Author's Note: This is short, which is why the next chapter will be right up. Sorry, but the chapter break falls in a logical place. Would twice daily updates make it up to you? (makes sad panda face)
Heero's POV
The Wedding Planner Part 57
The Gift
When I saw how bruised Duo's face still was, I almost broke down and cried.
He paused, standing with the waves curling around his feet and the wind teasing the wisps of chestnut hair around his face. I thought for a moment he'd turn and run.
Then he pasted a wry smile on his face and sauntered towards me. "Come to finish what you started?" he asked snidely, covering his hurt with sarcasm.
I hesitated, and then tried a smile of my own. "You could say that, I guess," I replied. "I wanted to apologize, for starters."
He shrugged with studied nonchalance. "No need. I knew you were the jealous type."
"That doesn't make up for what I did."
"Don't sweat it," he said a little more sharply.
"Goddamnit, Duo--just let me apologize!" I demanded.
He did wince then, almost taking a step back.
"Shit--I'm sorry," I blurted out. "I--I have a lousy temper--you know that. And I'm trying to be calm about this--but I know how badly I hurt you, and I'm so sorry I don't even know where to start."
"Look...Heero...Quatre told me all about it--what Relena said and how it looked. Maybe you overreacted but, y'know, people do stupid things when they're in love."
He got that right. And I wanted to tell him right then that I was in love with him, not Relena. That I'd been in love with him since the moment I saw him. That I knew I was going to be in love with him forever. But he got the first word in, and I just shut up and listened.
"Lucky for me I don't have to worry about that shit. Losing Solo and Alex pretty much cured me of ever falling in love again, y'know?" He'd turned slightly away, so I couldn't see his face, except in profile. In the gathering twilight, it was hard to tell, but I thought there were tears in his eyes and that his chin quivered a bit as he went on. "Yeah, I'm better off without that kind of baggage." He toed the sand restlessly, and then looked up at me with a grin I knew was completely fake. "Apology accepted, Yuy. Just chalk it up to a misunderstanding, an' no hard feelings, 'kay?" One hand brushed across his eyes, but he made no other move.
"Sure, Duo," I said quietly.
He nodded. "Everything's about done for your wedding," he said brightly. "So I guess this is goodbye, then." I walked towards him, and he turned away again, shaking his head. "Don't say anything else, Yuy. You'll just make things worse--and I'd like to at least pretend we can still be friends."
I reached around him to push a manila envelope into his hands. "Here, Duo...Relena and I discussed it, and we decided you should have this."
He took the envelope, glancing over his shoulder with a slightly perplexed expression. I was close enough to smell his shampoo and the hint of sweat and brine that clung to his clothes...close enough to be completely disobeying the restraining order. I could even feel the heat from his back and hear the slight puzzled sound he made. "What is it?"
"Just--a gift," I said, closing my eyes so I didn't see the sunset gleaming on his skin and hair, making me want to pull him into my arms again. "Don't try to argue about it, either. We owe you that and more for all we put you through." I took one last, deep breath, trying to imprint the moment on my memory. "Goodbye, Duo," I whispered, turning away before he could answer--not wanting to hear the words from him--and walking quickly up the beach to my car.
I didn't look back, because I knew he hadn't moved...hadn't come after me to try to change my mind...to tell me maybe there was a chance for us to be something to each other. I did spare a glance in the rearview mirror to see him opening the envelope, still standing silhouetted by the dying rays of the sun, waves lapping at his feet.
TBC...
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