Chapter 5 – Drama (Thursday)
I wake up to Duo tossing about. I haven't a clue what time it is, but I'm glad that the drapes are keeping the light out. I'm not quite ready for cheery sunlight. Quietly, I crawl out of the bed, slip out of the room and look around. Movement in the kitchen tells me that either Trowa is awake, or someone else is meandering around my apartment. So, I move to investigate and smile happily when Trowa comes into view.
"Hi." He has a glass of water in his hand.
"Mornin'." I maneuver around him to the coffee machine on my counter.
"Afternoon, actually." He corrects me with a hint of a smile, and I feel my face flush. "About twelve fifteen."
"Heero." I whisper, and he looks at me confused. "Heero's going to be here soon."
"As lovely as the view is, you may want to put a shirt on before he arrives." He smirks.
More than my face flushes this time, and I momentarily try to figure if he was flirting with me, but this isn't the time to be in deep thought about the meaning. "That might be a good idea." I go to my room pull out a lounge-about-the-house tee shirt and return to Trowa.
"Did you sleep ok?" He asks as he begins to fill the coffee maker with water.
"As well as can be expected with a drunk and depressed individual in your bed. He didn't wake up, but I could tell he wasn't having the most pleasant of dreams." I run my hand through my hair and realize that it is all over the place. "How did you sleep?"
He laughs quietly. "Probably a little better than you." He looks around the kitchen. "Coffee and filters?"
"Cabinet to your left." I point and he opens the wooden door and removes the items he was looking for. Trowa loads the basket with a filter and ground coffee, then pauses suddenly and looks out of the kitchen in the direction of the door. I hear the door close, and I can only assume he heard it open.
"Quatre?" It is Heero.
"Kitchen." I respond turning the coffee maker on.
"Quatre, where's D… What is he doing here?" My friend points angrily to Trowa, who is wise enough to remain quiet.
"He helped me with Duo last night." It is all the explanation he needs.
Heero frowns and narrows his blue eyes. "I don't like strangers knowing my business." He says defensively.
"Then you should have fucking thought about that before you decided to act like a complete asshole and lead your boyfriend to think that you are having an affair." My voice is full of anger and frustration. "You better fix this, Heero. Now!"
Heero set his jaw firmly. "Which room?" Mid-question he turns in the direction of the bedrooms.
"Guest. He's probably still asleep." The slight nod of his head is the only thing that tells me he heard, and then he disappears into the guest bedroom and shuts the door.
I back up until I hit the wall and gently bang my head against it with my eyes closed. This day is not starting well at all. As I open my eyes, I see Trowa standing there looking at me with a very worried look in his beautiful green eyes. "Sorry about that. I'm not expecting their conversation to go well. In fact, I am pretty sure that the drama isn't done for today. I wouldn't be hurt if you decided to leave while the getting is good."
"I'll stay if you want me too." He offers with a shy smile.
My heart beats just a bit faster with his words, and I offer him a small lop-sided smile in return. "I would like that, but only if you want to. I can't ask you to stay; I'm probably not the best of company right now."
"You're fine. I want to stay." It looks like he wants to say more but does not; instead he looks around the kitchen for something.
"Whatcha looking for?" I ask just as he produces two mugs from one of the cabinets. "Do you like anything in your coffee? I have half and half, powdered creamer, sugar, and Bailey's."
Green eyes sparkle in amusement when I mention the Irish cream. "What are you having?" I know he already knows the answer to it.
"FUCK YOU HEERO! GET THE FUCK OUT!" Duo bellows from the guest room.
"I'll be having the Irish cream, thank you." I say cringing at the yelling.
"That seems like a wise choice. I will join you." He begins to pour the coffee, and I realize that all my alcohol is over at his place.
I start to chuckle and he looks at me funny. "All the alcohol is over at your apartment."
"It is, isn't it?" He chuckles. "I'll go get it." I nod and he turns to leave, but before he can get to the door, the guest bedroom opens up and Duo stands there looking horrible and still intoxicated, glaring into the room."
"Get the fuck out of here Heero!" The Japanese man slips past his love.
"[jp]Come home with me.[/jp]" Heero pleads in his native language, and I know he's falling apart.
"You're a fucking lying, cheating, asshole; there is no fucking way I am going back there."
"[jp]I swear to you Duo I'm not having an affair. I would never cheat on you.[/jp]" He begs desperately.
I quickly glance over at Trowa, and we are both frozen to our spots. I feel the despair emanating from Heero, and though my Japanese is more than a little rusty, I have no doubt that he is speaking the truth. But, I also know that Duo is not thinking any more, nothing Heero is saying will register in Duo's alcohol and emotionally clouded mind.
"Go away Heero. Get the fuck out of my fucking sight." I see him pull the thin silver band from his ring finger, and I watch the tears stream down his face. "Feel free to ignore me from now on." He shouts and throws the ring at Heero. "I've had enough of this fucking bullshit. You don't want to act like a couple in public, then fine, we're not a fucking couple anymore." He shouts through the sobs and quickly retreats into the room slamming the door behind him, leaving Heero standing there in tears.
"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck." Heero chants in common as he stoops over to pick up the silver band where it landed at his feet. He holds it like it is the most precious thing in the world, and I suppose it is.
"Quatre." He looks at me silent tears running down his face. "[jp]Can you try to get him home tonight? He's not going to come with me. Please!" He takes the few steps to reach me and grabs my hands and hold them with a death grip, I can feel Duo's band digging into my skin. "Please Quatre, please can you bring him home. I can fix it there.[/jp]" I don't get everything he says, but enough to piece his request together.
It is at this moment that Duo opens the door looking extremely pale and runs to the bathroom. He barely makes it to the toilet before he begins to vomit. I close my eyes, collecting my thoughts. "Go home Heero. Get some rest, as it is obvious you need some. I'll bring Duo home later when he's better, but now I am going to go help him."
"[jp]But…[/jp]" Heero begins and I know what he is about to say.
"No Heero. You being here is just making things worse right now. He needs to calm down before he sees you again. And I don't think empting the remaining contents of his stomach is what I would consider calmed down." Heero knows I am right and makes to turn around. "Ok." Sadness laces the simple word and it feels like his heart is breaking in one hundred different ways, and I wish that I had a quick fix for what is going on, but only Heero knows how to fix this mess. Trowa takes the moment before Heero turns to sneak out the front door, no doubt for the alcohol that we wanted for our coffee.
"You ok driving Heero?" He nods 'yes' without stopping. "You sure? I can drive you back." I offer.
He looks over his shoulder at me, his bright cobalt eyes red from the tears that still silently slide down his face and gives me a weak smile. "I'll be ok. I have to make it home safe, so I can figure out how to get him back." Heero returns to speaking in common, but with the thick accent he had when I had met him. He shows me the thin silver band and slips it onto his finger with his own and walks out of the apartment.
My attention quickly turns to Duo and I run to the bathroom to check on him. He's kneeling in front of the toilet looking absolutely wretched. I grab a spare hand towel, wet it with lukewarm water and wring it out. I kneel next to my friend and begin to wipe the fast cooling cloth over his pale and clammy skin. Duo looks at me miserably, but the tears appear to be stopping.
"You think you are done?" He nods. "Try some water, see if that stays down." I stand and retrieve Duo's cup from the night before, empty what was left, and refill it with warm water. "Here." I hand the plastic cup to him; he grabs it with shaking hands and takes a tentative sip. After a moment of cradling the cup, he decides on another sip, this time it is a bit longer. I know we're both waiting for his stomach to rebel again but hope that it doesn't happen.
I hear Trowa return, but remain at Duo's side. "Let me know if you are good for going back to sleep."
He takes another drink of water. "I don't feel queasy anymore. I'm taking that as a good sign." His voice is raspy from throwing up. I offer him a hand up and he takes it, standing up uneasily.
"Here." I reach into the medicine cabinet and grab a brand new toothbrush. "Brush your teeth and wash your face." I open the package and hand the toothbrush to him. "I'll be waiting outside for you." I lean over and flush the toilet, which earns me a sheepish smile.
"I wasn't going to forget." He picks up the tooth paste.
"I know. I was just helping." I smile at him and walk out of the bathroom, closing the door behind me to give him some privacy.
"Want to hold off on the coffee?" Trowa asks.
"I think I'm going to get Duo to sleep some more." I rub my face with both hands.
He nods. "I'll stay if you want me to." He offers, and I just melt.
"Do you want too?" I counter.
"Yes." I want to ask him why, to see if he has some sort of angle, because right now, he seems way too good to be true. But the Heero and Duo drama is draining my ability to think rationally, and I know better than to try to deal with my own problems at the same time.
"I would like that. I'm going to be in the guest room. Feel free to crash in my bed again."
He nods and reaches out a hand just as Duo walks out of the bathroom. I offer Trowa an apologetic smile. "Sleep well." I say to him and guide Duo into the bedroom. Before I close the door, though, I look over my shoulder at the incredible beauty standing in my living room and mouth 'thank you,' before entering the room and closing the door behind me.
Duo climbs into bed and I climb in after him and lay on my back. He turns over and nestles up next to me. I know he needs a body; a substitute for Heero, to help him get some sleep. Part of me is convinced that Duo thinks that all of this is just a nightmare and he'll wake up next to his love. He drapes his right arm over my stomach and quickly falls into a restless sleep.
I lay awake for some time watching him, trying to fathom how we ended up in this situation to begin with. After a while, I am pulled from my thoughts, feeling moisture seeping through my shirt, and though it is dark in my room, I know that he is crying in his sleep." He sheds silent tears for a while and then he whispers "love 'Ro" before becoming quiet and falling into a, hopefully, dreamless sleep. I close my eyes a few moments later and let sleep take me.