By: Amanda Marque
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The Riverfront
Heero looked back to the boy beside him, " Duo…" he said grabbing the braided boy's hand. " Do you love Wufei?"
Duo nodded, allowing Heero to touch him. " More than anything…"
Nodding Heero held Duo's gaze. " If it were anyone but Wufei, I'd get down on my knees right now and beg you to take me back."
Duo smiled slightly, " And if it were anyone but Wufei…I probably would."
Heero released his hand, " Then that's a good thing…I can't afford to hurt anyone else…first you and then Relena…I can't do that to him too…"
Duo blinked. " Righ-Wait a minute who's him?"
Heero looked up at Duo again…" What I needed to tell you about…his name is Dlan(1)…I've been seeing him for two years now."
Duo shook his head, " Heero…"
" I know Duo. I know…but I was so miserable…and he-" Heero paused looking over the grass again, he pointed to a tree in the distance…" There. That's where I first saw him."
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The Riverfront- 2 year ago
Heero scowled as he walked down the sidewalk, it was amazing to him, no one recognized him…it was probably the old jeans and the faded green shirt he was wearing.
Sighing Heero shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked down the street, looking at the people that milled pass him. Enjoying being in the center of a crowd without being the center of attention, he really hated being the King of the world and if it weren't for Danny and Vernie…sighing again he pressed his way through the people trying to get off the sidewalk…easier said than done. While he was trying to get away, the crowd seemed to be trying to force him back in.
The story of his life. With another hard shove, Heero forced his way through the crowd and easily hopped over the railing to the grass below.
Smirking he walked to the small cliff overlooking the water, he enjoyed moments like this…he could forget about everything, all his responsiblies …all his obligations, they meant nothing…until he had to return to them.
" Um…excuse me." A timid male voice called from behind him.
Heero whirled focusing the full force of his glare on the intruder…the glare died a bit when he saw who he was glaring at.
" Hello." The boy said giving him a cheeky grin.
"Who are you?" he snapped.
The boy blinked, then smiled. " I'm Dlan…" he said extending his hand.
Heero gave the boy a hard glare, looking him over. He was cute…a long light blond braid snaked down his back, as he stood before him shifting from one foot to the other nervously, his big blue-violet eyes held an innocent kind of mischievous gleam, even when he was obviously nervous about something…
He raised his hand the pointing to the gnarled old tree. " That's my pet tree…"
Heero looked confused, Dlan reminded him of someone…but he wasn't sure who…the braid and the grin gave the impression of Duo…" You have a pet tree?"
Dlan nodded. " Yep! I was just wondering what you were doing over here…nobody comes down off the boardwalk…Not that I mind the company it gets kinda lonely…"
Heero snorted and looked back to the water, he heard Dylan approach him but didn't bother to turn around.
" So what's your name? Dlan asked.
Despite himself, Heero found himself answering. " Heero."
" Nice name! Like the King eh?" Dlan chuckled.
Heero snorted.
" So Heero what troubles bring you to the island?"
" This isn't an island."
Dlan frowned. " Of course it's an island!"
Heero looked at him like he'd lost his mind, then decided not to argue. " Whatever."
Dlan nudged him, " So are you going to tell me what brought you here?"
Heero shrugged. " The street was too crowded."
Dlan watched him a moment longer, " Hm…that's all huh?"
Heero nodded.
" Maybe it's just me, but you seem to have a lot more on your mind than too many people."
Heero turned to glare at him again…and his breath caught in his throat…now that Dlan was closer he could see him…his hair was darker blond than he had originally thought…almost the exact shade as…" Hn."
Dlan smiled and headed over to his pet tree plopping down on the grass, he tucked his hands behind his head and leaned back. " I won't bug ya, but if you want to talk…"
Heero almost smiled, with a will of it's own…his body moved to sit beside the intriguing boy.
Dlan smiled…that was the beginning of his downfall.
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The Riverfront-present
Duo frowned, " Heero…I think you're telling the wrong person about this…" he said.
Heero nodded. " You're right…"
" Are you going to-"
" Yes. I should have done it a long time ago…it would have been easier that way."
Duo shook his head. " No it wouldn't...It would have been just as hard…if not harder, she's had time to start to hate you now…Although I'm ashamed to admit it. I don't feel all that bad for her." Duo said rising to his feet, he stretched.
Heero followed suit. " Duo…thank you…"
Duo turned to him and smiled. " I should thank you…" he nodded.
Heero reached forward and grabbed his arm, pulling Duo against his chest he kissed him, not a passionate kiss…just an innocent kiss on the lips. " I hope he makes you happy, you deserve it." He said giving Duo a squeeze.
Duo smiled, and backed away, " I know…"
"Goodbye Duo…"
"Goodbye Heero…"
Lowering his eyes Heero shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking away from Duo…for the second time in their lives…
" Oi Heero!"
Heero stopped looking over his shoulder.
" You ARE coming to our wedding aren't you?" Duo asked.
Heero smirked, " If you want me there…" he answered.
Duo nodded, " Hai…you're welcome to come if you like…you can even bring a guest."
Heero smiled. " Thank you Duo." he didn't wait for a reply, as he started on his way….first he had to go runs some errands…tie up a few loose ends , and then make some new strands…but first the ends…
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Wufei/Maxwell apartment
Duo dragged himself into the apartment with a sigh…he was exhausted! That was a lot of talking even for him. Glancing up at the clock he winced, then looked down to the couch and smiled, his lover was sprawled on the couch, a book resting on his chest.
Suppressing a chuckle Duo tossed off his coat, and shoes, then made his way quietly to his lover's side.
Kneeling over Wufei he smiled, leaning down he removed his glasses, placing a light kiss on his nose. Wufei's eyes snapped open immediately.
"Duo?"
" Wufei." He chuckled. " Sorry to wake you but you know how cranky you get when you sleep on the couch for a whole night…"
Wufei frowned sat up, pulling Duo against his chest. Duo sighed and wrapped his arms around Wufei.
" Mmm I missed you too Wu." He said closing his eyes, burying his nose in Wufei's neck he inhaled his lover's scent…then his eyes snapped open. With a mischievous snicker he pushed Wufei back onto the couch, " Let me show you *how * much I've missed you…" he purred, stretching out on top of Wufei.
" Um Duo…"
"Hmm?" Duo asked distracted, as he started kissing his way down Wufei's chest…
" We should go to the room first…"
Picking up his shirt a little Duo dipped his tongue in Wufei's bellybutton before moving lower…" Hm? Why?" he asked continuing his ministrations.
Wufei's voice suddenly got strained. " Because we-don't do that!" he said groaning….
Duo blinked up at him innocently," Don't do what?" he asked wide-eyed, as he undid Wufei's pants. " This? Oops sorry…or maybe you meant this…" Duo said, passing his tongue over his lover's boxer clad sex…
" Duo!" Wufei hissed…doing his damnedest to keep his voice down.
Duo chuckled sliding up Wufei's body till they were eye to eye again. He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Wufei's lips."
Wufei grinned…" Duo…"
" Hm?"
" Take off that horrible wig."
Duo poked his tongue out at him, but did as he was bid, tossing the hat and wig across the room. A messy brown braid fell down over his shoulder. " Better?"
" Much." Wufei replied.
Duo rolled his eyes, " Happy that I please you…" he purred, wiggling his hips against Wufei's. " Now can we play?"
Wufei shook his head. " No we have a-"
Duo looked at him expectantly as he slid his hand down Wufei's boxers.
" Wufei I thought I-Oh. OH! I'm sorry!"
Duo looked up in surprise at the retreating figure of Relena…wearing his snoopy shirt.
Wufei blushed a bright crimson. " A guest."
Duo frowned at him. " I noticed. What is she doing here?" he frowned. Wufei rolled his eyes.
" She was looking for Heero…Speaking of which…how'd the talk go?"
Duo looked up to where Relena had disappeared. " It was very informative." He said resting his head on Wufei's chest…
Taking the hint Wufei wrapped his arms around Duo.
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Yuy-Peacecraft garden
Relena smiled as she sat on the grassy hill overlooking her flowers, the children were playing with a ball a little away from her, looking up at the sky she smiled at the clear blue sky. It'd been two weeks since, she'd had her talk with Wufei, Heero was still nowhere to be found…but that was alright…she had the feeling that when he did show up…it wouldn't be a good thing.
Wufei and Duo's wedding was next weekend…her and the kids were invited…that meant that Heero would probably be their too…she'd just see him th-
" Daddy!"
Snapping out of her thoughts Relena turned to see Heero striding across the lawn, Veronica ran to him immediately throwing her arms around his leg. Heero laughed and picked her up, settling her on his shoulders, he reached down and ruffled Daniel's hair.
Relena straightened her skirt, and stood up.
Heero played with the kids for a few minutes then setting Veronica down he pressed a kiss to the little girl's forehead and shooed her off to her brother.
Reluctantly Veronica took her brother's hand, and let him lead her to play somewhere else.
Relena met Heero's eyes as he walked closer, a cold distant light shone in them now that the kids were gone…she felt a cold hand grip her stomach.
" Heero…"
" Relena." He said simply reaching inside his coat he pulled out a manila envelope and extended it to her. " Mallard offered to do this…but I figured I owed you this much at least." He said in monotone.
Taking the envelope with shaking hands Relena could feel the tears again…she knew this was coming…but still now that it was there…in her hands…mocking her…mocking her happily ever after.
" It's over?"
" It's been over for a long time Relena…it was never meant to be…" he said evenly.
" Heero…there's no point in asking you to give it one more try is there." She said, more statement than question.
Heero nodded. " It's time to face reality Relena…both of us."
" You're right Heero…both of us." Relena saw a movement out of the corner of her eye, looking around Heero, her eyes locked with a pair of sad violet ones…a bitter smile lit her lips. She'd won him from Duo, to lose him to another form of Duo…you had to love the irony. She wondered if this was how Duo felt when…
Heero looked behind him, his eyes widened slightly as they landed on Dlan. He turned back to Relena slowly. " His name is Dlan…I've been seeing him for 2 years now."
Relena looked back at him…her eyes widening as she digested that bit of information.
" Heero…"
" I love him Relena…and I don't intend to make the same mistakes a third time." Heero said evenly.
Relena smiled, he'd said a third time…that meant…" Heero-"
" I have to go now…Dlan and I have a plane to catch." Leaning down he brushed a kiss over her cheek, and then turned and walked toward the boy that stood patiently waiting for him. Relena's chest hurt when she saw Heero take the boy's elbow and smile at him.
Briefly Dlan looked back at her, their eyes met a second time…she could see the sympathy he felt for her clearly written in them. That twisted her gut…she didn't deserve that from him…she never even gave Duo a second thought after…yet the boy she was losing him too looked at her with such pity in his eyes…such kindness but he lead Heero away from her steadily. Shattering her happily ever after like the fragile glass it was…clutching the envelope she felt her knees give out. Sitting on the grass she buried her face in her hands…
A little voice in her mind, spoke. ' What goes around comes around…'
Wiping her cheeks she, choked on a bitter chuckle. " And she lived in reality ever after…" Distantly she heard Daniel's radio playing.
" Hey! We've got another new one from Duo off his album Duo Maxwell on how life is, it's called ' Enough of me!' enjoy!"
We were all wounded in some domestic war I found you to settle my score You looked like father You felt like mother My mind told my heart There is no other And I gave you my soul And every ounce of control I gave you my skin And my original sin I gave you my pride and my side oh my pride Ain't that enough ? I turned your dreams into lightning Ain't that enough? I held the world back for you Ain't that enough? I loved you past the point of dying Ain't that enough of me for you? I was so sure one and one gave you one My noisy love is coming undone Now you leave like father Disappointed like mother And I know in my heart There is no other… And I gave you my soul And every ounce of control And I gave you my shame And my eternal flame And I gave you my need and my seed Oh my need Ain't that enough ? I turned your dreams into lightning Ain't that enough? I held the world back for you Ain't that enough? I loved you past the point of dying Ain't that enough of me for you? Why can't you hold on…?
Relena lowered her head and sobbed…yes Duo did know how it felt…and now she understood…more clearly than she understood anything else in the world…
The End…
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1) Pronounced Dee-lan
2) The song is Enough of me by Melissa Etheridge.
I'm FREEEE FREEEEEE FREEEEE AT LAST!
Bob: You still have to write the wedding.
Damn you! Ruin my moment. That's gonna be an epilogue.
I'm FREEEEEE!
Bob: * smirk * yep and you just began a new epic to take this ones place and let's not forget lives.
Damn damn damn damn damn!
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