Rival Chatter

Chapter 6: Heero POV

I watched Duo uncover the paining he had done for me with wide eyes. Slowly, I took a few steps forward, placing my keys on the table and placing the rose in front of him as I took the painting into both hands. At once, my senses felt like they were on over-load. The landscape painting he had done was so gorgeous, that I could almost smell the sweet sakura trees back home. My breath became hitched as the memories so long suppressed flooded back into my mind. I couldn't stand here and let him see me like this.

As I felt something warm flowing down my cheek, I put the painting back on the table and with a muttered 'please excuse me,' I made my way to the men's room.

Locking the door, I took a deep breath and tried my best to compose myself as quickly as possible. I went to the sink and splashed my face with cold water and just willed myself into my mask. It had been so long since I'd been home and that painting had just unlocked a Pandora's box full of forgotten emotions and memories. Taking out my handkerchief, I dried off my face and unlocked the door.

Feeling confidant once more, I walked to the table where the young waitress had led me to. I was surprised to see said waitress hugging Duo and looking like she was consoling him. Did I do that? BAKA!

With a pang in my chest, I walked up to the table and took my seat, causing the waitress, I think her name was Meiran, and Duo to look at me.

"Heero?" Duo asked, "I thought-"

"That I had left?" I finished for him. He nodded dumbly. I looked up at the waitress and ordered a green tea and hot spicy eggplant before turning my full attention to Duo.

"I'm sorry…" I began, feeling awkward. I could tell Duo was somewhere between hurt and angry, so I struggled to explain myself as quickly as I could. "You're painting," I tried, but he looked even more hurt and a little embarrassed, "No, don't take it that way." I was really floundering for a foothold. "It's beautiful-"

"Like I'm supposed to believe you now?" he spat, angry Duo rising to the surface to cover for hurt and embarrassed Duo.

"Please… believe me, I've never seen such a beautiful painting," he made a sort of snorting sound and rolled his eyes.

"This is why I never like showing my work," he grumbled, "If you didn't want it, you could have just said so instead of just leaving."

"I came back."

"For your keys no doubt." He was really ticked off now, "You probably just stayed and ordered out of pity. I don't need your pity."

"I didn't intend to leave at all… I just wasn't ready for it…" I said, rather lamely, I might add.

"Ready for what? For a date with the infamous Duo Maxwell?"

"To be reminded of home… to have to lower my perfect mask…"

"Perfect1," Duo mused out loud. "I get it now."

I shrugged, "Thank you for the painting… I love it."

Duo blushed, "Don't mention it."

Our food arrived and we began eating while keeping some semblance of a conversation running.

"Thank you for helping me…" I said, blushing. I owed him twice now.

"Huh?" Duo said blinking his large violet eyes at me.

"For my paper… and for the drama exam," I blushed more.

"So THAT'S how you learned your lines so quickly!" Duo laughed. "It's a good story, I'm impressed."

There was a brief, uncomfortable silence where we apparently both remembered the kiss onstage. In all honesty, Duo had been the one I was thinking about when I wrote that story. It was about a forbidden love in more ways than one. Not only were the two lovers from different social backgrounds, they were both men. I was surprised that my story had won, but very upset that they had changed the content of my story. At least Mr. Smithson was doing his best to put things back to the way they were supposed to be.

I knew I was blushing by now. I'm sure it wouldn't take that much of a stretch for Duo to figure out who I had molded Damien after. I was really embarrassed about that fact. He'd probably think I was some sort of psycho like Relena now…

I shoved my food around on my plate for a second, trying to avoid his eyes, "I wouldn't have been able to do it without you."

"Hey, no problem… what are friends for?" Duo smiled and I just knew he was putting things together in his head.

I took in a deep breath and reached out to cover his slim, pale hand with mine, "I consider you as more than a friend."

Duo looked at me with wide eyes, flushed cheeks, and his soft lips only slightly parted. I felt myself hold my breath for his reply when the Chinese girl, Meiran, came to our table to ask how things were going. The mood broken, I snatched my hand away and asked for the check. She pulled it off of her little order pad and placed it face down on the table.

Without really thinking about it, I reached over to grab it, while pulling out my wallet only to have the paper snatched away by Duo. I looked up to find him glaring at me.

"I said I'D take care of it. What part of that don't you understand?"

"Gomen, I'm used to being the one who foots the bill," I said.

Duo looked at the paper in his hand, took out a few bills from his pocket and placed them on the table before getting up. "Ready?" He asked.

I nodded and took my painting, smiling slightly as he picked up his rose.

"Do you mind if I just go put this in my car?" I asked

"I don't mind," Duo said.

"I'll be right back, I'll meet you at the fountain?" I asked.

He nodded and we went our separate ways. The school we went to was right across the street from a little shopping district. The place was full of restaurants and shops and street vendors that all enclosed a park area. In the center of the park, there was a large fountain that people would throw coins into and make wishes. Today was sunny, but it wasn't really hot. With all the trees in this shopping district, one would be hard pressed to get wet in a downpour, so the shade today was really nice.

On my way back to meeting with Duo, I passed by shop and bought a disposable camera. I thought it'd be nice to take pictures on our first date. A few short steps later, I was standing in front of a little stand where this lady was making name bracelets with a long piece a thin, wide plastic and a myriad of colorful thread. I smirked.

A few minutes and ten dollars later, I spotted Duo sitting by the fountain, apparently staring off into space. I couldn't believe how fast that woman was at making our name bracelets. Mine was black with my name written in blue letters (a complicated process which I watched in avid interest) and Duo's was black with purple lettering.

As I approached Duo, something unpleasant came into view. Standing there, openly baiting my Deathscythe, was none other than MISS Relena. She looked like she was trying to get close to him and he was trying hard not to run away, knowing that I was on my way back.

"Duo!" I called out, jogging towards him, "there you are!"

Duo and Relena both looked up at me, Duo in relief, Relena in surprise. I caught up to them and pretended not to see Relena as I took Duo into my arms and kissed him, much like we'd done for the Drama mid-term.

"I've been looking all over for you," I said after we broke apart.

"Heero?" Came Relena's squeaky voice.

I turned to look at her, feigning complete shock and innocence, "Relena? What are you doing here?"

"I umm…" Relena blushed, but turned angry eyes at Duo. "I was looking for you. I thought we could go out together today since you're obviously in need of good company."

Duo made an angry noise in his throat, but I held him tighter, trying to keep him quiet.

I glared at her. "Have you met my boyfriend?" I asked pointedly bringing Duo's slender body against mine and then leaning in and kissing his neck. I was happily surprised when Duo made a happy purring sound in his throat as I did that.

"Boyfriend?" she asked dumbly.

"Hai. Would you mind taking a picture of us? I've always wanted a picture by this fountain," I said, giving her the camera.

I saw her set her jaw, but took the picture anyway. I just hoped she took a good picture and didn't mess it up on purpose.

Just then, Duo spoke up, "Do you mind taking two? I want one as well."

Relena obligingly took the second picture then handed back the camera. I nodded my thanks, making sure never to take my hand off Duo's slim waist. She left quickly after that.

Duo buried his face in my chest as she walked away and I could feel him shaking. Concerned, I asked if he was okay.

"Is she gone?" he asked in a very strained voice.

"Hai."

He then let me go and doubled over laughing, and clutching his stomach hard. "That… was… just… PRICELESS!" he gasped out between laughing fits. I couldn't help but join in. I'd never heard him laugh like that before, and I found that I really did like his laugh. It was so carefree and pure, I felt like making him laugh more often.

"You don't mind, do you?" I asked, "You said you'd do that for me last night…"

"Yes I did," he said, his laughter subsiding, "and I'm sure glad I did!"

"And about the kiss-"

"What about it?" he asked a little too quickly.

"I apologize, I didn't mean to force myself on you," I blushed.

He waved it off, "No problem, man. It was just acting, like in drama class."

That was the problem… to me; it was more than just acting. I really liked him, and I only wished he could see that.

"What about when the school finds out?" I asked.

"What about it?" he asked suspiciously.

"Well… knowing Relena, everyone will think you're my boyfriend…" I said, blushing.

"Is that a problem?" he asked, sounding a bit hurt.

I blushed. Did that mean that he didn't mind? I hoped that would be the case. I really did feel like the happiest guy on earth right about now.

"If that means you don't mind being my boyfriend," I said, "then there is no problem." There was an awkward pause where we both were trying to figure out what to say when I remembered the bracelets. "I got you something while walking over to the fountain," I said, "That's what took me so long."

Duo stiffened up and looked at me warily. "You can't buy me off, Heero," he said in a very serious tone.

"I'm not trying to," I said as I pulled the bracelets out of my pocket. I took the one with my name and tied it around his left wrist, then gave him the one with his name to tie around mine.

Duo smiled at me, "This is one of the nicest things anyone's ever given me."

"It's not much," I said, feeling a little sappy.

"Sure it is," he said, giving me a hug. "But why do I have the one that says Heero on it?"

Now I really did feel like a sap, "So that everyone knows that you're mine…" I held up my bracelet, "and everyone will now know that I'm yours."

Duo grinned, "Now I know you did write that play. There can't be too many hopeless romantics running around our school. We'd never make it through Valentine's day!"

I had to laugh at that. He was right. This is one side of me not many people knew about, but I didn't feel ashamed when he teased me about it.

We spent the rest of the day wandering through the market and I even managed to win Duo a large stuffed teddy bear by shooting bottles off a platform with an air gun at one of the carnival stands that they put up every other weekend. I was proud of being a good shot and used that to my advantage.

Duo though was also a VERY good shot and managed to kill three balloons with one dart at another stand. Soon enough, we were walking back to our cars with an armful of teddy bears. Duo had got me a big black teddy and I had got him a tan one. The other prizes we happened to win, I asked Duo to take back with him for his "siblings" I didn't really need all those toys, I was happy with my bear, my bracelet, and my picture.

I walked Duo back to his car and helped him load his toys into it before leaning close to him, and pinning him against the side of his car.

"I had a great time today," I said, looking into his eyes, "I'm really glad we met…" Gently, I leaned in; giving him all the opportunity in the world to push me away and lightly brushed my lips against his cheek. When I pulled back, he looked completely shocked. I smirked, "I won't be stealing kisses any more… but maybe next time, you'll give one freely."

He blinked and stood there in shock for a second, "Drive safe," I said, kissing his other cheek, then walked away toward my car.

"Hey Heero!" Duo called as I reached it.

I turned around and peered curiously at him.

"Let's take a drive…" Duo smirked.