22-Apr-2000
Hi hi! Thanks to everyone who has commented on Rising as it's developed ^_^
You're all appreciated! Unfortunately my mailbox routinely overfills and
clears large parts of itself without asking my permission, so I've lost a
lot of the messages I wanted to reply to (eep!) But again THANK YOU to
everyone and hugs, Wufei's spare pants collection, and "have-a-great-day" to
all!
Warnings: yaoi, lime (lemon being past and done with but hope for more in
the future), AU, language, death (sort of)
Feedback: always appreciated. Thanks for reading!
Heero sorted through Duo's clothing drawer. "Where is it?"
"Under the red shirt."
He finally found the stash of potato chips and triumphantly held it up. "Got it."
Duo reappeared from under the bed with a six-pack of sodas. "We're ready."
As one unit, they headed for the door.
Quatre and his van were waiting for them outside. Trowa had shotgun, and he mutely pointed them into the back. Duo threw open the sliding door, and launched himself in.
Right on top of a sleeping Wufei.
Wufei cracked one eyelid and grabbed Duo before he could crawl off. "Good morning," he whispered.
Duo flushed bright red as their hips brushed.
Heero suddenly shoved him from behind, and Duo sprawled flat on top the other boy. Heero climbed up in the wake of the two teenagers sorting themselves and took the open space for himself, slamming the door shut.
Trowa had turned in his seat to watch the ensuing struggle for seating. He frowned. It sort of looked like Wufei had just kissed Duo, while Duo was picking himself out of the Chinese boy's lap.
He shook his head slightly. Imagining things. He turned back around, and Quatre hit the gas. "This is going to be fun," the little blonde announced.
Duo, ears burning, stared down at his hands clenched tightly in his lap.
Wufei laughed. "You bet, kid," he replied.
Duo kicked out again, putting another few metres of water between himself and his friends on the beach.
He was tired and sunburned--happy and sleepy. It had been a perfect day.
Except for the way Wufei and Heero seemed to be competing with each other over something. Probably, Duo mused as he floated on his back, staring up at the darkening sky, something to do with being such "strong" types. Aggressive. That was what it was. Heero probably thought Wufei was trying to steal his territory, or something. Oh, well. He'd get used to Wufei eventually. After all--Heero hadn't liked Duo at first, either.
A hand grasped his ankle, making him gasp and sink unceremoniously under water, where he promptly inhaled. When he came up, sputtering, Heero chuckled and steadied him in the deep waters. "Sorry," the Japanese said.
Duo swept streaming bangs out of his face. "It's okay," he coughed. Annoyed, he spat to one side, and wiped his mouth. "Yick."
Heero had yet to let him go; he placidly treaded water beside his friend. "You having fun?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Uh-huh."
Duo ducked under water again, quickly slicking back his hair and then shaking it out when he came up. He really needed a trim. Probably, he thought, grinning to himself, he could afford a quater-inch.
Heero's hand slid up to his shoulder as he rocked with a wave. "We're going to be heading home soon," he noted. "Otherwise, we'll be driving in the dark, and you know how Trowa is about that."
"I have a curfew, anyway."
"Since when?"
"Since the night I didn't get home until three."
Heero frowned. "Why were you out that late?"
Duo laughed. "I think it's kind of funny, actually. Remember that club I told you about, High Rise? Well, Wufei and me--"
"You didn't go there, did you? You're not old enough."
"Well, you and I know that, but Wufei got us fake ID's. It was pretty cool! And we just lost track of time--God, the dancing was--"
"Wait," Heero ordered, glowering steadily now. "Wufei what?"
"Got us fake ID's." Duo became preoccupied with a passing gull. "Oh, come on, Hee-kun. It's not that bad."
"It's illegal, is what it is."
"It was just some fun!"
"I don't like the way he has you acting," Heero said.
Duo glared at him. "Did you ever consider," he snapped, "that maybe I'd be acting this way if it was someone else? It's not just *him*, Heero. He's not forcing anything on me."
"I know you," the other boy replied softly. "It's not just you, Duo."
"I don't want to argue with you."
"Then don't."
"*You* don't! Don't start saying that kind of shit about him! I really like him, Heero, he's my friend and he's not going to go away just because you want him to!"
Heero was silent for a while. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Okay."
Duo blinked. "Okay?"
"Yes. Okay."
Suddenly, Duo's eyes softened. "Thank you, Heero," he whispered.
A large wave, progress unnoticed in the middle of their argument, abruptly tumbled Duo straight into his friend's arms. Heero attempted to keep his head above water as Duo struggled, but only succeeded in further hampering the other teen's climb back to the surface.
For the second time in five minutes, Duo came up spitting, his eyes stinging and throat aching, his lungs burning from water gone down the wrong pipe.
Heero cradled him against his strong chest, carefully brushing hair out of his eyes and gazing at him in concern as he coughed uncontrollably. "Are you all right?" he demanded.
Duo hacked once or twice more, then nodded. "Yeah," he said hoarsely.
Heero kissed him.
Surprised, Duo attempted to pull back, but Heero had him held tightly and he only tangled their legs and nearly sunk them. Then, slowly, he relaxed into the salty taste of his best friend's mouth, wondering how this had happened--and preternaturally aware of the slick texture of Heero's skin and--questioning if this was would ever end, and... reveling in the hand that explored his bare back.
Standing on shore, staring out into the ocean, Wufei quietly ground a seashell to dust.
End Part 9
(:./erin/rising9)
