"Remade and Remodeled "

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, hurt/comfort, angst

Pairings: 6x2

Summary: The challenge of an outlandish bet brings unforeseen consequences

"Remade and Remodeled "

It had been three days since he’d laid eyes on Duo Maxwell, and Zechs found himself needing to drink in every inch of him. From the young man’s slender frame to his casual attire and unraveling braid, Zechs memorized it all.

“You’re here,” Duo said.

“Were you expecting someone else?” Zechs asked.

“I wasn’t expecting anything.”

He and Duo had sparred verbally before, but there was something amiss here. He followed Duo’s line of vision until it rested on the woman at his side. Zechs had nearly forgotten he wasn’t alone.

“This is Angela Barat,” he said in a cool business tone. “She… assists me.” He turned to the woman in the fuchsia suit and continued the introductions. “Angela, this is the young artist I was telling you about, Duo Maxwell.”

Angela held out her hand, giving a coy smile. “Mr. Maxwell.”

Duo shook her hand, but his brow furrowed. “Isn’t Miss Noin your assistant?” he asked, looking up at him.

“She is,” Zechs said, simply.

He hadn’t expected Duo to be here, which made him regret coming directly to the gallery with Angela in tow. He could have dropped her at her apartment, but he was in a rush to see how things were developing. She had joined him on the business trip, but only at Treize’s insistence. He had played on Zechs’s insecurity, claiming that he would steal her away if she was left alone too many nights. Even though she was nothing more than a convenient, warm body, it was a matter of pride not to lose to Treize. Speaking of which, Zechs only had 12 more days to win this bet.

The gallery’s owner, Corrine, rushed over, looking as vibrant as ever. “Zechs, darling! I don’t know where on Earth you found this young man, but he’s very deserving of this public showing, and he’s been so gracious. But I must insist that someone look after him. He showed up here and promptly fainted!”

“What?” Zechs’s heart pounded in his chest.

“It wasn’t a big deal,” Duo said, shrugging it off.

“He passed out in front of the gallery less than an hour ago,” Corrine said.

“Did you call a medic?” Zechs asked.

“He didn’t want one.”

“I’ve heard that before,” Zechs said, and put his hand to Duo’s forehead. “You look tired, but that’s to be expected.”

Duo pushed the hand away. “I’m fine. Stop treating me like a child.”

Zechs frowned. He did have an urge to protect Duo, but there was nothing fatherly about it. “Tell me what happened.”

“I rode my bike down here and over did it, I guess. I haven’t been sleeping much trying to meet your demands.”

Corrine looked between the two men and took a step back, seeming to hear the sting in those words. “I’ll leave you to discuss it.”

Angela was still there, clinging as she always did. He couldn’t talk to Duo the way he needed to with her hanging about. He turned to her, and spoke in a firm, but gentle voice. “I need to sort things out here. Have one of the assistants call you a cab.”

She blinked at him, stunned, and then looked sharply at Duo. For a second, Zechs thought she might say something to Duo, but she maintained business composure. With a nod, she turned on her high heels and grabbed the first intern within reach.

Zechs put his hand on Duo’s shoulder propelling him further into the gallery.

Duo looked back at Angela, seeming puzzled. “If she’s your assistant, then why not ask her to help?”

“This is not her forté.”

In moments, Angela was gone, and Zechs with Duo at his side, set about discussing the opening with the staff to ensure that everything was on schedule. The finalized guest list was handed to Duo.

“I only know two people on this list.”

“I’ve invited a very select group of dealers, collectors and critics. These are the people you need to know.”

“But what about Hilde and Miss Po? Can’t I spend time with them?”

“Of course, but the purpose of this event is to impress the art world. It’s important you don’t neglect any of your guests. They will be very anxious to meet you.”

Duo sighed and gave a look of exasperation. “You really think I can pull this off?”

“Absolutely.”

“And you’re not just saying that, because...” The sentence drifted off, unfinished.

“Because… this is a business deal? You are the only one who stands to gain from this venture. Although, the gallery will receive a commission---”

“But there’s gotta be something in it for you. What am I to you?”

The question spiked through Zechs, and for an instant he feared that Duo had somehow learned about the bet. But the young man’s eyes were wide and true, not hard with accusation. In review the comments were of a personal nature. Zechs smiled, now relieved and charmed by Duo’s words, but this was not the place to test their meaning.

“You are a very talented young man who deserves recognition. I will accept any praise you’d like to give me for discovering you.”

The sideways look Duo gave him, suggested he was calculating Zechs’s response in relation to the question. Then he laughed. “You’re a piece of work.”

“Are you disputing my claim?”

Duo lifted his chin, suddenly more confident. “You claiming me, Zechs?”

Zechs swallowed as warmth pooled in his groin. Damn right he was making a claim, but when would he act on it? “Perhaps this would be better discussed elsewhere.”

“Whatever. It’s your call.”

There was a definite temperamental quality in Duo’s tone today, and he did not want to be dealing with it in front of his team. They had a show looming just 36 hours away, and Zechs had yet to return to the office to finalize the new client contract he had secured during his two-day trip.

Zechs bought himself a moment to collect his thoughts and calm his libido by speaking with Corrine before nodding for Duo to follow him outside. They crossed the street to a sidewalk café, taking seats at a shaded table. Zechs snapped his fingers at a waiter, but he hardly needed to as the young man practically tripped over himself making a beeline for them.

“Yes, sir. What can I get you today?”

Zechs shed his long coat, revealing a navy, pin-striped suit. He made a point of always looking his best, living by the philosophy that you never knew who you might meet or need to impress.

“I’d like coffee with a shot of Bailey’s, and my friend…” He looked to Duo who shrugged. “Will have the same.”

“Very good, sir.”

“Oh, and bring us a slice of your pound cake.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.” The waiter darted away.

“I don’t like pound cake,” Duo said, while slipping out of his denim jacket.

“You’ll like this one.”

Duo’s brow furrowed. “You keep doing that.”

“What am I doing?”

“You make decisions for everyone as if they aren’t capable of making up their own mind.”

What had he done to set off Duo’s petulant streak? There was definite tension in the air, and God forbid that prompted Duo into pulling out of the show. After all, there was nothing more than a handshake binding him to this deal.

Maybe it was the stress of the upcoming show, or that Zechs had shown up with a woman. Angela had looked the part of an assistant in professional dress and manner, but she and Duo had glared at each other like rivals. Did he dare hope that Duo was jealous? The possibility made his fingers twitch on his thigh. After watching Duo at the photo shoot, Zechs had not stopped thinking about the rebellious, wiry beauty.

The waiter returned with their order, carefully setting the coffees and cake before them. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

“This is fine,” Zechs said.

The waiter left, reluctantly.

Duo sighed. “Geez, you cast a spell on everyone.”

“Money casts the spell,” Zechs said with a chuckle. “I’m a good tipper, that’s all.”

The joke was met with a genuine smile, and Zechs felt they were finally connecting again. How was it that three days apart had caused such a rift? Or was Duo regretting that separation as well?

Duo sipped his coffee, his lips quirking up at the edges. “It’s good. The Bailey’s makes it smooth.”

“You seemed out of sorts, so I thought the alcohol would calm you.”

“Yeah, good idea,” Duo said with a snort, taking another sip. “It’s been a crazy week.”

“I shouldn’t have gone out of town, but I thought it best to stay away. Now I see, I should’ve focused my energy on you. At least until we get you through the opening tomorrow night.” Zechs pushed the pound cake toward Duo. “Tell me if this doesn’t make you feel like you’re in love.”

His words were deliberately seductive, and the slight widening of Duo’s eyes confirmed he’d hit his mark. Duo cut into the cake with a fork and took a bite. He chewed on the dense cake and smiled, no doubt enjoying the buttery texture.

“Well?” Zechs asked.

“I’ve never been in love…”

The innocence of the reply made Zechs’s body warm. “Tell me how you feel.”

Duo swallowed hard. “Are we still talking about the cake?”

“What do you think we’re talking about, Duo?” Zechs reached over to cover Duo’s hand with his own. “It’s good, isn’t it?”

Their lives had been intertwined for little more than a week, but there was something between them. It was an attraction that wound tighter with every encounter, and Zechs prayed that he was reading the signs correctly. He wanted this, wanted Duo in his bed. But part of him feared that he was playing Treize’s game. Could he trust that his feelings for Duo were real or were they merely a symptom of a cynical bet?

Duo was talking, but Zechs was only half listening. He was caught in the tumble of emotions and questions swirling inside him, and the way Duo’s eyes shone so brightly. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t thinking about meetings or clients or what Noin would say when he finally made it into the office. He simply wanted to gaze into those dancing, brilliant eyes.

Suddenly, Zechs noticed that Duo was blushing. He looked down at their hands and saw that their fingers were entwined. When had they woven together?

“Duo…” There was a need to put this moment into words, but Zechs found that he didn’t know where to begin. So, he simply leaned in closing the space between them, and marveled as Duo did the same.

Duo licked his lips and gave a nervous laugh. It was too adorable to resist, and Zechs no longer wished to second guess what was happening. He crossed the final threshold, pressing a kiss to Duo’s lips. He was met with warmth and softness, and took the kiss deeper as Duo’s lips parted invitingly. Every cell of his body came alive in that moment. He needed to take this further, but they were in a far too public place.

Zechs pulled back, touching Duo’s cheek with a brush of his hand. “It’s about time we did that.”

“Yeah, I’ve been wondering how it would be.”

“And how was it?”

“Much better than I imagined,” Duo said with a satisfied grin.

Zechs’s heart was still hammering in his chest as he pulled Duo’s hands under the table, and held them tight. “You wanted to know what you are to me. Well, that was part of the answer.”

“Only part? Like a down payment?”

“No,” Zechs said, his voice husky with need. “Like a claim.”

Chapter 10

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