Disclaimers: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing nor it's characters. Merely borrowing them for a little torture.
Warnings: Shounen-ai (because I suck at yaoi) , major A.U, some OOC I think, deathfic
Finding Heaven
Part One: Wedding pictures, brides and grooms
Four years ago
He was called Max, photographer extraordinaire. His assignments were mostly for top fashion houses and his work could be found everywhere. People flocked to his studio hoping for a rare glimpse at the handsome young photographer or better yet, get him to agree to photograph something other than leggy models.
His real name was Duo Maxwell, street rat and pickpocket extraordinaire. He was an orphan and had no past. It had taken more than eight years to slowly bury his past, to forget himself. He had placed layers and layers upon his old self that he couldn't remember how he actually was before he was picked up and formally adopted.
Or so he told himself.
Part of him would never forget living on the streets, never forget living hand to mouth, never forget life.
Buried along with his past, was his pain and he had taken to living with a perpetual jester grin on his face. No one saw beyond the smile, beyond the whirlwind of activity that made up Duo Maxwell.
"Max… Max, hey Max!" Someone yelled.
Duo started, jerked from melancholic thoughts to the present and he smiled up at his assistant, Hilde. "Sorry, just spacing for a while."
Hilde sighed, shaking her head as if resigned. "Are you done with the clean up?" Hilde peered over his shoulder at the laptop screen. "That bitch has been calling all morning for the first draft."
Duo sighed, rubbing a hand wearily over tired violet eyes. "Relena Peacecraft is a pain in the ass, and you can, no, you must quote me."
Hilde giggled softly. "I thought you were going to kill her the last time she called to tell you she changed her wedding gown again."
"She has changed her stupid wedding gown four times. Four times. Four wedding gowns. Do you know how expensive those stupid things are?" Duo's frugal sensibilities were suitably shocked.
"You didn't have to agree to the assignment you know," Hilde reasoned.
Duo shrugged. "It was a slow week."
Yeah, right, slow week. It had been years since Max Studios had a slow day, much less a slow week. After being in business for more than three years, Max had been the most sought after photographer for all major fashion houses. Duo had managed to balance his time, rejecting certain jobs to ensure he didn't fall over from exhaustion. But for the past few months, he had been working himself hard, driving himself closer and closer to the edge. He needed the distraction, needed to take his mind off the turmoil in his life. He needed to forget the fact that the one person he trusted most in his life had betrayed him. The man whom he thought he could spend the rest of his life with was found wrapped in the arms of another and wearing little else.
Suddenly, the airy office with huge windows became stifling and Duo was overwhelmed with the desire get out of there.
"I'm going for a walk," Duo said, lunging suddenly from his chair. A wave of dizziness swamped him unexpectedly, and he heard Hilde calling his name from far away, an annoying ringing resounding in his ears. When the wave passed, he found himself back in his chair, Hilde hovering close by.
"Boss? Are you okay?" Hilde peered worriedly at her boss's ashen face.
Duo lowered his head into raised hands. "Yeah," he mumbled. "I think I need more sleep and to stand up slower."
"You don't look so good, Duo." Hilde still looked worried and the use of her boss's real name only enhanced that concern. Duo was Max to those in the industry and Hilde knew better than to call him something else but only let it slip when she was really worried about her normally perky boss.
"Don't worry, Hilde. I'm fine," he forced a smile for his dark haired assistant. "I just need some air, I'll be fine." He got up again, slowly this time, testing his legs. After making sure they were not going to buckle, he stepped around Hilde and walked towards the door. "Take any messages and if Ms Peacecraft calls back, tell her to shove it."
Duo stepped into the warm sunshine of the late summer evening taking a deep breath. It was a beautiful day. He walked around the block towards the park not far from his office, his mind still on one Miss Relena Peacecraft. The Peacecrafts were a high profile family and descendant from some weird European royalty or other. Born to privilege and raised that way as well. Ms Peacecraft had tracked Max down a few weeks ago after a very public announcement of her impending marriage to another privileged brat from the Lowe family, another old and royal line. Duo had not seen the articles on them, of course, being totally not interested in the society page and not needing it to do his job well. He had not intended to agree to the assignment, brushing off Ms Peacecraft, no Relena, as a wilful and spoilt brat, which she was. Unfortunately for him, Relena was someone who didn't understand the word no.
Stalkers should take lessons from this woman. Somehow, she found his home address, which he guarded with his life and staked it out until he got home from another assignment.
"Max," a shrill voice called out from behind Duo as he fumbled with his keys and the many bags that housed his photography equipment.
"Ms Peacecraft," he turned smiling. "How may I help you?" They had met only once before, at his office when she had gushed on and on about how talented he was and how he must take her wedding pictures for her.
"You are a hard person to keep track of," Relena flipped her long blond hair over her shoulder, her ice blue eyes raking up and down Duo's body, judging him and seemed to like what she saw.
Duo felt himself stiffen slightly, but he knew he was an attractive man. He had enough offers both from men and women alike. He was not overly tall, his somewhat nourishment deprived childhood ensured that he would not be taller than 5 feet 7, but he was lean and well muscled, despite habitual binges on sugar, junk food and chocolate. Must be his over active metabolism. Many called him a work of art, with a delicate heart shaped face, soft lips and deep violet eyes. His hair was a rich chestnut, bound in a tight braid that hung down his back reaching just the top of his hips. His signature. Max's signature, Duo Maxwell's momento mori. He has never thought himself as handsome, beautiful or anything as such, nobody had made him feel like he was, except for him, then Duo got his heart ripped out.
"What do you want, Ms Peacecraft?" Duo asked tiredly, too exhausted to try to be polite. He stood just outside his door and made no move to enter his apartment.
"It's Relena," Miss Ice-Queen corrected, smiling disarmingly at Duo. She raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you inviting me in?"
"No, my home is my private affair. I don't bring business into it. If you want to speak to me about your wedding pictures, we can make another appointment tomorrow." Duo dismissed Relena and turned his back on her.
"No, Max, I won't make another appointment which you have no intention to keep," Relena said, firmly. "I can pay you well Max, you are the best. And the Peacecrafts only get the best."
Duo had the grace to blush. He had been avoiding her like the plague, making appointments before cancelling through her secretary to avoid speaking to her. He stared into seemingly sincere blue eyes and felt himself caving. There was no way he was able to withstand such a wistful look in those eyes. It's just another assignment, what harm would it do? Besides, having someone like the Peacecrafts as an acquaintance wouldn't do too much harm to his reputation.
"Fine," Duo agreed, not knowing then what a huge mistake it would be.
In the weeks that followed his flippant agreement, he had come to hate Relena Peacecraft with a vengeance. Everything had to be just right, everything wasn't at all right even if Duo insisted it would be as right as it ever will be. If murder wasn't an offence, Relena Peacecraft would be dead twice over. She had changed her dressmakers four times, her makeup artist another three and her wedding date twice. Duo was surprised she didn't change the groom as well.
Heero Yuy Lowe.
That name brought a small pang of pain. He was the most gorgeous man Duo has ever seen in a long time and he was marrying someone that didn't have Maxwell as a last name. That was worse than the fact that he was straight. Duo remembered the first time he met Heero about a month ago when Relena had dragged the stoic man in. Hilde had to remind him to pick his eyes up from the floor while his assistant worked to reposition his unhinged jaw. He had been that close to drooling over the messy crop of brown hair and the deepest blue eyes this side of the summer sky. The said fiancé looked like a smile was a foreign expression to him and Duo believed he could count all the words Heero spoke during the day, on one hand. From that day on, the photographer looked forward to Relena's sessions, even if he didn't want to see the woman all that much. His heart sped up at the thought of seeing Heero again.
Duo knew he was a sucker for punishment but he had always pined for something that he can't have. Somehow, knowing that he can't have it, therefore, can't be hurt by it was much safer than taking the plunge. He had taken extra care in cleaning up the pictures with Heero in it, and had a copy of the stoic man's personal portrait in his wallet. Yes, that sounded absolutely desperate, but Duo could care less. There was a small Heero Yuy shrine in his home and another one in his dark room, two places that were strictly off limits to anyone but him.
He saw Heero check him out a couple of times but Duo put it off as wishful thinking. After all, that man was marrying a woman in another few months.
Duo quickly found his favourite bench in the park and settled himself on it, leaning back and letting the warm breeze take his troubles away. He knew part of his depression was due to the whole Heero issue. He personally didn't believe in love at first sight, hell, he didn't even believe in love anymore, but every time Heero stared at him with those dark blue eyes and he felt his heart clench for something more than just a look.
"Max?" A familiarly quiet voice called out.
"Heero," Duo winced, unable to mask the surprised joy and excitement in his tone. Idiot, he berated himself. This guy was straight. "Fancy meeting you here." More like fancy meeting you without something hanging onto your arm, he thought.
Heero smiled. "Yeah, needed some time away from…." He cut himself off abruptly. "Work," he finished lamely.
Inwardly, Duo smiled. Needed some time away from Relena, don't we? This was the first time he saw the serious man smile and not the slight smirk variety that seemed like second nature to him around his fiancée.
"It that a reserved seat, or is it still open to public?" Heero lifted a well sculpted brow at the bench Duo was currently hogging.
Duo scooted over, leaving a space for the other man. "Sorry."
"You look tired," Heero turned and stared hard at the smaller man, taking in the dark circles under expressive violet eyes and the pale face.
"Probably because I am," Duo admittedly candidly. "Your wife is driving me up the wall with her fickleness with wedding dresses."
"She isn't my wife yet," Heero muttered somberly, good humour vanished in an instant.
Duo was shocked into speechlessness. Damn if he didn't hear a tone of resentment at Relena being referred to as the other man's wife. And they appeared to be such a perfect couple.
"Hey, I'm sorry man. For what, I don't really know," Duo admitted, more than a little confused.
Heero sighed. "No, I should be apologising, not you. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
Duo turned away from the raw pain in those Cobalt depths, unsure of what to say to Heero and yet driven by the desire to comfort him.
The other man stared at the back of Max's head, eyes roaming freely over the long braid he had admired for weeks. He fantasized what it would be like free from its binding, liken a silken chestnut waterfall, flowing over his naked chest. Shit, this was getting bad. The braided photographer had been haunting his dreams since the day they met and prolonged interaction with each other had only heightened Heero's desire. He wondered briefly how Relena would react when he finds out that her future husband prefers men as bed partners. He shuddered to think how his father would react.
Odin Lowe, the man responsible for most of his decisions in his life, including the one to marry into the Peacecrafts. It was a strategic business decision and nothing to do with Heero happiness. For years, he had been taught to be perfect in everyway. To be the best, and being a homosexual was not exactly what his father had in mind, maybe being the perfect homosexual.
He laughed softly to himself.
The other man's head whipped around at that sound only to find his movements somewhat restricted.
"Ow," Duo looked down to see his braided being possessively held by the other man. He slowly looked up into the other's eyes, a slow blush creeping up his cheeks.
Heero released the braid as if it was a snake and matched the fiery expression colouring the photographer's cheeks. "I… I… got to go." He got up from the bench and walked as fast as he could without seeming as if he was running. Gods, who was he kidding, he was running. As much as he wanted to, he didn't look back.
Why are my pants ringing? Duo thought absently, before realising it was his cell phone.
"Take five ladies," he called out to the troupe of models he was photographing and picked up the call. It was a private number. "Hello?" He asked cautiously.
"Uhm…" One word, more a slight grunt than a word, but the very sound of that voice sent a shaft of pure joy vibrating through Duo.
It's Heero, he thought. How did he get my number?
It's on your business card you fool, his mind scolded.
"Heero?" Duo winced at the joy in his voice. Isn't that a huge tip off that he was lusting over another person's intended? Get a grip idiot.
"Hi Max," the voice said pleasantly, still a little nervous. "I called to… I.. I'm sorry."
That was new. "Sorry, for what?" Duo was confused.
"About the whole… uhm…" Heero faltered. "Braid thing."
Duo smiled, feeling relieved. "Oh, don't worry about it, I've had my braid yanked a couple of times nothing too big a deal. Besides, I kind of liked having you hold me braid like that. Makes me feel kind of safe and……" Shit! Did my freaking mouth run off again? This is bad, must get off the phone, must stop own humiliation. "Sorry, got to go, don't worry about it. Everything is fine. Bye." He quickly disconnected the line, his heart pounding and face flushed a deep red.
Gods, that was so embarrassing. He didn't blame Heero if he never came back to Max Studios again. Hell, I wouldn't.
A low beep from his cell phone indicated a message received. It read:
Dinner tonight? Let me make it up to you? Heero.
Duo smiled.
tbc…
Reviews would be nice once in a while you know, hell screw once in a while, reviews are nice all the time
A/N: Thanks Violet_Eyes for noting the mistake, it is Max, not Duo. Author is not ready to be shot, guys, do your best.
