*...* internal thought
----- flashback
**** identifies a break in scenes
[1,2,3,4,...] author notes at the bottom of fic

Author's notes: well let's see, the only thing I can think of to say is that remember this is an AU fic and the characters have been changed and manipulated to suit my needs... terribly, terribly ooc, especially on Heero's part... so let's just say that ten years can change people a whole lot... a really lot... ^_^;;

A Class Act Part 2
Echos of Betrayal

Heero pulled himself through the chlorine infused waters of J's outdoor pool, his tone torso making smooth passes through the liquid. As his body fell into the hypnotizing rhythm of his freestyle stroke, his mind wandered through the events of the previous night.

After Duo's rather startling statement last night, Heero had immediately gone off to seek J out, to demand the elder scientist either refute or confirm his suspicions. Much to Heero's dismay and alarm, the older man had merely smiled his rather startling toothy grin and nodded enthusiastically, while at the same time jabbering on about 'getting reacquainted' with the old crowd.

Heero could feel a nerve ticking away in his forehead like a bomb.

After a few minutes of quiet ranting to himself, the young man had finally calmed down and accepted the inevitable. It was obvious there was nothing he could do to alter the current situation since it wasn't his house that Duo had been invited to stay in. And although Duo had gotten along better with Professor G, J and he had also been good friends throughout high school.

Besides, he was now a grown adult, fully aware of his own feelings and self worth. He didn't need to hide from the mistakes of his past anymore. He could get through this next week, seeing old friends and foes, even his old ex. He would laugh and joke and let bygones be bygones and act as if nothing that had happened in his past still had any power over him.

Or so he kept telling himself.

Deep down Heero knew better.

Even though ten years had passed since the graduation from high school and fleeing from the old bitterness that lingered in Sank, he was still angry. Perhaps he had never fully let go of the past because he had never had closure. He had spent the last two embarrassing months of his senior year avoiding everyone and their awful smirks of knowledge and pity. Retreating like a wounded cat he had slinked in the shadows content to lick and nurse his wounds privately without confiding in anyone, even his parents.

As far as his parents had known, everything had been perfectly fine. Dr. J was the only person he had confided his problems and heartache to, the only one he trusted to not make a scene or become indignant on his behalf. J had been behind him, quietly giving him the courage to complete his last few weeks at Sank High. J had also advised him to talk to Duo before graduation scattered them like leaves from each other, but it was advice that Heero had steadfastly ignored.

Pride was a horrible thing.

And then it had been too late. After graduation, Heero had taken the opportunity handed to him and had fled off world to the orbiting colonies. There, among others who saw him for him and not the status of his parents, he had quietly grown and matured, gaining confidence that had been sorely lacking throughout his young years.

Up in the colonies he had quickly made a name for himself and for once he had been the one people had coveted introductions to. He had been the one who had invitations thrown at him and who people begged to grace their parties. Among the mouthed platitudes and fake sincerity he had even managed to find some genuine friends.

Oh, he had had friends in high school, but they usually had been Duo's friends first and his second. For the first time in his life, people were seeing only him and were befriending him because of who he was, not who he knew or dated. It had done wonders for his self confidence, allowing him to see himself as a worthy human being, an equal, if not a superior, to Duo and all the other pompous high breeds of Sank High.

So yes, he was just as good as any of the other people who had come back for the reunion, and he could handle one week with them. He would confront old demons and win, triumphing over the last lingering remains of his former self. And at the end of the week, he would be able to say goodbye again with no further regrets.

By this time in his speculation, Heero had already transgressed the length of the olympic sized pool several times and was nearing the deep end again. However, instead of tucking into a tight racing turn and heading back to the shallow end, he came to a halt, tossed his wet bangs out of his eyes, and began to tread water. Something in his nerve endings had begun to tingle, placing his internal radar on red alert.

His gaze automatically homed in on the redwood deck, only to find it deserted.

"I forgot what a good swimmer you are," Duo said, from directly behind him.

Heero whipped around in the water as fast as he could and then squinted up at the other man. Duo was no more than an indistinct blur looming over him, backlit by the brilliant sunshine of the summer day. In comparison, Heero felt exposed and vulnerable.

To dispel this uncomfortable feeling, he said shortly, "I swim every day."

Genuinely curious, Duo asked, "Kept up your membership at the local swim club?"

Heero's eyes narrowed as he said blandly, "I have a pool."

Duo's eyebrows rose and for a brief flash of time Heero felt true annoyance. Obviously Duo still assumed he still sold computers in an electronic store for a living. Did his former boyfriend have such a low opinion of Heero's skills?

Face set in a blank expression, Heero leaned into a back float and sculled away from Duo. In an offhand tone of voice he asked, "You just going to stand there watching, or are you coming in?"

"I'm not wearing trunks," came the reply.

Heero snorted and muttered, "Since when did that stop you before?"

"Excuse me?"

Heero merely began to tread water again and looked up into Duo's face. With a quick movement, he glanced towards the house and then back to his unwanted companion. "Nobody's looking," he said nonchalantly.

Duo just stood there. Unable to discern his expression, Heero added, "Maybe it's not such a good idea, after all. Hilde could come out any minute."

"Meaning what?"

Obviously Duo hadn't missed the extra emphasis that Heero had placed on that so hated name.

Raising one eyebrow, Heero said, "Meaning she might think there's more going on here than an innocent skinny-dipping."

Duo crossed his arms and acidly replied, "And what, precisely, should I care what Hilde thinks?"

Heero lazily began to float towards the shallow end of the pool, not commenting until he reached an area where the water came up to his waist. As he stood on the bottom of the pool, he looked over his shoulder at Duo and taunted, "So come on then. The water's perfect."

Duo stalked by Heero's side on the wood deck, demanding an answer. "I want to know why you think something like that would bother Hilde? And why, even if it did, do you imagine I would care?"

Heero smiled and gave a small shrug that bordered on being coy. "You're such a lawyer." In a slightly more sarcastic tone of voice, he added, "Nice to know Daddy's tuition money wasn't wasted."

Irritation flashed in Heero's eyes even as he attempted to act like nothing was bothering him. He was annoyed that Duo obviously wanted him to believe that nothing was going on between him and Hilde. Another a-little-too-late attempt to spare Heero's feelings, most likely. However, the evidence that had amounted in Heero's mind did anything but allow him to believe in Duo's actions.

After all, the two of them had worked side by side for the past number of years after earning their degrees from their fathers' alma mater. Their mutual attraction, while just a rumor in high school, was anything but a secret. And, too, most men harbored a special fondness for their first lover, or so it was rumored.

*Uh oh,* thought Heero. *I'd better steer clear of thoughts like that. Duo? My first love? Hah, more like my first mistake!*

Neither Duo nor Hilde had ever married, despite manipulation and desire on their parents' sides for the union. The desire for such a match from the illustrious sires of the Schbeiker and Maxwell lineage was something that even Heero had sensed back in high school and he knew time had probably only strengthened the wish. Since neither one of them was married, they'd probably had some kind of on-again, off-again relationship going for the past ten years. Especially considering what had happened in those last few months of high school.

Heero shook his head to clear his thoughts and focused in on what Duo was saying. Duo was sighing like the weight of the world was on his shoulders and he complained, "I don't remember you being this much of a pain in the ass in high school."

Biting back an acidic reply that would have brought forth private memories better left buried, Heero blurted out the first thing to come to mind. "Are you sure? There must have been some reason you betrayed me."

There.

He'd said it and opened the discussion.

As he realized what he had said, Heero silently bit his tongue and looked away. He hadn't meant to be the one to broach the subject, but it was too late to take it back. Duo, on the other hand, had gone very still and very silent, his posture rigid and slightly defensive. The seconds ticked by without any action from either one of them. All around them, life on Earth continued to be, but the two major players in this small drama had been brought to a standstill.

Finally, Duo broke the ice.

Quietly, he murmured, "I thought you weren't interested in reasons."

Heero flinched the tiniest bit, it would have gone unnoticed had Duo not been watching him so intently. The other man was trying to quell the sudden anger and hurt that had resurfaced, despite his earlier resolve to bury it completely. It shouldn't still have hurt like this, not ten years later. After all, what they had back in high school had been just puppy love, right? His insides shouldn't still be twisting at the mere possibility of finally discussing the betrayal.

Heero heard movement and turned his head to see Duo walk around the end of the pool, stopping at the point closest to him. He squatted on the deck, forearms on his thighs. The sun was no longer behind him, so Heero could see Duo's every feature.

Duo's violet eyes, one of the two features which had always fascinated Heero, were focused and sharp, intent on capturing and holding Heero's blue. In a quiet voice he asked, "Why didn't you ever let me explain, Heero? Why did you refuse to listen?"

Heero took a deep breath, trying to gather his waning courage. It was silly. He, who had been fearless in high school and had taken other students' taunts and thrown them back at them, was now captured in the typical reactions of fear. A tightness had clutched his throat, his eyes burning with suppressed emotions. However, for ten years he had kept his words bottled up inside, and now that they had a venue for escape, there was no stopping them.

"You told me you loved me. I was going to be your first and you mine. We waited, Duo, and I used to think how right it was going to be when we finally did give ourselves to each other."

"So did I, Heero-"

Heero was beyond listening to Duo, caught up in the hurt and betrayal of the past. "I had never trusted anyone until you came along, breaking down all the barriers and defenses I erected against you. I tried for so long to keep you out of my heart, but you wouldn't stay away. Finally, I took a chance and I thought that I could trust you. And then you betrayed me."

Heero's fists were clenched tightly into fists at this point as more and more memories crashed through his mind. The floodgates had been opened and there was no closing them back.

"And the worst part was... I had to hear about it in school, from Relena, and Dorothy, and... and everyone. Do you know they tripped over themselves, wanting to be the one to tell me? They were so eager to shatter my little bubble of happiness and throw me back into my place, the drudges where I belonged. Do you have any idea what that was like?"

Heero remembered how the news had spread through the school like wildfire. Traversing like light speed, it seemed that everyone had known about it before Heero. The only way possible would have been if Duo had gone bragging about his conquest to everyone he knew. Heero was so caught up in his own hurt that he missed the look of misery that had come over Duo's face.

He continued on in a rush, his eyes glittering and his tone accusing. "You had no trouble necking with me in a dark theater, or making out as much as I would allow in your jeep at the pond, but God forbid your father's snooty colleagues should find out what a low-class person you were dating, much less a low-class guy! I never even knew about that reception the firm was holding at the country club. You never told me."

"I didn't want you hurt."

Heero sneered as he shot back with, "You didn't want to be seen with the janitor's son! You were too ashamed! So you took Hilde instead. You took her to the reception and then took her out on that damn golf course and you had sex with her there."

Heero was trembling with fury and humiliation at this point, his pain as sharp as if this had happened yesterday. His dark blue gaze glittered dangerously, attempting to pin Duo's down and dare him to deny any of this. However, Duo's head was angled downwards, his eyes closed in sorrow.

In a tight voice, Duo asked, "Why didn't you ever tell me this in high school? Before graduation?"

Heero snorted even as he diverted his own gaze. In a softer tone, one that didn't brook so much anger and hurt, he said, "Do you really think I could? You know what I was like when I was younger, Duo. I would hardly say much, I always kept my thoughts and feelings to myself. It was easier that way, I couldn't be hurt by all the gossip and rumors flying around my head. If I had ever confronted you about this back then, I would probably have given you a black eye and a bloody nose before I ever talked with you."

Duo finally raised his face and tried to capture Heero's attention. "I never tried to excuse what I did, I just wanted to explain. I still do."

Heero was silent for a moment before he posed a question. "Let me ask you one thing. If I'd done what you did, if I had sneaked around behind your back and dated some other girl, or guy, if I'd had sex with her or him after everything you and I had meant to each other, promised each other... would you have been interested in explanations?"

Duo's features were rigid, his jaw clenched tightly even as a nerve began to tick. Finally, he said, "No."

The ache in Heero's chest was not assuaged even with the twinge of satisfaction that Duo's forced confession brought to him. He had, out of necessity, scratched open an old wound that had never healed and now it was open and raw.

Needing a few moments to compose himself, Heero turned and swam the length of the pool. As he pulled himself through the crystal clear water, his mind turned and toiled. After that little tête-à-tête, he now knew the answer to his earlier musings.

There was no way he was staying in this house with Duo Maxwell for a week.

No way in hell.

TBC...

So... what does everything think so far?! Yeah, I know Heero is very very OOC in this fic... but I did warn you ^_~

 

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