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"Convincing Heero"Written By: Hemlock Inyx Disclaimer: This chick does not own any of the
Gundam Wing characters because they belong to Bandai and Sunrise.
I am borrowing them for this fict and will return them
in good (if somewhat sticky) condition. I also don't own Nora Robert's
Convincing Alex, on which this fict is heavily based (well more like
a fusion/translation). This fict is written out of love and not for
profit, don't sue. Thanks and enjoy! Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU Romance/Cop Drama, Cross-dressing/drag,
humor, romance, some OOC-ness, language, and murder- not main characters.
Pairings: 1x2, 4xC for added interest. More pairings
to come. Summary: Heero is a cop, Duo is a cross-dressing man who writes for a daytime soap opera. The pair meet when Duo is arrested doing 'research' for the soapie.
" Convincing Heero"
Hurt. Oh, he'd read the stories and the poetry, watched the movies. He'd even written the scenes. But Duo had never believed that love and pain existed together, could twine into one clenched fist to batter the soul. Yet Heero's words had hurt him-immeasurably-even as his heart opened to give and accept. This time it was different. How could Duo possibly explain that to Heero, when he was still groping for the answers himself? And what good were words now, when there was so much need? A touch would be enough, Duo promised himself as they swayed towards the steps. Tonight would be enough, and tomorrow all the aches would be only memories. Heero's mouth came back to Duo's, restless, insistent, as they began the climb. The first helpless sigh caught in Duo's throat as Heero pulled him close and aroused him unbearably with a long, sumptuous meeting of lips. Duo's fingers trembled when he tugged at Heero's jacket. Had they ever trembled before? He wondered. No. And as the leather slid away, leaving Duo free to grip those magnificent shoulders, he knew that none of this had happened before. Not the trembling, not the raw scrape of nerves, not the sting of bright tears, not the sweet, slow throb of his blood. This was the first time for so many things. Heero didn't know how much longer he could perform the simple act of drawing breath in and out of his lungs. Not when Duo's body was shivering against his. Not when he could hear those small, desperately needy sounds in Duo's throat. The staircase seemed to stretch interminably. With a muffled oath, Heero swept Duo up into his arms. Duo's eyes met his, and though his heart seemed ready to burst, Duo managed to smile. Duo knew Heero needed smiles tonight. "And I said you weren't romantic." "I have my moments." Shaky, Duo nuzzled his face into the curve of Heero's neck. "I'm glad I'm here for this one." "Keep it up," Heero said in a strained voice as Duo ran nibbling kisses from throat to ear, "and I'll do something really romantic, like falling on my face and dropping you." "Oh, I trust you Detective." Duo caught the lobe of Heero's ear in his teeth and felt the quick jerk of reaction. "Completely." With his heart roaring in his head, Heero reached the top. Duo was teasing his jawline now, making little murmurs of approval as he sampled his flesh. Heero headed for the first door. "This better be the bedroom." "Mmmm-hmmm..." While Duo worked his way to Heero's mouth, his fingers were busy unbuttoning Heero's shirt. Heero recognized Duo's scent first. Even as he passed though the doorway, it wrapped its alluring fingers around him. That cheerful, sexy fragrance hung in the air, the result, no doubt, of spilled powder and an unstoppered bottle of perfume. Duo's clothes were a colorful mess of silk blouses, bright cotton pants, tangled hose. Heero's quick scan passed over a life-sized stuffed ostrich, a pair of thriving ficus trees flanking the wide window, and a collection of antique bottles, elegant in jewel colors, before Heero focused on the bed. It was a long, wide ocean of cool blue sheets, topped by a lush mountain of vivid-toned pillows. All satins and silks. Because his mouth was beginning to water, Heero took one, long, slow breath. But the air, so fragrant, burned his lungs. "That looks big enough for five close friends." "I like a lot of room." Even as Heero's stomach quivered at the images that evoked, Duo was continuing. "I used to fall out of bed a lot as a kid." "That how you broke your nose?" "No. But I chipped a tooth once." Heero sat Duo down beside the bed, pleased that Duo's arms stayed linked around his neck. "I think we can probably keep from falling out of this one. If we work on it." Duo raised up on his toes, just a little, just enough to bring then eye-to-eye. "I'm willing to risk it." Determined to steady himself, Heero kissed Duo's brow, his cheeks. "Let me take my gun off." Heero stripped off the holster, set it on the floor. With fingers that were suddenly numb and awkward, Duo reached for the buttons of his blazer. "No." It was that one quick flash of nerves in Duo's eyes that had settled Heero's. His hands closed over Duo's. "Let me." Heero unfastened buttons, then took his hands slowly up Duo's sides. "You're shaking." "I know." Watching him, Heero slid the jacket from Duo's shoulders. "Are you afraid of me?" "No." Duo couldn't swallow. "Of this, a little. It's silly." Heero toyed with the first button of Duo's blouse, then the second. Duo's skin quivered as Heero's knuckle skimmed over it. "I like it." "That's good." Duo tried to laugh, but only managed one trembling breath. "Because I can't seem to stop shaking." "There's plenty of time to relax." The blouse slipped away, and desire curled its powerful fist in Heero's stomach. Midnight-blue silk shimmered in the dimming light, gleaming against ivory skin. "There's no hurry." "I..." Duo's head fell back as Heero traced a finger over the silk of his camisole. Gently, so gently, over his swelling nipples, as though his was the first body Heero had touched. The only one he wanted to touch. "God, Hee-ro..." "I've spent a lot of time imagining this. Step
out of your shoes," Heero suggested while unhooking Duo's slacks.
In a daze, Duo obeyed as the slacks slithered down his legs. Duo couldn't move. Every muscle in his body had turned to water. Hot, rushing water-except for his aching erection, which strained against the blue lace of his panties, the tip already peeking out over the waistband. As Duo stood swaying, helplessly seduced, Heero watched him. Touched him. Clever fingers brushing, stroking, exploring. Heero trailed them up Duo's arms, slid them over his shoulders. Then back to silk, until Duo's body burned with fever. Heero's eyes never left Duo's. Even when he kissed him, lightly, tormenting Duo's hungry lips with the barest of tastes, Heero's eyes stayed open and aware. "You're making me crazy." Duo's voice hitched out though trembling lips. "I know. I want to." Heero caught Duo's wrists when he reached for him, then ran their tangled fingers back over his body, so Duo felt his own response to Heero, inside and out, as Heero touched his mouth to Duo's again. Patiently, erotically, Heero deepened the kiss, until Duo's hands went limp and his pulse thundered. Then Heero brought Duo's hands up, spread them over his chest. Together they spread open his shirt. With his mouth still clinging to Duo's, Heero tugged it off. Heero's heart gave a quick, hard lurch as Duo's hands, hot and eager, raced over him. Yanking Duo close, Heero took off his shoes. His skin was already damp when Heero fumbled for the snap of his jeans. "I want you under me." Heero tore his mouth from Duo's to savor his throat. "I want to feel you move under me." They lowered to the bed, rolled once, then twice, over silk. Heero used every ounce of control, every degree of will, to keep himself from plunging into Duo and taking the quick, desperate release his body craved. Heero's mind, his soul, wanted more than that. Duo seemed smaller like this. Slighter. It helped Heero remember that passion could outstrip tenderness. So, while the blood pounded, and burned in his veins, Heero loved Duo slowly. Duo discovered that a person could drown willingly in sweetness. He knew there was a gun on the floor beside them and that Heero had used it at least once to kill. But the hands that moved over him were those of a gentle man. One who cared. Duo rested a palm on Heero's cheek as he floated away on the kiss. One who loved. Who loved him. Staggered by the knowledge, Duo poured everything he had into the kiss, needing to show Heero whatever he felt was returned, equally. Then Heero's mouth slid from Duo's to trail down his throat, over his shoulder. All thought, all reason, skittered away. In a warm, slippery pool of silk and satin, Heero showed Duo what it was to ache for someone. To yearn for the sharp, thin point of pain the poets call ecstasy. Duo's hips arched under Heero, desperately seeking contact and offering himself in that simple gesture. But Heero only continued that tormenting journey over him with teasing lips and gentle hands. When Heero's tongue flicked over the silk that covered his pebbled nipples, Duo moaned, pressing an urgent hand to the back of Heero's head. The sound of Duo's voice-husky, strained by his arousal-nearly unraveled the taut knot of Heero's control. So he pleased them both, closing a greedy mouth over a hardened nub. Gasping out with pleasure, Duo bucked under him, straining for more, his nails digging heedlessly into Heero's back as he whimpered and struggled for what was just out of reach. Maddened by Duo's response, Heero brought his mouth to his again, crushing his lips as he slithered a hand down to cup Duo's silk covered erection. Prayers and pleas trembled on Duo's tongue, but before he could voice them, Heero slipped under the silk to stroke him. The unbearable pleasure shattered. Fractured lights, whirling colors, spun behind Duo's eyes to blind him. Duo heard himself cry out; Heero's name was nearly a sob. Then there was his groan, a sound of sweet satisfaction as Duo's body went limp in release. Never before. Duo's hands slid away from Heero, boneless. Sweet Lord, never like this. Duo felt weak, wrecked, weepy. As his breath sobbed out, as his eyes fluttered closed, they both new that Duo's mind, his body, were totally Heero's for the taking. Heero had never felt stronger. Duo's wild response, his absolute surrender, filled Heero with a kind of intense power he'd never experienced before. Silk rustled against silk as Heero drew the camisole up and over Duo's head, tossing it aside. Duo's skin, slick with passion, glowed in the shadows. Heero touched where he chose, watching fascinated, as his hands caressed Duo. Gold against ivory. Heero tasted wherever he liked, feeling Duo's muscles quiver involuntarily as he traced openmouthed kisses over his rib cage, down to his stomach. Heat to heat. Then, wanting that instant of sheer pleasure again,
Heero slid a hand under Duo, fingers seeking and entering him. Heero
shuddered as Duo's body convulsed around his digits. Slowly, as in a dream, Duo's arms lifted to wrap around Heero. Duo rose to meet him, to take him deep. They moved gently at first, treasuring the intimacy, willing to prolong it. But need outpaced them, driving them faster, until thrust for thrust, they sprinted toward the final crest. Heero's hand fisted in Duo's hair as the last link of control snapped clean. Duo's name exploded from his lips like an oath as he emptied himself into him. Duo wondered how he could have thought himself experienced. While it was true he hadn't been with as many men as some thought, he hadn't come to Heero an innocent. Yet things had happened tonight that had never happened before. And because Duo was someone who understood himself well, he knew that nothing he had experienced would happen again-unless it was with Heero. Relaxed now, Duo rubbed his cheek over Heero's chest, content to remain as he'd been since Heero rolled over and dragged him across him. Tucked in the cocoon of his arms, Duo felt as cozy as a cat, and he arched lazily as Heero ran a hand down his spine. "Will you tell me again?" Duo asked. "What?" Duo pressed his lips against him, feeling Heero's heart beating strong and fast beneath them. "What every woman wants to hear." "I love you." When Duo lifted his head, Heero laid a hand gently over his lips. Heero knew it would hurt to hear Duo say it, when Duo didn't mean it as he did. Suddenly Duo was glad it was dark, and Heero couldn't see the smile fade away from his face. "Even after this," Duo said carefully, "you don't want me to love you back." More than anything Heero thought. More than life. "Let's just leave things as they are." Heero traced Duo's face with a fingertip, enjoying those odd angles. "Tell me how you broke your nose. Duo was silent a moment, gathering his composure. Duo couldn't offer what Heero didn't want to take. "Fistfight." Heero chuckled and drew Duo back to cuddle, instinctively soothing the tension out of him. "I should have figured." Duo made an effort to relax against him. There was time to convince Heero. Hadn't he said they had plenty of time? "At boarding school," Duo added. "I was twelve and homely as a duck. Too skinny, funny hair, dumb face…and I had just started to wear girl's clothes." "I like your face. And your hair." Heero's hand cupped Duo's bottom comfortably. "And your body." "You didn't know me when I was twelve. When you're odd in any way, you're a target." "I know." Interested, Duo lifted his head again. "Do you?" "I didn't learn English until I was five. Before my father's business got off the ground, times were rough." Heero turned his face into Duo's hair to breathe in the scent. "I was this little Japanese half-breed kid, wearing hand-me-downs. And back then, Japanese weren't particularly popular with Americans--no foreigners were." "Well, you made such great villains." Duo kissed his cheek, comforting the small boy Heero had been. "It must have been difficult for you." "I had the family. We had each other. School was a little rugged at first. Name-calling, playground scuffles. Even some of the parents weren't too happy about having their kids play with the Japs. No point in trying to explain that we were more American than Japanese." Heero shifted, tangled his legs with Duo's. "So, after a few black eyes and bloody noses, I earned a reputation for being tough. After a while, we kind of got absorbed into the neighborhood." "What neighborhood?" "Brooklyn. My parents still live there. Same house." With a shake of his head, Heero drew back. He could make Duo out in the dark, could see the way his eyes were smiling at him. "How come we're talking about me, when I asked you about your nose?" "I like hearing it." "There was a fistfight," Heero said, prompting him. Duo sighed. "One of those girl cliques," he began. "You know the type. The cool kids, all hair and teeth and attitude. I was the nerd they liked to pick on." "You were never a nerd." "I was the champion nerd. Gawky, top of the class academically, socially inept." "You?" There was sure pure disbelief in the tone, Duo laughed. "Which of those descriptions don't you buy, Hee-ro?" Heero considered a moment. "Any of them." "I guess I'm two-thirds flattered and one-third insulted. I was tall for my age, and skinny, not to mention trying to wear girl's clothing and make-up. It took me a while to pull a look together that worked." "It may have taken a while," Heero began, proving his point with a sweep of his hand, "but you got it together very well." "Thank you. My mind, however, had developed quite nicely. Straight A's" "No kidding?" Heero grinned in the dark. "And you were the kid who always trashed the grading curve for the rest of us." "That's the idea. Added to that, I was more comfortable with a book, or thinking, than I was tittering. Young girls do a lot of tittering. Because I was hardheaded, I wouldn't let the school or my classmates stop me from dressing and acting the way I wanted. As a result, I took a lot of flak. Duo the Deviant, that sort of thing." Duo paused long enough to shift some pillows. "Anyway, we had this history exam coming up. One of the cool kids-her name was Dawn Gallagher-- Heart-shaped face, perfect features, long, flowing blond hair. You get the picture." "Prom-queen type." "Exactly. She was flunking big-time and wanted me to let her copy from my paper. She'd made my life adolescent hell, and she figured if she was nice to me for a couple of days, let me stand within five feet of her, maybe sit at the same lunch table, I'd be so grateful, I'd let her." "But you hung tough." "I don't cheat for anybody. The upshot was, she flunked the exam, and her parents were called to the school for a conference. Dawn retaliated by pinching me whenever I got too close, getting into my room and breaking my things, stealing my books. Small-time terrorism. One day on the basketball court…" "You played basketball?" "I was an athletic nerd," Duo explained. "Anyway, she had her boyfriend trip me. If that wasn't enough she had a few admirers on the other team. They elbowed the hell out of me during the game. I had bruises everywhere." An immediate floor of resentment had Heero tightening his hold. "Little bitch." Pleased with his support, Duo cuddled closer. "It was an epiphany for me. Suddenly I saw that pacifism, while morally sound, could get you trampled into dust. I waited for Dawn outside the science lab one day. We started out with words-I've always been good at them. We progressed to pushing and shoving and drew quite a crowd. She swung first. I didn't expect it, and she bobbed me right on the nose. Let me tell you, Detective, pain can be a great motivator." "Separates the nerds from the toughs." "You got it. It took three of them to pull me off her, but before they did, I'd blackened her baby-blues, split her Cupid's-bow mouth and loosened several of her pearly-whites." "Good for you, Maxwell." "It was good," Duo said with a sigh. "In fact, it felt so good, I've had to be careful with my temper ever since. I didn't just want to hurt her, you see. I wanted to mangle her." Heero took Duo's hand, curled it into a fist and raised it to his lips. "I'll watch my step. Did you take much heat?" "We both got suspended. My parents were appalled and embarrassed enough by my behavior to cancel my summer plans and switch me to another school." "But-," Heero cut himself off. Not every family was as supportive as his. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me," Duo told him. "I started off with a clean slate. I was still ugly, and in drag, but I knew how to handle myself." Even if Duo didn't realize he was carrying around some emotional scars, Heero did. Heero rolled over him, cupping his face in his hands. "Listen, Maxwell, you're beautiful." Amused, Duo grinned. "Sure I am." Heero didn't smile. In the dim light, his eyes were very intense. "I said, you're beautiful, why else haven't I been able to get you out of my mind since the first time I saw you?" "Intriguing," Duo corrected. "Unusual." "Gorgeous," Heero murmured, and watched Duo blink in surprise. "Ivory for skin, chestnut for hair, amethyst for eyes." "You've already gotten me into bed, Hee-ro," Duo said lightly. Duo had to speak lightly, or he'd humiliate himself with tears. "But the flattery is appreciated." With a grin, Duo linked his arms around Heero's neck. "But haven't you heard the one about actions speaking louder than words?" Heero arched a brow. "If you insist." "Oh, I do," Duo murmured, as Heero's mouth came down to his. "I absolutely do." * * * * * * * With his bag slapping hard against his hip, Duo raced into the office, ten minutes late. "I have a good excuse," he called to Hilde. His perpetually prompt partner was standing by the coffeepot, her back to the door. "It's alright. I'm running behind myself." "You?" Duo dropped his bag, stretched his
shoulders. He might have skipped his workout that morning, but he
was feeling limber as a snake. "What is it, a national holiday?"
"It's nothing." After giving herself a shake, Hilde sipped her coffee. "It's just that Steven caught me on my way in." "Did he say something to upset you?" "He said he loved me." Hilde pressed her lips together. She'd be damned if she'd cry over him again. "The sonofabitch." "Let's sit down." Duo curled a comforting arm around Hilde's shoulder. "You might not want to hear this, but I think he means it." "He doesn't even know what it means." Furious, Hilde dashed one rogue tear away. "I'm not going to let him do this to me again. Get me believing, get me all churned up, just so he can back off when things get serious. Let him have the fantasy life. I've got reality." Because he'd been waiting for an opening just like this, Duo crouched down in front of her. "Which is?" "A job, paying your bills..." "Boring," Duo finished, and Hilde's brimming eyes flashed. "Then I'm boring." "No, you're not." Sighing, Duo set his coffee aside and took one of Hilde's hands. "Maybe you're afraid to take risks, but that doesn't make you boring. And I know you want more out of life than a job and a good credit rating." "What's wrong with those things?" "Nothing, as long as that's not all you have. Hilde, I know you're still in love with him." "That's my problem." "His, too. He's miserable without you." Suddenly weary, Hilde rubbed her fingers between her brows. "He's the one who broke things off. He said he didn't want complications, a long-term commitment." "He was wrong. I'd bet the bank that he knows he's wrong. Why don't you just talk to him?" "I don't know if I can." Hilde squeezed her eyes shut. "It hurts." An odd light flickered in Duo's eyes. "Is that how you know it's real? When it hurts?" "It's one of the top symptoms." Hilde opened her eyes again. This time, there was a trace of hope mixed with the tears. "Do you really think he's unhappy?" "I know he is. Just talk, Hilde. Hear each other out." "Maybe." She gave Duo's hand a quick squeeze, then reached for her coffee again. "I wasn't going to dump this on you first thing." "What are pals for?" "Well, pal, we'd better get to work, or a lot of people will be out of a job." "Great. I've been playing with the dialogue in that scene between Storm and Jade. We want to bump up the sexual tension." Hilde was already nodding and booting up the computer. "You're the dialogue champ," she began, then glanced up. "So why were you late?" "It's not important. We've got them running into each other at the station house. The long look first, then…" "Duo, you're only making me more curious. Get it out of the way, or I won't be able to work." "Okay." Duo was all but bursting to tell, anyway. "I was with Hee-ro." "I thought that was yesterday." "It was." Duo's smile spread. "And last night. And this morning. Oh, Hilde, it's incredible. I've never felt this way about anyone." "Right." Hilde started to pick up her reading glasses, then looked up again. For a moment she did nothing but study Duo's face. "Say that again." "I've never felt this way about anyone." "Good grief." On a quick huff of breath, Hilde sat back. "I think you mean it." "It's different." With a half laugh, Duo pressed a hand to his cheek. "It's scary, and it hurts, and sometimes I look at him and I can't even breathe. I'm so afraid he might take a good look at me and realize his mistake." Duo let his hand drop. "It's supposed to be easy." "No." Slowly Hilde shook her head. "That was always your mistake. It's supposed to be hard, and scary and real." "There's this clutching around my heart." "Yeah." "And...and..." Frustrated, Duo turned, scooting around a chair so that he could pace the length of the table. "And my stomach's all tied up in knots one minute. The next I feel so happy I can hardly bear it. When we were together last night..." No way to describe it, Duo thought. No possible way. "Hilde, I swear, no one's ever made me feel like that. And this morning, when I work up beside him, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry." Hilde rose, held out a hand. "Congratulations, Maxwell. You've finally made it." "Looks that way." With a laugh, Duo threw his arms around Hilde and squeezed. "Why didn't you tell me how it feels?" "It's something you have to experience firsthand. How about him?" "He loves me." Duo felt foolish and weepy. Digging though his bag he found a tattered tissue. "Hee-ro told me. He looked at me, and he told me. But--" "Oh-oh." "He doesn't want me to tell him how I feel." Hissing a breath though his teeth, Duo pressed a hand to his stomach. "Oh God, it hurts. It hurts everywhere when I realized he doesn't trust me enough. He thinks it's like all the other times. Why shouldn't he? But I want him to know it's not-and I don't know how." "He only has to look at you." "It's not enough." Calmer now, Duo blew his nose. "Everything's different this time. I guess I have to prove myself. I do love him, Hilde." "I can see that. I wasn't sure I ever would." Touched, she lifted a hand to Duo's hair. "You could take your own advice, and talk to him." "We have talked. Hee-ro wants things to stay as they are." Hilde lifted her brows. "What do you want?" "For him to be happy." Duo chuckled and stuffed the mangled tissue back in his purse. "That makes me sound like a wimp. You know that I'm not." "Who knows you better? It only makes you sound like a woman in the first dizzy stages of love." Duo gave her a watery smile. "Does it get worse or better?" "Both." "That's good news. Well, while it's getting better and worse, I'll have time to show him how I feel." Duo picked up his coffee mug, the set it aside again. "Hilde, there's one more thing." "What could be bigger?" Hilde demanded. "Hee-ro wants me to have dinner with his family on Sunday." After a quick gurgle of laughter, Hilde eye's widened. "He's taking you home to Mother?" "And Father," Duo put in. "And sisters and brothers-in-laws and nieces and nephews. A couple times a month they have a big family dinner on Sunday." "Obviously the man is crazy about you." "He is. I know he is." Then Duo shut his eyes and dropped into a chair. "His family is enormously important to him. You can hear it every time he mentions one of them." Duo grabbed another tissue and began to tear it to shreds. "I want to meet them. Really. But what if they can't handle the fact that I'm a drag queen? What if they don't approve of Hee-ro's choice and disown him?" "You have got it bad. Take it from me, you just be the Duo Maxwell we all know and love, and they'll be crazy about you, too. Besides, if Heero loves you so much, he's not going to take you into a situation that could turn violent, or end up with him becoming estranged from his family." "But what if--" "What if you pull yourself together?" This time Hilde picked up her reading glasses and perched them on her nose. "Put some of this angst into Storm and Jade's heartbreak. Millions of viewers will thank you." After a deep breath, Duo nodded. "Okay, okay. That might work. And if we don't get the morning session out of the way, we won't be ready for when Dorothy comes in at noon for a consulting session." "Your deal, sister." Frowning, Hilde gestured with a pencil. "That particular lady makes me nervous." "Don't worry about Dorothy. I know what I'm doing." "How many times have I heard that?" But Duo only smiled and let his mind drift. "Okay. Storm and Jade." Duo closed his eyes, envisioned the scene. "So, they run into each other at the station..." TBC...
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