15-Jan-2003
Title: Heero Applies for an Entry Level "Light
Industrial" Factory Position
Author: Dev-Aki Basaa
Pairing: 1x2x1
Rating: PG
Category: yaoi, ficlet, humor?
Warning: none
SUMMARY: I think the title says it all.
NOTES: Done in response to a challenge on the 1x2ML
Heero Yuy sat in the passenger seat of their car and scowled first at the office entrance of the local factory and then at Duo, who was sitting in the driver's seat.
"I don't want to do this," he said, his brows drawing very close together.
Duo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers.
"Heero, we've been over this. We really need two incomes to support us and you said that a more physical labor job would be good for you."
Heero scowled back at the office door they were parked in front of. "Why can't I just work at the salvage yard with you."
"Because we never got anything done!" Duo said with an exasperated wave of his hands. "I'd keep seeing your pert little ass bent over a MS scrap heap and our lunch breaks were getting longer and longer." He shook his head when Heero just scowled at him again.
"Hilde said either one of us leaves or we both do. And do you really want to put up with Hilde without me there?"
Heero paused and thought about that for a moment.
"No."
Duo nodded. "There. Now go in there and give them everything you've got!"
Heero looked back at Duo with a slightly raised right brow.
"Er, well," Duo faltered, "not everything." He then leaned closer to Heero and leered. "Most of that belongs to me anyway and I'm not sharing." He closed the distance between them and pecked Heero at his temple. "Just, good luck on the interview, okay?"
Heero sighed, gave one last glare at Duo and got out of the car.
The reception area didn't give much of an impression. Bare walls, a few chairs and an old looking desk set in the middle of the room were all that remarked it.
A young woman sitting at the desk looked up upon Heero's entrance.
"Mr. Yuy?" she asked, beaming at him. Heero just grunted. The woman smiled even more, waving her hand towards a door to Heero's left.
"Please have a seat in the next room. Mr. Sanders will be with you in just a moment."
Heero glanced at the room - another spartan setting featuring another old desk and two chairs. He shrugged, nodded to the woman and went inside to wait.
Mr. Sanders wasn't far behind.
"Thank you for coming," Mr. Sanders, a tall, thin man with graying hair, said. He shoved his hand out for a handshake before Heero even had a chance to fully stand. The man raised a brow at Heero's very strong grip and even shook his hand a little after they'd released. He walked around the old desk and sat across from Heero. He had folder in his hand and right away began pulling out a few pages and setting them before Heero.
"Before we really get started with the interview, there's just a basic mathematics test we'd like you to complete to determine aptitude."
Heero picked up the test and stared down at it. After a moment he looked back up and stared Mr. Sanders directly in the eyes.
"This isn't necessary," he said.
Mr. Sanders blinked back for a moment, obviously surprised by the response. He then gave Heero a forced-looking grin.
"Actually, Mr. Yuy, it's procedure and very necessary to our application process."
Heero looked back down at the test in his hand. After another moment, he glanced back up and scowled.
"It's also infantile," he told Mr. Sanders, his voice steady and confident. "I'm way over-qualified for this job as it is. Do you really expect me to do this?"
Mr. Sanders' grin disappeared. He stood as he continued.
"Yes, Mr. Yuy. We do." He marched back around to the little room's entrance and gave his parting words. "The test will take you approximately thirty minutes to complete. Let my receptionist know when you're done."
Heero looked down again at the test and sighed. He picked up the pencil Mr. Sanders had left behind for him and set to work.
*two minutes passed*
Mr. Sanders walked up to the entrance of the little room, his face flushed and his brows drawn together.
"Mr. Yuy," he began, his voice harsh. "My receptionist said you claimed to be completed. I understand that you're not accepting of the idea of taking the test, but your results do matter and I would appreciate it if you'd at least give some effort towards it and not just..."
Heero cut him off, sliding the papers in front of him across the desk to where Mr. Sanders had sat before.
"You haven't checked the answers."
Mr. Sanders blinked, opening his mouth to speak, but then stopped. He finally shook his head.
"What? You couldn't have possibly..."
Heero interrupted him again, his tone more forceful this time.
"Check the answers."
The flushed color of Mr. Sanders' face drained away.
He let out a shaky sigh and then walked around to sit in the seat he'd vacated earlier. He pulled an answer sheet from a drawer in the desk and straightened Heero's test to rest directly in front of him.
After several minutes, Mr. Sanders sat, chewing on his pen and shaking his head, still staring at Heero test.
"Well, Mr. Yuy, I must say, I'm very impressed. No one has ever completed the test in that short of time, especially with no errors. It's quite remarkable."
Heero scowled. "Are you going to give me the job or not?"
Mr. Sanders looked up then, and his gaze narrowed.
Duo jumped when he heard the car door open, woken suddenly, and he watched with surprise as Heero climbed into the passenger seat.
"Wow, you're done already?" he asked. "How'd it go?"
Heero seemed to have a satisfied grin on his face. "I start tomorrow interning in the Engineering department."
Duo's eyes went wide. "What!? Holy shit, Heero!" He clapped his hand across his forehead and let his fingers slid across the top of his head until they bumped the top of his braid. "You were applying for an entry level line position! What happened?"
Heero looked at Duo and deadpanned, "I was remarkable."
Duo laughed loud, throwing his head back before finally subsiding to chuckles as he leaned over and kissed the corner of Heero's smiling lips. "That you are, Heero Yuy," he said, still chuckling. "That you are." Duo started the car and then reached over and slid his hand up Heero's thigh, giving him a wink. "Let's go home and celebrate your new job."
End ^____^
(:./devaki/entrylevel)
