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"Summer Time"Written By: t-shirt Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are
copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties.
I make no money with this fic. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU/Romance, Fluff. WAFF *grin*, angst,
attempted rape of a minor (but Hiiro kicks his ass!), mention of lemon Pairings: 1x2, bg 3x4, mention of 5xM Summary: A young man takes a step into his past
only to discover his future. "Summer Time" Ch 3 “Settle down everyone,” Noin soothed, calling the converted mess hall to order. Most of the children did as instructed, turning curious eyes toward the front as Sally took over. “For those who are new to Camp Widehesash, welcome,” she began. “Those of you who are returning… Duo… sit down…” A soft murmur of laughter rolled through the room as the braided boy slowly returned to his seat but Sally never missed a beat, “…know that we like to play a little game on the first night to help get to know each other a little better. This game is called…” “TELL-A-TALE!” the regulars crowed when they were prompted. Sally smiled, indicating Noin should begin. “The game is simple,” she explained. “Noin will toss the ball to one of you and that person will tell us something they did over the past year then pass the ball to someone else.” “Me first!” “Pick me!” Sally nodded to her partner who grinned and lunched the ball high into the air where no less than five children tried to catch it at once, knocking it this way and that until it finally settled in the hands of Chang Wufei. The Chinese boy blinked then blinked again before turning his black eyes to Sally. “Go on,” the woman encouraged. “What interesting things happened to you this year?” “I turned fourteen,” Wufei replied, gaining a lame chuckle from the other kids until he added, “And got married.” “You did not!” Kelly exclaimed. “No way!” Duo gasped. “Seriously?” Quatre gaped. “It is the custom in my clan,” Wufei explained, sounding bored with the subject. “Well,” Sally breathed unsteadily. “Who’s next?” Wufei tossed the ball into the air where it came down squarely on Trowa’s nose. “Trowa!” Sally smiled with relief. “Tell us what grand adventures you had with your circus this year!” “My sister took up knife throwing,” the acrobat deadpanned, remaining passive when his peers oo’ed and ah’ed while Sally went pale. “And the Manager gave me a lion cub to train.” “Really?” Shelly beamed. “What’s its name!?” Trowa’s eyes flickered to Quatre then back again before he answered, “Raberba.” “Really?” Quatre smiled gently, being the only one in the room who fully understood. Trowa offered him a half smile before tossing the ball directly into his hands. “Oh,” the blond chirped in surprise. “Um… well… I spent part of the year in Arabia with Rashid but last month Father took me to L4 so I could learn to pilot.” “You got to fly a spaceship?!” “What was it like!?” “Did you shoot anybody down?!” “Where there any aliens?!” “Calm down!” Sally cut in, saving Quatre from any further questioning. The blond boy favored her with a grateful smile before heaving the ball at Duo’s head. The braided boy grinned and snatched it uncannily from the air before standing and climbing up on the table to make his speech. “Any of you ever seen a mobile suit!?” he grinned, gaining a loud gasp from the group. “Well I have!” he boasted. “Got to sit in it and everything!” “You liar,” Colton laughed. “You’ve never even seen a mobile suit.” “Have too!” Duo countered. “It was so big I was no bigger than its eye!” The kids gasped and gathered around. “How’d you do that?” Shelly asked. “Me and some other kids broke into the warehouse…” “Duo,” Sally intoned. “They all got caught but I’m smarter than that,” the braided boy went on. “So I hid in the cock pit of this huge mobile suit.” “You went inside?” Relena gasped. “Yep!” Duo beamed. “Got to aim the guns and everything!” “Why aren’t you in jail then?” James reasoned. “’Cause I didn’t get caught, dummy,” Duo explained with a roll of his eyes. “Duo!” Sally barked sternly and the longhaired boy left off with a wide grin, tossing the ball right at Hiiro’s chest. Hiiro’s hand snapped up to catch it but his eyes never actually left Duo’s while doing so. “Here we go,” Sally smiled, seeming relived. “Hiiro. This is your first year. Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?” “I’d rather not,” the Japanese boy replied. “Ah, come on, man!” Duo grumbled, sitting on the edge of the table before him. “There’s gotta be something you can tell us.” Hiiro thought about it for a minute then replied, “My mentor and I visited several colonies last year.” “Does you’re dad take you on business trips?” Quatre asked. “He is not my father,” Hiiro explained. “But you get to go to outer space,” Shelly smiled dreamily. “I’ll bet you’re a great help to him on your travels,” Relena beamed. “I do my duty,” Hiiro replied. “Why aren’t you up there now?” James asked skeptically. “He felt I needed to be…socialized,” Hiiro explained. “Sounds like you’re his pet instead of his son,” Colton laughed. “What’dyu know!?” Duo snapped, snatching the ball from Hiiro’s hand to bean him on the head with. “I’m not his son,” Hiiro reiterated. “Geez!” Colton grumbled, rubbing the red spot on his forehead. “All right,” Sally cut in. “That’s enough. James, it’s your turn.” ** “Where’s Calli and Mark?” Duo shouted, gathering his troop to return to the main camp. “They were here a minute ago,” Hiiro replied, looking around. “Betty,” Duo called one of the girls. “Keep an eye on things for a minute,” he told her, grinning playfully at Hiiro before fading into the trees. Curiously Hiiro followed, uncertain what he was up to until he spotting the two missing teens behind a bush doing things they most certainly were not supposed to be doing. He snickered, covering the sound with his hand when he saw Duo sneaking up on them. He could tell he had something in his hand but didn’t realize it was alive until the braided boy dropped it on Cali’s head and ducked back as the girl screamed and ran off with Mark blinking in astonishment as he chased after her. “You are so mean,” Hiiro chuckled when Duo rejoined them. “Better than having to write them up for making out,” Duo shrugged. Hiiro smiled as he followed him back to the others, recalling what it was like to be thirteen or fourteen years old. ** “TROWA! COME DOWN!” “Can you see the lake?!” Duo called excitedly as they watched their gangly friend walk out a long branch extending off the southern side of the tree he’d climbed. “TROWA!” Quatre gasped again, clapping a worried hand over his mouth. “Someone’s fishing in a skiff,” the taller boy revealed with smug satisfaction. “Come down!” Quatre insisted again. “If you fall there’s no one to put the pieces back together you know!” “He’s not an egg,” Duo snorted. “Nor would he survive such a fall,” Wufei reasoned, shading his eyes as he gazed upward at their daring friend. “Naw,” Trowa smiled, catching Quatre’s eye before side stepping. “Even if I fell,” he grinned as Quatre shouted in horror when his body began its rapid descent but just before all hope was lost he caught hold of a branch, altering his deathly course and flipped head over heals to land confidently in front of the blond boy and smiled, “I’d survive.” Quatre stared at him in wide eyed wonder for a moment before his pale face suddenly scrunched up in wild fury. “YOU IDIOT!” he crowed, smacking the taller boy repeatedly as he laughed and backed away. “Cool,” Duo grinned in admiration. “An unnecessary risk,” Wufei commented. “There is nothing to be gained from showing off.” “Says you,” Duo grinned, watching as Quatre succeeded in knocking Trowa to the ground and tried to pin him. ** The day had been spent in very good company. Duo had dragged him through every task assigned to him during that first hectic day but Hiiro had enjoyed every moment of it, cherishing the time he got to be with the longhaired boy as much as he had during that long summer. It had seemed like it might never end at times as they lazed in the summer sun. There had been days of never ending wonder as they explored the mountain, discovering all its inhabitants, be they friend or foe but it had been the nights he enjoyed the most. It was only after dark that he got Duo all to himself and they would sit up for hours just talking about everything and nothing at all. He’d never known a happier time and had come to dread the day when his mentor would return and take him away again so he decided he would ask to come back. Back to the only place where he’d ever been allowed to be a child, back to where he at last felt at home… back to Duo. But it hadn’t happened that way. ** “It wasn’t my fault!” “I know that’s what you believe,” Sally sighed. “But you broke Colton’s arm and that is just not acceptable behave…” “He tried to hit Hiiro over the head with a brick!” “Duo…” “He was only trying to protect me!” the braided boy cried. “Calm down,” Sally soothed. “It’s all right.” “No,” Duo sobbed. “It’s not… he tried to hurt Hiiro.” “That is no reason for you to have broken his arm,” the woman reasoned. “He had it coming!” “Enough,” Sally spoke sternly. “I’m afraid it’s out of my hands now,” she sighed, shaking her head. “You’ll have to stay here until Mr. Valentine decides what to do about it.” “Who’s he?” Duo sniffed. “He’s head of security for all the camps in this state,” she explained. “He’s here now trying to reason with Colton’s parents and keep you from being banned or sent to juvenile correction.” Duo’s eyes widened before his face set in a stubborn grimace. “Just stay here,” Sally sighed. “Mr. Valentine will be by to speak to you shortly.” Duo rubbed at his nose wondering what his fate might be as she left him to stew. She wasn’t gone two minutes before Hiiro stuck his nose in the window. “Duo?” “Hiiro!” the braided boy grinned, dashing forward. “What’re you doing here?” “Why did you do that?” Hiiro hissed. “I could’ve handled him!” “He tried to bash your head in!” Duo argued. “What was I supposed to do?” “Thanks,” Hiiro grumbled. “You’re welcome,” Duo groused. “What’re they going to do?” Hiiro asked. “I don’t know,” Duo sighed. “But from the sound of it I’m in deep…shhh!” he suddenly hissed shoving Hiiro’s head back outside just before the door opened. ** “Hiiro?” “Hn?” the Japanese boy hummed distractedly then realized he’d been day dreaming again. “Right,” he smiled, tossing the ball into the air. Tell-a-Tale was the last duty Duo had to perform before he was free for the evening and the game lasted much too long for Hiiro’s liking. Duo had agreed to take a walk with him around the lake and he was most anxious to begin. By the time the game came to a close and the kids were ushered off to their cabins for the night his anxiety had risen to a point of jittery nerves and when Duo touched his shoulder softly, he jumped two inches out of his seat. “You ok?” the braided boy chuckled. “Sorry,” Hiiro laughed along. “Ready?” It was time. He nodded and followed the beautiful young man outside, waving to Noin as she guided the young to their proper abodes. The night was warm but devoid of the day’s vibrant heat. Hiiro had always loved the scent of the pinewood forest and breathed it in as they strode slowly along the bank. “You haven’t told me what you’ve been doing for the past three years,” Duo commented. “Finding my way,” Hiiro smiled. “That’s a bit vague, Hiiro,” Duo chuckled. “After what happened here I was sent to a correctional facility.” “Oh,” Duo replied softly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” “It worked out well,” Hiiro explained. “I learned a lot during my stay here that helped me turn it into a profitable solution.” “You’re loosing me,” Duo laughed. “Sorry,” Hiiro chuckled. “To put it more honestly, I admitted myself when I turned my mentor in.” Duo raised a brow that indicated he partially understood. “What we had been doing wasn’t exactly legal,” the Japanese boy confirmed. “But I was too young to prosecute at the time so they gave me the option of attending a school that specializes in criminal rehabilitation.” “Shit,” Duo exclaimed. “What in the hell was that guy using you for?” “It doesn’t matter,” Hiiro shrugged. “It was wrong and after I met you… I finally understood.” Duo smiled warmly, giving him that funny feeling in his gut again but he managed to go on. “So I turned him in and opted for school.” “And how did that turn into a ‘profitable solution’?” Duo inquired. “It seems I have a talent for programming,” Hiiro smiled. “I create custom OS systems for interplanetary ships.” Duo whistled his appreciation. “Must be nice,” he grinned. “Who would have thought you’d end up one of the rich and famous?” “Rich, yes,” Hiiro nodded. “But I prefer to work behind the scenes. No one in the company even knows who I am,” he chuckled. “Still as aloof as ever,” Duo laughed. “I’m glad you’re doing so well,” he smiled. “Honestly, if anyone ever deserved a second chance it’s you.” “We all deserve a second chance,” Hiiro smiled. “I don’t know,” Duo shrugged, stopping to look out over the moonlit lake. “Some of us just weren’t dealt a very good hand.” “That all depends on how you look at it.” Duo’s eyes shifted back to his companion and Hiiro felt that old shiver run down his spine when he asked, “What is it that you see?” “Beauty,” Hiiro replied with such conviction Duo’s eyes grew wide. “The sort of beauty one finds in the sky on a hot summer’s night,” Hiiro went on stepping closer. “Or in the heart of a storm.” Duo licked his lips and glanced away but did not retreat. “I see beauty in everything that you are,” he told him, daring to reach out and touch his chin. He felt his knees go weak when Duo shuddered softly as he turned endless, deep violet eyes on him. “Duo…” “One would think you had feelings for me,” the longhaired boy whispered softly. “Considering everything you’ve done.” Hiiro’s mind flashed back to a dark night when his best friend stood in silent defiance against a fate he had been directly responsible for. ** “Mr. Maxwell,” Mr. Valentine addressed the frightened boy as he entered the red cabin. Duo stood straight and tall, glaring defiantly at the man as he filled the small room. “Do you understand your situation?” the man asked. “Colton tried to bash Hiiro’s head in,” Duo explained. “The issue here is the injury to Colton’s arm,” the man replied, looking the cabin over. It was dark outside and the red cabin was set apart from the others as a sort of time out for those who misbehaved. “He had it coming,” Duo insisted. “I see you feel no remorse for your actions,” Valentine commented, turning to lock the door. “From what I read in your file you’re a very busy boy,” he commented, turning back around. “I must say, you’re in trouble more than any other child in this entire camp.” “They started it,” Duo defended. “I’m afraid that isn’t good enough,” the man smiled, stepping closer. “You obviously do not respond to the usual reprimand. Therefore,” he grinned, pulling a switch from his trousers, “I shall be forced to use other means.” Duo’s jaw set firmly until the man ordered, “Pull down your pants.” “No way!” SMACK! Duo recoiled, turning to gape at the man as he held the red whelp on his cheek. “Now,” Valentine grinned, raising the switch again. Angrily Duo clawed at his pants, ripping them down and placing his hand on the bed with his bottom exposed. “Now you’re beginning to understand,” the man told him, coming to stand beside him. Duo gritted his teeth as the first blow fell, trying hard not to cry out but by the time the fifth stung his skin he was unable to stop the biting tears or the gasping grunts that escaped his throat. Upon the eighth lash, Hiiro’s head appeared in the window behind Valentine’s back but Duo shook his head forcing the Japanese boy to retreat, then finally the beating ceased. “You’re a strong boy,” Valentine panted, more out of breath than Duo, commanding, “Stay,” when the boy tried to stand up. “You don’t think that’s sufficient punishment for having broken someone’s arm?” he chuckled, moving to stand behind him. “I’ve disciplined stronger boys than you,” he boasted. “And every one of them has thanked me in the end.” “What’re you doin!?” Duo gasped when he felt a hand grip his buttocks. “Be quiet!” Valentine growled, pushing him forward onto the bunk where he pinned him by twisting his arm behind his back and laying his weight on him. “You’re all the same!” the man hissed, clawing at his belt. “Get off me!” Duo snarled, fighting hard but the man was too strong. “Relax,” Valentine chuckled breathlessly. “It’ll be over in a minute and I guarantee you’ll be a man when I’m finished!” “Hiiro!” Before the man had a chance to spin around he was cracked upside the head with something hard and went sprawling onto the floor. A moment later Hiiro had him by the shirt collar and was punching him so hard in the face, blood splattered the wall with each blow. Duo watched horror struck for a time until he suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Hiiro’s arm. “Stop it!” “He tried to…!” Hiiro growled in a tone no human should be able to utter, tossing the braided boy off like a rag doll before jerking the arm off a chair and clubbing the man in the head with it. “NO!” Duo wailed, diving on him and knocking him to the floor but Hiiro was quickly back on his feet and headed for the unconscious Valentine. “Hiiro! Please,” Duo sobbed. “You’re gonna kill him!” “Yes,” Hiiro deadpanned, jerking the man up by his hair so he had a clean shot at his throat. “But… you can’t do that!” Duo cried pitifully. Hiiro paused, seeming uncertain and asked, “Why?” “Because,” Duo sniffled. “You ain’t a murderer,” he sobbed on a shaky breath. “It ain’t right to kill; didn’t anyone ever tell you that?” Hiiro looked at the longhaired boy who now sat on the floor naked from the waist down sobbing like a baby and trying desperately to save the man who had just tried to rape him. It didn’t make sense, he couldn’t reason why Duo would care if this man died, then it hit him. It wasn’t Valentine Duo was crying for, it was Hiiro. He didn’t want Hiiro to suffer because he’d taken the man’s life. Duo launched himself on him the moment Hiiro dropped the man and sobbed. “It’s all right,” Hiiro soothed. “I won’t kill him.” “It ain’t right to kill,” Duo choked, clinging tightly to his neck. “It’s ok,” Hiiro told him, holding him tight. “I understand now.” “What in the… oh my god!” Sally gasped, seeing Valentine laying in a bloody mess on the floor. “Noin! Call an ambulance! What happened here!” When the story came out it was clear that Valentine had been using his position to molest children for some time, causing most of the charges against Hiiro to be dropped. However, the brutality of the beating the boy had bestowed upon the man revealed a frightening side of the boy’s psyche, resulting in his being banned from camp and sent to a correctional facility. ** Hiiro looked deep into his eyes and knew without a shadow of a doubt, “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” “Does that mean…?” Duo whispered, grunting softly when Hiiro brought their mouths together in a chaste little kiss that left his knees weak and stars dancing in his eyes. “I love you,” Hiiro confessed, swallowing hard. “I always have.” “Is that why you came back?” The chuckle that escaped the Japanese boy wasn’t exactly what Duo had been expecting so he drew away and cocked a brow. “I didn’t know you were here, actually,” Hiiro confessed. “Honestly, I figured you were in space since you were too old for camp anymore. I never dreamed I’d get lucky enough to find you here.” “Then why did you come?” “Duo,” Hiiro breathed, taking his face in both hands. “This is the last place I got to see your face…” “Stop,” the braided boy gasped, closing his eyes. “Please, just let me live in this moment forever.” Hiiro smiled brightly, moving closer to him as he softly intoned, “Then we’d miss out on this one,” as he kissed him again. Duo groaned so sumptuously as Hiiro slowly tasted him it was all he could do to keep from pushing him down on the ground and ravaging him right there but Duo one upped him again.
“Come on!” the braided boy gasped, snagging his hand and dragging him back toward the camp. When they reached his cabin they laughed at his inability to open the door when he had to try the latch twice but then the door was behind them and the lock was in place and Duo was suddenly in his arms. It felt so damn good to hold him, to feel his heat and the frantic groping of his hands but it was all moving too fast. “Wait,” Hiiro breathed, gripping Duo’s wrist to slow their feverish grasping. “What?” Duo panted blindly and Hiiro swallowed hard when he saw the glazed passion in his eyes. “Please,” Hiiro begged, wrapping him up smoothly in his arms. “We’ve waited so long…let me savor this.” “If anyone knocks on that door I hope they get struck by lightning,” Duo rasped, laying his head back so that Hiiro could get a better taste. Fortunately, no one did knock and they were left to their explorations until the dawn. Duo’s cabin was much more comfortable than Hiiro recalled the kids’ cabins had been, having a double bed instead of the hard bunks and they’d tested the springs a number of times during the night. He had hoped that somehow this road would lead him back to Duo’s side, that he would get the chance to tell him how he felt but he hadn’t really dared dream that Duo would reciprocate his feelings so profoundly. They got little sleep that night but Hiiro was content to lie awake and just watch him breathe. However, that game ended when the longhaired boy stirred just after dawn and smiled happily. “Mornin,” Duo sighed, rolling deeper into Hiiro’s arms. “Morning,” Hiiro smiled, kissing his hair. “What time is it?” Hiiro peered at the clock. “Seven.” “Mmmm,” Duo moaned happily. “Another hour.” “You get to sleep in?” “I’m on late duty tonight,” Duo explained snuggling closer. Well, that worked for Hiiro so he decided to take advantage of the time, rolling over on top of him and kissing him soundly. Duo groaned deliciously, spreading his knees to let his lover settle but both of them snapped to attention when the door opened. “Duo? Are you…shit!” Zechs barked, backing out the door, then he was suddenly back. “Hiiro!?” “Hi,” the Japanese boy smiled sheepishly, slowly sliding from between Duo’s thighs. “Duo?!” Zechs gaped. “Is Tatima ok?” Duo asked, drawing the sheet more securely around his naked body. “She’s… what in the hell is going on?” Zechs asked, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “I thought you were coming up here to…” “Nothing’s changed,” Hiiro cut in. “To what?” Duo asked suspiciously. “I told you I didn’t know you were here,” Hiiro explained. “I thought we had a deal,” Zechs interjected. “What deal?” Duo demanded. “When I found out the camp was in trouble I put a bid in to buy it,” Hiiro explained. “You came here to buy us out?” Duo asked going pale. “Not exactly,” Hiiro went on. “My company is going to supplement your funding with donations. It’s perfectly legitimate and will ensure the camp remains open.” “Wh…why would you do that?” Duo stammered. “Because,” Hiiro smiled taking his hand. “This was where I found you,” he told him, kissing it warmly. “I couldn’t let it go. And once I was a partial owner they couldn’t stop me from looking in the files for your address.” “You bought the camp so you could find me?” Duo laughed. “You’re still going through with it, right?” Zechs asked nervously. “Of course,” Hiiro chuckled, cupping Duo’s face. “All right then,” the man smiled. “I’ll just leave you two to… ahem… right…” “Zechs?” Duo smiled, already sinking down into the sheets. “Hn?” “Mind if I take a couple of days off?” Duo asked, pulling Hiiro close. “I think the new boss might need reorientation.” Zechs face pinked in high contrast to his white hair and he uttered a quick, “Take as long as you want,” as he exited and locked the door behind him. “He has a key to your cabin?” Hiiro grumbled. “He’s the administrator,” Duo chuckled. “He has a key to all the cabins. Asshole doesn’t know what it means to knock anymore.” “Remind me to have the lock changed,” Hiiro grinned, crawling under the sheet with him. “You really bought the camp just to find me?” Duo smiled, tugging him close. “I’d have found you anyway,” Hiiro replied, kissing him sweetly. “How long can you stay?” “Until I convince you to come with me.” “Camp’s only six weeks long, you know?” Duo chuckled. Hiiro rose up, not having thought of that. “What do you do for the rest of the year?” Duo’s smile turned decidedly playful when he replied, “I pilot deep space, resource recon ships for Quatre.” Hiiro laughed out loud, already understanding that their chosen professions would fit together as well as they did and dove in for another taste of the one thing he knew he would never get enough of. owari :)
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