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"Coffee Shop Encounters"Written By: Ashkara Disclaimer: I sadly enough do not own them. Sigh. Rating: PG 13 Warnings: definitely an AU, Pairings: 1+2, 3+4, 5+SP, 6+IW Summary: Quatre Winner, the young CEO of Winner
Enterprises, meets and befriends four college students at Roberto's
Cafe. They turn out to be exactly what he needs to turn his life around. "Coffee Shop Encounters" CSE-9: Chicory Blend Nobody dared to comment on how often Duo’s eyes flickered to the door. Roberto shook his head wistfully from his vantage point, behind the counter. Tonight was the night. Heero had finally told his parents about his engagement to Duo, and to say that they had reacted strongly… The Japanese student had gone to the airport to pick them up, and the others had taken it upon themselves to make sure Duo was distracted until Heero got back. “Duo?” The braided boy turned back to the table, obviously not having followed the conversation. “What?” Quatre smiled in understanding. “I asked if you’d chosen your classes for next semester yet?” Duo sighed, rubbing his jaw with his left hand. “Not really. Senior year… I can’t believe we’re going into our last year.” “No kidding,” Wufei remarked dryly. “One more year before reality sets in, we’ll have to find real jobs…” Quatre smiled again. “It’s not really that bad, Wufei.” Trowa chuckled, leaning back in his seat. “So sayeth the workaholic. I wish I could choose my classes. We’ve got a set program, and a summer program. At the Zoo.” “At least I don’t have to worry about a job,” Duo commented, his eyes once again drifting to the doorway. “Duo…” All conversation stopped though, as Heero walked in the door and Duo jumped from his seat, any pretense to normality forgotten. “Heero! You’re here!” The Japanese boy let his fiancé lead him to the table and sat down with a sigh. Everyone felt a sinking feeling as they observed him- he sat hunched over, eyes closed, forehead wrinkled as though in pain. Duo sat next to him, reaching a tentative hand to Heero’s and clasping it lightly. “Um… I take it, it didn’t go well.” Heero looked up but didn’t meet Duo’s eyes. “To say the least. Oh God!” Duo drew back in dismay. “Heero…” Heero clasped his hands together, hunched over the table. “They want to take me back to Japan.” “But it’s only for the summer…” “No, I mean for good.” Trowa’s eyes flew to Duo’s white face – the braided young man was staring at his fiancé in clear shock. “Duo, they can’t do it…” “Oh, but they can, Tro,” Heero interjected, finally looking up and into Duo’s eyes. “They won’t pay for another semester here, they told me so.” He squeezed Duo’s hand, alarmed at how cold it was. “They can and they will.” Blue-violet eyes sparked in anger. “They… Heero, we can fix it! I know we can! They’ll come around if …” Heero shook his head. “No, Duo. You don’t know them like I do.” Duo was on his feet. “You can’t just give up like that!” “You think this is easy?” Heero asked incredulously. “What am I going to do when they disown me for disobeying them, Duo? How am I going to finish up here? I have no choice!” “There’s always a choice…” Heero’s eyes were pained as he looked up at his boyfriend. “You are not Japanese and you have no family to disappoint – you can not understand.” “Really? Well colour me crazy for wanting to get a family of my own!” All conversation in the café stopped as everyone turned to stare at Duo, alarmed by his yell. Heero felt his heart turning to ice as Duo’s eyes bored into his. “What the hell are you trying to say to me? Talk!” “I…” Heero looked down at his hands. “Duo, where I come from, you just can’t… I have to go, I’m sorry.” “You’re sorry. You’re…” His face set and hard, Duo pushed back his chair and turned to leave. “Duo, wait!” Wufei was on his feet and reaching for the braided boy, but Duo brushed his hand away and calmly walked out the door. As the door slammed, Wufei cursed and rushed back to the table, grabbing for his jacket and bag and snagging Duo’s as he moved. He stopped moving just long enough to glare down at Heero, still hunched over the table. “You’re a goddamned bastard, Heero. I can’t believe you did that.” Heero didn’t move, even as Trowa and Quatre stood, as well and left. “Hey, boy.” He looked up, wincing at seeing Roberto’s accusing stare. “I sure hope you know what you doin’.” “Ruining my life, it seems.” Heero dropped his face forward into his hands and sobbed. ~*~ “Duo, wait!” Wufei ran after the braided man, catching him by the arm. Both were breathing hard as he pulled the long-haired man to a halt. “Jesus, I can’t breathe…” Duo’s arms were wrapped tightly around himself. “He’s… God, Fei… he’s… I can’t believe it, Wufei. I just can’t.” “Neither can I,” Wufei countered gently wrapping an arm around his friend’s shoulders. “I can’t… I refuse to believe he’s giving up that easily. He loves you too much.” “Does he?” Duo straightened his shoulders. “Right. Sure.” “Duo, you need to calm down…” “No, right now I need to be angry,” Duo countered. “It’s all I have left. It never fails, you know.” “What?” Duo met Wufei’s eyes as he pulled his jacket on and swung his bag onto his shoulder. “Same old story, Fei. Looks like I’m an orphan again.” He walked away. ~*~ Mr and Mrs Yuy followed their son into Roberto’s the next morning, both frowning as they entered the café. “This is where you’ve been spending all your time, son?” Mrs Yuy asked in an overly loud voice. Heero winced. “Mother, you asked me to bring you here. This is once of the best cafes in all of New Port City.” The woman snorted in disbelief, but followed as her son and husband walked in and over to a small table. Roberto had to work to keep a straight, polite face. These were the people who were causing all this trouble? He walked over and pulled a pad from the pocket of his apron. “Mornin’, folks. What can I get ye today?” After his parents ordered, Heero finally looked up. “Nothing for me, thanks, Roberto.” The café owner gave him a nod in reply and turned to walk away. “So… do we get to meet this friend of yours, Heero?” his father asked, as soon as Roberto was back to his counter. Heero’s face came around. “You can’t possibly be serious!” The man raised an eyebrow in a gesture that was infuriatingly close to one of Heero’s own. “And why not? I think your mother and I deserve to meet this… person you wanted to spend your life with.” Roberto set the coffees down with a thump, frowning his displeasure, but said nothing. Heero looked down at the tabletop again. “I’ve hurt him enough. I refuse to…” “You will refuse us nothing, young man,” his mother said, lifting her coffee cup with a genteel gesture. “I want to see just how bad a mistake we’re saving you from, and I will not be refused.” Roberto caught the Japanese student’s eye and flinched at the look he saw there. “As you wish, mother.” ~*~ Trowa looked up from his books, and his face darkened into a scowl. “The bastard…” Duo looked up and froze. They had been very careful not to leave the braided boy alone, but no one had thought Heero’d be brazen enough to actually come looking for him… And in the Library, of all places! Duo gulped and furiously buried his face in his books, unaware of how badly he was beginning to shake. “Just go away…” “Hi, Duo.” Pained blue-violet eyes swung up slowly and met Heero’s, glowing with anger and hurt. “Heero.” The Japanese boy stammered for a moment before he gestured towards the two people behind him, his eyes never leaving those of his fiancé. “These are… these are my parents… they wanted to meet, well…” Duo tore his eyes away and forced himself to look at his lover’s family. “Mrs Yuy, Mr Yuy, nice to meet you,” he managed, barely able to choke the words out. The man at least tried to smile back, though Heero’s mother wore a disgusted look on her face. “So you’re the one we’ve heard so much about. Our son tells us you run an Orphanage near here.” “That’s right,” Duo replied, clenching his right fist tightly under the table, trying to anchor himself in the pain as his fingernails cut into his palm. “You would be the Mr Maxwell who made an appearance in the Senate last fall, then?” Duo arched an eyebrow. “Yes, during the discussions on the Poverty Bill. I’m surprised you followed that.” “It was big news,” Mr Yuy replied. “It’s not often that the Senate gets caught by a private citizen.” “I did what I felt I had to do, and Heero’s help was invaluable,” Duo replied, refusing to look back over at the boy, standing uncomfortably between his parents. “You have to understand, young man, that we’re doing what’s right for our son…” Duo’s glance stopped the words in Mr Yuy’s mouth. “What’s right for him?” he gestured to Heero, frozen in his spot. “Threatening to take him from his school and his friends is right?” Heero stepped forward. “Duo, please…” “No, Heero, I don’t want to hear it,” the braided young man said, standing and taking a step back. “If what we have isn’t important enough for you to fight for it, I have nothing to say to you.” Heero hung his head. Mr Yuy was about to speak again, but a librarian interrupted them, “Excuse me, but you’ll have to keep your voices down.” Duo swept his books into his arms and tossed his head, sending his braid flying over his shoulder. “I was just leaving, actually.” He turned back to Trowa. “I’ll see you later, okay?” “Duo…” Heero reached for his arm- The braided student neatly avoided his hand. “Sir, Ma’am, your son is one of the brightest, most incredible people I’ve ever met, and I love him. I thought he loved me. Whatever he really feels, I hope you realise what you’re doing. But if you think forcing him to submit to your will is in his best interest, you seriously need to learn something about being parents. Good afternoon.” Heero caught Trowa’s arm as the green-eyed young man turned to follow his friend out. “Trowa, please. Please… look after him?” Trowa pulled his arm away. “You don’t need to tell me to do that. I’m his friend. Or do you even know what that means?” He walked away as well, jogging to catch up to the long-haired boy. Heero flinched as his mother set a hand on his arm. “Son?” He pulled away and collapsed down into the chair Duo had vacated. “Do me a favour and don’t talk to me right now.” ~*~ Even the kids could feel the tension. The atmosphere in the Hope Home was tense and quiet, to say the least, and Iria and Sally could feel it as they walked in for their afternoon session with the children. The two women exchanged pained looks – they had heard the whole story. Relena met them at the door with a warning. “Hi, whatever you do, don’t mention Heero. The kids aren’t saying anything yet, but they will if one of us brings it up, and you know they won’t stop…” Sally nodded. “How is he doing?” Relena shook her head sadly. “I’ve never seen him this bad. Poor kid.” All three shared a look – it hurt to see someone so eternally cheerful and hopeful as Duo hurting so badly. He looked up and gave them a wan smile as they walked in. “Hi, girls. Come on in.” He waved them through the door and to the other chairs around the large worktable. “The place looks good, as usual, Duo,” Sally remarked, taking the seat to his right. “Any problems?” He shook his head. “The usual. Kids getting picked on at school, and the neighbourhood’s shitty, but you already know that.” “How about you?” Iria asked shrewdly. He shrugged. “I’m… Fine. Just fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” “Duo, you don’t have to act for us…” Relena put a hand on Sally’s shoulder, stopping her. “The children, Sally.” She walked around the table and gave Duo a quick pat on the shoulders. “I think I need to go for a little walk. You wanna come with? Iria and Sally can watch over the kids. Just ten minutes?” Duo gulped. He needed to get away, he had to… “Okay, but just a little walk. Is that okay with you two?” Iria nodded. “Sure, no problem. Go on- take your time.” Relena gave them a grateful nod and snagged Duo’s jacket for him as she followed him out the door. ~*~ He took her arm as they moved down the street. “Thanks, Rel. I needed to get out.” “I could see that,” she said, leaning into him ever so slightly. “Have you talked to Heero in private about any of this yet?” He flinched as she said Heero’s name, and she tightened her grip on his arm. There, I said it. God, I hope he’s okay with this… Duo gulped for air, blinking furiously to hold back his tears. “I… no, I haven’t. I can’t talk to… to him.” “Duo.” She stopped walking and pulled him to face her. “Duo, he loves you. Everyone knew- everyone could see it. He just…” “He just what?!” Duo cried, his voice hitching in his throat. “He turned his back on me at the first sign of resistance. He tossed me aside, as though I don’t matter, as though I never mattered! Did he ever really care? Was there ever a moment when I really meant anything to him…” “Duo, stop!” she ordered him, in a tone on voice that even Duo would not dare to counter. She took hold of his shoulders and shook him as hard as she dared. “I won’t allow you to continue like this! You know what you’re doing? I’ll tell you- you’ve told these kids from the day they walk in your door to never give up hope, to remember how special they are. Well, you’re giving up, and you can’t do that! What about Heero, huh? Don’t you think he’s hurting? That he’s confused, maybe even terrified? Not everyone knows how to get along on their own, Duo. Stop and think for a second!” Tears fell down his face, and he pulled her into a tight hug. Relena folded her arms around him gently, rocking her friend as she suspected far too few people had ever bothered to in his life. “That’s it. Go ahead and cry. We’re all here for you- me, Sally, Iria, the boys, all your kids… And Heero will be back. I promise you.” She pulled back and wiped his bangs back so she could look him in the eyes. “Just try and have a little faith, okay?” He wiped at his face with his sleeve in an endearingly young gesture. “I’m sorry, Relena. I just… it really hurt to think he could just turn his back on me. It hurt so much.” “I know it did,” she said, giving him a little smile. “But you can’t run away from it. You can’t- you have to turn around and face it like you face everything else. Duo, you’re one of the strongest people I know when it comes to protecting and helping the people you love. It’s time to worry about you, now.” He nodded to her and pulled her close for another hug, kissing her forehead in a brotherly fashion. “Thanks, Relena. You’re one in a million, you know?” She laughed as they turned to walk back towards the Home. “Even the straight ones say that to me… and then they never call. What is it with men and not calling?” He shot her a yet shaky smile. “Straight men- we always call when we say we will.” Relena chuckled. “Right, you know I can’t believe that…” His smiled widened as he reached the door and opened it for her. “You’ll learn, Rel-“ The words died on his lips, and he surged forward. “Duo?” Panicked eyes met his as he pushed his way into the room, and he stopped short as he heard someone readying a gun and pointing it at his forehead. “Who the fuck…” “Shut the hell up, kid,” a rough voice called, and Duo’s eyes swung sideways. Shit, this isn’t a local gang, the local guys would never come near the Home… “Whatever you want, take it. Don’t hurt the kids,” Duo said, his eyes focusing on the gun pointed at him. “Please, this is an orphanage. Just let us be.” He flinched, but didn’t dare to turn and look as he heard running footsteps approaching from inside the house. “Dude, there ain’t nothin here. Nice fuckin house like this and they ain’t got shit!” Duo yelped as the guy holding a gun on him jerked on his collar. “You’re hidin something from us, boy…” “No! I swear to you…” “Hey, look at his hand…” Duo grimaced as the guy grabbed his wrist and pulled his arm up in a bruising grip. “A ring, eh? Nice one, too…” He saw red as he felt the ring pulled from his finger. His engagement ring. From Heero. Heero… “You have two seconds to get the fuck outta my house…” “Or what, punk!” the guy yelled, grabbing his braid and pulling hard on it. “Or what!?” “Or this.” The punk gasped for air as a fist slammed into his gut and doubled over in shock as the fists came down again hard in his kidneys. Sally and Iria instinctively grabbed for the kids and pulled them down as Duo exploded into motion, grabbing his ring back and smirking as he dodged a punch and slammed his knee into the man’s midsection. He aimed another punch- “Duo, look out! He’s got a...” His head spun around, and Duo tried to dodge, but it was too late. He screamed as a bullet tore through the air and he was going down… The punks stared in white-faced shock. “Shit, I didn’t mean…” Cursing and mumbling to themselves, the remaining punks grabbed their friends and hustled out the door. Sally and Iria stared at each other in shock for a second. “Duo?” a small voice called out. The two doctors stared at each other for a split second. “I’ll take care of the kids,” Sally said, her voice harsh and shaky. “Yeah.” Iria jumped up and ran over to where Duo had fallen. He wasn’t moving. ~*~ Heero and his parents looked up at the TV screen in their hotel room as the ‘Breaking News’ screen came up. “This just in. There’s been a shooting on the West Side, though the location and motive behind it are not yet clear. It happened about fifteen minutes ago on the 800 block of Jackson Street…” With a strangled cry, Heero jumped from his seat and ran for the door, cursing as he reached for his keys… “In the environs of a local orphanage. It came into the spotlight last fall when Administrator Duo Maxwell took his case against the Poverty Bill before the Earth Sphere Senate…” “Heero Yuy!” Heero stopped moving sharply. Frozen in place by the sound of his mother’s voice. She continued, “You are not leaving this room, is that clear? To see that little low-class person you had the temerity to consider marrying! You are my son!” He was shaking with anger as he turned, ever so slowly. “And it is my life, mother. He has a name, it’s Duo. Duo Maxwell. You’d better get used to it.” “You leave this room and you can forget about college! We will disown you…” her voice stung with venom. “I guess this is goodbye, then,” Heero murmured, and turned- “Heero!” He slammed the door behind him and took a deep breath before he started running. ~*~ He could see the flashing lights of police cruisers and ambulances ahead of him, parked just where he feared they would be… Heero’s heart was pounding in his chest as he parked his car behind the police perimeter and ran forward, blood pounding in his ears… “I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t let you through…” He paused to look the cop in the face. “My fiancé works in there, please! You have to let me see…” “Sir…” “It’s okay, officer.” Heero breathed a sigh of relief at hearing Relena’s authoritative voice. “He’s allowed, I’ll watch over him.” “Very well.” Heero darted past the man and barely stopped to something of a steadier pace as Relena tugged on his arm. “Heero, you have to remember to stay calm…” “Where is he? Oh God- it was him, wasn’t it? He’s been hurt…” Relena tugged as hard as she could and brought the Japanese man to a halt. She forced him to look at her. “Now listen to me. Duo was shot, yes, but he’s going to be okay. Sally and Iria looked after him until the police got here, and he’s already on his way to the hospital. He will be just fine.” Heero didn’t even try to hide the tears in his eyes. “Duo… God, I could have lost him and he would have thought…” “Heero Yuy!” The boy flinched at the sound of his mother’s voice behind him. “I really don’t need this right now…” “Then allow me.” Heero could only nod as Relena walked towards the police perimeter, where Heero’s parents were being held back by two cops. “Can I help you?” Mrs Yuy’s eyes snapped at the younger woman. “Yes. That is my son over there. You will tell him to return back here to us immediately!” Relena’s stare became cold and hard. “I will, hm? Ma’am, you are in no position to be ordering me to do anything. And just in case you haven’t realised it yet…” She leaned in close. “Your son’s fiancé was just shot while trying to protect those kids. They are both my friends and they need me right now – those kids need me – and I’m here arguing with you. Unless you’re here to help, you’d best leave. No one needs another burden right now, your son, in particular.” “How dare you…” Heero’s father finally spoke up, with a growl of frustration, “Silence, Nuriko! You’ve said quite enough.” Nuriko Yuy stared at her husband in disbelief, and the man turned to Relena. “I understand. But please… ask Heero to call us once he’s seen Mr Maxwell. Please.” Relena nodded and turned to walk back to Heero. He was staring at her incredulously. “Did he really just tell her to…” “Yeah, he did,” Relena answered, her eyes flashing maliciously. “And she deserved it. Now come on!” “What?!” Heero yelped, as she grabbed his arm and started dragging him after her. “The hospital, you idiot!” “The kids…” Relena rolled her eyes. “Are fine! Hilde’s looking after them, with Iria and my brother backing her up. Now move it!” She fished in her pocket for a second. “Oh, and take this.” Heero blinked as a small object was forced into his hand. “Nani?” She shook her head. “Duo’s engagement ring. The punks tried to take it from him. He was fine up to then, but he lost it when they took it.” “Oh Duo!” Heero’s hand clenched around the ring. “Keep moving, Yuy!” Relena ordered. “I’ll drive.” ~*~ It was silent in the waiting room, silent, but reassuring. Relena sat quietly at Heero’s side, holding his hand as he stared, unmoving, at the door. Wufei was on his other side, with Quatre and Trowa sitting across the way, hand in hand. There had been no words, no apologies and no forgiveness offered. There was just comfort in the presence of friends. They all stood as the white doors opened and Sally Po stepped out, her eyes immediately zeroing in on Heero as she approached them. They all tried to ignore the blood on her white coat and scrubs. “Stand down, Heero, he’s just fine. Drugged out to kingdom come, but fine.” Wufei squeezed Heero’s shoulder. “He’s fine, you see?” Heero couldn’t even speak – he darted forward and pulled Sally into a tight hug, ignoring the blood and Heaven knew what else soaking into his clothes. She smiled as she gave him a light hug back. Quatre stood, smoothing down his suit with a practised motion. “When can we go in to see him?” Sally extracted herself from Heero’s grip. “He’s… well, you could go in now, but he’s not awake and he won’t be for a while.” Heero nodded and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Sally. For everything, thank you.” He moved for the doors. “Heero, wait.” He froze and turned, his eyes glaring daggers. What was his father doing there? “What do you want?” The man stepped forward with as open a look as he could muster on his face. “Heero, you have to decide. You have two choices. If you go in there, your mother will never talk to you again, and if you don’t… Well, if you don’t then you’re not the son I raised.” “Father?” The man stepped forward until he was almost nose to nose with his son. “My future son-in-law is in there. Will you introduce us?” The others turned away as Heero let out a strangled sob and was pulled into his father’s arms. It wasn’t a moment to be shared, after all. ~*~ The world was swimming into focus, ever so slowly, and Duo groaned. What the hell happened? And why did everything seem so white and glaring… There was a shadow on his left, and he turned his face toward it, trying desperately to focus… It was a dark blur, but there was a blue spot to it, and he was trying desperately to focus on it, trying to figure it out… “Duo, can you hear me? Duo? Talk to me, love! Duo?” Heero! Heero, you came back to me… “He… heero… love…” Heero jumped as he heard the whisper and felt fingers tightening around his ever so slightly. “Duo, wake up, love. I’m here. It’s me, it’s Heero.” Duo was slowly focusing on the blue spots- they were Heero’s eyes, and he wanted so desperately to look into them… “The kids…” “They’re fine, Duo. Hilde and Relena are watching over them,” Heero replied, gently stroking the braided young man’s hair back from his face. “We’ve all been so worried about you…” As Heero came into focus, Duo smiled up at him. “You’re here…” “This is where I belong, love,” he replied. “I nearly lost you.” Duo’s eyes filled with tears. “My ring, Heero. I don’t know what…” Heero carefully wiped the other boy’s tears away. “You mean this?” He held it up for Duo to see. “Relena picked it up and kept it safe for us.” He slipped it back onto Duo’s finger and held his hand gently. “I love you, Duo. I’m sorry I gave you reason to doubt it.” “Don’t, please,” Duo said, his grip tightening. “I should have had more faith in you, too. But what about…” Heero grinned again. “My parents? They… well, Mother will grow to accept it. Father was here sitting with me earlier. Forget them, okay? I don’t care what they say.” “Heero, they could disown you…” “Whatever. Let them do it,” Heero said, kissing the hand wearing his ring. He smiled down at his fiancé. “Can I let the others in now? They’re all anxious to see you.” Duo smiled back. “Heero?” He pulled on Heero’s hand to bring him closer. “I love you, but I really don’t feel good.” Heero laughed. “No one expects you to.” He gave Duo a soft, gentle kiss. Duo smiled again, his eyes clear. “I think I’ll last a while.” As Heero turned to let the others in, he felt happiness welling up inside. To hell with the consequences! “You can come in now.” owari
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