Broken English

Duo was so nervous. He clutched the phone and listened to the two messages from Heero over and over again. He had to plug it in to recharge it from replaying them. It needed to be fully charged when he called Heero. He had butterflies in his stomach waiting in anticipation of when he would be able to talk to him. What if he asked about why he left? What would he say? Suddenly Duo was filled with dread. What if he told him the truth and he didn’t believe him. No one else did. No one else understood. No one else cared. But then again, this is Heero. ‘Ro always understood when nobody tried to. He cared and found solutions. He loved Duo, completely. How did he say it? Unconditionally. It was that understanding, that compassion and will to reach out and help a complete stranger that brought them together. If it wasn’t for Treize ripping his heart out and making him the laughing stock of the college, Duo and Heero might have never met.

~*~*~*~

Treize had bowled Duo over from that initial moment. The slightly older man showered him with gifts and complements. He introduced him to crowds of other engaging intellectuals who could hold a debate that was captivating, even on the proper means to cook a potato. He met wild party kids on what ever hip new designer drug was available. His country life went from tea and scones to stagger out into the morning sun like a vampire after the Rave died down. And the sex was mind blowing. Treize could give the gentlest kiss, lips barely there, yet the intensity of the subtle caused Duo’s heart to thunder and nerves to sizzle. He could become intoxified with only a murmur of his mouth. Then came the ‘gentleman’ or then came the ‘master’. There were nights when it was absolute love. The caresses and languid strokes made his body resonate like a Stradivarius. There were nights when the bondage, toys and man-handling defined the word fuck. The naïve boy learned just how pleasurable pain could be. It was a release from all he had been through in life.
Treize appeared to be a god send initially. It was the memories of the days spent at the seaside, making dinner; laughing and loving, divulging secrets and making new ones together that would eventually cause Duo to forgive Treize after a fight. The memories combined with Treize innate ability to sweet talk his way out of nearly anything, holding no responsibility of his own and turning every miss deed into Duo’s fault, keep the romance ongoing. After Treize broke Duo’s arm Trowa sat him down to plead for him to leave the man. The reply he got was “If I didn’t annoy him so much he never would have shoved me down the stairs. I just badger him too much. I need to learn to behave better.”
Trowa and Quatre kept an eye on the disintegrating pair, time and again trying to perform a mild intervention. It wasn’t that he whole heartily believed he was in the wrong all the time. He just wanted someone to love him and have some one to be a ‘couple’ with. It took one too many lies to finally make Duo snap. Gut instinct told him that the little blond lab partner he was spending time going over experiment data was far from just a casual acquaintance. After a screaming match, fists thrown, bloody lips and broken picture frames as well as Treize turning it all around, accusing Duo of being the one cheating on him, the braided young man stormed out, finding refuge at Tro and Kat’s.
Treize refused to lose. After a week of putting up a valiant effort to win back his beautiful arm candy he coerced Duo into spending the day with him at the shore. They took photos and walked hand in hand on the sand. They sat quietly watching the surf roll in and gulls hover on the breeze. After they found a vender and got sodas Treize took the initiative to apologize and soon was sobbing about how wrong he had been to treat the only man who ever loved him in such a horrible way. Duo thought it felt like maybe they could work it out. Not committing to anything they parted ways after watching the sunset and making love as the first stars broke through the deepening sky.
Trowa and Quatre were packing up to leave for their holiday in Germany. As they checked off their lists of what to bring Duo explained what had transpired and that he was thinking of giving the man another chance. He did love him and wasn’t that what love was supposed to do? Allow for mistakes and misunderstandings?
Both reserved commenting at that time and offered their support in what ever he decided. While they were away for the next two weeks Treize was not allowed in their place and Duo was expected to feed their cat and take care of collecting the post. Besides that, they would discuss their opinions //after// they got back. Agreeing to the requests Duo bound off to see Treize and let him know that they could give it another shot.
It was nearing midnight so Duo hoped to catch Treize just settling down to sleep and treat him to some ‘official’ make up sex, hopefully staying long enough to share a morning cup of coffee before taking the inseparable pair to the airport. He unlocked the door and quietly entered. He rounded the corner to head down the hall and there it was. The truth in all its naked glory.
Automatically he threw up. Then staggered in shock out the door. The vision, so vile his skin crawled, burned an image that wouldn’t go away eyes open or shut. When he got back to Trowa and Kat’s he was pale and faint. Quatre heard him stumble in and upon seeing him he sat him down, ordering Tro to grab water and demanding Duo provide an explanation as to his condition.
“ A GIRL… HE WAS FUCKING A GIRL!” Grasping the glass from Trowa’s hand he chugged it down and continued, “Right in the hall! He even had the fucking audacity to look up and see me … and then kept pounding away at her… like I wasn’t there… like- like today never happened… as if he hadn’t five fucking hours ago been on the beach MAKING LOVE TO ME.”
Quatre patted the mussed locks of hair in an ‘I-told-you-so’ yet not condescending way. Looking up at his tall lover he quipped, “We will be needing to take a taxi in the morning.”

~*~*~*~*~

Sometimes reflecting on your life doesn’t have the same effect that psychologists tout. You are supposed to learn and become stronger. When your life is nothing but getting kicked in the teeth emotionally and at times physically you just decide to give up. Planning on how to do your self in isn’t that easy though. Especially when you are against making a mess and hopefully, if you don’t succeed, you don’t injure yourself permanently and look disfigured. Duo could not escape his vanity.
After seeing the pair off Duo sat in their flat and contemplated the many ways to end his sorrows. He figured he would have to wait until they got back from Germany so the cats were taken care of, and he certainly didn’t want to be left a rotting corpse for days on end and stink. Yes, the night after they got back would be the best time. He decided to take his laptop out to Starbucks and plot his demise while sipping a vanilla soy chai latte.
The free Wi-Fi had the internet café busy with the sounds of clicking keys and aerating steamed milk. Duo was set up at a table as all the lounge chairs were taken. He opened up his files to start listing proposed ways of taking care of his life and typing up a reason why as well as how he wanted his belongings divided. As he was perusing his files he came across a story he had been in the process of writing for a few years. Damn, he wouldn’t get to finish it. Oh well, he was tired of it anyway. It was just too… unrealistic. No one had such a happy romance. Even as great as Kat and Tro were together they had their moments. One thing led to another and he started to surf the web checking out his Johnny Depp and Jrock sites.
“Mmm mmm mmm, Depp rocks,” the dusky voice muttered from behind him. Quickly Duo twisted around to find out who was invading his privacy. Stunned eyes looked into his own, rimmed with lashes so thick it nearly looked as if the Asian man had eye liner on. “Oh… god…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to look over your shoulder. I just saw Depp and, well, I’m…uh…a big fan.” Duo just stared blankly at the man positioned sitting at the tall table behind him. And stared. And stared.
Readjusting his weight on the café stool and nervously pulling his finger through his unruly tossed hair the lapis orbed man broke eye contact and stared back at his own screen muttering “ Geez, I said sorry”. He noticed the long braid dangling over the back of the other’s chair and took a glance back. Dang that kid was pretty. He wanted to have those purple peepers look back at him again. “Hey , not to interrupt you again…” Duo turned to face his nosey neighbor, “But what site was that? And could I buy you another latte to make up for letting my eyes wander?”
“johnnydeppfan.com… and you don’t have to. It’s fine. I tend to do that myself sometimes.” Duo turned back to face his own screen and closed his eyes. ‘what is so captivating about that guy? I feel like I know him.’
“Thanks, man. And if you change your mind on the coffee let me know.”

The night went on with neither speaking to each other, but their minds were not on the information super highway. Duo stretched and shut down his notebook. He reached down to grab his messenger bag and saw a post it note = = Sorry again. Thanks again. Still owe you the latte. See you later ~ Heero = = Maybe he would have to make this cyber café thing a nightly basis until, well, until he wasn’t around any more.

~*~*~*~

They never said much but they shared a table. Every other ‘round’ was Heero’s to buy. They would finish the night with fruit flavored water and a clove cigarette. In just a few days they had come to know each other with few words spoken. Duo had decided to finish writing the story he had originally tossed aside. He needed to do something besides stare at the Japanese man, so why not see how far he could get with his writing?
After Heero had convinced him to allow him to read what he had produced, it became apparent to him that Duo was either a poor speller or very dyslexic. Considering he knew that the young man was a literary student it must be the latter. A professional writer knows how to spell. He offered to assist in spell checking and grammatical errors if Duo wanted him to. “That would be great, could you? Like, do you really have time for it?”
“It’d be fun. I get to be entertained and help out.” Heero warmed at the thought that he would have someone need him and Duo felt validated since he had someone who appreciated his stories. This created another bond for the young men, only this one included verbal communication. It was more then just reviewing some fan’s interpretation of characters life sequences, it was forming a trust. How far could Duo push the angst before Heero thought it was too tragic? How explicit could he make the romance, an ‘unconventional romance’ at that? Would Heero find it repulsive? Would he find it intriguing or possibly… inspirational? He tested Heero’s reactions and gauged how far he could let him into his own personal life since there was much of his past entwined throughout the lines he wrote. Night after night Heero read, advised and passed another test in Duo’s mind. By the time Trowa and Quatre got back from Germany the braided beautiful boy and the thirty year old Asian were inseparable. Duo found a new life in his new friend and decided he might just give living a chance.

~*~*~*~*~

The next five months tested the pair. Treize found out about Heero and through MySpace would send him messages about Duo’s childhood abuse and try to convince Heero that the sexual relations between Duo and his step-father were not unwanted, in fact they were consensual. Treize could not make Heero’s emotions falter and soon became enraged to where he threatened Duo’s life. Treize went so far as to follow Duo into the toilets at college and after attempting to sweet talk him and coerce his bright eyed ex into performing some oral pleasures on him, he thrashed Duo a few times for his resistance. All the while repeating that he hated how Duo made him do this and he didn’t want to hit him, but Duo needed to learn the proper way to conduct himself.
The day after that incident Heero hunted down Treize and gave him back every blow ever dealt to Duo. The knight in shining armor had truly won the battle of breaking down Duo’s insecurities. For once in his life Duo had found not just true love, but the truth about love.
“I will protect you. Always. No matter what. I love you.” The purity in Heero’s soul radiated out and wrapped Duo in a cocoon of ethereal mesmerization. Heero was everything wrapped into one. His friend, his lover, his father, this all and more. He never felt deserving and often wondered why Heero stuck by him but he wouldn’t change a thing and he couldn’t walk away. Heero was in his veins and essential to his existence.


They enjoyed what they believed to be the first of many events. They created what they wanted as traditions; Halloween, Christmas, Duo’s birthday, New Years, Valentines Day, Heero’s birthday, Spring holiday. It was as if they both had been reborn to make memories that would form the foundation of a lifetime together. They were in delight. So something had to happen. After all, if it wasn’t for bad luck, Duo would have none at all.


~*~*~*~*~

Heero took a half day off of work to meet up with Duo at the café they’d met in eleven months before. He knew there would be some interesting stories about his trip to see his mum. Since she was so venomously disapproving of Duo’s “lifestyle” and never had a decent word to say about any of Duo’s friends, the pair had decided to refrain from speaking while he was in Scotland, as she had moved there after her latest divorce.
“Hey, Doll!” Heero waved Duo to the table he’d acquired. “I missed you.” As he slid the chai tea to the vacationer he reached out to grasp the thin fingers reaching for it and gave them a loving squeeze. “You look stressed.”
“Um… well…yea…see…” Duo dropped his gaze and collected his thoughts. Heero’s heart sank. How bad could this be? They had been through so much, what now was on the young man’s plate of fate?
“My mum told me something… seems that she does know who my biological father is and has been in contact with him every so often for my whole life. Now, well, now he wants to meet me and she said I have to go, that it was only fair.”
“FAIR!” Heero growled filled with animosity, “What is so fucking fair about her lying to you for twenty-one years? What is fair about her casting you off anytime you stand up for your preferences? What is fair about her dragging you through her insane life of man after man and reprimanding you on your relationships? She’s probably fucking married again to some idiot loser!”
“Engaged.”
“What the…” Heero expelled the breath in exasperation. They both sipped their beverages and sat in pondering silence oblivious to the shops sounds that rebounded off their turmoiled bubble.
Heero broke the tension. “So when is this meet and greet planned and where the hell is bio-dad?”
“Two weeks after I am out of college we are all going to Spain to meet him.”
“WE… ALL? I know you don’t mean me so you gotta mean new hubby, too?”
Duo chuckled and winked at Heero. Somehow the tone of voice he used assured Duo that the two of them were still ok and in some sick way Heero couldn’t wait to have more of the boys drama unfold. “Yes, him and his three daughters and me and my mum are all going to Spain. It is just going to be me and my mum meeting up with this, um, well, ya know, my father.”
“Father?” The golden skinned man nearly snorted out his latte. After dabbing his face he let out a hearty laugh. “I’m more of a mother AND father to you then they been recently… him in forever.” Recomposing himself in a more serious tone he added, “Don’t call him father or dad or any of that. He hasn’t given you the attention to deserve the respect or acknowledgement those terms imply. Personally I don’t think you should go but I know you love your mother and will do anything not to make waves with her. If you are going, at least make sure you get some info on his medical background so you know what to expect down the road. OK?”
“I will, that’s a great idea. Though with everything the rest of my family has wrong with them I cannot see how there would be anything to add to it.” Duo’s grin melted Heero. How after being handed so much in his young life could he have such a pure smile? That would be because of the man he was looking at. Duo might not have had the strength to have come so far, but with Heero there…he could take on the world, or at least the whole U.K. and Europe.
They strolled back to Duo’s flat hand in hand, not caring what the onlookers thought. They were all each other needed and on some levels they were all each other had. It didn’t matter what was ahead since everything that was behind them made the two of them unbreakable. They believed.
“Oh and while you were away Quatre and Trowa said a very official looking letter came from Nottles.”
“God they didn’t take any time to tell me off.”
“Ya never know, they could be accepting you. You have made a vast improvement in your grades and studies this year. Be positive!”
“I am. I am positive that I will be attending uni in Durshire with all the other rejects.”
They were a block before Duo’s house. Heero stopped and spun him to look deeply into the violet confusion. “You aren’t a reject. No matter what happens. I accept you. See? You can’t be a reject if someone wants you. I want you, I need you and I love you. That is unconditional. Got it?”
The tentative nod got Duo a kiss placed on his forehead. “C’mon bright eyes, I wanna see what’s in that letter.”

~*~*~*~
A.N. - - - Story of My life title taken from Bon Jovi