A/N: :ducks rubbish: I'm sorry! I seriously didn't mean for it to be this long until I posted this chappie up! I'M SO SORRY! I've just been so damn busy recently… I'm busy every day of the week x.X God I wish the hols were here already…
Uh okay enough random blabbering lol. THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS::huggles reviewers: I really didn't think that it would get this much feedback lol but I'm really glad that it did xD
Okay, time for replies lol
Anonymous: :blushes: thank you very, very much Lol I'm hoping to get this story finished soon :grins sheepishly:
Sunstreake: lol thank you hehe I'm glad it's original
Lildevil666: lol nah dunz came up with the plot :P get your mind out of the gutter jess xD heh I wish I had a hot piano teacher --;;
GundamPilot03: :looks shifty: yes… those chapters… right… lol nah look here's another one! And the chapter's quite long lol well at least a lot longer than my normal ones :grins: danke
Heero Yuy-Maxwell: Lol I'm updating! Please post your fic
ChibiNekoSakura: Omg thanks lol I was really worried that they wouldn't be in character
Tyranimo: hehe thank you!
Shru: Lol thank you for telling me… I'm sorry ;; I was just thinking that with Duo and his personality (crazy… lol) he might hug Quatre (probably not but oh well ;;) cuz he's been looking for a job for aaaaages and he's kinda out of money lol. Oh yeah the fireplace ;; lol I kinda took it from Starbucks cuz I was kinda basing the café thingy on that. Lol, god I love cafes with fireplaces xD soo nice and waaaaarm… ok getting distracted lol. What I meant to say is thank you very much. I simply adore constructive criticism lol
Pampers- KND: hehe I updated xD see?
Celine Jordan: :glomps: thank you thank you thank you thank you!
Devylzangyl: hehe I love your name xD yeah I thought so too lol but hey… maybe next chappie lol. Yeah I've made Heero into a bastard… he'll get better soon though
Lost- Remembrance: Oh yeah the time era… It's in the present lol… I thknk… Kind of in the past though as well ;; it's a kind of mix. Cuz the families are traditional, so they're kind of old fashioned, but it's set in the present. Did that even make sense? Lol ;;
Miles'girl: :feels extremely extremely blessed: thank you soooo much… Lol I am a lucky lucky girl xD hehe god I really wanna make it go up to M but I've never written a sex scene or anything before --;; lol if you wanna write one then be my guest lol xD I'll pop it right in the story
Shi: Lol I loved Wufei during the series… though that bit with the bird kinda disturbed me x.X maybe it's just cuz I watched the dubbed version… hmm… thank you anyway lol
Yazzy: lol THANKS! Here's the next chappie! XD
Camillian: lol I'm glad you liked it! Thanks a lot
RLD: sooo glad you do danke!
Mechante fille: Lol hehe yeah… wasn't really borrowed… I just kinda told Dunz that I was gonna use her plot lol.
Yeah I'm at a total loss for the Dancer… well kind of… I have the ideas I just don't have the time --;; I'm really sorry about the delay… I promise I'll get another chapter up soon
Bane: For real? Cool! Lol thanks
Ragna01: I'm glad it's fun! It's gonna get a bit more serious from now on though lol
Nyaru: BREATHE! BREATHE! Lol I don't want you to die before the fic's completed!
Yukiko-Angel: :winks: you'll soon find out… :smiles mysteriously:
Chapter 2
Duo awoke the next morning, feeling strangely excited. Somehow the prospect of seeing Heero again gave him butterflies, though Duo had no idea why.
The guy's gorgeous, true, but he's a total dick, Duo thought, as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, then slipped on a sweater. Stupid, stupid, stupid Heero. Why does he have to have a lesson in the most ungodly hours of the morning?
His car took nearly half an hour to start, and even then it refused to go 5 metres before stopping abruptly.
Cursing madly, Duo opted to walk instead. It was an hour's walk from his house to Heero's, but Duo refused to let that stop him. By the time he reached Heero's mansion, it was 7am.
A maid let him in, and looked at his not-so-elegant clothing in obvious surprise. "Can I help you?" she asked. "Sir?" she added hastily.
"I'm here to see Heero. Is he upstairs?"
"Yes sir. But he has a piano lesson right now."
"I know, I'm his piano teacher." Duo grinned. It felt so good to say that.
"Oh." the maid blinked several times, lost for words. "O-of course, sir." she curtsied and quickly hustled off.
Duo climbed up the stairs -of which they had too many, in his opinion- and knocked on the door to the attic.
Heero opened the door immediately. "You're late."
"Only by a few minutes!" Duo grinned cheerfully at him, and pushed past the older boy. "Car broke down- the stupid thing hates me."
"Who doesn't?" Heero muttered under his breath. He wasn't sure why the braided baka was in such a good mood compared to the angry one he had been in the day before, but Heero was glad.
His smiles are so beautiful... What am I thinking? Heero clenched his fists.
Duo heard the comment, but ignored it. He was determined to stay on good terms with Heero, at least until the lessons were finished.
Then I can treat him the way he deserves- not very well.
Duo sat down on a spare chair, pushing his braid over his shoulder. "And what are you working for, exactly?"
"Scholarship. To get into Oxford." Heero replied shortly. "I need to be able to play three pieces perfectly, and answer some questions about the pieces. After that, it's up to the judges."
Duo nodded, jotting the main points down in his notebook. "Okay! So have you decided on the three pieces?"
Heero nodded and showed the pieces to Duo (a/n: sorry, have no idea what the pieces are! Just use your imagination, okay folks?).
Duo looked them over. "They're good enough choices, but they're all the same."
"What do you mean?" Heero asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Well, they're all classical, and they're all so... well, even. You need a bit of variety- that's what judges want."
"And how would you know?" Heero demanded.
"How do you think I was able to go to high school?" Duo laughed. "I won the music scholarship- trust me when I say that the judges are looking for a bit of variety."
"Fine, I believe you." Heero rolled his eyes. "What exactly are you recommending?"
"A romantic piece, a classical piece, and a 20th century piece. That shows that you have a good understanding of music." Duo started going through the pile of music Heero had in his room, and he had to admit, it was impressive. "This is amazing! How did you manage to get all of this? It must have been so expensive!"
Heero shrugged. "I guess. Are you here to teach me music or not?"
Duo made a face at him. "I'm trying to find you some pieces you twit." he picked out a romantic piece and handed it to Heero. "What do you think of that?"
Heero nodded, somewhat reluctantly. "It's a nice piece. But..."
"But?"
"I'm not good at it." Heero forced the words out. He hated admitting weakness, and he waited for the jibes he was sure to come from Duo.
Instead, Duo simply shrugged. "That's okay. Nobody's perfect. You'll just have to work hard on it, that's all."
Heero stared at him, amazed.
Why's he being so nice to me? He said that nobody's perfect... but I'm supposed to be perfect- my parents will never forgive me if I'm not. How can he sound so careless when he says that? Doesn't he want to be perfect?
"Sure." he said finally, and put the music down in front of him. He started to play, but he hadn't even reached the third line before Duo reached out and swatted his hands away from the keys.
"You're killing me, man, you're really killing me!" Duo groaned as if in pain. "You sound like a damned robot! Look- it says, right there on the music, expressivo, and even a dumbass knows what that means! Play it again, and put some feeling into it!"
Heero gritted his teeth, and started to play again. He hadn't gone 5 bars, and once again, Duo interrupted his playing.
"Heero. Look, buddy-"
"I'm not your buddy, Maxwell, so don't call me that." Heero ground out.
Duo flinched, but carried on. "Look, the notes are all right, the timing's perfect, but that doesn't matter. You need to put some emotion into your playing. The second time you played it, the piece sounded angry, so you were obviously upset. But there's still not enough feeling behind it."
"You play it then since you're so great." Heero snapped, his blue eyes burning with anger.
Duo sighed. "This is not how we should be going around this. C'mon, Heero, can't you just try?"
The long haired teenager could hear the blue eyed boy's teeth grind together harshly.
"What the hell do you think I'm doing? Not trying?" Heero yelled, losing his composure.
Duo lowered his eyes.
I suck at teaching... I should just give up- Heero was right, I'm not sufficient...
"Would you like to take a break?" he asked softly.
"I don't take breaks." Heero spat out. "Can we move onto some real work now?"
"Not until you can play this piece perfectly." Duo replied sharply. Any thoughts of giving up were pushed out of his mind. "And by that I don't mean mistakes. Just think of something when you play. Any memory, I don't care. Do you know the history behind that song?"
"Iie." Heero glared moodily at the music.
"Huh?" Duo frowned, perplexed.
"No." Heero repeated, this time in english.
"Oh... why didn't you just say so?" Duo grinned, but it disappeared when Heero didn't smile back. "Well, the composer wrote this when he was dying, so it's a pretty sad song. You need to portray that to the judges."
"Hn." Heero grunted, his face emotionless.
"So will you please try to play it like a work of art instead of a machine?" Duo pleaded.
Heero had never heard so much criticism before in his life from someone who wasn't in his family. Normally they would fawn over him and bow down to his every wish, but Duo was different. He didn't give a damn about what he said, and who he said it to.
And Heero liked that.
However, he didn't like the way the violet eyed boy kept pushing for him to feel emotion that he didn't have.
Emotions were a weakness, and Heero wasn't about to put them in plain view in his music.
!#$&
Three hours later and they hadn't progressed very far. Heero could feel the beginnings of a nasty migraine, and Duo was ready to kill the messy haired boy.
Finally Duo stood up, rubbing his temples. "That's it. Let's call it a day." he muttered.
Heero rolled his eyes, picking up the three pieces they had finally chosen after much bickering. "Whatever, Maxwell. I'll see you same time tomorrow."
"What?" Duo frowned. "Aren't you hungry?"
"I just had breakfast." Heero replied, in his slightly nasal monotone.
"Yeah, three hours ago!" Duo shook his head and grabbed the teenager's wrist. "C'mon, let's go grab a bite to eat."
"No!" Heero snatched his wrist away, ignoring the tingling sensations that shot through him at Duo's touch. "I have homework to do."
Duo raised an eyebrow. "Homework?" he asked incredulously.
"Some of us actually want to get through university." Heero replied snidely.
I must not get pissed at him, I must not get pissed at him... Duo kept chanting the same mantra over and over in his head. I need the money, and I can't afford to add another person to my enemy list...
Duo forced himself to shrug nonchantly. "Your loss mate."
He waved goodbye to Heero and ran down the stairs, intent on finding some food before he went crazy.
How am I supposed to teach him if he won't listen to me? Duo groused as he sat in his favourite cafe, chewing on some fries. Heero was a fucking fantastic piano player, that was true enough, but he played like a robot. Every note was perfect, but... well, boring.
How can I teach him to play with some spirit? He obviously doesn't possess a lot of emotions, and I can't get him to fake it, so how the hell am I supposed to get him to win this bloody scholarship?
He snapped out of his reverie when Quatre sat opposite him. The blond was in grey trousers with creases sharp enough to kill and a white silk shirt.
"You feel frustrated." Quatre commented as he sat down, cradling a cup of coffee.
"Huh?" Duo blinked owlishly. "How'd you know?"
"I have what people call a 'space heart'." Quatre replied, smiling at him. "Empathy- I know what people are feeling."
"Oh." Duo grinned, obviously amazed. "That's pretty neat. You look stressed. What's the matter?"
"We're holding the annual ball soon." Quatre sighed wearily, taking a deep gulp of coffee.
"And?" Duo asked, confused.
"Balls are so hard to arrange. Right now I have to get the invitations out. Then I have to find the band, get the food, hire some more servants, as well as arrange the decoration. Luckily all my sisters are helping out."
"You have sisters?" Duo asked enviously. He had always wanted a few brothers and sisters, and he had received them -in a sense- when he had lived at the orphanage. "How many?"
Quatre laughed. "Funny you should ask that. I have 29 sisters."
"Holy shit!" Duo's jaw almost hit the ground. "How did your parents manage that?" he realised what he had just said and went bright red.
"It's a long story." Quatre didn't take any offence, he merely grinned. "I can't stay long any way. The Bartons are staying at our estate for a while, so I have to get home before they arrive. I just wanted to know how the first lesson went."
"Not very well." Duo groaned. "He hates me, I swear."
"I have a feeling he hates everyone." Quatre said grimly. "But you've got to look past that. It's a rarity when he gives people a second chance. Please go easy on him Duo, he hasn't had the easiest of lives. His parents are-" Quatre bit his lip, searching for the right word "-difficult."
Duo nodded slowly. "I'll try my best."
"Thank you." Quatre said gratefully. He stood up. "I'll see you around!"
"Yep, see ya!" Duo waved at him as the blond rushed off. He still didn't know what to do about his financial situation.
Wufei couldn't support him forever- and Duo still owed heaps of people, including some man named Mike, money. Money which he didn't have.
Duo glanced at his watch and muttered a curse under his breath. He was late!
Again, he thought as he quickly ran down the street.
He was also a waiter at a local bar/ restaurant for people of all walks of life. It didn't pay a lot, but it was money all the same, and he needed money.
If I don't pay Mike soon he's going to be after my blood, Duo thought as he ran into the restaurant part of the place and pulled on his uniform.
"How's it going?" he asked a passing waitress on his way to the kitchen.
Sakita rolled her eyes. "Average, as usual. A couple of the regulars, a couple of newbies. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"Thanks." Duo quickly hurried into the kitchen. "I'm here!" he announced to the head chef.
The large man chuckled and stuffed a plate into his hands. "Table 4. Hurry."
Duo grinned and quickly got to his job. The night passed quickly, with Duo scurrying around serving dishes.
Suddenly he caught sight of a familiar crop of messy brown hair. He groaned silently, before realising that Quatre was with him.
That makes things easier, Duo thought with some relief. I hope I don't have to serve them.
He quickly disappeared into the kitchen and hoped that he wasn't needed to serve any more food.
"Why are you hiding here for?" his manager, a large, red faced man, yelled. "Get out there! We need you to serve table 7! Now!" he bellowed.
Duo winced and quickly grabbed the plate and approached table 7. His heart sunk when he saw that it was Heero's table.
"Your meal, sir." Duo said politely, wincing inwardly.
Heero look up and his eyes widened in surprise, before a too familiar smirk crossed his face. "A waiter too? You must be very multi-talented." he said mockingly.
Quatre shot Heero an exasperated look before smiling widely at Duo. "I never knew you were a waiter as well! How much longer is your shift?"
"I get off in half an hour." Duo replied.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think we've been introduced." a pink clad girl smiled at Duo uncertainly. Her eyes took in his uniform, and his long hair.
"Oh! I forgot that you hadn't met yet." Quatre laughed. "Relena, this is Duo Maxwell, Heero's piano teacher. Duo, this is Relena Peacecraft, Heero's fiancee, and daughter of Senator Peacecraft."
Duo forced a smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The same to you." Relena murmured, and quickly turned away, shooting a pointed look at Heero, who quickly cleared his throat, attracting Quatre's attention.
"Well, thank you for the meal Duo. I don't want to distract you from your work." he smiled apologetically at Duo, who shrugged.
"It's no problem." he quickly walked off, thinking things over.
So Heero has a fiancee, Duo sighed. It's not like I had a chance with him anyway. Or that I wanted to have a chance with him. He's an asshole, and that's that.
"What took you so long?" his manager demanded, glaring at Duo. "Hurry up and get these plates delivered you brat!"
Duo bit the inside of his cheeks to keep from retorting. He quickly grabbed several more plates and went back out into the restaurant. He felt Heero's eyes on him several times during the rest of his half an hour but he ignored the older boy.
Finally his half an hour finished and Duo quickly changed into his normal clothes. Duo exited through the back door, not wanting to pass Heero and the others. He especially didn't want to see Relena again. He felt that she didn't mix with unwealthy people a lot.
It's not like I'm going to see them again, Duo thought. I only see Heero when he has piano lessons, and we're not exactly on friendly terms.
"Maxwell."
Duo paled. He knew that gruff, no nonsense voice too well. "Mike." he shivered slightly though it was a warm night.
"Where's my money?" the black haired man demanded. His dark eyes glittered with anger and malice. "You said you'd have it by the end of the week, and I still have no money!"
"It's only Friday." Duo tried to sound as calm as possible. "And I'll have it soon."
"You'd better, Maxwell." Mike grabbed Duo's arm and squeezed hard. "I'd hate for you to get hurt."
Duo hid a wince and tried to pull away. "Yeah... well, I'd better be off." he tried to sound as cheerful and nonchalant as possible.
"Why are you rushing off so soon?" Mike smirked. "It would be better if you came around to my place so we can... discuss our little problem." his smirk grew wider and his grip tightened.
Duo breathing became slightly erratic and he struggled a little harder. He froze when he felt something sharp digging into his back.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Mike laughed mockingly. "I told you before- I'd hate for you to get hurt."
"What do you want?" Duo hissed. "I already told you, I'll give you the money. Killing me now isn't going to give you that money."
"Who says I'm going to kill you? I'm just going to give you a reminder that's all." the knife dug even further into Duo's back.
The long haired boy gave a tiny cry and shifted. He could feel blood drip down his back- it was only a light prick but it still stung all the same.
"You can't do anything here." Duo tried to stall for time. "We're in the middle of the carpark. Sooner or later people are going to come for their cars."
"Exactly. That's why we're leaving now. Get in the car." Mike commanded and pointed to a large van with tinted windows. "I've got a compromise for you."
Duo's eyes narrowed. "What does it consist of?" he gasped in shock when he felt Mike grab his ass. "What the fuck?" he pulled away, though the older man never let go of his arm.
"You give me sex, and I might forget all the money you owe me." Mike smiled craftily.
Duo's immediately response was a big fat no, but then he thought about it. It was impossible to get the whole $678 that he owed Mike in two days. This agreement was probably the only way out, even though he didn't like it one bit.
"I'll have to think about it." Duo said slowly.
Mike let go of his arm and climbed into his van. "I'll call you in 3 hours, and you'd better have your answer by then." he turned on the engine and leaned out the window. "You'd better make the right choice Maxwell." he smirked cruelly.
Duo glared at him hatefully and turned to leave. He felt Mike grab him and he found himself pressed against the side of the van, with Mike's mouth firmly on his.
Thankfully it was over as suddenly as it had began and Mike shoved Duo away, letting the long haired boy fall onto the ground.
"I'll be talking to you later." he called out as he drove off.
Duo felt tears run down his cheeks and he quickly brushed them away. It was just sex- it wasn't important.
The thought of being close to Mike made his skin crawl, and Duo felt bile rising in his throat.
"Duo...?"
Duo twisted his neck around and realised that Heero, Quatre and Relena were standing at the entrace of the car park.
He groaned quietly. Today is not my day. They must've seen the whole thing and now they probably won't talk to me because I'm gay. What else can possibly go wrong?
"Are you alright?" Quatre immediately ran over to him and held out his hand.
Duo accepted it gratefully and stood up. "Thanks."
"There's blood on the back of your shirt." Quatre said, alarmed. "Are you alright?"
"Just had a minor disagreement with a friend, that's all." Duo lied. He brushed himself off and grimaced when he saw all the blood on his shirt. Maybe the cut had been a bit deeper than he had thought.
"I can tell you're lying." Quatre said disapprovingly. "If you want to keep it a secret then we won't talk about it. But let us at least try to help you."
Duo sighed and offered a tiny smile. "Could I get a ride back to my apartment Please? I'm not sure I want to walk."
"Of course. Are you sure you're alright? Maybe we should get you to a doctor." Quatre nibbled on his lip anxiously.
Duo shook his head. "I'm fine, don't worry." he took a deep breath and tugged his braid, trying to get hold of his jittery nerves.
"Who was that man?" Quatre asked curiously.
"No one you know." Duo replied vaguely.
Quatre raised an eyebrow but didn't press the subject any further. It was obvious that Duo didn't want to talk about it.
Heero walked over with Relena clinging to his arm.
"I never realised you were a faggot." Relena sniffed disdainfully. She glared at Duo.
Duo glared back. "It's none of your business who I love."
"I don't want a faggot-" she spat out the word. "-teaching my Heero." Relena clung onto Heero possessively.
Heero watched Duo silently, his cobalt blue eyes unreadable. Relena ranted on some more, about how if Duo taught Heero he would make him gay as well.
Quatre was seething with anger beside Duo. He said nothing but simply held onto Duo's arm, offering silent support.
Duo finally snapped and started to walk off. Relena spluttered, shocked that someone had dared to leave while she was talking.
"Where do you think you're going?" she demanded.
Heero hid a smirk, trying his hardest not to laugh. Quatre frowned and turned to Relena.
"Be quiet. He's had a rough night, and he doesn't need you to make it worse." he said quietly. "Duo! Come back- don't you want a ride anymore?"
Duo shook his head. "I'd rather walk." he said, even though his back and arm still ached terribly. His apartment was around an hour's walk away from the restaurant- it was going to take even longer now that he was injured.
"You're in no condition to walk." Quatre said sternly. "Now get in the car."
Duo decided that Quatre was scary when he was in a commanding mood. He climbed into the car, wincing slightly.
His wounds weren't bad- he had endured a lot worse, but they still hurt. Duo watched from inside the car. He could see that Relena was visibly upset. She was still hanging onto Heero, who looked more than slightly annoyed.
"I'm going to go and wait in the car as well." Heero said finally and prised Relena off his arm.
He sat down next to Duo and they sat for a while without talking, listening to strands of the argument between Quatre and Relena.
Finally Heero broke the silence. "You injured?" he grunted.
"Not badly." Duo replied. He couldn't bring himself to look Heero in the eye. "I guess I should quit."
"Why?" Heero asked, raising his eyebrows.
"You probably don't want a faggot to teach you." Duo said bitterly.
"Why not?" Heero grabbed Duo's chin and forced the long haired boy to look at him. "I really don't give a shit about your personal life Maxwell. If you're gay, then you're gay- I don't care. I've hired you to teach me piano, and you're going to teach me piano."
"I... Thank you." Duo, for one of the first times in his life, was lost for words.
"Don't thank me." Heero said gruffly. "Now tell me what happened. I don't let anyone hurt my employees."
Duo shrugged. "I owe him some money, and I was just giving it to him, that's all."
"It didn't seem like that to me." Heero said, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Tell me the truth."
Duo sighed. "It's really none of your business. It's my personal life, and you don't give a shit about it, remember?"
Heero growled deep in his throat. "Fine." he turned away and stared out the window sullenly.
"She's your fiancee?" Duo asked curiously.
Heero gave a tired sigh. "Yes. It wasn't my choice." he grimaced as soon as the words left his mouth.
Why did I just tell him that? It's none of his business.
"Your parents chose right?" Duo asked.
"Hai." Heero rolled his eyes.
"That means yes, right?" Duo asked.
"Hai- I mean, yes."
Duo laughed and leaned back in his seat. "You're a strange one, Yuy." he said, grinning.
His grin disappeared when Relena and Quatre climbed into the car. Relena ignored him, her mouth set in a thin line. Quatre looked weary, but he managed to smile at Duo.
"So back to your apartment, right Duo?"
Duo nodded. "Yeah, if it isn't a problem." he hesitated. He didn't really feel like going back to his empty apartment and lounging around until Wufei came home from work. The apartment they lived in was always dark and cold, and Mike knew where he lived. "Actually, could you just drop me off outside the Chinese restaurant down the road?"
"The Chinese restaurant? Why?" Quatre asked, surprised. "Are you hungry? You should've had some dinner with us-"
"No, no, I'm not hungry." Duo replied quickly. "My friend works there- I'd rather stay and help him out than return to my apartment."
Quatre sighed. "I don't mean to be getting all personal Duo, but was that man bothering you? You're afraid, I can tell, and worried." he twisted around in the driver's seat to talk to the long haired boy. "You can trust us."
Duo shot a quick glance at Relena who was sulking quietly in her seat and shook his head. "Thank you, but I'll be fine. Mike and I have sorted it out."
"Mike? Is that his name?" Quatre asked immediately.
Duo grimaced and mentally hit himself. You idiot Duo, he berated himself silently. You had to go and tell them his name!
"Well, uh, yeah." Duo frowned. "Can we please stop talking about it?"
"Alright." Quatre sighed again and started up the engine. "To the Chinese restaurant we go, then."
Heero watched Duo carefully. The brown haired boy was obviously agitated, and nervous.
Who is Mike? Heero wondered. And what does he want with Maxwell? And why do I care so much?
Heero's eyes narrowed when he noticed the blood on the back of Duo's shirt. So the long haired boy had lied about the extent of his injuries. Heero glanced at his fiancee, and groaned inwardly.
Why do I have to be stuck with someone who's so close-minded? Nice, sweet and caring, but unable to look beyond people who are as wealthy as her.
The Japanese boy stared out the window, thinking about what had happened between Duo and that man- Mike. He remembered seeing Mike pull Duo right next to the car and kiss him- for some reason that sent waves of jealousy coursing through Heero.
But why? I'm not jealous! What is there to be jealous of? Someone kissing Maxwell? I don't even like Maxwell, Heero thought angrily. And besides, I don't even go for men. I like women. Women like Relena.
:Yeah right: a voice at the back of his mind whispered.
Heero growled. Duo turned to him, surprised.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." he snapped and turned away again.
Duo raised an eyebrow but didn't press the subject further. Instead he just leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes, appearing to be taking a short nap.
Heero let out his breath and went back to observing Duo. The long haired pilot was -though Duo would probably never agree- dainty, with well placed features- large violet eyes, rosy lips which begged to be kissed... Heero blinked. Where had that come from? Had he just entertained the idea of kissing his piano teacher?
The stoic boy shook his head. He was tired. Either that or the chef had put something odd into his food. He was engaged, for God's sake.
:To someone you don't like: the voice reminded him.
Heero sighed- now he was talking to himself. Tonight was not going as planned. All that was supposed to have happened was a light dinner followed by planning out the ball at Quatre's mansion.
"We're here." Quatre's sweet voice brought Heero out of his reverie. "Are you sure you don't want to be dropped off at your apartment?"
"No, this is fine thanks." Duo said and opened the car door.
He missed the look that Quatre shot Heero, so he was surprised when Heero cleared his throat and offered to go with him.
"I'm fine, really."
"I'll go with you anyway." Heero said stubbornly and followed Duo out of the car.
"Alright." Duo shrugged and waited for Heero to climb out of the car.
They entered the Chinese restaurant which was buzzing with activity. Duo headed straight to the reception and waved at the girl standing there. She grinned and hugged him tightly.
"Duo! It's great to see you!" she caught sight of the wince of pain he tried to hide, and frowned. "Are you hurt?" she turned him around and gasped. "Duo, you're bleeding!"
Duo grimaced. "I know. That's why I need to see Wufei."
The girl nodded, then noticed Heero for the first time. She turned to him, smiling politely. "Can I help you sir? Do you have a booking, or-"
"I'm with him." Heero snapped.
The girl raised an eyebrow. "Well done Duo." she murmured, loud enough for both of them to hear.
Both Duo and Heero went red. Heero stared at her, shocked, while Duo immediately shook his head wildly.
"Sally, this is Heero Yuy, my piano student. Heero, this is Sally Po, Wufei's girlfriend." Duo introduced.
Sally flushed, and stammered out an apology. "I didn't know- I just presumed- I'm so sorry!"
"Hn. It's fine." Heero grunted.
"Wufei's in the kitchen. You know your way around, so I'll leave it to you." Sally replied to Duo's earlier question. "And again, I'm sorry."
"It's fine Sally! A common mistake." Duo laughed and stuck his tongue out at her.
Sally rolled her eyes at Duo's childish behaviour and returned to her work. Duo grabbed Heero's wrist, and dragged him through the restaurant. Heero wondered why he was letting himself be pulled along by Duo- he was only supposed to have accompanied him to the restaurant, not meet all of his friends. But for some strange reason he didn't want to pull away from Duo- the long haired boy's hand was warm and strangely comforting.
"I'm really sorry about that." Duo said quietly when they were away from the loud chaos in the dining area.
"I already said that it's fine." Heero said, and shrugged. He smirked. "I guess she liked what she saw. She say that to many of your boyfriends?"
Duo flushed slightly, and shook his head. "Only you. But you're not my boyfriend." he said and laughed.
"I wish I was." Heero muttered under his breath without thinking. His eyes widened as soon as the words left his mouth, and he hoped to god that Duo hadn't heard what he had just said.
Luckily for him, Duo hadn't been listening. "Huh? Did you just say something?"
Heero shook his head quickly, inwardly cursing himself. Why had he just said that? He wasn't gay! And he had a fiancee!
Duo's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he shrugged it off and laughed. "Alright then, keep your secrets." he stuck his tongue out at him.
Heero smirked. "Just in time for your pissed off flatmate to see."
"Huh?" Duo turned around and saw Wufei glaring at him. "Hey Wuffers!" he called out cheerfully.
"The name is Wufei! W.U.F.E.I!" the Chinese boy yelled. "And what are you doing here? I'm busy, Maxwell so you'd better make it quick."
Duo shrugged, smiling, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I just felt a little lonely, that's all." he mock pouted and quickly ducked the punch that Wufei threw in his direction. "So I thought I'd give you some company."
"I don't need-" Wufei began then he noticed the blood on Duo's shirt. His dark eyes widened briefly before narrowing suspiciously. "Don't tell me- you got into another fight."
"Something like that..." Duo muttered uncomfortably, shooting a quick glance at Heero, who raised an eyebrow back at him.
"I'm not going to blab onto Relena about everything you say Maxwell." he said dryly.
"Mike?" Wufei asked, ignoring Heero.
Duo stared at the ground and didn't say anything.
"I knew it. I just knew it!" Wufei groaned. "Honestly Duo, when will you learn? That man means business and you should never have gone borrowing money that you couldn't pay back in the first place!"
"I didn't know that getting a job was so hard in this damn city, ok?" Duo shot back angrily.
"What did he want this time?" Wufei asked wearily.
Duo sighed and looked away. "Something I can actually give him."
Wufei raised his eyebrows. "Which is...?"
"It doesn't matter." Duo sighed again and stretched. "Thanks for the ride home Heero. I really appreciate it." he said, rather pointedly.
Heero caught the hint and grunted before walking off. "See you at seven." he called over his shoulder and left the restaurant.
"Look Duo, you've got to get that money, and fast. Borrow it off that Yuy guy for all I care. But just get him the money."
"I don't need the money anymore." Duo replied. "He wants something else now."
Wufei frowned, concerned. "Don't do anything stupid, ok Maxwell?"
Duo smiled charmingly. "I won't. I promise." he added when he saw Wufei's look of disbelief. "Well I'll be waiting for you at reception. I'll just be helping Sally out and stuff. Don't be long!" he called out cheerfully and ran out to the reception area.
Wufei sighed. That kid was more trouble that he was worth.
!#$&
Three hours later they were both back at the apartment, with Wufei chasing Duo with a large meat cleaver.
"It's WUFEI! Goddamnit, WUFEI!" the Chinese boy screamed, brandishing the meat cleaver threateningly.
"I hear you Wuffers!" Duo called over his shoulder, grinning like a maniac.
They both stopped as the phone rang. Wufei glared at Duo and lifted up the meat cleaver. Duo rolled his eyes and picked up the phone.
"Heya, Duo-"
"Well?"
Duo gave a soft gasp. He had forgotten that Mike had said that he would call him after three hours. He gritted his teeth and took the phone into his own room, not wanting Wufei to hear the conversation. If there was one thing Wufei held above anything else, it was honour.
I doubt he'd think it's honourable to sleep with someone because you owe them money which you can't repay, Duo thought, sighing.
"Fine." Duo replied.
"Good." He swore that Mike was smirking. "I'll meet you outside the restaurant at the end of your shift."
"Whatever- tomorrow, and that's it, got it?" Duo said firmly.
Mike laughed. "Are you out of your mind? You owe me $678. That means 678 fucks."
"WHAT!" Duo almost screamed into the phone, before he remembered that Wufei was probably listening intently from outside of his room. "You're out of your fucking mind. There's no way I'm going to do that."
Is he fucking crazy? Duo wondered, amazed and horrified at the same time. He must be… What the hell is he talking about? God he's insane!
"Then the deal's off." Mike said coldly, not a hint of emotion his voice.
"Cut down the number of times." Duo couldn't help but sound a little panicky. If the deal was off, then he was doomed- as simple as that.
"67 fucks."
"Dude, no one has that much stamina." Duo shot back. "And besides, you would be getting sick of me by then."
Mike laughed mirthlessly. "Fine- 30."
"15." Duo said, grimacing. To sleep with someone he detested 15 times was way past enough for him.
"Deal." Mike said immediately. "Tomorrow, end of your shift. Be there, or I will kill you."
Duo hung up. He took a deep breath and paced the room a couple of times, trying to get his composure back.
It's not that bad. It could've been a lot worse- he could've killed me, Duo tried to reason with himself. Oh fuck it- this is as bad as it gets! What reason is there to live anymore? My life is a mess, I'm stuck in this hell-hole, and I have no love life! In fact, I basically don't have a life at all!
Duo slammed his fist against the wall, growling.
"Maxwell? You alright in there?" Wufei asked.
"I'm fine!" Duo called back, trying to sound cheerful.
You have Heero... a voice whispered in his mind.
Duo raised an eyebrow. Heero? He didn't have Heero- Relena did.
I suppose my current mission is to make sure that Heero gets that scholarship, Duo thought, frowning slightly. That's reason enough to live.
#$&()\
A/N: Until the next chapter then… hehe… Feedback is very much appreciated though flames will be used to light my fire :P Ok, gotta go study for music internal now x.x cyaz later…