Title: Beyond Good and Evil

Pairings: Duo, Noin/Zechs (hints of Heero/Duo)

Warnings: BL, het, male-pissiness, language, tad of introspection

Notes: Written for day 26 of the February writing challenge.

Staring at the ceiling instead of sleeping was not the best idea I had. But, after the conversation Miz Noin foisted off on me, it was the only option left. Damn if she didn't hit on points I'd been avoiding like the L2 plague. Talk to him, she said. Find out what he really feels.

Yeah, if it was so easy, what's she doing sleeping, and drinking alone, with her man off in the wilds of Mars?

I mean, it wasn't as though I didn't talk to Heero, or see him when our paths crossed. It was more like, we avoided talking about those kinds of things. I wasn't ready to do what he wanted me to do, and I couldn't ask him to change either. He had a life there. He was doing something he enjoyed, something he was good at doing. And every time we did manage to get together, he was that much more than he was the time before.

So, maybe I stayed away because he was better, better off without me hanging around getting in his way.

It was about there I flipped over on the couch, punched a hollow in the pillow, and forced my eyes closed. It was about then, someone knocked at the door. And I was up off the couch before the echo of it faded. I jerked the door open and was standing face to…well, chest of Zechs Merquise himself.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

My lip was curling already. "Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing." He made as though to push past me, but I held onto the door, blocking his way. "Miz Noin's sleeping. Come back in the morning."

"I don't think so." His hand was on the door, and the push was slight, but challenging. "If Lucrezia wishes me to leave, then I will."

"Then we're at a stalemate, 'cause I'm not going to wake her up for your ass." And I leaned against the door, pushing back as good as I was getting.

"Since when has she required a doorman?" The push was a little stronger from him.

Still grinning, I pushed back. "I heard there was a lot of rubbish on Mars, and offered to help take out the trash." Both his hands were on the door now.

"Curious," Zechs said, his teeth gritted. "I was about to offer her that service as well."

"Too," and I put leg strength with arm strength, "Late." And the door nearly shut, but for the sharp command behind me.

"Enough!"

I about fell over with the sudden release of pressure on the door. Zechs stood in the hall outside Noin's quarters, his glare softened and I almost felt bad about keeping him out.

"If you two boys are quite finished." And now she was glaring at the both of us. "Duo, let Zechs come inside," I was about to protest (especially since he started smirking), but she was quick add, "He's not staying long."

So, I backed away, and went back to my 'bed', fussed with the blanket, and deliberately stayed where I could see and hear everything.

"Do you know what time it is?" she demanded, and I was already looking at the clock, ready to pop out an answer. Damn, but she was good.

"I apologize, Lu," Zechs was saying, and if I didn't know better, I'd say he was fidgeting. But Zechs? Not a chance. "The transport landed less than an hour ago."

"And you thought you'd honor me with your presence?" I had to look at the floor, covering that little snigger with a cough.

"I had hoped to spend a little time with you," he was saying, and I glanced up in time to see him looking at me. "Alone." Oh, as if that one would hurt.

"You can't just expect to walk in whenever you want, Zechs. My home is not a hotel, and my bed not yours to share."

"Lu…"

I was actually starting to feel sorry for the guy, and made myself scarce. Not that hiding out in the kitchen provided them any privacy, but it's the illusion that counted. Right? I mean, it was only an open counter between the postage stamp kitchen and the closet-sized living room. But, I turned my back to them, and hummed a little tune, watching the way the reflection of the clock light dance on the wall.

When I thought about it, I guess I'd have been rather pissed myself – showing up at Heero's door, only to find a half naked man answering it. Heh, not as though Miz Noin and I were even inclined that way to one another. But still. They might not have more than Heero and I did, but they had something.

Ah hell.

I should give Heero a call when I got onboard. Sometime tomorrow night, before the ship left Mars' communication boosters. Maybe I'd luck out and he'd have the chance to connect when the ship ported. Not that "the talk" would come up, but other things would. Heero and me, well, it was good between us, even without the words. Even with the distant.

It was about then I noticed that it was awfully quiet in the next room. I did one of those looking without looking things, peering into the dark from the corners of my eyes. Not that I could see more than two dark shapes merging into one dark shape. Their voices were very low, less than a whisper. It wasn't the words I heard; it was the nuances.

Maybe Zechs did …care for Miz Noin more than I thought. She was still too good for him, though. Not that it was up to me. And for whatever God-awful reason, she was kinda stuck on the guy. Maybe it was the way he filled out a pair of uniform pants. Or those long boots he used to wear. I'd think the hair, but he cut most of it off. Whatever it was, she had it bad.

All of that led me to think of Heero. Shit. Was I his Zechs, demanding his time when it was convenient for me? I'd like to think better of myself, but… maybe.

I really needed to talk to Heero. Maybe… maybe agree to make a trip his way after all. Hell, he'd only been asking me to for the past couple of years. A normal person would have given it up, but not Heero.

"You can come out now," Miz Noin said.

She was still at the door, and Zechs was nowhere around. It was too dark to see much but shadow and darker shadow. But, the white of her nightgown was a lighter shade of dark, and I focused on that.

"Hope I didn't spoil plans," I told her, sitting on the couch, watching that lighter shade of dark move. "I could have gone back to the ship."

"Don't be ridiculous, Duo." And she took a seat beside me. "He… doesn't often drop by like that." Oh boy. "Normally he sends me his schedule, and we do—make plans."

"It's none of my business, Miz Noin." I had to stop looking at her, even if I couldn't see her face.

"No, I suppose it's not." She rose to her feet, and moved around me. "I'll let you get back to sleep, then. Good night, Duo."

I waited until she was at her bedroom door before I spoke. "He seems like he cares for you."

She stopped, and I heard her inhale quick-like. "I believe he does."

"Then it doesn't matter about the rest, does it?" My chest was feeling tight all of a sudden. "I mean, if you care of him and he cares for you, the other stuff is just – stuff. Right?"

"Are we talking about you now?" I looked up sharply, and could make out the edge of her face, some small amount of light leaked from her room. "That's what I thought." In the glow, her lips moved upward and she was smiling. "He's a good man, Duo."

"Are we talking about Heero now?"

She gave me a short laugh. "Good night, Duo."

"Good night… Lu." And that hint of light vanished. I lay back down, staring at the ceiling. Morning was going to come far too early, but I had a feeling it'd be okay. And that tomorrow was going to be a pretty good day.

The title is from this quote:

What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.

- Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, Aphorism 153 –