Author’s Note: Haven’t worked on this story in a while thought I’d do a little more with it, not sure how much further I want to go with this or where I was going with it. We will see though I’m sort of working on a longer horror one, just cause it will be a change so be on the look out for that one! Anyway please enjoy I will try to get some of these done I promise.

Just A Love Song

Game 5 – Dinner and Stories

After dinner, coffee in hand Quatre ushered them back into the living room. The vid projector was already set up…Trowa mentally groaned once more hoping Quatre wasn’t going to do what he thought he was going to do. Grimly Quatre sat down, “I was thinking of showing you guys some home video’s so were all on the same page so to speak…”

Trowa’s worst fear was coming true…perching himself near his lover he braced himself for what was about to happen. It was a home video, first was static then suddenly it cleared and the tear stained face of Quatre appeared, "It's about 4 in the morning now...we received a call almost three hours ago and have been in the hospital since." There was a sob from the Quatre on the tape then, "Duo was in a terrible motorcycle crash, he just came out of surgery. The doctors at this point are not sure he will make it through the night." There were gasps around the room as all eyes turned to Quatre and Trowa, "Unable to locate Heero and Wufei to let them know..." The camera panned out now to a hospital bed were a younger Duo lay...a very banged up, ruined Duo machinery beeped all around him wires and pullies suspended his limbs it was a horrific sight.

Heero watched it all the tightness in his chest growing by the second... he had left Duo that night fine, what had happened to him? As they watched the videos got brighter as Duo began to recover they followed him through his physiso, watched the budding friendship between him and Trowa. The doctors telling him he'd never walk again and Duo time and again proving them wrong. They watched as Duo with braces win a soccer game smiling happily into the camera fully healed.

The video recorder clicked off and the room was dead silent, Wufei feeling low but Heero feeling even lower. The man he loved more then life itself had been through all that and what had he been doing? Working on his career trying to become famous...trying to impress Duo. "I never..." Wufei was holding tight to Zechs hand almost in tears, Quatre shrugged "Duo doesn’t blame anyone or anything for his accident or what happened after. I just wanted you all to know the truth of the matter."

Silence once more and then there was a slamming door and a raised voice moving across the hall. "Quatre! Trowa! Damn! Quatre I don't care what you say I'm flipping hungry and I'm not working another minute until I eat!" there was the sound of heavy footfalls by-passing the living room to the dinning room. "You have a dinner party Quatre?" they all heard him rummage around the dining room, "Dunno what the hell you did to that car Quatre looks like someone took a baseball bat to the engine block. Need to keep your man on a tighter leash Trowa..." he muttered as he finally entered the living room a heaping plate of food in each hand. Stopping dead in the entrance way he froze taking in the scene. Four sets of watery eyes turned to him and one pair of green rolled at him. "Wow...who opened up the morgue for this party."

He caught the frozen image on the screen himself smiling hugely wearing those damn braces..."Oh Quatre you didn't!" the small blonde smiled sheepishly, sighing Duo settled on the couch next to Heero. "No wonder everyone looks like death..." there was a small sob beside him and suddenly he found himself with an armful of sobbing Heero. Juggling the plates of food he carefully placed them on the table, before wrapping strong arms around his long lost love. It felt so good holding him tightly in his arms but at this particular moment the sobbing man soaking the front of his shirt ruined it.

“Hey, Heero it’s ok…” Duo was a little taken aback by the intensity rolling off the small figure shaking with emotion. Violet eyes looked across to where green were looking at him in alarm with a head motion he communicated with Trowa loud and clear. “Ummm so Quatre, Wufei, Zechs would you like to go on a tour of the house?” There were muttered replies and all of them disappeared leaving the two alone in the living room. Duo held tight muttering nonsense words of comfort until the sobs subsided to sniffles. “You ok Heero?” Duo whispered as the other was stilled curled tight in the others arms. “I’m so sorry Duo…I never knew.” Duo hugged him tight, “It’s ok Heero, it is not your fault, never think that. It was my own stupid fault.” Laying his head atop the messy head resting against his chest he winced “I was upset that night, I drank far to much and decided going for a very fast motorcycle ride would be a good idea. Turns out was a very bad idea and I very nearly killed myself.”

He felt Heero tremble, he quickly added to it, “It’s not anyone’s fault though, these accidents happen I’m just happy I walked away from it, relatively speaking.” Patting Heero’s back they sat in silence for several minutes before Duo’s stomach growled very loudly reminding him he had not eaten since lunch. Pulling away Heero let out a soft chuckle, sheepishly Duo leaned forward grabbing one of the plates. “Sorry very hungry, so tell me what have you been up too?” As Duo ate Heero began talking softly about his now singing career, his rise to stardom in Japan. Duo chuckled he didn’t remember the last time Heero had talked to him this long. “I didn’t even know you could sing Heero, what made you decide?” the shorter man shrugged, “I don’t really know, I just sort of thought to try something completely different from being a terrorist.” Duo nodded, “Touché, so you going to be around here for a while or you going back?.”

“I’m done my tour now, was going to take a little break.”

He watched as Duo ate with gusto shifting a rather large amount of food. He spoke quietly first then moving closer, he was having trouble coming to terms with the fact that one of the happiest moments of his life had turned out into something out of horror movie.

“Good grief…” Trowa muttered entering the living room and dropping on the couch beside Duo who was still finishing his supper when he glanced to his best friend eyebrows raised. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m dating an evil genius,” he muttered making the lanky man on the couch choke on his food. “You doing ok there Heero?” the smaller man nodded, sitting back the brown haired man clicked on the TV changing it to the soccer game. The three were silent for several minutes Duo finished off his plates of food before moving to stand and return them to the kitchen. “Is there cake?” he called from the kitchen, with a chuckle he glanced to were Heero was watching the doorway to the dining room longingly with a small smile. “You’re a glutton Maxwell and yes there is cake.”

Trowa turned back to the TV trying to look nonchalant, “That Duo…way to his heart I would say is defiantly through his stomach.” Trying not to grin to widely he pretend interest in the TV as Duo returned with a large piece of cake. Maybe his lover wasn’t the only one who was a bit of an evil genius.

-#-#-#-

Heero sighed wistfully glancing around the courtyard it was so quiet, and beautiful…he looked down at his notebook he was supposed to be working on some new songs. He wanted to get out of J-Pop it was a great start…but singing to a group screaming teenage girls was getting old quickly. He pulled his guitar into his lap strumming softly he gazed out at the clear blue sky. Quatre’s mansion was beautiful this city was beautiful. Humming he strummed some more, not really knowing what he wanted to say he began singing softly picking up strength and tone as he did.

His fingers moved across the strings expertly, he played and sang he had no idea how long it had going on. Stopping with a final cord, he heard soft applause coming from his left turning he saw Quatre approaching with a look of wonder on his face. “For someone who never spoke much, your voice is absolutely beautiful.” Blushing faintly he muttered a soft thank you he looked back to his notebook laying by his feet. “Sleep well Heero?” the blonde asked the Japanese man smiled slightly “Yes thank you,” chuckling the Arabian joined him on he bench. “Still a man of few words eh Heero?”

The two sat enjoying the day for several minutes, “Heero can I ask you something?” the shaggy headed man nodded his consent. “Heero, do you love Duo?” it was a very blunt and up front question, and one that he could appreciate. “Truthfully I’ve loved him for as long as I can remember,” he whispered startling the other. “Oh really? Why did you walk away from him?” Heero felt his heart stutter in his chest. His breath constricted, one of the greatest memories of that god forsake war had been that stuttered confession in the dim hallway. The look in violet eyes, the single moment was indelibly printed on his mind. Until last night, his whole world felt as though it had been rocked off kilter.

“I walked away because I didn’t deserve him,” he whispered barely audible. Quatre raised an eyebrow feeling as though his heart was melting towards him. That song had been so hauntingly beautiful, full of longing and sadness. Heero was a man hurting. “You know, today is Saturday…” Heero nodded not looking at Quatre. “I know that Duo is working today but he gets off around six and spends the night at home reading usually.” Deep blues peaked at him from under shaggy bangs. With a pat to his back he left heading back into house a lighthearted Heero smiled he had to make a plan.

-#-#-#-

Duo sighed in gratification as he swallowed a mouthful of refreshing Coke, half naked he rubbed the towel against his long hair absently. It had been an odd three days since Quatre’s house party and Heero’s return to his life. That odd spontaneous confession on the couch had left his mind torn and his heart in shambles. “I thought I could forget you Heero…” he muttered to himself. Moving out of the kitchen he was headed to his corner to read when there was a hesitant knock at his front door. Eyebrows raised he walked over tot he door, not bothering to look out the peephole he opened it the only people who came to see him where Quatre and Trowa. Imagine his surprise when a well dressed Heero stood there looking nervous and somehow cute as hell.

“Heero!” Duo said almost choking on his tongue, forgetting his state of undress and dripping hair he backed into the room allowing the other to enter. “Duo,” he mumbled looking around the small apartment. Duo suddenly felt self-conscious, his hair hung wetly to his waist…his naked waist. He watched blue eyes roam back over to him. Heero was trying hard not to blush to bad Duo’s hard body was bared to his wide eyes and he was trying to take everything in.

Wide shoulders that seemed to go on forever, the toned and well muscled chest dotted with dark hair. His eyes followed across silvery scars that stood out aginst the tanned flesh, the long line of his body tapering off at his slim waist where the still partially done of jeans were slipping off lean hips. Heero was sure the heat that was slowly spreading through his body was staining his face a permeate crimson.

“Heero what are you doing here?” nervous he smoothed the front of his shirt, “I was hoping I could take you out to dinner…” he mumbled stone faced, looking very much like the Heero he knew from their war days. A smile broke across that lean face lighting up violet eyes framed beneath thick lashes. “Sure! You hang on a second while I change?” nodding Heero moved further into the apartment looking around as Duo disappeared into his loft.

The place was surprisingly clean and I wasn’t long before Duo reappeared hair braided, wearing dark slacks and a red collared polo shirt. “Ready?” he asked with a smile, Heero turned from where he’s been looking through Duo’s books. The tall figure smiled slightly standing casually with his hands in his pockets. Heero’s heart leapt in his chest, “Yeah.” He said as the pair moved out the door and into the early summer evening.

TBC…