Author's note – Thanks to everyone for the reviews so far.
A Night to Remember – What Happened Next.
Chapter 3
For Duo, sitting with a silent Heero, time seemed to pass with incredible slowness when in actual fact, it was only twenty minutes before the other three pilots tentatively opened the door and stepped into the room. Their first instinct was to glance at the man lying unconscious in the bed but it wasn't long before their eyes strayed to the person occupying the seat on the other side of it. He looked up as they entered, offering the group a shy smile before turning to look back at Heero. He felt awkward having not seen any of them for such a long time and then meeting again under such bizarre circumstances.
"Hey, guys," he said sheepishly. "Long time, no see."
He reluctantly lifted his eyes, expecting to see anger or hatred in his former comrades but he was greeted by the sight of Quatre and the others gazing at him as if they could hardly believe he was really there. The Arabian looked suspiciously close to tears as he rushed around the bed and threw his arms around the other man. "Oh, Duo, where have you been?"
Duo raised his arms and returned the gesture, taking in the Arabian's scent and realising that he still smelt the same, with that slightly spicy aroma that was so unique to the handsome blond. They may as well have been fifteen years old again for the little that they'd changed.
"We missed you," Quatre said as the tears threatened to spill onto his cheeks.
"I'm sorry," Duo replied, feeling responsible for the other's pain. "I just had to get away."
Sensing the other two pilots behind him, Quatre reluctantly stepped back to allow them to greet their missing friend. Trowa wrapped his strong arms around the smaller man and embraced him tightly. "It's great to see you," he said happily, noting some of the physical changes in his friend. "You're looking really well."
"Thanks," Duo replied as Trowa let him go and Wufei stepped forward. Having not seen the Chinese man for three years, Duo knew nothing of how married life had softened his hard edges and he was expecting a firm handshake and a stern rebuke from the once angry young man. So when Wufei did the same as Quatre and Trowa, Duo accepted the embrace gratefully, realising that it wasn't just himself that had changed during the war.
As Wufei was greeting the braided man, Quatre and Trowa turned their attention back to the man in the bed.
"Is he really okay?" Quatre said, glancing back at Duo when he had finished reacquainting himself with Wufei.
"The doctor says so," Duo replied, pulling his braid over his shoulder and allowing it to trail down his chest. "They've stopped the bleeding and have given him a transfusion so they say he should make a full recovery. The rest is just superficial."
The other men nodded; their expressions similarly relieved.
"Do you know what happened to him?" Trowa asked, his hand resting supportively on his lover's shoulder.
Duo shook his head before relaying how Heero had showed up at his flat but collapsed from his injuries before they'd had chance to talk. As he was speaking, Duo noted Quatre's eyebrows knitting together to form a frown.
"How did Heero know where you lived?" he asked, knowing the others would be thinking the same thing. "We didn't even know you were in the UK, let alone in London."
Duo sat back down into the visitor's chair, feeling the cold starting to nip at his bare arms as he shrugged. "I have no idea how he found out. I can only guess that someone from work must have told him."
He looked up to be greeted by even deeper frowns and signed, knowing he would have to explain. "I work in Chiquitos, the bar in Leicester Square you were in earlier tonight." He paused as they gasped in amazement; realising they'd been so very close without knowing. "Heero came to the bar to be served and saw me. He obviously had no idea I was in the UK either as he was very shocked. We had a quick talk; things were still a little awkward though between us and then he left."
"Why didn't he say anything?" Quatre said in disbelief, turning to his two smartly dressed companions.
"Because I told him not to," Duo replied sadly, his head bowed. "I'd worked hard to make a new life for myself so revisiting my old one didn't seem like such a good idea. I knew you were only visiting so I figured once you'd gone I'd be able to get on with things."
"So now that we've found you, you don't want us in your life?" Trowa asked, sensing Quatre wanted to ask the same thing but was afraid of the answer.
Duo offered them a sad smile as he rubbed his arms, lifting the sleeves of his t-shirt, revealing more of the large black patterned tattoo that ran down his shoulder almost to his elbow. "I thought it would be for the best, but seeing you all has made me realise I was just kidding myself. I've really missed you guys," he said; sorrowful violet eyes lifting to meet them before his gaze turned to Heero.
The others saw the look and recognised the pain that seeing Heero had caused him. "I loved him so much," he said wistfully and to no one in particular. "But he betrayed me because he thought his new friends wouldn't understand about us. He deliberately hurt me to force me to be the one to leave. He said… terrible things."
He felt a hand upon his shoulder and looked up to see Quatre looking down at him in concern. "I'm so sorry, Duo," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "Heero never explained what had happened until it was too late. He has since spoken many times about the guilt he carries around with him about what he did to you and I know he'll want to try and make it right with you."
Duo offered him a thin smile. "Well, it's water under the bridge now. Mr Yuy here is about to get himself a missus."
The others returned a smile at his attempt at humour but none could miss the obvious hurt in his eyes as he acknowledged that his soulmate was about to be wed to someone else.
"Has anyone told Relena?" Duo asked eventually before the silence could get too awkward. The three other pilots exchanged anxious glances before Quatre shook his head.
"She must know something's wrong as she's been trying to ring all night and we had to make an excuse why she couldn't speak to Heero. We switched our phones off for a while but I'm so glad we put them back on or we'd never have got your call. I think Relena thinks Heero's chained to a lamppost somewhere."
Duo couldn't help the wry smile that twitched at the corners of his mouth at the image that immediately sprung to mind before he turned to look at the battered man and his amusement faded.
"So who's gonna break the bad news?"
"I guess it has to be me since I'm the best man," Wufei said flatly, before he rolled his eyes. "It's a good job my wife's a doctor…"
Duo frowned before he realised that Wufei must have been wed while he'd been away. "Congratulations, 'Fei," he said, standing and offering the other man his hand. "I forgot that you'd proposed."
Wufei accepted his warm wishes as he smiled, his expression melancholy. "We tried to find you," he explained, "We so wanted you there. We even set a place for you at the reception in case by some miracle you came back."
"I'm sorry," Duo said, feeling yet more guilt at the pain his disappearance had caused his friends.
"Don't be," Wufei replied, a genuine smile on his handsome face. "You did what you had to. I'm just glad we've had the chance to meet up with you again, despite the circumstances."
Duo looked up to be met by Wufei's expression of happiness and was amazed all over again at how his friend had changed so much. 'Content' was the word he was looking for when he thought of an adequate phrase to describe the Chinese man.
"Well," Wufei sighed, his smile fading at his next thought. "I'd better go and ring Relena."
"Don't"
The voice startled them all and they turned quickly to see Heero watching them through heavy lidded eyes, one of which barely opened due to the amount of swelling surrounding it.
"Heero!" Quatre cried in relief as they moved to stand closer to his bed. "How're you feeling?"
"Where's Duo?" he said, ignoring the question as he panicked at the thought that the other man might have disappeared again.
"I'm here," Duo said soothingly, stepping past Trowa to come into Heero's limited line of sight. "You gave us quite a fright there, buddy."
"I'm sorry," he said, trying to smile at the violet-eyed man but failing miserably as his split lip caused him to wince. "And guys? I'm sorry for running out on you. There was just something I had to do."
The others nodded understandingly before Quatre started to shepherd Wufei and Trowa to the door. "We'll leave you alone for a few minutes," he said, trying to sound innocent. "We'll go and find some tea."
"Okay, thank you." Heero said, before he reached out and caught Wufei's hand.
"Promise me you won't call Relena yet," he said studying the Chinese man through swollen and bloodshot eyes.
Wufei looked as if he was about to protest before he shrugged, resigning himself to complying with Heero's request.
"Sure. A few more minutes won't make a difference I guess."
"Thank you," Heero replied gratefully as the three friends left the room, closing the door quietly behind them.
Once they were alone, the awkwardness suddenly seemed to return as Duo stood, fiddling with the clipboard at the end of the bed.
"Duo."
The long-haired man's head shot up to see Heero studying him intently. "Come and sit down."
Duo nodded before he did as Heero asked, silence threatening once again before he suddenly blurted out, "I'm glad you're gonna be okay. I was really worried."
"I'm sorry for just turning up like that," Heero replied, "But I needed to see you again."
Duo looked pained as he searched for something to say; in the end settling for, "Why?"
Heero winced as he tried to sit up to see his ex-lover better. "Because I needed to tell you I was sorry…"
"You already did," Duo interrupted.
"…and I was wrong. I love you, Duo."
Violet eyes went wide as he ceased toying with the end of his braid. "What about Relena?" he asked weakly.
"No," Heero said firmly, his voice regaining a little of its usual strength. "I don't love her, I love you."
"But you're about to marry her."
"I know but… it doesn't feel right, it never did. I fooled myself into thinking that if I gave it a try, I'd be able to forget about you eventually, but I know that won't happen. I'll always love you, Duo, even if you reject what I'm asking."
Duo's heart lurched and he had to steel himself to look Heero straight in the eye. "Which is?" he asked, not daring to assume what Heero was about to say.
"I want you to let me back in your life, Duo. I know after everything I did that I have no right to ask this of you but I want us to try again. I want to be the Heero Yuy you wanted three years ago." He looked away, suddenly ashamed. "I know it's no excuse but I genuinely believed Relena's friends when they said it was wrong to be in love with another man. They talked like it was dirty and unforgivable and I panicked. I never thought about talking it over with you, or Quatre and Trowa for that matter until it was too late. When you'd gone, I realised that I'd got it wrong; I wanted to come after you but I knew I'd hurt you and damaged our relationship irreparably."
"You never bothered to find out whether it was irreparable," Duo countered. "So why d'you think it would work now?" He was trying to remain objective but his heart was melting inside him.
"Because I'm not as naïve as I was back then. I know it's nobody's business who I choose to love."
"You were naïve enough to think that marrying Relena would solve your problems," Duo replied, although not unkindly.
Heero looked straight at the handsome man as his heart sank. "So it's a 'no' right?" he asked sadly.
Duo shook his head as the last of his resolve slipped away. "You hurt me, Heero and I can forgive but I can't forget, but… I don't want to live without you either."
"What are you saying?" Heero asked, daring to hope.
"I'm saying…" Duo said, taking a deep breath knowing there was no turning back. "That I think I'd like to try again… with you. But this is it, Heero. No second chances if you hurt me again. I'll be gone and even if you find me, I won't listen to anything you have to say." As the harshness in his expression faded, he shook his head, as if he was amazed by his own decision. A gentle smile followed. "God help me, there are so many reasons why I should just turn around and walk away."
"I'm glad you're not going to though."
Duo nodded, hoping he wouldn't live to regret his decision. "What will you do about Relena?"
Heero attempted to shrug but the pain distorted the movement. "I haven't worked out a strategy for that particular mission," he replied, offering Duo a rare glimpse of the sense of humour that he'd lacked during the war.
Duo chuckled, recognising the familiar language of battle. "Easy now, Yuy. 'Fraid you're on downtime for the next few days at least. Maybe we should postpone that particular mission until you're better."
Heero smiled, hearing the traces of an English accent seeping into Duo's vibrant tones. Studying the handsome face, he was truly amazed that he'd been able to live without seeing it for so long. His musings were interrupted as the door slowly opened and Quatre tentatively stuck his head in. "Hey, guys," he said, relieved that they hadn't killed each other. "We've got Duo some tea; he looked pretty cold."
"Thanks, Quatre," the braided young man replied as he accepted the plastic cup from his friend and sipped from it carefully. "You can all come back in; we've finished talking."
Quatre nodded before he returned to the door to let the other two know. The three pilots then took whatever seats they could find, anxious to hear the outcome of the ex-lovers' discussions. Duo wasn't sure what to say, but he was spared the decision as Heero started to speak, his voice still hoarse at the soreness in his throat.
"I've decided," he began before he corrected himself as he reached across for Duo's hand. "We've decided that we want to give our relationship another try." He stopped and looked at Duo as the other man smiled shyly. "I'm sorry guys; I feel like I've let you down but I can't live a lie. I made a grave mistake by letting Duo go three years ago and I've been given a chance to correct it. I won't make another mistake by marrying Relena."
The three pilots exchanged shocked glances; amazed that one sudden meeting could have redirected Heero's life so completely.
"Is that what you want?" Wufei asked, as he started to imagine the fallout from this revelation. "Relena's going to be really upset."
"I think it's safe to say that's the understatement of the year." Quatre replied dryly before he turned to see Duo and Heero gazing at each other adoringly. "But if you're happy then so are we, right guys?"
He received unanimous nods from Trowa and Wufei. Duo's smile was one of relief. The door suddenly opened and the nurse that had brought Heero's effects earlier stuck her head into the room.
"I'm sorry, but Mr Yuy needs to get some rest. You can come back in the morning though."
The other men gestured in acknowledgment and made to leave. "We'll come back tomorrow, Heero," Wufei said with a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, we'll not ring Relena."
Heero nodded gratefully, his eyes lingering on Duo who seemed as reluctant to go as Heero was for him to leave.
"I'll come back too," the American said sincerely, seeing Heero's anxiety at letting him go again. "I promise."
There was an awkward moment before Duo gave into his instincts and leaned into kiss the Japanese man gently on the forehead. "Take it easy, Heero. Sweet dreams."
TBC…