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"Epiphany "Written By: Mookie Second place story in the Moments of Rapture Fall 2003 contest. Disclaimer: I don't really need to be Captain Obvious here, do I? No ownership, no money being made. Written for fun, not profit. Warnings: AU, shounen ai, some strong language Pairings: 1x2 Spoilers: None
"Epiphany"
Prologue "Sure you don't want any?" Heero shook his head as he carried his dirty dishes to the sink. His roommate picked up his mug and walked to the window, kneeling on the padded bench as he did every morning. "Looks like it's gonna be a scorcher," he commented. "Hmm," Heero agreed, frowning slightly at a stubborn bit of egg on his dish. He scraped it with a soapy fingernail, then rinsed it and placed it in the dish rack on the counter. He walked to his bedroom, digging the dried yellow yolk out from under his fingernails. "I can't believe you haven't walked into a wall yet," the other boy commented without turning around. Heero couldn't see his smile, but he could hear it, that light teasing tone that was as familiar to him as his own hands. He'd been rooming with Duo Maxwell since their freshman year of college. Heero had been surprised to discover the name of his roommate that first day, not because it was unusual, but because it didn't match the name that had appeared on his orientation paperwork. Duo had noticed his look of confusion right away and nodded in understanding. "Ah," he said, "I'll bet you're wondering why I'm not Quatre Winner," he said. "Seems that Winner got into a single, and I'd been on the waiting list for a room in this dorm, so here I am!" he announced. "Then you're an engineering major?" There were two freshman dorms, one on each side of the campus. Heero's and Duo's was closest to the technical buildings on campus, so it was a reasonable assumption. "Ah, well, yeah," Duo had said, scratching his head under the dark baseball cap he wore. "Yeah, that's my declared major, at least for now. M.E., to be exact. You?" "Double major," was all Heero offered. Duo looked at him expectantly, but he didn't offer more than that. "Any preference on which side of the room you want?" Duo didn't seem bothered by the lack of information. Heero shook his head, and Duo threw himself on the bed closest to the window, bouncing slightly. "Good!" he enthused. "Because I like the window!" Heero placed his own duffel bag on the bed nearest the closet, then proceeded to remove his clothing and place it in the nearby dresser. "You don't talk much, do you?" Duo said. Heero started slightly, having not noticed Duo had even moved. "I talk," Heero said. Duo raised an eyebrow at him. "When I have something to say, you'll know it," Heero added. Duo laughed. Heero turned toward the sound, and his jaw dropped slightly as Duo removed his cap and threw it on his desk. A rope of hair fell down Duo's back. Heero wondered at the physics of it. How had Duo managed to keep that mass of hair under such a small cap? Duo turned to him then, but Heero had recovered from his surprise and was methodically placing pencils and paper on his desk. "I, ah, there's a story behind all this," Duo hedged. Heero shook his head. "I didn't say anything," he pointed out. Duo nodded in agreement. "No, you didn't," he said. "It's none of my business how you choose to wear your hair, or why," Heero continued. "No," Duo agreed. "But most people -" "I am not most people," Heero said firmly, shutting the desk drawer and turning to Duo. "I'm glad," was all Duo said, and he grinned. ~~~~~~ |
