Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Frog Prince ❯ Part 3 ( Chapter 3 )

The Frog Prince

 

Part 3

 

He had never been so… furious in his entire life! Of course, that wasn't saying much since he rarely ever got angry. Relena had never brought him to this level of mad before. She had shoved him into the mud, belittled his feelings, made him feel ashamed of every decision and action he had ever made, but for the first time ever, he had been very, very close to striking her. He honestly didn't know what had stopped him from doing it like he had wanted to, like he had seen him doing in his head, and right now, he wasn't even sure if that was a good thing. For once, he had really wanted his sister to pay for her rude, stuck-up behavior. He just didn't want to stoop that level just to make things fair. As much as her attitude had hurt him and had separated them, hitting her wouldn't make him feel better and it wouldn't make her stop. So, maybe it was a good thing he had stormed out before it had come to that.

Still, he knew that he would never forgive her for treating Heero that way. Heero was quickly becoming someone that he treasured on the same level as his family and he certainly regarded his feelings and respect above Relena's. He didn't deserve to be treated like an animal, like how his sister thought he should be treated. Duo stumbled to a halt in the hallway, his breaths coming out in pants, though he didn't know if it was because of his running or if it was because he was so angry. He wasn't used to feeling this way and it was starting make him feel a little ill. With a strangled sound of anger, he whirled and punched the wall, but it didn't make him feel better. It just made his fist hurt. Heero… he deserved to have a nice breakfast, with people that cared about him, and Duo was the best that he could manage. It was a poor substitute, Duo thought.

He had stormed out of the kitchen to follow Heero, but he staid still now, hesitating in the hallway. Heero had seemed angry, too, what if he was angry at him? It was a stupid thought, for once he hadn't done anything he could think of that would make Heero mad at him, but it was an automatic thought, that if someone was mad, he had to have done something to cause it. Obviously, it was Relena who had made Heero mad and he certainly couldn't blame him for that. He could go after him, he should go after him, but what could he possibly say to him that would make things better? He could apologize for his sister's behavior, but that wouldn't make her any less of a bitch. He could apologize for not doing more to stop her from letting him make breakfast, but Heero had told him that it was fine, even though they both knew that it wasn't.

He didn't go after Heero, because he didn't really know for sure where he had gone, because he knew that his friend was angry, and because, no matter what Relena had done, he still wanted to do something nice for the man that had comforted him when no one else would. He waited in the hallway for a few minutes. Relena always took so long with breakfast, mostly pastries and tea. Their father always lectured her that you couldn't start your day with sugar and fat, but she had been eating breakfast that way since she had been a little girl, the tea so sweet, it might as well have been a dessert instead of a drink. Duo was more into the meat and potato thing himself. Relena had turned breakfast into more of a gesture than a meal, like afternoon tea for the British, while Duo considered it more of a way to wake up. Relena had been halfway through her croissant when she had intervened, so he waited a few minutes before going back to the kitchen.

Relena was indeed gone, probably taking advantage of being home alone to take a walk in the woods. A spark of irritation rose in him at her carelessness. That something could happen to her, that their father's rules were there for a reason, would never occur to his sister. Her dirty dishes were still at the table, the frying pan he had started to use still carelessly discarded on the counter top by the stove. He sighed heavily. She couldn't even put her dishes by the sink? He could leave it there and one of their servants would find it eventually, but it would be like a thorn in his side, always stinging him until he took care of it. It just wasn't his way to leave things lying around like that. He took her dish and cup with the saucer to the sink to wash them, then put the frying pan back on the stove and turned the heat on. Screw Relena, he thought. He was going to make Heero some breakfast and he didn't care how many temper tantrums she threw. He smiled at that thought. She would probably throw a fit just at the thought of how powerless she really was. Didn't she realize that he was probably going to tell their father about this? Of course, that was something else he couldn't think of doing. He was too used to fighting his own battles against her and it would once again be his word against hers.

But he didn't need his father to help him right now. If he couldn't stand up to Relena now, for the sake of his friend, he would probably never find a good reason to stand up against her ever in his life. He had never felt the urge to stand up to her before, no matter what she had done to him, but seeing her treat Heero in that same way made him want to be strong for once, to not just let things roll over him. He gathered some things and put them on the counter near the stove, some butter, some cinnamon, eggs, flour, sugar, vegetable oil, a few spices here and there, cream, bacon, and a few apples. He had no idea what Heero liked, if he was an omelet kind of guy or just liked toast and some coffee, so he stuck with what he knew.

Every Sunday morning, Duo's mother had made him hot cakes. She called them that because, she said, they weren't really pancakes, they were too small, about the size of a coaster or his little hands, and they were sweeter and creamier tasting than regular pancakes. Duo had always thought that her hot cakes tasted a lot like cake anyway, like something you would buy out of the bakery. She had explained that they were cooked differently, with cream instead of water, and the cinnamon made them taste better. She had also taught him how to make home-fries and how to sauté the bacon with apples to make it taste even better. It was always his favorite breakfast and remained so, even after she had died. He knew how to make them by heart, how to make them small, so they were like bite-sized treats, and how to cook the bacon just right, not too raw, but not burnt. It made him feel good, falling into the sort of routine of making his favorite meal, only this time he got to share it with someone. He would have taken the time to make hash-browns if he hadn't been so concerned with how late it was and how Heero should have had breakfast almost a half an hour ago. If he made them, the rest of the food would get cold.

Relena didn't come in to bother him as he finished making breakfast and put it all on one big tray to take to Heero. He hoped that Heero hadn't gone far or the food really would get cold. He had never really cooked for anyone except for himself. His father couldn't cook very well and relied on their cook to make meals, though Duo got some sort of little pleasure out of cooking desserts and breakfasts for himself. It took a little bit of grace to balance the tray and get the kitchen door open, but he managed not to spill anything and got up the steps to Heero's room.

“Come in,” Duo was rewarded with the sound of Heero's voice when he knocked and edged the door open with his knee.
“Breakfast is served!” he said a bit cheerfully to the point where he barely recognized his own tone. Heero was sitting on the bed with the little bedside clock in his hands, his brilliant blue eyes wide at the sight of Duo's tray.

“Here, let me help,” Heero all but jumped to his feet and bounded over to him, taking the tray from him and putting it on the bed. Duo blushed at Heero's almost motherly attitude with helping him. With his father's business, they got a few diplomats and business partners at their home, but Heero, ironically, was the first `gentleman' he had really met. Usually, the people his father brought to the house tended to ignore him and his sister like they were annoying brats instead of teenagers.

“I thought your sister ordered you not to make breakfast for me?” Heero questioned with a slight tone of humor, but his gaze was soft, almost affectionate if Duo didn't know any better. He snorted, not wanting Heero to think that he was going to get in trouble just for making him breakfast.

“My father left me in charge, not her. Besides, you're our guest and she's just being rude,” he grumbled, sitting on the bed next to the tray, handing Heero one of the plates he had prepared.

“I-I'm sorry… about what she said and did,” Duo stuttered. He was usually quite articulate, but Heero's intense gaze and almost brutally honest nature threw him and made him feel uneven. Heero smiled at him, sitting on the bed next to him and chewed on a piece of bacon.

“This is delicious,” he groaned. Duo blushed a bright red, feeling odd at the sound, like he was hot and cold at the same time and his skin was prickled. It was a nice feeling, yet uncomfortable at the same time, like being excited over a present, only this was even more intense. Was this what lust was, or was this something else?

“Did you make this yourself?” Heero asked in surprise. Duo nodded, brimming with happiness at his approval. He realized that he didn't care at all what Relena did, as long as he could make Heero happy.

“It's really good?” he asked meekly. Heero's smile widened and he tried one of the hot cakes.

“It's even better than I used to have when I had a home,” he said warmly. The compliment only made Duo color harder, which he had thought was plain impossible. He dug into his own dish, but he didn't taste anything like what Heero was suggesting. It was just his usual cooking, nothing special.

“You know,” Heero said after taking a sip of orange juice, “People like your sister learn, sooner or later, that the world doesn't revolve around them. The world is cruel and the only thing that is really worth your time are the people you make friends with. Beyond that, money, fame, none of it really matters in the end,” Heero smiled, deep in his thoughts, “In the end, when I was lonely in those woods, all the money in the world didn't make me feel better, only the friends I had left behind.”

“You left friends?” Duo asked in confusion, “I thought you didn't have anyone?”

“I had no family,” Heero confessed, “But I wasn't completely missed.”

“But why can't you see them?” Duo pressed, “If I had friends, I'd never want to leave them!”

Heero's expression turned sad and he covered Duo's smaller hand with his.

“If you had friends?” he murmured, “You have one now, Duo.”

Just when Duo thought he was getting his complexion back under control, he ended up blushing again.

“Yes, you are,” he said softly, “And I'd never want to leave you behind.”

“I didn't want to, either,” Heero said in such a light voice, Duo almost missed it, “But I won't be leaving you, not if I have a choice about it,” he assured. He gave Duo a strange little smile and reached under the bed spread.

“You've done a lot for me, making me breakfast, bringing me in out of the storm, and you've been a good friend in return,” he said.

“So have you,” Duo pointed out, “I mean, we just met, but I've told you things that I've never told anyone.”

“That's my point. I need to give you something back, something that you deserve,” Heero's voice was almost teasing. Duo's eyes were wide with shock as Heero placed a familiar, shimmering ball of quartz into his hands. His violet eyes shakily looked at Heero, his face no longer red, but a startling white.

“H… how?” he whispered, his heart shuddering in his chest, but he realized that it wasn't from the feel of the cold stone, but the burning heat of Heero's fingers as he placed the ball there. Those fingers lingered on his skin. Heero found himself blushing at the feel of Duo's soft hand and the enraptured look in those violet eyes. If it had been appropriate, he would have held one of those hands, just at that look.

“Yesterday, your sister threw that ball in the river and asked me to go fetch it. I did and she ran away with it, after she had promised me that she would let me stay here,” Heero told him, “I figured that, if this ball had been hers, she never would have lost it in the first place. I snuck into her room and found it and I am now returning it to its rightful owner.”

The orb was nearly forgotten as Duo placed it gently on the bed in a rush, then flung his arms around Heero, hugging him tightly. It was odd… last night, he would have been ecstatic to get his ball back, and he was, but it was that gesture of kindness, that Heero would risk getting caught stealing from his sister, to risk getting thrown out, just for some silly little thing like a ball of quartz, that made him feel… hell, he couldn't describe it. It was like… like meeting your best friend for the first time and knowing how you fit together and how much you enjoyed each other, only it was more than that. Heero had heard his dark secret and, the very next day, had done something so nice. He hadn't even really known the ball had been his, but just on the off chance of making him happy, he had stolen it back. He pressed his body against Heero's strong one, his heart doing that strange, shuddering thing again that almost made him want to cry, it was so warm.

Heero felt Duo's small, warm body press against his, he could practically feel the happiness rolling off of the younger boy and he felt something inside snap. That thing was cold and it had been there for a very long time, born out of loneliness and solitude, but at the feel of his friend's heartbeat and tight embrace, it finally broke away at his realization that he was truly no longer alone. He broke away from Duo's arms and pressed his lips against the longhaired boy's, his hand coming up to trace his cheek, not truly keeping him grounded as much as just feeling him.

Duo immediately froze, his arms falling limp at his sides. The feeling of Heero's soft lips on his sent this weird shock running up his spine and his insides felt tight, but he got used to it easily and melted into the feelings. He should have felt awkward or violated, but he didn't. It felt… good, in a way that he hadn't thought it would. He could feel Heero's fingers touching his cheek, caressing him, his lips moving slowly against his own, sending sparks of pleasure through his body. The way Heero explored his lips and his skin was like someone would explore something special and wonderful. In that intimate moment, where he could feel Heero's undivided attention and realized that the older man was as enthralled by the kiss as he was, he understood all the clichés he had seen on television and read in books. He understood the toe curling, the seeing stars, the world stopping around you, he understood all of it. It felt… incredible. He didn't even want to know why Heero was kissing him of all people, all he knew was that he felt so very warm inside, he felt… loved. Even if Heero didn't love him and it had just been a spur of the moment thing, he did feel loved. He had never felt special before, like there was something different about him that could catch another person's attention. He realized that it wasn't just that feeling that made him feel so breathless, like his entire body was stopping and throbbing in an erratic beat at the same time. It was because it was Heero that was kissing him, someone that he cared for, might even love if you could believe that, someone that made him feel safe and actually cared about him in return.

Heero couldn't say what had spurred him to do it. In the light of the room, Duo had just looked so… beautiful, and feeling him wrapped around him like that, feeling his gratitude and his friendship, he couldn't have stopped it. He had just felt this indescribable urge to kiss the other boy. So, he had. Heero had never been the type of person to deny himself anything. If he felt it, he would act on it, no matter how impulsive. It was something he had always believed in and his parents had taught him that it was a good thing, acting on your emotions, in that moment, every thought and feeling had been telling him to kiss Duo. Beyond that residual instinct and his tender, yet passionate, feelings for his friend, Heero realized that it was probably Duo's first kiss and wanted to make him enjoy it, too, without scaring him off. It wasn't Heero's first, but he found that this was better than the others. As old as he was, he had never had the chance to have any sort of relationship, and moments of intimacy such as kissing and holding hands had been stolen in the heat of the moment, but this was different. Duo's body was flush against his and he knew that the longhaired boy was enjoying himself. He could feel his warmth, could taste him, even though he wouldn't use his tongue in case Duo wasn't ready for it, he even thought he could feel how fast Duo's heart was racing. And it was nice, more than just nice, really. When he felt Duo respond to him, start to kiss him back, he didn't regret it. It wasn't possible to fall in love this quickly, he kept telling himself. He had never fallen in love before, period, so he couldn't possibly feel the way he was feeling now for a boy he had only properly met yesterday. But though he told himself that, he didn't really believe it. He couldn't believe it when his heart was racing so fast, just at a simple kiss.

Duo felt cold when they finally broke apart, but not because Heero's mouth was hot against his, he just felt sort of empty, like he had gotten a taste of something wonderful. Then, his eyes met Heero's and that feeling of cold left him. Even though they were no longer kissing, Heero hadn't left him, either. Though their lips were no longer touching, Heero's hand lingered on his cheek, as though he didn't want to let go just yet. Duo wanted to ask why, why Heero would ever bother with a naïve little kid like him, but he found that he didn't really care. Giving his first kiss to his very first, real friend was more than he could ever hope for. He didn't really care why at that moment, he just wanted to remember how good it had felt for the rest of his life. Heero's fingers lightly caressed his cheek and there was an intense sort of wonder in Heero's eyes, as though he couldn't believe what had just happened any more than Duo could.

“You are so beautiful,” Heero said in a little more than a whisper, as though he was overwhelmed by that simple fact, “More than your sister could ever hope to be. I've met a lot of people in my life, I've traveled all over the world, and I've learned what beauty really is. You can work your entire life to be pretty, but in the end, it's only a fact of nature. People that work for it, lose it in the end, but those that are born that way, through their actions, their attitudes, and their very nature, stay that way forever,” Heero smiled softly, making Duo's heart start to beat fast again, “You're beautiful, not just on the outside, though that is true, too. You're beautiful because you understand, where your sister never can, how valuable life really is. You treasure it, life and everything that is wonderful in the world without hoarding it or envying it. Your sister might be pretty, but her looks are tainted because she doesn't understand how the world really is, that, as cruel as it is, it's something to be treasured, not whittled away with only the beneficial things,” he kissed Duo's cheek lightly, slipping his hand away, “That's all I want in a friend, in someone I can love,” he murmured, “Someone who understands that what they have can't be taken for granted, because you can lose everything in a single second, someone who can see beauty in the world, even when they're suffering.”

Duo looked into Heero's blue eyes, feeling like he was on the edge of some terrible cliff, yet feeling safe and protected at the same time, as though he knew that Heero wouldn't let anything bad happen to him. There was that dark part of himself that was screaming to not let Heero in, to not let himself feel anything for the man. He would just die, or leave him alone in some other way, but in the end, he would just end up alone. His sisters would move on with their lives and his father would die and there he would be, friendless, loveless, and all alone. But he couldn't make himself listen to that voice. Heero wouldn't leave him, he told himself, he was different. Heero was right. Beauty was all about seeing the good in the dark things, as well as the bright things. Heero understood what it was like to be lonely, to have no one, and Heero wouldn't do that to him, he just wouldn't.

“I think I'm falling in love with you,” Duo breathed, unable to hold in the confession, “How is that possible?” he asked a bit pained, “How can I feel that way in only one day?”

Heero's smile was soft and not condescending, as though he knew exactly what Duo was talking about and how he was feeling, and Duo wished that he did, he wished it more than anything.

“I don't think that love can know time. It must not, because I love you, too. I've had friends and what I feel for you is different, so very different. I love you because you're different from everyone else, you're kind and honest. You took me in, just because I needed help.”

Duo's eyes widened into a shocked expression.

“You love me? How can you be so sure? I'm not even entirely sure,” he murmured, “I've never felt anything this… strong before, but how can I be sure?”

“You can't,” Heero said, squeezing Duo's shoulder in assurance, “I can't tell you how you feel, Duo, but you didn't tell me to stop when I kissed you and I think you liked it. At the very least, you're comfortable with me and no one has been that way to me in a very long time.”

Duo watched, feeling all sorts of things, as Heero put their dishes on the floor. Was this really love, or was he confusing feelings of friendship and camaraderie for a relationship he had only seen glimpses of in real life and on the television? Could friendship feel this way? No… he didn't think so. He wanted things, things he couldn't even put words to, but he felt that they were things that you wouldn't want from a friend. He felt that Heero was right, that the time didn't really matter, only what they felt. Yes, he was sure that he loved Heero, even if he had never experienced it before, probably because he didn't have any other word for what he was feeling when he looked into Heero's eyes. He wanted to know everything about the man, he wanted to spend every waking minute with him. He wanted him to kiss him again and maybe he would. That was the finally nail on the coffin that was his doubts, that feeling of excitement and yearning, thinking about getting more kisses from Heero. He folded his legs underneath him and wondered what Heero would do if he leaned against him. Before that moment when Heero had pressed his lips to Duo's, Duo would have buried that desire to touch Heero deep down inside, where he couldn't feel anything but numbness and regret, but now, that kiss had made him feel bolder. It had made him feel… special. He leaned against Heero as they sat next to each other on the bed and almost cried in the emotion that surged through his heart as Heero wrapped a strong arm around his waist, trying to pull him even closer.

“Can you tell me about it?” Duo asked shyly, “Traveling all over the world?”

Heero gave him an indulgent smile.

“Well, my father was a rich diplomat with a few businesses on the side, like your father,” Heero told him, “Our permanent residence was in Japan. My mother was from there and no matter how much money we had, she said that she could never give up her roots. We traveled around a lot, though, and I liked it, even as a kid. I guess I was lucky, I had one friend whose father worked for my father as a consultant and we got to travel together, so I was never really lonely.”

Duo snorted bitterly.

“It must have been nice. It's a bit ironic, actually. I've staid in this house my entire life, but I never had any friends,” he confessed, “We never traveled anywhere. The farthest away we got was the theater in town on Saturdays.”

“It must have been lonely,” Heero said softly, playing with the fabric of Duo's black shirt. Duo nodded, swallowing roughly.

“I had my eldest sister, Hilde, though. Or… at least I used to, she's at college now. Whatever happened to your friend? Why did you end up here?” he asked. Heero ran a hand through his messy, thick hair, a dark look in his eyes that made Duo regret asking the question.

“When my father died, I no longer had anywhere to call home,” he said sadly, “I had no money, no house, and what little family I had left didn't want me around. So, I did a little bit of traveling on my own. I couldn't burden my best friend with my problems. I had known that he would have tried to help me, even if he ended up getting hurt doing so. Eventually, I found these woods. I couldn't rely on people anymore, it hurt too much to try when I knew my friend hadn't known where I had gone, and no one else was going to help me. So, I relied on myself.”

“How old are you?” Duo questioned.

“Twenty-five,” Heero responded, chuckling at Duo's shocked look.

“You're ten years older than me?!” Duo squeaked.

“Yes, does that make me a cradle robber?” Heero teased, kissing Duo on the nose which made the younger boy blink in reaction.

“I'm not that young,” Duo grumbled, “I'll be sixteen in the fall.”

Heero sighed jokingly.

“I guess that means I have to wait another two years before I can confess my undying love to you,” he said with a grin. Duo glared at him.

“You already did that and I don't think you're going to go to jail for kissing a teenager. Besides, I can take care of myself,” he muttered.

“I'm sure you can,” Heero said affectionately.

 

*****

 

Relena sat on her bed, her back against the wall, and listened to the voices coming through from the other room. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could hear the soft murmurs and tones and knew that they belonged to Heero and her little brother. She should have known that the two of them would be conspiring, like two thieves. Who knew what they were talking about! She had known something was up when Duo had never chased after her when she had taken a walk in the woods. He hadn't been waiting for her when she had come back into the house, either, not like he normally did. Usually, he would trail after her, acting like the parent in their father's absence, but today, it was like he hadn't spared her a single thought.

Then there was what he had done in the kitchen. He had told her that he hated her. No one had ever said that to her before, especially not her little wimp of a brother! And that hatred in his eyes… he really did hate her, to the very extent that someone could hate another human being. And he hadn't worried about her or thought of her this entire day, he had just slunk away with that Asian bastard to do who knows what! That thought made her feel jealous. No, that couldn't be right. There was no way she was jealous of the vagabond over her brother's attention! Anyway, she should feel happy that the little brat hadn't bothered her all day. Still, the way Duo was clinging to Heero and the way that Heero looked at him sometimes made a suspicion rise in her mind. It would serve him right if the homeless man was a fag, too, and ended up raping her little brother. She smiled maliciously, suddenly feeling better than she had in days.

 

*****

 

Duo and Heero ate dinner in comfort, the chef making them stir fry, talking about taking a hike the next day when Treize came back. Heero hadn't felt sure about taking Duo into the woods without his father, in case something happened and he certainly wasn't going to trust Relena for anything. She never did show up for dinner, though, for which they were both grateful. They had had a great day, talking to each other and talking a walk around the house, Duo showing him around the house, and neither of them wanted her around to ruin it. They didn't talk about the kiss or their feelings, they didn't feel that they needed to. With Treize gone and Relena not showing her face for so long, it was almost as though they were living there alone. It had been nice. Duo believed that the word for it was `domestic', like it was just the two of them in the world, taking care of each other. He knew that it wasn't real and that it wouldn't last any longer than a day, but he had enjoyed it.

When he was with Heero, the voices in his head reminding him that he was a murderer, that he wasn't anyone worthy of anyone's love were softer and harder to listen to. Not seeing Relena around to bother them did make him feel edgy, he would even wonder if she was ok if he hadn't seen the light on in her room when they had gone down to eat dinner, but it was becoming harder and harder to be the dutiful brother. There was always going to be that part of him that didn't want to see her hurt, but after all those years of her blaming him, taunting him, plus now with that crap she had pulled in the woods, her lies, and her attitude towards Heero, it was just so hard to find the good things in her. Wanting to always protect her, just because she was his sister was too hard, too painful. He was at the end of his rope with her constant betrayals. He would always care about her, but Heero had awoken something inside of him, some sort of inner strength that had given him the courage to not put up with her. He guessed that it was that constant presence, the thought that if he tried to be weak about all of it, to let Relena cow him again, Heero would step up and protect him, that made him want to be strong, too. He wondered if he should go for it, being happy with Heero. He knew he didn't deserve it, but denying it was so very hard. He just didn't have the willpower to fight with himself anymore. Heero had broken down his resolve, and as guilty as he still felt about his past, it was too hard to keep on that path.

Duo watched Heero as they cleared the table of the dirty dishes and went to work in the kitchen, Heero washing and him drying. He thought about his nightmares and how much he didn't want to have them, not after the wonderful day he had been having. He knew that his nightmares were more than just brutal reminders of his mistake, they were his insecurities towards every decision he had ever made, his fears that he would end up alienating everyone that he loved. His father hated him, his mother was dead, his sister was as distant as anyone could be, and Hilde was so far away, he couldn't manage more than an e-mail or a phone call. What if Heero ended up the same way? What if, tonight, because Heero had managed to get so close to him and he had finally managed to realize that, he would dream of Heero drowning in the mud instead of his mother, while he watched on callously? He didn't think he could take that. He had slept so well last night because, somehow, Heero had managed to drive away his fears, just by listening to him and not accusing him of anything. There was something about Heero, about how he had made him feel safe, that had driven away those bad thoughts and bad dreams.

“Will you sleep with me tonight?” Duo blurted out. Heero stiffened in shock and nearly dropped a plate, but managed to catch it before it fell to the floor. He looked at Duo with wide eyes, studying the younger boy intensely.

“Duo,” he sighed, “I know that we joked about it a little, about our ages, but I don't want you to think that I had implied I wanted to do that. I don't want you to think that that kiss means I'm pushing you to be… intimate with me. You're very attractive, I've told you that, and I care for you a great deal, but it's because that I care for you that I'm not in any rush. We don't even know if we want a relationship and you're certainly not ready for-,”

“I-I didn't mean sex!” Duo stammered, his face beet red, “I just meant, you know, sleeping, you and me, pajamas, one bed. That's all! I just want to try it, before Dad gets back, I just want one night when I don't have to dream…” he shut his mouth tightly, knowing he was saying more than he had wanted to. Heero put the dish down and pulled Duo into his arms for a brief hug, Duo blushing even more severely as they parted.

“Alright,” he agreed, “If you had told me you were having nightmares, I would have offered. Can you not sleep? How long have you been having them?”

Duo gave a small shrug.

“Since Mom died,” he murmured, “Sometimes it's hard to sleep afterwards.”

Heero winced, knowing all about how powerful bad dreams could be. He had had more than his fair share after his father had died and he had started living on his own in the dark, cold woods, surrounded by wild creatures.

“Does your Dad know?” he asked. Duo shook his head.

“Last night… after you and I talked, I slept better than I had in ten years. I thought… maybe if you were close to me, I might manage that again. The nightmares aren't terrible, they just unsettle me. I can live with them, but I just want to try and see if this works,” he said. Heero smiled at him and ruffled his hair.

“I'm willing to give it a try. We'll keep both of our nightmares away, then. But once your father comes home tomorrow, we can't do this again. I don't want him to think there's anything inappropriate going on between us,” Heero warned.

“But isn't there?” Duo asked shyly, “I know that just sharing one kiss and understanding how we feel about each other doesn't constitute any sort of relationship, but I would like us to have one, even if we aren't… intimate, I'd like to have more than friendship, while keeping the friendship bits.”

“Duo, there is nothing more that I would like than to be your boyfriend, but you're fifteen years old and I'm the first person outside of your family that you've been close to,” Heero pointed out.

“But I know what I feel!” Duo snapped, “Don't patronize me! I know I'm a lot younger than you and I'm new to this whole love thing, but I know the difference between friendship and lovers! If you're saying that you can't be in a relationship just because you doubt my feelings, that's no reason at all!”

Heero panicked at the hurt he saw in his friend's eyes and put his hands on Duo's shoulders, comforting and keeping him still.

“That's not what I'm saying,” he reassured him, “I'm just trying to show you what your father would think. I would never hide a relationship with you from him, that isn't fair to any of us, especially not to you, but if he catches us in bed together, he's going to think that I'm having sex with you and that isn't true. You're not ready for that, even you have to agree, and your father certainly doesn't need to go around thinking that I'm some sort of pervert who would take advantage of the first willing body that's come my way. He doesn't know how either of us feels. After he knows that, he can think what he likes, but I'm not going to cause a rift between the three of us for something so little. Do you understand?”

Duo nodded, feeling his temper, a fragile thing that he had just discovered in the last two days, drain away.

“I understand, I just don't want to lose this. I mean, I just found you and I don't want you to put everything on hold just because it might make my father uncomfortable,” Duo said.

“And what if it does?” Heero asked, “What if your father doesn't approve of you seeing me? I'm ten years older than you, I'm a boy, and I'm a complete stranger, not to mention poor and homeless.”

“He doesn't care about that!” Duo protested, “And if he did, he would just be making decisions for me. I may be a kid, but I can make my own decisions. I love you and there's nothing he can do to change that. If he doesn't approve, it will just hurt me. If he's willing to do that… I just can't do what he says to be a good son. Our relationship is crap anyway and, if it gets worse, it's not your fault, I just can't compromise that way.”

Heero sighed heavily.

“Your relationship with your father doesn't have to be that way. Even if you had forgotten to latch the pen that night, he can't blame you, it wasn't your fault. If he does, then he doesn't deserve to be a father. The two of you need to sit down and talk about this. It's bullshit that it's gotten so bad that the two of you can't even be in the same room without all of this negative energy and bad feelings between you two. It's been ten years, Duo, the both of you need to let it go. Your mother died and that's terrible, but all this blame and sadness and guilt is tearing apart a family that should have stuck together and helped each other,” Heero tried to make his friend see reason. Duo looked away, shaking his head, and didn't say another word. Heero knew exactly what he was thinking anyway, that such a huge wound could never possibly heal. He wanted to force Duo to talk to his father, but knew that it would have to come on its own. He just hoped that Duo was wrong, that this could be fixed. Heero hoped that he wasn't too late.

 

*****

 

The woods made all sorts of sounds at night, especially in the spring time. There were the various chirpings and clicking of insects, the howls of wolves, the rustlings of leaves and various vegetations by the wind, sometimes Heero had been able to hear the rushing of the river. The house, however, was a thing of stone and wood, still and silent. It was well constructed and lacked the creaks and settling that other houses did. The previous night, Heero hadn't dared to touch a thing in his guest room besides the bed and the silence had kept him awake. He had been too used to the little night sounds of the woods to be able to relax in a place of total silence.

When Duo and Heero got ready to go to bed together, Duo had told him that they should use his room because the bed was bigger. Heero didn't mind which room they used and he definitely thought that Duo's room was nicer. It wasn't that it was bigger or that more posh than his, but that it actually looked lived in. With the look of the guest rooms, it was obvious that no one had visited the family in quite awhile, the bed had been perfectly made, everything in an almost tomb-like, preserved state that was more disturbing to him than comforting. Duo's room wasn't dirty or anything, he obviously took care of his things, but the room lacked that perfection. There was a tiny crease in the sheets on the bed, the pillows not quite lined up with each other, the windows were wide open, and there was a bird cage near the bed, a brightly colored finch fluttering around inside excitedly at the sight of intruders into it's domain.

The sight of the little bird made Heero smile. Of course there had been no exotic finches in the woods, but the sound of the bird's song made silence impossible, and the open windows let in the familiar sound of crickets. Duo's room just looked… lived in and well loved and he instantly felt more comfortable in it than the guest room. That feeling of comfort edged off a little when Duo came out of his bathroom wearing his night clothes, an old, long t-shirt and loose cotton pants, and Heero realized what he had agreed to. Duo's long braid swung down his back side as he closed the door behind him. It was an oddly tantalizing thing, that hair. Heero had never seen hair like that on anyone, let alone a guy, not that color or that length. Everything about Duo was sort of tantalizing, not in an overly sexual way, but in that sort of overwhelming way that just caught your eye.

“Aren't you going to change?” Duo asked him with a cock of his head. Heero was still dressed in the sweatpants and tank top Treize had lent him yesterday. The older man had offered to give him pajamas and nicer clothes, but Heero had declined the offer. He had been living in his ratty scraps of clothing for too long to even think about wearing anything formal.

“I'm used to sleeping in my clothes, unless it bothers you,” Heero explained. Duo shook his head.

“It's fine as long as you're comfortable. What about the window?”

Heero smiled at him.

“I'd prefer it open,” he told him. Duo smiled.

“Me, too,” he said softly.

Heero watched as Duo walked over the bird cage, smiling affectionately at the finch, which was still singing energetically.

“Hey, Sally, it's almost bed time, don't you think you should settle down?” he asked with a smirk. Sally flapped and chirped happily.

“Silly bird,” he chuckled. Heero felt oddly soft and warm at the sight of the boy talking to the bird like it was another human.

“Her name is Sally?” Heero questioned in amusement, “That's an odd name for a bird.”

Duo blushed.

“She used to be my sister's bird, but she never took care of her or cleaned her cage, so my dad gave her to me. Her name used to be Zazu, from the Lion King, you know? Relena loves that movie and I don't think she realized that the bird's female, not male, and she's not a zebra finch, either. When I got her, I decided to rename her,” he smiled to himself, “I was really into Doctor Who at that age, I guess I still am, and my favorite episode was Blink, so I named my bird after the main character, Sally Sparrow.”

Heero couldn't stop his laughter at that.

“Cute,” he teased, “and Sally seems more appropriate than Zazu.”

“Did you ever see the Lion King?” Duo asked in suspicion. Heero shook his head.

“I wasn't much into cartoons when I was little, let alone Disney flicks,” he confessed.

“Me, neither,” Duo responded, “I watched a fair amount of cartoons, but I could never get into Disney movies.”

He threw a sheet over Sally's cage.

“Good night, sweetie,” he murmured. Heero's expression turned sad. It was sweet that the teenager was so attached to the bird, but depressing that he was closer to a bird than a person. He was sure that Sally had been Duo's only friend for a very long time. But not anymore.

“She'll settle down in a few minutes, now that she can't see any lights,” Duo informed him, pulling back the covers on his bed, blushing as, he, too, seemed to realize what they were about to do.

“How do you want to do this?” he asked nervously. Heero shrugged, trying to downplay his own nervousness. It was stupid, really, he was twenty-five years old, but in this moment, in any moment that he shared with Duo, he felt like he was a teenager again. In reality, he had wasted the last ten years of his life in those woods, devoid of all the things that matured people. He had only been a teenager himself when he had left his past behind. There were so many things that people his age had done, and he hadn't done any of them. He had thought that nothing could fluster him, that the things he had gone through in the past ten years had matured him beyond his age, but the thought of getting into the same bed with Duo, even with clothes between them, made him feel like he was going to combust.

Heero took the decision out of Duo's hands, climbing into bed and making room for Duo, who looked as thought he were about to combust himself, his normally pale face a brilliant red. Duo chanted to himself that this… arrangement… was only because of his nightmares and his loneliness, as soon as his father came home tomorrow, it would never happen again, so he should enjoy it while he could, but as much as he tried to tell himself that this was the end to something, it felt like the beginning to him. It felt like something more than just a comfort between friends.

He had told Heero that he loved him and Heero, in turn, had told him the same thing. How could getting in bed with him be simple at all? Sure, they hadn't asked for a romantic relationship, but wasn't that a given with how they felt for each other? They had kissed and comforted each other, had shared breakfast and were now going to share a bed. Even if no sex was involved, it felt like a big deal to Duo. It was scary. He trusted Heero not to do anything to him that he wasn't ready for, and he wasn't ready for much. He could confess to himself now that he definitely loved Heero, but he had no idea what a romantic relationship would mean or how he should approach it. Hell, the single kiss they had shared was the most interest anyone had shown him in that way. He wasn't completely childish, he knew what sex was, even sex between two men, but the kiss itself had floored him, he just didn't think that he was ready for anything more intense than that.

The prospect of tomorrow was just as frightening as the prospect of sex with Heero, which was definitely saying something. Duo's limited knowledge, coupled with Heero's good looks, intense personality, age, and the way that Duo felt for him made the idea of sex seem so impossible and overwhelming. But tomorrow was something else. It was something that was definitely going to happen, there was nothing he could do to stop it, and it scared him to death. His father was coming home tomorrow and keeping his feelings a secret from him seemed, not only impossible, but it was something that he just couldn't do. Despite the rift in their relationship, Duo loved his father and felt incapable of lying to him, especially about something so huge, but he was afraid of what such a confession would mean.

Duo had no idea what his father would do when he found out that, not only his son was gay, but that he had fallen for the homeless man he had taken in out of the kindness of his heart. What if his father decided that he didn't want Heero to stay here anymore? He didn't no what he would do in that situation. He would never let that happen to Heero, or rather, he couldn't stand to let Heero down, couldn't stand to be alone, knowing that Heero would be homeless and he would end up losing the best thing that had happened to him in ten long years. What if the confession made his father hate him even more than he already did and threw the both of them out? Actually, that didn't seem quite as cruel as just throwing Heero out, at least they could suffer together. He wasn't even sure how to tell his father. Heero was right, though, his father needed to be told and he needed to understand how the both of them felt. He just wished that that idea didn't scare him so much. It was one thing that a few of their staff had been gay, but a member of the family? If it was going to shame his father, Duo didn't want to tell him at all. But that just wasn't an option. Like he had told Heero, he couldn't be anything less than what he was, it was just a fact.

Duo left the shades and window opened, turning off his lamp and approaching the bed again where Heero was lying on his side, waiting for him. He wondered if he should go by Relena's room and check up on her. For all he knew, she could be skulking around the house, staying up late in their father's absence or worse, but he felt tired and he was sure that if he had to speak to her, he would probably overreact. Besides, there was something oddly inviting about the thought of slipping into bed with Heero. Scary, yet inviting.

Heero could see and sense how tense Duo was as he slid into bed with him, his back to him as the younger boy curled up on his side. Even though all of the lights were off in the room, with the windows uncovered, the moon shone through bright enough for both boys to be able to see each other, which made Duo feel better. He trusted Heero more than anyone else that he knew, even his father, but he wanted to be able to see his face, wanted to know what Heero was thinking and feeling, if he thought Duo was being silly for being unable to relax. It wasn't a problem with Heero, it was a problem with himself, not knowing the right thing to do. The ball he had curled up into was tight and looked uncomfortable, making Heero almost laugh.

“I'm not going to bite you,” he teased, but Duo only stiffened further.

“I don't know what to do,” Duo murmured, toying with the sheets that were tossed over his legs. Heero sighed.

“Do you want me to go to my room?” he asked mournfully. Duo shook his head and rolled over onto his back, looking up at Heero who was still on his side, his head propped up on his hand.

“No, I'm just not used to this,” he reminded him.

“Just relax,” Heero said softly, “close your eyes and go to sleep.”

Duo snorted.

“I'm trying,” he murmured, but he did feel more relaxed at the sound of Heero's deep, soothing voice.

 

 

 

Heero could hear the soft chirping of the crickets outside through the open window, along with the occasional hoot of an active howl, as he lied on Duo's very comfortable bed with Duo's very comfortable heat next to him. It was a huge improvement over the empty, quiet guest room, but still, he couldn't fall asleep, he was too busy watching Duo sleeping. Despite Duo's initial tensions, it had only taken about twenty minutes for him to fall asleep. The longhaired teen was on his side again, but no longer curled up in the tense way he had been, he was more sprawled out, like a housecat, one arm dangling over the side of the bed and the other tucked under one of his pillows. Heero made sure that they weren't touching, since Duo had seemed uncomfortable with it, but he smiled at how Duo's features now seemed so relaxed, either because he was asleep or he had finally become comfortable with their position.

Heero's eyes softened to pure affection and love as Duo briefly rubbed at his nose in his sleep. He leaned over him, lightly brushing his bangs away to place a kiss on his temple. Duo made an odd snuffling sound, like a puppy would, and rolled over to curl up against Heero's stomach. Heero watched him with a shocked expression, then chuckled softly.

“No nightmares,” he murmured, tucking the sheets back around Duo's shoulders as the boy didn't move away from him. He dared to throw an arm around Duo's waist and was rewarded when Duo didn't tense. His body was slender, but warm, and trying not to fall asleep with his love pressed against him was impossible for Heero. The last time he had felt this relaxed and at home was… well, the last time he had seen his father, alive and well, but that still didn't feel quite like this.

Heero laid his head on top of Duo's, feeling the younger boy's breath ghosting over the bare skin of his neck. He had never thought that this would happen. He was in love… and he had found a home again. Those two things, separate of each other, were things that he was willing to fight in order to keep. They were things he couldn't afford to lose, even if he had to confront a past he had tried so hard to run from to keep them close. For the first time in ten years, Heero slipped into sleep, feeling truly happy without an ounce of regret.

 

*****

 

Morning found Relena on the bottom of the steps leading up to the bedrooms, waiting for her father to come home while Duo and Heero were still struggling to get out of bed. It was weird, for both of them, waking up nearly in each other's arms, but they managed to get ready for the day without feeling awkward about it. Heero changed into a pair of Treize's jeans, though he had to use a belt since they were slightly too big on him, and a t-shirt.

Sunlight streamed brightly through every window in the house while outside a slight breeze ruffled flowers and trees. It was a typical spring day, warm without being uncomfortable like it often was in the summer. Duo was already smiling with the thought that it was a perfect day for the two of them to walk around in the woods. He was still scared about it and he knew he always would be scared of the woods, especially the river, but the previous day had shown him just how much he trusted Heero. It was hard for him to let people get close, both emotionally and physically, but, beyond his initial discomfort, he had let Heero sleep next to him and he had slept well. There was no way he could have done that with any other person, even his father. He had slept through the night completely, not waking up once. Maybe he had had nightmares, but if he had, once morning had come, he couldn't remember them and he hadn't stirred all night. He had let Heero kiss him, had let him comfort him and hold him, letting him take him back into the woods that scared him so much seemed so small compared to those things.

From Duo's bedroom, as Duo made the bed and Heero filled Sally's feed, they heard the doors downstairs close and they shared a nervous look.

 

*****

 

Waiting for her father to come home was the most patient thing Relena had ever done, but she wanted to be the first to see him that morning. She could hear Duo and Heero moving around upstairs, but she didn't pay them any sort of mind. They had been cavorting all night long, keeping to themselves and ignoring her, like she was the guest, not Heero. It enraged her, that her little brother hadn't even given her the time of day, hadn't listened to her, or even cared where she was or what she was doing. That wasn't how things were supposed to go.

But things were going to be different from now on, because she finally had a plan. She wasn't jealous of Heero, of how he had taken her little brother's attentiveness to her away, she would never stoop to something like that, but Heero had destroyed the natural order of things. Duo had changed and for the first time in her life, Relena felt like she had been left out in the cold, like she had been completely forgotten and that was unacceptable.

Relena perked as she heard the front door open and her father's unmistakable stride in the front hallway. She could also hear the two boys coming down the steps, but knew she was going to reach her father first. Not that that mattered, her brother was too honest, he couldn't refute the facts, even if he really wanted to. It was funny, really, how she could get her revenge on her stupid brother and his new, nasty friend just by telling the truth. She didn't even look at either Heero or Duo as they came down the steps. Treize strode up to them in amusement, still wearing a neat and handsome suit, thinking that the little crowd was like a bad eighties sitcom with all his kids waiting for him almost in a line.

“Daddy!” Relena exclaimed, running up to hug him. It wasn't something she did often, but it made Treize smile and he hugged her back. She was too old for such an exuberant greeting and Duo seemed so uncomfortable with hugging him, they only ever shook hands.

“I'm so glad you're home,” she said in a near moan, “I was alone all day yesterday!”

Treize gently pushed his daughter off of him and looked at Duo in confusion.

“And what did you do all day yesterday that Relena didn't even see you?” he asked softly, so Duo wouldn't think he was accusing him of anything. Really, he wasn't mad, just curious. He was glad that Duo had staid away from Relena if it meant that that was the only way they could get along. Usually, Duo was soft spoken enough to let Relena roll over him, but while Treize wasn't sure that this new side of his son was a good thing, he was glad that Duo wasn't letting her walk over him anymore.

Duo blushed, hesitating to say anything. He wasn't quite sure if he was in trouble. His father wasn't yelling at him, but he didn't look completely happy, either.

“He and Heero,” Relena bit out the vagrant's name like a curse, “spent all day together and didn't talk to me at all! They even spent all night in the guest room together!” she glared at Heero in accusation, but Heero and Duo saw the strange glint in her eye that was far from angry, “What is it with you and my little brother, anyway? Are you some sort of pervert chasing after little boys? Is that why you locked him up in your room when Dad left for the day?” she sneered in a farce of concern for her sibling.

Duo and Heero stared at her in shock. Duo hadn't even had the chance to confess anything to his father. He still wasn't sure that he would have, but Relena had beaten him to the punch anyway. Not only that, but she had twisted the whole thing around to make it look like she actually cared about him and thought that Heero had… had raped him! The terrible thing was, it was something that they couldn't prove or disprove. Heero's bed hadn't been slept in and Heero's clothes from yesterday were in Duo's room and he would hate for his father to find those things and think that Relena was actually telling the truth. She hadn't exactly lied, but he knew that she was only bringing it up to get Heero kicked out of the house.

Duo clenched his hands into fists, rage filling him at the sight of Relena's triumphant expression. How dare she accuse Heero of something so disgusting?! Why the hell did she have to do this to him?! He had finally found something, someone, that he loved and she just couldn't let him be! More than that, she had accused a wonderful, gentle person of something terrible, something that she knew damn well wasn't true! He walked up to Relena with a growl and slapped her across the face. He heard Heero and his father gasp in shock at his actions, but he didn't care, he was just too damn mad. That part of him that Relena had hurt with all those years of bullying relished her startled shriek at the blow and how she stumbled backwards, looking at him with terrified eyes. It was a terrible thing, and he knew that, but it had felt kind of good, to just let his anger flow out of him, to finally get back at her after all this time.

“Don't you dare say those things about Heero! He's a better person than you've ever been to me!” he snarled at her. Rage filled Relena's expression and, with a wordless cry of anger, she made to attack him back, but Treize grabbed her by her arms and yanked her back.

“Stop it, both of you!” he yelled, giving Heero a highly suspicious look that made Duo's stomach drop and fear and hopelessness replaced his anger. Relena relaxed in her father's grasp, but she continued to glare at her brother. How dare he strike her and say that that… animal was a better person than she was?!

“Dad, Heero didn't do anything! We just talked, that was all!” Duo tried to soothe the situation, his words coming out in a panicked rush. Treize looked at him in alarm. He had never seen his younger child so distressed and couldn't help but wonder what had really gone on in this house when he had been gone. Duo had said that Heero hadn't done anything, but the way he was acting was so out of character… still, his daughter didn't exactly have the habit of telling the truth, either. But he also loved his son, and as much as he wanted to believe that Heero was a good person and would never do something… like that… he loved Duo too much just to walk away from such accusations.

“Relena, go to your room,” Treize snapped at the girl as he released her.

“But I haven't done anything!” she protested, “Heero's the one who was messing around with Duo!”

“That's enough!” Treize grounded out, “If you were worried about your brother's safety with Duo, you should have called me on my cell phone the very second you had any suspicions instead of waiting to tell me when I got home! Now, go to your room. I have to speak to Heero and Duo alone.”

Relena snorted in irritation at being sent to her room, but blushed at her father's angry admonitions and walked quickly up the steps, glaring at her brother as she passed him.

“Sir,” Heero said calmly, “I know what this looks like, but Relena's wrong. I didn't do anything-,”

Treize put a hand up to silence him and folded his arms over his chest, giving them both stern looks.

“I don't know what went on in this house, or who is telling the truth,” he confessed.

“You can't kick Heero out just because of what Relena said!” Duo demanded, tears in his eyes. After dealing with all of Relena's temper tantrums, he had thought that he could deal with any of his children crying, but Duo's expression made Treize's heart hurt and he put a hand on his son's shoulder.

“I'm not going to kick Heero out unless I know for sure that he did something to hurt you,” Treize assured him.

“But he didn't do anything!” Duo insisted, “You know that Relena doesn't like him!”

“I don't know anything,” Treize said stiffly, “I don't know what went on here yesterday. All I know is that my daughter seems to think that a near stranger raped my youngest child. Despite her track record, or what you say, I can't pretend that nothing is wrong. I won't kick Heero out, but I forbid the two of you to be alone together until I can discover the truth.”

“No!” Duo yelled at his father, “You can't do that!”

Treize's gaze softened as he looked at his son. Duo was usually so timid, and now that he was finally standing up for something, Treize was happy about it, to see some fire and life in him at last, but he knew that he had to reprimand him for it.

“Yes, I can, Duo and you will listen to me!” Treize's voice was stern again, but it lacked any anger. He instantly felt bad as Duo started to tremble, but refused to cry. He had always had more problems dealing with Duo's tears than Relena's. Heero watched his friend struggle with his father's order and ached to comfort him, but knew that any attempts to touch the longhaired boy would just make the situation worse. He watched as Treize squeezed his son's shoulder, trying to comfort, but not folding in his decision. Heero didn't blame him for it. He knew that, if he had been in Treize's place, he would not have been so kind and patient about it. If he hadn't known better, if he hadn't seen Treize's affection for his children in his eyes, Heero would have thought that the man was being careless and uncaring with his son's safety.

“Heero didn't do anything,” Duo murmured again, his voice tight with defeat and pain. Treize brushed Duo's bangs from his face in a tender gesture.

“Duo, I'm sorry,” he said, watching the emotions play across his son's face carefully, “I believe that Heero is a good man.”

Heero stared at the man in shock at the conviction in his voice.

“Then why?” Duo begged, looking his father in the eye, “He's the only friend I have!”

“Because I love you,” Treize said, his voice strong and solid. Duo looked at him with wide eyes, and the shock at Treize's words hurt the man deeply, that Duo would doubt his love for him so much.

“You are my child and I will always love you,” Treize said softly, “I trust Heero enough to let him stay, but I love you too much to risk your well being on my mere gut instinct. I will do anything to keep you safe.”

When Treize's eyes met Heero's, the younger man nodded to him.

“I understand, and I'll do anything to prove to you that I never touched your son that way,” he told him. Treize seemed to brighten at his acceptance.

“I'm sure you will,” he smiled, “In any case, I do need to talk to you.”

Heero nodded again, a little bit solemnly. Treize started to walk towards the steps, but Duo pulled him back.

“I'm glad you are home, father,” he said sincerely, hugging his father tightly. Despite how horrible he felt about what was happening, Heero couldn't help but smile at the sight. Treize almost gasped at the embrace. Duo hadn't hugged him since he had been a child, but he could feel the honesty in it.

“Thank you,” Duo murmured, “for trusting Heero and… for saying that you love me,” he choked on that bit.

`Even if it is a lie, or even if you only love me out of your duty as a father,' he thought sadly. His father wasn't going to throw Heero away, he was actually going to give him a chance to prove their version of the truth. And he had said that he loved him, that he wanted to protect him. Even if it was a lie, Duo wanted to believe it too much to simply toss those sentiments away. Treize kissed the top of his head.

“Always,” his father murmured.

Duo watched as his father led Heero back up the stairs, and despite all his insistences that he was going to listen to whatever Heero had to say, he couldn't help but hate Relena very deeply, feeling as though she had stolen something very precious away from him. No matter what, he promised himself, he would get it back.

 

 

 

 

End Part 3