"Robot Lover"

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: Romance, Angst, Humor

Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4, 13x6, 5xR

Note: My initial inspiration for this story came from the live drama series "Zettai Kareshi" (Absolute Boyfriend) based on the manga by Yuu Watase.

Summary: Heero Yuy risks his job for a chance at love when Duo Maxwell orders an Ideal Lover robot from his company.

First place winner in the 2010 Moments of Rapture long fic category!

"Robot Lover"

Level Nine

Duo wiped at the tears that spilled down his face, trying to stop the steady stream. They kept coming, unleashed from the depths of his broken heart. Why had Heero shown up? Why had he thrown those lies back in Duo's face?

He couldn't see the road, his vision blurred by his pain, but something told him to pull over. He was safely away now. He threw the car into park and cried out like a man plummeting a thousand feet to his death. This pain was still so raw that he couldn't imagine feeling worse, but seeing Heero made the betrayal new again.

Had Heero purposely dressed that way to antagonize Duo, to remind him that he had been stabbed? Heero had worn a suit jacket with no shirt underneath, revealing a bare chest that glistened with a light sheen of sweat, and a stomach covered in white gauze.

Duo slammed his palm against the steering wheel. "Selfish, lying son-of-a-bitch."

He sat there for minutes, maybe ten, maybe twenty, before he was completely drained of his anger. He barely had enough energy to call Quatre and tell him that he was going home tonight.

"You don't sound right," Quatre said. "You should come here."

"No, I just want to be alone tonight."

"Something happened."

"I'll be all right. I promise." He couldn't tell his friend just now. It would be like reliving that moment in the parking lot again, and he just couldn't do it. "Really… I'm fine."

There was a pause and then, "Okay, but call me in the morning."

"You got it, buddy."

When he opened the door to his apartment, he breathed in the familiar smells. Of course, one of the first things he saw when he switched on the hall light was the beautiful triptych he and Heero had selected together at the art fair. He took a deep breath and removed each of the three canvases. His hands shook as he stacked them facing the wall so he didn't have to look at them.

He walked down the hall to his bedroom and switched on a lamplight. Okay, he definitely would not be sleeping in that bed tonight. He was sure that Heero's scent had permeated every fiber of the sheets and mattress. His robot's enticing masculine scent had been a red flag that Duo had chosen to overlook. Even then his subconscious had been trying to warn him, but no, he had to fall in love and throw caution to the wind. Made him wonder what his life would've been like had he gotten the robot he'd ordered.

There was a serious lack of oversight and quality control at AR Industries if employees could switch shipping labels on the crates. Sometimes a lawsuit was the best wake-up call for a company. It made corporations re-examine their practices and put their fancy slogans about the customer being their primary concern into practice.

After some deliberation, Duo decided the only Heero-free place he could sleep was the guest room bed. It was the one piece of furniture they hadn't fucked on. Go figure. Duo walked out of the master bedroom and across the hall to the guest room. The little time they had spent in this room together was to put away Heero's new clothes, and of course, the day Trowa had run a fake diagnostic on him.

Duo supposed it was the lies that hurt so dreadfully much. How the deceit had started from the moment that silver crate had been delivered, and Heero had pretended to be inactive until Duo had kissed him. It made him ill to remember it, and to remember the emptiness in Heero's eyes tonight. He didn't understand the torture peering at him in those blue, blue eyes and didn't want to. Heero didn't deserve that consideration, but the encounter had shaken Duo. He hadn't realized it would be so difficult to see Heero.

He fell onto the guest bed face down, burying his face in the pillow and wanting to cry or to scream, but neither came. He was so tired, so very tired that all he could do was to lay there like a lifeless sack of grain and pray that Heero didn't find his way into his dreams.

The next day, it felt as though he hadn't slept at all, but he knew he had to get his life back. Even though it was Saturday, it was as good a day as any to sink his teeth into work again. From then on, he worked every day, and every night. He filled his schedule with appointments and court dates, and even gave a free seminar through the chamber of commerce on filing incorporation papers. The fast pace kept up for ten days until Quatre's pestering slowed Duo down enough to meet for dinner.

Somehow he talked Quatre into meeting at an all-night diner. He wasn't in the mood for fussy waiters and nouveau cuisine. He just wanted to sit down with his friend and chat over a burger and fries like they'd done in college.

"You're looking well," Quatre said as they slid into their booth.

"Thanks." Duo grabbed the menus and handed one to Quatre. "I've been really productive the last week. It feels good. What about you?"

"Oh, the usual. My sister Arianna wants to bring her three kids for a visit. I'm thinking of redecorating one of the guest rooms to make it more kid friendly."

"That sounds good."

The conversation continued along this safe, steady ground. They sipped on their sodas, and shared a basket of cheesy fries while they waited for their burgers. Yep, just like old times, except that there was a big albatross casting a shadow over their heads. They danced around it as long as they could, until Quatre finally broke.

"Have you heard from him?"

Duo sucked in a breath, even though he'd been expecting the question. "Don't see how I could, since I changed my lock, and my phone numbers."

Quatre's eyes narrowed. "Well, yes, but he knows where you work and where you live."

Duo flinched, wondering if Quatre knew about the visit. "I don't suppose you've heard anything?" he asked, exasperated.

"Yes, I have."

"You have?" Duo nearly jumped out of his seat. "How's that?"

"Trowa called."

"You're talking to Trowa now?" That wasn't good.

Quatre looked down at the table as if he felt a little ashamed. "I don't want you to think I'm going behind your back, but—"

"But you are."

Quatre met his eyes. "I think what Trowa told us was the truth."

"W-what?" Duo stuttered. "You mean the truth about Heero's lies."

Quatre sighed. "I suppose."

Their burgers arrived then, and there was an awkward pause as the waitress made sure they had ketchup and mustard and refilled their drinks. After she flitted away to look after other customers, Quatre gave Duo the look that meant he was about to say something he wouldn't like.

"Just spit it out," Duo said, bitterly.

"You're not yourself anymore, you know."

"No, I don't know. And how would you know? It's not like you've seen me."

"Well, that's part of it. You don't return most of my calls, and when we do speak you're… surly, like you are now."

Duo's mouth dropped open. "You're joking, right? I have a fucking reason to feel this way and don't tell me otherwise."

"That's exactly what I'm talking about. You've got a chip on your shoulder now. Everyone's noticed it, including Hilde."

"When did you talk to her?"

"She calls… occasionally."

Duo took a deep breath. "So go on. There's something you're dying to tell me."

"Yes, it's about the truth and that sometimes it hurts very much."

Was Quatre about to clobber him for not telling him everything?

"I've done a lot of soul searching, beginning with my lack of understanding for why you wanted to order a robot in the first place."

"That's over and done with… at least until I file that lawsuit."

"Again… surly."

"You're the one who thought I should sue them!"

"We're talking about my soul searching now, Duo."

Duo childishly mimed locking his mouth shut. It wasn't easy being on the receiving end of one of Quatre's life lessons, but in a way it was penance for dragging him into this quagmire.

"I now believe that Trowa sincerely cares for me and always has. He's not a con man, he's just a man who was trying to help his friend."

"So have a litter of kittens together, I don't care."

Quatre gaped at him. "Duo, I know you're still hurting, but I'm your best friend, and there's no reason for you to talk to me like that. It's hard enough for me to admit when I'm wrong."

"Whoa…" Duo had to think about that. "You're saying you were wrong?"

"Yes, about Trowa. And if I can be wrong about him, then maybe you can be wrong about—"

"Oh, no you don't. Those are two completely different things. I can see what you're saying about Trowa, getting caught up in his friend's scheme, but don't you suggest that Heero's lily white."

"Far from it. What he did was unethical."

Duo nodded. The feelings of hurt were bubbling inside of him again. He had worked so hard to suppress them, and move on with his life. He didn't appreciate this challenge. "I don't get why you're saying all this, Q. God, you were there… you saw how he acted, you know what he did."

"I saw him treat you with love and respect."

"That was a lie!" Duo slammed his hand on the table, making their plates and drinks bounce, and causing customers to stare at them. It was déjà vu of the night he'd told Quatre he was ordering a robot, except this time he was the one getting upset.

Quatre calmly leaned towards him and lowered his voice. "No, it wasn't a lie, Duo. His feelings were true."

This was too much. He was pissed off now. Quatre had picked up on those feelings, several times, and never mentioned them. It couldn't possibly change anything to know that Heero had loved him. Maybe he was the sort of guy who got infatuated easily.

"You're not being truthful, Duo."

"I'm not being truthful?!"

"Why didn't you tell me that Heero came to see you?"

A shiver raced across Duo's shoulders. He had done his damnedest to forget that night. Heero had looked so broken… so hollow. "There was no reason to bring it up."

"There most certainly was. I'm your friend and I'm trying to help you through this."

"Q, nothing happened. I told him I'd call the cops if he didn't leave and that was it. We have nothing to say to each other."

"Trowa said that he snuck out of the ICU to see you!"

"Just proves he's deranged." It was getting a little warm in here, and he was feeling extraordinarily tired, but the earnestness in Quatre's eyes told him this conversation was far from over.

"Trowa and I are very concerned for you… the both of you."

Duo put his napkin on the table and stood. "I don't know what crack Trowa's giving you, but I'm not smoking it."

"Please, Duo. I know how much you loved him—"

"That's all in the past."

"Including how Heero took that knife in his belly to save you?"

"Goodnight, Quatre." Duo was done. He had to wash his hands of this whole thing.

He walked out of the diner and to his car. He got on the road, and suddenly didn't care where he went. He drove for miles with no destination and nothing to keep him company except blind pain and the lies that infected everyone around him. Was he going to lose his friendship with Quatre in all of this, too? Where would this pain stop? If this was what love felt like, then he never wanted any part of it again.

He made it home at some point in the early morning hours, but didn't go into work the next day, or the day after that. He left Hilde a message just to get her off his back, Quatre, too, and didn't return their calls. He slept most of the days away, in the guest room bed, of course. He didn't dress. He didn't shave. He didn't shower. Eventually, he wandered out to the kitchen and made a cheese sandwich, and left half of it sitting on the counter uneaten.

It felt like all the wind had been knocked from his sails. Maybe it had been a false wind, but it had given him some momentum. It had been two weeks since blood had stained the pavement and shattered his world. He had gone back to work, full force, powering along almost as though nothing had happened. He believed he could numb the pain to the point that it would evaporate if he worked hard enough, long enough hours. It had been a good rhythm until Quatre had rattled him with questions and confessions.

Had he become as surly as Quatre claimed? That wasn't an adjective that had been used to describe Duo before. Surly and angry, and oh, so very tired. The floodgates were open, rushing hard and vengeful waters over him, and throwing Duo against a wall. He'd never fallen apart like this before. No one had ever wormed his way into Duo's heart. No one had ever mattered like Heero had.

He got up from the bed and went into the master bathroom to splash water on his face. When he lifted his head, he was startled by his reflection. He hardly recognized himself. He was a mess. His hair was matted and unwashed, he hadn't shaven in two days, and his eyes looked… hollow.

God, it was the same emptiness he'd seen in Heero's eyes. Was that why Heero had looked that way, because he felt like this? It couldn't be, could it?

He got out his razor and foaming gel, and slowly removed the long stubble from his face. He was finally feeling human again. Human like Heero? That was something his mind hadn't completely accepted, and maybe never would. The Heero he knew was synthetic skin, wires and microprocessors. Even seeing the blood gush from Heero's stomach, Duo had denied the reality of Heero's humanity.

He took the knife for you…. He saved your life…

"Why would he do that?" Duo whispered aloud.

He stepped into the shower and soaped, rinsed and shampooed thoroughly. This cleansing felt like more than just a couple days of stench washing from him. It was like trying to awaken himself, re-connect with the Duo he'd lost along the way. He didn't want to be surly Duo, he wanted to be happy Duo… or more realistically, content Duo. Happiness was still on the far horizon.

It felt good to slip on a pair of jeans over his black briefs. Barefooted and bare-chested he sat down at the desk in the guest room and booted up the computer. He should at least check his work emails, so that he didn't piss off anymore clients.

As he scrolled through the messages, he alternately braided his hair, still damp from towel drying it. He replied to a couple of notes, assuring the clients that their contract or their case was in order. Then he popped over to his personal email account. He didn't use it much these days, since most messages came through his mobile, but he kept the account active for online purchases and such. As it turned out it was the addy he'd given to AR Industries.

His stomach did a flip seeing these old messages sitting in his inbox unread. His hand twitched over the mouse, hesitating to open them, but decided why not? He was a big boy and maybe there was a clue in here he should've read sooner that would've outed his fake robot.

The first message was a reminder about his online account. Trowa had mentioned that, too. The customer website provided answers to frequently asked questions, and a way to stay connected with his Ideal Lover team.

He clicked on the link that took him to a special customer website, and input his account number. His personal page appeared on the screen. He wasn't prepared for what he saw, an image of his robot, Thomas Snyder.

"Fuck." Duo stared dumbfounded. The robot they'd created for him was handsome in a rugged sort of way, but not half as good looking as Heero. "Would I have been as happy with you, Thomas?"

He laughed. What a stupid question. He wished he hadn't asked it, because the truth was, he didn't think so. At the diner, Quatre had said something about how much the truth hurt. Was this what he had meant? Quatre had gotten back with Trowa and everything was rainbows and sunshine for him again. It sucked that Duo was so deep in the muck that he couldn't even be happy for his friend.

Duo read through his personal page and found the list of team members who had worked on his robot. "T. Barton, Team Leader" was first with "H. Yuy, Lead Programmer" next on the list. Duo had to sit back and take a breath just from seeing Heero's name. Then a silly urge overcame him to find a photo of Heero on the company's website. He followed the link to the company's homepage, and to a section titled, Team Leaders. The page had information about the scientific divisions, and H. Yuy was listed in several places. His credentials were stellar, including a PhD in artificial intelligence, but no photo.

Heero had fallen in love with you the moment he saw you…

Is that what really happened? Somehow Heero had seen Duo at AR Industries and decided to take his involvement in the project a step further? Well, many unethical steps further.

"Even if he loved me, what he did was wrong."

Duo got up from the desk and flopped on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. For some reason he kept thinking about that empty look in Heero's eyes the night in the parking lot. Maybe that was why he needed a photo to counter the image that haunted his mind. Heero had been injured, battered from the attack and the surgery. Duo had been so full of rage at Heero's lies that he had no sympathy for Heero's trauma, and wasn't ready to admit that Heero had taken that knife for him. When Heero snuck out of the hospital to see him, all Duo saw was a selfish attempt at saving himself.

He turned his head towards the law books on the shelves lining the wall. If he was going to make a case against AR Industries, he'd need to get cracking on it. His next payment on the robot that wasn't delivered was due. He sat up and reached for a volume on civil penalties and paged through it, but this wasn't the book he needed. Where was the one with the cases on breach of contract? He got to his knees, running his fingers along the books' spines and grabbed one. Something tumbled from the shelf and thumped on the bed. He looked down to see a black cell phone. Where had that come from? He got up from the bed to take a closer look at the shelf. There was something tucked behind the books. He removed another volume and pulled out a black leather wallet.

"Who put this here?" He opened the wallet, and immediately sat down. Staring back at him from the driver's license was Heero Yuy.

Duo was breathless, seeing that face again. He sat staring at it a moment, bewildered, and then thumbed through the wallet to find credit cards, insurance cards, hundreds of dollars in cash, and a key. Heero's life was in this wallet, and he hadn't made an effort to get it back?

He picked up the cell phone, and powered it on. A beach scene with palm trees appeared on the screen. Duo accessed the menu and scrolled to the contacts. It didn't surprise him to find Trowa's name first on the list. He pressed "call" and seconds later, Trowa answered.

"Fuck," Duo said, hearing Trowa's voice.

"Heero?"

"It's Duo," he said, fiercely.

It was quiet at the other end of the line.

"I just found Heero's phone and wallet in my condo."

"Oh."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"I'd forgotten he'd had them… just in case."

"In case of what? Wait, don't answer that. Is Quatre with you?"

"Yes."

Duo pursed his lips, still bitter that these two had taken up with one other again so quickly. "Can I talk to him or is he tied up?" He meant that literally, of course.

"Here…"

"Duo?" It was Quatre, sounding tentative. "Is everything okay? I haven't heard from you in days."

"I'm not sure… anymore."

"About what?"

Duo shook his head, unable to answer. He was so confused right now… and afraid.

"Do you want me to come over there?"

"No, stay with Trowa. I'll work this out myself."

"I don't like the sound of that."

"Because I've been a scary son-of-a-bitch lately?"

Quatre chuckled. "Yes, you have, but maybe not anymore?" So, Quatre could hear the change in his voice. Could he feel it as well?

"Maybe," Duo said.

"Trowa says you have Heero's phone? Are you going to return it?"

"That's the million dollar question, isn't it?"

"He's home, Duo… He's on medical leave, but he's doing well."

"Too much information, Q."

"Sorry, I thought maybe you'd want to see him. It may be the resolution you need… so you can move on with your life."

Move on? Yes, that was what he wanted to do, but couldn't he do that without coming face-to-face with Heero Yuy again? He glanced at Heero's photo on the I.D. and felt his chest tighten. The pain was still there, but it had shifted. He didn't know what to make of that. Did it mean the moving on had begun, or simply that he was glad to hear that Heero was okay?

He took a deep breath. "I'll catch you later, Q."

"Oh… Okay. But Duo, make sure you call me. I've been very worried."

"Okay, buddy. Bye."

He ended the call and tossed the phone on the bed, running his hands through his hair. He knew he couldn't begin to understand why Heero had done any of the things he'd done. It was like he was someone else, not the man, or rather the robot that he knew.

Please remember that I love you…

I'm sorry if I worried you…

I'd do anything to protect this.

Duo's breath hitched as he remembered Heero's words. They were oddly prophetic. He felt manipulated and overwhelmed at the thought that Heero knew this would happen and had tried to prepare him. It was like the words were spilling over the top of the dam that Duo had built around his heart. Spilling over and pooling at his feet.

He shot up from the bed as if the flood of remembrance would overcome him faster sitting down. He no longer knew what to make of this situation. When Duo had learned of the deception his heart had shattered. He had felt betrayed and used in the worst way. His beautiful and caring robot had turned out to be a cynical con man, who had pretended to be the perfect lover.

Trowa had been adamant that Heero's intentions had been true, if not ill-conceived. Trowa's opinions were easily dismissed as tainted by his friendship with Heero and interest in Quatre. When Quatre had started singing a different tune, and had defended Heero, Duo had felt isolated and alone. Duo might have rejected his best friend's comments as well, since Trowa was bonking him, but then Quatre had confessed to sensing strong, positive feelings from Heero.

I saw him treat you with love and respect…

Damn it, maybe Quatre was right. Heero had been the perfect boyfriend from the moment Duo had opened that crate.

"Oh, God, he shipped himself in that thing! Naked!"

It suddenly made him blush to recall the rush of hormones when he'd ogled Heero's exquisite body and delicious round bottom. Duo had never envisioned perfection like that in a human male and yet there it was. From that moment on, Heero had never mis-stepped. Not once.

At the very least, Heero should get his belongings back. Duo wasn't ready to forgive him, but this was the right thing to do. He scooped up the phone and wallet and walked out to the kitchen, setting them on the counter top. He'd call a messenger service and that would end any obligation he had to returning the man's property.

He found the number for Elite Shipping in the business directory.

"I've got some personal property I need to return. Do you have expedited delivery?"

"Yes, sir. In the city we guarantee delivery within 90 minutes of pick-up during rush hour. What address are you shipping to?"

Duo opened the wallet and read the address on the driver's license. 100 LaGrange Road, Unit 10. He knew that neighborhood. A girlfriend of Hilde's lived near there. It used to be a factory district, and had been converted into deluxe apartments.

"Sir? Where are you shipping?"

"Oh… I'm gonna need to call you back. Thanks." He put down the phone, but couldn't stop staring at Heero's face.

LaGrange Road was across town, but Marceau Boulevard would be fast at this time of night. It passed along the neighborhood's north end.

"Am I taking these back myself?" he asked the question out loud, because it was so absurd. He didn't want to see Heero Yuy again… ever. And yet he did want to see him.

It was the first his anger hadn't squelched an opposite view of the world. Had the fog lifted? Maybe this was phase two of his grief and his anger had turned to indifference. The change was refreshing, no matter its meaning, and he suddenly felt like he was moving forward again.

 

 

Chapter 10

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