Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Rocking The Boat ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: No, they're not mine, I only wish they were!

Rocking The Boat

"A boat?" Quatre's voice was filled with astonishment. "You bought a boat?"

The four Gundam pilots stared at Heero as if he had suddenly sprouted an extra arm.

"As long as we are stuck on this island waiting for our gundams to be repaired we will make good use of our time." Heero pinned each of the other pilots with his severe gaze. "In the interests of continued efficiency we will spend the next two weeks on interpersonal group dynamics." Heero handed out a typed schedule. "I trust each of you knows how to captain a sloop of this size?"

The pilots looked down at the sloop's specs, thoughtfully printed below the schedule. They all nodded, nonplussed.

"Good. As you can see, each of us will spend one day offshore with another pilot. Once we have all had the opportunity to spend a day with everyone in turn, we will spend the remaining four days together. By that time the repairs will be finished, and we can leave. Understood?"

Satisfied with the chorus of affirmations, Heero continued. "Maxwell, you and I will be first tomorrow. Bring anything you consider necessary. We leave with the tide at 0713 tomorrow." He turned and strode from the room.

The remaining four just looked at each other for a moment, dumbfounded. Duo exploded.

"Interpersonal group dynamics?! What the hell does the Perfect Soldier know about group dynamics?"

"It's not a bad idea," Quatre said slowly. "We should have come up with it before. If we have to trust each other with our lives we have to know something about each other."

"It's a waste of time," Wufei cut in impatiently.

Trowa just shrugged.

"This is not a goddamn office," Duo fumed. "That's eight days I could be doing something else. We're on a tropical island. There's bound to be better things to do than bond with Heero."

Quatre sighed. "Well, since Heero already paid for the boat we might as well make use of it. Why waste money? Besides, it may be useful in a mission at some point in the future."

"Whatever. Trust Heero to ruin two free weeks on an island during the summer." Duo scowled. "I'm going to figure out what I'm taking and go to bed." He stomped out of the room.

Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei exchanged glances.

"At least we get a minimum of one day off between `sessions'," Quatre commented, eyeing the schedule. "I'm going to find out what there is to do here on our free time." He popped open his laptop on the kitchen table, saying an absent goodnight to Trowa and Wufei as they headed for their rooms.

Heero leaned against the port railing of the sloop, waiting for Duo. They had to weigh anchor in less than five minutes. To keep himself busy he went below decks to check that everything perishable was stowed in either the galley's large fridge or freezer. He was edgy. Was such an elaborate plan necessary just to get Duo alone with him for a day? The very fact that the possibility of interruption was almost nil led to an emphatic yes. He traipsed back above decks and stowed his gear in the closed compartment under the seat along the starboard rail, first removing a light jacket. The weather would be almost unbearably hot by midday, but until then there was a slight breeze that would get chilly once they were underway. Heero shrugged into the jacket as he caught sight of Duo clumping down the pier towards the boat.

"Good morning, Duo."

"Morning," Duo mumbled, dragging his bag behind him as he stepped onto the deck. "Is there any coffee?"

"There's a coffeemaker below decks. We can set our course on the computer and leave the sloop on autopilot." Heero watched, inwardly amused, as Duo rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and stumbled to the stairs. "Do you want me to stow your gear?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Duo disappeared down the hatch.

Heero put Duo's bag away neatly and then followed him down to chart their course. The tide was going to go out soon so they had to be underway. Once he had input the final coordinates and put the sloop on autopilot he went back on deck without waiting for Duo.

The breeze was stiff as they moved away from shore, whipping Heero's hair into his eyes. He leaned on the railing, enjoying the clean touch of the wind on his face. It suddenly occurred to him that he had no clue how to proceed with this `dynamics' idea. Duo was going to expect him to have some sort of agenda to follow. He wouldn't believe that Heero had dragged him out here without a plan.

"Man, Heero, you could have told me to bring a jacket."

Heero was startled out of his preoccupation. He hadn't heard Duo approach, a major slip in his instinctive defences. He turned to watch Duo, who was shivering in his light t-shirt and swim trunks, his hands wrapped firmly around his cup.

"We'll reach the coordinates I set in about ten minutes. I have an extra jacket if you need one." He rummaged through his bag.

"Thanks." Duo exchanged cup for coat and shrugged it on. "That wind is cold."

"Once we drop the anchor it won't be so bad," Heero reassured him, handing Duo his cup back.

"So what are we supposed to do out here? I mean, we're here all day, right?" Duo asked Heero.

"We come back early tomorrow morning in time for the next set." Heero pulled out a towel, folding it neatly on the deck. He didn't see Duo gaping at him.

All night? What could be worse than a sleepover with Heero? Duo thought. On the other hand, he could ply the other pilot with questions about himself, something that Heero wasn't forthcoming about. Who was Heero Yuy really? Nobody but the Perfect Soldier knew. And Duo had wanted to know a lot about Heero for a long, long time. The situation definitely had potential, Duo thought with a grin. Heero couldn't escape his questions in the middle of the ocean.

"So what's on this morning's agenda?" he asked Heero cheerfully.

Heero regarded Duo narrowly. The abrupt change in Duo's attitude was disconcerting. Of course, the braided baka's moods changed easily. Maybe he'd just decided to make the best of his present situation. Whatever it was, it worked for Heero.

They both felt the engine shudder to a stop through the deck. Heero went below to close the program and drop the anchor. Duo hunted through his bag for his towel and sunblock. Tanning was great, but his skin liked to burn after half an hour, and he could already feel the sun warm on his face at seven-ten in the morning. That was probably because they weren't moving anymore and the wind had died down, he thought.

Duo spread his towel on the deck and took out his laptop and earphones. He booted up and set his playlist to shuffle, draping the 'phones around his neck. He doffed the shirt and jacket and slicked the sunblock over his skin. Heero came back on deck.

"Hey, Heero, can you get my back? I can't reach it all."

"Hn."

Duo flipped his braid out of the way and handed Heero the tube. "You want some?"

"I never burn." Heero massaged the lotion into Duo's back, trying not to be too obvious in his enjoyment of the feel of Duo's skin under his fingers. He pulled his hands away before it became noticeable.

"Is this waterproof?" he asked, staring at the tube.

"Yeah, for eight hours. I'll have to reapply later, though." Duo stretched out on his stomach on the towel, resting his head on his crossed arms, his braid trailing on the deck beside him. "So what do we do now?"

"I thought we could relax for a few hours and then work on underwater communication. I brought snorkelling gear, and there are reefs a few klicks closer to shore. When we're finished we can eat." He glanced at Duo, whose eyes were closed.

"Okay. Do you mind if I play some music?"

"Go ahead." Heero spread his own towel out on the deck and stripped off his jacket and shirt, stretching out on his back and closing his eyes.

Heero hauled himself back on deck, both pleased and frustrated. It was certainly pleasant to watch Duo's lithe body swim lazily through the clear, sunlit water, and Heero had managed to brush Duo a few times, but the burning question had yet to be answered. Would Duo be amenable to his advances? Heero had never known Duo to have any girlfriends, but he'd never known the other pilot to have any boyfriends, either. Of course, given their current status as fugitive pilots, liaisons with civilians were frowned upon. In that case, wouldn't Duo be happy to take care of an urge or two, even if it was with another man? Heero frowned. He wasn't used to this level of uncertainty. The fact that he wanted this to happen at all was unnerving. He shoved that thought aside and concentrated on completing this mission. Perhaps he was being too subtle. Duo hadn't picked up any of his hints yet. Maybe it was time to be a little more obvious.

"I'm starving. What's for lunch?" Duo kicked off his flippers and pulled off his mask, dropping it negligently to the deck. "But that was fun."

"There's fruit and sandwiches in the fridge in the galley," Heero replied.

"Great, I'm gonna grab some. You hungry? Want me to bring you up a plate?"

Heero nodded. "And there's ice cream for later," he added.

"You think of everything, don't you?"

Heero just smiled. If only Duo knew.

Duo came back with two laden plates and they ate in companionable silence. Brushing the crumbs from his fingers, Duo reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of high-power field binoculars. Heero raised an eyebrow.

Duo grinned. "You never know when they'll come in handy," he said mischievously. "Like now." He raised them to his eyes, staring towards shore.

Heero stretched out in the sun, taking the opportunity to watch Duo from behind his sunglasses.

"Hey, Heero, check her out," Duo turned and handed the binoculars to Heero, beckoning to the other pilot to stand by him. He pointed with a grin. "The one in the red bikini."

Heero took a look and shrugged, handing the binoculars back. "Her hair's too short."

Duo gave him an odd look. "I wasn't looking at her hair, Heero."

Heero caught Duo's eyes with his. "I like long hair." His eyes flicked to Duo's braid and then back to the other pilot's eyes before he turned towards the stairs. He couldn't be much more obvious than that, he reflected. "You want ice cream?" He glanced back at Duo.

Duo was staring at him, a slight frown on his face. Something was weird about Heero today, but he couldn't figure out what it was. "What kind?"

"Vanilla, chocolate, or blueberry cheesecake."

"Chocolate," Duo said promptly. "Two scoops."

"Of course," Heero replied, disappearing down the stairs.

Duo blinked. Something was definitely weird. It was time and a half to ask some questions when Heero got back. But how to do it? He pondered how to grill Heero without making it seem like that was what he was doing. An old memory surfaced, and Duo began to laugh. It was perfect.

" Vanilla? That's so boring." Duo accepted the cone Heero handed him. "Live a little. Try chocolate."

"Hn," Heero replied noncommittally.

"I have an idea," Duo said, licking his ice cream. "There's this game called `skeletons in the closet.' It helps people get to know each other." He tried to gauge Heero's expression. "Girls play it at sleepovers," he added.

"And how do you know what girls do at sleepovers?" Heero asked.

Duo flashed a wicked grin. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Heero shrugged that off. "So how do we play?"

"One of us asks a question and the other has to answer truthfully. Then they get to ask a question. It goes back and forth. It would be perfect for interpersonal dynamics."

"All right," Heero agreed. He could see the possibilities in this game. The key would be to get Duo to ask questions that would allow him to ask more personal ones. He settled himself on the deck, watching Duo sitting on the seat by the starboard rail. "You go first."

"What do you do for fun, Heero?" Duo asked curiously. He'd never seen the other pilot do anything but work on Wing in his spare time. Of course, he'd never been in Heero's room, either. Such a pity, really.

Heero was caught off-guard. He was expecting something less innocuous, knowing Duo. "I read, I play video games, things like that," he answered. "My turn. What do you do in your spare time?"

Heero licked his ice cream, catching the melting drops with his tongue as they ran down the cone. It was melting too fast in the heat. He looked up and found Duo's eyes on him.

"Well?" he demanded. There was a dribble of melted ice cream on the back of his hand. He kept his eyes on Duo as he lifted his hand and licked it off, watching Duo's eyes track the movement. Maybe it wasn't such an impossible idea, after all.

Duo dragged his eyes away. It wouldn't do for Heero to realize what that unconscious movement was doing to him. He cleared his throat.

"I talk to people on my computer, I collect old comics, listen to music, you know, the usual." He tamed his own melting ice cream, thinking up another question. "So you read, play vid games… you're a solitary person, huh Heero?" He flicked a glance at Heero, whose attentions to his ice cream were unnerving. "That's not my question."

"So ask me one, then," Heero replied. A drop of ice cream slid slowly from the corner of his mouth down his chin. He swiped at it with a finger, sucking it clean. "And vanilla isn't boring at all."

Duo stared. Was that innuendo? Did Heero know how Duo would interpret that? His mind always jumped into the gutter before anything else. Didn't every fifteen-year-old male's? Until today he would have said everyone but Heero. Now he wasn't so sure.

"So what's boring to you, then?" Duo asked.

"Relena."

Duo laughed. "I sympathize, man. But only Relena, or whiny girls in general?"

"That's two questions," Heero said. "Why don't we just do this with you asking me questions until you're satisfied, then I'll have my turn with you." His cone was almost done. He dug the last of his ice cream out of it with his tongue, not looking at Duo.

It was definitely innuendo, Duo decided. The gloves were coming off. "Okay." He slurped the last of his ice cream and tossed the cone over the railing. "So answer my last question."

"Girls in general," Heero replied, crunching his cone.

Duo noted the omission of `whiny'.

"Had an annoying girlfriend?" he pressed.

"No."

God, would Heero ever elaborate? Duo thought, irritated. It was time to get personal. "Have you ever had a girlfriend?"

At the negative shake of Heero's head he sighed. "What do you do when you're horny?"

"Same thing you do, I suppose." Heero watched Duo frown.

"What do I do?" Duo asked.

"Jerk off."

Duo grinned. All guys did. "Don't you ever want to be with a girl? I'm sure Relena would be happy to oblige."

It was Heero's turn to frown. "I don't want to be with Relena." He put a slight emphasis on her name.

Duo caught the emphasis, but as he was about to ask exactly who it was that Heero wanted to be with, the other pilot interrupted him.

"Your hair is still soaked. You should unbraid it and let it dry." He stood. "I'll help." He moved to sit behind Duo on the bench and pulled the elastic from the bottom of his braid.

"My turn to ask questions," he said, his hands deftly unbraiding Duo's hair. "Why don't you cut your hair?" It was a wet, silken mass in his hands. Heero wanted to bury his face in it, but restrained himself. He was still trying for subtlety, but subtlety seemed to be lost on Duo.

"I don't know. It's a pain in the ass to take care of, but I like it long." Duo could feel Heero separating the wet strands of his hair, spreading them over his bare back. He jumped when Heero's fingers brushed his skin. "It's cold," he said hastily. "My hair."

"It'll dry faster this way," Heero returned. "Do your girlfriends like it?"

"I haven't had much time for girls lately," Duo replied vaguely.

"So what do you do when you're horny?" Heero asked, his hands running through Duo's hair, over his shoulders, and down his arms.

Duo closed his eyes, cursing his body silently. He was damn horny now, and Heero had probably noticed. He always noticed everything. It was too much to hope that Heero was hitting on him.

"Same thing you do, I guess." He threw Heero's own words back at him.

Duo was cracking. Heero could feel it. One more push should be enough to get him to capitulate.

"You're burning," he commented idly.

"Shit. I forgot to reapply." Duo groped for the tube of sunblock. He managed his legs fine, but his hair kept getting in the way when he tried to get to the rest of his exposed skin. "I swear I'm gonna cut it all off," he muttered.

"If you hold your hair up I'll help," Heero offered.

Duo shot him a suspicious look, then gave up and handed Heero the tube. He needed both hands to pile his hair up on his head out of the way.

Heero spent longer than necessary smoothing the sunblock onto Duo's skin, but Duo didn't seem to mind. He just sat there holding his hair up and watching Heero as the other pilot's fingers slid over his body.

Heero sat on his heels and stared back. The silence stretched. Duo dropped his arms and his hair tumbled down around him. It was so hot that the chestnut strands were almost dry.

"Thanks," Duo said finally. "You want me to help you put some on?"

Duo hoped that he was playing this game right, and not misinterpreting a sudden new friendliness in Heero.

Heero didn't say anything, just handed the tube to Duo and stretched out on his towel on his stomach. Duo obeyed the silent invitation and knelt beside Heero, rubbing the cream into his back and legs. He sat back and Heero rolled over, watching as Duo worked from his feet up.

One covert look and Duo knew he wasn't misinterpreting the situation. Heero was very happy to be lying there while Duo touched his body. A surge of excitement flashed through Duo. He'd wanted Heero for a long time, burying his feelings behind an attempt at friendship with the cold Japanese boy, and now Heero was trying to seduce him. It was working.

Duo's hands became gentler, caressing, as he worked his way up Heero's chest. His fingers brushed Heero's nipples and he saw them harden. He ducked his head and let his hair fall forward, enclosing Heero's face and his own in its silken curtain.

Cobalt eyes locked on violet. "What took you so long? I couldn't have been any more obvious."

"But why…" Duo began.

Heero cut him off. "Does it matter?" He grabbed two fistfuls of Duo's hair and pulled Duo's face down to his. "Don't you want this?"

"You have no idea how long I've wanted this," Duo whispered, his lips hovering above Heero's.

Something flashed across Hero's face and was as suddenly gone. Heero tightened his fists in Duo's hair and brushed his lips against Duo's, watching those violet eyes close. He felt Duo's lips part and deepened the kiss, his tongue flickering over Duo's lower lip before his teeth closed over it.

Duo groaned and kissed Heero in earnest. It was happening, he couldn't believe it was happening. Heero's mouth tasted like vanilla ice cream, and he wanted to go on tasting it on Heero's tongue forever. With a gasp he tore his lips away to breathe. Heero's eyes were open and watching his every move, a satisfied smile on his face.

"You know how to kiss." Heero disentangled his hands from Duo's hair, letting one hand cup Duo's cheek, the other braced on the deck as he levered himself and Duo into a sitting position. He kissed Duo again, slowly manoeuvring the other pilot to the deck.

Duo noticed the change of position but didn't comment on it. He'd kind of expected Heero to take the initiative, and he didn't mind. His body was crying out for more contact than just the feel of Heero's lips on his. He slid his hands down Heero's back, tracing the waistband of Heero's shorts.

"Don't be so impatient," Heero murmured against his lips. "We have all night."

"I'm good for another few rounds," Duo whispered back. "I'll last longer after this one." His fingers crept lower.

"Well, if that's what you want…" Heero broke the kiss, his lips tracing Duo's jaw. One hand brushed down Duo's face, tracing a path over his chest, fluttering lightly over one nipple before continuing downwards over the flat planes of Duo's stomach. Heero's hand hesitated and he licked Duo's earlobe. "Duo," he whispered, his breath in Duo's ear sending a shiver down Duo's spine, "Do you want me to?"

"God, yes," Duo choked out, his body taut with anticipation.

Heero's hand skimmed over Duo's shorts, closing briefly over Duo's cock before letting go. His lips followed the path his hand had traced earlier, his tongue leaving wet trails on Duo's skin. As his lips wrapped around Duo's nipple his hands curled under the waistband of Duo's suit and pulled it off. He let his teeth scrape over Duo's nipple, listening to Duo's breath catch.

Heero pushed himself up on his knees to stare down at Duo, sprawled wantonly across the deck. A small smile curved his lips. Duo opened his eyes and saw Heero staring at him. A faint flush crept across his cheeks.

"No fair, man. If I have to be naked so do you." He shifted a little on the deck to partially hide himself from Heero's gaze.

"Fair's fair." Heero stood and slid his own suit from his hips, making no attempt to conceal his nudity. "Where was I?" He sank gracefully to his knees beside Duo, and then stretched out beside the other pilot. He let his fingers wander over Duo's stomach, never taking his eyes from Duo's face. He noted with satisfaction Duo's intake of breath as his fingers drifted down one thigh, tracing the sensitive skin on the inside, then returned up the route they had taken to get there.

Heero lowered his lips to Duo's skin again, tongue flicking against the tight bud of Duo's nipple. A soft moan escaped Duo's lips.

"Heero, please," the other boy begged. Heero smiled. He'd wanted to see how long it would take Duo to beg. His hand closed around Duo's cock and Duo's back arched involuntarily. Heero began a slow stroking motion, his fingers tightening around Duo's cock as his lips began to move steadily downwards.

When Heero's mouth replaced his hand Duo couldn't stay quiet. "God, Heero," he breathed, his hand reaching blindly down and twisting into Heero's hair as the other boy ran his tongue up and down his cock. He wouldn't last if Heero kept this up. He was about to say something when Heero swallowed him and rational thought dissolved. He rode the waves of pleasure that coursed through his body, and then came back to himself with a shock when Heero's mouth disappeared and the sensation stopped.

Duo's eyes flew open, his lips parted, his chest heaving. Heero watched him, pleased that Duo was so sensitive. It made things easy. He answered the unspoken question in Duo's eyes.

"You were too close." He slid up Duo's body and propped himself up beside the other boy. His finger traced Duo's lips. "I don't want you to come yet." He took Duo's hand and wrapped it around his own cock. "Touch me."

Duo's fingers slid around Heero's cock, and he ran one finger up the underside, circling the tip before closing his fist around it and beginning to stroke. He fastened his eyes on Heero's face and saw the other boy close his eyes, biting his lip. He'd never seen Heero so vulnerable before. It made him more human, somehow. Duo liked what he saw. He sped up his strokes.

Heero closed his hand over Duo's. "Enough," he whispered. He removed Duo's hand and went to his bag, pulling out a packet of lube and a condom. He came back to stretch out beside Duo, staring intently at him. He ripped open the lube and let half of it dribble over his fingers, sliding it over his cock.

Duo plucked the condom out of Heero's hand and tossed it away. Heero's eyes widened in surprise at the gesture.

"I trust you," Duo said softly.

Heero regarded Duo silently for a moment, then leaned in and kissed him. His slick fingers slid down Duo's skin and nudged his thighs apart. He rolled above him, bracing with one hand, before his fingers paused at Duo's entrance. He saw the flash of fear pass over Duo's face and stopped.

"Duo…" he stared at Duo in puzzlement. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"I know," Duo said. "I trust you."

"Then why…" It finally dawned on him. "You're a virgin."

Duo snorted. "Hardly."

"You've never been with another man." Heero was positive he was correct. He was never wrong.

"So?" Duo was starting to get uncomfortable. He didn't see how it mattered, and said so.

"It changes things." Heero laughed at the look on Duo's face. "Oh, I'm still going to have you," he said. "But not this way." He rolled off Duo and lay on his back, pulling Duo with him until Duo rested on top of him. "Sit up. It will allow you some measure of control."

Duo could see where this was going. He set one leg on either side of Heero's body and got to his knees. "Better?" he asked.

"Wider."

Duo did as he was told. Heero pressed one slick finger against Duo's entrance, pushing in slowly. He was actually rather glad that he was Duo's first. The other pilot would never forget him. He glanced up to see if Duo was in any pain. Duo smiled at him and Heero slid slowly in and out, adding a second finger and carefully stretching Duo's tight passage, then a third. Duo's body was tight, but relaxed, his breath quickening, his eyes shut as he rode Heero's fingers. Heero pulled his fingers out and placed one hand on Duo's hip, his other hand carefully guiding himself to Duo's opening.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

Duo nodded. "Oh yeah."

Heero pressed himself inch by inch into Duo's tight body, trying to allow the other boy time to adjust to the sensation. When he was completely sheathed he held there for a minute, staring up at Duo's face, looking for signs that Duo was comfortable. When Duo tried to move Heero held him fast.

"You said before that I had no idea how long you'd wanted this. How long?"

Duo looked down at Heero in surprise. "Um, seven, eight months," Duo admitted, fighting Heero's hands and pushing himself up, then down on Heero's cock. Heero grunted and gave in, letting Duo work for a few minutes before adding his own thrust to the rhythm Duo had built. He drove into Duo's body and hit Duo's pleasure centre. The other boy gasped, his rhythm faltering. Heero wrapped one hand around Duo's cock.

"Talk to me," Heero said harshly, thrusting into Duo's body again.

"Talk… to you?" Duo panted. "About what?"

"You wanted me for eight months. What did you want?" Heero's voice was husky, his eyes hungry as he watched Duo ride him.

Duo almost laughed. So Heero liked it when people talked dirty during sex, did he? Well he could oblige. "I wanted…" his train of thought faltered when Heero thrust into him again. " I wanted to… pin you to… the floor…" He listened to Heero suppress a moan and grinned. "and fuck you…" Heero's fingers tightened on his hip. He'd be bruised tomorrow. "I wanted to get… on my knees and… suck your cock…" Heero growled at him and thrust harder, his fingers stroking roughly over Duo's erection.

Duo could feel himself getting close. He slammed himself down on Heero, determined to take the other boy with him. "I wanted to tie you up and fuck you senseless," he gasped out, speeding up his movements. He growled out the next words. "And I will."

Heero listened to Duo's heady words and got a sudden visual of the boy above him slamming into his body the way he was now driving into Duo. It tipped him over the edge, and he let out a wordless cry as he felt himself come. His fingers tightened around Duo's cock and he felt the come pulsing from Duo's body, dripping over his fingers and puddling on his stomach. Duo collapsed on top of him, their bodies slippery with semen and sweat and sunblock.

Heero came slowly back to awareness. "Did I hurt you?" he asked Duo.

Duo stirred, rolling to the side. He opened his eyes and grinned at Heero.

"Hell no." He sat up awkwardly. "But I don't think I can stand." His legs were trembling with the unaccustomed exercise. "How do girls do it?"

"Who cares?" Heero said sleepily. He opened his eyes a fraction, watching Duo. "Did you enjoy it?"

"Yeah." Duo stared at Heero thoughtfully. "Did you go to all that trouble with this stupid idea about group dynamics just for this?"

It was Heero's turn to flush, which was answer enough.

Duo decided not to tease Heero right now, especially since Heero had promised more for later.

"Maybe we should clean up," he suggested.

Heero opened his eyes fully, squinting against the bright sun. "We've got a whole ocean to clean up in," he said. "Can you stand?"

Duo contemplated the question. "I think so." He rose carefully to his feet. He was a bit wobbly but he could manage. "I'm all for skinny dipping." He moved to the railing, looking back. "You coming?'

"Hn." Heero rolled to his feet and vaulted over the railing.

Duo shook his head. Heero had way too much energy. Of course, Heero hadn't had to do most of the work, he reflected as he jumped into the water and let the waves wash his body clean.

"`Ra dies by fire tonight. That's a lovely sight,'" Duo quoted softly, watching the sun sink to the horizon, sending streamers of red and orange cloud streaking across the sky. He turned his head and caught Heero's gaze, then gave an embarrassed smile. "From an old book I read."

The darkness was descending rapidly, as it always did in this part of the world. Heero's eyes echoed that darkness, and he held out his hand to Duo.

Duo placed his hand in Heero's and let the other boy pull him downstairs to the main cabin. Heero leaned against the doorjamb. "Bedtime."

Duo smiled and began to strip.

Duo sat on the beach in the secluded cove near their house, waiting for Heero. The crescent moon was high in the sky. They'd been meeting like this every night that they both had off, staying up all night until one had to leave. Duo wasn't sure what to make of the situation. Neither he nor Heero had mentioned anything about a relationship. In fact, Duo had begun to wonder if Heero was trying the same thing with all of the other pilots. After carefully scrutinizing each of them after their trip out with Heero, he'd decided he was being foolish.

Funny what you can notice when you're paying attention, he thought, amused. Like the little smile on Trowa's lips the morning he'd come back from his turn with Quatre, and the fresh sheets on the bed in the main cabin. And how they'd disappeared together afterwards just as he and Heero were doing. Duo had his turn with Quatre in the morning. He and Quatre already got along well, so it shouldn't be too difficult. He wouldn't get much sleep tonight, anyway. But then, neither would Quatre. Maybe they'd just sleep all day.

Duo heard the whisper of falling grains of sand and turned to see Heero approaching. Heero's face was half in shadow, like Heero himself. Duo treasured the moments he could make Heero drop his guard during sex. Too bad it didn't happen any other time. He stood and went to meet the other man, starting to pull the elastic from the bottom of his braid, when he noticed that Heero was holding something down by his side. Duo began to grin when he realized what it was.

Rope.

Three cabins. Three cabins, four beds, and five pilots. Five tipsy pilots who had just played a very protracted drinking game above decks, and had barely made it down the stairs.

"So how do we decide cabins?" Trowa asked, stumbling a little. Surprisingly Quatre was pretty sober, and reached out to steady Trowa. Trowa had lost often tonight, but it didn't explain this level of giddiness. Must be love, Duo thought with a drunken leer.

They all looked at Heero, who pulled a hat out of nowhere. "We draw. First name doesn't have to share." He pulled a piece of paper out of the hat, squinting to get the letters to stop moving. "Wufei."

Wufei staggered into his cabin and shut the door.

"Cabin two," Heero announced. "Quatre," he groped in the hat again, "and Trowa."

Duo tried not to laugh when Trowa threw an arm around Quatre's shoulder and planted a kiss on the blond's cheek. Quatre threw a daring glance in Duo's direction and smiled. "Night Duo, Heero." The door closed on their cabin as well.

Duo and Heero stood staring at each other in the cramped hallway for a minute, and then moved into their own cabin.

"Heero," Duo began, "did you fix…"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Heero said, and Duo recalled saying those words that first day on the boat. Heero smirked at him. "C'mere…"

Heero was drunk, Duo realized. Completely inebriated. He didn't remember Heero drinking that much, though… maybe he'd been sneaking swigs from the bottle. But that meant that Duo was more sober than he was at this moment.

He started shucking his clothes. Heero shed his and came towards Duo, grabbing him by the braid. He pulled the braid over Duo's shoulder and let it feather over Duo's skin.

"I love your hair," he whispered, brushing the end of Duo's braid across his face. He tipped sideways and Duo caught him before he fell, steering him towards one of the double beds. Heero tried to kiss him.

"Heero, do you think we should? The others could hear…" Duo was conscious of the sounds emanating from Trowa and Quatre's room. If he could hear them Wufei would be able to hear him and Heero.

"Let them," Heero said, sliding his hands down Duo's body. "They'll get used to it."

Duo caught Heero's wrists. It was the first hint that Heero had given that this was going to be a permanent arrangement. His heart jumped in his chest as he stared down at the other boy. Heero stared back, his eyes open, unguarded. Alcohol certainly had mellowing effects, Duo reflected. He needed to get Heero drunk more often.

"I'm stuck," Heero said. Duo raised his eyebrows. "…you," Heero mumbled.

"Huh?" Duo hadn't heard anything but the last word.

Heero frowned. "Stuck. On. You," he enunciated carefully. "Not letting you go." He squinted up at Duo to see how Duo would take that.

"Oh no, Yuy," Duo said. "I'm not letting you go." He reached into his bag and pulled out the rope. "Especially not tonight. "

~Owari~