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"Red Roses"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: Slight angst, fluff, sap, mention of
lemon Pairings: 1+R, 1x2 Summary: Hiiro’s life takes a turn when he walks into a flower shop and discovers a deeper meaning to life. "Red Roses"
Ch 2 “He’s not here.” “Is it his day off?” Hiiro asked not quite grasping the idea that Duo wouldn’t be at the flower shop. “He took the day off to bring Casey home,” she informed him. Wednesday, of course. He hadn’t had a chance to come by the day before as his meeting had run well into the evening and the fact that Duo would be settling in the little girl from the clinic on Wednesday had completely slipped his mind. “Why don’t you visit him at the church?” Hilde smiled. “No, that’s… you don’t think he would mind?” Hiiro mused. It would be a good chance to have a look around. “I think he would positively vibrate with joy,” she snickered tucking a long stem yellow rose in the arrangement she was working on. “Don’t tell him I said anything but he was pretty disappointed when you didn’t show up yesterday.” “Really?” he grinned frowning when he realize he had no idea what the hell he was grinning about. “Think I will drop over,” he nodded. “Tell him he owes me a Saturday morning,” she called after him. “This is supposed to be my day off!” He nodded but let the information run in one ear and out the other as he turned toward the Maxwell Church. This was a very good chance to look the place over and meet the Priest in charge. His feet took him quickly down the block and across the street, his eyes making note of the boy he had met in the clinic, Kyle was his name?, playing in yard before he climbed the steps to the main assembly hall. “May I help you?” a young nun asked gently and he was momentarily stunned by the brilliant color of her eyes. “Um, yes. I was looking for Duo?” “Are you a friend of his?” she asked indicating he should follow her. “Yes.” “He’ll be in the girl’s dormitory,” she told him as they reached the back of the cathedral. “How is she doing,” Hiiro asked bringing a warm smile to the young nun’s face. “Do you know Casey?” “Duo took me to meet her a couple of days ago,” he explained. “Poor thing,” the woman sighed. “It was bad enough to be injured in the fire but to have lost her family as well…” Hiiro swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat as he made a silent vow to make sure this place received whatever funding it required. “But Duo will bring her smile back,” she sighed confidently. “He has such a way with the children.” “He seems to have a way with everyone,” Hiiro interjected and she paused to grace him with the oddest expression before giving him directions and leaving him to find his way. He passed several pairs of children going to and froe that looked him over appraisingly before he made his way past the school rooms and up the stairs to the girl’s dormitory. The place was clean even if the classrooms where equipped with ten year old equipment. The elevator was broken but the stairs were well marked and decorated with the bright paintings and artwork of the students. He found Duo just where the nun had said he would be, in the third bedroom on the right where he was reading a book to the slumbering Casey. “Duo?” he whispered softly. “Hiiro?” the longhaired boy beamed clearly shocked by his presence. “What are you doing here?” he asked setting the book down carefully so as not to wake the girl. “You promised me a tour,” Hiiro smiled as he joined him in the hall. “This is sort of a bad time,” Duo grimaced glancing back in the room. “She doesn’t like to be alone,” he explained at Hiiro’s crestfallen expression. “She’ll sleep for a little while wont she?” he reasoned hopefully. “All right,” Duo smiled. “But just the school. I don’t want to leave her for too long.” Hiiro grinned throughout the thirty-minute tour delighting in every whimsical story Duo told him about his life growing up at the school. There was a huge gouge out of one doorway where he had apparently gone through a sword phase and, being the bright, agile youngster that he was, forged himself a blade out of one of the kitchens aluminum cabinet doors. It was confiscated however, when he went after a boy who had smacked one of his friends, hence the damaged door. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it by yesterday,” Hiiro told him as they made their way back upstairs. “No problem,” Duo shrugged. “I figured you probably decided to spend some time with your girlfriend.” “She’s not my girlfriend,” Hiiro countered smiling when Duo smiled at him. “I just forgot the most important meeting of the year that’s all,” he chuckled. “Sounds like something’s got you distracted,” Duo laughed along but quieted when Hiiro stopped at the top of the stairs. “Yes,” the Japanese boy replied softly turning to look down at him. “But it’s not Relena.” Duo swallowed gazing up in consideration as he stammered, “W…what is it then?” “This school,” Hiiro replied rushing down the steps when Duo suddenly spun and sat down. “Duo!? Are you ok?” “Jesus,” the longhaired boy laughed wryly but Hiiro’s concern was not appeased. “You are one crazy piece of work.” “What?” “I thought,” Duo began but stopped to look his companion dead in the eye before visibly steeling his nerve and confessing, “I thought maybe it was me.” “Well, yes…” “No,” Duo cut him off. “I thought you were attracted to me.” “What?!” Hiiro gasped sliding all the way back against the wall. “Why would you think something like that? You’re a man! That’d be…” “Gay?” Hiiro would have swallowed his gum if he had had any. “Duo? Are you saying you’re…” “Yes,” Duo sighed heavily. “I am.” “You mean you… like to like… kiss guys and stuff?” Hiiro asked in open wonder and Duo laughed. “Well, I’ve never met one I was willing to try with but yeah,” he nodded. “Hopefully someday I’ll find the right one.” “Duo,” Hiiro quirked a brow. “That’s just… you know… weird.” “Ever try it?” Duo asked through a cocky smirk. “Hell no!” Hiiro barked making both of them laugh as his cheeks lit up. “Then you have no basis for judgment.” “That is not fair,” Hiiro chuckled. “You said you’ve never kissed a guy before either.” “Not for lack of wanting to,” Duo shrugged. “You’d really like it?” Hiiro wondered, his throat going dry when Duo turned wide violet eyes upon him and replied… “That would depend on the guy.” “How about me?” He went pale when he realized what he had just said but there was no retracting the question. “I think you need to think very hard about what you just said,” Duo laughed moving to stand but something inside Hiiro’s chest refused to let the moment pass. “Wait!” he barked seizing Duo’s arm. “Could we?” he asked uncertainly. “I mean… I’d like to try it if you would.” The moment Duo took to think about it seemed like an eternity and Hiiro didn’t breathe again until he softly nodded and leaned closer to him but all the air seemed to have disappeared when Duo’s lips settled on his. “You’re right,” the longhaired boy breathed. “It is weird.” “Can we do it again?” “What?” Duo chuckled. “Well, that wasn’t like a real kiss was it?” Hiiro reasoned pulling him down to sit beside him on the steps. “You’re damn pushy for a straight guy,” Duo laughed. “I like to keep well informed,” Hiiro smiled. “May I?” Duo’s face flushed red but he nodded nervously tilting his head agreeably as Hiiro placed his mouth over his, a soft gasp escaped the longhaired boy’s throat when a warm tongue licked out and slid across his lower lip, his body unconsciously moving back as the warmth of Hiiro’s fingers slipped along his jaw, his palms so hot it took his breath away as he cupped his face and begged entrance to his mouth. “Hiiro…” he breathed, the two syllable sound leaving just enough of an opening for Hiiro to invade and taste the sweetness that lie within. “Duo?” Hiiro gasped when the boy suddenly rolled away and was quickly climbing the stairs. “I have to go.” “Wait a minute!” “Don’t you have a date or something?” Duo sighed in frustration. “I’m not seeing her again.” “You should go home and think very hard about what you want,” Duo told him turning to leave. “Duo.” “What?” he sighed heavily. “I stole you’re first kiss,” Hiiro grinned taking a great deal of satisfaction in the way Duo tried to hide both the smile and the blush before he walked away. ** “You want to cancel our date?” “Sorry,” Hiiro sighed into the receiver. “Well,” she rejoined. “I suppose we could reschedule.” “I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” he told her reluctantly. “What are you saying?” “I can’t see you like that anymore,” he explained. “May I ask why?” she inquired clearly hurt by his words. “I’ve… met someone,” he confessed but his mind still reeled at the thought that the someone in question was a guy. “I’ve known you for over a year and you’ve never shown the slightest interest in anyone now suddenly you’ve met someone?” she grumbled. “I’m sorry,” he said again. “I know the timing is unfortunate but I can’t ignore what I feel.” “Of course not,” she sighed. “But do you really think giving up on us is the right thing to do? Your feelings changed once, they could change again.” “I really don’t think this feeling is ever going to change,” he told her marveling at the fact that he honestly believed the words. “I see,” she replied. “Well, keep in mind that I am not willing to give up that easy. I’ve waited a year; I can wait a little longer.” “You should move on,” he told her. “You know I care for you but…” “Not that way,” she finished on another heavy sigh. “I’m sorry.” ** “Hi, Hiiro. What can we get you today?” Hilde asked brightly. “These will do,” he smiled at her gaping expression when he laid a dozen red roses on the counter. “Hi,” Duo smiled coming to join them, his happy demeanor dropping like a stone to the floor when he saw the roses. “Looks like someone’s getting lucky,” he said forcing the grin back onto his lips. “I hope so,” Hiiro nodded paying the exorbitant amount to the suddenly worried looking Hilde. “I guess you figure it out,” Duo breathed already moving back into the store. “I think so,” the Japanese boy commented picking up the bunch of red blooms. “These mean true love, right?” “True love,” Duo echoed distantly. “Resplendent beauty… passion.” “Then they should say exactly what I want them to say,” Hiiro smiled holding the bouquet out to Duo and Hilde dropped the bag she had been preparing for them. “What are you doing?” Duo asked suspiciously. “Well,” Hiiro chuckled advancing a step. “I’m trying to ask you out but apparently I’m not doing it very well.” “Are you serious?” the longhaired boy smiled accepting the generous gift. “I was sort of hoping those might earn me another chance at that kiss,” Hiiro smiled stepping forward again. “Bribery,” Duo laughed through the sudden mantle on his face. “You are so beautiful when you blush,” Hiiro praised reaching to cup his now burning cheek in his palm. “You seem to have come full circle awfully fast.” “It’s a short trip from me to you,” Hiiro smiled moving so close he was in danger of crushing the roses in Duo’s hands. “It’s going to take more than roses to put me in your bed,” Duo grinned evading his questing mouth. “How about we start with this?” Hiiro returned taking his face in both hands and kissing him soundly. “Well, at least I wasn’t jilted for some other girl.” “Relena!?” Hiiro gasped rounding to find her standing in the doorway, arms crossed, head hung low and one foot tapping out her distemper. “Why is it all the good ones are gay?!” she raved turning on a frightened looking Hilde. “Relena,” Hiiro began again but the young woman held up a hand to quiet him. “I did not follow you,” she defended pulling an envelope from her bag as she grumbled. “Christ, over a damn year and he likes guys. Mr. Maxwell?” she asked and Duo snapped to attention. “Yes?” She paused when she got a good look at him, her right brow arching as her eyes spoke to Hiiro before the expression vanished. “It has come to our attention that funding for the Maxwell Church was denied last year due to budget cuts. This was a mistake. The cuts were meant only for schools that charge for private admission. As your agency in not only non profit but depends solely on donations and grants it should not have been in the list. Therefore, I have been instructed to present you with a check for the full amount of the grant, which will be available again in two months time. I suggestion you and your staff begin work to reapply at your earliest possible convenience.” “Are you for real?” Duo gaped accepting the papers. “It is not the goal of this government to starve the needy and neglect the unfortunate,” she replied turning to leave. “Relena!” Hiiro burst rushing to her side. “I’m sorry. I never meant…” “Hiiro,” she smiled laying a soothing hand on his cheek, her eyes darting back to grin at the stunned Duo for a moment before she quietly replied, “All I ever wanted was for you to be happy,” and then she was gone. “You dumped her for me?!” Duo gaped still standing numbly in the middle of the floor, his arms full of red roses and a very big check. “No contest,” Hiiro smiled. “Hilde,” Duo said snagging Hiiro by the hand as he headed for the door, “Don’t wait up.” ** “We have to get up.” “Nnnnnn, five more minutes,” Duo groaned snuggling down in his lover’s arms. “You’ll be late for class,” Hiiro snickered kissing his temple. “Your fault,” Duo’s muffled reply sounded. “You didn’t have to agree,” Hiiro purred nuzzling his ear. “Like I’m gonna say no with you breathing in my ear?” Duo laughed. It had been six months since their first date and though they each complained that they were moving much to fast they found themselves holed up celebrating the new apartment they now shared. “Don’t you have finals today?” “You sure know how to ruin the mood,” Duo grumbled rolling over to get up but Hiiro pulled him back in and laid on top of him. “What mood might that be?” the Japanese boy grinned. “The one that’s attached to this,” Duo replied lifting his hips to demonstrate his meaning. The money from the grants along with the generous donation from Winner enterprises had been more than enough to hire more teachers and staff at the Maxwell church leaving Duo free to enter college but he and Hiiro each spent several hours a week doing volunteer work around the school. “Can you make up the tests?” Hiiro breathed pressing him into the bed to prove the depth of his interest. “They’re not till this afternoon,” Duo breathed moaning deeply when Hiiro threw caution to the wind and kissed him as he slipped between his legs. He thought about the events that had brought him there as they slowly made love and all the wondrous things they had discovered along the way. Nothing was quite as joyous as simply laying with the beautiful boy that had so completely stolen his heart. “I love you,” he whispered as he pushed his lover closer to the sun and Duo was quick to repeat the sentiment as he clung to him tightly but no words could possibly have conveyed the emotion they shared. He smiled as he recalled the night he had first told him not with words or ill-conceived deeds but with the timeless sincerity of the silent promise of the red, red rose. owari :)
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