The mall was bustling with life, the smells of the food court permeating the air and the sounds of the shuffling of feet and the aria of voices filled the air. It was intoxicating to Liam, he loved the hustle of the mall and it always pleased him to be able to eat the large cookies from Otis Spunk Meyer's because they were so gooey and chocolaty. Of course he was only going to get a cookie if he ate his lunch and was well behaved.
Of course Liam would be enjoying the mall more if they were out mixing and mingling with the people walking around. At least if they were in that really cool play center in the middle of the mall Liam could be playing with the other kids. However they were in the way back of the mall in a stupid clothing store looking for another dumb shirt. Liam rolled his eyes, didn't his dad have tons of shirts at home already, and he never understood why they always had to go get more.
His father was browsing through the clothes intently trying to find some stupid shirt for another meeting. Liam sighed listlessly sometimes his dad could be so boring. The little red head stood up and stretched his muscles tired of waiting for his dad to hurry up. As he started walking around a little bit Liam felt a gentle, but firm hand on his shoulder. He turned around to his father who hadn't even stopped browsing, but knew somehow he was standing.
"Don't stray kiddo, I'm almost done." Duo said absently attentive enough to notice his child's movement, but not the complete boredom written all over his face. Liam rolled his eyes, his dad had said the exact same twice before and he was really getting bored.
Liam sighed again as he turned around a few times and held back a laugh as he fell onto he ground amongst the clothes racks. He looked at his father who apparently hadn't noticed the little spill and had a brilliant idea. Liam smiled as he began crawling through the racks dodging his dad and practically holding his breath so that his father wouldn't catch him.
This was great maybe his dad would start playing hide and seek with him. He would have to if he wanted to find him, Liam thought to himself wisely. Liam crawled swiftly through the racks finding that he was having a blast navigating the hidden passages that lay beneath the clothes. He crawled on steadily the world slowly changing as he began descending into the depths of some unknown chamber in the lair of a wicked Emperor.
The passages suddenly became lined with tapestries of all colors strange décor for a secret underground tunnel, but Liam didn't care, he was on a mission to save the crystal ball from the clutches of the evil ruler. He trekked onward dashing from stone wall to hidden alcove, barely being missed by the denizens of the evil underworld. He was sickened by the corruption of the wizards, who dwelled beneath the grounds, but he was not afraid, he was a big boy and big boys weren't afraid of nasty wizards.
He turned right suddenly as he a saw a blue pair of pants walking his way with rapid steps. The red headed mischief maker rushed across an empty aisle under another set of secret passages dodging the evil blue wizard intent upon killing him with wicked black magic. Liam frowned momentarily as he felt throughout his pockets searching for just the right thing, aha, he thought victoriously as he pulled out the stick from his etch-a-sketch that he had secretly transformed into a magic wand. Liam nodded silently, he was prepared now and he knew he could make the journey through the wastelands now.
Liam pulled his knees up to his chest and sat quietly as the wizard with the blue pants walked by briskly looking to cast a malicious hex upon him. As the wizard passed Liam raised his wand in the air and circled the stick slowly drawing in the air a spell that would make him invisible. Completing the spell with a final flick of his wand and finding himself satisfied with the quality of his invisibility charm, Liam cautiously poked his head out of the underground passages and saw nothing that could cause him danger. He cautiously walked out into the open aisle towards the section where crystal wares adorned the walls, their crystalline beauty astounding. Liam had heard that these dungeons contained the most precious gems in the world, but he had not believed until now.
The crystal statues were in all forms, from towering spires with brilliant glowing orbs upon them giving off bright lights, to small little trinkets perhaps containing great power in the form of a little gnome. Liam squinted his eyes shrewdly he refused to be tricked by the beauty of these trinkets, he was here to collect a certain item of power that lay within the treasure halls of these disturbing dungeon which both attracted and repulsed him.
Suddenly footsteps sounded behind him signaling the approach of another wicked wizard. Liam quickly raised his wand and rapidly cast a smoke smell to cover his getaway as he darted into another alcove, this time in the hidden shadows of a tall box or rather statue.The smoke spell seemed to have worked and Liam quickly stole away down the hall towards the treasure halls where his ultimate prize awaited. He wondered briefly to himself if King Dad would accept the treasure as a testament of Liam's bravery and then award it to Liam for a job well done in taking a powerful artifact away from evil.
He finally found himself in the hall leading to the treasure that he sought and hid underneath a huge tapestry, or rather a blanket, a tapestry that had probably been used as a blanket by giants judging by the odd plaid pattern. Liam frowned at the ugliness, but didn't stand too long and proceed in towards the treasures. Suddenly a huge dragon, stuffed of course, stuffed with fire and brimstone launched at Liam and was thwarted by a vicious ice spell. Liam wiped his brow, apparently guardians had been set and he prepared himself to fend off the evil hordes. He launched himself down the hall blasting toys or rather the toys of the wicked Emperor who ruled this realm and dared keep a holy artifact in his dungeons. He suddenly found himself standing in front of the treasure he sought a huge purple orb, a cool bouncing ball that lit up, the power of the orb was dangerously alluring and Liam reached out to touch it gingerly his little hands eager to claim their prize.
"Hey." A monotonous voice said suddenly snapping Liam out of his world of demons and heroes. He looked up into the man who had snapped him out of the magical world and saw a towering man with wild brown hair.
"Hey kid where are your parents." The man said quizzically his bright blue eyes looking at Liam intently.
"My daddy said not to talk to strangers, and I don't know you at all, so that means you're a stranger." Liam said defiantly walking past the man quickly. The brown haired man looked rather shocked at this declaration and watched as the boy walked past him.
"Hey, my name is Heero. See now I'm not a stranger and you can talk to me." Heero said logically causing the red headed boy to frown as he tried to find some flaw in the man's line of reasoning.
"Well I guess. I'm Liam and I'm here with my daddy." The boy said in a confident assured tone. Heero restrained the urge to laugh loudly and offend the mature youth. Suddenly as the little boy finished speaking a loudly crackle could be heard over the P.A system. "Liam where are you! Has someone seen a little boy with red hair about the age of five? Please bring him to the front desk." a voice that was filled with worry and grief sounded over the system causing Liam's ears to prick up quickly.
"Uhh, what's a front desk?" Liam thought out loud as he scratched his head. Heero frowned as he heard the voice thinking he recognized it, but shook his head.
"I will show you, c'mon." Heero said as he began walking in the direction of the front desk. As he neared the area he looked out and saw a man talked frantically to a police officer, his long chestnut braid swinging wildly as he gestured. Heero stopped in his tracks as he connected all of the dots, not noticing how the little red headed boy he now guessed was Liam ran ahead and into the arms of the braided man. The braided man who he had never known had a son. Heero watched mesmerized as he watched the braided man suddenly cry out as he found himself surrounded by little arms.
The man picked Liam up quickly hugging him close and shedding tears. /It's his brother or something./ Heero thought logically, but remembered that the boy had said he was here with his father. Heero watched as the braided man he thought he was getting to know thanked the officers and left the store holding his son in his arms.
It was strange Heero thought to himself, his world was falling apart and yet he was still physically intact. He was some guy's side thing while the missus was blissfully unaware, and he wasn't being swallowed whole by hell itself. Heero wondered, he hadn't even had sex with Duo yet did that still qualify him for the darkest part of hell or just the outer rim?
Duo moved easily amongst the tables his smile and charm winning the customers over easily as he served them with a cheerful demeanor. The braided man was the best thing that had happened to Amoretti's and Larry loved the man for it and all his other qualities. Duo smiled cheerfully as the door opened and new customers swarmed in his most brilliant smile appearing as he recognized his favorite chocolate haired customer.
Turning quickly Duo missed the frown that passed over Heero's face as he went to his usual table by the window. Heero sighed inwardly he didn't know why he came, but for some reason a part of him wanted to face Duo, to see the betrayal in the man's gorgeous deceitful amethyst eyes. Duo came by and took his order his eyes still sparkling, the deceit not even causing them to be a bit darker has they held solid their lie. Heero fumed his anger increasing as he watched the braided man practically dance around the entire restaurant as if he wasn't a cretin.
"Here ya' go, Hero." Duo said brightly, Heero grunted in response his demeanor cold and harsh. Duo finally noticing this change and thinking upon the day realized that the man had been somewhat cold all day. Duo asked him was he alright and Heero grunted rudely and ignored the man's question.
The braided man continued to move gracefully around the restaurant his entire demeanor still cheerful and yet the air seemed to stagnate as if it was rotten and growing more and more stale. His braid didn't swing so merrily and his smile wasn't so full. He stopped at Heero's table a few more times and received the same cold response each time and decided he'd ask Heero later what was wrong.
"Are you alright Duo?" Larry asked gently noticing the air of coldness between the two. Duo looked at Heero's table wistfully as if hoping to catch a semblance of their old familiarity.
"I don't know Heero seems to be angry with me for some reason." Duo said softly his confusion evident. Larry nodded in understanding as he watched the chocolate haired man. "Eh, just ask the man, I'm sure it's probably something silly." Larry said reassuringly. Duo smiled brightly as he nodded in agreement.
Duo's shift was now finally ending and Heero had just gathered his stuff and was leaving the little restaurant and walking into the cold pouring rain. Duo grabbed his coat and bags and ran out quickly to confront the suddenly hostile man. His long braid trailed behind him as he ran out into the storm.
"Hey Heero, wait up!" Duo yelled loudly as he ran to catch up to Heero who had crossed the street and was walking to his car. Heero froze momentarily as he heard his name called and recognized the voice. Squaring his shoulders he continued walking, he realized why had had come to the little restaurant, he wanted to close the chapter to Duo Maxwell and his lies. He wanted to visually shut the man out and move on.
"I said wait damn it!" Duo said huffing as he laid his hand on Heero's shoulder. Heero turned around quickly his eyes blazing with anger, but more hurt than anything else.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Duo asked flustered an out of breath. Heero looked a the chestnut haired man, his braid heavy with rain and a few long strands of hair plastered to his face hanging loosely to his face. His eyes were a deep amethyst anger and confusion apparent startling Heero.
"How is your wife?" Heero asked viciously. Duo's eyes widened up in a shocked manner fueling Heero's rage. "So I was just going to be some stupid guy on the side that you fucked while you had some poor woman at home thinking you were perfect!" Heero said outraged at not only Duo's behavior, but also at how much it hurt. "What…?" Duo stuttered confusedly as he listened to Heero continue his rage.
"I never would have even figured it out if I hadn't found your son Liam at the mall. That's just great, not only are you cheating on your wife, but you're potentially hurting your own son." Heero finished heaving his chest in complete anger. He waited for Duo to apologize to begin making oblations to appeal to him, and was enraged when instead of apologizing the braided man began laughing. Duo wasn't even laughing minimally; he was holding his sides in sheer humor.
"Oh my god, my wife! That's a fucking riot!" Duo said laughing brightly as he held his sides the raining causing his hair to drip rivulets of water roll down his unblemished face. Heero frowned deeply and sighed inwardly as he began to lose his ability to frown and soon was smiling himself at the purity of Duo's laugh.
"Heero, I'm a single parent. Liam is my son true, but I don't have a wife." Duo said laughing loudly as he pictured Heero's outraged face. He wondered what Hilde would have thought if she could have heard him being called her husband, and the picture of what her face would have looked like sent him into another fit of laughter. Heero rolled his eyes as he pulled Duo under an awning while the braided man composed himself.
"So…I umm, made a mistake." Heero said sheepishly as he blushed lightly. Duo finally began gathering himself as he stood up to look Heero in the face. "Yes, I have a son, his mother died a long time ago. We were best friends that basically got a little too drunk one night, but I have been raising him ever since she died. I never mention my son when I date, because then the guy usually wants to meet him or starts acting weird, and no matter how much I like a guy, you have to be damn special to meet my son." Duo said firmly his eyes locking onto Heero's own. The Japanese man nodded in understanding and sighed in relief as he realized that Duo was still available.
"I mean if you want to stop dating because of my son, I understand. Getting into the possibility of a relationship with someone who already has a child is huge and so I understand if you want to stop dating." Duo said slowly as he suddenly became really mature.
"Duo, I don't care. Right now it's not like we are at the point, but if we do get to it, then I want you to know, it doesn't change how I feel about you now." Heero said evenly his eyes confirming his words.
/I wonder when it will be too much for him./ Duo thought as he got into his car after talking to Heero a little bit more under the awning. They had set a date for that Saturday which was perfect because Liam was set to spend the night at Quatre's for the evening and that meant Duo wouldn't have to be home at any specific time./Guess I will find out sooner or later./