15-Jan-2002
See Part 1 for notes!
Title: Orbital Variations
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and von (sablexo1@yahoo.com)
Category: shounen ai, AU, crossover
Rating: PG -13?
Pairings: um....
WARNINGS: Very probably OOC all over the place. Is this a GW fic? Well if you think of Kenny and Duan as alternate Heero and Duo, I guess...
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and Gravitation characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here.
As with all our fics, while our goal is to stay as in character as possible, any discrepancies are our mistakes.
Feedback: Any and all comments welcome, be they short or long.
The suite Shuichi walked into was fairly quiet - Carter was still watching videos, this time with his head pillowed on Tryan's stomach and a near-empty bowl of popcorn on the floor beside them. Carter looked up and saw the strange boy come inside. He cocked his head and then waved in a friendly way. "Hi!"
"Hi," Shuichi said, with a smile. "Where is Kenny?"
Carter smiled and pointed to the balcony. He watched the redheaded boy curiously, feeling an interesting set of emotions coming from him that seemed to match the ones he sensed from Kenny earlier. Glancing at Tryan, he confirmed that the green-eyed bass player was dead to the world and oblivious.
"Arigato," Shuichi said, on his way to the balcony.
Stepping outside, he saw Kenny with his hands on the rail looking out into the night. "How did you know I was in trouble?" he asked, quietly.
Kenny turned quickly, his eyes widening. He blinked at Shuichi for a moment as if attempting to determine what he was doing there. Leaning back against the rail, he looked at the other boy for a moment.
"I was following you," he said finally, his features settling into a still mask.
"Why?" Shuichi asked, not wanting to move too much. He felt that if he did, Kenny would either vanish before him or move away very fast. Kenny was quick.
"I was bored... and I was curious about you," Kenny answered, his voice still perfectly even. He didn't like answering the questions but evasion did not occur to him.
Forgetting his caution, Shuichi stepped forward. Reaching up, he touched Kenny's cheek. "Curious in what way?" he asked, noting that Kenny's features were for the lack of a better word, perfect.
Kenny stilled to total immobility at the touch. His eyes widened again and then he scowled. There was something about that scowl - it didn't make his face look unattractive, in fact it seemed to have the opposite effect.
"In a way that doesn't matter," he growled softly. He unleaned from the railing and moved forward until he was standing very close to Shuichi, looking eye to eye. "You're... kind of a flirt, aren't you?"
Shuichi's eyes widened, slightly as a few things became clearer to him. "I..." he began, then leaned forward and touched his lips to Kenny's.
Kenny froze again as he felt the warm brush of soft lips against his. Then he unfroze and pressed back. One of his hands curved around Shuichi's neck as he followed the physical sensations where they would lead... but only for a few moments. Then he broke the contact. He watched the other boy's wide eyes open slowly.
Shuichi did not speak for a few moments, as he looked into the indigo depths. "You are very strong and yet very kind and soft inside. Something hurt you and you don't trust a lot. It's okay. You like me for some reason and I don't know what that is. It might be the same reason I like you too."
Kenny's scowl returned at Shuichi's words about being soft and kind, and trust. The redheaded boy puzzled him and seemed to cause him to feel things that he wasn't used to. Probably, he told himself, he's just a dip... maybe a talented dip. But he remembered what happened in the alley and knew that whatever he was, Shuichi wasn't a coward, and was deeper in character than most people. And his eyes were too big and too open, and too shining...
Kenny pressed his mouth against Shuichi's lips, confirming the brief taste and feel of them from the moment before. He felt a sudden very powerful desire to do other things. But as powerful as the feelings were, Kenny's brain would not shut off, and he moved back.
"Go to your room and go to bed," he said in a soft growl. "That's what your Yuki said to do, right?"
Shuichi felt his chest moved up and down with the emotions and desire he felt pass through them both. He flinched slightly as he heard Kenny's words and felt a sudden sense of shame and embarrassment. Looking down, he thought to himself that Kenny had been right. He was a flirt. Not only that, but he was messing with this kid and being unfaithful to Yuki in the process. "Gomen, Kenny. I didn't mean to make you angry with me," he said and turned to leave.
Once again Kenny acted without understanding what impulse moved him. His hand moved out and closed on Shuichi's arm. "I'm not angry," he said in a low voice. His eyes continued to look into the redheaded boy's. "In the alley - that was angry, and not at you. This isn't angry," he repeated. Pulling Shuichi back a little he sought the other boy's mouth for a third time. There was a tension and passion in it that was both curious and perhaps just a bit... desperate. Then he moved back and released Shuichi's arm. The redheaded boy felt something impact his backside as Kenny gave his rear a little slap to get him moving towards the door.
"Good luck... tomorrow," he muttered.
Shuichi chuckled as he looked back over his shoulder at Kenny. "You, good luck, too," he said, with a brilliant smile, then made his way towards the door.
"Huh?" Hiro said. Duan blinked and realized he was remarking on Shuichi's sudden disappearance.
Noting the slightly wider opening to the hotel room door, Duan grinned slightly and said, "I'd ask you if he's like this all the time, but I bet the answer would be yes, so I won't bother."
Hiro tried not to laugh and failed for the most part. So he gave up and smiled at the braided boy. "Lucy... like, in the Sky with Diamonds?" he asked.
Duan's eyes widened. "Bingo! Wow, not many guys I know get that. But, yes that was the song."
Hiro shrugged. "Makes sense - you like pre-Colony." He pushed his hands in his pockets for a moment, studying the other boy, whom he guessed after the recent additional exposure to be a little younger than himself.
Duan looked up at Hiro with eyes that seemed a thousand years old. "Well," he said, wearily, "Sometimes I think so."
Hiro tilted his head quizzically, trying to figure out what is was about the violet-eyed boy that seemed so unusual. After a minute, he gave up. "I should retrieve Shindo-kun, I guess," he said.
Duan walked to the door and opened it wider. "Come on in," he invited. "You can scope out Red Angel's...uh.. den."
Just as Hiro stepped inside, Shuichi crossed the room and put a finger on his lips. "Shh," he said. "Sleeping Angels." He then took Duan's hand and shook it. "Thank you, too and good luck tomorrow."
Duan nodded, feeling a little frustrated and disappointed. He was looking forward to having Hiro hang out in the room, but he figured, he'd just have to get pro-active and work something out.
"You get some rest too, man. Maybe a hot bath to soak out those aches. We want you at the top of your game tomorrow when Red Angel takes Bad Luck," Duan said, with a little wink.
Shuichi grinned and nodded, moving out of the room with something close to his usual bounce of energy. Hiro threw Duan a mock suffering look and waved, following in his partner's wake.
From the open door to the balcony, Kenny leaned with his arms crossed. He distracted himself from his own inner disturbance by observing Duan. What he saw was very... interesting.
Closing the door, Duan turned and walked out to where Kenny was standing. "So, what happened?" he asked.
Kenny retreated to the railing. "I was walking, saw him, trailed him..." this in itself wasn't *super* unusual, though worth noting. "It was a deliberate set up. Someone wanted him taken out. I'm not sure if they were going to kill him or just put him in the hospital for half the year. They weren't real professionals, just lowlifes you'd get off the street, but they were, how do they put it, happy in their work. I broke a few bones." He shrugged that part of it off. "Somebody lured him out there, I think. That guitar player - Hiro - he has an idea who."
"Hn," Duan said, taking in the information. "So do we take this on as a mission?"
Kenny kicked a little at the railing. "It's not our business," he said, without really answering. Then he looked up. His expression was one Duan was familiar with. "If I find out who... it won't take a whole mission to shut it down."
Duan watched Kenny closely. A small smile played at the corner's of his mouth. "Fuck that 'not our business' crap. Since when did we let that stop us. We're in. It has all the right elements and it's going to get taken care of. Mini-mission," he said, with a shrug.
Kenny scowled. He looked at Duan, his own indigo gaze flat, but troubled. "Maybe it's time we stopped saving the world," he said quietly. Then his expression took on a hint of pleading. "Can we just keep this between you and me for the moment?"
"Not a problem at all. Otherwise, I'd wake up the house and gather the troops. We keep this one to ourselves," Duan said, holding up his palm in simpatico.
Kenny's eyes flickered and he nodded. Then he moved forward, pushing Duan back against the wall by the balcony door. His hand snagged Duan's braid in an automatic reflex. "So you like long hair now... dark red long hair, hn?"
Duan felt his cheeks warm as he looked away briefly. "It's nice," he said, then looked up at Kenny. "We're just two rockin' guitarists. He likes my strat," he added with a shrug.
Kenny's mouth curved in a rare grin. "Huh... I bet," he growled softly. Then he put his forehead against Duan's and sighed. He stayed still for a long moment and then said, "We need to get out more..."
Duan chuckled. He totally understood. "Yeah," he replied. "It's kinda sad," he added, placing his hands on Kenny's waist.
Kenny leaned his head onto Duan's shoulder, and relaxed against him a bit more. "I think I'm losing it," he murmured. "Why am I acting like such a flake?"
Duan moved his arms around Kenny and shook his head. "You're not losing it," he said. "And just how are you acting like a flake... any more than you usually do?"
Kenny growled and tugged the braid in his hand but it lacked conviction. "How..? I'd rather not say," he muttered. A flush rose to his cheeks, now that it was safe to allow. "He's... he's got someone. I'm such a stooge."
"Then sign me up for the stooge line too. I don't even know what Hiro has or hasn't got. I don't know anything about him, except that he knows his stuff in music and that he's got Shuichi that he takes care of and that he's attractive. Scratch that... I'm attracted to him. The eye just goes to him without the brain engaged. Pathetic," Duan confessed.
Kenny laughed. "You mean the brain engages sometimes?" He lifted his head and studied Duan, seeing things in his best friend's eyes that were a little disturbing, and a lot interesting. I thought I would be mad when this happened, he thought. But I just want... to see what happens.
Still watching Duan, Kenny leaned forward slowly. It wasn't the same scary, uncomfortable feeling as it had been with Shuichi, in fact it was as smooth and natural as breathing, to press his mouth against Duan's and feel their lips part together and tongues meet. It was nice... very nice... but it held no danger for either of them. In a brief flash that was quickly gone, Kenny glimpsed for a moment that this was exactly why they both needed something else to happen.
Duan felt the familiar presence of Kenny all around him. It grounded him and made him feel safe and not crazy. The kiss was sweet. It was as simple as loving Kenny had been. Sliding his arms further around Kenny, Duan hugged him tightly. "So, no telling the others. Try would give me hell, I know it." he said.
Kenny groaned softly. "No telling... but please... Carter already knows, probably. Good thing blondie keeps his mouth shut," Kenny growled with mock-menace. He looked into Duan's eyes and a slow smile curved his lips until it had transformed his normally solemn/impassive face, giving that terribly rare vision of pure beauty that he worked so hard to conceal.
Duan drank in the sight and smiled fully. "Sometimes, you are so beautiful it hurts," he said, leaning forward to kiss Kenny's cheek. Realizing what he'd just said, Duan looked down, feeling his face warm again. "Ok, I can be a real fruit sometimes," he said, disarmingly.
Kenny held his breath for a second and then leaned forward and kissed the end of Duan's nose. "Total fruit," he murmured with a sly grin. "But I heard that the fruits never fall far from the fruit basket. We're totally weird, you know that right? So who gives a fuck. Come on... let's sneak in and short-sheet Try's bed... and Wufan's..."
"Mission Accepted," Duan replied with a twinkle in his eye.
Closing the door and locking it, Hiro leaned against the wall, watching his partner.
"So what did happen?" he asked quietly.
Shuichi began stripping off his clothes. A part of his head was still jumbled up by the guy down the hall. "I went to see Yuki," he explained. "I nearly got drove over by a car. Some guys in the car got out and grabbed me. Then, I got hit in the stomach, real hard. Kenny showed up from nowhere and beat up people. I beat up one too!"
Sitting on the foot of the bed in his underwear, Shuichi looked up at Hiro. Then he sighed. "Hiro, he took me to the bar where Yuki was supposed to be. Kenny made the man let us in and took care of me. I called Yuki and he was home, so I know he didn't send the note."
All at once, Shuichi's shoulders slumped and he looked down. "Hiro, I don't know why this happens to me. Maybe it's because I'm bad," he said.
Hiro listened to the story and his eyes flashed when Shuichi finished. He opened Shuichi's duffle and got out the t-shirt he slept in, and tossed it at him gently.
"You are *not* bad," he said intensely. "That is not why... I don't know why either but..." I'm going to find out, he thought, but kept to himself. "But it doesn't matter. There will always be people who hate someone who succeeds. You can't let it stop you," he finished.
Shuichi donned the t-shirt, squirming a little at Hiro's words. He wasn't telling everything and it bothered him. Finally, he looked up at Hiro with a stricken expression. "Hiro, I am bad though. I was unfaithful to Yuki. I kissed Kenny and he kissed me... more than once! I should be hit in the stomach," he said.
Hiro's eyes widened in surprise. He tilted his head, wondering if he'd heard correctly. His mind brought up a picture of the blond, reserved and sophisticated Yuki Eiri, then a picture of the oddly intense Kenny, and he mentally looked from one to the other. Huh. Sitting on his bed, Hiro crossed his arms and then said, "You..." then stopped and said in a curious voice, "Before or after?"
"Hiro!" Shuichi whined. Then he thought about it. "After. On the balcony."
Hiro's lips curved in a mysterious smile. "Does this mean you're breaking up with Yuki?"
A pillow suddenly struck Hiro's head propelled by Shuichi's arm. "NO!" he screamed. "Be serious."
Hiro threw the pillow back with a grin. "I *am* serious. If the answer is no, then what's the problem? Yuki Eiri is *famous* for his affairs... you..." he laughed out loud. "So you gave your rescuer a kiss... seems fair to me," he said, shrugging.
Shuichi scowled. He held up three fingers. "Not 'a'" he said, distinctly.
Hiro returned a somewhat evil smile. "There may be hope for you yet," he said with a sigh of mock-relief.
"Nani?" Shuichi queried.
Rolling his eyes, Hiro threw the pillow back. "Hope - for - you!" he repeated. "It's not healthy the way you snuggle around Yuki's little finger. So you kissed him... more than once. He seems like..." Hiro stopped short of saying 'a nice guy'. The evil grin returned, "... just your type," he finished. "Moody and weird. Lots of luck."
Shuichi folded his arms, petulantly. "Hmph!" he snorted. "Yuki is not mo..." he began, then stopped and scowled at Hiro again. "Well, Duan has a crush on you," he countered, knowing that it fell short.
Hiro blinked and grabbed another pillow to throw, hitting his mark in the face. "You're nuts," he answered immediately. "Take a bath and go to bed!"
Shuichi stood. "Don't blame me for you not paying attention," he said, teasing Hiro, before dashing to the bathroom.
Another pillow hit the bathroom door as it closed.
Brat, Hiro thought. Ridiculous.
Stretching out on the bed, he grabbed a pillow from the floor and turned on the TV remote. A flash of wide violet eyes and a long swinging chestnut braid passed through his mind leaving an odd feeling behind.
Suddenly Hiro shook his head, auburn mane flying wildly. "Nah," he muttered. "No way."
TBC
Please feel free to direct feedback to the authors!
sablexo1@yahoo.com,
bonnejeanne@yahoo.com.