Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing
A/N: I know I am writing Storm Clouds but I couldn't wait to get this one out. It struck me today while I was studying and it wouldn't leave me until I got the first chapter down. Then I liked the chapter so much I wanted to post it!
Let's see if you like this one...
Chapter 1: Bad Day
Posted on 8th June 2007
It was a normal day… well a normal morning anyway. Duo distractedly turned off the alarm as he dragged himself to the shower and then absent mindedly dressed in a simple white shirt and grey slacks.
He was not thrilled about going to work. He rarely was. But it paid his rent, kept his fridge full and his small apartment lighted.
But that didn't mean that he had to like his job.
Grumbling slightly under his breath he slammed his door closed and locked it.
The subway was a little over five minute's walk from his one bedroom apartment. He didn't have enough money nor the ambition to invest in a car. He was utterly and thoroughly bored with his life.
Upon reaching the station he put a hand into his pocket fishing for his pass when he realized – oh shit – that it was resting in his jacket that he had not worn today.
Paying the train fare – two dollars fifty – using pennies he'd picked up off the ground and spare change he 'borrowed' from passing people he managed to get to his office.
He really should start keeping a wallet. Although he had stopped after he had lost the blasted thing for the fifth time. All his cards and money gone.
But this was getting ridiculous. A software programmer begging for change? This will not do!
He dragged himself to his seat, waiting for his friend and colleague to show up so he could 'borrow' some lunch money as well as train fare for the ride back.
This time it could result in an exchange of blows. Last time Wufei had refused and Duo had 'borrowed' the money from his wallet while he was not looking.
Regardless, Wufei had found out and tried to behead him with a disk.
A disk!
"You're having a bad day." Wufei noted absently as he set his computer at his cubicle.
"Wufei! The light of my life!" Duo exclaimed and decided that maybe he should boot his computer as well. After all staring at the dark screen won't get his work done. He stood up to look over the thin cardboard walls that separated the cubicles to keep at eye on the activities of his neighbor.
"What do you want this time?" He asked.
"I need some money. I forgot my train pass at home and I had to use my lunch money to pay for the train. Could I have just ten bucks? That'll get me through the whole day! Please?" He tried to imitate a hopeful puppy look which went to waste when Wufei didn't even look at him.
"So I'm assuming you brought only two fifty for your lunch money? I'm not an idiot Duo." His fingers flew over his keyboard.
"Don't be such a bastard, I'm just asking for a ten." Duo huffed. As Wufei opened his mouth to retort he was interrupted by a lazy drawl.
"So Maxwell… didn't know you were that desperate." James was a blonde haired blue eyed guy who's good looks had entire female population and half the male population fawning over him. That one reason alone also allowed him to be a total ass to everybody and get away with it.
Well everybody but Duo. Duo wouldn't take any crap lying down.
"What crawled up your ass and died?" He spat.
"Nothing that belongs to you I'm sure." He shot back quickly and then handed him a piece of paper. "I'll say it again, I knew you could get desperate but this is a new low… even for you Maxwell."
Duo reluctantly took the paper from him and saw his picture on it and under it was written, 'I Duo Maxwell have realized that I am gay and have decided to lose my virginity. If you wish to deflower me contact me at 674-287-8475."
As James laughed Duo's face burned. "Who did this?" He hissed.
James shrugged.
Wufei got up and took a look at the paper. He sputtered. "That's a picture of you Duo."
"I know that!" Turning back to James he asked again, "Who the fuck did this Derouche?"
"Language Maxwell." He clicked his tongue, "It wouldn't be nice if word got around about you using profanity in work space."
Duo curled his hands into fists and tried to restrain himself from punching the guy into the next dimension.
"Oh well, it's been great chatting with you Maxwell. No really. But I have to go now, work to do, people to see… you know. See you around… or not." He said fleetingly as he disappeared around the corner.
"This isn't your number." Wufei noted about the number listed on the poster.
Trying to calm down Duo took deep breaths and then addressed Wufei, "Yeah, so either this was done by someone who doesn't know me well enough to have access to my number or meant this only for embarrassment and not actual harassment."
"This would be considered harassment." Wufei pointed out.
"I'll go talk to someone. Right now I have work to do, people to see… you know." He mocked.
"It's not true is it?" Wufei asked with a slight blush.
"Hell no! I'm not looking to be 'deflowered' or whatever."
"Uh… so you are a virgin?" Duo looked away in answer. "Oh… how about the part where you're gay?"
Duo sputtered. "Hell no!"
Wufei visibly relaxed.
"Why'd you ask?" Duo was curious, why had he relaxed at the denial?
"Boss is a homophobe. He'd fire you faster than you can say queer rights if you were gay and it got out. Even now, if this reaches him…"
Duo nodded slightly. His day was getting worse and worse as it went on.
oO0Oo
Duo grumbled as he stalked out of the office building with ten bucks clutched in his hand. Wufei had taken pity on him and loaned him the cash which Duo had no intention of returning.
Turns out the poster had reached the boss and he had called Duo for a 'talk'. Duo had to explain that it was a joke, and a very bad one at that, and that he was not gay.
Luckily the boss believed him and had let him off with a mild warning. He did say that if he caught whoever did this then he'll have them fired for attacking a man's reputation.
That made Duo feel slightly better about his day from hell.
He tilted his face up to the slight breeze and sighed. The day was over. Tomorrow was a new one. Hopefully this time life won't try to fuck him over.
As he started walking towards the subway station his eyes landed on a park nearby.
He shrugged to himself, Why not? It's not like I have someone waiting at home for me.
He detracted from his path and ended up strolling through the park as the setting sun cast everything in an orange glow.
Feeling his stress from the day melt away he walked leisurely, closing his eyes slightly to further enjoy the scents of the flowers and the coolness of the breeze on his tired face.
Suddenly he walked straight into a warm body. There was a muffled 'Oomph' and then they both ended up sprawled on the ground.
Duo rubbed his aching butt as he shot a venomous glare at the young man, probably around his age, brushing himself off.
He wore a long-sleeved black shirt and faded jeans. Just from looking at his profile Duo could see how amazingly gorgeous the man was with his sharp features and his messy brown hair. He couldn't see his eyes though as they were hidden by a pair of dark sunglasses.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to…" His voice was quiet but for Duo, this was it. He'd had a day from hell and even through his peaceful stroll through the fucking park someone had to fucking walk into him.
"Damn right you're sorry! Can't you see where you're going?" Duo snapped and saw the boy's mouth snap shut and his lips thinned as he listened. "I can't even take a fucking walk in the fucking park without someone fucking walking into me!" Here he could rant, he could rave, and he would not get fired for it. So he let it pour out of him.
"I've had the worst fucking day and I ask for just a little, only a little fucking reprieve! Just fifteen minutes of no mess ups, no fucking jokes, no fucking bosses! Just fifteen!" He saw the boy look away to the side and he could see him grinding his teeth but he didn't say anything.
Suddenly Duo heard barking in the distance and he saw a rather large golden retriever some dashing towards him barking madly.
Oh fuck. Duo thought as he prepared himself for the attack.
"No! Aiko! Sit!" The boy in front of him ordered and the barking reduced to a growl as the dog came faithfully to the boy's side and sat down at his feet.
"Your dog?" Duo asked meekly and the boy said nothing, his lips still thinned and his expression angry.
"Are you done? Or do you need to say more?" The boy said coldly, his hand landing distractedly on the dog's head as he rubbed behind her ears.
"Uh… yeah… I mean no… no." Duo stumbled. It just caught up to him that he had yelled at a complete stranger who had done nothing to him except walk into him and had apologized even!
I should say sorry. Just as he opened his mouth to apologize he saw the boy get down to his hands and knees and he started feeling around the ground.
What is he doing?
He searched and searched, his hands feeling on the rough gravel path. He then started crawling forward searching even further.
"What…?" Duo started to ask when he saw the boy's fingers curl around something lying in the grass and was mortified to find that it was a cane.
He's blind!? Duo felt as though he'd been plunged into ice cold water when he realized he had yelled at a blind man about walking into him.
"Uh…" Duo's mouth couldn't even form words as his mind went into a state of complete and utter blankness.
The kid got up and expertly held the cane in front of him such that it just lightly tapped the ground. With his other hand he gripped the dog's collar.
"Let's go Aiko." His voice was cold and held a hint of anger still but the dog's tongue rolled out of her mouth as she started trotting forward leading the boy away.
Duo sank down to his knees. He felt like a complete and utter bastard now. And his day had just gone from bad to mortifying.
oO0Oo
"I fucking yelled at him Fei!" Duo ranted on the phone. "The kid was blind and I screamed at him for walking into me! I'm the worst scum there is! And then I didn't even say sorry!"
"Uh huh… yes Duo I know the whole story by now. Could you try to get some sleep?" Wufei was tired, Duo could hear it in his voice but Duo was agitated and he needed to let it out.
"No! You don't understand! I didn't say sorry!"
"Yes, yes I know Duo. Go to sleep."
"No! No! You don't get it! He was blind for god's sake!"
"I know he was blind Duo. But you need to sleep."
"I don't wanna fucking sleep." Duo snapped.
"Goodnight." And he hung up.
Duo felt like bursting into tears. He stared at the phone for a minute or so and then slammed it back down. He dragged himself to bed where he grabbed a pillow and hugged it, imagining for a hundredth time that the pillow was actually a warm body and that it was comforting him.
He was not lonely… just that sometimes he wished he didn't feel so unwanted, that sometimes he would have a reason to come home other than to get away from work.
I wonder if that blind kid has someone taking care of him. Does he have someone who loves him and waits for him to come back home everyday? Does someone hug him and kiss him when he gets home and tell him he's loved and needed?
Duo's eyes closed softly as he pondered these thoughts.
Or does he lie in his bed in a state of constant darkness and hug his pillow like me? Does he hug his dog and pretend she needs him?
If he lives alone… and he's blind… how does he do it? Cooking… cleaning… hell putting clothes on needs sight!
No… he's got to have someone.
Wonder what color his eyes are…With that he slipped into a deep sleep.
oO0Oo
Duo sighed as he relaxed on the bench in the park. This bench faced the path where he had met him. And he had been coming here for a week now after work and waited for up to two hours hoping to catch sight of the kid again.
He needed to apologize. And he'd wait for as long as it took. Eventually the kid has to return right?
However, after an entire week of waiting his determination was starting to wane.
He ran his fingers through his bangs going over the events at his office recently. The drama over the posters was starting to decline and Duo was immensely grateful for that.
He hadn't crossed paths with James for an entire two days and he was even more grateful for that.
He threw his head back looking up at the sky. The sun had set long ago and he had been here for more than three hours. He just didn't want to go home today.
Holding his hand up he traced lines from one star to another. His eyes then sought out the moon and he stared at the deep dark marks over the surface. If he squinted he could make out a face on the moon.
Just lying there, his face turned up, his hands resting listlessly on the bench on either side of him he entered a state of tranquility. His eyes never left the face on the moon… and he wondered if he'll ever meet that boy again.
"Aiko!" He heard a soft voice call out in the distance. If it weren't for the silence in the park that day he would never have heard it.
Aiko… isn't that the name of the dog that the boy had?
As the realization dawned on him he snapped up to look into the distance. Looking really hard he could see a rather large dog jumping around a lone figure on the other side of the park.
The boy!
Duo launched himself off the bench so fast he almost lost his balance but recovering it quickly he dashed to the other side of the park.
He ran faster and faster as the figure became clearer and it became obvious that the dog currently frolicking around was the same one he'd seen the other day.
He skidded to a halt right in front of the boy almost dashing straight into him.
"I'm sorry!" He blurted out.
The boy's face was turned away from Duo, his ears following the sound of his dog dashing back and forth.
At Duo's sudden apology he frowned. "Pardon?"
"I'm sorry!" Duo said again panting from his brief dash.
The boy held out his hand and felt the air in front of him pressing forward until his hand contacted with Duo's chest.
Warm. Duo thought distractedly as he hoped with all his heart that the boy would forgive him.
His hand crawled upward systematically feeling the pocket, the buttons, the collar, briefly touching Duo's neck and then landing on his cheek.
"Do I know you?" He asked his fingers tracing the contours of Duo's face, feeling his nose, passing over his eyes and tracing his lips.
Soft. Duo noted about his fingers and held in a pleasant shiver at the feeling of the fingers on his lips.
"I'm the bastard who ran into you and then yelled at you for ages." Duo confessed and the fingers stilled for a second before resuming their movement. He ran his fingers through his bangs and then followed the strands of his hair into the braid.
"You have a braid." He noted and Duo nodded, the boy feeling the nod through his hand.
"I'm sorry." Duo said again feeling desperate to hear that he was forgiven.
For some reason this time his words made him smile, just a small curve of the lips upward but Duo's heart fluttered at the small movement.
"I can hear your honesty… you're forgiven." He said before he retrieved his hand and stepped back as though dismissing him.
"My name is Duo… Duo Maxwell… what's yours?" Duo asked pressing for more conversation.
"Heero." He answered easily his face turned towards the dog as she barked at a moth.
"Heero…" Duo tested the name on his tongue and found that it rolled off his tongue as though he'd been saying it for ages. "I like your name… it's different."
Heero smiled at that but didn't say anything.
"So… do you live around here?" Duo asked as he stood next to him watching Aiko play.
"Maybe."
"Come on Heero, I'm trying to have a conversation going." Duo laughed and Heero smiled again.
"How'd your day at work go today?" He asked.
"Well it was better than that day… then again any day is better than that day."
"Um… good to hear."
The conversation was awkward and boring. Duo felt panicky at the worry that Heero wanted him gone as quickly as possible.
"Hey, I'm hungry. Want to grab something to eat?" He asked and Heero froze.
"I'm not a charity case you know. I don't need your help." His jaw was tense again.
"No! No! That's not what I meant! I was just hungry and I wondered if you'd like to join me for dinner that's all!" Duo floundered to explain himself.
"In that case, okay." Duo relaxed as he saw Heero call Aiko and she came trotting to his feet. As Duo watched Heero place a hand in Aiko's fur he reached forward and grabbed his hand, holding it tight in his.
"May I?" He didn't give himself time to wonder what had come over him to grab another man's hand so intimately but rather worried if he would be rejected.
Heero nodded a little awkwardly and Duo's heart soared.
Heero let Duo lead him by the hand to a nearby restaurant with Aiko following them animatedly.
All the while they walked, Duo felt strangely happy at the amount of trust Heero was showing letting him lead around like that. For all Heero knew, Duo could lead him into a dark alley and rob him.
Duo's hand tightened around Heero's when he thought that. They were still strangers to each other… why had Heero shown such an implicit trust in him?
oO0Oo
Duo rolled around on his bed hugging his pillow fiercely. He had the goofiest smile on his face as he yawned, his fingers clutching at his pillow.
He felt light. For the entire last week he had been walking around feeling like a piece of shit and now he felt guilt-free. He had talked to Heero, apologized to him, treated him to dinner, made him laugh with his lame jokes and had managed to get his home phone number.
Life was great!
That night Duo drifted off to sleep and dreamt all night over what color eyes Heero may have.
A/N: So... what did you think? Do you like it :D Review!
I apologize for all the grammatical errors (I write as I speak it and I'm not the most eloquent of speakers).
Persephone