Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Perfectly Broken ❯ Chapter 20 ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter 20

 

xoxoxoxoxoxox

 

Zechs didn't come by again and Duo severely warned him that he wouldn't be welcome back in the apartment until his manners returned to him. Duo was still annoyed that Zechs had the nerve to say those things to me and even though he was only trying to bait me, it still hurt. The ache that settled in my chest after he said all those things slowly eased with Duo's help, but I still worried that what he said was true. That I wasn't good enough for Duo.

 

Of course, I couldn't let Duo know that I was thinking that. I had worried him enough just from being rattled by Zechs. He couldn't understand why Zechs' words got to me so badly and yet tried to reassure me as best he could that Zechs' words were lies. He told me dozens of times over how much I meant to him and it helped. It really did. But there was still this fear deep down inside of me that told me to be cautious. No matter how much I loved Duo and trusted him, I just couldn't stop feeling like one day my new life would just disappear and I would be back to the cold emptiness that J had made for me.

 

I needed to stop thinking about it, but it was so difficult. Even when I was making deliveries with Duo and working for Howard. No one ever said anything to me when I drifted deep within my thoughts. Although, Duo has a tendency to think I'm shy when we meet new people that need deliveries. It could account for him not catching on sooner and even now as Duo pulls up to a new house, I'm feeling that ache.

 

Maybe it's just butterflies like Duo says. My stomach feels all fluttery and queasy as I lift the package and Duo gets the clipboard and forms ready. He has that smile on his face that tries to lighten my expression and I attempt to return a weak smile, but he accepts it none the less. We approach the door and Duo knocks since my hands are full. After three knocks, I begin to wonder if anyone is even home.

 

“Huh? That's weird! Hey! Is anybody in there? I've got a package here for you, so open up the door please?” Duo hollers at the closed door. We wait a few more minutes and yet there is no one coming.

 

“Maybe there isn't anyone home.” I state as I set the package down next to my feet.

 

“I guess not. You would think they would hear me by now if they were though. I guess we'll just have to stop by on our run tomorrow.” Duo gave the door a few more knocks before shrugging and starting to head back to the van. I picked up the package and followed him, and returned it to where it was kept for the ride. Then hopped into the passenger side and buckled up as Duo put the van into gear and we started the trip back to Howard's.

 

“That was just weird. The order came in today, there should be someone home to get it. The guy's a vet after all!”

 

“He is? Who is he?” Duo picked up the order form.

 

“Doctor Herve. He specializes in animal care and genetic mutations according to Howard. He wants to experiment on fruit fly larva which is in the package. Apparently, he wants to see how many crossbreeds he can come up with. It's an odd hobby if you ask me, but it's his work, so I can't complain. I hope Howard doesn't mind storing them for an extra day. We couldn't just leave them on the porch after all.”

 

No, we couldn't. I think to myself as we head back. Howard won't mind having an extra package around, but it's still odd. The supposed butterflies have eased a bit as we turn into the warehouse's parking garage and Duo parks near a bunch of other vans that are taken out for deliveries.

 

I look around and spot Wufei and Hilde arguing once again. They hardly ever stop but they both take it in stride. I honestly think they enjoy arguing with one another because it's always interesting. Well, that and neither one wants to let the other get the last word in.

 

Duo goes to tell Howard about the extra package as I clock us out and grab our things to take home in our car. Quatre has been so busy lately that we needed another car for us to use instead of just borrowing Quatre's all the time. Technically, it's Duo's car now, even though I paid for it. It was a present for Duo and he was happy to have it.

 

As I watch Duo walk back over to me, I can't help but think that Duo is really mine or at least he's with me. I need to keep reminding myself that Zechs words don't matter because Duo is still by my side at the end of the day. He's not running off with someone else, he's just... with me.

 

“Howard said the package should be fine for another day. It isn't so urgent that it absolutely needs to be at the doctor's house tonight.”

 

“Well, that's good to hear.” I reply as Duo hops into the car and turns on the heat. It's still winter and still very chilly out. It's always a struggle for us to get out of bed in the morning. Once our feet hits the cold tile of the bathroom there is no going back to bed. It's one of the best and worst ways to get fully awake in the morning. Duo thinks I'm masochistic some days for it since I drag him in the bathroom with me and he gets my daily torture treatment to face the day. Although, even while we're heading home the cold wind whips around us as Duo drives us back to the apartment.

 

We park in our spot and try to get in the door as fast as we can to avoid the chill and it's funny to watch Duo as he almost falls on his ass in his haste. I giggle as I tug his arm and pull him inside the warm building.

 

“You know one of these days someone is going to invent a retractable insulated roof so we don't need to have our noses fall off just to get into our place.”

 

“Maybe if you wore more clothes it wouldn't be a problem,” I chided.

 

“Oh ha ha ha, the mighty Heero has spoken. Just where did you pick that up from? Trowa's list of one-liners?”

 

I just shook my head and tugged him up the stairs to our door. “At least Trowa bundles up every time he comes over.”

 

“Yeah well, I'm not Trowa and I don't get sick so there. Ngh!” Duo said and stuck out his tongue at me. I just had to laugh at his antics. Sure, he was warm enough when we were running packages because he had our delivery coats on, but when we were leaving he just slipped into his old leather coat and that just wasn't enough to stand up to the cold weather.

 

We got into the apartment fast enough though and Duo stood next to the vent warming up his gloved hands as I locked the door behind us.

 

“Should I start dinner? Or do you want take-out?” I asked as I looked at the contents of our fridge. There wasn't a lot of things in there since we didn't get a chance to go grocery shopping lately, but I could still make something decent out of what we had.

 

“Whichever you want to do is fine with me. I'll just be happy to eat something.”

 

“All right.” I looked over what we had once more then decided that take-out was probably faster and there wouldn't be too much to clean up either. I order some Chinese food for the both of us and then order some extra just in case Quatre was hungry when he got home. We didn't have to wait very long and by the time I was paying the man and placing the food containers out on the table Duo had emerged from the shower, warm, fresh, and clean.

 

We ate out of each others cartons when we wanted to taste what each of us had and watched the news, then I took my shower as Duo cleaned up and got ready for bed. When I walked out of the bathroom, Duo was waiting for me beneath the covers. I did one last nightly round as I checked that the door was locked and secured before turning in with Duo and snuggled into his warm, peaceful embrace.

 

The morning, however was anything but peaceful. I awoke to Duo coughing up a lung and saw that his face was a watery mess. He even sounded completely plugged up as he blew his nose and tried to wipe away the watery streams that were trailing out of his eyes. His nose was bright red and he felt too warm to the touch, yet he claimed to have the chills and I hurried to get more blankets for him. He tried to thank me but talking ended up with him coughing once again so I just told him that I knew what he was trying to say and to stop trying to speak. He passed out a few moments later and I decided to call Howard and tell him that Duo was too sick to do a delivery route today.

 

He picked up on the second ring and sounded pretty cheerful until I told him about Duo.

 

“I knew that boy wasn't wearing enough clothes when he left yesterday. It's all his fault for being so thick headed and wanting to look cool rather than take care of himself. Why if I was his father I would slap him upside the head for being such an idiot...” Howard continued to rant until I reminded him of why I was calling and he stopped his rant all at once.

 

“Sorry. I think I got a bit carried away, Heero.”

 

“That's okay Howard. I just needed to tell you that Duo can't work today.”

 

“Well, of course he can't. Not with a blazin' cold that you tell me he has! This couldn't come at a worse time though. I need you boys to do your deliveries today. We're booked solid and nothing can be put on hold or given to Wufei and Hilde. They're overloaded as it is. There's just too much today.”

 

“I could still drive the van, Howard.” I told him even though I didn't want to leave Duo alone, it sounded like Howard was really in a bind and I wasn't sick so I could still make the deliveries happen.

 

“You mean you can still do it. What about Duo?”

 

“I'll call Quatre and tell him what's going on. Maybe he can take a day off and watch Duo. Do you mind if I set that all up before I come in?”

 

“Hell no, Heero. Do what you need to do and I'll see you when you clock in. Later.”

 

“Bye.” I hung up the phone and went to make Duo some warm tea and dialed Quatre while the kettle was set to boil. He took the news well and told me to get to work, he could be home by lunch time and if not he'd send Trowa over to sit with Duo. I was grateful for it and told him so. He just laughed and said friends took care of each other then we both hung up and I got ready to tell Duo the news and get ready for work.

 

Duo took it rather well as I dressed and he sipped his tea. He understood and just told me to be careful, then blew me a kiss and wished me well off as I headed out the door.

 

Howard debriefed me on everything that needed to go out and where it needed to be sent. It wasn't all that hard and I even remembered that I needed to take the doctor's package with me. Then I was in the van, out the gate, and on my way to make all the deliveries.

 

Most of them went pretty quickly. Everyone was home to accept their packages and signed for them. I was nearly down by the end of the day and only had one more package left. The one for Doctor Herve.

 

His name sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't remember how or why. As I stepped up to the door I noticed how small the house was and quite dingy on the outside. I found myself wondering if the inside was just as bad, but chased those thoughts away as I knocked on the door.

 

There was no answer, just like there wasn't one when we came the other day. I knocked again before turning back towards the van thinking that I just might have to tell Howard that the package just couldn't be delivered since no one was home when the door popped open and I was wrapped in a pair of strong, well built arms and pulled inside. I just couldn't get my bearings fast enough and the door was shut before I even knew it. Those arms carried me over to a chair with straps hanging all over it just like one that J... One like J had used on me before!

 

I tried to turn my head but a sharp smack across my cheek prevented it and another blow blind sided me as my vision went black and it was suddenly too hard to keep my eyes open. The last thing I heard was a high nasal voice say to someone else in the room, “And you said he'd be to hard to catch.” Right before my vision went black all over again and I could sense nothing.

 

TBC...