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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" ~ 5 ~ Wednesday night found The Emporium full of college students and mid-aged adults who wanted a sweet bite to eat after the final lecture on the Civil War. Duo was kept busy serving people, bussing tables, and ringing up guests until after 9:30. When he finally got a break he took up residence on a stool behind the counter. He loved the busyness of his shop on nights like this, something he called the "hum" of the place. He checked to make sure his cookies were well stocked in the display case and then turned to see if anyone still present wanted more coffee. And froze. Coming in the door was Heero Yuy, dressed in loafers, khakis, a black dress shirt with a white tee underneath, and a gray felt hat, a bit battered. He stood at the door, hat in hand, as though unsure about what to do after having gotten up the courage to cross the threshold. Duo shook himself and walked over to him. "Heero! Glad you could make it. Here, let me show you to a table." Duo walked him to the table near the window at the end of the display case. As Heero was seated, Duo asked him what he wanted. "Th-the oatmeal pie you m-mentioned sounds g-good." "Of course. You want coffee to go with that?" "Please." "Won't take but a moment." Duo put his hand on Heero's shoulder without thinking about it, but withdrew it quickly when Heero visibly stiffened at the touch. "I'll be right back with the goodies." Duo moved behind the counter to retrieve the pie and cut a generous slice for Heero. He put a small dollop of whipped cream on top of the pie and then poured coffee, then gathered a napkin, fork and spoon. He walked to Heero's table and placed the food before him. "You take cream with your coffee?" "Black." "Okay, let me know if you need anything." Duo turned around to check on other guests, then turned back around to face Heero. "Glad you're here, Heero." The young man was staring at Duo. He nodded. Duo sighed as he walked off. Hope I wasn't too pushy, he thought. He busied himself with the few remaining customers, then moved to the register to ring out a couple waiting to go. As he did, Jason and Rachel entered the shop. "I thought you said you couldn't even /drag/ Jason to one of your lectures, Rach." Duo smiled broadly as he spoke. "Oh, don't worry, Duo, she didn't. I agreed to meet her here afterwards for some of your oatmeal pie." "Sure, if there's any left." "We'll share a piece if we have to. It's my absolute favorite," Rachel said. The couple moved to a table and sat. Rachel swept the room with her eyes, taking in the guests in the shop. When she spied Heero in the corner near the window, she grabbed Jason's arm and whispered: "That has to be him, Jason!" "Who?" "You know! The Japanese man Duo's interested in." "Excuse me?" Duo was suddenly standing at the table holding two slices of oatmeal pie. "Oh, hi, Duo. I was just telling Jason -" "You were just telling Jason -" "That I had seen your friend -" "That you had seen my friend -" "Oh, stop it, Duo!" Rachel laughed. "Oh, stop it, Rachel!" Duo laughed as well. "It /is/ him, isn't it? Over there?" she whispered, nodding in Heero's direction. "That's Heero Yuy, if you must know," Duo said, lowering his voice. "But I wish you wouldn't make him feel uncomfortable by talking about him. He's a bit on the shy side." "Well, maybe all you need to do is -" "Rachel," Jason said, his voice level, his eyes all business, "Duo doesn't need your help, now does he?" "Thank you, Jason." Duo half-smiled at Rachel's husband. "We do what we can," Jason said, sighing. "Oh, come on! I'm just -" "Trying to help," Jason and Duo said in unison. "Well, I am!" "You folks want coffee with that pie?" "Yes, please; that'd be nice, Duo." Jason squeezed Rachel's hand as he spoke. "Be right back." Duo turned and left. "Leave the poor man alone, will ya?" Jason lowered his voice, but the intensity in it was clear. "What is it, exactly, that I'm doing that's so bad, Jason?" "Sometimes you go a little...overboard in your enthusiasm, that's all." Rachel scrunched up her nose and cocked her head to one side. "You really think so?" "Fresh coffee, hot and black." Duo set steaming cups of the pungent liquid before the two. "Aren't you gonna go and talk to him, Duo?" "Maybe. If I can count on you to sit still and leave us alone." "I promise." "I'll watch her, Duo. You do what you think is best, and leave Rachel to me." "Thanks again, Jason." Duo smiled at the young man as Rachel shot her husband an angry look. Duo walked the coffee pot back to the burner behind the counter, then rung out another guest, leaving only Jason, Rachel, and Heero in the shop. Duo busied himself in the kitchen for a moment, then came back into the shop to check on Heero. He walked over casually with the pot of coffee in hand. "Like a warm-up?" "Yes, please." Duo filled the cup. "How long have you been taking kendo lessons, Heero?" The smile on Duo's face faltered as Heero glared at him, his mouth open. "About th-three y-years." "Wow. That would make you practically an expert, huh?" Heero snorted softly. "I'm not an expert." "Oh, I bet you do pretty well. Master Isoki doesn't seem the type to tolerate slackers." "Slackers?" "People that don't do their best; that don't give a good effort." "Ah." Heero looked down at the last bite of pie; he nudged it with the tines of his fork. "Do you enjoy it?" "What?" "Um, kendo?" Duo's lips quirked upward just a bit. "Oh." Heero paused, breathed. "Yes, I enjoy kendo." An awkward pause ensued. Duo drew breath to close the conversation when Heero added, "It - it centers me." "Really?" Duo said, letting out his breath. "I'm hoping it can help /me/ get back into shape. I've been sitting on my duff for much too long this year." "Duff?" "My backside." Duo patted his hip. Heero nodded and smiled slightly. He waited a beat, then said, "Well, Heero, I'm glad you came in tonight. Don't be a stranger, okay?" When the man didn't reply, Duo shrugged mentally and turned to go. "I - I'm glad I came in, too." Duo turned around. "Good." An awkward pause. "Um...I'd better take care of -" "I sh-should be going." "Right. Uh, let me get your check." Duo turned around quickly and bumped the chair he had backed up against, almost spilling the coffee that had been cooling in the decanter he held. He looked over his shoulder and smiled sheepishly at Heero. "Hey, Duo! Watch out for that chair!" Rachel sang out in a cheerful voice. Jason grabbed her hand and glared at her. "What?!" she hissed at him. Duo walked back to the counter, replaced the coffee on the burner, and found Heero's check. He made a notation on it and moved around the counter to take it to Heero, but found the man gone. A ten-dollar bill was under the coffee cup at his table. Duo stood looking at the cup, the check in his hand. From behind him he heard Rachel speak. "Oh, Duo, he's cute!" "Hush, Rach. This is /not/ the time." "Jason -" "We'll see ya, Duo," Jason sang out. "Get your coat, Rachel. It's past your bedtime." "What are you talking -" "Get your coat." A stern look told Rachel she should comply without argument. The couple picked up their belongings, also leaving payment on the table, and made their way out of the shop, leaving Duo standing between tables, still staring at Heero's cup. TBC
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