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A New Future
Chapter Four: Shopping part 2
When Duo and Quatre got back to where they were supposed to meet Wufei and
Heero, the other boys were already waiting. They were both leaning against the
wall, bags in-between them, arms crossed, Wufei tapping his foot impatiently.
Duo looked them over. Despite the glare Heero shot random by- passers, he looked
pretty cool, leaning against the wall like that. He looked so. . . normal. Like
any kid their age. Except that he wasn't any kid their age, he was Heero.
Duo and Quatre walked up to the other two. Duo was about to make a funny remark
on the fact that they were both standing in the same position when Heero spoke
first. "You're late."
"We are?" Duo made it sound as if that was just the stupidest thing
Heero could possible say, but his roommate simply ignored that.
"Yes, you should have been here half an hour ago, Maxwell. It's three
o'clock."
"It is?" Duo questioned. "Well, how were we supposed to know? We
don't have watches."
Wufei was about to comment when Quatre decided he wanted to avoid trouble in a
public place as this. "I'm hungry, let's find a place to eat."
"Yes, let's do that." Wufei said, still glaring at Duo. "The
sooner we're done with that, the faster we can get to the rest of the
presents."
They headed for a self-service restaurant where they all grabbed trey. They
walked over to the drinks first. Heero got a sprite and Quatre a diet coke while
Wufei and Duo took a normal cola. Then they went over to the food. Duo glanced
at what the others took. Heero had a sausage-roll, Quatre a donut and Wufei
decided he wasn't hungry.
"I'll take a salad sandwich." Duo muttered to himself
"Going healthy, Maxwell?" Duo grunted at the smaller boy's comment but
said nothing and walked over to where the salad sandwiches were, only to see
that there were two left. On his way there he saw how somebody grabbed one of
them. Now there was only one left. He hurried forward and grabbed the thing, not
even bothering taking a plate first. But just as he did so, someone else reached
for it as well.
"Hey! That's mine, I saw it first!"
Duo blinked as he looked up, recognising the voice. "Hilde?"
The girl holding the sandwich now looked up as well. She looked at him for a
moment before she recognised him. "Duo?"
Duo grinned. "We really have to stop meeting like this... Share?"
"Sure." The girl shrugged. "Why not."
Duo and Hilde walked to the counter where the other three were already waiting
in the line to pay for their stuff. It was hard to find an empty table because
the restaurant was very crowded. When they finally found one they put their
trays down. Duo then introduced Hilde as they took their seats.
"So, what'chya doin' here, Hilde, Shopping for Christmas as well?" Duo
asked as he cut the sandwich in half.
"No, I had to order some fireworks for my dad. He owns a café in the city
and expects a lot of visitors on old-years-eve so he sent me to order some extra
stuff."
"Your dad owns a café? Sounds cool. What's it called? Maybe we'll come by
sometime."
"It's called 'The Miller'."
"Your dad owns the Miller?" This time it was Wufei who spoke.
"Yeah, ever been there?" Hilde asked him. "Lot's of people our
age go there every week.
"I've been there a few times. It's a good place, not too expensive either."
"That's because we charge entree. Most clubs don't do that. Hey, you know
what? I got a few tickets left to give out for old years eve, wanna have them?
They'll get you in for free."
"You can give them away for free?" Duo asked her.
"Sure, as long as you're fifteen or older and promise to come." She
smiled at the boys and the four of them nodded.
"Sure we'll come!" Duo said cheerfully. Then he hesitated a moment and
turned to the boys. "Uhm. . . We ARE allowed to go out that night, right?"
"Yes, Maxwell, in our grade we are allowed out until 3.00 that night."
"Maxwell?" Hilde turned to Duo. "You live in the orphanage or
something or is that just coincidence?"
Duo did his best to keep his grin up but his heart sank to the ground. He never
liked telling people where he lived out of fear for how they would reacto on it.
And he happened to like this girl he had only met twice now. How would she react
to him being an orphan? Surely that would mean she'd push him away or something.
But there was no point in lying now. Not in front of the others who were already
answering affirmative.
So instead he started playing the act as he had done so many times before.
He got up from his chair and offered Hilde his hand. When she took it he shook
it, never loosing his grin. "The one and only Duo Maxwell From Maxwell
Orphanage. That's me!" He made a semi-respective bow. "Nice to meet
you, mademoiselle."
Hilde couldn't help but giggle. "You're crazy, you know that?"
At that Wufei muttered something that very much sounded like 'try living with
him' but decided not to react any further on it.
Duo sat down again, never loosing his grin. He glanced around until his eyes met
with Heero's. The boy was eyeing him suspiciously but he didn't say a word. But
Duo decided not to ask either. Heero had been acting weird all day. He hadn't
said a word since the 'you're late' part and he'd been scowling all the time.
He wondered what was wrong with his roommate. Of course, the boy never was one
of many words, but to be this silent and down was even for him unnatural. He
made it a point to ask him, but not now for it would only get him more angry. He
wasn't in the mood to deal with an angry Heero right now. He just hoped he'd get
the chance to talk to the elder boy soon enough. Maybe, if he were lucky, he
would get to do the next round of Christmas shopping with him. He decided to try
his luck immediately.
"So, what will be the next pairings?"
Quatre shrugged. Duo knew the smaller two of the group still weren't the best of
friends. Quatre was probably hoping to get to go with Heero as well. This time,
however, Heero spoke up, making his own decision.
"Wufei still needs something for Quatre."
That meant he'd have to team up with Duo. The braided one nodded, hiding his
disappointment. "That's settled then. Heero and Quatre go together and
Wufei's coming with me. Wanna join, Hilde?"
But the girl shook her head. "Not today, I got errands to run for my dad.
Speaking of that," she glanced at her watch, "I'd better get going now."
She got up from her chair and smiled to the others. "Bye Duo, everybody,
nice to meet you."
They all, except for Heero who just nodded in acknowledgement, said their
goodbyes to her. When she was out of sight, Wufei glanced around and, noticing
that everybody was done eating, he got up, announcing their departure as well.
". . . After all," he concluded his announcement, "we got half an
hour behind schedule thanks to a certain braided idiot."
Duo, semi-offended, pouted at him. "Hey, that's no fair! I'm not the only
one without a watch, you know!" They gathered their plates and forks and
knives together.
Wufei rolled his eyes, though no one saw it since they were walking in a line,
zigzagging between the other customers, trying to reach the counter to deliver
their treys.. "At least Heero and I both got a watch so this time you can
be back in time."
When the four had set a new time for them to meet again they split up. Duo
winked ate Quatre and Heero who were going in the opposite direction of Wufei
and him.
"Be back in time!" He waved happily. Quatre smiled at him but Heero
ignored him completely.
"Geez, what's up with HIM?" Duo asked now that Wufei and him were
finally alone... for as far they could be in a mall full of people.
"He doesn't like Christmas." The shorter one answered.
"Why not?"
Wufei shrugged. "I don't know. Better stay away from him as much as
possible during Christmas. Last year they practically had to drag him out of his
room when they were opening gifts."
"That's the opposite of Quatre." Duo said as he remembered the smile
on the boy's face that had been there ever since they'd left the playroom that
morning. "He seems to love it."
"That's just because he knows that this year he's going to get presents
from someone other than the leaders."
Duo blinked. "What do you mean?"
Wufei shrugged. "Last year he bought a few presents for some kids, but no-
one bought him a present back."
"Not even Heero?" Duo asked. "I thought they were friends?"
"Heero never bought anything for anybody. This is the first time he does.
Took me two weeks to get him this far so you'd better be grateful."
Duo sighed.
'Poor Quatre, having to deal with Heero alone now.'
"So," the braided youth decided to change subject. "What are you
buying Quatre?"
"Dunno yet." Wufei shrugged again. "I'll see."
"Lemme guess, you were hoping I could give you some ideas, right?"
"Do I look like I want your advice?" The smaller male shot back.
Duo grinned and put his hands up in defence. "Aww, don't worry, I won't
tell anyone. But because you ask so nicely I'll help you out."
"Maxwell. . ." Wufei was nearly growling now.
"Self defence." Duo said quickly, remembering the admiration in
Quatre's voice as he'd said he would love to be able to do martial arts.
"Huh?"
"Self defence." Duo repeated. "You know, like martial arts and
stuff."
"Right. And how in Nataku's world am I going to pay for a tutor,
Maxwell?"
"I never said you would have to get a tutor."
"You mean. . ."
Duo grinned. It was the perfect idea. That way those two would actually spend
time together without having Heero and Duo there as well.
The rest of the afternoon went fast as both boys already knew what to buy for
the others. Duo decided to give Quatre a new video game, after all, he loved
playing with Duo's. This game had more than just Tetris on it and Duo was sure
it would keep the younger boy occupied for a while.
Wufei obviously had the same idea as Duo when it came to keeping Heero away from
the computer. He bought his best friend a basketball. Though the winter had just
come so Heero wouldn't be able to play basketball outside for a while, he could
always use it in the gym or something.
They didn't have to wait long for Heero and Quatre to arrive back on their
meeting spot, but one look at the pair was enough to know that something had
happened. Quatre wasn't at all like his cheerful self, in fact, he looked
somewhere between sad and agitated and Heero's face was like a thunderstorm.
People noticing this even did their best to stay out of the angry teenager's way.
But as they came closer Duo saw Heero had a soon-to-be black eye and several
cuts in his blue jacket. Luckily Duo didn't spot any blood, though. Still it was
strange. Had Heero been in a fight?
Wufei, leaning against the wall as he had been when waiting for Duo and Quatre
earlier that day, met Heero's glare, but chose to ignore it as the boy was
glaring at anyone who dared to meet his eyes. He looked his best friend over
before he decided to state the obvious. "Yuy, you look like shit."
Duo narrowed his eyes as he scanned both boys for any more bruises. To his
relieve Quatre seemed all right, but he was obviously worried about Heero.
"What happened?" Duo asked asked.
Quatre opened his mouth to speak, but Heero beat him to it. "Nothing."
He said, his tone leaving no room for further questions. After hearing this as
well, Quatre closed his mouth again as he chose to remain silent.
Duo decided not to take his chances by either the already agitated blonde or the
ever-scowling-or-else-glaring Heero. He'd do that later. Wufei was obviously
thinking the same as he started for the exit. The rain had stopped and the boys
decided to walk the rest of the way back to the orphanage. They still had 45
minutes left till dinnertime so it left them time enough to walk back in silence,
not even Duo tried to speak up as he was trying to find a way to get his elder
roommate to talk later tonight. Maybe he'd better ask Quatre after all.
~ T.B.C. ~