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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 7 - Ain't Misbehavin' Heero hadn't planned to join the party so soon. His mind was filled with visions of a half-naked Duo languishing on his bed. He had really thought that beautiful boy was coming on to him, and he had wanted him to. Even if it had been a joke, a bad one, he knew Duo's earlier offer had been real. He didn't know exactly what it was that the singer had been offering, but it was absolutely what he wanted. Heero had wanted to touch his skin-as much as possible. He had wanted to kiss him. Heero twisted his face into a sour scowl. He couldn't imagine what that would look like-two guys kissing. Pretty stupid, probably. Duo was slender but not bony. Heero had seen pictures of kids from L2 that looked half-starved, but that wasn't Duo. His chest was toned, wiry, but not scrawny. He had nicely muscled legs. Heero liked legs and his eyes had led him to wonder what lay beyond. Duo had been aroused, obvious through the skimpy running shorts he'd been wearing. Heero smiled with the knowledge that he had caused that reaction in him by just being there, not even touching him. But he wanted to touch him, bad, but then Duo spoiled it all and made a joke of it. Frustrating! Was he just a tease? Unlikely. Duo seemed to be an earthy, real sort of guy. The more Heero thought about what had happened the worse about it he felt. It just occurred to him that he had reacted stupidly. What if Duo had expected him to make the first move? Well, it would mean he was looking for a more experienced partner than Heero Yuy. Or was Duo offering romance? He certainly was overtly sexual. He was from L2 and no prude. Gods, he wanted to kiss those lips! Heero shook his head. He had no answers tonight, and continuing to analyze his predicament was maddening. He finished dressing with little thought as to what he put on, and left his room, closing his door behind him. He fully intended to return to Duo and fix his tie for him, providing him another opportunity for intimate contact. Heero hoped to touch his skin as he showed him how to properly knot a tie. His chin, jaw, maybe his neck, too, would be within touching range. He'd even be close enough to kiss him, but would he? Would that be too stupid a thing to do? "What the hell am I doing?!" Heero growled to himself. "So, Heero must be alive after all, right?" Heero jumped, startled out of his reverie. He was not often caught off guard like that. He instantly recognized Relena Darlian, Zechs half-sister. When she laughed lightly at his reaction, her voice was soothingly familiar, although unwelcome at the moment. "It's been so long. I missed you last night. I wanted to see you before the party and Quatre told me you were still in your room." "Quatre, I'm going to kill you," Heero muttered. "What was that?" "Nothing. I have to go." "Heero, promise me you won't disappear without telling me," Relena said. "You often do just go off." She slipped her arm through his. "I really have missed you. Since the last time we were... together... I haven't forgotten." He sighed. Oh, yeah. That kiss. One moment of unguarded passion-- no, pure lust. She was one of the few people who gave a damn whether he lived or died, and obviously she had placed more importance on that kiss than he had. That wasn't her fault. There was no reason for him to be rude. "Sorry," he said at last. "I was out with the band last night looking at a few clubs we might call later for jobs. We got in late." The tension left his back and fisted hands. "How have you been?" "Very well, thank you. I'm going to be living here again. I have a position with a non-profit conservation group. Did my brother tell you?" "He said you were home. The job sounds like a good fit for you." "Yes, it is. I want to tell you all about it. I think it is a cause you could believe in and be a part of. Oh, listen! I hear the band downstairs. Come help me greet the guests, please?" He owed Zechs for his current life, and Zechs would want him to treat his sister with respect. Relena was smart, beautiful, and a visionary. Why she seemed to like him, Heero didn't understand. She was pleasant company. In fact, now that he was over the surprise of seeing her, he was looking forward to hearing about her plans. But then, there was Duo Maxwell. Duo's room was downstairs. Maybe he could stop by, introduce him to Relena, and fix his tie. The kiss part would have to wait, though. Damn. "Okay," he said. But the guests were arriving and wanted to talk to him, and before he knew it, because he wasn't aware of it as it happened, he had pushed Duo to the back of his mind. But not for long. He heard a shout and turned to see Duo entering the grand ballroom, his tie straight, and accompanied by Barton, Winner, and the source of the noise, Catherine. Catherine Bloom was Trowa's estranged sister and a friend of Lucrezia Noin, Sally Po, and Zechs. They had attended school together at one time; at least, that was what he'd been told. Catherine was nice, although she didn't seem to like him much. Heero didn't know or care why. He watched her greet her brother affectionately, and thought she looked agreeable tonight with her wavy brown hair pinned back in a jeweled clasp. Her dress was made out of some filmy material in a light blue to match her eyes, which made Heero think of mist. She didn't look a thing like Barton, but Relena and Zechs didn't look like siblings to Heero either. He gently extracted Relena from one conversation to move closer to the others in his band. When Catherine Bloom latched onto Barton's arm, he was close enough to overhear their discussion, but Duo's face was blocked from his sight. "Oh, my goodness! That child is my little brother, a child of the circus!" Catherine cried out. "You have grown so much!" "It's only been two months since you last saw me," Trowa grumbled. "I hardly think so. You frighten me." Catherine Bloom laughed carelessly. "It's no fun if you don't act a little frightened. Come on now, Trowa, smile, smile!" "I am smiling." Catherine huffed. "Hmmm. Don't behave like a spoiled child. Introduce me to your new friend. No, not Quatre Winner. I know him, silly. Quatre will dance with me tonight, right? You are the best I've ever danced with." "Yes, Miss Bloom, I'd be honored," Quatre said courteously. "Wonderful!" Catherine grasped Quatre's hand. "Now, Trowa, hurry up. Here comes Dorothy and she'll just take over." "Meet Duo. Duo, Catherine, my sister, if you haven't caught on to that yet." Trowa's tone was cool as he snaked an arm around Quatre's waist. "For a quiet guy, you're putting on quite a show," Duo whispered to Trowa. Quatre remained poised despite the close contact from Trowa, which he couldn't have anticipated. Heero expected him to be blushing and stuttering, but Quatre only smiled and continued the introductions. Either he would grow up to be a fine diplomat or he wasn't as naïve as any of them had thought, or both. "Duo is a famous singer from L2 called-" Quatre began. "Shinigami," Noin said, interrupting him. "He's adorable, isn't he?" "He can hear you," Trowa muttered to the powerful, young woman joining the crowd. "Hi," she said, shaking Duo's hand. "Remember me?" "Yeah, it was only last night. I may look stunned by all the new faces, but I gotta good memory. I've got Lucrezia to thank for telling Zechs about me," Duo said to Trowa's sister, who was listening with interest. "She was out scouting and discovered me, ya know." "Oh, please, I prefer to be called Noin. And, yes, discovering young talent like you is my pleasure. I didn't think you were exactly right for my company, though." Noin smiled. "Cathy, I was telling you about him on the way over. He's the most amazing entertainer. Very sexy." She ran a hand through her own short black hair. "You should see his hair when it's free." Catherine smiled. "Nice to meet you, Duo. Are you here to sing for us tonight?" "He's here as a guest," Noin answered for him. "Actually," Trowa put in, "he's part of our band." "It's official!" Quatre added. "He signed a contract today." "Really?" Noin asked. "Well, congratulations, boys, for getting him. You have a good chance of winning the battle of the bands now. I was so looking forward to hearing you again, Duo, but I guess there's no chance of that, is there?" "The orchestra here is..." Quatre paused as he searched for the right way to put it, "not exactly rock." "I cover lots of material," Duo said with a shrug. "He's a guest at the party and should be able to enjoy his evening," Trowa pointed out. "Hell, I can sing for my dinner. I ain't proud. No problem," Duo said, dismissing the issue. Heero leaned to the side until he could see Duo's face. His expression didn't give Heero a clue as to what he was thinking, and they hadn't exchanged a word since the party began. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Quatre leading Catherine onto the dance floor. Zechs took their place, taking Noin by the arm and greeting the others. "Have you found the food, Duo?" "Ah, not yet. I was wondering where Wufei was. He seemed excited all day, and I was wondering who the girl must be." Zechs tipped his head to one side. "Sally Po is with Wufei, over there." "The blond? Okay, I was thinking 'Po- Chinese,' right? I've never seen so many blonds in one place in all my life," he said with a tight laugh. "She is part Chinese. Like most Earth-born people, we are no longer genetically pure. Wufei is, because his colony consisted of just his one clan. It grew so powerful that it was exiled from Earth. I learned many things about his culture before I invited him to stay. For one, I found that I must arrange parties like this, because otherwise he would be unable to approach an unmarried young lady. Families arranged the young people's social lives." "Whoa, too much control for me," Duo said. Before he could join Wufei, though, he was mobbed by another powerful presence. "So, where is he? Oh, dear gods, he's beautiful! Is this Shinigami, Lucrezia? Oh, he's darling! Welcome to the Peacecraft's Paradise. Whoops! Is that name passé, or not these days? I keep forgetting. Hi, I'm Dorothy Catalonia, Relena's best friend so you'll be seeing lots of me." "Uh, hi," Duo said, taking her hand and giving it a warm shake. She didn't let go. Heero's eyes tried to burn it away, but failed. Everyone seemed to feel free to touch and fondle Duo. Why not him? Perhaps he ought to be more forceful? "Relena and I are soooo different, which you'll find out. She's so sweet and optimistic. Me? I live strongly and passionately and violently!" Dorothy exclaimed. "You aren't violent, really. You just will go much farther and use more extreme means to achieve your objectives," Relena said defending her. She turned to Heero to say, "Dorothy has a job with a more intense conservation group." "That's why I adore you, Relena," Dorothy said. "You only have nice things to say about anybody, even those with whom you disagree. Earth Liberation Front is a radical environmental activist organization." Heero noticed Duo's discomfort with the familiar way Dorothy was snuggling up to him; at least, he would have felt that way. But it was what Duo said that alarmed him. "I understand Romefeller Recording Industries is a large contributor to ELF," Duo said. "Is it? I wouldn't know," Dorothy said. "I just graduated and I haven't really started working there yet." Duo's explanation was drowned out by Wufei's voice, raised in argument, and moving closer as he joined them. "A woman? That's why she's weak. A man could hold up to far more punishment than that and still survive." "Oh, dear," Relena sighed. "Here we go again." "What's that?" Duo asked, moving closer to her so he could hear. "Sally and Wufei. They like to spar, but in order for him to fight a woman, she has to goad him into it. This happens so often I would think they'd realize what they were doing and just get to the mats." "... have proved that women can withstand far more pain than men. They have to in order to endure childbirth! Besides," the attractive young woman said, "She was doing what she thought was right, defying her orders." "Those who are right have to be strong!" Wufei stated as fact. "Weaklings shouldn't fight!" Heero allowed the corners of his mouth to curl slightly. He liked Sally Po and could understand why Wufei was so taken by her. What Relena had said about them was true. The two just loved the battle of wits it took to get along. Heero missed her side of the argument, not that it mattered. Wufei was ready with his retort. "... and that's just the kind of thing a woman would think of. But I follow my own path!" Wufei said with an arrogant snort. "Are you willing to put your words to the test in a match?" Sally asked. "Absolutely! You will stay over and we will fight in the morning." "Let's discard our desire to fight. Such hearts have no place in our future," intoned another woman's voice. Wufei's head snapped up to face off the intruder. Heero scanned the kind-looking face framed by long, brown hair. The soft brown eyes looked honest. She was familiar, but he couldn't place the name. "Who the hell are you?" Wufei snarled, still in a snit. "May I?" Zechs asked, stepping in gallantly. "This is Lady Une, who... ah... Just a moment. I'd like the entire band together for just a moment. Who's missing? Is Mr. Winner still on the dance floor? Here he comes. Quatre? Join us for just a second. I'd like you all to meet Lady Une, head of Meteor Music." Heero took his turn shaking hands with the woman who would most likely be guaranteeing them a recording session under a good label, one that could promote them. They already had a few mediocre CD's recorded in their own small studio. Quatre and Zechs had discussed the business end of the band countless times, and agreed that the CD's the band had were okay quality-wise for sending out to venues for try outs, but not to sell. Of course, now with the addition of the new member, the CD's weren't even good for that. Since the chief way a band made money performing on the road was to sell their CD's, making a good impression on Lady Une would be a good idea. Heero looked her over until it was his turn to shake her hand. Lady Une looked to be in her twenties, like Zechs, Sally, and Lucrezia, which was young for her powerful position. "I'm glad you could come." Zechs introduced her to Duo last. Duo, Heero noted, was holding back, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes hardened as if ready for combat. "Did I tell you, the band has chosen a new name: Gundam Wing?" Zechs remarked. "And here is our newest member of the band and the one responsible for the name change, Duo Maxwell." Heero could tell that the two recognized one another; Duo more than her. Duo eyed her suspiciously without moving to do more than nod curtly. Lady Une stared as if trying to place where she'd seen him before. "Zechs has great hopes for your band. Nice to meet you, Duo. Gundam Wing, what a curious name. Sometime I'd love to know where you came up with it." "It was a mutual effort," Quatre put in. Heero wondered if he too could sense the tension. "That's nice," Lady Une said. She brushed a length of straight brown hair over her shoulders and smiled fetchingly at Trowa. "Mr. Barton, I'd love the next dance." Trowa looked uncertain, at first, but Lady Une secured him, and with linked arms, led him away. Quatre's shoulders fell. "Left behind with what looks suspiciously like a crush," Wufei whispered under his breath. Heero shrugged indifference. If Winner wanted to dance with Barton then he should just ask. That made him think that maybe he could be bolder himself. Immediately afterward, Cathy and Quatre returned to the dance floor, and Heero scanned the area for Duo. Where had he gone? Relena tugged on his sleeve to get his attention. "Heero, please?" At her insistence, Heero agreed to dance, but he wanted to wait and find out what Duo would do. "Just a minute." Heero located Duo backed up to a column and taking on Dorothy. He closed in and nudged his arm. "You know Une from somewhere?" Duo nodded. "Yeah, and not in a good way-- unless she has an evil twin sister working for Treize Khushrenada, if you get my meaning." Heero didn't exactly. "Or Une's leading two separate lives?" "Heero!" Having tagged along and grown tired of waiting, Relena tugged at his arm. "The song will be over before we even get out there." Duo shrugged and turned away, catching the eye of the last holdout. "Hey, Wufei, I'm lonely! Keep me company till the end!" Wufei shook his head. "I promised Miss Po this dance." Dorothy smiled. "That leaves you with me." Duo returned her smile and took her arm. "Okay." Heero allowed himself to be dragged onto the dance floor, joining the other couples taking a turn about the spacious hardwood floor, polished to a high gleam just for the occasion. Heero wanted. He wanted to hold Duo not Relena, but he didn't want to just understand his feelings. He wanted to act on them. All of them. The dancing helped distract him for a few delirious minutes. After a few dances everyone migrated to the refreshment tables and mingle. Heero watched as Duo had a word with the band leader, and guessed he was going to perform something with them. He knew Duo wasn't just a singer, he was an entertainer. Heero read the glint in his eyes as a signal for trouble, but he wasn't sure why. The band leader didn't appear bothered by whatever the singer had requested, nodding his head in agreement, and proceeded to lead the musicians into a lengthy overture. He watched Duo's every move. His quick hop onto the stage, how his body moved as he pulled a chair to the edge of the raised dais, the flip of his braid, and sexy as hell smile as he presented his introduction. "So, this is a real, real oldie with lyrics by Andy Razaf and music by 'Fats' Waller and Harry Brooks. And, um, if you know the words, feel free to come in on the chorus with me." Duo hitched up a leg and rested his foot on the chair, while snapping his fingers and counting out the beats. Heero jostled a couple people as he moved closer. He didn't want to miss a word, a vocal inflection, an eye blink of the performance. "Singing's good, ya know. Singing alone's good, too," Duo said, warming up the audience. Trowa shouted, getting into the act, "Yeah, I was gonna talk to you about that singing in the shower stuff-" Laughter rippled through the audience, and Duo chuckled. "Okay, I'll keep it down from now on. Still, singing alone is fine. Talking to yourself, well... that's not so good!" The audience twittered and applauded their approval. Duo smiled charmingly, winked at Relena, but when he located Heero, he began to sing in a jaunty manner: "No
one to talk with, Duo stood and meandered over toward Heero, and when he sang the next lines, he made it no secret to whom he was singing; "Ain't
misbehavin', Heero remained immobilized, probably traumatized as Duo added a little soft-shoe dance routine between verses. "I
know for certain, Several people joined in this time to sing along with Duo: "Ain't
misbehavin', Heero was too stunned to move or he would have disappeared into the woodwork. There was Duo, dancing. All he needed was spats, a top hat, and a gilt-handled cane. And he just told everyone Heero knew that he love-er-liked him. Heero had a choice as to what to do next. He either had to reject Duo now, laugh it off as a joke, or- He hadn't much more time to decide. Duo had already begun the next verse. He could feel Relena's eyes on him when they weren't on the singer. And Zechs. He could feel his presence not far away. "...What
do I care? Heero felt the heat rise up his neck, past the tie, coloring his cheeks and felt idiotic and tickled at the same time. When Duo performed, a magical transformation converted him from a typical, though not ordinary, guy to hot Shinigami. A hot guy singing to him. Heero smiled and dipped his head with a chuckle. It was flattering, actually, he decided. And he liked the attention, public or not. And that surprised him most of all. "Ain't
misbehavin', "Who is he singing to, I wonder?" Relena asked her brother, while staring pointedly at Heero. "My dear, I have no idea who it is you might be referring to," Zechs replied. "Don't play dumb with me, brother-dear. I think he's singing to you, Heero. He is looking our way." Heero raised his head slowly, knowing exactly what she meant. He was rewarded with a deep look from Duo's violet eyes only a few feet away. That he was mesmerized beyond the limits of his control was nothing in the light of eyes like amethysts. The rest of Duo was regular enough. But who would bother looking at the rest of him? "Our way? I suppose so. I think he's marvelous. Don't you agree, Heero?" Zechs asked. "Absolutely," Heero murmured. From Relena's look, Duo could have gone up in flames and no one would be the sorrier. Her blue eyes flashed Zechs a warning. Duo had finished his song and taken a bow or two. He was closing in on them. "Both of you make me sick." Relena looked from Heero to Zechs not making it clear who the comment was intended to be for. "Maybe I should leave." "Do as you like, it's your house," Heero said unhelpfully. She started to wrap her terribly expensive, scarf-like thing about her, preparatory to moving on. She looked grown up with her highlighted, upswept hair, her lacquered nails, and her fashion-plate, crushed-leather belt riding down somewhere around her hips. "I would say he was singing the song to you, Relena," Quatre piped up with what Heero was coming to think of as his customary diplomacy. "It's your party." "Excellent point," Zechs said. Relena's expression changed instantly. "Oh! You really think so? How sweet. I should thank him then. I'm sorry, Heero. I don't know what's gotten into me tonight. I must be delusional! I guess it's just been too long since you and I had any time for just us." "Let's go out into the garden while the band is on break. It stopped raining hours ago, it's lit at night, and the roses are in bloom." Zechs pulled Heero aside and whispered into his ear. "Looks like you have traded in your girlfriend for a boyfriend." Heero yanked his arm free and said, "You don't know what you're talking about." As he said this he could see Quatre steer Duo and Relena out the double French doors. "Oh, I do. And don't tell me it isn't my business, because it is. My family and the band are both my business. Relena is my half-sister, my family, and she is infatuated with you, and has been since she set eyes on you." "Relena is drowning in her ideals," Heero deadpanned. Zechs frowned. "I don't know what she sees in a cold fish like you, but she does, and I've seen how Duo Maxwell looks at you. Quatre was wrong; he was singing to you, and you know it. I want the band to succeed, damn it!" "It will," Heero bit off. "You are reading more into all this than there is, which is nothing. Nothing will get in the way of the band winning that contest." "Good. Despite what you say, though, I'm suggesting that you keep your options open. I'm not talking about settling down with a girl, Heero. You have years. I'm not even ready! The ladies are...a different breed. They are more difficult to understand and communicate with, but they hold their own special fascination. You can learn to appreciate their finer qualities." "Are you finished?" Heero uttered in as flat a tone as he could manage. "No. I'd like you to think. Your future becomes clear based on who you are already - so you must own the identity of the dream in order to manifest it." "Enough with the New Age platitudes," Heero said, grinding his teeth. Zechs was only four or five years older than the band members, but oh so much more sophisticated. Heero hated it when the man acted as if he were his father. He spun around and set out for the garden and his friends, brooding about what Zechs had said. They were joined like sweethearts arm-in-arm, passing under the rose-covered archways heavy with scent. Wufei with Sally were the only couple truly content, at ease, and happy. Trowa and Lady Une seemed deep in a serious, private conversation, slightly apart. Duo chattered animatedly alongside Dorothy, obviously nervous, Heero thought. She was laughing intermittently, but Duo's manner seemed stilted to Heero's trained eye. Heero with Relena on his arm followed closely behind Quatre. He could hear Quatre as he pointed out the different rose varieties to Catherine as if he believed his job was to keep her entertained for Trowa's sake. Maybe it was. "This is my favorite, the striped one, Camaieux," Quatre gushed. "It looks like raspberries in whipped cream and the clove scent is wonderful, don't you think?" Catherine met his eyes; her expression painted awe. Clearly, she thought Quatre was wonderful. "Yes, it's lovely. What are these blowzy white ones climbing all over the arbor?" Quatre sighed and smiled contentedly. "Gorgeous. It's called Seafoam. Good name, isn't it? White roses symbolize the meaning of reverence and humility." "I didn't know that! You are so knowledgeable, Quatre," she said leading him farther into the garden. Heero wondered why he wasn't excited. He once felt something for Relena. He could be passionate. He knew he could be, because a few minutes ago Duo ignited his desires. He wondered if he could kindle that warmth for Relena, and if he did, would he want to pursue her? He and Duo had no agreement. They hadn't started anything, yet. There was nothing to end. Zechs was older and a man of experience. He could be right. Maybe Relena was meant for him. When the others had moved on, Heero pulled Relena into his arms. "Heero?" He silenced her with a kiss. His fingers gripped her shoulders, holding her awkwardly in place. Her soft curves fit comfortably against him; her petite body relaxing into his embrace. Her lips moved gently against his; opening slightly as an offering for more. The kiss broke and they moved apart, smiling. "We should... join the others," he said. A trailing wisp of Seafoam brushed his hair, mussing it more. He reached up and snapped off a rosebud as they passed beneath the bower. He wasn't looking for a life partner, he decided, just a taste of heat. (0) Duo had said his good-byes and good nights and, almost, a few good riddance's. He had sung and danced-- a lot of dancing. He had had a good time and eaten his fill of rich food. Overfilled. It hadn't been the evening he'd hoped for, but it hadn't been too bad, either. He liked girls, as friends, and most of these could be fine friends to have. Like Catherine and Sally. Trowa's sister might be a little over-protective, but she did care about his well-being. And Sally was enamored of Wufei- that was clear. Nice girls. Lady Une and Lucrezia, on the other hand, both had connections to Treize and the syndicate. Although, he was pretty sure Une had looked remarkably different when he'd last seen her. Glasses, she had worn glasses, and her hair had been tied up, back, away from her face in a severe bun or something. Dorothy, well, she gave him the feeling that she could be dangerous, especially in her new job, again with syndicate ties. Dangerous was good; syndicate dangerous was not. Relena. Well, there was no question about how she felt about Heero, and even less about how he felt about her. Heero had never left her side all night. That had been a serious letdown. Damn. Too bad the asshole couldn't have warned him. Admitted it when he'd asked about her. Just a hint like "Yeah, I've got this girl-" or something. Duo hung his borrowed suit on the hanger it had come in on and tossed his underwear and shirt into the awaiting laundry basket. He was beat. He'd just crash now, he decided, and shower in the morning, and then he felt a scratch across his back. What was up with his hair? He twisted around to get a look at his back in the mirror. Something was stuck in his braid. He dragged the ropy end over his shoulder and found a white rosebud woven between the strands. How had that gotten there? Someone had to have put it there. It hadn't appeared magically or on its own! But who? When he heard a solid knock on his door, he figured he was about to find out. He weighed getting pants on first or climbing into bed-- for about one second-- then slipped under the covers. "Duo, can I come in?" "Yeah, sure." Heero opened the door and stepped in, while silently closing the door behind him. Duo remained posted in bed naked but covered. He wasn't getting up for anyone-- Heero in particular. "I wanted to talk to you about tonight. About us." "I don't." "Duo..." "Well, Heero, ya see... I thought I wasn't being subtle at all. In fact, I've been pretty open about how I've felt all along. And I thought you were okay with that or I wouldn't have sung that song to you tonight. It's you who's been acting like an asshole. You have a girlfriend. Fine. I'll get over you. Is that what's got you worried? Think I'll make trouble for you? Well, I'm not that kind of guy. I'm a real good loser. So get the hell out and let me go to sleep." Heero's rich, almost navy-blue eyes, gave Duo a look filled with splintered glass. Duo looked away, skimming past his face to the bedside table and alighting on the white rosebud. "I put that in your hair tonight," Heero said. "I wanted you to know." "Know what? That you are sneaky? Like flowers? Wished me well?" He thought he'd test him. "Quatre said that white roses symbolize the meaning of reverence and humility." "It's a white rosebud, Heero. Symbolizes 'girlhood'." Duo was pleased to illicit a gratifyingly shocked reaction from Heero. He laughed at Heero, but it held no humor. "Good night, and close the door behind you!" Heero's pale face disappeared and the door closed, leaving Duo alone and very, very far from home. The dull ache in his chest threatened to overwhelm him, and for the first time he doubted his decision to remain Earth-side. If he hadn't signed that contract, he'd be on that Harley and heading to the shuttle station that night. Fucking "if".
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