Warning: graphic-ish, not as bad as past chapters. And corny, sappy ending—even for my tastes.
Chapter Ten: Fade to End
Treize sat at the top of the Peacecraft Building as he watched Relena pace frantically. Somehow, all the fight had slipped from him. He dared not to examine too closely all that he had done for Relena's cause and what it was about to cost him.
"We'll have to go to court," she hissed, running a hand through her bangs and then reaching out so slam her palm against the wall, hard.
The eldest Peacecraft, her father, just sat with his elbows on the table and his head bent. "He's willing to take a formal apology, Relena. Never again will you get away with this kind of criminal offense."
"It's only criminal if we admit to it!"
"I trusted you to get Heero Yuy back on our side or at least deter him from becoming a competitor, Relena and all you've succeeded in doing is ruining our reputation at least and driving us out of business at worst. This is a product of jealousy and immaturity and," he added with a dark look towards Treize, "weak-minded followers. And not only have I lost my best writer, I've lost my second-best writer, and my best manager which happens to be my son. No, you will write the formal apology, you will go onto national television to make it, and you will stay as far away as Heero says you will. I've had enough. Either you do this, or you're fired."
"There has to be a way…" Relena whispered, her eyes wide with panic.
"Relena, you lost—everything. We all mistook Heero's nature as a man willing to go to great lengths to avoid confrontation and a scandal."
"The Count of Monte Cristo," Treize scoffed.
Relena's father chuckled bitterly. "Never underestimate the Edmond's of the real world…they may just rise up through the flame and bring about your own downfall. We got what was coming to us. If we don't accept defeat now, we will only drive ourselves further down. I've made my decision Relena—apologize or pack up your office. I'm going to make some phone calls and see if there's still a chance to keep this company afloat."
Relena felt her legs go weak and she collapsed into the nearest chair. Just yesterday she had been so certain of everything. But now? Now there was no telling what tomorrow would even bring.
(O)(O)(O)
Heero worked hard to keep his breathing even and his heart rate down as he held Duo fast to his chest. His younger counterpart was fighting to hold tears back as they watched the live broadcast. Relena Peacecraft stood, head bowed, voice low as she confessed in an evasive manner before issuing an apology her father had written. She bit it out and though there was no apology in her voice the public knew by her confession that all that had transpired had happened and by virtue of wrongs being righted—they were free.
We recognize that our company policy in accordance with the law states that retaliation is illegal and unethical. Though we come forward in hopes of staying out of the legal system, we do understand that the act of retaliation as well as some of the forms in which they transpired in are illegal and are subject to the court of law. We will be in contact with Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell for further negotiation...
Relena put the paper aside and tried not too look too putout as cameras flashed furiously.
Heero pressed a series of kisses upon Duo's head and held the man tighter to him as Duo quietly broke down, shoulders shuddering. "I know there must have been a better way to handle this, Duo, and I apologize for what I've done to you just as much as what they did. You deserved none of this."
"Heero—" Duo tried to protest.
The older man's lips were upon Duo's tearstained ones in an instant, silencing him. "It will take me some time to let go of this feeling of responsibility. I still feel this would not have happened if I had not stepped into the picture and I am attempting to settle with the trade and accept that it was in the end, a good one."
Duo sighed. "As long as I have known you, Heero, your questions are endless and unforgiving upon yourself. I hope you can suffice with knowing that I would give everything to be here in this moment if it had to happen any other way. I love you and I know I always will."
"You can see into the future, then, can you?"
"No," Duo whispered, moving to straddle his sitting partner's legs. "I can see you."
The four simple words rocked Heero and moved the ground beneath his feet. He had to lower his head and fight to hold back tears of his own. His fingers bit into Duo's hips to hold the man where he was as he struggled to maintain his control. At long last, a low, husky chuckle escaped his lips and he shook his head. "I recall the lyrics of a ballad I once heard…because I know when you look inside, you see the truths we all deny. I understand this artist to be a wise man; do you think I should believe his words?"
"I think you should…I think you do…" Duo breathed out as his lips gently found Heero's. The first touch of their lips started a violent rush of heat, passion and desperation between them as reality sank in and their mouths fused together as they sank down onto the couch. Duo groaned with delight as Heero moved to pin him hard into the cushions. In wordless understanding, both men worked quickly at divesting the other of their clothing and when their bare bodies made contact it was Heero who hissed as he fought to keep his sanity and Duo who cried out, relinquishing his all together.
"Now," Duo pleaded after a few short moments of Heero playing with his nipples and skirting his manhood. "I'm ready."
Heero was too blind with passion to disagree as he usually did. He pushed Duo's legs up against his sides and just as he moved to sheathe himself his cell phone rang with a ringtone that indicated it was Millardo and it was urgent.
"Answer it," Duo panted, about to come just from the sheer tightness of his body. He gripped both of his legs hard to hold still and control himself long enough for Heero to take the call.
"What?" Heero demanded, knowing his heavy breathing was going to give away the reason for his impatience.
"I won't keep you since you're in the middle of something," Millardo's cold but amused voice spoke from the cell phone. "But you might want to hurry it up since you have a plane to catch in two hours…unless you forgot your film is up for movie of the year and you reserved two seats at the ceremony. Though, I also have the feeling that your brain is not receiving too much blood at the moment."
"We'll be there," Heero assured before hanging up the cell phone and throwing it over the couch. Neither man heard where it landed as in that short span of time, Heero had turned just enough and sank his manhood entirely into Duo's waiting body—the scream Duo emitted far louder than the thud of the phone on the wood of the floor.
Heero reached past Duo for the armrest to use as leverage as they began to thrust with wild abandon against each other. Duo's hands were all over his body as he sought to anchor himself but found no surface that wasn't damp with perspiration. At last his hands settled on the small of Heero's back as he urged the man to thrust harder. The tactile cue of Duo's hands on his back caused Heero to shift his angle ever so slightly and the result came in the form of a loud shout from Duo's exposed throat as his head snapped back. Two more trusts as such and Duo exploded all over his stomach. The sight was too much and Heero was only a few thrusts behind as Duo's walls cinched tight and unrelenting.
Duo felt that the sound of his breathing filled their entire flat as he attempted not to hyperventilate. Heero pulled out and let that signature free, husky laugh that was present when his ego was particularly stoked erupt. Duo cracked one eye open and attempted to glare when Heero bestowed a playful smack on his ass. "Ah, it's good to be thirty. Come on you twenty-something—don't lie there like an old man, we have to pack."
"I'm basking here," Duo groaned into the couch.
Heero pressed a kiss into Duo's sweaty head before walking, stark naked, towards his bedroom to pack. It never failed to amaze Duo how cold and distant Heero was in public but how warm and loving he was in person. It was Duo's greatest treasure—to know that intimate side of Heero. Who would ever guess that Heero Yuy kissed, hugged, and used pet names?
Heero had to shut the bedroom door lest he give into the temptation to look out into the living room and see his gorgeous god sprawled out, exhausted, on his sofa, knowing full well it was due to their lovemaking. Just the thought caused Heero's cock to twitch slightly. He looked down just briefly and had to bite back an ironic laugh.
"God, maybe thirty is the new twenty after all…" he mused aloud before laughing.
Duo heard laughter drifting from the bedroom and curiosity pulled too hard at him. He stood up and walked to the bedroom, opened the door and tilted his head as though he'd understand better when he saw Heero shaking his head at himself.
"What?" Duo asked.
"Do you think this is normal for a thirty year old?" Heero asked, turning, to demonstrate his half-erect member.
"How…?"
"Just…thinking about you…us…" Heero couldn't help but laugh.
Duo walked up to Heero and dropped to his knees, eyes still locked on his lover. "I propose we just dress, get on that plane, and hop right back on after the show…we'll get arrested otherwise."
Heero laughed and then groaned when the beautiful mouth closed over him. Outside, he heard his phone ringing again and he just closed his eyes, smile encompassing his face and his heart.
Everything was going to be okay.
Better than okay…it was going to be great.
(O)(O)(O)
***DECEMBER, SIX MONTHS LATER***
MEN OF THE YEAR
Heero looked at the pictures. One of him when he went to the movie premiere alone. One of Duo when he was singing in the studio. But the largest picture, the one that covered most of the page, was of them, standing together at the award ceremony.
Duo had his hair down, wild, untamable, his eyes still hidden by the infamous fedora hat. He wore a silk shirt that was rolled just past his elbows and a tight fitting vest that boasted silver pinstripes. Tight black pants and pointy leather shoes. He had the most content, smug and sexy smile on his full lips as he leaned into Heero's embrace. Heero had his arm wrapped tight around Duo, wearing a black and gray suit, nodding at some man just out of the picture.
"Almost ready, baby?" Duo called from the kitchen.
"I'm ready when you are," Heero called back. "Our Men of the Year fiasco got put in a couple magazines."
"I think it's pretty cool—how many couples get to say they share an award?"
"I don't even know how I got nominated."
Duo wrapped his arms around Heero from behind the couch and kissed the man's neck slowly, leisurely, with intent. "I'll have to show you tonight."
"Yes, I'm sure it was my sexual prowess that got me a nomination."
Duo just laughed and snatched the magazine. "Quit reading this shit—you'll become vain. Let's go! Quatre and Trowa will be waiting!"
Heero allowed his lover to draw him from his comfortable perch on the couch and out of the apartment. He bit his tongue when he thought about referring to a small headline under the legal section of the newspaper this morning. Duo didn't need to be bothered at the moment but the dissolution of the Peacecraft Corporation had been made official by a vigilante lawyer who had risen out of obscurity.
Heero's mind continued to try to sort out the future as they drove to their destination. Would there be retaliation for the dissolution of the company? Would they even know to come after him? Had Treize truly been a pawn or had he really wanted to commit the crime he had?
"Baby?" Duo murmured in a low voice.
Heero turned the car off and then offered a crooked smile to Duo. "Just thinking…worrying."
"Is this what being thirty does to a man? If so, God, I'm scared."
"Spare me the histrionics," Heero laughed as he opened the door for Duo and helped him out. They strode hand-in-hand into the restaurant and though all eyes turned to them, it was becoming the norm and they hardly noticed. "It will be such a relief when a big story breaks and we get some reprieve from this media-driven attention," Heero confessed as he sat down at the table Quatre and Trowa were already seated at.
Quatre cleared his throat and Duo gasped as the door opened again behind them. "Dear God," Duo breathed. "Ask and you shall receive."
Heero turned over his shoulder just in time to see Millardo walk in with Wufei's hand in his. Both men looked calm and content. In love.
Heero had to stifle back a laugh or a choke, he wasn't sure what it was supposed to be, as the couple approached them. "Millardo, truly, had I known about this leverage, I would have just quit and enjoyed watching you run after us—rather than offer."
Millardo shook his head and then offered a tentative smile to Wufei. "I probably would have done it, too, but I have some form of a reputation to uphold—unlike you, Yuy. The world mourns the loss of their cold, brooding author; murdered by a warm, smiling, domestic do-nothing author."
"I'm going to show you what a true hiatus looks like one of these days," Heero challenged. "But in truth, I have a pet project that's coming to life."
"Pet project?"
"It's been touch and go until a few weeks ago. I'm thinking about branching out and taking a small risk."
"Dear God, what is it? Science fiction?"
Duo bit out a laugh and Heero just sighed. "No, I think I'm going to go back to romance for a while."
"Romance?" Trowa spoke in his neutral, low voice though his eyebrow rose sharply.
"Oh! Wonderful!" Quatre exclaimed.
"Please," Wufei groaned. "The last time I had to title a romance piece for you, I couldn't sleep for weeks. Reading your idea of romance was enough to give me nightmares…"
"I already have a title," Heero assured. "You're spared."
"What is it?" Quatre exclaimed.
"In the Arms of the Enemy."
"Sounds safe enough," Millardo conceded. "Truthfully, we'll have to spread our genres out in the beginning to get a wide following and venue support." Millardo sipped at his water. "So, when's the next performance?"
"In two weeks. Small café gig. No media announcements. We're getting paid twenty-thousand to make an appearance," Quatre breathed. "It still seems like an ungodly amount."
"Which café?" Heero asked, confused as to why Duo hadn't mentioned it.
"A particularly special one in my heart," Duo whispered as he pressed a tender kiss to Heero's neck since he couldn't reach his cheek. "I found the love of my life there."
"What? That depressed author you turned into a lovesick puppy? Duo, you are doomed if you think Heero is the love of your life—and by God, if we aren't saved because of it," Millardo announced. He held his glass up and waited until the other men followed suit. "To love—forbidden, unexpected, difficult, tragic as it is joyful and of the caliber that makes songs worth singing and books worth writing."
"Stick to management, Peacecraft," Heero groused as they all toasted and broke out into laughter. "And spare the paparazzi the poetry when they come knocking late tonight."
"Yes, we can all learn from your world-wide confession. If that wasn't a ploy for Man of the Year, I don't know what was," Millardo shot back.
"Someone has to take a hit for this company," Heero shrugged casually.
"Especially when your debut romance novel hits shelves. We might need to make the Man of the Year award in larger print than the title," Wufei interjected.
"It'll sell," Heero continued in his complacent voice though his eyes went soft. He set his eyes on Duo. "I've never had inspiration like this before."
"I'll never understand how you two make a relationship work," Wufei muttered under his breath.
Duo beamed. "Simple," he supplied. "With words."
(O)(O)(O)
AN: well, folks, that is it for now. I've got my bags all packed and a plane ticket with my name on it, so I'm on a small hiatus of my own for a bit. I do hope to write once I'm settled overseas so don't put me entirely out of your minds. I still have to make good on a song-fic follow-up. Thank you everyone for all your support and happy trails!