"Duo? ...Duo?" Deathscythe's
comm-unit sparked to life as Quatre's image flickered onto the monitor.
"Heeeeeey! Q-man! What's up?" Duo sat back in the chair from
where he'd been leaning forward to power down his Gundam. Slouching, he dangled his
arms off the arms of the seat. "Got some sort of dandy mission?"
"Um...well, a mission, at least. Trowa and I are being sent to a school in
North America--Boston, I believe. Details are a bit sketchy at the moment."
Duo grinned, waggling his eyebrows. "You an' Trowa, eh? Bet you're hoping
mission details *remain* sketchy, eh?"
"Duo!" The Arabian protested, blushing faintly...though he couldn't avoid
smiling, excitement sparkling in his turquoise eyes. "Really, we're not going
there for fun."
"Yeah, well, it'd sure be a nice side effect, right? C'mon, you can't deny you
guys deserve a break together. You've been assigned separate missions constantly
since you became an official item!" Duo declared emphatically, tapping where
Quatre's nose appeared on the screen.
Quatre laughed softly, unable to keep his smile from widening. "All right, all
right...I agree. Some fun would be nice." Then his expression grew
serious. "But how are you doing? That's the real reason I contacted you."
Duo shrugged, resting his elbows in his knees. "Me? Fine...damned spiffy,
actually. Last mission was a breeze. Ol' Deathscythe here didn't even break a
sweat. I was just about to shut things down and head for the new safehouse."
"Are you, Wufei, and Heero all going to be there?"
"Nah...Wu's off doing his own thing--he didn't say what. It'll be just Heero and me
here."
"Ah..., I see." The blonde's eyebrows raised slightly, the look on his
face highlighting the true topic of concern.
"Hey, hey, don't get yourself all worried, Quat-man!" Duo reassured.
"Everything's been fine between Heero and me since we had that talk. I mean,
we're probably closer friends now than we've ever been." He frowned slightly at the
slight furrowing of Quatre's brow. "Okay, okay...so we're still *just*
friends...!"
"But he admitted that he had feelings for you...and you love him...."
Duo held up a hand to interrupt his friend. "Ah...*might* have feelings...the
operative word being might." He shrugged carelessly. "He said he
needed time to figure things out, so I'm giving him time. He hasn't said for sure
one way or the other yet."
Quatre sighed, looking slightly downcast. "But it's been a while...."
"I know...but I don't mind waiting. At least, not for a little more. He
and I...I mean, we have been hanging out and talking, you know."
"Really?"
Duo nodded. He expected the surprise on the blonde Arabian's face--Heero was not
loquacious by any stretch of the imagination. "Yeah. It's like he's
actually trying to get to know me...a nifty side-effect of which is I'm getting to know
more about *him*. He's starting to open up, Quatre. Slowly...but it's
happening."
Quatre beamed with genuine happiness. "I'm very glad to hear that. If you
think things are good, then I'll trust your instincts." His eyes flickered to
another area of Sandrock's display. "I'm almost at destination, so I'd better
sign off--until we meet again, Duo!"
"Later, Q-man! Give Trowa a hug for me. And be careful, 'kay?"
Duo's grin faded a bit as Quatre cut the link. He would really miss the
little blonde. The other boy had done so much to support and comfort him during all the
uncertainty with Heero. However, now things had calmed down between Duo and
the Japanese pilot, and he wasn't always having to look for the Arabian's figurative
shoulder to cry on. It really was better that Quatre was finally getting a chance to
focus on his own relationship.
Duo leaned forward to power down Deathscythe, then hopped out of the cockpit and finished
securing his Gundam. Checking his watch, he noted it was nearly seven. He
grimaced as he suddenly yawned, fatigue from the mission and time zone changes washing
over him, and realized it would be after 10 by the time he made his way to the downtown
apartment he and Heero were sharing. Too bad there weren't any vehicles around to
hotwire--it would have been nice not to have to walk the whole way into the city.
Shrugging to himself, he crept out of the abandoned warehouse. No point in just
standing there, wishing--he'd be able to crash all he wanted once he got to the safehouse.
* * *
Closing the apartment door, Duo threw the deadbolts and
reactivated Heero's juryrigged security system. He stretched, allowing himself a
long, drawn-out, nearly feline yawn. "Maaaaaaaaan...that last mission was too
easy for me to be this beat," he muttered to the empty room. "I must be
gettin' soft in my old age...." He snickered softly to himself at that comment,
then headed through the darkened apartment to the bedroom.
Pale, multicolored lights from the street-lamps and traffic signals outside streamed in
through the curtainless window as Duo shuffled into the small room, rubbing a weary hand
over his face. Glancing briefly at the closed laptop lying on one of two mattresses
resting on the floor, he angled towards the other bed, pausing only to remove his boots
and socks before starting to sink onto the old but serviceable mattress. At the last
second, a small splash of color on the faded sheets caught his eye, and he froze.
"What the...?"
A dark red rose, the bud just beginning to unfurl into full bloom, rested on the bed, its
deep, heady fragrance tickling Duo's nose. Kneeling next to the mattress, he
reverently picked up the flower, cradling it by its thorny stem as delicately as if it
were blown glass. It had been most definitely left for him, and very recently at
that, but who...? Hope blossomed within his heart and sang him an answer; with
the security in place, no one else could have been in the apartment except for....
"Heero...," he whispered, gazing in wonder at the rose in his hands.
The skin on the back of Duo's neck suddenly tingled, his breath catching in his throat as
he realized he was being watched. Heart skipping as it began to race, he turned to
see Heero standing in the bedroom doorway, cobalt eyes near-black and glittering in the
faint glow of the streetlights. The Japanese boy stared uncertainly at Duo--as if he
desperately wanted to both flee, yet remain standing where he was at the same time.
Their gazes locked, and Duo felt himself tremble with a strange nervousness.
Wide-eyed, he gulped, his tongue darting out to moisten suddenly dry lips.
"Did...did you...?" Trailing off, he gestured helplessly at the flower.
Heero nodded, sending Duo's heartbeat into overdrive. "But, why?"
Somewhere within his soul, Duo knew the answer; but the fears and insecurities
lurking within the shadows of his mind prodded him to speak the question anyway.
"To apologize for hurting you back then," the other pilot whispered.
Seeming to gather his courage, he stepped further into the room. "And to...to
express the things I have trouble saying."
To express...? Bemused, Duo's eyes flickered down to the flower he held. A red
rose? But that...that usually symbolized....
"...love...." The hesitant word echoed into the silence, and Duo blinked,
thinking for a moment that he'd spoken the thought aloud. Suddenly Heero was much
closer, standing right in front of him. "Or at least, that's what the woman who
sold it to me said it meant...," the Japanese boy continued.
Duo's heart was no longer singing--now it chorused rapturously to the heavens like a
immense choir. A smile as bright as the sun spread across his face, and he began
laughing and crying all at once, overwhelmed by crashing waves of emotion. With a
whoop, he bearhugged Heero, lifting the other boy from his feet as he spun them both
around in giddy circles until he nearly stumbled from dizziness. Leaning against
Heero as they regained their balance, Duo reveled in the sensation of Heero's arms
clasping him back. "Oh god...," he gasped as he caught his breath.
"I never thought...I mean, I hoped, but...," his words tumbled out in a chaotic
rush. Finally he gave up trying to be eloquent, instead speaking simply and from the
depths of his heart. "I love you."
The other boy's arms tightened around him in response. "I hoped you still
did."
"Hoped?" Duo pulled back slightly to gaze into shimmering cobalt eyes.
"Heero, when I said I loved you that first time, I meant always and forever."
One arm still wrapped firmly around Heero's waist, Duo reached up to trail the
petals of the rose lightly over Heero's cheek. "Trust me on that,okay?"
The Japanese boy looked down at him for a moment, then nodded, the corners of his mouth
shyly curving up in a small, but unmistakable smile as he rubbed against the caressing
flower. Touched deeply by the expression on his love's face, Duo felt a tear trickle
down his face. For once in his life, he really didn't care whether boys cried or
not. He instead focused on the *only* thing that was important right now.
Leaning forward slightly, he kissed his partner and love.
Sighing almost inaudibly at the contact, Heero pulled him even closer, pressing their
bodies together. Heat settled low in Duo's gut, blazing instantly through the rest
of his body. With a soft, almost purring noise, he trailed his tongue over Heero's
lower lip, taking advantage of his sharp gasp to deepen the kiss and invade the moist
warmth of the Japanese boy's mouth. Stroking Heero's tongue with his own, Duo teased
until the other responded in kind, sparking a delicious duel.
A moan rumbled up from his throat as Heero abruptly took control of their sparring,
plundering Duo's mouth as he tangled his hands in the hair at the back of Duo's head.
Duo broke the kiss, then brushed his lips along Heero's jaw to finally nip at his
earlobe. "Ah ah ah...! No ya don't, Yuy. This one's my turn,"
he scolded, sultry, as he licked along the delicate shell of Heero's ear and caused him to
shiver. "You just relax and enjoy."
"Duo...."
"Shhh--no arguing. I called dibs." Duo silenced him with a deep,
blazing kiss. Stroking his hand down Heero's back, he cupped the Japanese boy's rear
and ground his hips hard against Heero's. Duo both felt and heard Heero's low growl
as their cloth-covered erections rubbed together with each thrust. Pulling away again, he
chuckled at Heero's sound of protest, leering at the dazed, flushed expression on the
other's face. He pushed playfully on Heero's chest until the other backed up to
stand on Duo's mattress, then said with a wink, "Now just lie down, and I'll take
care of...*everything*."
He crossed the room and set the rose out of harm's way on Heero's laptop as the Japanese
boy reluctantly sat on the bed, the barely-controlled fire in his cobalt eyes revealing
how tenuously his passion was leashed. Glancing over his shoulder at Heero, Duo
grinned, his playful mood becoming even more wickedly mischievous. Knowing he had
the other's full attention, he licked his lips provocatively and ever so slowly unbuttoned
his shirt. Pulling it from his waistband, he slid it gradually off his shoulders and
arms until it finally puddled on the floor. Unfastening his pants, he pulled down
the zipper, but left them to ride low on his narrow hips instead of removing them. A
sensual smile on his lips, Duo returned to Heero, the alabaster skin of his torso gilded
by the light spilling through the window.
Raising Heero's chin as he trailed his fingers along his jaw, Duo bent forward to brush a
feather-light kiss across his lips. He cupped the other's head in his hands as he
delved deeper in to the other's mouth, suckling at Heero's tongue. Smoothing his
hands down his lover's shoulders over the front of his tank top, Duo kneaded Heero's chest
in lazy circles while he knelt between his legs. The Japanese boy moaned quietly as
Duo rained more kisses down the sides of his neck, licking and nibbling the slightly salty
skin at the juncture between it and his shoulder. Duo thrilled with satisfaction to
feel the other shiver as he sucked lightly at a particularly sensitive area.
Yanking the green tank top free from Heero's shorts, Duo ran his hands beneath it,
caressing the smooth skin of the boy's firm abdomen. The Japanese boy quivered and
gasped as he teasingly raked his nails along his well-muscled stomach, reaching up higher
to gently flick and roll his already-hardening nipples. Helping Heero shrug his way
out of the tank top, he tossed it over his shoulder and leaned down to lap his tongue over
one small patch of puckering skin, massaging the other erect nipple with the soft pad of
his thumb. His breath coming in short gasps, Heero clasped Duo's head, neck arching
back as he leaned into the searing sensation.
Tenderly urging Heero to lay flat on the bed, Duo kissed and nipped his way down the
other's stomach, licking the warm skin and trailing his tongue around the edge of his
navel. He blew gently over the dampness left behind on Heero's torso, smiling
wolfishly as he heard his lover's breathing become even more ragged. He stroked the
Japanese pilot's hardness through his spandex as he placed kisses along the waistband,
smiling as the other boy groaned, hips bucking involuntarily. "Hm? Like
that, eh?" He grasped Heero firmly, pumping him through the thin, clinging
cloth.
A hoarse moan ripped from Heero's throat, and he clutched at Duo's shoulders. "Agh!
D-duo...!"
"Heh...yep, seems you do like that." In an action that was both merciful
and self-serving, Duo deftly pulled the spandex shorts over Heero's straining erection
like a sleight of hand artist, grinning as he noted the marked lack of underwear.
Slipping them off Heero's long, tan legs, he dropped them carelessly on the floor.
His braid fell over his shoulder to drape like a silken rope over the Japanese boy's thigh
as he bent forward with a evil grin and flicked his tongue over the tip of his lover's
exposed cock. Heero's sharp indrawn breath turned into a shuddering groan as Duo
took it into his mouth, suckling and swirling his tongue over the head as if it were a
lollipop. Gently squeezing the base with his hands, Duo engulfed Heero further,
trailing his tongue down along one vein, then up another.
Heero writhed against the sheets, tousling his wild, dark hair even further, hips jerking
as if he were resisting the urge to be deeper within Duo's hot, moist mouth.
Splaying his hands on the insides of Heero's thighs, Duo eagerly provided what the other
boy's body cried out for, taking his shaft in fully until his nose brushed the dark
sprinkling of hair at its base. Pausing there for an eternal moment, Duo began to
gulp and suck, finally drawing up and down again. Head bobbing rhythmically, he
hummed with delectation as he pleasured his lover.
Moaning harshly into the night's silence, Heero's body shook as he fought to keep from
thrusting against Duo's ravishing lips and tongue until he cried out roughly, his control
finally shredded. He fisted his hands in Duo's hair, back arching and hips bucking
wildly as he came with a soul-deep shout. His breath rasping out in panting sobs,
the Japanese boy shuddered violently as Duo swallowed and licked up his seed. Only
when his lover was once again clean did Duo allow the shaking hands grasping at his
shoulders to pull him up next to other on the mattress. He kissed the still out of
breath pilot as he wrapped his arms around Duo to hug him close.
Face flushed with the vestiges of passion, Heero reached up to brush Duo's bangs away from
his face, gazing almost wonderingly at him. "I never imagined it could be quite
like that."
"Good, eh?"
Heero nodded with a small smile. "Aa...very. But you...."
Duo gave a low chuckle, a roguish grin spreading across his face. "Heh...yeah!
What about me? Hmmm...I think I've got some ideas...!"
Heero snorted, "Somehow I thought you might." He then smirked at Duo.
"In that case I should tell you I got you another present."
"Oooh! Really? Man, it's just like Christmas!"
Snorting again, Heero nudged him towards the head of the bed. "Perhaps you
should check what Santa left under your pillow."
"Eh?" Duo reached under the pillow and grasped the cool object that lay
beneath. He giggled as he revealed the tube of lubricant. "Hooray!
Lube--just what I always wanted! Thank you, Santa!"
"Hn...baka." Heero pulled Duo back to him, stroking his hands up and down
his back. "If you still plan on this being 'your turn', perhaps you had better
start doing something with it...or it won't be 'your turn' for long."
"Oooh...is that a threat?" Duo's grin seemed to get even wider.
"It is a promise." The Japanese boy began toying with the waistband of
Duo's pants. "Hn...you are still wearing clothing." He glanced at
Duo with a raised eyebrow. "Is this some sort of kinky sexual practice I've
never been told about?"
Duo gave a short bark of laughter and pinned Heero back against the mattress.
"Geeeez... you're sarcastic *and* impatient."
"Efficient, not impatient."
"Heh... tomato, tomahto, whatever." Pecking a quick kiss to the end of
Heero's nose, Duo leaned back and removed his pants and boxers. He retrieved the
tube of lubricant and twisted off the cap, squirting a dollop onto several fingers.
Kneeling once more before Heero, he spread the other boy's legs further apart. He massaged
one lubed finger over Heero's puckered opening, gently sliding the finger inside.
The Japanese boy gave a short hiss as he adjusted to the intrusion, moaning as Duo began
to slowly work his finger in and out.
Heero's breath shuddered out in a long, pleasured sigh as Duo carefully inserted a second
finger and then a third. Suddenly the other boy gasped harshly and bucked hard
against his hand as Duo brushed Heero's innermost pleasure spot. Entranced by the
ecstatic expression that spasmed across the Japanese boy's face, Duo caressed the spot
again and again and again, Heero's hips thrusting up each time in response.
Eventually he withdrew his fingers with obvious reluctance and reached once more for the
tube of lubricant.
Quickly applying the gel to his throbbing erection, Duo leaned over Heero and pulled his
lover's legs up by the knees. He braced his hands to either side of the Japanese
boy's head and pressed the tip of his shaft against Heero's opening, gingerly pushing
forward past the resisting ring of muscle. Wincing at Heero's brief gasp of pain, he
slowed his already gradual entry even further, trying desperately to give the other boy
time to adapt. Groaning raggedly as he felt his lover's sheathing tightness take him
in, Duo struggled to move carefully, fearful of injuring the other boy. Heero seemed
to have other ideas, however, and wrapped his legs around Duo's hips, urging him in
further and deeper into the clasping heat with a low, drawn-out growl.
At last buried within Heero, Duo withdrew and thrust in repeatedly, purring at the
delicious sensation of his lover clenching around him. Angling to hit that magic
spot within the other, he bent down to kiss Heero, tongue dancing in and out of his mouth
as it mimicked the rhythmic movement of his hips. Arms tight around Duo's waist, the
Japanese boy moaned and flexed his hips to grind hard against his thrusts. A
pulsating ache ignited in Duo's groin, flaring brighter and hotter as waves of pure,
concentrated pleasure seared through him.
Strange mewling whimpers bubbled up from Duo's throat as the ache surged to fill his
entire body, while somehow at the same time tightening to a single point deep within his
gut. Sweat dripped off his brow as he pounded faster and faster into his lover,
striving for a goal that fluttered tantalizingly just out of reach. Below him, Heero
arched high off the mattress, as if pressing impossibly closer to Duo would somehow
assuage his own ache.
Duo propped himself up on one trembling arm, reaching between the two of them to grasp his
lover's rehardened erection. Fisting his hand, he stroked up and down over the
silken skin of Heero's cock, pumping him in time with their lovemaking. Suddenly,
the Japanese boy's body quaked then grew rigid, his short nails digging painfully into
Duo's back. Mouth opening wide with a silent cry of ecstasy, he convulsed, coating
Duo's hand and their chests as he climaxed.
Nearly sobbing at the sensation of Heero squeezing him, Duo thrust frenetically, some
distant part of his mind wondering if it was possible to die from sheer pleasure alone.
Then there was no thought at all as the maddening rapture overwhelmed him, the ache
within exploding to roar like wildfire through his entire body and soul. Throwing
his head back with a deep, guttural howl, Duo emptied himself again and again into his
lover, quivering helplessly from the force of his orgasm. Finally, boneless and
spent, he collapsed against Heero's chest, residual shudders rippling through his body.
Through the fading haze of pleasure, Duo grew dimly aware of someone stroking his
disheveled hair and nearly undone braid. Blinking dazedly, he stared up at a
beatifically smiling Heero. The Japanese boy rolled his unresisting body over until
they both lay on their sides, facing each other. Hooking his leg over Duo's,
Heero brushed gentle lips over his, then feathered another kiss on his forehead.
"Ai shiteru, Duo...."
Duo gaped at his lover, stunned to have heard him say the words. "Y-you don't
have to say that! I don't...I don't expect-...."
"But I wanted to." The other boy caressed Duo's cheek, then stroked his
hand down his neck and chest. "I...it felt...right to say it out loud, instead
of just using the symbolism of a flower."
Swallowing against a great surge of emotion, Duo nuzzled Heero's neck as he felt tears of
joy once again well up within his eyes. "T-thank you. I...I can't tell
you how much that means to me...."
"You don't have to. I know."
Duo nodded, then hugged Heero tightly, letting out a deep, shuddering breath as he brought
his emotions under control. "Gods, I...I love you so damned much...!"
"And I, you. Always and forever," the Japanese boy murmured back, echoing
Duo's earlier words.
"Yeah.... Always...an' forever," Duo slurred as drowsiness washed over him
in tranquil waves, his earlier exhaustion returning to beckon him inexorably towards
sleep. His eyes fluttered shut as, with one last great yawn, he finally succumbed.
Luxuriating in the sensations of warmth and peace as he lay nestled next to his lover,
Heero glimpsed the rose resting on his computer across the room. "Forever," he
agreed again, smiling contentedly. Enfolding Duo's softly snoring form in a
protective embrace, he closed his eyes and soon followed the other into slumber.
* * *