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"Found"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: Alternate reality, angst, romance, hurt/comfort Pairings: 6x2, 3x4 Summary: A conversation in an online chatroom
leads to much more for two enemy pilots.
"Found " 11) [He's late,] Zechs mused, pushing back the sleeve of his beige linen jacket to look at his watch again. It was twenty minutes past three. [Did I manage to frighten him off after all? What... what if his parents didn't let him go...] He had the sudden fear that this was someone a *lot* younger, and was able to come across as being older, even on the phone. [Why did I chicken out of a video call?] The legal age was fifteen universally, and especially in regions of the Earth such as this where boys had to grow up fast. [But I got the impression he's not from this part of the Earth...] Feeling a faint sense of unrest, Zechs sipped at his coffee, one of those bitter Arabic concoctions. [I can wait longer... I needed to get away anyway, and Cairo is plenty cosmopolitan.] He was sitting at a small table to the rear of the café near the bar, which afforded a bit of privacy while lending a clear view of the entire street. He'd be able to spot Duo... and that braid... before the other even entered the café. Zechs estimated he would have possibly five whole seconds to observe the other before Duo would spot him. Time enough to make a quick assessment. There was a door a couple steps from his table leading to a courtyard out back that he could slip out of if somehow... he'd been horribly misled. [I'll give him ten more minutes, then I'll give it up, go for a walk or something,] Zechs decided, willing himself to calm. As a soldier, he had had to get used to waiting. The taxi ride from the airport was dusty and hot, but Duo endured it, knowing, hoping, that he was about to meet the man of his dreams. Sitting in the back of the speeding cab, he looked at the scrap of paper in his hand for the tenth time. Scribbled in pencil was "Green Nile Serpent Inn." He'd written it down as if the name hadn't been branded in his mind the moment Zechs had spoken it. [I'm late,] he thought glancing at his watch, and grinning. That was a calculated move on his part. [I don't want to be standing around like some puppy dog waiting for a guy who might not show...] The cab turned sharply onto another street and Duo glimpsed its name on a signpost. "El Ruvil," he said aloud, peering wide-eyed out the open window. The driver mumbled something to him and then suddenly they were stopping. "Is this it?" Duo asked as he looked at the Egyptian man. The dark skinned man nodded and then pointed to the fare total blinking in red on the cab's meter. Duo reached into his pocket for his money. [Damn these new jeans are tight,] he snickered as he struggled to pull the paper money from their confinement in his front right pocket. He handed over the money and then opened the door, fairly leaping onto the street, relieved and excited to be at his final destination. He pulled his duffel bag out with him, slinging it over his right shoulder and whipping his braid around. The plaited chestnut hair struck him on the chest with a light 'wack. The cab drove away kicking up more dust. He coughed and shook his head smiling. [I'm gonna need a shower.] Duo looked around at the mostly empty tables of the open air café. No one even remotely resembled the blond god he had come to meet. And then he was struck by the odd sense that someone was watching him. His deep blue eyes darted around suspiciously, and then he remembered how out-of-place he must look. The girlishly long braid and tight American blue jeans. He snickered again, and then looked up at the café's sign hanging overhead. One last check to be sure he was in the right place before he went in. His bright, round eyes greedily read the name of the establishment 'Green Nile Serpent Inn.' [This is the place.] His heart leapt. Zechs took another sip of coffee and then looked out toward the street, perhaps for the last time. It was three-thirty. Then... he saw him. [He's here!] he thought, his heart jumping. Zechs straightened... his eyes riveted to the diminutive figure outside in the street. When the boy? man? turned from the taxi, the braid had gone flying, whipping around slim shoulders. The action caught Zechs's eyes immediately... and he was mesmerized. The slender figure was that of a dancer, the shoulders as yet delicate and narrow, waist willow-slim. The young man wore, tucked into rather tight jeans, a blue shirt unbuttoned most of the way to reveal a tight white knit shirt of some sort. A glimpse of short black boots with little heels could be seen below the jeans. Not at all what a child would wear. [A little man... damn, I was right on... this is no boy...] Then he looked up toward the other's face. Zechs's lips parted as he drank in the vision - indeed, a heart-shaped face, large eyes that darted around in excitement, the artless mess of hair dripping into his eyes... and the braid, long and heavy and lush... [Exactly as I'd pictured him... oh, my...] Young... very young... but even from this distance Zechs could tell that appearances in this case could be very deceiving. Duo held himself with confidence and self-assurance for all that he also displayed evident excitement and nervousness. [Hell, I'm nervous myself...] As he watched, Duo seemed to be peering into the cafe preparatory to entering, hoping, no doubt, to glimpse what *he* was getting into. A smile crept over Zechs's face, and he stood up, ready to be spotted. Duo took a breath and stepped inside out of the bright sunwashed street. His eyes rapidly adjusted to the cool, shadowed tones of the café's interior. He still felt that pressure on him... intense like... Zechs. Just then he saw someone stir at the back of the café. He narrowed his eyes and shivered in anticipation. The figure stood... very tall, very lean, very blond. [It's him! He's actually here!] Duo stopped, his body freezing with the vision of the man. [He's... beautiful,] he thought as his eyes and his brain tried to absorb every nuance, every inch of his mystery man come to life. Dressed in casual, but smart linens, Zechs looked decidedly together, and relaxed. The man's eyes were partially hidden behind tendrils of elegant, well managed platinum hair, but Duo could still see their crystal intensity from across the room. There was so much in Zechs's eyes. So much that wanted to be said, and so much that Duo wanted to know. [I'll lose myself in those eyes,] he thought. And then a fierce urge to be in the man's arms shook Duo out of his temporary haze. He smiled brightly at Zechs, and released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. With a quick toss of his head he flipped his braid once more over his shoulder and onto his back. He then walked with a determined step, weaving his way through the café and between the small tables. Zechs was very still as Duo made his way across the room. The blond's eyes all but sizzled with approval at what he saw. [I was right about him,] Duo thought with a crooked grin. [Zechs is as beautiful and sensual as a mythic god.] And now less than twenty-four hours since they'd discovered each other even existed, they were meeting. Duo stopped walking less than two feet in front of the long-legged Zechs. The younger man's bright eyes never strayed from the clear, pale blue depths of the other. "Hi," he said simply and waited anxiously for the sultry reply. "Hello, Duo," Zechs murmured, still smiling. He could not take his eyes from the bright vision before him. That face! No dream or imagined picture could ever have done it justice. Animated, expressive... like the face of a forest faerie or a master mime or a seasoned performer or what was most likely... Duo. He just was simply Duo, and simply magnificent, a spark of life incarnate. Then Zechs's hand was moving abruptly as if on its own, reaching over the young man's shoulder to claim the braid, drawing it back over Duo's shoulder to merely lay in his hand where he could feel it. Despite the other's startled gasp, Zechs broke the gaze for a moment to look at the heavy weave in his hand. [Soft... strong... like him...] Duo trembled at the intimacy of his braid being held. No one ever touched his braid, he didn't know why, but people steered clear of it. Maybe it was the way he carried himself, giving the impression that he'd bite any hand that dared touch it. But the way Zechs moved right in and grabbed it like he owned it, wanted it desperately, made Duo dizzy with pleasure. Oh, he just might bite Zechs, but it wouldn't be his hand. "Is it everything you hoped for?" Duo asked with a wicked grin. Zechs's ice blue eyes were blinking at the braid, then lifted again to look directly into the lively, cobalt blue eyes watching him. A tiny sigh escaped his lips as he straightened and released the braid, his hand falling again to his side. "Yes, actually... but please do forgive me. That was a bit rude of me..." Then he smiled, belying his own words. "Everything I see... is definitely what I'd hoped for... Duo." Duo's eyes sparkled at Zechs's words. "You're even more..." he began and then stopped. He was suddenly overwhelmed by what was obviously happening between them. The connection that had begun so innocently in a chat room was growing by leaps and bounds. [Steady, Maxwell, he's just a guy. Or, is he?] "You're what I'd hoped and more," he said at last and then grinned, trying desperately to hide the nervousness that was threatening to overwhelm him. [He's nervous,] Zechs mused, tilting his head a little as he regarded the young, grinning man, his heart melting. "Thank you. May I please buy you a drink? It's a rather warm day." Then he gestured to the chair opposite him, inviting Duo to sit. [I must intimidate him... damn, I'd love to get him up to my room right now. I so want to touch him, but this is really not the place...] "Thanks," Duo nodded. "I'd like a cola... I mean a club soda," he said dropping his bag on the floor and taking the seat across from Zechs. "You picked a nice spot to meet." He looked around the café a moment, aware that the other man had yet to take his eyes off him. "I like it... it fits you." Zechs nodded briefly, then turned away to move smoothly to the bar to order their drinks and return his cup of cold coffee. In a few moments he returned with a frosty glass of club soda which he set before Duo, then sat down with his own glass of lemonade. "This is a comfortable place to dine... and people watch," he explained, smiling a bit at this last. Duo had enjoyed watching Zechs from behind. Enjoyed watching the grace the man exuded as he moved to the bar, his waist length platinum hair swaying slightly with each step. The younger man grinned hungrily and licked his lips. [Oh, I can so see myself wrapped around him with my hands full of that glorious head of hair!] When Zechs returned with their drinks Duo nodded in appreciation and quickly took a sip of the cool liquid. He peeked at the older man through his heavy fall of bangs and listened carefully to his words. [So, he likes to people watch. Yes, I can tell he observes a lot.] "Thanks for the drink. The ride over was a bit warm," he said and set down his glass. Then he leaned back in his chair, taking a moment to stretch his arms over his head. "Yep, it's sure good to be here... with you. Maybe we could have dinner here later," he grinned and his blue eyes twinkled at the thought of more time with this man. The young man's choice of words was not lost on Zechs, who raised one white eyebrow in amusement. [Later... oh, my, this little one is hot to trot!] He looked over the slim form, noting the saucy expression. [Forward... almost... but definitely daring. I thought he was nervous... unless this is a brave front. Interesting...] "Their dolmades are especially delicious, and the souvlaki is spiced just right," Zechs commented, then took a long swig of his drink. "It would be nice to have dinner here sometime, yes." He purposely left it a little vague. Duo's eyes narrowed briefly at Zechs's maneuver and then suddenly widened with an idea. "You like spice, do you?" he said and then held up his hand. "Wait, don't answer that." He raised his club soda to his lips, first licking drops of condensation off the side of the glass, and then taking a long, soothing drink of the cool beverage. He sighed contentedly as he set the glass back down on the table, and then stared intently at the crystal blue eyes across the table from him. "Spicy enough, Zechs?" he asked and winked. Zechs didn't as much as blink, though the index finger of his right hand resting on the table began to tap slowly. It meant he was taking his measure of a person, not that Duo would know that, of course. "How old are you?" he murmured quietly. Duo straightened and gave a little snort. "Old enough," he said and then crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm legal if that's what you're wondering." The other's body language surprised Zechs at first, but then he supposed it fit. [He's independent, all right, probably a long time gone from home, wherever that is. His accent suggests America, I think. So, on his own, he's had to construct this cocky veneer to manage what life threw at him. That's honest... and it's refreshing to see him drop the Don Juan routine. Interesting... playing the seducer with *me*...] Zechs smiled a little, still completely relaxed. "Of course I was wondering. And it's my right to know." A thought occurred to him, and his smile faded. [Wait... could it be... my little minx here, is he a virgin? Not a virgin in life, that's for sure - he's been around plenty, I'm guessing. But not in this way, or he wouldn't be so blatantly throwing himself at me... oh, God...] Duo listened to Zechs's words, taking in the *man* before him. [Who am I trying to kid? He's obviously done this before, so it's probably obvious that I haven't.] He leaned back in his chair, his arms still firmly crossed over his chest, and his eyes partially hidden behind his chestnut bangs. [Damn, I get this all the time about my age. Maybe I should just relax. Look how calm he is! He didn't even blink at my little display with the glass.] "So, now you know," Duo sighed, his voice much softer than a moment ago. He willed his body to relax, the tension eased in his shoulders, but he kept his arms crossed protectively. "Now what?" he asked his cobalt blue eyes wide with the expectation of rejection. Ignoring the question, Zechs leaned forward in his chair suddenly, his eyes intently drinking in the younger man's challenging glare. The tapping finger stopped as he reached across to merely touch Duo on the arm. "You're well used to taking care of yourself, handling life on your own, I can see that," he murmured, bowing his head just a little so that he peered at the younger man through the artless tendrils of platinum hair. "Time doesn't age people, Duo... life does. I like to think I'm a good judge of people... I need to be in my work. And my instincts are telling me your age doesn't match your years. Life has aged you beyond the clock... as it has myself." Zechs straightened then and withdrew his hand, but left it close on the table. He took another sip of his lemonade as Duo fairly gaped at him, then added in a soft voice, "However, even life cannot always compensate for experience... of a particular nature. I'm guessing - forgive me if I presume too much - that you do not have experience in... intimate matters." [And it would be a privilege beyond belief if you allow me to teach you...] Duo blushed at Zechs's all-too-accurate observation and then was furious with himself for doing so. [He knows I'm a virgin. I am so out of my league here...] "It's that obvious, huh?" he asked and then dropped his gaze, still feeling the slight tingle where Zechs had touched his arm. "I have been on my own a long time," Duo admitted in a near whisper, his mind flashing briefly on his years alone, and then he turned his large eyes back to Zechs. His heart pounded at the sight of the other man still watching him carefully through tendrils of soft, platinum hair. "And you're right," he began again more confidently, "I don't have much experience with *that*, but it never mattered before." "I didn't say it mattered," Zechs replied gently, leaning back again, though he wanted to touch Duo more, even if it was a simple thing like taking his hand. "Not like you think. Experience can be gained... but what is probably more valuable is enthusiasm..." He smiled suddenly, his face lighting up as he recalled what he'd already experienced of Duo's natural ebullience. "And that you have in plenty, my friend. That said, may I make one more observation?" Duo nodded, a little dazed by Zechs's gentleness. "I'd like to know what you're thinking." And then he gave a little chuckle, "It really doesn't matter to you, huh?" he asked, scratching his head, and smiling brightly. [I can't believe it, but he's really okay with this.] "That you're... inexperienced?" Zechs replied, his gaze softening. He didn't want to embarrass Duo further by labeling him a virgin out loud. "Your emotional comfort matters a great deal. That you are... that... does not." His glance dropped momentarily, then he looked up again, stating what he needed to for himself... and for Duo. "I want to be with you, Duo. I know that we both came here with certain... hopes." He smiled again. "Yeah... hopes," Duo agreed and placed his right hand on the table. "I knew I was right about you being thoughtful," he grinned a little bashfully and then slowly let his hand creep across the table until his fingers nearly touched Zechs's hand. "I want you too, Zechs." And then he covered Zechs's warm hand with his own, his blue eyes reflecting his deep need for the man. [There it is again - *thoughtful*], Zechs thought as he smiled back easily, turning his hand over to fit his fingers into Duo's. [Something about this little man draws something out of me I barely knew I had in me... but even better, he'll draw me out of myself...] "Thank you... no one has ever referred to me as 'thoughtful' before and this is the second time. That's nice of you to say that." The younger man's hand trembled slightly at Zechs's touch and Zechs's words. "It's true," Duo affirmed and smiled. "Now, what was that about another observation?" [He's still nervous,] Zechs noted, his heart melting. [I can't make him more comfortable here, I don't think. Perhaps it's time.] He squeezed Duo's hand a little, actually giving him a grin. "Oh, yes, that. It just seems to me that since you've been on your own so long, you've learned to survive by being a quick study." Zechs winked at him, then released his hand and stood up. "No, Duo, I'm not worried about your inexperience. You're going to be a fast learner." He gestured toward the stairwell behind him, then gave Duo a little smirk and a toss of platinum hair. "Shall we?" Duo's groin stirred at the sight of all that glorious white blond hair being tossed seductively. "Damn, you're good," he said and quickly grabbed his duffel bag from the floor. When he stood he made sure to fling his braid over his shoulder to his chest. "I'm ready for my first lesson!" he said with a wink and rushed to follow Zechs upstairs. Chuckling, Zechs led his companion up the stairwell to the inn's rooms on the second floor. He'd noted, of course, when Duo flipped the braid to the front, a clear invitation. [Think I'll take him up on that,] he mused with delight.
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