Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Yin And Yang ❯ Chapter V ( Chapter 5 )

Yin and Yang
By Cobalt 27

Summary: AU. 1 equals 2; 3 equals 4; 5 equals M. Heero has no choice but to move to a new school in the middle of his sophomore year and is in for a few surprises. Between going from being a loner to one of the most popular guys, finding that he’s more comfortable with homosexuality than he thought, and meeting a nymphomaniac who has a deeper side to him Heero realizes he’s in for one hell of a semester.
Warning: Drinking, drugs, smoking, sex, swearing, angst and mature adult themes. Hilde and Catherine are 100 percent OOC but I hope you all like my version of their high school girly-ness.
Disclaimer: I do not own or have any claim to Gundam Wing, its characters, logos or its affiliations; they belong to Bandai and their affiliated companies. I do not own or have claim to bus names, street names, school names, mascots or logos. I do not own or have claim to the high school that appears in this story. I do not own or have claim to the malls, store names or their logos that appear in this story. I do not own or have claim to songs, lyrics, movies and movie characters, actors, singers or bands that appear in this story. I own all original characters that do not appear in any anime/manga owned by Bandai or their affiliated companies.

Heero sat in front of the computer monitor in the library during English class. He was supposed to be researching for his essay on ’s Paradise Lost but, like the other students in his class, he was checking his email because, unlike the other students in his class, he had finished his first draft already. This was actually the first time he had an opportunity to check his email since Treize’s party and he was very nervous. Noticing he had one new email, he clicked on his Inbox link and held his breath...

…Then released it.

It was a Post Delivery Failure notice. With a sigh of relief, Heero clicked on the message to see who he tried to send it to.

“Thank God,” Heero muttered under his breath.

“You’re welcome.” Trowa sat at the empty terminal next to Heero.

“Yeah, right.” Heero pointed to the screen, “Remember that email I told you about? Well, apparently you can’t just type the person’s name in the address field.”

“Wow, that’s news to me,” Trowa smirked sarcastically.

Heero nodded and then read the copy of the email that was sent back with the failure notice. He had written the letter while he was still stoned so he was kind of curious to see how much of an ass he made of himself and how bad his typing was.

Duo…duoduoduoduoduo…you have the best name in the whole world. And your really beautiful.

Heero’s brow furrowed when he came to the word beautiful. He would never use that word to describe anyone, especially another boy.

You’re the most beautiful person that’s ever hated me. I want you to stop the thnigs you do that you hurt you. I’m not sure what they all are but I want you to stop. I don’t know why I got stoend, but it was that look in your beautiful eyes. I rememember when I first saw thme. I thought they that they weren’t real and I just want to tell you that they’re real now. You’re so real and beautiful. Everything about you. I understand why guys have sex with you all the time.. Its cuz you’re so beautiful and I know you’re jus so so beautiful.

Heero could feel the flush of embarrassment as he turned to see if Trowa was reading the letter. Trowa was casually checking his email at the terminal next to his, almost purposely ignoring Heero. Thankful that Trowa was at least giving him some privacy, he read on.

But you know and you don’t want to kiss me because you want to kiss other boys. I’ll make you change your mind and then you’ll know your eyes are real too.

There was no way he wrote that! Why would he write that? It’s not like he had any feelings toward Duo. He leaned back in his chair and raked his fingers through his hair. Releasing the breath he held with a sigh, he drew his hands down his face.

“Alright, so the letter was to Duo.” Heero turned to Trowa who kept his eyes glued onto his own monitor.

“I figured as much,” he said with a flat tone and an unmoving expression. But Heero thought, just for a split second, he saw the end of Trowa’s lips curl into the faintest of smirks.

[X]-[X]-[X]

“Hey.”

Quatre, Trowa, and Duo walked up to Heero who was standing with a box of books and a box of acrylics (little clear plastic mini-shelves that clip onto slots in the groves on the walls). Heero had been setting up a book display and was just setting the last acrylic into place.

“Oh, hey.” Heero reached for a stack of books that he had already put a sale sticker on and placed them on one of the shelves. He continued stocking the display as Quatre kept talking.

“It totally sucks that you have to work Fridays sometimes, but you’re still going to Meilan’s party, right?”

“Yeah,” Heero nodded. “I normally start at five and we close at ten, so it’s not that bad. I can still hang out with you guys on Fridays for a bit, and I’ll just be a little late for Meilan’s party.”

“Aw, so you’ll miss the surprise part.”

Heero nodded. “What are you guys doing here on a Wednesday, anyway?”

“We’re looking for presents for Meilan,” Quatre smiled.

“That reminds me,” Heero started, “I have no idea what to get her. I’ve never had to buy a girl a birthday present before.”

“Really?” Quatre’s brow furrowed. He would have thought that Heero would have at least had to buy a cousin a present…or something. To hear that he had never purchased a birthday present for a girl make Quatre wonder just how alone Heero had been at his last school.

“Well, she likes art stuff, but nothing too expensive or she’ll get mad. She’ll already be mad enough that we’re throwing her a party. She’s very selfless that way. And about the party, how are you getting there?”

“Oh.” He straightened as he placed the last book on a shelf and turned fully to face his friends. Heero really hadn’t thought of that. He supposed under normal circumstances Odin would have given him a ride, but Odin would be with his uncle J. Everyone else would already be there, and he doubted a bus took him to Duo’s. “I’ll take a cab, so I’ll need the address.”

“Nonsense.” Quatre waved Heero’s words aside. “We’ll send someone to come and pick you up–”

“You guys don’t need to do that, honestly–”

“Listen to the man, Quat,” Duo spoke softly. “For once he’s right.”

Quatre sighed and rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Duo. Anyway. We’ll be at Duo’s so we’ll just get one of his drivers to go get you. How’s that sound? And before you start protesting, this way you won’t have to pay for a cab and you won’t get lost looking for the house.”

“I…” Heero started, but Quatre cut him off swiftly.

“Good, it’s settled then. One of Duo’s drivers will be here at ten. Um, we’ll probably send him in the limo so you recognize him, okay?”

“A limo?” Heero’s eyes were wide with disbelief. There was no reason for Quatre to go all out and send a limo to pick him up. Now that he thought about it, having a limo pick him up after work might raise some questions from his new co-workers. And that, Heero thought, was a little embarrassing. “You guys don’t need to…honestly, that’s too much to ask–”

“You didn’t ask.” Trowa smiled. “Don’t worry about it. Just have everything you need with you for Friday.

Just then one of Heero’s co-workers, a night-time supervisor, happened to walk by the four boys standing next to the display rack. Figuring that Heero was just a typical teenager slacking off because his friends showed up, took an authoritative stance near the bottom of the steps.

“Heero, you can’t have friends visiting you at work–”

“We’re terribly sorry.” Trowa smiled as he gave Heero a curt nod and turned from him. “We were just on our way.”

“Oh…okay.” was taken aback by the tall, lithe, defiantly handsome, teen, who was dripping enough charm to make even her cheeks blush. She turned from the boys and continued her check of the store, disappearing into the aisles near the bottom of the steps.

“Yeah, I better finish the displays.” Heero placed the book he had been holding on an acrylic. “So, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

“Yeah, you have work to do.” Duo walked toward the wall display and flung the books to the floor, some of the acrylics sliding in the wall slots and falling to the floor. They all landed at Heero’s feet, pages fluttering and hard covers and acrylics making a hallow “thunk” noise as they crashed into each other. “Go ahead, Heero. Clean it up.”

“Duo!” Quatre’s was aghast as he scolded Duo’s behaviour. “Pick those up!”

“No.” Duo folded his arms across his chest and turned his head away from the other three, refusing to say or do anything more.

Heero grit his teeth and bent down, picking the books up. He couldn’t stand Duo being anywhere near him any longer, and was considering not going to Meilan’s birthday just because of Duo. But he knew that wasn’t fair to Meilan, and he couldn’t ostracize himself from his new friends because Duo made him want to break things, set fire to them, and then shove the burning ashes down Duo’s throat.

“You’re being ridiculous, you know that? Since when have you been so childish and selfish?!” Quatre bent down and began helping Heero pick up the books.

“Is there a problem here?” reappeared at the bottom of the steps, arms folded across her chest and a very stern look on her plump features.

“Sorry, no.” Trowa grabbed Duo by the arm and began to drag him away from Heero and Quatre. “A misunderstanding, really.”

“You shouldn’t let that asshole work here–”

“Duo! Stop being so damned rude.” Trowa tightened his grip on Duo’s arm. “Just because Heero’s our friend doesn’t mean you have to be a jealous little shit-head. You’ve already caused him enough trouble; stop trying to get him fired. Now, let’s go.” Trowa gave Quatre a meaningful look that clearly said ‘I’ll meet you outside’.

“Look Heero, I’m really, really, really sorry that Duo is being this way. Honestly, he’s not normally like this…just when he gets around you. We’ll talk to him before Meilan’s party, though. None of us want a repeat of what happened last time,” Quatre motioned to Heero’s leg, which was still in a thick plastic boot, as he handed Heero the last few books to restock. Turning to he bowed his head and began to apologize. “I’m terribly sorry for the trouble our friend has caused. I assure you we won’t permit him to harass your employees any further. I’d be more than willing to pay for the damages he may have caused to your display.” Quatre reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cheque book.

“Oh,” was taken aback for the second time since meeting her employee’s friends. “Well, they seem to be alright.” She looked at the pile of books Heero held, and the ones he had returned to the shelf. “They’re fine. There’s no need for that, thank you though.”

“Again, we’re terribly sorry.” Quatre gave a final bow and trotted down the steps and disappeared around a bookshelf.

[X]-[X]-[X]

“Check it out!” Peter, a short Canadian-born-Asian who worked with Heero, exclaimed as Heero exited the Chapters doors after cleaning up and punching out. “Dude, it’s a limo. Sweet, eh?”

Parked in the “No Parking” zone was a sleek and shiny black stretch limo, polished right down to the bolts in the hubcap. Leaning casually on the limo door stood a tall and thin seemingly apathetic man in a blue and red suit with a matching hat.

“Um, yeah,” Heero blushed as he walked over to the chauffeur who looked Heero over.

“Dude, no freaking way. This is for you?!” Peter stood wide eyed and shocked, unable to move from his position in front of the door. “What’s the occasion?”

“Um,” Heero’s blush deepened as he noticed Peter was drawing the attention of his other co-workers. “Just a birthday party,” Heero muttered as the chauffeur pushed off the limo and opened the door so Heero could climb in.

The chauffeur closed the door after Heero had climbed in, and they took off once the driver had returned to his seat. Heero bowed his head and looked away from his co-workers, just catching Peter mouthing the words “no way”.

He felt bad enough taking advantage of Quatre’s hospitality, but a small guilty part of him was enjoying using Duo’s limo when it obviously bothered him so much. It was the same small part of him that couldn’t stop thinking about the email he had tried to send Duo during Treize’s party.

What had possessed him to say those things, to attempt to tell Duo those things that he was sure he never meant? Was it the fact that he had been high? Well, that settled it then. If Meilan’s party was anything like Treize’s he was not, and he meant absolutely not, getting stoned.

Unlike Treize’s party, they didn’t have to take a twenty minute drive out of the city. Duo lived on the waterfront about five minutes out of the of in a small subdivision of very large houses. Heero would go as far as to say they were mansions, although not as grand as Treize’s “humble abode”.

The chauffeur pulled into a long and winding driveway at the end of the subdivision, the house that probably had the best view of the water. He remembered Quatre saying that he lived next to Duo, and looked on either side of the house they were pulling up to. Both of the houses were just as large and impressive as Duo’s, and Heero couldn’t figure out which one was Quatre’s.

They pulled up to the front door, and the chauffeur got out and opened the door for Heero. Grabbing his backpack full of his things, he exited the limo and bowed to the silent chauffeur who then turned away from Heero and got back into the limo. He drove by the house and around the side, out of sight, to where Heero assumed was a garage or something. Adjusting the strap on his shoulder, Heero walked up to the polished door set into the house, beyond large stone pillars and exotic shrubs lining the front of the house under the large curtain drawn window. Heero could hear the faint hum of music and the boisterous shouts of teenagers enjoying themselves with no supervision around.

Heero knocked on the door and wondered if anyone would hear him over the loud noises inside. Sure enough, a shadowed figure appeared on the other side of the textured glass that covered the front door. The door opened and a petite, and very beautiful, Japanese woman answered the door. The look of shock on her face confused Heero. She stood there, clutching her apron, with her jaw hanging loose and her dark eyes wide.

“Kenji? It is…oh, oh I am sorry.” She bowed her head, speaking with a very heavy accent. “I thought you were someone else.”

“Daijobu.”

“Nihongo o hanasu.” She smiled as she stepped back, giving Heero room to pass.

“Hai.”

“You are here for Meilan’s party? Down that hallway.” She pointed to the left exit from the foyer.

Heero entered into a large marbled foyer with pillars positioned near the door and ivory sheer curtains hanging stylishly from a chandelier in the center of the grand foyer. Heero felt the need to take his shoes off so as not to dirty the tiled flooring and the obviously expensive import carpet that was in the center of the foyer, but when he looked around and noticed there was no stock pile of shoes he figured that all the guests were still wearing their footwear.

Heero followed the directions he was given by the maid, and he found his friends in a large smoky sitting room full of bottles and blaring music. There weren’t nearly half as many people in the sitting room as there was at Treize’s party, and he figured it had more to do with the fact that all the people invited to the birthday party were friends, or at least acquaintances, of Meilan.

[By the time you come homeI’m already stonedYou turn off the TVAnd you scream at meI can hardly waitTill you get off my case]

“Heero! I’m so glad you made it.” Meilan walked over to Heero and gave him a hug.

He reached into his bag and pulled out her present. “Happy birthday, Meilan.” Heero handed her the gift and she hugged him again.

“Thank you.”

And before Meilan could open it, she was whisked away by Hilde and Relena leaving Heero to stand by himself until he saw Quatre wave him over. Trowa, Quatre, and Duo were sitting on a large and puffy leather couch tucked into the corner of the room. Trowa was sitting next to the armrest with Quatre comfortably next to him. Duo was next to Quatre and was leaning over the table in front of the couch, repeatedly filling a shot glass with vodka and belting it back like a professional.

The last time Heero saw Duo he has caused a scene at his work, and Heero wasn’t so keen on forgiving him this time. But there was something in Duo’s eyes, when he looked up and saw Heero approach before he paused with the shot glass in mid air and took it back, that made Heero lose his resolve in telling Duo off. What was with him lately? How come every time Duo looked at him, he lost his nerve? Did he pity Duo? Or was his mind constantly dwelling on the email that never reached Duo?

“Sit down,” Quatre urged.

The only spot left on the couch was next to the other armrest, right next to Duo. With a sigh, Heero took a seat, turning slightly to look at Trowa and Quatre when he spoke to them. The downside was that he could also see Duo’s every movement.

“Did you get here alright? You didn’t have a problem with the driver or anything?” Quatre asked as he sipped on a large glass of what appeared to be orange juice. Although, with Duo’s bottle of vodka within grasp, Heero doubted that it was just orange juice.

“No, I got here alright.” Then Heero though of the maid at the door and what she said. “But, who’s Kenji?”

Duo slammed his shot glass on the table and looked at Heero. Silence fell around them, and Heero looked from person to person. Obviously, he hit a nerve.

“How dare you–!”

“Duo, he doesn’t know.” Quatre scolded.

A very large nerve.

“I’m sorry if I’ve said–” Heero wanted to at least apologize, even if he didn’t care if he pissed Duo off. He didn’t like the awkward silence he caused.

“You don’t know a goddamned thing!” Duo stood up, pushing past Heero, with the vodka bottle in hand.

“Duo, don’t start. This is Meilan’s party.” Trowa warned, but Duo ignored him.

He walked across the room and found sitting in a chair with a glass of Canadian Club, grabbed the smirking boy by the arm and led him out of the room and down the hall, presumably to Duo’s bedroom. Heero shook his head. He was really starting to dislike Duo and his substance abuse and sexual addiction problems. Heero turned back to Trowa as the noise level increased and things went back to normal, without Duo.

“What did I say?”

“How did you hear that name?” Quatre asked, crossing his legs.

“The woman, when she answered the door, called me Kenji.”

“Well,” Relena took the spot where Duo had previously occupied. “You do look a little like him, don’t you? But we’re all supposed to pretend he doesn’t exist. No one’s seen him in years, but I’d think he’d look the way you look now.”

Heero was taken aback by this information. Why would people, as kind as Trowa and Quatre, ignore the existence of someone? And was it that reason, that Heero reminded them of him, that Trowa welcomed him into their circle of friends in the first place? Was Heero a replacement?

“I don’t get it; who is this guy?”

“Let’s go for a walk. I’ll explain everything.” Trowa stood up and left Quatre behind with Relena.

Heero and Trowa left the smoky and loud room to roam the polished hallways. It was then, looking at Trowa, that Heero saw the red puffiness around Trowa’s eyes and realized he was already stoned. That served to remind Heero that he refused to smoke pot, because it lead to him being irresponsible and sending stupid emails that he never would send if he were in his right mind.

“Duo’s family is different, but at the same time they’re the same as anyone’s. They have more money, so they have more problems, and although some people think money really does buy happiness, it also causes suffering. Duo’s parents ignore him, completely. They don’t know how old he is, or even when his birthday is. Duo’s nanny, the woman that answered the door, is in charge of making sure they get memos about things like that, but they still manage to forget.”

They were now in the foyer, and Trowa kept walking straight to the right exit, and down a hallway.

“And it’s more than they just forget about him. When he’s talking to them, they’ll stop paying attention and just wander off. One time, he broke his arm and they didn’t even take him to a hospital. They forgot to–”

“How can you forget to take your son to the hospital?” Heero questioned.

“The phone rang. The phone is always more important than Duo. And on top of that, there’s so much fighting in this house. Quatre can hear it from next door, whenever Duo’s parents are home, that is. Duo’s the type of person that always needs attention, and his own parents don’t realize that they have a son sometimes.”

“Yeah, but what does this have to do with–”

“I’m getting there.”

“Duo’s nanny, Shizuka, had a son shortly after Duo was born. No one ever said anything, but the woman lives here, and there’s a strict policy about servants not allowed to get involved with each other. So, logically, everyone knew who the father was–”

“Duo has a brother?”

“Yeah, a half brother. Kenji, after all, means ‘strong second son’, right? Duo’s mother was furious, and it should have broken up the marriage, but it didn’t. Shizuka is still Duo’s father’s mistress, and Duo’s mom often brings men over, and they fight about that a lot. Anyway, Duo’s mother made them send Kenji away. He lives in now with Shizuka’s family and ever since then they’ve paid less and less attention to Duo. After they found out he was gay, they wanted to send him away too but he had nowhere to go.”

They entered a room with a large library and a fireplace. Trowa walked him over to it, and there were large picture frames resting atop it. He reached through them, digging around the back, until he pulled out a very small dusty picture that wasn’t in a frame. It was just a regular Polaroid and he handed it to Heero.

“That’s Kenji three years ago. I think that’s the last picture that he sent. You look like him, except of course your eyes.”

Heero took the picture that Trowa offered him and looked at it. It was like looking at himself when he was twelve. Trowa was right, though. Kenji’s eyes were dark, and he had a wide smile on his face. That was something Heero rarely did, but found it a little more comfortable to do around Trowa and Quatre.

“Duo hates Kenji because he’s always been there, right from the beginning. They’re four months apart so Duo feels like he was robbed of a father, and in a sense he was. Kenji was his favourite, right from birth. We think that’s because Shizuka’s his favourite. Duo smokes pot and drinks to forget things. I know it’s not an excuse, and we don’t like it any more than you do, but Duo needs the attention and he needs us to be there after to pick him up. Do you get it now?”

Heero nodded, but he still didn’t like it.

“You mentioned Kenji so we’re all in for a rough night.” Trowa took the picture from Heero and put it back where it belonged, out of sight.


“Heero, thank you!”

Trowa and Heero returned to the study where everyone was partying, and Heero was once again greeted by Meilan.

“I opened the present, and I love it.” She held up the unfinished jewelry box and the set of art supplies that Heero bought. Heero thought that, with Meilan liking art, she might want to decorate it herself. And the box played an old Chinese lullaby when the bottom drawer was pulled out.

“I love Clear Moon, Quite Winds. Thanks so much.”

“Hell yeah!” Someone called from the other side of the room.

Trowa and Heero looked over to see a crowd and Heero had noticed that the type of music had changed.

[Gotta be compatible, Takes me to my limitsGirl when I break you off, I promise that you won’t wanna get off]

“C’mon,” Trowa lead Heero to the crowd and pushed his way through. Relena was standing on the coffee table while Hilde danced suggestively on and around her, grabbing her and showing the crowd her own various body parts.

[If you’re horny, let’s do itRide it, my ponyMy saddle’s waitin’Come and jump on it]

Hilde placed a shot of Tequila in the cleavage of Relena’s low cut shirt and after dancing around for a bit, took it out with only her mouth, swallowing all of the alcohol.

“But…I thought that Hilde was…straight.” Heero had to turn away. Something about the two girls was making him nauseous.

“She is,” Trowa said, “and she’s into fan service. This means nothing. She just does it for attention.”

“Does everyone in this circle of friends demand attention?”

“Mostly.” Trowa folded his arms over his chest. “We do and we don’t. We all like a certain type of attention, Heero. We’re human. You crave attention, even if you haven’t realized it yet.”

Relena had gotten off the table, and Hilde had pulled Quatre up. Heero turned to see this. What on earth would a straight girl and a gay guy do on a table together? But it was Quatre’s turn to dance suggestively around Hilde, who bumped and grinded along with him.

Heero couldn’t help but notice the small smile and blush on Trowa’s face as he watched Quatre’s swinging hips rotate, and his hand run down his abs as he spread his legs and dipped down to Hilde’s feet. Quatre rolled his hips in slow circles as he slowly made his way back up Hilde’s body. He punctuated his last hip roll with a sharp thrust and turned on his heels, bending a bit with his butt sticking out.

Heero didn’t miss a beat. He could tell by the way Trowa’s eyes followed Quatre’s every movement, and by the way that he clenched his fists and licked his lips, that he was enjoying watching Quatre very, very much.

“Need a cold shower, Trowa?” Heero whispered in his ear as he leaned toward him.

“What?” Trowa’s blush deepened. “No, I don’t. I’m fine, thanks.”

“Right. And you’ll wake up tomorrow tangled in his limbs once again and it’ll be ‘nothing’, right?”

“Fuck you, Yuy.” But Trowa had a grin on his face as he turned from Quatre and shook his head, blushing. He walked away. “Look, Quatre’s my best friend, alright? I’m not an idiot. I’d never trade our friendship for anything, and that includes a romantic relationship. Things are perfect the way they are.”

Suddenly there was a crash in the hallway and someone scremed. Knowing that Heero and himself (and Wufei, who had managed to disappear) were probably the most sober and therefore the most responsible in emergency situations, Trowa grabbed Heero by the writs and hauled him into the hallway. The screaming seemed to be coming from the foyer, where the large marbled staircases leading to the second and third level of the house were. Trowa and Heero ran down the hallway to the foyer to see the front door shut and a dark figure run away from the house. Shizuka was screaming at the landing of the stairs, pointing to a limp body near her feet.

Heero recognized that braid just as Trowa did.

“DUO!” Trowa ran up the stairs and stooped by Duo who lay on his stomach. It was his back; his white shirt, was stained with blood in what looked to be whip marks.

With Duo splayed out on the floor, and nowhere to be found, it didn’t take Heero long to figure out who had run out the door. But had no ride home and, unless he lived close by, he was in for a long walk back to the city. Leaving Duo in Trowa’s capable hands, he follwed his gut and took off after that bastard Trent.

He saw running at the end of the only street that led into the subdivision. Taking off at a dead run, it wasn’t long before Heero realized that he couldn’t catch up– not with his leg still injured. He had to stop running because the pain was starting to get to him, at that said something because Heero Yuy rarely ever let pain stop him.

But fate must have been on Heero’s side because stopped running once he reached the entrance of the subdivision. Heero could see the dark figure leaning on the welcome sign, and then drop to a sitting position, obviously exhausted.

Heero continued to run, but not at the speed he started with. His leg was in too much pain for that. It wasn’t too long before he caught up to the panting boy splayed out on the grass by the road that lead back into town. Heero came down on before the boy had time to get away, and he only managed to shuffle over a few inches before Heero pulled him to his feet.

“Wait, you again?!” asked incredulously. “When are you going to learn to stay the fuck outta my business, huh?”

“When are you going to learn,” Heero started, pushing the boy into the brick wall that served as a fence to block the subdivision from the traffic on the road, “that Duo Maxwell is a human being and not your fuck toy?”

“Oh,” started laughing, “I get it. What, he blow you off or something, turned you down, right? Jealous because he doesn’t want you, right?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Heero pinned him tight, getting in his face. “You’re delusional.”

“Am I?” laughed. “Am I really?”

“Yes!” Heero really wanted to punch this guy, to wipe that smirk right off his ugly face.

“You’re a pathetic little fuck, you know? Duo’s one of the best pieces of ass around and if I wanna fuck him bloody, I’ll fuck him bloody. I don’t give two shits who you are so you can take your self-righteous attitude and shove it up your ass because Duo is my fuck toy. And he loves every minute, got it?”

“Let him go, Heero.” Wufei stood next to the welcome sign, his shadow cast on the pavement from the harsh street lamp light behind him. Heero hadn’t even heard him sneak up on the two of them but there he was, his imposing figure daunting in the night light. “Let him go.”

Heero realized that this wasn’t his fight, and that Wufei was probably taking the noble road. Beating to a pulp probably wasn’t honourable, though there was no doubt in Heero’s mind that deserved a beating. Instead Heero did as he was told, and slowly and reluctantly released his vice grip on the boy.

Wufei moved, slamming his fist into ’s jaw with shattering intensity.

“Don’t ever go near Duo again.” Wufei’s growing voice was low and dangerous. “Don’t speak to him; don’t look at him; don’t even think about him. As far as you’re concerned, Duo Maxwell is dead so put him out of your thoughts. If I ever see you again, you’ll regret it.” Wufei backed off and, just as it looked like he was going to walk away, he turned on his heel and sent a sharp kick to ’s chest.

coughed and grabbed at his chest as he landed on his ass on the cool grass. He gasped for air, but Wufei just walked away, turning over his shoulder to look at Heero. “Are you coming?”

Heero nodded, “In a minute.” Heero took his time walking back up to Duo’s house. The pain in his leg had reduced to a dull throb and he was slowly able to ignore it completely.

It was twenty after one in the morning when Heero reentered Duo’s house, and after the major interruption in the festivities most of Meilan’s acquaintances had either gone home or had found a suitable place to crash for the night. Only Duo’s close friends were by his side when Heero found them all in the large master bathroom, and even then Meilan had thought it best to give Duo even more room and had ushered Hilde, Relena, Catherine, and Dorothy into the hallway. Quatre was off looking for bandages, Wufei was adjusting the shower water, and Trowa was holding a kneeling drunk and groggy Duo. Heero felt out of place and unneeded and began to recede from the room.

“Heero, thank god, come here.” Trowa motioned for Heero to enter the bathroom and he did so, slowly and slightly confused. “Help me get his shirt off.”

“Um…okay.” Heero thought that one of Duo’s other friends would best be suited to help the semi-conscious boy, but he figured Trowa trusted him and in a time like this (this being, Heero figured, one of those times when they were all there to pick Duo back up) Heero wasn’t about to protest. Heero knelt on Duo’s opposite side.

“I’ll hold him while you get his shirt off. Just be careful with his back.” Trowa braced Duo.

“Uh…okay.” Heero wasn’t sure where to start, but logic set in and he reached for the bottom seam of Duo’s shirt. He tenderly began to lift the shirt over Duo’s clammy skin, and he tried to steady his shaking hands. He wasn’t sure why he was shaking, but he couldn’t stop thinking about his godforsaken email!

Was Duo beautiful? Was he, sitting there pale and drunk, semi-conscious and shaking, with his back covered in blood, beautiful?

“Oooh!” Duo cried out as he lurched forward, slamming his body into the edge of the bathtub. Heero hadn’t been paying full attention to what he was doing, and caught one of Duo’s open wounds on the seam of the shirt as he lifted it over his head. Duo’s arms came out easily and he wrapped them around the cool surface of the bathtub’s edge, crying. “It hurts, Tro. It hurts.”

Heero felt a sickening movement in his stomach and he had to lean back, away from the sobbing boy, to regain control of himself. Seeing Duo like this was literally making him sick. The gashes on Duo’s back still bled, and some were deep enough that they could have used some stitches. Others weren’t deep, but very wide and long.

“God,” Heero whispered. “What happened?”

“tied him up, and it was all fun and games until he actually started whipping Duo,” Trowa started. “Usually, Duo just likes soft-core bondage and stuff like that, nothing too harsh. He likes being whipped, but lightly, a little sting. …well, you have eyes.”

Heero felt so angry with himself for just letting go. He wanted to stand up, find that bastard Trent, and finish what he started. But one look at Duo told Heero that he was needed right where he was. All grudges aside, Duo needed support.

“Heero, let’s get him to his feet.” Trowa wrapped one of Duo’s arms around his shoulders and snaked his snaked his other arm through Duo’s legs. He had to avoid touching Duo’s back. Heero copied Trowa. “On three, okay? One, two, three!”

The two boys pulled Duo to his feet as Wufei found the perfect temperature. He stepped away from the tub and bowed before he left the washroom.

“Undo his pants–”

“What?” Heero cocked his brow. He wasn’t that comfortable being around Duo’s yet.

“Heero, c’mon. I’ll keep him standing, you get his pants off.”

“Tro-wa,” Duo sobbed, putting his head on Trowa’s shoulder. “It really hurts.”

Heero took in a deep breath and reached for Duo’s pants. His hands shaking and fumbling, he undid the button and the zipper. Duo’s pants, being heavy jeans, almost fell right off Duo’s thin hips and he was left standing in his light blue and white plaid boxers with his pants at his ankles. Heero backed away, but Trowa gave him a sharp look.

“The boxers, Heero.”

“Hn…”

“Fine, you hold him.”

Heero nodded. Even though he’d be holding up a naked Duo, he wouldn’t be staring at one. He switched places with Trowa, Trowa gently leaning Duo in Heero’s direction as Heero wrapped Duo’s arm around his shoulder.

“Oh, god! My hair, my hair.” Duo’s cries surprised Heero, but Heero knew what he meant. Duo’s thick braid slapped against the open skin on Duo’s bleeding back.

Heero shuffled to face Duo and used his other hand to gently bring Duo’s braid across his shoulder. It draped down Duo’s chest, its tail end dangling right below his belly button. Heero swallowed, and turned away just as he realized Trowa had pulled Duo’s boxers off. Heero faced Duo, his dull purple eyes red and puffy from crying.

“Heero.” Duo’s voice was soft and meek, and there was a hint of regret. Was Duo beautiful?

“In the shower, Duo.” Trowa stood up and he and Heero helped Duo lift his legs over the tub’s edge into the hot water. “Heero, Quatre should have been back with the bandages by now. You wash him while I go find something to dress his wounds in.”

“How do I–?”

“Get in the shower with him. There’s blood in his hair, so wash that too.” Trowa almost ran out of the washroom, leaving Heero with Duo.

Duo stood in the shower, arms at his side, crying. “I can’t lean forward cuz my back hurts, and I can’t lean back…and I can’t sit down…and I just don’t know what to do.”

“Let’s get your back cleaned up, okay?” Heero reached for a bottle of non-scented soap, trying not to get wet. but soon realized that the stream of water was splashing off Duo. Heero was getting wet whether he liked it or not. Sighing, he squeezed a small amount of soap onto his hands and used the water to lather it. He tried his best to position himself so that he was in the shower with Duo while his cast covered leg was kept dry.

“This is really going to hurt,” Heero warned as he lightly massaged the soap onto Duo’s back who hissed in pain, and his sobbing increased in volume.

Heero washed Duo’s back, the water mixing with blood and running down the back of his legs. Heero reached for Duo’s braid, took the soaking elastic band off and set the band to the side. He slowly helped Duo turn around so that the water could work its way through Duo’s hair before Heero lathered up the shampoo. There Duo stood, wet and trembling, with his tears melting into the water that dripped down his face and Heero couldn’t help but asked himself yet again: was Duo beautiful?

Heero froze, forgetting all his thoughts, as a wet hand was placed gently on his left cheek. He looked into Duo’s eyes.

“Heero.” It was soft, and almost apologetic. Duo’s eyes fluttered shut and he almost smiled, then passed out. Heero had to use all of his strength to hold him up, unable to even move or call for help without Duo smashing his head against the wall.

Trowa returned just in time to help Heero so that they could pull Duo out of the tub. Heero reached for a stack of towels and began to wrap Duo’s hair while Trowa held the wet boy. Quatre burst through the bathroom door with a tall Arabic man behind him.

“What took you so long?” Heero questioned, wrapping Duo’s torso in a towel.

“I couldn’t find the bandages.” Quatre’s pale face was flushed and sweaty. He had obviously been running, or in a hurry. Some of his hair was matted to his forehead. “I ran to get Rashid.”

The tall man with a deep voice spoke as two more Arabic men followed him into a bathroom, “Grab the young master and let’s get him upstairs.”

Heero stepped back as the three grown men, Trowa, and Quatre carried Duo out of the bathroom. Heero leaned himself against the back wall and looked down at himself. He was wet, a little soapy, but mostly confused…and more than anything he was feeling once again like he didn’t belong.

A/N: Insert songs Home by Three Days Grace and Pony by Genuine. Japanese conversation roughly goes like this: “It is alright.” “You speak Japanese.” “Yes.” I only have one of those pocket dictionaries so I really hope I got the grammar right. I don’t really know Japanese grammar. Anyway, once again edited by Dentelle Noir and Katie. And I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to review my story so far. All the support means a lot to me.