Endless Summer Part 5
Q & A

Duo walked down the beach in the rain, feeling the wet, rainy wind hit him hard as it came off the ocean. It was damp and cold and just generally miserable, but the waves... man. The waves were spectacular. He hoped the weather would clear up before Billabong Pro, but not before he had a chance to carve some of those bad boys.

Baka couldn't seem to just walk beside him like a normal dog. The retriever lagged behind for a few minutes, only to run ahead, barking at gulls on the sand or his own shadow. He would run up at the head of the beach, weaving in and out of the dunes with his black bandana flying like a flag, only to zigzag all the way to the surf, bringing up huge fans of spray as he galloped through it. Every once in awhile, if he got too far ahead, he would stop and look back at Duo, as if scolding him for being so damned slow.

At the end of the beach, there was a long spit of land stretching out into the sea, turning into a natural pier made of dead coral as hard as concrete. Duo could see Heero at the very end of it, a hazy gray silhouette in the early morning mist and rain. Every time a wave broke against the end of the pier, Heero would be hidden in a thick spray of saltwater.

Duo stood back a moment and watched him. He was just standing out there, gazing across the ocean like a sentinel. Duo couldn't help wondering what it was Heero thought he was looking for. Maybe he didn't even know.

Baka raced down the pier towards his master, barking wildly. So much for the picturesque scene.

Even from this far away, Duo could see Heero's shoulders tense, and the Japanese surfer turned around to face him.

"You again."

"Yup. I brought you some coffee," Duo answered good-naturedly, walking out onto the pier beside him. The dog spun happy circles around their feet, and both boys patted him without even thinking about it. Duo handed Heero the thermos of coffee.

Heero looked at it a moment, as if no one had ever thought to do something like that for him before. "Arigato."

"If that's a thank you, you're welcome."

The morning was quiet. From further along down the beach, Duo could see where they were flying the red flag. Riptides. Danger. His kind of surfing. He promised himself he'd be back out before the end of the day.

He gazed out across the ocean, watching the whitecaps surge against the coral and the rocks. Heero followed his gaze. "Big waves," he said, feeling stupid for saying it. It was like the equivalent of "Nice weather today." Something you said when you didn't know what to say, and everybody knew it.

"...Yeah." Heero's gaze was faraway and sad. For an instant, Duo thought he would do anything to drive that expression off the other boy's face.

Without looking over at him, Duo asked, "By the way, what are you standing out here in the damned rain for?"

Heero's eyes narrowed as he looked over the ocean. "None of your damned business."

Duo shrugged. He should have known it wasn't going to be that easy. "Fair enough."

The two boys stood in silence for awhile, almost shoulder-to-shoulder, just listening to the sound of the surf. Duo was getting uncomfortably wet, but he didn't mind. He looked at Heero next to him; Heero wasn't wearing anything but a pair of swim trunks, and every time the surf hit the pier, seawater glistened on the Japanese boy's chest and back. It was distracting.

Now that he had gotten closer to the Japanese boy, and it wasn't dark, Duo could see that there was a web of scars across Heero's back, tracing their way over hard muscle and soft skin...he was getting distracted again. Duo tore his gaze away and hoped Heero's attention was riveted to the sea, so Heero wouldn't see him blush.

Baka tired of running rings around the two surfers and finally sat at Heero's side, reaching up every few minutes to lick Heero's fingertips, soulful brown eyes riveted to his master's face. He was only a dog, but dogs could feel emotions better than any human. And his master was so sad...

"Where'd you get the scars?"

/ Yeah, right. If he's not even going to answer why he's standing out here in the rain, he's sure as hell not going to answer that. /

He didn't expect Heero to answer, so he was surprised when Heero replied quietly, "I was thrown up against a reef."

"Get thrashed on the board, huh?"

A shadow crossed over the Japanese surfer's face, and he answered, his voice even softer than before. "No." He turned and looked into Duo's eyes. "I was trying to save someone from drowning."

Little red warning lights began to blink on in Duo's head. / Mayday, Duo-kid! Mayday! Mayday! You do not want to go there! /

Duo asked anyway. "So... did you save them?"

Heero turned back towards the ocean. His voice was flat when he answered. "No."

There was a period of silence. Duo was afraid to speak. Maybe just afraid to say the wrong thing. Everything seemed to be hanging by a thread. Baka snuffled his hand and he stroked the dog thoughtfully.

"Hope this weather doesn't mess up the competition," he said finally, trying to change the subject.

At least it got Heero's attention. Heero cut his eyes in Duo's direction, and Duo was swept by the depth of that dark blue. There were so many different emotions and thoughts swirling in the cobalt tidepools of those eyes. Something that was calculating and cold. Something that was lonely and sad. Something that tasted a little bit like a challenge. "Are you entering the competition?"

Duo stared into those eyes for a moment more until he was afraid he was going to blush. Then he tore his gaze away and stared back out to sea. "I was thinkin' about it. Are you?"

Heero scowled. "I lost the bet. I don't have a choice."

Both boys were quiet a moment.

"You don't have to do it, you know," Duo replied softly.

There was something in the tone of Duo's voice that made him narrow his eyes at the braided surfer. "How would you know?" He was silent for a moment, then glared at Duo. "What exactly is it that you think you know about me?"

Duo looked away for a moment, then glared back. "I think you're afraid. I think you're afraid to compete because you're afraid of what people are going to say about you. I'm the God of Death. I know," he added, smiling a little bitterly.

They were both quiet, looking out over the churching ocean.

"I am not afraid," Heero muttered.

Silence.

"Why are you called that?" Heero asked finally, breaking the quiet. "Why are you called the God of Death?"

Duo looked back over at him, interested again. "Nuh uh, Heero Yuy. If we're gonna play this game, I go first." Duo broke out in a cunning grin. "Why did you make that face when that girl... what's her face... Relena... came up to you on the beach yesterday?"

Heero scowled, crossing his arms over his chest sullenly. "I don't want to play this game."

"Then I guess you'll have to actually read something to find out why they call me the God of Death," Duo answered cheerfully.

Heero glared at the ocean, as if just his silent scolding could calm the storm, then answered grudgingly. "We used to go out."

Duo looked over at him, gaping, then laughed. "You... hahaha... and her... hahaha! King and Queen of North Shore... hahahahaha! That's priceless, Heero!"

"My turn," Heero said, not forgetting about the game. "Why do they call you the God of Death?"

Duo's smile faded. / Damn Yuy, I was trying to lighten the mood and right back to death you go. Why am I not surprised? /

He thought a minute before answering. "I enter dangerous competitions. Someone has died in every competition I've ever entered. Drowning, reefs, sharks. Didn't take long for the newspapers and the mags to pick up on the trend," he added, his voice a little bitter. "I was one of the ones that pulled a drowning victim from the water in one of my earlier competitions. One quick photograph of me with a dead grom in my arms and I'm the God of Death for life."

Heero looked over at him. Duo would not meet his eyes.

"Maybe you shouldn't compete at North Shore then. You're a jinx."

Baka chuffed.

Duo looked up at Heero, scowling. "That's not funny."

Heero smiled, just a little.

"My turn," Duo said, still scowling slightly. But his expression had softened. If teasing him made Heero smile, Duo thought he could probably deal with it. "Why don't you want me to go into your workshop?"

Heero shrugged. "My equipment is expensive, and you're a klutz. If you don't like what they call you, why do you have the skull and crossbones on your board?"

Duo laughed. "They're gonna call me that anyway, may as well fit the part. Surf heroes like you are attractive, Heero-my-man, but villains like me are irresistible. They can't keep the cameras off me. If I can't be famous, I don't have a problem being infamous."

/ Irresistible... / Heero thought, watching Duo laugh. He caught himself staring and turned away.

"Heero Yuy, except for surfing, which is an obvious given, what in the hell else is there to do on this lil' archipelago you call Hawaii, eh?"

"If the weather clears up, there's a bonfire tonight. To celebrate the Billabong Pro."

"Are you going?"

Heero looked at him, smiling a little again. "My turn, remember?"

Duo's eyes widened. "Oh yeah. Right. You caught me. Shoot."

"Were you invited to Billabong Pro?"

"Yeah. It was an under the table deal. They sent me money to fly here for the contest, but that's about it. Nobody wants to openly sponsor someone who has a reputation of 'killing' the competition."

"Ah."

There was silence again, except for the roar of the surf.

"Are you going to the bonfire, Heero?"

Heero cocked an eye at him. "I don't know. Is that an invitation?"

Duo blushed, and this time Heero did see him. The Japanese surfer smirked.

"Maybe. What would you say if it was?" Duo asked, tentatively.

Without speaking, Heero took his jacket from Duo's hands and started to walk off back towards the house, Baka trotting at his side. Duo watched him go. When Heero answered, he thought his jaw was going to hit the sea wall.

 "I'd say I'll consider it."

TBC...

Riptionary! Surfer Terms:
grom - shorthand for "grommet": teenager surfer

 

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