Most Popular Boy

Disclaimers: I own nothing, and I don't make money off of this

Warnings: Shonen-ai, Mixed emotions, Narrow-mindedness, 1+2+1

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Time went on quickly after school started again. Everyone was busy with different senior activities and the girls were pouring over the *perfect* prom dress, after all, the prom was only a couple of weeks away. Duo sat in class waiting for the lecture to end but couldn't help daydreaming about the previous months that year. He and Heero had gotten close, even as far as best friends go, but they had yet to go all the way. Duo felt a little embarrassed about that. For all his self-confidence, he was really shy about being intimate with anyone. He looked over to where Heero was busy taking notes in the opposite corner of the class and smiled, Heero had stuck by him even when he was being flaky.

Duo sighed and smiled to himself as he thought back about two months ago, around Valentine's day:


*// Flashback//*

Heero and Duo had gotten in a fight because Heero wanted to tell Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei about their… preferences, but Duo vehemently refused. Duo was afraid that his friends would treat him differently and was ultimately afraid of making them uncomfortable. Plus, he wasn't even completely *sure* he was gay. He just happened to like boys, but he knew he had to be straight because he lusted after girls too.

The argument had ended with a very frustrated Heero stomping away, muttering under his breath. Duo had felt badly about it and wanted to make it up to his Japanese friend by getting him something nice for Valentine's day, so that day he set off in search of the perfect present. After looking for hours at the mall, Duo could come up with nothing suitable for his Heero so being the hobbyist that he was, he decided to make a home-made present.

That day, he went and bought supplies to make his present then set off to work on it.

He had spent the better part of two days making Heero his present, but it was done just in time for Valentine's day.

The big day happened to arrive on a Saturday so Duo grabbed his present for Heero from his small dresser (a medium-large box wrapped in red paper and a silver bow) and headed off to Heero's house early on in the day.

It was about one 'o clock when he got to Heero's house and waited patiently at the door for Heero to open it. When Heero did, he looked surprised to see Duo standing there. Ever since their little argument, they had been avoiding each other.

"Hey Heero!" Duo greeted in his normal cheerful way, "Can I come in?"

Heero stepped aside and allowed Duo to follow him to his room after he closed the door. Once inside the room, Heero had to know, "What's in the box?"

Duo noted his pointed stare at the shiny red paper and metallic bow, "Happy Valentine's Day, Hee-chan!" Duo proudly held out the box to Heero and watched him expectantly.

Heero took his cue and began unwrapping the present as if it were the most fragile thing on earth or as if he were wary of it being a bomb. Duo sighed in impatience but kept himself in check while Heero opened the present. When the box was finally open, Heero's eyes widened a bit as a little smile tugged at his lips, then looked up at Duo.

"Did you make this?"

Duo nodded happily, he was really proud of his work.

Heero picked up the object carefully and revealed it to be a large-ish plushie.

"It sort of looks like you…"

"That's because that's a Duo-bat. It is me, but in a slightly umm… deformed state…"

"Chibi."

"Yeah that."

The Duo-bat, complete with tiny wings, fit comfortably in Heero's arms and was made of a soft material, much like that used in baby blankets. The braided hair was made with stitched on yarn and the cap was made of felt, as were the shoes. Duo-bat's face had been embroidered on with very fine stitches, the face giving a little mini Duo grin. But what really got Heero was that the Duo-bat was holding a heard between it's stub-like arms with the word "KOI" written on it. Heero smiled and hugged his Duo-bat. This was the best present he'd ever gotten.

"Thank you, Duo… I love it," Heero then went to kiss Duo gently, still a little shocked by the work put into the plushie.

Duo grinned and blushed as Heero kissed him, and made sure to hold Heero tight. He had been a jerk before, and he didn't want to lose Heero.

Heero then pulled back and set Duo-bat on the bed, going to his walk-in closet and brought out what looked like a large piece of cardboard wrapped in red and white paper.

"What's this?" Duo asked as Heero gave him the gift.

"It's your Valentine's Day present."

Duo took the present and opened it. His mouth dropped in awe as he saw what lay before him. He knew Heero was a good artist, but looking at this made him really believe it. In the frame before him was an airbrushed picture of his face and hair superimposed on a three-quarter side angle drawing of Deathscythe. It looked like they were almost facing each other if not for the backgrounds. Each detail was lovingly rendered and tenderly drawn. Duo's fingers absently traced the wisps of hair that had escaped the drawing's windswept braid, hardly believing that Heero had actually gone through all the trouble of doing this for him.

"….Thank you Heero…" he breathed when his mind jump-started again. "This is truly a masterpiece…"

He let the frame rest against the wall and leaned in to kiss Heero again. The rest of the afternoon would be spent cuddling and kissing on Heero's bed.

*// End Flashback //*

The bell signifying the release of his class sprang Duo from his memories. Yeah, it had been a fun couple of months. As he walked with Heero to their next class in companionable silence, which was becoming increasingly common, he thought about all the fun times they had together. He looked over at Heero and smiled a little, he was going to come out to his friends before the school year was over, he knew that for sure, the question was, when?

He sighed and returned his thoughts back to those involving the class he and Heero were walking into. Duo blew a lock of hair out of his face, he was having mixed feelings about prom, on the one hand, it was the last High School dance of their lives and he was a senior. Seniors had to enjoy all these "senior activities" namely because it was the end of their high school years. Now, who to take to prom?

As if summoned by that thought, Relena came sauntering to his desk and sat down unbidden on top of it (luckily, they had a substitute for that class, so the students, naturally were running amok). Duo cast a glance at Heero before looking up to meet her sky blue eyes.

"Lena!" He feigned enthusiasm, "How's it going?"

"Funny you should ask that, Duo, I just came to tell you that if you don't ask me to prom soon, I'll have to say yes to someone else who asks me."

"Oh, well go right ahead then, Lena. I'm not planning to take a "date" per se (1). I'm just going with my buddies to prom like I always go to all the other dances."

"But Duo! This is the *prom*! You can't go to the prom without a *date*! It just isn't done!!"

Duo fought the urge to roll his eyes, "Of course it is, Lena. Lots of people go to prom in groups and not with dates. It's supposed to be a fun night and I think there's no better way to go than with your friends."

"Fine. Whatever Duo," she huffed, "don't come running to *me* when you can't get a date. You had your chance already so just forget it!"

By that time, Heero was intently listening to their conversation. He knew that prom was a big deal here in the 'States but he wasn't really too fazed by the concept.

Relena caught his eye and turned on him, leaning really close so that only Heero could hear, "You are the cause of all this, you little faggot. I'll get you for this. Duo is *mine* and I won't let you take his attention from *me* where it belongs."

Heero looked at her blankly and went back to doing homework fro his previous classes so that he didn't have to do it at home.

Relena stomped off and went back to her seat.

"What was that all about?" Duo inquired curiously, he hadn't heard the exchange, but he knew that it had to be vicious if Relena was mad.

Heero just shrugged, "Empty threat, nothing to worry about," then went back to work. Duo shrugged and went back to his oblivious daydreams.

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Jess' Rant

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(1) per se- If I'm spelling it right, it's French and means "really" or "exactly"

So, any ideas about what my prom theme should be?

I think that there may be umm… about 3 to 5 chapters more. I'll let y'all know.

Suzaka: Thanks! I think the reason it sounds a little more believable is because I placed them in a public school and not a private one.

Dark Katt: No offense taken, I'm not fond of my job either. It's just a stepping stone on my way to nursing school.

Seamonky88: Please let me know if you do catch any of my mistakes and I'll fix them. I'm kind of anal about that sort of thing so if you spot anything let me know ASAP!

Pretty Pilot: You think my citrus is good?! O.o ?

Angel Reid: Yeah, me too. I'm *so* going to be like I described Helen when I get old.

Skysha: I'll have them get together "properly" in the epilogue, I think. I'm not sure yet. As for the other pairing you asked me about, you'll just have to wait and find out.

Cilver Klaw: More, more, more! How do you like it? How do you like it? (Sex in the City song - did I get that right?)

Fragile Reflection: Thank you! I don't think I'm wonderful for posting often, I just try to be considerate.