Disclaimer: Not mine. Somebody else’s. There, I said it.
Warnings: Look in the first part. They’re all there.
As he was towed into the fifth store, Trowa attempted to get Zechs to let him go with no luck. When the blonde began going through different types of tuxedos offered, he tried to get the other man to listen to him, for the fourth time. “Zechs, the one we saw in the first store was fine. We should go back and get it.”
“Nonsense; the cut was wrong. It didn’t fit right over your shoulders. It looked like it was bought off a store rack, darling,” argued the blonde, as he had every time Trowa had brought it up.
“There was nothing wrong with it.” Trowa didn’t mention that the tuxedo was going to be bought off a store rack, already aware it would be the wrong thing to say.
Straightening, Zechs pouted down at him, “You want to look good for your date with Duo, don’t you?”
“It’s not a date, it’s a favor.”
“That is the wrong attitude. You need to think of it as a date.” When Trowa crossed his arms over his chest, Zechs sighed dramatically, “He didn’t hesitate when I suggested you go with him. It’s the first time he’s accepted a date for anything in the four years I’ve known him, unless my mother forced a date down his throat for one of these things. This is a momentous occasion and I intend to make sure you look so good he won’t know what hits him when he sees you.”
“Shouldn’t need much help,” a saleswoman said helpfully. “Not with a body like that.”
Grinning like a loon, Zechs leaned over the counter, ignoring the red hue on Trowa’s face. “If you were a gay man, would you be interested?”
“Honey, if I was a gay woman I’d still look twice and maybe three times.”
“Unfortunately, the man we’re trying to get to notice him might be straight,” Zechs confided. “We need something to catch his attention.”
“I have just the thing.”
Forty-five minutes later, Trowa had to admit that compared to this tux, the first one looked like rags. The fabric of the jacket molded to his shoulders perfectly and the pants clung to him without being too tight or restrictive. He was about to tell the woman he would buy it until he caught sight of the discreet price tag. “Zechs,” he hissed, bringing the other man to his side. “I can’t get this.”
“Trowa, you have to; it’s perfect.”
“I can’t afford this.”
Zechs waved his worry aside. “You don’t have to; I’m buying it for you.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“You don’t have a choice. I’ll just come back and get it later if we don’t take it now.” The blonde tapped him on the nose, “If it’s the money, don’t worry. I have plenty.”
Looking at himself in the mirror, Trowa discovered he really wanted to look good, just in case it was possible for Duo to notice him. “Will you let me pay you back when I have the money?”
“How about a wager? If Duo doesn’t give you at least one compliment, you can pay me back. If he does, consider it a gift.”
Meeting blue eyes in the mirror, Trowa asked, “Why are you doing this? I know how you feel about him, so why are you helping me?”
“He’s not for me,” was the simple reply.
Reluctantly agreeing to the wager, Trowa decided he was in no danger of losing. There was no way Duo was going to see him as more than a neighbor or a friend. His horror reared up again when Zechs insisted on buying him a new pair of shoes, a set of cufflinks, and a tiny silver earring for his ear.
Walking home from Duo’s house with the blonde beside him, Trowa was staggered at the amount Zechs had spent. He would have assumed it was a horrible nightmare if not for the multiple bags he carried. Spotting his car sitting in his driveway, he looked around for Duo but didn’t see him, so he jumped when a voice came from near his feet.
“I tried to warn you, didn’t I?”
One look at Duo’s smiling face as it rolled from underneath the front of the car, a smear of grease on his cheek, had Trowa forgetting to be nervous. “Next time I’ll be more prepared for the shopping whirlwind.”
“You’re not actually going to go shopping with him again, are you? You’re a braver man than I. He scares me.” Duo laughed as Zechs’ sputtered, eyes going to the bags Trowa held. “What did you get?”
“It’s a surprise,” Zechs neatly cut in before Trowa could answer. “You’ll see on Saturday.”
Realizing Zechs wanted him to keep the purchases secret, Trowa changed the subject. “Did you figure out what’s wrong with the car?”
“Fuel filter. It’s a fairly simple fix, but I won’t have the filter I need until I get my parts shipment tomorrow. Will you need a ride to work?”
“I don’t think Heero will mind picking me up. I’ll call him in a few minutes to make sure.”
“If he can’t, I’ll take you or you can take my car. Whatever works best for you,” Duo stated, disappearing under the car again.
“If you don’t have the parts to fix the fuel filter, what are you doing down there?” Zechs asked, leaning into the open engine.
“Hmmm, I got bored. Since I know your shopping habits, I decided to do some basic maintenance. I also called for pizza that should be here in about fifteen minutes.”
“Basic maintenance?”
“Changed the oil, oil filter, plugs and wires, changed the brake pads on the front tires, and I topped off all of your fluid levels. I need to turn your rotors on the lathe and shave them down a bit, you have some grooves in there that will make the brakes wear, but I don’t have time today. If I finish the fuel filter tomorrow before you get home, I’ll do that, too, then see if you need anything else. Your timing is off from what I heard when you moved in, so I can reset that while I’m at it.”
The automotive jargon went over Trowa’s head, but he did understand one thing. “Duo, that sounds like a lot of work. I can’t pay you.”
“I didn’t forget. It’s a way to thank you for going with me on Saturday.”
Zechs was grinning broadly, “That’s a lot of work for one date, Duo. I think Trowa will owe you at least one more date after all of that.”
Trowa was very aware of the silence from the man under the car and the way he his heart was beating as he waited to hear an answer. Duo’s eventual reply stunned him, “We’ll discuss that after Saturday.”
How the tall blonde managed to dance without moving the lower half of his body was a mystery and how he knew to stop seconds later before Duo rolled into view was another. Trowa was shaking his head as Duo put tools he had brought into a bag. “Go call Heero and make sure you have a ride tomorrow. I’ll get the pizza.”
“But the pizza isn’t…never mind,” Trowa turned to go inside as Duo walked down the short driveway to where the pizza delivery had just pulled up. It only took him a moment to stow the bags in the closet, reminding himself to hang the tux up properly after Duo and Zechs had left. Phone at his ear, he went into the kitchen and found some napkins and paper plates.
“Where have you been? I’ve tried calling.”
Accustomed to the way Heero answered the phone, Trowa replied, “I was shopping with one of my neighbors. It’s a long story. Can I tell you while getting a ride to work tomorrow?”
“That’s why I was trying to call. I have to go in early tomorrow. I can give you a ride home. You weren’t able to get your car fixed?”
“Duo can’t get the part he needs until tomorrow. It should be working when I get home,” he explained, looking out the window to where Zechs and Duo were talking beside his car, their expressions serious.
“Duo is the neighbor you were shopping with?”
“He was working on the car, so I went shopping with his roommate.” Not wanting to get into an in-depth explanation, he added, “They’re still here, getting ready to eat pizza. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow, okay?”
“I’ll see you then.”
Setting the phone down, he went to the door, realizing he could hear the two men through the open screen door. The serious tone in Zechs’ voice had him pausing. “Stop acting like a fool.”
“Back off,” Duo’s voice was firm, almost harsh. “Stop playing with him, damnit. This is what you do with everyone.”
“What does that mean?” the blonde sounded truly hurt.
There was silence for a moment before Duo spoke, his tone softer. “You don’t realize what you do to people, Zechs. You charm the hell out of them and then drop them. I don’t want Trowa hurt because he has feelings for you.”
“For me? You’re the one he’s with going to the ball.”
“Because you asked him. Why in the hell would he want to go with me?”
“You’re funny and smart, sexy, and can use power tools better than anyone I’ve ever seen. Then you have all that luscious hair.”
“Get real, Z. Everyone knows you’re the one that gets noticed all the time. I’m just the puppet side-show comedy relief.”
“Whoever it was did a real number on you, darling,” Zechs was clearly sad.
Duo’s denial came quickly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The person that made you swear off dating and convinced you you’re not special.”
“I’m not special. I’m just a mechanic.”
“You’re very special, Duo. It’s not me Trowa’s interested in, darling. It’s you.”
“Whatever.” Voice tinged with disbelief, Trowa peeked as Duo began to fold his arms over his chest, only to stop and stare at his hands, covered with grease. “He doesn’t know me. This is all I am, Z; a grease monkey.”
Deciding it was time to stop the conversation, Trowa pushed the door open. “If you’ll come in, I can give you the grand tour, as long as you don’t mind dodging the boxes I haven’t unpacked.”
Duo stared at his hands a moment longer, “I don’t know, Trowa. I’m dirty as hell.”
“So wash up in the kitchen.” He didn’t know what caused the look of surprise on the braided man’s face, so he pointed an arm in the right direction. “Zechs brought over some of that orange goopy soap when he picked me up this morning.”
Instead of coming in immediately, Duo removed his shoes and coveralls first. As Zechs passed, carrying the pizza, he leaned over to whisper in Trowa’s ear. “I don’t know how you knew to say that, but it was just the right thing.”
Pleased by the compliment, he followed Duo once the other man finally came inside, once again wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top and making Trowa’s mouth water. Zechs was already dishing out pizza when Trowa pointed out the grease on Duo’s face. Seemingly horrified, Duo glanced around, “Do you have a mirror somewhere?”
Although there was a mirror in the upstairs bathroom, Trowa shook his head, “I haven’t unpacked any yet. I can wash it off, if you don’t mind.”
Without waiting for acceptance of his offer, he stood beside Duo and wet a washcloth, dousing it liberally with the soap Zechs had brought. As he applied the cloth to the other man’s face, he was well aware of how Duo’s eyes, now a deep blue, focused on him with a vulnerability he hadn’t expected. “They change color,” Trowa noted absently, explaining when Duo frowned at him, “your eyes, they change color. They were more violet earlier, now they’re blue.”
“Depending on my mood, yeah, they change color.”
He wanted to ask what Duo was feeling but decided they didn’t know each other well enough to ask such personal questions. “They’re beautiful,” he whispered, noting how they widened at his words.
“You should see him when he gets really pissed,” Zechs commented suddenly, reminding Trowa he and Duo weren’t alone. “They’re absolutely gorgeous, but he’s planning to kill someone when they turn.”
Intrigued, Trowa had to ask, “What color do they turn?”
“A dark yellow, like a cat. If you ever see that, run like hell,” was the blonde’s glib suggestion.
Realizing he had allowed the cloth to drop and his fingers were lightly rubbing Duo’s skin, Trowa stepped back with a blush, rinsing out the cloth before hanging it over the faucet to dry. “If you let me take that home, I’ll get you another.”
Duo’s offer had him frowning, “Why?”
“It’s stained, Trowa; you won’t be able to get all of the grease out.”
“Duo, it’s a stain, not the end of the world. One of my favorite shirts has so many stains you can’t tell what the original color is. I have pants that are the same.”
The braided man’s reply to this was stunned, “Really? You don’t mind?”
“Why would I? Every day I go to work I get some sort of new stain on my work clothes. It won’t kill me.”
Zechs nodded his approval as Trowa sat down, Duo following a minute later with a frown on his face. Since Duo appeared in deep thought about something, Trowa directed his next comment to the blonde, “Do I need to know anything special about Saturday? How I should act, that sort of thing?”
“Be yourself,” Zechs suggested, “don’t worry about getting approval from my family. They don’t like anyone that has less money than they do. They’re a bunch of snobs.”
“If that’s the case, why is Relena so interested in Heero? His family isn’t wealthy.”
“That’s true, but as an upcoming lawyer, he has potential to become fabulously rich.”
“I never knew people could be so…” Trowa waved one hand, not sure what word to use.
“Mercenary? As much as I hate to admit it, it’s true,” Zechs shook his head.
“Z here is the black sheep of the family. He prefers us normal people to the snooty ones his family likes. His mother is forever trying to get him to conform.”
The blonde held up a slender finger, “Which would involve me living in the family house with whatever woman my mother deemed appropriate. The house I might be able to handle; the woman, I could not. I’d constantly be sneaking away to have discreet love affairs.”
Duo snickered, “There isn’t anything discreet about your affairs, Zechs. It’s not a word that can be associated with you.”
Seeing the braided man was in a better mood, Trowa winced as he confided, “Heero can’t take me to work tomorrow, but he can bring me home.”
“What time do you need to be at the clinic?”
“We don’t open until nine, so anytime between eight and eight-thirty is fine.”
“I’ll be here at eight tomorrow, then,” Duo offered with a smile. “Have your keys so I can get into your car tomorrow, to fix it,” he added when Trowa stared blankly.
“I’ll get them now so I don’t forget. I’m…not a morning person.”
“That’s always good to know early, isn’t it, Duo?” Zechs grinned, laughing when Trowa tossed a balled up napkin at him.
As promised, Trowa was ready at eight the next morning when Duo pulled in front of his house. On the front step, he gaped at the car, unsure if he should dump out the travel mug of coffee he was clutching for dear life. After a moment, Duo stuck his head out the window, clearly wide awake, “You getting in or what?”
“Let me pour this out first.”
“Why?”
Gesturing at the car, Trowa announced carefully, “That’s a Porsche, Duo.”
“It’s a car, Trowa. Remember? It has four wheels and goes vroom? They get you from one place to another, so get in…with your coffee.”
Carefully getting in, Trowa clasped the cup with both hands, determined not to spill even a single drop. “You have to put your seatbelt on, Tro.”
“Huh?”
“Your seatbelt, you have to wear it. I personally think it’s stupid, but it is the law.”
Holding the mug firmly with one hand, he managed to get his seatbelt fastened, blinking as the car was backed smoothly down the drive. “You called me Tro.”
“Sorry about that. I won’t do it again.”
“No, it’s okay,” he insisted. “No one’s ever called me anything but Trowa. I don’t mind.”
Duo glanced over at him and smiled, “You’ve never had a nickname?”
Shaking his head, Trowa got a firmer grip on the cup. “My family was very proper. You always called people by their given names if they were friends, last names if they were acquaintances. Nicknames or shortened names weren’t allowed.”
“Was? They’re gone?”
Surprised Duo had picked up on the past tense, he nodded again. “My parents were already past middle age when they had me. My father died when I was twelve, my mom two years later. Catherine actually raised me after that.”
“She your sister?”
“Distant cousin, but she’s the only family I have around here. She took me in so I wouldn’t have to move and start over.”
Duo was silent for a few seconds, navigating the narrow streets with ease. “I’m sorry about your parents. It’s hard to lose someone that young.”
It was an opening Trowa had to take, assuming Duo would shut him out if he didn’t want to answer. “You know from experience?”
“My mom and dad died a few years after I was born in a car crash. My aunt and uncle raised me, but my aunt died of cancer when I was ten. My uncle was around a few years after that, but I swear he died of heartbreak. They were the happiest couple I’ve ever seen.”
“Where did you go after that?” Trowa prompted, feeling there was more to the story.
“I have a cousin older than me. He took me in. Only problem was that he was more interested in the money my parents and uncle left me. When I wouldn’t sign over the rights to my accounts, he kicked me out. I lived with…a friend for a while back east, until I realized it wasn’t going to work. That’s when I came out here and met Zechs,” Duo grinned. “I knew his parents through my aunt and uncle, and I was invited to stay with them for a while, but I really didn’t fit in. After I met Zechs, we realized we got along, so I stayed at his apartment for about two months before realizing I was cramping his love life. After that, I started looking for a place of my own. I was finally eighteen and could use some of the money I had, so I bought the house and outfitted the shop. I’m still not sure how Zechs started living with me. He just showed up one day and never left.”
Duo pulled up in front of the clinic and shut off the engine, “Mind if I come in and say hi to Catherine?”
“Not at all.”
Stunned by the amount of information Duo had willingly shared, Trowa unlocked the clinic door, making sure to lock it back when Duo was inside. Seconds later, a red-head with bouncy curls appeared at the end of the hallway, “My, my, what kind of present have you brought me so early on a Monday morning, Trowa? Duo, sweetie, it’s good to see you again.”
Trowa watched in envy as she folded Duo into a warm hug, wishing he was free to do the same. Giving them a moment, he went back to the lockers and put his stuff away, draping a lab coat over his shoulders. Taking a sip of his coffee, he listened to the voices that easily carried down the hall.
“Duo, do I need to ask why you’re bringing my cousin to work? Zechs didn’t get his hands on Trowa, did he?”
“Have no fear. He’s safe from Zechs’ hands.”
“What about yours?” Trowa strained to hear what Duo said, but heard only a mumbled reply. Whatever the reply was seemed to satisfy Catherine, for she laughed, “That’s good to hear. So, why did you bring him in?”
“Duo’s going to fix my car today and Heero had to be at work early. Since Duo lives next door to me, he was kind enough to offer me a ride,” Trowa explained as he returned to the reception area.
“Trowa’s taking me on a date Saturday to pay for repairs,” Duo smiled.
“After Saturday, we may discuss further arrangements,” added Trowa, unwilling to let Duo have the last word. He was amused when Duo blushed deeply, eyes focused on the floor.
“I better go and let you get to work,” the other man stated abruptly.
Trowa followed him to the door, reaching around Duo to unlock it, close enough to feel Duo’s back pressing against his chest. Amazed at his own boldness, he lowered his head so his mouth was next to Duo’s ear, “I’ll see you this evening?”
“Yeah. Yes. I should have your car fixed by then.” With the door unlocked, Duo darted out, waving once before jumping into the car and taking off.
Pleased by the reaction, Trowa turned with a smile that faded when he saw the look of concern on Catherine’s face. “What?” he asked, already defensive.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Trowa? Zechs is bad enough, but Duo is bad in a different way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard he had to come here to get away from someone that was obsessed with him. A lot of people say he let her fall in love with him and then ran away. He did the same thing here with a girl named Hilde. She’s been in love with him since they met, but he’s very cruel to her.”
None of this fit what Trowa had seen. “I’ve met Hilde. She’s not in love with him, she’s obsessed and stalking him. I don’t know what happened before he moved here, but I can guarantee he didn’t leave a jilted lover behind. In fact, I think he was traumatized by whatever happened,” he confessed, then explained about Duo’s extreme reaction to grease or being dirty.
Catherine’s face was still worried, but she fell silent, seeming to consider what he had said. Eventually, she touched his arm, “Just be careful, okay? Duo really is a sweetheart and it was hard to believe the things Relena said, but I remember how hurt you were when Mark broke up with you.”
“Mark didn’t break up with me. I caught him in bed with his ex, so I left.” As her expression revealed her shock, he waved a hand. “You don’t have to worry. I’ve only known Duo a few days and I don’t even know if he’s gay. Nothing’s going to happen anytime soon, if it ever does.”