Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. If I did, Duo would be completely naked all the time. I'm not kidding.
Chapter 2:
The Dangerous Guitarist
Roddy and Jina showed up at the music hall for rehearsal only after finishing her free time. She and Jina made a pit stop at the local Hot Springs Day Spa and had the works, then Roddy bought some new leather boots and Jina got a designer T-shirt much like the one that Roddy wore; her idea was that she could wear it to the MTV interview. They were going to be on TRL in three days promoting their tour and new member. Room 203 had made it big so fast that they could hardly keep it together. With Roddy's extremely talented voice and lyrics, the innovative sound of Heero's guitar, and Wufei's excellent management Room 203 was on top of their game. The sudden leaving of Riley from the group kicked them down a notch forcing Heero to compensate for the problem and plays both rhythm and lead; let's just say that the first part of their tour was the worst. Luckily, Trowa had found a solution to their problems and they would meet the guy tonight.
"Penny for your thoughts, Jina?" Roddy said as she pulled slowly into the Music Hall parking lot. She's been watching her friend from time to time as her facial expressions drifted from normal to elated and back again. She was obviously thinking about something special.
"Oh nothing, I was just thinking about tomorrow and how good we're going to be."
"Yeah, I love it when we're on." Roddy said parking the car and reaching into the backseat to get her treasures from that days earlier shopping. Jina did the same picking up her single shopping bag and following Roddy towards the entrance of the music hall. They entered the music hall with the loaned key that Roddy possessed and were greeted by the telltale sounds of Room 203. Roddy closed her eyes appreciatively at her music and breathed in the scent of the music hall.
"Another concert." Roddy murmured and stretched her hands and bags over her head. She was about to say something audible to Jina when she heard the tinkling of metal and the small patter of four little paws running towards her. All she could see was the silhouette of the little greeter but she knew it had to be Ocean, he small Cocker Spaniel Lhasa Apso mix that she loved more than Trowa. She dropped her bags stooped down to pick up the small, white, hyper bundle. Jina, being the good friend, noticed that Roddy in her excitement to see her dog for the tenth time that day, had dropped her bags and Jina decided to pick them up for her and followed her down the hallway towards the music.
Upon nearing the room where the band was they Jina, Roddy and Ocean heard the ongoing bickering that ensued between Trowa, Quatre and Heero. Even Wufei was there in his ever-present spot on a wooden stool adding to the arguing. Roddy rolled her eyes and entered the room mother her small dog for all it was worth.
"Well, look who decided to show up for practice." Wufei said, "you do realize that we have a concert tomorrow."
"I'm ready to rock baby, if you are." She said to Wufei walking over to Trowa and giving him a rather sensual kiss on the lips. Jina dropped the bags on the chair next to Wufei and smirked.
"You did manage to keep her out of trouble for today, didn't you?" Wufei eyes her. She looked at Heero and he had the same stern looked fixed to his features as well. She swallowed hard.
"Yeah, we didn't get into any serious trouble." Jina said quickly escaping both of their gazes and walking over to her keyboard and hooking it up to the amp getting ready to warm up Roddy's voice.
"Where's my rhythm guitar, I'm not accustomed to you breaking promises, Trowa." Roddy said, after sitting Ocean on the chair behind her and cocking an eyebrow at Trowa. He smirked.
"He's on his way, he'll be here soon. What did you buy today?"
"We'll discuss it after practice, my expenditures for the day. I promise I didn't spend over half a million."
"Well, don't tell Wufei. He's still pissed off about Ocean." Trowa said kissing her on the forehead.
" I gotta go warm up." Roddy said walking over to the keyboards. Jina started with the C-scale and Roddy sang along with her, the sound of her voice so strong, so rich, so strong and deep that everyone stopped and listened to her for a second. Then it happened, something that caused Roddy to falter and catch a frog in her throat. Something that cause Jina to stop playing altogether, it was him, the guy from the galleria. He walked into the room carrying a guitar case and smiling at Trowa. The two men shook hands and exchanged hugs and Trowa turned to the rest of the band to introduce him.
"Everyone, this is Duo, our replacement for Riley, well at least until the end of the tour."
"Holy…" Jina said, her mouth having gone slack.
"Shit." Roddy's eyes were wide watching Duo set up. She finally regained composure and walked over to him with her hands on her hips. Yet, she was cut off by Heero who was hell bent on showing Duo who was boss.
"I'm Heero Yuy, here's the music, study it, learn it, love it."
"Did you write this?"
"Yeah. Why?" Heero said, his eyes narrowing.
"Good shit." Duo said and turned away to tune his guitar.
"You think?" Heero said, not being able to walk away, Duo having stroked his ego. Roddy turned around and decided to go back to Jina and continue warming up.
"Yeah, your lead is better than any lead I've heard in a while. It's pretty comparable to Santana with a mix of Hendrix. It's not my style, but I dig the shit." Duo said. Heero smirked and a bit of him lightened up.
"Thanks," Heero said and walked back over towards Quatre. Duo smirked and started to practice the sheet music that Heero gave him.
****
"Okay, let's do this." Roddy said, having completed her thirty-minute warm up session with Jina. Everyone seemed pretty antsy and she was ready to see what pretty boy could do. Everyone got into their usual positions and Roddy grabbed the microphone.
"Not To. 1,2,3…" Roddy said, the sound of Heero's guitar sounded playing a simple chord. Quatre started the beat with the sound of his snare and then came in quickly with a base beat. Then Roddy began to sing:
/You like snow, but only if it's warm.
You like rain, but only if it's dry.
There's no sentimental value to the rose
That fell on your floor.
There's no fundamental excuse
For the granted I'm taken for./
She flicked her hair and turned to look at her pacing boyfriend and winked. He loved it when she sang to him; it was like his own personal performance. When she was singing she was pure like and angel in heaven. He walked over to her and played towards her while she started the chorus.
/Cause it's easier not to
So much easier not to.
And what goes around
never comes around to you. To you./
She flourished the last part of the word like a melodic moan and closed her eyes completely feeling the music. Heero continued to play, standing next to Quatre and feeling the beat. Jina followed everyone's lead covering the small part that the piano had in the song. Duo smiled, not having seen such a great band dynamic before, and he'd worked with tons of bands. He would like it here with Room 203.
/You like pain but only if it doesn't hurt… So much.
And you sit. And you wait. To receive./
The tempo of Roddy's words sped up and she swayed her hips around the microphone grabbing it and gyrating sensually to the song.
/There's an obvious attraction to the path of least resistance…
In your life.
And there's an obvious aversion on amount of my assistance…
Can make you try tonight./
Roddy smiled at Duo as he walked towards her at the swell of the music. They thundered towards the chorus and she gave it all she had.
/Cause it's easy not to.
So much easier not to.
And what goes around
Never comes around to you. To you. /
She turned and looked at Duo's eyes, he was lost in the music, much like she was. Heero started his earlier lead pattern. The bridge was close and Roddy closed her eyes and lowered her voice to a lower more somber octave, Jina joined her in the bridge, singing the soprano.
/There's no love.
No money.
No thrill anymore./
The song slowed a bit, giving Roddy a break to breathe. Then she continued, again the music's tempo sped up.
/Well there's an apprehensive, naked, little trembling boy
With his head in his hands.
And there's an underestimated and impatient little girl
Raising her hand./
/ But it's easy not to.
So much easier not to.
And what goes around
Never comes around to you. To you.
/Get up. Get Up. Get up off of it./
/Get up. Get Up. Get up off of it./
/ Get out. Get outta here. Enough all Ready.
/Get up. Get Up. Get up off of it./
/Wake up!/
A smile was plastered on Roddy's face as she turned to look at Duo. She'd never felt so completely satisfied about a song in her life.
"I think this is a start of a beautiful relationship. Trowa! Where did you find this guy?" Roddy said, running over to Duo and hugging him fiercely.
"You're happy I take it." Trowa said trying to sound like he didn't even notice the change in the music's quality because of Duo's abilities.
"I'm more than happy, I'm ecstatic. He's… he's… he's got me a bit amorous. Let's get out of here, I'm utterly convinced that we're going to do fine tomorrow." Roddy said taking the bass off of Trowa and grabbing his hand. Ocean jumped off the seat and followed her "momma and poppa" out of the door leaving Quatre, Jina, Heero, and Duo to their own devices. Heero rolled his eyes in annoyance and stormed out of the room angry that Roddy had ended practice so quickly and only after one song. Quatre followed, saying something about going down to the bars for a little bit. This left Jina and Duo together, alone and with no choice but to either talk or ignore one another.
"You're good." Duo said, looking at her while he stung some strings on his guitar.
"Thanks." She said with a smirk.
"Singing I mean. Not that Roddy needs a backup voice, but you two sound really good together. Your voice is a great soprano." He said smiling at her and walking towards her.
"Why didn't you tell us who you were?" she asked, a bit wary of his approaching closeness.
"I didn't know who you two were until Rod left me the tickets. I would have…"
"You're lying. You've heard our music; I know that means that you've at least seen a poster of the band. Besides, you know Trowa, good friends, there is no way that you don't know who Roddy is." Jina said defensively. Duo stopped in his tracks, his smile falling from his face and confusion knitting his brow. He turned from her, causing his scent to waft towards her. Some of his loosened braid fell in his face and he pushed it back behind his ear. Jina's mouth went dry when she smelled him. He smelled like the fresh rain on a spring morning. He was warm and inviting and she could almost taste the sweetness of his skin.
"You're good. Let's just say I wanted it to be a surprise." He said, crestfallen. He walked away and started to put his guitar back in the case. Obviously this woman was difficult and didn't want to be bothered so he decided to leave her alone. An eerie silence enveloped them both; the only sound between the two of them was the sound of Duo disconnecting cords and the snapping of his guitar case.
"You're good too," she said to him before he left the room. He smiled back at her and winked. She visibly jumped back from the sexiness of this action. He was going to be the death of her or at least of her morals. She cleared her throat and took a sip of her water.
"He's dangerous Jina, the last thing that you need."