Disclaimer: The usual disclaimers apply. yadda yadda yadda

Story: Building a Better Mousetrap 101

Warnings: Implied angst and a frustrated Duo.

Being a Mouse doesn't mean you're helpless or weak.

Current Pairings: 1xR, 2xOC, 3x4, 5xS, HxOC, 6xN and OCxOC (past 1x2)

Chapter 11 – A Small Mission

The two weeks between their first date and the night of the Halloween party were nearly pure Hell for Duo. First off, he had made up the stupid 'Kissing Rules", which he was rapidly coming to realize had been a seriously bad, bad idea on his part. His original thinking that if he 'knew' they couldn't kiss during the week or kissed only an official dates, then he wouldn't be so …..God Damn Fucking Hard all the time. Boy had he EVER been wrong.

To make matters worse he didn't even get a chance to go on a 'date' with her the following weekend. That psycho bitch Une had sent him and Heero off on a mission that was going to take all weekend. Damn, it was just, so not FAIR. Now he was going to have to wait for Zech's Halloween party next Friday night before allowing himself more of Mouse's intoxicating kisses. Aw Shit, he was hard again. Ice, think about Ice, or better yet about the Mission, otherwise Heero was going to notice.

"Baka, stop fidgeting, you're going to give us away." Crap he'd noticed.

"Trying 'Ro, but it's so quiet out here, and I'm thinking way too hard."

"Hard being the operative word I take it?"

"Hehe."

"………"

"Whoa, that almost worked. Guess there's nothing like a good Death Glare, to wither a guy all up."

"Baka." Duo rolled away from the corner of the building they were currently hiding behind, so that his back was up against the wall and pulling out his favorite pistol he slapped home some ammo, flipped the safety off and cocked the chamber. This was supposed to just be a data gathering mission, but things had gone wrong in the past, he'd learned that, the hard way. So it was always best to be prepared.

"I'm ready, let's get this over with. I'm hungry and it's going to take all day to get back to campus."

"You are always hungry and you just want to call Mouse." Duo gave Heero one of his big perky grins.

"Busted. Let's go."

As usual Duo lead the way, into the back alley, up the fire escape and into a forgotten window. He had no idea why these types of guys loved old abandoned buildings in New York City so much. But he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the Mouth. These buildings were ridiculously easy to sneak into. Heero probably could have done this one by himself, but they had all promised after the war that none of them would work alone anymore and definitely never without backup.

Four hours later the boys had finished the little mission they'd been sent on. The insidious virus known as 'Deathtrap' had been safely installed and the information they had gathered was already on its way to Une and her Preventers. So they were heading back to campus. As usual Heero drove, it was just 'better' this way, it kept Heero from digging holes into the dashboard of the rental cars they normally used for stealth missions. You would 'think' nothing would bother the ex pilot of Wing and Wing Zero. But Duo's driving was the exception. Duo had just gotten off the phone with Mouse and was squirming in his seat, staring out the window watching the scenery going by. This was going to be a seriously 'Long' car ride.

"Hey Heero?."

"Hn."

"Ah, what do girls like? I mean should I, you know, get flowers or candy for Mouse. That's what they do in those mushy girl type movies. What do you think?"

"I think you're asking the wrong person. I threatened to kill Relena and then nearly shot her. Thanks again for stopping me."

"Hey no problem Heero ole buddy. 'Sides what are friends for, but to shoot you and keep you from making a complete jackass out of yourself over a girl."

"Does this mean I need to shoot you?"

"Very funny, I'm not that bad."

"Wanna bet?"

This friendly banter continued for the majority of the drive, they stopped twice to get Duo food and make pit stops. Hey, even the 'Perfect Soldier' has to pee eventually. Especially when you're driving all night and day after having driven all night and day just to get somewhere and are now at the point that you're chugging coffee and Mountain Dew like it's going out of style. In fact Heero was so jacked up on caffeine that Duo thought it was hysterical. The normally taciturn Japanese male was currently sharing WAY too much info about his and Relena's love life. Not that Duo didn't take mental notes, interesting…..

So that's where the Gundamium handcuffs had disappeared too. He supposed they 'would' be the only one's capable of holding Heero, even if it was just love play. Well at least Heero knew where they were, if and when they needed them. Personally, Duo was hoping he'd never have to see that particular pair of handcuffs ever again. He absently rubbed his wrists as Heero kept babbling away. Heero babbling, to funny, Duo yawned and drifted into a light doze the motion of the car and the sound of Heero's deep voice lulling him to sleep.

Heero looked over at his slumbering friend. The Baka had somehow managed to curl up in the seat despite the seatbelt strapped around his waist, the top of his head resting next to Heero's thigh. He was getting close, Heero could sense it. He had also noticed the braided boy absently rubbing his wrists and massaging the slowly fading scars there earlier. That was always one of the first signs. Taking one hand off the steering wheel, Heero placed it on the slumbering teen's face and gently pushed his bangs out of the way. This Baka and Relena were the two most important people in Heero's life. He would do literally 'anything' for either one of them. Yes, he cared about the other pilots and even Sally, Noin and Zechs. Mouse was quickly worming her way into that elite and very exclusive crowd of special people. Hilde was alright too, but Heero had noticed her drifting away lately, joining a new, peripheral group of friends. Still connect to theirs, but less involved than she once had been in the everyday lives of the Gundam pilots.

Heero smiled into the early morning light of pre-dawn as he grabbed the camera he now carried with him everywhere and one handedly snapped a shot of the slumbering ex-pilot. Of all the classes Heero had taken to explore new avenues, he found that he actually enjoyed Photography. There were certain similarities to what he had already been trained to do, just without the bloodshed, pain and death. Now he 'Captured' people, places and things on film. 'Shot' them when they least expected it, and he loved it best when they were completely unaware the he was there, and he 'shot' them in an open or extremely exposed moment in time. Those were the best shots the ones that revealed the real people behind all the masks they put up to protect themselves from the world. These were the people he had once fought and killed to protect.

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AN: A short chapter I know, but lucky you. I wrote tons and have more chapters already.