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"Here's to Us"Written By: Presser Pairings : 1x2 Disclaimer : Gundam Wing characters aren't mine Rating : PG-13 except for part 12 which is NC-17 Warnings : AU, some sap, some fluff, some angst. Spoilers: None Feedback : Yes please!
"Here's to Us" ~ 11 ~ There was snow on the ground as they drove to Torino's Monday night, the first snow of the season. Miniscule flakes that evaporated on touch drifted down through chilled air to cover everything with a light dusting. Duo had the low beams on and was driving not too fast, keeping an eye out for others as he and Heero made their way to the Italian restaurant they had gone to for their first dinner. "You're quiet." Heero turned his head toward Duo as he spoke. Duo sighed. "The snow inspires that, don't you think? It's as though everything knows that it's time to rest when the snow starts to fall." "Looks like the powdered sugar you sprinkle on your chocolate cake." Duo laughed softly. "I guess it does." A friendly silence. "Duo, do you ever think about the future?" "What do you mean?" "I mean your career. Do you want to do what you're doing now until you retire?" "Never thought about it, I guess. I've always taken one day at a time, pretty much, and lately the days have been good ones. I suppose that something might change one day, but I'm content to stay where I am for a while." Duo waited three heartbeats before adding, "You?" "Oh, what I'm doing is good for now. It's easy work for me, and I set my own hours. But I wonder if there's more I could be doing." "Like what?" "Well..." "Go on. You asked me, now I'm asking you." "You might laugh." "Try me. I might not." "I've always...well...erm...programming. I've learned a lot of programming languages." Heero felt his face go hot. He was grateful that the darkening sky made it harder for Duo to see him blushing. "O-kay," Duo said, drawing the last part of the word out. "So what? You wanna write software?" "Well, not just any software." "C'mon, Heero. I'm not gonna laugh at you. Just tell me." "I've always fantasized about being able to write RPGs." "RPGs?" "Role Playing Games. The action-adventure kind." "Nothing wrong with that. There's a lot of money in it, I guess." "Tons!" said Heero, brightening. "It's not a lot different from my day job, so to speak. Breaking and entering electronically. I've got an idea for a game that is totally different from anything on the market right now. It combines the worlds of high finance -" "From your work with bank security -" "And kendo." "Kendo?! Interesting combination." "Right now I have the basic premise together, and
am outlining the mechanics of the universe the game is set in. My
working title is "Kickbox Spy.... That could work," Duo said, cocking his head to one side. Hey, I don't know much about gaming, haven't played any video games since I was in school, but if it's something you want to do, I say go for it." "You don't think it's silly?" "Why would I? It's a respectable line of work. Like I said, I bet it pays well." Heero let out the breath he had been holding without realizing it. "If you can get anyone to notice you. There are too many wanna-be's in the marketplace, and they all have the next great game under their arm. Hey, that's Torino's up ahead, isn't it?" "You bet. And I'm starving." Duo pulled into
the lot in front of the restaurant and put the car in park, then shut
off the engine. As he He - he's so close. His breath on my cheek - it's so warm. I can feel him. It's like a warm oven mitt on a cold afternoon. Heero stared at the side of Duo's face. He's right there, not even an inch away. His scent -
it's like apples and cinnamon. Those wisps of hair around his ears
- so soft. I want to touch Duo broke the moment by pulling on the sleeve of his coat. "Whoa, Heero! Almost got me there." As he straightened up, dragging his coat into the front seat, his hand gently grazed Heero's jaw line. Heero caught Duo's hand and held it for just a moment. Their eyes met. God, what am I doing? I'm holding his hand. I took it, just took it. I didn't even think about it. What must he be thinking of me? "Um, Heero?" Heero instantly let go of Duo's hand. "Sorry, sorry, I'm - s-sorry D-Duo..." "Hey, it's okay, Heero. I sorta -" Bright lights flooded the car as another car's high beams reflected off of the rearview mirror. "Wow! That was bright." Duo drew a breath. "Let's get inside where it's warm." * * * Duo looked down at the remains of Torino's famous spinach salad. Bits of roasted peppers, artichoke hearts, portabellas, and pine nuts rested at the edges of his plate. He picked up his glass of wine and looked at Heero. "I don't know about you, but I'm stuffed to the gills." "Yeah," Heero said, leaning back in his chair. His chicken Alfredo affair was mostly gone, replaced by a sedate look of satisfaction on his face. "That was nice." "You interested in an espresso at my place?" "Sounds lovely. Or maybe some tea. But -" Heero looked away, not wanting to meet Duo's eyes. "Heero?" "A-about what h-h-happened in th'car, Duo, I -" "Heero." Something about Duo's tone made Heero look up sharply. "I've been thinking about that ever since it happened." "I understand, Duo. I w-wanted to ap-ologize for it." "Heero. Hush." Duo held up his hand. He stared straight into Heero's eyes. Heero broke eye contact and drew breath to say something when Duo spoke. "I've never been one to hold back, so I guess I won't now. Heero, I'm glad you did that." Heero looked back at Duo. He leaned his head to the left a bit, puzzled by what he heard. "You-you're gl-glad?" "Yeah," Duo said, letting out his breath. "I am. I've felt something special for you since the moment you walked into my shop that first time, when you bought a couple of candles. I'm grateful for your friendship, Heero, and I'd never do anything to betray it. But I've wondered if there could be something more than just friendship between us. I guess I'm taking a big risk here. I mean, I could be blowing you - us - out of the water by admitting this to you, but -" Duo stopped in mid-sentence, his mouth open, when Heero put his hand over Duo's and squeezed. "You're not blowing me out of the water. Blowing my mind, maybe, but in a good way." He squeezed Duo's hand again. Duo closed his mouth. A grin uncurled from one corner of his lips, ending by taking up his entire face. "Check?" Duo looked up into the face of a tired waiter who had managed a smile for his late night customers. "Definitely." TBC |
