Disclaimers and warnings in first part.
TEN YEARS – PART 6
“Hey, Duo. What’s up?” one of the sweepers in the bay shouted loudly, laughing when he grabbed his aching head in response. Not even the sound of mirth could make him stop trudging his way through the scattered remains of old ships and skiffs that were in need of repair or recycling. Instead of turning around to face them, he lifted his middle finger in a salute, sending the group into a fresh round of laughter at his misery. Moving like an old man, he gathered his tools, stripping off his shirt in concession to the sweltering heat, then slid under the old shuttle.
His work was slow, but steady, the ache in his head eventually easing. His mood improved as he continued to repair the ship Howard seemed to have such fond memories of. He was checking the connection to the boosters when he heard a voice near his feet, easily recognizing it from years of knowledge.
Rolling the creeper out, he grinned up at the man, happy to see Howard looked much worse than he felt. “How ya holdin’ up, old man?”
“Shut up, you little smart-ass. I was happy to hear you were suffering this morning, but apparently somebody was lying.” Howard leaned against the hull of the ship, rubbing his head wearily. “I can’t believe you made it back to your room last night.”
Recalling snippets of his journey through the large ship, Duo chuckled, “I may have interrupted a few things, but I eventually managed to make it back in one piece. I even made a phone call after I got to my room.”
Tipping his glasses down on his nose, Howard studied him with narrowed eyes before pushing them back up. “When ya leavin’?”
Not surprised the older man would be able to read his decision in his eyes, Duo grinned, feeling happy for the first time in a long while. “I’ve got enough time to get this bucket running again for ya, Howard. You know I couldn’t just let you try to fix it on your own.”
Taking a deep breath, Duo stepped onto the elevator, crammed inside with people going to the top of Peace Tower to celebrate the New Year. Getting out, he moved away from the thick crowds, easily locating the stairs and going to the level below. It was a pleasure to find the entire floor deserted, the large windows that stared across the city void of gawkers. He hadn’t been inside the tower in ten years and though he still didn’t understand how it was supposed to represent peace, he had to admit it was a modern wonder.
With at least an hour to spare, he wandered around the floor, looking out the glass to the city lights beyond, wishing that one window had been left out so he could feel the wind across his face. It hadn’t been anticipation that had him coming straight here from the shuttle port, but a need to be alone. In a short time, his life would change, no matter what happened. He wanted some time to come to terms with the different options and make sure he was prepared for any likelihood.
Fifteen minutes passed when he was approached by a man in a security uniform. “Sir, you aren’t supposed to be on this level tonight. The celebration is confined to the top floor. I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Understanding, Duo smiled, “Can I have a few more minutes? The last time I was here was before the place was even finished.”
The guard frowned, moving closer. Eyes framed in a weathered face warmed, “You’re Duo Maxwell, one of the Gundam five. I’d recognize you anywhere.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“You boys did a good job back then, and then you did a great job of helping my boy in your class. He was shocked when I told him what you were before becoming a teacher. I think you were the only reason he managed to pass. He always hated learning history before getting in your class.” The man shook Duo’s hand so hard his teeth threatened to rattle. “You stay here as long as you want. Any of the Gundam pilots have permission to be here anytime.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
The man laughed heartily, “What’re they gonna do? Fire me for letting in a Gundam pilot? I don’t think so. You take your time and have a good new year.”
Duo let his smile fade as the guard left him alone, wondering if his new year would be a good one or not. Strengthening the resolve to accept whatever happened, he let himself lean against the glass and look out, just as fascinated by the view as he had been as a teenager. Already knowing he could be spending the rest of the night alone, he made himself comfortable, prepared for a long wait.
Not even five minutes had passed when he heard a small noise behind him. He forced himself not to tense, not moving as soft footsteps neared, carrying the scent of the man he wondered if he could live without, and knowing he might have to no matter what he wanted. Determined to have at least one night where he could fully belong to the man he yearned for, he took a deep breath.
The air stuck in his lungs when arms came around him from behind, trapping him between a hard body and the glass. “You came,” Trowa’s words were a whisper of breath against his ear, making him shudder. “I didn’t think you would come.”
“We made a deal remember? If I regretted not sleeping with you that night and believed I knew you well enough, I’d be here.”
“Did you regret it?”
Choosing to tell the truth, he stared at the sparkling lights, “Sometimes I did others I didn’t.”
Trowa was silent for a moment, “Do you know me well enough?”
Turning his head, he was able to meet the green eyes watching him. “I thought I did, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Then why did you come?”
“I had to.”
When he was abruptly released, Duo turned and watched as Trowa backed away, green eyes guarded. “You had to?” the tall man glanced around dramatically. “I don’t see anyone forcing you to be here, Duo.”
“I had to come for me,” Duo explained, baffled by the other man’s anger. “I had to know if you would come.”
“That’s the only reason you came? To see if I would show up?”
Wishing for courage to look Trowa in the eye, Duo sent his eyes back to the window. “I had to know if you felt anything for me, even if it was only lust. I think I can live with one night between us, if that’s what you want.”
“Christ, Duo. Is that what you think of me? I never wanted a one-night stand, not ten years ago and not now.”
“Then why did you leave without even saying goodbye?” Duo demanded when ten years’ worth of pain and anger rose to the surface.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to leave if I had talked to you. One word from you and I would’ve stayed.”
With a small smile, Duo tilted his head and regarded the other man, “One word from you and I would have left with you. Watching you leave was one of the most painful things I’ve lived through.”
Trowa took a hesitant step forward, “You said you never thought of me after I left that day.”
“I lied. I’m pretty good at it now; I’ve had plenty of practice.”
The honesty had Trowa laughing briefly. With a shake of his head he came closer, his head lowered toward Duo. “When you asked if it bothered me that you dated all of those guys, I said it didn’t. I lied. I wanted to kill every one of them. The thought of you being held by them, touched by them and not me destroyed me every time you went out.”
The admission prompted another one from Duo. “I only slept with two of them, Trowa. One before you came back and the other right after you showed up. I slept with each of them once.”
“Why not more? Why not sleep with any of the others since then? Why didn’t you sleep with whoever offered a night with them while you were with the Sweepers?”
Blushing deeply, Duo ducked his head, “They weren’t you. After that night,” he faltered, searching for the words he needed. “After that kiss nothing was the same anymore. It was like you opened something inside me I didn’t understand; then left without giving me time to figure anything out.”
“When did you decide you were going to come tonight?”
Angling his body closer to Trowa’s, he tilted his face up. “I guess I’ve known for a long time what I would do, but I didn’t admit it until the night after I got drunk with Howard.”
Apparently the answer satisfied Trowa, who grew silent. Needing to know, Duo gave voice to the question that had been plaguing him for weeks. “Why didn’t you want me to worry about you? Why did you get so angry with me?”
“I wasn’t mad at you, Duo. I was mad at myself. Every time you said you worried I would get my hopes up that you cared for me as more than a friend; then I would try to back away. The only way I knew to step back was by making you mad. It didn’t work, because instead of you being mad, I hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you. It almost killed me when I found out you had left and wouldn’t take my calls.”
“I couldn’t talk to you until I decided if being your friend was worth the pain I went through every time I saw you. I needed to make that choice before I spoke to you again.”
“I almost didn’t come tonight.”
Duo’s hands clenched at his sides, his heart aching. “Just here for amusement, man? Wanted to see if I was stupid enough to show after all the shit you’ve given me in the last month or so?”
“It was painful to think about going on the way we have been, Duo. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know if you would be here or not.” Trowa smiled as he reached out to touch Duo’s arm lightly, as if afraid to do more. “I guess you could say I had to come, too. I had to know if there was a chance for us to be more than friends.”
Tiring of a conversation that seemed to be running in circles without making anything clear, Duo slanted his eyes at Trowa, “So what do we do now? Go home and have sex?” He grinned when the tall man visibly jerked to stare at him with wide eyes.
“It’s a start, but I don’t plan on going anywhere after one night, Duo. That’s not enough for me.”
“Not for me either. I might have need of a roommate pretty soon, but you’ll have to help me keep up with my stuff. I’ve been told I’m forgetful.”
“I have a very organized mind,” retorted Trowa, lowering his head.
Duo lifted his head, his mouth curving in a smile when he heard voices above them united in a countdown. “Should we make another deal? If we’re still interested in a year, we can -” his words were cut off as Trowa’s mouth covered his.
This time there were no reservations as he wound his arms around Trowa, letting the taller man control the kiss. Feeling a hand work under his shirt, he gasped, trembling as strong fingers stroked the sensitive skin of his lower back. Realizing Trowa’s other hand was quickly working on the button of his pants, he pulled his head away, “Trowa, there’s a security guard…”
“I saw him and told him we needed some time alone then locked the doors to this level. No one’s getting in until I unlock them.” Green eyes searched Duo’s face as cheers went up from the top level, signaling the end of one year and the beginning of the next. “If you want to wait until we get home, I don’t mind. It’s whatever you want; as long as you know I won’t be leaving you again.”
Shaking his head, Duo pulled Trowa to the floor. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a new year, can you?”
END
Back to part 5 Back to Fanfiction