Once a Lifetime
Chapter Seven; Duo POV:
My first recognition of awareness was of war-roughened fingers shifting through my bangs. The tender touch belied the words coming from lips I've found myself wishing I could kiss. A slight nasal monotone reaches my ears, the words bringing tears to my eyes, so I keep them tightly closed, refusing to allow them to show.
"Duo no baka. You're contagious and I think you've infected me with your madness." Madness?! Now I'm insane? Is that what he's trying to tell me? Either way I look at it, it doesn't sit right with me. I wait till he settles into slumber before moving. It's painful, but I've always been like the others when it comes to pain. Be it mental or physical, there was nothing I couldn't handle.
Getting to my feet, I waver, finding my thoughts at odds with reality. Who knew a little leg wound could hurt so much? It was nothing compared to the pain lancing through my heart at his words; still echoing in my head. I move to take a step toward the bathroom, only to feel my leg buckle beneath me and my body start to fall back. Just before I connect with the floor, I feel two familiar arms catch me. I love Heero's lightning reflexes, I really do, but being in the arms of the one you love when he thinks you're nuts, it just wasn't something I was up for.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice husky from being awakened so soon into his slumber.
"Trying to get to the bathroom. Unless you like embarrassing moments, which I certainly don't." I caught a small smirk cross his lips. He had all the power at the moment and was actually enjoying it. That always made my heart skip a beat. Moments like this were so few lately. Perhaps it was his bout with madness that had brought this openness. I really didn't care, because I loved every minute of it. Maybe that kiss of Relena's knocked some humanity into him.
"Next time ask, or I'll leave you for some hospital to take care of." Then again, maybe not. He really knows how to kick a guy when he's down. Yet it wasn't until he shifted me in his arms that I realized he was still holding me.
"Gee, I love you too," I replied honestly, yet sarcastically. Heero would kill me if I ever said that to him any other way. Probably think it would kill his perfect solider image. I felt him stiffen slightly at my words and sighed, giving him a pleading look. "Please help me to the restroom, Heero," I pleaded. He nodded and with what seemed no effort at all, carried me into the bathroom.
I took care of nature's lovely call first before washing up. Heero had been recruited to help me wash my hair and I honestly believe he enjoyed being able to get his hands on my hair. Once it was dealt its usual treatment of lavender oil shampoo and lavender conditioner we worked together to blow dry it before placing it back in its braid. Neither one of us spoke, but it felt like we didn't need to talk. We simply drew pleasure from one another's company.
"Thanks, Hee-chan. I was beginning to feel grimy and all. I really needed to clean up." I grinned at him, another original one. His care of me in these last couple hours has calmed my pain from his earlier words. I keep forgetting he isn't the same as the other lives he's lived. A simple smile and gentle persuasion won't win him over. Perhaps, since I'm confined to bed, I can press my luck. If anything goes wrong, he can blame it on my madness.
"Don't call me that," he growled. Yet his glare wasn't as strong and his growl wasn't as harsh. If I'm accomplishing anything, it's that I'm earning his friendship. I sigh almost defeatedly, my expression becoming serious. I can feel a part of me fighting to win his love, knowing failure isn't an option. His eyes seem to look on me in worry. He's never seen this side of me. No matter which lifetime, I always hid behind my mask of cheerfulness.
"I'll try not to call you that anymore," I began, my words low. "I'll probably mess up and call you it a few more times before I gain control over my tongue."
"Why is it so hard to just call me by my name?"
"Because you're a friend. I always give my friends something a little more personal to call them. Quatre's been dubbed Q-bean, which he admitted to me he actually likes. Trowa's became Tro-man. Wufei acts like he hates being called Wu-man, but he likes it better than Wuffles. I guess it was just a habit of mine. If it really bothers you that much then I will drop it, Heero, I promise."
He watched me for a long time, confusion on his face, before nodding. "Thanks." I shrugged.
"No prob, man. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't listen?" My heart protested my willingness to drop a nickname I've used many times. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the headboard. "Heero, would you answer me something?"
"What?" His voice sounded wary. I couldn't blame him either. If I thought like him and was just asked that by someone like me, I'd be more than wary. I'd be downright scared.
"Actually, its more than something. It's a few questions. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. All right?" He seemed thoughtful for a moment.
"All right, ask." I felt warmth spread through me and I couldn't keep another genuine smile from escaping my lips. I turned my eyes on him before asking my first question.
"Do you consider me a friend?" He glared at me before rolling those beautiful eyes of his at me.
"Baka. You're my partner, its true, but it's more. You've become the closest thing to a friend I have." I laughed lightly at that. Typical Heero, always believing he was above human.
"Do you believe in reincarnation? Of living different lives?" Heero's lips moved and I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I read the name right off his lips. Darios. He must have had a dream about our lifetime in Greece. I had been a pirate then. I had been wanted for stealing some of the greatest treasures of that time, but the greatest treasure I had stolen then was my dear Harmonia's heart. Now that was a figure that worked for Heero. There was something about togas that, to this day, still drive me wild.
"No," Heero said, a little quickly. My Hee-chan was scared, perhaps nervous. He didn't like the turn of my questioning.
"What about soul mates? Do you think there is such a thing? That we all have a destined love in this world?" Oh, he's really scared now. His eyes have widened slightly and his nostrils have flared out. That's always a telling sign. He looks away from me; perhaps other memories of past lives have found their way into his dreams.
"If that's the case, I feel sorry for the person destined for Relena." I laughed and then choked on my water. I had always felt safe drinking water while talking to Heero. He wasn't the one to joke; at least I didn't think he was. He was at my side in an instant, patting my back to help me stop choking. Once I could breath again, tears in my eyes, I stared at him.
"You. . .you just joked! Its one for the record books, seriously, because it will possibly never happen again," I gasped out once I had gained my voice. His Prussian blue eyes seemed to laugh at me, which caused my breath to catch. He was so close, his warm breath caressing my cheek. It would take almost no effort to meet those lips with my own, which were longing to meet his.
"I'm still human, Duo, no matter what anyone else says." I turned to face him fully then, our eyes meeting and locking, violet holding blue. He seemed so lost, so alone. Without warning I found my arms around him and my lips met his in a soft, quick kiss. It was over before he could respond or beat me away from him. He was probably going to hit me anyway. Hell, I'd hit me if I'd done it to me.
"It's all right, Heero. I've always known that. Although, I've often wondered if you weren't an angel sent from heaven to make certain I don't make a devil out of myself." For a brief moment I saw him all in white with the most gorgeous wings I've ever seen. They even rivaled Wing Zero Customs. Yet my vision soon went back to normal and I saw him as he was. Green tank top rumpled from his brief moment of sleep and black spandex shorts that drove my imagination wild. His hair was its usual tousled style. Everything was so dear to me, yet I knew I'd love him no matter what he looked like. It wasn't his looks I fell for but his personality. Even though he was colder to the world, he was still the caring person I had realized he was inside.
"Hn," was all I heard out of him. I faked a yawn and took two pain pills I knew Heero had left for me. I then leaned back and settled into the bed, knowing sleep was close at hand. I felt the bed shift and knew he was settling into bed as well. At least he hadn't hit me. Maybe he was simply waiting for my injuries to heal before letting me have it. I knew I deserved it, no matter what he decided.
"Ya know, Relena's only ever partly right about me in her rants. I am a street rat; will probably go back to being one after the war. Yet I am not a faggot like she accuses me of. I'm bi. I go in the direction my heart goes. Be the one I love be male or female, it doesn't matter as long as I can love them. If I'm loved in return, then it's all the sweeter." I placed a hand over my lips. I had stolen a kiss from the one I loved. My dreams would be all the sweeter for it. "Night, Heero," I finished, before getting comfortable, waiting for sleep to claim me and wondering what he'd say between now and then.