Life... Really Part Epilogue
"Duo Maxwell"
As the announcement of his name, the braided teenager quickly adjusted the funny cap that had been adjusted with holes for his cat ears to peek though. A similar adjustment was made to his long, deep blue robe. He walked across the long stage at thunderous applause, his long tail, swishing excitedly and a wide smile on his face. In the large arena, everyone rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation.
On the other side of the stage, Lady Une smiled in pride along with the high school professors sitting behind her. When the youth approached, the young principal kissed his cheeks and whispered, "I am so proud of you, Duo." Whispering back his appreciation, the cat-eared boy accepted the diploma she held out and took her free hand in his with a firm shake.
It had been an amazing year, being able to attend a real school after his home teaching. Now that he had become a 'celebrity' following the trial's exposure, Duo found that a great many schools had hoped to have him attend their school for his last year of high school. Of course, there was no need for the braided teenager to think over his options. He had already made friends at Heero's alma mater, so it seemed the best choice. His credits handed over by the school program Noin had been using, Duo entered as a senior classman and gradated in the top ten percent of his class of more than four hundred.
When he looked out to the massive crowd of his classmates and onlookers as they stayed on their feet with loud cheers, whistles and applause, Duo could not help but feel small tears prickling his wide violet eyes. Out in the audience, he found Heero, his parents, Danielle, Trent and all of his friends. His smile grew as he waved excitedly to them. Having to wipe his eyes as he descended the stairs, Duo appraised the diploma in his hands with a proud smile.
Finally, he had taken his first steps into being treated how he always wanted... normal.
* * * * * *
"So what do you have planned now, Duo?" Trowa asked from across the table at the restaurant where their procession went to enjoy a celebratory lunch together before that night's party.
A sheepish grin spread across the cat-eared boy and he replied, "Um... law."
Nearly choking on the water that he was drinking, Heero sputtered, "What!" around the table, everyone had stopped what they were doing to stare at the braided teenager with wide eyes of shock.
"Well," Duo began, "After watching Danielle and Trent in how they defended me, I want to do the same thing for other people. I've researched some practices that defend foreigners and illegal aliens into new colonies and societies. That's what I want to do, be their voice."
The shocked faces melted into warm smiles. It just made perfect sense for Duo to fall into such line of work. Who better to understand those unfortunate souls than someone who was once an outcast, himself. Taking her son's hand into hers, Noin smiled warmly, "You would be perfect for that."
Her husband nodded firmly and patted his boy's back with a proud, "Yes, you would." Zechs continued, "There are several colleges around here that would be happy to have you, I am certain."
With a gesture of his head to the blonde woman sitting beside Trowa, Duo grinned, "Actually, I am already enrolled in Wayne University. Dorothy helped get my foot in the door and found a full scholarship for me."
All eyes turned to the young woman. Dorothy shrugged, "Not a difficult thing, considering Duo's graduating the fifth highest in his class." With a wink, she added, "To say nothing of his celebrity status."
Danielle smiled to the braided teenager, "Considering how much time I have on my hands now that I am retired, I will be more than happy to help you in your studies any way I can, Duo." Both Duo and Heero have her wide smiles of appreciation.
Clearing his throat, Trent smirked, "Let's not forget me, Danielle Yuy-Clark. Considering how few cases I need to take now that the firm has taken off as it has, I can certainly add my own assistance."
His redheaded wife chuckled sheepishly and kissed his cheek as she replied, "Of course."
"So what time is this unveiling of your artwork tomorrow, Heero?" Quatre inquired as their courses were being dispensed by the waitress.
Accepting his plate with a polite nod to the young woman, the Japanese teenager answered, "Two o'clock. I'm trying not to think about it too much right now."
With a slight chuckle, Duo kissed his lover's cheek as he told the others, "He's nervous." Heero gave him a half-hearted glare, but did not reply further. "Well, it is your first unveiling," the braided teenager smirked. "I would be nervous, too."
Sally smiled, "I'm just anxious to finally see it. For one of the most well-known art museums to ask to have your work placed and kept at the entrance wall, to be the first painting that everyone sees when they enter, is very impressive."
With a nod, Relena commented, "I am certain that Mister Noventa and Sylvia were more than pleased at the announcement, given the fact that this is only your first year as one of their students."
"I just hope it's not any abstract piece that you made," Wufei smirked. "I never could understand any of that stuff."
Trowa huffed, "Because you don't have any taste." Turning, he winked at his blonde girlfriend. As the two sparring young men went off on another one of their verbal ways, everyone chuckled deeply and enjoyed their meal.
* * * * * *
Blinking his widened violet eyes, Duo breathed, "I-it's beautiful, Heero." Everyone present for the unveiling stood in stunned, wide-eyed wonder all around them. The Noventas smiled proudly at their student's work from where they stood in the back to appraise it.
The painting spanned the entire wall's great length and height, the first piece that everyone entering the museum would see. It was an image of a breathtaking shoreline at dawn. And at the center of the image was a man, his back to the perspective of the gazer, his legs parted as he leapt high into the air with outstretched aims to the brightening sky.
While the man's face in the painting was not seen, it was impossible not to imaging the elation that would have certainly been there. The striking, vibrant colors used for the art piece could not help but draw the eye to it. The choice to have this to be the permanent home for the piece was only fitting. It was an awe-inspiring piece aptly named 'Life' displayed on the brass fitting identification card at the bottom. In the far right corner was Heero's signature.
"My God, Heero," Danielle whispered with tears in her eyes. "I never knew you had this talent." Turning to face her son, she breathed, "This is beautiful."
As he approached, the white-haired head of the Visual Arts University placed a hand on the Japanese teenager's shoulder and smiled, "And he is only starting. Never before has a freshman at the university been asked to have such a great honor. This son of yours has a very bright future ahead of him in art." Beside him, Sylvia nodded enthusiastically with a proud grin of her own. Heero flashed them a smile of appreciation for the support.
Just an hour later, after congratulations and hand shakes were exchanged, the gathered crowd filtered from the museum, leaving only Heero and Duo to stand before the large painting. The braided teenager hardly moved from his spot, unable to take his wide eyes from the image that his lover had painted.
Lightly wrapping his arms around the cat-eared boy's waist, Heero hugged him from behind and rested his head on a shoulder. "You were my inspiration for this," he whispered into his lover's ear with a smile.
Gasping sharply, Duo finally turned his gaze from the painting to meet the Japanese teenager's cobalt eyes. Heero gestured to the man in the image and stated quietly, "This is how you make me feel."
With a small sniffle, the cat-eared youth tuned in his arms wrap his own around Heero's neck. The two lovers held each other as the braided teenager's cat tail moved to wrap around their waists. Purring deeply while the other boy rubbed his back soothingly, Duo pulled back to kiss his love deeply. Closing his own eyes as he met the kiss, Heero pulled their bodies closed together.
Onlookers only smiled at the odd couple as they passed, their eyes moving to the large painting that they stood before, drawn to 'Life,' just as Heero's intention had been when he made the piece. When they finally parted with panting breaths, Duo whispered huskily, "I love you."
"And I you," Heero whispered back, gently caressing the side of his lover's face. Leaning into the touch, the cat-tailed boy purred deeply while his eyes drifted closed.
Taking the smaller boy's hand into his own, Heero asked, "Shall we?" With a bright smile, Duo nodded as they stepped out of the museum with one last glance over their shoulders at the large painting.
Hand-in-hand, they stepped into the world... the wonderfully unpredictable world that was now theirs to make of it as they pleased.
It would be an amazing adventure, this life thing.
OWARI
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