Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A Child's Love ❯ The Beginnings of a Setup ( Chapter 4 )

Title: A Child's Love 4/?
Author: Makoto Sagara
Archive: www.angelfire.com/anime3/makotosagara/ , www.afallenangel.net/fandom/
Category: Romance, Angst
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5xS, OCxH, 6x9, AudaxC
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: SHONEN AI!, Language, angst, OOC, set 5 years after EW

Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing. It is owned by Sunrise, Sotsu Agency, Bandai, and other nice Japanese companies that bothered to release it. I don't make any money off of this piece of *fanfiction*. It's just for my readers. ^_^

A/N: Well, I got my first flame for this story. And I *laugh* at their futile attempt to deter me. Such idiocy and homophobia will *not* be taken seriously. "Just leave it to some idiot on the inernet to betray one of my favorite carters into a gay guy!" Excuse me, but the word is *internet* not inernet, which isn't a word at all. And the other word is *characters*. I laugh at your fears and inhibitions. ^_^; Thank you to everyone *else* who reviewed. Your continuing support and comments are wonderful. I hope you will stay with me. I am also sorry that the last chapter had so little of Duo and Heero, and *none* of little Allilon. The *getting to know you* chapters are always the worst. I promise you more in this chapter. ^_^v
Dedication: To Angel, who started this thing, and to LV and Jo for helping me get over my writer's block. ^__^

Summary of last chapter: Duo and Heero have a fight, and before Heero can walk away, Duo makes him stay to talk. Duo goes to lunch with Wufei to talk about feelings. Cathy calls Duo to invite him to her engagement party, and Duo ends up talking to Quatre about a few things the blond left out.

Symbols: /blah/ thoughts
*blah* emphasized words
*~*~*~* major scene change or POV change
*~~~~~* minor scene change


Duo had just gotten some clothes into a bag, when there was a knock on the door to his hotel room. /Wonder who it is?/ He stood, and strolled to open said door. Standing in front of him was Heero.

"Heero?" To say Duo was surprised would have been an understatement.

"Hello, Duo. May I come in?" The brown-haired man gave a small smile as Duo's eyes became normal size again.

"Um, yeah, sure." Duo moved out of the way, letting
Heero enter, and shut the door behind him. "I'm waiting for someone to come and pick me up, so I can go see Q and Tro. So, I don't know how much time I have."

"Well, I'm here to pick you up, evidently," Heero stated.

"You?" Duo fought back the joy swelling inside him. "Where's Allilon?"

"With Quatre, Trowa, Zechs, Noin, and Joshua."

"Joshua?" Duo blinked a few times. "Who's Joshua?"

"Well, little 'Joshie' is the son of Zechs and Noin."

Duo smacked his forehead dramatically. "Duh. I *should* have known that. Noin was about to drop the kid at Q and T's wedding." He smiled fondly at the memory. "You missed one hell of a party, Heero."

"So I've been reminded quite a few times. I was unavailable. As was a very pregnant Relena and her husband." Heero shrugged in turn.

"Yeah, I was kinda disappointed you didn't come. And of course, Wufei was there. How long have those two been married now? Three years?"

"Yes, it will be four in January. I heard all about your antics afterwards, of course."

Duo grinned sheepishly, scratching his head nervously. "Yeah, I got carried away. I told myself that after that *fiasco* I would take it easy with the sake and champagne."

Heero snorted. "So, how have you been doing with it?"

Duo beamed happily. "I haven't done anything like that since. I always stop before I'm tempted to start singing in Arabic." He laughed nervously, and Heero even gave a small laugh.

/He's so gorgeous when he smiles and laughs. He's *so* open now. I wish I could have been there for his first real smile,/ Duo thought, a little bitterness coming through as his smile falter, and then gave way totally.

Heero watched Duo's face as it fell, and frowned. /He seemed so relaxed, and now he seems to be upset by something. Well, I told Quatre I would have him there soon, and we have been standing here for.../ He looked at his watch. /Ten minutes. We should really get moving./ "Um, Duo, I think Quatre will be worried if we aren't back in the forty-five minutes I said it would take to retrieve you."

Duo sighed and then snorted. "Yeah, and then he will drive everyone else insane." He grabbed his bag, and walked to the door. He threw a look over his shoulder at the Japanese man, standing in the middle of the room with an amused look on his face. "Well, you coming or not? I'd rather not have Q-man jump me and you when we walk through his door for being late."

Heero smiled openly, and grabbed Duo's brush on the way out of the door. Holding it out to Duo, he said, "You were going to leave this, baka?"

Duo gave his best "I'm a baka, but you *know* you love me" grin. "Uh... *No*." He locked the door behind them, shoved the brush in his bag, and glided down the hall towards the elevators. "So, how is the kid?"

Heero shook his head fondly, as he followed Duo down the hall. "Allilon is fine. He and Joshua were playing nicely as I left. But, they are both three, so that can only last so long."

Duo smiled, smoothly entering the elevator when the doors opened. "Ah, well, I don't remember being that small, and none of my friends back home have kids, so I wouldn't know that much about it." He pressed the button for the lobby as Heero entered.

"Well, be prepared to be overwhelmed as soon as the door opens," Heero said quietly.

/Is he serious? Are those two *that* bad?/ Duo swallowed, very anxious to see what Heero really meant.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The drive was silent, as this was the first time Duo had seen Paris at night without being dead tired or just to hit a club. As they passed L'avenue des Champs Elysées, Duo saw the Eiffel Tower, lit with hundreds of lights.

/It's as beautiful as I always thought it would be. I wonder if I can go up there with Hee-chan one day soon. Like, before I go home./ He sighed, and pressed his flushed face to the cold glass of the car window. /I'm sitting about two feet from the man that I love, and yet I can't think of a damn thing to say. I don't want to start babbling. He already thinks I'm an idiot, and if I start rambling, he will just be justified in thinking so./

Heero looked over, fleetingly, at the quiet American next to him. /I wonder how things went today. He said he was going to call Wufei for lunch, and he *does* seem to be a *bit* more relaxed than he was when I left him yesterday. Ok, I guess I should just ask./ "Duo?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you have lunch with Wufei today?" Heero tried to keep his voice level.

"Shi de(1)," Duo muffled, his head still pressed against the window.

"How..." /Just spit it out, Yuy. It's not like he is going to lie to you./ "How did it go?"

"It went. I mean, everything is straightened out. Or it was, until I talked to Quatre." Duo finally removed his head from the window, eyes blazing. "Another thing, why did you tell Q not to tell me you where here in Paris? Did you know that Fei did the same *exact* thing?"

Heero swallowed around the lump in his throat. "I did it to protect you."

Duo growled. "Not that 'I wanted you to be happy' crap again. If I hear that *one* more time, I might just deck the person who says it." He sighed. "Heero, I was a Gundam pilot, just like you. I fought in a war, a horrible gruesome war that left me orphaned by anyone and everyone who I ever loved and respected. When it was over, I just wanted to be content, as much as a murderer can be." He put his head back on the glass.

"I had no idea that Chang had said the same thing to Quatre," Heero whispered.

Duo snorted in response, and muttered under his breath a single word: "Kichinto(2)."

Not another word was said until Heero pulled the car into the large estate of Quatre and Trowa. The braided man looked with disinterested appraisal at the large sloping lawns, the impeccable gardens, and the enormous house that were spread out before his eyes in the dark.

As soon as the car had pulled up beside the others in the drive and was off, Duo had his door open, bag in hand, and sprinted across the gravel driveway to the house, all before Heero even opened his door. /He moves fast when he wants to,/ Heero thought, watching Duo's braid sway in the distance. /Might as well go in./ He followed the violet-eyed form that was being swallowed up by the door.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The door was answered by a tall, lean, green-eyed man. Duo smiled and threw his arms around his friend. "Tro-WA! Long time, no see, man! How have you been?"

Trowa stood there, gasping for breath, when a smaller, blond-haired, blue-eyed man came up behind him. "Duo, you *have* to let him breathe."

Duo removed himself from the ex-pilot of Heavyarms, who was still struggling to breathe correctly. "Sorry 'bout that, T. I just haven't seen you two in a while." He gave them both a humungous grin. "So, sup?"

Quatre grinned in turn. "Things are getting a bit crowded here." He tried to look around Duo. "Where is Heero?"

At the sound of Heero's name, two boys came running up. Allilon and his cousin Joshua, who had blue-black hair and ice-blue eyes, collided into the legs of Trowa and Quatre, respectively. Allilon let out a blood-chilling yell. "UNCLE HEERO! JOSHIE IS BEING MEAN TO ME!"

Duo just looked at the boys who barely came up to Quatre's waist, opening his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Joshie. "Nuh uh! You were being mean to me first. Alli's a big MEANIE-HEAD!"

"AM NOT!" Allilon took a peek through Trowa's long legs, spotted Heero, and then burst into tears.

"Cry baby!" Joshie yelled at his cousin.

A frazzled looking Noin came into the doorway, grabbing her son by his arm, and gently lead him away from the scene with a warning: "Don't be mean to Allilon, Joshua." The three childless men exchanged worried glances as Heero finally reached the door, and reached around Trowa to grab his "son".

The Japanese man gave the boy a stern look. "Why aren't you asleep? I thought you would be in bed by now."

The small boy wiped at his tears, and smiled. "Uncle Q said I could stay up till you got back with Mr. Maxswell." Duo blushed lightly, shrugging when Quatre and Trowa gave him quizzical looks.

Heero glared at the blond, who tried to hide behind his husband. "He did, did he?" Heero looked at Allilon, and the glare faded quickly. "Well, Mr. Maxwell and I are here now."

Trowa turned to his lover behind him, and Duo could have sworn he mouthed something that looked suspiciously like "I told you not to do that." Duo chuckled, bending down to the small boy so he was at the same level. "Hey, Alli-kun, how are ya?"

Allilon gave him a shy smile. "I'm fine, Mr. Maxswell."

Duo shook his head fondly. "None of this Mr. Maxwell stuff. I keep looking around for Father Maxwell." He stuck his hand out. "I'm Duo. Nice to meetcha!"

Allilon giggled, and then gave the American a big hug. "Hi, Duo!" He pulled himself away from the sudden embrace, and looked at the other three men surrounding them. "Uncle Heero, Uncle Q, can I show Duo the room you said was mine?"

Quatre smiled from his position behind Trowa, and spoke clearly. "Sure. You know where it is, right?"

"Yep! It's next to Uncle Heero's room with the two beds," the boy said innocently. "And, it's next to Joshie's room!" He gave a look that made it seem he had a bad taste in his mouth.

Duo stood up, and offered his hand to the boy. "Well, Alli-kun, lead the way."

"Huh?"

Duo gave a small laugh. "Show me where your room is."

"Ok!" Allilon comically drug Duo past Trowa and
Quatre, and through the rest of the house. Duo waved and yelled hello to everyone as they walked past the room filled with people.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Duo came down the stairs an hour later, walking into the parlour area, to find all the adults sitting around in what could only be called couples. Cathy and Auda where sitting near the large fireplace, with Trowa and Quatre close by. On the other side of the engaged couple sat Wufei and Sally. /Traitor,/ Duo thought sourly. Zechs and a *much* calmer looking Noin were sitting close to the Chinese couple; the women chatting happily while the men spoke in quiet tones. And then there was Heero, sitting by himself, and the only place to sit, besides the floor, was right *next* to him.

/I smell a set up in here somewhere. I know for a *fact* that Q and Tro have more furniture than this. And why in *hell* are there only five *loveseats* in this enormous room?/ Sighing, Duo took the seat next to Heero. Sneaking a look at Heero, Duo fingered the end of his braid nervously. He looked over to his left where Quatre was smiling and laughing with Trowa, Cathy, and Auda. /Oh, yeah, definitely a set up. Those four,/ he shot another look at the hosts of the evening, /had something to do with this. And if I know Q, and I do, there is more to come./

Noin looked over at the abnormally quiet Duo. "So, Duo, why are *you* of all people being so quiet? I'm used to it by now from Heero and Trowa, but you?" She scoffed, and a few of the others in the room snickered.

"No reason. Just not much to say, I suppose," he responded softly.

"Someone check me for a fever," Auda said dramatically, falling into Cathy's lap. Cathy slapped him in response.

"Be nice, Hennuna(3)." She smacked him across his arm again, and faced Duo. "Don't pay any attention to him. He's been watching too much television lately." She smiled wistfully as her fiancé sat back up. "Melodrama, I think."

Duo snickered, smiling brightly. "It's ok. I'm used to Auda's brand of "humor". Got enough of it during the war, ne, Camel-boy?"

Nine pairs of eyes turned to the furiously blushing Arabian. He shrugged, and the look in his eyes promised lots of pain for the snickering American. "So, you did, Master Duo. So you did."

Duo felt a pair of eyes upon him, and slowly, he turned his head to the right, where a pair of cobalt eyes were giving him a questioning glance. /Curious, is he? Well, I'll tell him later./ "Later, Heero."

Heero shrugged, looking around the room at the very comfortable couples. He stopped at where Quatre and Trowa where seated. /I know Quatre sent me to pick Duo up for a reason. I even have a very good idea of what he is trying to do./ He looked at his watch, and used that to take a glance at Duo from the side of his eyes. /Duo looks at tired as I feel./

To the surprise of everyone in the room, the stoic man stood up from his seat. "Quatre, I think I'm going to go to bed, if you want me to help you out tomorrow," Heero said, and left the room.

Quatre blinked, looking at the clock on the far wall. "Well, everyone, it's now ten pm. We have a few options. Since you all will be helping set up the party tomorrow," he shot a look at Duo, "whether you knew it or not, you can either get some sleep now, or you can stay up."

Sally stood up, with Wufei closely behind her. "I think I will take Sally to bed," Wufei offered. "We will be down in the morning to help out, Quatre."

Duo watched as the Chinese couple left the room, holding hands, and sighed. "I'm still not used to this time difference. I think I need to get some sleep too." He looked around. "Hey! Where I'm from it's about 4 am."

Noin and Cathy snickered, while Zechs and Trowa coughed. Quatre shot a freezing look at the four of them. "Fine, Duo, let me show you to your room." He laced an arm through the American's. "Your bag should already be there."

Duo allowed himself to be lead through the house, yet again, without comment. /I should say something to him. Fuck it./ When they stopped in front of a door, Duo finally spoke, in a low voice. "I know what you are doing. I'm not stupid, Q-man. Stop trying to hook me up with Heero."

/He knows? No, he doesn't know how far I am planning to take this./ Quatre gave Duo a beguiling smile. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Duo."

Duo shook his head, wearily. "You always were a horrible liar, Q." He turned to his door. "But, thanks for inviting me over tonight. It would have been hard to be alone in my hotel room."

Quatre hugged Duo from behind. "Duo, you are always welcome here." He walked away. "Now, go get some sleep."

Duo watched the Arabian man disappear down the hall. "Sleep sounds good right now." He placed his hand on the doorknob and turned. When he opened the door, Heero was sitting on one of the beds.

"Heero? What are you doing in my room?"

Heero folded his arms across his chest. "This is my room, baka."

"QUATRE!"

TBC



(1)Shi de - Chinese for "yes"
(2)Kichinto - Japanese for "precisely"
(3)Hennuna - Arabic for "dear, honey"; a term of endearment (Took me *forever* to find a dictionary that would translate this for me. >_< )