Library Part 2
Heero put the last cart away and nodded at the Assistant. "Finished," he said softly and headed for the warp point.
"Two nights off," she reminded him. "No sneaking out to work, okay?"
"Okay."
"Don't make me tell that handsome guy of yours to keep you busy." She added and smiled at the color that rose in his face.
Heero quickly activated the warp point that went up to the attics and headed for the sanctuary of his room. He knew the Assistant was teasing, but he still wasn't too used to having someone to be teased about.
Unlocking his door, he stepped inside, one hand reaching for the light switch. Before he reached it, he was seized around the waist and pulled backward, off his feet and down onto his bed.
"Oof!"
"Hello!" A familiar cheerful voice greeted him and the braid wrapped around his waist squeezed him tightly for a moment in welcome. Then it shot across the room and flipped on the light.
"Duo," he looked up into his lover's face and shook his head. "What are you doing here? You work today-"
"Not for a bit. I knew I had time to sneak in a visit." Duo kissed his nose and grinned. "Besides, your lock is easy to pick."
Heero rolled his eyes. "I'm not sure the campus security is supposed to pick locks-"
"Of course we are! You've met the faculty- you know half of them can't find their heads most of the time- let alone their keys!"
"Duo-" Before he could finish, Duo kissed him, and his retort was lost. He wrapped all of his arms around his lover, holding him close. Duo sighed happily against his lips.
"Maybe I should call in sick..."
"I have tonight off," Heero reminded him, loosening his grip and trying to frown.
"Tomorrow night too, I know," Duo put his head down on Heero's shoulder. "It's just- I never get to see as much of you as I want."
"I'm sorry." Heero wasn't sure it would be a good idea for Duo to see him all the time. Wouldn't he get bored of Heero faster that way?
Duo sighed. "It's okay- it's just hard since our schedules don't match up very often."
"They do tonight," Heero reminded him and brushed a kiss over Duo's forehead. "As for the rest... I don't know what to do..."
"Well, I was thinking," Duo propped his head up on his hand and smiled down at Heero. "Maybe- maybe you could meet me for lunch today?"
Heero froze. He couldn't help it. "Duo-"
"It's raining- pouring really- no one would look twice- I brought you a raincoat- and once you were in the security offices- it's like here- everyone has at least one mutation-"
"Duo-"
"Please Heero?"
Heero pushed himself away, rolling closer to the small glass window beside his bed. It was raining out there- the few students he could see were wrapped up in raincoats or under umbrellas. The rain was coming down hard- and he didn't have to walk that far to the security office...
But the last time he'd ventured from the library... his throat closed at the memory.
"I... I can't, Duo. You know what happens when people see me. After that thing with the rift... I tried- you know I did- three months ago- those girls saw me-"
"And I told you that they more than likely wanted you to chase them." Duo reached out and ran a gentle hand down one of Heero's arms. "But no one is going to see you- not under a raincoat!"
"I tried a coat. One time- I did."
"What happened?"
"A girl dropped her books near me- I forgot- reached for them with the wrong arm- popped the coat's seams..."
"But you won't forget this time. Please Heero? Try for me?" Duo moved closer, wedging himself in beside Heero and the window. "I... I miss you, during the day. I want to see you- I want you to see where I work- I want to share that with you."
"I'll try," he said and wondered at himself.
Duo smiled and Heero's heart skipped a beat. "That's all I ask. Just try." He kissed Heero again and slid off the bed. "I have to get to work. My lunch is at two- okay?"
"Okay."
Duo patted the long yellow coat that was draped over Heero's one chair. "Here's the coat- it's an old one of mine, so don't worry about ruining it. Not that you will. You'll do great, I know you will." Duo darted back for another lingering kiss. "See you at two." Heero watched the door close behind him and then laid his head on the cool glass of the window.
How was he going to do this? It wasn't that he liked being cooped up in the Library all the time- but after the Rift opened and the Elder Gods had attacked the city- well, anything with tentacles made people nervous. Understandably so...
What would Duo do if Heero didn't meet him for lunch? Would he really understand? Or... or would it be the end of their relationship? Heero wouldn't blame him... it couldn't be easy dating someone who spent all their time either in the stacks or in this cramped room... it had been a month after all... it was possible Duo was getting tired of things... maybe this was his excuse to break things off?
He wrapped all of his arms around himself and curled up on the bed. Maybe it wouldn't be raining at two... maybe that could be his excuse...
~*~
Duo left the library, casting one glance up at the windows on the very top floor. He couldn't see Heero, but maybe Heero could see him.
Had he been too pushy today? He flipped his hood up and started trudging towards the security building. Maybe he had. Maybe he should've tried something easier- a late night walk of the campus? Maybe just a trip to the roof of the library?
He sighed and wished that he'd done a better job thinking this whole thing through. He worried about Heero- it couldn't be good for anyone being stuck in the library all the time- and that cramped little room in the attic barely had enough space to turn around in!
Besides... he knew it was selfish of him- but he wanted Heero with him- wanted to move the shy shelver into his apartment- wanted Heero where he could see him all the time... It had only been a month, but he knew he didn't want to let Heero go. It was hard not to push for too much too fast- Duo knew that he loved Heero and wanted to be with him always- but that didn't mean the feeling was mutual. Maybe he had pushed for too much today...
But Heero needed to realize that he had no reason to be afraid to be outside anymore. Sure, right after the rift incident people had been frightened- but now? Now Heero would more likely have people propositioning him than running away in fear. Duo frowned at the thought. Heero was exotic- his mutation was one that didn't occur often among the workers at the college- and Duo knew all too well how creative Heero could be with his extra limbs... his mind wandered off on a happy tangent.
A cold rivulet of water running off the edge of his hood and onto his nose jerked him out of his pleasant memories. Swearing under his breath, he tugged up his hood and wished the Arch-Chancellor had agreed to the proposal to put warp points all over campus. He'd turned the proposal down, Duo heard, because he thought the staff and students could do with some healthy exercise. Which was ridiculous, because most of the staff barely left their buildings. The library was the exception and Duo wondered if the Librarian had somehow bribed the Arch-Chancellor...
He looked back up at the library once again and sighed. Would Heero show up?
Heero said he'd try- and hopefully he'd do well- would make it to the security office. Once there, Duo knew his coworkers would be friendly- that wasn't a worry. He could even walk Heero back himself as part of his rounds. If it didn't work, then he'd just have to try something else- maybe a smaller step...
Checking his watch, he increased his pace- today would not be a good day to be late- his boss was cranky as it was and bad weather just made him crankier...
~*~
The alarm went off at one and Heero rolled over to hit the button. Leaning forward a little, he peered out the window. If anything, the rain seemed worse now.
Still... maybe Duo was right. The students he could see were hurrying along, heads bent, not looking at anything around them.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled himself out of bed and headed for the bathroom. One step at a time...
Once he was cleaned and dressed, he picked up the raincoat that Duo had left for him. How to do this part? The coat would reach his ankles- long enough to cover- but so had the one he'd tried last time...
Maybe... He wrapped his extra arms around himself tightly. Maybe this would work- if he was holding himself under the coat, he might not be tempted to let one slip? He pulled the coat on and zipped it up.
Not too bad, he thought, examining himself in the mirror. He looked a little bulky, but more like he'd just pulled on a sweater or two- and it was cold out there... he shouldn't get any odd looks...
Unless he forgot himself again...
Glancing at the clock, he realized that he'd have to leave now if he wanted to be on time. He squared his shoulders and pulled open his door. He could do this.
Hurrying down the hallway to the warp point, he didn't let himself think about what he was doing- instead he focused on the time- couldn't be late- and Duo- Duo who would be waiting at the end...
As he hurried through the lobby, his spirits rose a little. The lobby was full of students coming and going, standing and talking, sitting and studying. None of them looked twice at him. He reached the doors and pulled his hood up before plunging outside.
The rain-drenched wind hit him in the face the moment he stepped outside. It smelled good- not dry or dusty- and he stood for a moment, taking in deep breaths of it. Then he turned his steps towards the Indeterminate Studies building- the security office was right behind it. He'd never been there; even before the rift, but Duo had described it often enough that he was sure he could find it.
Sure enough, the building was tucked in against the side of the larger one, half screened behind a group of trees. Heero was glad to see it. The spot between his shoulders was aching- and if he squeezed himself any tighter trying to keep his extra arms in place, he was going to leave bruises.
Still- no one had even looked twice at him during his journey. Duo had been right about that.
And it felt so good to be out...
Hesitantly he stepped inside the security offices and pushed back his hood. There was one guard at the front desk, who looked up from his book as Heero came in and gave him a sharp-tipped smile. Heero mentally congratulated him on that mutation- bet that came in handy when dealing with rowdy students...
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Duo Maxwell?"
"Down the hallway- last door on the right."
Heero nodded his thanks and moved down the hallway, past several empty offices. Where was everyone? Still, Duo had said being a guard at the campus was not an easy job- more than likely everyone was out working. Especially in this sort of weather where people would be cramped up inside with each other - bad enough with normal people- but with magic students...
Voices floated through the air, a jumble of sounds, sorting themselves out as he got closer to the end of the hallway.
"So, Maxwell, you're looking a little singed!"
"Singed? Hardly! Chang took the brunt of it. Can't you tell by the smell of roast feathers?"
"So that's what that is?"
"You could've helped!"
"I did help! I told you to duck!"
"After she tossed the fireball."
"Well, how would I know she was going to toss it? I'm not psychic! Take Winner with you next time."
Heero paused in the doorway. Duo was there, surrounded by a group of other guards, the center of attention. Heero wasn't surprised. He watched them laugh and joke with each other, watched as Duo ducked a playful blow aimed at his head-
And then turned around and walked quickly back down the hallway.
He didn't know what it was... didn't know why he felt the need to get out of there fast... but he did. He turned and nearly fled down the hallway.
"Hey!" The guard at the front desk hailed him as he scurried past. "Didn't you find Maxwell?"
"Yes," Heero answered. "But... he was busy. I'll... talk to him later..." He hurried out of the building, not bothering to pull his hood back up, just wanting to get away...
~*~
Duo looked up at the clock and frowned. Ten past- and Heero was not the type to be late.
"Are you going to go to lunch?" His partner asked and Duo shook himself.
"I think I'm going to head over to the library..."
"You really can't leave that poor guy alone, can you?" Chang teased. "Doesn't he sleep during the day?"
"It's not that," Duo defended himself. "It's just- well, I sort of tried to convince him to come meet me for lunch today..."
"Duo! You didn't!" Chang frowned at him. "You said yourself the guy was scared to set foot out of the library."
"I know. But it is raining and I brought him a coat to cover up with. I thought if he could get here at least-"
"And so you left him to do it by himself?"
Duo sighed. "Dumb huh?"
"A little insensitive. Couldn't you have at least gone to meet him and walked him back here? We could've done it as part of our rounds."
"I wish I had thought of that." Duo got to his feet and pulled his coat on. "Heero did say he'd try though- I just hope that he didn't try and have something bad happen to him like last time..."
"The girls screaming?" Chang shook his head. "That's nothing. You'd better hope none of the Ruler's people spotted him and whisked him off to the Palace. You know how fond he is of those creatures that got left behind when the Rift closed."
Duo headed for the door, wishing Chang hadn't mentioned that...
"Maxwell!" Al, the front desk guy, hailed him as he walked past. "What were you guys doing back there? Someone came to see you and-"
Duo didn't let Al finish. "Who? Where did he go? Did he give a name? What did he look like? "
"He didn't give a name- dark hair, blue eyes- the rest of him was bundled up in a raincoat. He walked back there, but came tearing out a minute later- said you were busy and he'd talk to you later."
Busy? But-
"Did you see which way he went?"
"No, sorry." Al lifted an eyebrow. "Someone you were expecting?"
"Yeah. That was Heero."
"I thought he didn't leave the library!"
"He doesn't. He said he'd try for me today- "
Al looked apologetic. "If I had known, I would've grabbed him."
"It's okay. I still have some time- I'm going to go over to the library and..."
The floor lurched beneath his feet as a gigantic explosion rocked the building. Duo ducked as the windows shattered, covering his eyes and cursing under his breath. The radio on Al's desk came to buzzing life as guards all over the campus started calling in.
"Another damned mage duel," Duo swore as he picked himself up the floor. "Where?"
"Right above us, top of Indeterminate Studies- we need to get out and then establish a perimeter..."
~*~
Heero's steps slowed once the library was in sight again. What was he doing? Why hadn't he just stepped into that room? What had scared him so badly? The lobby of the library had been more crowded than that and he hadn't had any problems...
All he had to do was step into that room, and Duo would've seen him... and so would all of the others, he realized and shivered. Was that it? Why? It's not like they didn't have their own mutations- the guy beside Duo had sported a huge pair of wings for gods' sake!
What was wrong with him? Had all that time stuck in the library warped him somehow?
Before he could wonder further, the earth slipped under his feet and he fell to the ground. What was happening?
"Mage duel!" One of the students near him shouted. "Quick! Get under cover!"
Heero got to his feet and turned in place, trying to figure out where the duel was happening. This sort of thing was highly frowned upon by the Arch-Chancellor, but it still happened. Mages were just as human as anyone else- and when they got mad- things tended to explode.
And people got hurt...
An unnatural flash of light caught Heero's attention. It looked like the duelists had chosen the top of a building to start their fun on. It wasn't the Library- even angry mage students weren't stupid. The last pair that had tried something in the Library had been dealt with by the Librarian... and no one had ever tried it again.
What building was that? Heero's heart leapt into his throat when he realized it was the Indeterminate Studies building- which meant the security office- and Duo- were right underneath...
He took off at a run.
TBC...
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