Heero's Gift
By: Dyna Dee
Gee, after all this time I still don't own these guys or make money off them. Go figure. 1x2, 3x4 warning.
A commotion outside the double doors drew every eye in the cafeteria to that direction. Suddenly, both doors burst open and Agent Duo Maxwell slid into the room on stockinged feet as if he were sliding into home base. In an instant the slender man jumped to his feet and looked back apprehensively towards the still swinging doors, his body tense and alert, as if he was expecting an enemy to follow. The cackling sound of female laughter was all that came through the settling doors.
"What the...?" Wufei muttered, putting his fork down. His eyes widening with disbelief as he took in the sight of their fellow agent and friend.
Once the initial shock of Duo's abrupt entry had ebbed and the realization no danger followed, snickers, barks of laughter and even catcalls erupted from others lunching in the large room. The sight of the well-known agent was unusual, to say the least. His uniform was disheveled, as was his braid, his tie looked worse for wear and his shoes were missing. Yet beyond those startling oddities, it was his face that drew the laughter; being covered with red-lipstick kisses.
Realizing he wasn't being followed, Maxwell straightened and his shoulders relaxed. He turned and bowed to his audience, all the while scanning the room for his usual lunch group. Quickly locating them, sitting at a table near the right corner of the room, his grin widened and he set out to join them, looking for all the world as if there was nothing strange about his entry or his strange appearance.
In unison, Trowa, Quatre and Wufei turned their gaze from their approaching friend to Heero, trying to gauge his reaction and intervene if necessary. But as usual, the stoic agent gave no indication of what he was feeling, though his eyes remained fixed on his boyfriend's marked face,
"Easy, Yuy," Wufei said quietly yet firmly, hoping Heero was listening. "There's probably a rational, logical explanation."
"I'm certain there is," came the other's reply, his monotone voice not giving them a hint as to whether he was angry or not.
Duo stopped at edge of the table, and in a nonchalant manner greeted them with, "Hey guys."
Quatre suppressed his laughter enough to ask, "What in the world happened to you?"
Duo shot a quick look at Heero before answering. When he did, his eyes shone with amusement. "I'm pretty sure Hilde called it a mistletoe bomb. See, I was leaving my office when she and her group of crazies came rushing up to me. The were all wearing the same bloody red lipstick. I was so surprised I nearly punched someone in the face, thinking they were attacking me. Then Hilde stepped up and warmed me to prepare myself for a holiday tradition. I was kind of expecting cookies or a plate of fudge, but then she pointed to something above my head, a funny looking clump of green tied up with a red ribbon. Before I could say anything, she and her cackling pack of friends pounced. I swear, I don't know where they came from and I know I've never even seen some of before. They laughed the entire time while tugging and pulling me this way and that in order to plant a big messy kiss on my face. Ugh, some of them seriously need to take lessons on landing a kiss."
Quatre's snicker turned into laughter while Trowa's shoulders shook, though not a sound escaped him. Wufei simply raised one dark, disapproving eyebrow before turning his attention to Heero. "Yuy?"
Quatre and Trowa's amusement lessened somewhat as they, too, looked to Heero for his response.
"Your face is a mess." Heero calmly stated the obvious, his gaze never leaving Duo's face.
"I can only imagine," Duo replied, his smile widening.
"Mistletoe is a tradition of Christmas."
Duo scratched his head as he replied, "Mistletoe? I guess. Hilde explained that when you stand under it, someone kisses you. Heh, heh... never heard of a mistletoe bomb. Maybe it's something new." He reached his hand up, as if to scratch his face, but stopped before his fingers touched the lipstick coated skin. "Damn, that probably would have made it worse."
"Perhaps you should wash it off?"
Duo shrugged. "Guess I should. Will you get me something for lunch while I'm gone, Heero? Getting this off might take a while and I'm starving."
"When is he not starving," Wufei mumbled just loud enough for everyone to hear. As usual, his muttering was ignored.
Heero agreed to Duo's request just as several clicking sounds were heard. Both men turned to see all three of their friends with their cell phones aimed in their direction. Instead of making a fuss, Duo grinned widely and threw himself down onto the bench next to Heero, his arm going around his lover's shoulders in order to bring them closer together.
"If you're gonna take my picture, then take it with the two of us. He's responsible for this mess on my face, after all."
He turned his head with the intention of planting a kiss on Heero's cheek but stopped when Heero, faintly smiling for the cameras, muttered, "Not in public."
"Come on, Heero. I just want to spread a little Christmas cheer. Share the love."
Heero rolled his eyes yet acquiesced by tilting his cheek a little closer, accepting a chaste kiss on it from the man next to him. All three camera phones clicked again, the image and moment captured for future teasing.
Once Duo had left to take care of the lipstick, the lunchroom returned to normal with the sounds of dishes, silverware and chatter filling the large space.
"I'm surprised, Yuy," Wufei said, studying the Japanese man. "You took that entire incident rather well, more calmly than I would have credited you with. I can only assume from what Duo said you had foreknowledge of the act."
"I may have mentioned something to Hilde." Heero replied as he returned to his lunch.
"So you set this up? Why?" Trowa asked, clearly perplexed. From recent experiences, it was clear that Hereo was highly protective of Duo and their fairly new relationship.
Heero put his fork down, realizing he wasn't going to be able to eat until their questions were answered. "Duo has told me of his past: the poverty, hunger and depravation. He's only seen glimpses of what the holidays mean to others. One night he told me he would like to have at least one Christmas like everyone else."
Quatre's eyes widened. "And so arranged for him to be kissed under the mistletoe?" After Heero's slight nod, he blond wondered out loud, "I would have thought you'd want to be the one to experience that with him."
Heero gave his friend a small, crooked smile. "Oh, I will. I've purchased a full bag of the tree fungus, enough to set over every doorway in our apartment and then some."
Quatre gazed at the man with a surprised expression. "Why, Heero, you're a romantic."
"Pragmatic," he countered.
"How so?" Trowa asked, silently calculating how much of the green stuff he'd need to buy to do the same to his and Quatre's apartment.
Heero stood up and pulled out his wallet and opened it, the others believing he was getting ready purchase Duo's lunch, as he'd agreed. He paused a moent before replying thoughtfully, "I've discovered that when Duo is happy, I am happy. I'm disturbed when he's upset or sad. When he smiles, I feel..." He paused as if searching for the right word.
"Wonderful?" Quatre supplied with a dreamy look in his eyes.
"Content?" Trowa guessed with a fond glance at the blond young man who comprised his world.
Then in unison, Heero, Quatre and Trowa looked expectantly for Wufei's input. Seeing this, the Chinese man grumbled, "How the hell should I know how he would feel?"
Heero shook his head and sighed, then finished his thought. "His smile warms me. Duo makes me feel love."
Wufei put his head in his hands and with an exaggerated moaned mumbled, "Ancestors protect us, Yuy's turned into a love-sick sap."
"I think it's wonderful," Quatre said, giving Wufei a chastising glance.
"I assume you have other such events planned?" Trowa surmised, though his slight lean forward suggested he was looking for some ideas. After all, what do you give to the richest man in the colonies?
"Yes." Reaching into his open wallet, Heero pulled out a neatly folded paper. After replacing the wallet back into his pocket, he carefully unfolded the paper and laid it out on the table, facing his three friends. "Assuming each of you would like to assist me in this endeavor, I've written up a list of activities for us to plan and execute."
"What?" Wufei's head shot up. "Maxwell is your boyfriend, Yuy, not mine."
"He's your friend," Heero challenged, looking straight into the Chinese agent's eyes. "Am I wrong to assume you would want to contribute to Duo's happiness?"
Wufei spluttered a moment before falling silent. Finally, he reached out a hand towards the paper. "Very well, but I reserve the right to refuse if I'm uncomfortable with any task."
Heero separated one of the three papers and handed it to Wufei, the other two sheets went to open hands, no questions or disparaging remarks from either man.
It took a moment for them to scan the page, and when they finished, Quatre looked up, wide eyed. "This is a rather extensive list of activities, Heero: caroling, volunteering, cookie baking, shopping, watching old Christmas movies."
Trowa cut in, reading from the list. "Sleigh ride. Attending Preventer's holiday party. Building a snowman. Picking out and decorating a Christmas tree as well as ice skating and sledding,"
Wufei picked up from there, his eyes widening with incredulity. "Honestly, the Christmas ballet? Midnight mass? Is Maxwell that religious? And a visit to Santa? How old is he anyway?"
"Wufei," Quatre growled. "Show some respect for what Heero's trying to do here."
Undaunted, Wufei calmly replied. "Look at the list, Winner. Do you honestly believe there are enough hours in the time remaining before Christmas for Heero to check everything off this list?"
"He may be right," Trowa said softly, now drawing the blond's ire to his direction. "There's only ten days left until Christmas."
"Very well," Heero capitulated before Quatre could question his boyfriend's skepticism. The last thing any of them wanted was a lover's quarrel in the cafeteria, at work, or for that matter, in their presence. "There are twenty five items on the list. Split between us four, we have six tasks each. I'll take care of stuffing his stocking and would appreciate some help with the Christmas dinner. Perhaps a shortened version of each experience would be acceptable." He looked at his four friends with a hopeful look in his eyes.
Quatre's face brightened. "Trowa and I will gladly help, won't we?" The auburn haired man hadn't a chance in hell of refusing his lover anything when he gazed at him with eyes glowing with excitement and his cheeks flushed pink. He nodded his agreement, earning him a love-filled smile that would make any lesser man sway in his seat.
Wufei took a pen out of his pocket and quickly circled five events. "There. I'll arrange these activities. Is everyone expected to attend?"
Heero nodded. "Duo would want to share his first real Christmas with each of us. It will build a new memory and, hopefully, replace more painful ones ."
Trowa grabbed Wufei's copy and scanned the page. "You took the easy ones, Chang."
The Chinese man's nose rose up in the air slightly. "No one can ever accuse me of being slow or dim witted. Besides, Yuy didn't say said I couldn't pick which tasks I wanted. You should be content that I'm willing to volunteer to help with his mad scheme." Under the intense glare from the other three, Wufei seemed to realize he'd made a mistake by speakings his reply out loud. He quickly amended his statement. "What I meant to say is, I'm happy to help in my own small way."
Quatre reached over and plucked the list from Trowa's hands and scanned what was left, then sniffed. "Your right. He did take the easy ones. Clearly Preventer's party and visiting Santa can be accomplished at the same time. Ice skating and building a snowman also. But I can't wait to see Wufei helping Duo make cookies."
Heero looked up as the his lover re-entered the room, walking this time and wearing both shoes. His uniform was neatly tucked back into place and he appeared much more composed and sure footed. Though his face was still slightly pink, it was no longer covered with lipstick-red kisses.
Keeping his voice low Heero whispered aside to Quatre, "Put away the paper. Strategy meeting in my office, fifteen minutes before we clock out. Agreed."
"Agreed," the other three replied just as quietly and in unison, while Quatre slipped the paper from the table and put in under the napkin on his lap.
Duo sauntered up to the table, looked first at their plates, then with an exasperated frown asked, "Hey, where the hell's my lunch?"
Heero shot to his feet. "Sorry. I'll get it now. Meatloaf or stroganoff?
"The one with the most gravy," he replied and Heero dashed off.
The long haired man took the recently vacated seat. "So, did I miss anything?".
"Not really," Quatre replied easily. "We were just discussing the holidays."
"Oh yeah?" Duo said with a widening grin. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Heero was out of hearing range. Then leaning forward, he grabbed his braid with both hands and in a conspiring manner said, "Listen guys, I could really use your help. See, I want to give Heero the best Christmas ever. I made a list..." He paused to pull a piece of paper out of his back pocket.
A sudden banging on the table had three heads turning to see Wufei beating his head against the surface, muttering, "Ancestors save me, I'm surrounded by love-sick fools.
Acting in unison, as if they could read each other's thoughts, Trowa leaned forward, almost over his plate, allowing Quatre space to shift and reach behind him. With a solid shove, the blond pushed the unsuspecting Chinese man off the end of the bench. Wufei landed on the floor with a squawk, thump and loud curse, drawing every eye in the room back to their table.
Quatre straightened, as did Trowa, both ignoring the unhappy man rising to take his seat. Clasping his hands together and resting them on the edge of the table, Quatre calmly proceeded, "Now, Duo, about that list..."
End
Merry Christmas! For all my lovely friends. You know who you are, and you're the best.