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" Everywhere I Look "Written By: Presser
Disclaimer : I do not own Gundam Wing or its characters. This work of fiction is written and shared freely without any attempt to profit financially from it. Rating : R Pairings : 1x2 Warnings : Wistful romance, AU, after Endless Waltz, and departing quite a bit from canon direction Summary: Duo Maxwell is a young, upcoming artist with a hole in his heart. He hates himself for never confessing his love to Heero Yuy, a war-weary mecha pilot running from his past all the way to the Phobos Project—the first manned mission to Mars. Duo longs for the man he loves, but doesn’t know where he is. Can they find love in each other’s arms? And what of Heero’s mysterious collapse when he arrives on Earth to search for the one he loves?
"Everywhere I Look " 25 Duo stood gazing at a spectacular Manhattan sunset from
the balcony of The Foundry’s second-floor Terrace. Tall buildings
of granite, glass, and concrete were transformed into glowing monoliths
of platinum and bronze. He turned when he felt Quatre’s presence
next to him. “I can see why writers and poets use metaphors like
canyons of concrete and steel,” Duo said softly. Quatre leaned his arms on the railing. Duo looked down
to see a warm smile on his friend’s face as he looked out across
the city. “It is beautiful like this,” he said. Duo turned back toward the sunset and leaned his arms
on the railing next to Quatre. He pulled his braid over his shoulder,
found the end of it, and twiddled the loose ends between his fingers.
Quatre waited a moment, then said, “You’re quiet.” “I should be excited. Is that what you mean?”
He sighed. “I am. But I also have a lot to think about.” “A hell of a lot. And it’s going to change
even more starting tonight.” Quatre glanced sideways at him and said, “Because
tonight’s a lot more than an engagement party.” Duo closed his eyes and sighed. “If you’re worried,” Quatre said carefully,
“that you’re going to lose Heero after you just found him
—” Duo opened his eyes and turned his head toward Quatre.
“Why do you say that?” “Wufei won’t put him in danger, Duo. And Heero’s
certainly not a raw recruit. He’s more than capable of handling
himself in just about any situation that could come up.” Duo’s face widened in surprise. “You know
more than I told you? I mean, hinted at? All of it?” Quatre smiled wryly. “You don’t get to lead
a multinational like The Winner Group without being on the ball. I’ve
got smart people, deep sources, and I’m pretty sharp myself,
I think.” He paused, then said, “Plus I did fight
with both Wufei and Heero in the war.” Duo straightened and put his hands on the railing. He
looked back over the city. Quatre watched the sunset’s topaz
light glinting off the iridescent purple strands of his tie. “So
all afternoon —” “I’ve been playing dumb.” Duo snorted. “I shouldn’t be surprised.” Quatre pushed away from the railing and turned to face
Duo. “I think an engagement party’s the perfect cove er.
Especially since you’re both famous. It’s what everyone
expects, and the media will lap it up.” Duo pushed away from the railing and sighed softly. He faced his friend. “Heero’s idea, if you can believe it. Mr. Don’t-You-Dare-Ask-for-an-Interview himself.” He turned toward the other end of the Terrace and put his hands in his pockets. He watched a couple of waiters in tuxedos putting the finishing touches on their prep for the evening, fussing over cups and saucers, checking a row of crystal champagne flutes shaped like tulips standing ready in front of buckets of ice holding bottles of Dom Perignon White Gold. “I am lucky, you know,” he said, “in
so many ways: my career, finding Heero — or him finding me, really.
And I’m so proud of what he wants to do. I just —” “I won’t insult you by saying I understand
completely how you feel,” Quatre said. “But maybe I do a
little. I remember when —” “He’s here,” Duo said. He took his hands
from his pockets and smoothed the front of his jacket. He turned to
Quatre. “Do I —” “Absolutely, dear,” Quatre said as he adjusted
the knot of Duo’s tie. Duo took a little breath and puffed it through his nose.
He gave Quatre a bright smile. “Right.” He took a couple
of steps, then turned back to thank Quatre for the talk, but stopped
cold. Quatre was beaming at him like a proud father. One of Duo’s
eyebrows rose, the other fell. Quatre quickly closed the gap between them and hugged
his friend. He whispered in his ear, “Nothing. And everything.”
He released Duo with a peck on his cheek. Duo gave him a perplexed look, then turned and headed toward the French doors that opened onto the Terrace, where his lover stood chatting with the guests drawn to him. “Showtime,” he said under his breath as he walked. |
