Hey so I guess it's been a while. I'm still kind of losing my focus on this story, but I really want to see it through since it is my first and all. But hey number two is up now, that's pretty cool right? So let's see warnings for this chapter, uhhhh, Duo and Heero spend the entire thing half naked and Quatre and Trowa get a little more than half naked. I think that's it really, now how about all the stuff that could get me sued. Hmm, the title is that Tom Cruise racing movie because well...I couldn't think of a fitting title and we all knew it was coming right? I also use a couple of songs that are definitley not mine. One is "Come Downstairs And Say Hello" by Guster and if you don't know who Guster is I feel so sorry for you and I tell you now you must go listen to them. I think they're more famous on the East Coast, but yeah they're cool. The other is a song by Howie Day, not as cool but the lyrics were stuck in my head when I first started this story so now I'm kinda stuck with them. Oh well, they work well with the story. There's probablymore grammar mistakes than usual, I was kind of busy so my usual cursory check got skipped. So I guess that's all.
These Boots Were Made For Racing
Days of Thunder
There was a cool breeze rushing through the tiny interspersed weeds that grew on the beach hills, but Duo was warm leaning against the sun-heated metal of Heero's mustang. He watched as his rival bargained with the owner of a small surf shop, but refused to remove his bare back from the hot car to help him out. Then sun was high in the air, it had taken a couple hours to drive to the beach and noon was approaching fast. The crystal blue of the water shone brilliantly in the bright rays from the cloudless sky. There was hardly anybody else on the beach, it was probably the off-season but that meant they wouldn't have to deal with a bunch of screaming kids or anyone recognizing them. Heero came jogging back over to Duo a frown creasing his brows that had nothing to do with sun in his eyes.
"Comfortable?" He asked sarcastically. Duo really loved it when Heero came out of his shell and joked with him, and those rare smiles were worth more than the blue-eyed boy would ever know.
"Very." Duo responded with his usual crooked grin. "What's the word on the boards?" He asked as he finally peeled himself off the car door so they could walk down to the beach together. The soft warm sand felt great under his bare feet as they followed a beaten trail in the sandy hills to the white ocean shore. Duo had forgotten the sounds, he had always remembered the smell, but he had forgotten the amazing sounds. Birds, crashing waves, wind, the laughter of the handful of other people, it was like an orchestra tuning up for the big production. He couldn't wait for that show. The wind gently lifted his braid and played with the hairs around his face that always came loose. Heero's dark mop was whipping all over the place, but the boy didn't seem to even take notice. He just stood there, like a statue, staring intensely at the waves crashing in front of them.
"The guy said he had to get it ready." Duo opened his mouth to respond, but Heero already knew what he was going to say.
"Yes Duo, I said 'it'. The guy will only give out one board to each group." Duo just shrugged his shoulders. He didn't really care if they got to surf or not, he had never actually surfed before. Now, now, he never actually told Heero that he had surfed before so he hadn't lied. If he had known how to surf, he would so be able to whip his rival's ass. Though he was a little glad that he would get to sit this out and not have to deal with the other boy's taunting.
"Oh well. You wanna' just swim for a bit to get used to the water." He smirked evilly. "I'll race ya." The competitive spirit in these boys was strong, and for some reason their rivalry on the track kept getting transferred into everything they did together. Duo loved a good challenge, but not many people were willing to compete against him. He was pretty good at a variety of things, and he usually picked up new stuff fairly quick so people eventually just stopped trying to beat him. He missed playing basketball and just having friendly bike races down the streets with his friends. Heero had given him a little of his youth back, the youth he had lost so early on in life. Maybe that was why he hadn't been able to pull away from Heero like he knew he should.
"You're on. Three laps, to those rocks and back." Sparks flew as they stared each other down, both trying to psyche out the other. Duo's lips curled into an unholy grin and Heero's usually neutral face twisted into a sarcastic smile that would infuriate anyone. The boys lowered themselves into running stances, and Duo gave Heero one last wink.
"Okay, on three. One…Two…" And he was off at a full sprint towards the ocean's edge. Heero shook his head and took off after the braided boy making a mad dash for the water. Duo hit the water with Heero not far behind and they both shot off at almost full speed. Poor Duo though, he hadn't been in water very much. Except for that one time Solo had taken him to the beach and the handful of trips to the public pool with the church, Duo had rarely been in large bodies of water. He did, however, catch on quickly and despite his inexperience was at least able to keep up with Heero. Which is actually quite a feat considering the amount of training Heero has had in all things athletic. Duo pushed harder but wasn't able to overtake the blue eyed boy in the water. Heero was shocked at how fast the other boy was, he had to give it everything he had just to keep ahead of him. The cool water streamed over his sun-warmed skin as he plowed through the salty waves. Heero swam the last of the race with Duo right on his heels, when they reached the shore they both dragged themselves out slowly. They were out of breath and their muscles burned with ache, but they were happy in the warm sand just sitting next to each other in the sun.
"I would have whipped you good if I didn't have this braid slowin' me down. Feel it, it weighs like twenty pounds when it's wet." Heero hesitantly reached out and grasped the long chestnut rope in his hand. He had a feeling that Duo's hair was special to the boy, and that very few got to touch it. It didn't even hit Duo that he had given Heero permission to do the one thing he swore he would never let just anyone do. Touch his braid. What did that mean? Did he subconsciously trust Heero that much? Heero let the weight of that silky wet hair press into his palm, not willing to let go just yet. Duo didn't stop him, it felt good to have Heero playing with his hair it had been so long since he had shared something intimate with someone else. It felt freeing. Duo sighed, and Heero let go the braid, afraid that he had held it just a little too long.
"I'll go check and see if we have a surfboard yet." Heero stood up wiping sand from the back of his legs. He walked back to the surf shop willing himself to never forget what that hair in his hand felt like. When he got to the shop's door the old man was already standing out there with a board.
"Take it already, I have other things to do." The old man thrust the board into Heero's chest and turned to go back into the shop. Heero stood there for moment, not entirely sure of what exactly had just happened. All he knew was now there was a surfboard in his hands. 'Geez,' he thought, 'a little old man living in a beach shack, like he really has that much to do. He probably had to go fax his distributor.' Heero shrugged and walked back down the sandy path to the shore. He found Duo sitting right on the edge of the surf letting the white foam from the waves wash over his toes. The dark haired boy paused for a moment to look at his rival, the boy was beautiful inside and out.
"Hey, I got it. You ready to be taught how to surf." Duo looked up at the other boy, there was no way around it. He would just have to admit that he had never actually done this before. Damn, he was never going to hear the end of this one.
"Yeah sure, go ahead and teach me." Heero looked strangely at the boy, he had never given him a noncompetitive answer before. Wait, was he being literal?
"Duo have you ever surfed before?" The braided boy looked away, he was suddenly very interested in the different kinds of shell pieces buried in the sand. He kept flicking them and then digging for more.
"I thought you said you would school me." Heero taunted.
"Well when I learn I'll be the best you've ever seen." Heero smiled at Duo. It wasn't big but it was real, and it touched his eyes. Duo gave him a big smile back and climbed to his feet, dusting himself off the same way Heero had. "Guess we should get to it then."
Heero nodded and they headed back out to the ocean. Duo swam around for a little, getting used to being in deep water and Heero started warming up on the board. Duo was in awe at the grace Heero had on water, the boy just floated on that board. He could change directions, skim the crest, all kinds of tricks and it looked like he wasn't even trying. 'Okay,' Duo thought, 'so maybe I won't be schooling Heero by the end of the day.' Water droplets clung to the Asian man's body and glistened in the sun as he moved with the waves. Duo realized he was staring and swam over to Heero and the board.
"I guess you're not too bad. Yeah, I think you're worthy of teaching me." Heero snorted, he was getting used to Duo's pride but it was still humorous to listen to the boy's defenses.
"Okay let's go back to shallow water." They waded back to where the water only came up to their waists. Duo was skeptical since there wasn't a whole lot of wave action going on at this depth, but he had seen Heero surf so he trusted the guy. Heero held the board out in front of him and beckoned Duo over.
"Hold this next to you." Duo did as he was told. He placed his hands on the surfboard and held it still in the water. Heero waded around the board until he stood behind Duo, which caused the braided boy to tense a little. He wasn't prepared for such up close contact and now he was aware of every sensation around him. The cold water lapping around his waist, the warmth of Heero's body just inches from his back, they were all doing things to him that he really didn't want right now. And before Duo knew it Heero's hands were on his hips, he froze in his spot in the ocean water.
"You need to relax, I want you lie down on the board." For a second Duo didn't comprehend that Heero was talking to him. When he finally took in what the dark haired boy was saying, he couldn't help but think that maybe there was a bit of an innuendo hidden in there. Then again, maybe that was wishful thinking. 'Damn it Duo, you're not allowed to get your hopes for this guy and you know it.' He shook himself, forcing his muscles to relax.
"Lie on your stomach. I'll teach you how to paddle out first." Duo balanced himself as Heero reached around him to hold both sides of the board. His breath caught in his throat when he felt the blue-eyed boy's firm chest pressed against his bare back. He was able to stay on the board while Heero was holding onto it, but the second the other boy let go he felt wobbly like he wouldn't stay afloat. They spent half the day out in the water, Heero holding Duo while the boy learned to paddle out to deeper water. By the time they broke for lunch Duo had learned to swim out and get a good position on the wave. He even managed to stand up once and was able to ride out a small wave to its end. His legs were shaky and he almost fell toward the end, but he stuck through and he could have sworn he saw something like pride in Heero's ocean blue eyes.
Trowa awoke that morning from the best dream he had ever had in his life, only to find that his angel didn't disappear this time when he opened his eyes. Quatre's beautiful aqua eyes stared at him with affection, and he knew that he could never be without the blonde again.
"Good morning." He said and for once his voice expressed the joy he was feeling. Quatre smiled at him with that adorable shy grin that made his knees weak.
"Good morning to you." Quatre responded and added a sweet morning kiss. Trowa naturally wanted to turn that sweet little kiss into something more and just spend the rest of the day in bed with his love, but today they had to get down to the track to give out instructions for what needed to be fixed on the cars.
Trowa pulled away reluctantly and began climbing out of bed but Quatre jumped up and beat the taller boy to the bathroom.
"You know your going to have to share that bathroom, we're running late." The door slowly opened and a shyly blushing and completely naked Quatre opened the door.
"Ah hell we're already late, a few more minutes won't matter." Trowa closed the space between him and his lover and shut the bathroom door behind him.
"A few minutes?" The blonde chided sarcastically. Trowa slowly undressed for his love, Quatre getting impatient and trying to pull at buttons the whole time. When he was finally as nude as his lover he smirked and grabbed the blonde dragging him into the stream of warm water coming from the shower. It was a lot longer than a few minutes before the two boys emerged again with steaming water dripping off their bodies. They got dressed with a lot of pinching and slapping, but soon enough they were ready to go when it finally struck Quatre.
"Hey I don't think Duo ever came home last night." He said and looked around as if Duo were going to pop out of a closet or something.
"I think that's a good thing." Trowa smiled at his love. Quatre looked over to him but his worried expression didn't change.
"I realize that, but where could he have gone? It's not like Duo to disappear for a whole night, a few hours sure, but never an entire night." Trowa could tell that he was worried for his friend.
"He probably stayed with Heero. He looked a little drunk Quatre, Heero wouldn't let any harm come to him." Trowa rubbed Quatre's back in reassuring circles. The blonde seemed to relax a little
"Would you like to go check?" Quatre nodded and they headed out the door and down the hall to the room Trowa and Heero shared. Trowa unlocked the door and they both stepped in, cautiously though in case they were walking in on something. But they found the room completely empty. Naturally the lack of life in the room made Quatre very nervous.
"Trowa, what if they got in an accident or something, it doesn't look like they ever came home." Trowa on the other hand was reassured, but he knew Heero well enough to know that the boy had been there and had probably left sometime that morning. He also knew that somebody else had slept in the bed.
"Quatre, they were here. Don't worry, Duo and Heero were here until sometime this morning." Quatre stared at his lover in disbelief.
"How do you know that?" Trowa smiled at how much the blonde cared for his friend.
"You have to know Heero. You see that over there, it's a receipt for breakfast. Heero never orders breakfast, and that receipt has a lot of things on it. Heero never eats more than a piece of fruit in the morning. And the maids didn't fluff the pillows and there's two head prints in them so Heero wasn't' alone." Quatre just stared at Trowa more.
"And they say I'm a genius, that was like watching CSI. Oh, look in that corner near the bathroom those are Duo clothes from the club. Then he was definitely with Heero last night. I feel much better, thank you Trowa." And he gave his tall lover a kiss of gratitude.
"So we can go to work now?" Quatre smiled and nodded.
"I wonder where they went?" Quatre asked out loud. Trowa just shrugged, with Heero it could be anywhere and from what he knew of Duo it could be literally anywhere.
"I wonder what they did last night?" Quatre blushed and Trowa smirked evilly as they left the hotel room.
"I think Duo was out cold Quatre, don't worry Heero is not the type to take advantage of people in weakened states. I'm sure they just slept all night." Quatre laughed.
"That's not it, I can tell Heero's a good person. I was just thinking it would be good if Duo finally got a little action. It would mean that he's let go of his past." This puzzled Trowa, but Quatre had mentioned things like this before and he had a feeling that Duo had as much tragedy in his past as Heero. They really were meant for each other, maybe he and Quatre should cook up a plan to get them together if they weren't already.
"You did well out there." Heero smirked as he pulled himself up onto the car's hood to sit next to Duo.
"Yeah, what did you expect?" Duo grinned and winked. "After all I am the best man at everything. Now shut up and hand me one of those sandwiches." Heero chuckled silently and handed over one of the wrapped parcels he held in his hand. Duo exchanged with him for a water bottle and they sat happily in the sun.
"Sorry, all the old man had was turkey. He charged an arm and a leg for them too." Most of this conversation had been totally lost on Duo, he had already ripped open his sandwich and had half of it shoved into his mouth. Heero glanced at the boy, he was still cute even with mustard on his chin. 'Damn, I know I shouldn't but I just can't resist.'
Heero reached over and let his index finger run along and collect the drop of mustard. Duo watched every move Heero made out of the corner of his eye, he held his breath as he watched Heero's hand reach for his face. When the boy drew away, Duo saw the mustard on the tip of his finger. Duo was frozen as he waited for Heero's next move. Heero thought long and hard about it but finally decided that now was not the time to be pushing Duo.
"Such a messy eater." He said as he wiped the mustard on Duo's shorts. Duo finally let out the breath he had been holding. Was it disappointment that he felt? What did he want Heero to do? He hid it though, putting his jester mask back into place.
"Ah man, you're lucky these are yours." Heero's faint smile fell.
"Oh, I forgot." Duo rolled over, dying of laughter. He couldn't even breath he was laughing so hard. Heero just looked so adorable. The more he got to know this guy, the more both their masks dropped and they could just be themselves. Duo was scared but it felt good to finally let go a little.
"It's not that funny." Duo just kept on laughing. "Well when your done we can head back out. Maybe I'll be able to get your sorry butt surfing by the end of the day." Duo took a few deep breaths to stop his fit of laughter and followed Heero off the hood of the car.
"See there you go again, you are so obsessed with my butt." Heero just shook his head, and off they went back to the ocean with hot sand between their toes and bellies full of turkey on wry. They were out there until it got dark and Duo was complaining about looking like a giant prune. Heero thought he was a very cute enormous prune, but he kept that to himself. And Duo did indeed learn to surf by the end of the day, though it was shaky and had no where near Heero's grace but still very good for his first time. He climbed back on shore and Heero stayed out for a while to just catch a few before they left. A little off in the distance Duo saw a small bonfire with a gang of guys in shorts and sandals sitting around it. Some were old, others looked like they were around twenty. Naturally Duo's curiosity got the better of him and he waved Heero in.
"What's up?" Heero asked as he dragged his wet form out of the ocean water, the moonlight reflecting all around him and off the water dripping down his body. It took a few seconds for Duo to respond he was so lost in this moment of utter beauty.
"I want to check out what's goin' down over there." He pointed in the direction of the bonfire and Heero looked over to see what had the braided young man all excited. He got his answer. It was a beach bum bonfire, one of the greatest things he had ever experienced in his life other than the freedom of racing. His smile was imperceptible in the darkness, but Duo saw when he nodded his head and the chestnut haired man took off toward the fire instantly. When they arrived, Duo was unsure of what to do but Heero just walked right up to them as if he was their old buddy. It was surprising to see Heero so comfortable in a social situation. The guy didn't exactly scream social skills. Duo stood behind him as introductions were made and Heero took a seat next to a man with long blonde hair. Duo also went to sit down next to Heero, but was stopped by the old shopkeeper. What was the old man doing out here? He guessed it made sense though he was probably a beach bum from way back, maybe one of the first.
"His surfing gets him a spot in the circle, but you still have to prove that you're a contribution to this group." Duo looked puzzled, this had to be the first time that he didn't instantly fit in with a group. Everybody always liked him except for pigheaded homophobic jerks but who needs them anyway. And to top it all off Heero had fit in right away, did the world just flip upside down or what? Well if proof of greatness was what they wanted, he had plenty of that.
"I say we let him in for his looks." Said a man with a mop of dirty blonde hair. Duo blushed, he was used to being the center of attention, but this was different somehow. Maybe because he had to prove himself to these people instead of just being instantly one of them like he usually was.
"Shut up you old pervert." Said the blonde sitting next to Heero. "I say we let him in for his hair." Everyone in the group then turned to look at Duo's hair as though they hadn't noticed before that it almost reached the top of his thighs. There were a few nods of approval but most just look impressed. The blonde was staring at it like it was a gift just for him.
"Zechs is obsessed with his hair." Said an old man in the back of the circle. Duo like his T-shirt's saying: 'I bet you vote this time, Hippie' He liked people who could make fun of themselves, it showed a lot of confidence.
"There's just not enough people in this world that appreciate the effort it takes to keep long hair." Zechs flipped his long blonde locks over his shoulder and there were a lot of side comments coming from the peanut gallery. Duo laughed when one guy said as a practical joke they should cut up a blonde wig and put it in Zechs' bed. Then it hit Duo that that name sounded so familiar. Didn't Quatre's friend the club owner mention that name?
"Zechs, do you know a guy named Treize?" Zechs' eyes shot open wide and there were a lot of catcalls coming from the circle.
"Treize is his boyfriend." Snickered one of the guys.
"Yeah, a real rich playboy. Flirts a lot but he's a good man." Said another member of the group.
"Hey if he knows Treize then he's cool guys, let's just let him hang with us tonight." Said Zechs, obviously trying to redirect the path of the conversation. It worked too. Heero really didn't appreciate the way Zechs' eyes kept glancing over at Duo and lingering. But if the blonde was already taken then Heero assumed that he wouldn't try anything with his gorgeous braided boy.
"Well too bad all of you, he has to prove he has something to offer the group." The old shopkeeper said in a disgruntled tone, but Heero could see a sparkle of mirth in the old man's eyes. Which was good because he was really starting to dislike this old man. Duo looked around for something that he thought they might enjoy and spotted a guitar leaning against one of the older guy's knee.
"Alright, can I borrow your guitar then." The man with the guitar looked surprised but handed the instrument over to Duo. He took it carefully and folded himself onto the ground with the guitar in his lap.
"Be careful with her, she's been more loyal to me than any woman ever has." The group laughed, and Duo did too though he felt like he was being watched and it made him a little uncomfortable.
"What woman, that guitar's the only thing you've ever had your hands on." The group laughed even harder. Duo liked these guys, they reminded him of Howard's pit crew. Jokers to the very end, one of them could be dying and he'd still be cracking momma jokes.
"Well, you made a wise decision we were getting kind of sick of this old man's songs. The same five over and over, I think he believes he's playing new ones for us but that's just his Alzheimer's." There was another burst of laughter and somebody punched the guitar owner jokingly in the arm.
Duo sat down next to Heero and played a few notes. He was impressed the guitar was perfectly tuned. There was silence in the group as they all waited for Duo to start. It was eerie and it made the poor boy nervous but he went ahead anyway, ignoring his jitters. The song he played started out real low, it was almost hard to hear because the notes were so low. And the first few verses were sung in a low mournful voice, but it was hauntingly beautiful and Heero was instantly entranced. Duo had never openly sang in front of him before, he knew that it was a very private thing for the boy so he was curious why all of sudden tonight he was willing to sing in front of perfect strangers. He didn't dwell on it long though, he just felt honored to be one of the privileged few who got to hear that amazing voice.
"Dorothy moves to click her ruby shoes. Right in tune with the dark side of the moon." Heero drew his eyes away from Duo's beautiful form hunched over the guitar, his pale skin softly glowing in the moonlight, to look at the men in the circle. They were all so entranced by the magnetically mysterious creature known as Duo Maxwell that they didn't even notice him looking at them. Zechs seemed particularly enthralled with Duo's singing, and Heero couldn't help the bit of jealousy that flared up. After all he had known Duo longer and yet this total stranger was getting to hear the boy sing without all the effort Heero had been putting in to gain the boy's trust. It just seemed kind of unfair to him. Duo would definitely get to be in the circle, he knew that for sure. The boy's song continued a little higher but still in just as morose of a tone.
"Someone, someone could tell me. Where I belong. Be calm, be brave, it'll be okay." There was a pause when Duo didn't sing and he just plated the deep notes of his sad yet optimistic song. Heero watched as skillful hands held out long notes, it was truly amazing, Duo didn't even seem to be concentrating on the guitar and yet he was playing it perfectly. Heero looked up to the boy's face and saw that distant look in his eyes again, he wanted so desperately to know what went through Duo's head during these times.
"Voices calling from a yellow road." Duo was hitting powerful notes now and holding them, his voice really was something only heaven could have created. The other men seemed to think so too. Heero caught them all with wistful looks on their faces and maybe even a little moisture in their eyes. He couldn't blame them though, Duo looked so sad as he played his song it just tore at your heart.
"To tell you the truth, I've said it before. Tomorrow I start in a new direction. I know I've been half-asleep I'm never doing that again. I look straight at what's coming ahead and soon it's gonna' change in a new direction. Every night as I'm fallin' asleep, those words repeated in my head." Duo finished his song on a more upbeat note, good thing too some of the guys looked like they were going to break down. When Duo hit his last note there was nothing but silence from the rest of the group. After a few moments Duo looked up, he thought he had done okay but maybe they didn't like his song choice. He looked around the group they were all just staring at him like they were zombies. It was really creping him out, but Heero looked pleased. Heero was actually smiling at him, he smiled back shyly but the silence from the rest of the group made him not nearly as confident as he usually was. Heero cleared his throat and the guys seemed to snap back to life.
"So, I guess he's in." Heero said in his usual monotone, with that smug confidence that only Heero had. A few nodded in quick agreement, for others it took a few minutes for them to wake up totally but they were all nodding before long. Even the old shopkeeper gave in and smiled at Duo. The braided boy had a huge grin on his face, obviously happy that the group had accepted him.
After that it was like they had always been a part of this group, the guys were telling stories and jokes and making fun of each other. Duo felt at home with these men, if he had ever had a home. Home to Duo wasn't a place it was just wherever you were when you felt safe. Right now home was here, actually he had felt at home a lot around Heero. There was just something about the boy's presence that made you feel like nothing in the world could defeat you, and Duo liked feeling immune to the damn curse that had been haunting him. The moon was high in the air when the group finally got tired, and one by one they pulled out thick blankets and sleeping bags from the back packs that were piled all around the circle.
"Are you guys gonna' sleep out here?" Duo asked when he saw the sleeping bags being pulled out and unzipped. He thought it was a great, but definitely crazy. There were a whole lot of things that could go wrong sleeping on a beach, but these guys seemed like they did it all the time. At least they all seemed prepared for it anyway.
"You bet, and as new members of the group, you two will spending the night out here with us." The old man told them, Duo didn't find the idea extremely appealing but he thought it would be a great experience if nothing else.
"It's tradition so you can't back out now." Said Zechs with a friendly wink. Duo couldn't wait to tell Quatre that he had met Treize's boyfriend, he was sure the blonde would blush something awful when he did.
"If you want we can open up my sleeping bag and you can sleep with me Duo. There's plenty of room, really." Heero's eyes narrowed and he had to catch himself from growling at the surfer. So much for being taken, this guy was totally coming on to Duo. Well he certainly wasn't going to stand for that, after he and Duo had been through in the past few days, some pretty boy wasn't gonna' just step in. But before Heero could open his mouth, the old man interrupted, almost like he had known that Heero was about to say something not too friendly to the longhaired blonde.
"Yes Zechs, I'm sure you would love that but I believe I have a spare sleeping bag in the shop that those two can borrow." The first thought through both the boys' minds was 'Just one?' Duo almost said something, but it was too late the old man had already started his journey back to his shop. Zechs looked a little disappointed as he crawled into his sleeping bag, but a minute later he was back to being talkative.
"Hey Duo, how about a lullaby to put these old men to sleep." There was a round of assent and Duo really felt he had no choice. Heero almost smiled at him, and handed him the guitar. He picked a few chords, trying to think of a song, but there was only one in his head. 'What the hell,' he though, "it's about time I let it go, and Heero's here.' He wasn't sure where that last thought came from, or why it mattered that Heero was here. All he knew was that he wanted Heero to hear this song, that he would never be free of the past if he didn't do this. So he started to play the song he had kept hidden from the world for so many years, their special song and her favorite. Heero recognized those first few notes right away, and wanted Duo to stop. For some reason he didn't want anyone else to hear that song from Duo, it was like they were invading on something only he and Duo shared even though Duo didn't know that they had shared it. It seemed that Duo too felt like this song was just a bit too personal, because he stopped playing before he got to any of the words. The men looked at him curiously, but Duo didn't start playing again. Luckily he was saved by the old man's return.
"Are you guys bugging this poor boy again? Just let him get some sleep." And that was it. Duo knew why he liked the old man so much. He hadn't been able to put his finger on it before. It was why he felt so at home here like he nothing could wrong. That was how father Maxwell had always made him feel, like he could take on the world and this old man's kind eyes reminded him of the gentle reverend. He handed the spare sleeping bag and a couple of quilts to Heero who began making a large bed on that beach shore. Duo helped and soon everyone was settled in for a night under the stars. There were a few more stories about beach accidents and bad dates while the group drifted off to sleep one by one. Pretty soon only Heero and Duo were left awake. They stayed on opposite sides of the sleeping bag and each one had their own quilt, but Heero still felt nervous about sleeping this close to the boy again. It seemed Duo didn't have the same misgivings about being so close to one another, Heero could already hear gentle snores coming from his rival's side of the makeshift bed. Soon enough Heero too drifted to sleep listening to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore and he briefly wondered how high the morning tide came in.
They had spent all day wandering in and out of each other's garages. Never getting close to the other's car though, there was still a competition going on after all. When they returned to the hotel some time that evening there was still no sign of either Heero or Duo. Quatre was a little worried but as long as the two were together he felt Duo would be safe. Quatre was being awfully quiet though and it made Trowa a little nervous.
"So tell me about Duo, he's your best friend right?" Trowa was trying to divert the boy's attention from the fact that his friend was missing by having him remember all the good stuff. He opened the door to his room figuring being in the room where the missing boy usually slept would just make Quatre more upset.
"What drew you to him?" Trowa asked as they he turned on the lights and sat on the couch, patting the spot next to him for Quatre to come sit in.
"Are you kidding, you've met Duo right? How could anyone not be drawn to that? It was never an attraction mind you, just refreshing." Quatre forgot that he had already told Trowa that he and Duo had only ever been friends. It was such a habit to defend their relationship though. "I had been enrolled into a private school for gifted children until then, but I convinced my father that there was much more to learn about life than what books told you. He agreed and I was enrolled into a public school."
"You were at a school for the gifted?" Trowa was trying hard not to laugh. Quatre was rich but if you knew him you knew he hated being treated like he was rich. He hated all the stuffy rules and silly traditions. That could be a big reason why he liked Duo so much. Duo treated everyone like a human being no matter what their background was like. He was probably this way because he got judged so much as a kid. Trowa knew he had been an orphan and was amazed at how well adapted to life the boy was.
"Don't laugh, after a few comments from my teachers my father had me tested when I was six years old for signs of being 'gifted.' Well two weeks later the results came back and…" Trowa knew it made him uncomfortable to say.
"You were a child genius." Quatre just shrugged, he really hated that term. It wasn't because he was born gifted or anything, he just had more access to a resources than most children and he happened to love to learn. Duo loved learning too, but it was more because books had been so hard to come by when he was younger. He knew the Bible in and out though.
"I hate that phrase. There's so much more to being smart than being able to remember what's in a book. Duo's a thousand times smarter than me, the things he thinks of are really amazing and what's more he never learned any of it from a book, he never went to college. Take the car for example, he comes up with all kinds of interesting renovations, and they're purely his ideas all he needs me for is a little bit of the math." Quatre held so much respect for Duo that it really made you want to get to know the boy a lot better. Duo was able to hide all things about himself, the boy was so humble. Maybe it was because he grew up in a church or maybe, well there were a lot of things in Duo's past that made it so he couldn't even recognize all the amazing qualities in himself but he appreciated everyone else's.
"You two are really remarkable." Quatre was shaking his head before Trowa could even get the sentence out.
"I'm just a product of remarkable circumstances, Duo's been to Hell and back more times than anyone ever should and he's overcome it all." Quatre got very quiet, Trowa wasn't sure if he should push this anymore but he was really curious about all these hints to Duo's past Quatre kept dropping.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked and Quatre looked at him with the saddest eyes he had ever seen. His heart felt like it was trying to twist out of his chest Quatre looked so miserable all of a sudden.
Heero wasn't sure why, but halfway through the night he woke up to a sky of brilliant stars. For a second he thought his fears had been confirmed and the morning tide had woken him up, but he discovered his reason when he turned his head and saw Duo's side of the sleeping bag was empty. A little ways behind him he could here the soft sounds of a guitar and a low beautiful voice singing a familiar song. He sat up and looked behind him, Duo was there near the edge of the shore playing the borrowed guitar. He was playing the song he almost started for the group before they went to bed. The song Heero had heard him sing when he had stumbled across his garage the first time he had ever seen Duo. That wonderful melody that had hooked him on the beautiful boy that he had never been able to forget.
"The dawn is breaking, a light shining through. You're barely waking and I'm tangled up in you." Duo sang with a small sad smile on his face. "I'm open, you're closed. Where I follow you'll go. I worry I won't see your face light up again." Heero stood up and wrapped his quilt around his freezing body. It was a wonder Duo's hands weren't too numb to play in this icy sea breeze. He grabbed Duo's blanket and walked slowly over to the other boy, allowing him to continue with his song.
"I'm quiet you know, you make the first impression." Heero remembered that part, he had sung it to Duo in the club. That part of the song sounded like something he would say. That's when he realized why he liked the song so much, opposites falling in love. Before he had even met Duo he had been in love with him, with everything about him, and this song told their story if they were to ever have a story.
"I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind." Heero stood silently behind Duo, unwilling to interrupt the boy's entrancing voice.
"Even the best fall down sometimes. Even the stars refuse to shine." Heero took one step closer to listen to Duo as he finished his song.
"Out of the doubt that fills my mind. I somehow find, you and I collide." Duo stopped playing and just stared out into the sea. Heero closed the last the few feet between them and draped the quilt over Duo's shoulders. He sat down next to the braided boy and they sat there in silence for a long time. Finally Duo couldn't take it anymore, and he broke the silence like he usually ended up doing when things got too quiet for his taste.
"I didn't know anyone was awake. I didn't mean to disturb you." He said as he dug his toes into the sand and wrapped the quilt tighter around his body.
"You didn't disturb me, I've always been a light sleeper." Heero responded, unsure if he should try to talk about the song with Duo or not. If Duo was open enough to sing in front of strangers than maybe he would finally be able to talk, and Heero decided that he couldn't pass up that chance.
"That's a good song." Duo kind of nodded his head. Maybe he wasn't that up for a conversation, Heero thought. But before Heero gave up totally Duo spoke again.
"It's my favorite, holds a lot of memories. I don't usually sing it in front of other people." Heero nodded, he really did understand what Duo felt. There were a lot of things about his past that he kept bottled up.
"I have to admit something Duo. I've heard you sing it before." Duo looked up at Heero, he was very puzzled by this statement. He turned to stare down at the sand again, unsure of how to respond to this information.
"How can that be? The race was the first time we had ever spoken, and I don't go around singing it in public." Heero wasn't sure how he was going to explain this the truth was a little weird and improbable. But if anything Duo deserved to always be told the truth.
"It was during that open circuit where up and coming drivers were all allowed to enter. The one where the winner would get sponsorship, it was around the time you started racing, and I did too. I was given the wrong number for my pit crew area and wandered into yours instead. You were in your garage, alone. You had a guitar and you were playing that song. I've never been able to forget you since, and I've been waiting for a chance to get to hear you sing that song again." Heero took a deep breath, it seemed swimming for an entire day barely winded him, but talking at length got him totally out of breath.
"I guess you got your chance, I've gotten real careless. I don't even know why it mattered that I kept it to myself." Duo shook his head, the anchor wrapped around his heart was tightening, but at the same time talking to Heero made it feel like it was so tight it was starting to slip off. Would he finally feel free from his past if he spilled his guts to Heero? Was there anything that could make his sins easier to bear? Should he even be allowed to be free from his past, or were his sins worthy of a lifetime of suffering? He sure felt like he had been suffering for a dozen lifetimes.
"I do." Duo snapped his head toward Heero, curious about what he was going to say. "Because it's special to you, and you didn't want to taint it by letting other people in on it." Duo snorted and that small sad smile was on his face again, but it was more hopeful for the future than stuck in the past. So after all this time a man he had met two days ago knew him better than he knew himself.
"It was her favorite song, she used to sing it all the time. When she was cleaning, dusting the pews, or out in the garden. I would come home from school and hear her humming it down the block. I would sneak up behind her and burst into song, she usually screamed and hit me with whatever was within reach. One time, I think she had seen me coming, she was in the church dusting the figures and singing that song. She had a beautiful voice but kept it to herself mostly, saying that it was a gift from God so he was the only fan she needed. Sometimes she sang in the choir, but she always blended in, and refused to sing alone because she thought it was selfish or prideful. I was proud of her though, for so many things." A breeze blew by and Duo closed his eyes and leaned into it as if he could hear the distant sound of the woman's voice being carried on it.
"Anyway, while she was dusting I snuck up on her but before I could do anything she turned around and grabbed me. The next thing I knew we were waltzing around the pews. She loved to dance too, said dancing just made people happy." Duo paused for a long time, Heero was amazed that he had shared so much with him already. He was afraid that his curiosity would never be sated when it came to Duo.
"Who was she?" He asked his voice was quiet though, as if he were scared that Duo might realize what he was doing and stop talking.
"Sister Helen, the only mother I have ever known." Duo eyes started to glaze over and he focused hard on the moon. Did it hold memories for him? Did he see her face when he looked into that ghostly white orb? Heero didn't know but it appeared tonight he might get answers to a lot of his questions. He didn't even have to ask the questions Duo seemed to want to purge his conscious and Heero was glad it was him he was talking to.
"My parents died when I was young, I don't even know how it happened. I don't have any memories of them, sometimes I wake up at night and I think I've had a dream about them but I can't remember it. I was with a gang for a short while after their death, I don't know why authorities had never found me or how I ended up with them but they became my family. I don't know how long how long it was until Father Maxwell caught me stealing that day and brought me back to his church, I actually don't know how old I am. Once I got into the church, Father Maxwell just sort of guessed my age but I don't think he was too far off. Even after the church adopted me I still snuck out to see the gang but it got less frequent as time went on. When I was eight a plague hit our city, the church got a large supply of the vaccine because it was a place where a lot of people could get access. I was one of the first who got the shot in the church, I hated every minute of it and told all the guys how horrible it was." A bit of moisture formed in the corner of his eyes, his breathing was harsh and erratic.
Heero scooted a little closer to him, but he was nervous about actually putting an arm around the boy. He wasn't sure what kind of effect it would have but the boy looked like he was about to break down, like years of bottled up anguish and self torture were about to burst inside him. So Heero went for it unable to keep his distance from the heart aching sight of the man he was growing to really care for. At first it seemed like the braided boy hadn't even noticed Heero's hand, but then, all of a sudden the beautiful drying boy just collapsed into his arms.
"They died, they all died. Solo held out the longest but eventually it claimed him too and it's all my fault. I told them the shot hurt, they didn't get one because of me and they died." Heero held the boy tightly to him, he had no idea Duo had this kind of guilt on his conscious. "Solo's where I got my name, I told him he'd never be alone again." Duo was so quiet Heero could barely hear him. His voice had the deathly chill of man who had lost everything.
"Duo you were a child. You didn't know what was going to happen so you can't blame yourself." Duo didn't move or say anything he just sat there in Heero's arms.
"That's not all Heero. Heero you have to know, you have to know what it means to get close to me. I'm Shinigami for a reason and it has nothing to do with racing." Duo's watery eyes looked straight into Heero's and he noticed that the braided boy hadn't let a single tear fall.
"When I was sixteen Quatre and I had taken the same history course, it was an AP course and really demanding. The day before the AP exam we stayed up all night at his house studying for it. When I got out the principal called me to his office. I was afraid that they thought I had cheated, that school always was surprised when someone like me did well. Poor orphans from the streets didn't generally get straight A's. God I was so wrong, I wish it had been something stupid like that. I was so worried about my grade and then he told me that the church had burned down and there were no survivors." Duo's voice cracked and it was a long time before he spoke again. Heero just held him, unsure of what comfort he could really offer the boy.
"If I had been there, if I hadn't left for school so early to take that stupid test. I could have saved them, they were old they couldn't escape on their own but I could have gotten them out alive." His voice became so distant and hollow that it almost frightened Heero.
"You listen to me Duo Maxwell. It was not your fault. None of this was your fault. And I think these people who really cared about you would be heart broken to know that their deaths had become such a burden to you. They would want you to enjoy life the way you were meant to. You're strong because of what has happened in your past, that doesn't make it any easier but your making it a lot worse by carrying their deaths like a noose tightening around your throat. They loved you and they would want you to be happy Duo, not forever alone and miserable." Duo was quiet for a long time, his grip tightening around Heero's body. They stayed like that for a long time, curled against each other in the fading moonlight. Duo's grip began to relax and Heero looked down at the boy to discover that it was because the boy had fallen asleep.
Heero picked up his sleeping beauty and carried him back over to their sleeping bag. He laid the boy down but didn't go far and he covered them with both the quilts. He pulled Duo closer to him and held him tightly as he tried to drift to sleep. He looked down once more, unable to deny himself another glance at the beautiful boy's sleeping form, and noticed a wet trail down the side of Duo's cheek. So the boy had finally been able to let a tear fall. Heero leaned down and kissed the wet trail then fell asleep stroking Duo's braid soothingly. He lay awake for a while thinking about all that Duo had been through, you would never guess it by the boy's attitude toward life that he had one of the hardest pasts Heero had ever heard of. He had never before seen strength like Duo's, he wasn't even that strong, not even close. He finally fell drifted off amazed by the sleeping boy next to him.
They awoke the next morning when the sky was still gray and the sun had barely begun to rise. Heero woke up to the smell of the ocean breeze and a warm weight on his chest. He opened his eyes to that gorgeous stormy beach sky and looked down to find none other than Duo Maxwell tangled with him, the boy's beautiful braided head rested square in the middle of his bare chest. He lifted his hand to find it wrapped firmly around that elegant braid, his other hand was pinned to his side by Duo's arm that he had draped across Heero's body. Heero set the braid down gently and stroked Duo's hair a few times. He was enjoying being so close to the boy in the cool morning air without it being awkward. So he stayed like that for a while relaxing with the smelt of salt water coming off of Duo's mane, the fell of the boy's breaths fluttering against his exposed skin, and the amazing feeling of Duo's bare back under his fingertips. After a few minutes though he knew he had to start the process of extricating himself. He noticed that the other guys were already awake and surfing the swells in the stormy weather. Heero tried to move carefully but the second he did Duo snapped awake. He stared up at Heero like he was the lasting he had expected to see. There was a pause where the two just stared at each other and Heero noticed that lighting must be perfect because those eyes looked violet again.
"We have to stop meeting like this." Duo said after a while and smiled at Heero as he tried to pull his legs free from the twisted mass of quilts. Heero helped and soon they were free and had neatly folded up their bed. They stood on the sand watching the guys surf like the pros they were, even Heero was impressed by the old shopkeeper's moves.
"Guess we should head back. I'm sure somebody's noticed our absence." Duo chuckled at first but then a look of horror crossed his face.
"Oh my God, Quatre. Quatre will be worried sick." Duo turned and grabbed Heero's arm dragging up the path back to the where the car waited for them.
"Thanks for everything!" Duo shouted over his shoulder to the bunch of old surfers and waved. Heero waved too and the old men shouted their goodbyes to the two newest members of the circle. Duo shoved Heero into the driver's side of the car then quickly got into the passenger's.
"We have to get back quick. Quatre's gonna' kill me." Heero started the engine and switched gears, all the while shaking his head at his hyperactive companion.
"Alright, alright don't get your swim trunks in a bunch." Duo paused and looked at Heero.
"Did you just say that? Did Heero Yuy really say that? I must be delirious from all the salt water." Heero turned onto paved road and began the journey home, refusing to respond to Duo's allegations. Truth was Duo was starting to rub off on him.
They got back to the hotel in remarkably good time. Of course Heero was a professional racecar driver, so maybe it wasn't that remarkable. They walked through the hotel lobby in their swim trunks just like they had on their way out, and Duo waved at anyone who looked their way. The elevator let them off on their floor and they stepped out but were unsure of what to do next. Did they go to separate rooms this time? Did they want to meet up later? What was going on with them, were these dates or just hanging out? But for all the boy's confusion they were both sure of one thing. They had to see each other again, and the sooner the better.
"So I'm gonna' go grab a quick shower. You wanna' get lunch later?" Heero half smiled, he was glad it was Duo who asked to see him later. After last night he wasn't sure of Duo wanted to hang out anymore. He thought maybe it would be awkward now, but it wasn't. If anything it made them all the more close. They were both amazed at how close they had become in such a short time. It scared Duo, but now Duo thought that maybe he was scared for reasons other than some childhood curse.
"Lunch sounds good. I'll probably be ready first so whenever you are just come down and get me." Heero said but he didn't head towards his door, he really wasn't sure what to do. If this were a date was he supposed to kiss Duo now? Would Duo back away? But before Heero could debate that topic anymore Duo was already on the move toward his door.
"So I'll se you in a bit?" The braided enigma shouted back as he head toward his room. 'So much for that.' Heero thought and he nodded and waved to Duo before turning to go to his own apartment. He was closer to the elevator so it wasn't long before he reached his door and he was pleased to see Duo give him one last glance before the longhaired boy shut his door. Heero snorted at himself, he was acting like such a lovesick teenage girl it was pathetic. But he couldn't help it, Duo rattled him so much that his mask was just evaporating before his eyes and he couldn't stop. He didn't think he'd want to if could. He opened his door with a satisfied smirk on his face and was greeted with one of the few things that put him instantly back in full defensive mode. All shields in place and mask fully restored.
"Hello Heero Yuy."
Wow, I really blabbered on up at the top. Well I have a little more to do. I just had to say thank you to everyone who reviesed the last chapter, CrossHunt-s,English Foxlette, Stargazer9, Lun4r-flow3r,you guys were really wonderful. Two-Bit Wannabe - Wow 5:30 in the morning, does the world exist that early? Anyway I am honored and I apologize to have kept you waiting. And Silver Cateyes what would I ever do without you. I think I'm falling in love with you hehe. Well you know how I love to babble, but alas I must go for full metal alchemist is coming on and Ed and Roy make such a cute couple. Catch ya next chapter!