The Pasts We Wish We Didn’t Have: Part 15
Duo stood from the bed and looked around the room. He recognized it as one of the rooms of Quatre’s mansion. His body felt heavy and he could barely stand, but somehow he managed to get out of the room and walk down the staircase. He realized he was only wearing a white tank-top and boxers, what had happened to the black outfit he had been wearing when Michael had handed him the cup he didn’t know. He heard talking voices coming from the dining room, he stumbled into the room and both Heero and Wufei looked up at him.
“Well if it isn’t Sleeping Beauty?” Wufei commented, “Now we’ll see if the happy couple will emerge.”
Duo looked at him curiously, Heero explained, “After he woke up Trowa asked Wufei and me to leave, Quatre and him have been in there since then. Quatre looked out when Michael showed up with you, made sure you were ok, and then went back in.” Wufei was smiling at his cup. Duo flopped heavily in the chair, and blinked.
“Well, I guess that’s good, maybe.” Duo was studying everything. His eyesight, hearing and smell were all dimmed. He looked at the sandwiches placed out for lunch by Quatre’s maids. The only thing that Duo was acutely aware was more was the weight of his own body. He felt like he was going to collapse on himself.
“Duo? What’s wrong?” Heero asked.
Duo looked at him, picking up his heavy head, surprised it didn’t fall off, “I’m…I…I can barely stand up. I fell like the air, like I weigh a million tons.”
“Well what did you expect?” Heero asked, “Angels are probably more lightweight than humans because they can fly. You’re human now Duo, I’m sure there are going to be a few more changes.”
“My senses are dulled too. I feel like I’m seeing, smelling and hearing everything from behind a blanket.” Actually the description fit, Heero’s voice sounded burly and distant and everything felt further away, only his skin prickled and he realized his sense of touch was amplified. To prove it he started to touch everything, the satin tablecloth, the china dish, the glass up, “Expect I can feel everything better.”
Heero nodded, “Small changes, from Angel to Human.”
“You’ll get used to it Maxwell.” Wufei said, taking a bite of his sandwich.
“Food.” Duo said and reached out to fill his own plate. A maid came in and asked Duo what he would like to drink.
“Um…something sweet…no, something…something” he thought for a moment, “Apple juice.” She bowed and left the room. Duo took a bite of his club sandwich. “Well,” he said with his mouth full of food, “Taste hasn’t changed.”
“I’m sure you’re glad about that.” Heero commented as the maid returned with the apple juice.
“Thanks!” Duo said as she left.
Footsteps came down the stairs. Trowa entered the room, smiling widely, “Good morning everyone.” He said as he grabbed an orange.
“It’s
“Really?” Trowa looked at his watch, “Well good afternoon then.” His smile widened and he laughed, Wufei and Duo exchanged looks.
Quatre sauntered into the room, he looked around and smiled. “Duo, I’m glad you’re up.” Trowa smiled at Quatre as Quatre sat next to him. There was a small amount of silence.
“Well?” Duo demanded.
“Well, huh?” Quatre asked, looking up at him. “Oh! Duo, do you want to be my Man of Honor.”
Duo squealed and smiled, “Totally! So you two are really gonna do it?”
Trowa and Quatre looked at each other, “Yeah.” Quatre said and Trowa showed the others in the room the gold engagement ring with a line of small diamonds that sparkled in the light.
~~
“I am so nervous, it’s not even funny!” Quatre said as Duo tied his bowtie.
“Actually, it’s hilarious.” Duo said smirking. Quatre glared at him.
“Well just you wait till you get married, you’ll never hear the end of it!”
Duo stood back and smiled.
“Well? What do you think.” Quatre asked, spreading his arms to show Duo the white dress shirt, the light blue, almost sliver pants, and the matching vest and tie.
“You look like an angel!” Duo joked and Quatre glared again. “You look really good, beaming really. Oh my God! He didn’t get you pregnant did he?”
“Duo, this is serious!”
Duo laughed, “I know Kat.” He said. Wufei looked into the room.
“Are you ready yet, Winner?”
“Just a moment, Wufei,” Duo looked at Quatre once more, his eyes became teary. “Let’s see…what was it? Something old, those cufflinks from your grandfather, something new, well that’s your whole damn suit, something borrowed, didn’t Rasid give you that pin and something blue…wait? Can you’re suit be new and blue?”
Quatre laughed and Wufei rolled his eyes. “Well my shoes are new too.”
“Yes, yes they are.”
“Duo, don’t tell me you’re finally gonna cry and it’s gonna be over something as corny as Winner’s marriage to Barton!” Wufei taunted. Duo glared at him and all three men laughed.
“Why do I have to be part of this ceremony? Why can’t Heero lead you to the alter?”
“Because he
is next to Trowa, now shut-up and smile.” Wufei smiled as the doors opened and together
he and Duo moved down the aisle.
Quatre
clutched Rasid’s wide arm and when his cue music
started to play they followed the path Wufei and Duo had taken. Trowa turned to
watch Quatre come towards him and they smiled at each other.
“May I cut in?” Duo asked Trowa, looking at Quatre.
“Sure,” said Trowa as he stepped aside. Duo took his place dancing with Quatre. Catherine took this opportunity to grab her brother and dance with him.
“You look good Kat.”
“Thanks.”
“I thought
that between your sisters, the Maquancs and Trowa’s circus friends that this
whole ritzy hotel would flood.”
Quatre
laughed, “There was a bit of crying.” Duo giggled and spun Quatre. When Quatre
came to him again Duo said, “I’m really, really
happy for you.”
“You did it you know. If you hadn’t of healed Trowa, I wouldn’t be married right now.”
Duo smiled back at his friend. “I suppose. Don’t worry; I won’t let it get to my head.” The song ended.
“Excuse me sir, but you cannot come in here!” A small bellboy tried to hold back a tall man. The commotion caused the whole wedding party to look at the two of them.
“Michael!” Quatre said and rushed up to them, “It’s ok.” He told the bellboy, “He is a friend.” Michael smiled at the anxious bellboy who quickly bowed to Quatre and left.
“Hello Quatre.” Michael told the blonde, by this time the rest of the Gundam boys had come up behind him. “I brought you a wedding gift.” He handed a long steam white rose. “It will never wilt, and it has no thrones.” Quatre took the gift.
“Thank-you.”
“Oh yeah, just out-do the rest of us!” Duo joked.
“Duo, how have you enjoyed your four months as a human?”
“Well considering I took the first three to get used to it…” Michael laughed.
“You were right, you know. The child will be a boy.” Duo nodded, his smiled faltering. “I must be off, let me just say this to you two.” He looked at Trowa and Quatre, “Enjoy what you have. Adore it, and relish in it. Because you never know, maybe one day you’ll realize that very few things truly last forever, believe me, I know.”
“Don’t worry. We will.” Trowa said and wrapped his arms around Quatre, his smile wide and extremely happy. Then Michael turned and left them to enjoy their party.
It was past midnight, but the ex-Gundam pilots and the Maquancs were still enjoying the party, even some of Quatre’s sisters remained, although all of Trowa’s quests had left, they needed to leave early in the morning to make it to the next place they would perform, they all were sad to see Trowa go. Sally was the Preventer that remained, and she was now dancing with Wufei. Hilde was sleeping at a table, her head resting on her arm.
Heero was out on the balcony looking out into the Earth’s capital city. Relena had even been here, and he told her we would not be returning to work for her. Duo walked up behind him.
“We need to talk.” Heero said, surprising Duo.
“Um…ok.” He said and Heero turned to look at him.
“I love you.” That surprised Duo even more.
“You’re joking right?” Duo said, his eyebrow raised.
“No, I’m not. I tried to tell myself I didn’t. That’s why I became Relena’s personal guard. That’s why I tried to avoid you. But I can’t keep on pretending I’m the Prefect Hard as Nails Soldier. I mean, the war is over. It’s over, Duo, and this wedding and finding everything out about you and God and everything, it’s just helped prove that.” His voice was still monotone, but his eyes tired to prove he meant what he said. “I guess I never really got over the fact that I didn’t have to hurt people anymore, Duo. I didn’t realize that I could happy. I didn’t realize that…that…”
“You love me?” Duo asked and started to walk closer to him.
“Yeah, I guess.”
Duo smiled, “I…I…” He looked to the right and rushed the words, “Iloveyoutoo.” He looked at Heero, “I love you too.” He smiled. Heero reached out and pulled Duo close to him, looked at him, and smiled back.
~~
“So where are you going on your Honeymoon?” Duo asked cheerily, it was the afternoon after the party.
“We are actually going to take a cruise, go around Earth, you know.” Trowa answered, handing Adua another suitcase, who left with it.
“I’m gonna miss this hotel, room service, cute bellboys. It was awful nice of you Kat, to pay for our rooms.”
Quatre stood from the suitcase he was writing his name on and looked at Duo over the brim of his sunglasses, “And give you and Heero adjoining rooms?”
“Well,” Duo relaxed in the couch, “Yeah.”
“God, I really am going to go down in history as the straight Gundam pilot, aren’t I?” Wufei mused.
Duo grinned at him.
“When is our flight?” Heero asked.
“In about two hours.” Duo answered.
“You two are really gonna move in together, aren’t you?” Quatre asked.
“Yeah, we are.” Heero answered.
“And Hilde’s cool with it?”
“Yeah, we talked about it during your wedding reception. She was actually surprised that it took this long.”
“Well we all know who to blame for that one.” Wufei said, everyone looked at Heero.
“What?” Heero asked, looking around.
~~
“It’s not much, but it should be cool until you two can get a better place, you know.”
“It’s perfect, Hil, thanks for being so supportive.” Duo said, looking around the small, poorly-furnished apartment.
“Well what did you expect of me Duo? I just want you to be happy.” She placed a hand on his face. “However I do expect you both to show up bright and early to help out with the Scarp Heap.”
“Of course Hilde.” Duo hugged her.
“Ok, I’ll leave you two alone now. Good-night Duo.”
“Night Hil.”
Hilde left the room. Heero came out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel.
“Well what do you think?” Duo asked him.
“I like it.” Heero said looking at him.
“So…what do you want to do?”
“Guess.” Said Heero as he came forward to Duo and kissed him.
~~
It was late at night, the room’s door opened slowly.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
“No.”
“I can’t sleep.”
“Neither can I.” He sat up to look at her. The white gown clung to her body, making her bulging stomach easy to see. The moonlight illuminated him a bit and she could see the sliver chain around neck, and his shoulder length black hair. He smiled at her and slid over. She came to crawl under the covers of the bed next to him, and he held her when she laid down.
“Michael?” she asked.
“Yeah?”
“How do you keep on living?”
“One moment at a time, Lorelei, one moment at a time.” He sighed and closed his eyes. She looked at the ceiling a moment longer than closed her eyes as well.
Somewhere
on the
And on the colony Duo and Heero were laying in each other’s arms, sleeping. Duo’s hair was lose and spread out over the bed behind him.
The End