Just a Shadow
Disclaimer: - I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters!
Chapter 17: Blood, Lard and Acting
Hey people! I hope the last chapter made up for the shortness of the one before that! A new vote is now open! Please don't review just to vote, leave some comments as well okay?
Heero/Relena
Heero/Wufei
Heero/Duo
Heero/Duo/Wufei
Duo/Wufei
Duo/Hilde
Wufei/Hilde
Wufei/Sally (but don't you think she's a bit old for him?)
Or any pairing of your choice with the 3 remaining single Gundam guys!
KentouKurige: Your request is my command! You want more pets? You shall get them!
10-Midnoght-01: Another super fast update! As you wished here is the next chapter!
Kira May Maxwell: YAY! Mothering! Do I get read bed time stories? But seriously, thanks SO much for taking the time to review each chapter! I really love to get reviews from you!
Lonely Walker: That is the best compliment ever! Thanks! I thought people would like it!
Calli Maxwell: As requested, here is the update! Thanks for your review!
Silver Mirror: So did you like the story? Thanks for your review! I'm glad you liked the ending!
El Terrible Fizzy: I must admit, the last chapter was good! I hope you like this one!
TKM: I know you said to take a break, but I had a bout of inspiration which I just couldn't let go to waste! I hope you like this chapter!
Silvertwilight: I personally want that GIANT plush hamster … thanks so much for your review! It makes me so happy to know you like my chapters! I hope you like this one too!
Ms Son: Ah, my good friend, thanks so much for your great review as always! I know I can always count on you! I finished drawing my Gundam hamsters! I hope you like this chapter!
Muchacha: Could you have a go at drawing hamsters? Lol! I did! Thanks so much for your review! It's great to know you think my fic is so balanced!
Silversilence0: But Duo does find out about the hamsters! Read on and you shall find out! I hope you like it!
"MAXWELL!"
"I didn't do it!" Duo screamed, shooting off of his bed and running out of the room "Whatever I did I didn't do it!"
Wufei glared as he watched Duo run past the room he was in. Being the good sportsman he was, he gave him a head start of a minute before giving chase.
Duo cowered in the bathroom cupboard, awaiting his fate. The sound of footsteps approaching could be heard and Duo instinctively pressed his back further to the wall. Suddenly the door swung open to reveal Quatre with an armful of towels.
"Hello Duo" Quatre greeted without even looking past the huge mound of folded towels in his arms "Hiding from Wufei again?"
"Yeah … need any help?"
"That would be nice"
Duo helped Quatre arrange the towels in the cupboard and then sighed and sat on the edge of the bath.
"Duo?" Quatre asked "What's wrong? Why aren't you hiding?"
"For once I'm gonna take it like a man Q, I'm just gonna sit here and wait for him and hopefully I won't spill too much blood on the rug and it'll all drip into the bath eh?"
Quatre smiled and sat beside Duo resting a hand on his shoulder.
"So what did you do this time?"
Before another word could be said, Wufei burst in the room and raised an accusing finger at the doomed American.
"You!" he hissed "How dare you!"
"Huh?" Duo blinked "What did I do?"
"You have impregnated me!"
"WHA?"
Duo shot back and fell into the bath, hitting his head on the wall. Before he had the chance to gather his shaken brain together, he was being dragged outside by his collar. When he finally gained some sense back, he saw to angry black eyes staring into his own.
"What did I do?" the braided man whined "I don't remember doing anything! How could I get you pregnant! How can you GET pregnant?"
"I'M not pregnant you idiot! LOOK!"
Duo cast his gaze to where his angry friend was pointing and stared dumbly at the sight before him.
"Um … Fei?"
"What?" Wufei snapped
"Are they…?"
"Yes" Wufei ground out "We discovered little Fei is a female"
Duo burst out laughing and Wufei was finding it hard to stay mad at him. He looked at Duo and sighed.
"Sorry Maxwell" he apologised "I shouldn't have taken it out on you"
"It's okay man" Duo replied as his laughing calmed "That sight was worth it! Go little Duo! Go! Hump away my friend!"
Wufei smirked but then frowned as he spotted a thin trail of red leading down Duo's back.
"Shit" he muttered as he helped Duo up and started dragging him into the house
"What? What's wrong?" Duo asked
Wufei didn't reply, but instead dragged Duo upstairs to the bathroom he was hiding in. Duo watched as all colour drained from his friends face with confusion.
"Fei?" Duo asked "What's wrong?"
"Oh God, I'm sorry Duo"
"Huh?"
Duo was starting to feel a little light headed and so leaned on his Chinese friend for support. He followed Wufei's gaze and as his eyes rested on the wall where he fell and they widened. There was a large patch of blood on the wall which was dripping onto the bath.
"Shit" Duo stated "I better get that cleaned up before Heero sees I messed up the bathroom"
Wufei stared incredulously at his braided friend before sitting him down on the toilet and grabbing the first aid kit from the cupboard.
"I think cleaning you up is a little bit more important right now don't you?"
"I don't know" Duo grinned "Heero can be pretty scary when he gets mad!"
Wufei rolled his eyes and began to clean Duo's head, being careful not to mess up his hair.
"You'll need to take a shower and clean your hair before I can bandage this, just be careful with the soap okay?"
"Okey dokey Fei!"
Duo began to take off his shirt and Wufei left the room. When he had finished in the shower, Wufei came back in and bandaged his head.
"Aw man!" Duo moaned "Fei! This messes up my braid!"
"Stop whining weakling" Wufei smiled
Duo grinned. Now was the perfect time to play the guilt trip. Wufei had just finished the bandage and as Duo went to stand up, he faked swaying on his feet and sat back on the toilet.
"Maxwell?" Wufei asked worriedly "Are you okay?"
"Sorry Fei, just a bit dizzy – a drink might help"
"Sure" Wufei replied "I'll get you one right away"
Duo smirked as his Chinese friend rushed out of the room and hurried back with his favourite drink.
"Is this okay?"
"That's great buddy, but I feel a bit sick now"
"What should I do?"
"Food would be good"
"Sure, go lie down I'll bring you something up"
Duo smirked as he stumbled out of the room and into bed. About 10 minutes later, a delicious smell wafted through the air and lured Duo to the hallway where he listened for any sign of his friends return.
"Wufei…"
Duo struggled to hear what Quatre was saying to Wufei, but failed miserably.
"I know" Wufei replied "But he's my best friend and even if he isn't sick I still owe him for making him hurt his head. I don't care if he feels he needs to trick me, but I just wish he would have asked"
Wufei started to ascend the stairs and when he reached the top, he came face to face with none other than Duo Maxwell himself.
"Hey man, let me help you with that"
Wufei smiled as Duo took a bowl and carried it to his room.
"Come in and look around Wuffers, then I'll go have a peek around your room"
"Sure" Wufei replied
Around an hour later the front door was opened and lots of noise could be heard. Heero had gone out after dinner to pick up the animals from the vets and said he was bring ALL of them home. Wufei and Duo were surprised when Jasmine and Scythe came bounding in the room and jumped onto their laps.
"Jasmine? What's wrong baby?"
"Yo scythe! What's got you all spooked?"
Both animals looked warily at the door and the pilots looked at each other curiously.
"Sorry if Lard scared your pets guys!" Heero called out "He's a bit of a big lump, but he's as gentle as a feather!"
All the pilots walked into the hallway and their mouths fell open. Next to Heero stood the biggest dog they had ever seen.
"I don't know what breed he is" Heero stated as he ruffled the dogs fur, but he's very loving!"
The dog when on its hind legs stood at Heero's height. When Heero beckoned it to stand up for a treat, the pilots could do nothing but stare in awe.
"Whoa" Duo stated
Nobody else made a sound so Heero rolled his eyes and walked inside, Lard hot on his heels.
"W-where are the rest of the animals?" Wufei called
"They don't live in the house" Heero replied "They're pretty much wild, but I feed them and they come and go as they please"
"Oh"
Duo grinned and ruffled his puppy's fur setting him back onto the ground. The frightened little dog immediately ran behind its owners leg and whimpered. When Wufei set Jasmine on the floor however, se ran straight up to Lard and leapt rather ungracefully onto his back then climbed onto his head. The dog didn't seem to mind and tolerate the fluff-ball on its head. Heero smiled and everyone got back to their previous events.
As they all walked away, Heero sighed in relief. They had forgotten to ask him about little Becky.
"Heero?"
"Yeah?"
"We didn't forget, we'll talk about it tomorrow"
"Damn"
The other pilots smiled sadly at the wing pilot before leaving to their own business.
"Hey Fei?" Duo called "Could you pass me that picture frame?"
"Is all of this really necessary? I mean he's only in hospital for a week!"
"This is Heero we're talking about Wufei" Duo stated plainly "If we don't make him as comfortable as possible, he'll run – no matter how much he's changed, he'll always hate hospitals!"
"I suppose you're right" Wufei agreed, handing the photo frame to his friend "How are you coping?"
"I'm alive"
Wufei was about to protest on Duo's answer when Quatre ran into the room.
"Guys, you better come quick, Heero's having a bad day!"
Duo ad Wufei were out of the room before another breath could be taken and by Heero's side. Heero barely seemed to notice them and remained staring into space with that haunted unfocused look in his eyes.
"Is this what he was like before we came?" Zechs asked quietly
"Yeah" Duo muttered "I don't understand what's going on! We're too close for you to stop trying Heero!"
Duo got no response from the Japanese man and sat down sighing.
"Do you want us to leave you alone with him for a while?" Noin asked
"I don't know guys"
"I think we should go and get some fresh air" Quatre suggested and the people started filing out of the house and into the back garden to view the pets.
Duo sighed heavily and raised his lowered head slightly. He and Heero were alone in the room. He looked up fully and found himself staring into clear and very focused Prussian blue eyes.
"H-Heero!" Duo exclaimed as he jumped back "Y-you're okay!"
Heero nodded and Duo stared at him dumbly.
"You understood me?"
Heero nodded again ad Duo grinned. His grin quickly turned to a frown and he glared at his Japanese friend.
"What was up with you just then? I was so worried!"
"A … act … ing" Heero slurred out stuttering as he struggled to make his mouth find the right words.
"Heero?" Duo asked amazed "Can you understand me clearly?"
"Clear … bell … Duuoo…"
Heero smiled as tears formed in Duo's eyes
"Clear as a bell huh?"
Heero nodded again and Duo laughed.
"Why were you acting?"
"Alone … you … want"
"Huh?" Duo asked "You wanted me alone?"
"Yeah"
"Why?"
"Miss … you … Duu…" Heero's brow knitted in concentration, as he forced himself to complete Duo's name "Duuoo"
"I miss our alone time too buddy … the sympathy's a bit too much for too eh?"
"…Yeah…"
"I can't believe this" Duo stated "Am I really having a conversation with you?"
Heero's eyebrows knitted again and a concentrated look spread across his features.
"May … be"
"Ever the sarcastic type eh?"
Heero nodded
"Are you okay? I mean are you comfortable? Hungry? Tired?"
"Me … fine … got to … go … now …"
Heero's eyes fogged up a bit and Duo smiled.
"Thanks buddy" he whispered as he hugged his best friend "I needed that"
In two days time, Heero would be leaving for the hospital to have his operation.
:Grins: So? Did you like? Did you hate to the point where you wanted to throw rotten cabbages at me? I'm still willing to take any suggestion of where people want the boys to go. They still have a bit of time to fill up before the accident! I'll even give you guys a little hint … it wasn't an accident::Grins: There's your teaser!
By the way, I had a go at drawing the Gundam hamsters, if anybody wants to see them, feel free to email me and I'll send it to you, it's not fantastic, but it's not bad either! If anybody else wants to have a go please send me your tries!
Until Next Time!
Clarobe … :Clarobell's other arm falls off: