AN: Okay, I know this update took a while. That's because between co-op, work, violin, hockey and having some semblance of a life outside of that, I had no time to write. Hopefully with the coming of normal school (the semester form hell: biology, physics, English, math) I'll be able to get back into the whole writing aspect. But without further ado…
SIGHTSEEING
Chapter Three:
I wasn't joking when I said it was probably going to be a wild ride. A wild, long, boring ride. Because only Duo can be wild and boring at the same time. Well, maybe that's not true; maybe it's Heero that's wild and boring. The new boy, a thrilling title, was wild (my inner monologue seems kind of inane at the moment.) but boring. He was just sitting there, in the corner, doing nothing, muttering to himself. So maybe that counts as something but I don't really care. What I do really care about is Duo's new chemistry partner, who only speaks a few words of English but is totally cute.
I sat there, my legs crossed primly as I watched Duo pull his hair out over the people who were following him. I pouted; the lack of attention was getting to me. "Duo, why don't you just show Heero some photos of people and maybe he'll recognize one?"
--
At this point in time, Duo no longer wondered why he had invited his friend over. Of course, only Quatre would come up with a brilliant idea like that.
"Great idea Quat! I'll go and get a photo album!"
He rushed out of the room, leaving Quatre sitting there (he slowly un-crossed his legs before re-crossing them the other way, his hands locked together precisely over his knee) with Heero muttering away to 'himself' in the corner. He took no notice of Duo's absence, his eyes focused on the blank space in front of him.
--
Boy, is he ever weird.
The kind of weird that happens when… Luke Skywalkers' light saber goes out but he keeps swinging it around. Or… the kind of weird where your dog meows. Or… when your mom bakes cookies but they taste like cake.
Or maybe those are different kind of weirds. Nah, he is totally Luke Skywalker weird.
Dude, like, where's the force now, punk?
Oh Quatre, you're already going insane. My poor, poor, fragile mind.
--
Rushing back into the room, Duo took a seat beside Heero, grinning as he did so. The shorthaired boy turned a somewhat blank stare to Duo, "Yes?"
Duo's eyes crinkled at the edges as he smile threatened to outstretch his face, "I have photos! Maybe by looking at them you'll be able to tell me who the people are!"
Heero though that Duo was being terribly enthusiastic throughout this ordeal. Really, hadn't he ever learned to be sullen, somber, sober, serious, stern, severe, staid, sedate, settled, strict, sad, or generally serene? Really, a multitude of other s-words could be used to not describe Duo, but Heero wasn't about to get into that right now.
--
Now that's what I'm talking about. That lovely auburn hair, those beautifully shaped emerald green eyes (or I'm guessing eyes, it could be eye… has anyone really ever seen his other eye? Hmm…) and so tall! He has legs like… like… a giraffe! I beautiful, brown-haired, emerald-eyed giraffe…
--
Duo coughed, blushing and looking around, apparently embarrassed. "Uh, you can skip over those… I was a baby…" Heero looked at him, an eyebrow raised, "And apparently part of a nudist camp." Duo's flush became more apparent and Quatre chuckled to himself.
"No really, skip ahead, I swear."
Heero did as told and flipped ahead a few pages; he paused, looking over the pictures in question, his eyebrows shot up his fore head and his eyes opened wide.
"There, that's the little boy." He pointed to a boy in a picture, he appeared in all of the pictures on those two pages, it seemed. He had dirty blond hair and liquid brown eyes and was grinning in every picture. As Heero leafed through the pages following however, the little boys inner life dimmed considerably. The sparkle in his eyes was still there, so prominent in the warm brown irises however, his body seemed smaller, his hair began to thin. Soon enough he was a tiny, sick boy in a stark white hospital bed, an IV hooked up to his wrist and a bandana covering his hairless crown.
"He… he doesn't look like that anymore. He looks like he did in the beginning…"
Duo bit his lip and raised a hand to brush away a few strands of hair. "That's… that's Solo… he's my brother. Was. He was my brother. He had leukemia and died not soon after those pictures were taken. He'd have been 13 in a few days."
Heero looked at the emotional boy beside him and couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "He's still around you, and he's happy." Duo smiled a watery smile before nodding, "Yeah, I suppose, huh. Thanks anyway."
--
Aw, poor Duo. Solo always brings out the care bear in him. I think I'll give him a hug.
There you go Duo.
I guess the great mystery is solved. Heero doesn't see imaginary people; he sees dead ones! Okay, maybe I knew that from the start but hey, what can an empath do, right?
--
Duo sniffled and hugged Quatre back, "Thanks buddy." He shrugged, "Thanks Heero, I suppose that solves one mystery then. You say there are still two around me?" Heero gathered his bearings and concentrated more on the people around Duo. "Yes, a teenager who's name starts with an 'H'." Duo pondered for a moment before a slow light dawned in his eyes. "Hilde?" He asked, quietly, his eyes once again welling with tears. "Man, this sucks." He said softly.
Heero looked off into a corner of the room before nodding, "She's telling me yes. She says it wasn't your fault and that it wouldn't have mattered." Heero look turned questioning as he turned to Duo, "But I don't know what she means… she's calling you… pookie?"
Duo burst out in a hollow set of giggles, "That's Hilde… she…" He sobered up, his face becoming serious. "She got hit by a drunk driver coming over to my house one night… we were supposed to be having a… a girls night, I guess – even though I'm not a girl. She always called me pookie because everyone thought we were going out." Heero took his turn, rubbing Duo's shoulder awkwardly, not one to really uh, well, touch.
--
They are so sweet. Duo is so thankful to Heero for telling him everything, but he's still sad at the same time. Aww, and Heero is feeling so awkward yet he really wants to comfort Duo.
--
As Duo calmed down, he sighed. "I think you'll have to hold off on telling me who the third one is… I can't take anymore of this tonight. Why don't we get some dinner or something you guys?"
Heero shrugged while Quatre happily agreed.
--
…Maybe I can get Duo to invite his chem. partner over and… whoo hoo!
End Chapter
AN: So, a little angsty…
Thanks to all my reviewers, a lot of you guessed who the ghosts might be (some right and some wrong), you'll find out who the last ghost is in the next chapter!
Thanks to:
Night-Blaze, Queen of the Paperclips, Abriel, Tandakku, mps shadowmaster, The Plot-Bunny Whisperer, HeeroDuo1x2x1 (uhm, by the way, I love your Point Pleasant fic), Aryam, kidishcaresh, Leara, LoversPasForgotten (thanks, I've never gotten that one before!)
Jesse-chan: I sort-of made Quatre confusing and silky on purpose. Theres a lot of seriousness and grief (especially when it comes to the people following Duo around) and I didn't want the story to be way too serious (I'm not a serious writer so I wouldn't be able to do that). I also wanted to share some of my thoughts with the readers. When I wrote the first chapter I had yet to decide whom the narrator was, so I just wrote it from my point of view. That's why he's a little weird. Heh.