Coffee House Part 3
Duo hung up the phone, chuckling.
"What is it?"
"Apparently Relena didn't tell the guys who I went off with last night." He leaned over and kissed Heero. "I think you're going to surprise them."
Heero tangled his fingers in the base of Duo's braid, frowning. "I hope it's not a bad surprise."
Duo thought about that for a moment. "Wufei." He kissed Heero again. "I already beat the crap out of him though."
Heero took a deep breath, and then his frown vanished. "Want a quick shower before we meet them?"
"Take it with me?" Duo gave him a teasing smile. Heero raised an eyebrow back at him.
"I was hoping you'd ask."
~*~
Relena accepted the cup of coffee Wufei handed to her. They were early- it was amazing how fast the guys had cleaned up and gotten out of the house this morning.
And even though they were early, the other three were still fretting. Quatre had taken the seat that gave him a clear view of the entrance to the sitting area. Trowa kept leaning over into Quatre's space and it wasn't just because he enjoyed being close to Quatre. Wufei had looked at his watch nearly a dozen times in the last two minutes.
Relena found it all very amusing.
"They're late," Wufei announced.
"It's just now thirty minutes," Relena countered, looking at her own watch. "Relax."
"Maybe I should wait by the door," Quatre frowned.
"I'm sure they'll see us. It's not that crowded in here." Relena took a sip of her coffee.
"I don't understand you," Wufei snapped. "Wasn't it last night you were telling us that we weren't taking care of Duo? And now you don't seem in the slightest bit worried!"
"Why should I be?" Relena smiled.
"Spending the night with someone he just met! That doesn't sound like Duo." Trowa shook his head.
"Nope, it doesn't." Relena took another sip. "So maybe the three of you need to think about that."
~*~
"It's weird to be on this side," Heero commented as he accepted his coffee from the girl at the machine.
"You could come over here and help me," she grinned at him.
"No thanks," Heero smiled as Duo leaned past to snag his cup. "Meeting some friends here this morning and we're already late."
"You're the one that invited me to shower with you," Duo grinned at him as they turned to enter the main area. "You should've known it would make us late."
"I did." Heero grinned back. He scanned the tables as they walked through the door and immediately saw the others. "There they are."
Quatre spotted them first. His mouth dropped open as they walked towards the table. Trowa was next, leaning over to see what Quatre was looking at; he stayed, leaning on his lover, eyes wide.
They watched, bug eyed, as Heero and Duo approached the table.
"Hi guys!" Duo stopped in front of the table, Heero slightly behind him. "Sorry we're late!"
Wufei had joined the staring/gaping group, and so it was Relena who answered:
"No problem," she smiled widely. "Have a seat. Did you two have a nice evening?"
"Great," Duo replied, as amused as she was. "How was yours?"
"Entertaining," she answered, smile widening. "How are you doing today, Heero?"
"Very well, thank you Relena," he answered as he sat down beside Duo. He had a small smile on his lips as well. It was hard not to- the other three were so taken aback by his appearance. "Yourself?"
"Simply wonderful."
"Heero..." Quatre found his voice first. "You... you're the coffee guy? How long have you been here?"
"Yes. I've been going to the University here for the last six months."
Quatre pushed absently at Trowa, who was still leaning on him. "Six months?"
Wufei's chair scraped against the floor and he stood up. His face was white. His mouth opened, closed... and he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
"What...?" Duo looked after him. Relena blinked.
Heero nodded understandingly. "I'll go talk to him. I'll be right back." He let his hand slide over Duo's braid. "Okay?"
"Okay," Duo agreed.
~*~
Wufei was pacing back and forth in front of the coffee house when Heero walked out. He stopped when he saw Heero.
"You've been here six months?" He demanded.
"Yes."
"You must've seen Duo!"
"I did."
"Why now? Why didn't you talk to him before?" The words were a challenge.
"You know why, Chang. I thought he was here with Hilde." Heero's tone was soft, but the menace underneath was unmistakable. Wufei stepped back a pace.
"When did you find out differently?"
"Last night. One of the girls that works here has a class with him." Wufei blinked.
"And then you sent him that coffee- didn't you?"
"Yes." Heero glared at Wufei. "I wanted him back. I missed him. I hated being away from him."
Wufei looked at the ground, away from Heero's angry glare. "Duo told you- why I said what I did?"
"Yes."
"I owe you an apology as well. I never should've done what I did- I was desperate- but that is no excuse."
"I should not have believed you."
"No."
The two of them stood silently for a long moment.
"Whatever you decide to do would be only justice." Wufei finally broke the silence.
"Duo said he already beat you up."
"He did." Wufei looked up at Heero, meeting his eyes. "And worse- I have had to watch what my actions did to him."
"What do you mean?" Heero snapped.
"He didn't..? No- he wouldn't tell you." Wufei took a deep breath. "Duo- developed a tendency to slide into depressions. He would lock himself in his room for days at a time. He... lost his vitality." Heero thought about Duo's appearance last night during the performance. Hadn't he thought the same thing? "He was dying before our eyes and we could not help him. He didn't want us to help him..."
Heero glanced worriedly over his shoulder at the coffee house. "You should've anyway."
"Last time I did something that I thought would benefit Duo, it backfired." Wufei countered. "I know it was wrong of us- but we kept hoping that he come out of it on his own. But Relena pointed out last night that he was getting worse and worse..." Wufei smiled faintly. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you."
"We should go back in," Heero looked towards the door again, anxious to be back with Duo. Wufei gave him a startled look.
"I thought you'd want to hit me at least," he said softly.
"We're both to blame." Heero ran his fingers through his bangs. "I should have gone right to Duo- I shouldn't have let my own doubts separate us." It was his turn to smile. "And if I did beat you up, Relena might get mad at me- something I think would be safer to avoid."
Wufei nodded. "That is very true."
~*~
Duo watched as Heero followed Wufei out and tried to quell the rising nervousness. Was it a good idea to leave them alone together after what happened last time? What if Fei told Heero something else?
Relena was telling Quatre and Trowa how she discovered Heero working behind the coffee machine, so Duo was free to send anxious looks towards the door.
What would he do if only Wufei walked back in?
He knew he was being stupid. But then- all that time ago- hadn't he thought that Heero would've at least said goodbye if he was planning to leave? And Heero had left without a word.
Quatre listened to Relena, but let his eyes stay on Duo. He noted the nervousness that hadn't been there when Duo had walked in.
It had been the old Duo that had walked into the coffee house this morning, Heero behind him, and Quatre had been overjoyed to see him, even as the shock of seeing Heero was sinking in.
It would take a while until Duo could relax again, even with Heero back, Quatre thought, and if that was the case, then he needed to do something to help foster Duo's security. And he knew exactly what that was.
Duo kept his eyes on the entranceway, relaxing only when Heero reentered, Wufei on his heels. He was mildly surprised to see that Wufei sported no bruises. Heero hadn't sounded too forgiving this morning.
Heero smiled for Duo as he sat down next to him, one hand reaching out to brush over the back of Duo's hand. He had seen Duo's nervousness and how it faded away at his entrance. He needed to make sure that Duo knew he wasn't going anywhere again.
Wufei sat down next to Relena as she studied him under her lashes. He looked okay, so the talk must've gone well, she decided.
"You were saying that you attended the university," Quatre said to Heero. "Do you like it? What are you studying?"
"I like my classes. I haven't decided on a major yet. I chose the university because it offered a wide range of majors and wasn't expensive." Heero tilted his head to the side and answered the next question before Quatre asked it. "I didn't know you attended the college until the two of you started performing here."
"Ah," Quatre nodded. "Then why-"
"I thought Hilde might be here too."
"Hilde's on L2." Duo told him. "Working on an arts degree."
There was a short silence. Quatre broke it, leaning over the table with a smile. "So, Heero- where are you living?"
"I have a studio not too far from here."
"Are you attached to it?"
"No..." Heero raised an eyebrow. Quatre was still smiling, but he could sense the determination underneath. What was going on?
"Then maybe you'd like to move in with us? We have plenty of space, you wouldn't have to pay rent, and you know that we'd love to have you with us- wouldn't we?"
Wufei and Trowa both nodded, Trowa giving Quatre an amused look at the same time.
Without thinking, Heero turned to look at Duo. Duo was looking at Quatre, a small smile curving his lips. He turned and met Heero's gaze.
"Quatre's leaving out the bad stuff. Trowa makes mud instead of coffee, Wufei tends to blast his stereo, Quatre gets testy around finals time..."
"I do not!" Quatre protested. Duo laughed at him.
"Do too. You threw that plate at Tro's head! Good thing he's used to dodging knives..."
Quatre snorted, the smirk on his lips countering the glare he was giving Duo.
"And then there's my habits..." Duo turned back to Heero. "I tend to uh..." He paused and looked uncomfortable. How to tell Heero that he got depressed sometimes? Would he still now that Heero was back?
"I'm already aware of your habits, Maxwell," Heero tugged on the end of the braid. "You snore. Loudly. I think I can live with it." He turned to Quatre. "I'd like it very much, if it's okay with all of you."
"We'd be happy to have you back again." Quatre nodded. He looked down at his cup. "Well, I'm finished. I have a paper to write today, so I'm going home." He got to his feet, Trowa beside him. "Make all the arrangements and we'll be ready for you as soon as you can move in."
He reached out a hand and squeezed Heero's shoulder. "It's good to have you back."
"Ditto," Trowa nodded farewell and the two of them left.
"We should go too," Relena got to her feet, tugging Wufei with her. "Fei promised me a shopping trip this afternoon."
"I did what!"
"Silly boy," Relena touched his cheek. "So forgetful!" She gave Duo a sparkling smile and then hugged Heero. "Thanks for not killing my boyfriend," she whispered in his ear.
"He's only safe as long as he's dating you," Heero murmured back, making her laugh.
Wufei nodded to them. "I'm glad you're back," he said to Heero. "Both of you." He added, and took Relena's arm to lead her out of the coffee house.
Duo sighed. Heero looked at him questioningly.
"I should explain that," he said. "After you left, I, uh, got a bit depressed." He mentally kicked himself. 'A bit depressed' was an understatement. Heero deserved to know what he was getting into.
Heero reached out, taking Duo's hand in his, surprised by the way Duo's fingers squeezed back.
"I would lock myself in my room. I just- couldn't be around the others. They were so happy, you know? Quatre and Trowa? And then Wufei and Relena. Wufei, who got what he wanted and meant to help me but messed it up... I messed it up. There were lots of things I wanted to tell you, but we were fighting a war and things like that shouldn't get said, I thought..."
"I thought the same thing." Heero interrupted; worried by the way Duo's expression was darkening. "We were both stupid. But I'm here now. And I won't leave again. I promised, and I meant it. There won't be a reason for you to lock yourself away anymore."
The darkness fled from Duo's face and Heero took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry Heero- I don't mean to start to get like that, it's just..."
"You're used to it now. It's a way you react." Heero got to his feet, pulling Duo up after him. "Come on. Let's go back to my apartment. We can lock ourselves up there together for awhile before I have to go to work," he smiled and Duo flushed. "We'll just have to work on positive reinforcement for a bit, right?"
Duo laughed as they exited the coffee house. "Right. That might take a bit of time."
Heero chuckled. "Like I'm going to complain?" He pulled Duo close and kissed him briefly. "I told you I wasn't going to mess this up Duo, and I know you won't either. We'll make it work this time."
"Promise?" Duo's hands tightened slightly on Heero's coat.
"I promise. Now come on." Heero started walking, tugging Duo along with him. "We have a lot to do. Positive reinforcement lessons, packing..."
Duo grinned, fingers tight around Heero's. "Then we'd better get started."
OWARI
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