Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and all its characters are the property of, um, of. . . some people and I don't own them. ^_^
Author's Note: Ohmigod, I finished it! Prom Planning is done! Okay, the epilogue is a one-shot in itself, but I decided to add it as the epilogue on ff.net because, well it *is* the epilogue. It's un-beta'd and there's probably needs a little work, but it's done!!! 5 months after the end of the series to boot. Since this began as a line challenge, I ended it as such. I've included the lines left over from the original challenge along with extra lines thrown in by my sisters RenaHino and ReiAkari (love ya).
"Keep on, don't stop; don't stop till you get enough." Duo slurred as he leaned against the doorframe to Heero's house.
"Duo, stop that." Heero muttered as he fumbled with the locks.
"What?" he asked with a yawn. "I swear I'm not drunk. I'm sleepy."
"Okay," Heero stated as he opened the door. "Time to move."
"Already?" Duo whined. "My legs are like butter. You're gonna have to carry me."
"You shouldn't have exerted yourself so much," Heero chided. Putting an arm around Duo's waist, he added, "You're still going to walk."
"Meanie." he pouted as he was begrudingly lead inside the house. "Do you remember, when we fell in love? We were young and innocent then. . ."
"Duo-"
"I think Danny Boy could've played a little more MJ, don't you? Or maybe techno? I think he wasn't as balanced on the musical selections tonight."
"The DJ was fine."
"And we ran out of food, and the punch bowl got spiked near the end-"
"Duo-"
"I still don't know how those forged ballot's got by me, I could have been notified earlier-
"Duo," Heero interrupted, placing Duo on the couch. "Prom's over, you don't have to worry about it anymore."
"I know," Duo sighed, grabbing Heero's arm. "It's just after a big event, and all is said and done, you sit back and wonder what you did wrong and if anyone will kill you for it."
"If you did make any mistakes, everyone was having too much fun to notice."
"Including you?"
"I was preoccupied making sure you didn't burn out, but yes." Heero answered, sitting down next to him. "What about you?"
"I can't remember. I think. . ."
"You think?"
"Therefore I am." Duo said with a yawn. "You were there, weren't you?"
"Yes I was."
"So I had fun. I could be cleaning a dozen bathtubs and still enjoy it, as long as you're there with me." he concluded, as he leaned against Heero. "So, what after prom movie do you have for us to watch? Better be good since somebody absolutely refused to go to the after prom party. Now Hilde probably thinks we left to-"
"Mars Attacks."
"I love that movie! Isn't Natalie Portman in that one? Actually a lot of actors are in that movie." Duo rambled as he pushed Heero against the pillows and began to crawl on top of him.
"Duo?"
"Hmm?" Duo murmured as he stretched.
"Do I look like a bed to you?"
"Shhh! Just wake me up at the end when the heads start exploding." Duo insisted, kissing Heero lightly. Taking his felt crown off of his head, he placed it on Heero's before burying his face into Heero's chest.
"Now I'm an alarm clock."
"Why are we here?" Wufei asked mournfully as he surveyed his surroundings. He wondered why the small, off-of-the-highway Waffle House had been picked for the after prom breakfast to begin with. The cramped restaurant space was filled with minscule booths that were attached to the counter and kitchen.
"That's something best answered by a minister, theologist, or anthropologist-" Hilde muttered, pausing when she heard an irritated snort from her date. "Read your menu."
"If you call this a menu." he complained, running his finger along the tabletop. The light hit the corner, temporarily blinding him. The entire place seemed to be decorated in different intense hues of bright yellow. "Are we that dumb to need picture diagrams of everything? And what's with all the yellow?"
"This establishment caters to the sleep deprived." Hilde chided, patting Wufei's arm. "Lack of sleep makes you dumb, dear."
Wufei paused in his search to stare blankly at Hilde, who in turn was grinning madly.
"Dear?" he challenged.
"Yes, darling?" she cooed, winking conspiratorically at the waiter who was placing their coffee.
"Darling?"
"Hmm, honey?"
"Honey?"
"Precious? Sweetie? Wu-Wu? Snookie-"
"No, Snooks, that's *your* nickname." Wufei pointed out groggily between yawns. "There will be no transference here."
"See? You still have a few brain cells left." Hilde laughed, nudging Wufei's mug with her spoon. "Now drink your coffee. No, with sugar! That's salt."
Wufei paused with the salt shaker in hand. Flipping off the cap, he defiantly dumped the whole container in his mug. Then, grabbing a spoon, he slowly stirred the concoction before triumphantly putting the drink to his lips. "What if I purposely choose it for flavoring?"
"You tell me, you're the one half awake here. For a moment there, you looked pretty damn sure that was sugar." she challenged. After a long moment of silence, gagging could be heard throughout the whole restruant. "Ewww, that's gross."
"I agree." Wufei coughed as he set down the coffee mug and motioned for the waiter.
"That's a first."
"I've drunk coffee with salt before." he insisted as he grabbed for his glass of water.
"And definately the last."
"What?" Wufei deftly raised an eyebrow. "Me drinking coffee with salt, or me agreeing with you? I can live without both."
"You can forget anymore terms of endearment, Wufei Chang!" Hilde pouted as Wufei rolled his eyes and glanced at his watch.
"Soap is definately better than coffee anyway." he muttered silently, abruptly changing the subject.
"Wufei?"
"Got to keep that squeaky clean image somehow," Wufei continued, his eyes dropping to the plastic-covered menu.
"What's that got to do with--are you even listening to me?"
"Of course I'm not, you're more attractive when you're angry." Wufei admitted, grunting as someone slammed into his boot. "Can we leave? That's the third time someone tripped over it."
"Well, you don't have to have it sprawled across the aisle."
"I hardly call that handfull of linoleum an aisle."
"You're obstructing the minute walkway, thus you'll be tripped on." Hilde countered lightly.
"Why are we here?" Wufei pleaded, reaching for his girlfriend's hand.
"You asked that a long time ago."
"I never got an answer."
"Simple, really." she said with a grin. "I just want to see who shows up."
He blinked. "Who did you invite?"
"Everyone we know."
Wufei dropped Hilde's hand as if he'd been burned. "Remind me to break up with you tomorrow."
"Deal." Hilde noted, leaning back in the booth. "We're still watching the Sundance Channel tomorrow, but since we're 'breaking up' you can bring your own popcorn."
"Fine, I don't like that 'kettle' flavored popcorn anyway. It's too sweet."
"Is not."
"Is."
"Not."
"Is."
"Fine, it is too sweet."
"Don't try to win this by agreeing with me."
As the pair continued to playfully 'argue' with each other, students from the prom began to trickle into the small space. Some were still adorned in their prom gear, though some had changed into more casual clothing. Wufei and Hilde contrasted because of this; Hilde wearing a black shimmery blouse and dark colored jeans while her boyfriend still wore his full tuxedo. Within minutes the weary travelers had left the restraurant to be overrun by the mass of loud teenagers.
"Hey mister!" Jay yelled to the large trucker occupying the booth beside Wufei and Hilde. "Do you mind if we join you? Our friends are sitting there and we want to sit here."
"To talk." Nick added, waving to Wufei. The Chinese teen rolled his eyes and sunk deeper into the booth, silently saying a prayer that the man would stay in his seat.
"Here, I'm finished." the man growled as he slid out of the booth.
"Thanks! Don't forget your muffin!" Nick called after the man as the pair ambled through the crowd to reach the now empty booth; both tripping on Wufei's boot along the way.
"Again Hilde, why?" Wufei winced.
"Humor me." she whispered.
"I thought I was." he hissed through clenched teeth.
"You're just cranky because you refuse to take pain medication." she countered lightly, leaning across the table to brush her lips lightly across his. "Check, mate." Sitting back in her seat, she began to scan the crowd.
"I told you I wanted to remember my prom and not bumble around like an insane idiot." he tried to argue, but it only managed to sound like a pout. "Unlike some of our friends-"
"Look! It's the king!" Hilde announced loudly, igniting a round of cheers from the students and a glare from her boyfriend.
"Elvis?" another trucker asked loudly from his stool.
"Aw shuddap. They're talkin' 'bout their prom king. Look at the crown he's wearin'." the man next to him growled.
"Son, that's a mighty nice crown you got there." the trucker called out to Trowa as the teen passed by.
"Thank you." Trowa answered as he looked for a place for a place for him and Quatre to sit.
"Hey Quatre!" Hilde yelled as she waved them over. "Did you ever get that picture?"
"And if so, how?" Jay chimed in, causing everyone to stop and look at the entering pair.
The grating sound of static woke Heero instantly. Adjusting his eyes to the light he stared at the television screen. Trying to sit up, he felt himself weighed down by Duo's body. Duo mumbled and grasped Heero's shirt as one would a blanket. Heero watched the teen sleep for a few minutes before deciding to wake him.
"Duo, the movie's over." he noted, shaking Duo's shoulders.
"I told you to wake me once the aliens' heads started exploding into goo." Duo protested into Heero's neck, his mind already entertaining ideas about nibbling Heero's ear.
"You weren't paying attention at all."
"Hey, if I remember, neither were you." Duo murmured, his actions following his thoughts.
"You fell asleep on me." Heero argued.
"I was tired."
"You're awake now." he said as Duo's hands tightened around Heero's neck.
"Mmm-hmm." Duo hummed, pressing himself closer to Heero's body.
"Good, now get off of me."
Duo propped himself up to stare at Heero's face. "That's not what I wanted to hear."
"You have plans remember? And we're late." Heero said as Duo huffed, snatched his crown off of Heero's head, and stood up from the couch.
"Plans?" Duo turned to stare at him curiously, repositioning the crown on his head.
"Waffle House." he reminded him, positioning himself in a sitting position.
"Oh." Duo said as he sat down on Heero's lap. "It was canceled."
"Why?"
"Because of inclement weather. No, that wasn't it. Um, fire. Yeah, it burnt down." Duo answered quickly. "I hear Hilde got nabbed. Wufei turned her in. She's gonna be charged with-"
"Duo, we're going."
"Did I ever tell you that you have the sexiest ears-" Duo whispered.
"Stop that."
"And so sensitive! I wonder about the other one-"
"Duo, we're going." Heero stated as he stood, sending Duo crashing to the floor.
"Sadist."
"If we don't show up, your friend will think the worst of me." he explained as he helped Duo to his feet.
"Nah, she'll think I seduced you into doing naughty things."
"Exactly."
"What do you think I'm doing right now?" Duo pouted, wrapping his arms seductively around Heero's waist.
"Pace yourself."
"If I were you, and you were me, would you pace yourself?" Duo asked, staring into Heero's eyes. Heero seemed to ponder this for a moment before grasping Duo's shoulders and throwing him on the couch. Leaning forward, Heero began to kiss Duo hungrily. In Duo's haze, Heero snatched Duo's crown before standing and walking to the door.
"No, I wouldn't pace myself." Heero said as he opened the door. "But I'm not you and you're not me, and you have an obligation to fulfill. Look, the limo's waiting. You didn't pay him to sleep in my driveway. We're going."
"And I thought I was evil." Duo muttered in a dazed stupor.
"I have yet to see Heero or Duo-" Hilde started.
"Hey Q! Get that picture?" Duo's voice called out.
"Damn! I feel so disappointed." she moaned. "I just lost twenty dollars."
"Why?" Quatre asked her.
"John the bookie." Trowa and Wufei answered simultanously.
"Wufei! I've been looking all over for you man!" the man in question exclaimed, his famous book in hand. "You were the only person to bet Heero and Duo would show. You're going to be a rich man Monday morning. . ."
John trailed off as his eyes landed on a particular page. His eyes widened as he turned the next page. And another. He then stared at Trowa in utter terror.
Trowa nodded before stating, "Quatre and I showed up."
"How'd you. . ."
"I know how you work." he answered calmly.
"In such a business, nothing should be taken for granted." Wufei added mildly.
"The easiest plays might be your downfall. Next time be more careful on who you include in your pool. There may be sharks." Heero concluded, appearing from apparently nowhere, startling the boy. Duo stood beside him, a large grin on his face.
"Like us!" Jay and Nick chimed in before bursting into childish giggles. "We're sharks!"
"You owe me money, man." Nick added.
"Dude, we're rich." Jay giggled, hugging his friend. "*No* one expected Trowa and Quatre to be here."
"Jay, you put in odds that they wouldn't show either." John noted with a satisfied grin. "In fact a lot of money. With interest."
"Dumbass!" Nick hissed as he watched Jay wince. "Trowa and Quatre said they were going to show, why the hell did you bet against them?"
"Don't yell at me!" Jay sobbed dramatically, banging his head on the table. "It was peer pressure, honest dude!"
"Interest?" Quatre asked, looking at Jay.
John rested a hand on Jay's shoulders. "You know what you have to do." he said solemnly. Jay nodded, stood from the booth, and slowly made his way out of the Waffle House. The group stared at John in silence.
"There walks a brave man." John said with admiration before bursting into peals of laughter. "Sorry about the interruption, enjoy your meal, er show, or just. . . bye."
"I don't want to know." Wufei muttered.
"So, has everybody ordered?" Duo asked quickly, pushing Wufei's boot aside to sit in the space next to him.
"Yeah, everyone's getting the kids meal for some insane reason." Wufei grunted, punching Duo's arm. "I ordered a ham and cheese omlette."
"Come on Wu! They have glow in the dark stickers!" Hilde exclaimed, pointing out the prize to Heero as he sat down next to her. "See?"
"He can see very well, woman."
"I like things that glow in the dark." Quatre purred softly, oblivious to the fact that he was heard.
"I know." Trowa replied, a small grin forming on his face.
Duo laughed and dropped his menu. "Okay! Time to share!"
Quatre looked up from his menu in surprise. "Oh! That must have sounded so bad. It's completely innocent, I swear!" he began to explain in a rush. "You see, we went to the mall last week to pick up Trowa's tux and then we stopped at Hot Topics--you know, the novelty shop--anyway, they had all these glow in the dark and blacklight clothes. So, they were having this clearance sale on glow in the dark boxers. There were none in my size, but they looked like they might fit Trowa so I said I'd buy him one. He said fine, so I grabbed two and I was like, 'Should I get the ones with the hearts on them? Or should I get the stars?' Trowa didn't say anything, but it looked like he didn't really like the heart ones so I bought the stars!"
Quatre stopped suddenly with an sharp intake of breath, and he began to try conceal his laughter. "He's wearing them right now."
"How do you know?" Duo leered suggestively.
"Do not answer that question, Winner." Wufei warned.
"Yes, please answer." Hilde insisted. "And in great detail."
"I just asked him before we got here." Quatre answered quickly. "God, are all your minds in the gutter?"
"Yes," Hilde answered before returning to her interrogation. "And exactly how did you ask him?"
"Hilde!" Quatre and Wufei exclaimed.
"Inquiring minds want to know." Duo prodded, pointing to a slightly flushed Trowa. "After seeing you whispering in Tro's ears all night, it is understandable."
"Speaking of which, what have you been whispering to him all night?"
"Sweet nothings."
"Define 'sweet'." Trowa finally spoke, staring at Quatre intently.
"Well-" Quatre trailed off as he leaned in close and whispered something in Trowa's ear. Settling back into his seat, he grinned confidently. "-sweet."
Trowa shook his head. "Sweet my ass." he muttered uncharacteristicly, and began to toy with his glass of water.
"You keep setting yourself up!"
"How did I set myself up for that one?"
"Which one?"
"Sounds like a little sexual frustration is coming to a boil." Hilde whispered to Duo.
"It looks like it's boiling over," he whispered back.
"I heard that." Trowa muttered before turning to Quatre. "Let's see, 'If I dropped your pants right now, would I see stars?'"
"Trowa!" Quatre gasped.
"Hey, you were the one who said that, not me! You also said you'd rather have a 'sans clothes' photo instead of a formal one-"
"Shh!"
"And that it could be arranged-" he continued to mutter.
"Trowa, we're in public."
"If I behaved! Well, damnit!" Trowa exclaimed, punching the table. "I'm the king! Who said kings were supposed to behave anyway?"
"Trowa," Quatre soothed, leaning over to whisper something in Trowa's ear.
"I give up." Trowa muttered before standing up from the table. "WHERE'S MY DAMN COFFEE?"
"Ummm, Quatre, that's not cool." Duo said as the group watched Trowa storm away.
"I don't know what you said, but I think he went to punch the waiter." Wufei observed.
"Just wait until we leave, Barton." Quatre challenged in false anger as his boyfriend returned to the booth.
"Oh, it's on Mr. Winner." Trowa accepted in a similar tone.
"Get a room." Hilde and Wufei muttered as their food was placed before them. At that moment, what appeared to be a tall blonde girl entered the restaurant. She wore a tight red gown that had a slit on one side that revealed a long, toned leg underneath.
"Jay!" Nick shouted. "Why on earth did you put that dress on?"
"The fluffy blue one didn't fit!" he yelled back in a high falsetto. Waving to his classmates, he made his way over to the group. John stood in his booth and began to sing Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" at the top of his lungs.
"Damn, his legs look better than mine!" Hilde noted enviously. "Hey, what is it like to look like a girl?"
"Hey John! If I kill her, I get extra credit!" Jay yelled across the room.
"Let me guess, interest?" Heero asked, effectively removing all the sharp objects on his side of the table without Hilde's knowledge.
"Yep." Jay grinned, sitting in his seat. "It's not all that bad, but I don't think I got the right lipstick for this dress. You don't think it's too red, do you?"
"It's fine." Nick noted.
"I was thinking about going for a nude tone, but my sister instisted on the red."
"You sound like you do this all the time." Wufei said distainfully.
"I've played female roles for a couple of shows and found it fun." Jay shrugged. "It's not easy being a transsexual."
"Uh, I think you mean transvestite, you dumbass." Nick hissed. "And you're going to college."
"So he got the scholarship?" Quatre asked.
"Barely. If it wasn't that we won state this year, and he was one of the starters, they probably would have took one look at his interview and recommend him to be committed."
"Hey, I have book smarts!" Jay protested.
"And no common sense. You *are* the idiot savant."
"And you?" Jay challenged.
"Naturally." Nick said with a smile. "Athletic and academic. Full ride."
"Tro?"
"They're paying me to stay. Or go, or whatever it says on my contract." Trowa shrugged.
"You don't have contracts in college." Quatre noted.
"If I have to sign a dotted line, it's a contract. 'Intent to Attend', my ass." Trowa said irritably. "I'm leaving tomorrow."
"For?" Jay prodded.
"Work. The circus travels in the summer."
"But there's two weeks of school left for the seniors." Nick protested.
"And?" he answered. "I'll be back in time for college."
"Finals?"
"Took them."
"Graduation?"
"Not going. I already have my diploma."
"Quatre? Are you leaving too?" Jay asked, grasping his friend's hand.
"No, I'm going to Europe with my family this summer." Quatre answered with a laugh.
"Hopefully you'll be back in time for camp." Duo mused as he snatched Wufei's coffee mug.
"Camp?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, I conned my buddy into joining Stuco. He's a shoo-in for Junior Class President. That means my senior prom's going to be the bomb!" Duo cheered, raising the mug to his lips. Wufei grinned as Duo began to gag and cough loudly.
"You're still doing Stuco next year?"
"Yeah, though I've got a fight for Senior Class Prez." Duo rasped, reaching for his water glass. "Salty."
"I refuse to lose to you again, Maxwell." Wufei vowed, taking his coffee cup from Duo's grasp.
"You lost to me too, you know." Hilde added.
"You're not going to be in Stuco next year, and I would've beat you anyway." Wufei argued.
"Keep believing that, sweetie."
"Ha. Two hours, 5 mins, and 34 seconds. 'No more terms endearment'; I laugh at you."
"Oh, you love me." Hilde stated matter of factly as she leaned forward.
"Bite me."
"Later."
"Get a room!" Duo exclaimed, directing his gaze in Wufei's direction. "And you, of all people."
"I'm touched." Wufei said.
"By who?" Hilde asked.
"You're not doing Stuco?" Duo asked his friend.
"Nah, and cheerleading's lost all appeal. I'm going to try other venues, beef up my extra-curricular list for college applications."
"Heero, any special plans for next year?" Jay asked, continuing his investigation of his friends.
"To graduate."
"Anything else?"
"Not anything that I'd tell you."
"Wufei?"
"Since I could graduate this year, which I'm not going to." Wufei answered. "I'll go to high school part time, take a couple college courses and get a part time job."
"At?"
"A video store."
"Free movies for me!" Hilde exclaimed loudly.
"No."
As Duo watched his friends argue, he let his mind drift and observe his surroundings. Trowa and Quatre mysteriously disappeared during Jay's interrogation, probably following up on Wufei and Hilde's suggestion. Jay had yet to notice, but Nick was holding back laughter as he saw John heading toward their direction, book in hand. Jay squeaked and slid underneath the table.
"What did you bet this time?" Nick asked between chuckles.
"You know that fluffy blue dress?"
Nick froze. "You did not. . . I'm not going to wear it! Hey John! It was his bet, not mine. Come on, this is so not cool!"
Heero observed Nick beg and plead with John until his mind began to wander. Things had changed so fast, he had yet to grasp all that was new. It would continue to change as the year ended. He had so many choices to make, so many adjustments. Duo had his fears, Heero was certain, but he knew that his boyfriend would never voice them. Boyfriend. Love. All new and so frightening. But it will never show. He would never lose Duo again. So what is he supposed to do next. He thought for another long moment when something hit him on the forehead. Looking up, he found Duo grinning at him; a straw placed firmly between his lips.
"Bulls eye." he whispered. "Welcome back to the Waffle House."
Picking up the crumpled wrapper on his plate, Heero returned fire, his hit landing squarely on Duo's nose. Duo sniffed and crinkled his nose.
"You okay? You were spacing out on me." Duo asked.
"Just thinking." Heero said.
"Don't hurt yourself." Duo said as he stood and motioned Heero to follow. "Believe it or not, I have a curfew. Five A.M. or major trouble."
"You know, a lot of stuff can happen in 5 hours." Hilde injected, waving to her friend. "Parents just seem to forget that little fact."
Duo and Heero walked out of the Waffle House side by side.
"Hey Heero?" Duo broached, walking into Heero lightly before straighting himself out.
"Yeah?"
"Did we eat anything?"
"No."
"Kind of pointless trip, huh?" Duo admitted, climbing into their limo. Heero rapped on the window pane to wake their driver, who was snoring lightly in the front seat.
"Had its moments." he said, sitting next to Duo.
"Like Tro losing it? That was precious. And let's not forget Jay in drag. He actually makes a cute girl if you think about it. I wonder if Nick'll wear the blue dress at school next week. I bet John's making wagers on that-"
"Duo." Heero interrupted, placing his hand over Duo's lips.
"Hmm?"
"Love you." he stated, staring into Duo's wide violet eyes. He was met with silence, though he could feel the other boy smile against he palm.
"Wuv moo tew." Duo mumbled. Heero dropped his hand, expecting Duo to repeat himself, but received a warm embrace instead. As he held Duo close, he was instantly comforted. Whatever appeared in their future, whatever problems he had, he knew Duo was there. That Duo would always love him.
And that was enough.
AN: I want to thank my OL friends Lena, Lechara, Lynn, michy and Shi-chan for their constant prodding and support. So, sequel anyone?