Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 11
Quatre bit his lip in thought before he moved one of his pawns on the chessboard. "Well, three whole days have gone by now and no blood has been spilt yet. That's always a good thing." His eyes still on the board, he frowned, "I just wish that they would talk to each other more. You would think that being stuck in the same room together they would so more than just lay back and watch television in silence all day."
Smiling warmly, Lady Une shrugged, "Baby steps. The fact that they haven't locked themselves in their own rooms is very promising. Remember, they still have to rebuild the bridges that they both burned before any real communication can begin. Once one of them opens the door to that, it should be smoother sailing from there."
His frown deepening, the agent replied, "Well, you're right there. But one of them has to suck up their pride to be the first one to apologize. I've known Duo too long to think that he would be the one to do such a thing. He still sees Heero as being the one to step out of line first, so he should be the one to apologize first."
"And I would have to agree with him in that," Lady Une sighed while moving a rook into a very nice position. "The day following the incident, I really thought that I got through to Heero when we discussed the situation."
Realization filled Quatre's blue eyes as they widened. "I remember not long after the incident, he had called our house and asked to speak with Duo when he was away on one of his family visits," the blonde young man recalled aloud. "Heero asked me not to bother with taking a message and I didn't think much about it after the fact." Biting his lip, he considered, "I wonder if he was trying to apologize then."
Lady Une hummed and nodded, "Quite possibly. I'll try and get him alone so I can talk to him. For all of this time to pass without some sort of apology, Heero must have been hoping that the whole thing would just go away on its own." She shook her head with a sigh, "And of course, that only makes for more bitterness and hard feelings."
The agent smile and offered, "I'll talk to him. Sometimes a new perspective can help in matters like this." After a brief study of the board, Quatre moved his Queen a step, not realizing that the King was now in a very compromising position with a couple of Noin's knights. "If you wouldn't mind talking to Duo, however, I think that would help the process go a lot smoother."
Nodding, the young woman replied, "I think that I can manage that." A sly smirk tugged her lips as she moved one knight into the final position. Taking up her teacup, Lady Une announced quietly, "Check mate."
His eyes widening, Quatre looked to the board in disbelief. Chuckling deeply, he grinned, "Very well played, my dear. I never saw that coming."
"And hopefully our friends won't see have in store, either," Lady Une smiled.
* * * * * *
It was later that afternoon when Quatre and Lady Une had their chance. Heero had left the living room to sit on the enclosed back deck of the house. It was his favorite place to sit and relax while watching the peaceful scenery that his land offered. The weather was perfect and several creatures were out and about to enjoy the sun. Taking a deep breath, the quarterback closed his eyes and reclined back into the soft sofa that he was sitting on.
Lightly knocking on the wooden doorframe, Quatre peeked his head into the room. Finding the Japanese athlete, he smiled and entered with a tray carrying two tall glasses of orange juice. Hearing the footsteps approaching him, Heero opened his cobalt eyes and sat up. "I thought that you might be thirsty."
With a small grin of appreciation, the quarterback coughed lightly before replying, "Thanks. I better keep up with the Vitamin C before Lady Une gives me a hard time over it." The agent chuckled deeply as he handed over one of the glasses.
Gesturing to the empty place on the sofa, Quatre asked, "Would you mind if I join you? It's really nice back here-reminds me of the home that I grew up in."
His eyes widening a bit at that, Heero nodded, "Sure. I didn't know that you and your family had an estate with this much land."
Gracefully taking his place at the other end of the couch, the Arab responded, "Yea. My father is the owner a pretty successful company based just outside of Chicago where we lived." Raising an eyebrow, he grinned, "I'm sure that you've heard of Winner Enterprises."
"Winner Enterprises!?" the football played exclaimed. "Of course I heard of it. I just never realized that you were from the same family that ran it." Intrigued, Heero inquired, "Why did you leave that lifestyle behind to become Duo's agent? It can't be nearly as exciting as traveling the world for your family's business. Or hell, you wouldn't have to work a day in your life if you didn't want to and still be more than set financially."
After taking a long sip from his own orange juice, Quatre smiled simply, "It's not what I wanted. Not long before we graduated from high school, Duo received a call from an agent that was looking to bring him on to a professional football team."
Taking another sip from his drink, the Arabian continued, "He was hesitant to agree at first because he didn't know anyone he could trust to look out for him. He needed someone who understood contracts and the legality side of being signed on to a team- not to mention a dozen other odds and ends that an agent needs to handle."
With a nonchalant shrug, the blonde young man finished, "Duo asked me to be that person and I said yes."
Blinking his eyes, Heero shook his head in disbelief, "And you agreed to do it just like that? You dropped everything to help him out as simply as that?" A skeptical look crossed his features. "Is that because of how he defended you when you were being attacked?"
Quatre's smile grew at the query. He had hoped that Trowa would let the rest of the team in on how he and Duo had become friends in school. It was already serving its purpose in helping them see there was so much more to his friend than he let on.
"That was not the reason so much as just the knowing that he would have done the same for me in a heartbeat," was the agent's response. "And I honestly don't regret the decision for a second. I have experienced more through helping him than any posh place in my family's business could have offered me."
Heero sat back in the soft cushions with a thoughtful look on his features and an occasional sip from his drink. Wanting to give him more to think about, Quatre said quietly, "Duo is the closest things to a brother that I've ever had. He protected me the first day that we met and has been doing that ever since. Which is exactly what I intend to do for him now."
Confusion filled the quarterback's eyes as he turned to face his houseguest. "How do you mean? What do you need to protect him from now?"
Lowering his glass onto the tray at his feet, Quatre frowned deeply, "Trowa has brought it to my attention that Duo is having trouble making friends on the team. My belief is that you all had an opinion of him before the ink on his contract had enough time to dry. Those opinions have undone any wish to really get to know him."
Those cobalt eyes narrowed warningly as Heero hissed, "He certainly didn't help change our opinions with the words that he threw at me that night. You have no idea what my parents meant to me and how what he said hurt."
Nodding, the agent said calmly but firmly, "And you don't know what it did to Duo when I told him you had lost your parents after the incident." His own eyes narrowing, he leaned close. "Now let's get one thing perfectly clear here," he spoke slowly and deeply, "No one values family more than my friend. Not even you."
A bit taken aback at the intensity on those light blue eyes boring down on him, Heero swallowed hard before getting his bearings. "If that's so, then why the hell hasn't he apologized for his actions?" he growled deeply.
Quick to reply, Quatre answered with a question of his own, "Why haven't you?"
It was like a punch to the chest, knocking the wind right out of Heero lungs. Stiffening with wide eyes, he tried to think of a good response. But in the end, there really was not one to offer.
Refraining from smiling at finally getting through, the agent took a deep breath. The edge in his posture and voice faded away as he sighed deeply, "I am not saying that Duo was not out of line with what he said. But, along with holding family in the highest regard, he also values trust.
"You opened a very old and deep wound by insulting the trust he showed by opening his house to you and the team for that party. Many people have let him down by taking advantage of his trust in the past." Finally pulling back to sit up straight, Quatre shrugged, "But then, you wouldn't have known that because you never took the time to learn more about him by simply asking."
Roughly swallowing that bitter pill, Heero seemed to shrink within himself. His skin took on an almost greenish color that had nothing to do with his cold.
Deciding that enough was done to make his point, the blonde young man smiled, "Duo is a very complex person. There are many sides to him and just when you think you've cracked the surface, you haven't even started. You happened to see a less than pleasant one of those sides, but it's not all that there is to him. I really think that you two would get along if you just took a moment to see past the opinion you made."
With a tilt of his head, Quatre suggested, "And it's about time that you stopped allowing your frustration to rub off on the remainder of the team. He deserves better than the treatment he's been receiving. He would never complain about it to me, but I know that it bothers him."
Stomach churning from guilt, Heero nodded with a weak, "A-all right." Meeting the eyes watching him, he said sincerely, "I'll try."
More than satisfied with that, Quatre smiled warmly, "That's all I ask." He extended a hand with a sincere, "Thank you." Shaking the offered hand, Heero gave a lopsided smirk and nodded firmly. Taking the tray back up, the agent announced quietly, "I better go and check on Duo."
As his housemate left, the quarterback looked back out to the green hills in silent thought. After having his eyes opened, there was a lot to consider when it came to how he had been handling himself for the last few months.
* * * * * *
Chewing the inside of his lip, Duo mulled over Lady Une's recap of the discussion that she had with Quatre regarding Heero and his parents. Revisiting what happened that night after months of burying the incident had been difficult to say the least.
"You must not like me much for the things that I said to that night," the running back frowned deeply while rubbing his tired eyes. "I swear that I had no idea that his parents were killed when those words came out." Wincing, he muttered, "Not that that really makes a difference in what I had said."
Lady Une just grinned kindly, "I know that in the heat of the moment, words spoken in anger are never considered before they come out. And I am not atoning to Heero's actions by any means. I am just hoping to shed some light on what his parents really meant to him. They were not the typical rich parents spoiling their son that most assume."
Tilting her head, the young woman said gently, "Based on both that temper of yours that you show from time to time and your grounded maturity, I get the impression that you've been through some challenges of your own growing up." Duo shifted uncomfortably in the sofa that he was lying on.
Quickly raising her hand, Lady Une assured him, "You don't need to share any of those difficult times if you're not ready, but know that you can trust me if you ever do feel the need to talk. One thing a person can never have enough of is someone that they can consider a friend that will listen."
Her smile growing, she added, "And I really believe that Heero could be that for you as well, if you gave him a chance. You have a lot more in common than either of you will admit. Your stubbornness is just one of those things."
The tension in the air dissipated at that and Duo laughed with his head falling back. "You can say that again," he chuckled deeply. "I admit that I can be pretty bullheaded some times."
Slowly, he met the housekeeper's brown eyes and he sighed deeply, "Thanks, Lady Une. Ever since I stepped in here, it's felt like I've been staying in a house of guilt with the family pictures hanging around. I guess enough time's past that I should just bury the hatchet and give Heero a fair shake."
Rewarded with an appreciative grin from the young woman, the running back felt himself smiling back. "And thanks... for not judging me," he almost whispered. "There aren't many people that don't have some kind of set opinion of who I am."
"Well, you never have to worry about that with me, Duo," Lady Une winked. "I appreciate your listening." Unfolding her legs to rise from the end of the couch that she was sitting on, she offered, "I can heat up some of my homemade chicken soup that you like so much, if you're hungry."
Gasping, Duo blinked his widened eyes as a child would when trying to look cute. "Pretty please with a cherry on top," he begged. Laughing, the housekeeper patted the top of his braided head before stepping from the room.
Quatre was just past the doorway with a brilliant smile and a mouthed, 'Nice job.' When Lady Une asked with her eyes how things went on his end, the agent gave her two thumbs up. Containing their excitement, the two conspirators walked to the kitchen arm-in-arm.
* * * * * *
Later that evening, Heero and Duo were lying at the couches across from each other in the living room after another long day of not saying a word to each other. There was a noticeable change in the silence, however, with their two lost in their thoughts.
With the night growing late and his cold just on the verge of breaking, the running back yawned widely. "Better head upstairs for some beauty sleep," he muttered. Rising from the deep-blue-cushioned loveseat, he took up his comforter and headed for the doorway.
"Duo," Heero called without looking away from the big screen television. His heart jumping in his stomach, the braided young man froze and slowly turned towards his teammate. Finally stealing the courage to meet the uncertain gaze watching him, he began quietly, "Listen, I-"
Before the words came out of the quarterback's mouth, Duo decided to dive in to relieve his own conscience that had been eating away at him all day. Opening his mouth, they both said at the same time, "I'm sorry about that night." Freezing, the pair looked at each other with wide, disbelieving eyes.
After a brief pause, Heero took a deep breath and moved to sit up on the couch. Folding his hands atop his lap, he chewed on the inside of his cheek before stating, "I should have known better than to go into your room like that. And I'm tired of making excuses for what I did when there aren't any. I promise that I won't do anything to invade your privacy like that again."
Duo reached up and rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he replied, "And I didn't mean what I said that night, man. I crossed a line that I shouldn't have and you had every right to slug me for it. I never meant to disrespect you or your parents like that."
Another silence fell over the room as the apologies were taken in. Slowly, it was as if the weight of the world was being lifted. Very slowly, the lips on the two athletes crept up into appreciative smiles. "Well, good night," Duo said at last with a small shrug.
"Good night," Heero nodded firmly. Nodding back, American turned and left the room. His small smile growing just a bit with relief, the quarterback sighed deeply and let his head fall back. Everything wasn't perfect between them, but they had taken a pretty big step in the right direction to working things out.
And who knew? Maybe they actually could get along.
* * * * * *
By the time the weekend rolled around, the two rivals were actually conversing about some of the programs that they were watching along with making idle chit-chat. Lady Une and Quatre were elated in seeing how well things were going, even if they did have to give their friends a little push to get there.
Come Thursday, Duo was back to his full health and was able to travel to see his family. Heero's cold finally left him the day after. And before long, it was Sunday once again. When the running back returned to the Yuy household, he was in good spirits and jovial.
Sitting at the table together that night, the group of four enjoyed a finely crafted dinner together. Since Quatre and Lady Une had prepared the meal, Heero and Duo offered to take care of the dishes and cleaning up.
"You know," Duo smirked as he rinsed a soapy plate under the running sink water, "We could have a lot of fun with Zechs and the coaching staff when we get back to training tomorrow." He raised an eyebrow to the quarterback as he approached with another load of bowls and smirked, "If you're up for it, that is."
* * * * * *
Zechs, Howard and Trent were sitting together at the round table in the Head Coach's office when they heard two familiar, laughing voices echoing down the hallway, their heads snapping up from the notes that they were looking over, the three men looked to the closed door with wide eyes.
"Is that... Heero and Duo?" the eldest coach asked in disbelief. Trent and Zechs thought the same, but knew that it couldn't have been. It just wasn't possible to think of the two young men sharing such a laugh.
A light knock was all the warning the coaches had before the door opened. Peering in, Heero and Duo were just beginning to contain their laughter. With his teammate's arm draped around his shoulder, the quarterback waved, "Sorry to barge in like this. We just thought we should check in with you both before we got suited up for training."
Shocked stiff, the three coaches watched the pair with wide eyes. Lightly punching Heero's chest with his free hand, Duo chuckled deeply, "God I love this guy! Always on top of shit!" There was no change in Zechs or his staff as they stared dumbfounded.
Heero announced, "Well, we better get to the locker room." He turned to his teammate with a wide smile and pat his chest with the back of a hand as he chuckled deeply, "Hey, tell me again about that prank you pulled on that school bully. That story never gets old." Both laughing once again, the two football players disappeared and closed the door after them.
Zechs, Howard and Trent remained still. "Whether she wants it or not," the grey-haired offensive coach began without looking away from the door, "I am going to kiss Dorothy full on the lips next time I see her." Numbly, the other two nodded.
TBC...
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