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"Band of Steel"Written By: Kaeru Shisho Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing
or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, shounen-ai, yaoi in later chapters,
some language, drugs Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3 Summary: With the Sanc battle of the bands contest on the horizon, do the GW boys need the exciting singer from L2 to give them the winning edge? Other credits: Songs are credited in the chapters they are used. Recognition should go to the late Mitch Hedburg for a couple of his wonderful one-liners used. In chapters 7, 11, 12, 15, 17, and 18, dialog from the anime was incorporated directly into the storyline. Acknowledgment goes to someone else for the 'cats are gay', 'knowing color names is gay', and other gay jokes sailing around the Internet. And the New Age affirmations are not mine, but may seen and heard everywhere, even in the GW universe. (Original version 2007 - this is the rewrite version
2009) "Band of Steel "
Chapter 18 - What I Know About Love A/N: Lemon alert, conclusion So far, all the bands had performed tried-and-true covers, which guaranteed winning pieces to start out, rather than doing their own songs. There was no choice but to listen to each of the four finalists, but it was clear to everyone that Epyon was Gundam Wing's only worthy opponent. The Gundam Wing boys returned from a bathroom and soda break and found seats in time to catch all the final acts. For their finale, Epyon chose a popular song with a great funk groove. "Psychedelic," Quatre said. "Loud," added Heero. "And obnoxious with little attempt at meaning," Wufei said. "Yeah, but fuck! The song rocked as a whole." Duo sighed. "Damn." "It was a real standout-- multi-layered and at times fucking confusing," was Trowa's final say. Zechs pointed out that Mariemaia was cute, talented, and a favorite, especially with the male members of the crowd. If the judges preferred cheesecake to beefcake or had been bought off by the syndicate, then Epyon could win. Then he walked off to re-fill their water bottles. Quatre waited until he was out of hearing distance, and then called for a change of plan. "Okay, we all agree that in the end Epyon's performance of that song was amazing, and Zechs was right. The judges loved Mariemaia from the looks on their faces," Quatre said. The others had to agree with his assessment. "It's gonna be tight," Duo said. "Yes, it is, so to win we will have to be absolutely spectacular." "Or get them disqualified," Wufei suggested. "Not that I have any idea how to so that." "We need a hook-" Duo said. "Well, two of the judges are gay," Trowa revealed, "and male. Saw them making out in the bathroom." "And you didn't think to share that earlier?" Heero muttered. He took a step in the bass-player's direction. Duo stepped in and pushed them apart before his boyfriend could throttle the tight-lipped Trowa. "All right! We gotta break maybe, huh? Right?" Duo said. "That's something we can use," "Well," Quatre said. "I have an idea! We switch our last song to that one we worked up last-- the one we wrote ourselves." They decided they had no choice but to go along with his plan. Gundam Wing would do a new song, a very risky choice, because it was a song Duo and Quatre had co-written. And then Zechs returned, bringing each of the boys a bottle of chilled, purified, oxygenated, artesian water. "I'll break it to him," Quatre said. Then he did. "Are you insane?" Zechs looked ashen. "I cannot believe that you've gone and changed the plan without consulting me!" But it was too late to change it back, because Quatre had handed the announcer the updated play list. "It will be okay," Quatre assured their manager and guardian and friend. "Really, Zechs, we'll knock their socks off." Zechs took one anti-anxiety pill and an aspirin, and washed them down with a bottle of venomous Green River soda Duo handed him. "Dear God Almighty," he moaned. "That's the spirit!" Quatre said cheerily. "Okay, guys, we're on!" Duo took care of the between-song prattle. Nobody had ever assigned him that role; he just fell into it naturally. Just workin' the crowd, he said. No matter that he was a small in stature, his confidence spread like the fan of light coming from the high spotlight above him. His voice never shook and his face never revealed the state of his nerves. His smile was real, his braid outrageous, and his good-humored, spunky personality contagious. He slipped the tie off the end of his braid as he played with the tip and talked. He made it personal and drew in the audience. "Song-writing isn't easy for me. It's work. Fun work, though, when I've got a real master musician like my bud Quat here to do the notes. Anyway, I discovered the best thing is that when you're writing songs, you aren't doing housework." Ba-da-bing! Wufei added the customary drum roll, and the crowd cheered and laughed along with Duo, his charisma drawing them in. Heero and Trowa began a musical background, ethereal and haunting. "When I was starting out," Duo told his story, "I entertained little kids with my singing. And when you're doing songs for kids, when it's over they say, like, 'Is that a real song or a made-up one?'" Duo paused to allow the murmur of laughter and chuckling from the audience to run its course, and began to unbraid his hair. He had mastered comic timing. "Well, we already did some real songs, so now we're gonna do a made-up one tonight." More chuckling. Another break. Duo closed in on the stationary mic, pitched his voice low and intimate, and finished the song's introduction. "This is a made-up one called, 'What I Know About Love.'" Duo stepped back, cocked his head to the side, grinned, and added, "It's short, too." The audience broke into laughter and then Quatre and Wufei crushed them right off the bat with a pure density of muscular sound. Duo swayed, shook out his mane of hair, and danced a little, marking his time. He dropped his head, sucked in his breath, then let out a heart-wrenching wail. " Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Seeing
his body excited me What do I know about love?" The rest of the band joined him in the chorus. The harmonies clean but still powerful. "Full
of sex-u-al de-lir-i-um Duo left off with the "pissed-off" balancing the mood with "wistful"-for a few bars. "I
lifted my eyes to the reflection I kissed my reflection and it was cold. It
made me wonder Full
of sex-u-al de-lir-i-um The bridge was tough, brain-crunching, with heavy, crushing riffs and explosive drumming. Duo danced, loosening his hair, setting it free to dance and whip around him as a partner might. The instrumentals wound back down and around to the haunting, evocative tune at the beginning. "I
lifted my eyes to the reflection I kissed my reflection and it was cold. It
made me wonder Crash! Wufei beat the cymbals, sending shock waves like bolts of lightning slicing through the throbbing beat, and launching a crowd of kids out of their seats to dance with Duo. "Full
of sex-u-al de-lir-i-um It
made me wonder The guitar tone merged with Duo's voice, ripping off skulls with its final ferocity. All feeling-and it carried through to the end of the song. They were, without a doubt, the best, the winners of the battle of the bands. The Gundam Wing boys were swept away by the wave of euphoria, the roar of the crowd. Wufei leaped from his kit to join in as they took turns embracing one another, slapping backs, whooping it up. The announcer couldn't be heard over the din, so he simply walked onto the stage and handed Duo the certificate and check accompanied by photographers flashing lights and flying underwear, girls' and boys' (how did they do that?) And then out of the pandemonium surrounding them on stage, his voice pitched low and menacing, Wufei growled, "Why is that man here?" It wasn't entirely unexpected that Treize Khushrenada would choose this moment to put in his appearance. Zechs pushed forward to join the band just as Quatre stumbled backwards into Trowa's willing and able arms. "Quatre?" Trowa swept away the wispy blond bangs and stared into his eyes, searching for reassurance. "I'm all right, really." Quatre nodded to Trowa, and then said, "Really, thanks. I feel...it's coming from that evil Treize man." Quatre looked over at Duo and asked, "Why do I get the feeling this isn't going down like we had hoped?" "Because," Duo said. "If you think your attack is going really well, it means the enemy is about to ambush you. Mark my words. I know how these syndicate pricks work. The ambush is about to break concealment and launch the surprise attack, and we are going to get--" "More of 'Maxwell's Laws'?" Wufei asked. "Appropriate application. This is our moment. His being here is totally unjust." "You mean Treize is going to screw us?" Trowa asked. "No surprise there." "He can try," Heero growled. Wufei strode to meet his arch nemesis; his curiosity, Duo knew, would have killed off the entire cat population of the Sanc kingdom. They met nose-to-nose on the stage, eyes narrowed to slits and teeth bared in daring grimaces. "You think you've won, but I have changed my mind," Khushrenada barked. "You're reneging on Zechs' deal?" Wufei snarled. "You're not retreating honorably?" "Of course not! See? What did I say?" Duo yelped. "He's just falling back and regrouping. Instead of helping our cause, he'll be destroying us at twice the speed." "Shut up," Heero ordered him. "You're making things worse." Zechs pulled Wufei and Duo away and stopped a fight right there on the stage. "Stop this at once! Together we can stop this madness. Treize, don't let greed drive you to self-destruction. Listen to me. If you continue on this path acquiring only material wealth and ignoring the realm of the spiritual, you will lose your soul." "Not more of that New Age crap. Don't you get tired of spewing forth that bilge water, Milliardo? Don't give me that. Go back to your scented candles." "We can't let him get away," Quatre whispered to Trowa. "Then don't. You know what we have on him. Go on. You supply the words and I'll back you up." "I will!" Quatre regained his strength and his feet using Trowa for support. "That's no way to speak to our friend, benefactor, and manager!" Quatre chastised Treize in the most authoritative tone he could muster. "If Zechs' wisdom has no effect on your decision, then maybe what I have to tell you does." "What fresh hell is this?" Treize looked down his nose at the short, blond boy. "Oh, you are that Winner whelp that was thrown out of his house. What can you tell me that will change my mind?" "Ah, forget it, Quat, He won't get it anyway." Duo put in his two-bits' worth of philosophy. "'Never attribute to malice that which can best be explained by stupidity.' That was Mark Twain's advice." "You underestimate me, all of you," Treize said. "I don't think so," Quatre said. "I think you," he cast a quick glance over to Zechs, who returned a confident smile, "will see the light, when you understand completely. You see, we have the estate surveillance tapes showing you leading OZ operatives in command of the attack that killed my father." The blood drained instantly from his face. Treize made a choking sound and shook his head, possibly to shake loose free from the oncoming nightmare. But Quatre had more to say and drew himself up a little taller. "Don't pretend you can best me at the life of crime," Treize said "We have recordings where you personally admitted to Lady Une your intentions, your grand plans, exposing your greed for everyone to see and hear." Quatre caught his breath. "Everyone can now judge for themselves what your role has been in the destruction of L5 and L4-- and all your other deadly, underhanded schemes. We have it all." "You were rather lax releasing your henchmen and sending them on to L5 so quickly," Trowa told him. By pointing out their opposition's weaknesses, the two young men hoped to discourage Treize completely. "Time to throw in your cards," Duo said with a cocky grin. Treize's face darkened and his voice sounded unsure for the first time. "How---? You have video with sound? Impossible!" Nevertheless, he stopped to look around as if the damning evidence might materialize right on stage any moment. "Where are these tapes?" "The sound system transmits both ways." Quatre smiled at Trowa and then at Duo. "Something I would know about my own home. It all created fine recordings, and our band has a couple of clever thieves and some reliable men who collected these tapes and preserved them for us. They are real, do not doubt that, and safe." And for once, Treize saw that he had lost. The blow couldn't have been worse if it had been physical. The man shrank, defeated, aged beyond his thirty years. "Real? Safe?" Treize murmured. "Yeah, now put those two words together and you'll be very close to what Quat just told ya," Duo said. In the meantime, Lady Une, Noin, and the other ladies had fought their way onto the stage. The commotion and cacophony of noise prevented them and anyone else from understanding the drama playing out between the band and Treize. For those who recognized Treize Khushrenada, Lady Une, or Lucrezia Noin, it appeared that the Gundam Wing band was about to get competing and possibly lucrative offers for recording contracts. It was as good as any place to talk shop and share secrets. Zechs snagged Une and Noin immediately. Quatre listened in as he brought up to speed on what had happened and then laid down the law to his long-lost friend. "Treize," Zechs lowered his voice and reached out to touch the man's sleeve. "You are now forced to step down from Romefeller Recording or return and stop the flow of money from the recording business into drugs and arms buildup. You will stop the..." "No, no, say no more. I am not stupid, Milliardo. I know when to give up. However, before you start celebrating, remember that I can be replaced. Take me away and others will come and take my place. Try and stop them." "He's right." Lady Une pointed out. "We have no single authority to go after the syndicate, link their crimes from earth to the colonies, to hold them, try them, and prevent them from reasserting themselves." "My point, exactly," Treize said. "Which is why I'm establishing one," she added quickly. "Zechs and I have gained the support we need with the government." "You've what?" "Yes, very secretive of us, laying the foundation for a New Age policing force without the knowledge of the syndicate." She smiled, straightened her shoulders, and continued to explain. "I shall call the new organization the Preventers and we shall contain the syndicate and bring stability to earth and the colonies." She placed one hand on Khushrenada's arm and her other on Wufei's shoulder. "Treize, I'd like you to join forces with me and Zechs, and you, too, all you boys. What do you say, Wufei? Do you seek justice and retribution for what happened to your clan on L5? The banks of the world have syndicate money enough to fund its rebuilding effort ten times over. And Quatre, the same goes for L4, and, Duo, L2 can be brought into the modern world, made comfortable and safe. Will you accept positions in the Preventers? What do you say?" Quatre followed the discussion with his own growing excitement ready to burst from him. Now he had the chance to speak. "I want to protect L4! The Maguanacs want me to lead them," Quatre said. "I have to consider their wishes." "Rebuilding L4?" Trowa asked him. His eyes searched his young lover's looking for reassurance. "The resistance. To join forces against the syndicate and OZ." "To fight?" Trowa pressed. "Yes, and I want to. I want avenge my father's death and my colony's destruction, but," his face searched Trowa's in earnest supplication. "You understand, don't you?" "I guess." "But, I don't want to leave you." That was what Trowa wanted to hear, at last. "Well, I'm glad to hear that, 'cause I was thinkin' I'd go with you. Lend a hand. I gave up the life of a mercenary, but I haven't lost my skills." Quatre reached out and clasped hands. His smile widened and he felt full of pride. "I'd be honored to have you join me and the Maguanacs." Lady Une nodded her head. "Maybe we can work together, then. Join forces with your Maguanac Corps and share resources, facilities, and information." Quatre nodded enthusiastically. "I'd like that." "And you, Chang Wufei, you seek justice for what's been done to your colony? Would you consider my offer?" Lady Une asked. "I want to fight for justice," Wufei declared. "Being a part of this band has taught me that on my own I am weak, but as a team my contribution matters. Far more rests on the outcome than just a matter of pride. I shall join you at Preventers. " "I am delighted to have you on board, Chang," Une said. "I don't back off from a fight, you know that!" Duo assured her. Quatre's eyes darted over to Heero standing next to Duo. He wondered if he would want to follow Duo into war. Then Duo bumped hips, jostling Quatre to get his attention. "Don't go there." Duo tipped his chin in his lover's direction. But, of course, by the time all this had been transmitted, Quatre was already there. And so was Heero. "My mission is to watch your back, wherever you are going, although I would enjoy returning with you to L2." Heero twitched, as if unsure he said the right thing. Duo grinned and flung his arms around the other young man, kissing him hard, and making it understood just how right Heero had been. Zechs sighed and looked his girlfriend squarely in the eyes. "And you? What would you have me do?" "I want you for myself. If the only way to achieve that goal is to fight by your side again, then I'll do it. Of course, we must join these Preventers and lead the Sanc kingdom out of the darkness." "Lucrezia Noin, you are a surprising woman." Zechs pulled her into an embrace, whispering private thoughts into her ear. "She's in love with you, that makes her the remarkable one," Treize muttered. He was rewarded with sharp, unblinking glares from everyone and a painful squeeze to his arm by the iron-fisted Lady Une. "What about our recording contract?" Heero asked. Noin disentangled herself from Zechs' arms and turned to the frowning young guitarist. "What was that, Heero?" "Can we make that CD before we all do this?" Duo added his own reasoning. "Yeah, I mean, this sounds like we're gonna part ways and we'd all like to have that CD to listen to, ya know, to remind us that this all's been real." "Absolutely," Noin said. "In fact, remaining in a band and touring together might make a fantastic cover for an operation. Something to consider as you develop your organization, Lady Une." " So, back to the CD-" Duo prompted. "How soon do you boys want to start?" "This week. We haven't much time," Zechs answered for them. "If I'm any judge of Lady Une's impatience." "You'll have six months. It will take me that much time just to secure offices and start-up funding." "Less," Treize offered, "With my help." Lady Une took his hands and hers and pressed them together. "I hoped you would say that. I accept." "Duo, you don't look happy," Zechs remarked. "Oh, I just don't buy Khushrenada's miraculous redemption. Anybody as corrupt as Treize rarely fights his demons, wrests control of his will, and becomes instantaneously restored, ready to set off on his new, righteous destiny. Sorry, but it ain't likely." "Perhaps I can exert the control necessary with Treize as my most estimable husband," Lady Une said. The man's eyebrows shot up, but he didn't scoff at her suggestion. "What?! Well, I guess you decided to give up on Trowa. Good call there," Duo said. Quatre thought Duo was probably remembering how he discovered the two of them necking behind the wall of amps. "But still, you don't haveta go that far!" "Sky's the limit." Lady Une rested her arm over the older man's and strode away with Treize Khushrenada doing his best to cover up his shock at the turn of events. (o) Lemon warning. After a dinner out to celebrate, the band and their friends returned home wanting a little private time. The boys had survived many trials, some tragic, over the last few months together and triumphed, transforming all of them into better, stronger individuals. Now they had to plan their destinies. Tonight, however, their thoughts rested in the world of more earthly desires. Quatre didn't even pretend getting laid wasn't the only thing on his mind. He would have carried Trowa up the stairs to his room to speed things up, if he could have. Trowa showed his usual reticence to move, until Quatre crept up to his chair fully intent on getting his man. "I know you've decided that I'm the innocent contender for some future tutorial you've imagined, right? It's like I've walked out of some boy-love porn site, isn't it?" "Huh? Oh...ah-" Trowa looked to Heero for help but he just snickered. Quatre continued his rather public seduction, edging closer and raking his fingers through his short, blond hair. He pitched his voice low and said in his breathy voice, "My hair conscientiously uncombed--" Trowa's tongue darted out to lick his lips. Quatre leaned forward, his weight resting on the arms of the chair and looked coyly from beneath his fine, tousled hair. He had Trowa's complete attention. It was fun. "I'm 5'7". I weigh 134 pounds. My voice cracks when I get excited. I'm nearly 19 but I look 15. I've been in this never-ending puberty so long that I've nearly come to accept it as my peculiar fate." Trowa's Adam's apple bobbed and his pupils dilated to huge. The seductive blond dropped his voice to bare whisper. "Don't you want to find out for yourself what makes me tick?" "I need to cool off. Let's go for a swim," Trowa suggested, his voice cracking. He shot off the chair and was out the door before Quatre had steadied himself on his feet. Quatre winked at Duo and mouthed a "thank you" on his way to the pool. Duo's suggestions on seduction techniques had proved valuable again. He hoped Duo had as fun a night ahead of him as he did! Outside, the lights were off. No one was there or was likely to disturb them. They undressed, slipping their clothes off side by side. Trowa dove soundlessly into the water and shot along the bottom like an otter before surfacing. Quatre followed, gliding up to where Trowa waited, standing chest-deep against the side of the pool. Quatre wrapped his legs around Trowa's waist, locked his hands behind his head, and nuzzled. "This is so great, Trowa. I'm really happy." "Yeah." Quatre stretched his neck to reach Trowa's mouth and pressed his lips against it until the other boy responded. The lips softened then parted far enough for Quatre to wiggled his way in. After a couple tentative darts inside, Trowa's tongue stroked against his. He could feel Trowa shudder in his grip and choke back a sob. That was Quatre's favorite moment: when Trowa broke down and exposed his feelings. They remained in that embrace for several minutes, until their arousals demanded more action in privacy. Trowa heaved him up and out of the water like a rain-soaked puppy and draped a towel around them . "Dry me fast." As Trowa rubbed them down, Quatre moaned into his arms. "Damnit. You're so hot I wanna -" "Then take me to a nice soft bed," Quatre suggested. Trowa left him the towel and picked up another to cover his privates. "Right." They raced through the house, up the stairs, and into the first room they encountered, which was Trowa's. "Oh!" The shorter blond felt strong arms scoop him into the air, a heaving chest pressed into his face a moment, and then he flew, losing the towel. He dropped on his back, towel gone, bounced on the mattress once, then again as his lover jumped beside him. Leaning back on his elbows, hair hanging in his eyes still wet with pool water, Quatre had a good view of his boyfriend. He shivered and his exposed skin mottled with goose flesh. For the longest time, the two lay there just staring, Trowa tilting his head as if to examine his prize from multiple angles. The blond posed with a smile. "You can touch, too." Trowa lifted Quatre's dick off his thigh. "How can something so impossibly large be attached to someone so small?" "Small? I'm as tall as... oh--!" He gasped when lips kissed the head and a tongue flicked over, under, around, and poked at the pee-slit. "Oh, Allah! Do that stuff again. With my dick and all? It feels incredible. I want to feel incredible." Trowa followed instructions and more. He did everything Quatre hoped he would, up to a point. There was a point at which Trowa would go no further. Quatre assured him that he'd been penetrated before and urged him to use the lube, pressing a ready tube into his hand. Trowa took it, used it, and loved Quatre thoroughly without further need of encouragement. He took his time and then came inside Quatre and Quatre came all over him. Quatre could feel his lover shrinking inside him and soreness to remind him of what they'd done. He nestled his head on Trowa's hard chest and let Trowa wrap his arms around him as if he could save him from drowning. Quatre felt the feather touch of Trowa's fingertips first, then the palm moving over his skin, caressing. He closed his eyes when Trowa touched him. No one had touched him so tenderly before, inside and out. Trowa's trembling hand stopped at the skin, but his touch went much deeper. "I can feel your heartbeat," Trowa said, sounding innocent and wonder struck. "You made it do that. Beat fast." "I'm in love with you." Quatre opened his eyes and met with Trowa's shimmering, green eyes. "I can't believe this is all happening." Now the green eyes looked worried. "Don't you want this?" Quatre closed his eyes again, drew a long, deep breath, and held it. In his mind he repeated the words "I love him and trust him" a few times in his head before releasing his breath again. "More than anything in my whole life. I love you too, Trowa Barton." His arms filled with his lover. He felt warm and safe and well loved. "You've grown up," Trowa said. Looking back on the summer, Quatre could see how far he'd come. He took satisfaction in becoming part of the band, culminating with winning the battle of the bands. He had relinquished the guilt he felt over his father's death and coming to terms with his new position in the family. And for the first time he'd felt real, adult, male passion. He no longer envied Heero and Duo for their love or Wufei for his strength. "Yes, I have. I have everything I've ever wanted and needed." He and Trowa hugged and kissed in silence, staring into each other's eyes, and the rest of the world ceased to matter. (o) Wufei considered starting an argument to get her attention, but decided he could achieve the same end with less subterfuge. He had bested Treize Khushrenada, won the band contest; he could lower his guard around Sally, surely. He could balance sensitivity and affection with politeness and arrogance, and he would prove it to her! "Sally, I could use a little work out. Would you care to join me?" Stilted with formality, yes, but his words did the trick. Although Sally wasn't dressed for sparring it wouldn't matter, because that wasn't the real objective, and if she understood that then all would be fine. "I'd love to, Wufei. Good night everyone, in case I don't see you until the morning," she said brightly, leaving arm in arm. He smiled feeling very grown up and manly, and she returned it, silently communicating her intention to see only Wufei for the rest of that night. Well, Wufei and his six kittens. He'd moved their bed from his dresser drawer to a rag-lined used drum head on the floor, and no one had said a thing about it. Sally loved cats. (o) Heero did not want to sit around listening, while Relena, Catherine, Dorothy, Lucrezia, and Zechs reiterated the events of the entire contest. He had heard enough. Trowa and Quatre had departed. Wufei and Sally were gone. Duo was stretched cat-like along the back of the couch, braid dangling to the floor. Was he asleep? Finally, when Heero could no longer endure the waiting, Heero grabbed Duo's wrist and tugged him to his feet. "Now." "Heero? You can't just leave! We're not done!" Relena called after them. "Good night, Relena." Together, Heero and Duo ascended the grand staircase, stopping at the bend in the stairs to share a passionate kiss, growing more and more urgent. "Heero?" Relena called out. "Um, I think he's making out with Duo," Dorothy said, sighing. "Oh?! Oh..." Heero felt Duo's body through the thin shirt, longing for his touch, their jeans scarcely concealing their excitement. He could just barely make out Zechs words suggesting that the rest of the guests watch a movie in the screening room, and someone else, Catherine possibly, telling him it had better not be the "The Song of the Whales" again. Heero pushed Duo past his door, ferociously attacking whatever he could reach, wrapping his arms around his neck, kissing his hair, his forehead, and his lips. Duo leaned away and caught his breath. "Slow down." Heero nodded, breathing hard. He didn't understand why his oh-so fuckable boyfriend was suddenly putting on the brakes. Duo smiled and took Heero's hand. "Can we talk some? I want to talk about us." "Us? Uh, okay." He loved Duo. He could grant him some heart-to-heart time. He switched on the overhead fan to cool the room a little. "All the talk about joining that protection group and fighting the syndicates and all got me thinking. You and me have some kind of future. Sometimes I think about... fantasize some about us staying together, ya know?" Duo sounded unsure of himself. Heero glanced at him, and then away, squeezing Duo's hand a little, saying, "Sure, me too." "Oh, yeah? Like what?" Duo asked. He glanced at Duo again then down at his feet. He was absolutely sure that Duo would laugh in his face if he knew how he really felt. He didn't just want Duo's ass, he wanted Duo's heart, forever. Even he couldn't believe the dreams he'd concocted for them. "Nothing," he said faintly and bit his lip. "Too much. Too fast." Suddenly, he had an arm over his shoulder and felt Duo ease him into a hug. "Hey, whatever it is, it's not nothing. We've been cruising fast all summer. C'mon. Tell me...?" Heero shrugged under Duo's protective arm and looked away. "I think I'd like to be an architect. Study how to do that next. You see, well, I come up with these ideas for houses in my mind," he said. "And we live in them together; you and me." "That's cool," Duo said. "We live in them, together," he said, glancing at Duo. "Still cool, Heero," Duo said. "'We've promised to work for Une, but that's not going to mess up something like that." Heero cast his eyes down to the ground weighing whether to just leave it at that or go all the way. When he dared to look up again and saw Duo's eager expression, he determined to tell him all. "Not just while we work for Preventers," he said, his voice barely a hint of sound, "we live in those houses together... all our lives." "Oh," Duo whispered. Heero decided he got the point at last and worried about how he'd take that. Wanting sex was one thing, wanting to make a life together was serious. Probably too serious a commitment for a couple of eighteen-year-olds about to go to war. Duo nodded thoughtfully rested his forehead against Heero's head. "Truth is, 'Ro, in my Revenge OZ dream, it's always you who is there back-to-back fighting with me. And in my rock star dream, it's you and me together... our band... getting rich and famous together. I dream about us staying together, too." The corners of Heero's mouth curled up, and Duo kissed his lips. And then he kissed him, too, running his up his back and into Duo's hair. Their breathing grew ragged. Heero guided them toward his bed, forcing Duo to fall over backwards onto the mattress. He unbuttoned the top button of Duo's shirt, looked his boyfriend directly in the eyes and said, "I love you." He'd never told anyone that; he'd never felt that; he never imagined telling another boy that at all. And yet he just had. Duo chuckled and looked intensely happy. "Fuck." "Okay." Heero lowered his mouth to Duo's and kissed him hard, prodding the lips apart, while he worked through the shirt buttons. He opened the shirt and felt Duo's fingers lock onto his shoulders as he leaned in and licked a nipple. "Oh..." Duo groaned. Heero dropped a hand between Duo's legs. Using firm pressure, his palm caressed the bulge. "OH!" Duo arched into him and spread his legs further. Fingers raked his through Heero's wild locks, tightened, and pulled him closer. Heero kissed his nose with a dry peck and shook the hand free. "Clothes," Heero said, "in the way." Duo raised his head. "Don't stop." "Not for long." He rocked back and took off his shirt. He loved undressing under Duo's scrutiny. He flexed and twisted his torso to show off his muscles while Duo watched through his eyelashes. "God, 'Ro, you are damn gorgeous." He loved how Duo's eyes were riveted to his body, watching him breathe. Both boys had grown lean and hard over the summer, but Heero was twenty pounds of pure muscle heavier than Duo. And Duo was looking him over now-- slowly, his jaw working. Their eyes met and he swallowed hard. Duo looked eager to get his hands on him, which made Heero feel very, very excited. He wanted Duo looking at him like that, but no one else. "Duo," he whispered. "Yeah?" "When we go ... fight ... you belong to me, okay?" "We're boyfriends." Duo smiled. "You know that, right?" "And I belong to you?" he whispered. "No matter what; we're tight." "And even if we do girls or other guys, we're sticking together." "Heero," Duo said. "We're together now. No matter what." He clamped Heero's head firmly in his hands and tongued his ear. "Ahh! No matter what," he echoed. "'Nuff talk. Show me this love." Heero lay down on Duo and kissed his mouth hungrily. Where their skin touched it burned. Duo wiggled out of his jeans and worked his off to his knees so that Heero had to stop and get up to finish the job. He stood at the side of the bed, soaking in Duo's naked body, deliberating what to go after first. His exotic, almond-shaped, dark blue eyes moved slowly up Duo's body. His cock grew very hard with desire. "Oh, God, Duo," he said, kicking off his pants. "Oh, fuck!" "That's the spirit!" Duo chuckled and opened his arms. "C'mon, babe." Heero topped Duo again, their mouths meeting, nipping licking, sucking together. He wanted so much and wasn't sure how to express that in a gentle manner. He could feel Duo wince under his attack, especially a couple of invasive pokes. So when Duo offered to give him a hand, he gave in immediately, letting experience guide him past the foreplay and through to the finish. This he knew was real love. They shared all they had, their bodies, completely. All naked and tangled up in sheets and passion. And when the high was over, they lay together, hammering hearts dropping off to sedate beats, sweat drying in the warm air. A tranquilizing breeze wafted over them from the overhead fan. He pillowed Duo's head under an arm and turned his face to brush his damp bangs away from his eyes. He thought again about their future, their so unknown future. He wanted to pursue his dreams, but he'd give anything to just stay with Duo. "We'll find a way, 'Ro." Duo said as if he'd read his mind. "You get that education and I'll pilot and someday we'll live in the house that Yuy built." He wound an arm across the singer's chest and gave him a squeeze. "I want to rebuild L2 and we can live there." "God, I can't believe you're real." Duo's voice was heavy with admiration. "How I landed a catch like you, I don't know, but I'm not throwing you back. Not for anything." "Good. I'm not letting you check out the other fish in the pond for a better one." "That was real corny." "You started it!" Heero turned on his side and gripped the other boy's arm so hard it left a mark when he let go. "I want this to mean something. Us-- I want us to have a chance. That means every way you turn, I'll be there." "Watching my back?" Duo asked in a dreamy tone. He rubbed at his arm a little misty-eyed. "Watching your ass!" Heero barked out, laughing at the wide-eyed look Duo flashed him. "Better watch your own, 'cause it's your turn." "My turn?" Heero asked, confused at moment. But Duo's suggestive hand motions and sly smile clarified his point. It was good to be young and healthy, to take advantage of the good times while they had them, and to dream of a future unmarked by tragedy and insurmountable problems. They'd have years to face that, and Heero was sure they'd do that together. Story End Maxwell/Winner/ T. Moore: "What I Know About Love"
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