Part I
Part II
The colony has changed just like the rest of the world. It's cleaner, and outside of the few buildings that contain some damage, the remnants of war are invisible. This pleases me because I don't want to have to be surrounded by the past. The past is twined around every fiber of my inner being and that's enough to deal with.
I'm sitting on a bullet train headed toward who-knows-where, tapping away at my laptop, trying to figure Duo's location. His name has been changed and I've been hacking databases for a trace of his existence. Finally, I get something. Dom Yui in the Salvage and Industrial area of L2. It names an address and I jump into the train that heads in that direction. There's something about that name that popped out at me when I spotted it. Why would he use a last name sounding identical to mine? Maybe I'm thinking too much of myself. I don't even have a real name; it was taken from the peace leader Heero Yuy from before I was born. But, my gut instincts don't lie, and as I stare out the window, I'm hoping they're right.
* * *�
Large chunks of debris and glinting metal sit beneath the artificial sun rays the colony produces. The patches of sharp grass and dirt crunch under my boots as I walk up toward the small gray house. There are two stories, the top containing a balcony with a curved, wooden rail. I see a motorcycle parked next to the side as I approach the entrance. It's black and well used judging by the dirt covered tires and worn leather seat. I rap my knuckles against the door. There's silence for a full thirty seconds. Then, footsteps and a click.
"Hey, Dom."
He was speechless at first; his mouth is open slightly, his violet eyes round. "Heero."
"You didn't think I died did you? Stop gawking."�
"One never knows with you, man." Duo's crooked smile appeared. "Still 'ol suicidal spandex boy?"
"I never died when I wanted to so I gave up that lifestyle."
"I can't believe you're making a joke," Duo said with a snort as he looked me over. "You really have changed in every way."
And then he blushed. I didn't know the God of Death knew how to blush. But, it filled his pale cheeks with color and gave him a vulnerability I didn't know he possessed. I liked it. Damn, I'm becoming a sap. My smirk disappeared and I make my expression neutral again before going silent.
Duo says, "So, uh, what brought you here?"
You, you idiot. But, that would make me an idiot if I said that out loud. For all I know, he's dating someone or is married with ten kids or secretly hates my guts. Now, I'm probing my mind for an answer.
"I was in the area." That was intelligent. I just happened to be on L2, just happened to be walking by your house, just happened to figure out your alias, just happened to show up after two years, just happened...to be a moron. But, he already knows that because his eyes soften and he beckons me inside with a tiny smile.
"Come on, you must be starving."
The house is sparsely furnished. A small flat screen TV hangs on a wall, a black leather couch accompanies it; the hardwood floors are a bit scratched, but black rugs cover patches of the living room and hall way. The kitchen and dining area is cramped, and a short flight of stairs at the back of the house lead upwards to the bedrooms. Like any soldier, Duo never needed much by way of material possessions. I drop my duffle bag onto the floor as I follow him into the kitchen.
"I've got beer, donuts, cheese, orange juice, a science experiment gone wrong, and some more beer. What can I do ya for?" Duo gives me a sarcastic grin as he pulls away from the refrigerator.
"I'm not really hungry."
"You mean, after hearing that menu you aren't," he laughs. "No worries, I've got the Chinese delivery place on my speed dial." Grabbing his cell phone and connecting with someone on the other line, he quickly orders us a meal. It didn't matter to me what we ate. It felt good to be around him, as if I'd never left, as if we were both still fifteen. "Okay, some orange chicken should come knocking on my door soon. In the meantime, you can tell me how the hell you've been doing." Duo hoists himself onto the counter and looks at me expectantly.
I fold my arms across my chest lean back against the wall. I can feel his eyes on me as I glance down at the floor and speak. "I've been working with Relena for a couple years in her Secret Service--"
"And she's still alive?" Duo interrupts with a loud laugh.
I snort. "I know, I know. Despite my death threats, she was good for the earth and I was sick of war."
"Yeah, I hear ya," Duo said, his expression turning solemn.
"I keep in touch with Quatre and Trowa sometimes."
"Weird, isn't it? How they hooked up? Who would'a thought that two guys..." He's blushing again. His long braid appears over his shoulder as he begins to fiddle with the ends. I have to admit that I think he's really attractive. Beautiful is more of a girly word, but I guess Duo has this feminine aspect to him with all that hair, those deep eyes, and his white skin.�
"Am I making you nervous? I can leave if you want."
That grabs his attention. "No, please stay, Heero," he urges with deep eyes. "I don't mind the company, honest. I've really missed you...Um...I mean..."
The doorbell rings, thank God. The tension in this kitchen is getting to me and I don't know how to act around him anymore. We're not kids anymore, but without the chaos of war and soldier hood, we're just normal people who haven't a damn clue as to how to talk to each other.
Duo returns with an armful of Chinese food which he places on the table. "Dig in!" he says as he tosses me a packet of chopsticks. As we eat, he's trying to look everywhere but me, but I have this gaze that locks onto any target, and once those lavender eyes meet mine, I don't let go.
"Tell me about you," I murmur. I feel like I'm drowning in dark purple oceans - my eyes are burning - but I refuse to look away. He's playing the same game, his eyes staring into mine with such intensity, but he blinks eventually and speaks.
"Oh, you know, the usual. The salvage business is pretty profitable for the most part. I've got a small crew and a yard which I run not too far from here. It was Hilde's idea, actually, and she keeps the books for me. It pays for rent and food. That's cool for me."
"You and Hilde--"
"--are no more," Duo finishes, giving me a light grin.
"That's too bad," I lie.
"Not really. We're good friends now. We tried, we failed, we moved on. Simple," Duo says. "So, what about you, Heero? You must be rollin' in the women!"
I've been studying the left over pieces of chow mein stuck to my plate, but glance up in surprise. "Why?"
That crimson color is returning to his cheeks, and he gives me a Look. "Because people have always been attracted to you. I've watched them turn and stare at you. You've got an exotic look about you."
Now, I'm grinning. "And how often did you stare at me, Duo?" Damn, I never thought I'd have enough guts to say that out loud. Unfortunately, pissing off Shinigami could be fatal and I hope I'm pushing the right buttons.
"Wha--?" He stammers. "I never...I mean...You know...Jeez, you've changed, Heero. Do you even say 'Omae o Koruse' anymore? Are you feeling ill?"
He's trying to be funny, but his nervousness is making him breath harder. It's almost erotic to watch him fumble like this, his lips parted, his breath coming in quiet gasps. "I never told you why I'm here." I'm quiet now, but my heart is pounding beneath my white top. I don't know what the hell I'm doing, so here goes nothing. And everything. "I came to see you, Duo."
Now, he's silent as the dead. I've realized he has so many different sides to him; he's so complex that I'm intrigued. My gaze runs over his face, catching each smooth, pale curve, before looking at his hair. His chestnut hair has red and gold tones running through it and I suddenly wonder what all that hair looks like loose or after a shower. Did I just think that?
"See me?" He asks in a low voice. "See me as a friend or as something more?"
"Why is 'Yui' your alias?"
He looks me steadily in the eye, his gaze a mixture of dark violet and cobalt blue. "I wanted to remember you, Heero. It allowed me to say something about how I feel about you without words. But, I never expected you to find out."
"I've been living with someone," I say quietly. "His name is Suoh. But, the other night, I left everything behind to find you."
"Do you love him?"
"No."
"You're not saying you love me, are you?" Duo has become so serious by now, and I'm not sure how to react. Suddenly, he stands, his large, pale hand stuck out before me. "Come with me." I slowly reach out to grasp his fingers with mine and he hauls me up. He's not much taller than me and we just stare at each other for a moment. I feel cold and hot all at the same time as his eyes calmly roam my face. Then, he's leading me upstairs. The bedroom is small and simple, with dim, warm lighting, and the bedspread is a silky black thing that makes my stomach turn with hot pleasure.
"Make yourself comfortable, Heero," Duo says as he pats a spot next to him. I join him on the smooth spread. I'm feeling it again: fear. Only, this time, it's a good kind of fear and it fills my veins with adrenaline. He calmly studies me as his fingers brush against my cheeks like butterfly wings, and he whispers, "Thanks for coming back to me."
And then he's kissing me, his warm mouth pressing softly against mine. I'm already responding, my tongue seeking out his and circling, twisting, against it while my mouth hungrily finds his over and over again. His hand is cool as it slips under my snug top, his thumb caressing every inch as it slides up past my belly, my ribs, across my chest. He lets his hand rest upon the area of my heart, and I know he can feel it thundering away within the skin because he chuckles against my mouth before pulling away slightly.
"So much for being 'The Perfect Soldier,' ne?"
"I'm not the same anymore. I've changed," I murmur as I dip lower, catching his earlobe with my teeth and gently bite down. Duo's breath catches, so I do it again before running my tongue over the spot and sucking at the fragile skin.
"So, I've noticed," he replies as I yank softly at the tie around his braid. My fingers work through the glossy strands until his mane is finally undone and sprawled across his back and pooled around his shoulders. Leaning backwards, I just stare. He really is beautiful. But, he'd be stunning without any clothes on.
"Take it off," I say with the slightest grin, motioning to his clothing. I'm stripping off my top in one fluid motion when he attacks me with a playful smile.
"Ah, so the great Heero has a weakness," he says as he quickly unbuttons his shirt and leans over me with a wry grin. "Me."
He flings his shirt somewhere behind him before clamping down on my arms, keeping me in place on my back. I lean up and grab his mouth, keeping my eyes open. His eyelids flutter rhythmically with our breathing as he continues to kiss me. Then, I feel his nails running over the insides of my arms, and it gives me the greatest thrill. Goosebumps are covering my skin which is so cold and so hot and I hear myself moan from the back of my throat. His hair is tickling my chest, and I reach up, my fingers digging into his scalp, caressing. Duo's leg suddenly comes between my thighs and I feel his body settle upon mine.
"How do you like all this?"
"I've been waiting for this for a long time."
"Yeah," he says with a soft smile. "So have I."
I don't know what he's doing to me because my head is a blur; nothing is focused but the fact that his heat is fighting for domination with mine, his teeth snapping at my nipples which hurts, tickles and is pleasurable at the same time, his nails digging into the tense muscles in my arms, his groin grinding against mine which makes me gasp, and I let him do whatever he pleases because I've given myself to him, because for the first time I'm no longer hard and cold, and I've melted the way I've always wanted to but couldn't.
My hands are running across his firm back which is damp with sweat. I let my short nails ghost up and down along the smooth lines of his back, reaching his neck, and he shivers and arches, his teeth bared as he attempts to control himself. The room is muggy, and I can't hear anything but our deep breathing which is harsh and echoing, and identical moans which rumble from within and sometimes erupts from between wet lips. Using what meager strength I have, I manage to roll over so that he's lying beneath me. His arms are lifted over his head as he sprawls and stretches, cat like, giving me a seductive look. I feel mesmerized by all of this. I never felt this way with Suoh. I always thought that maybe my body was defective, that I was unable to feel. And yet, I don't think I've ever smiled so much until today.
"What are we doing?" I murmur, staring down at him with a small grin.
"Well, if you don't know by now..." he teases, slipping his fingers to entwine with mine. A moment later, he becomes serious, his large eyes searching mine. "I like seeing you like this, Heero. I've always felt like there was more to you than that cold exterior, but back then, no one could tap into it."
"I was a soldier, Duo. You understand that. If I let everything penetrate my soul, if I cracked, I'd have been useless."
"And there goes the universe," he remarks with a chuckle. I smile.
I realize that we're both still wearing our jeans, but it doesn't matter because more than sex, I want him as a person. He's staring up at me through half lidded eyes, deep gaze sparkling, and I lean down and give him a strong kiss before lowering myself to the bed. I gather him up in my arms, and as his body curls against mine, I give a sigh. A contented sigh. So this is what love feels like. One can imagine, but to truly experience it is a whole other thing. I never thought I'd ever gain love. I don't deserve it. Duo deserves someone more stable and beautiful and strong and intelligent. I'm just me. Me.
The artificial colony rays are slowly fading, giving the illusion of the sun setting. Through the glass windows of the bedroom, we lie there, entangled against one another watching the view silently for a long while.
In a quiet, dry voice, he suddenly murmurs, "I wonder how long you'll take up space in my life..."
I knew he wasn't being rude. He was trying to hide his fear. I don't have the greatest track record of obeying the rules and sticking around. My personality leaves something to be desired. I'm hard and cold sometimes, full of a million emotions that not even I can figure out at other times. But, no one can change, not that dramatically anyway, but humans can make an effort for someone they care about. And I care about Duo.
"I have no where else to go," I say in a low voice, muffled by his thick hair.
"I'll take that as meaning indefinite but with good intentions."
"Something like that."
And as the color bled from the sky, midnight blue filled the view with a thousand sparkling diamonds. The room filled with a cool dark that crawled over our bodies like a thick blanket, cocooning us with a gentle touch. As I felt sleep grab hold of me, I tightened my grip on Duo, hoping that he'd never slip from my grasp again. I gained pleasure in the thought that I, The Great One and Only, had found The One.
[owari]