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"Need to Know"Written By: Presser Pairings: 1x2, 3x4 Category: Romance Summary: Duo plans a surprise dinner for Heero,
and is blown away by his lover's response. Spoilers: None Rating: PG-13 (but a couple of R-rated words are
included) Warnings: None Disclaimer: I do not make any money from writing Gundam Wing fanfiction. "Need to Know"
Tuesday, 2:00p "So you say. But --" Duo Maxwell lowered his phone and sighed. He shifted his crossed legs on the bed. He's my best friend next to Heero, but he can be so damn fastidious sometimes. He raised his cell just in time to hear, "Don't sigh at me. I'm just trying --" Okay, all the time. "Look," Duo said, "I understand what you're trying to do. But this is my project, not yours. Remember?" In the silence Duo unconsciously reached for his auburn-gold braid and drew it into his lap. He slid long, delicate fingers down it until they reached the tie at the end. He pressed it against his palm with his lower fingers and twiddled the loose hair at the tip between his index finger and thumb. "Of course," said Wufei, his tone cooler. "I always appreciate your help," Duo said. "And you know I know no one's better at planning and executing things like this." Wufei sniffed softly. "Well, I'm just trying --" "I know. But maybe using tactical battle techniques for a dinner party is --" Now Wufei sighed. "Okay, okay. I always go overboard, don't I?" "Of course you don't," Duo said, and winced at his less-than-white lie. "You just want things to come off perfectly." "Exactly. That's why --" "So you think not telling the others is okay?" "You've got to keep things strictly on a need-to-know basis. You're the one always saying that, aren't you?" Duo knew it was true. He said it so often during the war that everyone in the Gang of Five teased him about it. "Yeah, yeah. Only you, Quatre, and Trowa will know what's going on. So how are you going to explain it to --" "That's why you asked me for help first, isn't it? The others would immediately want to know what you're up to. Me they'll trust without asking questions." Duo scrunched up his face. "Damn it, Wufei, why do you always have to be so right?" Duo could almost see the smirk on his friend's face. "Don't beat yourself up, Duo." Zeus almighty, you'd think all five of us were married, we know each other so well. "Okay," Duo said, trying to organize his thoughts, "so you're going to talk with Hilde, Une, and Zechs and let them know that if they happen to talk to Heero --" "They should say they're looking forward to dinner Thursday night. That's all they need to know, Duo. The rest is between you and me." Duo considered this. He opened his mouth, but Wufei spoke before he could. "None of them would say anything, of course. It's really not a matter of trust, you know. But --" "Right, right. Need-to-know." "Need-to-know." "Okay." "So, we're good?" "Absolutely. Oh, and Wufei? Thanks." "What are friends for?" Duo thumbed off the call and dropped his phone on the bed. He uncrossed his legs and fell back, spreading his arms as he sighed. I hope to god Heero appreciates what I'm doing. It's been ten years this Thursday, and I'm not letting it pass without -- "Have you seen my notepad?" Duo immediately lifted his feet off the floor and his hands into the air. He lunged forward at the waist to throw himself into a sitting position. His face flushed with the effort. His life partner, Heero Yuy, stared at his companion's wide-eyed look of alarm with his usual impassive expression. God, Duo, control yourself. He'll think something's going on. "Notepad?" Heero answered in a quiet monotone. "Thin. Rectangular. Yellow with faint blue lines." Duo blinked. "No." Heero turned and left the bedroom without a word. "Damn," Duo said under his breath. "I can never tell what he's thinking." He stood and stretched. His right hand slipped under his favorite tee-shirt for lounging, worn almost threadbare. It lifted as he rubbed his belly, revealing creamy-pale, well-defined abs. He padded from the bedroom to the kitchen. He called over his shoulder as he passed Heero's makeshift workstation at the dining table. "Want a beer?" "Too early in the day. And you shouldn't be having one, either." "Juice. I meant juice." Duo grimaced and stuck out his tongue at Heero's non-response as he opened the refrigerator. He snagged two narrow-necked bottles of sparkling cranberry juice, shut the door, and tore off two paper towels from the roll mounted above the sink. After separating them, he folded them in quarters, then twisted off the bottle caps. With the bottles between the fingers of one hand and the paper towels in the other he moved to the dining table, quietly smiling at the pleasurable feeling of thick-pile carpet under his toes. It reminded him of the last time he and Heero rollicked on it in front of the couch after takeout sushi and saki, which sparked a tingle between his hips. His smile widened as he reached Heero. Heero sat in a high-back, cushioned chair in front of his laptop. Reference books on Android and iOS development lay open on one side; guides to Java and C++ programming languages on the other. The screen was split between a page of code incomprehensible to Duo and a real-time mockup of the app Heero was developing for a client. He bent and put both arms around Heero's neck, making sure the chilled bottles beading with condensation fell against the part of the young man's chest exposed by his green tank top. "Whacha working on?" With one hand Heero reached for a bottle, which Duo let slip from his fingers, and pulled loose a folded paper towel with the other. Without taking his eyes off the screen he nudged clear a spot between books and set the makeshift coaster there, then the bottle of juice on it. As his fingers returned to dancing on the keyboard, Duo put his lips to Heero's ear and whispered, "Thank you." "Thank you," Heero repeated mechanically. Duo flicked his tongue against his lover's ear. Without a break in his typing, Heero tilted his head toward his mate to make it harder to get to his ear. "Later." "You're no fun when you're working." "Hn." "When's your dinner break?" "Just a moment." After ten seconds of silence, Duo put a thumb under the edge of Heero's tank top and pulled it away from his chest, then slipped his drink between them. He pressed it against a pec and rubbed it in circles round the nipple. Heero stopped and took Duo's wrists as he turned to the side. He slipped them over his head, careful of the bottle, and regarded Duo with the blank look that usually infuriated him, but this time Duo made a supreme effort to keep his tone neutral. "You don't remember the question." Heero blinked. "I asked you when you wanted to break for dinner." Heero's eyebrows scrunched together over the bridge of his nose. He seemed to be considering how to parse a language unknown to him. Duo opened his mouth, but closed it when he heard his phone ring in the bedroom. He quickly leaned in and gave Heero a big smooch on the lips, then ran to catch the call. Heero blinked again and turned back to his screen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Okay to chat?" "Yeah," Duo said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. "He's in the other room." Quatre Winner sounded worried. "But he's famous for his sharp hearing. Remember his nick from the war?" "Yeah, but that was then. No one's called him Radar Ears in a long time. Besides, when he's buried in his work, he's oblivious to everything, up to and including category five storms." Duo scooted backward and pulled his legs up and under his butt, then fell back with a soft whump on the bedspread. "So he doesn't suspect?" "Nah." It'd be nice if he did, though, Duo thought, suppressing a sigh. After chatting with Quatre about the details of his surprise dinner, Duo sat up and uncrossed his legs, scooting to the edge of the bed. As he looked for his sandals, he said, "Listen, I'm going to the gym this afternoon. Why don't you meet me there? You can show me the restaurant after I'm done." He found his sandals and slipped them on, cradling his phone between his shoulder and head. "Like four-thirty." Pause. "Okay. See you there." Duo checked himself in the mirror. He decided that his cutoffs and oversized, shapeless tee were too casual for a trip to the restaurant he'd reserved for Thursday night, so he kicked off his sandals and stripped to his skivvies. He fished through drawers for his good jeans and a bright blue polo that brought out his eyes and pitched them toward the bed. After studying shoes lined up in his closet, he decided that the collared shirt was enough to convince the maitre d' to take him seriously. He turned to the bed and grabbed his jeans. He lifted a leg to pull them on, but froze in mid-motion when he saw himself in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door. He lowered his leg and straightened. He turned left, then right, admiring his body. Nice chest, arms not too bulky, firm tummy, and a full package, if I do say so myself. He ran a finger from his navel through a thin, coppery treasure trail to the top of his bikini briefs, then blushed at how shamelessly pleased he was with himself. Beats me how he can resist this in favor of programming apps for nerds too lazy to learn how to code. He sighed. But it does pay the bills, though. He dressed and found his gym bag. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Dinner at eight sharp, okay?" Duo lifted the now-empty bottle of sparkling cranberry between Heero's books and put it directly between the man's nose and his screen. Heero leaned his head to the side and continued typing. Duo moved the bottle to keep it in Heero's line of sight. After the third swing back and forth, he touched Heero's nose. Heero stopped typing, turned and looked up at his lover and sighed loudly. He squinted over a frown. "Why so dressy?" This caught Duo unprepared. His eyebrows rose and he stammered. "I, uh, I'm meeting Quatre for coffee after my workout." "Oh." Heero turned back to his work, but Duo gently put a hand on the side of his face. "You got any idea how much I love you?" "I know," Heero said mechanically, then froze. With effort he pulled himself out of the zone he'd worked to achieve. His smile started small, almost shy, and grew into a broad grin. He put his hands behind Duo's head and pulled him down. He brought his lover's mouth to his own and ran his tongue slowly over Duo's lips before parting them and searching the warmth behind them. Duo released his gym bag. Heero pressed forward, deepening the kiss. A tingle thrummed behind Duo's breastbone, growing as it spread across his chest and down his torso. It curled up deep in his pelvis and swelled. He dropped to his knees. Heero bent over him. He put his hands around his shoulders. Duo parted his lips from Heero's enough to breathe, and Heero responded by intensifying his plundering of his partner's mouth. When he had his fill, he broke the kiss by touching his forehead to Duo's as his chin moved toward his chest. They held the position for a long time. Then Heero sat up. "I know," he repeated. "Dear Zeus in heaven," Duo said in a husky whisper, "I may have to change my pants." One side of Heero's mouth rose under eyes that sparkled devilishly. He said demurely, "Well, I don't want you to forget that I know full well there's more to life than my work. Even though," he added, "I guess I do tend to get wrapped up in it sometimes." Duo gave him a crooked smile and thought, Understatement of the decade, then said, "If this is what I get for interrupting you, then expect it on a regular basis. As in once every --" "You said you have someplace to go?" Heero said, his business demeanor returning. "Yeah, as soon as my raging hard-on subsides." Duo stood and looked down. His erection was quite noticeable. Heero saw it and smiled, then turned toward his computer. "Oh, no, you don't." "Duo," Heero said, fighting to keep irritation out of his tone, "I really do have to --" "All I want is for you to acknowledge that we're eating together tonight at eight o'clock sharp." "Eight sharp," Heero said. He nodded and went back to work. Duo smoothed the front of his jeans, picked up his gym bag, and walked to the door, the buzzing in his chest muted but still present enough to send him to his car with a broad smile on his face. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, 5:18p Quatre Winner stood at the door of the main room at Vim, a quirky fitness club not far from Duo's apartment on South Lombard. A large central column surrounded by various Nautilus machines dominated the room. A row of treadmills stood against second-floor windows that let in shards of sunlight piercing the clouds of a gathering rainstorm. Quatre's eyes were drawn to a figure running to nowhere on the treadmill third from the left wall. He was naked save for ruby-red gym pants so short his cheeks almost showed as he ran, his only other garments well-worn sneaks and white ankle socks. His torso was slim but muscled, and his back gleamed with sweat. His reddish-brown braid slapped the top of his thighs as he ran. It's a mighty good thing I'm married to a man every bit as gorgeous, or Heero Yuy would seriously have something to worry about. Quatre realized he was licking one corner of his lips and pulled his tongue back just as Duo turned off his treadmill and grabbed the towel he'd thrown over the controls of the machine. He stepped to the floor and buried his face in soft terrycloth, then wiped down his neck and arms. He turned as he started on his chest and saw Quatre leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed, a big smile on his face. Duo walked to him as he wicked sweat from his abs. "How long have you been there?" "Not long enough." "What?" Quatre made a show of licking his lips slowly. Duo grimaced. "You're the most oversexed gay man in the tri-state area, you know." "I'm going for the entire eastern seaboard, actually." Duo rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. "Give me ten minutes to shower and dress, then we'll head for the restaurant." "Can I watch?" "Down, boy. You're a married man, after all." "You're not." Zeus in heaven, doesn't he ever get enough? How does Trowa keep up with him? "Get yourself a smoothie at the juice bar," Duo said as he walked toward the showers. "And ask for two scoops of potassium nitrate." Quatre's eyebrows rose. "Is that supposed to be healthful?" Duo disappeared through the shower door wearing a big grin. Quatre shrugged and made his way to the gym's juice bar. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ready to go." Quatre looked up from his smoothie. Duo stood before him in his blue polo, the tail out, and his best jeans. Quatre drained the last of his drink and stood. "Let's do it." As they walked down the stairs to ground level, Duo said, "Do you mind driving? I'm not exactly sure about the address." "Glad to." Duo waved at the receptionist as he and Quatre stepped onto the elevator that took them down to the garage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So tell me about Everest." Duo leaned toward the open window of Quatre's BMW, enjoying the cool air brought by the impending storm. He shifted against butter-smooth leather and crossed his feet in the ample legroom on the passenger side. "Oh, you'll love it. Forty stories above the Loop. Looks out over the western part of the city, which glitters like the Milky Way on a clear night in the desert. Plus the room is magnificent. Private dining at it's best. One of the most romantic spots in Chicago for the sort of thing you're planning." Duo nodded silently. He had saved for months to be able to spring for an expensive dinner to celebrate his tenth anniversary with Heero. He knew that Heero loved him and was completely committed to him, as he was to Heero, though neither of them had brought up the topic of formalizing their relationship. "Pondering something?" Duo came back to the present moment. He looked at Quatre as he drove. Slim, even petite, but every bit a man's man in spite of his outward persona. Underneath the fun-loving frivolity was a shrewd and calculating businessman. Duo fought back a shudder as he remembered the Quatre who dispensed an entire colony in cold blood during the war without blinking an eye. Thank Zeus we're friends. I'd hate to -- He left his thought unfinished when Quatre turned and smiled. I can see why Trowa thinks he's the luckiest guy in the world. "Just how lucky we both are. It's like Heero was made to fit together with me, just like you with Trowa. I can't imagine life without him." "I couldn't agree more." Although, Duo thought, I still have no idea how Trowa has enough energy to keep up with the libido-on-steroids the boy has. It's a wonder he hasn't burned himself to a crisp. Almost as though Quatre heard his thought, he said, "By the way, what's with that extra scoop you recommended for my smoothie?" "The potassium nitrate?" "Yeah. Is that supposed to boost your endurance after a workout or something?" Duo fought to keep his face neutral. "Something like that." Might help Trowa's endurance, but not yours. "Huh. The guy at the juice bar looked at me like I was nuts." Duo turned toward the window to hide a smile. "Here we are. Just in time, too." The storm broke. Heavy rain drummed loudly on the car's roof, replaced by an eerie silence as they pulled into the underground garage. After parking, they followed signs to Everest's valet service, where an attendant led them up to the lobby of the Chicago Stock Exchange building. Duo marveled at the warm glow of brown granite pillars, polished parquet floors, gleaming steel-and-glass tables. They stepped onto an elevator as luxuriously furnished that whisked them forty stories above street level. The doors opened onto a space that took Duo's breath away. The main dining room shone softly with understated elegance. "Look at the tables," Quatre whispered, indicating small bronze sculptures on each with a discreet nod. "Those are by Ivo Soldini. And the paintings are by Adam Siegel." Taller sculptures strategically placed on the floor to compliment rather than overwhelm the ambiance were commissioned by Virginio Ferrari, Quatre told him. The names meant nothing to Duo, but their effect was not lost on him. "Close your mouth," Quatre said under his breath. Duo did. Quatre quietly took his wrist and walked him to the window. Forty stories below the lights of a myriad of buildings winked on under a darkening sky, creating the impression of an urban meadow of jewels. Quatre gently put his hand on Duo's shoulder. He turned to see his friend's eyes glowing over a dazzling smile. "Let's go see your room." They turned, and the maitre 'd stepped forward. "This way, Mr. Winner." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, 8:40a Duo leaned back from a plate with the remains of an english muffin spread with strawberry jam and a cooling cup of coffee. He stretched, groaning with satisfaction, and laced his fingers together behind his head as he crossed his feet under the kitchen table. "So what's on tap for today?" Heero was silent. He was bent over a legal pad, scribbling steadily, his breakfast untouched. Duo waited, then said, "How's your project coming?" Silence. "Hello," he said, his voice rising and falling as he sarcastically drew the word out. He sat forward and put his palm on the notepad. Heero looked up, not with irritation, but confusion on his face, as though he didn't understand where such a foreign object had come from. "Hi there. My name's Duo Maxwell. Pleased to meet you." Heero blinked. "Planning on working today?" Heero lowered his chin and raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry. I'll stay out of your way. I just want to remind you that we're going to dinner tomorrow night." "Dinner." "With Quatre and Trowa and Wufei." Heero's eyes narrowed a bit. "Hilde, Zechs, and Une will be there, too." Heero nodded. "You're not interested in why?" Heero tilted his head toward a shoulder. "In why?" Duo gave a slight smile in spite of himself. For all his military discipline, he can be so childlike when he hyperfocuses. Makes it hard to be angry at him for long. "It'd be nice if you asked." "Okay, why are we going to dinner?" "To celebrate." "Okay." When Heero sensed that Duo had nothing else to say, he glanced down at his notes, but before he could resume writing, he felt a crooked finger under his chin. "Just don't forget. Okay?" "Right. Dinner. Thursday." Duo pulled his finger back. Heero returned to his scribbling. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, 11:10a Duo spent the morning doing odd jobs around the apartment: making the bed; washing, drying, and putting away dishes; wiping down surfaces in the bathroom. As he did, he reviewed his plans, drifting from the experience of visiting Everest at the top of the Chicago Stock Exchange building to his hopes for a romantic dinner with the man he loved. He knew he had enough money for the event. When Quatre suggested the place he told him what to expect costwise. Duo had saved for five months, squirreling away a bit here and there from his salary as a security consultant for major Midwest banks. And he was grateful for his employer's willingness to let him have a whole week of vacation during a busy season. Stop fidgeting. This is the third time you've lined up the flatware by length. Duo sighed. He pulled his phone from his pocket to check the time. I guess I could leave early for lunch, get a table before the rush. Wufei always likes that because it's efficient. He decided to leave. He felt his pockets for wallet, keys, and phone. As he passed the dining room table he recalled his promise to leave Heero alone, but slowed as he walked behind him. He cast his eyes over his partner's shoulders, and stopped without realizing it to admire him. Then he jumped when Heero turned without warning. "Yes?" Duo blushed as his eyebrows rose. "Oh, uh, nothing, nothing." "You were staring." Duo's face grew redder. He smiled sheepishly. "Caught me." Heero's face took on a curious expression that Duo couldn't parse. When both tilted their heads to the side in unison, they laughed. "That just doesn't happen," Duo said. "Just did." The tension between them broke. "If you must know, I was just admiring you." Heero raised an eyebrow. He turned around in his chair and brought a knee up under his thigh. He crossed his arms over the back of his chair, then rested his chin on them. "For what?" "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." Heero rolled his eyes and smirked. "Seriously," Duo said, "your shoulders caught my attention, and I --" "My shoulders?" "One of your most seductive features." "Really." "Uh, huh. Plus I can't pretend I'll ever be as diligent or hard-working as you." "Well, that's a load of Grade-A donkey doo. You work just as hard as me." Duo impulsively closed the distance between them and knelt in front of his lover. He tried to put his arms around Heero's neck, but found it awkward and released them. He leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. "Well," he said with a sigh, "I should go. And you've --" "Go where?" "Lunch with Wufei." Heero nodded absently, his mind already back on his work. Duo stood. "Heero?" Heero glanced up. "Please don't forget we're going to dinner tomorrow night." Heero's face was blank. Duo said, "With our friends?" Heero responded with a flat tone of voice. "Dinner." "It's a really nice place. You'll enjoy it. Besides, you need a break sometime, don't you?" "Dinner." He turned back to his work. Duo left. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, 7:45p Duo took the steps to the third floor of his building carefully, trying not to swing the chinese takeout he picked up for his evening meal with Heero. I swear, it doesn't matter how little you order, the plastic bags they give you always feel like they're about to break. He fished keys from his pocket and let himself in. Heero was bent over his books and computer, busily working. I don't think he's moved at all since Friday, except for my interruptions. As he did the simple prep for the meal in the kitchen, he tried to sort through his feelings. I've planned this for months, and now it's less than twenty-four hours away. I should be excited, not depressed. He lined up containers on the counter and found plates and forks. I know he's doing a good thing, and he's doing it for me, for us. But I hate it when he withdraws so completely. Duo pulled glasses from a cabinet and drinks from the fridge, then surveyed the spread before him to make sure he had everything needed. Maybe it's that we haven't really slept together for a week. I wake up and he's in bed, but so exhausted, lying there like a stone. Or crumpled on top of his books at the table. He took a big breath and let it out. But it'll be worth it when I see his face tomorrow night. He walked to the kitchen door and called his partner's name. Heero said nothing. Duo called him again. After more silence, Duo walked to him and put his hands on Heero's shoulders. He felt them tense. He bent next to Heero's ear and whispered, "Come eat, love." Heero shrugged his partner's hands away. Suddenly anger rose in Duo. He dropped his hands and straightened. "Damn you, Heero Yuy. I know you're deep into your project. But you have to eat." Heero continued to ignore him. Duo turned on a heel and marched to the kitchen. He dished up fried rice, Three Vegetable Delight, and Twice-Cooked Pork, spooning the food so quickly it slopped over the edge of the plate. He dropped a fork right in the middle of the food, grabbed a glass and turned it upside down over a beer, and carried it to the table. "Here," he said, unceremoniously plopping the dish on top of an open book and the drink next to it on the table. The glass rattled on top of the beer. Sauce from the vegetables dripped off the plate and onto a page. Heero immediately stood and picked up the plate. He moved it to a clear part of the table and looked for a napkin. Finding none, he used a finger to wipe up the dot of liquid bleeding through the page of his reference book, then turned an angry look on Duo. "What the hell, Duo." His parter stood glaring back. "I took the week off to be with you," he said. "So far, you've paid more attention to the house plants than me." Heero's eyes narrowed under eyebrows bunched together. "I'm doing this --" "Yeah, for me. Is this the only thing you do for me?" Both stood immobile, glaring at each other with eyes wide and unblinking. Then Heero slowly sat, keeping his eyes on Duo as though watching an enraged dog to see if it would attack or back off. After a moment he turned his body toward his work, then finally his head. "Fuck you," Duo said in a quiet, cold voice. He whirled and stomped to the small basket on the table by the front door, snatched his keys, and left, slamming the door behind him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 12:52a Duo lay on the roof of Heero's car in the parking lot with his feet crossed and hands behind his head, staring into a clearing midnight sky, trying to understand himself and his lover. He should've remembered. I really didn't think my dinner would surprise him, and I wouldn't have kept it from him if he'd asked. But -- An insect buzzed by his ear and lighted on his neck. He swatted at it. God damn his fucking "singular purpose." Almost makes me want to call it off. The insect returned, and he slapped his neck harder. He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed out a sigh. It's not like he doesn't love me. I know he does. But -- When the insect touched him for the third time, Duo hit his neck hard and abruptly sat up. The sudden movement cost him his balance, and he toppled forward toward the hood. He put his palms on the windshield to stop his motion and found himself looking into the back seat of Heero's car with his ass high in the air. He saw Heero's backpack, left there from their weekend at a Michigan bed-and-breakfast last month. He remembered Heero's total focus on him during their three days away, how there was nothing in the world but the two of them junking together in antique shops, walking by streams in the woods, curling up on a four-poster with overloaded pizza and a bad movie. The memory made his heart pound. He felt tears rising, and suddenly it was hard to swallow. Then he noticed something sticking out of one of the bag's unzipped compartments. What's that? He righted himself and slid off the side of the car. He found his keys, opened it, and reached for the back door lock, then bent to snatch a folded piece of paper. He found himself staring at a sheet from Heero's laserjet. What the hell? He dropped the paper and slammed the car door. He hurried up to the apartment. Duo opened the door quietly. Inside he found Heero slumped on his reference books. His laptop was pushed to the side. Duo closed the door as softly as he could and stood in silence, considering what to do. He's out cold. Besides, he's been pushing so hard, he might be... Duo decided to chance peering over Heero's shoulder at his screen. He stepped gingerly to the table, keeping his distance, and craned his neck to see what windows were open. Just programmer's stuff. He grimaced in silence. But wait. If I can get to his web history... but how, without actually typing? After a moment, Duo realized he didn't need to strike any keys; he could do everything he wanted with the trackpad. He inched closer, standing as far away from Heero as possible while still able to see the laptop's screen and reach the trackpad. He guided the onscreen pointer to a menu, then scowled. Damn. I have to click it to -- He froze when Heero sighed in his sleep. Duo watched him twist his head and wriggle his nose, then scratch it. He held his breath until he was sure Heero wasn't going to move again. He winced in slow motion as he pressed the lower edge of the trackpad. The menu dropped down noiselessly, and he relaxed his face a bit. He found the browser in a list of recently opened apps, and selected it. His eyes popped wide open when an empty tab filled the screen with white, casting light over the back of Heero's head. Shit. Good thing he's facing away. Duo clicked the browser's Home button. After Google loaded, he hit the gear icon, then Settings, then Web History. To his dismay, it was disabled. You expected anything else, dolt? He rolled his eyes at the memory of the lectures he'd given Heero about Internet safe surfing practices. But wait. He doesn't use web history because he bookmarks instead. What does he use for that? Instapaper? Read It Later? Or -- Heero shifted his head, then raised it. Duo frantically closed the window, found Clear Cache in a menu and clicked it, then closed the browser. Heero sat up and yawned, then stiffened in surprise when Duo threw his arms around his neck and leaned over his shoulder. "Holy fuck, Duo. I don't have nine lives, you know." "Sorry," Duo said, hoping he had composed his face before releasing his partner. "I just saw you slumped over your books when I came in and thought you looked so --" Heero groaned as he arched his back and yawned again. Duo straightened to move out of his way. "Time?" "Late. As in the wee hours." Heero smacked his lips. "Let's go to bed." "Sure. It'll be the first time in nine days we've actually done that at the same time." Heero stood and rubbed his back. Duo watched him warily. "Listen, Duo, I want to apol--" "Forget it. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I know you're doing this for me. For us." Heero smiled sleepily. He turned toward the bedroom. "You need to check your computer or anything?" Heero stopped and turned. "Why would I need to do that?" he said flatly. "I don't know. Maybe you left something unsaved?" Heero's look of suspicion was so intense that Duo bent to fumble with a shoestring to cover his embarrassment, only to realize he was wearing sandals. "Hey, I'm out of it, too," he said as he stood. "I know better than to think you'd --" Heero turned and shuffled to the bedroom. Duo followed, cursing himself for such a huge gaffe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 11:22a Duo opened the bathroom door and and stepped into the bedroom. He swung the door back and forth a few times to clear the moist air from his shower, then walked to the bed escape the steam flowing after him. Before entering the bathroom he had put two towels on the bed. He picked up one and wiped down his body, then wrapped it around his hips. He took three steps away and leaned backward, his face toward the ceiling. With a practiced motion he threw his torso forward as he swung in a circle at the waist. His long hair, darkened to a brown brick color by his shower, fell to his knees in front of him. He felt it to make sure he had squeezed as much water from it as possible while in the shower, then picked up the other towel and moved to the dressing table, keeping his head down and out. He dropped the towel on the vanity, pulled out the chair, and sat. He fumbled for his brush. A smile graced his lips behind the heavy curtain of wet hair as he began the long process of detangling it. Maybe it's better that he's been so obtuse lately. I never would've thought I'd actually pull off surprising him, but all the better. I can't wait to see the look on his -- "Have you seen my notepad?" "Thought you found that," Duo said, not breaking stride in his brushing. "I found one; I'm looking for the other one." "Heero, there must be more than half a dozen in every room but the bathroom. How do I know which one you want?" Duo swung his head slightly to the side, allowing him to peek through his thick hair without his partner seeing -- a trick he mastered years ago. Heero stared at the floor with a blank look of distraction. Probably already forgotten what he came to ask for. Duo picked up the towel and draped it around his head and over his hair, tucking it behind his ears first, then twisting it until his hair was completely wrapped. He flipped it back over his head. He looked up and said, "Try the --" Heero was gone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 11:50a "Notice anything odd going on?" Duo stood naked to the waist beside Heero's workstation at the dining table, his hair in a turban. "Hn?" Heero kept his eyes fixed on his screen. "Like why I'm washing my hair on a Thursday morning?" Silence. "Like, oh, I don't know, maybe we're going to dinner tonight? With friends?" Heero stopped typing. He kept one hand poised over the keyboard and flipped the pages of a book with the other. Duo's eyes flared with anger. "At one of the best restaur--" Heero shot out his hand so quickly Duo had no time to react. He deftly tugged at the fold of the towel at Duo's waist. It dropped to the floor, exposing the rest of his lover's body. "What the --" Duo bent to retrieve his towel. When he straightened, Heero's head was low over his laptop, one corner of his lips curled upward under eyebrows bunched together over narrowed eyes as he continued typing. "Yeah, I know." "Really?" Duo said, hiding his surprise by keeping his head down as he rewrapped the towel around his hips. "You thought I forgot." "Well, yeah. Do you blame me? You've been like a --" "Zombie? Completely ignoring you? And --" Duo looked up and tilted his head as he smiled. "Hope where there was none before." "What time?" "Now?" "Dinner." "Oh. Eight o'clock." Heero straightened. He looked up and over Duo's shoulder with a thoughtful expression. "How far?" Duo crossed his arms over his chest. Why is he asking? He knows where it is. "About forty minutes. Maybe less, since it's after rush hour and it's a weeknight." "Hn." Heero turned back to his screen. "So when will you start getting ready?" Silence. "Heero?" More silence. "Heero?" "Damn it, don't withdraw again. It's important that --" Heero kept eyes on his screen and continued typing with one hand as the other shot out again, but Duo was ready for him. He bent forward, thrusting his hips behind him, and stepped back. "Hah." "Don't worry." "Me? About you?" Heero turned his head away and smirked as Duo walked back to the bedroom. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 6:05p Down boy, Duo thought as he patted his tummy. Dinner's soon. He sat at the vanity again, this time wearing a tee shirt and sleep pants while brushing through fully dried hair. After a final long stroke from his forehead to his knees, he looked up and studied his work in the mirror. Dark red and chestnut and gold gleamed in sunlight streaming through the window. Pleased with his work, he parted his hair to begin the braiding process. On the dressing table in front of him lay a brilliant blue tie the exact color of his eyes. On the bed was a tuxedo, pants next to a conservative shirt, a bow tie the color of his hair tie. A dinner jacket and black socks lay above dress shoes on the floor that shone. On the other side of the bed Duo had laid out an identical set of clothes for Heero with a matching blue tie. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 6:51p Duo made a final tweak to his tie, then stood back to study himself in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door. His hair glowed, as did his skin. The cuffs of his dress shirt extended exactly one inch from both sleeves of his dinner jacket. He looked down as he gently kicked a foot forward, then stood at attention. He turned one way, then another. Duo Maxwell, you cut a pretty dashing figure. He turned. A look of dismay formed on his face. What the fuck? Heero's tux lay on the bed just as he left it hours before. He had been so preoccupied with his own prep that he'd completely missed the fact that his partner hadn't begun getting ready for the evening's event. He walked briskly to the bedroom door and cracked it open. Heero sat at the dining table, hunched over his laptop, still wearing black spandex shorts and his green tank top, his thick brown hair as messy as ever. He was oblivious to everything but his project. Duo drew a sharp, noisy breath under eyes full of a brewing storm. Someone close to me is about to die. He opened the door, walked to the table, and stood quietly by his partner. Heero ignored him. Duo moved closer. He put a finger on the top edge of Heero's laptop. Heero's eyes darted upward to see the motion, but he continued typing. Duo pushed the screen toward Heero. Heero reached for Duo's wrist. Duo yanked it away. Heero turned a face contorted in anger toward his companion. He opened his mouth, then shut it as his eyes widened at the sight of Duo in stunning formal evening dress. "Yes?" Duo said, his voice imperious as he squared his shoulders. Heero's mouth fell open silently. After a moment of staring, he spoke meekly. "Oh." "Oh?" Duo said in his most sarcastic tone of voice. "Any idea what time it is?" Heero's eyes slid right, but without turning his head, he couldn't see his laptop's onscreen clock. He looked back at Duo. "Try six-fifty-five." "I-I should get ready." Duo stared silently. This has got to be the first time in a year he's sounded less than totally confident about anything. Duo lowered his chin and looked up through his eyebrows at his lover. "Okay," Heero said, stifling a sigh and taking charge of his situation. "You said the restaurant is forty minutes away?" "About that." "Then go on. Make excuses for me to the others. I'll be there no later than eight-thirty." Heero waited without moving as Duo searched his eyes. How can he not realize? How can he not care? Finally Duo drew a long breath and exhaled slowly. "All right," he said, his voice icy. Again a moment without movement by either man. Finally Heero spoke. "I promise I won't --" Duo whirled about face and quickly walked to the door. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 8:31p Duo stood calmly by a floor-to-ceiling wall of glass bordered by silk drapes that shone like burnished silver in the soft lighting of Everest's private dining room, the ties holding them back as wide as cummerbunds. He studied the sequined landscape forty stories below him, city lights stretching far into the distance, glittering in silence. The door of the room he'd reserved was slightly ajar, muting most of the sounds of cutlery and conversation coming from the main room of Everest. He put one hand in a pocket, then withdrew it. He clasped his hands behind his back, then dropped them to his sides. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, then laced his fingers together in front of his waist. He blinked his eyes rapidly to fend off tears from brimming over and dropped his hands to his sides again. I will not look at my phone again. I don't want to know if it's eight-thirty. Then a quiet voice he knew so well. "Where is everyone?" Duo turned slowly, prepared to level a scathing glare at his life partner, but was stopped cold by the sight before him. Leaning on the door frame, one foot crossed over the other and balanced on a toe, stood Heero Yuy, the picture of poise and elegance, a gentle smile on his face. The tuxedo did its job well: Heero's slim waist and broad shoulders were beautifully accentuated; his tie perfectly knotted. He had combed his chocolate-brown hair, but still thick bangs fell across his forehead. Just below were the eyes Duo had spent more than ten years falling into, never able to get his fill, always wanting more. Duo's look of disdain melted into cool regard. "Did I make it?" "I haven't checked the time." In the past twenty seconds. Near the window was a table set for two. Centered amid china and crystal stood a small bronze statue. Duo motioned toward it. Heero walked to it. From nowhere a waiter appeared and pulled chairs for them, then presented the small menus reserved for private dining. Heero studied it. He seemed at ease, unaware of the tension Duo felt between them. He looked up to see his partner staring at him, his menu untouched on his plate. Heero lowered his menu and leaned forward, resting his arms on either side of his plate. He spoke with a genuine smile. "I'm sorry I'm late. I got ready as quickly as I could. And finding the place is more of a trick than I thought. It's like it's a top secret location, what with signing in with a doorman, more than one elevator, and all." Duo's expression softened in spite of himself. In his heart anger and disappointment struggled for the upper hand with yearning and hope. "But I'm here now. Isn't that what's important?" Heero reached across the table. Duo kept his hands in his lap. Heero leaned his head to the side and smiled again. "I really am sorry for being late. And for ignoring you, for the way I've treated you for the last, um --" Duo spoke quietly, working to keep his voice level. "You have no idea how much it hurt me." Heero withdrew his hand. "I didn't mean to. Really." Suddenly Duo sighed. "Well, I guess that's behind us now. Don't worry about it." Duo picked up his menu. A waiter appeared to fill water glasses. Heero sat back and said, "You didn't tell me where the others are." Duo tried to smile. Even though he forgave Heero, conflicting feelings still roiled inside him. "Not coming." Puzzlement crossed Heero's face. Duo's voice was barely audible as he said, "Do you know what tonight is, Heero?" "It's our anniversary. We've been together ten years exactly today." Duo's mouth dropped open under wide eyes. "You remembered?" Heero smiled softly, nodded slightly. "B-b-but --" "You're not the only one who can plan surprises, you know." "You knew? About --" "I did. Wufei told me." Duo was incredulous. "Wufei? But he's the --" "I'll explain, I promise. But first, why don't we exchange gifts?" Duo watched in wonder as Heero turned and nodded. One of the waiters stepped forward, and Duo followed him with his eyes. The man gave Heero a small brown box. Heero took it and held it close to his chest for a moment, then placed it on his dinner plate. Duo watched the waiter move away. "How did you get that in here? No, never mind." Heero lifted the box and held it out to Duo. "You know my gift for you is --" "This dinner. I know. And I can't tell you how much it means to me that you worked so hard: everything from saving the money to the secret plans. Here," Heero said, nudging the box toward his lover. Duo reached out slowly and took the small package. It was plain and unwrapped, the sides scuffed, corners worn down. Duo stared at it for a moment, unsure if he understood what he held. Then he put it on his plate and his hands back in his lap. "Aren't you going to open it?" "I'm still overwhelmed with you knowing all about my plans." Duo looked up to see Heero's eyes sparkling with delight. "It is what I do, you know." He nodded toward the box. Duo put his hands out and lifted the lid. Inside was a small scrapbook, not much bigger than a wallet. It, too, was worn, the design printed on the plastic cover rubbed away, the corners dulled and rounded from constant use. Duo lifted it out. Heero reached across the table and pulled the box and its lid out of the way. Duo lowered the scrapbook, but stopped when Heero reached across again to take away his dinner plate. He lay the book on the table before him, stared at it for a moment, then looked up at Heero. He was too confused to wonder why such an ordinary object was worthy of being an anniversary gift. "It may not make a lot of sense at first," Heero said meekly as he set Duo's dinner plate on top of his own, "but I hope it will eventually." Duo's curiosity finally rose to the top of his emotions. He opened the scrapbook and began to study the pictures inside. The first few were photos of Gundams. Wing and Deathscythe, Sandrock and Heavyarms and Shenlong stood in quiet repose as though ready for battle. Duo recognized the hangers they were in. These are from the last months of the war. Then there were shots of him and the other pilots busy about repairs and maintenance: tightening bolts, struggling with grappling hooks as they repelled down the sides of their metal alter egos. "We're all so young-looking," Duo whispered. He looked up and said, "I didn't know you were a photographer. These look almost professional, like you took time to balance the composition, worry about lighting and --" "I wouldn't say that," Heero said with a sheepish look. "I've always enjoyed shooting pictures, but I do it for the memories, not for the art." "Still," Duo said, "these are really good." "Thank you." "Except for this one, maybe." He held up a shot of himself leaning into Deathscythe's cockpit, only his ass and legs visible. Both smiled. "There's more," Heero said. He nodded at the album. The next few pages held candid shots of the four pilots, all unaware of the camera. "You really captured each of us: Trowa pensive, Quatre giggling, Wufei scowling at everything, mostly, and me: the head clown." Duo looked up in amazement. "How the hell did you do this? Take these without anyone seeing?" Heero tucked his chin down and smiled shyly. And I thought I knew everything about him. Even after ten years, there are still surprises. As Duo flipped more pages, others dropped away. He was the only subject now, and the nature of these pictures left him supremely puzzled: In one, he leaned his head against the foot of Deathscythe, legs stretched out and feet crossed with his cap backwards and over his face. His tee shirt was smeared with grime. Must have been exhausted to fall asleep there. He smirked at a shot of him in the canteen aboard Peacemillion staring into an empty styrofoam cup, his head sunk between his shoulders; another of him standing in the doorway of the tiny cabin he shared with Heero wearing only boxer shorts, his towel over a shoulder. He was caught in the middle of an enormous yawn, his back bent, tummy out, hands high toward the ceiling. Duo blushed. "Perv," he mumbled, and glanced up through his eyebrows to see if Heero heard him. He saw a look on his lover's face he couldn't suss. There were more shots of himself in various states of exhaustion. He murmured, "Were we ever anything but dead tired then?" "I don't think so," Heero said quietly. The scrapbook's final picture was the most mystifying of all. In it Duo lay sleeping on a cot. He wore overalls soiled with the day's work. The shoulder straps were detached, and the bib hung from his waist to his knees to reveal a gray tank top. His knees were drawn toward his chest, and his hands lay near his chin, one clutching messy sheets, the other palm up, fingers loose. His long braid was draped over a shoulder as though for warmth as he slept. Bare feet were crossed and partly hidden by a fold of the sheet. A strange, unidentifiable emotion washed over Duo. What is this? It's almost like I'm praying. Is this some kind of -- He looked up. In Heero's eyes he saw both hope and yearning. "Thank you," Duo said, still trying to understand the present's significance. "This is... quite a gift, Heero." Heero's lips thinned. He blinked a few times. Something made Duo look down again. Something's odd here. He flipped to the front of the album and then turned pages until he came to the ones with him alone. He narrowed his eyes as he studied the pictures, searching for something unusual. He came to one of him sitting at a workbench, Gundam parts strewn across it. He was leaning back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head, eyes closed, with a big smile on his face. He slipped fingers under the plastic and pulled the photo loose. He saw that the edges of the paper were crinkled and the corners were fuzzy. He put the picture back and turned pages, stopping to reach into the holder and feel the paper of each one. The final shot of him curled up sleeping he pulled out slowly. The corners were dog-eared, and it was creased into quarters. the paper felt soft with years of handling. Duo looked up. He suddenly felt his pulse thudding against his eardrums. Heero's voice was barely above a whisper. "I did my best to straighten them out. I thought about taking that one," he said, indicating the final picture in Duo's hands, "to a place to have it restored. But I kind of like it like that." Duo looked back at the photo. "You -- you --" "I told you I shoot pictures for the memories, not the art. That one was always with me. Even in the final battle, right next to my main screen." Duo blinked back tears. He looked up and spoke quietly, his tone almost reverent. "I mean this much to you?" "These don't begin to say what I feel for you, Duo." Their eyes locked. Love flowed between them. Heero reached across the table with both hands. Duo dropped the picture on the scrapbook and took them. "I-I don't know what to say." Heero smiled gently. Duo squeezed Heero's hands, and his lover squeezed back. Tears spilled from his eyes. "M-my gift for you is only --" "Don't say 'only,'" Heero said. "I know what this place costs. I know what you had to do to make this happen. And it means all the world that you think this much of me, and that you cherish what we have between us this much." Duo stared in wonder at the man he loved. Questions began to rise in him, but before they formed, Heero said, "You haven't finished with the scrapbook." He nodded at the album under the photo of Duo sleeping. Duo looked down. "But this is the last picture." Heero smiled and released his partner's hands. Duo lifted the snapshot and turned the last plastic holder. He looked to the right to see a small brown envelope glued to the inside back cover. He pulled a corner forward and released the clasp, then stuck his fingers into it. After fumbling for a moment, he drew out two rings and put them in the palm of his hand. He cradled them carefully and looked at Heero with his heart in his throat. He whispered, "Is this what I think it is?" "Read the inscription on the inside. It's the same on both." Duo put one ring on the scrapbook and brought the other to his eyes. He turned it so that the light cast the tiny type on the inside of the band in relief. The word Forever in elegant script was flanked by diamond-shaped bullets on either side. To the left stood the initials D. M.; to the right, H. Y. Duo looked at Heero, his cheeks wet. "Let's get married," Heero said quietly, a smile on his lips, a soft glow in his eyes, also glistening with tears. After all these years, Duo thought, and all the unspoken feelings... Emotion overflowed his heart. He looked down and saw his hand trembling. He closed it on the ring he held and put it next to the scrapbook, following it with his eyes. He shut them and bowed his head. Heero reached once more across the table. When his fingers touched his lover's wrist, Duo looked up. Heero said, "Do you --" "Ten thousand, thousand yeses aren't enough to say how much I want to marry you." Heero's smile broadened. He worked his fingers under Duo's and opened his hand, then clasped it, the ring Duo held surrounded by both. "Good," he said. "I think this calls for a celebration." He looked over Duo's shoulder and nodded. Duo turned to see one of their waiters touch a switch on the wall behind him. The partition snicked free of its catch. As the waiter walked briskly toward a corner of the room, folding the partition's panels into a compartment in the wall, Duo saw that there were people on the other side: Quatre and Trowa, Wufei and Zechs stood in tuxedos with brilliantly colored silk bow ties, Quatre's turquoise, Trowa's emerald, Wufei's and Zechs's ruby red. Hilde Schweiker stood between Quatre and Trowa in an elegant lace-up evening gown, deep gold and strapless, with a sweetheart neckline. The fitted bodice sparkled with beaded accents. Between Wufei and Zechs Lady Une wore a black, cut-out formal halter gown, a shimmering halter collar and straps adding a touch of dazzle to her appearance. Duo saw a sly smile under an arched eyebrow. When the room opened up, all of them began to move toward Heero and Duo, smiling, and laughing, and chatting excitedly. "I don't think I've ever held my breath for that long in my life." "Oh, yes, you have." "Really, Trowa? When would that -- oh," Quatre said and blushed. "Duo," Hilde said, rushing to the table and grabbing Duo's arms. Heero let go of his hand as Hilde pulled him into a standing position and threw her arms around him. "I'm so happy for you." She leaned her head on his chest, then quickly pulled it away. She released him and turned abruptly, hoping no one would see her face redden. "Job well done," said Zechs Marquise as he took Heero's hand. He placed his other hand on Heero's arm and squeezed firmly. Duo tried to turn toward Heero, but was interrupted by Quatre's tackling hug to his chest. Quatre laughed gleefully as Duo held his arms away from his sides. "Heero," Lady Une said, nodding gravely, "superior execution, as always." "Thank you," Heero said, bowing slightly. Quatre released Duo. The seven people most important to him in all the world surrounded him in a semi-circle. The chatter died as they waited for Duo to process the rapid-fire shift in emotions and events. Quatre bumped Trowa's shoulder with his own, and his tall, quiet spouse leaned forward and put his ear to Duo's chest. "Still beating. I predict he'll come around in four, three, two --" Duo snapped out of his stupor. He turned to Heero. "Y-yo-you -- you -- how -- how -- how -- " "Don't worry," said Lady Une to Heero with a most serious look, "language skills are among the last to return after a major shock to the system." Duo looked at her with eyebrows raised as high as possible. He turned back to Heero when he felt a finger under his chin pushing upward. "Close your mouth, love." Duo did. Everyone laughed. The group parted as a waiter appeared with a silver tray bearing eight crystal glasses of champagne. Everyone took one and raised it high. "Here's to tricking the trickster," Quatre said. "Here, here," they all responded, laughing again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, 1:37a Duo sat in a chair against the wall near one of the tables spread with various seafood dishes and scanned the room. Lady Une and Hilde were dancing; Wufei, Quatre, and Heero stood near the dessert table, chatting over chocolate mousse and tirimasu. He turned to Trowa and smiled. "Full?" "Stuffed," said Duo. "And still reeling from how you kept this from me." "Not all that hard," Trowa said. "You were so preocuppied with your own plans it never entered your head to suspect something was going on underneath." "Still..." Quatre stepped toward them. "Can I join you?" He dragged a chair over. "I'm so happy for you, Duo," he said as he sat. "For both of you." Duo smiled broadly. "Thanks." "You know," Quatre said, eyes still bright after hours of partying, "Heero's asked me to plan the wedding. At least," he added quickly, "he says it's okay if you do." Duo's eyebrows went up. "Please say yes." Quatre batted his eyelashes. "I highly recommend an affirmative answer," said Trowa. "The results of a no won't be inconsequential." Duo lowered one eyebrow over a crooked smile and rolled his eyes. "I see no reason one of my closest friends shouldn't be allowed --" Quatre squealed and leaned forward to hug Duo, whose look of surprise made Trowa laugh. Quatre sat back. "Okay, there are an infinite number of things to do. I need to call Rashid right away." He pulled his phone. "Oh. It's almost two." He looked up at Duo. "But you could still --" "Yes," Trowa said, "he's always like this, even at two in the morning after more than a couple of drinks." Quatre stopped cold. He gave Trowa his best mock glare. "I haven't had that many," he said. "For you, maybe," Trowa said. "But normal for you is enough to put most adults under three tables at once." Quatre gave Duo a pleading look for help. "You do know how to knock 'em back, dear," Duo said. "Hmph." Duo leaned to Quatre and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and Trowa impulsively followed suit on the other side. "That's my man," he said with a smile. "More endurance than anyone I know." Quatre blushed and smiled back. As Trowa and Duo leaned back into their seats, Quatre's eyes brightened. He sat up straight. "That reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask you," he said to Duo. "You never told me what that extra you recommended does." Duo yawned, then groaned as he arched his back in a satisfying stretch. "Extra what?" "You know, the smoothie. At the gym the other day." Duo raised his eyebrows over a blank expression. Quatre turned toward Trowa. "Maybe you know?" "Well," Trowa said, "there are a bunch of different things you can add to drinks of all kinds: energy boosters, vitamins, flavor enhancers... Do you remember what it was?" "No," Quatre said. "Duo?" the pair said together. Duo unsuccessfully tried faking another yawn. "Some kind of endurance thing, wasn't it?" he mumbled, and looked away. "Anyone want that last prawn?" He reached for a giant shrimp he didn't want. "That's it," Quatre said, the word triggering the first syllable of the name he sought. "Potassium nitrate. What does it do for you?" Trowa began laughing. The volume and intensity grew, and made Quatre and Duo sit up at the unusual sight of the most taciturn among their friends losing his composure. Trowa bent over his knees, then straightened. He ran out of breath, took another gulp of air, and resumed with a full-on guffaw that made the rest of the room turn to watch. "Duo," said Quatre with a stern look, "why is my husband laughing at what you wanted me to add to my smoothie?" "Potassium nitrate," Trowa said, regaining his composure, "is better known as saltpeter. It's supposed to dampen your libido." Heero and Wufei, joined by Zechs at the dessert table, grinned. Lady Une and Hilde, who had stopped dancing when Trowa's outburst grew loud enough to grab their attention, smirked at each other. Hilde snorted, and quickly turned in embarrassment. Quatre's eyes opened so wide Duo thought his eyebrows were going to disappear over the top of his head. He began giggling and blushing. "Why in the name of Zeus Almighty would you want that in my smoothie?" Quatre looked from Trowa to Duo. "I don't have --" He stood. "There's nothing wrong with my --" His face turned bright red. "Why is everybody laughing?" Hilde and Lady Une walked to the dessert table and began chatting with the trio of men there. Duo quickly stood and put his hands on Quatre's arms. He turned him around and hugged him tightly. He put his chin over the young man's shoulder, turned his lips to his ear, and said, "Webster's now uses your picture instead of words for the definition, dear." Before Quatre could react, Trowa was on the other side, wrapping his arms around his lover. "And I wouldn't have it any other way, babe." Duo let go of Quatre. With a wide smile, he said, "That's what you get for oggling me at the gym and asking if you could watch me shower. And you a married man." Quatre rolled his eyes. "Oh," he said just above a whisper. Trowa, still hugging Quatre from behind, put his head next to husband's and said, "Our Duo loves playing tricks on us, you know that." "Trowa, I'm sorry." "Don't be. I'd've been oggling him, too. Heero's a lucky, lucky man." Trowa spun his lover around and kissed him passionately. Duo laughed and said, "I guess as long as Trowa's up to the task..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, 4:10a "Wha'cha doing?" Duo said from the kitchen as he fished for bottles of filtered water in the refrigerator. "Cleaning up," Heero said from his place at the dining table. Duo found the water and closed the refrigerator door, then turned and leaned back against it. His formal dress shirt was unbuttoned completely, the tail out of his pants, sleeves undone, cufflinks in a pocket; his brilliant blue tie hung loose around his neck; his tuxedo jacket was over a shoulder, the collar hooked around an index finger. Duo looked toward the ceiling and smiled as he closed his eyes. He opened them when he felt Heero's messy hair tickle the underside of his chin as he tenderly kissed the hollow of his neck. "And what are you doing?" Duo's voice was quiet and unfocused. "Still in wonderland, I think." He pushed away from the refrigerator and thrust cold bottles of water at Heero, who took them and stepped back. "Stop it. Tickles." "That was my plan." Duo gave his lover a lazy smirk. Suddenly he drew an enormous breath and yawned, covering it with a fist. Heero smiled and quickly moved in again to kiss him, this time starting with his breastbone and working downward. Duo giggled. He bent forward to escape Heero's tickling. His butt hit the refrigerator, prompting him to thrust his hands out. His jacket came loose from his finger and fell over Heero's head. "Oh," said Heero, "so you want to play under the covers, do you?" He raised both water bottles and touched them to Duo's nipples. Duo mock-screamed. He tried to tickle Heero back, but his lover dodged side to side, evading him. The jacket slipped to the floor. As he straightened, Heero dropped the unopened bottles on the jacket and put his arms around his lover. Duo put his head on his partner's shoulder. "So it was a good surprise?" "Best ever. I doubt you'll ever, ever top it." "Good, 'cause I doubt I'd ever think of a sequel." Duo nuzzled his cheek into the warmth of Heero's chest. "Let's go to bed." "Yeah," Duo said with another yawn, "that sounds great." Duo raised his head as Heero bent to retrieve the water, then straightened. He held out a bottle. "Want some?" "Maybe a sip." Heero cracked open a bottle and handed it to Duo, who swigged once. Heero took his hand and led him from the kitchen. "Where we going?" "You'll see." "Wait. I have a question first." They stopped in the kitchen doorway. Duo looked at Heero, then away. When he looked back, a drowsy grin was on his lips. "You dropped a clue, you know." "Hn?" "Well," Duo said, pulling his hand away from Heero's and leaning on the doorframe, "I didn't have time to figure out what it meant, but sometime during the party it came back to me and I suddenly realized how you did it." Heero tilted his head to one side with a curious smile. "Did what?" "Oh, everything, really. I didn't realize it at the moment, but -- you know how you look back on something and remember there was something going on you couldn't put your finger on but you weren't aware of it then, and --" "Duo?" Heero said gently. "What?" "What are you talking about?" "Oh... yeah..." He sighed. "When you gave me the scrapbook I was totally mystified by how you had gotten it there. Then after the party started, I remembered something." Heero straightened his head. "When I blew up at you, um, Wednesday night, I went down and stomped around the parking lot, then crawled on top of your car and lay on the roof, staring at the sky and wondering how you could not care enough to remember our anniversary." "Duo," Heero said, "I'm so sorry I put you through that." "S'okay," Duo said, slurring the words. "A gnat or something kept buzzing me, and finally I sat up to get away from it. I'd forgotten I was on top of a car, and I tumbled forward. I slammed my hands against the windshield and wound up upside down with my ass in the air and my nose on the glass." Heero chuckled. "Bet that was pretty." "Shut up," Duo said, his voice drowsy. "I saw something sticking out of your backpack. It was a sheet you printed with info about Everest." Heero's eyebrows rose. Duo smirked triumphantly. "Jus' wanted you t' know even you can miss a step ever' now an' then, love." He pushed off the doorframe and fell onto Heero, who put out his arms to catch him. "Come on. I know you're tired, but there's something I have to say before we go to bed." He helped Duo stand and put his arm around his shoulder. "Bed." "Won't take long. I promise." Duo's eyebrows crinkled together as Heero walked him to the couch. They sat side by side, turning to face each other. Heero reached down and slipped his shoes off; Duo did the same. He looked over Heero's shoulder at the table. The reference and programming books were gone, put back on the bookshelf. Heero's laptop was closed. "You're finished already?" Heero smiled sheepishly. "Actually, I finished on Tuesday." Duo's eyes widened. "Tuesday? So you've been --" "Faking it since then? Yep." Duo leaned toward his lover, put a hand on his chest, and pushed. "Bastard." He hiccuped, leaned back, and rested his head awkwardly on the back of the sofa. He closed his eyes. "It was for a good cause." Duo raised his head. "You have any idea what you put me through?" he said sleepily. "I think so," Heero said. "That was the worst part of it. I knew my ignoring you would drive you nuts. What I didn't know was that it would upset you as much as it did." Duo sat up. "Well, it did. I really started doubting whether --" Heero leaned forward and grabbed Duo's arms. Duo's eyes widened again as Heero touched noses with him. "That's what nearly killed me," Heero said earnestly, "you thinking I didn't care, care about you, about us. You're more important to me than anything else there is, Duo. I owe you everything." Duo's eyes softened. He tilted his head toward a shoulder and smiled. "That's not true." "It is," Heero said quietly. "But let's not argue the point. After all, we have a wedding to plan." Duo's eyes brightened. He kissed the tip of Heero's nose and sat back. "You have no idea how wrong you are." Heero leaned back with one eyebrow cocked high. "Sorry?" "After everyone had danced with everyone and they were pushing coffee and liqueurs at us, Quatre pulled me away and --" "Let me guess." Duo lowered his chin and narrowed his eyes over a sly smile and said, "He insists you asked him to be our wedding planner. He hasn't been this excited since he threw that enormous ball for himself and Trowa when they tied the knot." "Figures." "I said yes to everything, of course, because I was worn out by then and didn't want to argue. I'm sure he'll --" "You said yes to everything?" Duo's smile turned to a look of chagrin. "Um..." "God, Duo, you've unleashed dozens of swans with silk taffeta bows on barges with orchestras on the river and who knows what else?" "Don't worry, I'll talk to him." "Good luck with that." "Duo," Heero said, his voice suddenly serious, "I know you're tired, but there's something I have to say before this night's over." Duo hiccuped. "Wasn't that two hours ago?" His eyelids fell to half mast over another lazy smile. "It won't take long. Sit up for me." Duo drew breath and did. Heero took his hands. "I just want to apologize for --" "Apologize?" Duo said, his eyes widening. "For what?" Heero's lips thinned, suggesting a pained look. "I want to apologize," Heero said slowly, "for taking as long as I did to let you know how --" He stopped and inhaled. He held his breath for a moment, then exhaled. "It took me a long time after the war to get used to the idea of life holding something for me beyond planning and winning battles. Even longer to understand that being with someone -- with you -- could be so fulfilling. But for all the years we've been together, you never asked for a commitment. You never pushed. It took what must've seemed to you like forever for me to figure out how I felt and what to do about it. And you gave me that -- the space I needed." He held Duo's eyes. Duo sat very still. "Even when I did, I didn't know how to tell you -- how to ask you. When --" "You doubted whether I'd say --" "No. I was afraid," Heero whispered, "I'd screw it up. Something as important as asking you to marry me -- well, that's not a casual thing, you know." Duo pulled his hands free from Heero's and cupped his lover's face with them. He pulled them together and kissed him tenderly. "I-I --" Duo said as he broke the kiss, "I can't begin to find words to tell you how much that means to me. And I think I'll spend the rest of my life trying to find ways to show you how much you mean to me, too." After a moment of staring into Duo's eyes, Heero gave a single nod of his head with a tiny smile. He drew breath, took Duo's hands, and stood, pulling his partner up. He put his arm around his shoulders and turned toward the bedroom. Duo leaned on his lover as he shuffled forward. Halfway there, he stopped and pushed gently away. Heero turned. "Just one more thing." "Hn?" "When did you know I was planning --" "Oh." Heero blushed. "About five months ago." "What?" Duo said, eyes widening as he stepped back. "How could you? I kept everything secret. The only one I told was --" "Wufei, I know. The thing is," Heero said, rubbing the back of his head, "I'd told him months before that that I wanted to pop the question, but didn't know how. He was great, Duo. Just listened, never suggested anything. Wanted me to figure it out myself, and gave me the confidence that I could. He'd make a great psychologist, though I think it's the last thing he'd ever want to do." "Let me get this straight. When I went to Wufei, he went straight to you?" Heero smiled and nodded. "Uh, huh." "Bastard. I thought I could trust him." "He didn't betray your trust, Duo. Think of it more as that he had a, um, prior commitment to help me. You just gave him an opportunity." Duo stuck out his tongue. He wobbled on his feet, and Heero moved to support him. He feebly pushed him away, then fell forward to lean on Heero's chest. He mumbled, "So who knew besides Wufei?" "Let's get you to bed. We can talk about this in the --" Duo raised his head and his voice. "Who knew?" "Everybody," Heero whispered. "Bastards, you're all bastards." "Well," said Heero, his voice brightening as he walked Duo to bed, "I took my cue from you, after all." Duo leaned his head on Heero's shoulder. "From me?" He hiccuped softly. "Yeah," Heero said, smiling at the top of his lover's head. "Everything was on a need-to-know basis. And you didn't need to know." "Bastard." Duo pulled away from Heero. Heero smiled, drew his partner to him, and pressed their chests together. After a long kiss, he broke away. Duo smiled sleepily and said, "Now that's something I want more of." Heero said, "Well... that's all I need to know." They shuffled through the bedroom door, laughing gently. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
