"Showdown is coming this-a-wayEndless Summer Part 16
Showdown is coming any day
You and I, we're all in the fray:
Showdown is coming this-a-way."
--- Dan Scanlan
"Are you ready?"
Duo mumbled a little in his sleep, snuggling up against Heero's side, hair cascading along his shoulders. Heero drew in a sharp hiss as Duo's breath ghosted across his chest. He repeated himself, gently. "Are you ready, Duo?"
One indigo eye cracked slightly, looking up at him. Two chestnut eyebrows twitched in a heart-shaped face, and-without warning-a pink tongue lapped across Heero's chest.
Heero bolted upright, sitting on his elbows. "Duo!"
Duo laughed softly, reaching up to rub the sleep from his eyes. He yawned, his whole body shivering as he stretched like a cat. Heero couldn't help but watch avidly. "Okay, okay, I'm awake. What'd you say?"
Heero scowled, feigning irritation. "I asked if you were ready."
"For what?"
"What do you think?"
Duo's eyes widened as he realized what Heero was talking about, and he jumped out of the bed with a yelp. "Oh shit, Heero, why didn't you get me up when the alarm went off!? I've gotta get ready for the contest!"
Heero rolled his eyes good-naturedly as Duo scrambled for the bathroom. "Why? So you can look sexy for your adoring fans?"
"Aha-hah, very funny, Heero. Hope you're still laughing when I kick your ass on national television." Duo stuck his head out of the bathroom, grinning mischievously.
"Hope you can surf like you can talk, haole," Heero replied smoothly, a little smile on his face.
Duo left the bathroom, his face wet from the sink, hair still tangled and falling into his eyes. He crawled across the bed until he was lying across Heero, arms crossed under his chin as he looked into the Japanese boy's eyes. His fingertips trailed gently across the line of Heero's jaw.
"It's not too late for me to back out, Heero," Duo whispered, putting a soft kiss on the other boy's lips. "I could watch from the sidelines. Cheer you on. All that jazz."
"No," Heero replied softly. "I want you there. In the water. Beside me. And I don't want you to hold back. When I win, I want it to be fair, no matter what all the papers and the reporters say. All right?"
"Yeah," Duo sighed, lying his cheek against Heero's throat. He stayed that way for a moment before rolling off the bed, heading back to the bathroom. He looked back over his shoulder with a mischievous grin. "But the day you beat me is the day I cut my hair."
Heero laid in the bed for a few more moments as he heard the shower turn on, the pipes rumbling through the old house. Baka trotted quietly up to the side of the bed and leapt halfway onto it, front paws rumpling the coverlet. He licked Heero's arm, and the Japanese surfer patted him absently.
~*~
"Duo, what are you doing?" Heero looked in at him, amusement barely concealed in his cobalt eyes. The not-so-braided surfer was smearing white waterproof greasepaint on his face, covering up his deep tan. When he finished covering his face with it, he took a tin of black paint, smudging it in circles over his eyes and nose. A gold skull stud shone from his right earlobe.
"I'm playing Shinigami."
"So much for looking cute for your adoring fans. Skulls aren't exactly the most cuddly things on the planet, you know."
"If you're being sarcastic, that's bad. If you're being serious, that's even worse." Duo turned to him, pouting slightly. Heero smirked at him, reaching over to tuck back hair that was sticking to the greasepaint on the other surfer's face. He grabbed a brush from the sink, brushing Duo's hair back from his face, pulling it into a low ponytail, grinning as Duo practically purred under the brush running through his hair.
"Why are you playing the villain for them if you hate the nickname so much?"
"If I can't be famous, I'll be infamous. It's all the same to me, babe," Duo replied, smirking. When Heero put a band in his hair, he swung around and kissed the Japanese boy on the nose, smearing his face with greasepaint. Heero mock-scowled, rubbing at it.
But he smiled a little, too.
Duo danced out of the bathroom, singing at the top of his lungs. "I wish they all could be California booooooooys..."
~*~
~~"Is this thing on?"~~
- "Dude, use the other end." -
~~ "Right, my bad. Anyway, Welcome to the Billbong Pro, ladies and gents, sharks and swishes, boys and girls, haoles and wahines and rippers, oh my!"~~
- "Chill, Alex." -
~~"Sorry, bro. I'm just so excited! This is Alex and Mueller at WAVE Radio in the ever-luscious Oahu, giving you cats and kittens the very best and latest in surf news. And speaking of surf news, the day has finally come! The Billabong Pro is reinstated and being hosted right here in our own lovely Hawaii! How's the weather lookin' out there today, Mul?"~~
- "Those are some righteous waves, my man. Major wind shear. We are going to see some serious action here, especially with such big contenders in the running. Lookit all that media, bro. They are hounding the beaches today."-
~~"True enough. Most of the newsies are here for Duo Maxwell, who has never been able to enter a competition without some kind of surfing-related death involved. And there's nothin' better for the newsies than a little blood, death, and mayhem!"~~
--"Alex... chill."-
~~"Right, sorry."~~
-"Oh, and speaking of the big dogs, here come Trowa Barton and Relena Peacecraft, along with Wufei Chang and Quatre Winner-big names on Oahu, who have declined to compete. As one of the very few female competitors, Peacecraft has a lot riding on her shoulders."-
~~"Not to mention the fact that she's a hottie, so if she loses, we don't care."~~
- "Trowa Barton... while most of the contenders have been very public with their training regimes, trying to psyche out the competition, Barton hasn't really done much training at all that anyone could see. But then, he's a pretty secretive guy. Can't say we guys at WAVE are really surprised."-
~~"He's the guy who swims with the sharks, right? Yeah, I don't know a guy or gal who wouldn't give their Huarachi sandals to have the balls of that guy. Who does he think he is, Tarzan?"~~
- "Speaking of sharks, here comes two of the most bloodthirsty competitors in the field. Coming out of retirement for the first time in four years, it's Heero "Heartless" Yuy! And... uh... holding hands with his main competition, the infamous God of Death, Duo "Shinigami" Maxwell! The rumors have really been flying about those two..."-
~~"To give you guys a little entertainment before the big event, here's everybody's favorite Boys, with 'I Get Around'..."~~
"I'm gettin' bugged driving up and down this same old strip I gotta finda new place where the kids are hip... .My buddies and me are getting real well known... Yeah, the bad guys know us and they leave us alone..."
~*~
Heero swallowed hard as he saw the thousands of screaming people, balancing his board under his arm. He hadn't been in competition in years. It was easy to forget how overwhelming it could all be.
Not to mention the fact that he was in a competition with the God of Death. He raised a hand to block the glare of camera flashes. The sound of clicking was everywhere.
He really, really hated that sound.
Part of him wanted to slink back to his shack and go out to Ponderosa Point, where he could get some relative peace and quiet like the good little board-shaping curmudgeon he was. But his hand was firmly entangled in that of Duo Maxwell, and the charismatic surfer was dragging him down the beach.
"Shinigami, Shinigami, look this way, c'mon, baby, give us a smile!"
"Duo! Duo Maxwell!"
"Hey Heartless, put your hand down, show us your pretty face!"
Duo laughed, throwing the cameras a devilish grin as he stuck his board in the sand and waved to the crowds. He certainly had no problem with the publicity, Heero thought sullenly. No wonder he ended up on the front of TRANSWORLD SURF.
He's a hot dog, Heero thought, smiling just a little despite himself. Always has been, always will be.
My hot shot.
"Okay, enough baiting photographers, Duo. We have to do our final registration." The Californian let out a yelp of protest as Heero suddenly dragged him in the opposite direction, heading towards the competitor's booths.
"You finally made it, Heero? I thought maybe you got lost, or distracted by various 'extracurricular' activities." Wufei's pleasantly sarcastic voice called over to them, and Heero looked up in relief to see the Chinese boy leaning up against one of the booths, smirking at them.
"Hn. Where is Trowa and Quatre?"
"Quatre is parking the woody. Trowa and Relena are completing their registration. Which is what you two should be doing."
"Yeah, yeah, Wuffers. Cry me a river," Duo said, grinning.
Wufei scowled. "Get over there. The competition starts in less than an hour. You guys sure did take your sweet time getting down here."
Duo yelped again as Heero nodded and began to drag him over to the registration tables. "Good things take time, Wuf-!"
"Which means you really had to fix your hair," Wufei muttered, watching the two walk off.
~*~
Trowa was standing by the registration tables when the two of them made it over there. Relena was still sitting down, poring over the sign-in sheets and waiver contracts laid out before her. Also known as the "if your ass is grass, we're not responsible" forms.
"Heya, Trowa," Duo said, grinning."
Trowa nodded back at him, eyes amused. "Duo." He glanced at Heero. "Good luck, Heero."
"You too, Trowa. Gonna need it if you've been practicing for this competition as little as everybody suspects," Heero replied, smirking.
Trowa laughed softly. "This isn't a competition. A competition means that one does not know the outcome beforehand. And I already do."
"I'm going to win," both boys said in unison, eyes locked.
"... I think you guys are underestimating me a little over here," Duo said, annoyed. "Feeling unloved... need a hug..."
"In case of death and dismemberment... give me a break, I've been surfing here since I was seven," Relena mumbled, rolling her eyes.
Heero sat down next to her, nodding as his own set of forms was handed to him. Duo did the same next to him, shooting the contest attendant a flirtatious smile when she stared nervously at his facepaint. Relena cut her eyes at the two of them.
"Well well well. Look who finally decided to show up. I thought maybe you guys clucked out."
"Me? Never," Heero replied smugly as Duo grabbed a water bottle from his pack next to him, taking a swallow.
"You guys decided to have a last tumble before the competition or something?"
Duo sputtered on the water, coughing. Heero glanced over at him, then back at Relena, raising an eyebrow dangerously. "None of your business."
Relena grinned back at him.
Looking away from her to pat Duo on the back as he coughed, Heero quickly finished filling out the forms, not even bothering to look at them before he signed. He had done it so many times before it was like a reflex. Death and dismemberment... not responsible, not liable... .blah blah blah...
Relena finished signing and stretched leisurely in her blue surfing outfit, which was as tight and form-fitting as a catsuit.
"Kiss for good luck, Heero?" she teased, batting her eyes at him.
"Why not?" Heero answered, smirking...
And pulled Duo to him.
~*~
"Calling competitors 2457, Heero Yuy, and 2158, Duo Maxwell. Please take your positions. I repeat, Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell, please take your positions."
"This is it, 'Ro. You ready?"
"Yeah. You?"
"No doubt."
"You wouldn't really cut your hair if you lost, would you?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out..."
"Cut it and die."
The two headed towards the water, boards in hand.
They didn't look at each other.
~*~
~~ "It looks like Death and Heartless are taking the waves! This is going to be a show-down to remember, Mul!"~~
-"Right about that one. They're paddling out. It's interesting to see that the judges paired these two off against each other. I think they must be playing to the rumors, don't you agree, Alex?"-
~~"Fuckin-A!"~~
-"I don't think you can say that on the radio, dude."-
~~"... Little late now, isn't it?"~~
-"Duo Maxwell is taking the first wave! Man is that one a monster! A little ambitious for a first ride, but this is Shinigami."-
~~"That doesn't mean he can't get splattered across the reefs, Mul. Everybody's favorite god of death better watch his ass. That wave looks like a killer."~~
-"Beautiful, beautiful ride. The judges are making their decisions... and the score is... a 9, and 9, and an 8 out of 10, ladies and gents. Not a bad way to start out a set."-
~~"Heero Yuy is paddling up for his run... damn, that's a glassy glider... and he takes it! Watch that guy carve!"~~
-"And the judges give it a 9, a 9, and a 10. Looks like Yuy is leading. Only one set to go."-
~*~
Duo duck-dived under a wave, slicking his hair back from his face. It was his turn for the second set. He watched his wave come in, fingers clenched on the edges of his board. He didn't look at Heero. Couldn't afford to.
He let his vision tunnel down, concentrating only on that roiling wall of water that was making its way towards him. The sound of the announcers back on the beach were only a distant dream.
Go.
Duo paddled out furiously, catching the wave before it broke, pulling himself up onto his feet and into the curl.
He knew something was wrong the moment he stepped up. His center of balance was off.
Shit!
The moment before he nose-dived, his board coming up to slam him from behind and tumble him down ten feet into the water and rocks below, he caught a glimpse of the sun coming through the pipeline.
So it's me this time... he thought feverishly, and the wave crashing down came to bury him in a beating, swirling wall of warm water darkness.
~*~
Heero watched in horror as Duo went flying from his board, buried in tons of seawater. His eyes scanned the water madly for a moment, searching for the body of his lover. A couple of waverunners with "Coast Guard" on the sides were making their way out to the waves.
The sirens from the ambulance on the beach had just begun to flash when Heero took a deep breath, ripped the leash off his ankle and dove into the water. Duo's broken board floated past him.
He couldn't see Duo anywhere.
Duo... please... don't do this to me.
Not again.
He opened his eyes under the water, letting the salt water sting his eyes, diving all the way to the bottom. It was deep and dark, but he could barely make out a dim form on the sand, being tumbled against the rocks that jutted there.
Please...
He reached, trying to push against the waves that shoved him back towards the shore... further away where Duo lay at the bottom. Pushing forward with all his strength, he stretched his fingers...
And caught a handful of hair.
His lungs burning from lack of oxygen, he jerked roughly, pulling Duo's body into his arms. He swam furiously for the surface, kicking his legs as hard as he could, pushing towards the surface.
He broke through, gasping before letting out a single piercing cry that echoed across the waves.
"Help!"
And another wave buried them both.
~*~
~~ "Yuy and Maxwell are rag-dolled! Oh, the humanity!"~~
-"Shut up, dude! This is serious! Ladies and gents, Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell have just been worked over by a series of major waves. Flashers are standing by, and the waverunners have been sent out to retrieve them..."-
~*~
Water swirled around the two fallen surfers, raking them over the reefs in the undertow. Heero held tightly to Duo, his arms wrapped around the other boy as tightly as he could.
He reached out blindly for a handhold in the reefs, trying to grab on. His free hand slid off slick rock and a sharp jab of pain flashed through him as his hand caught on a piece of fire coral. The world revolved around them as they somersaulted through the surf.
Sharp rock and coral ripped at his suit across his back and chest, tearing it to shreds and reaching the skin underneath. He slammed against an outcrop of rock hard enough to bruise his ribs and knock what little remained of his air from his lungs.
But wouldn't let go.
Not ever again.
When the waves receded again, he shot for the surface, vision blacking out at the edges, reaching out one hand in a last ditch effort to reach air again.
Someone grabbed him and pulled him up.
~*~
Heero opened his eyes slowly, raising an arm to block out the sun. He hurt all over.
Duo...
"Heero! Omigod, are you okay?!" Relena's voice. She sounded on the verge of tears.
"Of course he's not okay, wahine. Are you blind?" Wufei asked irritably from somewhere in the background.
Heero's chest hitched as he leaned over, throwing up saltwater. He coughed, and as one of the paramedics hovered over him, telling him to lie down, he waved the man off roughly. "Where's... Where's Duo?" He coughed hard, trying to get the water out of his lungs.
His eyes were blurry from the saltwater, but he saw the Californian lying across a stretcher as the paramedics put an oxygen mask on him. He stood up, feeling the blood trickling down almost every exposed part of his body. His suit had almost been ripped away, and blood flowed from a cut in his forehead. He wiped it out of his eye impatiently, heading over to Duo.
Duo waved at him weakly, pale and exhausted, but otherwise okay. Heero held his hand out to the Californian surfer, and Duo grabbed it, squeezing tightly.
"Heero... you lost your board..."
Heero shrugged, smiling faintly. "I have a dozen of them."
I only have one of you.
"Jeez, Heero, that was stupid," he said, laughing in a fit that turned into a cough. "Romantic... but really, really stupid."
Heero leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, not caring that it was bleeding and covered with greasepaint.
"I know."
A volley of clicking cameras assaulted his ears. He suddenly recognized one of the voices from the crowd.
"Hey 'Heartless'! Smile for the birdie!"
Oh no... not him...
"Don't look up," Duo said softly, and Heero didn't. He just smiled, staring into the Californian's deep violet eyes. He leaned over the stretcher again.
As he touched his forehead to Duo's gently, he heard another voice.
"That's not 'Heartless' Yuy, that's 'Hero' Yuy!!"
When it came out in the papers, the name stuck.
TBC...
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