Chapter 4: Annoying Blondes and Answering Machines
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or any of the characters therein. I'm sure that anyone reading this though would love to say that the characters are theirs.
I want to thank everyone who reviewed my last chapter and I hope you love this one just as much. I don't want to give anyone a hint about the chapter so you'll just have to read and find out. So on with the fic!
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"I-you-you love me?" Heero stuttered as his liquefied brain tried desperately to grasp to meaning of those simple words.
Duo smiled seeing the look of happiness mixed with confusion in Heero's eyes. He wanted to see that happiness forever but he could do without the confusion. He brought his had up to that gorgeous face and brushed his knuckles over a smooth tanned cheek.
"Duo!"
Heero rolled off Duo and they both jumped to their feet at the sound of the door opening and a cheery voice that came with it. Quatre walked into the room with a paper bag and a bright smile.
"Hey Heero, you here to play too?" Quatre asked when he noticed Duo wasn't alone. His grin grew wider, if that were possible, when he noticed the stoic Japanese blush. The state of undress the two shared didn't seem to go unnoticed by him either.
"Um Quat, I thought I told you that I couldn't play tonight 'cuz I was busy."
"Hmm…no I don't remember that." He said this as he putting the contents of the bag he had carried in on the table. "So are we gonna play in the living room or here in the kitchen? Trowa's on his way up with the jello shots."
Duo sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Obviously the blond wasn't taking the hint.
"It's alright Duo, I was just leaving. I have work in the morning anyway."
"Aww Heero, I was hoping you'd stay. Maybe you'd actually be able to beat the cockiness out of this braided ass."
"No thanks, I'm just gonna go change and get going."
As he went to the bathroom, Quatre gave Duo a knowing look.
Ok Duo, what's going on? First he starts talking to you out of nowhere and now he's at your apartment in your clothes and half undressed. If I didn't know better I'd think something was going on between you two."
Duo scratched the back of his head and mumbled something Quatre didn't quite catch. "I'm sorry what was that?"
"I said I'm not sure what's going on but I really do like him." Right then Heero walked back into the room.
"I'm going now," he said walking toward the door.
"Wait!" Heero and Quatre both looked at Duo, surprised at his sudden out burst. Heero blushed and smiled when he looked down to see Duo's slim had wrapped around his wrist. "Um…you're still coming over tomorrow, right?" Heero's smile grew wider when he saw the hope that made Duo's violet eyes glow like twin jewels.
"Hai Duo, I'll be here." He turned around and walked out the door.
Once Quatre could no longer hear the soft footsteps fading down the hallway he sunk onto one of the kitchen stools. "Duo…I'm really happy that you two are hooking up but…"
"But what?" Duo asked hotly, feeling indignation rise into his throat from a burning pit that resided somewhere in his stomach. He was shocked at his own temper, this was a feeling of protectiveness he hadn't even realized he had for the man he had loved secretly for so long.
Quatre sat back at the vehement tone that was coming from his best friend. He had heard Duo use it on other people but it had never been directed at him. "It's just that this is all new for him. He's never actually been in a relationship. I don't want to see him get hurt."
"You think I want to hurt him? You think I want to drive him away after wanting him for so long? Quat you know that I've liked him since the war and it's taken me until now to grow the balls to make a move. Why would I want to hurt him now?"
"I didn't say that you wanted to intentionally hurt him, but it might happen accidentally. You're both my friends and I just don't want to see either of you get hurt. So maybe you should try to go slow that way he has time to adjust to the more…serious matters…of a relationship."
Duo turned away to hide his blush. Damn Quatre and his Sense. With the emotions that had been swirling through him and Heero both the sensitive blond probably hadn't had too much of a problem picking up on what had been occurring just before he had walked in. 'Was I really that close to making love with Heero? Everything just happened so fast, but he was in my arms and I didn't want to let him go again. Ever.'
Sighing Duo turned back to Quatre as Trowa walked in. "Look I'm gonna get a shower, you guys can go ahead and set up. I should be out by the time everyone else gets here."
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Trowa and Quatre worked for a few minutes in silence as the small Arabian tried to get a grip on the torrent of thought rushing through his brain. He wanted Heero and Duo to be happy, he really did. The idea that if something went wrong the 'Perfect Soldier' might not be able to handle it, terrified him more than the events of the war had. His Sense let him know just how strongly Heero felt about his best friend. He could feel a strong love that was blooming in him and was flourishing more each day. Unfortunately that was also accompanied by a world of confusion, and so much more that cloaked the feeling that was lost in a swirling vortex of emotion.
Sighing, Quatre plopped down onto the stool again and rubbed a hand over his face. Trowa knelt down in front of him and took his hand.
"Alright little one, what's got you so worked up?" The corner of his mouth twitched into a small frown. There weren't many times he could count when he had seen his blond lover so worried. He didn't like it one bit.
"I'm just concerned about how quickly things have grown between Duo and Heero. He's never been in a relationship and Duo has wanted this for so long; I'm just afraid that he might rush into it and Heero won't know it might be too early."
"Quatre, we weren't exactly slow in our relationship you know. We turned out just fine."
"Yes I know but we both knew there could be consequences and that we were willing to risk it. The thing is though; we weren't trained as severely as Heero was. His emotions were no existent; the only thing that mattered was the mission. We weren't trained to be machines." The frightened look in Quatre's eyes tore at Trowa's heart.
He reached up and gently caressed his lover's face and brushed his messy blond bangs away from those clear blue eyes he could stare into all day.
"I know you want to protect your friends, but this is something they need to decide together. Duo will be smart; he doesn't want to screw up this chance he has been waiting for so long."
Quatre closed his eyes his eyes and rested his forehead against Trowa's. "You're right love, I'll try not to interfere again."
Raising his other hand to Quatre's face, he pulled the blond to him and captured those pouting rosy lips in a soft comforting kiss. After a few minutes he slowly pulled back and smiled at the content look on that angelic face he loved so much.
"Come little one, we need to finish setting up before the others arrive."
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Duo leaned forward in the shower with his hands bracing him against the wall. His head was bowed almost to his chest, letting the spray of hot water hit his back and ease the tension there. 'Why did I let it go that far? What if he thinks that I'm some kind of animal that can't control itself? Of that I'm just using him?' He thought back to the events of the night. The memory of how good Heero had felt in his arms and his hot skin pressed against his own made him groan. He put his head against the cool tile of the wall to calm him down and sort his thoughts. 'I want him so bad. Every little thing he does drives me insane.' His blood started to heat as he remembered how their bodies had continually grazed each other during their sparring match. Then he remembered the way Heero's eyes had lit up the room when Duo had said he loved him. 'Gods, those beautiful eyes; have they ever glowed like that for anyone else?' A growl escaped from somewhere deep inside him and rumbled up through his chest and into his throat. The thought of another person receiving that look brought out the same possessiveness that he had felt earlier. Turning off the water, he promised himself that would never happen. Now that he had his Perfect Soldier, he was never letting go.
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Dropping his coat on the chair, Heero sighed, letting out the breath he had been holding since exiting Duo's apartment. The whole night had just been one big shock; the dinner and then the bet. The biggest amazement by far had been what had occurred after their sparring match.
He leaned against the door and gently put his fingers to the lips Duo had been ravishing just a short while ago. A simple kiss or touch from that amazing American was able to edict feelings he had never knew existed. 'Is this what love is? We didn't even get to anything serious and it felt like angels were caressing me with their wings. But what would have happened if Quatre hadn't walked in? Would we have had sex or would I have said something stupid and ruined it all?'
With that last thought he didn't know if he wanted to strangle the blond or kiss him. He decided not to because of a certain cinnamon banged ex-pilot that would most likely beat him to a pulp if he did either.
As he pushed away from the door and walked toward his bedroom, he smiled at the next memory that surfaced. Duo had said exactly what he had doubted could ever happen; he loved him. Even though he had been trained to be a machine that couldn't feel, he still loved him.
He was passing through the living room when he noticed that annoying flashing light on the answering machine that indicated he had a message. Since there was only one he decided he would listen to it. 'One of the other pilots probably just called to see if I wanted to play cards tonight.'
He pressed the play button and waited impatiently for it to get to the actual message; he was sorry when it did. As he listened to the sickeningly sweet voice spewing from the speaker he was tempted to throw the thrice-damned contraption out of his twelfth floor window. That voice could only belong to one person – Relena Peacecraft. The message alone could have made him hurl. It was an invitation to dinner at her mansion with a promise of a 'special dessert' after.
He practically broke the delete button as he pushed it. Had the stupid woman not gotten the point? Why after so many blatant refusals did she still plague him? Why? He stalked into his room and threw himself onto his bed. He stared at the ceiling for a while trying to cool down. He would not let that demented she-demon ruin his night.
Finally he rose from the bed and changed into a pair of boxers and a tank top. What he needed now was some sleep and he wasn't getting it by bitching to himself about a wako blonde that wouldn't get a clue.
As he was drifting off to sleep a pleasant thought crossed his mind. Now that he knew how Duo felt, they could give her a little show. Just maybe that would be enough to shock her into accepting the truth. For the first time in his life, Heero slipped into unconsciousness with a smile on his face.
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By the time Duo had gotten out of the shower and dried his hair everyone else had arrived for their weekly card game. Wufei had brought a card table and set it up in the living room since the furniture was still pushed up against the walls. There were chips and drinks scattered all over it, obviously they hadn't wanted to wait on him. As Duo took his usual place between Quatre and Milliardo, they all went through casual greetings while Trowa started to deal.
"So Duo, are you going to get Heero to come next time?" Quatre asked with a sly glance at the blushing American.
"It…uh…depends on if he wants to."
"Well I'm sure if you're here he'll want to come. Besides, all of us know he can't refuse a challenge so he'll come," Trieze commented as he moved his cards around in his hand.
Duo just shook his head in exasperation knowing that his boss was right.
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Three trays of jello shots and several hours later, the game was finally winding down; Quatre was passed out on the table, Trieze and Milliardo were trying to suck each other's faces off, Wufei was ranting about the injustice of the cards he kept getting dealt, and Trowa was blatantly laughing at him. This was exactly why Duo always won at these get-togethers. It wasn't that he was an amazing card player, but could simply hold his liquor better than the rest of them.
Shaking his head he rose and tossed his cards onto the table. He just didn't feel like joining in the festivities tonight. Quatre woke as he heard Duo's chair being pushed back from the table. Looking up in a sleepy, drunken haze he saw Duo walking away.
"Now Duo, don't be…sneekin off to…get all kissy kissy with Heero. He needs his rest for t'morrow." That speech must have been too much for him because his head dropped back onto the table and all that could be heard from him was a soft snore. Trowa had watched the whole thing and started snickering when his lover's head fell like a sack of bricks.
Duo thought that being hit by a sack of bricks was exactly how they were all going to feel in the morning. He turned away and walked toward his room, leaving the rest of them to fall asleep where they would. He rubbed a hand over his tired face as he shut the door behind him and let himself sink into the comfortable, familiar feel of his bedroom.
He loved Quatre, the blond was his best friend, but sometimes when he was trying to help all he wanted to do was kill the emphatic buddy. Duo was supposed to be the one that was always happy, which was scary because the Arabian was hardly seen without a smile that could rival the sun for intensity. As he flung himself onto his bed a voice in the back of his head that sounded suspiciously like Quatre started to berate him for wishing Heero was with him.
Blonds, they could be so annoying.
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Okay, that's all for this chapter my faithful readers. Review and let me know what you think. Good or bad. I need some constructive criticism here. On a happy note one of my friends thinks my writing is progressively getting better with each chapter. Does anyone agree? Yes? No? Well I won't know unless you review now will I? MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The evil plot is revealed. Ok I need to get this posted because it's about 1:30am right now, and I'm tired as mess. Later everyone.
RejectedGoddess
