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"Post It Pads"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: More fluff stuff, Eventual Lemon fluff,
Wufei’s kind of a bastard at first but in a very human way. AU/Office
Adventure Pairings: 3x4, 5x2, 1+2, 5x13, 5x13x6, 1x2 Summary: A beautiful delivery boy turns the mundane
life of a corporate suit inside out. "Post It Pads " Chapter 5 I didn’t sleep well after Duo and Wufei’s quarrel in my office wondering how Duo was doing; if he’d really left Wufei and what his state of mind was. Come Sunday that week I couldn’t stand it anymore and broke down and called Hilde using the excuse that I needed to set up her schedule. That took all of five minutes leaving us to spend the next two hours talking about Duo. I was a little shocked to hear he had actually gone through with it even though I had been there when he had made up his mind. I could still see the acceptance of the end of his relationship in his eyes. She said Wufei had taken it pretty badly in spite of the fact that everyone saw it coming. She ended up spending a lot of her time consoling her heart broken housemate. In the end she and Duo had decided to get an apartment together once things settled down. Duo had indeed gone to Quatre’s on the Upper East Side, a neighborhood of gated communities and mansions where Quatre’s family owned a home. She said Duo had been quiet but he didn’t appear to be devastated. The separation had been a long time coming from her point of view meaning he had no doubt been preparing himself for the inevitable for a long time. Now it was more a matter of transition than any real wound. I didn’t really know how to feel. I wanted to rush over there and lay my claim but that would have been not only monumentally stupid but immoral as well. I didn’t want a rebound relationship. Duo deserved so much more than that. Hell, I wasn’t even sure I really wanted a relationship at all to be honest. It was easy to fantasize about him but when I thought about actually touching him my mind went blank and I lost the feeling in my toes. Over excited? Perhaps, but I couldn’t imagine what it would really feel like to hold him in my arms. I have never held a man in my life. What would his body really feel like? Would it be soft and warm like a woman’s or harder like my own? No, he’s leaner than I am. Like the curve of his back; it doesn’t really end when his back does. It just transitions subtly into the round, firm flesh of his ass. “…ro?… Hiiro!” “Hn?” “I said is this alright?” Hilde huffed in frustration. I couldn’t blame her. I had zoned out like that twice already. “Yes. That’s it,” I replied glancing over her work. She’s not too bad with schematics. It had been another week since that fateful day in my office and I couldn’t stop thinking about him. The knowledge that he was free now was driving me insane! He had made a delivery the week before and seemed his usual self other than the fact that his attention was lavished mostly on Hilde instead of me. Katie didn’t take it too well either. She had copped an attitude with Hilde the moment he left. It wasn’t a hateful thing but it was annoying just the same. She gradually became amiable again so I let it pass without comment. I, on the other hand, was loosing it. I had put in another mock order just so I could see his face again that following Tuesday, a day that Hilde has the afternoons off. I almost missed him as he’d arrived early and about shit a brick when I saw the slight redness around his eyes. Something had happened. He was so brief with me it sent a sudden fear through my chest that he might be angry with me for some reason. Had I said something odd to Hilde? What in the hell was going on? “Duo!” I called after him as he made a hasty retreat snatching up his bike as he went. No way he was getting away like that. I was in the elevator before the doors could shut. “What happened?” I panted. The terror I had felt at seeing him leaving like that was still fresh in my veins. I couldn’t believe how frightened I was. “I... Jesus,” he choked out as tears welled up in his beautiful eyes tearing a new piece of my heart right out of my chest as he abandoned his bike and slid slowly down the elevator wall. “He’s ... he’s been having an affair all along,” he sobbed. I wanted to die right then and there. Die or kill Wufei one. It just hurt so damn much to see him in pain. “That’s why... that’s why he was so jealous. All along… damn it…” Something inside me snapped in that moment and I just didn’t care anymore. I hit the stop button on the elevator and fell to my knees pulling him into a tight embrace. He didn’t resist, he couldn’t have. I wasn’t about to let him sit there like that all alone. “He told me... last night” he sobbed into my shoulder. “Said he couldn’t deal with the guilt anymore.” “Shhh,” I soothed petting the back of his hair as I held him close. It wasn’t anything like I had imagined. He wasn’t soft or hard, he was just, Duo. What I felt with him clinging tightly to my chest, his tears soaking my shoulder and his fingers gripping desperately to the back of my dress shirt scared me more than anything I’ve ever felt in my life. I’m not sure exactly when it happened but there was no turning back. I was seriously in love with him. No doubt about it. “Come on,” I told him once he’d settled down. “I’m taking you home.” “You don’t have to…” he began but dropped the sentence when he saw the look in my eyes. “Why are you so kind to me?” he choked but I couldn’t bring myself to answer him. It wasn’t the time to be confessing my feelings and confusing him further. I offered him my handkerchief instead of a reply. “Thanks,” he smiled as I reached to restart the elevator. His hand came up before I could reach the button freezing me solid the moment his fingertips touched my skin. “Hiiro?” he said softly. His position put him in the crick of my arms, which meant his face was only about eight inches from mine. I felt an incredible force pulling me toward him, saw the sparkle in his fathomless eyes before they began to slip slowly shut, his chin lifting slightly in acceptance of something I wanted more than life itself. It physically hurt to pull away from that moment devoid of his touch but I just couldn’t let our first kiss happen like that. Not with his eyes still glistening with tears over another man. When I claimed him I wanted all of him, period. There was an awkward little moment where he blushed prettily before I got us moving again. I know its odd to think of a man being able to blush prettily but he’s a master at it I assure you. I called Katie on my cell phone and had her lock up for the day. The Upper East Side is a bit of a drive from my building, a good forty-five minutes even without rush hour traffic. He remained quiet staring out of the window a lot until I finally got enough of it. I wanted to make him my partner for life, there certainly wasn’t any reason for me to be shy about asking about his personal problems anymore. “You want to talk about it?” “Hm?” he replied pulling his gaze back from the window. “Not much to tell really,” he sighed. “He’s been seeing the guy for a few months. Some big shot in his company,” he snorted. “And the whole time he was accusing me…” he said softly looking back out the window. “Why did he want you to know now?” I wondered. It didn’t really make sense to go back and tell Duo about it once they’d broken up. Was he just being cruel or was there some other reason? “Said he couldn’t see his life without me in it,” she snorted angrily. “That he wanted to start over and save our friendship. What a crock.” As much as I hated to admit it, it was the answer I had been hoping for. “You don’t believe him?” “Why the hell would I?!” he snapped then offered me an apologetic look. “It doesn’t matter. He’s got what he wanted. He doesn’t need me.” “Then why did he come back?” I wondered again. “I dunno,” he sighed. “Best of both worlds?” he chuckled. “Did he want to sleep with you?” There was a short pause as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to answer before he replied, “No.” “Do you think there’s a possibility that he was being sincere about wanting to be your friend?” “What is with you?” he asked suddenly. “Why are you all on his side?” “I’m not,” I countered quickly. “I just… wonder. He must care for you or he wouldn’t have taken you for a lover,” I reasoned. “It just makes sense that he wouldn’t want to give up on someone he cares about.” “It’s his fault,” he said stubbornly. “Absolutely,” I agreed. “But, you’re not the only one suffering right?” I pointed out gaining me a hard glance. “He has to be hurting if he went through all the trouble to come back and ask for your forgiveness. If you didn’t matter to him, he wouldn’t have bothered.” “He left me alone,” he said softly turning toward his window again. “You’re not alone,” I countered. His gaze was intense and lingering after that comment and left me feeling like if I didn’t say something else I was going to have a large hole in the side of my head. “You have Quatre, Trowa… Hilde” I reminded him feeling a little less uncomfortable as the intensity of his eyes eased up. “Me,” I added not daring to look at him. “You’ll be fine,” I assured him in what I hoped was a lighthearted tone. “Would it bother you if I stopped by to have a talk with him?” “What?” he gasped. “Why?” “I’d like to see if he’s doing alright,” I admitted. If anything Wufei was saying was true then Duo wasn’t the only one that needed a shoulder to lean on. “I’m sure he’s got all the comfort he needs,” he growled sarcastically. Gods he even looked cute when he was being an ass. “You really think this other guy can heal this wound?” I asked. “What wound?!” he barked. “He’s got what he wants! What the hell does he have to be wounded over?!” “He still lost you,” I reminded him. “I... he’s just…” he stammered trying to grasp what I was talking about. “Who the hell are you? Buddha?” was what he finally settled on. “Are you really unconcerned about how he’s dealing with all this?” I asked ignoring the playful jibe. He paused a moment then leaned back and sighed. “No,” he admitted. “I’m hurt but I can’t bring myself to hate him. We were never all that good together. I just wish he’d have been honest with me you know?” Ooook. Now we were getting somewhere. “All he had to do was tell me he liked someone else and we could have moved on along time ago. Why in the hell couldn’t he just say what was on his mind instead of sneaking around like that? I mean, I tried to be good to him.” Yep. That broke the dam. I was so happy to be flooded in the wave of frustration that had been bottled up inside him I couldn’t stop the silly little smirk on my face as he continued to pour it all out. This was the very thing I had been born for, to be there for him, to see him healing and growing and finding all the things that brought him joy. He didn’t slow down until we turned into the drive of Quatre’s manor half an hour later. “Damn,” I sighed taking in the grounds and high, iron gate. “Nice.” “Yeah,” he smiled and I mean really smiled like he didn’t have a care in the world. It made my toes twitch I wanted to hold him so badly. “Listen,” he said turning to face me after I rang the buzzer. “Did you mean it when you said you’d go talk to him?” “Yes,” I replied. I was planning on it whether he liked it or not actually. “Tell him I’m ok,” he requested. “If he asks. Tell him he can call me if he wants to.” I felt a pain in my chest when he said that. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was backsliding a little. “Do you want to try and get him back?” I asked. “No,” he replied calmly. “I want him to be happy.” Yes. “Duo!” Quatre called coming down the steps of the house as we pulled up, his worry for his friend arriving in an unexpected vehicle written in his big, cerulean eyes. “Are you alright? Did something happen?” “I’m fine,” Duo smiled getting out. I stepped out as well. “Hiiro just gave me a ride home,” he smiled. “Duo?” the blond repeated his name curiously looking him over. “You’re sure your ok?” he asked again. “Great,” he smiled pulling his bike from the bed of my truck. “I’m going to put this in the garage. Be right back,” he grinned hopping on it as the garage appeared to be some distance away. “Don’t run off before I get back,” he called over his shoulder bringing a smile to my face. “What happened?” Quatre demanded suddenly seizing my arm. “Nothing,” I chuckled. “We just had a talk.” “What’d he say?” he insisted. “He hasn’t smiled like that since he came here! Tell me everything. What’d you say to him? And after last night! Did he tell you about last night?” “Yes,” I confirmed prying his hand from my bruised arm. “Leave his arm intact,” Trowa’s even tone sounded nearby. “Oh, Trowa!” Quatre beamed immediately transferring his grasp to his lovers arm. “Wait till you see Duo! He was practically his old self again.” “Join us for dinner?” Trowa asked me ignoring the comment. “Oh, that’s a wonderful idea!” the blond smiled. “I’ll go tell cook. I hope you like salmon bisque,” he threw back over his shoulder before disappearing through the grand double doors at the top of the stairs. “I should really get home.” In reality I wanted to stop by and see Wufei on my way. “And miss dinner with Duo?” Trowa smirked and there was a lot more in that smirk than humor. “He’d be disappointed if you didn’t stay,” he smiled and I suddenly felt as if I had been stripped bear and hung out for public viewing. “I... have an errand to run,” I explained. I had no clue what to think when his presence was suddenly so close to me I could almost feel his breath on my face. He’s quiet imposing for a thin man. “He likes to take an evening swim after dinner,” he informed me. “Are you sure you won’t stay?” Damn! That was not playing fair! “I guess I could put it off until tomorrow,” I heard myself reply. He chuckled slowly, a bit alarmingly actually, as he backed off. “I thought you might say that,” he nodded. “Come on in, Duo should be back shortly.” “Am I really so transparent?” I asked following him up the stairs. It was pretty obvious he had my number. I saw no reason to pretend otherwise. “It’s not so hard to spot a man in love,” he told me opening the door and smiling at his little blond lover as he came down the hall, “When you truly understand how it feels.” Duo came bouncing on one foot out of a doorway down the hall as well. It looked like he’d gotten something caught on his heal and was trying to get it off without stopping. I just about busted out laughing at him but managed to keep it down to a tight chuckle. That evening turned out to be one of my fondest memories. It was wonderful to just sit and eat with them. They’re so comfortable with themselves it made me feel as if I had stepped into a storybook dream. And Duo. I had never seen him so relaxed before. It was mesmerizing just to hear him laugh. I got to hear some stories about his and Hilde’s escapades after dinner over drinks. I couldn’t believe he’d given that life up for something as boring as engineering. They had had so much fun from the sound of it. I just couldn’t see why they couldn’t have kept it up and taken classes on the side. “Why don’t you perform anymore?” I asked from my cozy seat in the lounge chair I was camped in. “Between work and school there really isn’t time,” he replied still giggling at a comment Quatre had made before my question. Trowa had the blond boy snuggled under his arm half on his lap as he leaned back into the corner of one of the deep couches. They looked so natural it never even occurred to me they were the same sex. Duo was in the chair beside me mirroring my position, his head resting on the left side of his chair, mine on my right. “Seems like you could make more money performing than delivering Post It pads,” I mused. “It’s not that easy,” he informed me. “There’re auditions and photo shoots, contacts, modeling, you name it. It’s not easy making a break in show biz,” he sighed letting his arm fall over the edge of his chair. I was acutely aware of the appendage, as it was only inches from my own. “You don’t have to be famous to make a living in entertainment,” I reminded him. “Well,” he replied thoughtfully. “No. I guess not but isn’t that the point of performing? To be rich and famous?” “What’s the difference as long as it makes you happy?” “Well, I... hm,” he replied oh, so articulately. It was so adorable I couldn’t help but smile. “Why not try something smaller? Just to pay the bills,” I suggested. “Like what?” he wondered thinking seriously about what I was saying. “You could do radio,” I prompted. “You know someone with a station?” he snorted. “They want you to do internships for free before they’ll pay you.” “No,” I replied. “But you do,” I said smiling at Quatre who’s big eyes suddenly popped open as a tidal wave of comprehension washed through their ocean green depths. “OMYGOD!” he gasped sitting up suddenly. “I do! Remember Trowa?” he said turning to his disgruntled lover who had obviously been enjoying their cozy niche. “Father gave me that one down on Broadway last year for my birthday.” I rolled my eyes. Only a Winner would get a radio station for a birthday present. I knew he owned it because I sometimes advertise products there. “It’s be perfect! You can do jingles and commercials. Even remote broadcasts if the manager thinks your good enough!” “Wait,” Duo chuckled. “You’re serious?” “Of course!” the blond boy gushed. “You’re perfect! You can sing. You love performing. Why not? With talent fee’s and a base salary you’d make a lot more than you can delivering office supplies!” “Can’t do it,” Duo teased kicking back so that his hand almost brushed mine. It amazed me that my breath actually caught in my throat as it breezed by. “Why not?” Quatre whined. “Cause if I do that Hiiro’s going to run out of Post It pads,” he grinned playfully at me. Damn. I could seriously get used to this. We decided in the end that my supply of Post It pads wasn’t as important as Duo’s happiness and made him promise to go to an interview with the station manager the next week. It was so cozy and comfortable just relaxing and enjoying their company I didn’t want the evening to end but it was past eight by then and I had to work the next day. I was just about to say my good nights when Duo stood from his chair and slipped off his coat. “Want to go for a swim?” he asked as innocently as you please. Just like that. With no regard for the instant rushing of blood in my ears. “I...I.. I... w...w…wha…” Damn it! “Come on,” he grinned popping the top button on his shirt. “It’s a great way to unwind before bed,” he said as he wandered out the double French doors that led to the pool outside. I watched as he slipped the shirt off his shoulders. I watched as it pooled in a silken puddle on the ground behind him fully exposing his exquisitely sculpted back to me. I watched as his hands moved to his waistband and popped the button on his pants, the material slowly sagging, gradually exposing what was beneath and literally jumped clean out of my chair. “I have to go!” I barked trying to tame my hammering heart. “What?” he asked turning back to face me. Aw shit, his pants were undone! He looked like a God standing there in the dim light in front of the sparkling water. I couldn’t breath. “I need to get home,” I repeated sitting down my half empty glass. “Wait,” he called as I went to get my coat. “I’m wearing a suit!” he told me stopping me in my tracks. “Did you think I was going to strip right here in front of you?” he asked sounding hurt and angry by the idea as he retreated to the poolside again. I had no idea what I thought other than that I wanted to dive on him and ravish him until he couldn’t move. Suit? No. I wasn’t worrying about a suit. “He always wears one under his clothes when he stays with us,” Trowa smirked at me, damn him. “There’re extra ones in the pool house. You should stay and have a swim,” he coaxed. “Or you might offend him,” he grinned like the demon I was discovering he truly was. “He’s not going to bite,” Quatre added crossly and I realized he was offended by my reaction. It obviously appeared to them that I was uncomfortable with their sexuality. Trowa used the opportunity to tease me further by pulling his annoyed little lover close against his chest and nuzzling his ear. “Don’t say things that might disappoint our guest,” he smirked causing his lovers golden brow to furrow. My eyes flickered toward the doors again when I heard a quiet splash and I resigned myself to the sweet torture and replaced my coat. If my hosts noticed my leaving they showed no sign of it as Trowa had captured Quatre’s entire attention with whatever he was whispering in his ear. Duo didn’t say anything to me when I walked to the pool house to look for a suit. I found one and changed cursing the warm night air. If it had been a chilly night it might have helped deter my rising excitement. I was fixing to be in a pool with a half naked Duo Maxwell. Gods in Heaven, give me strength. When I came out I just about had a heart attack. He was floating in the water on his back under the night sky but what robbed me of my sanity was the fact that he’d taken his hair down letting it spread out in the water beneath him. The pool lights reflected off the dark mass as it swayed in the gentle water below his floating body, a body so perfectly formed it made my mouth water just to look at him. “You coming in?” he said softly breaking me out of my daze. I couldn’t answer so I just slipped into the cool water nearby. “You didn’t have to stay,” he said moving to tread water instead of float. Damn. His eyes reflected both the night sky and the surface of the water. I was seriously having trouble catching my breath. “It’s nice,” I replied indicating the pool as he moved to the edge beside me. “I’m sorry if I startled you,” he smiled. “Ah!” I gasped as something brushed along my stomach. I realized quickly it was his hair drifting in the water. It had felt like an electric shock when it touched my skin. “Sorry,” he said pulling it back to the nap of his neck to restrain it. “No!” I barked much too suddenly. “It’s alright,” I forced calmly from my throat. “It doesn’t bother me.” “It looks like it bothers you,” he replied skeptically. “It just... tickles,” I lied. “You know,” he sighed lying his head down on his forearms on the edge of the pool. “You really shouldn’t be so nervous about touching us. We’re not vampires or anything,” he smiled. “I know,” I replied feeling more nervous than he could possibly imagine but for decidedly different reasons! “You don’t act like it,” he informed me. “You freak out every time one of us gets close to you,” he said slipping back into the water. No. Just you! My heart was racing so fast my vision was beginning to blur as he advanced. “Would it really be so bad?” he asked softly laying one hand on my shoulder where my senses suddenly exploded sending a crashing wave of heat throughout my entire body. “To touch,” he whispered leaning into me, his body moving close enough for our chests to touch as he slipped his arms around my neck and gently, so softly and excruciatingly slowly laid his mouth against mine. I thought I was going to drown and it had nothing to do with the water. He was so sweet, like early morning air. And soft, his lips were so soft and full and tasted of the mulberry wine he’d been drinking. His hands and arms, so long and strong around my neck made me want to wrap up in them and cocoon for about a thousand years. I was so totally lost and he hadn’t even opened his mouth or pressed his body into mine like Quatre always did to Trowa. “Touch me,” he pleaded pushing a little closer. The words were like a hot brand on my skin where his breath touched me. I wanted so damn bad to take him in my arms and make him completely mine it made my body ache with need. I knew if I gave into his request there was no way I was going to stop until he was screaming in ecstasy. “I… cant,” I ground out trying my best to keep from raping him on the spot. There was a pause then suddenly he was moving away. “Sorry,” he said softly refusing to look at me. What the hell? No… please... don’t go away. Shit! “It won’t happen again,” he added just before he sank below the surface and swam away. What?! Aw fuck no! Don’t say that! No, no, n,o no, no, no! What just happened? He thought... he must have thought... I didn’t like it? That I was rejecting him? Oh. please someone just shoot me now! I couldn’t stand it as I watched him surface by the stairs and get out to disappear into the house. “Son of a bitch,” I groaned succumbing to the desire to drown myself and slipping beneath the surface of the pool. I didn’t get six inches under before a strong hand grabbed me by the hair and pulled me back up again. “Are you a complete idiot?” Trowa growled. “Apparently,” I groaned. “Why in the hell did you turn him away!?” he asked. “I didn’t turn him away!” I snarled pulling myself up on the edge of the pool. “I was... I just...” “You wanted to snap his wish bone,” he grinned. “Shut up,” I growled getting up to go change. He didn’t of course. He laughed at me the entire way to the pool house. When I came back out he and Quatre were in the water together... well, I wont say what I think they were doing. Let’s just say they were making out. I had hoped to slip out without being noticed but lady luck was being a real bitch that night. “You’re welcome to stay the night,” I heard Quatre call softly. “Umm, thanks,” I replied trying not to actually look at them. “But I’ve got things at home I need to take in to work tomorrow.” It was a lame excuse but viable even if it was a lie. “Alright, but wait,” the blond boy said pulling away from his lover which caused Trowa to roll his eyes in frustration. “I’ll walk you out,” Quatre insisted getting out of the water. “Good night,” I called to Trowa with my own little version of his maniacal smirk. I about busted out laughing when his eyes hardened and he stuck his tongue out at me. “You know, I don’t know what you said to Duo today,” Quatre began as he walked with me down the main hallway. “But we appreciate it. He was really upset this morning when he left for work. Thanks for looking out for him.” “No problem.” No problem at all. “You’re really a very good person aren’t you?” he grinned. “I just wanted him to feel better,” I shrugged. “You are,” he repeated then shocked me by leaning over and kissing me lightly on the cheek. “Thank you,” he said. “He really needs a good friend right now.” “I’ll do my best,” I told him then bid him good night.
~ * ~ tbc... |
