Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 12
"Good. Yuy and Maxwell are back," Wufei sighed deeply in relief to Trowa as he watched Heero and Duo entered the locker room after their week-long recovery from their cold. He paused when there was no sign that there had been any kind of physical altercation between the two housemates. And they were both actually smiling.
Mueller picked up on the same thing and leaned close to whisper, "Well this is unexpected. I would have put money on at least one of them having at least a black eye by now." Wufei nodded. Trowa just grinned in satisfaction that the new living arrangements were apparently running much smoother than expected.
As the quarterback and running back neared, the tall center greeted with a nod to each, "Heero. Duo. Good to have you back. You both seem to be doing well."
Removing his sunglasses from the top of his head, Duo patted Trowa's back and grinned, "Yep. Things are just peachy now that we got to shake that bug off." His violet eyes scanned over the relieved eyes that fell on him and his housemate. "I take it things were pretty rough on your end here, too, huh?"
Before the Latin young man could answer, Brian Austin entered the room. His eyes instantly falling on Heero, he all but shouted, "Oh thank God! You're back!" Terry Fellows was right behind with the same look of relief in seeing Duo.
Closing the distance between himself and his team captain, the second-string quarterback sighed deeply, "Last week was a nightmare. We still can't get past my nerves whenever I'm out on the field. Even at a training session!" Just behind Brian, the backup running back lowered his head in embarrassment.
With a reassuring smile, Heero told him, "Try not to get discouraged. You both have only been on a pro team for two years now with not much time to see any action. I'll talk to Howard about possibly working you second stringers harder during the training season than he has been. There's always the chance that we may need you during the regular season if something happens to me again."
Duo raised his hand and offered, "Yuy and could even request some one-on-one time with you the two of you. That way, we could show some of the tactics we use when we're working together on the field. Maybe that'll help." Beside him, Heero nodded his agreement to the suggestion.
In hearing that the two rivals were actually offering to work together, Wufei and Muller turned to each other with wide eyes. Trowa's smile only grew all the more.
Blinking in shock, Terry sputtered, "Y-you would really do that for us?" Afraid that they might have misunderstood somehow, Brian held his breath anxiously.
"Sure," Heero replied. "It's a good idea. You can't get any better if you're not given the right direction." Looking to his braided teammate, he shrugged, "As much experience as we have combined, we should be able to help with that. Duo's one of the best running backs I've ever had the chance to work with."
A wide grin spread on Duo's face at the compliment. Slapping the Japanese athlete on the shoulder, he added, "And I can't think of a better quarterback out there. So, you won't be able to find better teachers." Heero's cobalt eyes widened and he turned to face the American with a grateful smile of his own.
Wufei and Mueller's jaws dropped. Trowa folded his arms and chuckled quietly to himself.
Laughing excitedly, Brian exclaimed, "That'd be great! Thanks, you two." Terry gave his own word of appreciation before they moved to their own lockers to get ready for their training warm up. Heero and Duo followed suit, lowering their duffle bags from their shoulders onto the floor and setting to dressing into their gear.
When the team was called to take the field, Mueller and Wufei waited until the braided running lost in the crowd before moving in on Heero. "Okay," the Chinese frowned deeply, "who are you and what the hell have you done with Yuy?"
Mueller glared heatedly and shook his head, "First you actually smile at that son of a bitch then you go and suggest you work more with him? And what was with that compliment you gave him?"
Instantly halting, Heero allowed the rest of his team to go on without him. Taken aback, Wufei and Mueller froze along with him. Once they were out of earshot of the remainder of his teammates, the quarterback stated calmly, "Duo and I came to an understanding last week. There's no need for any of us to keep up our grudge with him since he never did anything to intentionally hurt anyone."
Focusing on Mueller, the Japanese young man told him, "And as for that compliment, I meant every word. You know as well as I do that we've had a better running back on our team before. Not to mention the fact that he only proved how much work most of the team has in store if we hope to have a shot a decent season this year."
Stunned, Wufei blinked his wide eyes. "So you two put everything that had happened between you aside... just like that?" he asked with astonishment in his voice.
A small smile tugged Heero's lips in recalling a similar conversation that he recently had with Quatre. He nodded simply, "Just like that." Placing his shining, red helmet on, he locked the chin strap in place and said, "It's about time that we all grow up and just play nice."
As Heero ran to catch up with the rest of the team, the two remaining players looked to each other once more. Finally, Wufei put his helmet on and shrugged, "We still don't have to like the guy, but I suppose that if Yuy can be a little more accommodating, after what happened that night, then we can at least try. He was the only one of us that had any direct reason to hold a grudge, anyway."
Picking his feet up, the receiver ran down the remaining stretch of the empty corridor. His eyes narrowing, Mueller slowly pulled his own helmet on before quickly following.
A couple hours into the training day, Zechs was watching another skirmish from the sidelines when he heard a familiar voice call his name. Looking back to the entrance to the locker rooms beneath the stands, he found his wife and two sons heading towards him. With a wide smile, he laughed, "Hey, there." Derek and Gavin ran to close the distance between them.
Easily scooping the boys up in his arms, the head coach kissed their heads. "Well this is a pleasant surprise," he greeted to the beaming faces looking up at him.
Gavin pushed back his blonde, shoulder-length hair from his eyes and yelled excitedly, "We wanted to come see the team!" Derek vigorously nodded his own head of short, dark hair with a wide smile.
Biting her lip as she neared, Noin said quietly to her husband, "I hope that you don't our coming unannounced. They really wanted to come." As she gazed to the giggling children in their father's arms, she chuckled deeply, "And you know that I have a hard time denying them anything."
Gently kissing his wife's lips, Zechs reassured her, "Of course I don't mind." He gestured with his head to the bench just behind him and carefully lowered his charges. "Make yourselves comfortable." Noin's smile grew as led their sons by their hands to have a seat. Both Howard and Trent smiled warmly as they made their way to the trio for a round of hugs and greetings.
At the completion of the play that was unfolding, the tall blonde blew the whistle that was hanging around his neck. Once the team turned to face him, he announced, "All right. Get some water and get ready to jog for a couple laps around the field."
Quickly following orders, the suited players headed back to the sideline to collect their bottles. The second and third stringers at the benches were already drinking down their own beverages in preparation of the next drill.
Instead of heading for his own pile of belongings. Duo moved right for the three visitors. Removing his helmet to reveal the black, horizontal lines that he had painted under his eyes, the running back grinned widely to the boys, "Hey there, kiddos. You're just in time to give me a hand." Noin and Zechs shared a confused look, but remained quiet.
Their eyes wide, the children looked up to the tall football player. "How can we help?" Derek questioned. "We're too little."
Chuckling deeply, Duo waved his hand with a smirked, "Naw. Actually, you're just the right size. I'll bet the two of you combined weigh just enough." From where he was standing close, Howard was already on to what the braided young man was thinking. With an amused snort, the old coach went to a wheeler cart used for certain training techniques.
As Howard approached with the cart, Duo nodded to him then explained to the youngsters, "See, when I'm given the football, a lot of guys come after me and try to stop me from getting far. Sometimes, they get a hold of me and I have to try and drag them along for as far as I can before I'm brought down. During the jog, would you two mind jumping into this care, here, so I can pull you along?"
Gasping sharply, the two brothers bounced on their feet and shouted excitedly, "Yes, sir!" and "Oh boy!" along with an assortment of other cheers. Quickly, they piled into the little cart and sat down.
Quickly hydrating himself, Duo stood between the two long, metal polls hooked to either end of the cart. Turning his back on the wooden box, he gripped the poles tightly with his gloved hands and headed towards his teammates that were waiting at the starting point at the first corner of the field. "I never knew that he was so good with kids," Noin commented with a wide smile as she rose to her feet for a good view of her boys.
"Neither did I," Zechs laughed while shaking his head in amusement. Once everyone was in place, he raised his hand to call them to attention. Raising the whistle back to his lips, he let out a loud signal and the team was off.
Looking over his shoulder, Duo winked, "Hang on, now." The children did as instructed just before the running back started his charge. Loud hoots and hollers filled the air as the youngsters enjoyed their ride.
From his place in the front, Heero looked back just as his housemate ran up to catch him. Blinking in surprise, the quarterback shook his head in wonder. "Who would have thought," he muttered to himself.
The rest of the team all had the same shocked looks as the running back passed them. The boys were giggling and waving to the players that they knew and were rewarded with pats to their heads and kind greetings.
When the five laps were done, Duo still manages to stay close to the front of the pack even with the added weight. Panting lightly when he came to a stop, the American turned to his assistants. "Thanks for the help there, guys," he managed between puffs of air. "I needed that."
Piling out of the cart, Derek and Gavin wrapped their little arms around his legs. "Thanks, mister!" "That was great!" "So much fun!" they cried in a rush of words together before running back to their parents. Scooping his sons up once more, Zechs gave the braided running back a firm nod and a smile of appreciation.
Quickly getting his breath back, Duo approached to gently take the young woman's hand and kissed the back of it. "You must be Noin," he stated with a wiggle of his eyebrows. "Zechs certainly is a lucky man." Stepping into the scene in time to catch the exchange, Heero rolled his eyes in amusement along with Zechs.
Her cheeks blushing, Noin giggled, "Great with kids and a charmer, too. Very nice to finally meet you, Duo. As I'm sure you've already imagined, I've heard quite a bit about you."
"Oh, I'm sure," the American smirked. "My reputation has a way of preceding me." The short-haired woman laughed. Rubbing his hand atop the youngster's heads, Duo complimented, "You have two great kids, here." Derek and Gavin beamed up at him as he addressed them, "I better get going. You both be good for your parents. If you are, I'll try to talk them into bringing you out more so you can help me out again."
The boys cheered and thanked Duo again as he walked off to hydrate himself. Smiling, Heero moved in and kissed the young mother's cheek. "Good to see you, Noin."
"Heero," she grinned back. "Always a pleasure. How have you been, dear?" They caught up in a quiet conversation.
One-by-one, other members of the team took their chance to reunite with the family. For as long as Zechs led the Wolverines, his wife and their children were their biggest fans. To many of the players, Noin was like a second mother. She remembered every name and what was going on in their lives. If any of them were in trouble, she would drop everything to try and help in any way that she could.
The remainder of the practice was much more relaxed and loose with Derek and Gavin cheering from the side lines. All the while, Noin never lost her proud smile as she watched her husband in his element.
At the end of the day, Heero was sitting on the back patio watching the sunset over the horizon, lost in his dark thoughts. Seeing the whole Marquis family together earlier only reminded him once again of how grave this upcoming season was for them. Staring off at nothing, he didn't hear the footsteps entering the room. "Hey, man," a familiar voice spoke, nearly making the quarterback jump out of his skin.
His eyes widening at seeing his housemate start, Duo raised his hands and frowned, "Sorry. didn't mean to scare 'ya like that. I just came to let you know that dinner is going to be on the table soon."
Sighing deeply once he managed to calm himself, Heero shrugged, "It's all right. I just didn't hear you come in."
Without bothering to ask for permission, Duo plopped down on the other end of the sofa as he remarked, "Now that you mention it, you have had your head in the clouds ever since practice ended. What's going on?"
Surprised to hear the concern in the running back's voice, Heero turned his head to regard him better. He was even more taken aback that the worry seemed sincere, reflecting in the violet eyes watching him. Despite all of that, it was still difficult for the Japanese athlete and be open to someone who was once the last person in the galaxy that he would have trusted.
Duo sensed the trepidation in the quarterback and played with the end of his braid nervously. "Look, I know that we're not exactly the best of friends, 'Ro. But something is obviously eating at 'ya. Maybe talking about it will help."
The fact that he had no one else to talk about what he knew was the only reason Heero heard himself saying, "Fine, but this goes no further than this room. I was entrusted with this information and not even Lady Une knows about this. That should say enough of how important this is."
Eyes widening once more at that realization, Duo nodded. He was all too aware of how close his teammate was with the housekeeper. Frozen, he waited as the quarterback took a deep breath before stating quietly, "If our team doesn't win at least a conference championship this year, Zechs is going to be removed. He found out from Dorothy's administration not long before you were signed on to the team."
Instantly thinking of the kind man and his family that he just had the pleasure of meeting, the running back cried, "What!?" Rising to his feet, he started pacing back and forth as he argued aloud, "But... but that doesn't sound like something that Dorothy would do! Zechs is a great coach, not to mention the fact that he has a wife and a couple kids to feed!"
Heero's shoulders sagged heavily. "Well, apparently, none of that matters to her. This summer was when she first came on and making that decision was her first order of business. Zechs told me not long ago that he found out through a letter. She didn't even have the decency to tell him to his face," he informed.
Pausing in his footsteps, Duo looked back to his team captain. His eyes narrowing in thought, he muttered, "That doesn't sound like her at all." Spreading his arms out, he inquired in a rush, "Did either of you go to her for an explanation for her decision?"
With his cobalt eyes widening as though he were looking at a two-headed creature, Heero shook his head, "What difference would that make? Her mind has been made up." Shuddering, he added, "Not to mention that she scares the shit out of me."
Dry washing his face with his hands, the running back took a long and calming breath. Giving himself a moment to really consider everything that he had learned, he lowered his hands and repeated with even more certainly than before, "It still doesn't make any sense. It's just not how Dorothy works."
Slowly rising from the couch, the quarterback shrugged, "You only met her once, Duo." Raising an eyebrow, he smirked, "And in that same meeting, she ordered that we move in together. I'm pretty sure that it's exactly how she works." As he walked back the braided American, he reminded him quietly, "Dinner's waiting."
Biting his lip, Duo stayed in the room alone for a moment to examine his feelings against what he knew. It only served to prove his argument even more.
More determined than ever of what he needed to do, the running back pulled his cell phone from its clip on his hip. Opening the flip, he searched his list of contacts. His fingers typed in the number once he found it and pressed the phone to his ear.
After a couple rings, the familiar voice greeted a polite 'hello.' "Hey, Dorothy," Duo smiled. "Listen, doll, I was wondering if you couldn't pencil me into your schedule for a meeting before practice."
Nodding, he grinned, "Eight o'clock works perfectly. Thanks, babe." That said, he closed the cell phone and replaced it onto his hip. Rubbing his hands together, the braided young man told himself, "I'll get to the bottom of this one way or the other."
TBC...
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