Chapter 17 / 37
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
It was a long time before Duo finally opened the door to the saferoom and peered out. Several hours had passed and he had fallen asleep, exhausted from his flood of emotion, in Zechs' arms. It hadn't been easy to extricate himself from that comforting embrace without waking Zechs, but he had managed.
Duo didn't know what to think or feel at the moment. He knew he cared deeply for the platinum blonde...in fact, it could honestly be said he was falling for him. It was a strange sensation for Duo, to care so deeply about another person. And even stranger to have that emotion returned!
// Man, I hope Q's not busy... // he thought to himself as he slid quietly down the halls. It took a while, but he finally found Quatre. Quatre was sitting in his parlor and reading a magazine, sipping quietly at a cup of tea and enjoying the gentle breeze blowing in the wide open windows. "Hey...Q?..."
Quatre blinked. "Duo...is there something I can help you with?..."
Duo sighed miserably and flopped onto a chair opposite Quatre. "I'm sorry about this morning. I really am."
Quatre frowned as he examined Duo. // His eyes are red and puffy...has he been crying?... // "Don't worry about it. You aren't the one I thought was out of line. Du-chan, are you alright?"
Duo could hear the concern evident in his friend's voice and he shook his head, not feeling like even pretending to be happy. "Quatre, I'm confused as all hell. I have problems. I don't know what to do."
Quatre set his tea down and moved over to sit next to Duo. "Tell me what's on your mind..."
Duo gave a halfhearted chuckle. "Well, one of my biggest problems is...well..." Duo fidgeted a bit, then reached up and pulled his shirt-collar down, revealing Zechs' love-bite. It was painfully visible on his pale skin.
Quatre blinked for a moment, at first not comprehending. Realization quickly dawned, however. "Oh...OH!" The Arabian's eyes grew wide as he stared at Duo. "Is that...did...did ZECHS..."
"Yes on both counts. I'm so fucking confused."
Quatre didn't know what to say, too surprised to immediately react. // Duo and Zechs?... // "Well...how do you feel about him?"
Duo grinned ruefully. "Well, that's the million dollar question, isn't it... I don't know. But I think I might be...I dunno. Fallin' for him, I guess. And it scares the shit out of me."
"And how does he feel about you? Do you know?"
"According to him...he feels the same."
Quatre paused to consider that for a moment. "Well...if the feeling is mutual, I'm having a hard time grasping where the problems lay, Duo."
"Besides the fact that half our happy little team wants to shoot him? Oh, or the fact that I have this entirely unreasonable but deep-seated fear about physical contact? Or maybe there's still that horrible little voice saying he could be playing me, it's pretty obvious there was somethin goin' on between him and Treize. Oh, or-"
Quatre held up a hand with a slight grimace. "Point taken, Du-chan. But why is it that you're so afraid to be touched...?"
Duo frowned and looked down at his hands, toying with the end of his braid. "I dunno. Maybe it's just...I'm not sure. Ever since I was a little kid, pretty much the only time anyone touched me was to try to hurt me or grope me or...whatever. I got so used to avoiding it and running away from it that now I just...panic. All I want to do is just escape."
Quatre winced inwardly, his heart twisted in knots, anguished for his friend. He knew Duo hated bringing up his past. He had led a terrible life on the streets, constantly dodging soldiers, drunkards and worse...stealing and fighting just to survive. Just thinking about it made Quatre feel guilty about his privileged upbringing. He had, at several times, hated things in his life...but he'd never spent a day wondering if he'd find anything to eat or if he'd have to struggle to escape the slimy, grasping hands of some drunken lout.
Duo was staring straight ahead, but he wasn't really seeing anything, lost in his memories. Quatre rested his hand on Duo's, shaking the other boy gently from his tormented reverie. Duo flinched at the touch but his eyes came back into focus. "Du-chan...I know how much it hurt you...but you don't need to worry anymore. You don't think Zechs is lying to you any more than I do. And there's far more to love than simply touching."
Duo nodded a bit and offered Quatre a faint smile. "You think he's on the up and up too, huh?..."
"He's given me no reason to doubt him. I don't know what all's gone on between you, and I won't pry. But from what I've seen...even when Zechs WAS our enemy, he was too honorable to go around laying traps. He's very straightforward and honest. Trickery, deceit, spying...none of that is like him."
This statement seemed to brighten Duo's mood and the braided teen nodded. "That is true. He had his chances to go cloak-and-dagger on us and never did." Duo was quiet for a minute then gave Quatre a sheepish grin. "Hey, Q..."
"Yes?"
"I...kinda let him go."
Quatre blinked in surprise. "But...but then..."
Duo held up his hand before the blonde stammered too much. "He refused to leave and said if he was a free man he simply wanted to stay right where he was. Heh."
Quatre couldn't help but grin. "And here you're doubting his sincerity."
"Eh, I know you're right, Q. It's just...really hard for me. And holy hell, the other guys can't find out...even if nothing ends up happening between us at all, they can't find out."
"Don't worry, Duo, I won't tell a soul...but you have to keep me updated, at least. That way I can silently cheer you on and be happy that you've both found someone to lean on."
"Fair enough. What would I do without ya, Q?"
Quatre paused to consider it. "Well, you could always talk to Heero."
Duo snorted, and then burst out laughing at the thought. "Ohhh, I can see it now...Hey, Heero...come give me romantic advice on Zechsy!" Here Duo clasped his hands, and fluttered his eyelashes with an innocent, love struck smile pasted on his face. Quatre couldn't help but dissolve into giggles at the sight.
The blonde reached up and ran his hands roughly through his hair so it stuck out at all sorts of angles, then pasted a dour glare on his features as he looked at Duo. "Omae o korosu!"
This proved to be too much for either of them and they collapsed back on the couch in fits of laughter.
"He...Hehehehe...you pulled that off pretty well, Q...hehehe..."
"Hehehe...he'd kill me for it and you for watching. Hehehe..."
"Kill you for what?" Wufei asked, peering in the doorway. He had an armload of books and was balancing a small computer on top of them. His eyebrow hiked at the sight of Quatre's disheveled hair. Quatre looked at Duo blankly, and Duo returned the look...before they both burst into a fresh batch of giggles. Wufei shook his head slowly. "What sort of madhouse am I staying in..." he mumbled as he started back off down the hallway.
Duo threw a glance towards the door, and then quickly reached up, grabbing his bangs and pulling his hair back from his face as tightly as he could. He looked at Quatre. "Hn. Injustice."
Wufei paused when he heard the fresh outburst of laughter. // They certainly seem to be enjoying themselves...it sounds like Duo's trying to kill Quatre. His lungs will explode if he laughs much harder. Though I have no idea what they find so amusing... //