Love-child fic Part 2
"Duo?" Heero's voice was soft. "Can I ask a question?"
I turned away from my preflight checklist to find him standing in the doorway, one hand on the wall beside him.
I had a feeling I knew what he was going to ask about. I had seen the way he'd eyed the walls when he come on board. I knew it looked odd- all the hallways, all the walls in the cabin- covered with words in a rainbow of inks. I never really had to explain it to anyone before.
"I don't like plain walls," I told him and he smiled.
"So- that's what all this writing on the walls is?" He asked and his fingers tapped the doorframe again. "An easier version of decorating?" There was a tone I couldn't quite identify in his voice and I wondered what it was.
"Sort of," I lifted a shoulder in a half shrug and felt my face grow warm. "I just write down stuff I find that I like."
He looked at the cabin, scanning the lines, and then met my gaze again, lips slightly curved. "You must like a lot."
"Well- not much else to do on runs other than listen to music, watch vids or read." I felt the corner of my mouth twitch and tried to control it. "And contrary to popular belief, I do know how to read." I swallowed hard. Where had that come from?
Heero tilted his head to the side. "That was Wufei who gave you a bad time about reading," he said mildly. "I never claimed you didn't know how to read- and all Chang really objected to was your reading material."
"Oh-" I blinked. I wasn't sure I remembered it quite that way, but maybe Heero had a point. "Yeah, guess comic books weren't his thing."
"Graphic novels," Heero corrected me. "That's what you always called them. I liked the ones I managed to read." He looked at the walls. "Did you quote any of them on your walls? If not, you should."
Heero had...? "You read them?"
"Sure, you left them everywhere. It was hard not to." Heero looked back at me. "Is it okay if I do the cooking?"
His abrupt change of subject threw me. "Uh, yeah I guess. Though you don't have to-"
"I looked in the kitchen and saw what you've been surviving on." He shuddered. "Freeze-dried ration packs? That's not food."
"It's easy and I don't burn them." I countered. "You ate them during the war all the time."
"I've learned somewhat better. Do you mind if I handle the restocking of the galley, or have you already done it?"
"Nah, it's one of the last things I do." I gestured to the keyboard. "Go ahead and place the order."
"Thanks." He sat down and as his fingers began flying over the keyboard, I forced myself to concentrate on my checklist. Better to focus on that then wondering why Heero seemed so accepting of my odd decorating scheme- or how he had managed to read my books without me noticing. True, I had left them everywhere, but I always knew where I left each one. 'Chaotic order', Quatre used to call my rooms in those safehouses, and I guess it was true.
An hour later a soft chime indicated the arrival of the supplies. Heero went to unpack them. He'd helped me with my preflight list, so all I had to do was double check the flight calculations and wait for the client. It was nice having a partner- I had to admit that- but who knew how we'd do once out in space.
One of my quotes caught my eye: A beginning is the time for taking care that the balances are correct. I had it up by my chair so I'd see it on launch- but it was apt now. Heero and I were beginning a new partnership.
Hopefully we'd find our balance.
The chime interrupted my thoughts. That would be the client. I braced myself as I headed out to the bay to meet him. I never really liked dealing with Stan. He was the guy 'dirty old man' had no doubt been invented for- and honestly, if he didn't pay well, I'd have refused to deal with him ages ago.
"Duo!" He leered at me as I joined him. "So good to see you."
"Thanks," I offered him my hand and resisted the urge to wipe it on my jeans afterwards. "So- is it just one crate this time?" I eyed the box next to him. Stan ran a booming parts business for the colonies- and occasionally someone wanted a part immediately and was willing to pay very well to get it fast.
"Be careful with this baby," he said patting the crate. "This has a few parts for a very special customer. You heading right to L4? No other stops?"
"No other stops." I assured him.
"Good."
I handed him the clipboard with the paperwork on it. "Just sign here."
As usual, he didn't just sign. "Say- when are you planning on taking off?"
"I have clearance to leave in about 45 minutes," I told him, reducing the time a little. I knew what happened when I said I had time to spare. "Hopefully I can get everything done before then."
"You never stay here very long," he complained. "Always rushing off."
"I'm a delivery man," I reminded him. "That's my job."
"You know, my offer still stands-"
Oh no. Not again. "I know, but really..."
"Come on Duo! A better ship- only have to work a few days a week and all I ask is that you keep me company." He leaned closer to me and I took a step back. "I wouldn't even mind if you had a few on the side- on the other colonies, you know?"
"I'm- not really into that-" I managed. "If you'd just sign the paperwork-"
"It's not like you'll get an offer that can beat it. I mean- you aren't the best looking thing on the market- not with that hair-but..."
My fist clenched.
"Duo," Heero's voice wasn't loud, but it carried- like a tiger's growl. "Need me to load the crate?"
Stan's jaw dropped open as he stared over my shoulder. I turned to find Heero standing in the hold. His shirt had vanished, his jeans were half-unbuttoned, but those black gloves were still there and I wondered wildly if he always took his clothes off to work in the kitchen- and if he did, how I could manage to watch.
"Uh-" I tried, hoping my own jaw was attached.
Heero smiled and strolled past me, nodding at Stan and bent to pick up the crate before I could stop him. I knew it had to be heavy but Heero shouldered it easily and headed for the hold. The back view was nearly as good as the front, I thought and turned back to Stan reluctantly.
"Sign please?" I nudged and he did so, mouth still gaping open.
"Who was that?" he managed as he finished.
I grabbed the clipboard out of his hands. "My new co-pilot." I wasn't very happy at the speculative look in his eye so I glanced at my watch. "Whoa, look at the time." I headed for the hold at a fast clip and hoped he didn't follow me.
Heero was securing the crate to the wall of the hold, so I closed the cargo doors to make sure Stan stayed outside and joined him.
"Who was that?" He asked me with a frown as he tightened the last strap.
"Our client for this run." I rolled my eyes at him. "Stan. Luckily we only have to deal with him on L2."
"Do we have to deal with him at all?" Heero followed me back to the main cabin. "He was..." He paused as if searching for the word, "rude."
I realized he must've heard part of my conversation with Stan. "Well, yeah. He's a prick. But he pays well."
Heero snorted softly and picked up his shirt from where it was draped over the back of the co-pilot's seat. I sat down in my chair and automatically hit the button that opened my music file.
"Singin' yo ho, crack your back in two,
As you pull the oar of the galleon..."
"Appropriate," Heero commented, and I reached for the button again, remembering how he'd objected to me blasting my music in the old days. At least he'd never heard the stuff I'd played in 'Scythe...
"Sorry-"
"Don't." He shook his head at me. "I like it." He sat down in the chair and frowned. "What?" He reached underneath his leg and pulled out a slightly squished looking stuffed animal.
"Oops. I forgot that was there." I reached for it, but Heero didn't let go of it. "Hilde's kid gave that to me."
He stared at the animal, puzzled. "A stuffed rat?"
"It's a hamster." I corrected. "His name is George."
"George?"
"The kid named him," I explained and wondered if Heero had spent any time around kids at all. "He thought I needed someone to share my thoughts with, even if he couldn't talk back."
I bit my lip. That came out- not quite right. I waited for Heero to make a comment, say something scathing, but all he did was lean over and put George securely in one of the jumpseats. Then he turned back to the console and smiled at me before starting his part of the launching procedures.
Well hell. Maybe this would work after all.
Once we were away from the station I set the autopilot and turned to grin at him. "Well, we got through launching. All we have to do is not kill each other for the next 48 hours and we've got the beginning of a good partnership."
Heero sighed and stretched a little in his seat. "I hope so, because I'm tired of looking for work."
"Well, if you hadn't been so grumpy with those crews..."
He frowned at me. "They were unprofessional, failed to perform proper checks most of the time and were unreliable in emergency situations."
I couldn't disagree. Heero had been working with pick-up crews- and most of them were like that. Still- "I suspect your standards are a bit high."
He snorted. "You've met them."
I wasn't sure if I should be pleased by the compliment or wonder if I'd been insulted. Before I could react, Heero pointed over my shoulder.
"Should that red light be flashing?"
I turned and looked.
"Shit!"
TBC...
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