Author: Merula
Pairings: 1+2
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Crackfic, Discworld refs
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
Written for mechante_fille.
Library Part 1
"Can you help me?"
Heero instinctively pulled himself up on the side of one of the cases and squinted down at the person in the aisle below. No one ever asked him for help. Well, at least not after that small invasion by the Elder Gods a year or so ago. Most people were now, understandably, a little freaked out when they saw him. Not that they hadn't been before, but people had also expected to see magical mutations at the University. It was an accepted sort of thing- all that magic just lying around...
At least this one hadn't started screaming.
"I'm sorry?" He tried. "But the library isn't open yet..." How had this person gotten past the front desk? Heero usually tucked himself safely out of sight before the doors opened.
"I know." The man smiled up at him. "I have permission to be here. The Head Librarian said it was okay." He waved an empty banana skin at Heero. "Well, sort of...I mean, he gave me this after I gave him the bushel thing, and his assistant said..."
Heero relaxed and let go of the case, joining the man in the aisle. "Yeah, if he didn't rip your arms off, then you have permission." He studied the man for a moment, trying to place him. The Head wasn't usually kind to students or staff, but the man was good looking and the Head was a sucker for handsome young men bearing produce. "You must be staff?" He guessed.
The man shrugged. "Sort of. It's hard to explain. Duo Maxwell, at your service." He bowed slightly, his long braid sliding over his shoulder.
Heero touched his name badge in response. "How can I help you, Duo Maxwell?"
"I need a book. I have the number?" He handed a small piece of paper over to Heero.
"I see. It's a few aisles away. If you'll follow me?" Heero snagged his cart with one of his appendages and gestured down the aisle.
"You have a pretty damn good mutation for a librarian," Duo said as he followed Heero. "If you don't mind me saying so."
"Thanks," Heero returned after a moment. He wasn't used to people telling him that they liked his mutation. "It's useful."
"How many of those things do you have? Just the four?"
"Yes."
"Very cool. Like those statues from ancient times, but with tentacles instead of arms."
"Yes," Heero wasn't familiar with any ancient statues, but then he didn't spend a lot of time shelving in the History wing. Most of the Historians at the University had lived through those times and they didn't need to look anything up.
"I haven't seen you here before."
"I only work when the library is closed," Heero explained. "After that little problem with the Ruler and the rift..."
"Ah, I see. Yeah, a lot of people got a little nervous around anything with tentacles after that, didn't they? I heard even the calamari market took a plunge. Still, it's been a while, I'm sure you wouldn't make people nervous now."
Heero shrugged, wishing the man would drop the subject, and let go of the cart at the end of the aisle he'd been looking for. "I think it will be down here."
"Why don't you try a day shift or two?"
"I did," he said shortly, eyes on the shelves. "About two months ago. Some of the students saw me and ran."
"Maybe they were hoping you'd chase them."
"Chase them?" Heero repeated absently.
"Sure. Maybe they were secretly into tentacle sex and were hoping you would indulge them."
That made Heero look away from the shelves. "What?"
"You do know what the Ruler did with the few creatures that didn't make it back through the Rift, don't you? I mean, the library does have a pornography section, right? With up to date publications?"
"Sure it does, but only desperate people go in there."
"Why? What's wrong with-"
"The books here are magic, remember? And when grouped together like that, all of them focused on something so intense..."
"Ah, people go into the section and don't come out?" Duo's lips curved into a smile. "Bet they die happy though."
"Oh, they come out, eventually," Heero reassured him. "Just exhausted." He turned back towards the shelves, his eyes tracking the numbers. Nearly there... the book should be on the top of the next case...
A soft touch on one of his tentacles distracted him. "No one should run from you," Duo's voice was a soft hum against his ear. When had he gotten so close? "You're beautiful-" his fingers stroked Heero's skin gently. "These are beautiful."
Heero felt his face heat up. He moved abruptly away from Duo, pulling himself up to the top of the shelves. "I think your book is up here."
Sure enough, he found the dark-covered volume, pulling it off the shelf with a shiver. He lowered it carefully down into Duo's waiting hands. He should've realized they were in the demonology section... Shivering, he dropped off the shelves and hurried back towards the end of the aisle.
"Hey!" He heard Duo's footsteps behind him. "Let me thank you at least..."
"It's no problem," Heero slowed for a moment, turning around slightly. "We're supposed to help patrons. Just take it down to the desk..."
Duo caught Heero's arm, pulling him to a stop. "Please? I didn't mean to scare you..."
"It's this section," Heero said, uncomfortable. "It's past dawn, so it's safe, but..."
"I understand." Duo patted the book in the crook of his arm. "Not my favorite reading material either, but it all goes with the job."
Job? Heero blinked and wished Duo would let go of his arm. The library was going to open soon and he wanted to be out of sight.
"It's okay. I was glad to help."
"Still, I took you out of your routine. Let me say thanks." Before Heero could protest, Duo pressed him back against the shelves and kissed him.
It was like setting a match to dry tinder. Warmth flared up inside of Heero as Duo's mouth moved coaxingly over his. Rational thought fled and he wrapped all of his arms around the other man.
"Oh yesssss..." Duo murmured against his mouth and then opened his lips.
A fleeting image flashed through Heero's mind... Duo on the floor, on his knees, bound and invaded and...
He pulled away with a startled gasp, Duo blinking at him in surprise.
Heero fled.
Turning he ran for the cart, jumped on it, and flung himself at breakneck speed down the aisle. He activated the warp point and jumped down to the office behind circulation.
"Finished?" The Assistant was at her desk, her large eyes made even wider by her huge lenses. One look through those glasses had cowed many a student with a late text.
"Yes," Heero told her, trying not to pant.
"Good timing." She smiled at him. "I'm just about to go and unlock the doors. If you see the Head, let him know?"
"Of course." He waited until she was out of the office before collapsing over the cart. What was wrong with him? He'd damn near molested someone in the stacks- and he hadn't been anywhere near the pornography section!
Course, Duo had kissed him... and how long since anyone had kissed him? Let alone someone like that? And Heero hadn't been out for a long time. Maybe that was the new fashion for thanking someone?
He went and put the cart away before taking the warp point up to the attics. Some of the library staff that didn't feel comfortable out in the world had sectioned off small living spaces for themselves up here. Heero went to his, firmly closing the door behind him.
Tossing himself down on his bed, he closed his eyes. He needed rest. He just had to put the incident out of his head. After all, it wasn't like he'd see that Duo Maxwell again.
~*~
Heero checked the cart. Only a few more books on this one and then he could go down for another- easy enough to finish before the library opened. He was proud of himself. He'd managed to do more than usual. Course he was just trying to keep his mind off of yesterday morning, but still... this was good. He wasn't thinking about...
"Hey."
The book dropped from his hands. Before he could move, Duo grabbed one of his appendages, wrapping his fingers around it tightly.
"No running away," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I want to talk to you."
Oh damn it. He was mad...
"I'm really sorry... I didn't mean... it's been a long time..."
"Come and talk to me." Duo tugged him down the aisle. Heero followed, unsure.
Duo led him into one of the empty study rooms and closed the door. Heero moved into a corner of the tiny room, wrapping his arms around himself, pulling his tentacles in close.
"I'm not mad," Duo said, his expression faintly chagrined. "I'm not. Are you? I know I was kind of pushy yesterday... but I had been waiting so long to meet you..."
"Meet me?" Heero echoed.
"I work for the University too," Duo smiled. "I'm in the security force, misuse of magic section."
Oh. Well that explained why Duo hadn't freaked out at the sight of him. Most of the security force had some sort of scary mutation- made them more effective, according to the Dean.
But... he hadn't noticed anything about Duo... but then not all mutations were physical either.
But why would a security guard want to meet him?
When he said that to Duo, the other grinned. "You know that not all the mutations happen spontaneously right? Sometimes the magic has to be... encouraged?"
"Right," Heero nodded.
"Well, that happened to me. So I had to have one of the 'helpers'. Yours in fact."
Oh. Heero vaguely remembered someone talking about that after his mutation. They'd taken a vial of his blood to preserve for some future worker. Just in case...
"Mine?" He studied Duo carefully. Supposedly the helpers resulted in similar mutations, but...
"I know. I didn't get tentacles... not exactly." Duo moved a little closer, reaching out with a careful hand. "I wish I did. I'm jealous of yours. But your blood gave me something nearly as good- and I've wanted to meet you for a long time to say thanks. And then I saw you... and..." His fingers brushed Heero's cheek. "Well, I got a little carried away."
"I don't understand..."
Duo's braid lifted itself up and shot out, impossibly longer than it had been a moment ago, wrapping around Heero's waist and pulling gently.
"We're a lot alike. A mutation that makes people nervous- although that's a good thing in my job!" Duo smiled faintly. "Lonely... you are, aren't you?"
"Yes," Heero admitted, letting Duo pull him closer.
"I think we could help each other... in a lot of ways." And Duo kissed him again.
Heero was inclined to think Duo was right.
TBC...
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