• 1-Reputations
• 2-part 2
• 3-part 3
• 4-part 4
• 5-part 5
• 6-part 6
• 7-part 7
• 8-part 8
• 9-part 9
• 10-Epilogue

Leslie, this one is for
you. Thanks for all the great feedback and support! You’re super! Thanks!
*sends a big BIG hug* Huggles from Naomi!

REPUTATIONS

EPILOGUE“Not yet.” The stubborn
boy insisted, taking a step through the threshold of the house. He grinned like
an idiot and then turned to face Heero.

“Baka.” Heero stated, a
smile on his lips. He looked up at Duo’s sparking eyes and sighed, shaking his
head. “What was that all about?”

“I carried you over the
threshold.” Duo let out simply and leaned down to kiss Heero on the lips.elcoelcome home.” He whispered, still smiling.

Heero smiled back at the
boy, face radiant.

“Now get off, my back is
killing me...” Duo muttered in mock-annoyance, putting Heero gently down on the
ground.

The dark haired boy
shook his head, and planted two hands on his hips. “I told you not to strain
yourself, now didn’t I?”

“Who knew you’ll get so
heavy all of a sudden?” Duo grumbled with a wide grin. “Boy! Joe really stuffed
you up in these last few weeks!”

Heero glared at him.
“Yeah, well, at least I wasn’t the one to consume MOUNTAINS of ice cream
during a stay in a certain hospital...”

“Now wait just one
fucking min--“

“Boys! How about less
talking, more working?” Joanna’s voice came from behind them, followed by the
sound of a car’s trunk being slammed shut. “These boxes ain’t gonna get there
on their own you know...”

“Fine... fine! We’re coming.”
Duo muttered and turned to walk back outside, to the car.

“I did not gain
weight...” Heero muttered as he followed him.

*   *   *

“Big box - upstairs.
Small one – kitchen.” Joe ordered as she handed a box to each boy.

“What’s in the small
box?” Duo asked, looking down at the small cardboard box he was holding.

“Food.”

“What food?”

“Nothing of your
concern. Now- kitchen.”

“Gee... someone got up
on the wrong side of her bed today...” Duo muttered as he walked back to the
house. He looked over his shoulder, seeing Heero walking behind him, the large
box in his hand. “Do you need any help with it, Hee-chan?”

“No, I don’t. And don’t
even THINK about carrying it for me, cuz I don’t feel like hearing you complain
about your back all night.”

Duo grinned. “Hey, so
can we at least have a pillow fight?”

“No pillow fights.” Joe
warned as she walked past them, carrying a few large shopping bags. “No
sleeping in the same bedher.her.”

Duo pouted. “Party
pooper.”

Behind him, Heero
chuckled. He continued smiling as they walked up into the house, and Duo kept
arguing with Joe about the sleeping arrangements. He stopped at the door,
shifting the box from side to side. He looked around himself, his gaze suddenly
uncertain.

“Hey, Heero, come in!
Make yourself at home!” Duo called from the kitchen, where he was placing the
box.

“Home...” Heero tested
the word on his lips, his eyes still looking around the house. His house.
His... home. He finally had a home.

Nearly three weeks ago,
Joanna had burst into Duo’s room in the hospital, and blurted out the news.
After some fights and contracts and deals, she had received custody of Heero.

It had taken quite a
while for the news to really sink in. It seemed so unreal at the time; Heero
had a hard time to believe that it was really happening. He was certain that he
was going to wake up at any minute now, and find himself lying on the floor in
his poor-excuse-for-a-room. But it was no dream, and no fairy tale either.

They had to wait until
the trial was over, and until all the procedures will be worked out, and it had
taken a few weeks. Heero had spent that time in an orphanage, but Duo came to
visit him everyday, after he was out of the hospital. The braided boy was a
great support during the trial and media frenzy, and he had helped Heero deal
with those harsh and maddening times. Joanna was a big support as well. She was
really nice to him and took care of his every need. She would come over
everyday, along with Duo, just to make sure that he was being taken care of,
that he had enough to eat and a warm enough bed to sleep in.

Heero was very grateful
for her care. He grew attached to the woman. She was the only female figure he
remembered taking care of him, except for his mother. And in some way, Heero
found that he was beginning to see her as one.

But he could never see
Duo as his brother. Step brother or not, Joanna was well aware of the two’s
relationship. She had kept it hidden from the authorities, otherwise they would
never approve of the adoption. And now, since they were living in the same
house, she had insisted they have separate rooms.

“Hey! Heero! You got
lost or something? Where are you?” Duo called from the kitchen. “Heeeeerooooo!”

“H-hai!” Heero hurried
to reply and closed the door behind him. He was about to walk into the kitchen,
when Duo stepped out, a maniacal grin on his face.

“C’mon, I’ll race you to
your room!” He declared and then opened in a run up the stairs.

Heero rolled his eyes.
“Duo! No running, remember?” He called as he hurried to run after him,
struggling with the large box. /p>

“Admit it - you’re just afraid of losing!” Duo
called, panting. “Just wait and see what we did with your room!” 

Heero sighed and shook
his head. The baka was acting like an excited little boy...

*   *   *

“Well, what do you
think?” Duo asked with a beaming smile.

Heero had just came into
the room, and stopped dead in his tracks. He gaped at the large bedroom, his
eyes glistering with tears of joy. The room was beautiful, unlike anything he
had ever seen. There was a huge and wide window opposite to the door, letting
in warm rays of sunshine. Since it was the second floor, he could see the top
to a beautiful green tree, rich with leafs and little white flowers. The window
was facing the back yard, and he could see many other trees down there.

Underneath the window
was a single bed, with dark blue sheets, all neat and clean, ready for him.
There was also a desk, a chair and a closet, but what impressed him most were
the walls.

The walls were painted
in a faint sky-blue color, giving the room life. Heero couldn’t help but
whimper at the sight, feeling his heart twitch in joy. He slowly turned to Duo,
sniffling, but still smiling. “It’s beautiful.” He whispered, voice choked with
so many emotions, it was hard for him to speak up. “Thank you.”

Duo grinned. “Nah, no
problem. It was Joe’s study, but she didn’t really use it, so we thought about
clearing it up for you.” He explained as he led Heero into the room. “Tracy and
I helped her paint it. I chose the color. I hope you like it.”

Heero smiled. “I do.”

They sat down on the
bed, and Heero turned to look out the window, watching the wind tease the green
branches.

“It’s an apple tree.”
Duo commented, watching Heero adoringly. “It should give some fruit soon, and then
I’ll pick them for you. Hey, I bet I can reach them from here!” He jumped up to
his knees and leaned towards the window.

“Duo!” Heero called,
hurrying to pull him back before he fell. “There’s no need to do that now.”

“Just a sec, lemme see
if I can reach that branch...” Duo muttered, stretching his hand forward. By
now, most of his body was outside the window, making Heero worried sick.

“Duo, come back. C’mon,
there are no apples now.”

“Just one fucking
minute, kay?” He whined, pushing himself forward, nearly reaching the tree.

Heero watched him
carefully, eyes shimmering with worry.

“Almost... there...
Just... one... seco--wow!” He yelped, nearly falling down.

“Duo!” Heero cried, his
arms flying up to pull the boy back into the room. They ended up falling on the
bed, Duo lying above Heero, pinning him to the bed. Both boys sighed in relief
and Duo coughed.

“Ouch.”

“Are you okay?” Heero
asked worriedly, looking up into Duo’s eyes.

The braided boy just
grinned and brought his hand forward, handing something to Heero. Heero looked
at it, puzzled. A smile appeared on his lips as he recognized it as a small
branch covered with green leafs and white flowers. He smiled and reached to
take the small gift. He inhaled their soft scent, closing his eyes and sighing
pleasantly.“D-Duo...” The boy
purred, thrusting his head aside to give Duo’s hot tongue more room to play.
His hand climbed up, grabbing a handful of the thick chestnut hair.
Unconsciously, he began rocking his hips up against Duo’s warm body, moaning
and panting in need.

Duo felt Heero move beneath him and smirked. He
moved his tongue up and down Heero’s neck, stopping to nibble at his soft
earlobe. By that point Heero was making so many cute little noises, Duo thought
he could go on forever if it meant hearing Heero moaning and purring like this.
It was heaven. 

“Ehrm hmm!” Someone
cleared their throat.

Duo jumped up, startled.
He pulled himself off of Heero, and both boys turned to look at the door.

Heero blushed and Duo
chuckled nervously. “Uhm... Hi... Joe...” He mumbled in embarrassment, one hand
scratching the back of his head. “Wussup?”

Joanna just kept glaring
at them, leaning against the doorframe, both arms folded across her chest. “I
dunno. Maybe you should tell me what’s up.” She smirked and Duo blushed,
looking away. Joe sighed and shook her head. “Next time, close the door, will
you? What if Tracy would have walked by?”

“I’m sorry Miss Ha-- um,
Joanna.” Heero apologized, slowly getting up. He fixed his shirt and ran a hand
through his messy hair.

Joe smiled kindly at the
boy. It was still hard for him to call her by name, and he still felt like he
was a guest and thus should behave like one. She, Duo and Tracy will have to
work hard to change that. But it will take time. In the mean time, all she
could do was assure him that everything was okay.

“You don’t have to
apologize, Heero. I know how you teenagers get. As hard as it is to believe it,
I too was a teen once.”

Heero smiled a little,
relived.

“One.”

“Oh.” Duo sighed and put
the pillow over his head. “Too many rules ‘round here. Can’t possibly remember
them all.”

Heero chuckled and shook
his head again. “That’s the only rule, Duo.” He commented in amusement, now
putting on a ragged old t-shirt. He turned to Duo and yanked the blanket off of
him. “Now, get outta my bed.”

Duo peeked from behind
his pillow and stuck his tongue out at Heero.

Heero rolled his eyes,
yanked the pillow out of Duo’s grasp and slammed it on his head. “When I come
back form the bathroom, you’re gone.” He warned and stepped out of the room.

Duo shrugged and turned
to snuggle with Heero’s pillow, inhaling deeply and smiling. He went back to
sleep.

*   *   *

“Morning Hee-chan!”
Tracy called from down the hall as Heero stepped out of his room.

“Good morning Tracy.” He
replied with a smile.

“Hey, are you gonna
drive me to school today?” The little girl asked, brushing her long hair while
she kept standing at her room’s doorway.

“If Joe will lend me the
car.” Heero answered, and then looked over his shoulder, at his bedroom’s door.
“Or if Duo will let me drive.”

The girl grinned
wickedly. “Don’t worry, I’ll nag until he’ll cave!”

“Don’t be too hard on
him, honey.” Joanna joked as she climbed up the stairs and came walking down
the hallway. She smiled at Heero. “Good morning. Slept well?”

Heero nodded, opened the
bathroom’s door and preparing to enter.

“Good.” The woman
answered as she continued walking towards his room. “I’ll just go and wake up
that sleepy braided boy of mine.” She continued with a smirk, entering Heero’s
room.

Heero blushed and ducked
his head between his shoulders. “There goes rule number one...” He muttered and
finally entered the bathroom.

*   *   *

Standing by the sink,
Heero put some toothpaste on his toothbrush and began brushing his teeth. He
looked up at his reflection in the mirror, eyes sparkling with a smile. The boy
in the mirror was completely different than the boy he was used to be looking
at. His appearance had changed. He had gained some weight, and was not the scrawny
little thing he had used to be. While once he was nothing but skin and bones,
now he was well built and full just in the right places. During their summer
vacation, Duo and he had been working out, and he had developed quite a few
muscles. His skin had a healthier look now, and it was no longer pale and
sickly colored. The boy on the mirror had a slightly tanned skin, its color
golden and its texture flawless. Not a bruise on him.

But most of all, it was
the look in his eyes that had changed. He no longer looked like a frightened
animal. The sad and haunted look in his eyes was gone. The fear was gone. He
had nothing to be afraid of anymore. His tormentor, Jay, was in prison and
would stay there for a long, LONG, while. Jack and some other members of The Gang
were sent to a Juvenile Penitentiary, h wah was miles out of town. He had no
more troubles at school, because since what was now called ‘The Incident’, no
one saw a need to pick on him. People left him be, and he had even made a few
friends. The few who were still stupid enough to mess with him, were quickly
subjected to Duo’s wrath.

Heero smiled to himself,
and opened the faucet, leaning down to wash his mouth. It was the first day of
school and in the first time in YEARS, he wasn’t afraid of going. The thought
made him smile as he washed his face and looked up at the mirror again.

He smiled at his
reflection, looking into those deep blue eyes. The deep blue eyes that now
shone with happiness and content. He hurried to comb his hair and then, still
smiling, he walked out of the bathroom.

“Duo! You better be up
and awake or I’ll--“ He didn’t have time to finish his sentence for Duo
suddenly came bouncing down the hall and glomped him with all his might. Heero
coughed, surprised.

“Duo! What was that
for?” He asked, prying the boy off of him.

Duo grinned. “For being
you.” He answered and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “For being so damn
beautiful in the morning.” He gave him another kiss. “For being so...”

“Okay! Okay! I get it!”
Heero muttered, but he was still smiling. “Now get away, baka, your breath
stinks.” He said in mock-disgust.

Duo just grinned and
gave him another quick kiss. He walked into the bathroom, slaping Heero lightly
on the ass.

The boy jumped,
startled. “Duo!”

Duo winked, still grinning
like an idiot. He reached for Heero’s hand and yanked him towards him. Heero
yelped at being pulled so hard, and Duo closed the door behind them. He pinned
Heero against the closed door, putting his arms at each side of Heero’s head.

“Do you know what’s rule
number two?” He asked huskily, leaning his head down towards Heero.

Stunned, Heero managed
to slightly shake his head.
>

Duo smiled and began
nibbling at Heero’s earlobe. “Don’t make out in the bathroom...” He whispered
in his ear, voice filled with lust. He exhaled softly into Heero’s ear, and the
boy shuddered, nearly melting at the teasing touch. “How about we break that
rule as well?”

Heero’s eyes darted down
as he heard the lock turn. He managed to see Duo’s hand leave the key and he
looked up into Duo’s eyes, confused. "But I... I have to feed
Kitty..."

"Kitty can
wait."

Heero was about to open
his mouth and protest, but Duo beat him to it, sealing his lips with a
soul-searing kiss. It wasn’t long before Heero’s body respd and and he wrapped
his arms around his lover, opening his mouth and welcoming the hot and wet
tongue inside. He moaned from the depth of his throat, pressing harder against
the door. Duo pressed his body against Heero as he deepened their kiss,
ravishing Heero’s sweet mouth. The door creaked, threatening to collapse under
both their weights.

From somewhere out
there, a voice was heard: “Boys! School!”

OWARI.

Hey, Leslie, you gussed
it right, ne?

Naomi

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