Howdy! ^_^ Like its predecessor, "Stress Relief," this is a seme-free fic. I just didn't address the seme/uke issue at all. There's some lemon-scented stuff, nothing too explicit, I don't think, and more than a fair share of just plain sap. But definitely a male/male relationship, so if that bothers you, please don't read it. Lemme know what you think, Ok?
I guess I should go ahead and mention that I 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 me. Also, I'm not making a penny off of this, and no offense or disrespect is intended towards the creators and rightful owners.
"Ohayo."
Trowa Barton glanced up in mild surprise to see deep blue eyes focused on him with breathtaking intensity. It was unlike Heero to start a conversation, particularly first thing in the morning...
That was when he noticed the neon green water pistol in Heero's hand.
"Have I been neglecting you?" he asked, stung.
"No," Heero replied, and though he didn't smile, his eyes were warm and soft. "I just thought you deserved a break."
"Ah," Trowa said, and smiled. How unexpected, and how wonderfully welcome! He didn't know what pleased him more - the prospect of going off alone with Heero, or the fact that Heero was taking the initiative! "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," Heero said, and the ghost of a smile teased at the corners of his mouth. "I already have the bags packed and the car loaded. All that's missing is you."
"Am I going to have to wear the blindfold?"
"Duo wouldn't let me have it. Said he couldn't afford to miss any beauty sleep."
"I see," said Trowa, and his lips curved slightly in amusement.
"Would you like anything for breakfast?"
"No, thank you. I'm not very hungry."
Heero nodded; it was as he'd expected. Trowa was never hungry before 10am. It was a good thing, too... they'd fall off-schedule if they didn't get moving. Heero clamped down on the smile trying to work its way over his lips, but there was a feeling of joy and anticipation bubbling beneath the surface of his calm expression. He had everything planned in the minutest detail... it was going to be wonderful!
"Let's go, then," he said, and waved the water pistol slightly. "I'd hate to have to use this thing."
"Not half as much as I'd hate it," Trowa said, and led the way to the car. Heero ran over his mental checklist one last time; he was certain he had everything they'd need, including a special surprise gift from Lady Une, who had been sort of gently amused at his efforts to plan a romantic weekend. Everything was organized, each step of the trip orchestrated to the minute. It was going to be a wonderful weekend; he'd do everything in his power to see to that.
The highway leading to the airport was crowded with rush-hour traffic already, so Heero chose an alternate route, a seldom-used, two-lane road lined with trees.
They had only been on the road for half an hour when the left rear tire blew out. Anxiously, Heero pulled to the side of the road - this could mess up his whole schedule! "Stay put," he said, and went out to inspect the damage.
What was left of the tire was definitely irreparable. Heero sighed, and emptied out the trunk in order to get to the spare.
He had the tire changed in 2.35 minutes, and let the jack down with a grimly satisfied smile. They could still get there on schedule.
The spare tire was flat. Heero kicked it; childish or not, it made him feel a little better, and it wasn't as though he could do it more damage.
"Problem?" Trowa asked.
"We're going to miss our flight," Heero replied. "But I'm sure I can get us on a later connection." He reached in to pull his cellphone from the glove compartment, mashed the power button...
... and nothing happened.
"I don't believe this," he growled.
"What?"
"The battery must be dead."
"How long ago did you charge it?"
"I can't remember." A faint crease appeared between Heero's brows; he hadn't planned for a blowout.
"I'm sure we'll figure something out," Trowa said gently. Heero turned, sharp ears picking up the sound of another car approaching.
"Change of plans," Heero said, and stepped out into the road with his thumb cocked.
"You mean to hitchhike?" Trowa asked, torn somewhere between appalled and amused.
"Got to get to the airport," Heero replied, just as the car pulled over.
"Need a lift?" the man behind the wheel asked, leering at Heero in tight Spandex shorts. Heero nodded wordlessly, and went about securing his car and gathering the backpacks, stuffed with a weekend's worth of supplies. The driver appeared startled when Trowa stepped out, but he smiled gamely. The two young men piled into the man's car - Trowa in the passenger seat and Heero crammed into the back with the packs - and then their journey continued.
The man smoked cigars, and played loud polka music and yelled dirty jokes all the way to the airport, and the trip took forever because he drove about 35 miles an hour despite the speed limit signs that read "65." By the time they arrived, Heero was looking faintly green from carsickness, and the veins at Trowa's temples were beginning to throb, indicative of a potential migraine in the making.
They tumbled gratefully out of the car, dragged their bags out of the back, and thanked the man, who demanded 20 credits for his trouble. Heero glared at him, but he wanted so much for Trowa to have a relaxing time, and that wouldn't happen if he tied the idiot in knots... so, regardless of how much the man was asking for it and how good it would feel to hit him just once, Heero decided not to resort to violence, and handed over the money.
"I can't believe the gall of that man," Trowa said to his green-around-the-gills lover. "I can't believe you paid him, either."
"Wasn't worth a fight," Heero replied, then turned and picked up the backpacks and headed into the building. He was feeling better already, just breathing the smoggy airport air, laden with the scents of gasoline and exhaust - practically sweet, country-fresh air, when compared to the miasma in the cigar-smoker's back seat.
"Do you want to tell me where we're going?" Trowa asked, and Heero saw that he was smiling slightly, and the veins at his temples had receded to normal.
"Gate E-33," Heero replied, and hoisted the bags to a more comfortable position. "If we hurry, we'll still make it."
"Lead on, MacDuff."
"You know, the quote is actually 'lay on,' " Heero pointed out, hustling down the long, hallway.
"I know. But if you lay on me, we'll never get there. Not that that would be a bad thing."
"Don't tempt me."
Gate E-33 happened to be on the opposite end of the airport, and Heero, burdened as he was with their carefully-packed bags, set such a brisk pace that even he was out of breath by the time they got there... just in time to see their plane pulling away.
Heero realized he was gritting his teeth, and made a conscious effort to stop it. Time to resort to Plan B.
"I need to get switched over to the next flight," he said, handing his tickets to the lady at the counter.
"I'm sorry, sir. These tickets were non-refundable and non-transferable, and since you didn't notify us *before* departure that you wouldn't make the flight, there's nothing I can do."
"Omae o korosu!"
"Oh, *that's* gonna get you what you want," the lady said, rolling her eyes at him.
Heero silently counted to ten, and tried again. It wasn't as though verbalizing was his strong suit... "Look, this is important-" he began.
"If it was that important, you'd have been on time," the lady said primly. "Now, you can do one of two things. You can go by train or car or bus or some other means, or you can buy a new pair of tickets. Either way, you need to make up your mind so these other people in line can have a turn."
"Fine. Two new tickets, for the next flight," Heero snapped, bright blue eyes boring into hers furiously.
"Sorry, the next flight is sold out."
"On the earliest available flight, then," Heero growled, and the muscles on the sides of his jaw were beginning to twitch. The lady appeared to possess a sense of self-preservation; she wisely didn't respond to that aside from turning to her keyboard and entering data.
"The earliest will leave at 10pm. Do you wish to purchase tickets for it?" she asked.
"Yes. Fine," Heero said, and handed over the exorbitant amount of money required, snatched up his tickets, and gave the woman one last Death Glare for good measure before stalking away.
"Looks like we'll be waiting a while," Trowa said.
"Ah." Heero sank into one of the poorly-designed, immensely uncomfortable seats in the little lounging area by the gate, and allowed his shoulders to sag.
"It's all right," Trowa said, placing a hand gently on one of those slumped shoulders.
"This isn't how I planned it," Heero said, and the note of discouragement in his voice brought a bittersweet smile to Trowa's face.
"It doesn't have to be Perfect," he said. "I'm spending the weekend with you. That's the important thing."
"Ah," Heero said, and his expression brightened slightly.
"Did you... by any chance pack anything edible?" Trowa asked. "I just realized I'm starting to get hungry."
"Not exactly," Heero said. He did have food packed, for the weekend, but he hadn't planned for breakfast... In the background, the primly obnoxious lady was announcing boarding for the sold-out flight. "Do you think you can wait 20 minutes?"
"Yes, why?"
"Wait here."
Heero stood and walked away, and Trowa watched as he approached the people in line to talk to them. Three couples shook their heads at him, the last pair he approached switched tickets with him, then hurried off, looking distinctly terrified.
"You switched tickets?" Trowa asked. Heero nodded, and scooped up the bags so they could get in line. "What did you say to that last pair? The people who actually switched with you?"
"I told them it was very important to me to be on this flight," Heero replied, and although the smile curving his lips was subtle, to Trowa it was obvious that Heero was wearing his "cat with a bellyful of canary" expression. It was also obvious that that was all the answer he was going to get.
"Ah."
They boarded the plane without further incident, and Heero started to smile as they finally took off, his ears popping slightly. Trowa was looking out the window, but unfortunately they were sitting right over the wing, so there really wasn't much of a view. Heero had insisted on his wearing headphones, so Trowa was still, he hoped, uninformed as to their destination.
So far, they were only three hours behind schedule; it looked as though they'd be able to salvage most of the weekend!
Meanwhile, back at the airport, a terrorized couple arrived back at the gate with an airport security guard in tow, just in time to see their flight leave.
"He was mad, I tell you! Stark, raving mad!" the woman sobbed, and her husband wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.
"What's the world coming to, I'd like to know!" he said.
"Sir, if you could just give me a description of the man in question-" the security guard began.
"He looked just like a raving lunatic!" the man replied. "And I shan't repeat what he threatened to do to us if we didn't comply with his wishes!"
The flight was a short one, so all they gave Trowa to eat was a bag of "snack mix" and a little cup with a splash of Coke in it. Heero threatened the stewardess, so Trowa ended up with three bags of snack mix and a whole can of Coke, but the stewardesses all made faces at the two of them for the rest of the flight, which was, thankfully, only another 15 minutes.
They made it out of the airport safely, completely oblivious to the fact that airport security personnel were on the lookout for them. The rental car Heero had arranged to have waiting for them was in fact still there, but only because nobody had asked to rent the unsightly thing. Heero piled the bags into the back of the battered Jeep and he and Trowa clambered into it.
Maybe his luck was turning, and everything would go as planned for the rest of the trip...
"Now can you tell me where we're going?" Trowa asked, as the Jeep groaned to life and grumbled out onto the road.
"You'll see," Heero said, with a mysterious little Mona-Lisa smile. The Jeep nosed off onto a dirt road, almost completely hidden in surrounding trees, then wound its way up a steep incline. Trowa looked behind them; the trees had swallowed them up. He turned back and relaxed back in his seat, thinking that the mountains were a good choice for a romantic weekend, but of course Heero did everything perfectly.
After nearly an hour of wending through uneven terrain on a series of dirt roads that looked to be little more than trails in the forest, Heero pulled the Jeep to a stop.
"We go on foot from here," he said, and smiled again, and he and Trowa shouldered their packs and headed off down a footpath which, from the looks of it, hadn't been travelled by anyone but deer for a long time. They toiled uphill, the climb so steep at times that they had to use their hands as well as their feet; at one place there was a sharp enough drop that they had to help each other over it.
Their reward, after the end of almost two hours of hiking, was a breathtaking view from the summit of the small mountain, over the green-forested rolling hills below. There was no noise but for their labored breathing, the sigh of wind in pine trees, birdsong and the faint gurgle of running water nearby.
"Wow," Trowa said, and Heero smiled again.
"Our accommodations," he said, and led the way to a ramshackle cabin at the end of the clearing. It was little more than a box with log walls, and a porch with an overhang that went over two sides. On one side under the overhang was the front door and a pair of rocking chairs; on the other was a woodpile, stacked up to the overhang's rafters. Inside was a two-sided fireplace, right in the middle of the floor, a double bed with a mattress that looked tattered and smelled of mice, a single table and cabinet, and a basin for water with a hand-pump. There was newspaper stuffed between some of the cracks in the logs, painted brown.
"This isn't... this isn't what it looked like in the brochure," Heero whispered, appalled. He'd expected a sweet little hideaway, a rustic, out-of-the-way place where two lovers could frolic without having to worry about interruptions. There were no phones, no computers, no neighbors...
... no running water, no bath...
... no toilet...
He was going to have to kill the travel agent who'd suggested this.
"I think I heard a stream?" Trowa suggested tentatively.
"Yes. Stream nearby, very picturesque," Heero replied, envisioning his hands wrapped around that idiotic travel agent's throat.
"Suitable for swimming?" Trowa asked. "I could use a wash."
"Hn," Heero agreed, and reluctantly set his pack down on the table. They'd just make the best of it... While Trowa was setting his own pack down, Heero pulled the mattress off the bed and dragged it outdoors. Trowa stepped out onto the porch in time to see his lover pounding the mattress with a stick, and a series of furry, grey bodies fleeing for cover in the trees.
They left the mattress outside, in the hopes that the sun would cook some of the rankness out of it, and headed for the stream. There was a lot to be said for being out in the middle of nowhere; Heero rather enjoyed the sight of Trowa, naked among the trees, the sun dappling his skin, but openly cavorting in the nude wasn't the sort of thing his shy lover did often.
The water was absolutely, bone-chillingly freezing. They stayed in for all of three seconds - long enough to rub themselves all over and let the stream sweep the sweat and heat from their bodies - and then they clambered out onto dry land, doubled over with shivers.
"I think my nuts have taken up permanent residence in my rib cage," Heero grumbled.
Trowa laughed through chattering teeth.
They went back to the cabin, and Heero beat the mattress again, sending yet another flurry of mice scampering. There were dilapidated sheets in the cabinet, but luckily Heero had thought to pack a pair of sleeping bags, which they zipped together to make one oversized bag. The sun was beginning to set by the time Heero got a fire started in the fireplace (accompanied by much muttered cursing under his breath, because the wood was damp and not inclined to burn). The two boys went outside to watch the sunset, wild streaks of color in the sky over the mountains. When the stars came out, they were clear and sharp, and the wild mountain air brushing past them smelled of pine.
"Beautiful," Trowa said, and Heero smiled. They went back inside, and had canned stew and toast and cheese, and then Heero handed a neatly-wrapped box to his lover, who was sitting in front of the fire. The afternoon had been hot and sunny, but it was distinctly chilly now that the day had ended and the sun was no longer warming the thin mountain air.
"What's this?" Trowa asked.
"Present from Lady Une."
Trowa quirked an eyebrow, curious, and then bent his attention to opening the package, deftly peeling off the tape so that the paper remained intact. It was a box of chocolate-raspberry truffles - Trowa's favorite - and they were completely, thoroughly melted.
"Oh, no," Heero groaned, and sat down on the bed and put his head between his hands. This whole trip was a total disaster!
"Heero... do you know what this is?" Trowa asked, crossing the room to sit beside him.
"It's a box of very expensive, completely ruined chocolates," Heero answered quietly, the barest hint of raggedness in his voice.
"No," Trowa said, and dipped a finger into the gooey mess, then traced his chocolate-covered finger over Heero's lips. "It is a box of very expensive body paint." He leaned in and swiped his tongue over Heero's lips, which parted with a soft little gasp of surprise and dawning comprehension.
Maybe it wasn't a total disaster, after all.
Dawn broke over the mountains in a glorious display, but it was completely lost on the two slightly-sticky former pilots, who were snuggled in their sleeping bag, sharing the warmth of their bodies in the chilly mountain morning. It was a few hours later that a sunbeam made its way through the little sliver of a window and across their sleeping faces, waking them.
"Ohayo," Heero said huskily.
"Good morning, Heero."
Heero nuzzled Trowa fondly. "I'll build up the fire again," he said softly. "And get breakfast started."
He gave his lover one quick, heated kiss, then slid from the sleeping bag, shivering, and scurried across the room, grateful that he'd thought to pack warm clothing. Once he'd donned his jeans, boots, and flannel shirt, he felt up to facing the outdoors long enough to relieve himself and collect some wood for the fire. He handed Trowa a set of clothing, so the slender man could get dressed without having to leave the warmth of the sleeping bag.
By the time Trowa was dressed, Heero had the fire started up again. They had pancakes and sausage, and Heero discovered that at least the water pump worked; it would have ruined the good mood of the morning if he'd had to tote water from the stream to wash dishes with. As it was, he had to pump icy water into a bucket, heat it over the fire, then carry it to the basin for washing. It gave him an idea, though...
Trowa went outside to attend his own personal business, and came back just as Heero was finishing with the dishes.
"Would you like a shower?" Heero asked, smiling. Trowa quirked an eyebrow at him, and Heero raised the bucket in explanation. Laughing, Trowa led the way back out to the porch, which the sun was steadily heating up to a comfortable warmth. He quickly stripped, and allowed Heero to soap him thoroughly, a process that involved much more sliding of slippery hands over soapy flesh than was strictly necessary. Then Heero raised up as high as he could and tipped the bucket, allowing the clean, warm water to wash over Trowa. It wasn't the most comfortable shower ever - there was still a slightly chilly breeze, and Trowa had to stoop down to get under the flow of water - but when it was finished, Trowa felt wonderfully clean, finally free from the last layer of stickiness from the chocolate raspberry truffles, which had lingered despite Heero's enthusiastic efforts to clean it.
They repeated the whole process for Heero, who had also been all but marinated in chocolate, and then they dressed again, and went outside to take in the fresh air and beautiful scenery. They went for a hike that afternoon, exploring the beauty of the forests around them, from sun-dappled glades to mysterious, hidden grottos, and when they were hungry, they nibbled on wild mushrooms, nuts and berries. When they returned to their cabin, it was just in time to see the sun setting.
"Mother Nature must be trying to impress us," Trowa said.
"I'm impressed," Heero replied, but he wasn't looking at the sky. Trowa smiled, and they went inside, built the fire back up again, and had roasted hot dogs and S'mores, and then sat for a while, watching the fire, and each other, in contented silence. Heero added more logs, and he and Trowa curled up in the sleeping bag together, cuddling into the welcoming warmth.
"I love you," Heero whispered, his eyes little more than a gleam in the darkness.
"I love you, too," Trowa replied, and drew in to kiss him. It was a long time before either of them slept.
Heero woke in the morning just before dawn, and slid out of the sleeping bag, shivering violently because the fire had burned out. He scampered outside to grab some wood, and rushed back indoors quickly, relighting the fire with shaking hands.
"Good morning," Trowa said, smiling as Heero handed him fresh clothes.
"There's something I want you to see," Heero said. Trowa quickly got dressed, and followed Heero outside, shivering. They sat down in creaky rocking chairs and watched as the sun rose over the mountains, brilliant color splashed across the wide sky as golden warmth slowly made its way over misty, forested mountains. They stayed, marvelling at the sunrise, until the first rays warmly touched the porch of the little cabin.
"Wow," Trowa said, and Heero turned to smile at him.
"Hungry?" he asked.
"Is there more pancake mix?"
"Ah."
"You're a man after my own heart, Heero Yuy."
"Yes, I am," Heero agreed, and led the way back into the cabin. They had time enough for a leisurely breakfast, but then they had to pack up their bags and head out. Heero carefully doused the fire, then looked over the cabin and nodded in satisfaction. Other than the lack of mice in the mattress, the cabin looked as though they had never used it.
The trip back down to the waiting Jeep was infinitely easier than the climb up had been, and they made good time getting there. Heero loaded the bags into the back and climbed in.
"Thank you, Heero," Trowa said. "It was a wonderful weekend. I'll never forget it." Heero smiled, feeling happiness well up in him irrepressibly. The weekend had started out badly, but things had worked out perfectly in the end, and he had pleased Trowa, which was his heart's wish. He'd have to thank the travel agent who, unbeknownst to him, was at that moment wondering why he and Trowa had never appeared at the luxurious cabin he'd rented.
"I'm glad," Heero said, and started up the Jeep, which came to life with a discontented grumble. There would be just enough time to make it back to the airport for their return flight. They'd go home, get their laundry done, and have time to relax before work began the next day...
The Jeep had a flat tire.
~owari!~
Author's Notes: This fic is dedicated to DaMoyre, who just about single-handedly revived my interest in Heero and Trowa as a couple.
^_~
Yoiko
Please send comments to: mightyyoiko@hotmail.com