Continuation, 1x2, No warnings
The Pact
It was the typical crowd at Jo's Bar on the Pier, Trowa sat at a table near the dart boards watching Duo navigate between the pool tables and the players to deliver his beer.
“They were out of that sludge you usually get so I got you some new Stout that the bar tender said was good.” Duo explained, as he placed the dark brown bottle before his friend, and then took a long drag of his own light colored ale.
They fit right in with the rest of the patrons at the bar, most of which worked at the factory across the street. Trowa was still dressed in sawdust covered jeans and a sweaty t-shirt from working his construction job and Duo sported his grimy overalls from the scrap yard with the name tag 'Earl' sewn on the front.
“Man, I had a bitch of a time trying to rip the compressor out of this ancient refrigerator this morning for this 70 year old lady. Told her I'd try to come over this weekend to fix her frig. Man I am such a sap and all the old ladies in town know it.” Duo griped. When he got no response he noticed that his companion was preoccupied with the TV. “Hey are you even listening to me?”
“No.” Trowa replied simply.
“What's so interesting?” Duo craned his neck trying to see the TV over the heads surrounding the bar.
“Quatre. Some news story about WEI Charitable Foundation.” Trowa continued to stare and Duo recognized the platinum hair of their fellow Gundam Pilot. Duo turned back around a frown set on his face.
“I thought there was some guy at work you were going out with?”
“No. Some guy from work asked me out, and I turned him down.”
“What the heck did you do that for?”
“I like someone else it wouldn't be right.”
Duo snorted, “Like you'll ever have the balls to do anything about it.”
Trowa shifted his full attention to Duo, raising his left eyebrow. “You mean the way you have with Heero?”
“I know when something is a lost cause.” Duo shrugged, looking down into his beer bottle.
“How do you know it is such a lost cause? Quatre and I have lots in common. I think we could have a chance together.”
Duo just blew him off taking a gulp of his beer. “Prove it.”
“OK, I will. If you will.”
“What the hell are you talking about now?”
“I'll make a deal with you. I'll confess to Quatre if you confess to Heero.” Trowa placed his beer on the table and looked straight into Duo's eyes.
“Like a pact?”
Trowa nodded. “Exactly. Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?" Duo asked skeptically. "You're going to somehow get in to see Quatre, the busiest person on the face of the planet, hell the whole universe?”
Trowa's eyes flashed with determination.
“Fine, I'll do it. But you have to promise me that if he turns you down you start dating, no more of this it wouldn't be right crap.”
“Agreed.” Trowa said, the side of his mouth upturning slightly.
***
Duo got off the elevator grumbling at the stares he received from passersby for his dusty jeans and grease stained shirt. Mrs. MacIntyre had to pick today to have her car break down. He had planned on dropping by Preventers Headquarters during lunch, now he barely had enough time before the end of Heero's shift. There was no coming back tomorrow, he had given his word that it would be done today and when Duo Maxwell gave his word there was no going back.
The girl at the desk gave his Preventer's badge a dubious look, but called Heero's office to announce his presence regardless.
“Third door on the left, sir.” She huffed, slipping her hand under her desk. A moment later the security door open. He gave her a nervous nod and headed through.
He stood in the hall and tried to dust his pants off, but it only left a yellow ring on the floor around him. He didn't even want to think about what he must have smelled like, if only he'd had time for a shower at the very least. Not that he thought looking clean and presentable would have really improved his chances. He wanted to at least show that he was sincere in his confession.
The door to Heero's office was open, the man was seated behind the desk waiting for him. Duo couldn't stop himself from fidgeting as he sat at the chair on the other side of the desk. Heero sat staring at him with a serious expression, elbow resting on the arm of his chair cheek in hand.
"Nice office you have here Heero." Duo looks around Heero's office noting the word captain in gold lettering on the door.
"Thank you. It has been awhile, Duo."
"Yeah, it busy work being the only mechanic at the scrap yard." Duo indicated his current state of clothing. Heero simply nodded.
"Well you're probably wondering what the heck I'm doing here." At this Heero nodded again.
"I don't mean to be bothering you, but Trowa and I sorta have this agreement-"
"Trowa?" Heero interrupted, frowning.
"Yeah, we go out for beers every Friday, kind of a tradition. Anyway, we sorta made this deal, you see he still holds this flame for Quatre. Been mooning over him for the past 2 years, it’s really sorta sickening." Duo grimaced.
"You're jealous..." Heero trailed off questioningly, still maintaining his frown.
"Jealous?" Duo laughed, "No way. I just want the guy to get his head out of the clouds and join me in reality. Which is where our deal comes into play. He agreed to confess his feelings to Quatre and get some closure, if I confess mine."
Duo held out his hands as if this should tell Heero everything. Heero simply looked back confused, waiting for the rest of the story, his serious expression barely changing.
Duo coughed realizing he was really going to have to do it. He scratched the back of his head saying, "I'm sorry I had to show up like this, I didn't have time to go home, shower and still get here before five."
He swallowed making his adam's apple bounce in his throat. "I realize it doesn't make much of difference either way, but I wanted to show that I take this confession seriously."
Duo paused, taking a breath. "So, here goes...I like you."
Heero stared back at him completely unphased.
"Like you in more than a friendly way. I'm attracted to you. I'm gay," Duo finally blurted.
"How long." Heero finally spoke to Duo's relief.
"Since we first met."
To this Heero's eyebrow rose.
"I didn't want to bother you, I wouldn't bother you now, but a deal is a deal and I never go back on my word."
Heero nodded once.
"Well, I won't take up anymore of your time. I'll just be on my way." Duo started to rise out of his seat when Heero started to talk.
"How about dinner." Heero sat up straight now in his seat, still the picture of serious concentration.
"Dinner?" Duo asked confused in a half standing position.
"I'm free tomorrow night. I can pick you up at the yard."
"Um...ok?"
"Six o'clock, good?"
"Sure?"
"You were intending to ask me out on a date correct? That was the whole point of you confessing?"
"Y-yes." Duo sat back down eyes wide in surprise.
"Good. I will make reservations, if this does not give you sufficient time to clean up after work we will go some place else."
"Don't go to any trouble." Duo held up his hands in alarm.
"It is no trouble." Heero stated.
"Well, ok then."
"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
"Me too, Heero. See yah." Duo walked out in a daze. It couldn't have gone the way he thought it had. Did Heero feel sorry for him? Not that he didn't think Heero was a nice guy, but he didn't seem like the kind of guy to date someone out of pity.
When Duo got home he called Trowa and received his voice mail. He left him a message, "I hate you."
***
After calling several times during the next day he finally got a hold of Trowa.
"Hello," the groggy voice on the other end answered.
"About friggin time you answered your phone. I've been calling all damn day."
"Sorry,” the husky voice on the other line said unapologetically. "I was...occupied."
Duo could hear the smile in Trowa's voice and frowned, "Where are you?"
"I'm in the WEI penthouse." It was more than a smile now, it was a full force grin and totally out of character for Trowa.
"Who are you talking to?" Duo heard the voice of WEI’s president in a similar groggy state at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
"It's Duo, I'll be right back."
"Oh my god, you didn't strike out did you?" Duo asked amazed.
Trowa chuckled, "Hardly. I just woke up, barely slept a wink last night."
"Tell me you were up all night talking?"
"Well I was up all night, but I wouldn't call all the groaning and screaming talking."
Duo was stunned silent.
"Apparently Quatre thought I was straight." Trowa sighed contentedly. "He said we wasted so much time, why wait any more. I don't think I've ever been this happy."
"How did your night go?" Trowa asked. Duo could hear the smirk.
"Well I slept just fine thanks!"
Trowa laughed at Duo's indignation.
"I...have a date tonight." Duo blushed even though he was alone.
"Really?" Trowa sounded smug. "Anyone I know."
"Shut up and go back to your lover boy."
"Wear your tight black jeans and that dark red t-shirt."
"That shirt is too short, it rides up when I raise my arm."
"Exactly."
Duo rolled his eyes, "Go back to bed!"
He hung up on Trowa's laughing.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment