|
"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" ~ 4 ~ Duo was up to his elbows in unbleached flour when he heard the bell on the shop's front door sound. "Damn," he whispered under his breath. "No one comes in here at nine a.m.!" He sang out in his cheeriest voice: "Just a minute!" He quickly rinsed his hands under the faucet, grabbed a towel and dusted his arms off, then hurried from the kitchen. He was met by a very excited Rachel. "Rachel! What are you doing here?" "Why, Duo, I thought you were /always/ glad to see me!" "Uh, well, I /am,/ but, I mean isn't it a little..." Rachel saved him from further embarrassment. "Oh, silly. I know what you meant." "Okay, but..." "I just had to come by when I heard!" Duo crooked an eyebrow up a bit. "Heard?" "I understand you have a date coming up!" "Date? With who?" "Your Japanese friend." "What gives you that idea?" "Well, didn't you meet him last night? At your new martial arts class?" "Rachel," Duo said, feeling perplexed and irritated and trying not to show it, "who have you been talking to?" "Fiona. She's in one of my history courses, and we studied together last night after your class. She told me you made a date with your Japanese friend." "Ah." Duo pressed his lips together. "And just what makes you and Fiona think..." "Oh, she overheard your conversation with Heero," Rachel said, interrupting Duo. Her eyes were bright. "So, it's Heero now, is it?" Duo narrowed his eyes at Rachel, who thrust out her lower lip. "C'mon, Duo, it's not like you were having a secret meeting with him. You were in a public place." "And I was unaware of the presence of the spy you had planted in my class." "Spy?! Duo!" Rachel spread the fingertips of one hand across her upper chest and raised her eyebrows. "Don't give me that innocent act, Rach. You know too much about my class last night for me to believe otherwise." "But Duo -" "But nothing." Duo crossed his arms, the towel held in one hand. "Rachel, my private life is my own. And I intend to keep it that way. I'd really appreciate it if you'd honor that intention." Rachel's face fell. "I - I didn't mean any harm." "I know you didn't." Duo smiled slightly. "But you may recall that just the other night I told you that when I found the right man for me I'd make sure you got an introduction. All that happened last night was that I asked Heero to drop by the shop sometime. If I said the word 'date,' it was purely an _expression, a turn of phrase. Fiona should get better at eavesdropping before she starts filing reports for you to read." Rachel winced. "Don't worry, Rach; I'll mention it to her at class next Monday night." Rachel tried to object, but Duo pushed on, not giving her a chance. "And I'll be tender. Now you, my dear, surely must have something you need to do; I know /I/ do." He made a shooing motion with the fingers of both hands. "Come see me tomorrow night after your last lecture." Duo turned toward the kitchen. Rachel hesitated, then spoke up. "Oh, Duo?" He turned. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interfere." "Forget it; I already have." He smiled again. Rachel smiled, blushed, turned, left. Duo returned to his baking. TBC
|
