Stolen Kisses: Three’s A Crowd:

 

The report from the gun was deafening, the sharp ricochet of the bullet off the paved road even worse as the sharp shards of gravel flew up to scrape the side of Rei’s face. The Japanese man was stunned and astounded, his words long forgotten as he felt the warm trickle of his blood slide down his cheek and into his mouth. He stared dumbly at the boy pointing the still smoking weapon at him, unable to think up something coherent in response to the latest antic. His mind was blank at the moment. Painfully blank even though a dull voice at the back of his mind told him that he was beginning to tread on dangerous ground and had to be even more careful.

 

He was dealing with a mad man.

 

If anyone was more surprised at what had happened, it was the shooter himself. Duo had not really wanted to fire the gun, let alone at Rei, but a feeling of anger and helplessness within him had caused him to bring out the weapon…in self-defense? It seemed like a stupid and petty reason but he could not really put it into words.

 

/You are just unwanted…/

 

Yeah, that had been the final straw. Duo didn’t need to hear about his availability status from anyone especially not from Rei. He could deal with any other insult, but telling him that he was unwanted? That was more than his mind could handle at this time.

 

“Duo…” Wufei began softly, not really sure of what to say at all. He was angry himself and would have probably aimed the gun at a particular body part, but this wasn’t his battle to deal with. He was just here to watch over his comrade and nothing more.

 

“It’s okay, Wufei,” Duo replied calmly as he tucked the gun into the back pocket of his pants. He held up his hand as if to say he had surrendered. “I’m not going to grab him in a headlock or punch his lights out,” he continued softly. “Untie him and let him go, man. I don’t think I want to deal with this shit anymore.”

 

The Chinese boy blinked in surprise. “Uh…can’t do that, Duo. Remember what Heero said?”

 

“Who gives a fuck what Heero said? Just untie him and let the bastard go.”

 

“Duo…”

 

“If you aren’t going to do it, then I will.” And putting words to action, the American walked briskly towards the man who unconsciously cringed at his approach. Duo chose to ignore it, eyes unreadable and lips set in a firm line of resolution as his fingers worked quickly around the tight cords. Once the final rope dropped to the floor, Duo got to his feet and pointed towards the main streets.

 

“Go.”

 

Rei stared at Duo as if to make sure that the boy wasn’t pulling his legs. If he got up he was sure that the American would shoot him from behind…

 

“Didn’t you hear me?” Duo barked in growing irritation. “Go Leave Bye-bye Go do whatever it is you were doing before you came to this place and I don’t mean stalking Relena because if I catch you doing that again, you might not make it out of here alive ”

 

“You…”

 

“I wouldn’t say anything if I were you,” Wufei interrupted calmly as he noticed that Rei was about to say something in protest. “Just do what he says and everyone goes home happy.”

 

The man stared at the two boys again before stumbling to his feet clumsily. He began to stagger backwards, dark, frantic and worried eyes darting between the two of them. He opened up his mouth again but the cold look from Wufei had him changing his mind. And not one to waste much time, he spun on his heels and began to run as fast as his legs could take him away from danger.

 

He was right after all. Duo Maxwell was a dangerous person and Takeshi had to hear about this tonight.

 

__

 

Wufei leaned against the black Jeep with a weary sigh. “I still don’t know why you let him go, Duo. Heero wanted to talk to him, you know.”

 

The Deathscythe pilot shrugged and reached into the backseat to pull out a brown paper bag. Rummaging through it, he whipped out two bags of potato chips and a can of root beer.

 

“Want one?” he offered amiably as he tossed the snack towards the other boy. Wufei barely caught it, dark eyes staring at his companion with bemusement. Duo Maxwell was and would always be one big contradiction. One moment, he had looked as if he was ready to take Rei’s life and the very next; he was handing out snacks like they were in the middle of a picnic.

 

Wufei watched the pilot open up the can and raise it to his lips. Absently, he licked his own slowly wondering why in the hell such a simple act from the American was enough to get him so…

 

“You okay, Wufei?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Duo leaned closer to inspect the Shenlong pilot’s flushed visage. “You look all red and stuff. Are you sick or something?”

 

“Idiot,” came the gruff reply as Wufei stepped away from the disturbing proximity. He tore open his bag of chips so quickly that a few flew into the air and down to the ground. Damn it Were his hands shaking now?

 

“Ouch, Wufei ” Duo cried out dramatically, placing a hand against his chest and staggering backwards as if he had been stabbed. “Thou hurtest me so with thy words of love ”

 

The Chinese boy’s face darkened even with even more color as he struggled not to laugh at the ridiculous British accent or the stupid words. “You are such a nerd, Duo,” he retorted with a small smile as he chewed on the offered snack slowly.

 

The American gave his companion a long look before smiling in return. “Yeah, I know,” he replied quietly before taking another swig of his drink.

 

They remained silent for some time neither knowing what to say or how to begin to ask the obvious questions that loomed over their heads. Wufei knew he had no business prying into Duo’s affairs, but he still couldn’t help feeling like he was being left out somehow. He popped another chip into his mouth. He had been the one to get the two of them together in the first place, hadn’t he? Well…sorta, but still his input into the growth of their relationship had all been thanks to him. Whenever Duo and Heero got into a big fight, he was always the one Duo ran to, to ‘crash’ for the night or week. He hated to admit that he always enjoyed the vivacious boy’s company at those times. But even though he had always done his best to get them back together again, a tiny voice at the back of his mind had always hoped that somehow…just maybe…

 

“How’s Sally doing?” Duo asked conversationally as he tossed his empty can into the brown bag. “Last time I heard she had been stationed at a military base in Malaysia. Talk about being sent to the far regions of nowhere. How’s she been?”

 

Wufei gave an inward sigh and forced his train of thought to a screeching halt “She’s fine,” he replied a bit too curtly. Duo raised a brow at the tone and eyed the boy who seemed to be staring at the ground in fascination.

 

“Well?” he prodded with growing curiosity. “What happened?”

 

“What happened with what?” came the bemused question.

 

“Why do you look as if you’ve both been having a lover’s quarrel or something…”

 

“Listen, Duo,” Wufei suddenly said firmly as he spun around to stare into the confused violet eyes before him. “Sally and I are friends. Partners. Comrades. Call it whatever the fuck you will. We are not lovers, got it? We have never been lovers and never will be I don’t know where you all get your perceptions that there is anything remotely…romantic between us She is currently having plans to marry some damn soldier she met over there and this has little to nothing to do with me My loyalties lie with Nataku and that’s the way it’s always going to be ”

 

He stopped long enough to realize that he had been yelling. Flushing darkly, he spun away again and picked up the empty bag of chips that had dropped to the floor. He was too embarrassed at his outburst to face the other pilot. Sweet Kami, what was wrong with him?

 

“Nataku’s dead, Wufei,” Duo finally said softly. “Don’t you think you should give yourself a chance to find someone new in your life?”

 

The Chinese boy stiffened, dark eyes widening in disbelief as his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. “You…you bastard…”

 

Duo continued as if he hadn’t heard the insult. “I’m sure she would have wanted it that way.”

 

“You don’t know anything about Nataku, so shut the fuck up ” came the angry roar as Wufei turned back to face the Deathscythe pilot. He wasn’t sure of what he had expected to see on Duo’s face. Perhaps mockery or jest, but certainly not the sad and withdrawn look on the handsome visage. Duo’s lips quirked into a weak smile before he tilted his head to the side to stare at the dark sky above them.

 

In a quiet voice, he continued talking in a way that was a bit unnerving. “You’re right Wufei. I don’t know a damn thing about Nataku, but I’m sure she was a fine girl when she was alive. You have the freedom to choose whoever you want to fall for now, man. You shouldn’t continue to live your life in the past.” He shrugged lightly and ran fingers through his bangs with a small sigh. “Maybe in some other life, Heero and I would have killed each other at first sight. But we are stuck in this time…and place…where we fell for each other in the most bizarre of situations. I figured it would be a wartime syndrome…you know…needing the person you spent so many hours with in the battlefield and shit like that. But it wasn’t, Wufei. It was more than that. I realized it…all of six months ago…”

 

“You mean…you mean after almost two years together….you just realized that you really are in love with Heero?” Wufei asked thickly albeit bewildered at the notion.

 

Duo laughed – a bit too loudly in the Chinese boy’s opinion.

 

“You got it,” he agreed with a light snicker. “He told me the same thing too. Yeah, we kept saying that we loved each other and all that good stuff from the beginning, but then we kind of figured we were just doing that for…formality’s sake, you know? I mean, hell…we had just been through shit together and we craved for any kind of affection back then, right? Even you must have felt that way... which was why Sally was good for you.”

 

Wufei couldn’t find the words to say. Duo was right. Painfully so too.

 

“Heero and I needed each other. Just like Quatre and Trowa sort of just…drifted together. Heero needed me and I needed him. That was it back then, Wufei. Pure Need. Fuck buddies if you liked to call it that.”

 

The Shenlong pilot flushed at the term. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to him, after all Duo wasn’t one to mince words…especially the descriptive kinds.

 

“We’ve been through a lot as a couple,” Duo continued as he turned around to lean his arms against the hood of the car. Wufei was given a very nice view of the boy’s taut ass but this was not the time to think of what possibilities lay within those tight dark jeans. He shifted restlessly and forced himself to pay attention to the braided one’s words.

 

“You know as well as I do that Heero and I fight about once every month…sometimes over the most stupid things.” One of which had been an argument over who had shrunk Heero’s favorite shirt to a baby tee. It turned out that Heero had been at fault, after all. “Anyway, we have weathered the storms, hails and tornados that have tried to wreck our relationship and so far so good, right? But now…now…” His voice lowered to a thick whisper and Wufei could hear the underlying tone of pain within it. “Now, I’m not so sure anymore. I’m not sure we can weather the one brewing ahead of us, Wufei. I won’t lie to you…I’m scared, man. I just feel I’m going to lose him this time around and never get him back.”

 

This would have been the perfect time for Wufei to say something like ‘Don’t be ridiculous’ or ‘Pull yourself together, Duo ’, but to his dismay, the words just refused to come out.

 

“They are going to take him away from me, Wufei,” Duo continued softly, his expressive amethyst depths shimmering with unshed tears. “I don’t have the power or strength to stop it and just knowing that…just knowing that makes me feel so…damn helpless.”

“Duo…”

 

“I know it’s his family and he has the right to be with them now and to see them and all of that…but…but where does that leave me, huh? You heard what that bastard said. To them, I don’t exist and I’ll never exist ” Duo wasn’t surprised to find the tears that wanted so much to fall were so hard to let go. His throat and chest constricted painfully. He hitched in a harsh sob, but still no tears. It was more than frustrating. “What am I going to do, Wufei?” he pleaded shakily as he pushed himself away from the car to stare at his silent friend. “What can I do to keep him?”

 

Cursing himself inwardly, but not knowing what else he could do to show how much he cared, the Chinese boy moved closer to the trembling figure and enveloped him within his arms. He ignored the soft intake of breath from Duo or the way his body had stiffened at the contact. Instead, he tightened his arms around the American a bit more, hoping that he would be trusted long enough to show Duo that he really did give a damn.

 

Slowly and almost shyly, the Deathscythe pilot responded to the embrace, his head falling forward to rest upon Wufei’s shoulder as he closed his eyes in gratitude. After the emotional roller coaster of the day, he needed the warmth and support of someone and he was glad that Wufei was here to help him out. He felt the tender caresses against his back as the Chinese boy had begun to massage the tense muscles gently. A low groan of pleasure at the touch had Duo pressing himself a bit closer to his companion’s body. His body seemed to be melting at the expert touches and strangely enough Duo felt as if he was bound to fall asleep right here on the street.

 

“Mmmm…that feels so good, Wufei,” he encouraged thickly as he vaguely registered the hard length that was now pressing against his lower torso or the quickened breathing from the other boy. “Don’t stop…”

 

Stop Stop Stop now Wufei’s mind screamed as Duo’s husky voice and slow grinding motions against his body was all he could do to maintain some form of self-control. If he didn’t stop them now, Kami knew he would not have the strength to hold back.

 

“Duo…” he began weakly, as his hands reached up to push against the other boy’s shoulders. “I think…” He licked his suddenly dry lips before finishing quickly. “I think it’s time we got back.”

 

Duo gave a low whine of protest, his lashes opening up slowly to reveal darkened violet eyes that sent Wufei groaning in defeat. His dark gaze fell to Duo’s parted lips that looked so warm, plump and delicious. And god help him, but Wufei was going to take this opportunity to do something he had always wanted to do for a long time.

 

Forgive me, Heero, but if you hadn’t been around, I would have had him first.

 

Closing his eyes, telling himself that it would only be for a brief moment, Wufei tightened his hold on Duo’s shoulders and closed the distance between their lips with a searing kiss. His actions must have stunned the American as Wufei didn’t need to beg for an entrance into the hot cavern. Thrusting his tongue roughly into Duo’s mouth, he whimpered softly as he felt the responding length toy with his for a brief moment, before shying away.

 

Please…please just a little bit more, Wufei pleaded feverishly as his hands slid down the strong shoulders and back to the tight ass he had admired only moments earlier. He cupped and kneaded them roughly, pulling Duo even tighter to his body, hoping the American would see just how much he was affecting him.

 

The only thing that went through Duo’s mind beside the fact that Wufei was extremely well hung, was how desperate the kiss seemed to be. He was doing his hardest not to respond, but the Chinese boy had a distinct taste that was just…different. Perhaps it was because he had not kissed anyone else besides Heero and he was used to the Japanese boy by now. Wufei, on the other hand, had a tangy combination of salt from the chips he had just eaten and something else Duo couldn’t quite explain. But one thing was certain, if he didn’t pull away now, he knew that he would find himself giving in completely to this new sensation that was not too unpleasant.

 

“Wufei…aah…” he gasped softly at the Chinese boy’s slow grind of their hips together. Oh, sweet God…this wasn’t good. “Wufei…please…”

 

The boy’s lips were now trailing fevered kisses along Duo’s neck. “Please…just a little more, Duo. I know you feel nothing for me, but just let me enjoy this moment with you for a little while.”

 

The plea would have made Duo change his mind… a bit…if it wasn’t for the sound of an approaching car in the background.

 

Heero

 

Wufei must have heard it too because he pulled away so quickly, he almost sent Duo sprawling to the floor in his haste. Their lips looked swollen from their kisses and with their quickened breathing and flushed features, one could tell that something had happened between them. It didn’t help that it was Heero that was about to show up. Such a thing would and could not escape the Japanese boy’s sharp observation.

 

The slam of the door heralded brisk footsteps that both knew only too well. Forcing a warm smile on his face, Duo leaned against the vehicle, unreadable eyes taking in the confident strides of his lover. He could still feel his lips tingle from the kiss he had shared with Wufei and for one brief instant, Duo felt a faint wave of nausea wash over him. Even though he had not instigated it, he still couldn’t get that small voice at the back of his head to stop its incessant cry.

 

Cheated! Cheated! Cheated!

 

Crap.

 

Heero stopped somewhere between them. He was still dressed in his tuxedo, but his hair looked even more ruffled than usual and his dark eyes were filled with questions that needed to be answered fast.

 

“I just got a call from Rei,” he said calmly as his gaze drifted from one boy to the other. “He said you abducted him and threatened him and even made an attempt to kill him, Duo.”

The American’s eyes narrowed at the accusatory tone as his hands clenched into tight fists. “I didn’t mean to do that...”

 

“I told you not to do anything over the top, Duo,” Heero continued as if he hadn’t heard his partner. He was still speaking calmly, but one could tell that there was an underlying tone of anger underneath. “Do you know...do you have any fucking idea what this means?”

 

“No,” Duo spat out coldly. “But I bet you’re going to tell me, right?”

 

“You’re damn right I am,” came the snappish reply as Heero stepped closer. “Rei is going to call my grandfather...”

 

“Fucking surprise there, Sherlock...”

 

“He is going to tell my grandfather that you tried to kill him. Fuck, Duo! How do you think this is going to look to my family?! I am doing my damn best to prove to them that you are the right guy for me and you just had to do this, didn’t you?”

 

“And I’ll do it ten times over if I have to!” Duo bellowed back in fury. He didn’t know if he ought to scream out in anger or in disappointment. But there was nothing he could do. Things were already slipping out of his hands. “I’m not going to change the way I am just to please your goddamn family!”

 

Heero glared. “Is that right?”

 

Duo glared right back. “That’s right, Miwa. I am not changing, got it?”

 

“Why you...” He made a step towards Duo with a low growl of irritation, only to gasp in surprise as the familiar figure of the Chinese boy blocked his path. Heero blinked in confusion for a second only for it to be replaced with impatience.

 

“Get out of my way, Wufei. This is between Duo and I...”

 

“Yeah, and I have had to sit down and watch this shit go on for the past two years now,” the Shenlong pilot replied coldly, raven eyes filled with malice as they pinned a glare at the astounded pilot before him. Behind and unknown to Wufei, Duo was gaping in shock as well. It was bad enough that Wufei was finally admitting he had feelings...for him, but to stand up to Heero like this...

 

“I am not going to say it again, Wufei,” Heero muttered with barely concealed anger. “Get away from him.”

 

“And what if I don’t, Heero?” the Chinese boy taunted with a wicked smirk on his handsome features.

 

“Uum...guys...” Duo began weakly, not really sure of what to make of this latest development.

 

But neither pilot seemed to acknowledge the boy they were apparently now fighting over as they continued to challenge each other with eyes that spoke volumes.

 

“Then it looks like one of us has to get out of the picture for good,” Heero finally replied as he shrugged out of the black jacket. “I had no intention of coming here to do this with you, Wufei, but don’t blame me if you don’t make it out of here alive.”

 

“Hn...same here, Yuy,” Wufei snickered as he fell into a stance. “Prepare to say your good byes...for good. Kami knows I should have done this a long time ago.”

 

Duo watched for a moment longer before sighing to himself and reaching for the keys to the Jeep from his pocket.

 

“Damn, I can’t believe I’m surrounded by morons,” he mumbled to himself as he opened up the door and slid into the driver’s seat.

 

And revving up the engine of the powerful car, he gave a mock salute to the dumbfounded boys that were now gawking at him before peeling out of the parking lot and towards the waiting city lights.

 

He had to clear his head for a while...

 

TBC...