Author: PlaidDragon
Pairings: 1x2, 1+R, 3+4
Warnings: Yaoi, angst, sap, Relena-bashing
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its original characters do not belong to me.
One Night
Heero Yuy took Relena Peacecraft's arm (or rather he allowed her to glomp onto him) to escort her into the hall. He felt like an exhibit on display at these functions, paraded about as "her" heroic Gundam pilot. It took a constant effort on his part not to pull out a gun and shoot her and/or himself.
A deal was a deal, though, and this was a part of his job.
Given a choice, he would have preferred a night alone with his beloved Duo, but he'd destroyed that option almost two years ago. Duo was gone, vanished into the endless night of space.
He expected nothing less after that final fight. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Duo that last time, sprawled on the floor, a hand to his face where Heero had hit him, blood running from his nose and his split lip, his braid half undone. Worst of all was the look of shocked betrayal in his amethyst eyes; the pain, the loss, the fear.
And then he was scrambling to his feet, stumbling out the door even as Heero realized what he'd done.
Still, he let him go. It was without a doubt the most idiotic thing he'd ever done. By the time he came to his senses and tried to go after him, it was too late. The braided boy was gone, vanishing as surely as if the earth had swallowed him up.
Heero never stopped looking, but Duo was as good at hiding as any of the Gundam pilots. If he didn't choose to be found, he wouldn't be, not without a lot more effort than Heero had had time to give these past two years.
He scowled to himself, casting a sidelong loathing glance at the woman on his arm. She saw to that, he knew. She'd called in his obligation, and his release from her service would come only over one of their dead bodies. Sometimes that thought had a lot of appeal...
Tonight was a good example. Relena insisted on being here, although Heero suspected that her invitation had come under duress. Relena Peacecraft would not be left out of anything, even if she had to effectively crash a Colony function on L1.
He let himself be steered around the room, well aware of the "trophy" aspect of his presence. He didn't bother attempting to be social. He hated politics, politicians and political functions. He was incapable of small talk and refused to talk about the war or his part in it. Relena didn't care; he was at her side, her grim, stoic cavalier. That was all she cared about.
/Well,/ he amended sourly, /that and trying to get into my bed./ And she'd tried every trick in the book, from simpering flattery to drugging his coffee.
Automatically he scanned the room. Security was heavy for a routine political function; way too many large, muscular men in ill-fitting tuxedos roamed the floor muttering into their collars. Except for that one... The tall slender figure in black didn't match the others, though he was obviously security. A moment's scrutiny of the body language brought a raised eyebrow of recognition.
Trowa Barton. And if Trowa was here, then Quatre Raberba Winner was in attendance. Heero's mouth curved into a tiny smirk.
No wonder Relena had to be here. God forbid she should be one-upped by Quatre, even socially.
The two young pacifists might share the same philosophy, but they approached from different directions. Quatre's views were much more pragmatic. Peaceful coexistence among all peoples was his goal, but he was well aware that some were more receptive than others and that people had to be shown what was in it for them. Quatre was very good at showing people the immediate and long-term benefits of non-violence, couched in terms the average person could understand. It helped that he was well known in the Colonies as a former Gundam pilot, the strategist of the group.
Relena might have been stripped of her title of Queen of the World, but it certainly didn't show in her dealings with others. She looked down on non-believers from her lofty tower of piety and attempted to dictate what was best for the poor fools below her. At heart, she was still a spoiled, controlling princess, not above using bribery, blackmail and threats to further her position. She was popular on Earth, but the Colonies preferred Quatre's style. She had a title, but Quatre had common sense.
Heero knew of Relena's efforts to discredit Quatre, or at least neutralize his effectiveness, and found her glaring lack of success in that area as grimly humorous as his own situation.
He'd been a fool to make a promise to a politician and he had certainly paid, was still paying for that youthful foolishness.
A flash of golden hair at Trowa's shoulder caught his eye; yes, Quatre was indeed here. A surge of warmth at the sight his former partners took his mind off Relena. He hadn't spoken to either of them since soon after taking up this yoke of duty.
"Heero, please," Quatre had said gently, when he explained why he was doing it. "I don't need to know why; I know you. Just remember that we're still friends. I know it might be difficult for you to contact us, given the situation, but the option is always open. Next week, next month, next year. Take care, Heero."
Maybe he would make an effort tonight...
Something poked his side. He looked around to find Relena preparing to elbow him in the ribs again.
"Yes, Minister?" he murmured politely.
"I was just telling Lady Mirrin that you were the leader of the Gundams during the war," simpered Relena.
"Hn. There was no 'leader'; we had a job to do and we did it."
"Oh, surely you're being too modest," the woman protested archly. She was old enough to be his mother (he supposed; not having known his mother, it could only be a guess), but the look in her eyes was anything but motherly.
"No," he said flatly. "I was trained as a soldier. That's all I was, all I am." He could feel Relena's radiating disapproval. She wanted him to take pride in his accomplishments and could never understand that it was only a job to him. "I'm not the only Gundam pilot here tonight; Trowa Barton and Quatre Raberba Winner are also here."
As expected, Relena bristled at the mention of Quatre. Lady Mirrin said avidly, "I didn't know that Mr. Winner had been a Gundam pilot! What an odd occupation for an avowed pacifist."
Heero shrugged. "Who knows better the horrors of war than the soldier on the front line."
As he spoke, he scanned the room automatically. Not so much to spot any potential danger, but as a habit of his training. And, in a small hopeful corner of his mind, in the chance that he might spy that familiar hair. /Two years of hoping, watching, jumping at glimpses of chestnut, and for what? Another reminder that I was an ass./
His roving glance focused on a swath of auburn hair. /No. Couldn't be. Ohmigod./
It had to be Duo! There couldn't be two people in the universe with the same auburn braid that went on forever!
He glanced at Relena, his heart pounding against his ribs. She was busily engaged in recounting her own feats of daring during the war.
"Excuse me," he murmured, melting into the crowd before she could protest.
/I can't believe it. Duo, here, after almost two years! What is he doing at a political function? He hates stuff like this, hates the lying, the veiled threats, the duplicity of it all. That's why he hated Relena. He detested her phoniness as much as I did, but he was honest enough to say so, unlike me. He must be Quatre's guest. But that would mean... Dammit, did I completely screw up? Has Quatre known all along, where Duo was? Damn it.../
Did he have the courage to approach the young man he loved? Anxiety and a sudden rush of nerves made him pause in a shadowed alcove, watching as Duo moved through the crowd.
The familiar grin was firmly in place; he looked like he didn't have a care in the world. /God, he looks good!/ Those black leather pants fit his narrow hips and slender legs like his own skin, and the purple silk poet's shirt draped softly over his trim torso. Silver threads and a string of amethysts were braided into his luxuriant auburn hair.
Duo was heading toward the dance floor. /He always loved to dance... All those school parties, dancing and flirting while I lurked in the shadows, so jealous./
Following Duo closely, hand clasped in his, Heero saw a lovely blonde woman. They reached the dance floor and Duo turned to take the young woman in his arms for the waltz. /I didn't know he could dance like that!/ Stepping confidently, the pair circled the floor, turning heads as they passed. Duo laughed at something his companion said, his violet eyes sparkling with his inner fire.
Heero heard the laughter and saw her lift her hand to lightly caress Duo's cheek. A diamond solitaire flashed on her finger. And on Duo's left hand, a matching gleam of metal.
Married! Duo got married?!
/So he did forget me... He never seemed more than mildly interested in girls before. But what did I leave him with? Maybe he couldn't trust another man after the way I behaved.../
The dance ended and the couple made their way to a table where several people were waiting. A woman at the table held up a baby, all pink and fair. Duo took the child, cuddling it before his dance partner, with the proprietary air of mothers everywhere took it.
/A child... He loves kids so much... He wanted us to adopt kids.../
Duo leaned close and kissed her cheek.
/He's happy... I can't disturb this. He's made a life without me; I can't go dredging up the past./
He suddenly felt sick. /I could have been at his side. I could have danced in his arms. I could have held our child./
In the men's room (thankfully empty except for the towel attendant) he splashed cold water on his face until the nausea passed, to be replaced by a dull, dark ache at his temples.
Feeling the even more persistent ache of what he'd lost (no, not lost; driven away); he stepped onto the smoking terrace for some air. All that might have been his, gone because of a naïve concept of duty, honor and responsibility. What did he have after two years? He grinned mirthlessly at the stars overhead. Deputy Minister Relena Peacecraft, her smug, proprietary attentions and the deadly dull and viciously genteel business of politics.
God, he might as well be dead! He was already in hell... And hell was a lonely place indeed without his Shinigami.
"It's been a long time, Heero," said a voice behind him. He spun, cursing his inattention to his surroundings, as he reached for his weapon.
Chang Wufei leaned against the balustrade, a slim brown cigar between his fingers.
"Wufei!" He relaxed, holstering his weapon. "I didn't know you were here."
"As opposed to knowing that Quatre, Trowa and Duo are?" he smirked. "I saw you with Minister Peacecraft. What's it like being her bitch?"
It wasn't said with any discernible malice, but Heero flushed at his choice of words.
"She doesn't own me!" he snapped.
Wufei waved his cigar. "Oh, yes. It's your duty, your mission. Hn. It's nice to see some real emotion in your eyes again."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You were always so grim." Wufei studied the glowing end of his cigar. "But then, so was I. And Trowa was an emotional cipher. Only Quatre and Duo weren't afraid to feel back then. Funny how things can change." He looked at Heero. "Have you talked to him?"
"Quatre? No, he was with a group."
"Oh, please! You know I meant Duo. You saw him, didn't you?"
"Yes," he admitted reluctantly, wistfully. "I saw him. I didn't speak to him."
"You bastard," said Wufei conversationally.
"I didn't want to disturb him! He's happy. He's made a life for himself. How can I just pop up again, after all this time?"
Wufei chuckled, shaking his head. "Still the martyr, I see. But you're right, after what you did."
Heero's eyes narrowed. "How would you know, Wufei? Did Duo tell you?"
"He came to me."
"To you?!" echoed Heero in surprise.
"Yeah, to me; wanna make something of it, Heero? Quatre and Trowa were half a world away. Duo came to me out of the rain, soaking wet, in shock and with his heart in ruins. I made him stay." He looked hard at Heero. "You didn't waste any time running out on him."
"I waited three days; he never came back," Heero retorted stiffly.
"Should've waited four. I went with him, because frankly, I didn't want you to hurt him again. But you were gone, and nary a clue in sight as to where." He finished the cigar and stubbed it out. "Standing in that empty flat, it broke his heart. He stayed with me for a while. He could have stayed longer." He looked up at the stars. "He could have stayed forever..."
~*~
The flat smelled musty, even after only four days. Heero was gone. Everything that belonged to him was gone. Duo stood in the middle of the living room, turning slowly. His chin trembled; he kept biting his lip. Wufei couldn't bear to see him that way. He took the redhead in his arms, encouraging him to lay his head on his shoulder. At that gesture, the braided youth burst into sobs.
"Oh, Duo," murmured Wufei, rubbing his back. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
Duo raised his head, tears running unchecked from his eyes. "He's gone... He's really gone... What am I gonna do? Wufei... Wufei..."
"Stay with me, Duo. For awhile at least. Until you get things straightened out. I don't want you to be alone."
Duo wiped at his eyes. "Wufei..."
"Shhh..." He stroked Duo's glossy hair gently. "Just stay with me, and get better," he murmured tenderly. "Get better, Shinigami."
~*~
"Wufei..." It never occurred to him that Duo might go to Wufei.
"Ah, you were an idiot, Heero, to walk out on all that love." Heero stared at him. Duo and Wufei had barely tolerated each other; to hear Wufei speak as if Duo mattered to him was unsettling, to say the least.
"He looked for you," the Chinese youth said softly. "I looked for you because he wanted you so much. But you're the genius at disappearing."
"But I did look for him! I couldn't find him!" Oh, god, what had he done?!
"Quatre offered him a job with Winner. I urged him to take it. That's how he met Kathandre."
Heero's heart lurched. Her name was Kathandre... "His wife..." he whispered to himself.
Wufei smiled, as if over some private joke. "She's one of Quatre's sisters."
So Duo's new life was thrice blessed. A beautiful wife, an adored child and connection to the Winner power and fortune.
Clearly, it had turned out well for the violet-eyed youth. All the more reason for Heero to slink quietly away without disturbing him.
"It's funny how cultural patterns surface in people who've never known their culture," Wufei grinned suddenly. "You're Japanese, but you know nothing of being Japanese, and yet, there you go, falling on your sword once again..."
Heero flushed angrily. "Damn it, Wufei, knock off the games! Whatever you're dancing around, I don't get it, all right! I yield to your superior social graces, okay!"
Wufei began to laugh, and Heero suspected that the former pilot was more than a little drunk. Well, he didn't get the joke and he didn't feel like playing the straight man to Chang Wufei. (For Duo, always, anytime, but anyone else...)
"Heero," gasped Wufei, "oh, my god... How do you know he's married?"
Heero stared at him. "I saw him dancing with his wife!" he snapped, clenching his fists.
"And you just knew that she's his wife."
"She's wearing a huge goddamn ring!"
"And you think Duo gave it to her."
"Of course!" he snorted. What else could it be, given the affection between them?
"Oh, I wish I had a witness to this," Wufei continued to snicker. "Let's just call it payback, shall we, Yuy. For all the hours he spent locked in the bathroom so I wouldn't see him crying." He paused to wipe at his eyes, and look Heero over carefully. Then he sighed.
"I fell in love with him a long time ago," he whispered, and Heero stared in astonishment. "But he was obviously yours, even before you noticed him." He shook his head in wonderment. "All that sass and vivacity, and he chose to lavish it on a man who couldn't even say 'I love you'. What a damn waste. What a bloody fuckin' waste!" He fell silent then, and Heero waited in fascination.
How could he not have seen Wufei's feelings for Duo? How could Wufei possibly conceal feelings like that? /Answer your own question!/ snarled the voice in his head.
"Okay." Wufei drew himself up sharply. "No more games. You listen to me, Heero Yuy, and then goddammit, you do the right thing!" he demanded.
"Duo became a pilot for Winner. He met Kathandre on a flight to Peru; they became friends. You heard about the armed takeover in Lima."
He didn't wait for an answer; everyone knew about the three-day standoff with the terrorists who killed four of their 57 hostages. An anti-terrorist squad had taken them down and rescued the remaining hostages.
"Duo led the squad. Kathandre's husband was one of the hostages killed. Duo has been like a second brother to her. He was in the delivery room when Jille was born. He plays with her, he brings toys, he baby-sits. You know how much he loves kids. That rock on her finger was put there by her husband, Ta'l Falen. It's been almost a year since his death. They aren't in love; they're friends. You remember friends, don't you, Heero?"
"But..." What the hell was Wufei saying? "On his hand..."
"Heero no baka... Duo's wearing your ring! The same band you claimed him with two and a half years ago! You were gone, lost to him, but he's never let go of that love!"
Heero collapsed into a chair. "But... but... I couldn't find him... I looked!"
"Not very hard. So you went to Relena instead. What a choice!" Wufei snarled in disgust.
"Fuck Relena!" Heero lunged to his feet, grabbing Wufei by the collar. "Are you saying Duo still loves me? If this is a joke, so help me, Chang, I'll kill you!"
Wufei shook off his hands, his dark eyes filled with a wrenching pain. "Yes! Yes, you bastard! He still loves you! He's still waiting for you to come to him! Damn you, Heero Yuy... He's been in plain sight for 19 months, waiting for you to notice something besides Relena-fucking-Peacecraft! Waiting to know if you still love him! If you walk away again..."
But Heero was sprinting across the terrace and through the men's room to the main hall. Where the hell was that table? Where was Duo? He charged through the crowd in a straight-ahead path toward Quatre Raberba Winner.
"Quatre! Where is he?"
Startled, Quatre caught Heero's shoulders as the others in his group stared. "Heero! I didn't know you were here. What --" His warm grin vanished as Heero shook him like a ragdoll.
"Where's Duo?!" he shouted.
"Oh! Ah, over there!" He pointed to a table and Heero turned sharply to see Duo rising from his chair, reaching automatically for the weapon he no longer wore. He saw as well, the large, tuxedoed security guards plowing his way. (After all, one couldn't just grab Quatre Raberba Winner!)
Heero let go of Quatre and ducked under the hands reaching for him. He'd lost sight of Duo! /Ohmigod, ohmigod!/ "Duo!" he screamed.
The braided youth couldn't see him in the crowd, but recognized his voice. He faltered, amethyst eyes widening in disbelief. Then he cried, "Heero!" His husky voice spiraled into the upper registers, and he darted between groups in the direction of Heero's voice. "Ohmigod! Heero!"
Duo burst through the crowd just as Heero shook off the last of the guards.
"Aaaiii! Heero!" From a couple of meters away, Duo launched himself at Heero.
Heero caught him in mid-leap, both of them tumbling to the floor in a tangle of arms, legs and kisses.
"Heero!" cried Duo breathlessly. "You came! You came for me! You still love me! I've missed you so much! I thought you didn't want me!"
"Ah, I'm an idiot!" Heero returned. "I thought you wouldn't want me after the way I acted."
"I thought you were done with me!"
"I couldn't find you!"
"I love you!" they exclaimed together, and laughed, hugging each other.
And then, like a bucket of ice water, came the familiar screech.
"Heeeero!"
Heero winced as the sound sliced across his nerve endings.
"Aw, crap," muttered Duo. "That's why you're here..."
"Not anymore," Heero declared, getting to his feet, pulling Duo up to wrap his arms around his waist for a squeeze. "My penance is over, as of this moment," he murmured in Duo's ear.
Duo's smile returned and he twined his arms around Heero's neck. "You really mean that?"
"More than anything except 'I love you'." He saw Relena pushing her way rudely through the crowd.
Wufei stood next to the buffet, a beer in his hand.
Suddenly, Heero let go of Duo and stepped away. Duo's delighted expression crumpled, but Heero touched his cheek tenderly. "Wait," he commanded urgently.
He shrugged out of his tuxedo jacket, dropping it on the floor. His tie, cummerbund and shirt quickly followed it. He handed his pistol to Duo with a bow.
"Heero!" cried Duo in a mixture of astonishment and delight.
Quatre, Trowa and a growing crowd watched in amazement. Heero Yuy doing something spontaneous and outrageous? Incredible!
"Heero!" exclaimed Quatre as Heero kicked off his shoes and socks and unzipped his trousers. "What on earth are you doing?"
"Shut up, Quatre!" laughed Duo, doing a little dance. "I'm loving this!"
"It all belongs to her," Heero explained to his delighted Duo. "I'm giving it all back."
Amid gasps, murmurs and nervous giggles he stepped out of his shorts and into Duo's welcoming arms.
"Duo, my darling," he said rapidly, just as Relena pushed aside the last obstacle and saw him naked in Duo's embrace. "My angel, my Shinigami. I was a fool, an idiot, a selfish asshole. I love you. I want you! I need you! Duo, will you marry me?"
Duo laughed with a Cheshire grin. "You betcha! My Perfect Soldier!"
Relena screamed in fury and lunged at Duo with her claws out.
Without so much as a glance, Heero stiff-armed her into a couple of onlookers. "Not this time," he muttered. Then to Quatre, "Sorry about this, but priorities are priorities."
"Of course!" exclaimed Quatre, giggling.
"One must always have priorities," murmured Trowa with an actual smile.
"Hey! Wait a minute!" said Duo. "This is really all mine? Every bit?" He looked down at the naked body in his arms.
"You betcha!" Heero echoed huskily.
"Woohoo!" He scooped Heero up in his arms. "Cool! I always wanted to be Prince Charming!"
Heero curled his fingers into Duo's braid, pulling him close for a deep, heart-felt kiss. "Yeah..."
"Hey, Quatre," Duo breathed when they came up for air, "Mind if we borrow your suite?"
Quatre laughed, making shooing motions.
The only sound as they disappeared into the crowd, were the odd choking sounds coming from Relena Peacecraft.
"Wow," said an anonymous voice, "Didn't I see this in an old film?"
"'An Officer and a Gentleman', perhaps," murmured Wufei from behind Trowa.
The tall brunette turned. "Do I detect the hand of a Chinese Machiavelli in this surreal performance?"
Wufei shrugged, taking a pull on his beer. "Keeping my hand in. He would never have loved me the way he loves Heero. I just want him to be happy." He sighed. "It's good to see that Shinigami grin again." He glanced over at Relena and snorted. "I'll be off now, I think. Lunch tomorrow, Trowa? My treat."
"We'd be delighted," smiled Trowa, giving his blond angel an affectionate squeeze.
Wufei strolled away humming an old film theme.
OWARI
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