Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Behind the Scenes ❯ Chapter 11
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
By: C-Chan2 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.11.2007 | Pages: 6 | Words: 8.8K | Visits: 643 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.11.2007 | Pages: 6 | Words: 8.8K | Visits: 643 | Status: Work In Progress
Title: Behind the Scenes 11/?
Author: C-Chan2 a.k.a. Neptunesdemon
Archive: WufeiDuoYaoiML, any others just ask
Category: Romance
Pairings: 2+2/5+2
Ratings: PG-13
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Yaoi, OOC, AU.
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Duo Maxwell had always liked New York city. It had always been one of his favorites, really. He enjoyed the rush hour traffic, adored the 5 o' clock rush on the subways, and had nothing but admiration for Brooklyn-style pizza; made in the heart of the U.S. of A. As much as he had liked New York, he had barely any reasons to love it. As luck would have it, during the summer, he had found his reason to return to the Big Apple more than was Duo Maxwell, movie star extraordinaire, had fallen in love.
It was not with his current (though he was trying to make her his previous) girlfriend, Relena Dorian. Although, as rumor among his fellow stars the two were secretly engaged. The braided actor had to wonder how that one had started and why his agent hadn't stopped it yet. He'd have to figure it out later.
Relena Dorian was not the one to set his heart, (and his loins), aflame. Nor was it any other woman, either. His heart had been captured by dark eyes, midnight locks, and a beauty that most women spent years to gain. Perhaps he was being a bit too poetic? It could be due to the fact that he had just finished shooting a romance film before his flight out from Los Angeles.
Well whatever the reason, Duo Maxwell, had fallen for none other than a man, and his name was Chang Wufei. The name alone made Duo smile, and he often found himself repeating it just to hear it said. No other had made him feel so happy, so incredibly incredible! It was a wonder how he kept their love a secret, when he often wanted to just shout at the top of his lungs, just how much he loved this man.
However, his lips were kept tightly shut, as he was aware of the dangers of saying such a thing out loud. He could risk more than just losing his career; his way of life. No, he'd risk losing Wufei as well. There was no way that their relationship could survive something as drastic as that, and he was sure never be able to handle the stress of paparazzi and journalists that would be sure to follow him.
It was that Duo had never brought up with his secret lover, and he wasn't sure he wanted to. He was hoping that if he kept it for himself, it would never happen. If he lost Wufei. . . he didn't even want to think about it.
He would rather focus on the here and now, the moments that he spent with Wufei, cherishing the time they shared. It sometimes felt too good to be true, and Duo had a feeling that it probably was, but he would enjoy what he could.
"Driver, pull over."
The private car, that Sally insist that he have so that she could track his every move, did as was told. As Duo looked out the tinted window to the bookstore that his dark-eyed lover was currently employed at, his face cracked a smile, since he had recognized Wufei locking up the store. Good; he had reached just in time.
With his glasses and cap in place, Duo held forward a wad of money, the driver looking at him through the mirror.
"Your lips are sealed?", Duo asked him, smiling as the driver took the money.
"Sally won't know a thing."
The actor heartily slapped the man on he shoulder, just before he climbed out of the car, braid hidden safely in his jacket. He waited until the driver had pulled off, before he began to walk toward his lover, who was muttering under his breath as he fumbled with the lock.
He wasn't exactly thinking, as he decided to play a joke on his lover, which was the reason why he didn't exactly expect what happened next.
Wufei had just managed to get the damn doors locked, when he was taken from behind, an arm wrapping around his middle and another covering his mouth. His mind panicked and his body reacted on its own; his head jerked back with a successful hit before came crashing back into his attacker's side. He had turned to knee his in the groin, but was shocked still by the frantic plea for him to stop.
"Wait! Don't hurt me, Fei! It's me!"
With his heart pounding in his ear still, Wufei had to take a deep breath before he let his eyes study the person in front of him, who had removed his shades so that his face could easily be seen. His adrenaline was still rushing, and his anger was rising as he realized just who it was.
"You idiot!", he screamed, ebony eyes glaring down at the still winded man, "What kind of moron sneaks up on a man late at night in New York City?"
"A man who grew up in friendly North Dakota?", Duo answered a bit breathlessly, as he finally straightened from his defensive crouch.
His stomach was still in some pain, but it was subsiding. Besides, he had deserved it in a way. Wufei looked smallbut he packed one hell of a punch.
Wufei's face had fallen into an mask at Duo's reply, a frown marring his face as he asked another question.
"You're from North Dakota? You never told me that."
"You never asked.", was all Duo said, moving to put his arms around his lover, "Anyway, that's besides the point. I came to visit you, and my choice of a joke went bad. So, now I'm in pain and some features of my personal life have been revealed."
"What?", it was obvious that Wufei was confused.
Duo would take the opportunity to make sure Wufei didn't remember to be angry again.
"Nothing. Let me start over.", his arms dragged Wufei closer, so that he could bring the Chinese man within nuzzling distance, "I missed you."
Wufei's mouth had opened to respond, but it was instead taken by Duo's, leaving the dark-haired man speechless. He couldn't help but instantly melt at the kiss, and his mind seemed only to focus on the fact that their lips were touching. It had been a while since thhad kissed, let alone seen each other, he would have to savor every moment. Who knew when the next time they met up would be?
Remembering that they were still out in the open of a very public street, Wufei gently pushed Duo away, before he was looking up and down Fifth Ave. Luckily for him, it was too late at night for anyone who did pass them by to want to stop and study them. He looked up to Duo, who only smiled down at him, and couldn't help but return it.
"I love it when you smile.", Duo said, pulling Wufei close again.
This time it was merely an embrace, his arms gently locking around his dark-haired lover, enjoying the smaller man's body pressed against his. It had been three weeks, three very long weeks, since he had held him last; he wasn't sure if he would be able to let go.
"Did I tell you I missed you?", he asked Wufei, who only snorted.
The Chinese man pulled back slightly, so that he could look up into violet eyes he could easily get lost in, and he smiled; the braided actor reflected the gesture.
"Of course you did.", Wufei answered, one shoulder shrugging, "That doesn't mean that I don't want you to keep telling me."
With a small laugh, Duo placed a kiss to Wufei's forehead, before he pulled the man back into a hug.
"I missed you, I missed you, and for the record, I really missed you.", he told him, playfully squeezing Wufei.
The shorter man only objected at his short loss of breath, and easily parted with Duo, who was laughing. That laugh was one of many reasons why he had fallen for Duo; it was a beautiful sound, and he was lucky to be the one to cause it. Their fingers intertwined, as they turned away from the direction of the subway, the two silently opting to walk to Wufei's apartment. It was probably a half hour walk, but it was also an excuse to spend as much time as they could together.
"Food!", Duo cried out suddenly, dragging Wufei closer to him so as to fling his arm about him, "I'm famished, Fei! Let's go out to eat."
"Somewhere quiet."
Duo's childish whine drew the attention of some and the actor took to ducking behind Wufei to hide his uncovered face. Wufei only sighed at the now giggling idiot, who didn't emerge from his poor hiding place until the street was empty again, besides himself and Duo. The glasses were replaced, before the Oscar award winning idol flashed Wufei his well known grin.
"Come on, Fei.", the actor begged, lifting Wufei's hands to sloppily press kisses to it, "Please can we go to enjoy ourselves? Please, please, please!"
"Alright!", Wufei caved in, pulling his hand away and wiping it off on his pants, "Just stop slobbering all over my hand, it's disturbing."
"But you like it when I slobber all over you."
"Duo, shut up."
The braided actor only laughed as they walked down the street towards whatever quiet restaurant was still open, their hands intertwined.
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The empty halls echoed with the clicking of her heels, as Dorothy made her wathrough the corridor. She had always known this place to be quiet, but now it seemed too empty. The atmosphere was now cold and and she knew the exact reason for it. Her jaw clenched as she stopped in front of a familiar door, not sure of what she would find inside.
Dorothy had a call from her employer, asking if she would be able to come to the mansion. Ms. Relena was feeling lonely, and that only meant one thing.
Slowly, she reached for the door, grasping the knob and turning it. The door was pushed oon silent hinges and Dorothy carefully peeked inside. Her forked brows furrowed together as found the floor littered with clothing, broken glass and jewelry. She only sighed as she entered, looking about the extra-large room for the actress.
She found her siting at the vanity mirror, still dressed in her silk, pink-colored nightgown and matching ; in her hand she held a brush. Relena harshly it through her hair, as eyes stared aimlessly into the mirror. Said eyes were puffy and red, which could only mean that she had been crying.
Dorothy gently closed the door behind her, before she carefully her way to where the broken woman sat. She kept silent as she stood behind her, watching Relena through the mirror. Though it seemed like she was out of it, Dorothy knew that the actress was aware that she was here; all she had to do was wait, she would acknowledge her presence soon enough.
"He's gone, again."
Relena's voice was no higher that a soft ; a broken and hurting tone was laced in with her words.
"We went to bed together last night, but when I woke up. . . he was gone."
Dorothy kept quiet, and only watched as Relena continued to brush her hair. Though the dark-blonde woman hadn't used his name, Dorothy knew who "he" referred to. After all, he wasn't here and she was pretty sure that he wasn't even in California. Her jaw clenched as she realized just what this man was doing to Relena, and suddenly she had in her right mind to expose him herself.
However, it was best to let things run its course. She had gained the help of the media and would just have to let things be handled through their hands. Duo Maxwell was going to pay dearly for the amount of pain he was putting this woman through.
"Why?", she heard Relena ask, the word more of a hiss.
Tactress had started to brush her hair faster, the way she pulled the wooden object through her it as if she intended to rip of it from its roots.
"We were happy, Dorothy.", she muttered, her dull blue eyes glistening, "I made him happy, and I did everything for him! I love him, Dorothy!"
Dorothy could only watch as Relena basically abused her hair, not sure if she should say something. It would seem that the winner wasn't exactly in her right mind at the moment.
"Why would he do this to me!", she was yelling now, but the blond behind her couldn't blame her, "Why would he hurt me this wayWould he really me for that. . .whore! Why, Dorothy, why! Why would he do this!"
As her brushing grew more frantic, the act ssistant finally reached out to stop her hand with the brush, obviously trying to stop her from tearing of hair from her scalp. Relena made soundof objection, as she tried to avoid Dorothy's hand, but was caught in a determined grip. However, with an angry cry, she snatched it back but didn't begin brushing her hair again.
Icyblue eyes looked down at her in concern through the mirror and Relena bowed her face, her face hidden in the shadows cast by her bangs and her shoulders shaking with her sobs. The sound of her distress tore at Dorothy, but there wasn't much she could do for her. How was she to comfort this woman?
"I thought he loved me!", Relena bawled, the confusion and betrayal in her voice, "He's supposed to love me!"
Dorothy jumped as the brush was flung at the mirror, the large glass pane shattering into smaller pieces, and raining across the top of the top of the vanity; some stray pieces littered the lush carpet. Dorothy could only hope that Relena wouldn't hurt herself. Steadilyshe reached her hand out and rested it on a trembling shoulder, and her eyes widened in shock as Relena reached up to grab hold of it.
Her chest tightened at the action and she couldn't explain the sudden fluttering in her stomach, but she let her fingers slowly tighten around her friend's.
"Who'll love me now?", the blue-eyed actress asked, her voice hoarse.
Dorothy's mouth opened, but she shut it quickly and bit her tongue. Whatever she had wanted to say could never be said; even if it was the truth. Instead, she started to smooth out the messy strands of wheat-colored hair with her hand, hoping to sooth her employer as best as she could.
"Someone will love you, Ms. Relena.", Dorothy promised her, hearing the woman sigh, "Just know that someone will always love you."
Relena let out a small and tired laugh, but let her hand squeeze Dorothy's for stability. This man had no idea what he was putting her through and if she was lucky, he would be suffering every bit as much as she was soon enough.
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Heero Yuy resisted from gritting his teeth in annoyance, as he was once again twisted in some odd position by an eccentric and way too flamboyant photographer. He had seen many flaming queens in his day, but this one took the cake. He looked over the man's neon pink highlights, shimmering silver-colored button down shirt, the tight black leather pants and the high-heeled boots; the color matched his hair.
His nose wrinkled as it began to itch, but he'd be damned if he dared to scratch it and have to be mand assituated for the umpteenth time. He had been here all day, and it was getting late; he wanted to call it a day.
He was caught up, at the moment, with a photo shoot. He had no idea why his agent had decided that it would be a good idea for him to delve into modeling; a new way of expanding his talent, the man had said. Heero snorted, rolling his eyes at the thought; if anything it was time that he got a new agent.
"Okay, people! We're ready for the next set of photos."
Heero resisthe urge to scream in pain as the photographers shrill voice echoed throughout the set. He wanted nothing more than to strangle that man after eight straight hours of listening to it. It was quite and quite annoying, but not as as this damn get up they had put him in.
He had no idea how barely dressing him up in animal skins would work. It was an ad for bottled water for goodness sake! Heero only sighed and tried to ignore the fake rock digging into the small of his back. It was the thought that this was the last shot for the day that was getting him through this, or else he'd have walked out by now.
"Where's the girl!"
It was a that his ears weren't bwith that last outburst, and Heero had no idea how Duo had managed this sort thing. The man had done his share of modeling, but this was something new for Heero. The only shots he'd done was photos for movies. This was a whole new parkand he was sure that he never wanted to do it again.
His partner for the day seemed just as pissed as he was. Her make up and hair was done to resemble water, and unluckily for her, her costume seemed to have less cloth than Heero's. The Japanese actor felt pity for her, as she had been submerged in the frigid water who knew how many times with a green bikini on; it would be edited out later and replaced by computer graphics of water.
"Let's just get this over with.", she huffed, letting the crew strap her to the harness.
In this last she'd be suspended in the man made waterfall above Heero, part of the water that would be pouring over the basically naked man. Heero grumbled under his breath as he realized that his partner wouldn't be the only one exposed to the freezing water.
He got in character as the wires began to hoist the young female model up, and he tried his best not to flinch as the water began to flow. Damn it, he really was getting a new agent after this. Why the hell was it so cold?
"Heero, honey, now I need you to reach.", the man lisped, and Heero was grateful that he was too frozen for his eye to twitch, "And please, don't be afraid to flex those godly biceps of yours."
He did as he was directed, steadying his hand from it's trembling, and letting his face fall into a mask of awe and desire as he reached up. The young woman reached down for him, her eyes holding a look of wonder and want; just exactly what the photographer was going for.
"Perfect!", he shrieked happily, with his hands clapping wildly, "I want cameras ready!"
With the lights adjusted one more time, and the lens caps falling away from the lenses, the last shot was ready to be taken. However, it would have to wait. The flamboyant photographer gave a horrified shriek as the doors to the studio flew open, and in its doorframe stood one hell of an angry woman. Blue eyes zeroed in on the shivering actor, recently gone model, and Heero knew that this wasn't going to be good.
Sally stormed into the room with her deadly gaze fixed on Heero, and her aura causing everyone she passed to hastily step away. The fainted as she came up beside him, her eyes temporarily looking to him so that he never had a chance to object to her intrusion. With the man taken cared of, Sally returned her menacing look on Heero, whose body wasn't shaking from the cold temperature of the water anymore.
"You, me, in private; NOW!"
He didn't even wait for the crew to help him, he managed to climb down on his own, and was following behind Sally in no time. His own agent didn't even bother to stop them, since he had once had a not too pleasant experience with the woman. The two easily walked past him and entered the dressing room that Heero had been given. The door was slammed shut, and locked, and then Sally spun to face the Japanese actor.
"I want to know where your buddy has disappeared to, and I want to know right now!"
Heero sighed, his fear suddenly forgotten, as a certain American actor he had befriended was revealed as the reason for Sally's visit. He knew that this would come back to him, since Sally always assumed that he helped Duo out with his little escapes. It was true that he did, occasionally. However, this time around, he had managed to not stick his neck out for the braided celebrity.
"I have no idea where Duo could be. Have you asked Relena?"
"Of course I did!", Sally snapped at him, "But the woman just started bawling when I asked her. I want to know what the hell is going on!"
Heero sighed a second time at the mention of Relena's reaction. It meant that Duo hadn't even told her of his departure. . . again. That also meant Heero just might reach home to a blubbering Relena Dorian on his doorstep. . . again.
"Does he know what the hell is circulating!", the woman was close to hysterics, "I mean have you seen the recent tabloids?"
Heero's frown meant that he hadn't, but was that whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good. Sally reached into her back pocket, before she was pulling out a rolled magazine and holding it out for Heero.
Colbat eyes looked down at a picture of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with a split down the middle, and he was temporarily relieved. Whatever was in this about the violet-eyed idol, it wasn't big enough to make the front page.
"Turn to page eleven.", Sally was soon providing him, as she paced back and forth.
Heero did as was told, and when he got to page eleven, he found a picture of Duo and Relena above a small column. The headline read, "Trouble in Paradise", and went on to discuss rumors of an upcoming break up for the two Hollywood stars. Heero had no idea how this information was but he knew that with his premiere in the tabloids, Duo Maxwell was going to become a target.
"You're worried that wherever he is he's going to get caught at the wrong moment?"
"Of God damn course that's what I think!"
She stopped and to face him, her eyes a mixture of anger and distress, and her hands to grab at her hair in frustration. Heero noticed that it wasn't in its usual pig-tails today; Sally's soft brown locks were drifting freely about her face, giving her a obvious stressed look.
"I mean I know where he is!", she continued ranting, moving closer to Heero, "Well, I don't know where he is, but I'm pretty sure that I where he is!"
Ignoring the confusing Heero risked touching Sally in her unstable meltdown, resting a calming hand on her shoulder. The other he used to pull her hands free of her hair, and then he guided her to sit down on the lone chair in the room.
"Sally, you have got to calm down. Take a deep breath.", he suggested.
Sally did as she wasbreathing in and letting out a deep breath.
As Sally breathed, Heero took to looking for something to cover himself with, as he was still damp and cold. When he turned back to Sally, dressed in a robe, he found the woman bouncing her leg nervously while she her fingernails. It was a shame that she was more worried for Duo's sake than the young actor was.
This woman would put her life on the line if it meant Duo's success. She was, after all, the one who took him to stardom. She felt as if it was her that she kept him there. If Duo fell, then she fell as and she would never have the chance to play agent, manager and assistant to a budding star again.
"He's with isn't he?", she finally asked, pausing momentarily from biting her nails, "That fucking twink back in New York."
Heero was stunned for a short while by the term that Sally had used, and wondered when the hell she had learned it. Then again, she did reside in West Hollywood, it was natural that she knew what it was and how to use it. Though he was pretty sure that Wufei didn't fit or deserved to be called as such; it was clear that Sally meant it in a derogatory manner.
"Who knows?", Heero said with a shrug. He also knew that was most likely the case, but he wasn't about to fan the fire that had taken hold of Sally.
"I know, I know you know, and who the hell knows if some friggtabloid knows!", Sally cried, standing from her chair, "The media's already question and allegedly confirming his and Relena's relationship is coming to an end. The next thing they'll want to know is if he has his eye on someone else and if it's yes, they'll want to know who. You and I know just it is, and we also know that never find out about him."
Damn it, the woman had a point. He wasn't exactly agreeing with a lot of things that Duo had been doing lately, but Sally had a point. They had to lend Duo a hand with lying to the world and keeping this escapade of his a secret.
"I'll give him a call and give him a heads up.", Heero offered, "I'll warn him about the media tag and tell him to be careful."
"Good.", Sally said with a firm nod, "And thank you. I know he only listens to you."
Heero snorted, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms.
"Knowing where he is, who he's with and why he's there.", Heero started, looking to Sally who seemed disturbingly disheveled, "I bet I'll barely be able to get him to answer his phone."
It was Sally's turn to snort as she turned for the door, a single hand running through he near tangled locks.
"It's a shame that luck is all we have and can depend on athis moment."
She opened the door to the dressing room, her hand waving a good bye without turning to look back at the chocolate-haired actor.
"Be sure to get in touch with him, and be sure to keep me updated."
"Will do.", Heero confirmed with a nod.
Then she was gone, with the door slamming behind her, and Heero sighed. He knew that things couldn't keep going so smoothly. He had been expecting the media to begin digging for dirt on the spotless actor, and it had finally happened.
He had no idea how he was going to deal with this, let alone approach Duo, since he had never been so close to Hollywood media before. He sighed, sitting in the only chair that Sally had occupied not too long ago. He needed a moment to think about things; he needed a little break to his head.
It seemwouldn't be granted said break, as there was a knock on his door; probably the crew telling him to get back to the set. He sighed as he stood from the chair and made his way to the door, pulling his robe closed. He opened it, expecting to see the nervous face of a gopher, but instead he came eye to eye with the last person he wanted to see.
"You must be Heero Yuy.", Zechs Merquise gave him a grin that Heero knew meant he was up to no good.
He removed his sunglasses, before he placed them in the inside pocket of his jacket.
"I was wondering if you and I could have a little chat."
Heero's blue eyes hardened as he glanced back at the journalist, his defenses already up. He knew what he was here for and the Japanese man knew damn well that he wasn't going to provide this asswipe with anything.
"How the hell did you get past security?"
Zechs' smirk only grew wider, and he let his hands rest comfortably in his pockets as he looked back at the foreign actor. He had been following Duo's agent around all day, after leaving a tabloid with a very interesting piece Duo Maxwell in her office mailbox, and she had done alot of running about. She had finally came to a stop here, and Zechs was surprised to see that it would seem that Ms. Po seemed a lot closer with action star Heero Yuy than expected.
There was a chance of some underlying dirt that involved both this man and woman, but Zechs was more focused on the information he was searching for. Perhaps, Mr. Yuy knew something, as all actors knew a bit of everything about their fellow celebrity neighbors.
"Mr. Yuy, I was wondering, do you happen to know Duo Maxwell?"
Blue eyes narrowed suspiciously, which Zechs caught before they calmed again, into cold and unreflective orbs.
"You've come looking in the wrong place for a source, Mr. Merquise.", Heero told him, slowly removing his robe, "Now if you'll me, I have a photo shoot to finish."
The dark-haired actor easily brushed past Zechs, but was gently jerked to a stop by a hold on his wrist. He looked back to find that the sleazy journalist had grabbed hold of him, and his glare became razor sharp as he fixed a cold gaze on the blond-haired pest.
"You familiar with Duo Maxwell, aren't you? You seem to be very familiar with his agent."
Zechs could only grin as he felt and saw Heero's muscles tense in anger, but the actor never got to explode, he was interrupted by one of the set's crew members.
"Mr. Yuy. We have to have you on the set please, Reynaldo's finally awake."
With a jerk of his arm, the blue-eyed actor freed himself and Zechs only smiled at him as if nothing had happened.
"If you'll excuse me."
"By all means.", Zechs told him, as if Heero needed his permission to leave in the first place, "Just know that you and I will be having another chat soon."
Zechs watched as Heero walked off, guided back to the set by the gopher without a glance back the tabloid journalist. He only sighed and took his sunglasses out, placing them back on and heading for the exit. This actor might not have given him anything to go on, but he knew of an actress who just might.
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Violet eyes watched down at the sleeping figure beside him, a small smile taking his lips as loose ebony disturbed by the gentle movement of his lover's breath. He had been watching Wufei sleep for quite some time now, and though he thought it best to get some shut eye himself, he couldn't help but stare.
He couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of warmth and complete satisfaction, total happiness, that took his heart whenever he looked at this man. It outweighed the doubt and guilt that had often racked him during his visits with Wufei. Tonight, he forcefully ignored those, as he began to stroke soft tendrils back into place, before letting his fingers trace the lines of his lover's face.
"You have no idea how much I love you.", he though he the sleeping man couldn't hear him.
He an awe as Wufei's nose wrinkled cutely for a moment as Duo's fingers gently traced the bridge of it. He didn't stop himself from placing a kiss to Wufei's the Chinese man barely moving in his deep sleep. They hadn't even made love tonight, which Duo was surprised he wasn't upset about; he had actually enjoyed ending the night holding each other.
Of course, Wufei had strayed in the course of his sleep, but Duo didn't mind. Halways scoop Wufei back up again when he wanted to.
He was pulled from his little moment by the sound of his phone a text message, and he sighed as he stood to get it. He had turned it on again after Wufei had fallen asleep, and he had been hoping that no one thought to disturb him. He had been lucky for a few hours, but he knew that try to get in touch with him.
With one last kiss to Wufei's nose, Duo stood from the bed and took his phone from the night stand. He didn't want to wake Wufei, so he left the room, gently closing the door behind him.he made his way to the living room, he opened the text message, and was very surprised to see it was from Heero.
Heero Yuy rarely used his cellular phone, and when he did, he most didn't use text messaging. This meant that he was somewhere where there were too many ears and that whatever it was he had to tell him was noise worth snooping on.
In New York?
It was expected that Heero already knew where he was, but now only wanted confirmation.
Where else would I be?
He waited a few seconds after sending his message, and soon enough, his phone toned for the received response.
Tabs are on you. Be carefu
The What the hell could they have on him? He was never featured in a tab magazine and he was most sure that he couldn't be in one now.
It was only a matter of seconds that it took him to call his best friend via speed dial, and he waited a bit impatiently for the man to pick up.
"
"You have got to be shitting me!", Duo whispered fiercely. He was sure to avoid shouting like he wanted to, since Wufei was asleep down the hall. "What the hell do you mean the tabs are on me!"
He heard Heero sigh, before the Japanese actor was excusing himself from wherever he was. It was a moment before the humming of background noises grew quiet and Duo waited for whatever it was that his friend had to tell him.
"media's tagged you, DuoHeero began explaining, "showed me a magazine this evening. You were in it. I was just calling to tell you to be careful
Duo's heart was skipping a beat at the moment, as a cold feeling of fear settled at the pit of his stomach. This couldn't be happening to him.
"What did it say?", his voice was small and unsure. He had no idea what the media had dug up or found out about him, so it was a bit nerve wracking at the moment.
"Just that you and Relena may be on the verge of a break-up."
He sighed a bit in relief at that. Wufei was still a kept secret. His relief subside as a guilt flooded over him. He tried his best to shake it, thinking it best to ask Heero another question.
"What did Sally say?"
"don't want to know what Sally said.
It was true he most likely didn't, being that he would hear it anyway when he flew back to California. He also knew that if Sally had seen that tabloids, then Relena most definitely had, and he was sure the actress would want to discuss this with him.
That wasn't going to be easy. He'd admit that he did want to call it quits with her, but it was just so hard to. Especially when you had your manager/agent/publicist telling you that a break-up was a bad move for his career at this point in time. He didn't want to risk it all. His career was all he had.
"still there?
Heero's voice pulled him from his musing and Duo leaned back into the couch, wanting nothing more than to return to Wufei.
"Yeah, I'm here.", he answered, a hand raising to rub at his eyes tiredly, "I'm just trying to figure out what I should do about all this."
"you already know what Sally thinks you should do.he said, and Duo snorted.
Sally didn't much take to Wufei. Well at least she had at first, but then when things became far too risky, Wufei wasn't under her favorites list anymore. She would rather leave him alone, pay him to keep quiet about the whole affair, and go back to living the Hollywood dream with an "A" star actress by his side.
"you want to know what I think?
Duo perked his ears in interest, as Heero had never really given his opinion or advice on this matter before. He had merely stepped aside and occasionally aided Duo in having excuses to come out here.
"that you've made your intro into the tabloids, you're new game for the rest of those vultures.Heero carefully told him, "last thing you need is to risk everything by being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. You don't deserve to go through the disaster that would bring and neither does he.
Duo had been ready to object, but the fact that Heero had included Wufei in on the equation had stunned him. He had heard Sally's side before, and it was clear that the only life she didn't want to jeopardize was his. Heero had been the first to even think about Wufei's well being, because guiltily enough, neither had Duo.
That thought didn't settle well with him, and his stomach clenched in a wave a nausea, which he tried to fight off by listening to the sound of Heero's voice. He was so distracted by his own thoughts, that he had nearly missed Heero's next words.
"think it's best that you lay low for a while.Heero told him, "more disappearing, no more trips to New York, no more phone calls, text messages, e-mails; no more anything. At least until you're old news and the paparazzi gets bored
"No, Heero, there's no way that I'm going to do-"
"you're going to fuck up everything that you've been working so fucking hard for!
He had never heard Heero yell before, at least not at him, and it stunned him into silence. It was obvious that the blue-eyed man was angry, and he was sure that it was because of him. However, he knew that it wasn't for the same reasons that Sally was angry.
"stupid mistake and you'll lose everything!Heero boomed, before his voice lowered just a bit, " losehim."
"Heero-"
"Duo, I know that you love him, okay.Heero went on, finally calming a bit, "can see it; I can read it in the way you act, the way speak, in everything you do. You love him, but you're not taking him into consideration. You can't mess this up. I won't let you screw this up, so you have to listen to me and do the right thing. I'm not telling you to stay away forever, just until things cool down and your name is back out of the tabloids.
"Heero. . .", he was speechless at the moment. He hadn't known that Heero had actually cared so much about him, nor did he know that Heero was actually on his side to some degree. Heero wanted him to be happy as much he himself wanted to be happy, and it was a bit overwhelming to know that Heero was taking Wufei into regard as well. Then again, he shouldn't have been surprised. He and Heero had once been lovers, and were now best friends, it was only natural that the Japanese star would look out for him. He needed to start being a bit more grateful for having this man by his side as well, as he was the reason Duo was able to get as far as he did in this situation.
"I don't want to leave him.", was all he could mutter, as he leaned his head back so that he was staring up at the ceiling of the apartment.
"Listen, I know it'll be tough, but it's the best thing to do.", Heero sympathized, though his voice remained stern, "You have to play it safe until things die down. You love him, Duo, I know you do. And if you love him, you have to let him go for a while; it's the best thing for him."
He sighed, though he wanted to scream, but Heero was right. He couldn't risk getting caught out here with the paparazzi hot on his tail, or at least, they would be pretty soon. It was best that he stick to the life he had had before Wufei, just to shake the wolves and return when the coast was clear. He didn't like it, he didn't want to do it, but it had to be done.
"So, I'll see you back in Hollywood tomorrow morning?"
Duo closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. It would be so easy to say no.
"Yeah.", he reluctantly agreed, "I'll see you tomorrow."
There was a moment of silence before Duo heard Heero's voice again, this time the man's sympathy could be heard.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way. You should probably go explain things and tell him your goodbyes; make him understand."
"Yeah. I'll catch you later."
"I'll tell Sally to send a car to get you at the airport."
The braided star only grunted in agreement, before he closed his phone and let his arm drop limply by his side. How on earth did Heero think he could make Wufei understand all this? It was hard enough getting Wufei to agree seeing him in this manner, although the two still had their arguments over his having yet to leave Relena. This wasn't going to be easy, but he figured it best to get it over with.
He stood from the couch and made his way down the hall back to the bedroom. Wufei was still asleep when he peered in, and Duo nearly hesitated in entering. He really didn't want to do this. He forced himself to move into the room, and he climbed into bed as quietly as he could.
He stopped for the moment, just to stare at his lover again, and his heart clenched as he realized that he wouldn't have the opportunity to do this for a long while. He reached for Wufei, pulling the man closer to him, and buried his face into the dark locks. When he seemed satisfied that Wufei was real, that he wasn't going to disappear, he took to taking everything into memory.
He breathed in Wufei's scent, a gentle smell of ginger and tea, as well as a hint of vanilla. He was sure his brain was making it up, but if Wufei did have a smell, he was sure that was what it would be.
He placed a kiss to the top of Wufei's head, before he was slowly traveling to the smaller man's face, while his hands slowly traced down Wufei's arms.
His caresses and kisses roused Wufei from his slumber, and sleepy ebony eyes looked up at him in question. He could only manage a shaky smile, before he was placing a soft kiss to Wufei's lips. It lasted only a few seconds before his lips were traveling down Wufei's neck, and then gently across the man's collarbone.
"Duo?", Wufei gently called for his attention, but the actor only pulled the man tighter to him, returning to nuzzling the bronze skin of his neck, "Duo, what's the matter?"
Duo hadn't even realized his eyes had been watering or that tears had even fallen, until he felt Wufei reach to take hold of his face. Soothing fingers carefully wiped them away, as Wufei frowned at the drops slowly falling down Duo's face.
"Duo?", his concern couldn't be missed as he called his braided lover once again.
Duo only gave a soft laugh, before he took Wufei's hands in his own to place a kiss to each one. He could tell his behavior wasn't easing Wufei's worries, but he just wanted to make sure that he took in every bit of him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing.", Duo finally spoke, looking up into obsidian eyes, "I just love you so much, I wanted to make sure I remembered every bit of you, just in case. . ."
He couldn't even finish. How was he supposed to tell him?
"Just in case of what?"
Duo merely shook his head, before resting it against Wufei's chest, and wrapping his arms about his Chinese lover in a near desperate embrace.
"I have to leave in the morning.", he announced, as if Wufei hadn't already known this.
Well, he knew that Duo had to leave tomorrow, but now he was given some sort of time frame.
"I know.", Wufei said, one of his hands stroking Duo's hair, "It's okay, I've gotten used to it."
Duo clenched his eyes shut at the words, trying to fight off the wave of guilt and unrest before they settled in his chest.
"I'll come back.", he was saying, his arms closing around the man tighter, "I promise you I'll come back. You know that I'll come back, right?"
He lifted his head and then his body so that he was hovering over Wufei, his violet eyes looking down at the man's perturbed expression.
"Duo. . . what's the matter with you?", he questioned softly, "Why are you acting this way?"
"I just. . . I just. . . will you miss me?", he blurted out, instead of getting to the point.
Wufei reached up so that he was cupping his face with both hands, his eyes looking into Duo's obviously troubled ones, hoping that he could ease whatever it was that was bothering Duo just a bit.
"I always miss you.", he told his lover, "How can I not miss you?"
He wasn't expecting the kiss that Duo swooped down to give him, but he accepted it as gracefully as his could. His arms wrapped themselves about Duo's neck, as the braided actor kissed him as if this was the last one they would ever share. A small hum of contentment from Wufei was muffled as the two continued their slow kiss, even though he couldn't help but know that Duo was hiding something.
"I'll miss you, too.", Duo whispered as they finally pulled apart, "I'll miss you so much."
Wufei smiled up at his lover, letting his hand tuck in a chestnut strand that had managed to escape the braid. It was nice to hear that he wasn't the only one doing all the missing.
"I would hope that you would.", he said, pulling Duo down by his shirt for another kiss, "So we'll both miss the other until you get back, okay?"
Their mouths meshed again, this time with Wufei taking the lead, his tongue dipping in to savor the taste of the actor's mouth. It was very addicting to kiss Duo, and he sometimes wondered how he handled going long periods of time without doing such.
"Okay.", Duo agreed as they parted, his lips smiling against Wufei's.
"Good.", the sloe-eyed man was satisfied with that, and he pulled Duo back to lie beside him, their arms wrapped about each other, "Come on, let's get some sleep. You have a flight to catch in the morning."
At the reminder of his return to California, Duo pulled Wufei a bit closer to him, vowing to not let him go for the rest of the night. Wufei didn't seem to mind, as he snuggled closer to his lover's body, and soon enough he was sleeping again.
Duo closed his eyes as well, figuring he might as well try to sleep until morning, even though it was a time of day he was beginning to dread. After this, he would have to say good bye to Wufei, and though it wouldn't be forever, it would feel like it.
"Please understand, Fei.", Duo murmured to his sleeping lover, "You'll have to understand that I would never leave you. When this is over, I'll be back and I am never letting you go."
He promised that he would never let him go.
T.B.C.
(Peeks out meekly from behind a wall.) Hehe, hey there everyone. How's it been? (ducks back to avoid any flying objects) Look, I know I went AWOL there for a while, but you have to understand that things have been a little hectic for me. Work was killing me, family was aggravating me, I was taking night classes, and amiss all the stress. . . writer's block bit me in the ass and wouldn't let go. I struggled to fight it off and after many, many months of nothing, I finally got the urge to write again. I am deeply sorry for abandoning you, and I hope that you find it in your hearts to forgive me. I really didn't mean to leave you guys hanging for so long. I hope this chapter makes up for it. And though it wasn't exactly a happy chapter, I hope that you all enjoyed it. I'll let you guys gnaw at me for taking so long if you feel the need to, and I'll try my best to get another chapter up when I'm able. (bows) Thank you.
Author: C-Chan2 a.k.a. Neptunesdemon
Archive: WufeiDuoYaoiML, any others just ask
Category: Romance
Pairings: 2+2/5+2
Ratings: PG-13
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Yaoi, OOC, AU.
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Duo Maxwell had always liked New York city. It had always been one of his favorites, really. He enjoyed the rush hour traffic, adored the 5 o' clock rush on the subways, and had nothing but admiration for Brooklyn-style pizza; made in the heart of the U.S. of A. As much as he had liked New York, he had barely any reasons to love it. As luck would have it, during the summer, he had found his reason to return to the Big Apple more than was Duo Maxwell, movie star extraordinaire, had fallen in love.
It was not with his current (though he was trying to make her his previous) girlfriend, Relena Dorian. Although, as rumor among his fellow stars the two were secretly engaged. The braided actor had to wonder how that one had started and why his agent hadn't stopped it yet. He'd have to figure it out later.
Relena Dorian was not the one to set his heart, (and his loins), aflame. Nor was it any other woman, either. His heart had been captured by dark eyes, midnight locks, and a beauty that most women spent years to gain. Perhaps he was being a bit too poetic? It could be due to the fact that he had just finished shooting a romance film before his flight out from Los Angeles.
Well whatever the reason, Duo Maxwell, had fallen for none other than a man, and his name was Chang Wufei. The name alone made Duo smile, and he often found himself repeating it just to hear it said. No other had made him feel so happy, so incredibly incredible! It was a wonder how he kept their love a secret, when he often wanted to just shout at the top of his lungs, just how much he loved this man.
However, his lips were kept tightly shut, as he was aware of the dangers of saying such a thing out loud. He could risk more than just losing his career; his way of life. No, he'd risk losing Wufei as well. There was no way that their relationship could survive something as drastic as that, and he was sure never be able to handle the stress of paparazzi and journalists that would be sure to follow him.
It was that Duo had never brought up with his secret lover, and he wasn't sure he wanted to. He was hoping that if he kept it for himself, it would never happen. If he lost Wufei. . . he didn't even want to think about it.
He would rather focus on the here and now, the moments that he spent with Wufei, cherishing the time they shared. It sometimes felt too good to be true, and Duo had a feeling that it probably was, but he would enjoy what he could.
"Driver, pull over."
The private car, that Sally insist that he have so that she could track his every move, did as was told. As Duo looked out the tinted window to the bookstore that his dark-eyed lover was currently employed at, his face cracked a smile, since he had recognized Wufei locking up the store. Good; he had reached just in time.
With his glasses and cap in place, Duo held forward a wad of money, the driver looking at him through the mirror.
"Your lips are sealed?", Duo asked him, smiling as the driver took the money.
"Sally won't know a thing."
The actor heartily slapped the man on he shoulder, just before he climbed out of the car, braid hidden safely in his jacket. He waited until the driver had pulled off, before he began to walk toward his lover, who was muttering under his breath as he fumbled with the lock.
He wasn't exactly thinking, as he decided to play a joke on his lover, which was the reason why he didn't exactly expect what happened next.
Wufei had just managed to get the damn doors locked, when he was taken from behind, an arm wrapping around his middle and another covering his mouth. His mind panicked and his body reacted on its own; his head jerked back with a successful hit before came crashing back into his attacker's side. He had turned to knee his in the groin, but was shocked still by the frantic plea for him to stop.
"Wait! Don't hurt me, Fei! It's me!"
With his heart pounding in his ear still, Wufei had to take a deep breath before he let his eyes study the person in front of him, who had removed his shades so that his face could easily be seen. His adrenaline was still rushing, and his anger was rising as he realized just who it was.
"You idiot!", he screamed, ebony eyes glaring down at the still winded man, "What kind of moron sneaks up on a man late at night in New York City?"
"A man who grew up in friendly North Dakota?", Duo answered a bit breathlessly, as he finally straightened from his defensive crouch.
His stomach was still in some pain, but it was subsiding. Besides, he had deserved it in a way. Wufei looked smallbut he packed one hell of a punch.
Wufei's face had fallen into an mask at Duo's reply, a frown marring his face as he asked another question.
"You're from North Dakota? You never told me that."
"You never asked.", was all Duo said, moving to put his arms around his lover, "Anyway, that's besides the point. I came to visit you, and my choice of a joke went bad. So, now I'm in pain and some features of my personal life have been revealed."
"What?", it was obvious that Wufei was confused.
Duo would take the opportunity to make sure Wufei didn't remember to be angry again.
"Nothing. Let me start over.", his arms dragged Wufei closer, so that he could bring the Chinese man within nuzzling distance, "I missed you."
Wufei's mouth had opened to respond, but it was instead taken by Duo's, leaving the dark-haired man speechless. He couldn't help but instantly melt at the kiss, and his mind seemed only to focus on the fact that their lips were touching. It had been a while since thhad kissed, let alone seen each other, he would have to savor every moment. Who knew when the next time they met up would be?
Remembering that they were still out in the open of a very public street, Wufei gently pushed Duo away, before he was looking up and down Fifth Ave. Luckily for him, it was too late at night for anyone who did pass them by to want to stop and study them. He looked up to Duo, who only smiled down at him, and couldn't help but return it.
"I love it when you smile.", Duo said, pulling Wufei close again.
This time it was merely an embrace, his arms gently locking around his dark-haired lover, enjoying the smaller man's body pressed against his. It had been three weeks, three very long weeks, since he had held him last; he wasn't sure if he would be able to let go.
"Did I tell you I missed you?", he asked Wufei, who only snorted.
The Chinese man pulled back slightly, so that he could look up into violet eyes he could easily get lost in, and he smiled; the braided actor reflected the gesture.
"Of course you did.", Wufei answered, one shoulder shrugging, "That doesn't mean that I don't want you to keep telling me."
With a small laugh, Duo placed a kiss to Wufei's forehead, before he pulled the man back into a hug.
"I missed you, I missed you, and for the record, I really missed you.", he told him, playfully squeezing Wufei.
The shorter man only objected at his short loss of breath, and easily parted with Duo, who was laughing. That laugh was one of many reasons why he had fallen for Duo; it was a beautiful sound, and he was lucky to be the one to cause it. Their fingers intertwined, as they turned away from the direction of the subway, the two silently opting to walk to Wufei's apartment. It was probably a half hour walk, but it was also an excuse to spend as much time as they could together.
"Food!", Duo cried out suddenly, dragging Wufei closer to him so as to fling his arm about him, "I'm famished, Fei! Let's go out to eat."
"Somewhere quiet."
Duo's childish whine drew the attention of some and the actor took to ducking behind Wufei to hide his uncovered face. Wufei only sighed at the now giggling idiot, who didn't emerge from his poor hiding place until the street was empty again, besides himself and Duo. The glasses were replaced, before the Oscar award winning idol flashed Wufei his well known grin.
"Come on, Fei.", the actor begged, lifting Wufei's hands to sloppily press kisses to it, "Please can we go to enjoy ourselves? Please, please, please!"
"Alright!", Wufei caved in, pulling his hand away and wiping it off on his pants, "Just stop slobbering all over my hand, it's disturbing."
"But you like it when I slobber all over you."
"Duo, shut up."
The braided actor only laughed as they walked down the street towards whatever quiet restaurant was still open, their hands intertwined.
------------------------------
The empty halls echoed with the clicking of her heels, as Dorothy made her wathrough the corridor. She had always known this place to be quiet, but now it seemed too empty. The atmosphere was now cold and and she knew the exact reason for it. Her jaw clenched as she stopped in front of a familiar door, not sure of what she would find inside.
Dorothy had a call from her employer, asking if she would be able to come to the mansion. Ms. Relena was feeling lonely, and that only meant one thing.
Slowly, she reached for the door, grasping the knob and turning it. The door was pushed oon silent hinges and Dorothy carefully peeked inside. Her forked brows furrowed together as found the floor littered with clothing, broken glass and jewelry. She only sighed as she entered, looking about the extra-large room for the actress.
She found her siting at the vanity mirror, still dressed in her silk, pink-colored nightgown and matching ; in her hand she held a brush. Relena harshly it through her hair, as eyes stared aimlessly into the mirror. Said eyes were puffy and red, which could only mean that she had been crying.
Dorothy gently closed the door behind her, before she carefully her way to where the broken woman sat. She kept silent as she stood behind her, watching Relena through the mirror. Though it seemed like she was out of it, Dorothy knew that the actress was aware that she was here; all she had to do was wait, she would acknowledge her presence soon enough.
"He's gone, again."
Relena's voice was no higher that a soft ; a broken and hurting tone was laced in with her words.
"We went to bed together last night, but when I woke up. . . he was gone."
Dorothy kept quiet, and only watched as Relena continued to brush her hair. Though the dark-blonde woman hadn't used his name, Dorothy knew who "he" referred to. After all, he wasn't here and she was pretty sure that he wasn't even in California. Her jaw clenched as she realized just what this man was doing to Relena, and suddenly she had in her right mind to expose him herself.
However, it was best to let things run its course. She had gained the help of the media and would just have to let things be handled through their hands. Duo Maxwell was going to pay dearly for the amount of pain he was putting this woman through.
"Why?", she heard Relena ask, the word more of a hiss.
Tactress had started to brush her hair faster, the way she pulled the wooden object through her it as if she intended to rip of it from its roots.
"We were happy, Dorothy.", she muttered, her dull blue eyes glistening, "I made him happy, and I did everything for him! I love him, Dorothy!"
Dorothy could only watch as Relena basically abused her hair, not sure if she should say something. It would seem that the winner wasn't exactly in her right mind at the moment.
"Why would he do this to me!", she was yelling now, but the blond behind her couldn't blame her, "Why would he hurt me this wayWould he really me for that. . .whore! Why, Dorothy, why! Why would he do this!"
As her brushing grew more frantic, the act ssistant finally reached out to stop her hand with the brush, obviously trying to stop her from tearing of hair from her scalp. Relena made soundof objection, as she tried to avoid Dorothy's hand, but was caught in a determined grip. However, with an angry cry, she snatched it back but didn't begin brushing her hair again.
Icyblue eyes looked down at her in concern through the mirror and Relena bowed her face, her face hidden in the shadows cast by her bangs and her shoulders shaking with her sobs. The sound of her distress tore at Dorothy, but there wasn't much she could do for her. How was she to comfort this woman?
"I thought he loved me!", Relena bawled, the confusion and betrayal in her voice, "He's supposed to love me!"
Dorothy jumped as the brush was flung at the mirror, the large glass pane shattering into smaller pieces, and raining across the top of the top of the vanity; some stray pieces littered the lush carpet. Dorothy could only hope that Relena wouldn't hurt herself. Steadilyshe reached her hand out and rested it on a trembling shoulder, and her eyes widened in shock as Relena reached up to grab hold of it.
Her chest tightened at the action and she couldn't explain the sudden fluttering in her stomach, but she let her fingers slowly tighten around her friend's.
"Who'll love me now?", the blue-eyed actress asked, her voice hoarse.
Dorothy's mouth opened, but she shut it quickly and bit her tongue. Whatever she had wanted to say could never be said; even if it was the truth. Instead, she started to smooth out the messy strands of wheat-colored hair with her hand, hoping to sooth her employer as best as she could.
"Someone will love you, Ms. Relena.", Dorothy promised her, hearing the woman sigh, "Just know that someone will always love you."
Relena let out a small and tired laugh, but let her hand squeeze Dorothy's for stability. This man had no idea what he was putting her through and if she was lucky, he would be suffering every bit as much as she was soon enough.
------------------------------
Heero Yuy resisted from gritting his teeth in annoyance, as he was once again twisted in some odd position by an eccentric and way too flamboyant photographer. He had seen many flaming queens in his day, but this one took the cake. He looked over the man's neon pink highlights, shimmering silver-colored button down shirt, the tight black leather pants and the high-heeled boots; the color matched his hair.
His nose wrinkled as it began to itch, but he'd be damned if he dared to scratch it and have to be mand assituated for the umpteenth time. He had been here all day, and it was getting late; he wanted to call it a day.
He was caught up, at the moment, with a photo shoot. He had no idea why his agent had decided that it would be a good idea for him to delve into modeling; a new way of expanding his talent, the man had said. Heero snorted, rolling his eyes at the thought; if anything it was time that he got a new agent.
"Okay, people! We're ready for the next set of photos."
Heero resisthe urge to scream in pain as the photographers shrill voice echoed throughout the set. He wanted nothing more than to strangle that man after eight straight hours of listening to it. It was quite and quite annoying, but not as as this damn get up they had put him in.
He had no idea how barely dressing him up in animal skins would work. It was an ad for bottled water for goodness sake! Heero only sighed and tried to ignore the fake rock digging into the small of his back. It was the thought that this was the last shot for the day that was getting him through this, or else he'd have walked out by now.
"Where's the girl!"
It was a that his ears weren't bwith that last outburst, and Heero had no idea how Duo had managed this sort thing. The man had done his share of modeling, but this was something new for Heero. The only shots he'd done was photos for movies. This was a whole new parkand he was sure that he never wanted to do it again.
His partner for the day seemed just as pissed as he was. Her make up and hair was done to resemble water, and unluckily for her, her costume seemed to have less cloth than Heero's. The Japanese actor felt pity for her, as she had been submerged in the frigid water who knew how many times with a green bikini on; it would be edited out later and replaced by computer graphics of water.
"Let's just get this over with.", she huffed, letting the crew strap her to the harness.
In this last she'd be suspended in the man made waterfall above Heero, part of the water that would be pouring over the basically naked man. Heero grumbled under his breath as he realized that his partner wouldn't be the only one exposed to the freezing water.
He got in character as the wires began to hoist the young female model up, and he tried his best not to flinch as the water began to flow. Damn it, he really was getting a new agent after this. Why the hell was it so cold?
"Heero, honey, now I need you to reach.", the man lisped, and Heero was grateful that he was too frozen for his eye to twitch, "And please, don't be afraid to flex those godly biceps of yours."
He did as he was directed, steadying his hand from it's trembling, and letting his face fall into a mask of awe and desire as he reached up. The young woman reached down for him, her eyes holding a look of wonder and want; just exactly what the photographer was going for.
"Perfect!", he shrieked happily, with his hands clapping wildly, "I want cameras ready!"
With the lights adjusted one more time, and the lens caps falling away from the lenses, the last shot was ready to be taken. However, it would have to wait. The flamboyant photographer gave a horrified shriek as the doors to the studio flew open, and in its doorframe stood one hell of an angry woman. Blue eyes zeroed in on the shivering actor, recently gone model, and Heero knew that this wasn't going to be good.
Sally stormed into the room with her deadly gaze fixed on Heero, and her aura causing everyone she passed to hastily step away. The fainted as she came up beside him, her eyes temporarily looking to him so that he never had a chance to object to her intrusion. With the man taken cared of, Sally returned her menacing look on Heero, whose body wasn't shaking from the cold temperature of the water anymore.
"You, me, in private; NOW!"
He didn't even wait for the crew to help him, he managed to climb down on his own, and was following behind Sally in no time. His own agent didn't even bother to stop them, since he had once had a not too pleasant experience with the woman. The two easily walked past him and entered the dressing room that Heero had been given. The door was slammed shut, and locked, and then Sally spun to face the Japanese actor.
"I want to know where your buddy has disappeared to, and I want to know right now!"
Heero sighed, his fear suddenly forgotten, as a certain American actor he had befriended was revealed as the reason for Sally's visit. He knew that this would come back to him, since Sally always assumed that he helped Duo out with his little escapes. It was true that he did, occasionally. However, this time around, he had managed to not stick his neck out for the braided celebrity.
"I have no idea where Duo could be. Have you asked Relena?"
"Of course I did!", Sally snapped at him, "But the woman just started bawling when I asked her. I want to know what the hell is going on!"
Heero sighed a second time at the mention of Relena's reaction. It meant that Duo hadn't even told her of his departure. . . again. That also meant Heero just might reach home to a blubbering Relena Dorian on his doorstep. . . again.
"Does he know what the hell is circulating!", the woman was close to hysterics, "I mean have you seen the recent tabloids?"
Heero's frown meant that he hadn't, but was that whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good. Sally reached into her back pocket, before she was pulling out a rolled magazine and holding it out for Heero.
Colbat eyes looked down at a picture of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with a split down the middle, and he was temporarily relieved. Whatever was in this about the violet-eyed idol, it wasn't big enough to make the front page.
"Turn to page eleven.", Sally was soon providing him, as she paced back and forth.
Heero did as was told, and when he got to page eleven, he found a picture of Duo and Relena above a small column. The headline read, "Trouble in Paradise", and went on to discuss rumors of an upcoming break up for the two Hollywood stars. Heero had no idea how this information was but he knew that with his premiere in the tabloids, Duo Maxwell was going to become a target.
"You're worried that wherever he is he's going to get caught at the wrong moment?"
"Of God damn course that's what I think!"
She stopped and to face him, her eyes a mixture of anger and distress, and her hands to grab at her hair in frustration. Heero noticed that it wasn't in its usual pig-tails today; Sally's soft brown locks were drifting freely about her face, giving her a obvious stressed look.
"I mean I know where he is!", she continued ranting, moving closer to Heero, "Well, I don't know where he is, but I'm pretty sure that I where he is!"
Ignoring the confusing Heero risked touching Sally in her unstable meltdown, resting a calming hand on her shoulder. The other he used to pull her hands free of her hair, and then he guided her to sit down on the lone chair in the room.
"Sally, you have got to calm down. Take a deep breath.", he suggested.
Sally did as she wasbreathing in and letting out a deep breath.
As Sally breathed, Heero took to looking for something to cover himself with, as he was still damp and cold. When he turned back to Sally, dressed in a robe, he found the woman bouncing her leg nervously while she her fingernails. It was a shame that she was more worried for Duo's sake than the young actor was.
This woman would put her life on the line if it meant Duo's success. She was, after all, the one who took him to stardom. She felt as if it was her that she kept him there. If Duo fell, then she fell as and she would never have the chance to play agent, manager and assistant to a budding star again.
"He's with isn't he?", she finally asked, pausing momentarily from biting her nails, "That fucking twink back in New York."
Heero was stunned for a short while by the term that Sally had used, and wondered when the hell she had learned it. Then again, she did reside in West Hollywood, it was natural that she knew what it was and how to use it. Though he was pretty sure that Wufei didn't fit or deserved to be called as such; it was clear that Sally meant it in a derogatory manner.
"Who knows?", Heero said with a shrug. He also knew that was most likely the case, but he wasn't about to fan the fire that had taken hold of Sally.
"I know, I know you know, and who the hell knows if some friggtabloid knows!", Sally cried, standing from her chair, "The media's already question and allegedly confirming his and Relena's relationship is coming to an end. The next thing they'll want to know is if he has his eye on someone else and if it's yes, they'll want to know who. You and I know just it is, and we also know that never find out about him."
Damn it, the woman had a point. He wasn't exactly agreeing with a lot of things that Duo had been doing lately, but Sally had a point. They had to lend Duo a hand with lying to the world and keeping this escapade of his a secret.
"I'll give him a call and give him a heads up.", Heero offered, "I'll warn him about the media tag and tell him to be careful."
"Good.", Sally said with a firm nod, "And thank you. I know he only listens to you."
Heero snorted, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms.
"Knowing where he is, who he's with and why he's there.", Heero started, looking to Sally who seemed disturbingly disheveled, "I bet I'll barely be able to get him to answer his phone."
It was Sally's turn to snort as she turned for the door, a single hand running through he near tangled locks.
"It's a shame that luck is all we have and can depend on athis moment."
She opened the door to the dressing room, her hand waving a good bye without turning to look back at the chocolate-haired actor.
"Be sure to get in touch with him, and be sure to keep me updated."
"Will do.", Heero confirmed with a nod.
Then she was gone, with the door slamming behind her, and Heero sighed. He knew that things couldn't keep going so smoothly. He had been expecting the media to begin digging for dirt on the spotless actor, and it had finally happened.
He had no idea how he was going to deal with this, let alone approach Duo, since he had never been so close to Hollywood media before. He sighed, sitting in the only chair that Sally had occupied not too long ago. He needed a moment to think about things; he needed a little break to his head.
It seemwouldn't be granted said break, as there was a knock on his door; probably the crew telling him to get back to the set. He sighed as he stood from the chair and made his way to the door, pulling his robe closed. He opened it, expecting to see the nervous face of a gopher, but instead he came eye to eye with the last person he wanted to see.
"You must be Heero Yuy.", Zechs Merquise gave him a grin that Heero knew meant he was up to no good.
He removed his sunglasses, before he placed them in the inside pocket of his jacket.
"I was wondering if you and I could have a little chat."
Heero's blue eyes hardened as he glanced back at the journalist, his defenses already up. He knew what he was here for and the Japanese man knew damn well that he wasn't going to provide this asswipe with anything.
"How the hell did you get past security?"
Zechs' smirk only grew wider, and he let his hands rest comfortably in his pockets as he looked back at the foreign actor. He had been following Duo's agent around all day, after leaving a tabloid with a very interesting piece Duo Maxwell in her office mailbox, and she had done alot of running about. She had finally came to a stop here, and Zechs was surprised to see that it would seem that Ms. Po seemed a lot closer with action star Heero Yuy than expected.
There was a chance of some underlying dirt that involved both this man and woman, but Zechs was more focused on the information he was searching for. Perhaps, Mr. Yuy knew something, as all actors knew a bit of everything about their fellow celebrity neighbors.
"Mr. Yuy, I was wondering, do you happen to know Duo Maxwell?"
Blue eyes narrowed suspiciously, which Zechs caught before they calmed again, into cold and unreflective orbs.
"You've come looking in the wrong place for a source, Mr. Merquise.", Heero told him, slowly removing his robe, "Now if you'll me, I have a photo shoot to finish."
The dark-haired actor easily brushed past Zechs, but was gently jerked to a stop by a hold on his wrist. He looked back to find that the sleazy journalist had grabbed hold of him, and his glare became razor sharp as he fixed a cold gaze on the blond-haired pest.
"You familiar with Duo Maxwell, aren't you? You seem to be very familiar with his agent."
Zechs could only grin as he felt and saw Heero's muscles tense in anger, but the actor never got to explode, he was interrupted by one of the set's crew members.
"Mr. Yuy. We have to have you on the set please, Reynaldo's finally awake."
With a jerk of his arm, the blue-eyed actor freed himself and Zechs only smiled at him as if nothing had happened.
"If you'll excuse me."
"By all means.", Zechs told him, as if Heero needed his permission to leave in the first place, "Just know that you and I will be having another chat soon."
Zechs watched as Heero walked off, guided back to the set by the gopher without a glance back the tabloid journalist. He only sighed and took his sunglasses out, placing them back on and heading for the exit. This actor might not have given him anything to go on, but he knew of an actress who just might.
------------------------------
Violet eyes watched down at the sleeping figure beside him, a small smile taking his lips as loose ebony disturbed by the gentle movement of his lover's breath. He had been watching Wufei sleep for quite some time now, and though he thought it best to get some shut eye himself, he couldn't help but stare.
He couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of warmth and complete satisfaction, total happiness, that took his heart whenever he looked at this man. It outweighed the doubt and guilt that had often racked him during his visits with Wufei. Tonight, he forcefully ignored those, as he began to stroke soft tendrils back into place, before letting his fingers trace the lines of his lover's face.
"You have no idea how much I love you.", he though he the sleeping man couldn't hear him.
He an awe as Wufei's nose wrinkled cutely for a moment as Duo's fingers gently traced the bridge of it. He didn't stop himself from placing a kiss to Wufei's the Chinese man barely moving in his deep sleep. They hadn't even made love tonight, which Duo was surprised he wasn't upset about; he had actually enjoyed ending the night holding each other.
Of course, Wufei had strayed in the course of his sleep, but Duo didn't mind. Halways scoop Wufei back up again when he wanted to.
He was pulled from his little moment by the sound of his phone a text message, and he sighed as he stood to get it. He had turned it on again after Wufei had fallen asleep, and he had been hoping that no one thought to disturb him. He had been lucky for a few hours, but he knew that try to get in touch with him.
With one last kiss to Wufei's nose, Duo stood from the bed and took his phone from the night stand. He didn't want to wake Wufei, so he left the room, gently closing the door behind him.he made his way to the living room, he opened the text message, and was very surprised to see it was from Heero.
Heero Yuy rarely used his cellular phone, and when he did, he most didn't use text messaging. This meant that he was somewhere where there were too many ears and that whatever it was he had to tell him was noise worth snooping on.
In New York?
It was expected that Heero already knew where he was, but now only wanted confirmation.
Where else would I be?
He waited a few seconds after sending his message, and soon enough, his phone toned for the received response.
Tabs are on you. Be carefu
The What the hell could they have on him? He was never featured in a tab magazine and he was most sure that he couldn't be in one now.
It was only a matter of seconds that it took him to call his best friend via speed dial, and he waited a bit impatiently for the man to pick up.
"
"You have got to be shitting me!", Duo whispered fiercely. He was sure to avoid shouting like he wanted to, since Wufei was asleep down the hall. "What the hell do you mean the tabs are on me!"
He heard Heero sigh, before the Japanese actor was excusing himself from wherever he was. It was a moment before the humming of background noises grew quiet and Duo waited for whatever it was that his friend had to tell him.
"media's tagged you, DuoHeero began explaining, "showed me a magazine this evening. You were in it. I was just calling to tell you to be careful
Duo's heart was skipping a beat at the moment, as a cold feeling of fear settled at the pit of his stomach. This couldn't be happening to him.
"What did it say?", his voice was small and unsure. He had no idea what the media had dug up or found out about him, so it was a bit nerve wracking at the moment.
"Just that you and Relena may be on the verge of a break-up."
He sighed a bit in relief at that. Wufei was still a kept secret. His relief subside as a guilt flooded over him. He tried his best to shake it, thinking it best to ask Heero another question.
"What did Sally say?"
"don't want to know what Sally said.
It was true he most likely didn't, being that he would hear it anyway when he flew back to California. He also knew that if Sally had seen that tabloids, then Relena most definitely had, and he was sure the actress would want to discuss this with him.
That wasn't going to be easy. He'd admit that he did want to call it quits with her, but it was just so hard to. Especially when you had your manager/agent/publicist telling you that a break-up was a bad move for his career at this point in time. He didn't want to risk it all. His career was all he had.
"still there?
Heero's voice pulled him from his musing and Duo leaned back into the couch, wanting nothing more than to return to Wufei.
"Yeah, I'm here.", he answered, a hand raising to rub at his eyes tiredly, "I'm just trying to figure out what I should do about all this."
"you already know what Sally thinks you should do.he said, and Duo snorted.
Sally didn't much take to Wufei. Well at least she had at first, but then when things became far too risky, Wufei wasn't under her favorites list anymore. She would rather leave him alone, pay him to keep quiet about the whole affair, and go back to living the Hollywood dream with an "A" star actress by his side.
"you want to know what I think?
Duo perked his ears in interest, as Heero had never really given his opinion or advice on this matter before. He had merely stepped aside and occasionally aided Duo in having excuses to come out here.
"that you've made your intro into the tabloids, you're new game for the rest of those vultures.Heero carefully told him, "last thing you need is to risk everything by being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. You don't deserve to go through the disaster that would bring and neither does he.
Duo had been ready to object, but the fact that Heero had included Wufei in on the equation had stunned him. He had heard Sally's side before, and it was clear that the only life she didn't want to jeopardize was his. Heero had been the first to even think about Wufei's well being, because guiltily enough, neither had Duo.
That thought didn't settle well with him, and his stomach clenched in a wave a nausea, which he tried to fight off by listening to the sound of Heero's voice. He was so distracted by his own thoughts, that he had nearly missed Heero's next words.
"think it's best that you lay low for a while.Heero told him, "more disappearing, no more trips to New York, no more phone calls, text messages, e-mails; no more anything. At least until you're old news and the paparazzi gets bored
"No, Heero, there's no way that I'm going to do-"
"you're going to fuck up everything that you've been working so fucking hard for!
He had never heard Heero yell before, at least not at him, and it stunned him into silence. It was obvious that the blue-eyed man was angry, and he was sure that it was because of him. However, he knew that it wasn't for the same reasons that Sally was angry.
"stupid mistake and you'll lose everything!Heero boomed, before his voice lowered just a bit, " losehim."
"Heero-"
"Duo, I know that you love him, okay.Heero went on, finally calming a bit, "can see it; I can read it in the way you act, the way speak, in everything you do. You love him, but you're not taking him into consideration. You can't mess this up. I won't let you screw this up, so you have to listen to me and do the right thing. I'm not telling you to stay away forever, just until things cool down and your name is back out of the tabloids.
"Heero. . .", he was speechless at the moment. He hadn't known that Heero had actually cared so much about him, nor did he know that Heero was actually on his side to some degree. Heero wanted him to be happy as much he himself wanted to be happy, and it was a bit overwhelming to know that Heero was taking Wufei into regard as well. Then again, he shouldn't have been surprised. He and Heero had once been lovers, and were now best friends, it was only natural that the Japanese star would look out for him. He needed to start being a bit more grateful for having this man by his side as well, as he was the reason Duo was able to get as far as he did in this situation.
"I don't want to leave him.", was all he could mutter, as he leaned his head back so that he was staring up at the ceiling of the apartment.
"Listen, I know it'll be tough, but it's the best thing to do.", Heero sympathized, though his voice remained stern, "You have to play it safe until things die down. You love him, Duo, I know you do. And if you love him, you have to let him go for a while; it's the best thing for him."
He sighed, though he wanted to scream, but Heero was right. He couldn't risk getting caught out here with the paparazzi hot on his tail, or at least, they would be pretty soon. It was best that he stick to the life he had had before Wufei, just to shake the wolves and return when the coast was clear. He didn't like it, he didn't want to do it, but it had to be done.
"So, I'll see you back in Hollywood tomorrow morning?"
Duo closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. It would be so easy to say no.
"Yeah.", he reluctantly agreed, "I'll see you tomorrow."
There was a moment of silence before Duo heard Heero's voice again, this time the man's sympathy could be heard.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way. You should probably go explain things and tell him your goodbyes; make him understand."
"Yeah. I'll catch you later."
"I'll tell Sally to send a car to get you at the airport."
The braided star only grunted in agreement, before he closed his phone and let his arm drop limply by his side. How on earth did Heero think he could make Wufei understand all this? It was hard enough getting Wufei to agree seeing him in this manner, although the two still had their arguments over his having yet to leave Relena. This wasn't going to be easy, but he figured it best to get it over with.
He stood from the couch and made his way down the hall back to the bedroom. Wufei was still asleep when he peered in, and Duo nearly hesitated in entering. He really didn't want to do this. He forced himself to move into the room, and he climbed into bed as quietly as he could.
He stopped for the moment, just to stare at his lover again, and his heart clenched as he realized that he wouldn't have the opportunity to do this for a long while. He reached for Wufei, pulling the man closer to him, and buried his face into the dark locks. When he seemed satisfied that Wufei was real, that he wasn't going to disappear, he took to taking everything into memory.
He breathed in Wufei's scent, a gentle smell of ginger and tea, as well as a hint of vanilla. He was sure his brain was making it up, but if Wufei did have a smell, he was sure that was what it would be.
He placed a kiss to the top of Wufei's head, before he was slowly traveling to the smaller man's face, while his hands slowly traced down Wufei's arms.
His caresses and kisses roused Wufei from his slumber, and sleepy ebony eyes looked up at him in question. He could only manage a shaky smile, before he was placing a soft kiss to Wufei's lips. It lasted only a few seconds before his lips were traveling down Wufei's neck, and then gently across the man's collarbone.
"Duo?", Wufei gently called for his attention, but the actor only pulled the man tighter to him, returning to nuzzling the bronze skin of his neck, "Duo, what's the matter?"
Duo hadn't even realized his eyes had been watering or that tears had even fallen, until he felt Wufei reach to take hold of his face. Soothing fingers carefully wiped them away, as Wufei frowned at the drops slowly falling down Duo's face.
"Duo?", his concern couldn't be missed as he called his braided lover once again.
Duo only gave a soft laugh, before he took Wufei's hands in his own to place a kiss to each one. He could tell his behavior wasn't easing Wufei's worries, but he just wanted to make sure that he took in every bit of him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing.", Duo finally spoke, looking up into obsidian eyes, "I just love you so much, I wanted to make sure I remembered every bit of you, just in case. . ."
He couldn't even finish. How was he supposed to tell him?
"Just in case of what?"
Duo merely shook his head, before resting it against Wufei's chest, and wrapping his arms about his Chinese lover in a near desperate embrace.
"I have to leave in the morning.", he announced, as if Wufei hadn't already known this.
Well, he knew that Duo had to leave tomorrow, but now he was given some sort of time frame.
"I know.", Wufei said, one of his hands stroking Duo's hair, "It's okay, I've gotten used to it."
Duo clenched his eyes shut at the words, trying to fight off the wave of guilt and unrest before they settled in his chest.
"I'll come back.", he was saying, his arms closing around the man tighter, "I promise you I'll come back. You know that I'll come back, right?"
He lifted his head and then his body so that he was hovering over Wufei, his violet eyes looking down at the man's perturbed expression.
"Duo. . . what's the matter with you?", he questioned softly, "Why are you acting this way?"
"I just. . . I just. . . will you miss me?", he blurted out, instead of getting to the point.
Wufei reached up so that he was cupping his face with both hands, his eyes looking into Duo's obviously troubled ones, hoping that he could ease whatever it was that was bothering Duo just a bit.
"I always miss you.", he told his lover, "How can I not miss you?"
He wasn't expecting the kiss that Duo swooped down to give him, but he accepted it as gracefully as his could. His arms wrapped themselves about Duo's neck, as the braided actor kissed him as if this was the last one they would ever share. A small hum of contentment from Wufei was muffled as the two continued their slow kiss, even though he couldn't help but know that Duo was hiding something.
"I'll miss you, too.", Duo whispered as they finally pulled apart, "I'll miss you so much."
Wufei smiled up at his lover, letting his hand tuck in a chestnut strand that had managed to escape the braid. It was nice to hear that he wasn't the only one doing all the missing.
"I would hope that you would.", he said, pulling Duo down by his shirt for another kiss, "So we'll both miss the other until you get back, okay?"
Their mouths meshed again, this time with Wufei taking the lead, his tongue dipping in to savor the taste of the actor's mouth. It was very addicting to kiss Duo, and he sometimes wondered how he handled going long periods of time without doing such.
"Okay.", Duo agreed as they parted, his lips smiling against Wufei's.
"Good.", the sloe-eyed man was satisfied with that, and he pulled Duo back to lie beside him, their arms wrapped about each other, "Come on, let's get some sleep. You have a flight to catch in the morning."
At the reminder of his return to California, Duo pulled Wufei a bit closer to him, vowing to not let him go for the rest of the night. Wufei didn't seem to mind, as he snuggled closer to his lover's body, and soon enough he was sleeping again.
Duo closed his eyes as well, figuring he might as well try to sleep until morning, even though it was a time of day he was beginning to dread. After this, he would have to say good bye to Wufei, and though it wouldn't be forever, it would feel like it.
"Please understand, Fei.", Duo murmured to his sleeping lover, "You'll have to understand that I would never leave you. When this is over, I'll be back and I am never letting you go."
He promised that he would never let him go.
T.B.C.
(Peeks out meekly from behind a wall.) Hehe, hey there everyone. How's it been? (ducks back to avoid any flying objects) Look, I know I went AWOL there for a while, but you have to understand that things have been a little hectic for me. Work was killing me, family was aggravating me, I was taking night classes, and amiss all the stress. . . writer's block bit me in the ass and wouldn't let go. I struggled to fight it off and after many, many months of nothing, I finally got the urge to write again. I am deeply sorry for abandoning you, and I hope that you find it in your hearts to forgive me. I really didn't mean to leave you guys hanging for so long. I hope this chapter makes up for it. And though it wasn't exactly a happy chapter, I hope that you all enjoyed it. I'll let you guys gnaw at me for taking so long if you feel the need to, and I'll try my best to get another chapter up when I'm able. (bows) Thank you.