Author's Note: Nothing to say but this: Once upon a time there was a little dog. His name was Arfy. He had three sisters and ten brothers. Their mommy was Dinky and their daddy was a cat. They all lived in Portland, Oregon, and they hated falafel. If you are reading this, then you must be REALLY bored. Be-da! :P
A Glimpse into a Soldier's Heart Part 3
III. Heero's Banquet
A burger. No, no, no - a double burger. Who am I kidding?! A triple burger with extra fries, cheese and onion. And cola. God... I can't remember the last time I had coke. And a Sundae ice cream. Nah... make it a double Sundae ice cream. With a three cherries on top... Oh man, I think I'm drooling.
"Are we there yet?" I whine as I continue to picture the unbelievingly large meal I'm gonna consume the minute we reach the town we're headed to.
"For the third time, Duo, two more miles."
"But I'm hungry!" Hee hee... I think Heero already knows that. I mean, I've only been talking about food ever since we completed our mission. I've been rambling on and on about my juicy steak and baked potatoes all flight long, nearly missing it when Heero's face popped on my screen, glaring at me and telling me that it's time to land. Even after we hid our Gundams, five miles out of town, I continued fantasizing about dancing hot dogs and greasy fries. Poor, poor, Heero, he has to put up with this for two more miles. Well, it's his fault that he had insisted on landing five miles away from the damn town!
"I swear that the minute we get there, I'm gonna charge the nearest restaurant and make sure nothing is left in the kitchen! Then I'm gonna hit the sack for a few hours and then, I'm gonna have breakfast. Then a snack before lunch... then lunch... and dinner..."
"Duo?"
"Huh?"
"Shut up."
"Oh."
We continue to walk silently, Heero glares at the ground as he walks and I picture my feast in my mind's eye.
* * *
"Ohhh... no... no... nononononono..." I whine and lean against the glass window, making big sad puppy eyes at the awfully dark and empty restaurant. I pout, biting my bottom lip. I'm gonna cry. I swear I'm gonna cry. It's closed! THE ONLY DAMN RESTURANT IN THE ENTIRE FUCKING TOWN IS CLOSED!!!
WHY?!!
I whine and whimper pathetically, my face still pressed against the cold window. I'm so hungry...
"Duo," I hear Heero's quiet voice from behind me. He sounds kind of impatient.
I remain silent and continue to stare pleadingly at the restaurant.
"Duo," He tries again, but I ignore him. I feel him take a step closer and he puts his hand on my shoulder. "C'mon Duo, looking at it won't change a thing."
My pout grows even more pathetic as I push myself away from the window and turn to look at him sadly. "Maybe they'll open later or something..." I mumble hopefully.
Heero sighs irritably, shaking his head. "Duo, it's late. Lets find somewhere to stay the night."
"But I didn't eat in two days!" I continue to wail. "TWO WHOLE DAYS!" I stomp my foot in the ground and glare at him. "There must be another place to eat!"
He glares at me, folding his arms across his chest. He has that look now. The look that says I'm-trying-to-think-whether-or-not-to-crush-you-like-the-bug-you-are look. I swallow and send him my best puppy eyes look, nearing his own face as much as possible to achieve the best effect. Believe it or not, it works. Heero sighs and his features soften.
"All right, Duo. We'll go look for another place."
"Ureshii!!" I call happily, throwing myself against him in thanks.
He only smirks a little, maybe trying not to smile, and pushes me off of him. "Don't push your luck." He warns with slight amusement as we start walking down the town's main street.
* * *
"Ohhhh... why? Why, why, why, why?!" I mumble over and over as we walk heavily down the streets, after finding no place to eat. I'm so hungry, I'm gonna faint. My mouth is watering and my stomach is rumbling. I WANT FOOD DAMMIT!
As I stomp my way beside Heero, making it clear to whoever's not watching right now, that Shinigami, is not pleased. Not pleased at all. He is HUNGRY!!!!
Of course, Mr. Perfect Soldier Yuy doesn't seem to mind that we haven't eaten in days, and so he continues walking, head up high, looking for a small motel or inn we can spend the night in. After an hour or so we find one and I leave it to Heero to take care of checking in, payment and such. I hate this crap anyway, and I am not in the mood for it. I think Heero knows that.
He finishes his business with the clerk and walks over to sulking little me. I'm waiting for him to throw me a key to my own room, but surprisingly enough, he does no such thing.
"A joint room?" I dare to ask as we walk down the hall.
Heero nods. "He didn't have enough rooms left."
"Oh." Well, you won't hear this Shinigami complain. Not at a chance to share a room with Heero. I grin, a little happier than before, as we walk over to our room.
Although we usually share a dorm in the schools we enroll to, we never sleep in the same room when in hotels. I wonder why is that. I mean, if he doesn't mind sharing a dorm, what's a little hotel room? I guess he just needs to keep a distance or something. Can't let Mr. Perfect here develop any unnecessary emotions or something, right?
We reach the door and Heero unlocks it. I take the time to read the sign on the door. My eyes grow wide. "The Honey Moon suite?!"
Heero opens the door with a glare, struggling to get the rusty doorknob to turn. He leans his weight on the door, pushing it open. "It's all he had left." He growls, his gaze daring me to say anything more.
I swallow under his harsh gaze. "Oh, neat. A suite is good, big. Yeah, good choice Heero..." I mumble as he turns away from me, shaking his head. I swear I can hear him mutter something very unpleasant under his breath.
I throw my little backpack to the floor and throw myself to the giant bed, lying on my stomach, head between two hands - sulking. I hear Heero close the door behind him and then silence. The silence lasts for an incredibly long time, even for Heero. I can't even hear his steps, as silent as they are. I raise my pouting face up a little and look at the room.
Empty.
Damn him! He left. Can't stand being in the same room with me now can you? Well fine! Who needs you anyway!? I need food, that's what I need!
And I bury my head between my hands.
God I'm hungry.
* * *
Exhaustion and hunger made me fall asleep easily, still wearing my dirty cloths and still lying with my head on my arms. The first thing I know when I begin to return to consciousness is that my arms are numb. I bet my stomach is numb too, from lack of nourishment.
I suddenly become aware of a strange noise. It's like bubbling or something. No. Different from bubbling. It's like something is cracking and sparkling. Wait a minute! It sounds like frying!
And then it hits me. The delicious aroma of cooking. I feel my mouth water again. Someone is cooking!
I bolt up, whirling my head from side to side, looking around the room.
I gasp.
Heero is standing by the small kitchen counter in our 'suite', stirring something inside a large pan. I swallow to keep myself from drooling, and get up. I inhale the appetizing smell of whatever it is he's frying as I approach him.
"Watchya making Hee-Chan?" I dare to ask, looking over his shoulder and down at the stove.
"Food."
I pout, planting two hands on my hips. "Yeah, I can see that. But what?" Oh wow, I didn't know the guy could cook! If it were up to me, this small kitchen would be on fire right now. Cooking and me don't get along.
He shoves me away as I start snooping around him, trying to take a look at what he's doing. But he doesn't let me get around him. The smell is driving me crazy! I gotta know what's in there!
I stand behind him, jumping up in the air, trying to get a glimpse of the pan.
Heero chuckles. "Would you calm down Duo? It'll be ready soon." He says, clearly amused by my futile efforts.
I mope again, folding two hands across my chest. "Yes, but what will be ready!?" I whine. "C'mon Hee-Chan, tell me!!"
He chuckles again and steps aside a little, allowing me to stand in front of the small stove. I grin as I approach it and look down at the pan. I blink, then look up at Heero. "This is not a steak." I state the obvious, pouting sadly.
Heero sighs, shaking his head. "No it isn't." He confirms, pushing me aside a little so he could continue stirring. I now notice that he's using those freaky little chopsticks in orders to stir.
I look down at the pan again, then at him. "It's not a burger either..." I mumble sadly, looking up at him.
Now Heero is pissed. I know it because he blows a few strings of hairs out of his eyes. It's a clear sign that he is irritated. "No, Duo, it isn't a burger." He growls and reaches a hand to take a nearby bottle. He pours in some weird dark and smelly sauce.
I dare one last try before succumbing to my fate. "Not fries either, huh?" I ask bitterly.
"No, no fries!" He grounds out angrily and reaches for another bottle of... oil, I think. Oh yuck! It's sesame oil! Yuck, yuck, YUCK!!!!
"So we're eating... noodles?" I ask uncertainly, watching his hands as they stir the thin white noodles.
Heero nods and reaches for the first bottle of sauce. It's soy sauce.
I watch him carefully as he adds more of the stinky sauce to the dish and I pout, unhappy. Here I am wishing for something dead on my plate, and instead I get sushi! Well, not sushi, but you know what I mean! Stir-fried noodles?! I mean, macaroni and cheese, okay, Japanese noodles... that's not food, it's... mush.
All gloomy and unsatisfied thoughts just flee my mind as I keep watching him work. All must know by now that I have this little queer obsession about those long elegant fingers of his, and I find myself enchanted by the way they move as he holds the chopsticks and stir the thin white noodles. He moves so gracefully, like he's performing a dance between sticks and the long pale strings. I didn't know cooking could look so graceful.
I look up as I see him reach for another bottle and I gasp. "Coca Cola?!"
Heero chuckles, pouring it in. "Hmm hm. Coca Cola."
"But-but--- but..." This is disgusting!!! "Are you suppose to put it in there?!" I ask, shocked. I may know zit about cooking, but I know that coca cola is NOT your everyday cooking ingredient in Japan!
Heero only sighs weakly, shaking his head. He picks up a bunch of noodles, handing them to my mouth. "Try it." He says, looking at me so intensely, I have no choice but to nod and do as ordered. I bend my head forward and sweep the noodles off the sticks with my mouth. I chew on it hesitantly, afraid I might puke or something. But surprise surprise, this thing is so yummy; it's to die for! Maybe it's because I'm so hungry, but there is a celebration of flavors in my mouth, and I can't help but grin at him as I swallow eagerly. "This is great!" I call, stunned. "Where'd ya come up with this?!"
He shrugs and turns back to his stirring. "Call it a cooking accident."
I chuckle, folding two arms across my chest, sending him a mock scowl. "Heero Yuy had an accident!?" I call in mock surprise. "Why I better go check for the four horsemen outside, for it must be the end of the world!"
"Cut it out." He grumbles, and I swear that I have embarrassed him.
I smile and lean casually against the wall. For a long time I just stand there and watch him cook. He has this cute concentrated expression on his face, and he is sweating a little, under the heat of the pan. I smile to myself as he reaches up a hand to wipe the sweat off his brow and then he runs his fingers through his hair, pushing it upwards and out of his eyes. Of course, the minute he lets go, the unruly dark strings go right back down to their usual place. But I am content enough by watching him run his fingers through his hair. It makes my legs weak.
"Where'd ya get the food anyway?" I ask, as the silence gets less pleasant and more annoying. Besides, I have to do something to pass the time as he cooks.
"There's a seven eleven, about a mile out of town." He answers silently, as he continues to stir.
"You walked all the way back there?"
"No, I ran."
"You ran?!" Why the hell for?!
Heero shrugs, refusing to meet my eyes.
God, why did he do that? Run all the way outside of town, to get me food? I know he is as tired as I am, so why?
"Why won't you go shower?" He suddenly suggests. "It'll be a couple of more minutes 'till it's ready." He reaches for a small bag full of already sliced veggies, tearing it and pouring them into the pan.
I look down at my cloths and frown. I stink! "I think you're right."
"Hurry up though, it'll be ready soon."
I grin. "No problem man! I just won't wash my hair!" I look around the room for something to hold my hair up with. I grin deviously as I spot a small bag full of Japanese chopsticks right next to Heero.
He turns to look at me, startled, as I snatch two sticks. I raise my braid up with a twist, twisting it into a bun and spear the chopsticks through it to hold it in place.
He frowns, then scowls at me. "What are you doing baka?"
"What's it look like? I don't wanna get my hair wet!"
Heero sighs in exasperation and rolls his eyes. "Chopsticks are eating utensils, not hair accessories." He snarls, voice lacing with annoyance.
I keep the grin on as I make my way to the shower, waving my goodbye as I reach up a hand to secure the sticks in their place, teasing him.
"Chk! Americans..." He mutters under his breath and continues his work. "Next thing you know he'll be asking for ketchup!"
* * *
"Is there any ketchup to go with this?" I ask, just to tease, as we sit together to eat. We are sitting on a make shift table on the floor, just like in these Japanese restaurants I never agreed to dine in.
Heero glares at me and I grin. "No, huh?" I look down at my little bowl of delicious smelling food and pout. "Well, can I at least have a fork?"
He sighs and keeps glaring. "You can't eat it with a fork."
"Why not? I can eat spaghetti with a fork."
"Yeah, but..."
"If I can eat spaghetti, then I can eat this, no?"
"I guess so..."
"So hand me the fork."
"But..."
"Besides," I add before he has more time to protest. "I have no idea how to use these freaky little things, so I rather stick with what I know."
"Can't you at least give it a try?" He asks, nearly pleading. I wonder why is this so important to him. It's just two sticks for crying out loud!
Oh no. He's giving me that look. Not the 'omae o korosu' look, but that adorable little pouting face that you wouldn't believe he's capable of making. How can he not? He learned from the puppy-eyes expert, did he not? It's true what they say; a student always exceeds his teacher.
The look works. Damn him, I wonder if he made that look on purpose or it just slipped. With him, you can never know.
I sigh and look down at my chopsticks. How hard can it be? Right?
So, while hoping I won't make a bigger fool outta myself, I grab the two plastic sticks and hold them up to my face. I just stare at them, frowning, thinking how the hell I'm gonna use them.
I send a glance over at the now satisfied Heero and frown. I watch him as he eats, trying to learn how to even hold the things. Goodness, I have no time for this! I want food God dammit! My mouth is watering and I am about to drool all over my tee shirt, but no... I have to learn how to use the freaking chopsticks!
"Duo?" Heero looks up at me in question. "What's wrong?" He asks, putting his own sticks down.
I scowl at him, angry. "I toldchya, I have no idea how to use these things! Give me a damn fork already!"
He chuckles and wipes his mouth with a napkin. I gape at him as he rounds the table and comes to sit next to me. "Watch and learn, baka." He says, not unkindly, reaching his hands to adjust my grip around the plastic sticks.
I look up at him, startled, as I feel his slender fingers around my own, guiding me finger by finger, adjusting each to its up right and secured position. I shudder at his touch and look down at our joint hands. I smile to myself at that sight. Our hands look so good together, like they were meant to be like that, laced perfectly into one another.
I suddenly become aware that Heero was speaking to me. I turn my gaze up to look at him. "... and you separate them like this. Got it?"
I nod, having no idea what he had just said.
He frowns. "Duo, were you even listening to me?"
"Hm?"
He rolls his eyes. "About the sticks, were you listening?"
"Oh, um..." I feel my face grow hot as I blush. "Yeah, but, um, can... can you repeat it please? I don't think I fully got it yet."
"It's not that hard you baka!" He says harshly, smacking me over the head with the sticks. "Much easier than controlling Deathscythe while you're blind folded."
I smirk at the memory. "But I managed it, didn't I?"
He rolls his eyes again and sighs. "Yeah you did. Now try to do the same with this!" I feel his hand guide mine again, but I cannot turn my head away to look at them. I find myself mesmerized by the way his lips move as he speaks - a rare sight indeed. His voice grows dimmer in my head and I just watch his lips, as they move in slow motion, not even bothering to read what they are trying to tell me. I never noticed that he has such beautiful lips. So thin and smooth, their color soft pink, tempting to be kissed...
"...and that's it. Now will you try?" He asks, irritated.
I manage to slightly nod, eyes now unfocused, just staring at his lips. My mind barely registers that he had left my hand alone, and only when he crawls back to his seat I jerk my headed back to my bowl and the stupid chopsticks.
Don't ask me how I did it, but I actually manage to work the damn things and serve food to my mouth. Heero seemed pretty pleased by that fact, which only encouraged me to go on. Eventually, after I dropped a few things and spilled half my food, I got the hang of it and began to DEVOUR my meal.
* * *
I ignored the way Heero was just gaping at me when I served myself more food, for the fifth time. He may find one and a half bowl of noodles satisfying enough, after not eating for two days, but I for my part need to feel my pants about to explode before I can agree with my protesting stomach that I am full.
I begin to consume my fifth course, kind of enjoying the chopsticks thing. It's kinda fun to eat with them, and apparently, much quicker...
I feel Heero's stunned gaze on me and I look up, seeing him still gaping at me. I raise an eyebrow in question. "Hmm?" I muffle, mouth full.
Heero snaps his mouth shut, looking away. "Oh... nothing. Nothing..." He hurries to say, his hands resting on his knees, fingers fidgeting.
"What?!" I demand as I continue to eat.
He still won't look at me. I glare at him and he probably noticed, so he turns to face me. "How can you eat so much?" He asks quietly, eyeing the empty pan and me fearfully.
I shrug and toss a few veggies into my mouth. "Well, if you would have bought something with MEAT in it, I wouldn't have to eat like this."
He makes a face, frowning. Well, not just frowning. It's a weird face, like sulking. Or pouting, or... I dunno. Gee, I thought I could read 'Yuy', but this is a new expression. I'm now curious. "What's with the face Hee-Chan?" I dare to ask.
"Huh?" He looks at me, startled, like he didn't know he had made that unpleased/disgusted face.
"Whatchya sulking about?" I ask, more gingerly this time.
"Oh, um... nothing much." He says, turning away.
I pout, unhappy that he is avoiding me. Then it hits me. It was the meat comment, right? Kinda think of it, I've never seen Heero eat meat. Whenever I offered a nice juicy burger, he would suddenly claim that he was not hungry. Yeah right, I can tell when a person is hungry. Believe me, I can. I've seen so many starved faces and expressions, some my own, and I can tell a famished look when I see one. He just didn't want to eat it. God! Am I a blind bastard or what?! And to think I once forced him to try eating a steak. And he did! Poor thing, he had thrown it up later. He said he was sick.
Duo no baka! Heero's a vegetarian!
I smile kindly at him. "There's nothing wrong with that, Heero."
His head whirls around and he looks at me, alarmed.
I keep smiling at him and I shrug. "It's cool. Lots of people don't like meat."
He looks away. "Yeah, weak people..." He mumbles, almost inaudibly.
"Who put that idea in your head?!" I exclaim harshly. "It has nothing to do with weaknesses. It's a choice you made and people should respect that."
He sighs, still not facing me, gaze at the floor. "Yeah, but..." He sighs again, sadly this time. "Soldiers aren't..." He mumbles, and I'm surprised that I picked it up, for his voice was no louder than a whisper. "They aren't..."
"Heero, this is your body, you do whatever you want with it. No one can tell you what to eat." I grin. "Ya know, it kinda suits you! I should have figured you're a vegetarian! Man, I'm sorry 'bout the steak thing..."
He chuckles. "It's all right." He lets out, sounding a little uncomfortable under the spotlight here. He reaches his hand up to the back of his head, rubbing it sheepishly. Kawaii...
I too cough nervously as the silence gets a little too awkward for my liking. I look up and about the room and my eyes spot the large bed. The only bed. I grin deviously and turn back to Heero. "Well, it's been yum, but I think we better hit the sack. We gotta long day tomorrow." I get up and take our plates with me, discarding them into the sink.
Heero gets up as well, still scratching his head in that unsecured way of his. He'll probably kill me if I'll mention that he's doing that. I don't think he's aware of it at all. I look at him as I clear the plates, and I see that he is eyeing the bed cautiously. I grin as I dry my hands and walk over to him. "You can have the bed if ya want, I'll take the couch."
He looks at me, stunned. "Are you sure?"
I shrug. "Yeah, I mean, you cooked and all, so you get the bed."
"Oh." He lets out, dropping his gaze to the floor. He looks up at the couch, then back at the bed. "It's a big bed, I mean, um, it-it won't be too bad if we'll, um..."
"Share?" I ask, amused by his embarrassment. It's becoming a regular sight now days.
Heero nods his head, eyes refusing to meet my own. "I mean, I don't mind..."
I send him a beaming smile. "I don't mind if you don't mind."
He smiles, probably thinking that we can go on forever like this. He takes a deep breath and regains the soldier's composure, head high, face determined. "Fine then. I'll go to shower, you do the dishes."
"Now wait a mi-" I call, but he ignores me and heads to the shower. I sigh and turn to look at the dishes. "Fine, you asked for it..." Just don't blame me if there won't be any dishes left...
OWARI
I dunno about you, but I'm gonna go to the kitchen and fry me up some noodles. I'm starved!