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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 8 The office had closed for the day -- possibly the week. The staff had taken the enforced paid holiday with indecent enthusiasm. Only Cal was still around, looking to pick up as many pieces as was possible. A light was on in the IT suite, and he looked in on it with some trepidation. "You're still here, Yuy? Everyone else has gone." Heero nodded, he didn't look up. "I'm close to finishing this. I don't need any of the others." Cal stood a little longer, and Heero could feel his presence at his back. "Do you think it was me?" he said, bluntly. "Who told the press about the program change?" Cal didn't answer at once. He came round to stand beside Heero's desk, and when the engineer looked up at him, he shook his head. "I know you wouldn't do that to Duo. Or your precious program." Heero was taken aback. He'd thought that Cal disliked him -- that he thought he was a bad influence on Duo. "So who did? How did they find out?" "You're trying to find a hacker, aren't you?" Heero's eyes narrowed. "I don't think --" "Shut up, Yuy," said Cal, wearily. "I know virtually everything that goes on here, but it doesn't mean I blab about it to the press, either. I know you and Duo are trying to plug this particular gap with the least possible damage. Couldn't it be the hacker that's leaked the news too early? To cause the maximum reputational damage to the launch? I'm not saying that Duo wasn't naïve in his plans -- let's face it, there's a limited number of bodies out there who are as tolerant as he is of alternative relationships - but he'd have carried it off, given the time and the charm that he's blessed with. This debacle rather puts paid to that." Heero grimaced. "But I have only loaded it on the test system so far --" God! he thought with shock -- into the test system was exactly where he'd tempted the hacker! It was more than likely he'd accessed the changes there. And used the knowledge to humiliate Duo. There was a painful, unwanted hammering in his chest at the thought. Had he unwittingly brought this disaster on Duo? All the more reason to solve it once and for all! He'd call his friend Clare tonight, as soon as it was into her time zone... He was still staring at Cal, and gradually his eyes focused back on him. The other man pulled over a chair and sat opposite him. "And? Something else I can do for you, Yuy?" "The Braid Trust... what's that about?" Cal sucked in a sharp breath. "So I'm not the only one who knows everything that's going down here. I'm not interested in how you found out. It's not a secret, anyway." "Duo's involved..." "Yeah, too right he is!" And Cal laughed out loud. "Do you have any idea -? Well, perhaps that's why you asked. It's a Trust, as you'll have seen -- a trust that he set up almost three years ago, and he funds and motivates the whole damn thing. Won't allow any help from anywhere else, not even me. It's for kids, homeless kids. To help them find a home, a job -- whatever they need. If they've got to stay on the streets, he gets them hostels, food, helps get 'em clean of drugs or out of the clutches of pimps. He spends several nights each month helping out at various centres. By himself. No publicity, no protection. Shit, I spend most of that time stalking him in the car, in case he comes to some harm -- " Cal saw the look of astonishment on Heero's face, and clammed up. "So it's all for kids." "Yeah. Kids like Duo himself, Mr Yuy. He's had no family left since he was six. He was dragged up by parents who first couldn't live together, then couldn't live with looking after a kid, either. Went through a few good foster homes, and then a couple of bad ones. He ran away from one at fifteen -- lived on the streets. Ran courier jobs for the guy who originally started up the agency. He took him in; Duo had a home of sorts, for a couple of years 'til the guy moved on. He survived, right? But he never had anyone of his own." "I didn't know..." "No-one does, even those who've wanted to dig into his past. We've set up a damn good smokescreen over the last two years. Not so much because he's ashamed of anything, y'know? But he doesn't see why the public needs to know everything about him. Dammit, they've had every minute of his life for the last year!" Cal drew a calming breath. "He had a hard life as a kid. He needed a club like that for himself, I think, but nothing was ever there. So he wants to provide it for others that come after him." "He'd have plenty of help from others if he advertised it, though -" Cal sighed. "You've not grasped it at all, have you? Duo has to do it on his own. He doesn't trust anyone else to understand. To care. He has no-one, Yuy. That's how he feels! He's damn proud of what he's done, with Sparks and everything else, and he loves the life he has now. Who wouldn't? None of us begrudge him that. Everyone seems to love him. But at heart he's on his own." Heero was silent now, and his eyes had dropped away from Cal's gaze. "He's finding this damn hard, Yuy. The agency is being crucified in the press. And so is he. I don't think he can see where to go at the moment. He's had no setback like this since he started his own business. I'll do what I can, I'll rustle up the success stories. But I don't know if it'll be enough to save us. To save him." He watched as Heero moved impatiently, to finish his work, placing papers into the lockable drawer of his desk. He paused, not meeting Cal's eyes. His voice was ragged. "I want to help him." "I know you do," said Cal, softly. He put out a hand and stopped Heero logging off. "And I have an idea how you can. Give me five minutes of your time now, and we can consider it." Heero looked cautious. "Where is Duo?" "Home, I guess. I told him to go there. He didn't ask me to take him." Heero said nothing. Just stared at Cal. "You two --" "For God's sake, Yuy!" Cal stood up, tired of the whole thing. He had a job to do and a bloody hard one at that. Time to get started! "He let me close for a while but that's the most I can get from him. And that's not because he's not generous. The damn man doesn't know how to say no! He's a giver, Duo. And I've encouraged that, rather to my shame." And enjoyed it more than anything else I've ever had, came the regretful thought. He shook it off quickly. "You gonna help us or not?" "And then -?" "Then you can go to him, Heero. I'll even take
you if you want." Cal winced, glancing behind him. 'You did, boss. But I'm here to escort another visitor. I thought you'd want 'em brought up. There are still plenty of reporters in the lobby, taking up their - uh - issues with the doorman." Duo hadn't rested, hadn't slept. Hadn't even changed out of his suit, just dropped the jacket by the door and taken off his boots and socks. He'd unplugged the phone and TV, turned off the mobile. But still the voices in his head swirled round, the panic threatened to swamp every plan he thought of. He opened the door, praying it wasn't another crisis. It was Heero. Duo didn't think he'd ever been so surprised to see
anyone in his life. "I've never seen you so upset. Unsure." Duo laughed grimly. "I've fucked up, haven't I? Thought I was invincible, thought I could do exactly as I pleased." "You can. You should. You only do it because you care. You understand people, Duo, you know what they want." "Not all of 'em..." "No-one does that!" snapped Heero. No, he scolded himself - easy does it. "This stupidity will settle, and the company will continue as it always has. With improvements and developments -- like any business. Like people's lives." "No... I was wrong. No-one wants to move on. I think they wanna stay unhappy, stay -- " "- in their categories?" "Yeah. I expected too much, and they've slapped me back down. They're right, too -- can you imagine, the practical effect of removing the cosy, familiar convention of gender matching? Too many prestigious clients getting responses they don't want! It was professional suicide, I guess. I think Cal would have told me that if he'd had the nerve." "No," said Heero, very clearly. Duo raised a tired head to look at him. "You weren't doing it for the publicity, for the prestige, were you? You were doing it for the people themselves. So the principle stands -- you must do whatever helps someone find their soul mate." "God, Heero," Duo sighed. "I did once say you had a way with words, didn't I? You just don't use it often enough. Or "praps you do. Didn't you tell me to get out last time you saw me?" He smiled, a little ruefully. Seemed to see the reality of Heero there, in his apartment, for the first time. "What are you doing here, anyway? It's not your problem -- I know you'll get a great job anywhere you like. Though my reference won't do you much good now, I guess..." "Shut up with the self pity, Duo." God, didn't he know how draining that was, himself? "I want to give you my support. I want to -- be with you." He saw the flash of confusion in Duo's wide, tortured eyes. "You must keep on with it. Don't give up. When I -- we - find the hacker, the system will be tighter than ever. The clients will be back - they maybe just need time to rethink." He swallowed hard. "That's what I've had." He stood up and went to Duo where he sat slumped on the couch. He put out his hand and it nestled on to the long-haired man's shoulder. It felt very comfortable there. He thought that he saw Duo tense, but he ignored the desire to snatch it back. "Let me help you, if I can." "Nah, that's the last thing you want, you made that very clear --" "No. No! Please..." The amazing plea was wrenched from him, and Duo looked up again in surprise. "Don't ignore me, Duo. I can't ignore you! I've tried. And I can't.' He smiled ruefully. 'You think I'm a rude, arrogant bastard, don't you? You think I like being awkward, I like being a pain in the ass. That I've been fucking you about just for the hell of it." Duo gave a sharp, stunned laugh. 'I ain't denying that...' "It's not really that. Well, perhaps I am a pain in the ass most of the time! Seems to come naturally. But it's worse when - when I like someone. I can't cope with it, you see. It's easier to avoid it. Friends are a distraction -- they're a complication that I can't handle." "Heero, it's OK -- " "Look at you!" Heero almost yelled, and Duo leapt back on his seat in shock. 'Even now, you're making allowances for me, you're gonna let me get away with it!" "Shit, man, I'm not up to this tonight..." Duo groaned. Heero ignored his words, and sat down beside him. Even in his gloom, Duo felt the tight heat of Heero's thigh against him, and his body sang. "I owe you an explanation, Duo." "Damn you, I don't want you to owe me anything!" Duo was fierce back at him. "OK," Heero held his hands up, to placate
him. "I want to tell you, then. I need to. Have you got a drink?" "To us -?" "I had many school friends -- local playmates. He ran a group for us. A computer club, though most of them just played the games. Only I wanted to develop the programming skills. And he was a talented programmer - a gifted teacher." "But also -?" murmured Duo. "Also a very attractive, charismatic man.' Heero's eyes lifted to Duo's. They burned with a mixture of shame for the past. And a hunger for the present. 'You had a - an affair with him?" A harsh laugh. "That wasn't exactly what they called it, a couple of years later, when they discovered that he'd fucked most of the boys in the club. And had been doing so for years." "Oh, Heero...and you too?" Heero's teeth clenched and he faced Duo boldly. "Understand this, Duo. I was young in age, but I'd never been young in my mind. I knew what I wanted, even then. And he knew that. I wanted him, and I was glad to have him teach me. To take me. I would never have accused him of any abuse - it was never his fault entirely." Duo opened his mouth in protest, but bit off some of the words he'd been considering. "You're too hard on yourself -he was a man, with a duty towards the boys he looked after. You were only a teenager, Heero. However mature..." Heero shook his head impatiently. "That was never the point. I just never realised -- God, I was devastated when I found out! Listening behind doors, reading the police report when no-one was looking. My mother's shame... It wasn't that I was young -- no, what destroyed it for me, was him..." Duo turned puzzled eyes on Heero. Saw the misery and anger in his expression. He guessed the truth. "His promiscuity.. " breathed Duo. "That's what hurt you so much. The other boys as well..." No wonder Heero had been so angry at Duo's lifestyle, his apparent carelessness with his lovers... He felt a deep, sympathetic pain for Heero. All those
years -- all that baggage; and didn't he know what that was like?
Heero's voice was very quiet. "I know that. I also know that you're not the man I thought you were originally." "Ahh - can I take that as a good thing?" Duo teased lightly. Heero smiled slightly. He couldn't release his gaze from the shine in Duo's eyes. It looked like he genuinely cared about what had happened to Heero. How could he? It was nothing to do with him -- he'd never known any of the people concerned. Heero felt strangely light-headed -- he'd never told anyone about that time. No-one had been allowed to mention it in the family. But he knew that his mother had guessed that he'd been a willing partner to his sensei. She'd been frightened -- and ashamed for her young son. Too young to understand what sex was really about -- but old enough to have those feelings so strongly that he'd been easily led. So he realised early on that those feelings had to be restrained. Controlled. Or he'd fall into further madness. Done a fine job of protecting himself with Duo Maxwell, hadn't he? Duo shifted a little on the seat beside him. "You wanna talk some more?" "No. That's enough for now." "You wanna eat? I can cook. Are you hungry?" "Hn." That was a "no", Duo guessed. "A drink? Do you want another drink?" "Duo..." "Uh huh?" "Shut up, OK? This is difficult enough. What I want is you. I want to be close to you. Tell me if - if that's not what you want, too". "Damn you, Heero Yuy," Duo sighed. "How much more obvious do I have to be? I've been trying to keep my hands off you ever since you quizzed me on the question of preferred sexual profile!" "Duo..." Christ, thought Duo. When's he gonna touch me? I've never needed it so much as now - "Duo, I lied that day when I said I didn't want to fuck you." Duo's voice sounded a little too tight to his own ears. "So what? We all stretch the truth a little when it suits --" He never finished the sentence. He felt the breath of Heero before the dark-haired man's mouth fell ravenously on him, the tongue forcing his lips open, the lips devouring him. Heero had tasted a shocked Duo and an angry Duo. This time his mouth met a nervous Duo. Duo felt the passivity that he had the first time they
kissed, and he opened his mouth, allowing the attack. The kiss went
on until Duo thought he might never get his mouth back, that his lips
were bruised and numb and he'd never eat ice cream again! - but he
didn't resist. Not for a second. He let Heero push at him, and plunder
his taste, and run his hands across his straining body.... "Jesus, Heero," gasped Duo. "Wait, I - I'm not sure I understand this. You're sure you want this -?" Damn man near accused me of raping him last time we got heavy like this - "Hn..." "A "yes" Hn?" groaned Duo, allowing his shirt to be pulled up over his head. "Yes, Hn. Very yes, Hn..." Duo felt like he was drowning, drowning in a strange, fearful emotion. He had to decide whether to let the tow take him or whether to fight it. Damn sure his body told him he wanted to be sucked into this, he wasn't gonna resist the best thing he'd felt for years! -- but if he didn't fight it, he instinctively knew that he might not be able to save everything of himself. He was weak tonight -- he was weak for Heero. Sink into this and he might become something else - someone else. Part of Heero himself. Heero was murmuring into his neck, lapping his neck, nibbling his neck. So very, very sweet...'I want to be part of your world, Duo." But Duo knew that the opposite would happen. That it would change his world, instead. He reached eagerly for Heero. ~ * ~ |
