A/N: I think I like reviews. Hugs you all. Btw thanks to all who read and even more to those who actually bothered to review: Hikaru (Okay gal, if I would Duo ever pair off with someone it could only be Heero. Honestly, I've been too much influenced by Sunhawks fanfiction. Wu Fei something more like a friend? Nope never, can't imagine that. And I don't really want to break up Tro and Quat… They're just too cute together. Happy now? ^.^), Erinamation-limited2-nothing (Are you sure you're not related to Fujin of FFVIII ????), Curious Dream Weaver (Ugh yeah, I know my spelling is bad. That's partly cuz I usually write without paying any attention to that and then I don't have a spell check program here only for French and I have no beta-reader. Only moi so I tend to overlook things. Sorry !), Bunch-o-Nuts (Hi again. Will do. Will do.), Mikito (How old Heero is will be explained in one of the next chapters. But he's too young to got to know Odin. He's a toddler right now and in my manga he looked at least a six year old when he was with Odin.), sapphire-wolf1 (Yup, Duo isn't exactly nice to Mini-Heero but let's face it with their start-off you don't expect them to be friends quickly esp. with their clashing personalities. AND prior to the first chapter Heero obviously wasn't very nice to Duo either. I also can't imagine to suddenly like someone just because he's back to his toddler days. I rather think a war stressed teen with a background like Duo would rather have trouble to get attached esp. to kids…), zel1heeroyuy (Wow very encouraging. Actually the next chapter is already written and now I'm waiting how you guys will like this chappie since I have planned sth. with Kenji's personality.)
Chapter 5: Only this one time
« Now little man lesson number one : 'Never ever touch my braid – without my permission at least. «
Though he doubted that will ever happen. Wu Fei looked dubiously at Duo but translated anyway. All the while Kenji kept his dark blue eyes on Duo probably wondering what the big deal was anyway.
Duo sighed. This was gonna be hard. It didn't really look like the kid was ready to give in. Stubborn brat. He almost scowled but fortunately remembered it hadn't a nice effect on the kid so he managed to give the boy something like an awkward grimace.
"Maxwell, what are you trying to do now? Giving the kid a scare definetely won't help." Wu Fei grumbled but surprisingly Trowa came to Duo's defense.
"Just let him try, Chang. There isn't much we can do now anyway. The kid has decided and sometimes it's not necessary to speak the same language to understand each other."
If Trowa had sprouted another head Duo wouldn't have been more surprised. Wonder oh wonder. The tall Latin boy was very talkitive today even if half of the stuff he said was French to Duo's ears anyway.
Quatre seemed to get Trowas point though since he once again latched adoringly onto 03's arm gazing starry eyed at him. Wu Fei sweatdropped and discretley looked into another direction. Duo figured the Chinese pilot had a hard time dealing with open displays of affection. But in contrary to the Perfect Soldier he at least knew what the word meant. At least Duo hoped so otherwise they really were all ready for a shrink after the war. If there was a 'after-the-war' for them. They had to live through it first.
He pulled his thought rampage to a stop once more and dragged his attention back on one stubborn brat. Well, that's a variety here: the kid or the brat. Don't want to get things dull now won't we?!
Anyway Duo gave Wu Fei a nod to get ready to translate and then started to uncurl the small fingers from his braid. He just hoped there wasn't any major damage. You never know with small kids and if this brat is only half as violent and strong as the teen version god help his hair since you can imagine a visit by a hair dresser wasn't very likely with his tight schedule.
"Listen up kiddo. You'll let go of my braid and we'll get you out of here. Or well rather Quatre over there. He's a real sweet guy." Trowa cast a suspicious glance at him he ignored promptly.
"It isn't like we're the bad guys here. It just looks like it sometimes eh –"
Duo scratched his head.
'Damn was that difficult. Ah who cares just go through with it. It's not that this kid will jump up and rip my head off.'
Thought and done. Duo prodded in less than a couple of seconds the remaining fingers of his braid and backed like a flash up to the wall. Just in case, you see, you never know and Solo had always said 'Better safe then sorry.'
He breathed a sigh of relief as nothing happened and eyed the kid from his safety distance. The boy looked slightly dazed as if his small brain couldn't follow through Duo's lightning quick movements and still had his hand in mid air. The other pilots also looked slightly doubtful as if considering that Duo had been to harsh on the kid.
'Ah, to hell with it. They have to understand.'
Wu Fei though was still frowning especially as Kenji started to look slightly paniced.
That didn't go at all as Kenji had imagined. Why was that lanky youth trying to get away from him? He hadn't done something wrong now had he? His mommy had taught him good manners. He only wanted the other older boy with those interesting indigo eyes to like him. And just when he had thought he'd won, the boy backed up again acting as if he was a bad little boy. It really was all too much and it was getting hard again to controll the tears which threatened to spill over.
Kenji took a deep breath and closed his eyes as suddenly he felt two arms enveloping him in a warm hug. It felt good. Safe. But then he realized with a start that it didn't smell at all like him and surely as soon as Kenji opened his eyes he realized it was the blondes hair tickling his cheek and not the soft brown ones of the other boy.
The boy with the braid still sat there leaning against the wall eying him with suspicion and mistrust as he was the devil himself. Not that poor little Kenji knew who the devil was in the first way. But it sure was hard on him. Until now all the people he had met had been nice to him and he had been nice to them in turn but this teen looked ready to sprint out of the lab in the next possible moment. The older teen with the nice indigo eyes was the first who had understood him and had paid attention to him. And now when Kenji wanted to stay with him being his friend he didn't want to?
Kenji didn't understand the way the older boy acted. He only knew one thing: he wanted to be his friend. So he started to wiggle in the arms of the blonde who promptly let go of him.
"Oh Kenji-chan, don't worry about Duo here. He's a bit grumpy and he doesn't like people touching his braid. But he's usually a really nice guy."
Quatre smiled fondly at Duo who in turn rolled his eyes and then at Kenji who looked rather befuddled not having understood a single word. Quatre waved impatiently at Wu Fei urging him to translate.
The Chinese scowled. He wasn't some kind of secretary here but complied anyway. Kenji listened intently and looked a bit sad but nodded finally.
"See Duo? All danger prevented. Your braid is safe from further attacks. Now let's go guys."
That was Duo's cue. The Deathscythe pilot jumped up and quickly made his way over to the swinging doors he had come in almost 45 minutes ago. But a pityful mewling sound his sharp ears picked up stopped him.
'Damn it. Don't turn around. Don't turn around. Don't turn around.'
He turned.
'Damn it.'
Duo sighed and took the scene in. Obviously even Heero Yuy went through those annoying toddler years. The Deathscythe pilot just hoped he'd be spared a full flared temper tantrum. That'd be the death of his already frizzed nerves.
Right now Kenji was hiding from Quatre under his sheets – again.
The blonde was busy trying to coax him out too gentle to just grab the kid and go which was rather good Duo hoped to avoid seeing Heero Yuy throw a fit.
Wu Fei looked quite annoyed. Kids weren't his forte. Duo quirked an eyebrow at him.
"He tried to pick him up." Wu Fei explained.
Ouch, that must have been a blow to Quatre's pride. Poor gentle Quatre. Usually people just flocked around him.
Hey, not that his own charms weren't working.
Not that he was trying to charm the Perfect Soldier in the first place but well eh you get the point.
Suddenly the pityful sounds stopped – geez it sounds like Quatre is a horrible person – he made a note to himself 'Cheer up Q later!' – Kenji had discovered that Duo was paying attention to him again and had responded right away.
The small boy stretched his short arms out in Duo's direction from under the sheet whimpering.
"Onegai. Onegai."
Obviously even a safety distance couldn't prevent the little monster getting to him. (Hey, another variety.)
His poor tortured heart. Duo stood clueless what to do next half between the door and the hospital bed where hopeful blue eyes were boring into his.
Wu Fei couldn't bite back a comment being a keen observer.
"Now that is interesting. Yuy playing favourites? And of all the heaven's has settled on you? There must be a psychological reason."
He smirked at Duo who looked rather sour. "I'm sure I don't really want to know."
Avoiding further comments Deathscythe's pilot stalked over to the bed and glared at the kid who defiantely glared back.
'This sure as hell is Yuy. Scary enough even as kid. The innocent looking ones are always the worst.'
With a defeated sigh – he was doing that a lot lately – he picked the kid up.
Thankfully he couldn't see mini-01's 'Mission accomplished' grin. Otherwise he would have dropped the kid for sure.
Right now though Kenji snuggled into Duo's arms sneaking instantly his arms around his neck where he pulled the long braid up over the shoulder to grab the end once again tightly with his fist.
The other watched them in awe. Wu Fei couldn't stop snickering as Heero Yuy even managed to get his way with 02 as a toddler while Quatre was gushing over Duo and Kenji finally sighing.
"You do have to admit they look cute together, don't they?!"
Wu Fei snorted but nodded anyway. Trowa smiled one of his rare smiles and responded.
"They do. Just make sure the real Heero Yuy never finds out or Duo will never live to see the end of the war."
They all sighed in unison dropping their heads fearing the day when the teen Heero Yuy would be back demanding an explanation. Ahead of them sauntered Duo with Kenji in his arms chanting a litany of words in his head.
"Only this one time. Only this once. Only this once. Never ever again."
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Poor Duo. Looks like Kenji got his way. See you next chapter. Oh btw, did I use the expression 'The tall Latin boy was very talkitive today even if half of the stuff he said was French to Duo's ears anyway.' I can't really remember what you say in English again if you don't get what someone is talking about. In German you say usually 'I only understand train station.' Though that's gotta sound really weird to some of you….