Author: Merula
Pairings: 1+2
Rating: PG
Warnings: Fluffiness, Duo POV
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
Falling Into
It was the cat's fault.
You might think it childish of me- to blame something on a cute fuzzy animal- but that sadistic beast obviously planned it from the start.
It was my first day off in weeks. We'd had a really bad case and for weeks I had simply been coming home to snatch a few hours sleep, shower and feed the damn beast before rushing back to work.
When the case was finally over, Une gave Heero and I a week off. I don't know what his plans were- but I started my time off with a solid 12 hours of sleep. Once I pulled myself out of bed, I realized that I didn't have anything clean to wear, so I pulled on a pair of cut-offs and piled the laundry up in a heap to carry down to the basement to wash.
The laundry probably saved me from breaking my neck.
As I was heading down the stairs, I didn't notice my cat resting on one of the steps- though she apparently saw me- or maybe a dangling sleeve. I don't know. Maybe I stepped on her- though I don't think I did.
All I know is as I stepped down to the third step- something sharp grabbed my ankle and dug in.
I yelped, flailed... and lost my balance.
Which is how I ended at the bottom of my basement stairs in a heap of laundry- with an ankle that was turning a lovely purple color and what I hoped was just a banged-up knee. I didn't hear anything crunch- but then I was screaming at the top of my lungs as I fell- so I might have missed it.
I made a face at my ankle and prodded at my knee. It hurt. This was not good. I couldn't have just injured one leg- oh no. The bruised ankle was on the opposite leg. I looked at my basement stairs. It was going to hurt like hell getting back up those again...
My cat was now on the top step, licking her paw and looking satisfied.
I tossed a rolled up towel at her- and missed.
"See if I give you anymore catnip!" I snarled at her. She gave me an unconcerned look and wandered off.
Why hadn't I gotten a dog?
I looked down at my legs and mentally braced myself. Standing was going to hurt. Before I could lever myself up however- an angel appeared.
"Duo?" He was standing in the doorway, looking down on me with concern.
Okay, so it was just Heero, not an angel, but at that moment it seemed like a miracle that he was there.
"Duo? What the hell happened?"
"The cat tripped me."
"The cat...?" He shook his head and walked down the stairs. "Are you okay?"
"No," I shook my head as he kneeled down beside me. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm out of food." He smiled at me as he poked at my ankle. "I came by to see if you wanted to go grab breakfast or something. I let myself in when I heard you scream. This is sprained."
"I know." I wanted to deny the scream, but I knew better. I felt my face get warm.
He turned his attention to my knee and poked at it too. I tried to hide my wince when he hit a tender spot. "Just twisted a bit," he said and slid his arms around me.
Now, I have many times imagined/wished/hoped that Heero would do just that- but never when I was lying in a heap of dirty clothes at the bottom of my stairs having managed to fall over my cat and injure myself.... Was it possible to die from embarrassment?
He picked me up and headed for the stairs. "I can manage..." I protested.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "Not unless you want to stay down there."
"Not really," I admitted. "Watch out for the cat," I cautioned as he started climbing the stairs.
"I'm keeping an eye out for her," he laughed. We reached the top safely and he carried me into the living room.
Putting me down on the sofa, he asked: "Did you eat?"
I shook my head. "I just got up- but I have some bread in the freezer- and some other stuff in the cupboards. Help yourself- I think I owe you."
He smiled and tugged on my braid. "What else are partners for?" He vanished towards the kitchen as I picked up the remote.
He returned a moment later with two icepacks that he draped over my knee and ankle, and then vanished again. I heard the microwave start up as well as the thumping sound of my laundry machine.
I put my head back on the cushions, torn between mild mortification that Heero had to help me- and delight that Heero was helping me...
Heero reappeared with toast and soup, making himself comfortable on the floor next to the couch, checking my ankle and knee before settling down to eat.
"They aren't swollen," he reassured me.
"That's good." I sighed. "Hopefully they'll be better by the end of the week. This wasn't exactly how I planned to spend my time off."
"I'm sure they will be- if you rest and let them heal." Heero lifted an eyebrow at me. "And that means staying still, Duo."
"I'll try," I frowned at my ice-packed injuries.
"You will," he countered.
"Heero," I rolled my eyes at him. "I have to get off the sofa sometime you know- I can't lie here all week."
"Why not?"
"Cause I'll need to eat, feed the cat, go to the bathroom... little things like that." I reminded him.
"I can cook, feed your cat and carry you to the bathroom."
The expression on my face must've been interesting, because he laughed.
"You didn't think I was going to leave you here to fend for yourself did you?"
Well, actually I had. Was he serious?
"Don't you have other things to do...?"
He shook his head. "Not really. Paperwork to catch up on- bills and stuff- but I can easily do them here. You forget- my building has a laundry and a cleaning service. I don't have a lot of things to do."
"You don't... mind? I mean- this is your week off too..."
He smiled- a different kind of smile than I had seen before- and gave my braid a gentle tug. "Hardly. I like spending time with you."
He couldn't mean....? Could he?
Heero got to his feet, scooping up the plates. "I'll go put these in the dishwasher. Do you need anything?"
I shook my head, still arguing with myself over his last statement. I wasn't really hearing what I thought I was...
"You don't have to... I'm sure I can manage..."
He chuckled and bent over me, his mouth touching my cheek in a gentle caress.
"Heero?" Was all I got out, as I blinked up at him in shock.
"I know you can manage," he smiled. "But I want to, okay?" His eyes met mine as he waited for me to answer- and I saw the hope there... how had I missed it before?
"Okay," I reached up and pulled him down to give him a kiss of my own.
OWARI
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