"Salad Dressing"
by The Czarina Merquise

Pairing: 6 x 1 x 2
Note: Spoilers for "Endless Waltz" - related information is from scripts only, not the actual thing. <g>
Disclaimer: Bandai and Sunrise get all the money, I get nothing, I promise!
Warning: Lemony goodness ahead, as Codi Winner says!

"It was good to be fighting on the same side with you for a change," Heero Yuy commented to the tall Preventer "Wind" as the pilot joined the others.   Within he felt a great relief that Zechs Merquise had made it out of the Eve War alive, not just for Relena's sake, but for his own.  That final battle of theirs had weighed on his mind more than anything else that had happened before or since.  But now their warring was hopefully at an end, the uprising created by Dekim Barton and Mariemaia Khushrenada having been crushed.

"Perhaps you could say I finally got something right," Zechs murmured, looking down at the serious young pilot.  The boy was older, taller now, a year later.   Attractive as a fifteen-year-old, Heero was going to be even more gorgeous as he grew older.  At sixteen he was filling out from his boyish skinniness.  "What are you going to do now, Heero?"

Heero glanced over to where Duo was animatedly talking with Quatre and Trowa, then looked back up.  "That's the problem.  How does a soldier retire from fighting?  I've never lived in peace, Zechs, and I haven't a clue how to do it.  And you?"

"I'm just like you, I guess," Zechs murmured.  He was aware of Noin talking to Sally Po on the other side of the room, and his heart sank as he worried about how he was going to put her off this time.  [She still doesn't get it - I love her as a friend, no more.  I'm not interested in women.  How do I tell her?]

"Zechs?" Heero whispered, seeing that the other pilot was preoccupied.  "Another time, maybe..."  He trailed off and turned away.

"Wait," Zechs said hastily, a hand on the boy's arm.  "Don't go.  I'm sorry, I was thinking about something."

Heero turned back.  "Let me guess - Noin."

Zechs shook his head sadly.  "I've never been able to tell her the truth.  I know she loves me..."  He sighed, the platinum blond tendrils fallen over his face as he bowed his head.

"You don't love her?"  Heero nearly held his breath.  Could it be?   He'd been attracted to the tall Lightning Count ever since they first met in person.  Zechs Merquise at age twenty was gorgeous beyond belief, and possessed a kindred soul to Heero's.  Plus they were an equal match as soldiers and pilots.  [He *is* just like me,] he mused, hopeful.

The older man shrugged, frowning a little.  "I'm just not attracted to women," he admitted.  "Never have been."

[Ooops, I'd better not ask about Treize, then,] Heero thought, relieved.  "Me, neither."  He'd had his own difficult time convincing Relena of that fact.  He'd long learned that his protectiveness toward her had everything to do with his innate deep understanding of the broader picture of his mission toward peace, and little to do with her personally.

Zechs straightened.  "To answer your question, I don't have any more idea than you how to live in a time of peace.  What do you suggest I do about it?"

His crystalline, aquamarine eyes met the Prussian blue of Heero's.  "Find someone with whom to learn," Heero responded in a low voice.  "Someone who knows where you've been and how you got here."  He narrowed his eyes and the gaze intensified.  "Do you know anyone like that, Zechs?"

The beautiful eyes narrowed. Was that a come-on?  He deliberately did not answer.  "You have several options," Zechs murmured, glancing around at the other pilots meaningfully.

"Not as far as I can see," Heero replied, openly staring at him.  After a long moment, Zechs began to smile.  His guess was right; Heero was definitely coming on to him.

"Still, the possibilities are endless," Zechs countered, though his smile told Heero that he'd gotten the message.  The taller man glanced again at the others.  Wufei was talking quietly to Sally Po and Noin.  Judging from the proximity of Quatre to Trowa, those two were definitely close.  Lastly his glance fell to Duo Maxwell, lingering there a moment.

Heero noticed the look immediately.  When Zechs returned his gaze to him again, a secret understanding went between the two men.  Slowly Zechs smiled.  "Duo?" he called.

Duo was just saying good-bye to Trowa and Quatre, who were evidently leaving together.  It was hoped that they were pairing up, something everyone was happy about.  "Yo, what's up?" Duo yawned, sauntering over.

Zechs and Heero both gave Duo a measuring stare.  "Hey, what's this, the Inquisition?  What're you two looking at me like that for?"

Heero turned fully back to Zechs, ignoring Duo for a moment.  "Yes, I have options.  I know one person in particular whom I am most interested in.  He knows intimately what my single-minded drive has been all about."  A bit shyly, he raised a hand to touch Zechs on the chest.  "I believe you understand me better than anyone."

Duo made a rude noise.  "Oh, good, for a really bad moment there I thought you were going to refer to me!  Well, let me tell you, I don't know you AT ALL, couldn't figure you out if my life depended on it..."

"Shhh, Duo, in a minute," Zechs interrupted.  He was still looking at Heero, but now laid a hand on Duo's shoulder, effectively pinning him in place.  "So, will you join me, Heero Yuy?   Shall we take up that path toward peace together?"  His voice had gone quiet, but warm.

"Huh?" Duo squirmed a bit under the hand.  "You two pairing off or something?  Then what the fuck do you want *me* for?"

But the other two pilots were still ignoring the pilot with the long braid.  "Yes, I will join you, Zechs," Heero murmured, his eyes shining and intent.  "Tell Noin today, though."  He smirked at this last.

"Oh, shit," Duo muttered.  "Why am I here?"

"Do you want to be, Duo?" Zechs asked him suddenly, turning those aquamarine eyes on him. "What are your plans?"

Now they were staring at him again.  "Geesh!  First you don't talk to me at all, now I'm getting grilled... Look, I don't know what this is about.  Zechs, I don't really know you at all, and I bug the hell out of Heero.  And of course he completely and totally baffles me.   We're like oil and water..."

"Or rather, oil and vinegar... and with a little seasoning..." and Heero glanced meaningfully at the man just four years older than they were, "we'd have salad dressing."  He gave Duo a wicked little smirk.  "Maybe you'd like to think about it and we'll get back to you later."

"Think about what?" Duo nearly shrieked.  He bounced, but Zechs's hand was still holding him in place where he was.

"Do you find either of us attractive, Duo?" Zechs murmured, his voice gentle and calming.

Duo gaped at the tall pilot.  "You're kidding, right?"  He looked up and down the long length of Zechs Merquise.  "Zechs, you're a god - surely you know that, right?"  Then he wrinkled his nose at Heero.  "And as for you... "  Through slitted eyes he examined Heero's dark good looks.  [Damn, he's going to be taller than me... and he *is* beautiful, too, for that matter...]  "Yeah, you're a looker, Heero.  What can I say?  You two will make quite the picture together!  Why are you even talking to me?"

Heero crossed his arms over his chest, regarding the agitated Duo Maxwell with a frown.  "I'm not really sure, Duo.  I like you and find you tasty, but you do bug the hell out of me, majorly.   Maybe I'm thinking Zechs has more of a chance of calming you down."

"Tasty?"  Duo felt faint all of a sudden.  "TASTY?  Damn, Heero..."

Zechs murmured, "I think we should move this discussion elsewhere."

After reaching Zechs's apartment, Duo went to sit in a corner, still feeling weird, while Heero talked to Zechs.  "You tell Noin?"

"Yeah..."  Zechs was smiling, looking more relaxed than Heero'd ever seen him.  "She was needing to tell me something, too... It seems she and Sally are going into business together.  She also said that she'd known how I felt for a long time and only Sally had managed to get her to face up to it."

"You okay?" Heero asked, sliding a hand up Zechs's chest, edging closer.  "I know you were close to Noin for a long time."

Duo rolled his eyes.  [Okay, so these two are getting together big time... where the hell do I fit in?]

"I'm fine... and getting better by the moment," Zechs murmured, then slipped his arms around Heero, pulling him close.  "I think this is helping," he added, then bent down to kiss the younger pilot.

Heero responded with the same intensity he brought to his fighting, his arms going tightly around the blond man's neck.  He opened his mouth to Zechs, welcoming in the probing warmth of his tongue.  It didn't matter to either of them that they had little (Zechs) or no (Heero) experience in romantic or sexual relationships.  Both had survived the Eve War and this last nasty business by being adaptable.   This was, they would laugh later, just another kind of waltz.

Duo swallowed hard, his throat gone dry.  He could not take his eyes off them, and shifted position a moment later, uncomfortable due to a raging hard on.  [Oh, fuck, they're both so hot!] he groaned to himself.  [Are they trying to drive me insane?]

Zechs gently ended the kiss, though Heero plainly wanted more, a whimper escaping him as he lost contact with his new lover's mouth.  Then the tall pilot looked over to the corner, the beautiful aquamarine eyes glittering.  "If you're interested, Duo Maxwell," Zechs murmured in his deep, husky voice, "Heero and I would like you to be our lover."

Duo gulped and nearly fell off the chair.  "L...lover?"

Heero left off kissing Zechs's neck, and peered over, his eyes hooded.  "I think he means bed toy."

Another gulp and a deep breath; Duo was feeling dizzy again.  "B...bed toy?"

"Of course," Zechs commented, caressing the back of the boy in his arms, "You might want to just watch first.  I'm not all that experienced..."

"And I'm not at all," Heero sighed, pulling some of the long, platinum blond hair to the front to play with.

"Don't you want some, er, privacy?" Duo asked, nearly drooling as Heero ran a long strand of blond hair through his teeth.  "I mean, I guess you two haven't been together before..."

Heero looked back up at Zechs, distracted by something he'd said.  "Let me ask... Treize?"

Zechs closed his eyes, frowning.  "Once only.  It was a mistake.  He was too domineering."

Heero snorted at the irony.  "That's our Treize.  Anyway, if you want to dominate me... I think I could like that..."

Duo leaped off the chair suddenly.  "Wait a minute!  This is just getting too... too... bizarre!   If you think I'm going to sit here and watch you two play out your dungeon fantasies, you've got another thing coming!"  He ran his hand through his droopy bangs nervously.  "Jesus, you guys freak me out..."

"Duo," Zechs interrupted.  "Come here."

Duo just got harder.  "Shit."  He turned away from them to hide the evidence.  "You guys play dirty, you know that?"

"You don't have to do this, Duo," Heero murmured, his head pillowed on Zechs's chest.  "Not now, not ever. We're just making an offer to you.  If you want to leave now, fine.  And if you want to be with us in the future, that's fine, too."

"Well, this IS rather sudden..." Duo groaned, then added, "Tell you what.  You two, ah, fuck your brains out, get what you've got established, etc.  Then later on, uh, I'll, ah, I'll come to you."  [Shit, I said it!!] he scolded himself, but it was rather hard to think when his groin was on fire.

"So you're saying yes," Zechs chuckled, enjoying Duo's discomfiture.

"Yes, fuck it, yes!" Duo threw back at them, then took a deep breath, trying to calm down.  "I'd be nuts to turn down..."  He let his gaze rake over them.  "As long as Zechs can keep Heero and I from killing each other."

"I can manage that," Zechs replied mildly.  "You know, Duo, have you ever considered that the reason Heero freaks you out so much... and the reason you bug him so much... is that you're deeply attracted to each other?  Of course, I'm hoping his attraction to me is deeper... and hoping that you have an attraction to me as well."  He caressed Heero's back as he spoke, the pilot in his arms all but purring.

Duo narrowed his eyes at him.  "I'm not blind, Zechs... but I see what you mean.  Heh, oil and vinegar... is the seasoning enough to keep us together?"  He winked saucily at Zechs, but as his gaze fell to Heero, still watching him with those big, dark eyes, he sobered. [He's the vinegar, all right.  Sour and acerbic...] "I don't think so..."

"Salad dressing needs to be shaken well," Heero muttered, breaking the gaze and turning his face back against Zechs to nuzzle his neck.  "Anyway, I guess that as long as Zechs and I were getting together, and we both had this idea all of a sudden... well, you certainly don't have to join us yet."

[Damn, this is just TOO weird... and fantastically hot, all at the same time!] Duo thought, his mind and stomach churning.  [Okay, so what about that - is this just going to be a sex thing?  Do they just want me to spice up their bed?  If so... heh, I can SO do that, but do I want to?  Damn, but Heero is maddening... how much of that can I take?}  His expression grew wary.

"Look, guys," Duo sighed, "like I said, you guys get your thing going first.  Then, you know, uh, find me and we'll talk.  Okay?"  He scratched his head, still feeling strange.

Zechs nodded, his eyes intent but with an odd warmth that Duo didn't want to think too much about yet.  "Sounds good.  Thanks."

"See you around, Duo," Heero murmured.

Duo gulped and nodded, then fled, wanting to get somewhere alone so he could stop his brain from spinning.

"That went well," Heero muttered, his face still buried against Zechs's neck.  "He'll be back."

"I hope so," Zechs replied, his long, elegant fingers filtering into the dark brown hair.  "I just have this feeling..."

Heero raised his head to look up at him.  "Yeah.  So do I."

Two weeks later, Duo Maxwell gave in unwillingly to a fact he could not ignore.  Since the bizarre offer from the mad and fierce Heero Yuy and a probably equally mad and intense Zechs Merquise, Duo had lost sleep and weight.  He could not get out of his mind the way each pilot looked at him - Heero as if he wanted to fuck him while stabbing him with a knife, and Zechs as if Duo was a delicious gourmet treat to be consumed.

[This is affecting my health,] Duo admitted finally, and went to find someone to talk to.

Chang Wufei did not even flinch when Duo told him the sordid tale.  "I see," the Chinese pilot replied coolly, sitting in a meditative posture on the floor.

"You see?" Duo screeched.  "Is that all you've got to say?  Wufei, they want me to be their freakin' boy toy!"

Wufei glanced up mildly.  "You say that as if it was a bad thing, Duo."

Duo smacked himself on the forehead.  "Geesh!  Not you, too!"

"Duo, sit down.  Tell me what the problem is," Wufei sighed patiently.

Dropping to the floor in front of the other pilot, Duo drew his knees up to his chest and hugged them.  "The problem is, I think they're slightly insane.  Heero wants to kill me still, I know it, and Zechs just thinks... ah, hell, I don't know what he thinks!  He looks at me as if I'm made of chocolate and whipped cream..."  He gaped at Wufei, astonished.  The other pilot was chuckling.  "What?"

Wufei composed himself.  "Heero doesn't want to kill you, Duo.  I can promise you that."

"Eh?  Well, why does he always look like he wants to bite something?  I don't want him biting me!"  Duo glowered, staring at nothing.

"Actually," Wufei commented, "I think they're a good match for each other.  At least they're not dueling anymore."

"Yeah, wasn't that pointless?"  Duo snorted inelegantly.  "For them it was like fighting yourself.  They were too well matched.  Anyway, I really don't know what they want me for."

Wufei smirked.  "You must be joking."

Duo glared back.  "Not hardly!"

The other was not fazed.  "You are very attractive, Duo.  And, I'm guessing here, but I think they are attracted to your energy as well."

"Um?" Duo gaped at Wufei for a long moment.  But there was only compassion in the other's demeanor.  Wufei really was trying to help him.  "Er, ah, okay, I can buy that... but they have each other, so..."

Wufei narrowed his eyes at the other pilot, thinking.  "You know, I think I see a solution.  You'll have a much better chance of handling this dilemma of yours if you take a different perspective on our two friends."

"Eh, how's that?"  Duo was desperate for any solution.  "What perspective?"

"Well, we said they were equal matches, very much alike, aren't they?"

Duo nodded.  Zechs was more prone to melancholy, but yes, the two pilots both had the same intensity, the same burning desire to succeed in their missions.  It was what had brought them together, Duo had guessed, the fact that each had found the one person who could truly understand them.

"So," Wufei finished with deceptive calm, "think of them as one person.  This one entity is attracted to you, and wants to be with you.  I know they said as a 'lover', but when you think about it... do you really see either of them as all that shallow?"

One person!  Duo's mind reeled with the magnitude of Wufei's suggestion.  "Shallow?" he managed to gasp, his voice cracking.  "Er, come to think of it... just the opposite.  So, you mean..."  He could not wrap his mind around it.  "They both... me... they really... yes?"

Wufei chuckled.  "Oh, yeah.  I'd say big time.  Come on, Duo, you know you're a very attractive boy, and you're outgoing and fun.  You should be flattered."

Duo looked peculiarly at Wufei, but again the Chinese boy was just being honest, not suggesting anything about his own possible interests.  Besides, there were rumors about Wufei and Dorothy Catalonia, so...  "Yeah, flattered..."  He straightened.  "So, I approach this as if a single person is on the make for me."  He shrugged, making the braid bounce.  "I can handle this, no problem.  Either that, or I'm going to die very happy."  He flashed the other a sudden grin.  "Thanks, Wufei!"

"Good luck," Wufei called after him as Duo bounded out.  [You're going to need it...]

Five minutes in the company of Heero Yuy and Zechs Merquise, and a stunned Duo Maxwell was beginning to see that Wufei's theory was right.  Heero and Zechs were already solid together, seemingly a beautiful mirror each for the other.  [Wow, they're so in love,] Duo thought to himself in awe as he accepted a cup of coffee that Zechs was putting into his hand.

Surprised, Duo came back to himself, turning his attention to Zechs alone.  The tall Preventer agent smiled warmly at him.  "What?" Duo muttered, realizing belatedly that Zechs had said something to him.

"I said," Zechs repeated quietly, "that something about you is different, Duo."

Heero had come up to join them, slipping his arm around Zechs's waist as he leaned into him.  "I notice it, too."  The dark eyebrows drew together.  "You've lost weight.  Not that you had much to lose."  He pointedly shifted his gaze to rove up and down Duo's slim body.

Duo shivered at the examination.  "You have no idea what your little offer has been doing to my appetite and sleep," he admitted, then hastily took a sip of coffee.

Zechs and Heero exchanged a glance.  "Duo," Zechs murmured gently, "this was not meant to be a source of stress for you.  I'm sorry if we offended you..."

"We were a little abrupt," Heero admitted.  "Sorry."

Duo took another long swig of coffee, then turned to set the cup down on a side table.  [Deep breath, take a deep breath...]  He paused to inhale deeply, then turned back to them.  "I told you then that I accepted... but I have to lay some ground rules here.  Just to warn you, you might not still want me after that."

Zechs reached out to brush the back of a finger against Duo's cheek.  "Don't be so sure," he murmured, smiling.

Abruptly Duo grabbed Zechs's hand to stop the light caress.  "Give me a minute here to get this out!"  He looked down at the slender but strong hand in his, then decided to keep it.  "Look, I've decided I cannot be your casual little fling.  I know I'm a casual kinda guy, and I definitely do flings, but this just doesn't fall in that category.  There's too much deep shit already between us all for me to have anything casual... especially with you two.  I know, I know, this isn't like me.  I know you probably thought that of all people, I'd be most amenable to this sort of arrangement, and ordinarily I would be, but in this case, for some reason, I just can't..."

"Duo," Heero stopped him sharply, his tone softened by the warmth in his eyes.  "You talk too much.  Just tell us what you want from us, please."

Duo narrowed his eyes at Heero.  "No, actually, I haven't talked enough.  I need to talk this out."

"It's okay," Zechs murmured, bending down to give Heero's cheek a kiss.  "We'll let you talk."  Beside him, Heero subsided, nodding.

Another deep breath. "What I'm trying to get at," Duo continued, "is that I can't be just your bed toy.  I can't do that with you two.  It will have to be more."

"If I might interrupt," Heero murmured, then paused until Duo nodded.  "Thanks.  What if we made this offer to you individually?  Would you be having the same difficulty?"

Duo stared at him, astonished.  He'd never given that a thought.  Would it have been the same?  [Heero... well, I wouldn't have ever expected him to come after me anyway.  We're too different - oil and vinegar, as he says.  Zechs... hmmmm, what a lovely man... I could definitely see having a fling with him, but ... I dunno...]  "I don't know," he admitted honestly.  "I only know what I feel right now, guys.  And that's that I can't just be an addition to your sex life as a couple.  I can't do that."

Zechs nodded, still holding Duo's hand lightly, not wanting to upset him by further caresses.  "I understand.  We admit that the offer was impulsive, but over the past two weeks as we've grown closer, Heero and I have decided that we really do want you in our lives, Duo.  What we need to know now is... what do you want?"

[They... understand?]  Duo glanced at Heero, who merely looked back coolly, though something of his former aloofness seemed to be gone.  "What do I want?"  [Okay, they'll either love this or hate it.  Either way, this is it.  I start a new life or get my old one back.]  He squeezed Zechs's hand and then released it.  "It's really pretty simple.  I know that I couldn't have a relationship with just Heero because we'd drive each other crazy... and I think it would take a while for me to get to know Zechs well enough to have anything deeper with him.  But the two of you together..."

Duo edged nearer, then lifted both his hands, laying one palm against Heero's cheek, and one higher against Zechs's cheek.  "You two are a beautiful couple... and if you want me to be a part of you, I will.  But only as an equal part.  I'll join you in a full three-way... or not at all."  His hands fell and he dropped his gaze, giving them time to process his words.

Zechs turned to his lover and drew him into his arms, whispering into his ear.  Duo walked away a few steps, hugging his arms to himself, giving them a moment of privacy.  The whispering continued for a few moments, then out of the corner of his eye Duo saw them kissing.  He closed his eyes, waiting.

[Will they accept me completely?] Duo wondered, his heart beating fast.  [Oh, if I could really get to love them both...]

Zechs and Heero finished their kiss and gazed into each other's eyes.  There was no turning back now; if they did this, it would be together and probably long term.  Duo was clearly serious, which made a deep impression on them both.  And the fact that he'd actually lost weight and sleep over this told them how important this was to him.  Slowly Zechs smiled warmly at his lover, and Heero nodded, his smile only showing up in his eyes.  Arm in arm, they turned together to face the other boy.  "Duo, come here, please," Zechs murmured in his rich, sensual voice.

[Here it comes.  Oh, pleasepleasepleaseplease...] Duo, arms still folded over his chest, turned back to them and neared.

Zechs smiled, warmth and affection in his beautiful aquamarine eyes.  While still keeping Heero close to his side with one arm, he slipped his free hand around to the back of Duo's neck under the braid, drawing him in close.  "Our answer is yes, Duo.  Your new lovers welcome you."  And with that, he bent to kiss Duo passionately.

Duo stifled a gasp of joy, yielding immediately to the kiss.  His knees going weak, he slipped one arm around Zechs's waist, clasping Heero's forearm that already was there, then slipped his other arm around to Heero's back.  He felt Heero's lips on the side of his neck and shivered.  Was this really happening?  How did he get so lucky?

Then Zechs's tongue was dueling with his.  Duo had no will to stop it, and avidly gave himself over to playing tonsil hockey with the tall blond.  But his senses were already reeling with the additional teasing of Heero Yuy's tongue playing with his throat.

"Hold on," he heard Zechs say when their lips parted, then Duo hastily threw his arms around the man's neck as Zechs picked him up, fitting the boy's legs around his waist.  Duo held on tight, feeling very strange to be carried to what was obviously their bedroom.  Heero followed, and for some reason he was laughing, a sound Duo found altogether sinister.

"Heero, you bastard, don't laugh at me..." he muttered as Zechs set him down on his feet again.  But he didn't have a chance to get angry about whatever Heero found amusing, because Zechs was kissing him again, his hands busy on taking off his shirt.

"I'm not laughing at you, you little idiot," Heero murmured, his hands circling Duo from behind. He ran his hands up to rub lightly against the boy's nipples as Zechs got his shirt off. "I'm enjoying you, is all.  You are rather delicious."

Duo pulled out of the kiss, panting. "Well, you just have this evil laugh... ohh!"  Duo writhed under the sensual touches.  He looked up at Zechs, whom he discovered was looking at him with concern.  "What?"

"After we make love to you," Zechs murmured, his hands moving down to open his pants, "we need to feed you.  You're too skinny."

"Ulp!" Duo gasped as Heero licked at his neck again, playing with his nipples. "You know, this really isn't very fair... and I like being skinny..."

"Not this skinny," Heero muttered in his ear.  He took the boy's hand and placed it on his ribs.  "Feel that?"

"Er, yeah, my ribs are sticking out, okay, okay!"  Duo shrugged, pushing the hand away.  He then shifted as Zechs bade him step out of his pants and shoes.

"You're still beautiful," Zechs murmured, standing to look him over, running his hands up his sides.  "And who said this had to be fair?  Don't you want to just enjoy yourself, Duo?"

[That VOICE!] Duo's senses were already reeling.  Then he realized he was the only one completely naked.  "You're both way overdressed," he snapped back, not answering the questions.  He plucked at Heero's shirt in irritation.

"Right," Heero muttered.  His mouth did something that was almost a smirk, then he began to take off his shirt.  Beside him, Zechs did the same.  Duo, unabashedly grinning, watched avidly as both men stripped.

"Yum," he commented saucily, then nearly fell onto the bed as a naked Heero backed him up against it and collected him in for a kiss.  [Heero, I'm kissing HEERO!  And he hasn't killed me yet!] he thought giddily.

Suddenly a laughing Zechs, who had evidently climbed onto the bed behind him, had him by the waist and was pulling him down onto the bed.  Duo and Heero tumbled onto it and Zechs, who suddenly had his arms full of pilots, rolled them all over so they lay side by side... by side.  Duo, of course, was conveniently in the middle.

"Oh, shit," Duo said happily, writhing sensuously under the attentions of their hands and mouths.  "I could like this..."

Heero had his braid in his teeth, tugging lightly.  "Hmph."  His fingers went back to playing with Duo's nipples.

Zechs had his hands on Duo's ass, squeezing the round globes gently.  "I could like this..."  He snickered into Duo's ear, then ran his tongue around the edge of it.

"Whooooo!" Duo let loose, pushing back eagerly against Zechs's hands.  Then he yelped as Heero started to undo his braid.  "Hey!"

Heero used fingers and teeth.  "Mmmmm," he hummed as he released the cascade of luscious brown hair, not looking at Duo though he was facing him.  To further distract the boy, Heero pushed his groin against Duo's erection.

"Ohhhh," Duo sighed, and pushed back.  Soon there was long brown hair and long platinum hair flowing all around them, and much thrusting and rubbing.  Duo was kissing Heero again when he felt Zechs carefully opening him. [Yes, YES!]  Then he was being gently and easily filled, pleasure flooding his body.

Abruptly Heero wasn't there.  Duo, too busy gasping at Zechs's thrusts, pushed his veil of hair aside, then yelped yet again as his own rampant erection was swallowed.  Heero had gone down on him!  He grabbed at the boy's wild hair and began fucking Heero's mouth.  Someone said something - Zechs to Heero?  Then Heero was moving around yet again... oh, yes, reversing his position.  Duo happily collected him in to suck on his weeping cock as Heero resumed sucking on his.

It wasn't a minute later when all three cried out, coming in a cascading sequence, Zechs, then Heero, then Duo.  After some communal shudders and panting, Heero moved first, kissing Duo's cheek then leaving to spoon up behind Zechs, encircling his waist with his arms.  Duo didn't mind, as he was quite encased by Zechs's body, though a whimper escaped when the man's cock slipped out.  They lay there a few minutes more, then Heero peeled off the bed and headed out of the room without a backwards glance.

"Hey," Duo, who felt like a noodle, managed to gasp.  "Where's he going?"

"It's his way," Zechs murmured, kissing Duo's cheek tenderly.  "Right after he comes he feels very emotional and wants a minute to compose himself.  And clean up.  Don't worry, he'll be back."

Duo relaxed into Zechs's sweaty warmth.  "He's so bizarre," he sighed, playing with a long tendril of white hair.  "I'm not kidding, Zechs, you're going to have to keep him from killing me, I just know it."

Zechs chuckled.  "I can't say it will be a terrible thing to have to get between you two boys..."

"You know what I mean!" Duo laughed.  "Say, Zechs... do you really think you two can love me?  We didn't really talk about love, you know.  Do you love Heero?"

The older pilot paused, thinking, then kissed Duo's temple.  "Yes, I do.  He does remind me so much of myself.  And as for you... Duo, sweet, I think I love you a little already.  You're so refreshing - honest, enthusiastic, caring."

"Oh!" Duo responded, surprised.  He hadn't expected Zechs Merquise to speak so openly.  He thought about how careful a lover Zechs had been.  "I think I love you a little, too..."

Then he broke off.  Heero had reappeared in the doorway, wearing pants, looking at them with an inscrutable expression.  Duo looked back, fearful the stern pilot would think he was trying to take Zechs away from him.  He almost pulled out of the embrace, but Zechs tightened his arms, keeping him there.  "Heero, love, come and talk to us," Zechs murmured.

Unsmiling, Heero came and perched on the edge of the bed beside them.  He licked his lips - was he still tasting Duo?  Was he unhappy about accepting Duo into their bed?  He looked straight at Duo, his face still set and impassive.  Duo felt a sudden urge to punch him just to get that too-close-to-angry look off his face.  "What?" Duo nearly screeched.

"Shhhh," Zechs murmured in his ear.  "Easy..."

Heero's glance flicked over to Zechs, then returned to Duo.  "You *are* tasty, Duo Maxwell," he murmured finally.  "That was good."

Duo's eyes widened.  "That's it?  You're not going to kill me?"

Zechs hid his smirk in Duo's hair.  Heero blinked once.  "Doesn't look like it.  If you were dead, you wouldn't be as frisky in bed."

Duo glared at him.  "Why, you..."

"I think that was a compliment," Zechs interjected hastily, hiding a grin.

"Oh."  Duo and Heero stared at one another for a long moment.  [What the HELL is he thinking?] Duo wondered.  [He's actually not talking,] Heero thought, impressed.

"So," Zechs broke in, sitting up and reaching for Heero's hand, "is this going to work?  Or am I going to have to check for weapons at the door?"  He had the smirk under control, seeing how serious Heero still was.

"Hey, Vinegar?" Duo addressed Heero, studying his eyes.  They were so dark, as if a dark gray cloud had come over a blue sky.  "Do you think you can love me?"

Heero's eyes widened at the address.  Then he sighed, bringing Zechs's hand to his lips.  He kissed the back of it, then reached for Duo's hand and did the same.  "Yeah.  I think so."  [You crazy, loveable idiot,] he thought fondly.  [I might actually show you how much some day.]

"Yeah?" Duo's face lit up like a bunch of exploding Leos.  "Well, hell, I think I can love you, too, especially without a gun in your hand.  Can I have a kiss?"

Heero lifted his eyes to meet those of his older lover.  He and Zechs exchanged a knowing look.  They'd talked, in these past two weeks, about how they feared they were too much alike, that their tendencies toward brooding would bring them both down... and how having the bouncy, optimistic Duo Maxwell in their lives would help them avoid that.  It certainly looked promising...

"Yeah," Heero admitted, finally breaking into a little smile.  "I'd like that, Oil."

The End

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