"Uptown Guy"

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

Pairings: 3x4,1x2

Summary: Life starts to look up for a bookshop owner and a garage mechanic when a cute guy moves in across the street.

"Uptown Guy"

 

Furry Valentine:

Kittens, whatever anyone tells you, do not belong in a garage. Under any circumstances. Zechs, had found the mother cat and her three tiny babies in the alley behind the garage a few weeks previously, and taken them home, cooing over how adorable they were, and how much his boyfriend would love the new additions to their family.

He'd been back the next morning, plus kitties, plus the illuminating news that Wufei had allergies. Yeah, right. Allergies to a family of cats in an antique-filled luxury apartment. He'd decided instead that it would be good to install them in the garage, as pest control. He's my boss, and they were cute, so I'd gone along with it.

They were still cute as, well, kittens, but they'd become a royal pain in the butt since they'd discovered the power of mobility. I mean that in every possible sense; they loved climbing and my skin was covered in tiny red marks where I'd disengaged exploratory kitten claws.

It was also damn hard to keep them shut in their little kitty pen; on this particular morning, Rolly and Royce were batting the tuft of my braid with their fuzzy little paws and Bentley was eyeing the Final Frontier of Zechs' sweeping mane of hair, eyes round as car tyres.

Zechs had called in for his usual mug of coffee after dropping Wufei at work and had no idea of the needle-sharp danger that was stalking his perfect, perfect hair. He owns a chain of six garages around Sanque, all of the others in much more upmarket areas. Oddly enough, this, the least profitable, is the one where he spends most of his time. Of course, that possibly has something to do with the fact that his boyfriend's antique weapons shop is a couple of doors down.

When I'd first started working here, I'd thought the daily visits were a way of checking up on me, although I'd soon copped on that it was just a handy excuse to be in the neighbourhood and call in on to a certain antique dealer. Since Wufei had finally succumbed to Zechs' adoration, they were now shacked up together, but I guess the morning drop-ins had become something of a habit for him.

'It's really weird,' I commented, showing him the day's schedule. 'I had six cars booked in for today, but they've all called up and cancelled.'

He just shrugged, tossing his hair over one shoulder, and Bentley moved a couple of paces forward, transfixed by all that hair in motion. 'It happens. I forgot to tell you; I do have one customer for you. A Mr. Lowe. He's bringing his car in at ten for a service.' He grinned at something; probably thinking about Wufei.

'Since it's so quiet, would you to mind taking a quick look at the Rolls first? I thought her engine sounded a bit off this morning, almost like she's developing a small cough. Wufei said I was imagining it, but you might take a look at her.'

'Sure. Not like I'm exactly overworked, is it?' I was pretty damn sure he was imagining it- he coddled that car like a new mother with a baby – but she was a beauty, and it was never a hardship to tinker around with her.

'Thanks. I'll leave her here then.'

'Where are you off to?'

'Just finalising plans for tonight.' He grinned at me. 'Valentine's Day, you know.'

'Oh, yeah.'

God, I'd actually managed to forget. A sheer tribute to my powers of denial, because everyone else I knew was literally wallowing in the throes of romance. Trowa's new squeeze, Quatre, had stencilled pink and gold cupids and hearts all over his shop window, and convinced Tro to let him set up a lovey-dovey display in the bookshop.

Barf.

They were bad enough on a normal day, those day; they didn't need extra romance in their lives.

Quatre had already pushed back the opening date of his music store three times, for a variety of excuses. The real reason, of course, was that he was spending every waking – or sleeping - moment with Trowa. Apparently, he'd managed to offload his apartment for some astronomical sum, so he wasn't strapped for cash.

He'd officially moved into Trowa's, claiming that the living quarters over the music shop just weren't habitable, and though he'd made a few desultory plans to remodel the place, nothing had happened yet.

As for Trowa, the man was besotted. I'd have resented the hell out of Quatre for stealing my best friend, except that I couldn't grudge him that sort of happiness.

He went around looking like he'd scored front row seats at a Celine Dion gala, and singing off-key versions of 'My heart will go on' and 'Wind beneath my Wings' when he thought no one was listening. To Quatre's eternal credit, I'd only seen him wince a couple of times, when his boyfriend tried to reach for the high notes and fell flat on his face.

I really, really was happy for him. For both of them. Quatre was a nice guy even if he'd been driving me crazy lately, passing on little messages from Heero and trying to set us up to meet.

I'd lost it a couple of days ago, informing him that if he didn't keep his cute little nose out of my business, it was going to end up broken.

Instead of getting mad, he'd flung his arms around my neck, tight enough to cut off my air supply, and told me he just knew that it would all work out for me, but I would have to be brave and give Heero a chance.

Yeah, right. The guy had had his chance, and he'd flung it back in my face. I'm not stupid; once you've been burnt, you're wary about sticking your hand – or your heart –straight back into the flames.

'So what about you?' Zechs asked standing up to leave, and shooting me another of those weird-assed grins. 'Any nice romantic plans of your own?'

Bastard.

He knew damn well I didn't and I didn't bother to answer. Jerk. I was going to train my kittens to attack his hair on sight. They were going to be Ninja kittens. Let him try to maintain that pose of cool sophistication with three furballs swinging out of his hair.

'Oh well, never mind,' Zechs said airily. 'Maybe some gorgeous guy is going to turn and sweep you off to Paris for the weekend?'

'Yeah, sure,' I muttered sourly, rescuing my poor, abused braid from sneaky little kitten paws and flicking it over my shoulder. 'On his flying pig, right?'

He did another shampoo-commercial-style hair toss and three kittens started to edge closer to the imposing height of Mt. Zechs. 'Now, Duo, it's your own fault if you're not doing anything tonight. You're going to have to speak to him at some point.'

'Says who?'

He was probably all prepared for the lecture when his 'phone rang. Yay. God, I was getting so damn sick of everyone in the universe banging on about the perfect Heero Yuy, who'd made it clear as crystal meth that he wasn't interested, and then for some reason had decided to try stalking me.

The lecture never happened. The kittens dived for cover at the first sound of Wufei's irate voice, and Zechs held the 'phone a little farther from his ear.

'No, dearest,' he attempted soothingly. 'You told me not to give you roses, or a card, or any commercial Valentine's rubbish. You never said I couldn't give you a gift at all. And I'll get just as much pleasure out of it as you do.'

There was silence, blessed silence, on the other end of the line, and then Wufei muttered something that sounded like 'too much'.

'Never enough,' Zechs, always the guy with the best sappy lines, said promptly. 'Darling, I'm at the garage. Do you think there's any possibility that you could close the shop for the morning, and we could go and try out your present?'

I didn't get to hear the reply but Zechs snapped his 'phone shut and headed for the door, with the jaunty step of a guy who knows he's on his way to some pretty phenomenal sex with the love of his life. OK, I'm just guessing about the phenomenal sex, but Zechs was usually in a pretty good mood in the mornings.

'He liked it then?'

He winked at me. 'He most certainly did. I'm sure I'll have to spend the next few weeks listening to complaints about my extravagance, but I'll survive. Now, Duo, this Mr. Lowe might turn out to be an important customer, so make sure he's perfectly satisfied, all right?'

I spent the next hour happily communing with the Rolls, and the three little hairy beings took turns to swing out of my braid and generally get in my way.

At nine, Trowa rang saying that 'something had come up', and he wouldn't be able to meet up for lunch, like we'd planned. His excuse might have sounded more convincing if Quatre hadn't been giggling about something in the background.

Great, Duo. Just kiss goodbye to your best friend. He had a partner now. I obviously didn't figure on his list of priorities any more.

I lost track of time a bit after that, not realising it was getting close to the Lowe guy's appointment, until I actually heard someone clearing their throat beside me.

'Oh, hey. I'm sorry.' I straightened up, turned around and there he was. Heero fucking Yuy.

'Get out.'

'Duo, I just want to talk to you.'

'Yeah? Well, I don't want to talk to you. I thought I'd made that clear.' OK, I'd known at some point in my life I'd have to see the guy again. He was Quatre's friend, after all, and he'd been spending a lot of time around lately.

I'd had the scenario for our next meeting all planned out. I'd be dressed up in something super-sexy and I'd have some gorgeous, adoring guy on my arm, and he'd see just what he'd missed out on.

Screw you, Heero.

In none of my fantasies was I wearing my grubbiest, grease-stained overalls, with an orange kitten trying to conquer Mt. Duo via my braid.

'Get out.' I repeated. 'I'm busy. I've got a customer due any second.'

'That would be me.'

'No, that would be some guy called Lowe.'

'He's my stepfather. Duo, I'm sorry. I've been trying to talk to you for days now and you keep avoiding me.'

'That would imply I care enough about you to make the effort. I don't. You don't even register on my radar.' I reached around to remove the swinging kitty and tugged. Nothing happened.

'Let me help.' The little traitor came off for him, of course, and then snuggled happily in his arms. Right. No dinner for him.

'You are avoiding me,' Heero said firmly. 'You haven't returned any of my calls.'

'I'm busy.'

'I spent an hour ringing your doorbell on Wednesday night.'

'I wasn't home.'

'Then you've got a ghost, because I saw the curtains twitch a couple of times. And you spent two hours hiding in the cold storage room at the diner on Wednesday night just because I had dinner there with Quatre.'

'I was doing inventory,' I informed him haughtily. That was true. At least, sort of. I'd counted cartons of ice-cream until my hands got too cold. When I'd finally dared to come out, there were little icicles on my braid.

'Anyway, it's none of your business what I do. Where the hell do you get off? We had one disastrous date and you think you're my fucking stalker 'cause I let you buy me dinner? Is that what this is about? You want me to pay my share because I owe you?'

I was fumbling in my jeans pocket for my wallet when he caught my hand. 'Stop it. I don't want money. I want to know how I offended you.'

'If you can't work it out, there's no point in me telling you. And if you don't let me go my hand, I'm going to pick up that wrench and break every one of your fingers. Got that?'

'Go ahead.' Those blue eyes bored into me, daring me to do it. 'But I'm not letting you go until you tell me what's wrong. As far as I'm concerned, our date was amazing. Not a disaster at all. I told you I wanted spend more time with you and I meant it. I still do. Duo, just tell me what's wrong. Please. Don't you think you at least owe me an explanation?'

I shrugged. The truth was that it had been pretty amazing.

We'd driven along the coast to a swanky little seafood place. I'd even turned down his offer to drive his car, so I could look at him rather than at the road. After dinner, he'd suggested a walk on the beach.

I'd assumed this would be a marathon make-out session and we had kissed but we'd also talked for hours. That was new, for me. Most guys didn't ask me out for my fascinating conversation. I'm not vain, but I'm not blind either. Heero had laid out a fortune on a classy dinner; he'd presumably be expecting to get laid in return.

Heero had seemed genuinely interested in me, though, and I'd responded by pretty much giving him my life story. I'd even told him the stuff I never told anyone; like how my dream of owning my own garage had evaporated a year or so ago, when my boyfriend had withdrawn my life savings from the joint account he'd persuaded me to set up with him, and headed for a Las Vegas wedding chapel with the girl he'd sworn was 'just a friend'.

'I don't owe you anything, you jerk,' I yelled at him, yanking at my hand. Shit, he was strong. I'd somehow forgotten that. He'd been so damn gentle and affectionate on the beach, I'd forgotten that the first time we'd met, he'd slammed me against a car.

He did it again now. Lucky Zechs wasn't there, or he'd have had even more kittens, in case the Rolls' arctic white paintwork got scratched or dented. Hell. It's not easy to look intimidating when you're holding a six week old fluffy kitten. Heero managed it no problem, and I actually felt a tiny little frisson of something that might have been fear or desire or a mix of the two.

'You owe me some sort of explanation, damnit!' he shouted. God, he was utterly, totally gorgeous when he got mad. Sapphire sparks flying from his eyes, and that sinfully sexy hair was practically standing on end. Shit, if he'd actually been my boyfriend, I would have had to provoke this sort of rage on a regular basis, just to see him like this. Oof, I could bet the make up sex would probably register on the Richter scale. Wow.

OK bad thoughts, Maxwell. You hate this guy, remember?

'I am sick of you running away all the time,' he hissed, dropping the kitty and leaning in to pin both of my wrists against the car door. 'Now, you are going to talk to me, Duo. No more of your excuses. I know damn well you don't have anywhere else to be this morning. I've already paid for my car to have a full service and if necessary I will stand over you while you do it until you tell me exactly what is wrong.'

'Screw you!' I kicked out furiously, feeling a nice little spurt of happiness when I caught him in the shins and he flinched. Hah! Pity I hadn't kicked him in the balls. 'You didn't buy me, you dickhead. Now take your car and get out of my life.'

'No.'

It's a lie, a total evil lie about lightning never striking twice. That seemed to be the pattern for Heero's and my relationship. Relationship thingy. Whatever it was. He would bodyslam me against some gorgeous classic car and I would do my damndest to get away.

Well. There were a few differences. We were face to face this time, his gorgeous, furious face just an inch or so from mine. And that unfairly strong, perfect body was pressing me against the car. Poor car.

Poor me.

I stopped struggling after a few minutes. It wasn't doing any good. He was enjoying it, the bastard. He loosened his hold on my wrists, just a little bit, and then released me entirely, sliding both arms around me.

'Duo,' he whispered, and I swear, there was a weird little catch in his voice. 'Just tell me what I did wrong.'

It would have been the perfect chance to knock him down to the ground, catching him off guard.

I didn't.

'I don't get you,' I said finally. 'I don't get how you can be so hot and cold. I thought we had a real connection that first night. Then you just drove me home, and dumped me on my doorstep and couldn't get away fast enough. Shit, I asked you in, and I don't normally do that, and you made it damn obvious that you weren't interested in me.'

I could still play that whole, humiliating episode in my head whenever I wanted. I didn't normally do stuff like that. I liked to flirt a little bit, but I backed off when things started to get too heavy. There hadn't been anyone serious since Solo. I'd offered myself to Heero on a plate, and he'd refused.

I'd spent so much time agonising over what I'd done wrong, over whether he'd thought I was a total slut who had a revolving door into his bedroom, or whether he just wasn't interested in me, period. Maybe I'd just spent too much time bending his ear with all my problems, and he hadn't been remotely interested.

It took me a minute to realise that the weird, harsh sound was Heero laughing. It sounded like he didn't get a lot of practice at it.

'You've got it all wrong. It wasn't like that,' he said urgently, just in time to stop me taking a swing at him. 'I swear, I was interested, but I didn't want you to think I was just after sex.'

'What?'

He shook his head. 'I wanted you so much, but you'd told me all about that man who hurt you, and the other guys you've been with since then, and I wanted you to know that I was different. That I wanted more; to be your friend and someone you could trust and talk to.'

'For real?' I peeked up at him through my bangs.

'For real.' He took my hand again, this time I let him. 'I still want all those things. Please, just give me a chance.'

'But…' Shit, it was hard to think with his fingers touching mine, his eyes looking at me like that. 'Jesus, Heero. I thought you weren't into me. I mean, after I'd invited you in, you couldn't wait to get my ass out of the car. You took off like Death was after you.'

'Oh, Maxwell,' he said, leaning in to kiss my lips, gentle as the brush of a kitten's whiskers. 'Just how much self control do you think I actually have? I wanted you so much, but I wanted it to be more than just a one night stand. I wanted it to mean something, for both of us.'

I gave myself a little pinch, just to make sure this wasn't all some dream. It was too, too perfect to be real.

'But I called you the next day and you totally blew me off.'

He sighed gustily, slipping his free hand around my waist, and pulling me closer. Not fair, damn it; how was I supposed to think when I was being held against that gorgeous body? 'Duo, I told you I had to go away for three days on business. I've tried calling you every day since then and you refused to talk to me.'

'I thought you'd given me the brush off,' I muttered. 'I couldn't get why you were still pestering me.'

'You're an idiot,' he said softly, making it an endearment. 'I thought we had a connection, too.' He pressed just a little closer, backing me against the Rolls which was going to have a Duo-sized dent in the right door. Zechs was going to kill me. Well, Heero could protect me. 'Let me take you out tonight.'

'No.'

He gaped at me, looking for all the world like a cod that's just felt the first stab of the filleting knife.

'It's Valentine's Day,' I said softly. 'Everywhere's going to be crowded; lousy service, exorbitant prices. Let me cook for you; the diner's closing early, so we'll have it to ourselves. I'll make you the best burger you've ever had in your life and we can play the jukebox and talk. Or whatever.'

I flicked him a sly little, through-the-eyelashes smile, a move I'd seen Quatre pull on Trowa a couple of times. Heero apparently wasn't immune to it either. Yes!

'What exactly would whatever involve?'

'Up to you.' My smile was super-demure, any other little tip I'd picked up from Trowa's blond. 'We could maybe dance a little bit, and see what happens.'

'I told you I didn't want to rush things,' he murmured.

Oh yeah. That. No rushing; sort of flattering in one way. OK, really flattering. He wanted to get to know me as a whole person; personality and hobbies and stuff. And I wanted to know all that about him too. Although I also wanted to drag him into the Rolls and try out those custom-made leather seats.

'How is dancing rushing things?'

'Duo.' He took a step back, holding me at arm's length, and giving me a long, appraising look. Very hot. 'You are incredibly attractive. But we are going to take this slowly.'

'Slow dancing?' I teased. 'I can do that. I'll even let you lead, sometimes.'

He gave me an exasperated little huff. 'Why do I doubt that?'

'You doubt me? I'm hurt.'

'Dinner.' He said it was like he was ticking things off in his head. 'Dancing. Talking. But no sex.'

'Not even a little bit?' Ooh, I could see this resolve melting away before my eyes. And there were other things….hardening. 'No kissing, even?'

'Kissing would be acceptable.'

'Just on the mouth or other places?'

'Brat.' He dropped a kiss on my forehead. 'Perhaps some other places. Now, I love your plan for the evening and we'll definitely do it some other time, but I have arrangements already in place for us tonight. Are you wearing anything under those sexy overalls?'

'Of course I am.'

'Hmmm. Shame.' Before I could blink, he'd whizzed the zip down and I was standing there in my red sweater and jeans, a puddle of denim at my feet. 'You look really good in red. Now, come on. You'll need a jacket and you probably should put those kittens somewhere safe before we leave.'

'Leave?' I blinked at him. 'Heero, what are you talking about? I can't just walk out.'

'You certainly can.' He stopped my next protest very effectively with another kiss. 'As I said, I've got plans and we're on a rather tight time schedule.. And before you start arguing, it's all planned. Trowa and Quatre have packed a bag for you, and your passport, and they're going to call over and feed the cats. Zechs has already informed your customers that the garage is closed for the next three days, and your uncle has found someone else to help in the Diner.'

'You were all in on it! I don't believe this!'

'Believe this!' He swooped in and captured my mouth. Not gentle at all. That kiss pretty much killed any more objections. Never argue with a man whose mouth can turn your bones to molten jelly.

You'll never win.

'You're really planning to take me away for the weekend?' I didn't even bother asking where we were going. For one, it didn't matter. But, seriously, if he'd gone to this much trouble, getting all my friends to help, he had to know the one place I'd always dreamed of visiting.

He tapped my forehead with the knuckles of one hand. 'You're slow this morning. Yes, Duo, I am. Is that acceptable?'

'Uh. I guess so.' I took a deep breath, dragging air into my lungs. God, this was for real.

'Erm, this whole getting to know each other first thing; is that still on?'

Heero smiled at me. 'I hope we'll spend the rest of our lives getting to know each other.' His beautiful blue eyes glinted teasingly. 'As a short term measure, I've made up a couple of questionnaires for initial research purposes. We can fill them in on the 'plane. Which we are going to miss if we don't hurry. Come on.'

Falling in love at first sight is easy. It only takes thirty seven minutes. Like Heero said, getting to know someone properly takes a lot longer.

But I can't think of anything I'd rather do with my life.

~ * ~

 

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