Duo Maxwell Ac204 March

Duo swore softly as, for the fourth time in one day, he couldn't find what he was searching for at the usual place.

_ Heero?

_ Mmm?

Duo looked behind him to glare mildly at his friend, currently looking up the Doll's wrecked arm and munching on a sweet-cake.

_ Do you mind not putting my kitchen upside down as soon as you get here?

Heero blinked at him innocently before slowly taking his munchy from his mouth.

_ It's more practical that way." He pointed as if it was usual to reorganize your host's kitchen first thing.

_ Heero, you don't do that...

_ Why?

_ Because it's my kitchen." Duo whined. And no he was not ashamed to say it. He was whining by now.

_ Is it less practical?" Heero inquired before going back to munching on the pastries, or whatever it was called.

Duo sighed, loudly. No, Heero was right: putting the coffee pot, mugs and coffee ground in the same cupboard was practical. But to mix food and dishes wasn't intuitive.

He should know by now that the Heero was a logical being with little regard to little things as "how stuff is supposed to be". He had forgotten how it tended to translate in a day to day life.

It was so ... Heero-like, Duo couldn't help the endeared smile that spread on his lips. Smile that didn't falter even after his guest gave him a pointed look : see, you don't deny I'm right.

_ Do you plan on going to work today?" Heero casually asked as they were finishing their breakfast.

_ I'm supposed to...

Now that he had some company, he wasn't too much in a hurry to go there. He'd rather enjoy some more of Heero Yui. And, for once, he wasn't behind schedule on any project.

_ When do you usually go?

_ Shop hours, Tuesday to Saturday, 9h30 to 18h. Sometimes I stay at the work shop when I'm behind on the building part after closing. When I have design to do, I'd rather do it here." He flipped a hand to the drawing table still under the living front window. And looked at the hour : 10 o'clock. "There is a sign, my neighbor picks up the slack when I'm not open as scheduled.

Heero nodded, shoed Duo to the bathroom (again) and set to wash the dishes.

_ Get ready, I'm going with you.

Duo went back a little, surprised.

_ Why?

_ She needs repairs." He was pointing at the quiet Doll still sitting on the counter.

Fair point.

It was a bit of a sigh, watching Heero, effortlessly carrying a Doll two third his size and softly babbling to it in his weird language completely oblivious of his environment. And the Doll occasionally nodding to him or shaking its head, listening intensely at everything he said.

_ Don't worry Kimi. We'll fix you up good. Duo's the maker, he knows what he is doing. And I'll stay right here and make sure it's going well.

Duo wanted to sight at Heero's antics and apologize to the other bus users for his weirdness. Looking around he realized the few people who did pay attention to his companion had at worst a compassionate look, added to a "he's cute" kind of smile.

Of course, unlike Duo, they all must think Heero was just a kid.

And Duo kind of got why Heero not aging might frustrate Trowa so much. Dating must have been more and more awkward as their perceived age gap grew wider. He mused about whether it ever lead to someone, or a police officer, calling Trowa on child abuse.

That would be one hell of a reason to resent J, or Heero's agreement to whatever had been done to him.

pickaboo

Upon arriving to the workshop, Duo gave the keys to his friend to let himself in while he would make a detour to the next shop to check on his messages and say 'Hi' to Jeff.

The ruckus soon coming from his place could be heard from the other side of the road.

_ What the Hell... Bye Jeff.

He hadn't even finished his sentence that his braid was already disappearing through the front door.

_ Heero, what hap...

What.

The.

Hell...

There was Heero, wrestling or the floor with a one armed Doll very intent on getting out, talking to it so fast Duo had no idea what he was saying. Just that for once it was in regular Common.

_ He's the Maker not a reaper. I told you we are here to repair your arm. Please calm down.

For a reason, it made the Doll stop struggling to hit Heero in the chest, hard.

_ Oye ! Mind your punches !" Duo growled while threateningly march toward the little thing.

_ Duo, stay away." It was a long time since he last got to hear that particular sharp, commanding tone. And he hadn't missed it one second; then he went back to the Doll with much more softness. "What are you disagreeing about?

Not daring to intervene again, Duo slided to the side. What the hell Heero had done to that Doll? The little thing was now slashing with one and a half arm in a disturbingly familiar motion. Heero sighed.

_ They shouldn't have taught you that so soon. Yes, it happened, it was a long time ago. Troubled times. We changed. Kimi, Duo made you, and he took you back to his home when your family no longer wanted you. We are your family now. No one's going to hurt you.

By that point, Duo was left speechless. Heero had always be quite the weirdo (to put it bluntly, in a funny way most of the time) but that was going a bit far.

Who 'taught' that Doll about their past? Freaking Why? And the fuck how the thing 'learnt' to freak-out?

Or to pat Heero all over in a 'are you hurt?' way, like it was trying to apologize.

_ It's ok, I can't get hurt that easily. But you do need to be more careful.

_ Heero." He started softly from his side of the shop. "I'll let you handle that... clusterfuck and go work, in the back room. But once you're done, you fucking better explain. Everything.

After he closed the door between the two rooms, Duo a moment to pride himself for keeping his calm the whole speech.

Bah... trust Heero to make a mess of his life mere hours after he came back. At least, his days wouldn't be boring anymore. For now, he had work to do.

pickaboo

It was already almost 13h when Duo shut his soldering iron off and stretched his stiffed shoulders, proud he managed to finish his next project both legs. He sneaked a peek toward the door to the front shop. It had been quiet for a while now.

His grumbling stomach quickly took care of his reluctance to face whatever mess they must have made of his shop. He had to eat. The big question being : chinese, tacos or pizza?

He tidied up his workbench quickly and dared open the door. No wrestling, no random flying objects, he should be safe enough to get out.

_ Seriously?

He could have imagined a lot of things, from Heero being forced to remove the Doll's battery to work on its arm, to tying it up for the same reason, but not that. Not having both sitting on the floor, a board drawn on the tiles between them and alternately placing copper and iron bolts on the crosses while Heero would softly tell Fary tale-like stories.

Heero shook his head to brush his bangs out of his face to look up at Duo, a warm, welcoming smile on his lips.

_ Hi. I've ordered a few cold dishes from one of your leaflets. I didn't know when you use to have lunch and it was getting late. It should be delivered soon enough.

_ Thank-you." Duo answered, flashing a huge smile, and plopped down besides Heero. It felt comforting, how Heero hadn't changed : still as prone to get your life upside down, still as oddly caring, in his own way.

Since they had their back to the bottom of the counter, Duo slouched a bit against it so he could put his head of his friend's shoulder and look at the game they were playing. Heero has resumed his story about a witch with a crooked nose, a little girl working in a bath-house and a unfriendly, awkward young boy.

Weird stuff...

_ What you're playing at?

_ Go.

_ Never heard of, that's kind of Chess?

He could feel the brush of Heero's hair as he shook his head. God, he had missed that guy.

_ You can capture your opponent's stones, but it's not the point of Go. It's to place your stones to create the largest territories.

_ Looks boring." Duo couldn't help muttering.

_ That's because we are not really playing, I'm teaching her the basic moves. A real Go board is four times wider.

_ Sounds better, 9x9 doesn't seem to let too many options.

Duo let Heero set-up another exercise, he called it 'tsumego', for the Doll.

_ How did her arm get like that?

_ I'm not sure. A grand-ma ordered a Doll to play board game for her grand-son because he had a hard time making friends, moving around a lot or else. They got angry because I made it too smart, guess I should have introduced a random 'bad moves' somewhere. And those dumbass, instead of contacting me to rectify the programming or something, they did... that.

Whatever 'that' truly was.

That was when the doorbell chimed their lunch delivery.

_ Let's dig! Then you'll tell me what you did to my Doll.

_ Not much. I'm not the one who taught her to be wary of human's versatility.

The salads were not Duo's usual choice but quite good.

_ How much then?" He munched around a morsel of chicken wrapped in lettuce.

_ Changed her coding language, helped her organize her memories so it wouldn't take too much data.

Duo's fork stopped midway to point skeptically at the red haired Doll.

_ And you did all that." a circle with the fork. "In one night?

_ I'm fast, but not that fast. I enlisted Lily's and a couple others help.

_ Other... what, exactly?" Duo was pretty sure he knew already, but fuck... what had his wizard done this past seven years?

_ A.I.

Well... this settled that...

_ And ... do I want to know how many of those?

Heero raised an eyebrow in what seemed to have become one of his new trademark gesture and smirked. He set-up yet another 'tsumego' for the Doll to puzzle on before answering.

_ I can't tell.

_ Can't tell, whether I want to know, or how many you made?

_ Can't tell." Heero answered again with a final tone before stuffing his mouth with a chicken wrap.

_ Tsk... I was so happy you're back, how did I forgot how infuriating you can be." Duo muttered dejectedly.

_ Is that... a bad thing?

Duo took a few seconds to consider the question. From Heero's still downcast eyes, he was meaning that question.

_ Heero wa good, the caring, the annoying, and the sometimes infuriating. So far, I've never seen you be either of the latter on purpose. It's not a bad thing, if you have a good reason to not answer me.

Duo took it back, Heero had changed. The boy he had known before couldn't have smiled the way he did now.

_ You've always been the most sensible of us all. Thank you.

After they finished eating, Duo was finally able to work on the Doll's broken arm and send both his visitors home so he could do some actual work.

Let's say, it hadn't been his most productive day ever. To salvage his honor.

But, man, what an heart-warming sigh. Being welcomed by softly glowing windows and a whiff of cooking food.

_ I'm home!" He announced playfully, not really expecting an answer other than a chuckle for his antics.

_ Okaery nasai." Heero welcomed him as the Doll came straight running in his legs to hug. Apparently, giving it complete mobility back had earned it's 'trust'. Like a pup. Not that he would dare say that aloud where Heero could hear.

Once Duo had managed to disentangle from the, now short haired, Doll (there hadn't been much left to salvage there), he found Heero standing right in front of him, apparently waiting for something.

_ Wanna hug too?" He half joke, pretty sure he would be snorted at but not minding either outcome. Since the small brunet didn't back out, he went on and gave his friend a bear hug.

Heero smelled of lemongrass.

Duo was happy.

Trowa Barton Ac195

The moon.

Such a huge supply of gundamium was quite a tell. OZ was getting pretty confident, not even trying to hide it.

It was bothersome. To think Lady Une's threat would be enough to stop them altogether, OZ and that Treize were largely underestimating them. They weren't just mindless pilots!

Then a cold shiver went down his spine. If he had been able to find that intel this easily, no doubt Heero would too. And he could easily picture how that would go down.

Meaning he'll need to get in the place before his lover, and make sure he wouldn't get himself killed.

Being in love with a reckless man was such a bother. He almost could sympathize with Middy there.

pickaboo

Once again, he was really grateful for his lack of expression. Not that he didn't expect to meet Heero on the moon. Still... there was recklessness and there was Heero Yui. He should have a new level with his own name. At least, he did manage to get there before his lover.

It was a bit of a stand off, though. Them facing each other, him in a OZ suit, Heero in his green tank top, guns drawn. Until Heero relented and followed his lead on.
He was both a bit appalled and awed that Heero trusted him so much he barely considered he might have had a change of heart and turned coat.

pickaboo

He turned again under the thin cover of his bunk. Being so near his lover, and not being able to get any close to him was unsightly nerve wracking. During the last few days, he hadn't dare wander around Heero's cell like he was already used to with the Professors'.

The Professors, he might be able to explain away, with the upcoming trials of the Aquarius and the ViaLactea. He could be interested with the engineering behind his future MS, the improvements that could still be made.

As he was aiming to get Heero to pilot the second Suit, he couldn't afford to risk being seen having a personal interest with the guy. His body disagreed, loudly. The beast was famished.

I know it's officially the 'Vayate', sometimes the 'Valiante' but it's supposed to be a Constellation, as in the Zodiac Organization. And the closest sounding, is our very milkyway.

MiniFrench : J'aime votre façon de penser.

Wraith : thank you for the encouragement. I'm not the kind to ask for reviews left and right, but zero feedback at all is quite discouraging.