Author's Notes: I want to thank snowdragonct for being my first review. I'm a really huge fan of your Wedding Planner story. When Heero stood in the ocean with the flower, I melted into a permanent puddle of goo. It's hard to find a story that blends excellent characterization with excellent plot and your story did that for me. I hope mine can do the same for you.

The music for this and other chapters is posted at mediafire through a link I gave back at ch 1, if anyone is curious. This is the last chapter that takes place at the school. The next chapter will weave strongly with the show for about two episodes before breaking off into another one of those month-long time gaps that GW seems so fond of...

Chapter 4 – Violet (Episode 9)

o/ If there's a way that you could be everything you want to be,
Would you complain that it came too easy?
Just like the games with you and me - A resolution hard to see,
But that's O.K. 'cause I don't see things that are plain to see /o

Duo awoke long before the alarm clock the next morning, his eyes snapping open with the first light of day creeping in the window. His sleep had been restless, with the vague sensation that he'd been running in his dreams, but he couldn't remember if he was running to or away from something.

Sometimes it seems like all I'm doing is running…

Kicking the tangled sheet off, Duo swung his legs until his feet landed on the floor and glanced across the room at Heero's perfectly-made bed. He hadn't heard Heero come back to the room at all last night, but square in the center of the bed, his backpack sat packed and ready to go. The sight sent a jolt through Duo's body and he knew that it had to mean the other pilot was planning on leaving the school soon.

Still, he could have taken his bag with him this morning and been long gone already.

"But he wouldn't have even packed his bag to leave," Duo muttered to himself, pulling on his uniform pants and shirt before slinging his tie loosely around his neck, "Unless there was news."

Or unless I pissed him off more than I thought I did yesterday…

And as much as the second reason bothered Duo, he quickly put it out of his mind to focus on the first reason. The little games that he and Heero Yuy were playing would have to wait. News from home overrode any other concerns right now and he could already feel the adrenaline rush of a possible mission making his insides buzz. Swallowing the lump rising in his throat, he slipped his shoes on, debated a moment before grabbing his school books, and headed out.

It was a five minute walk just to get off the school grounds, but once he was outside the gates, Duo broke into a run. The air was crisp and cool, dew still lingering on the grass and soaking his pants as he raced through the forest. He skidded to a halt, ignoring the relief that washed over him when he saw that Deathcythe and Wing were still hidden side by side in the dense brush.

Moments later, his speculation was confirmed as he skimmed through the mission brief that had come in sometime during the night. Destroying this base won't take more than an hour and that's with travel time… It was simple enough, too simple, really, but it also meant that he'd need to leave shortly after he was through, before OZ came through the area to question the students. The weight of what he was actually on Earth to accomplish came racing back and Duo wondered if Heero had received the same mission. If he has, then I'm willing to place my bets on the idea that we really are working for the same person or people.

"Only one way to find out…"

Duo spent the next hour searching the campus, but Heero was nowhere to be found. Finally, as a last resort, he headed off to their first period physical education class, guessing that Heero might be playing along with their cover for one more day. Sure enough, the other pilot had already changed out of his uniform into shorts and a tank top and was heading out of the locker room towards the basketball court where their class was being held. Breezing past him, Heero actually allowed his eyes to meet Duo's for a moment but didn't give him long enough to start a conversation.

The eye contact was enough for Duo. Already, in his mind, the events of the previous day were far in the past. They were once again comrades, two pilots from the colonies on a probably suicidal mission to bring peace. They were back to sharing the same secret. When he passed the basketball to Heero and teased him when all the girls cheered, he was really thinking about them blowing some OZ fuckers up tonight. He wondered if Heero was thinking the same thing.

It wasn't until the class broke for a water break that Duo had time to corner Heero, tailing him out of the courts and past the locker rooms to where the sports fields on the edge of the bluff overlooked the ocean and the very base he was expected to destroy tonight. From the way that Heero was intently but unobtrusively studying the base, Duo was even more certain that the mission they'd gotten was the same.


o/ In a way, we're the same two people looking out to sea
For a wave that would carry all our fantasies /o

"So, this is where you went…" Duo strolled up beside Heero and leaned casually on the railing at the edge of the cliff. When he received no response, he decided to just assume his assumptions were correct and bait the other pilot. "Hey, that's pretty smart. Changing schools when you've gotta go. It's natural for people our age to be in school, after all."

Heero didn't want to be having this conversation. He didn't want to look at Duo and be reminded of what had happened at the aquarium and he didn't want to be distracted from planning tonight's mission. He wasn't trying to keep his plans from Duo, but he wasn't trying to include him either. "What's the idea?"

"I'm just trying to act normal."

"You stand out."

Duo leaned back from the railing and folded his arms over chest as he formulated a response. He was tired of Heero accusing him of trying to blow their cover, when his aloofness was often more curious to their fellow students than Duo's overly friendly nature, but the last thing he wanted to do was start another fight. He took a deep breath and decided to try explaining his thoughts. "You wouldn't be as suspicious if you acted natural instead of being so secretive." Unable to resist teasing him a little, he leaned a little closer. "Why don't you just chill out and have fun as a student?"

Heero stood up with a sigh, his eyes gazing downward. "Leave me alone."

"And stay outta my way, right?" Duo mimicked him, and when Heero looked up to meet his eyes, he continued boldly with a small smirk. "The two of us are going after the same thing, here. You can't hide it from me. I can see it in your eyes as plain as day." Heero narrowed his eyes and glared at that remark, but Duo didn't stop speaking. "How about the first one to destroy that fortress wins." Duo's expression made it clear that despite his teasing about their covers as students, his focus was definitely and assuredly on destroying that base.

The two boys turned to look out at the base and for a moment and Duo wondered if baiting Heero simply wasn't going to work this time. Was he tired of their games? Did he not understand Duo's sense of humor? Was he still holding a grudge about yesterday? Before Duo could ask Heero any of these questions, the sound of a car pulling up made both of them turn. As the door opened and a female figure stepped carefully out, Duo's expression clearly said "shit."

o/ Contemplate jealously intermixed with urgency
A million things take a damned good shot at you and me /o

"Hey, that's…" he trailed off, trying to recall the girl's name.

" Relena…"

Relena walked towards the two boys with a triumphant smile on her face, the wind tousling her long blonde hair. "Heero. I wanted to see you."

Duo had to bite back a snicker as he muttered under his breath. "She's not typical, wanting to see the guy trying to kill her."

Heero looked away, ignoring both Duo and Relena, and wondered why the world seemed determined to drive him crazy lately. What had he done to deserve being tailed by both a shrill, obsessed female and a loud-mouthed thief?

"Good morning, Relena," Duo greeted her cheerfully, amused by Heero's reluctance to even greet the girl. "And what brings you to our fine school today?" He leaned his elbows back against the railing, crossing one leg casually over the other.

Relena gave Duo a curious look as she tried to remember where she knew him from, and as her memory caught up, her eyes widened. "You're…" she started, lifting a hand to point.

"Duo Maxwell," Duo replied, taking her hand in his and shaking it. Hmm…for a girl, she's got a pretty strong grip… Her surprise only amused him further.

Heero turned back to look at her then, his eyes cold and his expression blank. "What do you want?"

"Heero…" Relena started, reaching out to place a gentle hand on his arm. "I've been looking for you…"

"You found me," he replied in the same monotone. There was a heartbeat of silence and then Heero took a step forward, grabbing Duo's arm sharply. "If you'll excuse us, we have to get back to class."

Duo couldn't help the grin on his face as Heero practically dragged him back towards the courts, but he kept quiet until she was out of sight. They were probably going to be late getting back to class, but it wasn't like he actually cared. "What's with that girl?"

Heero stopped just outside the entrance to the basketball court, crossing his arms over his chest. Duo was still as noisy and nosy as ever, but Heero could tell he'd done some thinking since their fight at the aquarium. Maybe I've been a little harsh… He had ignored Duo not because the other pilot had let that night come between them, but because he might, and that had perhaps forced Duo into making the same judgment in reverse yesterday. Truthfully, it seemed that neither of them wanted it to get in the way - that they wanted the same thing. He could tell the other pilot had been trying to make the point today of focusing on their mission and not on the miscommunication they'd had. If there was truth to Duo really intending not to let what had happened get in the way of their mission, then perhaps he, too, could adjust his attitude and try to trust him a little bit. "Just after sunset. Don't be late."

"Good chatting with you!" Duo called after him as he walked away, a little bit surprised and definitely pleased. I guess the games are on again.

o/ If there's a way to infiltrate you
Sway your mind and complicate you
I'm gonna crash into your world
And that's no lie /o

As Duo wrapped his hands around Deathscythe's controls and a rush of euphoria flooded his body, he wondered if that meant he was really fucked in the head. Orange and gold fire lit the night sky and he thought it was the most beautiful thing he'd seen since his first glimpse of the turquoise ocean.

o/ Common sense is a game many people don't like to play
But give it in and the moment takes you either way /o

Heero couldn't help his small smile as he watched Duo leap from Deathscythe to the ground, flopping onto the forest floor as he stretched his arms over his head, his grin huge enough to split his face. He checked to make sure the last of their camouflage was in place before hopping down himself.

"I can't believe that you ruined all my fun!" Duo complained, jumping to his feet, jamming his hands into his pockets and strolling over to Heero.

"The objective was not to see how many individual mobile suits you could destroy, Maxwell," Heero replied dryly as they started the walk back to the school. "But to destroy the base as quickly as possible."

"Yeah, yeah…" Duo was in such a good mood that it suddenly seemed easy to look beyond Heero's actual words and see the humor in his sarcasm and his tone. Why had he not noticed that until now, truly? "You just like to show off!" he laughed and tried to elbow the other pilot, but Heero side-stepped him, grabbing his arm and spinning him sharply.

"Can't help it if I'm faster," Heero smirked at Duo as they were nose to nose and then released him, continuing to walk towards the school.

"SHOCK! AWE!" Duo proclaimed, standing still for a moment in his dramatics and then jogging a few paces to catch up. "Was that… a smirk? Some humor?"

"I'm not a robot, Maxwell," Heero shook his head, trying to maintain his composure, but he was in a good enough mood that he actually didn't mind the verbal sparring. The mission had been a quick and easy success. It didn't even begin to make up for the disaster at New Edwards, but it was a start.

"I never said you were," Duo retorted lightly, then asked, a little more tentatively than usual. "Are we – you – planning on leaving tonight?"

Heero quietly considered the thought as they approached the school gates. "No. There are many buildings along the shoreline in close proximity to that base. It's highly unlikely that OZ would search this school tonight, because rousing the entire student populace would only create more panic. At the earliest, they may come around tomorrow, quietly, and start questioning the administration. By the time they even look at the student body, we'll be long gone and our records will be deleted."

"So…"

"I think the wisest choice would be to get a shower and a good night's sleep, especially seeing as the administration may check students' rooms tonight to be sure that everyone is safe and accounted for… and I haven't decided where to head next, yet." He didn't make it clear whether or not he would welcome Duo's company and the other pilot didn't press him further on the issue.

Duo was quiet as they snuck back into the dorms, lost in his own ponderings. He certainly felt a sense of relief, having heard from home again, and it seemed that Heero felt much the same. It also seemed that he was at least comfortable communicating with Duo again and not ignoring his existence entirely. Even though Duo had teased Heero about ruining his fun, he'd actually been impressed with the speed and ease at which Heero had located the heart of the base and obliterated it.

"You can shower first, if you want," Heero offered, once they were inside the room with the door locked.

Duo sat down on his bed and pulled his braid over his shoulder with a shake of his head. "Nah, you go ahead… I've got to untangle this mess first." He pulled the tie off the end and started to unravel his hair and Heero picked up his clothes and towel and started towards the bathroom door. "Hey, Heero…?"

Turning to glance over his shoulder at Duo, Heero raised an eyebrow.

"You're… not going to run off in the middle of the night without me, are you? I mean… I'd just rather know now."

"No, I'm not," he replied, slightly puzzled by the question. Heero wasn't sure if it was meant to imply that his word wasn't trustworthy or… if Duo really did have some sort of complex about being abandoned. He decided that it was probably better not to ask, as the night would be a lot more relaxing if they didn't end up fighting about more perceived slights.

"Heh, okay…" Duo nodded, almost to himself, and returned to unraveling his hair. From his vantage point on the bed, he watched Heero enter the bathroom, not bothering to close the door. Once his hair was loose, he dug in his duffel bag for a brush and started at the bottom. For a few minutes, he worked dutifully at the tangles until he had to shift his position on the bed in order to reach behind him and get the rest, and it was that shift that gave him a perfect view of the shower.

Duo bit his lip as Heero came partially into view and tried to tell himself to turn away, but he found himself riveted to his spot, his hands stalling in his hair. The other pilot hadn't pulled the curtain all the way closed behind him, so as he moved and shifted, Duo could watch him easily. Despite what had happened between them the night they'd first arrived, both boys had remained fully clothed, and so this was the first time that Duo had seen the other boy unclothed. Not that his usual attire leaves a lot to the imagination, but… I guess I've been so used to the school uniforms…

Forcing his hands to start moving again, Duo watched as Heero slid his own hands up and down his arms, slippery with soap. The other pilot's back was to him and Duo let his eyes wander from a long, white scar across his upper back to the bullet marks that had surely been his own fault to the perfectly shaped ass above long, well-muscled legs. Duo's mouth had gone dry sometime in the last few minutes and he dropped the brush on the bed, clenching his hands into fists as he became aware of just how much watching Heero had turned him on. There was not a damn thing he could do about it at that moment, though, as Heero stepped out of the shower, past the door and out of Duo's line of sight. Breathing a sigh of relief, Duo scrounged quickly for a change of clothes as he kicked his shoes off. Chill out, Maxwell… all you need to do is get into the shower yourself and then…you can… take care of it.

o/ Let your body move into the doorway
To the disco inside your head (Violet)
Wear a color that you want to cling to
The color inside your head (Violet) /o

The task was easier said than done, though, in the state he was in. Undressing quickly, he wrapped the towel around his waist, making sure to bunch it in front, and then inched towards the bathroom door. "Uh, hey, Heero…" he started awkwardly, pushing the door open a little more. "Okay if I…"

Heero took note of Duo's unusually hesitant behavior and nodded. He had a towel wrapped around his waist as well, and another in his hands about to dry his hair. "Go ahead." He looked up and into the bathroom mirror just as Duo slipped into the shower, a cascade of chestnut nut hair the last thing to disappear from sight. He had never seen the other boy with his hair down before and was surprised at his own stomach twisting at the sight.

Shaking it off, he started to towel dry his hair, slowly, as he contemplated the odd feelings Duo evoked in him. The other boy was noisy, nosy, rude and sometimes crude. He was impulsive, emotional… and yet Heero just found that he was comfortable being around him. Heero didn't know why; it didn't even seem to make sense, but he found himself doing things he had never done before in his life… things like purposefully leaving the bathroom door open. Did he want Duo to notice him, even as he'd just spent three weeks trying to avoid him? His eyes flickered to Duo's reflection, behind the shower curtain, and he swallowed hard, his hands dropping the towel to grip the countertop until his knuckles turned white.

Duo had breathed a sigh of relief upon safely entering the shower and quickly went about washing his hair, waiting for Heero to finish and leave him alone. Even if the other boy left the bathroom door open when he left, Duo was pretty damn sure he could be absolutely silent. After all, he'd developed the skill of being absolutely silent about the time he'd become an expert lock pick. He just didn't want to, well… when Heero was actually in the same room as him. What if he noticed?

Finishing with his hair, Duo peeked around the edge of the shower curtain to see Heero standing in front of the sink, looking lost in thought. What is he doing? Why hasn't he left yet? The longer he had to wait, the crazier it started to drive him, especially when the source of his problem was standing two feet away. Shit, shit, shit!

Noticing the movement in the reflection, Heero met Duo's eyes in the mirror. "Do you… need something?" he asked quickly, hoping Duo hadn't noticed his total space out.

"Uh, no, nothing! I'm fine-good-perfect!" The last word almost sounded like a squeak as Duo disappeared behind the curtain again. He's going to know something is up. He's got to have picked up on how odd I'm acting. He's totally going to-- The shower curtain split open and Heero's face appeared less than a foot away.

"Duo?" he questioned. Heero's tone was curious and his face was his usual mask of calm, but in his eyes, something was different. The other pilot gaped at him, apparently quite startled at Heero's behavior, and when Heero's eyes flickered up and down the length of his body a moment later, the reason why was obvious. "Are you… sure you don't need some help?"

Duo was a little shocked, but having been caught, his natural reflexes came into play. "As long as you know you can't accuse me of starting this," he tossed back, guarding himself with his wit, leaning against the wall of the shower and trying not to appear as awkward as he felt. "Or ignore me for days afterward because you think I'm going to let…this… get in the way of our mission."

"I'm starting it." Dropping the towel around his waist, Heero stepped into the shower to stand face to face with Duo. "And you did give me your word that it would never interfere."

"I may run and I may hide, but I never tell a lie," Duo murmured, his eyes locked with Heero's.

"Is that some sort of mantra?" Heero raised an eyebrow, not quite able to keep the hint of amusement off of his face.

"It's just Duo."

"Well, just Duo… I guess I'm going to have to trust your word." He reached out to wrap his hands around Duo's wrists, pulling him forward until he could crush that sweet mouth under his again. Backpedaling Duo into the wall and pinning his wrists beside his head, Heero jammed a knee between the other boy's legs.

Duo didn't fight back very hard, letting Heero plunder his mouth as his mind whirled and he tried desperately to get his bearings. It was useless in the face of Heero's relentlessness, though, which derailed every contradictory train of thought he attempted. Duo could not help the weak feeling in his legs any more than the moan that escaped into their kiss, which pleased Heero enough that he finally paused to let them breathe. "Damn…" Duo mumbled, licking his lips and blinking the water out of his eyes.

"You are the one who's been trying to convince me of the merits of teamwork," Heero replied, letting go of one of Duo's wrists. He ran his hand lightly down Duo's chest and stomach, stopping to glide his thumb across the hip bone that jutted out.

"Just… makes the whole process… more efficient," Duo joked, letting his now free hand come down to rest on Heero's shoulder.

"Is that a hint that I should…" And Heero paused to slide his hand between their slick bodies, letting his fingers curl around Duo's length and stroke once. "…hurry up?"

Duo's lips parted wordlessly at the sensation and then he leaned forward to whisper in Heero's ear as he slid his own hand between them. "Any pace you set, I can keep up with."

That was the last exchange they made as their mouths met again, teeth nipping at each other's lips. Duo wasn't sure if the pounding sensation was the water or his own head, and the faster they stroked each other, the weaker in the knees he felt. Heero broke the kiss to draw Duo's earlobe into his mouth, flicking his tongue across it and Duo let his forehead fall to meet the curve between Heero's neck and shoulder. He might have fallen if not for the strong arm Heero had wrapped around the small of his back.

Duo knew he was close as his body shuddered and then he was coming into Heero's hand with a whimper, knowing the teeth he was sinking into that shoulder were probably going to leave a mark. As if the pain from the bite was further pleasure to Heero, he made a small, strangled sound and came hard in Duo's hand. Both boys were silent afterwards, each breathing hard against the other's neck until Heero finally stepped back, letting the water wash all evidence away. Duo was leaning against the wall again with half-lidded eyes, so Heero reached to turn the shower off and then threw open the curtain.

Reaching to pick up both their towels from the floor, he turned to hand one to Duo. Their eyes met, each gauging the other's reaction, until Duo smiled. Heero nodded slightly, then stepped out of the shower and started drying off. Taking that as a sign that things were still cool, Duo stepped out of the shower too, quickly toweling his hair dry. Aware that Heero was watching him in the mirror's reflection, he carefully parted his hair and weaved it back together before pulling on a pair of boxers.

I am not going to think about why that just happened… Duo thought to himself as he walked back into their room and moved to turn down his bed. I am only going to act the same way I usually do. Climbing into the bed, he rolled onto his side, facing the wall, and allowed himself a small grin.

The real surprise came a few minutes later, though, when Heero slipped into the bed behind him. Resting one hand on Duo's hip and pressing his chest into Duo's back, his actions spoke the volumes that his words never did. Duo heard him loud and clear.


o/ I've got a dream to take you over
Exploding like a supernova
I'm gonna crash into your world
And that's no lie /o

Up Next: Chapter 5 - One Minute (Episodes 10 & 11)