19-Feb-2001
Title: Sheltered Hearts 1/?
Author: hinokumo
Archive: GW Addiction; Deathfics; Leviathan's Lair; and my page, Necessary Distractions. Anyone else, just ask.
Categories: Angst, shounen ai, yaoi, maybe some sap.
Rating: PG-13, soon to progress to R
Warnings: Somewhere in the course of this will be lemon, language, and violence.
Disclaimers: Don't own any of the characters, except my own--boy, that's vague and confusing--so don't bother me about it.
Notes: Takes place after my other fic, Breath Of Madness, and about two years after Endless Waltz. Mostly a 1x2/2x1 fic, but I'm gonna have the others (3,4,5) as well.
E-mail me at hinokumo@yahoo.com and tell me your thoughts ^__^
Spoilers: EW, maybe. Other than that, none I think.
The lights of the city were beautiful at night. Bright pinpoints, a rainbow of colors, that imitated the heavens above with their light like a horde of infant stars. Such a breathtaking view; it easily disguised the unnatural ugliness of metal and concrete that would be revealed with the breaking of L4's artificial dawn. Duo placed a hand on the glass before him, blocking part of his reflection as he gazed out over the colony. Actually, he mused, compared to L2, this colony's architectural structures were quite lovely. There were very few run down buildings in need of repair, very few slums in desperate need of eradication. Duo let out a quiet sigh, watching his friend's reflection in the glass. Quatre lounged on one of the couches that comprised his office's furniture. His abandoned desk in the corner was of fine mahogany, the carpets of a lush material that gave one the feeling of walking on clouds. Beautiful ferns squatted in carved stone vases, strategically placed about the spacious room. The windows were the finishing touch, huge slabs of glass that formed two of the walls in Quatre's work place, giving the Arabian ex-Gundam pilot a more than modest view of the surrounding landscape. Duo turned around just as Quatre placed his cup of tea on the coffee table. Quatre looked up at him, a tired smile pulling at his lips, which Duo returned.
"You know, Quatre, as much as I love seeing you and Trowa again and catching up on old times, I don't think you dragged me all the way to your colony for a social visit."
Quatre chuckled and gestured to the couch across from him. He spoke as soon as Duo seated himself. "I wish I could say it was, Duo. But I think you know why, don't you?" At Duo's lack of response, he continued, "I want you to get a bodyguard."
Duo laughed. "You're not serious?"
"Of course I am."
Duo stopped laughing. "Well you can forget it."
Quatre's eyes narrowed. "You've had two attempts on your life in the past three weeks, Duo."
The American knew better than to be surprised. Although young, the blond ran his family's entire corporation better than some businessmen three times his age. Which also meant he had access to a large amount of sources that supplied him with an immeasurable amount of information. Duo had suspected for some time that the head of the Winner Corporation had been keeping tabs on him and their other friends; Quatre had just confirmed his suspicions.
"Yeah, and they were pretty lousy attempts, if I might add. Definitely an amateur."
Quatre's expression did not change.
Duo growled. "I can take care of myself, Quatre. We were Gundam pilots, for God's sake! And it'll be a cold day before I hire some 'Perfect Soldier' wannabe for protection who's probably got less experience in combat and weaponry than we had at thirteen!"
Quatre still had that look. The look that said he meant business and had no intention of changing his mind. Duo waggled a finger at his friend, leaning forward slightly as he did so. "Quatre, so help me if you go against me on this..." Duo paused, trying to think of an adequate threat. Let me see. Quatre has more resources. More manpower. More money...damnit, Duo's mind cursed. If the Arabian wanted, he could follow through with any threat, say for instance, cutting off ties to his salvaging company on L2, which he had helped Duo start in the first place. Of course, he had asked for nothing in return, but Duo wondered just how far Quatre would go to get what he desired.
"Damnit, Quatre!" he cursed aloud, his temper flaring, which always prompted a verbal rant.
Quatre sighed. "All right."
"This is so not--what?" He paused mid-tirade.
"I said, 'all right.'"
Duo eyed him suspiciously, his head tilting slightly. Over the years he had discovered that Quatre had a very good business poker face. "And what exactly," he said while leaning forward again, "is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I won't bother you about it again...on one condition."
"Hah. I knew there was a catch. What is it?" he said while putting a hand to his forehead, as if trying to fight off a headache.
"If you can make it one more week without any attempts on your life, of any kind, then I won't bother you about it again."
"But..." Duo said slowly.
"But, if you can't, I want your word that you will hire someone to watch your back."
He chewed on his bottom lip. He could make it that long, couldn't he? But what if he couldn't? "Let me guess, if I don't, then you'll get someone for me, right?"
Quatre just smiled. "Something like that. I would come myself, but I don't think Trowa would be too happy about that."
Duo chuckled at the thought of Trowa's expression upon hearing his lover say, 'Sorry, love, I'm going to go play bodyguard. Stay here and take care of things for me, 'k?'
With an explosive sigh, he said, "Fine! One week, that's the deal, Quatre. After that, I don't wanna hear anything more about it."
"At least," he added, "until I let you know when I send the bastard to hell in a hand basket." He grinned maniacally while reaching for Quatre's hand, shaking it firmly to close their agreement.
"Thank you, Duo." He glanced at his watch. "Can you stay for supper? We can be at my place in twenty by air."
Duo shook his head. "Thanks, but I'm gonna head back tonight. Can't leave the farm for too long before the barn catches fire." He grinned and headed for the door. "Call me anytime Quatre, and tell Trowa I said bye."
"See you later, Duo," Quatre called after the figure retreating out the door. He sat in silence for a few minutes before a voice spoke.
"Do you think he'll keep his word."
Quatre sighed and smiled. "Trowa, you know Duo--he never tells a lie."
Trowa huffed, the exhalation of air brushing Quatre's ear, making him shiver. "Do you think he can make it a week?"
Quatre's smile faded slightly as he reached behind him to touch his lover's face, grasping his hand as he did so. "Not a chance in hell."
tbc
Gomen, guys, for this being so short. I've been reaaaaaaaaalllllllllllly busy with school, and when I haven't been working, I've been too tired to do anything but read my mail. Gomen! Remember, patience is a virtue...I think.
(:./hinokumo/hearts1)
