Author: Zazu
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Fluff
Pairings: 1+2+1
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor do I own the characters. I have borrowed them here for some fun and creativity, and this is not for profit. I do, however, own the plot mentioned here, and any instances that you may find similar to real life events are purely a coincidence.
Notes: Beta-read by June!
The Thought That Counts
The electronic card in his inbox told him something that he hadn't known before.
It wasn't the first time that he received such a card from his friend, and he knew it certainly wouldn't be the last.
Hearing the alarm system beep, signalling entry into the house, he logged out of his email and hurried towards the kitchen.
Heero was there, just setting down a loaf of fresh bread - still warm - and the coffee was just finished.
"Good morning," Duo murmured, snaking an arm around his lover's waist. "I was wondering where you went this morning."
"We were out of bread," Heero said. "And knowing how much you like your bread in the morning, I decided I would run out and get a fresh loaf."
"Smells delicious," Duo said, sniffing by Heero's ear. Heero chuckled and pulled the pre-cut loaf from the paper bag. He then proceeded to butter it, and offered the slice to Duo.
"Freshly buttered bread," Duo sighed. "You're too kind to me." For that, Duo kissed Heero before taking a bite of the bread. "Today is World Kindness Day, you know?"
"Oh?" Heero looked at Duo.
"I got another e-card from Quatre," Duo replied. "It seems like you've done your share for the day," he mused.
"What does that mean then?" Heero asked, bringing Duo's mug of coffee to him.
"It means I pass it on!" Duo grinned. "I wonder where I can find an old lady to help across the street. Or a little kid who's kitty is in a tree."
"The last time you helped a kitty out of a tree you ended up with scratched forearms."
"Thanks for the memory," Duo said, making a face. Drinking his coffee, he sighed in a content manner before bringing the mug to the sink. "All right, I'm off. I've got class shortly. I'll be back on time."
"Dinner will be ready," Heero replied.
Duo paused. "Isn't it my night to get some take out?"
Heero shook his head. "My night class was cancelled, remember? I'll be home after my noon lecture, so I can handle dinner."
"Sweet," Duo grinned. "See you later, then!"
"Bye," Heero said, following Duo to the door. He caught Duo by the shirt when he straightened from putting his shoes on and pulled him close for a kiss. "Have a good day," he added softly.
Duo leaned close, letting their noses brush. "I will! You too!"
The campus was only a twenty-minute walk away and Duo tugged his jacket a little closer, shifting his backpack into a more comfortable position, he set off at a brisk walk.
Seeing a small child standing at the corner of the street, he approached, looking down at the little girl.
"Are you all right?" he asked her.
She looked away.
"Um..." Duo looked around. "Are you parents around? You shouldn't be standing here alone."
The little girl gave a sigh and looked up at him with a bit of a glare. "Don't you know that you're not supposed to talk to strangers, mister?" she asked.
"Um..." Duo raised an eyebrow. "Well, I was just concerned that you were..."
"Alicia! Get away from that man!"
"...alone," Duo finished as she ran off towards her mother who was walking down the porch steps. She gave him a dirty look.
Deciding that it would be better to just leave, Duo continued on his way.
By the time he reached campus, he had a bruise on his ankle from the thwack of an old lady's cane when she thought he was going to mug her instead of helping her across the street, as well as a scratch on his arm from the cat that he didn't quite manage to get down from the tree.
Spotting a cell phone on the ground, he bent to pick it up and was just straightening when someone shouted at him.
"Hey! That's mine!" A man ran up, looking quite angry. "I knew trading for a new model would make it attractive to thieves," he muttered.
Duo had had enough. "Hey! It was on the ground and I was going to bring it to the lost and found! Just because you can't keep an eye on your possessions..." The man was already walking away muttering about crazy people. Duo immediately felt ashamed; how was he better than that man by speaking back like that?
He made it to class with no further incidents and sank down in his seat. Passing on a kind deed was difficult in today's world, he decided.
Halfway through the class, he offered to help the professor set up the projector and it promptly blew a fuse. It really wasn't his fault; anyone who knew anything about circuits would know that, but most of his classmates, and the professor, and the maintenance staff gave him dirty looks.
With two back to back classes, he was glad for the two hour break he had before his last class of the day. Finding a seat in the cafeteria, he sat down with his music player on, highlighter in hand so he could do some readings.
Heero looked up from his laptop when Duo returned home much earlier than usual.
"Duo? I thought you had another class?"
"It was cancelled. They didn't post any electronic notices and only put up a note on the board of the classroom. Otherwise, I would have been home two hours earlier."
Heero's eyebrows furrowed. "What's wrong?"
"You were right about the cat thing," Duo said, showing Heero his scratched arm. "You won't believe what happened! I thought a girl was lost on the street and I get told off by her that I shouldn't talk to strangers. That, and her mom probably thought I was a kidnapper or a pedophile!"
Heero blinked, eyebrow raised. "Okay..." he said slowly.
"Then, I tried to help an old lady cross the street and she hit me with her cane, thinking I was about to mug her! Then the cat in the tree was absolutely vicious and scratched me, not to mention the owner told me off for pissing off the cat! I got to school and found a cell phone, and just when I picked it up the guy comes back and accuses me of being a thief when all I wanted to do was put it in the lost and found!" Duo sighed, flopping down onto the couch.
Heero sat down next to him, trying to hide a grin. "Anything else?"
"Yes! I offered to help set up the projector in my first class and it blew a fuse. Everyone thought it was my fault but come on! If they knew anything about electric circuits they would know it wasn't really my fault! Anyone who was going to plug it in would have blown that fuse!" He opened an eye to see Heero trying to look sympathetic and trying not to laugh. "Fine, laugh away," he huffed, crossing his arms and closing his eyes.
He felt the warmth of Heero leaning close before he was actually touched. He shifted as Heero wormed a hand behind his neck to settle close and sighed when another hand rest on his belly.
"You're taking everything too much to heart," Heero said. "You being kind is something that happens all the time. It doesn't necessarily have to be today. You tried your best and if people didn't acknowledge your good intentions, it's their loss."
Duo leaned against Heero. "I know. But still!"
"Quatre's email was just a reminder of the day. Trust me, Duo, you do plenty of kind things all the time. I'm sure people remember that and pass the same deed on, or back. Like the time Mrs. Nolan next door needed help fixing some things in her kitchen; you offered to do it without payment! She then offered us some of her stew in return, and even shared it with her other neighbour when our entire street lost electricity that night! It isn't only about today. You aren't a bad person for not having found that opportunity today."
"I guess so," Duo sighed. "At least I got some of my reading done at school, so my two hours weren't a total waste."
"I was fairly productive this morning too," Heero said. "So...why don't you show me some kindness?" he asked, slipping his hand under Duo's shirt and letting the tips of his fingers slide just under the hem of Duo's jeans.
Duo nuzzled Heero lightly. "Well, if you're willing to be kind in return, I'm game."
"Deal."
OWARI
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