A/N: Wishing Kangofu-CB the happiest day of birth. I hope you enjoy this and thank you for letting me write you a thing!

A/N2: Title inspired by the HAIM song by the same name.

A/N3: Always, always thanks to Ro for beta reading and supporting me. You are, quite literally, the best. I also want to thank ChronicWhimsy, who graciously gave me another set of eyes and editing on this.

A/N4: Look, in the future I can hope we have all switched to metric like rational beings. But the reality is that I grew up on the Imperial system and I cannot be bothered to do all of the conversions from inches/feet to meters, especially with Trowa as a carpenter. I'm sorry.

Warnings: angst, language, sex

Pairings: 2x3

Ready for You

Chapter 8

Diana had decided that the sound of anyone walking past the apartment was worthy of a chorus of shrill barks as she ran the length of the living room, keen to alert Trowa of impending doom.

As frequently as Trowa ordered delivery, he had assumed Diana would grow accustomed to the sound of unseen humans.

He had been wrong.

And tonight was no exception.

Long before Trowa would have been able to hear approaching footsteps, had he been able to hear anything over Diana, she started to bark and race around in front of the couch.

Trowa remained on the couch, stretched out and reading, but he regarded the puppy's antics with weary amusement.

And then someone knocked on the door.

Diana went racing for the door, nearly colliding with it face-first before she came to a halt and practically leapt at it.

Trowa hadn't ordered delivery, and there was only one person he expected tonight.

He rose from the couch and smoothed down his clothes, feeling ridiculous as he did so.

A quick hand through his hair, attempting to smooth it back, produced no discernible results.

With a sigh, he reached for the door.

Duo looked like he had just stepped off the beach and into Trowa's hallway.

He had sunglasses hooked into the v of his shirt, dragging it lower and showing off the faintest blush of gold on his chest. Trowa had never seen Duo in shorts before, and the gray khaki looked good on him, fitted and casual and showing off calves that Trowa definitely didn't think should be hidden. His hair was loose around his shoulders, wavier than normal, as if Duo had been battling against breezes and humidity from the ocean.

His nose was red. Sunburnt from his days on the beach and carelessly overlooked when it was clear that Duo had applied sunscreen with care to the rest of his face

"I told you to put on sunblock."

Duo's smirk was instant, contagious, and Trowa tried to ignore the way his heartbeat raced at the warmth in Duo's eyes.

"You also told me you were going to fuck me on your table. And fuck me against your door. And something about your bed. And you told me you were going to suck me off in your shower. And tease me until you make me beg for your cock. Which of those do you think I spent more time thinking about?"

Trowa smirked and crossed his arms. He reached out and ran one hand over the door in question. Duo's eyes followed the movement.

"You did seem fond of this," he murmured. "But if I recall, the table was your favorite."

Duo had called one night, while Trowa was just sitting down to dinner and Duo was waiting for everyone else to get ready to go out, and Trowa had described in intimate detail the meal he wished was spread out before him.

"So, you gonna invite me in?"

Trowa stood aside and made a gesture, a ridiculous flourish that had Duo chuckling and shaking his head.

Diana scrambled across the floor, and Duo bent to pick her up. He held her in his arms, angling his chin away so that her tongue couldn't quite reach his mouth, and looked around.

"Nice place."

It was. Trowa had lived in a shitty studio apartment when he worked for the Preventers - a place that, if he was lucky, he spent one night in a month in. After he left, he had been determined to find an apartment that he could stand to live in.

The building was pre-colonial, but it had been renovated countless times over the centuries, most recently less than a decade ago. The floors were all repurposed hardwood, smoothed and laminated together to resemble old Terran flooring. The walls were exposed brick, painted white, and the tall windows meant that the apartment was hardly ever dark, light streaming in and bouncing off the bright walls and reflecting on the polished floor. It was bright, but not in the artificial way that shipboard or colonial lighting could make things. It was warm.

He hadn't intended to fill the apartment with furniture - had started off with a futon and a couch. But over the years, he had collected things - old Terran bookcases, a desk, Craftsmen chairs, an oak trestle table and a pair of benches, a sideboard, a dresser, a few chests. Things.

Things that he couldn't throw in a bag and take with him on a moment's notice.

"Thanks."

Duo turned around at the sound of Trowa closing the door, and he arched an eyebrow.

"So, I was promised food."

"You were," Trowa agreed. He took Diana from Duo's hands and deposited her on the couch.

He reached for Duo, hooking a finger through a belt loop and hauling the other man close.

Duo smirked up at him and slid his hands over Trowa's shoulders and around his neck.

It felt good to have Duo in his arms again, to feel him and smell him.

"We can go out, or get delivery." Trowa trailed his hands over Duo's shoulders, down his back, and to his ass. He gave it a squeeze, pulling Duo even closer in the process.

Duo arched an eyebrow.

"Hm. Seems like you're too hungry to do either."

"Do you mind?" Trowa leaned down, and Duo tilted his head back to meet him.

The kiss was light, a tentative press of lips as they readjusted to each other.

"Mind what?" Duo's eyes were practically dancing, and the smirk on his lips had taken on a teasing slant.

"Mind if I fuck you on my table before I feed you."

Duo looked over at the table.

"How sturdy is it?"

"Very," Trowa assured him. He brushed his lips over Duo's left ear, and Duo shivered. "I can fuck you as hard as you want."

"Damn, Barton. You do know how to make up for lost time, don't you?"

Trowa smirked.

"So, is that a yes?"

Duo snorted.

"It's a yes, please, and you know it."

"Table manners?" Trowa kissed Duo again, deeper, mouths parted and tongues tangled. "What else did you learn on L2 that you've been hiding?"

Duo chuckled and plucked at Trowa's t-shirt.

"I learned that you're supposed to dress accordingly for dinner."

"Mm. That's true." Trowa reached for the fly of Duo's shorts. "These will have to go."

"Oh, yeah?" Duo angled his head down, nuzzling against Trowa's throat with his nose before sweeping his tongue across the sensitive juncture of neck and shoulder.

Trowa fumbled with the zip and Duo chuckled, warm air puffing across Trowa's damp flesh, and he shuddered in pleasure.

"Want me to help you out of yours?" Duo asked, hands drifting to Trowa's waist and fingertips running under the denim.

"Yes. Please," he added, and Duo chuckled again.

Duo was half-hard already, cock straining at his boxers, and Trowa decided to push those down as well. Duo followed his lead, taking the initiative to give Trowa's cock a few firm strokes in the process.

Trowa thrust into Duo's fist involuntarily.

"So, what kind of rules does this establishment have regarding shirts?" Duo asked.

"Very strict ones - absolutely no shirts allowed."

Duo stepped back and pulled his sunglasses free from his shirt. He set them down on the coffee table and then reached for the hem of his shirt.

Trowa stood still, watching the reveal. He'd felt Duo's body before, that night in Duo's apartment, had caressed nearly every inch of him. But he hadn't seen him.

He could clearly see a tan line, around Duo's shoulders and neck. A tank.

Trowa could understand why Duo had chosen to cover up, instead of parading around half-naked on the beach as, no doubt, everyone else had. He had been with men, over the years, who saw his scars and recoiled. He had been with others who saw them and devoted hours to caressing them without bothering to find out how Trowa had earned them.

He reached out to trace over the remnants of war, the wounds that would never really heal.

Duo swallowed hard and met his gaze.

Trowa pulled his own shirt off and tossed it to the floor. Fair was fair.

"Aren't we a fucking pair?" Duo breathed.

"We are," Trowa agreed. It was absolutely liberating to be with Duo, to stand before him naked and know that whatever he saw in Duo's eyes was honest. Duo knew Trowa.

It was almost daunting, anxiety prickling at Trowa's arousal in a way that he couldn't decide whether or not he liked.

Duo's lips met his in a kiss that Trowa doubted he would ever forget. There was heat and passion and electricity that seemed to surge between them, but more than that, there was understanding. There was forgiveness.

When they parted, Duo's eyes were dark, his cheeks flushed and his hair a mess from Trowa's hands tangling in the strands.

Duo smiled up at him.

"Are we properly attired yet?"

"Nearly."

Trowa tugged Duo over to the table and eased him down on it. He kept it bare, only occasionally remembering to put out the centerpiece Cathy had gifted him years ago when she came to visit, and he was grateful for his own foresight in keeping the table free of decor.

Duo smirked up at him and folded his hands under his head.

"Well?"

Trowa ran one hand over Duo's thigh, down his knee and around his calf.

Duo shivered at the touch and drew in a sharp breath.

Trowa traced over the delicate bones in Duo's ankle and then tugged at his shoe.

"No shoes. Or socks."

Duo laughed and obligingly lifted his other leg so that Trowa could remove his last articles of clothing.

Trowa looked over the man spread out before him, and for a moment it felt surreal. Duo Maxwell, naked and eager for him.

"I should get the lube," he said as he ran his hands back up Duo's thighs, parting them and caressing Duo's ass.

"Yeah, you should," Duo agreed.

Trowa leaned down and pressed a kiss to Duo's belly, laving at the shrapnel wound just above his navel.

"Don't move."

"Better hurry back. You know how well I do with orders."

Trowa snorted a laugh but moved away. As he walked into his bedroom, he looked over his shoulder to see Duo watching him.

"Just admiring the view," Duo said with a grin.

Trowa shook his head and went into the bedroom. He retrieved the lube and a condom from his nightstand.

Walking back into the living room, Trowa saw that Diana had settled, somewhat unhappily, on the couch, and was back to work on the rawhide chew he had given her that afternoon.

This wasn't the first time he had had someone over, and he had learned that she didn't do well being locked in a separate room. He had also learned that scratching and whimpering was very much a mood killer unless he was very drunk.

She looked up at his approach, sniffing eagerly at the prospect of treats in his hand, but realized immediately that what he had was not for her and returned to her chew.

"I thought I said not to move."

Duo was still lying on the table, one hand behind his head, but the other was industriously stroking his cock.

"I did remind you how good I am at listening." Duo gave himself one last stroke, tugging on the head of his cock and biting his lip at the sensation.

Trowa had to kiss him, had to replace Duo's hand with his own and work over his cock until Duo was gasping into his mouth and clutching his shoulders.

"Fuck, I've missed you," Duo moaned.

Trowa knew it was the sex, knew it was arousal and Duo needing to say something, but the words still put him off-kilter.

He had missed Duo, had found himself texting Duo with the most inane observations and responding to Duo's texts and calls with alacrity. For the two weeks that Duo had been gone, they had spoken on the phone nearly every day, had had six rather memorable forays into phone sex sprinkled among those calls, but even though Duo had been hundreds of miles away, he had been a constant presence in Trowa's life. Always on Trowa's mind, always the one that Trowa wanted to see, to talk to, to touch.

It was disconconcerting.

Trowa hadn't felt this way about anyone in years, perhaps not ever.

He wasn't really sure what to do with that, with the knowledge that Duo had worked his way past years of isolation, that Trowa had opened the door and welcomed him in, that he wanted more, that he was terrified of more.

Drawing in a deep breath, Trowa forced himself back to the present, back to the naked man under him and two weeks of pent-up sexual frustration.

Another kiss, teasing, tongues battling and Duo smiling against his lips, and then Trowa stepped back.

Duo regarded him with raised eyebrows as Trowa pulled a chair to the head of the table and sat down between Duo's legs.

"What are you doing, Tro?"

Trowa gave him a patronizing look.

"Don't tell me you eat standing up."

"What-"

Trowa pulled Duo's thighs apart and licked Duo from ass to balls.

Duo let out a startled laugh, and Trowa smirked at the sound and pressed his mouth against Duo's perineum.

The other man held himself still as Trowa caressed the sensitive skin, traversing the path to Duo's anus before doubling back to tease him again.

"Christ, Tro, are you trying to kill me?"

"This is hardly the most efficient method," Trowa snorted, and Duo shivered against him.

"No, but it's sure as hell going to do me in if you don't-"

Duo trailed off, his words becoming a groan as Trowa swirled his tongue around Duo's anus. He carefully, slowly pressed his way inside, savoring the scent and taste of Duo.

Trowa took his time, circling around the outside before dipping his tongue inside of Duo's heat, gradually loosening the tight flesh until he could slip more than just the tip of his tongue inside.

"Fuck," Duo moaned, and Trowa saw that he was clenching the sides of the table, his knuckles white.

He thrust his tongue as deeply as he could, and Duo squirmed against his face.

The angle wasn't quite right for Trowa to get at Duo's prostate, but he used one hand to caress Duo's perineum, gently applying pressure to the spot until Duo was bucking up against him.

"Please, Tro, please fuck me."

He couldn't help but smirk as he pulled away.

"I did say I was going to make you beg," he reminded Duo.

The other man laughed again, lifting his head to meet Trowa's eyes.

"You did," Duo agreed. "You also said you were going to fuck me."

Trowa rose to his feet and shook his head.

"So impatient."

"So desperate for your cock," Duo corrected.

He hooked his feet around Trowa's hips and pulled him close, so that Trowa's erection nudged against the spot where Trowa's tongue had just been.

Trowa rolled his eyes and reached for the lube.

"Here I was, planning on a four-course meal…"

Duo laughed again.

"What, ass for starters, and then the meat course?" He gestured to his own erection.

Trowa leaned down to give it a playful lick.

"How did you know?"

Duo's eyes were twinkling, aroused and amused, and it felt so good to just smirk back at him.

Trowa coated one finger with lube and worked it into Duo. Rimming, while something Trowa had always enjoyed, wasn't the most practical method for prep.

Duo hitched his legs up a little further, and it opened him even more for Trowa.

"Christ, I've been thinking about this since that night on the beach," Duo moaned as Trowa added a second finger.

Trowa arched an eyebrow at him.

"I've been thinking about this since you kissed me after that awful play."

"Yeah, well, your mind's always been in the gutter. Fuck, Tro, that's- Fuck, right there."

He had found Duo's prostate, and stroking against it from the inside and the outside was producing an incredible result.

Duo's mouth fell open as he moaned, and he screwed his eyes shut. With his hair spread out and his body taut, he looked as if he were barely holding himself together.

A third finger easily parted Duo, and after a few rather perfunctory thrusts, Trowa pulled away and reached for the condom.

He rolled the latex on quickly, slathering more lube over himself for good measure, and then lined the head of his cock up with Duo's body.

"Yes," Duo encouraged him. "Yes, please, Trowa."

It took all of his willpower to go slowly, to ease inside the tantalizing sheath of Duo's body instead of filling Duo instantly.

He adjusted Duo's legs, lifting the right over his left shoulder and holding onto Duo's left thigh as he sank further into Duo's body.

The sensation of heat and Duo's firm body clinging to him, pressing against him and simultaneously seeming to pull him further in and push him out, was nearly overwhelming.

"You feel incredible," Trowa breathed.

"Right back at you. Trowa, just- Please."

Perhaps he was torturing both of them more than he needed to.

Trowa pressed the rest of his length deep into Duo's body in one quick, fluid motion that had both of them groaning.

"Okay?" Trowa asked him, and Duo nodded eagerly.

"Fuck yes, okay. Very okay."

Trowa chuckled and pressed a kiss to Duo's calf resting on his shoulder, and bit into the skin gently.

Duo rocked against him, hips rolling and body tugging at Trowa's cock.

"You said something about fucking me as hard as I wanted?" Duo panted.

"I did," Trowa agreed. He pulled out and slowly impaled himself again.

"I think I'd like it very hard, Tro."

"Yeah?" Trowa repeated the motion, putting force and speed behind it, and Duo's body slid back on the table an inch from the impact.

"Fuck yes," Duo moaned.

Trowa happily gave Duo what he wanted. What they both wanted.

He pulled out almost entirely, and then slammed his cock back into Duo, and Duo moaned again.

It was an intoxicating sound, pure pleasure without any inhibition, and Trowa made it a goal to elicit that sound with every thrust.

Duo's body fit him so perfectly, clinging to him as he pulled out, drawing him back in when he pushed forward. It felt amazing, and the slap of his flesh against Duo's, accompanied by Duo's moans and his own harsh breathing, was incredibly erotic.

He reached for Duo's cock, bouncing with the force of their coupling, head leaking precum and the shaft an angry, neglected red.

"Oh God, yes." Duo thrust up into his hand as Trowa fisted around him.

Trowa pumped Duo's cock in one hand while he continued to forcefully pound into his pliant body, all sense of rhythm lost to him as he moved in tune to Duo's body, reacting to Duo's pleasure and the drive of his own, the heat pooling in his loins, the heaviness in his balls.

"Close?" Trowa asked, begged, Duo.

"Ye- yeah," Duo confirmed.

He adjusted, shifting further down the table, closer to Trowa, and Trowa slipped out.

They both groaned in frustration, and Trowa had to abandon Duo's cock so that he could reposition himself.

Duo took the opportunity to start stroking himself. His movements were confident, his grip firm. Trowa followed his pace, and soon they were both on the cusp again.

"Look at me." It came out a plea, but Duo opened his eyes and stared up at him, the expression in his indigo depths almost bewildered.

Duo's hand was moving feverishly now, his thighs trembling, and Trowa let himself go, losing all control, and slammed forcefully into Duo's body.

"Ugh-ahh!" Duo cried out, body almost bowing off the table as cum shot from his cock, streaking across his chest. His body clenched around Trowa, drawing him in further, the tight press nearly unbearable, and Trowa came with a near-shout.

There was nothing blissful about his release. It was shatteringly intense, and as Trowa surrendered to the pleasure, he almost collapsed on top of Duo, just barely managing to support himself with one hand propped on the table.

He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, Trowa's softening cock still buried in Duo and Duo still spread out on the table like some bacchanal feast, but eventually Trowa felt steady enough to move again.

Duo groaned as Trowa pulled out, and Trowa felt no small measure of regret himself. He could happily spend the rest of his life fucking Duo, he decided.

"I'm going to get a towel," Trowa said.

"Good. I'm just going to lay here," Duo waved an arm lazily, eyes still closed, "and try to remember my name."

Trowa chuckled and pressed a kiss to Duo's chest, just over his heart.

In the bathroom, he pulled off the condom and tossed it into the trash before washing himself off and then washing his hands.

He rinsed his mouth out, swishing the minty wash around for several seconds before spitting it out into the sink and then reaching for a hand towel and wetting half of it.

Duo still hadn't moved, except to bend his knees and rest his feet on the table.

Trowa cleaned him off, pressing several kisses to the damp skin on Duo's chest before moving up to kiss him.

Duo responded without hesitation, lips and teeth tugging at Trowa's mouth.

"Still hungry?" Duo asked him.

"I think, where you're concerned, I might be insatiable."

Duo smirked and then sat up.

He winced, and Trowa helped him down from the table.

"I'm sorry."

Duo shrugged off the apology.

"Don't be. I sure as hell wasn't complaining. Next time, might be better if I'm on my stomach."

"Next time?"

"Oh, you didn't want seconds?"

Trowa smirked and pulled Duo against him. He gave his ass a firm squeeze.

"Seconds, thirds… as much as I can get. Insatiable, remember?"

Duo returned the smirk and the squeeze.

"Maybe a little switch of positions next time?" he asked.

Trowa nodded.

"I won't even make you beat me in darts. It might be too long of a wait."

Duo snorted and rolled his eyes.

"You're mouthy after a good fuck."

Trowa shrugged. He didn't think it was a pattern, considering that most times both he and his partner found the most expedient way to part company after sex, but there was no denying that he felt… nearly giddy.

"Might just be actual hunger."

"Mm. That, or you've just been fucked silly."

"I'm not silly."

"Uh-huh. You're grinning at me, Trowa Barton."

He probably was. He didn't much care.

"So, delivery?" Duo asked as he stepped away and stretched.

Trowa forced himself to look away from the sinuous movements of Duo's body and meet his amused gaze.

"Pizza?"

Duo rolled his eyes.

"Heero warned me you had a thing for pizza."

"Part of his 'this is going to end horribly' talk?"

Duo shrugged, and Trowa wished he hadn't said it. He could see some of Duo's amusement fade, could feel his own buoyancy lessen.

"Pizza is fine. Mushrooms?"

Trowa nodded and, still naked, walked into the kitchen to place the order.

After calling it in, he poured two glasses of water and walked back into the living room to find Duo pulling on his shorts. His face had settled into concerned lines, eyes not quite meeting Trowa's.

Duo accepted the water and gulped at it greedily.

Trowa drank his own at a more sedate pace, considering Duo and wondering if he was going to speak up.

"So...this… this was amazing."

"Agreed," Trowa said cautiously.

He set his glass of water down on the table and reached for his trousers. It felt a little ridiculous to stand there naked when Duo was half-dressed and wearing that expression.

Duo chewed on his lower lip.

"Why don't you date?"

"What?" It wasn't at all what Trowa had expected Duo to say. Then again, he wasn't sure what he had really expected Duo to say.

"You- I'm seriously the first person you've dated?"

Trowa shrugged.

"Yes."

"Why? You- you're good at this shit. Dating. Fucking. Reading me poetry on the damn phone."

Trowa flushed a little at the memory.

It had been the fourth night of Duo's vacation, and Duo had called late, when everyone else at the house had been asleep and Trowa had been drifting off with Ogg open and falling from his hands. Duo had insisted he read his favorite poem, and then listened to Trowa explain why he liked it before teasing Trowa into a surprisingly enjoyable debate about Ogg's use of space as a metaphor for the human psyche.

"There was never anyone I was interested in," Trowa said, hating the defensive tone to his voice.

Duo raised his eyebrows.

"Right. In all your life, I'm the first person you wanted to date? Me? Duo Maxwell."

"No, of course you aren't," Trowa almost snapped. He hated when Duo said his own name that way, as if he was the scourge of humanity. As if, perhaps, Trowa was as well.

Duo's eyebrows remained elevated, and he sucked in his cheeks.

"Quatre. And Wufei."

"Uh huh." Duo crossed his arms. "I always wondered about you and Quatre. Always figured you two would end up together."

So had Trowa, at one point. He had fallen for Quatre hard and fast, had been blinded by his purity - his strength of purpose and his goodness. Quatre's smiles could be overwhelming, his empathy eviscerating. It had been too much. And, besides, Quatre had been recalled to L4 to manage his family's vast holdings and Trowa's leash had been held firmly in Une's hand.

"It didn't work out," Trowa said simply, refusing to wallow in the distant pain.

Duo's eyes were knowing, however, and Trowa looked away.

"You said and Wufei? I mean, I knew about you and Heero. Hell, I should probably thank you for you and Heero."

Trowa frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"Before your little tour of earth and - I'm assuming - teaching him how to fuck. He was awful our first time. Much, much better after you showed him the ropes."

Trowa had wondered, about Duo and Heero. Wondered when they had ended things and when Heero had decided to be with Relena instead.

Duo must have seen the question on his face.

"He's better with her. She, you know, she brings out the best in him or whatever. And he's happy. But Heero and I never dated - we blew shit up and we fucked so we didn't go crazy. I'm talking about you, and your whole 'not interested in humanity except for other Gundam pilots'."

It felt like a dig, and Trowa couldn't help but bristle at the implication.

"What is your point, Duo? Why does it matter that I haven't dated anyone else?"

"Because you- Trowa. Come on. You're like… the perfect fucking guy, but you only do hook-ups? Until me? What the fuck is that about? I mean- Fuck. I don't get it."

"No one else knows who I am."

It felt wrong, felt cowardly, to confess the truth to Duo Maxwell, the man who couldn't hide.

"Trust me, that's not a bad thing," Duo muttered.

"Isn't it? How am I supposed to explain the scars? The flashbacks? The nightmares? What kind of amusing childhood anecdotes am I supposed to share? Grand plans for the future? There's too much shit, Duo - and there's not enough of me to be worth it."

"Okay, that's fucking bullshit, Trowa. What the fuck do you mean there's not enough of you?"

Trowa opened his mouth, but Duo plowed ahead.

"Because you stole your name? Because you don't remember your family? Fuck that. You are worth it, Trowa. You're a real fucking person, and you deserve to be- Look, Trowa, there's enough of you. Look at this fucking apartment. Your fucking dog? Your books? Your really questionable taste in Terran sports? That's all nothing? Or what, that's all some remnant of the first Trowa Barton that you've incorporated into your identity?"

"No."

"Did he like weird freeform jazz in the park?"

"No."

"Did he like to build shit?"

"No. The opposite."

"And was he obsessed with rimming?"

Trowa flushed.

"I'm not obsessed."

"You talked about it, in detail, three times on the phone, and just gave me the most thorough rimjob of my life. You're obsessed - and I'm not complaining."

"That wasn't thorough," Trowa scoffed, wondering what kind of half-assed rimjobs Duo had been subjected to before.

"So, tell me, what fucking part of you isn't enough of you?"

Trowa glared at Duo, who glared right back.

"Why are you picking this fight?" He still didn't understand what had motivated this, and not being able to figure it out was irritating.

"Because you're better than me! Because- because Trowa, I'm fucked up and I'm fucked, and you're going to realize how much better you can do than me and-"

"Better than the Duo Maxwell?"

Duo's glare turned chilly.

"I know who I am, Trowa. I know what people think of me. You don't have to deal with this, with me. You don't have to hide who you are or slum with-"

"I don't think you do know who you are," Trowa cut him off. "Because the Duo Maxwell is a hero, and a good person, with really unfortunate taste in music."

"I killed people, Trowa! I killed people, and every fucking day I walk down the street and wonder if I've killed someone's mother or father or son or daughter or-"

"I do the same thing, Duo. All of us do. I get it, Duo. I was there. And I'm here now. And this fight makes no fucking sense. There isn't a better for me than you."

Duo was still glaring, arms wrapped around himself defensively.

"What about Harlan?"

"What about him?" Trowa snapped.

Duo gave him a steady look, and Trowa sighed.

He ran a hand through his hair and tried to think of what he could say to appease Duo.

Harlan hadn't spoken to Trowa since the night at the bar, had used the apprentices as go-betweens and spent a decent chunk of time working with Muhammad on a project and forcing Trowa to ask one of the other master carpenters for help. Sarah had noticed immediately, had greeted him with a raised eyebrow every day and a knowing look as he clocked out every night.

But Trowa had said all that he could say. It was entirely up to Harlan whether or not their entire relationship crumbled.

"He's not going to be the only guy who hates you because of me," Duo said, his voice soft.

Hate.

Trowa sincerely hoped Harlan didn't hate him.

But if he did…

"So I should just cut you lose?"

Duo shrugged.

"It would be easier, probably."

"It would be stupid, and I would be miserable."

Before Duo could say anything else, Diana jumped off the couch and started to bark.

Duo looked at her with concern.

"Delivery guy," Trowa explained.

Sure enough, a moment later, there was a knock on the door.

Trowa dug out his wallet and picked up Diana. He passed her to Duo and then opened the door.

The delivery man was just barely not a boy, and as he looked from one half-dressed man to the other, his eyes widened.

"Uh…"

Trowa passed over a bill large enough to cover the pizza and give the man a tip big enough to just walk away.

Which he started to do, until he did a double-take in Duo's direction.

"Holy shit. Are you-"

"Yep. I am. I'm Duo fucking Maxwell."

"Wow. Wow. Hey, did you ever-"

Trowa shut the door in his face and locked it.

Duo returned Diana to the floor.

"See? You really want to sign up for this? The fucking pizza delivery guy has opinions about me."

"Good ones," Trowa had to point out.

"Which is worse than the bad ones. Those kids," Duo gestured towards the closed door, "they don't know. They don't get it. They don't know who I am or what I did."

"That's what I've been saying this whole time," Trowa bit out. "Why would I want to date anyone like that?"

Duo gave him a long, hard look.

"Tro-"

"Do you want to end this?"

"No. Fuck no."

Trowa drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Then stop trying to break up with me. You do it every time we move forward."

"I-" Duo snapped his mouth shut and his cheeks pinked. "Maybe I do."

Trowa snorted.

"Maybe, yeah."

Duo didn't look particularly mollified.

Trowa set the pizza down on the table and reached for him.

Duo was tense in his arms, shoulders tight and head bowed down.

"I like you, Duo. I like dating you. Except for the parts that involve shitty plays or anything involving Avery at all."

Duo snorted a laugh.

"Yeah. We could all do with less of those parts."

"I want to date you. I want to be with you. I want to wake up naked in bed with you."

Duo's lips twitched at the reference.

"Yeah, but what if I snore?"

Trowa sucked in a breath.

"That's asking a lot."

Duo glared at him, and Trowa leaned down to kiss him.

He tried his best to convey just how much he wanted Duo, how much just the taste and feel of Duo made the world better.

By the time he pulled away, the pizza had been entirely forgotten and both of them were hard again.

"You know, we're never going to get to that naked in bed part if we don't get naked and get in bed," Duo pointed out.

Trowa grabbed the lube with one hand and Duo with the other.

-0-

The End?