Goodbye LJ...
Feb. 20th, 2006 06:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
windandwaterThis is just to make it official for those who don't know, but I'm leaving LJ completely. For the rest of this week at least. Tomorrow is the Bar Exam and it runs for three days, so don't expect to see me about at all until Thursday night. Or even until the weekend since I plan on spending Thursday after the Bar drunk and crying. No online time for me at all. *whines* It will be hard, but I know I can do it.
So, because I'm a total h0r like that, I am declaring this to be a spam post. Go ahead. Run wild! Give me fics, give me links, give me pics, just babble to your heart's content and rape my inbox so I have something to see when I finally DO come back to the wonderful world of LJ. I don't even care if you write me a drabble and post it one word at a time. XD;
Though, I've tried to make a spam post before and it failed a bit miserably, so I don't have very high expectations this time around. Feel free to prove me wrong though!
♥
So, because I'm a total h0r like that, I am declaring this to be a spam post. Go ahead. Run wild! Give me fics, give me links, give me pics, just babble to your heart's content and rape my inbox so I have something to see when I finally DO come back to the wonderful world of LJ. I don't even care if you write me a drabble and post it one word at a time. XD;
Though, I've tried to make a spam post before and it failed a bit miserably, so I don't have very high expectations this time around. Feel free to prove me wrong though!
♥
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:04 am (UTC)But the room was empty but for Duo, and the hook on the door was bare of Heero's coat.
An ache like the blow from a hammer hit Duo in the chest, and he curled tightly onto his side, clutching at his knees, eyes squeezing shut. I don't believe this. I thought we were friends, at least! I thought he respected me at least a little, at least enough that he wouldn't just screw me and leave me sleeping on the couch!
The little noise didn't register through his pain at first, just a soft shuffling and scraping; not even the click of the door sliding shut. The first thing to penetrate through his haze of misery was the piercing scent of hot coffee, followed by the gust of warm bread. "Duo?" a voice called softly.
Duo opened his eyes, but didn't yet dare to raise his head. It could be just another dream...
"Duo, are you awake?" Heero asked, making his way over the piles of junk to set a paper bag down on the table. The soft sliding of cloth on skin followed as he pulled of his jacket and carefully hung it on the hook behind the door.
"I went out and got breakfast. You didn't have any... Duo?" There was concern in his voice, now, but Duo kept his eyes fixedly on the floor. Surely if he looked up it would vanish again. The soft footsteps returned, crossing to the back of the couch, and he felt a warm presence hovering above him. He felt the weight of the eyes on him, and Heero's next words was anxious. "Come on, sleepyhead... Duo, are you all right?" He reached down to brush away the loose strands of hair obscuring Duo's face, and the braided man brought his hand up to capture Heero's.
Duo closed his eyes and let out a sigh, opening them again as he uncurled and struggled to sit up on the couch, turning to face Heero with a smile. "I'm awake," he said, rather obvious but all he could think of at the time.
"But you're not already at the table devouring the food," Heero pointed out, still some worry in his eyes despite the attempt at the joke. "Is something wrong?"
Duo shoved aside the last of the fear, the anger he'd felt on discovering that he'd been abandoned. "No, nothin'," he said softly. "I'm fine."
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:05 am (UTC)+++
...woke up on the couch and the apartment was empty... Jesus, that was scary. But he came back. He came back...
Duo tightened one hand possessively around Heero, and the other gently stroked his lover's hair as they drowsed together in the peaceful afternoon.
"Come on, Hee-chan," Duo encouraged him, bouncing around energetically behind Heero and occasionally draping himself over the couch back. "It's classic!"'
"It's foolish," Heero snorted, but the slight smile tugging at his lips spoke of his willingness to be convinced.
"That's what makes it classic," Duo retorted, slinging himself backwards over the sofa arm and looking at Heero upside-down. "How else're you supposed to judge films? Realism is boring. Comedy, now that's hard!"
"Just how much of this show do you have?" Heero asked suspiciously.
"Um, all eight seasons..." Duo admitted, and glared when Heero sighed wearily. "We don't got to watch it all tonight! C'mon, Heero, at least see the first couple eps. I promise you'll like it!" He flipped himself right-side up and rested his chin on the couch arm, giving Heero his best puppy-dog eyes.
"You say that about a lot of things," Heero objected.
Duo grinned, and his voice dropped a sultry half octave. "Have I ever been wrong?" he purred.
Heero's attempted glare quickly melted under that purr, and he shrugged indifferently to cover his capitulation. "Hn. Fine."
"Sugoi!" Duo cheered, popping back to his feet and pumping his arms into the air. He bounced over to the ancient, battered, jury-rigged video player and popped in the first plastic cassette.
The machine made some very loud and interesting whirring and buzzing noises, one of which was loud enough to jar Heero's sensitive hearing. "Duo, why do you use that decrepit old thing?"
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:05 am (UTC)"If they're obsolete," Heero said as he slid his arm around Duo, "then there's probably a good reason."
"Aw, but Hee-chan!" Duo turned to flash him a pout. "How else'd I play my collection?"
Heero gave a long-suffering sigh. "How old is this show?"
"Older than the Colonies," Duo admitted. "But it was good enough to be rerecorded a couple times over. It's a sci-fi, so it was the future at the time, but it'd be the present now, right?"
"Whatever you say, Duo," Heero gave up. "So what's it all about?"
Duo took a deep breath and launched into a convoluted explanation involving mining ships, monopoly boards, time machines, Jovian moons, nuclear reactors, holograms, and a lot of getting drunk. Heero tuned out the words after only a couple of minutes, content instead just to watch Duo. He's hardly changed at all, Heero mused to himself, feeling a glow of warmth suffuse him. He's still so enthusiastic about everything. Motorcycle engines, television shows, new foods, everything. With his head stuffed so full of things, no wonder he's absentminded sometimes. A small smile crept onto his lips. But that's one of the things I love about him.
Heero was brought out of his musing by the sudden change in Duo's voice. "...real, for all the craziness," he was saying, with a surprisingly thoughtful tone. "I mean, the craziness is part of what makes it all so believable. The guys who wrote the show, I mean, they knew people. And they knew that people would stay people, even in the future."
Blinking, Heero considered the new perspective. "I hadn't thought about it that way," he said. It was kind of unsettling.
Duo flashed him a grin. "Most people don't, y'know? People always wanna believe that when the future gets here, it'll solve all the problems, right? They don't like ta think that the world in the future is gonna be just as stupid and crazy as the world right now." He shrugged as he lifted the remote and hit play. "Makes all the posturing and stuff seem pretty stupid, don't it?"
"It sounds depressing," Heero said doubtfully.
"It kinda is. But at the same time, it's funny as hell!" Duo enthused, reaching up to turn the lights off. "I must've watched it a million times by now."
"The picture's pretty bad," Heero observed.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:05 am (UTC)"You hardly qualify as an 'ordinary guy,' Duo," Heero retorted.
Duo waved the distinction aside. "Whatever. Just watch, man."
Heero turned his attention to the show. It wasn't just the recording that made it difficult to pick out; the lighting was poor and the sets were cheap, and the shoddy television overlaid every sound with an irksome buzzing noise. Still, he had to admit that there was a certain chemistry between the two actors that was fascinating to watch. He was captivated enough, in fact, that he didn't even notice that Duo was watching his reactions to the show much more closely than the tape itself.
(some time later)
"Well?" Duo asked a trifle anxiously, as the closing credits rolled. "What'd you think?"
Heero blinked at the screen, then turned back to Duo. "Those people are completely worthless."
Duo's smile faded a little. "That's the point, man! They're the absolute bottom of the heap! That's why watching the show's such a boost to your ego -- no matter how worthless you feel, you can't be as pathetic as those guys." He stretched a little, then turned back to Heero hopefully. "Wanna watch another?"
Heero considered. Duo obviously wanted him to say yes, and it was certainly nice enough, cuddling on the couch through the ungodly hours of the morning. "Why not."
Duo's grin immediately returned full-force. "You got it!"
(later still)
"Duo, the cat is dancing."
"Hai, Hee-chan."
"Duo, the cat is singing."
"I know. Shhh."
"Duo, the cat is singing and dancing."
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:05 am (UTC)"You hardly qualify as an 'ordinary guy,' Duo," Heero retorted.
Duo waved the distinction aside. "Whatever. Just watch, man."
Heero turned his attention to the show. It wasn't just the recording that made it difficult to pick out; the lighting was poor and the sets were cheap, and the shoddy television overlaid every sound with an irksome buzzing noise. Still, he had to admit that there was a certain chemistry between the two actors that was fascinating to watch. He was captivated enough, in fact, that he didn't even notice that Duo was watching his reactions to the show much more closely than the tape itself.
(some time later)
"Well?" Duo asked a trifle anxiously, as the closing credits rolled. "What'd you think?"
Heero blinked at the screen, then turned back to Duo. "Those people are completely worthless."
Duo's smile faded a little. "That's the point, man! They're the absolute bottom of the heap! That's why watching the show's such a boost to your ego -- no matter how worthless you feel, you can't be as pathetic as those guys." He stretched a little, then turned back to Heero hopefully. "Wanna watch another?"
Heero considered. Duo obviously wanted him to say yes, and it was certainly nice enough, cuddling on the couch through the ungodly hours of the morning. "Why not."
Duo's grin immediately returned full-force. "You got it!"
(later still)
"Duo, the cat is dancing."
"Hai, Hee-chan."
"Duo, the cat is singing."
"I know. Shhh."
"Duo, the cat is singing and dancing."
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:05 am (UTC)"Duo, why is the cat singing and dancing?"
"Heero, don't make me shut you up."
"...Why not?"
The first thing Heero did, next time he went out, was to get a new television. Duo had once again been annoyed with the purchase. "I feel like I'm living in a fancy hotel," he'd complained. "Queen-sized bed and a color TV." But at least they were able to watch the rest of the series without the buzzing sound.
Heero suppressed a sigh, partway between amusement and irritated resignation. Duo had promised to give him, as he'd put it, "the grand tour" of the neighborhood around his apartment. Which was of course patently ridiculous, as Heero had scouted the colony thoroughly before showing up at Duo's door. Yet at the same time, the drawling humor in Duo's voice as he reeled off impossibly colorful and fascinating stories of every apartment complex, coffee shop, or gas station was one of the most beautiful sounds Heero had ever heard.
"...and over there's the Office of the Undead Postal Worker. Don't go there, Hee-chan, no matter how desperate you are to meet a deadline. No kiddin' Heero, not even the Perfect Soldier's a match for this ghoul. And watch out for that letter opener..."
"...and there's a Starbucks. And there's a Starbucks. And there's another one located around the corner. And yet, with all that coffee, not a single one of them has a working restroom."
"Actually, there's an incredible black market for bathrooms in this neighborhood. There're actually bathrooms in which the urinals have been cut out of the walls with razorblades and sold for thousands of dollars. Trust me on this, Heero -- if ya see two guys getting into an argument over a Port-A-John, don't get involved, just duck and cover."
Heero walked a pace or two behind, still not comfortable with public displays of affection, but a smile tugged his lips as he obediently followed his lover's lead through the labyrinth-like streets. Duo suddenly stopped in front of an unassuming storefront, eyes alight with pleasure. "Heero! You gotta see this place!" he exclaimed, tugging Heero's arm towards the store.
Heero glanced up, sharp eyes picking out the faded fluorescence. "'Showcase?'" he muttered. "Duo, please don't tell me this isn't a teahouse."
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:05 am (UTC)The interior of the store was cluttered; racks of videos on the left, shelves of comic books on the right. "This is where I get all my anime!" he explained, bright-eyed. "Ya need to know where it is for me; they charge per night for videos, and if I can't return them the next day, then you'll hafta do it for me."
Heero plucked the nearest case off the shelves and examined it. "'Erotic Torture Chamber?'" he read aloud.
Blushing bright crimson, Duo shot his hand out and slammed the case back onto the shelf. "They got all sorts of stuff here." Heero lifted one eyebrow in silent inquiry, but didn't protest when Duo grabbed his hand again and dragged him out onto the street again. By the time he recovered feeling in his fingers, Duo was already halfway down the street.
Heero caught up with Duo lingering near a corner, in front of a glass display. The street was merging onto one of the better areas of this colony, and the clothing store in question was a somewhat more upscale quality. Hands shoved in the pockets of his coat, Duo was staring through the glass with a wistful, almost hungry expression on his face.
"I thought that look was just for me," Heero whispered in Duo's ear, coming up so quietly that the other boy didn't notice him until he spoke. Duo jumped slightly, quickly covering up his expression with a nervous grin.
"Oh... yeah... well, I can look, right?" he joked. "Or are ya the jealous type?"
"Definitely the jealous type." Heero nodded in agreement, a deadpan look on his face. "So... which of these articles of clothing should I know to pull my gun on?"
Duo shrugged, looking back in the store window. "Eh... they're all way too expensive... but that jacket's pretty to look at, innit?"
Heero looked too, and had very little trouble picking out the jacket that Duo spoke of. Leather, black, but the seams were done in bright silver thread. Before he could get more than a glance, though, the light had changed and Duo was tugging him down the road again.
"C'mon Hee-chan... there's something I wanna do."
Across the road was a neat little park, a swath of green grass dotted with trees and encompassing a sandboxed playground. The playground was no more than a set of swings and a see-saw. A vendor's stand was set up along one edge.
Heero wandered into the park, staring around bemused. Deja vu tickled at the back of his mind, but firmly refused to acknowledge the darker thoughts. At least there were no children playing here right now. Heero didn't think he could have taken that.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:06 am (UTC)"What is this?" he demanded, holding the unfamiliar object out at arms-length.
"It's ice cream, Heero, not a bomb." Duo seemed amused by his suspicion. "Eat it."
Heero scowled at the bright green substance in his hand; he didn't trust it at all. The sticky-sweet concoction was something he'd associated more with Duo than anything he'd ever considered putting in his own mouth. "It's not healthy."
"Oh, for the luva..." Before Heero could react, Duo reached up and swiped his ice-cream cone against Heero's lips. Immediately Heero reacted, taking a step back and pushing Duo away, but the damage was done. Heero licked his lips, and considered the taste, cold and minty. Definitely a new experience. "That was unnecessary," he reproved.
Duo stared at him unrepentantly. "It was so necessary. You would have just stood there and glared until the poor ice cream withered under your scowl and melted on your hand. Now eat." He swiped his own cone with his tongue.
Slowly, Heero imitated Duo's actions, but lowered the cone from his mouth after barely a taste, instead watching Duo lick away at the cone with enthusiasm. For a moment he was lost in his own hedonistic world of sugar, but before long he became aware of Heero's eyes on him. He blinked. "What now, Heero?"
He had the most fascinating little smear of cream on his cheek. "My cone is unsatisfactory," he told the other. "Yours was much superior."
Duo scowled. "But Heero, I got us both the same... Oh." He grinned as he realized what Heero was implying. "Lazy jerk... fine."
He brought up his cone again, and Heero opened his mouth in anticipation -- but this time, the coldness swiped his nose, instead. Heero let out an indignant squawk, which caused Duo to break down into giggles. "S-sorry, Hee-chan..."
"No you're not," Heero accused sulkily, causing Duo to laugh even harder. Disgusted, Heero reached up to wipe the stickiness off his face, but Duo caught his hand.
"I'll get that," he said, and smiled.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:06 am (UTC)"What is this?" he demanded, holding the unfamiliar object out at arms-length.
"It's ice cream, Heero, not a bomb." Duo seemed amused by his suspicion. "Eat it."
Heero scowled at the bright green substance in his hand; he didn't trust it at all. The sticky-sweet concoction was something he'd associated more with Duo than anything he'd ever considered putting in his own mouth. "It's not healthy."
"Oh, for the luva..." Before Heero could react, Duo reached up and swiped his ice-cream cone against Heero's lips. Immediately Heero reacted, taking a step back and pushing Duo away, but the damage was done. Heero licked his lips, and considered the taste, cold and minty. Definitely a new experience. "That was unnecessary," he reproved.
Duo stared at him unrepentantly. "It was so necessary. You would have just stood there and glared until the poor ice cream withered under your scowl and melted on your hand. Now eat." He swiped his own cone with his tongue.
Slowly, Heero imitated Duo's actions, but lowered the cone from his mouth after barely a taste, instead watching Duo lick away at the cone with enthusiasm. For a moment he was lost in his own hedonistic world of sugar, but before long he became aware of Heero's eyes on him. He blinked. "What now, Heero?"
He had the most fascinating little smear of cream on his cheek. "My cone is unsatisfactory," he told the other. "Yours was much superior."
Duo scowled. "But Heero, I got us both the same... Oh." He grinned as he realized what Heero was implying. "Lazy jerk... fine."
He brought up his cone again, and Heero opened his mouth in anticipation -- but this time, the coldness swiped his nose, instead. Heero let out an indignant squawk, which caused Duo to break down into giggles. "S-sorry, Hee-chan..."
"No you're not," Heero accused sulkily, causing Duo to laugh even harder. Disgusted, Heero reached up to wipe the stickiness off his face, but Duo caught his hand.
"I'll get that," he said, and smiled.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:06 am (UTC)How did Duo always know just what to do?
He walked alone down the street to Duo's apartment, very late that night. After dinner, when Duo had gotten involved with a book, Heero had taken the opportunity to slip out. He could feel the eyes on him, assessing the potential value of what he carried and the potential threat read in his walk and expression. They were wise; there was not a movement in the shadows as he stepped back up to the doorway of Duo's apartment.
The porch light was on; Heero distinctly remembered leaving it off. He knew he was in trouble when he let the front door close behind him, and looked up to see Duo leaning -- deceptively casual -- against the wall.
Duo looked up when Heero came in, but didn't move at first. "And just where," the voice growled from his throat, "the fuck have you been?"
Heero immediately recognized the danger signs. Duo was angry -- very, very angry. "I went to get something," he answered vaguely.
"Bullshit." Duo pushed off from the wall. "It's eleven-thirty, Heero -- what the fuck could be so important that you had to go running out at this time of night?" He stalked towards Heero, hands clenched into fists.
Prudently, Heero took a small step back, shifting his weight in case Duo did anything foolish. "You're being irrational, Duo."
"D'you know what's waiting out there?" Duo yelled, gesturing wildly towards the door. "This part of town is full of punks who'd mug you as soon as look at ya! Christ, Heero, what were you thinking wandering around here in the middle of the night? Have you been with Relena all this time or something, because I think some of her airheadedness musta rubbed off on you!"
Heero ground his teeth. "I'm perfectly capable of defending myself, Duo!" he bit out. "Maybe you've forgotten that you used to be a soldier, but I --"
In the middle of his sentence, Duo pounced. Startled, Heero brought up an arm in self-defense, but Duo just absorbed the hit in his chest and pushed onwards. Before he had time to breathe, Duo had knocked both of them backwards onto the floor, with the piles of junk digging uncomfortably into his back. For a moment Heero lay stunned, as Duo pinned him with his body, and then he forgot to breathe entirely.
Duo was kissing him. Fiercely, almost hard enough to bruise Heero's lips, forcing Heero's mouth opening and pushing his tongue inside. It took Heero a long moment to respond to the unexpected move, bringing up his hands to grasp Duo's shoulder and lever the other boy off him, but Duo instantly pushed Heero's hands back against the floor and continued kissing him.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:06 am (UTC)How did Duo always know just what to do?
He walked alone down the street to Duo's apartment, very late that night. After dinner, when Duo had gotten involved with a book, Heero had taken the opportunity to slip out. He could feel the eyes on him, assessing the potential value of what he carried and the potential threat read in his walk and expression. They were wise; there was not a movement in the shadows as he stepped back up to the doorway of Duo's apartment.
The porch light was on; Heero distinctly remembered leaving it off. He knew he was in trouble when he let the front door close behind him, and looked up to see Duo leaning -- deceptively casual -- against the wall.
Duo looked up when Heero came in, but didn't move at first. "And just where," the voice growled from his throat, "the fuck have you been?"
Heero immediately recognized the danger signs. Duo was angry -- very, very angry. "I went to get something," he answered vaguely.
"Bullshit." Duo pushed off from the wall. "It's eleven-thirty, Heero -- what the fuck could be so important that you had to go running out at this time of night?" He stalked towards Heero, hands clenched into fists.
Prudently, Heero took a small step back, shifting his weight in case Duo did anything foolish. "You're being irrational, Duo."
"D'you know what's waiting out there?" Duo yelled, gesturing wildly towards the door. "This part of town is full of punks who'd mug you as soon as look at ya! Christ, Heero, what were you thinking wandering around here in the middle of the night? Have you been with Relena all this time or something, because I think some of her airheadedness musta rubbed off on you!"
Heero ground his teeth. "I'm perfectly capable of defending myself, Duo!" he bit out. "Maybe you've forgotten that you used to be a soldier, but I --"
In the middle of his sentence, Duo pounced. Startled, Heero brought up an arm in self-defense, but Duo just absorbed the hit in his chest and pushed onwards. Before he had time to breathe, Duo had knocked both of them backwards onto the floor, with the piles of junk digging uncomfortably into his back. For a moment Heero lay stunned, as Duo pinned him with his body, and then he forgot to breathe entirely.
Duo was kissing him. Fiercely, almost hard enough to bruise Heero's lips, forcing Heero's mouth opening and pushing his tongue inside. It took Heero a long moment to respond to the unexpected move, bringing up his hands to grasp Duo's shoulder and lever the other boy off him, but Duo instantly pushed Heero's hands back against the floor and continued kissing him.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:06 am (UTC)This time, Heero grabbed Duo's arms and pushed them both backwards until they were sitting, facing each other. "This wasn't the way I wanted to give it to you," Heero admitted, "but... here." Leaning over, he snagged the dropped parcel and brought it to him, tearing off the plastic wrapping and shaking it out.
On the back of the jacket, unseen from the display window of the store, the silver threads ran together to form a bright embroidered design; stylized wings. Duo's eyes went very wide, and he stilled as Heero draped the black leather over his lap. He stared at it for a long moment, then looked up at Heero. There was no trace of a smile on his face. "Heero... why did you..."
"You wanted it," Heero pointed out. Duo shook his head helplessly.
"But, Heero, it's too... you shouldn't..." He stuttered to a halt, biting his lip in distress. "I didn't want it enough for you to spend your money on," he finally said.
Heero's good mood was pretty thoroughly spoiled. Duo's strange behavior upon his return, his unenthusiastic response to the gift... What was supposed to have been a spontaneous act of affection had somehow fallen flat. "Well, I did," he said crossly, pushing back from Duo and standing. "The store has a 'no return' policy, but if you're so sure you don't want it..."
"No!" Duo cried, dropping the jacket in his haste to stand. "I didn't mean... I'm really sorry, Heero. It's great, it is. It's not that I didn't want it, or that I don't appreciate it... it's just that... I didn't need you to buy it for me."
"But I wanted to buy it for you," Heero said quietly, turning to stare out the window. "I wanted to see how you'd look in it."
There was a pause, and a rustle as Duo bent and retrieved the troublesome jacket from the floor. After a moment, Duo's voice came. "So how do I look in it?" he said unsteadily.
Heero turned back around, and he couldn't help but stare. Duo looked almost nervous, uncertain. "Well?" he prompted, and bit his lip as he glanced to one side. "D'you think it was worth..."
Without answering, Heero closed the distance between them and crushed Duo in a hug. He didn't see the wince of pain on Duo's face as Heero made contact with the bruised ribs; instead, he focused over Duo's shoulder and down at the bright silver feathers. "Kirei n'da..." his voice came, slightly muffled against the leather. He half-laughed, at the dizzying relief. But there was no matching smile on Duo's face.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:06 am (UTC)This time, Heero grabbed Duo's arms and pushed them both backwards until they were sitting, facing each other. "This wasn't the way I wanted to give it to you," Heero admitted, "but... here." Leaning over, he snagged the dropped parcel and brought it to him, tearing off the plastic wrapping and shaking it out.
On the back of the jacket, unseen from the display window of the store, the silver threads ran together to form a bright embroidered design; stylized wings. Duo's eyes went very wide, and he stilled as Heero draped the black leather over his lap. He stared at it for a long moment, then looked up at Heero. There was no trace of a smile on his face. "Heero... why did you..."
"You wanted it," Heero pointed out. Duo shook his head helplessly.
"But, Heero, it's too... you shouldn't..." He stuttered to a halt, biting his lip in distress. "I didn't want it enough for you to spend your money on," he finally said.
Heero's good mood was pretty thoroughly spoiled. Duo's strange behavior upon his return, his unenthusiastic response to the gift... What was supposed to have been a spontaneous act of affection had somehow fallen flat. "Well, I did," he said crossly, pushing back from Duo and standing. "The store has a 'no return' policy, but if you're so sure you don't want it..."
"No!" Duo cried, dropping the jacket in his haste to stand. "I didn't mean... I'm really sorry, Heero. It's great, it is. It's not that I didn't want it, or that I don't appreciate it... it's just that... I didn't need you to buy it for me."
"But I wanted to buy it for you," Heero said quietly, turning to stare out the window. "I wanted to see how you'd look in it."
There was a pause, and a rustle as Duo bent and retrieved the troublesome jacket from the floor. After a moment, Duo's voice came. "So how do I look in it?" he said unsteadily.
Heero turned back around, and he couldn't help but stare. Duo looked almost nervous, uncertain. "Well?" he prompted, and bit his lip as he glanced to one side. "D'you think it was worth..."
Without answering, Heero closed the distance between them and crushed Duo in a hug. He didn't see the wince of pain on Duo's face as Heero made contact with the bruised ribs; instead, he focused over Duo's shoulder and down at the bright silver feathers. "Kirei n'da..." his voice came, slightly muffled against the leather. He half-laughed, at the dizzying relief. But there was no matching smile on Duo's face.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:06 am (UTC)Duo went to bed soon after. Heero stayed up for a little longer, pretending to work, before the cold of the room got to him. Hastily undressing for bed, he only tossed his clothes into the drawer, instead of folding them like he usually did. As he slid between the sheets his lover was on the far side of the bed, facing the wall; when Heero pressed up against Duo's back, he stiffened with tension.
"Koi?" Heero breathed on the back of Duo's neck. "Love me?"
There was a moment of uncharacteristic silence, before Duo said quietly, "I'm tired, Heero."
But Heero needed the reassurance, that the fight was really over. He draped one hand over Duo's side, running it up and down his chest. "Please, koi. I want you."
There was a sigh he felt more than heard, but after a minute the body beside him shifted, and Duo turned to face him. He was smiling in the dim light. "Can't much argue with that," he murmured wryly, and reached for Heero.
Heero was content to devour the offered flesh. Relieved, he put the day's events firmly out of mind.
"Saa... I think they keep changin' the gravity," Duo complained to no-one in particular. "I know for a fact, I left that damned picture straight. And now it's crooked?!" He put his hands on his hips and glared at the offending picture, obstinately crooked on the wall. "Stay straight, damn you! You are looking Death in the eye here, y'know?"
The frame ignored him, and Duo let out a sigh and went once more to adjust it. "This shouldn'ta been this complicated. Buy a frame, put the picture in the frame, put a nail in the wall, hang the frame on the nail. Not exactly rocket science!" He unhooked the picture from the wall for the seventh time, but this time, paused to look at it before hanging it back up. It was a picture Relena had taken, of the five of them -- the time she had spontaneously decided to throw a birthday party for Heero. Picture-Heero was doing his best to keep the cake away from Picture-Duo, who was hanging over his shoulder trying to get a taste. A smile tugged at Duo's lips, as he hung the wire back on the hook and backed up, crossing his arms and studying the effect critically. He uncrossed his arms and sighed. "Think that's the closest to perfect I can get," he decided, and left the frame where it was.
There was no answer; the empty silence of the apartment bounced back at him. Heero was gone. He had taken a trip to Earth, for a few days, to pay a visit to Relena. Duo had stayed; his job wouldn't let him leave L2 for more than a weekend. Heero hadn't wanted to leave Duo behind, but Duo could see how much he'd wanted to go; so he had insisted that Heero make the trip, insisted that he'd be fine a few days alone.
"And I will
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:07 am (UTC)"And I will be fine," he said aloud. "I do all the cooking anyway, so it's not like I'm missing out on breakfast and bed. An' speaking of food..." He wandered towards the kitchen; it was only four o'clock, but it was easy to fall out of the habit of meal-times.
He nearly tripped over his old jacket, lying on the floor, and kicked it aside. Neat and bare, his apartment echoed his voice back to him a little more than he liked, so he'd stopped picking up his things on the second day Heero was gone. He hummed a half-remembered tune as he scraped together a dinner of leftovers -- with just himself to feed, it hardly seemed worth the effort to make something new. He took his dinner and set it down on the coffee table, instinctively shrinking away from the table with its two empty place settings.
Just for a moment, silence fell completely onto the room. Duo beat a hasty retreat into the bathroom, and turned on the faucet. Before putting his hands under the spray, he leaned against the counter and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
"You," he told it firmly, "are a Gundam pilot. You fought in two -- count'em, two -- mobile suit wars, and dozens of space and Earth battles. You've blown up more buildings than the other four pilots combined. You helped save the Earth, not once, but twice. You're a hero." His grip whitened on the edge of the sink. "So why're you acting like a lovesick teenager?"
"I am a lovesick teenager," his reflection whined back. "What's your excuse?"
"Pathetic," Duo grumbled.
As he passed it, he flicked the switch on the radio; it stuttered for a moment before kicking into life. Duo didn't bother to adjust the frequency; ninety out of a hundred stations were playing the same fifty songs anyway. The sound of some pop-hit filled the apartment, and a female voice began to sing.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:07 am (UTC)"And I will be fine," he said aloud. "I do all the cooking anyway, so it's not like I'm missing out on breakfast and bed. An' speaking of food..." He wandered towards the kitchen; it was only four o'clock, but it was easy to fall out of the habit of meal-times.
He nearly tripped over his old jacket, lying on the floor, and kicked it aside. Neat and bare, his apartment echoed his voice back to him a little more than he liked, so he'd stopped picking up his things on the second day Heero was gone. He hummed a half-remembered tune as he scraped together a dinner of leftovers -- with just himself to feed, it hardly seemed worth the effort to make something new. He took his dinner and set it down on the coffee table, instinctively shrinking away from the table with its two empty place settings.
Just for a moment, silence fell completely onto the room. Duo beat a hasty retreat into the bathroom, and turned on the faucet. Before putting his hands under the spray, he leaned against the counter and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
"You," he told it firmly, "are a Gundam pilot. You fought in two -- count'em, two -- mobile suit wars, and dozens of space and Earth battles. You've blown up more buildings than the other four pilots combined. You helped save the Earth, not once, but twice. You're a hero." His grip whitened on the edge of the sink. "So why're you acting like a lovesick teenager?"
"I am a lovesick teenager," his reflection whined back. "What's your excuse?"
"Pathetic," Duo grumbled.
As he passed it, he flicked the switch on the radio; it stuttered for a moment before kicking into life. Duo didn't bother to adjust the frequency; ninety out of a hundred stations were playing the same fifty songs anyway. The sound of some pop-hit filled the apartment, and a female voice began to sing.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:07 am (UTC)That is what I do
Now that I've found you
Dinner momentarily forgotten, Duo slowed and stopped in the middle of his living room. His eyes closed, and he swayed as the soothing beat surrounded him.
And in the night
I could be helpless
I could be lonely
Sleeping without you
Eyes still closed, he began to move to the song, his bare feet effortlessly picking their way among the islands of junk littering the floor. It was a waltz time, and his hands raised to settle in the air against a nonexistant partner as he danced to the music.
And in the day, everything's complex
There's nothing simple
When I'm not around you
Warm hands slid into his where he held them poised in the air, and he smiled, eyes still closed, as a second body effortlessly joined him in the dance. They moved about the room like one person, guiding, following each other. "Hey handsome," he whispered. "Who taught you to dance?"
"You did, of course," the other dancer replied; this soft and warm, the voice lost most of its flat tone, filling instead with some rich emotion. Letting Heero lead, Duo finally opened his eyes and smiled at Heero.
But I miss you when you're gone
That is what I do
It's hard to carry on
That is what I knew
"I thought you went to see Relena," Duo said, slowing down a little. Heero was so beautiful, in the dark gray tuxedo that he now wore.
"I saw Relena," Heero answered calmly. "But I wanted to be with you." The dim lights sparked across his eyes; a deeper shade of blue than Duo could have ever imagined.
"Yeah?" Duo smiled brilliantly for him, and lingered to a halt.
Re: Junk 1
Date: 2006-02-22 08:07 am (UTC)Hold on to my hands
I feel I'm stinking
Stinking without you
For a long moment, Heero's gaze was locked with his; he slowly pulled back, never letting go of Duo's hand, until at last he knelt before him. "Hai," he said quietly. "I have something I want to give to you, Duo."
Heart in his mouth, Duo watched breathless as Heero reached his free hand into the breast pocket of his jacket -- next to his heart -- and pulled out a little black box. He paused for a moment, looking back up to catch Duo's eyes, and slowly extended the box in front of him.
And to my mind
Everything's stinking
Stinking without you
He couldn't wait a moment longer -- abruptly, Duo reached shaking fingers forward to reach the box.
He touched nothing but air. The box, and Heero vanished as they never been, and left Duo standing alone again in the apartment.
I miss you when you're gone
That is what I do
Hey baby
It's hard to carry on
"Damn," Duo muttered, and heaved a sigh. "Moved too fast again."
He rubbed his hands over his face, and blew out a breath, eyes staring unseeing around the room. The song ended, and Duo went back to eat his dinner. It was probably cold by now.