Life... Really Part 14
Sighing deeply in content, Dorothy blew over the rim of her tea cup before taking a dainty sip. Her eyes continued to scan over the new roster of students that had signed up to study law for the upcoming semester. This was one of the largest enrolments of new law students Wayne University ever saw.
With a content smile on her face, the blonde young woman placed the roster neatly back into her briefcase. Dorothy's changes to how the law department prepared its students certainly had shown its effectiveness. After only a little over a year, she had become one of the most respected and liked directors at the elite college.
Ever since she had become the new director of law studies at Wayne, Dorothy Catalonia had managed to keep herself quite busy, during the school semesters. While she always was one to find reward in working hard, she did enjoy these summer breaks to recuperate and move at a steadier pace in preparation for the new school year.
With a deep sigh of content, Dorothy sat back in her seat and peered out the window beside her table. The little coffee shop was one of her favorite places to visit at times like this, when all she wanted to do was relax. It was the perfect place for her to set up her meeting for this lovely afternoon. It came as no surprise to her when she had received the call the evening prior.
At the ringing of the small bell at the entrance ringing to announce that a new customer had arrived, Dorothy looked up and smiled warmly as the young man approached her table. Rising from her seat to exchange a firm and professional handshake, the blonde director greeted, "Heero, always a pleasure to see you."
Returning the smile, the Japanese teenager nodded, "Very nice to see you again as well, Dorothy." While he knew the director wanted him to refer to her by her first name, Heero always found himself having to forcefully remind himself of that little detail. The young woman just had such an air of class about her that he, at times, found it difficult to get past the fact that she was not much older than himself.
As she took her seat, Dorothy politely waived her waitress over. Once he had made his order and taking to his seat across from the director, Heero sighed, "Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice."
Waving her hand in the air, the blonde woman chuckled deeply, "Oh, none of that. I look forward to these little meetings of ours. You're quite a brilliant young man, and I enjoy our discussions. Catherine was right to say that you would be one of my favorite pupils when you come to Wayne University." Heero had to fight the blush from reaching his grinning face. He had to admit that he also looked forward to meeting with Miss Catalonia. For someone in such demanding of a field as she was, there was also a lightheartedness to her.
The kind smile still on her face, Dorothy stated, "Before we get down to discussing the matter at hand, tell me how your summer is going. Life is not all work, after all."
At the last statement, Heero blinked in surprise. Sensing his wonder at her words, the blonde director fought the deep frown that threatened to appear. 'So Catherine was right in her concern, after all," she thought to herself.
Finally breaking from his unexpected surprise, Heero recovered with a small grin as he told of some of the things that he was able to do when he had free time. He and friends had been able to partake in regular weekend meetings.
Over the course of the summer, Heero and the others would play baseball, basketball, to go to the movies, all things that he was able to sneak out and enjoy while his mother was continuously away on business meetings. He did also admit to the fact that normally his summer days were also filled with piles of assignments that his mother needed.
Dorothy frowned a bit in realizing how hard the young man across from her was still being led by his mother. Not allowing that concern to show, she shrugged, "Well, at least your mother allows you time to enjoy those other things with your friends aside from her assignments."
Clearing his throat a bit, Heero took a sip from his iced tea. 'Allowing' and 'not knowing' were two entirely different things. Still, he refrained from discussing that matter. There were just some things that could never be changed.
"Well," Dorothy began, her bright smile returning. "Now that we have been able to catch up, I do believe that you wished to discuss the paper assignment on life that I had given you a few months ago."
Heero nodded, "Yes. The biggest challenge in the assignment seems to simple be where to start. I am having a great deal of difficulty with comprehending exactly what you want me to say in this report."
Folding her hands, the blond director grinned, "Well, then there would be where your problem lies." At the confusion on the boy's face, Dorothy explained, "This paper should have nothing to do with what you think I want to hear, Heero. This paper is going you your own voice to share with me what it is that makes you want to enter this field as badly as you do. This all needs to come sincerely from you, no one else."
Still, Heero seemed to be at a loss, a deep frown of thought on his face. With a sad smile, Dorothy continued, "Heero, the demands and stresses that come from being an effective lawyer cost many dearly. Now over time, and with as many stories as I have heard from Catherine, I have come to consider you someone that I would look out for as if you were my brother."
Leaning forward in her seat, the blonde director stated, "I would not, in good conscience, be able to accept you as one of my students of law if I did not think that you were truly ready to make this your goal in life. You have a great deal to offer this world, in whatever field that may be. I just want to make sure that this is the right direction for you."
As he took in everything that she had to say, Heero's fingers were making abstract patterns on the edges of his tall glass of iced tea. Not since Duo, Noin or Zech had anyone taken such measures to see that he was truly happy with what he did. While it was something that should have upset him, that his own mother would never go to such steps, it was just a part of life that he had come to grips with as being normal.
If he was honest with himself, Heero would just come out and tell Dorothy everything about his wishes to make his mother happy after all of her sacrifices to better his life. He would tell her that disappointing his mother was something that he would never be able to live with. But if he did that, the director just told him that she would not allow him to enter the prestigious university as a law student.
When it all came down to it, Heero didn't know what he wanted for himself anymore. His whole life was pointed in one direction with no way of knowing what else was out there. So, in that sense, he truly believed that he wanted to work in a field where he was best prepared for. Still, he knew that such reasoning would not be good enough in this case.
Somehow, Heero knew that he would have to come up with an elaborate lie in his assignment in order for Dorothy to take him under her wing. Now, he would have to worry about making that lie believable. If anything, he still had one more year of high school to look forward to before he would have to hand her paper in.
Forcing a smile, the Japanese student nodded, "Thank you, Dorothy. You'll have that paper next July fourteenth, as you requested." He exchanged another firm handshake and finished his glass of iced tea before leaving to pay for his drink.
As the bell at the front door rang at his departure, Dorothy watched the Japanese youth walk of down the street through the window. Her smile faded completely into a concerned frown. With a deep sigh, she wondered aloud, "What am I going to do with you?"
* * * * * *
When Heero returned home, he chuckled deeply when Duo bounded over to him and nearly knocked them both off their feet in a tight hug. Kissing his boyfriend's cheek, the braided boy's tail waved excitedly. "Trowa and the others were wondering if we could meet them in the park for a game of tag," he announced with a bright smile.
Quickly thinking of the things that his mother wanted him to do, Heero realized that he had already completed the things that he needed to have finished up to this time. He smiled back at the boy in his arms and nodded, "That sounds good to me."
Tag was just one of the many things that until now, the Japanese teenager would have considered a waste of time. Now, it was one of his favorite games to play. It always did strike him as humorous when adults walking past would stop to watch the group of teenagers playing tag in the park, as an odd thing. For him and his friends, however, it was no longer considered a game only for little children.
With an excited whoop, Duo was about to run upstairs when Heero took hold of his hand to hold him in place. Leaning in, the Japanese teenager closed his eyes and kissed his boyfriend's lips soundly. His own eyes closing, the braided youth sighed in content and returned the exchange.
"Missed you," Heero whispered when they pulled back, a small smile on flushed his lips. He was not just referring to his time away to meet with Dorothy.
The last couple of weeks had been very busy for the Japanese youth, filled with assignments from his mother. Through it all, Duo had been extremely patient through it all. How he was able to live without anyone like the cat-eared boy in his life was still a wonder to Heero. Their relationship was the only thing in his life that seemed to make any sense.
Understanding the meaning behind the sentiment, Duo smiled warmly and whispered back, "Missed you, too." He rubbed the tips of their noses together with a deep purr of content before gently pecking his partner's lips.
Heero grinned at the sound of the deep purring that returned when he gently caressed the side of the braided youth's face. "Let's do something later, just the two of us again," he suggested. At the hesitation in the violet eyes watching him, he reassured, "Don't worry about my mother. If she happens to call while we're out, I'll take care of it."
Relief filled Duo's violet eyes and he continued to lean into the gentle touch at his cheek. His smile returned full-force and he nodded excitedly, "All right." As frightened as he was of Heero's mother, he couldn't help that he just wanted to spend some quality time alone with him for a change after the last couple of weeks.
Gently kissing his partner's lips once more, Heero smirked, "All right. I'll get changed while you call the others to meet us in the park in a few minutes." With another excited cheer, Duo ran off to see to reaching their friends.
* * * * * *
By early afternoon, the group of six teenagers began to head to the park for a long game of tag under the warm sun. "So how's the head, Wufei?" Trowa smirked at his Chinese friend. "You know you'll only be able to allow so many tackles against you during your summer practices before Nurse Sally realized that you're getting sacked on purpose just so that you have to have her check you out."
"My head's fine," Wufei replied, a smug grin on his own face. "I'm only three more sacks away and I know I'll have my date for the Senior prom next year." Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Care to make another bed that I can't pull it off?"
All eyes snapped to a wide-eyed Trowa in recalling the last time he lost such a bet to Wufei. Shaking his head, the tall youth answered, "No thanks. I'd say that we broke even, considering you lost our first bet a couple of years back."
Relena pouted jokingly, "Aw, but I only got to see the pictures of the two of you in dresses. I never got to actually see for myself." At that, Heero and Duo both began to fall into fits of laughter.
Both Wufei and Trowa shouted, "Who showed her the pictures!?" As soon as they asked the question, their glaring eyes turned to the Arab-who was suddenly not looking very sure of himself at the moment.
Swallowing hard, Quatre smiled nervously, "Come on, guys, you know Relena and I share everything with each other." At the stunned looked on his two friends' faces, the blonde boy started weakly, "Guys?"
"Well then, it looks like we're starting this game early," Trowa announced to the others, never taking his eyes from the cowering youth.
His own dark eyes narrowed on the same target, Wufei stated, "Start running." With a loud yelp, Quatre took off as fast as his legs could carry him, his two friends right on his heels. Relena, Heero and Duo followed after as they tried to keep up while laughing.
* * * * * *
When their game of tag had finally ended and after a friendly exchange of apologies and acceptances, the group of friends made their way back from the park. It was agreed by the team as a whole to visit the ice cream parlor before heading back home. As the groups talked amongst themselves, Duo paused in his footsteps when a flyer on one of the news stands in the center of the park caught his attention...
'ART CONTEST'
'HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF VISUAL ARTS'
His violet eyes widening on the bold letters at the header, the braided teenager walked over to the announcement. Duo continued to read the flyer, adjusting his cap to the brim was at the back of his head to see the fine details.
It was a scholarship contest. The grand prize would provide the winner a free four years through the world's most elite and famed art colleges. Only the best of the best were known to attend the university to pursue their successful careers in the field. As far as Duo was concerned, Heero was certainly the best of the best out there.
Quickly scanning through the rules of what was expected with each entry, the braided youth found that the deadline for all entries to be sent in was coming in the next couple of days. Somehow, he would just have to see that one of Heero's works was sent in time. Along with that, he would have to come up with a plan to get his boyfriend to draw such a piece without making it all seem suspicious.
A wide smile tugged at his lips and he quickly tore one of the announcements from the stand, a plan coming to mind. At the sound of Heero calling his name, he saw that the others were starting to get pretty far ahead of him. Folding the flyer and placing in the pocket of his jean shorts, he called, "Coming!" With his tail flicking excitedly under his long T-shirt, he ran to catch up with the group.
* * * * * *
Chuckling deeply, Heero nuzzled a cheek against his friend's head of chestnut hair and asked, "Why do you look like the cat that just ate the prize bird?" Ever since their return from the park, his braided boyfriend had even more of a lightness to his step than usual. Along with that, he wouldn't stop smiling.
Duo shrugged innocently, his wide smile still in place and he replied, "Oh, I'm just happy to be spending the rest of the day with you." He was able to say the truth without giving away the whole truth behind his excitement. Duo never was one to lie, and Heero knew it.
Sitting up on the bed, Heero unwrapped his arms from his snuggling partner with a mischievous smirk. "So what is it you have planned for tonight, then," he asked, brushing the long bangs from the other boy's violet eyes to look into them. "You've waited long enough for us to have some time together so whatever you want, just ask."
His heart quickening in his nervousness, Duo sat up and bit his lip. "I want you to draw a picture for me." Heero frowned a bit and tilted his head. "I know that you don't think you're very good, but I love how you draw," the braided teenager threw in quickly. Swallowing hard, Duo continued said sincerely, "I want to see what I would look like... if I was normal."
At that, Heero felt an ache at the need in his boyfriend's voice and eyes. Unable to deny him anything, he nodded, "All right. I would have to have you pose, then, so I would be able to get a better fit for detail-"
"I won't be wearing any clothes," Duo cut him off quickly before he lost his nerve. At the shock in his partner's widened cobalt eyes, he flinched, his cat ears drooping slightly.
Having to swallow a few times to dampen his suddenly dry mouth, Heero asked quietly, "You really want that?"
Duo nodded, his violet eyes still pleading for understanding. As much as Duo wanted the art for another reason, he truly did want to see what he would look like had he been born like any other human. His wish for the picture was as much a selfish want as it was something he wanted to help his best friend.
Taking a deep breath, Heero finally smiled and nodded, "Okay. I'll go get a sketch pad." With that, he rose from the bed, his heart already racing as his mind whirled with thoughts of what he was about to do.
When he returned to his room with the large sketch pad and a few pencils, Heero swallowed hard when he saw the other teenager sitting on the edge of the bed they shared. Duo looked about as nervous as he felt, his tail swishing anxiously. Smiling to reassure him, the Japanese teenager told him, "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."
The braided youth just shook his head, "No, I want to do this." His nervous smile returned and he shrugged, "Just performance anxiety, I guess." Heero chuckled deeply and placed a tender kiss on his partner's forehead. Walking around the room, he drew all of the shades to the windows and turned on his desk lamp, pointing it to the bed for more focused light.
When he took his seat by his desk, the unruly-haired teenager opened up the pad to the first clean page. Looking up from the paper, he cleared his throat and announced, "You can get into any position you'll be comfortable in, when you're ready. I'm going to need you to stay as still as possible when I get started."
"Okay," Duo nodded. Reaching back, he undid the tie at the end of his braid and undid his long hair until it was falling loosely around him. Finally mustering up some courage, he removed his long T-shirt. Unbuttoning his jean shorts, he pulled them off along with the briefs underneath and his socks.
His mouth suddenly dry again, Heero could feel the bulge in his own shorts tightening. While he had previously had quick glimpses of Duo without any clothes on, he made every attempt then not to pay too much attention. Now, having to take everything in, he could see just what a perfect body the other boy actually had. His cobalt eyes roamed from the creamy shoulders down the firm abdomen to the patch of chestnut hair around the hardening member.
When Duo was lying on his side facing the artist, he smiled nervously, "I think this is the most comfortable position for me. Will it work?" Knowing that his boyfriend was gazing on him like this was more of a thrill than he realized, his nerve quickly fading. All that was left was a shyness over the fact that he was growing hard before the other teenager's eyes. He turned his hips downward a bit so that the curve of his buttocks would be in view for the picture as well.
As if splashed by cold water, Heero straightened and nodded, "That's perfect." With a trembling hand, he picked up one of the pencils. Forcing his hand steady with a roll of his shoulders, he put the tip of the pencil to paper and began his work.
Nearly three hours later, Heero finally smiled to himself as he looked to his finished piece. "Finished," he announced quietly, very impressed at how the other teenager managed to stay still for the amount of time needed. Duo sat up, stretching his limbs as they ached to be moved at last. As Heero approached with the pad, the braided teenager wrapped part of the blanket around his waist.
Sitting beside his friend, Heero smiled and revealed the image to the other boy. With a small gasp, Duo's violet eyes widened. The detail in the definition of his body was amazing, but the fact that he could see what he would have looked like without a tail and a normal pair of human ears that complimented his face was almost overwhelming. As he looked at the image of himself as a normal person, small tears began to fill his eyes.
Heero frowned deeply and removed the pad from his boyfriend's hands. "I like this one better," he said quietly, turning the page in the pad. Revealing the picture to the other teenager, he smiled warmly.
Blinking his widening, shimmering eyes, Duo looked to the same image, only this one had his cat ears perked atop his head as they always were. His long tail draped around his waist onto the bed as if it were embracing him. Aside from those two characteristics, every detail in the first picture had been the same in this.
Until that time, Duo never imagined himself as anything but strange and almost repulsive because of his cat features. Now that he had two images to compare, he found that there was little to no difference in him at all. Two strong arms wrapped around his waist and the Japanese youth placed a tender kiss against his temple.
"Duo," Heero whispered against his ear. "I don't ever want you to think that I would want anything about you to be different from how you are now. You're beautiful. I just wish that you could see yourself how I see you." Now the tears were beginning to fall from Duo's eyes as he sniffled.
Turning, the cat-tailed boy threw his arms around his partner, whispering brokenly, "Thank you, Heero." He purred deeply as a hand soothingly began rubbing his back in wide circles.
Kissing the top of Duo's head, Heero closed his eyes and breathed, "I love you." It was the first time either of them had said those words to each other and it was a welcomed relief to finally be honest about his feelings.
A wide smile lit the braided teenager's tear-streaked face when he pulled back. "I love you, too," he replied just as softly. Leaning in, he kissed his partner soundly. As the kiss heated, the blankets around his waist began to slip away.
Hands began to roam, as did lips. In the midst of the heat of the moment intensifying, Heero had been stripped down and their bodies began to grind against each other as they laid back against the mattress. Neither wanting to go too far, but both needing release, the two boys panted heavily as they allowed the friction of their bodies rubbing against each other to finally bring them to completion, screaming each other's names.
When they calmed down following the ecstasy of their climaxes, the two teenagers wrapped themselves around each other and focused on catching their breath. Smiling down at his partner, Heero said quietly, "That was..."
"Yea..." Duo smiled back. Lowering himself back atop his lover, Heero sighed deeply in content. The braided teenager closed his eyes and purred deeply, a wide smile still on his face in the afterglow of what just happened between them.
* * * * * *
The following morning, while Heero was in the shower, Duo was still smiling at the drawing of himself-his true self. It certainly was a wonderful gift for him to see himself in a different light now. Hugging the picture to his chest, he purred deeply. The sound of water running in the shower from the adjoining bathroom filled the air, the only other sound along with the rumbling sound from his chest.
Leaning over the edge of the bed, the cat-tailed youth picked up the first picture. As he gazed on himself as a normal human one last time, Duo's smile grew in knowing that he no longer desired to have that body. He was unique and exquisite in his own way. He was actually comfortable in his own skin... and fur.
Quickly, Duo went to the pile of his clothes to remove the flyer he had taken form the park the prior afternoon. Now that he had a picture of the human body as one of the requirements for the contest, he knew where to find other images Heero had drawn over time for the other listed items needed for the entry.
Once everything was together, the braided teenager found a manila envelope and neatly placed all of the images inside it. Sealing the envelope, he neatly wrote the address on the front. Smiling, he peeked his head into the bathroom and announced that he would be out for a little while to 'get some air'.
When he reached the post office, Duo smiled kindly to the young woman behind the desk. She grinned back, "And you said that you needed this rushed to arrive before the weekend?" Duo nodded. Looking to the calendar, the clerk reassured him, "With the postage you purchased for this envelope, it will arrive on Thursday."
Duo was practically beaming in knowing that the entry would make it in time for the contest's deadline. With a firm nod, he replied, "Perfect."
TBC...
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