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"The Road Not Taken"Written By: Clara Barton Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. The following
is an intellectual exercise with no intention of profit. That said,
these characterizations, words, and situations are mine. Please ask
before reprinting. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: angst, language, yaoi Pairings: 2x3, 1x5, 3x4, past 1x3 Summary: Sometimes we live our lives following one road because we never consider another. Trowa Barton has the misfortune to answer the classified of a straight Duo Maxwell. Thanks as always to the always fabulous Cuzo
for being my beta! "The Road Not Taken " Part Three Sylvia did not kiss like Trowa. Before, Duo had always enjoyed being with Sylvia - she was funny and smart and maybe they didn't have a lot in common, but she was fun. Sex with her had always been easy and relaxing until now. But after three weeks Duo still couldn't get the feel of Trowa's mouth or his body out of his mind. He realized Hilde was right. There was a new road available to him now - one that was exciting and terrifying and Duo found himself daily tempted more and more to take it. Sylvia was safe and normal. Trowa was not. When Duo finally decided to call him it was during his lunch break. He found a fairly secluded spot on the quad and settled in to do what was undoubtedly the scariest thing he had ever done in his life. "Hello?" Trowa sounded tired and irritated and Duo almost hung up. "Trowa. Hey. It's Duo - Duo Maxwell? We met a few weeks ago -" "I remember you, Duo. I'm not likely to forget you." Duo didn't know whether that was a compliment or not but he decided to run with it. "So, I've been thinking about you. A lot. I know we both went into this with different expectations." "Just slightly different," Trowa muttered. "But I had a great time hanging out - I mean an awesome time. I don't know if you would be up for it again, or if you just want to wash your hands of me - I can't promise anything, you know?" "You just want to hang out? As friends?" "Well yeah. I'd like that. A lot." "And what is it that you can't promise?" Duo bit his lip. This was the hard part, but he had a sneaking feeling that if he didn't go for this, he would regret it for the rest of his life. "I want a family. I want to get married and have kids and read Shakespeare to them and take them to soccer practice and all of that. I always have. I didn't get that, not really, a family, you know and it's sort of been my life's ambition - to have a family." Trowa was silent for a long moment. "Considering how our first date went I'm not too sure you should be proposing at this stage in our relationship," he finally said. The comment startled a laugh out of Duo. "No, I just - I've never thought about a guy that way." "But?" "But - but damnit, Tro, you kiss by the book. You have to know that. I don't think I've ever experienced anything that- that life alteringly erotic." Duo held his breath. That had been a lot to admit to, and even if Trowa was still interested that might have scared him off. "You really do speak what you feel and not what you ought to say," Trowa mused. "Yeah, one of my flaws, yanno?" "No, it's not a flaw." Trowa sighed. "I've never dated a straight guy before." "Huh?" "I've been with a few - you know, they wanted to see what it was like or they just enjoyed certain things and didn't think of themselves as gay for that. But you're not one of them." "I don't think so, no." "So you want to- hang out and maybe more, if you don't talk yourself out of it." "Yeah, that's pretty much it." "I'm in tech rehearsals for a show this weekend and most of next week, so I don't have much time for anyone or anything else. "Okay," Duo said, feeling a thread of hope. "In not in a rush." "What are you doing Wednesday night? It's opening night - we could see the show." "Oh, uh, yeah. I'm free Wednesday night. What show is it? I mean, yes, no matter what, I'm just curious." "Eurydice. I think you'll like it. A lot, actually, now that I think about it." Duo had to smile. "Well I trust you." "Do you, Duo?" He realized they weren't talking about the play anymore. "I trust you more than me. I mean, I have no clue what I'm doing anymore. I've never dated a guy or even - I feel like a damned virgin." "I'm assuming you are one," Trowa pointed out. Duo felt his face go red as he realized what Trowa was talking about. "I didn't even think about - is that - are you -" Duo racked his brain. He understood, vaguely, how two men had sex, but he had never given it much thought and he wondered just how painful it was because surely - "Duo, stop." Trowa was clearly able to read his mind. "Let's start off with a date on Wednesday." "Yeah. Okay." -o- In a lot of ways Trowa felt as though he was going to prom. He had always tried to be thoughtful about his appearance without being vain, but now, as he stood in his closet and examined his clothing he found himself at a complete loss as to what to wear. Everything seemed too casual or too gay and he berated himself for that very thought. Here he was, trying to dress to impress his straight date and not scare him off by appearing to be too much of a fag. He finally settled on a green zippered cardigan that he left open over a black v-neck t-shirt. He paired it with fitted gray trousers that didn't seem too tight. It had been a lot easier to dress for a date at a bar with Duo when he had thought the other man was gay. As Trowa left his apartment he debated, not for the first time, if this was even worth it. Heero was right - he needed to move on from Quatre - but was throwing himself at a straight guy really the right direction to go in? There was no denying that Duo was amazing - funny and smart with a wicked grin that made Trowa think of doing wicked things to him - but did Trowa even have a chance with him? Was he going to walk himself off a cliff? His doomed train of thought continued as he drove to the theatre and by the time he parked his car he was halfway convinced he should just call Duo and cancel on him. Except that it was already seven-thirty and the show started in half an hour. Duo was probably already at the theatre, and Trowa had to see the show opening night as part of his contract. There was of course also the fact that Trowa desperately and stupidly wanted to see Duo again - to see his smile and hear his laugh and listen to him talk and be near his lean, sexy body and kiss him again. He had to smile, thinking of what Duo had said when he called last week. Damnit Tro, you kiss by the book. The Shakespeare and the nickname had more or less sealed Trowa's fate. He had never been called Tro before but he wanted to hear Duo call him that again. Often. Trowa walked the few blocks from the parking lot to the theatre, completely turning himself around on the date. He managed to set aside his anxiety and self-doubt so that by the time he spotted Duo standing outside the theatre he actually felt a thrill of excitement and desire. Duo looked good - he was dressed in black trousers and a black button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top button of the shirt open to reveal a tantalizing, pale triangle of flesh. Trowa found himself fixated on that spot, on Duo's clavicle and his taunt skin and - his tattoo? Trowa could just barely see the top of something dark and intricate on Duo's flesh as it disappeared under his shirt. "Hey," Duo greeted him with a shy smile. Trowa found himself smiling back. "It's good to see you again," Trowa said, stopping himself from commenting on Duo's appearance. Duo was handsome in a casual, straight way that made Trowa's pulse speed up and he was dressed in clothes that Trowa was practically itching to take off of him. Settle down, he mentally ordered himself. It wasn't going to happen - not tonight, probably not ever. In all likelihood Trowa had simply found himself a new friend. A sexy, straight friend that Trowa had fantasized about since the first night they had spoken on the phone. "You too," Duo said, sounding genuinely happy. "I'm glad we're doing this and I, uh, I appreciate you giving me a second chance, yanno?" His smile still a hint of unease to it. "I am too," Trowa said. He tried to think of what else he could say, to alleviate both his and Duo's anxiety, but before he could Cathy and Heero arrived. The three of them had established a tradition a few years back where they would go to dinner together before opening night, but Trowa had cancelled on them this time, feeling anxious about meeting Duo and not at all in the mood to be teased by either of them. Seeing the two of them share a conspiratorial smirk as they approached, however, made him realize it had been foolish to think he could avoid it. "Hey Trowa!" She greeted him brightly and kissed his cheek. "We missed you at dinner but I guess I can see why you bailed on us." She looked over at Duo and winked. "He's cute." Duo's face turned red. "He's just a friend," Trowa told her and glared at Heero when the other man smirked at Duo's discomfort. "Oh, well, I'm sure you can change that," Cathy said with a laugh. She held out her hand to Duo. "Catherine Bloom." "Duo Maxwell," he responded and shook her hand. His eyes shifted over to Heero, who was still smirking, clearly amused with the entire situation. "Heero Yuy," he finally introduced himself. He was about to say more, and Trowa steeled himself. Thankfully, the lights flashed inside the lobby, signalling that the play was about to begin. "We'd better get to our seats," Cathy said and shooed them all inside. Trowa picked up his reserved tickets and started to steer Duo away from Heero and Cathy. "Going to join us for drinks after the show?" Heero asked, "since you cancelled on our dinner?" God. Trowa hadn't even thought about that possibility. On opening night most of the cast and crew met up at the bar across the street to celebrate. Trowa usually went, at least for a few rounds to see if he would be taking Quatre home or not. But tonight, tonight Trowa had Duo with him. "Ah, sure?" Duo said, a question in his voice when he looked at Trowa. "We'll see," Trowa amended, glaring once again at Heero, who merely smirked again before disappearing in the crowd. "I didn't mean to ruin your plans for the night," Duo said as they took their seats. "You didn't," Trowa assured him. "Yeah but you cancelled dinner with your friends and -" "Duo. You didn't ruin anything. I'm doing exactly what I want to." Duo smiled at that and relaxed back into his seat. The lights dimmed and Trowa allowed himself to set aside all of his thoughts and concerns and just enjoy the show. Of course, as the play progressed, he realized that the show, for him, was some of what was happening onstage, but mostly what was happening on Duo's face beside him. It was clear that Duo loved the play and was moved by it - at the end Trowa actually saw him hastily brush aside a few tears before jumping to his feet to applaud the actors as they bowed. Trowa had to smile, once again, at Duo. "You liked it?" He leaned over and asked the question into Duo's ear. Duo turned to him. "Liked it? It was amazing - I mean the story was overwhelming but Trowa, your set - it's like all my memories of childhood come to life. It's - Trowa you're brilliant." He was completely taken aback by the obviously sincere compliment. Trowa was proud of his design for the show - and he knew the director was pleased with it, knew that Cathy and Heero liked it, but Duo's naked appreciation for his work was fulfilling on an entirely different level. "Thank you," Trowa said. Duo held up his program. "Your friends, from earlier? They designed the lights and costumes?" Trowa nodded. "Would you mind if we did grab some drinks with them? I want to ask them a few questions - and you, if that's okay? I just - I've never really thought about creating the world of a play before and you just - you've blown my mind here, Tro." There it was again. Tro. "If you want to," Trowa said, "I wasn't sure if you would want to meet them - or the cast - usually everyone goes." Duo's eyes widened slightly and he glanced at his program again. "So this Wufei guy will be there?" Trowa had to smirk at that. "Undoubtedly. He and Heero are engaged." "Oh. Oh. That's cool - and Relena and Quatre?" "Also undoubtedly in attendance - despite the fact that Heero and Wufei are engaged and Heero is undoubtedly gay Relena never misses a chance to throw herself at him." Duo smiled slightly. "She was great, as Eurydice - and Quatre was really good as Orpheus, but Wufei - as Hades? He was incredible. I can see why he was cast as Hades, he's got this kind of mysterious charisma to him, you know? Very seductive." "He'll be thrilled to hear you say that," Trowa told him and Duo blushed. "I meant, you know -" "I know what you meant. And as an actor, he'd be thrilled to hear that you appreciated his performance." Duo relaxed. "Right. Sorry." Trowa shrugged. "You don't have to apologize. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." "No, it was me. I just - I dunno, you know? I wasn't trying to say anything about him being gay and it's fine that he is, I mean, you are too and I might - I don't know." Duo's distress didn't even irritate Trowa. He could only imagine what the other man was thinking - what he was trying to work through in his own mind as he grappled with his attraction to another man and what that might mean. By now the theatre was empty. Trowa sat down on the back of the seat in front of them. "Duo. I've known I was gay for as long as I knew what gay meant. I've never been interested in women and I've always been attracted to men. For me, that was normal and I was lucky to be around people who accepted me as I was. You've lived your whole life as a straight guy - and maybe that's what you still are. I'm not trying to push you into anything. I want you - you're an amazing guy with a great mind and you're sexy as hell and I'm not the only one who kisses by the book here, but I don't have to have you. We can just be friends. Friends who had a life alteringly erotic kiss and that's all." "It wasn't just one kiss," Duo muttered. "I know you didn't think much of the first one but it was still incredible." Trowa arched an eyebrow. "I didn't think much of it because you just stood there. It wasn't until I kissed you again that you kissed me back." "Well I wasn't really expecting it, you know? And I kind of froze. At least I knew it was coming the second time." Trowa had to smirk. "So you need advance notice?" Duo shrugged. "I guess so? Until I'm used to it? If I get used to it - fuck, this is so frustrating." He rocked back on his heels. "I don't - you probably shouldn't be wasting your time with me, Tro." "Duo." The other man met his gaze. "I'm going to kiss you again." Duo's eyes widened and Trowa reached out, putting his hands on Duo's harrow hips and maneuvering him closer so that their bodies touched. He moved slowly, giving Duo the chance to back away. When he didn't, Trowa kissed him again. Duo was hesitant at first, holding himself still under Trowa's mouth and hands, but when Trowa gently nipped at his lower lip Duo's body shuddered and he seemed to melt into Trowa, his mouth opening and his hands reaching out to grasp Trowa's head. Trowa tried to keep the kiss light, but when Duo's tongue danced around his own he felt a surge of lust so pure and strong that he forgot to breathe for a moment. He pulled Duo closer, keeping one hand on Duo's hip and ghosting the other up Duo's back, tracing his spine through his shirt. Duo gasped against his mouth and rocked forward, bringing their groins into contact and Trowa could feel Duo's arousal against his own. He shifted forward, opening his legs, desperate for more contact and Duo complied eagerly, stepping into the space and bringing their growing erections together again. Trowa's shifted his hands downward, to Duo's tight butt and gave an experimental squeeze. Duo jerked away, stumbling back against the seats and almost losing his balance. Trowa mentally cursed himself. Too much, too fast. He prepared himself for the worst. "Is there - I need to just - can I meet you in the lobby? I just want to run to the bathroom and - I just need a minute." Duo practically fled from the the theatre. Trowa remained in the deserted theatre for a few more minutes, pulling himself together. There was no denying that he had fucked that up - he should have kissed him and stepped away, but Duo was so passionate and responsive and felt amazing pressed against Trowa. He drew in a deep breath, knowing he had ruined his chances of getting Duo into bed. He hoped he could at least salvage some kind of friendship with the other man - it would be torture, but Trowa didn't doubt it would be worth it. He enjoyed Duo's company. He wanted to be with him, even if he meant if he wouldn't be with him. After a few minutes he walked into the lobby and wasn't surprised to see that Duo, standing in front of one of the show posters, looked nervous. "I'm sorry," he said to the shorter man. "You said you trusted me and I pushed for too much. I -" Duo held up a hand. "No, it's not that." Duo looked over Trowa's shoulder, where the house manager and ushers were starting to tidy up the lobby. "I just wasn't expecting that. Any of it. Can we - do you still want to meet up with your friends for a few drinks?" Trowa didn't, not after what had just happened between them, but he was pretty sure that the only other option on the table was saying goodnight and goodbye to Duo. "Sure. It's just a block down - we can walk." Duo nodded and followed him out of the theatre and onto the street, falling into step beside him. Trowa tried to put some distance between them, but the sidewalks were narrow and a steady stream of people forced them to walk close enough that their shoulders bumped together consistently. It reminded him of that night weeks ago, walking to their cars, when he had marvelled at the weird, instant connection he felt with Duo. "That broken fountain - the one at the front of the stage that Eurydice played in?" Duo said into the tense silence. "Yeah?" "I used to play in one just like that. There was a park not far from Fort Hood, when my dad was stationed there. It was crazy, Tro. It felt like you had reached into my memories for a second there." Trowa smiled slightly, glad that Duo wanted to talk - even if it wasn't about what had just happened. He felt a glimmer of hope that Duo had still called him Tro. "I did a lot of research, looking at architectural styles that were popular forty or fifty years ago, especially for public works projects like parks. It's likely that whoever designed the park you played in was one of the people I researched." "Huh. I didn't realize you did it like that. I guess I just assumed you, you know, made stuff up." Trowa shrugged. "Yes and no. It's good to know what people expect, and shift from that to what you want to say. Everyone knows what a chair looks like, right? So If I put a foam glob onstage and call it a chair people will be confused and won't understand. But if I try to- pull something from people's memories, or their collective conscious, I can create a visual language that draws them in and then show them this world." Duo shook his head. "I'll say it again, you're brilliant, Tro. I don't think I could have ever imagined that set - and then - I mean, how does it all get built? Who do you talk to or plan it with?" Trowa had to laugh. "If you're that interested I have a few books you might want to read. But I don't might explaining it to you either," he added quickly. Duo bit his lip. "I'd like to borrow the books, actually, and try to learn what the hell I'm trying to ask you first so that you don't feel like you're teaching me everything." Trowa hesitated a moment before answering. "I don't mind it, Duo. I'd be happy to lend you the books. I'd be happy to teach you whatever it is you're interested in." Duo offered him a sad smile. "Just gotta figure out what that is, first, don't I?" They arrived at the bar and Trowa mentally steeled himself before ushering Duo inside. The celebrations seemed to be in full swing - the cast and crew already assembled and already, judging by the volume and empty glasses, well into their second or third rounds. Trowa spotted Cathy, Heero and Wufei in their usual corner table and was flattered that Heero had pulled up two chairs and seemed to be guarding them with his life, glaring at any of the technicians or actors who ventured close to the open seats. "My friends are back there," Trowa gestured. "I'll grab some drinks for us if you want to join them?" Duo nodded. "Yeah, sounds good." "Any beer preferences?" Duo shrugged. "I'm up for anything that isn't dark." Trowa smirked. "So you still trust me, then?" "Of course I do. It's me I don't trust, Tro." Duo hesitated, then shrugged and walked towards the table. Trowa made his way to the bar and ordered two Shock Tops. By the time he made it back to the table, Wufei and Duo were in the middle of an argument while Cathy and Heero sat back, amused. "This is why we can't meet nice people," Trowa said as he approached the table. He handed Duo his beer and sat down beside him. "Wufei attacks them instantly." Wufei glared at him and Duo looked sheepish for a moment. Cathy laughed and Heero smirked at Wufei. "My fault, actually," Duo said. "I told him I really liked the show - and his acting and then I said he reminded me of Tom Hiddleston, who was Loki in the Avengers?" "And then he suggested that the only reason Thor was a superhero worth mentioning was because he came with Loki," Wufei muttered and shook his head. "Thor is an amazing super hero." "No, he's not," Duo muttered as he took a sip of his beer. Wufei glared. "He has to overcome his own strength and embrace his weaknesses to become a hero." "Sure, but so does Batman, and he's about a million times better at being a hero than Thor." "I didn't realize we were mixing DC and Marvel," Wufei bit out. Duo shrugged. "We don't have to. We can stick to Marvel. Most of the X-Men have to overcome their weaknesses - hell, even Iron Man basically tries to cripple himself with alcoholism. Thor is just a spoilt demi-god." Wufei looked on the verge of an explosion and Heero put a hand on his arm. "I think you've finally met someone as pathetically nerdy as you are, Wufei," Heero told him in a soothing voice. "You should be grateful." Wufei spared him a glare and opened his mouth to argue, but Heero kissed him, effectively silencing his protest. Trowa had to snort a laugh. He wondered just how many of their arguments ended like that - he imagined all of them. "So," Cathy said to Duo, "what do you? Besides irritate Wufei and make Trowa smile like a lunatic all the time?" Duo looked away from Heero and Wufei to glance at Trowa. He grinned and Trowa felt the corners of his own mouth tipping up in response. "Well irritating Wufei is a new hobby, I guess and I didn't realize I made Trowa smile like a lunatic all the time." He turned to Cathy. "I'm a PhD candidate at Emory." "Oh? Gorgeous and smart. I like him," she said to Trowa before turning back to Duo. "What's your field?" "American Cultural and Intellectual History, actually my paper to get into the program was about the invention of super heroes and the transformation of American heroes during World War II." Wufei, finally released from Heero, looked impressed. "I suppose you are as pathetically nerdy as I," Wufei conceded. "How does Shakespeare fit into that?" Trowa had to ask. Duo shrugged one shoulder. "He doesn't. When I was a kid and we moved around a lot I didn't have much in the way of stuff - just my Mom's Shakespeare anthology so-" Duo shrugged again, clearly uneasy revealing so much about himself. Trowa nodded. The first night they had spoken Duo had mentioned that he was an army brat, and their conversation at the bar the next night had hinted that Duo's mother had probably died when he was still young. "Well, thank god it wasn't an anthology of Agatha Christie or something," Cathy said with a bright smile. Duo chuckled. "Tell me about it. But how did you - how did all of you - get into this? I mean - Trowa's clearly a genius and Wufei, though misguided, seems to be really smart and you two are - I don't know but you make beautiful things happen on that stage." Cathy laughed and leaned back in her chair. "Oh, where to start, where to start? Well -" Before she could start, however, Quatre wandered over, a goofy, tipsy grin on his face and his blonde hair in slight disarray, one lock falling over his forehead. "Happy opening!" He greeted the table and leaned against Trowa's chair, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Great job tonight, Quatre," Cathy said. Quatre offered a small, theatrical bow. "We all did well, I think - Relena was smashing and Wufei was damned villainous. Not to mention we were costumed beautifully and lit beautifully and had an amazing set to play on." He smiled at Trowa, leaned down, and kissed him. "Thank you, as always." Quatre pulled away and sat down on Trowa's lap. He picked up Trowa's beer, looked over the label, and took a cautious sip. He scowled and set the beer back down. Trowa desperately wanted to get Quatre out of his lap and he needed to look at Duo and see how he was taking all of this - but he was afraid of what he might see on his face. "Oh," Quatre seemed to notice Duo for the first time. "Sorry, I'm Quatre Winner." "Duo Maxwell," Duo said, and even though Trowa couldn't see his face he could hear his anger. "Are you- Cathy, is this yours? He's cute!" "I'm a friend of Trowa's, actually," Duo bit out and Trowa winced, suddenly grateful that Quatre's body blocked his view of Duo. He sounded furious. "A friend?" Quatre turned around, putting an arm around Trowa's shoulders again. "Am I interrupting anything?" He asked, a confident smile on his lips. "No," Duo assured Quatre and Trowa finally looked at him. Duo shrugged and offered a bitter half-smile. "I have to be leaving anyway - early class to get to tomorrow and all that." He stood up. "It was great meeting all of you - and it was a great show." He offered a wave to the group and then started to leave. "Wait," Trowa gently dislodged Quatre and got up to follow Duo from the bar. Once outside, Duo kept walking. "Duo, wait." The other man stopped and turned. "I had a good time, tonight. I enjoyed the play and your friends seem cool. I- I appreciate it, but I really should go." Trowa frowned. "Do you want to go somewhere else? Another bar or -" "No, no. I don't want to take you away from your friends or from Quatre. You should enjoy yourself. You had a helluva amazing show open tonight and you should be with the people you want." "Duo I want you." Duo chuckled. "Yeah, okay, but I'm not - I'm not Quatre." "I know that." "I mean so I'm what - a distraction before the main event or was this going to turn into some kind of threesome or what? Because - no, it doesn't matter. It's none of my business." "Duo. You aren't a distraction and I don't want a threesome." "Then what - I mean you two are clearly a thing, right?" Trowa sighed. "It's complicated." Duo nodded. "Yeah. Okay, well I don't want to make it even more complicated for you so I'll just ease myself out of this, if you don't mind." "Duo, let me explain. It's not -" "You don't have to explain it to me, Trowa. I'm not - it's your life and I'm not judging you or anything. I don't know what this was, maybe you just fooling around on the side or something - you don't seem like that kind of person, but I don't know and maybe that's just how these things go? But I guess - hell, I'm selfish or whatever. So you should just, just go and be with him. He's not going to freak out on you in the middle of making out or anything." "Duo let me talk." The other man froze at Trowa's tone and then smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," he said and scratched the back of his neck. "Can we go back in or go somewhere else and just talk?" Trowa asked. Duo frowned. "He's not going to be jealous?" "I don't give a damn if he's going to be jealous," Trowa said. "I want to talk to you." Duo shifted. "I don't really feel like drinking more." Trowa nodded and gestured to the theatre. "We can go back to the theatre and talk." Duo arched an eyebrow. "I can make us some coffee in the green room or we can just sit. No one else is there right now." "Ah, okay, sure. I've never been backstage before." Trowa felt relieved at Duo's willingness to talk to him and not run away. "I'd be happy to give you a tour." "Maybe some other time?" Duo suggested and Trowa allowed himself to relax. Duo wouldn't be saying that if he was ready to just walk away. Trowa walked around to the loading dock behind the theatre and unlocked the shop door. He ushered Duo inside and locked it behind them. The shop was dark, with only the dim light above the stage door and the back hall illuminated. "Watch your step," Trowa told Duo. Usually the shop was immaculately clean, but he didn't want to risk Duo tripping over something. A trip to the emergency room would not do much to improve the evening. Duo followed him through the shop and into the back hall that connected the dressing rooms to the green room. "Huh. It really is green," Duo remarked when Trowa led him into the room and turned on the lights, revealing the mint green walls. "Yeah - no one really knows why we call it that, and not that many of them are still green these days in any case. Do you want coffee?" "Not really, but if you wanted some I'll have a cup with you." Trowa shrugged. Making coffee would give him something to do, but he didn't really want any either. He gestured for Duo to sit on the couch in one corner of the room and pulled up a chair from the table against the far wall so that he could sit opposite Duo, giving him space and making sure they were able to look at each other. Duo sat down, easing himself onto the couch with reluctance and Trowa felt sure that Duo was already thinking of ways to try to escape this situation again. "Quatre and I have been involved for years," Trowa told him. "He's a great guy and we're good together but we aren't - we aren't together. Quatre travels a lot and even when he is in town we aren't dating. He's, I don't know, a free spirit or something and he doesn't like relationships. Sometimes we're together and sometimes he's with other people." "And you- like that?" Duo asked cautiously. "No. I hate it, but he's not going to change, at least not anytime soon and not for me." "So I'm- your in between Quatre?" "No. I only answered your ad in the first place because I'm tired of having in-between Quatre guys. I want a relationship. Remember all of that stuff you said about marriage and a family?" Duo nodded. "I want that too. Gay men aren't just into casual sex, you know." Duo flushed. "I know - I mean, I assumed so. I didn't think you -" "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Trowa sighed. "You never implied that you thought that. But you do seem to think that I can't want to be married and have a family." "Well you'd have to get married up north," Duo murmured, his brows drawn together, "and you could adopt - I'm not sure what kind of legal hurdles there are for same sex couples down here in Georgia. I could look it up and -" It was amusing how Duo could start himself down a train of thought and just follow it. "Duo. I'm not proposing to you." Duo chuckled. "Right. No. I get that. I'm sorry." "I answered your ad because I liked the Lear quote. And then we spent hours talking on the phone and I thought you were nothing like Quatre in the best way possible. And then our date -" "Was a disaster?" Trowa shrugged. "Yes and no. I had a great time until the very, very end. I needed it - I needed to see that I could be with someone who wasn't Quatre." Duo winced. "And then I turned out to be straight." Trowa shrugged again. "Did you though?" He had to ask. Duo's jealousy over Quatre had yet again renewed Trowa's hope. "When your friends - Wufei and Heero - when they kissed, it was cute. And kind of sexy." Duo sighed. "And when Quatre kissed you it pissed me off." "And when I kissed you?" Trowa had to ask. "When you kissed me I forgot how to breathe, Tro." Duo sat forward on the couch. "I really, really have no clue what I'm doing or what I'm feeling or thinking. All of this is just - I'd never even considered being with another guy." "Does it scare you? The thought of being with another guy? I scared you, earlier, didn't I?" Duo's face turned completely red. "You didn't scare me, Trowa. You almost made me come in my pants. And all you did was kiss me and grab my ass and I could feel your dick against mine and Jesus. I felt like a fucking teenager." Duo ran his hands through his hair, dislodging the ponytail. Trowa's tongue felt thick and heavy in his mouth. Whatever he had been expecting from Duo, it hadn't been that confession. "I guess I should apologize?" Trowa finally offered, though he felt absolutely no remorse. Duo looked up, half of his mouth turned up in a smirk. "Yeah, you sound really torn up about it." Trowa had to chuckle. He stood up and Duo reflexively did the same. "I'm going to kiss you again, Duo." "Okay, Tro," Duo agreed, a grin on his lips. But it was Duo who stepped forward and pressed his lips against Trowa's. It was Duo who pulled Trowa close and wrapped his arms around Trowa's shoulders. It was Duo who teased open Trowa's mouth and had Trowa aching for more in just seconds. Kissing Duo was like playing with fire - he was scorching hot and seemed to fill Trowa's entire body with a fierce need for more. Trowa could feel himself growing hard and he could feel Duo's erection as well. He decided, as much as he wouldn't mind making Duo come in his pants just from kissing him and groping him, Duo probably didn't actually want that. He eased back from the kiss slowly. "What are you doing Saturday?" Trowa asked him. Duo looked momentarily confused. "Saturday?" "Yes. Do you have any plans?" "Oh. No." "The Yankees are playing the Red Sox at home," Trowa said. "Do you want to come over and watch the game? I can make pizza for us." "From scratch?" Duo asked, sounding impressed. "Yeah, from scratch." Trowa reached out and tucked a strand of Duo's loose hair behind one ear. Duo leaned into the touch and Trowa had to kiss him again. "That sounds good," Duo said when they pulled apart again. "What?" Trowa was on the verge of pushing them back onto the couch, to hell with embarrassing each other with stains on their pants. "Saturday. The game. Pizza." "Oh. Yeah." Duo chuckled. "I should go, before it gets any harder." Trowa arched an eyebrow and glanced down at the bulge in Duo's trousers. "How much harder does it get?" He had to ask. Duo blushed. "No, I meant, harder to leave. I, it, uh - I'm not -" "Too much. It's fine." Trowa gestured to the door. "Mind if I walk you to your car?" "Yeah, that's good, I just need a minute or two to channel thoughts about Betty White first so I don't walk around in public with a hard on."
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