Duo Maxwell - AC204 April

It was eerily easy to settle in a comfortable routine with Heero.

Be woken up by the scent of freshly brewed coffee, eating breakfast in Heero's company, going to work. Sometimes, for lunch, Heero, and the Doll would come by Duo's workshop with a cold meal, chat a bit and go on with their wandering. Duo would go back to work until diner time. Homemade diner waiting for him.

It was like having a doting house wife home, doubled with an amazing cook. That this was Heero of all people made it just both hilarious and cute.

It was a pressing urge that pushed Duo to get up in the middle of the night. Heero and him had a few cups of tea while watching an old movie. So... pressing urge.

It was only on his way back to his room, after relief, Duo noticed the light in the living room. Strangely, it wasn't accompanied by the soft chatter he had gotten used to hear when Heero was left with the Doll he had finally dubbed Trio. Seriously...

Heero was huddled on the sofa, a sketching pad propped on his raised knees and a stack of loose leaves already scattered around. Heero was drawing. And Duo wasn't sure if he should come over. Would he be welcomed?

Duo almost went back into his room to give Heero privacy when his gaze met striking blue eyes, followed by a wary smile. This settled that. Duo went over and huddled on the other side of the sofa.

_ Inspired?" He asked softly, pretty sure it was not the case.

_ Nightmare.

Yeah... definitely not the case. Duo let time pass, he wasn't being rejected, in Heero's language, it was the same as being welcomed. Was it?

_ The Doll?

_ Sleeping.

_ It's a machine 'ro, it doesn't sleep.

_ Filing and compiling her memories of the day if you're being picky.

Duo smiled, Heero calling someone picky...

The silence wasn't uncomfortable so Duo let it spread over them and, slowly enough Heero could stop him if he wanted, started to collect the scattered drawings. He had mostly expected some war scene, the stuff of nightmares they all had plenty of to remember.

It was mostly bucolic scenes. Soft, everyday play : an ageless Quatre playing with a dog, WuFei nose-deep in a book, Duo half buried under a truck's hood, Relena riding a blur that was probably supposed to be a horse. Only the saddle was neatly drawn.

Duo was a bit ashamed, he had almost forgotten. Or more like, he hadn't thought about it since Christmas. Heero had been the artist of the painting now taking up a wall at Relena's mansion.

_ So...during seven years you developed AI's, became a painter and a cook. You've been quite busy.

The scratching of pencil on paper stopped.

_ I had to find out what I wanted to do with myself afterwards. So I tried different things. I'm not good with words. Painting feels better.

Then after a thoughtful pause : "I was awful at that too the first few times I tried. Until I found out what I needed to say.

It honestly perplexed Duo. The last part. He wasn't much of an erudite, nor an artist. Maybe he would get it if he saw more of Heero's paintings?

Over the backrest of the sofa, he caught a glimpse of metal. Well... Quatre decided to rebuilt the colonies, WuFei entered the Preventers, Trowa was spreading some magic over the world, he was making Doll. They all found a way to cope and go on; make something worthwhile with their lives. Heero was spreading paint on canvas.

If that was how he could find peace.

Duo stopped flipping halfway through the night's drawings and stretched. The fridge cold hair was unpleasant on his feet. He took the juice bottle and a glass.

_ Wanna drink something?

_ Thyme and mint tea. Thank you.

Duo had no idea they even had that kind of stuff. Better start with putting the kettle on. Following Heero's kitchen reasoning, the tea shouldn't be far from the mugs. Yup! Gotcha.

Waiting for the water to boil, Duo leaned against the counter, his drink in hand. Had Heero always looked so small? He had always been small, but with such a air of authority he seemed larger than his height.

He shook his head. Being woken up in the middle of the night was doing much good for his brain; and the water was ready.

After settling back into the couch, he took another handful of sheets.

Oh my... He knew Heero had been Trowa's lover for years. But honestly, he still had a hard time picturing the guy on the other side of the sofa as anything else than a prude virgin.

Clearly, he wasn't, because those drawings of Trowa were anything but.

_ Turning to porn?" Duo teased despite his own slight blush.

_ That's where he's the most beautiful. And the only place I've ever seen him completely open and honest.

Duo nodded silently, not sure what to make of that.

_ You should go to bed Duo, it won't do you good to doze on one of your machine.

Duo knew a dismissal when he heard one. He finished his lukewarm drink and went to put the empty glass in the dishwasher.

_ Try to sleep too 'Ro.

_ I will. Thank you for the company.

Duo smiled. It seemed he had done a good deed tonight.

pickaboo

The next day, Duo got a call from Trowa, Chloe and his favorite monkey Flunky.

They were crossing a plain full of ocres going on and on toward unlimited horizons. It was beautiful.

_ So, how is it going with Heero?" Trowa finally asked after an half hour of mindless and joyful chatter.

_ Surprisingly smoothly. He... hasn't changed much." Then Duo frowned, because it wasn't true. "No. He has changed, he seems to be much better than he was.

Not that he could have gotten any worse.

_ But... you get me? Heero's still Heero. Bossy and awkward as Hell in his best days.

Trowa laughed happily and agreed to that.

_ Please take care of him. He's still more fragile than he likes to let on.

Duo felt his heart squeeze a bit at the, a little too obvious, concern Trowa was expressing for his ex. Then shook it, he had no right to be jealous. He and Trowa were only a thing since Christmas. Not nine years.

_ Actually, he's the one mostly doing the taking care of. I think I've never been so much pampered in my life. But, yes, I'll do what I can.

_ Pampered?

_ Yeah, you know, homemade delicious meals, dropping by at lunches, hot bath waiting in the evening... One day I came back from work and found Heero half buried under my bathtub, he was installing a heater.

It had been quite funny actually, being welcomed by Heero's scrawny ass as he was swearing like a dock worker because the stubborn wrench wouldn't stop slipping off the bolt.

Trowa's frowning had him halt in his reminiscing. Crap, he wished Trowa wasn't getting the wrong signals and get jealous of Heero spending time with him?

_ Something the matter sweetheart?

Did Heero not do that kind of stuff with Trowa?

_ I... guess I never really appreciated all the things he does as much as I should have. Since he would do it whether I'm there or not.

_ He has always been a bit awkward about it, but the Heero I've known liked to take care of the people important to him.

Like the day Heero had come to bail him instead of killing him like he should have. Dragged him to a hospital to punch him in the guts to force him to stay put instead of following him to the moon.

Duo should have listened and never set a foot there.

pickaboo

Since it was Saturday, Duo hadn't gone to the workshop and stayed home to prepare his orders for material.

Heero has been gone when woke up, breakfast ready on the counter. Duo shook his head: really, he was spoiled. As there were two sets of dishes waiting, he decided that the least he could do was to wait for his friends return before eating.

Or maybe just a toast...

And a cup of coffee.

_ Hell... that brings memories!" Duo couldn't help whistle as the door let a sweaty dark head in.

Apparently, Heero had gone jogging, green tank-top and a pair of spandex. Only the shoes didn't look like they traveled through time.

Heero frowned at the comment and looked down at him.

_ Those aren't the same. It's a lighter green.

_ Close enough." Duo countered before getting up to make another pot of coffee. "Go get showered, I'm starving.

_ You didn't need to wait for me.

Heero was already out of his room with a clean set of clothes.

_ Of course I did, you nitwit. You cooked for us both, I wasn't going to eat all on my own. I'm not a rat.

Duo couldn't puzzle out the frown that appeared on Heero's face. Really, it was common sense.

_ It's already late..." He trailed then shook himself. "I'll take a quick shower.

Oh... This was that. Duo grinned and grabbed his friend just before he entered the bathroom; ruffling his hair.

_ I didn't let myself starve waiting for you. I got toasts. And already emptied the coffee pot. Guess, I'll make some more.

It felt nice to have Heero lean on him, it brought back memories. Still, after a long run, Heero stinked a bear. So Duo pushed him into the bathroom and went busing his hands with coffee, then straightening up the mess he had made on his work table while waiting.

He tsked, even on his day off, he was still working on some design or searching for parts. What had he been doing on his week-ends with Hilde already? Barely a few months since they broke-up from a eight year old cohabitation and it already took him a few seconds searching his memories to remember.

They mostly lazed around till noon, having sex, did the housework they had no time or courage to do during the week. Groceries, more sex. Sometimes they went for a stroll someplace or else. Sometimes they had friends over. Duo's old pals, Hilde's work buddies.

After he started to live alone, week-ends or work days didn't matter as much, he would take a break from work when Trowa was available and that was it.

He rubbed his chin in annoyance, he had really to get a hang on himself. And shave. God, when had he last shaved?

Good thing he had light and sparse hair. A couple more weeks and Heero would have found a hobo living in a real dump.

_ I don't think staring at the coffeemaker will make it fly to the table.

Duo started, he hadn't heard Heero coming back and settle at the counter, the Doll flipping through a book besides him. Fairy tales.

_ Where did you hide all morning?

_ I think she's still a bit afraid of you.

Duo wanted to argue about an IA ability to feel emotions. Except that somehow, he had seen the Doll completely freak-out in his shop. Sometimes, he wondered if he should be amazed or freaked out himself about Heero's doing.

_ What's your plans for the day? There's not much sightseeing to do but,wanna go somewhere?

_ Groceries?

Duo couldn't help but laugh at the offer. It was so domestic, and so not Heero. Well... cooking wasn't exactly something he would have associated with the brunet either.

_ Ok, groceries. Anything else you fancy?

Heero shrugged, he didn't know that colony well, so he didn't know where they could go, did they have a Cinema?

_ Of course we do! Even if most movies are a bit outdated." He added sheepish about his bout of outrage, just as he saw the shark's smile Heero was sporting. "You. Are a rascal.

So groceries it would be.

pickaboo

_ How come, you've only been there for two weeks and you're already on first name basis with the clerk, I didn't even know there was a Primeur there.

_ Habits versus curiosity." Heero answered simply. "I've been wandering.

_ For barely a fortnight, while taking care of the house, running, cooking, and fiddling with my Doll. Do you ever sleep?

_ Yes, at night. And running is a good way to wander around.

Duo decided to drop the subject. That was Heero for you. Take it or leave it. Duo'd rather take. He wasn't man to have so much he would gladly leave anything behind.

_ What did he call you anyway?

_ Torii. Toya Torii is my artist name. I'd rather use it when I don't want too much attention.

_ Right, Heero Yui was quite conspicuous ten years ago, it's even worse nowadays. Is that why you kept using my name during the war?

Duo bit his tongue, war tended to be a touchy subject for everyone of them, and Heero had been crushed in so many ways during that time. Surprisingly, Heero didn't seem to mind the blunder. He did look much more as ease than before, maybe he truly was.

_ That... and..." His eyes trailed as much as his voice, he shrugged with his bags of groceries in his arms. "Just in case.

So Heero had deliberately left a trail for him to find? Duo didn't know what to do with that.

Then, Duo's thoughts about war flew away at the sigh of the vegetables Heero was holding.

_ What the fuck is that?" They were deep green and enormous, like his calf size. Heero looked at him like Duo was a bit dimwitted.

_ Zucchinis." Well of course !

_ Did they grow them on a nuclear plant? They're ginormous.

This time the look was almost pitying.

_ They are exactly how they should be. How would you want them?

_ This size for starters." Duo made a gap about a hand and half between his fingers.

_ Amateur.

Duo couldn't have really heard what he did, had he? A suppressed giggle from the other side of the vegetables stand answered for him. Heero had been teasing him over vegetable sizes.

_ Those," he pointed the green monstrosities on display. "are mature zucchinis. Since most people doesn't seem to like their vegetables full of seeds, the ones you see in most supermarkets are baby zucchinis.

The giggles became a guwarf, coming from a teenage girl waiting by a basket half full of groceries.

_ Baby zucchinis...

_ Yes, with translucent white soft seeds, premature.

Maybe he should start to worry about the teen's health; she was going to suffocate trying to muffle her laughter at that rate. He hated he started this whole conversation. He hated the question he was going to ask.

_ Does it change the taste?" The girl's mom was there now and frowning in dismay at her misbehaving child. Heero, imperturbable, went on.

_ People think zucchinis get more bitter as they mature. They just don't know how to prepare them. Duo something the matter?" He finally inquired, his alternatively landing on the scolding-mom laughting-daugther duo, and Duo.

_ Don't mind it. Chose one of those... and let's go.

It was only when Heero winked at the girl as they were passing that Duo realized with amazement his friend had definitely not been unaware of the inuendos lacing his speech.

Do you have long hair?

Maybe Trowa was right when saying Duo was a bit dense, because it only occurred to him now, that the painter he had a chit-chat over Relena's sofa was Heero, and that little ass-hole couldn't have not known who he was talking to.

Shit.

Why was Heero there exactly?

Not to mess up his starting relationship with Trowa, would he? He meant... Heero had known at Christmas, about Trowa and Duo. Trowa knew about Heero being there and hadn't minded. They were both OK with the actual situation.

Were they?

Trowa Barton - AC195

Finally.

Molded in a space-suit, sheltered by the thin shell of the Aquarius, finally, he was piloting a Gundam again. Not his heavy-arm. Still.

And Heero was with him. Alone under the sky. If one was willing to discount the base station listening to their every breath and monitoring their slightest move. He was pretty sure Heero had understood his reasons for harboring OZ uniform, still, he had to ask. To be certain he hadn't lost his lover's trust. Heero's veiled answer to his hidden question had been a huge relief.

That boy was such a show-off...

But, damn, he wouldn't have him any other way. Especially now that Heero seemed to have decided to work with him and not just besides. He fancied the idea that their intense mating might have helped the actual ViaLactea's pilot to learn how to take someone else's movements into account.

Then he had to bring that blonde ponce back to the moon.

He didn't like that Zech Merquise, at all. His motives and loyalties were way to obscure for his peace of mind. That, and the blonde's influence on Heero. At this point he was almost wondering : who did not have a lead or another on his partner.

Then, all thoughts about possible rivals flew by the air vent, when Heero possessively pushed him into an unused corridor to snog the living breath out of him and latch out on his private parts with an enthusiasm that turned into feigned disgust as their guards came back.

_ Seems he really wants to be allowed out again." He drawled with a leer that disgusted himself. The two others guards nodded and let out a couple catcall before turning back and waiting just besides the corner for the 'treat' to be done.

It was a bit uneasy, knowing they had an audience, until Heero did that thing with his tongue and moaned around him. The audience was forgotten.
Man he had missed him.

And not just the sex.

MiniFrench : nope, no HeeroxDoll. Not in there, sorry. Great week-end to you.