22-Mar-2000
Standard Gundam Wing fan fic disclaimers apply. C&C welcomed. Subject matter relates to M/M relationships. If that freaks you out, go away.
It seemed so simple, so uncomplicated when viewed by the light of the moon. It was all Heero needed - all he had wanted - just a second chance at happiness....
Things were different when viewed by the harsh light of day. Heero, exhausted by his long, difficult mission and several weeks of severe sleep deprivation, did not stir when the door opened quietly...
And when Wufei looked in...
The Chinese pilot stared at the two figures curled around each other in Heero's large bed... Heero's arm wrapped protectively around his sleeping partner... Duo cuddling up against Heero as if he had always belonged there.
Wufei's expression was inscrutable; his dark eyes seemed just a little too deliberately blank as he closed the door and walked away...
"Good morning," Quatre smiled brightly at Wufei as the Chinese pilot walked out onto the patio where they had breakfast every morning. Trowa looked up, and merely nodded a greeting before his single visible eye returned to the report he was reading. "Ready for the trip into town?" the blond Arabian inquired. "Where's Duo?"
The errands that had to be accomplished in the city were trivial, but the American had been eagerly looking forward to the trip with Wufei. Duo was, in fact, so enthusiastic about the upcoming trip that he reached the point of being unbearably hyperactive yesterday. Trowa... gentle, patient Trowa was driven to the end of his patience and had flatly proposed slipping Duo a high dosage of sleeping pills.
Even Quatre was at his wits' end. Heero's presence would certainly have been more than welcomed yesterday if only to glare Duo into some semblance of decorum, but Wufei 'managed' the American pilot by taking him out into the large estate grounds for a day in the sun. They had returned hours later - Duo tired but happy, and they had peace for the rest of that evening...
Hence, Wufei's curt reply of "Asleep," caught Quatre completely off guard.
"Asleep? But the car's coming for you both in ten minutes," Quatre reminded, wide-eyed with concern. "Shall I have them come around later instead?"
"No, I'll be going into the city alone."
Trowa looked up sharply, his green eyes locking intently on Wufei - searching and penetrating - before glancing briefly sideways at Quatre.
The Arabian had sensed it too. His heart had told him even if his ears had not heard the muted pain in the Chinese pilot's voice.
"You found him in Heero's room again," Quatre stated calmly, a layer of soft compassion in his voice. Duo had those difficult moments; days when he missed Heero more than usual... when the loss was like an aching wound... when he would seek out the few remaining reminders of Heero's presence.
The emotional crash usually came after bouts of strenous activity - when Duo was tired and was compelled to sit and rest... when he had time to think and brood...
"He doesn't mean to hurt you," Quatre felt compelled to reassure his friend. He knew with absolute certainly of Wufei's feelings for Duo, and sensed that Duo was beginning to reciprocate those feelings, albeit tentatively and slowly at first; he had been hurt before... by Heero...
"He knows you would hold him and comfort him if necessary, but you know that Duo would never use you like that," the blond emphasized. "He knows you deserve better."
"Does he?" Wufei wondered aloud, the undercurrent of bitterness running strong in his voice.
"Yes, he does, Wufei," Quatre stated calmly. "I know it - I feel it in him."
The Chinese pilot lowered his eyes to his still empty plate, dark eyes in turmoil. Finally, he rose to his feet, speaking very softly as he prepared to leave: "Then perhaps you should ask him what he's doing in Heero's room. In Heero's bed. In Heero's arms."
"Heero's..." Quatre's jaw dropped. "He's back? How did he make it past my security without anyone being alerted to his presence?!"
Wufei shrugged then turned and strode away, walking in the direction of the driveway to wait for the car that was to take him into the city, leaving Quatre and Trowa staring at each other in stunned silence over the breakfast table...
It was a long ride... too long... The period of forced inactivity in the car for the duration of the journey gave him entirely too much time to think and brood... He could almost understand now why Duo had seemed overly energetic these past three months after Heero left; the American was trying to keep moving... to keep from thinking and remembering...
Yesterday had been so perfect - just the both of them alone on the grounds of Quatre's large estate... playing stupid games that Duo invented - games that usually involved alot of running around, alot of falling down, and alot of merciless tickles given as penalties for losing...
Games that involved a lot of laughter.
He would never have marked himself as the laughing sort. Duo was, certainly, and had lulled even him into relaxing and reacting much the same way. Then, when he had settled down beneath the wide shadow of a huge tree to rest, Duo had confidently sought out the embrace of his arms, curling up close... They were both soaked in sweat from their games in the sun, it was uncomfortable and sticky to be so close to each other - but Duo did not seem to mind, and he himself had no intention of objecting...
He did not tense up any more when Duo came to him. The American was the most tactile person he had ever met; he seemed to need constant human contact - just simple things most of the time - a touch... a hug... yet Duo had never gone beyond that. The braided pilot had scrupulously avoided contact that could be misintepreted as sexual advances.
He understood perfectly well. Duo wasn't ready for another sexual relationship, and he could accept that readily enough. He did not want to be a substitute for Heero either... he wanted to be loved for himself.
And it had seemed to be working.
'Had' being the key word...
'Had' as in past tense...
Wufei gazed out of the tinted car windows - at the gorgeous scenery of the countryside flashing by. Nothing in the dark, empty eyes betrayed the wrenching despair...
He did not know whether to be furious with Heero for coming back to fight for the treasure he had so callously given up earlier...
Or to be angry with Duo for taking Heero back so simply and so sweetly...
Or to be incensed with himself for believing that he was slowly, but surely, winning the love of the braided pilot when probably nothing was further from the truth...
It was a simple word... a single word... just three letters... but it carried with it dashed hopes and crushed dreams...
'Had'...
End Part 2
(:./danyale/paths2)
