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"The Wedding Planner"Written By: Snowdragonct Disclaimer: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing or the characters, more's the pity. This is for fun...no profit involved. Warnings: AU, yaoi, some OOC, angst, potential lemon(s), sickening sappy fluff Pairings: to be announced, or it’d be too easy (but you know who I like) A/N: This idea hit me while I was driving somewhere, and I needed to start it before the inspiration faded. But it will take second place to Boot Camp and the sequel to Boot Camp, so I can’t promise regular or frequent updates. It’s probably totally predictable FLUFF, so you have been warned. And I’m trying out the world of first-person here, with point of view shifting between Heero and Duo (maybe others…not sure yet). Rating: NC 17 Summary: Heero isn't thrilled when Relena hires
someone to plan their wedding, but once he meets the young man, he's
downright unhappy. Duo Maxwell is friendly, good looking, and spending
way too much time with Relena...Heero's jealousy knows no bounds.
"The Wedding Planner"
Chapter Thirty: And Eating It Too Duo’s Point of View The moment I got to feed Heero wedding cake, I truly and deeply wished everyone else in that bakery would just disappear—Jacques included. Watching the play of emotions on Heero’s face as he closed his eyes and let me slip the piece of cake between those perfect lips, I could’ve just moaned with delight. He was gorgeous—no less gorgeous than the day I’d coaxed him into petting a horse. And I swear, when he returned the little gesture with the cake, and I got a bit forward and actually licked his fingertip, for a second there, I thought I saw a trace of—something. Desire? Attraction? I have no idea what it was, because I turned away before I lost control and did something stupid like lean in and kiss him right in front of his fiancée. I knew right then that I was in really big trouble. I wanted him so badly it hurt. And I’ve never, ever lusted after a heterosexual guy that way. Never. I had no idea why I was so drawn to him, but I finally recognized the warning signs. And about the only cure for that was to behave myself and hope we finished planning the wedding before he caught on that I was lusting after him. Okay, maybe that wasn’t a “cure.” Maybe I was hopelessly hooked for life, and he’d haunt my dreams until the day I died. But at least I could try to delay his realization of how much I wanted him. Sure as shit, once he did, I figured he wouldn’t want to be friends any more—assuming he didn’t just kill me on the spot. Milliardo was a pretty good diversion. He was handsome, articulate, charming, and obviously rich. He had so much going for him I kind of wondered why he was unattached. But that was really none of my business. Well, it was if he was trying to score with me; but so far we’d just flirted a bit and made small talk. Generally, it takes more than that to get me into bed on a first date. During my clubbing days, it had taken about three vodkas on the rocks. Bad Duo. But didn’t I say I’d lost interest in the one-night stands? Wasn’t I looking for something a bit more substantial? I know Quatre had seen it before I did. But he’s a singularly perceptive little twit, while I’m a stubborn-as-a-mule bonehead. The trouble was, after watching Heero out of the corner of my eyes all day, I was horny as hell. Yeah, I know—that was crudely put. But there’s no other way to sum it up. Like I said, I’d begun to admit my attraction to Heero, at least to myself. And various bodily parts were in complete agreement. I tried to turn my desire for Heero in Milliardo’s direction, hoping maybe it was just sexual deprivation that was making me want a guy I couldn’t have. And I had a feeling I could have Milliardo, if I chose to. But he didn’t make my breath catch in my throat the way Heero did. And I didn’t get chills down my spine when he said my name. Only Heero evoked that kind of response from me. Besides, there was that moment in the kitchen when Heero had been trying to tell me something about Mill, and Relena interrupted, which left me wondering what Heero had wanted me to know about my blind date. I was pretty sure he wasn’t married or anything, since Relena would surely not have set me up with him if he were. And I knew he was gay. So what was left? I mean, I could already tell he was a smooth-talker…probably had a list of lovers a mile long. So I wasn’t seriously thinking he’d want to pursue a long-term relationship. Did Heero think I was? That might explain the way he kept hinting that there was something I should know. I was tempted to just speak up and tell him to relax. In spite of a certain physical attraction, I wasn’t planning on pursuing Milliardo. Maybe if I just wanted a quick fuck I would’ve, but hadn’t I just gone through a whole bunch of introspection and decided I wanted to remember what it felt like to be in love again? Wasn’t I going to hold out for more than plain old lust? It satisfies a need. I’d said that to Quatre to justify all the one-night stands and short flings since Alex died. And it was partly true. Sometimes having a warm body next to you at night is the most important thing in the world. And it doesn’t much matter that you’ll wake up alone, so long as you have that contact for a few hours. But it never took the place of seeing Solo or Alex lying next to me when the sun came up, and knowing they’d be there when I was sick, or hurt, or just lonely. All the one-night stands in the world couldn’t give me back that feeling. And I wanted it so badly I could taste it. So why was I pining over an engaged, heterosexual guy? I sure as hell wasn’t going to get what I wanted there. Was I?
He leaned in close enough to whisper in my ear. “You always love Jacques’ rum cake, non?” I almost melted on the spot. “God, yes!” I loved his rum cake more than almost anything, except maybe those mocha sundaes Howard made. I also knew he usually got a pretty penny for his specialty cakes. “Oh, Jacques, I couldn’t…” Right. I knew he was gonna insist. “But I insist!” he crooned, giving me a peck on the cheek. “You bring such wonderful customers.” He eyed my guests, his dark gaze lingering on Heero just a bit too long. I leaned in as close as he had. “Off limits, Jacques,” I whispered. “I got dibs.” Yeah, in my dreams… He looked askance at me and then burst out laughing. “Ah, you jest!” Still laughing aloud, apparently vastly amused, he headed back into the kitchen. “What was that all about?” Milliardo asked, suddenly standing directly behind me, though I didn’t hear him walk up. “Jacques has an eye for handsome men,” I shrugged. “As if you couldn’t tell that the minute we walked in.” He chuckled warmly. “Should I be jealous?” I gave him one of my completely unreadable looks. “You have nothing to be jealous of, Mill.” I almost laughed at the wary, slightly puzzled look on his face. Yeah. My reply could’ve meant “No need to be jealous, because Jacques is just a friend,” or it could just as easily have meant “You have no right to be jealous of me at all.” Then again, it might have meant “You’re so damned hot that there is no guy in the world that could compete, and so there’s no need to be jealous.” And I could see all those possible answers swirling around in Milliardo’s head, as I happily carried my treasured cake box out to the limo. Heero got the door for me, and for once I didn’t mind, since I was carrying my rum cake as carefully as if it were the crown jewels. “What’s in the box?” he asked. “Jacques’ world famous rum cake,” I sighed blissfully. Heero gave me an almost teasing look. “Thought you gave up alcohol,” he said in an undertone. “My promise to Quat didn’t cover culinary usage,” I said with a smirk, wanting to just drown in the blue of his eyes as he slid in next to me. Milliardo ended up sitting opposite me, sliding a rather cool glance to his future brother-in-law. “Your friend Jacques is quite a remarkable chef.” Heh. Still fishing to find out whether I ever dated him, eh? “If he makes the cake for Relena’s wedding, people will rave about it,” I promised. “Jacques is very talented.” I know it was cruel, but Mill was so easy to bait. Dropping the subject of the good-looking chef, Milliardo turned the conversation towards other things, such as the art business, and how he’d gotten interested in it because he and his sister had been dragged around the globe a lot by their international-diplomat parents. I suppose I could’ve trumped their “deprived” childhood by talking about living in an alley and eating out of a dumpster; but I figured Relena might pass out if I ever told her what it was really like to grow up on L2. She’d been horrified enough at my mention of the place. So I kept quiet, let Milliardo carry the conversation, and tried to unobtrusively enjoy the view of Heero’s messy hair falling across his forehead as he stared out the window. I just wished he’d sat as close to me as Mill did. Bad, bad Duo.
Milliardo joined us a moment later, and proceeded to expound at some length on the virtues of the expensive automobile. Relena lost interest in the luxurious features of the car rather quickly, and tugged at Heero’s arm, giving her brother and me a sly little smile. “C’mon, Heero. Let’s go inside and leave these two to trade phone numbers.” He looked at me with a scowl, sliding a brief glare to Milliardo. “Uh, when’s the next planning session, Duo?” “Mmm…gonna have to wait until next week,” I told him. “We’ve done most of the long-term planning, except I’m still waiting for Silvia to give me a firm date for the use of Romefeller. But you need to think about where you two are going to take dance lessons.” “Dance lessons?” I may have been mistaken, but I think Heero’s face had gone pale at the mention of dancing. I gave him a wicked smirk. “Yeah, ‘Ro. You gotta dance at your wedding, man. And trust me, you’ll want to look good when you waltz with Mrs. Yuy for the first time as man and wife.” God, why did I feel such a pang of jealousy when I said that? I had no right to be jealous. Envious, yes...jealous, no. “I don’t dance,” he said flatly. “We’ll fix that!” Relena cooed, wrapping her hand more firmly around his forearm. “Now, c’mon inside, Heero.” They walked away, and I sighed, shaking my head at Milliardo. “She’ll have her work cut out for her.” He shook his head slightly. “Heero’s remarkably graceful. He does karate, you know.” Oh, yes, I knew. And I still was tempted to sigh wistfully over the fact that he hadn’t let me watch him spar with Wufei. They’d have been breathtaking together. Before I could open my mouth and say something stupid about how hot he’d look in sweats and a tank top, the valet jogged up to tell us the Jag wouldn’t start. Milliardo tsked at that, and then promptly offered me a ride home...a chance to see if the Rolls’ performance matched its looks. “Oh…not necessary,” I assured him. “I can call Quatre.” “I wouldn’t hear of it.” He fixed the valet with a stern glare. “I suggest you call my sister’s usual mechanic and make sure he’s here first thing in the morning.” “Of course, sir.” “And arrange a driver to take the car to Mister Maxwell’s address after it’s fixed?” “Certainly.” The man gave a little bow, and dashed off before I could protest. “You really didn’t need to have him go to so much trouble,” I said, starting to chafe a little at the overly solicitous way Milliardo was treating me. “I could look under the hood myself, and probably fix the problem.” I only got a patronizing look for my trouble. “Duo, a Jaguar isn’t a knock-around vehicle,” Milliardo drawled gently. “It’s a finely-tuned machine that requires professional care. Please, let’s leave it to the experts.” I was about to argue again, but I noticed that Relena had stopped at the door to the estate, slipping both arms around Heero’s neck and standing on tiptoe for a lingering kiss. I felt a painful twist in my gut at the sight, wondering if his lips would still taste like wedding cake and milk. God, I’d have given anything to trade places with her at that moment. I tore my gaze away, and as I turned around, I caught Milliardo watching me. Shit. He’d seen my reaction, and I didn’t delude myself into thinking he couldn’t interpret my expression. “Yes, he is stunning, isn’t he?” commented the blonde with a small, conspiratorial smile. “Uh…” No way out of this one, Duo…the brother of the bride just saw you drooling over the groom. “Do you think you’re the only one who ever looked at Yuy that way?” Milliardo continued almost gently, putting my mind a little more at ease with his understanding tone. “When Relena first brought him home, I wanted nothing more than to steal him right out from under her.” I managed a wry smile at that, knowing the same thought had crossed my mind. Psh—yeah right. Crossed it? Try “lodged in it permanently.” For the first time I looked at Milliardo as something of an ally; like I didn’t have to be quite so on guard around him. “Too bad for you he’s straight.” The handsome man shrugged nonchalantly. “He thinks he is. All I’d need is one night to convince him otherwise.” My jaw dropped at the cool confidence in his voice, and I turned a startled gaze to his elegant, smug face. “Rather sure of yourself, aren’t you?” “Yes, I am,” he said, looking me squarely in the eye. “Now, how about letting me buy you dinner and drive you home? I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” Remember when I said I liked assertive men? Well, I have to admit, Mill’s attitude was a definite turn-on. And the longer I spent in his company, the more my poor neglected libido was gaining the upper hand. “It must be way out of your way,” I demurred. He gave an almost feral grin. “I have a feeling it will be worth every minute of my time.” Aw, fuck. Why did he have to be so gorgeous? And persuasive. I knew what he wanted, and that it’d be a huge mistake—but unfortunately, part of me wanted it too. My glance strayed again to see what Heero and Relena were doing. Yeah, go ahead and torture yourself, Maxwell. You know you want him—and she’s got him. Get an eyeful and eat your heart out! Relena was just stepping into the house, but Heero had turned and looked back, seeing the valet trotting away, and no sign of the Jag. “Is there a problem, Duo?” he called, heading down the walkway towards us. “The Jag won’t start,” I told him with a shrug. “Milliardo offered me a ride back to my apartment.” “Of course he did,” came the faintly snide response. Heero fixed an almost menacing look on his brother-in-law-to-be. “Are you coming back after you drop Duo off, or heading home?” Whoa…wait a minute. I hadn’t accepted the offer just yet. Milliardo smirked a little. “I won’t be back tonight, Heero.” There was a message in that exchange that I couldn’t quite decipher, but it brought a blaze of anger to Heero’s deep blue eyes. “Damn it, Mill…” The handsome blonde gave a bland smile and an arrogant shrug. “Yuy, I promise I won’t do anything to alienate my sister’s wedding planner.” Alienate me? What the hell did Heero expect his future brother-in-law to do? And why did he seem to think I couldn’t take care of myself? And, by the way, what did Mill think he was gonna do? “Look, Heero…it’s no big deal. It’s just a ride home. And it’s got nothing to do with you, okay?” He gave me an almost hurt look, as if I’d somehow offended him. “If your car won’t start, it certainly does have to do with me. You’re out here working for me, and I’d be happy to drive you home myself. It wouldn’t be much farther to the penthouse for me.” “I really don’t want to be a bother,” I insisted. And if you drive me home, I’ll have that much more time to make a fool out of myself by admitting I'm attracted to you. I wanted him so badly right then I thought for sure it showed on my face. I was afraid if I spent any more time in his company that evening, I might say it out loud. “Yuy, Relena’s waiting,” Milliardo reminded him in an almost mocking tone, gesturing towards the house. “And after being allowed to enjoy Duo’s company all day, I’d be truly delighted to take him home.” Heero turned on the other man with a perfectly deadly glare. “Yes, I’m sure you would!” I know I said I like assertive men—but this was getting to be just a bit much. “If you both don’t just back the fuck off, I’ll call a cab!” I snapped, glaring at them. I picked up my cake box, and nodded towards the parking area where the Jag was sitting. “How ‘bout we go see what’s wrong with my baby, and maybe neither of you will have to give me a ride home.” “I don’t mind!” Milliardo insisted. I didn’t wait to hear how Heero argued with that statement. I just stalked down the driveway to the Jag, setting my cake in the passenger seat and then walking around and popping the hood. Heero and Mill had followed me, still arguing about whose responsibility it was to get me home. I was fed up with both of them by that point. So I took off my good jacket, tossing it onto the stone wall by the driveway, rolled up my sleeves, and leaned over the engine, giving it a quick look. And there, right under my nose, was the problem staring me in the face. The distributor cap was loose. Or should I say, it had been loosened, since there was no way it would have magically popped off on its own. I could only think of one person who might have wanted that car not to start...the one who kept offering to take me home...the one who wanted to buy me dinner along the way. It wasn’t the first time someone had tried the old “car won’t start” trick on me; but it infuriated me nonetheless. “Son of a fucking bitch!” I put the distributor back in place, snapping the clips that held it secure. And then I turned to Milliardo, barely resisting the urge to punch his goddamned lights out. “I gotta admit, Mill, you got a fuckin’ set of balls,” I snarled, resorting to L2 street talk as the most satisfying way to express my rage. “You think having some shit-for-brains valet pull the distributor is enough to stop L2 street trash? Or did you just think since I am from L2, you could buy me dinner and fuck me the rest of the night? I’m not that cheap, asshole!” He was gaping at me like I’d grown a second head, and I thought Heero’s jaw would scrape the ground; his mouth was open that wide. “Why don’t you two just go fuck each other?” I suggested, slamming the hood, hopping into the Jag and firing up the engine. I could tell by the squealing of the tires as I accelerated out of there, that I left a cloud of smoke and a trail of skid marks. And y’know what? It felt really, really good. tbc... |
