Part 52
He's sitting at his desk, staring dreamily at the carousel of photographs on the corner. It's been a while since he got that first packet of photos, but he still acts as if they're the most magical things in the whole world.
He gets another packet every few days. Teal is sending double sets; he must know Duo very well. Already two albums have been filled and a third is in progress. Raia and Tiffany, who happen to adore the Banshee, put up a corkboard on the wall next to his desk. It is, of course, filled with photos.
Most of them are of his Aunt Shar, Teal and the new baby, Dael, but not all. I confess to having a "moment" a few days after the first delivery of photos. I bought Duo a digital camera.
Now he sends photos back to his family. And the lower left corner of the corkboard is filled with photos of his friends.
I'm smirking, looking down at my report to hide my expression. I'm finished, have been for almost an hour. I just enjoy watching him when he's like this; it's almost become a hobby. His purple eyes are soft and velvety, his lips curve in a gentle smile, and he looks relaxed and loose, but still, somewhere inside, I can feel him crying. However much joy he gets from these photos, this connection with his family, he is not content.
I've stopped asking why he doesn't go home for a visit. He won't answer. Rather, he gives me answers that mean nothing. The most candor I've gotten was the simple "I can't." He refuses to elaborate.
Enrique and Moira are watching him covertly. Wufei is sitting on the corner of Trowa's desk watching Duo; his intent gaze hasn't wavered in ten minutes. Trowa is working on a report, but he looks up every few minutes to check on Duo. Tiffany is on assignment, but she called a while ago to ask what Duo was doing. Estaban is chewing on his lips, a bad habit when he's nervous or worried. Across from him, Inazuma, the River Elf, is plucking flowers from nothing.
It's all because Duo is quiet. It's strange, that silence. Unnatural. This is my Banshee, a bouncing, glomping, chattering bundle of pure energy. It is unhealthy for him to be so silent.
When Duo is silent, everyone in the room is silent. It's as if we're all waiting for something startling to happen to start the flow of time again.
A chair creaks. Duo looks up and sees us staring at him. He hesitates only an instant, then the grin comes on and he laughs nervously.
"What?! Did I zone out again?"
And everything is normal again.
"Only for a while," I mutter, trying to hide a smirk.
"Oh. Sorry, Heero," he says contritely. "Hey, why don't I finish the report?"
I pass the page to him. "Too late. Already finished."
He gives me a mock glare. "'A while' huh?"
I shrug easily. "You didn't ask how long a while."
He puffs out a sigh that flutters his bangs. "I'll buy you dinner in town," he offers. "If you'll drive."
"My pleasure. Are you still having trouble?" His teleportation skills are nearly perfect now; the only problem is that he can't move another person with him.
His eyes stray once again to the wall of photographs. "Yeah. It may or may not work out. All I can do is keep working on it." His tone is light, but there is an edge of frustration.
I know how to lighten that mood.
"Duo, would you like me to take some photos while we're in town?"
The frustration is forgotten for the moment.
"Would you? That'd be great, Heero!"