Howdy, y'all! ^_^ Some of you may know that I recently hit 40,000 on my GWA page. Megan K. was my 40,000th visitor, and her request for a gift fic was a flufflet with Wufei and Duo. Now, I really did intend to write a brand-new story for my gift-fic, but... Tzi and I had this one already mostly done and collecting cobwebs. So! I dusted it off, and we tweaked it a little, and here it is - one genuine fluffy Duo and Wufei-type thingie! Megan, I hope you enjoy it, and thank you!
I guess I should go ahead and mention that we don't own Gundam Wing, and this fanfic is not meant to be taken as a claim to copyright of the characters or situations which were not created by us. Also, we're not making a penny off of this, and no offense or disrespect is intended towards the creators and rightful owners. There are characters from other anime series making cameo appearances later on, and we don't own them, either, nor is any offense intended by our misusing them the way we have. *^_^*
Wufei twisted the little lock to his box at the campus post-office and peered inside. "There's a little red piece of paper in there," he announced to the other three ex-pilots who were also checking their mail. Three weeks into the semester, they'd settled into something of a routine. On Mondays and Fridays, someone dragged Wufei out of bed to attend water aerobics. On the other days, he made it to his classes without needing any help because he'd scheduled them later in the day. They all had lunch together, checked mail together, and had more or less gotten as clique-ish as any of the other students there. Wufei sort of figured that was because they shared a more common background, but it was still nice, and it was nice to have friends again, and to be more of himself and less of the warrior that Meiran had made him into with her death.
Not that he wasn't *still* a cranky little Chinaman, but...
"I don't have one," Quatre announced cheerfully. "What is it?"
"Immunization time," Heero said quietly, handing his paper to Quatre. "Apparently, everyone on campus is supposed to either provide proof of immunization or get their shots."
"Eheh..." Duo said, looking at his little red paper with a decidedly queasy expression. "How about that?"
Frowning, Wufei shut his box and shrugged. "Well, I don't guess it will hurt to get all of them twice. All of my records were destroyed when..." He stopped there, frowning. He *could* get Sally to fake the record, he supposed, but that would just not be right, somehow, even though he'd already had them. "Anyway, it's just a handful of shots. Nothing to get excited about."
"Right!" Quatre agreed cheerfully. "Too bad you have to do the whole bunch of them again! Heero, Duo, how many are you missing?"
"I'm up to date," Heero replied. "I'll get my record forwarded here; no problem."
"Ha, I love the way you say 'no problem,' Heero!" Duo said. "Don't you, Quatre? Must be the accent. Or I guess it could be that lethal 'omae o korosu' glare that goes along with it. Whadda you think? I'm hungry. Any of you guys hungry? Let's go get some lunch!" With that, Duo slammed the little door on his mailbox shut and gave his friends a wide grin.
By that point, Chang Wufei was one *distinctly* suspicious little man. A hand went to his hip as he scowled at Duo thoughtfully. "Maxwell, how many immunizations have you had?"
"Huh? Uh... I've had all the shots I need," Duo replied, still smiling. "C'mon, Wu-chan. Lunch? Food? Maybe they'll even have repulsive asparagus for hungry Chinamen!"
"I like asparagus," Wufei agreed, eyes narrowed. "How many immunizations have you had, Maxwell?"
Quatre glanced at Heero with huge tourmaline eyes. It looked like they were going to have one of *THOSE* scenes again.
"Like I said, I've had all I need," Duo answered, and turned toward the cafeteria with a flip of his braid. "I run, and I hide, but I *never* lie, Wu-chan. Gee, I'd think you guys knew that by now."
"Hn," Heero said, his eyes narrowing. Duo was hiding something, all right.
Wufei crossed his arms over his chest, not moving. "Am I going to have to find out just how many shots you've had, *Duo*?" he asked.
Yes, Quatre decided with a sigh, it *was* going to be one of those scenes again.
"I'm hungry," Duo said, and started walking away. "I'm going to go get some lunch; you do whatever floats your boat, Wu-chan."
"Fifteen minutes," Heero said in an undertone. "If I can't find out by then, I'll eat my laptop." That earned him a smile from his tall blond companion and a pat upon his hand even as Wufei reached out and grabbed the rope of hair that swung across Duo's rear enticingly -- not that he noticed, or so he told himself.
"How many shots have you had, Maxwell?"
Duo froze. "Don't touch the hair, man," he said, turning around and pulling the braid out of Wufei's hands. "Don't ever touch the hair."
Wufei had *not* wanted to let go of the braid. "It's just hair, Maxwell," he responded pragmatically, balled fists going to both hips as he glared and frowned at the ex-pilot of Shinigami. "How many shots have you had?"
"Just hair?! How can you say that?" Duo's violet eyes were impossibly, incredulously wide. "You wouldn't care if I messed with your hair?"
A single black brow shot up as he looked at Duo, blurting out, "You wouldn't dare pull my ponytail!"
"I didn't say I would pull your ponytail," Duo replied, a menacing light gleaming in his eyes as he started to grin. "I just asked you to clarify what you meant, Wu-chan."
"I meant... how many immunizations have you had, Duo!" Wufei shouted, stomping a foot firmly and scowling at his roommate. "You will NOT distract me!"
"None," Heero said, slightly out of breath from running back to catch up with them. He couldn't help but smirk at the expression on Duo's face as he held up a printout for the others to see.
It took Duo only a few moments to regain his poise. "Yeah, like I said, exactly as many as I need. Now, if you don't mind, I really am hungry." He turned his back on smirking Heero and the others, and started walking toward the cafeteria, deliberately keeping his pace slow and steady.
Wufei moved after him quickly, listening to the others behind them. "But you *need* to be immunized, Duo!" he insisted. "Your scientist didn't give you *any*?" he asked. "Not even hepatitis a? Not even the simple ones? Maxwell! You MUST be immunized! It's a miracle you didn't get sick!" Wufei frowned.
"Man, why would I need shots? I never get sick. I've never been sick my whole life, not even food poisoning from the cookies that Peacecraft girl sent to Heero."
"Hn," Heero said, the barest hint of what could only loosely be termed a smile quirking the corners of his mouth. "Fastest way to tell if they were poisoned."
"Hidoi," Duo answered, grinning. "Anyway, the doc told me I had an unbelievably high natural immunity, so we didn't bother with it. I don't need any shots, and I won't get sick. Can we have lunch now?"
Quatre said softly, "We can have lunch, but if you don't get the shots, they'll kick you out of school, Duo! You have to have your shots..."
"Yare, yare," Duo said. "Don't worry, Q-man. I'll take care of it."
Wufei yawned as he closed his book and rolled onto his back for a moment. "Duo," he said softly, "it's time to go to the infirmary."
"You go on ahead," Duo said. "I'll just finish my homework first."
"We all have appointments at *the same time*," Wufei stressed. "You have to come now."
"Fine," Duo said. "This is a waste of time, though."
Sighing, Wufei stood up and slid on his shoes. "Come on. Let's go."
"Yeah..." Duo answered unenthusiastically, pulling on his own shoes and reluctantly following his roommate. His mind was racing as they walked to the infirmary, and he surreptitiously wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans before following Wufei indoors.
The smell alone was almost overpowering, that cold, sterile, steel-and rubbing-alcohol scent one found in doctors' offices. Duo swallowed nervously and forced himself to smile, masking the fact that his skin was crawling just from standing in the doorway. There were a handful of others seated, but Wufei moved to the desk and spoke quickly with the receptionist, signing both of them in before looking for Duo... who was still standing in the half-open door. "Come in and shut the door," he muttered as he got closer. "Come on."
"Yeah," Duo said, somehow managing to keep his voice from squeaking. "Ok."
Wufei looked at him carefully as they sat down, face marked with a certain curiosity. "You look pale. Maybe you should get an exam or something while you're here."
"Eheh... no, I'm fine!" Duo answered a little too emphatically. "Just fine, thanks!" He laughed nervously and accidentally knocked over the pile of old magazines stacked up on the little table by his chair, then knelt to pick them up, smiling sheepishly. "No problem, Wufei!"
"A...nou...." Wufei replied, watching him with a little surprise. He'd seen Duo Maxwell in a lot of tight situations and stressful conditions, but he'd *NEVER* seen him behaving like this, even when they'd thought they were going to suffocate. "Wha~atever you say, Maxwell," he agreed, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Yeah... just fine," Duo repeated, returning to his seat. His fingers were toying with the end of his braid in an unconscious comforting gesture, but when he realized what he was doing he tossed the hair back over his shoulder and picked up one of the magazines. "Yanno, this thing is older than we are, Wufei," he commented, leafing through the magazine without really seeing any of it. After a few minutes, he put the magazine back down. "Well, they seem to be really busy. I guess I'll come back some other time," he said, standing and deliberately stifling the urge to clutch at the end of his braid again.
A strong hand reached out, grabbed his arm, and pulled him back down into his chair. "You're going nowhere 'til we get our immunizations."
"They're clearly not ready for us. We should reschedule," Duo stated, jerking his arm out of Wufei's grip and frowning as he rubbed the ache out of it. "No need to be so hostile, man."
"Duo Maxwell and Wuf...Wuffie Chang?" came the call from the door beside the receptionists' area.
"They're ready for us," Wufei said, standing up and pulling at Duo again.
"... heh... yeah," Duo said faintly, following along as Wufei pulled him. "Sure looks that way."
"Hello, gentlemen," the nurse said cheerfully. "You're roommates, is that right?" Without waiting for an answer, she handed them both a cup and pointed to two separate doors. "If you'd just fill those up for me..."
Wufei sighed.
"But I don't need to go," Duo said, looking at the cup dubiously.
"Go," the nurse said simply. "Even if it's just a few drops, so long as it's enough to put one of these little sticks in, that will be ok."
Sighing again, Wufei stepped into his bathroom and shut the door.
"I... uh... yes, ma'am," Duo said miserably, stepping into the free bathroom. Struggling to keep from hyperventilating, Duo set the cup on the lid of the toilet and knelt on the frighteningly clean floor, clasped his hands and began to pray, his lips moving silently as he pleaded.
"Oh, please, God, if you get me out of this I'll believe in you, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please..."
While Duo prayed frantically, Wufei brought his own half-full cup out to the nurse.
"How many immunizations do we have to have?" he asked. "I had all of mine a long time ago, but the records are gone."
"Oh, there are thirteen of them in total," said the nurse in reply.
"Oh, Jesus," Duo whimpered quietly, the conversation filtering through the bathroom's thin door clearly. Well, at least he'd be able to fill the little cup now -- that had just about scared the piss out of him.
"Will taking full courses of the injections a second time be harmful to me?" Wufei asked. "If they will be, how can I document that I have had all of them? My.. all of my relatives and records are destroyed, so I don't know how I would do that, but..."
"Oh, no," the nurse assured him cheerfully. "It won't hurt you at all! Even the needle is just a little stick and then gone! You might want to flex your arm a bit before you get the MMR and the chickenpox shots, though," she told him judiciously. "You'll be less sore afterwards!"
"No needles, no needles," Duo whispered to himself as he finished with his little cup and washed his hands. "Oh, please, God, no needles!" Plastering a huge, fake smile across his face, he sauntered out of the little bathroom and handed his cup to the nurse.
"Well, that's that. Anything else?" he asked, inwardly begging for an explosion, a drive-by shooting, *anything* to get him out of the infirmary.
"Just weighing the two of you and giving you your first round of shots!" the nurse replied lightheartedly.
"Weighing in's no problem," Duo said, smiling brightly.
"Step right up here, young man... Mr. Maxwell, isn't it? Mr. Chang, if you'd like, you can step into that room there. Some people," she said, "are sensitive about their weight, you know."
Duo laughed nervously and stepped up onto the scale. "Well, I'm not too sensitive about it, I mean, I know I should eat more and all that, but weighing in's no problem. There's no need for the rest of it, though."
The nurse's brows raised. "But we don't have any immunization record for you, Duo...."
"Oh! Ha, ha! Uh... well, that's no problem! I'll call today and ask what the status is," Duo replied. "No problem."
"You understand that we need them in by next week?"
"Sure... uh, sure, I understand." Duo smiled broadly. "Is that all, then?"
"That's all," the nurse told him cheerfully. "If you'll get your friend, I'll give him his shots now."
"Woo-hoo! Bye, Nurse! Oi, WU-CHAN! Time for your SHOTS!" Duo waved cheerfully and took off at a run, braid trailing behind him. He'd just go right to the nearest phone and call Heero to ask about the status of his records. That would fulfill the letter of the promise he'd made to the nurse.
"He sounds a little too gleeful about it," Wufei grouched dubiously as he slipped back into the hall and headed towards the nurse's station where that nurse onna waited for him with *ugh* immunizations.
Wufei sighed.
*ring*
*ring*
"Moshi-moshi."
"Hee-chan?"
"Nh."
"What's the status of my medical records?"
"Nonexistent. And don't call me Hee-chan."
"Thanks, Hee-chan!" *click*
"Wonder what the hell that was all about," Heero mused aloud. On the other side of the campus, Duo was busily dancing a merry little jig by the phone booth.
"Drop your pants, Mr. Chang."
Wufei withheld the urge to sigh for the thousandth time and obeyed, offering the nurse the muscle in his left leg first. With two shots already given in both arms, it was obviously now time to use his legs.[1] "I'm surprised it didn't take longer than it did with Maxwell," he said.
"Mm, well, he didn't require any shots," the nurse replied.
Wufei blinked. "He didn't?" he asked incredulously.
"Oh, no, his medical records are on their way," the nurse replied. "Last one," she said encouragingly, carefully holding up the needle and checking for bubbles.
Wufei silently offered his other leg, wanting to rub at the first to ease the sting that was undeniable. "He said that?"
"Nothing for you to worry about... and, you're all done, Mr. Chang. You can put your clothes back on," the nurse said cheerily. "Don't forget to work your muscles some; it'll help ease the ache."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, ignoring the desire to call her an onna and stomp out; it was rather embarrassing to be half-naked like a child and have someone poking one with needles. "Thank you. May I take the information statements with me?"
"Certainly. Have a good day!" the nurse replied, then tactfully left the blushing Chinese boy alone in the little room, closing the door behind her. She stepped back into the waiting room, checked the sign-in list, and called, "Mr. Jinnai?"
"WOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! *I* don't need any immunizations! *I* am the mighty Katsuhiko Jinnai, PRESIDENT of the sophomore class!" Wufei heard someone (obviously this Jinnai fellow) declare.
"Oh? Well, *I* am the even mightier Nurse Ratchit, President of this office. Drop your trousers."
"IOOOOOOWWWW!"
Oh, Wufei was *SO* glad he'd participated willingly! Buttoning his jeans, he headed out of the room and out of the office, heading back towards his room. He wondered what Maxwell could possibly be up to, and he fully intended to interrogate him as soon as he got his hands on him.... so to speak.
The first thoughts those words had conjured up brought a *distinct* flush to his face and he frowned sharply. He wasn't going to have thoughts like that anymore. He'd decided a long time ago not to have them, and that was that, he thought, heading into the dorm and down the hall to the room he shared with Duo.
"Almost there..." Duo chortled to himself, hunched over the laptop he'd 'borrowed' from Heero. Well, he'd return it before Heero missed it, and he knew Heero would have helped if he hadn't been in class at the time... and besides, it was for a good cause.
"Oh, they're so hackable," Duo muttered. "Just a few changes here and there... lessee, 'student name: Maxwell, Duo', right. 'Medical records provided'..."
"MAXWELL!" Wufei shouted.
"Shh, don't bother me, Wu-chan," Duo muttered. "I'm fixing my records."
"You will NOT," Wufei informed him stiffly. "You HAVE to have your immunizations! You NEED them," he insisted firmly, "and falsifying that information is the same as lying!"
Duo straightened abruptly, stiff with outrage. "I NEVER lie! And I don't need any damn shots, and I'm not going to take them! And that's that!"
"Omae o korosu," Heero said from the open doorway. "But before I kill you, I'd like to know what the HELL you think you're doing with MY LAPTOP!!!"
"Hacking?" Duo said, sheepishly turning to face Heero.
"To *LIE* about his medical records!" Wufei accused, hands on both hips. "It's a lie no matter how you make it, Maxwell. What rationalization are you using to get around *that* little fact? Hm?"
"Ok, I won't lie! I'll just... uh... remove my name completely from the infirmary's database! That way, they won't ask, and I won't tell!"
"Not with my laptop, you're not," Heero snarled. "Hand it over before I really have to hurt you."
"Fine..." Duo said, his shoulders slumping dejectedly as Heero made off with the precious laptop. Then he brightened. "Hey! I can use the computers in the computer lab!"
"Well..." Wufei spluttered, bronzed skin turning dark red. "Well, *I* don't want to get sick, either!" he managed finally. "You AREN'T allowed to get sick and die from some stupid disease! Not after everything we've all been through! You MUST be immunized!" he repeated.
"Wu-chan, I didn't know you cared," Duo said, his own cheeks pinking slightly. "But don't worry, I won't get sick. I *don't* get sick; as a matter of fact, Dr. G said I probably *can't* get sick. And I sure as hell am not going to take a bunch of shots when there's nothing wrong with me."
Wufei scowled at him, shifting uncomfortably. "So you're going to lie instead. I thought Duo Maxwell never lied."
It kept coming back to that, didn't it?
"I'm no liar!" Duo snapped. "I haven't told any lie. I said I'd call about my records, and I did."
"And what about falsifying records?" Wufei asked. "What about deleting yourself from their records? Duo, are you *scared*?" he asked suddenly, eyes widening.
"I-I- Wh-why would you say that? And there's nothing wrong with deleting files; we did it all the time as pilots. And falsifying records, too. As a matter of fact, I distinctly recall seeing *you* falsify a record or two!"
That black gaze narrowed again. "That," Wufei said distinctly, "was in pursuit of freedom, peace and justice. This would be a purely selfish reason, just for one person, Duo Maxwell! And I say that because you're absolutely green around the gills!"
"I... I'm just not getting any shots, and that's final! Either help me, or stay outta my way, Chang Wufei!"
Wufei frowned at him deeply. "So you would lie and cheat for your own personal gain? And threaten me, to boot! I'm disappointed in you, Duo Maxwell!"
A wounded look flitted across Duo's face, so quickly it might not have even been there. "I'm not lying, or cheating, or threatening," he said in a tight voice. "And it doesn't matter that you disapprove, Wufei. You always do; it's not like I could ever do anything *but* disappoint you. I'm outta here." Without another word, he turned and scooped up his keys, his whole body strung taut with a tension completely the opposite of his usual easy grace.
"All because you're afraid of a needle?" Wufei said with some astonishment, realizing that he might as well be speaking to himself.
Duo shuddered violently at the mention of the word 'needle,' and he knew that if he spoke his voice would give him away. Without so much as a backward glance, he hurried from the room, feeling raw and hurt. Wufei's disapproval cut to the quick, especially since there were very few people whose opinions truly mattered to Duo Maxwell. He could live with Heero's disapproval, or even Quatre's, more easily... Wufei's opinion mattered a hell of a lot more than it should.
"Maybe I should ask for a different room assignment," he muttered to himself miserably. /At least that way, Wufei would stand a chance of getting a roommate who wasn't such a chickenshit loser./
For a moment, it seemed that Wufei would not follow him; but he had no such luck, because the shorter Chinese boy was stalking after him moments later. "Maxwell! You won't run from me!" he said, hurrying up to just behind him.
Most of Duo's growth had been in his legs, and while he was only a few inches taller than Wufei, it wasn't as easy for his short legs to cover the same distance. "Maxwell... Duo, I wouldn't say you shouldn't do that if you didn't *need* them..."
"I *don't* need them," Duo gritted out in a suspiciously tight voice. "Stop trying to boss me around!"
"Are you calling me bossy!?" Wufei accused, hurrying behind the taller man. "Because if that's what I get for being worried about you, I..."
"You're worried about me?" Duo asked, stopping still in his tracks as his eyes widened in surprise. "But... I thought..."
Flustered, Wufei ran right into the back of him, skin darkening with a sudden rush of blood. "Well... I mean, that is to say, you'll get sick if you don't. I... that is... ahhh... well, yes."
"Wufei," Duo said, turning around to face him. "Thanks for your concern, but there's nothing to worry about. I'm fine, and I'm going to continue to be fine. I didn't live through the L2 Plagues for nothing. So don't worry. Ok? I promise you, I won't get sick."
"All right, then have a blood titer done! If your blood says your immune, then you won't *have* to get all the shots, but you really do need them!" Wufei insisted, still looking sheepish.
"No! I can't let them take my blood! I need it!" Duo was appalled, and his skin had taken on a slightly greenish tinge at the mention of blood. "C'mon, man, just drop the subject. Please?"
For a moment, it seemed that Wufei would continue; however, the prurient desire to *not* have Duo throw up on his shoes was rather prominent. /I'm going to talk to Heero,/ he determined, frowning. "All right," he said, frowning. /For now./
"Thanks," Duo said, sighing in relief. "Don't worry, Wu-chan, I'll be just fine! I promise!" Daring greatly, he patted Wufei on the shoulder, then jogged off in the direction of the Student Center.
Tilting his head to the side, Wufei's frown grew into a scowl. /Yes. It's definitely time to talk to Heero./
End Part 3
Yoiko
Please send comments to: mightyyoiko@hotmail.com