Duo Maxwell - AC204 January

It was both late and early when Duo finally let his baggage drop near the sofa of his small home. Depressingly empty. Late from Sank's point of view, early morning in L2 time frame. He wasn't that tired, having slept quite soundly in the shuttle, blame Trowa's idea of 'good byes' for that.

Hilde has used the week Duo had stayed on Earth with Trowa to gather her things and move out. He knew she would, it was still very depressing to see. Without Trowa by his side to distract him, Duo was becoming painfully aware of the mess he had made with his life.

Not that he wished he had stayed with Hilde; not given the circumstances. Maybe a tiny part of him regretted he hadn't stayed blissfully oblivious of that little discrepancy in their views of the future. That little thing called children.

His reason said it was better this way. His empty home, usually so full of noises and Hilde's messiness, said otherwise.

Guess he'll have to get used to live alone. At least until Trowa managed to fulfill his engagement toward the circus and they could move in together, here or anywhere else.

_ Tsk... wake-up boy! Not even a week in and you already think about moving in together. That's what got you in this mess in the first place." He admonished himself while pushing his stuff further into the room and went to the old fashioned Hi-Fi to put on some music. He pushed the volume up until his could feel the drums vibrate through his teeth.

Then he set on storing his stuff away, the plush coat in the closet, dirty clothes in the washing-machine, warm shoes and pull-overs in their boxes, to wait for the next Christmas trip to Earth. The few clean clothes left in the drawer.

The rays of sun starting to shine through the (shadowed) mirrors carefully placed inside the inner ring of the doughnut shaped colony found him sitting blearily at his kitchen table, a strong black tea in his hands and the packet of maple leaf biscuits laying open nearby.

Now what?

Even with the music still blaring, the silence was deafening.

Might as well get back to work he guessed.

So he pulled his laptop open, send a video message to Trowa telling him he made it safely back home, the shuttle having mercifully stayed put together long enough to reach the Haven, and checked his mails for any new customer, followings about some orders he had made...

He had a well wishing mail from Quatre, an electronic post-card from Howard, two requests for Dolls and his order of copper was, again, delayed. Checking the spams just in case something important got mixed up into it, he found one with a most unusual subject "May, 12th 195", no sender's address and an image as attachment.

Duo frowned at it. What kind of jackass would try to send a hoax to him? He ran a few scans on the mail and joint file before daring open it. He gaped.

_ You freaking wizard...

It was a picture of him, obviously coming from some security footage that he was certain had been deleted from whichever school they had been to, sporting a huge smile and a sports outfit. Hell despite the grain, he looked younger than he had ever remembered being.

Heero was right, Duo had loved those moments of respite spent from boarding school to boarding school, pretending to be normal among normal people.

It reminded him about Pagan's Doll. He hadn't promised anything but it was posing him a challenge he didn't really want to turn his back to. Before going back, he had made a copy of whatever programing Heero had made to his Doll. He would just have to pull out his own blueprints and wrack his brain over it.

Duo opened the copied files, finished his mug of cold tea, filled it with warm water to infuse, then swore; his sexed up brain had forgotten his last incursion into the depth of those lines of code.

He had always known Heero was a freak, but that took the cake. He almost literally had nothing to go by, no way to touch whatever his friend had done, let he risked crashing down the whole construct. He'll have to work around it.

_ Gee... Thanks 'Ro, making my life complicated even when you're not purposefully meddling.

And since there was no one to see, he didn't mind letting out a smile that completely belied his grumbling. This would be fun.

pickaboo

To fend off the gloom of his deserted home, Duo quickly decided to bring back one of his working table from the workshop and his first collection of mini-Gundams. They were currently lined on the sideboard, even Shenlong despite Duo's long pondering over its presence. But his owner being an ass or not, this was where the fifth Gundam belonged.

So Duo had been seated at his working table, pushed under the living room's window for both light and entertainment, pulling his hair out designing his next Doll, when the chime of Trowa's call drew a happy sigh and an even happier smile out of him. Time for a break!

He stretched as heading to the low table facing the sofa and the laptop sitting nicely on it. A click later, his hungry grin softened at the sight of Trowa's fond smile and auburn hair. From what he could see he was in his trailer today.

Sometimes Trowa would call from the truck while on a long drive so Duo's chatter could keep him entertained and awake. Duo liked when Trowa would turn the cam over and show him the view he had from his truck. Duo would chat about whatever was going through his head while working, and Trowa would listen and throw a comment here and there. A bit like when Duo was visiting the circus, but with a view.

Sometimes it was a quick 'how are you/Chloe say hi to Duo' call from the lodge before the show.

When Trowa was calling him from the cluttered depth of his own place it usually was for some heavily sexy time.

And with a smooth deep voice like Trowa's, whispering to his ears sweet orders to undress himself, to touch his own skin, under his lover's hungry gaze. It was amazing, even if not as amazing as the real touch of Trowa's fingers.

Trowa was never talking as much as when he was directing Duo's action for both their pleasure.

Sexed out and his legs like jelly, Duo decided a nap was in order, and screw the clock that said otherwise, Duo was mostly living at Trowa's clock, since he was the one with the most biding schedule. So he buried himself under the throw-blanket and watched Trowa snug into his own bed, thousands kilometers away.

Technology's wonders.

It had been a month since Trowa send him back to L2 with a dozen hickeys doting his body, they've all faded into nothingness by now. Duo wouldn't have stayed sane that long if not for their occasional video calls, living alone definitely wasn't one of his forte.

The evenings had proven to be the worst. So he was going out, but most of the places he knew were either ones where he was bound to cross path with Hilde (and they had both agreed over the phone two weeks previous that they needed time to be able to be friends again) or the bars where he used to find his male one nighters. It wasn't easy to explain to guys who knew him well for the Humpty Dumpty kind of relationship he used to have that he was know firmly taken. By a circus performer who was roaming Earth all year long.

After a few well aimed punches in some parts or others of the ones who wouldn't understand, it became more agreeable to go have a drink and some harmless fun (like striping down his partners at poker) and go back home with a slight buzz (Duo never got drunk, too dangerous) and a clean conscience. Warmed up by the simple little thing that was called : having company. He might even be making friends.

Now that Trowa was sound asleep, Duo softly shut down the communication and went for a shower. He still had work to do.

Inspiration was eluding Duo, five weeks after his return from Earth and Trowa's arms, he still hadn't gotten used to live alone. And he wasn't sure he ever might.

Shit. He had less than three days to finish his sketches before sending them to the customer for approval. None of the proposals he had already made agreed with him, too pimpy, not cuddly enough, too cuddly. He hadn't even been asked for something weird or fancy dammit.

A Doll suited for a eight years old girl who liked painting, puppies and Asian old tales.

Should have been a piece of cake. But Duo was stuck and he knew Trowa was in for a long week of double representations (afternoon and evenings) in a big city on the American continent. So too busy to bear Duo venting his frustration on him. Not that Duo wished to do so. Trowa was his boyfriend, not his punching ball or psychiatrist.

Eventually, he dropped his pen and booted his laptop. It was an old thing a bit long to get ready, in the meantime he poured himself a glass of mango juice. Once the antique ready, he opened the folder he used to save the pictures Trowa got into the habit to send him and put them on a slow diaporama.

It had started when Duo was still wandering Earth at Trowa's arm. They had been exploring a small town near Sank, Duo babbling as usual, when the tall man had suddenly stopped to stare at something he couldn't fathom.

When asked, Trowa had discreetly pointed at a young girl trying to teach her dog to sit on command. She would have been four at most and was ordering around a few weeks old mutt with the seriousness only a child this age could muster. Duo had loved the soft smile the sight had brought on Trowa's lips.

It had been the first occurrence, not the last. So, soon after he went back to L2, Duo had asked Trowa to send him (whenever he could) pictures of the things that drew his attention the way that girl had. He knew Trowa wasn't a talker, still, Duo wanted to know more about his new lover, about what he liked.

Hence the now small collection of snapshots Duo had gotten from Trowa. His observations of the world around him were surprisingly (or maybe not so?) full of kindness and benevolence. Trowa really was a sweet man who didn't like to laugh at people's bout of misfortune.

It was a soothing diaporama to shuffle through, landscapes, snapshots of people going with their lives, fluffy pets doing cute pet things... The kind of thing one might find by the dozen on the web and Duo never bothered to look up before. But those were relevant because they were landmarks of Trowa's journey far from him.

He stopped the browsing on a picture taken four weeks ago, if he remembered well it had been during a festival of sort somewhere in Asia. A teenage girl and her much younger brother were carefully going down a wet stoned stairway. This wasn't what had piqued Duo's interest. The two kids were clothed in some ample, traditional outfit tastefully ornate and wearing paper masks figuring a monkey for one an a fox for the other.

_Eureka! said whoever.

He launched the video com and let an enthusiastic message for Trowa "Sweetheart, you saved my day. Love you." and shut down the laptop to saunter back to his worktable and pens. Now he knew exactly what he wanted.

He was sketching several faces with more or less canine features when it hit him. His gaze slowly turned to the innocent laptop, his cheeks reddening.

_ Shit... Worst confession ever.

Trowa only called him back two days later. Two days spent fretting over the slightly inconsiderate message. Duo wasn't sure whether he was peeved or relived that his boyfriend didn't bring that particular subject up.

The good news was that Trowa would come for a few days next week. No more phone sex, they would get the real deal for once.

Duo swore as a bunch of cyclists crossed his path. He was already late enough as it was!

Since when alone he tended to use the mini-shuttle, he had borrowed Vern's car to get Trowa from the terminal and for the duration of his sojourn. It would be easier and cheaper than calling a taxi every time they wanted to go somewhere.

If Trowa would let him out of bed.

Or if he would let Trowa out of bed.

Four days wasn't much. Nowhere near enough in his book, but he wasn't going to complain. He understood Trowa had previous engagements he couldn't ditch so easily. Not only that, but Duo would probably be disappointed if Trowa had abandoned the circus, his almost sister and young niece so easily, eventually. After the high of a new love affair toned down and he found his brains back.

The two-wheeled nuisances now gone, he moved forward again, engaging to the car park nearest to the arrivals. Not that the shuttle-port was that big. He wasn't living on the main habitation unit of the colony cluster.

It could have been called 'suburb' if they were on Earth.

It was mostly called 'The Dumpster' by their neighbors, and 2X3056 by everyone else. He didn't mind, he was born there, had grown there, and it was his place.

Luck really wasn't on the side of tardiness. He had to go all the way to the bottom of the parking lot to find a suitable place for his borrowed four wheels. So he, not ran because he didn't want to stink a bear when greeting his lover, but walked fast enough to be a bit out of breath when he arrived before the large panels displaying the time and gates of arrival.

_ You gotta be kidding me...

A sun flare heading their way had delayed all the flights for a good two hours. Meaning he had 100 minutes to twiddle his thumbs. And his parking ticket was going to cost an arm.

Didn't, matter. Tonight, he was getting some. And some more.

And maybe he wouldn't wait 'till tonight. So 89 minutes were not that much.

Turned out, it had been a good thing the car had be all the way back to the end of the parking lot, and the ticket did cost an arm. They hadn't even be able to wait long enough to turn the ignition on.

_ I've been wondering, how did I manage to save your day by not being there or available?

Duo almost missed the red light. He had hoped that particular message had been completely overlooked. Now, he wished this wasn't an introduction to the other of the two sentences.

_ Your pictures. I was stuck on a project nearing deadline, and missing you, and a bit bummed. So I took a break and put them on diaporama, one gave me the idea I needed. The customer loved it. Actually, I have an appointment with her tomorrow, to show her the final project before I start the real work.

Trowa nodded. Duo knew it wasn't ideal and he wished he could have spend his lover's whole stay with him but that woman has come all the way from L4 for business and couldn't reschedule.

_ It's ok. You don't have to put your life on hold for me.

_ I want to!" Duo countered heartily. "At least until I get to see you for more that a few days at time.

The little frown on Trowa's forehead had prompted the last one. Besides, it was true.

Duo felt, ... mortified.

Why the hell couldn't he keep his mouth from running like that? It had been such a nice evening so far. A nice day even.

The meeting with his client had gone well, apart for a few minor changes, the lady had been pleased with his offer. For once, the child the Doll was meant for had been present and openly eager to get his present, curious about how it would be made and its working mechanic. A bright mind as Duo loved them.

It had taken longer than he had first hoped but Trowa hadn't minded. When Duo found him at the parlor they had set the rendezvous he was happily going through his third cup of ice cream, double Chantilly and topping.

_ You'd better never stop working out, you'll triple size in no time.

_ If you'll help me,..." And if that wasn't full of inappropriate promises, Duo never heard one.

Then they made a tour of the, admittedly meager, important spots of the colony, strolled across the one park that deserved that name after a hearty diner and ended up in the hole Duo spend most of his outing evenings.

He knew he had been threading a fine line there, most of his past one-nighters were clients of the Nightshade. But, as he explained to Trowa before daring leading him there, he also had actual friends and still liked the place itself.

_ So you're putting me on a show so your ex's would stop trying for a redo.

Duo had blushed, deeply embarrassed, put like that, it really didn't feel like a nice thing to do.

_ I'll gladly make sure no one would dare try to steal you away." Trowa had dangerously purred right besides his ear, making Duo shiver. Only that man could be so damn possessive of him and not get a beating for it. Duo was truly smitten.

And grinning like a fool at the, many, envious looks he got when entering the Nightshade at Trowa's arm.

_ They're all staring.

_ Because you're dashing.

Duo had first brought his boyfriend to the counter, smacked Eiden both cheeks before introducing Trowa and ordering their first round.

_ An ex of yours?" For daring an outright question, Trowa must have been quite put of by the kissing.

_ First rule when you like a place: never date the bartender, or any of the crew really. You can never know what they might put in your drink if you disappoint them.

Trowa has nodded, unconvinced, but not pressed the subject. It was a mid-week night, so there weren't many customers and none of Duo's usual drinking buddies. Yet.

Jeon was the first to come by, and must have called a few others after eyeing Trowa with a concupiscence that made the acrobat shift uncomfortably and Duo slap the guy almost playfully.

_ Stop leering, he's not a player and very much taken.

Twenty minutes later Duo's usual mates were all flocking around his famous mystery man. Who was decidedly not comfortable with all that attention.

_ Are you done?" Piped a mezzo-soprane with a very bored tone. "You all gushing like a flock of wild geese. Worse than gals. Let that poor cutie breath, he looks like he gonna bolt in the second.

The boys all turned to the newcomer, looking at them like they were tomato stain on his white linen overall.

_ That, or I kick your collective asses before tossing you lot in the gutter.

Somehow, the casual acknowledgment of his combat skills seemed to make Trowa relax, even so slightly. Leo's warm and ambiguous-less smile made for a nice bonus.

Aside from the crew, Leo might have been the only gay haunting the Nightshade who had never tried to hit on him. Always calm and silent, small and thin, he shouldn't be that imposing; when you didn't know that this dark blond head with impossible eyelashes was a Tae-kwon-do champion.

Duo quite liked the guy, even if (or maybe because) he wasn't his type, and reciprocally. Leo knew how to keep the troublemakers in check with a single contemptuous look. Furthermore, Duo was pretty sure Leo knew who he was, or who he used to be, and never raised that touchy subject. And now, he probably suspected Trowa to be another of the Five.

Turn out, once Duo's friends and not quite friends stopped staring and started chatting around, Trowa relaxed a lot. He even seemed to enjoy their retail of Duo's most embarrassing moments. Especially the Karaoke nights...

Duo feigned more embarrassment than he actually felt (he was a horrid singer, so what? One couldn't be good at everything.) just because the amused glint in his lover's eyes were worth much worse shame.

Then they came back home, a little more than tipsy for some really sweet sex. And that was where Duo currently was. Sexed out, just enough inebriated to be loose thongued and in a cuddly mood.

And he just let it out, again, whisper-mumbled while snuggling against his lover warm body.

Those three little words. "Oh...shit" was the very next thing that crossed his mind. Rule number one, or a least top ten, in a blooming relationship : never say 'I love you' right after sex. Or drunk. Triple that when you add the two.

That wasn't serious.

Once again, Trowa slided on it and feigned not hearing.

Duo wasn't sure whether he was relieved or feel even more down. He snuggled a little closer and peppered Trowa's elbow with soft kisses.

He knew, someday he would mean it with all his heart. He was already in good way. But would Trowa believe him, then?

Trowa Barton - AC195

Once again, he didn't know if he was more relieved or annoyed. Despite all the adjustments they made to his Gundam to better suit Heero's fighting style, the fight was not looking good for them. Then that girl, a civilian who appeared to know Heero quite well, had to come and put her nose into their business. And she even managed to make his pigheaded lover listen to her.

However he was glad that stupid fight was over, he couldn't help feel a bit put-out. Heero had not mentioned Relena Darlian when they exchanged intels about their contacts and the other pilots.

It was looking like he had more competition than just Maxwell.