Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ [temp title] Beyond the Bounds of Earth ❯ Part Six ( Chapter 6 )

>> Begin Part Six

Heero was the first to arrive at their study session. He had to be. He had to show Duo that he was his number one priority.

Hilde and Cathy didn't arrive much later, but they did arrive together.

They decided to listen to the new Spock's Beard CD 'V'.

Then they settled into Lit.

The two girls weren't fond of Literature, so Heero and Duo quizzed them extensively on it, seeing as they were Lit buffs.

After practically memorizing the Lit book, they grabbed snacks and put in some Niki Barr, then started on Psychology, laughing about Freud's theories as if they were immature freshman.

Then it was on to math and Gentle Giant's 'Free Hand'.

Afterward they crashed and burned, ripping on teachers and lounging around Duo's room lazily.

"I'm so glad that I'll never have to see Mrs. Mallard *ever* again," Hilde sighed happily. "I mean, her ass is *huge* and somehow it always manages to be in *my* face!"

They laughed, but Cathy spoke up.

"What about Mr. Jackson? Both years I've had him he sat me right in the front of the classroom and he spits when he talks! It's disgusting!"

"None of my teachers in California were all that bad...." Duo murmured, inching slightly closer to Heero.

"Once you fall outside of Mr. Henderson's moral boundaries, you're dead," Heero told them in aggravation. "He looks for excuses on everything to mark me down, after that whole porno ordeal which I didn't even do!"

"Did you ever find the culprit of that little act?" Cathy asked and Heero shook his head.

"Still don't know who did it, but I have suspicions," Heero replied. "I think it might have been Cynthia."

"Cynthia?" Hilde asked in surprise. "Why her? She's so...geeky. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't know what porn was. Well, I guess *now* she does after your presentation...."

Heero glared at her. "Well, I suspect her because she was jealous that I had a higher grade than here. She is a huge geek and she's also determined to have the highest grade in every class she's ever had. She had success until that class. Well, now she has a higher grade than me...."

Duo let his head fall into Heero's lap.

"It is okay," Duo told him, lifting a hand to pet his cheek. "We believe you."

Heero met Cathy's eyes, and it was obvious her support, but when he looked into Hilde's, he looked away.

Her eyes were mixed with pain and jealousy and sadness and anger. Over-whelming anger that Duo should love him more and care about him more and lay in his lap and pet his cheek and comfort him.

Yet there was nothing Heero could do! He felt so helpless. He couldn't change the way Duo felt and even if he could, he wouldn't want to. If Duo stopped what little affection he had for him, Heero didn't quite know how he would go on. He loved Duo with everything inside of him and he had destroyed his boundaries of right and wrong to do so.

He wouldn't give Duo up.

Not for the entire world.

And he meant it.

Suddenly Hilde attacked Duo, tickling him, making him laugh wildly and thrash around in Heero's lap. Both Cathy and Heero were inclined to laugh at the vision of Hilde tickling the shit out of Duo, although Heero was slightly jealous that Hilde was making him laugh like that, not to mention he was becoming very turned on by the object of his affection thrashing happily in his lap.

It took a hell of a lot of control for Heero not to lean down and lick those perfectly delicious lips curved into their happy smile that rested so easily in his lap.

Soon, however, Hilde grew bored of her game and backed off as Duo sat up and wiped the tears out of his eyes, still giggling slightly as he attempted to smooth down his hair.

"What was that for?" Duo asked.

Hilde shrugged. "I don't like it when things get too serious."

Duo stretched then, his shirt riding up and exposing most of his tight abs and Heero was having a very difficult time attempting to control himself.

Maybe, he decided, his obsession was getting a little out of control. If it was getting to the point where he was becoming turned on by just being around Duo, it was definitely getting out of hand. Sure, okay, so maybe he jerked off to images of Duo once or twice, but if guys didn't ejaculate then they'd suffer severe mental problems, right? So technically he had to do it if he didn't want to suffer in the future, but it was not a good thing for him to want sex every time Duo touched him.

Once more Duo settled down on his lap, his long braid somehow managing to hide the erection he was currently working up. He snuggled into the corner where the top of Heero's right leg met his torso and yawned slightly.

"I am a little tired from all that studying. It is not an easy thing to do," he told them and they agreed. They studied for about five hours straight and it was a very tiring thing.

Hilde was glaring at Heero, although Cathy thought their friendship was rather cute with how it had now gained psychical contact.

Heero was trying to keep from shoving Duo off of him and touching himself. If Duo found out that he was turned on.... It would not be a very good thing.

Cathy glanced at her watch.

"Oh my god!" she cried. "I have a hair appointment in an half hour and I have to drop off Hilde! We've got to go."

"Oh, okay," Duo spoke, standing as he followed them to the door.

"Thanks a lot! I guess we'll see you two Monday?" Cathy asked and they nodded. Cathy and Hilde said their farewells and got into their car while Heero was quickly thinking up excuses to leave himself.

Now that he and Duo were all alone.... The only thing that could happen was that the entire situation could become disastrous.

So Heero also said his farewells and, though he was very much regretting going home, left.

He then immediately took a shower.

It was a very pleasant one, at that.

>>

Sunday was lazy. Heero basically ignored his parents and wrote both an end-of-term paper for lit and psychology.

He also thought about his obsession.

But that was why it was an obsession, right?

>>

Monday was tests. Very long, boring tests. Lunch was a very small escape, but after lunch Hilde once more confronted him.

"You are such a disgusting man, Heero," she spat in the hallway and Heero immediately took up defense. What did he do *this* time?

"Hilde...?"

"The only reason you like him so much is because he can get your fucking bread to rise!"

"What?!" Heero practically choked on his own spit.

"Don't think *I* didn't notice that glazed look in your eyes! Maybe Duo and Cathy didn't, but I sure told them!"

"You did *what*?!" Heero exploded.

"I told them about your little problem."

"You *told* him?!"

She smirked wickedly. "Of course. Don't you think he has a right to know?"

"You probably finger your own goddamnself to him, bitch!" Heero shouted at her in rage and she stepped back as if he'd just smacked her across the face.

"I...."

"That's what I thought! So why did you just do that to me?! I would have never said anything if it had been you...." Heero whispered, tears clouding his vision. Since when had he become so fucking emotional?!

But he knew the answer.

Since Duo was involved.

Hilde's eyes also filled with mist.

"Okay, Heero, I didn't really say anything."

He looked at her in confusion.

"I didn't say anything, okay?! I just told you I did because I'm jealous and I wanted you to make a fool out of yourself," she admitted softly. "I'm so jealous.... He'll never love me. He lays in your lap and strokes your hair and loves all over you and I just have to sit by and watch.... How do you think that makes me feel? I feel.... I feel awful.... All I can do is watch you two be mushy, Heero, and I want him so badly. I want him like nothing I've wanted before and there's no way in the entire world that I can have him!"

"But I can't do anything about that Hilde because I'm madly in love with him. I couldn't help it even if I wanted to! Don't you think I want to? Do you think I like the fate that has been set out before me? No! I wish that I were in love with you or Cathy or a woman at all! I can't help but be in love with him.... It hurts...."

"I'm sorry, Heero...."

"And I'm sorry too, Hilde, really...."

With the first bell, they parted without saying goodbye.

>>

"You are almost late again," Duo spoke.

"I know."

"Talking to Hilde?"

Heero nodded.

"You two planning something?"

Heero sighed. "She might be."

>>

Heero prowled his house for something sweet to eat after dinner on Wednesday night. He found some ice cream and was quite pleased as he took his treat back into his room.

However, it never got there.

"Please don't hurt me...."

"Shut up!"

The ice cream fell to the floor as his hands began to shake.

Why?

Why did their life have to be this way? Was it his fault? Did he do something to deserve this?

Why?

He couldn't be there anymore!

As his mother began to scream, he began to run.

He couldn't think anymore. It hurt so badly....

He had to escape, he was suffocating!

His mother's pain was killing him, his father's anger hurt. Every emotion was one of anguish....

Why couldn't they be happy anymore?! Where did the perfection he held so dear disappear to?

He found himself throwing close into his football practice bag and storming out the door.

The last sound he heard from his house while passing his parent's bedroom was a scream and the sound of skin on skin.

Why did he have to cry? Why did he have to bear so much hurt?

When he came to himself once more, he found himself at Duo's window. It was ten thirty, he felt like such an intrusion. If he just hid now, maybe Duo wouldn't know....

No, Duo would know. Duo knew everything.

The window was pulled up and Duo looked upon his tear-struck face and immediately took pity on him and invited him in.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" he asked, barely above a whisper for the fear that he would start crying.

All he ever did was cry in Duo's presence. How could anyone love someone who was so absorbed in his own tears?

"Of course," Duo replied, wrapping his head in his arms and hugging him against his chest. He let his arms lock around Duo's think waist as his face twisted in pain.

Duo pulled him down onto the bed, holding him close against his body.

"Heero," he whispered, his lips brushing lightly against his ear.

Heero's body tingled with Duo's warm, moist breath and heated, soft skin.

"Cry," he commanded gently.

Heero bit into his lower lip to fight the tears, but they came pouring from his eyes like rain.

"I don't want to cry on you anymore," Heero sobbed, his tears soaking Duo's shoulder.

Duo stroked his hair with gentle hands. "If you need it, there is no shame in showing emotions. To be emotionless is to completely lock away yourself. That hurt so much more, Heero. I do not ever want you to be in that much pain. I...."

Heero's fingers loosened on the folds of Duo's clothing as he sniffled. "How can anything hurt as much as this?"

"Do you doubt me?"
"But I wanted to protect you and all I do is sob on you."

"I do not care about any of that."

"I know you don't, but I do."

"You shouldn't."

"I know...."

"You know in your head, but not in your heart."

Heero sniffled again and hugged his head to Duo's chest.

"I think there are a lot of things like that."

"Like what?"

"That you know in your head, but don't feel in your heart. Maybe even the other way around, on occasion...."

'Like my love for you,' Heero added silently, only in his thoughts.

Only ever in his thoughts.

And only ever in his heart.

Slowly Heero let his hands trail to Duo's sides.

He would make Duo laugh.

Following Hilde's example, much to his own upset, he moved his hands against Duo's ribs, throwing him into an outrageous giggle fit.

"That is not fair mister Yuy!" Duo cried. Heero couldn't help but laugh as Duo struggled against his strength. "Just wait until I get you back! Just wait!"

"You couldn't!" Heero challenged, staring down on him lovingly while attacking the hell out of his sides.

Though he stopped soon, bored of his game and just content to stare down on his love as he caught his breath.

The need to kiss him was near overwhelming, so he leaned down and let their cheeks brush against one another.

"Heero...?"

"Duo...." he breathed. "I...."

Duo pushed Heero back down onto the bed, quieting him.

"You are warm...." Duo observed, snuggling against him and pulling the sheets around them.

"Thank you," Heero whispered.

Duo just listened to the beat of his heart.

>>

"Heero."

He awoke to the sound of his name pronounced by Duo's lips.

He couldn't have asked for a better wake-up call.

"Hey...." he greeted, lifting his hand to stoke Duo's fresh, clean skin.

"Are you going to take a shower or what?" Duo asked, seeming slightly aggravated.

"Is something wrong?"

"It is only Thursday, that's all."

But Heero knew that wasn't it.

He did, however, get up to take a shower, dressing in the clothing he had snagged last night, walking out and giving Duo a huge hug, teasing him as he tried to get ready for school. Stupid boy stuff like tugging on his braid and standing in doorways he was trying to get through.

He realized his 'cute' behavior was only pissing Duo off more and offered his apologies.

"I'll stop coming here," he spoke softly, trying not to speak so that his words of truth would be taken as a guilt trip.

He would stop bothering Duo. It was obvious that was the problem.

"Heero--!"

"No, I'm serious, I don't want to intrude on you anymore. Maybe you don't find me such a great person as I find you...."

"Heero, no!" he cried. "I am just annoyed with myself. You are my greatest friend. I enjoy your company like no one else's. Please do not abandon me like that!"

Heero blinked.

He didn't think that he would ever hear words like those come from Duo's mouth.

He also never realized how much they would mean to him.

"As much as you need me, I need you too," Duo admitted quietly.

"I never...."

"I...." Duo blushed profoundly. "I can not explain...."

"I thought I was just a nuisance to you.... I didn't believe.... I *don't* believe I'm anything more than that."

"You are my greatest strength here. Please...do not leave...?"

"I won't," Heero promised.

Duo smiled and gave him a huge and a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you."

Heero let his fingers linger over his cheek as Duo put on his shoes, back facing him.

"No..." he whispered, "thank *you*."

>>

They decided to switch off car-pooling every day from now on. It just made more sense and was a lot more fuel-efficient, not to mention they could catch dinner together, if they felt inclined to do so.

Thus Friday they picked up smoothies on the way home in Heero's car as a winter vacation treat and Heero drove them around aimlessly, just so that they could talk....

It got to the point where he never wanted to leave Duo's company.

How could he have been more obvious? How come Duo couldn't see how much he adored him?

And was that really such a bad thing? That Duo couldn't see his love?

"We have to do something over the break," Heero announced as he realized that it wasn't long before he was going to have to drive Duo to his house.

"Of course," Duo replied, smiling up at him.

"I don't think I can take two weeks locked up with my parents."

"I completely understand. My house is open to you. Come over whenever you like. I will not be doing anything of much importance."

Heero gave him a small smile.

"You're too nice."

"I know.... I like you too much, Heero."

At first Heero was stunned. Did Duo...?

But of course he couldn't mean that.

He was just being courteous and being himself. There was no hidden meaning behind Duo's words.

So Heero laughed a little.

"In truth, I might be a little too fond of you, too," Heero replied, still laughing to cover the actuality of his words. Maybe there wasn't hidden meaning in Duo's words, but the only way he could speak his true feelings was in hidden meaning.

>>

Slowly the weekend dwindled away.

Though he was dying to drive over to Duo's, Heero didn't want to bother the other, and instead was content to practice his violin almost constantly.

He would compose something.

He didn't know what or for whom, but he'd always wanted to compose something, now seemed like a good enough time with all the grief that was warring inside of him.

Besides, he played so loud that he wouldn't have to hear what his parents were doing.

However Wednesday he cracked.

It was three days before Christmas and he was away from Duo for far to long.

He'd done what dismal Christmas shopping he had to do, mostly for relatives and such, and even, against his better judgment, purchased a beautiful silver charm bracelet for Duo and several charms which he thought fit Duo quite well. A little book, a rainbow, a rose, an angel, and even a heart charm that you could open to put a picture inside of.

He knew he'd never give it to Duo, but maybe it was more of a way for him to always remember Duo by. They were things that represented Duo to him, so even if he would never give it to Duo, he always had a representation of Duo.

He drove himself to Duo's house, anxiety overwhelming him. He was so afraid that Duo would be annoyed by his constant intrusion, but....

As he rung the doorbell, the door opened immediately to the wonderful vision of Duo's smiling face.

"Heero!" he cried happily. "I was so excited when I heard a car pull into the drive way! I hoped it would be you! I have been so lonely!"

Duo's excitement was a very pleasant surprise and he smiled back.

"Really? Then I'm glad I came. I was kind of getting lonely too...."

"Come in!" Duo begged, standing out of the way. "It is becoming cold."

"I know. We might even get a white Christmas."

Duo looked at him in confusion as Heero slipped off his shoes and jacket.

"You don't know what a white Christmas is?"

The other blushed and shook his head slightly.

"I'm sure you just haven't heard the term before. That's when it snows on Christmas day."

"Oh!" Duo replied. "I can not believe I did not know that. I guess it is because I never had a white Christmas in California."

"That's probably it," Heero agreed as he followed Duo down into his room and they sacked out on his bed.

"I can't believe that your parents still aren't around...." Heero spoke.

Duo shrugged. "They are enjoying themselves."

"Obviously."

"I am glad."

"I think that I would start to get bitter about it after a while."

"Maybe I should...."

Heero looked over at Duo as he put some Groovelily into the CD player before coming back and lying down next to Heero.

They talked for a while before just resting together in perfect silence, just listening to the music.

They both considered it a sign of their deep friendship. They could do nothing more than merely lay next to one another and still feel completely at ease and together.

However Heero couldn't take it anymore.

He knew he was just going to fuck everything up that they had built, but he was going to snap if he didn't do something.

Do anything was better than dying in silence.

Heero turned to look at the beautiful Duo as the boom box fell silent. Duo still stared up at the ceiling, an adorably pensive look spread across his face.

Then, very very slowly Heero leaned over and let his lips brush against the soft flesh where Duo's shoulder met his neck.

Since there was no visible reaction from Duo, Heero considered this a good thing. It was a lot better than a negative reaction.

So he let his lips linger a little longer on Duo's skin. Then he paused.

Once more no reaction.

Figuring that he was still doing okay but becoming a little nervous, Heero began to let instinct take control as his mouth once more met Duo's skin and began to suck on his, nibbling it lightly with his teeth.

He could feel the muscles in Duo's body relaxing under his tender touch as his lips moved from the lower part of his neck upward, savoring each and every inch of Duo's skin.

He could hardly believe it was real let alone think he would ever get another chance such as this. He had to go slow and engrave every inch into his memory.

Heero wanted this forever.

His lips reached his ear and he nipped the lobe, letting his tongue play with it and watching as Duo's eyes closed in relaxation. His lips parted slightly as he began to breath more through his mouth and Heero knew that it wouldn't mean a thing unless Duo let him touch his lips.

So he began to trail his lips from his ear up his cheek, but when he was just about to partake of Duo's mouth, Duo snapped awake and pushed him away.

"Duo--!" Heero cried, blushing what he knew was a brilliant red and sinking away from Duo's ominous form. "I'm sorry--! I--!"

"Why did you do that?" Duo asked, confusion thick in his voice.

Heero paused, still cringing and wondering if saying the words would be any better than not saying them. Right now, though, it seemed he was in a lose-lose situation no matter what he did.

But....

He never said them out loud before.

"I love you," he managed.

Right then he realized that Duo had the power to make or break him, yet Duo did neither.

Duo started to cry.

"Duo...." Heero spoke softly, reaching out to touch his shoulder, but Duo backed away.

"I was begging that you would never be able to say those words, Heero!" he cried in upset.

Heero was hurt. "Why...? Am I that awful of--"

"It is not because you are bad or anything like that, Heero, it is because.... I love you too!"

The room was dead silent.

Heero was perplexed.

This was fabulous!

So why was Duo crying?

"I...?" Heero started, not even sure of what to ask.

"I am not supposed to love you! I am not supposed to love anyone! Oh.... How do I get myself into these messes? I was never fit for this job...."

"What are you talking about?" Heero begged, confusion settling thick over his mind. Why didn't he know that the hell was going on?!

"Heero.... Please.... I guess I shall have to explain." Duo scrubbed the tears away from his face. "You have to promise to believe everything I say. If you speak a word of this to anyone else, I will tell everyone that you are mad and they will believe me."

Heero just nodded his head. What else was he to do? What could Duo say that would be so horrifying that--

"I am not from Earth."

Heero blinked.

Yeah, that could put a dent in things.

"My people have been studying this planet for a long time, Heero. My entire life I was raised to study this planet with on hand experience. I am only the second of my people to be here. Solo was the first, I am the second. My entire name is a fake, my being is fake. I am Duo because I am the second to come in contact with the Earthlings. Maxwell is my last name because we arranged that I would work at a coffee shop because so many people love coffee that I would get lots of first-hand experience and Maxwell coffee is a very popular brand here.

"This body was taken from a young college man who had just over dosed on pills merely seconds before I arrived here. This is nothing like my natural form. I do not have a tangible figure. I only inhabit other forms.

"However everything thing I say and all my thoughts are my own. I only use this body, nothing more.

"So when I say I love you, I do. That emotion is my own and it is just as strong as any other love.

"You might ask how something without a body can have a sexual preference, but I suppose that it is somewhat dependent on the body I inhabits preference and the fact that I just find the male human body so much more intriguing.

"If you can not understand, Heero, I do not blame you, but I can not lie to you. You mean too much to me."

Heero was, to say the least, shocked.

He looked upon the fair Duo's face, honesty shinning clear on it, and sneered.

Honesty his ass!

He'd fallen in love with something that wasn't even from his fucking planet!

What was Duo, then? Just a cloud of dust? A thought?

He wasn't human, he wasn't.... He wasn't Duo. He didn't look anything like the man he had fallen for.

But did he fall in love with Duo for just his looks?

No...and he claims they are his emotions....

He was kissing a dead body?!

Or was it no longer dead because this *thing* was inside of it?

There was no 'Duo'.

It was just this *thing*.

Heero thought that he was going to be sick.

"I can't be here anymore," he announced, standing and storming out the room and up the stairs, slipping on his shoes.
The thing followed him up and asked him what he was doing.

"I'm getting the fuck away from all the lies I've just been told!" he screamed, his voice much more shrill than he thought it could be, his eyes blurred with tears. "I thought I could trust you and all I get is more lies! I don't even know what the fuck you are!"

He slammed the door as he fled the house, driving as fast as he could home before he broke down in the middle of the road in a mess of tears.

Heero managed to get all the way up the stairs and into the bathroom before falling to his knees and retching up his breakfast quite painfully. He fell back into the wall, sobbing pitifully and hugging himself.

Life was just a fucking lie.

Why not end it all?

>> End Part Six