I Backward Cast My E'e Part 8

There was an itch on the tip of his nose that needed to be scratched, but the best he could do was wiggle it around a little and hope it didn't catch Duo's attention. Since they were busy washing the dishes at the moment, his hands were otherwise occupied. Hopefully it would keep until they were done. Until then, perhaps a distraction was in order. "Before I forget. I know it's a still a little early, but Trowa invites us all over to his place for Thanksgiving."

Duo made a thinking face as he contemplated his mental calendar. "It's not that early."

"Well, I know you don't like doing things that early in advance." If he'd asked any earlier, Duo would have simply put off answering until later. Though given Duo's state of mind lately, perhaps it would have been justified.

Howard called out from his seat on the sofa. "His mom's a good cook, you said?"

"Absolutely." She'd made sure he and Odin had had the skills they needed to more than simply survive on their own.

"We'll be there," Howard announced firmly.

Duo sighed dramatically. "Howie..."

The older man turned in his seat to blink innocently at his nephew. "What?"

A roll of the eyes was sufficient enough an answer. He bumped his elbow unnecessarily against Heero's to catch his attention. "Is it just the Bartons? Or are any of the others home for Thanksgiving?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Barton, Trowa and Cathy, me and Odin, you and Howard. Thanksgiving isn't a big deal in the Chang household, especially not big enough for him to fly home for three days. I think Quatre's asserting his independence." He tried not to sound too amused by that. Hopefully this time around would be different from his high school effort, when Quatre had thought to do the same. "He's not as far from home as Wufei is, but we're seniors now, with lives of our own, and he'll be attending a celebration with some of his college friends."

"What, they're more important than you guys? Trowa?"

"He may not have another Thanksgiving with them, but we'll probably all have plenty more together."

Howard nodded sagely. "Yes, good friends to last a lifetime. Very important."

"Yeah?" Duo asked challengingly. "And where are your life-long friends, hmm?"

"Hey, I got friends. They're just more bohemian than most people's friends are."

"Otherwise saying, you all suck at keeping in touch."

"Not my fault I come from a generation that still believes in post cards."

Hiding a smile, Heero rinsed off the last dish and set it in the rack before drying his hands and stepping away from the sink. Duo bailed back toward his work as soon as his job was finished, but Heero paused to survey the kitchen first to make sure all was in place. Satisfied, he turned back to the others. "Howard... of all your 'bohemian' friends... are you actually the responsible one?"

Howard puffed himself up proudly. "Sure am."

Duo snorted and did nothing to hide his incredulous expression.

"Hey, don't give me that look." Howard wagged his finger comically at his nephew. "I managed to raise you up without leaving you locked in a car or losing you at the mall, didn't I?"

Duo twirled his finger in the air in a classic 'whoop-de-doo' gesture. "I'd like to think that I..." He trailed off abruptly, his brow slightly furrowed.

The other two exchanged quick glances. Heero wandered a few steps closer to Duo's current workstation at the coffee table and leaned over the back of the sofa.

It took a few seconds and a couple of blinks, but Duo eventually registered his presence, which he acknowledged with a small, tight smile and a shake of his head.

Heero kept his concerned look steady, pure, and expectant. Howard, for his part, was happy to leave this interrogation to an expert.

Inevitably, the uncomfortable squirming drove Duo to answer. "...When I was five... well. Can't say my very own mother never lost me at the store."

Heero was silent as he digested this information. "How long?"

Duo shrugged uncomfortably. "I dunno. Five-year-olds don't always have the best grasp of time. I was kicking it at the lost and found for a while, though, long enough to finish off that sucker they gave me."

"Oh, that's good. I mean, that you weren't alone." He couldn't summon up the mental image of a little deserted Duo, lost and teary, and he didn't want to. "Who found you?"

"No one. I wandered over there myself."

There was a hint of defiance in his voice. What for, Heero didn't know, but it made him ask, "Before or after your mother lost you?"

"Ha ha." Duo favored him with a sour smile. "Maybe I should have kicked up more of a fuss. Maybe that'd have kicked her into gear instead of just strolling up finally and picking me up like I'd just been with the sitter--" He stopped himself mid-rant, but it looked like it took a bit of effort. He took a deep breath, shut his eyes for a few seconds, shook his head. "You know, it's history, Heero. Just history."

In a pause during which Heero contemplated his response, Howard sallied forth with a mild tone. "Never heard that story before."

"Yeah, well, what's there to say? Maybe things would have been better if I'd stayed lost?"

A light crease immediately appeared on Heero's forehead. "Duo..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Shut up already, right?"

The furrow deepened. "That wasn't what I was going to say."

"Yeah? Then what incredibly wise and patient words did you have in mind?" The annoyed look on Duo's face persisted for a few seconds before it faded into a grimace, and then a sigh. His eyes dropped to his work on the table top in front of him. "Sorry."

Heero echoed the sigh, but softly enough that Duo couldn't hear. After a few breaths and a glance to Howard, Heero made his way over and sat down on the floor next to Duo. Their knees bumped lightly against each other.

Duo let out a loud breath and tipped over enough so their shoulders could touch. "Man, this sucks."

TBC...

 

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