SEE ALL WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

A/N: Wow, okay. I really loved that last chapter. Apparently so did you. X3 Did the end of that chapter fake you out? It sounded rather final, didn't it? Yes, but I would never end a fic without at least one good lemon!


Heero and Duo

"You had a lot of really good ideas," Duo said, tapping his data recorder on the table, "but I thought about it a lot. I think it should be a little more neutral. Something that is not obviously the idea of one or the other. Otherwise . . ." he grinned. "You know. Our names will get in the way."

Heero leaned over the table, bringing their faces dangerously close. "They will anyway. We'll win by virtue of the fact that we actually managed to cooperate long enough to do any project."

Duo bit his lower lip to keep from giggling. Part of him—a very large part—was still giddy over all this. He suspected it would take some serious getting used to, and it had only been a few days. He was more than willing to try. "Yeah, but I want to win because our project is good, not because it's amazing we didn't tear each other to shreds long before the Show."

His head tilting a bit to the side, Heero smiled. "They can give us extra marks for it, then."

"Do you really think it's the right thing?" Duo asked, peering into those amazing eyes. Even more amazing now that he could openly and freely admire. "Not telling anyone?"

Heero made a rude sound. "My father's brain would aneurysm right on the spot. My mother would have a heart attack." He slid his fingers under Duo's hand and raised it to his lips. "Not to mention your family. They would hunt me down and murder me in my sleep." He chuckled faintly, lightly kissing each knuckle.

Duo's heart sped up pleasantly at the contact. It wasn't that he was just suddenly used to this, because it was Heero. But more and more did he find he simply didn't care. These sensations of excitement were probably made more intense by virtue of the fact that it was Heero. Someone on whom he'd refused to crush because it was not allowed. He slowly pulled his hand away—and with a good deal of reluctance.

"You shouldn't do things like that at school," he said. "What if Miss Noin walked in here? Speaking of aneurysms."

Heero snorted. "All right, you must have had an idea of your own if you brought this up."

Duo smiled. "I did. You gave me the idea, actually. Our families have yet to come up with truly energy-efficient ways to power our respective products. You had the idea of solar power packs. I thought, why settle on something so small? Energy conservation is in full-swing right now. No one has ever really utilized solar energy, so why couldn't we create an energy cell that effectively gathers, stores, and utilizes solar power?"

He found himself the focus of that intense gaze. "I like that," Heero said after a moment. He smiled faintly. "It's incredibly ambitious. You do realize we have a limited time to do this?"

Duo shrugged. "The Maxwells and Yuys can't come up with something like this on their own. Let's see what happens when they work together."


M Y University always celebrated the start of spring by allowing its students four days of the normal eight-day school week off. Including the three-day weekend, this made a seven-day holiday. Heero asked his parents if he could have the Yuy lodge to himself for the entire to spend it with friends. His parents acquiesced with smiles—they usually gave him anything he asked for. Then he asked Duo to spend it with him.

When Duo said yes, he began planning how to get them both up there with no one being the wiser. It was a secluded lodge, nestled deep in the private property—several thousand acres worth—owned by the Yuy family. They used it primarily for things like this, and it was rather big for two people. There were plenty of interesting things to do, including a commercial-grade game arcade. There was also a simulation bar, which Heero hoped Duo would enjoy.

Best of all, it was in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains. The view was breathtakingly glorious, right down the multitude of streams cutting across the valley floor. This early in the year there was still a fair bit of snow on the ground, but there were also all manner of outdoor activities. The lodge was equipped for it all, including holonet access.

Eventually he devised a plan. Duo would have his sister take him to a public transportation depot. There he would ride to another location where he and Heero would meet. From this location Heero hired a private aircab to take them to the small shed where his family kept the snow skimmers that would take them up to the lodge.

Duo glomped him hard when they found each other. "I'm really excited!" he chirped, glowing. "I brought my laptop like you requested, but we aren't really going to work on our project, are we? Please tell me we're not. This is a holiday, and our first real time alone together since . . ."

Heero lightly kissed him. "Since we met? No, we aren't going to work on our project. Even I know how to relax on holidays."

"Good! I would have thrown the biggest, most impressive, and worst temper-tantrum you could imagine! Can we go? I looked up pictures of the lodge on the holonet—it's gorgeous! Why don't you rent it out this time of year?"

Heero shrugged. "Mostly so my family has a few months to use it before summer. I made my parents swear they wouldn't allow anyone else come up while we're there. Short of some global catastrophe, it'll just be you and me."

Duo let out a sound suspiciously like a giggle and buried his nose in Heero's neck. It was cold enough Heero nearly yelped. Turning Duo so they could walk, Heero led him to the private aircab. Chances of them being recognized this far from home were slim, they were both too young to be the public figures that the heads of the two houses were. Or even Damia. Indeed, the fellow at the console didn't look at them twice.

Duo tucked himself right up against Heero's side. "I seriously hope we're going to be spending at least a little time outside. We will be, right?"

"With a little persuasion, I'm sure I'll let you do whatever you want," Heero said with a smile. "There's a spa, too. Does that pique your interest?"

"Does it!" Duo exclaimed. "How far away are we now?"

Duo, apparently, had enough energy for ten. He barely stopped talking the whole way up, his lovely face alive with light and happiness. Heero found he could not look away from him. Though he was content with silence, it had never before been filled with such wonderful sound. He promised himself he would do everything in his power to make this a holiday to remember.

When the aircab dropped them off, Duo followed Heero closely, reminding him of an eager puppy. He shook his head when Heero offered him the keys to a snow skimmer.

"Don't know how to drive one. Believe it or not, I've never even been on one. My family owns an island, so that's where we spend our vacations."

One of those intrinsic differences between their families, Heero supposed. The skimmers were big enough for two passengers, and Heero was glad he'd told Duo not to bring anything. It would have been a pointless waste of space, since everything they would need was up there.

"It's about an hour ride up," Heero said as he climbed on. "Pull your hood up. It will get cold."

Duo obeyed and settled down behind him, wrapping his arms around Heero's waist and pressing his front against Heero's back. Heero found himself hoping it would get colder as they went farther up, so that he could spend some serious time warming Duo up again when they reached the lodge.

As it turned out, he got his wish. About halfway up they passed through a thick veil of mist into a minor snowstorm. It came out of nowhere and brought with it a wicked wind chill. Heero, used to the cold himself, wondered if Duo's body was more conditioned to heat. Probably. Within minutes he could feel Duo start shivering. Even through his winter coat.

When they reached the lodge, Heero deactivated the alarm and parked the skimmer in the heated shed where his family kept the skimmers for rent. "Come on," he said, getting off, "let's get you inside and warmed up."

Duo looked immensely glad to be in out of the chill. Heero quickly gathered a change of clothes for him and a thick blanket. While he waited for Duo to come back out to the front room, he started the self-maintaining fire behind the iron-wrought grate. It was actually a real fire, even. This room was a big hit with guests, located apart from the lobby. The two couches were sinfully comfortable. Heero instructed the automated drink vendor to prepare some hot chocolate.

Duo shuffled into the room just as it finished, wrapped in a thick fleece blanket bearing a wintery scene of wolves. He gave Heero an odd little smile and accepted the hot chocolate with a soft "thank you," before sitting down on one of the couches. Heero blinked, taken aback by the strange vibe rolling off his friend. It was new, different from the awkwardness brought by lingering memories of animosity. And Duo would not quite meet his gaze.

It was the tiny hint of color across his pale cheeks that gave him away. Heero blinked again. Duo was being shy. That momentarily startled Heero into inaction. Duo, shy? It seemed impossible. The boy was such a loud-mouthed attention fiend. These glimpses into the real Duo continuously had Heero burning for more. Smiling, Heero strode across the room and grabbed the blanket, pulling it open. He sat beside Duo and wrapped them both in its soft folds. Duo, he noticed, was only wearing a tank top as his hands slid up bare arms.

"Heero!" Duo yelped, arching away. "That's cold!"

Chuckling, Heero pulled Duo close. "Sorry. You're still shivering."

"Can't help it," Duo said softly, resting his head on Heero's shoulder. "I don't like the cold."

"It's because you're too skinny," Heero chided, gently chafing Duo's arms.

"Like you're any less skinny," Duo retorted, once more burying his nose in Heero's neck. And as before, it was dang cold. Duo giggled when he heard Heero's sharp intake of breath. "Serves you right. You did it to me first."

"Hn."

After that, Duo seemed perfectly comfortable. Heero relaxed inside, slowing his hands to light caresses. He swore Duo started purring.

"Does that enormous flatscreen in front of us work?" Duo asked abruptly.

Heero snorted. "Of course it does. Are you interested?"

"See if the net is playing any good movies," Duo instructed, shifting and getting comfortable.

Moving enough to allow Duo the room he demanded, Heero eyed the room for the remote and grabbed it off the end table. It was barely in reach. A news network frequency popped up first, and Heero quickly skimmed past it. There weren't any programs on that caught his interest, so he brought up the request movie screen.

"Anything you feel like watching?" he asked.

"Something funny," Duo replied promptly. "And sweet. And romantic. And a little sad."

Heero had to smile. "Anything else?"

"Yes," Duo said. "I'm hungry."

At this, Heero laughed out loud. "What sounds good?"

"A sandwich. I don't like ham, just turkey. Don't care about what kind of cheese. Anything else on it is fine. And crackers or chips, just something crunchy and salty. And I'm really in the mood for blue mango sodas if you have any. If you have a processor, some pizza."

Wondering if Duo could really eat all that, Heero chuckled and tipped Duo's chin up to lightly kiss him. It made the boy blush prettily. "Pick a movie while I grab us a bite."

"Better make it more than one, or I'll starve to death," Duo quipped.

Heero's mirth did not evaporate as he went to the self-service food bar. He made sandwiches with just about every condiment, a cheese pizza, and the chips and soda Duo asked for. He brought it all back on a hover tray. Duo, who was just settling on a movie, brightened with a grin.

"Wonderful! I'm so hungry I could eat a whole frickin' cow!"

Heero sat down beside him again, this time leaving elbow room so they could eat. Heero lost interest in the food long before Duo did; indeed, his companion ate most of what Heero brought. It greatly amused Heero, amused and astonished him. Apparently Duo was a bottomless pit. How exactly did he stay so thin? Duo caught his amused eye and frowned.

"I know, it's weird. I can't help it. I've got a weird metabolism thing. My body doesn't store nutrients very well. Most of gets burned or passed out. What's your excuse, Yuy? Some form of anorexia?"

Heero snorted. "Not likely. I told you, didn't I? I don't like food. Besides, I'm not skinny like you. Just lean."

"Yeah, call it what you will," Duo dismissed it. "And why didn't you bring me some cookies or ice cream or cake? Or chocolate?"

Smiling, Heero leaned back. "I thought I'd bring you some chocolate cheesecake drizzled with black raspberry syrup and whipped—"

Duo lunged across the couch and covered his mouth with one hand. "Stop! All right, what do you want? Want me to run outside naked? Tell you the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me? Show you humiliating pictures of me as a baby? Recall the last time I wet the bed? What?"

Highly amused, Heero waited until Duo removed his hand. "Would you really do what I want?"

"For that?" Duo said. "Yes! Now hurry and tell me so I can do it and you give me my cheesecake!"

Heero's grin softened into a smile. "Then kiss me."

That sapped Duo's playful energy, turning it into something more subdued. He blushed again—Heero decided he must make him do it more often. It was enticing, sweet and pretty. Licking his lips quickly, he leaned forward and brought their mouths together. It wasn't really a kiss, little more than just contact. Heero swiped his tongue across the crease in Duo's lips, and after that the other boy grew bolder. He pressed closer, opening his mouth so their tongues met.

It was a surprisingly hesitant gesture. Heero didn't push, just went along with whatever Duo wanted. Honestly he didn't know much more about these things than Duo, who was his first kiss ever. And because it was him, it was thrilling and perfect. Especially when Duo finally seemed more comfortable and pushed his tongue into Heero's mouth.

Amazing how a person could taste so sweet. There were a myriad of flavors on his tongue, but beneath it all was the spicy, heady flavor that was all Duo. That all by itself made Heero want more. But there was plenty of time for that. For now he slid his tongue alongside Duo's as the smaller boy explored his mouth. Those bold swipes and tentative thrusts made Heero dizzy and hot, especially when Duo sucked his lower lip into his mouth and lightly nipped.

When they pulled apart both were flushed and gasping. Darkened cobalt met indigo-violet, both pairs of surfaces a bit glazed. "Wow," Duo whispered. "You're a really good kisser, Heero."

Heero licked his lips. "So are you. I might have to make you a whole cheesecake for that."

That brought a bright, incredibly sweet smile to Duo's face. He sobered a little. "What were we doing before, Heero? Just ignoring what was right in front of us?"

Heero didn't have to ask or guess what he meant. "No, I think we were both pretending it wasn't there to begin with. That was easier."

"Let's . . ." Duo began. He hesitated, looking away briefly. "Let's promise each other we'll be honest from now on. About everything."

Knowing what he was talking about, Heero smiled. "I was attracted to you the first moment I saw you," he admitted. "And in case you ever wondered, you do a good job of hiding who you are. You fooled me until Shinigami enlightened me."

Duo raised an eyebrow. "You win the prize in that category, Heero. I had no idea you knew what an emotion was, let alone what to do with one."

Heero did feel Duo deserved an explanation. However, it wasn't that easy to sort out into reasoning. "It wasn't my aim to hurt," he said slowly, "and I am sorry that I often did get to you. I'm not sure if I can really explain it to you. I've always hated this pointless feud, but that's not exactly something I could show. I guess you can understand that best of all. Anyway, I guess it's just a way of keeping everything at arm's length, that way it can't get close enough to hurt."

"There's a part of me that's still nervous," Duo almost whispered. "Really, really nervous. A part that believes this is a strange dream, or a complete improbability, something so absurd and . . . out there it just can't make it. And I've . . . always been . . . shy around boys who want a relationship with me. You're no different, Heero. Actually it's worse with you, because not that long ago we were . . . archenemies or something." He let out a little laugh.

And did he ever know what Duo meant. He smiled reassuringly. "That's why I wanted us to get away for awhile. We can sort this out together, Duo. I want to. I want to . . . see what we can be. See where this takes us. Do you know what I mean?"

"I do," Duo confirmed with a little smile, bringing their lips back into contact. It was a sweet, lingering kiss. "I love kissing you. That all by itself is enough to convince me you might be worth it."

"Might?" Heero said, adopting a wounded look.

Duo sat up straight. "Well, you have yet to produce this cheesecake you promised me."

Heero flopped back, laughing. Well, at the very least it would be an interesting ride.