Life Goes On Part 7
After enjoying a peaceful breakfast with his parents, Duo moved through the long corridor that connected their half of the estate with that belonging to the half belonging to the Yuys. With the prior night being their first time home in months, he and Heero thought it best to spend the evening with their respected parents.
His head swarmed by thoughts revolving around the conversation that he had with Howard earlier that morning, the braided neko's hands played with his long tail nervously. Not long after he had noticed the long claws that had formed when he woke in the hospital only days ago, Duo began to think of the possible reasons for their appearance. In the end, he could only think of the worst explanation.
And now his worst fear had just been confirmed.
Biting his lip, Duo fought the new wave of tears that threatened to fill his violet eyes. Slowly, he was reverting back to how he had started. His very make-up was coming undone with no known solution. While he was relieved that Howard was quick to offer his assistance, the old man could make no promises that all would be well.
Life never came with any guarantees. Why should his situation be any different?
Despite the fact that he felt selfish for thinking it, Duo couldn't help but think how unfair it would be for him to lose everything that he'd fought so hard to keep. More than anything, he hated the thought of ever being without Heero. From the moment that the other teenager had brought him into his home after the accident that nearly killed him, the neko came to grow in love with him as time went on.
Heero was everything to Duo. He dreaded the thought of being taken away from him through a means that he had no control over.
Then a startling realization ran a chill up the braided boy's spine. He froze with wide eyes and his ears drooped at the possibility... What if, in the process of reverting back into a cat, he lost his memories of the last few years as well? Would he never recall who he had once been, or the people that he had come to know and love?
It was all too terrifying a thought for Duo to deal with at the moment. He certainly already had enough to be worried about, knowing for certain that he was coming undone. The ramifications of that happening would have to be dealt with later.
'One problem at a time,' he told himself to keep from allowing his fears to run rampant and overwhelm him. 'One problem at a time.'
Opening the door leading into the Yuy household, Duo pushed all of his thoughts away. Once he was sure how to accomplish it, he was going to tell Heero and the rest of his family what he came to know. Until then, he was just going to be his usual, cheerful self... Even if he was falling apart inside.
Quietly slipping through the kitchen and then the dining room, the neko searched for any sign of life at the early morning hour. He soon found it in his lover when he reached the living room. Heero looked up from the book that he had been reading as he sat on one of the sofas. When their eyes met, the Japanese young man kept their gazes locked while sliding the book away while smiling, "Good morning."
In those simple words and in the love that he found in those cobalt depths, Duo forgot all of his worries. Returning the smile, he replied softly, "'Morning." He headed over to the couch while the other boy lightly patted the space beside him in a silent request to have him close.
Easily sliding to sit beside his best friend, the braided student found himself wrapped into a tight embrace as his lips were captured in a gentle kiss. With a deep sigh of content, Duo closed his violet eyes as he wrapped his own arms around Heero's neck. He returned the kiss fully, trying to sap every ounce of comfort from the exchange that he could.
It wasn't long before Duo lost himself in the warmth surrounding him, yet found that he still wanted more. He felt his tongue run along the other teenager's lips. Heero willingly opened his mouth with a deep moan, a shudder running through his body as their tongues danced and explored.
Whimpering quietly, the braided neko reached up and under his lover's grey sweater. The lead was followed and Duo gasped when he felt familiar hands roam over the skin of his back. He quickly assaulted Heero's lips again as they rode out the wave of their wants and needs that revolved entirely around each other.
At a gentle urge from his partner, Duo slowly lowered himself back to lie against the length of the couch. Sliding over him without breaking the kiss in their shifting, Heero stretched himself atop the smaller boy. Hands continued to roam and hold on tight.
Through the cloud of bliss that he had drifted into, Duo suddenly felt himself crashing down into reality. The thought of losing this, losing the one thing in his life that made everything right, was gripping him tight enough that he felt the air forced from his lungs and he tensed rigidly.
Quickly pushing himself up enough to gaze down on the neko with worried cobalt eyes, Heero asked softly, "Duo?" He reached up to run his hands through the long, damp bangs that had fallen over his lover's eyes. "Are you all right?" he asked when a haze of something in that violet gaze rolled by.
It took a great deal of effort on Duo's part to force a convincing smile. While he was never one to lie, he could be honest while averting the whole truth. "Just couldn't catch my breath back there," he answered with a sheepish grin. "I'm all right."
Relief filled Heero's eyes and he smirked, "Couldn't help myself. I've wanted to be like this with you for days now."
"Me too," the braided teenager sighed deeply in content. His ears wiggled along with his eyebrows as he suggested, "Now that my strength's back, maybe we can pick up from where we left later."
The deep purr came from the Japanese youth as he replied huskily, "I like the sound of that." The sound of footsteps moving about overhead were evidence that they were no longer the only ones awake in their half of the estate.
Looking up to the ceiling, Heero chuckled deeply, "Once we can manage a bit of privacy, of course. He shifted, pulling his partner up with him until they were both sitting back up on the couch.
Duo snuggled close against him, resting his head on a firm shoulder and closing his eyes with a deep sigh. Lightly running a hand over his lover's hair, Heero said quietly, "I missed you last night. It was strange... sleeping without you there with me."
A warm smile tugged the neko's lips at that. Opening his eyes, he looked into the pair watching him. "I missed you, too. We'll have to split which half of the estate we sleep in over the rest of our vacation."
More than pleased with the suggestion, Heero nodded firmly, "Agreed." They sat close and in a comfortable silence for a moment. Wrapping his arm tightly around the other boy's shoulders, he pleaded in little more than a whisper, "Promise you won't ever leave me."
With every ounce of his being, Duo tried his best not to jump at the softly spoken words. Looking back up to his best friend's face, he blinked in what he hoped was a reasonable amount of surprise and asked, "Where did that come from?"
Heero looked away, as if ashamed or embarrassed, and shrugged. Taking a deep breath, he finally replied quietly, "It's just... last night, I was reminded of how things were before you came along. I had forced myself to think that I liked where my life was headed, though I couldn't deny that I was perfectly happy to be following my parents' footsteps without having my own feelings taken into consideration.
"What's more, even though I had my mom, your parents and my friends, I always felt alone," he admitted, a rough shudder running through him at the memory. "No one really understood me. They only understood the person that I thought was expected of me."
Frowning deeply, Duo reached up to cup his love's cheek. Small tears prickled the corners of his violet eyes as he whispered, "Heero..."
Gently leaning into the touch, the promising artist smiled wistfully when their gazes met again. Despite the small tears in his own eyes, there was a real peace in Heero's gaze. "Then you came along," he breathed. "And I didn't feel like I had to try to be something that I wasn't anymore. I could just be myself."
He shook his head with a small chuckle as he wiped at his eyes, saying, "Anyway, it just reminded me of how lucky I am." Duo smiled lovingly, his heart filling at truly feeling how much he was appreciated. Then Heero took his hands into his own and placed a soft kiss on them.
Squeezing the neko's hands and with a fierce intensity in his deep blue eyes and his voice, he promised, "I swear that I will never..." He paused before stressing, "Never. Take for granted what you've done for me. I need you and I love you more than anything that this life has to offer."
Unable to speak, to even try and find his voice, Duo felt a stray tear roll down his cheek. Heero quickly, gently wiped it away with his thumb. Caressing the damp cheek, he pleaded once more very quietly, "Please don't ever leave me, Duo. I'd be lost without you."
"Oh, Heero," Duo breathed, reaching up to wipe the tear that was now rolling down his lover's face. He lunged forward to wrap his arms tightly around the other teenager's neck. Kissing his cheek, he whispered into his ear, "I promise. So long as it's within my power, I won't ever leave you."
It was all that he could say. All that he could offer... So long as it was in his power. Only there was no telling if what was looming in the shadows was something that he could overcome.
And the not knowing was already slowly killing him.
His own arms enfolding the neko's trembling frame, Heero sighed deeply in relief, "Thank you." Considering the holiday, he found that he had quite a bit to be thankful for. But he was grateful for the person he held above all else.
When they finally pulled back enough, Duo kissed his lover's lips soundly before smiling, "Gods, I love you, Heero."
"Love you," the other whispered back with a smile of his own.
The footsteps that had been moving upstairs traveled towards the stairs. Straightening themselves, Heero and Duo dried their eyes, but stayed close where they sat.
Stepping into the room following her descent, Danielle smiled, "Good morning, boys. Happy Thanksgiving." With bright smiles of their own, the two teenagers returned the sentiment. With a quick glance to her watch, the redheaded young woman thought aloud, "I better get started here soon."
Heero tilted his head a bit and asked, "Get what started?"
"I'm in charge of Thanksgiving dinner," his mother grinned. "Noin offered to help, but I insisted that I do this on my own. I've always wanted to cook a holiday meal, so what better time than now?"
Both Heero and Duo shared a surprised look. "That's a pretty big undertaking for just one person," the Japanese youth commented with a nervous smile. He left out reminding her that she'd only cooked on a few occasions, for very simple meals at that, up until then. "Are you sure that you don't want Noin's help for something like this?"
Giving a nonchalant wave, Danielle smirked, "I'll be able to handle it. I have found all kinds of tips and recipes over the last few days that I'll be able to follow. It shouldn't be more difficult than reading and following directions." Her smile faded a bit and she asked, "You don't think I'm up to it?"
Duo quickly rose from the couch and closed the distance between to hug the young woman tightly. "Of course we don't, Ma," he reassured her with a deep purr in her ear. When he pulled back, he smiled brightly, "I think it's great you want to do this."
His contagious smile worked its charm on Danielle as her own lips curled up. "Thank you for the encouragement, Duo," she replied with a hand running over his braided head. The neko purred deeply and leaned into the touch.
Grinning, himself, Heero approached them while nodding, "He's right, Mom. I'm sure that dinner will be perfect."
His mother brightened all the more at his support and she kissed his cheek. "Well, I have a lot to do if we're going to eat at a decent hour," she announced excitedly, looking to her watch again. "You best tell whoever will be joining us that we'll be eating a little after five." That said, she hurried towards the kitchen.
When she was out of ear-shot, Heero chuckled deeply, "She seems really happy to be doing this."
Beside him, Duo nodded, "Well, I think she's realizing all of the things that she missed out on while working all the time. Now, along with being there for you more, she can feel less dependent when it comes to things that normal moms do."
Turning to the cat-eared boy, Heero grinned, "She really is trying. I couldn't be prouder of her."
As she moved into the kitchen, Danielle hummed a cheery tune to herself and removed the large turkey from the stove where it had been covered to thaw overnight. Once the glass case over it was removed, she rubbed her hands together and smiled, "Now, let's see..." Turning to the directions that she had left on the counter, she began to read.
Her cobalt eyes widening, the young woman exclaimed, "I have to remove what!?" With a look of fear, she turned to the bird. With a deep breath, Danielle sighed. Opening one of the drawers close by, she removed a box of latex gloves. As she slipped a hand inside one of them, she muttered, "Next time, I will have to look into buying a gutted turkey."
Back in the living room, Heero was on his cell phone waiting for his call to be answered. When the familiar voice greeted, he announced, "Trowa, just wanted to let you and Dorothy know that dinner is going to be around five."
"Great," the other boy replied. "I'm at Dorothy's folks right now, since they'll be heading out of town for business pretty soon here."
From the kitchen, Danielle's screamed. His eyes widening in concern, Heero turned towards the sound and was just about to call out to his mother when she shrieked, "Oh that's disgusting! Why do they leave these vile things in here!?"
Biting back a laugh, Heero turned away from the continued ranting and spoke into the receiver, "Better make that closer to five thirty."
TBC...
Of course, we all know the lovely innards that must be removed from a large turkey. Hehe!
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