Days After Part 5 by Blind Zen Archer

07-Aug-2000

Let it never be said that I don't make noise when asked...

Anyways, here's part 5...will it ever end? God, I don't know...something tells me that even if I write an "Ending" it will be open-ended enough that I can come back and put some more chapters into it.

Days After by Blind Zen ArcherPart Five

Considering what happened the last time that Heero and Duo had had a bar-b-que (Pt. 2, True Believers!), it was hardly surprising that Duo was fairly nervous about holding one after Heero had suggested it before they went to sleep.

"Yes, I know what happened last time, but you did fix the deck, right?"

"Well, yeah..."

"And you were the one who said we should throw a party when Une said we'd cleared up all the work she had scheduled for the month a week and a half early, right?"

"That's true, but..."

"And we DID promise the others that we'd have them over again. And we're all on leave right now."

"Well..."

"And if we have them over on Sunday, we have the rest off the week to ourselves..."

"Now, when you put it that way..."

"So we're agreed?"

"Yeah. Hey, where'd you learn to wrap me around your finger like that?"

"From you, of course." Heero gently rolled over in bed and kissed Duo, taking almost all of the sting out of the remark. The smile on his lips did the rest.

"You call them in the morning, and I'll go shopping."

"Okay. What did you have in mind?"

"Well, according to that comic book you were reading, any major success deserves a Polynesian style Barbeque."

"You've been reading my... wait. I don't want to start that again, or who knows what I'll be agreeing to," Duo's smile worked wonders on Heero, much as the reverse had, "Just get lots of those little wet-nap things. And we'd better do chicken and fish."

"Oh, that's right. Quatre got Trowa to practice Islam as well."

"I don't think it was so much Quatre got Trowa to do it as Trowa wanted to do it to help himself fit in."

"Yeah. I guess I can see that..."

"Yeah."

When Quatre, Trowa, Wufei, Sally, Dorothy, and Relena arrived, the smells of roasting chicken and fish were already wafting down from the massive deck, and Duo came bounding down from the door to meet them.

"Hey! Glad you all got here okay! C'mon back! Heero's been cooking for hours!"

Relena looked the most surprised of all at Duo's announcement.

"Heero cooked?? The same Heero who ate cold MREs in the field because he didn't know how to heat them up?"

"He's gotten a lot better than that."

"Well, it does smell good...you need help with the bags, Dor?"

"No, I'm fine, Relena."

"Maxwell, you look like an onn--a fool in that outfit."

Duo was resplendant in bermuda shorts, a raggedy t-shirt, and a large apron that read: KISS THE WAITRESS. He was also grinning like a maniac.

"Why thank you, Wufei! Sally, what's it like holding his leash, anyways?"

"Easier than you'd expect. Especially when I've also got the whip hand."

"Wow... I never figured you for the BDSM person, Wufei."

Sweatdrops broke out in profusion as Heero stepped to Duo's rescue.

"It's ready. Duo, can you give me a hand with the platters?"

"Sure!"

The two men returned with 2 huge platters covered in food. One was primarily a large tuna, smothered in a pineapple and ginger glaze, and served with roasted vegetables. The other was an equally large chicken which had been smothered in a honey and plum glaze, then roasted until charred, and served with dumplings, plums, and pineapple slices.

"Heero, this looks like a professional chef did it."

"Thank you, Quatre. I've found out that I really enjoy cooking."

"It's getting to the point where I have to beat him home from work to be able to cook dinner, and even then, half the time he's got something slow roasting in the oven."

"It sounds like you two need to start scheduling your kitchen time." It was Trowa's first major comment of the day, but the casual good humor was a wonderful touch.

"Naah, we'd have a lot less fun that way, right?"

"Hmm...yes, I suppose you're right."

"Well, it tastes delicious, and no-one's fallen through the floor yet, so nice party, you guys."

"Yet, Dorothy?"

"Oh...bad choice of words there. Sorry, Heero, Duo."

"No problem. Besides, Duo was very effective at taking care of that."

"Effective?"

Duo actually blushed at Relena's raised eyebrow.

"It's... ah... a long story..."

"I'll bet."

Unlike the last party, the only couple sleeping over was Relena and Dorothy, and they had taken over the guest room in the basement, leaving Heero and Duo to finish the dishes while they got ready for bed.

"So, that went pretty well."

"Yeah, you were right. You're getting better and better about judging people outside of a battlefield."

"And you're getting better at letting me do the cooking."

Duo set the last dish into the drying rack, and swept Heero into an embrace from behind.

"The rest of the week to ourselves, huh? My, I hope we'll be able to figure out something to keep us busy..."

Heero's eyes flashed with amusement as he looked back at Duo.

"Somehow, I don't think we'll have a problem with that."

Suddenly, a cry boiled up from the basement and into the kitchen.

"DORRRROTHYYYYY!"

Heero actually blanched for a moment, until he realized Relena was not calling out for him.

"You have no idea how glad I am that I don't have to hear cries like that every day from her..."

Duo smirked. "Well, I guess they've already started on their week off. Shall we?"

End Part 5

C&C?

Blind Zen Archer

Please send comments to: BZArcher@gundam.com

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