A/N: I thought I managed to do this chappie very quickly :P Considering I was on holiday for half the time lol n.n so yeah… Um yeah… You can thank EmoCloud and Death-Angel42 for the semi-quick update lol :P
Thanks to: Death-Angel42, GundamPilot03, sunstreake, lovova, Fantasy or Reality, lildevil666, Sakura evil twin of Sango, Yazzy, InfectedLife, Nikkler, Sailor Sayuri, ember-chan, WickedGame, Kyokorain, spirit-gun, Hikaru, Maskelle, EmoCloud, yaeko, mechante fille, Sasheenka, jess-eklom, ChibiNekoSakura, DeathXStar. A quick note: Hikaru: Lol yep, he'll be a virgin :D just for you lol Insert the usual disclaimer and warnings here :P Ok, Enjoy!#$&(Chapter 4
Duo watched Heero sprint off, surprised. He started to run after him, but decided to give Heero some time to think things through. Sitting back down on Heero's bed, Duo wondered what it had been that he had felt.
Was is true love? Or was it just my hormones overreacting? After all, Heero is gorgeous... Duo sighed and tugged on the end of his braid. No, it was more than just hormones. I felt... something... when I met his gaze. It wasn't love... it was more than that.
The door opened and Quatre stood at the doorway, accompanied by a tall, lean boy around their age, with the wackiest hair Duo had ever seen. It was short all over except for the fringe, which was abnormally long and covered his eye.
"Oh! Duo, sorry- I didn't realise anyone was in here." Quatre apologised. He turned to the tall boy and nudged him forward slightly. "Duo, this is Trowa Barton, a friend of the family's. Trowa, this is Duo Maxwell, Heero's piano teacher."
Trowa inclined his head politely. "Pleasure to meet you." he murmured.
"Why don't you go up to meet Relena without me? I just need to talk to Duo briefly."
Trowa nodded and silently walked off.
Damn he's a quiet one, Duo thought.
"Sorry about that- Trowa isn't one for speaking. Don't take it personally or anything." Quatre smiled at Duo and sat down next to him. "How are the piano lessons going? Heero said that they were going fine, but then again, he says everything is 'fine', or 'hn', so it'll probably be better to hear your opinion."
Duo couldn't help but smile back. "No, Heero's telling the truth. Everything's going well- he'll have the pieces ready for the scholarship in no time."
"That's wonderful." Quatre said sincerely.
It's hard to believe that they're competing for the same scholarship, Duo thought, amazed. There's no animosity at all.
"I couldn't help but be curious though, Duo..."
"What of?" Duo asked.
"Was there any particular reason why Heero suddenly ran out of the house? He looked very... upset." Quatre said, choosing his words carefully.
"Oh! You saw him? Do you have any idea where he's gone?" Duo asked, avoiding the blond's question.
"Probably down to the gardens, by the pond. He likes to go there to sit and draw." Quatre replied, frowning slightly. "Do you intend on going after him?"
Duo nodded. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to take your leave now. I'll see you later, Quatre!"
"Bye!" Quatre called out after him.
Something's definitely up between those two.
!#$&()
Duo hailed a cab down to the park, which was what he presumed Quatre had been referring to, and sprinted down to the pond.
Heero was nowhere to be seen, and Duo gave a growl of frustration. New York was a big city, and Heero could be anywhere.
"Damnit!" he flopped onto the grass and glared moodily at the pond, as if it was the reason why Heero wasn't there.
Suddenly he spied a mop of brown hair sitting under one of the large oak trees and made his way across to it.
That's gotta be Heero! It just has to be!
He was so fixated on the figure underneath the oak tree that he didn't notice the person behind him until it was too late. A hand grabbed his arm in a vice like grip, making Duo cry out in pain.
The boy twisted around and felt his heart sink right down past his toes when he met Mike's ferocious glare.
"Where the hell have you been? You didn't keep your end of the agreement, Maxwell." the large man hissed.
"No, no, stop it..." Duo could feel his heart racing inside his chest. He was breaking out in cold sweat, and his mind was running around in circles.
How the hell am I going to get away?
"You're coming with me. I'll teach you for not keeping your word." Mike tightened his grip on Duo's arm, making the long haired boy whimper and struggle even harder. "We've got a score to settle Maxwell."
!#$&()
Heero felt like hitting his head repeated against the oak tree. How could he have been so stupid as to run off?
I'm a fool! A stupid, worthless fool! And a coward at that. I couldn't even face Duo- how the hell am I supposed to return to him now and talk to him about how I feel? Heero groaned loudly.
He looked across at the still pond, at the ducks that glided gracefully across the water and wished that his life was more simple... more idyllic and peaceful.
He couldn't help but notice a couple standing by the waterside. The man was large and muscular, and he was holding his girlfriend in a tight embrace.
She looks so vulnerable and he looks so protective... Heero sighed. Could I have that sort of relationship with Duo? Could we... date?
He kept on watching the couple, and frowned when he noticed that the man's grip seemed to be hurting his girlfriend, who was struggling and crying.
Wait a minute... that braid! Those clothes! That's not a girl, that's Duo!
Heero's eyes widened in horror when he realised that he was watching Duo being attacked by Mike.
"DUO!"
Heero raced towards Duo, not caring who he banged into or how crazy he must have looked, because all he cared about was Duo's safety. He stopped when he reached Mike and Duo, trying to regain his cool.
"Let him go." the barely controlled fury in Heero's voice made Mike flinch and loosen his grip on Duo slightly.
"Who the fuck are you?" the man demanded.
Duo looked up at Heero, tears of gratitude in his eyes.
Thankgodthankgodthankgod...
"It's none of your business." Heero retorted icily. "Now let him go."
"Why should I?" Mike sneered. "He's my toy, and I'll do whatever the fuck I please with him."
Anger spread like poison through Heero's veins, and he clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms. "I said, let him go." his voice was shaking with a ferocity that Duo had never heard before.
"Make me." Mike smirked, and the next thing he knew he was lying on his back staring up at the sky, his face burning as if it was on fire, with blood streaming out of his most definitely broken nose. He gasped from the pain, and clutched his bleeding nose, rolling on the ground, wishing that the pain would stop.
"Come near him again, and I'll break every single bone in your body." Heero hissed, pulling Duo into the safe embrace of his arms. "Got that?"
Mike could do nothing but nod his agreement, knowing that there would be no way on earth that he could possibly beat this boy with eyes the colour of dark ice and with around the same amount of warmth of ice as well.
He could kill, and he wouldn't care. He has the eyes of a murderer...
"Come on, let's go back home." Heero wrapped a firm arm around Duo's slim waist, allowing the younger boy to lean on him. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you in any way?"
Duo could only shake his head mutely.
Heero heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good. I was so worried..." he trailed off and blushed slightly.
Duo grinned. "Thank you." he said, finally finding his voice. "If not for you I would never have been able to get away, and he would've-" Duo broke off with a shudder. "Anyway, thank you. I owe you my life."
Heero snorted. "Don't be stupid. It was nothing."
"It was everything to me, Heero." Duo said, completely serious.
Heero looked at him, surprised, and offered him a shy smile. "I'm glad I could be of help to you."
Duo returned the smile and reached out, taking Heero's hand in his own. "I owe you big time Heero. If you ever want anything, or need anything, I'll do it for you."
"What if I want you to jump off a bridge?" Heero asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well... I would do it for you, if you provided really good reasons." Duo said, and laughed, but Heero could tell that he was being serious.
A shiver ran down the older boy's back. Anything for me... He would do anything
"Why are you down here anyway?" Heero asked, frowning. It had only just struck him to wonder why Duo was at the park.
"Oh! Well, I was looking for you, and Quatre said that you'd probably be here, by the pond. So yeah... Mike kinda snuck up on me."
Heero unconsciously pulled Duo closer at the sound of Mike's name. What would've happened if he hadn't seen them? If he hadn't even been there in the first place?
He would've raped him, or killed him, Heero thought, shuddering.
They had reached the edge of the park now, and Heero quickly hailed a cab. They climbed in, and as they drove off, Heero could see Mike staggering across the park, blood streaming down his face.
Good. It serves him right. I'll teach him to touch my Duo.
"Heero?" Duo looked at him curiously.
The brunette was staring mutely out the window, a closed expression on his face.
I can't believe that he beat up Mike for me... He did it for me, a person who he hardly knows- I can't believe that I ever thought he was an asshole, Duo thought incredulously.
Heero turned and looked at him, and his face lost its stern look. "Yes?" he asked, and smiled.
Duo could only stare up at Heero's face, speechless.
He's so beautiful...
"Duo?" Heero raised an eyebrow, and the edges of his eyes crinkled as the smile disappeared to be replaced by a worried look. "Are you alright?"
"You... you're just so..."
Heero frowned. "Duo?" he leaned forward and shook Duo slightly. "What's the matter?"
"You're so..." Duo smiled at him, and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Are we going back to your house?"
Heero still looked confused and worried, but he went along with the change in conversation. "Yes. I believe I owe you a lunch."
As if listening in on the conversation, Duo's stomach grumbled loudly. The younger male went bright red and stammered out an apology.
Heero shook his head, a bemused expression on his face. "It's alright. So you saw Quatre, did you?"
"Yeah, he was with some guy... umm... Trowa? I think that was his name anyway."
"Trowa Barton." Heero nodded.
"So that's his duet partner?" Duo asked curiously.
"Yeah. They're also lovers."
"What?" the stunned expression on Duo's face was hilarious.
Heero stifled a snigger and managed to nod calmly. "Why so surprised?"
"It's just... they're so different! Trowa looks so... silent."
"It matches Quatre, don't you think?" Heero smirked. "Trowa can talk quite a bit when he feels like it. You've just got to get to know him better."
"Oh, alright." Duo grinned. "That's so cute!"
Heero rolled his eyes. "We're here. Come on, let's go." he paid the cab driver and pulled Duo out of the car. "With luck Relena will be helping out with the ball decorations, so we'll be able to sneak in without a problem."
"I hope Relena doesn't hear you talk about her like that." a silky voice said from behind them.
Heero sighed, not bothering to turn around. "Dorothy." he acknowledged.
A slender girl stepped forward and smirked at Heero. "Heero." she purred. "Good to see you again." she glanced at Duo. "And who might this be?"
"This is Duo Maxwell." Heero said politely through clenched teeth. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got to be going."
Dorothy inclined her head, the infuriating smirk never leaving her lips. Her gaze lingered on Duo's face.
"Nice to meet you." she said, and there was a sly note in her voice that Duo found unsettling. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you again..."
"She was kinda creepy." Duo whispered to Heero in an undertone as they walked off. "Who is she exactly?"
"Relena's closest friend." Heero replied just as quietly. "I'm really just not sure about her." he gave a tense shrug. "There's just something... sneaky about her."
Duo laughed softly. "That's one way of putting it."
Heero smiled briefly and opened the door for Duo, who, a little surprised, entered hesitantly.
"Uh... thanks."
"No problem." Heero looked up sharply as he heard a female voice getting louder. "Oh shit..."
"I take it that there's no secret passage we can escape through this time?" Duo asked.
"Iie. Unless..." Heero suddenly grabbed Duo and shoved him into the closet, before climbing into it as well, and shutting the door quickly and silently.
Their bodies were flush against each other, and Heero could feel Duo's heartbeat against his.
So close... so goddamn close...
Heero felt Duo's breath on his neck and shivered involuntarily. The situation they were in was so deliciously erotic, and Heero knew he was getting aroused.
Shit! Now is really not the time, he cursed silently.
He prayed to whatever entity was listening to him to make Relena piss the fuck off so he could get out of the cupboard, and away from the living enigma that was Duo.
He felt Duo twitch and wondered if the long haired boy was just as uncomfortable- was it possible that he had felt the same attraction that Heero had felt earlier before, before Heero had run off like the coward he was underneath it all?
No, no it just can't be possible- what on earth would he want with me? Nobody can love me, Heero thought bitterly. Nobody at all.
The brunette heard Duo stifle something that sounded suspiciously like a muted groan.
"Are you alright?" he whispered so quietly that he could barely hear himself.
"I- I'm fine..." Duo's voice was strained.
Heero frowned and shifted so that he was facing Duo fully. A groan that was neither muted nor stifled escaped from Duo's lips.
"God..."
"Duo?" Heero asked anxiously.
He shifted again, and froze as he felt something hard pressing against his thigh.
Could it- could that be- Heero's mind went into overdrive. He is just as uncomfortable as I am!
Duo felt Heero tense and wished that the ground below him would just open up and swallow him whole. Now Heero knew that he was lusting after him, that he wanted, no, needed him.
He's going to fire me, and I'm never going to see him again, Duo's panic stricken mind thought, and he grabbed Heero's shirt.
"Please- please don't- I didn't mean- Oh God, I'm so sorry..." the words tumbled from Duo's lips and the long haired boy knew that they didn't make sense, but he was too desperate to care.
I need this job, I need the money, and I need to see Heero again...
Heero had flinched when Duo had suddenly grabbed his t-shirt, but when the other boy started pleading brokenly with him, he realised that there was no way he could run this time.
"Duo." he said softly.
Duo was shaking now, and Heero laid his hands on the boy's shoulders, trying to calm him down.
"Duo." he called out again.
"Please Heero, please don't send me away, please don't make me stay away from you-"
"Duo!" Heero said sharply, and the American boy fell silent. "I'm not going to send you away." he carried on in a softer voice. "I don't want you to go away."
"... You don't?" Duo asked, quiet amazement in his voice.
"No." Heero steeled his nerves, and forced himself to carry on. "Before..." his throat went dry, and he swallowed loudly, trying to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. "Earlier, when we were in my room- and you asked me if I had felt something, I said yes, remember?"
"I know, but then you ran off." there was a trace of hurt in Duo's voice.
Heero winced. "I'm sorry about that."
"It's alright." there was a smile in Duo's voice. "So... you did feel something?"
Heero nodded. "I definitely felt something Duo. It was more than simple lust."
It registered in the back of Heero's mind that he had never been this open to anyone before. What would happen if Duo rejected him? If all that he had felt was pure lust, and no love?
He heard Duo's sharp intake of breath, and then, to his surprise, the younger male leaned against him and captured his lips in a fiery kiss.
Heero moaned quietly, and brought his hand up to cradle Duo's cheek, his other hand grasping the slender boy's hip, pulling him as close as it was humanly possible to be.
He felt Duo's tongue against his lips, begging entrance. He willingly parted his lips, allowing Duo to explore freely.
Heero had had his fair share of kisses before, but this was like nothing he had ever experienced- sure, there had been chemistry in all those other kisses, a spark, but nothing like this.
God I feel like I could just catch on fire right here and now, Heero thought, moaning quietly as Duo bit down on his lower lip, hard enough to arouse him even further but not hard enough to draw blood.
"You goddamn tease." Heero panted, as Duo pulled away.
From what he could make out of Duo's features in the meager amount of light, the boy was smirking and looking incredibly pleased with himself.
"Only for you." Duo purred.
Heero rolled his eyes, and grabbed Duo, pulling him in for another kiss.
This time when they parted, they were both flushed and panting heavily.
"I think we should take this somewhere else." Heero said. "I'm not sure that the closet can take much more of us." he smirked down at Duo.
Duo tensed. "Heero..."
Heero grimaced, dreading what he guessed would be coming up next. He's realised that he doesn't actually want to be with me- this has all just been a screwed up case of hormones and desperation, and nothing else...
Duo must have seen the defeated look on Heero's face because he jabbed Heero square in the chest. "Stop immediately presuming the worst." he said sternly. "I like you a lot, Heero Yuy, and I shit you not."
Heero couldn't help but smile.
"I just wanted to say that... I mean, don't take it offensively or anything, because it's not 'cause of you, I swear! It's just that I don't want- I don't want-" he broke off, and even though there was hardly any light, Heero could see that he was bright red.
"You don't want sex?" he asked gently.
Duo nodded, obviously embarrassed. "I mean, not just yet! It just feels... too fast..."
"I understand." Heero pressed a chaste kiss against Duo's bruised lips. "I feel the same way."
"Really?" Duo grinned happily. "But then what did you mean by what you said before?"
"I just don't want to stay in this closet anymore." Heero replied. "I want to be able to see you clearly, and be able to hold you properly."
Duo blushed and gave Heero an awkward hug. "You're right, this closet is freaking tiny." he grinned roguishly. "Let's get out of here, then."
Heero smirked. "I suppose the oh-so-wonderful cliché 'coming out of the closet' would be appropriate at this time?"
Duo groaned and swatted him playfully. "Give me another bad cliché and I'll hit you for real." he warned.
Heero rolled his eyes and pressed his ear against the wardrobe door. In all his excitement he had forgotten that Relena was somewhere close.
What if she heard us? fear settled like a lump of lead in the pit of his stomach. She can't have- we would have heard her reaction, surely...
Heero pushed the closet door open cautiously and his eyes widened in shock and horror when he saw Dorothy standing in front of him, smirking smugly.
"Well..." her smirk widened. "Heero... What a pleasant surprise..."
"Dorothy." Heero's voice was tight. He stepped out of the closet, putting himself between Dorothy and Duo.
"Oh, and Duo too?" the mock surprise in Dorothy's voice made Heero grit his teeth.
"Don't play with me. How long have you been here?" he snapped.
"Long enough, Heero." she took a step forward, and Heero didn't like the look in her pale eyes. "It's a pity that Relena was here to see or hear."
"Don't you dare tell her!" Heero made to grab Dorothy's wrist but then thought better of it. He settled on clenching his fists instead, not noticing when his fingernails broke the surface of his skin.
"I'm her friend, so I should be obliged to tell her."
"No!" Heero burst out. He felt Duo's hand reach out and take his, and he
squeezed the long haired boy's hand reassuringly. "I won't let you tell her."
"Who said I was going to tell her?" Dorothy asked slyly. "All I said was that I should tell her."
"Don't you play your games with me, Catalonia. What do you want?"
"I'll let you and your catamite's secret stay safe, but only if you do me a favour."
"A favour?" Heero echoed warily. "What kind of favour?"
She winked. "You'll see." Dorothy started to walk off. She reached the doorway and paused. "I'll see you around Heero. And you too, Duo." she inclined her head politely in their direction and left the room.
Duo shuddered and pulled Heero into a tight hug. "God she creeps the hell out of me." he mumbled.
Heero managed a weak smile. "Me too."
"What are we going to do?" Duo asked, relaxing slightly as Heero stroked his hair absentmindedly.
"I don't know." Heero frowned, and pulled Duo closer against him. "I just don't know..."
But whatever happens, I'm not going to lose you Duo, he vowed silently.
#$&&(
So what do you want Dorothy to want? Lol I was thinking that she might want Relena for herself, but you guys can decide lol :P I wasn't actually planning her to be evil or anything, just sneaky :D so yeh… nothing too drastic xXu
Ok, no flames, just CC please:D thankies