The Letter
by Banshi
A note before beginning: this section contains references to a commonly held (fandom) belief about a sexual abuse history in Trowa's childhood, and therefore contains vague references and spoilers for Trowa's backstory, as the basis of that belief. You have been warned. I promise though, only one moment of angst, blink and you'll miss it.
Part Five
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It had been a shock when Quatre had arranged a Gundam pilot reunion at the circus without telling either Duo or Trowa. Trowa could have sworn his heart stopped when he walked into his trailer and saw Quatre sitting there, waiting to talk to him.
He was now glad that he hadn't acted on his feelings for the Arabian. Quatre and Wufei were so happy. And it showed, even as Quatre apologized for unconsciously breaking his heart. Quatre had thought that he felt only friendship, and so had to move on.
Like Duo
The realization, that Quatre reaching out to Wufei was exactly what Duo had done by reaching out to him, humbled Trowa. He hadn't seen before what courage it must have taken for his beloved to reveal himself like that. Listening to Quatre apologize for following his heart had made Trowa's own heart twist, and he had stopped his friend quickly. Assuring the blond that he had made the right choice was the easiest thing that Trowa had ever done.
They had shared revelations, and were now close friends again. Which had brought them to the topic currently plaguing Trowa's mind. Namely being terrified by the most innocent physical contact. He would never forget the look on Quatre's face when he had flinched from a surprise apologetic hug. And it wasn't just from his friends either.
Why couldn't he just relax and let things progress? Duo's advances had scared him witless twice in the last week. It wasn't as if anything that he was doing was threatening, or particularly aggressive. So why was Trowa freaking himself out over a slightly more intense kiss, or a slightly lingering caress? He didn't know, so he had asked Quatre.
It had taken time, and many false starts, for him to enter into such a personal conversation. But Quatre was good with emotions, and married to a man almost as stoic as Trowa himself. A voice in the back of him mind, that still sounded suspiciously like the American, had asked: what the hell? So he had asked.
Quatre had been very informative. Trowa was sure that his face had been bright red for hours.
Of course that was after the impromptu therapy session concerning his childhood. He was sure his face had been white during that.
Now, he had done everything Quatre had suggested, including going to see properly certified medical personnel. Test results were in, and he didn't have to worry about killing Duo. That concern had nearly frozen him when Quatre had mentioned it.
He had come up with a plan, and was fervently hoping that he could go through with it.
Now, Trowa didn't know what Duo was up to. This in itself wasn't unusual, but today Trowa had plans of his own. How was he supposed to seduce Duo if the braided baka was arranging a surprise of his own?
So figure out what it is and adjust accordingly.
But...
It's not like you have anything set up yet. You were a Gundam pilot! Adapt, dummy
Trowa found it difficult to argue with this new internal voice. It had shown up along with Duo's letter, and as always, Towa decided to follow it's advice. Altering his plans to go along with whatever Duo was doing wouldn't be that hard.
As if on cue, the schemer in question walked into the big-top. Trowa watched from his position on the high-wire platform. Duo pranced over to Cathy to talk to her. He didn't look up at the platform. Trowa's brow crinkled a little. It was still a mystery why he could sneak up on the ex-thief. He was sure that he wasn't stealthier.
Most people would consider that an advantage. Just think of the possibilities.
Trowa did, and felt his own pale imitation of the Shinigami grin twitch his lips. Duo was a bad influence on him, but he didn't care. He moved along the various wires and platforms until he was directly above the pair on the ground.
Duo waved his arms around, as was characteristic when he spoke excitedly. Learning the nuances of Duo's expressions and body language had been a pleasure. As had learning that not even Heero could read Duo as well as Trowa anymore. Cathy just laughed, and started pointing, obviously giving directions. Trowa moved closer.
"Thanks. I hope he'll like the surprise".
"I'm sure he will Duo. Have fun". There was a sly note to Cathy's comment that Trowa didn't understand. Then he saw Duo's blush.
It would seem that great minds think alike
Trowa felt a warmth in his chest, just as he did whenever Duo told him that he loved him.
You'd think I'd be used to it by now.
Trowa decided against following Duo. He wouldn't ruin his beloved's surprise.
Duo stood at the center of the hotel room and admired his work. The place had been sparse when he had first walked in, now it was luxury incarnate.
Must remember to thank Catherine for telling me about all those interior decorating stores. This stuff is great!
He viewed the draped velvet and silk covering every available sitting surface, from the bed to the chairs to a section of floor in front of the fireplace. Candles were strategically placed so that they, plus the fireplace, would illuminate the whole room, without catching all the draped fabric.
Everything was perfect, except that he was standing fully clothed in the middle of the room by himself.
Easily remedied.
They ran into each other outside Trowa's trailer.
"Hey, Trowa. I was just coming to talk to you."
"Well, I'm glad to be found."
"Do you want to go out to dinner tonight?" Trowa's breath caught. They hadn't been a 'couple' anywhere but the circus. He thought that they were going to keep it under wraps for a while. A smile twitched his lips, and it grew as an answering smile appeared on Duo's face.
"I'm going to take that as a yes." Trowa felt that elation that accompanied doing anything with Duo, and it overwhelmed him as Duo caught his breath. Soon he found his voice to answer.
"Sounds agreeable. Meet back here sevenish?"
"It's a date!"
"Exactly."
Trowa stood in the door to the hotel room, awestruck. Warm firelight cast dancing shadows over the walls and furniture, bringing out the rich colors Duo had chosen. It took his breath away.
The magician himself stood off to one side, wringing his hands together nervously.
"Do... do you like it?" Trowa nodded mutely, once again blown away by his beloved's effort. He moved around the room, taking it all in. His eyes paused at the bed, and he felt a smile stretch his face. He turned back to his hesitant soon-to-be lover, repeating aloud the thought he had had while eavesdropping.
"It would seem that great minds think alike". Duo's eyes widened before a grin split his face and he swooped in for a quick kiss.
"I'm glad. I was pretty sure you wouldn't mind, but not totally. Y'know?" He tilted his head to one side and just looked into Trowa's eyes. Love, patience, desire and laughter poured from violet depths.
How did I live without this?
Not very well.
Damn strait
Trowa chuckled at himself before moving in for a longer, more satisfying kiss. Duo complied happily. Fingers combed through his hair and down his back in long, lingering caresses that set his whole body tingling in the nicest way.
He pulled the hair band from the end of Duo's braid, then pulled out of the kiss. He watched as his fingers combed through the fall of hair, unraveling the length for the first time in his presence.
"Beautiful. How the Hell did I get this lucky?"
"Ask again later". Duo grinned evilly and kissed him again, more forcefully. He gasped as a hot, moist tongue ran along his bottom lip. He moaned as his mouth was invaded, preventing another gasp. It felt so good twining his tongue with Duo's as they mock-warred for dominance of the kiss. He was trembling by the time they parted for air.
Duo pulled at his shirt, getting his hands beneath the material, running light fingers over solid, trembling muscle. His hands strayed neither high enough nor low enough, and Trowa nearly growled in need.
Sudden remembrance and accompanying fear kept him from acting.
Duo's slightest touch had been setting him aflame for three months and, damn it, he wasn't going to pull back this time!
Trowa suddenly leaned forward and nipped along Duo's jaw, heading for his ear, while his hands went for the buttons of the black shirt. Duo had dressed up for dinner, and now Trowa was grateful that his mouth wouldn't need to part from heated skin as he undressed his perfect beloved.
Trowa paused as Duo groaned. The black shirt had fallen to the floor, and Trowa was caught between the need to continue what he was doing, and the desire to pull back and simply look at Duo.
He settled for a glance out of the corner of his eye before landing kisses along Duo's collar bone. His fingers did the exploring for him, running over muscles covered in skin too soft to be believed. Duo shivered as Trowa decided to show him how this teasing should be done.
He ran just the tips of his fingers up Duo's chest, trailing lightly over contracted nipples. The other man had started trembling, and it only increased when Trowa stopped. They just stood there for a couple heartbeats before Duo figured it out.
"You have to step back a sec so I can get your shirt off" Duo chuckled as he quickly removed the offending clothing.
They moved back together, heaving chests meeting as they tried to crawl into each other's skin. Duo reacted to Trowa's touch with a wild passion, trying to reach, touch and taste everything at once. It was all Trowa could do to keep his knees from collapsing as he succumbed to Duo's hands and mouth.
Surrender had never been an option before, now it was an unequaled desire.
They tumbled back on the bed, a sprawl of long limbs, tongues and hair.
Soon they were both naked and writhing, but hushed in their ecstasy. They were both overwhelmed by feelings too big to contain, and yet too private to be shared with anyone but each other.
Duo's hands and mouth and trusting eyes slowly divested Trowa of his fear as well as his ability to think. He felt as if he was burning from the inside, an internal pressure that urged him to do something, anything to release it.
He wasn't sure who was more surprised, Duo or himself, when Trowa's body decided that he should be a little more aggressive. Neither of them minded the new arrangement.
He wasn't sure heaven could ever match the feeling of his beloved, unbraided baka writhing beneath him, surrounding him and whispering his name in his ear over and over.
He was sure that nothing else in life could.
Duo lay amid twisted sheets and tangled hair and just watched Trowa breathe. It was a simple thing, and yet Duo seemed fascinated. Actually, he was more fascinated by the fact that the breathing was so calm and even. When he had snuck into Trowa's trailer, just to watch him sleep, the other had always breathed in ragged gasps, in the grip of nightmares.
Duo smiled and snuggled into Trowa, leaving off his observation. The taller man's muscles tightened for several heartbeats. Duo was careful not to move too much. Soon Trowa relaxed and snuggled against him.
Duo had only hints of why Trowa shied away from him when his touch wasn't expected. Duo hadn't needed more than hints.
Vowing to banish such dark thoughts from both his and Trowa's minds, Duo joined his beloved in sleep.
Trowa awoke to the uneasy knowledge that there was another body next to his, and that neither of them had on a stitch.
Then he got a face-full of long, clean smelling chestnut hair. All was right with the world. He even smiled. Then laughed as Duo let out a snore sure to wake the rest of the hotel.
If they ever got to sleep, you mean
Trowa felt lighter than he ever remembered feeling. The unease had faded, and he knew instinctively that it was only a matter of time before he wouldn't feel that unease in the first place.
He couldn't wait. But until then, he could already feel the effect of the initial tension on his muscles. He untangled himself from Duo and headed for the bathroom.
Trowa stepped into the shower, letting the hot water beat the tension out of his muscles. He was tired, a good tired, but he still felt as if he'd fought a contingent of mobile dolls. In some ways he had fought a much a fiercer battle. As he relaxed, Trowa once again felt a smile on his face.
He knew that Duo had been able to tell the difference in the two tensions that had gripped him since entering the room. When he had remembered the hands of his past and when he had been lost to sensation, Duo had reacted perfectly to each.
All that experience he got learning how to read Yuy is very useful
Suddenly a wicked-fun thought came to Trowa. He felt the Shinigami grin stretch his face. Duo was definitely a bad influence.
He shut off the water and quickly toweled himself mostly dry. Walking back into the room, he stood, just watching Duo breathe. The other was still the most beautiful thing Trowa had ever seen.
He padded over to the bed, counting on Duo's continuing inability to sense his approach.
He quickly ran his tongue down Duo's spine, from shoulders to hips. His wet, chill bangs followed the movement. All the muscles in Duo's back suddenly stood out in sudden tense relief as he jumped.
Duo awoke slowly to the fading heat beside him. He heard water running in the bathroom, and fought off the instinctive panic.
Just cuz he's not right here, right this second doesn't mean he left you. Chill
He cursed himself for a paranoid thief and flipped over onto his stomach to go back to sleep.
He was shocked awake again by something moist and hot running down his spine, quickly followed by something cold, wet and ticklish. He jumped, barely biting back a cry of surprise.
Relax. There's only one person who can take you by surprise like that.
That thought went a long way towards mollifying him, even as he flipped over to glare at Trowa.
The sight of his own smile on that normally stoic face caught him up short. He gaped for several heartbeats before answering that fledgling with his own manic grin.
"Remind me to introduce you to someone else's sense of humor sometime."
Trowa laughed softly, and Duo noticed that his hair was wet and hanging over his face in a less gravity-defying way. It was, by far and away, the sexiest thing Duo had ever seen.
"Trowa"
"Hm?"
"You should smile like that more often".
Duo reached forward and used the towel around his waist to pull Trowa back to bed.
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Owari
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Gundam Wing is the property of Bandai, Sunrise and Viz Comics. I'm using the characters for fun and not recieving any money. The intellectual property that is this specific story however does belong to me, and I'd like to keep it, even if it doesn't help to pay the bills. Thank You.
Wail of the Banshi
Thanks to everyone who commented. It was so gratifying to read that everyone liked this bit of fluff, and I look forward to finding out how you like the ending. While this story is over, there are others to come. Keep reading (and writing!), and I'll see you in fics.