Rival Chatter
Chapter 8 Heero POV
I didn't see Duo yesterday but that was to be expected. I knew Duo lived in a church-run orphanage and the thing about churches is that they have mass on Sunday. From the look of it, they had several masses in that same day because there was a baptism as well as the usual Sunday school. Yes, I feel like a bit of a stalker for looking at the web site Duo had set up for the church activities, but he was my boyfriend now. I was well within my right!
That said, I finished getting dressed and grabbed my book bag from my desk. Odin wasn't talking to me right now, but at least Mother wasn't too upset. Her only brother was gay … but he had been kicked out of the family because of it and no one had seen him in about twenty years… but that's beside the point!
It's not like I particularly care what Odin thinks. He's only my mother's husband- no relation to me. It's just that I'd like to be on good terms with the man that provides for me. Odin isn't really a bad guy. When he and Mom were dating, he did his best to be my friend and what not. I went along with it to humor Mom, and if I'm being honest with myself, I have him to thank for teaching me about some of these American sports I'm now into.
After they married though, the guy seemed to try to buy me off since we have very little in common. He's nice enough, sure, and he has good intentions, but he's always at work and when he's not, Mom monopolizes his time. I guess he feels bad for it because he gives me a hefty allowance every week (which I've been stashing in a savings account for when they decide to finally kick me out) and he gets me the most expensive little gadgets he can find. In fact, when he found out I was so into computers, he went and gave me free run of his credit card so I could build my very own personalized computer for my last birthday. I think it's too much, but I like my computer… and he insisted. It would have been very rude to refuse his generosity, at least according to the way I was brought up back home.
I grab my keys off my dresser and head down the stairs and into the kitchen where I find Odin eating an omelet while reading the paper, as usual.
"Here you go Heero, dear," Rosie says to me as she hands me a bowl of white rice, which she knows is my favorite for breakfast.
"Thank you Rosie," I answer, taking the bowl and chopsticks before sitting down to eat.
"My pleasure, Heero. By the way, I fixed a little extra in your snack pack for that boy of yours," she smiled and winked at me.
I blushed, but continued eating as she put a cup of green tea in front of me, "Arigato."
She petted my head fondly before going back to work.
"So, it's really true, then," Odin said without lowering his paper.
I nodded, before remembering that he couldn't see me through it, "Hai."
He sighed, I guess having slept on it and taking the time to think about it had helped. "Then I guess I'll just have to deal with the situation…"
"Deal with it?" I asked skeptically, not really sure what he meant.
He sighed again then lowered his paper, "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider and go out with the Peacecraft girl instead?"
I glared, "I have a restraining order waiting to be filed against her if she insists on continuing her stalker-like behavior."
He chucked, "I'll take that as a no, then."
I nodded once.
"Well, in that case," he paused, pulling out his wallet and giving me a credit card he had gotten issued under my name on it and slid it across the table, "Go splurge a little."
I blinked, confused. "What's this for?"
"Well, I suppose it's my way of apologizing for my behavior…" He looked away. "I had no right to act like that and…" he paused, "…just take the money Heero."
"But…"
"It has a thousand dollars on it only, so don't go over that. I don't want us to fight, and I know you don't want to 'be friends' like your Mom wants. Just take that as a peace offering, okay?"
I nodded, "Arigato." He nodded back and things were settled just like that. Like I said, he's a nice guy, but he's always trying to buy me off.
"Before you go, Heero…maybe you could invite this boy to dinner sometime… your Mother would enjoy that."
"I don't know…" I said a little hesitantly. At his look of defeat, I sighed and said that I'd ask. With that said, I pocketed the card and made my way out to my car then to school.
"Heero!" I heard Duo's voice call as I got out of my car. I turned to where the voice had come from and was promptly glomped by the bundle of energy that is Duo. Around me, I could feel people staring that were just getting out of their cars, a few girls even took out their camera phones and captured the moment.
I hugged Duo back then gently pried him off me. "Ohayo," I said as I leaned in, giving him a chaste kiss. He practically melted in my arms before I pulled away. "Ready?" I asked as we parted, but still kept hold of his hand.
He nodded and led me toward the main building.
All the way to our lockers, people made way for us, parting as quickly as possible when they saw us together, flanked by Quatre and Wufei.
The entire day was passed like this, with people gawking at us and whispers flying furiously about. I guess that this was really a Monday worth being awake for. I just wish that the girls hadn't come prepared with their cameras. By the end of the day, I swear I was blind from all those camera flashes going off in my face. Now I know how celebrities feel… and why they hate the paparazzi.
When the bell rang at the end of the day, Duo and I walked to the parking lot together, hand in hand. "Hey Duo?"
"Yeah?"
"I know you really hate people buying things for you…"
"Your point?" he asked a little irate, before I could even finish my statement.
"Well… I'd like to spoil you today," I said, bringing his hand up and kissing his knuckles.
"How about no?" Duo said, sounding offended.
I sighed, "I had a feeling you'd say that."
"Then why did you ask?"
I let out a breath, "Because my stepfather felt bad for the way he acted and told me to spoil you at his expense, that's why."
"Huh?" He looked confused. I knew the feeling.
I shrugged, "The man has the conscience of a catholic, no offense-"
"None taken."
"Whenever he thinks he's messed up with me or Mom, he tries to buy us off, and before you say anything, I can't refuse him."
"Why not?" Duo asked pointedly.
"Because then he's miserable, thinking that his apology has been rejected, and he won't get better until you take what he offered."
Duo rolled his eyes and muttered something about crazy rich people, crossing his arms. I bit my lip and thought for a minute. Suddenly, I had a great idea and hugged my koi from behind, since he decided to stomp away. "Duo…"
"Mm."
"What if I use what he gave me and buy things to donate to the church?" I asked softly, into his ear.
Duo paused, turning his head, "What did you say?"
I was almost afraid of repeating myself in case I had said the wrong thing, "I… I want to use what he gave me to spend on you to buy things for the kids at… for your family."
He turned around completely in my arms and hugged me back, giving me a very satisfying kiss.
"Can I take that as a yes?" I asked, a little breathless, when we broke apart.
"Yes!"
I took Duo shopping shortly after that. We had dropped off his car at the Maxwell Church and took my car since it had more trunk space.
He seemed to know what everyone would like and what dress and shoe sizes to get. He refused to get anything overly expensive for anyone, but it was a commodity in itself to be able to buy the kids clothes that hadn't been previously owned. Everyone got a new pair of shoes, and an outfit. After that, everyone got a pair of jeans, then Duo picked out different shirts that they could all swap off. When he was satisfied with what he had gotten, we put everything back into the car.
I checked my balance, and noted that Duo was very good at money management, and we'd only spent about half of what Odin had given me… and there were ten kids he was buying things for. That meant we could continue shopping, which made me smile. I liked spending time with Duo and he was very amusing to watch. It seemed he was an expert at haggling. We were currently in the downtown shopping district and since Duo was buying so much, he was able to get the venders to give him a wholesale price. We were passing another shop and Duo went in, which meant I'd follow. This store was full of every kind of bag, purse, and knapsack you could think of.
"What do we need to get from here?" I asked.
"I know for a fact that everyone needs a new backpack. The ones we have were donated to the church after being discarded."
I nodded and let him continue shopping without question.
At the end of the day, Duo had bought everything they needed from shoes to clothes, from toys to school supplies. He even went as far as to buy toiletries at wholesale price after making the vendor feel guilty about charging so much when everything was going toward keeping a church running. It was very amusing indeed.
I drove Duo home that evening and found that everyone was still up and getting the dinner dishes put away.
"Honey I'm HOOOOOOOME!" Duo shouted as he came in with armfuls of goodies. He looked so happy to have all those new things to give his 'brothers and sisters.' Everyone filed out of various rooms to see what Duo had brought.
"Duo!" a lady wearing a Nun's garb exclaimed, making the sign of the cross, "Where did all that come from?" she said, mildly horrified. "You didn't go steal from all those nice people again, did you? You said you weren't going to do that again!"
"Calm down, Helen," an older man with a priest collar said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure the boy has a good reason."
"No, I didn't steal it! Sheesh, you do something once and it keeps getting shoved down your throat!" Duo pouted.
I blinked, he couldn't possibly have stolen so much at any one point, could he?
"Stealing again?" I asked curiously.
"Tell you later," Duo muttered sheepishly.
"Hey Duo!" a childish voice called out as she hugged a brand new teddy bear.
"What's up, squirt?" he laughed, hugging her back.
"Who's that?" She asked, pointing straight at me.
I put the bags I was carrying down and felt myself freeze when I noticed everyone stop and look at me.
Duo blushed a little and looked around, blushing, "Eh-heh…Guys, this is my boyfriend, Heero Yuy."
