Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Orphan Stage ❯ Stage Heero ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Gundam Wing Characters, blah blah blah

Pairings: 1x2, 3+4, 5+?

Warning: Hmm… wicked Witches, evil people that should die, and an emotional Heero! Beware!

Summary: Duo Maxwell is put into a protection program after his father gets out of jail and goes missing. Duo finds himself in a situation where he can finally find his brother that was adopted ten years ago.

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Stage Heero

We watched Heero's relatives dine for a little while longer before making our way back down to Heero's room. I have to admit, I was really taken aback when seeing the coldness of the people that Heero was living with, and had been for five years.

"Have you figured anything out yet." He asked, as we once again sat on the couch. He had let go of my hand when we stepped back into the room and I couldn't help but noticed the coolness left behind.

"A… little bit, but… I still want you to explain it to me. I don't understand why someone would act like that towards you, its too…" My voice trailed off and I looked to the ground when I realized that no words could really describe what I had seen.

"My mother and father didn't die of… natural causes." He said, placing a hand to his temple, rubbing small circles as if he had a headache. "They were murdered."

I could feel my heart start to beat faster as I listened to him calmly telling me that his parents were murdered like he was talking about weather. How could he be this strong? To not show how he's feeling inside, if in fact he was feeling anything at all.

He seemed to be able to read the expression on my face and he smirked slightly. "It's not as if I don't care that they died, I just never really knew them." Walking over to one of the desks, he pulled out a book from the top drawer. "Here."

I took the book from his hands a little hesitantly. As the first page came into view, I noticed it was a scrap book. A newspaper article was pasted on the page, with a picture of a little boy who looked no older than three. Big letters on the top spelled out 'kidnapping.'

"When I was almost four, I was taken from my parents. I never really considered it kidnapping, because I went on my own free will. But what child wouldn't when offered toys and candy." He smirked slightly at my stunned expression, as if finding it amusing. "My grandfather, was the one who took me, he had a grudge against my parents, always talking about how they were 'greedy and distrustful.' I grew up hating them, only because I was told to by my grandfather." Heero seemed to be lost in thought again and it was a couple minutes before he spoke.

"I lived with him for about nine years, locked in his house most of the time. I rarely got to go out, I never asked why though. Jay… I believed everything he told me... Later I found out that he only wanted to use me." Leaning forward, Heero rested his head in his hands. "One day, when I was twelve, he told me to go and kill my parents."

I couldn't hold the shock that welled through me and I gasped slightly at his confession. The atmosphere in the room was slowly turning bad and my body was starting to shake in fear or maybe anticipation for what he was going to say next.

"He just dropped me off one day at my parents house, this house, saying 'go kill your parents or I wont take you back.' He handed me a pistol and drove away, leaving me at their doorstep. I… picked the lock on the front door, and walked in… fully intending to kill them." He paused once again, head still down in his hands. His left foot swayed back and forth in nervousness as he collected his thoughts.

"Y-you didn't…" I started to say, but it was too hard to get my voice to work after hearing his speech.

He looked up slightly, finally meeting my violet eyes in his. "No. I failed, I couldn't kill them… They were eating dinner… when I had come in. They looked… happy, an emotion that I had rarely seen back then. I guess I was scared…" Heero's body was starting to shake as he continued. "I ran away, back to Jay… He was… so mad… went and killed them… couldn't stop… watched him kill..."

I watched in alarm as Heero's eyes widened and he started to tremble. He looked… scared, like he was reliving his past inside his mind.

"Heero!" Jumping up, I ran to his side, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, you don't have to continue." I was trying to give him a way out, so that he wouldn't have to talk anymore. Guilt was playing through my mind as I watched him in this state.

I had forced him to tell me. I had forced him to reopen the wounds of his past. God, I was such a jerk!

Taking a couple deep breaths, he seemed to calm down enough to speak again. His expressionless face was now before me again, but I could tell that he was still hurting inside. "My parents died by his hands, so he was sent to jail for life. They didn't know what to do with me, so they gave me to my Aunt. After living with her for a week, I had found out that she hated me, hated me enough to treat me like this. She believes that it was my fault my father died."

I felt enraged towards that woman, and towards this 'Jay' guy. Heero had been treated cruelly his whole life, used by his own grandfather, ignored by his relatives. The suffering he must have gone through…

"My parents, had a fortune. In their will they gave the money to me, even though I had been missing. My Aunt took it that they just forgot to change the will, and the money was suppose to be hers. Another grudge against me, and that's why she ignores me…. This house, and all the money, is mine, yet I cant get to it until I turn eighteen. That's when she plans to sue me for all of the estate."

"Eh? Can she do that?" I knew what the answer was going to be, but I still wanted it to be wrong. If Heero were to lose all of his money… where would he go when he turned eighteen and got kicked out of the house? He'd have no support… I guess it's similar to being an orphan.

When someone turns eighteen, the orphanage can no longer get government support to pay for the child. They are given a job, maybe a place to stay, and abandoned. Life is hard enough as it is, but to not have a family to come back to if things turned bad, was a pretty horrible thought. I knew that was what would happen to me, when I had turned eighteen. But it never really seemed as bad as now, when I see Heero going through a similar situation.

"Do you know why she has been mourning for all these years?" He asked, looking at me with sad eyes that made me want to just jump up and hug him. Of course, I would be too afraid he would punch me in the gut, or get freaked out at the physical contact.

"Why?" I thought about it for a while, but still couldn't figure out an answer. Mourning for that long was just ridiculous. It made me wonder just how much money his Aunt had wasted over the years. She didn't seem like she worked, and there were a ton of servants that were getting paid full time wages… damn, just how much money was there in Heero's little inheritance?

"One time, when I was forced to clean the attic upstairs, I stumbled upon some of my fathers old letters. They were addressed to my Aunt," His face twisted slightly in disgust. "I found out that he was having an affair with her, behind my mothers back."

This was pretty shocking, not the part where his father had an affair… no, the part where someone would ever want to have an affair with that freak of a woman. "What? That ugly old lady?"

"She didn't always look like that. She actually used to be attractive in her younger days, but ever since my father died, she changed… At first she mourned solely because she was sad he was gone… But it dragged on, and I became a little suspicious." His tone was low and cold, I could tell whatever he was trying to say was going to be bad.

"About a year ago, I had overheard her talking to her daughter. She seems to think she can easily win over my inheritance if the judge feels sorry for her. So… it was all an act, mourning for five years only for money. I think she plans on using some of the maids to testify against me, saying how I never even cared for my parents, or their deaths."

I couldn't remember a time where I felt more disgusted than I did then, listening to his story. I think I would have gone outside and thrown up if I could have remembered the way out. The cruelty his whole family had shown him was upsetting. Yet he sits here, and is able to tell me all of it without anger, with out showing his hate towards the people who had hurt him. Heero was strong, and it amazed me.

I guess I must have zoned out for awhile, or gone into shock, because the next thing I know, Heero's waving a hand in front of my face yelling my name. I shook my head and came back to reality to see his worried face only a foot in front of mine. "S-sorry." I could feel my cheeks burning slightly in embarrassment and I really hoped it was too dark for him to notice.

He pulled back, sitting once again on the chair across from me and sighed. "You should start heading back home, your cop friend might be worrying where you are."

Kemp, yeah he would most likely be worrying about me. That thought was a little comforting, knowing that I had someone that cared about me. Heero, however, would not be missed if he was gone. They probably wouldn't even know if he left and never came back, and wouldn't care as long as they had his money. How could people like that exists in the world? I could never figure it out. Was it their childhood that warped them to become so… evil? Or was it incidences like death, that made them so cruel? Heero's Aunt seemed to have gone bad after his fathers death, and she seemed to take the blame on Heero, even though he wasn't the one who took the final blow. Doesn't she know he had been tortured enough?

Heero had talked a lot today, I don't think I will ever hear him say so much in a single sitting again. I smiled a little when Heero turned his back to walk towards the door. I was feeling a little better because of my thoughts. I felt special, and my stomach was doing a little butterfly dance thinking of how nice Heero had acted towards me. Sure, he was cold for the beginning of the day, but he really made it up in the long run.

"Do the others know about this? Does Hilde know?" I asked. I was a little curious seeing as how they never seemed to act like the situation was 'that' bad. If they knew everything that I did, I'm sure they would be trying to help Heero a little. As for me, I was already thinking up ways to torture the 'evil wicked Aunt of the west wing.' Now only if she wore a pointed hat, then she would definitely fill the witch category.

"It was in the news, five years ago. They only know what's been told in the media."

"Then… why did you tell me all of this?" Sure, I was thrilled that he had shared so much, but he could have just told me the media's story and not had to have suffered through talking about it.

"You asked." It was a simple answer yet it was pretty amusing to me.

"Hmmm? So if I asked you to walk me home, you would?" It would probably be getting dark soon, and I don't know if my nerves could take any more frights today.

He smirked slightly, seeing my pleading expression. "I've got nothing better to do."

"Yay!" Jumping up from the couch I hurried quickly to the door. "Come on, I want to get out of this place, it gives me the creeps." I nearly bit my tongue off after I said that. "Ah! I didn't mean… well, your room doesn't give me the creeps… just the…"

"It's alright, I'm used to it." He was still smirking slightly, amused by my flustered state and I couldn't help but feel warm inside.

We made our way out of the house and started the walk to the bus station. I didn't really think that Heero would actually walk me 'all' the way to my apartment, but to my surprise he hopped on the bus right along with me and we sat down for the ten minute ride.

He was quiet again, as if thinking about something. I had assumed it was about our little discussion about his past, but to my surprise, he was actually thinking more along the lines of 'my' problems.

"Your father… he doesn't know you're here?" He asked, looking out the window as cars whizzed by on the opposite side of the road. I've always liked riding on buses at night, when the rest of the world is dark and you are in a moving bubble of light. It kinda reminds me of the subway, where you cant see out the dark windows because your in a tunnel of darkness.

"Hmm? I thought you read my file?"

"Ah… only scanned over the important details." He said, looking up at me slightly, eyes barely visible through his thick bangs.

"Aa… well… there isn't really any way he would be able to find me. It would be hard. I'm sure there is 'some' way." I stammered, all of a sudden finding the floor to be really interesting. I wondered what he would think of me if I told him how paranoid I had been lately. Or how scared I had become walking home alone. All because of Hall, all because he is supposedly after me.

Maybe they were wrong about the whole situation. For all we know, Hall could be thousands of miles away, laughing at the mess I was put in all because of him. Well, like they say, better safe then sorry. All though, I wasn't feeling all that safe, even after being put into the so called protection program. Kemp hadn't said a word to me about Hall and I wondered if they were even close to finding him.

Heero's voice broke me out of my thoughts. "Will you tell me… why he's after you?" I could tell that he was having a hard time asking me this by the way his voice seemed to be a little softer than usual. Heero rarely asked questions, so I knew this was something he really wanted to know about.

"Aa… Since you told me… about you, its only fair that I give you my whole story, ne?" I cocked my head to the side as I thought of how to explain myself without accidentally giving away something about Quatre.

Heero listened to me patiently as I told him my past. He seemed a little stunned at some of the things I brought up, like me being beaten as a child. Though he didn't comment on anything, just let me ramble away. For some reason, I ended up telling him stories of my stay at the orphanage, like the time I stole the fathers cross in order to clean my nails with the pointed edge. He kinda looked at me weird as if thinking, 'glad I didn't know Duo as a child.'

Before I knew it, we were walking down my street, bus long gone and probably half way through the city by now. The street lights were now on and it was almost dark, shadows slowly disappearing as the suns last rays faded away.

"There was this one kid, Tommy? I think that was it… yeah, yeah Tommy! Anyways, he was always crying and stuff, so one day I took him out by the river that was about a couple blocks from the orphanage. We all wanted to go swimming, but he kept crying… cause we weren't really allowed to and he was scared." I started, waving my hands around animatedly. Heero just looked at me with amusement in the depths of his eyes. He didn't smirk, or smile, just listened as if he knew it would make me happy. And it did, I was back living in the past, the good past at least. I didn't even look around the streets once with fright of seeing Hall. Maybe it was because I had someone with me, and Heero of all people!

I was about to tell him about how we ended up picking up Tommy and throwing him in the river, when we came to the outside steps of my apartment. My heart stopped. Right on the step, exactly as it had been this morning, was the green cigarette box.

Frozen from shock and fear, I just stared wide eyed at the empty package.

Hall… it couldn't be… could it? At that thought, I swung my head around and searched the street with my eyes.

Nothing.

"Duo?" Heero had his hand resting on my shoulder and was trying to get me to look at him. "Are you alright?" The tone of his voice sounded a little like worry, but you couldn't really tell with Heero, now could you?

I took a deep breath to calm myself before attempting to answer him. "C-can you…" The words couldn't get out of my mouth, perhaps I was a little afraid to ask Heero to come upstairs with me and risk him thinking I was a wimp.

Heero just nodded slightly like he could read my mind again. This time, however, I was thankful when he answered my unvoiced question. "I'll walk up to your apartment with you." He stated, holding the door open and tilting his head slightly to get me moving.

My limbs were starting to shake again, like the last time I had come home to my empty apartment. I kept taking deep breaths in hopes that I would calm myself and not look like a total freak in front of Heero. He didn't seem to be paying much attention to me though, which was a relief. He seemed to always understand me, its like he knew what I was feeling and would do things to make me more comfortable. He'd been doing that a lot today, I realized.

This quiet, cold boy, seemed to know a lot about others emotions. And yet, he doesn't show any for himself.

My wooden front door came into view and I sighed in relief as I noted that it was normal. I guess I had been thinking it would be broken and my apartment thrashed. Heh, me and my big paranoid imagination.

Heero followed me in as I opened the door. Everything was the same, nothing freaky. I was over reacting again, the cigarette box could have just been dropped by the same person as yesterdays.

Heero didn't say anything as he went and checked my bedroom and bathroom out. This made me feel at ease somewhat and I was really glad I had asked him to walk me home. If I would have come back to the apartment to see that box on the steps, and no Heero to snap me out of my fears, I would probably still be standing out there staring like a big idiot.

My heart sank slightly as Heero stood before me, already done checking the house. He would be leaving, leaving me alone in this apartment that I had come to hate. I waited for the words telling me that he would see me tomorrow, or saying good night, but… they never came.

"Mind if I watch TV for a little while?" Heero didn't wait for an answer as he jumped over the back of the couch while grabbing the remote. I could feel my eyes widening slightly, but soon to disappear as a big goofy smile spread across my face.

He definitely was on the top of my favorite persons list right now!

Sitting down next to him, I grabbed the remote from his hand and turned to the old AMC movie channel. The old movies always made me laugh, with their bad acting and weird clothes. Heero's eyebrow raised slightly as an old western started to play. I wondered if he ever got to watch television. There wasn't one in his room, but I suppose he could have always watched from his computer.

Thirty minutes into the movie, my eyes were starting to droop and my head was getting annoyingly heavy. I glanced at Heero and chuckled through one of my yawns. I hadn't expected to see him fast asleep. He was curled up in a little ball at the end of the sofa. shoes still on, shirt slightly pulled up a little, exposing his smooth stomach. He looked so peaceful… and damn hot when sleeping. I found myself staring at his lips, partly open as he breathed softly.

My face was starting to flush slightly at the sight before me, and I had to drag my eyes away in order to calm my raging hormones. I stretched out my stiff muscles and made my way to the bedroom. The bed didn't really look all the appealing to me anymore. My mind started to drift as I stared at the unmade bed, imagining how Heero would look lying on my bed.

Gah! Stupid, stupid! Got to stop thinking bad thoughts!

Well, I tried to stop thinking about him. But as I pulled off the only blanket I had and set out to put it on Heero, I was greeted with a sight that made my stomach tingle in excitement. He was laying on his back, stretched out like a cat with his stomach now showing skin up to his cute little belly button.

I know, I was drooling. But who wouldn't when a hot guy was laying asleep in your living room looking 'oh so yummy'?

No, no, no… must… stop thinking about… Heero like that! He is only… a friend.

A friend eh? Does he even consider me as one? I mean, he never actually ran up to me and told me he liked me enough to actually want to be my friend. His whole attitude, makes it hard to tell what he likes, dislikes. Ok, so it isn't that hard to tell what he 'dis' likes. He usually glares at everything he seems to hate with a passion. Sure, he's glared at me my share of times, but I never thought that he would actually 'hate' me. I really wish I knew what he felt about me, his behavior towards me yesterday was enough to make me feel like he did care for me… but… it could be that he was only acting like that, because I had forced him into that situation… and he felt obligated to treat me nicely.

Pulling the covers onto the sleeping boy, I was left blanket less and standing above him. I didn't mind though, I had slept outside in the cold plenty of times when I would run away from the orphanage. Part of the reason I was never adopted, they like to put things like that on my record. No one wanted a kid who was gonna split right when things got a little bad.

I had always wondered why they didn't just delete the things on my file, so someone would adopt me. They could probably get away with it easy, but them being church people was most likely the problem. Not that they seemed to mind me. The sister, even after all her yelling and scolding me… seemed to love me. I could tell by how she would hug me every night, and how she worried when I came home a little too late.

I smiled, thinking of them at the church, it made feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I laid myself down on the floor, a couple feet away from Heero, thinking of Father Maxwell and Sister Helen before falling into a deep slumber.

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Do you ever wake up to find your face all funny looking with indents in it? Well, I knew if I had looked into a mirror I would probably see a side full of creases from where the carpet had met my face. I awoke to the smell of bacon, and was really surprised to see Heero standing over my stove when I opened my eyes. The blanket I had put on him was now draped carefully over me, and I was thankful considering how cold it always was in the morning. As I sat up stretching slightly, Heero turned to greet me with a quick nod.

Heh… he was back to his usual self I see.

Turns out he was making bacon and eggs… how he got the eggs was a good question! I didn't ask though, I was too busy stuffing my face. "Mmm… how come you know how to cook?" I asked between mouthfuls.

"Jay, he used to make me cook for him." Heero said, never taking his eyes off his plate. I wondered if he was bothered by something. He had barely said anything all morning and I was beginning to think I had done something wrong.

After finishing the meal, I went to get dressed for school. Heero was still in yesterday's clothes which made me wonder if he would be able to fit in anything of mine…

"Oy… Heero." I called from in the bedroom. "Come here and see if this'll fit ya!" He walked in to see me holding up a pair of baggy blue jeans and a black T-shirt.

"I'm not wearing that."

"Aw, come one, you cant possibly think to wear those 'again'!" I smirked slightly before adding, "Besides, you smell." That wasn't exactly a lie, he didn't smell bad, no, he smelled really good actually. He kinda snorted something under his breath before snatching the clothes from my hand and walking to the bathroom. "You can take a shower if you want." I yelled after him. I could hear him snarl angrily from behind the closed door, I guess he thought I was telling him he stunk again. Oh well.

Surprisingly, he did take a shower. And I was left sitting on my bed, staring at the closed door imagining Heero on the other side. Gah! I was doing it again.

Must… not… think of Heero with water running down his naked body… must stop.

I slapped my hand over my forehead and fell back onto my soft bed. This was going to be a lo~ong day.

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Wooo… That was a hard chapter to write, sigh.