Warnings and disclaimers on first part.
THE END OF THE MUNDANE – PART 4
Wednesday afternoon I’m deep into a case file, trying to decide which team it would be best to send. I can justify using one of Duo’s teams, but it seems overkill for such a menial task and I acknowledge his teams have been used more often than any others of late, meaning the agents are likely in need of a break. Finally making my decision, I call the team leader. Sitting back in my chair and rubbing the soreness out of my neck while waiting for the line to be answered. As soon as the screen comes on, I drop my hands and my face reveals none of the weariness I feel at having to make such decisions day after day. “Jones, I need you to take your alpha and delta teams to provide security for the L5 ambassador due to arrive tomorrow morning.” Spying his small smile I frown, “Is there something amusing about that?”
“No, sir,” the silver-haired man replies soberly, “my mind was on something else entirely. Send me the details and we’ll be ready, sir.”
“Sending them now, good luck, Jones.”
“Luck to you as well, sir.”
I stare at the screen, where the agent has disconnected the call. “What the hell was that about?”
“Word has gotten out about the… dare between you and Duo,” Une notes as she enters my office. Sitting down, she taps her fingers on the arm of the chair, “An e-mail was sent to several agents this morning, including myself and Sally.”
“Damn,” is the only reply I have, not sure if I should be embarrassed or not. I don’t care if people know about the challenge; I just don’t want any rumors going around that cause Duo to be uncomfortable.
“I can imagine by now pretty much every agent in the Preventer organization is aware of the generalities, if not the specifics, including the branch offices on the colonies. So fill me in,” she adds when I remain quiet.
“On what?” I become engrossed in the open file on my desk.
“Tell me what this is all about, Trowa. I always thought when you two finally became involved it would be a bit more discreet, at least for a while.”
“It’s not like that,” I insist, no matter how much I wish it was. When she watches me steadily I feel my face heat, “I don’t think he should be going on a hit. It’s too dangerous. If he can capture or trap me in some way I stop fighting him on it.”
Still tapping her fingers, Une asks doubtfully, “And if he does prove successful, what will you do?”
“Keep my word,” I answer with no hesitation. I’ve given this a lot of thought in the last two days. “I’ll hate it, but I’ll go along with his decision.”
She leans toward me, elbows on her knees. “Why don’t you tell him you don’t want him to go because of how you feel?”
Anyone else would have gotten a run-around. Though I rarely use that talent, I can dodge a question with the same confidence Duo has when I don’t care to answer. Running a pen through my fingers, I choose my words carefully, “He doesn’t need to hear that kind of thing from me. He considers me a friend. If he had ever shown an interest in more…” I shrug, letting the rest of the sentence fall away. Needing a change of subject, I tap the end of my pen on the file, “Jones is taking lead on the ambassador.”
“So I heard. The committee is deliberating the sanction. As of right now, it looks like the request will be approved.”
“That was fast.” The wince is automatic and impossible to stop.
“They see the disturbance Castillo is causing and are aware this is the tip of the iceberg.”
I shake my head quickly, telling her silently I don’t want to discuss it. “How is Sally?”
For a moment she stares at me, her eyes narrowing because I refuse to talk about what she deems important. Eventually she laughs, a carefree sound most can’t associate with someone of her reputation, “A natural at motherhood,” she speaks of her best friend with amusement combined with affection. “Chang seems to be having some bad moments at having a boy. He keeps saying his son will grow up to respect all women, especially his mother.”
Laughter comes easily as I let my other worries fade into the back of my mind, finding the humor in imagining Wufei ranting on the subject. “Sally started practicing mothering on us a long time ago,” I recall fondly.
“She did say Duo came to see her at the hospital Monday night with a box filled with toys and a stuffed dragon Wufei needed help getting in the car,” Une’s laugh is full and throaty, filling my office, “I’d love to know where he found a human-sized dragon.”
“With Duo there’s no telling. He has connections everywhere. He’s already spoiled Heero’s kids rotten, so I guess Wufei needs to lay down some rules like Heero.”
As soon as she leaves I feel totally alone. Why there hasn’t been any laughter in my own office is not a mystery. I’m rarely able to find amusement in the situations I deal with every day. The only laughs have belonged to others for the last several months and it’s a depressing thought. Hopefully, I haven’t lost my own sense of humor when I lost my spontaneity, but it’s not looking good.
I frown, recalling the sensation of being watched for the last two nights. I had believed it was Duo, but it’s impossible for anyone to be in two places at once. It must have been my imagination playing tricks on me. As far as the deal with Duo is concerned, I’m cheating. I know I’m perfectly safe at home and have limited my time outside of the apartment to driving back and forth to work, which is honestly not much of an alteration from my normal, dull existence. I have dinner delivered, making sure to check the peephole before opening the door.
For the time being my usual routine has been tossed aside. It would be too easy for Duo to catch me unaware if I continue to be so predictable and I’ve found that letting go of the strict restrictions I put on myself has helped me feel better than I have in a number of months. This morning I actually slept until my alarm went off and was pleased at the small accomplishment. This, more than anything else, reaffirms how sad my life has become.
Nearing the end of the day, I catch movement outside my door. Using my hair as a shield, I barely hide my astonishment when I see Duo standing there watching me with a strange expression. Apparently he’s been working out in the gym and has discarded his shirt at some point, leaving his chest bare and glistening with sweat that’s dripped down to dampen the workout pants he wears. It’s oddly erotic to realize his feet are adorned in a pair of flip-flops he wears while in the Preventers shower room.
Outwardly, I remain calm while inside my heart pounds in my chest and my groin jumps in appreciation of the view. I make a few quick notes on the computer and then speak, wondering why Duo jerks at the sound of my voice. “This is a surprise.”
“Um, yeah; can we talk for a minute?”
Looking closer I see the embarrassment and contemplate the source of it. Duo is embarrassed about as often as he is afraid, which is never. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I guess.” His feet shift nervously and his eyes are going everywhere, but at me. “The thing is…I guess someone found out about this thing between us…the challenge thing. I wanted you to know I didn’t tell anyone and… I understand if you want to call the whole thing off.”
I smile slowly, finding his nerves endearing rather than annoying, “We work with a number of good agents, Duo. It’s surprising no one said anything about the deal five minutes after we shook on it. If you want to quit, I win by default.” I’m not surprised when Duo’s eyes finally meet mine at the last statement.
“I didn’t say anything about quitting. I just didn’t want you feeling uncomfortable when your name was linked to mine.”
“They’ve been linked before. We’ve been friends for a number of years,” the reminder leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Apparently frustrated, Duo flings himself into a chair, his fingers raking through his hair, damp with sweat. “I don’t think you and I are hearing the same rumors. We’re being linked as a lot more than friends.”
Why comprehension is so slow I can’t explain, but when I realize what he means I nod, bitter at the reality of my situation. “That bothers you.” It’s not a question.
“Not really,” Duo shifts his legs, forcing my eyes to them. I believe there are actually miles of leg hidden under his clothes and can easily imagine them wrapped around me. When he shrugs I pull my gaze back to his face with a blush I can feel and hope he doesn’t notice. “Won’t that mess with your personal life, though?”
I can honestly say it takes me a few long seconds to come up with a response because of the shock of his statement. “Who has time for a personal life when they work here?” I smile when he laughs; glad I seem to have retained some of my sense of humor, after all. “So, are we good? Is our challenge still in play?”
He remains quiet for a moment, his face thoughtful. When he nods I let out a breath of relief I wasn’t aware of holding. I don’t want the challenge between us to end yet, curious as to which one of us would actually outsmart the other. Standing, he stretches, my gaze moving to where his pants drop another inch without my deciding to do so. Realizing I’m staring, I force my eyes to his face, giving a jerk of my own when I find him smiling at me slyly. “I’m outta here for the day after I shower. Just wanted to make sure we were okay.”
I wait for half an hour before shutting down my computer, my mind not on my work at all. I can only think of the way Duo’s exposed skin had been pale against his dark pants and of the knowing smile he gave me before leaving.
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