Author: Merula
Pairings: 1x2
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yaoi, drabble
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
For jana1x2x1, who asked for something with Heero and Duo. It came out differently than I expected- and went a bit longer than drabble sized! Sorry!
It's 2am
"What time is it?"
"Two a.m."
"That's it. Next motel, hotel or hell, barn that we see- I'm pulling over. Objections?"
"None. I'm not fit to drive and you look ready to drop."
"Good." Duo sat up a bit in the seat, peering through the window as if willing a place to stop to appear. Heero closed his eyes wearily. What a hellish assignment this had been- in more ways than one.
But it was over now, he consoled himself. Once Duo and he got back to HQ, then he could continue with his plan, turn in his resignation and vanish. He meant to do it a week ago, meant to hand it in and tell Une that he was finished. He couldn't work at the Preventers anymore. He was sure she'd understand- he knew the grapevine had been busy for the last month or so- she knew why he'd insist that he couldn't work there anymore.
He wondered idly if that was why she'd insisted on this mission. One last twist of the knife... but she couldn't have manufactured the situation- and only Duo and he could've handled it. And it hadn't been so bad- the two of them had been very careful to treat each other as professionals- and they had successfully accomplished their mission. Not one fight- not even a minor disagreement.
Considering it had been a fight that had ended their relationship- over what exactly Heero couldn't even tell now, he only knew that it had escalated too quickly- that was pretty good.
Heero opened his eyes a crack, just enough to watch Duo's profile in the dim light. That had been the hard part of this mission- to have Duo so close all the time- but not his. Not anymore...
"There's one!" Duo crowed in triumph and twisted the wheel, making Heero grab hold of his seat.
"Crowded," Heero observed as they pulled into the parking lot.
"As long as they have a bed somewhere, I could give a damn," Duo wedged the car into a tiny parking space and turned off the engine. "How's the wound?"
"Fine," Heero lied, unhooking his seatbelt. "You get the rooms, I'll get the bags?"
"Deal." Duo sprang from the car, heading quickly towards the small office. Heero moved more slowly, sliding a hand under his coat to check his bandaged side as he got out of the car. The bandages seemed to be holding up well- the wound hadn't opened again, for which he was grateful. The doctors had wanted to keep him a few days, but he'd refused.
Opening the trunk, he pulled out their two small bags and slung them over his shoulder, biting his lips as one touched his injury. He closed the trunk and turned towards the office.
Duo emerged, looking cheerful. "Got the last room," he said and waved the key at Heero. "Believe it or not, there's some kind of convention going on out here!"
"In the middle of nowhere?"
"Apparently! So we're lucky to have the room." Duo frowned a little and reached for his bag. "Give me that. You don't look so good."
"I'm okay. Just need to rest." He followed Duo towards the building, hoping that he didn't have to go far.
Luckily, their room was on the ground floor, close to the parking lot. Heero thanked whoever was listening for that mercy. Then Duo opened the door and flipped on the lights- and Heero cursed silently.
There was only one bed.
Duo tossed his bag into the closet as Heero closed the door. "I call right side," he said.
"I can take the chair."
"Hell you will. We've shared before- or have you forgotten?"
Heero clenched his jaw. If only he could...
"You're the one that wanted to stop sharing," he said before he could help himself, "so you'll have to forgive me for thinking you didn't want to do it again."
Duo whirled, red color rising up in his face. His lips opened but Heero didn't want to go there. Not now. Not again. Not like this. He couldn't handle fighting with Duo again...
"Sorry," he said before Duo spoke. "I'm sorry. I'm tired and I hurt. It slipped out." He couldn't say that he didn't mean it- but maybe the apology would be enough?
Duo's mouth closed. He stared at Heero for a moment before he nodded. "Accepted. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said what I did. Are you sure you're okay? You don't usually admit to hurting-" He touched Heero's shoulder gently. "Need a pain pill? The docs gave me some for you since you refused them."
"Maybe." Heero admitted, sitting down on the left side of the bed wearily. Duo dug around in his pocket and then placed the bottle beside Heero on the nightstand.
"Don't take more than one," he said and vanished into the bathroom. A moment later he reappeared with a glass of water. Heero took a pill and then nodded towards the bathroom.
"You first."
"Sure?"
"Of course."
Duo grabbed his bag and vanished again and Heero carefully pulled off his coat and shirt. The ache in his side did seem a little less- maybe the pills were kicking in? Getting to his feet, he went to get what he needed out of his bag.
"Finished," Duo plopped down on the bed with a yawn, his braid nearly unraveled, a streak of brightness against his dark t-shirt. "Your turn."
"Thanks."
When Heero returned to the bed, Duo was curled on his side, eyes closed, his back facing Heero's side of the bed. That would make things easier. Heero flipped off the lights and slid under the covers, wishing that he too could curl on his side, back to Duo- but that would put him on his injured side. He had to content himself with lying flat on his back as near to the edge as he could.
Hopefully he wouldn't forget and reach out to Duo in his sleep...
Drowsiness was washing over him and his side had stopped hurting. Maybe he'd be able to sleep well?
"Heero," Duo whispered and Heero was so relaxed that he didn't even start.
"Hm?" He managed.
"We did okay, didn't we? No fights. No problems. We got the job done like we were supposed to, right?"
"Right."
"Even... even tonight. We didn't fight, even when we were both tired and cranky."
"We didn't." Sleep was calling him. Heero felt himself slipping. Hopefully Duo wouldn't want to talk much longer...
"Do you think... maybe... we could..." Duo sounded hesitant and Heero fuzzily wondered why.
"We could what?" He prompted, yawning.
"We could..." Another pause. "Be... partners again?"
"Can't." Heero yawned again. "I'm quitting when we get back..."
"Why?" Suddenly Duo was there, leaning over him in the dark. Heero didn't- couldn't-open his eyes, but he could feel Duo's breath on his cheek. "Why are you quitting?"
He really wanted to let go and just sleep. Why was Duo still talking? "Because of you. Can't be with you and not with you. It hurts. Can't do it. Not anymore. Better to leave."
He wasn't sure that even made sense, but he was too tired to figure it out now. It seemed to be enough for Duo- he wasn't talking now... so it had to be okay. Heero let himself slide down into sleep.
Brightness.
Heero cracked his eye open and squinted. They hadn't drawn the curtains last night and the sun was streaming into the room. He closed his eye again and tried to turn away, tried to pull the covers over his head- but he couldn't move.
Cracking open his eyes, he looked down to find Duo sprawled over his chest, one arm curled carefully over his injured side. His breath caught in his throat.
Lifting one hand, he carefully brushed Duo's bangs out of his face, stopping himself from following the action with his usual good morning kiss. His chest hurt. Why had Duo curled up beside him? He must've done it unconsciously in his sleep... That was it. He shouldn't read anything into it. They hadn't gone to bed this way- Duo had been curled up on his side of the bed. He vaguely remembered Duo saying something before Heero had fallen asleep- what had it been?
Damn, he couldn't remember. Between the pill and his own exhaustion he'd lost the conversation... but it couldn't have been anything that would've led to Duo snuggling up with him like this- could it?
Duo's eyes fluttered open, his mouth turning down in a faint scowl. Heero braced himself for the harsh words he was sure would follow, but Duo only muttered: "damn sunlight" and buried his head in Heero's shoulder.
Maybe he wasn't really awake yet?
Carefully, Heero tried to ease Duo off of his shoulder, but his ex-lover just grumbled and pulled the covers over his head, not letting go of Heero.
"Go back to sleep," Duo's voice was slightly muffled by the covers. "Too early."
"I'm awake. I can drive us into HQ this morning- you can sleep in the car." Heero tried and Duo's head popped up, the covers falling back in an impromptu cowl.
"No. We aren't driving back in HQ until we've had a chance to talk with both of us awake." Duo yawned and glowered at Heero. "You finally showed me I had a chance of getting you back last night- and then you fell asleep! And now I'm tired and you're awake!"
Heero's eyes widened. "Duo- you-"
"I'm sleepy- after you said- last night- I couldn't sleep for hours. I thought of lots of good reasons why we should get back together-" Duo yawned again, obviously fighting sleep. "Please- just let me get some more rest and then... let me try? Please?"
Reaching out, Heero brought the covers up over both of their heads and put his arms around Duo. "Go back to sleep."
Duo curled up obediently with a happy sigh. "Be here when I wake up? Let me try?"
"Wouldn't be anywhere else- and we'll both try."
OWARI
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