Californication Epilogue
The plane landed on the ground with a soft jolt and slowed down, taxing to the gates. Heero looked out the window and frowned- it was pouring. He shouldn't be surprised, he sighed to himself, one of the things he had learned was that Sunny California was not always sunny.
Duo glanced at his watch. "Well, we have a few hours before we have to get ready for the premiere, what shall we do with them? Want to grab something to eat?"
Heero grinned. "Nah, let's go home and eat."
Duo frowned. "But there's nothing at..." Understanding dawned. "Ohhh. Right. Home it is then." He met Heero's gaze and smiled mischievously. "But I'd better get some popcorn at the movie. I need to keep my energy up you know..."
"We'll stop and get you a smoothie on the way there," Heero promised. "And a pizza afterwards."
"Deal," Duo flung off his seatbelt and got to his feet the moment the seatbelt light turned off. "What are you waiting for?" He demanded. "We have a schedule!"
Heero followed Duo off the plane, keeping up with his lover's fast pace.
Trowa was waiting for them at the base of the stairs, much to Heero's surprise.
"Quatre asked me to come and meet you," he said the moment they reached him. "The rain has caused some flooding and the traffic around the city is bad. He's rented some hotel rooms near the theater to get ready in- he wanted me to take you there."
"My tux is at home," Duo protested.
"We got you one already," Trowa told him, giving his braid a tug. "And hello, good to see you too..."
Duo laughed and gave Trowa a hug. "Sorry man! Long flight!"
"I'm sure," Trowa shook Heero's hand. "Ready for tonight?"
"Of course." At least, Heero hoped he was.
Trowa ushered them out to a waiting car, the driver stepping out to take their bags and store them in the trunk.
"So, how's the movie business going Tro?" Duo asked once they were settled in the car and headed for the hotel.
"Pretty good. I have an interesting project coming up, if we can get the writer to agree to the deal."
Duo laughed, catching Heero's eye. "I'm glad I'm not the one stuck convincing him! Which one of the two new guys gets that job?"
"Actually I do. The picture would be pretty special effects intensive, so Quatre thought I should make the pitch."
"Just show him some of your stuff," Duo reassured. "He'll sign on the line no problem."
"I hope so." Trowa pulled a folder out of the seat next to him. "I did some preliminary stuff. Take a look and tell me what you think."
Heero watched as Duo opened the folder and had to stifle a chuckle when Duo's mouth dropped open. Heero looked up and met Trowa's gaze. The other man winked at him and he grinned back.
Duo opened and closed his mouth a few times before he finally spoke: "Trowa.... This... this is my story...."
"You know Quatre's been wanting to do one of yours. He wanted your first one, remember? But you said it wouldn't work on the screen. He wanted me to show you that we could make it work..."
Duo flipped through the pictures slowly, his eyes widening a little at each one.
"It would cost a fortune..." He finally said, looking up at Trowa.
"He's willing to risk it. Plus, you forget Duo- you're a bestseller. The new book- the old ones are back on the list- another due out soon. He'll have no problem finding investors..."
"The script?"
"He'll pay you to write it."
Duo carefully closed the folder. "I... have to think about this."
"Of course." Trowa nodded. "Just be prepared for Quatre to ask you about it." With a faint smile, he changed the subject. "Don't suppose you caught that interview of Zechs last week on the late show?"
Duo laughed. "Actually I did!" Heero leaned back into his seat as Trowa and Duo bickered good-naturedly over Zechs' comments on the show. He didn't really want to think about the night ahead- but he had to- he wouldn't get through it otherwise.
Maybe it was best to think about it in steps. First the hotel and changing- think about that. He should try to call Sally. She and her family were out here already- she and her husband had come out early to take the kids to Disneyland. Hopefully the rain wouldn't delay them too much...
~*~
Duo whistled as Trowa ushered them into the hotel room. "I thought we were just changing here?"
"He's figuring you'll want to just come back here after the premiere. No point in driving home in a storm. So, make yourselves comfortable and we'll be back to get you in two hours."
Trowa let himself out and Duo turned to Heero with a smile. "Doing okay?"
"Okay enough," Heero let Duo pull him down onto the bed. "Maybe I should've gone to that press junket thing..."
Duo nodded. "Maybe- but this way I'm going to be right next to you the whole time." He looked over his shoulder at the clock. "Sooo, how long do you need to get dressed? 30 minutes right? Which means we have 90 minutes to get you as relaxed as possible."
Heero had to smile. "And how are we going to do that?"
"Oh..." Duo slid his arms around Heero's waist. "I'm glad you asked... I have so many ideas... let's see how many we can get through."
~*~
The red carpet was damp in places, makeshift tents had been rigged up, but no one was really lingering outside the theater, which made Heero very grateful. He only had to stop a few times to speak to reporters and once inside the lobby was so full that no one was really focused on him. The stars were holding court in a corner- the director in another. All he had to do was get through to his seat.
He realized as Duo and he followed the usher into the theater that he had forgotten to speak to someone about finding him seats in the back.
Duo's hand squeezed his shoulder. "I talked to the PR people," he said in Heero's ear. Before Heero could ask what that meant, the usher directed them to seats in the back row. Heero let out a faint sigh of relief. Sally and her husband were in the seats in front of them with Dorothy and Une.
"How are the kids?" Heero asked after the flurry of greetings were over.
"They're at the Disneyland Hotel. What do you think? That's kid heaven. They were a little upset that I told them they were too young to be watching your movie, but they have a sitter, a room full of junk food and permission to stay up late watching TV. They did want me to tell you that they want you and 'Uncle Duo' to come and join us at the park tomorrow."
"Love to," Heero assured her before Duo tugged him back to their seats.
"It's going to start soon," Duo hissed in his ear.
"Don't remind me," Heero told him as he sat in the aisle seat. Duo took his hand, leaning onto Heero's shoulder, letting his braid brush against Heero's arm.
"If you need to run out, there's a door right there." Duo nodded at an exit across the aisle. "It goes outside, to the back of the theater, okay?"
"How do you know?"
"I asked." Duo smiled and squeezed Heero's hand.
~*~
Heero had expected the movie to be a bad experience, he had remembered the clip he'd seen, how it had been a nightmare come to life.
But it had been sprung on him with no time for him to prepare himself. This time he knew what was coming. He had Duo beside him. He had thought he'd be able to deal with it... and if not, well Duo had pointed out the exit- it wouldn't be dignified, but he could leave if he wanted to.
The beginning wasn't so bad... Heero actually relaxed a little... but then the story began to pick up its pace and he found himself frozen in his seat...
It was too real... too vivid... without the dreamlike quality of his nightmares; the hope that at some point before the ending he could wake up... he was trapped.
When Duo's hand slipped over his eyes, he nearly screamed.
But Duo had anticipated it, had turned Heero's head towards him, and covered his mouth with his own.
Duo's touch was a reprieve.
Heero let the touch of his lover overwhelm his senses, let it block everything out, let it drive the demons back into their hiding places in his soul.
Duo released him a few minutes later, kept Heero's face tilted away from the screen. "Need to leave?" He whispered.
"It's almost over."
Duo nodded, understanding. "Close your eyes," he said and Heero did, leaning back in his seat, his hand tight on Duo's.
It seemed forever until he heard the sound of applause signaling the end of the movie. Only then did he open his eyes and meet Duo's worried gaze.
"You okay?"
"I am now." He took a deep breath. "Thank you."
Duo shook his head. "I'm sorry- I should've noticed sooner..." He didn't finish, since the lights came up in the theater and they were suddenly besieged by reporters and well-wishers.
Heero kept a tight grip on Duo's hand as he answered questions about the movie. Oh yes, it was definitely true to his book. Just mesmerizing. Very well adapted.
He caught Duo's mouth quirking up once or twice at his answers, but his lover stayed silent, his presence alone soothing the nightmare visions away.
It took a while for them to free themselves from the crowd and head outside to the waiting car.
"Ready for the party?" Duo asked with a grin.
Heero smiled. "I'd rather skip it, pick up a pizza and lock myself up in the hotel room, but we did promise Quatre we'd be there."
Duo shrugged. "I don't mind missing it."
"And not give Quatre the chance to pitch his movie idea at you?"
"Don't look so amused."
"I can't help it."
Duo leaned over and kissed him. "Okay- how bout this- we go to the party for an hour, skip out, get pizza, and then lock ourselves up in the room?"
"Half-hour."
"Deal."
OWARI
Back to Merula's Fanfictions Page