Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 21
There was a somber quiet in the locker room the morning following Darren's trip to the hospital. Everyone that had not been at the hospital was soon advised of the wide receiver's condition that would keep him out for the season. Along with that, there was a shocked response to the retelling of what Dorothy had done to assure that he was taken care of. Still, nothing would replace having him on the field.
Already, the second-string wide receivers were on edge in waiting to see who would be filling the fallen comrade's shoes. Both Scott Dailey and John Bolton were equally matched and hungry for the chance to prove themselves. Neither wanted it to happen under these circumstances, however. Occasionally, they would glance to the empty locker with Darren's name at the top.
Heero, Duo and their friends were just about finished securing their gear when the coaching staff entered. All eyes fell on the three men in anticipation. Taking a deep breath, Zechs looked to the two second-string receivers sitting beside each other.
"Dailey, Bolton," he began, "we've decided that it would only be fair to have the two of you trade off field time. It would be impossible for us to choose between either of you for a full-time replacement."
Their eyes wide, both young men grinned widely and nodded with rushed words of appreciation. A small smile spread on the head coach's face in knowing how important this was to both of them. Wufei smirked in approval of the decision from the bench in front of his locker.
Howard spoke up and that moment to inform his new receivers, "Darren will be returning to practice next week to work with the two of you. I'm sure that you'll take everything he says to heart, considering how valuable he's always been on the field."
Again, Dailey and Bolton nodded with their 'You got it, Pops' and 'Yes, Sir' replies. Still grinning like two children in a candy store, they looked to their fellow offensive linemen and received warm smiles and winks of welcome from the lot.
Satisfied with that, Zechs announced, "Considering how hot and muggy it is out there today, we'll most likely be ending practice early. No sense in having any of you suffering from heat stroke out there. But, with the pre-season a month away, I am sure that you'll all be taking the extra time off to continue your exercises in the comfort of your homes." All around, his team reassured him with a variety of affirmatives.
"Good," the head coach nodded firmly. "Then let's get out there." Together, the team got to their feet and stormed out for the field.
* * * * * *
Panting heavily, Duo wiped the sweat from his brow and half moaned, "You know... I can appreciate having to work on our own time for calling practice early. I just wasn't expecting to be sweating more in an air conditioned room than on the actual field." To emphasize the point, he wrung out a few, large drops from his deep purple tank.
Heero smirked and took up the fallen football. "I told you that I was going to work you today," he shrugged simply. His own exposed arms were shimmering from sweat under the lights of the spacious track and field gym. He used the hem of his soaked, red tank top to wipe at his forehead. Raising an eyebrow, he commented, "We could call it quits if you've had enough."
Shaking his braided head, the running back answered, "Nah. I'm up for whatever you've got to offer." He moved just behind Heero and planted his feet in preparation to run once again, face etched in resolve for the task.
The quarterback swallowed roughly, his mind instantly traveling into dangerous territory at that innocent comment. Quickly mentally shaking those thoughts away, he gave an impressed smile to his determined teammate. Turning, he nodded for Duo to start running. Once he was a couple yards ahead, the running back turned just as the ball was thrown to him.
* * * * * *
Later that evening...
Trowa and Quatre smiled warmly to Wufei and Relena as they joined him at their usual round table at Murray's. "No Heero, huh?" the wide receiver snorted as he looked around the bar. "I can't say I'm surprised."
Shrugging, the blonde agent commented, "It's still pretty early yet." His blue eyes fixed on something just then and a sly grin spread on his face. Looking to the Asian football player, Quatre said, "Trowa mentioned that you said you would kiss Duo on the lips if he pulled off getting Heero here."
After taking a sip from his soda, Wufei nodded, "That's right."
With a smug smirk of his own, Trowa chuckled deeply, "Well you better pucker up sweet cheeks." Both Relena and Wufei quickly turned to the door to watch as Duo and Heero entered the bar together, looking for their friends in the crowd.
Relena lightly nudged her lover in the chest as she whispered, "You'll have to tell me what kind of a kisser he is. I'm dying to know." As Wufei sputtered and the other couple laughed, she stood and waved, "Hey, guys!"
Quickly spotting the cheerleader, Duo beamed and waved back excitedly. Gently taking his housemate by the arm, he led the way to their table. "Perfect timing," Quatre stated as he and the others made room for the new arrivals to take the last two seats. "We were just about to order something to snack on."
"Great! I'm starving!" the running back exclaimed. Just the thought of food had his stomach rumbling loudly. Pointing with his thumb to Heero beside him, he sighed deeply, "Captain America, here has been running me ragged for the last four hours straight."
At the nickname, the quarterback smirked and rolled his cobalt eyes. "You were the one that insisted we keep going whenever I offered a break," he reminded. Duo muttered something along the line of 'Details. Details' along with some expletives and Heero snickered.
Wufei took another sip from his soda can and asked, "So how are the catching practices coming? You've been on it for a few weeks now."
Shrugging, the American answered, "It's coming along, I guess. I'm not as consistent at it as I would like to be, but it's getting there." Heero nodded his agreement to the assessment.
Despite his cool demeanor, the team captain's stomach was churning with discomfort. Silently, he waited for the questions about how he was holding up or why he'd taken so long to get together with the others. If not questions, he was sure that he'd at least get a lecture for his hiatus here and there.
It was so much easier to avoid something like that at practice because everyone was focused on their jobs. But, at a social gathering like this, it would be impossible to dodge such a discussion once it started.
To Heero's wonder, Duo seemed to pick up on his tension when their eyes met and lightly nudged their shoulders together with a small grin. Unable to help himself, the quarterback flashed him a tiny smile of gratitude. Sodas and snacks were ordered as the tight-knit friends discussed everything from the weather to Darren and his unfortunate accident the day before.
Slowly and surely feeling more at ease with the situation, Heero began adding his own thoughts to the subjects brought up. Before long, it all started to feel familiar; it felt the way that it had before his parents passed away.
A couple hours into their social, Relena dipped a curly fry into the side helping of ranch dressing. "I'm going to be working all of this off like hell tomorrow at the gym when I'm finished instructing my classes," she muttered before finishing off the fry.
Wufei chuckled deeply and shook his head, "You know, a little junk in the trunk isn't a bad thing. You could go for a little more meat on those bones of yours." He gently pinched her hip in the way that always tickled her.
Laughing, the head cheerleader lightly swatted her lover and gave him a half-hearted glare. She stuck her tongue out as the others around the table snickered and laughed. As the cackles died down, Relena turned to the running back and asked, "May I ask a personal question that I've been dying to know?"
"Sure thing, darling," Duo answered. Folding his arms, he made himself comfortable in his chair and warned with a feigned seriousness, "Though, depending on the question, I can't promise you'll like the answer." He wiggled his eyebrows and his teammates laughed once again at the jester antics.
Practically bouncing in her seat in anticipation, the cheerleader inquired with a smirk, "Why did you end up punching Treize Khushrenada in the face after your last game?"
At one of the many questions that they had all wondered themselves, Heero and his friends all looked anxiously to the running back. Quatre released the breath he had been holding in worry of what the question might be. Knowing the answer, he just folded his arms behind his head and chuckled to himself.
Duo's own smile grew and he shrugged simply, "The guy's an asshole and I wanted out of my contract. It was the easiest way of blowing off some steam and accomplishing my goal at the same time with the added bonus of humiliating Treize on national television."
Blinking in shock, Relena commented, "Well, he must have been something vile for you to take that drastic of a measure. Most football players would kill to be on that team. The Cougars are almost always in contention for a championship."
"There are more important things in life than championship rings and trophies, Lena," the braided athlete winked. "It's important to be happy doing what you're doing. And working with people you can't stand makes that impossible." His blood boiling at the thought of the smug coach, he gritted, "That bastard would give up his first born if it meant winning. He broke the wills and bodies of a lot of good players."
After a long drink from his soda, Heero frowned deeply, "The sad thing is that most people praise that kind of competitiveness. "Sighing deeply, Trowa nodded, "And coaches like Zechs are never taken seriously unless they have a championship under their belt."
There was a long silence amongst their group as Heero, Trowa and Wufei looked onto their teammate with a newfound respect. So many theories had been drawn up to his reason behind the incident. Not one of them had come close to being right. Quatre snickered to himself at picking up on the emotions running around the table.
Quickly glancing to his watch, Wufei winced, "It's after eleven o'clock already." Turning to his girlfriend, he suggested, "We better get going if we want to get to sleep at a decent hour for work tomorrow." Relena nodded and rose from her chair.
Blinking in shock, Heero looked to his own watch. He had enjoyed himself so much that he had completely forgotten to keep an eye on the time. For one of meticulous as he had become at making sure he was in bed before ten, it was quite the surprise.
Tightly wrapping her arms around the quarterback's neck, Relena kissed his cheek and whispered, "Thanks for coming out, Heero. We've missed you." A small smile tugging his lips, Heero returned the embrace. When they parted, the cheerleader moved in on Duo as he lifted her from the ground in a bear hug.
Handshakes and 'good nights' were exchanged amongst the football players and every parted ways. In learning that Quatre was spending the night at Trowa's, of course Duo had to poke a little fun at him on the way out. Before long, everyone was back in their vehicles and heading back home.
The ride back to the Yuy household was relatively quiet. Duo chewed on the inside of his lip, wondering if the night went well enough for the quarterback to give this socializing another go. Finally breaking the companionable silence, Heero glanced away from the road to peer at his teammate with a quite, "Thanks for talking me into that."
Clearing his throat, the Japanese athlete looked ahead once more to make a turn. With his attention dividing between driving and what he was saying, opening up came much easier as he all but whispered, "I forgot how much I enjoyed those get-togethers. After everything that happened last summer, I... I didn't expect them to stay off certain topics that would make things uncomfortable. " A deep frown marred his face. "I should have trusted them more than to assume that."
Understanding and appreciation for the revelation filled Duo's violet eyes as he smiled, "Sometimes it takes moments like this to know who your real friends are. Even though it's been a year since you spent time with any of them, they've been waiting to welcome you back. They're a great group of people, 'Ro. You're lucky to have them."
Heero grinned a bit at that and nodded, "Yea. I am." Pulling into the drive way and turning the engine off, he looked over to his housemate and added kindly, "Don't forget that you have them, too. You've become quite the fixture in our group."
A warm feeling immersed the running back at those words. In truth, he was growing more than fond of these individuals... far more so than any other teammates he'd had in the past. It was nice to have that sense of family on a team for a change.
Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Duo didn't trust his voice at that moment. He settled with a bright smile and a firm nod.
The air was as warm and muggy as it had been when the sun was out when they opened their car doors. Heading up towards the house, the pair fell into a companionable silence once more. At the top of the front porch steps, Heero asked, "Did any of them mention when the next get-together would be?"
His eyes widening at the question, the running back answered quickly, "Yea. Same time, same place every week from here on out. Anyone willing is welcome to show." At the end of his speech, he held his breath.
"Good," the quarterback commented as he pressed his hand to the scanner just beside the door. "I'm looking forward to it." Practically beaming behind him, Duo followed his friend into the house with a lightness in his step.
* * * * * *
The following morning, Duo hummed as he took a large bite from the pancakes that Lady Une had prepared for him. After the successful outing the night before, the he was far too excited to sleep. For a first, he was actually up and about just before the young maid made an appearance in the waking world.
Knowing that Heero would be out for at least another half-hour, and with Quatre still at Trowa's, Lady Une prepared only enough food for her braided friend and herself. The pair sat across from each other and enjoyed their breakfasts.
"So how did everything go last night?" the young woman inquired with a worried frown. It was a question that she'd been dying to ask, but had been afraid of the answer.
Duo smiled brightly after flushing down his mouthful with a gulp from his orange juice. "Couldn't have been better," he answered. "In fact, Heero's already mentioned that he's looking forward to next week's meeting at Murray's."
Her brown eyes widening and a wide smile spreading on her face, Lady Une gasped, "Really!?" Sighing deeply, she sunk heavily into her chair as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of her. "Thank goodness," she breathed. "I've been so worried about him and how he's been locking himself away from everything."
Small tears filled her gaze as she whispered brokenly to the running back, "Thank you. He never would have attempted such a thing without your insisting."
Handing over a clean napkin, Duo winked, "Don't mention it, darlin'. It was a team effort. I just happened to give the last push." He was rewarded a brilliant grin as the young maid dabbed her eyes with the offered cloth.
Slightly tilting his head, the braided athlete commented, "You know, there's something that's been bothering me about you for a long time now." Those brown eyes widened and blinked to him with a mix of panic and confusion. Leaning forward, he smirked, "How is it that such a sweet, gorgeous young woman like yourself manages to fend off the suitors that would love to be associated with you?"
Blushing vibrantly, Lady Une giggled and lowered her head shyly. "Oh, I wouldn't say that I'm gorgeous," she commented softly.
"You're right," Duo grinned. "Breathtaking. " Laughing, the maid was about to protest when the running back held up his hands and chuckled deeply, "Hey, how my motto. I may run and hide, but I never tell a lie. I wouldn't say it if it wasn't the truth."
The blush on the maid's face only reddened all the more as she giggled once more. Shaking her head, she shrugged, "To be honest, I've never considered a romance with anyone. I've been so preoccupied in looking after Heero that I never paid much mind to such a thing."
With a nonchalant wave of her hand, she quickly added with a smile, "But I'm happy. Love is a wonderful notion, but it's not meant for everyone."
As she rose from her seat to gather the empty plates, however, the plastered grin faded from Lady Une's face to be replaced by a look of sad longing just before she turned away.
Frowning deeply in concern, Duo hummed to himself as the wheels in his head began turning. Lightly tapping his chin, he thought aloud, "I'm just going to have to see if I can't stir up Cupid somehow."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page