Sorry for the delay. I've been a bit busy lately, but here it is, just like
I promised!
Thanks for the reviews everyone! *smiles*
And thanks for your support!
Ok, here goes..
***********************
Meeting Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa at the space port wasn't the most happy of times.
Duo tried to keep the conversations lighthearted because he didn't want to upset any of his friends by talking about Heero.
"So, Quat, what've you been up to all this time?" Duo asked as he turned off the radio that had been blasting in the car.
He only did this to make it seem a polite gesture, rather than an escape from the unspoken threat Wufei had given him if Duo didn't turn off the music, as he glared at the braided one through the backseat mirror. Man, if looks could kill!
It really wasn't fair. The guy refused to sit in the back because 'only weaklings sit in the back seat', and then he had to glare at his comrades for the whole ride. Duo would have said 'injustice,' but he didn't have a death wish.
"Oh, well, Duo, I took up my father's position as head of the Winner Family Corporation. You knew that, though. I've been doing quite well since then. I've missed everyone, though." Quatre looked a little timid as he said the next thing, but he knew it had to be said eventually, "How's Heero?"
Duo cringed slightly at the mention of Heero. It wasn't right of him to shy away from the subject just because it was painful. Sally had called them to tell them the facts, but only Duo could tell them the details, because he knew Heero better than anyone. Years of close observation of a certain perfect soldier had left Duo as an expert. Duo knew Heero's personality down to every 'hn' and glare that ever crossed his face.
"I just spent all last night talking to him about you guys. Apparently, my name is all he's remembered yet. The doctors say he'll be able to walk in a few days, now."
"That's not so bad," Trowa finally spoke amidst all the silence, trying to calm the troubled thoughts that filled the empty conversation.
Quatre nodded his head and went back to thinking.
Wufei saw Duo's hand was sneakily heading towards the button to turn on the radio. Duo saw Wufei eyeing his braid, though, and quickly put his hand back on the steering wheel. It was good to have his friends back, even if it meant putting up with threats to his braid. None of them would ever really cut it, he didn't think, but with Wufei, you never know. Duo may have had his weak points, but he wasn't stupid. When it came to Wufei, he was sure to keep himself, well, more specifically his braid, at a safe distance. They'd just have to live without music for this car ride.
"So, Duo, you're taking care of him after he leaves the hospital?" Quatre pried further. His acute observations had told him there was something more than a simple 'friend' factor between Duo and Heero, but he had never really known for sure.
"Yeah, he is." Duo quickly added, "Don't worry, I cleaned. You can actually see the floor."
This received a meek smile from his comrades. Duo knew this conversation was really starting to go down the drain. He would have said something else witty, except that he couldn't think of anything to say, except to say how he felt, and the silence was driving him crazy. Belt his heart out, or go insane. The choice, to Duo, wasn't all that difficult.
Duo chuckled as he grieved, "Does that guy know how much it hurts me when he gets hurt? I wonder if he even cares."
"Duo..." The blond pilot stared worriedly at Duo, and quickly switched from 'Feel sorry for your friends' mode and into 'Be a best friend' mode almost mechanically. It didn't matter much, though. Duo knew better than to get too emotional when he was driving and the lives of his friends were in danger, so he sucked it up and choked back whatever tears he might have shed.
"I'm okay, Q-man. Just forget I said anything, k?"
"But, Duo," Quatre protested, "Heero does care about you! He might not show it much, but he does! You're not only his partner; not only his partner, Duo, you're his friend! You should understand that."
"No, Quatre," Duo used his full first name to add to the seriousness of his next statement. "You obviously don't get it. I WAS his friend, I WAS his partner. He couldn't give a damn about me anymore even if he wanted to. It's all gone. Can't you understand that?!"
Duo's eyes did not match the sharpness of his words, and all of the pilots saw the sorrow beneath the seemed anger. He had always loved Heero without expecting anything in return, but after talking to Heero all of the night before, Duo was confused, because he loved Heero even more than he ever had, now. 'Now' was really bad timing. Heero might come to be his friend again, but it wasn't enough. Duo wanted something more, and he cursed himself for being so selfish.
"Duo, I'm trying to understand, but from what I hear, how could it be possible for Heero to care for you any less then he had before?" Duo looked puzzled at Quatre's response.
"What do you mean, Q?" Duo couldn't believe what Quatre had said, but the blond was more than happy to explain.
"Listen, Duo. If Heero was truly your friend, as you have said he was, then it shouldn't matter that he can only remember your name. It was his choice to be your friend, Duo, and you know that Heero takes his decisions very seriously. It wouldn't be like him to change his decision. If anything, I'd think he would be even more caring for you then before." Quatre stopped when he realized what he had almost said. Quatre had almost asked Duo if he knew just how much Heero had cared for him. He blocked these words because it wasn't his place to say.
Duo was deep in thought, a little surprised by how flustered his kind friend was getting over him. It was always possible the little blond knew something he didn't. It always seemed that he did. Sighing, Duo directed his attention to the road, rather than to his thoughts. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. It was turning into a very long ride.
Silence enveloped the car, as none of them said anything else for the rest of the way. Trowa and Wufei feared they'd upset that anger by saying anything before Duo had a chance to work it out within himself, but Quatre was the wiser of them in his reasons. He had too great an understanding of his broken friend's feelings to be so foolish as to speak and upset him further. It was best allowing Duo's confusion to run its course.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Heero tossed and turned in his sleep back at the hospital. He had been fine, the night before when he fell asleep listening to the sound of Duo's voice that echoed slightly in the awkward acoustics of the room. Now, there was nothing to keep the nightmares from coming. He was always lost in his nightmares, trying to find the answers to everything, always one step away from the key to the lock on the next door. He stood looking down an eerie hallway. There were so many doors.
Duo peered into the room where Heero tossed on the bed in a deep sleep.
Quatre, Wufei, and Trowa were following, and they looked into the room Duo had stopped at, but had not entered. There, sure enough, was the Heero they had always known, wild hair, lithe body, and delicate figure. They all knew, however, that Heero was much more powerful than he looked.
Duo held up a finger to his lips and turned to the other pilots, motioning them to be silent as they walked into the sleeping Heero's room. Unfortunately, that didn't work. The slight tapping of shoes on the hard, hospital floor had immediately woken Heero from his restless sleep.
"Duo," the mop of dark brown hair lifted itself and Heero used his arms to prop himself in an upright position, and looked from the slightly surprised, but now smiling Duo, to the other faces in the room.
"I told you they were coming last night, Heero. Don't tell me you forgot." Duo looked at the enticing figure as Heero managed a smile. Priceless, Duo thought. All of Heero's emotions were priceless to him.
"You look great, Heero," Quatre extended a pale hand and a smile to Heero, who accepted them both with a casual 'hn' and a handshake.
"You're Quatre, right?" Heero remembered the wheaten hair and unmistakable smile from the pictures. Quatre nodded. It was quite an awkward situation.
"Trowa?" Heero looked at the teenager with hair that covered half his face. Trowa nodded simply with a rare and meek smile. He didn't know what else he should do.
"Wufei?" Heero turned to the greasy black hair that was attached to a scowling Wufei. The Chinese young man managed a concerned face.
"The same," Wufei answered.
Then there was a whole lot of silence, and it was killing Duo. It probably was best to let the silent ones be themselves, but even Quatre had joined the dark side. He loved all of his friends, but there were some things Duo wasn't willing to compromise; for example, his love of speech, freedom of speech to be specific, (and all that implies). Yes, as much as he would have loved to stand around and watch Heero all day, something had to be done.
Duo marched to the other side of the room for dramatic effect as the rest watched on in inadvertent stillness. Duo had their undivided attention.
"We're all finally in the same room together after over 2 years of not having seen each other. True, it took Heero's accident to get us here, but I, for one, am not going to take this day for granted."
"Duo's right." Quatre chimed in. "We haven't seen each other in so long, and we can't even find anything to talk about! How about we play a game of cards?"
"Blackjack!" Duo exclaimed. (Yes, games of luck were just about all he could handle.)
"I was thinking more of a strategic game, Duo." Quatre replied with a sigh.
"Nataku and I want to play go fish!" A black-haired boy entered the conversation, and then quickly realized everyone was staring at him, and Trowa had raised one eyebrow dangerously high "What?!"
Heero watched as the room erupted in conversation. He caught snippets of what was said in the few minutes his friends were talking, but it wasn't anything he could relate to, really. He spent most of those minutes watching Duo.
Heero had learned in the few days that he had 'known' Duo, that Duo had certain habits. Heero watched as they were repeated over and over, the hand gestures, the way Duo raised the pitch and held out a word he wanted to emphasize. He had become completely dependent on Duo for everything, and he didn't mind, except that he was putting the braided teenager through some trouble, and he was sorry for that.
The conversation between the four friends became less when they realized the reason they were here was sitting very quietly and very patiently on the bed waiting for them to settle a bit.
"Hee-chan...?" Duo ventured. The talking around him dwindled and died as the four awaited his response.
"Hn," He replied.
"What do you feel like doing?"
Heero thought about it for a minute as he looked into Duo's eyes. What DID he feel like doing? He felt like he wanted to get up out of bed, wrap his arms around Duo, and kiss him and never let go....hey wait a second! What was he THINKING! Duo was his friend, right? His friend, but then why did he feel this way? He had no right to be thinking those things, especially since he couldn't even remember who he was. It was so selfish..he didn't even remember who Duo was. And yet, Heero felt like Duo was life itself. He was the reason that Heero looked forward to waking up the past couple of mornings, the reason why Heero waited so long for the clicking of black boots that turn into a run as they fly down the corridor.
So what did Heero want to do? He wanted to remember.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the next weekend _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Mr. Yuy, your progress in walking is truly extraordinary!" The doctor had just finished checking over Heero to make sure that he was in good condition.
Heero was looking better than ever, and was now able to walk just fine on his own. Sally already had packed up Heero's clothes, and she needed a whole other suitcase to fit all the letters that Relena had written him in regards to his sickness. Heero, obviously not remembering the girl, took a strange disliking of her through her letters. All she did was talk about herself, anyway. Heero told Sally to burn them, but she insisted that the Heero bring them along. He resisted the urge to send a letter back simply stating 'Omae o korosu', but thought better of it. He'd had enough nightmares about killing, and he wasn't about to threaten another life, however much of a nuisance that life may have been.
Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei had traveled back to their lives within a couple of days. Of course they had many interesting conversations with Heero and each other. They had gone over the old photo albums that Duo had brought up. One picture of Trowa after he'd just woken up had everyone howling in laughter. All of them had often wondered what Trowa looked like before he combed his hair that way.
All in all, it was a worthwhile visit.
After they left, Duo had gone back to his apartment, but he visited Heero daily, and was impatiently awaiting the day when Heero would come to live with him. He needed to show Heero about life. This was a new beginning for Heero, not an ending. Duo intended to show his friend what life was really about, and maybe get closer to him on the way. But, he wasn't going to push it. Heero needed time, and Duo respected that. But as for Heero being put under his supervision, it seemed that Duo was about to get his wish.
"Mr. Yuy, you are in wonderful physical condition," the doctor concluded, "and if you promise me not to put too much strain on your legs, I think I can allow you leave of the hospital."
"Hn," Heero smiled. It had been a day since he had smiled; and a day since he had seen Duo. He couldn't wait to see him again, and when that time came, they wouldn't have to say goodbye.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Duo, I'm so glad you're here! I've got great news!" Sally practically knocked the wind out of Duo with shock. Duo was casually walking in the hospital, carrying a gift for Heero under his right arm and was just about to round the corner on his way to Heero's room and they practically bumped into each other. Talk about surprises.
"What is it Sal?" Duo asked excitedly, smile plastered on his glistening face like always.
"It's Heero, the doctor says he's good to leave!"
Duo's eyes widened as his smile erupted into a grin, "That's great! What does Heero think about it?" Duo's smile dimmed. He had forgotten that Heero could say no, but then again, where else would he go? Duo thought of all the times Heero had called him an idiot and various other things he didn't feel like addressing in his thoughts. Heero wouldn't possibly say yes to living with him if that was really how he felt.
"What, are you kidding, that guy can't wait to see you! I'm telling you, Duo, you've got to tell him how you feel."
"I'll keep that in mind," Duo said as he rushed down the hall, but fully meaning what Sally had said. He'd thought about it so many times before, but it was different, now. Duo wasn't hiding. He had tried to hide from his feelings before, in the car, but he now knew that nothing could be gained by hiding. He used to bring the veil over his eyes, as some sort of protection from the sorrow that he knew could come of confrontation, but no more. Duo Maxwell, he decided, was going to be Duo Maxwell all the way, and Heero was going to have to deal with it.
Duo ran into Heero's room where Heero's bags were packed, and he was ready to go.
"Duo." Heero said in his usual monotone, looking out the window to avoid eye contact. Heero was afraid of his own confrontations, but Duo's wild and free personality was going to change all of that soon enough.
"Hee-chan, you're coming home with me?" Duo asked timidly, and Heero nodded, looking at Duo straight in the eye before Duo ran up to put a hand around Heero's shoulders, starting to lead him out of the room. Heero glared at Duo, and Duo laughed, touching Heero's nose gently.
"You're kind of cute when you get all angry, Hee-chan, but when you're in my apartment, you go by my rules, and that means no glaring, okay?"
*glare*
"Okay, okay! You can glare." Duo took his arm off Heero and crossed his arms kind of teasingly with a kind of lively spark in his eyes. Heero didn't know exactly what that was for, but it was making him go weak at the knees.
"But if you're allowed to glare, that means that you also have to smile, Hee-chan."
Heero looked at Duo curiously, and it took all of Duo's self control to laugh instead of kissing Heero. Duo couldn't help his longing, Heero just looked so adorable when he gave Duo that look, and it was something Heero had never done to the best of Duo's knowledge before he lost his memory.
There was no more reason to hide, Duo thought to himself as he led Heero out to the car, entertaining with some idle conversation.
There was no more reason for Heero to be afraid of showing who he really was. No, there never was a reason, but the fear was always there. The fear had left with Heero's memory, and it seemed he would never have reason to be afraid any longer.
Duo waved goodbye to Sally at the door of the hospital, and pulled out of the parking lot with his car, and with Heero. They were going home, and there was every reason in the world to show Heero how life how life was supposed to be lived, and hopefully, to teach him how to love life, like Heero had never done before.
Duo already knew how to live his life, but more importantly how to love it. And Duo should know, after all, he was in love, and that's all he needed to know.
TBC.
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Well? Did you like it?
It's a transition chapter, but I hope it went well.
Please Review.
Thanks so much!!!!!!!
And thanks for your support!
Ok, here goes..
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Meeting Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa at the space port wasn't the most happy of times.
Duo tried to keep the conversations lighthearted because he didn't want to upset any of his friends by talking about Heero.
"So, Quat, what've you been up to all this time?" Duo asked as he turned off the radio that had been blasting in the car.
He only did this to make it seem a polite gesture, rather than an escape from the unspoken threat Wufei had given him if Duo didn't turn off the music, as he glared at the braided one through the backseat mirror. Man, if looks could kill!
It really wasn't fair. The guy refused to sit in the back because 'only weaklings sit in the back seat', and then he had to glare at his comrades for the whole ride. Duo would have said 'injustice,' but he didn't have a death wish.
"Oh, well, Duo, I took up my father's position as head of the Winner Family Corporation. You knew that, though. I've been doing quite well since then. I've missed everyone, though." Quatre looked a little timid as he said the next thing, but he knew it had to be said eventually, "How's Heero?"
Duo cringed slightly at the mention of Heero. It wasn't right of him to shy away from the subject just because it was painful. Sally had called them to tell them the facts, but only Duo could tell them the details, because he knew Heero better than anyone. Years of close observation of a certain perfect soldier had left Duo as an expert. Duo knew Heero's personality down to every 'hn' and glare that ever crossed his face.
"I just spent all last night talking to him about you guys. Apparently, my name is all he's remembered yet. The doctors say he'll be able to walk in a few days, now."
"That's not so bad," Trowa finally spoke amidst all the silence, trying to calm the troubled thoughts that filled the empty conversation.
Quatre nodded his head and went back to thinking.
Wufei saw Duo's hand was sneakily heading towards the button to turn on the radio. Duo saw Wufei eyeing his braid, though, and quickly put his hand back on the steering wheel. It was good to have his friends back, even if it meant putting up with threats to his braid. None of them would ever really cut it, he didn't think, but with Wufei, you never know. Duo may have had his weak points, but he wasn't stupid. When it came to Wufei, he was sure to keep himself, well, more specifically his braid, at a safe distance. They'd just have to live without music for this car ride.
"So, Duo, you're taking care of him after he leaves the hospital?" Quatre pried further. His acute observations had told him there was something more than a simple 'friend' factor between Duo and Heero, but he had never really known for sure.
"Yeah, he is." Duo quickly added, "Don't worry, I cleaned. You can actually see the floor."
This received a meek smile from his comrades. Duo knew this conversation was really starting to go down the drain. He would have said something else witty, except that he couldn't think of anything to say, except to say how he felt, and the silence was driving him crazy. Belt his heart out, or go insane. The choice, to Duo, wasn't all that difficult.
Duo chuckled as he grieved, "Does that guy know how much it hurts me when he gets hurt? I wonder if he even cares."
"Duo..." The blond pilot stared worriedly at Duo, and quickly switched from 'Feel sorry for your friends' mode and into 'Be a best friend' mode almost mechanically. It didn't matter much, though. Duo knew better than to get too emotional when he was driving and the lives of his friends were in danger, so he sucked it up and choked back whatever tears he might have shed.
"I'm okay, Q-man. Just forget I said anything, k?"
"But, Duo," Quatre protested, "Heero does care about you! He might not show it much, but he does! You're not only his partner; not only his partner, Duo, you're his friend! You should understand that."
"No, Quatre," Duo used his full first name to add to the seriousness of his next statement. "You obviously don't get it. I WAS his friend, I WAS his partner. He couldn't give a damn about me anymore even if he wanted to. It's all gone. Can't you understand that?!"
Duo's eyes did not match the sharpness of his words, and all of the pilots saw the sorrow beneath the seemed anger. He had always loved Heero without expecting anything in return, but after talking to Heero all of the night before, Duo was confused, because he loved Heero even more than he ever had, now. 'Now' was really bad timing. Heero might come to be his friend again, but it wasn't enough. Duo wanted something more, and he cursed himself for being so selfish.
"Duo, I'm trying to understand, but from what I hear, how could it be possible for Heero to care for you any less then he had before?" Duo looked puzzled at Quatre's response.
"What do you mean, Q?" Duo couldn't believe what Quatre had said, but the blond was more than happy to explain.
"Listen, Duo. If Heero was truly your friend, as you have said he was, then it shouldn't matter that he can only remember your name. It was his choice to be your friend, Duo, and you know that Heero takes his decisions very seriously. It wouldn't be like him to change his decision. If anything, I'd think he would be even more caring for you then before." Quatre stopped when he realized what he had almost said. Quatre had almost asked Duo if he knew just how much Heero had cared for him. He blocked these words because it wasn't his place to say.
Duo was deep in thought, a little surprised by how flustered his kind friend was getting over him. It was always possible the little blond knew something he didn't. It always seemed that he did. Sighing, Duo directed his attention to the road, rather than to his thoughts. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. It was turning into a very long ride.
Silence enveloped the car, as none of them said anything else for the rest of the way. Trowa and Wufei feared they'd upset that anger by saying anything before Duo had a chance to work it out within himself, but Quatre was the wiser of them in his reasons. He had too great an understanding of his broken friend's feelings to be so foolish as to speak and upset him further. It was best allowing Duo's confusion to run its course.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Heero tossed and turned in his sleep back at the hospital. He had been fine, the night before when he fell asleep listening to the sound of Duo's voice that echoed slightly in the awkward acoustics of the room. Now, there was nothing to keep the nightmares from coming. He was always lost in his nightmares, trying to find the answers to everything, always one step away from the key to the lock on the next door. He stood looking down an eerie hallway. There were so many doors.
Duo peered into the room where Heero tossed on the bed in a deep sleep.
Quatre, Wufei, and Trowa were following, and they looked into the room Duo had stopped at, but had not entered. There, sure enough, was the Heero they had always known, wild hair, lithe body, and delicate figure. They all knew, however, that Heero was much more powerful than he looked.
Duo held up a finger to his lips and turned to the other pilots, motioning them to be silent as they walked into the sleeping Heero's room. Unfortunately, that didn't work. The slight tapping of shoes on the hard, hospital floor had immediately woken Heero from his restless sleep.
"Duo," the mop of dark brown hair lifted itself and Heero used his arms to prop himself in an upright position, and looked from the slightly surprised, but now smiling Duo, to the other faces in the room.
"I told you they were coming last night, Heero. Don't tell me you forgot." Duo looked at the enticing figure as Heero managed a smile. Priceless, Duo thought. All of Heero's emotions were priceless to him.
"You look great, Heero," Quatre extended a pale hand and a smile to Heero, who accepted them both with a casual 'hn' and a handshake.
"You're Quatre, right?" Heero remembered the wheaten hair and unmistakable smile from the pictures. Quatre nodded. It was quite an awkward situation.
"Trowa?" Heero looked at the teenager with hair that covered half his face. Trowa nodded simply with a rare and meek smile. He didn't know what else he should do.
"Wufei?" Heero turned to the greasy black hair that was attached to a scowling Wufei. The Chinese young man managed a concerned face.
"The same," Wufei answered.
Then there was a whole lot of silence, and it was killing Duo. It probably was best to let the silent ones be themselves, but even Quatre had joined the dark side. He loved all of his friends, but there were some things Duo wasn't willing to compromise; for example, his love of speech, freedom of speech to be specific, (and all that implies). Yes, as much as he would have loved to stand around and watch Heero all day, something had to be done.
Duo marched to the other side of the room for dramatic effect as the rest watched on in inadvertent stillness. Duo had their undivided attention.
"We're all finally in the same room together after over 2 years of not having seen each other. True, it took Heero's accident to get us here, but I, for one, am not going to take this day for granted."
"Duo's right." Quatre chimed in. "We haven't seen each other in so long, and we can't even find anything to talk about! How about we play a game of cards?"
"Blackjack!" Duo exclaimed. (Yes, games of luck were just about all he could handle.)
"I was thinking more of a strategic game, Duo." Quatre replied with a sigh.
"Nataku and I want to play go fish!" A black-haired boy entered the conversation, and then quickly realized everyone was staring at him, and Trowa had raised one eyebrow dangerously high "What?!"
Heero watched as the room erupted in conversation. He caught snippets of what was said in the few minutes his friends were talking, but it wasn't anything he could relate to, really. He spent most of those minutes watching Duo.
Heero had learned in the few days that he had 'known' Duo, that Duo had certain habits. Heero watched as they were repeated over and over, the hand gestures, the way Duo raised the pitch and held out a word he wanted to emphasize. He had become completely dependent on Duo for everything, and he didn't mind, except that he was putting the braided teenager through some trouble, and he was sorry for that.
The conversation between the four friends became less when they realized the reason they were here was sitting very quietly and very patiently on the bed waiting for them to settle a bit.
"Hee-chan...?" Duo ventured. The talking around him dwindled and died as the four awaited his response.
"Hn," He replied.
"What do you feel like doing?"
Heero thought about it for a minute as he looked into Duo's eyes. What DID he feel like doing? He felt like he wanted to get up out of bed, wrap his arms around Duo, and kiss him and never let go....hey wait a second! What was he THINKING! Duo was his friend, right? His friend, but then why did he feel this way? He had no right to be thinking those things, especially since he couldn't even remember who he was. It was so selfish..he didn't even remember who Duo was. And yet, Heero felt like Duo was life itself. He was the reason that Heero looked forward to waking up the past couple of mornings, the reason why Heero waited so long for the clicking of black boots that turn into a run as they fly down the corridor.
So what did Heero want to do? He wanted to remember.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the next weekend _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Mr. Yuy, your progress in walking is truly extraordinary!" The doctor had just finished checking over Heero to make sure that he was in good condition.
Heero was looking better than ever, and was now able to walk just fine on his own. Sally already had packed up Heero's clothes, and she needed a whole other suitcase to fit all the letters that Relena had written him in regards to his sickness. Heero, obviously not remembering the girl, took a strange disliking of her through her letters. All she did was talk about herself, anyway. Heero told Sally to burn them, but she insisted that the Heero bring them along. He resisted the urge to send a letter back simply stating 'Omae o korosu', but thought better of it. He'd had enough nightmares about killing, and he wasn't about to threaten another life, however much of a nuisance that life may have been.
Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei had traveled back to their lives within a couple of days. Of course they had many interesting conversations with Heero and each other. They had gone over the old photo albums that Duo had brought up. One picture of Trowa after he'd just woken up had everyone howling in laughter. All of them had often wondered what Trowa looked like before he combed his hair that way.
All in all, it was a worthwhile visit.
After they left, Duo had gone back to his apartment, but he visited Heero daily, and was impatiently awaiting the day when Heero would come to live with him. He needed to show Heero about life. This was a new beginning for Heero, not an ending. Duo intended to show his friend what life was really about, and maybe get closer to him on the way. But, he wasn't going to push it. Heero needed time, and Duo respected that. But as for Heero being put under his supervision, it seemed that Duo was about to get his wish.
"Mr. Yuy, you are in wonderful physical condition," the doctor concluded, "and if you promise me not to put too much strain on your legs, I think I can allow you leave of the hospital."
"Hn," Heero smiled. It had been a day since he had smiled; and a day since he had seen Duo. He couldn't wait to see him again, and when that time came, they wouldn't have to say goodbye.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Duo, I'm so glad you're here! I've got great news!" Sally practically knocked the wind out of Duo with shock. Duo was casually walking in the hospital, carrying a gift for Heero under his right arm and was just about to round the corner on his way to Heero's room and they practically bumped into each other. Talk about surprises.
"What is it Sal?" Duo asked excitedly, smile plastered on his glistening face like always.
"It's Heero, the doctor says he's good to leave!"
Duo's eyes widened as his smile erupted into a grin, "That's great! What does Heero think about it?" Duo's smile dimmed. He had forgotten that Heero could say no, but then again, where else would he go? Duo thought of all the times Heero had called him an idiot and various other things he didn't feel like addressing in his thoughts. Heero wouldn't possibly say yes to living with him if that was really how he felt.
"What, are you kidding, that guy can't wait to see you! I'm telling you, Duo, you've got to tell him how you feel."
"I'll keep that in mind," Duo said as he rushed down the hall, but fully meaning what Sally had said. He'd thought about it so many times before, but it was different, now. Duo wasn't hiding. He had tried to hide from his feelings before, in the car, but he now knew that nothing could be gained by hiding. He used to bring the veil over his eyes, as some sort of protection from the sorrow that he knew could come of confrontation, but no more. Duo Maxwell, he decided, was going to be Duo Maxwell all the way, and Heero was going to have to deal with it.
Duo ran into Heero's room where Heero's bags were packed, and he was ready to go.
"Duo." Heero said in his usual monotone, looking out the window to avoid eye contact. Heero was afraid of his own confrontations, but Duo's wild and free personality was going to change all of that soon enough.
"Hee-chan, you're coming home with me?" Duo asked timidly, and Heero nodded, looking at Duo straight in the eye before Duo ran up to put a hand around Heero's shoulders, starting to lead him out of the room. Heero glared at Duo, and Duo laughed, touching Heero's nose gently.
"You're kind of cute when you get all angry, Hee-chan, but when you're in my apartment, you go by my rules, and that means no glaring, okay?"
*glare*
"Okay, okay! You can glare." Duo took his arm off Heero and crossed his arms kind of teasingly with a kind of lively spark in his eyes. Heero didn't know exactly what that was for, but it was making him go weak at the knees.
"But if you're allowed to glare, that means that you also have to smile, Hee-chan."
Heero looked at Duo curiously, and it took all of Duo's self control to laugh instead of kissing Heero. Duo couldn't help his longing, Heero just looked so adorable when he gave Duo that look, and it was something Heero had never done to the best of Duo's knowledge before he lost his memory.
There was no more reason to hide, Duo thought to himself as he led Heero out to the car, entertaining with some idle conversation.
There was no more reason for Heero to be afraid of showing who he really was. No, there never was a reason, but the fear was always there. The fear had left with Heero's memory, and it seemed he would never have reason to be afraid any longer.
Duo waved goodbye to Sally at the door of the hospital, and pulled out of the parking lot with his car, and with Heero. They were going home, and there was every reason in the world to show Heero how life how life was supposed to be lived, and hopefully, to teach him how to love life, like Heero had never done before.
Duo already knew how to live his life, but more importantly how to love it. And Duo should know, after all, he was in love, and that's all he needed to know.
TBC.
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It's a transition chapter, but I hope it went well.
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