I suspect some of my other Heeros tipped this one off...
Stay Part 2
The car is cold, the key doesn't fit into the ignition and I realize that I'm trying to use the wrong one. I'm shaking. What have I done? What have I said?
That look on his face...
Finally the key slips into the ignition and I crank the engine, revving the car into furious life. I have to leave, I have to get out of here, I can't stay...
"Duo!" A fist slams into my window, rattling the glass. I jump, heart pounding even harder than before. Heero stands beside the car, fist raised.
Oh shit. Not this. Please not this...
"Get out of the damn car!" His fist hits my window again and he makes a grab for the door handle. I slam my hand down on the lock just as he tugs on the door.
I have to get out of here.
I throw the car into reverse, but before I can back out of the space, Heero flings himself over the top of the car. It shouldn't surprise me, I know how fast he can move, I know the sort of things he can do, but for that split second I can only gape.
Then he's got the passenger side door open and he's beside me.
Flinching, I close my eyes, waiting for him to hit me, knowing I can't move out of range before he does...
"What the hell?"
Cautiously I open one eye and look at him. He's staring at me as if he's never seen me before- but his fists aren't raised...
"You..." he starts and then shakes his head. I watch as he takes a deep breath. "Stop that. I'm not going to hit you. What kind of person do you think... I..." Another deep breath, and he reaches out, shoving the car back into park. "I'm not going to let you leave."
"But..."
"Look, I know damn well you claim that you run and hide, but you don't. Since when do you back down from a challenge? Since when did you decide to give up rather than fight?"
"I do-"
"You don't. So why are you now?"
"Heero, you don't... I know you don't-"
"No. I don't." The corner of his mouth curves up a little. "And hell if I know why of all the damn people you could have you fixated on me. I thought you had better taste."
"Heero-" I hate when he runs himself down like that.
"I know. Look Duo- I'm not worth this." He holds up a hand, forestalling me. "I'm not. There's things you don't know- things I should've told you." His mouth quirks up a little more. "Then again, they may not change your mind at all- you are a stubborn bastard."
It wasn't the first time he'd called me that. "Takes one to know one."
A real smile. "Very true."
We sit silently for a moment and I searched for something to say.
"Heero- I... I'll come back. Eventually. I just... need some time."
"No."
"Why-"
"No. I'm not letting you run away. Duo- you've built a life here. You have friends- family. You can't leave it all behind because of me."
How did he know how I'd struggled with that? But- "I can't-"
"You can." Heero reaches out, enclosing my wrist with his fingers and gives me a gentle shake. "You're needed here. You need to be here."
"But-"
He blows out a breath, eyes narrowing. "If you want me so badly, then stay and at least try for me! You've never even asked me out on a date! Wasn't I worth at least making the attempt?"
My jaw drops. "But you- you never-"
"No, I never. I never thought of you- or anyone- that way. I didn't dare."
He didn't dare? "But why-?"
"I'll tell you- but only if you stay." He releases my wrist. "Once I do you may not want me anymore- and wouldn't it have been a pity to run for nothing?"
I really don't like the bitterness that crept into his tone. "Heero-"
"Look at it as a challenge- and you never run from a challenge."
I turn away from his gaze and focus on the steering wheel. Run and hide? Stay? Try to convince Heero we'd work?
What is he hiding?
Heero sighs and before I can stop him, reaches out and grabs the keys out of the ignition. Slipping out of the car, he closes the door before I can even make a grab for them.
Damn it!
I open my door and hurry out of the car, only to have Heero seize me around the waist and toss me over his shoulder.
He shuts the car door and heads for our apartment, holding me tightly. I try to squirm loose- but it's no good. He's got me in a tight grip.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm tired. You're tired. I think you need to sleep on it before you make some hasty decision that you'll regret later."
"Heero-!"
"Shh! The neighbors are sleeping."
He opens the apartment door and I wait for him to put me down. Instead, he simply steps inside, shuts the door, and tosses my keys in the direction of the couch.
"What are you doing!"
"I'm going back to bed. So are you." We reach his bedroom and he dumps me on the bed. Before I can slide off, he drops down beside me, one arm firmly around my waist. "Get some sleep."
He closes his eyes as I tug futilely against his grip. "Stubborn bastard!"
"Takes one to know one."
TBC...
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