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"Crisis"Written By: Artemis Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are
copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties.
I make no money with this fic. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: yaoi lemon including rimming, angst,
violence, language, reference to past NCS involving a minor, death,
angst. Pairings: 6x2, 3x4 Summary: Sequel to Interfacing: Regained. GAIA
prepares to go into space and announce itself to the world; Duo and
Zechs' relationship goes through its own crisis. "Crisis " 7) "Dr. Sally seems eager to join us, I think," Zechs observed to his companion as they returned to his room. Zechs had firmly captured Duo's hand in his. By now, the entire base was aware of their relationship and everyone was fairly accepting of it, although Chief Engineer Eric Meiser seemed to avoid them most of all... as did the Aries chief pilot, Bronn Sangers, both of whom had had their eye on Zechs. Linden Vingt, of course, the Aries second-in-command, still had his hopes with Duo. "Yeah, I got that impression, too. Though I don't think Wufei will join us... which is kind of sad," Duo said, squeezing the larger hand in his. He knew all too well what it was like to be alone. To stumble through life without anyone to share the good and the bad. Now that he'd found Zechs, Duo couldn't imagine a life without him. The man was wrapped up in all of Duo's hopes for the future... wherever that future might take him. After entering the room, Zechs closed the door behind them and drew Duo against him, sliding his arms down around the boy's back to his waist. "I think you've been 'Fire Dancer' today, Duo," he gently teased, then felt the rock-hard muscles in his lover's back. "Oh, my, are you tense..." The younger man leaned into the tall, strong body holding him and wrapped his arms around him. [Oh, I've needed this for hours now.] "Tense? Heh, that doesn't begin to describe it..." Duo said, resting his cheek on the other man's chest. "Things haven't gone exactly right for me today." Zechs caressed Duo's back lightly. "Did you need to talk about it? Or if not, then let me give you a relaxing massage, work out all these tight muscles in your back." He paused, feeling him. "Fighting does this. Of course, we can talk while I give you a massage, too." "A massage would be great," Duo said, looking up at his lover's face. "And talking... I'm bound to talk... you know that," he smiled. [Though I wouldn't know where to begin...] Then getting a more playful look in his eyes, Duo asked, "So, where do you want me?" "Hmmm, shirtless and face down on the couch," Zechs replied, though he'd had a hot image come to mind of Duo naked on the bed like that, and himself straddling his ass, his cock nestled... [Damn, not now!] "I'll go get something to use," he finished, releasing Duo and going to his closet where he hung up his coat. He flashed a smile over his shoulder at Duo who had started to unbutton his shirt, as he himself unbuttoned the long, dark-green uniform jacket to remove it. A moment later, he'd shed his boots as well and was now heading into the bathroom to retrieve the massage oil he wanted. [Take a deep breath...] Zechs had brought a pair of shorts and a polo shirt in with him, so he changed out of the rest of his uniform completely, getting more comfortable. [Just a massage for now... I can do that.] Duo made himself comfortable on the couch. Shirtless, as requested, and also barefoot. His head, resting on folded arms, was turned so he could see Zechs when he came back into the room. [We still haven't been naked with each other since Cairo. God, it's been over three weeks since that stupid day... He keeps saying he needs time, but I swear he's not getting any better.] Just then Zechs emerged from the bathroom, looking relaxed in shorts and a shirt and carrying a small bottle of oil and a towel. Zechs always looked good no matter what he wore - or didn't wear. Duo especially liked him in the new GAIA uniform that Quatre and Noin had designed. It was a guilty pleasure, since he'd opted not to join the others in wearing it. When the crate had arrived from Capetown, everyone had rushed to see the new uniforms. It had been a unifying moment for the new alliance; having the ex-OZ personnel and the Gundam pilots dress alike and all proudly wear the GAIA symbol pinned to their lapels - a "solar wheel", an equal-armed cross with a circle around it, and a design of olive leaves twining around the circle. Except for Duo. He wanted to be his own man, and for whatever reason, he had chosen that as the way to show it... until now. The conversation with Heero this afternoon had set him to thinking. "Hey, Zechs," Duo asked as the man walked over to the couch and knelt beside it. "I wanna know... Do you think I should be wearing the GAIA uniform?" Zechs had gestured for Duo to get up long enough for him to spread out a towel, then waved him back down to lie again on his stomach. Carefully he lifted the braid out of the way. "It's entirely your decision, Duo," he replied mildly as Duo got settled. He poured a small amount of oil in one palm and began rubbing it with both hands, warming it. "Thanks," Duo said, watching his lover's preparations. [Oh, I wish he was going to use that oil for another reason...] "We're not exactly the usual military organization," Zechs added. "But there are benefits to wearing a uniform. Not that anyone will have trouble recognizing you, however." He winked and put both his hands on Duo's shoulders to start the massage. Duo jerked slightly at the contact. It wasn't that Zechs's initial touch was rough, but that his own muscles were much more tense than he had realized. "Ooh, that's good," he said, delighting in the attention. "I wouldn't have even brought it up, except for what Heero said. He was really angry at me." The older pilot worked slowly, thumbs working on neck muscles, then fingers on the tops of Duo's shoulders. "Mmmm, what did Heero say?" "Well, for starters... oh, yeah, right there... he was unhappy about the battle," Duo replied, closing his eyes as he enjoyed how Zechs's fingers worked deep into his muscles. "He was crying about me taking a swipe at him." The hands stilled. "Oh, Duo, you didn't..." "What?" Duo asked, opening his eyes, and looking all innocent and misunderstood. "Now, don't you start. As I explained to Heero, I would have never actually made contact with his Gundam. It was just a warning." Zechs sighed heavily and resumed working the muscles in Duo's upper back. "Not that he understood that, but my concern is how that must have looked to Sally and Wufei. That's not something that would bolster their confidence about working with us in the future, Duo." Duo ducked his head, burying it in his arms so that Zechs couldn't see his face. He was no diplomat, but certainly his common sense should've told him how odd his actions would appear. [That was crazy, Maxwell. And you know damn well that if Heero would've made the wrong move...] "Teamwork," Duo mumbled into the couch. "That's what he said. I'm not a team player." "Perhaps," Zechs said, his voice low and soothing, "he wasn't as angry as he was concerned... for you, Duo, and for us all. Working with a team isn't about wearing the same clothes... though wearing those same clothes can help communicate how you feel about the team. But a 'team player' is one who looks to see how everyone is affected by your actions." He concentrated for a moment on a particularly hard knot of muscle on Duo's left side. "Do you want to be like that, Duo?" The boy raised his head to look at his lover. Those incredibly sweet, blue eyes were looking on him with sympathy and understanding. "I do care about everyone, Zechs. I really do," Duo said, his brow tight with worry. "And I want to be like that. I want to be one of the team." It felt good talking like this, feeling Zechs's acceptance and getting the guidance he needed. But Duo couldn't bring himself to tell Zechs the whole story. He couldn't tell him how awful he'd felt when he'd left the base. How jealous he'd been of Heero... But he could apologize. "I'm sorry about today. I got carried away." [That was hard for him to say that,] Zechs realized as he gazed back into the soulful depths of Duo's eyes. He reached up to rub Duo's forehead for a moment. "I know you care, love. Yes, you got carried away. I know it's very difficult for you to admit that, and I know you don't want to admit that to anyone else." That he meant Heero was implied. "What do you think you can do to be more of the team, Duo?" The dark brows knit together again. "Well, I thought I was part of the team until today," Duo said, sighing. "Even though, like you said, the uniform isn't everything, I just might... wear it. Or part of it." He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe that'll help." "Sure, it might," Zechs replied, smiling. He leaned in to brush his lips against Duo's, then shifted over to work on his back again. "Anything else bothering you, love? In case you still feel like talking, that is." [Oh, nothing much, just why won't you make love to me?!] Duo wondered and then grinned, hiding the ache in his heart. [I can't tell him that. Not when I've said I'll be patient with him... give him whatever he needs.] "You know me," Duo said, cheerfully. "I'm always eager to talk." He relaxed more into the massage, appreciating each loving touch. "I suppose part of me wonders what will happen when we go into space. That's gonna be happening real soon," Duo said, looking over his shoulder at Zechs. "We'll be separated, won't we?" The GAIA leadership committee, which was comprised of the four Gundam pilots, Zechs, and the control tower chief, Federi DiRoma, had held weekly meetings to plot out what moves they could make once they went public. It was expected those meetings would be daily very soon, as the final days approached. A lot of scenarios had been presented and discussed. Soon they would have to decide for sure what action they would take... but a lot of it depended on Bremen. "I'm waiting to hear from Treize again," Zechs sighed, working the last kinks out of Duo's lower back. "He's supposed to be getting details on the locations of all mobile doll systems and the exact plans for the production of more. Then we can finalize our plans." He bent and kissed Duo's shoulder. "It could mean separation... yes. For a short while. When the war is over... we'll be together again." [When the war is over we could both be dead,] Duo thought, morosely. He gave a little nod and rested his head back on his arms. "Yeah, after the war," he said, and then for a time was quiet. He thought about how inconsequential all of his jealousies and needs would seem when he was separated from Zechs. Then he would long for the simple things... like sleeping spooned together under covers and feeling his lover's hands massage away his tension. "This is real good, right now. Just being together." Finally the taut body beneath his hands was relaxing. [Even if we could... make love... again... we have so much to do to prepare to go to space,] Zechs mused, his hands slowing at last. "Yes, this is good right now," he murmured in response. Finished, he patted Duo's shoulder. "Turn over, Duo." The younger man twisted his body around until he was lying on his back and then folded his arms under his head, making a pillow for himself. He was practically purring from the massage. "Oh, those magic hands of yours! I feel like a million bucks!" Duo said, grinning from ear to ear. Zechs smiled and laid his hands along Duo's sides, passing his thumbs along his ribs. "You should. You know, you've put on weight since coming down here. Your bones don't stick out as much." He winked, then slid his hands up farther, which had the effect of his thumbs brushing against Duo's nipples. "It's either the steady meals... or having a kitchen to steal from on a regular basis. I can't decide which." "What?! I'd never!" Duo exclaimed in complete shock and feigned innocence, his voice an octave higher from the unexpected sensation of having his nipples rubbed. He wasn't ready to admit to the crime... just yet. In all his years as a petty thief and pickpocket, Duo had rarely been caught. On those few occasions, he'd always managed to weasel his way out of trouble. Of course, he'd never been accused by his lover who was also the base commander. And it didn't help that he looked guilty as hell; his cheeks were pinking and his eyes and mouth were as wide as they'd ever been. The older man's thumbs stilled right over the nipples. "I'm not bringing this up to read you the riot act, love," Zechs murmured, still smiling. "I know you have your reputation to keep up... but you have to admit that when the braid goes flying around corners, it's kind of hard to miss." He winked at his lover. "Don't worry, the whole base doesn't know. Just me and the cook." [And I won't tell you that the cook has purposely placed leftovers in full sight in the front of the refrigerator so that you could find them more easily...] "Hmm," Duo said, his eyes narrowing as he considered how he could be more stealthy in his operation. [I'll have to tuck my braid up under my cap next time...] "So, you're blackmailing me, huh, Merquise?" Duo asked, a chuckle spilling out even though he was trying hard not to laugh. "Just you and the cook know? I see... and you won't tell anyone else as long as I cooperate, right?" He winked then and bit down on his lower lip to keep from laughing out loud. Oh, how he loved playing with Zechs! Two fingers shifted to clasp a small, pink nipple, pinching just slightly. "I hadn't given blackmail a single thought, my dear man," Zechs replied, feigning seriousness. "Just preserving my lover's hard-earned reputation. After all, Gundam pilots would never be caught dead *stealing*!" Then he had to smirk, giving himself away. Duo's body arched up into the sharp, but pleasurable touch. "Ohhh," he said, tipping his head back and writhing in sensual delight. [God, I need this!] "I've heard some of them survive by stealing... food, parts, whatever they need. They're quite ruthless." Then he looked back up, grasping Zechs's wrist to still his hand, as his own breath was coming a little faster from the stimulation. "But you're right... they'd never be caught alive." Zechs shifted his gaze from Duo's chest back up to his eyes, and immediately a look like fire raced between them, hot and sweet. "I hear they also steal kisses," he murmured, moving his hands back down to clasp Duo's hips. "As well as hearts. Is this true?" "On rare occasions... yes," Duo said, a bit breathlessly, his eyes locked with his lover's. He propped himself up on his elbows, gaining a little more intimacy. "I heard a tale of one young pilot who stole the heart of a prince, and who could never get enough of his kisses." He leaned forward then, swallowing in hungry anticipation of those lips. White eyebrows shot up. "How terrible! Whatever would the prince do without a heart?" Zechs slid his fingers over to the top button on Duo's button-fly jeans, and unfastened it, then paused again. "So this evil pilot stole the prince's heart and then stole all his kisses! I hope there's an upturn to this story; it's rather depressing at the moment." A second button was undone. Wide, cobalt blue eyes peered down intensely at the deft fingers. "Oh, but the evil pilot was actually just a lonely young man in disguise," Duo said, as he licked his lips and felt his groin stirring to life. [Come on, Zechs. I need a kiss, a lick, a stroke... anything!] "He treasured the prince's heart and all their kisses, and in return for taking them, the pilot gave the gift of himself to the beautiful prince." Zechs's glance flew up to meet the honest blue eyes of his incredible little lover. "Oh.... Duo..." Then he surged up to claim Duo's mouth, giving him one of those cherished kisses because he truly did not know what to say in response to that loving statement. "Mmmm," Duo moaned as he latched on to that fabulous mouth with fervor. He'd always loved Zechs's kisses. The man seemed to pour so much of himself into each one that it made Duo hungry for more. And today, he felt starved for them, even though he had been tenderly kissed just this morning before getting out of bed. But the day had been long. Duo had let himself slip into jealousy once again and was suffering from a great need to be close to his prince. To forget about the base and the war and the newcomers for a little while and just be together... embracing and loving each other. [Oh, yes, he gave me freely of himself,] Zechs thought as he fervently expressed his overflowing love for his Dancer in the deep kiss. [He gave me such a tremendous gift... and I am changed. My heart is safe in his care, and my kisses. Oh, Duo, my Dancer...] Far away did the shadow upon his mind seem right now, though he could still sense it if he looked. The threat of the panic attack loomed in his mind like a snake lying in wait to strike. [I must heal, for him. Why have I not healed?] But he had no answers except in loving Duo like this. As the kiss ended, Duo moved his lips to Zechs's cheek, kissing it and then rubbing his own cheek over it. [God, I love everything about him,] he thought, indulging in the feel of his lover in his arms and the scent and warmth of the man. "Zechs," Duo whispered, caressing the long fall of platinum hair down the man's back. "I've missed this. Seems like there hasn't been time lately." Zechs inhaled his lover's scent deeply, the fresh, masculine musk of his little fox. "I know, and I'm sorry about that, Duo," he replied quietly from where he leaned over him. "It's going to get worse. This is the most critical time in our alliance - right before we go public. Love, I don't mean to neglect you! This all just weighs on my mind so much... and there are hard decisions to come. Even now a part of me thinks I should be in my office, attending to... whatever." He brushed his nose over Duo's lips affectionately. "I love you so much... but right now I think we have to set what we want aside so that we can concentrate on the future, on the peace we need to build." Zechs straightened to look into his eyes, ice-blue into cobalt. "Please, baby, please understand..." "I'm trying," Duo said, his eyes gone sad. He knew all too well the importance of what they were about to do, that the peace of the Earthsphere depended on them. "I suppose I'm selfish for wanting more time with you," he said, touching his lover's face as he drew his fingers over cheek and nose and jaw. "I know you're busy, everyone's busy, but I love you so much." [It hurts to talk about what we can't have,] Zechs thought, closing his eyes as his little lover touched him so intimately on the face, making his heart melt yet again. "I know, Dancer, I know. I love you so much, too. Just... just hold onto this moment. That's all we can do right now. Hold onto love." He savored the sweet touches a moment more, then ducked his head to press a kiss into the center of Duo's chest. The boy lay back on the couch, his hands slipping out of the silken hair and onto his lover's shoulders. "Yeah, I need to be thinking about this moment... about how much we love each other right now." Duo closed his eyes picturing the scene in his mind as if he was floating above it. [We're together. Zechs is giving me this time. I need to enjoy it and not worry about the other stuff.] "I think I understand," he said, opening his eyes to the vision of his lover kissing his chest again and the tendrils of white hair brushing over his naked skin. "This is very nice." "Mmmm," Zechs made a pleased sound as he tasted his lover, taking his own advice to center in the moment. He laid a hand again on one of the buttons on Duo's jeans and opened it as he shifted his mouth over to suckle lovingly at a nipple. [Just... love him. That's all there is right now, this moment. Just... love him...] (tbc)
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