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"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 12 -- September Leaves, Part 1 From the previous chapter: "So, who was the guy?" Trowa asked. He sounded irritated by Zechs, who, I had to admit, seemed amused by the resonance of his own voice, as he drew out the tale. "Marshal Noventa. I told them that if they looked hard enough they would find evidence to link Marshal Noventa to Dekim's death, say... fingerprints on Dekim's car. I faxed Detective Chang a copy of Marshal Noventa's prints on record at the penitentiary. They keep records of many things there, dental records too." Trowa stopped what he was doing and asked, "Why would you link this Marshal Noventa guy to Dekim?" "Something seemed suspicious about him." "That wasn't an answer." Trowa gave a snort and returned to work. "I have a nose for trouble?" "He's not going to tell us," I growled. "And if it has anything to do with that OZ place, you don't really want to know. You'll be safer not knowing." "That is true. Sorry, but...it's a secret," Zechs said, then turned back to the phone to dial a new number. "Yeah, well not all of it," Trowa stalked up to Zechs and got in his face. "You know more and it affects me. What else did Chang have to say?" "He was most excited that Duo pointed out the importance of some mark on the knife." "Oh? Tell me everything you know about that. The knife was special, wasn't it? As in a ceremonial one." Zechs hung up the phone looked vexed. "Yes, Trowa, it was a White Fang dagger embossed with their wolf canine insignia. Now you know all the police knows. Let it rest." But Trowa looked alarmed. "White Fang. That's a clan destabilizing OZ." "Yes, I know. I am their leader. And with that information, I place my life in your hands," Zechs said. (o) And now: While Trowa and I wrapped our heads around that interesting fact, the phone chimed in. His eyes and mine riveted on the phone while Zechs summarized his position with the words, "Now you know more than what the police know. Let it rest." Another ring and I shifted my glare onto Zechs, but he didn't look like he was going to answer the phone three inches from his elbow, the lazy ass. Trowa continued to brazen out his stance. I'd never seen the man so confrontational. Even before the ring faded he practically snarled, "You know more. You know why Dekim Barton was killed, don't you? DON'T YOU?!" "I can't say—" Ring number three. One more and the answering system would click in. "It may be a clue to what happened to me!" Trowa insisted. "Excuse me, guys..." I picked up the call. "Hello, Maxwell's Mortuary and Funeral Home. May I help you?" My eyes snagged Zechs' and held onto those steely grey-blue orbs. I liked dark eyes better. Heero's in particular. "Yes, where did you say the deceased is? Got it. Thank you. Goodnight." I hung up and side-stepped Trowa. "Sorry, but it's time to roll. Zechs, I think you can handle this one on your own while I help Trowa with the backlog. We are up to our elbows in embalming." Zechs winced. I guess I hadn't described a very pretty picture. "Sure, he can go, but we will discuss this later," Trowa assured him. But the later wouldn't come that night. He and I had a long night's worth of work to do, while Zechs ultimately delivered three additional bodies-- two from private residences and one from a retirement home. None of the new incoming corpses were 'intriguing' enough to displace the ones already slated to be embalmed that night, so they were 'processed', tagged, and stored in the cadaver keep for the next shift. By the end of the day, we were beat. All we wanted to do was to take our divergent routes to our dissimilar homes. "And I have a couple calls to make for the embalming-assistant job," I said. I hoped to smooth out Trowa's atypical prickliness. He seemed to back off a tad and even offered some help. "If you like, I'd ask a couple friends back at the hospital labs where I was working before? Lots of unhappy workers over there that might like the change; might not, too, but I could ask around?" Trowa even blessed me with a casual shrug and half-done smile. "Yeah, that would be great, thanks." (o) I was happy to get home that night. I wanted to eat, shower, and call Heero. In that order. Did that happen? No, of course not. One bite into a PB and J with a side car of cheese whiz, the phone rang. I let the message system take it until I caught the caller's name. "Miss Peacecraft, er... Relena?" Were we on first-name basis? I guessed so. "Duo!" Okay... "I am so pleased you are home. I have the best news; well, I think it's fun." "Fun, huh? Okay..." Beware the 'fun' attachment to a proposition like you'd shun a suspicious email one in your inbox. Normally I would have, but this was a princess! "It's a play and we need bodies..." Bodies?! Vampire alert! I wondered if I should warn Heero about the possibility that his housemates were of the undead, but decided to forgo that discussion. He would think I was more, what was it he called me once? Baka. Yeah. He would call me baka superior if I carried on like that. Still... I nearly missed what Relena Von Bodysnatcher was telling me. "... and Dorothy caught part of Trowa and Quatre's séance and just knew you were all actors, well she knows Heero's the arty type and my brother is game to do his part. It's really not much. All you have to do is go down to the playhouse and read for the parts on Sunday." "A play? You already talk to Heero about this?" I'll bet not. "Well, I could; I tried, but he's not answering his door." Not to you. "I'll call him. So, what's the play about?" "I'm not sure." "Did you know that cockroaches can live for nine days without their heads, at which point they die of starvation?" I asked. The silence was tomb-like. I used the break in the conversation to finish my sandwich. "No. I didn't know that. Um. So, I can count on you and Heero for the play? I'm calling Quatre next. I'm sure he'll be excited." "He's rather busy." "Aren't we all? Which reminds me of the other important request I must make." "What's that?" I should have been more wary. "I am arranging an art opening for Heero and understand you have several originals." "You do?" "No, YOU do." Like voodoo, heh, heh... To avoid the conversation from becoming silly, I asked, "What originals? Not that I'm aware of." "He was hand painting a card when I, ah, interrupted him. He said it was for you and that he had been creating them all year long for you." "Oh, the greeting cards. Yeah, well, they are pretty personal." "And they'd stay that way. I only want the art. They wouldn't be damaged." "I—" "Think about it, won't you? I'll be in touch. You have a cell number?" To prove I'm an idiot, I gave her my cell phone number. "Thank you so much! See you on Sunday. I'll leave a message about the time. Bye!" Had I agreed? To anything? I didn't recall saying I'd be in some play. I know I didn't okay Heero's art, besides, she'd have to break into my apartment to get at it. Still, that was how I got roped into being in a play, and getting to talk Heero into joining me. Oh, joy. I made another PB and J and downed a beer. Time to go shopping for food...and TP... and toothpaste. Time for everything, except just me and Heero. Well, not this weekend. Something was going to happen in that department, I was sure and determined to make it so. As I stepped from the shower my phone was ringing like crazy, and this time it was my guy. "'Ro!" "Duo, are you all right? You sound like you've been running." "From the shower to the bed, that's all. God, I miss you." "Me, too. I thought about you all day, and now I'll be thinking of you naked and wet and sprawled on your bed...breathless..." "Heh, heh... Well, I thought of you between dead bodies at work today. I got in visions of you and me...ah..." Oooh, that sounded bad, but 'Ro, he never missed a beat. He got the gist of what I meant. "Run away with me Friday?" "Done." I could be decisive. "Ha! You don't even know where I'm taking you." "Doesn't matter. I'm yours for the taking." God, was that trite? Heero laughed, though. "Zechs gave me... an idea. I chose the place based on that." Ugh. Even his thoughts cost more than I could afford. "Too pricey already." "Only gas money." Oh. Oh? "Zodiac Island. Ever hear of it? You'll learn a little about my past." "Sounds familiar. And intriguing as that is, I'd rather have you here, now. Present tense." I could hear his sigh, soft and near, but not near enough. "Yeah. I miss you. So it's a 'yes'?" Which got us back to the beginning. "Yeah, it's a date, which means I've gotta set some gears in motion. Get coverage for the business. Can I call you back?" "As long as you do. I want to fall asleep with the sound of your voice beside me." God, was that romantic? "I want you beside me, not this phone." "Hurry back," he whispered and then hung up. My hands moved like lightening, punching in the next set of numbers by heart. Hurry, hurry, hurry back. It was late, but I knew the neighboring mortuary ran a graveyard shift. They never shut down. And they said they'd be happy to cover for us while I had a short vacation. Too happy. I knew they were hoping I'd shut down and they could expand into Sanc territory. No way. Next, I called Trowa to inform him of the three-day vacation and see what he thought about the play practice on Sunday. The line was busy, but on the third try I got him. "Three days? That's cool. I thought I'd take Quatre out on a road trip. Put some miles on the new bike. L4 has some chillin' dunes." I could hear him drifting, probably riding a dune in his mind-- heh, riding something for sure. Or someone. I gave him a moment to land. "Yeah. Timing's perfect. Thanks, dude." "No problemo. So, ah, you in on the play thing?" "Shit." Trowa let out his breath through his teeth. "Just got the news, like right before you called. Quatre's excited. I'd rather drive my bike over a cliff, but...yeah, I'll do it, ya know?" Oh, I knew. Anything for love, or lust, whichever. "Yeah... You know anything about the roles or the play? What it's called?" "Nada, boss man. Oh, and sorry about today. Zechs just ticks me off. Not knowing what I've lost is frustrating. He knows all my buttons and pushes them hard. Um, three contacts from the hospital messaged me for a job interview, if you want them?" "Send the numbers. We can do interviews over the next couple days and get one or two on board." "Two? You can afford two?" "One will quit. Odds are guaranteed one will hate it and quit inna week." Trowa chuckled and gave me the numbers, and then we signed off in better spirits than when we'd parted after work. I looked over my list of potential new employees I kept on my computer. Occasionally a resume would float in or an old mate from L2 would pass along a work history. I found a particularly likely choice. Another one of Howard's minions flying the coop. I placed my calls, lined up interviews, marked the schedule so I wouldn't forget the next day, and then I called Heero. "'Lo." "Hello, Duo. Done for the night?" "Not with you. Work is done." We—or I-- jabbered on about nothing in particular until I brought the conversation around to the play. Heero did not take the news as smoothly as Trowa. "Relena and Dorothy?" He sounded completely overwhelmed by the odds. "They want me... us... in a play. For what possible reason? I am no actor." "Nor I or Trowa or Quatre. I don't know if Zechs can add that to his list of achievements, but he's in on it too. These have gotta be bit parts. She knows we haven't time to spare for rehearsals more than once or twice." "I could do more. My time is less cluttered. But to act? I'm not a performer. I - I don't know what to do." I could feel his torment through the phone and wanted to hold him and ease his worries. "Hey, don't worry. We'll go Sunday and get the scoop. If it stinks, we leave. Just because Dorothy Catalonia can't dig up enough friends to put on her play, doesn't mean we gotta pitch in." "Why not come over. Now?" "Uhhh... God, I want to 'Ro, believe me. If I could move off my bed I'd do it, but then I gotta get up early to do job interviews for more help, and there's loads, actual loads of work to do in order to free up Friday." "I...know." Heero sighed. "I am being selfish. I nearly thought to go to your apartment, but then ... I wouldn't let you sleep at all." "Not at all?" Wouldn't that fire up my imagination like crazy?! "Not... a moment." "Oh..." "I want you that badly." "Fuck..." "If you want me, I am yours." Man, I couldn't wait until Friday. 'Ro and me on an island. Yummy. "Eh, so what have you got in mind?" I don't know what I expected him to say, not what he did, that's for sure. "Then," there was silence on the line followed by some rustling of cloth, "I'll have to jerk off thinking about your nice fat cock. Imagining touching it and seeing it get hard, sucking it until you come in my mouth." Oh... "Almost," he whispered. God. "I stop when I feel your balls draw close to your body and your sac toughens and wrinkles..." Goose bumps ran up and down my body and I couldn't have suppressed a moan if I'd had to. "I taste your nipples until they are hard, and when I pinch one of them, you start coming all over the fucking place." I heard him breathing. "Touch yourself now. Are you hard?" "Fuck, yes." He chuckled. "My mouth is open..." "Ah! I'm..." I shot one spurt of cum on my neck, and the rest shot over my belly. "Fuck, Heero!" "If I were there, I'd scoop up some of your cum and taste it. It would taste like... like warm milk. Then, I'd start again." "Oh..." My hand was a sticky mess and he was starting again. "I'd start with my hands slowly stroking you until you were fully hard. Then before you had any second thoughts I'd lick your erection from the base to the tip and back and forth a couple of times. Then when I came back up to the tip I'd put my mouth around it and go all the way down, swallowing you whole." My body trembled and I could hear him panting—no, that was me doing the panting, or both of us! I was getting my first over-the-phone head. My hand was on my dick and pumping with his words. "...back and forth taking as much of you as I can until I feel your hand go on the back of my head and lightly try to pull me off." "S-slow down," I said. I gasped, totally into his game. "I slow down like you want. I go back to the base and then up to the top one more time-- then I pause and look into your eyes. What do I see, do you think?" "Blue? Er... More?" "I see was the look of lust in your eyes as you are out of breath. That's when I kiss you passionately. Unable to control myself, I latch onto you and my hand finishes the job that I had started." "Oh, yeah, b-babe." "I can hear you falling short of breath, and your body begins to shake. "Oh baby I am going to cum," I told him, "a-again! God... damn!" "That's right, Duo, love, blow it," his soft voice urged me. He had finished giving me all the quick pleasure he could. I stroked faster as my whole body tensed up. And right on cue I shot out onto my hand and over my chest, another layer to mix with the first. I was wasted. My eyes were rolling in the back of my head. "And then I give you a deep kiss. Goodnight." Oh, yeah... that had been just amazing. 'Course, my sheets were a mess and I'd just done the wash and I'd need a shower, but that could wait till morning. "'Night, babe." (o) It was the late afternoon; both Trowa and Zechs were sitting at my desk taking a coffee break. We got to talking about the play, compared notes on a couple of prospective new employees we had interviewed, and mused upon taking a few days off work to vacation a bit, when I received a call from an investigating official. "Tro', guess what?" "I couldn't possibly." Trowa was wholly occupied stacking cubes of sugar into fascinating structures. Zechs was playing Tetris on the computer. The coffeemaker gurgled and discharged fresh sludge. "We are being hauled into court." "Huh?" That had gotten Trowa to react. It was a very satisfactory sensation, stirring things up a bit. "One of the bodies we brought in and autopsied is part of an ongoing investigation and we are being called in to testify." "Does that happen often?" Zechs asked. Trowa knocked over a tower of cubes and started another. "No, but every so often we get called to testify in court or at inquests as expert witnesses." "I see." Trowa sighed. "Great. Who is included in that 'we'? Not me, surely. I don't know anything of value." "Of course you do, but that's not the point. I need you to back me up, to make certain I don't leave anything out on the stand." Trowa knocked over his sugar wall. "Fine. Another shot day." "It's part of work, so that means we will have the day off, and we'll just blow off Friday, too, while we're at it, giving us a long weekend. You mentioned going to the dunes of L4." "Nova in L3." He shot a look at Zechs. "Minor change. So what?" "Don't we have that play practice to do?" "Not until Sunday late." Zechs smiled. "I made certain I didn't have to get up early on Sunday, or you." "Uh, huh," Trowa grunted. I don't think he believed Zechs was looking out for any of our best interests. "Better busy than bored," I said with a smile. "I'll pull the file from the autopsy, check over the notes from that examination, and get prepared tonight." The front door buzzed and I hopped over the desk and made a run for it. We so rarely had visitors walk in. "Hello?" It was a pretty young woman. "I'm Catherine bloom, Trowa's sister. Is it possible for me to see him?" "Sure. I'm Duo Maxwell, proprietor." I smiled and shook hands. "Just follow me. I'll see if he can make a break from his building project." I led her down the hall, through the doors and rooms separating the public from the reality behind the screen, and popped my head into the operating room. "Trowa, visitor for you," I whispered a bit too theatrically, "And it's a girl." Zechs drew a cloth over the exposed corpse on the table and smoothed his hair for our guest. Trowa's ear tips burned. "Who? Oh, hi." "What are you building?" Her eyes flitted around the room, taking in the fluttering post-its and avoiding the operating slabs. "Building?" He must have realized he was parroting her, knocked over his sugar tower, stood and smiled. "No, that was my boss being funny, or at least trying to. I thought you were rock climbing." I pretended not to listen in and filled four mugs with a Sumatra brew. "I'm heading out in a few minutes. But, I, ah, needed to talk to you first." We let him do the honors and introduce us. Catherine was his half-sister or cousin or both and a close friend of Sally Po's, Wufei's ex. Zechs overdid it with a deep bow, flourish, and kiss to her hand, "Enchanted." Catherine blushed scarlet. "Um, me, too." Trowa cleared his throat and she turned to him, as if remembering her errand again. "It's personal. We should go somewhere...private." "'S'okay. These dudes are chill. I don't mind them hearing." "Oh, well, okay. If you say so." She handed him a paper. "Look at this." I looked over his shoulder, snoop that I was. I could read some names and dates. "This is my birth date," Trowa said. "That's my father's name. Bloom. I don't know this name but it's close to my mother's. What's this about?" "I was at lunch with Sally Po the other day and I mentioned the problem we were having getting any information much less any real documentation on your past. She has access to the records and filing rooms, and promised to see what she could find. You were at the hospital after your injury. They had to have more than nothing on you. She was curious about you. I think she liked you when you worked there and was sorry when you left. She really wanted to help. And--" She looked at Trowa who wore a scowl on his face and had folded his arms across his chest defensively. "I maybe should have asked your permission first, but... That was information taken off your birth certificate. Susanne Medina was listed as your mother's name and Zodiac Island was your birth place." Trowa met her eyes for a moment and dropped his arms to his sides to prop himself up on my desk. He appeared stunned. "It wasn't what had been put on the admittance form which had been filled out at the hospital—you know, after your accident. She doesn't know who brought you in and supplied that misinformation." Zechs inhaled loudly, but Trowa cut him off and spoke first. "My mother's maiden name was Medina? What the hell kind of a name is that anyway? Duo, what do you think?" "Why would that be on a copy of your birth certificate if it wasn't true?" Zechs just stared at him then Catherine alternatively. "It looked like a real birth certificate, Trowa. It had all kinds of official-looking seals and stamps and all the right signatures and stuff," she said. Zechs put in, "Have you other relatives you can ask?" "No," Trowa answered. "I can't e-mail the dead and ask them. Just Catherine here." "Then...let's call your Aunty Maple. Didn't you say she ran a golf course?" I asked with a creeping note of desperation in my voice. "What?" He looked at me as if I were apeshit nuts. So did everyone else for that matter. I began to makeup anything to divert the tension. "That was Aunty Maple's money-losing, combination golf course/graveyard, the Golfatorium. Ah..." "Give it up, Duo." Trowa snapped. "Some dark secret is being kept from us all. I don't like that." Zechs suddenly stood up. "I believe it's time to pay Zodiac Island a visit." He looked straight at me. All kinds of lights went on in my head. Heero had said he was taking me to Zodiac Island. Zechs put him up to it or at least encouraged the idea. What was with the place? "I want to go with you," Trowa said. "That's where the penitentiary and asylum are." "Huh?" That's where my Romantic Getaway was going to be! At that point I started to wonder why I didn't know anything about the place, and then recalled telling Heero I didn't care. Well, I still didn't. That's where we were going and I didn't want these clowns to get in my way. "I'll think about it," Zechs said. Noooooooo! It was my Romantic Getaway spot, my amorous escape haven. No Zechs! No Trowa! Just 'Ro an' me! Save my Romantic Getaway! "It may be more valuable for you to stay here and check on other information for me. You can go later. Ahhh, anyway, it's time to go to work and I need to change into a jumpsuit, so if you all will excuse me..." "I'm sorry, Trowa. I didn't mean to mess things up like this." "It's okay, Catherine," Trowa said and sounded as if he meant it. "I'm glad you did." He must have been beyond traumatized; he was without words to say more, and, when she rushed over to give him a reassuring hug, he returned it. (o) It was unusual getting up on a weekday morning, dressing, and heading off to the courthouse, but we did, all three of us. Zechs drove the hearse, Trowa in back and me riding shotgun, enjoying that the sun was out and the day warming beneath it. We had been riding to the courthouse in silence, thus the need for a joke to break up the mood. "Did you know that in Erwin, Tennessee an elephant was once hanged for murder?" Yep, I was lightening things up. Trowa wore a tranquil smile on his face, which was not what I expected even if I was the one called on to testify. He should have been a nervous wreck never having gone to court and having his past smack him in the face yesterday. He should have been a nervous wreck, clenching and relaxing his fists repeatedly. "You don't seem nervous at all," I remarked. "That's because I'm not. You look pretty cool, too." "I've done this before, as I've said. I know how it works. All I have to do is think of it as a game where I am the winner if I make my own rules instead of playing by the lawyer's." I had reviewed the file of data the day before to refresh my and my co-workers' memories, so I knew we were prepared. All Trowa and Zechs had to do was sit, listen, and be ready to step in just in case I needed substantiation. Zechs cleared his throat. "It's a case with insurance company interests at stake, Duo, and those of the kid's family. Where there's money involved it's serious, and you should treat it that way." He had used this argument already, and I had laughed him off that time, too. He was the uneasy one, and I guess 'cause I was in such a good mood, that he found it helped to take it out on me—badger me. As it turned out, I was right; it was merely a stage for one of my comedy routines. I had a magical touch to get other people to play into my hands, and this was just another instance. I took the witness stand in the 'expert witness' capacity. The lawyer representing the insurance company was a complete stranger, which was good because then he wouldn't suspect anything. "Mr. Maxwell, before you signed the death certificate, had you taken the pulse?" I shook his head slightly, an enigmatic smile plastered upon my face. "No." "No?" The lawyer asked in mock surprise, "Did you listen to the heart?" "No." The lawyer really must have been satisfied with his line of questioning, because he continued to press, "Did you check for breathing? "No." Oh, yeah. This guy was certain he'd found a way to discredit me. The lawyer wiped off his smug expression and put on his best you-are-seriously-incompetent face. "So, when you signed the death certificate you weren't sure he was dead, were you?" But I was not to be outmaneuvered by this weasel. I knew how to work this line of questioning to my benefit. "Well, let me put it this way," I answered. "The man's brain was sitting in a jar on my desk. But I guess it's possible he could be out there practicing law somewhere." When the laughter died down at the bequest of the judge. I motioned that I wanted to speak again. "Actually, my assistant, Trowa Barton, ascertained that the victim was dead- that's his signature below mine on the death certificate- before moving him to the morgue. Then I did the cause of death determination." The lawyer sighed, defeated. "And what were your conclusions?" "This man, the deceased, attempted suicide with pills. He thought he would swallow them, but he was so excited that he poured the last of them down 'the wrong throat' and choked to death." I leaned forward, smiled, and added, "It is up to you lawyers to argue whether this makes it a suicide or an accident." The judge hid a smile behind a hand. "You may step down, Mr. Maxwell. You are excused and may go home now, thank you. I call for a three-hour adjournment. I would like to see the prosecutor and the lawyer for the defense to see me in closed session." "That was ridiculous," Trowa told me, "but it was quick and painless." Zechs shook his head. "How that judge let you get away with that, I don't know." "He loves me, what can I say? I gave him a discount on his wife's burial package and with all the money he saved he took his mistress on a nice vacation." My buddies did not believe me, I don't think. "It's true! I don't lie! Oh heck, doesn't matter. We got the rest of today off now to start our long weekend," I said, stretching my arms. Zechs backed out of the parking space, while I hummed a jaunty tune. I continued in this good mood as he drove us all out of the courthouse parking lot. "I need to stop at the ATM over there for some cash, 'kay?" This was fine with everyone since they could use some as well. And then I got an idea. I was in a good mood and needed to release it. Do something silly. And I was in no particular rush. In fact, I let Trowa and Zechs proceed and was last to make my transaction. Moreover, as other customers got in line, I passed up my own turn and let them jump in front of me. "Thanks!" said one happy woman with a baby in a backpack. "Come on, Duo, let's go!" Trowa urged me along after a bit. "Oh, no..." Zechs moaned. "I think it's another Duo entertainment moment." "What's up?" Trowa asked me. "Just improving my odds; that's all," I said with merriment in my voice and a twinkle, I'm sure, in my eye. This explanation only served to make Zechs more curious. Got him! Time to take my turn. I stepped up to the ATM machine, punched in my code, and waited with a smile on my face. The metal cash slot opened with a clink, revealing a pile of twenties. I grabbed the wad of twenties in a fist and hopped up and down screaming, "I won! I won! Third time this week!" This stunt left everyone around me bewildered. I broke into hysterics as I stumbled back to our car. Okay, so I was letting off a little steam. It had been a long intense week with a court appearance to end it and I had been nervous. The relief was making me crazy. "What did I tell you?" Zechs groaned. "You see him do pull this crap before?" Trowa asked. "No." Zechs chuckled. "Quatre mentioned his weird antics," Trowa said. "I thought he was exaggerating. Guess not." "No. The man is as crazy as that artist he hangs out with. Yuy." I sighed and patted my chest over my heart and Zechs laughed. "And queer," he added. "Where can I drop you, Trowa?" "My apartment. Going to change clothes and get a head start on my vacation." Zechs pulled up to the building and double parked. "Later, dudes," Trowa waved. "Don't let the wolves eat you!" "Same goes for you, and remember: you can just say no!" I said jokingly, but with a touch of serious intent as well. Zechs started up his car again. "Next stop?" "The palace." "Thought so." We pulled the hearse up to the Peacecraft residence where Zechs, Relena, and Heero lived. "Stay here and I'll have Heero out in just a minute." Zechs told me. He patted the car seat and marched off in the direction of his private back entrance. "Fine." I was happy to wait and avoid running into any family. It wasn't that I wished to avoid any confrontations; those I loved. I was simply in a good mood and didn't want to have to explain a thing to anyone, especially Relena. My peaceful moment, basking in the sun while leaning against his car, was disturbed by the loud roar of a powerful engine. A stranger was behind the wheel of the car tearing up the driveway and spun, crossing the path and blocking my exit. I made no effort to move. I watched as the man about his age, maybe older, with rugged good looks climbed out of his vehicle and advanced resolutely my way. There was anger in his every movement, his body language screaming 'this is a man to be reckoned with!' Automatically, my hands fisted up. I couldn't wait. "You," which the stranger said in a way that sounded more like an animal growl. "You're in the way." "Whose way?" I asked innocently and made a wide sweeping gesture with my arm. "Plenty of space here, 'cept where you're blocking the exit." "I ain't stupid. This ain't no work trip, is it? You just wanna get yer pasty hands on Hiro Yuy!" I didn't like some stranger knowing my business. I straightened and glanced at my hands. I was fair-skinned, but not unhealthy and certainly not pasty. "Actually, I'm just catching a few rays. I'm afraid I don't tan very well." Two more strides and the stranger was on me, burying his hands in my collar and lifting me off my feet. "Shut your smartass mouth up and listen to what I got to say!" He raised a fist to my face and slammed it into my jaw before I could answer. Without thinking, I drove a knee upwards into the man's gut and jabbed sideways with an elbow. A trickle of blood dripped from my swelling lip as I ripped free of the larger man's grip and pushed off. The brute lurched forward, wrenched my arms backwards, and put me into a headlock. "I'm just getting started here." There was the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked not far from his hip. I croaked out, "Hit me again and you are dead. My business' lawyers will have you so locked up in the court system that you'll lose your job, your...oof!" I saw a blur of movement and twisted my head around, catching a growl in my ear as Heero appeared and pounded my attacker over the head. The man released his grip and dropped to the ground, dragging me down with him. "What the fuck!" I gave the limp form a kick as I extricated himself while Heero, I noticed, retrieved the gun, which had rolled into the shrubbery. "What was that for?" "I was protecting you." "First of all, I don't need 'protecting'. I can take care of myself. I had that all under control. Second, shouldn't we call the police?" "He was pulling a gun on you." Heero stood over the man, pointing the gun at the man's head then his heart as if trying to decide where to blast a hole through him first. "He's not a random mugger." "Think so? I figured that out when the asshole accused me of messing with you. Hell, I'll call Wufei, if you won't.' "You're bleeding! Here's a hankie." "Thank you," I held the linen handkerchief to my lip and pressed gently to staunch the flow. "So, you wanna tell me his name and make a guess why he's so damned mad at me? Oh, yeah, hi 'Fei. I was attacked and 'Ro here says it was directed at me on purpose so you wanna... No, we're at the palace. Not far... right. Some vacation, gotcha. So you coming or not? Thanks." "No." "No, what?" "I don't want to tell you who this is, but—" "No! Oh, ho... wrong, babe." "But... I will." "Okay." I gave my attacker another kick when he started to move. "Fei's close. Wanna tell me before he gets here?" "He works for Ty Keel." I waited for Heero to gather his wits about him. He looked more flustered than I felt. I said nothing, which under normal circumstances was for me hard, but the numbness in my jaw had warn off and in insistent throbbing was settling in. "T-Ty," was about all I could manage, and still my gut twisted as I recognized the look of anguish pass across his face as I said that name. I closed the distance between us and took one hand; the other held the gun still. I could squash the pain a little longer and speak. "That was the guy that treated you bad, wasn't it?" Heero dipped his chin. His eyes never left the prone man. "He was the step-son of Odin Lowe. I was the foster son." "The name 'Odin Lowe' means nada to me. Brothers?" "Lovers," Yuy spat. "Without the love." I squeezed his hand, not understanding completely, but I wanted him to know my heart was with him. I'd had a lover with the love and lost him. Which was worse? Two police officers arrived on foot. They must have been on the beat no further than the front palace gates to get there so quickly. With little fuss, one officer cuffed the assailant and yanked him to his feet while reading him his rights. The other collected the gun from Heero and bagged it. They were waiting for Detective Chang. Chang whipped his unmarked sedan into the driveway followed by a police car. He moved swiftly with a keen-edged-blade surety, eyes blazing. "Maxwell, he'd better be alive or I'll start thinking you're doing this to drum up business." "When did you get a sense of humor?" I remarked with a smile. "Nah, he's all right. Dude jumped me, pulled a gun, and 'Ro knocked him out." "His ID says he's Ed Knute," said an officer holding the assailant's wallet. "Works for Ty Keel," Heero put in. Wufei's eyes slid from Heero to the ID. "Another one of Keel's thugs? Ever since they brought in Sidney Green, I've been hoping to put away one of these hoods." His eyes remained riveted on Heero. I squeezed 'Ro's hand. I think he'd forgotten I was still holding it because he shivered and looked at me with a question in his eyes. "'S'okay," I said. Heero explained how it was that he could identify the man and his familial relationship to Keel. He left it at that. Wufei shook his head. "Odin Lowe! Dear Buddha. I am sorry." He did look sorry for Heero a moment. "We need to talk. In private." "Can this wait a couple days? He's taking me to Zodiac Island for my first vacation in...decades, and I don't wanna miss out." "Do you require medical attention?" he asked first. "Nothing I can't handle." Wufei agreed that he could wait a couple days. He turned to one of the officers with the car. "Is that man secured in custody?" "Yes, sir." "Good. Now, get him out of here," Chang said through clenched teeth, "before we have the Peacecraft guards meddling in this. Call for a tow truck and get this vehicle secured." "Call me when you get back," he said to Heero. With one crisp movement he was aiming for his car, and a few broad strides later, driving away. I didn't even get a chance to ask him when he was starting his new job. "Hey!" I winced as Heero tested the darkening bruise on my jaw. "Serves you right, picking fights with hooligans." "I didn't start--! Oh, hell." I smiled at Heero even though seconds earlier I was seething inside. That man had made me feel foolish, and marred my face. "I have to stop at the drug store." I left a bush a little worse for wear and a pair of tire tracks across an edge of lawn, but I got my car out of the crowded driveway, past the palace, along the short drive to the shopping center, and into a parking space. Heero remained in the car while I sought out a dozen emergency ice packs and picked out an assortment of pain medications offering me varying levels of relief. I was licensed to write prescriptions, and I did. When I returned to the car, I asked, "Would you hold this to my jaw while I drive?" "That's stupid. I'll drive. You tend to your jaw." Heero grabbed the keys out of my hand and bounded out. He raced to the driver's side and slid into the comfortable, worn seat, while I had no choice but to settle into the passenger seat. As he adjusted the mirror, he hummed with excitement. "You didn't plan all that just to get your hands on a car, did you?" I asked. "Hn. A hearse?" he laughed. "No, I had nothing to do with it. Now, why are there two brakes on this car?" "Two...? That one's the clutch. You've never driven a stick shift? Oh, jeez..." I groaned and plastered my forehead with another ice pack. "I was kidding." "Christ." I leaned back, eyes closed. And this had been such a lovely day. "Where are we headed?" "Airport." "Airport? I thought we'd go to the docks. Take a boat?" "We could, but this way is faster. When you said you would be early, that we could start sooner, I altered the plans." "More expensive." "That's okay. I'm not totally without funds. I'm no starving college student. And this is a special occasion. Does that meet with your approval?" It did, but he wasn't going to admit that just yet. "Let's see how the evening pans out, okay?" "Holding your judgment in reserve? That is wise. It puts the ball back into my court. I must continue to please you to leave you with a good impression." I gazed out the window and noticed he was driving up the street to the mortuary. "Eh?" "We'll have a taxi take us the rest of the way. I don't want to leave your hearse unattended for the weekend." I was in no position to argue, so I didn't. I closed my eyes and let Heero take over. He phoned a service and parked in the back of the building. I heard him get out and open the back, heard the scraping of bags, the closing of doors, the arrival of another car over the gravel road. "The taxi is here. I could have him take you to the hospital, if you think your jaw is broken?" "No, 's'okay, not broken, just the painkillers kicking in. I'm fine." I remember getting into the taxi, squeezing in good and close to Heero. I felt his hand reach over and brush my hand. I think he was testing me but I didn't hide anything. When his hand made another move back he entwined his fingers in mine and I just sat there. I didn't move, blink or barely breathe. It just felt right. It was like having a conversation without any words, and then I was waking up moments later. "Are we nearly there yet?" "No. We just passed the Chinese restaurant on 9th." "Yummmm. You ever eat there?" I asked to get my mind off my throbbing jaw and to stay awake. "Never been there. Is it especially good?" "Yeah, and the portions are huge," I said. I couldn't grin, but if I could have, I would have. "I like your attitude. You really hold nothing back when you're going for what you want." "Same could be said for you." "If it interests me, that's right," he agreed and concentrated on the road out the window. I assumed he was watching the route the driver was taking; just to make sure he was getting his money's worth. "But only if it interests me," he added. "And I interest you?" Oh, I knew I did. I was just teasing and begging for sweet talk. "Yes." He rolled his eyes. "I think you need to pinch me." "You do?" I smiled on the not-sore side of my face. "It's no fun when you ask." "How else will I believe that you are really going to Zodiac Island with me?" "Oh, like a dream come true?" "Something like that, yes." "And the pinch would make that complete?" "Well, not exactly... OUCH! Duo, that hurt!" "Heh, heh. Yeah, it is more fun when it's unexpected." Heero shook his head. "When I asked if you'd like to join me on my visit to Zodiac Island, I truly hadn't anticipated that you would say yes. The place has negative connotations. There are other places we could go." "It's just for a couple nights, right? You plan to be back for a Sunday night play practice. I mean, jeez, 'Ro, don't make so big a deal out of this, okay? I didn't have anything big planned, and I figured I'd be nuts to miss an opportunity like this." "Actually, it has become a very big deal." Heero glanced over at me. "I appreciated your spontaneity." "Yeah, Quatre would have taken a week to mull it over." Had the request come from me; however, I noticed he had no problem freeing up time for Trowa. "He would have had a thousand concerns and Wufei a thousand questions." "For which I would have to have the right answers before his answering, and then probably both of them would have declined anyway." "Heh, heh... I might be guilty of making the occasional rash decision." "And this one was so unqualified, so unexpected that you left me speechless when you said yes-- for a moment." "You know, I'm not going for the five star accommodations." "But they are. Zechs promised us the best." "Oh." Wow! I had just been joking. "That's...cool, 'Ro, but I meant what I said. As long as it's you and me, babe, it's all I need." He leaned over and kissed my nose. I was glad he aimed there and not at my messed up lips. It might have been more of a show than our driver expected, though. The taxi swerved, making an illegal lane change, and a horn blared, pointing out that fact. Heero straightened but left his arm around my shoulders, and the driver drove on, a scowl on his face. When we reached the airport, Heero directed the taxi to a private airstrip. "You can park for a short time adjacent to that low building." The driver removed our bags from the back of the car wordlessly, and Heero paid him, also wordlessly, when a man in coveralls, an emblem marked OZ over his chest, approached us. "Mr. Yuy. Been a long time since I saw you last. Plane's ready. Will you be piloting tonight, or would you like a crew?" "Who's available to fly us?" "Miss Shari tonight, sir." "She's good. Okay, ask her to take over. Mr. Maxwell and I will board now, if that's all right?" "Certainly, sir. I'll see to your clearance with the tower. Have a good flight." I looked Heero up and down as we walked up to 6-person private jet. "You have a pilot's license? You never told me that." "There's a lot you don't know about me," he said with a forced smile. "All good, of course. I grew up on this island. I learned to sail and fly-- anything to get off of it as soon and as quickly as I could. Here we go now..." And then I wondered, if he has such bad memories of living there, why did he want to bring me there on a break? Just to let me in on his past? It couldn't be to please Zechs, so it must be important. Right? But more importantly, how was I going to kiss Heero with my bleeding lip and aching jaw, much less seduce him into fucking me? A/N: Special thanks go to my dear editors and supporters "Snowdragon" and "Waterlily" for all their help and for convincing me to insert "the best part" to this chapter. Heero imagining Duo naked and wet and sprawling-- that was all Waterlily.
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