Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Bai Tou Xie Lao - A Chinese Wedding Story ❯ chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Title: Bai Tou Xie Lao: A Chinese Wedding Story

Author: Alexis - mezzomonkey@earthlink.net

Pairings: eventual 1+2+1/1x2x1; 5xOFC; 3x4x3; past 2xH; past 1xR

Rating: let's say R for now, and perhaps NC-17 later on

Warnings: shounen ai/yaoi; het; sap; fluff; angst of the romantic variety; language

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, and you people already know that! I do own this story, but the original idea is one of Sharon's delightful plot bunnies! Thanks for letting me adopt the lil bugger!

Notes: "Bai Tou Xie Lao" is a Chinese phrase that is said to congratulate newly married couples. It translates roughly to "may you two grow old together, and be each other's companion when your hair is white". I thought it was a beautiful sentiment, and really summed up not only Wufei's relationship, but also the one developing between Heero and Duo.

A/N: Don't kill me on this chapter, I promise it will get better…there needs to be a catalyst so that there's a happy ending right?

~*~*~*~*~

Wufei and Jun Li had just left Duo's apartment with promises to come by again next weekend. That left Heero there with an overly enthusiastic Duo. "Shall I put Inuyasha in the player now? Or would you rather call it a night?"

Duo shook his head in reply. "Nah, I've been looking forward to this all evening. Want a beer?"

Heero nodded while setting up the player, and then headed back over to the couch and settled down on the right side, which had come to be known as `his' corner. He frequently found himself at Duo's, especially after missions. They'd hang out watching movies or something, and that's how Heero discovered not only a love of anime, but of dry British humor. He now owned the entire set of Monty Python's Flying Circus as well as all the movies.

Climbing over the back of the couch, Duo handed one of the bottles in his hands to his Japanese partner. He then took a long swallow, and then grinned. "Ah, Mexican piss with a twist of lime [1]! Well, start it already!"

Reaching down for the remote, which was actually closer to Duo than to him, Heero pressed play. They were then happily ensconced in feudal Japan for the next hour and a half.

However, Heero seemed to be somewhat distracted by his new mission. He kept sneaking sidelong glances at his braided friend, taking an assessment of his physical attributes as well as his personality. He may not have grown much taller, but he's grown up. He's become a very handsome man, and he's a wonderful person. Loyal to a fault, dedicated to upholding the peace, and enjoyable to be around. I'd think that anyone who was able to get involved with him would grab on and not let go.

Being thoroughly wrapped up in his own thoughts, Heero didn't realize when the credits ran on the last episode of the disc. Duo looked over and poked the silent man in the side. "Hey, you're thinking too hard. Did you even watch the disc?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah, well, sort of. Just was thinking about some things."

"Oh? Something wrong?"

"Not really, more like something puzzling." Pause. "You should get a boyfriend."

Duo almost spit his beer out at Heero's bluntness. "Eh, buddy, that'd be great and all, but it's not like I'm not trying to find someone. It's just that nothing ever lasts very wrong. No spark, no prolonged interest past attraction." He then shrugged, and grinned mischievously. "Are you offering to fill the position?"

Heero snorted. "Quit kidding around, I mean it. Maybe if you dated someone from within Preventers it might be easier. They'd understand you much more than a civilian would."

"Heero," Duo spoke in a long-suffering tone. "You know how I feel about that. I'm not about to fall in love with someone and then lose them because they were in the line of fire. I can't risk that happening again."

"Aa. But things can happen to a civilian the same as someone who is involved in keeping the peace. The people who have stayed with you weren't the civilians, but the ones trained to fight for their lives and the lives of others." Noticing the mulish expression on Duo's face, Heero added, "You know I'm only saying this because you're unhappy. We're friends, isn't that what friends do? Wish for each other's happiness?"

Sighing, Duo nodded. "I'll think about it, okay? It's getting late though, and we have to be at work tomorrow."

Rising from the couch, Heero gathered his DVDs, and then gave Duo a small smile. "I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

"Of course, partner. You know that if I didn't show up, Une would eat me for breakfast!" He then saw Heero out the door with a grin and a wave, before locking up the apartment for the night.

~*~*~*~*~

The next few days passed in a blur of work, wedding plans, and thinking about Heero's suggestion. Duo admitted to his friend's logic, but it didn't make him any less scared to try. But ever since returning to HQ from his and Heero's latest mission, he noticed the admiring looks he got from some of the other agents. Before, he had never noticed, since he wasn't interested in starting anything with anyone from the office.

Wufei, noticing that something was off with Duo, spoke with Heero, to see if he had any insight, since he spent a larger part of the day with the braided ex-pilot than Wufei did.

"He and I had a talk, and he's considering the validity of my argument," was Heero's answer to Wufei's inquiry.

"And just what was your talk in regards to? He has this strange look on his face, especially around some of the agents."

"I just told him that the only people who have stayed in his life are the ones who know how to protect their own life, and that it might be better for him to date someone within Preventers, who can better understand him." Heero said this as if it should have been obvious.

Wufei looked at Heero disbelievingly. You're saying that with one conversation, you were able to get him to consider something I've been trying to explain to him for two years?" When Heero just nodded, Wufei mumbled to himself, "Why not? This is Heero we're talking about here; of course he'd be able to get optimal results in minimal time."

This of course made Wufei both happy and frustrated in turns. Happy that one hurdle with Duo was cleared, but frustrated because he and Heero were obviously at cross-purposes. Heero wanted Duo to find his happiness with one of the other agents, whereas Wufei wanted Duo to find his happiness with Heero. This was despite the fact that they didn't really know what Heero's sexual preference was. He hadn't dated since coming to work for Preventers, and it wasn't something that they discussed.

He nodded to Heero and then went back to his office, in deep thought. Within moments of sitting down, there was a knock on his door, and then the head of one of the newer agents, whose name Wufei couldn't recall at the moment, poked his head in the door.

"Agent Chang? May I speak with you for a moment?"

Wufei nodded his acquiescence and waved him in. The agent, whose name Wufei could still not remember, looked just shy of six feet tall, and had auburn hair, cropped short and clear green eyes. He was also visibly nervous, which Wufei took note of; wondering what could be the cause of it.

"Sir, I'm sorry for interrupting your day on personal business, but I know you are friends with Duo Maxwell, and I hoped to ask you a question."

Well, that certainly wasn't what Wufei was expecting to come out of - Atkins, that was his name! - Atkins' mouth when he started talking. Giving him a pointed look, which told the nervous agent to hurry up, the Chinese man sat back in his seat.

"Well, I had heard that he didn't date anyone from the office, but he seemed to be different in the past few days, and I think he's interested, but I wouldn't want to make a fool of myself if I'm wrong. Do you think it would be a good idea to ask him out to dinner?"

Thinking for a moment, Wufei then spoke. "I don't think it will hurt anything if you ask, I can't confirm whether or not Duo will accept, but he may be amenable to the idea, from what I've gathered lately. Good luck, Atkins."

Watching the other man leave, a small smile curved Wufei's lips. Well, he thought. At the very least, things should get rather interesting around here.

~*~*~*~*~

When the door to their office was knocked upon, Heero responded with a curt, "enter", and Duo looked up from the paperwork on his desk curiously. The door opened to reveal Mark Atkins, one of the newer agents, although he was still a few years older than the ex-pilots.

Duo smiled warmly at the man, "Did you need something, Mark?"

Shooting a wary look at Heero, he then returned the smile, and cleared his throat. "Agent Maxwell…er, Duo, that is…I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

Upon hearing the invitation, Duo's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and Heero smirked, turning back to his computer.

Scratching at the back of his head, Duo examined the man who just asked him out. He was handsome, in a pale sort of way, and was much taller than Duo, though he didn't know whether he liked that or not just yet. Looking back at Heero, he decided he might as well accept and see if it would be easier to date someone within Preventers. "That sounds great. Is 7:00 okay?"

Mark nodded vigorously, and after getting Duo's phone number and address, he left the office rather absentmindedly, with a bit of a grin on his face.

Heero quirked an eyebrow at Duo, who was looking at him, as if to say I told you so. Duo just snorted and turned back to his work, ignoring his partner.

~*~*~*~*~

[1] Corona, of course!