|
"Greeting Cards"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: Yaoi, funeral practices, AU, fluff Pairings: 1+4, 1x2x1, 3+H, 5xH, 3x4, 6x9 Summary: Each chapter is based on Heero’s
greeting cards and Duo's mortuary. "Greeting Cards " Chapter 1 -- Catch my Heart, part 1 Walking down the street, I happened to find a Valentine-- a card, heart-shaped. Sounds stupid, but it gets dumber that that. I stopped and something made me pick it up. I don't know if it was the pretty red foil or the white lace, but I picked it up and held it in the sunlight to read its inscription. Interestingly, it didn't have the needy "Will you be mine?" or the more demanding "Be Mine" salutation like the others. It asked with a touch of whimsy: "Can you catch my heart?" What's funny is after picking it up I looked around to see if someone might have thrown it. The nearest building was a one story, so I knew it didn't get thrown from up above. No passing cars or low flying planes, either. I tucked it into my pocket and continued on my walk to work. I was so distracted by the thing that I forgot to stop for my morning caffeine fix at my favorite corner coffee joint. I went for option "last" and bought a vending machine cuppa swill. All during that day, I thought to myself, "I wonder who wrote it and what they meant? Did it mean their heart was free like a wild animal? Or, was it something more like them wanting to be chased." No phone messages. No work awaiting my immediate attention. I warmed up my computer and sipped my diluted caffeine beverage while running my fingers over the keys. C'mon, c'mon... I ran a search on the monster search engine just for fun to see if there was anything like a poem or some recently published urban arcana or TV catch phrase, anything to give me a clue about the author-of-the-card's point of view. Nothing. Nada. Lots of cardiology and lots of anti acid websites for heartburn, but nothing to enlighten me as to the card's meaning. "Damn." I proceeded to place orders for the chemicals I was running low on and to check the new product pricelists for increases or, more rarely, reductions to take advantage of. None. Nada, again. The inscription and the heart arrested my thoughts that day. The usual cards I get, well, I toss'em the next day. I don't give them much thought afterwards. In that respect I'm not romantic. I have a good friend, Hilde, who saves every one. Laminates them and wallpapers her bedroom with them, I think. Would I have given the card that much thought if it had been handed to me? Was it the message or the mysterious messenger? Justifying to myself that I would have, I freed up a part of my brain to read my email-- for a heartbeat. After all, someone had obviously constructed the heart themselves and they put effort into it. If someone had given it to me personally, I know I'd have appreciated the gesture and the thought put into it. Yes, I thought to myself, I would have indeed appreciated it and kept its inscription near and dear to me. Either I deleted it all or I had no email to begin with; in any case, I made short work of it. I got on with my life, and when I got home I listened to the messages on the answering machine. Of particular interest was one recorded by my friend, Hilde, begging, "Please escort me to the Valentine's Day party at the Preventer's Hospital." Her best female friend, Sally Po, was an intern there and had recommended she volunteer to help with the kiddies. So, Hilde volunteered there a few times a week and knew everybody. I think Hilde was hoping to snag a doctor for a husband. I don't know why. Sally's boyfriend was a young cop on the beat. Anyway, I was happy that at least Hilde had been invited to a party. I had not. I didn't want to let her down, so I called for the particulars. "Friday night and everyone has to bring one Valentine and dance with the person who picks ours out of a box randomly." Images like snapshots from a fun-filled vacation flipped through my mind: meeting the man of my dreams, dancing with said man, bringing him home. And as fast as the thoughts struck, I let them roll over me, thinking it too improbable to hope for. "Sounds fun. Sure." During the week, of course, I forgot about the party. I hadn't talked to Hilde since the plans were made and my work was absorbing. So, after preparing a TV dinner and plopping in front of the boob tube, imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang and there stood Hilde on my doorstep. As soon as I saw her, I remembered. "Ah, damn. Sorry." And, as soon as I saw the disappointment upon her face, I felt like shit. "I forgot. I'll get ready in a jiff and then we'll go." I had already gone to the bedroom to change when I heard her say, "You made this card?" "No, I found it the other day on the sidewalk. Isn't it beautiful?" "Yeah. Someone obviously put some thought and effort into it and I bet the little girl that did it sure was disappointed when she couldn't give it to the boy of her dreams." Laughing, I began to tell her my random thoughts about the card. We laughed together and then she asked, "Are you going to put that card into the box tonight?" "I hadn't considered actually doing it, but in a way I'd imagined what might happen if I did. Don't laugh, but I thought I'd find Mr. Right with that card." We laughed again and then she said, "Oh, go on. Try it! If it works, I get to use the card next year. Who knows, it might have hidden powers to draw our true loves to us." When I walked out of the bedroom, she took one look at me and said, "When you look like that, who needs a damned card? It's a shame you're gay because otherwise I'd ask you out myself." "Well, you did ask me out and I'm going so consider tonight yours, babe." "No, because at the end of the night, I'll go home alone and you'll still be gay. Cinderella sure didn't have this problem! Nice touch to your braid." "The bow? You like it? Pink's not too...obvious? No, well, Cinderella had three ugly sisters for competition. You have me and that's it, and I'm not competition because any man that would be attracted to me wouldn't give you a second thought! So, if we meet a guy tonight and he's gay, I get him. If he's straight, you get him." We laughed again and she picked up the card and put it into the pocket of my blazer. "Use the card and hope it brings you luck." "Yeah, thanks. Hungry?" We went out to my car and she said, "Always. Do you want to go to Chili's? I know you love the place." "I love the guy's hot asses that work there. Whoever hires for the place has to be gay." "Either that, or she's a lucky gal that happens to pull in every hot guy on campus." "Whatever. Who ever it is, they gotta good eye for hot guys." "Yeah, and the food's good, so I thought of that first when you agreed to go to the party with me." "Good. Food first, sex second. Thanks Hilde-dear." "And my treat. You inconvenienced yourself for little old me and I'm going to make your night pleasant." Since it was her turn to treat, I let her. We went to Chili's and ogled the guys. The one who waited on us wore a nametag identifying him as "Quatre" and his snug fitting shirt showed the swell of pecs and biceps. His gorgeous blue eyes peaked from beneath pale long bangs, begging for adventure, and when he turned around, we both scoped his ass. She looked at me and said, "I'll bet you're wondering if he has skinny ankles." "Yup." "It doesn't matter to me if a man has skinny ankles or not." "Well, you're not a guy and you're not gay. If you were, you'd want those ankles to be skinny so when you threw them up over your shoulders, you'd still be able to hear him cry out your name." She giggled and said, "Oh, Duo, you paint the mental picture so clearly. I think it'd be hot to see you and a guy go at it." "Not happening. Not that I'm a prude, but you'd find it intimidating." "No I wouldn't!" "Oh, really? When I swallow things down to here and then use my throat muscles, the first thing out of your mouth would be your wanting to know how the hell I did it." "You can do...that? Really?" "Yeah,really. And, that's not the time to teach friend, who is like a little sister, how to give head." The sound of throat clearing made me look up. Quatre stood there blushing. "We're out of creamy Italian, would you like ranch instead?" "Only if you're the cowboy." I couldn't resist! He blushed profusely again and Hilde cackled with glee. "Yes," I saved him, "substitute freely." He left and she said, "You are so awful." "Not me! Did you hear him say he was straight? No, little sister, all you got was a blush. That means that guy has thought about it a few times. And I swear I ordered ranch the first time." "Maybe he figures it's better for the tips if he doesn't profess his straightness to a guy with an ass-length braid sporting a pink bow, but uses the Creamy Italian as his come-on line." "And maybe, he'll give me his number along with the check." "No sirree, I'm paying the bill tonight, so if he does, I get the date." We laughed and I told her she could have him because Mr. Right was going to be a doctor at the party and her guy would be waiting tables at Chili's. All through dinner, Quatre was attentive and busy. Our area seemed to be flooded with folks and kept him hopping. He didn't give us much attention; however, there were enough sightings of him to make it pleasant. When we got up to leave, he came over with our check. "Sorry! I hope I didn't keep you waiting. Here's your bill. I trust everything was good?" "Oh, it was wonderful. Here's your tip. I hope you don't have to split them because you earned it." "No, we get to keep them. Thank you very much!" "Well, you earned it." We left and no phone number was proffered. (o) "Why won't you go to the party? I told you about it weeks ago! Our friends are going. It's a chance to dance a little. Laugh. Meet new people." "Relena, stop! You just gave four solid reasons for his not going. Don't give Yuy more or he might prevent you from going as well." "She can do what she wants. I'm going to read." "But Heero! You can't just --!" "But he has, dear sister, he has. Gone to his room where he will convey in words the secrets of the heart, which others cannot put to paper themselves." "Milliardo, Heero's a greeting card designer, not a psychiatrist. Look at the time! You must take me, now. As members of the Preventer's Hospital Board of Directors, we ought to be on time." "Or as the elite of Sanc we can arrive fashionably late." Just go, I thought from the top of the stairs. And for the thousandths time wished I could afford to move into an apartment of my own. A loft somewhere. Where I could draw and write away from the distractions of my patrons. But here I was, dependent on the charity of Relena and Zechs (or is it Milliardo he's calling himself this week) Peacecraft. Sanc was so expensive, but as an artist-designer, if was the only place to be. Hn.I felt angry, but mostly at myself. I failed my mission. I was socially inept, again. My masterpiece was gone. My most perfectly designed and heartfelt card ready to be handed over to the man I'd secretly admired the past year. I'd been up most the night and into the wee morning hours creating it and fallen asleep at last at my desk I was late getting up the next morning and had to dash about collecting clean clothes. I stuffed the card into my outer jacket pocket and ran down the stairs, past the doorman, and down the street. Miraculously, I made the bus scheduled immediately after my bus. I had to run full speed all the way to the coffee shop, the one on the corner across the street from Maxwell's Chapel and Mortuary, a block from the Preventer's Hospital, and a couple more from Sanc University. But I made it on time. I checked my watch and the clock on the wall. My "on time" was a quarter of an hour before he ever showed up. I was only just barely not "on time". A quick survey of the premises assured me that the braided man wasn't there. I punched down my rising worry with the reminder that his arrival time was highly variable and ordered my usual cup of plain tea. My favorite back in the corner window seat was available, proving once and for all that I was not late. Why was it that I arrived every morning, except for Sunday's and official Sanc-sanctioned holidays, just in time to sip tea and watch the man with the long braid dash into the shop and order his coffee? He seemed fun, generous, and gave me a hard-on with just his voice. "Double everything and make it a rush! Oh, yeah, that's the stuff. Don't forget the sugar, that's where the energy rush comes from! Whole milk, sure. Do I look like I'm counting calories? Whipped cream and sprinkles, no lid! Cool, keep the change. Thanks, man." Except this most important morning he hadn't shown, yet. Thinking about him, though, reminded me to check for the card I planned to give him when he arrived. It would say it all for me. It would be the first step to winning his heart. It would be just the thing. It wasn't in my pocket! Shit! I stood and ripped off my jacket, and shook it into a rag, hunting frantically for the glimmer of red or the dainty scroll of white, but it was not there. It had gone chasing another heart somewhere else. I had lost the card. The perfect Valentine's Day card. The man with the long braid would not come that morning for his restorative coffee, he would not get his card, he would know learn of the feelings I harbored for him. I had missed my chance. So, it makes sense for me not to want to go to some frivolous Valentine's Day party. If I couldn't meet the man I admired where I knew he would appear, what chance was there for me to meet him at the hospital? Nil to none, especially without my card. Instead, I opened my laptop and called on Photoshop like a conjurer. Maybe St. Patrick's Day would be a luckier occasion for me. I was not without hope. (o) When we got to the hospital Hilde led me to a spacious conference room. Crepe paper streamers and lots of hearts adorned the walls. One table was loaded with goodies to eat. It was all very colorful. "Man, whoever decorated did a nice job." "That was me, numbskull," Hilde said, bopping me on the head with her purse. We hung our coats on the backs of our chairs, laying claim to them, and Hilde introduced me around to everyone. One noticeable fact I'd determined right off was that there weren't many cute guys, and there sure weren't any male nurses who were hot enough for me to feign having "the big one" so they'd give me mouth to mouth. The band was decent, at least. I would be able to sit and listen and eat, if nothing else. Not unlike being at home, but with more people and no TV for entertainment. The first real highlight of the night had to be getting our drinks from a fountain spewing red punch and seeing the cupid ice sculpture. I thought it looked like the cupid was peeing pink. Maybe because it was a hospital setting, everyone thought that was "unhealthy." After a short while we sat down. Friends of Hilde arrived, fluttering about our table until they found chairs and lit. We all made polite small talk and I was introduced to everyone. I discovered that Hilde shared many stories about me with her co-workers, and it was my turn to correct them, much to her embarrassment. She was saved by an introductory whine of reverb then the emcee welcomed everyone. He made quick introductions of those "generous with their time" who helped put together the party and thanked the board of directors for being alive, I guess, because even the emcee had difficulty coming up with a likely reason. "Generous spirit" hardly counted. Miss Relena and her sexy-god of a half-brother floated to the dais, said a few words and drifted off. Okay, "spirit" nearly covered their unreal quality. When the band began again, I pushed Hilde's chair back and said, "Let me get in a dance before prince charming comes and sweeps you off your glass slippers." "Forgot them tonight. They make my bunions ache. Twinkle-toes will have to do." she said loud enough for the whole table to hear. The girls giggled and I chuckled in a manly way then we went out onto the dance floor. After a couple songs, the emcee reminded us to put our Valentine's into the mystery box so everyone could have a "special" dance later. Hilde slipped mine out of my inner blazer pocket and said, "I'll go put yours into the box." I looked at her and asked, "Did you bring one?" "Yes, and I put mine in the box as soon as we arrived." "I wish I had seen what yours looked like so I could see who chooses it." "It's a typical Valentine's Day card. Not much on excitement, but yours is going to be a hit with whoever draws it." I agreed and part of me didn't want to let it go, but there it went. I figured the memory of it would be lasting. When we returned to our table, conversation had turned to that familiar "which guy was cute and available." Not that I minded. I had an opinion, too. Everyone seemed to favor a particular doctor and several pointed out a doctor for me. "Mark's a gynecologist and everyone knows he's gay." "I'll bet he's glad he doesn't have to bring his work home with him," I said, laughing. "Yeah, and he's had a hard breakup from what I hear," another volunteer said. "Oh, be careful," Hilde said. "Don't play matchmaker for Duo. I don't think Mark would appreciate it either." "That's right," I agreed. "Personally, I don't think I'd like a doctor for a boyfriend. They're gone too much and the thought of making out with one and having a beeper disturb us would be the final straw for me." Several of the girls at the table agreed and said that's why they didn't even attempt to get a doctor to give them a moments notice. Hilde sighed and said, "Yeah, but the security would be nice." Nice, but not enough. The night went on and I danced with several of the women at the table who hadn't danced yet. Those that hadn't brought dates were the worst off. Sally Po arrived late. Her boyfriend had been on duty "until just now." Chang Wufei looked down the ranks of the table as it he had lodged his baton up his ass, but was he ever good-looking and with a body that hummed "I'm in shape, Goddamit!" When the time came for the mystery dance, the emcee silenced the band and announced, "form a single line and take turns drawing a card. If you entered a card, you'd be assured of two dances, one with the holder of your card and one with the card you chose. If a card was pulled by someone of the same sex, the card would go back into the box." Hilde gave me a look and said, "Sorry" loud enough several of the girls at the table all heard her. They thought it wasn't fair. I told them I had expected anything else, really, and would be happy enough to give anyone a dance. Wufei stared daggers at me. They all missed by a mile. No blood drawn tonight. I was the God of Death, after all. "I wanted a guy to get your card and you to get his," Hilde said. "Hil, the only way that would have happened is if it were a gay party, and even then a pretty remarkable one. It's not happening here. Don't press the issue." Her eyes looked askance at Wufei, who appeared uncomfortable with our revelations, and she got the message to shut up. I didn't expect my wait to last much longer. I knew my card would be chosen first, because it felt different from all the rest. I'd used that knowledge a time or two when names and things were drawn from a box previously by curling, crinkling, or folding the entry. More often than not, the gimmick worked. And, sure enough, the first person who put her hand into the box drew my card. It was the hospital administrator, Lady Une. She looked at it and held it up, exclaiming it was stunning. Hilde sucked in her breath, and then turned to smile at me. She mouthed "yours." Then the woman read the inscription over the PA system. "Can you catch my heart? How lovely. Whose is this?" I stood and joined my dance partner, bowing politely. "Duo Maxwell." She turned to me and said, "This card's beautiful, and so are you. Let me guess, you're gay." "Yes, but I didn't make the card." "You didn't? Wherever did you buy it?" "That's the thing, I didn't. I was walking down the street and found it. It caught my eye and the message has been on my mind all week." "It is intriguing." "Yes, all sorts of scenarios have played out in my head about it." "It would stimulate my imagination, too, if I let it. You don't mind dancing with me, do you?" "Mind? Absolutely not. You're a gorgeous woman and I'm sporting. It'll be fun!" I withdrew a card of my own and called out the name, one of the girls at another table. We agreed to dance after the first one. After that it was her turn to draw, so Lady Une and I moved aside. She smiled and said, "I know a young man who would like you. He's a ... well, not a sweetheart, that's not very masculine, is it? But he's a very good young man and if he didn't have to work tonight, he would have accompanied me. You'd like him. Are you single?" "Unfortunately, yes. It's not by choice; I just haven't found anyone I want to date beyond the first time." "Maybe you're too particular?" "Possibly, but I want someone that can carry the conversation beyond asking me to bed." She laughed and said, "I know what you mean. When I was younger, I had a hard time myself. There was an old saying that claims 'the girls all get prettier at closing time,' so I took it to heart and I learned to leave parties about an hour before they were set to end so I wasn't propositioned by someone who intoxicated me with his breath." I chuckled. "Been there more than a time or two. That's good advice, though. Man, it's enough to make me want to stay home." "Yes, but if we don't go out, we don't find that magical someone." "Yeah, that's the problem and in my line of work, I'm not going to find anyone." "What do you do, dear?" "Mortician." She laughed. "Let's hope not! I like mine with at least a little blood coursing through their veins." We laughed, and then I noticed that Hilde got lucky. Her card had been drawn by one of the guys she thought was cute. I thought so too. He stood about my height and wore his light, brown bangs brushed forward and off to one side. Great body, like an athlete. The administrator saw my gaze. "You here with Hilde tonight or are you friends with Trowa?" "Hilde. We've been friends since forever." "She's a great girl. I do wish she'd further her education and get a degree in administration. Everyone likes her and she's a joy to be around." "Yes, she thinks of me a lot and draws me out." "Well I hope her magic works on that young man. Trowa works in the lab and he's painfully withdrawn. I'm even surprised he came to this event." "Yeah? Well, if anyone can do it, it's Hilde. If she hadn't asked me here tonight, I'd be curled up in front of the television." "That's not fun." "No, but it's what I do for entertainment when I've got a free night. If I've got a funeral visitation, then I'm busy doing that." "Do you get called out often?" "Not for much anymore. Your hospital is more courteous than it used to be. The phone calls in the middle of the night stopped." "That's my doing. I realize people have lives and the days of having the dead picked up when everyone's asleep is a thing of the past as far as I'm concerned." "Thank you, really. It's a blessing. Now, the only problem I've had is if it's snowed and not been cleared. And the other times when that slope to the loading area is one long sheet of ice. Even a four wheel drive can't make it up that." "I never knew. I'll get that changed." "Oh, I'm not complaining to get things changed. I keep a bag of ice melt in my truck for that purpose." "No, you're complaining about the inconvenience and you've got a job to do just as I. If I can make others do their job easier and safer, then so be it." She smiled and added kindly, "You're a sweetheart, too. Do you mind if I introduce you to my friend?" "Does he live in this area?" "Yes, and he's in college. Graduate school right here in Sanc. He works at night and his time is full, but when he's through with college, he'll be staying in this area." "What's he studying?" "He's going for his MBA. He can fill you in on his family's business." "But you know what he's going to do in this area when he gets out of school." "Winner Corp subsidiary, Presidential Suites, is building a hotel here and he's going to be managing it for them." "That's a tall order. Has he been hired? Or, is that how the family business works?" She winked at me and said, "I saw a niche which wasn't being met. So, I franchised the hotel along with his family. The hill that's right next to the University, over there across the road from the entrance is where it's to be built." "Oh, that's an excellent location." "Yes, we wanted a location within safe walking distance of the hospital. Also, we wanted a location where someone could choose to stay if they've got out patient treatment." "Handy. How big's the hotel going to be?" "We're planning on two hundred suites. It's going to be a conference center and have a big enough space that wedding receptions and banquets can be held." "It's going to have a full service restaurant?" "Yes, and swimming pool and sauna, exercise and recreation facilities" "Sounds like you've thought of everything. That sure is a big load for an untested guy right out school." "He's a hardworking young man. Very driven, in some ways. Like you, I think he would like someone to share his downtime." Soon enough, all the cards had been doled up and everyone paired up that was interested and our dance began. It was a slow song and she danced close. "Your cologne is fascinating." "That's not cologne." "It isn't?" "No, that's my natural smell. Hilde loves it." "She's not alone. It smells better than any cologne I've smelled." "Yeah, it's bad when I play sports because as I sweat it is way stronger. And, when I put on cologne, it mixes with it the result smells awful." "Amazing. I wish... well, others were so lucky. I could get used to sleeping by someone who smelled as good as you." We laughed and she said, "When you're done, give me your number, or I can have him contact you at work?" "I'll give you my number. I'd hate to tell people twenty years from now my partner met me at a funeral home. It could lead to a lot of bad jokes." She laughed and said, "Yeah, I can imagine someone telling him at least he picked the live one!" She paused and then said, "I'm sorry. It's not a joking matter." "No, but I get plenty of mileage from it too, so don't worry." She smiled and said, "Yeah, I imagine. You do know that profession has an extraordinary number of alcoholics." "Yes, that's why I don't drink on the job. I rarely drink otherwise. I told myself early on when I interned with one that I'd never do it. That man went out and greeted families smelling like pure whiskey. How they didn't know is beyond me and how he never had a wreck in the hearse some nights is really beyond me." "Where'd you intern?" "With the Sweepers out of L2." "Really?" "Yeah, if you're familiar with L2 or the Sweepers, then you're probably familiar with whom I'm referring." "No, I'm from Sanc, but I think I know who you mean. That man sometimes comes to get the bodies." "Yeah, what I'd do in your situation is wait until after five PM so the intern is the one that comes. There's no sense of having a family go through anything more than they do." She nodded and appeared to make a mental note to herself. "I'd rather call you. This has been lovely, Duo. When I agreed to this, I was worried. I'm really glad it was you." "Me too." I smiled. When the dance ended, I went to her table and met her boyfriend, Treize Khushrenada, and her other guests. I shook everyone's hands and then gave her my home number and cell. She took a look at the card and asked, "Do you want it back?" I did, but then I thought it might make a good impression on him, and who knows? He could be "the one." "Please, give it to him with my business card. Tell him it came from someone who wishes he'd come tonight." She smiled. "Maybe it was for the best he didn't. After all, you two wouldn't have had the chance to dance here, and that would have been a shame." "Yeah. If that's something he likes to do. I'll arrange it so we can if we go out." "He had dancing lessons when he was a boy, if that counts for anything." "Thank you. That only means he can, not that he likes to. We'll figure it out, if he calls." "I think he will. Thank you for being so nice. Oh, here comes your card draw to claim her dance. I hope she enjoys you a much as I have." Okay, that made me blush. She laughed and introduced us, which got us started to the dance floor. It went fine but was uneventful. When the song was over, I returned to Hilde's table, but didn't sit down. "Ready to go?" I asked her. "Yeah, he's already gone." Hilde was all dreamy eyed. "Who?" "Trowa. He asked me out!" "Wonderful! Goodnight everyone." I played the gentleman and helped her into her coat and guided her to the exit. "When's the date?" "We're going out next Friday night. He works Saturday evenings, yuck, but that means you and I can get together and gossip. His name's Trowa Barton. Oh, Duo, I'm so sorry you didn't get to meet someone." "Oh, my dear Hil, but I did!" "You couldn't have. You danced with Lady Une." "And Lady Une has this very nice friend that couldn't be here tonight." "I don't know who it could possibly be." She bounced into the passenger seat thinking for a few moments. "I thought I seen all the folks that worked here." "Lady Une made it sound like he worked nights, and not here." "Really?" "Yeah, she said he had to work tonight and he in school during the day time." She smiled and said, "Wow, you okay with someone who could be younger than you?" "Damnit, girl, he's in graduate school!" "Oh, that's better. I just know you like guys who are more mentally mature." "I like guys, and I like guys whose first words aren't, 'You wanna fuck?'" "No, that's usually your line." "Nah, I lead them to the water but I let them decide that." She chuckled at that. "You're quite a cool drink of water, too." We continued in that manner all the way to my place, which was next to Hilde's building. When we got to my house, she hesitated in the car. "Do you want to go do something else?" "No, I've got an early day tomorrow. I've got a ten o'clock and a two o'clock." "Ooh, you're a busy guy." "Yeah, but not for a lot of people." That was the problem with my job. A good year for me was a bad year for so many others; still, I wasn't the one putting them to death, just putting them to rest. I asked her about her guy again, a better topic. She told me she was thrilled to meet him. He was so quiet and she didn't want to be forward, ask him out, and scare him off. He'd not made any moves towards her because he was shy and didn't mix with anyone at work. "So how did Mr. Bashful manage to draw your card?" "He didn't. Someone else was on call and had to run, so he gave my card to Trowa." "That's kinda sweet." "More like fortunate. I think we hit it off. I hope you and your mystery man do too." She gave me a hug and we agreed to call each other tomorrow night then we parted ways at the car, she to her place and me to my apartment. First thing in the door, I played back my messages on the answering machine. Being a single guy should have meant my phone was busy a lot. Sadly, the bulk of the calls were business related. People calling and checking funeral times, updating obits, and a few cold calls from salesmen mostly ate up my answering machine. I'd been lucky to have only two non-visitation funerals tomorrow. Usually, Friday nights for me were spent at the funeral home. After returning the calls, I went into my bedroom and laid out my suit and accessories for the morning. I showered, languishing in the pounding heat until it turned chill. Clean body, clean teeth, clean boxers and I was ready for bed. I was just about to doze off when the phone rang. I thought about letting it go to the message system, but instead, I picked it up without looking at the caller I.D. "Hello?" "Hi, Lady Une gave me a Valentine's card and your phone number. She says she spoke with you about me and thought we might have a lot in common. She's got pretty good taste, so I'd like to know if you're still interested." "Sure, when do you have an open night?" "Well, Sunday night's good for me. I don't have to work and that will give me time to finish any homework." "Great. That's good for me, too. Say, an early afternoon date then?" "That's fine with me. The name on the business card says Duo Maxwell." "Yep, my name's Duo." "She said she didn't want to spoil the surprise and just gave me the card and your number saying you were a nice guy. Great card, by the way." "Thanks. I liked it." "You own the business? You're not old are you?" Duo laughed at that. "No, I'm twenty four." "Oh, good. Me, too! Sorry, but she set me up once before with someone really old and that was uncomfortable." "I can imagine! So, ah, what's your name? She didn't give you away, I guess, so I'd never know you turned me down." "Well, I think it would be polite to at least call you and let you know if I wasn't interested at all. Anyway, my name's Quat; it's short for Quatre." "No kidding? That's not a common name. Where do you work, Quat?" "I work at a restaurant called Chili's. You been there before?" Now, I swear to you parts of me were standing up doing a cheerleader routine and parts of me were really kicking myself in the tail for being the way I was earlier. "I've been there a time or two. I don't suppose you want to eat there on a date?" "No! It's not that I don't like their food, but I want to be there more than I have to." "Makes sense. Let's see...how about if we meet somewhere and then we can decide?" "How about the coffee shop across from your, ah, business?" "Okay, what time do you want to make it?" "How about three o'clock. After the lunch shift. And that gives me time to shower." "Right. Okay, I'll see you then, and Quat?" "Yes." "We could have met earlier if you'd said something tonight." "Huh?" "Yeah, a friend and I ate dinner at Chili's earlier tonight. I was the one with the long braid." "Oh! I remember you! You were the hot guy who was talking about giving head!" "Well, I don't know about hot." "Awesome! I'm glad it's you. I would have given you my number, but if you had been straight and been offended, I would have been fired." "I wanted you to." "Really? I'm really happy now!" "Well, I'll see you on Sunday, Quat." "I can hardly wait. What are you doing tomorrow?" "I'm busy tomorrow. My job." "The mortuary. Now I wish lady Une had told me more about you!" "Well, actually, I own the funeral home. I hope that doesn't bother you?" "No, everyone's got to have a job." "Just so we're cool." "Yes. Oh, I should get back to this paper I'm writing, but I don't want to now!" "I don't want to hang up either." "I won't get any sleep thinking about you. I'm so glad it's you." I laughed at Quatre's enthusiasm, and said, "Me neither. You don't know how much I thought about you after we left Chili's." "Me, too, Duo! And when Une gave me that gorgeous Valentine's Day card, I actually wished it had come from you." "Well, I'm glad things worked out the way they did. It shows things are meant to be when it's destined to happen." I thought about the card, what had it said? "Can you catch my heart?" "You really think so? I kept wishing after you'd left that I'd found out something about you, or had been less busy. Your hair...hat braid's really hot." "Thanks. You're really sweet looking yourself." "I try and keep in shape. Do you play tennis?" "No, but maybe you'd teach me?" "Yeah." "Quat, my eyes didn't lie to me. What I saw was fantastic. Hilde's going to die when I tell her who you are!" "Why?" "We both thought you were hot and both of us were checking you out." "Really?" "Yeah. The conversation you overheard was about me telling her the only thing I didn't know if I wouldn't like on you was your ankles." "What!" "Yeah, I got this thing about a guy's ankles." "That's funny." "Yeah, and she said it didn't matter what your ankles looked like. Then she said she'd watch me do it with someone and I told her she'd get jealous and then started talking where you apparently heard." He laughed and said, "When I walked up on your conversation, it was hard for me because I saw you and thought you were hot and then, I was telling myself you were straight and then when I walked up and you were telling her about giving head, then, I told myself you were taken." "Nope, single. A lot of people are put off by my job." "That's stupid. You don't live at the funeral home, do you?" "Oh no. I used to, but moved to an apartment a mile away." "Well, I really wished you didn't have to work tomorrow." "I'm sorry, but that's the way it will be for me unfortunately." "That's okay. It will be that way for me, too. Most of my available time will be taken up by my job. I work four nights a week. You can count on me not having Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays available." "That's fair. I know most of my night visitations will be Tuesday through Fridays." "Why?" "Well, people go out on Friday night and get drunk and then decide to wrap their cars around trees. So, then figure the funeral will be on Wednesday, making Tuesday night for the visitation." "I never thought about all that." "Yeah, so that's why my schedule is like it is." "Well, what if I ask to see if my schedule can match?" "That's a lot of trouble if we find out we don't get on. Why don't we wait? You don't want to give up your Saturday night tips, right? Besides, we'll have Sundays." "Cool. I can't believe you're from here and gay and I've not met you before." "Well, it amazes me too since I usually see most of the town at funerals and visitations. If you'd been at the funeral home, I can almost assure you I would have known your name and most of your family's names." He laughed and said, "That's funny, but my family uses a different, ah, service. There's a family plot in L4." "Gotcha, say, Quat? Lady Une said you're going to graduate school for management and told me what you've got for your future. I'll say now... I'm impressed." "Yeah, what sucks is having to be in the family business. Great opportunities, but few choices. I shouldn't complain, though. I'm lucky." "Well, you never know how things change. That's why they call it the future. Hey, I hate to say this, but I've got to get off here, otherwise, I'll be a walking zombie tomorrow." "Me, too. Why don't you take my number?" "Okay... well, let me see...yeah, I've got it on my caller I.D.. I'll program it in so I have it. You'll save mine, won't you?" "Of course! I got your house and cell numbers." "Okay, then..." "Your cell will give you messages, right?" "Yeah, or if you text or beep me, I'll get the number so it's fewer minutes if you're on yours." "Good idea. I'll program a message in now that I can send quick and then have my number afterwards." "Okay. Well, goodnight, Quat." "Goodnight, Duo." As soon as I got off the phone, I called Hilde. When she answered, I could tell she was asleep. "Hello?" "Hi, Hil, I'm sorry to wake you." "No, that's all right, It was only beauty rest. You don't know what that's like since you don't need it." "Lots of laughs, Hil-baby. I'll take every second you don't sleep and then that won't be enough. But, the reason I called is you're not going to believe who Lady Une's friend is." She suddenly sounded awake. "Who?" "No, not an owl." "You're so funny...I'll go back to sleep now." "Well, if I told you, you'd shit the bed." "Try me." "No, you've got to guess otherwise it's not fun." "Dammit!" "Ok, but when I just tell you like this, you'll wish I made you have fun." "Duo!" "Ok, but I wish you'd at least guess because not in your wildest dreams would you guess." "Dammit Duo!" "The cute blond guy from Chili's! Quatre!" "NO!" "Yes," "Really!" "Yeah, he called and when he told me his name, I asked where he worked and as soon as he told me, parts of me were dancing around like a cheerleader and other parts were wishing I'd kept my mouth shut earlier." "I bet I can guess which parts of you." "No, no fair, you wouldn't guess earlier, so I'm not letting you guess now. I told you that you'd be sorry." I chuckled and she said, "When are you going to meet him?" "Sunday afternoon. We're meeting at my fav coffee shop and then we're spending the rest of the afternoon together." "Great. Do you have an idea of what you'll do together?" "No, but since we know we like each other already, we'll probably do something really cool." "Go someplace out of town. The variety of restaurants and the driving time would give you plenty of time to talk." "Nah, I think we'll go someplace close the first date and then I'll bring out the big guns. If I do it the first time, he'll expect more and that's not fun." "You're nuts. You already told me he liked you. What did he say?" "He said he thought I was hot when he waited on us and wished I was gay. Then, when he heard me talking, he then wished I was single. He was afraid to give me his number." "Good thing because I would have taken it. SO, does he have skinny ankles?" "I don't know, but he thinks it's funny we were talking about it." "YOU told him THAT!" "Why not?" "You're going to give him a complex. He'll be looking at his ankles now and wondering if they're fat. That's how anorexic people get complexes Duo!" "No, I promise you that when his ankles are on my shoulders, I'll kiss them and tell him they're perfect." "You're so funny. I can see you doing it too." "You're my little twisted minx. You spend too much time getting mental pictures of me with guys." "I think it's neat." "Well, I don't think of you in bed with anyone. That'd gross me out." "You!" "No, it would with me thinking about any girl, Hil. All I wish for is that you are in love when you finally do it." "Who's to say I haven't done it already?" "Me. You would have told me." "Yeah, you're right. It's not that I haven't had the opportunity; it's just that I've been scared." "Oh, you're so sweet." "Yeah I know..." "His name was Quatre, wasn't it?" "Yeah, you forgot already?" "Tired, plus all I can think about is Trowa." "Trowa?" "Yeah, he's a dream boat." "Okay, if you say so." "Oh, I say so. He's a lab tech." "When you date him, I'll have to have 'the talk' with him." "No, you'll scare him away." "Well, if his intentions aren't good, then he'll need scaring away." "True. Just promise me you'll be gentle. Now, Duo, shush up." "Okay. Well, I'll get off here now." "No!" "Honey, I've got an early day and you know how long they seem." "Well, we still on for tomorrow night?" "Yeah, what do you want besides pizza?" "Fruit and cool whip." "You're funny." "I can't help it. It's been our thing for like forever...watching movies and sharing jell-o with fruit and whipped cream." "Yeah, Thank goodness it wasn't something gross." We laughed and she said, "Duo, I love you. Goodnight." "Goodnight babe." When I got off the phone, I lay down and it wasn't three winks before I was asleep.
|
