Warnings: Yaoi, NCS and violence later on
Pairings: 1x2, 2x5, 1x5(NCS)
Summary: After the war, Duo and Wufei are living a peaceful life together. However, when Heero returns, things change...
A/N: I apologize in advance for a few things in this chapter, the biggest being the stopping place. Things moved a bit too quickly, and I'm not sure where I'm going to go from here. Also, please read my bio thingy for some important information regarding this and my other stories.
Things Change
by Amyeyl
Chapter 4
I'm awoken, I think, by the sound of the doorbell. I lift my head from the pillow, listening. Perhaps I imagined it, I don't hear anything now. After waiting a moment longer, just to be sure, I re-cuddle up against Duo. A smile on my face, my eyes flutter shut. I missed this last night, missed having his arms about me as I slept. It won't be that hard to-
There it is again. With a sigh I climb out of bed. I'd much rather stay with Duo, but that should be Quatre or Trowa. I called them yesterday asking them to come over today to discuss some things, but it's early even for one of them. They've known Duo for as long as I have, if not longer, and they should know he never wakes up before noon, even now. A quick glance at the clock so I can be accurate when demanding to know why they're here so early and- oh.
When did it get so late? I hurry out of the room as the bell rings again. What kind of person sleeps until two in the afternoon? Well, other than Duo. We weren't up that late last night, and I did get a little sleep on the couch. Maybe this thing with Heero is affecting me more than I thought.
I reach the door and stand on tiptoes to look out of the peephole. I really do hate being short. That's strange, there's no one there. They rang the bell not even a minute ago, surely I didn't keep them waiting that long.
I reach automatically for the lock on the door, planning on taking a look down the hallway. My instincts, however, tell me that's a stupid thing to do. Heero could be waiting on the other side of the door just as easily as Quatre or Trowa could. My hand pulls back before connecting with the doorknob. I happen to look down and then I'm taking a few steps backwards.
The door's unlocked. I checked it myself before bed, and Duo checked it at least three times as well. It shouldn't be unlocked.
What? I thought I heard...
"d...Duo?" I hazard a whisper.
There. Louder this time. Not my name but...
"Good morning, 05." It's Heero. He's standing in the doorway to the kitchen now, eating a bowl of cereal. It's so normal, so everyday, and so very wrong.
I try to remain calm, but my breathing becomes erratic, betraying me. A few more backward steps, closer to the hallway, closer to Duo. If I can get to Duo...
"G-good morning, Heero." He smiles at me, still holding his bowl. I've never seen him smile like that before. It looks so normal, not the kind of smile you'd expect to see on the face of someone who had just broken into your home, but the smile neighbors use to greet one another. Polite, friendly...sane.
To get to the bedroom from here, I have to get past him. I wonder if he'd just stand there, smile, and let me by. What would he do if I were to call for Duo?
He's watching me closely, taking note of every move I make. You can see it in his eyes, the only part of him that belies the good-natured persona he's putting forth. They're much too... focused. The way they're staring at everything, soaking in every detail and every miniscule movement. Hawkeyed, I think they call it.
His smile brightens as I try and keep my eyes on him as well as glance down the hall.
"You want to call Duo?" I hesitate before slowly nodding. What kind of game is he playing? "Go ahead. He'd be upset if he missed out. After all, it was his idea that I let him participate. On second thought, I should go and get him myself."
He had placed his bowl on a counter and started down the hallway before I fully realize what he had said.
"DUO!!" I cry out as I rush down the hall, hoping to wake him before Heero does.
**********
"'Fei?" His scream pulls me from sleep and I frown in confusion when I don't find him in bed next to me. Getting up and starting towards the doorway, I come face to face with Heero.
He's changed, I find myself thinking, since the last time I saw him. Since the war ended. He's taller, not that much more so, but enough to make a noticeable difference. He's more muscular, he's...to put it simply he looks more like a man and less like a boy trying to be one. His eyes, though, they look younger, less hard, less cold.
"Duo." You can hear the smile on his face in his voice. It's...creepy.
"Heero..." As he comes further into the room, I catch sight of Wufei over his shoulder. I shake my head, telling him not to enter the room. Heero frowns for a moment, staring intently at me.
"Something's different. Your hair, you cut your hair."
"I cut my hair seven years ago." I can't believe he didn't notice. After he...
"I'm sorry, I suppose I didn't notice."
"You bastard," it comes out as a low growl, surprising even me. I didn't think my voice could do that. It didn't have any affect, though, he's smiling again.
"You don't have to pretend with me, Duo."
"What-?"
"You don't have to be strong, I know you're not. Not like 05. So you don't have to pretend."
It's the stupidest thing I could have done, I know that. I knew it before I did it and I had promised myself and 'Fei that I wouldn't, but I did it anyway. Hand-to-hand has never been my specialty. That was all Heero and Wufei. I think I was better at it than Quatre, though.
Yet, knowing all of this, I launch myself at him, screaming like an enraged madman. I have the element of surprise on my side, at least. You can see it as he eyes widen when my body crashes into his with a loud, fleshy thump.
My body weight and momentum carry us all the way to the floor. He really must have been caught off guard if he hasn't retaliated yet. There's blood on my hand, and while I'm not completely sure, I think it's his. My fist connects multiple times with his face while I scream at him. I'm not sure what I'm saying, or if I'm saying anything at all. Perhaps it's the pure sound of rage.
I realize through my bloodlust that he's not fighting back. This shocks me enough that I cease my assault. Could I have somehow taken down Heero? Me? Take down Heero? I'm on a roll today for stupid ideas.
He lies on the floor, pinned beneath me. The same blood that stains my hand trickles from a split lip. But the picture's all wrong. He's still smiling. Why is he smiling?!
I'm afraid, afraid of that smile. Why won't he stop? I shuffle backwards and stand up. Wufei is in the doorway, watching the two of us, but ready at any moment to enter into the fighting. Heero sits up and wipes the blood from his face with the back of his hand. He stands up slowly and looks at me questioningly.
"Do you feel better now?" His left eye is beginning to swell shut. I feel bad for hitting him. He's so damn calm and I've become irrational, unthinking. I've hurt him and he didn't make the slightest move to defend himself. I don't know how to react. He's threatened to do something to Wufei and broken into our home to fulfill said threat, but he hasn't done anything violent. What do I do now? "Well, do you?"
"No," Answer his question, it's something. He shrugs and turns his back on me, facing Wufei.
"Oh well. Are you ready to go?"