Treize stared astonished at the finished Rubik's cube.
“How long has he been done with that? Never mind, well this is an interesting development. He seems to be gifted. How gifted I can't tell but we need to get him tested. The sooner the better. I'll have some colleagues of mine called in and we'll test him starting tomorrow at noon. If that is okay with you?”
“Yes, that's fine. So he can come back home with us, right?”
“Yes. He isn't hurt or ill we just want to test him.” “Well great. We'll have him in here tomorrow at noon.”
Duo rose and shook Treize's hand and then led Heero out of the room. They went back to the car and stood there.
“What should we do now?”
“I say we go shopping. Heero can't wear Quatre's clothes forever.”
“Wufei and I have to be getting back home but you guys go and have fun.”
“Bye guys. Have fun. Are you two going to the mall with us?”
“No we can't. We were expecting to be camping for the next three weeks so we don't have food. We need to go shopping but we'll drop you off. I'll give you my credit card to pay for things you'll buy.”
“Thanks Q.”
They got into the car and Quatre handed Duo the credit card and they drove off to the mall.
After Duo and Heero waved bye to the Trowa and Quatre they went into the mall. Heero had never seen such a big place with so many things. The only thing he didn't like was the amount of people but his curiosity was overcoming the fear.
Duo took him to the clothing stores first and got some jeans and shirts for Heero to try on. Heero didn't want to go into the changing room alone so dragged Duo with him. It didn't take long as Duo thought it would. He let Heero choose some of his clothes. When they were done Heero had several t-shirts, jeans, a couple dress shirts and dress pants. Then they went and bought boxers and socks. They left the store and Duo kept a tight hold on Heero with one hand and their purchases in the other. They went to a shoe store and got a pair of sneakers for Heero. They got an ugly yellow pair but Heero had liked them so he didn't say anything. They also bought him some nice dress shoes too.
Ever since he left the basement he didn't have anything that belonged to him. They had left his radio and books behind. But now Heero was happy because Duo had bought him things that he said were his. They were walking down the mall when Heero spotted the toy store. He pleaded with Duo to go in and Duo relented and went in with him. Heero dragged him down all the aisles. He stopped in the stuffed animal and looked at them. He reached his hand out to touch but stopped and looked at Duo. Duo nodded his head and smiled at Heero. Heero grinned at Duo and touched one of the teddy bears. They were really soft and Heero picked one up to feel against his face. He looked at them all and came upon he really liked. It had purple-ish blue eyes that reminded him of Duo. He grabbed that one and held it close.
“Do you want that one?”
“Hai.”
“Okay let's go pay for it and we can go.”
Heero looked at Duo and saw that he didn't have one. He didn't want Duo to be left out so he looked at the racks of stuffed animals again. Duo looked at Heero wondering why Heero was still looking. He was going to ask when Heero brightened up and picked up another teddy bear.
“Here Duo. Now you can have one.”
Duo looked down at the teddy bear and had to smile. The bear had blue eyes like Heero's.
“Thank you Heero. Come on let's get these and go.”
Duo took Heero's hand and together they walked up to the cashier to get the bears. They walked out of the store and towards the entrance and stopped at a pay phone. He let go of Heero to check his pockets for the change he needed.
“Heero stay right here. I need to talk to Trowa right quick.”
“Okay.”
Duo turned back to the phone and put the money in. Then dialed Trowa's cell phone and waited for him to pick up. Trowa answered.
“Hey Trowa, We're finished shopping. Come and get us. Not done shopping yet? Uh huh, uh huh, sure okay. Don't worry we'll find something to do. See ya in an hour. Bye Tro.”
Duo hung up and turned to Heero but didn't see him. He looked around for Heero but he couldn't see him anywhere. He had lost Heero. He tried to keep calm and looked around him again. Hoping he had just looked over him but he still saw nothing. Duo couldn't think of where Heero could have gone. He was glad that the surrounding shops were small and he could just glance in to see if Heero was there. He looked at one after the other until he got to the bookstore. He walked in and went straight to the cashier.
“Hello, did you see a boy come in here? He has short brown hair and blue eyes.”
“I think so. I believe he's in the back of the store.”
“Thanks.”
Duo rushed into the back and found Heero looking at some picture books. He sighed in relief and walked over to Heero.
“Heero didn't I tell you to stay put?”
Heero jumped at Duo's voice. He looked at Duo and looked down when he saw how mad he was.
“What were you thinking, huh? I didn't know where you were or what had happened to you. Don't ever do that again. Do you hear me?”
Heero was on the verge of crying. He didn't mean to make Duo so mad.
“I'm sorry Duo. I…I just w-wanted to look at the books. P-please, I'm s-sorry.”
Duo sighed. He didn't mean to sound so angry but he just panicked. He calmed himself down and hugged Heero.
“It's okay Heero. You just worried me. Next time tell me if you are going to do that.”
Heero nodded his head but didn't move.
“So what were you looking at?”
“These. Can I have one Duo?”
“Sure, pick as many as you want.”
Heero ran to the children book section and picked up some books. Duo looked at the educational section and figured getting Heero some of those books wouldn't hurt him. They bought they books and left. Duo looked at his watch and realized they still had forty-five minutes before Trowa came to get them. As they were walking Duo saw a Baskin Robbins. He pulled Heero after him and went to the cashier.
“Hi I would like a scoop of vanilla on a sugar cone for him. For me, I want a scoop of cookies and cream on a sugar cone.”
The cashier nodded her head and went off to make the orders. When they got their orders, Duo paid for the ice cream and took Heero to one of the benches and sat down. Heero sat down next to him and looked at the thing in his hand. Duo noticing Heero's confusion decided to help him out.
“It's ice cream Heero. Try it, it's really good.”
Heero looked at Duo and watched as he licked the ice cream. Heero looked at his own cone and stuck his tongue out and touched the ice cream. He liked the taste and started to lick his ice cream rapidly. Duo looked over and saw that Heero liked the ice cream but was eating it really fast.
“Slow down Heero. You don't want to get a brain freeze.”
“Brain freeze?”
“It's when you eat ice cream to fast. It makes your head hurt. Just eat it slowly and it shouldn't be a problem.”
Heero slowed down but continued to lick his ice cream. When he got to the cone he didn't know what to do with it. He watched Duo. Duo took a bite of his cone and Heero did the same. Once they were done Heero licked his hands clean. Duo got some napkins and cleaned Heero's and his hands. They got up and wandered the mall some more. When it was time to go they headed towards the front of the mall and waited to be picked up. Soon Duo saw Trowa's car coming towards them and pulled Heero along with him. He put the purchases in the trunk and made Heero was in the car before he got in.
“Hi Trowa.”
“Hey did you get everything he needed? Yep. Oh I didn't ask but did you guys happen to get Heero some toiletries while shopping?”
“Yes we did.”
“Oh good. Hey Trowa, do you think we could stop at a barbershop. Heero needs his hair cut.”
“I guess let me call Quatre and tell him.”
Trowa took out his cell phone and called Quatre and told him the change in plans. Trowa drove them to the nearest barber and parked. He decided to wait in the car while Heero got his hair cut.
Duo took Heero's hand and walked in to the barbers. Duo walked up to the counter to see how long a wait it would be. The cashier told him it wasn't long and Duo put Heero's name down. When the barber called Heero's name Duo stood and took Heero to the chair the barber was standing in front of.
“What are we looking at today?”
Heero wasn't paying attention he was too focused on his reflection. Duo looked at Heero's hair to see what should be done. He liked the way Heero's hair was now but it still look like some took a chainsaw to it. He decided all Heero really needed was a trim.
“Could you just trim it so it looks okay?”
“Sure. Do you want to keep the bangs?”
“Yeah. Just trim them a little.”
“Okay.”
The barber took out scissors and was ready to cut Heero's hair. Heero looked up at the scissors the barber was holding and jumped out of the chair in fear. He hid behind Duo for protection. Duo looked at him bewildered at his behavior.
“Heero? Heero what's the matter?”
“Tell him to stay away. Those things hurt”
“Heero he needs to cut your hair. Look I told you I wouldn't let anyone hurt you and I promised I wouldn't leave right?”
“Hai.”
“Okay now sit down. It's okay I'll be right here. I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you.”
Heero slowly nodded and eased back down in the chair. He closed his eyes and grabbed Duo's hand. It was good that Heero closed his eyes because then he couldn't see how enraged Duo was. Duo thought of how Heero seemed afraid of the bath and now scissors. He didn't know what these people did to make Heero so afraid but he vowed that he would show Heero that there was nothing to be afraid of. He wanted to go back there and make them regret ever doing those things to Heero. But decided not too. He needed to be there for Heero. He swore to himself that he would always be there for Heero. No matter what.
TBC
Chapter 8
Chapter Index
Chapter 10
