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"Seven Days of Spring Break "Written By: ELLE Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Gundam
Wing (unfortunately) and they were used without permission, but all
the words are my own. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: modern day AU, a little bit o' marijuana use, some m/m sex, light cursing, potentially triggering discussion of miscarriage, and a large bit of serious psychological, angsty stuff wrapped in a sappy sugar coating of good feels. Pairings: 1x2, past 6x1, previously unrequited
1x4, 5xS. Summary: Suffering from situational depression, Heero agrees to accompany his best friend and travel 900 miles to his hometown on their last spring break as undergrads. He didn't expect to meet a man who would make him question his very understanding of what it means to be happy.
"Seven Days of Spring Break "
Monday | Day Three | Heero Goes on a Picnic in the Mud
They ended up watching stupid zombie movies on Quatre's big screen in the basement and ordering pizza as the rain continued into the evening. Mostly Quatre laughed as Trowa criticized the special effects and Duo imitated the worst of the zombie acting, much to everyone's amusement and dismay intermittently, depending on if they were the living target or not. Right before they left, when Quatre went to get their freshly cleaned clothing and Trowa excused himself to the bathroom, Heero had a brief moment alone with Duo in which Duo flopped down on the couch next to him, threw an arm over his shoulder, and then wrapped him into a short, tight hug. The type of hug he desperately needed three months ago. Warm and caring and simple, no strings attached. And Duo didn't say anything when he pulled away, he just smiled and rested his hand lightly on his shoulder for a minute before drawing it across his shoulders and down his arm, causing Heero to shiver. "I hope you have fun this week." Heero contemplated the soft whisper as he threw on a hunter green tank top and the most faded pair of jeans he'd brought as Duo had warned them before he left not to wear anything nice and that the humidity would probably be ridiculous. But those words reverberated around his brain the whole time he was getting ready. Fun? Heero couldn't remember the last time he'd had fun. He would like to say he'd had fun at some point with Milliardo, but then he felt like it would just be a lie. Milliardo always regulated fun, always forced him to look a certain way or act a certain way and even when they were in the privacy of his apartment he would be domineering and maybe at some point that was fun, or at least sexy and intriguing, but it hadn't been, not since the beginning. He thought back to the summer after he graduated from boarding school and he spent it at The Vineyard sleeping in and eating lobster every other night and sailing the coast with his grandfather and although those easy, lazy days seemed eclipsed by the positive leukemia diagnosis he did suppose he'd had fun then. He wondered if it were even possible for him to have fun any more after so long. He wondered if it had ever been possible or if he was just too screwed up, left alone too long. "Do you have any idea what the plan for today is?" Heero asked of Quatre as they wolfed down a quick breakfast. "I'm afraid to say," Quatre admitted with a grimace. "I have my suspicions, but I don't want to negatively influence your experience." Heero lifted an eyebrow. "It's not something people do at Cornell. Probably not in the Northeast at all, frankly." The fact that Quatre was being evasive certainly didn't put Heero at ease but he accepted that at this point it was futile to try fighting Duo. And really, he didn't exactly want to. Despite having just met, Duo seemed genuinely interested in showing Heero and Quatre a good time while they were there. Heero was forced to appreciate that sincerity. When Duo showed up he had Trowa, Wufei, Sally, Hilde and yet another girl with him, split between a beat up blue Bronco and an older but well maintained yellow Jeep with the top and the doors off. The girls were all packed in the back of Jeep laughing while Duo hopped out of the driver's seat and met Heero and Quatre in the drive way. "How many vehicles do you have?" Heero asked incredulously, thinking of the pick-up and the motorcycle and now these two. "I like to try'n fix broken things," Duo explained with a shrug and a guilty smile. "But the Jeep's Cathy's. And you're with me n' the chicks. That way Q can catch up with 'Fei and Tro', yeah?" Quatre nodded, casting a skeptical glance at the two vehicles. "Don't we need something with a bit more torque?" he asked and Duo waved his hand. Heero's curiosity peaked with the question. "Trant and Otto are gunna meet us down there." He punched Quatre's arm. "You figured it out, huh? Tell 'Ro?" His blue eyes questioned Heero by looking to see if he could read any hint of understanding on his face. "No." Quatre smiled a conspirator's smile. "I'm forcing him to wait and see. I'm sure it's nothing he's ever done before." "Aw, don't worry!" Duo enthused with a wink. "You'll be great at it if Saturday is any indication...!" Heero tried to think of anything he did Saturday that hinted at today's activities but couldn't think of anything other than Duo kissing him and the stars. "Oh, by the way," Duo was explaining quietly, "Cathy is Tro's sister. She actually knows Sally from State. They had a bunch'a undergrad classes together since Sally was pre-med and Cathy veterinary." Once again, Heero found himself appreciating Duo's forethought. Milliardo loved to keep him in the dark and watch him struggle to figure out people's names and relationships before he put his foot in his mouth. Most often he just ended up not talking because it was easier than facing Milliardo's wrath if he did fuck up and say the wrong thing. They climbed into the Jeep and Hilde mock swooned over them and Cathy joined her by fanning her face with her hand. "Ahhh we're so lucky ta get the hot ones in our car," Hilde teased. "Too bad I don't go for younger men," Cathy cooed. "But you hafta watch out for Sally!" Heero heard a smack and looked back to see Sally grinning at her friend as she swatted her. "Too bad we're both off limits," Duo shot back with a coy look as he turned the key in the ignition. "Oh, Heero, you have a girlfriend?" Hilde asked, leaning over the seat between them, sitting in the middle as she was. Then she smirked. "Or are you gay too?" Heero couldn't believe she just came out and asked that but he supposed it answered the question of whether Duo's friends knew where his preferences lay, at least. "Hilde!" Duo reprimanded, brows furrowed. "That's completely inappropriate!" "No," Heero corrected quickly, "it's fine. I don't hide it." Duo's eyes turned to him, eyebrows raised in surprise. "I am gay." "Oh, ho ho!" Hilde crowed as the other girls laughed. "That's why Duo's showin' you so much favoritism!" Duo blushed furiously and shook his head, eyes on the Bronco in front of him as the gate at the end of Quatre's drive rolled open. "No! It's not like that!" he defended himself adamantly. "I just - I only wanted - he's Quat's friend and - they're only here for a week -" He sputtered and Heero found himself smirking at seeing Duo, so casual and composed and self-assured, completely unable to form a reasonable reply. Duo had glanced carefully over at him and, upon seeing his smirk, visibly eased. "Oh, com'on Duo, we all know you haven't been laid in like seven hundred years!" "Hil', I could duct tape that mouth'a yer's shut!" Duo snapped in embarrassment but she just smacked his shoulder with the back of her hand. "Heero don't care, right?" Hilde wheedled, eyes shining, triumphant that she had something to rib him about. "You don't care if Duo's a virgin." "I am not a - !" Duo exploded, then stopped, realizing he was just being wound up. "Can we find something else to talk about?" Hilde slumped back in her seat dejectedly but Heero, emboldened by the knowledge that everything was out in the open and none of them cared, let his hand brush gently over Duo's where it rested on the gear stick. Duo smiled effortlessly then, returning to his normal, cheerful disposition just like that. "Okay, how 'bout this?" Hilde offered as she leaned back over the seat. "We don't know anythin' 'bout ya. What are you studyin' up there with Quatre?" "Pre-law," Heero answered. In an attempt to honor his promise to his grandfather, he elaborated, although it wasn't his natural inclination. "I graduate with my undergrad in May but I intend to get my doctorate." "Ahhh, another smarty-pants, 'eh? Duo and I can't compete with ya'll," Hilde frowned and Heero felt uneasy then. Perhaps his method of less is more was the better way to go in all social situations. "What area?" Sally asked, leaning forward and forcing Hilde to shift back. "Wufei is going into Criminal Practice, you know?" Heero's eyes widened slightly. "I didn't know that. My undergrad is in International Trade and Development as I anticipated going into International Business Law. Cornell has a great J.D. program partnered with a firm in Tokyo. But..." Heero paused, then divulged his secret with some reservation, "recently I've felt more inclined towards going Civil Rights and children's advocacy." Duo blinked and stared at him in astonishment as they turned onto the highway. Sally was patting him on the shoulder. "Good for you!" "Ya mean that?" Duo asked carefully, as if Heero's answer would shatter some illusion he'd just created with his admission. "Yeah." Heero shrugged self-consciously. "It doesn't make anywhere near as much money but -" "It's not always about the money," Duo finished for him, a tentative smile on his face, different from the other smiles he'd seen Duo use. More like when they were on the deck, staring at the stars. More like when he turned around in the rain. "Well, howdja meet Quatre then?" Hilde asked, interrupting their moment. "He's in business, right?" Heero nodded, the wind picking up around them as Duo's speed increased now that they were on the less restrictive highway. "Entrepreneurship, specifically. We're in the same school. First year roommates," Heero replied, raising his voice to counteract the wind whipping through the open vehicle. Hilde nodded in return and then sat back in her seat, realizing conversation between them was going to be too difficult. Duo punched the radio and turned up the volume, country music easily filling the space between them, seeming appropriate despite the fact that Heero would never have made the selection himself. He realized after about ten minutes that Duo was singing along to every song quietly, but growing louder. The girls in the back were managing to carry on some sort of conversation and in an attempt to draw out Duo's confidence, Heero turned to stare out across the landscape. As he anticipated, Duo's volume grew until he was audible even to Heero and he had to turn around and stare at the braided man. Even with the wind muffling the sound, Heero could tell he had a lovely singing voice. And his passion for it was entertaining as he would beat the rhythm on the steering wheel or his thigh and his shoulders would roll and rock like it was a full body experience for him. But when he caught Heero staring he stopped immediately, grip tightening on the wheel. Heero found his shyness more than a little amusing. He reached over the turned the volume up a notch, indicating that he was enjoying it. Softly, Duo started again until he was back to belting the words out shamelessly. Less than an hour later when the mountains had changed to gentle, rolling hills they pulled off onto a rural route and Duo turned down the radio. "You know how to drive a stick, 'Ro?" he asked and Heero scoffed. "Of course." "Just know if y'all burn out my clutch, you're fixin' it Duo!" Cathy chimed from behind him, jabbing his shoulder blade with a finger. "As if anyone else'd touch your Jeep!" "And you're washing it, too, remember, you promised!" "I promised," Duo agreed solemnly. "I'll do it soon as we're back ta Quat's so the undercarriage won't rust. Oh, hey, 'Ro, pop open that glove compartment will ya? We're almost there. I gotcha a present." Heero glanced at him askance and Duo chuckled. "Don't worry. It was like a buck fifty at the dollar store." Heero complied and out fell two pairs of huge aviator shades, one the traditional black and one pink with thick, chunky frames. He picked them up skeptically. "The pink ones are mine!" Duo called dibs, snatching them from Heero's grasp, opening the handles with his teeth and placing them triumphantly on his face. "Pink's my color, goes great with this baby blue tee, doncha think?" He met Heero's gaze over the rims. "Unless you're jealous...? And I'm not talkin' 'bout of how good I look. If you want 'em I'll share!" Heero was grinning and shook his head, putting on his own shades and glancing at himself in the rearview mirror. They looked fairly ridiculous, covering half his face. But Duo did look pretty damn good with his hair windswept and those ridiculous shades and that thin, tight blue shirt and all that sexy self-confidence he possessed. When they eventually pulled up to a cleared construction site a few square miles in size Heero stared skeptically at their surroundings. There was a foreclosure sign posted over the construction company's that looked to have been there a while due to the amount of sun bleaching and they pulled up beside the Bronco, a Ford F150, and yet another Jeep, which Heero assumed must be Otto and Trant's vehicles. The humidity reminded him of yesterday's rain and he stared off across the open field with curiosity. The whole thing had to be nothing but a giant mud pit. Heero noted the rebel flag painted across the hood of the truck and fought the urge to roll his eyes. He had been glad not to encounter such stupidity up to this point but he supposed it was inevitable. "Hey Otto, Trant!" Duo was jumping out of the vehicle and Heero and the girls followed. When Heero met up with Duo he got straight to introductions. "Love those bitch shades," Trant sneered sarcastically and though Heero expected more of an altercation, Duo just laughed and threw his arm around Trant's shoulder, drawing him in close, nearly pressing his nose to Trant's cheek. "You're just jealous you can never have this," he purred seductively, running his other hand down his torso, Trant stiff and uncomfortable as he shoved Duo off of him. The girls and the other guys were laughing and Heero relaxed when he realized the comment wouldn't come to blows. He'd been there before when someone made a comment in reference to Milliardo's supposed but never even confirmed homosexuality - usually it ended with blood. "'Ro can drive stick, so I'm gonna let him drive," Duo announced to Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei - who all looked suspiciously amused. Heero didn't really understand exactly what type of driving he would be doing, but he'd done plenty of street racing in his Jag back in Ithaca - though none of the vehicles present appeared to be ideal for street racing. "You guys go first, huh? I'll give 'Ro the run down." And then Duo gripped his upper arm and dragged him back towards Cathy's Jeep while the others worked out their vehicle configurations. When they were seated in the Jeep once more Heero turned curious eyes on Duo, who handed him the keys. His fingers brushing against Heero's palm felt electric and he tried to hide it but he felt Duo probably knew. "Hey," Duo rested a hand on his shoulder as Heero put the key in the ignition. He paused to look at the other man. "Don't worry 'bout Trant. He likes me well 'nuff, most people are used ta me by now, but he can't help it, yanno? Just how he was raised. But he knows I'm no bitch - beat the shit outta him a few times in high school." "Is it hard for you?" Heero found himself asking. "What? Livin' here?" Heero nodded and Duo appeared contemplative. "I mean yeah, it sure limits the number of eligible bachelors - but I don't know no else." He ripped a beer from the six-pack at his feet and popped the tab, swigging back a mouthful. He tilted it towards Heero who eyed him suspiciously. "Want some?" "I'm driving." Duo laughed. "Yeah - you should have some. Don't worry - we're not going on the road. Besides - splittin' six between us? Nuthin'." Heero accepted the can with serious reservations but took a swallow anyway, the cool carbonation feeling good in the high humidity. He passed the can back and Duo pointed with it in his hand as the Bronco started forward into the field at a quick clip. "Welcome to your introductory course in mudding," Duo started with a grin. "What is the object of this?" Heero asked as the Bronco slid and spun for a minute. Duo laughed, threw back the rest of the beer in a few gulps, then smashed the can on the dash. "To get stuck. Or dirty as hell. Or just to spin the fuck out, yanno, since you can't normally do these kinda maneuvers in traffic." He opened another beer and handed it to Heero. "Just to have fun." Heero started at the beer can in his hand. Fun. Duo seemed to always be having fun. Even when people were giving him shit he played it off like it was fun. He smiled. He joked. "Tell me about your life here. What do you boys do for fun?" Heero didn't know what to say. Heero didn't know how to tell him he didn't understand the question. How could he have fun when she was no longer here? Wouldn't it tarnish her memory? Defying the ten-year-old boy at boarding school he chugged back half the beer and handed it back to Duo, who punched his arm triumphantly. If he was supposed to drive this Jeep through a mud pit while intoxicated to have fun then he was damn well going to drive through that mud pit while intoxicated and he was going to do it better than anyone else. He hit the gas hard and the tires spun for a second and they took off. Duo cheered and swung his fist in the air as he finished the beer and threw the can to the floor. They slid almost immediately as Heero overpowered on the terrain and Duo laughed. "This vehicle is lifted but these sure ain't mud tires," Duo warned but Heero shrugged. "Wouldn't know the difference," he admitted as he shifted gears quickly and got them started again. It became obvious once they were in the thick of things that this place was heavily used by other mud enthusiasts as tracks and ruts covered the whole field. Heero got into the Bronco's formerly etched path and slid along easily, picking up speed. "Brace yourself," he warned Duo tersely as he down shifted and threw the wheel into a spin. Duo cheered as they spun out, a great arc of mud flying out from under the tires, splashing across the windshield and splattering them inside the totally open vehicle. The first thing Heero noticed when the Jeep came to a stop was Duo's warm, full-bodied laughter as he slicked mud off his arms. The second was the unstoppable grin that split his own muddy face. "Aw man, that was great! You're a natural, huh?" Duo enthused much to Heero's satisfaction. They looked out across the field to see the girls gleefully clapping at the spectacle. "I've pulled some rather... complicated maneuvers in street races back home," he admitted as he reined in his smile and composed himself while Duo broke out a celebratory beer for them to split. "Street racing?" Duo asked dubiously as Heero drank. "It's a long story," he said simply, passing the can back. It was a long story that mostly involved Milliardo and the stupid shit he did to impress him and only a little bit involved his honest enjoyment of high-risk activities. And he didn't really want to think about his ex while he sat next to a very sexy man who was clearly enjoying his company. By the time lunch rolled around three other vehicles showed up and they took turns trying to get stuck so badly that Trant and Otto had to winch them out. Heero and Duo were absolutely covered in mud, as was Cathy's Jeep, and Heero's face practically ached from more smiling than he'd done in probably the past thirteen years. "Hey Heero, you've got some, uh... you've got some mud there," Quatre offered, making a vague gesture to his face and Heero smirked at him and withdrew the shades while Duo was pulling out sandwiches, soda, beer, and chips he packed in the back of the Bronco for lunch. Quatre outright laughed then, when he caught sight of the dirt-free outline of the sunglasses where mud couldn't penetrate. Heero's smile widened. "Head's up, 'Ro!" Duo called as he threw him a towel and Heero wiped off his face and hands as best he could as he and Quatre walked over to grab some food. Trowa was more animated than Heero had yet seen him as he went through a play-by-play of the morning with Duo. Sally spent her time teasing Wufei and Quatre and Cathy discussed her studies and the potential of a viable business here. Hilde was with Trant and Otto talking to the newcomers about winches and mudding techniques. Heero was more than happy to sit and listen to the various conversations, feeling almost as content as if he were out at sea. No one wanted to ride in the muddy Jeep with Heero and Duo on the way home so they got the car to themselves. Duo made the silence between them easy and once they were out on the highway he reached for Heero's hand and held it casually. The simple touch made Heero's heart swell and he laid his head back on the headrest, shamelessly staring at Duo as he sang until, without even realizing it, he'd fallen asleep. He awoke with a start when Duo was forced to drop his hand to change gears through town. "You're cute when ya sleep," Duo teased and Heero turned away, embarrassed. He used to watch Milliardo sleep sometimes but it was private and intense and he wondered what Duo was thinking when he was watching him like that. When they got to Quatre's, Otto dropped off the girls and left. Duo immediately started pulling out hose from the garage so that he could wash off the Jeep. "You know James will do that, right?" Quatre offered but Duo shrugged, starting the process of taking the seats out. "Yeah, but I promised Cathy I'd do it." "I'll help," Heero offered suddenly, moving to help Duo with the seats, hoping for more time alone with him. Duo shot him a pleased and grateful smile. "Oh fine! Well help yourselves to showers when you're done and come meet us out back. I'll talk to Jennifer about dinner. And," Quatre added with a knowing smile, "when you give up, I'll send James out to finish the job, huh?" "Yeah, yeah," Duo waved him away after they set down the first seat. Duo hosed down the vehicle while Heero followed behind with a towel, getting the grime out of hard to reach places. It took them about an hour to get the Jeep in pretty good shape and Heero was just about done wiping down the console when he turned at the sound of Duo calling his name. "Hey - it's your turn!" Duo warned and only a split second later the hose was turned on him. The cold, hard spray shocked him for a minute but then he was smiling as Duo's laughter rang out across the front lawn. Ignoring the pressure he walked straight forward into the spray until he got close enough to grapple for the hose, easily prying it from Duo's cold, numb fingers. He yelped and jumped out of range, trying to dance around it but unable to avoid Heero. When he stepped on the hose, kinking it so that the water flow stopped, he smirked up at Heero from underneath wet bangs. Heero's heart caught in his chest as Duo's eyes were trained on him and he didn't quite realize Duo was inching closer while standing on the hose until it was nearly too late to escape his revenge. Heero dropped the hose and shot away like a dart and Duo easily gave in to the chase. He thought he'd be able to effortlessly out run the other man, but he had completely forgotten that Duo was a nationally recruited quarterback and that despite an old leg injury, he was still fast as hell. Heero had only made it to the edge of the driveway when Duo tackled him, slamming into his back full force and dragging them both to the ground. Heero fought to regain a standing position, or at least turn around so he could face his attacker, but Duo did everything in his power to keep Heero down. They were both panting and laughing by the time Heero managed to get on his back and Duo saw that as a sign he lost and so he sat up on his knees to catch his breath and it wasn't long after that when they both realized Duo was, in fact, straddling him. They stared at each other, muddy and soaking wet and elated. Heero thought he'd never seen a more heartbreakingly attractive man, even with mud running down his face in little rivulets. "Fuck," Duo muttered as he stared and bit at the edge of his lip, sending a rush through Heero's body that bottomed out in his stomach. And then Duo leaned down, cupped Heero's face in his hands, and kissed him so gently, so honestly that it made him think of her. The way she hugged him, the way she laughed, the way she held his hand, small but secure, tiny fingers tenderly tucked in tight. "When you remember the way she made you feel, she'll be there with you. She'll still be there to love you." The words crashed over him like ocean waves and he heard nothing but the buzzing surf pounding in his ears. He was right. He was so damn right but it took Heero so damn long to realize it. Her love was not beyond his ability to receive - he just had to find a person who loved like her, who made him feel as she did. Warm. Safe. Protected. And the moment was over before it even began and Duo was pulling away, embarrassment flush on his face, and Heero realized with horror that in his existential moment he hadn't kissed back. Duo misunderstood. But he still offered a hand to help Heero up, though his eyes were unnecessarily apologetic, and Heero took it, trying to maintain some grip on reality, some understanding of the present as those fingers, not bigger than his own, but yet seeming infinitely more large as they clasped around his, held on tight and hoisted him to his feet. He only realized he was staring unabashedly and making the situation about ten times worse than it already was when Duo cleared his throat and turned away, announcing to no one that he was going to take a shower. Heero let him walk away, gave him some distance as he tried to get his own thoughts under control. ~ * ~ tbc... |
