Once a Lifetime

Chapter Eight; Heero POV

"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 the 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," a pause, "Night, Heero."

He had turned on his side, facing away from me after that brief kiss and that angel comment. Duo was really a strange person. I made myself comfortable, lying on my back, but it seemed as though sleep wanted to remain out of my grasp. After Duo's stumbling woke me from my two minutes of slumber, the night had been rather… odd. Not unpleasant by any means, just…odd. I helped him to the bathroom, then I helped wash his hair.

If I wasn't so in control of my body, I'm not sure what could have happened. I had this peculiar sensation rolling around in my stomach as I washed the long mass of hair with Duo's special lavender shampoo and conditioner. He always smells like lavender… and I think it's beginning to work as an aphrodisiac. He made me help him dry and braid his hair after making me wash it, and for some reason, I kept having flashbacks to that dream I had. The scent was making me struggle with an erection until the shock of what he had said next knocked all the wind out of me.

"Do you believe in reincarnation? Of living different lives?" I'm not sure what happened next, but I think I said something about Relena and feeling sorry for her soul mate which effectively got him distracted enough to drop the subject. He's really beginning to break away my defenses. I can't let myself be blind sighted by him like this. It's just not healthy for the kind of work we do. And then, he kissed me. I'm still in shock of that. He kissed me. Two hours after he's fallen asleep, I'm still locked onto that memory. Why can't I just block him out like I do everything else?

I turn to my side, facing his back. I can't help but run my fingers through the tassel end of his braid. "Why, Duo?" I whisper, "Why do you do this to me? You'll be the death of me soon enough if I can't…" I sigh, what do I want from him? "What do you want from me?" I play with the tassel his silky hair makes, running it against my cheek. "Why?" I settle down in my sheets and hold the end of Duo's soft braid. It feels comforting… maybe I should get a teddy bear. This is all some twisted ploy for affection in my subconscious. It's too late to dwell on it now… I need to sleep now. Duo won't be able to care for himself for a while yet and I need to be ready for it.

Dream

The afternoon was hot and the tomes in the university's library were becoming too claustrophobic for him. He felt that the day would be better spent outside, cataloguing different herbs and their uses. Few people had his ability to sketch plants and animals as he could; a talent like that was used for creating books of reference for doctors or apothecaries. He walked down the road to a nice grassy field with his parchment, quills and ink to the shade of an olive tree. There, he sat down and began his task of sketching the various wild herbs, noting their names and properties underneath each sketch.

"Hey there, what are you doing here all by yourself?" He looked up at the sound of the melodious voice and was stunned to find the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She had reddish brown hair with some gold strands running though it cascading down her back, her dress was made up of motley patches, all vivid and bright in the day's light. She had large hoops through her earlobes, skin pale as the moon, lips as red as roses, and her eyes… her eyes sparkled like priceless jewels that rivaled crowned jewels of any monarch.

She waved a hand in front of him, "Can you speak?"

"Y-yes." She smiled at him then. Her smile seemed to melt even the iciest of hearts.

"So why are you here all by yourself?"

"I… I needed to get some work done…"

"I see…" "DULCE!" A voice shouted from down the hill to where a covered wagon stood, "DULCELINDA! GET OVER HERE THIS INSTANT!"

The girl blushed a little and held out her hand, "I'm Dulcelinda, Dulce for short. What's your name?"

"Hu- Humberto," he said, taking her hand and kissing the knuckle softly.

She smiled again, "Will you come to the show tonight? I'll be waiting for you." He could do nothing more than nod dumbly and watch as she ran down the hill on bare feet, anklets and bangles jangling as she went.

End Dream

I sat bolt upright in bed as my dream faded and I watched Dulce run off with what I assume was her gypsy family. I was sweating and panting, trying to come to grips with what was going on in my head. I had to get up and away from Duo for a minute. I headed to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. Standing here in front of the mirror, I can't help but thing something just isn't right and I know it's because of Duo.

What is he doing to me? And why the hell am I having these dreams? For some reason, they seem more like memories than anything, but I just can't figure out why. I pad out into the room I share with Duo and lean against the wall. I let myself slide down to sit, watching him sleep peacefully.

Why is it that in my dreams I don't resist? It's like he's out to seduce me and I just don't understand. Maybe he's not the crazy one. Maybe I am. I can't help but sigh. We're both soldiers in this war and we can't have anything distract us. Does he feel something for me too? Or is he just out to break me? He kissed me. I can't believe he kissed me. If it weren't for the fact that it felt just like Darios' kiss, I might have punched him, but now, I'm so confused. And then there's Relena. That girl has to have some sort of death wish to be stalking me like she does, and why the hell won't she leave me alone?

I rest my elbows on my knees then my head in my hands and sigh. What was it that Duo said when I heard his little monologue? 'One of these days, I wish he could share just one of the many flashbacks of our life. Then maybe he'd ease up on me some.' Is this what I'm having? Flashbacks? Is there something he knows that he's not telling me? Come to think of it, he has been asking me the oddest questions lately. Re-incarnations, soul mates, past lives… the baka knows something, but he's keeping it under wraps.

This just won't do. I need to have all pertinent information and withholding any of it is unacceptable. There has to be a way to question him. He says he never lies, but he will evade the truth. Sleep be damned. If I can't rest, then neither should he. I get up and stalk to the bed. I hesitate only a moment before sitting down and shaking him awake.

"…nnn…. Go 'way…"

"Duo, wake the fuck up and tell me what's going on." I don't normally swear, but he's teetering on my last nerve. He's in my thoughts when I'm awake, and he's invaded my brain when I'm asleep. I need answers and I need them now.

Jess' Note:

I am SO sorry I took forever on this measly little chapter! I have lots of valid excuses for it, but that still doesn't make up for the fact that I've slacked off here. On the up side, I just took my State exam and passed with flying colors. I am now a CAN (Certified Nurse's Assistant) and I'm on my way to becoming an RN (Registered Nurse) Send us your reviews!