"What would happen if we kissed? Would your tongue slip past my lips? Would you run away? Would you stay? Or would I melt into you, mouth to mouth, lust to lust, spontaneously combust... The room is spinning out of control... you act like you didn't notice, when you brushed my hand... Forbidden fruit, cross around my neck... You're such a moral, moral man, but you'd throw it away, no question... will I pretend I'm an innocent?"
      --- "What Would Happen"

It's A Hard Knock Life Part 7
Promises, Kept and Broken

Duo walked back towards the hotel, stiff from the night before, and tired from lack of sleep. The streets had that tumbleweed feel to them, almost totally abandoned, like they always were in the middle of the day on L2.

Most of the people on L2 lived in the night by choice, as the colony was slightly cooler in the darkness. But those who were not sleeping the day away were sitting in patches of shade along the dusty streets, fanning themselves or loitering in any place they could find air-conditioning.

Dirty children played at quiet games in the alleys, sticking to the shadows to either hold out their cans and bowls for alms or simply just to rest, too hot to brawl or even steal. There were hammocks in the alleyways, and orphans hung slumbering there in dirty bundles.

A group of older orphans hung out at a shadowed street corner, listlessly smoking joints and drinking beer they'd purchased cheap from two young breakers-professional burglars -who had taken them from a brewery warehouse.

Duo purposely took the longest way to the hotel that he could braiding his hair as he walked. It was a stretch, to think about so many things and braid his hair and walk, but he did his best. He was sure his hair was a tangled mess, braided or not, but he didn't have a brush, and for once, he didn't care.

So he was afraid of what Heero would say when he came back... so what? He could be afraid, too. Especially of Heero. Heero was the only pilot he knew that he knew could kill him. The only pilot he knew who could defeat him in mobile suit combat. He didn't have to fight Heero to know that.

So... he wasn't really looking forward to coming home after curfew, as it were.

He finally reached the hotel and snuck around towards the back way, finding the window that belonged to the room he and Heero had taken and slipping the latch, lifting the door as quietly as he could and sneaking in... undetected, he thought. The bedroom was empty and dark. Heero's laptop was on and set to green screen, the one that took what seemed like a bazillion different passwords just to get into.

The room was completely silent, the bed made just as Duo had known it would be. The only sounds were the hum of the faulty air-conditioning unit and his own breathing.

// Woo! I made it! He must have went out into the city or something- //

He was turned around and stepping into the room when he felt a shift in the air currents, more a vibration than a sound. It startled him and he tripped on the windowsill, landing in a heap on the floor as the lights flickered on.

// Dammit. //

Duo's hand had already gone to his knife when he heard Heero's voice, soft and deadpan.

"No, Duo."

Duo wasn't stupid. He knew Heero had his gun, and a knife was no contest to a gun, no matter how good a soldier was. "What if I do?"

"I'll shoot you."

Duo looked up through his bangs at the Wing pilot, who was standing over him at a safe distance, to protect himself if Duo decided to lash out with his hands or feet. "If you were gonna shoot me, you would have done it already."

Heero's expression was dangerously blank, but his eyes weren't. Duo couldn't read Heero's eyes, but he knew that whatever lay in those deep blue orbs was close to violence, and probably not joy at Duo's return. Heero's dark eyes never left the Deathscythe pilot, who just laid on the carpet in a rumpled pile, his hair disheveled with wisps sticking out everywhere, the braid crooked, smelling of sweat and cigarette smoke and sex.

"Maybe I want an explanation before I shoot you."

// Hm... was that a joke? // Duo took another quick check at Heero's face. // Nope. Probably not. //

"Heya... Heero. I uh... I know I'm late. Sorry 'bout that."

"Late." Heero's hand gripped the pistol, squeezing it until Duo could see the tension in the Japanese pilot's entire frame. His lips moved silently.

Duo stayed silent. He knew a smart crack right now could really get him killed. Heero would shoot him; Duo knew this as well as he knew the streets of L2. His eyes widened as he watched the Japanese pilot, who seemed to be talking to himself. // Is he... what is he doing? //

/ Ichi... ni... san... yon... go... roku... shichi... hachi... kyu... ju... / (1)

Heero took three deep, measured breaths, his cobalt eyes closed. When he opened them again, he finally spoke aloud, speaking slowly and carefully, as if he had suddenly forgotten how to speak English.

"Where... were... you?"

When Duo answered, his voice was sheepish. "I was with friends, Heero. Like I told you."

Heero was silent, it seemed, for almost two minutes. Just when Duo was going to dare to move, he spoke again. "You said you would be back by morning, too."

Duo scowled, getting defensive. "Yeah, so? I lost track of time. I said I was sorry already... sheesh..."

Heero moved too fast for Duo to see, and Duo suddenly felt his head thump the carpet and heard the pistol hit the floor. Heero was on top of him, a fistful of the braided pilot's shirt. Duo automatically fought, striking out at Heero's face, and he blocked the blow effortlessly. Duo tried to hit him again and the Japanese pilot grabbed his wrist.

"Son of a bitch! Let me up! It's none of your damned business where I was!!"

Heero said nothing, only held Duo down. Duo writhed and struggled under him, hissing curses.

After a few moments, Duo was out of breath from having the heavier pilot sitting on top of him. Heero got off of him and pulled the Deathscythe pilot up by his shirtfront. Duo pushed at him, still fighting, when Heero jerked him forward. Into Heero's arms.

Duo froze and sputtered to a stop, amethyst eyes wide, his chin resting on Heero's shoulder, feeling Heero's arms around his back like steel bands.

// What in the hell... // Heero's voice was not even a whisper. "Hai. It's none of my business. But I- " Duo was so close he could feel Heero swallow as he fought to get the last part out. "-I thought... something happened to you."

Heero brushed his fingers over Duo's jaw, tentatively, fingers hovering as if he was afraid to touch the Deathscythe pilot. Duo felt them barely whispering over his skin, fingers that could break his neck, crush his bones like china, bend steel. Duo could feel Heero's whole body shaking. Duo had never seen the Wing pilot so shy and groping and unsure. They were close enough to-

// Is he...!! //

Heero's lips touched Duo's, barely brushing over them, and Duo stopped trying to figure out what was going on through the Wing pilot's head. Duo raised his hands slowly, resting them at the nape of Heero's neck. Heero shivered under his touch. The feel of Heero shuddering under his fingers brought a soft sound from Duo's throat.

When Heero pulled back, neither of them would look at each other. Duo's hands were shaking, and he clenched them, lowering his head, feeling ashamed of himself. He knew he didn't have anything to be ashamed of... but he could still feel the blood burning in his cheeks.

// We should be looking at each other. Oh shit... why now, Heero? Why the fuck did you have to do it now? Jesus Christ... //

For once, he couldn't be the first one to speak. He couldn't even look Heero in the face. Heero took the American's silence for rejection and bowed his head, shamefaced.

Finally, determined that someone would say something, Heero spoke, still not looking up. His voice choked as he attempted to say something clinical and detached. "We have a new mission. We're returning to Earth."

Duo thought about what Solo had said. Will I pretend I'm innocent?

:: ...you'll come back?::

::I promise.::

::That's what you said last time. Don't promise. Just come.::

"Gomen nasai, Duo. I should have never done that. If we never speak again, we have to speak one more time. Our Mission. We have to leave now. Did you hear what I said?"

Duo was silent.

"Look at me, Duo."

Duo looked up. Heero had expected disgust, anger, even pity, but all he saw in those violet eyes was regret and a species of miserable fright. The American pilot said two soft, whispered words, and they hit Heero's heart like bullets.

"Mission refused."

TBC...

(1) Awww...he's counting to ten before he kills Duo. How considerate. ^_-

 

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