| Short, very short. But I wanted to get something out before finals started so here we go. Have fun! *zips off to study* Title: Soft Beginnings 6/? (Book Three in the Stumbling Steps Arc) Author: Lady DarkAngel Ladydarkangel_1 @ yahoo.com Archive: Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library http://www.geocities.com/ladydarkangel_1/index.html, Darkflame�s (if she�ll take it�.) and anywhere else is fine, just ask me first Category: Yaoi, angst, sap Pairing(s): 3x4, 1+2 (Finally!) Disclaimers: Gundam Wing or Shinkidousenki Gundam Wing is copyrighted and trademarked by Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency and associated parties with all rights and privileges. The characters were used without permission for the purposes of entertainment only. This is not meant for sale of profit. Any characters not created by those listed above are mine and hereby considered the sole property and copyright of the author. Anyway, I�m just a poor college student. So can I play with them? I promise I won�t break them�... much. Rating: PG-13 Warnings: Language, Heero embarrasses himself, minor sap leakage, twinges of angst and anger Feedback: Kami-sama, YES!!! Ladydarkangel_1 @ yahoo.com (ignore the spaces); any and all comments are welcome like the sweet ego-sustainers they are. Duo stared at him, hard. �Wha�� what did you say?! Tell me I didn�t hear what I thought I just heard and I won�t be forced to hurt you.� It occurred to Heero that he might not have chosen the best way to voice his idea. <In the immortal words of Quatre when busted, �Uh, oh. You�re in for it NOW! RUN!!�> �I meant�� I wanted to know if you found males attractive. Did I phrase the question badly? If I did, gomen nasai. It was not my intention to.� Duo�s eyes darkened and he growled. �There better be a *damned* good reason you asked me that or I�m going to rip your throat out.� �I�� I�� I merely��� Sensing imminent mission failure, the Wing Zero pilot hung his head. This whole damn conversation had not gone his way from the start. <Might as well be honest. At least he respects that��> �I am trying to understand you. I am trying to understand what you have tried to tell me. But I am having trouble grasping a lot of things. I�m trying to form a picture in my head of how it�s supposed to go but it�s not working. It�s like a puzzle without a picture and many pieces are missing or similar in nature. There are many pieces that I need you to help me fill in�� That�s why I asked. It seems to me that this is one of those things�� those parts I need you to clear up for me. This way we will be more efficient comrades. My new mission was for us to become better friends.� The ice had failed to break. �I fail to see why that particular question needs to be brought up and addressed in order for this to succeed.� ��� From the way you were speaking, it sounded as if it were relevant at the time.� That sounded lame, even to him. Duo sighed. �So you didn�t mean to imply or suggest anything?� He pondered that. Was it a trick question? �I don�t think so��� �You didn�t mean to insult me, mock me, offend me or gather incriminating information to be used against me later?� �No!� �So�� then you asked out of what? Curiosity? Boredom? The interests of this�� mission?� ��� Concern.� Violet eyes flashed at him. �You asked me if I was gay because you were *concerned*?!� �Yes.� �Explain that. Right now.� ��� You seem troubled. A lot of the time, you do not seem to be at peace with yourself or the world around you, despite pretending to be otherwise. You look happy, but you are not. This does not seem right. You helped me once by talking to me. I wish to do the same. Maybe if you reason things aloud, going by trial and error, then you will discover what is bothering you. From the way you were speaking, and the stories you told me, I wondered if perhaps you�� that your problem might be�� but I�m not sure that it is what you meant or even if it IS a problem so��� he faltered. Duo began to snicker, quietly at first but after a minute or so, it got noticeably louder. Heero was confused and vaguely offended. �And just *what* is so funny?� �You are!� �Me? Why?� Duo tried to answer through the strange-sounding giggles. �Because�� because�� just BECAUSE!!� �That is *not* a satisfactory answer.� <And you know it, too.> �No, it isn�t, is it?� The snickers dissolved into a harsh coughing fit and the Japanese boy frowned deeply. Correctly reading the warning signs, Duo held up a hasty hand to forestall the impending accusations and fought to catch his breath. �Whoa, boy! I�m fine! Really, Heero! I just need some time to stop wheezin�, that�s all.� This did not have the desired effect of placing his partner. �You are obviously still ill. It may be affecting your emotional control, since it�s obviously affected your reasoning and intelligence as you are out here in the cold without a jacket with a cough like that. This might be why you are feeling so bad today. I suggest you come back to the house at once. You will only get sicker by staying here any longer. You need to take your medication and if you desire, a hot bath and food will be ready for you.� �Was that a suggestion? Or a command?� �It is what is necessary.� The frown deepened. �You were already in the hospital once. Not again. I will not allow it. If that means that making it a command, so be it. But I would much prefer to have your consent and cooperation.� He paused and then offered a hesitant, �Please?� �You know, you�re kinda cute when you go all protective and commando. You make a good nurse.� It was Heero�s turn to blink. �Excuse me?� Duo walked up to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. �I know you mean well. Really, I do. And I understand a lot of what you were trying to say, actually. I think it�s very kind and downright sweet of you to do some of the stuff you do. I get mad sometimes because�� well�� face it, you don�t have the best social skills around. But you�re trying and that�s more then enough for me. I feel honored that you worry enough to ask embarrassing and potentially friendship-ending questions in order to understand me better.� He let go and started to walk away. �Let�s go. You were right; it�s getting colder and I hear a warm bath calling to me. Not to mention some soft blankets and hot chow with my name on them.� They started to walk back to the house, Duo in the lead and Heero trailing behind, lost in his thoughts. Did that turn out right? Did he succeed? They were still friends, so it might have. And what in the hell was so funny to make Duo laugh at him like that?! He didn�t do *anything* remotely humorous! But most importantly, why did Duo call him �cute�?! Only *girls* say �cute�, that much he was sure of, and they said it in reference to things they like. But Duo had called him it so�� �Oh, and Heero?� That snapped him out of it. �Hn?� �In case you�re still wondering, my being gay isn�t what is causing my blues. Not at all. There�s a lotta things that do that, make me miserable and depressed and all, but the fact that I can check out a hottie like you every morning ain�t one of them.� Duo reached the front door and went in, leaving a stupefied Heero frozen in his wake. (TBC�..) *drops book down* Philosophy sucks. Stats sucks. Western Religion Comparison sucks. Psychology sucks. I am doomed. Oh well, was the fic worth it? The end was for everyone who beat me for leaving it there before. Did I do better this time? Lady DarkAngel ---------- �Neesan to Misuzu and A-chan Chibi Duo's Babysitter Moderator of Duo's Sugar Intake Keeper of Duo's Nice Rear-end Co-Keeper of Shinigami's Wings (with Meela) Keeper of Heero's Homicidal Intentions Keeper of Quatre's Teacup Keeper of Trowa's Mask Keeper of Wufei's Sense of Honor Co-Keeper of Duo's Chatter (with Tomanaiya) Co-Keeper of Heero's "Hn" (with Tomanaiya) Co-Writer of Wufei's Rants (with Tomanaiya) Leader of the Inspirationally-challenged Muses: Alisande, Rynvi, and Kiagara Co-Keeper of real-life hamsters named Heero Yuy (Hee-chan) and Shinigami Eagle Vision (Shini Eagle)(with Tomanaiya) Keeper of the Hit List Proud Owner of two sets of chibis: Chibi Angel Duo and Heero in leather (twins of Tomanaiya's) and Chibi Angel Duo and Heero in black flight gear with stripes from the final GW episodes Acting GOD in Charge of The Anime Muse Adoption Center and WSCT of the AMAC Proud member of SDDI, the Society of Defending Duo's Intelligence Member of the Society Against the Complete Bastardization of Heero Yuy Occupant of the Happy Hentai House Master Hacker of the Shinigami Organization Assistant Mob Psychologist for the Shinigami Organization Founding Member of Saa-EEP!!! Happy to be a member of the DuoML Member of 1x2, 2x1 Fan Club and ML Many more MLs but you don't want to know... Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library www.geocities.com/ladydarkangel_1/index.html |