Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Behind Blue Eyes ❯ Chapter 8

Sorry about the long wait minna…

 

Domo Arigato:

 

** Lita Starwind - Hooray! I'm glad you enjoy it…thank you so much for reviewing and being so supportive. I hope you like the dinner scene…

 

** laina - Yay! New reviewer! :: huggles at cute review:: I'm so happy you love the story (even though my spelling and grammar obviously needs help, ne?) Thank you so much and enjoy…I think you'll like this chapter.

 

** Himiko -chan! - Hey lovey! Thank you so much for your support and your patience with me. This one's a good one…atleast I think it is…so enjoy!

 

** fujinakaheero - ::glomps:: You're just too cute! Thank so much the frequent reviews I love them! Aww! ::tears:: you're so sweet and such an inspiration. I promise to try and update some of my more deserted fics. Enjoy

 

** aynia - You're right…confrontation (heh) Thank you so much I love your reviews. I hope you enjoy and thanks again for being so sweet!

 

** emeanor - Wow…thank you for your review I took yours and another reviews into consideration in this chapter and tried to throw in as much angst while toughening Hee-chan up…after all he was the perfect soldier. Thank you so much I loved your review and it was a great help! Enjoy!

 

** gaelan - Thank you! Your review was wonderful and I'm excited to have a new reviewer give me such beneficial feedback! I took what you said into consideration and gave our Hee-chan…some of his old ways back you could say. I hope you approve! Thank you so much and enjoy!

 

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`Cameron Heero Maxwell…Cameron Heero Maxwell…Cameron Heero Maxwell…Cameron…Why would he give him that middle name?' Dark blue eyes were hard with intensity, as the dark-haired Japanese sat silently on his bedroom floor. He drew his knees up tightly to his chest and leaned against his bed, his face to the wall and his position hidden from the doorway. He knew what he'd heard but he didn't know why. Why would Duo give his son the name of his spurned lover?

 

A bony hand lifted to push back persistent bangs, and the blue-eyed boy grit his teeth, `And now I have to have dinner with him? What'll he say when his son recognizes me? Will he get angry? Or just ignore me all together?' The puzzling questions drifted in and out of his head continuously, and the young preventer found himself getting frustrated. `Why did Quatre and Trowa have to bring Duo here anyway? What purpose is he serving?'

 

His eyes roved across the room, searching desperately for a distraction of some kind, when they landed on the windows. He hated the windows, only opening the curtains when it rained or when Sally opened them herself. He glanced across the room to his clock, and noted that it was barely five and dinner wouldn't be until seven. Looking back to the thick curtains, he sighed, and stood slowly. Grabbing the textured velvet between his fingers, he tugged until they gave, and moved aside slightly, to reveal a darkening sky.

 

The foreboding clouds spoke of an imminent thunderstorm, but the young man only watched in indifference. He loved storms and hated them at the same time. He was afraid of thunder, amazed my lighting, and didn't know how he felt about the rain. `It rained that day'; his unbridled mind supplied him with the unwelcome thought, and he grimaced. His reflection in the window glowered back at him, so he looked down, pressing his forehead against the glass.

 

It was so funny how the only thing he ever loved, he'd lost in the rain and the only time he was happy was when it rained. He chuckled humorlessly, the irony bitter in his mouth. `Tonight we meet again…in the rain. How fitting.' He thought, and lifted his head to look out the window once more.

 

 

Duo sighed, entering his room, and laid his son down on the bed gently. He sat next to him for a minute, combing his fingers through his hair and admiring his delicate features. The visit to the doctor, his cold, and the medication had gotten to him, and he'd fallen asleep on the ride home. The taxi driver had complimented Duo on his well-behaved and good-looking son. The father had smiled, and thanked the taxi driver, hugging his unaware son to his chest.

 

Thinking back to the doctor's, the braided man frowned, the woman, Dr. Montgomery, had seemed nice enough with her willowy figure and her bright eyes. But her expression had darkened as his son went on about the days he'd spent at home with his mother.

 

He watched the little boy carefully, as he described life at home, noticed when the boy withheld certain things and when he was unsure if he should say others. He too was amazed and blind-sided by what Cameron managed to divulge in their half-hour session. But when it was over, and the child had spoken his piece, the surprise melted away leaving him with cold and unsatisfied rage.

 

The doctor had phoned the office once they were done, and within moments a young nurse shuffled in and smiled at Cameron, offering him a lollipop and stickers if h went with her. When Duo stood to follow her out as she lifted his son into her arms, the brunette across from them had stood silently and walked over to him quickly. “Mr. Maxwell, could I have a word with you?” she'd asked as the nurse slipped out the door with his son in her hold.

 

Violet eyes glanced back at the door before realizing the tactic they had just used on his son, and sighed, sitting again and nodding. She smiled, gratefully, and walked around the desk to sit down. She was silent for a moment, her elbows on her desk, her hands clasped together, and her chin atop them. Duo had watched her carefully, measuring her expression until she leaned back into her leather chair and spoke, “Your son is a victim of physical child abuse. The CPS must be notified and his mother could be tried in a court of law if you so choose.”

 

The braided man nodded, “I want her locked away for what she's done to him. I would kill her if I ever got the chance.”

 

The brunette smiled sadly, “He's hiding things from me. Things that will take time before he's finally able to openly admit them. He loves her, and on some level feels like he's betraying her, and yet…” She trailed off, pursing her lips together in thought before glancing up at him again, “Take pictures of his back, his arms, his legs, and anywhere else you can find a scratch or a scar.” She stood up, and walked around her desk to the door, watching as he nodded to her, “I'll contact CPS, and then we'll get in touch.”

 

Duo nodded, standing, “Thank you,” he said and opened the door to walk out when he heard her voice.

 

“In the mean time make him a second appointment with me will you?” she called, watching as he walked off nodding, and tossing a wave over his shoulder without turning back. She sighed as he disappeared, glancing down at the folders in her hand, she turned to go back into her office.

 

After they'd left the doctor's he'd walked down the street to pick up the cold medicine then called for the cab that had brought them home. Now that his son was asleep, he was left wide-awake and restless. He chewed at his nails anxiously, carefully steering his mind away from the upcoming dinner each time the thoughts came to him.

 

Feeling unproductive, he stood, finally noticing the heavy rain hitting against his window. Bringing up a hesitant hand to the cold glass, he sighed, and watched the lightning flash. The stormy skies brought a sudden thought to him, `Heero's been staying here with Sally and Wufei longer then I've been here…so why haven't I seen him? I haven't seen anything to even hint to him being in the house…'

 

Thunder boomed, shaking the house slightly and causing the lights to flicker briefly. Duo smirked to himself, `He always was afraid of thunderstorms…he's probably beside himself with fear right now, though he'd be damned to admit it.' The thought didn't amuse him as much as he thought it would and he frowned feeling concern well up in his chest for the Japanese.

 

Hearing another sudden clap of thunder, he blinked, realizing it wasn't thunder, but that someone was quickly running up the stairs. Hurrying over to his door he opened it, seeing Quatre and Trowa reach the top, a look of urgency marking their faces. His room was out of sight from the top of the stairwell, so they hadn't noticed him in their rush.

 

Wondering what could be wrong, he was about to question them when suddenly Trowa threw open the door to one of the numerous guestrooms, allowing Quatre to rush in. Violet eyes narrowed, and the American shut the door to a sliver when he heard the blonde call out to the person in the room. `So that's where he's been hiding…Quatre and Trowa have been talking to him the whole time?!'

 

Duo grit his teeth, angry because his friends hadn't told him about talking with the other ex-pilot, and jealous that they'd gotten to see him and were now able to comfort him in the storm. He could hear faint mumbling, but only because of his exceptional hearing and even then it wasn't enough to allow him to make out the words.

 

Turning away from the door, Duo kissed his son's forehead before deciding to take a shower. The hot water relaxed him and he took his time, not getting out until nearly an hour later. Rubbing the condensation away from the mirror, he grabbed his razor, after lathering on some cream and shaved his stubble. Washing off his face, he rebraided his hair and stepped back into the bedroom.

 

Old amethysts immediately searched out the small figure on the bed and he smiled at the boy, still fast asleep. The storm hadn't calmed, but now he could hear the faint running of water, telling him that the others had calmed Heero enough to either get him into the shower or leave for their own. Knowing dinner would be ready soon enough made Duo's stomach churn and he knew he would have to get Cameron ready.

 

It had been agreed that since it was their first dinner together again, everyone should dress nice and Demitri would make sure he prepared a special meal. Gently lifting up his son, he kissed him on the cheek, quietly coaxing him awake, “C'mon, Cam. Let's get you cleaned up.”

 

 

 

Blue eyes hardened as the silent youth scrubbed roughly at his skin. Heero was no longer concerned with the raging thunder outside or the ex-lover in the room down the hall. All his energy was focussed on being clean. His thin face was placid as he continued to mechanically rub at his body harshly with the sponge. The room was hot and thick with steam, he could barely breathe and he was feeling light-headed from the heat but he kept scrubbing until it stung.

 

Shutting off the shower, he stepped out of the tub and grabbed a towel, turning to the fogged mirror. Clearing away the moisture, he stared back at his reflection expressionlessly, noticing with indifference how his face was flushed and his shoulders and chest were an angry red.

 

Unfazed, he turned away from himself and walked out of the bathroom, the white haze spilling around him into the cold bedroom. Nude, he made his way over to the closet, picking out a pair of khaki slacks he wore to work and a simple black button down which Sally had bought for him.

 

His room was dark, but the windows were still open and lightning would flash and light it up in intervals. Slipping on the shirt and pulling up his pants he buttoned them and stood just as there was a knock at his door. Grunting, he merely stared when Demitri slowly opened the door, peeking in shyly and telling him dinner was ready.

 

Blue eyes didn't flash, and the cold face only nodded as Heero followed him. He could hear people downstairs, it was a quiet hum, but he continued to step down steadily until he reached the base of the stairs.

 

 

 

Cameron giggled in delight at being able to sit in a `grown-up' chair, and grinned up at his blonde uncle. The medicine had kicked in, leaving him calm but fully alert. “You really do spoil him,” he heard his father say, and pouted when he ruffled his hair.

 

“Well he's my first and only nephew…so far,” the blonde smiled at the little boy before turning to Sally. “Speaking of which, shouldn't you be relaxing? Let me have that…” he grabbed at the plate she was carrying and gently set it down, pulling out her chair as well.

 

Sally's eyes shined warmly and she smiled, thanking him before turning a heated glare to her husband. “You're very polite. Too bad I can't say the same for your friend over there.”

 

Hearing this and feeling the weight of his wife's glare Wufei blinked, “Wha-?” He hesitated however when he noticed the dark figure standing at the entrance of the dining room, Demitri hurrying in front of him to serve the food. “Heero.” He welcomed, smiling despite his uneasiness at the other's expression. Gone was the timid, frightened young man who'd been in the hospital only weeks ago. The person who stood before him had woken up from a peace-induced coma and he was back in full force.

 

Unreadable sapphires bore into the people in front of them for only a moment, noticing Wufei's uneasy smile, Sally's confused frown, Quatre's worried expression, Trowa's questioning face, and lastly Duo's unreadable imitation of his own mask. It was silent for only a moment before what Heero had failed to notice made itself present.

 

Sitting in what had appeared to be an empty chair, a dark head of hair appeared from behind Duo's larger form. “Tenshi!” the small child cried out excitedly, his smile so wide that it looked painful. The only outward acknowledgment Heero gave to the name was a quick blink. Everyone around the table turned to look at the boy in astonishment, gasping while the two merely continued to look at each other; Heero stood in the entrance still, his face void of any emotion, and Cameron leaned forward in his chair, his hands pushing up against the table, and a glow of sheer delight across his cheeks.

 

As the moments passed, however, and the Japanese continued to stand silently, the glow dimmed on the boy's face and his smile faltered. “Tenshi? Wasa madder?” he questioned, his face crinkled in worry. Duo blinked, looking between his son and Heero in confusion. Heero was the angel who'd visited his son? He frowned in confusion, waiting for the blue-eyed boy to respond, but he merely looked away from the child and rigidly sank into his seat beside Sally.

 

The blonde woman turned to look at the youth beside her, worry and frustration evident in her frown. Why was Heero acting this way? He was so distant…the way he was when she had first met him in the war. And how was it that he was her nephew's beloved tenshi? Or was he? The boy had called out to him, his voice sure, but the Japanese had almost completely ignored him and what he'd said. Her light blue eyes turned away from the boy beside her to look at the younger one across the table. Her heart sank at his expression.

 

“Tenshi? Why won't you talk? Are you mad at me?” the toddler's face was growing more distressed by the second. His eyes were wide with worry and his lower lip was beginning to quiver slightly. Despite his continual questions, the older man didn't reply, his eyes remained fixated on his china and he sat stick straight with his hands in his lap.

 

Duo frowned at the cold shoulder his son was receiving, and his protective side was beginning to take over as he took in the protruding lips and finally the welling tears. He wanted to say something, anything, but his throat was stuck and he could only watch silently as his son surprisingly reigned in the tears and looked down in defeat. Cameron knew better then to cry. He would have to hold back the tears so as not to make his tenshi even angrier.

 

The table went quiet once again, but before anyone could question either brunette Demitri walked back in quickly, his mature face flustered as he struggled to serve dinner. Filling each bowl with a hearty chicken and vegetable soup, the older butler glanced worriedly at the young son before hurrying back to grab the remainder of the meal.

 

Wanting to dispel the uncomfortable atmosphere, he forced a grin after he'd grabbed a small cart covered in food trays. “Tonight I've prepared a chicken and vegetable soup for our little patient as an appetizer,” he stopped to smile at the boy who still had his head down.

 

All eyes, except baby violets, immediately focused on him, each one conveying a different message to him while he continued to list the upcoming meal. “Tonight's salad is Greek…” he said setting the large glass bowl down and looking into the clear eyes of his female employer. `She's grateful for the distraction, but worried for everyone,' he thought, straightening and looking over to her husband, `he looks positively pissed.'

 

Setting down two piping baskets, he continued while looking into forest green and aquamarine, “…and the bread of choice is garlic sticks,” he paused to grab a large tray. `The taller one seems confused, but also slightly worried while his lover is almost desperate for something to happen.'

 

Sally had thanked him for the beautiful salad and was already nibbling at a garlic stick while her husband plucked an olive from the salad. He nodded to them, lifting up the lid to a deep tray, which steamed, “The main course for tonight is lasagna. I made a meat lasagna and a vegetarian lasagna,” he glanced over to the small Japanese after the mention of the veggie dish only to look away quickly at the dead expression he saw.

 

“So which ever you like is yours,” he stopped on deep lilacs which seemed pained, anxious, and much more, he couldn't help but pity the young father.

 

“Looks delicious! Thank you so much, Demitri,” Sally smiled up at him, thanking him for both the meal and the easy conversation he'd provided.

 

“Yes, thank you. It looks amazing!” Quatre smiled while his lover nodded in agreement.

 

Demitri nodded, bowing, “Enjoy! I'll come out to check on you. And remember to save room for desert!” he called while he escaped into the kitchen.

 

Wufei took a deep breath, scooping a healthy portion of salad and meat lasagna onto his plate, he needed to start up a conversation before the lull began. “As you all know…” he paused when everyone stopped mid-movement. Duo scooping up a huge amount of lasagna, Heero picking at his salad disdainfully, Sally shoveling more breadsticks in her mouth, Quatre holding his spoon of soup half-way up to his mouth, Trowa chewing on a mouthful of salad, and lastly Cameron fiddling with his hands; they all stopped to glance up at him expectantly.

 

The Chinese swallowed; maybe he should let the tension fizzle before bringing up that topic. Making a decision, he quickly continued, swerving away from his previous topic, “…Sally and I are having a baby…” Everyone around the table visibly relaxed at the safe topic. Wufei could still feel the tension but he knew Quatre and Sally would help move along the conversation until the right time.

 

Taking the queue, his wife proceeded to enlist everything from showers to godparents to possible names. Quatre would of course smile and nudge his boyfriend to throw in his opinion while helping the husband and wife hosts to fill the silence. The blondes would force out laughs and look to Duo for a word or two and it went fine for about fifteen minutes until Sally made her fatal mistake.

 

The two blondes had shared yet another light laugh and the lull was setting in, glancing down at the brunette next to her she frowned, noticing how even after this long the slender preventer hadn't touched the small salad or soup in front of him. “Heero.” At his name the clacking of silverware hushed and everyone glanced up to watch the exchange. The boy in question merely stopped moving his fork in acknowledgement, which irked the doctor even more.

 

“You haven't even lifted that fork to your mouth all night,” she scolded, watching while he kept his head down. The table waited breathlessly for a minute before the dark head finally lifted, blue eyes unreceptive. “You need to eat, remember you're still getting better…”

 

She trailed off when she saw his jaw tighten through his cheek, “I'm not hungry,” he said, his voice quietly deadpan. He turned his head away from her again and, his eyes glued to the plate.

 

Quickly recovering from his cold response, she pressed on, “I don't care you still…” she grit her teeth when he lifted his chin, closing his eyes in an air of annoyance. Fisting her hands she continued angrily, “Are you listening to me?!”

 

Wufei felt the need to defend his wife and the disrespect she was being shown could not be tolerated, even from a close friend, “Heero, Sally has taken care of you for these past few weeks. At least have the courtesy to answer her when she's talking to you.” His voice was low but left no room to argue.

 

The Chinese listened, aghast at what the other had the audacity to say to him. The younger man's head turned towards him and tilted downward while dark eyes glared up through thick bangs, “The hospitality was unwanted.” Sally's bright eyes widened and shook in hurt, before she looked away silently.

 

Obsidian eyes widened in anger, “How dare you?” he hissed, his tone amazed. It was clear, however, that the shorter youth had had enough of the discussion and he casually lifted the napkin from his lap and began to refold it. Enflamed at being ignored, the preventer slammed his fist onto the table, “Damn it Yuy, I'm talking to you!”

 

Noticing the small shoulders of his nephew shake in fear of the impending argument, Quatre lifted his hand in a calming manner. “Wufei, please…” he said, looking up at the other with imploring eyes.

 

The angry husband held back a sneer, “Quatre, stay out of this!” he barked, causing the Arabian's taller lover to snake an arm around his shoulder protectively and send a warning glare to the other man.

 

Turning back to the youth beside his wife he was again bowled over by the blatant disrespect. He watched, silently seething, as the other placed the folded napkin on the table and scooted his chair back to stand. “Where the hell do you think you're going?!” Wufei asked, refusing to stand from his seat. The other ignored him, however, and turned away from the table to walk towards the entrance.

 

He had only gotten a few steps in before he heard two hands slam against the table hard, and his name being called. “Heero,” the voice made him still, and his back go rigid, but he didn't turn around. The other waited before saying his name again, this time with a forceful warning behind it.

 

Suddenly Heero had turned around, his face still but his eyes blazing angrily. He was only a few feet away from his chair and he stepped forward menacingly towards the table and towards the braided man who stood opposite him. “Sit down,” the taller man ordered, his own features schooled tightly.

 

Purposefully shoving the chair in it's place closer to the table, the brunette continued to glare, “I will not obey like some dog.”

 

Violet eyes narrowed at the response but the braided man kept his cool, “Don't make me repeat myself, Heero.”

 

“Do not talk to me like I'm a child.”

 

“I'll treat you like an adult when you act like one.”

 

“You're in no position to lecture me about maturity.”

 

“Rather then insult me sit down and-”

 

“I've had enough of this.”

 

“WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO STUBBORN?!” the taller man finally shouted, startling Heero, however, the only outward appearance to his surprise were his clenched fists at his sides.

 

“ME?! Don't talk to me about stubborn. I haven't spoken to you in almost two years and you want to come back suddenly to tell me that I'm stubborn??” his anger had made the mask slip for a moment, but now it was carefully secured across his features.

 

Waiting a moment before continuing, the violet-eyed father grit his teeth, “Heero. Tonight your behavior has been completely uncalled-for. You've disrespected the friends who've taken care of you and acted like- ”

 

“I'm leaving.” Was all the other said, his voice was hollow but sure and he turned away from the table.

 

“Tenshi! Wait!” Once again only a member of the Maxwell family had managed to get any form of control over him and he stopped, his back to the table. “Don't go…” The boy sitting in the chair that all but swallowed his small form pleaded, hoping that the slender one standing wouldn't walk away.

 

“Goodbye,” was the solid response as frozen blues glanced over a slim shoulder into shattered violets.

 

Duo watched as tears began to spill from his son's eyes. Anger flared up in the father, how dare Heero reject him? His mother had rejected him, and now…

 

Amethyst eyes widened and a collective gasp was heard, when suddenly Heero shoved his seat aside to leap heavily onto the table and clamber forward to his son awkwardly. It had all happened so fast that all Duo could see was the quick movement and now his son was enveloped in a gentle hug from the ex-pilot. It had almost happened too fast, but the toppled glasses, spilled salad, and rumpled tablecloth were proof enough. Heero remained sitting on the edge of the table, rocking the small boy in his arms gently and shushing away his sobs.

 

The entire room seemed stunned into silence and all that could be heard were the muffled hiccups of Duo's son as he was rocked in the arms of the boy with the chipped blue eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

TBC…

 

 

 

 

Dun dun dun….drama! Hopefully that made up for the lack of action in the last chapter and the long await for this one ne?

 

Thank you to all who reviewed…they really do help!