Counting Down Part 5

The sofa wasn't the most comfortable piece of furniture in his apartment, but Heero didn't care. It was closer to the door than his bed was, and at this point he just wanted to lie down.

He'd finished his reports and just as Sally had discovered that he hadn't gone home as promised, a huge problem had come in. Heero had been whisked away by Chang before Sally could get to Une, so it was now well into evening.

He was too tired to get up and get dinner. Too tired to take off his uniform and get comfortable.

Too tired to think.

Since that had been his ultimate goal since hearing Wufei's news, he decided that the day had gone pretty well.

Someone knocked on the door. Heero opened a bleary eye and frowned at it. Was it even worth getting up to open it? More than likely it was someone trying to sell something, and he wasn't in the mood to be nice. They'd give up and go away soon. He closed his eye again and tried to settle himself into a comfortable position.

The knocking persisted for a few minutes more. Whoever it was seemed pretty determined to get Heero to answer, but he just pulled one of the couch cushions over his head.

The knocking finally stopped.

It was followed by a quiet clicking sound that made Heero yank to pillow off of his head and reach for his gun.

The door swung open and Heero quickly put his gun away. "Duo? What are you doing here?"

Duo stepped inside and closed the door behind him. "I called in and Sally said that you were overworking yourself. Une said she sent you home, so I came to check on you." He wiggled the pizza box that he held enticingly. "Bet you didn't eat dinner."

Heero hauled himself up into a sitting position. "Too tired to even zap something," he confessed and Duo smiled.

"Then you'll forgive me the breaking and entering?" He said as he put the pizza box down on the table.

"This time." Heero moved to get up. "I have some water in the fridge-"

"I'll get it. I'm moving faster than you are."

Heero watched Duo walk to the kitchen and frowned. "Not by much. Are you sure Sally released you? You didn't check yourself out again, did you?"

"Of course she did. I'm only a little bruised." Duo retrieved the water and sat down beside Heero on the sofa. "Here you go."

"Thanks," Heero noticed the tense set of Duo's shoulders and wondered if it was only due to the bruising. Before he could stop himself, he asked: "With the injury and all, I bet you didn't make that goal of yours, did you?"

Duo's shoulders seemed to tense a little more, but he scooped up a piece of pizza and smiled. "No, not yet."

Be supportive, Heero reminded himself. "Well, you should give yourself a little more time- I don't think getting injured should stop you from doing... whatever it is you want to do."

Duo put the pizza down and turned a thoughtful look on his partner. "You sound like you know...?"

Heero sighed. "Wufei-"

"Wufei?" Duo interrupted. "How did he know?"

"I guess he talked to Donaldson? And Quatre was there on Wednesday- he said-"

"Quatre?" Duo interrupted again, eyes narrowing. "He talked to you too? So you know everything?"

Why did Duo sound angry? Heero tried to force his tired brain into coherency. "Not exactly-"

Duo didn't seem to hear. "What do you think? It's stupid of me, right? Not something I should even-"

"No, no," Heero said quickly. "If you really want to do this-" He took a deep breath. He wasn't going to plead with Duo to stay in a job he hated, no matter what. Supportive, he reminded himself, not selfish.

"I do." Duo's expression had changed. Now he looked slightly hopeful. "So you think it's a good idea?"

"Yes," was all Heero manged. A second later and Duo had tackled him down onto the sofa, his mouth warm and demanding on Heero's.

Dazed, Heero simply wrapped his arms around Duo. It seemed the best thing to do.

"And what about the other part?" Duo asked when he finally let Heero up for air.

"Other part?" Heero repeated, still trying to figure out what he'd said to get that reaction out of Duo. He wanted to do it again.

"The working for Quarte part. Research and development? He needs pilots and mechanics and we can do both..." Duo's voice trailed off and he studied Heero for a moment. "Didn't he tell you?"

Heero shook his head. "No..." he started, and then he explained exactly what Quatre had said- and then Wufei's part when Duo questioned him.

Duo put his head back against the cushions and groaned. "And here I thought they told you everything because I was so nervous about saying anything! Why didn't you stop me when I kissed you?"

"Was I supposed to?"

"I thought you knew I was trying to..." Duo stopped and took a deep breath. He sat up, pulling Heero with him. "Look, I... I know that the Preventers is a worthwhile job and all- but they don't need us anymore- and it's sort of dangerous. I was hoping to convince you to come and work with me on Quatre's project."

Heero processed that for a minute. "I'd consider it. The Preventers is sort of wearing me out- I'd like a change, I think." He still wasn't sure how the kissing figured into that, but maybe after he got some sleep, it'd make sense.

Duo took another deep breath. "I also... well, that was the other thing. The Preventers don't want partners to be romantically involved, and I was hoping we could try, you know... though I'd understand if not- and I'd still want you to work with me..."

Heero finally got it.

"I'd be willing to try," he said and managed to brace himself as Duo tackled him again, keeping them both upright as Duo's mouth found his again.

Heero thought he rather enjoyed this way of being supportive....

OWARI

 

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