Duo's Child

Chapter 9

By the time Duo got back to the mansion, it was already morning. He stopped at a coffee shop on the way to get a bite to eat and something to drink. Though the lady at the counter asked what was wrong with him, going to a coffee shop at three in the morning, Duo just stared into the glass. Six hours since he found out about Uno and he still was having trouble believing it.

Perhaps she isn't my real daughter and I can continue hoping that. But he knew it wasn't any good to pray for something not true. He'd still relay to this moment of wondering who she really is, so at least he has a clue now.

Just accept the truth!

Duo's vet softly pulled up into the driveway at nine that morning. Slowly, he stood up and shut the door. The air was crisp and cool being this early in the morning and Duo knew the first thing that had to be done: he had to talk to Quatre. Getting away with Quatre knowing would at least calm him enough to know he still has a place to fall back upon.

A light breeze blew across Duo's face as he took his first step on the property that morning. The first thing he noticed was Wufei's bike missing. He probably got up around six again to head off to work. Duo wasn't as terrified as he was the night before, but he wasn't easy and laid back about the deal either. He knew now he had loads of work to do.

His keys clanged against each other as he fumbled through them for the proper house keys. The knob jiggled once he started unlocking the door and finally it opened. He silently stepped inside and carefully shut the door behind him. Quatre spotted him from across the halls and tilted his head.

Duo stepped up to him and swiped his hand through the side of his hair, letting the loose ends fall and drape around his wrist. He smirked when he saw how caring Quatre stared at him; almost like an angel. Duo lowered his head a moment then lifted it and began.

"Meet in your office?"

Quatre nodded, letting Duo pass him up and step into his office. Duo's was completely different at this moment; his look, his movements, even his voice. It was as if someone smacked a maturity stick across his face and let the stimulants take over from there. He was walking more sternly and not just the usual slouch; he allowed his body to sway side to side as he stepped each foot onto the ground and frankly, Quatre's never seen Duo so different in all the years they've known each other.

He kind of resembles a hot jock in his early twenties the young teens usually gawk over, and Duo's even the correct age as one.

Quatre watched as Duo disappeared behind his office doors and continued to the kitchen for more coffee. When he returned, he found Duo sitting at one of the chairs placed in front of the desk with his head placed in between his hands, and seriously stressed out. Unlikely for Duo, Quatre thought, because he would have been sitting at my chair if something was stressing him.

Quatre sat down and placed his cup on the coaster. Duo remained silent and faced the ground, exhaled a large breath, then finally lifted his head up to face Quatre. Quatre just stared at him, wondering what was wrong.

"Quatre," Duo began, "have you ever had the feeling your life wasn't meant to take the path it's running?"

"What's wrong? You're so stressed looking, I've never seen you this…different…before."

"You mean matured?" Quatre stayed quiet. "I was at a coffee shop this morning and the lady said a mature young man shouldn't be out at this hour. I've never heard that before because people—like Wufei—usually think of me as a teenager still."

Duo wiped his mouth with his right hand, set his left on his knee, and looked away in thought; another new thing Quatre's never seen before.

"Uno's really my kid," he faced Quatre. "I didn't want to believe it at first—I still don't—but I can't run from this one like I had in the past."

"How can she be your real child?"

"A one-night-stand during the wars, that's how. I had sex with some girl and Uno was the outcome. But, my problem is…what the hell am I going to do? This is bugging me."

"Did you tell Hildie?"

"Yeah, I nearly drove off the interstate getting there last night, but I told her. I mean, I'm glad she understood, but I can see how much it hurt her. I want to be the one who will propose to her before some other guy comes along, but I don't yet that the money for that and I won't ask you for it either."

Quatre smiled; at least he's learning to mature by making the right decisions.

"And she didn't get mad?"

"Hildie? No. She understood it was something like me to do, but…that hurt a lot. I'm predictable and you can tell. I hid my feelings with a smile, but it killed me."

"Well Duo…I don't know what to tell you. Things may not change between you two." Quatre looked down at his desk in thought.

"Yes they will. I have to become stricter with her and she's not going to like that."

"Have you told her yet?"

"Uno? No, no I can't. I can't tell her. If I did, it would change too much," Duo slide his hand over his head and brushed his bangs out of the way. "I mean, look at me! I've never been so out-of-place as I am this moment. Hildie said I was predictable, it turns out Uno's my real kid, you're dead shocked at how I'm acting, I can see it!"

"Well I…" Quatre drifted off.

"Don't bother. It's true, I'm predictable and immature. Fifteen-years-old and I get some girl pregnant. I go off to war thinking nothing of it, then later come to find out the kid I adopted off the streets is that child."

"Duo, whatever you chose from this point on will be for the better. Like you said, I am shocked at how much you've changed since late last night to right now. You've matured beyond age in only a couple of hours. You're even walking differently, let alone your movements are different as well."

Duo looked down and away in attempt to change the topic. "You put Uno to sleep?"

Quatre nodded. "She asked where you went."

"Yeah? What did you tell her?" Duo faced Quatre again, this time Quatre was able to see the maturity written on his face.

"That you forgot to do something and you might not be home until the morning…" Quatre trailed off, seeing Duo look down again smirking.

"Predictable. Duo Maxwell; don't worry about a thing, you can predict his every move." Duo stood.

"Duo, I don't mean to hurt you if I had. But try to look at it along the better side." Quatre stood to face him and walked around the desk towards him.

"Yeah? And what is that? Since I've changed I'm no longer predictable? That I'm still alive from what almost killed me last night? That I might have a chance to marry Hildie if I get the money? Quatre, face it; there is no bright side to this."

Duo opened the door to his office and stepped out into the hallway. "Thanks for the help anyways."

"Duo!" Quatre raced out into the hallway to catch up to him in time.

Duo turned his head around slowly to face him. "Hm?"

"Get some rest and meet back with me at a better time. You do need to get Uno's school supplies, you know."

Duo nodded and as soon as Quatre freed his arm, walked away. Quatre remained standing in the same spot, watching after Duo. Duo's changed so much that Quatre was more than worried if his friend was alright. He knew Duo couldn't handle stress entirely, but this was practically destroying the Duo he had met in the wars.

The Duo everyone can predict.

Around twelve o'clock, Heero was making his way towards the kitchen when he found someone already there; as usual, Duo was preparing a sandwich for himself. Heero grunted and stepped towards the refrigerator. He slowly stopped when he noticed a change in Duo's appearance.

"Duo, you're not in black…and you've shaved." Heero blinked.

"Are you sure you're not just going color blind?" Duo put the sandwich together.

"I thought you wanted to grow out a Goatee."

"I've changed," Duo replied flatlined.

"And you in blue."

Duo turned and faced him, getting irritated. "Look, did you come in here to just insult me?"

"…Are you alright?" Heero was now getting worried. "You're not acting—"

"Normal? Let me guess, predictable Duo, always in black, always laid back and doesn't give a flip, right? Is that who were expecting?"

"What happened to you? All I did was ask a question!" Heero growled.

"Yeah, and expect someone else. I just found out last night that Uno's my real child, alright. Hildie said it was like me to do a one-night-stand; you, Quatre, Wufei and everyone else treat me like some teenager and expect things from me. Well I'm not like that anymore. It hurts to find out your friends and even girlfriend thinks that of you."

"Duo," Heero began.

"What? Are you going to ask me why I'm changing?" Duo picked up his sandwich and wrapped a paper towel around it, grabbed his coke can, and began heading out the kitchen.

"I was going to say good."

Duo turned around at the door and faced him. "What?"

Heero faced him. "I was going to say it's a good thing that you're changing. I can actually look at you as a friend now instead of a younger brother."

Duo blinked; Heero still wasn't as decent a man with feelings and emotions but he was trying. Duo stifled a smiled.

"It's a good change. I'm sure you'll find it irritating to become a different person, but now more people will begin to look up at you. If you need me, I'm here."

Kind; Heero was being kind to him like he's always wanted. Duo could almost feel his eyes water because of how much he was being cared for. Instead, he let his emotions fall into place with his words.

"Thanks."

Heero nodded and watched as Duo turned away from the doorway.

Duo decided to eat his lunch in the library and read up about mechanics. Studying and learning about some tools and techniques were exciting to him. He was actually having fun reading.

Duo took the final bite of his sandwich and flipped the page to look at the inside of the picture shown. It showed all the parts labeled and explained the procedures off to the side. He was so into the writings that he didn't notice Trowa looking at him.

"Duo?"

Duo swallowed his bite. "Yeah?"

"What are you doing? Learning about mechanics?"

"…Did you not expect me to be in here, studying a book?" Duo mocked.

Trowa blinked. "No, I didn't. I would figure you would learn from watching real mechanics instead of reading about them."

Duo sighed as Trowa sifted through a few books on the shelves. "Sorry, I've just been irritated lately. Everyone's expecting things of me so I figured it's time to say goodbye to that old self and become a more mature person."

"That's a good jump, Duo; for anybody I mean. But, don't forget about your relaxed side." Trowa scanned a book and shut the cover to face him. "You can easily get stressed out and the side you say people expect things out of never got stressed. It's always good to keep yourself a laid back personality just incase you need relaxing."

Duo blinked. "Rephrase all that, please."

Trowa smirked. "I mean, don't change all the way. Some people like you for the way you already are. Just mature the certain parts that make you look and feel immature, but stay yourself and don't become someone else to suit their needs."

Trowa bobbed his book at Duo and headed out of the room. "I'll let you study."

"That's a good idea, thanks." Duo watched as he shut the door.

Stay myself, yet grow up. I think that's what Heero meant by saying it'll be hard.

Quatre and Wufei were debating when Duo stepped into the living room that afternoon. As usual, Wufei was agitated about something and Quatre was trying to make it better. Duo stopped and watched, then turned his head towards the television and found Uno playing video games.

"Winner, I came to the mansion to get away from work and the first thing out of your mouth is a question to go back to the office and hand Une something!"

"Wufei, I only asked. All you had to do was say no. Alright? I'm sorry for asking, I didn't know how stressed out you were."

Wufei looked away and at Duo. "Maxwell, what happened to your black attire? You're in blue."

"Point being? You're in the same clothes everyday. Doesn't your attire change?"

Wufei growled.

"Both of you please stop this!" Quatre shouted.

"I need to rest." Wufei stormed off.

"You need to relax." Duo stated and stepped up to Quatre.

"Duo, edging him on won't help any."

"Quatre, can you do me a favor. I need you to go with Uno and get her school supplies."

"Why can't you? I have to run to the office to give Une some papers she asked for last week."

"I can't because I'm going to drive around town and look into some mechanic jobs. I also don't know what supplies are needed."

"You're getting a job?" Quatre's eyes enlarged.

"…Shocked?"

"That's great!" Quatre clapped his hands together.

"Yeah, maybe now I can start saving up for a ring. She's a hot chick that I don't want another guy to grab her before me." Duo smirked. "So can you do that for me?"

"Sure. When is she starting?"

"Tomorrow. Early Monday morning. That's why I need you to go with her so I can look around."

"I'd be glad to. And good luck with finding a job." Quatre said, watching as Duo began walking towards the other side of the living room.

"Thanks again. Uno," Uno spun around to him smiling. "Quatre's going to take you out for school things, alright? Be good to him and I'll get you something."

Uno stood and ran up to him with open arms. Duo knelt down and hugged her tightly, his eyes shutting, and his emotions falling into another category than just guardian and child. He smiled and breathed in her scent, then placed his lips on her forehead hairline.

"Love you." Duo whispered then kissed her.

He stood and headed towards the door. "I'll be back probably at ten. The cells on if you need me."

Duo waved his right arm in the air towards Quatre and shut the door behind him. His emotions' changed, his personality's changed, and even his body has matured. He wondered now, if more people will begin treating him with respect than just an immature teen.