18-Apr-2000
Hi hi! Well, here's the next development in the world o' AU-ism... a nice domestic scene to soothe my conscience after that lemon -_-; Hee hee anyway thanks to everyone who has commented and advised and if I don't get back to you personally, then know that I still totally appreciate all the kind words and good intentions! Feedback always appreciated, and y'all know the warnings by now. Hugs for all! ~TB
Sally Po set a plate of spaghetti in front of her son. "You eat *all* of that," she said, pretending to scowl.
Heero made a face at her as she took her place on the other side of the small kitchen table. "You know I will, Mom." He was already digging in by the time Sally had spread her napkin over her lap and picked up her fork.
"Don't choke," she instructed automatically. "I just worry about you, honey," she added. She took a slow bite, considering him. "I take it you're feeling better, though?"
"Yes," Heero replied with confidence, swallowing a mushy mouthful and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "My cold is gone, completely."
Sally smiled and kept eating. She knew very well that her son had not had a cold; but she wasn't blind, and she knew something was up with her son. Since she didn't have a clue what it was, she'd decided to wait him out, but so far that pursuit had been completely fruitless. Idly she wondered if Odin, Heero's father, wouldn't have had better luck reaching through to him; but Odin was away on a business trip and wouldn't be back for another four weeks.
"Duo called again this morning," she remembered. "Heero, are you two fighting? It's almost like he doesn't expect you to call back anymore."
Heero suddenly became absorbed in his glass of water. "No, Mom. We're fine."
"I hope so. It's been a long time since he was around."
"He hangs out with that kid Chang Wufei a lot."
"Maybe you could invite both of them over, then. It would be nice to see you hang out with a group again. You never really see Trowa or Quatre when you're not with Duo. Don't you ever miss them?"
"I guess." Heero shoved a huge bite in his mouth to discourage his mother from asking any more disturbingly insightful questions. She could be like that sometimes. Dourly Heero wished, as he often had in his sixteen years, for a mother who wasn't *quite* so smart.
"You will call him back this time?"
"I guess."
Sally sighed. *Hurry back, Odin,* she thought. *I'm just floundering here.*
After dinner, Heero did as his mother had asked and called Duo. It was really time to face his friend again, anyway.
The other phone rang. And rang.
And rang.
Heero was just about to hang up when suddenly the receiver was grabbed up, and a panting Duo yelled, /"Heero!"/
Heero blinked. "How'd you know it was me?" he asked.
/"Only--*you*--wouldn't have hung--up,"/ Duo gasped. Heero could picture him flopping on his bed and clutching his stomach. /"God, I'm so glad you called! --Are you okay?"/
"Yeah. I'm okay. What were you doing?"
/"Ran to... get the phone."/
A heavy sigh ended that, and Duo's breathing began to slow down. /"Seriously. Are you *okay*?"/"I said yes." Heero brushed aside the nightmares as if they'd never been. "I'll be back in school tomorrow."
/"Great! Oh, Heero, I have so much to tell you--"/
"Tell me now."
There was a long pause. /"Nah, it's not the sort of stuff you say over the phone. During lunch, okay? I'll see you during lunch. Hee-kun, I'm so happy--and I'm so happy you're feeling better--But, uh, I need to, uh, do my homework! I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow. Shit--Lunch, okay? Okay? Bye!"/
Heero stared at the phone before replacing it in the cradle. "Bye," he repeated softly.
Why did he have the feeling that he wasn't going to like Duo's news?
Duo hung up the phone, and looked over at Wufei, whose vicious pinch had been the reason he'd abruptly ended the conversation with Heero. "Why didn't you want me to talk to him?" he asked.
Wufei beckoned somewhat imperiously for Duo to sit closer beside him. When he obeyed, the Chinese boy took a handful of braid, hauled him in, and kissed him deeply.
"You're here with me," he growled. He pressed his forehead against Duo's. "Forget about that asshole."
"He's not... "
Wufei immediately abandoned that tactic and tried another. "Is it so awful that I want to keep this between us?" he asked softly. "I really like you, Duo. Would I have done that today if I didn't? But you know that Heero doesn't like me. Whaddya think he's going to have to say if he find out we had sex? Don't do something you might regret later. It could ruin your friendship--and ruin ours."
Duo's eyes clouded. "I don't want to do that," he mumbled.
"I know you don't. So let's just keep it to ourselves for a while, huh?"
"Yeah. Okay, Wufei."
"Good." Wufei found Duo's hair-tie with two fingers, and slipped it off, holding Duo's eyes as he slowly unraveled the long shining braid. "Now," he said, smiling just a little, "I can think of about a million better things to do once you turn that light out."
The sudden darkness hid Duo's blush.
End Part 7
(:./erin/rising7)
