Cubes Part 5
We didn't have stolen minutes. We had hours. We didn't have other things we should be doing, we didn't have separate missions to run off to, we didn't have to wonder when we were going to have time again. We had time to explore. To play. To talk. To touch. To curl up together. To just listen to each other breathe...
When Sunday night finally rolled around, we were in my apartment, stretched out on the floor in front of my couch, watching a bad scifi movie. We'd grabbed the pillows from the couch, so we were comfortable, and I was close to dozing off.
I felt the soft brush of air against my skin as Heero sighed. "Work tomorrow," he said and I had a moment of panic. Why did he sound like that? Was this... whatever it was... only going to be for the weekend? Was he getting ready to pull away again?
"Yeah," I managed, my mouth suddenly dry. Was he getting ready to leave?
"It's going to be difficult."
My stomach clenched. Difficult how? "Is it?"
His voice deepened. "Focusing on work, knowing that just behind the wall- the very flimsy wall- is you. You'll be lucky if I don't just leap the damn thing and take you right on the desk."
The resulting image made me run my fingers over his shoulders, encouraging him to move up for a kiss, even as relief swept through me. "My desk is very wobbly," I told him when I could breathe again. "We'd go right through the wall."
"The floor then," he nipped at my earlobe and I groaned.
"Don't- I'll never get any work done tomorrow- just thinking about it-"
He chuckled and pulled me closer. "Well then, let's see if we can work some of it out now..."
~*~
It was a very good effort, I admit it, but it didn't really do much for me the next day. I kept catching myself looking up over the top of my monitor, at the top of the wall that separated Heero and I. Thinking of all the things I could do if only we weren't at work and there wasn't that wall...
It was only through sheer force of will that I got anything done at all.
I had hoped that lunch would help- I'd see him for a bit- talk to him- get some of that need out of my system. But sitting beside him- not daring to touch, talking about nothing important- it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. I marveled at Heero's cool- it didn't seem to be bothering him at all. He talked about the project, ate his lunch, met my eyes without a trace of heat. Truthfully, I was feeling damn resentful.
When I settled back at my desk, frowning at the screen, a small piece of paper winged over the top of the cube and hit me on the nose. Unfolding it, I read:
I am close to leaping the damn wall. You're lucky we made it through lunch. How badly do we need these jobs?
The resentment fled. I scribbled a reply, promising him anything if he could make it to quitting time, and tossed it back. Hell, I wasn't sure I could make it...
I managed, however, calling on all those old wartime concentration techniques, telling myself I'd have the whole evening to spend with Heero. It was close to quitting time and I was just wrapping up my work, when Sorcha walked into my cube.
"Hey Duo," she said and leaned on the corner of my desk, crossing her ankles and smiling at me. She and I had done a few projects together- I wondered if we had another one coming up.
"Hey," I pushed back my chair a little and smiled at her. "What can I do for you?"
She smiled wider, her blond hair swinging against her cheek. "I have a favor to ask- well, no- a question first and then maybe a favor?"
Oh, it sounded like she was planning on taking another vacation. Hell if I was going to be roped into taking over some of her work again. "What's the question?"
"Are you seeing anybody?"
I blinked at her, thrown off track by the unexpected topic. "Seeing anyone? Uh-" I hadn't expected that question.
"You aren't? I have this friend- she's really cute-"
Oh, so that's what she wanted. "Whoa, wait a minute. I didn't say I wasn't-"
"You have someone?" She pouted prettily at me. "Is it serious? I haven't heard you talking about anyone- if it's not- my friend is just adorable- I know you'd like her-"
"I'm sure, but-"
"Is it serious?" She persisted.
"I- don't really know-" That was honest enough. I knew I was serious- but Heero?
"How do you not know? Men!" She rolled her eyes. "Sooo- since you aren't sure if it's serious- can I set you up?"
"Duo, are you ready to go yet?"
Both Sorcha and I jumped a little at the sound of Heero's voice. He stood in my doorway, coat slung over his arm, his mouth in a tight line- the very picture of impatience.
Hastily I shut down my computer and glanced at my clock. It was only a minute after- I wasn't that late! Why was Heero in a rush?
"Just a minute-"
"I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay Duo?" Sorcha winked at me and slid out past Heero, his not-quite frown deepening a little as she left. Was he angry? Had something happened?
"What did she want?" He asked me as I finished shutting things down.
"A favor," I sighed and stood up, grabbing my coat. "Not that I'm going to do it-" I stopped- did I really want to have this conversation with Heero? Would he think I was pushing things between us?
He muttered something I didn't catch, and moved away from my cubicle. I followed him down the hallway, wondering why he seemed to be in such a bad mood. Had something happened on his project? I had been trying so hard to focus on my work, I hadn't really paid any attention to the people around me. Had something happened and I missed it?
I caught up to him by the elevators and was relieved to see that he looked more relaxed. Maybe I was reading too much into things- after all- hadn't we both been wanting to go home today?
When we got into Heero's car and he reached over to give me a short, but fierce kiss, I was sure my theory was correct. "Impatient to get home?" I teased as he got us out of the garage in record time.
"You have no idea." He shot me a look I couldn't read. "I believe someone promised me anything I wanted...?"
"Anything," I managed, my throat suddenly dry.
"I'm holding you to that-" He reached out and caught my hand in his, bringing my fingers briefly to his mouth. I don't know what I said in response, because I think my brain melted a little, but it made Heero chuckle against my skin. "Home first," he said, his fingers lingering on my wrist.
"Hurry?" I suggested and he laughed again, his hand moving away from my arm and onto my knee.
By the time we reached our building, I was quite ready to just stay in the car, uncomfortable or not, but Heero dragged me out and headed for the elevators.
As usual, there was a crowd, and somehow Heero and I were separated. He smirked at me over the heads of a group of pre-teens and I scowled back. A few of them got out on our floor and we exchanged greetings as I opened my door, Heero following me inside.
It was my turn to push him up against the wall after I got the door closed, and he let me, tilting his head to meet my kiss, his arms sliding around my waist.
"It was a long damn day," I said against his lips and he laughed outright.
"Very long," he agreed and began nudging me towards my bedroom.
"Sofa's closer..."
"Bed is more comfortable," he countered.
"Spoilsport."
"You promised me anything I wanted, remember? I want the bed. If you want the sofa tomorrow-"
"So it's anything I want tomorrow?"
"Seems fair." He stopped us, the backs of my knees against the edge of the bed, and began undoing my tie. I tried to intercept him, as he was going far too slow for my taste, but he just moved my fingers out of the way and moved on to my buttons. I started to complain, but he kissed me, and I decided that kissing was way more fun than complaining.
I was completely distracted when he finished with my clothes and tumbled us down on the bed. "You're still dressed," I managed when his lips moved to my jawline.
"Yes," he agreed and caught my wrists with one hand. Pulling them up over my head, he pinned me to the bed with his body, his mouth curved in a mischievous smile. "We have to talk first."
"Talk?" I echoed.
"Mmm. There's a little... lesson I want you to learn. If you learn it well...." His smile flashed a little wider. "Then we can... play." He tilted his hips just enough to make me gasp.
"What- what is it?"
Touching his forehead to mine, he met my eyes, his smile gone. "The next time someone asks you out- other than me- you say no."
Oh no. Of all the times to forget that in the cubes you could hear everything... Wait a minute! "I didn't say yes!"
"You didn't say no either. Tomorrow you are telling Sorcha that you have a very serious, very jealous boyfriend."
"I was going to say no-" I started and then blinked at him. Did he say...? "I do?"
"You do." He kissed me again. "Very possessive. Very serious. Understand?"
"Heero... are you sure? I mean- it's only been a few days-"
"Years."
"Years?"
He huffed a breath and rolled his eyes. "Duo. Think about it. What are the odds that I would end up working in the same place you do- and living right next door? Do you really think it was all a coincidence?"
"Well... it was kind of odd- but I just figured that was my sort of luck- you know- having you right here and not- well, though we are now- but-"
"Duo, the minute I heard that you were here- and that Hilde was on L2- I quit my job and came here. For you. Only for you."
"But- after the war-"
He released my wrists and held me close. "I needed to lay low for a while- and you went off with Hilde. We hadn't talked about it and so- I didn't know what was really going on."
"We were just friends. That's all. I... was still sort of hung up on you."
"I wish I'd known."
I leaned forward and kissed him. "You're here now."
That got him to smile again. "And I'm planning on staying. So..."
"Possessive, jealous boyfriend. Very serious. Can't go on dates with anyone else."
"You are a fast learner."
I laughed and reached for his buttons. "That's not all I'm good at..."
OWARI
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