Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ notice ❯ Notice - Prologue ( Chapter 1 )

Title: Notice - Prologue

Author: Niere

Overall Rating: NC-17 for mature themes. Not for the impressionable.

Chapter Rating: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: The series Gundam Wing and the characters therein do not belong to me. I'm just putting them in different situations to see how they react.

Chapter Summary: Heero's reactions to what he overhears, some history and introspection.

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It was going to rain, I could smell it in the air. Shifting the bags of groceries to get a better grip on them, I picked up the pace a bit. I didn't relish the thought of getting caught in a downpour.

"Hey, Duo!"

I paused at the call from off to my left. The bushes along this section of the pathway were very dense, effectively cutting off any view of the rest of the park, but they did little to block the sounds. I could clearly make out the laughter of children as they frolicked on the playground I knew was on the other side of the hedge.

I wasn't planning to eavesdrop, I was just surprised. After all, Duo wasn't due home from work for about another twenty minutes or so.

"Hey, Robert."

That was Duo's voice, but it seemed…off somehow. Flat. Not so much that it would be noticed by most people, but I had spent the last few years listening to that voice. I knew it's different inflections and emotions. I'd heard the excitement in the heat of battle, the pain as he made light of his injuries, and the anguish as he told me of his childhood and the loved ones he'd lost.

"I tried to call you at work, but they said you'd called in. You sick or something?"

"Nah. I just needed a mental health day, ya know?"

I frowned as I listened to them laugh at that. The comment had been bright and cheery, yet false. Duo wouldn't lie, but he did hide well. He was a very accomplished actor, with layer upon layer of masks he kept in place for public view. I'd occasionally wondered if I had managed to get through them all. I think I had, but sometimes I wasn't so sure.

"We still on for Saturday?"

Duo had plans? He hadn't mentioned anything.

It's not like he had to ask my permission or anything, we were friends, nothing more. We'd just made a point of keeping each other notified of our where abouts. I guess it was leftover from the war…still watching each other's back.

"I was going to call you about that this evening. I've gotta cancel. Sorry."

Now I was really confused. Did something come up or was he turning this guy down? In all the years I'd known Duo, I'd never known him to turn down a date. Not that he went out that often, but he'd never actually refused before.

In fact, he'd had a date just a few days ago, sort of a 'spur of the moment' thing. Too bad that one totally fell through. Hmm, it seems that none of the people he goes out with last very long.

I put that thought on a back burner for later.

"Come on, man." My ears perked up. Now that was an interesting tone of voice. 'Robert', whoever he is, was definitely coming on to Duo. "My roommate is gonna be gone for the day. You'll enjoy yourself. I promise."

Oh, wow. Go for it Duo. That guy wants you…badly.

"I know I would. I was looking forward to it."

Ok…where's that rain when you need it? Funny, I hadn't noticed just how hot it was today.

That was one inflection/emotion I hadn't heard in Duo's voice before. I'd heard excitement, pain, anger, anguish, laughter…but lust? Nope, not that one.

Strange, I'd never really thought about Duo in a sexual manner before now. I knew he was gay, but that didn't bother me. I'm bisexual myself. I can go either way…when I think about it at all.

Hey, I'm a relatively normal, healthy, post-adolescent male. I have urges too. I was just kind of busy is all. By the time I was old enough to have hormones, I was in training with Dr. J. Could you imagine trying to get laid anywhere near that man? Just the thought of it works better than the coldest of showers, I can assure you. Besides, who do you think explained things to me? Odin Lowe? Right. I was what…five…six? Sex isn't exactly the most appropriate thing to teach to a child. I know…like assassination techniques is? He may have been sick, but he wasn't perverted.

It's not like I'm a virgin or anything. I have Trowa Barton to thank for that. Did you know that sex is a fantastic distraction technique for pain relief? Trowa sure did. I forgave him for saving my life after I self-detonated…real quick, too. Of course that cute little trapeze artist he introduced me to helped, also. Long chestnut hair, soft in all the right places… I can tell you, those circus performers are flexible!! You're a lucky man, Quatre Winner.

But I digress.

Duo and I met during the war. Sure, I noticed him immediately. It's rather hard to ignore someone who's pointing a gun at you. Shooting me twice isn't exactly a good pick-up line, though. Oh, I noticed him, all right, but 'interested'? Not hardly.

Rescuing me from the Med Center came a bit closer, but not much. I don't' think of sex when I'm in enemy territory and in pain. (Yes, I feel pain. I just usually choose to ignore it.) Besides, I hadn't yet learned what a great pain reliever sex could be.

As the war progressed, Duo and I sort of ended up as partners. We worked well together, complimented each other. We became friends. That fact rather surprised both of us.

We had roomed together for a while after the war ended, before the Dekim Barton Incident. He used to pester me with questions…repetitively. You should have seen the look on his face when I finally answered one. I know I'll never forget it.

That single answer seemed to break a dam between us. I was never known to talk that much. Why should I? No one has ever cared enough to really listen to me. Duo did. People would be surprised at what a good listener Duo "Chatter-box" Maxwell really is. He just doesn't care for silence much. It reminds him too much of death and those he's lost. If someone is talking, he knows they're alive. The dead don't talk anymore.

So, he talks…about anything and everything. What he doesn't talk about is himself, what he's really feeling. He would hint occasionally, but not really say anything. For all his constant talking, Duo can be just as close-mouthed as I am. He just expresses it differently.

It was during our talks that I learned he was gay. It took a lot of courage for him to tell me. I know this. Most guys just aren't comfortable enough with their own sexuality to have a gay roommate. They'd be afraid of the "fag trying something" with them. I wasn't worried for several reasons. One, we had roomed together a lot during the war and seen each other in various states of undress; from formal wear to shower. Nothing had 'happened' yet, so why worry? Two, I myself, being bisexual, wasn't the homophobe he was afraid I'd be if I were straight. And finally, if he ever did try forcing himself on me (which I know he wouldn't, Duo isn't like that) I could always kill him, being the stronger of the two. So, I wasn't worried about Duo trying anything sexual with me. On my part, I'll be honest…I just never thought about it.

I was thinking about it now…most definitely. I had discovered I was "interested" in my best friend, in that way, and he was "looking forward to" some bedroom gymnastics with Robert.

"But I just can't…not right now, 'k?"

*SCREEECH* Hit the brakes on that train of thought.

Huh? I don't get it. Duo turned him down? He was interested, I know he was. I could hear it. Robert wanted to, Duo wanted to… Ok, what's wrong with this picture? And why am I hearing pain in Duo's voice where there was only lust a second ago? Something seems seriously wrong here.

"Ok, Duo. I won't push. But if you change your mind…"

"I'll be sure to let you know. Thanks, man."

That's good. At least this Robert isn't going to try to force Duo into doing something he doesn't want to. I would hate to have to hurt him.

"I have to get home. Heero will be expecting me soon."

Oops, that's my cue to leave. I hope Duo makes it home before the rain hits.

I glanced overhead and frowned at the blackened sky. It had only been a few minutes since I'd heard Robert's greeting. How had the rain come up so quickly? I shifted the bags again and hurried forward.

"Heero! Hi." Duo came running up as I passed the entrance to the playground. "Let me help with those." I gratefully relinquished one of the bags I carried. "What'd cha get?"

I couldn't help but smile a bit at his antics. He was trying to dig through the bag as he carried it. "Just some stuff for dinner; spaghetti, sauce, and salad fixings."

"Hey, you got some of those ice cream bars, too. Cool!"

Ok, so I'm a bit of a softie at times. I know how he loves the things. I couldn't resist when I saw them.

We made it home just as the first drops began to fall, Duo chattering the entire way, as usual.

I listened carefully as he talked, not to what he was saying per se, but as to how he was saying it. I listened to his voice. He can't hide everything. Something is wrong. I can still hear it. I just have to figure out how to get him to tell me what the trouble is. I can't just ask him outright. Then he'd know I was listening to his conversation. The opportunity would come up, I know it will.

I'd learned a few things in that short conversation, about him and about myself and how I felt about him. I had a lot to think about.

TBC