Here's another little thing I did to get back into the writing groove. I'm not going to do more because I've already told this story- this is just Duo's side of the very beginning. It was just a scribble to get back into his head a little bit.
Californication Sidefic
First Meeting
Duo took a deep breath and wondered again if he should've brought a sign. Not that someone of Heero Yuy's caliber wanted people to know he was stepping off a plane here at LAX, and besides, how many times had Duo studied the author's picture on the back of Heero's books? He should recognize the guy right off.
Then again, as Duo knew from experience, sometimes the pictures didn't match up to real life.
Maybe this time they would. Even now, after meeting a lot of writers, Duo held onto a shred of hope. Some were really nice- maybe Heero Yuy would be one of those. The guy was his all time favorite author- Duo could recite pages by heart if called on to do so.
And he was going to be here in about two minutes.
Duo took another deep breath and told his stomach to settle down. It was stupid to hope that Heero Yuy wouldn't be a jerk. The guy had sold thousands of books- he could put his name on a phone book and it would hit the bestseller list- he would have an ego to match. Duo had met enough sensations of the moment to know that the legends had to be worse. No point in getting his hopes up.
The announcement came over the intercom that Flight 111 had landed. Duo moved closer to the gate, watching the ramp. He'd have to be careful- start off on the right foot- it had been a miracle to even get Heero Yuy to agree to a meeting- if he messed this up, Quatre would kill him.
The first few people began to walk down the ramp and Duo's heart skipped a beat.
Damn, he looked better than his pictures... Dark hair shading killer blue eyes- and a body that made him want to- Duo gave himself a brief shake. Now was not the time to be thinking like that- he had a job to do.
He moved forward quickly, smile in place. "Mr. Yuy?" Damn, he was even more breathtaking close up... those eyes were just...
Focus, he reminded himself.
"Yes."
"Quatre Winner sent me to pick you up." He continued and reached out a hand for Heero's carry on. For a moment, he wondered if the other man was going to let him have it, but Heero relinquished it with a faint sigh.
Duo noted the dark circles under Heero's eyes and briefly considered calling Quatre. The guy looked exhausted. Maybe they should let him get some sleep first? But Quatre would probably die of stress if they put this meeting off... "He wants you to come to his office right away. I can take you to the hotel afterwards." Duo said apologetically and headed towards his car. His agent had already told them that Heero traveled light, so they wouldn't have to wait for baggage.
"Wants to get right to it, hm?" Heero said softly, sounding amused.
"You only gave him a few days to convince you to sell him the option." Duo pointed out and wondered again if they should delay the meeting.
Heero looked confused. "I thought it was only one presentation."
"You have a reputation as a tough sell, Mr. Yuy."
That was an understatement. Duo knew that several movie studios had approached Heero Yuy about his novels- and in every case had been turned down flat without even a meeting. Why had he changed his mind this time?
Heero didn't reply and Duo wondered if he'd offended him. But the other didn't seem angry. Only tired. Maybe he had meant to sleep on the plane and hadn't managed it?
They stepped out into the warm California sunshine and Duo waited for a moment while Heero searched his pockets for his sunglasses.
"How was your flight?" Duo asked as they headed for his car.
"Lousy. Turbulence. Delayed..."
"All around awful, it sounds like." Maybe that was why Heero looked so tired? "I know Quatre said right away, but if you need to stop somewhere we can. Get some coffee? Tea? Smoothie? Energy drink?"
"Is it safe to drink that kind of stuff here? I hear you guys add weird stuff to it- grass for example?"
"Don't believe everything you've heard about California," Duo laughed. At least Heero wasn't so tired that he couldn't make a joke. "The food here is pretty great- traffic sucks, but well, what can you expect when you live in a state like this one?"
They reached his car and Duo popped the trunk. "So, what do you say, Mr. Yuy? Care to stop somewhere?" He put Heero's bag in the trunk and closed it.
"I would like something cold to drink-" Heero paused. "I'm sorry- I didn't get your name."
Oops. How had he managed to skip that part? He looked into Heero's eyes again and laughed inwardly at himself. Right. That was why. "My bad!" He extended a hand to Heero. "Duo Maxwell, at your service."
He opened the car door and felt his jaw drop open when Heero responded: "Duo Maxwell? Aren't you the one that wrote Kindly Stopped? And the other- Fly Buzzed?"
Heero Yuy knew his name? Had read his books?
"That's me." He managed, closing his mouth and swallowing hard. "I didn't think anyone had read Fly..."
"What are you doing here?"
How many times had he wondered that himself?
"Scriptwriting." Duo got into the car quickly.
Heero slid in beside him as Duo started the car, cranking the A/C up and hoping he wasn't turning red.
"I really enjoyed both your books," Heero said and Duo was sure his face was igniting.
He did? Or was he just being nice? Of course, it wasn't like Heero Yuy had to be nice about anyone's books, so maybe he really had liked them?
"Shouldn't that be my line?" He gave himself a shake. Maybe Heero was fishing for compliments on his own work? There had been a few like that... "I only wrote two books and the second was panned by the DP critic..."
"I don't know why that idiot has so much clout," Heero shook his head. "Though he can usually target the good ones. I didn't understand his review of it though- that viciousness wasn't like him, he's usually more subtle."
"I know why," Duo shoved down the anger that arose at the memory. "I gave him a black eye."
"That was you?!"
"You saw it?"
"Couple years ago? Right eye? I wondered who had clocked him."
"Yeah, he said the price of a good review was a little service he wanted me to perform for him."
Oh, had he really just said that? He'd never told anyone that part...
"Ah," Heero nodded. "I've heard he does that."
"Never asked you, huh?" Duo felt a slight twinge of jealousy. Of course that bastard wouldn't ask Heero Yuy for something like that. Like Heero Yuy needed a good review...
"Me? Horror Shock writer that I am? He compared my writing to vomit once. He'd rather die than read one of my books. Too common." Much to Duo's surprise, Heero was smiling. How could he joke about a review like that? He really wasn't anything like Duo had expected at all...
"Still good though," Duo offered. "I liked them." He'd more than liked them, but if he got started he'd sound like an insane fan boy, and that wasn't a good thing.
"Thanks, but yours were better."
Duo knew his face had to be glowing now. "Uh... thanks." His mouth continued without his permission: "You know- you're not what I expected..."
Oh crap. That was not a good thing to say...
"What did you expect?" Heero sounded curious, not mad. Maybe it was salvageable?
"I wasn't really sure. I mean- I've seen your pictures on the books... but, uh- well- I've driven a lot of writers in to meetings and..." None of them knew me. None of them really acknowledged me at all beyond a few polite questions. None of them said I was the better writer... Duo wasn't sure how to continue without saying something compromising.
Heero chuckled and Duo sighed in relief. He wasn't mad. "I know. We tend to have over inflated opinions of ourselves."
If anyone deserved to have an overinflated opinion of themselves, Heero Yuy did. That he didn't was a minor miracle. "Well, tons of people read and love your work..."
"I don't," Heero said quietly and Duo glanced at him in surprise. He looked completely serious. "I mean- I like to write, but the stuff that sells is my nightmares... not my dreams. I have to write it down- so it doesn't come true." The expression on his face made Duo want to reach out and offer some comfort, but he didn't dare. "I make them real in my books, you see. That way they won't happen."
"I understand." He did. All too well. Why did Heero have nightmares? Was it for the same sort of reason that Duo did?
He turned the conversation to his usual topics- the sights of LA as seen from the freeway- even as he studied the man beside him. Heero seemed relieved to be on safer topics, and Duo had to wonder if he was as surprised as Duo was with the honesty of their earlier conversation.
And he still looked so damn tired- did that have something to do with his nightmares?
He bit the question back. He hardly knew Heero. It was rude to ask...
Despite the lateness, Duo stopped and bought him an iced coffee. Maybe the meeting today could be shortened?
They got to the studio and Duo led the way inside. Heero looked a little nervous as he eyed the glass.
"Modern LA architecture not to your taste?" Duo asked, curious, as he pulled off his sunglasses.
"Don't you guys have earthquakes here?"
"Sure."
"And this is all safe?" Heero gestured at the glass.
He'd asked the same question the first time he'd walked through the lobby. "Sure." Duo pointed to the joints. "They flex. Don't even worry. Don't think a little thing like an earthquake is going to stop a designer... It's the style, you know?" He rolled his eyes. "Besides, this way everyone can check themselves out as they walk through- no lines at the mirrors in here..."
"I hope you're kidding."
He wasn't. "Hey Hilde! Got the writer man here to talk to the big guy."
Hilde smiled back, her fingers tapping her wrist. Ah, Quatre was upset about their lateness. "Sure thing Duo. He said to go on up when you got here." Right up? That meant Quatre'd been pacing the floor.
She turned a seductive smile on Heero. "Welcome to Winner Studios, Mr. Yuy!" Duo knew that look of hers all too well. He grinned at her and pulled Heero off towards the elevators.
As Duo had half-expected, Relena and Chang were already in the elevator. How had she orchestrated that one? "Hi Duo!"
"Hey Relena! Mind if we share your elevator?" Duo knew she wouldn't. Relena wanted to be Mary badly- and she was ruthless in her pursuit of a good part. "We're going up to see Quatre."
"So am I." She waved her hand and they stepped in. "Who's your friend?"
As if she didn't know.
"This is Heero Yuy. Heero, this is Relena Peacecraft- not that I think you need to be introduced? I'm sure you've seen some of her movies?" It would be amazing if he hadn't. Relena's star was definable on the rise.
"Yes of course." Heero didn't gush, odd that, but maybe he wasn't the gushing type? Usually men fawned on Relena, famous or not.
"Heero Yuy, the writer?" Relena widened her eyes and smiled. Duo had to admire her style. That dewy eyed admiration had made men melt at her feet.
"That's me." Heero didn't melt. Then again, he had to be used to people reacting that way to him...
"Oh! So you're finally here to discuss the movie deal with Quatre? How exciting! I hear they want to do All Fall Down- I would love to be Mary!"
Duo waited for the inevitable- and didn't get it. "I guess that's the one they want."
Relena frowned a little. That obviously hadn't been the response she was expecting either.
Though really, by now he should know not to expect the obvious from Heero.
"They want several actually," Duo said and shifted the conversation. "Hey Chang, how's it going?"
Chang didn't answer, as usual. Who had he worked for before? The CIA? The FBI? The MiB? "Chang doesn't talk while he's on the job. It might distract him from protecting Relena." Duo explained to Heero.
Relena laughed. "Some of us take our jobs seriously, Duo!"
"Are you implying that I don't?"
Relena didn't answer, she just gave him one of her famous smiles. The elevator chimed and Duo delivered Heero into Quatre's office. Quatre was waiting, and Duo stepped back to let the head of the studio do his thing.
As Quatre introduced Heero to the others, Duo kept his eyes on Heero. The other man was displaying patience and good-humor, even though he obviously didn't want to be at the meeting. Duo wondered again why he was there. Heero had turned down every offer- why was theirs different?
Once Winner finished his spiel, Trowa took over, leading the way into the screening room. Duo held his breath- they had really sort of stepped over the line on this one- but they had wanted to impress Heero- show him what they could do.
Heero sat down in the back row- not quite what Quatre had planned, Duo thought with a hidden smile- which he lost a moment later as the conversation from the car rose up in his thoughts.
"The stuff that sells is my nightmares, not my dreams. I have to write it down- so it doesn't come true."
Oh hell- and they were about to show him one of them... Maybe this wasn't the best idea...
"We did a little test film to show you what we could do with your stories," Trowa was saying. "I think we did a very good job."
Should he say something? Stop them somehow?
"Roll the clip," Quatre called up to the booth.
Too late.
The room darkened and images started to appear on the screen.
Duo kept his eyes on Heero, saw how the other man's fingers clenched at the armrests, saw the horror that swept over his face.
Beside him, Trowa seemed to notice the same. He gave Duo a worried glance. Neither one of them was surprised that Heero nearly leaped to his feet at the end of the clip and dashed out with a faint excuse.
"What-?" Quatre started.
"He looked terrified-" Trowa started and Duo sighed.
"Sorry guys. I should have- he told me in the car-" He stopped. This wasn't his secret to share. "He wasn't feeling well. I'll go check on him-"
Heero was standing outside on the balcony, gulping air. Duo had a mad impulse to wrap his arms around the other man- give him an anchor- remind him it was only a film-
"Heero?" He said instead, softly. "You okay?"
Damn- forgot to call him Mr. Yuy, he scolded himself, but Heero simply turned to look at him, his eyes wide and haunted, the dark marks standing out like bruises.
"That was a bit too realistic," Heero said, obviously trying to sound light.
"That's Trowa's style," he replied in the same tone. "Not ready to see a nightmare when you were awake?"
And who would be?
"No."
"I can understand that." Damn, he had to say something better than this...
"I'd better go apologize." Heero closed his eyes for a moment and Duo again fought down the urge to pull him close.
"For what? I'll bet Trowa's thrilled that he got it right..."
Heero gave him an incredulous look. "You're kidding."
"Not at all. Bet you anything he sees it as a compliment."
Which of course, Trowa did. Duo was glad he was predicting someone's actions right anyway.
"So- are you ready to talk details?" Quatre asked and Duo mentally gave himself a point when he guessed Heero's response a split second before Heero spoke.
"No."
"But Mr. Yuy, Heero," Relena pouted beautifully. "You said everything was perfect- right out of your book... and wouldn't I make a great Mary?"
"I just don't feel that my books are really the kind of things people need to see..."
Duo could see the others' surprise. What author had ever said that?
Quatre tried again: "Mr. Yuy, how is that any different than someone reading your material? They see it in their minds as they read- all we've done is give it a true visual. And you know they will be popular! Your fans want these movies- can you disappoint all those people all over the world who read your books?"
"The books should be plenty. I never wanted these to be made into films, and all that clip did was prove it. I'm sorry to have wasted your time." He spun on his heel and left the room.
Even upset, the man was polite. Damn. Duo intercepted Quatre's look and hurried after Heero.
OWARI
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