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Fragile Hearts
Part Six

Heero sat in his room, the letter held between his lax fingers. He couldn't believe this was happening to him. The letter he held was all it took to shatter his happiness, the happiness he had created with Duo these past few days. He closed his eyes tightly, but he could still see the words dancing in the back of his mind.

/ I still can't believe it Heero. You seemed so ... perfect. Smart, gorgeous, popular. I never would have pinned you for a fag. It's such a dirty word, but that's the truth, isn't it? But I shouldn't be the one spreading prejudices. What I find unforgivable is that you chose Duo Maxwell. I suppose it's understandable. There isn't a single person in Romefeller who wouldn't enjoy fucking Duo Maxwell. Then again, now that you've done him, there isn't a single person who *hasn't*. Heero, there's something you really should know before you go crawling back to Duo.

I'm in love with you. I think I've always been in love with you.

I know, it's hard to believe, but I'm determined to prove to you that I'm the only one for you. Not feeling convinced yet? I think you should take that little photo into consideration, dear Heero. Unless you want *everyone* to know about your little affair with Duo, you're going to give me what I want. You *belong* to me now, Heero Yuy. I think it's time you and Duo spent a little time away from each other, ne? Stay away from him from now on. It's simple really, Heero. You give me what I want, and we'll *all* be happy ... isn't that right ... Heero? /

Heero's fist clenched in anger, crumpling the letter into a tiny ball. Dammit, he thought. What kind of person would write such a thing? Heero ran through all the people he knew, and none he thought of were capable of such a disgusting act. His view of all the people he knew completely changed.

Suddenly, he didn't know them anymore. All of them were capable of vile things, all keeping a visage of innocence that only served to hide their dark sides to Heero. But which one of them? Which would use dirty to blackmail to get what they want?

What they want, Heero thought. He opened his eyes, his fist going lax once again. The ball of paper fell stiffly to the floor.

And what they want ... is me.

A knock on the door awakened Heero from his reverie. He half expected to see Duo, standing there with his usual lively exuberance. He longed to see Duo; maybe it would ease the pain he was feeling. Instead, he was shocked, to say the least, when the face that greeted him was Trowa's.

"What are you doing here?" Heero asked, sounding mildly irritated. He left Trowa standing in the doorway, really not in the mood for social calls. His faith in other people was at an all time low. Offhand, it occurred to Heero that this was the first time Trowa had ever visited him.

Trowa let himself in, carefully locking Heero's door behind him. "Heero ... there's something ... we need to talk about. Something I need to tell you."

"I'm really not in the mood for this," Heero growled. He refused to look at Trowa, hoping the other boy would get the hint.

"Heero wait - please. You and Duo-"

At those words, Heero snapped to attention, spinning around to glare at Trowa. "Me and Duo what?" he said almost threateningly. Trowa was speechless for a moment. He began to rethink this whole thing, though none of his indecision showed on his cool expression. Maybe he was being too forward.

Heero wasn't pleased with Trowa's silence. "You have something to say?? SAY IT!!" he screamed.

Trowa flinched at Heero's outburst, but his words were just as calm and controlled as they always were. "I'm in love with you," he said, his voice low, barely a whisper. "I think ... I've always been in love with you ..."

Heero's eyes widened in disbelief. Everything in the crumpled-up letter seemed to boil down into those words when he heard them spoken by Trowa's lips. "Is it you, then?" Heero muttered, but Trowa didn't hear him. He seemed confused, small cracks in his usually perfect composure appearing. "Gomen ... Heero," he said, his green eyes glistening. "I just ... wanted ..."

Heero's glare seem to deepen dangerously, his deep blue eyes cutting through Trowa painfully. "Wanted ..." Heero repeated, unconcealed malice in his voice. Suddenly his hands went to his collar, and began unbuttoning his shirt one at a time. "Is this what you wanted, Trowa?" Heero asked darkly.

Trowa could barely shake his head, no sound escaping from his throat when he tried to speak. He backed away, but Heero advanced on him.

"You wanted *me* ... for yourself?!" Heero growled.

Trowa kept moving away, until his back was pressed against the wall. He looked at Heero fearfully, trapped. Heero came up to him, his face only inches away from the other boy's. "So everything will be all right ... if I give you what you want ..."

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Heero awoke from a dreamless sleep. He stared at the shadows dancing across his ceiling, before turning and looking around his room.

Trowa was gone.

Heero covered his eyes with his arms. He felt angry, and cheap, and dirty. What he had done was foolish and unforgivable. How could he ever face Duo again? He could feel his eyes stinging, but he refused to let the tears fall.

"Duo ... forgive me ..."
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Heero had a sleepless night, his own guilty conscience tormenting him. It was enough, however, to change his determination into iron resolve. He was going to fix things, as best he could. If he dealt with all these problems, maybe then he'd deserve Duo's affections. Heero's eyes narrowed. He wanted answers from Trowa ... now.

As he entered the classroom, his eyes immediately settled on the brown haired boy with the emerald eyes. Trowa looked distraught, and beside him Quatre was unsuccessfully trying to coax him into telling him what was wrong.

When Heero approached, Quatre seemed to back off. Something about the way Heero moved was almost frightening. Trowa looked up at Heero. His eyes were rimmed with red, but his eyes were the only thing betraying his usual detached expression. Heero couldn't care less if he had been crying. Crying was a show of weakness, and Heero was all too ashamed of his own display of weakness the night before. Nobody toyed with Heero. Nobody!

Heero's hands slammed on the desk in front of Trowa. Everyone around them jumped at the explosive sound.

"Why did you do it?!" Heero said harshly. Trowa looked sadly into Heero's eyes. "I don't understand," he said quietly. Heero grabbed Trowa's collar in both hands. "Those things you said ...! How could you? Why?!" Heero said, his voice growing in volume.

"I only told you what I feel ... do you hate me so much ...?" Trowa asked, pain becoming obvious in his voice. Heero was almost shaking with anger. "You were my best friend, Trowa ... I'll never forgive you for what you wrote in that letter ..!"

Trowa searched Heero's eyes for a moment, confusion on his face. "What do you mean? What letter?"

Heero was frozen with fright. The words almost caught in his throat, but he forced them through, the hands holding Trowa's shirt slowly letting go. "T-the letter ... you .. you wrote that letter ..."

Trowa could only look at Heero, not knowing what Heero was accusing him of. "I don't know, Heero ... I never wrote you a letter ..."

Heero suddenly paled. How could he be so blind? The pain and confusion that was so clearly written on Trowa's face ... how could he have missed that? His hand came up to his lips.

"Heero ..." Quatre whispered. Heero turned and ran out of the room. His lungs burned as he sped through the empty halls, not stopping until he reached the boy's bathroom. Soon, he was hunched over, his stomach clenching as he threw up into the bowl. But when he was done, the nauseous feeling didn't leave him.

/ I've betrayed him /

Heero closed his eyes, but he was bombarded by images of the laughing, loving boy who had captured Heero's heart. Duo would never forgive him. Never.

/ Trowa ... /

His best friend ... he had betrayed him, too. / I was so eager to blame you .. I'm sorry, Trowa ... /

Fear gripped Heero as he realized that there was someone else.

Someone who knew about him and Duo, and was willing to use that against him.
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