Coffee House Part 2

Heero held onto Duo tightly, feeling the shakiness beginning to ebb. A faint noise made him look to the side. Relena was standing nearby, tears in her eyes.

"Relena?"

"Heero. I'm glad to see you." She smiled. "Duo missed you a lot."

"I missed him." That didn't seem to cover it all but Relena seemed to understand. Her smile increased.

"An old friend of yours Heero?" Heero's boss appeared at the counter. She was smiling too. "Your shift is over, dear. Why don't you take some time to catch up?"

"Thanks Jean." He needed to talk to Duo. Preferably someplace private. There was more going on here than he had realized. "Duo- I don't live too far from here. Will you come home with me so we can talk?"

"Yes," Duo answered, finally letting go. Though he still kept one arm around Heero's waist. Heero looked towards Relena.

"Relena- do you mind..." She was nodding before he finished.

"You two need some time alone. I'll tell the others." She walked back out towards the tables, pausing briefly to touch Duo's hair and Heero's shoulder. "It's so good to see you Heero. We've all missed you."

Relena was humming when she returned to the table.

"Where's Duo?" Quatre asked, with a faint frown.

"He really hit it off with the coffee guy. They went off to talk somewhere." Relena was amused by the reaction this comment caused with the other three.

"Really?"

"Where did they go?"

"What happened?"

Relena smiled wider. "They went off to talk. Duo's a grown up. I figured he'd be fine. He said to tell you guys not to worry, he'll be home later."

~*~

Heero guided Duo down the street in silence. His apartment wasn't even half a block away and he figured conversation could wait until they were out of the cold. Duo didn't speak, but his grip on Heero never slackened.

They climbed the stairs and Heero dug in his pocket for his keys. The door opened and he ushered Duo inside, turning to close the door behind him.

The moment the door was closed, Duo was in his arms, his lips pressed against Heero's almost desperately. Heero kissed him back, holding on tightly. Duo was flushed when Heero let him go.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Why?"

"You probably have someone else..."

"There hasn't been anyone since you." Heero took a breath, as he admitted: "Didn't want anyone else if I couldn't have you." Duo shivered and Heero realized that the room was freezing.

Heero sat Duo down on the bed and went to go turn on the heater. The studio was tiny and it would warm up quickly.

Duo was sitting where Heero had left him, his eyes following Heero as he turned the heater on and locked the door.

"Have you lived here long, Heero?" He asked.

"Six months or so." Heero was relieved to hear Duo's normal tone return.

"Six months?" Duo repeated.

"Yes. I've been going to the university."

"The university." Duo frowned. "Have you been working at the coffee house all that time?"

"Pretty much."

"Did you know- I mean- you must've seen me?" Heero sat down next to him and sighed.

"Yes." He reached out automatically and took Duo's cold hand in his, answering the next question before Duo could ask it. "I thought you were with Hilde. Why aren't you? What happened?"

He was surprised to see Duo snarl slightly. "I never was with Hilde. I never had any plans to be with Hilde. Wufei made it all up."

"What?! Why?" Heero frowned. "Did he want you?"

Duo blinked in astonishment.

"You have to be kidding!"

"Why else would he do it?"

"Because he wanted Relena!" Duo nearly laughed at the expression of complete incomprehension on Heero's face.

Heero flung himself backwards onto the mattress and covered his eyes. "What? Why would telling me that you were going to go off with Hilde get him Relena? That makes no fucking sense!"

Duo found himself smiling, despite everything. He lay down beside Heero, propping himself up onto one elbow.

"Sure it does. In Wufei-land it was a totally logical course of action." Heero lowered his hands.

"Explain it to me?" He begged, reaching out a hand to trace Duo's cheek, pleased to see a real smile on the other's face. "Please?"

Duo closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against Heero's fingers before he answered. "If you thought I was going to leave with Hilde, then you'd obviously say something that would make our relationship public in order to have me stay with you. Then Relena would see that you were gay and get over her crush."

"That's insane." Heero frowned. Chang had some serious explaining to do, as far as he was concerned. But Duo's smile had vanished, and he was more important at this moment.

"Why did you believe him? You know that Hilde has never been more than a sister to me."

"No, I didn't." Heero shook his head. "You never told me that. And Fei is your best friend- I figured he knew better than I did. We never talked about things like that."

"I know." Duo nodded. "But-" He paused and a shadow crossed his expression. Heero knew what was going through his mind.

"I should've come to you. I should've talked to you before I left."

"Yes." Heero heard the anguished note in Duo's voice.

"I'm so sorry Duo. I told you- I figured Chang knew, and I couldn't bear to hear you tell me the same. I thought after I left that you had settled down with Hilde. I didn't know any better until tonight when Susie told me that you didn't have a girlfriend."

Duo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "And then you sent me the coffee."

"Yes."

"Why?" Heero knew that Duo already knew why. But he answered him anyway.

"Because I was hoping for another chance. If you didn't come back to see me, I was planning on going out to talk to you after my shift was over." His fingers moved from Duo's cheek up into his braid. "Can I have another chance? I won't blow this one. I won't let anyone drive me away from you." Duo put his head down on Heero's shoulder, relaxing into the other's embrace.

"I want that Heero- more than you know. But I can't bear it again if you leave. You have to promise to stay- no matter what."

Heero heard the tremor in Duo's voice, remembered the way the other had clung to him in the coffeehouse.

"I promise to stay. No matter what." He lightened his tone, hoping to bring Duo out. "Even if Chang tells me that he's eloping with you, I won't leave." He heard Duo laugh shakily.

"Fei? Straight as an arrow Fei?" Duo shook his head. "You'd damn well better not. Besides he's head over heels for Relena."

"Apparently," Heero frowned. "I still don't understand that one. I mean, if he wanted you, then it would make sense. Are you sure...?"

Duo choked. "Why would you even think that he'd want me?"

"Who wouldn't?" Heero smiled, his fingers entangled in the end of Duo's braid. Duo flushed. He had almost forgotten, had tried to make himself forget, how affectionate Heero could be when they were alone.

"Prejudiced." He accused, trying to regain his composure.

"Always." Heero retorted.

"Trust me. Fei did all this to get Relena."

"And he got her." Heero took a deep breath.

"Oh yes. She visited him a lot in the hospital. Got to know him pretty well then."

"Hospital?" Heero repeated.

"I was a bit upset," Duo snuggled closer. "I, ah, broke a few of his ribs and... other things when I found out what he did."

Heero suppressed a smile. "I trust he learned his lesson?"

"I think so. He apologized more times than I can count. Besides I think the other guys might be a bit upset if I broke anything else on him."

Heero snorted. "Do you think they'd mind if I did?"

Duo laughed, and Heero hugged him tighter for a moment. "Relena might- and we owe her. She's the one that dragged me up there tonight." Heero nodded, and then was silent for a long moment, his hand playing with Duo's braid.

"True. Besides the one you should really be angry with is me."

Duo shook his head. "No. We never did talk about- this. And that is as much my fault as yours. More..."

"Duo- stop." Heero tilted his head up and kissed him. Then he tucked Duo's head under his chin. "Just accept that we were both at fault and let me hold you a while."

"Okay." Duo returned to his former position, head on Heero's shoulder.

~*~

Relena watched Fei pace the living room as she cuddled down on the sofa, her territory on the weekends when she came to visit the guys. This was terribly amusing. Hardened Gundam pilots waiting up for their roommate to get home. Like they were a teenager's dad or something... She hid a giggle. She could tell them about the fact that the coffee guy was Heero... but she was still a bit mad at them.

Dorothy was rubbing off on her.

"Where is he?" Fei said irritably.

Relena smirked. "I daresay he's doing exactly what you wanted him to do. He's off having a good time with the coffee house guy. So will the three of you please go to bed and let me get some sleep?"

"But..." Quatre protested.

"Guys, I told you. He and the coffee house guy really hit it off." She paused for a moment. "Just go to bed okay? Quit acting like his parents. He's a college student. He's supposed to stay out late having fun."

"But Duo..."

"Is finally acting like you guys want him to act. Don't complain."

They wandered off to bed a little after that. Relena curled up on the couch with a happy sigh. Duo being gone so long meant that he and Heero had hopefully gotten everything straightened out between them.

Or it would be her turn to beat some sense into somebody, Relena laughed to herself. In a non-violent way of course.

~*~

Heero woke up. He was warm and comfortable, which was not an unusual morning feeling, but something about it was different.

He lifted an eyelid. A blurry mass of brown filled his vision. He blinked, and things came into focus.

Duo. Here.

He blinked again. Duo was sprawled over his chest. The blankets had been pulled over them, but he was still dressed. He remembered Duo falling asleep mid-sentence and instead of moving him, Heero had just pulled the blankets around them.

He caressed Duo's hair, following the line of the braid over and over, soothingly. He had missed doing this. Had missed going to sleep in his arms. Had missed waking up next to him. Had simply missed him.

Duo stirred. He lifted his head and blinked sleepily at Heero, his confused look turning into a delighted smile. He put his head back down and snuggled closer.

"What time is it?" He yawned.

"Almost seven." Duo blinked.

"Seven? Like seven am?"

Heero laughed. "Exactly."

"I didn't mean to fall asleep on you..."

"It's okay. I fell asleep too." He tugged Duo's braid. "Best sleep I've had in ages."

"Me too." Heero frowned faintly. He thought about how Duo had looked to him at the coffee house. Tired and worn. He looked down and felt his heart pound just a bit harder.

Duo was looking better. Was it because of him?

"Shit." Duo sat up. "I have to call the guys. I'm sure Relena told them where I was so they weren't up all night, but they are probably going nuts. I'm sure they want to see you too."

Heero gestured to the phone. "You all live together?"

"Quatre wanted to share a house so we wouldn't have to deal with the dorm thing. It made sense- even if Fei does use up all the hot water and Trowa does make the coffee way too strong in the mornings." He laughed. "Maybe you can give him lessons."

~*~

Relena was thinking that she was going to relent soon. Quatre had woken her up 15 minutes ago when he came bounding down the stairs to see if Duo had come home last night. Wufei and Trowa had been downright afterwards. They were obviously worried. Quatre was fussing in the kitchen, Fei was pacing and the cup of coffee that Trowa had handed her was undrinkable mud.

Relena wiped the sleep from her eyes and yawned one final time.

The phone rang. Since it was right next to her, she snagged it before the boys could.

"Hello?"

"'Lena! Did I wake you?"

"No Duo, not at all." Fei stopped his pacing. Trowa and Quatre leaned out of the kitchen. "What's going on sweetie? Your mother-hen roomies were a bit worried that you didn't come back last night."

"You did tell them where I was, right?"

"Yes I did. I told them you and that cute coffee guy wandered off to talk."

"Lena... you didn't tell them who the guy was- did you?" Duo's tone was faintly scolding.

"Nooo," she admitted. To her complete delight, Duo laughed.

"Evil girl. No more hanging out with Doro for you!" She hadn't realized how much Duo had changed in the last year. How different his laughter had been.

"It sounds like everything went well?" She asked hopefully.

"Very well." Duo reassured her. Relena took a deep breath. Thank god.

"So, you coming home soon or do you want me to drop a toothbrush off somewhere for you? I wouldn't mind. It would give me an excuse to get a decent cup of coffee. Why do you let Tro near the coffee maker?"

"Why don't you meet us for a cup at the coffee house?" Duo asked after a moment. "The coffee guy would like to see you."

"Deal. How long?"

"Thirty minutes?"

"See you there." Relena hung up the phone and smiled at her audience. "Anyone want to go have coffee with Duo and his guy this morning?"

TBC...

 

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