Misomeru

a/n: I do not own Gundam Wing. I do not own the song "Shape of my heart" by Sting either.

Chapter Two – Secondariamente (Secondly)

Heero ran his fingers through his messy hair and stood in front of his easel. The mp3 player he was using blared into his ears. The sketch he had drawn of Duo yesterday in class was clipped over another he had started. The professor would be expecting them to finish yesterday's sketch today, but Heero had decided late last night to start one from memory. In this one, Duo was still nude, but he sat on an imaginary floor, with his knees drawn up into his chest, arms wrapped around them protectively. The Duo in this picture looked a little lost, and a little sad. Heero had followed his emotions when he had drawn that. It seemed to him that Duo did not want to be here, yet he was. Something had encroached on his life so much that he posed nude for other college students. Heero suspected that Duo Maxwell was not one to take his clothes arbitrarily.

/I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier

I know that the clubs are weapons of war

I know that diamonds mean money for this art

But that's not the shape of my heart/

Heero sang softly with the song. He used his pencils to add a line here, a shadow there. To make the picture perfect Heero would need the whole upcoming period.

A finger tapped him on the shoulder, and Heero turned around sharply. He yanked the earbuds out of his ears and smiled at Duo, who was already robed and ready to go.

"Can I see it?" Duo was practically bouncing on the balls of his feets in anticipation. Heero sighed and released the sketch from the easel. Duo almost snatched it, then looked at it with interest.

"Do I really look like that?" Duo asked, screwing his face up.

"What? What are you talking about?" Heero looked at the sketch, "That's you, that is exactly how you look. What? Is it not good?" Heero started to get frustrated. He had thought it looked very good.

"No, no, it's very good. I just did not know I looked so..empty I guess," Duo told him.

"Not empty. Just not happy. Like you are up there but you do not want to be. Why do you do this?" Heero asked.

"Ah, that's a personal question we will save for some other time. What's this you are doing?" Duo asked, trying to peek at Heero's latest sketch. Heero guarded it fiercely.

"Later," Heero promised. Duo smiled and nodded.

"Still on for tonight?" Duo asked, fumbling with the end of his braid.

"Sure," Heero told him with a smile.

"Woohoo!" Duo jumped in the air, and then he gave Heero a small glare, "Where's the sketch of you?"

"Well, I have not exactly done that yet," Heero looked to the side. People were starting to file in.

"I will get you for that later," Duo winked at him and went to go wait by the platform.

When Professor Epans showed up, Heero took him his finished sketch of Duo.

"Are you sure you are done?" the professor asked.

"Positive. I am already working on another one, it should be ready by the end of class," Heero told the surprised professor.

"A muse for Mr. Yuy, I see?" Epans asked speculatively.

"I guess you could say that," Heero nodded and went back to his easel. Again he was the subject of Duo's gaze all throughout the lesson, but this time it did not unnerve him.

&&&

After his last class of the day, Heero went back to his apartment and showered. He shaved, and then applied his favorite cologne to his neck. He walked into his bedroom and opened his closet. It occurred to him that he had no idea what they were doing tonight. He assumed dinner, and Duo had mentioned something about dancing. Heero took out a pair of low-slung jeans that had a very dark wash. They were almost the same shade of his eyes. He put on a black belt with stainless steel rivets. He pulled on a black t-shirt that was worn and clung to his skin. A faded silver dragon graced the front of it. He pulled on a white oxford shirt and left it unbuttoned. He rolled up the cuffs of the shirt until they rested just under his elbows. He went back into his bathroom and applied some gel stuff to his hair that would make his very messy hair look…well…organized messy. He laughed at that. He focused on closing his watch over one wrist, and a black leather bracelet over the other wrist. He did not go out a lot, but he did know what to wear from reading and researching. He was satisfied with his appearance. He grabbed his newest sketch of Duo and placed it into a small folder for protection. He grabbed his wallet and keys and headed out the door.

Duo was already seated on a bench when he got there. The braid was still there, And it was neat to see Duo wearing an outfit similar to his own, only Duo's fingernails were painted black, and he wore black jeans and a black overshirt. Heero waved at him as he walked up, and he saw Duo's jaw drop before he grinned and waved back. Heero sat down next to him and handed Duo the folder.

"For me? You shouldn't have!" Duo said in a breathy voice, and then he opened the folder. Heero watched as several emotions played across Duo's face: awe, ache, shame, sadness, back to awe, pride, and then a grin.

"Your face shows so much without you saying a word," Heero murmured. Duo looked up at him and shrugged.

"Never did like to hide much. I run and hide, but I don't lie. That's me in a nutshell. This is gorgeous. How did you capture this? I did not even pose for this," Duo wondered aloud.

"I saw it in my mind's eye, and put it to paper," Heero shrugged.

"Can I keep it?" Duo asked.

"I will make you a copy after I get it back from the professor," Heero promised, "Can we walk go back to my apartment so I can take this back in? Do You mind?"

"No, I do not mind at all," Duo stood up and linked an arm with Heero. Heero just smirked as they walked to his car. The modest sedan sat lonely in the parking lot. Heero unlocked it, and opened the door for Duo. Duo looked surprised.

"What?" Heero asked.

"You held my door open for me," Duo told him.

"Well, are we or are we not on a date?" Heero asked.

"We are," Duo answered dubiously.

"Well, I do not know about you, but I open my date's doors," Heero smiled as he got in. Duo followed suit.

Duo was mostly silent on the short trip to Heero's apartment. This worried Heero. In the short time he had known Duo, the braided boy had hardly ever stopped speaking.

"Duo?" Heero asked.

"Yeah?" Duo replied.

"Are you okay?" Heero inquired.

"I'm fine," Duo smiled at Heero and then broke into a grin when the car stopped in front of Heero's apartment, "Hey, you live off campus!"

"Yeah. I lived in a dorm my freshman year, and I could not stand it. So, now I live here," Heero walked up the stairs to the second floor. Duo followed, admiring the view he got. Heero unlocked the door and walked in, Duo leaned on the door frame and watched as Heero placed the picture in a portfolio. Heero turned to him and smiled, "Ready?"

Duo held out his hand, "Sure, lead the way!"

Heero frowned, "I thought this was your plan?"

"Oh yeah! Well then, I'll lead the way," Duo grabbed Heero's soft hand and pulled him down the stairs.

&&&

They had been sitting in the restaurant sipping hurricanes for quite some time when Heero brought it up again, "Duo? Why do you pose nude?"

Duo paused in the act of lifting another french fry to his mouth, "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Can't be all that bad, can it?" Heero asked.

"It isn't, I just do not like pity," Duo cleared his throat and leaned back a little, "I'm an orphan. A real, genuine orphan. My mom and dad died when I was a baby in a really bad car accident. I was with a sitter. Well, I did not have any other relatives either. No one to take me in. So, the state was responsible for me. I was shuffled between foster homes and group homes until I was eighteen. Luckily I had a couple of people that instilled enough morale in me that I worked very hard in school and got a scholarship and a few grants. Well, the scholarships and grants pay my tuition. My job pays the rent and pays the bills, but only just since I have to take a full load and get a 'B' average. The money from posing nude pays for some of my books that are needed all of a sudden, and for computer stuff. What is left is basically getting around money. Got to have some semblance of a life, right?" Duo picked up the abandoned french fry and popped it in his mouth.

Heero blinked, "That's the only reason? Do you mind it? Girls staring at you, guys staring at you, do you feel at all weirded out about it?" Heero asked.

"Geez! Lots of questions, Heero?" Duo said.

"I am just curious. It is not like I disapprove or anything, I just want to know what it is like for you," Heero laced his fingers together and waited for an answer.

"That is the only reason. It is easy money, and I know I am not bad to look at. I do not mind letting people see me naked. What I do mind is the girls who think I am easy to get into bed, and the guys who think the same. I also mind the people who think I am a stripper or something. I'm just another starving student," Duo smiled at Heero as their check came. Heero snatched it before Duo could.

"Heero, I asked you out," Duo reminded him softly. Heero handed over the check. He knew that if he were in the same position he would insist too. Duo pulled out a few bills and put them on the table before grabbing Heero's hand and walking out.

"Do you mind this?" Duo asked, swinging their hands.

"No, why would I?" Heero asked.

"Some guys do," Duo shrugged. Heero opened the car door for Duo once again, and Duo got in.

"Where to boss?" Heero asked.

"I was gonna take you dancing, but I think I want to go to the beach instead. You up to it?" Duo asked.

"Your date!" Heero smiled and pulled out of the parking lot.

&&&

About thirty minutes later Heero pulled off the road where Duo told him to.

"This is a small trail that leads down to a private beach. I used to come here a lot when I was younger and needed an escape. Do you have a blanket in the trunk?" Duo asked him.

"No, but I have a sleeping bag," Heero opened the trunk and got it out, along with a flashlight. He also grabbed a small duffel bag before closing the trunk.

"My, prepared aren't we?" Duo teased.

"I was never a boy scout, but I hate being stuck somewhere without the things I may need," Heero shrugged. The made their way down the trail carefully, since they only had one flashlight to light their way.

"Who owns the beach?" Heero asked.

"I have no clue, but I do know that they are only here during the summer. Seeing as it is fall now, they will be gone. Damned rich people never appreciate what they have. If I had a beach house I would never live anywhere else," Duo sighed as they finally reached the beach. The clear sky allowed a full moon to illuminate the beach and the water beyond.

"Oh, it's beautiful," Heero murmured. Duo walked with him until they were sitting only about thirty feet away from where the water receded from the sand. Heero unzipped and laid out the sleeping bag, and they sat together, looking out over the ocean. Duo removed his shoes, and buried his black painted toenails in the sand. Heero did the same, which was unusual for him.

"I do not think I have asked you yet, what's your major?" Heero inquired.

"How did we skip that one?" Duo smirked, "I major in architecture"

"You want to design buildings?" Heero asked.

"Yeah, I love houses and buildings. They intrigue me. Another reason I love this beach is for the view of all those big houses on the cliffs above us," Duo gestured vaguely above them.

"Wow. My dad would have loved if I had majored in architecture. He disapproved of my choice to major in art," Heero frowned.

"Tell me?" Duo asked softly.

"He wished for his son to go into pre-med, or engineering, or some such field. Anything but drama or art. Unfortunately for him, I inherited my mom's passion for art. I do love computers, but art is something I can devote my life to," Heero shrugged and opened his small bag. Out came a sketch pad, and a case of pencils, "Will you pose for me, here? With your clothes on?"

"How do you want me?" Duo asked suggestively.

"Stop it. Just sit there like you are," Heero turned to face Duo and started to sketch. Duo hummed as Heero sketched.

"Heero?" Duo asked suddenly.

"Hmm?" Heero asked as he sketched.

"What are we doing here?" Duo asked.

"What do you mean?" Heero replied.

"I mean, what are we doing? Are we dating? Do you want me? Why do I feel like I have known you for far longer than I have? I am so comfortable around you, and that never happens. I am usually very hard to get close to," Duo let his mind ask questions arbitrarily.

"Are we dating? I would like to think that this is a date, and that you would like to go out again, but we are not exclusive yet, no. I will not pressure you for anything like that. You barely know me. Do I want you? Have you seen you? As for feeling like you have known me for a long time; that sometimes happens. Sometimes we find people that we just relate better to. It is called compatible personalities. And, I am comfortable around you too," Heero glanced up from his pad and smiled. Duo smiled back and then let Heero finish whatever he was doing. It did not take long.

"You're already finished?" Duo asked.

"Yep. I just did your face and hair," Heero shrugged and handed Duo the sketch pad. And there he was, looking wistful and slightly wind blown.

"It amazes me how you manage to just draw me," Duo told Heero, "Sign it for me?"

Heero took his pencil and wrote along the bottom. Then he handed it back to Duo. Duo read the note by the moonlight.

Thank you for a wonderful date – Heero Yuy

"Wow, short and sweet, eh?" Duo smiled leaned back on his hands.