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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 8 Neither Trowa or Wufei had been in that part of town and wanted to get out and look when Heero parked beside the now-familiar SUV. "Later, maybe, but we're running a little late," Heero told them. Wufei, who saw eye-to-eye with him concerning punctuality, agreed without argument. Heero was out the door and out of sight before Trowa has his door open. He knocked once, lightly. "Hello." "Hey, good looking. What's this?" Duo asked when Heero shoved a small box into his hands. Heero had expected Duo to look first-rate, but in his tuxedo and neatly plaited braid, he looked amazing. "A boutonniere," Heero said. "Men wear these at these grand functions. I'll put yours on you." While he pinned the white rosebud to Duo's lapel, he felt the heat of his body up close. "I suit you okay?" Duo asked, striking a pose. "Yes." Heero leaned very close, nearly overpowered by the heady scent of his cologne and that indefinable something he'd come to think of as Duoness, and might have melted into an adoring puddle at his feet right where they stood, but then he'd never get to the party, get through it, and get home alone with Duo and discover what lying with a naked Duo in his bed in his bedroom would be like. "But you know that, so quit teasing me and move. Wufei and Trowa are already waiting in the car." He put a hand under Duo's elbow and shepherded him out. The boys exchanged funny salutes as he opened the car door and seated Duo with a courtly flourish. "Oh boy!" Duo laughed, but Heero didn't hear him complain about the careful treatment. "Hi, guys. Ready for the big To-do?" "With baited breath," Trowa said. "Past ready hours ago," Wufei clipped off through clenched teeth. Heero felt better knowing he wasn't the only apprehensive one. It was just a party. At the palace. Although, having a boyfriend made it feel less odious. He felt a warmth on his leg and looked down at Duo's hand resting there. For the rest of the drive, Heero thought about nothing else until the palace gates rose out of the mist. "It's all lit up! How much do ya think that costs us taxpayers?" "Look at all the cars! Wouldn't you love to haveta be a cop directing traffic for the rich folks rather than taking your own sweetie out for a good time?" "Is that all press out there?" "They got valet parking," Duo continued with his commentary. "Which answers one of my questions: what do they do with all the cars folks come in?" "How many more questions have we to listen to?" Wufei asked. "None." Heero shook his head and tried to let the men sort out their own differences. He insisted that the parking attendant stow his car in an easy-access location. Heero wanted his exit planned out in advance in case things soured. He'd set his expectations pretty low for the party, and if Duo gave him any hint of wanting to leave, he'd be right on it. He handed the uniformed man a few bills and his keys. "No scratches," he warned as the stranger climbed in his car. "The palace rents downtown parking garages for all their large events," Wufei said. "One of the Winner company garages is in use tonight, which is how I know." "Oh," Duo said. "Okay, that's interesting information. Thanks. So, how do we get in?" Heero stood shoulder to shoulder with Duo, Wufei, and Trowa, looking up the slate walk to the wide open doors of the palace. Unaccustomed as they all were to grand entrances, they were awed, but Heero watched another couple enter and followed their example. Heero offered Duo an arm. "This way." "You're sure these invitations are legit?" Duo whispered. Heero handed their invitations to the doorman, who was checking a list. "Yes. Quatre handed them to me." The doorman straightened and stepped to the side, letting them pass. "Very good, sirs. There is a coat check to your left. Enjoy your evening." Heero covered a nervous twitch with a smile and took the first step forward, so very glad he had Duo with him to share the moment. Surely, he had entered another universe, another time and place. Back when magnificent ballrooms were the rage. Hundreds of elegant strangers floated on the dance floor, the dark wood buffed to gleam and reflect their movement. More walked arm-in-arm past gilt antique furniture, lushly painted pictures of long past pastorals and still-life floral arrangements frozen in time, passing by these miracles very slowly, taking in the full incomprehensible contrast with the modern world. Spinning, shimmering lights twinkled off of crystals, not electrical, all candlelit, flickering from the eddies and vortexes of the swirling dancers. Glitter-encrusted heart-shapes in white, pink, and red sparkled wherever Heero looked. "Oh fuuuu ..." Duo stopped his swearing and grinned. His eyes lit on the distant banquet table. "Oh, for the love of-". His hands rubbed together as his eyes devoured, figuratively, mountains of delicious delicacies. "There are times when the f-word fits the occasion like poetry." Trowa laughed aloud in his style, silently and without smiling. "Oh yeah. But I think the food comes after some speechification." "Speeches? Really?" Duo pursed his lips. "Say it ain't so, 'Ro?" Heero found it hard to deny anything to Duo when he begged in that plaintive tone, but he knew a few rules of etiquette and formalities that Quatre would hold him to and shouldn't be broken. "I timed it so we would miss the opening remarks. You can thank me later. Now, I'll go find our host," Heero said. "Wait here where I can find you." Duo waved as Heero disappeared into the throng of well-dressed party-goers. "Damn, he was right. Everyone's got a flower." Duo fidgeted with his braid. Trowa yanked the rope of hair out of his hand and smoothed in down his back. "Peace." "He's been gone a long time," Duo said. "He'll return," Trowa assured him. "I'm nervous as shit that I'll move and break something," Duo chuckled. "Getting through this is gonna be one rough toke, dude." "Just keep your head in the party zone and smile." "Oh, like the 'Fei-man over there, heh, heh? He looks as if he me might get neck strain from his looking around. " "Give it up," Trowa told him. "Wufei, you won't find who you're looking for in that mass of humanity." "Quatre promised me some introductions, and I'm holding him to it. I didn't come here to stand and watch." "I'm satisfied." Trowa said. He leaned against a wall, making himself comfortable. Duo moved his feet, turned, and repeated this until he bumped Wufei's arm. "Be still!" "I'm learning that dance." "Waltz," Trowa supplied and started to count beats. "One, two, three, one, two, three." "Why do you want to learn that?" Wufei asked. "To join in." Duo looked from one man to the other. "So, can we dance together, or what-? Do not tell me we can't! I'm pretty sure Heero mentioned it." Trowa shrugged. "Wish I knew. This is a first for me." "I haven't seen any gay couples on the floor," Wufei said, sounding glum. "We'll have to be satisfied with watching the others dance and all the other things." "Eating, drinking, and being merry?" Trowa said. He didn't look particularly merry saying this. "Good times to be had." Duo chuckled. "Damn, if I could get close to the food, I would eat a plate-full like a motherfucking BOSS! Anyway, I get where you're coming from. Hey! There! Looks like Heero found some friends. Huzzah! What's he see in me with hotties like that for buds?" Trowa nudged him. "He'll tell you, if you ask, I'll bet you." "Who's the blond-?" "Quatre Winner, the man Heero calls 'Q'. You recognize him with his hair combed, don't you?" Trowa asked, accompanied by a smirk. "Well, duh, sure, but the tall blond-" Wufei gasped. "It's HIM." Duo nodded excitedly. "Holy Fuck! That's the prince dude!" Trowa nodded mutely. Heero returned in Quatre's wake and was nearly bowled over as the dapper host ran the final few feet and grabbed both Trowa's hands in his. "You all look fabulous!" Quatre gushed. "I'm so glad you finally made it!" "Heero gave us the ride over." Trowa dipped his head to acknowledge the driver. "He's very reliable." Heero stood in the shadow of the prince and acted as if he didn't know what to do with his hands, so he ended up folding them across his chest. He and Duo passed a smile back and forth until it stuck to Duo, leaving Heero with his glower. "Security in numbers, more like it," Quatre said cheerfully. Duo found that very funny and laughed. "Looks like you're having an awesome time, Quat, and I kinda am minus the shitty lack of attention." He bumped Heero's shoulder with his. "Hn." Heero wanted to explain that the presence of Zechs Merquise was disturbing him, but the man was breathing over his shoulder. The other Asian man snorted and narrowed his eyes. "Temper your language, Maxwell." The extremely tall, man with waist-length, blond hair cleared his throat. "Quatre, you didn't warn me your new friends were so interesting." His eyes skimmed over the group. Heero's skin crawled as the steely grey-blue eyes lingered over his face. He held the gaze for a moment, a flash of recognition passed between them, but nothing else, and then the visual scrutiny moved on. Nothing said. Yet. He had prepared a few choice comments to save face, should the man choose to recall their sordid little past. "Oh! Let me introduce you all." Quatre released one of Trowa's hands and gestured to him first. "Trowa Barton, Duo Maxwell, and Chang Wufei, may I introduce the Prince of-" Zechs interrupted in a voice as smooth as cream, "-so formal." Heero straightened his shoulders, his eyes darkened, slitted with suspicion. Since Quatre made his claim on Trowa clear by continuing to hold his hand, Heero turned, angling himself to shelter Duo. Zechs was not going to touch Duo, if Heero had his way. Or even look at him. The prince smiled, but not at him. His attention was reserved for the young Chinese man. "I'm Zechs." "Chang Wufei, scion of the L5 Long clan." Wufei said, demonstrating that he could be haughty with the best of them. Zechs' eyebrows rose, disappearing into his bangs. "A purebred of high caste is so rare in Sanc. These days we are practically choking in mongrel Eurasians." The barb aimed at Heero hit its target. Heero's fists tightened and back aligned ruler-straight, ready for a fight, but Duo was there easing the sting. "I didn't know they were checking papers at the door, 'cause my pedigree is pretty much one hundred percent cur, mutt and hound dog." Trowa thought Duo was especially funny and snorted in a less than dainty manner, commenting, "The grandeur of his pathological aggrandizement stun-ith me." Having Duo there supporting him and not taking any guff from the prince, boosted Heero's self-confidence. He reached over and rubbed the back of Duo's hand with a finger. "Thanks," he mouthed. Duo rewarded him with a wink and smile. All was well. "Where's Miss Noin?" Quatre asked. Heero guessed he had his reasons for changing the subject that way and could only hope it would chase off Zechs. Zechs swept her and all womankind away with a gesture. Was he actually going to deny ever having dated any of the women he'd been rumored to, Heero wondered? "Miss Noin was a one-night stand, the others merely 'repeat offenders.'" His smile turned smarmy. All the maneuvering and questioning didn't scare him off. As it turned out, Zechs seemed more intent upon focusing all his considerable charm and attention on Wufei. "Before I receive further damage from my friends' direct hits, let press my interest-" Heero hoped Wufei could see the man's obvious shortcomings and resist his least intolerable charms. He even considered warning him about the lascivious prince, when a bell chimed. Over the squeal of the microphone feedback, Princess Relena announced, "Having given a speech which opened the festivities-" "Sad I missed that," Duo whispered to Heero. "-it is now Quatre Winner's turn to give his greeting." "Excuse me." Quatre smiled apologetically to Trowa as he untangled their intertwined arms. "Don't go anyplace, anyone. This is for you." "Me?" Heero didn't trust the twinkle in his friend's eye. He knew Quatre could do amazing things and astound his adversaries, but still was completely unprepared for what he might say. Quatre stepped to the microphone and smiled brightly over the room. "Good evening everyone. Rather than repeat what Miss Relena has said, I'd like to celebrate this momentous occasion with a story. I promise a short one!" This bit of good news was met with a round of clapping and "Good cheer to you!" remarks. When his audience quieted, Quatre continued. "Each year that I've held a party on Valentine's Day, it has held a special significance to me. I never explained why. What did it matter to anyone else? It was Valentine's Day- a day for lovers past, present and future. But this time is even more special because I have with me the loves of my life, past, present, and, hopefully, the future. Okay, now for the story like I promised." The crowd tittered and rumbled in good humor. "We were sitting at the edge of the dance floor, he and I. I'd noticed him for some time and felt his growing despair and boredom. We were the only ones not lagered or hooking up. I knew a kindred spirit when I felt one." He placed a hand over his heart and smiled. A trickling of chuckles rippled around the room. Many people were familiar with the typical college party and how disgusting they could be, looking back. Heero felt a wash of cold and shivered. His best friend was talking about him and in front of all these strangers! "I hadn't a lot of mates or amigos," Quatre looked directly at Duo, thanking him for the phrasing perhaps, "but particularly no best friend. I was fresh out of private school from an isolated colony and dreaded being found out to be such a dud at the mixer. But here I'd found someone else who felt just as isolated as me and he was very handsome and just a little dangerous looking." After pausing for dramatic effect, Quatre added, "I thought he was the most interesting person in the entire universe!" More laughter and a few whispered "I wonder who's?" erupted. A trickle of perspiration ran down Heero's back, multiplying his stress. He knew this story personally. It wasn't an incident he wanted to relive and he felt very exposed. Even though the entire room probably thought Quatre was introducing his new boyfriend, he knew better. "So, I introduced myself to this intriguing outsider and I knew I'd surprised him, which made me feel a little more confident. I suggested we go someplace quieter and he said yes!" "I think he and I formed a bond right there and then. And even though we knew nothing about one another, except that we shared common acquaintances with Miss Relena and her illustrious step-brother, I could tell I'd found an ally with a kind heart with whom I could share the hardships and challenges of college and beyond." "Without him and that friendship, I wouldn't have made it. No, really. I wouldn't have become so successful or been able to plant my feet so firmly or keep my focus on what was important. I wouldn't have been property prepared when he introduced me to the love of my life." Murmurs of surprise and wonder circled the room. Quatre had pulled a fast one and confused his audience, except for Heero. "Which brings me back to a St. Valentine's Day party several years ago, when he and I first hit it off. Heero Yuy, for my part, I would like to dedicate the next song to you, my best and dearest friend." The room exploded into glove-softened applause and a murmur of comment, while the band struck up a waltz. Zechs found his voice first, being the least affected by Quatre's sweet tribute. "Nothing like a little embroidery to liven up a tale, don't you agree Yuy?" When Heero didn't respond, the prince focused his attention on Wufei again. "It would give me great pleasure if you would dance with me," he murmured close to the dark-haired man's ear. Heero watched as Wufei's face flushed with excitement, an unusual burst of emotion from the proud man. He wanted to step in and stop what was happening. Wufei's spare figure straightened; his flaring nostrils suggested a sniff, always a sign of danger; and, as if to let the offer sink in, he hardened his voice. "I think not." "Pardon?" Zechs sounded thrown off his game. "I had been looking forward to meeting the Prince of Sanc, but on further observation," Wufei's voice level and controlled still held a chiseled edge of scorn, "I'm disappointed. Excuse me, I have already promised this dance with Mr. Sabib, a man of unblemished character." "Two silk worms in a race. They both ended up in a tie." Trowa smiled fractionally, conspicuously proud of his pun. Wufei drifted away to join a knot of black-haired men wearing the dark promise of violence, part of Quatre's security contingency there for "fun". Sabib distinguished himself by the way his eyes lit at the sight of the oncoming Chinese man. Zechs wheeled away, covering his embarrassment with a dry chuckle. If he commented, Heero didn't hear him, being too occupied with his own frustration fumbling for the right words to ask Duo to dance. He decided to just come out and ask him directly, opened his mouth, and felt a tug on his arm. "Yes?" he asked Duo. "You have my attention." Duo asked, "What do you wanna bet Zexy's gonna go poke some random people on Facebook?" "Idiot." Heero shook his head and smiled, then wondered what it was he had been about to say. Quatre reappeared beside Trowa. "Would you favor me with a dance?" Heero's eyes swiveled and met Duo's. Yes for the direct approach! He could barely force a smile, though, he was so nervous. Duo wasn't. "Hey, wanna dance?" he asked, offering a calloused hand. Heero took it and gripped too hard at first. "Yes." "Just don't expect award-winning performances from me, though. I'm pretty much the novice at dancing all formal and all. Now put me in a club with some rockin' music and it's a different story." Heero could imagine. He liked imagining Duo in all kinds of situations... positions... "We can do that next date." "Next-? Oh, yeah, great! That'll be great! I know just the place. But it's not a place to go for Valentine's, you know?" "Garish, loud, not romantic?" "Got it right! Now, let's have amazeballs fun and weird food, 'kay?" "All right." Heero smiled. He couldn't stop from smiling. "So, would waiting have helped you?" Delaying the sex, he meant. "Heh, heh," Duo hesitated answering. "The sensible, responsible thing would be for me to say absolutely yes." "But you don't lie." "But I don't lie," Duo echoed. "Yeah, so to be totally honest, abstinence wouldn't have been that big a help to get through this event, not like I'd figured. What I mean is this party's better than it has any right to be. Buuut-" Duo snuggled in close so his warm breath tickled Heero's ear. "I'm getting pretty hot thinking about you taking me home, me asking you in for 'nightcaps'," Duo leaned back so that his eyes dark with passion gazed into Heero's, "and then taking you to my room where we could light some candles, put on music, and move on to the best part, which would be me having my way with you-" "Ohh," Heero moaned. Desire burned a path from his heart to his loins. "That's your plan?" "Yeah, pretty special, huh?" "Worth the wait. Sounds... magical." Much has been made of the fact that elaborate festivities can be magical, so Heero didn't attribute his observation to his personal genius. He just passed along his reflection and smiled. "Enchanting, some might say," Duo remarked with an accompanying eye roll. Duo's expression showed, to Heero's mind, that he considered what he said to be just more bunk, along the lines of the same filler conversation as he'd shared. Heero felt proud to be fitting in so well. The next song began and when Duo recognized the introductory strains of "Some Enchanted Evening" he started to laugh. "Just noticed the shoes!" Warmth filled his heart with a sudden burning heat and with such intensity that Heero wanted to shout for joy. He settled on laughter, absolutely thrilled to feel truly happy at last. Forget the candy and the tips, this is love. This is what Valentine's Day should be about. Heero could erase the bad memories from his past Valentine's Days and replace them with this improved, refreshed celebration. Recycle his Valentine... with a recycler! "Heero, you all right?" Duo asked. "Yes!" He felt very, very all right at last. "Yes, I am better than all right now."
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