Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Denial ❯ Chapter 10

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimers: Gundam Wing or the characters therein are not mine. I gain no profit from this fic, but the story is mine and unfortunately so is Quin. ‘nuf said.
Warnings: POV shifts, warm fuzzy sadness, MM interaction, see first chap for full spiel.

Pairings: eventual 1x2, mentioned or eventual 3x4, 5xS, 6x9. . .
AN: thanks everyone for your support - feedback is sustenance

---xXxXxXx--- means transition or scene change

Denial

by priscel

nine- so far away
last week, May 195

In a week’s time Caspian felt an indispensable attachment, friendship, towards the four teens as well as a heavy guilt. He needed to tell them the very news that they had to be worrying over. They didn’t bog him down with questions or expected him to supply them with anymore info than how he felt about the place, even though they knew he was attending the very school they wanted to get into. Which made him feel worse for not telling them sooner so that they didn’t have to worry about being accepted because they had been and he was their ride, more or less, to get there in time for orientation.

He sighed, blonde tendrils falling around his face as he collapsed back onto the plush couch of their three roomed-apartment styled hotel suite. Despite the circumstances his new friends were living through, they always made him feel welcomed. They always said ‘hey’ instead of ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ which seemed too formal and less open. When they did come over, they never asked why they haven’t met his father or even seen him. They had fun just ‘being’ together- it didn’t matter if they were all crammed in Duo and Solo’s small living room or playing games in Hilde’s posh one. It was refreshing and he wondered how they would be around his friends in Sanc. He smiled to himself, resting his head against the back of the couch, with the mischievous light that was ever present in Duo’s eyes he knew it was going to be interesting living together.

Caspian felt himself slipping into sleep, ignoring the sudden flare of ..glee, anticipation? He wasn’t sure if he could put it into words what he had felt as he dozed but his sleepy mind considered it his own. So he wasn’t expecting the ice that slid down the front of his shirt.

“Hah!” He gasped, jerking back then up when some of the ice went down his back, forcing the hand that held his collar aloft to let go as he stumbled over the coffee table.
“Duo!” Caspian called out between chattering teeth, his faced flushing as his hand fished out the ice from under his clothes.

Duo was bent over the couch laughing and then choked when the ice in his mouth went down his throat. Caspian glared and snatched up the glass out of Duo’s hand, watching the teary eyed, braided youth getting his coughs under control with a bright smile on his face. “A wake up call?” Duo offered with a gritty voice as the ice that tried to lodge itself in his throat melted away.

Caspian glared with a slight quirk of his lips.

Duo shrugged, pushing himself up to lean forward. “Sorry Kat, I couldn’t help myself. Man, you should have seen your face!” Duo chuckled again when he saw the slight blush the new nickname garnered from his buddy.

Caspian rolled his eyes but couldn’t hold his glare, a small involuntary chuckle worked its way up his throat softening his face. He didn’t want to lie to Duo anymore about who he was and why he was there. He took a breath and decided that now was as good a time as ever and hoped that things would be easier since they were alone.

Duo flipped onto the couch in a sprawl of his long limbs as he bounced a couple of times before he slowly stood, taking notice of how nervous Caspian seemed all of a sudden. He looked around and quirked a brow in thought, Abdul had dropped him off saying he’d pick up the others soon and then left to go take care of something. Duo shrugged, Abdul hadn’t said what and now Caspian was acting strange, but this was Caspian. His body tensed half-heartedly, he trusted Caspian but this was a little too weird. “Kat, what’s the matter?”

Caspian swallowed, the new nickname making him twitch, it was so close to his real name it was a bit unnerving to him. His eyes fluttered shut as he exhaled, realizing that it was going to be difficult to giving up the pretense of just being another average, although wealthy, Joe. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had been entertaining the thought that he’d lose Duo and the others as friends. Lose his cover and be hounded not by only Brianna but the media and others who have been trying to get at his Father. Then he felt foolish because he knew he had given them an opportunity to make good on their barely veiled threats to his Father by making himself vulnerable. He steeled his heart, telling himself that he could bear it if that happened, then leave before anyone was the wiser. But the impression he got from Duo, a feeling similar to what he felt with Trowa but different, told him that that wouldn’t be the case and that they wouldn’t be bitter over a lie that was constructed for his and Abdul’s safety.

Duo watched as Caspian fidgeted before a calm settled over his features and a pleasant smile adorned his face. ‘A game face,’ Duo thought, ‘one like.. hmm a negotiator?’ Duo was about to ask him another question when Caspian started talking, non-stop. Duo blinked at him as the small blond kept his words exact and tried to keep the calm expression on his face.

After several minutes of listening to Caspian explain everything and then near the end start apologizing profusely for his deceit, Duo interrupted him with a hug. ‘Oh, man,’ he thought absently, he remembered how Casp- correction Quatre had come with him and Solo to the Church and helped, got down and dirty with them when they went out into the back allies or whatever hidden niche that they could find to bring food items to the homeless. Duo couldn’t help but notice then how Quatre just took it all in on himself. He remembered when Solo had snapped at Quatre telling that no matter how much time he put in here, there were still going to be places just as poverty filled or worse elsewhere. Duo remembered the crumpled look mingled with the determination in Caspian’s eyes and that made him squeeze Quatre a little more.

‘Damn he has such a big heart. Kat loves to blame himself for everything. I gotta get him out of that, he’ll worry himself sick trying to undo all the damage that others have done.’ He shook his head and pressed his cheek against the side of Quatre’s. He guessed that was part of the reason he felt so protective of his friend.

Duo breathed out, the surprise Quatre gave him pushed away his worry and brought a bright smile to his face although no one could see it at the moment. “We were accepted,” he murmured repeating the words Quatre had just said to him. Quatre had known all along, but his lie was within reason and he wasn't going to alarm his friend by being upset about it. He squeezed Quatre again as he bounced a little in glee.

Quatre tentatively responded with his arms circling loosely around Duo, unsure of what was plain in his face. Duo wasn't mad. Duo was happy and he was sure that his head should've been just at Duo's nose. It was an odd thing to notice when he had been stressing out earlier, but he was sure that Duo was a couple inches taller than him. He looked down to see Duo’s socked feet, his right pinky toe peaking out through a hole. Caspian smiled, the boots had tricked him, they were the same height. He squeezed Duo back, making it more enthused, when he felt happiness radiating off of Duo.

Duo’s mind was abuzz, ‘We were accepted. We were all accepted.’

The opening of the door and the voices that followed told them that Abdul had brought in the others. Duo had turned, bringing himself and Quatre to face the others with one arm still looped over Quatre’s shoulder as he fixed them all with a bouncing, happy grin. To Quatre’s relief, they completely dismissed his cover story as necessary and understandable. The group had been mainly doubtful of the news from Darlian, asking Quatre if he was sure that there wasn’t an error somewhere, that he wasn’t playing some cruel joke, that it wasn’t some fluke that they all made it. Each time he reassured them with a gentle smile that shared their excitement before he told them, there had been no mistake.

At the space docks, laborers worked diligently and cheered on a braided coworker singing lead as they hum to an old earth tune.

“That’s the sound of a man working on a chain.... ~ga-a-ang~...” The graceful tenor ad libbed before trailing off into a hum of the beat as the sounds of equipment and his coworkers resounded in the space dock.

“All day long they’re singin’...”

“Hoo! Ah!” He could hear grunts, the whir of a forklift lifting and shoving a crate in place, thump-“Hoo!” -swirl-“Ah!” -thump- “Hoo!”, the sound of chains running through a pulley, surprisingly, keeping with the beat of the song that he and the others sang. Suddenly, a loud metal clank followed by a curse erupted from behind one of the unused forklifts. The music was turned down, and several questions or grunts of disapproval echoed in through the dock.

“Ol’ Bertha giving ya problems there, Maxwell?” The speaker gasped when he saw the teeth of the forklift drop, his thoughts were immediately filled with how much trouble it would be to replace it, pay to repair any damaged caused to the dock floor and how much more manual labor that meant for them, when suddenly the engine hummed to life and saved the invaluable teeth of the machine. Before the man could approach the open panel, the forklift revved, gravity shifted and a piece of metal came flying out from the place a wiry figure was leaning into. The wiry figure in a grey coverall let a string of expletives fly and this time the laughter teased him. His watcher walked away in search of the metal projectile.

“Aye Maxwell, whydya stop singing? Someone had said we needed music to work to, ‘liven up you stiffs’ he said and now I’ve gotten used to it.” The amused shout came from some far off corner of the dock, he couldn’t figure out which, too immersed in Bertha’s bowels to try and seek them out.

Duo emerged from the back of the huge forklift rubbing his nose with the back of his hand, leaving a black oily streak across it and half his cheek. He then picked up a greasy towel and tried to get some of the oil off his hands, itching to take his braid out and off his sweaty back.

“Damn grav controls shifted again. Hey Big B, they should let us fix the thing before it kills somebody. The shift damn-near took my head off with the wrench I was using! Ch! I like my head where it is, thank you very much.” Duo grumbled with a pout as he shucked his hands down into the deep side pockets of his coveralls.

“Yea, kid be careful. We don’t want Howard or Ms. Maxwell to kill us for letting you off yourself with a monkey wrench when you leave for school tomorrow, little mono” (1). Laughter filled the port at nickname and the low music that had been playing, was turned up.

“Benny! I resent that!” Duo said smiling as he rocked back and forth on his heels when a short balding man came over and slapped a wad of bills in his hand.

“Don’t say I neva gave ya notin’ half-pint.” Duo overcame his shock quickly, his hand already in motion to return the money given to him, but the stern look in his coworkers’ aged face stopped him. He wasn’t used to gifts and most of the time, things that were given weren’t given without strings attached. He found himself in a staring contest with white ringed brown eyes, he nodded, pocketing the bills. The man was sincere and Duo gave him a smile in thanks and the old man snorted as he hobbled away from the still stunned, but happy teen.

“Yea, we’ll missya little mono.” This was the loudest of the echoed farewells, while a few came over and ruffled his hair. Others waved and returned to work.

A burly guy came over and hoisted him into the air, giving him a bear hug that none of his glomps could hope to compete with. ‘Maybe when I’m older and about six feet tall.’ He chuckled quietly to himself, returning the hug as much as he could, smiling and fighting back the heat in his eyes.

“Little mono, I hate to get all sentimental and crap, but exceptions have to be made.” Ben Morales, Big B to all his friends and coworkers or Benny to Duo, squeezed Duo for emphasis before he let him go.

“This place ain’t going to be as lively as before that’s for damn sure.” Came the grumble from a man siting on top of some crates.

“Nah, yall will get along fine without me.” Duo said with a bright smile ducking when Ben tried to ruffle his hair.

Ben snorted. “If you say so. I knew you were meant for bigger and better things, scrappy kids like you are have always been underestimated.”

“...Better things?” He chuckled. “I dunno Big B, maybe I’ll end up a priest like Uncle or just a simple mechanic.” Ben chuckled knowingly, receiving a questioning look and a half scowl in response.

“Either way you’ll be better off, my boy. We’ve lost so many to drugs, prostitution, poverty...,” he shook his head and handed Duo the oily wrench that got away from earlier. The air was heavy and Duo wished he could think of something to lighten the mood. Duo, absently, wiped the oily wrench off on the his pant leg before putting it away in his tool box along with the grease rag he had been using before. It was time for him to go and the burly man’s amused expression was replaced with a haunted look, the lines in his aged face told years of worry and so did the stark white that greyed his fading brown hair.

“Kid... You really shouldn’t be walking home from here. Especially, this late at night. I wouldn’t thin-”

“No. I’m fine, it’s only 15 minutes and most of the time I just take the bus.”

“Still Kid, this being your last night with us.. Shit... I ain’t superstitious or nothing, it’s just that I don’t want you to be caught unawares if something bad happens because everything’s going so well for ya. Hell, it wasn’t safe for ya to be out there by yourself when you first started and it sure as hell ain’t safe now.” Big Ben finished off in a gush of words, his expression contorted in something akin to anger but it wasn’t directed at Duo.

“S’ok Benny, I got Scythe here.” Duo pulled out a black steel metal rod, it was small and the length of his forearm. “He’s helped me out of more tough spots than a cat has lives. Besides, I’m not a kid anymore. I can tak-”

“I’m just saying is all, little mono.” Cutting Duo off with a squeeze to his shoulder. Ben had spotted the retractable staff that the boy considered priceless when Duo had left it, as he did with a lot of his personal affects, in his office. He’d eyed the thing, his curiosity peaking as he remembered how Duo practiced with it in the bay when he thought no one else was around. It was a good piece of work. He had also discovered that the staff it self wasn’t the only thing retractable, a sickle shaped blade curved out when he touched the edge. He remembered looking for the switch and wondering why Duo would have such a dangerous component in it. But as far as he could tell there was no trigger. He decided to ask Duo when saw him gulping a soda on his way to his office. He turned back to pick up the aptly named ‘Scythe’ and saw the blade was gone.

Big Ben shook his head, bringing himself out of the odd memory and back to forestalling Duo’s youthful rant of independence that he remembered well enough from his own early years. Although his was of different wording from his own when he was his age, it was the same. “I can’t say what I’ll do to the fucker who tries to mess with you or yar brother.” Big Ben held up his hand stopping Duo from commenting once again. Duo closed his mouth on what he was about to say. He looked kind of funny, his lips moving, forming parts of words that could be read without making a sound.

Big Ben chuckled, grabbing Duo in a mock choke hold and ruffling his bangs.

“Ah!” Duo complained and chuckles followed as he tried to get of Ben’s hold.

Ben laughed. “Yea kid. I know you can take care of ya self, but it shouldn’t always have to be that way for you.” His voice took on a solemn tone as he continued, “You’re like a son to me. I bet Howard thinks the same thing. It’s real good of ya to be willing to work this kind of job to help your Ma. Shit, when I was fifteen I was learning different ways of getting girls out of their clothes.” Ben smiled. “I can teachya, but ya have to promise not get thrown in the can by the girls’ parents.”

They both laughed and Duo took a few steps back so he'd be ready to dodge if Ben want to mess his hair again. “Nah, I’ve got the Maxwell charm.” Duo made a show of grinning widely, and grabbing onto the lapels of his coveralls so that his thumbs came up on either side of the collar as he flicked them up.

“Not as skinny as you are! As much as you work here and all the food we watch you shovel down on break... I can’t figure out where the hell it goes.”

*Grumble.* Duo blushed, he fought the urge to duck his head.

“Ah haha. Damn, the monster growling already? Missed dinner Kid?”

Duo peeked over at Ben, rocking back and forth from heel to toe with measured ease. He didn’t want to lie to Ben and he didn’t want him to think that he was responsible for it. He had been working so much at the yard and Ben’s dock for the past week, he would only have one meal during the day. ‘It couldn’t be helped,’ he said to himself. He wanted to be sure that Solo and he had enough for the trip. He also didn’t want his mother to kill herself to try and get more money. Ben had agreed to let him work more as long as he didn’t overdo it and got some sleep. Well he did the sleep part. “Uh something like that.”

Ben’s laughing tone mellowed into a more somber one. “Grab a bite to eat before ya go. Sure you can’t stay late? I can give ya a ride home yanno.”

“Nah, gotta get home to finishing packing and make sure Solo hasn’t tried to pack the apartment and Mama.”

Ben clapped Duo on the shoulder as he smiled at the petite boy, his thoughts summing up to two words to describe him, “Good kid.”

Duo weaved through the bowels of the in-station, the docks, toward the more populated area of the business district he got a few claps on his back to wish him well before he got to the bus stop where he waited. Despite the strong feeling of possible misfortune that haunted Ben about Duo’s trip home after work, his eventual walk home was uneventful and filled with muttered curses about lazy ass bus drivers and their lack of concern for others.

“Benny had even made me leave early to make sure I caught the bus. And did a bus come? No.” He continued to grumble to himself as he walked passed alleyways and kept to barely lit spaces, gray areas between the darkness of the shadows and the bright street lamps. He felt safer being closer to the darkness than being an alighted target on the sidewalk.

He thought about the last two weeks. Two weeks and a trip he wasn’t sure that they’d be planning together. “A few more hours before Kat comes.” He smiled sadly to himself, this was home, the only one he’d ever known and for some reason he felt the need to stay. He ran his hand through his long bangs, allowing the low light to play and mix with the shadows of his eyes before his fringe blocked out the light again. He really wanted to leave this place more than anything and take his family with him and knew that was his only reason for wanting to stay there. At times like this when emotions were a muddled mess or he was over eager or lost his patience, Father Maxwell’s words always settled him down: “Life is not without it’s trials and tribulations son. At your age I was often impatient, as all children seem to be.” He said, his bemused voice filled with fondness. “In order for us to keep on living, to bare and overcome these tests that are set upon us, with God’s will, we must endure and to endure we must be patient.” Duo remembered looking at his Uncle with the ‘I only got half that look’ before his Uncle ruffled his hair and chuckled as he continued, “And you are still young so you’re not expected to know or understand everything we adults tell you. I know it’s hard but enjoy your youth and remember that all things come in time, my son, all things come in time.”

He huffed and then smiled to himself. He was happy, overjoyed even, when he found out that they had all been accepted. “Casp... Ch... Kat sure did a number on us.” He shook his head, he knew something was up when he heard Quatre’s muttered comment when they had first met him. He had several opportunities to confront the bright-eyed blond about what he said and then decided against it. He could wait until Quatre broached the subject on his own. He wasn’t disappointed, the seemingly innocent but guilty looking blonde told him everything a week ago.

Duo paid little attention to where his feet took him, but he was relieved to see a familiar apartment building come into view. Before he realized it he was up the stairs and at his door with his keys out. With a quiet clink then a click, he stepped inside to hear his mother scold Solo for packing several of her things too. He smiled. He hadn’t been wrong earlier when he thought Solo would try to get their mother to come with them. Duo let out a heavy sigh and let his jester’s smile come into place to hide his uneasiness about leaving their mother behind, with one brow arched, he ambled into their mother’s room and then suddenly tackled Solo to the bed.

A surprised ‘hey’ is all Solo could get out before he recognized his brother's braided head ducking beneath his chin. Jadea chuckled as she watched her boys wrestle on her bed. Soon her sad smile became an annoyed one when her nose wrinkled at the black slicks that were steadily appearing and slowly destroying her floral coverlet. She picked up her pillow and beat them both into submission with it.

“Ok boys," She settled her hands on her hips with the pillow tucked under one arm, "Quatre’ll be here in close to an hour. You," She fixed her firm gaze on Duo as he absently scratched at an oily patch behind his ear. "Go shower.”

Duo rubbed the slick substance between his fingers, he looked up sheepishly at his mother and muttered a ‘sorry Ma’ before trudging off to the bathroom. Solo snickered, but gulped down his laughter when fresh linens and another coverlet was shoved into his face. He bowed his head in resignation and acceptance.

“Oh, you’ll be showering too, ya got me?”

“Yes Mama.” Jadea chuckled and hugged her son.

“You should have woken me earlier, I would have helped you two finish packing.”

“Nah, Mama. Duo has all his stuff packed already, there was just mine left.” He picked at his threadbare jeans, looking smaller than he was. Jadea jostled his hair and kissed his forehead. ‘Solo’s going be taller than Aiden.’ She thought absently, realizing he was already a few inches taller than her as she tilted her head to look up at him when he stood up.

No more was said for a while as they set about replacing the ruined bedclothes. Solo kept glancing into the hallway where two knew suitcases sat. Everything Duo and Solo thought they need fit into two 24 inch, expandable, rolling luggage bags. When Duo came back, he pushed Solo toward the door, “Your turn.”

Jadea came over with a brush and comb ready. Duo smiled, plopping down on her bed and pulling his hair out of the towel. It was strange how their hair always felt wet after a sonic shower, he liked it, but it was odd. He thought of checking on its settings as his mother sectioned his hair and began at the bottom. He would miss having her do this for him. He would miss her period.

The steady rhythm of the comb and then the relaxing feel of the brush had Duo in a snooze before long. Jadea smiled down at the finished braid. She was glad they had decided that long goodbyes were painful and that they’d say them here at home. She sat down beside Duo and brought his head over to rest on her shoulder, tucking his head beneath her chin. Leaving so late at night meant they’d be in Sanc by morning, she preferred that herself, she thought it helped a little with the jetlag she was sure her boys would experience by the time shift. She closed her eyes as more of their earlier conversations filtered through her mind with her own preferences offering reassure and soothing away her fears.

“Damn Duo, what’s in that oily sh-” Solo sealed his lips when he found his brother asleep in their mother's arms and smiled as listened to her hum. He brought the towel down off his head and settled it around his shoulders as he walked over to them. He sat on their mother’s unoccupied left side and leaned against her shoulder to shoulder.

Jadea looked at him with tear rimmed eyes and frowned. Her hand shot out, pulled him down to rest his head against her shoulder and nuzzled his damp hair. She didn’t care if her face was a little wet afterwards, they were going. The boys had already said farewells to their Uncle and the Sister, but she had a hard time convincing herself that they wouldn’t prolong their leaving since they were going to come back... in a few years.

All too soon it was time to go. Jadea had ushered them to the van and hugged Hilde, Tabitha and Quatre, who blushed at the attention. He hadn’t expected Ms. Maxwell to hug him and he felt the sadness she was covering up with a beautiful smile and saw where Duo and Solo got theirs from.

Duo let go of his mother’s hand to climb into the van when Sister Helen came running toward them with Father Maxwell not too far behind. They had hoped they could avoid any long goodbyes. It was late at night too and Duo worried about the two walking alone at night. Helen kissed the side of his head as she brought her hands up around his neck and then pressed her hand against his chest when she stepped away. He looked down to see a golden cross resting where her hand had been.

‘Well damn,’ he thought seeing the twin expression of shock on Solo’s face as he fingered his cross. They both turned to protest but they were stopped by a stern look from Father Maxwell and then his half smile with a nod that said ‘Be good.’ Helen kissed Solo on the cheek, tiptoeing to meet him as he leaned down to meet her before he went into the van. He relaxed once in side, no longer having to be under the intense scrutiny of their friends, even if Quatre seemed to be talking to Abdul, Tabitha seemed to be writing more poetry- the colorful ends of her fingers flowing over her small checkered book and Hilde gave him a sad look before sniffling and turning to watch Duo. Solo grimaced at her back before turning away and toying with the end of his faded blue polo shirt.

Duo stood alone, looking at the family they were leaving behind before turning toward the van when Jadea pulled him aside and put two small envelopes in his hand, one with his name on it and the other bearing Solo’s. She smiled, she had intended to give it to them before Sister Helen hand stepped in between them.
“My gift to help my babies along. I know you’re going to need clothes,” They both thought back to their well worn clothes and Duo hesitated in giving it back but his mother wouldn’t have it, she shoved it back in his hand. “No, I’m fine. This belongs to you and Solo. Don’t forget to get the school uniform while you’re shopping, that way you won’t have to worry or get caught up in the hustle and bustle of getting new things when it’s almost time for classes to start. And make sure it’s a size larger than you normally wear.”

She kissed him on the cheek. “And you better call me if either of you get sick. Neither of you have been to Earth before and I’m sure the air isn’t as treated as it is here.” She gave him a nonsense expression before kissing him again and pushing him toward the van. Father Maxwell came to her side, putting an arm across her shoulder in a comforting gesture as they waved goodbye and the van pulled off, leaving them with the memory of sorrowful blue violet and green eyes.

Abdul returned the retail car. He met up with the group in bowels of the station’s docks and ran to beat them to their ship. He keyed the code to open the door with a smirk on his face at the braided youth who was the first to meet him at the door.

“Master Duo.” He greeted cheekily, the five foot nine man with rich brown skin bowed with one hand extended, ushering the braided teen into the cabin of the old cruiser styled shuttle. They laughed when Duo groaned.

“Shesh man!" Duo covered his face with one hand and shook his head as he entered the cabin. "Abdul, come on man you don't have use titles with me just Duo please. Like you do Hilde, Solo and Tabby, kay? And good grief, stand up!” Duo grumbled, walking over to the port windows unintentionally revealing his flushed cheeks to his friends which triggered more of their laughter.

“I think he does it just to make you to blush.” Solo nudged him in the side as he stepped passed him to pick a seat and stow his carry on.

When Abdul had shared his surname 'Parish' with Quatre and was expected to treat him like an older brother should, he found it difficult and even harder to refrain from addressing the young Winner without saying 'Master' first. Duo had caught him saying ‘Master’ when Quatre was still going by Caspian and had invited them over to their suite. They both had held their breathes, but with Quatre’s help they made it seemed that Abdul had been addressing Duo. Abdul smiled at the memory, he had called Duo 'Master of my heart,' elaborating with a poem that made the boy sputter and turn as red as a beat. Everyone had laughed so hard that tears were starting in the corners of their eyes. Duo crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. Ever since then, if he called him 'Master', even though Duo knew the truth now, he blushed.

“And you’re very cute when you blush.” Hilde cooed and fluttered her lashes.

“Shuddup Hilde.” Duo stomped over to Solo, he hated that word. “If I could find the guy who came with that damnable word, I’d show them a thing or two about what they could do with the word ‘cute’.” He grumbled, his flushed cheeks remained, as he thought of how he had fallen asleep on the drive over and awoken to a giggling Hilde and a blushing Quatre who he had slept on and had almost kissed when turned his head to see who had been his pillow. Duo had blushed to his roots then and Hilde, as well as Tabitha, had said the word cute in reference to himself and Quatre (as well as few other x rated scenarios in their whispers) more times then he cared to count in the short walk over to the outdated looking shuttle.

He scowled at his snickering brother behind him as he made himself comfortable in his seat. That incident in the van had made things a little easer for Solo and him. Even though their mother had told them that she was only a phone call away, it didn’t erase the fact that the distance was incalculable to them if they wanted to go visit her or go to the diner and eat some of Travis’ apple pie. It hurt like hell, but this was one step forward in a series of steps to making better lives for themselves.

“Well the school has already assigned you rooms and roommates. My friends will be meeting us on campus and Wufei told me he would get your room assignments from Mrs. Une.”

“Man, I can’t believe it...we are going to school in... the summer.” Duo said dramatically, trying to work up a conversation and keep the attention off of himself as he snagged a candy bar from Tabitha’s bag and deftly pocketed it before exploring the rest of the cruiser.

Quatre chuckled at Duo’s dramatics. “Well they are mostly orientation classes for newbies. Most of the students on campus have gone home for break. My friends have volunteered to help me with this, so they’ll be meeting us at the dorm.”

Duo snickered and Hilde gave Quatre a questioning look. “The way you said that Quatre, makes me think that they didn’t volunteer, as you put it, willing.”

Quatre smiled. “I guess you could say that, they tell me I have a way with words.”

“Or threats.” Duo whispered with a snicker and Quatre flushed, sending a quick glare his way. “What?” Duo asked feigning innocence and holding back a yawn.

Quatre pouted slightly, wondering if Duo could read minds before he continued. “Trowa did volunteer to help out if the circus didn’t take up too much of his time.”

“You have a friend in the circus?” Solo broke in, his voice and eyes alit with excitement that spread to the others in varying ways.

“Yes, they are getting ready to leave and will be in Sanc in late September. Catherine, Trowa’s sister, is visiting but I’m not sure if it’ll be the full Circus in September if the weather doesn’t hold.” Quatre stopped noticing the down look everyone had. “Maybe they haven’t taken everything down yet. Maybe we can go look around?” He offered and everyone's face lit up again, he could have laughed but decided against it not wanting any them to feel alienated.

“That would be great.” Solo said enthusiastically, hoping to catch some trapeze work.

“Oh and the others, well during the summer, Heero often stays at the dorms even though he lives with Relena in the Sanc palace which is an hours’ drive from there. I don’t know what his plans are but he’s been keeping pretty busy and has been very helpful to me. The resident life coordinator, RLC, on duty this summer is a medical student, Sally Po. She was able to uh... coax Wufei into helping out since he was already staying to continue teaching at one of his relatives’ dojos in town. Me? Well,” Quatre smiled, “I’m coordinating new student arrivals and pick ups. You guys were my last run.”

“Aww, they got you serving as delivery boy? I dunno if I like these people.” Duo yawned again with a stretch causing his speech to slur. “They send out innocent looking blondes to lure in captives to do devious experiments on. If your not careful Tabby, they may turn you into a cat with wings or you, Solo, to a dancing carrot!” Duo exclaimed sleepily.

Duo received a few quizzical looks and Solo chuckled. “When he’s tired he doesn’t make a lot of sense sometimes.”

“When does he make sense when he’s awake?” Hilde teased with a smirk.

“Oi, yes I do.” Duo grumbled with a pout.

“No you don’t.” Solo countered pulling out a blanket from the overhead compartment.

“Do too.”

“Do not.”

“Yes I do!” Duo maintaining his pout as he, adorably, rubbed at his eyes with the back of one hand.

“Then what was the last thing you said?” Solo asked, looking smug.

“Uh...” Solo snickered at his brother’s lack of response and propped his feet up against the wall.

Tabitha snorted. “I hate cats.”

“‘Ey, mind your manners young lady! Cats are would like beasties and don’t look at me like- ow! Ok, ok, I give.” Duo, a little more awake now, glared at Tabitha’s back as she retreated with a satisfied smirk across her face. Duo rubbed his offended rump before pulling out a banana that Quatre had stashed in the cupboards. That was another thing he appreciated Quatre for, fresh fruit, he ate it as he stowed his bookbag away with one his favorite mangas in hand. He then went back to the door, looking at the outer hull skeptically, pressing on it as if judging its integrity.

“Q-bean, where’d you get this clunker? I mean we appreciate the lift, our bank accounts praise you for your graciousness but can this bucket of bolts get us there in one piece?”

Quatre stowed his own bag and sat in front of the two seats Hilde was occupying, right across from Solo and Duo. He smiled, turning to Duo with a sympathetic look. “It’s not as bad as it looks Duo. We were fortunate to have an older class shuttle that didn’t have the Winner insignia and it allowed us to get here incognito.”

“Master Quatre wouldn’t use a shuttle in a dilapidated state to risk himself or his companions any injury. Ben can attest to the stability of this craft. He had to help me get the door open earlier, but despite that, everything is in ‘tip top shape’ he said. Now sit back and relax. In-flight movie is your choice of a variety of discs.” Abdul adjusted his shades then pressed a button that lowered a small flat screen before the seats. He snickered. “Ay Duo wait until you meet Rashid, you’ll see why I say that my ‘elder’ would be a better sumo wrestler and probably win over your Ben.”

“I have to agree with Abdul on that one, Duo.” Quatre said with a smile in his voice. Duo snickered at the thought of Ben and this Rashid person in little white cloths that looked like diapers. He feared that he’d be too busy laughing to enjoy the match if the two could be talked into it. “Selections can be made with the consol on the right armrest. Refreshments and beverages- non alcoholic- will be served at your request once autopilot has been initiated.”

“Ah damn! And I was hoping to get a rum coke.” A pillow smacked Duo in the head and snickers followed.

“Duo, I’m trying to sleep.” Hilde grumbled, stealing Tabitha’s pillow.

“You could've of fooled me.”

“Wait a minute!” Tabitha said half-heartedly already reaching for the pillow Duo had extended to her.

“Duo has your pillow yanno.” Hilde yawned, pointing in his direction and turning in her seat to get more comfortable.

Duo soon settled in his own seat, strapping in as Abdul could be heard making the last of the checks and arrangements in the pilot's cabin and he could feel the steady hum of the engines. He read the note attached to his envelope, before he apparently passed out on Quatre, and he wondered if their mother would continue to put money in even if she didn’t have it. Solo didn’t bother to look at his, just put it in his bookbag and stared out the window. It was an offer that neither of them could refuse and Jadea had even go as far as including financial estimates on how the money she gave them would influence her living expenses to try and consol them. It worked some, enough to stop them from thinking about it to the point of depression. Duo had saved up some money and had Ben put it on a credit chip for him, he decided he’d put in his new account when they got to Earth. He yawned one more time before sleep stole all conscious thought and his closed eyes soon began the random movement associated with REM sleep.

A soft snore made Solo’s ears perk up. He sat up to see Duo dangling in his straps, the seatbelt holding him in place as his braid floated in the low gravity set since the initial take off of the shuttle. He grinned when the braid floated his way. “I think it’s time Duo tried a different style.” He mumble to himself, holding back his glee as he grabbed the braid and pulled out some hairties, colorful bows and bits he had hidden in his jean jacket.

Sanc kingdom, the Darlian Institute...

A large dark blue van, with ‘Darlian Institute’ plastered on its sides, pulled up to the campus dorms and five groggy teens tumbled out still half sleep. Duo rubbed at his eyes, the noonday sun beating down on them mercilessly. Abdul laughed at Duo’s accusation that he had drugged them and took pictures of their sleep heavy, spit dribbled faces. Duo scratched the back of his head, his braid felt a bit lighter. He pushed his bangs back from his face as he looked over the dorm and the adjacent class buildings across the street to his left. His hand stilled at the top of his bangs, leaving them splayed in every which way over his hand as he whistled.

“This place sure is huge.”

“That’s an understatement.” Solo commented before laughing outright.

“My friends should be on their way... Duo?” Quatre smiled a faint blush appearing across his cheeks when he glimpsed his friend and covered his mouth to hold back his laughter.

Duo turned to see the amused expression on the faces of his friends and glared at the laughing Solo. “What’s so funny?” He turned his head, trying to see if his boxers were showing or something, when two long unraveling braids whipped around to smack him in the arm. His eyes grew large as he lifted one with ribbons and several purplish bows laced through it and began frantically trying to remove them. He was pissed and there was only one person that could get close enough to his hair and live to say he’d actually messed it up a few times...

“Solo!” Duo took off after Solo into the dorm. He chased him up the stairs to the open lounge area on the first floor where he ran into a hard, immoveable chest that was speed walking toward the door. He fell hard on his butt and cursed under his breath.

"Damn." He began to mutter as he turned to his side to rub his sore butt. “Listen bud-”

“Heeeeero~~”

Duo looked up to see the boy before him wince at the sound of that voice, and he sympathized when call came again. He watched as a smirk quickly passed over the Asian face belonging to the boy, he assumed was name 'Heero' by his reaction to the call, standing in front of him before a mask of indifference settled over the handsome features. Duo’s brows bunched in his confusion, ‘A game face like Kat’s? No, no... why’s he hiding so much?’

“Eep!” His own involuntary cry interrupted his thoughts when he was grabbed by his arm and yanked up into two steely ones. Duo’s arms were bent against his chest and his wide violet eyes stretched even more as a pair of deep blue eyes caused a chill to run down his back. The iciness in those depths drew closer to his own and he was too stunned to grasp why those eyes and that face were getting closer to him. He blinked when his lips were claimed in a hard kiss. He blinked several times more before those lips left his. He opened his mouth to speak when they descended again, deepening the kiss. Duo’s mind reeled but finally registered that he was being kissed, being kissed by another boy! ‘Fuck!’

“Fuck!” Came the echoing remark that voiced his own thoughts.

“Oh my...” Quatre said, blushing at the sight before him as a few more shocked gasps filled the room.

“He- Heero?” The female voice cracked, tentative in its pleading for an explanation of some kind as Duo tried to push the boy back, struggling in his vice-like grip. He soon realized he was getting nowhere fast and he froze when he felt a tongue venture toward his mouth again, he opened and bit down.

Immediately, his lips were released and he was pulled back before he could be pushed away from the boy with messy chocolate hair by Solo. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Solo glared down at the Asian boy whose face remained impassive to his threatening posture and protective stance in front of his brother.

Duo didn’t want to think what this looked like. Fuck. He knew what it looked like! He was embarrassed as hell, his lips still tingling as he put his hand to them and he could taste a coppery tang across his teeth. He turned his head and spat it out. He was mad, so mad he was speechless and he wanted to let his fists do the talking for him.

Hilde and Tabitha came over to their unusually silent friend. They had seen it but couldn’t believe it themselves, turning to glimpse the horrified expression on the face of a girl with long honey brown hair who was wearing a pink frilly sun dress. Then the girl truned so her back was facing them, missing Duo get clear of the other boy before she fled the lounge. A gasp that could have been a sob was her only parting sound, breaking the silence in the lounge.

Heero smirked, he had gotten rid of Relena for the time being and he knew she was probably crying but it was worth it just to have some time to himself. Since school ended two weeks ago the girl invaded his room in the morning clung on his arm the entire day, cheered for him whether he was practicing with an opponent or just working with the bokken at the PEC and asked him to go out with her several times throughout the day. He couldn’t breath. He knew his spur of the moment actions wouldn’t hold her off long, he had to enjoy it now because Relena would be back in hot pursuit. Peace of mind, for all of the ten seconds was beautiful when the pregnant air pressed in on him and he thought of the beautiful, shocked eyes of the girl he'd kissed. ‘Kuso,’ he cursed mentally, being brought up on charges for sexual assault was not a good way to start his break. He did a quick bow in her direction and started to apologize and thank her but stopped when he met several pairs of accusing eyes. He glowered at the group, he hated people staring at him. He took in the tall blond and figured he was the girl’s boyfriend and matched him glare for glare.

Quatre found himself torn between wanting to admonish Heero for his actions, check on Duo or go after Relena. He decided against going after his deluded friend. He had a feeling she’d only shut him out, convinced that Heero would come and explain that it wasn’t what she saw. Yep, right about she was probably in her room seeking comfort from Dorothy. No, he didn’t want to go there.

“You fucking prick!” Duo shouted coming out of his stupor and surging passed the two girls and Solo’s stiff back toward the wild haired boy standing as if he’d done no wrong.

Heero was shocked, to say the least, at the very male voice that came from the pretty girl he kissed. Duo crouched slightly and came up with a round house kick aimed at Heero’s side. Heero caught the heavy black booted foot and watched as if entranced as Duo dropped to his hands to bring himself up into a handstand.

In the seconds it took Duo to drop back into a handstand, he wondered if the guy was a bit daft to still be holding his foot in that iron hold of his hand. He squelched away any pity he felt at the twist of his agile body and brought his other foot in a swinging arc toward Heero’s head.

Heero’s arched a brow when he noticed the captive foot’s partner coming toward him. He tried to block it with his free hand but at the same time Duo kicked at him with his captive foot hand, throwing him off balance. He was only able to blunt the force of the blow with the side of his hand and caught the rest of the blow on the side of his jaw. He stumbled to the side, his uninjured hand cupping the other.

Not giving him a chance to recover, Duo pounced on him, knocking him down on his back. He pulled out scythe and had the now extended, gleaming, black staff at Heero’s throat and Heero had his hand at Duo’s throat squeezing with the same pressure Duo was applying to his.

Heero felt the bob of Duo’s Adam’s apple beneath his hand, dispelling the thought that maybe the girl just had a deep voice. He felt like laughing.

Duo huffed in disbelief at the smiling eyes set in the expressionless face that stared at him undauntedly.

A snort of amusement filled the room along with the rustle of papers. “Stupid onna,” a dark haired teen, with hair pulled back in a sever pony tail at the back of his neck muttered from the doorway. Papers whistled across each other as he shifted through then and another snort came from him when he looked up from them and the picture of Duo grinning like a loon with the 'thumbs up' gesture as he surveyed the group in the room. “Yuy. I see you have met your roommate. Duo Maxwell meet your roommate Heero Yuy.”

Duo didn’t move an inch, not wanting to end the staring contest he was now having with Heero. “I’m going to be rooming with this fucking perv?” Duo gritted through clenched teeth.

“Hn.”

“Whatchu say bastard?”

“Get over yourself. It was just a kiss, your acting like some sentimental girl getting hysterical over losing her first kiss.” Heero said nonchalantly, the glint in his eyes still betraying his blank face. Wufei smiled. Duo bristled, pressing his scythe forward not realizing that Heero’s hand didn’t tighten like it had earlier, it just strayed to the back of his neck as if to pull him forward.

Quatre blinked and shared a look with Wufei who was leaning in the doorway. ‘That’s more words than Relena’s been able to coax out of him, let alone two sentences.’ Quatre thought and Wufei unknowingly nodded his agreement.

“Whatever your preferences, Yuy, you don’t have to put them on display for everyone to see and it is dishonorable to force someone.” Wufei gestured toward their current positions. “Stop molesting Maxwell so we can get this group settled." He looked back on Quatre's sleepy looking face and added, "Winner is obviously exhausted.”

Duo flushed in embarrassment, their positions just registering in his mind: he was on top of the bastard and the bastard was looking smugly at him. ‘Goddamn it!’ He shoved Heero back making his shoulders connect with the hardwood floor before retracting scythe and scrambling off of him. Duo brushed off imaginary dust and straightened out his Metallica tee as he walked over to Solo who hadn’t stopped glaring at the expressionless boy.

“Uh... Duo, Heero’s not usually like this.” Quatre offered with a disarming smile. Said boy used his thumb to wipe away the blood that had pooled at the corner of his mouth. He checked his hand and then touched the bruise forming on his jaw. He moved his jaw back and forth, testing it. Duo felt his stomach turn as a wet pop filled the room. Everyone, including Wufei, cringed.

‘Serves him right, the bastard.’ Duo thought turning away from the messy haired teen.

Heero’s face remained expressionless for someone who had just popped his jaw back in place. He looked into the mirror on the wall, he touched the darkening bruise, that would be the worst of his bruises if he had any others from his skirmish with Duo. Heero strode purposely toward the open door and to the van.

Duo eyed Heero as he walked passed him without as much of a second glance his way, he had thought that what Heero had said to him earlier and his angered was rekindled with the light blush that covered his cheeks as he tried to ignore his tingling lips. “Phht. The least you could do is apologize.” Duo grumbled letting some of his anger fade as walked to Wufei.

Heero paused, his back to the group and his friends. “I apologize for you landing on your ass... but not for the kiss.” Heero continued out the door smirking at the short haired girl’s shout of “Jerk” and met Abdul at the van’s backdoor to help unload the van.

Solo watched his brothers’ back stiffen at Heero’s comment. “Duo?”

“It’s fine Solo.” Duo said tightly with a shake of his head and a small sardonic smile.

Solo sent at last glare in Heero’s direction and ran to catchup to his brother. “You can get your room changed if-”

“That butt isn’t going to scare me off.” Duo left it at that and followed Wufei out the door and up the steps to the second floor.


Tbc...

The song Duo’s singing with the dock workers is ‘Chain gang’ by Sam and Charles Cooke; Sam Cooke was one of the first crossover singers, his music and style soaring in the charts during the 50s -60s. Hear the man and hear & read his story at www. soul-patrol. com/ soul/ cooke.htm

(1) mono- Spanish for monkey