Hello again, by now I'm sure you're well aware that I don't own the boys, my life would not be this pathetic if I did. So anyway, the title for this chapter is an old song from somewhere in the 90s. It's by Evelyn and Jordan or something like that, but I slightly modified it, so uhm don't sue me for that either. The song has sort of become my anthem for Heero's point of view if you want to check out the rest of the lyrics, it's a sweet little song.
These Boots Were Made for Racing
Crazy for this Boy
"Is there something you want to tell me, Maxwell?" Wufei watched his friend bemusedly as he ran around like a chicken with his head cut off searching for some clothes to put on. Duo gave him a nasty look and threw his faded blue jeans in his face. Wufei caught them deftly and set them on the arm of the hotel chair that he had curled up into a comfortable position in.
"There's nothing going on Wufei, I just don't want the guy thinking I had lied to him or lead him on. Is that alright with you?" Duo said, trying to sound like he was joking with him, but it came across a little more defensive then he had intended. He yanked his black shirt over his head. It was see through black mesh with a red cross that traveled across his chest and down his abdomen. He threw two more pairs of jeans at Wufei, this time the Chinese man missed, and grabbed his watery black leather pants from the back of his closet.
"But there is a possibility of something between you?" Wufei commented while craning his neck to see his friend's face, in order to gauge Duo's reaction before he disappeared behind the bathroom door.
"I didn't say that Wufei, I just don't want him thinking we're a couple because that's a lie, you know I don't lie." He hollered from behind the door as he tugged his pants on. He yanked open the bathroom door and ran right over to his sock drawer, trying to find his black pair.
"Well he sure seemed to think that he had a chance, so you must have lead him on at some point." Wufei was pushing it, but he was tired of his friend being alone. Duo had never actually come out and told him why he refused to get involved with anyone, but Wufei had a few theories and he thought it was about time to leave the past in the past.
"I haven't done any such thing, there's nothing going on and there never will be." Duo jerked his left boot on and buckled up the clasps. He stared intently at his other boot as he loosened the buckles on it.
"Who are you trying to convince Maxwell, I think you want something to happen with this guy." Wufei looked smug when Duo faltered in fastening his bootstraps. The braided driver quickly stood up off the end of the bed where he had been sitting in a slight daze after he had finished with his shoes.
"Look Wuffers, I don't know what I want, but I can't take the chance of him getting hurt, emotionally or otherwise. So lets drop it for now." A distant shadow fleetingly passed across Duo's face, a dim solemnity taking the gleam out of his eye. "Hey Quatre and an old flame or something are going down to a club in like an hour, I'm going to meet them there, you want to come with?" It was an obvious attempt to change the subject, but Wufei took it sensing it was time to let it go, for now.
"Qautre has an old flame, since when? Heh,Yeah I'll come. Is it a guys night out or can I run to my hotel and pick up Meiran?" Wufei picked up his jacket that he had tossed on Duo's bed when he walked in. Duo pulled on his red belt that had flat metal studs running along it, and grabbed a thick black leather wristband with the same flat spikes.
"What! WarriorChic is here, hell yeah you have to bring her Fei. I've missed that crazy little Chinese girl and her cunning mind." Duo also grabbed his own mid thigh leather jacket and swung it over his shoulder.
"Yeah I remember the practical jokes your combined powers were capable of, and I wouldn't use that nickname in front of her if I were you." Wufei followed Duo to his door, not even considering it rude that the braided young man was rushing out the door without saying anything first. That was just Duo's way, he treated you like you lived with him wherever he was. He expected you to come and go as you please, grab what you wanted from the kitchen, or change the channel to whatever. He wasn't rude or a bad host, he just thought that everyone should feel comfortable enough in his home to do what they wanted.
"Yeah those were great, especially the one where you were blonde for a week." Wufei grimaced at the memory of explaining his new do to all of his curious teachers. And all the creative nicknames the student body came up with for him, the most creative by his girlfriend and best friend.
"Oh and don't mention anything about the wedding to Meiran, I'm keeping it as a surprise." They made their way down the hallway and stopped just short of the turn to the elevator, they were still a little ways from Heero's room.
"Call Quatre to find out where we're going, I still have to call him myself, and I'll see you at the club. Tell Meiran that if she doesn't save a dance for me I'm going to take one with her boyfriend." Duo laughed and clapped Wufei on his back.
"Don't tell her that, she'll refuse justfor the sight the two of us would make." Wufei gave a slight smile and stepped toward the elevator.
"I'll see you in a bit man." Duo called out as he made his way down the hall to Heero's room.
"Hold on, I think this will complete your look." Wufei dug into his pocket and pulled out a half used eyeliner pencil and proceeded to grab Duo's chin. He quirked a questioning eyebrow at his life long friend.
"Don't give me that look. I'm practically a married man, you'd be damn surprised at what I have in these pockets and what I could do with it all." Wufei held Duo's faces still and shook his head lightly at the look on his friends face. "Just close you eyes."
"Wuffers, that was way more information than I ever needed to know. You keep your toys to yourself." Duo laughed and Wufei scolded him, telling him to keep still unless he wanted to look like a gothic clown.
"There I'm done, I will see you later tonight." Wufei headed back to the elevator and gave a short wave as the elevator doors slid shut.
Duo made his way down the hall looking like a condemned man on death row. What made him the most flustered was that he couldn't figure out why he was letting it bother him so much. So what if Heero thought he and Wufei were a couple? It's not like he wanted a chance with this guy, heck if he just let him believe that he was in a relationship that would actually make things easier. But he couldn't do that, that would be the same as lying and Duo Maxwell did not lie. So he had to tell Heero that he wasn't dating anyone, for no other reason than to clear his conscience of any lies. At least that's what he told himself. It had nothing to do with how attractive his rival was or how well they're opposing personalities seemed to complement each other in some weird way. He stopped in front of the dreaded door and raised his hand to knock, then dropped it, then raised it again and held it there. The butterflies in his stomach were going to tie a knot in it so tight it was going to rip in half. He tried to force himself to knock, he really did, but his arm just wouldn't obey the commands his brain was sending. Duo turned away from the door unable to sum up the courage to knock. He couldn't understand what his problem was, why was he so nervous? It wasn't as if he cared what Heero thought, hell all he wanted to do was race him, that's all. He stood there for a while, back turned to the door, for some reason his pep talk to himself wasn't exactly doing the trick.
"Come on Duo man, this is nothing. You're just getting him for the club, nothing important. You'll mention that Wufei and his wife will be there tonight and it will clear the air. Not that it really matters." He added quickly, his own mind betraying him. He was so absorbed in his argument with himself that he didn't hear the door behind him unlock and open.
"Duo." The boy whipped around at the sound of his name in that monotone voice. He stared with wide indigo eyes, like a deer caught in headlights. His mouth hung open, but the bottomless volcano of words that usually erupted, was gone. Heero looked fantastic, the fantasy at the beach was nothing compared to the real thing. The Japanese driver looked to die for in a pair of stonewashed faded jeans that hugged his hips and clung to that sexy, well-toned butt. He wore a tight black tank top that had washed out white on the shoulder blades, and on the front hem 'WING' was written in faded Old English. A black leather watch with a silver face and a pair of black dress shoes completed the ensemble. His dark hair and dark top accentuated his luminescent blue eyes. "Well, are you ready to go?"
"Right, to the club, yeah I'm ready." Heero nodded curtly and closed the door behind him, turning to lock it. "Oh and about earlier…"
"Yeah, sorry I walked in." He said it quickly, as if to get it over with. He looked so uncomfortable that Duo didn't know how to respond. He didn't even know how to act around his rival anymore, could he still make taunting jokes, could he mess around or would it be flirting, and then he'd be considered a tease or something.
"No that's not what I mean." Duo hated the thick tension in the air. Before this whole mess they had been having a really good time, like they were old friends just hanging out together.
"It doesn't matter. We should get going." This wasn't right; this didn't feel right at all. Duo knew he had to explain, but Heero wasn't even going to give him a chance. This was so unfair, and why the hell did he care anyway, damn it this was all so confusing.
"Huh, oh sure. I uh… brought back your papers man, I'm not really going to take your car." Heero turned back around sharply, and gave Duo a confused but stubborn look. Everything between them was so uncomfortable, so rigid, like they were scared of each other. Duo was scared of saying the wrong thing and upsetting Heero. Heero was scared of seeming like a jerk but he couldn't help his lack of response, he did after all just get shot down before he even knew if he had a chance. Damn hope, Heero hated hope.
"A deal's a deal." Heero responded somewhat sharply, but still lacking affect. Duo stretched out his hand farther again offering the papers to Heero. Even the way Heero stood spoke volumes of how all had changed between them. Before he had an almost fluid stance, like he could just shrug off anything that came at him, but now, he was ramrod straight and in attack mode.
"I'm seriously not going to take your car, come on, neither of us won let's just call it off." Heero stubbornly pushed the papers back. He was not going to have this guy feel sorry for him, he hated pity more than anything in this world. So he stood firm and refused when Duo pushed them at him once again.
"Look man, I'm being nice. Just take it, don't be so stubborn." Heero simply pushed him to the side and made his way to the elevator, trying his best to ignore the braided man jogging to catch up with him. Heero hit the elevator button and waited for the doors to release. When Duo caught up to him, the doors had finally slid open and Heero stepped in without even a second glance at his rival. Duo fidgeted, with his clothes, hair, anything, the friendly taunting atmosphere had been shattered. He couldn't even joke around with the guy anymore, and that was Duo's greatest defense mechanism. He felt naked without it, and it's damn uncomfortable to be naked in an elevator with someone.
"Stubborn is my middle name." Heero sort of joked, trying to act normal, but it felt forced. He stood as still as a statue in his corner of the elevator, while Duo kept giving him confused looks in his.
"Well you have met your match in that too, buddy. And I haven't lost an obstinate battle yet." Duo pushed himself off the elevator wall when the doors opened again to the lobby. He walked over to the front desk and leaned on it while the girl working there finished up explaining to a man that the strange woman he found in his room earlier that day was the cleaning lady. She hadn't expected him back for another hour and she was just making his bed, not trying to seduce him. When the poor girl had finally convinced the man that the hotel staff wasn't out to get him using the secret art of sex, she hung up and smiled at Duo apologizing for the wait.
"No problem, I worked in a restaurant once and every body that came in thought that I was hitting on them." The girl giggled and Duo flashed her a grin. To his left he heard a snort and turned to Heero who was arching an eyebrow at him that just asked 'Do you ever turn down the dial.' Duo just grinned and turned back to the hotel worker. "If a man named Wufei or girl named Meiran come in, you can trust them, they're with me."
"All right sir, I'll add them to your guest list." She smiled warmly and asked if there was anything else she could do for him. He declined and he and Heero took off for the front parking lot to get the car for the club.
"You should congratulate me." Duo spouted out as they made their way through the lobby toward the front entrance. It was said in that tone of a person trying to be casual but it's obvious that they've been thinking about what to say for a long time. Duo played it off a little better than most, after all everyone always told him he would have made a great actor if he hadn't been so obsessed with speed.
"Why's that?" Heero responded almost automatically, not sure where this was going, and not too happy about the possibilities. Thinking it had something to do with Duo and the guy in his room, he wasn't exactly pleased about congratulating the two. It probably had something to do with committing to steady relationship. 'Maybe he wasn't he wasn't even with this guy until that moment, great timing Heero.' His mind sarcastically taunted him.
"I'm a best man." Well that wasn't what Heero expected.
"For what?" He asked half numb by the realization of what that meant. When he did realize what he had asked, he mentally slapped himself for being so stupid.
"A wedding, you dumb ass. Well, I mean naturally I'm the best man for everything, but what else would I be talking about." Duo laughed in a soft 'you're a moron' way, and even though it should have been insulting, Heero found it endearing.
"Wedding." Heero stated skeptically. He was really having a hard time grasping this conversation. His mind was reeling with questions and possibilities. 'Why is he telling me this? What does this mean?'
"Yeah Wufei, that guy in my room, finally got up the nerve to ask his girl." Duo was really trying to stay calm through all this, but he felt so obvious and stupid. He knew he sounded like he giving Heero an open invitation, and that was bad because he was leading the guy on. Nothing could ever happen between them and he was giving the guy false hope. He felt like such a jerk, but this was less of a lie than he and Wufei being bedmates, that was just hysterically insane.
"That guy was your friend." He said disbelievingly.It was slight, but Duo caught the pause before the word friend.
"Of course he was, you don't just walk up and ask random people to be the best man in your wedding. Geez, your not too familiar with this tradition are you. What did you think he was?" At least the casual feeling of old friends had almost been restored between them, Duo felt much more comfortable now. Heero to seemed to be slipping into what seemed to be their routine, even if they had only known each other for a few hours.
"Nothing. Uhm… congratulations then." All this was said with perfect calm and very little affect but the relief, or at least the lack of tension, could be felt in the energy of the air. It both excited and scared Duo. Actually it scared him because he was excited, but he was glad that the comfortable atmosphere had been returned.
"So let's get going to this club already, we're going to be late." Duo flagged down a valet and asked for the Mustang. "I'd tell you to congratulate Wufei too when we get there, but his wife doesn't know yet."
"They're going to be there?" Heero was unsure if he wanted to meet this Wufei face to face. It was true that the guy and Duo weren't a couple, but they had still been very close and that managed to raise a little jealousy in Heero.
"Yep, but sorry, you'll just have to wait until the wedding to give your congrats." Duo commented without even thinking, like usual. He was definitely back to his old self.
"Why would I got to his wedding, I don't know him." Duo looked a little surprised, he wasn't sure what had come over himself, why would he say something like that. Of course Heero wouldn't be at the wedding, they had only known each other less than a day, hell after this race there was no guarantee that they would meet again. They would probably meet at the last race to battle for the cup, but that would probably be it. His heart sunk in his chest a little, and he chastised himself for caring. 'Damn you Duo, do not get involved, if you like this guy then keep him safe by backing off.'
"Oh yeah sorry, it's just, well you feel like somebody I've known forever." 'Heero you better get away from me, 'cause I don't know I can stay away from you.'
"I know what you mean." There was a contemplative silence. Heero looked very introspective and Duo noticed the slightest curving up of Heero's lips. Duo had to break this moment, he was getting to close, he already knew he would never be able to shake that image of Heero out of his memory.
"Oh Shit, I forgot to call Qand ask where we're going. I'll be right back, maybe the front desk will let me use the phone." Duo dug into his pocket for his wallet to find Qautre's phone number. Heero was shaken out of his reverie by the sound of Duo's voice, it was quickly becoming his favorite sound.
"Don't worry about it, I called Trowa earlier and asked him. The place is called Hearts and Clubs." Duo was entertained with the play on words. He liked it when things had clever names, he gota little ecxited to find out what this place would be like on the inside.
"Such a responsible man, what would I ever do without you?" Duo dramatically clung to Heero's arm, and Heero simply shook his head.
"I suppose you'd actually win all your races." Heero look smugly at the longhaired race driver, who in return made a face at him.
"Well how about I repay you for your rsponsibility." Duo wiggled his eyebrows at his companion.
"How?" Heero asked in whispery almst seductive tone. Damn things were definatley getting back to normal, and Duo was just as confused by it all as he was before. All he knew was that he liked being confused like this much better than the tense confusion after their misunderstanding.
"How about I give you a chance to win your car back." Seeing as how Duo wasn't going to let this car thing drop anytime soon, Heero went along with it.
"Hn. What did you have in mind?" He stated briskly, but it was in a much more friendly manner than earlier. And his eyes did show a little curiosity. 'Oh God Duo, stop looking at his eyes.' Duo shook himself mentally and concentrated on the evil plan that was forming in his mind.
"I'll give you three tasks to perform tonight at the club, and if you do them all to my approval I'll give up the Mustang." He waved the ownership papers in front of Heero's face.
"You damn baka." He chuckled very slightly as he batted the papers away.
"I'm going to ignore that since I don't know what that means." Duo stuck his tongue out at Heero. Yep, he was definitely back to his old self now.
"So what is this, a game of dare?" Heero asked unafraid. 'Silly boy.' Duo thought 'I suppose it's unfair to do this to him since he doesn't even know what he's up against. Oh well, more fun for me.'
"Yeah, I'll dare you to do three things, and I have to pass them for it to count. You think you can handle that?" Duo taunted. 'Oh this was going to be good.'
"Sounds like cake, what's the catch?" 'Hook, line and sinker.'
"Are you kidding, you have to do what I tell you, that's a big enough of a catch." That was Duo's attempt at a warning, to ease his conscience for what he was going to do to the kid.
"Doesn't sound that hard." 'Poor kid, never had a chance. I wonder if this one will make the first page of the newspaper like the last one. Still feel bad aboutWufei's hair.'
"You don't know me very well." Duo grinned evilly. He was in his element now, everyone duck and cover. "So you accept?"
"Yeah sounds good." Heero finalized the challenge by extending his hand. Duo took it firmly with the most devilish grin on his face Heero had ever seen. 'Oh shit. This could only be bad, maybe I should write my will out or something.' Heero thought when he saw the almost demonic gleam in Duo's eyes, it was then that he realized he had no idea what color they were.
The valet pulled the car around and, remembering that Heero had given him the keys, he tossed them to the young Asian man. Heero got in the car, once again in the driver's seat for some reason, but Duo wasn't complaining. He took off out of the parking lot and into the city streets. A gust of wind blew his bangs into his eyes and he brushed them away, looking toward Duo to see where the cool breeze had come from. The longhaired enigma had rolled down his window again, but this time he didn't stick his head out the window, instead he had leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes in a serene picture. The last finger-like rays of the setting sun reached out and brushed against Duo's right cheek. For a moment Heero was reminded of an old song when Duo began to talk loudly about this whole Qautre and Trowa 'thing.' The words played softly in his head, with a few minor changes, while he listened to Duo's theories about the engineers' secret relationship. 'He rolls the window down, and he talks over the sound, of the cars that pass us by, and I don't know why but he's changed my mind.'
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Sorry for the wait for this chapter, life gets a little hectic around the holidays. Although I can't imagine there's anybody out there just chomping at the bit for the next chapter of this thing but oh well, I felt I should still apologize. I only got one request but the joke really is a funny one, if you're not a girl or your like me and can still laugh at it because you just appreciate the humor in it. Please don't flame me with feminist stuff, believe I'm one of the biggest FemNazis in the world, I'm just able to keep my sense of humor too. Anyway, the joke was told to me by my precal teacher, he knows all the dirtiest, most politically incorrect jokes in the world. So it goes my precal teacher was alking down the street when a woman bumped into him. They bothapologized and she looked at him for a second before she said Steve, Steve Holson (not his real name, but his real name is hillarious). He replies "Yeas that's me. Do I know you?" She says yes that they went to highschool together. "I used to be Robert Johnson, I'm Roberta now." Holson stares at her and begins to see the resemblance. "Oh wow, you know I hate to be rude but I have to ask. Did it hurt when they cut it off?" She smiled at him and assured him he wasn't being rude. "No that part didn't hurt at all, but itsure did when they took out half my brain." Ha ha? oh well I htought it was pretty funny. See ya next chapter and review, I demand, I mean ask politely that you do.