Another Chance

x1-TaKeN-oVeR

Mild cursing, adult situations

Okay folks, here's the low down: due to story line complications some changes had to be made - in the first chapter only though, at least that's where I caught the problem. It has to do with the ages of our people. I didn't change too much, simply minor things that I couldn't work with and drove me positively nuts. Here they are:

Haru - 27 present; 18 flashback

Akira - 26 present; 17 flashback

Heero - 23 present; 14 flashback

Wufei - 15 flashback

"Damn it," Heero angrily wiped tears from his eyes and looked around. He had no clue where he was; after Haru's inappropriate display of emotion he hurriedly ran from the clinic without a destination in mind. It wasn't like he could drive away since Miri had his keys and he couldn't very well go back and ask for them so he decided to escape the scene on foot. Now he found himself standing alone in the middle of a sidewalk next to a store called the 'Chunky Monkey.'

'Great,' Heero thought as he jammed his hands into his pockets and kept eyes focused to the ground as he walked aimlessly. 'I don't know whether today is a good day or bad day,' he came to the conclusion. One minute things were great and the next minute, things were plummeting straight to Hades - what the heck next?

Heero was so deep into thought that he was jolted, rather harshly, back into reality with a distinct crash to the ground - bum first. Heero winced as his backside met with the hard pavement and he contemplated laying back, spread eagle, and never getting back up.

"Fucking shit," a deep voice sounded above him and he looked up only to stare straight into the sun.

"Lord, just take me now," he mumbled.

"Heero? What the hell are you doing here? And where's Miri?" The deep, and way too familiar, voice sounded again.

The next thing Heero knew he was being hauled off the ground and into the firm chest of a tall, very fit, very deliciously solid man. He looked up to find himself staring into amethyst jewels...again.

"Um," he stalled trying to think of a suitable explanation. "That's actually none of your business," he finally settled on, "but since you're being so inquisitive I'll humor you - I'm here because I want to be and Miri isn't because she just...isn't. Happy?"

"Sure," Duo decided to ignore the puffy, red eyes that stared at him for the moment and shrugged with a half smile gracing his beautiful face.

Heero felt his breath catch and cleared his throat distractedly. "So...what are you doing here?"

Duo stuck his large hands down into his impossibly tight jeans and rocked back on his heels. "Well, since you and Miri wanted a rain check for lunch, Akira decided he wanted one as well which forced me to lunch all by my lonesome." He gestured behind Heero and Heero turned to see some kind of burger joint. "You know I can't hold off food for too long. I'm a growing boy after all," he patted his stomach.

Heero's eyes were glued to Duo's tight abs seen clearly through his shirt. He snapped out of his reverie as he heard him chuckle and scowled. "If that didn't work when we were kids Duo, what makes you think it's going to work now?"

"Thought I'd give it a try," Duo winked, "what can I say, though? I love food."

"Clearly," he spoke boredly. With great difficulty he wrenched his greedy eyes from Duo's gorgeous frame and watched the people passing by sending them looks occasionally. "Well, if you'll excuse me I..."

"Actually," Duo interrupted and stepped closer to Heero, "I was wondering if you'd come with me somewhere?"

"Say what?"

Duo suddenly felt an immediate nervousness take over him and he cursed it thoroughly. Heero had this affect on him that no one else could conjure - it had rendered him stupid every time he was in front of Heero as kids and he had thought it had faded with the years.

It hadn't.

"Well, I-uh...I wanted to show you something. Just a short trip down memory lane - I promise nothing will happen." Duo held up his hands but added softly, "Of course nothing that you don't want to happen."

Heero couldn't help the smile that broke out across his face. It would be a while before he admitted it aloud but...he had truly missed Duo. Duo had a way of bringing the best of him out...giving him the freedom to do anything and say anything and not be judged for it. When he was younger Duo had been a safe house for him - to go to when the world was changing a little too fast for him and he liked to believe that it was the same for Duo.

"As long as you don't take me into any deep, dark woods..."

"Well, shit then! Never mind," Duo joked and winked. "Kidding, of course - that was the farthest thing from my mind."

The way Duo said it made Heero think otherwise but he nodded his consent. "Lead the way," and as Duo gave him another one of his many smiles Heero felt his heart speed a bit faster.

"Great, I promise you wont regret it," Duo practically bubbled as he led Heero across the street towards a large black truck.

"This is yours?" Heero spoke in awe as he looked upon the Ford F150. It wasn't that the truck was all that it was just the fact that Duo had one. Not trying to say that Duo was some poor low life but the fact that Duo owned this and not some rusted Chevy was what he found amazing. Duo was a very simple guy who went for simple things - the basics were all that he needed. Nothing more and nothing less.

'What have you been up to?'

"Yeah, she's mine," Duo stated with more than a little pride as he opened Heero's door. He shut the door and walked over to the driver's side, sliding in and shutting his own door. He started the truck and looked over his shoulder before pulling into the street. "I've had her almost three years now. She was a dark green at first but you know how I am."

Heero nodded - he knew exactly how Duo was. The man, at least the man he remembered, had to turn almost all of his possessions to black - his favorite color.

As they were driving along Heero felt his eyes glued to the passing scenery. Some of the buildings they passed by would trigger bittersweet memories while others were a complete mystery to him.

"Recognize anything," Duo questioned as he glanced from Heero to the road.

"Some," Heero answered honestly. "Some things come to me clearly while others are hazy. This place hasn't changed a bit and I...I really missed it," he ended with a whisper.

Duo looked at Heero out of the corner of his eye and sighed. "It's missed you too, Heero."

Heero looked to Duo, surprised at his remark. Could it be that Duo had missed Heero? After all these years? One part of Heero wanted to squash the endless questions that were flowing while the other wanted to find the answers. Heero hated to admit but Duo still had a special place in his heart. Was it the same for Duo?

No.

Heero mentally shook himself. Every time Heero looked at him he felt his mouth salivating; no way in hell has a good looking guy like Duo stayed single after all these years. 'Although,' Heero snuck a peak, 'he isn't wearing a ring.'

No. Stop it.

There could be an endless amount of reasons as to why Duo didn't have on his wedding ring at the moment. 'It could be due to his job and he didn't want to get it dirty.' This thought soon led Heero to question just what Duo did for a living, how his family was doing, where he was living - you know, the regular things you would ask a person after you've seen them for the first time in eight years.

'I was being a total jerk to him,' Heero thought back to the time he saw him in the garage. Not much had transpired between them, words wise, but his mannerisms to him could've been a lot nicer.

Just as Heero made up his mind to question Duo's well being over the years he found himself recognizing their route of destination. His memory proved him right when Duo stopped the truck in front of the town park. Heero dropped out of the truck in a daze as he looked upon the bleacher lined basketball courts, the kiddy playground, the picnic tables and tall jungle gym.

"This place hasn't changed a bit," he whispered to himself.

"Not at all," Duo came to stand beside him. "Had a bit of up keeping during the years but that's about it. I'm a little surprised that you remember this place," he ventured and watched as a smile grew on Heero's face.

"Of course I remember this place. I came here every chance I got," Heero spoke as he and Duo made their way over to a couple of benches over looking the park.

"All the kids in this town did," Duo laughed as he sat down. He threw an arm across the back of the bench unconsciously. "You also remember we met here, right?"

Heero widened his eyes. "We did? Really?"

"Heero, you don't remember?" Duo asked with his own eyes wide with hurt.

"Duo, I could never forget about the day I met you," Heero apologized as he turned to Duo.

"Okay then, what happened?" Duo questioned with his eyes narrowed, "Tell me everything you remember about the day we met."

Heero rolled his eyes. "Duo..."

"Tell me, Heero," he urged with a certain gleam in his eyes.

Heero sighed before leaning back against the bench. He stared off towards the basketball courts and smiled as the memories came to him. "I remember that was the year that I got out of private school - finally. It was the summer before tenth grade and me and Wufei were..."

FLASHBACK

"Let's go Wufei! Stop being such a pussy and move your ass." A fourteen year old Heero yelled back to his lagging friend.

"Shut up Yuy," a fifteen year old Wufei huffed to his power walking friend but jogged to catch up. "What's the rush anyway? It's not like they're going anywhere."

"You never know," Heero teased as they walked over to the crowded basketball courts. "And I know you're just dying to see him."

Wufei blushed and bit his lip to stop a smile. "Yeah but still...there's no need to rush."

Heero finally slowed to a stop as they came to the fence that separated them from the basketball courts. They watched as the high school boys played ball: yelling loudly, making dunk shots, passing on point and slapping ass.

It was a beautiful sight.

"There he is," Wufei whispered excitedly.

"Where, where?" Heero questioned as he looked around.

"Right there, by the bleachers talking to Haru and some other guys."

Heero looked over to the bleachers and saw Wufei's crush - Zechs Merquise. "He's looking good, Fei," Heero acknowledged.

"Isn't he," Wufei spoke dreamily.

And he definitely was.

His chest was bare while he sported baggy white basketball shorts, white tennis shoes, and his hair was pulled back in a messy pony tail with wisps of blonde escaping and hanging down his face. Wufei almost started drooling as he checked out Zechs with his gleaming chest, rippling abs and tight ass.

Heero chuckled at Wufei's reaction and shook his head with sympathy. "Wufei, exactly how long have you been liking Zechs?"

Wufei shook himself mentally and turned to Heero. He blushed, for the second time within five minutes and looked to the heavens as he thought. "Um, since the seventh grade I think."

Heero stared at Wufei, shock plainly written on his features. It had just been two weeks ago that Wufei had told Heero of his affections toward the blonde God. "You're not serious...are you?"

"Uh," Wufei bit his lip and nodded.

"Wufei! You have liked Zechs Merquise for almost 3 years! Why didn't you tell me back then? You know Haru and him hang out like all the time. I could've hooked you up with him a long time ago."

"I know it's just...you know he has a girl friend right now and she's gorgeous." Wufei sighed as he looked upon the tall, blonde and handsome young man with the prettiest blue eyes he'd ever seen. "And I don't even think he's into guys."

"Oh Wufei," Heero wrapped an arm around his friend and led him to a park bench near by. "That's not true and you know it."

"I only heard he's been with another guy...I don't know if it's true. Even if he was into guys what makes you think he'd be into me?" Wufei kept his gaze down and began fiddling with his hands.

Heero looked at the young man next to him. Wufei was very easy on the eyes with his shoulder length black hair that was kept into a tight pony tail, onyx colored eyes shadowed with long eye lashes, full pink lips and a great body. Wufei could easily get any guy or girl he wanted.

"Wufei, he would be crazy not to be into you. You're a great guy with a great personality, great mind and great body." Wufei was currently showing off his great body with his tight black tank top, a pair of dark gray basketball shorts, and old black tennis shoes.

Wufei blushed at his friend's words. "You think so?"

"I know so. Zechs is a cool guy and not that stupid to pass up a chance with you. You just need to be around him, hang out as friends first and all that. Plus I heard that he was about to break up with his girl friend anyway."

"How do you know?" Wufei questioned eagerly.

Heero shrugged his shoulders. "I heard Miri talking to one of her friends on the phone about it." He clapped Wufei on the back and smiled, "Don't worry, just leave everything to me. And," he added with a sly grin, "Zechs and some other guys are supposed to be staying over my house this weekend."

"You serious?"

Heero nodded. "Of course! And didn't you say this weekend was your parents anniversary anyway?"

Wufei nodded happily. "Yeah and Meiren did say she was staying over one of her friends house too."

"So then it's perfect. But first things first."

"What's that?"

"Uh...we got to get you two talking," Heero looked at him with 'duh' clearly shown in his eyes.

"Oh right, right." Wufei stood up, brushed his hands against his pants and started for the basketball courts. "I really appreciate this Heero."

"No problem," Heero waved off, "what are friends for?"

Wufei nodded and began breathing deeply as they got closer and closer to the courts. "Well, it's a good thing that Duo and your brothers are there. I feel a lot better and not so alone."

Heero nodded. "Yeah they are...WHAT!" Heero stopped and stared at his best friend. "Duo? As in Duo Maxwell?"

"Uh yeah, Heero. What's with you?" Wufei stared back at his friend with confusion.

"Oh man, Wufei! Why didn't you tell me?" Heero ran a hand through his messy locks.

"Tell you what," Wufei walked over to Heero slowly.

"That Duo Maxwell was going to be here!" He whispered harshly in case said person over heard him.

"What's wrong with Duo? I didn't know you had a problem with him."

"I don't! It's just..." Heero turned from Wufei and started walking away before coming back. "Look at me!"

Wufei ignored the order. "Why are you worried about what you look like?"

Heero suddenly looked nervous. "Because, I...well, you see..."

"Oh...my...God. Heero, tell me I'm wrong. Please, tell me I'm wrong."

"What," Heero growled.

"You like Duo, don't you?" Wufei stepped closer to his friend and stared him in the eye.

"Uh..."

Wufei didn't wait for Heero's answer - it was obvious anyway and instead, threw his hands in the air and plopped back against a nearby tree. "I can't believe you tried to get on me for not telling you I liked Zechs."

"I didn't think it was important," Heero sniffed.

"Heero, Heero, Heero..."

"What? Okay, so I didn't tell you that I kind of like Duo, so what? It's not a big deal...it's not like I want to get with him."

"Yes you do," Wufei smirked.

"Okay, so it's not like I can get with him," Heero amended. He walked over to the tree Wufei was leaning against and sat down heavily. "Believe me when I say I've thought about it plenty of times but...there's just no way."

Wufei rolled his eyes and slapped his forehead. "Oh man, Heero that's the same bullshit I was talking! You're way worse than me. Duo and your brothers are like best friends. They go everywhere together, especially him and Akira. Your families are best friends - it should be that much easier for you."

Heero wrung his hands and chewed on his bottom lip. "I know but it just isn't. Me and Duo aren't really around each other like that. Him, his brother and my brothers are always going off somewhere not wanting to hang around with the babies," Heero spoke the last word with disgust.

"Heero," Wufei said slightly doubting his friend.

"It's true, Wufei. Akira and Haru let me know all the time. Even Miri sometimes says it," he snorted, "like I really want to hang out with her and her little girlfriends."

"Yeah but Heero, you've changed."

"What do you mean 'I've changed,'" Heero asked. What the heck was Wufei talking about?

"Well, I've just started noticing it. Now that I see you more and all." Wufei spoke referring to the year round private school that Heero had previously attended. "You look different and act different, too."

"I do? Why haven't you told me before?" Heero wrapped an arm around his waist - self conscious.

Wufei waved his hands and shook his head in the negative. "It's nothing bad, Heero. It's a good different." Wufei stared at his friend, he had changed physically more than anything else. He hadn't grown very much but his hair was a bit longer, his freckles were more pronounced and his eyes had lost that child like wideness that they had been known for. He had also lost his baby fat, more in his body than his face. He would always have a certain puffiness to his cheeks but his body had filled out a bit more and he was steadily attaining some muscles. "You look good Heero, not so young."

He definitely didn't look so young in his attire. He was wearing a pair of red running shorts that were short and tight - hugging his ass deliciously, and a tight white tank top with matching red and white Nike running shoes.

"Really," this time Heero smiled. Since he didn't look like a 'baby' anymore and knew he didn't act like one, he may have an actual chance with Duo.

"Yeah, man. So, let's go over there and show Duo the new you," Wufei pushed away from the tree and hauled Heero with him.

"O-Okay," Heero stuttered after an anxious Wufei.

Role reversal.

Perfect.

Okie. This is going to be chapter 5/part 1 of the flashback and it will be followed by chapter 6/part 2. Hope you like it. So sorry for the delay. Don't ask because I'm tired of coming up with excuses.

Review por favor.