Author: Merula
Pairings: 1x2
Rating: R
Warnings: Yaoi, lime...
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
This (halloween) drabble.... well, it sort of ran away from me... and one of the words is more hinted at than actually in the fic.
Random- cauldron, fangs
Never Again Part 1 s
"I'm going to kill Quatre," Duo muttered under his breath as he flattened himself against the wall of the club and tried not to cough. The air was thick with smoke from cigarettes and fake fog from the fog machines and Duo was sure his lungs were going to be complaining for weeks. He scanned the costumed crowd again, trying in vain to locate his idiot friend who had begged Duo to go clubbing with him- and then abandoned him.
He should've known better. Ever since he'd met Quatre a few years ago at the dojo, the blond had been trying to get Duo to 'spice up his life'. This was probably the latest plan.
Duo suppressed a sigh and edged his way along the wall. The club was packed- and he'd already learned that walking through the crowd was a good way to get groped or have someone try for his wallet. Either way, it wasn't an experience he wanted to repeat. If he kept edging along the wall, he should reach the front of the club eventually.
He could wait for Quatre outside...
Shifting his drink to his other hand as a pair of enthusiastic dancers writhed in front of him, Duo took another cautious sip. The club had embraced the Halloween theme a little too enthusiastically, he decided. The cup was a mini-cauldron, the drink inside foaming with fog. It tasted terrible and he wasn't even tempted to work up a good buzz with them, free or not.
He reached a corner- and began edging along a row of curtained booths. Set back inside the wall, they were filled with low tables and cushions. Predictably, nearly every single one was occupied- and the occupants were not looking for a quiet drink. Too bad, one of these would be a good place to duck in and sit for a bit-
Even as the thought crossed his mind, he reached the last booth. It looked empty, but as he stepped inside he realized his mistake.
The dark haired man in the corner looked up with a smile, his blue eyes glinting.
"Sorry-" Duo started, his throat suddenly dry. Why was someone who looked like this sitting by himself?
"It's okay," the man crooked a finger at him. "You look like you need a sanctuary. Come in and sit down." He gestured at the set of cushions across from him, well on the other side of the table.
Duo hesitated for a moment and then sat down. The sound seemed less inside the booth and he was glad to put his drink down on the table.
"Thank you."
"No problem." The man smiled. "No offense, but you looked a little out of your depth."
"This- really isn't my sort of thing."
"Then why are you here?"
Duo rolled his eyes. "One of my friends begged me to come with him. He just had a messy breakup and well... he talked me into it."
"And then abandoned you once you got here."
"Pretty much." Duo made a wry face and the man laughed.
"I know how that goes only too well. Heero Yuy," he said and extended his hand across the table.
"Duo Maxwell," Duo said and clasped Heero's hand. The touch sent a ripple of warmth down his spine and he hastily let go. He wasn't going to do this sort of thing again. He wasn't- no matter how gorgeous this guy was. He couldn't be here by himself-
"Pleasure."
"Thanks again- I'm sure someone is joining you-"
Heero shook his head and glanced at his watch. "I doubt it. My friends were supposed to meet me here an hour ago. Either they didn't make it- or they got distracted once they got here." He rolled his eyes and cast a glance out at the dance floor. "I'm betting they're out there somewhere."
"And you aren't?"
Heero shook his head and tapped his ear. "I'm a little noise-sensitive. That's why I'm hiding out in here- it's sound proofed enough that it cuts down on the noise." He smiled, his eyes lingering on Duo's drink. "It was so loud when I got here I didn't even bother to pick one of those things up. Is it as bad as it looks?"
"It's terrible." Duo made a face. "I think I'd rather have a beer- but when I tried to get close to the bar-"
"You don't even have to tell me. I know!" Heero shook his head. "Hey- there's a bar across the street- it's not like this- it's a sports bar. The sort with TVs and pool tables and several beers on tap. What do you say we do some ditching?"
Duo cast a glance out at the dance floor. It looked even more crowded than it had a few minutes ago. Quatre wasn't going to be found easily- and it wasn't like he couldn't take care of himself.
"Sounds good."
Heero slid out of the booth and Duo followed, the noise washing over them in a wave. He saw Heero shake his head, and then the other man took a firm hold of Duo's elbow and plunged into the crowd.
He wasn't sure how Heero did it- the crowd almost seemed to move out of his way, but maybe the guy was just really adept at dodging people. The door was reached and the air outside was crisp and cool and clean.
"That's better," Heero flashed a smile at him. "There's the bar- Doyles's- see it?"
Sure enough, on the other side of the street was a small building with beer signs flashing in the windows. The inside was just as Heero had said- pool tables and TVs- and Duo's favorite beer on tap. It wasn't crowded, and the noise level was low as people drank beer, watched the games or circled the pool tables.
They claimed a pool table in the back, bought each other rounds and exchanged small talk as they played.
"Graphic designer? So an artist?" Heero lifted his eyebrow at Duo as he leaned over the table.
"Sort of. More of a computer geek really." Duo shrugged. "I don't really think of it that way. I mean, I love my job and all, but I don't really fit the stereotype. My last sigother was a little disappointed that I wouldn't play the depressed artist type."
Little disappointed was an understatement, but Duo didn't really want to go there.
"I take it he was an artist type?"
"Wanna be anyway," Duo said and then blinked at the pronoun. He hadn't said... had he?
Heero winked at him. "Guess what I do?"
"Professional pool shark."
"If I was you wouldn't have won the last two games."
Duo studied the other man. The jeans were black- designer? The shirt was a deep green and it looked tailored. The watch did look expensive...
"Lawyer?"
"Obsessed with sharks, are you? Nope." Heero took his shot and the ball dropped neatly into the pocket.
"Had some bad experiences with a few." Well one in particular. Duo circled the table and picked up his mug. Nearly empty. How long had they been here? He glanced at his watch and was astonished at the time.
"Not working tomorrow, are you?" Heero said in his ear and Duo nearly jumped. When had the other man gotten so close?
"No- not on a Saturday..."
"Worried about your friend?"
Duo shook his head. "Not really. This has- this has been a lot more fun." He turned his head and met Heero's eyes.
For a moment it was like the bottom had dropped out of the world. He swayed on his feet and Heero caught at his arm. Duo could feel the other man's warmth and his own blood sparked in his veins.
Oh, this wasn't good. He was finished with this sort of thing. Really he was...
"Maybe we should- go someplace else?" Heero's voice was barely audible, just a brush of air against his skin.
"I..." Duo started, still caught by those eyes. He should say no. He knew how this went. "My... my apartment isn't far."
"Is that an invitation?"
"Yes..."
"I was hoping you'd say that." Before Duo could reply, Heero swept them out of the bar and into a taxi. They didn't speak in the car and as they reached his building, Duo wondered what he was doing. Heero paid the taxi driver and joined Duo on the sidewalk.
"You okay?"
"Yeah... it's just... I haven't... not for a long time."
Heero's smile was warm. "I understand." He slid an arm around Duo's waist and pulled him close, capturing his mouth for a long moment.
Dazed, Duo blinked at him when Heero pulled away a little. "It's cold out here," he said against Duo's lips. "May I go inside with you?"
Duo nodded, fumbling for his keys, and he led Heero into his building.
Duo flipped the lights on in his studio, taking a moment to wince at the heap of clean laundry on the couch, his unmade bed.
Heero didn't seem to notice, his attention was on the walls. "Are all these yours?"
"Mostly," Duo shrugged a little. "Cheaper than buying someone else's art."
Away from the bar, in his own space, he once again wondered what he was doing. He'd sworn never to get involved with anyone again- and it hadn't been that hard. Lonely at times, but he'd had his work...
And now here he was with a gorgeous stranger that he'd picked up in a bar... or had picked up on him...
Heero turned away from the art and gave Duo a thoughtful look. "Come here."
Duo moved closer and Heero reached out to pull him closer still. "I don't think your friend was the only one who had a bad breakup."
A little relieved, Duo nodded. "Yeah. Told myself I wasn't going to do this sort of thing again, and yet..." He trailed off and then gasped as Heero leaned over to brush his lips over Duo's neck.
"Don't be afraid."
Before Duo could reply, Heero's mouth found his, and the fire in his blood that had sparked outside burst into flame.
One night, Duo told himself as Heero tumbled him down on the bed, his hands sliding under Duo's clothes, caressing and teasing. One night couldn't hurt...
Then it was just sensation and response, arching up into that touch, pleading for release...
As it began to build, he felt Heero's teeth nip at his neck, sending a shudder down his spine, intensifying the experience... he closed his eyes and let it wash over him.
Fatigue made his eyelids heavy as they collapsed against the pillows. "Rest," he heard Heero whisper in his ear. "Rest and heal, my heart..."
~*~
The phone shrilled by his head. Duo reached for it by sound, not bothering to open his eyes. "'Lo?" He grunted into the receiver.
"Duo? You made it home?"
"Quatre," he growled back. "Yeah, of course I did."
"When did you leave? I didn't see you go-"
"You were occupied. I left at 10." No need to tell his friend what happened...
Duo's eyes snapped open. He was alone in the bed. He sat up, eyes scanning his apartment. Only his clothes were tossed on the floor... it might have been a dream except the scent on his sheets and the, well other physical evidence... He lifted a hand to his neck and felt the faintest hint of soreness. Good thing it was cold and he could wear high collared shirts for a few days...
"Duo? Are you listening?"
"What? Cut me some slack, Q, you just woke me up."
"I said I was sorry. I didn't mean to ditch you- and I thought you might find some company..."
Duo opened his lips to reply bitterly that he'd had his fill of company, but a small slip of paper resting on the pillow beside him caught his eye.
"At a place like that?" He said into the phone instead as he reached for the paper.
"Not your type of place, I know, but, Duo, it's been over a year since..."
"Yeah, I know," Duo said and was surprised when the familiar hurt at the reminder didn't rise up inside his chest. "I have to get over it sometime, right? That's what you keep saying." It was- but for once Duo didn't feel the derision at the idea he usually did.
Maybe he had gotten over it at last?
He looked at the paper and couldn't help the smile that rose to his lips.
Sorry I had to run. I didn't want to leave, but I have to work today. Forgive me and maybe invite me over again sometime?
There was a phone number on the bottom.
"Hm?" He said into the phone when Quatre's voice rose in a question.
A sigh. "You really are out of it. If you went home at 10 why didn't you get some sleep?"
"I didn't say I went home," Duo put the paper on the nightstand and leaned back into his pillows. "And what about you? Did you just get up yourself?" He countered before Quatre could ask him the obvious question. He didn't feel like talking about his night. Not yet, anyway.
"I just got home," Quatre admitted. "Look- I'll make it up to you. Tonight-"
Duo touched the note with a gentle fingertip. "It's okay. I think I have plans tonight..."
TBC...
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