Author: Merula

Pairings: 1+2

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Cliché. Silliness. A little WAFF. Get-together fic.

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.

Oh- and I have had Heero's job in this- and I did turn all pink. It was not fun! :P

Practice Makes Perfect

Heero swore under his breath as he carefully turned the flimsy paper cone around the inside of the plastic shield. Why the hell had he volunteered for food booth duty? Course, he had pictured more of a barbequing hot dogs type of thing- not wrestling with a cotton candy machine.

His arms were both coated in pink threads and every time he licked his lips, he tasted sugar. Still, it could be worse, he consoled himself; he could be over in the kettle corn booth, slaving over the hot kettle in the 100-degree weather. He didn't even really envy the barbeque people.

Still, maybe he should've signed up for the dunk booth. Or even the water balloon toss- even though after last year's carnival Sally had banned any of the pilots from working that one. Just because they got a little competitive...

"Heero!" Sally stood in the back of the booth, grinning at him. "Finish that up- your shift is over!"

Heero quickly finished the last twist, eagerly stepping away from the machine and letting the replacements take over.

"Pink is your color," Sally teased, pulling a strand of candy off of his arm.

"Thanks," he returned dryly, pulling off as much of the floss as he could. "Next year I think I'm going to be on vacation during the carnival."

"Don't you dare! Think how much we raise for the shelters!"

"You can still raise it without me- and really- I don't think all of the money is coming from the cotton candy machine." As clean as he could get without washing, Heero followed her out of the booth.

"That's true- this year the popular thing seems to be the Kissing Booth. Sure you won't volunteer for that? I'm sure you'd rake in the cash..."

"No way in hell." Heero rolled his eyes. "I just have to find Duo, since he asked me for a ride home, and then I am out of here. I need a shower."

Sally laughed and gestured down the aisle. "He's at the Kissing Booth. Go get him- it's the end of his shift too."

He left her standing by another booth checking their take so far. The aisle was crowded, lots of people came to the annual carnival- it was a huge fundraiser as well as good PR for the Preventers.

The Kissing Booth was completely surrounded. Several people, Duo included, stood behind the counter, taking money and bestowing kisses. Heero watched, amused. The kisses were a dollar ticket each, and from what he could tell, the ticket taker at the booth was nearly drowning in them.

Duo caught his eye and grinned. "There you are, Yuy!" He called. "Come to take your turn?"

"No," Heero answered and was surprised by the faint chorus of 'darns!' from the crowd. "Still want a ride home?"

"Yes!" Duo popped out of the booth and went to the nearby tent. "Hey! Chang! I'm finished- you're on!"

"Chang volunteered?" Heero's eyebrows hit his hairline as Duo came to join him.

"Sure did. Sally talked all the pilots into it- except you." Duo's eyes twinkled. "How did you manage that?"

"Barton did it too?"

"He's on later tonight- with Quatre. I think so they can keep an eye on each other." Duo plunged into the crowd and Heero followed. "Can we stop and get a hot dog?" Duo made a face. "I'm starving- and my mouth still tastes like mint."

"Sure." Heero smiled as they joined the line for hot dogs. "I didn't realize it was that sort of kissing booth."

Duo laughed. "Oh no. Doro kept giving us mints- so we didn't scare off the patrons."

"Ah good."

"Not that some didn't try." Duo laughed. "On Wilson especially."

"I'm not surprised." Wilson was a pretty blonde who often surprised both her male coworkers and perps with the strength of her right hook. "Did she punch anyone?"

"Unfortunately no." They reached the window and Duo ordered two hotdogs and waters. Money and food exchanged hands and Duo tilted his head a little. "The tables are full. I think last year there was space behind the booths."

Sure enough, there was a strip of green between the booths and the fence that surrounded the park, empty of everyone except for a few volunteers stepping out to get a breath of air. They moved right to the edge, as out of the way as they could get and sat down.

For a few moments they ate in silence, Heero enjoying something that didn't taste of pink spun sugar.

Duo finished his hot dog and licked his lips. "I should've brought chap stick."

Heero laughed. "Tell Dorothy next year to get mint chap stick and you'll be all set."

"Ha ha." Duo rolled his eyes. "How did you wiggle out of the Kissing booth thing? Sally was set on having all of us- I was surprised you weren't on the list."

"I told her the truth." Heero's lips curved as he remembered Sally's expression. "I think it shocked her so badly that by the time she recovered I'd already signed up to help with food."

"What truth?" He narrowed his eyes at Heero. "Did you have some traumatic experience you never told your best friend about?"

"No. I told Sally that I am just not very experienced when it comes to kissing."

Duo blinked at him.

"But... Relena..."

"Only twice, during the war- and that was really bumping noses. You don't think I'm kissing her now, do you?"

"Not unless you want Chang to eviscerate you."

"Exactly." Heero finished his hot dog and wadded up the wrapper. "Shall we head out of here?" Why was Duo looking at him like that?

"Wait a minute- you mean- other than- you've never?"

"No."

"Well, don't you think you should? Young man, raging hormones and all that?"

"I haven't had much time to do that sort of thing." Heero shrugged. "I'm not like you, you know. I don't think I could stand in a booth and kiss random people all day. It would have to be someone I like and trust."

Duo sighed and stood up. "Come on. Do you have a dollar?"

"A dollar?" Heero followed suit, digging in his pocket. "Yes, but-" The light bulb went off. "Oh no, I'm not kissing Wilson- or Chang for that matter."

"Does it matter?"

"Does what matter?"

"Boy or girl?"

"No, I don't think so- but all the same-"

Duo plucked the dollar from Heero's fingers. "There we go. Now-" He snagged Heero's collar with two fingers and pulled him close. "Tilt your head-"

"Duo?"

"What? Don't you like and trust me? Tilt your head."

What else could he do? He knew from experience that arguing with Duo got him nowhere. Heero tilted his head.

"Not that much- there. Good. Close your eyes. Perfect."

Warm lips touched his, brushed against them once, twice, then pressed firmly, coaxing Heero into responding in a similar fashion. Duo's mouth opened, just a little, and Heero followed suit.

Duo tasted of mint. He wondered if he still tasted like sugar.

"Mm." Duo didn't move far, just back enough so that he could meet Heero's eyes comfortably. "Not too bad?"

"Well worth the dollar."

"Oh, that wasn't the dollar kiss. That was just the warm up." Duo chuckled and brushed his lips over Heero's again.

When Duo finally let him go after the second kiss, Heero's lips were tingling, his breath ragged in his throat.

"Okay?" Duo asked softly and Heero managed a nod.

"Very okay."

"Good." Duo tucked the dollar back into Heero's pocket and took a firm hold of his wrist. "Let's go."

"Where?" Heero asked, following Duo out towards the parking lot.

"My place. We're going to turn on the AC, order some pizza and then see what other kinds of things I can teach you."

OWARI

 

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