CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

“This is Glenda Burns reporting live from the scene of what could be called the most gut-wrenching scenario in the history of this prestigious school of higher learning. Earlier this evening, we reported on the attacks that were carried out by some unknown source on the two young heirs. We now have several witnesses to the crime. Can you please tell us your name, young lady?”

“Umm…Merian.”

“Merian, could you please tell us what you saw tonight?”

“Oh, sure! Well, see, me and my boyfriend…” A scowling Chinese boy is dragged to her side. “His name is Wufei, by the way. Okay, so me and my boyfriend, were hanging out beside the buffet table, not that I was hungry or anything, but Wufei didn’t want to dance and so I remained stuck by the…”

“Thank you, Miss Merian for that wonderful analysis…”

“I am done already? I didn’t even get to answer anything.”

“Heheh…no need to. We have someone else who was at the scene of the crime. Tell us your name and tell us what you saw, young man.”

“Hello.” A shy smile and a wave. “My name is Quatre Reberba Winner and this is my good friend, Trowa Barton, he is the resident…”

“I am sure he is, but could you tell us what happened tonight.”

“Well, I couldn’t see much, the smoke and haze from the party clouded my vision a bit, but I could make out Heero and Duo walking out together…”

“Did you just say that Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell walked out of the room…together?”

The Arabian nodded. “That’s right. They are a cou…” A light jab on his elbow from his silent partner clammed him up immediately as he blushed at his almost disastrous blunder.

“So, could you tell us more on what happened?” the pesky reporter prodded on gently.

“Right. Well, Heero and Duo walked out of the party and then the next thing we heard were gunshots and then the explosion. When we ran outside to find out what was going on, we saw that they were bleeding very badly and then they were taken to the hospital by the ambulances. That’s all.”

“Are you a good friend to either boys?”

“Yes, we are. They are like brothers to us.”

“It seems to me like there might be some sort of relationship between the two sworn enemies. Would I be correct in my assumption?”

Quatre stole a quick worried glance at his taller companion. Trowa only raised an eyebrow in response and shrugged lightly, before replying in a calm voice.

“Heero and Duo share most of their classes together, so I would assume that they would have established some sort of rapport.”

Glenda pouted a bit. She had wanted to hear more juicy details. “Thank you so much, Mr. Barton and Mr. Winner, this must indeed be a sorrowful night for both of you.”

And spinning back to face the camera, the red-haired woman placed another look of pained suffering on her face. “We have tried to contact Miss. Peacecraft about this issue, but she was nowhere to be found. We can only assume that the news has hit her very badly. We will try to get as many witness comments as we can. Until then, this is Glenda Burns reporting for the eleven o’clock news.”

“And cut,” the director said over the mayhem that surrounded them.

Glenda sighed and ran weary fingers through her hair. “Thank God for that. I think I need a drink.”

~&~&~&~&~

Deep within the solid brick walls that shielded the most expensive hospital in the land, in a room filled with enough medical equipment to make any doctor drool in delight, sat two ‘severely burnt’ teenage boys upon narrow beds with eyes pinned upon the television screen.

“Your friends are terrible at acting,” came the dry comment.

“Yeah, well, this stuff itches,” the long-haired boy complained as he scratched off the delicately made up ‘burn’ marks on his arm.

“Don’t scratch it too hard, how else are we going to convince our fathers if you mess it up?”

The door was suddenly thrust open as the doctor/surgeon came into the room causing both boys to raise their eyes in faint alarm. Closing the door quietly behind him, Dr. Smart, a stout middle-aged man with shocking white hair almost balding, dressed in dark pants and a white lab coat, walked up to the boys and folded his arms across his chest; kind blue eyes darting between them in question. Being the Maxwell family doctor for what has seemed to be forever, he was quite familiar with the nuances of one Duo Maxwell, as for the other one…he preferred to keep his comments to himself.

“Your fathers are on their way as we speak,” he said quietly. “Now, I don’t know about you two, but I am quite fearful for my job here. If they find out…”

“Don’t worry, Dr. Smart,” Duo reassured gently. “We can handle them on our own, can’t we, Heero?”

“Heero?”

The Japanese boy had not answered. His arms were now wrapped around his body protectively, as he shuddered lightly at some unseen image. Duo frowned at the movement and swallowed tightly. He had considered this part of the plan, their father’s reactions to the whole thing being one big hoax. Duo had been quite confident in his ability to convince his father, and Heero had seemed not to really care about it, but now…

“Is everything alright, Mr. Yuy? Perhaps some hot milk should ease your mind until your father arrives.”

Heero was still unable to speak. His blue eyes now held a far away look that Duo had never quite seen before. Turning back to the concerned doctor, he nodded curtly. “I will take care of it, doc. We just need some time alone.”

The older man nodded amiably. “As you wish. I will be sure to alert you when your fathers arrive.”

“Thanks a lot…for everything,” Duo said almost shyly. “And I hope you don’t lose your job. You are my favoritest doctor in the whole world, after all.”

The doctor chuckled lightly. “Thank you, Master Duo. I aim to please. You take care of him, okay? And if he doesn’t snap out of it, you just give me a call.”

Duo watched as the doctor closed the door behind him, before jumping off his bed and walking over to the adjacent one. They had been dressed in the customary green hospital gowns, although they had their boxers underneath it all. The make-up artists that Duo had hired had done a damn fine job in making their ‘wounds’ look real. Heero had a deep ‘gash’ right above his left eye, although his hair hid some of it and coupled with the other tiny ‘cuts’ and ‘bruises,’ Heero looked like walking road kill. Duo had been made up in similar fashion, except one of his ‘broken’ arms was encased in a sling.

Hopping unto the bed beside his silent lover, Duo leaned his head against his shoulder and wrapped an arm around the slight waist. He could feel the tension within the young body and his heart cried out silently. Increasing the pressure of his embrace, Duo raised his head and placed a light kiss upon Heero’s shoulder.

“Are you afraid?” he asked softly.

For a moment, Duo thought he would be ignored until the heavy sigh and a soft ‘Hai’ was heard. Another tense silence reigned as each thought of what the consequences could be for both of them.

And in a voice that was filled with worry and undeniable fear, Heero whispered out hoarsely. “What…what if this backfires, Duo? What if they want us to be apart? I don’t think I could…”

Duo swallowed tightly and shook his head. “I don’t want to think about that, Heero. It has to work. I just know it will. Let them get a chance to meet each other and then…maybe…”

“My father is a stubborn bastard, Duo. He cannot accept things that are so blatant in front of him. I know what he can do. He will take me away from you. I just know he will.”

“Then I will just have to come after you,” Duo replied softly, his violet eyes filled with a tenderness that sent a lump down the other boy’s throat. “I will follow you to the ends of the earth, Heero, even if it kills me.”

Heero placed a hand beneath Duo’s chin, raising his head to drown himself within the twin pools of deepest purple. “Is that a promise, Duo?” he asked almost desperately. “Are you willing to risk everything you have ever known just to be with me?”

Duo nodded solemnly as their lips made the slow journey towards each other. “Yes, Heero. I will be with you…until the end.”

It was slow and sweet. Filled with promises, hopes and fears. Trembling bodies tried to control pent up anxieties as they worshipped each other in loving reverence. Finally releasing each other for much needed air, Heero gently traced a finger over Duo’s swollen lips, his mouth opening and shutting for several seconds as he tried to muster up the courage to say the words.

“Duo…I…I…”

Oh, please say it, Heero. Say it for the both of us.

Heero saw the look and groaned in response. “Kami-sama, Duo-chan…Ai…Ai Shiteru.”

The young heir to the Maxwell fortune grinned from ear to ear as he latched himself unto the surprised boy in a fierce embrace, which ended up sending them toppling onto the bed. “Ah, Heero! I love you so much, too! Let’s get married and have lots and lots of babies!”

Heero gasped in surprise before punching him playfully. “Baka. How did you know what that meant?”

Duo chuckled and buried his face within Heero’s neck. “I paid a visit to the language section in the library and buried myself in Japanese books.”

Raising up his head, he smiled at the stupefied look on his lover’s face. “So, you see, I do know some words. Finally figured out what ‘koi’ meant, too….and koibito and koishii…”

The sudden knock on the door caused them to jump apart in guilt before Dr. Smart’s head was seen. “I think you boys had better get ready, your fathers are here.”

“Remember what we talked about?” Duo said quickly, as he made his way towards his side of the room.

“As clear as day, Duo,” the doctor replied as a nurse came in to draw the dark green curtain that separated the two boys.

Duo winced at the action and had to control himself from jumping out of his bed and lying on Heero’s, much as that would have caused some major repercussions. He smiled wanly at the nurse as he was tucked gently within his blankets. She arranged the huge bouquet of flowers that adorned his bedside table and whispered softly.

“Good luck, Master Duo. I hope everything works out for you two.”

“Thanks. You don’t know how much I needed that.”

And closing his eyes, in semblance of sleep, his heart beating at a mile a minute, he waited in fearful anticipation.

~&~&~&~&~

Odin burst into the Emergency ward, his dark coat flapping behind him like he was the devil himself. Eyes filled with worry, frustration and fear searched frantically for the main doctor.

“Who is in charge here? Where is my son?! I have to see him!!”

Dr. Smart walked out of his office, in as casual a manner as he could muster and smiled in greeting to the frazzled-looking man before him. “Ah, Mr. Yuy. I am glad you could make it…”

“What the hell are you smiling about?! My son is in there somewhere…where the hell is he, anyway?!”

“Please, Mr. Yuy.” Dr. Smart tried to control the taller man that was already making his way towards the rooms. If Odin was to find it before David came by, the entire thing was ruined. Working and thinking quickly, the doctor blocked the panicked man and placed strong hands upon his shoulder.

“You must listen to me, Mr. Yuy. Heero is currently under heavy sedation, so you might have to wait for several more hours before he can wake up and have some sense of orientation about him.”

“I have to see him!! Don’t you understand?! He is all I have left!!”

The kind doctor’s eyes softened in understanding. He wished the rest of the world could have a chance to see the new and vulnerable side to the usually scowling man. For the first time in his life, he was sure that he was finally getting a chance to see the real Odin Yuy. That beneath all of the tough façade, was a man with a heart who did care for the ones he loved.

“I understand, Mr. Yuy. But my statement still stands. I advise you to wait in the lounge room. It is private and you will not be disturbed until your son is awake.”

Odin took a shuddering breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Of course, I…I have had a pretty rough night. I will wait for him, then…”

“Good! The room is right over here. There is coffee and some pastries if you need anything to eat. You do look a little pale if I may say so myself.”

Odin eyed the smiling doctor and felt a small tug on his own lips. “Hai. I will take your advice. But make sure you call me as soon as he shows signs of reviving. Understood?!”

“As you wish, Mr. Yuy.”

With a slight bow, he ushered the billionaire into the room, shutting the door behind him quietly. None of them had given the slightest notice to the silent black-clad figure beside the hallways.

~&~&~&~&~

David was less exuberant in his entrance, but nonetheless as frantic. In tow and barely able to keep up was Relena who had followed the ambulance, but had waited silently in the wings for her uncle to show up.

“Where is Duo?!” he bellowed out to no one in particular. “Where is my son?!”

“Uncle David!”

The man spun around and blinked in confusion at the black leather-clad cat-woman before him. “Who are you?!”

Shaking her head, she took off the mask and shook her long tresses free. “It’s me, Relena. I have been waiting for you.”

“Where is Duo? Where have they kept him?!”

Relena shrugged and nodded towards the approaching doctor. “Here comes Dr. Smart, now. I guess we had better ask him.”

David needed no second bidding, in a flash he had the slightly panicked doctor in a shaking fit, shouting out questions at a mile a minute.

“Uncle David!! Please stop shaking him like that! Give him a chance to figure out an answer!”

The poor doctor could barely get his thought processes functioning for several seconds. Kami, Duo owed him big time for the abuse he had suffered tonight at the hands of the two men.  Smiling in gratitude to Relena, he straightened out his tie and turned to face the red-faced Maxwell.

“Mr. Maxwell, sir. I can assure you that your son is doing quite well. The burns are not that extensive and at the moment he is under heavy sedation. We will be sure to alert you as soon as he awakens from his state. Meanwhile, I think you ought to take a rest in our private lobby. There are some refreshments there that should sustain you throughout the wait.”

“Refreshments?!” came the incredulous cry. “You are talking about refreshments, when my son is dying in there?!”

“Sir…”

“Uncle David..,,” Relena cut in quickly as she realized that the man was going to prove quite difficult to convince. “Please, Uncle David, I think we should listen to the doctor. You are in no condition to be standing about like this. Some nice cup of tea or coffee should calm you down a bit, ne? I mean, you wouldn’t want Duo to see you looking all frazzled up.”

David looked like he was about to protest again when he finally slumped his shoulders and ran weary fingers through his hair. “Fine. I will wait. But only for a little while now! As soon as I finish my coffee, I am going to see my son, do I make myself clear?!”

Dr. Smart smiled weakly. “Of course, Mr. Maxwell. Please, follow me this way.”

Walking behind the taller man, the doctor stole a quick glance towards the brown-haired girl, his eyes speaking volumes. Relena could only smile back in reassurance and give a thumbs-up sign. If only she really felt that confident inside.

“Here we are.” The doctor moved in front of David to push open the door, expecting to see the other man sitting in the room. His eyes widened, however, as he noticed the quite empty place. Frowning in bewilderment, he was pushed aside gently by David, who had now made his way into the room and was already heading straight for the coffee machine. Smart gave another worried glance to Relena and the girl could only shrug before they all heard the sound of water running in the restroom that was situated at the end of the room. Comprehension dawned quickly and the kind old man smiled at David and Relena before excusing himself. Much as he would have loved to see the fireworks that were sure to ensue, he didn’t want to get his head chopped off in the process. And being the smart man that he was (no pun intended), he left them to their own devices.

~&~&~&~&~

David’s brow furrowed in irritation as he sipped his coffee. “I thought that damn doctor said this place was private.”

Relena helped herself to a doughnut and a cup of iced tea, taking a bite and chewing carefully in thought. Swallowing, she nodded. “Yes, he did say it was.”

“Yeah, well whoever it is had better not ask me any damn questions. I am in no mood for that, tonight.”

Relena, who had been surveying the room all the while, jerked to attention as she noticed the black cell-phone that had been left on the coffee table. Still in its case with the initials OY printed in gold on it, she hoped and prayed that David wouldn’t see it just yet…

“Hmm…looks like someone left his cell phone here…what the?”

Relena’s one thought.  Damn.

David, who had lifted the phone to be sure, looked as pale as a ghost as he noticed the initials and outright name upon the small screen. David’s mind whirled in confusion. It couldn’t be. It was some kind of mistake. A cruel joke played by someone who wanted to hurt him and hurt him pretty badly. Odin couldn’t possibly be here, in this same building, in this same goddamn room!

“Un…Uncle David?” Relena squeaked out softly, noticing the way David had now clenched the phone within his grasp in a death grip. If he wasn’t careful, he was bound to break it into tiny pieces. “Are…are you okay, Uncle?” A dumb question to ask in her opinion because he was clearly not all right.

“He will be okay as soon as he gives me back my phone.”

Both parties spun around sharply at the sound of the low drawl that came from the man now leaning against the wall with his hands stuck into the pockets of his coat. Uncombed dark locks covered lowered lashes that David knew hid eyes of darkest night. Eyes that had once burned through his soul, leaving him a mass of tangled emotions. Eyes that could melt like molten lava during the heat of passion…

“Dammit! What the hell are you doing here?!” he muttered out harshly, as he kicked himself for even daring to think of such things at this time.

Odin, not looking up, replied coolly. “The same reason you are…David. My son has been put in the hospital, thanks to your sorry excuse for an heir.”

For the second time in as many minutes, David was rendered speechless. He sputtered indignantly and darted a quick glance at his silent companion, as if asking her to witness the way he was being treated.

“Damn you to hell, Odin! You call my son a sorry excuse? Well, what do you think your precious little boy did? Huh? How the fuck did my Duo get in here?!”

Gritting his teeth and tightening his fist deeper into his pockets, Odin finally raised up his eyes to pin the blazing depths upon the similarly angry blue eyes before him. “Your Duo is nothing more than a nuisance and a goddamn trouble maker!!”

“Oh, is that right?!” David spat out coldly. “Well, I guess that saying is always right, isn’t it, Odin?! It fucking takes one to fucking know one!!”

“What the fuck are you trying to say?!”

David smirked in satisfaction and lifted a finger to point rudely at Odin’s face. “I am saying, my dear Odin. You were, are and always will be a nuisance, a trouble maker and a goddamn son-of-a-bitch for the rest of your miserable, fucking life!!”

And in a move that David never saw coming, Odin delivered a swift but painful blow upon David’s jaw, sending the other man sprawling onto a couch in disbelief.

His eyes filled with conflicting emotions that ranged from anger to hurt, Odin whispered out icily with his chest heaving in barely controlled fury. “I might have led a miserable life, David, but that doesn’t give you the right to talk to me in that way. Why don’t we just ignore each other for the rest of the evening and wait here as we were told to before we can meet our sons, hmm? Do you think you can do that? Or is that so hard for a man of your intellect to grasp?”

David rubbed his jaw, ignoring the help offered by the stunned Relena, as he sat upright on the comfortable seat. Alternating his glances between the floor and Odin’s face, he muttered out in response. “Fine. We will wait and please try not to speak to me or I will be inclined to pay back the favor.” With that, he tossed back the phone towards Odin, who barely caught it with a slight grunt of surprise. Getting to his feet, David made his way towards the restroom.

“I gotta get some ice on this thing, Relena.  Could you get me some…”

“Sure thing, Uncle David,” Relena replied fervently, quite eager to leave the suddenly claustrophobic room. Boy, did she have a lot to tell Heero and Duo. And placing a reassuring smile on her face, she waved to the silent men and left the room.

And as soon as Relena stepped out, David proceeded to lock himself in the bathroom, leaving the Japanese man alone with his turbulent thoughts.

~&~&~&~&~

Relena was faced with nurses and other medical personnel scurrying about to their places, as if acting like they all hadn’t been eavesdropping. Shaking her head in amusement, she walked up to the flustered-looking nurse and asked quietly.

“Could you please take me to Room 254?”

She barely got into the room when she was attacked by both sides with questions: ‘What happened? Where are they? What did they say? What did they do? Is the plan working? Do you think they will ever talk to each other? Talk to us, Relena!!’

“Alright!!” She finally screamed out in frustration. “Sheesh…you both are worse than your fathers!” She grumbled as she sat upon Duo’s bed. Eyeing the two worried-looking faces before her, she sighed and began to tell them of all that had taken place so far.

Twenty minutes later, a stumped and disbelieving Duo plopped unto Heero’s bed. “I don’t get it. Why would he punch him? I mean…if it was that bad…oh, god…” He buried his face within his palms and groaned. “What have I done?!”

Heero placed a reassuring arm across the shaking shoulders and cradled the sobbing boy to himself. “Don’t beat yourself up, Duo,” he crooned softly, placing light kisses upon the chestnut-colored silky hair. “If things don’t work out…we can always elope.”

Duo raised a tear-streaked face to give a ‘you have got to be kidding me’ look to Heero, aware that Relena was snickering somewhere in the background. “I think the hospital chemicals have fogged over your thinking cells, Heero.”

“No, koi,” Heero drawled lazily, as he leaned forward to lick away the tears. This earned a loud ‘eeeeew’ from Relena as both boys chuckled at her discomfort.

“I think that would be soooo romantic,” Relena said in an exaggerated show of lovesickness.

“Oh, cut that out!” Duo grumbled. “I am in deep shit and you are talking about romance…oommpff!” His protests were cut off again, as Heero claimed his lips in another kiss, this time sending Relena’s eyes rolling with mock pained suffering.

“Alright, that’s it,” she said lightly, as she hopped off the bed. “When you two decide to get some air, let me know, okay?”

Duo managed to tear his lips away from his clearly turned-on mate (Duo’s observations had also come to notice that his mate did have a tendency to get aroused at the worst opportunities…for example: last week in the middle of horse riding lessons…let’s not even go there) to gasp out raggedly to the smiling girl. “Than…Thanks a lot…shit, Heero not there…ah…I mean…thanks for every…oh, god, Heero…”

“Oh, for crying out loud,” she cried out in exasperation. “I will be in the lobby.”

No answer was received as the two boys had gone back to sealing their lips together in another silent communion. Sighing to herself, she slipped out of the room quietly and made her way towards another waiting room. She stared at the clock and rubbed her hands tiredly. This was going to be a very long night.

~&~&~&~&~

He hadn’t meant to punch him. Okay, he hadn’t meant to punch him that hard. He stared at his aching knuckles in silent fascination. The hand that had once worshipped that body, had now caused pain. He snorted quietly. How ironic. Glancing at his watch, he stole another look towards the shut bathroom door. A good ten minutes had gone by and yet David had not come out of there. The girl he had sent…Relena…had not returned with the ice either. Feeling restless again, he got to his feet and walked around the room, his heart still racing with the very thought of David actually being in the same room with him.

He had been in the bathroom himself, when he had heard the low rumble of the deep voice, earlier. For a moment, Odin had been upset at the thought of anyone else coming in to disturb his privacy, but had been shocked to the core of his being as he had peeked through the door to notice the sturdy build of the tall brown-haired man before him. He had found himself clenching the door handle tightly, his mouth having gone dry at the mere thought of actually having to face David. After so many years, how could he possibly have such feelings for a man who clearly still despised him? He had sworn that he was over the teenage crush. He had married, had a child, lost his wife and never married or dated again. He had fulfilled his role in life. A role his father had made painfully clear. Produce an heir. And he had done so. So why hadn’t Odin found himself another woman? He could have had any number of eligible bachelorettes all over the world and in the colonies. There was no shortage of them, but yet he had declined. Everyone had attributed it to a sense of duty and loyalty to his late wife, whom he had admired, albeit reluctantly.

No, Odin had never found the time for another woman, because of the certain image of another that was engrained in his mind and heart forever. He sighed and rubbed a hand across his eyes. So what was he expecting? That David would give up his entire family and come running off with him into the sunset? How stupid and foolish. And yet here they were, fighting over nothing, like a bunch of kids, when their own flesh and blood lay dying on their beds.

With a low grunt, he suddenly stepped out of the room and made his way towards the standing ice-dispensing machine. Getting out a small bag of the frozen cubes, ignoring the looks of curious interest that flew his way, Odin walked back into the room, making sure the door was firmly shut and proceeded to bang his free hand against the bathroom door.

“Hey! How long do you plan on being in there?!” he asked loudly. An eerie silence greeted him.

“Look, I am sorry for punching you…much as I would like to do that again, but I got you some ice for your jaw.”

Still nothing.

Sighing loudly, Odin leaned against the door and began to speak to no one in particular, although he knew that David was listening.

“I don’t expect you to run out of there with your arms wide open to accept my apologies…I can’t believe I am doing this, though.” This he muttered softly to himself. Taking another deep breath, he placed the bag of ice on a side table and stuck his cold hands into his pockets again as he closed his eyes and continued speaking. He still wasn’t sure on why he suddenly felt like he had to talk to the other man, for it was like an itch that was slowly eating away at him. He had to say a few things, or the itch would kill him. And even if David never answered him, at least he would have taken care of that.

“And I don’t expect us to become friends over night. After all, we have been raised to think that we are enemies, right? And as enemies we are not supposed to have…to feel certain kinds of things for one another.” He stopped and hugged the coat around him, shivering slightly from some unforeseen chill. “My father…my father never gave me a chance to really live, David. I never knew what it was like to have a father’s embrace or a heart-to-heart talk with anyone. I never really knew my mother. I mean when she was alive, she was so busy with her friends and parties, I was just a side show, a little thing by the wayside, you know.” Odin closed his eyes as the memories came. “All I ever wanted…was to feel…to feel…human and do you want to know some really shitty ironic twist of fate, David? Hn…the day that I really felt alive…was the day I…I…took your picture.”

The sound of something crashing to the floor in the bathroom broke the silence and Odin smiled.

“Surprise, surprise, huh? I was a photographer, amateur then. I was sixteen, seventeen…doesn’t really matter, but what matters was that I saw your face and then…I can’t explain it, even to this day, David. Hmph…how could anyone’s smile and laughter make me feel so queasy inside? How could anyone make me see the beauty in so dismal a world? How could I have fallen for someone I was supposed to hate?”

At this point, Odin could have sworn he heard David gasp in shock and the heavy thud of him sitting down, either on the floor or on the toilet seat cover, he couldn’t tell. The itch was slowly dissipating and he was determined to let it vanish for good.

“Hai, David. I, Odin Yuy, the cold-hearted, the mean, the ugly, the bastard was head over heels for a boy who could care less about me. And it hurt, David. It hurt every single day. I would take a picture of you whenever I had the chance and run home like a lovesick puppy just to lock up myself in the darkroom and watch your image appear. I always wondered what you would feel like, what you would taste like, if you could ever, possibly smile for me and only me. I did not want to share you with anyone, but then again, I never had you, did I?”

“I stopped taking pictures after you caught me in the park that night. Hai, it was me, not some paparazzi, as you must have thought. I saw the sadness in you and I knew without a doubt that you were just like me. Having to remain locked in a prison where living by your innermost emotions was something so foreign and cold. I swore never again to use you like that. You meant way too much to me.”

“Call it stalking if you like, but I couldn’t stop following you. I had to know of everything you did and my stupid father thought I was out to get you for revenge or something. I convinced him to send me to Randolph’s, which wasn’t exactly far from your school. After all, sworn enemies could not stay in the same school, right? And then that party…that night…”

Odin stopped and opened up his eyes to stare at nothing in particular. His vision got a bit blurry as the pain seared through him. And in a voice that trembled slightly, Odin continued. “I had just planned on being there, just to get a chance to see you before going back to my boring existence and then…you…you walked up to me.” Odin gave a bitter laugh and raked fingers through his hair. “To me! I swear, David. I could have run out of there, but I was too frozen to make a move. I couldn’t believe it. You were clearly drunk and I felt a bit bad that the circumstances couldn’t have been different, but then again…I was willing to take whatever chance I got. And when you kissed me…I knew without a doubt in my mind that you, David Maxwell, had done the impossible. You had made me human again.”

Odin stared blindly at the now melting cubes of ice. Their residue now leaving tiny trails of liquid over the tabletop and onto the floor.

“I saw what your father did to you that morning, and yes, I was hurt that you didn’t stand up for me. I died inside when you lied to save yourself. I bore the beatings and the pain, knowing that at least, even if we never got to see each other again, I had had a chance to be with you. I knew what it was like to touch your skin and to feel alive in every single pore on my body. I would have gladly taken a million beatings just to have that chance again. But it never did come, did it, David? We both grew up and went our separate ways. We both grew up to carry on the tradition. So blinded by our sense of duty to a family that had no care for our emotions that we let the very ones we love die for something we were once guilty of.”

“We became our fathers, David. And do you want to know something? I would never, ever want Heero to become like me. I think I have finally come to terms with the ways things are now. I know that my son has no interest in the female sex, much as I have tried to deny it…and I have no doubt that my son and…and…your own boy, may have found the one thing I tried so much to hide. I only want to see Heero happy, David, believe it or not. And if being with your boy makes him so, then…then…who am I to stop them?”

A tense silence reigned for several minutes before the sound of shuffling footsteps and the noiseless sound of the door opening, sent Odin stepping away from it. Dark blue clashed with endless obsidian depths as questions, uncertainty and a low ebb of a sort of peace, flowed between them. Finally, David broke the silence with a softly asked question.

“What makes you think our sons…want each other?”

Odin shrugged. “Well, they were involved in the accident…together.”

“So?”

“So, it probably means that they were standing side-by-side or something.”

David raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t mean that they were together, together.”

For a moment, Odin cocked his head to the side and stared at the other man in confusion, before he noticed the slight tug of a smile upon David’s lips. Shaking his head, Odin chuckled lightly and reached for the bag of ice, and tipping David’s head to the side, he placed it gently against the bruised and swelling flesh. They were close again now, David finding his face reddening at the proximity.

“That should take care of the swelling,” Odin said quietly, trying hard to ignore the dull ache that flared through him. “I am really sorry for punching you that hard.”

“It’s okay. I guess I had it coming.”

Both men stood silent again, their gazes locked at nothing in particular. Finally, David broke the silent with a quick.

“I have a wife, you know.”

Odin smiled wistfully and nodded. “Hai, and a fine woman she is too.”

“I am a grandfather, as well.”

“I know that, David. Although, I am still older than you by a year.”

David chuckled at the smirk and then his face grew serious again. “Odin, I…”

A lean finger was suddenly placed over his lips to silence him and David could only stare at his rival in confusion.

“Don’t say it, David,” Odin spoke carefully. “I know that you have a good life and a family that loves you. A reputation to protect and all of that. But just let me know one thing and then…I will be satisfied. Did you ever…” He cleared his throat and tried again. “Did you ever…have any sort of…of…feelings for me at all?”

David smiled and took away the finger from his mouth, to press it gently against his heart. “Yes, Odin. I fell in love with you from the first moment we met across that dance floor. And maybe that damn song my daughter used to keep playing was right, after all.”

Odin tried hard to stop himself from grinning, but found it a wasted effort. “What song was that?”

“Hmm…it is kind of old…ah yes, ‘I knew I loved you before I met you.’ Ever heard of it?”

Odin shook his head. “No. I never did get to hear much of popular music in my day. I was stuck with Bach and Mozart, but I guess the words are right. I did love you before ever meeting you.”

And raising David’s hand to his lips, he placed a light kiss on them, laughing softly as he noticed the other man flush in embarrassment.  Releasing his hands, albeit reluctantly, he sighed and turned to face the door.

“Ready to go see our boys, now?” he asked quietly.

David nodded. “I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when we tell them that we have worked things out between us…sort of…”

“Hai, Dave-kun. I can’t wait to see their expressions either.”