Chapter 83: Despierto
Heero's slight movements were at last accompanied by his eyes beginning to open. Duo was immediately alert, waiting with bated breath to see his favorite shade of blue. The hand he had in Heero's hair, absently smoothing and curling the locks around his fingers, paused while he watched. After a few false starts, Heero gave him what he so desperately wanted. Elated, he resumed gently running his fingers through Heero's hair while he spoke softly but firmly to him.
"Cariño, I'm so glad you're awake. How are you feeling?"
He watched Heero begin to orient himself, and patiently waited.
"Hospital?"
His voice was scratchy, and Duo instantly used his free hand to supply him with water. The cup's built-in straw stayed firmly in place and didn't move away from Heero's lip when he held it up to him. It took a moment for Heero to drink enough. When he withdrew, Duo put the cup down on his bed table. Then he resumed absently petting Heero, who leaned his head a little into the hand that stroked his hair, eyes sliding shut as he gave a soft sigh. He looked content, in spite of his situation.
"Yeah. Hospital. How are you feeling?"
A moment later, Heero's eyes opened and traveled around the room, searching and taking in his surroundings before landing back on Duo.
"The others?"
"Safe."
"The kids?"
Duo felt his throat tighten. How could he tell the truth without causing duress? He moved his free hand to hold Heero's and spoke slowly, telling him all the things he'd want to know if waking up in the hospital, and leaving out the parts that were terrible, but not so important. Like the fire, and the music, and revisiting the place where Hilde died. None of that mattered right now.
If Heero knew about those things he would hurt on his behalf, and become protective, and ignore his own recovery. Because Heero was a stubborn bastard who loved him.
"You were out for several hours but you didn't lose any days. You were shot with armor piercing rounds. The kids you were protecting were physically unharmed because of your actions, but one of your lungs dropped. While you were out they intubated you to protect your airway. Controlling the situation by sedating you was necessary, but I know you dislike anesthesia and I'm sorry it'll take time to leave your system. Once things were settled they extubated. It's probably why your throat is so scratchy. You have a chest tube right now to treat your hemothorax and eventually it'll fully reinflate your lung. Please don't fiddle with it."
"Find the last kid?"
He desperately tried to steady his voice for the next part and not break down. "Yeah. But it didn't do him any good."
He missed the flash in Heero's eyes when he didn't mention specifics, having dropped eye contact by the end of his statement. There was no missing the gentle squeeze to his hand, and how Heero's thumb rubbed across his knuckles. Thankfully, even while under the lingering effects of anesthesia and copious pain medication, he had the wherewithal not to ask further after the last child.
Duo refused to cry again. He'd done enough of that in the chapel. And he was suddenly uncomfortably aware that although he was physically unharmed and Heero could've died, he was the one being comforted. That didn't feel right. It was supposed to be the other way around. Why should Heero comfort him?
He looked back to the man in the hospital bed, his heart breaking at the sight of him in such rough shape.
"Heero... how are you feeling?"
"You hurt?"
Duo frowned.
"Everything that happened to me I'll get over."
"The guys?"
"They're okay. We're all a little banged up and bruised but we're fine. Tell me how you're doing."
"Catch him?"
His breath caught. How the hell could he answer that? Admit he witnessed Chevalier murder a child and then let him walk right out to his freedom? No. He couldn't do that. He was ashamed of that, even under extenuating circumstances. Though he'd make the same call again, he still felt like a failure. He had to answer honestly but also redirect.
"No. But I will catch him. You know I will."
Heero's eyes softened, then looked behind him as Quatre and Wufei reentered the room, both visibly relieved to find their friend was awake. For an agonizing moment those eyes Duo loved so much searched behind them, expecting. He felt hollow when he recognized that disappointment and concern flashing through Heero's tired gaze when he didn't find who he was looking for.
"Trowa?"
Wufei put a hand on Quatre's shoulder for support, and Duo took it upon himself to break the news.
"Arrested. They think he's supplying Chevalier information."
Heero's eyes became clearer, more alert.
"What?"
"They're right that he's the info leak, but he didn't betray us."
Quatre turned sharply toward Duo, surprised by his words. He knew? When did he figure out that Trowa was the leak? And how could he simultaneously know Trowa was the source of their personal information leaking while also being adamant that he betrayed no one?
When Duo spoke it was with absolute conviction.
"I can't prove it yet, but whatever's going on it's not what it seems. Trowa didn't betray us. He wouldn't. I don't believe it, not even for a second." His voice became a near whisper, going from forceful to soothing. "I've got his back, Ro. Don't worry about your partner, I got this. I'll take care of him for you and find the proof that he's innocent. Promise. You just focus on recovering."
Quatre teared up, and Wufei squeezed his shaking shoulder. Their eyes met, and they knew it was well past time to grab Duo and go, not that either one of them particularly wanted to interrupt whatever moment their two friends were having. It was obvious from the second they walked in that they were witnessing a tenderness they'd not before seen outwardly displayed in front of them. Quatre couldn't bring himself to cut that short. It would fall on Wufei to remind Duo they needed to go. But he didn't get the chance to speak first.
"Duo?"
"Yes? Do you need anything, Heero?"
He was answered with a nod.
"What can I do for you?"
Heero's voice dropped to a soft whisper, and Duo had to draw nearer to catch his words. Then violet eyes widened, and Duo's expression shifted into something unexpected. For Wufei, the look of complete and utter confusion on his friend's face would have made him laugh in any other situation.
"You want me to date you? Heero, we're already seeing each other."
With effort, Heero cleared his throat and instantly there was a straw by his lips as Duo offered him another sip of water. He took it, grateful, and clarified his words at a volume just barely loud enough for everyone to hear.
"We hooked up for a weekend, a great weekend, and now we're here. Before anything else happens, I want to make sure we're really a couple. I love you, Duo Maxwell. I'm not letting you slip away again because I'm unclear about what I want."
Duo didn't even try to hide his smile.
"Again? I wasn't even sure we'd broken up when you went AWOL."
"So we're a couple?"
"Yeah, Ro. We're a couple."
"Exclusively?"
Wufei didn't know Duo could look so bashful, suddenly trying desperately to hide his smile by removing the hand he'd been threading through Heero's hair and throwing it over his mouth. It was a personal moment, and he absolutely felt like he was intruding. But if he left now, it would possibly draw attention, and the last thing he wanted was to break whatever magic was happening before him. Even Quatre quickly composed himself to take in the scene. Their eyes locked, and he could sense his friend also wasn't sure if they should stay or give the two privacy.
From behind his hand, Duo replied with amusement in his voice.
"You're asking this now? It's that important to you?'
Heero gave a tight nod.
"Tryin to get a sympathy yes?"
"A yes is a yes."
When his hand returned to Heero's hair there was no mistaking the open smile on Duo's face. He was practically beaming.
"Yeah, Ro. We're a couple. And if you need the distinction verbalized... yes, far as I'm concerned we're exclusive. I kind of don't want anyone else when I have you."
A lazy smile spread across Heero's face, one so genuine, natural, and sweet Wufei wasn't sure he'd ever seen anything like it from the man before. He'd seen Heero smile, of course, but never quite like that. Maybe it was the drugs lowering his inhibitions, or maybe it was a kind of freedom he felt in the company of those closest to him, but there was nothing other than a relaxed adoration in Heero's eyes, and he was looking at Duo like that braided sap was the only person in the world.
Instantly he knew he'd made the right choice to stay in the room. Intruding or not, he was glad to finally see with his own eyes the love given to Duo. All the assurances over the last several months that Heero truly did behave in a loving manner towards him were intellectually acknowledged a long while ago, but this was the first time he felt the emotional weight. With the day they'd had, he could feel the sting of tears forming in his eyes. The sight of Heero properly giving Duo the affection he so needed made him overly emotional. He wasn't sure when he became the kind of guy who got emotional over seeing other people happy, but it was a change he was glad to have picked up over the years. Getting a little sentimental wasn't such a bad thing.
He expected more sweetness from the two of them, and was not prepared for Heero's next words.
"It's about fucking time. Any more back and forth and I think Sally would have an aneurysm, Relena would wage a war, and the guys would take us outside to shoot us."
The room grew quiet for a second, and it Quatre who first let out a laugh, followed by Wufei. Duo just blushed deeply, but he again didn't try to hide his reaction. Instead, he responded in a teasing and petulant tone.
"They're our friends, they wouldn't shoot us."
Heero's eyes became a bit more alert. "Have you met our friends? Have any of us not tried to kill the others at one point or another?"
That was when Duo broke down and laughed. It was a rich sound, and his eyes closed shut, creating little crinkles at the corners while his whole face lit up. Wufei couldn't take his eyes off him. On a day so much was ripped away, he looked, in that moment, incredibly happy. After what felt like a full minute of laughter, but was probably much less, Duo's eyes opened again. His face was mildly flushed, his whole demeanor suddenly effervescent. Looking at Duo, it felt like nothing in the world was wrong.
While he was never against them as a couple, he hadn't seen before the extent to which the Japanese man could turn his friend's mood on a dime. Heero managed to effortlessly bring light back into Duo's eyes. Even from a hospital bed he could guide Duo into finding joy to hold onto, and Duo in return made Heero's eyes sparkle.
He liked that.
When his injured friend's voice again dropped to a whisper to speak something for only Duo's ears, Wufei remembered why he was there. They had a mission, and they were undoubtedly losing their leads. He didn't take pleasure in it, but he needed to get their remaining crew back on track.
"Duo, we really need to get out of here and strategize. Every minute is another for Chevalier to disappear on us."
He watched as Duo sighed and moved to stroke Heero's hair again. It was such a tender gesture, and he couldn't help but feel once again like he was intruding on a private moment. Heero offered up his opinion, his voice rough and tired.
"He's right. Go. I'll be okay."
Duo shot him an annoyed look. "Will you at least fucking tell me how you're feeling, Heero? You haven't answered me yet."
A small smile threatened to take over Heero's face, but he kept it in check.
"Everything hurts. And I'm very sleepy. But I'm so happy you're unharmed, and that I get to see your face again. Your smile. Annoyed looks. That concern for me." When Duo's cheeks flushed he let his smile go freely. "The way you blush when you're embarrassed. When I realized I was shot, badly, I was worried I'd never see any of that again. I'm incredibly happy, Duo."
Had Heero been well, and not laid up in a hospital bed with a tube running from his chest and into a wall, Wufei would've snapped at him for calling Duo unharmed. He was incredibly wounded. It just wasn't physical. For now, he'd assume the sedation drugs Heero was still fighting against were clouding his judgement, because there was no way he'd accept his friend being that blind to the situation. The rest of the man's list, however, was just fine. In fact, he quite liked the rest of his list.
After a pause, Duo muttered "baka" under his breath. It was obvious he wasn't satisfied with Heero's answer but he'd let it slide. With a deep breath, Duo prepared himself to leave. His voice was calm and soothing when he spoke up, clearly intent on saying whatever version of a goodbye he planned.
"When you're ready for discharge I'll be here to take you home. And I'll make you soba, and spoil the hell out of you." Heero struggled to fully smile, and it was clear he was drowsy again from medications. Still, he wasn't lying when he said he was happy. The man looked at Duo with an almost dreamlike expression.
"Soba?"
"Yeah. Soba. I promise."
"And you'll stay with me then?"
Heero's quiet, pleading voice hit Duo hard.
"Sí, cariño. I'll stay with you then. I won't let you out of my sight. You'll get tired of me real fast."
Heero's smile shifted into something more sentimental. His eyes struggled to remain open, but he managed to say a few words, even though they slurred as they tumbled out.
"Never tired of you."
Duo leaned forward, one hand on Heero's cheek, to give him a simple kiss. Before pulling away, he whispered against his lips "Rest well, mi amor. You'll need it. Te reto a mantener mi ritmo."
With a final caress, Duo removed his hand from Heero's hair. He brought up two fingers to his lips, kissed them, and lowered those fingers to his chest. Then he reached out to touch Heero's chest in the same spot, lingering for a short moment. He turned heel and left without looking back.
Heero was already asleep.
TRANSLATION FOOTNOTE:
"Rest well, mi amor. You'll need it. Te reto a mantener mi ritmo" means "Rest well, my love. You'll need it. I dare you to keep up with me."
And the chapter title, "Despierto", means "awake."
