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" Head Tripped "Written By: Presser Pairings : 1+2, 2xOC, 3x4 strongly implied Disclaimer : Gundam Wing characters aren't mine Rating : NC 17 Warnings : Lemon, supernatural theme, angst, abuse,
NCS
"Head Tripped" ~ 1 ~ "Duo, wake up!" Heero Yuy grabbed his friend's shoulder and shook it. "Huh?" Duo Maxwell woke with a start. As he jerked upward at the waist, long hair the color of dark rum spilled over his shoulders and down his back. Heero moved his hand from Duo's shoulder to the top of his head. With rough fingers he parted Duo's hair, revealing an angel's face: smooth skin the color of fresh cream, long brown lashes framing deep amethyst eyes, a small upturned nose set over full cherry lips. "I said," Heero paused for emphasis, "wake up. I've never known you to miss breakfast before - that is, before yesterday." Heero smiled ever so slightly - a gift that he rarely bequeathed upon anyone, but one that he had grown fond of giving to Duo. "Breakfast?!" Duo flipped around in the bed, instantly tangling his legs in the thin sheet. Heero stepped back as hair and arms went flying. "Damnit Heero, I was dreaming!" Duo fought with the sheet. Heero was grateful for his friend's distraction. As Duo unwrapped the sheet from his legs, Heero admired the boy's lean torso, the broad planes of his back. When his legs were free, Duo swung them over the edge of the bed, revealing black drawstring briefs - his only garment. He stretched like a cat, easing the tension in his muscles. Heero tried to look away, but found it impossible. "What?" Duo said with a snarl, noticing Heero's stare. "You want to eat? Better hurry; Quat's already cleaning up dishes." "Damn!" Duo scurried to the door. "Hey, Quat! Save some for me!" A muffled laugh from the kitchen suggested that Quat wasn't doing dishes alone. "Don't worry about it. I'll go make sure there's food left for you." As Heero walked through the bedroom door, Duo put a hand on his shoulder, then quickly removed it. "Fine," Duo mumbled, feeling ungrateful. "Just get dressed, wouldja?" Duo's lips curled sarcastically, but Heero had already turned away. "Sure thing, buddy." As Heero moved down the staircase, Duo yelled after him, "I wouldn't want to look too tempting to anyone, now would I?" He watched until his fellow pilot was out of sight, then turned back to close the door and find some clothes. He rummaged in the duffle bag he kept beside his bed, finding some faded jeans and a turquoise tee, also faded and rumpled. The colors set off his golden-brown hair and violet eyes beautifully. He quickly twisted his hair into a messy braid that hung down to the middle of his thighs. A quick look in the mirror, fingers brushed through bangs, and he murmured "Have to do for now," and headed downstairs for the kitchen.
"No problem, Duo. Quat already had the bacon done, and it really doesn't take that long to scramble eggs." "Stop that!" Quatre said to Trowa, but the huge smile on his face belied his words. "Fei is already setting out the sentinels in the woods behind this safehouse," Heero said quietly, pouring himself a cup of coffee and sitting beside Duo. "Something I should be helping him with." He both admired Chang Wufei, the Chinese pilot most like him in temperament and discipline, and felt guilty for taking advantage of Wufei's eagerness to secure their surroundings in order to look after Duo. "We all should be helping him," Quatre said, pulling free from Trowa's arms and wiping his hands on a dish towel. "No doubt," Trowa said, one eye hidden by long, tawny hair that swept down past his chin. "But there really isn't much help we could give him; it's really a one-person job. Maybe," Quatre said, joining Heero and Duo at the table with his own cup of java. "But it's not right for us to let that duty fall to Wufei every time." Heero agreed with Quatre, but sat still, his face impassive. Showing no emotion was something drilled into him by his training. He wondered occasionally what he would be like if he was a normal boy, free to say how he felt. "Say, Duo," Trowa said, "this is the third morning this week you've slept in. What gives?" "Yeah, Duo, this is most unlike you," Quatre added. Heero agreed with this, too. He had noticed a change in Duo over the past few days. He was grumpy, sometimes even surly, and seemed to want to sleep all the time now. Heero was fond of Duo, maybe more than fond, but had yet to find a way to tell his friend and comrade how he felt about him. It wasn't that he worried about Duo discovering that he was gay; Heero knew that all five of the Gundam pilots were gay, and also knew each other's sexual orientation. He was confused by his feelings. He knew better than to let a natural attraction for another human to come between him and his mission, but there was more than just physical attraction here. Duo exuded something else, something ineffable, vague yet as real as his Gundam, something that Heero wanted. If only he could figure it out. "Mmrph?" Duo said through a slurp of his coffee. Setting the cup down, he noticed that three pairs of eyes were trained on him. "Hey, guys, what gives? So I slept in a couple of days. Can't a growing boy get his rest? Geez!" He snarled at Heero, who stared at him uncomprehendingly. Duo knew that his attitude had Heero worried, but he was out of sorts today; he knew why, but wasn't about to mention it to anyone. "But, Duo," Quatre said, "You've been getting plenty of rest. You're getting to bed the same time as I do, and I get a full eight hours, every night. But you're sleeping three or four hours longer in the morning than I am. Oh, stop it, Trowa!" His last comment was directed at the half-lidded smirk his lover was giving him. "Okay, I sometimes get...well...a little less than eight hours." Trowa tousled Quatre's beautiful blond hair as the smaller pilot blushed. "Let it go, wouldja? So I'm sleeping in; maybe I /like/ sleeping, and I'm grabbing all of it I can get while we're stuck here." Duo threw down his fork and sat back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, eyes glaring at the others. "How long do you think we'll be here, Heero?" Trowa looked to the pilot of Gundam Wing, Quatre's and Duo's eyes following Trowa's lead. "Could be three or four weeks. Oz's next move won't come quickly; that's what my latest intel says." Heero had grown accustomed to being in charge of strategy sessions, and the other Gundam pilots, all capable leaders in their own right, were glad for him to do it. "If what I've learned from hacking the Institute's mainframe is true, there aren't any troop movements scheduled for the rest of the month." "And this month's just started," Quatre said. "So, we'd better find a way to use our time wisely." "I agree," Trowa said, a sage look on his face morphing into a sly grin. Quatre turned to see what Trowa had in mind, and reacted to his lover's look. "Oh, no, you don't, Trowa Barton! It's still morning, and that's hardly an appropriate thing to -" "To what?" Trowa said innocently, batting his lashes at his lover. Quatre blushed again. "Yeah, to what?" Duo added, smirking at Quatre's discomfort. The small blond boy stood and backed away from the table. "Now, Trowa," Quatre said, "let's not make a scene. Duo's still finishing his breakfast!" "You said for us to use our time wisely," Trowa said, standing and moving toward Quatre. "I think a little physical...exercise is just what you need to keep your body...toned, don't you think, Duo?" Quatre darted from the kitchen, Trowa dashing after him. "Sheesh!" Duo said, the smirk still on his face. "You think those two are in love, or what?" His smile faded as he saw the look on Heero's face. The boy was pensive; he seemed not to have heard the interchange between Quatre and Trowa. "Heero? You okay?" "I'm fine, Duo. I'm going to check out Wing's camouflage net, make sure the wind last night didn't disturb it." "Wind? There was wind last night? I must have really been sound asleep," Duo shouted after Heero, watching him walk through the back door of the safehouse. Alone in the kitchen, Duo bussed his dishes, downing the last of his coffee before plopping the cup into the now cold dishwater in the sink. He stretched again, arms high over his head. "Actually," he said, looking around the room, pushing up his turquoise tee to rub his abs, "I wouldn't mind a little morning nap. Who knows when I'll have /that/ luxury again?" He sauntered out of the kitchen and up the stairs, headed back to his room.
Satisfied that his mobile suit was secure, Heero turned back to the safehouse. As he walked, he mulled over Duo's change in attitude. "He's never passed up sleep when he could get it, that's certain; but it's not like him to be..." Heero couldn't find the word he was looking for. "It's like he's hooked on it, or something." As Heero returned to the safehouse, he saw Chang Wufei coming out of the woods. "H'lo, Heero." "Thanks for setting out the sentinels, Wufei." "They are all placed and turned on. You should check your laptop to see if you're receiving a clear signal from each of them." "Right." The two boys walked into the safehouse together.
"Anyone here know where Duo is?" the Chinese pilot said loudly. "I need to tell him that Deathscythe is secure." "I saw him headed upstairs," Quatre said, popping up into a kneeling position, his face flushed from his romp through the house with his lover. "I think he was going to take a nap," Trowa said, wiping tears from his eyes. Heero's stomach jumped as he heard Trowa's words, but he continued moving smoothly toward the den, his gait not betraying his concern. "Oh, I'll tell him when he gets up, then." Wufei turned to go to the kitchen to see if there was any coffee left.
Just after falling asleep, Duo felt a soft touch to his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he saw a slim shape before him, silhouetted against soft blue light. The shape seemed to float over him as he lay on the bed. Duo felt warmth, caring, gentleness, comfort. The first night, the shape had simply floated above him, seeming to emanate rays of peace. Duo woke just as the shape reached out to touch his shoulder again. Duo had waked feeling good, but wanting more. He stretched, yawned, and curled back into warm sheets, hoping to recapture the dream. Falling back into a half sleep, Duo had wished for the shape to return. As he settled into a deeper state of relaxation, the shape appeared again. As before, Duo felt a gentle touch to his shoulder. Opening his eyes revealed the same shape as before, surrounded by a deep blue glow, floating above him. The feeling of warmth and peace enveloped Duo, and he smiled sleepily, closing his eyes. "Wait." The voice came softly, a deep baritone. Duo opened his eyes again, and realized that the shape was a boy, about his age. He couldn't see the boy's features, the blue light above him casting his face into deep shadows. A hand reached out, caressing Duo's shoulder. He shuddered with delight. And woke again. Frustrated now, Duo blinked twice. Looking out the window showed him that it was early yet, the sun not quite breaking across the horizon. Once again he attempted to recapture the delicious dream. Duo's sleep was deep and dreamless, and he woke late, feeling grumpy. He had not been kind to his fellow pilots that day, and they assumed that he had not gotten much sleep the night before. Little did they know that the reverse was true. Duo had slept too much, if anything, and was a bit cranky because he had lost the dream he had wanted to finish. That night, Duo turned in early, hoping to reconnect with the floating boy without a face. That night, the boy returned. As before, Duo opened his eyes in the dream in response to a soft touch to his shoulder. A young boy in shadows cast by diffuse blue light floated above him. Duo's eyes grew tired as nothing happened, but he was determined not to close them again, afraid of losing the warmth and caring he experienced in the boy's presence. The boy's hand reached out, touched his shoulder again. Duo felt a tingling there, traveling across his neck and down his spine. The boy's other hand reached out, coming near to Duo's other shoulder. "May I?" Again, the deep baritone voice. "Yes," Duo said. "Please." When the boy's other hand touched Duo's shoulder, another thrill danced across his neck. The boy pulled a little, and he floated down to rest against Duo's chest. Duo felt soft hair play across his neck, and the beating of - And he woke again. "Damnit!" he hissed under his breath. He glared out the window. A cloudless night, a partial moon, cold light and tree limbs and shadows. He sighed and turned onto his side, trying to relax. As the dream unfolded again, Duo found himself close to the boy, both hands on his shoulders, pulling himself to Duo's chest. In his dream, Duo was wearing only his black briefs, the drawstring loose at the waist. Somehow there were no sheets, not even a bed, just Duo laying underneath this boy, both of them surrounded by blue light. The boy nuzzled at Duo's neck. Duo felt warm breath against his collarbone. "This is good," the boy said. "Yes," Duo replied softly. "Hold me, Duo." It wasn't a question, but a statement. Almost a directive. Duo put his arms around the boy, feeling musculature under smooth skin, and - He woke up. This time, the sun was high in the sky. Duo had missed breakfast, and had not gladly received his comrades' teasing about his sleeping in two days in a row. That night he had gone to bed earlier yet, hoping to pick up where he had left off. He was not disappointed. The boy appeared as each time before, floating above Duo in a deep blue light, shadows across his face. The gentle baritone had called to him, pulled himself to Duo's chest, and Duo had wrapped his arms around him. They lay there in peace, the boy's breath soft against Duo's neck. This time, the boy raised his head and pressed his lips to Duo's. Tremors ran through Duo's chest, his heartbeat accelerating. "Come." The boy spoke few words, but each one carried great meaning for Duo. As the boy stood up, Duo felt a sense of loss disproportionate to the act. It was as if he was losing something quite important. The boy took his hand and Duo sat up and - Woke up. Again Duo felt a keen sense of frustration at the interruption. "What the hell is my subconscious trying to do to me?" he thought. It was still dark outside. Duo turned over on his stomach and buried his face in his pillow. The more he tried to relax, the harder it was for him to get to sleep. Finally exhausted, he fell into a light, dreamless sleep, tossing and turning, seeking, not finding. And then he was there again, in the dream. The boy stood, took Duo's hand in his, and repeated: "Come." Duo stood; the boy took a step, but Duo hesitated. "Can I see your face?" Still holding Duo's hand, the boy turned to look over his shoulder. The light glinted in his eyes, and Duo saw a flash of dark blue there. A smile? Duo wasn't sure. "Come," the deep voice said again. Duo stepped with the boy, and - "Duo, wake up!" Heero Yuy grabbed his friend's shoulder and shook it. "Huh?" Duo Maxwell woke with a start, jerking upward at the waist, his long hair spilling around him. Heero parted Duo's hair with rough fingers. "I said," Heero paused for emphasis, "wake up. I've never known you to miss breakfast before - that is, before yesterday." "Damnit Heero, I was dreaming!"
"Maybe if I can just finish the damn thing, it'll leave me alone. If only I didn't keep waking up!" Duo pulled off his turquoise tee leaving it on the bed beside him. He undid the snap on his faded jeans, but then thought better of shrugging out of them. He lay back on the bed, then turned to bury his face in his pillow again, hungry to find out where the boy wanted to take him.
"Where are we?" Duo seemed troubled, yet he trusted the boy whose face he longed to see. "Come." Duo let the boy take him to the center of the meadow, where a stone slab stood on rough hewn logs at waist height. "Lay down." Again, the boy's deep voice was not an invitation, but a directive. Duo lay down, the stone cold against his shoulder blades. As he did, he realized that he was naked. A shaft of moonlight struggled through dark clouds, pinning him to the stone slab. Beside him, the boy laughed softly. "You will like this." The boy mounted the stone slab, one knee on either side of Duo's waist. He, too was naked. He bent his lips to Duo's nipple... TBC
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