Woke Up One Morning... Part 4
It's been a pretty busy few days leading up to Quatre's return to Earth. Lady Une has been getting in as many meetings with Heero, 'Fei and myself as she possibly can before having to lose us for a whole week.
Really, we would only be needed to act as added security for the two days Quat will actually be in meetings, but we extended the time off to last as long as his and Trowa's stay. I mean, come on, they're not going to be making the trip here and not have some time to actually hang out with us.
As far as the extra work leading up is concerned, I really can't complain. The Commander's been very good about allowing the three of us the time away without even the slightest grief, so I can deal with the extra hours to tie up some loose ends at headquarters to help her out. It's more than a fair trade.
The time that we will be serving as guards during the meetings will be a cake walk. Since the gathering had been called on such short notice, there was little to no way the press could have been leaked the when and where to get out to the public. But there was always that chance of someone on the inside working to make a statement of their own.
When it came to deciding the order of who would and would not get the support that was needed, there were a lot of bitter feelings from those who would have to wait. L2 was far from being the only place that needed relief. So, there was always the chance of somebody wanting to make their frustration known.
It's enough of a concern that we all feel better being there to make sure the meetings go on without any problems. If you want something done right, best to do it yourself. And for us that means watching each others' asses.
Sighing as I punch the last command on my computer for it to shut down, I sag in my chair and announce, "Finished." And so ends our little 'Hell Week' leading to our leave.
I look over to find Heero at his desk, feet propped up for him to lean back, head propped up on his folded arms with a smirk on his face that announced he's been waiting for me for a short while. "Son of a bitch," I laugh, shaking my head. "How long ago did you wrap up?"
He glances to the clock behind him and answers with a sly grin, "About fifteen minutes. I didn't want to interrupt since I could tell you were close to finishing." Lowering his legs from his desk, he rises to stretch as he suggests, "Let's go get something to eat. I really don't feel like having to wait to cook something at home."
At just the mention of food, my stomach growls. It's now past seven in the evening so lunch was far too long ago for my liking. "Sounds good to me," I smile and get to my own feet.
Rounding my desk to approach my partner at the door, I comment, "Well, we passed our test of not tipping off anyone here that there's anything going on with us. Think we can pull that off with Quatre and Trowa?"
We step into the hallway and Heero locks our office door as I continue, "Quat can no longer read into people's emotions the way he could in the past, but he still has a way of picking up on things."
Finished with the lock code, my partner walks alongside me as my thoughts continue, "Tro is a silent observer, so I think that he knows more about all of us than anyone. Then you have the fact that they're a couple, themselves. It'll be a challenge to not tip them off that something's up."
Peering from the corner of his eye, Heero questions, "Would it really be such a bad thing if anyone did find out we were married?"
That question has me realizing how I must have been sounding... like our marriage was a bad thing that we absolutely had to keep from everyone.
I stop instantly, making my husband do the same as we face each other. "Of course not," I all but whisper, wide-eyed. "It's not that at all... it's just... I had assumed that we wanted to keep this between us for a while since we're still figuring things out for ourselves."
A small, relieved smile tugs 'Ro's lips as he nods firmly, "Of course. I only ask because for a minute there, with the way you were going, I was starting to think you were ashamed that we're together."
So that was what he was reading into my conversation.
My hand moves quickly to playfully slap him in the arm. "And you call me the baka!" I laugh. At his wide, blinking eyes, I shake my head, "I'm not ashamed of being with you, Heero. Actually, I'm proud of it. If I wasn't, I never would have agreed to our staying married in the first place."
With a shrug, I add, "And it's not the end of the world if the others learn that we're more than friends. I would just like this to be between us for as long as possible so that we can work things out without them being added to the mix with their suggestions and ideas on how a relationship works. Let's just figure that all out on our own first."
I could see that the logic behind my sentiments was taking hold on 'Ro, but he still looks pretty shocked as he stood frozen. Then, quietly, he stammers, "Y-you're proud of being with me?"
God, he can be so damn adorable sometimes. I can count with what less fingers it would take to make up a hand the number of times I've ever seen him so taken aback... and there are even fewer times than that I've heard him stumble with his words.
Along with that good ache I get when he's cuter than a kitten like this, there is also an overwhelming sadness in knowing that he is so hard on himself.
Nearly closing the short distance between us, I stare into his eyes and answer just as softly, "More proud that I've ever been of anything in my life. You're my best friend, 'Ro. Maybe the circumstances of how we got to open up like this weren't exactly the most ideal, but I can't think of anyone else that I would rather wake up married to more."
That last bit managed to break a chuckle from him and to my shock I can see the start of a blush that he's fighting.
Quickly, he sneaks a glance to see the video-only surveillance camera by the elevator turn away from us and dives in for a deep kiss that leaves me breathless and dizzy by the time he pulls back. Clearing his throat, he manages a sincere, "Thank you, Duo."
Just before the camera turns back on us, I rest our foreheads together and say, "Don't ever sell yourself short, man. You don't give yourself nearly as much credit as you deserve." He gives me that breathtaking smile again in return.
Straightening right as we're being focused on again, I grin and lead the way back towards the elevator. "So," I begin, "Italian or Mexican for dinner? Anything else and you won't want to be anywhere near me the rest of the night." Heero laughs and follows after me, shaking his head in amusement as I watch him.
You know, he really can be damn beautiful sometimes.
* * * * * *
"This meeting tomorrow also means that Relena will be present, you know," Heero mentions over our dinner. Cutting into his plate of lasagna, he peers up at me from across the small both we're sharing. "She's matured quite a bit since the wars, but I know how you're not entirely comfortable around her."
Fair of him to say. Relena had expected 'Ro to take up the roll as one of her personal guards when the wars ended. Instead, he joined the Preventers only because I had agreed to sign on with him.
While it would not be right to say that she was a bitch towards me in any way for it, there was always an underlying resentment on her account. What she never realized was just how equally shocked I had been when Heero had- in a sense- chosen me over her.
Little does she know now just how involved her high school crush and I are now.
Shrugging, I finish off my mouthful of food and reply, "You know I behave perfectly well towards her. We're both adults and can handle being in each other's presence. She's proven how she doesn't hold a grudge by being one of the people behind the push for L2's needed improvements."
"And you know that you have nothing to worry about with her otherwise, right?" my partner asks, his eyes still on me intently.
No need for him to go further into what he was getting at there. Yes, I always had a bit of a jealousy issue when it came to Relena and Heero that stems back to the wars. I mean the girl can give him any and everything he could possibly want and need in life. What would I be able to offer him in return for being with me?
Infatuation on her part or not, I've always been expecting Heero to suddenly realize the opportunity he is missing out on and leave me. Wedding bands don't exactly guarantee happiness and fulfillment.
Clearing my throat uncomfortably, I lover my head to shield my eyes behind my bangs. "I know that you don't exactly feel the same way she feels about you," I finally respond, leaving unsaid that I still don't exactly know where he stands as far as his feelings with me go, either.
"And that is not going to change," Heero states without a hint of doubt and I look back up to see a small smile on his face. Leaning towards me a bit, he tells me quietly, "Don't you go selling yourself short, either, Duo."
That constriction in my throat is back, forcing me to swallow. He really does get me... more than I tend to realize sometimes. He may still be working out the details of our relationship, but his being able to read me better than anyone else will never change.
Returning his smile, I nod and say softly, "Thanks, 'Ro."
From there, we enjoy the remainder of our meal in a comfortable silence.
* * * * * *
"Hey, guys!" Quatre calls as he runs up to where Heero, Wufei and I are gathered in his private hanger the following morning. Lowering his suitcase, he makes it to me first and my arms are already open in anticipation. When one is a friend of his and has not seen him in weeks, they're not going to get away with just a handshake in greeting.
My voice wheezing a bit from the tight hold he has on me, I grin, "Hey, Quat." Patting his back as he lets go, I look up and hold out my hand to his lover following closely behind. "Trowa," I nod, pulling the tall ex-Heavy Arms pilot into a one-armed hug.
Chucking quietly, he responds with a kind, "Good to see you, Duo." As we pull back, we snicker as we watch Heero and Wufei relent to accepting embraces from our Arabian friend with small smirks on their faces. Resistance against Quat is futile. Even they know that.
Once they've satisfied the little blond with their greetings, they move to welcome Tro back to Earth. Rashid and a few of the Maguanacs step off of the private jet with luggage in each hand. Having had the chance to get to know the gentle giants, I take the time to get reacquainted with the bunch. They're as much family to me as my fellow former pilots.
After all of the pleasantries are out of the way, we all head out to the hanger for the parking lot where several cars are waiting. Taking up a black-windowed stretch town car, my brothers and I laugh and catch up while Rashid takes the wheel. The car rolls out of the lot and we're off for Quat's estate where we'll be staying for the week.
Seated along with his lover across from myself and Heero, Trowa tilts his head and smiles, "So, how was Vegas? We heard that the two of you got to spend some time out there with your last case."
That little bit of information could have only been leaked to them by one person.
Heero and I slowly look over our shoulders to the passenger seat. A sheepish grin on his face, Wufei defends, "I just told them where you were you disappeared for over a month. They came to the conclusion that it was a mission on their own. I never compromised any of the classified information."
Both Heero and I look at each other with amused grins. Looking back to our new arrivals, my husband shrugs nonchalantly, "We got the bad guy, went out celebrating and woke up married. Nothing too eventful."
You can hear a fucking pin drop as the air seems to get sucked right out. Think I even feel the car swerve a little before Rashid clears his throat and regains full control. Wide-eyed, Wufei, Quatre and Trowa stare at us in shock. To be honest, I'm just as caught off guard with my jaw hanging open.
A few heartbeats pass and suddenly, Quatre's head falls back as he laughs hysterically. Falling apart in their own fits of laughter, Wufei and Trowa shake their heads. Under his breath, the giant at the wheel chuckles a little.
Nervously at first, I join in with a more full laugh as a way of playing along while Heero discretely winks and smirks wickedly at me.
Son of a bitch almost gave me a goddamned heart attack and here he knew exactly what he was doing all along. Even if it was the truth, the whole thing was just too absurd for any of them to believe.
Crafty bastard. I should have thought of just doing that, myself!
Brushing away a stray tear from his eye, our Arabian brother continues to laugh, "Oh, Heero, you've been around Duo for too long! His sense of humor's corrupted you!"
A hand on my heart, I put on a dramatic, hurt look and retort, "You wound me, Quat. I take real offense to that." Of course, I can't keep up the act for long and snicker along with my partner beside me.
Reaching to open the small refrigerator beside him, our host passes out several wine glasses and a corked bottle of some of the finest brew. When all of our glasses are filled, he raises his and toasts, "Well, a congratulations to once again upholding the peace. And here's to all of our seeing that it stays that way."
We all raise our glasses with cheers of 'Here, here' and drink. My free hand slinks over to where Heero's is resting between us out of the sight of the others. Resting my fingers over his, I squeeze onto them and receive a reassuring pulse back.
Our hands remain joined like that for the remainder of the drive.
* * * * * *
The first night at the huge estate was the same as how we all spend our first night back together- eating, some light drinking, board games and reminiscing. About as normal as you can possibly get for a bunch of retired terrorists.
By the time we're ready to call it a night, the bedrooms have already been picked out. Heero and I are sharing one of the double-bedded guest rooms as we normally would have before. Only this time only one of the beds will actually be used.
My eyes are having a difficult time staying open as we all sit at the table, too tired to talk myself into getting up. Rising from his place beside me and taking hold of the end of my braid and tugging on it, my husband smirks, "Come on, Duo. It's getting late and we have an early start in the morning."
"Yes, mother," I snort in good humor and force my weary muscles to push myself to my feet. Waving and saying our 'good nights' to the others, we move together for the guest rooms. As soon as we're alone in the hallways, I feel the end of my braid being wrapped loosely around Heero's wrist.
It makes me smile- how fascinated he is over my hair. I never really knew how captivated he was over it before we were married.
Stepping into the bedroom and closing the door behind us, I make a move and catch my partner by surprise, spinning him so we're facing each other and pinning his back against the wall as I kiss the hell out of him. It's a rougher exchange than we're used to, but we haven't been able to really touch each other all day.
That makes for a bit of frustration to work out.
When we finally pull away, breathing heavily, I smirk at the wide eyes watching me. "Nice little stunt you pulled in the car this morning. You scared the shit out of me for a minute there."
'Ro's lips curl up a bit and he shrugs, "Well, whenever they do find out about us, they can't say that we weren't honest with them. Never tell a lie, right?" I snicker and slap him on the ass as I pull away from him to head to our bags.
Though Heero has always been good about helping me in the mornings with the few extra knots that come with sleeping without a hair tie, we do have an early go in the morning so the braid will stay intact this night.
Standing at opposite sides of the bed that we'll be sharing, we remove our clothes to slip into a pair of sleep shorts. Too tired to bother digging around my stuff for a top, I notice my husband following my example at going bare-chested for a change.
Once the shades are drawn over the massive windows and the lights are turned out, I swallow roughly as I settle down into the king-sized bed. Curling up behind me, Heero wraps me up and I revel in the feeling of his skin against mine. My racing heart eases a bit as he relaxes against me with a sigh.
It so quite for a while that I would have thought he fell asleep if it were not for my knowing his breathing pattern when he has drifted off. A soft kiss falls on my shoulder and he whispers, "This is... really nice."
"Yea," I smile with a small nod. Folding my arm over his, I say quietly, "It is."
We're just that little bit closer to each other. We might be crawling along, but what progress we make is more than worth the effort.
TBC...
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