Yay, chapter two! Thanks very much to everyone who put this on the story alert. ^.^
wind dancer 1981: Thanks for the review, and I intend to keep this story going until completion, so no worries there.
Demise Angel: Thanks so much for the review, I'm glad you like the way I am handling the characters, Heero is such a pain to write! And I do want to show why Duo likes Heero, but that won't be for a little bit, so bear with me. Hopefully, you will like this chapter to. ^.^
GiantPrinting: Thanks so much for the review. I don't intend to leave this story unfinished, so please bear with my slow updates.
©Yakubi
A Home To Return To
Chapter 02
Quickly and efficiently Heero led the way through the streets. Zigzagging through crowds, taking short cuts through parks, any normal person would have been long lost. Heero, however, was not a normal person, Heero figured that only careless people get lost and he did not consider himself to be careless. Duo seemed to have no problem with following him either, in fact the brunette didn't even seem to be keeping an eye on where they were going. Heero felt almost happy that Duo trusted him that much but at the same time he was slightly disappointed the Duo wasn't being more careful. After about two hours of walking at Heero's pace(marching) they made it to the space port. Walking over to the counter of the ticket booth he stood straight in front of it and did not lean against it as most people would have done after walking the distance he and Duo had traversed. "I need to rent a private shuttle for myself and one other."
The attendant stammered, he brown eyes flashing. "Sir, I'm afraid not." She shook her head which made her loose light brown hair swirl in front of her face. "Private shuttles are very expensive and I will not be tricked into getting all the paper work for some practical joke." Clearly the attendant thought them as poor teenage boys out for a few laughs. Then again, they were not exactly dressed in the manner of someone who could afford their own private shuttle.
Heero leaned over now, but just enough to make the attendant uncomfortable. "I am sorry we do not meet your standers, but I assure you I can pay for the shuttle. Now, do your job. Get the paper work and bring it to me. If you do not, I will have a bit of a chat with your supervisor and see to it that you are fired." Heero's voice was menacing.
The attendant shook her head and scurried off. "Yes sir!"
"Jesus Heero, there was no need to be so hard on her." Duo sighed.
"Duo, I wouldn't have gotten her fired, but she is being paid to do a job. She should be more worried about serving her customers and less worried about how her nails look."
"What do her nails have to do with anything?"
Heero looked back at Duo. "You didn't notice?" Heero sighed, Duo was defiantly not the same person he had known. "Can't you smell it? One of her hands was painted and the other not, the painted one's nails were still wet. She was painting her nails and got irritated about being interrupted." Heero said calmly.
"Damn Heero, you don't miss a beat do you?"
"I'm a soldier Duo, if I 'miss' something I could lose my life."
Duo sighed. "The war is over Heero, maybe you should lighten up a bit? Live a little! Think of it like a vacation."
"Du-"
"Sir!" The attendant came rushing back with her unpainted hand holding a small stack of papers. "I have the forms." She laid them down on the counter in front of Heero. "And here's a pen." She handed him a plain ball-point. "Just sign these and we will have your shuttle waiting in the space port!"
Heero took the papers in his hand and went to sit down in one of the uncomfortable looking chairs just a little ways from the counter. "It'll be a moment." He said calmly.
"Sir?"
"I read everything before I sign it. Do not rush me." He sat down lightly and began to go through the papers, reading them quickly.
Duo stayed at the counter and made small talk with the attendant. "Sorry about him, he's a bit of a grouch."
"You don't have to tell me twice." The attendant laughed.
"So what were you doing before we came here?"
"Oh, I was just painting my nails. I bought a new shade today and I wanted to try it out and then your friend showed up…" The woman wrinkled her nose and pursed her lips.
"Well I'll be damned." Duo muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"Never mind. I'll go see if he is done."
"There's no way he could be done reading all that paperwork-"
"I think this should be good enough." Heero passed the papers over Duo's shoulder.
The attendant stuttered. "How could you possibly have finished all that paperwork so fast?" The brown haired woman took the packet of forms.
"I'm a fast reader. I assure you everything is in order." Heero was getting tired of this irritating woman. There was nothing more aggravating that having to deal with someone who didn't know how to do their job.
"Si-"
Heero put on his best glare. "Just hurry up. You have everything you need so get to it." Heero's cold blue eyes threatened her with the promise of pain if she argued with him farther.
The woman made a small noise in the back of her throat before hurrying off to the back room. "Heero…" Duo sighed.
"What?"
"You may be the best pilot I know but you have terrible people skills."
"That doesn't matter. We should just concentrate on getting to earth, we can work on my 'people skills' later." Heero turned away from Duo and walking over to the chair he had sat in previously. He sat down lightly, he left his leg muscles tensed up. You never know when you have to get up and evade enemy fire.
Duo sighed. "Man! Even when you sit you're tense. Calm down a bit!" Duo plopped down in the chair next to Heero and reclined back into it to show his point.
"You never know when you'll have to get up and run Duo. I like to be prepared."
Duo sighed again, Heero made him do that a lot. "Look, the war is over. A bunch of mobile suits aren't just going to show up and start shooting."
"You don't know that Duo."
"This is a time of peace Heero! All the weapons have been destroyed!" Duo wanted to shout.
"Just like Marie Maya's weapons?" Heero was getting pissed. Duo was a soldier too, he should understand.
"Damn it Heero, that was an oversight. Relena made sure to get everything this time. There won't be another war!"
"You don't know that so why don't you mind your own business, Maxwell!" Heero and Duo looked each other in the eyes. Heero noticed how tense Duo looked now.
The two boys continued their staring contest until a shrill voice come over on the loud speaker. "Will one Heero Yuy and his companion make their way to Gate E. The shuttle has arrived." The two boys got up and Duo fell into place behind Heero. He waved good bye at the brown haired ticket attendant before moving past her toward where Duo guessed Gate E was. Heero would never get lost so Duo felt fine following him. Still…. The guy needed to loosen up, it seemed like he had gone past a stick and shoved the whole damn tree up his ass. Duo chuckled at his own thought.
Heero wanted to glare at Duo when the man started laughing. Heero didn't know what was so funny but he was not enjoying having Duo around him. Heero's hope that Duo had matured a bit had been taken outside into the back yard and shot, repeatedly. Heero was going to be sure Duo ate properly and had a personality make-over, the man's hyper active and easy going personality where really getting on Heero's nerves. Heero's handed itched for a gun, if only to be able to threaten the idiotic man into silence.
"Welcome…sir. Are you Heero Yuy?" The red headed attendant looking them over seemed to think someone was playing a joke on her. Heero wordlessly pulled out his wallet and showed her his ID. She seemed satisfied with it. She leaned over to look behind Heero at Duo. "Is this your companion?" Heero nodded. The woman looked between Duo and Heero. Heero raised an eyebrow.
"Is something the matter?"
"Oh no sir, I'm completely open minded to that sort of thing." The red head smiled.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Oh, I mean about you two being g-"
"Heero!" Duo interrupted his face scarlet. "I think we should get going before we miss our flight. Duo practically ran to the shuttle. Heero was confused by Duo's sudden change of mood.
"Good luck!" the attendant looked at Heero and smiled. Heero just got onto the shuttle without sparring a glance to the laughing attendant. It seemed everyone one on this entire colony was completely and totally wacko.
Duo stood in the doorway of the shuttle, he looked inside at the lavish decor of the shuttle. "Heero…"
"What?"
"How did you afford this?"
"…Relena… she sends her private shuttle to every place I go, it's kind of annoying but you said you wanted to travel 'in style' so I figure this would suit you." Heero pushed past Duo and took a seat in one of the plush wine red chairs. "Take a seat Duo, we should be taking off soon."
As if on cue the pilot came over the loud speaker. "Sir, can you and your companion please sit down and buckle up? We will be lifting off in a few minutes."
Duo hurriedly took the chair closest to him, which happened to be the one right across from Heero. He was still mad at the man but the pilot had said he needed to sit down. Duo grabbed for the seat belt but could not for the life of him seem to buckle it. "Here, let me help you sir." Duo looked up to see the flight attendant lean over to buckle his seat belt. Duo jerked as the very MALE flight attendants' hands ghosted over his groin. "There you go sir." The attendant stood up. Duo looked the man over quickly. He looked to be about twenty-three, he had dark blond hair and eyes the color of an angry ocean. "My name is Derek, and I'll be your attendant today, nice to meet you."
"H-hi. I'm Duo Maxwell, nice to meet you." Duo and Derek shook hands, Derek holding on a little longer than necessary.
"Oh! So you're Mr. Yuy's companion then!" The man's eyes lit up. "So you two are a cou-"
"No!" Duo went scarlet again. "We aren't together like that, we are just traveling together!"
Heero lifted an eyebrow but made no comment. Whatever the two were talking about it had him confused. The red headed woman had started saying something and Duo had interrupted and now the same thing was happening with this Derek character. Heero would be sure to ask Duo what was going on after the attendant left.
"I see." Derek smiled and then leaned in close to Duo, their noses almost touching, the brunette leaned back slightly. "But from the expression on your face, I'd say you wouldn't mind it if that were the case between you two."
"Wh-wh-wh-" Duo stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment.
The blond stood up straight again and glanced at Heero. "Not to say I wouldn't mind it either, still, it's written all over your face."
"I do not know what the hell you are talking about!" Duo's face was red as a tomato.
"Yeah, yeah, sure you don't sweetness." The blond winked before walking off. "Give a yell if there is anything at all you need."
Duo crossed his arm over his chest at Derek's voice came over the loud speaker. "Alright, make sure you are securely fastened in, we are going to take off now." The speaker clicked off and Duo felt the vibrations of the engines being started. The brunette squeezed his eyes shut, he didn't get queasy or anything, he just didn't like shuttles. He had seen them taken down in only a few jerks of a mobile suit control stick.
Heero noticed Duo tense at the sound of the engines. Suddenly, there was pull and Heero knew that they were starting to speed up the ramp so that they could exit the colony and finally be on their way to earth. As the speed increased so did the pull on Heero's back. He looked up to see Duo. The man's hands where gripping the armrests and Heero could see how the restraints where barely holding the man to his chair. The shuttle began to go straight up, Heero knew it would be a good twenty seconds before the shuttle reached a constant speed and straightened out. A snap rang through the cabin of the shuttle as Duo's restraints broke. The man's violet-blue eyes snapped open as he fell from his chair, it seemed to go in slow motion as he started to fall. He was going right towards Heero! Heero reached out on instinct and grabbed the man by the back of the neck and waist before pulling Duo into him, pushing Duo's head into his chest and making sure to get a good hold on him. Duo latched on to him, his fingers grabbing the green shirt Heero wore as his legs were pushed onto either side of Heero's by the force. "We're off the ramp, it should only be a few more seconds until we straighten out." Heero whispered to Duo. Heero wasn't sure if had been heard or not but at least he had made the effort.
Duo clung to Heero. Those stupid restraints! They weren't supposed to just snap like that! Damn it! And now there he was, pressed against Heero and holding on for dear life like some… like some CHILD! Heero had a good hold in him, he wasn't going to die, but he was so embarrassed that he just might. He couldn't take this, he needed to get away, but the pull kept him there, the place he would have loved to have been at any other time. The pull started to lessen, it was just enough for you to notice the change before it stopped completely. Heero didn't let go right away like Duo supposed he would. Duo wanted to look up, he wanted to get off his knees, but most of all he wanted to get out of this embarrassing-as-hell position. That dirty flight attendant was sure to see and poke fun, and Duo was not in the mood for that.
The loud speaker clicked on. "Alright, we are now clear of the colony's gravitational pull, it should be a few hours before we get to earth though so enjoy your flight. I'll be out there in a sec with a light lunch." The speaker clicked off.
"Heero…" Duo pushed lightly away from the other boy, his hands saying in the green shirt. Blue met blue in a clash of eyes and all Duo could do was blush. They were too close! Almost nose to nose, neither boy moved, no matter how much they seemed to want to they were rooted in the spot.
"Duo I-"
"Well don't you two look cozy! I leave for a minute and you two are already working on messing up Miss Relena's plane! What a pair of animals!" Derek laughed.
Duo got up, his entire face covered in an angry blush. "You nimrod!" Duo gestured to that remains of his restraints. "Look at that! The stupid restraints snapped half way up the ramp! I could have died and you laugh! Heero caught me, if not for him I would have died!"
Derek's eyes lit up with panic as he rushed over to the seat Duo had been in previously. He picked up the ripped remains of the belts. "But this flight was checked, there was no way something like this should have happened. This is Miss Relena's PRIVATE shuttle, there's no way something as important as the restraints could have gotten missed in the inspection."
Heero shot Duo a look. Hopeful this would teach the braided man to be a bit more careful. Duo straightened up to his full height as Derek righted himself, even so Duo only made it to the nose of the perverted attendant. "It doesn't matter what it wasn't supposed to happen, it happened so you better recheck this plane the next time it takes off. We wouldn't want to have Miss Relena splattered over the back of this plane!" Duo practically screamed.
Duo felt a hand on his shoulder and turned his head to see Heero out of the side of his eye. "Derek, I think you name was?" There was a nod from the attendant. "I would be most grateful if you would keep your mind on your job and not be an idiot. Duo and I are going to earth and we intend to get there safely, whether or not this plane ever takes off again is up to you, I personally do not care." Heero looked to Duo next. "Maxwell, next time we get on a shuttle together I'll check it. But for now sit down and calm your nerves." Heero was not one to miss the fact that Duo's hands where twitching. "I do believe we are to have a lunch on this flight?" Heero raised an eyebrow and glanced at the attendant before taking a seat and pulling Duo into the chair beside him.
"Y-yes, right away!" Derek ran towards the back of the shuttle where the kitchen was. The tone of Heero's voice was enough to make anyone want to get away.
"…damn it…" Duo's hands balled into fists on his knees, his whole body was shaking. Why was he so weak? When the restraints snapped all he could do was fall. He didn't react the way he should. He should have held on to the chair, he should have saved himself. But instead he was once again relying on Heero. It was humiliating. It was embarrassing. Duo felt a knot in his gut. It was pathetic for him, a gundam pilot, to rely on someone else. He shouldn't need to, hell, he was responsible for the deaths of well over a hundred people and he couldn't even save his own life? It was ridicules!
"Duo." Heero's deep smooth voice washed over Duo, the braided boy did not look up. "Duo, you're fine alright. Now just pull yourself together. I have plenty of time to take care of you but I would like it better if you could take care of yourself."
Duo almost smiled. Leave it to Heero to start out sounding nice and then go back into soldier mode. It was impossible for the cold brunette to comprehend that it wasn't the fall that had Duo so upset, it was that fact that he couldn't save himself. "It's fine Heero, just give me a minute."
Heero silently admitted to himself that comforting people was not his strong point. He had never learned that aspect of human life, he was a soldier not a nanny. Heero put his hand on Duo's shoulder. He hoped that was the right thing to do, but he had no information on the subject so he was just doing what came to mind. Heero started to move his hand in a circular motion, he once again hoped that that was the right thing to do.
Duo found himself slightly shocked. While Heero's words were not very good somehow the contact between Heero and himself was slowly spreading warmth throughout his body. His shaking stopped and he was finally able to get his breathing under control. Duo finally looked up. "I'm sorry Heero…"
"About what? It's not like you ran through the shuttle with a pocket knife and cut the restraints."
Duo almost laughed, that was one of the only times he had ever heard Heero make a joke, or at least try to. But right now he was in far too somber of a mood to appreciate humor. "I shouldn't have fallen. I should have grabbed onto the chair and held myself there. By allowing myself to fall like that I put you in danger. If you hadn't caught me I could have killed you-"
"Duo." Duo made the mistake of looking Heero in the eyes. Suddenly all thought left his brain and the only thing he could concentrate on with Heero's smooth, melted chocolate voice. "You wouldn't have killed me, the worse that would have happened is a few broken ribs."
"But-"
"Duo, just listen. It's not so bad to have to rely on someone once in a while. It won't hurt you."
"I know that, but I should of-"
"Duo." Heero stopped Duo from hurting himself farther. "There's no need to blame yourself, stop it. You're human."
Duo stayed silent after that, still looking Heero in the eyes. They were so close, Duo could feel Heero's warm breath ghosting over his face. His eyes drooped to half-mast. "Heero…" Duo almost groaned the name as it rolled of his tongue. He knew what he wanted to happen, but in the back of his head he doubted Heero understood the affect he was having on the young braided boy.
"Duo...?" The slight change in pitch as Heero spoke proved what Duo had already known, Heero was oblivious. Duo knew Heero wouldn't have been taught this particular aspect of life by Professor J, while seduction could be used to obtain information Duo had a feeling Heero had more training in torture techniques. Duo wanted to sigh, but though it would be inappropriate. He moved away from Heero, settling into his seat. Duo just wished that the heat that had begun to pool in his stomach would go away.
"Duo? Do you feel better now?"
"Yeah, I feel better, thanks. Where's that lunch though? I'm starving."
"Lunch!" Derek almost yelled as he entered the passenger section of the plane. "We've got sandwiches, chips, juices, sodas, fruits, vegetables, heck-we've even got fried chicken!" The blond man stopped his cart in the aisle next to Heero's seat. "So what'll it be?"
Heero looked up at the man and was slightly reminded of Duo, this flight attendant was just too happy, he bordered on chipper. "I'll take chicken soup and a ham and swiss sandwich."
Duo looked over at Derek. "Chicken soup and a turkey and provolone sandwich for me."
"Anything to drink?"
"Water."
"Root beer."
"All right, I'll get back to you with the soup and sandwiches." The blond man reached under his cart and opened a cooler, reaching in he pulled out a bottled water and a can of root beer, he handed the drinks to Heero. Derek wheeled his cart back to the attendant's station and disappeared behind the blue white curtain that cut the passengers off from the crew.
Heero turned to Duo and handed him the root beer, his fingers brushing Duo's. "Here."
Duo fought the blush that so desperately tried to paint itself across his features. "Thanks." Duo focused on the cold of the soda can held in his shaking hands.
"Are you sure you're alright Duo?"
Duo looked up and was once again captured by the angry deep blue of Heero's eyes. "I'm fine."
Heero didn't look like he was as confident about Duo's health. "Your face is red, you might have a fever." Heero reached up and placed his hand on Duo's forehead before placing his other hand on his own. "You feel a bit warm."
Duo's face went a shade redder. Heero was not touching him in any sort of sexual way, he was just checking for fever and yet Duo couldn't help but blush more. Duo placed his hands on Heero's and moved the appendage away from his face. "I'm fine Heero, promise." Duo said with a childish grin.
"Alright, but we need to get you checked out by a doctor when we get to earth." Heero looked down at his hand, which was still being held by Duo. "You can let go now."
Duo retracted his hands lightning fast. He hadn't even noticed that he had still been holding Heero's hand. "Sorry." Duo said, somewhat sheepishly.
"No problem."
Derek soon returned with their food, the two pilots spending the rest of their flight in silence. Though once or twice a conversation started it never lasted long. The two boys soon feel asleep in the overly padded chairs of Miss Relena's private shuttle.
-=-=-=-=-=-Time Skip-=-=-=-=-=-
Heero awoke to find himself still in Relena's shuttle. Feeling a weight on his shoulder he turned to see Duo's head resting on him, the man's bangs hiding his face from Heero's view. Heero turned to stare out the window. The Earth greeted him, the swirling atmosphere smiling white as the blue oceans shined. He could see land on the Earth's surface. Looking at the Earth like this always made him able to think that maybe the blue planet wasn't as polluted and dirty as he thought. It was a foolish notion though. Though Heero valued life, there was no way he could deny the corrupting touch of humanity. Luckily for the Earth, humans had become much cleaner in recent years. Nearly everything was recycled, parks and forests were better protected. It was starting to be a place where people wanted to be again.
"Could you two please fasten your seat belts, we are going to be entering the Earth's atmosphere soon." Derek's voice come on over the speakers. A click followed as the system was shut off, signaling the end of the message.
Duo stirred, but only enough to push himself closer to Heero, finding a comfortable spot, Duo fell back into the welcoming arms of sleep.
Heero looked down at his companion. This was going to be difficult. Heero slowly moved to fasten his own seat belt, he was able to do so without waking Duo. The real trick would be belting Maxwell into place without waking the boy. Heero moved so Duo's head would move more into his chest, he used his right arm to cradle the other boy so he was sitting up enough for Heero to do the seat belt up and not wake him. Using his left hand he reached around Duo's waist, grabbed the strap and pulled it over Duo's lap, he clicked the metal restraint into place. He slowly pulled the belt tight before running his hand around Duo's waist again to make sure the belt was secure. Heero pulled his hand back. He continued using his right arm and chest to cradle Duo's sleeping form. He had been lucky not to wake Duo so far, and was not sure if the sleeping boy would stay sleeping if he was moved again. Heero was left with no choice but to continue holding him.
Heero looked down at the boy in his arms, absentmindedly noting that this was the most he had touched the boy since meeting him. Heero stared at Duo. His high cheek bones and face, a tiny bit of baby fat still clinging to his cheeks making him look all the more innocent. Heero couldn't help but wonder why the man had let his hair grow so long, Heero would have cut it by now if it was him. Heero tried to picture Duo with short hair and failed, Duo had long hair, a fact that probably wouldn't change.
Duo's hands moved up and latched onto the fabric of Heero's shirt as the boy continued to sleep. "Hee...ro..." The boy mumbled.
Heero felt a sudden pressure form in his lower stomach, why, he had no idea. He was familiar with the feeling, but wondered what was making his body react in such a way.
"Hee... roo..."
The heat increased. Heero couldn't help but be surprised, he was reacting to Maxwell groaning his name!
"Heero... no... more... I can't take it..."
A small blush formed across Heero's cheeks. What on Earth was Duo dreaming about that would make he repeatedly moan Heero's name?
"No more pudding Heero... I'm gonna burst."
And instantly, with only a single sentence, Heero Yuy felt like a fool.
-=-=-=-=-=-Author's Note-=-=-=-=-=-
in this chapter you really have to read between the lines of a couple of Heero's parts. Writing him is so hard...
Oh well, hopefully you liked this chapter. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. ^.^