Chapter 33:

The Trouble with Family:

Don’t ask what possessed me to go begging like that. I mean that wasn’t even a part of my original plans. All I know is that I felt desperate. I could see that Mr. Yuy wasn’t going to budge and I was stuck. If I couldn’t breakthrough Mrs. Yuy, at least, I knew there wasn’t going to be any hope for Heero and me. So when Mrs. Yuy eventually said I could call her ‘mom’, saying I was happy would be the fucking understatement of the century. She was giving us the green light and that alone was an awesome start. However, the biggest surprise would have to be Misa’s reaction to the whole thing. I mean, here I was expecting fireworks, thunder, fire and brimstone and she didn’t even give us a freakin’ spark!

Ever held a firecracker in your hand, light it up, watch the first few sparks, get all pumped up to see that baby go off, only to watch it fizzle out leaving you with a dud? Yeah, that’s pretty much how I felt about the whole thing. I was kinda hoping she’d put up a fight but I guess I should be happy she’s not being a bitch about it. God knows I don’t need the drama. Anyway, to cut a long story short, Misa’s dad became the chief interrogation officer or something because he peppered Heero and I with questions the rest of the evening. I think we did well all things considered. He wanted to know more about my upbringing and I did my best not to give all the ‘gory’ details. They were impressed to know who my dad was and even I could see that Mr. Yuy was interested – although he did his best not to show it. I was careful not to say anything about Eleanor’s transgressions, simply settling for the line of my parents agreeing to an amicable divorce.

Before we knew it, dinner was over, the last drinks were shared and plates cleared away. By the time we left the restaurant, the light snow which had fallen earlier had given way to an icy cold drizzle. I shook hands with the Ogatas, who wished me luck, and bowed to the Yuys before willingly stepping away to allow Heero to have some personal time with them. They are speaking in their native tongue again and even though I’m trying not to eavesdrop, I still can’t help straining to catch whatever few sentences I can grasp. After one minute of this, I give up. Hell, if they’re plotting to get rid of me, I’m sure Heero will let me know when we get back home and maybe I can convince him to elope to some country where they’ll never find us –

“To be honest, I’m not too happy that I lost to you, Duo Maxwell.”

I turn around quickly, trying not to show how surprised I am to see Misa standing behind me. I didn’t even hear her footsteps! There’s a small smile on her face and I’m not sure, but I swear the warm camaraderie we shared in the restaurant is kinda fizzling away faster than the cold rain falling around us. I guess it was all one big act after all. I brace myself and manage to smile in return.

“Oh?”

She shrugs and pouts – kinda cute if you ask me – before sighing as if the whole conversation’s nothing but a big pain-in-the-ass. “Yes, Duo. Heero will tire of you someday; you do know that, don’t you?”

Keep smiling. Keep smiling. “No, not really. I guess this is all news to me.”

“I know about homosexual relationships and how fickle those can be,” she continues, glancing over her shoulder as if hoping no one has sneaked up to listen. No worries, the grownups and Heero are still engaged in conversation and no one’s giving us a second look. It’s just me and Miss. Misa here and I think my damn jaw’s beginning to ache from having to keep this fake grin going.

“I mean, come on, do you honestly believe that Heero’s going to want to spend the rest of his life being with another…guy? I’m sure he dreams of having a real family someday, a real legacy, if you know what I mean.”

Yeah, no use trying to keep this up anymore. I’m really beginning to lose my temper here.

“But I will concede for now, don’t worry.” She moves close enough to kiss me, her warm breath brushing against my cold cheeks. “No really, I do wish you all the best because we both know that when things go sour between you two, which will eventually happen, Heero will come running back to me. Right where he belongs.”

She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug and in a much louder voice (for the benefit of the others no doubt), she says, “I had so much fun this evening, Duo. We should do this again soon. Take care and good luck!”

She pulls away with a smirk before jogging off to meet her parents. The little bitch!

“You okay, Duo?”

“Yeah, I’ll be,” I mumble, turning away from Heero as he approaches. I need to get myself under control. No use letting him see how much Misa has affected me. Geez! And here I thought the evening would end on a good note.

Or wouldn’t it? Heero slips his arm around mine and plants a big one on my cheek, much to my surprise and damn delight. I turn around to see if his parents are still here, but –

“They’ve left,” he says around a soft chuckle. “But good grief, you were amazing tonight, Duo. Simply amazing.”

I stare into his eyes, feeling my cheeks – nah – my whole body flushing with pleasure. Screw Misa and her problems. I’ve got Heero with me now and that’s all that matters.

“Was I?” I tease, reaching for his hands to squeeze them tightly. The limo we came in is waiting for us at the curb but neither of us feels like going home just yet. It’s cold, we’re getting soaked but we couldn’t care less about it. “How’re about you thank me properly for falling on my hands and knees, hmm?”

He grins and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me tightly against his body. I think I can count the droplets of water on his nose and cheeks, see every tendril of his now curly wet hair plastered against his forehead, watch dull but darker flecks of blue within his eyes as he moves closer and closer until nothing separates us but our warm and mingling breaths.

Ah, Heero…I swear I…

…promptly lose my train of thought as he finally kisses me, takes control of the situation and pretty much makes my knees weaken…literally. Fuck if the guy isn’t one talented bastard.

“The limo…” he pants as we break apart a little for some much-needed air.

“Huh?”

“…in the limo…want you…”

“Right.”

I steal another hard kiss, smirking at the low whimper he gives as I pull away and all but drag his ass into the car.

“Take the longest route home!” I call out to the driver and raise the partition to give us some privacy. Sorry, Harold, I apologize quickly to my guardian, as I begin to make quick work of Heero’s suit. We promise not to make too much of a mess in this car.

Yeah, right.

---

Saturday afternoon in Sid’s shop is like a mad house to say the least. The parking lot is filled with cars either queued to go through the drive-thru wash or waiting for a detailed hand wash. The garage itself has its stalls all occupied with drivers working on their trucks or vans. The air is full of loud laughter, colorful curses, the anthem of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ blasting off the speakers, and the perpetual stench of cigars, grease, fumes and sweat.

Today, Sid made me work with Jimmy Wills, a kid who attends Darnell’s Auto School several miles from Fujisaki. Jimmy’s a nice guy to work with…a bit slow, but good all the same. Lanky with greasy red hair and a peculiar high-pitched laugh, he definitely stands out whenever he shuffles into the garage for his shift. He always carries a lunch box with his hero, Superman, stamped all over it. I wonder if he’s had that thing since grade school since most of its pictures are fading out with age. He likes to share his lunch with me, which is another thing about Jimmy. He’s so kind, it hurts to see the other guys make fun of him sometimes. Poor guy hardly knows he’s the cause of their mirth and joins them until someone makes it obvious. But all the same, I enjoy hanging out with the guy during lunch breaks. He tells the funniest stories and his mom makes the meanest BLT I’ve ever tasted.

Today I opened up my bento lunch, something Heero made for me this morning before leaving for his job and Jimmy’s eyes had lit up with pleasure, saying that the food looked pretty. I’ve got to agree that Heero really outdid himself today. Thank goodness he didn’t do anything cheesy like heart-shaped egg rolls or rice balls. If any of the guys in the garage saw it, I’d never live it down for the rest of my life. I offer some sausages, cut in the shape of stars to Jimmy as he divides his sandwich in half. Together we sit on top a pile of tires, our vantage point giving us a good view of the parking lot without really being seen by anyone else. It’s a cool afternoon as a result of the rain last night. There are still puddles on the ground and several cars pulling into the wash have mud streaks on their tires, which make me wonder if they are out-of-towners.

I take a big bite of my sandwich, smiling softly to myself as I remember the events of last night. I’m still a bit sore but in a good way, if you know what I mean. Heero was a fiend last night and I loved every minute of it. I think I should do more to bring out the kinkier side of him –

“Whoa, check out the babe,” Jimmy says with a low whistle of appreciation, breaking my wonderful daydream of Heero and I making out in the garage with no one around.

“What babe?” I lift my gaze, now noticing that several mechanics had stopped what they were doing as well to stare at the new arrival. It’s rare to have a pretty woman stop by the garage but when they do, you can be sure that the guys would have a field day ‘eating’ her up with their eyes and talking about her tits and ass long after she’s gone.

“In the red Porsche,” Jimmy says, nodding towards the car wash. I look, ready to give my appraisal of the lucky female when the sandwich goes down the wrong way. Choking, pounding my chest as Jimmy hands me a flask of water, I drink quickly and struggle to get the words past my lips. That’s my…that’s my…!

Mom!

Someone whistles as she steps out of the car to take off her sunglasses. She’s dressed in a long-sleeved white dress that stops just above her knee, revealing her long legs to everyone’s gaze. Her hair’s in a braid just like mine and with those beautiful features, it’s no surprise that she’s the center of attention.

Goddamn it!

I scramble down the tires and almost fall on my ass, determined to reach her before any of those sleazy bastards get their grimy hands on her. I can see Sid, with a shit-eating grin on his face, wiping his hands on a rag and approaching her. I know I have to pick up the pace.

“Hi there, Missus Maxwell…hey! What tha…?!”

“Sorry, Sid. I got this,” I say quickly, as a place a hand on my mother’s wrist to tug her away quickly.

“Oh! Hi, baby,” she says cheerfully, following me willingly enough. “I just stopped by to see how you were doing.”

Now safe within the confines of Sid’s office, although the glass windows still reveal several curious faces watching us, I release her to mutter harshly. “What the hell are you doing here? Looking like that?!”

“Like how?” She looks down at herself as if wondering if she had worn her pajamas or maybe nothing at all. “What’s wrong with the way I look?”

I groan and slap a hand against my forehead. “Mom, look out there!”

She does and then raises a brow. “What’s your point, sweetheart?”

“My point is, you don’t come to a garage filled with perverted men, dressed in that kind of an outfit! They’ll think you’re a…a…”

“A slut?”

I flush darkly and lower my gaze, unable to meet the knowing and yet irritated look in her eyes. “Maybe,” I finally mumble.

“Good grief. What’s wrong with looking good every once in a while? I’m not that old you know. Besides, if I wasn’t your mother, wouldn’t you be just as perverted as the others? Or has being with Heero made you immune to the female sex?”

“Mom…”

“Never mind.” She waves her hands and eyes the room with slight disdain and I can’t say I blame her. Sid’s office isn’t exactly the Ritz. Besides the untidy pile of newspapers, ledgers and magazines, the walls are grimy with age and there’s the sharp smell of day-old cheese steak and the more overwhelming stench of cigars.

“I was going to invite you to have tea with me at a new restaurant a friend of mine opened downtown,” she finally says, holding the straps of her black handbag a bit too tightly. “But…” She gives me a quick look over and I blush at the intense look in her eyes. My coveralls are grease-stained and my hands still have remnants of vinegar from Jimmy’s sandwich. I think I even smell of fumes and motor oil. Hardly the look of a guy ready to head to upscale downtown for tea.

“…I guess I’ll have to do it another day?”

“I get off in an hour,” I mutter, eyeing the large clock above Sid’s leather chair. “Maybe I can meet you at the restaurant.”

“Dressed like that?” she almost squeaks and I have to laugh a little.

“No mom, I’ll be all cleaned up and shi…stuff.” I smile warmly. “Besides, we’ve got a lot to talk about, right?”

“Yes, I’m eager to hear how dinner with the in-laws went.”

“Mom!” She laughs a little and then sighs, tugging the tip of her braid in a gesture that I guess I must have inherited.

“All right, Duo. Here’s the address.” She fumbles inside her bag for a few moments before giving me a black business card with gold lettering upon it. ‘Darcia’s Bakery and Café’ it says, a sweet taste of paradise with our gourmet cakes and pastries at an affordable price.

“Sounds good, mom. I’ll meet you there around four-ish?”

“You had better,” she replies, slipping on her sunglasses again. “I would hate to have to wait on my own longer than ten minutes, my dear. Now, I assume you’ll be escorting me to the car?”

You bet your ass I’ll be escorting you. Who knows what could happen before you get there?

“Sure, mom.” I reach for her hand and lead her out of the office, grateful for the smell of fresh air albeit mingled with other scents, and make our way to the Porsche. I wasn’t even aware she had gotten herself a new car.

“Couldn’t resist,” she says as she notices my questioning look. “What? It was just begging me to buy it, baby.”

I roll my eyes, suffer a quick kiss on the cheek (much to the amusement of the guys in the garage) and close the door behind her as she settles in. “Drive safely,” I mumble, my cheeks now flaming as some of them begin to tease me loudly. Shit.

“Barbarians,” she mutters and pats my cheek gently. “I don’t know how you can work in a place like this but hey, it’s your choice. Don’t be late for our date now. I’ll be waiting.”

I wave a little as she peels out of the parking lot and before I can even turn around, someone slaps a meaty arm around my shoulders. I smile weakly as I turn a little to meet the beady black eyes of Simon Grodine, whose breath always reeks of onions and cigarettes. He grins, revealing coffee and nicotine-stained teeth and I wince as I know what’s about to come.

“Holding out on us, Maxwell?” he pants, leaning his sweat-slicked face closer to mine. “Who’s the slut?”

The…slut?

“Babe’s got the rack of a pin-up and an ass that won’t quit!” Someone else yells and I can feel a low ringing in my head, a dull headache coming and my vision becoming a bit glazed and unfocused.

Slut? Whore? Who? Eleanor? I don’t think so.

“Yah! And did you see the way her hips moved when she walked?! Damn bitch’s gat…aaaaaaaaaaargh! Mah numbse! You brode mah fockin numbse!”

“That’s my mother, you fuck,” I say coldly as I suck on my bruised knuckles while glaring at the fat slob now rolling around on the ground and holding his bleeding nose.

“Anyone else wanna say something about it?!” I roar to the rest of them. But apparently they don’t because they all shuffle back to their stalls with lowered gazes and sudden interests in their tools.

Panting harshly, still feeling pissed off, I stalk back to Jimmy, who’s been waiting patiently for me all this time. He holds out a flask and grins amiably. “You might wanna drink this, Duo. It’s gonna cool you off just fine.”

“Thanks,” I mumble and promptly douse it over my head. Geez, now I really can’t wait for my shift to be over.

---

Anything but his laughter.

“It’s not funny, Heero.”

“Sorry, it’s just…okay, I’m sorry. Really. I know I’d be pissed if someone called my mom a slut.” He winces and I continue to glare at the cream-colored cafe with its green awning over the front door. A few brave patrons, weathering the cold, are sitting beneath large umbrellas on the patio, digging forks into delicious-looking creations that’s making me hungry again.

“It’s all her fault you know.” I can see her through the tinted windows, my mother sitting within the warm confines of the café while I’m sitting out here on my bike, freezing my ass off. “She just had to dress in something that provocative.”

“Hey, she is beautiful.”

I stare at my cell phone unable to believe that Heero actually…

“Dude, you’re not crushing on my mom, are you?”

“No!”

“That was too quick,” I mutter and get off the machine, stretching out my arms while hoping I’m dressed well enough for this. I had gone home for a quick shower and a change of clothes. I don’t think I did too badly with my blue dress shirt and Heero’s black pants but he’s going to kill me if he finds out I’m wearing them.

“Whatever you say, Duo. Believe me, if I had the hots for your mom, I’d be crying out her name whenever I come…”

“Too much info, man,” I interrupt, laughing softly, although if Heero actually did jack off to my mom’s image…

“You’ll be back early tonight, right? Remember we’ve got to meet the others at the movies by eight.”

“I’ll be there, don’t worry.” The gang, all eight of us, agreed to have a night out on the town. Movies, dinner and if we’re lucky to find some club that would let us crash for the rest of the night, then we were determined to take advantage of it. “Love ya.”

“Dork,” he mutters and I swear I can hear him blushing at the other end. Heh, gotta love getting the great Heero Yuy all flustered. “Talk to you later.”

He hangs up and I take a deep breath, knowing that it’s show time and as I run across the street towards the cafe, I fail to notice the sleek sedan that’s pulling up slowly to the curb.

---

“…or perhaps you’d like to try our black and white mousse supreme, made with creamy white chocolate mousse topped with chocolate ganache…?”

“I’ll take it!”

“Duo!” My mother says around a giggle. “That’s your second slice of cake in five minutes. Do you know how much calories those contain?”

“I’ll burn it off,” I reply with a smirk, pointing to the sinful treat on the silver tray. “I’ll have that one…and that other one I see in the glass display over there…?”

“Oh, that is our Hazelnut torte, a mixture of praline butter cream and…”

“I’ll have that too, please.”

“Excellent choice, sir,” the waiter says and I can almost hear the cash registers ringing in his head as he walks away. Ka-ching! He’s making a killing this afternoon and the business definitely should be booming. I’ve had a slice of carrot cake so far and man, I thought I had died and gone to heaven with just one bite. They melt on your tongue and the sweetness…simply indescribable. I think I’ll buy some to take home to Heero. He’s gonna die when he eats them! Mom’s still working on her first slice of coconut layered cake and at the rate she’s going, I would have eaten a whole cake and she’d still be on that piece.

The door opens with a low chime – a melodic sound actually – to usher in the new customers. I’m too busy eyeing the menu to notice that my mom’s fork is no longer making that dull sound as it hits the antique china plate.

“Hey, mom, how about we buy this one next? It says it’s a mixture of lemons, tangerine and bourbon. Sounds lethal but gooood. So whaddaya say, mom? Mom?” I finally lift my gaze at the silence, blinking in confusion at how pale she looks. Her eyes are as wide as saucers and she’s staring at something or someone over my shoulder. “Mo…mom…what is…?”

“Duo sempai!”

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!

I turn around quickly, almost knocking my cup of tea to the floor. Standing behind us, all smiles (at least one of them and it’s obvious who it is) is Kamui and Saito Teruo dressed in pretty nifty suits. You’d think they’re going to a formal dinner instead of an ordinary café. Saito’s not looking too good either, and I think its seeing my mom that’s caused his handsome face to look as white as a sheet. Kamui, meanwhile, is making his way towards us. He bows to my mother, who’s doing a damn good impression of a statue, before turning to grasp my hands within his.

“I can’t believe you’re here, Duo sempai,” he gushes. “I didn’t know you liked cakes.”

“Ah…well I…”

“The owners are good friends of my father’s and they invited us this afternoon…”

“Let’s go, Duo,” my mother suddenly says in a tight voice.

“Huh? But mom…” Damn it! I don’t want to miss my cake!

“No buts, Duo Maxwell. We are leaving now.” She rises to her feet, her expression now one of barely controlled anger.

“Is it something we did?” Kamui asks timidly, now looking kinda morose at the sudden turn of events.

“I won’t say it’s not a surprise to see you here, Eleanor,” Saito finally says in that familiar deep tone of his. I look at him again, glad to see that he’s somewhat recovered. He’s barely given me a glance, which is good because the last time I saw him, he was breaking into a rash and looking pissed enough to kill someone…me.

“Well, you can be sure you won’t be seeing me again,” my mother replies in a harsh whisper, now aware that the other customers are looking at our table with obvious curiosity.

“You haven’t been answering my calls…”

“I don’t need to answer your damn calls!” she retorts. “I told you to stop calling me. It’s over between us!”

“You didn’t give me a chance to explain! God, woman! You’re so damn stubborn…!”

“I’m stubborn? I’m stubborn?! You’re the one who keeps harassing me…”

“Harassing you?! What in the world…!”

Okay, do I really have to listen to this shit? I motion for Kamui to move closer, which he does still looking a bit too pale for my liking. Damn, but the boy seriously needs a suntan or something.

“You should try the chocolate mousse cake,” I say with a warm smile, noticing that the owners are finally making their way out to the floor to see what the commotion’s about. Great. More clowns to this goddamn circus. “Let’s get out of here.”

I place a hand on his wrist and lead him towards the display cases, where a variety of sweet desserts sit waiting for some hungry human to sample a taste of them.

“Don’t they look good?” I ask quietly. “I’ve tried some and…”

“Duo sempai?”

“…they literally melt on your tongue. No joke!”

“Duo…sempai…?”

“Oh, and that one over there? I think that’s a lemon torte cake or something…”

“Duo sempai!”

“I don’t wanna talk about it, Kamui,” I finally say, shrugging lightly, turning away from the worry I see within those big green eyes. “Just let it go, okay?”

“But…my father…”

“What about him?”

He shifts from one foot to the other, lowering his gaze and biting his lower lip. It’s hard to believe that this is the same psychotic kid who had tortured us months ago. He looks so vulnerable and alone, you know? Like you just want to hold him and never let him –

Whoa! Hold those thoughts, Maxwell.

“My father…the past few weeks have been bad for him,” Kamui mutters. “He doesn’t eat much and…and I know he’s been trying so hard to talk to your mother. I think he…I think he really does love her, sempai.” He lifts his gaze, an earnest look now within those eyes. “He even said that if he could go back in time, he’d do things differently.”

“He told you that?”

“Not to me,” he replies, shaking his head slowly. “I overhead him talking with my grandparents when we visited them last week. He really wants to woo your mother, sempai.”

I sigh and lean against a wall, closing my eyes. My mother with Saito Teruo…a guy I had almost killed. Wow, talk about irony.

“…and besides…”

“What?” I open my eyes to look at him, noticing he’s now blushing.

“I…I wouldn’t mind having you as an older brother, sempai.” He gives me a shy smile. “I think you’d make the coolest older brother ever.”

A chortle escapes my lips before I can control myself and before long, we’re both giggling at the notion. Enemies to brothers, eh? How fate tends to play cruel jokes on we humans. Just thinking about it is to get me going again.

“Big brother, huh?” I finally manage to say, wiping my eyes quickly. “Sure. No problem. We could be brothers…when my mother decides to forgive your father that is.”

Although I highly doubt that. When my mother bears a grudge, she bears a grudge.

“Well…I don’t think we’d have to worry about that…for now…”

“Huh? What do you mean by…?” I follow his shocked gaze and have to swallow a cry of disbelief at what I see.

Several people are beginning to clap and cheer at the sight but Kamui and I have to find chairs to sink into, our knees simply can’t take it. Because you see, our once squabbling parents are now locked in a kiss hot enough to melt steel neither caring if they have an enraptured audience or not.

So much for bearing a grudge.

Damn. Does this mean I’ll have to start calling Saito…Dad?!

Heero’s definitely gonna get a kick out of this.


~End Period Thirty-Three~