Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Sea in I ❯ VIII ( Chapter 8 )

Warnings: Duo torture, yaoi = MXM goodiness, Mpreg

Pairings: 1x2 eventually, minor 3x4

 

AN: No internet T_T - apologies in the wait between updates… enjoy and thanks for reading.

 

Feedback - appreciated.

 

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I don't own any of the sexies in Gundam Wing AC, I just love to help them live a little.
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VIII

 

 

They were loud.

 

You'd think they'd take their argument elsewhere but no, they do it here without thinking about the people trying to sleep in here! Duo grumbled in his head the last of the thought slipping out in a barely coherent murmur from his lips. He woke a little more when the word `babies' stuck to his tongue, and then he sat up remembering everything.

 

The girl, the man and the room filling with bright light. He said to himself while he looked around, twisting this way and that until his side sent a sharp reminder that he was still hurt. Yet Duo didn't feel sick anymore and the pain in his side was more like a deep seated ache than a sickly, life draining wound.

 

“Babies?” He spoke the word still sitting on the floor and leaning on the side of the bed before his eyes fell on the mound in front of him.

 

The babies, Duo smiled goofily to himself, his hand moving on its own accord and touching the side of the mound. Duo jerked back when he felt movement against his hand. It made him picture another time when he was smaller and his mother heavy with child. He was half aware that he was being watched as his eyes misted up.

 

I had a mother and a father. It was different to say it now because he could see their faces in his memories. When before there had been none. The thought of his family abandoning him had cut deep in the beginning and it was easier not to think about it at all. But he knew now that they hadn't abandoned him. He truly believed and felt that they had never meant to leave him alone. Duo's hand drifted back to the mound and his eyes met corn flower blues that watched him curiously.

 

Duo tried not to stare at the man anymore, a blush engulfed his cheeks as he muttered an apology. He swallowed nervously, cupping his hand in the other across his lap when the long haired man said nothing in response.

 

“It's just that I was curious about the babies?” Duo fidgeted under the unrelenting stare as the man continued to stare at him. “I'm-”

 

“Are they?”

 

The man's voice was like milk and honey with a hard edge to it but strained and tired. It was familiar. Duo looked at the long haired man in confusion and saw the pain in the man's eyes as his one visible hand shook, and then fisted the covers at his side. The man was almost as white as his hair and Duo went for the bowl and the water on the small table. He came back to the man holding it out to him and sighing when the man stared off at the wall instead of taking them from him.

 

“Are they?” Duo heard the long haired man repeat in another strained whisper.

 

Duo put the cup of water in the bend of his arm, against the side of his chest and then ran his fingers over the man's fisted hand. Millardo jerked, coming back to himself and looked up to him. Duo pried Millardo's hand away from the covers and put it on top of his stomach, rubbing it until some of the shaking subsided.

 

Millardo unfurled his fingers to touch his growing stomach. He felt them move under his hand and then he felt them inside. There had been so much pain before that he hadn't truly felt them. His body ached still but they were ok. He had heard bits and pieces of the conversation that went on in his room, too tired to open his eyes and his body demanding that he stay sleep because it was the first time since he'd started this journey with Relena that he'd really slept. He'd heard enough to know that he was carrying two babies - twins, and that he was going to live.

 

The babies moved and he shakily caressed his stomach through the cover, We're going to live.

 

“Um… here. You look like you could use it.” Duo bounced lightly from one foot to another. He offered Millardo a smile and received a slightly unsteady one in return.

 

Millardo took the water from the sprightly young man, looking him over with a knowing quirk to his lips. He sat up and looked into dark violet eyes, “My thanks to you little cousin.”

 

Duo looked at him quizzically and half nodded, figuring the word was used commonly in this place. Thus, having a meaning like the calling someone a brother of no blood relation, which equated brother to friend.

 

“Duo's fine.” Still holding the bowl and ignoring the rumble in his own stomach, Duo scratched the back of his head as he looked around. “Um, I dunno where that girl went but … what I mean is, is it ok to leave you here like this?”

 

Duo gestured at the bare room with its few chairs and table, then the packs huddled in the corner on the floor. He turned back to the long haired man whose face was blank with a stony look in his eyes.

 

“Duo,” Duo jumped slightly at the icy tone in the long haired man's voice. “Come here.”

 

“Why?” Duo asked, not liking being told what to do. Not liking the man's tone period. He understood the man was pregnant and pregnant people had unpredictable moods but still he wasn't going to take any flack people felt like dishing out at him.

 

Millardo sighed at Duo's defensive tone, his body poised for flight and tried for a smile which crumbled at the sight of the engraved boots on Duo's feet. He sighed again and looked into Duo's eyes and made himself relax, “Just come here, please.”

 

Duo inched closer, stopping an arm's length away and Millardo laughed, rubbing his temple.

 

“I guess that's fine. Just… Do you understand about my condition?”

 

Duo frowned at him, giving him the `duh?' expression, before he nodded.

 

“Can you tell me? Tell me what my condition is?”

 

“You're pregnant.” Duo shrugged and rolled the mixed fruit around in the bowl.

 

“And you're ok with that?” At Duo's confused look he explained further, “You don't think it's strange that I am? That it's possible?”

 

Duo shook his head, “What are you talking about? Why would I think that?”

 

Millardo beckon to him with his free hand and Duo came to his bedside, curious. Faster than he thought a pregnant person capable, Millardo grabbed him and pulled him down across his lap. Duo blinked owlishly, most of his face pressed against Millardo's covered stomach.

 

“Hey!” Duo barely held on to the bowl and tensed at the hand on the back of his neck.

 

“If you don't want to hurt them, then I suggest you be still.” Millardo grunted out, moving Duo's hair aside to look then feeling Duo's neck and into his hair at the back of his head. “No scar.” Millardo said relieved, petting Duo's head then stopping at the back of his neck.

 

“Oh no, not that again!” Duo quickly sat up, scooted down the bed as he eyed Millardo crossly.

 

“What?” Millardo asked, making no move to stop him if Duo chose to get up or leave.

 

“That man with the funny nose checked and found nothing! I don't know why you people keep doing that! I have rights you know! You jerks just need to keep your hands to yourselves!” Duo half shouted and Millardo scowled.

 

“So Senjit checked you and he found nothing?” Millardo asked his anger becoming curiosity as his eyes roved over Duo.

 

“Oh no, don't you even think it!” Duo glared at Millardo, tense and not liking the way Millardo was staring at him.

 

My clothes are staying on damn it! Even if I have to fight this guy to get out of here... Duo's cheeks flushed at the thought, a pout settling on his lips.

 

Millardo found he had to look away or he'd have laughed at Duo's expression. Even still, he couldn't hold the amusement back from his voice as he spoke, “It's good you didn't get forced into the tour. A circular mark would've been on the back of your neck if they had drugged and conditioned you.” Millardo righted the cup at his side and moved away from the wet spot.

 

“The brainwashing thing they do?” Duo asked as he rubbed unconsciously at the back of his neck.

 

Millardo nodded, “I'm thankful for my sister. She - Relena undid most of the damage from the tour without knowing it when she healed my injury. The reasons why I asked you all those questions before was because the tour takes away your memories making you a loyal drone to the monarch and his captains.”

 

“Like Ethan.” Duo said nodding and understanding why Ethan treated him like he did. It wasn't that he didn't know him, he just didn't remember.

 

Millardo said nothing more at Duo's sad expression. He started picking at the threaded x's that held a lock of his hair and signified him a eunuch of high station, a tutelary. Even though the priests did nothing overt to resist Natrob, they had his gratitude for keeping his sister safe and for helping him disguise himself.

 

“What is your name?” Millardo had picked free most of the weaving when Duo asked him this.

 

“You do not know me.” Duo gave him an apologetic look and Millardo averted his eyes. He already knew as much when he didn't get a reaction to Relena's name. “In another time, I was called Millardo or even Millie.” He said the last with a sour twist of a smile.

 

Duo held back his snicker, feeling childish but the nickname made him want to laugh. Especially since Millardo had said it with such a straight and gloomy face that just didn't seem to fit the man before him.

 

Millie. He did snicker then.

 

Millardo looked at Duo sharply. Millardo's fine pale brows were cocked as if asking him with his eyes what he was laughing about. A smile appeared slowly on Millardo's face when Duo smiled at him.

 

“It is the name of the person I was in the past. I have done many things that my former self would've never done. Allowed things to happen…” Millardo's voice trailed off, a pained look took up residence on his face, stealing his smile as he stared into Duo's smiling one. “I'm your cousin Zechs.”

 

“Ok, Millie.” Duo smiled brightly and as easily as Millardo's smile had gone it reappeared. “Don't stay cooped up in here too long you'll brood and start thinking everything is your fault... It never was. We do what we must to survive.”

 

Duo got up, looking a little dazed. He smiled again and handed Millardo the large bowl of fruit with a departing wave.

 

Millardo watched his light hearted cousin go. He wondered if Duo's smile would be as bright if his hands were as stained as his were. No, he could never wish his burden on others.

 

Millardo sat back against the headboard and stared thoughtfully into the bowl of fruit in his lap. He blamed himself for Maheran's downfall and for falling for the enemy's ruse, his smiling face and strength... He was his one and he had let his budding feelings for Treize lead him astray.

 

Although Treize had tricked him, he still felt the fault lay with him. Treize had asked him to talk it over with him first and gullibly, he trusted him. He said yes. When he got there Treize marked him, took him prisoner, and left him on the outskirts of Maheran in a hut. By the time he had gotten free, the white stone was rising and he knew that he was too late. He was too far away to get to the main council houses so he took up the sword, and used what Treize had taught him to cut down the Nartob soldiers chasing his people.

 

There's so much blood on these hands. Millardo's hand shook as he rubbed his stomach. He would work to make sure that the world these two came to see would be one where they could be free.

 

O----------------------OoO----------------------O

 

Duo leaned against the wall to the side of the entry covering and took a deep before exhaling it slowly. Weird wasn't the first word that came to mind for him when he thought about what had just happened between him and Millardo.

 

“I have family still. A cousin!” He said it aloud, but not loud enough to be heard by the rooms' gloomy occupant. He wanted to reassure himself that this wasn't another dream of forgotten memory.

 

Duo tilted his head back against the wall and watched the door flap out the corners of his eyes. He decided he'd wait until somebody came to stay with Millardo, he didn't think the pregnant man should be left alone in there for very long. People greeted him, smiling without any wary looks. They moved about the tunnels like they did in Maheran, carrying out daily routines and children playing without any reservations. Yet, he had a feeling there were not many here.

 

Time slipped by, his stomach growling angrily at him brought him out of his near trance like stare at the wall. Two girls laughed at him in passing but he took it in stride with a cheeky smile that made one girl blush. They stopped a few strides from him, the blushing one pushing her friend toward him as he watched them curiously. She started towards him then looked past him, bowed low and rushed away.

 

Curiosity peaked, Duo looked to his left and met the odd eyes of the wielder who attended him before in the company of the girl who'd threaten him. They both carried bowls of something that just had to be edible with such delicious smells coming from them.

 

“Good morning,” Relena said to him, her smile quaint.

 

Duo arched a brow but smiled nonetheless, disturbed by her but not willing to let it show. Quatre nodded to him with a welcoming smile that made the uncomfortable feeling ease.

 

Relena stopped at the flap, “Duo, I appreciate you staying with him. Will you be leaving?”

 

Duo sighed, his smile becoming strained. It bothered him more than a little bit that people he didn't know knew his name.

 

“No. I'd like to stay here, if that is alright with you?” Duo looked to Quatre and took note of his pleased expression.

 

“I wouldn't have it any other way.”

 

“That's good, see you soon.” Relena gave them a thoughtful smile before entering her brother's room.

 

Duo frowned at her and approached Quatre with a hopeful smile easily curling his lips in the opposite direction.

 

“Is that for me?” Duo licked his lips, closing the space between himself, the bowl and Quatre.

 

Quatre smiled, his pale cheeks coloring slightly as he handed it to Duo. “I'll show you to your room.”

 

“Ok.” Duo said already shoveling the food into his mouth, sticky rice and egg bits smeared over one cheek. He jogged over to the blonde's side, and kept pace with him along the twisting tunnel paths.

 

“You don't have to you know.” Duo said, and then swallowed the food he'd packed against the inside of one cheek. He felt really comfortable with Quatre and he felt like he belonged here.

 

“I know. I do this because I want to.” Quatre smiled again and that cemented his decision about this place.

 

They walked on until they passed by a wide cavern that housed farms, rich green expanses that looked more prosperous than what he'd seen above ground in Maheran. He stood there staring and jumped when a great beast of burden with a thick metal ring through its snout licked the side of his face from jaw to temple.

 

“Ugh! By the One!” Everyone in the vicinity slowed in their work at Duo's shout then stood still at the sound of Quatre's laughter.

 

Duo's empty bowl clattered to the floor and he crouched low, wiping away the thick bovine slobber from his face. The bovine snorted stepping closer. Duo saw it lift one thick hairy hoof and threw his hands up, “Back! Back! What else do you say to beasties like these?!”

 

Quatre laughed, his hand bracing his stomach. “That's no way to speak to one of our residents who has an interest in you!”

 

Duo glared at the bovine, backing up slowly until he hit the wall next to Quatre. He grabbed Quatre's hand with his slobber covered one while he held the other up to fend off the beasts' intended advance.

 

“Whoa! You just stay right where you are or I'll have my friend here,” he held up their joined hands, “blow you away.”

 

“I'll not.” Quatre laughed, and then made a face with his hand covering his mouth at the feel of Duo's gooey hand squeezing his.

 

“But Quat!” Duo half whined, standing shoulder to shoulder with Quatre. He angled his head toward Quatre's, whispering, “Can't you make the wind pull his tail or something? The beastie's trying to make me a Duo-lick!”

 

“A-a?!” Quatre canted his head toward Duo, their heads brushing, Quatre's bright and laughing smile reflected keenly in his eyes.

 

Duo found he liked that look best on the blonde. He smiled, forgetting the threat of bovine slobber.

 

“Pardon,” Duo turned away and smiled at the man as he hooked a muscled arm around the bovine's thick neck and pulled on the thick metal ring to steer the animal away from Duo. “Me beast, must be smelling yer breakfast,” the caretaker gestured to the over turned bowl with a hardy laugh as he petted the bovine's wet nose.

 

“Thought ye'd ask for some didn't ya girl?” The musky man added with a smile, his eyes landing frequently on Quatre.

 

“Umm… girl. Right. It's ok.” Duo said giving the man a one shoulder shrug, wary of the bovine inching closer to Quatre. He glanced at Quatre's and watched his bright expression quickly become somber.

 

Quatre inclined his head slightly and waved.

 

Duo wondered who he was waving at and blinked, no one was working anymore. They were all watching Quatre.

 

“Sorry to interrupt. Please continue.”

 

Duo watched them return to work. Quatre pulled him forward into a walk with him. He'd forgotten that their hands were still joined and Duo felt the hair under his braid prickle on the back of his neck. He resisted the urge to look back and see who was staring at him... at them.

 

“They're jealous of you. Not many are at my side, as you are, unaided.” Quatre's voice cut across his thoughts as Quatre sent him a half smirk over his shoulder.

 

“Oh?” Duo added curiously still holding Quatre's hand even though they were walking at an easy pace.

 

“They think you are to be my bonded.” Quatre said coyly, his smirk growing as he swung their hands a little and trying to keep from laughing at the quizzical curl of emotion bubbling up in Duo's curiosity. And knew Duo hadn't caught on to what he was saying.

 

“Oh?” Duo repeated, guilelessly then a few strides later, Duo pulled his hand away. “Oh!”

 

Quatre snickered quietly to himself, waiting for Duo to walk with him again. He put on an innocently sad face at the feel of Duo's embarrassment.

 

“Do I...” Duo stared wide eyed at the blush on Quatre's face. Quatre's downcast eyes were ringed by long lashes nearly as light as his hair. Then he raised those slightly glowing aquamarine eyes to him, “Do I not appeal to you?”

 

“No... I mean yes.” He swallowed thickly, his mouth dry at the sudden heat pooling low in his stomach. He was surprised that someone so powerful would be interested in him. But there was also Heero.

 

Heero, powerful? That cocky bastard! It's all just attitude with him. Duo frowned, the thought lost its sting somewhere in its conception and ended up making him wonder what had happen to the man. Duo caught a flicker of something flash across Quatre's face, the blush was still there but he looked thoughtful.

 

“Quat-” Duo half began before he had to catch the blonde wielder, who slumped forward against him even though Duo was holding him up by his arms.

 

Quatre's head hit Duo's shoulder then rolled across it to his rest in the space between his neck and shoulder. Quatre's peach skin was pale and his forehead clammy against Duo's neck.

 

“Quatre, are you all right?” Duo asked him, looping an arm behind his back when he was sure Quatre's legs would keep him upright.

 

“Mmgh. Just tired... Let me rest a bit.” Quatre rasped out in a strangled whisper.

 

“Yea? Ok, take as long as you need.” Duo leaned against the tunnel wall, stroking the top of Quatre's head and hugging him. Quatre's eyes were tense narrow slits and his brows furrowed as he fought with the pain.

 

He's been hiding it all along… Duo sighed, resting his head against the side of Quatre's head, we are alike, you and me.

 

People passed them, a few stared but they didn't recognize Quatre for who he was. There was something, a rapport perhaps, that made doing things and even trusting Quatre so easy to do. He could understand why Quatre wouldn't want his people to know he was ill. He'd seen how the farm folk down here had watched him, eyes pinning him like a bug on a window. Duo couldn't help his sympathetic shiver at the thought of being the recipient of that kind of attention on a non-stop basis. He'd felt a little of it when they had left the area hand in hand and he wasn't sure he wanted that kind of scrutiny again.

 

Is this something all wielders have to deal with? Does the One experience this too? Duo wondered, his fingers twisting in a lock of Quatre's hair.

 

Duo lowered his head back to Quatre's, his long bangs shielding more of the blonde's face and ran his hand through the fine, soft hair at the base of Quatre's neck. They were pressed close enough to each other that the passing people mostly dismissed them as a couple sneaking away for a little time alone and that was fine with Duo if it gave Quatre more time to recover.

 

I wonder if he was serious about being bound to me. He wasn't against the idea of being Quatre's bonded. As if in answer, Quatre slumped against him in a way that brought them flushed against each other and Quatre's lips where a wisp away from his jaw. Quatre's every breath sent hot tingles of sensation from the sensitive skin at the hollow just below his earlobe and the hinge of his jaw. If he turned his head, the corners of their mouths would just barely touch...

 

“Quat!” Duo jerked against the blonde at the shriek and Quatre laughed weakly, hugging Duo to him.

 

“Enters the reason very few people approach me. You'd think…” Quatre started breathlessly, lips sending more pleasurable tingles across Duo's skin, “that she was in charge here with the way she treats me…”

 

Duo smiled guiltily and conspiringly. He remembered the golden haired woman at Quatre's side from one of his fevered memories. He watched the small woman charged through people like they were not even there. Some immediately hurried along, and others were forced to move by her stride alone - making him realize she was a force to be reckoned with. She marched over to them and Duo caught a glimpse of Wu Fei who parted silently from Thecla's side and started clearing away spectators from the tunnel with merely a look.

 

“Hey.” Duo said affably with a smile but Thecla paid him no heed, staring at the two them and frowning. Duo raised his eyebrows in surprise when the woman grabbed Quatre by the arm and yanked him away from him. “Hey!”

 

Duo grabbed her hand by the wrist, the same place she held Quatre's now, while Quatre kept his other arm around Duo.

 

“Quatre…” She gritted out cutting her eyes to Duo then back to him.

 

Duo glared at her, then smiled, it was a smile without feeling. He suddenly felt cold and the need to do something more prickled at him but he held it in check, wary of it. Not fully grasping what more the urge meant for him to do.

 

Thecla started to slap Duo's hand but stopped at the numbness radiating out from his hand. She looked up at him, confused and suddenly unnerved by Duo's eyes. They were so dark that no light reflected through them and she couldn't see herself in them. They made her feel as if there was something else there behind his eyes. She let go of Quatre and stopped herself from shaking Duo's hand off until he let go of her.

 

Duo's smile dropped away and he looked at her, frowning at her behavior. Had his first impression of her been wrong? He leaned back against the wall, Quatre followed. Duo eyed her for a long moment before one brow arched slightly, Jealousy?

 

He heard his own voice before he considered his words. “Why would you-”

 

“I'm sorry.” She cut Duo off, it was little more than a whisper but it carried weight. She rubbed at her wrist where Duo's hand had been, the skin was cold to the touch and tingled as feeling slowly returned. “Quatre's just so stubborn sometimes. He has to rest and it's so hard to get him to stay put long enough so all my healing can continue to work.”

 

Thecla's face colored at the admission, but Duo had the feeling that he was right about her being jealous.

 

“We can't lose him.” She added softly, stepping closer to them.

 

Duo sighed, “What's wrong with him?”

 

Thecla held her burning wrist against her thigh. “Wielders who use their ability too much suffer damage to their bodies... He would've been fine if whatever that girl did hadn't taken from him too.”

 

Duo gave her a quizzical look.

 

“How is he?” She asked, changing the subject and probably sensing he would ask more questions she didn't seem willing to answer.

 

“He's in a lot of pain from what I can tell.” Duo smiled down at the snort of air against his neck.

 

“I can hear still.” Quatre reminded.

 

“I'll have Wu Fei take him back to his room.”

 

“No, I don't want to go back.” Quatre said in a half whisper.

 

“You are acting like a child.” Thecla admonished, “Wu Fei, carry him if you need to.”

 

Duo tensed, his smile collapsing into a cynical smirk. He had thought the woman had been sincere and had went along with the teasing but the disdainful cut of her eyes came again. Her hazel eyes moving heatedly from him to Quatre made him believe otherwise. Duo started to move forward but Quatre stayed him with a hand to his stomach.

 

“Thecla?!” Quatre, irritated, turned to show her his displeased face.

 

She gave him an indulgent smile, “Since you don't listen to me, then why should I listen to you?”

 

Quatre pouted, “Because I'm your leader.”

 

Duo did smile at that; glad too that Quatre was feeling better.

 

“Then act like one.” Thecla said her tone firm and reproachful. “Be conscientious enough to know that when you take unnecessary risks you not only risk killing yourself but also risk the safety of all the people of Acai.”

 

Quatre was strangely silent. Duo, personally, didn't like any of it. It was as if Quatre was a prisoner in his own city.

 

Quatre nodded to her much like Duo had seen him do with the bovine caretaker back by the farms. “I understand. I'll go rest.”

 

Thecla smiled, the whole of her relaxing and Duo wanted to slap that smile right off her face.

 

She inclined her head and turned to the shapeshifter, “Wu Fei will-”

 

“That'll be unnecessary.” Quatre told her, grabbing Duo's hand and pulling him into a brisk walk past Thecla.

 

“Quatre?!” She glared, her legs already carrying her after them and her hand outstretched as if she meant to grab one of them.

 

Duo knew from her angry strut that that one would be him. Duo followed her with his eyes, watching her get closer. Quatre stopped suddenly and Duo nearly walked into him.

 

“Do not presume,” Quatre spun to face Thecla who stopped at his sharp regard of her, “that you can dictate every matter in my life. Concern yourself, not with whom I take to my bed, but to your own duties! It is enough that I'm complying with your request.” With that said, he walked away with Duo in tow leaving a stunned Thecla and smirking Wu Fei behind them.

 

Quatre kept them going at a steady pace, pass a rocky enclave where Duo glimpsed Newt lounging lazily on a high perch and through a round dining area. Duo felt the weight of eyes on them again but this time it didn't bother him as much. He shook off the feeling and snagged an apple off a table of fruit. He was half way done with it when Quatre spoke to him.

 

“Your room.” Quatre said, pointing to a dwelling on his right with a mat of weaved reeds and a large basket of goods set in front of the entryway. Duo glanced at the cloth covering the entryway in astonishment. He'd never had a place of his own. But Quatre pulled him toward the next dwelling before he could give it anymore thought, “Here's mine.”

 

Duo stared at the rooms' interior as he entered at Quatre's behest. It wasn't by any means extravagant. Not at all what Duo expected a ruler to live in; Heero's rooms came close. The room was plain. There was a basket of discarded things back by the entryway, a comfortable looking bed with an open chest of clothes at its foot and a cushioned indention in the far wall. The dwelling gave Duo the feeling of impermanence and said little of the blonde wielder crossing the space in front of him.

 

“I heard...” Duo started, slouching and crossing his arms, holding them both at the elbows, “you intend to bed me?” Duo said the last with a smirk.

 

Quatre was breathing heavily when he stopped in the middle of the room, the rush to get there finally catching up to him. “You didn't have to come with me here.”

 

Duo shrugged his smirk still in place, “I don't really mind, it wasn't like you actually meant it.”

 

Quatre frowned, turning to Duo fully. “But isn't this what upsets you about Heero? I was toying with you, using and manipulating you out there?”

 

Duo was surprised and hesitant to confirm what Quatre had said because he wasn't sure how the blonde could possibly know what he'd been thinking. He shrugged again straightening from his easy slouch, “It's different.”

 

Because I really wanted to go to bed with you. Duo thought, curious to see Quatre's reaction.

 

Quatre's frown became quizzical, his expression thoughtful as though he was reading something, “It's different?”

 

So you aren't a mind reader. Duo smiled and stepped forward, watching Quatre's eyes track the movement but his pupils remain unchanged. “Why do you not acknowledge that you can't see?”

 

“What?” Quatre became paler but his expression hardly changed, a smile played on his lips that lacked the good humor it suggested. “I'm not sure what you mean?”

 

Duo brought one hand up and taped his chin in thought, “Well, I guess, not the way that most people can.” Duo tilted his head, ducking in lowly to catch Quatre's eyes when Quatre turned away from him. “There's a slight glow, you know like Heero. But you only see it if you really look.”

 

Quatre laughed it off, pushing Duo back when he continued to stare into his eyes, “Duo.”

 

“Aha! See! Right there!” Duo smiled widely, catching Quatre's chin and tilting his head.

 

Quatre glowered at him, taking Duo's hand calmly away from his face.

 

Duo smiled sheepishly, cupping the back of Quatre's cold hand with his other one. “Sorry, I'd like to think I'm good at reading people, I guess I got carried away.”

 

Quatre bit his lip, and looked away from him.

 

Duo could see, even though Quatre had a calm and contemplative expression on his face, Quatre was struggling with something. He pulled Quatre around and jumped backward onto the bed. He bounced until he was all the way onto the bed. Duo leaned back on his elbows, his long legs spread, his thick braid snaking across his chest with the frayed end resting by his belly button where his tunic had ridden up.

 

“So that announcement about bedding me wasn't true?” Duo teased, his slightly kicking feet giving away how nervous he truly felt about it.

 

Quatre smiled, moving tiredly to the chest of clothes and throwing some at Duo. “Yes.”

 

All movement stopped from the bed but Quatre didn't need that to tell him about how Duo felt when Duo's jittery emotions came clearly to him. Quatre striped off his tunic and felt nervous fascination edge towards uncertainty and mistrust. “You can bed down on the bed since you like it so much.” Quatre slipped on a worn robe and tied it shut before he dropped his pants, “I, on the other hand, prefer the den which is where I'll be sleeping until your bed is made and brought to your room.”

 

Duo stared at Quatre for a long moment before he dropped back onto the bed. “Good,” Duo said in a relieved breath.

 

Quatre did laugh then, “Come on, we should bathe before I rest-” Quatre frowned at the sudden flare of distress he got from Duo, “but you don't have to join me, it's just so you know how to get there. You are free to go wherever ... Duo? “

 

Duo smiled up at the ceiling, “Are we talking about a bathing area that's small and not so deep?”

 

Quatre nodded, picking apart the emotional clot screaming at him from the braided man.

 

“We're talking about a place that isn't, ya know?”

 

“No, I don't know what you mean.” Quatre shook his head, but he could feel that Duo was calming down.

 

“Um... Private?”

 

Quatre arched a brow and gave Duo a smirk, “Duo, we're not going to do anything. Really. The alcove I commonly use lends us some privacy and occasionally someone may walk through but women and men use it at different times.”

 

Duo shook his head, threw on the robe over his clothes and pulled Quatre to the entryway.

 

“I'm not worried about that.” He gave Quatre a saucy grin and Quatre smiled at the mixed emotions of ease, excitement and mischievous that downplayed the nervous fear Duo still worried about. Quatre kicked about for his soft soled shoes before Duo could pull him out into the hall.

 

“Lead the way!” Duo announced to the empty hall and Quatre shook his head, still feeling Duo's trepidation but now not so sure of its source.

 

Quatre smiled at Duo as he slipped on his shoes and showed him a wall that wasn't. It was a side corridor that led to a descending walkway. It was angled so that no matter the lighting or shadow, the entry to the corridor was hidden without closer inspection.

 

Duo smiled back, following Quatre down the walkway with nervous anticipation.

 

 

Tbc…