Title: The Goldfish Part 3
Rating: PG
Pairings: None really, maybe hints of a 2x5...but it is just hints
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Not really
Disclaimers: I don't own them, and I make no money from them. So please, don't sue me!
Author's Notes: Another small spoofy/cute fic that comes from the endless pit of my mind. This one is set about a year after EW, although no mentioning of any specific events so not to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it. As always, feedback is adored and worshipped!
"What is that fish doing here, Duo?! This is an important business meeting and you bring along the goldfish!" Duo winced, holding the bowl against his chest as he glared at Une.
"He's not just a fish, he is Larry, and I will bring him wherever I want to." Duo's fingers instinctively stroked the glass bowl, a motion Wufei and the rest of the pilots had grown used to in the past five months since the fish became a member of the household.
"Why is he so important, Duo? Why must that fishbowl be present at every function you go to?" Duo shrugged, slowly placing the bowl on the table in front of him.
"He is important to me, and that's why he goes." Une was going to try and push for more answers about Duo's mysterious obsession with the fish, but the look on Duo's face told her that any more questions would be fruitless. She just sighed and threw her hands, and the paperwork she was holding, in the air.
"I give up! It's been five months, two weeks, and three days since you bought that fish, and yet you still take it wherever you go!" Une stalked out of the conference room, unaware of the smirking faces that followed her retreat as she left.
"Well, that was a short meeting." Quatre piped up, gathering the few papers in front of him and placing them in a manilla folder. The others all nodded their heads and did the same, Duo gathering the papers that had flown from Une's hands, since those had been his papers to begin with.
"What amazes me is that she has kept count of how long you've had that fish-I mean, Larry." Trowa said, remembering to call the fish by its name when he saw Duo's glare.
"And she is accurate to the day." Heero said, standing up from the table and making his way to the door.
"She must have it on a calendar." Wufei agreed, glancing down at Duo as he was still picking up the loose paper. Wufei, seeing a paper Duo hadn't got yet, reached down and picked it up, handing it to his braided friend.
"Thanks, Wufei." Duo mumbled, standing up and brushing the dust from his pants. Wufei nodded, and started to head out of the room, Duo following close behind, Larry clutched to his chest, content in his small glass bowl.
When they got home, Duo went into his room and closed the door behind him. Wufei, who had noticed Duo's quiet attitude on the way home, asked Heero if he noticed anything, either.
"The fish didn't look so great." Was all Heero had said, and Wufei almost had the urge to go in and comfort Duo as he waited for Larry to get better. But, again, Wufei refrained from doing anything, suppressing the thought as it had risen in his mind.
Dinner came and passed, and Duo still hadn't come out of his room. Wufei tapped on the door, but Duo's harsh "Go Away" made Wufei turn away and go to bed, the plate of dinner Wufei made for him untouched at Duo's door.
Several hours passed, and Wufei was fitful in his sleep. Then, at around 3:00 in the morning, there was a light tapping at his door and Wufei was instantly awake.
"Come in." He said, his voice neutral. He expected some sort loud noises from Duo as the boy padded into Wufei's bedroom dressed in only a pair of plaid pajama pants. What he didn't expect was the quiet sniffling as Duo handed Wufei the small bowl that contained Larry.
"H-H-He's d-d-dead!" Duo wailed, tears of grief falling down his cheeks. Wufei would have laughed at the comical appearance of his friend if he didn't know that Duo could probably break every bone in his body if he wanted to. That, and the fact that the loss of his fish was probably one of the most painful experiences he had experienced since the end of the war.
Without realizing that he was invading Wufei's space, Duo climbed onto the bed and practically snuggled up to the Chinese pilot. Wufei, taken aback by the actions Duo was taking, didn't realize that all Duo wanted was a little comfort after the loss of his friend, and it took him a couple of minutes to come up with this factor.
"Shhh, Duo, it's okay! Maybe it was just Larry's time to go." Wufei said, trying to sound comforting without much luck. He tentatively reached an arm around Duo's shoulder and stroked his skin, just like Duo used to do to the fishbowl. Duo's quiet sobbing turned to small hiccups, and he glanced at Wufei through thick bangs and water-soaked eyelashes.
"I'll miss the little guy." Duo sniffled, wiping his nose on the back of his hand. Wufei grimaced slightly, and he reached over to his nightstand and grabbed a tissue, holding it out to Duo. Duo took it and blew his nose loudly. Wufei placed the bowl on his nightstand next to the tissues, and he went back to stroking Duo's arm. "Hey Wufei, can you do me a favor?"
"Hmm? What is it that you want?" At that moment, Wufei would have agreed with anything. He didn't realize how much he enjoyed human contact until that moment.
"Can you help me find another goldfish?" Wufei frowned, his fingers stopping their movement on Duo's skin. Duo let out an involuntary whimper at the loss of movement.
"Duo, what is so special about the goldfish? Why do you feel that a fish is necessary in your everyday life?" Duo almost smiled as he removed himself from Wufei's arm and stood up, walking to the doorway. Wufei frowned at the loss, but watched Duo as he turned around to face Wufei one more time.
"Because after I keep a goldfish alive for six months, I can finally ask you out." With a smile and a wink, Duo left the room, leaving Wufei in a state of bewilderment.
"..."
The End