Author's note: Thank goodness we can upload again. I thought I'd never see this chapter up! - Swordy
Some Kind of Wonderful – Part 10
The two boys pulled up at Seventh Street High School in Duo's battered Mini Cooper around eight thirty on the Thursday morning. Duo yawned as he switched off the engine before glancing across at Heero, who sat with his eyes fixed firmly ahead of him.
"You okay, He-man?" Duo asked, observing the Japanese boy's tense posture.
Without replying, Heero nodded as he reached for the door handle, which fortunately worked on the passenger side. He reached the driver's side just as Duo swung out of the open window, his lithe body following his legs with the graceful ease of a dancer. The boy in the faded denims and baggy black and grey striped shirt turned his attentions to his troubled companion who seemed to be scanning the school grounds for someone. It didn't take a genius to work out who.
"I'll see you later, Yuy," Duo said punching the Japanese boy in the arm as he passed him.
This seemed to bring Heero to life as Duo headed towards the main building, his chestnut braid swaying rhythmically like a tail as he walked.
"Duo! You won't forget…"
The reply was a definite shake of his retreating head; so vigorous it caused his braid to whip out and slap a passing teacher who stop and glared at the oblivious perpetrator as he disappeared into the building. For the first time since he had risen that morning, Heero Yuy managed a smile.
The smile wasn't to last however as Heero set about finding Relena so he could make the arrangements for the following day. Since he had found out that the date was nothing more than a joke at his expense, Heero had become even more determined to win Relena over. He had formulated a plan, which if executed correctly, would show that firstly, he wasn't afraid of Treize Khushrenada and his friends and secondly that Heero Yuy was the kind of guy that Relena could be seen with. The plan went into action the instant Heero spotted Relena as she went to join her friends. Anxious to speak to her alone, he broke into a jog and called her name the moment she was within earshot.
"Relena! Relena!" he said, finally catching up with her. "Hi."
The blonde girl forced a smile as he drew close. "Hi," she replied, somewhat reluctantly.
"What time d'you want me to pick you up Saturday?" Heero asked, getting straight to the point. Even he was surprised at how assertive he was being.
Relena opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Looking flustered, she glanced at her friends, neither of whom were paying attention to the exchange between her and Heero.
"What? You have to check with your friends to see when you can go out?" Heero inquired, slightly irritated.
Relena blushed. "No, I just er…"
"It's a simple question. When?"
Cheeks still pink, Relena rocked on her heels as she tried to come up with a suitable excuse. "Well… pick me up any time you want to."
Heero rolled his eyes in frustration. He knew Relena didn't really want to go out with him but he wasn't going to let her get out of it so easily.
"Seven thirty? If that's a problem then call me."
The Japanese boy turned and left before Relena could argue with his arrangements. Now feeling thoroughly fed up, she continued down the path towards the bench where Dorothy and Anastasia sat. The two girls were deep in conversation when Relena walked over; so deep that neither girl acknowledged her presence.
"Oh I hate Mexico, I'd much rather go to the Virgin Islands…" Dorothy was saying as she drew close.
"Hey…" Relena said glumly, thinking that they mustn't have seen her. She quickly realised that that was not the case as the conversation continued as if she hadn't even spoke.
"I think we're going to Aspen over Christmas," Anastasia said, twirling her mahogany brown hair between her fingers as her eyes remained fixed firmly on Dorothy.
"I said hi," Relena repeated, a little louder this time.
"Aspen's okay but there's really nothing to do, you know at night," Dorothy responded.
Relena shook her head in disbelief as she deliberately leaned into both girls field of vision. "What is this you guys? What are…" She was cut off by Anastasia as she responded to Dorothy's last comment.
"Yeah, it's mostly private parties. I had a really good time there last spring."
"Dorothy…" Relena began.
"Yeah well spring is a completely different feeling," Dorothy replied with a grin, "I mean there's so many more college people!"
"So what's in the Virgin Islands?" Anastasia asked.
"What are you kidding me? There are a million guys!"
Hand on hip, Relena watched this exchange for a moment longer.
"So this is it, right?" she asked, glaring at each girl in turn. No response. Relena realised that since she had arrived, neither girl had even so much as glanced in her direction. 'This is because of Treize' she thought to herself unhappily or more specifically, Dorothy's loyalty to Treize as one of his rich little companions. This was probably all part of Treize's plan to wear her down so that she would go back out with him. Her thoughts were interrupted by Anastasia's shrill voice as she continued blanking Relena.
"I'd go anywhere if I could talk my dad into letting me go on my own!"
"Oh yeah…" Dorothy responded, nodding earnestly.
Relena didn't hear the rest of the exchange as she turned and ran, hot tears stinging her eyes.
"She's gone," Anastasia said when she finally dared to look up. Dorothy nodded in relief although the guilt of what she had just done was heavily etched into her features.
Relena ran through the deserted corridor, tears spilling down her pale features. Realising that she had nobody to turn to now that Dorothy had sided with Treize, she continued towards the main doors suddenly anxious to be away from Seventh Street, despite the fact that she had a full day of classes ahead of her. As she pushed through the double doors and out into the brilliant sunshine, she became aware of a familiar figure waiting near his car at the bottom of the steps. Treize Khushrenada was talking with one of his friends as he noticed Relena's approach. Ending his conversation, he grinned at the clearly upset girl as she raced down the steps away from the school. Before their eye contact was broken, Treize mockingly blew her a kiss, which only exacerbated Relena's agony as she headed for home, her sobs at odds with the cheerfulness of the early morning birdsong.
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The sun was still shining and the birds still singing as Heero and his longhaired companion made the long journey on foot into the centre of town. Neither of them had minded much when Duo's car had obstinately refused to start and they had been left with little choice but to walk. This was all part of Heero's plan, so not going was out of the question. As they walked across the waste ground that ran parallel to the old railway lines they chatted, and for a moment, it felt like nothing had ever changed between them.
"So how does it feel to be carrying all that cash in your pocket?" Duo asked, looking at Heero and grinning.
Heero smiled. "Well… a little uncomfortable."
"Yeah?" Duo replied as he kicked a stone before looking at Heero askance. "You want me to tell you one more time that I think you're crazy?"
"Nope."
"You've been hoarding that cash for years, right?"
"Yep."
"How bad's your dad gonna ream you?" Duo said, picturing Odin Yuy's beetroot red face if Heero was to tell him what he was about to do.
Heero contemplated this question for a moment before his face broke into a faraway smile. Evidently he was picturing a scene pretty close to the one in Duo's head.
"They won't be able to measure with existing technology."
Duo laughed. "He's a miser right?"
"No…" Heero said, shaking his head in earnest. "It's just real important to him that I go to college."
"'Cause he didn't go?"
"Exactly."
The two boys walked in silence for a moment before Duo started to speak.
"Hey, I just rag on you a lot about your parents and family and stuff 'cause I'm jealous. It's gotta feel pretty good to have someone look out for you like he does."
Heero watched the braided boy for a moment, undoubting of his sincerity. He thought about his family and realised that Duo would quite rightly be envious when he compared it to his own living situation.
"Sometimes," he said thoughtfully in response to Duo's comment.
Aware that the conversation had suddenly taken a melancholy turn and eager to lighten the mood, Duo grinned broadly at the Japanese boy.
"He's still gonna kill you though, right?" Duo asked humorously.
"Yeah," Heero replied, unable to prevent his own laughter.
Their amusement gave way to another silence, longer this time.
"Is it her body or her face?" Duo asked eventually, curiosity evident in his voice.
"Relena?" Heero said, checking they were on the same wavelength. "I don't know, it's everything I guess."
Duo nodded thoughtfully.
"When I was young, Sister Helen said I'd grow up to be really tall."
Heero studied the small, slim boy next to him and laughed. "What happened?"
Duo shrugged, a wicked twinkle in his eye.
"I dunno, I guess I just got lucky."
The two boys eventually arrived at the shopping district in town where Heero led the way towards the upmarket jewellers. Pressing their noses to the glass, Heero pointed out an expensive diamond necklace.
"That's it."
Despite its extortionately high price tag, the diamonds were small and not particularly radiant. Not like the diamonds seen in the movies.
"Uh-uh," Duo said shaking his head before pointing to an exquisite white gold cross set with twelve princess cut diamonds. "That."
"That?" Heero said, genuinely surprised that Duo seemed so interested.
"Yeah that," Duo said confidently. "Solid choice. That's the ticket."
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Arriving home, Heero entered the house cautiously. In his pockets he carried his life savings, now depleted by half, and a small velvet box containing the cross Duo had just instructed him to buy. He reached the stairs without encountering a single family member and proceeded up to his bedroom before a creaking stair halfway up alerted his keen-eared father to his presence.
"Heero!" he heard Odin call from the living room. "Get in here!"
Shoulders slumped, the Japanese boy headed back down stairs, ready for the ear bashing he would no doubt receive if his father knew that he had been to the bank to withdraw his savings. He stuck his head around the doorframe and smiled innocently.
"Hey!" Odin said, looking up from the piles of paperwork in front of him "Got some great news today, pal. You know those T bills at the B of A at six and three quarter percent?"
"Yeah," Heero said, trying to keep the relief from his voice.
"They're at seven."
Heero did a low whistle, hoping he sounded suitably impressed. "That's great."
"You know what that means?" Odin asked as he stared at his son proudly "It means you're earning an extra sixteen dollars a year per bill!"
"Wow," Heero said, unable to bring himself to mention that he had cashed in all his shares that very afternoon.
"You've got your first year's money, Heero! Now all you've gotta do is get off your can and pick a college to spend it on."
Heero nodded as he inwardly cringed. College was most definitely out of the window for now.
"Yeah… I gotta do that," he said vaguely, before disappearing upstairs.
Turning his attention back to his accounts, Odin's face creased into a frown as he redid his maths.
"Where'd that other quarter of a percent come from?" he muttered to himself quietly.
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Heero was almost jumping for joy when he had to leave for work an hour later. He had been a nervous wreck throughout dinner, imagining that his father would suddenly develop psychic powers and realise that he had blown all his money. Fortunately, his father was far too preoccupied with stocks and shares to notice his son's edginess although his mother commented that he looked a little stressed and was everything all right at school. He had arrived at work to find Duo waiting for him, unsurprised that the braided boy was already here. Harry Darnell knew and liked Duo and would often let him into the workshop to wait for his friend to start his shift.
As Heero performed an oil change on one of Darnell's Buicks, Duo sat on a pile of tyres, his jean-clad legs swinging in time to the song that blared from the paint-spattered radio in the corner.
"I think we've pretty much covered everything," Duo said after a pause, "All the arrangements have been made."
"Yep," was Heero's reply from under the car.
"You know what you're going to say…" Duo continued.
"Whatever comes to mind," Heero said, frowning at his longhaired companion.
"Uh-huh," Duo replied thoughtfully although he didn't seem convinced. "You wanna plan it out a little?"
Heero paused as he contemplated what Duo had said before he shook his head dismissively. "It'll sound false. I wanna be… true to my instincts."
As Heero turned back to concentrate on his work, Duo planned how he would broach the next subject. It was something he wanted to ask, but he was afraid how Heero would react. Eventually, with the motto 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' implanted in his brain he started to speak.
"Don't think I'm being weird but what if… what if… she wants you to kiss her?"
Heero looked at him askance, before picturing he and Relena in an embrace causing him to grin stupidly.
"Well I guess I'm just gonna have to kiss her," he replied, pretending to sound fed up by the thought of it.
Duo snorted as he fixed the Japanese boy with a patronising stare.
"Relena Peacecraft is no minor leaguer who will be swept off her feet at the touch of your amateur lips."
"Thanks," Heero muttered as he began loosening a bolt.
"This babe has plenty of battle scars," Duo said, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"I think I can handle it," Heero replied.
Duo jumped down off the tyres to join Heero underneath the car.
"Great… well, I just think that maybe… you should consider whether or not you feel you can deliver the kiss that kills."
Heero stopped what he was doing to look at Duo, whose unwavering expression convinced Heero that he wasn't joking.
"What, y - you think I can't?"
The American considered this for a moment, his head cocked to one side to show that he was thinking.
"If you say you can, you probably can," he replied doubtfully as he sauntered away from the car.
"W-well I'm no expert," Heero said, suddenly worried.
"It's cool," Duo said with a nonchalant wave of the hand, "I was just gonna work on it with you but if, if you're comfortable…" He returned to his seat on top of the tyres. "Then great."
"Wait, wait, wait! How… how d'you work on it?" Heero said, coming out from under the car, his interest piqued.
Duo stared at the floor for a moment before looking up at Heero, his violet eyes twinkling confidently.
"Pretend I'm a girl okay, I mean pretend I'm her. Relena" He unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off one shoulder so it showed a seductive hint of flesh before flashing the Japanese boy a brilliant Relena-like smile. In a voice that was supposed to be an imitation of the girl of Heero's dreams he drawled: "I know it's a bit stretch but try it!"
Heero smiled dumbly but didn't move.
Seeing the Japanese boy's uncertainty, Duo dropped the act but not the smile. "Come here! I didn't mean to scare you," he said in amusement.
Finally, Heero's feet went into action and he came to stand in front of the seated boy, just ahead of his parted legs.
"All right," Duo said firmly, despite his own rapidly beating heart. "What do you do with your hands?"
"Well… that depends…"
The braided boy shook his head in negation.
"No. It doesn't depend. They go on her hips."
"Okay," Heero said, making a mental note.
"Do it."
When the Japanese boy hesitated, Duo gently took his hands and placed them around his own slender waist. He was amazed to find that Heero left them there when he removed his grip.
"Look into my eyes," he commanded, once they had achieved the correct stance.
Heero attempted to do as he said but was unable to prevent a laugh escaping from his lips. It felt ridiculous standing here, trying to pretend that Duo was really Relena but his laughter ceased as soon as he saw Duo's annoyed expression.
"Look, I don't have to do this shit…" Duo complained as he turned away from the boy before him.
"I know, I'm sorry," Heero said trying to compose himself.
"Just grow up a little," Duo muttered crossly.
As they recaptured the appropriate mood, Heero managed to gaze into the violet orbs without laughing. He was surprised to find that, despite the silence and their unusual position, it didn't feel as strange as he had thought it would.
"She'll probably do this," Duo announced before placing his own arms around Heero's neck, locking them in the embrace.
"How d'you know?" Heero said, curious to find out how Duo knew so much about things that were still a mystery to him.
"I watch a lot of TV," was the reply. "Now close your eyes."
Heero obediently did as he was told, unsure what Duo would do next. His curiosity was quickly answered as he felt a soft, warm pair of lips pressed against his own. For a moment he did nothing as realised what Duo had meant by 'working on it' before he allowed his lips to part slightly, giving Duo access to the wetness beyond. He had never been kissed like this before and he almost pulled away with surprise when he felt Duo's tongue push into his mouth and begin exploring its recesses with a certain sense of urgency. Caught up in the passion of the moment, Heero found himself responding in kind, his own tongue running across the braided boy's teeth before plunging into the warm depths of his mouth, just as Duo had done.
Feeling Heero's favourable response, Duo hooked his legs behind the Japanese boy's back so that he could pull him in closer. His hands went up to the thick dark hair where he grabbed two handfuls, effectively anchoring the other boy in this clinch. Driven on by the sheer pleasure he was experiencing, Heero's own hands moved down from Duo's hips to his ass, where he began to kneed the soft flesh with his rough, oil-covered digits. A slight moan escaped his occupied mouth as he pushed himself against the braided boy, oblivious to the million and one reasons why they shouldn't be doing what they were doing.
In a similar state of ecstasy caused by the fulfilling of a much longed for fantasy, it took Duo several moments to realise that the hard thing jabbing into his stomach was in fact Heero's poorly contained erection.
Its rude interruption quickly brought the million and one reasons flooding into Duo's consciousness causing the braided boy to shove Heero roughly in the chest, sending him several feet in the opposite direction.
"What?" Heero asked, unsure why Duo was suddenly pushing him away. Duo had instigated this situation so why had he suddenly freaked out?
"Lesson's over, you're cool," came the reply as Duo hastily wiped the moistness from his lips.
"You're blushing!" Heero said with a smile, amused by the longhaired boy's reaction.
"Yeah right, the day I blush…" Duo snapped as he headed for the door.
"N-n-no no no, that was very nice!" Heero stammered, anxious not to offend him. "You're beautiful!" he said and meant it.
Duo's response was a sceptical glare as he reached the exit.
"If this is how you repay a favour then I don't know if I'm rich enough to be your friend!"
"No wait! I didn't mean anything. I'm sorry!"
Duo paused, unable to believe that Heero was handling this far better than he was.
"Don't be mad okay?" Heero said quietly, the smile still evident in his eyes.
Duo shrugged by way of response, indicating that although he wasn't really angry, he didn't want to talk about it anymore.
"I'll see you tomorrow!" Heero shouted to his rapidly retreating form.
Unable to meet Heero's bemused expression, Duo turned and headed to his car, a brief wave of his hand the only indication that he had even heard what Heero had said.
TBC…