~Bound~

Chapter Six

“It’s no surprise to me

I am my own worst enemy

‘Cause every now and then I kick the living shit out of me.”

-My Own Worst Enemy by Lit

Duo woke to a *very* familiar cry.

“I AM GOING TO FUCKING *KILL* YOU, MAXWELL!”

‘Hm, looks like Heero managed to get out of my cuffs.’

Duo’s train of thought was abruptly cut off as he was jerked roughly from his bed. The cold steel of a gun barrel was shoved against his temple as a seething whisper sounded in his ears.

“Say hello to my little friend. You two are going to be become *very* well acquainted.”

An unimpressed snort drew the attention of both men.

“Firstly”, Hilde said, arms folded over her nightgown, “Heero, that was corny, even for you.”

Heero glared. “I spent the whole damn shuttle ride thinking that up.”

Hilde shot him a skeptical look. “Don’t quit your day job, hon. And *secondly* what nerve do you two boys have waking me up in the middle of the night? Take it outside.”

“Sorry Hilde.” Heero muttered, and grabbed Duo by the collar of his shirt, dragging him out of the hotel room.

“Hey! Hilde was the one who thought up the whole plan in the first place! How come *she* doesn’t get a gun to her head at 3 am?!” Duo complained, wincing as he felt the rug burn.

“That’s different.” Heero said matter-of-factly, eyes straight ahead the whole time.

”But, WHY!?” Duo shouted, clearly exasperated.

“Because, Maxwell, every self respecting person who’s *ever* met you knows that your evil is like the bubonic plague- it catches quickly and lethally. No one is safe. Hilde, being the saint she is, tried to overlook all that, but it seems to have spread to her as well. Pity. She was a good pilot.”

Duo let out a frustrated sigh. “So, it’s all my fault?”

“You’re sharper than you look.” Heero retorted, still dragging his friend behind him.

As Duo was pulled out the door and around the corner, he locked eyes with the petite blue-eyed girl sitting comfortably on the bed. Smiling brilliantly, she immediately stuck her tongue out at her doomed boyfriend. Duo scowled and Hilde got a breathtaking view of a particular finger. Her laughter echoed throughout the room as Duo slid from sight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There was a resounding thump as Heero landed a well-oiled fist into Duo’s abdomen.

“OW! Shit, man, that hurt!” Duo grunted, doubling over.

“That is only one HUNDREDTH of the pain I’ve been through.” Heero stated coldly, cracking his knuckles.

Duo groaned, one arm curled protectively around his abused abdomen, the other held up in a gesture signaling that he needed a minute.

“What do you mean…pain?” He gasped, regarding the stoic Japanese boy with confusion. “Annoying, yeah. Inconvenient, yeah. But PAINFUL? Did we put them on too tight or something?”

“Shut up.” Heero bit out, attempting to land another blow.

Duo blocked expertly, long accustomed to the unique method his best friend chose to vent his frustrations.

“Heero, don’t ignore the question! Answer me!” Duo gave him a stern look.

Heero glared back, completely disregarding the command. “Just shut your mouth and fight me. This is all because of you and your stupid handcuffs.”

Duo sighed before swiftly crouching and spinning, letting one outstretched and tensed leg knock Heero completely off his footing. He landed heavily against the pavement, light exploding across his eyelids when his skull cracked against the concrete. Duo stood, walked over, and planted one bare foot in the middle of Heero’s chest. The braided man loomed over his felled friend, hands on hips in frustration.

“Allow me to rephrase the question. How badly did you screw yourself over this time?”

Shaking his head to clear away the stars that seemed to dance across his vision, Heero growled and grabbed Duo’s ankle. Summoning his strength, he threw the taller man off him and twisted, sending Duo spinning. The braided man was obviously not expecting this and yelped as he landed right next to his best friend, his breath leaving him in a giant ‘whoosh’.

“Shit.” He gasped, coughing slightly “This must be bad.”

Heero squeezed his eyes shut. “You have no idea. She’s re-assigning me.”

“Motherfucker.” Duo whispered after a brief pause. “It takes a huge show of monumental stupidity to even irk Relena. What did you *do*?!”

Heero scowled. “I wasn’t thinking, okay!? Trowa interrupted us and I was all disoriented and all I wanted was that stupid key so I wouldn’t be forced to…forced to…”

Heero broke off mid sentence, a sullen glare settling on his defined features.

Duo looked at him expectantly. “Forced to?” He prompted. Heero pressed his lips together in an act of defiance. Duo poked him hard, annoyed with his silence. That seemed to be enough prodding, because Heero shot him a customary death glare before opening his mouth to respond.

“Look, I didn’t want to be forced to confront my feelings about her, happy now?!” He huffed, avoiding Duo’s gaze.

Duo stared at Heero as if he had just discovered the former Gundam pilot religiously took interpretive dance classes. “Wow…Heero I think that’s the closest I’ve ever heard you get to admitting you care about her.”

“So take a fucking picture.”

Duo raised a sly eyebrow. “So…what *exactly* was Trowa interrupting? Hmmm…?”

Heero groaned and threw an arm over his eyes.

Duo cackled with glee. “You scored! Heero Yuy ACTUA- oof!”

Heero removed his elbow from Duo’s side. “I didn’t have sex with her, you idiot. We were just kissing! I swear, you’re worse than you were when we were fifteen.”

Duo gave him an amazed look. “Kissing? You got her to kiss you!? Heero-Stick-Up-His-Ass-Yuy ACTUA-” WHAP!

Duo rubbed his stinging cheek and pouted. “You slap worse than Hilde.”

Heero snorted. “Then she goes too easy on you.”

“Alright, so, after Trowa caught you playing tonsil hockey, then what?”

Heero sighed. “He wouldn’t give me the key. He said something about your intuition being accurate-“

“Damn straight.” Duo flashed the artificial colony sky a smug grin.

“Are you going to listen or not?” Heero growled.

Duo turned his eyes back the man sprawled out next to him. “Please, continue.” He plastered a fake eager smile on his face and propped himself up on one of his elbows, the very picture of an attentive listener.

“And no smart ass remarks.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I chased him down, after I put my pants on. NO smart ass remarks, remember?!”

Duo snapped his fingers and sulked.

“I caught up with him in the shuttle bay. We scuffled and he got the best of me. And then I …said some things. She got mad and grabbed the key from Trowa and unlocked her cuff. Told me I took advantage of her vulnerability, never wanted to see me again. Left with Trowa. I sat there for a while and decided to find you and beat you up.”

“That’s logical.” Duo quipped sarcastically.

“Duo…” Heero warned.

“I know, I know, no smart ass remarks. Heero, what *exactly* did you say that pissed her off so bad?”

Heero scratched his head in thought. “I don’t know…I think it was something about the fact I said that this was the worst thing that had ever happened to me after we had been…um…intimate.”

“Jesus.” Duo sighed, running a hand over his face, “Heero, you were born with a foot stuck in your mouth.”

“I reiterate- *I wasn’t thinking*. You try being in a state of constant sexual frustration for a week on top of a thorough ass-kicking and we’ll see how coherent *you* are.”

“Good point.” Duo admitted. “So, she’s reassigning you?”

“Yes. Apparently it’s her top priority. She told me not to bother coming in Monday.”

“Ouch.” Duo cringed.

“Yeah…ouch.”

The two men fell silent, both staring upward, expressions blank.

Suddenly Duo grinned broadly, smacking a fist against his open palm. “That’s *it*.”

Heero gave him a wary glance. “Let me guess…you…”

“Have an idea.” Duo smiled devilishly.

Heero stared at him silently for a few minutes. “That scares me…yet…at the same time I’m grossly fascinated.”

“Not to mention desperate.” Duo cheerfully pointed out.

“So tell me what it involves.”

“I will, but first we need to get a hold of Wufei. He’s essential.”

Heero nodded and rolled easily to his feet. Duo stumbled up after him, wincing at the various pains and aches assaulting his poor body. “Now I’m gonna have gravel in my hair.” He whined, shaking out his braid.

Heero shrugged. “You were open.”

“You’re just lucky I put up with your bad habits.” Duo grumbled.

“You’re just lucky I tolerate *yours*.” Heero shot back.

“Touché!” Duo laughed as they entered the building.

“And thanks.” Heero added quietly.

Duo screeched to a halt. “What was that?”

Heero stared at the light fixtures of the hotel lobby. “Thanks. Y’know. For listening to me and…trying to help fix things… even if this was your own idiotic fault in the first place.”

Duo was speechless for a good minute. Which is impressive for Duo. A warm smile spread across his face as he slapped Heero on the back. “No problem, Yuy. What are friends for?”

“Don’t touch me.”

“Right, right.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Relena,” Une sighed gently, resting her clasped hands on her desktop, “are you sure you want to do this?”

Relena met her unwavering gaze. “Of course I am.”

“But, why? It seems so…sudden…” Une remarked, concern marking her features.

“Please don’t question my motives, Lady Une. Things just aren’t working out between Heero and myself. The working environment would become…strained.”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the week you took off, would it?”

‘Damn, she’s good.’ Relena did her best to keep a straight face. “Of course not. What would make you think that?”

“Relena, I’m sleeping with Trowa. You think I wouldn’t notice his sudden disappearance?” She smiled vaguely.

Relena deflated. “I hate you.”

“Yes, I know.” Une replied casually, studying a finely polished nail. “So drop the poker face and tell me what’s going on.”

Relena frowned. “Heero’s an ass, that’s what’s going on.”

“If this is news to you, Relena, then I’m going to have suggest you go see a psychiatrist about delusions.”

Relena glared at her. “Your sarcasm is *so* not appreciated.”

“Neither is your avoidance.” Une countered.

Relena pressed her lips together in a thin line. Une smiled triumphantly.

“You forget, I wore *two* politicians’ masks at one point. Your tactics are brilliant, but you’re still a novice.”

The young President let out her breath slowly. Fixing her eyes on the decorative vase on a small table she began to relate her tale.

“Hilde was in town with Duo. That’s why I took off work- I was planning to spend time with them. Only, that’s not what ended up happening. Hilde and Duo got Heero and I drunk, and while we were passed out, they handcuffed us together.”

Une sighed. “Duo and his brilliant ideas.”

Relena’s smile was melancholy. “It would’ve been a simple matter of getting the cuffs cut off- *if* they were normal handcuffs.”

“What do you mean ‘if they were normal’?”

“Duo discovered a new alloy recently. He forged them into handcuffs as a sort of test. He used Heero and myself as the guinea pigs. The alloy was stronger than gundanium, more durable than gundanium. We tried to pick the locks, but it didn’t work. Duo had gone into hiding. We went to Howard, as a last resort.” Here Relena pulled up short.

“So? Did Howard get the cuffs off?”

“No.” Relena replied. “No. I yelled at Heero. He had been so cold to me throughout the whole ordeal. And just when I thought he was getting over it, he’d retract back into his shell. I asked him why he hated me so much and he…and he kissed me.”

Une raised an eyebrow. Relena blushed slightly.

“Trowa walked in on us. He had the key. He took one look at our rather compromising position and turned right back around, intending to get back in his shuttle and leave us be. Heero chased after him. Trowa said he wouldn’t give Heero the key because this was the best thing that ever happened to him. And Heero informed him that he was mistaken- that it had been torture being handcuffed to me. That this was the *worst* thing that had ever happened to him.”

A tear escaped a prison of thick lashes to slid down Relena’s cheek. “Bastard.” She whispered, hugging her sides.

Relena’s hurt was obvious- and not new, it seemed. There was a sense of worn rawness in her expression, like a wound relentlessly chafed over time- never healing, never fading.

“What did you do?” Une asked in a gentle voice.

Relena straightened, hitching her chin up a few notches as she composed herself. “What any other self respecting woman would do. I grabbed the key from Trowa and unlocked my cuff. I told Heero I never wanted to see him again, resolved to reassign him, and left with Trowa.”

Une nodded. “I’m glad you put him in his place. But, Relena…do you think that maybe you acted a little hastily?”

The young woman curled her hands into angry fists. “I consider myself a tolerant person- but this crosses the line. I’ve given him plenty of opportunities to show he cares. I’ve tried so *hard* to be strong for him. To live up to what he- and everyone else for that matter- expects from me. But I am *only human*…” Her voice broke, and she took a shuddering breath to calm herself. “He’s made himself perfectly clear. And no matter how much I love him, I refuse to hold onto somebody that will never give me anything more than poorly veiled resentment.”

“Did you talk to him about this? Give him a chance to explain himself? People just don’t go around kissing people they don’t even like, you know.”

Relena glared at the carpet. “He doesn’t deserve a chance to explain.”

“Not for him. For you.”

Relena looked at Une. “Huh?”

“I know how much that hurt you, Relena. Maybe it would help if you understood his motives.”

Relena nodded quietly, turning this over in her head. “I’ll think about it.”

“Do you still want to go through with the reassignment?” Une asked.

Relena weighed the situation carefully. Even if he explained- something she didn’t even expect he’d do- that didn’t guarantee that he cared about her. It only offered clarity. Separation would hurt…but…

“Yes.” She decided. She felt her heart constrict at the words and her throat clog. Damn Heero. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go back to work.”

Without waiting for Une’s parting greeting, she rose from the wooden chair and walked out of the office.

Une gazed after her with sad eyes. “Of course, Miss President.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN : Wow, this is Bound’s 2^nd major revision 0_0. I just need to learn when to stop LOL- anywho, I had a feeling that this story reached it’s conclusion perhaps a *bit* too abruptly, and there were parts I glossed over, (Bound was actually only supposed to be 4 chapters long- now it’s twice that length) so I went back and tried to smooth that over a little better ^_^ Hence why this chapter, and the following one, will be shorter than the others- originally, I actually concluded this story in just this chapter- but I didn’t think it flowed well, so I separated it into two parts, and elaborated on certain events. Anywho- just a tidbit LOL

The Soundtrack:

Insane in the Membrane by Cypress Hill

Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J

Lifestyle of the Rich and the Famous by New Found Glory

Leaving Town by Dexter Freebish

My Own Worst Enemy by Lit