Rival Chatter

Chapter Nine; Duo POV:

"Who's that?" Reno asked, looking at Heero with childish innocence in her eyes. I swallowed and felt that now was a moment of truth that I would never cross if I didn't do it now.

"Ah-heh. . .guys, this is my boyfriend, Heero Yuy." Total silence descended on the room. For a moment I could almost feel like I was about to become a part of something I really wasn't ready to deal with. But then the unexpected happened.

"You got a boyfriend?" Clarissa asked, her eyes wide. I nodded and was soon tackled by everyone of my orphanage brothers and sisters. Well, everyone but Sasuke. He stared at me for a moment before giving me a brief nod and left. He was also against the rich, so seeing me bring home one of them couldn't have been good.

"Congratulations," was shouted from around the room and Father Maxwell had to step in to calm everyone down. Heero was obviously just a little uncomfortable with my large family and I couldn't help but smile as they all seemed genuinely happy.

"You were getting ready to say before we interrupted you," Father Maxwell said, looked from Heero to me, and then all the packages we had managed to drag in. I nodded, casting a glance at the older ones.

"There's more in the trunk of the vehicle parked beside mine. Go get it would ya?" I asked. Several nods went up before they rushed out to do as I had asked.

"So, Duo, are you going to kindly tell us where you managed to get all this?" Sister Helen asked, still looking skeptical. I smiled and looked back at Heero.

"I had a little help from a friend," I whispered. Heero flushed softly before speaking up himself.

"My step-father decided to be extra generous to me and so I wanted to do something for Duo. But he has this thing about having people buy things for him so I asked him what we could do for the church. He was really good at getting deals and seemed to manage to get way more than I could have ever thought possible. Not to mention there is still some money left over and I could see a way of possibly donating it to the church itself." Duo grinned brightly as Sister Helen sighed.

"Duo, you went haggling with the wholesalers again, didn't you." Duo blushed.

"Kind of. That's what they're there for, Sister Helen. I couldn't just have him get ripped of because he has money, now could I?" I asked. Helen sighed once again and shook her head.

"No, we couldn't do that. It wouldn't have been the correct thing to do. Yet, Duo," she stopped and looked at me seriously. I nodded, flushing softly.

"I only made that guy drop his usual by twenty percent, I promise. I didn't lower him to my usual fifty." I could feel Heero's surprised expression land on me and I couldn't help but flush even more. "I'll explain that later, as well," I muttered to him. He nodded and I motioned to everything that came in. "Everything is certain to be loved by everyone and each bag has a nametag on it that I picked up while Heero was busy shopping for something else. This should help keep everyone from trying to mix and match unless they want to. The supplies for the home school kids as well as for the orphanage are set in various bags, also separately marked."

"I see you've done everything beyond our expectations, as usual, Duo. My thanks to you, Mr. Yuy for all you've done for us. I'm certain Duo allowed nothing for himself to enter those bags, but then again, helping his family is a way to help him. So thank you, once more." Heero nodded, watching my blush and reaching out to take my hand, squeezing it gently.

"You're more than welcome, Father. I was just doing something to cheer him up." I smiled and brought his hand up to my lips, kissing it softly.

"He did so much more than I could have ever dreamed." I then let go of his hand to help pass out the bags. I didn't miss Father Maxwell's words to Heero as I was assaulted by the kids.

"If you'd follow me, I'm certain we can get that donation you wanted to make," Father Maxwell said, leading Heero from the hallway and back toward his office. I laughed and began playing an early Santa Claus for the rest of the kids, Reno enthusiastically bouncing around me to see what everyone got.

I slipped silently from the room, while everyone was enjoying their new stuff and took the bag for Sasuke up to his room. The door was slightly ajar, music blaring from the speakers of the stereo I had gotten him last Christmas. Pushing open the door I could see him performing a kata. His movements were slow and sure, and it was almost intoxicating to watch. I smiled slowly as his eyes met mine and he stopped what he was doing, reaching over to turn off his stereo. I pushed away from the door frame and placed the bag beside his bed as I came into his room.

"Don't stop on my account," I murmured. Sasuke looked away and ignored the bag.

"I didn't. I was done for now, anyway." He cast a glance at the bag and shook his head. "I hope you don't expect me to accept that." I shook my head and laughed at him.

"Heero didn't buy anything in this bag, Sasuke. So you can accept it without any trouble." Sasuke looked at me with a skeptical look for a moment, before he walked over to the bag and opened it. His breath caught in his throat as he saw the pants, shoes, and several shirts he had wanted. He looked up in surprise at me and I smiled. "I know your birthday isn't until Saturday, but I figured that this was as good a time to give this to you as any," I said.

"How did you know?" he asked, wonder in his voice. "I hadn't told anyone what I wanted." I laughed, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"What, you think I don't pay attention to all of you when we go shopping? Think again. I happen to know everything everyone wants in here. That's why I make such a great older brother." Sasuke sniffed slightly before throwing himself into my arms. I held him close, hugging him. He had known his family the longest of any of us kids here. So he knew what he was missing when days like this came around. It also showed him how much he had gained.

"So do you really love Heero? Do you really want to be with him," he asked brokenly, his voice still shaky from his small bout with tears. I smiled and wiped his eyes before looking him dead in the eye.

"Yes. I really do love him, Sasuke. I even gave him a painting." Sasuke's eyes widened as he stared at me.

"Whoa, you really are lost, aren't you." I laughed with him, lightly punching his arm.

"Be nice, Sasuke. He's really not like other rich people. He doesn't care about the money. The proof is in what he did for everyone here." Sasuke looked at me closely.

"Then why didn't you let him buy something for you?" he asked. I felt myself flinch and I looked away. He had to hit my sore spot, didn't he.

"It's going to take time before I can change my attitude completely. This time last week I was ready to call all rich people the worst names I could think of, and let me tell you there are a lot of them. Living on the streets for a year made me really bitter. My mother's death wasn't easy on me, nor was losing people I cared about while living on the street. Yet I've also got to realize I can't blame others for what happened in my life. Shit happens, as much as we really don't want it to. So I won't spend my life getting upset over stuff that's happened." Sasuke smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder this time. I grinned and we both hugged before I moved away.

"I'll try to live like you do. I won't let my past wrongs make me bitter." I smiled and gave him a wink.

"Don't try to change over night. After all, some people might like you the way you are now." Sasuke grinned and went back to his package. I smiled and left his room, returning his door to it's semi-closed state. Turning from his room I saw Heero, who was looking at me with a really odd look on his face. I held one finger to his lips and led him over toward my room. Once there, I pulled him inside and shut my door behind him.

"Why did you tell him I didn't pay for that stuff? I thought you said you never lied." I smirked and gave him a wink.

"I didn't actually lie," I told him, grinning foolishly. "You didn't buy it. I did. You provided the mean to acquire it, but you didn't physically purchase anything we got." Heero seemed to smirk for a moment before laughing softly.

"You're right. I can't believe how differently things can change when you take everything literally." I nodded.

"That's how I manage to keep things from crossing the line between truth and lie. I suppose you could call it my saving grace."

"You don't lie, you just get anal about the facts." I snickered at that comment.

"I suppose you could put it that way," I answered, flushing softly. Heero graced me with a warm smile and placed a hand on my shoulder. I blinked and looked up at him, my eyes wide.

"I wouldn't have you any other way, either," he said softly, leaning foreword and softly brushing his lips against my own. I felt myself sigh as I finally got what I had been wanting all day. I returned the kiss eagerly. I knew I couldn't do what I had been dreaming about since I had met the Greek God in human form, but at least I could enjoy this much. I could kiss him with full abandon and find myself lost in his embrace. That's what he had written for Harrison and Damien. If it was based on us, then that just meant it was something he wanted for us, eventually. Breaking away after a minute, I stared at him, my lips feeling bruised from his kiss and I loved it.

"Heero, can we go over the finale that you did for your story?" He raised an eyebrow and looked at me for a moment.

"You mean act it out? Here? Now?" I smiled before nodding my head.

"Yeah. I'm going to be playing Danielle when we do our final play of the year. Seniors always put on a play that one of our seniors has written. Seeing as I get to do the play I inspired you to write, I want to act it with you. I want to play the role you modeled after me while you play the role modeled after you. I want to at least have this one moment with you, while I've got you all to myself." I could tell he was thinking over my words. His eyes were almost shuttered in thought. I could tell he was thinking about how little I would accept from someone and he was also wondering if this would be the last time I ever lowered my pride and asked him for something. Finally, bringing those beautiful Prussian blue eyes up to meet my gaze, he nodded.

"All right. I'll do it. I remember everything I wrote in that last part. I won't need a script. Yet, do you need one?" I laughed softly, shaking my head.

"No, I don't need one. I'm perfectly capable of recalling the script the way I read it the first time. I loved it so much, I felt so much a part of it, that I couldn't help but memorize it almost instantly." Heero smiled and seemed to swallow thickly, almost as if he was nervous.

"I might not be a good actor," he murmured softly, looking away. I felt myself grow warm. He was a lot better than he gave himself credit for. Too bad he didn't realize he had quite an artistic side.

"Who cares. I just want you as my leading man before they give me some moron to act against when the play begins rehearsal. We begin casting for it in three weeks. I don't know how many people will try out. Then again, I know a lot of people who would love to have Harrison's part just because of the fact I'm playing the other lead. Seems like it doesn't matter what it is as long as they get to say they've acted with the best and brightest at A.E.S.H." Heero smiled, laughing quietly.

"I'm going to be a very jealous boyfriend when this play comes out. You'll have to kiss someone other than me." I smirked, a gleam in my eyes, as I noticed in my mirror.

"You could always try out for the role of Harrison so that way you won't have to be jealous of anyone other than yourself. Otherwise, you'll just have to deal with it." I then kissed his cheek and gave him a warm, loving grin. "Besides, I wouldn't really want to kiss anyone but you myself. Yet I'm a pretty good actor. I certain I could do what I have to. All in the name of the play and all, of course." Heero grimaced, not really liking the idea of trying out for the play but liking the idea of me kissing someone else even less. I smiled and then moved to sit on my bed. Pulling my braid over my shoulder, I gave him a really sad look, falling into the role he had written for me. . .for us.

"Damien, you can't decide to do this on your own," Heero said softly, his voice uncertain, nervous, and obviously uncomfortable with repeating words he had written. I smiled inside while outwardly I was entirely in character. I looked away and tugged on the end of my braid.

"I can and I will, Harrison. You can't leave your life; your family. I have nothing. I've got nothing to lose. When they ask if you knew I was gay and in love with you, tell them you had no idea. When they ask if you love me. . ." my voice broke, as Damien's was supposed to and a small tear managed to fall from my eyes, "tell them you could never love me. Do this, so that you can continue with your life as it was. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, really." Heero came over to me and whipped me to face him. I gasped, as Damien was supposed to and I was suddenly kissed passionately. I leaned into the kiss before slowly pushing him away.

"I can't do that, Damien. Don't you see I would be lying if I said that. I'd be losing the only thing that matters to me if I turned my back on you. Family can always learn to forgive. My life isn't my life without you beside me. If people can't accept that then we'll survive because we have one another. I. . .I love you. I love you so much I can't leave you. Not now or ever. So stop playing the martyr." I sniffled loudly and buried my face in his chest, leaning into his embrace. Heero held me close, stroking my back with one hand while the other slowly lifted my face up to met his.

"Then we're both damned. Damned forever," I whispered softly, my lips mere inches from his.

"Not damned. Blessed. Blessed with love, for the rest of our life and beyond." With that we leaned in close and kissed once more. This one was slow and sweet and seemed to make my heart skitter in a rapid tempo. After a while, when my lungs began to scream for air, I broke away and locked my eyes on him. He seemed to be breathing a little irregular, just as I was, and I could tell that he was just as much moved by the words in the play and our acting out of them as I was.

"You're really good Heero. A few more private lessons with me and you'll be as skilled at acting as I am." Heero chuckled softly, yet his eyes became a little clouded.

"What did they change Damien's words to?" I knew what he was asking. Seeing as Damien became Danielle in the version we'd be playing, I knew exactly what he meant.

"They have Danielle say that she'll tell them she's a poor woman and in love with Harrison. He originally thought about making her say she was a gold-digger who fell in love with Harrison, but for some reason, it just didn't fit who Damien was. Now I realize, with him being modeled after me, that he would never admit to using someone for their money." Heero snorted.

"I hate it. They killed my play, and yet, between Mr. Smithson and you, we have one hell of a come back." I snickered and nodded.

"We tried," I told him. He looked away for a moment before obviously asking something he wasn't really certain he wanted to ask.

"Would you come to my house for dinner tonight?" he asked hesitantly. I laughed softly. Leave it to Heero to be very worried about asking such a simple request.

"I'd love to Heero. Just let me change into something I little more fitting for your place." He nodded and without another word he slipped out of my room to allow me privacy while I changed. I chuckled to myself and swiftly changed into a pair of black slacks and a nice red dress shirt. I hoped Heero appreciated what I was doing for him, because I was abandoning my black for a color more presentable. Stepping out of my room, I wasn't disappointed. His lovely eyes widened in pleasant surprise while I grinned a goofy grin at him. "Do I look all right?" I asked. He nodded.

"You look great, Duo." I smiled and gave him a hug before leading him back down the stairs and out of the place I called home. Of course, I had hollered to let Sister Helen and Father Maxwell know that I'd be gone for dinner. I then left with Heero in his car. This only gave him a reason to have to come back with me. I know he didn't want to part ways, and I couldn't blame him. I didn't want to be apart from him for too long myself. We arrived at a rather beautiful place. His home was obviously a place of wealth. Entering his home I was confronted with something from my past that made the blood in my veins turn to ice.

"Aw, Heero, is this your boyfriend?" the older gentleman asked. While he was older, there was no mistaking who he was. He was the bastard who had sent my mother off to die! I really was beginning to curse fate. How could it be so cruel to me when everything was finally going well.

"Aa, Odin Lowe, may I introduce Duo Maxwell. Duo, may I introduce my step-father, Odin Lowe." I nodded, certain my eyes weren't as warm as they usually were and I was uncertain if I could manage to even act civilized toward him.

"A pleasure young man. Heero, why don't you go tell the cook to add a place for dinner." I watched Heero nod and head off. It was then that the pleasant smile faded from his lips and he seemed to appear a bit strained. "You obviously didn't waste any time spending my step-sons money," he growled at me. I felt my eyes narrow. Oh, I really hated this man.

"Actually, your step-son was kind enough to donate that cash to the Maxwell Orphanage. It seems kind of fitting, actually. The money coming from you when you placed at least one child into that orphanage yourself, that makes it very fitting. I wonder how many others you helped find a home there," I murmured, my voice as cold as winter in Alaska while he seemed to blink at me in surprise.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice all regal sounding, as if I had offended his upper crust values.

"A woman you turned away ten years ago. She was ill but you wouldn't treat her due to having no money or insurance. She had long brown hair and lilac colored eyes. I seem to recall you telling one of your fellow doctors that it was a shame she was so poor, cause she had such lovely eyes. Exotic was the word you used." His eyes widened as he seemed to fully take in my appearance for the first time. His eyes roamed over me before coming to meet my eyes dead on.

"Your mother was Lilith Maxwell?" he asked. I seemed to start for a second. The name suddenly clicked in my head. My mother's name was Lilith. Her last name was Maxwell. While it seemed like a shock to hear that my current last name was the same as the one I had then, I wasn't really at all worried about it. I simply nodded in answer, too shocked by such knowledge to be able to answer him vocally. "Tell you what, then. How about I pay you to leave my son alone. To just walk out that door and never darken our lives again. Just name your price." I couldn't help it. I felt myself go even colder than I had been just moments before, if that was even possible.

"You think I would take money from you when I won't even let Heero buy me anything? Are you insane? Oh, wait, let me think. . .of course you are. I happen to love Heero, Mr. Lowe. As much as I realize having a gay man for a step-son isn't going to look good for you public reputation, perhaps you should think about what he wants. If he doesn't want me any more, then I'll leave him, without darkening his life again. But no one else save him can make me leave him. For as long as he wants me, I'm his. He helped me fight some of my inner demons. He really cares about you, but you don't seem to understand how to think in human values. You think money is a solve all cure, but it isn't. All he needs if for you to simply tell him you love him, no matter what. Preferences be damned, Mr. Lowe. I can even forgive you for what happened to my mother. Who really knows if your accepting her could have made a difference? I certainly don't. Therefore, the only thing I want from you is to accept your step-son as he is and love him in spite of what may seem as a blemish on your sterling reputation." I felt myself breathing heavy. I could also tell I had obviously not entirely forgiven him for what had happened, yet I was more concerned with Heero than myself. For the first time, I realized why my mother said love made you do strange things. I cared for Heero. I possibly had loved him for a long time, even if I hadn't admitted it to myself. Now I just wanted to see him and tell him. I wanted to know what he wanted. Most of all, I wanted to see which side he as going to be standing on. No matter what, I would abide by his wishes.