Author: Merula

Pairing: 1x2

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Yaoi, AU

Disclaimer: I don¡¯t own GW.

Okay, birthday fic only.... three days late? Sorry!!

Also, yes, this universe might seem familar to some. I'm really really looking forward to Oct 7th. Even watched an oav- which didn't even have English subtitles- made Bri laugh at me too. I'm a fangirl, what can I say??

Domestica

"Maxwell's not answering."

"Then you'll have to go over there. The deadline is this afternoon." Trowa smirked at him.

Heero shook his head and closed his laptop. "If Winner asks where I went, you'll let him know?"

"Of course I will. It's all our necks on the block if we don't reach that deadline."

"I know, I know." Sighing, he stood up, grabbing his briefcase and giving his bangs a quick shake. "It's too much to hope that the phone is out of order, isn't it?"

"That's two nights without sleep talking there."

"Three. If I don't make it back, then you know that I've just given up and died somewhere on the way."

"Now, now, you know we aren't allowed to roll over and die without permission from Winner."

Heero snorted and headed towards the elevators, trying not to rub wearily at his eyes. He needed to be awake and alert to deal with this writer. Why had he wanted to be an editor again?

~*~

He paused before the door- should he even bother to knock? Pulling out his keys, he unlocked the door and stepped inside. He didn't hear anything- and Maxwell usually liked to work with the radio or TV blaring. Heero still wasn't sure how he managed to concentrate on his work with that sort of distraction, but it wasn't his place to argue it either.

Just as he closed the door behind him, his phone chimed softly. Checking the screen, he found a text from Trowa. Messenger just showed up with Maxwell's. Winner approved it. Sent to printers. We're finished; he says go home and sleep.

That was the best thing he'd heard all day. Hell, all week. But- since he was here-

Walking softly, he entered the living room. No sign of Maxwell here. After a quick search of the other rooms, Heero sighed again. If the manuscript was finished and Maxwell wasn't here- then there was only one other place he could be...

Damn it all. He was tired!

~*~

The trip to his own apartment didn't take long. Sure enough, there was a familiar pair of shoes beside his front door. He locked the door behind him and then put down his briefcase.

The couch was empty- it had been a faint hope anyway. He moved to his bedroom door and frowned. Sure enough, Duo Maxwell was spread out across his bed, both of Heero's pillows under his head, snoring softly.

Leaning over the man who stole his bed, Heero punched him in the shoulder. "Hey!"

Duo rolled over a little, his face wrinkling up. "Leave me alone, Heero. I'm sleeping!"

"In MY bed! Go home and use your own!"

"But I like yours better." Duo gave him a sleepy grin. "C'mon, I finished on time. Be a good editor and let me sleep, okay?" Before Heero could even reply, Duo had rolled over and started snoring again.

Repressing the urge to simply tip the bed thief onto the floor, Heero headed for the bathroom. He'd shower, change and then try to make himself comfortable on the couch.

Again.

He never should have taken pity on Maxwell all those months ago when his apartment had that burst pipe. It wasn't like Maxwell couldn't afford a hotel room for a few days after all. But he'd complained of not being able to work in someplace that didn't feel like a 'home' and so Heero, desperate to meet that deadline, had invited him over. Given him a key. Made him meals. Slept on the couch, while Maxwell had taken the bed.

Huge mistake.

Maxwell had- for some reason- decided that Heero's bed was the best one he'd ever slept in. So, whenever he felt that he needed some 'good sleep', he'd come over, let himself in with the key he'd refused to give back, and sleep in Heero's bed.

Heero had tried several things to stop Duo from stealing his bed- he'd encouraged Duo to go out and buy a similar bed for himself, even had offered to sell Duo his- but nothing had worked. Duo didn't like his new bed as much as Heero's and he'd claimed that Heero's bedroom was perfect for sleeping as well- good ventilation, high windows- he'd had a list.

There had to be something that he could do to stop Duo from stealing his bed- but he hadn't a clue as to what it could be.

After finishing his shower, he pulled on pajamas, considered and then decided against food, and curled up on the couch. It wasn't that it was uncomfortable- it wasn't- and as tired as he was, it felt downright heavenly.

But he wanted his bed, damn it.

And the man in it.

I'll change the locks, he told himself. I'll change the locks and get Winner to agree to giving Maxwell to another editor. That would work. Then he'd get someone who met the deadlines, didn't steal his bed- and didn't make him think about things that he shouldn't.

Tomorrow, he told himself. I'll talk to Winner about it tomorrow.

~*~

"Didn't he pull this last month?" Trowa said as Heero put down the phone. "He didn't answer because he crashed- but the manuscript was already on its way?"

"Yes, that's true-"

"Go over there, Heero. He's been late before-" Winner waved his hand towards the elevators. "We'll contact you if it shows up- and you call us if he's going to be late again."

"Yes sir." Heero stifled a yawn as he headed towards the elevators. Wasn't this all too familiar? Hadn't he promised himself that this wasn't going to happen again? Why hadn't he talked to Winner about transferring Maxwell to someone else?

The elevator doors slid open and Heero blinked. Duo Maxwell, wide awake and nearly vibrating with energy, bounced off the elevator and thrust a large envelope at him. "Here you go! I brought it myself!"

Heero's heart skipped a little at that smile.

Ah. That was why.

Maxwell peered at him for a moment. "You look terrible, Heero. Haven't you been getting any sleep?"

"No. Since some of our authors wait right for the last moment." Heero took a firm grip on Maxwell's arm. "I'm sure Winner will want to see you-"

"Oh no, that's okay. He's... sort of scary..."

"All the more reason," Heero tugged his reluctant author towards Winner's desk.

"Please? I really wanted to go to your place and get some sleep- "

Heero gritted his teeth. "You don't look like you need any."

In thirty minutes, Heero was on his way home. Maxwell had turned in his work and immediately been seized upon by one of the other editors who wanted him to do a collaboration with one of his authors. Winner had approved the material and given Heero leave to go home.

"He's gotten much better with his deadlines since I made you his editor."

"Really?" Heero grimaced. "I keep thinking he'd be better with someone else."

Winner gave him a mild glare over the tops of his glasses. "Hardly. Go home and get some sleep, Heero. We'll see you tomorrow."

~*~

Heero entered his apartment with a grateful sigh of relief. A shower, a change of clothes, and then he was curled up in his bed. Happily, he settled in to sleep.

Only to be awakened a few hours later by a soft rhythmic snore in his ear.

"Hey!"

"Shh!" Duo didn't even open his eyes. "Sleeping time. Talk later."

Some things weren't worth the fight. Heero closed his eyes and settled back to sleep. He'd really have to change those locks... and convince Winner to let him switch authors... sometime.

In the meantime, he'd just get some sleep.

OWARI

 

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