Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent

[windandwater]

He wasn't really conscious of his actions.

It was like he was running on autopilot, his body was moving, he was saying something, but for some reason it just didn't *click* into his head. There was some sort of haze or fog around him and it wasn't making it damned hard for him to see. In fact, he could barely focus on anything not in his direct line of sight.

That was bad.

He had tunnel-vision.

Very bad.

This didn't click either.

All there was really was the raging torrent of his emotions, rolling and arcing up into a high crescendo before falling back again. His mind tortured him with those blasted *words*... the ones that had damned his otherself into fleeing completely for fear of going mad with grief. That was looking better and better to him with every passing moment. At least it made sense now. Sort of. Duo was never a liar, but that didn't mean he didn't run and hide when he had to. And right now he was doing a damned good job of it.

Max growled, shoving away Muses that happened to block his path. He had to find his counterpart and he had to find him *NOW*.

It wasn't until he slammed through the doors of the Main Commons and was engulfed in a world of strobe lights, lasers, and pumping bass, did the fog recede from Max's mind. He had forgotten that the Main Commons turned into a nightclub in the afterhours. The place was packed with Muses, all dancing or just hanging out. Max cursed himself as he moved through the gyrating masses to find Duo. Actually, it wasn't all that hard. Duo loved to dance, and though his het!mode changed his sexuality, it didn't change basic aspects of his personality. Max finally maneuvered his way through the crowd and scanned it with narrowed violet eyes.

An exhuberant laugh caught his ear, and Max turned in time to see Duo move away from a table. Relena was there, holding a drink and shaking her head. Obviously, the princess wasn't comfortable with the whole dancing situation (which was more like an orgy with clothes on than anything else), and after pushing Duo towards the crowd, stuck up conversation with Sakura and Hoshino.

Max watched briefly as Duo started moving to the beat, his braid swinging in time with his actions. Then Max joined in as well. He didn't dance nearly as well as Duo did, but was still able to herd his counterpart to the opposite side of the room as Relena without Duo noticing it. Of course, considering the fact that Duo had a tendency to dance with his eyes closed, Max was lucky.

Finally, he touched Duo's shoulder lightly. "Hello, Duo."

Duo spun around, his eyes opening in surprise. A grin spread over his face. "Max! Bro! I didn't know you were here!"

Max forced a grin to his face. "Ya know me. Always lookin' for trouble."

Duo continued to sway to the music. "Well, this is the place to be, man!"

Testing the waters, Max leaned in closer to Duo, their faces inches apart. "Are you the kinda trouble I'm lookin' for?"

He tried to steal a kiss, but Duo danced out of the way, his expression no longer open and friendly. "Look, man. Cut that shit out."

"Cut what out?" Max asked, running one hand down Duo's back to the waist of his pants, slipping his fingers between the cloth and skin. Max could feel the tension in Duo's muscles as the other boy trembled.

"That!" Duo hissed, pulling away. "I don't... I'm not into that sorta thing anymore."

"I didn't know ya had a choice in the matter," Max replied, nuzzling against Duo's neck before being pushed away again. He decided to see just how far his counterpart's resolve went. "Shit, what's up with ya, Duo? S'not like we haven't done this before!"

"Stop bringing that up!" Duo fumed before stalking off the dance floor, Max following at his heels. In the dark and with the strobes flashing, Max made clear note of the way Duo's body seemed to shimmer and shift as he walked, like he was flickering through mode!shifts so fast that none could take hold.

"C'mon, Duo! I know you like. Remember how we woke up the whole wing? You were screamin' so loud for me ta do it harder. Or how 'bout that one time, on the piano? I thought Quatre would kill us for sure! Good thing he decided ta have some fun, too!"

Duo's shifting went wild as Max talked. It was eerie the way Duo's appearance changed so fast, his clothes, his hair, his stance, even his height. Something was getting through to the braided boy and his mind was trying to cope.

"Shut up!" Duo exclaimed whirling around and glaring. "That was in the past! I don't do that anymore!"

Max took the opportunity to slam Duo against the wall, pressing up against him. His hands wandered freely, and he slid one leg between Duo's. "This one o' your games? You want me ta beg you before I fuck you?"

Duo shivered and closed his eyes. "N-no..." he whispered, his arms falling to his sides.

Max smirked. "Looks like yes ta me."

Then Max kissed him. Duo responded for the briefest moment then his violet eyes widened in alarm. Immediately Duo began to struggle, shoving Max away from him.

"Don't fucking touch me!" Duo snarled. "Why won't you leave me alone? It's all the same with you guys! All the same! It's disgusting!"

Max's eyes widened. Obviously, he had misjudged the situation.

"Duo..." he said, reaching out to his couterpart. In response, Duo slugged him, a right cross to the face followed by a haymaker that dropped Max to his knees.

"Don't you come near me again," Duo warned.

Then he ran out of the Main Commons.