Ya know the norm.... ^^
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Chapter 32
Wufei sat down, outside Ms. Darlian's parlor. She was going to bed, and he was going to begin research. He booted up his laptop and pulled up all the files he had on the assassination attempt. Yuy had informed them that his home had been burned nearly to the ground by a vandal. He believed it was someone who was getting rid of him, so that they could get to the minister. Yuy's supposition was a good and valid one. So while Yuy worked on it from home, he would work on it here.
Chang had an idea of his own. The shooting attempt on Relena had gone largely unexplained. Though the shooter was killed, they didn't seem able to find out for whom he was acting. It could very likely be the same faction who burned Yuy's home.
~*~ *~
Duo awoke in a strange bed. He stiffened, unsure, for the moment, as to where he was. Slowly, memories dripped into his mind and remembered. There had been a fire, he was at Quatre's. Heero had been up working late, so Duo had gone to bed alone.
And woken up the same way.
Slowly, so as not to put pressure on the burned parts of his body, he sat up, legs spread out, with his round belly resting between his thighs. He felt energized and motivated, like he needed to get something done. Perhaps he would take a trip into his shop. He knew he really wasn't supposed to go out in public, but he really wanted to know what was going on down there. Besides they would need to know his new address and how to reach him.
Duo looked at the clock, pleased he noted that he had just enough time to get the garage before it opened. Hopefully he would be able to talk to Jerry, go over any paperwork, and see how it was going with Sam. He walked into the bathroom, pulling some clothes out of the pile of clean ones the maids had left folded at his door. He took his baggiest pants and sweatshirt out and put them on. While wearing them he just looked like a heavyset man. Slipping on a pair of well-supported sneakers so that his feet wouldn't ache as badly later, he stepped out the door taking in a deep breath of air.
Once he arrived, he told Quatre's chauffeur to come back in an hour or so, then he walked inside, and headed for the office to speak to Jerry. The old man was staring at the papers on his desk, a calculator in front of him and a sheet of paper covered with figures next to it. He growled, shook his head and crossed off a big section of the paper and turned it over, starting again. Duo knocked on the door.
"We're not open 'til 8:00, come back in twenty minutes." His head never moved up from the paper.
"Oh, but I'm not a customer," Duo said with a smile, and came into to watch sympathetically as Jerry tried to compute the finances.
"Duo! Blessed virgin, its been months since I've seen your face!" Jerry's eyes traveled along the form of Duo's body, pausing ever so slightly, but he made no comment. "What brings you back?"
"Do I need a reason to come to my own shop? I just thought I'd stop in and see how things were going, if there were any problems." Duo dropped into a nearby chair, "How's Sam working out?"
Jerry grinned, "Oh great, he's becoming much more open and friendly with the customers, there are quite a few females who come to visit him with 'car troubles' quite regularly." Jerry shook his head, "Don't worry though, he's always very professional. Besides from what I see, he's got a lady friend of his own who occupies. Occasionally she comes and visits him." Duo grinned, with an "oh really?" look.
At that moment, the back door opened and in walked the topic of conversation himself. He passed by the office, waving at Jerry, but seeing Duo he paused. "No, no need to stop on my account, feel free to do as you wish." Duo advised with a grin. No need messing up his morning routine. Sam set about setting up his tools for the day, unlocking the toolcarts and opening the door. As soon as he did, someone walked in and he was immediately set to work. Jerry looked indecisively between the budget and the cars. Duo decided for him.
"Go on, I'll handle the budget." At Jerry's protests, he insisted it was no trouble and got to work right away. Time passed quickly, and Duo was able to finish the work before his hour was up. Standing and rolling his shoulders, Duo walked out, looking on curiously as Sam talked with a customer. In fact, Sam was more than talking as he reached over and gently kissed this customer on the cheek before grinning and disappearing under the hood again. Deciding that farewell's could be left for another time, Duo headed for the back door, hoping to steal a glimpse of Sam's lover.
Duo's jaw dropped. Completely unhinged. There was an unexpected surprise.
Becca Lenhart, his old neighbor from the apartment building was there, laughing at Sam's remarks and replying with witty ones herself. Sam, for his part, seemed to be pretty smitten with her as well. Duo laughed, he couldn't help it, that was definitely a pair he never would have thought of. (a/n: gack! Annie isn't supposed to end a sentence in a preposition... FIX IT.... nvm) Both heads turned back and looked at him, Duo waved a bit self-consciously. Becca's face lit up.
"Duo Maxwell! Where have you been?" Becca exclaimed, "I was a little worried, when I went up to visit you one night and none of your stuff was there."
Duo grinned,
"Sorry about that, I had a change of residence and had some
things I needed to take care of." The braided man looked
apologetic. "And actually I've changed where I'm living
temporarily again. . . . So, it could be difficult getting a hold of
me."
Becca shook her head, her short bob cut swishing
around her ears, "A mysterious nomadic mechanic. . . . sounds
like some trashy romance novel summary." She laughed and
looked at her watch, "Geez, I've got to go," She leaned
forward and pecked Sam on the cheek, promising to stop by later.
Then she looked seriously at Duo, "Don't forget to leave an
update or some news, even if its just here with Sam." Then
grinning she left the building.
~*~*~
Heero walked into the bedroom late that night, his feet dragging along the wooden floor. He carefully lay down in bed next to Duo, careful not to awaken him. Tomorrow Duo had a doctor's appointment, Heero had to make sure Duo went. The doctor had told them it would be near two hours long as he had to run some tests and explain quite a few things that could have been explained a long time ago. Heero was going to escort Duo, just so that he could hear what he was saying.
Duo's peaceful, almost ethereal face shifted a bit as his content look changed to a small smile. There was this unique surgence of feelings, something he had never felt for anyone or anything else before. Just lying and staring at Duo made him feel completely content, knowing someone was always there, always caring for him as well.
With timid, gentle movements, Heero stroked Duo's long braid, following the length of it, feeling the silky strands. His hand stopped on Duo's side, moving them forward, he let his broad hands span Duo's generous abdomen where a life was miraculously growing. A life Duo was willing to share with him. Tenderly, Heero wrapped his strong arms around Duo's welcoming warmth and drifted off to sleep.
tsuzuku
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Okay, that was fun! Lotsa fluff! dies from overdosage GACK! ^_^ Sorry it took so long but I got it out! Only two weeks this time! Yay! I just had a little bit left to do, it just took a while to write.... SORRY! yawns But its about time for Annie to head off to bed. . . . (FINALLY THOUGHT OF BABY NAME!)
Review! As an author dependent on reviews, it would be SOOOO much appreciated if ya told me what ya think. Was the Becca Sam thing okay? I had it planned out like.... a year ago. . . . Wow. . . . This story is taking a long time... ^^
~Annie
