at Trowa. Out of the corner of his eye, Trowa saw this and looked straight back at the lovely blond boy, smiling, and slightly surprised. Wufei, isolated on the other end of the table, was now choking on the milk coming through his nose and mouth, and eventually running out of the cafeteria in shock and disgust. And wait, here's my favorite part, Relena was seen with the color escaping her cheeks as she swiftly fainted on the floor and was rushed to the nurse's office by a nearby teacher. I had this feeling Relena wouldn't get in the way any more.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ HERE'S WHERE WE LEFT OFF_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I don't think I noticed when Heero pulled away from the kiss. I still had my eyes closed and I felt like if I had been standing, my knees would have given way a long time ago. I opened my eyes and found that Heero had been staring at me, with eyes closed and all. I must have looked like an idiot, and I was surprised when Heero didn't call me one. I think he was lost for words, too, because he looked confused, almost as if to say 'what just happened?' My sentiments exactly; I hadn't actually expected him to kiss me, but damn, it felt good!
It was then that I realized it was the mission. Heero had only kissed me because of the mission! He'd been on this mission for what, 7 years or something. He would have done just about anything to get Quatre and Trowa together at this point. But the way he looked at me, I wanted to believe that it was real, I really did, but I probably was just imagining things. Well, at least something good had come of the kiss. I had successfully found that I was hopelessly in love, and it hurt.
I must have turned my eyes away from Heero at some point in my train of thought, because I found I was looking at my hands, playing nervously with them. I asked him to play the part. I was the casting director, and I'd just dug myself deeper into this unrequited love. Maybe I wasn't such a genius after all. Nah, I'm still a genius. It was just a minor setback. But then again, if it was just a minor thing, than why did I feel so horrible?
Suddenly I found myself staring at Heero's eyes with sadness and then anger at what I knew I couldn't have. I averted my eyes.
"You're one hell of an actor, you know that Heero?"
My eyes watered as I said this, and although I was on the brink of tears, I refused to cry. I got up and started to leave when I noticed Heero was coming after me. He touched my arm gently. I stopped and turned painfully into his intense eyes and I couldn't turn away.
"Who says I'm acting?"
I melted as he kissed me a second time, and as I closed my eyes the tears that had been on the brink of falling were forced to drip silently down my cheeks. But I assure you, these were not tears of sadness. I had never felt such joy.
Heero pulled away softly, and he wiped the tears away from my smiling face. I thought that he was smiling, too. He didn't say anything else, because there was no need. He had said all that I needed to hear. It was enough, and I had no intention of spoiling it.
As we walked back to the table, I started chuckling at the blond Arab and his stoic friend, who were both staring questioningly, and then happily, as Heero and I approached the table. I was so intent on getting Heero and me together that I'd almost forgotten about Trowa and Quatre.
Heero and I sat down, and I moved closer to him so that we were just touching. He felt a little uncomfortable, I could tell, but he was so cute when he was uncomfortable. I'd probably have done something else to make him even more uncomfortable, too, if I hadn't realized that Trowa and Quatre were still staring at us. Teasing Heero would have to wait till later; I had a mission to complete.
"What are you looking at?" I smirked at them both, and then looked at Heero as I took his hand in mine underneath the table.
"Nothing," Quatre replied with a sweet smile, but with sadness in his eyes. I knew that sadness was for Trowa, who looked solemn as usual.
I looked at Trowa, waiting for a response, knowing that I'd probably never get one, but it was worth a try.
"Hey Tro, what about you?" He looked up at me with the same pain as Quatre had in his eyes, and then turned to Quatre.
"Quatre, I." He started. I watched him stop; but he was so close. He had already decided the time wasn't right, and he assumed his normal state once more, ".Nothing." He finished.
"You know Trowa," the blond began, and Trowa widened his eye and looked at Quatre, "you can tell me anything."
As I watched the stoic boy deliberating, I could almost see the gears turning in his head. I hadn't seen anything so concentrated since I caught Wufei meditating in the empty gym after school, listening to classical music on his walkman. I chuckled inwardly at the remembrance.
"I know, Quatre," Trowa answered quietly and looked into the blue eyes with longing, "I know."
It was hard for me to just sit there, knowing that the person I was guarding was struggling with his feelings. I had promised myself before that I would let them tell each other. It was more romantic that way, but it was very hard not to. It was cruel to watch friends suffer like that. It wasn't fair to them. Something had to happen, I just knew it. I looked at Heero and he nodded. He knew what to do. I hadn't forgotten he was Trowa's guardian, and right now Trowa needed help more than ever before.
"It's okay Trowa," Heero said gently, "we're all friends here. What's wrong?"
I felt kind of bad that we were putting the pressure on Trowa to come out and say something, but it made more sense that way. Quatre was so obvious, while Trowa was not. Quatre had been trying so hard for so long to get the green-eyed boy's attention, while he didn't need to. Trowa had liked him all along, and now it was his turn to do something about it. It had to be him this time around.
Trowa turned to Quatre, and Quatre widened his blue eyes, surprised at his crush's actions.
"Trowa." Quatre started, but was cut off by a word from the boy he had addressed.
"Wait." Trowa said.
"Why?"
"Because there's something I have to tell you."
"Yes?"
"I think, I think I love you." Trowa took a short, but sharp inhalation of breath and bit his lip in the realization of what he had just said. And something told me he wasn't prepared when Quatre's eyes became a waterworks.
"Really, Trowa." The blond boy was shedding silent tears of happiness. Surprised as he was, Trowa was able to manage a nod as Quatre wrapped his arms around him. I can only assume they felt the same joy that Heero and I had, and I was re-living the moment as I watched the two realize their love for one another.
I looked at Heero with a huge grin as Trowa and Quatre shared a first kiss.
"I told ya they'd make a cute couple."
"Hn" he smiled at them. The stone boy wasn't coming off so emotionless after all. I think I'd warmed him up a bit, don't you?
Well, it seemed there was only one thing to say at a time like this, and Heero came in right on cue.
"Mission accomplished."