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
PartTen: Fire!!!
Duo wondered if it was a good idea to let Heero pick him up at his house. Then again, he decided against it. Not yet. Maybe later.
Heero hadn't asked Duo out since the night of the carnival. Knowing a little more about the 'game' plan, Duo assumed Heero would want their 'second' date to be a mirror of their original 'second' date. He sighed, Heero was sure a pain in the ass about this.
He checked his watch for the time and realised it was almost time to leave for Quatre's. He switched his laptop off and locked up the doors at his studio. Today had been a busy day and Hilde had called in sick. He had spent the day running errands and picking up calls, with little time spent on doing his own work. As much as he disliked admitting it, he had found a new respect for Hilde's work. Thank God he didn't need to go out on shoot today or everything would have just collapsed at the office. He toyed with the idea of getting Hilde an assistant.
Assistant to the boss's assistant. Odd title. Then he decided he was insane. Give Hilde anymore time on her hands, she would plan Duo's life out like a map. He shuddered at that thought. He walked over to his seven year old car parked on the curb just outside his shop and caressed the fender gently.
"Haven't been feeling well, have we, old girl?" Duo murmured softly to his car. It had been working up lately and Duo had been seriously considering getting a new one, but there were too many memories tied to this one. He slid into the driver's seat and started the engine.
Nothing happened.
"Oh shit," Duo muttered, turning the key again. Not even a whimper. It looked like the battery was dead, completely. "Shit," he repeated as if he hadn't heard it the first time. Of all the times to die on him. He made a quick check under the hood just to make there was nothing else wrong with his little precious.
"Well, seemed like your ticker died on you, little precious," he crooned to his car from underneath the hood. "Need to get you a heart transplant tomorrow? Hmm?" He straightened, and almost immediately, his hands flew to his back. "Ow!" He really needed to go to see a chiropractor or something. These aches were a pain in the ass, well they were a pain in the back, but….
Duo decided he would just call the mechanic the next day and let his little precious sleep it off in the open for the night. There was really nothing he could do anymore. Now, to get a lift to Quatre's. He fished out his cell phone and pressed the speed dial for Wufei. There was no answer at his home and his cell was engaged.
Damn.
Duo considered a cab but how would he get one in the middle of town during rush hour? He stood on the curb, looking very much like an indecisive fool, staring up the street one minute and then to his cell phone the next. A car braked right in front of him, jerking him from his reverie.
"Duo," Heero honked his horn lightly, to catch the braided man's attention.
"Heero," Duo smiled. "My saviour!" He clasped his hand dramatically and batted his eyelashes. He got into the passenger's seat and soon Heero was speeding off towards Quatre's home.
"Car trouble?" Heero asked.
"My little precious died on me. Had a massive coronary and died on me," Duo wailed dramatically, burying his face into his hands.
"You call your car 'little precious?'" Heero asked, lips quirked in a small smile.
Duo shrugged. "What else do you expect me to call it? Deathscythe?"
"What?" Heero said, confused, rolling his eyes at Duo. "Baka."
Duo's smile froze on his lips as memories of Shido came rushing back to him. He shook his head, trying to dispel the memories. He didn't want to spoil the night. After all, it was their second date and he was nearly shaking with anticipation. Their first kiss had been… well, to put it in a nutshell, sweet. Heero seemed to be kissing a guy for the first time and had been adorably awkward about it.
"I'm so not an idiot, Heero," Duo told his date.
Heero was surprised. "You understand Japanese?"
Duo shrugged, trying to cover his slip. He had forgotten that Heero didn't know much of his seedier childhood. "Product of a misspent childhood," he told Heero flippantly. Warm hands covered his pale ones.
"I want to hear all about it," Heero told him huskily.
Part of Duo was screaming 'No, you don't, while the other part just wanted to fall into those arms and let go of all his past pain. "Maybe some other time," he hedged, looking out the window.
Duo heard Heero sigh and cringed. He was doing it again, pushing Heero away. "When am I going to get through your defences?"
"Maybe some other time," Duo repeated, smiling sadly.
The subject was delicately dropped, but the tension was still palpable within the vehicle. Duo wished he had shut up now, having ruined a perfectly comfortable start to what may have a wonderful evening. He slumped against the seat, wondering if he should ruin it any further. He wanted to give Heero a chance to arm himself against a probably vengeful Wufei. More than probable; more like most assuredly.
"Heero," Duo began, worrying his lower lip.
Still a little irritated, Heero grunted acknowledgement. Duo was like a sheer cliff. Every time Heero thought he managed to scale a little of it, he would lose his grip and fall to the ground again. It was damned frustrating. He knew the other man was making an effort to let down his defences but it wasn't working too well at the moment.
Duo sighed. He had hurt Heero with his reticence about his past - again. It has been getting to be a vicious circle. "About Wufei…"
"What?" Heero asked at length. Duo seemed to be struggling with something.
The braided man felt words constricting his throat. He was stuck in between his past and his future. He had to try. "He's my brother," he burst out, watching Heero's reaction closely.
"Wufei's Chinese right?" Heero said in a tone that meant he was merely stating the obvious.
"He is the closest thing I have to a brother," Duo amended. "He took care of me when we were still running on the streets. Yeah, that's me, the filthy street rat. Not like your other friends with their double degrees and their perfect lives."
It was probably the wrong thing to say at that moment and Heero nearly rear ended the car in front of him. Duo felt his heart sinking. That was it, Heero was going to kick him aside when he realised that Duo wasn't near anywhere he was in reputation. Not from a family with pristine reputation and unblemished lineage. The Japanese manoeuvred the car to park by the side of the road, switched off the engine and turned, giving Duo his full attention. Heero saw the exquisite face before him, downcast and dejected. Violet eyes were unwilling to meet his.
Heero was elated. Finally, some form of trust. Still, it was shocking to find out this successful young man before him, with his devil may care attitude and bright smiles had a childhood living in the streets. Duo probably thought he would condemn him off hand with that one announcement. Heero reached out placing a finger under Duo's chin to force the other man to look at him.
Duo was afraid to see revulsion reflected within cobalt orbs. He didn't resist the hand that forced his chin up and his breath caught. Instead of disgust, Heero seemed to have a different emotion written in every feature on his face. It was something new to Duo, having seen a few times only in recent years and it took a while to identify it.
Pride. Soft, gentle pride glowing within dark blue eyes.
His mind made a double take. Heero was proud of him? Had he just died and gone to heaven?
Nope, you are pretty much all here, Brian jeered.
When had he come back?
Didn't you even realise I went to Hawaii?
Would you realise a thorn removed from your side?
A phantom sniff. I am truly hurt, truly, truly hurt.
Duo mentally screamed. I am TRULY, TRULY INSANE!!
"What?" Heero asked softly, blue eyes still glowing as he took in the heartbreakingly handsome heart shaped face.
"I'm not like your other friends, I am not from Harvard, or some other damned Ivy League crap," Duo seemed to have an overwhelming desire to drive that fact home. He felt Heero cup his cheek tenderly.
"Unfortunately for you," Heero breathed, leaning closer, their lips scant inches apart. "I am exactly like my other friends. I am from Harvard or some other damned Ivy League crap. I have I'm not a disappointment to you." Unable to stop himself, he brushed his warm lips softly against Duo's soft ones. He pulled away, sitting back and smiled evilly at the disappointment on Duo's face. "Later," he told the other man and started the car again, continuing their trip to their destination.
Duo was blown out of his mind. Heero hadn't mind in the least. He had actually been proud of Duo admitting it to him. Maybe, just maybe things would work out for the better and maybe Heero may just accept the rest of his sordid past?
Hope is a wonderful but fragile thing, Brian muttered.
The rest of the trip passed in companionable silence. Heero had took possession of Duo's hand and refused to relinquish it no matter what the circumstances. He had finally breached one wall, and their warmly clasped hands was the tangible proof that it was not accomplished over anyone's dead body and hell has indeed not yet frozen over. Or at least, that's what the weather news announced.
As the walked up the Winner's driveway, Duo was quickly muttering under his breath, trying to get everything about Wufei to Heero in one breath.
"Don't challenge him in any way, no hostile looks, no sudden movements, no bad body language…." Duo trailed off as Heero's hand tightened around his and he heard a small laugh.
"You make him sound like a skittish animal," Heero smiled, amused.
Duo was becoming increasingly frustrated. He didn't know how to make Heero understand he was absolutely serious. "He is, Heero, at least where So… Sally and I are concern." Damn, that stupid name nearly slipped out. Duo hazarded a peek at Heero and seeing a slight confusion written on the Japanese's ruggedly handsome expression.
Heero carefully schooled his features into suitable lines of confusion. Solo was someone he wasn't ready to deal with when it came to Duo. He couldn't put it out of his mind the comfortable loving touching from the picture in Quatre's office. It was something he wanted for the two of them but knew Duo was still not willing to trust him yet. At least not too much. If he was willing to feed Heero a little bit of crumbs regarding his past, Heero was more than willing to wait. A little progress was better than no progress at all.
"In other words," Heero said blandly. "Don't feed the animals?"
Duo gaped at Heero, torn between laughing and screaming in frustration. Before he could put in anymore warnings, they had reached the front door and a frantic Rashid was yanking it open.
"Master Duo, please help," the normally composed man beseeched Duo.
"What happened?" Duo released Heero's hand and stepped into the house.
The huge man was actually wringing his hands! Something was seriously wrong. Duo felt his heart crawling up his throat and lodging there. Was Quatre hurt? Or worst yet, dying?
"Damn it Rashid, what?" Duo yelled, his worry transmitting into his tone clearly.
Rashid gripped Duo's shoulder tightly. "Please," he whispered. "Get Master Quatre to stop cooking, please."
Duo's mind went totally, blissfully blank as he stared agog at the still fretting Rashid and was dimly aware of a snickering Heero.
"He's been puttering in that kitchen for the whole day now. The other servants are saying he has made enough food for an army." Rashid looked anguished. "If all of you don't die, we are going to have to eat it!!"
Duo shook his head, unable to stop incredulity bubbling from him in the form of laughter. "Thanks for your concern, Rashid."
Heero came up from behind him, claim his hand again and led them into the living room. Duo skidded to a stop at the sight of Wufei and Sally sitting on the couch, chatting idly with Trowa who was leaning against the fireplace.
Why would they need a fireplace when they have internal heating? Brian wondered idly.
"Courage," Heero whispered into Duo's ear, his blue eyes following to where the smaller man's was currently riveted.
"Maxwell," Wufei greeted but obsidian eyes were trained solely on the Japanese man standing next to his friend. They narrowed threateningly, raking Heero from head to toe before smirking derisively at him.
Duo watched the exchange nervously, and his nervousness went up a notch when he felt Heero stiffened next to him. He felt the man next to him take a step forward, but he quickly pulled Heero back. "Don't start something. Please."
Heero gazed into Duo's beseeching eyes, his jaw tightening before giving a curt nod. "I won't let him provoke me."
He won't have to, Duo thought forlornly, watching Wufei get up from his seat, flinging Sally's restraining hand away.
Wufei strode up to Heero and stood almost nose to nose with him, while a random thought flickered insanely through Duo's head.
They are both just as tall.
Both just as hot, Brian jumped in.
And if they hurt each other, just as dead, Duo promised.
"So, you are the asshole that broke my brother's heart?" Wufei started without preamble.
"Yes," Heero admitted. "And I am also the asshole who is trying to fix it." He faced Wufei squarely, not liking the Chinese's arrogance, but unable to fault his obvious concern of Duo.
"What makes you think I would trust something like you with fixing it again?" Wufei challenged, dropping his gaze to his brother, softening for a fraction before turning icy again. The warning was clear.
'Stay out of this'.
"What makes you think I give a rat's ass what you think?" Heero returned, glaring icy blue orbs at Wufei's hard onyx. As if to ram in the point, the snagged Duo around the shoulder and held him possessively against his side.
That gesture screamed one thing - 'Mine'.
The two faced off for several seconds, while Duo swung his eyes around the room, looking for help from some corner, any corner. Trowa seemed to be enjoying the scene and was smirking amusedly at the two males marking their territory, with Duo being the shared marking post.
And do you know how animals mark their territory? Brian teased, following Duo's line of thought.
Stay out of this.
Gladly, Brian grinned, wrinkling his disembodied nose.
Duo finally stared at Sally, pleading for some help. She rolled her eyes roguishly, got up, and began walking towards her husband. She stopped next to Wufei and slapped him lightly on the back of the head.
"So," she announced with a trace of disgust in her voice. "Have the both of you finished peeing on Duo yet?"
That line was so close to what Duo was thinking he snorted with laughter and tried to stop it by covering his mouth with both hands. That served to break the tension within the room as Heero quirked a little grin and Wufei deigned to allow his stern features to relax slightly.
"Look, Wufei, right?" Heero soften his tone. "Admittedly, I have been an ass, but I am going to make things better with Duo. I'm not going to hurt him every again."
Wufei still looked uncertain, but obviously moved by the sincerity in Heero. He had to put one last threat it. "If you hurt him again, I am going to cut off your…" He was cut off by Sally slapping him on the back of the head again.
Heero smiled. "If I do," he pulled the man in his arms closer to his side. "I'll let you."
"Master Trowa, call the fire department! The kitchen is on fire again," Rashid's frantic call caught their attention and simultaneously, everyone burst into relieved laughter.
tbc…
Quatre: I don't burn kitchens when I cook!
Tsu: Your hair's on fire.