Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 43
Over the car radio, a sportscaster's voice was recanting all of week five's wins and losses. "At no surprise, the San Francisco Cougars reigned victorious over the Seattle Wings to remain undefeated and the leaders of their division."
Both Alex and Mueller smirked at the statement as they drove back to their shared, posh apartment after taking some time to get away from their busy hometown.
The sportscaster's deep tone continued, "However, the big story of the weekend is once again the Pittsburgh Wolverines. They managed to clinch an almost easy victory over Tennessee compared to their match-up with Colorado the week before. While they had also won the face off in their first face-off during the pre-season, the Warriors had not put up much of a fight then since a win or loss would not count.
"For this regular season, Tennessee is expected to go pretty far, but Pittsburgh managed to make the team look almost like a pack of rookies just starting out. Once again, the dynamic pair of Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell was a huge factor in the Wolverines managing to remain 5 and 0." [1]
Growling, Alex all but punched the power button on the stereo system to turn it off. "I'm so fucking tired of our being in those losers' shadows. We haven't lost a damned game yet, either, but you don't hear anyone making a fuss over it."
His eyes narrowing, Mueller commented, "That's because we're on the better team, so it's no surprise that we're doing so well. They have to work for it, so of course they're going to be talked about more." He watched as his lover's knuckles turned white from the hard grip on the steering wheel.
Over the last couple of weeks since his trade, the tight end was growing increasingly frustrated with his partner's behavior. This little tirade was the straw that was about to break the camel's back. Holding his tongue, he remained quiet all the way up to their room with a scenic view of the city.
All but throwing off his coat, Mueller waited for the door to close before turning to his teammate and hissing, "All right. What the hell is going on with you? I can understand a little rivalry and hurt feelings from you trade, but you're fucking obsessed with beating Maxwell. And don't think that I haven't picked up on the shorter temper and other things that are different about you. So out with it!"
Taken aback by the verbal assault, Alex's eyes widened as he struggled to find his voice. And here he thought that he had been so careful to not lead on. Lying wasn't going to help matters- his partner was too smart to believe anything that he might try to make an excuse.
In the end, it was only a matter of time before Mueller found out the truth. Living with him was only going to reassure that. The other possibility to keep his secret was to break off their affair... and that just was not an option as far as Alex was concerned. Whatever effects the drugs may or may not have been taking hold of him, his feelings for the other young man never changed.
Sighing deeply, the blonde running back rolled back the long sleeves of his dark orange top. Showing the inside of his right elbow, he lightly rubbed away the thick concealer he had been using to reveal the pinholes of puncture wounds in the flesh there.
With a soft gasp, Mueller breathed, "Drugs." Rage quickly taking over his shock, he glared heatedly at his lover and shouted, "You've been using drugs!?"
Instantly covering the other athlete's mouth, Alex gave a whispered but sharp, "Sshh! You want to announce it to the damned world!? I have a lot to lose here by sharing this with you, so just keep quiet for a minute and let me explain!"
As the hand was pulled away, Mueller begrudgingly remained quiet, but he continued to glare in a way that told the running back 'This had better be good.'
Sighing in relief, Alex explained, "This is only to help me finally make a name for myself. You know how frustrating it was to do everything in my power to be a better player and always fall short. Treize is offering me a chance to be the best running back out there. I swear that I never intended to stay on these drugs after I've reached my goal." Inwardly, he smirked at the little white lie he threw in.
The tight end opened his mouth to speak when his lover shook his head while adding, "Besides, I know you're tired of always being on a losing team. Even if the Wolverines are doing well now, it's not going to last forever. It's only a matter of time before they'll be at the bottom of the pack again." Reaching to cup his partner's face, he grinned, "We're going to go all of the way with this team, I know it. You want to be wearing a Super Bowl ring as badly as I do."
Mueller took a moment to consider everything. Both surprised and disappointed that he was even thinking such a thing over, he couldn't help the fact that he did want to win a championship. Along with that, after seeing his lover struggle so long and hard to improve on the field, he couldn't deny him the credit he was finally receiving.
Even with all of those issues, the biggest looming problem in the whole mess was Treize. He was not a man that Mueller was about to upset, if he could help it. The head coach was very influential in the league, as well as driven in his ways to achieving his goals. A dangerous combination. That, more than anything else, was the reason why there was a heavy lean to going along with acting as though nothing was wrong.
But there still needed to be one thing made certain.
Raising a finger, the tight end warned, "One season of this shit. Then you either quit and look to sign on to another team with me, or I'll risk my own career in this sport by coming forward to the press about everything."
More than happy with that, Alex nodded, "Okay. That's more than fair. This season will earn you time to regain your reputation for another team to pick you up and I'll go along as a package deal to make sure that we get out of here. No more drugs after that."
It was more than enough time for the next cover story when the end of the season came around. Still reluctant, Mueller nodded back and turned away. Pausing in mid-step, he looked over his shoulder and asked, "So if Treize is providing drugs to the team, does that mean that Maxwell also-"
Alex bit back a growl at the mention of that braided running back's name. Cutting his partner off, he frowned, "No. He never used a damn drop of the stuff and was none the wiser than anything like that was being distributed as an option."
In learning that, the tight end had to keep from smiling in amusement. 'Good for him,' he thought to himself, impressed with the American's talent.
Biting his lip, Alex stated, "You're already performing to your best when you get to play every-other quarter. But, you could start every time if you had a little 'help'. I could always talk to Treize about setting you up, if you're interested."
That stern glare was back again as Mueller turned to face him. "Mention it again," he gritted, "and our deal is off. I'll go to the press so quickly and you'll be disbanded from the league so quickly you won't know what happened."
His eyes wide, the running back swallowed roughly. "Got it," he managed in a small voice. Satisfied with that, Muller turned and walked off without another word.
All but falling onto the couch behind him, Alex chuckled deeply to himself. "Perfect," he muttered to himself. "Crises handled."
* * * * * *
"Well, congratulations on your run of five straight wins," journalist Nathan Gallow smiled at the start of his interview with Heero Yuy. "This must be quite an exciting time for you."
Smiling, the quarterback nodded firmly, "It is, thank you. The whole team has been working hard to get where we are right now."
Back in the wings as the conversation continued, Duo was watching and listening behind the cameras while waiting for his turn for the next 'interrogation' as he liked to call them. Quietly grumbling to himself over having to endure another of these weekly tortures, the running back fidgeted with the end of his braid.
Just beside him, Quatre peered to him out of the corner of his eye. "Stop fidgeting," he scorned quietly. "You're making me nervous."
Under his breath, the braided athlete muttered, "Gallow is one of the slimiest interviewers out there. I know that eventually, we have to meet up with the asshole, but it's damned hard not to just slug the guy with the way he tries to start trouble."
"I don't like him any more than you do," the agent tried to reassure. "Yet, we all know that if anyone turns down an interview with him, he'll be calling them out as being scared of him. Better to just endure what he has to say and get it over with."
Snorting, Duo folded his arms and focused back on his lover and his question-and- answer session.
With a wicked smirk, the oily journalist folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Now why don't you and Maxwell just take the full credit for carrying the team as far as you've come?" he asked. "Everyone knows that you're both the stars of the Wolverines."
Heero shrugged with a lopsided smirk of his own. "Because everyone on the field makes a difference to whether or not a play we run is successful," he answered, "I'm not about to take away any credit the others deserve. The defense keeps the other team from scoring more than we can handle. The offensive line and receivers are the difference to my being able to pass or Maxwell's being able to run."
Snickering softly, Quatre commented, "That was a clear setup to get the rest of the team mad with him. Very well handled, I must say." A small grin on his own face, Duo nodded his braided head in agreement.
Easily covering his disappointment in not managing to trap the quarterback with that first ling of questioning, Nathan moved on to a new subject that was certain to stir some emotion. "Well, I can only imagine how much you wish that your parents could still be around to witness this season firsthand."
Cobalt eyes widening, Heero's voice caught in his throat as the journalist continued, "But then, you only took enough time off of your training last summer to attend their funeral." That sly smirk returned as Gallow shrugged, "Business as usual, right?"
Both stunned at the sudden turn, Quatre and Duo stood behind the cameras with wide eyes and slack jaws as the quarterback struggled to catch his breath. His own face and eyes soon burning with rage, the running back hissed, "That son of a bitch." Fists clenched at his sides, he stalked towards the smug interviewer.
Lightly placing a hand on his friend's shoulder to stop him, the agent winked to him, "I've got this." Walking past the cameras as they continued to film, Quatre's eyes narrowed on Gallow when their gazes met. Heero continued to stare ahead, lost in a sea of emotions that left him adrift from the world around him. "This interview is over," he announced in a calm, but stern voice.
Nathan laughed, "And who the hell are you to say so? Aren't you Maxwell's agent?"
Smiling pleasantly, the Arab bowed at the waist and replied, "Why yes, I am." He extended a hand and said, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Quatre Raberba Winner."
At the name, the cocky journalist suddenly froze with tide eyes. "W-Winner?" he sputtered. "T-then your father is..."
Quatre filled in with a wide grin, "One of the most powerful men in the world."
With his smile quickly fading into another heated glare, the agent stated, "And believe me, I know every letter of the law when it comes to the well-being of these football players. As a friend of Mister Yuy, I will be representing him as well.
"Causing undue stress the way that you are now could hurt his ability to play, thus his livelihood. If you wish to continue this interview, or air what you already have, I will come after you with the best lawyers for the emotional distress that it would bring," the blonde warned. "We both know that the courts would never support an oily journalist like yourself. We all know the thin line that you tap dance on with your method of interviewing."
Gallow swallowed roughly on that one. It was difficult for him to keep a good lawyer handy because no one wanted to represent him. The agent was right and would easily crush him in a courtroom. Not having another choice, he nodded firmly and croaked, "All right. I'll have the tapes destroyed."
A smile tugging his lips once more, Quatre responded, "Good. And I will be there to witness it." Raising an eyebrow, he explained, "Just to be certain that you're living up to your end of the bargain, of course."
His throat dry, the journalist swallowed once more and answered quietly, "Of course."
That said, Quatre moved to his friend as he remained slumped in his seat. Carefully removing the microphone from his tie, the Arab spoke to him gently, "Come on, Heero. Let's get you out of here."
Finally returning to the world of the living with a couple blinks, the quarterback looked up to the agent and numbly rose from his seat. Duo entered the scene and with a hand on his lover's back, led him from the room.
Rubbing his hands together, Quatre turned back to Nathan. "Now, let's get to those tapes," he smirked. "Including the audio recordings from the studio room." At the way that Gallow's eyes widened, the blonde snickered to himself.
Yes, he certainly did know his craft as an agent. And he loved every moment of it.
A steady rain had just started outside when Heero and Duo were making their way for the car. Umbrella in one hand, the running back handed over a bottle of water that he purchased from a vending machine on the way out. "Are you all right?" he asked quietly.
Heero's hand trembled as he accepted the bottle, forcing a small nod. Everything was numb and empty to him as he tried to handle the wave of emotions threatening to drown him.
Quatre arrived moments later and the small group headed back to the Yuy household without a word between them. Sitting in the back, Heero gazed through the rain-glistened window beside him. By the time they reached his residence, he was coming out of his stupor.
Lady Une and the agent worked together in preparing dinner while the quarterback cleared his head with a hot shower. When he emerged back into the bedroom, Duo was sitting on the edge of their bed with a concerned look. Forcing himself not to look into those worried eyes, Heero headed for the dresser and proceeded to change into a fresh set of clothes.
With a deep breath, Duo frowned to his lover's back, "I'm not going to force you into talking, 'Ro. Just promise that you won't keep me shut out forever, okay?"
Pulling his grey long-sleeved shirt on last, Heero faced him and replied quietly, "I'm not shutting you out." he slipped a dry pair of sneakers on his feet as he announced, "You're coming with me."
Duo blinked in surprise and quickly rose from the mattress. Without argument and without asking where they were going, he grabbed an umbrella and followed his partner back downstairs. After a promise to their friends that they would be back in time for dinner, the pair headed back out into the rain.
At the wheel, Heero took his time in getting to their destination. The damp roads and quickly fading light had little factor in that. When they made their last turn, he said quietly, "The last time I was here was at the burial."
A metal arch shown and glistened in the beam of the headlights as the car approached. Gasping softly, Duo's wide eyes read at the top of the arch 'Saint Gabriel Cemetery'. Biting his lip, he reached over and squeezed his teammate's shoulder in support. Heero did little to react as he navigated the vehicle through the twisting and turning hills.
Headstones of various shapes, sizes and colors sparkled in both the rain and the glow of the lampposts all around. Towards the center of the expansive grounds, the quarterback brought the car to a stop and turned the ignition off.
In silence, the couple headed towards the center of that particular hill. Umbrella in hand, Duo swallowed roughly as they neared a pair of headstones joined in the center to make one large, heart-shaped grave marker. On the first half was Odin Lowe's name, date of birth and date of death. The second half had Yumeko Yuy's information. At the bottom of the heart, in inscription read, 'Not even death could part these souls.'
There was a very long silence as the pair silently paid their respects. Even the rain pittering and pattering above and all around was lost to their thoughts.
Finally, without looking over to his lover, Heero's voice breathed, "I still think that they're just going to walk through the door one of these days." At the anguish in that whispered phrase, Duo swallowed past a lump that formed in his throat before turned his head to watch the other athlete.
Slowly moving his head so their eyes met, the quarterback reached up to run his fingers over the gold chain that peeked out the back of his partner's collar. Tears forming in his cobalt eyes, he asked brokenly, "Does the pain ever go away?"
Smiling sadly, Duo as he answered, "I wish that I could tell you 'yes', 'Ro. But it does get better... over time." Gently brushing away a stray drop with the pad of his thumb, he added, "And it's all right to cry. You don't always have to be strong."
Actually feeling a bit better at that, Heero nodded and gazed back at the tombstone. "Would you mind if we stayed here for a little longer?" he asked in an almost pleading tone.
Reaching over with his free hand to latch onto his partner's, the running back squeezed it tightly and reassured softly, "We can stay as long as you need."
The quarterback sniffled quietly and rested his head on his partner's shoulder for some added shelter from the elements around as well the emotions swirling within. Lightly kissing his forehead, Duo wrapped his arm around Heero's waist and held him against his side.
Neither knew how long they had been out for exactly. They were late for dinner.... but Lady Une and Quatre never complained.
TBC...
[1] Whenever you hear a team standing- the first number is the number of wins and the second is the number of losses. So, for example, if you hear a team is '3 and 2', that means that so far they have three wins and two losses. In this case, the Wolverines are '5 and 0' so five wins and no losses.
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