Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Coming Home ❯ Chapter 2

After I had a hot shower and had put on some dry clothes, we sat down for dinner. It was just like old times - well, almost. The past year had brought some changes in the guys. Trowa had grown and filled out a bit like me, and had an easygoing smile and laugh. Quatre and Wufei had grown too, though they weren't as bulky as Trowa and I. Only Heero hadn't changed, still as small and slender as he had been when I left for school.

I couldn't believe that I had managed to grow so much living on cafeteria food for an entire year. And the guys had ordered a total feast. There were bowls of shiro miso, and plates of steamed rice, yakisoba noodles with chicken and beef, yakitori skewers with chicken and leek, stir-fried bok choy and bamboo shoot, and gyoza with dipping sauce. It was delicious, and I found myself fighting Trowa for the last yakitori skewer. Damn, that guy could eat!

Heero left the table, and returned with a pot of green tea and some cups. This was the part of dinner that I'd been dreading … the inquisition. It happened every time that I came home from school - the guys expected details of who, what, when, where, why. It was almost like giving a mission report had been during the war. Wufei opened his mouth to speak, and I hastily interrupted him with the first thing I could think of. "Heero, you'll have to give me the number for that take-out place. Their food was pretty good."

Heero paused in pouring tea, and looked at me from under chocolate-colored bangs. The corners of his mouth tightened for a moment and he narrowed his deep blue eyes angrily. Without saying a word, he sat the teapot on the table and gathered some of the dishes, disappearing into the kitchen. Running water could be heard a minute later.

"Huh? What's with him?" I asked blankly. "Yuy prepared this meal," Wufei said, "and probably felt that you were making fun of him." Wufei's dark eyes bored into me. "He is an excellent cook, but is still self-conscious."

I felt like I had seriously missed something. Heero a cook? A good cook? It hardly sounded like the serious and soldierly Heero that I had known during the war. In fact, it sounded a bit too … domestic. My mind suddenly conjured up the image of little Heero in a frilly apron, and I giggled. I couldn't help it, really! Unfortunately, it was the perfect opening for Wufei to lecture me.

"That's just like you, Maxwell, to have fun at the expense of others. I have heard all about your exploits at school. Have you no respect for your professors?" He frowned at me and waited, as if for an explanation. I did my best to look bored, knowing that it would drive Wufei up the wall. "You're wasting your life with these silly pranks. Don't you care?"

I was getting a bit tired of the high and mighty routine. "It's my life, Wu. I'm going to do what I want with it."

"Destroying school property," Wufei said. "An accident," I challenged. "Disrespecting your elders," he said. "I won't treat anyone with respect if he doesn't treat me with it," I shot back. "Engaging in improper relations," he began, raising his voice, "and not thinking first about the consequences of your actions!" I glared at him. How much did he know, then?

I glanced at Quatre and Trowa, and decided now wasn't the time to find out. Quatre's eyes had taken on a curious gleam, and when Q scented a secret ... I shuddered. I had to escape fast, somewhere they wouldn't follow. The sound of plates being stacked gave me inspiration.

"I'd better go apologize to Heero," I said. I grabbed the teacups and quickly ducked into the kitchen. Safe! But not for long. I knew that Wufei was intent on having that conversation, and Quatre looked like he had some questions of his own …

"What do you want?" Heero demanded in a surly voice. Hell, it sounded like he was ready to chase me back into the dining room! "I just thought you could use some help cleaning up," I said with my most charming grin. He frowned. "And I wanted to tell you that I meant what I said about dinner. It was incredible."

He gave me an unreadable look, and I held my breath. Then he said, "Rinse." I grinned, and was soon shoulder to shoulder at the split sink with Heero. I found myself falling into an easy rhythm with him, and was totally startled when he said, "Duo Maxwell." He said it slowly, like he was rolling the words around in his mouth and tasting them. "You still run and hide. Now prove that you never lie. What was that all about with Wufei?"

The world was against me. "Heero," I said, "I need your help."