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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 26 -- January Cheer, Part 1 I could not have heard him correctly. Duo could not have just said, "No" to my proposal. Not my Duo. Maybe my timing was wrong. We were in an art gallery, which was not a private enough place for discussing private affairs. Maybe. Or I misheard him. All I could hear now was the pounding in my ears. I wanted the pounding to stop. "Stop!" "Heero! Hey, babe. Com'ere and sit down with me. Yeah, the bench. Sit. Take a deep breath, okay? Yeah. Geez, you okay? You scared me to death. I thought you were gonna pass out." There were those earnest, violet-blue looking into mine. He cared. He cared. I know he cared. "'Ro! Say something, babe." "You...care." "Oh, babe, of course. I love you. I love you." "But you said—!" "I know." "Do you want to live with me?" "Yeah," he smiled at me. "I do." That was better, but confusing. "But you don't want to—?" He stopped me with a finger to my lips. "Not yet." "Not...yet?" What did that mean? "You mean you might want to marry me sometime?" He nodded. That helped, but God it hurt. He just turned me down! What would I do, could I do? "Why-y?" I hated that my voice cracked, but I was fighting back tears and an emotional breakdown. "I love you and want you so much." "I know you do. I love you, too." He looked at me in a very unsure way. "You know same-sex marriages aren't sanctioned in Sanc." "That is not a reason!" How could he think he could get away with a stupid excuse like that? "We could go to L1 and be married there. I am not a fool, Duo." "I didn't say that was the problem. I was just asking." "Hn." Did I want to know why he didn't want a commitment with me? I was unsure." "I was just getting there." He blew his bangs out of his eyes, so I know he was nervous. "Did I ever tell you that Solo had promised me a home and life together, and then he died?" "No. I'm sorry he hurt you." How could I compete with the dead? Duo's life revolved around the dead, just as mine was haunted by the undead. "Yeah. He promised me a life together. H-house... future, ya know?" "But how could he have meant it? He pretended you were just his friend. You shared nothing. He had no intention of following through, it seems to me. I do." I reached out and clasped Duo's arm to hold his attention. I needed that physical connection with him. "I meant what I said." "I know, 'Ro." His voice was so quiet I could hardly hear him. "But you see, my foster parents had promised me a home with them forever, and they died, too." I nodded, trying to follow his reasoning. Where was he going with this? Was he worried I'd die leaving him alone? "Marriage is forever, but so's death!" he declared. "Are you afraid that I will leave you?" "Uh, maybe," he said in a small voice. "It's not that I'm superstitious or anything. But you know, we haven't known each other that long, when you think about it. There are things about me you just can't be too sure of, ya know?" Another tangent? I could thoroughly check that concern in the early stages. "I am sure." I grabbed him by the shoulders to get him to look me in the eyes. "You are my everything, my world." "Oh, God." Now, what had I said? What was wrong with telling him how important he was to me? This had to be closing in on the real reason for him to have turned down my proposal. "What?" Tell me, please! "I can't be your only emotional outlet, 'Ro. I have Hilde to talk to about things, but you have no other close friends. I'm not sure I can be your everything. You hurt inside from something terrible that happened to you, and I can't, can't..." "Free my aching heart?" "Yeah, I don't know if I can do that." "I must do that alone?" I do not want to be alone any more. "I guess not all alone, but... but you're just so intense." "Focused. It's how I notice details and it helps my drawing. It...bothers you?" How could I change? I was certain I had no control over that part of my personality. My breath hitched. I needed him far more than he needed me. With him I had a chance at a normal life, but then I was not good for him. "I suffocate you." "No, that's just how you are. I know that," he took both my hands in his and looked into my eyes. I wondered if he knew how gorgeous his eyes were. "I love that about you." I could see the wheels turning in his head, and then he pulled away again. "It's just when it's all turned on me, expecting me to be your...everything... and you got some killer dude after you—" Not another reason! "Fuck, I killed a man following after you! It's a lot of responsibility to lay on me." "I see." Not clearly, but I knew I wanted too much. "My problems are too extreme, and you are barely past your own meltdown." "Well, that's true. I'm not so stable myself. I don't want us using each other for emotional crutches because we can't find the strength to fix our problems." Why not, I wanted to shout out? I decided that what he was asking for was more time. He was putting off commitment until our lives were less unpredictable. Structure was important to me as well, so this I could understand. The emotional problems would sort themselves out with time. I needed to latch onto something concrete, something I could pin my hopes on. "Are you saying we should wait until we get the Zodiac Island problem resolved?" That I could understand. "At least! Just think, you solve your problems and then maybe I'm not so important any more. Maybe you can travel, do art shows. Who knows?" I knew! He had to have noticed how that valuation disappointed me, because now he was holding my hands again. I knew I would feel none of those things. I would always put him first, but I knew better than pile that on him right now. "It hurts here," I told him, pressing his hand to my heart. "'Ro, there is no one else in my life. No one better than you. And I can't think that there'd ever be anyone more perfect for me than you. Let's just catch our breaths here. Slow down. Life isn't a race, like 'first to the finish line wins' or anything." "I understand." I did and I felt the weight of my understanding on my shoulders, cloaking me in a kind of melancholy. "That's good—great even -- 'cause I wanna go home, my home, your home, somebody's home and make up. You know, make sure we're still on track?" He wanted sex. I could accommodate that need with pleasure. Ridding my life of Ty Keel and of Solo's ghost would be harder. "All right. Your place." And then he kissed me. His kiss told me with his words could not - I want you, when the time is right. I tried to put my wishes into my kiss - I want you, too. Still, to lift the gloom, to rid myself of the demon presence, I knew I would have to find help, someone to lean on besides Duo. But who? (o) I thought our talk went pretty well. Heero got that we needed more time and some personal growth before revisiting his proposal. He could sure pull stuff out of the blue, and that had blind-sided me. Marriage? I didn't know anyone who was married. How would that change things? Why go through it? Why spring that on me? God. He was the sexiest man alive and fucking talented. He had paid no attention to the men and women drooling after him at the art show, just doodled hysterically funny little cards. He was so... hugely brilliant at times it terrified me. Marriage? Total commitment. Speaking of terrifying. Why had he chosen me? The man was an enigma. I decided not to think about the proposal for awhile and that helped because Heero and I had hot make-up sex. He'd come a long way at mastering the "top" position. I was so worn out, in fact, that I managed to ignore my message machine light blinking earnestly on the table until morning. After showering, I'd left Heero in the bathroom while I checked the messages and returned the first call. "Hi, Hil." "A before-work call? I must really rate these days. Should I be worried? Are you alone?" "Heero's in the bathroom. Things are cool. What's up?" "Okay, listen, I just wanted to congratulate Heero on the great art show." "I'll pass that along." "He had told me last time we spoke in the coffee shop that it would be a particularly special night for you, too. What do you think he meant by that?" Oh, God. "Hil, he proposed but I said no. You see--," "You turned him down?!" I wanted to turn her down a couple notches. My ear was ringing from her screech and I wanted to hear again. "Yeah, but we talked it out and agreed it was best to wait awhile longer. He's cool with it, Hil." "Duo, you are an idiot if you believe that." "Not true. He's fine with it." "Heero has no choice but to be 'fine with it' as you say. It's either that or give you up and the guy would totally shrivel up and die before doing that." Okay, so he wasn't fine immediately right off, but we talked and worked things out. He wasn't thrilled, but he agreed waiting was the right thing to do. Still, he had been quieter than usual since, I guessed, if I thought about it, hard. Could Hilde be right? I had to think, but it was hard with her doing the thinking for me. "What did you expect him to do? He capitulated." He kinda did. Oh, man... "He told me he understood, and I know he wouldn't lie about that." "Idiot. I gotta go open the shop. I'll see if I can catch him later and... I don't know what I'll tell him, but I'll explain what a doofus you are." "Thanks, but that won't be—" Click. She hung up on me. Ugh. Not a good start to the day. The next message had been from Mrs. Claremont, inviting us to her home for a New Year's eve afternoon tea. "Both you and you kind friend, Mr. Yuy, are welcome." I heard Heero padding into the room. "Mrs. Claremont is inviting us over for a New Year's eve afternoon thing. Would you like to go?" I asked. "That would be nice. Yes." "I'll call her back, then. Oh yeah, the work is rolling in. Message from Trowa... he'll be in and he's in a pretty good mood. Looks like he and Quatre hit pay dirt." "He deserves a break." "He sure does. Um, the pantry is bare. How about I drive us down town for breakfast? I can drop you at the palace or coffee shop." "Breakfast sounds good." And that time I noticed that the glimmer was missing in those dark blue eyes, and I knew for certain I was responsible. He was still hurting, logic or not. "Cool. Let me grab my coat and keys." There was nothing to do but hope things worked out. (o) Trowa showed up at work a couple minutes late. Endive groaned, not bothering to hide her disappointment. "I thought you might have quit working here when you took that vacation." "No, in fact, not only am I back," Trowa said, "I'm buying into the business." "Shit." Endive left without another word, her future resting on my goodwill. "And she had so much promise," I said with a sigh. "She was hoping to take your place. Little does she know how lofty a spot in my heart you fill." "Congratulations on the new partnership,'' Zechs said. "I take it the lead panned out financially?" "Yes," Trowa said with a quick smile. "I can buy half this business now." "Man, that's great," I told him. "You didn't have to do all that right now, though. I'da given you more time." "It's a lot of money, but isn't that what you wanted?" "What I want is a red fire engine and a dump truck." I flashed them all a grin. "Seriously, Tro', how's it feel having more of those memories back?" "Better. Not having all my memories sucks still, but it's a getting a lot better. I was constantly afraid to lean a bit too far to the left and do a half cartwheel." "And you couldn't devote full attention to bon mots," Zechs added. "Not to mention the tension involved in facing a girl or guy you've screwed before and convincing them that you've never met them before," I put in. "God, don't let Quatre hear you say that. He's jealous enough as it is." "Quat gets jealous?" Was that possible? He never cared that much about me. "I don't think it will do Mr. Winner any serious harm if he realizes that other people find you attractive." That came from Zechs. "I'm sure it has occurred to him that as carefully as he had engineered their breakup, the moment he d-dropped (I know he meant dumped, but he was being kind) our valued employer, Duo latched onto a rather remarkable artist, who in turn dotes on him. Perhaps he thinks he'd best not take you for granted." Trowa shook his head. "Could be." "On a different note," Zechs cut in again, "I'm having a little New Year's party." "How can you have a little anything?" I asked jokingly. I hadn't meant any double entrendre, but from his surprised expression I felt I had to tag on a bit more. "With you Peacecrafts everything's all-out." "Is that how you see us?" One elegant eyebrow rose above the other. "That's how you are. Face it, Zechs, slumming with the cadavers hasn't changed you a bit. Deep down inside you are a prince." That brought a smile to his haughty countenance. "Am I? How kind of you to say. In any case, you are all invited." He passed out fancy-ass invitations to all my employees, and handed me an extra. "For Hilde. Make sure she brings Chang. And you must bring Yuy." He looked at Trowa. "And Winner. We can celebrate your new business arrangement, if you'd like." Zechs smiled faintly. "And in the morning, those of us involved in other matters can discuss what I've learned. That part is imperative, in fact." (o) New Year's eve day was busier than necessary. I promise everyone at the morgue that we'd close at noon, and we closed at two-thirty, with more work chilling in the '"keep". My 'Ro was standing on the corner under an awning in the pouring rain waiting for me to pick him up. "You are late." "I am sorry and late." I sighed. "We can make it to the Claremont's if I don't stop to buy a bottle of wine to take." "That is all right. I brought one." What a gem. "Thanks babe." We couldn't stay long at the Claremont's if I were to drop off Heero to change and then head over to my place to get in a shower and change before going to the Peacecraft party. So when we walked down from the cemetery parking lot and saw that there was a flow of visitors entering and exiting the door, we were relieved. "Hello, Mrs. Claremont!" "Duo, so glad you were able to stop by, oh, and you brought something nice." Heero handed her the wine. "For you." She laughed. "And wine, too!" I enjoyed his quick blush when he realized she was complementing him. Her husband waved from his recliner. When she handed off the bottle for him to open, he examined the label a moment. "Excellent wine. You didn't find this at the neighborhood market." Heero smiled. "No." He couldn't be persuaded to reveal the wine's past, but I guessed he'd taken it from the Peacecraft bounty. Other people passed by, drinks in hand or carrying tiny plates embellished with edibles. The Claremonts, though, gathered us close in. "We are having a going away party." "Vacationing?" I hoped. "No, but maybe later this spring we'll plan that." "We are giving up the house." He pointed out a young woman in the kitchen. "I'll introduce you to our daughter. She and her husband and kids have bought this house and we are moving to the River Glen Retirement Residence." I didn't know whether to congratulate them or cry. This had been their home for over forty years, and mine for forty days. "I'm sure you made the right decision, but I bet it was hard." Heero glided over to light next to Mr. Claremont. "You're leaving your art in the dome?" "I finished the last piece a week ago. Found homes for the rest. The kids will clean it out. Probably use the place for a play house." That seemed to amuse the man, which was good. Heero looked about to cry. I bounced from room to room, meeting the family and spreading my Maxwell brand of good cheer. I hadn't noticed that Heero disappeared until I saw him with Mr. Claremont entering the house from the back door. His expression was I'd classify as... pleased with himself. "I bought a painting," he told me. "A big one." "Great. How are we getting it... to where it's going?" "We took it off the stretchers and rolled it up. It will fit in the van." I didn't ask how much he paid the old man for it. I could see it was well worth it by the smile it put on Mr. Claremont's face. And after that I couldn't very well run out on the delicious spread they put out, so we stayed for dinner. Heero became the center of attention when the subject of his art show was brought up by someone recognizing his name. Mrs. Claremont showed off her collection of Yuy cards, and he charmed her by signing them on the back. We couldn't stay to ring in the new year, we just couldn't. We shared a glass of champagne and wished them all well, collected the rolled up painting. As we trudged back up the hill, Heero gripped my elbow. I guess he remembered my last fall and roll into the bushes. He had a heart of gold, really. We passed the soggy mounds of dirt with rivulets streaming down, converging into a muddy gutter. We climbed practically upstream all the way to the mortuary van. "It is eight in the evening. Drop me at the corner and I'll walk the rest of the way, then you can go home. You take longer to get ready." Always thinking of me. "Okay." (o) New Year's party The moment I saw Duo at the door, I envisioned him barefoot at the beach, sun-kissed, hair blowing in the breeze, and miles of sand. It was so vivid I thought for a second that we had been transported to the coast. "'Ro? Can I come in or--? You okay?" He'd left his hair down, to dry, possibly, but it changed his appearance drastically. "Yes. Come in. The party is this way, but I thought we could... have a moment alone?" Oh. His eyes grew impossibly large. He just read what I had said as "sex in my room," and I would have loved that but I really had meant to address him alone. I pulled a sticky pad from my pocket and a pen. A few quick strokes and... "There!" I pressed a protection charm into his hand. "Keep it on you at all times tonight." "Ah, sure. Thanks, babe, I'll do that, but I was hoping you were luring me away. A little early in the game; I haven't even had a drink yet, but, hey, I'm not about to pass up an opportunity to get you in the sack—" My dear Duo could be a little crude at times, but he melted into my arms and accepted my kiss in lieu of more. Of course this was because Chang pushed into us in an attempt to enter. "I thought I was late," Duo said. "I didn't want to be the first. We were waiting at the bar," Wufei tilted his head in one direction, "until we saw the morgue van arrive." "I had to tear him away from the Twilight Zone marathon to come to this party," Hilde shouted at us, "So don't stand there blocking the door and icking him out, okay?" Duo broke our kiss to greet his friends. "Icking? We were making out, as boyfriends do. I'll bet you and 'Fei go at it like—" "Not in public," Chang corrected him in his abrupt way. I gently pulled Duo to the side. "Just a minute," I said and scribbled out another charm "I want to move," Wufei said. "Winner and Barton are right behind us." "Please," I said, pushing my charms toward the newcomers. "Keep these with you." Hilde took one and her boyfriend the other. "Oh, yeah. I know about these. Cool. Thanks, Heero! Demons beware! Bwaha, ha, ha, ha!" She sent shivers down my spine with that laugh and could probably handle any "demons" on her own. I could hear more people coming, our friends, so I prepared protection charms for them, too. They arrived wearing comical hats and sporting silly smiles. I think they had come from a string of parties, progressing to this one for the final ringing in of the year. I tore off two more o-fuda. "Oooooh Fu-uu daaah!" Quatre sang. He had a nice singing voice, but not that nice. I slapped another one over his mouth, sending him into a fit of giggles. Trowa's voice was better, but he refrained from joining in, he pasted his o-fuda on his forehead and half-carried Quatre inside. The place was rocking, for an 800 year-old palatial ballroom with stuffy caterers, gigantic glittering chandeliers swaying out of rhythm, and draped in tacky purple and green crepe paper like a house in mourning. There was a bartender and enough drink to intoxicate an army and a dee-jay over-thinking the music. "I have a few more of these to distribute," I told Duo. "Go ahead and o-fuda the place to your heart's content. I'll be dancing, so come find me." It didn't take me but a minute to protect the bar and the sound system and then I located my boyfriend dancing with his drunken ex. While I pondered executing them both, Trowa joined me. "Wanna dance?" he asked. "I don't know," I mumbled. "C'mon. We'll look hot together." He had an arm around me and drew me in. "Give us a chance to talk." I hadn't danced close to anyone but Duo alone and in his apartment to a CD, so it felt strange with my hands on some other guy's waist. His were on my hips, lower and he would lose them. "I'm not trying to feel you up," he said. "We have to be close to hear each other talk." "All right." That explained everything. The guy was taller than me, more noticeable when we were holding each other close like that. I looked around him and saw Quatre hanging all over Duo. "Don't worry about them. I give Quatre about twenty more minutes and he'll either puke or pass out." "Not so nice for Duo." Trowa shrugged. "Better them than us." Was he serious? Not likely. "What I wanted to sound you out on me buying into your sidekick's business. I'm not intruding on what you got going on together." I never thought he would. "I understand that you are buying into a business partnership, not—" "Not an engagement, yeah, that's right. But kind of the same thing." What was he talking about? "A business partnership is not at all the same thing as an engagement." "They're both commitments, right? That's all I was meaning." "You do spend a lot of time together," I said. It was true. "All business. All the time, just so you understand." He smiled at me in a funny way. "I wouldn't start anything." "Not even over my dead body?" I smiled in an equally funny way and he laughed. We danced a bit more and I thought about commitments. I could feel a great shadowy demon on my back. I needed to talk to someone about what was bothering me to make it go away, and Duo and I were all talked out on the subject of engagements. I felt I could trust Trowa, since Duo did. He was sharing the mortuary ownership with him and I know how much that meant to Duo. "Something wrong? Don't worry, I won't pass it along to Duo and Quatre just likes juicy gossip so you can help me make something up to tell him." "We are not engaged." "Who? Oh, you and Duo. No? Well, you haven't know each very long, have you?" "No, well, I think long enough, but he... he said no." "No-- to what? Oh... you mean you proposed to him?" I nodded and the demon adjusted itself to one side. I was a little off balanced. "Duo turned you down, eh?" Trowa moved both hands to my shoulders and began a nice massage. "That sucks. He say why?" "He had many sensible reasons." "You're pretty fucked in the head, you know." I should have beaten his brains out for that, except that I had just made him my best friend and confidante. That, and fact that the demon on my back had crawled onto one shoulder and condensed itself, distracting me a little more. "That's what he said. Do you really think I am?" "You're in love with that manic so you must be nuts." Trowa laughed so good naturedly that I joined in. "I wouldn't worry, though. He'll come around. You just scared the shit out of him and he slammed on the brakes. Let him ruminate about it and then he'll think it was his idea and ask you." "You think so?" "Yep." "Thank you, Trowa. I feel—" What was the word? "Better about it now." Not only better, the demon spread his wings and took flight. The darkness in my heart had lifted. "Um, you think you could put a little more space between you and my lover, Tro-man?" "Duo." Trowa released me slowly. "Depends on what you've done with mine." "He's in the bathroom emptying his guts. Give him a minute. He'll be good till the countdown after that." Trowa gave my hand a firm press. "Thanks for the dance, Yuy." He let go of me and ran his finger through his bangs. "Guess I'd best go nurse Quatre. Later, dudes." "Bye." Duo was looking at me, smiling. "You're looking pleased with yourself. Having a good time?" "Yes. He is good to talk to." "Um..." Duo took me in his arms and teeter-tottered to the music, hardly dancing. "Just keep it to talking, 'kay? I mean, you two looked very sexy together." "He dances well, but he listens better." "That's okay then. Hey, I'm kidding ya. I'm glad you and he are buddies." "Me too," I said and then I felt the need to mash my lips onto his and stay that way for a little bit. He would want me so much no one else would do. He would be crying out for me to make him mine forever and ever. Unfortunately, a pair of small strong hands peeled us apart and a squeally voice cut through my fantasies. "It's not midnight yet, silly boys! You have to wait until the ringing in of the New Year!" "Relena." It was a very good thing that I was not long toting metal, as they say. My reflexes wanted to put her away. Silence her for good. Of course, that would require silver bullets. Bullets like those were above all in short supply. Duo had taken over and was chatting cheerfully with her about the art show and her dress and her decorations. I want to tear them all down. Shred them so they'd flutter like burial shrouds. Every night in this palace was like a zombie apocalypse. "Heero!" "What?!" "Come along and help me choose something to safe to eat out of all the weird little dolled up crackers." "Appetizers. You would like them all, but I will accompany you." We filled the next hour and one half with eating, drinking, talking, and dancing together. We only danced with each other. Quatre, a subdued version with eyes like pickled olives, clung to Trowa the rest of the evening. Trowa appeared to like how things had turned out for him. That was good. "Everybody! Get a glass of champagne and join me in a toast. The countdown starts in just a few minutes," Relena cried out. Servants passed out slender, fluted glasses and filled them with pale bubbly drink. Several people chose to make toasts. Zechs wished us all good health; Relena, peace on earth. There was a "good luck in love" and a humorous one about getting rich. I felt a peace settle over my heart. My o-fuda had done the job I had designed them to do. My friends were safe. The protection had expanded to cover all of the party attendees. We were all safe here tonight. "Ten." "Nine." "Eight." "Seven!" "Six!" In the building excitement, the chant grew louder. "Five!" "Four!" "Three!" "Two!" "One!Happy New Year!" I liked the Duo in my arms blissfully kissing me in front of everyone. It made it a very good start to the New Year. Trowa and Quatre, Wufei and Hilde, Zechs and his girlfriend Lucretzia Noin, and Relena and her boyfriend du jour all gathered near, breaking open noisy crackers and lighting sparklers. "This New Year thing is very noisy," I mentioned to Duo. "Yeah, I guess!" He was grinning and loving all the chaos of the night. "I made you a card, but I left it in the studio upstairs." "Oh yeah? Wanna go get it together?" Not really. "It needs some work, still. But we can leave the party, if you want." "Yeah. Just let me say g'night to our friends first." Our friends were staying the night. We were all to meet in the morning and talk over everything we knew about what was going on, on Zodiac Island. I decided to leave it to Zechs to show them to their rooms. He would know what to do. "Hey, Quat, Tro! Hil? We're heading out, er, up, so good night and see you in the morning, late." "Tell us a joke," Quatre insisted in that way of his, but rather endearing with his unsure delivery. "Just one. Before... you go." Duo scratched his head, "Okay, lemme think... Got one. Who was the largest knight at Sir Author's round table?" No one offered an answer, so Duo said, "Sir Cumfrance ("circumference"), because he ate too much pie. Heh, heh--" "I thought it was because he avoided running 'round half c-cocked," Quatre said, and then he hiccupped, which made us all laugh. Trowa pulled Zechs aside and, I think, received his directions to a room for closeting away his boyfriend. Wufei and Hilde appeared to be thinking in the same vein, as they moved to the staircase.
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