Perfect Part 17
The house was 30 minutes from civilization.
Heero liked that; it made it much easier on their security. It didn't hurt to have a full maintenance shop hidden underground, either. They could thank Quatre for this particular hideaway; it belonged to him.
Heero smiled at his screen. When Quatre said that he had "a place" that was secure and protected, that wasn't known as a Winner property, where they could hole up for more than a couple of weeks, Heero had expected a cave in the mountains of the Rub' Al-Kahli or one of the Winner's automated stations. A centuries old Bedouin stronghold built over an oasis was a complete surprise.
"I... um... thought it might, you know, come in handy, one day," Quatre had said softly when they all turned to look at him after touring the castle (for that was exactly what it was). His fair skin had darkened to a tomato red and he was digging holes in the sand with the toe of one boot. "It isn't a family estate; it's mine. I started working on it when I began training to be a pilot. Is it suitable, do you think?" he finished anxiously.
"Ye gods and little fishies!" exclaimed Duo in astonishment, but Trowa cut him off.
"Yes, Quatre; it is imminently suitable as a base of operations." He hooked his arm around Quatre's shoulders and kissed his forehead. "We are..." He glanced at the others. "...Dumbfounded by your foresight."
"No shit!" yelled Duo. "This is fantastic!" He threw his arms around Quatre and hugged him, lifting him off the ground. "Quatre, you're a damn genius!"
"Duo! Your surgery!" exclaimed Quatre in alarm.
"Duo! Stop that!" growled Heero.
"Duo! You'll hurt something!" cried Trowa.
"Maxwell! You idiot!" snapped Wufei.
"Oh, puh-leese! I'm fine!"
Howard began bringing in his team the following day. By 1500 that afternoon, Duo had cleaned them out at poker. By 1700, Heero had seen to it that Duo's marked cards were destroyed and the techs all had their money back. By 1800, Duo was whining from his bed that he was "bored, Heero! Bored, bored, bored, bored, BORED!"
And they all breathed a sigh of relief that the world was back to normal.
~*~
Now was a good time; the others were gone on missions. Heero approached the sunny room in search of his quarry.
"Trowa?"
"Mmm?"
"May I have a few minutes?"
They had been in the desert for almost a month. They couldn't stay forever (Duo's boredom alone would be enough to drive them out), but this period of safety was a welcome relief to them all. Even Wufei had mellowed somewhat, though he denied any such thing.
"Of course," said Trowa, setting aside his book and offering him a chair on the balcony.
"Thank you. I have an answer... of sorts, to the question we discussed."
~*~
Heero looked up from his screen and cocked his head, listening for a moment. Yes, that was the sound of a Gundam approaching. Deathscythe, to be precise.
He closed his notebook and headed down the stairs.
Duo waved and tossed down his duffel. Heero caught it easily and watched his friend slide down the ladder to land with a bounce.
"Hi, Heero! Where're the other guys?"
"Missions. Quatre left me a note that you were going to make a side trip when you finished up."
"Yeah. I didn't want anyone to worry about me."
"Hn."
Duo reached for his bag, but Heero shook his head. Duo grinned. "Thanks!"
They walked in silence for a bit, Duo trying to decide how to open the conversation, Heero trying to convince himself it was none of his business.
"I went to --"
"Where did you --"
Both stopped and looked at each other, then Heero grinned and Duo laughed.
"After you," snickered Duo.
"Okay. Where did you go?"
"San Diego."
"How is Snow?" asked Heero, remembering the slight blond from Duo's last mission on the streets.
"He's doing great. In school, loving it, getting perfect grades. Lady Madrid -- you know, the priestess who did the memorial? -- she's like the housemother, and she says he's really into school and making his life better." Duo's tone was a curious mix of pride and wistfulness.
"I'm glad to hear it," Heero murmured.
"Yeah, it's a load off my mind." Duo glanced at the dark-haired pilot "That wasn't the only reason I went to San Diego."
"Oh?"
"I know Sally said I'm fine now, but I wanted to hear it from the doctor who actually did the surgery," he said quickly.
Heero stopped, his heart seeming to freeze in his chest, and Duo turned to face him.
"Did you have reason to believe you might not be fine?" His still voice gave no hint of the hyperventilating panic attack that twisted his insides.
"No..." the braided youth said slowly, frowning slightly. "But I wanted to be sure. Ya know, I may never hit the streets again, but I don't figure to spend my life alone, assuming I survive the war, and I wanna know..." He shrugged, a little embarrassed by Heero's direct gaze. "I just wanted to be sure I can have sex again safely."
"Oh. And can you?" His heart gave a great "thud!" and began beating again.
Duo grinned. "Yep! Good as new!"
Heero started walking again. "That's good," he said tonelessly.
Good?! It's great!
Duo trailed silently after him.
"Heero," he said after a few minutes. "Can I ask you a question?"
You just did, thought Heero, but refrained from voicing that reply. He stopped and turned to face the longhaired youth.
"Ask."
Duo dragged his braid over his shoulder to fiddle nervously with the end of it. "It's probably stupid, but I figured it'd drive me nuts if I don't ask."
Heero raised one eyebrow and Duo looked down at his feet.
It had bothered him all these weeks; the memories of conversations with Heero, admissions and declarations he had never expected, and still hadn't responded to. And yet other, more tantalizing memories of waking up to find Heero lying beside him. Sometimes Heero's hand rested on his shoulder or his hip, never a gesture of possession or need; just a simple "here I am, if you need anything."
It bothered him that he didn't know why. It bothered him that neither of them mentioned it. It bothered him that Heero had called him a friend and he couldn't imagine why. And it bothered him more than anything that he had never had the courage to tell Heero that he considered him a friend.
Acutely aware that he was probably going to put his foot in it, yet unable to let things drift along as they had been, he began speaking quickly.
"During that mission, the nights you kept me company, you slept beside me. At the safe house after, when I first woke up, you were beside me. And in the hospital. And back at the house until we left. Then you stopped. Why?"
"Why did I stop?"
"No -- yes -- wait." He took a deep breath and realised that he was shaking, just a little. Nerves. Crap.
"First, why were you there, then, why did you stop?"
Heero was silent for so long that Duo thought he wasn't going to answer. He was just about to tell him it didn't matter, when Heero sighed.
"I didn't want you out there. I couldn't watch over you. I couldn't... I couldn't keep you safe. I couldn't stop someone from hurting you. But when you were sleeping, I could be there. I could try to keep your dreams safe... So that you could rest, get away from all of it." He met Duo's eyes briefly before looking away once again.
"The house, the hospital... Same thing. I wanted to keep you safe. I wanted you to know that you weren't alone, that you hadn't been abandoned. I failed to keep you from harm, and I wanted... I wanted to make up for it..."
Duo stared at him, fingers lightly touching his own lips. "But why did you stop?" he whispered.
"Because... because you didn't seem to need me anymore. And I didn't want to presume... or for you to think I didn't trust you."
For several long minutes, they simply looked at each other. Neither wanted to speak first; neither wanted to walk on.
"Heero," Duo said finally, knowing, though he couldn't have explained how he knew, that if he didn't do it now, it would never happen. "Would you mind if I asked you to... to... keep my nights safe again?" he whispered faintly.
Heero stared at him, seeing only his shining violet eyes, as exquisite relief flooded through him, making his knees quiver and his heart pound.
"Duo..." he breathed, as his fingertips brushed aside auburn bangs. "That would be... wonderful."
The object of his affection grinned, and reached for his hand, lacing his fingers with Heero's. "I... I was scared to death... I was sure you'd say 'no'!"
"To you? Never, Duo. I was afraid you wouldn't ask," smiled Heero. He brought Duo's hand to his lips, eyes never leaving his face.
Duo tossed his head; he could barely believe his ears!
He was waiting for ME?! Oh my God! Oh my God, Heero...
Mischief danced in his violet eyes, and an extra crinkle caught the corners of his mouth. "Huh! And what's wrong with you asking?! Do I have to do it all?"
Heero didn't answer. Instead, he pulled Duo closer, stroking his hair, taking that impossible braid and wrapping it around his hand.
Beautiful... Inside and out...
Their lips met; Duo whimpered faintly and relaxed against him, head spinning.
I just love wet dreams...
"Not anymore, Shinigami," Heero laughed, breaking the kiss. "We're partners, or have you forgotten that?"
Duo stepped back a pace, still holding Heero's hand. "Never in a million years," he said solemnly.
My Heero... Oh, no... Did I really just think that?!
Mine! He's mine now! MINE! I... Do I..? God, yes, I love him! He's perfect!
Heero started back up the path to the house, Duo bouncing at his side; both of them grinning, and holding tight to each other's hand.
OWARI
Back to PlaidDragon's Fanfictions Page