Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Advanced Reservations ❯ Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue. Won't get much if you do.

 

See first part for any warnings.

 

On with the next part!!

 

 

 

They finished their wine slowly, talking of small things, Duo relating some of his more amusing exploits in trying to find people willing to work, and plans to start bringing people from other colonies to Earth, hoping they would work out well in his restaurants in Europe. They took their dishes back downstairs; Trowa surprised to find the entire building devoid of any other people, vaguely recalling that Duo had told Car to close the place like normal. He had no idea what time it was, or how long it had been since he passed through the door.

 

Without discussing it, they both sat at the bar for a bit longer after placing the dishes in the washer to be cleaned the next day. Duo suddenly slapped himself on the forehead, “Man, you must be exhausted. I didn't think about you still being in uniform. You come straight from work, or what?”

 

Trowa had to laugh at the way Duo always managed to put things so bluntly. “I was actually called here for an assignment. After arriving at the airport, I left my bags at the Preventers headquarters before going for a walk, which led me in here”

 

“You don't live here?”

 

“In the states, yes. In Los Angeles, no. I am here on temporary assignment before going back to DC.”

 

“Damn! I'm so sorry, man. I didn't think about you having to go to work early or anything, I was just so jazzed to spy you,” a faint blush worked its way up Duo's face for no reason that Trowa could ascertain, words spilling out quickly. “I norm'ly snooze late, and you've prolly been working a mint lately, and-“

 

Trowa held up a hand, stalling any more babbling comments. He couldn't understand half of what Duo had just said. “I always take a few days downtime in a new area before a job. I don't have to report for duty until Monday. Did you know that when you get excited or nervous you speak more slang than usual, and very fast?”

 

Duo turned bright red again, the blush firing back up the tips of his ears. “Most people have a hard time understanding what I say most of the time anyways and I have to try hard to speak correctly. Street slang is still easier for me, especially after getting back from L2.” He narrowed his eyes at Trowa, “You got a hotel or something to stay in?”

 

Groaning, Trowa let his head fall forward slightly, recalling that his bags were in the Preventers office, which was most likely locked up for the night, considering that the sky outside was very dark. “I never bothered to make any arrangements before I went for my walk. I assumed I would have plenty of time to do so when I left.” The urge to drink himself into a coma had overtaken him before he had really decided much of anything.

 

Duo snickered, “I'm guessin' that's a no.”

 

“I was going to,” he protested weakly. “I just had to get away for a while. I dropped off my stuff at the office, then went-”

 

“Well, um, I have an extra room if you wanna crash at my place for a few days. I think I might even have some clothes for you to wear until you can get your stuff,” the American mumbled, not meeting his eyes.

 

Recalling the dynamics between Duo and the female bartender, Trowa didn't know what to say. It would be a lie to say that he didn't want to spend more time with Duo, but at the same time- “Wouldn't Car have an objection to that?”

 

“Why would she care?” The American frowned at him, obviously confused.

 

“I assumed you were involved,” he admitted, embarrassed.

 

“She's not my type,” Duo chuckled. “I don't go for redheads, or females for that matter,” Trowa's eyes grew wide at the revelation. “C'mon. I'll take you my place, then you can get some rest.”

 

Trowa's brain had shut down upon learning that Duo was gay. He felt like an idiot when his heart flipped in his chest, the hope that he would possibly have a chance with the braided man blossoming quickly before he could stop it. He was still sitting at the bar when his jacket, holster and gun were stuck in front of his face. He took the weapon, looking at Duo in bewilderment.

 

Duo put his hand behind his head in a nervous gesture, looking chagrined. “I kinda filched it earlier. Didn't think a drunk Preventer that was a former terrorist and mercenary with a gun would be good for business. I had Car lock it up in my office with your coat.”

 

He said nothing, just shook his head at the other man's ability to steal almost anything. It had always been a talent that came in handy at the strangest times, usually when they needed hard-to acquire parts for their Gundams. Duo would leave with nothing but a smile, and come back with a bag full of hardware.

 

He watched as the restaurant owner efficiently turned off the lights, locking up the building and moving to the street, with Trowa falling in step beside him. They walked in silence for a few blocks when a question entered Trowa's mind. He had no intention of voicing it, but apparently there was still alcohol sloshing around in his system. “Why didn't the fighting ever bother you? I never really saw you be affected by it the way the rest of us were. You seemed to be able to just brush it off when the battle was over.”

 

He received a small frown and a heavy sigh. “It bothered me a lot more than any of you knew. I always waited until I was alone to deal with it, after everyone else felt better. I put on the mask of the fool for you guys, then I would take time for myself.”

 

“Why didn't you say anything, Duo? We could have done something,” Trowa felt guilt for letting the other man take on all of their grief all those years ago.

 

“There was nothing you could do for me, Tro. What was needed from me was jokes and laughter, not the reminder of the deaths we had to cause,” he gave Trowa a pained smile. “What I needed…” Duo shook his head suddenly, “It's okay, though. I was used to having to deal with stuff on my own.”

 

Trowa wondered what the braided man was really going to say before changing his mind. “You didn't have to be alone,” he wanted to kick himself for not being able to keep his mouth shut.

 

Duo gave him an oddly contemplative look but said nothing, gesturing toward a building. They walked inside, Duo speaking briefly with the security guard that stood watch in the lobby. Trowa remained silent as the other man led him to the elevator and pushed a button, his eyes taking in the surroundings. He started to get nervous when a violet gaze was focused on him intently. Silence reigned as the elevator traveled and stopped, Trowa not trusting himself to speak. Duo led him into an apartment, then snickered when he saw the look on Trowa's face.

 

It was a huge space, comfortably but not lavishly furnished. It was easy to imagine taking a nap on the large couch, or propping his feet on the small table in front of it to watch TV or read a book, of which there were several on the bookshelf against one wall. What attracted his attention, however, was the floor to ceiling window that took up an entire wall. Without realizing it, he found himself in front of the glass, looking out across the city. “My God,” he breathed in reverence. “It's amazing.”

 

“Thanks,” Duo said from beside him. “I had to fight for this view when the place was being built.”

 

“This is your building?” Trowa asked quietly, still taking in the view.

 

“Yeah,” there was a sense of pride in Duo's voice. “These are the apartments that my potential employees get to stay in first. There are eight apartments on all floors, except the top two. The one below us only has four apartments. This floor has my apartment, and a spare I keep for personal use if I need it. Fourteen floors, so the grand total of apartments is one hundred and two. Eighty-seven of which are currently occupied.”

 

Trowa steered clear of the other apartment that was Duo's personal use. He didn't want to know who was staying there from time to time. “Why does the floor below us have four apartments?”

 

“Families,” was the quick answer.

 

Trowa felt his heart swell with pride. Just knowing that Duo would think of something that most people wouldn't consider made him feel blessed just to know the other man. He reached out to touch Duo's shoulder lightly. “You've done a wonderful thing for all of those people.”

 

The American looked pleased by the compliment and the honesty he could hear behind it. Trowa inhaled sharply when Duo tilted his head to rub his cheek on the hand that was resting on his shoulder. Violet eyes widened, as if realizing what he had just done, then Duo offered another smile. “You must be exhausted. Let me show you where you're gonna sleep for the night, then you can take a shower if you want.”

 

Trowa was lead to a door off to one side of the kitchen. The entire apartment was open, four doors visible other than the one they had entered. The bedroom was nice once revealed, again the furniture comfortable instead of lavish. He was shown the bathroom before Duo turned away, promising to bring him some clothes.

 

He didn't consider waiting to get in the shower, the desire to wash of the grime of travel hitting him suddenly. He had just stepped under the warm spray when he felt the cool air breeze in, telling him the bathroom door had been opened. He dared a glance out the clear glass door of the shower and found Duo staring at him, breathing hard, his arms full of clothes and towels. His body tightened in response to the hunger he could see in the violet eyes. “Duo?”

 

“Oh Jesus,” was breathed in a low moan. Duo turned away from him quickly, dropping the items onto the counter beside the sink. “I brought you some clothes,” he said after a moment, voice shaky. Trowa watched avidly as the American glanced back at him once more before fleeing the room. He wasn't sure what he should do, pleased that he had managed to hide his growing erection from the other man. He briefly entertained the notion of what could have occurred if he had invited Duo to join him in the shower.

 

After spending several minutes in the shower, many of them immersed in the fantasy of the other man underneath the spray with him, he finally emerged, body calm again. He put on the clothes Duo had left him, surmising they were not Duo's for they fit his body very well, then took a good look at himself in the mirror. The man staring back at him shocked him, the tired, worn out eyes looking back at him reminding him that it had been far too long since he had taken a vacation. He was working himself to death trying to forget all of his problems. It hadn't been having any affect. One evening spent in Duo's company had done more for him than long months of working himself into the ground.

 

Concentrating for a moment, he compared the man facing him to the person he had been during the wars, or even the man he had been before things had started to go badly with Quatre. Before, his skin had always held a tan, from spending many hours outside, whether it had been for work or play. Now, his skin was ashen, veins strikingly visible through it. His eyes were no longer clear and attentive, but seemed to be a clouded over with a film. Even his hair seemed to have less life, hanging limply over his eye. All in all, he felt that he was a shadow of the person he had once been.

 

Duo, on the other hand, seemed to be more vibrant and full of life than he had been. The American had always been full of life, the very definition of what it was to be alive. Everything about him had always been to the extreme, his personality, his priest clothing, his outrageous braid, the large purple eyes, and the cheerful grin combining with the abilities of a pilot to create a contrast that was striking. At first sight, he had been the worst choice for a Gundam pilot with his quirks, but when they had gone into battle another personality appeared, the smiling God of Death that killed with a smile and laughter that could chill you to the bone. This contrast was one of the things that had caused Trowa to pay more attention to the other pilot, his fixation only growing more powerful over time until he was pining and he heart clenching everytime his eyes fell on the fascinating combination of beauty, toughness, and cheer. Not sure of how to cope with his growing attraction, he resorted to callousness and brusqueness with the other teen.

 

Ruefully, he looked in the mirror again, swearing silently that he would not treat the other man the way he once had, and promising that he would share his feelings before his assignment was over and he had to leave the city. A wave of despair threatened to envelope him at the thought of leaving Duo so soon, but he knew there was no chance of his job allowing him to stay in the area. His services as a bodyguard were too valuable to the Preventers for them to allow him to remain in one place for long. He was often requested for the service, much to his dismay.

 

Exiting the bathroom, his breath caught as he spied Duo in front of the large window, his body silhouetted by the lights beyond the glass. The American was wearing a pair of silk shorts and a thin tank top, leaving most of his body bare for Trowa's eyes to linger on. Duo lifted one arm over his head, bracing it on the window and leaning forward, the ripple of muscle he could see causing Trowa's mouth to go dry.

 

After a long moment of drinking in the sight of that body, Trowa moved to stand beside his host, thinking that he was happy he had taken care of his mutinous libido, hoping that he wouldn't be able to get aroused again so quickly. “It really is a beautiful view,” he said softly, his eyes never leaving the man by his side.

 

Duo said nothing, but a small smile curved his lips. They stood that way for a long time, Duo looking out the window, and Trowa looking at Duo, memorizing every feature of the fey creature before him.

 

“I'm gonna turn in, Tro. It's late,” Duo spoke softly, his voice barely reaching the other man's ears. “I'll see you in the morning.”

 

Trowa waited until the braided man had already entered his room before speaking quietly, knowing his words would be heard. “In the bathroom earlier, you should have stayed. I would have welcomed your company.”

 

He was rewarded by the soft gasp before the door closed behind Duo. He went to his own room with a smile of his own.