Wings and Tears: Part Six
“Come on.” Duo held out his hand to his son. Solo’s head was resting on his arms, folded on the table of this room.
“What?” he asked.
“Come on.” Duo insisted. “Heero is taking us out to dinner. I’m taking you out into town. You need a break.” When Solo gave his father his hand he was automatically dragged up stairs.
Quatre watched them leave then went into the common sitting room. He was carrying a tray of snack foods which he set on the coffee table of the room. Hanna and Wufei both crowed to it. Quatre smiled and sat next to Trowa on the couch. Trowa wrapped his arm around his husband.
“When can we watch the movie?” Hanna asked.
“Right after the news, they’re at the last story.” Wufei said.
The pretty
female anchor spoke up, “And the last thing for today, the Leaders Conference
is getting nearer and nearer. The capital city of
The President’s aged face came onto the screen, “We are looking forward to this. It is a nice way for me to break the ice with the people I will have to work with.”
“Well,” the newscaster was back, “That’s the news for today, next…” Trowa didn’t worry about what was on next, he simply pointed the remote at the TV screen and clicked over the movie that Hanna had insisted they watch.
“Bye guys!” called Duo into the room.
“Have fun you three!” called back Quatre.
“We will.”
Heero, Solo and Duo went outside and into Quatre’s garage.
“Well now, let’s see. Which car to take? Quatre told me we could use any one.” Duo looked over the dozen cars. Solo walked over to a slick black round convertible.
“How about this one?” he asked.
Duo looked at it and smiled, “Perfect.”
“Put the right man in the right car and he feels like God.” Duo said as he relaxed in the soft leather seats of the car Solo had picked out. He turned the radio and electronically amplified instruments played a heavy accented beat as the singer blared out his lyrics.
“That’s more like it,” Heero commented as he drove, speed surpassing the limit, down the main road from Quatre’s mansion to the city. Lighted buildings could be seen in the distance. “No more of the puppet shit that Hanna sings to.”
“My sediments exactly, babe. I mean if you can call that singing” Duo said, head moving to the beat as he moved a strand of his hair that was being beaten into his face by the wind. Heero laughed. Solo looked at the both of them from the back seat. His hair was lose and he let it be blown by the wind. After Heero’s laughter had disappeared Solo sat back, closed his eyes, and listened as the hard rock music mixed with the howling wind.
The moon over their head was full, stars peaked through dark clouds.
“Fuck this,” Heero commented, “It’s too nice of a night to go into the city just yet.” Solo’s eyes were jutted open as Heero made a quick and dangerous turn into a small road.
Through laughter Duo hit his husband. “Solo’s in the back, remember that Mr. Solider.” He protested but couldn’t help enjoy it. Heero looked at him a moment. “Keep your eyes on the road!” Duo ordered.
“Yes Sir, Mr. Death, sir!” answered Heero, turning to look at the road, smirking. They were yelling to be heard over the loud music, the engine of the car, and the wind they were cutting through.
Solo looked at them in disbelief, and then leaned forward, “You forget…I can’t be hurt by a car crash,” he stated simply. Heero looked at Solo a second, then back at Duo. The two smiled mischievously, and Heero pressed on the gas a little harder. Duo laughed and whooped to the night sky.
The road they were traveling on led to a type of mountain pass. Heero drove the mountain roads with the still dangerous speeds. The roads lead to a type of cliff that was perfect make-out point for the city teenagers, none of which were currently parked there. Heero stopped the car at the edge of the cliff, barely making it. Duo smiled, his hair a little wind tossed, and he lifted himself quickly on the top of the leather seat. Solo stood and jumped out of the car, looking at the view of the capital city.
“It goes without saying that we don’t tell Quatre about this.” Duo told his son.
Solo laughed, “Of course. How many times had you two done this?”
Duo looked down at Heero. Heero shrugged, “Too many.” Duo answered.
Heero shrugged again, “I did more dangerous things with a Gundam.” He said nonchalantly. Duo shoved his shoulder.
“There is a difference.”
“You trust me.”
“Maybe I’m just suicidal.”
As they were talking Solo slowly walked further back then the car, looking at the trees and scenery around him then he turned and ran past the car. He dived, with his arms wide, off the cliff.
“SOLO!” screamed Duo, leaning forward, panicked, looking for his son. Solo’s red wings jetted out of his body quickly and caught a wind that lifted him up into the sky. Duo and Heero watched as Solo flew up into the air, towards the stars. He paused for a second and zipped around. Heero and Duo followed him their eyes. Finally he landed on the cliff by the car again, his wings returned to their hiding place.
“Show off. You could have been caught.” Duo said.
Solo pulled an elastic from his jean pocket and used it to pull back his hair. He turned and looked back to his father and his father’s husband. He smiled and laughed to himself. “There is a big difference between this and a colony,” he commented, motioning around him.
“Wait, what does that have to do with anything?” Duo asked. Solo climbed back into the car.
“Heero’s remembering something.” He said simply.
Heero turned to look at the young angel. “It’s not polite to read people’s thoughts,” he said, not angry, just stating a fact.
“I wasn’t reading your thoughts exactly; I just picked up on a strong emotion that happened to be related to an event. You were right Dad, you two can be romantic. When you want to be...and when you’re alone” He paused a second, looked out into the view. “I’m hungry. Weren’t you two going to take me to dinner before we went on this little adventure?” Heero turned to look up at Duo. For a moment the two adults looked at each other then burst out into laughter.
“Yeah I guess we were.” Heero said, through laughter. Duo sat back down in the chair and put on his seat belt.
“The way back down is even more Hell then the way down.” Duo told his son.
Heero started the car and backed up, “Aw…” he teased, “Is Shinigami scared?” Duo shot him a dirty look.
Finally the car entered the capital and Heero was forced to slow down as he reached traffic. They went into the parking lot of a building that said, ‘Ed’s Karaoke, Food and Drink’.
“A Karaoke bar?” Solo asked as the two adults undid their seat belts.
“Yeah!” Duo said, “The food’s great here.”
“Saturated with grease is what your father means.” They got out of the car.
“Totally, and it’s free.”
“Free?”
“Ed is a history buff.” Heero began to explain.
“And we are living history!”
“I guess after you win a war you deserve a free meal.” Solo commented.
“That’s what Ed thinks.” Duo shrugged. They entered the building. People were scattered around the tables. The bar had three people sitting at the stools. A small stage at the left wall had a small female singing a song about love. Her voice wasn’t that great, but it wouldn’t burst an ear drum. Her friends sat at their table giggling and cheering her on. Duo and Heero stood watching her before the moved to the bar. Solo followed them.
“Yo! Duo! Heero!” called the bartender. He was a man in his 40s, with thick mustache and eyebrows, and an unruly mop of black hair that was slowly but surely thinning. He had the build of an athlete, but recent years of marriage had added a big beer gut to his physique. “The Gundam pilots! What can I do for ya?” He spoke loud enough so that everybody turned to look at them. The girl stopped singing to stare and her friends erupted into small whispers and giggles.
“Just here to grab a bite to eat.” Duo answered.
“Oh, of course!” Ed put the glass of liquor he was holding in front to the old man that had asked for it, then came around the bar to lead the three to a table.
“Who’s the kid? Winner of your look alike contest?” Ed asked joking, placing three menus on the table.
“Nope,” Duo said, glancing at ‘today’s heartburn special’. “He’s my son.”
“Oh.” Ed said, his brown wrinkling, but he was too polite to ask questions.
“Name’s Ed,” he said, holding out a hand for Solo to shake.
“Solo.”
“Well Solo. Everything you want is on the house, so eat as much as you like! You’re fathers are amazing!” With that Ed turned and left. Solo glanced at Heero and giggled. Heero shrugged then laughed himself.
“Well…” Duo said, “At least he complimented us.”
“He always compliments us.” Heero said.
“Ah! The truth comes out!” Solo said, grabbing a menu, “That’s why you like it here so much! You get your ego fed, not just your body.”
Duo shrugged, “Maybe. Is it a crime?” His smile was wide and filled with the bliss held had showed so many times in the past two months. The three of them started laughing. Ed came back to take their orders and they orders, then left clutching the slip of paper he had them written on. Almost immediately Ed returned with their appetizers, friend onion rings and potatoes that had been backed and were covered in cheese and bacon bits. He also set down their drinks.
“Hey, this actually is pretty good.” Solo commented, as he nibbled into a potato.
“Yeah. Like I said, food’s not half bad.” Duo said and then shoved a small onion ring into his mouth.
“It’s ok,” shrugged Heero.
Duo looked at Heero, then back to his son. He shook his head and sighed. Solo giggled again. As soon as their appetizers were done Ed came with their main meals, hamburgers all around. Duo had an avocado, bacon cheeseburger. As he took a big bite of it Heero looked at him, eyebrow raised and shock his head.
“What?” Duo asked, his mouth full.
“You not gonna be skinny forever if you keep on eating like that.”
Duo swallowed. “I’ll make up for it.” He said, and smiled, “With….exercise.” His smile became suggestive, and his eyes widened.
Solo shook his head, “I didn’t need that mental image, thank you.”
Duo and Heero both started laughing.
When Ed cleared away their dishes he asked what they wanted for dessert. All three of them were full, but decided to share a banana spilt. The ice cream was swiftly brought to them and each used a separate spoon to dig into it.
“Excuse me?” said a voice on the microphone. Solo and Duo quickly looked up to see a red-haired woman standing at the stage.
“Mom,” Solo said quietly and started to get up, but Duo placed a hand on his son’s arm.
“See what she’s gonna do.” Duo said simply. Solo looked at his father and relaxed back into his chair.
Lorelei didn’t seem to notice they were there. She just continued talking, without even looking at them. “I would like to sing an old song, but I’m gonna change the words a bit. You see it fits me, mostly, expect that the person who left me for someone else…well, he left me for another man.” Sounds of surprise filled the room and the audience of the room appeared to be on her side. Duo looked at Heero and they exchanged worried glances. “So anyway…here we go…” the lyrics started up immediately.
“I want you to know that I'm happy for you. I wish nothing but the best for you both,” her voice was sweet, the stereotypical voice of an angel, her body rocked with the beat, her hair fell forward, covering her profile. “A younger version of me? Is he perverted like me? Would he go down on you in a theater? Does he speak eloquently? And would he have your baby? I'm sure he'd make a really excellent father.” She looked directly at them, her hair hanging around her pale face. Solo looked back at her, surprised and pale himself. Duo closed his eyes and turned his body towards the table. She turned quickly from them as the music picked up and danced a little with it. “Cause the love that you gave that we made wasn't able to be good enough for you to be open wide, no. And every time you speak his name does he know how you told me you'd hold me until you died? 'til you died, but you're still alive! And I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away! It's not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me! You, you, you outta know!” She turned to look back at Duo as the tune slowed down again, “You seem very well, things look peaceful. I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know.” She tilted her head, and her hair moved to cover her face. “Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity? I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner.” She smiled, “It was a slap in the face how quickly I was replaced. And are you thinking of me when he fucks you?” Then she turned again she did before, got more into the song, danced a bit more. “Cause the love that you gave that we made wasn't able to be good enough for you to be open wide, no. And every time you speak his name does he know how you told me you'd hold me until you died? 'til you died, but you're still alive!” She jumped and screamed ‘alive’ in fury. “And I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away! It's not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me! You, you, you outta know!” The music slowed and she moved with it, tossing her hair back, sweat droplets were under her nose, she whipped them away. Finally the music picked up again, she danced with it, swaying her body and arms and rocking back and forth, “Cause the joke that you laid in the bed that was me! And I'm not going to fade as soon as you close your eyes and you know it!” She screamed the last line as well, forcing Duo to open his eyes and look at her. “And every time I scratch my nails down someone else's back,” She made cat-like scratching motions with her free hand. “I hope you feel it ... well can you feel it?” The rest of the song she screamed in lustful anger, moving her arm violently and jumping up and down. “And I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away! It's not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me! You, you, you outta know!” Then the song was done and she was given a standing ovation. Nobody cared to notice Duo and Heero and Solo were sitting frozen in shocked silence, glued to their seats. The audience was blown away by her emotion.
“Thank-you, thank-you, very much.” Lorelei said, bowing a little, smiling innocently. Then she left the stage. Three men got up from a table behind Solo. One of them leaned forward and placed a key card and a note next to him. Then they walked over to Lorelei and left with her. Solo watched them go, shocked, as the people around him were talking in high voices, excited about his mother’s performance. Then he reached for the key card and read the note. In his mother’s neat and medieval scrawl were the words, “Room 18, Bring with you only Michael.”