Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Integration ❯ A Gentleman's Agreement ( Chapter 14 )

Integration

Bane's Desire

Web 14, A Gentleman's Agreement

There was a moment of confused silence after Duo asked to be dropped off, having learned that Quatre didn't want his memories back. Then suddenly, he found himself enveloped into a warm embrace, with strong arms wrapped around his body. "Have you always given into defeat this quickly?" the blond asked as his hands stroked Duo's back in a manner that was meant to be comforting.

"I'm not giving up," Duo said, lips moving against the expensive shirt he was pressed against. "I'll just go on by myself and do what I have to in order to get Heero back."

"Do you truly believe that because I don't want my memories back that I won't help you?"

Duo pulled back out of the shelter of Quatre's arms and looked up into the other man's questioning face, thinking that his own expression probably reflected his own confusion. "Why would you do that? You're a businessman, Quat, and everyone knows they don't make any decisions that won't benefit themselves or their company. How would helping me benefit you if you have no memory or emotions invested in me or Heero?"

The blond looked sad as he answered. "I might not have known you for long, Duo, but I believe you, and I know that helping you turn the wrongs done to you into rights is the decent thing to do, even if it means I'll lose you when you leave to reclaim your lover."

Raising his hand to stroke the clean-shaven cheek, Duo regretted the sadness he could see in the depths of Quatre's amazing eyes. "I'm sorry, Quat. I don't want to hurt you and I see that I am."

"Since you see me as a businessman, let's make a deal between us," Quatre said, a small smile on his lips. "I'll help you find your Heero, do the footwork by locating where he lives, his schedule, and I'll even give you a ticket for the shuttle ride back to him. In return, I'd like for you to stay with me until this information can be gathered. Be my friend, my temporary lover." He then gave Duo a crooked grin. "I'll try not to fall completely in love with you, and when the time comes, I'll let you go. Alright?"

Confused eyes looked into Quatre's hopeful ones. "You'd go to all that trouble for me while asking only for my companionship? I don't get it. Why?"

The blond paused, as if contemplating his answer. Still studying Duo's face intently, he answered. "Because in here," he pointed to the area on his chest, just about his heart, "you matter. There's a ... connection between us, Duo, one that I've rarely felt with anyone before. And if I've learned anything in my twenty-one years, it's that you hold onto something that feels right, even if it's only for a short time. It's the right thing to do, helping you, but don't think that I'm doing this for purely philanthropic reasons or for just friendship's sake. Keeping you with me and being near you is selfish on my part. I like you, Duo, a lot, and I enjoy your company. I think we're great together and who knows, you could come to like me, too."

Duo turned his eyes aside, not able to bear seeing the hopeful look in Quatre's eyes. "There's another problem," he said.

"We'll solve it. Just tell me what it is," Quatre replied with growing confidence and eagerness.

"You're too recognizable, too prominent in the public's eye. I'm in hiding Quat." He looked once again into the blond's face. "The authorities don't know if I'm alive or not. When I ducked out of the situation I was in, I left a bloody trail and a question as to whether or not I was alive. I can't be found out," his voice was adamant. "I refuse to let Relena, the Preventers, Une or anyone else determine who or what I am. Never again," he said firmly. "I can't be photographed or put on the nightly news as your new friend, sidekick, or lover. I've seen enough of what the colonies' magazines have printed about you to know that is exactly what will happen if we become a public item. If I'm recognized, I'll be arrested and then I'll have no control whatsoever over my future."

For his part, Quatre remained silent after Duo's explanation and it was clear he was thinking about the situation, sizing it up. After several long moments he sighed. "I can see how this could be a problem, but it's not insurmountable. We'll order take out, rent movies, and if we want to go out, I've got a few disguises that either one of us could use."

Duo's grin turned into a laugh at the visual in his head. "You disguise yourself?"

The blond man shrugged, a small smile of his own answering Duo's. "I've gotten used to all the attention from the press and public and have learned how to handle it, but it doesn't mean I like it or that I want it all the time. I do enjoy going out looking like someone else so I can just fit into the crowd, become a normal person who can go out to a movie or for walk in a park. Being famous is highly overrated."

"You know," Duo's lips turned up in a mischievous grin. "We could have a lot of fun with those costumes. I've been disguising myself for quite a while now and have gotten pretty damn good at it."

Quatre looked wary. "I didn't say they were costumes, just disguises, and I'm not dying my hair or getting any piercing or tattoos." He remembered quite well some of the disguises Duo had described that he'd used. Actually, the description of a male hooker came quickly to his mind. He wouldn't mind seeing Duo dressed like that, but only in the privacy of their bedroom.

"Agreed," Duo replied, looking pleased.

"So do we have a deal?" Quatre returned to their earlier discussion.

Thinking about it for a moment, the smaller brunet weighed the wisdom of giving the other man what he asked for in payment for his help. If he thought about it honestly, the idea appealed to him. He really didn't want to be alone anymore. He'd always liked Quatre and could in all honesty admit that he was attracted to him and he certainly liked what they did together the night before. And Quatre was right; there was a connection between them, regardless of the fact that he loved Heero. "Alright," he replied, smiling in return to Quatre's growing smile. "We keep each other company while I'm here and you'll help me get the information I need in order to reclaim Heero."

He wasn't sure, but he thought that the blond's smile faltered a bit as he said the last few words, but it was hard to tell when Quatre saw fit to seal the deal with a libido-raising kiss.

They arrived at the apartment shortly after that discussion. Amir dropped them off and, after bidding the two goodnight, he promptly left them to their own devices. With grins of anticipation lighting their faces, the two raced each other inside the building and to the elevator's doors with the doorman unobtrusively watching until the double doors close. Quatre's employee could just barely hear the sounds of joyful laughter filtering out before the elevator car began its rise, causing the man in the red uniform coat to smile, thinking it was nice to see Mr. Winner smile again.

Their second night together proved to be just as memorable for the two, but this time Duo, his confidence in bed quickly returning, took the lead, showing Quatre that he could do top as well as bottom in a relationship. The two young men didn't leave the large, comfortable bed until almost noon the next day, quickly changing the sheets as they rose to get something to eat. They finally left the apartment on Sunday afternoon with Quatre in disguise, raising the eyebrows of the apartment's weekend doorman.

Duo selected the blond's disguise from a chest of clothing that he continued to refer to as costumes despite Quatre's objection that they were disguises. With a realistic black wig made of synthetic fiber that fell straight and sleek to his shoulders and a dark-blue tee-shirt and jeans in a style most teenagers were wearing, the transformation was complete. After a close shave, the final touch was the black eyebrow pencil and mascara used to cover any traces of blond hair that was still visible on Quatre's face.

Duo was dressed similarly and together they pulled off the appearance of being a couple of college students hanging out together. Having gone out without Quatre's regular bodyguards, the two enjoyed the freedom their disguises brought, taking in a movie, eating at a sidewalk café and window shopping without anyone giving them a second glance.

That night, Quatre managed to talk Duo into moving out of his hotel completely and into his spacious suite. As they lay in the large bed, huddled naked and warm in each other's embrace, the blond gave an audible sigh of contentment as he lay his flaxen head against Duo's pale, slightly moist chest and listened to the heartbeat beneath his ear as it began to slow from their exertions.

Duo lay for a moment, soaking up the sensations of being sated on so many levels. For the first time in years he felt contentment, a feeling that had eluded him for so long that he had to search his memory to identify the sensation. His belly was full, his body satisfied, and he was laying in a comfortable bed with a warm, caring and energetic friend. A lazy smile came to his lips and he bent his head to kiss the top of the blond head. When they'd fought together during the wars, he never dreamed he'd ever have sex with the Sandrock pilot, but that didn't mean he hadn't appreciated the Arabian's natural charms. He'd have to have been blind not to see that Quatre was attractive and had a certain appeal that made you want to be near him. Even as a teenager, he'd been intelligent and wise, kind and caring. Quatre been a beacon of sorts to him and to the other pilots during the many dark days of war. But he'd been so wrapped up in Heero, trying to free his lover from the cold, ruthless soldier he'd been trained into being, to notice anything more about Quatre, other than he seemed blissfully in love with the quiet Heavyarms pilot.

As he lay in bed with Quatre's head settled on his chest, he recalled having felt some jealousy at times regarding the relationship the other two pilots had. Though they'd had a few bumpy moments, they generally had a calm and gentle relationship. The two seemed to heal each other from the horrors of war and they certainly got along better than he and Heero did at times. Where Quatre and Trowa's relationship was generally constant and supportive, he and Heero seemed to find one obstacle after another that challenged their being together. Heero's training seemed insurmountable at times, and his rigidity in following orders, doing anything to see the mission accomplished, was often a source of contention between them. Relena's persistent pursuit of her "knight in shining armor" and their frequent separations were also hurdles they'd had to surmount.

Heero. The ache of longing the memory of his lover brought was almost a physical pain within his chest. He quickly pushed all thoughts of his lover and his heaviness of heart away. Thinking about his former lover now, after he and Quatre had just made love, seemed traitorous, to both of them at the same time. He decided to leave his discussion with Quatre about Heero and his plans for emancipating him for another time, when they weren't having an intimate moment.

"You know." Quatre's voice brought him out of his thoughts as did the lips being pressed against his chest, planting teasing kisses. "I've only asked one other person to live with me before."

"It didn't work out?" Duo asked.

"I guess you could say that. He had a career on another colony that he wanted to pursue."

Duo couldn't believe that some schmuck could ever turn down the chance of having a life with drop-dead gorgeous and sexy as hell billionaire, Quatre Winner. "What an idiot," he said in reply to the blond's statement.

"No," Quatre's voice was but a whisper as he spoke. "I could see where his happiness lay, and I loved him enough to let him go." He sighed deeply, his warm breath tickling Duo's chest. "I sometimes think that it's my destiny, at least where my heart is concerned, to find love only to have to let it go. Seems rather fitting though, doesn't it? I'm someone who can buy anything that takes my fancy on the Earth and colonies, no matter what the cost, but the one thing I really desire out of life can't be purchased."

Duo combed his fingers through the soft, silky hair, not liking the sadness in Quatre's voice. "Did you love him that much?" he asked.

Quatre breathed in deeply and let the breath out slowly. "I did then. It broke my heart when he told me he needed to leave. But he's happy now, and I've contented myself with my own life. I guess it's true that time heals all wounds."

"Don't fall in love with me, Quatre," Duo warned with all soberness. "You know I have to leave."

Raising his head from off his chest, Quatre's blue-green eyes looked into his own. "I've more or less come to terms that I'll probably never love and be loved equally in return, so I take what I can get and content myself with the moment." He then lowered his head back down onto the place that was warm from his touch and wrapped his arms around his temporary lover.

Quatre's words didn't settle well with Duo. It seemed so pessimistic, something he never attributed with the usually optimistic Arabian. He'd glimpsed a momentary look of infinite sadness on the blond's face, and it was a deeper unhappiness than any expression he'd ever seen in the blond's countenance before. He felt guilty because of the terms of his relationship that they'd agreed to, for he was enjoying the benefits of living in a high-scale apartment and having mind-blowing sex daily with his good friend while the both of them knew he would be leaving.

"I'm sorry, Quat," he said sincerely.

"Shh," he was immediately hushed. "The time for regrets will come after you're gone, but not now when I can still hold you."

They both fell into a contemplative silence, remaining like that for a long while, neither speaking or moving, imagining the consequences that would eventually come from their temporary association. It seemed to take half the night before either man drifted off to sleep in the early hours of the morning.

Oooooooooooo

Quatre came bounding through the door to the swimming pool at twelve forty five several days after they'd made their agreement, excitement brimming in his eyes. "Duo, how would you like a job?" he asked excitedly.

Climbing out of the water, naked as the day he was born, Duo grinned at his lover as he reached for his towel that he'd placed on a nearby chair. "Guess that depends on what the job is," he replied.

"Several of my sisters informed me by way of a memo this morning that I need to hire a personal assistant, someone who will keep my schedule up to date and make sure I arrive at my meetings on time." He gave Duo a sheepish grin. "Evidently, since your arrival into my life, my tardiness to work, the longer than usual lunch hours as well as my leaving the office early at the end of the day has been noted by several people."

Duo grinned as he wrapped the towel around his hips and tucked the corner in to secure it. "Considering that I'm part of the problem, are you sure they want to make me part of the solution?"

"They, meaning my sisters, don't know about you. So don't you see," he stepped in front Duo and reached out to run both of his open hands up and down his wet arms, a suggestive smile on his face, "it's perfect. You and I can be around each other all day." A quick flicker of doubt crossed his face before he added, "That is, if you want to."

A dubious look crossed Duo's face and the cinnamon brown eyebrows rose. "And you think the nature of our relationship won't be noticed?" he asked.

In response, Quatre took another step closer, his large blue eyes glistening with mischief as he bent down to press his lips against Duo's cheek while his hands removed the just-wrapped towel from off his waist. A tremor of desire shot up the brunette's spine as the questing hands cupped the globes of his bottom and began to knead them. He tilted his chin upward to greet the lips that were eager to meet his own and they more or less devoured each other. Then suddenly, Quatre stepped back and dropped to his knees and took his lover into his mouth.

Duo's head fell back as pleasure coursed through his body. Quatre's mouth was like a treasure trove of pleasure. His technique was much like the man himself, gentle, aggressive, playful and determined. He couldn't imagine being in the blond's presence all day and resisting his charms. Then a humorous thought flashed into his mind. Here he was, a homeless street kid from the notoriously poor colony of L-2, and the richest man in the solar system was on his knees, going down on him. Wouldn't his old gang have gotten a kick out of that? Then all thoughts of the past and future fled his mind as his body responded to the pleasure it was being given him at the present time. He cried out his lover's name as he started to peak, and tightly gripped the hands that had settled on his hips as he soared over the edge.

Duo sank to his knees, overwhelmed by the tingling sensation his body experienced following his climax. Quatre caught him and held him tightly as he began to recover. After a few moments, he came back to some sense of normality and pulled back slightly to look into the humor-filled, ocean-tinted orbs. "Is there something I can do for you?" he asked the blond in a husky voice, his hand moving to the bulge in front of the dress slacks.

Quatre smiled and gave him a brief kiss. "No time. Get dressed so we can go shopping. If you're going to work for me, you're going to look sharp. You are taking the job, aren't you?"

Duo chuckled. "Was that a negotiation tactic?"

"Only if it worked. Now what's your answer?" The beguiling smile on the blond man's face was one that Duo knew he could never say no to. He threw out all his doubts and reservations. "How can I refuse?"

Quatre impulsively hugged him and then stood up, pulling Duo with him. "I promise, you won't regret this," he said cheerfully, then playfully slapped Duo's bare bottom. "Now hurry and dress, I'm on my lunch hour."

Fifteen minutes later, Duo found himself in an exclusive men's clothing store. Quatre was surrounded by a flurry of activity as he told several eager clerks what his companion needed. Two hours and fifteen thousand credits later, Duo had enough clothes to last ten working days and an equal amount of casual clothing.

Quatre had left him to return to the office an hour earlier. The packages of clothing were to be delivered back to the apartment by the end of the day. The cost of the entire outing was put on the affluent man's gundanium credit card without the clerks blinking an eye at the large sum of money spent in such a short amount of time.

Duo strolled leisurely down the busy downtown street wearing some of the more casual clothing that Quatre had picked out for him. There was no demand on his time at the moment so he walked without any real purpose, gazing into the windows of various shops he passed on his way back to the apartment. When he first caught sight of his reflection in a storefront window, he did a double take. The brown slacks and cream-colored t-shirt he wore suited his body very well. He looked good, he thought, and wondered halfheartedly if Heero would like it. He'd never put much store in expensive clothing, figuring clothes were clothes. He could get a shirt and pants at any retail or thrift store and be satisfied. But he realized the clothes he now wore, of which he'd been silently horrified at the price tags, felt very good against his skin. He wondered if the difference was because of a higher thread count than his other clothing, like the luxurious sheets on Quatre's bed, but let his curiosity and train of thought on the subject drift away as he decided his reflection in the store window was missing only one thing, and that was his braid. Damn, but he missed his long rope of hair, more than he would ever admit to anyone else. He craved to grow it out again but the chance of discovery was just too great, especially when hanging around Quatre, Mr. Popularity. Thinking about his friend brought a warm feeling to his heart and a smile to his face. Quatre was really looking forward to his coming to work for him, and that infectious excitement had won over his hesitance. Knowing the information Quatre was going to get for him regarding Heero was going to take some time, he decided it would be better to keep himself occupied.

His frown diminished as he was reminded of how indebted he was becoming to his blond lover. Not only had Quatre taken him in, but he was helping him heal from some of the aftereffects of being under Scott Mercer's merciless care for several years. Added to that, Quatre was going to help him get Heero back and got him a well-paying job and bought him a small fortune in clothing. He wondered how he was ever going to pay the Arabian back for his generosity. The smile crept back onto his face as a few ideas came to his mind. He chuckled to himself as he began the walk back to the apartment. If his sex drive had disappeared during his time with Scott, it was now back with a vengeance. As an idea formed in his mind, he made several detours, purchasing some things in preparation for the two of them to spend a night at home together.

Oooooooooo

The brunet walked into the harem-style living room, arms laden with packages of food and video tapes. He realized that the unusual room and its show of wealth no longer held him in awe as it once had. He wondered at having adjusted so quickly to the ostentatious surroundings despite his more than humble beginnings. He paused for a moment to contemplate whether or not it would be more difficult for a person of wealth to adjust from that more enviable status to one of abject poverty, like the life he had known on the streets of L-2. He was fairly certain that it would be. But Quatre had proven himself to be the exception.

His thoughts turned again to the blond, who had left all this luxury and gone off to war, sometimes forced to live in dilapidated hovels and in substandard conditions. As he made his way to the kitchen with his bags of Tai food, he realized Quatre seemed to be cut from a different mold than any other wealthy person he'd ever met. He'd seen the obscenely rich boy eat unappetising food out of tin cans and wear the same clothes for days on end when the need arose. And though none of them liked it, Quatre never whined about it, and that had been a major plus in Duo's book. The familiar warmth he experienced whenever he thought about the blond man spread out from his chest again as he reminded himself that Quatre was one hell of a guy and he was lucky to know him.

Oooooooo

The person who'd been in his thoughts that afternoon arrived home a little after six p.m., an infectious grin on his face as he walked through the door. Duo thought that if that smile was any indication, they were in for a great evening.

"How did the rest of your shopping go?" Quatre asked. "Did you get everything you need?" Duo nodded. "Thanks. I'll start paying you back after I get a paycheck, or ten," he corrected as the fifteen thousand credit figure loomed in his mind.

The blond waved his hand in dismissal of the offer. "You're coming to work for me and have to dress accordingly. I'll write it off as a business expense."

"Quatre..." Duo began to protest but was interrupted by the other man raising a hand to stop him.

"I insist, Duo. Now let's not make an issue of this and mar what could be the start of a wonderful weekend." The blond then stepped up to the brunet and kissed him soundly, ending any further argument.

As they pulled apart, Duo grinned up at him. "I gotta say that I like the way you end an argument," he chuckled. "I suppose I'd better learn to pick my battles when it comes to you."

Quatre smiled in approval then took his arm and led him over to one of the three round couch/beds and they sat down together, their bodies in constant contact until Duo lay back to stare at the crystal chandelier above. "You know, if I were to stay here for any length of time, I think I'd advise you to redecorate."

"You don't like my ancestral theme room?" The blond grinned, obviously not insulted. "My sister will be hurt, having designed it herself." Quatre laughed lightly as he eased himself down to rest next to the other man. Yet instead of studying the obscenely expensive lighting above, his head turned so that he could gaze at Duo's profile.

"I guess it's just not my taste," the brunet continued. "Makes me feel like a concubine of some sheik or something. Just not masculine enough, I guess."

One blond eyebrow rose. "Are you questioning my masculinity?"

"Definitely not!" Duo replied, laughing but adamant. "You're a fine specimen of a man." He turned slightly and ran his hand over the strong shoulders, built up from hours of swimming.

It was obvious that the Arabian enjoyed the touch as his eyes slid halfway closed and his hand reached out to brush some of the long hair away from Duo's eyes. "I guess I haven't thought much about this place other than it's my sanctuary from my family, work and the public. I spend most of my time in the bedroom and pool area. In fact, I don't think I've ever spent this much time at home before."

The comment, though spoken lightly, made Duo feel guilty that they were forced to spend much of their time away from curious eyes in order to protect his identity. "I'm sorry, Quatre. I don't mean to cramp your social life. You can go out without me, you know."

The blond's eyes opened and he sat up enough to lean over Duo, a hand placed on either side of the other man's body. "Do you really think I miss going to dull parties with acquaintances and strangers vying to get close to me? I usually spend my evening trying to be polite while separating those individuals who look at me as a person with a promiscuous past, and a rich, sexual conquest to those who see me as a very large bank account on two legs?" There was pain and a touch of bitterness in the blue-green eyes that Duo had first glimpsed on the night they'd met at the Flaming Casbah and talked.

"Is that how it's been for you?" Duo asked, his hand coming to touch the fair cheek of the other man, now a bit scratchy from a day's worth of growth. When the blond nodded, Duo could see loneliness lurking in the blue eyes. He understood then just how alone his friend had been and why he was so interested in him. He'd never looked at Quatre Winner as the world did, though he'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know he had more money than most governments on Earth. In his friend he'd always seen integrity, honesty, kindness and intelligence. He knew he could put his trust in the Arabian, that he'd always have his back. Yet Quatre was even more than that, so much more. He supposed the Integrated Quatre could still sense how he felt about him as a person. The former Sandrock pilot might not be able to remember his past, but Duo did, and if nothing else, he was as loyal as an old hound dog to his friends. "All I can say, Quat, is that they're all fools if that's how they see you. If anyone knew and understood you as I do, the Maguanacs would be hard pressed to keep them from forming a ten mile long queue to meet you."

A sad smile drifted across the handsome blond's face. "You're one of the few people who has ever seen me as something other than a Winner, someone who is the heir to billions and born into a life of business and duty."

"You and I know you're so much more, don't we? Who cares what others think as long as we both know your worth, and it has nothing to do with money." As he spoke, Duo returned to laying on his back and pulled his friend down to kiss him with a smoldering passion.

The kiss continued for a long while, but time held little importance for either of them at the moment. It ended slowly and reluctantly, with both men breathing deeply, and when they separated, the blond head came to rest against the smaller man's chest. "I could so easily fall in love with you," he whispered.

Those honest words, uttered so softly, would have meant the world to many a person, but to Duo it brought unwelcome sorrow. He combed his fingers through the other man's silky hair, fingering the curls at the nape of his neck. "We talked about this, Quat. I'm going to find Heero. Don't fall for me. It'll only hurt the both of us in the long run."

He felt his friend nod against his chest, but he also felt a warm moisture that he realized could only be the other man's tears spilling onto his new shirt. 'This was a mistake,' he thought to himself. But somehow he couldn't bring himself to regret it. Being with Quatre had healed something within him, and he knew his presence had gladdened his friend, had given him a reprieve from his otherwise pre-determined life as a Winner and all the obligations that went with it. He had to believe that they were both benefitting from their agreement, and he hoped that, in the long run, they would both look back on this time they spent together with fondness instead of bitter regret.

Continued soon