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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"
Duo’s Point of View By morning, my double vision had cleared up completely, so the doctor decided to let Quatre take me home. After he called him and while we were waiting for my little blonde buddy to arrive, the doctor went over some instructions for my convalescence. “You understand I’d like you to refrain from driving for a few days,” he said firmly. “And be careful about lifting or strenuous exercise that might aggravate your ribs. They’ll heal on their own, but you’ll feel them for awhile.” “Yeah,” I said with a half-hearted smile. “I know the drill. Been hurt plenty of times, back when I was a kid. Grew up in a rough section of L2.” “You mean there are sections of L2 that aren’t rough?” came a vaguely amused response. I shrugged slightly. “It’s all relative.” He shook his head. “Just take it easy for a few days and you’ll be fine.” “I know,” I told him firmly. “I used to be an EMT, doc.” “Used to be?” “Yeah, I kind of screwed that up—like pretty much everything I do,” I said, trying for a casual tone. “Well as one medical professional to another,” he said kindly. “I’d advise you to take it easy awhile. And I expect you to understand and follow those instructions.” “Sure. Quatre won’t let me do anything else,” I smirked. When Quatre arrived, he had his good-looking bartender in tow. “How are you this morning?” “Better,” I assured him, trying not to wince at the ache in my ribs when I stood up. “Did you bring me some clothes? I’m precious sick of this hospital gown already.” Quatre held up a bag, and I snatched it from his hands with a mumbled “Thank God!” “But Maxwell,” Trowa teased. “It shows off your—assets.” Quatre elbowed him hard in the ribs. “You shouldn’t be looking at his assets! You’re an engaged man, you know.” Trowa turned adoring green eyes to my friend. “I know I am—engaged to the most wonderful man in the world. Don’t think I don’t know how lucky I am.” He placed a tender kiss on Quatre’s upturned face, and I blithely pushed between them on my way to the bathroom to change. Checking out of the hospital didn’t take long, and soon we were breezing along in Quatre’s car, and I was enjoying the wind in my hair, even though I couldn’t smell the sea breeze through my still-swollen nose. By the way, it wasn’t broken. Bruised as hell…hurt like the dickens…but it would regain its delightful perfection again in no time. “Quat—did you talk to them this morning?” I asked, carefully leaving out names. “I talked to Relena…but got voice mail at the other.” Trowa looked over his shoulder at me with a scowl. “Yuy? You wanted him to call the asshole that put you in the hospital?” “Actually, you and Quat put me in the hospital,” I pointed out slyly. “I probably would have been fine at home last night. The concussion was pretty mild.” “We didn’t put you there. We took you,” Trowa corrected me. “And stop worrying about the asshole. He was fine. He and his friend came to The Circus last night to try to find out how you were.” “What did you tell them?” “The truth—that you were in the hospital and Yuy was an asshole.” “You seem fixated on that word,” I pointed out. “It fits.” I sighed, turning my attention back to Quatre. “So, how ‘bout ‘Lena? What did she have to say?” “She apologized,” he said with a shrug. “Profusely.” “Damn straight.” “And of course all your medical bills will be taken care of.” “Did she say what bullshit lies she told Heero to rile him up that much?” “She didn’t lie. But as hysterical as she was, all Heero got out of her was something about cheating, you being angry and threatening to tell him, and her getting hit.” I narrowed my eyes, but winced as it made my swollen face hurt. “What a fucked-up mess,” I muttered. “Can we stop at Howard’s? I need ice cream…to make my face feel better.” Trowa snorted. “That’s for tonsils, Duo. You didn’t have your tonsils out.” I gave him an appealing look, which had to be all the more pathetic since I had bruises around both eyes that made me look kind of like a sad panda bear. I’d checked it in the mirror at the hospital. He gave a short bark of laughter. “Nice try…but all sneaky bandits wear masks.” “I am not a sneaky bandit.” I looked up at the rear-view mirror. “I look more like an adorable panda…don’t you think, Quat?” The blonde shot me a sidelong look. “I’m glad you find this so amusing, Duo. I’m still upset that Heero beat you up so badly.” “He got a lucky shot in, or I’d’ve decked his ass!” I retorted. “Just ‘cause I didn’t see it coming…oh, look! There’s the exit for Howard’s! C’mon, Quatre—please?” “Oh all right!” He took the exit, and soon we were pulling up at the beachside ice cream stand. I hopped out without thinking, and then grimaced and put a hand to my ribs, recalling the doctor’s cautionary words a little late. “Damned ribs.” Trowa, for all his teasing, was beside me in an instant, looking concerned. “Y’okay?” “Yeah—just sore.” I held up a hand before he could begin another rant. “While I applaud your protectiveness, I’m really okay, Trowa. I probably look worse than I feel right now. I’ve just gotta remember to move slowly.” When we walked up to Howard, his eyes went wide. “Shit, kid! What the hell happened to you?” “Aw, you should’ve seen it!” I began, ready to concoct an appropriately spectacular and completely fictional event rather than admit the embarrassing truth. “He got hit in the face by an idiot,” Quatre said flatly. “Can I have a triple-scoop fudge sundae with peanut sauce, whipped cream, and nuts, please?” Howard smirked at me. “You can tell me the Maxwell version next time, kid. Ya want mocha?” “Yeah.” Trowa got strawberry, so that he could share with Quatre, and the three of us settled at a picnic table to eat. “So this is your little beach spot?” Trowa asked, looking around at the peaceful scenery. “It’s where I come to relax,” I told him, fiddling with the whipped cream and remembering that Heero had kissed me for the first time about a hundred feet from where we were sitting. I swallowed hard, grateful for the cool ice cream to sooth the ache that formed in my throat as I thought about how much I wanted that kiss again. We were maybe halfway through our sundaes, when Quatre’s cell phone rang. He looked down at the number on the caller i.d., a flicker of distaste crossing his pretty face. “Answer it,” I said flatly, knowing it had to be Heero returning his call. He looked up with a scowl. “I will.” And then he stood up and pointedly walked away, before flipping it open. I felt a wave of disappointment. I’d been rather looking forward to hearing him verbally flay Heero. It seemed like I was missing all the good stuff—Trowa throwing him out of the bar—the cops showing up at the estate—the way his lips felt as they trailed a heated path down my throat and chest—. Fuck! Where’d that come from? God, I was so not over him! “Trowa? Y’mind getting me a soda?” I asked coyly, batting my big, bruise-ringed eyes at him. “So you can go eavesdrop?” “Exactly.” He sighed, shaking his head in resignation, and got up to go get me a soda from Howard. I casually stood up and edged closer to where Quatre was talking heatedly into his phone. “…so you thought she meant Duo had slept with her? Are you a moron, Yuy? Because you’re coming across that way!” He paused, apparently listening. “No, I don’t think I’m being too harsh. On the contrary, I think Duo should have pressed charges. I’d have paid the best lawyer in the state to prosecute.” He gave a slight growl of anger. “Don’t you remember what I said I’d do to you if you hurt Duo?” Hm. That made me wonder what prior conversation I’d missed. “Yes, destroy. And you know I’m capable of it.” His jaw was set with a determination I’d learned to fear. “Just make sure you obey that goddamned restraining order, or I’ll see to it you are prosecuted. And I’ll make it very public and very messy.” And then a funny thing happened. Quatre hesitated, and his expression changed slightly. “Do you seriously expect me to believe—?” He shook his head. “No. I—of course. But it won’t be that easy. You can’t just—. Prove it to me how?” He glanced over and caught sight of me, glaring and strolling further away so that I missed the end of the conversation. Shit. Trowa had returned with my soda, and I’d finished that along with my sundae by the time Quatre wandered back over, tucking his phone away in his pocket. “So?” Quatre sat down, leaning over to steal a little bite of Trowa’s ice cream before it was gone. “So, he’s sorry.” “And—?” “And it was all a misunderstanding.” At last we were getting somewhere. “Exactly what did he misunderstand?” “He thought, from the way Relena was sobbing and babbling, that you and she slept together, and then argued because you were going to tell him, and you hit her and left.” I’d thought I was ready to hear the explanation of why Heero got so angry that he’d deliberately try to hurt me. But I wasn’t ready for the truth. “He thought I fuckin’ slept with Relena? Is he fuckin’ nuts?!” I demanded. Quatre merely shrugged slightly. “I’ve thought that right along.” “I’m gay, Quat. He knows that! What the hell would make him believe I’d sleep with Relena? And then hit her? Does he not know me at all?” “I don’t think he really does,” Quatre said evenly. “Apparently, Heero thought that you slept with her to get even with him for the engagement party or something. When she babbled about you threatening to tell him, he assumed you were just using her to get revenge.” “How stupid can he be?” “Pretty stupid, apparently.” “Let me get this straight,” I said, needing some kind of coherent picture of Heero’s massive fuck-up. “He thought I slept with her to blackmail her into what? Giving him up?” “I’m not sure,” sighed my friend. “But the bottom line is, he thought you slept with her, and then told her you were going to tell him for whatever reason. Then when she fired you, you got mad, quarreled, and hit her.” I have to say, I could’ve pretty easily gotten over the beating. Like I’ve said, I took worse hits on L2. I might even have understood Heero punching me for hitting a girl…any girl, regardless of the cause. But he thought I cheated on him…with Relena, no less…as some kind of warped payback for the engagement party? He thought I cheated on him. Yeah, that was the part that stuck in my craw. I’d never cheated on anyone I was with in my life. I was particular that way. Sure I might’ve slept around during my clubbing days, when I was drinking and trying to bury Alex’s memory deeper than his body. By the way, it never worked. God, I missed Solo and Alex right then. I’d have given anything for Solo to give me that little, teasing smile, poke me in the side with an elbow and then slide an arm around my waist for a comforting hug. And Alex…man, he’d been the absolute king of consolation. When I’d had a really bad day, he’d just kind of fold me in his arms and kiss the whole world away. I missed them more at that moment than ever before. Neither one would ever have doubted my fidelity. Sanity, yes. Fidelity, no. “You okay?” Quatre asked, sliding over next to me. “I thought—I thought he knew me better than that,” I said simply. Miserably. “Then maybe you’re better off without him.” I nodded, unconvinced and unconsoled. “What should I do, Quat?” He frowned, chewing on his lower lip thoughtfully. I have to say, even when Quatre had a strong opinion on something, he never gave out advice hastily. He’d think a thing through and use his head as well as his heart. That gave him a huge advantage over the rest of us mere mortals. Case in point—had Heero used his brain, he might’ve realized how outrageous it would have been for me to sleep with Relena, let alone deliberately hit her. But he didn’t. And it sure looked like he hadn’t used his heart, either. What’s that leave? Thinking with his dick? Well he wouldn’t be the first guy to think with that part of his anatomy…but then again, I’d thought his dick was pretty much on my side. So where the fuck did he get off thinking I’d cheated on him? Yes, I was having trouble getting past that. “I think,” Quatre said gently, “that you should step back from this for a while. Don’t talk to Heero right away. Give him time to think over how badly he screwed up before you try to see where the two of you stand.” “Where we stand?” I echoed in disbelief. “Where the hell do you think we stand? He got crazy jealous over Relena, Quat. To me that says she’s the most important thing in his life, whether he wants to admit it or not. You were right before when you said maybe he just had pre-wedding jitters. That’s all it was. And once he got me out of his system, he put his priorities right back where they were.” “So you think it’s over?” came the dubious reply. Did he know something I didn’t? “Isn’t it?” I was surprised at the pang of grief that brought, and I had to turn my face away so Quatre wouldn’t see my eyes tear up. “He jumped to Relena’s defense. Obviously she’s first in his heart. And I’ll be damned if I’ll play second fiddle to anyone.” “You shouldn’t have to,” Quatre agreed, though his aquamarine eyes looked troubled. “So it’s settled then.” He sighed deeply. “More or less. What’s your plan?” “I’ll just—get over him. That’s all,” I said with a much steadier voice than I’d thought I could maintain. “I’ll accept that he’s decided to stand by Relena, and I’ll get on with my life.” “What about the fact that he beat you up?” “Well unless he wants to offer me a rematch, I guess I’ll just get over that too.” “You should have pressed charges.” “Why? Just so I could drag him into court and explain to a judge that he beat me up because after he slept with me he thought I cheated on him? That’d make for great press, Quat—but no thanks.” He winced at the sarcasm in my voice. “I suppose it would be pretty awkward.” “Damn straight,” I asserted. “Besides, ‘Lena’s gonna pay the hospital…so there’s no reason to battle in court anyway.” I looked up past the puffiness around my nose. “Like I said, I can forgive a beating, Quat. It’s the mistrust I resent…and I’ll continue to resent. The asshole had no right to believe I’d cheat.” “Well, if you recall, you noticed his jealous nature back when you first started the wedding plans,” my friend pointed out. “Clearly that hasn’t changed.” “I guess not,” I sighed. Yes, Heero was possessive and jealous by nature. And it didn’t even bother me. Alex had been that way—liable to step between me and any would-be Romeo who tried to approach me in a bar, and tell them to back the fuck off and take a hike. And that was before we started dating. I guess I didn’t mind a little jealousy if it was on my behalf—but I sure hated being on the receiving end. “Can we just go home, Quat? I think I could use some more sleep.” He nodded sympathetically, and we gathered up our trash to throw away, and then headed for the car.
A rum cake might’ve been nice. Ah well. At any rate, by Friday I was beginning to get a little stir-crazy, so I decided to go for a drive. I knew full well the doctor had cautioned against it, but I genuinely felt my concussion was a thing of the past. Besides, I wanted to go look at my cottage one more time—not that I’d ever be able to afford it. I’d screwed up yet another job, and I would’ve sooner cut off my arm than ask Quatre for more help. He was already taking care of me yet again. The least I could do was try to be as little a burden as possible. I took the bus to my apartment building, and then fired up the Jeep for a drive to the beach. When I pulled into the parking lot, I saw Howard scrubbing down the counter at the ice cream stand. He looked up as I approached, and smiled. “Hey, kiddo. Y’look a little better today.” “Well, bruises heal,” I said with a wan smile. “How about hearts?” I gave him a sharp look. “I saw the hot blue-eyed guy kiss you a couple of weeks back. I’m guessing that had something to do with you ending up looking like a raccoon.” “A panda!” I insisted. “I look like a sad panda—not a raccoon. Sheesh! You and Trowa…” “Oh, hey! Speaking of the hot guy!” Howard rummaged in his tote bag, and pulled out an envelope. “Your copies.” I frowned, puzzled, and lifted the flap to see that there were pictures. “Oh, shit.” I took them out one by one, each shot making my throat constrict and my heart practically skip a beat. Heero leaning frantically to keep the boat upright, a dauntless smile on his gorgeous face, while I teetered on the edge, one hand on the giraffe, and a truly panicky look fixed on Heero… Heero with a hand fisted in the front of my life jacket, a worried scowl across his face as he hauled me back into the boat… Me, sprawled against Heero’s chest after he’d kept me from going overboard. I was looking up into his face with a perfectly blissful expression… I blinked rapidly to hold back the moisture. “Howie, you were supposed to send these to…his office.” Fuck, I couldn’t even say his name! “I did. Those’re your copies.” “I don’t need—.” Howard looked at me with a sudden scowl. “Shit, kid—you gonna let a little thing like a fight keep you away from a body like his?” I ran a hand lightly over my face. “It was more than that, Howard.” “Remember the time you an’ Solo—?” “This isn’t about me and Solo!” I said sharply. “It’s about me and Heero!” “What about you and Heero?” he asked smugly, apparently pleased to have baited me into broaching the subject. “It’s not just that he hit me, Howie. It’s that he didn’t trust me. He thought I’d messed around with his fiancée after I said I loved him.” I didn’t know what bothered me the most—. Well, actually I did. It was the fact that after I’d promised him I wouldn’t sleep with Milliardo, he believed I’d slept with Relena. I just couldn’t get over the fact that he didn’t trust me…that he thought I’d cheat on him. It was like a mantra running through my head: He doesn’t trust me and thinks I’m capable of cheating on him. Me! Getting past that was gonna take some time. And frankly, I didn’t see the point. He’d made his choice, hadn’t he? When he struck out at me for his perception that I’d hurt Relena, he’d proven that she came first. Right? I wasn’t even sure he realized it himself. But it seemed pretty obvious to me. “So, you are in love with him, eh?” Howard asked smugly. “Huh?” “You just said you’d said you loved him.” “Past tense.” Howard snorted skeptically. “You don’t change that quickly, Duo. Trust me. I know. If you loved him two weeks ago, you love him now…punch or no punch.” “I don’t want to talk about this.” I stuffed the rest of the pictures back into the envelope and shoved them into a pocket. “I’m going for a walk.” Howard shook his head ruefully. “Guess I won’t be here when you get back. I’m closing up early today—got tickets to the big game tonight.” “Have fun with that,” I muttered a bit ungraciously, turning and starting to walk away. “Just remember!” Howard called after me. “You can run and hide from everyone but yourself.” I waved dismissively over my shoulder, walking briskly down the beach, eager to get to my beloved house and the temporary sanctuary it always provided from the stresses of the day. The long walk helped calm me down, and I felt the familiar peace begin to seep into my soul, right up until I climbed the last dune and turned the corner by the beach house. I stopped at the sight of the cottage, feeling my heart freeze in my chest. There was a “sold” sign hanging by the porch I’d daydreamed about calling my own. Fuck! Well that was just perfect. Another dream slipped right through my fingers. I sat down right there on the sand, feeling the warmth of the sun across the back of my shirt, even as cold dread settled in my stomach. Someone else would be sitting on that porch soon, enjoying the view I’d coveted for months. And they’d get to listen to the waves whisper onto the sand at night, and the wind swirl through the dunes. I pressed both hands to my face, pulling my knees up to rest them against. Goddamnit anyway! I should have just asked Quatre to loan me the money. He’d have done it in a heartbeat and never have begrudged me. Fuck my pride, and fuck me! Couldn’t I do a damned thing right? I lost Solo because of a stupid illness…Alex to a fire…Heero to a pretty pink princess, who obviously was the one he wanted to protect and take care of when push came to shove...and my dream house to pride...stupid, fucking pride. Flopping back onto the sand, I stared up at the cloudless sky. Heero. Why did he keep insinuating himself into every thought I had? I knew I’d lost him. I knew it the minute he looked at me with so much anger and hate in his eyes. I mean, sure it was all a misunderstanding…but the bottom line was that Relena was the one who brought his protective nature to the surface. She was the one he cherished…the one he tried to defend. He could deny it all he wanted…but he did love her. I’m not saying he felt nothing for me. I know the passion we’d shared had been real. His tenderness had been genuine. But it wasn’t enough to replace years of courtship and friendship. Relena won out in that department. And when he thought I’d wronged her and then hurt her, he didn’t hesitate to lash out at me for it. To protect her. From me. I wished I’d never gone out to the estate that day…again. Maybe I wouldn’t have set up a situation where he felt he had to protect her. And maybe there’d still be a way for him to be mine. And maybe pigs would fly.
The brisk walk warmed me up, though I’d taken off my shoes so I could wade in the shallows along the way. And by the time I could see Howard’s closed-up shop in the distance, I actually felt better than I had in days. But then, as I neared the parking lot, I saw someone standing beside the Jeep, holding some kind of folder in his hands, and I stopped in my tracks. Heero. He must have seen me at the same time, because he started walking across the sand towards me. I stood with the cold sea water swirling around my ankles. How the hell had he found me? The fucker knew how obsessed I was with that damned cottage by the sea, that’s how. And, restraining order notwithstanding, he apparently wanted to talk. I squared my shoulders a bit, determined not to let him intimidate me—and even more determined not to let him see how much I wanted him. Pasting my cockiest smile on, I resumed walking towards him, estimating the number of paces remaining until he broke the restraining order.
tbc... |
