Duo Maxwell - AC203 December 24th

By the time Duo finally manned up and entered the ballroom, the circus troupe, including Trowa, was hounded by the children and youngsters. He didn't seem to mind too much so Duo let it be.

Then Quatre had come to him, chatting him up. Duo knew he had been listening to his friend, and answered. He just couldn't recall what they have been talking about. Only the thought that the man Quatre has been gushing about for years had just made a move on him had been circling his head. And how Quatre would take it. Was he really over Trowa like he claims?

Or had he just let go of hopes because 'not the right attributes'?

In Quatre's case, Duo wondered if that would be the 'I can't he's a man and I should like women' or 'I can't I'm a man and he's supposed to like women' kind of not right.

Not that it really mattered, he guessed. Trowa made a choice. Now, it was Duo's turn make his.

Duo had several decisions to make, to be honest. Have a truthful, long speak with Hilde, or abide to her wishes. Leave or marry? They certainly couldn't go on living the way they have if she wanted a child, or children.

And now there was Trowa. Offering him something else. It was too soon. He hadn't even decided how to handle the situation with Hilde. He wasn't even sure what Trowa was offering him, how permanent he was seeing this (admittedly, more than a few days at least).

His head about to explode and his patience wearing way too thin, Duo had escaped to the living/dining room where the more intimate Christmas dinner should happen and the Christmas tree was toppling under the weight of tinsels and twinkling lights. The firstly small pile of wrapped gifts had grown quite a bit since the time Duo added his and Hilde's in the morning. It was quiet, exactly what he wanted.

Sadly, it didn't help with his crowding thoughts. He didn't want to leave Hilde, to let go of the life they've been building for so many years. He liked his life. He expected, stupidly maybe, that it would last. That their uncommon arrangement would content them both. Maybe, she was right, he might change his mind someday. Maybe with a child she wouldn't go search for prince charming anymore and be content with the simple man she had home. If trying very hard?

Duo rolled around and groaned. Who was he trying to kid there? He had hated each and every guy she had dated. Screwing on his side was mostly part to forget the bile, part revenge. Never with a girl, out of respect, somehow. Or maybe because his first love had been a boy. He wasn't really picky about gender.

He was terrified at the idea of losing her. She had been his only constant for so long. Still. Duo couldn't hide from this, it was over. There were things they could have talked about, compromised on. Children wasn't one.

It wouldn't be fair to talk a healthy, young person out of having children. And Duo wasn't certain which would make him more miserable: letting go of the life he had for a child, or for a guy.

Or keeping up the charade and pretend he was ok with Hilde dating on the side?

He jumped a bit in his hiding sofa when the doors opened. Not the one he came through, leading to the main hall, but one of the back doors, usually used by the crew.

He had been so sure, since the dinner table was already up, that he wouldn't be disturbed in this room. It was the most private place in the main floor, dining room coupled with a cozy living. One of the sofas occupied by yours truly Duo.

Peeking silently around the armrest, Duo found a tall red head woman with a paper-clip in her hands and a teenage boy with a dark blue overall and an assorted cap pushing a cart with a ladder and crates. She had a posh accent, he wasn't speaking at all. The boy went out. The lady in a fitting pant suit strolled around the place, touching the tapestry, shaking the curtains, muttering to herself too low to be heard.

The boy came back with another cart, filled with what appeared to be blank canvases.

_ You're sure you want to put it there? The light is terrible. It's…

Duo was looking at her too red lips, so he had no idea what the boy did to make her trail like that.

_ Ok. I'll go back to the party, page me if there is anything you need. Some petit-fours? A drink?

_ Nothing. Go.

It was said in a very low voice; almost toneless.

_ Charming as ever. Why do I stay with you?

_ I pay you well.

She waved menacingly her finger in his direction "Must be that." and left from the same door they came in. None had seen Duo. So, he settled to watch the boy do whatever he had come for, it was a good distraction from his circling thoughts.

Apparently, he was set on hanging the canvases on the wall opposite to the main door. That included a lot on up and down the ladder and bending over to pick tools. The show was no comparison to Trowa in tights, but still enjoyable.

_ Nice ass." He quipped after a while. The boy sprang from his crouch position, like a snake, and stood rigid on the spot, head held low an ear strained on his shuffling. Duo felt bad for starling him this much. "Ahem… Sorry, didn't mean to scare you like that. And… for what it's worth, I can appreciate the menu without thinking about robbing the place.

The tense shoulders unwound slowly. The boy nodded noncommittally and resumed his work.

_ Don't want to be disrespectful but… What kind of art is this, hanging blank slates?

This time, the shoulders shook in what Duo took as laughter. Then the boy went to the canvases cart and his fingers trailed over, seemingly searching for one in particular. He found it, one of the smallest and drew it out to show what Duo couldn't have seen from his position, they weren't blank. They were covered with white sheet.

The one on show was mainly depicting an iridescent bubble with a yellow fragile flower inside.

_ Pretty." Duo admitted, not sure about what it was supposed to mean. The boy snorted and stored the canvas back where it belonged. Then he returned to his hanging the wires that would support the canvases. Duo was almost certain the boy was now actively putting his cute ass on show.

_ Is a few hours too little between realizing you can't keep going on with your 9 years partner, and considering a new one?

He wasn't really asking the boy; the kid was obviously too young for this kind of crap. Still, if his head tilt was any indication, he seemed to consider the question seriously. Duo didn't let him time to answer.

_ I… I don't know anymore. We have been together for so long. It wasn't a usual relationship, but it was a good one, most of the time. And I do love her. It has just become impossible; we don't want the same thing for our future anymore." Had they ever? Really had?

The boy was still working on his hanging, humming softly from time to time: 'still listening'.

"Honestly, if I had ever imagined running away with one of the guys, not that I did. Well... not seriously... It wouldn't have been with Tall and Broody." The teen snorted a laughter at the depiction. Reminding Duo he wasn't completely talking to the wind.

_ My type is more like shorties with dark hair and blue eyes. One in particular... But it was… how do we say that?... One place, one time. We were... straddled in a dark place for a while, (what a nice way to put 'held prisoners on the moon') we left separately, then he found someone else. Then he left for good...

"He looked a bit like you. Cute little ass, scrawny build. Haven't seen him for seven years, nor heard of him either. He could be dead and no one would know.

Good thing Duo hadn't caught a bottle on his way like he intended, he was already putting himself in a sad mood and spilling his heart out to a complete stranger who seemed to barely care. No need to add alcohol to the gloom.

_ Circumstantial relationship." The boy offered.

Duo huffed as the boy seemingly answered to his non question. Yeah… and what circumstances… darkness and pain. Lieutenant Bauer. Duo shivered. He missed Heero's arms, too thin barrier between him and a cruel world. Had tried not to for years. Right now, he did. Badly.

_ I fucking miss him. I want to punch him in the face. And this time, I'm not gonna let him punch me back in the gut.

This time it was a real laugh that answered his grumpy comment.

_ Glad my misery amuses you." Duo pouted and slumped back, deep into the sofa. The red head lady came by, told the guy to hurry up and left again.

Bored, Duo went back to look. The boy was now hanging the canvases to the previously strung wires, they were of all size and he was carefully measuring the spaces between each.

_ So… it's like one big thing or a wall of several independent paintings?

_ One spread over.

Concise and precise.

_ You're the artist?

This time, the answer wasn't even verbal, he just nodded.

_ So young and already renown enough that the Princess would command you a wall sized painting.

_ Not a kid." Despite still being very low, it sounded testy this time. Duo apologized, a little amused at the peeved angling of his body language. And resumed his watching, enjoying the silence for once.

Surprisingly, it was the boy who spoke next.

_ I had someone. As in a lover. We have been together on and off for years. Not our choice. Circumstances. There was that other guy with long hair... Never really got a chance with him. Ultimately, we all got separated. Then circumstances changed, for the best we thought. We tried to live together, me and my lover I mean. We tried for two years. Thing is… we hadn't changed as much as the world, as much as we hoped. We couldn't go on without hurting each other. We tried, sought out help, it wasn't enough. I still love him. But it's not enough. So we decided to step away from each other. Make room and let someone else fill in the blanks.

Duo huffed. He knew that story, been there, done that.

_ And, what about the long haired boy?

_ He... settled with someone else in the meantime. I not even sure if I could have ever had any chance with him. Circumstances...

_ And you're still turning around every time a long haired guy comes across. And your lover keeps pretending he doesn't notice, cause he hasn't long hair. Trust me; that kind of arrangement doesn't work. I've been doing that for almost nine years. In the end, it doesn't work.

The boy shrugged "we'll see" and resumed his work in silence until he finally got confident everything was exactly where he wanted it to.

_ You got the question wrong." He was now putting his tools away, the ladder already on the cart.

_ Which one? You don't seem to answer them in order anyway.

_ Your first one." The boy answered shortly from over his shoulder.

_ So what's the right question?

_ The life you had so far, did you chose it? Or did you simply settle for what you knew you could have instead of trying to reach something too uncertain?

Duo was surprised by the boy's thoughtfulness, and impressed. If he wasn't already half-dreaming about how Trowa might taste without champagne and how much of his 'intensity' he could bring to the bedroom…

Duo shook his head. Now really wasn't the time to fantasize over a kid. Besides, it was creepy. Cute ass or not, underage teen were a huge no no.

_ I'll have to ask you to leave know. To uncover the canvases.

_ Don't want to spoil the Princess' surprise? I get it.

Duo got to his feet. Now realizing he hadn't seen the boy's face, at all. Three quarter back with a cap on, at most.

So just before he left, go back to the real world, and maybe what Trowa had to offer, he turned around and asked one last question.

_ Cutie ass?

_ Hm?

_ Do you have blue eyes?

_ Who knows? Do you have long hair?

The boy made for turning fully toward him this time. Duo closed the door before he got to see his profile. Fantasies should stay fantasies.

Thankfully, Duo's interlude with the painter had lasted until most of the guests were gone. Except those who were meant to stay. Lady Red was gone too and the blue overall was nowhere to see. The painter had not been invited to the dinner. Sadly, Wufei was one of those who stayed, and he didn't hold back the bite about Duo's defection.

Again.

It was rare, really rare, but sometimes, Duo almost regretted having put himself on the line to protect that ungrateful bastard. Not that he was supposed to know. Duo would cut his tongue before telling Wufei and he knew Heero wouldn't either, if he ever made and appearance... Still, sometimes, it hurts, badly.

"Pompous, self-righteous ass." Duo muttered between his teeth, just loud enough that he might be heard. And from the sudden stiffness of the man before him, he heard.

_ That wasn't nice." Trowa, silent as a shadow, was again right behind him commenting softly on his bout of pettiness.

_ When has he ever been nice with me?

_ I can't tell. I'm not always there.

Duo smiled at his friend, not sure whether rhetorical questions weren't Trowa's forte or if it was one other example of his personal brand of dry humor. Not wanting to look like a whiner, Duo changed subject.

Or tried to. With this little people left, it wasn't long before Hilde found him and joined for one of the most awkward moments of his life. Not yet ex, meet possible future.

And since it was 'not yet', dear Hilde was all over him with worries about him basically disappearing for almost the whole afternoon and most of the evening.

How to tell her he had spent a better time with Trowa on the terrasse and flirting with cutie ass in the living room than he ever had during any of the boring parties Relena insisted in throwing every year? That he still loved her and wanted to take her in his arms, bury his nose in her minty scented hair and forget the whole day.

But cutie ass hadn't been far from the truth, too wary about losing what he had, Duo had let himself fall into a crooked relationship. His fault or hers, didn't really matter. They had both let things go on longer than it probably should have.

Sex was great, love was easy, she was familiarity and comfort. But the passion, the belonging, had vanished. If it had ever been there. Duo was no longer sure about it. Maybe she has been the easy way. Maybe he wouldn't have loved her this much if she had fairer hair, or darker eyes.

Since it was not the time nor the place. Duo put a strained smile on and pretended, for a little longer, that everything was well and good. It was exhausting. Being caught between Trowa and Hilde. For once, he could have kissed Relena when she announced the dinner was ready.

He had taken a peek at the table, before going to hug the sofa, and noticed Trowa and his sister's family were as far away from Duo and Hilde as could be. He would miss the man's conversation, but it was for the best right now.

They all followed the Princess through the main hall. Hilde at Duo's arm, just behind Zechs and Noin, the kids were already to bed.

Duo, as the only one to know about the little surprise in store, was bouncing a bit, anticipating the looks on the others. He was also curious about the whole thing and where the yellow flower would fit into the painting.

What the bubble was meaning? Why several canvases?

_ What have you been doing for suddenly being so bouncy?" Hilde whispered into his ear. "Please tell me you didn't prank the dining room.

Duo rolled his eyes at the suspicion. He had done it once! It was five years ago.

_ I grew up Darling. But I was there. I saw things…

He offered her his most charming smile. It was easy, it was usual. She, as expected, answered with a teasing "Not that much" that wasn't referencing to his overall height or maturity. It was a lie of course.

Duo knew he wasn't extraordinarily impressive but also that he had nothing to be ashamed for. And he knew how to use his attributes.

The doors opened to everyone's indifference. It was a bit surprising that the hostess didn't put more decorum to her surprise. But Duo forgot that fleeting though at the sight of the uncovered painting.

His exclamation resounded loudly in the silence of a dozen stunned guests.

_ That fucking bitch!

Trowa Barton - AC195

Another day, another road. This time, it was the short pilot driving and the scenery had sharpened to tall snow-capped mountains.

_ Do we have a destination?

'Maxwell', since it was the name he used to give whenever they stopped in a pension, glanced at him.

_ Do you have any landing point in Europe?

He shook his head, he had stolen his MS so the original set up would more likely shoot him on sight, and he still hadn't had news from the Professor since the Noventa debacle. It was starting to worry him greatly, he hoped the scientist was still safe.

_ So Italy it is.

So Italy it would be, through the Alpes, to some place around Torino where his companion had already send the list of necessary ammo to both replenish Heavyarm and their guns (plus some more). They were forbade to use their Gundam to attack Oz but they still might have to defend themselves.

It was night, with their truck tucked deeply under the woods, the two of them holed up in the large, but not that large, cabin. It was quite cold so high up the mountain and the blankets they had weren't that thick.

Always the practical one, 'Maxwell' had decided it was best to pile up the covers and share heat. And those dispositions seemed to have agreed with him since he went fast asleep mere minutes after they settled. He also had driven most of the day...

The late moon had risen and was already starting to descent and he was still not sleeping. The boy's hair was tickling his nose, the small body snugged against his lanky frame. It was disturbing at best. Apparently, his new comrade was having more effect on him than any of the magazines or videos he ever came across. Especially the soft sights of contentment he was uttering every now and then.

To the point he was getting in dire need of getting up and take some fresh air. Maybe find a quiet place between two bushes to take care of his distracting problem. The trick being to find a place secluded enough to mind his business and still close enough in case something happened.

He disconnected the automatic light and tucked the sleeper under the blankets before opening the door and heading toward his release. Still warm from their sleeping arrangements, lower lip held between his teeth to muffle any moan that might come out, he plunged his hand in his loosened pants. It didn't last long. He did moan.

The stars were bright that night, glittering between the young leaves. So he took his time wandering back to the truck. And his gloweringly awakened companion.

_ Nature's call." He offered as explanation. The brunet squinted at him, obviously annoyed, but said nothing and shed his cocoon to head for the driver's seat. Might as well start the day since they were both awake.

It took the engine's soft rumbling less than a quarter hour to lull him to sleep.