September 1999
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own any of the GW characters. This fic is written purely for entertainment purposes. I am not making a single cent out of it. So, don't bother to sue me.
Duo watches his unconscious lover lying on the hospital bed with a heavy heart. They have won the war. Mariemeia and Dekim Barton have been defeated and Relena has been rescued. Peace can finally be restored. Wing Zero has exploded due to serious overhaul and Heero has collapsed out of weariness and exhaustion in Relena's arms. The thought of it makes Duo grimace.
He reaches out to wipe away the sweat on Heero's forehead. Duo sighs. He simply couldn't understand why Heero could just throw away his life so readily without a second thought. Why can't he spare a thought for someone who cares for him?
The door opens slightly and Relena peeks in.
Duo looks up and says quietly, " He has not regained consciousness yet."
Relena nods and says, "Actually, I came to see you today."
"Huh?" Duo raises an eyebrow.
"Can we find a place to talk?"
Talk? Relena Peacecraft wants to talk to him? Ha, this is unbelievable. Nonetheless, Duo follows her out, curious about the forthcoming conversation. Relena leads Duo to the hospital garden and sits down on one of the benches. Duo hesitates for a moment before sitting down besides her.
Relena stares at the ground, not sure of the best way to start the conversation. Duo waits patiently for her.
Finally, she turns to Duo with an imploring look in her eyes.
"Duo, I know Heero and you are… very close. But don't you think it's time to let him go?"
"What?"
"You know very well the relationship that both of you are having will end up nowhere. What you have is not right. It's against the laws of nature. Heero doesn't love you. No, he can never love you."
"What makes you so sure about that?" anger is raising within Duo. Who is she to condemn their relationship?
"In all the time that you have been together, has Heero ever told you that he loves you?"
Duo is stumped. Much as he hates it, he knows that Relena is right. Heero has never told him that he loves him.
He is the one who always whispers "I love you" in Heero's ears.
He is always the one who chases Heero around.
Heero has never shown any sign of reciprocating his love. Now that he comes to think about it, maybe this girl is right. Heero, being the perfect soldier does not love him at all. He only needed him as a physical release. It's such a painful truth.
Duo remains so quiet and grim that Relena begins to wonder if her words have hurt him. She is beginning to feel sorry for him but she wanted Heero for herself.
After a long silence, Duo gets up from the bench and says to Relena, "Make sure you take good care of him."
Relena watches his retreating back and mouths a silent "Thank you."
It is just a short letter but the pain it brings is unbearable.
"Why, Duo? The war is finally over and I am looking forward to a life with you. Why must you go away now? I was hoping that your face would be the first thing I would see when I regained consciousness. Why?" Heero's mind screams inwardly.
He falls back against the pillow and shuts his eyes tightly. His hand, still holding the letter, lies limply at his side.
Quatre looks at him with concern.
"Are you all right, Heero? I'm sorry. I should have stopped Duo from leaving. I should have convinced him to…"
"Stop reproaching yourself, Quatre. It's not your fault. I know how stubborn Duo can be at times." Heero says in a resigned tone.
There is a gentle knock on the door and it opens slowly. Relena is standing at the doorway.
"Hi, Heero. How are you feeling today?" she asks sweetly, walking towards him and sitting at the edge of his hospital bed. Quatre promptly excuses himself. Heero just glares at the girl with an expressionless face.
Heero used to think that to room with Duo was a torture, but now he realizes that life without Duo is even worse.
Heero misses him badly. He misses his smile, his boisterous laughter, his non-stop chatter. But mostly Heero misses the feel of Duo in his arms, the sweet taste of his lips.
He tries to live his life normally but fails miserably. Of course Relena is always there, taking care of him. But this is not what he wanted. He doesn't give a damn to any of Relena's wealth or the luxurious life that she wanted him to lead. He only wants his violet-eyed angel back.
There is no news from Duo since he left. Even Quatre doesn't know his whereabouts. He seems to have disappeared from the surface of the earth and maybe even the colonies.
*He is deliberately hiding away from me. I will find you again, Duo. Just you wait.*
After staying a few weeks in Sanc kingdom, Heero leaves and embarks on a mission, a mission to find Duo. Relena tries desperately to make him stay.
"Where are you going?" she cries out.
"To look for Duo."
"Why? Why can't you just let go of him? I love you too, Heero."
"But you are not the one I love."
Duo leans against the fence, watching the happy and laughing children play in the compound of the church. Duo smiles. It reminds him of the happier times when he was in Maxwell church.
He has came to this church at a far away colony to seek solace. But even after so many months, he is still unable to forget him. His image haunts his thoughts and his dreams. There is a constant emptiness in his heart.
Suddenly he feels someone tugging at his shirt. Duo looks down to find a little girl smiling up at him.
"Yes, Keiko-chan?"
"Oniichan, there is someone here looking for you." the little girl says, pointing at the main gate of the church.
Duo raises his brows in surprise. Someone is looking for him? How strange, he isn't expecting any visitor.
Duo walks wearily to the gate and stops dead on his tracks. Heero! What is he doing here?
As if sensing his presence, Heero turns to see Duo standing a few feet away from him with a look of schock on his face. Their eyes meet, but there is an uncomfortable silence between them.
Duo breaks the gaze and hardens his face. He wants very much to run into Heero's arms but he stops himself in time.
*No, I am not going back to him.*
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Relena?" Duo asks in a cold and almost hostile tone.
Heero's eyes widen in surprise. What is wrong with Duo? He was never this cold to anyone. This is not the Duo he knows.
"I came to see you." Heero replies.
Duo snorts and says sarcastically, "Oh, I am still very much alive and kicking. Satisfied? You can go now."
Duo turns and walks away.
Heero bites his lips. After months of research, he has finally managed to locate Duo. But instead of being happy to see him, Duo is turning his back on him. Heero, unaccustomed to rejection, quickly runs after him. He is not going to let Duo walk away just like that.
Not after going through so much pain and spending so many sleepless nights, pining for him.
Heero grabs his upper arm and turns his body, forcing Duo to face him. Duo struggles to free himself from Heero's grip.
"What the hell do you want?!" Duo snaps angrily.
Heero reaches into his pocket.
"I want to give you this." he holds up his palm to reveal a glittering band of gold.
Duo eyes the simple wedding band and says mockingly, "This should be given to Relena. She will be thrilled to receive it."
"No, this ring only fits you and no one else." Heero says bluntly.
He grabs Duo's left hand and slides the ring onto his ring finger. Just as Heero has said, the ring fits his finger perfectly. Duo stares at the wedding band on his finger doubtfully, suddenly feeling depressed.
"Why did you come now? I was beginning to forget you."
Heero's eyes narrow and he grabs Duo's shoulders, gently shaking him.
"You're lying and you are such a lousy liar. I can see the truth in your eyes. Remember, Duo Maxwell can run, he can hide but he can't lie."
Heero understands him so well that he can practically see through him.
"You are still having doubts?" Heero asks, agitated.
Duo remains silent. Exasperated, Heero drags Duo into the church. Tinted glass and flickering candle flames give the inner hall of the church a mystical ambience. Standing in front of the altar, Heero grabs Duo's hands and places them over his heart.
Heero glares intensely at Duo's puzzled face and makes a pledge.
"I hereby vow before the God that I, Heero Yuy loves only Duo Maxwell. I vow to love him with all my heart. I vow to protect him and care for him with all of my life. Till death do us part."
With that, Heero leans forward to Duo's face and seals his pledge with a kiss.
"Heero!" Duo gasps in utter astonishment.
"Now are you convinced?" Heero growls softly.
Totally speechless, Duo just nods his head. Tears of happiness are welling in his eyes. Heero embraces him and kisses his forehead gently before holding him at an arm's length, staring into his gleaming violet eyes.
"Are you coming with me or do I have to take you right here on the sacred grounds of the church?"
Duo grins sheepishly and wraps his arms around Heero, hugging him heartily. Just a while ago, his heart was still feeling empty but now, it is filled with love and warmth, the feelings that he longed for so badly.
Heero holds his lover in a silent content. This is something that all of Relena's wealth cannot buy. Duo turns his violently blushing face towards Heero and wipes away his tears clumsily before walking out of the church hand in hand with Heero. Life is going to be very eventful. End.
~~~The End~~~
Minky