Warnings: shonen ai
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4
Author: Arigatomina
Email: arigatoumina@hotmail.com
Archive: www.fanfiction.net
The Way It Was
Part 1
"Heero? Do you really have to go?"
Looking over his shoulder from where he sat at his long desk, Heero frowned at the boy. Setting his pen down on the unfinished ledgers, he turned to sit straddled in the chair so he was facing the bed where Duo lay, sprawled lazily. "You know I have to bring him to the magistrate." Frowning in disapproval at the pout on Duo's face Heero shook his head. "I'm going. If I fail to bring him in, it will ruin my name. No one is going to pay a bounty-hunter who fails to deliver."
"Yeah but, it's not like what he did was that bad. Besides, what would it hurt if you waited a couple of days? At least until we find out if the rumors are true." Sliding off the bed, Duo moved to stand in front of Heero, making absolutely sure the other boy could see his displeasure. "What happens if they are and you and Trowa walk right into an approaching army of invaders? Think about it, Heero. There's no reason to risk your life over some stupid job."
Jerking back for a second, Heero reached out to grip Duo's shoulder, giving him a sharp shake. "Duo, the villagers' have been talking about that army for months now. If it were true, we would have seen some sign of them. It's a rumor and nothing else." Standing, he moved around the chair, a hand rising to brush back Duo's thick bangs. "I'm not going to die taking a boy ten miles over easy ground. You worry too much."
"I know," Duo said with a sigh, "But you're always so reckless when you're working. Things are different now. I can't help worrying that I'll lose you." Stepping forward, Duo slipped his arms around Heero's waist, leaning so their cheeks touched.
"Duo, we've been sleeping in the same bed for months. How long is it going to take for you to have faith in me? The risks I take are well thought out, I don't act foolishly."
"You didn't say anything about being more careful now that you'll be leaving someone behind," Duo said softly, pressing against the dark-haired boy as his hands slowly rubbed Heero's back. "Not a word about not wanting to hurt me by dying..."
With a rough growl, Heero grabbed the edge of Duo's long, golden brown braid and pulled, moving his head up from where he'd hidden it against Heero's shoulder. Glaring into wide violet eyes, his free hand moved to the small of his back, pulling the boy closer as he moved his face close. "I *told* you," he said harshly, breath coming heavy as his eyes narrowed dangerously. "You will *stop* doubting me."
Duo's eyes widened at the order, looking over Heero's angry expression warily. He couldn't hold back a surprised cry when Heero suddenly bent and swept him off his feet. Duo watched the bed get closer as Heero crossed the room, swallowing hard when he was abruptly dropped and the dark-haired boy climbed onto the bed, looming over him. The anger was still evident in his intense cobalt eyes as he pressed Duo's shoulders into the bed.
"Just because I don't *say* it," Heero said softly, voice ominous as he released the boy's shoulders, hands moving to his waist where they tugged his shirt loose, "doesn't mean I don't *think* it. When I said I loved you, you were supposed to know what that meant." Looking away from Duo's wide eyes, Heero lowered his head, lips moving over the boy's mouth until he wrapped his arms around his neck. Massaging the muscles beneath the smooth skin gently, Heero's hands slipped under the shirt, moving upward to play with his nipples. As Duo pressed up against him, he moved his mouth away. "Don't doubt me, Duo. My life has meaning now...I'm *not* going to leave you."
"You promise?" Duo asked, wincing at how weak the question made him sound, but unable to resist asking. At Heero's affirmative nod, a smile slowly made its way across his face. "I love you, Heero." When Heero nodded again, the smile turned into a grin and he reached up to pull the boy down on top of him. Running his fingers through Heero's thick, short hair, Duo reveled in the contact as Heero moved a hand to bury it in the base of his braid. "It's not that I don't trust you," he said, attempting to placate the boy who was still looking slightly insulted. "You guys have been important to me since we were kids, but this is different. I've never loved anyone before and I can't help but worry that if I'm not careful, I'll lose you. Especially as dangerous as some of your jobs tend to be."
"I'm good at what I do," Heero said as he moved his weight off the boy and rolled onto his side so they were still facing each other. "Except for Trowa, I'm the best. You don't have reason to worry."
"I know how good you are," Duo muttered, "I remember when I tried to be a bounty-hunter. You were a cocky snot."
Blinking in surprise at the insult, Heero smirked. "And you were too busy thinking about me to pay attention to the job. You can't work with such distractions. It's just as well you quit when you did, I couldn't work if I had to worry about your getting hurt."
"See, you worry too!" Duo said, grinning widely. "And you told me not to worry."
"That was different," Heero said, shaking his head. "I worried, but I never doubted your abilities. Duo, it'll be fine. Believe in me. If we leave at dawn, we'll be back by nightfall. There is nothing to worry about."
* * *
Leaning in the doorway, Trowa looked at Quatre. The small boy was sitting on the soft rug on the narrow porch of the house, legs crossed, a cup of tea held in both hands as if for warmth despite the pleasant temperature. Head tilted, he looked down into the cup, jaw clenched as he glared. With a soft sigh, Trowa pushed the door open, knowing he was in trouble when the pale boy stiffened. Moving across the porch silently, he lowered himself to the wooden floor beside the boy.
Eyes moving over Quatre's angry expression, Trowa shook his head knowing the blonde boy could see the movement from the corner of his eye. "Talk to me," he said softly, green eyes boring into Quatre's pale blue-green ones. "If I leave with us angry, you will not forgive yourself."
Turning his head, Quatre glared at Trowa's calm expression. "You know me so well," he said sarcastically. "What makes you so sure I'll forgive you?"
"Because I *do* know you," Trowa said, brushing his knuckles over Quatre's cheek, wincing when the angry boy flinched. "I know you love me."
Glaring at the low blow, Quatre looked away and shook his head. "I may love you...but I don't like you right now. You completely ignored my warnings. I don't even want to look at you right now." Blinking to ease the stinging in his eyes, Quatre looked at the small shed that was used to hold prisoners.
Eyes narrowing, Trowa noticed the way Quatre's eyes sparked in the last rays of the setting sun. Taking hold of the pale boy's chin, he forced his head to turn they faced each other. "You *will* look at me. Quatre, I gave my word that I would bring that boy in. He killed a man. He broke the law."
"So what?!" Quatre cried angrily. "He was a horrible man! I'm telling you, I know it's wrong to turn that boy in. I *know*. I can *feel* it. Trowa, when have I ever been wrong?"
"Never," Trowa agreed, relieved that the blonde boy was looking at him. "But Quatre, there's something else. The reason why I'm going despite your warning. Quatre, what about Heero?"
Frowning, the smaller boy blinked at him for a moment before his eyes widened and he flushed. "You mean...if it weren't for Heero, you wouldn't go?"
"Of course not. You know I wouldn't hurt you like this if I could help it. If I don't go, Heero will take him to the magistrate alone, and that is too dangerous." Watching the boy, Trowa could tell the exact second that his anger dissipated. His eyes cleared abruptly and the expression of hurt was replaced by a tiny smile.
"I'm sorry I got so angry. I just know you shouldn't take him and it hurt to think you would ignore me. I should have known you had a good reason." Putting the cup aside, he motioned for Trowa to join him on the rug, sighing when the tall boy wrapped an arm around his waist. "You're right, you know. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I'd let you leave with anger between us." Pushing aside the long fall of red-brown bangs that covered half of Trowa's face, Quatre stretched up to place a kiss on his forehead, then on his lips.
Leaning his head on Trowa's shoulder, Quatre glanced again at the shed where the criminal was being held. He still had a sense of impending doom, but he couldn't force himself to argue about it. Especially since he knew Heero was stubborn enough to go on his own, despite Duo's repeated ramblings about the army that was supposed to be in the area. With a small smile, he watched as the sun slowly reached the horizon. //Duo and I are just the same when it comes down to it. We warn and worry and get ignored, only to have our love grow stronger.//
* * *
Testing his bonds for the fifth time, Wufei glared at the dark door. It was no use, the Japanese boy had tied them too efficiently. //I have no one to blame but myself. I thought they were weak and refused to fight them. It's only justice that I learn my lesson. And I will, only, I'm going to be in trouble when I get back. Who knows how long it may be before I get loose, and the war could start any day now.//
Sighing, the black-haired boy eased himself onto his side on the small cot that lay against the wall across from the door to the shed. //Nataku...forgive me if I break my word. I wasn't weak, I was just foolhardy and must pay penance for it.//
