Love Thy Neighbor Part 6

"HEERO!" Duo exclaimed in slack-jawed surprise.

Despite Duo's obvious shock at the architect's skinny dipping suggestion, Heero continued to strip. Divested of his shoes, socks and shirt he unbuttoned low-rider jeans that rested so far south they left little to the imagination.

Up to this point Duo hadn't considered his new friend's underwear preferences. Boxers, briefs...it hadn't mattered...not until the waistband parted, the zipped followed suit and the jeans slipped effortlessly over Heero's hips to reveal a skimpy black "bikini" that exposed most of the his secrets.

Framed by the pool's deep blue water shimmering at his back and an equally blue sky sparkling overhead Heero looked like the well-endowed sculpture of Michelangelo's "David" or, better yet, "Mr. June" from a beefcake calendar that used to hang in Duo's bedroom in Brooklyn.

Duo stared, momentarily overwhelmed by Heero's sexy physique. Sure he'd seen Heero in swim trunks but this time, this close, Duo found himself besieged by a combination of fascination and embarrassment. A rosy blush warmed his cheeks and breath caught in his lungs.

Heero appeared unaffected by either his near nakedness or Duo's flushed face and wide-eyed stare. Shamelessly he hooked his fingers in the bikini's elastic band to remove the last barrier to his intended swim.

Duo swallowed hard. His palms were damp and his heart hammered in his chest. He had seen men naked, in high school gym and the showers at the rehearsal hall. He'd had two lovers but they had eased into levels of familiarity. Only once had he jumped into a relationship and that had been a four-week disaster that ended in bitter regrets.

Involuntarily, Duo's eyes squeezed shut before Heero began the downward tug that would put him in a completed state of disrobement.

Heero's hands stilled, his head tiled at an inquiring angle. For the first time he realized that Duo was not comfortable with the unfolding events. Up to that point his thoughts had centered on what he wanted, not on Duo's wishes.

Heero had ignored the other man's body language, his nervous reactions but the sight of Duo's tightly closed eyes and evident upset made him reconsider.

"Duo...I'm so sorry." Experiencing his own pangs of uneasiness, Heero began gathering up his discarded clothing from a chase lounge.

Duo drew in a steadying breath and opened his eyes. He had but seconds to make a decision. His head was telling him to take things slow, that he didn't know Heero well enough to engage in a nude swim. But his heart was pressing him to take the chance or was lust guiding his choice? Caution or reckless abandonment, why did it have to be one way or the other?

"Wait." The halting word was spoken before his brain could silence his voice or rebuke his heart for its foolishness.

Heero froze as if that single word had total command over his every movement. He tried to read Duo's expression, to decipher any subtle clues that might tell him what Duo was thinking but all he saw was confusion in those strangely beautiful blue-purple eyes and all he heard was hesitation in Duo's lowered voice.

Suddenly Heero was also uneasy. A chill prickled on his skin and it felt as though the whole world could see his mostly bare body. Now all he wanted to do was hide away from the disgrace that he had unfairly inflicted on Duo.

"I'm sorry." he apologized again, clutching his shirt to cover his front. "This was a bad idea."

A long silence passed between the dancer and the architect. In a nearby tree a bird chirped out a carefree song but the warbled notes were hollow in Heero's hearing.

Finally Duo broke the strained silence. "I want to go swimming but..." More hesitation.

*Follow your heart.* his inner council advised.

"Dammit." Duo mumbled, berating his indecisiveness.

Heero kept up his limited concealment and moved a few steps closer. "Tell me what you want." he urged.

This time Duo's eyes were clear of confusion and his voice was steady and strong. "I want to go swimming with you."

Heero nodded, "All right let's do this another way. You turn around until I finish undressing and get into the water then I'll close my eyes while you undress and join me. Any time you're uncomfortable we'll stop. Okay?"

Duo focused on his feet, studied the creamy concrete, anything to keep from looking at Heero. He couldn't believe he was being so shy, after all he wasn't a timid teenager anymore. He was an adult, dammit, so why was it so difficult to let go and have fun.

*Because you want it to be special with Heero.* his heart proclaimed.

"Duo?" Heero pressed for an answer.

"That's a good idea." Duo agreed then turned to face the house.

A soft swish told Duo that Heero had finished undressing and had eased into the water. "My eyes are closed."

Duo put a teasing tone in his voice to lessen the tension. "Can I trust you not to peek?"

Heero's immediate reply rang with unmistakable truth. "I would never betray your trust." he promised sincerely.

Duo stripped and laid his clothes beside Heero's on the chase lounge nearest the pool. Surer steps carried him to the ladder at the shallow end where Heero waited with his eyes tightly closed. Although the water was crystal clear it created enough distortion to offer an acceptable margin of modesty.

The first step then the second and sun-warmed water molded around Duo's body. Third and fourth steps, Duo's braid floated out behind him then slowly sank as it became waterlogged. Finally he stood chest-deep within three feet of Heero.

"Ready." he announced in a bolder tone.

Heero opened his eyes and a smile bloom in his lips. Even though most of Duo was underwater he could still see the athletic strength of a dancer. Duo's chest wasn't as broad and his arms not as bulked up but his form perfectly matched the function of dancing.

He recalled Duo's impromptu performance outside the jazz club, his poise, his power and knew that same power would be as graceful in the water as on the stage. "Let's swim."

Side by side Duo and Heero slipped through the water. Arms pushed the liquid aside, legs paddled with hardly a splash. Strong strokes propelled their bodies along like dolphins skimming sleekly just below the surface. They moved in unison as if guided by the same intuitive currents.

At the deep end they pivoted, planted their feet and pushed off the side. They glided soundlessly for a few feet then coordinated their movements as if they had always been together.

Stroke for stroke, lap after lap, until exhaustion slowly replaced the exhilaration. Breathing hard but happy, Duo folded one hand over the smooth blue tiles and allowed his body to be buoyed by the water. Heero held on, too, his hand inches from Duo's.

"Are you all right?" Heero asked, doing some panting of his own.

"Great." Duo smiled, "I'm glad we decided to do this."

Heero raised his head to gaze at the sun poised just above the tree line. "It's late. We should get ready to go. I won't watch while you get dressed then you can turn around until I get dressed."

"That's not necessary." Duo insisted. He was now very comfortable with Heero and with himself.

Duo grabbed the ladder and rose confidently from the water. His soggy braid slapped his bare buttocks as he retrieved his clothes. Without hesitation Heero followed and began sorting through his pile.

Duo tugged his boxers over his damp skin then rung out his braid the best he could; hopefully it wouldn't get the car seat too wet during their return trip to the city.

The setting sun had begun to cast shadows over the pool and the breeze had definitely lost most of its warmth. The chilly air encouraged the damp pair to dress quickly.

"My hair is going to be a bitch to comb out." Duo commented as he tied up his boots.

"Would you like me to help?" Heero offered.

Once more Duo was challenged on the matter of trust. His braid was a private part of himself that he was reluctant to share. There had been a few occasions when past lovers had seen his hair down but rarely had they ever brushed the lengthy locks.

"It takes a long time to get the tangles out and I know you don't want to be too late getting back." Duo stated. His protective side hoped Heero wouldn't insist on helping but his heart wished he would.

"Please let me help, after all I'm responsible for your hair being wet."

Duo gazed into Heero's eyes, into the mirrors to his soul. There he saw assurance and genuine concern. "Okay." he heard himself saying without conscious consideration. He took a comb from his jacket pocket, handed it to Heero, sat down on the chase lounge and turned around to give his friend access to his personal space.

Heero removed the elastic band, unwound the braid and carefully finger-combed the damp hair to avoid tangling it further. He started at Duo's crown and patiently worked the comb inch by inch through the snarled mane.

The setting sun disappeared behind the trees, the shadows grew longer but Heero kept steadfastly to his task. The repetitive process of combing and his hand's gentle caress soon lulled Duo into a relaxed state of mind and body.

When the tangles were eliminated and the strands smooth and silky, Heero expertly braided and tied off the tip. "Finished."

"Thank you." Duo pulled the long rope over his shoulder and admired the handiwork. "Where did you learn to braid so neatly?"

"I used to braid my sister's hair and sometimes my mother's."

"Now I have an idea," Duo declared, "Let's get dinner, all that exercise has made me hungry."

Bright pink painted the horizon and tinted the gates of "ROSEMONT". As the sun retreated before the rapidly gathering darkness Heero switched on the headlights and turned out onto the highway.

"Do you like Italian food?"

"Of course, doesn't everyone?"

*********

6:45 p.m.--Twenty blocks from the High Street Apartments.

"Cafe Romano" was completely opposite from the "Salty Dog Bar & Grill". There was an understated elegance in the décor of blue checked table clothes, matching napkins and gleaming stemware. Men in stylish suits and women in classy dresses engaged in quiet conversations.

Flickering candlelight and soft music also added to the ambiance as Heero and Duo waited at the door for the hostess to seat them. "I think we're underdressed." Duo whispered.

Heero leaned closer, "We might be but I don't give a damn. All I want right now is a large bowl of pasta smothered in marinara sauce and a bottle of wine."

The neatly attired hostess in her navy blue tailored trousers, crisp white blouse and flawlessly coiffured hair was also quite opposite from Ronda and her "PRINCESS" tee shirt. The older woman eyed the plain pair with thorough scrutiny that Duo decided bordered on snobbery.

"I'm sorry sir but we require a tie for dining." she stated in a tone that further bolstered Duo's appraisal of the woman's snooty attitude.

"I don't suppose you could bend the rules just for tonight?" Heero requested then offered additional encouragement in the form of twenty dollars discreetly pressed into the hostess's hand.

"A table for two?"

Heero displayed some "attitude" of his own insisting on a table away from the restaurant's crowded center. "Arrogant bitch." He mumbled under his breath as he scanned the menu for his desired meal.

Duo grinned at his dining partner's assessment of the hostess's canine lineage. "You get grumpy when we're hungry." he observed good-naturedly.

Their waiter, Robert, could have cared less about anyone's lack of fashion sense. As far as he was concerned if the patrons tipped well they could dine clown costumes.

Robert took matching orders of pasta, garlic-butter breadsticks and a fine vintage Merlot then glanced around to make sure that the haughty hostess wasn't watching before leaning closer to Duo and whispering. "Great hair."

"Was he flirting with you?" Heero asked rhetorically.

"Jealous?"

A thoughtful pause preceded Heero's reply. "Maybe."

*********

Two hours later excellent food had satisfied Heero and Duo's hunger and an entire bottle of wine had put a mellow buzz in their brains and erased any lingering memories of the offensive hostess or the flirtatious waiter.

Despite Duo's full stomach, his low tolerance level for alcohol had been reached after his second glass and had been exceeded by the third. Now tipsy euphoria made him warm inside and very relaxed.

Heero was in better condition. Although he certainly felt the wine's influence he was in total control of both his brain and motor skills as he paid the check and added a generous tip for Robert who, in spite of hitting on Duo, had provided good service.

"Ready to go?" Heero asked even though he was sure that in Duo's inebriated condition he was going to need help navigating through the labyrinth of tables and out the door to the car.

Duo struggled to focus his blurry eyesight then finally pulled Heero's handsome face from the wine-induced haze. "Where are we going?" he wondered in slightly slurred words.

"Home."

"Now?"

Heero took Duo's arm in a gentle but firm hold and lifted him out of his chair. "Yes now." he insisted.

Fortunately only three tables were still occupied and they weren't in the architect's and his wobbly friend's path. Also fate had come down on their side, as the hostess was nowhere in sight.

*********

Legally Heero shouldn't have been operating a motor vehicle. But in bumper to bumper traffic that didn't allow any speed over twenty-five miles per hour his chances being stopped by a NYPD patrol car was nil...besides the police permitted the cabbies to drive like maniacs so why should they notice him?

As Heero drove home through the motorized maze of cars, trucks, buses and pedestrians who decided to cross the street wherever they pleased, prostitutes trolled for "dates", gangs hung out on the corners and drug dealers sold their poison in the alleys and desert buildings.

Duo sat quietly, staring out the passenger window. His wine-altered senses painted the city over in bright neon lights that blended into a garish rainbow. People moved along the streets like cartoon characters sketched by a madman and animated in slow motion.

The pervious warmth had begun to wear off but his mind was still muddled, his hearing murky and his reactions sluggish. He rested his head heavily on the seat and willingly surrendered to the dizzying confusion knowing that Heero would bear him safely home.

"Are you okay." Heero wondered as he stopped at the last light before the High Street Apartments.

Duo nodded "yes" then shut his eyes against the swirling images that threatened to suck him under their swamping tide.

Heero parked in the apartment's private lot, switched off the engine and got out to retrieve his somber and, perhaps, more sober friend. Duo lifted his eyes, squinted in the security light's harsh glare then held out his hands to let Heero help him stand up.

"Easy now."

Duo clutched onto Heero's arm until his rubbery legs decided to cooperate. "I'm sorry." he sputtered out the apology.

*Great all I need is a mushy drunk.* Heero thought to himself but said out loud, "It's okay you just need to sleep."

Duo remained silent on the elevator trip to the second floor. He stared down at his feet emitting a soft sigh at regular intervals. Standing before apartment 202 Heero asked Duo for the key.

"Its here somewhere." Duo mumbled patting his jean's front pockets.

It had been a long day and even though Heero had enjoyed Duo's company, their tour of "ROSEMONT" and, most of all, their swim, he needed to get Duo in bed and get some sleep of his own.

Tomorrow began another workweek and Heero didn't want to be dragging into the office. "Let me see." he said wearily, slipping his hand into the right pocket.

As Heero's fingers snagged a key ring they also brushed against Duo's groin causing him to flinch from the unintended touch. "Wow, do that again." he urged, a silly grin plastered on his face.

Heero disregarded the inappropriate proposal, unlocked the door, swiped the light switch and tugged Duo inside. He took Duo directly to the bedroom because he knew once the braided man sat down it might be difficult to get him on his feet again.

Duo flopped on the bed and leaned back supporting himself on his elbows. Heero squatted and removed Duo's boots and socks. "Help me with your shirt." he instructed. Duo sat up and lifted his arms to allow the shirt to slide over his head.

"Go to the bathroom, wash your face and brush your teeth." Heero ordered, "And don't forgive to pee. If you feel sick call me."

While Duo was "taking care of business" Heero spread back the coverlet and sheet and got a bottle of water from the refrigerator. Duo needed to drink plenty of clear liquids to prevent dehydration and lessen the morning hangover.

Duo seemed a bit more alert when he emerged from the bathroom, his bangs damp and breath smelling like mint instead of wine. One final step and hopefully he could get settled for the night.

"Now pants off and get into bed."

A sly smile curved on Duo's lips and the dullness in his eyes was replaced by a sparkle. Without warning he slid his arms around Heero's neck and locked his blue-purple orbs squarely with the startled man's widened eyes. "Are we getting naked again?"

TBC...

 

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