Silent Storm: Part 1
By: Kellryn
Note:
This story is told in Duo's POV(point of view)
I walk into the room I share with Heero to get some peace and quiet. It has been a mad house around this dingy hole of an apartment the five of us have been sharing for the last two weeks. I suppose having no missions the entire time has put everyone on edge.
Wufei has been ranting and raving about the injustice of this war. Complaining that OZ is just using a break in the fighting to lure the people into a false sense of security.
Quatre and Trowa have been at odds with each other. They haven't actually fought, but it’s easy to tell that their relationship is a little strained right now.
Heero has been even more quiet and moody lately. He just sits in front of that damn laptop for hours at a time, waiting for a mission to come through.
As for me, I try to enjoy the reprieve from the fighting, but the tension is even getting to me and after this afternoon, I really need some time alone. I have the room to myself, right now, which is a good thing. I don’t think that I could stand being in here with Heero at the moment
{FLASHBACK}
Everyone is gathered at the kitchen table, finishing up with breakfast. Wufei is sulking. Quatre and Trowa are pointedly ignoring one another. Heero just sits there silent and unmoving. I’m fidgeting because the silence is for some reason making me very nervous. If I had been smarter, I would have left then and there, realizing that it was the calm before the storm. But no, I stayed and had to open my big mouth.
“So no mission yet? Why don’t we all get out and go do something? Maybe we can catch a movie, or go to the mall. Anything is better than staying in this hell hole, don’t you guys agree? I know! We can all go to the park; it’s a nice day out and some fresh air will definitely do us all some good,” I exclaimed, without even pausing for breath.
Wufei just gets out of his chair and storms out of the kitchen without a backward glance.
Quatre looks to Trowa and slowly shakes his head. “Sorry Duo, but Trowa and I have a lot to talk about today,” replies Quatre.
“Guess that leaves just the two of us, huh, Heero?” I say as I glance at him.
Heero remains silent and glares at me while frowning.
I get up from the table and ask, “Are you coming or not?” I'm expecting Heero to ignore me like always. So I'm surprised when he shrugs his shoulders and rises from the table.
Heero and I walk to the park, since it's only a few blocks from our apartment. The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky. There’s a slight breeze and birds are over head. All in all, it's a perfect day for a walk.
I chat incessantly about nothing important the entire time. This is great, I think. No worries at all. A pleasant day, a peaceful stroll, all with a good friend. Hmm... it'd sure be nice if Heero would say or do something, anything to let me know if he's even listening to me, I think to myself
“Heero, why don’t we go and sit under that tree over there and just relax for a change,” I say, as I point to a large willow tree.
He follows me and we both settle on the grass with our backs leaning against the mass of the tree. It’s very quiet and peaceful just reclining here like this. I close my eyes and let all of the tension from the morning seep from my body. I don’t know exactly how long we sit there like that, but I'm just about to doze off when I sense Heero moving.
Then all of a sudden my eyes pop open and my body goes stiff as Heero’s lips gently touch mine. The gentle pressure slowly began to turn more insistent and hungry. I'm in shock at what is happening. I can't believe that Heero, my partner, my roommate, my friend is pressing close and passionately kissing me.
I push Heero away from me and surge to my feet. “What the hell do you think you're doing, Heero?” He sits there unmoving, staring straight ahead. I wait, beginning to think that he isn't going to answer my question.
Finally he looks up at me and says in a monotone, “Nothing.”
“Nothing!” I yell, “Why you... you... ” I sputter.
I turn on my heels and run all the way back to the apartment. Reaching the apartment, I stomp in, slamming the door behind me. I march past a startled Quatre and Trowa. They just look at each other, but must decide to leave me alone because neither one says anything to me on my way past them.
{END FLASHBACK}
Upon entering the bedroom, I walk over to my bed and throw myself onto it. I put my hands behind my head and stare up at the water stained ceiling. I don’t even want to think about what happened this afternoon. But that, of course, is impossible because it’s the only thing on my mind at the moment. I end up replaying the afternoon over and over in my head. Why did you do it? You’ve never shown any interest in me at all... especially that kind of interest! Heck, just trying to have a decent conversation with you is a war in itself, I mutter to myself. Sure, ever since we first met, we’ve been partners. Whenever there’s a need to share sleeping space, we room together. But there has never been any real tangible sign of your returning my friendship, let alone romantic interests!
Trying to figure Heero out is of no use. I understand him no better now than when we first met. Hmm, what about me? What are my feeling towards Heero? Now that is a question that requires some serious thought on my part.
As a partner, I have complete and total trust and confidence in him. Being his roommate all the time isn’t so bad either. I consider him a friend, even if I do most, if not all of the talking. I do consider him to be my best friend.
But what about romantic feelings? I’ve never considered Heero like that before, not really anyway. Sure I’ve noticed that he's attractive for a guy, but I don’t go for guys, do I? Well, I never have before. The kiss wasn’t all that unpleasant, in fact, it was kind of nice, my lips quirk at the memory. Could Heero and I truly have a relationship? Does he even want a relationship, or is it only lust to him?
I don’t really know if I’m ready for a relationship. I mean getting involved with anyone during a war isn’t the smartest thing to do, even I know that. What about lust? I can understand a need to satisfy lust. But am I willing to maybe ruin a friendship just to satisfy that basic need? Oh... man, how can such a simple thing like a kiss leave me so damned confused?
I’m giving myself a headache with all of these jumbled thoughts running loose through my head. Maybe I should just go to sleep and worry about the rest of this tomorrow. “Yep, that is exactly what I’m going to do,” I say out loud.
“And what is that?” queries Heero.
“Heero. How long have you been standing there?”
“Only a few minutes,” he replies as he walks in and shuts the door behind him. Heero walks towards me until he is standing above me, looking straight into my wide eyes.
Suddenly, very uncomfortable, I sit up, crossing my legs in front of me. We gaze into each other's eyes, his piercing cobalt eyes meet mine for what seems like an eternity. Heero is the first one to look away. He turns and sits on his own bed, just a few feet from mine. We sit in an unnerving silence. Finally, not able to bare the silence any longer, I speak.
“Heero, what went on this afternoon? Why did you kiss me? Please talk to me about this- I... I need to know,” I ask, whispering the last part.
He hesitates for a minute and then in a low voice answers, “I don’t know exactly what happened. You were lying there against that tree and you looked so peaceful and relaxed, that I... ”
“You what?”
“I let my body react without conscious control.”
“And now that you’ve had time to think about your actions... ”
“I don’t... I just don’t know. Duo, I’m sorry that I can’t answer your questions. Can’t we just forget what happened this afternoon and go on with our lives?”
“Since I don’t have any answers myself, I guess that is probably the best course of action.”
Heero lies down on his bed and closes his eyes. His breathing slows and evens out.
“Fine,” he breaths just as sleep claims him.
I pull the blankets over me as I lie down on my own bed. Yes, we will just forget about this and go on like nothing has happened. But somehow, I think as I also succumb to sleep, I don't believe it's going to be that easy.
~Fin~
