Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dating Services ❯ Chapter 3

Disclaimers and warnings in first part


Already late for the mid-week dinner, Duo wasn’t in a hurry to park, in spite of his passenger’s complaints. After a few seconds, he snorted, “Geez, Zechs, it’s not like you’re not going home with Wufei after we eat. Is five more minutes really going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things?”

“If you ever find someone, you’ll understand.”

They day had already been hard and trying, with a banker being escorted from Zechs’ office after he had threatened to kill the blonde and the comment hit Duo like a blow in the stomach. “That’s an easy thing to say when you’re living with someone you knew for years before you began dating. Not everyone is that damn lucky, you know,” he snapped as he put the car in park.

Making an irritated gesture for Zechs to stay put, he slid from the vehicle and looked around for any threat, though it was an unlikely possibility. Not only was this a safe section of the city, he could see several members of Quatre’s security team around the perimeter of the restaurant. Zechs emerged only after being an all-clear signal, immediately falling into step with his bodyguard. “I didn’t mean to sound so smug, Duo.”

Embarrassed by his outburst, Duo sighed as they entered the restaurant, “I know, but you don’t realize how hard it is to find someone. You and Wufei and Heero and Quatre were lucky enough to realize you had feelings for each other, but you were already friends; it just progressed to more later.”

With their table in sight, Duo frowned when Zechs pulled him to a halt, turning to meet the blue gaze searching his face. “You are still looking, aren’t you, Duo? I don’t want you to give up on finding someone because you had a few dates that ended badly.”

“Yeah, I’m still looking.”

“Did you decide to use the dating service Trowa uses? I haven’t heard you say anything about it in weeks.”

Glancing over at the table, Duo relaxed a bit when he saw their entrance hadn’t been noticed yet, “I’ve been out a couple of times, but there wasn’t really anything to talk about. No disasters or crazy people in over a month.”

Zechs frowned, “Duo, we ask because we want you to be happy, not so we can make fun of you. Is that the way it seems?”

“Kind of, I mean, I know you guys aren’t being mean, but sometimes it feels like I’m the comedy relief.”

“It wasn’t meant like that,” the blonde winced. “I’ll talk to Wufei later and tell him to cool it, okay?”

Surprised by the offer, Duo shook his head, “Don’t worry about it. Hopefully, I won’t have any more dates that are as bad as the ones I’ve already had.”

Zechs seemed to accept that, nodding and releasing the braided man so they could continue to the table. Pleased he wouldn’t be picked on for his recent dates, Duo smiled as he met Wufei’s eyes, smile fading as soon as the dark-eyed man spoke, “Trying to attract a different set of people by dressing up, Duo?”

“Shut up, Wufei,” Trowa ordered in a soft tone that had Wufei blinking. Green eyes focused on Duo, “Come sit with me. You can tell me about your last date.”

Grateful for the intervention, Duo gladly took the offered seat. “Thanks. It went okay,” he replied as he sent Trowa a look that reflected his gratitude. “How did yours go?’

“Like yours, it went okay, but I doubt there will be a second date.” Trowa reached for his glass of wine, taking a sip before gesturing to Duo’s suit, “More budget meetings?”

“I wish; Zechs had to meet with some of the reps from Cinq today. We’re talking hours of plans about what aspect of the kingdom needs to be addressed next. I don’t think they ever made a decision, but that could be because I tuned out after hour three.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t take time to change clothes.”

“I thought about it, but Zechs insisted we get here as fast as possible. I’m going to start taking an extra set of clothes with me,” Duo said, only half-joking.

“I keep a change of clothes in the car,” Trowa confessed with a smile. “I’ve also had to wear a suit more often lately.”

“That’s a really good idea,” Duo nodded, looking away from the green-eyed man so he could locate their server and seeing the stunned expressions directed at him and Trowa. “What?”

Quatre’s blue eyes were wide, “That’s the most I’ve heard Trowa say all day and usually I have to nag until he talks.”

Remembering a time two months ago when he had believed the tall man rarely spoke, Duo chuckled, “He talks a lot.”

“Not as much as you do,” Trowa retorted, sighing suddenly.

Seeing the way everyone was staring at the tall man, Duo cleared his throat, “Where is the server? I’m dying of thirst here.”

As eyes turned toward him, Duo heard the sigh of relief from the man sitting beside him. When Wufei signaled for a server, Duo reached under the table, touching Trowa’s thigh for an instant and removing the touch when Trowa jerked.

Waiting until their food was served, Duo offered a look of apology to the man that he had been able to spend some time with over the last few weeks. “Sorry, I didn’t realize they were going to stare at you if I said something. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t; I’m just not used to everyone looking at me.”

“I was also talking about me touching you.”

“I know,” Trowa shook his head minutely. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable. I’m not used to people touching me casually, Duo.”

“Oh. Why not?”

“Because it doesn’t happen very often. I suppose most people assume I don’t like to be touched because I don’t seek out reasons to touch others,” Trowa frowned. “Or maybe I frown too much.”

Duo couldn’t stop the snicker that fought its way from his throat, “Heero frowns way more than you do.”

Green and cobalt eyes danced to Heero, Duo laughing out loud when Heero frowned at the attention. Without thinking, Duo poked Trowa on the shoulder, “See? Told you.”

“You could be right.”

The rest of the dinner was pleasant, with Duo making an effort to draw Trowa into the conversations. He had learned in the past weeks that the tall man had a quick sense of humor and sharp wit and had enjoyed leaning of Trowa’s odd outlook on a number of subjects, often laughing as he admitted the green-eyed man was accurate.

At the end of the meal, he noticed that Trowa was standing outside the restaurant door, eyes focused on the road. It had been something Duo had seen the tall man do on occasions and had wondered about, but this time his curiosity had him sliding out of the SUV, tossing a wave to Wufei and Zechs as they left. As they roared down the quiet street with Wufei at the wheel, Duo returned to the restaurant, eyes looking for Quatre’s guard detail but seeing no one. “Where are Quatre, Heero, and the goons?”

Trowa gave him a surprised look, “They went home.”

“Okay, why are you still here?”

“I’m waiting for the bus.”

“Why in the hell are you waiting on the bus? Where’s your car?”

“I took Quatre’s today and left mine at home. It’s something we do if Heero’s going to be with him in the evening, so they have the bullet-proof windows.”

“So…they took the car and left you here to ride the bus?” Duo snorted, shaking his head. “That was sweet. Makes you wonder what they’ll do for your birthday…play pin the tail on the Trowa?”

Trowa’s lips quirked, “That sounds painful.”

“Yeah, owwww,” Duo rubbed his backside as he grinned, pretending someone had shoved a pin into him. “I’ll give you a ride home.”

“I don’t mind riding the bus. I’ve seen your driving.”

“Har har, Barton. Get in the damn car.”

Once they were settled in the SUV and heading for Trowa’s apartment, Duo shook his head, “Why didn’t you say anything about needing a ride? I’d have been happy to take you home.”

“I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. The bus wasn’t so bad,” Trowa said in a tone that revealed how much he hated the bus.

“Oh, yeah, the bus is great. All those people crammed together, your feet sticking to the floor, and drivers that constantly slam on the brakes and yell at other drivers. What’s not to love? Seriously, though, anytime you need a ride, climb on in.”

“You say that now, but what happens when you bring a date?”

“If they don’t like me giving you a ride, they can ride the bus or take a cab.”

“Really?”

Looking at his passenger, Duo smiled at Trowa’s obvious confusion, “As much as I’d like to be part of a couple, you mean more to me than some stranger that I might like for a week or two, if I’m lucky. Friends come first for me; always have and always will.”

“Next time I need a ride, I’ll let you know.”

He was pulling to a stop in front of Trowa’s building when the tall man made a small noise, “I’ve been meaning to ask you if you could look at my computer. It needs to be updated.”

Since he also updated Wufei and Zechs’ computers, Duo didn’t hesitate before nodding, “Sure thing. Do you want me to take a look at it tonight?”

“It’s getting late and I had an early morning; would you mind coming over tomorrow? I can try to cook something for dinner.”

Duo snorted, “I’ve seen your cooking. I have a better idea. I could grab some stuff on the way over. After I get done with your computer, I’ll give you another cooking lesson.”

“I’d like that.”

“Great, it’s a date.” Duo didn’t realize what he said until after Trowa began laughing. “You know what I mean.”

“Right, it’s a date.” Trowa was still smiling as he disappeared into the building.