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"Raising Expectation"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: Post War Cannon, Lemon Meringue (you know, the fluff stuff ^-^), mild angst Beta’ed by the beautiful Mechante Fille*hugs* Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5+all Summary: An expedition to raise a sunken ship
brings more than it’s cargo to light when Hiiro realizes the deep
seeded desires in his heart. " Raising Expectation"
Ch 2 “Hey! That’s not bad,” Captain Jacque complimented, shoving another bit of sushi in his mouth. “Leave it to Trowa,” Quatre smiled, leaning his shoulder into the taller boy’s by his side. “It was your idea,” Trowa shrugged. “Yes, but you’re the one that created the recipe,” the blond argued. “Hey, I caught the fish,” Duo chimed in. “At the expense of a two thousand dollar rocket,” Wufei chided. “You look like you’re enjoying it,” Duo countered. “That was so cool,” Maurice smiled and Hiiro stifled the urge to grin at his starry-eyed gaze. “It’s all in the angle of trajectory…” Duo began. Quatre rolled his eyes and smiled at their Japanese partner as Duo launched into a very detailed explanation for the success of his catch that had absolutely no basis in reality whatsoever. Hiiro smiled affectionately at the nutty American, earning himself a quick wink that told him Duo was well aware of the depth of the bullshit he was dragging Maurice through before he realized he was looking at him with the same starry eyed expression as the boy and looked away. “I think I’ll turn in,” he told the group in general. “Already?” Duo asked abandoning his tale. “We have a long day tomorrow.” It was true, to a point. “Then I’ll come with you,” Duo smiled, ignoring the crestfallen look on Maurice’s face as he stood from the table. Hiiro felt his throat tighten but couldn’t come up with one thing to say that would stop this from happening. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see him, but in light of his recent revelation he really just wasn’t ready to deal with him yet. He tried to think of a way to keep the visit short without seeming rude while Duo said their goodnights and promised to have breakfast with Maurice in the morning. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d gone off planet,” Duo commented as they made their way back toward the small cabins. “I’ve been working for Une,” Hiiro informed him clamping down firmly on the rising heat as Duo’s braid bobbed along just under his ass in front of him in the narrow corridor. He recalled having such feelings for the longhaired American before, but back then it had been just as easy to believe it was irritation that caused the bubbling warmth to rise up. Now that there was no war, no battles and a hell of a lot less stress it was easy to see that this was not the case. When had he become gay? “..think you’d be interested in field work after all that.” “What?” “Where the hell are you, man?” Duo chuckled, stopping outside a likely looking cabin. “Right here,” Hiiro replied, noticing that he had unerringly brought them straight to his cabin. “No your not,” Duo laughed, ducking inside. “You’re a million miles away. Is this mission bothering you that much?” he asked flopping down in the bunk while Hiiro squeezed into the small area and took the only seat available by the door. “As long as there are no live warheads aboard it should be easy enough,” Hiiro replied. “Ooooh, so that’s it,” Duo grinned flipping off one shoe. “What’re you doing?” Hiiro snipped, the sudden rush in his ears caused by the searing image of Duo lying out on his bunk stark naked drawing the question from him in a heated rush. “Just getting comfortable,” Duo replied looking at him as if he’d grown horns and Hiiro laughed at the thought. “You ok?” the longhaired boy asked flipping off the other shoe. “Just… tired,” Hiiro replied. “Tried?” Duo grinned mischievously. “Someone holding some kryptonite?” he teased. ’Yeah, you’ was he first thing that popped into his head but he didn’t dare say it out loud. He needed some time to figure out how to deal with the situation. “Hey,” Duo said more seriously, sitting up. “You do look wiped. You sure you’re all right?” he asked reaching his hand toward Hiiro’s face as if to test the quality of his skin, his brow furrowing in confusion when the Japanese boy suddenly jerked away. “I’m fine,” Hiiro told him shortly. “How are things on L2?” Duo paused a moment to consider him and Hiiro knew beyond the shadow of a doubt he knew something was up. “Fine,” was his clipped reply. “Doesn’t sound like it.” “Ok,” Duo amended, “Boring as hell,” he said standing and Hiiro jumped up, hitting his head on the ceiling and crying out in pain when he started to unfasten his pants. “Aw! Geez! What the hell is up with you?” Duo grimaced in sympathy, aiding his friend in his efforts to quail the pain. “What were you doing?” Hiiro ground out between clenched teeth. Fuck! Steel was hard! “Getting ready for bed.” “You’re sleeping here?” Shit. “Unless you’d rather I didn’t,” Duo sighed; clearly not comprehending his friend’s behavior and Hiiro suddenly realized just how oddly he was actually behaving. “No,” he sighed, reigning in some tighter control on his floundering emotions. “That’s fine.” He was totally unprepared for the lascivious thoughts that exploded in his mind when Duo smiled and asked, “Top or bottom?” “……………..” “Hiiro?” “B…bottom,” Hiiro replied softly as an image of Duo spread out beneath him completely at his mercy swam across his mind. “You sea sick or something?” Hiiro just shook his head and tried to move to lie on his bunk but Duo was still standing in the limited space, which meant he had to squirm, scoot and otherwise molest him in order to accomplish the task. His face was beet red, his breathing irregular and his pants tented by the time he curled into a ball on the thin mattress. “Ya know, that D.U.D.E. gizmo’s a pretty slick piece of machinery,” Duo began, the rustling sound of his movements causing Hiiro to roll his head over, whereupon he rolled it right back and buried it under the pillow while the searing vision of Duo’s half naked body continued to cook his brain. What was with him all of a sudden? It had never been so hard to focus before. Not even when he’d worked with Duo closely in between the wars. It was always pleasant, a companionable partnership that left him feeling whole and secure, almost as if he had some semblance of a family. So what had changed? “Ah, damn,” Duo groaned and Hiiro fell into the trap once again rolling over to see what was the matter only to find the slender American pulling his shirt off over his head, his long body stretching out as he moaned softly under the protest of aching muscles. Oh yeah, that. “Think I pulled something fighting that chopper today,” Duo groaned. “Are you injured?” Hiiro asked because if that were the case it was going to throw a monkey wrench in the gears of their operation. “Naw,” the longhaired boy shook his head. “Just a little tight.” Hiiro groaned silently to himself as Duo decided to sit on the edge of his bed to take off his socks. Why did everything he said seem to relate to something sexual in his mind? His answer throbbed between his legs when Duo bent over to retrieve his dropped sock off the floor. “Well, it’ll be cool to be in the cockpit again,” Duo said, jumping up onto his bunk, his long legs dangling before Hiiro’s eyes for a moment before he hoisted himself up. Hiiro shut his eyes tight and tried very hard not to relate he word ‘cockpit‘ to the view. Duo spoke of the mission for a time, outlining his ideas on how best to raise the cargo should they find any and the minimal possibility of live warheads becoming a threat before things quieted down and Hiiro felt the oppressive silence invade his realm. Had he really sat quietly content in his solitary apartment only a week ago, completely unaware of his stagnation? The world suddenly seemed a very lonely place without the sound of Duo’s voice and when he spoke again it was like the breaking of the sun in Hiiro’s world. “Good night,” Duo said softly, his tone so low Hiiro almost didn’t hear the gentle undertones. Or maybe that was just his heart reaching out for more than what was actually there. Morning came early on the ship. The crew was usually up before dawn and hard at work. Hiiro awoke to the sound of Duo slipping out of his bunk to land light footed on the floor, his eyes slowly opening to see the grinning face that had somehow invaded his dreams. “Breakfast,” Duo chirped and Hiiro smiled in spite of himself while he watched the energetic boy ready himself for the day. “Aren’t you hungry?” “There’s only room for one to stand in here at a time,” Hiiro reminded him. “Oh, yeah,” Duo chuckled a bit sheepishly adding a quick, “I’ll wait for you in the hall,” before ducking out of their tiny cabin. Forty-five seconds. That’s all it had taken him to wake and be fully dressed and waiting. Old habits die hard Hiiro thought as he rolled out of bed in his ready attire and joined his companion in less than another ten. Maurice accosted them before they had reached the end of the hall, going so far as to latch onto Duo’s arm for a moment before the braided boy skillfully wriggled free. The kid never stopped chattering over breakfast. Wufei joined them about halfway through and sat talking quietly with the Captain while the man’s son delivered a good portion of his biography. By the time the crew announced their readiness to begin operations for the day Trowa and Quatre had wandered in and even Hiiro smirked at the tousled look of them. “Long night?” Duo grinned, drawing a bright blush from Quatre and an evil smirk from Trowa before they all headed topside. “Hey Quat!” he shouted as he pulled on his flight suite. “Ready to have some real power under your ass again?” “Just as soon as this job’s over,” Quatre called back and Duo burst into tears with laugher. “How’s the Cancer look?” Hiiro’s voice cut in over the now open com. “All systems go,” came Wufei’s curt reply. “Be sure to set as many drag lines as possible,” Captain Jacque reminded them. “Roger that,” Hiiro acknowledged. “Duo!” The braided pilot stopped just as he was climbing inside the D.U.D.E submersible to smile at the anxious boy that was rushing up to the hatch. “Here! Take this,” Maurice panted; his face crimson from the excitement and the daringness of his deed as he jerked a small braided chain with a small, gold doubloon from around his neck and offered it to Duo. “It’s my good luck charm,” he told him climbing up before attempting to drape it around Duo’s neck but Duo raised his hands to stop him. “Sorry,” he smiled apologetically taking the chain in his hand instead. “The necks already occupied, but here,” he soothed wrapping the delicate chain with its miniature treasure around his wrist. Maurice looked disappointed for a moment but recovered quickly seeming happy to have his offering accepted and Duo ruffled his hair before climbing in next to Hiiro. “Sit tight and we’ll have you launched within the half hour,” Captain Jacque informed them. “That won’t be necessary,” Trowa replied. “Just make sure the recorders are functional,” he said just before he ran his Pisces off the end of the deck. “Show off,” Quatre chuckled, adding a small leap to his exit that sent him fifty yards further out into the open sea than his taller counterpart. Half the crew was already cheering raucously, none so loudly as Maurice, when Wufei did a dignified one step into the briny blue. D.U.D.E. wasn’t anything like either the Pisces or Cancer. It actually resembled more of a troll than a mobile suit but that hardly stopped Duo from stepping it down the deck and with a horrendous wail did a one handed cartwheel into the sea. “Hey!” Leon shouted in his heavy French accent. “D‘ey are not supposed to do ‘zis! D.U.D.E. was not designed for such… frivolity!” “Seems to be holding up just fine,” Duo laughed. “Nice piece of work,” he complimented running his fingers over the familiar control panel. He may have never piloted this ship before but he had helped design most of the technology that went into its creation. “And a two man cockpit,” he smiled at his seemingly distracted co-pilot. “‘e was not meant for `zis!” Leon pouted. “Recon is recon,” Trowa interrupted. “Target in sight.” “Hoooooly…” Duo crooned in open wonder as the massive ship came into site. At this depth the light was poor at best and it took every search light between them plus several flares to get a good idea of the layout but it was clear from a glance that she was in at least three pieces as the preliminary echo’s had suggested. “I sure hope I’m not the one that brought her down,” the longhaired boy voiced all of their thoughts softly. “It doesn’t matter,” Wufei replied in an equal tenor. “We were at war. We did what had to be done.” “Stay alert,” Trowa warned as he circled around the backside of the larger middle section. “Looks like she is the one we wanted. The guns are still intact on the port side.” “Chance of live munitions?” Hiiro inquired. “Ninety percent.” “Make that one hundred,” Quatre’s suddenly tense tone corrected. “You have a visual?” Wufei asked. “At least three missiles,” the blond boy confirmed. “Possibly Cobra Longliners.” “Damn it,” Duo swore. “We’ll have to disarm them before we can move.” “Any possibility of additional threats?” Hiiro asked. “Negative,” Trowa replied having joined their Arabian partner in his search. “The armory is busted wide open. Three missiles confirmed. Definite Cobra ID.” “You’re sure?” Wufei prompted. “Want the serial numbers?” Trowa chuckled. “Well, there goes that party high,” Duo sighed. “Scout the perimeter,” Hiiro instructed as his team began the first sweep taking pictures every ten feet until Duo slowed and pulled their oddly shaped behemoth to a stop. “It’s defiantly our girl,” he informed the others as the searchlights lit up the ships name. “The Expectation,” he breathed reverently, wondering once again if she had come to rest in this dark, watery grave at his own hand as he cut the comm. “Duo?” “Do you know her?” Duo asked softly. Hiiro was taken aback by the question even though he fully understood his friend’s feelings. However, in the end, all he could offer him was the truth. “No.” “I’m going to do this,” Duo confessed. “I’m best suited to work with explosives…” “We’ll do it together,” Hiiro cut him off, robbing him of the will to speak, but he could see the gratitude in his eyes as he nodded his acceptance. “Tomorrow,” the longhaired boy decided. “We should finish this up quickly,” Hiiro commented. “We’ll need plenty of time to study the photos. I don’t want any surprises.” “Me and you both,” Duo snorted softly, kicking the com back on. “….they finally figured it out.” “Figured what out?” Duo asked brightly. “How the hell to work a com link,” the green eyed boy snipped. “Oh,” Duo grinned. “You mean this thing?” he asked flipping on the internal speakers. “SHIT!’ Trowa barked covering his ears. “What the hell is that!?!” Quatre shouted over the thunderous beat. “That,” Duo laughed with a touch of the old demonic glory threading his tone, “Is the Godz!” “Well, crucify them or something!” Trowa growled. “Turn it off!” Wufei joined in. “Duo!” Quatre yelled and suddenly silence prevailed. “Prude,” Duo pouted at his slightly amused mission mate as he set a course for the next level of pictures. It took most of the morning to finish the massive job. Special care was taken around the missile site where they took the time to break away from the wreck and scour the cliffs and sand dunes. No other threats were found before they headed topside again. Duo had turned his music back on during the long wait between ascensions though the volume was considerably subdued and creased his brow curiously when Hiiro reached up to cut the com and turned it off. “What’s up?” the braided boy asked curiously. Hiiro’s eyes fell on the charm around Duo’s wrist, his mind still playing between jealousy and concern as he fought with his decision to speak to his friend about it. “Do you think it’s wise?” he asked finally. “Encouraging him that way?” he explained indicating the necklace. “He’s a cute kid,” Duo chuckled, examining the charm affectionately. “He’s got a major crush on you, you know?” “You jealous?” Duo teased and Hiiro choked on his own breath. “Damn, man,” Duo chuckled uncertainly, patting him on the back as best he could in the close quarters. “You ok?” “Fine,” Hiiro rasped. “But you shouldn’t *cough * lead him on *cough* like that,” he wheezed. “It’s just a good luck charm,” Duo reasoned. “Not to him,” Hiiro countered, breathing deep. “The depth of your acceptance of him should be very clear if you don’t want to hurt him.” “It’s just a crush,” Duo shrugged. “I think it’s kind of sweet,” he smiled, gazing at his talisman again. “That is his heart you hold in your hand,” Hiiro told him, his tone as serious as one can achieve having just half choked to death. Duo took the time to examine the glimmering coin more closely, its intricate patterns reflecting warmly in the low light, before he softly replied. “You’ve grown,” and Hiiro’s heart skipped a beat. However, before he could reply, a resounding blow from the outside suddenly rocked their vessel; Duo’s hands flew to the controls, his fingers searching for weapons that weren’t there until he caught sight of the Cancer speeding toward the light above them. “Damn it, Fei!” he growled opening the com. “You’re two minutes late to surface,” the Chinese boy informed them. “So you had to ring our bell?” the longhaired American snipped moving them toward the surface. “You shouldn’t close the com.” “Did it ever occur to you to hail us?” “You didn’t respond.” “And you’re out of flares?” “I see no need to waste flares just because you decided to have a private chit chat.” “Well, I do!” Duo countered lining D.U.D.E. up with the hoist. “My damn ears will be ringing for a month!” “Then don’t get so engrossed in Yui you forget to check the comm.,” Wufei replied, the smirk more than evident in his tone and Hiiro got to see his longhaired partner turn six shades of red. Quatre and Trowa joined in the merriment, chuckling long and heartily that the day had finally come when Chang Wufei got the better of Duo Maxwell. ~ * ~ tbc... |
