Cease Fire
By: Kellryn
Duo threw his duffel on the floor and flopped onto one of the two beds in the small cubicle that was supposed to be a dorm room. He huffed out a puff of air and brushed his bangs out of his eyes. Turning his head to the side, he eyed his roommate.
Hmmm... a whole year stuck in this tiny room with spandex boy and no missions; thought Duo, as a predatory grin spread across his face.
Heero was neatly arranging his meager possessions when he saw Duo’s expression out of the corner of his eye.
Someone must really hate me. First a cease fire, then being ordered to attend a boarding school like normal teens for an entire year, and on top of it all... I get stuck with that loud-mouthed baka for a roommate! he thought, while furrowing his brow and frowning,
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Registration was hell on Earth. Hundreds of returning students along with hundreds of new students were all trying to get into certain classes with certain people. And Duo was no exception. After waiting in line for what seemed like the entire morning, Duo was finally nearing the front of the line.
Guess I shouldn’t have slept in this morning. The others have been done for awhile now; thought Duo as he shuffled to the head of the line.
Duo seized up the student helper sitting at the table and dug in his pocket. Pulling out some credits, he handed over his completed registration form and slipped the credits into the startled boys hands.
“See that Japanese boy over there,” Duo said as he pointed across to where Heero stood with the other pilots. “His name is Yuy, and I want the same class schedule as him.”
The student helper glanced at the credits in his hand and then between Heero and Duo. With a selfish gleam in his eyes and a greedy smile, he nodded his understanding. The boy quickly pocketed the credits and entered the data into his computer. A few minutes later he handed Duo a printout of his class schedule.
“So what’s your schedule like?” asked Quatre as Duo joined the other pilots.
“Let’s see... first a free period, then math, writing, computer lab, uhm... lunch, and finally, gym,” answered Duo.
“That is exactly the same schedule as Heero,” replied Wufei.
“Oh, really? What a coincidence!” responded Duo, all the while smiling innocently.
“Coincidence my ass,” mumbled Wufei.
Quatre pouted, “That is SO not fair. Trowa and I only got one class together.”
Duo patted Quatre on the back and said, “Aw, that’s really too bad Quatre. Guess you just don’t have the Maxwell luck!”
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“Class, settle down. We have a couple of new student to welcome today. Come in and introduce yourselves,” said the class teacher as he ushered in the two new students.
Duo groaned and banged his head on his desk as he got a good look at the two girls who walked into the classroom.
Why me? Somebody must REALLY hate me. What did I do to deserve this? thought Duo.
“I’m Relena Peacecraft, but most of you probably already knew that,” said the wheat-blond haired girl with an air of superiority.
“And I am Dorothy Catalonia,” replied the blond girl with the forked eyebrows.
“Very good. Now if you and miss Relena would take one of the empty seats we will begin class,” the teacher said as he gestured towards a couple of empty desks in front.
Relena ignored the teacher and made a straight line to an empty desk next to Heero. Dorothy shrugged her shoulders and followed her, sitting in the chair behind Relena. The teacher blinked, but was not about to tell the Queen of the World where she could or could not sit.
As the teacher began to drone on about some math equation, Relena turned to Heero, smiled sweetly, and opened her mouth to speak. Heero’s back stiffened. He quickly bent over his notebook and briskly started to take notes. Relena frowned then smiled to herself.
A proper education is just what Heero needs. It will show him that there is more than fighting. Besides, any husband of mine should be properly educated; thought Relena with a far off look in her eyes.
Duo shook his head.
Yep, somebody definitely has it in for me. This is going to be such a LONG year... How did she find us anyways? We covered our tracks just in case this cease fire was an OZ trick; thought Duo.
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The gundam pilots, minus Heero, where gathered at their table in the cafeteria, trying to eat lunch. Duo had not stopped complaining since he got there. In fact, he hadn’t stopped complaining since Relena had shown up at the school over a week ago. Quatre sighed and shook his head, Trowa tried to block out the whining, and Wufei was seriously thinking of finding a new place to eat.
“... and she ogles over Heero the entire class period. I just know it’s Relena’s fault that Heero doesn’t eat lunch with us anymore... and... ” continued Duo.
“I heard that Relena signed up for student council president,” interrupted Quatre, hoping that Duo would stop his grumbling.
“Yes, Relena is the only one signed up, no one wants to run against her,” stated Wufei.
“Well, that’s not fair... not at all,” mumbled Duo. Suddenly, a maniacal grin spreads across Duo’s face and a flash of mischief entered his eyes.
Uh oh... This is NOT good; thought Quatre as a chill ran down his back. He’s planning something.
“Just because Relena is Queen of the World, doesn’t mean she should get everything that catches her eye on a silver platter. I’m gonna run for student council president, too!” exclaimed Duo. And she won’t get Heero without a fight either! he thought.
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“Will you look at these polls! Duo and I are almost tied for the student council seat. Why would so many people vote for him, when they can vote for me instead?” whined Relena.
“Perhaps... it’s because Duo Maxwell is very likable and has spent a lot of time meeting the student body. He also tries to relate to them and he projects an air of friendliness,” answered Dorothy while straightening her school uniform.
Relena stamped her foot and wailed, “But... It’s obvious that I would make the better president! I’m a princess and... worthy of the position.”
“Well, maybe if you went out and met the student body... ”
“But then I couldn’t look for Heero when class is done.”
“Just think how proud Heero Yuy will be when you win the election,” Dorothy lied. It’s not like you’ve had any luck in finding him and maybe the council position will keep you occupied, so you won’t waste your time pining for that gundam pilot; thought Dorothy.
Relena’s face brightened at that. “You’re absolutely right! Let’s go meet my public.”
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A week later all the students were gathered in the gym for the student council election. Relena and Duo both stood on stage and smiled as the students cast their vote. There was a electronic meter that kept track of each vote as it was cast. At first Duo was ahead and then it evened out, now Relena was ahead. She looked over to Duo and smiled triumphantly. There were only a handful of students left to vote. They all voted for Duo, which tied the two candidates. Relena and Duo looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
“Has everyone voted?” asked the election coordinator.
The student body glanced at one another, when suddenly, someone pushed through the crowd and headed to the voting booth. All eyes were on the individual.
“Heero! You’re going to vote for me aren’t you?” pleaded Relena.
“Oi, he’s gonna vote for me... right Heero? I mean you’re my roommate and all,” queried Duo.
Heero glanced at the two on stage, then bent to cast his vote. Everyone in the gym held their breath as they waited to see who the meter would pronounce as the new student council president. Heero stepped back as his vote registered.
“I knew you would vote for me! I just knew it... ” cheered Relena as she was swallowed in a crowd of people who wanted to congratulate her.
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Duo slammed the door to his and Heero’s room as he entered. He faced Heero with a murderous glare. Heero just ignored him and went back to his homework. Duo stormed to the bathroom and slammed that door as well.
I guess he really does hold me in contempt. Maybe he just likes Relena and is only pretending to dislike her. Geeze, we were actually getting along fairly well... I mean he hasn’t been ignoring me as much as usual and he hasn’t threatened to kill me in several weeks. Hn... He even helped me with my homework the other night. He is SO hard to understand, I thought that I was truly making progress and then he does this! thought Duo, as he let the hot water from the shower relax his tensed muscles.
Duo walked out of the bathroom with only a towel around his waist. He retrieved his hair brush from the dresser and sat on his bed to begin the complex chore of brushing out his long chestnut hair. Duo didn’t say one thing to Heero, he didn’t even glance at him once the entire time.
He must really be mad at me, to keep quiet. Well, the quiet will be a nice change... But his non-stop talking hasn’t been bothering me too much recently, well, not as much as usual anyways. Maybe I should explain my reasons for the way I voted. No, it would only encourage him... thought Heero as he typed away on his laptop.
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Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei sat under a tree in the school courtyard, waiting for Duo and Heero to show up. Everyone had agreed to meet earlier that morning. After about ten minutes, Duo came running towards them.
Coming to a stop, Duo panted, “Sorry, didn’t mean to be late. I got held up in gym.”
“Was Heero held up to?” questioned Quatre.
Scowling, Duo threw himself down and leaned against the tree and snarled, “No... He’s not coming. He’s with miss Queen of the World!”
Wufei shook his head, “You mean she actually caught up with him?”
“Relena has a free period during our gym class and she always sits in the bleachers to cheer for Heero. Usually, Heero slips out of the locker room to avoid her... but today... he walked out the front door and went right up to her. I last saw him and Relena walking out of the gym, all cozy like,” replied Duo, the last part coming out as a low growl.
Trowa blinked his one visible eye and looked to Quatre. Quatre shook his head in bewilderment. Wufei shrugged his shoulders and folded his arms across his chest.
Well, I guess it’s up to me to figure out what’s wrong; thought Quatre. Puffing out a breath of air, Quatre glanced at Duo’s sullen face and asked, “Duo, what has been going on? You were estatic to hear that we were to stay together and pose as regular students during the cease fire. And you seemed to be genuinely delighted the first few weeks... even after Relena showed up you still seemed happy, although you complained a lot. But after the election, you have done nothing but avoid or ignore Heero. You’re also very moody, which is NOT like you!”
“Uhm... well, it’s... er, nothing, really!” stuttered Duo.
“Duo?” asked Quatre.
“I don’t want to talk about it, OK?” replied Duo as he stood and slowly walked away.
“Duo, if you ever need to talk... and try to have fun at the dance tonight... ” Quatre yelled after Duo.
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The dance was well under way by the time the pilots-turned-students entered the over-decorated gym. Duo immediately rushed over to the food. Quatre motioned for Trowa to follow him to an empty table. Wufei walked over to the punch and began to fill up some cups. Heero joined him and helped to carry them to the others. Balancing two plates of various junk food, Duo wove his way through the crowd and approached Quatre and Trowa.
“Hey, would ya just look at all the food that they have!” exclaimed Duo as he took a free chair.
Giggling, Quatre asked, “I don’t suppose one of those plates are for the rest of us?”
“Well... er... ” Duo stammered.
“Here,” stated Wufei, putting glasses of punch in front of Quatre and Trowa while Heero pushed one in front of Duo.
“At least Wufei and Heero know how to share,” declared Trowa as he swiped a handful of cookies from one of Duo’s plates and handed them to Quatre.
“Hey! Fine, fine... here,” muttered Duo, “I’ll just get more later.”
“Hee~eerooo!” screeched Relena, “You promised me a dance, remember?”
Scowling, Heero rose from his chair and allowed Relena to lead him onto the dance floor. Trowa’s one visible eyebrow raised, while he glanced at Quatre, who shrugged his shoulders in confusion. Food completely forgotten, Duo watched Heero and Relena dance through narrowed eyes.
“Can’t believe he’s dancing with her,” mumbled Wufei.
Duo began to growl low in his throat when a slow song started to play and Relena pulled Heero close to lean her head on his shoulder.
“Uhm, Duo? You’re... ” trailed off Quatre.
Duo swiftly rose from his chair and sent it scattering across the floor. He turned on his heels and practically ran from the gym.
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Several hours later, Heero opened the door to his and Duo’s room and hesitantly entered.
I know why Duo’s been acting differently and I know why he left the dance so abruptly this evening. He may think that I’m oblivious to him, but... I’m not. thought Heero as he quietly advanced towards Duo’s slumbering form.
Reaching out to shake Duo awake, Heero sat on the edge of the bed and leaned forward, “Duo? Wake up, we need to... talk.”
“Hn. He~ero?”
Duo bolted upright and roughly pushed Heero off the bed. “Just leave me alone! I don’t want to talk... or have... anything to do with you!”
“You’re wrong about Relena and I.”
“What do you mean? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Getting up from the floor, Heero once again sat on the edge of Duo’s bed and took a deep, calming breath before replying, “I made a deal with Relena earlier this afternoon; That if I danced with her, she would stop chasing me around for the rest of the school year. She agreed, so... ”
“Nani?” Duo exclaimed.
Heero shifted, bringing him within inches of Duo. Reaching out to place his hand on Duo’s shoulder, he said, “She’s promised to leave me alone. I won’t have to... avoid... her anymore.”
Chuckling, Duo retorted, “You mean hide, don’t you?”
Heero frowned and removed his hand from Duo’s shoulder and moved to get up. Not about to waste the only glimmer of a chance with Heero, Duo quickly grasped Heero’s arm and pulled him close.
“Heero... If you didn’t like Relena, then why did you vote for her?”
“Because, I thought that it would keep her occupied, so that I could concentrate on... Besides, she’s better at that sort of thing than you are.”
“So, you really don’t like Relena?”
“I could never feel for her, the way you feel for me.”
Duo’s eyes widened and his mouth gaped open in shock. “You... you... know about... my... feelings?”
“I’m NOT blind or stupid. And you’re a bit obvious if one knows what to look for.”
He’s been watching me? Does this mean... he cares? Well, only one way to find out! Duo thought, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.
Suddenly, Duo yanked on Heero’s arm, off balancing the Wing pilot. Leaning forward, Duo gently pressed his lips to Heero’s. Heero jerked away and brought his fingers up to his lips.
“Sorry Heero, I thought that maybe you... ”
Heero moved the fingers from his lips to Duo’s lips, quieting him. Both boys sat there on the bed staring into each others eyes.
Heero bent forward and whispered into Duo’s ear, “I do, you know.”
Throwing his arms around Heero’s neck and burying his head against the strong chest, Duo smiled.
He does care... he’s just not ready for such a big step. Well, I can be patient because HE is definitely worth the wait. Of course... hope I don’t have to wait TOO long! Duo tightened his hold on his partner.
Heero’s arms came up to encircle his partner’s waist.
Partner, roommate, and now, something more. What exactly, I’m not sure. But I’m willing to find out. Maybe this cease fire wasn’t SO bad after all. Heero thought as a slight smile appeared on his lips.
~Fin~
