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"Recycled Valentine "Written By: Kaeru Shisho Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing
or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, male/male pairings, language Pairings: 1x2, 3x4 Summary: A Valentine's Day themed romance encompassing all the young men Thanks to Waterlily for all the editing and humor
to keep me going "Recycled Valentine " Chapter 3 Heero vowed to take the entire day off, if necessary, if that's what it took, to get the whole party thing settled with D. M. And meet him. And impress him. All of that. Whatever it took. He heard the tinkling smash of glass breaking long before the rumbling recycle truck was halfway up his block. D.M. Heero fondled the envelope, making certain it hadn't escaped his suit pocket, then opened the door. He would not miss another opportunity. He strode down his walkway, noting the grass needed edging even though in was cold and the grass wasn't growing. The fence could use painting, but it wasn't his responsibility to maintain that. Still. The garbage truck came and left, and only ten minutes off schedule. Very good. He heard the next truck turn the corner and stop at the neighbor's house. Not bad at all for having to make up time. He approved the driver's priorities. Here he comes. The truck rolled past his house and stopped at his driveway. "Hey! Ah, good morning, ah, sir?" The greeting came with a crisp tip of his cap, a carefree grin, and a question. "Morning." And everything Heero had planned to say, practiced in his head to say, couldn't be located. "Here!" He shoved the card into the other man's personal space. "For you." "Me? Oh. Okay. Should I open it here? Now?" Heero nodded. He knew he should be saying something at this point, introducing himself, at least. But his mouth felt wired shut and his brain muddled. The recycler's happy smile turned into a frown as his brows knitted together and the corners of his mouth curved down. "What's this all about?" "I-It's a-a-" A what? Spit it out, goddamnit! Why was he so hobbled by the inability to speak? "You some kind of a do-gooder trying to bring the lowlifes some class? OR is this just a plain insult?" "No!" "A joke? 'Cause, I like a good practical joke as much as the next man-not. I mean, if this invite is real then, um, well, this costs. Yeah, costs me. You know how much a tux rental is? You don't think I keep palace attire on hand do you?" "I-I, ah, no, but I could help?" "How, with handouts?! We don't even know each other! For the love of God you are so fucked over!" Yes, yes he was. And he would have had the perfect comeback, had his cell phone not buzzed urgently. "Ah, hold on. Don't go! Please! Just, ah, excuse me. Hello?" "You coming?" Heero checked the caller ID. Trowa. Jesus H. Christ on a stick. "Not immediately. Am I late? Sorry." "I'm running a bit late myself. Why don't we meet at the coffee shop down the street for a late breakfast then start the shopping torture? In say... an hour? That work for you?" "Yes, yes, that's good. Great! Thank you." Heero breathed a sigh of relief, staring down at his cellphone and then slowly raising his eyes while readying himself to take on the recycler. "Hey, don't blame it on me if you're late for some high falutin' important meeting. I ain't keepin' ya." "I'm not blaming you for anything. I'm late because I... forgot completely about. Ah..." Not another phone call! "Please, excuse me. I need to take this call." His apologetic look missed the recycler by a mile. "Hi. Ah, your timing's not too good." "Sorry!" Quatre said. "I'll be quick. Have you asked anyone to the party?" "What? No, I haven't a date for the party and it looks unlikely I will. From any vantage point! Listen, I'll still go, I promised Barton. And, I can drive anyone who needs a ride. Relena is sending me a parking pass." "How considerate of her." Quatre didn't sound sincere. "Oh! You were serious! She really has been stalking you! How else would she know you were coming to the party?! I'm sorry I ever doubted you!" "No! Stop it! I'm mean, she did, at one time, follow me about, but not now, not for a while. I told her. I called her." "Oh? That's a surprising turn of events." "Not really. It was the date. Her father's execution-" "Oh, of course! How could I have forgotten? How kind of you, Heero. I'm sorry." "Bye." He put away his phone. And cautioned a look over to where the recycler still stood. "You're still here?" At least the man had patience. That was one of the heavenly virtues, wasn't it? "Is the entertainment over now?" "I don't know. I get a lot of calls. I run a business." "How many of those were business?" One? None. "Usually, that's all I get, but this... party has my friends calling me. Dates... clothes... I don't know." "Rubbing elbows with royalty and hobnobbing with nobility? This isn't a joke? You obviously don't know me!" Panic! Up close, Heero could see he wore a gold chain with a cross. Religious man, then. He might not consider dancing and partying around a holiday to be decent. He had no idea. "No, no! I don't. You're right. I'd like to. Get to know you." D. M. appeared to consider that. He started walking around Heero's yard pointing at plants. Flowers? What was he up to now? Heero watched him, completely mystified for a moment until it occurred to him that possibly, he was just trying out some casual conversation to get to know him a little better. "Nice tree. Magnolia. It has big white flowers." "It does? I haven't lived here long." "I know. I have been covering this route for a ... while. That's a rhododendron, pink. It needs acid fertilizer in spring, so you got a few months... And roses. All yellow." "Sounds... colorful. You sound very knowledgeable. I don't know a thing about growing plants." "Not much of a judge of my abilities then, are you? Heh, heh..." "I consider myself to be a good judge of character. And I can mow plants down with finesse." "Oh, I can tell. Nice lawn. Shows off the skill of the blade-runner, though it's a little fuzzy around the edges, but then so am I! Ha! Well... Gate needs oil. I can bring some by, one of these days... if you like?" "I would. It's very annoying, as you noticed." "I noticed you wincing when I passed through and it was either it or me and... I took a leap of faith." "It's not you, I mean, that is irritating. It's the gate, like you guessed." "Oh, well, that's good, then." "I-I find you ... not irritating... Ah, interesting. I find you interesting." "Oh, yeah? Cool." "And I'd like it if you said yes and accompanied me to the Valentine Fete at the Sanc royal palace. And... I forgot when that is, but it's soon." D.M. looked down at the paper in his hand. "Yeah." "You are agreeing with me that it's soon, or that you accept?" "Ah, both." "That's, that's... good." "I hope so." His smile simply melted through all Heero's reserves. "Me, too." Heero smiled and gazed into the face of the other man. "Thanks." "Right. So, couldn't help but overhear...? But... if you don't mind dragging along another person, I wouldn't mind some help picking out a monkey suit for this fancy-ass party?" Heero was certain that a primate costume wouldn't be appropriate attire for a palace ball, but was afraid to come right out and say so and hurt the man's feelings. "But aren't you working now?" "Sure, but I'm way off schedule. I just came by to do your place because I know you're so anal about it." He grinned. "Give me minute to park this baby outta the way and- Can I wash up inside?" "Yes!" Heero felt the thrill of victory. And yet he didn't even know the man's name. He led the way into his house, pointing out the direction of the bathroom, and then rushed to find the man something to offer him. He grabbed a bottled water from the refrigerator and stood in the center of his front room with no idea what to do but wait. D.M. came out and smiled. "That for me? Perfect!" "Yes, you are," Heero murmured as he turned to his door. "Heh, heh, sense of humor, eh?" More like no sense at all, Heero thought to himself. Heero wasn't sure if he was more nervous because he was with the guy he'd been obsessing over for the last few months, or because he was going to be introducing him to a friend. At least it would just be Trowa. Trowa was laid-back cool. Meeting Quatre was a part of the plan, but this was far too soon. Heero wanted a little more space. Would he like or dislike his choice in men? Heero frowned. None of that really mattered, did it? No, his friends weren't' yet the problem. As much as he wanted them both to eventually like his choice, he knew his stress was all due to impressing whatever-his-name was. Name. Yes, knowing his name would help. His words dried up on his tongue. His throat tightened, closing off what brilliant conversation he imagined he could come up with to charm the other man. Duo, happily, still had his voice. "Yep, this car is just as nice on the inside as it looks on the outside." "Thanks." Heero kept it just a notch above the basic grunt response his best friend had reproached him for so many times, falling into his comfort zone when he's in a new situation. He could do better. He must do better. "It was my reward to myself for surviving the move to Sanc." He splashed on a little smile to assure the other man he was joking, a little, in case the other man (find out his goddamned name, already!) really loved the city. "I so woulda done the same, if I'd had the means, I'll tell ya." Out of the corner of his eye, Heero watched him sink back into the soft leather and close his eyes. "Yes, real nice taste." What Heero could have done with that had he the nerve to run with innuendo! "Thanks." "You don't know my name, do you?" The other man grinned and opened one eye. "How could I? Your company doesn't give out any employee information." Oh. He hadn't meant to give away how he'd attempted to get that information. "Heh, heh... So you tried? Not much of a super-duper spy guy, are ya? Well, I know yours. Mr. Heero Yuy. Eh, don't worry. It's on the route listing. Duo Maxwell." D. M. Duo Maxwell. "I never would have guessed. 'Duo' is not a commonplace name." Heero re-ran that through his internal, semantic checker, wondering if what he'd said was flattering or decidedly insulting. He decided to embroider his comment with some clarification, reminding himself to try to win over Duo. "So it fits...um... you not being a commonplace person." Ugh, that was so weak, so weak. He could have become annoyed and opted out of the shopping trip and the invitation, but, instead, Duo laughed at him. "Ha, ha, ha! You don't do this often, do you?" Picking up near strangers? No. "Not often, no." In fact, the entire getting-to-know-you aspect at the start of a friendship was Heero's weak point. After a couple of heartbeats, Heero cast a look over at his passenger, who appeared pensive. Then he smiled and said, "'Sokay, me neither." "Hn." Heero smiled. "If we weren't nervous, it would be worse, ya know?" "It would?" Heero asked, wondering what Duo meant. "Oh yeah. Say, I was all chill and bored and all. It'd mean I wasn't interested enough to care if you were keen on me or not." "You're courageous to admit all that." "And you admire that, right?" Duo's smile grew then he laughed lightly and looked out the window. "Mostly, I talk when I'm nervous." "And I clam up." "Well, you know what they say about opposites attracting?" Heero hoped they have some common ground, too. He commented on the weather and listened to Duo's report on the road conditions, and then Heero turned on the music, low, jazz, from a DVD Relena once sent him. They rode in companionable silence the rest of the way. The hop to the coffee shop meeting place took a couple more minutes and then... Oh no. Not the whole gang! "Duo, I'm sorry-" Quatre was standing there with Trowa and Wufei both. Quatre's face lit with an inner fire Heero did not at all understand, but that gave his nervous stomach an extra squeeze. "Duo!" Quatre cried out. What? How Duo fit into Quatre Winner's world? Heero did not understand. "Quat?" Heero felt a punch to his arm and looked into Duo's upturned face. "Man, you didn't tell me we'd be shopping buddies with this dude!" "I'm just as surprised." Heero really was, too, in more ways than Duo could ever be. "I'm so sorry if I'm ruining your plans," Quatre said, although Heero thought his apology lacked the usual sincerity, and he was sure screwing with his plans was of the least of Quatre's concerns as he favored the taller man with his lash-softened, adoring gaze. "But when ," said with a cadence complete with sparkling embellishments, "called to say the two of you would be shopping, well, I knew my assistance would be required and Wufei was thrilled to join in, weren't you?" The silent Chinese man nodded as if he were under Quatre's command, which he probably was. "My wardrobe lacks...distinction." Heero shrugged. His plan to spring the handsome and mysterious stranger on Quatre was over. Mission pitiful. Now it was just a dreadful shopping trip with his friends- and Duo, who he hoped to impress. He couldn't just leave, as much as he wanted to at the moment. He shuddered to imagine the row he'd have with Quatre later. Trowa was eye-locked with Quatre, obviously thrilled by his unexpected appearance, and Wufei was oh, so obviously whipped, subservient to Quatre's whims and moods, was intent on following through. No, he figured he'd be out voted by the others if he suggested just splitting up or going home. But Duo... "I think I can use all the wardrobe help you can give, to be honest," Duo was answering politely. But, wait! "So, Q, how is it that you know each other?" Heero asked. "How is it that Duo and I know one another? Oh, it's been awhile, but we met when Duo set up my company's recycling objectives and the strategy to carry it out," Quatre said. "Yeah, when it comes to stashing the trash, I'm your man." But wasn't Duo just the pickup man? How could he be if he was meeting with top management? Heero wanted to hear more, but standing around outside with a small crowd maybe wasn't the best time and place to discuss things. And Trowa apparently agreed. "There's a place that serves breakfast close," he suggested. "I'm starving. I had to skip breakfast to get to 'Ro's place before he took off." Duo stared longingly towards the coffee shop. "We'll eat before we shop," Heero said and led the way with Trowa close enough to joggle his elbow. "So, you just met him?" Trowa asked. "Met him, yes. I had my eye on him for a while." "Looks mutual." "Hope so." It warmed Heero inside to imagine he'd attracted Duo. "I just learned his name. He already knew what business I was in." "He's hot." The husky edge to Trowa's voice made the comment sound sincere and caused a quake of jealously to radiate from Heero's center outwards. Heero's hands tightened into fists and he prepared to... to what? Punch the other man's lights out? Trowa wasn't at his side, though. He'd hung back to catch something Quatre was whispering into his ear, and, just like that, Trowa's attention was attached completely to the blond, Duo cast aside. Heero admired the man's excellent self-preservation skills and let out his breath as the rush of anger and anxiety faded. He hid a trembling hand, feeling stupid. Of course, he had always hoped that his best friend would stand up for what he wanted and not put up with a neglectful boyfriend. No, he'd have little competition to worry about from Trowa's direction. That poor guy would soon have his hands full keeping up with Quatre's demands. Duo's raucous laugh interrupted his thoughts. Whatever Wufei had said to him, it must have been amusing. He moved next to Duo so that they'd sit together at the expansive, corner window-table Wufei had already chosen. "Did I miss something important?" Heero asked. Wufei shook his head, "no". Quatre sat next to Heero and Trowa selected a chair next to Quatre. "Heero and I met in college. We saved each other from being the only ones not having a good time at an awful frat party." With a look to Duo- and not him, Heero noted- Quatre asked, "So how did you accomplish meeting him?" Heero's stare hardened. It sounded as if Quatre knew too much, especially about things that involved him and more especially about things that involved him that he didn't know about first, and should have. Like Duo being interested in him. He didn't like the deviously cunning Quatre R. Winner interfering in his personal business. That was for him to do to Quatre. "It wasn't easy," Duo answered, cutting into Heero's sequence of thoughts like a knife through the soft tofu Heero had purchased for his dinner. "For awhile there, I was thinkin' I'd haveta strip down to a g-string to get him to notice me." Trowa smiled slyly. "Camo works best. With a matching tank." Heero watched the color drain from Quatre's face and mused at how quickly a flush replaced it. Interesting reaction. He decided maybe this could be fun. "Oh yeah?" Duo's low voice was just throaty enough to grab and hold Heero's attention. "Maybe I'll look for something like that while we're shopping. Whadda ya think, 'Ro? Think I can rock the military look?" "Yes." If he hadn't the iron-will of a trained soldier-armed-service uniforms being on his mind at the moment- Heero was sure he'd be all over the man, even in public. He adjusted himself with discretion, covering a flush of heat with a drink of ice water, and watched Duo out of the corner of his eye. Duo looked Trowa over very carefully, and then shrugged and stared until he'd caught Heero's full attention. "I may not be as cut as him, but I'm not skinny- I'm streamlined." "You could feed him a few of those Valentine sweets you bought," Quatre said, covering a smile with his menu. "Valentine candy?" Wufei said like a curse. "Those nasty, sticky-sweet hearts are the vilest substances to ever be branded with the term 'candy.'" "You have clearly never tried an Almond Joy bar," Duo said, his eyes glittering with humor. Trowa snorted. "One of the vilest substances to ever be branded with the term 'joy'." "Now available in 'fun size.'" Duo indicated something about five inches long that grew to closer to nine. Heero actually liked Almond Joy candy bars-with an indulgent, dark-chocolate coating a chewy sweet coconut center, and whole almonds- but this cracked him up. Everyone laughed, even the rather dour Wufei. Tofu stir-fry and candy bars. Heero felt hungry and he'd had a bowl of cereal an hour ago. A tasteless bran mix with beige-tasting soy milk. Blah, like his life. Not anymore! Duo would liven it up, he felt sure of that- a gutsy guy who could sit with a bunch of strangers chatting away as comfortably as he could with friends was just what Heero needed and wanted. They placed their orders and sipped drinks while waiting for the food to arrive. He felt a knee nudging his under the table. Duo was smiling at him a little so he smiled back. It was an awkward way to start a romance, but safe with so many others around to carry off a conversation. Feeling Quatre's eyes on him, Heero looked up to meet them straight on. "What?" "I know I recommended to you a couple of men's clothiers-" "Yes and I picked the closest," Heero interrupted. "Which was very practical of you, but it is not the best choice, under the circumstances." Heero didn't like his judgment questioned in so idle a manner by his friend. He wasn't a frivolous man. "What circumstances?" "I'll be shopping with you!" Quatre smiled and launched into a description of a wedding he'd been to and the clothing worn and the latest styles. It all bored Heero to near death. When Quatre referred to him wearing a "killer ensemble", Heero imagined something bristling with weaponry like porcupine quills, but metal. He was saved from the need to comment by the arrival of the food; he suspected several other lives had been spared as well that morning, if he was any judge of his fellow table mates. They quickly dispatched the food in front of them and Quatre signaled for the bill. "If there's nothing else I can bring you? Coffee? Dessert? Me?" The waitress giggled, but her joke flopped like a beached whale. "No? Okay, well, thank you." The waitress left them the check and trotted to her next table. Heero and Quatre looked up at exactly the same instant with the intention of saying the same thing. Heero held back with a swallowed smile, letting his friend carry on. "Why don't you get started while I settle the bill this time? You know the shop I mean, don't you Heero?" "Yes. The name is here on my phone, having just been sent to me." Quatre winked cutely. Trowa tarried at the door and Heero let him wait for Quatre, knowing they'd be right along. Duo and Wufei were arguing over the temperature outside. "I like it cold. I mean, when it's hot it sucks to work a long shift." Okay. Heero licked his lips hanging on Duo's words a little too much. "Hot" and "sucks" triggered his imagination to no good end. They were both staring at him. Waiting. "Ultimo," he said, putting a name on their destination. "This way." "I haven't bought a suit in years," Duo confided. "I stopped growing long time ago, heh, heh." "I thought to rent a tuxedo," Wufei reported in his brusque way. "But Mr. Winner informed me I'd need one for many corporate occasions and that I should save myself the trouble later and just buy one." Heero couldn't think of any upcoming occasions, other than this one, where formal attire would be required of him. Still... "If you must wear one more than once I guess it's more economical to just break down and buy one." "I'll wear it for this, get married in it and then buried in it, I suppose." Wufei smiled at his own wit. "Married? No way!" Duo gestured all over the place as if to rid himself of the suit, marriage vows, and all occasions. "When I get married," he settled down and smiled dreamily, "I'll be dressed in gold and walk through shimmering water in the candle light. Rain would be cool, too. And there will be lots of food afterwards!" Heero could envision that, actually. If the water were warm and clean and his pant legs secured high and dry-His breath hitched. He'd placed himself dead center in Duo's fantasy without a second's hesitation. No reservations. A dream within his heart. He hardly knew this man and he could picture himself marrying him! That was jumping ahead recklessly, even if it was just in his head! He felt light-headed enough to place a hand over his wrist and check his pulse rate. Too fast. Possibly he'd consumed too much salt, or caffeine? "Not traditional. No woman would accept your terms." Wufei straightened his shoulders. "From my experience, they count on gowns, cake cutting, and... something blue." "I got blue eyes. Say, you're married?" Duo asked, not bothering to mask his surprise. "No, not now. Not really. It was ..." he paused, looking pained to have to explain something so personal, "... an arranged affair, but she died before-" He waved away the rest of the sentence. "Well, that was years ago. It would have ended badly under any conditions, considering." Considering he was a gay man, or had he been wrong about that, Heero wondered? "Hey, sorry, man-" Duo tried to say, but Wufei turned away and walked faster. "We should cross the street here," Heero pointed out and they did. No one looked more relieved than Wufei by the change of subject; he shirked his melancholy with stiff back and upturned nose. We'd just stepped into the shop, decorated in subdued greys and cream tones, when a man appeared, a specter grinning with anticipation. "May I help you?" "Unlikely," Wufei said, intending, Heero assumed, to put him off. "Just point us at the formal wear," Duo said. "We can do the rest." "Good luck with that." Heero didn't think anyone would be pointing them in any direction to hunt for clothes without assistance. Quatre and Trowa made a noisy entrance. Heero's best friend greeting the staff by name and fluttering in his direction, uttering assurances and instructions simultaneously. "Nothing to worry about... the Barrett's tuxedo line to start, in blue and grey-" "And black!" Duo added. "I think black on black for me, huh?" Or stripped naked on my bed, Heero thought, with a hard swallow that stopped him from uttering that aloud. Duo had been asking him how he'd look, and there he was with his mind was sliding down another path entirely. "Ah-" Heero muttered. But before completely giving up trying to be sensible, he pulled out an agreeable nod, tagged on a non-committal shrug, and mumbled something incomprehensible about lots of choices. He heard a chuckle at his back. "Hitting the junk food hard lately?" Trowa asked with a sly smile. "I eat out frequently, but what's that got to do with anything?" Heero prickled as his defenses rose. "Could be a case of brain rot." Trowa stared him down. Heero looked blankly back and watched Trowa's smile show a little tooth. "You are what you eat... out." Before Heero had the word play worked out to see that it could be a twisted sort of joke, Quatre appeared. "Oh, Trowa, you are so droll." Quatre trilled and snatched him up with an arm around his waist and linked his other arm through Heero's. Droll? Heero was certain he'd never heard his best friend say something as stupid as that before. "Be nice," my uncharacteristically dumb-blonde friend continued on, "Heero's got his special new friend here." God. And Duo was standing right there! Heero felt the blush rise to his cheeks. He was burning up where he stood. Special friend! He only wished! He turned and strode away, bursting with the determination to press on, get into a dressing room be seen no more. The trying on of clothing occurred in a grey blur interspersed with moments of brilliance for Heero, like when Duo called him to his dressing room for help with tie selection. Heero had already made his choices, letting Quatre pick the final blue tie color, figuring it was enough meddling in his business to keep him out of his hair and let Heero focus on Duo, alone a little. He looked forward to being of service to Duo and was flattered when asked. "I wanted all black, but Quat claims it's not a funeral so I gotta add color and he says this is it. Whaddya think? Too girly?" The lavender was, to Heero's mind, too feminine on him with his delicate coloring, the wisps of brown hair framing his face, and especially the few near his deliciously parted lips. "Um... try the darker shade." Heero picked up the deeper purple tie. "Yeah, that's what I think. Gimme a moment. Geez, glad I don't haveta wear this getup every day." "Me, too." Heero smiled, although he couldn't take his eyes off the exposed slip of throat as the lavender tie went off, noticing that he hadn't bothered to button the shirt all the way. "I can do that for you." "Thanks!" Heero touched the rough jawline, not by mistake, as he secured the new tie in place. He couldn't help himself. He wanted to touch and kiss and fondle. His mind raced with possibilities. "Maybe later, eh?" Duo was asking him. "Yes." Yes, to anything! Absolutely anything. "Just to come clean and be fair, I read everything you put up." Heero froze in place, speculating about what Duo meant. "Put... up? What do you mean?" "On Facebook?" "Oh," Heero said, relieved that it was that simple. Duo knew about him from Facebook. But knew what exactly? Why would he mention it? The questions tumbled one over the other, causing a brain delay when he couldn't come up with suitable answers. And then Heero wondered what was up on his site. He felt stupid for being so clueless, but he felt the need to disassociate himself from anything incriminating that Duo might have seen. "I didn't post anything, actually. Quatre did it for me. I didn't feel comfortable with even my picture being out there for the universe to see." "But your buddy knew you needed it for your business. He was right, you know. Don't worry. There's nothing racy or anything, heh, heh. It's all very professional sounding. Hardly notice the tiny Gay-Pride icon in the corner unless you're looking for it." His eyes twinkled and Heero noticed that the tie was a near-perfect match. "Just kidding." Duo looked uncomfortable, twiddling with his shirt buttons. Heero realized that he must have been scowling at him. He ran a hand through his hair nervously while trying to combat his tendency to look more severe than he intended. He smiled as best as he could. "I know. Q, that is, Quatre wouldn't have been that obvious," Heero said. "Q? That's a cute nickname. Fits him." Duo returned to his apologetic explanation. "Anyway, no rainbows or anything," he paused and smirked, "except without some macho sports references or drinking yourself sick with the boys or a host of dirty women jokes, it kinda gave off a 'gay' aura." Heero "harrumphed" because he was unable to defend the site or its aura. He was feeling a little exposed and struggled with the unfairness of that. He felt the need to appear tough, and so he combated with a little known fact about himself. "I target shoot." "With guns? Cool. I've never gone to a range or anything, but I can hit a rat at 50 yards, heh, heh... ah, yeah... So, you think this one will do?" Duo dangled the darker, purple tie and cummerbund combination in the air. "Yes." Heero became increasing aware of being in a dressing room, a large one, but just a dressing room with the best looking man he'd ever laid eyes on; at least, to his mind. "Listen," Duo said with a sigh, "I came here from L2, for what it's worth, with a bunch of space recyclers, the Sweepers. I was just a kid, got in a fight at a bar over the braid and a misunderstanding, neglected to make the ship launch, and there I was. Stuck in Sanc without the dough for a ticket out." "They left you in Sanc, alone? With no money? That's cruel." "Pretty harsh, yeah. But, there were strict rules when I signed on and I mighta had more money if I'd saved it and then I did miss the deadline. Nothing personal. I'm fairly versatile and adaptable. I got a job fast and liked Earth so I stayed put, figuring there was nothing on L2 to hurry back to. It's been like five years and all." Heero thought he looked proud of his achievement and thought he should be. "I'm impressed." Duo stripped off his shirt. Heero didn't even attempt to look elsewhere and seem disinterested. His jaw dropped. There was the tattoo decorating the pale skin stretched over lean muscle, the faint tan on his face and arms not reaching his chest, a hint of pure male scent, enough to drive his libido into an alternate universe. "Well, I'm glad you stayed," Heero said, pleased to have repressed the croak his voice. "Yeah." Duo grinned at him. "So, what are you wearing? For the party?" Party. Yeah. "Same as yours, but in a dark blue." "I don't getta preview? No?" "I took Q's advice and picked his top choice." Heero shook his head. "All stowed away already." Duo looked disappointed, Heero thought, but only briefly and certainly not deeply, because in the next heartbeat he smiled. "Guess I'll have to wait till the big event. We done here, then?" "We are. Even if the others aren't, we can move on. You have a route to finish." "A route? Oh, yeah, that. Won't take long at all." Heero was tempted to grab the braid as it swung around just to feel it. Duo tucked it behind his back and busied himself with the clothes. Heero replayed what Duo had said, wondered if there was a hint in there that he'd like to see more of him today, and then opted for "yes". "We could do something after that, if you'd like? Get to know more about one another?" Heero asked, feeling brave. Oh, so brave. "Okay. Sure. That would be cool, yeah." Cool. Very cool. They didn't linger in the changing room any longer. Wufei, as it turned out, had taken the longest time to make his decision; fighting the "red" choices until Quatre threatened him with the possibility of being abandoned to Andre's devices (he was an extraordinarily eager, young sales man with resolve and patience sure to outlast that of the Chinese man). "All right. This one is the least vile." "The Cranberry collection! Excellent choice!" Wufei seemed to cringe under the fruity onslaught. Duo handed over his pile of clothes for packaging. There was a little money argument but Heero won and Quatre won and that was that. Heero might have wondered at that capitulation on Duo's part, but he was relieved not to have a knock-down, drag-out fight right there in the elegant clothing store. Besides, Quatre had his argument so well-rehearsed, so substantial, and convincing. As he had said, "There were plenty of other expenses the others could cover! You are doing us a favor letting us get off this lightly!" Quatre wound an arm through Heero's and pulled him close, letting Duo and Trowa move ahead to the door, following Wufei. "So, I like him a lot. Do you?" Duo? God, yes. "Yes." "Well, it looks as if he's had a bit of a crush on you. He told Trowa he'd looked you up." Facebook-again! "Yes, he told me." "Don't thank me for that!" "I won't," he said straight-faced. Quatre scrunched his mouth up into a little pout and his brows down into a frown. "So, you and Trowa then?" Heero asked, not really thinking it was necessary for what he'd seen of their interactions. It was as if the clouds passed and the sun shined brightly- Quatre's face glowed. "It's amazing." "Q, just take it slow, okay?" Heero advised. He knew it had been a stupid thing to say, but he felt it ought to be said. "Oh, no. You introduced us. He's quality and I can tell. If I have sex with him it will be on your head!" Quatre said, laughing. Heero knew he was laughing at his expression. What an awful image! And so ended the shopping experience.
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