Warnings: Some violence. Not very graphic, yet. Some blood later on, a lot more in coming chaps. Some coarse language, in English. Maybe more.

Disclaimer: Oh my.... You've got to be kidding. Why are you putting me through this torture? Okay, all right I'll say it. I don't own it. Nope. Not me. Haven't got a clue how they have that much patience.

Rating: PG-13. Soon to go up.

Pairings: 1x2, 3x5, 4x? Now, whom should I stick Quatre with? Hmn, maybe Zechs? Nah, maybe Treize... Ahahahahah!

Author's notes: Man, I am having trouble getting this story to cooperate. You guys are all probably saying the same thing I am: What the f*** happened to chapter two? When I find it and make it work, then I'll let you know, but most likely not before, K? Oh, and special, special thanks to my lovely reviewers!

Spazmastic- I posted as fast as possible, and I hope it's fast enough, 'cause that's all my little over-drive brain can take! Thanks for reviewing!  

Shinigami's Voice- Thank you for coming back and reviewing again! I know this is a little short, but I hope you like it anyway! Thanks for the encouragement!

Lilly- Hey thanks! I'm glad you like it so far. Good luck with your weighting! ^.^

If One Goes, then Two Must Follow.

The skating rink, a place named Whirling Nights*, was dark and hectic. The people who were there were mostly teenagers, to the disgruntlement of one of the Pilots forced to go...

'This was against my better judgment. Just look at this place! The people who attend this establishment must be out of their minds. It's dark, smells like popcorn, the floor is slippery, and it's filled with teenaged monstrosities on wheels. Why, if it weren't for the glow of that whirling ball up there I wouldn't be able to see a damn thing. Doesn't look all that reliable, either. Great. Wait a minute, where did Duo go?' Heero whirled around in mid-stride, causing the flow of kids to separate and go around him. The braided Pilot had been beside him less than two seconds ago, and now he'd vanished. Heero went over to a bench and stepped up on it, peering over the heads of the skaters around him to try and locate his errant little love. 'There he is.' His Shinigami was over at the counter, purchasing skates for them. And Quatre was his accomplice. Heero climbed off the bench and fought his way through the crowd and to the counter, fully intending to give Duo the third degree and make him promise to stay within sight at all times while in this madhouse. Duo stopped him with one grin, and he melted.

"So, Heero, what do you think? Pretty rad., eh?" Heero glared at him, though the glare was more baleful than murderous.

"This place is-" His reply was cut off as a pair of used skates was thrust into his arms. He studied them suspiciously. Duo rolled his eyes.

"What are you doing, looking for hidden bombs?" Heero decided to play the game, and nodded sagely, knowing how to get underneath Duo's skin.

"Explosives can be hidden almost anywhere, on almost any carrier, especially one capable of motion." He watched Duo's eyes glaze over and chuckled as the Pilot shoved him over to a table to put on the skates. Trowa and Wufei already had theirs on, and were standing a bit awkwardly on the blue-carpeted floor. Quatre had persuaded Wufei to leave his precious sword behind, and now the Chinese was on edge and tense, and he let everyone know it.

"How am I supposed to stop an attack with the ground threatening to move out from under me at any given moment?" He scowled at Duo, and then bent to help Trowa up as the Pilot fell down for the third time. They hadn't even gotten out onto the floor yet and already they were falling. Not a good start. "I am not going out there till we get these things figured out!" he announced firmly. Duo shrugged and smiled.

"Okay. There's the beginner's section. You can work out the kinks in there, if you want to." He pointed to a corner of the room where a much smaller skater rink was set up. The walls were lower, and also painted with grass, butterflies, and cute little round ladybugs. About seven six-year-olds were hesitantly practicing, and falling down every third or forth stride. They actually stared at it for a full two minutes before they all made a mad dash for the real rink in the center of the building. Duo sighed and followed at a much slower pace, wanting to figure out the strides before reaching the floor. He reached the wall surrounding the floor and watched as his fellow 'skaters' all fell down in various positions of embarrassment. 'Okay, maybe this wasn't such a good idea.' He thought as Heero got up, throwing a death glare at some kids who had stopped to laugh at the admittedly hilarious scene. Duo stepped out onto the floor and helped all his friends to their feet, showing them how the skates' momentum kept you from falling backwards or forwards, as long as you stayed upright. A short amount of time later, along with a great deal of coaxing, all the Gundam Pilots were out on the floor, skating with a surprising amount of skill. Hey, when you grew up learning how to Pilot a Gundam, skating was a cinch, once you got the hang of the ground tending to want to split at a second's notice. Heero had to admit that it was exhilarating, but they all kept getting reprimanded by the floor guards for un-called for speeds. They all, the floor guards anyway, unanimously agreed that seventy was definitely breaking the limit, and so they stayed at a level of speed barely acceptable, and zoomed in and out of the crowd. Heero lost track of Duo at some point during the beginning of the second hour of skating, and went looking for him, slowing down so that the people he went by were not a blur. He chose that moment to look up, and blinked when he saw a long, honey-colored braid attached to a very familiar lithe body flying down from the DJ's booth. The song currently in play stopped, and an announcement was made. The DJ's voice was heard loud and clear, a little too loud and clear, over the microphone.

"Okay guys, we've had a special request from a birthday boy to hear 'Blessed' by Christina Aguilera. So here it is." There was some muffled clicking and thuds, and then a song that was blessedly slow came on, and Duo ghosted out of the crowd to skate by him. He grinned impishly at him, his eyes sparkling. Heero gave him a little smile of encouragement, and Duo inched closer, to take his hand and skate at his pace. They turned in a broad circle, and Heero leaned in close to whisper to Duo.

"My little Shinigami..." Duo shivered and leaned in a little closer, causing Heero's lips to brush against his ear. Then he gave a little squeak of surprise as he suddenly found himself skating backwards in front of Wing-O's Pilot.

"Uh, Heero," he said a bit unsteadily, his body stiffening even though Heero held his arms. He was busy kissing Duo's neck, and only grunted in response. "Um, you see, I can't skate very well when I'm going forward, and now I'm going backward and I think it's just all too soon and-" He stopped as Heero jerked his head up to meet his eyes.

"You think it's too soon?" he asked, his eyes revealing a hurt expression before becoming hard again. Duo realized the meaning that Heero had taken and shook his head violently.

"No, you baka! Not for us! For skating backward!" He rolled his eyes. "Honestly Heero, you take everything the wrong way. I mean you shouldn't automatically think everyone's conspiring to make you miserable. You just need to-" Again, for the hundredth time, it seemed, Heero shut him up. Only this time it was with his mouth. Duo was seeing stars when Heero finally pulled away. He didn't even notice how effortlessly they were moving.

"Why not? They are." Duo looked at him acidly.

"Well, you're just full to slopping over with optimism aren't you?" he asked sarcastically. Heero laughed and gripped him tighter when Duo lurched suddenly. He threw his arms around Heero for dear life.

"I won't let you fall. Or at least if you do fall, you can fall on me." Duo didn't even have the luxury of rolling his eyes at the older Pilot.

"Thanks awfully."

"Don't mention it."

They stayed that way throughout the whole song, and Duo thought that he might even make it without falling down, but, as luck would have it, he did. His skate caught on something hard on the polished wood floor, and he fell. The thing was, he didn't fall on something as hard as a floor should be, and he opened his eyes. He was sitting square in Heero's lap, the older Pilot's look that of someone who had just been fallen on, that of irritation, surprise, and an ironic twist of the lips. Duo stifled a laugh and toyed with the notion of just remaining where he was. After all, it was so convenient. Unfortunately, the floor guard insisted that they get up and resume skating, or they would have to leave the floor. Trowa and Wufei had both been skating as a couple as well, and had fallen prey to similar instances. Duo wondered if his face was actually flushed as much as he thought it felt. Luckily he was able to tuck it into the crook of his love's neck as they skated to a slow song.

'Duo-man, you've got it bad. Good thing he seems to have the same problem,' he thought, sneaking a glance up at Heero's profile. Heero's eyes were narrowed to long slits of blue fire in the dark, watching the other skaters and steering them safely between couples. They were wearing speed skates, which made it very difficult for their wheels to become tangled. Heero's arms were wrapped protectively around his shoulders and back, enfolding him completely, while Duo contentedly hugged his waist. 'This isn't lust,' he thought seriously. 'My body is totally calm. I'm comfortably warm. I don't seem to be taking any obvious notice in my surroundings. I'm completely aware of Heero's every movement and breath. I'm ridiculously happy. Yep. I must be in love. Damn, it feels good.' He gently massaged the small of Heero's back, and was rewarded with his low purr of approval.

"You sound like a cat." He murmured drowsily. Heero looked down at him for a second, and then grunted, replacing his chin to its perfect place in Duo's soft hair. He yelped, however, when he felt a light pinch on his bottom. He glared down at Duo, who was giggling hysterically at the look on his face.

"Okay I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Tearjerker wide eyes * I know it's short, but I just couldn't think of a good ending for the skating rink scene! I really did try to, but it just wouldn't happen!

Heero: Damn onna.

All right. What did I do now?!

Heero: NO ONE PINCHES MY ASS AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!!!

Not even me?

Heero: .............*Sigh * Why me?

*Duo walks in *

Duo: What's all the screaming about in here?

About you, actually.

Heero: You're in for it, baka.

Duo: What did I do?!

Heero: You pinched me!

*Duo pales, and whirls on Singe *

Duo: I did what?!

You heard him. Oh, and you might do something a little, well, decidedly naughty later on.

*Duo runs as Heero advances on him, but turns to writer before disappearing down the hall and winks, closing the door *

*Smirk * You gotta love 'em.

Yeah, I know there's something wrong with my story, especially chapter two, but I can't get it to work. Anyone got any useful suggestions? I'm thinking of wiping out the entire thing and reposting them, just to see if it'll work... And if I don't get some more reviews I might take this thing off and trash it. I need inspiration! That won't come till later though...