Author: Merula
Pairing: 1x2
Warnings: Yaoi, fluff
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own GW.
This is... fluff. Cliché fluff. But someone sort of nudged me, and I was unhappy with the end on the ficlet, so I stretched it out til I was happy. If you read the Vday post, you'll recognize the beginning of this one. And now I want a pop tart, and I don't even really like pop tarts.
Poptart
Duo leaned on the counter, a cup of coffee clutched in one hand, the other lazily scratching at his chin. He suppressed a yawn and tried to prop his eyelids open a little more as his roommate walked into the kitchen.
"Morning," Heero said in response to Duo's sleepy wave. "Don't you have an early meeting this morning?"
"Mmhm," Duo gave himself a little shake. "Uh. Yeah. Trying to wake up." He took a sip of coffee and immediately yawned again.
Beside his elbow, the toaster chimed and a small square popped into view. Duo started to reach for it, but Heero was quicker. His hand flashed over Duo's shoulder, grabbed the pastry and retreated before Duo could do more than blink.
"Hey! That's my last Pop-Tart!"
"You want it? Come get it." Heero stepped back, the Pop Tart held just out of Duo's reach.
"What kind of friend are you? Stealing your roomie's breakfast!"
"This is barely a food item, let alone breakfast. I'm doing you a favor."
"You got a better idea?"
"If you get your ass in gear, we can stop by the French bakery this morning on the way to work."
Duo looked much more alert at the thought. "Oh... they have good coffee..."
"And real fruit tarts. I'll buy you one if you can be ready in fifteen."
"Ten," Duo shot over his shoulder, already on his way out of the kitchen. "And Heero?" His voice floated down the hallway. "Thanks-"
Heero leaned on the counter, the forgotten Pop Tart still in hand. "Anything for you, Duo," he said softly and sighed.
He put the Pop Tart into the fridge, knowing that Duo would look for it later and left the kitchen.
~*~
Wrapping his fingers around his still-warm coffee cup, Duo tried to focus on the notebook screen in front of him. Damn, he hated these sorts of meetings- especially at this hour of the morning. Course, it would be worse after lunch- and unbearable at the end of the day.
He turned slightly and caught Trowa's eye. His friend was managing to look interested in what was being said, but Duo knew better than to be fooled by Trowa's facial expressions.
"See you managed to get to the bakery this morning," Trowa said when the group leader invited them to discuss the current topic among themselves for a few minutes. "It had to be a little early for you-"
"Heero gave me the incentive," Duo admitted and Trowa smirked.
"Incentive, hmm? And what sort of incentive did he offer?"
Rolling his eyes, Duo snorted. Trowa had such a warped mind. "Nothing like you're implying. He stole my last Pop Tart."
"I didn't think Heero would even touch one of those things."
"Hey, don't talk about my breakfast pastry like that. It's a very versatile food!"
"Calling it a 'food' is stretching it a bit, Duo. So, Heero took your Pop Tart?"
"Yes, and told me he'd buy me a real fruit tart and coffee if I could be ready in fifteen minutes."
Trowa shook his head and lowered his voice as the presenter started up again. "When are you going to give that poor guy a break, Duo?"
"Huh?" Duo blinked at him. Heero needed a break? "Hey- I'm a great roommate- he's never complained!" That Duo knew of- had he said something to Tro?
"You are so clueless." Trowa heaved a sigh and leaned back in his chair as Duo frowned. What the hell was Trowa getting at? Was Heero complaining about Duo being a bad roommate? Did he really object to having to have Pop Tarts in the cupboards?
Trowa reached over and stuck a post-it note on the top of Duo's screen. He's in love with you, idiot.
A moment later, Duo remembered to breathe. He closed his mouth and shot Trowa a look. That wasn't funny. Heero didn't- shit, Heero wouldn't- there was no way in hell-
Another post-it joined the first. Since the second war. Ask Q if you don't believe me.
Right. No way was he going to do that. Bad enough Trowa was pointing out something that he should've seen... wait a minute. Should have seen?
Well, when he thought about it... it was sort of obvious. Sort of. It wasn't like Heero was the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, but...
Oh hell. What should he do now?
~*~
Heero walked out to the parking garage to find Duo sitting on the hood of his car, waiting patiently. "Sorry I'm late," he said and Duo shrugged.
"It's okay. I haven't been out here very long myself. That stupid morning meeting led into a series of inspections... it's been a long day."
Sliding into the car, Heero winced slightly as his shoulder brushed the back of the seat.
"What's wrong?"
"Got bruised on the course this afternoon," Heero buckled his seatbelt and made a slight face. "Rookie hit me instead of the target."
"Did you kick his ass?"
"I referred him to Chang for extra lessons."
"That was evil."
"He hit me twice on accident. I think he deserved evil."
"Twice? That's it- you win."
"I win?"
"Yep- your day was worse than mine. I wasn't training rookies and dodging their mistakes. I'll make dinner."
Heero smiled in spite of himself as they pulled out of the garage. "You mean, you're going to call for pizza."
"Well, I was thinking Chinese actually." Duo nudged him gently with an elbow. "Unless you prefer that I cook?"
"No. Chinese sounds fine."
"You just don't like my cooking."
"That's not true- I just don't want a reheated Pop Tart for dinner."
"Like I'd give you my Pop Tart. You wouldn't appreciate it's subtle flavors."
"That's true enough." Heero frowned inwardly. Something was... off with Duo. He couldn't pin it down, couldn't say exactly what it was, but as they continued to bicker over the nutritional and taste value of a Pop Tart, Heero studied Duo out of the corner of his eye.
He seemed... nervous. Twitchy almost. Usually on the way home, Duo was relaxed- but he was tugging at his sleeves, drumming his fingers on the armrest... This was definitely nervous movement- and what did Duo have to be nervous about? Had something else happened during the day? He turned it over in his mind, waiting for an opening.
"How did the inspections go?" Heero managed to slip in the question as they were getting out of the car.
"Oh, fine, fine. Our departments all know what to do when they see those guys coming. We just had to wander along with and listen to their suggestions- you know how it goes."
"Trowa was there too?"
"Uh huh." Duo opened the front door and Heero nodded to himself. Something had happened with Trowa today. But what? What could Trowa say that would make Duo nervous?
Once inside, Duo fished out his phone. "Usual order?"
"Yes, thanks." Heero headed back to his room to change out of his uniform, still turning over the possibilities in his mind. What had Duo so wound up?
He had removed his uniform, pulled on a pair of sweatpants and had just opened the drawer to retrieve a t-shirt when he heard Duo stop in his doorway. He turned, frowning at the sight of his roommate hovering nervously in the doorway. "Duo?"
"It'll be here in twenty minutes or so."
"Great," he said and waited. Duo remained in the doorway, looking even more twitchy. "Duo- you okay?"
"Me? Sure. I'm fine."
Heero allowed the doubt he was feeling at that statement to color his voice. "Are you sure? Because it seems like something has been bothering you all the way home. Today really went okay?"
Duo froze, and for a moment, Heero wondered if he was going to bolt down the hallway. But then, he took a deep breath and- "I talked to Trowa about the Pop Tart," Duo blurted out and Heero blinked.
What?
"Okay," he tried. He put the t-shirt down and approached the twitchy Duo in the doorway. "And...?"
Duo closed his eyes and sighed. "That didn't come out right."
"No kidding. Try again."
Duo opened his eyes and Heero recognized his do-or-die expression. "He pointed out that you're in love with me."
It was Heero's turn to close his eyes and take a deep calming breath. Damn it... he was going to kill Barton...
"Duo- it's-"
"It's okay. I mean, it's good." Heero opened his eyes and frowned.
"It's good?" he repeated.
"It's- oh hell-" Duo stepped closer and pressed his mouth to Heero's.
Only the insistent ringing of the doorbell brought them back to reality.
"Dinner," Heero prompted when he pulled away a little and Duo had growled at him. "That's dinner."
"I'm going," Duo scowled. "But you stay right here. I want to continue-"
"I won't move," Heero promised and didn't bother to stifle the smile that rose to his lips as Duo dashed towards the door, swearing under his breath.
Maybe he wouldn't kill Barton after all.
OWARI
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