redemption1

On with the fic!!

 

 

REDEMPTION – PART 1

 

 

 

Nine twenty-five… Nine twenty-six…  Nine twenty-seven…

 

He stood at the window, watching the sidewalk beyond.  The regular pedestrians didn’t capture his attention for long, if he noticed their passage at all as they scurried from one place to the next.  His eyes were focused on the crosswalk, waiting…hoping…Nine twenty-eight…  Nine twenty-nine…

 

A flash of black caught his eye, his breath catching as he trained his gaze to the spot where he had seen the darker color mixed in with all the others, moving nothing but his eyes as he watched the crowd.  His wait was rewarded when the lean figure he had been looking for emerged from the crowd, black coat flapping around his legs, a cup clasped in a slender hand and a black cap covering the head.  Wide eyes were intent as the black clad figure agilely moved around people without ever touching any of them, a part of the walking traffic, but apart from it at the same time.  It took mere seconds before the figure slipped into the store next door, out of his line of sight.

 

Trowa sighed, turning away from the window, content for the time being now that he had been able to complete his morning weekday routine.  His simple happiness of seeing the object of his growing obsession faded when he found a pair of amused dark eyes watching him, a smirk accompanying them.  “What?” he asked, immediately on the defensive.

 

“What is it going to take for you to actually strike up a conversation with your dream date?” Wufei asked with an evil grin.  “It’s not like you don’t know where he works or anything,” he added, waving a hand in the general direction of the bookstore that had opened next door seven months previously.

 

For the last three months, Trowa had been at the window every weekday morning between nine-twenty and nine-thirty, waiting for the young man to complete his mad dash through the other people on the sidewalk, ostensibly in order to get to work on time.  More often than not, the man in the long black coat was nearly running in order to reach the store by nine-thirty.  It hadn’t taken Wufei very long to figure out what, or rather who, Trowa was watching for.  It had actually taken Trowa much longer to figure out the other man’s schedule after seeing him for the first time.

 

 

“I couldn’t talk to him,” the taller man hissed, his face blushing at the mere thought of trying to carry on a conversation with someone so…alive.  “He’s out of my league, Wufei.  It’s better to watch from here than get rejected close up.”

 

The Chinese man sighed, sitting on the corner of his desk.  As the owner of one of the most popular modeling agencies in the country, he was able to work anywhere he wanted.  He had chosen this area as his base of operations not only for the beautiful weather and the beautiful people, but also for the close proximity to his childhood friend.  He was just lucky that Trowa was also one of the most sought after photographers in the modeling business, a fact he used to his advantage ruthlessly, enhancing both of their reputations.  “Why don’t you just go over and look around for a book?  At least that way you could see if he’s attractive.  You’ve only seen him from a distance.  He may be hideous up close.”

 

Trowa frowned, the suggestion that the man would be unattractive boggling his mind a bit.  “And if he asked me something, or spoke to me?”

 

“I seriously doubt he would ask you anything other than if you required any assistance finding a book,” the dark-haired man snorted, wishing not for the first time that his friend and partner wasn’t so shy.  “If he asks if you need any help, you could tell him that you are looking for a book on photography.”

 

“Why would I need any books on photography?  I’m a photographer.”  Trowa couldn’t help the incredulous look on his face, totally baffled at his friend’s suggestion.

 

“It was just an example, Trowa,” Wufei frowned as the phone on his desk rang.  He didn’t have any appointments for another hour and had been looking forward to harassing his best friend that morning.  “Just go look around while I take this call.  Get a cup of coffee for me on your way back.”

 

Obviously dismissed, Trowa watched as Wufei answered the call, settling down in the leather chair.  Trowa preferred to be in his office in the studio at the back of the rented space, more comfortable surrounded by his equipment.  He didn’t like being seen by a lot of people, such as when the passers-by on the sidewalk would look in the window, curious as to what the men did inside.  No signs, other than a small phone number etched on the door gave anyone any clues.  Wufei did not believe in mass advertising, preferring to rely on word-of-mouth.  So far, the Chinese businessman hadn’t been wrong; their clientele list was impressive, representing some of the most well-known models in the world. 

 

Swallowing his nervousness, he decided to go next door, just for a peek.  He really had no hopes of actually talking to the other man - someone that beautiful was bound to be either taken, straight, or would have no interest in someone as introverted and shy as Trowa, but now that Wufei had brought up the subject of the man being unattractive, he was strangely curious to know.

 

Without telling Wufei what he was doing, Trowa pushed out the door and walked the short distance to the store next door.  He took some time to study the window displays, trying to calm his racing heart.  After learning that a bookstore was opening he had been thrilled.  In his youth, he had nurtured a love for the written word in any shape or form, and was looking forward to expanding his already large collection.

 

During the first few weeks after the grand opening of the store, christened ‘Redemption’, the modeling agency had been so busy he hadn’t been able to get away during store hours.  When their hours had finally lessened, Trowa had been in the process of going to the door to visit the store for the first time and had seen the man that had quickly taken a place in his mind.  He had lost the courage to go to the store.  Instead, he had chosen to spend the mornings waiting for the man to show up again, and had eventually figured out the pattern.

 

That was when he had begun to watch every morning, hoping for a glimpse of the man that had remained with him, his mind weaving fantasies he knew would never actually happen.  After all, that’s what fantasies were, right?

 

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he pushed the door open and walked inside, scanning the shelves and rows of books in every size, shape, and color.  He instantly felt more at ease, the sight and scent of the tomes something familiar to him from his childhood.  If he had ever needed refuge, and he often had, he had hidden in the library of the small town where he and Wufei had grown up, losing himself in the fantasies of other worlds through words.

 

It didn’t take long for him to forget his reason for journeying to the store in the first place.  In a very short time, he managed to lose himself in a row of new releases, crouching on the floor in order to see the titles and authors better.  Because of this, he was caught off guard at the sound of a voice behind him, making him jump slightly and lose his balance, crashing to his rear in the floor before he was able to catch himself.

 

“Damn, I’m so sorry.  I thought you heard me coming down the aisle.  I didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” a low voice said, sounding as embarrassed as Trowa felt.

 

Trowa kept his head down for a moment, trying to recover from his shock.  With his luck, he already knew who the owner of that unbelievably sexy voice was.  He was hoping that if he didn’t acknowledge the man, he would go away and keep him from embarrassing himself any further. 

 

Apparently, his luck had gotten up and taken a hike.  He felt a hand on his shoulder and sensed someone crouching down beside him.  He looked up into the face of the man he had been admiring from afar, and almost blushed from the thoughts going through his mind.  At least he could tell Wufei that not only was this man not ugly close up, he was far more attractive than Trowa had believed.

 

“Hey, are you okay?”

 

Trowa stared into the most entrancing pair of eyes he had ever seen.  The color seemed to shift from blue to violet from one minute to the next, mesmerizing him.  It wasn’t until he realized that he was staring that he managed to nod and look away.  Only to blink the next moment when a hand appeared in front of his face, offering some help up. 

 

Taking the hand, he allowed the other man to help him to his feet, keeping his head down.  He blushed and jumped when gentle hands began to brush at the bottom of his pants legs.  “I really am sorry about that,” the other man repeated, leaning up.  “My name’s Duo.  I own the place,” he smiled widely, gesturing wildly with his arms.

 

Mentally, Trowa was silently reminding himself not to stare.  He had seen some of the world’s most beautiful models, but none of them had been this attractive to him.  This man- Duo - was alive in a way most people only dreamed of, apparently living life to the fullest every day, embracing whatever came up with a verve that was mind-boggling.  The long coat had been concealing a body that was enhanced by the threadbare jeans, faded blue t-shirt, and untied combat boots.  The man was a few inches shorter than his own six foot three, but Trowa thought this man was the perfect height to embrace, the chestnut covered head would rest just below his own chin, fitting perfectly together.

 

He finally realized Duo had been waiting for some sort of response, so he looked away from the heart-shaped face and inquisitive eyes in order to form a coherent answer.  “I like it here,” his voice came out barely above a whisper, but apparently the man before him could hear him just fine.

 

“I do, too.  Guess that’s a good thing, since I’m here almost every day.  I really didn’t mean to startle you so badly.  Is there anything that I can help you find?  Were you looking for anything in particular?”

 

“Your phone number.”  Trowa didn’t realize he had actually said that out loud for several seconds.  When he did, his eyes grew wide and his hands came up to defend himself.  He couldn’t believe-

 

“Do I get your name first?”

 

“T-Trowa.  Trowa Barton.  I work next door,” again he gave himself a mental slap.  Why did he turn into such a moron when he became nervous?  Duo might have been just trying to make him feel better by asking for his name in exchange for his number.  Trowa was pretty sure that he didn’t really want to know anything else about him, so he needed to stop offering information.

 

“Was there anything else I could help you find, other than my number?”  When Trowa gave him a helpless look, Duo seemed to relent, offering a gentle smile, “How about some coffee?”

 

“Now?”

 

The other man shrugged, “Now is just as good as later, right?  Do you have a few minutes to spare?”  When Trowa stared at him in surprise, Duo visibly deflated.  “It was just an idea.  If you change your mind, I’ll be up at the counter.”  He smiled again, but it didn’t reach his eyes this time.

 

Dumbfounded and totally rattled by the change in events, Trowa could only watch as Duo walked away.  He was about to speak when he caught sight of the long braid for the first time, his words becoming a squeak.  When the other man turned to him again, he abandoned all hope of sounding even slightly normal.  “I’ve never seen your hair.  It never showed in the mornings.  Your coat always covered it up.”  Once again realizing what he said a bit too late, he groaned and covered his face with his hands, aware of the eyes watching him closely.  “I swear I’m not a stalker or anything, you just …stand out in a crowd.  I’ll be going now.”

 

He brushed past the man, taking a chance and letting his fingers graze the long rope of hair, assuming that this was the closest he would ever be able to get to Duo now.  Trowa entered the office next door almost at a run, making Wufei jump when the door slammed behind him. 

 

“Trowa?” was the only thing the Chinese man managed to say before the tall photographer breezed past him, heading for the sanctuary his own office provided.  Wufei followed, wondering what could have happened in the half hour that his friend had been gone.  When he found Trowa, the tall man had his head on the desk, rolling it from side to side.  “I’m guessing it went badly.  So he really was ugly?”

 

Sitting up, Trowa groaned.  “He’s beautiful, Wufei.  And he probably thinks I’m completely and totally insane.  Every time I opened my mouth, something would pop out I didn’t want to say.  I asked him for his phone number!”

 

One elegant eyebrow rose, “Isn’t that a good thing?”

 

“It would have been, if I hadn’t freaked out when I saw his hair,” another moan and Trowa’s head was back on the table.  “I let it slip that I’ve been watching him.  I don’t guess I’ll ever get to go get coffee with him.  He has the most amazing hair…and eyes, and his name is Duo,” at the realization that he was rambling, he let out another groan. 

 

“You asked him to go get coffee?”  Wufei boggled at the thought.  Trowa was normally so shy and reserved that he couldn’t get out more than a garbled sentence to a stranger.  The fact that he had managed to have an almost normal conversation with someone he was attracted to was a minor miracle.

 

“He asked me.  Then I went all schizo on him and left.  I’m pretty sure he’s glad I did.”

 

“Actually, I was really hoping you would want to go have coffee,” Trowa jumped up so fast that the chair he had been sitting in fell over.  Spinning, he found Duo leaning in the doorway with a smile on his face.  With a broad grin, the braided man held out his hand, revealing the small piece of paper he had.  “Besides, you forgot my number.”

 

When he stood unmoving for several seconds, Wufei gave Trowa a sharp kick to his shin to get him moving.  With a short glare at his friend he crossed the small space, taking the offered paper, a small shiver going through his body when their fingers touched. 

 

Duo grinned at him, feeling a thrill of his own.  Turning away, he gave the man watching him a wink.  “Call me when you’re ready to get that coffee, Trowa.”  His odd eyes made a slow perusal of Trowa’s body before moving back to his face.  “By the way, the jeans you wore yesterday looked a lot better on you, they showed off your body better,” he almost growled before leaving, putting a bit of extra sway in his hips, making his braid dance across his ass.

 

Wufei had to force his jaw shut as he watched the man walk away.  “Holy shit,” he breathed, letting out a low whistle, getting Trowa’s attention.  “If you decide not to call him, let me have the number, would you?”

 

Giving a slow smile while studying the number in his hand, Trowa shook his head, “I think I’ll hang on to it for a while, if that’s okay with you.”

 

“And if I said it wasn’t okay?”

 

“I would have to tell you that it’s just too damn bad.”  With a grin, Trowa went to work, getting his cameras ready for the day ahead.  His luck was looking up and he hoped that it would only get better.

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