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"Taking Care "Written By: t-shirt Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are
copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties.
I make no money with this fic. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU/Romance, Mild angst, fluff+sap=sticky/puffy
Gundam pilots nee? *ggggg*, mild language, mention of lemon Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, background 5x6x13
(mentioned) Summary: The new assistant caretaker of a local
orphanage and school finds his post a little more than interesting
when the resident demon livens up his life "Taking Care " Ch 3
‘Duo,’ Father smiled trying not to bust out laughing as he sat on the edge of his desk. ‘Father,’ Duo replied daintily checking the hem of his pleaded skirt. Hiiro swallowed… hard. ‘Might I inquire why…’ the Father began but… ‘Why’re you wearing a dress!?’ Lady Une snapped unable to contain her fury any longer. ‘What?’ Duo asked looking as innocent as a newborn lamb as he gazed up at them and smiled. Hiiro would’ve swallowed again but his mouth wouldn’t produce the saliva. ‘Wasn’t it on the announcement board?’ the longhaired boy... girl… damn this was seriously messing with Hiiro’s mind!... smoothed her... HIS... skirt again. SHIT! ‘The announcement said that students are to wear their uniforms during the inspection!’ Une growled. ‘THEIR uniforms!’ she emphasized flipping the hem of Duo’s skirt which he immediately smoothed back down glaring at her indignantly. Hiiro had to shake his head and repeat to himself `he’s a boy, he’s a boy she’s’... DAMN!` ‘This was the uniform given to me at the beginning of the semester,’ Duo replied coolly doing such a fine job of imitating the lofty attitude of a seventeen year old girl Hiiro decided to just let go. He’d work on the psychosis later. ‘Then why didn’t you return it for a boy’s?!’ the Lady demanded, her face turning red as she clenched her fists tight. ‘That is irrelevant at this time,’ Father broke in before the confrontation could escalate any further. Hiiro had to wet his lips. Duo noticed and offered him the single most alluring smile Hiiro had ever seen in his life before he turned his attention back to his Father. Hiiro sat… slowly. ‘Lady Une and our good Assistant Caretaker have raised a viable request,’ the Father said moving on to the subject of their meeting. Duo took his time adjusting his skirt and moving to sit in a most lady like fashion crossing his long legs with his hands in his lap as he gazed angelically up at them. Even Lady Une’s stern resolve wavered as she rolled her eyes to keep from smiling. Hiiro had no such difficulty but he was considering enrolling himself in some very serious therapy at that point. Father smiled, Hiiro didn’t see it. ‘They believe,’ the old priest went on, ‘that a temporary cease fire on your part would be in order during the time that the school is under scrutiny.’ ‘A permanent ban would be more like it,’ Une groused making the Father chuckle and Duo’s left brow twitch as he sat smiling. ‘And I must say that I agree,’ Father added ignoring the interruption. ‘Therefore, we would very much appreciate it if there were no odd happenings in or around the grounds that might further upset or alarm our benefactors,’ he told the silent boy with a warm smile. ‘Is that all?’ Duo asked intelligently receiving a nod from his Father. ‘Well, then,’ he sighed getting to his feet with a grace that defied even the most feminine of females. ‘If you’ll excuse me?’ he smiled smoothing his skirt again and checking his knee high before turning to leave. ‘Hold it!’ Une ground between clenched teeth. ‘I want your word that you will behave yourself while the inspector is here!’ she demanded. ‘Of course,’ Duo smiled easily, his bright, violet eyes taking on an impish light when he saw the slack in Hiiro’s jaw. ‘Would you mind?’ he asked lifting his right foot up and resting the toe of his blue and white loafer on the edge of the couch beside Hiiro’s leg. Hiiro dragged his eyes down from the boy’s smiling face, along the frilly blouse and tight waist of the blue skirt, over the exposed knee and thigh (did he shave?) to find that somehow during the short trip from the chair to Hiiro’s couch the sock had managed to slip down and the shoe had come untied. He reflexively lifted his hands to assist the young girl, as any gentleman would do, before he remembered once again that Duo was a boy but it was too late to stop without seeming rude. Duo stood quietly smiling down at him as he slowly retied the shoe. Oddly enough his fingers seemed to be twice their normal size all of a sudden; it took him two tries to get the knot right before he moved to slip the sock back into place. Soft white cotton, just snug enough at the top to stay in place resting right below the knee. The raised knee, the knee that was lifted up in such a way that Hiiro’s eyes couldn’t help but see the creamy colored flesh beneath the pleats of that blue mini skirt. His gaze only wandered for an instant but the reality of what he’d done slammed him so hard up side the head he actually felt it. He’d never seen Duo look more demonic than when he turned his blushing face back up to look at him. ‘Thanks,’ the longhaired boy told him looking for all the world like the lady he was portraying as he turned happily and bounced from the room. Are Priests supposed to wear smug expressions? How about amused smiles? Lady Une appeared anything but amused as she too stood to leave. She paused beside Hiiro but didn’t bother to look into his cherry cheeks when she intoned. ‘It would have been entirely acceptable to have just said… no,’ before taking her leave. ‘But that never…’ Hiiro said before he could really think over who it was he was saying it to, ‘…occurred to me,’ he finished more to himself than the Father who gave into his need to chuckle as he went back to his desk chair. ‘Don’t let it bother you,’ he told the shaken Japanese boy. ‘You’re hardly the first to fall to the charms of Maxwell’s demon,’ he laughed lightly taking his pen in hand as he resumed whatever work he’d been doing before the meeting began. Fall? Had he fallen? He sure felt like his brain was spread out all over the floor that’s for sure. He did his best to pull himself together and put on a respectable face. He would be greeting colleagues that he hadn’t seen since he’d left home to come to work in the little school in nowhere’s Ville as his peer’s had so dubbed his new home. It just so happened that his decision to come here had been the result of a paper that one of his classmates had done on what she considered the destitute and deprived of the land. Something about the story of the little church that had become the pet project of another of his peers had touched him deeply. The donation of the house by Quatre Winner, a boy he’d come to know and call his friend, and its eminent rise from orphanage to school to community treasure. Once Quatre’s companion, a boy that had lived at the church he’d met during the negotiations and transference of the responsibility of the old mansion, told him of their loss and recovery some years back he really wanted to get involved and help secure the future of such a place. He was very much looking forward to seeing Quatre and Trowa again. The two had been inseparable since the time of the birth of St. Helen’s and though they didn’t flaunt it, it was well known by any who knew them that the nature of their relationship went much deeper than mere friends or companions. One had only to look at them to see that they were very much in love. It didn’t bother Hiiro but the young lady that had written that paper was more than a little disturbed. He really couldn’t work up to feeling happy about her accompanying them but then her father was the Commissioner in charge of the inspection so it would have been presumptuous to think that perhaps she would stay behind. He didn’t hate her but he had very much enjoyed the freedom of not being within her grasp as whenever they were near to one another she tended to latch onto him rather severely. True to her nature he didn’t manage to get so much as a hand shake from the rest of them before she clamped onto his arm smiling brightly as she swooped in to kiss his cheek. ‘Hiiro! My goodness look at you!’ she beamed. ‘I see even the burdens of the unfortunate couldn’t possibly weight you down,’ she praised anchoring him to the spot with her diligent hold. ‘Mr. Yui,’ her father, a tolerant and fair minded gentleman that Hiiro had found to be most reasonable though he was anything but a push over and tended to close his eyes where his daughter was concerned, greeted him holding out a hand that he couldn’t take until he wrenched his arm free of the girls grasp. ‘May I introduce Father Maxwell and the Lady Une?’ Hiiro offered his superiors to the man one by one. ‘Hiiro,’ Quatre smiled stepping forward to slip his arms around the Japanese boy’s neck kindly ignoring the indignant scowl on the girls face when she was forced to once again relinquish her grip on Hiiro so he could greet his friends. ‘How are you?’ Hiiro returned the hug allowing the blond boy to kiss his cheek before retreating back to his lovers side. Trowa nodded, Hiiro smirked, the girl regained her attachment and cleared her throat loudly. ‘This is my daughter, Relena,’ the Commissioner told Father and Une with a smile. She curtsied slightly but not enough to release Hiiro. There was the usual greeting exchange and pleasantries as they made their way into the house turning right beyond the foyer and into the dinning room where the procession suddenly stalled. ‘Duo?’ Father Maxwell inquired seeing his son standing there dressed in a school uniform, and boys at that, looking for all the world like the model student. Mariamaia, Midii, Osa and Mike and Ike were in attendance as well and looked quiet proper in their tidy uniforms. The usual array of tables had been removed in favor of an old, black oak dinning table that would easily seat at least eight people, its long expanse neatly set for a tea service complete with crumpets, caviar and a smoked fish bisque that smelled like heaven on earth even from the door way. ‘Welcome to St. Helen’s,’ Duo smiled offering the group a shallow bow which initiated a well choreographed curtsied and bowed greeting from the others in his charge. Nobody moved. ‘Please... come in,’ the braided boy went on as his followers stepped up to begin filling the cups with hot, steaming tea. ‘If you’ll just have a seat the entertainment will be starting soon,’ he smiled as Father, Une and Hiiro cautiously guided their guests into the room. ‘Duo?’ Quatre laughed lightly apparently not really believing his eyes. ‘Hey, Quat,’ Duo smiled going to take his hand and kiss him once on either cheek before rising on his toes to kiss Trowa lightly on the mouth. ‘Hey,’ he smiled pulling away from the now smiling auburn haired boy. ‘You’re beautiful baby, don’t ever change,’ Duo told him slapping him lightly on the cheek before turning back to his amused blond lover. ‘Have a seat,’ he told them. ‘You’re going to love this,’ he smiled before slipping out of the room. Relena and Une were not in the least amused but they kept their silence as they were offered seats by the remaining students. ‘Well,’ Father huffed a bit nervously as he surveyed the table, intensely... twice. ‘This looks splendid,’ he smiled albeit weakly as he glance inquisitively at Hiiro and Une to see if they had spotted anything amiss. It really was a beautiful table and the food smelled delicious. Still, Hiiro couldn’t help but cringe as Relena took one of the crumpets and bit lightly into it. The fact that she remained intact and unsoiled came as a great relief to them all. Mariamaia and Midii were doing their best but the smiles on their faces were impossible to wipe away. At least they weren’t laughing out loud at the nervous condition of their guests. ‘Excuse me,’ Hiiro said abruptly leaving his seat so quickly that even Relena missed when she tried to snag his cuff. He couldn’t believe that Duo would do anything stupid but this was a set up if he ever saw one. ‘Duo?’ he called seeing the boy fussing over a tray as he entered the kitchen. Osa was there as well having gone to help him fetch whatever it was he’d prepared. It smelled really good in there. The tray looked nice too but the complexity of the pattern faded away as Duo turned his smile on. Damn. He really looked good in black. ‘You’re being rude,’ the longhaired boy informed him setting a pitcher of cold cream on Osa’s tray. ‘What’re you up to?’ Hiiro hissed glancing back into the dinning room where Relena was watching the door intently. ‘It’s call tea,’ Duo replied lightly picking up his tray. ‘I would think someone of your social standing would be familiar with such things,’ he said in a lofty tone that made him seem so much like a social elite Hiiro had to shake his brain back in order. ‘Damn it!’ the Japanese boy growled softly trying not to alert the others, Relena was looking more cross by the moment as Duo pushed past him nudging the door open a little more. ‘Has anyone every told you you’re a tad neurotic?’ he smiled whistling sharply to Osa who gracefully slipped under his arms making a popping sound with his mouth before Duo suddenly leaned in and licked the tip of Hiiro’s nose. ‘Relax,’ he smiled whirling to follow his young charge back out into the dinning room. Hiiro was left speechless. All he could do was stand there and watch as the resident demon served up the most important visitors the school had probably ever had on a platter. He didn’t miss the deep crease of discontent on Relena’s brow when he returned to his seat by her side. No doubt she’d seen the boy’s playful retort. He sighed and resigned himself to whatever might happen. Duo had given his word; that would have to be enough. ‘I see you’ve retained many of the house’s original belongings,’ the Commissioner observed noting the table and chandelier. Some of the sconces were also elaborate and matched the lead crystal shimmering in the center of the ceiling. ‘Yes,’ Father replied enjoying some of the mouth watering fish. It was really superb. ‘We’ve donated most of it but there are still a few things that remain,’ he went on smiling at Ike as he refilled his tea cup and backed away. It never ceased to amaze him how easily Duo could inspire the children to greatness. The kids were doing an exemplary job. ‘It would be a proper dinning room if you removed the paper drawings along the wall,’ Relena observed motioning for Mike to serve her some fish. The boy rolled his eyes but responded obediently. He rolled them again when she ignored him and set about eating. Mariamaia was not amused. Duo smiled at the boy proudly but said nothing ‘There are usually smaller tables and a buffet by the wall,’ Lady Une explained sounding terse as she flashed a glance in Duo’s direction. ‘So this is all meant to impress us,’ Relena interjected fiddling with the uneaten fish on her plate. ‘Relena,’ the Commissioner scolded her gently for her rudeness. ‘But she’s right,’ Duo smiled. ‘You are our most important guests,’ he went on gaining Hiiro’s attention as he used a syntax that he was more readily used to hearing in his home country. ‘Isn’t it normal to want to make a good first impression?’ ‘It’s lovely,’ the girl smiled sighing softly as she leaned closer to Hiiro’s arm. ‘However, please understand that my father is not so easily swayed,’ she smiled coyly. ‘Relena!’ her father snapped but the smile never slipped from her lips. ‘I’m sorry,’ he apologized for her. ‘It’s been a lovely reception,’ he went on, ‘thank you.’ ‘No need to apologize,’ Duo assured him. ‘Please, enjoy yourselves,’ he added with a warm smile. Hiiro didn’t know quiet what to think. This was a side of the impetuous boy he’d never seen before. Was he doing this to help ensure the continuation of the school? Did he have some other ulterior motive for his behavior? Was he really just trying to be …nice? He felt a solid tug on his arm and realized that he’d been staring after the longhaired enigma as he glanced over to find Relena attached to his arm as usual. Apparently, she’d notice as her brow was fraught with lines and she kept glancing at Duo as well. ‘Here you are,’ Midii said softly leaning between Quatre and Trowa to refill the taller boy’s tea cup, a gentle smile playing on her pink lips as she batted long, sooty lashes at him and made sure her pert, underdeveloped breasts were well displayed. ‘How have you been?’ she asked setting her tea pot down as she leaned casually against the edge of the table. His only reply was to turn his emerald eyes on her but that was enough make her heart race. ‘Look,’ she said suddenly squatting down closer to him before sticking her tongue out to show him the ball piercing that was there. ‘Mariamaia and I did it together,’ she gushed brightly. ‘I mean... I did hers and she did mine,’ she explained giggling dopily. ‘I heard if you have a tongue ring you can…’ but her words were stalled by the sudden grating of Quatre’s chair legs on the tile floor as Trowa slowly and evenly drew him closer closing the gap between them. The girl was forced to move away or be squashed between them, her dark brown eyes narrowing maliciously as Quatre chuckled and allowed the taller boy to slip his arm around his shoulders. ‘Aren’t the uniforms a bit outdated?’ Relena observed pushing the fish on her plate away untouched. ‘I see nothing wrong with them,’ her father countered sipping his tea. ‘They’re hardly up to standard,’ she sighed. ‘The skirts are much too short don’t you agree?’ she asked. ‘Perhaps,’ the man nodded absently enjoying some of the fish. ‘They’re within regulation,’ Lady Une pointed out. ‘The students don’t wear them on daily basis,’ she informed them. ‘Do tell,’ the girl mused. ‘Perhaps that should be one of the first major changes,’ she said motioning for Ike to fill her tea cup again but the boy refused to move. Duo smiled at him proudly too. ‘Changes?’ Father inquired casually halting Osa’s retreat from serving him more tea by tousling his hair and pulling him close to his side. ‘No need to worry,’ the Commissioner assured him. ‘We’re only here to observe,’ he reminded his smirking daughter in a low tone that clearly spoke of his disapproval but it had little to no effect other than to urge her on. ‘Come now, Father,’ she said loftily clinging to Hiiro’s arm a bit tighter as he was slowly drifting away. ‘This is a catholic school is it not? Uniforms are a basic requirement. These are barely within regulation,’ she pointed out. ‘Take him for instance,’ she said indicating Duo as he stood quietly observing. ‘That hair is so far out of bounds its ridiculous,’ she laughed loosing her grip on Hiiro as he turned side ways in his seat but it didn’t slow her down. ‘We should see to it that the skirts are lowered, the daily regulations are enforced and that boy’s hair is up to the shoulder length code before we leave.’ It all happened … very quickly. ‘WHAT?!’ Tea pots were slammed onto the table. ‘WHO THE HELL DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?!’ Feet stomped in fury. ‘NO WAY ANYONES CUTTING DUO’S HAIR!!!’ Words spat in rage as fists were brandished. ‘OVER MY DEAD BODY!’ Mariamaia snarled stepping in front of the longhaired boy protectively with Midii at her side. ‘If you please,’ Father said firmly calling a silence that blanketed the small dinning hall instantly. He waited a long moment for everyone to gather their thoughts and calm their ire’s before continuing. ‘My apologies,’ he offered to their wide eyed guest Commissioner extending it graciously to his smirking daughter as well. ‘Quite... understandable,’ the man replied still trying to calm his rapidly beating heart after the explosive display. ‘I assure you,’ he went on tossing an angry glare at Relena who still looked as smug as ever. ‘It is not our intention to change the way you run your school,’ he told them. ‘Our only concern is whether or not it meets the guidelines and safety regulations set by the government,’ he assured them. ‘I don’t give a shit what your government say’s,’ Mariamaia growled. ‘No ones cutting Duo’s hair,’ she told him flatly gaining an affirmative murmur from around the room. ‘Mariamaia,’ Father sighed. ‘Apologize.’ She obeyed but obviously didn’t mean a word of it before he sent her to her room to do penance. ‘Oh, honestly,’ Relena scoffed. ‘It’s only hair,’ she said rolling her deep blue eyes intolerantly. ‘Duo’s peculiar hair style has never been something I personally approved of,’ Lady Une began, her brown eyes narrowing to slits as she continued. ‘However, I can assure you it has nothing to do with vanity or rebellion,’ she explained making it very clear to the now off balance girl that she didn’t appreciate her childish games. ‘It’s still strictly against regulation,’ Relena replied attempting to regain her composure in the strength of Hiiro’s arm but he refused to allow it standing from his seat as she gaped at him in surprise. ‘You’re a mean lady,’ Ike piped in poking a pouting lip out at her as she blanched. ‘That’s no way to speak to a lady, son,’ the Commissioner sighed responding with the appropriately programmed line. ‘It’s alright,’ Duo said breaking the silence he’d held since the entire scene had started as he went to comfort the boy with a gentle touch on the shoulder. ‘You didn’t do anything bad,’ he assured him ruffling his hair. ‘You see,’ he said going into a well practiced teaching mode. ‘It’s very hard to tell by just looking but once you’ve studied for a bit you can see. That,’ he said indicating the Lady Une, ‘is a lady,’ he told him. ‘That,’ he said turning the boy’s attention to Relena, ‘is a spoiled little girl,’ he smiled watching the look of complete abhorrence wash over her scandalized face. ‘Can you see it?’ he asked as if he’d just explained the difference between a blue bird and a crow. Ike paused to look at them then smiled and nodded his head. ‘Good boy,’ Duo grinned tousling his thick mop of hair again. ‘Hey,’ he added standing up suddenly. ‘Anyone up for a game of squash ball?’ ‘YEEEEEAAAAHHHHHHH!’ they all crowed crowding around him as they pushed him out the door. ‘You coming?’ he called back to the now smiling faces of Quatre, Trowa and even Hiiro who had gotten a huge kick out of is little tutoring session. It took about half a second for all three to be on their feet. ‘Hiiro!’ Relena called indignantly but he hardly offered her a glance before disappearing with the others. No one really noticed that Midii hung back after they got outside and took a moment to gaze up at the window of the room she shared with her redheaded friend. She smiled when she saw the girl standing there staring down into the courtyard but it wasn’t a pleasant smile by far. After a moment she decided she’d rather join her roommate as join in the game and ran off in that direction leaving the others to their fun.
~ * ~ tbc... |
