Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 78
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Green Bay, Wisconsin," the steward's chipper voice announced over the airplane speaker system. "Please wait until we have come to a complete stop and the seatbelt light overhead is turned off before retrieving your luggage from the overhead compartments."
Duo was nothing but smiles as he looked out the window to the landing field. Heero chuckled quietly to himself while taking his lover's hand to squeeze it. When the running back's baseball-capped head turned to face him, he leaned in for a quick kiss just before the craft came to a complete stop.
As the seatbelt light dimmed off, the quarterback grinned quietly, "Ready?"
Nodding, his partner replied, "Hell yea." Together, they removed their seatbelts and rose from their seats to gather up their carryon luggage.
* * * * * *
There were a lot of things to like about the city, Heero came to realize as he and Duo drove through. For being a major city, it was a clean and friendly atmosphere. Many people walking on the streets greeted each other as they passed by. It was something that he always liked about Pittsburgh.
While there were large buildings around, there were not so many that it made the scene feel congested or closed off from the rest of the world. In fact, it was quite easy to make out the fields and trees that lined the outskirts of the city through most of the drive.
Being the one familiar with the area, Duo was behind the wheel. From time to time, his violet eyes would glance over to his lover to gage how he was handling the whole introduction to their future hometown. Slowly, his trepidation over the whole trip was fading in seeing how calm and interested the other athlete was over their new environment.
Not long into the ride, they were approached the looming Shamrock Stadium-home to the Green Bay Gladiators. Impressive in its size and its oval structure, Heero could not help but gawk at the facility as they rode past. Considering how well off the town was financially, it was no surprise that they would provide only the best of the best for their football team.
That was not to say that the Patriot Stadium in Pittsburgh was not a good home for the Wolverines. There were just clear... differences in the two buildings. Apparently, this was what it was like to be in a more stable economy.
Parking in the main lot of the stadium, the football players headed to the main gates. The moment the security guard took a look at the visitors when they removed their baseball caps, his eyes widened with a gasp and he all but threw the doors open to them.
Slowly making their way down the long corridor, the pair were soon engulfed by the daylight once more. On the frozen field, the Gladiators were in full swing of an intense practice in preparation of their face off against San Francisco that weekend. With their division's championship on the line, there was no half-hearted effort on anyone's part that day.
Behind the sideline, Coach Newbright was watching his players intently. Arms folded, he made a few verbal notes with his offensive and defensive coaches. His green eyes widening when he spotted the visitors coming down the line, he politely excused himself from the staff to run and meet Heero and Duo halfway.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise," the tall man laughed as he took and shook both Wolverines' hands. "I'm surprised that you're not busy getting ready for your own game against Houston this weekend."
Smiling kindly, Duo shrugged, "Coach gave us a couple of days off so that we don't risk injury now that we're looking for the American League championship. We decided to take a look around while we have a break."
He received a wide grin that threatened to split the head coach's round face at that. Holding an arm out to the team working out on the field, he offered, "Well, consider our home your home. Feel free to have a look around."
Gladly taking up that offer, the quarterback and running back took their time walking around the facility and watching the practice. Everything about the inside of the stadium was as impressive as the outside. From the heated seats in the stands for the audience to the pristine condition of the field despite the snowfalls and cold temperatures that it had seen, there was not a single detail missed.
And the team was equally impressive. Advanced in years, they were also wiser in how they conserved themselves for their practice. Some of the hits made in mere skirmishes were hard enough to make their visitors blanch. There was not a movement or a breath wasted in anything they did.
It only proved why they were a force to be reckoned with for more than a decade. Three of those years they had actually won the Super Bowl.
Looking to the watch an hour later, Heero suggested that they get going while they still had daylight for a few hours to see the house. More than happy to see to that idea, Duo headed with him to see Coach Newbright to offer their appreciation and farewells.
"We'll have to sit down one of these days with the owner when the post-season is over to discuss terms of a contract," the nice man stated, "I know for a fact that money would be no object when it comes to what he is willing to offer for the two of you."
Practically giddy, the braided running back took the hand being offered with a sincere, "I'm looking forward to that. Thanks again for letting us check things out. Good luck against the Cougars this weekend." He winked, "Give Treize my best." Heero and Newbright had a good laugh at that sentiment.
Waving as the couple walked off, the head coach called, "Good luck against Houston! Give them a run!" Just before they walked out of sight, the Wolverines waved back with their thanks.
That little visit certainly did a lot for Heero. Seeing how the team trained firsthand put a lot of his concerns at ease. Perhaps the trade would not be nearly as bad as he had originally thought.
* * * * * *
From the stadium, it was a twenty minute drive to the suburbia outside of the city where the house was being constructed. "We're coming up on it now," Duo announced quietly, the anticipation dripping in his voice as he drove them over a steep and secluded hill. Sitting up in his seat, Heero focused on the view ahead.
When they reached the top of the hill, the quarterback's breath hitched in his throat at what was on the other side.
In the center of a spacious field surrounded by trees and more rolling hills was the framework of a quaint but impressive three-story estate. It was clear from where they were that the actual structure was complete with only the interior and siding work to finish. Simple in design but articulate at the same time, the home was clearly going to be something out of a dream when it was completed.
Biting his lip as he brought the car to a stop at the top of the hill, Duo ignored the tears filling his violet eyes. This home stood for everything that he had worked so hard and sacrificed for. This was going to be the haven for his family, their peace after all of the terrible things that they had experienced in their young lives.
Heero watched him for a silent moment, fighting his own emotions in knowing what this meant for his lover. Never before had he ever been so proud of Duo. Finally... finally he was able to actually see with his own eyes that all of his hard work and patience had been worth every bit of his effort.
Slowly, the quarterback reached over to squeeze his lover's shoulder. When shimmering eyes met his, he about fell apart then and there. "It's beautiful, Duo," he breathed.
The running back sniffled a sob and whispered, "Thank you." Regaining his senses, he turned back to gaze on the road ahead. Hand shaking when his hand moved to the gear stick, he brought the car back to a slow decent own the hill.
* * * * * *
Hardhats in place, Heero and Duo followed the head constructor through the plastic sheets that hung over where the front door would be installed. Like the door, all of the window frames had plastic draping to keep back any snow or rain that may fall during the build.
"As you can see, my crew works pretty quickly," the tall and muscular man smirked over his shoulder. "This home is going to be finished at least a week sooner than we expected, so long as the weather stays as agreeable as it has so far."
Crewmen and women walked all around carrying beams of wood, cords and a variety of tools as they continued to work. Hearing from room to room, the couple took the time to really appreciate the size and layout of each space.
In their travels, the head constructor explained exactly how the next weeks were going to be laid out for his staff. He gave enough detail to how every room was going to be carpeted, painted, wired and piped that the football players had a clear and perfect vision of what the end result would be.
Reaching the loft at the very top of the house, they had a breathtaking view of the large lake at the back. The sunlight bounced off of the sheet of ice to make the lake shimmer and sparkle. Letting out the breath that he had been holding, Heero whispered, "Wow." Beside him, Duo smiled widely and nodded.
Now that he was up as high as he was to take in the field and hills, the quarterback remembered this scene. It was the same field that Duo, Solo and Hilde had been standing in for one of the pictures he found in his lover's room when he invaded it. Those brilliant smiles on their faces in that image were easily explained now that he knew the significance behind the setting.
The tall crewman bowed at the waist and grinned to his client, "I certainly hope that this home is to your liking. We followed your every request and design idea as close as we could to make what would become a perfect place for you and the kids."
Duo nodded enthusiastically, "It is perfect. Thank you." Offering his hand, he gave a firm handshake and cleared his throat. "Honestly, I would never have been able to imagine anything better, myself."
More than pleased by that, the head constructor dipped his head humbly. "Then I will take my leave and give you both some time to explore on your own," he said before taking Heero's extended hand for another firm shake. Silently, he stepped from the loft to return to his crew and his work.
The moment they had the room to themselves, the running back threw his arm around his partner's neck. Smiling, the quarterback wrapped the trembling form around him up for a comforting embrace. As they stood there like that for a time, Heero realized how much it must have been killing Duo to just be held.
It was a rare thing for a person to actually have a dream of their come true right before their eyes. The fact that it was actually happening now to a person who easily could have given up on hoping or dreaming was nothing short of amazing to even witness.
Pulling back while resting his braided head on a firm shoulder, Duo smiled and pointed over to the small valley to their right. "I was thinking that in time, a stable could be built there," he said quietly.
His hand moved to the lake as he continued, "And a dock for the lake could be put right there." To the hills at the left with a small path winding over them, he pointed and went on, "Those hills lead to blueberry and strawberry patches just inside the woods that are safe for picking and eating."
Lost in his vision for the future, Duo laid out all of his plans and reasons for picking that particular place for his children. Enraptured by his lover's ideas, Heero listened intently. Like so many times before when he did not think it was possible for him to love his fiancé any more than he already did, he found his heart swelling over once again.
When Duo said that he wanted nothing but the best for his family, he was not just making a good sound piece. He had taken everything into consideration for this location, this set up and this haven that they would call home.
There was no longer a doubt in Heero's mind that this was where he belonged.
He brought the running back's continued speaking to a halt when he gently turned his braided head towards him to press their lips together. Violet eyes widening, Duo quickly let them slid closed as he returned the kiss with fervor.
* * * * * *
The following morning, Sylvia smiled as she stepped back into her home with a few shopping bangs in hand. Finding her husband to just be on his way out the door for practice, she greeted warmly, "Hello, darling. I am glad that I caught you."
Quickly lowering her bags, she threw her arms around the head coach and kissed him as she always would when she returned from a trip. Treize chuckled deeply into the gesture as he deepened it and held her close. Inwardly, Sylvia did her best not to become ill at having to keep up such a display of affection for someone who had clearly betrayed her.
But she was not about to let her act slip away until she had the answers to her questions.
When they pulled away, her husband's arms around her wait tightened as he grinned, "I've missed you something awful, my dear. It's good to have you back home." Now that she saw him for who he was, it amazed Sylvia just how good a liar Treize was. Only now that she was more enlightened, she was able to pick up on the lack of sincerity in his voice.
"How was your trip, my dear?" he asked as he ran a hand through her blonde hair. The young woman found it funny how, even now, he never bothered to ask where she was headed. It spoke a great deal to just how concerned he was in her matters.
Gesturing to the bags at the feet, Sylvia giggled, "Quite productive, as you can see. A girl can never get enough shopping in wherever we go." She leaned in to kiss the tip of his nose and said, "You have a good practice, my love. Please extend my best to the team, as always."
Treize nodded firmly, "Of course." Before he moved, he lowered his head to whisper huskily in her ear, "Our bed was cold without you there last night. If you're feeling up to it, perhaps we could catch up on lost time."
Shivering and fighting back the bile that rose in her throat at the same time, his wife smiled, "I thought that you might never ask." The head coach brought their lips together once more for a heated kiss.
Breathless when they pulled away, Treize smirked, "I'll be home before you even have time miss me." With a wink, he walked past and headed for the door.
Under her breath, Sylvia muttered under her breath without looking back, "You'll never be away long enough for that to happen." She glanced over her shoulder to find the front door closing after her husband. Instantly, her hand reached up to wipe her mouth.
Gathering up her bags and running upstairs, the young woman discarded of them in the master bedroom. From there, she headed to Treize's study. Sliding the wooden doors open, she walked quickly for the desk at the center of the room. It did not take long to find the key to the drawers hidden beneath the flat surface.
Apparently Treize did not believe that there was reason to think his wife would be interested enough in his business to hide the key in a better place.
Sylvia made quick work of the locks one-by-one and opened each drawer. At the piles of paperwork within, she rubbed her hands and announced to herself, "Now, let's see if there is not something in here that might help."
Not hesitation for a second, she took up the first drawer's stack of papers.
* * * * * *
There was much to share with the kids when Heero and Duo returned to the Yuy household the following afternoon.
And just as she promised, Jamie was prepared with a long list of ideas for the sleepover that they were hosting later that week.
* * * * * *
Alex sighed as he returned to his apartment later that same night. Throwing the lights on and his coat off at the doorway, he headed right for his living room couch. All but collapsing onto the cushions, he threw an arm over his eyes. Draining as his practiced were, they were still not enough to keep those damned voices away.
It was frustrating beyond belief that Treize and Professor O refused to increase his Tinopin dosage. More and more, little by little, he could feel the seams that were holding him together tearing apart.
When his doorbell rang, the running back sat up with his eye narrowed on the door. No one ever came to visit him. Especially this late at night.
Begrudgingly rising from his comfortable spot, he headed for the door just as the bell rang once more. "I'm coming. I'm coming," Alex mumbled while reaching for the trigger for the door to slide open.
Never in a million lifetimes would he had imagined that he would get a visit like this. Eyes wide and quickly narrowing, he hissed. "You?"
Smiling kindly, Dorothy nodded in greeting, "Good to see you, too, Alex."
TBC...
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