DISCLAIMER : All characters belong to their respective owners. This is only a

product of my sick and twisted imagination *^_~

However, this ficcie belongs to ME!

two boys being lovers, just take the barf bag and leave.

AMONG OTHER THINGS : Angst. The song ‘ Say What You Want’ is by Texas

and I think it’s from some Jennifer Aniston movie.

It was raining cats and dogs. Running towards a nearby bus stop, Duo squeezed into the crowd. Turning his head, he caught sight of someone familiar. He squinted his eyes and blinked in shock.

4 years. Four whole years. It had been so long since he’d last seen him. Dark tousled hair, strong broad shoulders, a lean, lithe body that never failed to turn heads. Yup, still the same guy.

He must have felt the other’s scrutiny, for he turned round. A flicker of recognition passed through those blue eyes as he shifted his body to face Duo directly.

A weak smile managed to crawl on his lips as Heero tried to make his way to him.

That was when Duo saw a slim young woman literally attached to him. Her slender arms were wrapped around him protectively as she pressed her pretty face against his chest.

Feeling the warm, familiar moisture starting to sting his eyes, he turned away and broke into a run alone through the heavy downpour.

[Twenty seconds on the back time

I feel you on the run

Never lived too long to make right

I see you’re doing fine]

* * * * * * * * * *

‘ When’s the baby due? Ya guys must’ve worked real h~a~r~d ne?’ Duo grinned mischievously. He shifted his head a little, allowing the phone to rest more comfortably between his neck and his shoulder as he chopped the carrot vigorously, his effort resulting to an unsightly orange mess.

Quatre blushed furiously at the statement, ‘ Mou, Duo! Don’t tease me!’

Boisterous laughter rang loud and clear, ‘ Still so shy, huh? Wonder how he gotcha in bed, hmm…?’

Crimson tinted his cheeks, ‘ Anou… Trowa didn’t- ’

‘ – you got him to sleep witcha? Mwahahahah……’

At that moment, Quatre wished he wasn’t such a mild mannered person. Maybe some desert djinn could grant him a wish to have an alter ego,’ …’

‘ No hard feelin’s , ne? Just kiddin’.’

Quatre sighed, ‘ What about you? ‘

Duo fell silent. He knew perfectly well what his friend meant, ‘ What about me ? ‘

[And when I get that feeling

I can no longer slide

I can no longer run

And when I get that feeling

I can no longer hide

For it’s no longer fun]

‘ Duo…’

‘ If it’s bout Heero again, I don’t wanna hear bout it.’ The voice had a end-of-discussion tone to it.

‘ But, you can’t go on avoiding him forever…’

‘ … maybe I will … ‘

* * * * * * * * * *

‘ Duo? Why do you keep saying you love me? ‘

‘ Cuz I do. Pass me the beer.’

‘ Don’t you understand? Love is a liability of war.’

‘ Look Heero. Am I your friend?’

Heero frowned, ‘ …yes.’

‘ Friendship’s a liability too. Fact is, any emotions are. So ya tellin’ me I oughta live through life without no buds. Fat chance.’

Heero frowned and watched Duo as he twisted the lid off the can and threw his head back. As he lifted the can to his lips, some of the golden fluid made little rivulets, dripping down his neck.

[Well you can say what you want

But it won’t change my mind

I’ll feel the same about you

And you can tell me your reasons

But it won’t change my feelings

I’ll feel the same about you]

* * * * * * * * * *

‘ Stop grouchin. Y’know, ya gonna get wrinkles before ya become 20. C’mon, ya sure ya don’t wanna go? ’ A friendly punch landed on Heero’s shoulder.

Ignoring the invitation, he continued typing the mission report, ‘ I don’t like wasting my time doing things of no benefit.’

Duo sighed and ran a hand through his jagged bangs. Leaning over Heero’s shoulder, he whispered softly, ‘ Can’t you accept for once, you’re human too? ‘

Heero felt a delicious shiver tremble through his spine as the hot breath tickled his ear.

It was just so hard to ignore Duo. ‘ Humans make mistakes.’

‘So do you,’ Duo purred, sending another jolt of pleasure through Heero’s body, ‘ Face it, you’re human too. And I know there’s this small piece of you that still screams for affection. A human touch. Like this. ’ Slender fingers entangled themselves into his hair as the other hand slipped into his shirt, running over the ripple of his muscles slowly.

Heero gasped. He never thought such a simple action could be so erotic. But it’s a liability… Reluctantly, he pushed the boy away and glared at him , ‘ I don’t need anyone. Least of all YOU.’

He could tell he had hurt Duo’s feelings quite badly. A shocked look of rejection and pain crossed his fine features before he turned away, leaving Heero with a heavy burden of regret and guilt in his already stained heart.

[What I am is what you want of me

Now that I’m not there

Took the tables away from you

It’s turned that I don’t care]

The next morning, he’d half expected Duo to be withdrawn and quiet throughout breakfast or something like that. Instead, he’d bounded in cheerfully and finished every drop of milk in his cereal bowl. Heero stole a few glances at him, but all attempts failed most miserably. Duo wouldn’t even look at him!

After breakfast, Heero confronted the latter in his room. Duo was carefully smoothing out all the tangles from his hair while seated on his bed. Hesitantly, he touched the other’s shoulder, ‘ Ne Duo… bout yesterday…’

The boy flinched at his touch and grinned back, ‘ Yesterday?’

The smile was too wide to be genuine and the eyes looked swollen and slightly red. He’s been crying? There was a familiar twist in his heart as he gazed at his broken angel.

[And when I get that feeling

I can no longer slide

I can no longer run

And when I get that feeling

I can no longer hide

For it’s no longer fun]

‘ Duo… you know what I mean.’

The jaw muscle twitched. The grip on the hairbrush tightened, until the knuckles were white. Finally, Duo turned around and smiled cynically, ‘ It doesn’t matter ne? You don’t need anyone. Least of all me ne? ‘

Heero fell silent. The silence that followed was probably the worst three minutes of his life.

Duo spoke up, with that horrible twisted expression on his face all the while, ‘ If you came to apologize, don’t bother. I. Don’t. Care. Anymore.’

* * * * * * * * * *

[Well you can say what you want

But it won’t change my mind

I’ll feel the same about you

And you can tell me your reasons

But it won’t change my feelings

I’ll feel the same about you]

Ever since that encounter, they never hung out together again. No more quiet heart-to-heart chats. No more spandex jokes. No more sharing room with Duo.

Heero’s heart sank lower each day seeing their friendship deteriorate day by day. The distance between them grew further and further, to the point where only necessary words were exchanged.

It was hard to admit, but he missed Duo. A lot.

* * * * * * * * * *

The war was over. The mass of destruction left in its trail was great, but it didn’t matter, because the war was finally over!! The five Gundam pilots were temporarily residing at the Winner Estate, but soon it was time to go their own ways…

Duo hugged each of them tightly as he prepared to leave. He would miss them. They had been close comrades for a full three years and had stuck together through thick and thin.

Upon reaching Heero, he hesitated, unsure of how to react. Finally, he awkwardly embraced his friend and pressed a cheek to the other’s face. I just wanna be with you forever but there are too many lies… too much poison… too many knots to free… I’m so sorry I kept hurting you… but you know… you hurt me more than anyone has ever before… but I still… I still love you…

A tear rolled down his cheek.

Heero felt as if he was being torn apart. In a broken voice, he whispered, ‘ Don’t go…onegai…’

‘ S’too late…’ Duo released him, smiling sadly. Gently, he pressed his lips to Heero’s and kissed him lightly, ‘ G’bye.’

[I’ve said goodnight

Try to sleep tight

Just dream of me

Go close your eyes

Cuz I’ve closed mine

The sun will shine

From time to time

When you dream of me]

Heero watched the figure fade in the dust. Duo was gone. It was like having a piece of himself ripped away. Unconsciously, he lifted a finger to his lips. The taste of Duo lingered on and he knew it would be etched in his mind for the rest of his life.

* * * * * * * * * *

‘ Oh Duo! You came! ‘

‘ Hey dude, toldja I’d make it. Trowa thatcha? I swear, that bang of yours ‘ just getting’ bigger and bigger every time I see it.’

‘…’

‘ Duo!’

‘ You look like you’re gonna burst! It’s due next month ne? ‘

‘ Still so immature eh, Maxwell? ‘

Duo turned towards the white clad figure, ‘ Wu-CHAN!!!’ and promptly glomped on him, ‘ Long time no see…!!’

Wufei cringed. About everyone in the hall had heard that. Just then, he saw Heero walking in. Jerking a thumb towards the latter, he addressed Duo, ‘ Heero’s here.’

Duo’s face paled. Releasing his grip on Wufei, he turned to Heero (who by the way, looked drop dead gorgeous in a stunning black tuxedo) and smiled weakly, ‘ Hey.’

Heero did not get a chance to reply, for an attractive woman in a slinky red dress came over and smiled seductively, ‘ Wanna dance…?’

He refused her offer politely and before Duo got a chance to tease him, he yanked the latter over to the balcony, ignoring all the indignant protests.

* * * * * * * * * *

‘ Why?’

‘ Why what?! I oughta be askin’ ya that, ya lousy no-goo- ’

‘ Why did you run off like that? At the bus stop? ‘

Duo smiled bitterly, ‘ Y’know why.’

‘ Duo, if it was about that girl, I can expl- ’

Duo felt like exploding. At the tears and anger that he’d kept inside were already beginning to spill out. Turning to Heero, he burst out, ‘ Heero! Didja really think it was bout her ?!’

Heero stared at him confusedly, uncomprehending.

The tears were threatening to overflow. Duo bit his lip, ‘ Heero, there are some things… when ya done sayin’ ‘em, ya can’t take back. Get what I mean?’

Heero felt a lump in his throat, ‘ Duo… I didn’t mean it.’

Lighting a cigarette he’d just retrieved from a pocket, Duo took a puff and smiled wistfully, ‘ It’s too late.’

‘ Can’t things be the way they were before again? Is there really no chance? For us?’

‘ I don’t think so.’

Heero pulled the warm body close and held him tight. For a long time, neither one spoke. Gently, he kissed the other’s forehead, inhaling the intoxicating scent of the one he’d loved the most and the one hurt the most. Without saying another word, he turned and left.

Duo flicked the cigarette to the ground and crushed it with his heel.

[Well you can say what you want

But it won’t change my mind

I’ll feel the same about you

And you can tell me your reasons

But it won’t change my feelings

I’ll feel the same about you]

Copyright © Aquarii a.k.a Janice 1999