Title: The Herald
Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue. Don't Kill.
Warnings: Not beta read. Possible citrus, swearing, AU, mild angst.
Pairings: 1x2, 5+R, 3+4
Rating: R so far. Probably NC-17 later.
AN: The names of the newspapers are made up. If a paper with a name like this does exist and Herald probably does it's not my intention, to compare the two. Enjoy the fic, and please comment.

Part 8

The weekend flew by for the four friends. On Sunday, Cathy went back home to their aunt, and Trowa decided to stay until the end of the week. At brakfast on monday, he dropped a real bomb on his two friends.

"Actually, the truth is, I'm not staying here so long because of vacations. I've... lost my job, and couldn't find another one. I was hoping I could find something in here."

"What? What happened?!"

"They closed the paper. It wasn't doing good enough."

Duo gave him a sympathetic smile, "But why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Trowa just looked down at his plate.

"Cathy doesn't know, does she?"

"No," Trowa admitted, "I don't want to worry her yet."

Duo just sighed and shook his head, while Hilde smacked their friend upside the head and lectured him on why he should tell such important things to his sister.

Later that day at work, Duo got called to Heero's office.

"You wanted to see me?"

"I always want to see you." Heero faigned a hurt voice, and Duo just rolled his eyes at him.

"I've got some good news" Heero said finally, "The formal congratulations and invitations to the gala have arrived. Both you and Wufei are nominated, you in the debut category, Wufei in the politics. I ned you to call back and tell them how many people will be coming. I assume You will take Trowa and Hilde, I'm going as your boss and date," at that Heero gave him a smile, "and I need to know if Wufei is taking anyone. also Quatre is coming, but on his own, with some of his own nominated reporters."

"Well, there's a possibility that Cathy will want to go too. And Wufei will be bringing Relena for sure."

"Relena?"

"Yeah, didn't you know they were dating?" Duo was a little surprised at that.

"Not much gossip reaches me. I don't exactly spend much time at the water cooler."

Duo chuckled at that.

"They are paying both for the tickets and the hotel rooms for everyone, but I need to give them the details today. That's why I need you and Wufei to have lunch with me today, so we can discuss everything."

"Damn, I was meeting Trowa for lunch at that Cafe we like so much."

"Actually," Heero wondered, "I was supposed to meet Quatre there, and was about to cancel. How about we hook them up instead?"

"They seamed to like each other good enough this weekend..."

The two boyfriends smirked at each other, and got to work.

Trowa entered the Cafe, and looked around in search of a certain blond head. He noticed Quatre waving to him from one of the booths, and he went to join him.

"Good afternoon, Trowa. I hope you don't mind spending lunch with me." Quatre gave him a sunny smile.

"Not at all. I had a great time this weekend."

"So did I." The waitress came and took their orders.

"So, what have you been doing so far?" the blond asked when she was gone.

"Looking for a job, actually."

"Oh? May I ask what kind of job?"

"At this point? Any kind. But I was hoping one of the local papers would take me in."

"You a journalist too?"

"Yes. I worked at a small local paper back home, didn't have as much luck as Duo did. The paper didn't do good enough, and they closed it."

Quatre shocked him with what he said next, "I think, Mr Barton, I may have a proposition for you."

That evening Heero was invited for dinner again, so they could celebrate a little. When Duo and Heero entered the house carrying a bottle of champagne, Trowa greeted them with: "I sure hope that's for me!"

Duo blinked at him, puzzled, and his friend decided to enlighten him, "I've got a job."

"Awesome!" Duo run to hug him and then Heero shook his hand and said his congratulations.

"Come on, man, spill it! What kind of job?"

"I'll be working as a journalist at 'Voice's new office here in town"

"You kidding me! Quatre gave you a job?" Duo was very excited for his friend. "Then we celebrate two things today!"

The evening was a very happy one. Both the champagne bottles were empty before they all went to sleep.

The time until the gala flew by in no time. Trowa spend it on looking for his own apartment, and going over the job details with Quatre on their many lunch meetings. Both Duo and Heero were suspecting those were way more than that, but neither of the two man was forthcoming with any information, so they didn't push.

When the time came, they all packed, and Heero came to collect them. Cathy couldn't go, since she had some exams, and Hilde was a little disappointed. They met Wufei and Relena at the airport, introducing them to both Trowa and Hilde. The flight was mostly uneventful, the men sleeping through most of it, while the girls got to know each other a little better. When they arrived, cars were waiting to get them to the hotel where all the guests stayed, and the gala was going to be hosted. They were given three double rooms, one for the girls, one that Duo and Heero took and the last one for Wufei and Trowa.

Wufei appeared to be a little stuck-up at first, but he wasn't really that bad. he had a witty and a little sarcastic sense oh humor, and had a large range of knowledge. Trowa didn't mind sharing the room with him. The man was quiet and neat, but could hold up an intelligent conversation.

Since the gala was the next day, and they had the rest of this to themselves, the girls decided to use the occasion and go shopping, dragging Wufei with them. Trowa called Quatre, and made an appointment to met with him, while the two boyfriends decided to go sight seeing. It's been some time since they last went for a date, and they enjoyed the time together a lot. They walked around town for a few hours, stopped for dinner, and than later for supper. Duo called Hilde to check if everything was alright, and got a call from Trowa that he'll be coming in later tonight. They ended at a small cake shop in the park, that had a balcony over the pond.

Heero looked at his cake and then at Duo's, "Your's bigger." he pouted slightly.

"That's because the waitress likes my butt," Duo snickered. Heero glared. At the waitress.

"And you have more whipped cream!"

Duo showed him his tongue.

Heero grabbed his spoon, and reached over to scoop some of said cream from Duos plate, then ate it quickly, smearing some around his lips in the process.

"Hey! That's my cream!" Duo protested.

"Yeah? So come and get it." Heero smirked.

Duo leaned over the table, and licked the cream from around Heero's lips, then kissed him passionately, both man tasting the cream on each othrs tongues.

"Mmmm... I think I like this way of eating cakes." said Duo and licked his lips, when they finally separated.

"I think I like it too." Heero smiled at him, and they finished their cakes. When they were going out, the waitress looked a little crestfallen.

They went back to their hotel room, Heero taking a shower while Duo checked on Hilde.

When the braided boy walked into the room, Heero just got out of the bathroom, one towel around his hips, combing his hair with another. Duo just stared.

And stared some more.

"You like what you see?" Heero asked when he finally noticed Duo just standing in the middle of the room.

"Definitely." Duo breathed.

Heero came closer to him, and grabbed Duo's shirt, then kissed him hotly, "I'd show you more," he mumbled against the other man's lips, "But we have an early start tomorrow."

"Spoil sport." Duo kissed him one last time, then went to take his own shower.

Heero dressed to bed and waited to have his own eye full one Duo got out of the bathroom.

TBC