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"Wish Upon a Star "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: sap, angst, fluff, AU Pairings: 3x4 Summary: When you wish upon a star, it makes no
difference who you are, unless you're the heir to the Winner business
empire. So when you do find a means of escape, how long can you hold
on to the fantasy, and the man of your dreams, before reality takes
over? "Wish Upon a Star "
Celebrity Dating: Cat's stuff was all over the spare room; tidiness wasn't one of his virtues, obviously. 'Now what sort of thing were you thinking of? I don't have anything all that formal, I'm afraid,' Cat apologised, dumping a load of shirts on the bed. 'What colours do you like?' 'I wear black mostly.' To be honest, Duo never really thought all that much about clothes. 'Black,' the little blond, who'd obviously missed his vocation as a personal shopper, shook his head. 'I don't have anything black. What about red?' 'Oh, that's nice.' Duo took the shirt Cat was holding out. It was really nice. A deep, glowing red, like dark rubies, and probably silk by the feel of it. 'I like red.' 'Do you?' Cat asked casually, rummaging in another pile. 'It's Heero's favourite colour too.' What the hell was that supposed to mean? Before he could ask, Cat had given him an armful of pants. 'Why don't you try these on and see if you like them? And then I'll find you a jacket and…' 'Cat, slow down, OK?' God, he was like a little blond whirlwind once he got going. He'd be offering Duo underwear next. 'Listen, this is really nice of you, but I don't know if I'd feel comfortable borrowing these. I mean, they're gorgeous and all, but they're all designer labels and most of them look like they've never even been worn. What if I spill something on them?' 'I'm sure they could be cleaned. Duo, they're only clothes, and you're more than welcome to take anything you like.' He bit his lip, all adorable confusion. Shit, how the hell did Trowa ever refuse him anything? Oh, he probably didn't. 'Please, don't worry about anything like that. Friends borrow from each other and we're friends, aren't we?' 'Sure we are.' Cat's answering smile just about outshone the sun. 'Then take them and have a wonderful night.' Of course Duo caved. How could he not, after Cat said that, and gave him the most wistful, hopeful look imaginable? He looked damn good too, all dressed up, and Zechs obviously thought so too, judging by the admiring look he got when Zechs collected him. In these clothes, he felt just like someone who should be going to swanky parties, with an aristocratic, gorgeous boyfriend. It was easy enough to laugh off Zechs' extravagant compliments on how he looked; not so easy to dismiss the warm look in those blue eyes, or the proprietary arm Zechs slid around his waist as they walked outside, with one hand resting lightly on the curve of his ass. Still, he'd made it damn clear that Duo Maxwell didn't put out all that easily, and Zechs had come back anyway. It felt good, having someone touch him like that. He'd been single for far too long. It still kind of pissed him off that Zechs held the car door open for him though. Biting back a comment that he was well able to open doors for himself, Duo slid into the car. Zechs was only being polite; he should be glad to have such an attentive boyfriend. 'So what's this party we're going to?' 'It's an awards ceremony for High Life magazine.' Zechs pulled the car away from the pavement and Duo tried not to drool. One of these days, he was really going to have to ask Zechs if he could drive, just for a second. 'Cool. So are you going to get a prize?' The blond's mouth curved in an easy smile. 'I think that may be for you to decide, at the end of the evening. But no, this particular function is for writers rather than artists. Hopefully we'll arrive just in time to miss all the speeches and nonsense about prize-giving. The reception afterwards should be fun.' It wasn't, really. Sure, it was kind of fun entering the hotel with Zechs; heads turned to look at them and a few journalists snapped photos. Then Zechs was engulfed in a swarm of admirers and Duo was left propping up a pillar in a corner of the boardroom. He did come back for a brief moment, just enough to give Duo a quick peck on the cheek, a hurried explanation that there was someone he needed to meet, and then took off. Duo recognised a few people, either from TV or from the magazines that Hilde liked to read. It was sort of cool, being in a place like this, surrounded by famous people. It wasn't a lot of fun though, standing in the middle of a crowd of strangers. Duo normally wasn't shy about going up and making friends at parties, but here everyone seemed more than happy to stay in their little groups of admirers and flick their shiny hair and air-kiss each other's cheeks. There wasn't even anything decent to eat; just fiddly little canapés that looked suspiciously fishy. Plenty of people glanced over at him – quick glances that evaluated the price of his clothes - and then obviously decided he wasn't important enough to bother with. Not famous enough. 'Duo?' 'Wufei!' Duo turned in delight to see a familiar, friendly face. 'What are you doing here? I didn't think you wrote for these sorts of magazines.' 'I most certainly do not,' the Chinese man said contemptuously, making Duo laugh. Wufei prided himself as a serious financial journalist and was deliciously easy to tease about it. 'I'm here as Meiran's escort. She's had a couple of articles published by one of these magazines and since she lost her job she's here to do some networking.' Duo nodded. 'Yeah. Tro told me she got the push. That seriously sucks. You should hear Tro talking it; it's not like he wasn't down on those Winners before but now I think he's got Voodoo dolls of them.' Wufei gave one of his characteristic sniffs. 'That's hardly practical. But I have a better plan. I'm going to dig up every scrap of dirt I can find about that family and publish it.' His nostrils flared; always a dangerous sign. 'They may be able to get away with anything on L4, but there is some justice in Sanque at least.' Duo grinned. 'Cool! I thought they were supposed to be all squeaky clean.' 'That's the image they like to project, yes. But I've been doing a little digging around, and there's something odd going on. I was supposed to be interviewing their acting CEO's brother a few days ago, and I got fobbed off with some excuse. He's allegedly staying with friends, but I've looked into it and he's apparently disappeared.' He gave a satisfied little nod. 'Yes, there's definitely something odd going on there.' 'You go, 'Fei,' Duo cheered him on, and then realised they weren't alone any more. Arctic-blue eyes swept over the pair, but when Zechs spoke it wasn't to Duo. 'Wufei. I didn't think this would be your sort of party.' Wufei gave him a brusque nod. 'It isn't. Especially not now. Good evening, Duo.' Ouch. Before Duo could even ask what all that had been about, Zechs rounded on him. 'When I ask someone out as my date, I don't especially appreciate being abandoned while they go off with somebody else.' 'Oh, really?' Duo snapped back. 'Well, when I'm asked out, I don't really appreciate being dumped in a crowd of strangers and ignored. I'm odd that way. And like Wufei said, this isn't really my sort of party. I think it's time for me to go.' Without waiting for a response, Duo marched back inside, heading for the stairs. 'Duo. Please, wait.' 'What?' 'I am truly sorry. I shouldn't have left you like that; it was rude and inconsiderate and you have every right to be angry.' 'I sure do. I don't let people treat me like that.' 'Good,' Zechs said softly. 'You shouldn't. Can you please let me explain? Carlos Riviera was my mentor when I first took up photography. He's elderly now, and he's been seriously ill. This is his first public function in months, and he was just about to leave when we arrived. I really wanted to see him, just for a moment.' 'Oh. OK, I guess that's sort of different. But you could have just told me.' 'I know. I'm sorry.' He reached out and took Duo's hand. 'Shall we go somewhere and have dinner? Not sushi this time, I promise. We'll go anywhere you like, or I'd love to show you my home. We can have something to eat and just talk. Would you like that?' Duo hesitated briefly. Two seconds ago, he'd have said no way. But the man had apologised, and seemed genuinely sorry. And it would be pretty cool to see his house. 'OK. But I have to work in the morning; I don't want to stay out too late.' 'I'll make sure you get your beauty sleep, don't worry. Not, I may add, that you need it.' Duo rolled his eyes. 'So how d'you know Wufei?' 'We used to be friends.' Zechs took his hand, leading him down the staircase to the lobby. A couple of cameras flashed in their direction. Zechs totally ignored them. Duo tried to. 'Friends as in boyfriends?' God, that was hard to imagine. He couldn't imagine those two having a single thing in common. 'Briefly, yes.' Zechs' mouth was suddenly as flat and hard as a sword blade. 'I'd really rather not talk about it. I certainly don't want to spoil a lovely evening with you by talking about my ex.' The house turned out to be amazing; not an old castle or anything, but a modern building in extensive grounds. All open plan inside, with mezzanine levels and odd angles and some really cool modern artwork. As well as a lot of framed photos that Zechs had taken. Zechs laughed, watching him take it all in. 'I know. It's all rather pretentious, isn't it? Our butler, Pagan, insists on displaying the things, though.' A butler. Of course. 'Can I ask you something? I went to your exhibition in January; the one you had for that children's charity. All those black and white pictures of those street kids in Egypt. They were amazing. Would you not like to do more stuff like that, instead of all this society fashion stuff? Doesn't that bore you, when there's a whole world out there to photograph?' Zechs smiled taking a sip of his drink. 'Sweetheart, I promise, taking pictures of beautiful men and women can never be a bore. And I do get extravagantly well paid for it.' 'That's it?' Duo frowned. 'It's only about the money for you? Not about using your talents?' 'Well, one does need a certain level of income, yes.' Zechs put his glass down and gave Duo a quizzical glance. 'I could ask you these questions, you know. You're an extremely gifted artist, and you're frittering your talents away painting local shops and children's bedrooms. Do you really think you're using your own gifts fully?' 'It's not the same,' Duo argued, turning to face the taller man. He liked Zechs so much when he was like this; not trying to be all suave and sophisticated. 'I'm a moderately competent artist, but I know my limitations. It's different for you; you've got a real gift. Some of those photos you took literally made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.' 'I think you underrate yourself,' Zechs said smoothly. 'You are considerably more than competent. I think you could be rather successful, actually, given the right patronage, and perhaps a little exposure in the media. You're a very attractive, talented young man; it would be a positive pleasure to introduce you into the proper circles. I know some gallery owners; I'm sure one of them would agree to an exhibition. I could make you the latest fashion.' 'No, thank you. Not that it's not nice of you to offer and all, but I don't want to be famous because of who my boyfriend knows, or the way I look, or any of that shit. If my paintings are good enough, people will buy them. Full stop.' 'Idealistic artists tend to go hungry in their garrets, you know,' Zechs said indulgently. 'Realistic ones take photographs of supermodels for Vogue' . Duo shrugged. 'I can't imagine you know much about going hungry. And I don't need that sort of crap, having to worry about pleasing people and my image and all that. I'm happy the way I am; I like my life.' 'That must be nice.' Zechs turned away to look out the window, sounding oddly wistful. 'But, really, that's all you want? To work as a shop assistant for the rest of your life, and paint on people's walls? You have no other ambitions at all? ' 'Of course I do! I want to keep on with my painting, and maybe do some more book illustrations, and I'd love to travel and have a pet and I guess I'd like to find a guy who's crazy about me to spend the rest of my life with. I think that's more than enough for anyone to want. What about you? What do you want that's so amazing?' 'You.' Zechs said instantly, glibly; he'd looked….almost lost for a second before he said it, though. Duo glared at him. 'Don't bullshit me. You only met me a couple of days ago. What do you really want?' Zechs shook his head, a faint smile playing about those perfect lips. 'I tend to be a rather impulsive person, Duo. I do want you. Would you mind if I took a photograph of you?' Duo blinked at the sudden subject change. 'I guess not.' It was fun at the start; Zechs was camping it up outrageously, making Duo relax, and snapping away. 'Unbraid your hair.' 'Nope,' Duo spun around, laughing, feeling his braid fly around him. Zechs smiled and took the picture, but there was a definite note of command to his next words. 'Duo, let it down.' 'I never do that for people I don't know really well,' Duo said flatly. 'And I'd rather you didn't talk to me like that.' 'I'm sorry.' Zechs pulled him close and kissed him, very gently. 'I got a little carried away. I was starting to think you were one of my models.' 'Well, I'm not.' 'I know. You're far, far lovelier. I haven't offended you again, have I?' 'Nah, it's OK. People are always telling me I'm way too touchy about my hair.' 'It's beautiful.' Zechs ran one hand slowly down the length of the braid. 'Tell me, sweetheart, how well do you have to know people before you'll untie it for them? I would like, very much, to see it loose someday.' One hand cupped the nape of Duo's neck, tilting his head back slightly. 'I want to get to know you that well. Will you let me?' 'I, um, yes.' The fingers at Duo's neck stroked lightly, and Zechs was close enough for breath to dance across Duo's skin, for that long pale hair to tickle his forehead. 'Sure.' 'God, you're adorable. Lovely Duo, will you let me kiss you properly?' 'Please.' It came out as a ragged whisper. 'Please, Zechs.' It wasn't like he'd never kissed anyone before. It wasn't like he hadn't read the books or watched the occasional porn flick. Zechs had probably written and directed them. And played the starring role. The kiss was that good. Tender at first; as if Zechs was asking permission. Warm, firm lips caressing his, probing his mouth open, and then the first sweet flutter of the other man's tongue against his. God. He'd never been kissed like that. Chances were, no one in the entire universe had ever been kissed like that. Duo thought he probably had stars shining out of his eyes as he wrapped both arms around Zechs' neck and pressed their mouths together. The second time wasn't nearly as gentle. Zechs obviously liked to be the one in command; the one who set the pace. Duo normally liked to have more say in the proceedings than that, but God, who was going to argue when you were being held by someone whose tongue could apparently reach down to your very soul, and cover it with kisses? 'I liked that.' Zechs didn't let him go, just pulled back an inch or two to look at him. 'Me too. Why'd you stop?' Zechs threw his head back and laughed, all that amazing hair cascading around them both. 'The floor in here is very cold, very hard marble. And I know from experience that the chairs aren't very comfortable. Do I need to say any more? Or should I just show you?' He took one of Duo's hands, dropped a light kiss to the palm and then pressed it between his legs. May I take you somewhere a little less formal?' 'Um.' OK, he wanted to. No real reason to say no, except he had to work early the next morning and it was already late, and it looked cheap to sleep with someone on the second date, and Trowa would kill him, and he didn't really want to be with someone who was only after sex, even if the sex was so miraculous it would probably – definitely – be worth it. 'Please?' Zechs kissed him again, immediately turning Duo's brain and assorted other body parts to mush, liquid, glowing, happy mush, and then taking his hand and leading him down a long corridor. 'Wow.' It wasn't a bedroom. It was like a giant glasshouse, smelling of earth, and exotic fruits and plants. 'What is this place?' 'It's called an orangery.' Zechs let him stand still, gazing around, and moved off to light candles. 'It's beautiful. You have real orange trees?' 'There's one behind you. There should be some ripe fruit, if you want to look.' Duo opened his mouth to ask where? and then saw the orange globes hanging amidst glossy, dark green leaves. 'For real? I can pick one?' 'That's what they're for.' Zechs watched, reclining gracefully on a huge sofa, as Duo carefully selected an orange, and then patted the seat beside him. 'I'll squeeze you fresh orange juice in the morning, if you'd like that.' Duo put his orange carefully on the ground at his feet. 'Am I going to be here in the morning?' 'I very much hope so. What do you like for breakfast? Pagan makes a rather good Eggs Florentine.' 'I'm not that keen on spinach. And I haven't said I'll stay yet.' 'No, you haven't,' Zechs agreed equably. 'Do you think I might be able to convince you?' Duo shrugged. 'I don't normally jump into bed with guys I've just met.' 'I know. And I'm not necessarily expecting you too.
Duo, I have three guest bedrooms. If you prefer, you can take one
of them.' He smiled, white teeth glinting in candlelight. 'On the
other hand, I do have a very large, very luxurious bed that I would
very much like you to share with me.' ~ * ~ |
