Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Just One Thing ❯ Chapter 5
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: deathangel125 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.04.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 268 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.04.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 268 | Status: Work In Progress
See warnings in first part!!
Slightly chilled, Trowa scooted closer to the warmth in the bed, still mostly asleep. He never thought to question the body that came in contact with his, nor did he wonder at the leg that was tossed carelessly over his own, trapping him. Breathing in deep, he inhaled a scent that was foreign and familiar at the same time, his lips finding an ear to nibble on in his half-aware state.
When that body moved closer and let out a soft moan, he doubled his efforts, wondering how he could have a dream so real. Not questioning the situation, he abandoned the earlobe and worked his way to a strong column of neck, letting his hands roam across firm skin until he found a silk-covered erection.
There was a soft tremble that pleased him and a moan that he swallowed as he finally found the mouth he had been searching for. Stroking the hardness, he mimicked the act he would like to be involved in with his tongue, delving inside the moist cavern and sparring with another.
When the phone rang, he ignored it, not willing to lose this dream. It rang several more times before he remembered the previous night and broke the kiss suddenly to stare at Duo, who was regarding him with wide eyes. Seeing the flushed face, his resolve faltered, but he wanted to be sure that Duo wasn’t against them continuing. “I can stop,” he whispered.
Duo shook his head slowly, his body arching at the same time from where Trowa was still stroking him through the thin material. “It means something, Trowa. You know that.”
Feeling mischievous, he grinned, “I said no sex, and I meant it,” he stated, rolling so his body pinned the smaller man’s to the bed. “I didn’t say that we couldn’t do anything else. Since I started this, it seems fair that I help you out a bit.”
The smirk that formed on Duo’s face disappeared almost instantly when Trowa shifted his body and rubbed their erections together. With a smirk of his own, he did the maneuver over and over again, until Duo was panting, eyes wide open but blind. Controlling the urge to close his own eyes, Trowa slid down the other man’s body, absently noting that the actor was in great shape, hinting at a strenuous exercise regimen.
Wearing nothing but a pair of purple silk boxers, Duo was broad shouldered and long-legged, but almost every inch of his form was muscular, all the way from corded arms to the washboard stomach and down to the calf muscles that were gripping his own legs.
Following impulse, Trowa used his hands to place Duo’s on the headboard, where they remained after he let go. To show his approval, he used his hands to trace the muscle down both arms to the chest that had practically no hair, using his mouth to follow that same path. After lingering at Duo’s dusky nipples for several seconds and teasing moans out of the other man, he continued his journey south, sliding off the silk cloth to reveal the erect hardness nestled in a bed of soft chestnut curls. Shifting on the bed, he rose over Duo, drinking in the beauty of the man that was spread out underneath him before reverently bending down and licking his way up one strong thigh, then the other.
Cupping the heavy sac with one hand, he gently grasped the erection that stood proudly with the other, slowly lowering his mouth down on it. His name being moaned in a deep voice was almost enough to send him over the edge himself, but was enjoying what he was doing far too much to hurry. With slow, languid motions, he caressed the hard length with his lips and tongue until he felt the tightening of Duo’s body.
From a distance he could hear the phone ring yet again, but was intent on giving the beautiful long-haired man every bit of pleasure he could, speeding up his movements. When he used one finger to brush across the entrance to Duo’s body, the other man released into his mouth with a sharp cry. Without hesitation, Trowa swallowed every drop of the salty fluid before letting the erection fall from his mouth and lying down beside Duo again.
He was surprised when Duo pulled him close, initiating a kiss that would have left him weak-kneed had he been standing. When he felt fingers begin to trail down his stomach, he caught the wandering hand with one of his own. The long-haired man leaned back with a concerned expression, “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all,” he assured, “but unless I’m wrong, Quatre will either be here in a little while or continue to call. He’s the only person who knows where I am and would be calling at,” he paused to look at the clock then rolled his eyes, “seven-fifteen in the morning. We should probably get dressed and be ready in case he barges in. I need a shower.”
“How much time do you think we have before he decides to come down?”
Trowa gave it some thought, “No more than half an hour and he should call at least once more. I guess he found something he thinks is important.” He blinked when Duo quickly climbed out of bed and walked to the small bathroom, not at all concerned with his nudity. “Where are you going?”
“You did say you needed a shower, right?” Duo winked and strolled into the bathroom, laughing out loud when Trowa joined him seconds later. After the quick and highly interesting shower where Duo helped Trowa relax, he noticed the actor seemed nervous. Clad only in a pair of jeans, he reached out and wrapped his arms around the slender waist, “What is it?”
“Do you want me to hide or something if Quatre comes? All of this is rather sudden and I don’t want you to be embarrassed.”
Cursing himself for not seeing how badly Duo needed reassurance, he held the heart-shaped face with both hands and looked deep into the violet eyes. “Last night I told you that I didn’t care if people found out about us. I meant that, Duo.”
“Yeah, but Quatre’s your best friend. I don’t want him to think I’m taking advantage of you or anything like that.”
Trowa gave him a soft kiss, then smiled, “I think he’ll be thrilled that you’re here. He was almost as excited about us going out last night as I was. He even picked out what I should wear because he thought I needed the right clothes to make a good impression. And he had to list several things that you and I have in common while I was getting ready.”
Leaning against him and wrapping arms around Trowa, Duo’s tense shoulders relaxed a little. “I was so worried that he would be mad, Trowa. This thing between us is so…big and scary and sudden that I’m not sure that to do from one second to the next.”
Knowing that Duo couldn’t see him, Trowa took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment to savor the words. It had been the first time that Duo had shared his feelings without being prompted in some way. “Just be yourself, Duo. I don’t need you to be or do anything other than that.”
“I can do that. When do you think he’ll be here?”
On cue, the phone began to ring. Releasing Duo reluctantly, he grabbed it and answered, all the while keeping his eyes on the other man as Duo finished getting dressed. “Hello, Quatre.”
“Thank goodness you’re up. I need you to come up here and see something. It’s very important to you… and Duo. Bring him and I’ll order some breakfast, just be here as soon as you can.”
Trowa was getting ready to question the urgency when he realized he was listening to a dead line. With a frown, he replaced the phone and grabbed his shirt. “He says he needs to show us something important and to be there as soon as we can.”
“He knew I was here?”
“Quatre has ways of finding out things. I stopped asking questions about it long ago so I don’t go insane from the random explanations. He has real Columbian coffee,” he added as he pulled his shirt over his head.
Almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth his hand was grabbed and he was pulled to the door. “Now I know how to get you to do something,” he muttered as Duo growled the word coffee over and over again while leading them barefoot to the elevator.
Standing outside the suite a few minutes later, Trowa knocked on the door. His key for Quatre’s rooms still lay on his desk in his own room, where he had been unable to get it after saying the magic word. When the blonde opened the door, Duo didn’t bother with the usual greetings, instead announcing with a cheerful grin, “I heard you have coffee.”
Waving a hand toward the kitchen, Quatre laughed, then took a look at Trowa’s face and laughed even harder. “Duo likes coffee,” he explained unnecessarily as they followed the long-haired actor into the kitchen. When Duo suddenly stopped short, Trowa hurried forward to see what was wrong.
Sitting at the table where they had shared breakfast the morning before was an immaculately dressed man with an irritated expression on his face. Trowa frowned when Duo suddenly shifted, placing himself in front of Trowa as if to protect him. “What are you doing here, Wufei?” Duo’s voice was low, but Trowa heard the hint of anger in the one sentence.
“I was getting ready to ask you the same question, Duo. Do you have any idea how many calls I have had to respond with ‘no comment’ to since this hit the shelves early this morning?” With short movements, the man with dark eyes tossed a paper on the table so they could see the front page.
Trowa blinked at the headline, reading it out loud, “Relena dumped by Duo for unknown man,” before looking at the picture, where he and Duo sat on the bench, obviously kissing passionately while holding each other close. Trowa’s own face was in the shadows, hiding his identity, but Duo’s features were clear and easy to see. Though Trowa’s face was hidden, it was clear to see that Duo’s companion was a man from the shape of the body.
Not bothering to look at the rest of the article, Trowa looked at Duo to see his reaction, more than a little afraid of what it would be. He was stunned to find Duo staring at the photo with a wistful smile on his face. When the actor looked back to the strange man, it was without embarrassment or apology, though his hand did reach for Trowa’s. “I won’t apologize, Wufei. Not when I’ve finally found something that makes me feel this way.”
The other man sighed, accepting the cup of coffee that Quatre brought to him. “I’m not mad at you, Duo. Just a little warning would have been nice, that’s all.”
Narrowing his eyes, Trowa paid close attention to the almost fleeting touch as Quatre went back for more coffee, and the way dark eyes followed the blonde for just a fraction of a second longer than necessary. Placing his hand on the small of Duo’s back, Trowa guided him to a chair, his mind running even as the actor spoke again. “How could I have warned you about something I honestly had no prior knowledge of, Wufei?”
“If you are doing this only to sabotage your career, then I will find a way to sever our professional link as quickly and as quietly as possible.”
Duo, who had just found his seat, sprung back up and planted his hands on the table. “How dare you! I have never done anything to risk my career, or your name. Do you really think I would do such a thing?”
Laying a hand on Duo’s arm, Trowa could feel the limb trembling but didn’t know if it was from anger or hurt. Instinctively he knew he had to calm the long-haired man before he did something rash, not questioning how he knew Duo’s temper could be bad. “I think that was a round-about way of asking if you were serious about me, Duo, not an insult despite how it sounded.”
“Oh. Well why didn’t you just ask?” Duo sat back down when Wufei nodded slightly.
“Because I didn’t think I would get an answer.”
Wide eyes turned to Trowa, asking a silent question that he only half understood. Under the table, Trowa took Duo’s hand and laced their fingers together in silent support. “I don’t know where we’ll end up, but it’s very important to me to find out,” the actor winced, “I’m sorry if you can’t understand this type of relationship, Wufei, but I won’t give it up even if that means that I have to find a new manager.”
Seeing the look that passed between Quatre and the other man, Trowa chuckled as he took the cup the blonde offered. “He has no reason for you to find a new manager, Duo, considering that he and Quatre are lovers.”
While Wufei and Duo gaped, Quatre turned bright red, “How did you know that? Neither of us said anything and we’ve been very careful about seeing each other.”
“He’s very observant,” offered Duo in an amused voice.
“There is that. You two watch each other a lot,” Trowa shrugged with one shoulder. “It’s also interesting that Quatre began calling my room very early this morning - much too early for him to be receiving guests. I’m guessing this was one of the things you have been putting off?” he asked Quatre, laughing easily when the blonde sputtered for a moment.
“Then it’s a good thing that I stayed last night, Trowa. Otherwise, Wufei would have had to drive all the way to the house and had this discussion with Heero glaring at him.”
“You could have driven out here to meet him,” he suggesting, blinking when Wufei’s eyes went comically wide.
“I’m not allowed to drive,” Duo said with a touch of amusement. “Apparently I scare people.”
“It wasn’t me that I worried about, Duo. It was all the other drivers on the road.” Wufei turned to Trowa and explained, “Duo drives like a racer. He floors it everywhere, no matter what kind of traffic is in the way. His driving is exceptional, but terrifying.”
A few minutes were spent teasing Duo about his driving, which led to harassing Quatre’s cooking when breakfast was delivered by room service. Breakfast was mostly easy conversation and laughter until Wufei gave Duo a concerned expression, “What are we going to do about this?” he gestured to the paper with his head. “If you read it you will find that someone saw you come to this hotel last night with an unknown man,” he inclined his head toward Trowa. “This isn’t going to look good at all. Especially after the reports of you being seen coming here yesterday for breakfast, mere hours after leaving California and Relena. I have a few contacts that told me there is already quite a bit of speculation and rumor flying about. Some say that you are meeting your mystery man while some are saying that there are a number of men in different cities and this was the first time you were caught at it.”
“You know that isn’t true,” Duo mumbled, then added, “Why do we have to say anything, damnit? It’s my life.”
Understanding what Wufei was trying to explain, Trowa gently rubbed Duo’s back in an attempt to help him calm down. “It’s a potential public relations nightmare, love. Even you can see that.”
At the endearment, Duo spun around so fast he almost knocked over his chair. With shining violet eyes, he continued to look at Trowa while he spoke to Wufei. “Work it however you want, as long as it’s the truth.”
“What about Relena? You know as well as I do that she’s going to make herself look like a victim on this.”
“I’m tired of being a pawn in her little game.” A wicked grin spread across the beautiful man’s features as Duo winked at Trowa. “Get the tapes from Heero and leak them to the press. It’s high time her polished image as the starlet princess was tarnished.” In explanation, Duo added for the benefit of the other two men, “Relena has called Heero a number of times and described what she wanted to do with him, in detail. You can clearly hear Heero call her by name and tell her that he is not in any way interested, and yet she continues to tell him what she wants. I had to wonder where she learned such things, and it even made me blush. That’s a difficult thing, because it’s nearly impossible to embarrass me.”
Pulling out a cellphone, Wufei held it out to Duo. The actor dialed quickly and exchanged a few words with someone that Trowa assumed was Heero. Disconnecting the call, Duo nodded, “He’ll be here in about an hour. Sol’s coming with him. Said it’s about time we decided to fight back against the wicked witch of the big screen.”
Quatre, who had remained quiet for the serious part of the conversation, got Trowa’s attention by tapping him on the hand. Seeing that his friend wanted a private moment, he excused himself and followed the blonde into the master bedroom. As soon as they were alone, worried blue eyes focused on him. “Are you sure about this, Trowa? This means that your relationship with Duo is going to be public very soon.”
Sitting on the edge of the neatly made bed, Trowa had to smile at the concern. “All of the guys you set me up with were okay, Quatre, but I never felt like I belonged with any of them. I almost convinced myself that a connection like that was like something in my books…pure fiction. He’s what I’ve been waiting for,” he explained, holding his hands out for a second before letting them fall back into his lap. “As soon as I saw him yesterday I knew that no one else would make me feel that way. I think I love him, Quatre.” The words were said with more than a bit of panic, as he had just realized the strength of his feelings.
The blonde sat on the bed beside him, “Are you sure? One night of sex doesn’t equal love.”
“We never had sex.” At Quatre’s disbelieving look, he shook his head emphatically. “I swear we didn’t. Last night we just slept. We…fooled around a little this morning, but there was no actual sex.” Aware of the full impact of his emotions for the first time, Trowa jumped up to pace the room. “I’m in love with him. What do I do now? I didn’t expect this. I knew I wanted him with me. I knew that the thought of being separated from him made me ache, but I didn’t realize that I loved him until this minute. What do I do if he doesn’t want me the same way?”
On the verge of a panic attack, Trowa sat heavily on the bed, rubbing his hand over his heart to sooth the sudden throbbing that had bloomed there. Feeling Quatre’s hand on his back, he turned stricken eyes to the blonde for help. The sympathy and understanding he found there almost tore him apart. As sudden as he had comprehended his own feelings, he understood Quatre’s as well. “You love him, don’t you? Wufei, I mean.”
“I do. No, I don’t know what he feels for me,” Quatre shook his head before the question could be asked. “I’m afraid to ask. It was almost as sudden for me as it was for you. I saw him and just knew that he was the only person I would ever love this way.”
“How do you stand it?”
Quatre sighed heavily, briefly rubbing a hand over his eyes. “The only advice I can offer is to enjoy the time you can spend together. Live fully in the moment and don’t think about the future. Just be content that you have now. Later on…I don’t think about later on.”
Without any other words of wisdom, Quatre left the room. Trowa remained on the bed, wondering if he was strong enough to do what his friend had said. Could he really just enjoy whatever time he could grab with Duo – spending days, weeks, or even months apart at a time? He was asking himself that very thing when there was a knock on the door, Duo sticking his head in seconds later. “You okay? Wow, what a room,” he added with a low whistle.
Remembering the understated opulence of Duo’s home, Trowa had to ask, “You probably like expensive things like this, don’t you?”
Whether it was the words or the tone, Duo stopped several feet away, watching Trowa with a confounded expression. “I actually prefer things that are simpler. I was more comfortable in your room than I could be here.”
“I’m sure that’s why you have a huge house that’s decked out with all kinds of expensive antique furniture and things.”
The actor took a step back, figuratively and literally, “It was Charlie’s home. I have my own rooms that I decorate to my taste, just like Solo and Hilde. After Charlie died, we decided not to change the main part of the house out of respect.”
“Where does Heero stay?” Trowa could have slapped himself as soon as he saw the wounded look that crossed Duo’s features for a mere second before it smoothed out.
When Duo spoke, his tone was frigid. “Heero stays with Solo, just like he has for over a year. Just because I was willing to sleep with you doesn’t mean that I’d jump in bed with just anyone. I’ve only slept with one person before, but I guess that doesn’t matter. I see that we’ve made a mistake.”
Only because he was studying Duo closely did Trowa see the tear that slipped down one cheek before the other man turned away, wiping at his face. Hoping Duo would forgive him, he pushed off the bed and wrapped his arms around the stiff body. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I was being a complete jerk. I just realized a few minutes ago that I …care for you a lot more than I realized and it scared the hell out of me. It frightened me enough to try to push you away, but I can’t, damnit. I can’t just sit there and watch you walk away from me.” He took a deep breath, “I don’t want to be like Quatre and Wufei. I don’t want to have to steal time with you when it’s convenient. I don’t want to have to stay across the country while you film somewhere else, Duo. I want to be with you.”
In the circle of his arms, Duo turned, not bothering to hide the tears that spilled out of his eyes any longer. “What do you want, Trowa?” he asked softly.
“I want you beside me every night when I go to sleep, and every morning when I wake up. I don’t care where you have to go, Duo. I can work from anywhere. If the publicity gets to be too much, we can come back and stay here, or at my house. It’s not big or fancy like yours, but I do have a pool and a hot tub, and room for Heero or Solo or Hilde or all of them and whoever else you want to come. It could work, couldn’t it?” he asked, his heart beating against his ribs.
Duo frowned, his eyes wounded as he looked away, “All of that’s great, but why? Why should I choose to stay with you and change my entire life around? Can you give me one good reason, Trowa?”
For a moment, Trowa could hear a hundred reasons running through his head, but when Duo’s eyes came back to his and he saw the hope there that mirrored his own, he understood there was only one reason important enough for both of them. Framing Duo’s face with his hands, he used his thumbs to wipe away the tears he had caused with deliberate cruelty. “Because I love you, and will always love you in a way that no one else ever can. I don’t care if you keep acting for the next thirty years or if you quit tomorrow. I love you for who you are.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know you the same way you know me, Duo. Tell me you don’t love me and I’ll walk away right now and never bother you again.”
There was a slight hesitation before Duo spoke, but it was the longest moment of Trowa’s life. “I can’t tell you that,” was the breathed reply as Duo smiled softly. “I can’t tell you that I don’t love you, because I do, so much that it makes it hard to know what to do.”
Elated, Trowa kissed the other man gently, “That’s the one thing that’s important. The rest we’ll learn as we go.”
Slightly chilled, Trowa scooted closer to the warmth in the bed, still mostly asleep. He never thought to question the body that came in contact with his, nor did he wonder at the leg that was tossed carelessly over his own, trapping him. Breathing in deep, he inhaled a scent that was foreign and familiar at the same time, his lips finding an ear to nibble on in his half-aware state.
When that body moved closer and let out a soft moan, he doubled his efforts, wondering how he could have a dream so real. Not questioning the situation, he abandoned the earlobe and worked his way to a strong column of neck, letting his hands roam across firm skin until he found a silk-covered erection.
There was a soft tremble that pleased him and a moan that he swallowed as he finally found the mouth he had been searching for. Stroking the hardness, he mimicked the act he would like to be involved in with his tongue, delving inside the moist cavern and sparring with another.
When the phone rang, he ignored it, not willing to lose this dream. It rang several more times before he remembered the previous night and broke the kiss suddenly to stare at Duo, who was regarding him with wide eyes. Seeing the flushed face, his resolve faltered, but he wanted to be sure that Duo wasn’t against them continuing. “I can stop,” he whispered.
Duo shook his head slowly, his body arching at the same time from where Trowa was still stroking him through the thin material. “It means something, Trowa. You know that.”
Feeling mischievous, he grinned, “I said no sex, and I meant it,” he stated, rolling so his body pinned the smaller man’s to the bed. “I didn’t say that we couldn’t do anything else. Since I started this, it seems fair that I help you out a bit.”
The smirk that formed on Duo’s face disappeared almost instantly when Trowa shifted his body and rubbed their erections together. With a smirk of his own, he did the maneuver over and over again, until Duo was panting, eyes wide open but blind. Controlling the urge to close his own eyes, Trowa slid down the other man’s body, absently noting that the actor was in great shape, hinting at a strenuous exercise regimen.
Wearing nothing but a pair of purple silk boxers, Duo was broad shouldered and long-legged, but almost every inch of his form was muscular, all the way from corded arms to the washboard stomach and down to the calf muscles that were gripping his own legs.
Following impulse, Trowa used his hands to place Duo’s on the headboard, where they remained after he let go. To show his approval, he used his hands to trace the muscle down both arms to the chest that had practically no hair, using his mouth to follow that same path. After lingering at Duo’s dusky nipples for several seconds and teasing moans out of the other man, he continued his journey south, sliding off the silk cloth to reveal the erect hardness nestled in a bed of soft chestnut curls. Shifting on the bed, he rose over Duo, drinking in the beauty of the man that was spread out underneath him before reverently bending down and licking his way up one strong thigh, then the other.
Cupping the heavy sac with one hand, he gently grasped the erection that stood proudly with the other, slowly lowering his mouth down on it. His name being moaned in a deep voice was almost enough to send him over the edge himself, but was enjoying what he was doing far too much to hurry. With slow, languid motions, he caressed the hard length with his lips and tongue until he felt the tightening of Duo’s body.
From a distance he could hear the phone ring yet again, but was intent on giving the beautiful long-haired man every bit of pleasure he could, speeding up his movements. When he used one finger to brush across the entrance to Duo’s body, the other man released into his mouth with a sharp cry. Without hesitation, Trowa swallowed every drop of the salty fluid before letting the erection fall from his mouth and lying down beside Duo again.
He was surprised when Duo pulled him close, initiating a kiss that would have left him weak-kneed had he been standing. When he felt fingers begin to trail down his stomach, he caught the wandering hand with one of his own. The long-haired man leaned back with a concerned expression, “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all,” he assured, “but unless I’m wrong, Quatre will either be here in a little while or continue to call. He’s the only person who knows where I am and would be calling at,” he paused to look at the clock then rolled his eyes, “seven-fifteen in the morning. We should probably get dressed and be ready in case he barges in. I need a shower.”
“How much time do you think we have before he decides to come down?”
Trowa gave it some thought, “No more than half an hour and he should call at least once more. I guess he found something he thinks is important.” He blinked when Duo quickly climbed out of bed and walked to the small bathroom, not at all concerned with his nudity. “Where are you going?”
“You did say you needed a shower, right?” Duo winked and strolled into the bathroom, laughing out loud when Trowa joined him seconds later. After the quick and highly interesting shower where Duo helped Trowa relax, he noticed the actor seemed nervous. Clad only in a pair of jeans, he reached out and wrapped his arms around the slender waist, “What is it?”
“Do you want me to hide or something if Quatre comes? All of this is rather sudden and I don’t want you to be embarrassed.”
Cursing himself for not seeing how badly Duo needed reassurance, he held the heart-shaped face with both hands and looked deep into the violet eyes. “Last night I told you that I didn’t care if people found out about us. I meant that, Duo.”
“Yeah, but Quatre’s your best friend. I don’t want him to think I’m taking advantage of you or anything like that.”
Trowa gave him a soft kiss, then smiled, “I think he’ll be thrilled that you’re here. He was almost as excited about us going out last night as I was. He even picked out what I should wear because he thought I needed the right clothes to make a good impression. And he had to list several things that you and I have in common while I was getting ready.”
Leaning against him and wrapping arms around Trowa, Duo’s tense shoulders relaxed a little. “I was so worried that he would be mad, Trowa. This thing between us is so…big and scary and sudden that I’m not sure that to do from one second to the next.”
Knowing that Duo couldn’t see him, Trowa took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment to savor the words. It had been the first time that Duo had shared his feelings without being prompted in some way. “Just be yourself, Duo. I don’t need you to be or do anything other than that.”
“I can do that. When do you think he’ll be here?”
On cue, the phone began to ring. Releasing Duo reluctantly, he grabbed it and answered, all the while keeping his eyes on the other man as Duo finished getting dressed. “Hello, Quatre.”
“Thank goodness you’re up. I need you to come up here and see something. It’s very important to you… and Duo. Bring him and I’ll order some breakfast, just be here as soon as you can.”
Trowa was getting ready to question the urgency when he realized he was listening to a dead line. With a frown, he replaced the phone and grabbed his shirt. “He says he needs to show us something important and to be there as soon as we can.”
“He knew I was here?”
“Quatre has ways of finding out things. I stopped asking questions about it long ago so I don’t go insane from the random explanations. He has real Columbian coffee,” he added as he pulled his shirt over his head.
Almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth his hand was grabbed and he was pulled to the door. “Now I know how to get you to do something,” he muttered as Duo growled the word coffee over and over again while leading them barefoot to the elevator.
Standing outside the suite a few minutes later, Trowa knocked on the door. His key for Quatre’s rooms still lay on his desk in his own room, where he had been unable to get it after saying the magic word. When the blonde opened the door, Duo didn’t bother with the usual greetings, instead announcing with a cheerful grin, “I heard you have coffee.”
Waving a hand toward the kitchen, Quatre laughed, then took a look at Trowa’s face and laughed even harder. “Duo likes coffee,” he explained unnecessarily as they followed the long-haired actor into the kitchen. When Duo suddenly stopped short, Trowa hurried forward to see what was wrong.
Sitting at the table where they had shared breakfast the morning before was an immaculately dressed man with an irritated expression on his face. Trowa frowned when Duo suddenly shifted, placing himself in front of Trowa as if to protect him. “What are you doing here, Wufei?” Duo’s voice was low, but Trowa heard the hint of anger in the one sentence.
“I was getting ready to ask you the same question, Duo. Do you have any idea how many calls I have had to respond with ‘no comment’ to since this hit the shelves early this morning?” With short movements, the man with dark eyes tossed a paper on the table so they could see the front page.
Trowa blinked at the headline, reading it out loud, “Relena dumped by Duo for unknown man,” before looking at the picture, where he and Duo sat on the bench, obviously kissing passionately while holding each other close. Trowa’s own face was in the shadows, hiding his identity, but Duo’s features were clear and easy to see. Though Trowa’s face was hidden, it was clear to see that Duo’s companion was a man from the shape of the body.
Not bothering to look at the rest of the article, Trowa looked at Duo to see his reaction, more than a little afraid of what it would be. He was stunned to find Duo staring at the photo with a wistful smile on his face. When the actor looked back to the strange man, it was without embarrassment or apology, though his hand did reach for Trowa’s. “I won’t apologize, Wufei. Not when I’ve finally found something that makes me feel this way.”
The other man sighed, accepting the cup of coffee that Quatre brought to him. “I’m not mad at you, Duo. Just a little warning would have been nice, that’s all.”
Narrowing his eyes, Trowa paid close attention to the almost fleeting touch as Quatre went back for more coffee, and the way dark eyes followed the blonde for just a fraction of a second longer than necessary. Placing his hand on the small of Duo’s back, Trowa guided him to a chair, his mind running even as the actor spoke again. “How could I have warned you about something I honestly had no prior knowledge of, Wufei?”
“If you are doing this only to sabotage your career, then I will find a way to sever our professional link as quickly and as quietly as possible.”
Duo, who had just found his seat, sprung back up and planted his hands on the table. “How dare you! I have never done anything to risk my career, or your name. Do you really think I would do such a thing?”
Laying a hand on Duo’s arm, Trowa could feel the limb trembling but didn’t know if it was from anger or hurt. Instinctively he knew he had to calm the long-haired man before he did something rash, not questioning how he knew Duo’s temper could be bad. “I think that was a round-about way of asking if you were serious about me, Duo, not an insult despite how it sounded.”
“Oh. Well why didn’t you just ask?” Duo sat back down when Wufei nodded slightly.
“Because I didn’t think I would get an answer.”
Wide eyes turned to Trowa, asking a silent question that he only half understood. Under the table, Trowa took Duo’s hand and laced their fingers together in silent support. “I don’t know where we’ll end up, but it’s very important to me to find out,” the actor winced, “I’m sorry if you can’t understand this type of relationship, Wufei, but I won’t give it up even if that means that I have to find a new manager.”
Seeing the look that passed between Quatre and the other man, Trowa chuckled as he took the cup the blonde offered. “He has no reason for you to find a new manager, Duo, considering that he and Quatre are lovers.”
While Wufei and Duo gaped, Quatre turned bright red, “How did you know that? Neither of us said anything and we’ve been very careful about seeing each other.”
“He’s very observant,” offered Duo in an amused voice.
“There is that. You two watch each other a lot,” Trowa shrugged with one shoulder. “It’s also interesting that Quatre began calling my room very early this morning - much too early for him to be receiving guests. I’m guessing this was one of the things you have been putting off?” he asked Quatre, laughing easily when the blonde sputtered for a moment.
“Then it’s a good thing that I stayed last night, Trowa. Otherwise, Wufei would have had to drive all the way to the house and had this discussion with Heero glaring at him.”
“You could have driven out here to meet him,” he suggesting, blinking when Wufei’s eyes went comically wide.
“I’m not allowed to drive,” Duo said with a touch of amusement. “Apparently I scare people.”
“It wasn’t me that I worried about, Duo. It was all the other drivers on the road.” Wufei turned to Trowa and explained, “Duo drives like a racer. He floors it everywhere, no matter what kind of traffic is in the way. His driving is exceptional, but terrifying.”
A few minutes were spent teasing Duo about his driving, which led to harassing Quatre’s cooking when breakfast was delivered by room service. Breakfast was mostly easy conversation and laughter until Wufei gave Duo a concerned expression, “What are we going to do about this?” he gestured to the paper with his head. “If you read it you will find that someone saw you come to this hotel last night with an unknown man,” he inclined his head toward Trowa. “This isn’t going to look good at all. Especially after the reports of you being seen coming here yesterday for breakfast, mere hours after leaving California and Relena. I have a few contacts that told me there is already quite a bit of speculation and rumor flying about. Some say that you are meeting your mystery man while some are saying that there are a number of men in different cities and this was the first time you were caught at it.”
“You know that isn’t true,” Duo mumbled, then added, “Why do we have to say anything, damnit? It’s my life.”
Understanding what Wufei was trying to explain, Trowa gently rubbed Duo’s back in an attempt to help him calm down. “It’s a potential public relations nightmare, love. Even you can see that.”
At the endearment, Duo spun around so fast he almost knocked over his chair. With shining violet eyes, he continued to look at Trowa while he spoke to Wufei. “Work it however you want, as long as it’s the truth.”
“What about Relena? You know as well as I do that she’s going to make herself look like a victim on this.”
“I’m tired of being a pawn in her little game.” A wicked grin spread across the beautiful man’s features as Duo winked at Trowa. “Get the tapes from Heero and leak them to the press. It’s high time her polished image as the starlet princess was tarnished.” In explanation, Duo added for the benefit of the other two men, “Relena has called Heero a number of times and described what she wanted to do with him, in detail. You can clearly hear Heero call her by name and tell her that he is not in any way interested, and yet she continues to tell him what she wants. I had to wonder where she learned such things, and it even made me blush. That’s a difficult thing, because it’s nearly impossible to embarrass me.”
Pulling out a cellphone, Wufei held it out to Duo. The actor dialed quickly and exchanged a few words with someone that Trowa assumed was Heero. Disconnecting the call, Duo nodded, “He’ll be here in about an hour. Sol’s coming with him. Said it’s about time we decided to fight back against the wicked witch of the big screen.”
Quatre, who had remained quiet for the serious part of the conversation, got Trowa’s attention by tapping him on the hand. Seeing that his friend wanted a private moment, he excused himself and followed the blonde into the master bedroom. As soon as they were alone, worried blue eyes focused on him. “Are you sure about this, Trowa? This means that your relationship with Duo is going to be public very soon.”
Sitting on the edge of the neatly made bed, Trowa had to smile at the concern. “All of the guys you set me up with were okay, Quatre, but I never felt like I belonged with any of them. I almost convinced myself that a connection like that was like something in my books…pure fiction. He’s what I’ve been waiting for,” he explained, holding his hands out for a second before letting them fall back into his lap. “As soon as I saw him yesterday I knew that no one else would make me feel that way. I think I love him, Quatre.” The words were said with more than a bit of panic, as he had just realized the strength of his feelings.
The blonde sat on the bed beside him, “Are you sure? One night of sex doesn’t equal love.”
“We never had sex.” At Quatre’s disbelieving look, he shook his head emphatically. “I swear we didn’t. Last night we just slept. We…fooled around a little this morning, but there was no actual sex.” Aware of the full impact of his emotions for the first time, Trowa jumped up to pace the room. “I’m in love with him. What do I do now? I didn’t expect this. I knew I wanted him with me. I knew that the thought of being separated from him made me ache, but I didn’t realize that I loved him until this minute. What do I do if he doesn’t want me the same way?”
On the verge of a panic attack, Trowa sat heavily on the bed, rubbing his hand over his heart to sooth the sudden throbbing that had bloomed there. Feeling Quatre’s hand on his back, he turned stricken eyes to the blonde for help. The sympathy and understanding he found there almost tore him apart. As sudden as he had comprehended his own feelings, he understood Quatre’s as well. “You love him, don’t you? Wufei, I mean.”
“I do. No, I don’t know what he feels for me,” Quatre shook his head before the question could be asked. “I’m afraid to ask. It was almost as sudden for me as it was for you. I saw him and just knew that he was the only person I would ever love this way.”
“How do you stand it?”
Quatre sighed heavily, briefly rubbing a hand over his eyes. “The only advice I can offer is to enjoy the time you can spend together. Live fully in the moment and don’t think about the future. Just be content that you have now. Later on…I don’t think about later on.”
Without any other words of wisdom, Quatre left the room. Trowa remained on the bed, wondering if he was strong enough to do what his friend had said. Could he really just enjoy whatever time he could grab with Duo – spending days, weeks, or even months apart at a time? He was asking himself that very thing when there was a knock on the door, Duo sticking his head in seconds later. “You okay? Wow, what a room,” he added with a low whistle.
Remembering the understated opulence of Duo’s home, Trowa had to ask, “You probably like expensive things like this, don’t you?”
Whether it was the words or the tone, Duo stopped several feet away, watching Trowa with a confounded expression. “I actually prefer things that are simpler. I was more comfortable in your room than I could be here.”
“I’m sure that’s why you have a huge house that’s decked out with all kinds of expensive antique furniture and things.”
The actor took a step back, figuratively and literally, “It was Charlie’s home. I have my own rooms that I decorate to my taste, just like Solo and Hilde. After Charlie died, we decided not to change the main part of the house out of respect.”
“Where does Heero stay?” Trowa could have slapped himself as soon as he saw the wounded look that crossed Duo’s features for a mere second before it smoothed out.
When Duo spoke, his tone was frigid. “Heero stays with Solo, just like he has for over a year. Just because I was willing to sleep with you doesn’t mean that I’d jump in bed with just anyone. I’ve only slept with one person before, but I guess that doesn’t matter. I see that we’ve made a mistake.”
Only because he was studying Duo closely did Trowa see the tear that slipped down one cheek before the other man turned away, wiping at his face. Hoping Duo would forgive him, he pushed off the bed and wrapped his arms around the stiff body. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I was being a complete jerk. I just realized a few minutes ago that I …care for you a lot more than I realized and it scared the hell out of me. It frightened me enough to try to push you away, but I can’t, damnit. I can’t just sit there and watch you walk away from me.” He took a deep breath, “I don’t want to be like Quatre and Wufei. I don’t want to have to steal time with you when it’s convenient. I don’t want to have to stay across the country while you film somewhere else, Duo. I want to be with you.”
In the circle of his arms, Duo turned, not bothering to hide the tears that spilled out of his eyes any longer. “What do you want, Trowa?” he asked softly.
“I want you beside me every night when I go to sleep, and every morning when I wake up. I don’t care where you have to go, Duo. I can work from anywhere. If the publicity gets to be too much, we can come back and stay here, or at my house. It’s not big or fancy like yours, but I do have a pool and a hot tub, and room for Heero or Solo or Hilde or all of them and whoever else you want to come. It could work, couldn’t it?” he asked, his heart beating against his ribs.
Duo frowned, his eyes wounded as he looked away, “All of that’s great, but why? Why should I choose to stay with you and change my entire life around? Can you give me one good reason, Trowa?”
For a moment, Trowa could hear a hundred reasons running through his head, but when Duo’s eyes came back to his and he saw the hope there that mirrored his own, he understood there was only one reason important enough for both of them. Framing Duo’s face with his hands, he used his thumbs to wipe away the tears he had caused with deliberate cruelty. “Because I love you, and will always love you in a way that no one else ever can. I don’t care if you keep acting for the next thirty years or if you quit tomorrow. I love you for who you are.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know you the same way you know me, Duo. Tell me you don’t love me and I’ll walk away right now and never bother you again.”
There was a slight hesitation before Duo spoke, but it was the longest moment of Trowa’s life. “I can’t tell you that,” was the breathed reply as Duo smiled softly. “I can’t tell you that I don’t love you, because I do, so much that it makes it hard to know what to do.”
Elated, Trowa kissed the other man gently, “That’s the one thing that’s important. The rest we’ll learn as we go.”