CHAPTER SEVEN:

I will not stare. I will not stare. I absolutely refuse to stare.

Easier said or rather thought than done. It was the second half of the day and luckily they had most of the sporting activities for the evening. Heero was now subjected to the new torture of having to watch Duo across…directly across from him, clad in the school gym outfit that was comprised of black shorts and a white tank top. The basketball coach had divided them into two teams. Heero was in the red team, while Duo was in the green (hence the color armbands they had been forced to wear). He shifted from one foot to another, his hands hidden behind his back as he tried not to show his agitation. Still a bit embarrassed at his self-gratifying activities earlier, to everyone else he looked just as blank and as uninterested, whilst inside he was in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Little did he know that the other boy was just as shaken up as he.

Except Duo chose to show his own agitation by talking and…talking, which in turn seemed to drive his listener to the brink of insanity.

 “Maxwell!” Wufei finally blurted out in frustration. “I have heard that story for the past ten minutes straight. Could you be quiet for just one minute, please?”

The shrill sound of the whistle saved Duo from making a smart comeback.

“Alright, ladies! (although there were no girls in the class),” Coach Septum began in an odd shrill-like voice. This caused some of the boys to snicker to themselves. To them he sounded like an old grandma being given a really bad wedgie. “It is time for some basketball. No dirty playing or excessive shoving or kicks or whaling or someone going to sue some else’s ass for no good reason. To cut a long story short…I don’t want any goddamn crybabies, got it?!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Fine! Captains of the teams step forward please.”

Zechs and Heero made their way towards the center of the large basketball court. It seemed a bit unfair, as Zechs was a bit taller than Heero, but this thought was quickly eliminated from the players’ minds, as Heero had made a higher leap to catch the ball. Duo tried hard not to stare at the well-muscled thighs on his rival’s compact body and in the process he almost careened into another player.

“You are supposed to follow the ball, Maxwell!” Septum bellowed angrily. “How the hell do you plan to make the varsity team, huh?”

Duo frowned and got his attention back on track. He loved basketball to death and his second dream, aside from being a rock star, was to become the greatest player that ever lived. Although, that dream would have to wait for a while, because as of right now, Heero’s team…Heero in particular was quite literally kicking his ass.

Twenty minutes and four points down later, he found himself sprawling unto the shiny wooden floors, grimacing in pain as someone had stepped on his braid in the process. Raising his head, he got ready to give the fool a piece of his mind, only to come in contact with mocking Prussian depths. Duo knew a challenge when he saw one, and growling softly, he got back to his feet and made a mad dash for the smirking boy.

Heero watched the wild move in anticipation, the ball still held in his arms. When he was sure that Duo was about to pounce on him, he ducked and swerved sharply to the right, successfully tossing the ball quickly over to his teammate. Duo’s momentum, unfortunately, did not seem to cooperate with him, for the next thing he knew, he had collided into the brown-haired boy, causing both of them to fall to the ground in a tangle of limbs and one painful braid hold.

“OUCH!! Let it go!” Duo winced. He was sprawled above Heero now, his arms and legs tangled up with the other boy’s. Another tug on his hair caused him to glare angrily into blue depths that were inches away from him. Duo found that he was quite unable to speak at the flushed face below him. He tried to blame that on the exertions from the game. The sweaty handsome face below, adorned with that rough tumble of hair that Duo wanted oh so much to brush aside, the eyes that no longer held contempt…at the moment, the straight nose, the slightly parted lips that he wanted to taste and feel. Oh, Kami, he was drowning within those depths…

“Duo?”

Duo…he called me Duo. Not Maxwell…but Duo.

“Huh?” His voice sounded like it was a mile away and right now he couldn’t really care less about where they were. He wanted to kiss Heero and…

“Get off me.”

Duo blinked at the cold words. He shook his head and stared at the blue eyes he had thought beautiful, now fill with passive indifference. “What…?”

Heero sounded exasperated. “I said ‘Get off me’, you fool. Everyone is beginning to stare at us.”

“Oh, yeah. Right.” Duo jumped to his feet, almost stumbling to the floor again in his haste. Brushing away the long bangs from his eyes, he stuck his hand out to help Heero up. After all, it was in the spirit of sportsmanship to do so. For several seconds, Duo thought his offer would be ignored, for Heero was staring at his outstretched offering as if it were a snake ready to spring up on him and bite.

Heero didn’t want to touch him. He would explode if he did. It was bad enough to have to feel Duo’s body against his and pretend not to care, or to ignore the new ache below his waist, but it would look really bad to ignore the hand too. Steeling himself and hoping that his nervousness would not show, he took the lean hands before him. A sharp jolt of awareness flared through both boys and they gasped in unison. Duo felt his face redden as Heero retained his grip and got to his feet. A curt nod from Heero was his response, and Duo found himself nodding like a bird in the same manner.

Another loud blast from the whistle shook both boys out of their dazed stupor. They had a game to finish.

~&~&~&~&~&~

His team lost after all.

Sighing wearily, Duo stepped under the hot sprays of the locker room showers. Wufei was still ranting and raving about the way Duo had played, and to be honest, Duo could hardly blame him. He had lost all interest in the game after the encounter with Heero. It was as if his entire mind and body had shut down completely. His skills had suddenly disappeared and Coach Septum had been nothing short of baffled at the display. Where was the leading scorer in all of L2 High School’s basketball history? Duo had no clue either. Heero had sucked out his competitive spirit with one touch and—

“I swear, Maxwell, if you do not make it to the varsity team, I am going to be very disappointed with you.”

Duo lowered his head and allowed the water to soak up his skin. “Yeah…I am sorry, Wufei. I promise to play better next time.”

“Hn. Whatever, Maxwell. I have Advanced Calculus in half an hour. What about you?”

Duo raised his head to stare at the Chinese boy; his eyes taking in the fact that Wufei had actually let his hair down. A small smile came unto his face. Wufei looked quite different with his hair down. The dark locks framed his face giving him a much softer and almost elfin look.

“Your hair is down.”

Wufei blinked in confusion and ran his hands across his hair as if making sure it hadn’t disappeared or something. “I know that, Maxwell. What has that got to do with what I asked you?”

“What did you ask me, again?”

Wufei snorted and switched his shower off. Reaching for his towel, he rubbed it down his body in quick strokes. “What about you? How come you take a shower with your braid still on? Doesn’t that affect you in any way?”

Duo shook his head and switched off his own shower. “Nah…it’s too much of a bother. I have my special washing days. It takes practically a whole day to get it fixed just right.”

Wufei nodded and stepped out to the locker rooms with Duo in tow. “I was actually asking if you had any classes this evening.”

The braided boy nodded. “Yep…Drama.”

Wufei stopped his movements and eyed his companion. “Drama? Why would you take such a class?”

“I happen to like drama, okay?” Duo snapped, his hands reaching into his locker to pull his shirt over his head.

“Don’t tell me, Yuy will be there, right?”

“Right. He is like my fucking shadow, you know? He is really beginning to annoy me.”

The Chinese boy ‘hmphed’ and began the process of brushing his hair back into its customary ponytail. “Is he really, Maxwell?” he asked softly, although his eyes were still pinned on the mirror before him. “That little display on the basketball court this afternoon, doesn’t prove that.”

Duo stiffened and suddenly felt defensive. “Look, whatever happened out there…what the hell do you mean ‘display’?” We did not display anything.”

“Yeah, right. See you…tomorrow, I guess. You have a great drama class.”

“Hey, come back here and explain yourself!” Duo shouted after him, not caring for the looks he was beginning to receive. Snorting angrily to himself, he stuck his legs into his pants and buckled them up with more force than necessary.

There was absolutely nothing happening between he and Heero Yuy. Absolutely nothing!

~&~&~&~&~

“And now, I want you all to close your eyes and take deep calming breaths. I want you to feel that energy rise out of your guts and into your entire body. I want you all to…to…feel. To be one with the karma that fills us all.”

Duo wondered if he was in the wrong class.

But, he and about twenty others, dutifully complied with the serene brown-haired woman before them. They were all sitting in a rough semi-circle, blazers tossed aside as Lady Une (for that was her name) believed in non-restriction. And so beneath blazing bright lights in a large, almost empty acting studio/room; the students of Drama 101 began breathing from their guts.

Heero had never felt more stupid in his life. This was nothing but a waste of his time and energy and he hated Duo for choosing this class. He opened up his eyes to take a peek at the boy in question, noticing that Relena was stuck at his side again and also that blond boy.

Quatre…

The blond was on Duo’s right, their hands clasped in the chain Lady Une had insisted they perform. Heero suddenly wished he was in Quatre or possibly Relena’s spot, but quickly shook his head at the stray thought. Who needed to be beside the idiot anyway? He was fine right next to the heavily breathing being on his right and the wheezing girl on his left. His eyes danced across the room and he noticed that that girl, Julie, was also in this class.

Mumbling a light, ‘Hn’, he closed back his eyes and concentrated on his breathing techniques. Duo, on the other hand, had opened his eyes to take a peek at his classmates. He finally rested them upon the brown-haired boy across from him. Heero’s face, although still etched with a small frown, looked a whole lot younger than his years. Duo’s mind went back to his conversation with Wufei. Had it really been that obvious? He could have sworn that Heero had felt the same way…what way exactly?

Biting his lip in consternation, he shook his head and closed his eyes. Better to worry about this stuff much later on. He had other things to do at the moment…like wonder why Quatre was suddenly fingering his hands. Opening an eye carefully, he stole a peek at the blond. Quatre looked liked he was in throes of some passionate dance. His lithe body waved back and forth and side-to-side, giving Duo a faint cause for alarm. Maybe Quatre was about to pass out. Maybe the boy had not had enough of his lunch. He was just about to call out to him to snap out of it, when Lady Une suddenly cut in.

“Good, class. I would like you all to open up your eyes and to look at the person right next to you. I want you to tell them how you feel at this moment. Remember, this class is about expressing emotions and you will have to do that…if you want to pass. So let us begin, Rebecca?”

Rebecca turned to her left and faced the person next to her. “I felt an inner peace and calm.” The person in turn faced his left and this went on and on. Duo, whose hands were still clamped within Quatre’s grasp, wondered why the smaller boy was suddenly trembling.

“Q-man? Are you, okay?” he whispered softly, his purple eyes filled with concern. “You don’t look so good.”

Quatre blushed and shook his head. Just as he was about to give a response to Duo, it was suddenly his turn to speak his emotions. He had barely heard what his companion had said to him. Turning a very crimson-colored face to the braided beauty before him, Quatre found himself stuttering and suddenly unable to make a coherent sentence.

“Master Winner? Is there a problem?”

“No…no…La...Lady Une…I…I…just….”

“Remember to take deep breaths, Winner. That should calm you down.”

Quatre did just that and raised warm blue depths to the questioning violet orbs before him. “I felt…I felt…like I was floating…floating in a sea of roses. I felt so happy because…I had never felt so…happy. I had Du…I mean, I had the person that means so much to me there. I felt…alive. He made me feel alive.”

Duo (and as a matter of fact, everyone in the class) gaped at the almost angelic look on the blond boy’s face and with a sinking feeling somewhere down the pits of his stomach, it suddenly dawned on Duo that Quatre had either fallen for him or was in the throes of a major crush session. Either way, Duo didn’t quite know what to do…or say for that matter. He found himself sneaking another glance to gauge Heero’s reaction, but all he got was that same damn blank stare. Duo felt a bit disappointed. He would have thought Heero would be upset or at least show some signs of jealousy or something. Sucking up the hurt, he plastered a smile onto his face and nodded to Quatre.

“That was really beautiful, Winner.” Lady Une gushed, her collection of bracelets making a clashing sound as they danced over her arms. “Now, Master Maxwell, what do you have to say?”

Duo swallowed tightly and turned around to face a smirking Relena. “I felt…”

Like shit. I felt like I should be out of this place with some blue-eyed bastard and I don’t mean Quatre, having the best time of my young life, but nooooooo, have to be stuck in this class.

“I felt peace and calm,” he finally blurted out. This earned a snigger from Relena and a disappointed look on Quatre’s face. Hardly paying attention to Relena’s thoughts, Duo figured that he owed Quatre a one-on-one conversation later on.

It was, eventually Heero’s turn. “I felt…nothing in particular.”

A gasp of disbelief and several giggles and snickers accompanied his remark. “Well…Master Heero,” Lady Une retorted sharply. “It is nice to know that you have a sense of humor tucked away somewhere. I just hope you use that to your advantage in this class.”

Heero shrugged and raised his eyes to meet challenging purple ones, his body flaring with awareness again as they sent that warm tingle down his spine. He would have to find a way to control this…new…weakness. He couldn’t allow Duo to get the better of him. He could not afford that at this time.

“For our first assignment, we are going to read chapter one of your textbooks. Try to concentrate on the rudiments of acting. And during the next class period, we are going to test those acting skills, okay? You will all get a chance to select a specific monologue from one of Shakespeare’s greatest works and perform…I didn’t say recite…perform it on stage for the class, understood?”

Grumbles and murmurs accompanied her request as the students made their way out of the room. Duo was beat and all he wanted to do was sink into his bed and never get up. Stifling a yawn, he shouldered his bag and turned around to search for Quatre. He frowned as his eyes took in the few students remaining. Aside from Relena, who was currently chatting with an uncommunicative Heero and an animated Julie, the blond boy was nowhere in sight.

Probably went to the bathroom.

He shrugged and began to make his way towards the exits, his intention being to wait for Quatre, if he had indeed gone to the restrooms. He was clearly surprised, however, as he stepped out into the cool evening breeze to see the boy in question speaking to none other than the resident adviser extraordinaire. Pinning a smile onto his face, he walked up to meet them.

“Hey, guys. What’s up?”

Trowa nodded briefly in his direction before turning back to Quatre. “I will see you later on, okay?”

“Sure.”

Duo scratched his head at the abrupt dismissal, but decided nothing of it. “Hey, Q-man. You left without saying a word.” He tried to drape an arm across his shoulders, but was stunned into silence as the Arabian stepped lightly out of reach. Duo blinked in confusion.

“What is it, Quatre? Why the cold attitude all of a sudden.”

“You made me look like a fool in there, Duo,” Quatre answered, his lips going into a thin line of displeasure. “I blurt out my innermost thoughts to you and you just treat me like I was…was…nothing.”

“Umm…Quatre…”

“I know you don’t feel anything for me. I know you don’t care about how I feel or what I say. I am just Q-man to you. The little friend you can just keep in the corner, well no more, Duo! You hear me?! I won’t take it anymore!”

Duo  was now completely floored. This was a whole new side to Quatre that he had never seen and quite frankly did not want to ever see. That angelic face was gone; instead a cold, bitter look had replaced it, making him look almost devilish in nature.

“I swear…swear to God’s honest truth…Q-man…I mean Quatre. I didn’t know you had those kinds of feelings for me. If I had known…”

“What would you have done, huh? Don’t worry, Duo. I promise not to be such a leech anymore. I guess I pushed myself unto to you too soon, ne?”

“Umm…”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Quatre continued, the bitter look now replaced with one of quiet resignation. “It’s just that…” He took a deep breath and ran trembling fingers through his hair. “I do not understand why I should have these kinds of feelings for someone I just met…it doesn’t make any sense.”

Duo could sympathize. He was going through the same chaos too. The two boys stood silent for several minutes, a bit uneasy at the turn of events.

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Are we still friends or not?”

The Arabian smiled and nodded. “Of course we are, Duo. I am sorry for snapping like that. I am already stressed out on college…”

Duo laughed lightly and shouldered his bag. “Yeah…college can be a bitch. So, what did Captain Trowa want?” He raised an eyebrow as he noticed the flush that had risen unto the blonde boy’s face.

Quatre shifted from one foot to the other. “He was inviting me to a party on Saturday. I mean, actually, he just wanted to find out if we could all come.”

“All?”

“Yes. You and me and Wufei. He said it was a sort of ‘welcome to college’ thing. Just a group of guys going out into the main town and having fun…I guess.”

Duo noticed the puzzled frown on Quatre’s face. “You have never gone to a party before?”

“I have!” came the indignant response. “I just haven’t been to these kinds…”

Duo dropped his backpack and sat down upon the manicured lawns, eagerly motioning for Quatre to join him. Tucking their legs beneath them, Indian style, they stared at the dying sunset in quiet contemplation.

“So this is where you guys are.”

“Hi Lena! Julie! Have a seat.”

The two girls sat next to the boys and sat in very much the same fashion, each keeping silent as they admired the beauty of nature before them. Duo snuck a peek behind him, wondering what had happened to their third companion.

His inner question was answered as he spied the still figure hidden behind the growing evening shadows. For a moment, Duo swore he had seen a look of longing on the other boy’s face, but then again…the blank look that had replaced it quelled that thought. Feeling mischievous again he was just about to blurt out Heero’s name, when the silent boy spun on his heels and walked away. Duo clamped his lips back up again and hunched his knees up to his chin.

He pinned burning violet depths at the dying sun, wondering idly at the sudden chill that filled his bones.

~&~&~&~&~

Heero stared at the set-up before him, his dark eyes drinking in all visual information. According to the plans and layouts of the security systems in the building, he could successfully deactivate the alarms for the doors on this floor without affecting the others. He figured he would make it to Duo’s room and back in less than an hour, if everything went according to plan. Typing in several codes and passwords into the PC before him, he smirked in satisfaction as the red line highlighted his mission being accomplished.

And now onto Phase Two of his plan.

~&~&~&~&~

Simply put, this was Operation Retrieval, and Heero had no plans to fail it. He had come in earlier in the evening and on the pretext of looking for Trowa, he had asked and finally figured out where his rival’s room was located. It was quite a distance from his own, but he was fast and he could get in and out in no time.

His ears perked up at the soft chime of his alarm clock. It was two o’clock in the morning. Time to get the show on the road. Clad in his comfortable black spandex shorts and trusty old green tank top, he debated on whether to go barefoot or not. After two minutes of arguing with himself, he finally kicked off his shoes and stealthily made his way towards his door. The alarms and locks had been deactivated, and as Heero stuck his head out, he was happy to see that he was the only one awake as well.

So far, so good.

He shut the door softly behind him and made the quick trot towards his target. The sound of a door opening froze him in mid-stride and he had to press himself against a wall as another student shuffled out sleepily towards the bathrooms. Waiting for the boy to go in, Heero darted out again and quickened his footsteps. He had to hurry.

Finally!

He stared at the black door with the name ‘Duo Maxwell’ on it. He blinked. His hands were getting sweaty. And why the hell was his heart thudding even faster? He couldn’t possibly be afraid of Duo? That was ridiculous! Gritting his teeth and bracing himself, he placed his hands upon the handle and swung the door open softly. Stepping into the room, he shut the door just as quietly behind him and flicked his flashlight on.

Now, if I were a moron, where would I keep a laptop that didn’t belong to me?

He darted around the living space area, raising the couch seats and looking underneath and around the tables and chair. Nothing. He raced over to the work desk. All that filled the table, was unfinished assignments, the already-provided PC, Duo’s own laptop…which Heero had certain plans for, and some unfinished pizza slices in a box. Shaking his head at the mess, Heero made his way towards Duo’s closet. Pushing the door open, he blinked at the row of neatly hung uniforms and the assortment of …black clothes. Didn’t the guy ever think in color? Getting down on his hands and knees, he ransacked the enclosed space. Five frantic minutes later, his face now sweating with his exertion, he sat on his haunches and growled.

“Where the fuck is it?!” he whispered harshly.

There was only one more place to check and even Heero was having a hard time trying to get himself to make it over there. But giving himself one final pep talk for motivation, saying it was only for his laptop and nothing else, he forced his now heavy-laden feet to make the short walk to the four-poster bed.

And he suddenly wished he didn’t.

Duo lay sprawled across his bed, in a tangle of blankets and pillows. It was like he had been in a major fight with the inanimate objects. The blankets barely covered the naked torso and for a moment Heero felt his heart stop at the thought that Duo might be sleeping in the nude, however, the flashlight showed the dark line of black boxer shorts and Heero expelled a breath he was unaware he had been holding.

Okay…time to look for my laptop.

But he found himself still staring at the sleeping boy before him. The soft rise and fall of that smooth bronze chest, coupled with the slight parting of full moist lips, sent the blood flowing down to his nether regions in a rush. Duo stirred and scratched his arm, finally turning onto his side, as he cradled something flat and black to his body.

Something flat and black to his…

GODDAMNIT! HE IS SLEEPING WITH MY LAPTOP!!

Heero was furious. He was mad. He was goddamn upset. He was…amazed and oddly enough a bit giddy at the thought. Slapping himself inwardly for even thinking about replacing his body with the laptop (he was strangely jealous of his computer now), he tried to devise a way of getting the damn thing out of Duo’s grip.

Finally making up his mind, he dropped his flashlight on the side table and leaning over the bed, he stretched out his hands to grab it. He tugged lightly. Nothing. Frowning, he tugged again, watching in confusion and growing irritation as Duo mumbled something and then gripped the laptop even tighter against him.

Damn it!

Heero found himself placing one knee upon the bed to give himself more leverage and biting his lower lip, he pulled on the laptop again. Duo still wouldn’t budge. Heero found himself getting angrier and also hopelessly aroused. He was practically straddling Duo now, for both knees were now upon the bed and Duo had  flopped upon his back again, the laptop securely within his death-like grip. Heero cursed and found himself sweating. How was he to get this without waking up Duo?

“Let’s try this one more time…”

Placing both hands upon the sides not held by Duo, he grunted as he jerked and pulled, his eyes squeezing shut as he willed the contraption to him. If anything the grip tightened and Heero was just about to give it up, when the cold voice froze his movements.

“What are you doing?”

Heero opened his eyes to find violet orbs staring at him with something he couldn’t quite define. If it weren’t for the coldness of the question, he would have sworn Duo had a look of lust on his face. What answer could he give? What could he say?

“I asked you a question,” Duo began again. “What do you think you are…mmmppfffhh!!”

Purple eyes widened in disbelief and shock as warm lips covered his own in what was supposed to be a kiss. The grip on the laptop was slowly reduced as the feel of the mouth he had worshipped from afar sent his emotions spiraling out of control. Duo found himself responding feverishly. He didn’t care if this was a dream or not…because quite frankly, if this was a dream, then it was a pretty damn fine one. He groaned weakly as he felt Heero’s tongue lick his lower lip and beg for entrance into his mouth. Willingly complying, Duo parted his lips, whimpering in response to Heero’s moan, as their tongues met in a dance that was nothing short of fiery.

The laptop they had been fighting for was momentarily forgotten as they crushed hungry lips together, both never wanting to stop this feeling of euphoria that threatened to snap their sanity. Hands searched and clasped each other in a tight grip, taut bodies pressing against each other as the evidence of their arousals throbbed painfully against their stomachs. Finally, feeling like they were going to pass out, they released each other abruptly, panting and gasping for air as eyes filled with confusion met each other for clarification.

“Duo…”

“Heero…I…”

BEEP!!

The loud beep of Duo’s alarm clock signaling the dawn of another hour, snapped Heero out of his dazed stupor. Feeling his face heat up at the position he was in, he scrambled off the still prone Duo, his hands reaching quickly for his laptop. Duo didn’t trust himself to move for several seconds, until he realized what Heero had done.

Sitting back up with a jerk, he tried to get his bearings back. “Hey! What the fuck do you think you are doing?” The only reply he got, however, was the quick flash of green and black and then the silent thud of his door closing.

He eyed his bed and room for a moment, wondering if this had all been some nasty dream. Raising a trembling hand to his lips, he was unable to stop the small smile that came unto his visage. It hadn’t been a dream. His lips were swollen. He had been kissed. And by Heero Yuy, no less.

Feeling slightly giddy at the thought, he flopped back unto his bed and sighed softly, his eyes flickering with excitement.

To be kissed by Heero Yuy…and all because of his laptop. Duo grinned wickedly. He would have to think of some other ways to get the stoic boy to do it again.

His last thoughts, as he drifted back to sleep again were a silent apology to his father.

/ Sorry about this, dad. But it looks like fraternizing with the enemy may just be in the plan after all. /