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"Chances"Written By: Honor Disclaimers: Ain’t mine. Ain’t gonna
be mine. I’ve just permanently borrowed them, no worries! Warnings: No spoilers, no timeline. AU, Romance,
lemon, some language (not much) Rating: NC-17 (maybe) Pairings: 2x1, 3x4 and 5xM established Author’s Notes: Drumroll, please! *crickets
chirp* Ah, yeah…anyway, here is the sequel to Take a Chance.
To all of those beautiful, wonderful people who C&Cd me, arigato!
*huggles* I truly appreciate it. If you wish to do the same to Chances,
I’m certainly not going to complain! And now, Lights! Camera!
Action! *emphasis* //phone conversations// " Chances"
It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
“I’m not talking about skill! I refer to simple *grace*.” “And who was the one stumbling around at the last dance?” Heero and Trowa were sitting against the wall, eyes darting back and forth between the Chinese couple like spectators at a tennis match. The argument had started out as an innocent observation on Wufei’s part. Neither Heero nor Trowa could quite remember how the subject of martial arts had developed into this heated critique of dancing ability. “Onna!” Wufei didn’t throw up his hands in exasperation. He had more control than that. Unlike his tempestuous girlfriend who looked like she was trying to land a plane on an aircraft carrier. “I refuse to continue this senseless debate! Prove it.” “Fine! I will!” And that is how the whole thing started. + “Duo!” A lithe teenager lifted his head and turned as his name was called. Then he groaned. He had joined the PE dance class for one simple reason: an easy A. Or that had been the theory. The truth of the matter was, there were so few guys who signed up for this class that he was run almost ragged so that each girl could learn what it meant to follow a lead. And if any of them needed help on anything, he was volunteered. I should be getting extra credit for all of this. But he plastered a smile on his face and slid his way through the crowd between him and the teacher. “Yeah?” “Duo, this is Meiran. She’s going to be your partner for the assembly performance.” Meiran was a short Chinese girl with black hair and big black eyes. She was very pretty, and Duo knew just by looking at her that she would have a temper to make up for any missing inches of height. At this particular moment she was gawking at the teacher in stunned horror. “I didn’t mean that! I’m just trying to learn more than I know to shut Chang up.” “Yes, I know. And what better way to do it?” Mrs. Denman smiled down at the two of them, a sadistic sparkle of glee in her eyes. “Well, I suggest you two get busy. You’ve got four weeks.” Both of them started to protest, only to find that the teacher didn’t truly care for their complaints. Duo forced himself to look away from the teacher’s retreating back and smiled for Meiran. “Uh…you wanna fill me in?” “My boyfriend.” Meiran growled. “He said I couldn’t dance. Which is a lie. I’m much better than he is. I just wanted to prove him wrong.” “Ah. Okay.” Duo shrugged and pulled her off the wrestling mats. It was safer that way. None of the ‘dancers’ went off the mats. On purpose, at least. “So, how much do you know?” “The usual.” She shrugged. “I only dance when the occasion calls for it.” “Hm.” Oh boy. This wasn’t going to be pretty. “But I have had extensive training in various martial arts. You won’t need to worry about my control or balance.” Duo felt himself relax a margin. Okay, so all he had to worry about teaching her was the steps. “Okay, that helps a lot. Let’s pick a song and start choreographing.” + Two weeks later, Duo was pleasantly surprised when they managed to get through the entire song without fumbling too badly. He was beginning to think that they would have a chance for a decent performance. And it wasn’t that Meiran was uncoordinated or anything. She was just used to being dominant. It was hard for her to bend to his lead. It had taken an afternoon of just talking and learning about each other before she had relaxed enough to trust him on the dance floor. He let the cd continue to play and collapsed in a sprawl on the floor. “I’m beat.” “Dancing requires too much energy.” Meiran agreed, landing in a more dignified position next to him. “Duo…may I ask you something?” Duo waved a hand airily, not bothering to open his eyes. “Shoot.” “Why are you always alone?” Duo liked Meiran. He really did. He just wished that she wasn’t so observant sometimes. “Cause I’m a fairy.” Silence. He couldn’t bear the suspense and cracked open one eye to see her reaction. “That’s it?” Okay. Not the reaction that he was expecting. Duo nodded carefully. “People are avoiding you simply because you’re gay?” “Um…yeah. That doesn’t bother you apparently.” She snorted rudely. “Why should it? I actually have a few friends that bat that way. How did everyone find out?” “I didn’t announce it.” Duo replied dryly. He heaved himself up to a sitting position, but didn’t look at her. “I made the mistake of kissing my boyfriend a few years back on campus. I didn’t think anyone was nearby.” “And you were spotted.” “Yup. And he moved with his family two months later cause he couldn’t handle the pressure.” “That was unjust!” Meiran snarled. “Whoa! I agree with you, don’t beat up on the choir!” “Sorry.” She mumbled. After a moment of companionable silence she tilted her head to look at him. “How did your family react?” “Ah…well, my aunt really isn’t on the same page as everyone else, you know? Actually, I’m not sure if she’s even in the same library. No problems there.” “That’s a good thing.” “Yeah.” Duo shifted back to his feet and held a hand down for her. “Come on, we’ve gotta practice.” He turned to the stereo on the ground and backtracked to the right song. “Meiran?” “Yes?” “Thanks.” Thanks for not freaking out. Thanks for not turning away. She heard the unspoken words and nodded. “No problem.” + Every student on campus shuffled into the gymnasium, not truly in a willing spirit, but not truly reluctant either. After all, an assembly meant that they at least didn’t have to sit in class and pretend to pay attention. Three of those students were sitting near the floor in the bleachers, looking around in suspicion. “Wufei, where’s Meiran?” Trowa murmured. “How am I supposed to know? And if you retaliate with something like ‘because she’s your girlfriend’ I’ll break your nose.” Trowa grinned slightly. “Then I won’t say that.” One of the student body stood up on the stage at this point, asking people on the floor to move back to leave the center of the room empty. There was some shuffling, scooting, and a few anonymous curses, but people moved. The three friends tuned out the beginning of the assembly. It was the same script that had been used for almost four years now, and they didn’t really want to hear it again. There was the usual fun and games, again, nothing really that different from previous assemblies. They did perk up when the script was deviated from. “And now, we’re going to have a demonstration from the Dance Club here on campus. Mrs. Denman assures us that this is worth watching guys, so no napping, kay?” The opening notes of the music came softly through the speakers. The light dimmed until it was focused on the center of the gym floor. Celine Dion’s voice came clear and strong into the quiet building. A lithe figure moved toward the dance floor, braid trailing down his back. He wore only a loose pair of black pants. His partner came in from the opposite side, in a simple black dress that floated around her ankles, sleeves down to her hands. Wufei hissed slightly as he recognized Meiran moving toward the stranger, her movements fluid. They both stepped to the side and turned towards each other, perfect mirrors of the other dancer. Meiran touched her hand lightly to the boy’s hand before spinning away. Her back arched and one leg lifted slightly before her hands were caught in the air above her head and coaxed toward the shoulders of the boy behind her. His hands traced down on either side of her chest, coming to rest on her hips. They both swayed back for a beat, then moved forward. The hold didn’t last long. The music rose in tempo and they moved to match it. Meiran spun sharply out of the embrace, one step back echoing a taunt, a plea for her partner to follow. He did, catching her around the waist with one hand, supporting her as she let her upper half rotate completely in a half circle that almost let her head touch the ground. They took up a dance stance, but Meiran didn’t hold to that. She wove in and around her partner, he moving to match her. Then they began to truly dance. It was almost sensual to watch them. The beat rose. The partners reached toward and away as the music dictated. Meiran twisted around her partner, under his arm and reached up with her arms to catch around his neck. He lifted her with both hands around her waist, catching her up and above him. He only held that position for a moment before she relaxed into him, her body completely draped across his. Wufei was hissing again, but it wasn’t in surprise. Heero couldn’t blame him. He wouldn’t want his girlfriend in that position either. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the dancers. Their movements were graceful, full of promised sensuality. Meiran twisted in the hold, coming around to put her hands on her partner’s shoulders. He set her on her feet, leaning forward to the point that she was bent almost in half. Meiran accepted the surrender gracefully, then slid to the side, freeing herself to return the gesture. Now the tempo was harder, more urgent. They moved to accent it, not leaving the other’s reach. Meiran was lifted again, spun quickly, both of them twisting and moving on landing. The dance became a war. A battle of being together or pulling apart and sundering every possibility. The male dancer convinced his partner to stay within his arms, compromising his lead to follow her when she moved to put her back to him. She in turn began to face him more often, accepting his touch, accepting everything. It became a true surrender on her part, her will being subdued to his when he asked it of her. And it was true beauty in that he didn’t ask, only met her halfway. As the music faded Meiran rose in the air one last time. Her partner held her easily with one hand, the other twined with one of her free hands. Meiran was draped, head sinking towards the floor, one leg lifted to bend slightly. It looked like an offering. Or a surrender. Wild applause broke out over the crowded students, a few catcalls and some whistles as well. Wufei was reluctantly smiling. “I think she wins this one.” “I think she did.” Trowa agreed. “Who was her partner?” Both of his friends shrugged in mutual ignorance. “He’s incredibly strong.” Trowa continued. “He was lifting her easily.” “Meiran is a lightweight.” Wufei pointed out. “Even a lightweight weighs something. And that guy wasn’t much bigger than she was.” Trowa pointed out. “Incredible strength.” Heero agreed. “I’ve had to lift partners before in dancing. It takes a great deal of coordination, and good balance.” Meiran came up the seats then, panting slightly and wearing a grin that a crocodile would be proud of. “Well?” “You win, onna.” Wufei growled. But he was smiling a little when he said it. “Just don’t dance like that with another guy anymore.” “And what was wrong with it?” “It was pure sin and you know it, Mei-rei.” A cheerful voice commented behind her. Everyone turned a little to see the newcomer. Wufei narrowed his eyes slightly when he recognized the boy from before. “Who are you?” “Chang, stow it. Honestly, you’re shaming your clan with those kinds of manners.” Meiran turned to catch the boy’s hand. “Everyone, this is Duo Maxwell. Duo, this is my irritable boyfriend, Chang Wufei, Heero Yuy and his brother Trowa Barton.” “Step-brothers?” Duo guessed, shaking people’s hands in turn. “That’s right.” Heero agreed quietly. “Cool. Okay, Meiran, I met everyone and you got to gloat. Happy?” “Nope. You’re coming to the dance with us.” Duo groaned, slumping. “Gorgeous, you’re causing trouble here.” Meiran glared at him. “I told you, no one is going to judge you because of that. And I don’t want you alone.” “Meiran…” Duo looked slightly pained. Wufei was watching this with avid curiosity. “Meiran?” Meiran rolled her eyes and switched over to Mandarin. No one there understood a word the two were speaking, but they could follow the conversation to a degree just by looking at facial expressions. Meiran was at first defensive, trying to get her point across. Wufei was carefully following what she was saying, a little baffled. Then understanding dawned and he nodded. Meiran flung herself at him with a happy laugh and grinned at him. “Xie xie!” “Well, now he understands.” Trowa noted with calm amusement. “I wonder what it will take before she explains it to us?” Wufei pulled free from his girlfriend, blushing slightly, and started to explain in rapid Japanese. Duo groaned. “Is everyone in this group bilingual or something?” “Or something.” Meiran told him. She hadn’t let go of Wufei, but moved to where she was standing beside him. “Wufei and I grew up in China before moving here. Heero lived in Japan most of his life, and Trowa picked it up by living with him.” “Ah. And why does Wufei know Japanese?” She shrugged. “Can you believe that it was simple boredom? Whenever he started to drive my uncle nuts, he was sent to a room that only held books on languages. Japanese was the first language he studied.” Duo shook his head, a little amazed. “Wish I had a mind like that. And what did you tell them anyway?” “The truth.” “Argh…” Duo sunk his head in his hands. “Meiran…” “Relax.” She moved to stand on tiptoes and whisper in his ear, “Heero is bi, no worries there, and Trowa has a boyfriend that you might meet tonight. See?” Duo jerked back in shock. “You’re kidding me.” “No, I’m not. Now, will you relax?” At this point the explanations had been made and the three boys were looking at the two in interest. “Well.” Wufei recaptured his girlfriend with a hand on her shoulder. He was beginning to understand why Meiran was so protective of this boy, considering how most of their peers handled any hint of homosexuality. But he didn’t want her too friendly either. “Now that everything is clear, shall we go?” Duo didn’t even have a chance to protest. Heero grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him around. “I assume that you have a shirt somewhere.” “Ah…yeah. My stuff is near the stage.” And Duo really wished that Heero wouldn’t touch him. Bi or not, Duo didn’t want to think of Heero as ‘available’. His libido was not happy with this decision and was threatening to get a lawyer to sue, but Duo wasn’t taking chances here. These people could become good friends, and he would hate to blow up that possibility before he even got it off the ground. ~~~~~~
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