Reputations
part 7
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PART SEVEN
*
EIGHT YEARS AGO *
“Take that you fucking
jerk!”
A few rocks were thrown
in the air, making their way past a dark alley. They crashed on a dirty metal
trash-container, and were soon followed by a few more rocks.
“Yeah, ya dirty punks!
Get the hell outta here! This is our turf!”
“Fuck off!”
“Lets chase them!”
“No one passes through our
turf!”
The shout had come from
a little boy, merely eight years of age. He was standing by another boy, older
than himself, and they were both looking up at thech och of street kids
standing in the other side of the alleyway, looking mean and dirty.
“Hahahaha! The little
boy thinks he can put up a fight!” A few mocking voices laughed. “Go back to
yer mama you dirty rat!”
At that remark, anger
flared in the boy’s wide violet eyes. His fists clenched and his jaw muscles
tensed. He growled in anger.
A few more mocking
laughs were heard at the boy’s reaction and the little boy’s eyes narrowed in
pure hatred. “You’re gonna regret this!!!” He shouted and prepared to launch
forward into a fight.
A hand suddenly rested
on his shoulder and pulled him back.
The boy whirled around,
anger swirling in his intense violet eyes. He glared up at the taller boy
standing behind him.
“Let. Go.”
“Forget it. It’s not
that important.” The other boy said calmly, looking down at his friend with
calm golden-green eyes.
“But Solo!”
“Listen, kid, just leave
it alone and lets get outta here.”
“Ny! Iy! I’m not gonna
let them say these things about us!”
“Lets! Go! It isn’t
worth it.” The blond boy insisted.
The small longhaired boy
looked up defiantly at his blond friend, his little face pouting angrily. He
looked back at the bunch of smirking kids standing across of them, and then
back at his best friend, lips pouting. “They were mean!”
Solo chuckled at the
little angry boy. “Yeah, they were, but it’s no good reason to pick a fight.”
“You’re just scared of
mister Sprat!” The boy called angrily. “Before we came to the orphanage you
would kick their ass! You’re just scared! And you’re gonna let them make fun of
us! I don’t want them too! I’ll teach them not to call us bad names!” He shouted
between quick breaths and tears, and hurried to stomp over to the other gang.
Solo’s sto stopped him.
“Duo,”
Little Duo whirled
around, glaring up at his friend.
10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>Solo just kept looking
down at him, face calm. He shook his head slightly, indicating that it was a
bad idea.
Duo jerked away from his
grasp, face angry. He turned to send another look at the awaiting gang, his
violet eyes swirling with barely suppressed anger. At last, he sighed and bowed
his head, shoulders slumped.
Solo smiled. “Good boy.”
*
* *
They made their way
quietly through the streets, heading back to the orphanage. It was late
afternoon, and they were just on their way back from school, when that gang
decided to pick a fight with them. Their own small gang, once a famous and
proud group, was now gone. Only a few of them remained in touch, but it was
hard, since they were all sent to different orphanages around the country.
Solo, he and two other
boys were at thee ore orphanage, but the rest were gone. That meant that other
gangs now took over the streets, and their enemies finally had the chance to go
after them. It was dangerous to even walk down the street, in the fear of
getting into a serious fight. Things like that day’s incident happened often,
gangs trying to provoke them into fighting, but if Solo was around, he would
never let them get into a fight. Duo didn’t really understand why. Solo used to
have a lot of pride and was respected by many. Now, now he always avoided
fighting and thus appeared weak.
“You could have kicked
their asses...” Duo muttered as they walked home.
“And get into trouble?”
“Who cares! They had it
coming! Besides, if you’re so fucking scared, I could have shown them they
shouldn’t mess with us!”
The blond boy snorted.
“Humph! What can an eight-year-old possibly do to a bunch of crazy, fucked-up,
gang members?”
10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>Duo sighed and let his
gaze down sadly. He shrugged. “I just don’t like when people say bad things
about you...”
“If I don’t mind, why
should you?” He reached down to tap lightly on his friend’s little head. “It’s
not worth picking a fight. If we get into trouble again, they’ll kick us out.
And you don’t want to be back on the streets, right?”<
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“I rather be on the
streets than in that STUPID place! I HATE the orphanage! I hate EVERYBODY
there! All they do is boss us around and treat us like we’re fucking scum! I
hate how all the kids at school think I’m a freak! I hate when they call me a
weirdo! I hate it!”
“I think you’re wrong,
kiddo. I think you’re WAYYYYY wrong. The orphanage gives you a chance to find a
family. To live like everybody else. The streets isn’t the place for us.”
“It’s a place for me! I
dunnwantinktinking family! I want to be with you!” The stubborn boy continued.
Solo chuckled again,
ruffling the boy’s hair in affection. He looked down at him with loving eyes.
“Having a foster family doesn’t mean we can’t see each other anymore.”
“But you’re my
family!” Duo whined, looking up at him with big ol’ puppy-eyes. “I don’t want
anyone else...”
Solo smiled kindly at the
little boy, and then reached down to pet his hair. His smile soon turned into a
mischievous grin. “Race ya!” He called and began running.
Duo’s eyes widened in
surprise. “Hey! No fair! Wait uuuuuuup!” He whined as he too began running.
*
* *
“Will we always be
together, Solo?” Duo asked quietly while Solrefurefully brushed his long and
wet hair. They were both sitting on Duo’s bed in the orphanage, in a room they
shared with five other kids. It was late at evening and the two boys were after
supper and a shower, preparing to go to bed.
“Sure.” Solo answered
quietly, still brushing the boy’s long hair.
“Even if we go to
separate families?” The boy asked sadly, bowing his head slightly. “I heard
Sprat is planning to give me away soon...”
There was a while of
silence, and Solo’s brushing became slower.
Duo sighed sadly and
reached a hand to scratch his nose, frowning in thought. “I won’t let them take
me away from you. I’ll come back as soon as they turn their backs!”
Solo chuckled and shook
his head. “There’s no need to do that, kiddo.”
“But I don’t wanna stop
being your friend!”
“You won’t.” The blond
boy promised. He put the brush down on the bed and began to braid the boy’s
hair, careful not to hurt him by pulling too hard. He smiled slightly and petted
the boy’s long and sweet hair. “Friends are forever.”
A small smile returned
to the boy’s face. “They are?”
“Hm hmm.” Solo hummed in
conformation. “Sometimes,” He continued, putting another fold into the thick
chestnut braid. “Sometimes even more than family.”
“How come?” The little
boy asked, frowning. “Isn’t family the most important thing?”
“What I meant to say,
kiddo, is that friends can be like family.”
At that, the small child
whirled around, violet eyes sparkling with joy. “Then we’re family, right?” He
asked, grinning.
Solo smiled back and
nodded his head. “Even better, we’re best buds. Best friends. Not always you
get to be good friends with your family.”
“And best buds look
after each other, right? And they ALWAYS stay together.”
Solo nodded his head,
eyes shining with pride. “You’re right kid, and THAT’S what REALLY important.”
Duo smiled at him,
looking up at him admiringly. “Friends are forever.”
Solo smiled back and
ruffled his hair. “Forever.”
* PRESENT
TIME *
“Duo,”
At the sound of Heero’s
quiet voice, Duo looked at the boy sitting across of him, and winced. Heero had
never looked more vulnerable in his life. Or at least according to what Duo had
seen. His eyes shone with doubt and plea, his whole expression nearly
desperate.
“I need to know Duo. I
need to know what I’m getting into. I need to know what... what I am to you.”
Heero continued, voice wavering a bit.
Duo took a deep breath
and bowed his head. He looked down at his sweaty palms, resting on his lap, and
sighed deeply. Heero seemed to be so sure about who and what he was. He was
aware of his sexuality and he didn’t seem to have anything against it. He had
accepted it as a fact and that was it.
But that acceptance had
cost him greatly. It gave him a reputation of a fag and hence condemned him to
a life of social banishment and torment. No wonder he had to know where Duo was
standing, he didn’t want to get hurt again. There was enough pain in his life
as it is.
And Duo would be the
last one to bring him more pain.
No. He wanted to be his
friend, perhaps even more. He wanted to be with Heero. He wanted to help him,
he wanted to be near him, he wanted to laugh, cry and share everything with
him. He had made that choice a long time ago and he wasn’t about to take it
back. No. He had wanted Heero as his friend, and friends are forever.
Forever.
Lovers were forever too.
And he wanted Heero and he to be lovers. He wanted it so bad that it hurt
physically.
Slowly, Duo looked up at
Heero, face a little uncertain.
Damn his reputation!
Damn all of it to hell and back! Jack and The Gang were never real friends!
They weren’t forever. The Gang did not matter and it never should have. Jack
was nothing like Solo had been. He should be ashamed for even thinking that he
was. He was no substitute. He wasn’t even a friend. None of the people in The
Gang were his friends. No one in The Gang can offer him what Heero could. What
Heero was offering. A key to his heart. To his soul. That wonderful and
kind soul that has captured his heart from the very first day he had bumped
into him in the hallway. He could see it then, in those magically ocean-blue
eyes. And he could see it now, looking up into those same eyes.
Duo smiled warmly and
raised his hands up to the table. He slowly reached towards Heero and gently
took his hands in his.
Heero gasped, surprised,
and looked down at their joint hands. He looked back at Duo in confusion.
“Duo?”
Duo just continued
smiling softly, and he curled his fingers around Heero’s delicate hands. His
gaze never left the stunned boy as he gently whispered:
“Everything, Heero.
That’s what you are to me.”
Heero’s mouth opened
slightly and his eyes widened. “D—Duo...”
“Shhh, let me finish.”
He asked kindly, and squeezed Heero’s hand gently. “I’ve been such a selfish
jerk, Heero. I thought I knew what’s good for me, but I didn’t. I don’t care
about Jack, or Steve or Danny. They don’t give a shit about me. Like you said,
they take advantage of me. I don’t need that. I’m not important to them, but...
but I want to be important to you.”
It took a while for the
words to sink in. Heero just gaped at Duo, speechless.
“You... you are
important to me, DuHe wHe whispered, voice choking with tears. “And I’m sorry I
doubted you, but it’s just that...”
“You’re afraid.” Duo
finished the sentence for him and Heero bowed his head.
“I’m sorry... I really
am, but...”
“It’s okay, Heero. I
wouldn’t trust me either. Not after that stunt I pulled. B pro promise I’ll
never hurt you again!”
“No! No... that’s not
it...” Heero hurried to explain. “God, Duo, you’re long forgiven for that
stunt. I mean... you’re the... you’re the only one who ever bothered... ever
bothered to help, to ask, to notice... You me me into your home and I’m
forever grateful for that. But...” He took a deep breath, trying to control the
tears that were threatening to overwhelm him. He looked up at Duo, eyes
shimmering with tears. “It’s Him I’m afraid of.”
Duo’s eyes widened
briefly and anger flared inside the violet pools. Just the mentioning of the
bastard made his blood boil.
Heero bowed his head in
shame, his eyes sliding shut.
A long and thick silence
fell between them. The only sound around was the ticking of the large clock on
the kitchen wall.
Time seemed to slow
down, then stop, leaving the two boys in their misery.
Suddenly, Duo jumped up
from his seat and landed his fist on the table, face covered in determination.
“C’mon Heero, we’re getting outta here.”
Heero’s head jerked up
at the utter resolve in Duo’s voice and he looked up at him, shocked. “Wha---
where? Why?”
“I’m getting you outta
town, away from that God damned bastard.” Duo announced, gathering his things
from the table. He rummaged through his pockets, and then around the kitchen,
looking for something. “We’ll take Joe’s old car.” He explained as Heero followed
him with his confused gaze.
“But... but where will
we go?”
“I got a few friends in
the city. Good friends. They’ll help us.”
“But...”
“Shit!” Duo cursed, and
Heero flinched. Duo searched his pockets again, and then cursed for the second
time. “She took the keys!” He stomped his foot on the floor and looked around.
He bit his lip in thought. “God damn it! I left my keys in my locker!
We’ll have to go to school.”
“School?!” Heero called
in fright, jumping out his chair. “Do-- do we have to?”
Duo sighed, already
preparing to leave. “Yeah, ‘fraid so.” He answered putting his jacket on.
“But--- but aren’t you
expelled?”
“Don’t worry about it.
Everyone will be in class. We’ll be in and out of there before they’ll even
notice.” He threw Heero a jacket. “C’mon, we gotta hurry, before Joe gets
home.”
Heero caught the jacket
and looked down at it uncertainly, blue eyes shimmering with doubt.
*
* *
“Stop being so nervous.”
Duo reproached quietly as they made their way through the hallways. “No one is
around.”
Ever since they walked
through the school gate, Heero had been acting like a nervous animal, looking
around like it knew its predator was watching. His whole body was tense, and he
kept walking slowly behind Duo, keeping close in case there’ll be any trouble.
He was too busy looking around that he didn’t notice Duo stopping in front of
his locker and therefore he bumped into him. The sudden contact made him yelp
and he jumped back, frightened.
At the sound of Heero’s
whimpering voice, Duo quickly turned, face worried. Once he saw Heero was okay,
just a bit startled, he relaxed and allowed himself to breathe. He placed a
hand on Heero’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “It’s okay, Hee-chan. I’m
here with you and nothing will happen. Trust me, okay?”
Heero smiled sheepishly
at his silly behavior and nodded his head. Of course he had nothing to fear.
Duo will protect him. He had done it before, and he was now positive that he
would do it again.
That thought made Heero
smile and he relaxed even more, leaning against the locker near Duo’s.
“God dammit... where is
it?” Duo muttered as he rummaged through his messy locker.
Heero chuckled. “Baka.
If you would have kept it tidy, you wouldn’t be searching for a needle in a
haystack.”
“I don’t do needles.”
Duo informed him sarcastically, shoving his head into the locker as he
continued searching.
A few moments past, and
Heero looked around, just to make sure no one was coming. Suddenly, he frowned
in displeasure. He slowly turned his head to face Duo, ho was wstill inside
the locker.
“Um, Duo?”
“Hmm?”
Heero blushed and bowed
his head.
“What is it? Did you
find it?” Duo called, still looking inside his messy locker.
Heero shook his bowed
head, but since Duo wasn’t looking, he couldn’t see it. He sighed and then looked
up at Duo again. “I have to go.”
“Go where?” Duo asked
casually.
Heero rolled his eyes.
“You know... go.”
Duo’s head peeked out of
the locker, a frown on his face. “Go..?” His eyes widened. “Oh! Go as in go!”
He looked over his shoulder, and then back at Heero. “Well, um, no one is
around, everyone’s in class. Will it be okay if you go alone and I’ll keep
looking? We’re running on a tight schedule here, so...”
Heero nodded sadly.
“Yeah, okay. Will you be here?”
“If I can’t find the
key, yes. If I’ll find it, meet me in the parking lot, okay?”
“Yeah, okay.” Heero let
out dejectedly. He began walking down the hall, shoulders slumped. He sent a
look over his shoulder, seeing Duo cursing his locker as he continued
searching. He sighed and tore his gaze away from the braided boy, making his
way to the boy’s room, looking around all the while, in case someone was
coming.
*
* *
After he was done, he
went over to wash his hands. He looked up at his reflection, reflecting back from
a mirror full of inscriptions people had written down on the large glass. He
studied himself for a while, staring deeply into his own deep ocean-blue eyes,
half covered by a mop of chocolate-brown hair. His right cheek was a little
bruised, but the purple mark was now fading. He raised a hand and ran it
through his messy hair, trying to tidy it a bit, but it fell back down again.
Heero smiled slightly at
his reflection. He had never liked to look at himself in the mirror. He hated
the way his body looked. This awful combination between a starving angel and a
seducing demon. He had never felt beautiful. But Duo... Duo made him feel
beautiful. Even if he wasn’t so special and far from perfect, Duo made him feel
that way. Special and perfect. Perfectly complete.
Heero’s smile grew wider
and he closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the water still running out
of the faucet.
of all worries and fear. There was nothing to be afraid of anymore. Duo was with
him. The braided boy was with him and he said he had no intention of leaving
him. He was finally safe. Finally protected. Cared for. And even... loved?
Could he dare to think
of it as love? Real love? The kind of loved he had lacked since he was a mere child?
Yes. He could hope for
it. He had nearly given up his hope on love, but Duo had changed all that. One
look into the boy’s amazing violet-blue eyes, at the love and care that shone
in them, the mere passion the boy possessed, that was enough to restore his
hope.
All of a sudden,
something touched him.
No. Someone
touched him. From behind.
A hand came resting on
his shoulder, fingers closing around his flesh in a crushing death-grip.
Heero’s eyes snapped and
he gasped, surprised.
Another hand came resting
on his other shoulder, just as powerful.
Heero prepared to whirl
around and see who it was, but he was then the hands did it for him, turning
him around in one, swift and painful move. And before he knew what was
happening, he was shoved violently against the sink, the ceramics digging into
his lower back.
“ARGH!” He called in
pain as he fell down to the floor, crashing on his bottom, his head hitting the
sink again.
A pair of legs came to
stand right in front of him, clad in torn black jeans. Heero slowly lifted his
head up, glazed blue eyes lifting up to look at the one who had shoved him.
Dread stirred awake inside of him as he looked higher and higher, until his
stunned gaze locked with a pair of narrow black eyes and screaming red hair.
Jack.
“Close the doors.” The
red headed boy spat, not even bothering to look back at the other gang members
standing at his side.
Heero looked in fright
at the door, now being closed by one bully. He whirled his head back to look at
Jack, fear and distress reflecting in his eyes.
“Ja--Jack...” He
stammered, voice shaking.
“Shut up!” The taller
boy roared and delivered a quick kick to Heero’s midsection.
The Japanese boy cringed
and hugged his abdomen, groaning in pain.
Suddenly, he was yanked
up from the floor, Jack’s hands grabbing him by the top of his shirt. He looked
up in pure terror as the boy lifted him up in the air and then suddenly slammed
him against the wall, using his own body to pin his slender form against it.
Heero swallowed hard,
feeling the cold tile wall at his back, and the cold and solid ball of fear
swirl inside his stomach. He shifted his gaze to the door, desperately begging
it to open, for Duo to come and help him.
“Look at me you fuck!”
Jack roared again, pulling him forward a bit and then slamming him against the
wall again.
Heero winced in pain,
but did as he was ordered to. Jack was still holding him by his shirt, right
above his shoulders. He tried his best not to tremble as the boy pressed his
body against him, pinning him tightly to the wall, his face mere millimeters
from his. He swallowed as he was forced to look up into those cruel black eyes.
“Who the FUCK do you
think you are, fagot?!” Jack’s voice was harsh and quiet, but yet very VERY
deadly. He slammed Heero’s body into the wall again, smirking as he saw the boy
close his eyes in pain. “LOOK AT ME WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU!!!”
Heero flinched and
opened his eyes, his whole body trembling. He looked briefly at the door, but
before he had time to turn back to face his tormentor, Jack moved. With one
swift and precise movement, Jack’s hand went flying down to his pocket and he
pulled out a knife, quickly pressing it to Heero’s slim white neck.
“I said- Look. At. Me.”
He whispered dangerously, pressing the knife lightly against the soft and
caving skin.
Heero tried not to
swallow the lump in his throat, afraid that it will cause the knife to cut
through. He looked down at the knife, gaze fearful.
“Look at me!”
The knife came closer,
pressing hard enough to nearly draw blood.
“Jack...” One of the
kids from behind called.
“Shut up Kevin!” Jack
spat, whirling his head back to glare at the door. “Just mind your own fucking
business!” He turned back to the frightened Heero, his smirk returning as he
saw the tears that slid down the boy’s pale cheeks. “Chk, you’re pathetic, Yuy.
But I should have expected a homo like you to cry like a girl!” He slammed the
boy against the wall again.
Heero’s head went flying
back, hitting the wall and then falling back down again, into the blade. “Ah!”
He called as he felt his skin break.
“Jack!” Kevin called
again, clearly distressed by the situation.
“It’s just a little
cut.” Jack dismissed his comment, and drew the knife a little closer. He leaned
down towards Heero, looking down into wide and terrified blue eyes. “Just who
the fuck do you think you are, slut?”
Heero winced at the
utter hatred in his voice. He tried to look away from the boy, but he had no
choice but to stare up at the face hovering above him.
“What the hell are you
thinking in that little gay head of yours, huh?” He pressed his body harder
against the trembling youth, grounding him against the wall. “Maxwell is one of
ours. He doesn’t need to be distracted by a little scum-ball like you.
The dude’s got potential, he’s got a future with us. And you, faggot,” He
pressed the knife closer. “You. Are. Not. Taking. Him. Away.”
“ARGH!” Heero called out
as Jack came to stand on both his feet, preventing him from moving at all.
“I hate your kind. A
bunch of useless sluts... doing nothing but seducing innocent men into your
sick world.” He let out a manically cackle. “Well, I’m not letting you get away
with it. No member of our gang is gonna be turned into a fucking homo!
You hear that!?”
“Ye... yes...” Heero
panted, eyes searching the room frantically for a way out.
“You stay away from
Maxwell! You dirty dick-sucking whore!” He pulled Heero away from the wall
again and then quickly slammed him back into it. Heero fell down with a
whimper. Jack kicked him again and Heero kissed the floor, crashing face down
on the dirty bathroom floor.
“Now we’re gonna teach
you a lesson, boy.” Jack snarled, towering above the fallen teen. He kicked him
again, earning another choked whimper from the battered boy. “We’re gonna teach
all ya fagots not to mess with us.” He promised, an insane gleam in his eyes.
He kicked the boy again and placed his foot on his back, pressing him to
to
the ground. The dim light that filtered through the tall windows reflected on
the bloody knife as Heero’s blood dripped down to the floor.
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Part 8
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