Disclaimers and warnings in first part
Duo was picking up a box when burly arms moved around him, plucking the crate from his hands with ease. “Didn’t your doctor say no heavy lifting for at least a month?” Kieran inquired sweetly.
The scathing glare directed at the large man had no effect and Duo sighed heavily. Four days of being shut in his house had been enough, and he had gone to work at the store for a refuge from Trowa’s constant presence. While he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his former lover, he was trying to distance himself at the same time as the departure date loomed closer and closer. In two days, Trowa would leave. He already knew his house was going to be empty, and he would no longer be able to consider it a home when he was alone again.
“Duo, are you okay?”
Realizing he had been staring at nothing, Duo shook himself and pasted on a smile, “I’m fine. Thanks for the help.”
Grey eyes stared down at him, the dark scowl making the man look fierce, “That’s not what I’m asking about and you know it.”
Patting one huge bicep, Duo gave a short nod. “I’ll be fine, Papa Bear. I always bounce back, right?”
“You still love him, don’t you?”
The soft question had his feet freezing to the floor. He only had to think for an instant before replying, “I guess I do.”
“Then tell him.”
“It didn’t work out before. Why would things be different now? Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over again and expecting a different outcome?”
“He’s different than he used to be, isn’t he? I remember you telling me of someone distant and without emotions. He’s changed. Hell, even the cubs like him.”
That had been a surprise for Duo. Trowa had never been around children and had always kept his distance, but Ayla and Kyran had immediately decided they liked the soft-spoken man when they had come to visit Duo the day he had been released from the hospital. Even little Kia had lain in his arms, cooing happily while Hilde had stored more leftovers in the freezer. Trowa had happily given the children rides on his back and had amused them with stories from his days in the circus. Hearing that Trowa had had knives thrown at him had earned him instant idol status in Kyran’s eyes.
Shaking away the thoughts, Duo frowned, “It doesn’t matter if he’s changed or not. It was his decision to leave before. It’s his decision to leave now.”
“A decision he made the same day I put you in a hospital trying to get to him,” Kieran put a hand on Duo’s shoulder and squeezed lightly. “Maybe he was worried he would cause problems between us. I’m just lucky you’re a forgiving person or we wouldn’t even be friends anymore. Most people would have stayed away from someone that beat them up.”
What Kieran said sounded a lot like what Trowa had told him, but Duo didn’t let it change his mind. “I didn’t ask him to leave, Papa Bear.”
“You didn’t ask him to stay, either, Baby Bear.”
“Would it make a difference?” Duo winced, waving his hand to dismiss the question. “It’s his choice. He doesn’t want to stay, not with me.”
“If you won’t ask him to stay, ask him why he wants to leave. I don’t think he wants to go. Maybe he’s trying to do what he thinks is best for you or what you actually want. All I’m saying is talk to the man. What he says might surprise you.”
Duo thought about it for the rest of the day, eventually realizing Kieran was right. He needed to know why Trowa had decided to leave so abruptly, not even staying the time they had agreed on. With a list of questions in mind, he opened the front door of his home, frowning when he saw Trowa on the phone, back to the door.
“The dates have been moved up? I see.” The tall man’s shoulders slumped slightly as he nodded to the person on screen. “I’ll be there early Saturday morning, then.”
“Barton, I know you’ve been looking forward to returning here for some time,” the man on phone said, eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you certain you’re ready to go out again? It will be eight years at the earliest before we come back to Earth. If you want, you could always meet up with us later, off-planet. You’re always welcome as a crew member, but you know the rules for contracted crew.”
“Once on board, you have to finish out your contract. I’m aware, commander.” Trowa shrugged heavily, “I had hoped there was something for me here, but it appears I was wrong. I’m simply in the way and I have nothing else to do. Leaving here is the best option for everyone involved.”
“You have until 0400 Saturday morning to change your mind, Barton. If you aren’t on board when we leave, I’ll assume you did. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. You’ve been a valuable member of the crew, but I can make do without you.”
“Yes sir, commander. I’ll see you Saturday. Barton signing out.”
Obviously unaware of Duo behind him, Trowa ended the call and put his head in his hands. “I can’t live without Duo, but he doesn’t need me. I’m just a burden,” the green-eyed man sighed, despair rolling off him in waves. “He doesn’t need me.”
Backing out of the door, Duo waited a moment, having gotten the answers to almost all of his questions without having to ask. Opening the door again, he smiled at the man still sitting in the chair, “What are you doing?”
“Commander Norton, from the Hydra, just called. It seems the ship is leaving earlier than originally estimated.”
Duo had to wonder which of them was a better actor when he saw none of the former anguish on Trowa’s face. He did notice the other man’s speech was very formal, although the tall man had been quite relaxed around him until now. Searching his recent memory, Duo realized the oddly particular speech only occurred when Trowa was talking about leaving. “What did he say? When are you supposed to leave?”
“0400 Saturday morning; that means I have to leave here tomorrow evening. It’ll take an hour to get to where the Hydra is docked.”
His intended plea to ask Trowa to stay got stuck in Duo’s throat. He tried again, only to say something completely different. “I could take you. It’s not that far.”
“You don’t need to do that, Duo. You have a business to run and Hilde is probably ready for a break from the kids. I’ll be fine.”
“Morgan can take care of the store, or I can close for the day. As for Hilde, Kieran’s home now, so she won’t need much help from me.” Seeing the argument on Trowa’s face, he shook his head and spoke softly, “At least let me spend the day with you tomorrow, Trowa. Please.”
Green eyes focused on him for a long moment before the other man nodded slowly, clearly showing his own sadness. “I’d like nothing more than to spend the day with you.”