10-Apr-2000
Slight warnings for OOC and language. And :::gasp::: there is /no/ yaoi or shounen ai in this. The world is truly coming to an end!!! ::chuckles::: I'm going to go and collapse now so I can get my four hours of sleep and go to college tomorrow. Yay.
Also, Duo suffers from something that is a lot more frequent than people think and it often goes unnoticed. So if this sounds like you, you might wanna get some help. I have problems with number instead of letters :::sweatdrops:::
Duo racked his hands through his bangs and glared hotly at the page before him. Why couldn’t he understand this!?!? He was a Gundam pilot! He should be able to wiz through these problems like they were nothing. So what gave!? Duo gritted his teeth and glanced over at the clock. It read 4:15 a.m.
"Kuso." Duo whispered, his breath hitching in the back of his throat. With a disgusted sigh, the American threw the book away from him where is clattered on the floor. Heero sat up bolt upright in his bed and looked over at Duo, a mixture of shock, alertness, and anger in his cobalt blue eyes.
"What’s your problem?" Heero growled as he looked at the book lying on the ground.
"None of your business Yuy." Duo mutttered as he flopped onto his bed. "I’m going to bed." Duo threw his arm across his eyes and didn’t even bother to turn off his desk-lamp. Heero stared at Duo confused and bent over to pick up the book the American had thrown to the ground.
"Wuthering Heights." Heero murmured as he looked at the book. It was the book that Duo and he were reading in their English class. Heero was curious why the American had gotten so annoyed with the book. While it was not his usual genre, Heero had found himself rather enjoying the book. So much so that he’d read it all one rainy Sunday when he and Duo had been free of both school and the war. Still puzzling over why Duo had reacted so violently, Heero lay back down and began to thumb through Wuthering Heights once again. He soon lost himself in the tragic tale of Heathcliff and the dark destiny that awaited him and his lady love.
"Maxwell-kun, do you have your homework?" The teacher asked as she paused by Duo’s desk. The American didn’t even bother to raise his head from his arms when he answered her.
"No, I don’t. Sorry." The teacher frowned slightly. She was slightly worried for this new student. He showed such great potential and intelligence when they analyzed stories verbally, but he refused to do his homework. "I’m afraid this is the last time I can allow you to do this Maxwell-kun, if you don’t start doing your homework, I’m going to have to start sending you to the headmaster’s office." Duo stiffened and he glanced over at Heero who was looking at him with blazing eyes. ‘Don’t draw attention to yourself’ those eyes said and Duo sighed and shut his eyes.
"Nap time." He murmured as he drifted off. Heero continued to glance over at Duo and once class was over he motioned for Duo to follow him. He led the American back to their room. Once they were safely locked in their room, Heero let a bit of his anger show.
"Are you stupid or do you just don’t give a damn about our mission?" The Japanese pilot demanded as Duo sat down on his bed. The American pulled his legs up to his chest and let Heero’s accusations roll over him. Maybe he was dumb, why else could he not understand the words right in front of his face? He was American yet he couldn’t even read English correctly! What was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he decipher what those damned words said?!? "Are you listening to me Duo? Or am I going to fast for you?" Duo looked up at Heero as he stood over him. "Either you get your act together or I’ll take you out of the equation. I will not have my mission jeopardized because you are too lazy to do your schoolwork!"
Duo’s eyes burned as he glared up at Heero as each word stuck true. "So get off of your lazy ass and buckle down. How hard would it be for you to take a little time out of your busy day of reading manga and listening to music to actually get some schoolwork done?" With a animal snarl, Duo launched himself at Heero and his fist connected with the Japanese boy’s jaw.
"Shut. The. Fuck. Up." Duo uttered each word as soft as Death as he stood there with his fists clenched. Heero’s eyes narrowed and his trigger-finger twitched reflexively. "You’re such a superior bastard!" Duo cried. "Well I’m sorry Heero I’m not perfect like you." Duo dug through his book bag and pulled out his copy of Wuthering Heights. "I don’t understand this! Do you get that Yuy? I can’t understand it! I can’t even make the words out! They won’t fucking stay still long enough for me to make them out!" Duo tossed his book at Heero but it was a wild toss and it went wide. Duo stood there and sniffled as his eyes filled with angry tears. "Don’t you think I’ve tried!? And you accuse me of being lazy?! I’ve tried so many freaking times to understand this it’s not even funny! Why else do you think I’d stay up till four o’clock in the morning reading this shit? /Trying/ to read this! It sure as hell wasn’t for my own pleasure. So screw you Yuy, you have no idea what the hell you’re saying. Just leave me alone because the last thing I need is a guilt trip from "Mr. Superiority" so just back off Heero." Duo swallowed and wiped at his eyes as he sat down on his bed and covered his eyes. Heero stood where he was with an odd look on his face as he stared down at his partner.
He absently rubbed at his aching jaw and walked over to his laptop. Duo heard him typing away and tried his best to go to sleep. He’d nearly drifted off when the sound of the printer coming online woke him up. He sighed in frustration and tried once again to go to sleep. He’d try and unpuzzle those elusive letters once he’d finished his nap. The last thing Duo expected was to feel Heero settle on the side of his bed. He heard the rustle of paper as Heero shifted positions.
"Here." The Japanese boy said and Duo sat up. He looked at the small pile of printouts Heero held out to him and he reached off them.
"Dyslexia, what’s that?" Duo asked in confusion as he read the Japanese charactors.
"Just read it." Heero instructed. Duo frowned but did as ordered. As he read on his eyes widened in surprise and he looked at Heero as if to confirm what he’d read. The Japanese boy nodded solemnly and Duo continued to read the printouts. "Letters flip around?"
"Yes, you unconsciously flip the letters around and that’s what makes reading so hard for you."
"You...you mean I’m not stupid?" Duo asked as if he trully believed himself to be stupid.
"No Duo you’re not." Heero said in exasperation. A tremulous smile broke out on Duo’s face and he set the papers aside.
"Thank you Heero." Duo said, true gratitude shining in his blue-violet eyes. "I’m sorry I said those things to you."
"I’m sorry as well for being so rough on you. I should have noticed how hard you were trying to work on this." Heero shifted uncomrfortably and looked down at his hands. "Look Duo, if you want I’ll try and help you with your English work. You might also talk to our teacher about this. There are techniques to help you with this kind of stuff." Duo nodded and smiled happily at Heero.
"Okay, I’ll talk to her tomorrow. But could you help me tonight?"
"Sure." Duo scooted over and Heero moved so he could sit with his back against the wall. Heero reached down and picked up Duo’s discarded book from the floor. "Let’s start from the beginning."
~owari~
Sheira