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"Carriage Ride for One"Written By: Waterliliylf Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. All rights
remain with Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. No profit being
made here. Rating: R Warnings: Yaoi, sap, fluff Pairings: 3x4 Summary: A coachman becomes infatuated when he takes a troubled young man fora life-changing ride through a Dublin park one fine Spring morning. Note – Since I already have a rather large
backlog of WIPs the only practical thing to do, really, was to start
a new story. This was – ahem – intended to be a one-shot,
but Duo is already clamouring for his own romance, so there will be
one more chapter. "Carriage Ride for One"
He wasn't late, Duo thought resentfully, slinging his backpack off his shoulder. They'd agreed to meet in the library at four and it wasn't even ten to. There was no reason whatsoever for Heero to glare at him like that, except that it was pretty much his usual 'Duo-watching' expression. To make matters worse, Heero's friend Wufei – a founder member of the Pissy Asian Students Union – was there too, wearing a similarly disapproving expression. Duo kind of liked Wufei; he was one of those guys who elevated geekiness to such heights that it was actually cool, but the feeling wasn't exactly reciprocated. 'Goodbye, Heero.' Wufei stood up, gathering his books. 'I'll see you later.' Duo got a brief nod of acknowledgement. Duo shook his head as the Chinese man stalked off. 'Jesus. Does that guy never look happy?' 'When he has something to look happy about,' Heero said curtly. 'Yeah, well, we've all got problems,' Duo muttered. It wasn't like his twenty-three years on Earth had been all that peachy, but he didn't go around looking like his whole family had been killed. 'Course, that was maybe because he'd never had a family to be killed, but still. It was the principle; no point in moping around and spreading the misery. He found a spare space among Heero's papers and switched on his laptop. It was old and took a few minutes to power up. Heero, naturally, had the sweetest, sleekest offering from Apple and he'd never let Duo so much as touch it. Asshole. Not that he'd ever let Duo touch that either. Still, Duo was naturally, determinedly optimistic. Given the life he'd lived, he'd had to be. And they'd been assigned a project together that would probably take a week or so, which meant lots of time together, and maybe even getting to be friends, if nothing else. Everyone else liked him. Howard had practically adopted him, and his two best friends were Trowa and Zechs so he obviously had some sort of appeal for the brooding, silent types. All except Heero Yuy, apparently. 'Here.' Heero shoved an A4 print-out across the table. 'Thanks. What is it?' 'A list of the topics I've assigned to you.' 'What?' Duo cast his eyes down the page; oddly, they were the ones he would have chosen himself, but that wasn't the point. 'How come you get to decide that?' Heero shrugged, a simple gesture that he somehow made sexy. Of course, he made everything sexy. Glaring, rolling those amazing eyes, telling Duo to go away and leave him alone. 'You couldn't even be bothered to turn up on time. I assumed you weren't interested in any of this.' 'What the hell are you talking about?' Duo demanded. 'We agreed to meet here at four.' He slapped the library table for emphasis and got disapproving looks from the few other students who were indoors on a lovely June afternoon. 'Yes, and I told you that my last class finished at two so I'd get here early. The logical assumption was that if you were remotely interested, you'd be here also.' 'Heero, I told you I had to work this afternoon. I told you I wouldn't get here 'til four.' 'Oh, well, if your part-time job is more important that your education, I think that says it all, doesn't it?' 'Yeah, I'm a total layabout,' Duo muttered. 'I have this stupid attachment to earning money so I can afford food and rent and stuff like that. Anyway, whatever. We're supposed to be doing this paper jointly, as in co-operating. Team work, if you've ever heard of that.' Partners even, he thought wistfully. It was stupid. He'd been so happy when Professor Noin had read out the pairs who'd been assigned to work together. He and Heero had done a paper together for another class a few months ago, and they'd spent a whole afternoon together. Even though Heero hadn't accepted Duo's invitation to go for coffee after, he'd thought about it for a second or two before refusing, which was progress. 'We are doing it jointly,' Heero said. 'I've divided the sections equally.' 'What if our answers overlap?' 'They shouldn't, assuming you write concisely and don't waffle.' 'Yes, sir. Right. That's it, then?' Heero nodded. 'If you have any questions, you can email me. I thought we could meet up on Saturday afternoon to read each other's work so far. Perhaps at five?' Well, that was oddly diplomatic for him. Of course, what he meant was that he wanted to check that Duo's answers were up to standard. And of course, he wanted to spend all day Saturday in the library. 'OK. But can we make it a bit earlier? Maybe four? I'm going out that night.' 'Fine.' He gave one brief nod, and dived back to his laptop. God, he was such a git. A gorgeous one, though. And he had a smile that changed his forbidding looks totally, and Duo was utterly obsessed with how it would feel to run a finger through that spectacularly messy hair, and then down his neck, and down and down and… 'Um, if you're not doing anything, you could come along, after we finish up.' He blurted it out, because he was Duo, and that was what he did, and damnit, everyone else liked him, and it wasn't bloody fair that Heero Yuy should be immune. 'A couple of friends of mine are playing a gig in Temple Bar. It's all trad stuff, if you're into that, but it's to raise money for a kids' charity.' 'No, thank you.' He didn't even bother to look up as he spoke. Duo still fumbled in his pocket for a flier and moved to stand behind Heero's chair, dangling the piece of coloured paper in front of his face. Anything to get him to look up. 'You can take this. Just in case you change your mind.' 'I said, I'm not interested.' And then he actually moved his chair a couple of inches to the left, away from Duo. 'What the hell is your problem?' Duo snapped, stung. He'd had a shower before leaving the stable so he didn't stink, and it wasn't like he was radioactive or something; proximity to him wouldn't contaminate the Japanese student. 'Why don't you just tell me, Yuy, what is it about me that pisses you off so much? I know you're gay, and yeah, maybe I've flirted with you a little bit. That's not a crime, as far as I know. Why don't you just tell me exactly why I'm so damn repulsive to you?' Heero levelled one of those killer glares at him. 'You're unprofessional and disrespectful and you never take anything seriously and you treat the universe like it's a joke specially created to make you laugh.' 'Oh.' Duo fumbled his computer and books into his bag, shoving his chair back so fiercely it probably made grooves in the floor. 'Well, I'm sorry I ever damn bothered with you. Sorry that I tried to be friendly to someone who was in a strange country and maybe needed someone to talk to. My fucking mistake.' Bastard. Duo hands were actually shaking as he fastened the clips on his bag. He hadn't done a single thing to deserve that sort of treatment. He wasn't unprofessional, whatever Yuy said. Maybe he liked to joke around a bit but he worked damn hard. For God's sake, he was doing a Masters in Computer Science at Ireland's most prestigious university. He aced every test and assignment and held down a couple of part-time jobs. If he found time in all of that to have a social life as well, surely that wasn't a bad thing? He was every bit as committed and professional as Heero fucking Yuy was; more probably. Heero came from money. He'd been to an exclusive boarding school in Switzerland where he'd learned rich-kid stuff like fencing and horse-riding and how to look down his perfectly straight nose at anyone who hadn't enjoyed those privileges. He hadn't grown up on the streets and had to fight for everything he got. Duo Maxwell was going to make a future for himself, a good one, and it didn't have to include jerks like this. 'Duo.' He was halfway down the stairs to the ground floor, when he heard Heero coming after him. 'Screw you,' he yelled back. 'If you've got any more insults you forgot to throw at me, just send an email.' 'Duo! Just wait! Please.' Fuck, he was fast when he wanted to be. He caught up with Duo on the first landing, actually reaching out to put one hand on his sleeve. 'I don't want to hear it,' Duo hissed. 'Get your hands off me. I'm surprised you can bring yourself to touch someone as repulsive as me.' 'I don't…think that. Not at all,' Heero breathed. 'I'm sorry. I'm no good at talking to people. I never say the right thing.' 'No,' Duo agreed. 'That's sure as hell true. You're completely disastrous.' Then his brain processed what Heero had stumblingly admitted. 'You like me?' Heero nodded. 'Why the fuck didn't you say so, instead of treating me like dirt?' 'There wasn't any point. There isn't. You have a boyfriend. I thought you were just teasing me all along. You joke around with everyone. I never thought you meant any of it.' 'Shit. Are you retarded or something?' Duo demanded bluntly. 'I don't have a boyfriend.' Heero goggled at him. 'Yes, you do.' 'Do not! I think it's something I'd know.' 'That guy from the history department. The one who's always hanging around you. Wufei told me you two are together.' 'Then Wufei's insane.' Actually, that was probably true. He'd been thrown out of the Historical Re-enactment Society for demanding real swords and leeches and he'd registered an official complaint about Professor Khushrenada, who was Head of the History Department, for spelling a name wrong during a lecture. 'Trowa's not my boyfriend. He's my best friend and we share a flat but that's it.' Heero's hand, amazingly, was still on his arm. It was like a butterfly alighting; something rare and magical. He could feel the warmth of Heero's golden skin. 'Really?' 'Really. Seriously, you like me?' 'Yes.' A simple one syllable word that made the world shine. 'Come out with me,' Duo offered impulsively. 'Tonight. Just see how it goes. Maybe we'll hate each other after the first ten minutes and then there won't be a problem.' 'There will be a serious problem if you decide you hate me.' Duo grinned. 'Can't really see that happening. I've been into you for months and you've been a total prick. No way am I going to change my mind because you're nice to me for a change. I'll pick you up. Just text me where you live. Seven o'clock? 'Yes. All right.' Heero looked stunned by this turn of events; more so when Duo grabbed him and planted a quick kiss on his mouth. 'God, I've wanted to do that for months. See you at seven.' Duo cycled home like the hounds of hell were after him. Shit. He had less than three hours to plan the most perfect date in the universe, hardly any money and one chance of winning Heero. OK, realistically he knew that was a bit melodramatic. If Heero liked him, really liked him, one less than stellar evening together wouldn't exactly change his mind. It didn't want to stop him wanting to plan a seriously no-holds-barred romantic night for the two of them. Quatre's car was parked outside their house, like it had been for the past couple of months, and Quatre himself was in the kitchen. He hadn't officially moved in as such; he had a snazzy apartment down by the docks and he and Trowa stayed there the odd night, but he spent most of his time in their shabby basement flat. Trowa had given him his own key, after checking with Duo that that was OK. As far as Duo was concerned, it was just fine. Presumably one day, they'd want their own place, but for now the three of them got on like nobody's business. It wasn't like Tro hadn't brought home other boyfriends. Sometimes, they'd even stayed for a bit, but eventually they got tired of Trowa adopting every stray or injured animal in the neighbourhood, and wanting to spend every spare minute poking around Dublin's older crypts and cemeteries. That or they got jealous of the fact that Duo and Trowa were practically joined at the hip, in every way except sexually. Quatre had been different from the start, fitting in as if he'd been there forever. He brought home gourmet pet food and was more than happy to explore the more obscure parts of Dublin with Trowa as an escort and guide. Plus he and Duo had become friends from the word go, and enjoyed spending time together even if Trowa wasn't around. The blond was fussing over something on the stove; another definite bonus to him being around. He loved to cook, even if he wasn't that great about clearing up afterwards. 'Hi, Duo! Taste this!' He whirled around, wooden spoon in hand, and Duo had to grin. When Quat had left for work that morning, he'd been wearing a tailored suit, and shiny polished shoes, with his hair carefully combed. Now, he had on one of Trowa's old t-shirts, liberally spattered with flour and grease stains, and there was some sort of red sauce in his messy hair. 'I thought you weren't going to be home tonight.' 'Change of plan.' Duo licked the spoon. 'That's yummy. I've got a date, Quat! With Heero!' 'No! Really? Tonight? Wow! What happened? Tell me all about it! Are you excited? That's marvellous!' 'It's insane! I'm picking him up in two hours and I haven't a clue where to take him, or what to do, or anything.' 'I'm sure he just wants to spend time with you.' Quatre was starry-eyed with the romance of it all. 'Dinner somewhere nice and quiet so you can get to know each other.' He clicked his tongue. 'My horoscope said today was going to be especially romantic, not just for me but for my friends, and it's always true, whatever Trowa says.' 'Why's today romantic for you?' Duo pulled himself on to the counter top and dipped one finger in the sauce. It was delicious. Duo couldn't see why Quatre wasted his time working in that bank of his when he could cook like that. 'It's our three month anniversary,' Quatre said proudly. 'That's why I'm making all this food. I thought we could stay in and have a carpet picnic – it's all finger food – and watch some old black and white films.' 'Quatre,' Duo breathed, an idea stirring. 'I don't suppose I could maybe take a couple of things, if you've got any extra…' 'Of course you can! Trowa and I can order a pizza or something. And I bought a lovely wicker picnic basket and I've got champagne, and chocolate truffles.' 'No,' Duo said suddenly. 'That's not fair, Quat. You must've spent hours doing all of this. I can't ask you to give up your special evening.' 'Don't be silly! I offered, and I know Trowa would say exactly the same.' He bent down to have a quick look in the oven and then gave Duo one of those blinding smiles. 'Tell me all about it. Where are you going to take him? Do you want to take my car?' 'No, thanks. I'm going to call Howard and see if I can borrow a carriage for a couple of hours and take him for a drive 'round the city. D'you think that sounds OK?' 'I think it sounds wonderful. It's such a lovely evening and there's a full moon.' He sighed happily. 'You like him a lot, don't you?' 'Yeah.' Duo sighed. He'd liked Heero from the first moment he'd seen him, standing outside the main gate of Trinity College and juggling a laptop bag and a pile of books and a giant cup of coffee. He'd just been exotic eye candy that first time, then they'd been assigned the same tutor, and a few shared tutorials. Heero wasn't just smart as hell; he was always the first one to offer help to anyone who needed it and, like Duo, he volunteered at the Computer Club and the LGBT society. He had a dry sense of humour and they'd had a few casual conversations; enough for Duo to know that they had a fair amount in common. 'I like him a lot,' he told Quatre. 'Then,' his friend said firmly, 'we need to plan the most perfect first date imaginable.' 'Well, second, sort of,' Duo grinned. 'We had that coffee date last month.' 'That wasn't a date!' Quatre gave his sauce a vigorous stir and earned himself a couple more red splashes. 'You bumped into him as he was coming out of the Kylemore and made him spill his drink all over himself!' 'Was so a date,' Duo argued. 'There was coffee, and a bit of yelling, and he had to change his clothes after we were done. Speaking of changing, I'd better go and get ready and I have to call Howard. Thanks for everything!' Of course, once he'd mentioned clothes Quatre abandoned his cooking and came upstairs. He sat on Duo's bed and offered advice, and armloads of clothes to borrow. It was nice. Trowa was Duo's best friend, and the closest thing he'd ever had to family, but he wasn't so great at this sort of stuff. It took almost an hour to find the perfect outfit. His own favourite jeans, which he'd caught Heero eyeing covertly a time or two, and a borrowed shirt and jacket. By the time he'd showered and dressed, Quatre had packed up the picnic hamper, and offered to drive him to Stephen's Green to collect the carriage. Heero's apartment block turned out to be near Quatre's, and Heero himself was standing outside, looking at his phone. 'I'm not late,' Duo called, pulling Shinigami to a halt. 'I told you, seven o'clock.' 'I know.' Heero looked up and his surprised expression changed to a soft, little smile as if they were sharing a private joke. 'I've been scared you'd change your mind.' He was nervous too, Duo realised, jumping down from the carriage. He hadn't had a chance to think about nerves while he was dashing around sorting things out, but driving the carriage to where Heero lived, there'd been time. 'Nope. No mind-changing here. So, ah, your carriage awaits, I guess.' Heero shook his head. 'I didn't imagine you'd do anything like this. You didn't have to go to all this trouble.' 'No trouble. This is Shinigami, by the way. No, I wouldn't pet him if I were you. He's not great with strangers. Now, here you are, my lord!' He swung open the carriage door, and bowed low. 'I'd rather sit up on the box with you, if you don't mind?' 'Great.' He climbed up, reaching a hand down to Heero to help him up. Any excuse. Heero settled himself and coughed a couple of times. God, hopefully he wasn't allergic to horses. 'I … don't have a lot of practice at this sort of thing,' he said finally. 'No, I guess there aren't a lot of horse-drawn carriages in Tokyo,' Duo agreed, clicking his tongue for Shinnie to walk on. 'Not that. The whole dating thing.' 'Oh. Right. I don't either, actually. I mean, there's not that much of a gay scene in this city, and I never seem to have time anyway, what with work and study and stalking this snarky Japanese guy I'm not even sure is all that into me.' 'I am.' Heero's fingers were suddenly curled around Duo's free hand. It felt nice. 'I'm glad.' 'I'm sorry I wasn't very friendly to you, before. I didn't know how I was supposed to react. I thought you were with someone, but you were flirting with me, and I just couldn't get you to leave me alone, whatever I did.' He said the last bit so forlornly that Duo had to laugh. 'Yeah, well, sometimes it was better having you glaring at me than ignoring me. I like you, you know. You don't have to be nervous. I mean, I liked you when you were a total pisshead, so it's not like I've set the bar very high for you to improve.' 'You should. You deserve a very high bar.' 'Oh.' Duo, quite uncharacteristically, blushed at the compliment. 'Just so you know, I'm not like that. If I was with someone, I wouldn't flirt with anyone else.' A bit of him, just a tiny part, was rather hurt that Heero had ever believed that of him. 'So, I get a high bar?' Heero laughed, a sound that was all for Duo. 'Yes.' OK, he wasn't exactly the universe's most talky guy. Still, Duo had known that. There probably were never going to be flowery speeches. It didn't matter. It wasn't like they were English students, and Duo was more than used to filling in conversational gaps. 'So. I don't really have a plan for this evening. I thought we could drive 'round a bit and then maybe have a picnic on the steps of the National Gallery – I've got a basket all packed – and then climb over the railings into Merrion Square and read all the Oscar Wilde quotes.' 'That sounds like a plan, actually.' 'Yeah. I suppose.' They were both silent as Shinigami trotted across O'Connell Bridge, heading past Trinity, lit by moonlight. Heero was still holding his hand, though, and he'd edged just a little bit closer on the seat. 'That's where I saw you first.' Duo pointed to the archway into the main courtyard. 'I knew you were a student 'cause you had a tonne of books and you looked kind of lost. I was going to go and talk to you, and then Wufei turned up.' 'The first time I saw you,' Heero said quietly, 'was that meeting in Professor Noin's office. You came rushing in, about thirty seconds before we were due to meet her, and I thought..' 'What? That I was the most unpunctual guy you'd ever met?' 'No, actually. That wasn't what I thought. Not at all.' 'Oh.' Right. Compliments from Heero, then, were apparently always going to be rather oblique. 'You're blushing again.' Heero pulled his hand free to brush against Duo's burning cheek. 'Yeah. I'm not used to compliments. Even kind of obscure ones.' 'Hn.' He tangled their fingers together again. 'You're doing pretty well, for a guy who claims he's nervous about all this. 'I want to,' Heero said, very low, sounding terribly vulnerable. Duo swallowed. 'You really…you liked me all this time?' 'Yes.' Shinigami was an intelligent horse who knew the usual tourist route. He skirted the walls of Trinity College and stopped outside the National Gallery because it was where his drivers normally gave him a breather and gave his passengers a chance to take photos. When Duo finally lifted his mouth from Heero's, neither of them could remember how they'd got there. FINISHED (ish) Maybe...
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