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"Shinigami’s Lot "Written By: t-shirt Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. Written for
pleasure not profit. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU/High School Gang War, Violence, blood,
fighting, violent NCS (rape), language, Bastardized Hiiro (in the
beginning), Evil Dr. J, Evil Relena, Prejudice, angst, OOC, Duo POV,
humor believe it or not! and I'm told this one will give you a freakishly
dark case of the warm fuzzies before its all over. >;^/ Pairings: 2+Hilde, 2+Solo, 2+4, 2+5, 1+3, Rx1
(unrequited), Mx5 (also unrequited), 5x13, 6x9, 3x4, SoloxCatherine,
and yes! 1X2!!!! YeeAAaay! Summary: A small town harbors big trouble as rival
factions face off in a war seemingly bred of predjudice and ill content.
While Hiiro's White Wing Gang tries to banish the gay community Duo
does his best to protect those that have come to be known as 'Shinigami's
Lot'. However, dark secrets and misunderstandings lead them on an
inevitable path back to one another as old feelings refuse to fade
and they discover a love that will ultimately survive. "Shinigami’s Lot "
Duo was at the window before the punks could make the
corner tagging one of them as Kenny, a member of Yuy's White Wing
gang. “I see you Kenny! Your dead meat you little fuck!”
he screamed at their retreating backs before kicking the empty box
his new stereo had come in across the room. “Fuck! Little pricks!” he growled going over
to assess the damage. The brick lay on the floor in front of the cracked
system. The word 'FAGGOT' clearly marked in bold letters across its
face. He picked it up and heaved it back out the broken window with
a frustrated scream ignoring the crash as it hit the trashcans in
his yard spilling their contents on the lawn. “Duo?” a woman’s concerned voice called
from the hallway. “Duo …are you alright?” she asked
again turning the knob on his bedroom door. He reached out and held the door shut “Yea I’m
fine… I just dropped something. I’m not dressed. I’ll
be down in a minute.” “Alright” the voice called back before retreating
footsteps were heard in the hall. “Fuckin pricks,” he said softly to himself as he went to find his clothes. His damaged stereo would have to wait until after school.
Kenny had better hope there wasn’t any real damage cause Duo
was gonna take his retribution right out of his hide. He dressed and
re-braided his thigh length fall of chestnut hair. The thick rope
that hung down his back was an easy target for his archrivals band
of self-proclaimed social vigilantes but it was hardly what made him
gay. He’d be damned if he give it up just to appease that retarded
bunch of low life’s. It had been going on for two years. Ever
since Yuy had found out he was gay and decided it was his duty to
'clean up the neighborhood' by ridding it of any and all homosexual
miscreants; thereby elevating his own quality of life. Duo’s
alarm went off and he shut it down. Being up a bit early was a good
idea anyway since he needed to stop by the hardware store for his
mom on the way to school. He slipped his knife in his boot and clipped
the shorter blade to the spring-loaded sheath on his forearm with
a satisfied grin before slinging his bag over his shoulder and heading
downstairs. His mom had left a plate of toast and a glass of juice
on the counter as usual. He downed the juice and took a bite off one
piece of toast before heading out the door to find her standing amongst
the spilled garbage holding the brick in her hand. His face fell.
He didn’t want to go through this again but the care worn lines
on her face forced him to take a deep breath and face the age-old
argument. “It’s nothing, Mom,” he assured her.
“Just some jerks trying to stir up trouble,” he added picking
up the trash while he spoke. “Duo,” she began. “Why can’t you
at least try to be a little more discrete? I hate this.” “I am who I am,” he replied sitting the refilled
can back in its corner of the yard. “Yes but… we could…” she seemed
to be having trouble getting the words out and that could only mean
one thing. Duo rolled his eyes and braced himself for the inevitable.
“...we could cut your hair.,.” “Aw Mom! Come on! How many times do we hafta go
over this!?” he cried in exasperation grabbing the brick from
her hand and stuffing it in his pack. “As many as it takes!” she snapped back. “I
understand that you cant help what you are and... and you know I love
you just the same but... this has gone too far Duo. I’ve got
bricks flying through my windows! If you’d only try a little
harder to fit in...” “Fit in!” he yelled back. “Why the hell
should I hafta try to fit in?! THEIR the ones with the fucking problem!
I’ll be damned if I’m gonna bend over and kiss their ass!
Forget it! Cuttin my hairs not gonna make me straight Mom! Get over
it!” he yelled and put an abrupt end to the argument by fleeing
the yard. “Morning sprite,” she called happily bounding
out to greet him. “Don’t call me that,” he ordered rolling
his eyes. “Why not?” she smiled. “It suits you.” “Yeah, well, I got enough problems fending off
less endearing tags without handing them another one,” he sighed
dejectedly. “What happened?” she asked noticing his depressed
expression. “Nothing that hasn’t happened before,”
he informed her. “You’d think they could come up with something
better than ‘faggot’. Fuckin chicken shit feather junkies.” “Duo,” she warmed “Don’t you go
getting in trouble again. Your going to loose your scholarship if
you keep this up.” Duo snorted “Yeah, right. Their fightin over me
babe! I doubt any of those schools care how many fights I get in as
long as I end up flying for them.” “You’re the best,” she smiled. “No
doubt about that but still, its not going to do yyou any good if your
busted up or bleeding to death when they come through with the money.” “Don’t you fret, baby cakes. I’ve got
it covered,” he told her with a wide grin. “That’s what scares me,” she replied
rolling her eyes. Duo wasn’t in too much danger from the local Wing
gang himself as he’d proven time and again he could handle himself
in a fight. The most he usually had to deal with was the occasional
brick or hate crime against his personal belongings, such as his locker
at school. Anyone daring enough to call themselves his friend wasn’t
as fortunate and he took great care in making sure they were as safe
as possible at all times; hence the need to walk Hilde to school everyday.
They reached the campus and cut through the parking
lot to hook up with Solo, Duo’s other best friend, before heading
to their first class. “What’s your problem street rat?” Solo
asked without preamble having seen the look in Duo’s eyes. He
was the only person that had known Duo before he was adopted by his
parents at the age of eight; having been an orphan at Maxwell Church
himself. He still lived at the small church though the priest and
nun that had once cared for he and Duo had died long before leaving
a steady turn around of new administrators since. “Got a gift from Kenny this morning,” he told
him in a low voice. “Wanna help me thank him for it later?” Solo grinned from ear to ear. “Of course.” They entered the class and took their seats in the back
row. Being the target of a vicious and often violent street gang had
a tendency to put one on their guard so they were usually to be found
with their backs to the wall and away from any windows that might
afford their enemies an easy target. Mr. Kantz, their homeroom and
biology teacher came in shortly after with a new student in tow. The
boy looked so young Duo thought for a moment he had to be in the wrong
class but after a closer look he decided it was just the blonds open
expression and happy smile that made him appear so juvenile. His first
thought was ‘they’re gonna eat this guy alive.’Mr.
Kantz was not known for his patience or tolerance of unruly behavior
in his class so the students quieted down fairly quickly when he stood
to speak. “As you can see we have a new student,” he
said motioning for the blond to introduce himself. “Hi,” he said in a strong voice that surprised Duo a bit. He’d expected some mousy little noise to escape the pale boy’s lips, not the forceful tone he emitted. “I’m Quatre Rabarba Winner, nice to meet you.”
Duo felt an instant kinship to this strangely bright
boy that was mirrored in the brilliant smile that blossomed on his
face. Quatre noticed and smiled back lifting the illumination in the
room two degrees higher. When Mr. Kantz told him to take his seat
he took the one next to Duo with a smile. “Hi,” he greeted cheerfully. “Hey,” Duo replied. “I’m Duo, this
is Solo and that over there is Hilde. We’re doin labs today;
you can join us if you like. We’re the only ones that don’t
have a fourth.” “Thanks,” Quatre replied. “I’d like
that.” Duo nodded still grinning and pulled his notes from
his pack as the class began to separate into groups for the day’s
work around the long tables along the walls. Quatre joined his group and was introduced. They were
studying the re-growth of a lizard’s tail on a microbiological
level. Hilde set up the microscope while Duo retrieved their specimen
from his glass jar. “Morning, Sparky,” Duo cooed at the little
reptile, a common garden lizard. “Sparky?” Quatre chuckled. “He’s gotta have a name, right?” Duo
grinned stroking Sparky’s chin. “I suppose,” the blond agreed. “You goin to the show tonight?” Hilde asked
Duo. “O yeah. Wouldn’t miss it,” Duo answered
maneuvering Sparky for his examination. “What show?” Quatre asked preparing to record
the data. “There’s an air show on the south field tonight,”
Hilde informed him. “Duo’s gonna be a test pilot and engineer.
We never miss one.” “Really?” Quatre said but his tone seemed
to say more than the word alone implied. “Yeah...what of it?” Solo stated in a tone
that asked much more than his words had implied as well. To his credit Quatre didn’t even wince under the
defensive attack instead grinning at Duo as if he’d just ate
his cat. “How would you like a tour of the hanger?” he asked.
Duo narrowed his eyes. “What’dya mean?” “Nothing,” the blond said turning his attention
to Sparky and gently petting his head. The poor lizard’s tail
was sandwiched between to pains of glass and being scrutinized under
a microscope. His pride had to be suffering. “It’s just
my Dad owns that airport so I though maybe...” “Your Dad owns the airport!?” Duo barked incredulously.
“Your Dad’s Robert Winner?! The multi-billion
dollar Robert Winner?!” Hilde exclaimed. Quatre chuckled. He loved doing that to people. “Trillion
actually,” he corrected with a smile. “He owns a lot of
things. I can get you in if you like.” “Would I!?” Duo grinned. “Umm. Thanks
man! Really, I’ll pay ya back somehow. I promise.” “Don’t worry about it,” Quatre smiled
through a light blush. “It’s no problem at all. I”m
glad to help but aren’t you a little young to be a pilot?” “Duo’s a bit of a genius” Hilde leaned
close and whispered a little too loudly for the others not to hear.
“He’s also the best pilot this side of L4,”
Solo interjected. Quatre looked confused. “How do you know that if
he’s never flown?” “Who says I’ve never flown?” Duo said
looking injured. “I... I’m sorry I just assumed since you don’t
seem to be familiar with the hanger…” “The hangers not the only place to pilot,”
the braided boy replied. The blush on the blonds’ cheeks was
threatening to set his face on fire and he refused to look Duo in
the eye so he decided to take pity on him. “Don’t worry
about it,” he said with a smile. “By this time next year
I’ll be sitting in the most advanced machines known to man.”
“Are you going to school on the Aviator’s
Scholarship?” Quatre asked. “Several,” Solo answered for him taking his
turn to peer at Sparky’s injured tail. Quatre's brows went up, he was obviously impressed but
Duo was used to that by now. He’d always been an overachiever
and his mechanical prowess had earned him a reputation nothing short
of a young prodigy. “I’m a pilot myself,” Quatre explained.
The trio stopped dead, each one slowly turning to look
at him in disbelief. He smiled shyly, the blush returning to his cheeks.
“My Father,” he started but let the thought die on his tongue
as if the two words should be explanation enough. Duo beamed. “Too cool,” he replied as the
others smiled as well. The rest of biology was spent in pleasant company as
Sparky was examined this way and that and his data recorded before
he was tucked back in his jar safe from prying eyes. They didn’t
see Quatre again until after third period when Duo and Hilde found
the young blond fighting with his locker in the hall outside the cafeteria.
Duo grinned. The boy had obviously never had to deal
with public school lockers before. He had to wonder what someone like
Quatre was doing at Corsica Central High. He’d have been better
suited to St. Gabriel’s up on the hill with the other high brows.
Duo amended that thought as Quatre flashed him a hundred watt smile
in spite of his frustration with his locker when they approached.
This guy was way to nice to be stuck with those snob’s on Peremptory
Hill. “Hey,” the braided boy greeted brightly. “Hi,” Quatre returned giving his locker another
failed tug. Duo grinned at him and smacked the door hard with his
fist popping it open. Quatre grinned. “Thanks. I’ll have to remember
that technique.” “No problem,” Duo replied. “Hey, pussy boy!” a sneering voice called
from behind Duo and he clenched his eyes shut and steeled himself
for the inevitable. He took a moment to catch Solo’s eye before
slipping his hand in his bag and turning around. Kenny stood several feet away with two of his cronies,
a wide smile on his pointed. little face. “Shouldn’t you
be home humpin the milkman?” the crude boy chided. “Naw,” Duo replied “He’d be to sore
once your Dad got done with him.” Kenny’s face flushed with anger, his eyes flashing
their warning as he stomped across the hall. “You keep your filthy,
cock suckin mouth to yourself, pussy boy! Everyone knows your take
it up the ass!” “At least I get some,” Duo shot back “Not
even a skank like Mindy Trent’ll stoop to your level.” Duo had hit a nerve. The 'skank' in question was the
biggest whore in the school and it was common knowledge that she’d
turned Kenny down flat when he’d asked her out. The boy lost
his temper quickly and swung wide. Duo blocked the punch and pulled
the brick from his bag slamming it into the boys face. Blood erupted
from his broken nose as he stumbled back a step shrieking in pain.
Crony number one threw a punch that was swiftly caught
in mid air. Duo used the boy’s balled up fist to punch crony
number two square in the face knocking him to the ground before releasing
the boys hand to finish him off. He never got a chance to hit him
though as Solo’s fist came from somewhere and knocked the boy
clean off his feet. The three seconds that this all took did not allow
escape time for poor Kenny who suddenly found himself slammed up against
the far wall by one extremely irate braided pilot. “If you ever,” the word was punctuate by the
boy’s body being slammed repeatedly against the lockers, “ever
come near my place again I’ll break your fuckin neck you got
that your stupid, little fuck!?!” He slammed him against the
locker once more just to make his point. “You got it!?”
“You got a problem, pretty boy?” a cold voice
cut through the air. Quatre’s eyes suddenly widen as the hall became
unerringly empty. Duo dropped the battered boy on the floor and turned
to face the newcomer. “Yeah,” he said spitting on the broken kid.
“You need to put a shorter leash on your animals before I cut
their time short.” Frigid cobalt eyes narrowed; their deadly glare beneath
the chocolate brown bangs of the interloper sending a chill down Quatre’s
spine. Solo and Hilde both came to stand on Duo’s flanks in support
of their friend. The dark hared boy stood alone. “Tsk tsk,” he clucked. “Such malevolence.
One would think you had something against... normal folk.” Duo didn’t flinch which highly impressed the young
blond as his own skin was crawling around on his person with each
icy word this dark boy uttered. “If that’s normal I’m glad to be anything
but,” the braided boy sneered kicking Kenny in the leg for good
measure. A tall boy with brilliant emerald eyes stepped around
the corner and joined the dark hared boy. “You ladies wanna dance
we can oblige,” he said in an almost inhuman monotone. “Trowa?” Quatre breathed softly. “Quatre?” the green eyed boy queried. “What
are you doing here?” he asked, his eyes flashing from the blond
to Duo and back again. “I…” Quatre began, his gaze falling on
the braided boy for a moment before flickering back to Trowa. “You know him?” Duo asked suspiciously. “Ye... yes,” the blond stammered. “He’s...
my cousin.” “You need to watch who you’re making friends
with... cousin,” Trowa warned. “Lady May here’s not
worth the effort.” “The names Duo,” Duo ground out having had
enough with the stupid names for one day. The dark hared boy laughed but it was not a happy sound
“Duo this... Duo that... Duo him, Duo him too. What's the difference?
What you do is an insult to humanity... what you are is an abomination.
Why not do us all a favor and just sink back in whatever hole spat
you out. Save us all a lot of heartache?” Duo’s eyes narrowed dangerously as his muscles
tensed “Why don’t you make me?” he said softly, his
tone as cold and empty as his opponents as he let his gaze wander
up and down the dark hared boys lithe body taking in every subtle
curve then coming to rest on the cobalt blue shards beneath his opponents
long bangs. The voltaic energy between them danced like lightening
in their eyes as he purred, “Pretty boy.” Something evil flashed in those dark blue eyes as an energy was released that hit Quatre like a heat wave and he was suddenly moving down the hall headed straight for Duo with Trowa in tow. Duo bent his knees and twisted his right toe in the floor preparing for the assault while Solo and Hilde dropped back into a fighting stance ready to defend their friend if need be as the distance was quickly closing. Quatre didn’t know what to do. He didn’t really know these boys and he had no clue what this was all about. He decided he’d stay out of it unless things got ugly then he’d be forced to defend whoever might be in danger until he could sort this whole mess out. Trowa and his friend stopped abruptly and a loud voice called from down the hall. “What’s going on here?” Principal Noventa
shouted as he hurried down the hall. Quatre took a very deep breath as the five students
backed off from one another. Duo and the dark hared boy held their
hateful gaze however, neither willing to look away first. “Damn it, not you two again!” Principal Noventa
growled. “When are you boys going to stop... what on earth!?”
he exclaimed taking in Kenny’s bloodied state and bending to
help the boy up. “He b’oke ma noss,” Kenny said pointing
an accusing finger at Duo who was still glaring into the cold, blue
eyes of his rival only two feet away. “Maxwell!” Noventa barked “Is this true?” Duo finally backed off a bit. Quatre’s eyes went
wide again when he noticed the small knife in Duo’s palm before
it slipped casually up the braided boy’s sleeve and out of sight.
Kenny’s cronies were on their feet again confirming the bleeding
boy’s claims. “He hit him with a brick” one said. “He’s psycho!” the other added. Principal Noventa picked up the brick off the floor.
Seeing the word “FAGGOT” inscribed on it he turned his gaze
heavily on the injured Kenny. “What’s this about?” he asked in a low
tone. “Hob chould I bo? Ask hib! He”s do boyb toyb!”
the boy defended. “That’s enough,” Noventa barked. “Maxwell,
come with me,” he ordered ushering Kenny toward the other end
of the hall and his office. “Yuy,” he addressed the dark
hared boy. “I don’t want to see this kind of behavior in
my school again. You boys get to class before I suspend the lot of
you.” Duo turned to follow but his eyes never left the boy
now known as Yuy’s. A small smile graced his lips as he finally
allowed his back to turn on the boy discharging the last of the penned
up energy in the hall. Yuy gave Quatre an appraising glance before
turning to leave but Trowa approached the shaken blond. “Stay away from that kid,” he advised. “He’s
not worth it,” he told him before following his friend down the
hall. Quatre took another deep breath before falling back
against the lockers. The other boys had gone their way so he was left
with only Solo and Hilde for an explanation. “What the hell was that all about?” he asked
suddenly. “It’s a long story,” Hilde sighed. “Lets
just say Hiiro’s got a grudge against anyone that doesn’t
fit his idea of socially acceptable.” “What do you mean ‘socially acceptable?’”
Quatre asked. “Duo’s gay,” Hilde told him point blank. Quatre looked affronted. “He hates him just because
he's gay?” he asked and Hilde nodded. “Him and his gang wont be happy till they run us
all out of town,” Solo interjected. “Us?” the blond queried. “Shinigami’s Lot,” he explained. “That’s
what he calls us. The ones he protects.” Hilde elaborated. “All the gay kids and their friends.” “Are you two...?” “Solo’s straight but he and Duo go way back.
I am,” she admitted. Quatre looked thoughtful for a moment. “Shinigami,”
he said out loud “That’s Japanese. Does that have something
to do with that boy being Japanese too?” Hilde looked to Solo for an answer to that one but the
dark blond boy just shrugged and said “Could be.” before
he ushered Hilde toward the lunchroom. “See ya later.” “Later,” Quatre said absently turning to his
locker only to find it had been pushed shut. With an exasperated sigh
he popped it like he’d seen Duo do and smiled brightly as it
swung open. Corsica was definitely more exciting that St. Gabriel’s
that’s for sure. ~ Duo slung his pack in the corner of his room and slammed
his door. He couldn’t believe he’d gotten a three day suspension
over this shit. All he’d done was defend himself! Well, he didn’t
have to break Kenny’s nose but the asshole had had it coming!
He still had glass all over his floor thanks to that little fuck!
When the psycho fit finally ebbed he laid back on his
bed trying to get a grip on reality. How had it come to this? How
could Hiiro be so damn cold after everything. An old familiar pain
split his chest as the memories came flooding back once more. -~- “Hey, man, did you take notes in Algebra today?”
Duo asked his best friend since the third grade. They’d met at
school after the braided child had been adopted by a local couple
and hit it off immediately. “Yes,” Hiiro droned. “Don’t you
ever do any work?” he asked rolling his eyes and handing over
the notes. “Why? You’re doing a great job without
me!” the violet eyed boy jibbed. It had taken a long time for Duo to get the sullen
boy to open up. The last six months had been a true test of their
friendship. For some unknown reason; after three years of being best
friends; Hiiro had suddenly clamed up completely. They still hung
out, they did their homework together, walked to and from school together
like always but the boy just stopped talking. Duo still didn’t
know what could have caused the sudden change in his friend but he
figured it had something to do with his stepfather, Dr. Jay, being
arrested and sent to prison for the statutory rape of one of his teenage
patients. The incident had left Hiiro without a caretaker as
his mother had died when he was very young. Luckily his inheritance
allowed for a foster parent to be brought in until he was old enough
to manage his assets on his own. Mr. Lowe was a quiet man that minded
his own business most of the time leaving the boys to themselves.
Duo smiled over the notes. Hiiro was finally starting
to act like Hiiro again. It made him happy just to look at the dark
hared boy. “What?” Hiiro said obviously unnerved by
his friends violet gaze. “Nothing” Duo replied. “You have any
idea what a dangling participle is?” he asked innocently. Hiiro threw a ball of paper at him and rolled his
eyes. -~- Duo squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed them with the
heels of his hands. Those days were long gone. Hiiro wasn’t the
same person now. He was power hungry and heartless and dead set on
ridding his town of anyone that didn’t meet his strict standards
of “normal”. “Jesus, Hiiro… what happened to you?”
he whispered absently pulling the cross he wore around his neck from
beneath his shirt and fingering it. The little silver cross had been
a gift from Sister Helen at the orphanage before her and Father Maxwell
had been gunned down by an irate Alliance soldier insisting on sanctuary
for protection from prosecution for his war crimes. He could still
feel the heat of the nun’s blood as the back of her head exploded
when she’d stepped in front of him to keep the bullet from lodging
in his chest. A tear ran down his cheek as he recalled the day he’d
lost the first people that had ever cared about him. -~- “Whadya want here? Leave us alone!” the
child with the long chestnut hair shouted as the stranger backhanded
the priest again. “Shut up, kid!” the man retorted pointing
his rifle in the child’s unflinching face. “Go away!” the boy screamed, his violet
eyes glittering with angry tears. “We don’t want you here!
Go away! Leave Father Maxwell”lone!” “You don’t want me here, huh?” the
man in the uniform growled. “Fine! Who needs ya!” he howled
turning his gun on the helpless priest and firing. The elderly priest’s body jerked violently as
his chest was filled with rapidly fired bullets, his life’s blood
splattering the wall and floor behind him as he fell in slow motion
to the cold, hard floor. Duo screamed and tried to lurch forward and run to
his side but Sister Helen held him back. The maniacal man turned his
weapon on the hysterical boy and pulled the trigger. Sister Helen
shouted “NO!” and stepped into the bullet, her head exploding
out the back as the lead hit her dead in the forehead. Her blood spilled
onto the boy who stood in wide-eyed shock as her body fell before
him. He felt the heat of her blood on his face and his arms even before
her body hit the ground. He stood gazing down at the dead woman as the man
threw back his head and laughed insanely. His eyes slowly turned to
the lifeless form of the priest that had held him on his lap and told
him bedtime stories late at night just because he was scared or lonely.
He looked to the crazed soldier for a moment before his eyes set like
stone and he walked slowly from the room. A minute later the door slammed open again, the boy
stood alone framed by the light from the kitchen as the man turned
to face him, the insane smile still on his face. All he saw was a
small boy in a catholic priest’s mock. The uniform he’d
earned by committing himself to study theology and become a priest
himself one day. The boy knew that dream was as dead as his caretakers
the moment the heavy carving knife left his hand. The soldier screamed and fell, the knife embedded
in his chest. He began to beg as the boy approached. The cold gaze
of the child told him he’d find no compassion here so he turned
his attention to his god instead, begging for his mercy as the boy
retrieved the mans rifle and came to stand over him. “You want, God?” he asked in a voice of
icy hatred. “I’ll be your God. The God of Death.” And he fired. -~- Duo sat bolt upright, his breath heaving in his chest.
He couldn’t remember falling asleep but he hadn’t had that
nightmare in a very long time. Not since Hiiro had... he had helped
him... overcome them… a long, long time ago. The doorbell rang and he realized that’s what had
woken him and he scrubbed his eyes to rid them of the dried tears
before he got up to make his way down stairs. When he opened the door
he was shocked to find Quatre standing outside on his porch. “What the hell are you doin here?” he snapped.
If this boy was related to Trowa he didn’t want anything to do
with him. “Thanks a lot,” the blond spat back. “What’s
your problem?” “What do you want, Quatre? Spying for that low
life Wing trash?” “That is totally unfair, Duo,” Quatre retorted,
his voice wavering as he spoke. Duo’s disposition was softened by the hurt look
on his face in spite of everything. “Your cousins gonna get ‘real’
pissy ‘real’ fast if he finds out you’re hanging around
with me,” he told him. “We don’t exactly get along
if ya hadn’t noticed.” “I noticed,” Quatre retorted. “We’re
not even blood relatives?! He’s only my cousin by marriage and
I certainly do not share his views on ... on things!” “Things?” Duo growled. “Whadya mean things!?
I’m not a fucking thing, sunny boy!” he added stepping menacingly
out onto the porch. Quatre stood his ground. “I didn’t mean it
like that!” he told him, his voice growing in volume as he eyes
began to flash with unshed tears. “No? Then what did you mean?!” the braided
boy challenged. “I... I just thought...” Quatre started, his
voice falling in volume as he choked out the last of his words “...we
could be friends.” “Friends?” Duo howled throwing his hands in
the air in frustration and storming around the porch. “Your precious
cousin left Solo in a fuckin ditch last month beat to a fucking pulp!
His buddy; the fabulous Mr. Perfect Yuy; put Alex in the hospital
last week just cause he didn’t like the way he ate a fucking
corn dog! I have enough problems without having to protect their own
god damn family from them as well!!!” “You don’t have to protect me!” the blond
insisted. “Why!?” Duo yelled. “Why would you even
want to be friends with me?! They’d kick your ass just for being
seen with me! I’m a fag Quatre! You get that? I’m a fucking
fairy! That’s why they hate me! ‘Cause I’m fucking
gay!” “SO AM I!” Quatre roared. Duo came to an abrupt halt, his next words dying stillborn
in his throat. He let out a little puff of air that sounded remarkably
like someone had just let go an over inflated balloon and dropped
the finger he was about to point in Quatre’s face limply to his
side. After a moment he looked down at his feet, one hand coming up
to scratch the back of his head as he lifted his gaze to peer at the
blond from beneath his thick fall of long bangs. “You are huh?” he said softly. “Yeah,” Quatre confirmed panting softly. A small tremor rose from his bowels, a tiny chuckle
at first that seemed to grow as it blossomed in his throat. Quatre
suddenly smiled as well, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laugher.
Before long they were both over come by a full blow giggle fit that
had them rolling on the porch for five minutes clutching their sides.
Duo caught his breath first “Y... you’re not
kidding right? You’re really gay?” Quatre forced his short reply, “Yes”. “Ohh….oh man... that’s rich! Oh the quiet
man must just be thrilled about that!” Quatre sobered “No... no one knows,” he admitted
through a the dying mirth. Duo sobered as well. “No one?” he asked standing
and offering his hand to his new friend. Quatre took it and was pulled to his feet. He followed
Duo into the house as he answered. “No, not really. My parents
of course but I’ve never told anyone else.” “How do you date?” Duo wondered. Quatre studied the decor while he answered. “I
don’t.” “Why not? Geez. You’re a good lookin guy.
I could fix you up no problem,” the braided boy offered with
a grin. “Guys need to know you’re into guys before
their going to ask you out,” he replied. Duo’s brow knitted. “You want a soda or something?”
he offered leading them into the kitchen. “Some water would be nice.” Duo quirked a brow but got him his water and himself
a soda before he picked up the conversation again. “You ashamed of it?” he asked boldly. “No,” Quatre answer honestly. “It’s
just… well, my family and all… it’d be bad PR I guess.
I already get enough flack from people because I’m the Winner
heir. I don’t need them going off because I’m gay.” “But that means they run your life,” Duo argued.
Quatre dropped his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, you
should let me set you up. I know every gay kid around here. I’ve
picked most of them up off the floor after one of Wing’s cronies
got hold of em,” Duo offered. “Actually,” the blond said shyly. “There’s
already someone I like.” “Really?” Duo perked up “Who?” “Just someone,” Quatre said nervously. “Doesn’t
matter. He’s straight so he’d never go for me.” “Oh,” the braided boy replied. “Well.
If you change your mind let me know. I bet Alex would love to go out
with a cutie like you.” Quatre blushed deep red at the compliment earning him
a huge smile from the violet-eyed boy. “What about you?” the blond asked suddenly.
Duo nearly spat his soda out his nose. “Me?”
he asked wiping the sticky liquid from his chin. “You wanna go
out with me?” Quatre rolled his eyes “No,” he said then
amended the blunt statement “Not that your not attractive or
anything, on the contrary your very beautiful it’s just.,.” “Whoa! Slow down Q-ball,” Quatre’s eyes
widened at the odd nickname. “I’ve been called lots of shit
but ‘beautiful’ ain’t never been one of’em. Relax,
I don’t wanna date you either.” “What I meant was do you date?” the blond
explained. Duo’s expression grew unexplainably dark for a
moment before he responded with a simple, “No.” Quarter knew when to leave it alone and didn’t
press the subject. Instead he decided on a more lighthearted topic
of conversation. “You are you know?” “What?” Duo asked. “Beautiful,” Quatre grinned drinking a bit
of his water. Duo rolled his big violet eyes and tossed a piece of
ice at him. “I brought you today’s lessons,” Quatre
told him. “At least the ones we have class together in,”
he said reaching for his pack. Duo smiled at this new friend. “Thanks,” he
said taking the information. “Are you still going to the show tonight?”
the blond asked. “Oh yeah,” Duo replied. “Nothing keeps
me from the airfield. That’s where ya get to see all the new
models and what they can do. They’re gonna have a Leo mobile
suit out there and an Aries too I heard. Man! I can’t wait to
get a look at those babies.” “Come by the main office at five and I’ll
take you on a tour. You’ll get to see them close up,” Quatre
offered with a smile. Duo’s eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“Damn you’re serious aren’t ya? I could get used to
this whole “I own the world” thing!” he said with a
wide grin and a toasting tap of his soda can on Quatre’s glass.
“It’s the least I can do for Shinigami,”
the blond teased. Duo’s brow went up at the mention of the name.
“Hilde and Solo explained things” Quatre informed his new
friend. Duo nodded and finished his soda. “Well, I should get
home if I’m gonna set up a tour later. I’ll meet you in
the main office at five.” “Can I bring some friends?” “Of course” Quatre smiled. “Keep it down
to a half dozen or so,” he whispered as if it were some great
secret. Duo laughed. “Three’s fine”. “Done” Quatre agreed. tbc...
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