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12
"I really like you, you know." Duo winced in horror as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Shit shit shit shit his mind chorused. Heero froze. The two of them standing, almost embracing, so close and yet so far. Duo stared at the floor, started to pull away, but Heero's arms held firm behind him. Duo dared a glance up. Heero's expression wasn't cold or angry. The other boy wasn't drawing away from him. Instead he looked confused.
"You really like me?" Heero asked, as if needing confirmation.
"Yeah you're a great friend, for get I said it." Duo looked wildly around. All the other couples were still swaying, lovingly gazing at each other and whispering sweet nothings. He tried to catch Cat's eye. Motion his friend over to save him. Someone, anyone. Oh he was so stupid to have blurted that out. One of the hands left his back, coming to redirect his vision back to Heero.
"Was that really what you meant?" Duo swallowed. I'm Duo Maxwell, I may run I may hide but I never tell a lie, a phrase he had coined as a child swam to the front of his brain. He had always tried to be truthful, with holding the truth wasn't lying though. He thought of what Helen would say.
"No." Duo whispered, trying to look at the floor. Heero kept his head level.
"What did you mean?"
"I meant I like you." Heero nodded slowly, carefully, as if he were afraid of moving too fast.
"You said that. Why do you like me?"
"Because you're wonderful. I love being around you. You make me happy." That was an easy question to answer. And it didn't really give anything away.
"Why?"
"I don't know. You just do. I can't explain it. It's a good thing right?" Duo shrugged, still trying to find a way out.
"Love is always a good thing." Duo froze in his shifting.
"What?" His voice was flat, utterly terrified. Heero smiled.
"I said love is always a good thing." And with that, Heero leaned down and placed a kiss on Duo's lips. Duo felt like he was doing an amazing impression of a fish as Heero pulled away. Vaguely he registered the song had ended and Cat was clapping somewhere off to one side, but his whole world had narrowed down to Heero.
"Huh?" He said intelligently.
"Do I have to make it clearer? I really like you too." Duo blinked as the words slowly sank in. A wide smile shone out on his face.
"No shit?" He grinned, throwing his arms enthusiastically around Heero. "Can I kiss you back?" He whispered. Heero nodded. Duo stared at him, thinking about how many times he'd contemplated this, staring at the boys face. He slowly stepped forward, leaning slightly up to kiss Heero. He drew back a few inches to stare into the boys face, Duo had never felt happier. An evil grin unfurled across his features.
"Does this mean we can dance dirty together?" Duo whispered in Heero's ear. The other boy raised an eyebrow, but made no objection as Duo moved forward and pressed their bodies together. The change of music was well suited; why not take advantage of a perfectly good freak-dance song?
They all gathered back at the table as the dance wound down. Duo had his arm wrapped possessively around Heero's hip and Heero's was slung over his shoulder. Dorothy and Catherine were playing a game of chess. Catherine's boyfriend talking animatedly with Zechs and Noin. Sally and Wufei were still nowhere to be seen.
"You two are hot." Cat whistled once they were in hearing distance.
"I will pretend not to notice that." Duo commented. "Childhood friends are not supposed to say things like that."
"It's true. I was waiting so long for you two to face up. Thank good the UST is resolved."
"UST?" Duo echoed, confused.
"You haven't read any of the fics I gave you have you." Duo shook his head sheepishly.
"No."
"Heero," Cat addressed the other boy, "if he is to be your boyfriend you have to make sure he's well read and can keep up with the rest of us."
"So I'm now his keeper or something."
"Yeah, something like that." Cat nodded. Duo rolled his eyes. Trowa echoed his look from behind Cat in sympathy. 'I understand how you feel' he mouthed.
"Do I sense communication happening over my head?" Cat asked. He swiveled to pin Trowa with an accusatory eye. "It's for his betterment you know." Trowa shrugged. Cat sighed and shook his head, "whatever will I do with you?"
"Kiss me?" Trowa asked. Cat complied, leaning up and placing a peck on Trowa's mouth. The taller boy wrapped his arms around Cat.
"So, are you officially a couple?" Trowa asked.
"Who's a couple?" Relena inquired, joining the group. Her eyes drifted to Heero and Duo.
"Finally!" She blurted, then put her hands over her mouth. "Sorry, but really it took you long enough. I'm assuming he's talking about you?"
"Yes, and Yes." Heero answered dryly. "Anything else from the inquisition?" Heero asked.
"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Hilde shouted from behind them. Duo jumped in surprise, whirling. Hilde beamed, dragging a rather tired Chris behind her. "What are we discussing?" She asked.
"Us being a couple." Duo motioned to Heero and himself. Hilde broke out in a wide smile. She leaped forward and hugged him.
"I knew you could do it. See, all you gotta do is be yourself and speak up." She enthused.
"Yes, but this late at night one should go home and sleep." Chris put in. Hilde shook her head,
"Not all of us have papers to write this weekend."
"But I do." Chris sighed, "And much as I love you, I'd like to graduate. Nice to meet you all, hopefully I'll see you again when I'm not about to fall down dead with exhaustion." He kissed Hilde, "You sure you don't need a ride home?" She shook her head no. He nodded and left with a sloppy wave.
"Seniors." Hilde sighed, "They work em like dogs. It's totally not fair."
"That's only if you're that laid back. He's not quite a slacker, but most people do their papers sometime other then the week before." Zechs put in. He yawned too though, "Still, us old fogies really aught to turn in. Noin?" His girlfriend nodded. They too left.
Sally and Wufei took that time to finally make their appearance.
"Where were you guys?" Hilde asked.
"Oh, out and about. You know." Sally said with a wink. Wufei glowered a little, but they were holding hands and there wasn't a heck of a lot to hide.
"I'm glad you don't look too disheveled." Hilde teased.
"You didn't see me earlier." Sally riposted. Wufei gave her a pointed look. "Okay shutting up about private matters." She said with a zipping the lip gesture. "How're things here?" They briefly filled the other two in on what had happened and who had already left. Dorothy's dad then appeared from seemingly out of nowhere. He was on the school board and was uncannily able to navigate school functions, even dances that were meant only for kids and specific chaperones.
"Ready to go girls?" He asked. Relena and Dorothy gave their good byes. Cat and Trowa were staying for cleanup crew, as was Hilde. Heero and Duo waved goodbye as well and went to wait for Heero's mom at the curb.
It was very dark, eleven thirty and most of the lights out in the surrounding buildings. A streetlight was on a little up the block, but the sky was still clear. It was cold too. They sat huddled together on the curb.
"Why don't they make these things warmer?" Duo grumbled.
"Because then you'd die when you danced in them. Here." Heero wrapped an arm around Duo, rubbing his hands up and down over Duo's shoulders to create friction. "Any warmer?" Duo nodded.
"A little. Thanks." There was a moment of silence. "So, about tonight. You meant what you said. That you like me too?"
"Every word." Heero affirmed.
"So, does this mean we're, together? Going out?"
"If you want it to."
"I do. Yes."
"Well then there you go. Come on, there's the car." Heero stood up. "Mom'll be happy too, she's always thought of you as a second son."
"I hope not, if we were brothers that'd be incest." Duo quipped. Heero laughed,
"Believe it or not, I was worried about telling you because I thought you thought of me like family." Heero chuckled.
"Really? I had the exact same feeling. If only we'd talked sooner. Damn, now I feel stupid." Duo laughed self deprecatingly.
"Hey, we both were. But now that we have at least one thing figured out, let's enjoy it." Duo returned Heero's smile measure for measure.
"I'm sure we will." And they did, together.