Mirror, mirror

Contents/Warnings: Shounen Ai/Yaoi
Pairing: 1x2x1
Disclaimer: See all the others; status unchanged.

AN: Written as a giftficlet for Shinigami62's birthday.

"Do you think I'm fat?"

To such a question, there is no good answer. Even silence is not an option. All good husbands and boyfriends know this.

You'd think it would be slightly different if it was asked by the husband's husband or the boyfriend's boyfriend - but alas, all humans are vain, regardless of gender, sociability or sexuality.

Fortunately for Heero, this was not what Duo said, but it was close enough for the same principle to apply.

Duo was standing - in boxers and a hair band only - before the big bedroom mirror that also served as a closet sliding door, preening like a peacock with all the gracious posturing of a bodybuilder short of a set of skin-toned airbags. "Do you think I'm skinny?"

Lacking good options, Heero made a slanted smirk, opting to dodge with humor. "Well, you're not exactly a walking dumpling..."

Duo paused for a moment and shot Heero an annoyed glare and a huff. "I didn't mean that, you bastard. I meant muscles." He flexed again, showing off the thin, wiry muscles he had, then sighed. "Not exactly impressive, is it?"

Heero rolled his eyes. It wasn't the first time they'd entered this particular argument, from various angles of attack. He doubted very much it would be the last, too. Once more, he cursed the mixed blessings Dr. J had given him. Why Duo felt so strongly about this particular issue, he didn't know. It wasn't as if Heero had that much more to make a show of - but, thanks to Dr. J's concoctions, it made for twice the actual strength. "You look just fine, Duo. Now, come back to bed."

Up until this point, he'd only made the occasional glance in Duo's direction. The novel he was reading was reaching a climax, and he very much wanted to reach the end of it before lights out. He only had a few pages left, anyway. Whether it was jealousy or a minute inferiority complex that fostered these thoughts in Duo's mind, he didn't know. He didn't really care, either. All he wanted, was for them to go away - he only lacked a means of making it so.

Duo studied himself in the mirror, put his arms akimbo. "You think so?"

A sigh. Fine, climax could wait. He put the book aside on the nightstand, making sure to slide in the bookmark in first. "You know I do..." Heero saw the slight smile on Duo's reflection, then let his eyes wander a bit. Oh, he definitely appreciated the sight. The mirror kindly let him see from more sides than one at once, too. These were the moments that convinced him supporting Duo's more spontaneous interior decorating ideas was justified. Of course, it had really been more of a trade-off. The concession of the mirror doors - and a few others - had gained him his own small study.

Everyone needs a retreat for the bad days.

"Why are you obsessing with muscles, anyway?"

Snort. Duo turned around. Heero casually threw a glance at the mirror, a dim leer at his lips. He didn't care if Duo noticed - in fact, he wished that was the case - and on this rare occasion his wish was granted, if Duo's half-grin was anything to judge by. "Look, Heero - it's just-" Duo paused, nibbled at his lower lip. "Sometimes, you make me feel so damn fragile - not just 'cause you're stronger than me physically, but 'cause you treat me like a china figurine, despite how you say I'm not some brittle, little-"

"Being protective doesn't mean-"

Chuckle. "Smothering, more like."

Snort, faint smile. "Fine, I'll give you that - but it's only because I love you, you know that. And you're right, what I say don't always match how I act - but you're not weak, Duo. It's just the opposite. You're the strongest, toughest son of a bitch I've ever had the pleasure of meeting - and fighting."

Grin. "And winning over."

Shrug. "About half and half."

Duo laughed. "Right..." Again, he studied his reflection.

Heero decided enough was enough, flipped the covers aside and walked up behind his lover, wrapping his arms around his waist, touching lips to neck, then shoulder. "If anything, I should envy you, Duo..."

An answer came only in the form of Duo's relaxed expression.

Heero pressed on, a feral glint in his eye. "Besides, if you can take what I dish out, you have to be a tough bastard..."

Duo grew a wide grin.

Heero went on the offensive, pulling Duo along back to bed, his book nearly forgotten.

At least one of them was going to reach a climax by lights out.

-end-