Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car

I want to thank everyone who has enjoyed this story and hung around waiting for a conclusion. I really do appreciate it. It's about 6:30 in the morning and I've been up since 2:30, plowing through to finish this story, determination and guilt my strongest driving forces.

So here you have it, the last four chapters. I do apologize for making everyone wait and I hope you'll forgive the long absence.

Blind

Chapter 12

"I knew you couldn't stay mad at me."

Duo winked at Wufei as he made his way to the pool table to take his turn. Wufei had called him a few days ago and asked him if he wanted to join him for some pool at a local hangout. Wufei repeatedly tried to make his stance perfectly clear, but Duo simply wasn't listening. He persisted on teasing Wufei that they were on a date.

"Just take your turn."

Wufei looked up and stared at the neon sign above Duo, advertising some brand of beer, he really wasn't sure. His eyes were locked on the blue in the lighted tubes. Heero seemed fine with me going out, but I still feel kinda guilty. Plus Duo is pushing things too far. If he keeps this up I'll leave him here to find his own way home.

"Hey, 'Fei! You awake over there?"

Wufei's eyes darted to the sound of Duo's voice and saw the man lining up another shot. He missed the pocket, barely, and Wufei approached the table, scanning the ball layout. He was too focused on studying the layout before him to notice Duo hadn't stepped away and back to the high table they were sharing. Instead he merely backed away and waited until Wufei started to lean forward. Then he closed in behind the man and using his gift of stealth, leaned in as close as possible and whispered by Wufei's ear.

"That's risky, 'Fei."

Wufei jumped and the top of his shoulder slammed into the underside of Duo's chin, eliciting an audible clack from Duo's teeth.

"What the hell--?!"

Duo had dropped his pool cue and stood there, bent over and grimacing, thankful he hadn't bitten his tongue.

"Wow man, you need to relax."

Duo righted himself and offered a lopsided grin while Wufei still stood there, his face a mixture of confusion and anger.

"What--? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Duo just shrugged and approached Wufei, his lopsided grin morphing into a mischievous playful smirk.

"I was just playin' around." Duo stopped until he was within a foot of Wufei and shoved his hands in his pockets. "What's the big deal?"

Wufei searched the glittering amethysts, trying to find the truth of the situation but all he saw was his longtime friend and his playful nature shining through. I can't deal with this. I can't tell if he's serious or just joking with me. This was a bad idea. I should have just invited him over and talked outside. Instead, I've blurred things ever further, giving him an opening.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You're drunk, Maxwell."

Wufei had agreed to drive them and as they stood outside Duo's apartment building at 12:26am, he saw yet another miscalculation on his part. I should have made him drive himself. Then he wouldn't be drunk.

Duo just waved off Wufei's accusation with a smug grin as he walked around from his side of the car to the driver's side where Wufei was waiting for him.

"No way. I just let you drive to save the arguing. I switched over to non-alcoholic beer hours ago."

"You what?"

Duo chuckled and leaned in even further, his smile widening.

"I want to remember our first date, 'Fei, not drink it away."

Wufei felt Duo's lips tickling his own and he gasped, pulling away. But Duo snaked an arm around Wufei's waist in a firm grip in an attempt to hold Wufei still.

"'Fei, stop. I just wan--"

Duo's words were cut off by a sharp slap to his cheek. He froze in shock and just stared wide-eyed at his friend who was standing a few steps back now, cheeks burning red and eyes glinting dangerously.

"Stop this, Maxwell!"

Duo took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck. He still thinks I'm just playing around. I guess I haven't really shown him I'm serious at all.

"'Fei, I really care for you, you know that. I'm not some stranger in a bar."

"We're friends."

"Why can't we be more? Is there someone else?"

"Yes. No. I mean--"

"Which is it?"

"Heero, he--"

"You and Heero are involved?! Why didn't you say--"

"No! Heero…." Wufei slumped back against his car and sighed, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "He has a thing for you."

"Me?"

Duo frowned and looked up into the starry sky trying to recall if Heero had ever given him any indication of having feelings for him. After a few moments he shook his head emphatically and turned his attention back to Wufei.

"No. You're wrong. Heero and I are just friends."

"I'm telling you….Heero got very upset when I teased him about you and I going out together."

"You teased him about us? Why?"

Wufei sighed and looked off to the side, feeling very foolish for how he handled things with Heero and with Duo.

"I mentioned that you and I go out upon occasion and he seemed especially interested which was odd to me so I just mentioned what we did, tossing in sex to get a reaction and he just…."

Wufei looked back to Duo, his face slack, but his eyes shone with his feelings of helplessness and Duo felt for his friend.

"He didn't appreciate my little joke. And I think it's because he has a thing for you."

Duo's brows furrowed and he kept frowning until finally Wufei watched as Duo's features softened and he looked up to the sky and chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

Duo dropped his head, his smile still showing through as he shook his head a few times. Then he looked up at Wufei.

"At this moment? Nothing actually, but it's better than the alternative."

"What? What are you--?"

"It's late and you should be getting back. Heero is probably waiting up for you."

Wufei just frowned at his friend, wondering what he was missing. I feel like there's a joke I'm missing, and it's on me.

"Heero is just fine. I want to know what's going on inside that head of yours. Why do I feel like you're mocking me?"

Duo tilted his head to the side a bit and sighed. Then he closed the small distance between them and leaned in, kissing Wufei on the cheek quickly and backing up before Wufei had time to take a swing at him. He felt Wufei stiffen at the small touch but he didn't mind. I understand now. He's already taken but just doesn't know it yet.

Duo offered a soft smile as he winked to his friend and backed away towards his apartment building.

"Goodnight, 'Fei."

Wufei could only watch, speechless and confused as Duo disappeared into the apartment building without another word. What am I missing?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So where did you go last night?"

"We just went to Sticks and played a few games. Nothing special."

"So….you guys settled things?"

Wufei had told Heero of his plan to speak with Duo about what happened between them and make sure their friend understood that he would only ever be that: a friend. And from the moment Wufei walked out the door, Heero's mind had been going a mile a minute, imagining all sorts of scenarios and giving himself one gigantic headache.

"Yes. Everything is as it should be."

Wufei suddenly felt his stomach roil and he sighed as he put his fork down on the plate. He thought back to last night, and although it was true things seemed to be back to normal between them, he still felt guilty for hurting his close friend, both physically and emotionally. I can't believe I struck him, but….it couldn't be helped, he wouldn't listen. I'm just not attracted to him. And then there's Heero…

Wufei's frown deepened as he continued to think back to his late night conversation with Duo. I can't shake the feeling he knows something about Heero but refuses to tell me. Why? Petty revenge? No…there's another reason, but what?

There was no way Wufei could eat another bite. He stood up and started to clean up the breakfast dishes when Heero spoke up again.

"Not hungry?"

"Not really."

"Hangover?"

"No."

Heero let out a bitter chuckle.

"No, I suppose not. Duo doesn't like the sofa here."

"Excuse me?"

"I keep a room here for Duo when he drinks too much because my place is usually within walking distance to where he likes to drink. But seeing as how it's currently occupied…."

"I see."

Well, that explains the room. But does it really warrant Heero keeping a room for Duo? He should just let the drunk sleep on his sofa.

"You realize you're just encouraging him to get drunk by giving him a room."

"I prefer to look at it as saving my neighbors from hearing him complain about the sofa in the wee hours of the morning."

Wufei chuckled as he pictured a drunken Duo draped over Heero, his voice three times louder than normal as he whined about the leather sticking to his face or some such nonsense.

"You can picture it, can't you?"

"And hear it too." Wufei laughed a little louder and continued to clean the dishes.

"After letting him sleep with me one night I made up the spare room for him."

Wufei dropped the pan he was washing and with his back turned he couldn't see the smile on Heero's face. I know he just meant actually sleeping but why did my heart suddenly lurch? The thought of Heero and Duo sleeping together…..

"You ok?"

"Y-yeah. The pan was just slippery from too much soap."

Heero sat there for the rest of the time sipping his coffee and wondering if Wufei's "slip up" was genuine or if it had a much deeper meaning. I've become so pathetic, reduced to analyzing a dropped pan. Can a simple crush really make you this crazy?

To be continued….