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"Sparks Fly"Written By: Fancy Figures Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, wish I did, just
enjoy writing about 'em for free etc Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, romance, Yaoi, lemon Pairings: 1x2x1 Summary: Duo Maxwell is this year's brightest
young entrepreneur. Heero Yuy is his sharpest and best programmer.
Together they created the successful dating agency, Sparks, with a
new and refreshing approach to matching people. A year on, their lives
are very different -- Duo has all the trappings of success and all
the company he could want; Heero is solitary and disapproving of such
a lifestyle. But they both have secrets to keep, and both are in need
of something -- or someone. When Duo decides to update the agency's
unique matching program, he and Heero are thrown back together again,
and there's a different kind of sparks flying. What with their very
contradictory natures, a malicious hacker, and a crisis at the agency,
it's not surprising they don't find it easy at first to get along. Other notes: Thanks to Suzanne, for suggestions
and inspiration! Written for gwyaoi's AU Novella Challenge
"Sparks Fly" Chapter 3 If anyone had wandered through the office half an hour later, they'd have been amazed at the sight. Duo had his jacket off, sleeves rolled up, and was draped over the edge of his desk, clutching papers. Heero sat in Duo's chair, still tapping away, but his whole body appeared more relaxed. And they were both laughing! "You see?" smiled Duo. "It's so very important, the GSOH question, that it has to be explored a little further!" "GS -?" "Good sense of humour, Heero. Everyone says they want it in a soul mate, everyone says they have it themselves. But what is it? And is one person's sense of humour the same as another's? I'm sure you'd agree that's not necessarily the case. I have hundreds of these jokes, I have Cal search out new ones regularly all kinds of humour, all kinds of delivery. And I ask people their response to a selection. It tells me and others so much about them. I mean, you loved the joke about the duck and the movie house, didn't you?" "Uh-huh," Heero couldn't help the smirk at the corner of his mouth. It had been a short, sharp and amusingly rude joke. He'd actually found himself laughing out loud. "But not the one about the chicken and the carrot?" "It was too long, too " "No, no," Duo was shaking his head, but he was still smiling. Staring fixedly at Heero, with a glint of something in his wide eyes. Triumph, excitement enjoyment, maybe. "Don't try to explain why, it doesn't need it, and it's the worse for the telling. It's just an example of the way the program works why it works so much better for many people. If they can laugh about the same things to start with, you're half way there!" "And the other questions in this section -?" Heero looked a little bemused. "Like if you had to be a car, which car would you be? Is that a joke as well?" "Based on a popular game, I guess. It's a bit of fun it relaxes clients. But again, it tells me such a lot about them, almost against their will. If they are lying to me, or putting on an act, they'll rarely be able to sustain it through that." "So which car would you be?" asked Heero, quietly. He stared at Duo, trying to guess the response. "Ferrari," grinned Duo. "What fabric would you be?" "Silk." "What colour?" "Green." "What drink?" "Hot chocolate," and Duo flashed a rueful smile. "What, you thought I'd be a cocktail or something?" "What animal?" "Panther," he replied, with no hesitation. "And you?" "Tiger," Heero said automatically, then cursed himself for getting involved in the game. Duo was looking at him very closely. His breathing rate had increased a little. "We'd fight, wouldn't we? Good thing we're not being matched..." Heero laughed a little uncertainly. "You're looking for a tall, independent, intelligent woman " "Where did I say that, Heero?" Duo's voice had dropped. "About a woman?" It lapped around him like a blanket of warmth, he could feel the sensuality in it. To give Duo his due, Heero didn't think that he realised quite how seductive he was. He bent quickly to the screen again. "I input it here. At the first screen. Then it's implied throughout the rest of the questions." "Implied..." "Hn." Heero stared at him. Duo's head had dipped a little, his shoulders were hunched. Of course, he must have known that Duo had friends intimate friends of both sexes. Patti and the other girls had always gushed over him as a perfect woman's man, but he'd also overheard plenty of tales in the men's room. Heero had always ignored them it wasn't his business who other people went to bed with. He didn't think it should be the other guys' business, either. But he never said. He'd learned that it wasn't worth trying to tell people how to behave. "You're thinking of changing the program!" Heero blurted out, and Duo lifted his eyes to him in surprise. "Yes, I am. How did you know?" "There's a look I remember it when you first devised this system, when we first worked on it. Every time you had another idea, you'd go very still, then your eyes would widen and you'd grin, and your hands started to sketch out the air " "Hey!" breathed Duo. "Didn't know I was so transparent!" Heero flushed. "Sorry that was rude." "No it wasn't," murmured Duo. There was a silence of only seconds, but neither made a move to break it. It had been that way, a year ago, Duo remembered. There had been many occasions when they'd worked on in silence Duo would have run out of breath, Heero would have been concentrating on his programming. There had never been any awkwardness in the atmosphere it had seemed quite natural. There weren't many people he felt about that way. He smiled, almost as if he couldn't resist. His hands lifted, as if to sketch something out then he saw what he was doing, caught Heero's embarrassed eye, and laughed. "Yeah, I've been thinking about a change about an innovation for our lucky clients. To announce after the launch to keep up the public interest. I wouldn't want people to think we'd get stale once we went official. That with our shares joining the worldwide market we'd somehow sold out to the Establishment!" "I doubt anyone would think that of you," murmured Heero. And there was that smile again a broad, excited smile. Duo was turning, pacing in front of the desk, his braid swinging as he nodded his head, obviously following a thought through in his head. "Let me think it through we can talk tomorrow about it, maybe Friday. I need to spend some time on it. It could blow the whole thing wide open..." Heero stared at him, watching the tall, lithe body fill the room with energy and vibration. He couldn't help smiling in reply. God, Duo looked so good! Heero felt he'd been transported back eighteen months, back to when Sparks had started to take shape, when he'd been in this office more often than his own apartment. And been around Duo Maxwell all the time. Maxwell, with his bright eyes and easy wit; his fast and frivolous intelligence. And that incredible charisma, that drew everyone to him, that put him above everyone else. In the public eye - available for public use. And that's how he seemed to like it. Heero realised that his mind had been wandering. His eyes were locked on Duo, his mind was away with memories of months ago. And so it was all the more shocking, the sudden, uneasy chill that crept up on him. Tugging at the edges of his consciousness. He felt almost physically sick; and he recognised a growing anger against his own weakness. He'd not felt this for months now he refused to let it return! Then he'd have to face what it was telling him; what, for a period of months over a year ago - it had told him every night, in his dreams. No! That time had finally passed! "There are questions left," he began, almost reluctantly. "Preferred sexual profile " Duo ceased his chatter, and bit his lip. "No more now. I'll complete it later. You can have the data tomorrow morning." "It's no trouble." "No, you misunderstand. I'll input my own info from here on in." "Why?" Duo was impressed maybe a little confused - at Heero's apparent naivety. "Because I feel that that information is very personal, and not for discussing out loud in my office." "But I'll still see it " "Uh-huh. I know." Duo also knew he wasn't usually shy about such matters. Most people knew that he had a generous taste in companions; that he liked both sexes many types. It seemed to be tolerated well enough. But it seemed rather different tonight to talk about what sexual requirements he would look for in a soul mate. Better that Yuy saw it just as lines of input data, in the cold light of day. Somehow he knew that Heero would deal with it then as objectively as any other client's input. He wasn't sure whether that comforted or disappointed him. Damn Yuy! There was something about him that was too
unnerving! "I have work to do on this..." "No," said Duo, more firmly now. This damn man brought the aggression out in him, that was for sure! "You'll finish now, and come eat." "I don't eat much." Duo looked at his sparse body, clothed in a simple vest top and pants. He could believe that. But the man wasn't undernourished there were well-defined muscles under the vest, implied strength in the back and legs. He held his head high and confidently; he pushed his dark, unruly hair off his forehead as he worked. Duo had seen him do it many times. He was a good-looking man. Duo wondered if anyone had ever told him that. Probably never got the chance! He buzzed through to a restaurant that he often used, down the block. "It does all kinds of food, Heero," he said, hastily. Instinctively, he recognised that food like many things - might be a hassle with Heero. "You can choose as little or as much as you like. It's on the company." Heero shrugged, but he looked a little uncomfortable. Shit, thought Duo. Perhaps I've been crass. "Is it a problem? Eating with the boss? I doubt anyone from the company will see us there " But Heero was staring at him now as if he were mad. "Why should that be a problem? I was just aware that I have nothing to change into..." Duo smiled with relief. "It's not that kind of a restaurant besides, neither have I. It's a place I can feel comfortable in, without a lot of fuss. No reporters have caught up with me there yet! Just a quick supper and a chat, OK?" "OK," replied Heero, collecting up his jacket. It felt odd, following Duo out of the room, listening
to him chatter on about the menu, about the walk there, about anything
and nothing. Perhaps uneasy was the word. Must be because it had been
so long since he ate out in a restaurant at all. Yes, he was sure
that was it. After all, it wasn't like he was going on a date or anything,
was it? "They're done," replied Heero. "It works well." The silence fell again. Duo was finding it difficult to keep the conversation flowing, as was his usual style. He called the waiter over for his usual dessert ice cream, and all the trimmings. He was on his second bottle of wine already, though there was little outward effect on his behaviour. Heero had barely had a glassful. "And you are you still enjoying the company? Do you have everything you need?" Heero held his hand up to the waiter, to refuse dessert and coffee, and requested another water. He shrugged in reply to Duo's question. "It's good. I have everything I need the guys work well enough. The equipment's always up to scratch..." Duo sighed. He reached across the table and tapped Heero's hand. Heero just managed to stop himself from jumping. "It's difficult not to talk about work, eh? Even when we're meant to be off duty!" "Hn. I guess so," replied Heero. And smiled. He doubted either of them was ever off duty for long, but Duo was right. "I should make more of an effort. It's not something I'm good at, I'm afraid." "I suppose we don't know each other well enough to have any other topics. At the moment, anyway. It's always been just Sparks.." He realised with some surprise how much he wanted Heero Yuy to relax. He wanted to connect with him, he wanted to build a friendship on something other than their shared work experience. Yo, Duo Maxwell, his inner voice hissed. You want him! Do I? The thought startled him. He wasn't that predatory, was he? Couldn't he spend an evening with someone without it coming back to that every time? He stared at Heero, as carefully as he could, without drawing attention to it. He was gorgeous there was no denying that! Wiry and of a similar height, even his careless dress sense couldn't hide the body underneath he moved with a controlled fluidity that promised strength and suppleness. His hair was soft and completely wild, damn idiot must cut it himself, and with his eyes closed! Duo wanted to grasp handfuls of it and tug Heero towards him he was almost shocked at the strength of his feelings. And those very sharp, bright blue eyes even when they were scowling at him, they had a dark depth that drew Duo's attention time and again. He was a whole package, was Heero Yuy a package with the build and the natural intelligence that Duo knew he found attractive. It was overlaid by confrontation and an apparent arrogance, but when had Duo ever been intimidated by that? Though he suspected that many wouldn't find Heero worth the trouble. He didn't quite know why he did what had made him seek this man out, try to spend some time with him again. Admiration, yeah of his skill, of his talents at work. Of the way that he seemed to bring out the best in Duo's own ideas, in his own inspiration. A strong attraction to his looks. A fair bit of bloody mindedness, in that he knew he riled Heero, and vice versa but he rather enjoyed the sparring! But there was something else... something that Duo was totally unprepared for. It was a nervousness a strange, debilitating uneasiness that he felt when he looked at Heero Yuy. A strong, enervating thrill, but one that was surrounded by a dry throat, a pounding head all sorts of symptoms that Duo had never experienced when he was pursuing his enjoyment. Or being pursued for it. Had he always felt like this with Heero Yuy? Surely not...or perhaps he had, nagged an insidious thought inside him. He had, and yet he'd ignored it. Hidden it. Run away from it. He wasn't sure how to deal with its return. Or even
if he welcomed it! "Earlier, when I was inputting seems you knew your way round the forms pretty well," he smiled slightly. "I think that you must have used them yourself, before now." Duo raised an eyebrow. No-one had ever asked him so bluntly before. "Yeah, I did. In the early days. For research purposes, y'know?" And he smiled, to show that he wasn't fooled any more than he knew Heero would be. "And - ?" Duo sighed with mock tragedy. "It was so very unsuccessful that I spent months out of the dating game until I regained my confidence!" Heero raised a disbelieving eyebrow, and Duo laughed with delight that he'd amused him. "Why didn't it work?" "That's the simplest question out, and yet I think we both know how difficult it is to answer. I was matched quite quickly, with well, with a professional woman. We had a very strained and unsatisfying week of dates, both of us seemed to think we should give it some time. But she was nothing like I imagined nice enough, y'know, good looking, regular education; she gave a clever impression of sharing my interests. But she didn't appeal to me. Not in any deep and lasting way." Heero opened his mouth as if to ask a question, but shut it again quickly. Duo thought he knew what he'd been going to ask. "Don't get me wrong, I believe in your programming, Heero I know it works in many cases. But not in mine. Or hers. I somehow missed the opportunity to interview her when she first joined. In fact, I often wondered quite how the matching ever got through the system. Either she was lying when she applied " "Or you were?" Duo winced. "Yeah. Or rather I was economical with my own truth. I don't wanna think of that, it's so important to me, y'know? The truth underlying the whole system. I want people to face that. And I'm not prepared to run it for anything less." He shook his head in some rueful surprise. He musta drunk more than he thought. "You know I've never told anyone about those dates before. Embarrassed, I guess. Though I suppose you could've found it out from some kinda audit trail, anyway, eh?" There was a flash of distaste in Heero's cobalt eyes,
and his body tensed. What did this man think he was like? He'd not
go snooping into the system for his own gratification! He calmed down
with some effort. Chill out, he warned himself. He didn't mean to
insult you. ~ * ~ |
