"A Christmas Story" Chapter 2


Duo stood at the counter handing over several small bills to the lady on the other side. Shopping for Christmas this year had been a bit harder then normal.

"Duo!" a voice called causing him to turn. There standing in the stores entrance was a tall man with emerald eyes, only one was hidden by his long bangs. "Done yet?"

"Almost," Duo replied taking his change and bag. Joining his childhood friend they continued through the mall. A few moments later a man with short black hair joined them. "Hey Wufei, about time you showed up."

"Sorry had to help my father with the business," Wufei replied.

"Oh I see," Duo snorted. "Hey guess what Trowa, remember that young man I told you about. Who used to be a regular at the diner until a year ago? Well last night he appeared outside the windows. Only he didn't come inside and he almost seemed scared of me when I tried to talk to him."

"You could scare anyone," Wufei threw in.

"So your crush finally showed back up," Trowa finally said.

"I never said..." Duo started but Wufei interrupted him.

"You never stopped talking about him either."

"Oh shut up!"

"Make me," Wufei replied sticking his tongue out at the other.

"No one asked you anyway!" Duo snapped sticking his own tongue out in return, when he was stopped by a voice he remembered from last night. Turning he saw the young woman who had been worrying over her younger brother, only when he saw the boy in tow his eyes almost fell out his head.

"Come on Heero," the woman said her hand firmly wrapped around a slender wrist as wild brown hair shifted with his steps. "I'm so tired of you just sitting at home in that window."

"Stop it Lena! I told you," his voice almost sounded scared as his eyes darted around the mall.

Duo couldn't believe it was him, he jabbed Trowa's side drawing the other's attention. "That's him." So his name is Heero... but if that's his older sister.

His eyes widen as he watched the young man stumble back ripping his hand from her. His clear blue eyes were full of a horror Duo didn't understand. He turned away from the young woman and ran. Duo lost sight of him in the crowd before turning to see the young woman was crying.

Leaving his two friends he approached her, "Are you okay?"

She looked up her eyes full of regret. "Yes I'm fine," she managed.

"I waited on you at the diner only you didn't want anything I could give. Was that him?" Duo asked.

"Oh. Yes," she replied turning back the way he had run. "I knew forcing him wouldn't work, but I had to try. He just sits in that damn window all day. Oh I'm sorry you didn't want to hear any of this... I better make sure he made it home all right."

"Now that was odd," Wufei remarked as the woman disappeared.

Duo needed to know what was happening. Since the first day he had seen that boy, Heero, he had felt something inside him come to life. He was deeply concerned about both of them, but Heero the most.

"Trowa could you help me track down where they live?" Duo asked finally turning to his two friends. Trowa nodded silently before the three continued on their way.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Trowa handed Duo a small folded piece of paper a slight smile on his face. The bell of the diner door rang, letting the long haired man know he had another customer. A small blonde with deep aquamarine eyes sat at one of the tables for two. Duo smiled as he approached the table. "What can I get for ya?"

The blonde looked at him a moment before smiling brightly. "Freedom."

"Oh I see, from what?" Duo asked with a grin.

"My father's business..." the blonde answered before looking down at the menu. "But food wise I think I'll have a chicken salad."

"One chicken salad, with a side of freedom coming up," Duo replied with a wink causing the blonde to laugh. Returning to the counter where Trowa sat he smiled at his friend. "Thanks for the address."

Trowa nodded before standing up, "I better get going."

He pushed the door open when a movement drew his attention. Emerald met aquamarine for several heartbeats before the blonde turned his gaze away. Trowa continued out the door with only a slight glance back.

The evening wore on as the place started to empty out. Duo poured the warm brown liquid into the small white cup before snapping a plastic lid on top. "Harry is it okay if I leave early tonight?"

"Sure," the man in the kitchen answered. "Business is pretty slow tonight."

"Thanks see ya tomorrow," Duo replied slipping into his coat and picking up the steaming cup.

Checking the piece of paper again Duo looked at the large home making sure he was at the right place. He gently press the small round button beside the door, hearing the chime even from the outside.

He watched with anticipation as the door slowly opened, bouncing from one foot to the other. A small figure was revealed to him, as the reason he had come stood on the other side. "Uh hi, I brought you this," Duo said offering the cup.

Heero's eyes settled on the container, knowing exactly what was inside. He wondered how Duo could have found out where he lived or why he was really there.

"Who is it Heero?" his sister's voice asked. She came up to stand behind him her hand holding onto the door, as if to keep it open. "Oh you're that waiter from the diner. What's that?"

"Uh, your cup of self forgiveness," Duo offered with a slight smile.

Heero stepped back bumping into the young woman before he turn and fled back into the depths of the large home. The woman smiled as best she could, "I'm sorry, he's like that with everyone. Won't you come in?"

Duo nodded and stepped inside to allow her to shut the door. "I only wanted to help."

"And thank you, he's just hard to reach anymore," she replied stepping further into the house.

"I'd like to give this to him," Duo said lifting up the cup.

"He won't accept it but I'll show you the way to his room," she answered. "That's where he went, back to that damn bay window."

"I don't understand," Duo replied following her up the stairs.

"I didn't expect you to."

"This is a big house," Duo observed as they walked down a long hallway.

"And a lonely, quiet house," she whispered sadly.

Duo knew what she had meant. "What's your name?"

"Oh I'm sorry, my name is Relena," she said stopping in front of a closed door.

"Mine's Duo, and you called him Heero."

She nodded and turned to leave, when she suddenly stopped again. "Duo would you live to stay for dinner?"

"Oh I couldn't."

"Please, it'll be nice to have a guest."

"Well... all right," Duo caved at the loneliness in her voice.

She smiled and continued on her way leaving him alone with that closed door. Turning the knob he gently pushed it open and stepped inside the dimly lit room. He spot Heero easily, the young man was outlined by the moon's rays through the large window. He sat in the window his legs pulled to his chest as if to protect himself.

"Lena, I don't..." Heero's quiet voice stopped at he must have realized the person who entered was not his sister.

Duo approached the window silently, those blue eyes focused on him. He set the cup beside Heero before beginning to speak. "Yeah, well since you didn't come in I thought I'd bring it to you, my treat of course."

"Why are you here?" Heero asked his voice low and cold.

Duo took the empty spot across from him his violet eyes looking out the window a moment before turning to settle on Heero again. "Well after that scene in the mall, I was worried. I mean one of my regulars just stops showing up for a year, then reappears only to disappear silently again. Well, I was worried that's all," Duo rambled on.

Heero's eyes focused outside the window his mind lost in thought. Why didn't he tell him to just get out? Why was he even worried in the first place? It wasn't like they were friends or even knew each other as acquaintances.

"Heero?"

He turned to face the braided man, startled that he knew his name. How was that... oh he must have heard Lena say it before. "You don't even know me."

"I'd like to."