Author's Note: I'm going to say this at the beginning of the next few chapters, and then not repeat it again, okay? Just for the record, I DON'T do death fics. Please keep that in mind.
The dream sequence is TOTALLY one-hep-cat's fault, because of her review of the previous chapter!
Witness Protection Part 47
Icing on the Cake
I half expected Duo to stroll out to join me wearing nothing but a towel. However, he sauntered out fully dressed, yawning widely as he tied off the end of his braid.
"Need caffeine, Yuy," he muttered, leaning to place a quick kiss on my cheek before continuing to the kitchen.
"I brought you coffee with your breakfast in bed," I reminded him.
"Not enough," came a reply mouthed through yet another yawn. "Wore off. The effort of showering used it all up."
I found myself grinning at the computer screen. "Wuss!"
He peeked around the corner at me. "You did not just call me a wuss!"
"You don't see anyone else here, do you?"
"Asshole."
I raised an eyebrow at him. "I got no more sleep than you did--and I'm fine." Okay, that was a lie; I was exhausted. But I wasn't going to admit it to him.
"Of course you are! I did most of the work last night."
"Well then I'll be happy to slap the cuffs on you tonight. Y'know--return the favor."
He grinned evilly. "Uhm...not unless you've got a gag, too. I get kinda vocal when I'm--restrained."
Oh fuck.
I closed my eyes, shifting in the seat to ease the sudden pressure in my groin. "A gag it is," I managed a bit hoarsely, trying not to let an image of him bound and gagged force its way into my mind.
Yeah, right.
He chuckled in satisfaction, knowing the problem he'd just caused, and went back into the kitchen to obtain more coffee.
The bastard.
I pulled my attention back to the task at hand, zooming the mini camera in on a distant ship passing on the horizon. I could make out U.S.S. something on the side, and breathed a sigh--it was not only a military vessel, but far too large to come anywhere near the shore.
Aside from that passing ship, the (should I say it?) coast was clear. Heh. Now I knew where that expression came from. I think the sleep deprivation was making me a bit punchy.
"Hey, 'Ro--d'you think Chang would like that tarragon chicken I made before? Cathy's never had it, and I've got the ingredients here."
"Sounds good." I frowned at the sight of Catherine's car, returning sooner than I'd have expected. "Speak of the devil--he's back. You can ask him yourself."
My partner burst in the door moments later, a packed grocery bag in hand. "I've only got a moment," he said a bit breathlessly. "Catherine's doctor had an emergency first thing this morning, which delayed his appointments. I left her waiting her turn and said I'd bring back coffee and Danish."
He shoved the bag into Duo's arms. "Here are the supplies you needed, and I'll try to buy enough time for you to bake the cake and hide it away. There's no health food store in town, but Catherine said there's one a few miles up the coast--so I'm going to drive her there for the ingredients for her foot soak. That should allow you ample time, right?"
Duo blinked a bit dazedly. "Wow, 'Fei. I don't think you've ever said that many words in a row before. Did you remember to breathe?"
"Just make the cake, Maxwell!" he growled in reply.
"No problemo," smirked my lover. "How's tarragon chicken sound for supper?"
Wufei's eyes seemed to glaze over just a bit. "Divine," he said earnestly.
Duo smiled warmly. "Why, thank you, 'Fei."
Chang rolled his eyes, but couldn't quite suppress a small smile. "Later!" he said curtly, nodding to me and then striding back out as quickly as he'd come in.
"Who was that masked man?" Duo quipped, taking his armful of groceries out to the kitchen to start his baking.
I continued to monitor the surveillance, enjoying the comfortable routine, even as I listened to the clatter of dishes and rattle of silverware. Though I hadn't admitted it to Duo, I was a bit tired myself, and grateful that I had an uncomplicated task at hand for the time being.
~*~
It was time for dessert, and Catherine was sitting at the table when Duo wheeled out an enormous layer cake, at least three feet tall in the center, and probably more than that in diameter.
Catherine's eyes grew round as saucers, and she gushed "Oh, Duo, you shouldn't have!" Then she looked around quizzically. "But where did Wufei go?"
The lights went down and music came up--rather risqué music--with a sensual beat.
Duo grinned at Catherine. "Wait for it..."
And then Wufei burst from the top of the cake, wearing a tiny little leopard print g-string and nothing else. It looked like he'd oiled his body, as it gleamed in the faint light of the strobes.
Strobes?
Wufei climbed out of the cake, his leg muscles rippling with the motion, and struck a pose--the classic muscle-man pose--with one arm up, flexed to show the bulging muscle of his bicep, and one arm down, displaying a well-developed tricep.
Catherine clapped her hands in glee. "Oh, just what I wanted!"
~*~
I jerked awake suddenly, gasping aloud.
"Easy there!" Duo chided. I realized his hand was on my shoulder and he was leaning in close. "Dozed off, huh? Now who's the wuss?"
I blinked and looked around, momentarily wondering where the tall cake and my nearly-naked partner had gone. "Jesus--" I muttered.
Duo looked at me quizzically. "What? Were you having a nightmare or something? You kept saying '--the horror.'"
I shook my head, willing the image of my partner away. Not that Chang had a body to be ashamed of or anything, but I'd never, ever looked at him that way, and didn't want to start now. "Just a dream," I sighed.
"Must've been a doozey."
"You have no idea."
"Wanna see the cake?" he asked, gesturing to the kitchen. "I made three layers."
Three layers? An image of the dream cake floated in my mind's eye, and I tried not to shudder.
"It's done already?"
"Well, it's out of the oven. You slept for over an hour," he chided. "Once the cake cools off, I can get to work frosting it."
I frowned, glancing at the laptop to see if there'd been any activity.
"Relax, detective. You didn't miss anything," he said soothingly, his hands beginning to massage my shoulders gently. "I looked at the screen a couple of times, and it all looked quiet. No alarms or alerts. You didn't fail me."
I glanced up quickly. "How'd you know--?"
"--that you'd blame yourself for a lapse in security?" he finished for me, smirking slyly. "Experience, love. You blame yourself for anything that happens to me, and pretty much anything that might." He leaned down to brush a kiss across my cheek--a very chaste, caressing one. "No one has ever loved me so much," he whispered.
I put a hand over one of his, leaning back into him. "I do," I assured him. "More than anything or anyone."
"More than your own life," he added very seriously. His grip on my shoulders tightened. "Just remember, as important as my life is to you--yours is to me."
I nodded, accepting the statement of fact, and feeling a bit of a rush that my sense of completion in Duo's company was reciprocated. The idea of us ever parting ways was just ludicrous. I planned to spend the rest of my life getting to know Duo, exploring his body and his mind, and letting him do the same to me. I think I was pretty amazed that he wanted to do that. No one had ever been so--fascinated by me. Yeah, it was a heady feeling all right.
"So, what was the big dream about?" he said lightly, pulling away and heading back towards the kitchen.
"Chang jumping out of a cake," I said, forgetting myself for an instant.
Duo whirled around, his face alight. "No shit?" He burst into delighted laughter. "Oh man! Just 'cause I suggested it--you dreamed it? Ha! That's classic!" He chuckled helplessly for a few more minutes, while I deeply regretted blurting out the truth. "Aw, what was he wearing?" he asked wiping tears of hilarity from his eyes and grinning madly at me.
"Forget it."
"No--ya gotta tell me!" he persisted.
"Not in a million years."
"Nothing?" he guessed.
"No."
"Sequins?"
"No."
"Leather?"
"No!"
He blinked those big indigo eyes. "You know I'm just gonna keep pestering you until you tell me."
"Duo--"
"Lace?"
"A fucking g-string, okay?" I snapped, glaring at my computer screen, though I wasn't really seeing it.
His laughter rang out again. "Man! You have the best dreams!" I looked up in disbelief, and he winked roguishly. "Chang's hot."
"Not in a leopard print thong," I retorted.
"Leopard print, huh?" Duo eyed me speculatively. "Hm, maybe that's a subliminal attraction to Trowa coming to the surface, eh?"
"I am not attracted to Barton," I said icily.
He turned to face me, a skeptical look on his face. "Right."
"Seriously."
"Bullshit. When Tro' an' I did that little strip show for you guys, I saw you looking."
"I was looking at you."
"And I was all over him. You got an eyeful of both of us--and don't try to tell me you don't think Tro's hot as Hell."
"I didn't say that," I replied coolly. "He's a handsome man." I let my gaze rake Duo from head to toe, watching a faint blush creep up his cheeks. "But you are the one I'm attracted to. It takes more than a gorgeous body or a pretty face to attract me, Duo."
"Yeah?" he asked kind of breathlessly.
"Yeah," I answered. "I'm attracted to you. Not just your looks. The whole damn package."
A sly glimmer entered his eyes, and he grinned cheekily. "You like my 'package'?" he teased.
"I meant the personality and brains and body--the whole package."
He ducked his head, looking adorably flattered.
"And, well, that package is pretty nice, too," I added mischievously, letting my gaze drop to his groin.
"Yuy!" He actually blushed brightly as he turned and fled back into the kitchen, and I allowed myself a pleased chuckle at having flustered him.
Life was good.
Once I was fully awake, I took a quick trip to the bathroom, and then made my way out to the kitchen, only to find Duo immersed in his work--and apparently powdered sugar. His clothes were liberally sprinkled with the stuff, and there was a smudge across his chin. But he looked so content stirring some gooey substance in a bowl that I didn't have the heart to point out the mess he was making--or the mess he was.
"I'm going out to walk the perimeter," I told him, peeking into the coffee pot to see if there was enough left from the morning to bother re-heating in the microwave. "Want to tag along?"
He looked at the bowl for a moment, scowling in frustration. "I guess not," he sighed. "I'm right in the middle of this, and I need to make at least one other batch to mix colors in."
"Colors?"
"Frosting," he explained patiently. "I'm going to need colors for decorating and writing 'congratulations' or something."
"Congratulations?" I chided. "You've got to come up with something a bit better than that."
"I will. I just haven't given it much thought yet." He gave me a sidelong glance. "I don't think 'break a leg' would be appropriate."
I chuckled in spite of myself. "No."
I decided that re-heating the morning coffee would just be disgusting, so I dumped it out and began setting up the machine for a fresh batch, figuring I could turn it on when I got back from my walk.
"Good idea," Duo commented, reaching for the box of little food coloring containers. "I think we could both use a fresh pot."
"Don't let Chang hear you say that," I cautioned teasingly. "You know how he feels about pot."
"Har har. I meant a pot of coffee, and you know it." He shook his head, smirking to himself. "But I'm glad you've developed a sense of humor."
"So am I. See you in an hour or two." I placed a quick kiss on his cheek and went to the front hall to get my coat, shrugging into it and checking my gun before I pulled open the front door.
~*~
There was a brisk wind blowing off the ocean and flattening the scrubby grass along the cliffs, and I was glad I'd worn the extra layer. I'd also brought along the remote monitor for the laptop, so I could tap into my surveillance devices as I moved around.
As it had been the last time Chang and I walked the property, all was quiet. I scanned the horizon for boats, and scrutinized the beach from my vantage point along the cliffs. I even hiked the long distance to the state land and looked over the start of the trails again.
Only when I was completely satisfied that there was no one approaching in any direction did I head back to the farmhouse, eager for that cup of coffee and maybe a taste of the chicken dinner Duo would surely be working on by now.
I was climbing the porch steps when the remote beeped in my pocket, and I logged into the surveillance to see that Catherine's car had just turned off the main road onto the long drive leading to the house.
I hurried inside, walking briskly past the kitchen, and sliding into my seat at the laptop. "Showtime, Duo!" I called out, hearing a clatter and yelp right afterwards.
Did I even want to know?
"You okay, Duo?"
"Uh--yeah. Fine."
He didn't sound "fine." So I got up and padded to the door, peeking around the corner to see him trying to pick a clump of blue frosting out of his chestnut braid.
My laughter startled him into spinning to face me, a batter-covered spoon in one hand, and his hapless braid in the other.
"Asshole!" he accused, trying now to wipe a splatter of cake mix off his dark jeans.
I walked over and took the utensil out of his hand, leaning in close. "You are adorable with frosting in your hair, love." I kissed him before he could cuss me out, enjoying the sweet taste of his frosting-laced lips. "Mmm--delicious, too."
He pushed me back, his sticky hand leaving an imprint of batter and frosting on my shirt. "Jesus, Yuy--y'didn't get enough last night?"
I shook my head, grinning devilishly. "Never enough," I crooned suggestively. "I want to lick frosting off your bare chest, and--"
The sound of the garage door opening startled us apart, and I stepped back guiltily, glad I hadn't had time to do more than start unbuttoning Duo's shirt.
He chuckled, leaving those top three buttons undone as he hastily slipped the cake behind him and turned to face the door--trying to look innocent.
He almost managed to pull it off, except for the mischievous sparkle in the indigo eyes.
God, I loved him!
The door opened, and I quickly leaned beside him on the counter, helping to screen the cake from view.
"Hey, sweetcheeks--how'd it go?" Duo said cheerily as Catherine walked carefully in, leaning on a cane.
She beamed a wide smile his way. "Terrific! The minute that nasty plaster came off, I got to reach an itch that's been bothering me for weeks!"
"Her doctor was very pleased with the healing, but recommended she use a cane for a few days--more as a reminder for her to be careful than anything else," Chang added with a hint of worry in his tone.
She twirled the cane like a baton, giggling a bit. "Wanna see me dance?"
Chang caught her elbow, scowling gently down at her. "No dancing!" he scolded. "You are to proceed to the couch and relax, while I prepare an herbal soak for your ankle." He hefted a brown bag, overflowing with packets of who-knew-what. "Maxwell--escort the lady, if you please."
Duo promptly whisked Catherine into the other room, completely diverting her attention from the cake paraphernalia scattered across the counter.
"Great. Help me tidy up, Chang," I ordered curtly.
His eyes lit up at the sight of the cake, which thankfully was far too small for him to jump out of. I really didn't need a repeat of my dream.
Duo had frosted it in white, trimming it with green leaves and blue and yellow flowers. "Happy Castoff Day" was emblazoned in bright red, and little hearts dotted the surface.
"It's lovely," Wufei said with a wide smile.
I just shook my head. "Merquise taught him cake decorating?"
"No--Sister Helen did," came a voice from the doorway.
I turned to find Duo leaning there, smirking at us.
"She always made a birthday cake for each kid at the orphanage. And she decorated with whatever they liked the most--flowers, puppies, trucks; you name it, and she could draw it in colored frosting. She let the older kids help."
Wufei blinked in surprise. I think he was stunned at Duo's warm tone and the nonchalant way he gave us a glimpse into a private part of his past.
"Well, your talent must have pleased her very much," he said, his own voice a bit husky.
Duo smirked derisively. "Well maybe that talent," he grinned, pushing off of the door frame and sauntering over. "I'm makin' tea for Cathy. You guys want some?"
"I'll stick to coffee," I replied, recalling that I'd set up the machine already, and reaching over to turn it on.
"I'll have tea," Wufei replied, setting down the grocery bag and beginning to pull out sacks of herbs. "Can you put an extra pot of water on to boil for the foot soak?"
"Sure."
They settled in to their respective tasks, while I occupied myself washing dishes until my coffee was ready. By the time Duo carried a tray out to Catherine, the kitchen was almost spotless again, and I was pouring my first cup.
"Any news in town?" I asked Chang.
"I picked up a paper." He passed it to me from his grocery bag, and then turned back to his pan of water that was, by now, boiling merrily.
Of course the upcoming trial was still front page news, complete with speculation about Maxwell's whereabouts. Khushrenada's defense team was alleging there was no witness and that the police had merely spread the rumor of one to justify their search warrants for his home and office. They claimed we were just "fishing for evidence where none existed." They pointed out the Khushrenada had several employees willing to swear he'd been at his office all night when Merquise was killed. They even went so far as to suggest that because of Maxwell's disappearance, he should be the prime suspect in the case.
"Well shit."
Wufei snorted at my disgusted expletive, busily dumping herbs into the hot water. "Don't take it seriously, Yuy. We knew they'd play dirty. And if you recall, Duo was our first suspect."
"Only for the amount of time it took to fully process the crime scene."
He shrugged. "They have a valid point. We can only hope forensic evidence will reinforce Maxwell's testimony."
"If this had all been for nothing--"
"It hasn't!" he said sharply. "If nothing else, it brought you and Duo together, didn't it?"
I paused as his words sank in, and then smiled grudgingly. "Yes, it did." I gave him a genuinely grateful look. "Thanks for reminding me." He was right--it was worth every ordeal we'd faced. Duo was worth it. I was just surprised it took Wufei to remind me of that.
He merely smiled and nodded, pouring some of his herbal mixture into a bucket he'd found in the hall closet, and adding some cold water to bring down the temperature. "Glad to be of service." He picked up the container and headed out the door.
"It brought you and Catherine together, too," I called after him.
He paused in the doorway, glancing back and me, and gave a curt nod. "So it did."
I picked up my coffee and Wufei's nearly-forgotten cup of tea, and followed him into the living room, where he was already sliding the bucket under Catherine's leg.
I chose a spot on the couch next to Duo, noticing he'd tuned the television to an old sit-com, instead of the midday news. I had a feeling he'd done it to avoid seeing himself on national television yet again, and I didn't blame him.
"You're next, Duo," Wufei said, taking a swig of tea before heading back to the kitchen.
"Next for what?"
"A foot soak--for the one you've got stitches in."
Duo looked up in surprise. "Feels fine, Chang."
"And it will feel even better after an anti-bacterial soak," Wufei called back from the kitchen.
I took Duo's hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. "Let him have his way," I said firmly. "We need you in top form as quickly as possible, and he seems to know what he's doing."
Catherine gave an emphatic nod. "You wouldn't believe how wonderful this soak feels on my ankle."
"That's just 'cause you haven't been able to get that foot wet for weeks," Duo teased. He wrinkled his nose. "I hope Wufei put some anti-odor stuff in that concoction."
Wufei came back in then, with a large, steaming bowl of liquid. "Maxwell--do you still have your shoe on?"
Duo hastily began unlacing a boot. "Sheesh. Bossy, aren't ya?"
"I'm merely trying to administer treatment to two very recalcitrant patients," came the huffy reply.
Wufei put the bowl in front of the couch, and as soon as Duo discarded his sock, he lifted his foot and dunked it in.
"Hm--not bad," Duo conceded, wriggling his toes in the warm mixture.
"Of course it's not," my partner replied firmly. "It's soothing and curative. It has herbs to sanitize the foot, promote healing, and even soften and condition the skin."
Duo eyed the bowl warily. "So--what? It's like a liquid pedicure?"
"Somewhat."
Duo's gaze slid over to Catherine, who was leaning back in her seat with her eyes closed in bliss. "Next thing ya know, Cath, he'll have us doing each other's hair and nails, for chrissakes."
She giggled and opened her eyes, fixing a fond look on Wufei, who promptly blushed and turned his full attention to his cup of tea. "I think it's sweet that he's taking such good care of us, Duo. And I'll take all the pampering I can get."
Duo put his shoulder against mine, smirking up at me, and leaning to whisper in my ear. "She's so got a crush on your partner, Yuy."
"No shit," I replied dryly. "Now how 'bout you relax--and explain to me why the people on this television show have a pig that walks in and out of the house any time it wants."
He gave a delighted burst of laughter and began explaining the plot intricacies of "Green Acres" to me.
~*~
A bit later, as the water cooled, Duo abandoned his soak, re-donned his footwear, and retreated to the kitchen to make supper. He'd already put together the chicken casserole during his cake-making endeavors, and thus insisted he needed no help.
Wufei took the opportunity to fetch Catherine a towel and let her dry off her leg while he dumped the used herbal mixture outside. Then he returned with a tube of arnica gel, and massaged a generous amount onto the girl's healing ankle, while she blushed adorably.
Almost as much as he blushed.
He finished off his ministrations by wrapping the ankle in an ace bandage for support and protection. "There," he said in satisfaction, placing a slipper on her foot in much the way I pictured Prince Charming putting on Cinderella's glass slipper.
I snickered, but quickly muffled it under my hand, pretending to cough instead.
"You really are babying me," Catherine groused half-heartedly as he helped her to her feet and handed her the cane.
He raised a dark eyebrow, not looking remotely apologetic. "And I shall continue to do so until your follow-up visit to the doctor, when he will pronounce you fit to resume normal activities."
She rolled her eyes. "You won't even be here in two weeks," she chided. "Or did you forget you have a trial to attend?"
He did look a little surprised at that, but quickly recovered. "Well then, I suppose I'll continue to 'baby' you, as you call it, until we leave."
Catherine looked appealingly at me, and I shook my head. "Far be it from me to contradict him. Once Chang gets a notion in his head, he's pretty unstoppable."
She gave a frustrated huff and hobbled off down the hall to use the restroom.
Wufei sighed deeply. "Stubborn onna," he muttered under his breath.
"Determined."
He sank back down on the couch, finishing his tea that had long since gone cold. "I don't know, Yuy," he said wearily.
"Know what?" I asked, eyeing him knowingly. "If it's worth all the worrying and fretting?"
He scowled down at the floor. "Life is simpler when one is alone."
"Yes--but emptier as well," I pointed out. I leaned back against the cushions, listening to the sound of Duo moving around in the kitchen, humming to himself as he assembled the evening meal. "You know, Chang, the rewards are worth the risk," I told him. "And I've never known you to be a timid man--afraid to take a few risks now and then."
"I'm not," he said firmly. "But it's one thing to risk one's life or safety--and quite another to risk--"
"--one's heart?"
He shrugged uncomfortably. "It's been a very long time since I was even tempted to risk that."
"Maybe it's overdue."
"Maybe it is," he conceded. His dark eyes pinned me with a look that was both amused and rueful. "A fine pair we are--supposed to be all business--and letting our emotions run away with us."
"A fine pair of--humans." I couldn't help the vague smile that touched my lips, and I shook my head at my partner. "Aw, Wufei--aren't we just full of philosophical insights tonight?" I stood and stretched. "I'm going to go check the surveillance, and see if Duo needs help setting the table. When Catherine comes back out, keep her away from the kitchen until supper's ready?"
He nodded, absently fluffing the pillow she'd had behind her back on the chair. "I'm sure I can coax her into a game of cards until Duo calls us to eat."
~*~
The time passed faster than I thought possible, and Duo was calling us to an early supper before I'd finished typing in my observations from my earlier perimeter check.
When I got to the dining room, I found that he already had the table laid out with a clean cloth and probably the fanciest place settings he could find. At least, all four matched, when most of the dishes had seemed to be a collection of odd pieces amassed over the year.
Catherine smiled warmly as Chang ushered her in on his arm. "It looks very nice in here, Duo. What's the occasion?"
"You have to ask?" he teased, walking over to brush a kiss across her cheek. "Congratulations on your freedom from plaster."
She gave a playful shove to his shoulder and took her place at the table, completely missing the sharply jealous glare Wufei directed at Duo.
Duo merely smiled at Wufei and winked smugly, before going to the kitchen and returning with a simmering casserole. "Tonight's special is chicken tarragon, per order of Detective Chang," he announced, setting the dish on the trivet in the middle of the table. "I'll be right back with biscuits and salad."
Catherine gave Wufei a quizzical look. "You ordered chicken tarragon?"
"Duo made it back at Winner's house on the lake," my partner explained, beginning to dish out the meal. "It was delicious. Beyond compare."
"Like me," Duo bragged, coming back in with a basket of rolls and a bowl of salad.
Oh yes! Delicious and beyond compare--that was my lover in a nutshell.
We dug in to a very good meal, giving up conversation in favor of filling our mouths with delicious food.
And by the time we finished polishing off almost the entire casserole, I was wondering if there'd be room for cake after all.
Duo had a pleased expression on his face as he picked up the nearly-empty dish, and headed out to the kitchen for the dessert.
"Oh Wufei," he said, pausing in the doorway and casting a positively evil look my way. "Can you help me in the kitchen for a moment? There's something I need you to jump out of--I mean--help me carry."
I shot a death glare at my lover, warning him not to say a word to Chang about my dream.
He smiled at me--daring me to speak up. But I bit my tongue and subsided into a sulking glower.
Oblivious to our secret battle of wills, Wufei got up to help Duo, and they disappeared into the kitchen.
When a hand reached around the corner to turn the lights down, I all but bolted out of my seat, having an immediate flashback to The Dream. "Duo!"
But instead of wheeling in a huge cake, he let Chang carry out the mercifully normal-sized one, resplendent in candles, while he sang a deliberately off-key "Happy Castoff Day toooo youuuu!"
Catherine's eyes grew round as saucers, and she gushed "Oh, Duo, you shouldn't have!"
Fucking déjà vu!
I swore that if she clapped her hands in glee and said "Oh, it's just what I wanted," I'd fucking strangle Duo.
But she simply blushed and looked pleased as they placed the shimmering cake in front of her, and when she blew out the candles, Duo cheered, clapped, and then turned the lights back on.
"It's really pretty," Catherine said, as Wufei passed her a knife to cut the cake. "Seems a shame to eat it."
"No it doesn't," Duo said quickly. "It's made to be eaten." He sought my gaze across the table and mouthed the words "--like me!"
I rolled my eyes and tried not to think about the taste and feel of him. Needless to say, I failed.
Catherine passed a fat slice of cake over to me, and continued cutting, while Wufei held plates for her.
"I wanted to make you a cake Wufei could jump out of," Duo told Catherine conversationally, watching out of the corner of his eye for my reaction. "But Mister Proper Chang wouldn't play along."
"Oh Duo!" she said as if scolding a naughty child.
Naughty indeed!
"Bet he'd look great in a nice thong, though," Duo continued, taking a forkful of cake and pretending to be very interested in it.
I choked on a bite and hastily took a swig of milk to wash it down.
"Maybe a leopard print," Duo mused. "Like the one Tro' wore at The Jungle..."
"Enough Maxwell!" Chang snapped, fixing a fierce glare on my lover. "You will not speculate about how I'd look in a--a--thong! I shall never be caught dead in such a thing!"
"Pity," Duo mumbled, glancing up from under his lashes to fix a sorrowful look on my partner.
For some reason, the way his gaze slipped over Wufei caused a sudden upwelling of jealousy that made my breath catch, and my fist clench around my fork. I considered it the epitome of self-control that I didn't proceed to lunge across the table and drag Duo to our bedroom to remind him just whose lover he was supposed to be.
I knew he was probably doing it to bait me--and to bait Chang--but I couldn't stop the irrational emotion. And when I'd finished my cake and milk, I pushed away from the table, muttering something about walking the perimeter, before turning and practically running out the door.
Yes, I knew I was being unfair. I knew full well that my partner was straight and therefore no competition for Duo's affection.
On top of that, I knew damned well that Duo was just teasing--that he had no real interest in Wufei. But for some reason his flirting had gotten to me, and made me feel inexplicably insecure.
I thought about it while I walked--wondering why it bothered me to see Duo flirt with Wufei when it hadn't before. Maybe it was just fatigue and stress. Or maybe it was because of that stupid dream; I couldn't help wondering if Duo was picturing Wufei the way I had.
When I heard the pounding of feet, I whirled, gun in hand, only to find myself staring down the barrel at Duo.
He stopped several feet short of me, breathing a little hard, his cheeks flushed from running. "'Ro?"
"What?" I said curtly, lowering the gun and then shoving it back into my shoulder holster.
It looked like he was fishing for words, his expression tight and uneasy. "Did I--?" He paused, shifting his weight, and then shook his head uncomprehendingly. "What'd I do?"
I opened my mouth to say he flirted with my partner--to call him a slut and a tease--to totally rip him apart verbally. But it wouldn't come out.
Instead I sighed, holding my arms out to the side in surrender. "You didn't do anything," I admitted. "It was all me."
"You?"
"I--got jealous."
And not for the first time.
"Of Chang?" he asked flatly--disbelievingly.
I nodded. "Chang...Barton...Merquise...take your pick."
He blinked in disbelief. "Are you shitting me?"
I shook my head, turning my back so he wouldn't see the doubt and insecurity in my eyes.
"Jesus, 'Ro--do you even know how hot you are?" Quiet footsteps padded up behind me and warm arms slipped around my waist. "God--there's no one but you! There could never be. I told you I fell for you the first time I saw you. And when I couldn't have you, I looked everywhere for someone who even came close. Trowa was great--but he wasn't you. And Zechs--as breathtaking as he was--he was still just a shadow of what I wanted. His eyes were never as blue as yours. And he never took my breath away like you do."
I closed my eyes, soaking up the heat of his embrace and the warm breath against my neck. "And Chang?" I couldn't help asking.
There was a quiet snort of laughter. "He's not even on the radar. For fuck's sake, he's straight, 'Ro. And even if he weren't--he still wouldn't be you." His grip tightened. "Do you get it now?"
"Yeah, I do," I sighed, leaning back against him. "I'm just exhausted, Duo. And I'm sorry I'm so--" Insecure? Possessive? Needy?
"--in love?" he asked gently.
"Yes. Very much," I admitted.
"Well join the club," he chided, his arms still wrapped around my waist.
"Only if it's exclusive," I warned.
"Very," he assured me. "Only two members."
"Sounds perfect."
"So, how 'bout we go inside and have a private meeting of our very exclusive club?"
"That sounds even better."
TBC...
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