Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Designed Memories ❯ Familiarity ( Chapter 2 )

Fuuuuuuuuuuck forgot to mention I don't own GWING and all that noise…my bad

 

Ch2: Familiarity

 

“I'm only gonna tell this story once so listen good.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Alright, so after all that shit with Marimaia and the war and everything we all got together about six months later.”

 

“Who's we?” Joey asked.

 

“Heero, Quatre, ya know the gang of pilots. Anyway, well we were all figurin what we were gonna do. Well, they were while I was half listening layin on the couch in the room nursin a serious hangover.” I snickered and the others joined me in taking a drink of our respective beers. “So they start talkin bout ways to ensure peace and come up with this idea of the Preventers, though it wasn't as concrete yet and had a different name, but I'm too drunk to remember all shit now.” I paused. “What the hell was I talking about?”

 

“Comin up with the Preventers.” Joey said absorbedly listening to me.

 

“Oh yeah, so well basically I kinda snapped about the whole thing.”

 

“Wait, hold on. It's taking me a minute to get this image in my mind. You losing your temper? Unheard of.” Adam said next to me.

 

“Yeah, yeah. Can it Jinks.” I snorted drinking my beer. “So Yuy gets in my face about it and of course I get right back in his. The other three decided to stay out of it, which was prolly for the best.”

 

“What were you two arguing over?” Young snuck in. I flashed him a glare.

 

“Him being a fuckin idiot.” I growled.

 

“Everyone is an idiot to you and that doesn't really explain anything.” Charlie said next to me apparently interested in the story as well.

 

“The same shit I say every time. The Preventer's are nothin, but hypocritical bastards usin violence to stop violence its ridiculous and the only reason he's doin it is because he doesn't know what to do with himself without conflict. It's just a gathering of fuckin warmongers. How fuckin ignorant can he be? Forcing this ridiculous ideal of peace his princess has on everyone. History has shown that people will rise up to gain their freedom and I for one rather have freedom then peace any day.” My hand shook with the tightness I gripped the mug getting irritated.

 

“And that's pretty much what you said to him wasn't it?” Charlie asked pulling my attention from crushing the mug.

 

“Yep.”

 

“I'm guessing 01 didn't like hearin that so much.” Mickey chimed in.

 

“Nope, not at all. It didn't take long for things to escalate and the two of us were throwin punches. The others tired to break us up, but had no chance. Heero and I had never been on the best of terms; I think both of us were lookin for a reason to hit each other. The lucky bastard got a good one on me back durin the war when I took the fall to keep Barton's identity under wraps. Fuckin bastard.”

 

“So that's why you guys hate each other so much. That's fuckin stupid.” Yoshi leaned back in his chair disappointed, rubbing his hand in his platinum blond died, spiked hair.

 

“We're Gundam pilots; it takes more than a few punches for us to hold a grudge.”

 

I heard Charlie sigh next to me. “I'm afraid to ask, but what did you do?”

 

I smirked, knowing Charlie knew me way too well. “Yeah, I did something I shouldn't have. While we were fighting I got a hold of Heero's gun and pulled it on him.”

 

“No shit! Damn, guess the rumors were true. L2 did have the best pilot. Ha!” Joey boasted.

 

“Yeah I wish. Anyway, the other pilots tried talkin me down, but I kept the gun on him and told him if he went through with this Preventer's thing the people would start a revolution. Funny thing, I can still remember his exact reply to that. `And will you be the leader of that revolution?' The look on his face made it seem like he almost wanted me to say I would. I told him I wouldn't have to be and pulled the trigger.” I had my hand in the shape of a gun pointed at Joey for effect. The table was at a hush.

 

“And?” Maleek spoke taking everyone off guard.

 

I shook of the oddity dropping my hand to my beer and taking a drink, shrugged and let it out. “And the gun wasn't loaded.” The table was a clamor of shock.

 

“No fuckin shit, that's low man.” Yoshi said lips pursed in a drunken irritation.

 

“He set you up.” Adam spoke evenly next to me. Adam was quite perceptive, course he was the only other one out of the bunch that had any military training. He knew how a soldiers mind worked “He let you get the gun to see if you would do it.”

 

“Yep, baited me and all. I fell right into his plan and was the perfect example for the reason the Preventer's were needed. Irrational people like me need to be kept in line.”

 

“That doesn't really explain why he hates you so much.” Charlie said drinking his beer. He didn't seem surprised or shocked by the story in the least, though I suppose it took a hell of a lot for me to shock him anymore.

 

“He was pissed I would have shot him point blank in the head.” I said with a shrug.

 

“But didn't he want you to shoot him, what the hell does he have to be mad about?” Yoshi asked in a drunken sway.

 

“I guess he was expectin me to only maim him not go directly for the kill. Pissed him off that I could so easily kill him I guess. Course it pissed the other pilots off to, since Heero was kinda their idol. I always thought he was fuckin stupid and selfish, but whatever. By that point the other three started tearing me a new one for it sayin they couldn't believe I would do that to someone who saved me so many times durin the war and how pathetic I was for tryin to kill him over a difference in opinion. I laughed at them. I mean what the hell was the whole war over, don't all of em start over a difference in opinion. They said I was out of line and blah blah blah then I came back here started up with Kondo and they stayed there startin the Preventer's. The end.” I finished the long story drinking the hell out of my beer.

 

“What did Heero say?” Young pried.

 

I sighed rolling my eyes not wanting to talk about it anymore. “Nothin, what he's always been good at sayin.”

 

“Whadafuckindouche.” Mickey's beer laced voice echoed over the table causing us all to double over in laughter at our overly intoxicated boss.

 

The guys didn't seem to care too much about what I had done, but had some choice words for Yuy and the other pilots. The rest of the night was spent ripping on the pilots, from their minuscule dick size, the STD's they carried, to mocking their every word and so on.

 

I awoke in a terrible state on the floor of my apartment my door opened wide. The sun was blaring in my face causing me to groan in complete detest for the false object until a form shadowed it coming into my apartment and shutting the door behind themselves. I moaned death as I sat up rubbing my face trying to get my pounding head to work. I looked up seeing the glass of red liquid held in front of me.

 

“Bloody Mary?”

 

“Oh, Lania you are a Goddess.” I grunted greedily taking the hangover cure drinking it like a man trapped in the desert getting his first taste of water.

 

“Yes I am.”

 

I sighed finally pulling down the glass. Lania was dressed a little better today, wearing blue scrub pants and a black wife beater with a white and black camouflaged bandana on her head and some black flip flops. She frowned at me, my eyes locking on the soft curves of her ample breasts. The shirt tight enough to give definition to the slim waste.

 

“The hell you looking at?”

 

“Just cause the merchandise ain't on the market doesn't mean I can't look.”

 

“Keep fuckin leering and I'm going to gouge your eyes out fuckhole.” She grunted sitting on my floor her own Bloody Mary in hand. I think she was even more pleasant than I was.

 

“Ain't your boy gonna be mad your down here?” I decided to change topics knowing she probably would gouge my eyes out and damn did that make me want her more.

 

“I sent his ass to the store to pick up something's and with him being a complete and utter failure at everything, it'll probably take him half the day and he'll come back with nothing on the list.”

 

“So why even send him out?”

 

She shrugged. “Like I have a choice. Apparently though everything is in my name, the money is his. Whatever, it gets him the hell away from me and that's all that matters.”

 

Even though her words were harsh, I knew first hand there was nothing getting in-between the two. I tried so many times and I wasn't the only one. The guy she was with wasn't bad looking either. I'd heard many women talking about him asking why he was with such a bitch and many men asking why she would stay with such an overbearing man, but the two were meant for each other. I mean seriously I couldn't see that guy making it with anyone else. Granted I could see her with me, but I was the only one seeing it, she didn't see anything except for him. I sighed wishing I had met her before she met him. How different my life would be. I glanced over at her. Man hitting that everyday would be a dream come true.

 

“Whatever yer thinking drop it cause it wouldn't happen even if you were the last thing with a fuckin penis on this earth.” She said without giving me a glance. As I said she was blind to everything, but him.

 

“Damn Lania, you really know how to get a guys spirits up.” I said a little dejectedly.

 

“How you feel has nothing to do with me. I'm just here to kill sometime and out of all the tenants here, you're the only one I can stand for more than thirty seconds. So shut up and drink your damn Bloody Mary. All yer fuckin whining is killing my mood.”

 

I smiled, though it was hidden by an influx of insults that was her way of saying she cared. I know that the only interaction she had with any of the other tenants was to yell at them to pay there rent or to call a repair person to fix a problem other than that she had no contact with them, save for me. I guess having her as a friend was better than nothing at all, I thought as I drank more of the drink, plus she made one hell of a Bloody Mary.

 

My door was suddenly kicked open causing me to nearly choke on the drink I just took from the shock. The form took up nearly the entire doorway looming like death itself. I was still trying to comprehend what was going on, but Lania was already on the offensive.

 

“What the fuck Albel?!”

 

“Woman! I knew you would be here! What is the meaning of this?!” I immediately recognized that low growling like yell and of course the name of Lania's husband. He stepped further in my small apartment, his eyes were a violet much like mine, but full of violence. He was dressed way better than he should be; his outfit did not reflect his attitude. I thought a loin clothe and a club would suit him better, but he was always in black dress pants with a perfect crease, matching black shoes that always shined. The shirt changed, but it was either business or business casual. Today he was wearing a black polo shirt the collar folded with precision. His hair was mostly black, the back long and held in a low ponytail, the tips died blonde and the bangs that fell into his face were also black as night and the tips white as the moon in that darkened sky. His face made up of hard angles and his expression always reflecting angry determination. I didn't think it was possible for the guy to actually smile ever and of course the sight of me near Lania made his expression exponentially more severe.

 

“Gee Albel, isn't obvious,” somehow I knew this was going to head into a bad place for me as she continued in that snidely sarcastic tone, “we just finished having the wildest sex seconds before you kicked in the fuckin door you have fuckin keys for. Keys that I even color coded for your retard ass!”

 

I took down the rest of the Bloody Mary she gave me knowing he was only going to focus on one word in that sentence and mentally cringed.

 

“Y-you…with that feeble thing! Woman you have this rare specimen of a man and you dare let that weak, frail, disgrace touch you!” Albel was glaring death at me, his hands forming fists and all I could think was its way to early for this shit. Lania was a double-edged sword to be around. There was always a 50/50 chance I'd be put in one of these situations if I got too close to her and Albel was almost as bad as her in cutting one down, course he was just ignorantly arrogant and had no idea how deemeaning he was actually being.

 

She turned to me handing me the second half of her Bloody Mary. “Take it and keep your mouth shut. I'll come see you later and the door will be fixed before the end of the day.” She gave me a soft smile, which I knew was a sign she was going to tear Albel a new one. I leaned back, taking a drink of her Bloody Mary watching the free show as the two interacted. Granted it was completely dysfunctional, but it was obvious love was involved and even I couldn't help, but be a little jealous of them.

 

“God Albel you're such an ass sometimes. Fuckin think you're so great, when you can't even buy one goddamn thing off a fuckin list! I even gave you a map and what do you bring me back? Nothing!” She said walking past him he followed behind her.

 

“Bah! I cannot understand your feeble woman instructions, plus I knew you would be in that pathetic boy's room. Dare you go behind my back!” He snapped a glare at me letting me know he hadn't forgotten about me. I gave him a `yeah thanks still here' nod finishing the Blood Mary knowing I was going to book it out of there once they cleared my door, course that was easier thought than done as Lania stopped turning on him in obvious anger.

 

“Yeah Albel, I was seeing him. I do have friends. You know friends, oh wait you don't know cause you're such an arrogant prick you can't even make one!” She was in his face, well more in his chest as she was just barely over five foot and he was about 6'1”.

 

“I have you woman, I need nothing else.” Albel's voice had lost its edge as if he was saying something that was common knowledge while he looked down at her.

 

Lania's face immediately softened. I couldn't help, but roll my eyes. How the hell does that tool get her? I mean seriously I was an idiot, but this guy was a whole nother breed. Course maybe I was more of the idiot as he was taking her in his arms and back to their apartment to get some wild hot ass, while I was sitting alone in my small room.

 

“Yeah, it is too early for this shit.” I muttered to myself, not bothering at all to change, knowing I wasn't in the mood to hear the two going at it like rabbits. I left the complex heading down two floors to the street, which was a bustle with people, the door to my apartment open wide. I might have cared if I had anything of value to steal, but that wasn't the case. The hang over was fading a bit, though I was still not even close to top form. I had no particular heading in mind, but before I knew it I was five blocks west and one north from where I had started walking around the wooden fence. The grass green and perfectly manicured. I smiled catching sight of a familiar frame as I walked down the sidewalk.

 

He was a big guy, hard to miss in a crowd. He looked like he should be in construction, but took a different direction that fit him perfectly. His arm was cocked back, the football ready to be launched. He reminded me of one of the pictures out of the high-class male clothing magazines. The Rolex gleaming on his wrist, the khakis crisp and creased. The light blue high collar shirt a perfect contrast to the navy vest trimmed in white he wore atop it. His blonde hair glistened in the sunlight giving him an almost haloed look. The ball left his hand in a perfect spiral. I followed its progress seeing the smallish boy catch it.

 

I tried to restrain the laugh of seeing him in the same outfit as his dad, but couldn't stop the slight chuckle from leaving me. The boy looked a lot like his dad, blonde hair that was a bit unruly; of course he wasn't the same size. Cliff, his dad, was huge. Nothing, but muscle and he even had a few inches on Albel in height. His son Jaster, was quiet a bit smaller, course he wasn't done growing yet and there was no doubt in my mind he would equal Cliff in size as he aged.

 

Jaster threw the ball back to Cliff as I jumped the fence to lazy to open the gate, which made no sense since it took more energy to jump the fence rather than open the gate, but it made sense at the time. I started on the stone path up to the house.

 

“Ey Duo, catch!” I turned to the playful voice of Cliff; I couldn't help but catch the ball after he startled me with his yell. I realized my mistake a second later when I caught a glimpse of blonde and a flash of ferocious blue eyes. I was abruptly floating, the ball escaping my clutches, as the shoulder dug into my suddenly unsteady stomach, gravity took over and my back met the ungiving ground causing the air to leave me and a wave of nausea to take hold.

 

“Yeah! Take that!” The mini mutant yelled down to me as I began to profusely drool, tasting fresh Bloody Mary in the back of my throat. I quickly pushed him off me rolling to my side groaning.

 

“Hey, that was a good hit Jaster.” Cliff praised that evil child that had moments ago tried to kill me. “Ya even stripped the ball. You are definitely gonna be varsity this year and with moves like that you'll be starting for sure.”

 

I began to get my bearings a bit and slowly got to my knees. The hand grabbed my arm and pulled me up brushing the back of me off, though I doubted there was any dirt on me as the lawn was flawless.

 

“Heh, I swear Duo, it won't happen again.” Cliff grinned at me as I looked up less than amused at him.

 

“Yeah how many times have I heard that?” I grunted holding my stomach with one hand while the other ruffled the soft hair of Jaster who stood in front of me looking jaded, though he was only a few inches shorter than me. “It was a good hit Jaster.” I smiled at him.

 

“Yeah, you really think so Uncle Duo?” He was full of pride.

 

“Course I do.” I couldn't help, but get pulled in by him. He was a cute kid and kind-hearted, much like his father, or well this father.

 

I bent down picking up the ball that was now at my feet and handed it to Jaster. “Yer other Pop in?” I asked Jaster who was cheesing up at me.

 

“Yeah, he's recouping in the living room.” Cliff grinned next to me seeming to find the situation comical and butting in to add his own brand of obvious. “Guys tied one on last night huh?”

 

I frowned at him. “I think we went well beyond that.”

 

“Good man, as long as you had fun.” Cliff was full of smiles patting me on the back, unaware of his own strength as usual as I felt all my organs rattling around from his hard hits and feeling myself physically move forward.

 

“Yeah thanks.” I groaned thinking another hit from Jaster might not be so bad compared to Cliff's pats of friendship.

 

“Hey let dad know we'll be in later.” Jaster smiled. “Me and coach gotta practice some more.” He went at Cliff like he was running a play and Cliff was immediately distracted with his son.

 

I sighed in relief unsure my body could take any more damage from the overly cheerful duo. I mean Cliff and Jaster were great, just not when one was extremely hung-over. I walked into the large two-story house. It was nicer than anything I had ever owned, course I never had owned much to begin with.

 

I slipped off my shoes in the foyer and headed into the long hall, passing the large sitting room that looked out on the spacious front yard fitted with a more than comfortable pillowed couch and a matching black sitting chair with reading lamp, stopping in the bathroom that was to the right opposite the sitting room taking a leak. I finished my business heading back down the hall till the room opened to a spacious living room, with a huge flat screen display on the wall, a couch just as large that was a hunter green and more comfortable than any other couch in existence. Oh I'm saying it.

 

To the left of it was the kitchen. There was a half wall that the right arm of the couch sat against separating the kitchen from the living room. From the kitchen if I turned right and headed through the length of it there was a windowed room, which was the where the dinner table was set up. The kitchen was awesome; best one I had ever seen eight gas burner range, ample counter space and cutting room. Plus the half wall that separated the living room and kitchen was perfect for serving trays and counter topped as well in the black marble that made up the modern looking room.

 

I had no intention of heading that way. I jumped over the back of the couch taking a seat on the left side from where Charlie was sitting; the right was always his spot, watching an old, old, old ass football game. He and I had watched it over a thousand times, but we still yelled at the refs and calls even though we knew our favorite team won.

 

“Did you see that shit?” Charlie questioned in irritation.

 

“Hell yeah.” I hadn't seen it, but we watched it enough I could tell by quarter, minutes on the clock and by who had possession what the call was. “That's fuckin horse shit. Fuckin Johnson jumped way before Benson. Calling False Start when you know that shit was Off Sides.”

 

“Right and we get the fuckin penalty. Fuckin stupid ass refs.” Charlie snorted as we watched our beloved Bears pound the hell out of the Patriots for the 2152 Superbowl. “Why you holdin your stomach?”

 

“Seriously, like ya gotta ask Sandman.” I grunted as he handed me a beer from the cooler he had strategically placed under his feet using it as an ottoman.

 

“Jaster's gettin good huh?” Charlie smiled at me.

 

“Yep, he's hitting a lot harder. Sometimes I wish he picked up a bit more of your personality.”

 

“Why, so he can take your ass down and point out all your flaws?”

 

I sighed taking a drink of the beer. “Never mind, he's fine the way he is.”

 

“Still haven't got that think before you speak thing figured out yet huh? What's it been now, five years? Wow, you really can't teach idiots.”

 

I chucked with him, before I stopped considering his words. “Has it really been five years?”

 

Charlie looked over at me. “Five too high a number for you to comprehend? We can cut it down to four if that works better.”

 

I frowned at him. “Naw, I got it.” I snorted.

 

“You sure?”

 

“Just watch the fuckin game.” We both went back to drinking having a moment of shared silence. It had been five years since I met Charlie, five and a half since Hilde and I split and since I had seen any of the pilots. I couldn't keep the sigh from leaving me. It was unavoidable that Yuy and I would cross paths eventually.

 

“Don't stress about shit that ain't happened, deal with it when it does.” Charlie commented. The name Sandman fit him well as he preemptively crushed shit.

 

“How the hell did you know…”

 

“We just went over this. Wait, wait, wait…gotta slow this down so even you can understand.” Charlie looked to me holding his fist up, his index finger straightened. “One.” He said slowly like he was talking to a two year old. His middle finger extended from the fist. “Two.”

 

I frowned seeing where this was going. “Yeah yeah yeah, five years I got it.”

 

“I'm not so sure.” Charlie said dropping his hand going back to watching the game and drinking.

 

I couldn't think of anything to come back with so I just grumbled to myself drinking my beer angry at my lack of brainpower.

 

My ears caught the nearly silent sound. I didn't make any sudden movement only smiled snidely as divine retribution unleashed itself upon my foe.

 

“Dad! You should have seen me out there!” Jaster yelled loud enough that anyone in a three mile radius could have heard him. Of course at that point he was inches behind Charlie, whose body seized in fear, the beer fumbling in his terror stricken hands.

 

At this point my head was on the back of the couch, the roaring cackle leaving me, like the tears in my eyes from the comedy of seeing a grown man reacting like a surprised babe. The fist met my shoulder as I fell forward, no sound coming from me; I couldn't get my body to take in air from how hard I was laughing. The concept of laughing one's self to death seemed like a probability to me at that juncture.

 

I was finally able to take a much needed gasp of air though it left me just as quickly as the image of his quivering horror stricken form burned into my mind. It took me a good five minutes before I could even begin to think of interacting with the human race again. I couldn't look at Charlie, knowing one look and I'd be back to where I'd just escaped.

 

“I'm glad you are finding this so amusing.” Charlie snorted.

 

“Oh, you don't know the half of it.” The laughter was still audible in my voice.

 

“Ya did good Jast.” I smirked to the grinning boy holding my hand out and receiving my slap of five.

 

“Jaster, you know better than to sneak up on your dad.” Cliff reprimanded him as Jaster moved closer to me, giving Cliff room to step behind Charlie. He leaned down wrapping his arms around Charlie placing his lips to the mix of brown that made up Charlie's hair. “Sorry, about that.”

 

Charlie patted Cliff on the arm. “Eh, it's fine. It was pretty funny.” Charlie smiled. I caught his face and was immediately snickering. “Shut it Duo.”

 

My chuckles grew to a sputtering laugh before I was hunched over again. My voice was high as I described his face and reaction in mid laughter. Even Charlie couldn't help, but laugh by the end. Though I don't know if he was laughing at his reaction or my failing attempt to explain it.

 

I was calming again. The four of us sitting in a blissful silence, just enjoying each others presence. I, reflecting on how lucky I was to find such friends. I glanced over at Cliff and Charlie. Cliff was still embracing Charlie from behind the couch. Charlie leaning back against the mass of his mate. The hands intertwined, my eyes caught the matching gold bands on their left hands that were clutched together, the matching rings resting against each other, much like the two in front of me.

 

There relationship was similar to that of Lania and Albel's, minus it was a lot less chaotic, but it was obvious they shared a deep kind of love nothing would get in the way of. They had been married for nearly ten years as well and Jaster was an orphan that Cliff had found on the street. There as no shortage of orphans on the streets after the war, Jaster was just lucky enough to get picked up by a couple of great guys who cared for him like he was there own flesh and blood, though it was frightening how much Jaster took after Cliff.

 

I let the sigh out sitting back on the couch wishing I had Jaster's luck. Course, I wasn't too displeased on how my life turned out, granted it would be a bit better if I had someone at my side, but I believed love would come when it came, until then I had some great friends to pass the time with.

 

“Hey I'm hungry.” Jaster said behind me. I glanced over at him realizing he was playing with my long chestnut braid. I raised an eyebrow at him; he smiled sweetly in reply making it impossible to say anything to him. I really wondered how Charlie and Cliff did it. I'd feel like an ass yelling at him.

 

“Yeah so am I.” Charlie added.

 

“Well, I can make something. What are you guys in the mood for?” Cliff said snuggling his head against Charlie's for a moment before pulling away giving a stretch and looking to Jaster and I.

 

Cliff was also an amazing cook, as well as an amazing football coach, hence the need for such an immaculate kitchen. Charlie made most of the money that came into the house, but it was Cliff that usually spent it as Charlie caved to nearly all his wishes. I could totally understand, Cliff had that same heart-melting smile Jaster carried and though the two seemed like dimwits, they knew how to play their strong points.

 

“No.” Charlie said, he was a bit better at telling the two no than I was. “I don't want to clean up the kitchen. Why don't we go out?”

 

“O'Brien's?” I threw out.

 

“Yeah like we're gonna go anywhere else.” Charlie said getting up and stretching. I followed suit, but skipped the stretch. “Just let me get changed and we can….” Charlie's words trailed as he studied me over. “You just got up and came over didn't you?”

 

“Eh?” I glanced down at myself remembering I was wearing what I had yesterday. “Ah, well, the door to my apartment is busted so I didn't really feel like changing there. Ya know how all the ladies there want a piece of the D. I just didn't want em all up on me when I wouldn't be performing at my peek.” Mock arrogance in every word.

 

“You peeked out when you were 10 Duo. It's been all down hill since then. Give it up and get yer ass up stairs. Yer taking a shower and I'll let you borrow something of mine.”

 

“Eh? Aw come on man, it's just O'Brien's. What's the big deal?”

 

“Duo you smell like a hobo, the only thing you are missing is the stringent smell of urine.”

 

“Dude. Harsh.” I frowned. “Psht. Cliff and Jaster ain't complaining. Dude it's the sent of a man, bask in this epic essence!” I grabbed Charlie in a headlock brining his nose to my armpit.

 

“Get off of me you sick bastard!” Charlie pushed me hard, I relinquishing my grip on him, which caused me to plow into the couch. The room an uproar of laughter, minus Charlie who was gagging.

 

My laughter quickly subsided as my braid was decidedly used as a leash to lead me by. I gave a slight yell of protest as I was dragged from the living room by the braid, Cliff and Jaster shrugging not even chancing getting in the way of Charlie when he was on a mission and apparently I was a mission. I nearly tripped up the stairs walking a kind of backwards sideways. My friends were so sweet. I thought as I was yanked forward and pushed down the slight hall, which looked over the foyer, and shoved into the master bedroom.

 

“Dude, you treat your guests so well.” I snorted as Charlie relinquished his abuse on me going into the closet digging out some clothes for me. I sat on the large king-sized bed. The room a mix of burgundy, walls, and ceiling painted with the color and a few pillows on the bed matching that deep red hue. Black, carpeting, draperies, comforter and other pillows making up the rest of the room. The closet was a walk in the door a deep mahogany. To the left of were I sat was the master bathroom. A large tub, with jets in case one wished to turn into a hot tub. A large shower set off to the side, glass surrounding it making it large enough for two large men. I smirked wondering how many times Cliff and Charlie had played in that bathroom.

 

The decor in the bathroom was a mix of black and white. The tub black along with toilet and sink. The tile a black and white checker board and the trim of the area gold.

 

“You're not a guest Duo, you're a parasite.”

 

My comeback was killed as a towel met my face knocking me back on the bed. I pulled it from my face propping myself up on an elbow on the ungodly comfortable bed. Way better then the futon I had, course I was trying to live within my means and my means were pretty pathetic. I pulled the towel down digging a comeback from the empty cavern of my head.

 

The tongue-lashing was crushed as a foot met my shoulder throwing off balance and causing me to tumble from the bed onto the floor. I groaned the pain from the unexpected action and consequent reaction.

 

“Don't contaminate my bed with your dirty ass.” Charlie gave a harsh explanation as I dragged my `dirty ass' off the floor.

 

“Psht, you're lucky a fine ass like mine even touched your bed.”

 

“Oh my god, you're right! What was I thinkin? The day I married Cliff or the day we got Jaster I thought were the greatest days in all my life, but oh no this day, this is the day I will remember for eternity. What did I do to deserve such grandiose fortune?” Charlie trailed off going back into the closet.

 

The frown was immediately on my face at the overkill of sarcasm Charlie shot at me, which was more than enough of a sign for me to count my losses and head to the shower.

 

It felt good, the bathroom was big and the water temp didn't go from freezing to scalding hot if a toilet was flushed. It was actually kind of refreshing not having to jump out of the bathroom squealing like a girl as my shower was literally 2x2 and the bathroom about 5x5, when I say I had to jump out of the bathroom. I really did.

 

The knock sounded at the door. “Duo, I know your body rarely has the benefit of clean water, but I'm hungry, so hurry your retarded ass up.”

 

I grumbled a few profanities as I shut off the shower; I'd finished about 30 minutes ago, but was relishing the rare experience. I even took out the braid and washed the mass of hair, which it was in need of as I had slacked on it for the past week.

 

I rung out the hair and did a thorough dry on it before running the towel over my body and wrapping around my waist. I didn't bother glancing in the mirror. I knew my face well enough I didn't have to look at it. I stepped from the bathroom. Charlie was looking critically down at an outfit he laid out for me. I raised an eyebrow at his figure, chewing on his thumbnail seeming dissatisfied, like something was missing.

 

“Dude, it's just some clothes and we're going to O'Brien's, besides Cliff is your arm candy.” I moved towards him as he finally decided to give up on the clothes.

 

I frowned slightly as I looked at the clothes. They were yuppyish. I was used to wearing Toraichi brand. I mean they made work clothes, but also some standard shirts and what not. It was comfortable and that's really all that mattered to me. I wasn't about shit that I had to worry about getting dirty, as I was a klutz. These were the types of clothes I'd have to worry about.

 

I glanced over at Charlie to let him know my protests; the mischievous smirk came to my face. “Yer checkin me out.”

 

Charlie's eyes darted from my chest and stomach to my face, a slight blanch finding his cheeks. “The hell I was. You fuckin wish I was.”

 

“Why you getting so defensive? Aw, don't worry, I know, it's the water drippin down this chiseled body.”

 

“Chiseled fuckin stupid is all I see.”

 

“Yeah, but that means you are looking.”

 

Charlie's hand reached out pushing one of the long wet locks that clung to my stomach behind me. “I've just never seen your hair down before.”

 

I pursed my lips, but couldn't come back with anything because he was right. I'd showered there a few times before, but never took my hair down not wanting to deal with it. It just conveniently worked out that today I felt like cleaning the mass. I shrugged.

 

“What can I say, I'm some hot shit.”

 

Charlie shook his head. “If only you didn't open your mouth.” He said under his breath. “Now get dressed before Cliff and Jaster have a fit.”

 

I immediately dropped the towel. Charlie's eyes went slightly wide before he quickly turned from me. “Christ you could wait till I leave Duo.”

 

“What it's not like it ain't nothin you seen before, well maybe nothin this big eh?” I said turning to Charlie hands on me hips pulling a super hero pose.

 

Charlie didn't look back at me and exited the room. “Big is such a relative term.” He glanced over his shoulder giving me and up and down. “And it's relatively an overstatement for you Duo.”

 

Again, I had been schooled. I frowned slipping on the boxers. A pair of white chino pants a white dress shirt with soft blue strips and a white collar, atop that was a yellow sweater.

I left the last two buttons of the shirt open feeling as if I was being suffocated. Hell the whole outfit made me feel that way. It was much too tight on me; it seemed I was a little thicker than Charlie in muscle. I looked down at myself running my hands down the shirts and the front of the pants; the outfit accentuated the natural form of my body. It wasn't overly or uncomfortably tight, well uncomfortable to me as I didn't where this kind of shit ever. I groaned, but still finished the outfit with the black braided belt.

 

The clothes were nearly as nice as what Cliff and Jaster were wearing and all of it was Ralph Lauren. Last I saw pants like this were going for a cool $300. It pissed me off that Charlie himself was in loose fitting jeans and a dark green shirt, granted I was sure they were designer as well, but still. I turned looking in the mirror. It didn't look bad since I was pretty well tanned and toned from all the outside working, but I knew he was playing dress up with me and trying to give me a complex. I shrugged it off. I was looking hella good.

 

I headed down the stairs jumping the railing when I was 3/4ths the way down. “Alright kids lets get a move on!”

 

Jaster was the first to run out from the living room skidding to a stop in front of me, staring in awe. I raised an eyebrow then remembered my wet hair was still down. I smirked rubbing the back of the long mess.

 

“Yeah, I look kinda weird huh Jast.?”

 

“No!” He shouted closing in on me. “Uncle Duo you are still going to marry me right?” Jaster asked wrapping his arms around me squeezing tight. I struggled on a breath. The kid was like Cliff, unaware of his own strength.

 

I cringed, slightly rolling my eyes as I patted Jaster on the head. “Yeah, yeah course I am. Just let me go.” I grunted.

 

“Sorry, I get excited.” Jaster's voice full of guilt as he let go and found something interesting to look at on his shoes.

 

“Hey, buck up kid. We're gonna get some eats right, gotta celebrate you being varsity this year yeah?” Jaster smiled up at me excitedly running to the door slipping on his shoes.

 

“Yep, boy sure is gonna be varsity! You'll have to come cheer him on Duo.” Cliff gave me a smirk. “You lookin good there man.” He ended with a nudge, which nearly sent me against the wall. Fuckin powerhouse. I gave a laugh wanting the lug to get away from me before he inflicted damage.

 

“Don't fuck with Jaster Duo, or I will throw you from a building without the lift there to stop your fall.” Charlie said darkly as he passed me. I gave a nervous laugh knowing he wasn't joking. I slipped on my boots and followed behind the three.

 

I don't know what it was with Jaster, but the first day he met me he asked me to marry him. He was ten at the time, so I humored him. I mean a ten year old doesn't know what the hell they are talking about. Course now he was fifteen and still stuck on the fact. From what Charlie told me, he turned down all the women that pined after him saying he was already taken. I told Charlie it wasn't healthy and he needed to date people his own age. Charlie told me to take responsibility for my actions. I said I would marry him so therefore I had to, if I wasn't planning on it I shouldn't have said anything. Fuckin bastard was no help to me!