04-Aug-2000
Author: Ebonydove
Title: Fame Part I
Pairings: 2x1/1x2 & 3x4/4x3
Rating: PG
Warnings: Sap, angst, language, mild lime
Authors Notes: Takes place shortly after the end of Operation Meteor. Before Endless Waltz.
Disclaimer: I have used these characters unmercifully, but don't own the copyright. Don't sue, can't afford it, and you'd be left to fight for leftover tuna with the cat. Slim pickins!
He clicked on the vid-screen to find every channel plastered with Heero's face. He scowled at the screen and flipped through the channels, but there was no escape from it. It had been like this for over a month now, and wasn't looking like it was going to die down any time soon. Falling backwards with a huff, Duo stared at the vid-screen and put the sound back on from mute. Heero was dressed in a white button down shirt, and a trim pair of dark dress pants, a far cry from his usual blue jeans and tank. Still he looked good Duo thought with a small smile appearing, then quickly disappearing as his ears picked up on the conversation the woman was trying to elicit from the Gundam pilot.
"So from terrorist to superstar, how do you feel?" She asked with an upbeat quirky smile, not looking at Heero but directly into the camera instead. When Heero didn't answer she turned to the pilot and repeated the question, only more slowly like he must not have heard her the first time.
"He heard you, you dumb obnoxious little twit... " Duo grumbled to the vid-screen.
"Peace was never meant to be a mission of terror." A young man's voice could be heard in place of Heero's, which caused the blood to rise in Duo's face and his hands to tighten into fists. "Heero has sacrificed a great deal to give hope to all citizens, not only from earth, but in the colonies as well." He smiled graciously at the crowd who applauded loudly at his remarks. Heero sat perfectly still, and did not speak. "He will continue ensuring that peace by protecting Miss Peacecraft."
"Asshole, what did you sacrifice, jump on the band wagon with all the rest of them why don't ya?" Duo hissed at the screen, before throwing the remote to his left and unfortunately the window. The sound of shattering glass brought him back to his senses. "Great, something else I get to explain."
"A great topic indeed, one we will continue after this message from our sponsor... " The young woman's voice trailed off amidst clapping and music.
Duo rolled his eyes and went to get a broom and trash can from the kitchen. The talk show came back from a commercial, and Duo found himself sitting on the floor in front of the window, glass all around him, listening along with the rest of the universe.
"Welcome back, folks. We're here with Heero Yuy, Savior of the earth and stars, and his public relations manager, Paul Redding. Well gentlemen, enough about sacrifices and terror, how 'bout love?" She eyed Heero intensely and let out a little giggle. "You mentioned Relena Peacecraft before the break."
Heero let out a little huff, and glared at her with his best Yuy Death Stare, before she quickly averted her eyes back to the audience. The audience was clapping wildly at the thought of knowing Heero's love life, which was a topic he outright avoided much to Duo's displeasure.
Duo's face fell into a somber shadow as he held his breath waiting along with the rest of the vultures for the response from Heero. He said a little prayer to himself and planted a quick kiss on the cross he wore, waiting.
"Heero doesn't want to turn to the topic of romance, just yet, Lynn." Paul chimed in and the colorful metaphors leapt from Duo's mouth.
"No-one special in your life, Heero? I find that very hard to believe, especially now after things have settled down and you've come out into the public. How 'bout Miss Relena Peacecraft?" She probed still smiling, but no longer making eye contact with the young Gundam pilot who still looked like he would love to throttle her.
"That's about a likely as Heero being in love with... one of his fellow Gundam pilots. Absolutely inconceivable! She and Heero have a political relationship only. Heero currently does not have anybody in his life that he is romantically involved with." Paul's answer was stern. He cast a quick glance to Heero, who was getting up to leave. "Heero?" He nervously smiled at the hostess, then to the cameraman making a signal with his fingers to cut the tape.
"Uh, Paul, hon, we're live... " Lynn nervously stammered watching Heero make his way off the set and tearing the earpiece out of his ear and to the floor. The audience was whispering softly, awed by the abrupt departure of the young star as Paul followed quickly behind him waving to the crowd and thanking the hostess for the opportunity to be on the show.
"Heero, what the hells the matter with you? That was a national spotlight you just walked out of!" He made the mistake of grabbing Heero's wrist, trying to get him to stop moving towards the door to the studio.
"You have exactly one second to release my wrist." Heero's eyes blazed at the young man in front of him. Heero's voice was quiet and even, but contained a menacing tone that scared Paul down to his very soul. Quickly letting go he stared after Heero for a few moments before collecting himself and tagging along after him.
Once outside, Paul ran ahead and opened the limo door for Heero, then got in himself. Once seated, he looked over to Heero with wide eyes and spoke softly to him. "Heero, I'm sorry if what I said bothered you, but I had to keep some mystery about you. People are fickle and lose interest quickly. I'm sure that Duo would under... "
Heero had grabbed him roughly by the scruff of the neck in no more time than it took to blink. Death stare cold as ice, he growled out his threat. "Don't ever speak his name again, or I will kill you without another thought. Do you understand?"
Paul didn't speak, but just nodded his head very slowly as Heero released his iron grasp. He sunk into the seat and didn't dare make a move. Heero let out an almost inaudible sigh, as he returned to looking disinterested out the limo window. To Paul the silence was excruciatingly unnerving.
Duo didn't notice letting out the breath he was holding in a whoosh as it fled from his lungs, or the tears that were starting to stream down his face. He was numb. Putting his hands down on the floor in front of him, he didn't even feel the glass prick his palms and start to bleed.
"Has no-one he's romantically involved with?" He uttered the words just to see if they could exist outside his own brain. Frowning, he cursed himself quietly for the tears. Getting his pride in check, and noticing the slight sting in his hands, he got up to pick the glass from his palms and finish cleaning up the mess he had made. He had just made it to the kitchen when the knocking at the front door altered his course to intercept the noise. Once to the door, he stopped. "Come on in, I can't open the door from the inside."
"Duo?" The door opened revealing a domesticated Trowa, sporting a wedding band and loafers to boot. "Quatre's parking the car. We just got back to the earth. We also just heard the interview on the way over."
"Yeah. Talk show trash." Duo stepped out of the doorway letting him in.
"Duo, you're bleeding." Trowa saw the blood right away and took hold of one of Duo's wrists, turning over the hand to examine his palm. "Glass? How'd you manage that?"
"Slipped." Grinning widely he made his way back over to the kitchen and ran his palms under the cold water.
"And the window?" Trowa had noticed the window smashed as soon as he had entered the apartment. The breeze coming from the gaping hole was nice enough though. "You didn't put your fist though it again, did you?"
"No, Tro. Just the remote." Duo returned the main room. He beamed at Trowa grabbing his hand and admired the beautiful band of gold on his finger. It was simple in design, but ornate in the engraving. "Tres sheik." Duo whistled shaking his head slightly. "Quatre's got mean taste. Did you both pick them out together or separately?"
Quatre entered the open door catching Duo's question and answered it before Trowa had the opportunity to speak. "We had them designed from scratch. It was difficult, but they came out beautifully." Quatre stretched out his own hand to show Duo the duplicate ring, only slightly thinner.
"Shopping for anything with his highness is difficult, I'm surprised we agreed on anything at all." Trowa wrapped an arm around Quatre's shoulders and gave him a quick peck on the forehead. "Don't frown, you know it's true."
"Yeah, it's true." Quatre smiled warmly at his love, then looked at Duo who he failed to notice until just then, was increasingly getting paler and more uncomfortable. "So, how are things?" Trying to stay upbeat, as well as change the topic.
"Good. Busy." Duo tried to sound convincing, maybe a little too much. "I don't want to talk about me though, I want to hear all about your trip!" Duo waved them in and shut the door. He went into the kitchen, wrapped some gauze around his hands and put on a kettle of Quatre's favorite tea. Making his way back into the room to join them, he settled himself down on the floor to listen to the minuet details of their trip.
The honeymooners had already snuggled onto the couch and entwined their hands when they began telling of their adventure. Trowa let Quatre's animated mannerisms and tone of voice weave the story, only interjecting from time to time. Duo had listened attentively, only wandering off in his own mind about Heero, twice. Once, at mention of the honeymoon suite, and the other at sunbathing in the nude. He wasn't blushing at Trowa and Quatre, but at his own wicked thoughts. It was two kettles of tea, four different kinds of Chinese take-out and five and a half-hours later when the-tell all trip had been completely told. As Quatre chattered away, Trowa helped Duo mend the window frame and remove any remaining shards of glass. The weather on earth was unpredictable, but was supposed to remain cool and calm for the next few nights so the gaping window wouldn't cause any further problems until they could get the pane replaced. Fortunately for Heero and Duo, Duo had already made a good connection with the local hardware store, putting his foot or fist through a few walls and the window once before this time. Thankfully, no one ever asked.
"Duo, not to change the subject, but when is Heero returning?" Quatre sipped his tea, knowing that Trowa would throw him a scolding look, but he had asked anyway.
The smile on Duo's face fell a bit. "Anytime, I imagine. He's been real busy with Relena. Got a lot of stuff to take care of." Duo laughed a nervous laugh and got up, cleaning up the empty food containers and taking Trowa's cup into the kitchen.
"I see. She still receiving threats? So what's with the public relations manager? Not to play devil's advocate, but why didn't he have you go with him instead... "
"Quatre." Trowa didn't hold back the annoyance in his tone from the little blonde.
"Hey Tro, it's okay. If Quatre didn't ask, Wufei was sure to. To answer your questions Quatre, I don't really know why this Paul guy's around, part of the façade I guess. I'm sure it was something that relena insisted on. You know how blunt Heero can be." Duo paused and smiled warmly at Quatre. "He's gotten kinda caught up in all the hype. It'll die down soon. Who would have ever thought that he'd be the one to go undercover as a playboy for Relena? Gotta admit though the timing is perfect and he's already close to Relena." He let out a real laugh and gave the Quatre a hug. "I'm glad you guys are back though."
After Trowa and Quatre bid their farewells, Duo finished picking up and made his way into the bedroom. He hadn't actually slept in the room for quite some time. Not having Heero there at night holding him was difficult. The pillows and sheets still smelled like him even after being washed. Maybe it was Duo's imagination, but it still kept him sleeping on the couch in the main room. Sleep didn't come easy for the Deathscythe pilot these days, his mind usually spun with thoughts he'd rather not promote. Even the fond memories never seemed to ease his troubled mind and heart. Most nights he settled in front of the vid-screen, watching classics, until he nodded off. He was however occasionally found at the local bar, having a few too many and calling Wufei to come get him, when he couldn't find his way home.
Flashback...
"Duo. May I remind you that I am not a taxi service and I am certainly not at your beck and call." Wufei glared at the braided pilot, not so elegantly puking in the trash can outside the bar. He heard the pilot try to speak amidst spitting and coughing, but turned a deaf ear, trying not to let his own stomach turn at the revolting sounds. "Shut up baka, when you're done, I'll be over in that gray sedan. And Duo?" He paused, waiting for a lull in heaves. "Make sure you're completely done."
Wufei knew that Duo was going through a rough time. He had been on his own for six weeks without Heero, and it showed. Heero was the other half of Duo, and seeing Duo in this state tore at him. Everyone understood why Heero went off with Relena, Duo being the most supportive of the undercover mission. But that was before anyone realized how long it would take to bait Relena's stalker out of the dark. Seeing him like this; head in a garbage can, heaving like he was going to die, made Wufei wish that he had the nerve to strangle the Wing pilot and take the braided baka for his own. But instead he waited patiently for Duo to slump down against the side of the can before going to get him. Slinging his arm around his shoulder, Wufei dragged the wrecked pilot to the car.
Once back to Duo and Heero's apartment, he cleaned up the mess that Duo was, and put him to bed. He would wait long enough to make sure the pilot was okay, then leave. The car ride home after picking up a very desperate Duo was always disheartening for Wufei. But regardless, he would always be there for Duo to pick him up off the ground, where Heero left him.
Duo heard the door close tightly and lock. Stumbling to the bathroom, he relieved himself, before making his way to the couch where he abruptly swan-dived on to it. In moments he was out, head swimming in post-Heero depression and the remains of half a bottle of J&B that was still sloshing around in his stomach.
End Flashback...
Despite the late hour and how tired he was from traveling he couldn't seem to sleep. The ride in the limo was long and the scenery dull to him which made his restlessness even worse. Paul had drifted into an uneasy sleep across from him as he let his mind wander about the repercussions of the talk show he had just left if Duo had heard any of it. He was certain that he would have. It was going to be difficult to explain and he hoped that Duo wouldn't be too upset over it, despite how much he knew it was only wishful thinking on his part.
Heero remembered when he could sleep even with rats and filth surrounding him in a dark and cramped cell as long as Duo was nearby. Oz was never thoughtful in their accommodations, but it hadn't mattered. He used to be able to sleep standing up even. Heero's mind drifted back remembering Duo's expression watching the rats scurry around them in a dank cell they had once shared. Truly revolted, but unafraid. Duo's violet eyes just flickered in the dim light as he memorized the slightest movement, tracing their paths along the walls, a constant smirk on his face as he kicked at them when they came too close to Wufei or himself.
He thought about a better time, when he and Duo shared their first delicate moments of trust and love. It felt like so long ago when it had in fact not been more than a year, ever since the mission Duo almost blew himself up on and they stayed at that remote little cabin. Heero remembered that and other tender moments in their budding relationship.
Flashback...
Heero heard the door slowly creek open. He glanced at the clock next to his bed. 2:20a.m. He silently slid over a bit in his bed and folded the covers back. For the past five nights, at the very same time, Duo had silently crept from his room to Heero's, and wordlessly got under the covers with him.
The first night Duo was lucky that he didn't get himself killed when he snuck into the dark room, but Heero was already awake and sensed it was Duo before seeing him in the dimly lit room. A scent like cinnamon always seemed to hit him first, then sweet smells like warm pears or chrysanthemums wafted from the boy's still damp hair. He slid the gun back under the pillow as quickly as it had been removed, and waited for Duo to get settled. Heero didn't think it was unusual for Duo to appear at the side of his bed, and with half-open eyes, waiting to be let under the cool sheets. It was almost expected, Heero had thought. Where else would Duo go at 2:20 in the morning? He just wasn't too sure why.
As Duo lay down and spooned up against Heero's back, Heero distinctly heard the braided boy mumble something softly, not quite asleep, but certainly not awake. "'M sorry, He'ro." He heard the boy softly apologizing, but for what Heero couldn't guess.
Heero woke the next morning about 6a.m. finding Duo gone from his bed. It was very unlike him not to notice Duo's warmth leaving him, but he shrugged it off. He was surprised he slept at all, in fact it was getting more and more difficult to do so with each passing night. The warmth of Duo's body, his soft rhythmic breathing against his back, the smell of his hair was slowly seeping in to Heero's senses, making sleep almost impossible. Once sleep came, he was plagued with erotic dreams of the boy's mouth and skin. Occasionally, he would wake up in a sweat, his manhood hot and throbbing, his mind spinning, as he tried to keep himself from devouring the beautiful thing next to him. This morning when he woke at 5am, the chill in the room was definitely not because of the crisp autumn morning outside, but the lack of a certain Gundam pilot, who usually slept until Heero was dressed and gone.
Stretching, he went about his morning routine of showering and dressing before grabbing a bite to eat from the kitchen. Then a quick check of mission plans before heading out to work on Wing. His Gundam was still in need of quite a few repairs that he was lacking parts for.
He stopped outside Duo's door, which was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, he peered into the dark room. Duo was stretched out on his own bed, covers on the floor from where they had obviously been kicked off. It was chilly in the room, Heero thought, as he made his way over to the window. Shutting it softly, as not to disturb the still sleeping Duo, Heero gathered up the covers and gently covered the pilot up again, letting his fingers graze his cheek as the pulled the blanket up. Duo let out an almost inaudible sigh, with a small smile appearing on his lips, which quickly changed into a slight frown. His brow furrowed a bit, as if he was wincing. Heero watched the facial expression slip back into a softer calm of sleep. He brushed a few strands of hair from the boys' forehead, then brushed his finger across the smooth lips. Heero started to breath more heavily, a warm feeling spreading throughout his body from his head to toes, but most noticeably to his groin, which was beginning to ache.
Duo stirred in his sleep at the tingling sensation that he felt on his lips. Rolling over on his side, he let out a deep sigh that ended with Heero's name. Heero stepped back from Duo's bedside, feeling the strong urges winning out over his painfully reinforced logic. He needed to run from the marvel in front of him, and fast. He quickly retreated from the presence of the beautiful pilot and made his way downstairs.
Later that evening at dinner, Heero sat at the table picking at the rice and vegetables Quatre had left for them. He was hungry when he came into the kitchen, having working on his Gundam all day, but now he found he had little appetite. He poured himself into his work, even bringing his laptop down into the hanger with him so he didn't have to go past Duo's room again and was relieved when the Deathscythe pilot had left the safehouse on "errands" whatever that had meant. Now the broccoli and carrots stared at him daring him to eat them, and to which he declined.
"You live to fight another day." He spoke to them, pushing the bowl away. Wufei glanced up from his own plate, to Heero, then to the dish in front of him.
"Duo is wearing off on you. Now you speak to your food as if it could answer you back. Disturbing." Wufei grinned noticing Heero eyes gleam a bit at the mention of Duo's name.
"I'm not hungry." Heero quickly threw up his defenses and glared at the Shenlong pilot with cold eyes.
"Lucky for the broccoli." Wufei smirked and continued to eat his own meal. "Where's Duo?" He asked casually.
The room suddenly dropped about 20 degrees as Heero shoved himself away from the table sending the chair skidding across the floor before tipping over. "Am I supposed to be keeping tabs on him?" Heero hissed. Wufei continued to chew quietly watching the Wing pilot's display with a detached look of curiosity. Heero glared, trying to conceal his slight embarrassment of the reaction to Duo's status. He realized how silly he looked the minute he got up.
"Just a question, Yuy, I meant nothing by it." Wufei lowered his eyes from the unrelenting stare and finished his plate. Rising, he went to the sink, washed the plate and walked from the room, without another word.
Heero sat back down assessing his mood swing. It was becoming harder to control his feelings for Duo, and harder to conceal then from the others. Trowa had guessed some time ago that he had softened to Duo's charm and persistence, but he had hoped to keep it to himself for a while longer. He didn't want the others to look at Duo any differently, or himself for that matter, although he was secondary. He really didn't give a damn what anyone thought of him, but he wanted to make sure that he wouldn't drive away the only good thing in his existence. Duo brought him hope and courage that he never tapped into before. Courage to listen to his true heart and begin opening his mind to life's experiences, even the smallest ones.
Wufei's question hit him just then, as he was thinking of the object of his affections. Where was Duo, anyway? His errands had taken him over six hours now. He left the kitchen and found himself back in the hanger. "Well, Zero? Now what do you suggest I do?" He asked the air. The giant mecha just towered over him, not answering.
"I suggest you get all that shit rewired." Duo peeked his head out from inside Deathscythe's cockpit. His face was smeared with grease, and he glistened with perspiration that beaded on is exposed chest. "I thought that maybe Wing threw up." He laughed loudly.
"Where were you?" Heero ignored the humor and began sorting the wire laying about the base of Wing. He had completely lost track of what he was doing earlier, his mind drifting on thoughts of the pilot, now in front of him, that he forgot to clean it up earlier.
"Out and about. Had some things to do." Duo answered, wiping his hands on the filthy rag and grabbing a towel from inside the cockpit.
"That's vague enough." Heero mumbled under his breath. Separating the different colors of wire into neat piles, Heero began tying them up and placing them into the metal box next to him. He listened as Duo dropped from the cockpit and listened to his soft steps approaching him over his shoulder.
"Do ya got any AFW?" Duo asked as he knelt and rutted through the neatly organized box, pulling the wires out and tossing them on to the ground at his feet.
Scowling at the his work undone, Heero was content to look at the pilot's slim waist and defined arms as he fought with the spools of wire. He bit his lip repressing the temptation to pounce on the sweaty pilot and lick the salty skin from ear to hip. Shaking his head and clenching his fists, he searched for something to say. All he could come up with from his flustered brain was; "AFW?"
"Yeah, all-purpose, fix-anything wire. I need to fix the heating system in Death's pit, it's malfunctioning again and spiking the temp in there to the equivalent of the fiery depths of hell." He chuckled, tossing another spool of wire over his shoulder.
"And how hot would the depths of hell be... exactly?" Heero smirked.
"Uh... hot. Damn hot!" Duo's face showed more confusion than mirth, as he tried to figure out why the Wing pilot hadn't already shot him for making a mess out of the box, for touching it at all even. And the grin on Heero's face was making him nervous. "So what's with you?"
Heero's grin disappeared as he looked at Duo with a questioning glare. "With what?"
"Nothing. You just seem... not quite yourself, is all." Duo was feeling odd under the somewhat warm look in Heero's eyes and decided that he had better clean up the mess before the mood changed into something more deadly.
"Where did you go this morning? You were gone when I woke up." Heero asked casually.
Duo fell back from his heels to his backside. He just stared at Heero for a moment before brushing off the dirt and dust from his dark pants. He absentmindedly pulled the end of his braid to his mouth and started to chew on the end. 'Aroused? Hot? Battling a raging hard on?' His mind raced for an answer that was anything other than sexual. "I was... too... warm." Not a lie. Not quite what he was thinking either, but would suffice.
Heero began picking up the wire, giving up on the box's organization. He then knelt down in front of Duo. Looking into the lively violet eyes with his own staggering blue ones, slowly lifting his fingers to Duo's face.
Duo kept his eyes on Heero as the Wing pilot slowly leaned forward, his breath warm on his cheek, barely inches away. He closed his eyes and parted his lips slightly anticipating the feel of Heero's mouth on his own. Duo's eyes shot open as he felt the rough rubbing on his cheek. Heero's fingers rubbed the smear of grease from his cheek, and then returned to gathering the last bit of wire. Duo tried to hold back the look of disappointment, and let out a little nervous laugh. "Damn, Heero, I thought for a minute you were gonna kiss me or somethin'." He continued quietly laughing and cast his eyes down to the bit of wire on the ground in front of him.
Heero stood up, picked up the box and left the hanger without acknowledging the comment. Once out of view of the Deathscythe pilot, he let out the breath he was holding. "I was."
2:27a.m. and still no Duo. Heero rolled over for the twentieth time as the clock clicked. Another minute went by never to return again. "Shit." He huffed up to the ceiling. Throwing the covers back, he got out of bed padding across the cool floor in his bare feet. Most of the time he failed to notice things like cold, warmth, even conversation, they were all relative to him, until Duo. Duo made the world creep in to Heero's brain slowly and deliberately. He stalked to the bathroom, downed a glass of water and stood for a minute in the stillness of his dark room. Rolling his eyes and shrugging his shoulders, he opened his door and quietly made his way down the hall to Duo's room.
Being that they were all in the safehouse together, there was no need to keep their bedroom doors locked, so he let himself in to Duo's room without hesitation. His eyes, already adjusted to the dark, scanned the room for Duo. It took a second or two, but he spotted Duo sleeping soundly. Just not where he had thought the braided boy would be. Instead, the Deathscythe pilot sat on the floor with his back up against the wall on the far side of the room facing the door. His braid was over his shoulder, his head tilted back as he breathed softly through his open mouth. Hands resting on knees that were pulled up close to his chest, and his dark cap turned backwards on his head allowing his face to be seen, made him a beautiful sight in Heero's eyes. The gun quickly took Heero's attention off of Duo's features, laid out in-between Duo's feet. Easy access. They were all heavily armed, Duo the most elaborately and obviously, but even knowing that, it was strange to see Duo sitting this way, armed, in the pitch black of his own room.
Duo had been known to sit up to all hours of the night and even to daybreak, when they were on a mission, insisting that sleep depravation was nothing new to him, and he could best it as well as Heero. Heero smiled a quirky smile at the boast, but let Duo believe it for as long as possible. Obviously Duo had not won that bet tonight, sleep getting the better of him. As he looked at the sleeping pilot, Heero thought of the many reasons that would cause Duo to take a position like this tonight, but no clear answer stuck out. Shrugging his shoulders again, he lifted the loaded gun gingerly from between Duo's feet, and set it aside, out of reach. 'Old habits, I guess.' Heero thought as his attention turned back to Duo's soft features. "Armed even while sleeping." He whispered. It made perfect sense to him after all, he slept with a loaded gun, as well as enough explosives under his pillow to level four city blocks.
Kneeling down in front of Duo, drinking in every part of his beautiful face and neck, he very slowly slid an arm under Duo's knees and the other between the wall and his shoulder blades. He had just begun to lift the exhausted boy, when Duo began to stir. With violet eyes fluttering, he flinched, his hand reaching out for the gun that had been at his feet moments before. A soft moan of protest escaped from Duo, as he was being lifted.
"Shhh. You're dreaming." Heero whispered in his ear.
Realizing the gun was gone and that Heero's strong arms were around him, he relaxed his head against Heero's chest, settling himself against the warmth of his body. "You're always in my dreams Heero." He mumbled softly.
Heero squeezed him a little more tightly against his chest before putting him down onto the bed. He gave into the urge to kiss the braided boy, leaning down and brushing the soft lips with his own. Duo let out another little moan in his sleep while a soft smile spread across the previously kissed lips. "Even sleeping, you make noise." Heero muttered to himself. Grazing fingers across Duo's cheek, he turned to leave the violet-eyed beauty to sleep.
"No... don't go Heero." Heero's heart skipped hearing the sound of Duo's voice cutting through the darkness of the room. Turning towards Duo's bed he saw the pilot sitting up, staring back at him. Even in the dark, Heero could make out his soft features and the very charming smile he wore across his lips. "Stay?"
"On one condition." Heero started to make his way back over to Duo. Duo didn't respond, but looked at him with loving eyes, brilliant even in the low light of the room. "I get the side closest to the wall."
Duo flipped the sheets back, and scooted over to the edge of the bed, leaving ample room for Heero to crawl in and get settled. Heero maneuvered himself over Duo, and lay on his back as close to him as he could. The bed was certainly not designed for two, but it would do. Duo shifted again, trying to figure out where to put the haphazard braid, when Heero gently took it and laid it out above the pillows. "Thanks." Duo smiled to himself as they both stared up at the ceiling.
Heero was content enough just to be near him, knowing the comfort of sleep would soon find him as long as he remained where they were. The smell of Duo's damp hair and the feel of his warm skin soothed Heero's racing brain, letting mission plans, and trajectories slip away like wisps of smoke. He let out his own sigh when Duo laid his head in the crook of his shoulder and leaned into Heero's side with his own body.
Duo could hear Heero's heart thumping in his chest, almost matching his own heart's pace. He listened to the strong steady beats, and without turning to Heero began speaking up towards the ceiling. "Heero, why are you sleeping in here?"
"Because you asked me to." Heero answered his eyes now closed. "I could pose a similar question to you." He opened one eye and looked down at the top of Duo's head.
"I just sleep better when I'm with you. I'm sorry that I've bothered you, sleeping in your room an' all. I promise after tonight, I won't anymore." Duo stiffened next to Heero, and let out a little huff.
Heero moved his arm under Duo's neck so that he could rest his hand on Duo's shoulder, lightly squeezing the pilot closer to him. "You shouldn't jump to conclusions and speak without thinking things through first. I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't want to, and the reason I came in here in the first place, is that I sleep better with you near me as well." He could feel Duo practically purring next to him as he melted into Heero's side once again. "So why did I find you armed?"
Duo shifted so he could look at Heero's face. Feeling him move, Heero opened both eyes and searched Duo's expression for the hidden answer to his question. He waited silently while Duo assessed his blue eyes, once seeing that Heero's concern was genuine, Duo answered. "Nightmares."
Just the way Duo whispered it made Heero shiver a bit. Dropping it for now, he held Duo closer, rubbing his back slightly as Duo laid his head on Heero's chest. Duo was now pressed up against Heero's side completely and swung a leg over both of Heero's, while his arm stretched across Heero's waist. 'Make yourself comfortable Duo.' Heero smiled inwardly to himself, closing his eyes and letting sleep warm them both in her quiet embrace.
End of Flashback...
The limo stopped outside the hotel entrance, and Paul had quickly retreated from the vehicle, leaving Heero to drift from his thoughts of Duo to the present. "I wonder if your having nightmares tonight." He slowly got out of the limo and made his way in to the hotel.
A overwhelming need to hear Duo's voice nagged at him, and no sooner than he was in his own room, he placed a call to Duo's line. It rang only once, before the voice mail message clicked on; "The Great God of Destruction is not here to take your call, leave a message and Death will be sure to get a hold of you." He smiled in spite of himself. Duo, always the comedian. It only took the sound of Duo's voice to promote the wave of loneliness threatening to consume him. Heero played the message over and over until he drifted off into a fitful sleep.
His dreams were plagued with the accounts from the talk show interview, he had done earlier that day. The woman's questions nagged at him. Why not tell the world of his relationship with Duo? He loved Duo, but putting their relationship out on display, might put Duo's life in jeopardy. Especially if the people who are plotting against Relena's plans for peace, tried to use Duo to get to Relena or himself.
Quatre's secret marriage to Trowa only added to the confusion. Quatre knew that it was best to keep their personal lives quiet until they could uncover who was behind the conspiracy to hurt Relena. Why could they be so strong in battle, and yet so weak in the eyes of society? The look on Duos' face, the day he left, still haunted him. The sad eyes looking supportive on the surface, just hiding the fear and confusion underneath. He long discovered Duo's hidden truths, and knowing the boys' fear of being left alone, again, made him angry with himself for walking away from Duo, in spite of the knowledge of that fear. Still, right now the goal to protect Relena was more important, and the fragile peace she represented. After all, that's what they all had sacrificed so much for in the first place. If that was lost, all their suffering would have been for nothing.
At least Duo had Wufei and the Preventers watching his back, even though it had been at Heero's request. Wufei knew Heero's heart, and agreed to be Duo's silent bodygaurd in his absence. Duo would pitch a fit if he knew what Heero had arranged, always taking care of himself in the past, not feeling the need to be protected now. Little did Duo realize, it was really more for Heero's peace of mind than Duo's protection.
Waking with a start, he sat up in bed, feeling the cold sheets next to his skin. He looked at the beautiful things that ordained the suite he was in, and frowned. All he wanted was to be with Duo, not playing bodyguard for Relena. Getting up from the bed, dressing and throwing a few things into his duffel, he left the room to make his way to the nearest shuttle port and Duo. He waited for the elevator, cursing that he didn't take the stairs upon seeing Relena coming down the hall towards him. The moment he saw her, he knew that he wouldn't leave her until he found the conspirators who threatened her. Still, a walk would do him good.
"Heero? Where are you going? Is something wrong?" She asked pleasantly.
He turned cold eyes to her, then back to the elevator waiting for it to open so he could escape her too kind face, and the quiet desperation behind her eyes.
"Heero, it's so late, please tell me where you're going. Tell me what's wrong." Her voice now sounded strained amidst the quiet tone she had just used, and she began to tremble slightly. Her long pale blue nightgown set off her soft eyes and long light hair. "Is it another threat?"
"What are you doing up Relena?" He scowled.
"I couldn't sleep. So much is depending on the press conference tomorrow. I keep running things over in my mind, so now nothing I wanted to say is sticking in my mind. I heard your door close and thought you might be up. I thought maybe... there was another problem. " She sounded increasingly panicked. "Are you coming back soon?" She looked at the duffel, then back to Heero's face.
Still no elevator. 'Is the damn thing broken?' Heero sighed, knowing he wouldn't leave her in the state she was in. She knew it too. "Relena, you know you will be fine, but if you need me to listen to your speech, I will stay. There is no new threat to worry about tonight." He felt defeated again by her. She was a good person, who carried the weight of many things on her still young shoulders and he respected her for that. She was innocent in the eyes of so many and represented all their hopes and dreams for peace. It was a heavy burden that he too had shared. Duo understood why he protected her. At least Heero hoped that he did, as he made his way to Relena's suite. Heero almost laughed as he heard the ping of the elevator arrive just as he made it to her door, instead he just sighed again and closed her door quietly behind them.
End Part 1
(:./ebony/fame1)
