Pairings- 1x2, duh
Disclaimer- Don't own 'um unless the owner wants to trade for a pair of bratty boys... ;; I also do not own the son "Broadway"... The almighty Goo Goo Dolls do!
Warnings- Some cursing and slash/yaoi/shounen ai... eventually.
A/N - And we're back! After about a month! And you lot of readers, I want feed-back! Just so as I know that at least someone likes this little story! I know it seems repetitive with the whole karaoke thing, but where else is Duo going to sing?
-City of Angels-
Heero found himself sighing with relief when he got home from school, as it had not been one of his best days. With Duo chattering endlessly, Relena bickering with Duo, and Candy, Relena, and Mariemeia swooning over him continuously, his day had not been terribly great. And within ten minutes of fifth block, Duo had appeared in the door way of his algebra 2 class, telling the teacher Barton-sensei had kicked him out of geometry as he'd already mastered the material. A fourth class with the braided chatterbox had not helped his splitting headache either. And Mariemeia had insisted on him coming to a club with them that night. So far, the day was only going downhill. The boy sighed again as he opened the front door, not expecting the ebony-haired tornado that came flying at him moments later. Elise attached herself firmly around Heero's waist, squeezing tightly. The boy slowly untangled himself from his younger sister, who was babbling in Italian.
"Ciao, Elise." he said coldly, turning to head upstairs. He was stopped at the sound of the kitchen door opening and footsteps headed toward him. He turned to see his foster mother headed toward him, a bright eyed baby on her hip. Extending her free arm, Mrs. Krieger brought the boy into an awkward hug.
"Welcome home, dear." she said motherly, kissing his forehead. Heero shrugged away coldly, replying in a monotone voice.
"Mariemeia's invited me out again tonight. Can I go?" the matronly woman sighed softly, looking at her oldest charge out of slightly saddened eyes. Ruffling his hair affectionately she smiled gently.
"Of course, dear." she said, pushing the boy toward the stairs and adjusting the baby on her hip. "Go get ready." The boy looked back at his foster mother out of murky blue eyes, and said,
"Thank you, Mrs. Krieger." the woman looked slightly shocked, and as Heero headed up the steps, she grabbed his arm.
"Call me Mom, Heero." the boy shrugged her arm away and continued walking up the steps, appearing to ignore his mother's words. The matronly woman sighed, shaking her head disparingly, wisps of auburn hair slipping out of a loose bun. Heero continued walking up the steps, feeling completely guiltless to his mother's unhappiness. The only emotion he was feeling clearly was that of annoyance. Slipping out of his school clothes and putting on a pair of old, worn jeans and a green tank top, the boy turned and walked back downstairs; grabbing his wallet as he went.
"I'm leaving." he called, heading toward the front door. A small, cool hand slipped into his, and Heero turned to see Elise at his side once again.
""Dove siete che andate, fratello moggiore(1)?" the small girl asked, pitch eyes looking at the older boy curiously. Heero pulled his hand away from the child coldly, and answered in a decisive tone,
"Verso l'esterno(2)." The seven year old looked at him unhappily. Persistently she slipped her hand back into his and looked back up at him, tugging his hand pleadingly.
"Ve l'prenda con?" Her elder brother sighed, prepared to say 'no', but a tired voice from the kitchen inturrupted him.
"Take her out with you, Heero. Your younger brother is making a racket and I can't handle both of them! You can drop her off before your date." Sighing irritatedly, the chocolate haired boy nodded and grabbed his younger sister's wrist, dragging the giggling child out the door behind him. After exhaling noisily one more time, he and the ebony haired girl headed toward the park. Elise was being blissfully silent, and with the gently blowing breeze it was a perfect spring day... The walk to the park wasn't half as bad as he expected. Letting go of the girl's hand, he watched as she ran toward the swings. Turning to sit on a rusted bench Heero saw a very familiar braid flew through the air, which moments later was accompanied by a very familiar voice.
"Bridgette! Where are you? BRIDGETTE!" Sitting on the bench heavily, Heero saw violet eyes turn his way, and focus. A bright smile crossed the boy's face, and he happily ran over to his "friend".
"Oi! Heero! Have you seen a little girl, yee high, with long black hair?" Looking at the braided boy confusedly, Heero nodded. Once again, Duo's face lit up. Dropping onto the seat next to the cobalt eyed boy, he asked excitedly,
"Where?" Once again totally confused he pointed to the swings where Elise was playing. The grin fell from Duo's face, and he hung his head dejectedly. Raising an eyebrow he saw a small girl, probably Elise's age, with a long ebony braid swinging behind her, tiptoe up behind Duo and put a finger to her lips. Peering at the boy in front of him, he saw a small smile on Duo's face, and calmly sat back to see what would happen. Just as the young girl reached out to grab the chestnut braid in front of her, Duo spun around grabbing her around the waist and pulling her into his lap.
"HAH! Caught you Miss Bridgette!" the girl giggled, dark brown eyes twinkling mischieviously. The braided boy was looking at the young girl in his lap affectionately, and he ruffled her hair gently. The girl smiled back, and Heero felt a strange tightening in his chest. Duo turned his gaze from Bridgette to the boy beside him. He smiled warmly at the cobalt eyed boy, who returned the gesture with a cold glare. The braided Shinigami sighed, and shook his head at the girl in his lap.
"So Heero, who's the little girl on the swings? You know her?" Duo asked, trying to begin a conversation. Heero sighed with irritation, but answered the other boy's question.
"My little sister--"
"Elise!" a small voice inturrupted. The seven-year-old braided girl lept out of Duo's arms and dashed over to the swings, calling her friend's name repetitively. The two boys looked at each other in disbelief, then, the braided boy broke the silence with a startled laugh. He grinned at his companion, and Heero found himself wanting to smile back, but he stifled the urge quickly.
"You going to the bar with everyone?" Duo asked, attempting to break the uncomfortable silence that had returned after his sudden outburst of laughter. The other boy nodded, and Duo found himself babbling randomly, desperately trying to get his companion to respond.
"Yah, I'm going too. Ryoko asked if I'd go with her and I can't really turn a pretty girl down, ne? I've never had a girlfriend before... I'm not bringing my little sister, Bridgette, with us. Sister Helen just told me to take her outside because if we didn't get out of the church soon we were going to tear it down. Sister Helen is really nice! I never really thanked you for helping me out back there yesterday, did I? Thanks to you, now I have a--" Heero cut the other boy off.
"Shut up, Maxwell." Instead of a hurt look crossing the braided boy's face, a grin appeared. Heero looked at his companion confusedly, none of his usual defences would get through to this boy! Even Mariemeia knew when to back off!
"Thanks, Heero." Duo said, smiling contentedly, and barely containing a sigh. Raphael never told me it would be this hard! he found himself thinking.
"If you hadn't helped me out back there, I wouldn't have a home, or a family." for some reason, Heero found himself responding.
"What about your old home? With Relena?"
"Yah, but I never really fit in back home. Everyone wanted me to be someone I couldn't be! Not to mention I was the 'baby'." Duo answered bitterly. Heero found himself being baffled by this strange boy once again. How could a boy so different from himself provoke him to open up? Shutting down all emotion, Heero stood up.
"I have to take Elise home. Goodbye." Duo sighed softly, watching as the dark haired boy took his sister by the arm and walked away silently. What'll it take to get this guy to open up! the boy questioned himself. Setting his jaw determindly, he stood up and called to his younger sister. It doesn't matter if he likes it or not! I will get through to him!
XX-XX
"Heero! You're here! Finally!" Heero sighed softly as his blue-eyed girlfriend latched herself onto his arm. Looking around the crowed, noisy bar he saw Duo and Ryoko just a few feet away. The braided boy was garbed in a tight fitting sleeveless top, with matching black leather pants; and chains dangled all over the lithe form. His amazingly violet eyes were lined in charcoal, and Heero found himself wondering how an orphan of the church could find, let alone be allowed to wear such form fitting clothing. The two boys' eyes met. Heero turned away quickly, not wanting the other boy to notice him. But it was too late.
"Heero! Mariemeia was beginning to worry you showed her up! Where were you?" Heero shrugged silently, noticing the slight roll of Duo's eyes as he walked toward the couple.
"Heero, they're having people sing up front! Will you go up there?" Duo heard Mariemeia ask. The other boy's answer was expected.
"No." Duo sighed, shaking his head gently. It was going to take more than just kindness to get this one to cooperate... And he only had three months to do it! What should he do next... Duo's silent reverie was inturrupted as Ryoko latched onto his arm asking,
"Duo! You'll sing, right?" Perfect!
"Sure!" the boy answered, grinning mischeiviously. Ryoko giggled girlishly, and held up his arm as the DJ asked for a volunteer. Heero looked at the other boy confusedly for about the fifth time that night. Why would he be willing to embarrass himself in front of so many people? Duo caught Heero's eye just before he was called up, and Heero shivered at the mischievious grin and wink being sent his way.
"And what's your name young man?" the DJ asked the braided boy. Duo scanned the audience until his eyes landed on his small group of friends, and he grinned.
"Duo, sir!" the boy answered energetically. Nodding, the DJ turned the microphone over to the braided Shinigami. Duo felt a tremor go through him, and he listened as the tune to one of his favorite songs began to play. He ignored the lyrics playing on the small screen across from him, and let it all go.
Broadway is dark tonight,
Little bit weaker than you used to be.
Broadway is dark tonight,
See the young man sitting in the old man's bar,
Waiting for his turn to die!
Heero was taken aback at the baritone voice that errupted from the braided boy's mouth. To his great discomfort, not only was he entranced by the boy's voice; he couldn't take his eyes off the braided chatterbox. Trying to look away from the seductively swaying hips, he turned to Mariemeia. The girl began talking immediately, but Duo's voice was ringing in his head and he found his eyes being drug back to the annoying boy. Staring straight at the boy, Heero realized that Duo's eyes were focused on him.
The cowboy kills the rockstar
And Friday night's gone too far
The dim light hides the years on all the faded girls
Forgotten but not gone,
You drink it off your mind
You talk about the world like it's someplace that you've been
Duo grinned as he saw Heero's faint blush, and winked, causing the boy to look away. Duo knew this routine, and as expected, moments later Heero's eyes were focused on him again. The Shinigami was loving this. Not only was he humiliating the chocolate haired boy, he was singing his heart out and everyone seemed to be loving it. Heero needed a little fun in his life... Pausing briefly between verses, Duo blew Heero a kiss; grinning at the cobalt eyed boy's dark blush.
You see you'd love to run home
But you know you ain't got one
Because you're living in a world
That you're best forgotten round here
Ryoko watched her "boyfriend" from the audience, smiling widely. Who knew he had so much talent, along with good looks. The dark haired girl turned to look at her companions, and was shocked to notice one was staring quite intently at her Duo... Heero. Shrugging it off, the girl turned to look back at Duo just in time to see him blowing back a kiss that was aimed in her general direction. He's such a charmer! the girl found herself thinking, "catching" it and blowing one back.
Broadway is dark tonight,
Little bit weaker than you used to be.
Broadway is dark tonight,
See the young man sitting in the old man's bar,
Waiting for his turn to die!
Mariemeia frowned. This wasn't right. She was sitting here, talking intently to her boyfriend, and he was ignoring her! And why? That skinny little braided brat. Relena had told her about him... Glaring at Duo, she gasped as she saw a wink aimed in the general direction. Heero's general direction. And was Heero... blushing? The chocolate haired boy turned away briskly, but his eyes were soon drawn back to the boy singing on stage. Mariemeia was livid. And the girl's anger was only nourished once she saw the kiss blown Heero's direction; and another, deeper, blush accompanying it. Mariemeia grabbed Heero's arm, dragging the dazed boy off to "get drinks".
You choke down all your anger
Forget your only son
You pray to statues when you're sober just for fun
You're anger don't impress me,
The world slapped in your face
It always rains like hell on the losers' day parade
Duo wrinkled his nose slightly. How unfair! He watched irritatedly as Heero's jealous girlfriend drug him off to the bar, babbling animatedly. The only comfort was the difficultly Heero was having in trying to keep his eyes off him... Tossing Heero a last wink before Mariemeia spun him around completely, Duo smiled with satisfaction. He was enjoying this... immensely. Maybe he did belong in Hell...
You see you'd love to run home
But you know you ain't got one
Because you're living in a world
That you're best forgot
When you're thinking of a joke
And nobody's gonna listen to the one small point
I know they've been missing round here
Finally forcing himself to stop staring at the boy singing and seductively swaying his hips on stage, Heero got himself back under control. Quickly shutting down all emotion, the boy pulled his arm away from Mariemeia. The girl looked at him out of slightly hurt eyes, but he ignored it and kept walking toward the bar.
"What wouldja like to drink young sir?" the bartender asked, and the chocolate haired boy shrugged. Staring at the selection of drinks, he finally pointed to a coca-cola symbol. Not only was he too young to actually drink, beer took away control and Heero would have none of that. The elderly man told Heero the price of his drink, and the cobalt eyed boy handed him the money silently, taking his drink and sitting down on a stool. Mariemeia rushed up to him and began talking, but he ignored her, sitting quietly and merely listening to the braided boy on stage.
Broadway is dark tonight,
Little bit weaker than you used to be.
Broadway is dark tonight,
See the young man sitting in the old man's bar,
Waiting for his turn to die!
Duo wrinkled his brow in aggitation. His game was no fun anymore, as Heero was sitting on a bar stool, eyes shut, drinking a soda and totally ignoring the braided Shinigami. Oh well, he found himself thinking. I'll get him to notice me and maybe have a little fun once this is over... But until then, here goes nothing! And that was it. NOTHING was holding him back now.
You see you'd love to run home
But you know you ain't got one
Because you're living in a world
That you're best forgot
When you're thinking of a joke
And nobody's gonna listen to the one small point
I know they've been missing round here
Round here!
All of a sudden, Heero found his attention torn away from stirring the ice in his drink and to the boy on the stage. It seemed that Duo had let go of everything that was holding him back in the least, and his whole soul was being put into the song he was singing. It was amazing, and once again Heero found himself fighting to keep his eyes off the braided boy. Duo's eyes were shut tightly, and there was an obvious smile on the boy's face, as if he was doing the one thing he loved most in the world. He seemed oblivious to the outside world, his braid swishing in sync with his hips; and Heero was shocked that he found the boy... beautiful. Beautiful being a word he wasn't even sure the meaning of, but nonetheless, it seemed to fit Duo perfectly. Heero couldn't stop staring.
Broadway is dark tonight,
Little bit weaker than you used to be.
Broadway is dark tonight,
See the young man sitting in the old man's bar,
Waiting for his turn to die!
The contented smile slipped off of Duo's face as he sung the finishing words to the song, but it was back as the audience burst into applause. Taking a short bow, the boy put down his microphone and walked quickly off stage, the sound of cheers still ringing in his ears. But the one thing that stayed fresh in his mind was that slightly shocked expression on Heero's face. The expression Duo found himself labling... cute. Shaking his head he kept walking. He barely even KNEW the boy, and here he was calling him CUTE! Not to mention, he was leaving -for good- in three months. The thought of Heero reminded Duo of a slight tremor he had felt go through his back in that last verse, he would have to check it out when he got back home. Duo was so lost in his thoughts, he barely even noticed the sound of his name being called. Standing in front of him were three boys.
"Duo, am I correct?" the smallest of the boys asked, extending his hand to Duo. The boy was short, about Duo's height, with blonde hair and clear, angelic, blue-green eyes. He had a sweet smile on his face, a smile that only widened as Duo accepted the handshake and nodded. The blonde boy looked to be about twelve or thirteen, and he certainly did not look old enough to be in the bar, let alone wearing the skin tight clothing he had on.
"Nice to meet you, Duo!" the boy exclaimed energetically. "I'm Quatre, and these two are Trowa and Wufei." he said, pointing to his comrades. The first, Trowa, had a single, chestnut bang that shot out and covered his left eye. He was taller than Quatre, and had forest green eyes. It seemed he never took his eyes off the smaller boy. The second, Wufei, stood a slight bit apart from the two other boys. He looked oriental, and had black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail that reached the nape of his neck. His eyes were pitch black, and it was difficult to tell which part of the eye was the iris and which was the pupil. He had a slightly dangerous look to him, and he gave Duo a quick nod. Duo looked confusedly at the three boys.
"Nice to meet you..." he said softly, shaking hands with the other two boys. Quatre smiled at him again, and began speaking,
"Duo, we have a prop--" the boy was inturrupted as Ryoko, Mariemeia, and Heero walked over to Duo's side, and Ryoko latched onto his arm.
"Duo! You sounded so wonderful..." the girl cooed, but she shut her mouth as Quatre cleared his throat, an eyebrow raised.
"Duo. As I was saying, we have a proposition for you. We were wondering--" A shriek inturrupted poor Quatre this time. A shriek that came from an excited Mariemeia. The red haired girl looked over at Heero, and began tugging on his arm.
"Oh my gosh, Heero! Can you believe it! It's Gundam Wing! They were in "TeenPop Magazine" last week!" Rolling his eyes slightly, Quatre tossed Duo a wink. Smiling once again, he asked,
"Anyway, Duo, the boys and I heard you on stage, and we were wondering if you wanted to join our band."
A/N- Ooooooo! Go Duo! He's so cool, ne? You lot, I want feedback and I want lots of it! Thank you all my friends that have reviewed (Liz, Rei-chan, Yami-chan, Jessie...), you all are the best! And for the rest of you just plain AWESOME people who have reviewed without even knowing me, I am VERY grateful... I will probably put review comments at the end of the next chappie... (if I get any reviews), sorry I couldn't this time! For all of you people who read this and had to wait a friggin eternity for me to write this, I am very sorry! I love you all! You rock!
Reviews make authors happy -- nods
Leila
1- Where are you going, big brother? (I think... I don't remember this one exactly...)
2- Out
3- Take me with you?