"Defying Gravity"

A Romance in Three Parts

Written By: Kaeru Shisho

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: AU, yaoi, some language

Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3

Summary: A multi part story of romance starting with a turning point vacation, developing throughout a dangerous UC mission, and moving ahead through the unexpected challenges of a summer vacation.

"Part One: It's a Vacation"

I wasn't worried about Heero, I told myself, as I struggled upstairs to my bedroom to locate my cell phone. I found it in a dirty sock, nearly battery-dead, but all I needed was one call to Heero. What if he didn't answer, then what would I do? Wouldn't I need to make another call for help?

So, I was standing at the foot of the stairs, poised, phone in hand, uncertain whether to call him or attempt a one-legged search and rescue mission, when I heard the roar of an unfamiliar engine outside. I pocketed the phone and danced to the door. Hop, slide, slide, hop, slide, slide. I opened it and saw a snowmobile cruise into a lazy curve, the driver bringing Heero right to the steps.

"Hey!" I shouted, elated.

Heero said something to the driver, shook his hand, grabbed a couple sacks and his ski equipment, and bounded off.

"Duo, sorry. That took longer than I thought it would. The car shop manager gave me a ride back." He smiled wanly. "He didn't think I could make it back carrying the snow chains. You weren't...worried, were you?"

"Not much," I scratched my head, grinning. "Good thing you didn't need me. I'm pretty worthless."

Heero's expression bordered on incredulous. "You saved that boy and prevented me from injury while escaping with only a few contusions and a sprain. I'd say you are a valuable asset. I, ah, never even thanked you for that."

"No problemo, buddy!" I laughed, giddy with relief to have him back. "Anything I can carry in for ya?"

"No, I'll be fine."

"Okay, ah, can I borrow your cell phone recharger? I don't think I brought mine."

"Of course," he said. His eyes caught mine.

"I, ah, just got this out in case, you know?" I was fingering my cell phone.

"You were worried."

"Getting prepared-- just in case. Hey, if you hadn't come back, I would have been stranded here, helpless!"

He smiled and chuckled. "You are the most self-reliant person I've ever known. I can't imagine you feeling helpless."

"Oh, yeah? Well in that case, let me carry something."

He dropped a heavy sack by the car, chains by the noise it made, and handed me the ski poles. "If you insist."

I managed to avoid poking myself in the foot on my way through the living room, then dropped them by the staircase. "So, I figure we are staying another night, right?"

"Yes. The snowplows are busy, but more snow is on the way. I called the rental office to inform them of our change in plans, and then bought a few things in town, which is why I was delayed."

I eyed the smaller bag in his hand. He kept it close and always on the side away from me. He noticed my attention on the bag and tightened his grip.

"Just curious," I said.

"Later. Dinner?"

"What did you bring home?"

"Something simple to prepare. Pasta and sauce and sausages."

"Great. I'll start the water," I said.

"I'll...be right down." He started for the stairs, and then hesitated. "You look...good."

"So do you," I said, and I put a lot of meaning into that, too, not wanting him to think that I meant "healthy and hale."

He got it and smiled.

I had a microwaved cup of tea waiting for him, the sauce warming, the Italian sausages sizzling, and the water nearly ready for the pasta when he reappeared, clothed in dry pants and socks, his blue t-shirt the color of the slate tiles around the fireplace. He warmed his hands around the mug immediately.

"Thanks."

"Sure," I said. He had the bag with him and I wanted to know what was inside. "Dessert?"

"No. You can have what's inside when we eat."

I dumped the pasta into the water, gave it a stir, before joining him at the table. "Can't wait."

"Go on, then. It's for you." He nudged the bag closer to me.

Instantly I had my hand inside. "More hair conditioner?" I couldn't keep the disappointment from my voice, I guess.

He smiled and nodded. "You were out. There's more."

I turned the bag upside down and shook. "A ...ah... hair twisty? Ah, gee...thanks, Heero."

He laughed. At me. "Hold out your hand, baka."

"Okay, but if this is something lame, don't bother. Just leave it on the table." I got up to stir the pasta, and returned, but the table was clear except for his outstretched, closed hand.

"What is it?" I asked. Whatever it was it was small enough to fit in his fist.

"Open it."

I ran a finger along his large knuckles, tickling the hairs first, then pushed his thumb and first finger apart, separating them from his fist. I had a devilish thought and acted on it. I bent over and licked his fingers, forcing my tongue where his thumb had been and pushing inside the clenched fist. I smiled at the sound of his quick intake of breath, and continued to push and wriggle my way past the finger barrier. I tasted something metallic, and sucked my tongue into my mouth, surprised.

His hand slowly unfolded like a flower revealing a band of gold on his palm. I stared at it as if it were raw meat.

"It's for you," he said, his voice low.

"It's a ring!"

"Yes."

"I can't...we can't... You know the rules! We can't wear rings on the job. No one can."

"I know. It demonstrates an important tie to someone that can be used against you, should you be caught. But you aren't going undercover-- for awhile, at least. You can wear it on the chain with the cross, unless you don't want it at all."

Which was the real point, after all. Did I want it? He just said it symbolized a tie to him, that I was important to him. Others would see it and know about us. Did I want that?

"It's kinda fast."

"I didn't want you to think I only wanted you for sex."

"Oh. Well. Um... that's good."

"You have good character traits. I wish I had them."

"Yeah?"

"My counselor said I lacked emotional openness. She said close relationships were based on shared feelings. If I remained closed off, no one would trust me with their feelings. You have excellent qualities. You are generous, you have integrity, and you care about the future. Your self-esteem is low, but I don't know why."

I was stunned. I didn't want to talk about this. Heero was talking about having a relationship, but was that what I wanted? I had been infatuated with him for years it seemed, but with the real possibility of a relationship presented to me, I felt as if I'd been punched in the gut. I was still trying to accept the whole 'gay' thing. I certainly wasn't ready to 'come out' to the world. The ring would do that.

"People would ask where it came from, who it was from," I mumbled.

"They might."

"I-I wouldn't know what to say."

"It shames you to be attached to me?"

Well, yes and no. I tried to think of how to put it that didn't sound outright insulting.

"Should I have bought lube and condoms instead?" His voice turned hard. "Is that what you want?"

I was more stunned. "N-no!"

The pot boiled over, bubbling pasta water spilling over the edges and scorching the burner. "Damn!" I yelled and hopped over to remove the lid and stir it down.

Heero was at my elbow with the pot holders. "It is ready to drain?"

"Yeah."

He did the honors, while I found a serving bowl. I poured the sauce over the pasta and tossed, then divided it onto two plates. He opened two soft drinks and set forks and napkins on the table. The sausage was done, so I forked one on each plate and placed a plate in front of Heero and sat down with the other. He and I avoided looking at one another. We acted like we'd both just been circumcised, and if we talked to each other everybody would know. He took a few bites then stared at me.

"Are you in any pain?" he asked.

I was. I hadn't noticed until then, and all of a sudden I noticed. My leg hurt, like fury down by the ankle and spreading up to above the knee. And the right side of my head, a dull ache like ocean waves.

He clasped one of my hands. "You're shaking. I upset you."

"Hell, yes!" I said.

He pointed to my head. "What's going on inside this, Duo?" He tapped the side of my head. "It's not easy for me either."

"I know. Damn it all, Heero, I don't know. It's like we're eighteen going on thirty. I'm still getting my head around us being real good friends here. The sex. That was great, don't get me wrong, but a week ago I woulda denied the possibility. I didn't know you were gay. You are, aren't you, or am I really stupid?"

"Yes."

"Okay, well I don't know about you, but I just came to that conclusion and I'm not real excited about it. All my life I've avoided—" I paused to take a deep breath and think before I spoke. "I like you, a lot, I'm just not ready to make it public, I guess."

I could not look him in the eye when I said that. I knew if I saw that I'd hurt him, I'd die. I was such a coward.

"Understood. I'll return the ring tomorrow." His turn to sigh.

"Oh, no, don't do that!" I enclosed his hand in mine and managed to find the balls to look him directly in the eye. "Hold onto it."

"Then, you mean I should ask you later?"

"Yeah, lots later. Another time. When I'm more used to all this, okay?"

"All right, although," he smiled wistfully into his soda, "I wish you came with a manual. It would make this much easier."

We ate the food and eased back into companionable silence for awhile. The headache eased, and I popped a pain pill for the rest. Fifteen minutes later, the throbbing in my leg faded. I needed to talk to someone about what I was going through, someone not Heero, someone not so involved. Quatre. He'd help me sort out my feelings. I had to talk to my bud. Heero broke the quiet.

"You still want to move, to live with me and the others?"

"Yeah, I think that's gonna do me some good. You know? Growing up, fitting into the normal adult world for once. And with you guys around, yeah, it'll be great."

"Agreed. But—"

"But?"

"I cannot promise to leave you alone."

"Gods, I hope not!" I laughed. "I'd go clinically bonkers if I had to watch you shimmy about the house and not ever touch me or anything."

"Shimmy? I don't wobble when I walk."

"Hmmm, but your ass sways," I said grinning in what I hoped was a winning way.

"Maxwell," he growled.

I think I was getting him all excited; I sure was all of a sudden. I hopped away from the table and stacked dishes in the sink. I turned on the hot water and squirted soap into the largest. "That will do."

I also made it a point to shimmy, waggling my butt so the tip of my braid swung back and forth over it, in case he was watching me.

"Are you dancing?"

"Could be."

"You're not singing, though."

"I could—"

His hands were on my hips. He spun me around, supporting my braced leg. Gods, his eyes were black for the second they met mine before he sank to his knees and pulled the cord on my sweatpants.

I know I gasped with shock. "Ah...!"

He pealed my pants and boxers below my knees in a single, hard shove, then finding my half-hard-on in his face, opened wide. I dug my fingers into his shoulders to keep from falling and moaned, loudly. I hadn't dreamed of anything so exciting, so damned hot at this, ever.

Then I looked down. "Gods..."

Seeing his face, seeing my two favorite things together like that shook my control. I bucked uncontrollably, messing over those lips, his face, in his hair. My knees trembled with the effort of holding myself up, my chest expanding and shrinking with the rapidly drawn breaths. His hands steadied me by the cheeks of my ass.

We hadn't said a word to one another.

As my breathing settled down I eased up on my death-grip to his shoulders, freeing him to get to his feet. Damn, his knees must have hurt. I dared another look down and caught him licking his lips on his way up. His face was barely an inch away; his eyes drilled into me.

I drew him close, our faces tilting expertly now, as the kiss started. His soft lips overlapped mine, his tongue lingering at the entrance of my mouth running around the super-sensitive inside. I tasted my own come and was not impressed, but that hardly mattered.

We pressed tightly together, losing our shirts, and Heero's pants. The feel of his skin wherever my hands stroked and caressed—it was the best feeling ever. My tongue roamed in search of his, only for it to slip and slide along it fleetingly before feeling his tongue retreat inside his mouth.

How could this dangerous, hard man be so gentle?

My body slumped against his, even as my hands and lips tried to hold him. I pressed into him, rocking my body against his. Heero pulled away, separating us as I moved forward with him. He looked down and I followed his gaze. I was steadily climbing back to full mast.

In a slightly self mocking tone I whispered, "Gods! What have you done to me?"

His face lifted and he closed the distance between us. "Love you any way I can."

This time I locked my lips to his, my tongue ramming into his mouth as my hands pulled his shoulders into me. His eyes widened as he returned my dreamy gaze, his deep blue-rimmed pupils so wide I felt I could fall into their depths forever.

The kiss went on, my body wild with our contact. My soul in my mouth, I felt warmed and exhilarated with each touch of his tongue. But...

I broke the kiss.

"Something's wrong?" he asked, his vice husky. "I can feel the tension in your back," he added, in case I was going to deny it.

"You're, ah, rubbing my cock. It's still a bit sensitive, you know?"

"Sorry!"

"I didn't say it was hurting me," I said with a smile and saw a matching smile spread across his face. "Don't be sorry about it. Do something about it instead."

By wrapping my arm over his shoulder, Heero could carry most of my weight, allowing us to sorta walk hip-to-hip. He guided me up the stairs and into his small bedroom. After pulling the sheet and blankets down to the bottom, Heero pushed me onto my back and gently lowered himself on top. Stickiness slid across my hips and stomach until his firmness ended up pressed into my gut. Our lips drew together, and I roamed over his soft skin with my rough hands as our tongues danced and caressed.

The weight of him lying on me, the pressure from his groin on mine as we rubbed and slid along each other was getting me hotter than I thought possible. This was better than that time in the bathtub. I was fast approaching the point of no return again. I tried to slow down, to enjoy us being together longer but Heero seemed intent on speeding up, grinding in to me.

I tried to pull away from the kiss and get my breath, but he seemed to require that contact, so after dislodging him, his lips just traveled down the side of my face and found my ear. Heero nibbled and suckled on my earlobe as I panted, trying to stop the orgasm, willing it not to happen. Like a limpet his mouth latched on and his tongue forced its way into my ear, but I could no longer stem the tide.

With the release, a peaceful lassitude and love for this strange man swept over me. I gently slid my hands down from their tenacious grip on his shoulders and lightly stroked my way down his sides. I slid them onto their favorite home, where they always wanted to go. I heaved him down, mashing us together. With a groan, Heero quivered as his muscles clenched with nowhere to go.

With our passion spent the steady pace of time lost its measure. Heero tried to lift his weight from me but I gripped him tighter yet, not ever wanting to be freed of that burden.

He settled against me, his head resting by mine. Our breathing returned to normal as my hands gently caressed all within my reach. Heero tried to get up again and once again I pulled him back. He lifted his head and looking down at me, his eyes roaming around my face before looking deep into my eyes. He pecked quickly at my lips and I tried to lift my head to take all those kisses and return them in a slow sensual one but he withdrew back.

"At least let me pull up the sheets, my back is cold," he said.

I released him immediately, ashamed of my selfishness. Heero pecked my lips once more and then rose onto his knees, letting the cool air rush between us, chilling against my warm skin. He reached behind for the sheet and blankets pulling them up over us as I guided him back down on top of me.

Settling his hard chest on mine I pulled the blankets up over our shoulders as Heero initiated a long, slow and very deep kiss. Our heads rocked against each other as we tried to reach deeper parts. We turned slightly, inching our way to our sides, arms locked around each other, guiding our movements through one kiss after another. I felt happy and peaceful in his arms, safe from the outside world knowing he'd protect me, and I him, if I had to.

"I... I love how this feels," he said.

His voice cracked, suffused with rare emotion, but what he'd said rankled. Maybe he could tell by the set of my jaw, because he tightened his hold, constricting my chest enough to make me gasp for air, and then released me.

"Well, no shit," I said. "That's why guys dig sex, ya know?"

"This." He squeezed again, a little harder to make his point. "This. I like this. Us like this."

"Oh, well...yeah." I hid my blush with my bangs. "This is nice, too."

"You want to do this in our place? Share a... space?"

"Um, sometimes, but I still want my own room."

Heero nodded. "I cannot hide that things have changed between us, not from Trowa, and Quatre can read you like a book."

"Oh, yeah."

"They will figure us out-- you out," he emphasized that part.

"I don't think Quatre and Trowa will care at all."

"Care that... what's to care about?"

"Um, we're, um, gay." I met his eyes. "And that we like each other, right?"

"Yes." He smiled. "About time you realized it."

I was crazy in love, but I didn't admit to that depth of feeling. "I'm beat. Why am I so tired? I feel like I've been run over by a Gundam."

"Maxwell?"

"Huh?"

"Shut up and go to sleep." He chuckled low and sexy as hell as he rolled me over on top of him.

I translated, "Chill."

"You want more blankets?"

"No!" I barked a laugh. "Chill out. Peace. Good night." I kissed him lightly and snuggled onto my uncomfortable cushion.

Tired and contented, wrapped in the least resilient arms imaginable, head resting on his granite-hard chest, feeling his gentle breath on my cheek, I drifted off to sleep.

For about two hours.

Heero landed on the floor with a curse. Who kicked whom hardly mattered; the small bed was just too small for two energetic young men.

"'Sa'right," I slurred in half-awareness. "I'll go ta my room."

"No, stay where you are. I'll go to your bed," Heero said. He tossed the covers over my back and left.

(o)

I woke up the next morning stiff with dried sweat and freezing. I cranked up the room wall heater, wrapped up in the blanket, and staggered to the bathroom. My braid looked like a cat's tail with the stray hairs flying about. I didn't even try to brush it out. Instead, I climbed into the shower and let the water stream over it. My razor was downstairs so I skipped shaving.

I crawled on my hands and knees into my room so as not to awaken Heero with my hopping. He was wrapped around my pillow, his nose filled with eau de Maxwell. Man, that was so cool. I had to stop and look and was tempted to crawl in there with him, but I figured if he could sleep this soundly, let him. So, I silently unzipped my bag, removed a sweater and sweatpants, and crawled back into the room with the heater to dress. The heater was too lame for my hair; it hardly warmed the air, so, half-sliding down the banister, I made my way downstairs to dry my hair and re-construct the braid by the fire.

Sadly, we hadn't fixed the fire the night before. The room was frigid. The only good thing about the cold was how it numbed the pain in my leg and shoulder. Each day since the accident, a new set of muscles made themselves known with aching annoyance. Today it would be the shoulder I'd landed on.

I poked and prodded the dying embers back to life, then sat, shivering on the stone hearth until the flames caught the new wood with a roar. Good enough.

I found our clothes from the night before strewn about the room, and collected the items in an empty grocery bag. More dirty laundry to take home.

Setting the bag by the front door on my way to the kitchen, I wondered how long it would be until I could wear pants again. I wanted to show off my new clothes. Will I be lounging around in just sweat clothes in my dormitory room for the next two months or until we get a house?

No, I decided. I wouldn't let the other agents see me like that. Maxwell down and out from a tubing accident, for gods'sakes! Sally Po'd let me stay in the Preventer's sickbay until we moved.

I wished we had that house right now so I wouldn't have to go back to the Preventer's rooms. I washed the spaghetti pot from the night before, dried it, and then partially unpacked the box I had just packed the day before, searching for the coffee and tea. I imagined the house, sharing with my friends, and having my own room. A room in a house that was mine-- I'd never had that. I filled two mugs with water, shoved them into the microwave, and jabbed the start button. I kept thinking how I could really get used to this, getting up to my own place, as long as the place included one particular roommate, who I could hear moving around upstairs. The next few weeks- it couldn't possibly be months until we moved out, could it?- back at the Preventer's dormitory was going to suck.

I thought about that gold ring and my stomach lurched. I wished I could just be damned enthused about that thing. He was coming. The timer beeped. I felt his warmth on my back as he lifted a hunk of my hair and tugged it.

"You already showered?"

"Yeah, I reeked. Here," I handed him a mug with a tea bag. "I gotta go dry by the fire."

"I'll take your coffee, too." He frowned at my mug. "Did you just pour grounds into the water?"

"Yep. Couldn't find the filters. 'Sokay, though. We can stop for breakfast on the way out and I'll get something better."

"Eat out. Yes."

He turned and led the way to the couch. I was going to miss that couch. I untangled, brushed, re-braided as he watched and sipped his tea. His cell phone buzzed.

"Yuy," he answered. "Yes, we have the chains and it looks clear outside. We are packed. I'll ask." He looked at me. "Trowa says we can see the house this afternoon, as soon as we leave here, if you're up to it. He sounded excited."

"Trowa excited?" I grinned. "Sure. The sooner the better."

He smiled. "Agreed. We will meet you there. Got the address. Call with the time. Out." He pocketed his phone. "Quatre is pulling strings."

"He can pull all he likes. I don't care as long as it gets us a place sooner."

"He's likely to lay out some money on our behalf."

I was feeling strangely good. Nothing could ruffle me. "Let him. He's got millions and it makes him happy."

"Getting a house makes you happy," Heero stated as fact.

"You betcha! Never had a house."

"I will show you how to do laundry, although, I don't know how we'll keep a place clean, and if there's yard work--"

"We can handle that. It will be great."

"I like you optimistic." Heero leaned over and kissed me. "Having you around will be great." He checked his watch. "I'm going to shower fast. I'll bring our bags down."

"Okay. I'll search the downstairs for any forgotten things and repack the kitchen box."

I didn't move, but nor did he for a half minute. My cock was hard. Just thinking about him naked in the shower did that to my body, and I hated my body for revealing so much about how I felt. He seemed to have abundant control over his reactions. Then he smiled and adjusted his loose sweatpants. Maybe not.

"I won't be long," he said.

He wasn't gone over fifteen minutes. When he came down, he was loaded with our bags, mostly my clothes, new and for the most part unworn. I still hadn't moved.

"Don't get up."

"I won't," I assured him with a lazy smile.

"Find anything left to pack?"

"No," I said. I breathed out a deep, care-free sigh. But then I haven't looked.

"I'll load up the car. Stay off your leg."

"Okay," I said. I was mellowed out. I didn't need a shrink, I just needed to get laid three times a day. By Heero. I was crazy and I didn't care, although I knew I would eventually.

"I'll need your help getting the chains on," he said.

"Ah, sure. I can do that." Possibly, if I could lug my ass off the couch one last time.

One thing about the cold, it shriveled desire; at least, it did for me. After struggling to load the car and attach the chains, all I wanted to do was fire up the heater and go. Heero was gazing off into the wild beyond.

"Um, Heero?"

"I'm going to miss this place," he said.

"Me too," I found myself saying. "I'll bet it's terrific in summer with the lake and no snow."

"Would you like to come back then? I think Quatre was arranging a beach house, but he'd change it if you wanted."

"Maybe we can do both. Or, maybe we'll all be sick of one another's faces and not want to do anything."

His expression turned tender, his eyes locked on mine, but soft. "Never."

I swallowed, mute.

"The engine's warm enough, we can go. I'll drop the keys at the office and then stop for breakfast here in town. Quatre might call with further instructions by then. Is that okay with you?"

"Let's hit the road."

I wrapped my arms around my chest to retain warmth, settled into the car seat, and arranged my bruised body to be as comfortable as possible. What a vacation! In one week, I was a new man. I'd arrived exhausted, on edge, showing irrational paranoid behavior, and now I was leaving with a new found sexuality, a new outlook, a new home, and, most importantly, a new boyfriend, if I wanted him, if I could accept it all. Yeah, it was the end of my vacation, but not of my story, because what happened next wasn't at all what I was expecting.

On to Part 2: It's Back To Work

Back to Kaeru Shisho's Fiction

Back to GW Authors Index.