Te Amo
by Akuma
Part 11
Knock... Knock
Duo looked at the door and saw his son enter. "I saw the nurse resting
in the first floor so I thought you must be working in here again,
Dad."
"Yeah, I don't want to leave Heero alone." Duo set down his papers on
the desk and looked at the Japanese boy lying on the bed near his
chair. It had been a week since they found Heero. The ambulance had
come and taken Heero to the hospital. After Dr. Philip did a thorough
check up and administered medications, Heero was stated as out of danger
however he was still in a coma and not regained consciousness. The only
thing they could do was to wait till Heero woke up by himself. After
three days in hospital, Duo took Heero home and put him in the guest
bedroom, along with a nurse to take care of him. Having known Heero's
fast healing capability, Duo was sure Heero would wake up and he
wanted to be the first person Heero saw when the boy opened his eyes.
His son approached the bed and looked down at the Japanese boy. "He is
very like me, Dad."
"Yeah, only he is thinner and more slender than you. Also, your hair
is not as messy as his." Duo looked at his son's face. "It's an
amazing thing that you and Heero can be so similar even though you
don't have any blood relationship."
"Well, it's a good thing that mother is in the colonies right now or
she'd have a fit hearing you saying that." Solo looked at his father
seriously. "I always wonder why she gets so angry when someone compares
me to Heero Yuy."
Duo rubbed his chin, trying to hide his real feelings for Solo's
mother from his son. Yes, it was lucky that Hilde was making yearly
trips to their branches. He didn't want to hear Hilde's rant for
bringing Heero home. They were husband and wife on paper only,
just for Solo's sake. All the love he once felt for the woman had gone
as he realized Hilde's true traits and behaviors. The woman was very
selfish, always wanting her needs to be fulfilled first. She was good
in handling the company's social meetings, though.
"Dad?"
Duo blinked and focused back on the present. "Sorry, I also wonder
about that, you know."
Solo sat down in the spare chair and looked hesitated.
"What's bothering you?" Duo asked straight away.
"Uhm... I have been thinking for this for a long time, Dad. And seeing
Heero Yuy over there....." Solo gestured at the Japanese boy. "My face
is so similar to his.... I think .... Is he..... " The boy bit his
lower lip.
"Is he your father instead of me?" Duo finished his son's unspoken
question. Solo looked at him in surprise. "Don't be so surprised,
Solo. Everyone will wonder whether you're his son instead of mine. I
also wondered about that, years ago, and though, I'm sure Hilde
wouldn't cheat on me and not to mention your eyes are violet like
mine, I decided to compare your DNA with mine to be certain."
"And the result.....?" Solo asked in curiosity and also anticipation.
Duo leant against his seat and smiled slightly. "You are 100% my son."
Solo sighed in relief and seeing it, Duo chuckled slightly. "Feeling
like a stone just lifted from you now?"
"Yeah." Solo smiled slightly. "I think you also felt like that after
receiving the DNA result, didn't you, Dad?"
Duo grinned and nodded. "Now that you know you're truly my son, what
else do you want from me?"
Solo grinned as well. "Well, your son wants his laptop, Dad."
"Oh right. I almost forgot about that." Duo looked down at Heero. "I
want to buy one for Heero too. He'll love it." Duo looked at his
scheduler, trying to find free time, and missed the curious look from
his son. "I'm free this Saturday. I'll ask the laptop salesman to come
here after your fencing course, how's that sound?" Duo turned and saw
his son grinning at him.
"Great. I can't wait for it." Solo stood up. "I better finish my
homework now. Thanks Dad."
Duo nodded and smiled as he watched his son bounce out of the room. He
shook his head slightly as he remembered how he used to act like that
years ago. Turning his attention back to the comatose boy, Duo studied
Heero's condition. The wounds on his arm and thighs had closed and the
one on his stomach was healing nicely, though to his disappointment
the scars were permanent on all the wounds. However apart from that,
Heero's skin had regained some color and now that his hair wasn't
matted with blood, it shone like silk. Duo couldn't help but stand up
and reach for the chocolate locks, combing them with his fingers. They
felt smooth and silky, making Duo long to nuzzle into them and inhale
the lavender scent that was Heero's. He had noticed that Heero's hair
now reached slightly below the neck and somehow it made the Japanese
boy look even more exquisite.
"How long do you want to sleep like this, Heero?" Duo murmured as he
sat down on the bed next to Heero. "Come on, wake up." His hand moved
down to caress the Japanese boy's face. "Wake up and let me make things up to
you." Duo caressed the soft cheek slowly before resting his fore
finger on the delicate lips. He ran the finger slowly over the reddish
flesh, feeling his body attacked with the familiar sensation he hadn't
felt for fifteen years.
Lust.
Lust for Heero.
Suddenly the soft flesh beneath his finger trembled slightly. Duo was
startled and ran his eyes up from the lips to the half opened Prussian
blue eyes. "Heero!!" Duo shouted in joy. Cupping Heero's cheek with
his hand, Duo called the Japanese boy again and watched in
anticipation as the eyes blinked several times before opening fully.
For a few seconds, the eyes didn't focus but then they shifted and
looked straight at him. Confusion and insecurity were reflected in his
blue eyes as his lips opened slightly.
"Who..?" His voice was weak and Heero seemed unable to continue.
Duo quickly reached for the glass filled with water and a straw that
the nurse had prepared on the nightstand next to the bed, for this
moment, setting aside the delight he felt when he heard the familiar
voice. He put the straw in front of the Japanese boy and pushed it
into Heero's slightly parted lips. "Drink the water first, you must be
very thirsty."
Heero sipped the water while his eyes kept staring at Duo curiously.
"I'm not an enemy, Heero." Duo smiled as Heero's eyes blinked at him
while the said boy was still sipping the water. It was a cute scene.
If Heero wasn't weak and injured, Duo would have kissed the Japanese
boy thoroughly. How he missed the Japanese boy. He missed Heero so
much it hurt. Noticing that Heero had stopped sipping, Duo put the
glass back onto the night stand.
"...Duo..?"
Duo quickly turned his head back to Heero and smiled down at the
Japanese boy. How he missed that nasal voice. Only Heero said his name
in that tone. "So you finally recognize me."
"You look older...." Heero frowned. "And your hair... is shorter....."
Duo reached for his hair that was bound loosely just slightly below
his shoulders. "It's easier to manage for me now." He stopped for a
moment, contemplating whether he should tell Heero about his frozen
condition now or later. Knowing how smart Heero was, Duo opted to tell
him now before Heero figured it by himself. He took a breath and
cupped Heero's cheek with his hand. The Japanese boy didn't say
anything but Duo smiled as he felt Heero leant into his hand. He spoke
slowly, not wanting to surprise the Japanese boy more than necessary.
"I'm older, Heero. I'm thirty one years old now." Duo saw Heero look
at him in confusion and continued his explanation. "No, you didn't
lose any memories. You're still as old as you last remember. J had
frozen you for fifteen years and it would have been longer if I didn't find you
in the laboratory's secret room and terminate the freezing process."
Heero was quiet for a while. ".... I was frozen?... why?"
"You were dying, Heero. You were frozen with bullet wounds on your arm
and thighs and a wide gape in your stomach. Do you remember who did
that to you?"
"Bullet... wounds..." Heero seemed to delve into his memories. "wide,
gaping.... Stomach...." Suddenly the boy's eyes widened and Duo could
see the comprehension dawn in his Prussian blue eyes. In a split
second Duo saw the horror and fear reflected in Heero's eyes before
Heero moved his uninjured hand and caressed his own stomach as if
checking something. "No..." Heero croaked weakly and started
trembling. "Nonononono....."
Duo looked at Heero worried. Those Prussian blue eyes seemed lost in
his past memories. "Heero, Heero, what happened?" He grabbed Heero's
hand, moving it away from Heero's stomach and held it tightly. "Calm
down."
"Aaaa....." Heero looked devastated and his body shook more violently.
"Give back.... " He lifted his injured hand but Duo quickly held it
back on the bed, not wanting Heero to injure himself more. However it
only seemed to add to Heero's distress as the Japanese boy jerked up
and cried weakly. "No....Give him back to me......"
"Heero, snap out of it." Duo said worriedly as he tried to restrain
Heero, afraid that the violent movements would re-open the Japanese
boy's wounds. However it seemed that Heero couldn't hear him or
ignored him completely. The Japanese boy thrashed wildly and sobbed.
However since Heero was still weak, it was only a matter of seconds
before Heero lost what was left of his strength and lay lifelessly on
the bed.
"Give him back...." Heero pleaded weakly. "please.... He's the only
one I have...." A tear rolled down from his Prussian blue eyes onto
his cheek.
"Heero..." Duo looked at the Japanese boy worriedly while his hands
were pinning the Japanese boy's arms on each side of his head. He
never saw the Japanese boy so vulnerable and fragile like this. He
also had never seen Heero cry. What had happened back then? What had
made a soldier like Heero cry so brokenly like this? Who had injured
his Heero badly? His mind was confused, trying to digest what Heero
had said. Who was "he" Heero just said? Was it him? But he was here
and Heero didn't reach for him. Could it be because Heero wanted him
to be as young as he last saw him? He would turn back the time if he
could, but sadly he couldn't. But he could make it up, couldn't he? If
he was the one Heero wanted back, he had him, only older and wiser....
and never will take Heero for granted anymore.
"... give him back..... please..." Heero croaked again.
"Shh..." Feeling Heero was too weak to thrash, Duo released Heero's
left arm and caressed the Japanese boy's cheek gently. "I'm here...
You have me now... " Duo never felt more relieved than when the
Prussian blue eyes focused on him.
".. have you..?" Heero's weak voice sounded very hopeful, as if the
answer was the only anchor for him to live.
"Yes, you have me always." Duo murmured and stroked Heero's cheek
gently. "I promise I won't leave you alone anymore. I'll always stay
with you." His words seemed to calm Heero down. The Japanese boy's
breathing slowly became steady and his Prussian blue eyes closed
slowly as exhaustion enveloped him. Right before the eyes closed
completely, Duo could hear Heero's murmured weakly.
"....don't ...ever.... leave .... me.... "
"I won't, Heero." Duo spoke gently while silently vowing to find
whoever responsible for hurting his Heero. He caressed the sleeping
boy's cheek for a few minutes before calling the nurse and Dr. Philip
to check Heero's condition.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"He is in good condition, Duo. Just make sure he rests well." The
white bearded man then exited the room.
"I'll see to it. Thank you, Doc." Duo closed to the door and turned
his attention back to the sleeping boy. He sat back in his seat and
smiled wistfully, not really wanting to continue his job. He was very
happy at the moment. Finally Heero was back with him. After fifteen
years of waiting and searching for him, his Heero was finally back.
Duo couldn't wait to enjoy the days with the Japanese boy once again.
He worked lazily on his papers for two hours before a soft moan
alerted him. He quickly went to the bed and saw Heero open his eyes
slowly. "Ah, you woke up." Duo smiled and sat on the chair near the
bed, one hand caressing the Japanese boy's one. "How are you feeling,
Heero?" Duo watched those Prussian blue eyes look around before
settling on him. He was startled when Heero gasped in surprise as if
just realizing what had happened. Tears slowly slipped from his blue
eyes.
"Heero, Heero, are you okay?" Duo tightened his hand on the Japanese
boy's one.
"Fifteen years...." The Japanese boy murmured gravely as his free hand
caressed his stomach. "..fifteen years have passed......"
Duo was really worried as the tears on Heero's face showed no signs of
stopping in the near future. He used his other hand to wipe the
rolling tears while at the same time murmuring the words he thought
would soother the Japanese boy. "Heero, don't cry. I won't leave you.
Although fifteen years have passed, you still have me. I won't leave
you alone, Heero. We'll live together from now on."
His voice thankfully managed to distract the Japanese boy. Duo watched
in relief as Heero focused on his face. "I won't leave you, Heero.
Never." He murmured and gently caressed Heero's cheek. He felt
relieved when Heero finally stopped crying and was now looking at him
with undivided attention.
"...Duo..."
Again, Duo felt his heart flutter when his name came from those
soft lips. He leaned down and gave a quick kiss on their twined hands.
"Yes, it's me. Are you feeling better?"
Heero looked at him long, as if trying to control his emotions. "Was
it the truth that I was frozen for fifteen years?"
Duo nodded.
Heero closed his eyes. One hand caressed his stomach while Duo felt
the hand he held tighten around his, as if Heero was afraid he would
disappear suddenly. Afraid that Heero would break down again, Duo
decided to act first. With his other hand, Duo caressed Heero's cheek
tenderly. "Fifteen years.... I have missed you so much, Heero." Duo
watched as Heero opened his eyes back up in surprise. He felt the
guilt stab in as he saw the disbelief in those Prussian blue eyes. "I
really missed you. I'm sorry I treated you badly and abandoned you
years ago. But it won't happen again. I've learned my lesson and I'll
make it up to you from now on."
"You didn't... do anything wrong." Heero murmured.
Duo shook his head. "I did. I was wrong in driving you away from me.
Will you ever forgive me, Heero?"
"There's nothing to forgive...."
"Heero.... " Duo lifted their twined hands and kissed Heero's fingers.
"You're too kind for me....."
Knock... Knock
At the sound, Duo quickly withdrew his hand from Heero's cheek just in
time as his son entered the room. "Dad, I.... oh... you're awake." Solo
smiled sheepishly as he approached the bed. "Hi..."
Duo watched as Heero's eyes widened at the sight of his son. "This is
my son, Solo. He looks like your twin, don't you think, Heero? I was
also very surprised at first to see the similarity between you two."
"Aa..." Duo was surprised when he felt Heero trembling. He looked at
Heero in alarm as the Japanese boy extended his hand to Solo who stood
on the other side of the bed. "Solo....."
Duo looked up and saw his son throw a confused look at him. He was
confused as well at Heero's behavior and could only watch Heero's hand
clutching Solo's. He looked back at Heero and was surprised to see a
new tear roll down from Heero's eyes. "Just like I thought...... You
have Duo's eyes...." Heero whispered wistfully, seeming oblivious to
Duo and Solo's surprised look. "..... you aren't a baby anymore...."
Another tear rolled down from the Prussian orbs. "..I never can't...."
As if realizing something, Heero stopped speaking but his eyes kept
staring at Solo until they slid shut slowly in fatigue and left both
father and son confused. Both of them sat on each side of the bed, one
hand twined with one of the Japanese boy's, looking at each other in
bewilderment.
"Dad, why did he..."
Duo shook his head no, cutting his son's question. He didn't know why
Heero acted like that either. Watching the sleeping boy, Duo felt
thousand questions popping up in his mind. Who had hurt Heero? Why did
Heero cry? Why did Heero hold Solo's hand?
He wanted to ask those questions when the Japanese boy came to later.
But Dr. Philip had told Duo not to push Heero into answering what had
happened to him. He might be traumatized over the accident so all
answers would have to wait until the Japanese boy felt up to answering
them. Duo sighed and leaned against his seat, looking across Heero at
his fidgeting son. "Do you have an appointment to keep?" Duo talked
quietly, not wanting to wake up Heero.
Solo nodded and answered as quietly as his father. "I promise to meet
the other M-five at the park."
"Alright. Try detaching your hand without waking him up." Duo watched
as his son gently pried his hand out of Heero's grip. When Solo stood
up, Duo spoke up. "Don't tell them about Heero."
"Huh?" Solo looked at his father in surprise.
"I don't want their parents to find out about Heero yet and spread the
news to the others." Duo stared at his son seriously. "Heero needs a
lot of rest and with them visiting him, I doubt he will rest well. I
prefer for them to visit after Heero was strong enough to stay awake a
whole day."
"Okay, Dad." Solo nodded and looked at the sleeping Japanese boy
before quietly slipping out of the room.
Duo stayed in his seat and watched Heero over for another two hours
before the nurse came in and replaced him. He used the chance to take
a shower and hoped that Heero would wake up later so they could have
dinner together. His mind still found it hard to see the strong willed
boy cry so brokenly. Whatever had happened might be very extreme to be
able to affect Heero that much. He just hoped Heero wouldn't cry
continuously. He wanted his old Heero not a wimpy boy....
He just finished putting on his clothes when the nurse's scream
reached his room. Duo quickly stormed out of his room and ran toward
Heero's room as fast as he could. The scream had stopped, but the
silence following it worried Duo even more. He shouldn't have left
Heero alone with the nurse. Damn it, if something happened to Heero...
Arriving at Heero's room, Duo quickly opened the door and was
surprised when he saw the nurse huddling in the right corner while
Heero was supporting his upper body with his uninjured hand while his
injured hand clenched tightly. "Heero!"
At his shout, the nurse looked at him. The relief was obvious on her
face. "Mister Maxwell, help me. He tried to hit me just now when I was
about to bathe him."
Duo had rushed to Heero's side while the nurse babbled. He gently
slipped his arm around Heero's shoulders to support the boy. "Heero,
are you okay?" Duo worriedly searched Heero's face for a sign of pain
but instead he got two sharp blue orbs looking back at him. Duo felt
his heart flutter when he recognized the look.
The old Heero had been back in charge.
Sharp and dangerous, this was the look he often saw in Heero when the
Japanese boy was alert.
"Heero, calm down. Sarah means no harm. She is a nurse I hired to look
after you." Duo lowered Heero back onto the bed. "You shouldn't move
too much or you'll reopen your wounds."
"I don't need a nurse."
"Yes, you do." Duo motioned for Sarah to approach while speaking to
Heero. "You have nothing to worry about. She bathed you before, while you
were still."
"I'm not unconscious now. I can bathe myself."
"But you're injured." Sarah spoke up, finding her courage back. "You
can't bathe yourself yet."
Duo felt Heero tensing as the nurse approached the bed and realized
that Heero didn't like being touched by somebody else, save him of
course. Looking back at the past, Duo realized that he was the only
one who could touch Heero while the Japanese boy was awake and aware
without risking his life. Relena hugged Heero, Trowa tended him and so
did Quatre, but all was done when Heero was unconscious.
"Sarah, it's okay." Duo stopped Sarah's advance and looked down at the
rigid boy. Fifteen years had passed, filled with realization after
realization of so many little things Heero had done for him. Now that
Heero was with him, Duo found out there were so many other little
things Heero did for him. This time, Duo swore to appreciate all the
little things Heero had done for him. He looked up at the confused
nurse. "You can go down and help the cook prepare the dinner. I'll
take care of him."
Sara hesitated. "But, the bath..."
"I'll take care of it." Duo cut in and looked at her sharply. "Go now.
You're dismissed."
Sarah hurriedly left the room. Duo waited till the door closed firmly
and turned his attention back to the Japanese boy. "Now we'll see to
your bath."
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