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He goes running	By : Aestas Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 4803 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from Gundam Wing or its characters in any form or fashion.

Chapter List
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The formatting still sucks. Ugh, sorry. Italics still = text messages.

Duo's POV

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Things were going pretty well. I mean, Heero had been pretty insistent the first few days with the text messages, but they stemmed off a bit yesterday. I wasn’t sure if I was glad for that or disappointed. I mean, they were sweet and all, but well…there were a lot of them over the course of three days. It was getting just the little bit tiresome.

Was I sounding like a bitch? Jeeze, was I being too demanding? He was trying, right? But was a series of text messages, albeit sweet ones, enough to overcome a month’s worth of self deprecation and generally feeling like shit because of him?

Mmm, not really. So I was getting more and more antsy about the text messages, and less and less enthusiastic about receiving them.

So on the third day when I only received two, one around breakfast and one at lunch, I was cool with that. That evening he called. I was a bit sketchy about whether to answer it or not. He still has this amazing, yet irritating, power to seduce me with his voice. Its like Duo mind melt power, my brain just turns to slop and the other head stands up and says, “yes, please! Whatever, whenever, however you want it!”

That would definitely be a good thing if we were on good terms, in a relationship with regular sexual gratification, but right now, when I’m trying to learn how to trust him…not so good.

I ended up answering the damn phone. Basically, how hypocritical is it of me sitting here bitching about the text messages, if I shut down any chance for him to do something different. So, yeah, I answered.

“Hello.” I tried to come across as cool and confident, but I’m pretty sure I sounded as nervous as I felt.

There was a heavy sigh at the other end that preempted his words. “I missed your voice.”

I felt warm all of a sudden, and had to fight my way through a tight throat. “Was there some reason you called, Heero?”

“Yeah. I, uh…have dinner with me.” Heero’s voice was strong, but I could hear the hesitation easily.

And I realized he was scared of my answer. It hasn’t been that long since he asked that question the first time, only a few days. And I wanted to reassure him and tell him exactly what he wanted to hear, but I couldn’t. There was an uneasiness and anxiety that rose up and warred within my stomach. “I want to, Heero, really, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“You like Chinese, right?” His voice was more confident now, like all he needed to hear was that I wanted to and nothing else mattered.

Which wasn’t what was said. “I’m not ready for that, yet, Heero; I’m sorry but…”

But a knock on my door interrupted my statement. The anxiety erupted violently within my chest, and I started breathing harder. My voice was strained. “Heero, that had better not be you at my door. I can’t…”

“Its not. I promise. I’m sorry, Duo; I didn’t know you’d react like this…”

He went on apologizing, but I didn’t really hear it. The moment he said it wasn’t him, the reactions stopped. My breathing evened out, the pressure in my ears eased, the pain in my chest stopped and I realized the situation was much worse than I had thought it was. There was a physical and mental reaction to how badly he had hurt me, and I hadn’t realized it until then.

Once my anger and denial had passed; I was stripped bare and apparently that was an issue I had to face. And Heero had to help me face it, or this wouldn’t work. But even if I said, ‘to hell with it,’ and dropped Heero on his ass like he dropped me, would the next relationship with whoever work? Or would I constantly be waiting for it to fail? Would I really be able to trust anyone else if I couldn’t get over this?

Shit.

I opened the door to see some poor delivery boy holding two full bags of Chinese food. He looked relieved to unload his arms, handed them over to me, and booked it as far from my door as possible as fast as possible. I stood there trying to juggle the bags and the phone while walking to my kitchen.

“Duo, are you still there?” Heero’s voice barely registered over the sound of crinkling sacks and popping foam and plastic containers. There was a little bit of everything in there, chow mein, fried rice, steamed rice, beef, chicken, shrimp in various sauces.

“Yeah, I’m here. What is this?”

“Dinner. I thought, maybe, since you didn’t want to go out to eat with me that maybe we could eat at the same time and talk a little, if you’re ok with that.” His voice was hesitant again.

I really needed a second to just breathe, and I really wanted to turn the phone off, but I wasn’t going to run away. I wasn’t going to just shut myself back into my room and hide. There’s been enough of that already. So suck it up, man up, and deal with it Duo!

“Yeah, I guess I’m ok with that.” My voice shook, too.

“Good, you had me worried.” He laughed a little, more to ease the tension than any humor.

“Me too.” I confessed, but I couldn’t force a laugh through my throat. I concentrated instead on filling up a plate of the food, shoved a canned drink under my arm, and made my way to sit in front of the couch. It made it feel more like a picnic, and, I don’t know, I liked that feeling. The coziness helped to battle some of the residual anxiety coating the awkward silence that settled in.

“So how have you been, Duo?” I could hear him eating on the other end of the line. It should have been gross, but it was kind of endearing how much trouble he went to just to eat take out with me while we spoke on the phone.

“I’ve been alright. Busy. How about you?” I didn’t really like talking while my mouth was full. I was brought up better than that.

“Slow. Well, work is busy, but when I get home everything is different.” His voice was smooth, the way I remembered it, but there was a rawness present that I realized came from what he said.

Slow, time passes slowly when he’s at home, when he’s at home alone. He’s lonely. My heart ached for him because I knew exactly what that felt like, but I also was having difficulties letting go of that pain and rejection.

“How is it different, Heero?” I wanted to keep the conversation topic on him. I was already more than a little unnerved by how shaken I was just a few seconds ago, the last thing I wanted to do was give him personal details about myself, even if it was just how my days have been.

He was silent for a moment. “At work, there’s always something that needs to be done, always something to keep me preoccupied. At home, I don’t know; its just so quiet. It always has been; I enjoyed the quiet once, but now its just…too quiet. That sounds foolish, but that’s the way its been since I’ve returned.”

Jerk. How is he able to make my body react to the simplest phrases. My chest is so frikkin tight, and pressure appeared behind my eyes. Son of a bitch! So he missed me, so what, so he thinks the world is too quiet when I’m not a part of it. So what?!

Man, I’m still so hopelessly addicted to him, aren’t I?

“Duo?”

I guess I had been quiet for a while, huh? “I’m here, sorry.” I coughed to clear my throat. “So, how’s the office been with Zechs alerted to your preferences?”

“Ugh.” He actually groaned. It was funny, and I really couldn’t help but laugh a little bit at his situation. “He finds some reason to come into my office at least twice a day, stays for at least fifteen minutes each time, makes the most lewd, asinine comments because apparently he’s run out of subtle ways to say he wants me. Relena was my protection in the past, but Zechs let slip that you were my love interest, and she hasn’t spoken to me since. Her assistant relays all messages. They are both completely immature, and I have no idea how I never saw it before. I’m an idiot for ever wanting him.”

I couldn’t help it. I smiled at those words. I know he was complaining about his plight and all, but knowing that he was sincere in his attentions towards me was…I don’t know what it was, but it felt good. Even if he was frustrated beyond coherent words.

I kept eating and silence set in for a moment before Heero spoke again. “Duo, how were you, well…how did you know what he was?”

My heart stopped for a second. I knew I didn’t have to answer, but he was genuinely concerned. Shit. I took a deep breath. “You hate in others what you hate most about yourself.”

“What?!” He sounded genuinely shocked, and I flinched.

“I was just like him, once.” My voice was soft with my confession.

“But not now, right?” I couldn’t tell if he was scared or angry with those words. Probably a little of both.

“No, not now. I’ve left that behind me, and I regret it when I look back.” I tuck into my noodles like they will protect me from the conversation.

“What changed?” He had retreated into his smooth, emotionless tone. I don’t blame him.

“Why? Hoping to reform your last obsession?” My voice was biting, caustic. I couldn’t help it. I lashed out, I hated this topic because I wanted to be righteous in my hatred of Zechs but I couldn’t. What if I did the same thing to someone else that he did to my friend?

“Duo, don’t.” His voice was soft, almost pleading. It was hard to keep lashing out when the person doesn’t hit back. He needed to understand, and I didn’t want to go down this path with him.

I didn’t want him to know. “Can we change the subject, Heero? I just…can’t. Can we just keep it light right now?”

“Ok, sure.” He didn’t sound very sure. And, yeah, I guess if we do become a couple, he does have a right to know why I’m no longer like his asshole of a former obsession. But we’re not a couple, yet.

“If this thing between us grows, if we’re still together in two weeks, I’ll tell you, but, for now, that’s still too personal for me to share with you. I’m sorry.” It was truth, if he couldn’t accept that, then this wouldn’t work.

“Alright.”

Silence, I was starting to squirm a little bit, but I couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

Good thing he could. “Do you mind if I ask how you and Trowa know each other?”

Ha! Ok, so wicked me turned up again. “Oh, well that’s easy. He works for me.”

“What? How?” It seems this evening Heero’s meant to be shocked by me several times. Grins.

“I hired him. He was good enough to hack my program, so I offered him a job. He accepted. We’ve met a couple of times to chat about my security program, and we have a meeting set up with the head of Winner Corp to discuss a re-vamp job.” I sat there grinning and literally feeling his questions burning through my phone.

“Wait. I…what?”

I started laughing; it was fun to catch him off guard. The man can seem so smooth the majority of the time. “He hacked my program, made me come up to Peacecraft and Peacecraft to fix the problem, then proceeded to hack my laptop to force me to meet with him. He’s a bastard, but he’s really good. So I offered him a job, more flexible hours, more money, and no ‘how to repair your computer’ scripts you have to follow.”

“And he accepted?” Doubt flowed from his tongue.

“Hey, don’t sound so shocked; I can be very charming when I want to be.” My cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so hard.

“That’s my point. Trowa’s not the type to trust easily, and you can lay it on thick when you want something.” Heero was really trying to figure it out.

Hey! Ok, so, yeah, he’s right, but Hey! “He didn’t trust me, not at first. I just left him a copy of the contract to scan to make sure I wasn’t screwing him over.”

“That’s what he wanted me to look over? He didn’t say a thing, and the title of the company was blacked out on the e-copy.” He sounded a bit upset, ok, pissed would probably be a better description.

“I doubt it was his intention to start working for me. Our first meeting started out as his back-handed way of getting you and I together.” Breadcrumbs. Give him a little information to keep him from settling in, but not enough to actually catch everything.

“I…can you start from the beginning again, please?”

“Maybe you should ask him.” I couldn’t keep the laughter out of my voice.

“So he works for you now?” Still grasping at straws, I love it!

“Yup.” Heehee, fun!

“And you’re setting up a meeting with someone from Winner Corp in order to match make under the pretense of something else?” Shit. Well, maybe he’s not as slow on the uptake as I thought he was.

“I think so. One of my pals is really sweet and uber smart. I think he could really give Tro a run for his money in the whole ‘opposites attract’ arena, but I want to check the chemistry first. And the meeting is actually legit; I really do have to set something up with Quatre, but I’m dragging Trowa along to check for sparks.” My food was starting to get a bit cold, but that’s fine. I’m getting way too full for the pants I’m currently wearing.

“Quatre?” He prompted, curious about a possible love interest for his friend.

“Yeah, Trowa’s not impressed by money, is he?” I know he turned down the offered for more green, but I wanted a little more reassurance.

“Trowa’s never really been impressed by anything, really. Technology is the only thing in which he’s ever really expressed an avid interest.”

Well, that could dampen my attempts. “But you said he was interested in men.”

“I said he was attracted to men, but he’s never had a relationship that’s lasted longer than a few weeks. He gets bored easily, and flighty guys have no chance.” Heero’s voice was almost like a death knell to my plans.

I didn’t want to set up my friend who’s never had a relationship before with someone who’s apparently notorious for short-lived, unfulfilling flings. I didn’t really know what to say.

Heero spoke up. “Don’t get me wrong, Duo. Trowa’s a good man; he’s honest and very intelligent, but it may take someone exceptional to catch and hold his interest.”

“Quatre is exceptional, but he’s not very experienced when it comes to relationships. If Trowa slips in and out of dating easily, Q will get hurt.” Not gonna happen. Thoughts of cancelling the meeting sprung to mind.

“Calm down, Duo. Trowa doesn’t do anything that’s not completely thought through. The men he’s dated in the past were all well aware of the incompatibility. Both sides knew it was just a physical attraction with no illusions to more. I doubt he would start anything with someone who wouldn’t understand that perception. Don’t start hating him simply because he might not be the dream guy of your friend. That’s a little unrealistic.”

He was right, damn him.

“Yeah, yeah. But it would have been nice. Quatre’s my newest project.” He was my friend, and I wanted to see him happy.

“Who is he?” He sounded a little jealous.

“Quatre Winner, C.E.O. of Winner Corp.” I was smug; I know, but I like to brag on my friends.

“But I thought Iria Winner…”

I cut him off. “Common misconception, and one they work hard to maintain. Iria likes the spotlight, Q doesn’t. It works well for them.”

“Ah. So you think Trowa and he would be compatible?” I could hear him still chewing in the background, taking measured bites so that he was only eating while I was talking.

“Meh. Not necessarily. I was just impressed by the fact that I couldn’t buy him out. I offered him money to come work for me, and he turned me down. It was only the opportunity to help me overhaul a big tech company that changed his mind. I don’t want to set Q up with someone who’s only interested in his money.” I started packing up the boxes, carrying them into the kitchen to put the leftovers in the fridge.

“No, he’s never been one to indulge needlessly or overexpend beyond his means.”

“I don’t know. I’ll have to think more on it before I decide yea or nay about it. So what are your plans for tomorrow?” I couldn’t think of a better line for small talk.

He chuckled; apparently, he wasn’t very impressed by my not-so-subtle change in subject, or maybe it was the originality of the question. Either way. “I have work tomorrow. Remember, the place where you almost assaulted one of my bosses?”

“Vaguely. You should have let me hit him.” I was pouting, sue me.

“I realize that now. If we ever run into him in public, I’ll be more than happy to watch you break his nose.” I could hear the smile in his voice, and it made me smile as well.

“As you should.”

It went much like that. Our conversation drifted from his favorite thing to do on the weekends to my favorite movies, what genre of music we favor, anything and everything we could think of to talk about. It was good.

My eyes started to burn sometime during the conversation, but I paid it no heed. The television was on in the background, but I was completely focused on him and the words we bantered back and forth. Sometime during the conversation, I made myself comfortable on the couch, legs pulled up beneath me and blanket wrapped around me.

I woke up about midnight with my phone pinned between my ear and the couch cushion I was lying on. My phone had turned itself off, no longer connected to Heero’s. Damn. Talk about return to junior high, I fell asleep talking on the phone. Irritated but amused, it had been a good conversation, and it made me feel better about our chances of building a relationship because the talk we had was good.

I dragged my happy ass off the couch, brushed the dragon breath away, and went to bed.

He sent me a text message the next morning. Best night’s rest I’ve had in years. Thanks for sending me off to sleep.

Sap! But I was still smiling.

We talked several times over the next couple of days. He’d call me on his lunch break and then in the evening. It was nice.

The next day was my usual lunch meeting with Quatre and subsequent briefing on NXS and what my exact role was in the issue, so I could decide the best way to use Trowa’s skills. I called Trowa and gave him the option of meeting us for lunch at 11:30, or coming to Q’s building an hour later. It seemed like the best way of working with Trowa was to give him a little freedom, and let him decide. He liked to have control of a situation, and he definitely didn’t deal favorably with being backed into a corner.

So I got dressed in my version of business casual, which consisted of nice jeans and a collared shirt, (I don’t dress up unless someone dies…) and made my way to the café on the corner that became Q’s and my designated lunching spot.

When I got there, I saw the blond king of the world sitting casually at the same table we sat at last week. Motion in the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned to see Trowa sitting at a table across the room. I waved at him and motioned towards the other table. He nodded and stood, and I turned away assuming he’d follow.

Quatre smiled and stood as I walked up, reaching out to shake my hand congenially. I saw his blue eyes flick behind me and widen slightly, smile faltering for a brief second before returning.

“Quatre Winner, may I introduce you to my new business associate, Trowa Barton. Trowa, Quatre Winner of Winner Enterprises Incorporated, one of our most important clients.” I laid the cheese on the last sentence just to watch Q roll his eyes.

I wanted Trowa to know that, even important a man as the Winner mastermind of an heir, didn’t take himself too seriously.

“It’s a pleasure, Mr. Barton.” Quatre held his hand out to Trowa.

His fair hand was completely engulfed by Trowa’s olive skin with the handshake. “The same, call me Trowa.” His voice was smoother than I remembered, and I couldn’t help the little smirk that wanted to overtake my mouth as Trowa’s gaze lingered for longer than polite.

Quatre’s smile was brilliant. “Then, please, call me Quatre.”

I was proud of my project; he was clearly impressed by the man, attracted to him, but the only indication he gave was a slight pinking of his ears. Which was adorable, by the by!

Trowa nodded.

“Or Q, or blondie, or Quat, and I’m trying to warm him up to ‘kitten,’ but he hasn’t been too enthusiastic about that one. Maybe you can get him to like it, Tro.” My voice was teasing.

Quatre went bright red, and Trowa sent me a nasty glare as comprehension crawled across his face.

I laughed, hard, and eventually Quatre joined me. “Please call me Quatre, Trowa. I’m not quite accustomed to the nicknames that Duo is partial to using, yet. If you started, I may be overcome.” He was good; Trowa calmed quickly, marginally placated.

And I noticed when Quatre was a little uncomfortable, he reverted to the more formal language pattern that I teased him for at our first meeting.

The waitress showed up then and took our orders, and it helped to add a nice break in the conversation.

“So Q, how’s the family?” I decided to try to pull their attention off each other for a moment.

The blond shook his head, resigning himself to answering in shame. “Iria’s madly in love for the third time this month, which means she’s spending less than twenty hours a week in the office. She’s planning a romantic trip out of the country in a few days, which means all executive decisions have to be stalled to maintain appearances. I suppose it’s a good thing; it will allow me to be more involved in your operations at the NXS branch. However, the following week will be very stressful.” He smiled as he said it, but he looked tired before the ordeal even began.

“What is your involvement in the company meant to be?” Trowa spoke up

Quatre had been caught taking a drink, so he took a second before replying. “As much as you’ll let me observe.”

Trowa looked confused. “Don’t you own the company now?”

I sat back and smiled as I watched them interact.

“Well, yes, but I will be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about your art.” Trowa did a good job of maintaining his smooth features in response to Quatre’s words, but I could tell he was impressed by the admission and the compliment to our work. Quatre continued, unaware to the brownie points he’d earned.

“I know how to make my way around the computers in my office, and how to communicate efficiently with my people through them. That’s the extent of my knowledge, but I would like to learn more. I have a great interest in restoring NXS to its former glory, but I need help to do that. My biggest concern is for you and Duo to overhaul what needs to be replaced, and if the best way for that to happen is for me to stay out of the way, then so be it. I would; however, like to be involved and included if at all possible.”

Trowa raised a brow at me, unsure what my intentions were, so I spoke up. “I don’t really think Trowa’s the teaching type, Q, but you’re more than welcome to tag along with me when we’re onsite.

He smiled. “Thank you, Duo.”

The green eyed man, looked a little uncomfortable for a brief second before answering. “I’ve never been very social, but I’ll try to answer any questions that you have when you’re with me.”

HA! Perfect! I don’t know what made Trowa respond in such a way, but it was a beginning. Maybe it was my comment negating his teaching ability, maybe it was a burgeoning attraction to the blond man, maybe he just saw it as an obligation as part of the geek porn that was the NXS candyland to play babysitter to the owner of the company. Who knows, but one thing was for sure…

If there was going to be anything between them, it had to start with a reason for them to see each other.

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I know my updates have slowed down, and I apologize, I'm in the process of unpacking from a move. I'm still writing when I can. And I never got approval to post in the forum. So I'll try to apply again, so I can actually communicate better with you guys, but I'm not sure. I'll keep you guys posted to the best of my ability. Grr. Whatever happens, know I genuinely do care about what you have to say, and I really appreciate your reviews. If I have to start emailing my responses to you, I will, but I'm going to try the forum thing again and see what happens.

Anyways, if you'd like to get a hold of me easier, my email is: m.aestas@yahoo.com

That was on my author's profile until it got wiped. I guess I gotta get that back up, huh? Boo.
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He goes running