|
"Showtime"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: R Warnings: Fluff, mild angst, pissy Relena lol,
mention of lemon Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5+all Summary: Duo has exploded onto the book scene with a racy novel that is all fiction. Or is it? "Showtime" “Where is he?” “Relax,” Trowa smiled easing in closer to his lover’s back as the crowd milled about. “He’s late,” the blond boy sulked smiling suddenly when a camera was presented before him. “Mr. Winner,” an eager reporter woman grinned stepping in to take her photographers place. “Is it true you and Mr. Barton met while on assignment in the jungles of Brazil?” “Have we ever been to Brazil?” Trowa queried amusedly. “It must have been such a shock to realize your feelings while at the mercy of South American Guerillas.” “Miss…?” Quatre smiled. “Carry,” she beamed offering her hand. “Wanda Carry.” “Miss Carry,” the blond repeated ignoring the hand. “You seem to have confused us with characters from Duo’s novel.” “Oh, come now,” she chuckled retracting her hand with some unease. “It’s obvious Blake and Kyle are based on you.” “Based being the operative word,” Trowa smirked. “But…” she began then forgot about them when the crowd suddenly roared and converged on a long, black limo that stopped at the end of the red carpet everyone else had already walked down. “Are you all right, Sir?” Paisley, Duo’s current driver asked seeing the longhaired boy fiddling with his tie in the review mirror. “Showtime,” Duo grinned saluting the aging gentleman who chuckled warmly then the door opened and all hell broke loose. “Mr. Maxwell! Will you be accepting Sunrise’s offer to make your book into an anime!?” “Duo!” “IEEEEEEEE!!!” “Is it true Relena Peacecraft once tried to seduce Hiiro Yui!?” “What of the rumors that ESUN has accused you of slander against its officers!?” “Duoooooooo!” The braided boy stopped suddenly when one of his adoring fans managed to break through the line of security guards and fling herself onto his arm. His hand came up just in time to stop the poor girl from being accosted and tossed unceremoniously back into the crowd while the news hounds continued their relentless barrage. “Is there any truth to the claim that your counterpart in “Rising Sun” was, in fact, Hiiro Yui!?” The crowd fell into expectant silence each anticipating the long awaited explanation but Duo merely smiled and attempted to peel the girl off his arm. “NO!” she screamed clinging tighter as overexcited tears began to stream down her young face. “Please!” she sobbed as he offered the crowd a helpless shrug and wiggled his arm slowly free making sure the guards treated her kindly as they returned her to the proper side of the line but he stopped stone cold when she suddenly wailed, “I WANNA HAVE YOUR BABY!!!!” The people milling about laughed along with the braided boy who ignored the flash of the camera’s and moved forward turning to face them at the top of the stair. Each face brimmed over with anxious curiosity; microphones were presented with high hopes as he flashed a cocky smile and replied. “Yes,” and everyone suddenly chattered excitedly until he added, “Sunrise has generously offered to produce the series. We should begin work on the project this fall.” “But what about…?!” “In truth, I have no idea,” he laughed answering the second question that had stuck in his brain but it took a moment for everyone to catch up. “Lilia Donivan is, as I have explained before, loosely based on our lovely Queen,” he explained. “Though if she ever actually went that far I am pleasantly unaware of it,” he chuckled making the assembly laugh along. “As for the slander accusation I’m sure the story rankled some fur up on the Hill,” he nodded flashing a debonair smile that was caught on no less than a hundred cameras. “But that’s all part of the game,” he smiled noting the presence of several high ranking officials in the crowd. “And what of Mr. Yui’s part in all of this?” the woman who had asked the question in the first place persisted anxiously. Duo smiled in a most tolerant way looking as if he were as comfortable as if he were standing in his own living room and replied, “I wouldn’t know… I haven’t seen him in over a year and Miss?” he added smoothly changing the subject as he peered into the crowd and responded to his over exuberant fan, “Not likely,” making everyone laugh until he turned to leave. “Mr. Maxwell!” “Will there be a sequel!?” “What is your relationship with…?!” Duo stopped as he hurried toward the door when a dark presence suddenly loomed before him, his face pinking slightly as he recalled the character that had sprung to life in the shadow of is Chinese friend. “Uh… Hi, Fei,” he smiled sheepishly. “Wu…Fei,” the raven haired boy evenly intoned. “Right,” Duo nodded side stepping him to go inside but he couldn’t help the sidelong glance as he teased, “At least it wasn’t Mr. Chang.” “I hope you choke,” Wufei grumbled making Duo laugh. They were received with jubilant praise once inside where most everyone congratulated the longhaired boy though there were the few who regarded him with ill content. Braxton Noventa, the brother of one Miss Silvia Noventa and grandson to the late General Noventa was one that showed open intoleration for the longhaired boy having taken offence at the face that a character in Duo’s best selling novel resembled his sister. However, Candice Muldern was in no way the sweet, young woman the girl had been possessing a devilish spirit that attempted to seduce and confine the hero in his tale when confronted by his audacious persona. Some of the circumstances of her acquaintance with Hiroshi, one of the main characters and the eventual lover of Amor, the young man that slowly wins his affection, bore a striking parallel to those of Silvia and Hiiro’s brief encounter. “Good evening,” Silvia smiled somewhat nervously as her anxious brother escorted her near. “Hi,” Duo smiled nonplused by the young mans ire. “You look wonderful,” he beamed taking her hand to kiss it gently in spite of Braxton’s disapproval. “I’m so very glad you could make it.” “Someone had to defend my sister’s honor,” Braxton snipped. “Surely the fanciful imagination of those incapable of differentiating between fictional characters and reality isn’t your only reason for attending?” Duo smiled. “Of course not,” Silvia cut in before her brother could embarrass her any further. “It’s a lovely party,” she smiled gazing around at the large ballroom filled with glittering dresses and tailored suits. “Thank you for the invitation.” “Wouldn’t be half as bright without your company,” Duo replied. “If you’ll excuse us,” Braxton grumbled eyeing the braided boy suspiciously as he ushered his disgruntled sister away. “The man of the hour.” “Sally!” Duo gushed stepping forward to hug her neck which she returned whole heartedly. “Man,” he beamed looking her over. “You look fantastic!” “Recognize the dress?” she asked haughtily and he flushed and laughed out loud. “Holy,” he gasped turning her around. “I knew you’d be stunning in army green.” “You should’ve seen the seamstress’ face when I asked for an evening gown in camouflage,” she laughed. “Good thing you toned it down,” he smiled taking in the sleek, hunter green gown again. “It’s definitely your color.” “Well,” she sighed glancing around. “No one appears to be willing to accept that your characters are fictional so I figured, what they hey?” “Don’t tell me they actually think you’re an international spy?” Duo chuckled snagging a glass of wine from a passing tray. “You wouldn’t believe how gullible the general public can be,” Wufei grumbled doing the same. “Don’t sweat it, Chang,” Sally grinned sipping from her glass. “If they believe half of what your character did I doubt anyone will dare question you,” she laughed. “Questions are the least of my worries,” Wufei deadpanned making a quick exit when an older gentleman smiled and headed their way. Duo watched the man follow their Chinese friend toward the bar and snorted when Wufei turned and leveled a glare on the poor man that sent him scurrying in the opposite direction. “Maybe you shouldn’t have made him quite so… promiscuous,” Sally snickered. “Christ,” Duo chortled exchanging his empty glass for a full one as an attendant passed by. “Not you too. Fei Lin was only based on Wufei. It’s not like…” “I know,” she chuckled. “But it’s not so easy to make them understand that,” she grinned indicating two other middle aged men eyeing the slender Chinese boy hungrily. Duo paused to consider this development then cocked his head helplessly and turned running smack into the broad chest of Milliardo Peacecraft. “Oh, shit!” he started then soured and shifted when he saw who it was. “Hi, Duo.” “Noin,” the braided boy grinned forgetting the tall, blond man in favor of smooching his wife. “Glad you could make it. I hope the trip wasn’t too long.” “We were on our way to Earth when we got your invitation,” she smiled glancing nervously at her towering husband as he brushed the Champaign from his white suit. “I’m so glad you could come,” Duo reiterated. “I never expected the book to take off like this.” “About that,” Zechs began but Noin cut him off. “It’s a wonderful story,” she praised tossing her irritated counterpart a scolding glance. “Very… interesting,” Zechs grumbled. “Uh… yeah,” Duo replied scratching a persistent itch on his neck. “No offense,” he shrugged. “But every story needs a villain.” “Yes,” Zechs nodded dejectedly. “But one must wonder why this one had an affinity for molesting his crew.” “It’s a homoerotic novel,” Duo shrugged. “Duo,” Noin broke in tactfully glancing cautiously at her husband again before she asked, “They aren’t going to make the characters in the anime… look like us… are they?” Duo almost spit his Champaign out his nose he laughed so suddenly. “Um…” “Duo!” The longhaired boy took the out with great enthusiasm catching Hilde with both arms when she flew into them. “Hey!” he grinned turning her about before setting her on her feet again. “You made it!” “Of course!” she beamed. “Oh, Duo! It’s so wonderful! And the book is just amazing! I can’t believe I’m a heroin in a novel!” “You liked it?” Duo smiled happily. “I loved it!” she grinned striking a pose to recite, “One more step and you’re dog meat.” He busted up laughing thinking how very wrong the line sounded on her lips but the character that had blossomed in her image had been as tough as nails. A saucy wench bent on securing her place in the history books as the woman that saved humanity from self destruction. “Oh Duo,” she beamed clinging to his arm again. “It’s brilliant!” “Most entertaining,” a smooth tenor interjected shifting their attention. “Good evening, Miss Catalonia,” Duo smiled tipping his glass. The slender girl smiled in her smug way but seemed to be harboring some secret in the corner of her gray eyes. “Tell me,” she said turning to gaze into the milling crowd as if distracted. “Did you bother to have me investigated or was this simply the work of an overactive imagination?” “I’m afraid a formal investigation wouldn’t be necessary,” he replied confidently. “As the characters in my novel are only loosely based on reality.” “I see,” she smiled sweetly leaning a little closer as she softly intoned. “You’re intuition serves you well. However,” she said letting the corners of her mouth curl slowly. “Perhaps a more subtle approach would have been wise.” He had just enough time to contemplate the comment before a small commotion caught his attention and Dorothy’s smile widened evilly as Relena cut through the crowd. It was in him to turn and flee but it would only prolong the inevitable so he held his ground, drained his glass and snagged another drink when an attendant glided by. “Duo, how could you!?” Relena snipped moving in so close it was obvious she didn’t really want to make a scene. “Good evening,” he smiled making her take a step back when she realized she’d completely overstepped the usual pleasantries but it didn’t last. “Good evening, indeed,” she huffed accusing, “You haven’t returned my calls.” “I’ve been a little busy,” he explained. “You’ve been avoiding me!” she exclaimed holding out a copy of ‘Rising Sun’. “Because of this!” He shrugged and took a big swallow from his glass. “I can’t believe the things you said about me!” “It’s not about you,” he reminded her. “Of course it is!” she rebuked hissing angrily. “I would never use my office to acquire personal goals!” she stated firmly. “And this prattle about hopeless infatuation!? It’s totally preposterous to think that I would stoop so low as to attempt to seduce Hiiro!” she growled. “There is not one modicum of truth in this entire book!” He let the silence draw out for a moment before smirking from behind his glass and replying, “That’s why they call it fiction.” “Duo.” “Hey, Quat,” the braided boy smiled dismissing the irate girl in favor of hugging the timely blonds neck. “Trowa,” he greeting offering his hand to the tall, ex-mercenary who gripped it then pulled him into a one armed hug. “Congratulations,” Quatre smiled relaxing when Zechs and Noin lead the flustered Queen of the World away. “Thanks,” Duo laughed feeling a great deal of tension drain away. “Aren’t you two mad at me too?” “Why?” Trowa smiled slipping his arms around his lover’s slim waist. “I wrote some pretty racy scenes based on you,” Duo reasoned. “That was racy?” Trowa smirked. “Stop,” Quatre admonished but he didn’t sound angry at all. “It’s all for fun, right?” he smiled at Duo. “I’m glad you’re not taking it to heart,” he chuckled wiping his temple as he glanced toward where Relena had disappeared. “People will realize there’s no real truth in the book once things settle down a little,” Quatre reasoned. Duo smiled behind his glass glancing around the room again. Things settled down a little after that though he was accosted everywhere he turned by someone who either wanted to congratulate or harass him. There were speeches and awards, public denouncements of ill intent and the ever present and expertly executed avoidance of a certain Japanese boy’s name until the evening began to wind down and Duo sighed heavily as he once again gazed about the thinning crowd fruitlessly. “Duo,” Quatre called leading Trowa and Wufei his way. “We thought we’d grab a bite to eat before heading home,” he smiled. “Won’t you join us?” Duo looked around one last time and sighed in resignation. “Sure,” he smiled. “Just let me get my coat.” Dinner was pleasant though they didn’t eat much after having grazed on party food all night. Still, Quatre and Trowa were ever the supportive backbone and even Wufei had lost his annoyance and laughed amiably over his role in the novel. Duo was questioned on his inspiration and praised for his quirky imagination and not once during the entire meal did Hiiro’s name get mentioned. He was grateful considering of all the people that had attended his debut there was one he’d hoped to see that had not appeared. He wondered, not for the first time as he pulled into his driveway, if the stoic ex-Wing pilot even knew he’d written the book. Feeling the depression of being on the other side of an amazing event weigh heavily on the ever present absence of his wayward friend he shuffled up his steps and through his front door where he came instantly alive when the skin on his neck prickled alerting him to the presence of another. It took less than a second to assess his identity as there were only four people in the universe that could have infiltrated his security so easily and three of them had just dropped him off. “Hiiro?” There was no verbal response but he managed to make out the Japanese boy’s dark silhouette as a well worn, paperback copy of “Rising Sun’ fell on the coffee table between them. He let it lie for a time uncertain about how to react when he wasn’t sure how Hiiro felt about the book. He couldn’t even see his eyes which was making him very nervous because he couldn’t see his hands either. A vision of his old partner standing in the doorway of a moon based security cell with a gun pointed at him came to mind and he swallowed very hard. “Is it me?” Hiiro asked out of the blue. The question hit him like a ton of bricks and he became acutely aware that he was standing in enough light from the street that Hiiro could see his expression very well. “It’s just a story,” he replied taking a step backward when Hiiro stood. “You called yourself Amor,” the Japanese boy stated moving into the light. “It’s not really me,” Duo explained nervously. “It’s Latin,” Hiiro went on stepping forward. “Is it?” Duo replied stumbling over a chair in his retreat. “You’re name is Latin,” Hiiro reasoned. “Yeah,” Duo nodded bolstering his nerve and standing his ground as Hiiro came to a stop before him. “I guess it is.” “It means love,” Hiiro commented. Duo nodded gusting an anxious breath of air then forgot to breathe when he looked into Hiiro tumultuous eyes. “Is it me?” the Japanese boy asked again, his tone as soft as a breeze and Duo’s breath caught when he saw the heavens open in his eyes. “Yes,” he sighed resignedly. “But its fiction right?” he added hastily. “I know people think the things I wrote are true but…” “How much of it is true, Duo?” Hiiro asked daring a step closer. Duo swallowed the dryness in his throat and looked away. “You were there for most of it,” he reminded him. “Funny,” Hiiro replied taking his chin in his hand. “But somehow I missed this part,” he smiled leaning in to ghost a gentle kiss over Duo’s trembling mouth. “A guy can dream can’t he?” Duo chuckled growing higher by the second. “Dream with me,” Hiiro breathed taking him into his arms as he kissed him again and Duo melted all over him like hot, maple syrup. By morning neither was sure just what was real and what was fiction anymore but one thing was perfectly clear. “We’re going to need more lube.” Hiiro laughed heartedly wondering how he could feel so energized when he hadn’t slept at all that night. “Gods,” he grinned rolling over on top of his new lover to grin adoringly down upon his smiling face. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked regretting the lost time between them. “Well,” Duo breathed wrinkling his brow. “I was a little afraid you might put a bullet in my head,” he laughed. “I couldn’t even shoot you when I should have,” Hiiro reminded him. Duo smiled knowing it was true then blanched. “Oh gods.” “What?” Hiiro asked cautiously. “When this gets out there’s going to be no convincing people that book isn’t true,” Duo groaned. Hiiro laughed and leaned down to nibble his neck and jaw. “So?” Duo sighed wrapping him up and smiled warily as he replied, “Wufei’s going to kill me.” owari :)
|
