Author: Merula
Pairing: 1x2
Warnings: Yaoi, AU
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own GW.
Sin City
I looked out the window at the sea of lights. Sin City was lit up practically as bright as day. I wondered again why of all the places to get married, Quatre and Trowa had chosen this one. It seemed an odd choice for them and I wondered why this city had appealed to them.
There was a tapping on the adjoining door. Before I could move, it opened and Duo sauntered in, a smile hovering on his lips.
"Heero! You beat me here."
"I had less distance to travel," I returned the smile and accepted his brief hug. "It's good to see you."
The smile got a little brighter. "Ditto. The other guys here yet?"
"Trowa is- he left a little bit ago to meet Quatre at the shuttle port. He apologized, but he doesn't think they'll be able to meet us for dinner tonight- they have some things to do before tomorrow. Wufei and Sally are finishing up a case- they'll be flying really early in the morning."
"So, it's just us tonight?"
"I'm afraid so."
Duo rolled his eyes at me. "I wasn't complaining." He leaned over to look out the window. "Great view of the teaming masses. Did Quat say why they picked here to get married?"
I shook my head. "No. I have no idea. I was hoping you knew."
"Well, I don't think either one of them is an Elvis fan. Do you suppose Tro wanted to get married on the pirate ship?"
That made me laugh. "I can't see that either."
Duo turned around to face me, leaning back against the window. "So, what shall we do tonight? We're in Vegas, the Sinfulest of Cities- any ideas?"
The windows were tinted, softening the harsh lights, illuminating the planes of Duo's face, and it took me a moment to find my voice enough to answer him.
"We could go sightseeing."
Duo blinked at me. "Sightseeing?"
"I don't see the point of gambling. What else is there to do?"
Duo nodded. "True, don't fancy spending my hard earned cash that way- but Heero- come on! We could find something more exciting to do than that. You know that whole thing 'what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas'? We have to do something that lives up to it!"
I lifted an eyebrow at him. "You want to go to a strip club or something?"
He imitated me. "Well, don't you?"
I went to go get my jacket. "No. I'm going to go look around. Have fun and I'll see you in the morning."
"Hey!" Duo followed after me. "I'm not going by myself!"
"Why not?" I asked as I shut my door and headed down the hallway.
"Cause that wouldn't be any fun at all. Sides, I haven't seen you for months, man. How come you haven't visited me lately?"
I hit the button for the elevator and hid my sigh. I couldn't tell him the real reason... Couldn't tell him that the more time I spent with him the more I missed him, the more I wanted to be with him..
"Just busy."
He snorted. "Too busy for your best friend. And then once we meet up again, you're leaving me to fend by myself. Don't you like me anymore?"
The tone was lighthearted, but I saw the look he gave me.
Damn it.
"Of course I still like you, idiot. I just don't want to go to a strip club."
"No one said we had to- you brought it up." I frowned at him and he grinned. "It's not the best place to meet girls anyways."
"Who said I wanted to meet a girl?"
"C'mon, Lena started dating that politician, you don't have any other prospects- you don't want to be alone for the rest of your life?"
"I doubt I'll find the love of my life here in Vegas." I retorted.
"No, but you can practice."
I rolled my eyes at him as the elevator arrived at our floor. "Duo, I appreciate your concern, but really, I don't want to go out and meet girls. But," I started before he could, "I don't want you to feel like you have to hang out with me. Seriously- go out and have a good time. I just want to walk around a bit."
I got into the elevator- thankful that it was empty- and hit the button for the ground floor.
"Heero, could it really hurt to go out and at least talk to a few girls?" Duo asked, leaning against the back wall of the elevator.
"No, of course not. But I wouldn't want them to have an unrealistic expectation."
"And why would they? It's just a date."
"There's one right there- I don't date girls."
The elevator doors slid open and I stepped out into the lobby. It took me a few steps to realize that Duo wasn't right behind me.
I turned to find him. He was still in the elevator- and the look on his face...
My heart sank.
I hadn't thought he'd react that badly to it.... Crap.
Not good. I turned away from him and headed into the crowd, deliberately trying to get myself lost.
Why did he look like that? He always seemed to be fine with Quatre and Trowa! Why did he look so upset just because I was?
I found a door that led out onto the street. The sidewalks were crowded, and I could feel my shoulders tightening in response.
I let myself get caught up in it, followed along as it led past hotel after hotel, finally letting myself stop and rest by the copy of the Eiffel Tower. I put my back against a wall and forced myself to relax.
Okay, so Duo hadn't taken that news well... it wasn't the end of the world; maybe he just needed some time to get used to it?
Just like I needed time to let that weak fluttering hope that I had carried for so very long die out forever...
I watched the crowd flow around me- the couples, the singles, the people with huge Eiffel Tower shaped alcohol containers. If they drank all of that they should hope whatever they did here stayed here...
I shook myself and pushed away from the building.
The air was practically buzzing with energy. People swarmed in and out of the casinos like bees in a hive. I walked and watched, not tempted by the machines or the shops or the bars...
I wondered again why Trowa and Quatre had chosen here of all places to get married. Maybe they had some unforgettable memory of this place. Would they share it with us tomorrow?
I stopped and watched as a fountain I was passing began to boil and hiss like a mini volcano. How very bizarre.
My mind, not distracted, focused back on Duo. Damn. If only I had come up with some reason not to attend the wedding. Though maybe I could go back to the room and see if I could get an earlier flight out tomorrow. I didn't want to stay until Sunday anymore.
"This doesn't look much like an eruption." A voice said in my ear.
I blinked in surprise. Duo stood beside me, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, a frown on his lips.
"Duo?"
"You didn't have to run off on me like that." He still wasn't looking at me.
I looked back at the fake volcano. "I... I thought you needed a little time. You.... You looked a little shocked."
"Can you blame me?"
"I suppose not..."
He snorted and then bumped me hard with his shoulder. "I'm supposedly your best friend. Why didn't you tell me before?"
I shrugged. "Never really came up, I guess?"
Another snort. "All the times I've asked you about your life, asked if you were seeing someone..."
I looked over at him, turning my back on the volcano. He was giving me a narrowed-eyed look. "I haven't been seeing anyone." I lifted my shoulders. "There was nothing to tell."
He rolled his eyes and the tenseness vanished from the set of his shoulders. "Then this is a new thing for you?"
I shook my head. "Nope. Known it since the war."
He blinked. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
He looked almost depressed. "How did I miss it?"
"Duo," I nudged him with my elbow. "Please, it's not like you were looking for it. Give yourself a break."
Suddenly, I found myself wrapped in a warm embrace, Duo pressed close to me, his lips curved in a smile.
"Quite the contrary," he purred. "I was looking rather hard for any sign of it at all."
"Duo...?" He wasn't?
Was he?
"You know," he said, "I just realized a wonderful way we can spend our time here in Sin City."
He was.
"Hotel?" I asked and he grinned.
"Exactly. Let's go."
OWARI
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