|
"A Sweet and Wild Heart"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: Preventers, Get Together Pairings: 1x2 Summary: Heero and Duo uncover more than criminal activity on a mission just before the holidays.
"A Sweet and Wild Heart"
Duo could manage the alternating sleep schedule, but Heero was a stickler about not talking on stake-outs. It wasn’t as if Duo expected to have a conversation while listening to the comings and goings of their prey, but Heero hadn’t said more than three words in two days. And “hn” didn’t count as a word! Then there was the matter of Duo’s appetite. Apparently, the concept of eating out of boredom was foreign to Heero, because he couldn’t understand why Duo ate twice as much when they were expending minimal energy. If Heero only knew how Duo wanted to expend his energy, holed up for days—just the two of them in this room—but that conversation would end their partnership quicker than Santa climbed chimneys. To top it off, it was the holidays. Christmas was only a few days away and here they were in a poorly furnished apartment in the industrial district of Prague, waiting for criminals to make a move. The investigation had been ongoing for nearly a year, and Duo understood the importance of the subsequent mission better than anyone. His tenacity had convinced Commander Une that a highly dangerous inter-colony weapons’ ring was masquerading as “low level thugs.” They had done such a good job staying off the Preventers’ radar that when Duo presented his findings, he was told there were bigger fish to fry. He knew thugs from the streets of L2, and these guys weren’t dabbling in food rations. They were the conduit through which weapons flowed between the Earth and the Colonies. The command of Operation Thugless was given to Duo. Within days, Duo and his team of agents had set-up a complex network of surveillance around the crime boss’s lair and the smog-choked industrial district where the illegal weapons’ shipments came and went. If the intelligence reports and Duo’s instincts were correct, a shipment of mobile dolls was about to be delivered to one of the industrial warehouses. Duo couldn’t wait to step into action, anything to bring the mind-numbing surveillance to an end. After his stomach rumbled for the umpteenth time, Heero grabbed his gloves and went out the door. It was understood that he was making a food run, but it would’ve been nice if he had said something. Duo rolled his eyes and got up from the dining room table where the surveillance equipment was set-up. The cord on the headphones was long enough that Duo could move from room to room without missing a second of audio. He stepped to the window and pulled back the curtains slightly, and spotted Heero heading down the street. The experienced agent moved with casual purpose, inconspicuous in a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, boots and gloves. It was freezing outside, but to blend into this run-down neighborhood, Heero had gone out without a coat. Duo wanted to take Heero in his arms, hold him close, and warm him to the core. A small wish, but he wouldn’t risk losing their partnership for it. They made a great team, one of the best, and for all Duo’s complaining about his partner's bull-headedness, he couldn’t put himself in the line of fire without Heero at his side. He turned from the window and decided a stretch on the couch would re-invigorate him for the long night ahead. He lay full-length on the couch, and the tension began to ease in his shoulders. The change was good, but he had to be careful to stay alert. This was command central. He and Heero had to maintain constant surveillance of the thugs, and contact with their team. He rested his head on the arm of the couch, pulling his braid out from under him. Staring at the ceiling, he visualized their target on the other side of the plaster, watching television. They were so close, but couldn’t make a move until the moment was exactly right. Damn, his eyelids were heavy. He sat up a little, and then sank back onto the couch, tucking his hands into the pockets of his black hooded sweatshirt. He was more tired than he realized. Maybe if he closed his eyes for just a few seconds, he could shake the fatigue before it spread over his limbs… He lay back on the grass in his favorite park. The sun’s rays warmed his face and a cool breeze caressed his skin. He came here to let the stresses of life float away. He hadn’t told anyone about this place, yet he thought he heard Heero’s voice. “How did you find me?” Duo asked. Heero was standing over him, silhouetted by the mid-day sun behind his back. “I always know where to find you.” “You do?” “Yes, Duo…” Heero bent down and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Why did you do that?” Duo asked, even though he liked it very much. He thought he saw Heero smile, but it was hard to tell with the brightness of the sun obscuring his face. “Duo, you need to get up.” “In a minute.” “Now!” Duo sat up with a jolt. “Ow!” His right leg throbbed as though it’d been kicked. Heero was standing next to the couch with his hands on his hips. “I can’t trust you for fifteen minutes?” “I wasn’t sleeping,” Duo said, slipping the headphones around his neck. “Okay, maybe, but not much.” “Whatever.” Heero went to the table, and put on the other set of headphones. He hit the playback on the recorder. “Son of a bitch,” Duo said, going over to the table. “You think I missed something.” Heero glared. Duo tossed his headphones on the table ready to make a stand, and then noticed the bag with their dinner sitting on a chair. His stomach growled and that was the end of the argument. Let Heero think he had won, but after Duo got some food in him, he’d show Heero who was boss. He sat down at the opposite end of the table and put his headphones on before tucking into his gyro sandwich and fries. While he listened in on the Thug upstairs, Heero continued to re-visit the stupid fifteen minutes he was out of the apartment. “You’re wasting your time,” Duo said, and slurped his soda loudly. “I didn’t miss a thing.” Heero didn’t speak until he was done. “How do you know when you admitted you were asleep?” They stared at one another, and for a moment Duo thought he saw a fissure forming in their partnership. “I just know, Heero. Why don’t you quiz me on what you heard?” Heero hesitated, briefly. “All right. He was watching TV, but he took a phone call.” “Yeah, he was cooing to some chick he calls Bo-Bo and told her he wants to ‘fuck her from now ‘til New Years.’” Duo made light of what he had heard, but noticed Heero swallow hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. Was he uncomfortable with the topic? “It’s just talk, Heero. They’re not having sex up there.” Heero turned away sharply, grabbing his meal and sitting on the couch. “Am I right?” Duo asked, waiting for confirmation that he hadn’t messed up entirely. Heero lifted his chin and gave a barely audible “Hn.” “Okay then,” Duo said. Those were the last words either of them spoke for the next ten hours. The mission proceeded as dull as the previous two days, until finally the tip they’d been waiting for was heard. “My toys are on their way,” the crime boss said. Duo tapped the table with a pen, getting Heero’s attention. “I love Christmas,” the boss said. “Isn’t it a bit early yet?” an underling asked. “When you’ve been as good as I have, Christmas comes not once, but thrice.” “Thrice?” Duo asked. Heero held up a hand for quiet, and Duo smirked. “The North Pole is coming to me,” the boss said and laughed. The conversation in the thug’s apartment ended with the radio coming on to the sound of “Jingle Bell Rock.” Duo took his headphones off. “It’s the north warehouse at three a.m.” Heero grinned. “You got it." Duo and his team swept into the warehouse, guns drawn, surprising the overconfident weapons’ ring. The fire fight lasted less than twenty minutes with Preventers taking out four smugglers and arresting the remainder, including the kingpin. Only two Preventers’ agents sustained injuries. The stellar success of the operation kept Duo on a high long enough to get the prisoners’ transported to lock-up, and himself back to headquarters for a debriefing. He barely made it home before dropping onto his bed, fully clothed, and sleeping for twelve hours straight. The next day, dressed in uniform and back on duty, Duo was at headquarters writing his report. Every few minutes someone stopped by his office to offer congratulations. The strange thing was that Heero was acting like the operation had been a complete failure. He ignored the post-mission revelry going on around him, and got up from his desk after the third agent came in to hear Duo’s embellished tales. Everyone loved a good story, even if they knew the ending. Everyone, but Heero Yuy. Duo stared across the office to where Heero should be sitting, writing his own report. He’d been gone for thirty-five minutes. Duo tried not to think about it, and took a breath and kept typing, recalling details of the operation. Then it hit him. “Damn it,” he said, remembering Heero’s upset when he’d found Duo napping on the couch. “Gotta-do-everything-perfect Yuy is still peeved about my performance.” In hindsight, the incident had no bearing on the outcome of the mission, but what if things had gone differently? What if Duo had fallen sound asleep and missed something critical? Duo pulled a set of headphones from a desk drawer, and plugged them into his computer. The security recordings had been uploaded to the Preventers’ mainframe and were accessible until the mission was officially closed, after his final report was accepted. He knew exactly when Heero had gone on the food run, and played the digital recording from that timestamp forward. Like that night, Duo remembered most of it word-for-word, even the “fuck you ‘til New Years’” remark. He was about to stop the replay when he heard something new. It was the sound of a door opening and closing, and the crinkle of a paper bag. The sounds were muffled behind the noise of the television in the thug’s apartment. Then Duo realized the slightly inaudible sounds weren’t coming from upstairs, but from their stake-out room. “The ancillary mic was on,” Duo said, his face warming. That meant his disagreement with Heero had been recorded and was now part of the mission record. “There goes my stellar rating.” The audio continued to play… “Why did you do that?” Duo scratched his head on hearing his own voice. “Duo, you need to get up.” “In a minute.” “Now!” Duo’s eyes widened. “I thought I dreamt that…” Confused, and more than a little panicked that Commander Une was going to hear this, Duo played it again. “The door opens…” he said, as he listened carefully. “The door closes…” He adjusted the sound balance to isolate the ancillary mic’s recording. “There’s a sigh. Wait a minute. Heero sighed?” Then he heard the food bag being put down, a soft rustle and something indefinable. “What was that?” He leaned closer to the computer as if that would help him hear better, and replayed the last few seconds. This time he muted out everything from the thug’s apartment. He tried to mimic the sound with his mouth, imagining how it was made. He puckered his lips…. “Whoa!” Duo pushed back from his desk, tossing the headphones aside like hot coals. “That was not what I think it was.” He stood with a deep breath and turned to the window. It had started to snow. Beautiful, large snowflakes drifted down from whitish-gray clouds. He touched the cold window and put his hand to his face. His cheeks were warm, flushed by one thought: It’s Christmas Eve afternoon, and I’m at work, thinking that Heero kissed me. “Impossible,” Duo said. “What’s impossible?” Duo turned quickly to find Heero coming into their shared office. “Uh… the snow. It’s impossibly white.” Heero shook his head, brushing off the remark. He powered down his computer. “I haven’t gotten your report yet,” Duo said. As the mission’s lead operative, he had to sign each report before it went up the chain of command. “I spoke with Commander Une.” “Is that where you were?” “Yes, and the reports can wait.” Duo looked at his watch. It was just two o’clock. There was plenty of time to finish the reports before the holiday. “I’m surprised at you Heero.” “You are?” “I’m going to stay and complete mine. Then I won’t think about it over Christmas. I recommend you do the same.” He wasn’t often so authoritative with Heero, but in this instance it was merited. “Commander Une approved a delay in the reports.” “I wasn’t notified…” His phone started ringing and he recognized the routing number as Une's. He took the call in video mode. “Yes, Commander.” “Agent Maxwell, I’ve just spoken with Agent Yuy and we agree that your mission reports can wait a couple of days to be submitted.” “You and Heero decided?” He was rightfully indignant. “It’s Christmas, Duo. You and your team deserve a break. Now go home and enjoy the holiday.” Duo blinked. “If you insist, Commander.” Une grinned. “I insist that you have a Happy Christmas.” “Thank you, and Merry Christmas.” When the call ended, Duo looked up to find Heero staring at him. “You okay, Heero?” “Would you like to get a cup of coffee?” “Eggnog would be better.” Duo laughed, but Heero’s demeanor remained serious. “Uh, we can get coffee. I need to finalize a couple of things here. Can I meet you in the cafeteria?” “I had somewhere else in mind.” “Okay, I’ll change into street clothes and meet you in the lobby in ten minutes.” Heero left without a word. It bothered him to think that Heero might have spoken to Une about the incident on the mission, though that wasn’t Heero's style. He was much more in your face if you did something he didn’t like. Still, something was wrong. Duo could feel it in his bones. After shutting down his computer and locking his desk and office, he took his duffel to the men’s room to change. He kept a change of clothes on hand for days when he wasn’t going directly home. He felt more at ease in public dressed as a civilian. When he unzipped his duffel and saw the red sweater he had packed early that morning, he sighed. He had been in a more festive mood then. That was before Heero had turned sour and met Une behind his back. After dressing, he looked in the mirror and smoothed the front of the sweater. It was a rather smart outfit: red pullover, blue jeans, and black boots. Smart for the Christmas season and a cup of eggnog with friends, but overly bright for two guys talking about work over a cup of coffee. When he arrived in the lobby with his duffel over his right shoulder, Heero was standing with his hands in the pockets of his wool coat. He had also changed into street clothes, and appeared a little out of place as dozens of agents and visitors came and went around him. Heero had a way of keeping people at arm’s length, only a few hardy souls wished him a “Happy Holidays.” Duo made a point of being different with him. After all, they had known each other many years. He came up behind Heero and slapped him on the back. “All set, buddy?” Heero looked him up and down. “It’s a little bright, I know,” Duo said, tugging on the red sweater beneath is leather jacket. They headed onto the streets of Bremen, navigating the crowded sidewalks filled with holiday shoppers, tourists and tipsy office workers. There was nothing like the city this time of year, when it was snowing and the carol singers were in harmony. Too bad Duo had a sense of dread about this coffee break with Heero. They walked several blocks to Mugsy’s, the best coffee house in downtown. Inside, Duo took a deep whiff of the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and baked pastries. The place was laid out like a living room with cushioned chairs and couches, and low tables and area rugs. Duo shook off the snow from his coat, following Heero to a small grouping of chairs tucked in a corner. It seemed private, though the coffee house was plenty busy. A waiter approached almost immediately. “What can I get you today?” “I’ll have a peppermint latte,” Duo said. “Would you like anything from our bakery with that?” “No, thanks.” “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a pastry, Duo?” Heero asked. Duo blinked at Heero’s oddly attentive tone. “No, I’m good.” “And for you, sir?” the waiter asked. “Coffee. Black.” “Very good.” The waiter was on his way with their orders. “This is definitely better than the cafeteria,” Duo said. “When was the last time we were here?” “It was on Lucrezia’s birthday.” “Right, she drank too much and we stopped for coffee…” Duo looked up at the ceiling. “And there are no cameras.” He leveled a gaze at Heero. “That’s why you brought me here." “We needed to talk.” “In a public place?” Duo was perturbed. “Are you afraid I’m going to punch you? And you didn’t want any evidence on tape?” “Duo, I just wanted a nice place to talk.” “About what happened on the mission, right?” Heero swallowed hard. “Yes.” “Then don’t mince words. We left that damn ancillary mic on, and now everything’s on record. Une’s gonna throw a fit.” “That’s why I spoke with her.” “Yeah, without my knowledge.” Duo’s blood pressure was rising. “Why’d you do that? My balls are on the line, not yours.” The waiter interrupted with their coffee. It was a tense, quiet moment until he wandered off again. Heero scooted forward in his chair. “I told Une that you and I needed more time before we submitted the final report. She was the one who suggested it could wait until after the holiday.” “All right, so we’re here to talk. Then my suggestion is that we delete the ancillary mic recording.” Heero shook his head. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” “Oh, don’t get your undies in a bundle, I’m just thinking out loud.” Duo picked up his cup of coffee and blew on it before taking a sip. He sat back in the arm chair, trying to resolve his failing and how it would translate in the final report. “How should we spin it? Tell Une it will never happen again?” “I can’t guarantee that.” Duo gave Heero a cock-eyed look. “This isn’t your problem, Heero. I was the lead on this one.” “It’s not—” “I admit, I nodded off, but I was aware.” “Duo, that’s not it—” “Damn it, I wasn’t sleeping!” That outburst drew everyone’s attention. Customers at neighboring tables stared at them disapprovingly, and waiters carrying trays of beverages raised their eyebrows as they walked past. Duo sighed and lowered his voice. “I know you like things to operate perfectly, but when they don’t you gotta deal with it and move on.” Heero leaned over, placing a hand on Duo’s leg. “I didn’t ask Une to delay the reports because you and I argued on the mission.” “Then why did you?” Duo stared at Heero’s hand, and felt its warmth spread across his thigh to his groin. Heero pulled his hand away. “I acted impulsively.” “You mean when you kicked me? Forget it.” Heero leaned back in his chair. “You’re not making this any easier.” “Should I? You went to Une behind my back.” Heero got out of his chair and threw money on the table. “This can wait until after Christmas. Let’s not ruin the holiday.” “Huh?” Duo watched dumbfounded as Heero started for the door. “That’s it?” He scratched his head, trying to comprehend this very un-Heero like behavior. He slipped on his coat, grabbed his duffel and went after him, catching up to his partner on the sidewalk outside the coffee house. He snatched Heero’s arm, turning him around. “Since when does Heero Yuy cut and run?” “When this is all I can think about.” He took Duo by the arms and planted a hard kiss on his lips. Duo took a step back, his legs wobbling. “That’s the second time you’ve done that.” “You knew all along?” Duo bent over to catch his breath and chuckled. “That one was much better.” Heero took off, walking double-time down the street. “Where are you going?” Duo hurried after him, coming up alongside him in ten long strides. “Hey, don’t be embarrassed. I didn’t know. Not for sure anyways… I thought I had dreamt it, but it kind of sounded like a kiss on the recording.” Heero grabbed Duo’s wrist and pulled him into an entryway to a building, out of the flow of pedestrian traffic. He pinned Duo’s shoulders against the brick wall. “Don’t you know what this means?” “You like me?” “Damn it. It means we can’t be partners anymore.” “I was afraid you’d say that.” Duo was distracted by Heero’s leg wedged between his thighs. “You think we could forget the downside of this for a sec—” The last of his words were swallowed as Heero’s lips covered his in a deep, penetrating kiss. Duo wrapped his arms around Heero’s shoulders, pulling him close and doing exactly what he had imagined days before. “Heero,” he said, breathless in the embrace. “You gotta stay by my side.” “Une will never allow it.” “Fuck that,” Duo said, shoving Heero away. Heero scowled. “I acted inappropriately on that mission. I can’t risk that again.” “And I can’t risk going on a mission without you at my side! Who’s gonna watch my back?” “There are plenty of good agents—” “That’s a load of bull and you know it. You’re the best, and why shouldn’t I have the best as my partner?” “Because your partner wants to fuck you.” “Y-you do?” Now Duo was the one swallowing hard. “Yes. Sometimes it’s all I can think about.” “Oh…” Duo’s cheeks warmed and his groin stirred. “Well, maybe if you fucked me, it would relieve the tension and you could concentrate on the mission.” Heero took a step forward and his tongue flicked out, moistening his lower lip. “Relieve the tension?” “Yeah,” Duo said, closing the distance between them. “Like you do when you lift weights.” “Like this?” Heero grabbed Duo by the waist, lifting him off the ground as he kissed him. “Wanna do more heavy lifting at my place?” Duo asked. “I’ll hail a cab.” ~ ~ ~ Heero licked a long, wet line from Duo’s navel to his nipple. They were naked in Duo’s bed, clothes scattered on the floor and sheets tangled at their feet. They had been here for hours, satisfying years of lust and longing. “Haven’t gotten your fill?” Duo asked, combing his fingers through Heero’s thick chocolate brown hair. “Hardly,” Heero mumbled as he continued to suck Duo’s nipple. Duo chuckled at the delicious sensations rippling through him. Heero looked up. “Is this too much?” “No, no,” Duo laughed. “Then I wish you wouldn’t do that.” “What?” “Laugh, when I’m about to fuck you again.” “Hey, sexy,” Duo said, in a low, velvety tone. “I’m not laughing at you, I’m just… happy.” Heero pulled Duo to him, giving him a sensual kiss that smoldered quickly into passion. Heero’s strength was so different in bed. It was reverent, not rough like it was on the wrestling mat at the gym. In a move reminiscent of their training, Heero rolled Duo, but this time on top of him. Duo straddled his thighs. “Is this what you wanted?” “Yes,” Heero said, thrusting inside him. “On the mission?” Duo asked. “Yes!” Duo grinned, but wouldn’t laugh. Being with Heero as more than a friend and a partner had long been his wish. Here they were, making love in his apartment. Consequences be damned. ~ ~ ~ They lay awake on Duo’s bed just before midnight. “Got anything to eat?” Heero asked. “I suppose I could feed you,” Duo chuckled. Heero nuzzled Duo’s ear. “You’ve already done so much…” They kissed, and slowly pulled themselves off each other and went into the kitchen, not bothering to dress. Duo opened the refrigerator and peered inside. “I haven’t had time to shop…” He pushed a few containers around. “But I do have salami, cheese and bread.” “Sounds great.” Duo piled everything on a plate, grabbed two bottles of beer, and they headed back to bed. They propped some pillows against the headboard and leaned back to enjoy their midnight snack. “This is perfect, huh?” Duo asked, taking a swig of beer. Heero was quiet. Duo set the bottle on the nightstand and turned to his lover. “You’re thinking this can’t last.” “There’s too much at stake.” “So this is a one night stand?” “The policy clearly states—” Duo placed his hand over Heero’s mouth. “I don’t want you to talk about that right now.” At that moment, they heard the bells of Bremen Cathedral sounding in the distance, marking midnight and Christmas. “The holiday’s here, and I didn’t have time to get a tree,” Duo said. Heero grinned and leaned forward, kissing Duo sweetly on the mouth. “And I tried to spoil your Christmas by quoting the Preventer’s manual.” “No worries. It’s still the best Christmas I’ve ever had.” “It is for me, too. Happy Christmas, Duo.” “Happy Christmas,” Duo said, and they shared another tender kiss. “Were you planning on going to Lu and Sally’s for Christmas brunch?” “I thought I would.” “Then let’s go together. I don’t think it’s against policy if we arrive at the same time.” Heero smirked. “I might not be able to keep my hands off you.” Duo wagged a finger at him. “Now, now. We wouldn’t want to raise eyebrows.” “Then I’ll need to relieve more tension before we go.” “That can be arranged.” Duo smiled, and they quickly forgot about the rest of their meal. Sometime later, Duo woke to the quiet tapping of fingers on a keyboard. He opened his eyes to find Heero at his desk, using Duo’s home computer. Duo didn’t say a word. He trusted Heero with his life, and sure as hell could trust him with his computer. The next morning, Heero went home for a change of clothes, and onto the party separately. It was disappointing to not arrive as a couple after what they had shared the night before. All the sex had Duo in a lust-filled haze, making him even more eager to see Heero again. Lucrezia Noin and Dr. Sally Po lived in a beautiful estate house on the outskirts of Bremen, which Lu had inherited from a great uncle. Every year, they invited about twenty of their closest friends to share a lavish Christmas celebration brunch. This year, the grand house was decked in gold, bronze and white ornaments and ribbon. Duo stepped inside the foyer and handed his long winter coat to a butler. He was then given a glass of champagne and directed to the parlor. Freshly cut pine logs burned in the fireplace, and guests mingled over hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Heero wasn’t here yet, but Duo didn’t have a second alone waiting for his arrival. Sally made a beeline for him. “Merry Christmas, Duo,” she said with a warm hug. “You look so handsome in that green sweater.” “Thanks and Merry Christmas to you.” He had planned to wear the red sweater to the brunch, but vainly didn’t want Heero to see him in it again so soon. Instead, he wore a v-neck sweater in celadon green with a white shirt underneath, and dark brown straight-leg pants and brown suede ankle boots. He looked her up and down and smiled. “Nice suit!” Sally was dressed in a black chiffon pantsuit with a red sash tied around her waist in a bow. “Thank you. Lu picked it out for me.” Sally gave his arm a squeeze before heading off to mingle with other guests. The guests were mainly Preventers’ agents and support staff, and Bremen United Hospital staff where Sally Po was now the director. She had resigned her position at Preventers to comply with the policy against fraternization, and quickly made a name for herself in the medical field. Everything had worked out for Sally and Lucrezia, but Duo wondered how he and Heero would manage. Neither one of them wanted to leave the Preventers. Lucrezia meandered his way. She looked marvelous in a forest green velvet dress and heels. “You seem anxious. You know it’s forbidden to think about work at this party.” “Oh?” Duo chuckled. “It’s nothing a drink can’t fix, right?” “I know just the thing,” she said, conspiratorially. Everyone knew that Lu loved her cocktails! “The bartender’s mixing lemon daiquiris as we speak.” She grabbed Duo by the hand and escorted him to the makeshift bar by the patio window. “Did you serve these last year?” Duo asked, as he was handed the drink in an etched martini glass. “Last year pomegranate martinis were the star of the show.” He took a sip of the daiquiri. “Whoa, that's strong, but good. What’s in it?” She smiled and sipped her daiquiri before answering. “Lemon juice, of course, and sugar, Cointreau and white rum.” “No wonder it’s good.” Duo laughed. “Cheers!” “Cheers!” Lu said, clinking Duo’s glass. By the time Heero arrived, Duo was just finishing off his second daiquiri. Heero entered the parlor looking like the young lord of the manor in a black, cable knit turtleneck sweater and dark gray pants and black shoes. Duo’s eyes raked over him, barely resisting the urge to give him a big, wet kiss. “Hey,” Duo said. “Nice sweater.” “Have you been here long?” Duo lifted his glass. “Long enough.” “Has Une arrived yet?” “What about, gee, Duo, you sure look nice.” Heero glanced left and right, and stepped closer. “You look better than nice and you know it.” Duo flashed a cocky grin. Just then, Lucrezia came over and handed him a fresh daiquiri. “Heero,” she said, giving him a hug. “Merry Christmas.” “Merry Christmas,” Heero said. “Would you care for a lemon daiquiri?” Heero looked to Duo, who was finishing one daiquiri and starting another. “No, thank you.” “All right. I need to check on things in the kitchen. We’ll be eating soon!” As she walked away, Heero grabbed Duo’s arm. “How many have you had?” “It’s Christmas! Who’s counting?” He nudged Heero in the ribs with his elbow. “Want a quickie?” “You shouldn’t drink so much. We need to act normal.” “Normal like nothing happened last night?” “You’re drunk.” “I am not drunk,” Duo said, annunciating each word carefully. Heero narrowed his eyes. “Are you upset about last night?” “Heero…” Duo put his hand on Heero’s shoulder and kissed his cheek. “Last night was spectacular, but I know you want to be my partner and not my lover.” “I never said that.” “Then kiss me.” Duo leaned in and puckered his lips. Heero grabbed Duo’s arm and led him down the hall. They went inside the first door they found open. It was the library with its magnificent mahogany bookshelves and red leather chairs. Heero closed the door and pushed Duo against a wall of books, kissing him hard. Duo’s drink spilled as he became absorbed in the kiss. “Yeah,” he said, getting aroused. He tossed the martini glass aside, and it bounced on the Persian rug without breaking. “This is not a good idea,” Heero said. Duo grabbed the bulge in Heero’s pants, and Heero groaned. “We can’t do this here,” Heero said, licking his way along Duo’s jawline, and thrusting into Duo’s hand. “I’ve got a thing for that tongue of yours,” Duo said. The door creaked open, and they barely had a second to look up, let alone stop groping each other. “Commander Une.” Duo gulped. “I didn’t realize this room was occupied,” she said, holding a book in her hand. Heero came to attention, pulling his sweater down, as far as he could, over his bulge. “Excuse us, ma’am.” “You’re not excused,” she said, examining the scene more closely. She set the book on an end table and folded her arms across her chest. “I was just returning a book I had borrowed, but I can see your purpose here is not literary.” Duo’s shoulders slumped. Their affair was less than 24 hours old, and they were already suffering the consequences. “Have you tried the lemon daiquiris?” He joked, hoping to relieve the tension. “Is that what this is?” Une asked. “The result of too many daiquiris?” “No, ma’am,” Duo said. Une turned on her stiletto heels, her red silk shift dress rustling gently as she went to the large desk and leaned back against it. “Is there something you wish to tell me? Other than drink recommendations?” Duo looked to Heero to get a read on his state of mind, but Heero was keeping his eyes straight ahead like a cadet at roll call. “I was under the impression you needed to clear the air after the mission,” she said. “We had coffee,” Duo said, nervously. “Well, I had a peppermint latte and Heero ordered a black coffee…” Heero shot him a hard look, and Duo stopped talking. “I played the mission recordings,” Une said. “But I haven’t submitted the final reports yet,” Duo said. It was embarrassing to know she’d heard that damn audio. “Normally, I would have waited, but after Heero’s unusual request, I got the feeling that something was off.” She took a step towards them. “It was well within my authority to play the surveillance recordings. Wouldn’t you have done the same, Agent Maxwell?” “I suppose.” Duo’s heart was pounding hard in his chest. “I listened and found no cause for censure. However you managed it, you stayed on top of the surveillance, and the mission was completed to everyone’s satisfaction.” Duo’s mouth dropped open. “You’re not reporting this to the Board of Review?” “I am not.” “Thank you, Commander.” Duo turned to Heero and smiled. “How about a drink now?” “I wouldn’t order that drink just yet. There is the question of what I interrupted when I came into this room.” She nodded to the bookshelves where she had discovered them in a passionate embrace. “Was that the daiquiris making you so demonstrative, Agent Maxwell?” “I-I don’t know…” Duo said. What should he say? If he confessed that he and Heero were sleeping together, it would end their partnership. “We slept together,” Heero said. “Heero!” Duo turned to his partner in shock. “Why on earth did you say that?” Une crossed her arms over her chest. “Agent Yuy?” Heero glanced at Duo, and then looked directly at Commander Une. “I acted inappropriately on the mission and kissed Duo when I found him asleep on the couch. Things boiled over last night.” “I see,” Une said. “That would explain the indefinable noise on the recording.” She looked at Heero and then at Duo. “You understand the consequences of this admission?” “No!” Duo said. “You can’t split us up just because we had one night together.” “Agent Maxwell, I am not interested in the details of your private life…” Her words trailed off and she appeared flustered by the sensitive topic. “There are strict rules about fraternization.” “But you wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t walked in…” Duo wished he’d deleted the ancillary mic’s recordings, and had less to drink at this party. “It’s up to the Board of Review now,” Une said. “So they can destroy the best team you’ve got, because of a policy?” Duo clenched his fists. “I agree, you’re our best team, but the policies are there for a reason.” “Heero and I trust each other,” Duo said. “We’ve got each other’s backs. That’s everything when you’re in the field putting your life on the line.” “Duo,” she said, almost tenderly. “You brought this on yourselves and we will all have to suffer for it.” “Maybe not,” Heero said. “What was that, Agent Yuy?” “What are you talking about, Heero?” “The policy on fraternization states that teamwork and camaraderie are keys to a healthy organization,” Heero said. “You were doing research on my computer last night,” Duo said. Warmth spread across his chest with the knowledge that Heero wanted this relationship, and was trying to find a way to save it. “The policy prohibits romantic relationships between partnered agents,” Une said. “Ma’am, Article VI, Section III states that the dissolution of a partnership shall only be considered when the romantic relationship adversely affects the workplace, mission and safety of agents involved.” “It does?” Duo asked. “Hn,” Heero said. A shiver ran up Duo’s spine at Heero’s control of the situation. It reminded Duo of that moment in a mission when their lives hung in the balance and one bad decision might mean the end of their tomorrows. That’s why he was so mad at himself for kissing me… that bad decision could've brought down the team, Duo thought. “As an elite intelligence agency,” Une said, “These matters affect the safety and security of everything we hold dear.” “I understand, Commander,” Heero said. “When will you notify the Board of Review?” She leaned against the desk again. “The Board will be notified, but not in the form of a charge.” “What?” Duo asked. “Agent Yuy has brought a key section of the policy to my attention, and it requires further review on my part.” “I meant no disrespect, ma’am,” Heero said. “None taken. I am required to report your affair now that I am aware of it, and questions will be asked. However, your behavior as a team and individual agents has always been above reproach. I will recommend against dissolving your partnership.” Duo smiled in relief and touched Heero’s hand. “Isn’t that great, Heero?” “You’re keeping us together?” Heero asked. “Yes, but you’ll be under more scrutiny than ever. I would hate to lose my best team.” "Then you're okay with this… us?" Duo asked. "I was the one who said to enjoy your holiday," she said with a chuckle. "How prophetic of me." She headed for the door, patting Heero’s shoulder as she walked past. When she opened the door, she looked back at them. “Don’t be long.” The door closed with a solid click. Heero turned to Duo and pulled him into his arms. “We’re okay.” Duo let out a breath and his heart started beating again. “Are we?” “Yes,” Heero said, kissing Duo’s forehead. Duo took a step back. “What made you research the policy?” “My partner once said there’s always a way out.” “Really? How clever of me.” “You are clever, when you’re not being a smart ass,” Heero said, chuckling. “Ha-ha,” Duo said. “Well, maybe next time you’ll listen when I say we should delete the recordings!” “I’ll take that under advisement.” Duo grabbed Heero and kissed him soundly. “Do we really need to go back in there?” “You heard the commander, we have to be model citizens now.” “Sounds exhausting.” “Duo…” “I can’t touch you if I’m a model citizen!” “You can touch me,” Heero said, squeezing Duo’s arm. “But it might be good if we ease our friends into finding out about us.” “Then no more quickies at friend’s parties?” “I have a better idea… a not-so-quickie at my place after the party,” Heero said. “Oh, man, now you’re affecting me adversely.” Heero laughed at the policy reference, and took Duo by the hand. They headed out of the library and down the hall, fingers entwined. “I think we should go into dinner like this,” Duo said, lifting their joined hands, and kissing Heero’s knuckles. “You sure?” “It’s Christmas, and Christmas is about love.” Heero smiled. “Then let’s do it.” Duo gave Heero’s hand a squeeze. As they stepped into the dining room and saw all the guests, Duo began to sweat and second guess his boldness, but Heero held steady. They weren’t immediately noticed, since the guests were looking for their places at the table. Commander Une saw them first and smiled. She said something to Sally Po, who was seated next to her. Sally grabbed Lucrezia and pulled her out of her chair. She practically dragged Lu across the room, the spectacle drawing everyone’s attention. “You’re holding hands,” Lucrezia said. “It’s about time,” Sally said, smugly as if she’d known all along. The women opened their arms, and a group hug ensued. Duo felt genuinely happy about their acceptance, knowing that the road hadn’t been easy for them. There was some noisy chatter from the guests, and Duo had visions of people leaving the party in protest. When he looked up, all the guests were coming toward them smiling and boasting that they had seen this coming for years. Sally called for a toast, and everyone went back to the table. Heero and Duo found their name cards next to each other’s and lifted their champagne glasses. “To love and to Christmas!” Sally said. “To love and to Christmas!” everyone replied, clinking glasses, drinking and laughing merrily. “I told you,” Duo said to Heero, after taking a sip of the champagne. “And I believed you,” Heero said. “To the best Christmas ever,” Duo said, touching Heero’s glass with his own in a private toast. Heero leaned over, kissing Duo’s cheek. “The best Christmas ever… until next year.” Duo laughed. His heart was full imagining the year ahead with Heero as his partner, friend and lover. ~ the end ~ Lucrezia Noin's Lemon Daiquiri Cocktail Recipe ½ ounce simple syrup Wipe the rim of a cocktail glass with a lemon wedge then dip into sugar to rim the glass. Next add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into the cocktail glass. Remember what Heero always says: "Make sure your Duo drinks responsibly!" Enjoy!
|
