08-Nov-2000
Ok, so I've moved past the dark and gotten more than a little corny. ^_~ Sue me. ^_~
I guess I don't really need to tell you that I own neither GW nor the characters I'm taking such liberties with, nor is this fanfic meant to be taken as any form of disrespect or any claim to the copyright. :)
Also, the fic as a whole has dark stuff and violence, yaoi themes, and some adult-type material. It is not intended for minors or people who are easily offended.
That said...
Duo spent the rest of the day and the entire night at the hospital; he'd arranged for a chair to be pulled up right by Heero's bedside, so he could talk to Heero and leave his braid in that surprisingly strong grip. A dangerously giddy happiness bubbled up inside him, in spite of his best efforts to keep his cool. He scolded himself not to get his hopes up too high - not only did he not know for sure if Heero would recover, he didn't have a clue what the stoic young man's feelings were, if he even had any. Nevertheless, Duo's heart pattered in a rebelliously happy beat.
He talked to Heero, carefully making sure that none of his doubts crept into his voice. He talked about anything he could think of, read Moby Dick for a while, talked some more. It was the darkest hour of the night, just before dawn, when he made his terrible slip.
"I wish you were awake so I could tell you how much I love you," he said in a moment of appalling weakness. He froze in shock when he realized what he'd said, paralyzed for a long, stunned moment, praying that of all he'd said, *that* careless statement had gone unheard. The boy on the bed was as motionless as before, and there was no change in any of his readings, nor any indication he'd heard. There hadn't been so much as a twitch of an eyelash in reaction, so Duo started talking again, hoping it would be all right.
Some time later, Duo finally fell asleep, slumped forward against the side of the bed with his braid still securely clutched in Heero's hand. That was how Wufei found them when he came in an hour later to visit. The Chinese man took in the details of Duo's rumpled attire, his limp body sagging between the chair and the edge of the bed...
...and that was when he noticed the deep blue eyes watching him, still slightly drug-fogged, but inhabited in a way they had not been since Heero first met Mel.
"Welcome back," Wufei said, and it surprised him somewhat to hear his own words come out in a half-reverent whisper. Smiling in spite of himself, he gestured toward the sleeping ex-pilot. "Do you want me to move him?"
"No," Heero mouthed, his voice rusty and uncooperative after long disuse. He frowned slightly, because no sound had come out, but he decided that was for the best. He didn't want to disturb Duo's rest. "He seems... comfortable," he added silently, trusting Wufei to read his lips accurately. Heero was unaware of it, but Wufei noticed that he clutched the rope of hair to him more securely, as though he didn't want to let Duo go.
"Ah," Wufei nodded. "Good." For a long moment he merely stood and stared, then he hesitantly asked, "Do you need anything? Water?"
"Water would be good." Heero didn't smile, but his eyes were warm as his friend left to get the water. Wufei was back almost immediately, with a pitcher of water in his hands and two doctors on his heels. Heero frowned at the doctors, who noticed Duo's presence and were carefully quiet. He reluctantly submitted to the poking and prodding they insisted on, and flatly refused to let go of the braid. The doctors took it as a good sign that Heero's grip was so strong, and the shorter of the two smiled and patted Heero's clenched fist.
"I can't move much," Heero whispered.
"Don't worry," the taller doctor said encouragingly. "You're in amazingly good shape after everything you've been through; I'm sure it's just a matter of time before you regain your health."
"What happened?" Heero asked. "What do you mean, everything I've been through?"
"Let's not worry about that right now," the doctor said, giving Wufei a quelling glare as he opened his mouth to respond. "The important thing is to get you on your feet again, right?"
"Yeah," Heero replied, and closed his eyes, playing possum until the doctors left. As soon as the door closed behind them, his eyes opened again, and Wufei gasped at the piercing blue gaze, as sharp and clear as ever.
Part of Duo was aware of voices around him coming and going, but filtered out the soft sounds as non-threatening. His dream self was too busy to worry about soft whispering; he was with Heero.
"Is it you?" he asked.
"I had to come back; I could conceive of no other outcome," Heero replied, and Duo was close enough to see the shifting of color in the depths of those drowningly blue eyes, close enough to reach out and brush Heero's surprisingly soft touseled bangs out of his eyes...
"I had to come back... for you," Heero said, and Duo leaped into his arms, kissing him exhuberantly, overwhelmed with joy as Heero kissed him back.
"Don't leave again," he begged.
"I missed you," Heero replied, but made no promises, and Duo held him all the more tightly. "I love you, Duo," Heero said, and Duo's dream self dimly recognized that this was nothing but a dream, and responded with bittersweet gladness.
"I love you, too," he said, but he meant the real Heero and not the dream. Then Heero pressed up against him, and there were no more words.
"What are they not telling me?"
"Heero..." Wufei said, seating himself gingerly on the edge of the bed, as though Heero might break if he got jostled too hard. "How much do you remember?"
"I remember... the club, and watching Duo. And his hair," Heero replied, indicating the thick plait in his hand.
"Ah," Wufei said.
"So what is it?" Heero asked again, glaring at Wufei intensely. The Chinese man imagined that Heero would rip the information out of him if it were possible.
"Well, I-" Wufei began, and broke off as the door opened again. Wufei had never expected to live long enough to actually be *glad* to see Zechs Marquise, but he practically melted with relief as the sight of the tall blond.
"Zechs!" he whispered, smiling, and Zechs, taken aback, hesitantly smiled in return. Then he noticed Heero's alert gaze, and his ice- blue eyes widened in surprise.
"You're awake!" he gasped.
"You're right," Heero replied, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Well... I do have a gift for stating the obvious this morning, I suppose," Zechs said, and Wufei averted his gaze as the blond's brilliant smile lit the room. "I'm glad you're getting better, Heero. Do you need anything?"
"Water," Heero replied. "If one of you would help me... I don't think I can do it."
"Sorry!" Wufei gasped, jumping to pour the water. "I didn't realize." He held the cup for Heero, and Zechs helped prop him up as he drank. The maneuver brought Zechs and Wufei close enough together that Wufei could feel the blond's breath on his cheek.
Heero drank slowly, taking in one cautious sip at a time and rolling it around in his mouth to moisten parched tissues before swallowing it. He didn't dare drink too much too quickly, after being incapacitated long enough to have become so weak. The question 'how long' nagged at him, but nothing could have dragged him away from the water he'd been so thirsty for. In slow, careful sips, he gradually emptied the glass, completely oblivious to Wufei's consternation at being so physically close to Zechs.
"More?" Wufei asked, and when Heero shook his head in reply, The Chinese man was simultaneously relieved and ill-at-ease... he wouldn't even consider that the uneasy feeling might be disappointment.
"Well, I should go," he said. "I just wanted to check on you and Duo. And... I should go."
"You said that already," Heero pointed out in a raspy voice.
"Yes. Well. It's as true now as it was the first time I said it," Wufei answered, flustered and hating it. "Quatre and Trowa will be so happy to hear the news. See you later, Yuy, Marquise."
"Wufei, wait!" Zechs called. "I'll ride the elevator with you. Heero," he said, turning to press the patient's free hand warmly. "I am *so* glad you're better. I'll come back after my shift, if that's Ok with you."
"Arigato," Heero croaked, and gave his comrades a little lopsided smile. Zechs smiled in return and then followed Wufei out. The door closed behind him with a soft snick, and Duo startled awake.
"HEERO!" he cried. "YOU'RE BACK! Oh, I knew you'd come back, I just knew it!" Caught up in the excitement of the moment and still half- tangled in the dream, Duo leaped up and planted an enthusiastic kiss on Heero's lips. Heero gaped up at him, dumbfounded, and watched as violet eyes widened in sudden horror.
"Oh, my God, oh, Heero, I am so sorry," Duo stammered, suddenly and horribly awake. "I didn't- I didn't mean to do that, oh, shit, I'm so sor-" Heero leaned up and pressed his lips to Duo's, staunching the flow of words.
"Now we can both be sorry," he whispered hoarsely as he sagged back onto his pillows, exhausted by the effort to raise himself up. "If we have to."
End Part Seven
That's it for now, folks! I think there'll only be one or possibly two more parts left of this one. ^_^ Hang onto your hats for the next time - we're moving from dark to sappy to lemony and happy. ^_~ Thanks to everyone who's still reading along, and many thanks to Lina for the fic challenge that started the whole thing. Yep, I really think I can pull a good ending out of it. ^_~
Bet you weren't thinking it'd take this long, huh? <:) I'm just lucky there wasn't a time limit on the challenge! :D
Yoiko ^_^
Please send comments to: Yoiko