fic - i backward cast my e'e part 31 [novella]
Title: I Backward Cast My E'e
Part: 31
Notes: That's it, folks. That's the end of this one. The next novella is taking its place in the queue, but I won't be posting it until I've gotten quite a bit of it done. Hopefully, that'll make the thing tie together more nicely than this thing did.
Additional note: Happy graduation season!
I Backward Cast My E'e
sequel-lite to for promis'd joy
Part 31
He concentrated on the sound of Heero's soft breathing beside him, gauging its weight and evenness before deciding he might venture a quiet word. "Hey..."
"Hmm?"
"Still can't sleep."
There was silence for a moment from Heero before he sighed quite audibly into the night. "I already did my best to wear you out. Sorry if that's not--"
"Oh, hush," Duo interrupted quickly. "Not your fault I've got too much energy tonight."
Heero stifled a yawn. "Then sorry, you're on your own this time."
Yes, having another go at it would probably just short them on enough sleep to make tripping on the way up to the platform during the graduation ceremony a distinct possibility. But now that he knew he wouldn't wake Heero, he felt at liberty to shift a few times until he got himself into a possibly more sleep-conducive position, ending up on his side facing Heero, comfortably and reassuringly close without crowding. He settled in contentedly, but his mind didn't follow suit.
There was stuff buzzing around in there, and Duo did his best to will it to rest. Tomorrow was just a formality, a pretty little ceremony whose main purpose was surely just to provide pretty little photo ops. Their diplomas had already been earned, regardless of whether or not they attended. The ubiquity of social media didn't make it difficult to say goodbye to old friends. They had already started their transition into their brave, new futures, taking advantage of the classless days leading up to their graduation to start cleaning up some of Heero's stuff. Hell, they'd even already started investigating what neighborhoods they would like to get an apartment in. And hell, Duo already lived with Heero half the time as it was. Getting an apartment together should have been nothing special.
But something was. This was it. This was official. Formality or not, there was no going back now, no more last minute final nitpicky details that could take this away from them. No more safety net, nothing holding them back from becoming productive citizens making active contributions to society. Very soon, no one would be able to claim them as dependents on their tax returns, for their medical insurance. Very soon, they wouldn't be able to claim the defense of being stupid college students, and very soon, they would have to live up to the responsibilities of being well-educated college grads.
Given all that, maybe he didn't feel too bad about pausing for an excited, sleepless night, to take a deep breath and look back over the years before stepping across that invisible threshold between the present and the future.
He shifted slightly, and his hand brushed up against Heero's. He was about to withdraw it when he felt Heero's fingers move and curl around his. That warm security deserved some contemplation. He gave it its due with a smile he'd probably be embarrassed about, had anyone been able to see it. "I think," he started deliberately, "you're the best thing I'll be taking away from my college experience."
The fingers tightened around his before Heero shifted onto his side to face him. "I think... you're the last thing I ever expected to be taking away from my college experience."
Duo laughed softly, barely more than a snort and a twitch of his shoulders. "Yeah, well, the best laid plans..."
"...Sometimes become even better plans."
"...Amen to that."
back to previous part
Part: 31
Notes: That's it, folks. That's the end of this one. The next novella is taking its place in the queue, but I won't be posting it until I've gotten quite a bit of it done. Hopefully, that'll make the thing tie together more nicely than this thing did.
Additional note: Happy graduation season!
I Backward Cast My E'e
sequel-lite to for promis'd joy
Part 31
He concentrated on the sound of Heero's soft breathing beside him, gauging its weight and evenness before deciding he might venture a quiet word. "Hey..."
"Hmm?"
"Still can't sleep."
There was silence for a moment from Heero before he sighed quite audibly into the night. "I already did my best to wear you out. Sorry if that's not--"
"Oh, hush," Duo interrupted quickly. "Not your fault I've got too much energy tonight."
Heero stifled a yawn. "Then sorry, you're on your own this time."
Yes, having another go at it would probably just short them on enough sleep to make tripping on the way up to the platform during the graduation ceremony a distinct possibility. But now that he knew he wouldn't wake Heero, he felt at liberty to shift a few times until he got himself into a possibly more sleep-conducive position, ending up on his side facing Heero, comfortably and reassuringly close without crowding. He settled in contentedly, but his mind didn't follow suit.
There was stuff buzzing around in there, and Duo did his best to will it to rest. Tomorrow was just a formality, a pretty little ceremony whose main purpose was surely just to provide pretty little photo ops. Their diplomas had already been earned, regardless of whether or not they attended. The ubiquity of social media didn't make it difficult to say goodbye to old friends. They had already started their transition into their brave, new futures, taking advantage of the classless days leading up to their graduation to start cleaning up some of Heero's stuff. Hell, they'd even already started investigating what neighborhoods they would like to get an apartment in. And hell, Duo already lived with Heero half the time as it was. Getting an apartment together should have been nothing special.
But something was. This was it. This was official. Formality or not, there was no going back now, no more last minute final nitpicky details that could take this away from them. No more safety net, nothing holding them back from becoming productive citizens making active contributions to society. Very soon, no one would be able to claim them as dependents on their tax returns, for their medical insurance. Very soon, they wouldn't be able to claim the defense of being stupid college students, and very soon, they would have to live up to the responsibilities of being well-educated college grads.
Given all that, maybe he didn't feel too bad about pausing for an excited, sleepless night, to take a deep breath and look back over the years before stepping across that invisible threshold between the present and the future.
He shifted slightly, and his hand brushed up against Heero's. He was about to withdraw it when he felt Heero's fingers move and curl around his. That warm security deserved some contemplation. He gave it its due with a smile he'd probably be embarrassed about, had anyone been able to see it. "I think," he started deliberately, "you're the best thing I'll be taking away from my college experience."
The fingers tightened around his before Heero shifted onto his side to face him. "I think... you're the last thing I ever expected to be taking away from my college experience."
Duo laughed softly, barely more than a snort and a twitch of his shoulders. "Yeah, well, the best laid plans..."
"...Sometimes become even better plans."
"...Amen to that."
back to previous part