Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Perfectly Broken ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 17 )

Chapter 17

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"Duo, I'm cold. Can we go inside now?"

 

"Sure Heero. Let's go get some hot chocolate." Duo came and helped me up from where I was lying in the snow. Duo surprised me this morning and told me to dress in warm clothes and wear a hat and gloves. I was told to pack some extra warm clothes as well just in case something happened to the other ones. He wouldn't tell me why, but I packed them all the same. He had something planned and even though I didn't know what, I enjoyed the secret.

 

He drove us out of the town for about two hours and although I tried to find out where we were going he wouldn't tell me.

 

When we finally did stop, I was stunned by the sign that sat in front of us. Duo was going to teach me how to ski. He rented the padding, skies, and poles and then took me out to the bunny trail. I thought it sounded cute and innocent until Duo came up behind me and started to put the gear on me.

 

There was a trick to it and I soon saw that I would have to get used to not having my ankles move about. The boots kept them locked in place and the padding helped to prevent me from breaking anything.

 

The first thing I learned was how to fall properly so I wouldn't get hurt. Duo said he wasn't a pro but went once in a while with Quatre when they first met, so he knew what he was doing. Duo taught me all kinds of things and for an hour, I practiced along side him on the bunny trail since it was only a gradual decline and was better to learn on than the other trails.

 

I did pretty well and we soon were riding the ski lift up the mountain and got off at the top to pick the trail we wanted to ski down. We tried a couple of gentle ones for a few hours until Duo felt like he wanted a challenge. He picked a steep one and flew down it gracefully. I attempted to follow and didn't ski as gracefully as Duo. I landed on my butt in the snow.

 

Duo helped me up and I was grateful that he decided we could go in the lodge for hot chocolate. My clothes were soaked through and Duo lead me over to the lockers in the lower part of the lodge. Duo had rented it so we wouldn't have to go out to the car and change. Duo helped me out of the ski gear and then started to help me pull off the wet clothes.

 

I was a bit nervous that someone would come in and see us. I told Duo this and he moved in front of me so anyone who came in wouldn't see me. He would block their view of me. Duo just smiled at me and I was relieved that no one came in while I pulled on my clean warm clothes.

 

Duo changed next and I helped him pull on his sweater. We shoved our wet clothes in a bag along with our coats and set the lock back on there so we could pick them up later. Duo led me up to the lodging part and bought us two steaming cups of hot chocolate. I took mine and sat down on the couch. Duo joined me a moment later and brought over a blueberry muffin for us to share. We ate it in silence just enjoying the warmth that surrounded us and the hot chocolate we sipped to warm up our insides.

 

The slopes had been fun except for that last one and I was ready to call it a day. Duo took away my cup when I had drunk all of the hot chocolate and seemed to come up with the same solution I did. He led me back to our locker, we packed up all our things, bundled up in warmth and turned in our key to the lock before daring to go outdoors once again.

 

We trekked across the parking lot and soon found our car buried under more soon. I cleaned off the windows as Duo started the car up and had the heat going full blast by the time I was finished.

 

"So, are you ready to head home?"

 

"More than ready," I replied and got comfortable in the seat for the long ride home.

 

We made a couple of rest stops and Duo bought something called beef jerky in one of the stores. He told me to take a bite and when I did I was amazed at how hard the meat was. Duo just grinned and ripped me off a small piece to chew on. It was spicy, but had a nice flavor, so I enjoyed it.

 

Eventually, I fell asleep to the gentle motion of the car. That was until I felt the sudden jolt of the vehicle stopping. It jostled me awake, but as I looked out the window, I realized we were at our apartment. We parked next to Trowa's truck and figured Quatre was probably already enjoying our absence.

 

Sometimes it was odd to come home and find Quatre in a hot make-out session with Trowa on the couch, but I also knew that he didn't care who watched him. As long as his needs were filled, all was fine.

 

We gathered up our belongings and Duo marched up to our apartment and called out that he had better find everyone decently covered when he came in. Duo went first and I stayed right behind him the entire time. I bumped into him when I felt him stop abruptly and tried to see why.

 

"Duo? It's been a long time hasn't it?" There in our living room sat a man with long, pale blond hair that reached his waist, not as long as Duo's, but it was still impressive.

 

"Zechs? What are you doing here?" I peaked around the room and saw Quatre blushing. He was sitting on Trowa's lap, but the banged man didn't seem to mind at all. He stayed calm as the blond tried to explain this stranger's visit.

 

"I'm to blame for this Duo. Sorry. I ran into him at my meeting yesterday. I didn't get to tell you about him since you guys left pretty early this morning, but I thought you should at least see each other. We've been chatting and waiting for you to get back." Quatre told us and as I glanced at Duo and I could see he was in shock.

 

Who was this Zechs guy?

 

What did he want to do with Duo?

 

How did Duo know him?

 

That was what I wanted to know most of all.

 

"Come on Duo. Aren't you glad to see me?" Zechs stood up and came up to Duo and quickly wrapped his arms around him. Duo stood motionless for a moment before returning the embrace.

 

I was stunned. No one held Duo like that but me! What's going on here?

 

Zechs had closed his eyes and caressed Duo's hair in long, smooth strokes as he continued holding my Duo! I looked at Duo to see if he cared and was startled to see that he had his eyes shut too.

 

I couldn't breathe. Duo was enjoying being held in the arms of another man. But... what about us?

 

What about me?

 

We didn't spend the entire day together just to have it fall apart because of this man's unexpected visit.

 

This had to be stopped and the time was very soon.

 

Zechs was whispering something into Duo's ear and I caught the shiver that passed through him. They pulled apart after that and saw he was smiling. That soft, gentle smile that only I got when we were alone, he was shining it at Zechs!

 

Why? It doesn't make any sense!

 

"Heero." I whipped my head around and noticed Quatre smiling at me gently. How dare he? He brought this person to steal Duo away from me! How dare he smile like all is well with the world!

 

Quatre sighed and got up from Trowa's lap. He came over to take my wet clothes from me and smiled gently at me.

 

"It looks like you had a fun time skiing, Heero. Come with me, I'll show you how to clean them out." Quatre took hold of my wrist and led me away from the scene Zechs and Duo were making. All I could do was glare back and damn that man for seducing Duo.

 

I really didn't know what to think about Duo. I loved him, that much I knew. I had thought Duo loved me. He had said so himself and I didn't doubt him then, but...

 

"Heero, let go of the bag." Quatre tugged on my arm again and I finally released it.

 

"Sorry."

 

"It's okay." He put the clothes in the sink and began to squeeze out the water. "I'm sorry about that." I turned to look at him. He was apologizing? "Zechs is Duo's ex-boyfriend." I stared at him.

 

Ex-boyfriend? No wonder they seemed so... close. Quatre stared into the sink as he spoke, seemingly unable to look at me.

 

"They didn't break up on bad terms, which is why Zechs hugged him. They're still friends and e-mail each other once in a while, I guess. Duo hasn't talked about him for a while and I just happened to run into him at the meeting. He isn't in town for very long so don't worry about Duo. They're both tactile people. Zechs just is more open about it than Duo since he isn't with anyone right now."

 

"Does he want Duo back?" Quatre's head spun around to look at me. His eyes telling me that I had hit the nail on the head. "So that's why he's here? To take Duo away from me?"

 

"No, Heero. I'm sure Duo won't accept what he's offering. He has you. Loves you. Zechs is just an old flame. Duo won't let him come back into his life. I'm sure of it." Quatre pleaded with me, but I still wasn't so sure. I had to think about this. I had to ask Duo about it before I let myself get worked up about it.

 

Quatre finished with the clothes and hung them up over the shower wall to drip dry. I had to find out what was really... happen... ing.

 

I felt my eyes bug out of their sockets and stared as Zechs leaned in closer to continue to kiss Duo!

 

Duo wasn't fighting him.

 

He wanted him.

 

Why wasn't he pushing Zechs away?

 

How could he do this to me?

 

"You bastard!" I snarled and lunged. I got hold of Zechs and punched him. He sprawled on the ground, but I wasn't done yet. I kicked him as hard as I could and rained my fists on him, screaming at him in my fury and sorrow. "How could you do that? Duo's mine! Not yours! He's mine alone! You have no right to do that to him!" He fought back and I was only lucky to get a handful of hits.

 

"Heero stop!" Duo grabbed me from behind and dragged me away from the bastard of a man. Blood was running from his nose and he wrapped an arm around his torso, I couldn't believe that I had gotten that good and might have even bruised his ribs.

 

Good! He deserved it!

 

"Trowa get Zechs out of here, please!" I fought against him, but Duo had me clutched tight against his chest.

 

"Heero calm down. Please, just breathe and calm down." I watched as Trowa gathered Zechs up and lead him out the door and saw as the door moved away. It was going far, far away and I realized belatedly that I was the one who was actually moving. Duo was taking me to our room to cool off.

 

"Heero, relax. Just relax." Duo sat down with me in his lap on the bed. I couldn't look at him. I didn't want to, and yet I did want to all the same. I felt soft lips press kisses to my temple and ghost down my cheek. Those same lips that had been kissed by that man moments before. I shuddered and pulled away. I couldn't help it.

 

"Want me to scrub my lips clean?" Duo asked softly and I nodded. He meant it as a joke, but I really wanted Duo to be just Duo and not have someone else's scent on him. "Okay, I'll go to the bathroom and scrub them clean for you. I'll be right back." Duo slid me onto the bed and I watched him go out the door. I crept slowly after him and made sure to follow him. It was stupid, but I had to know that he was going where he said he was going.

 

He entered the bathroom and I watched as Quatre came up by the door and apologized. I heard the water running and when it shut off he came out and even as I tried to pull back in so he wouldn't see me, he did. He smiled sadly and told Quatre it wasn't his fault, before coming back to me. He told Quatre to leave us alone for a while and Quatre agreed.

 

I stood back to allow Duo to enter the room. He reached out and caught my hands and kissed them both before making them cup his face.

 

I didn't pull them away even though I probably should have, but I wasn't really angry with Duo. I was mad at Zechs.

 

"Heero, it's going to be all right. I'm sure Zechs won't came around here anymore. He definitely got the message from the physical threat you gave him. I never knew you could do that to someone." I shrugged. "It's a good thing to know you can protect yourself and those you care about."

 

"He had no right to kiss you." I practically growled and Duo smirked.

 

"No, he didn't. He took me by surprise with that one. Zechs is my ex-boyfriend-"

 

"Quatre told me."

 

"He did?" I nodded. "Then you know we didn't break up on bad terms. We just drifted apart when Zechs started to take an interest in another guy and I ended it before he cheated on me."

 

"I didn't know that."

 

"Well, now you do. Zechs is a nice guy, but always thinks that he can have anyone he wants. I'm sorry you had to witness his less charismatic side. I don't love him anymore. He's only a friend to me and that's it. You have to understand that." Duo stated. I knew he wanted to make me believe him and I did. It wasn't his fault, so why was he apologizing?

 

"It doesn't make up for what he did to you."

 

"You mean to us?" I stared at him and he sighed heavily. "He'll apologize for what he did later, maybe after he gets help for the minor injuries you gave him." I looked away. "Heero, don't worry. I love you and only you. Zechs just startled me and I remembered briefly what it was like to be with him. It won't happen again though, I promise."

 

I didn't know what to say to him, so I just hugged him to me. I couldn't give him up.

 

I felt Duo kiss my forehead and his fingers played with the hem of my shirt. He wanted to be closer, to be one again and make sure I hadn't had second thoughts. I didn't, but he was still testing to see where we stood.

 

I played with the hem of his own shirt and slowly slipped my hand underneath the fabric to touch his smooth, warm skin. We just touched and caressed one another until our lips came together and I knew everything was going to be fine.

 

We didn't make love, Duo didn't want me jumping to conclusions, I guessed and just gave me a back massage before he went to bed. I stayed up for a while longer thinking about how Zechs had acted. It was still unnerving to think about.

 

A part of me couldn't believe that Zechs acted so boldly and attempted to steal my lover. Duo warned me though, that Zechs was used to getting what he wanted and I promised myself that he would not convince Duo to come back to him. I was lost without my braided lover and I just couldn't lose him to someone like Zechs.

 

Quatre said that Zechs would be staying for a week and wanted to visit as much as possible, but was probably a little wary of me now that I pounced on him for kissing Duo. Maybe I had over-reacted, but how was I supposed to act?

 

Like it didn't bother me?

 

Like I didn't care what my lover did with other men or what they did to him?

 

I did care and I didn't trust Zechs one bit.

 

I couldn't lose Duo.

 

He was at the center of my life and I would fight to keep him, no matter what.

 

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TBC...

 

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A/N: Thanks to all who have reviewed. I am now back at college and my classes are going to be very time consuming, so the updates are going to slow down even more than they already have. I'll try to update on the weekends, but I also have work so I'll have to see how it goes and update when I can. Thank you to everyone who has kept on reading and reviewing. I love the feedback and I hope to hear from you again. Till the next update! *Huggles*