Author: FancyFigures
see part 1 for warnings, notes, disclaimer

True Colours + Part 9

Quatre nursed an ice-cold beer that had brought tears of surprise to his eyes when he drank from it. It was refreshingly good. He sat fairly comfortably in a booth at the back of the bar, with Trowa Barton half a foot away, sat beside him. He'd offered for Trowa to call him Quatre - but he'd not been offered the friendly gesture in return.

"So - what did you want to talk to me about, Quatre?"

Quatre felt the reins of control slipping out from fingers that he'd always thought were pretty strong. His fingers - his control. Trowa Barton was that unusual person - someone who didn't immediately fawn over Quatre Winner, and was unfazed by his money, his sophistication, and - most especially - his facile wit.

"I need to talk to you about something - to ask for confirmation about things that you know, and I don't. Because..." Quatre paused. His fingers ran slowly down his beer bottle, wiping the condensation on to the tabletop.

"Because you knew Solo Maxwell."

Trowa's eyes flashed suddenly, and his hands tightened on the table as if he braced himself to rise.

"Hold on," said Quatre, softly. "Hear me out. I know you were his lover -"

"And he was mine," said Trowa, his voice a thread of strain. He spoke to no-one about Solo - no-one except Duo.

"Yes," said Quatre. "And he was yours. I understand that."

Trowa looked at him, a little more closely than before. Something about his tone was sincere - something that made Trowa consider overlooking the shockingly good looks and the affected mannerisms; that made him listen to the man beneath.

"What's it to do with you, Quatre? Did you know him?" His voice was calm and low - but it was as sharp as if he'd shouted in violent anger.

"A little. I own racetracks that he used to visit - I knew of his lifestyle." Trowa appeared to have relaxed back on to his seat - so Quatre pressed on. "And whilst I understand that you two were lovers, I know that he was also seeing another person at the time of his death." The gorgeous green eyes snapped up to meet his - he was surprised at how disturbed he was, seeing the pain in them.

But Trowa's voice was still calm. "So did I, Quatre. I always knew whom he was with. So what?"

Quatre sighed. He wondered if he would get the chance of another drink with this man - he decided to make his first one last as long as he could. "I want some information about it - about that person - and I know no-one else to ask."

Trowa seemed to weigh up the situation, like he had when he first met Quatre. The blond man watched the way his mouth pursed; the way he laid his hands gently on the table, fingers long and outstretched. "Does it concern Duo?"

"It concerns Heero Yuy. You know that they -?"

Trowa nodded, curtly. "But Duo?"

" - and therefore Duo as well," finished Quatre, determined to regain some advantage.

"I won't have Duo hurt," Trowa stated.

"I don't want either you or Duo disturbed, Mr Barton," said Quatre, slowly. "I don't want to stir up painful memories for you -"

"I don't matter."

"But of course you do, for God's sake!" retorted Quatre. They stared at each other for a moment. Behind the bar, in amongst the babble and laughter of the other customers, Marty looked over at the booth, wondering when to offer more drinks. He saw the tension in the two bodies sat there. He turned back to polishing the glasses.

Trowa's eyes dropped away from the irritated blue gaze opposite him. He nudged his empty bottle and drummed his fingers against it.

"Talk then, Quatre."

Quatre bit back the exclamation of surprise that rose to his lips. "Thank you, Mr Barton. I appreciate that."

Trowa leant back in his seat as if he was preparing for a long session, and he suddenly smiled. Quatre - like many before him - was astonished at the beauty and warmth of that smile. "Call me Trowa," he said. "And the next round is on you!"

+

Those two are still talking! thought Marty. It was a damned surprise - he'd thought at that early stage that Barton would walk out. He knew the guy - he knew that tightness in his body; the set of his chin when he was angry. He rarely shouted - he never caused any trouble at all in the bar. But Marty had seen him angry with the kid - and he'd seen him so low that he'd been afraid to leave the bar, even for a minute, in case Barton left and he never saw him again. Marty wasn't one of your jovial, fatherly types of bar owner, but he was fond of Barton. His opinion had often been that the kid needed a good slapping, but Barton was a man carrying a heap of misery - he deserved better.

So there'd been that awkward moment between Barton and his mystery friend - then Barton had relaxed a bit, and the two of 'em had talked seriously for twenty minutes or more. Then the mood had eased again, and it seemed they'd got their business done, and were just two guys chatting over a beer. The blond one looked like a good talker. He kept Barton's attention well - he rarely took his eyes off 'im in return. And Marty liked the way that Barton had been smiling. He'd been smiling a heap of a lot this evening.

Marty knew the blond guy was someone different - there was money there; an arrogant, pampered type. A type that didn't often sit in Marty's bar with its feet up on a stool and stand its turn at the bar for an hour or more. And he didn't know many who'd tip quite so generously; in Marty's experience, those who had the riches, held on to 'em!

"You'll have another?" asked Quatre, gesturing at Trowa's empty bottle. "Marty keeps lookin' over like he thinks I might mug you for your wallet, or steal the non-matchin' glassware."

Trowa smiled slightly. Quatre noted - again - the attractive way that his mouth creased at the corners. Christ, but this man oughtta get happy more often! He wondered what brand this damned beer was - he seemed to feel just a little intoxicated tonight.

"We finished discussing your business a long time ago, Quatre. Don't you want to be off somewhere else?"

"No," said Quatre, rather too quickly. "Blame my curiosity - though Goddamit, it's all but jaded nowadays. But I'm enjoyin' talkin' to you, Trowa. It's good to meet someone who knows the artist boy."

"You've known Heero for a long time? What's your opinion of his relationship with Duo?"

"Uh-huh. A long time. I'm pleased he's seeing Duo - of course I am. Guess I'm hopin' he knows what he's doing, though. For both their sakes. There's a need there for each other - but there still seems to be some kinda barrier... " He laughed softly. "Guess I hope he's not too jaded himself to recognise what he wants and to go for it."

"No..." said Trowa, slowly. "It's more than that. Duo is resisting it as well. He hasn't ever given his deepest affection to anyone except Solo. Solo was all he needed; all he relied on. Then life knocked him back too much, too young. He's mislaid his one talent - lost his one anchor. He's a mess of guilt about Solo..."

"But Heero likes him a hell of a lot."

Trowa paused to think about his reply. Quatre liked that in a man; it was one reason he got on with Heero Yuy so well.

"Yes - I can believe that. And he likes Heero, probably just as much - when he lets himself. But for Heero - is that all there is?"

Quatre sighed. "Heero has never given his deepest affection, period. This is a wild and scary time for him - he's not used to anything where he isn't in control. Where he can't plan or anticipate the outcome."

Trowa wondered briefly why he was sharing so many of his personal thoughts and opinions - it was a rare thing for him to do. "I think it's because of Heero that Duo is drawing again. It's opening him up - socialising him again. That's so good for him. I welcome it."

Quatre saw the effort that it took for Trowa to admit that. To admit other devotion into his precious Duo's life; to consider it all objectively. Trowa Barton was a scarily honest person!

"You care a lot for him, Trowa," he said, carefully. "Strikes me you'd kill for him - but you won't live his life for him. Hey - that's how a true friend should be!"

"You're a lot sharper than you like people to believe, Quatre Winner, " said Trowa, gently.

"You're one of the better knives in the box y'self," came Quatre's quick response.

They stared at each other, until Trowa lifted an arm to call Marty for another beer, and broke the mood.

+

"So... you wanna do dinner some time, Trowa?" said Quatre, in his lazy drawl. He leant forward so slightly that only Trowa would have noticed. "No strings attached..."

"You can drop the act, Quatre," smiled Trowa. "It does nothing for me."

"I can see that," replied Quatre. "Maybe you'll let me know sometime just what does."

Trowa stared at his blatant approach, as if amazed that he'd try it. But something about Quatre's frank look made him bite back the sharp response he'd been considering. Something that made him want to smile, instead, with genuine amusement. Astonishing!

"A drink, then, maybe? Another day, another place?" Quatre persisted.

Trowa meant to say 'no' immediately. He'd said 'no' to an offer or two in the last six months, and always meant it.

"I don't date," were the words that he actually said.

"And I don't ask very often," came Quatre's amused reply. "They usually come to me if I want 'em." In his soft, seductive voice it didn't sound so dreadfully arrogant. "You're safe from me, Trowa Barton - if that's what you want!"

Trowa did laugh, then. Quatre exulted in the rich smile - the way the man's face lit up. "I'm not scared of you, Quatre Winner -!"

"No, hon, I know. I think I'm scared of you..."

"Ridiculous!" scorned Trowa.

"Uh-huh," agreed Quatre. "It is. But you're an unusual, attractive man, Trowa. I think anyone would be a damned fool not to be faithful to you -"

Quatre knew at once that he shouldn't have said it, even before he saw Trowa flinch. Of course he could see that Trowa Barton was a very private person - what the hell had possessed him to practise his frivolous banter on him? He was private - and very controlled. God knows what he'd be like if he let that control go a little...

"And you, Quatre? How are you with your lovers?" The response came back very quickly - but the tone was very cool.

"Mine?" Quatre sighed. He didn't know whether he'd been scolded or scorned for his clumsy remarks. But he'd answer Trowa - what did he have to lose? "I like my lovers tall, dark and silent, Mr Barton. Preferably laid on a bed - preferably without overnight bag; without any baggage, to be honest. I apologise deeply - I'm not qualified to comment on anyone's relationship when I've had so little experience of my own."

Trowa raised an eyebrow - it was a sincere apology, and he was impressed despite himself. He'd noticed that while they talked, Quatre had dropped many of his mannerisms, and his lazy affectations of speech. "So there is genuine breeding under that flippant charm, Mr Winner! I appreciate you showing me that - I suspect that you enjoy your act just that little bit too much to let your guard down very often."

Quatre didn't answer - there was a slight flush on his cheeks. He turned towards the bar and raised a hand for his turn at the beers; when he turned back, Trowa was still gazing at him.

"Do you always get your own way, Quatre?"

Quatre's eyes were level with his, and steady. "No. But I'll always try." He thought that his name sounded different on Trowa's tongue - like a fine wine; like a delicacy to be savoured. He wanted to hear it again.

Trowa's eyes flashed. "Hasn't anyone ever challenged you? Ever tried to tame that wild arrogance you trade on so confidently?"

Quatre blanched at Trowa's blunt, personal criticism. Guess it was payback time! "I don't do 'tamed', Trowa."

Trowa laughed - and then Quatre realised that he hadn't intended any real hostility towards him at all - it was just Trowa's way to be so direct. "So I imagine! And if you did, I can't think you'd be as much fun, would you?"

"So -?" asked Quatre, his mouth a little dry.

"So another drink will be fine, another day. Some time after the show - I think that we still have to get through that day, for the sake of both Heero and Duo. Then we'll see. But just that - a drink." He could feel the smile lingering on his face as he met Quatre's pleased expression. He felt he was smiling a lot, tonight. This man was most amusing - an unusual challenge. It had been a while since he'd been interested in anyone else at all - for whatever reason.

"I'm not looking for anything else, you see, Quatre."

Quatre looked at the handsome, confident face and his heartbeat quickened. "But neither am I, Trowa." His voice dipped lower.

"Neither am I!"

+

It was the night before the show. Heero stood alone in the darkened gallery, and wondered why he felt that things were going wrong.

One of the issues was, admittedly, that the gallery was still shrouded as before. None of the exhibits could be seen - all of the displays were hidden. He'd argued fitfully with Duo over the last couple of weeks, demanding he show him what was planned - Heero wanted to know what to expect; what to be prepared for. He wanted to know whether 4:DRMS had been finally included or not. But Duo hadn't relented - the final preparations were his alone. Of course, thought Heero, I could just pull off the dustsheets and see for myself!

But he didn't.

Was that the problem? That he was worried about what Duo may do with his gallery? That he'd argued with him? Surely not! They argued all the time, didn't they - they were in agreement only when they let the passion take over.

Was that all there was to it - to their affair? The physical passion?

He hadn't seen Duo for the last forty-eight hours; not even spoken to him. He'd been called away to an acquisition meeting up north - even so, there were always 'phones; Duo had replaced his cell phone some time ago, and he could have contacted him at any time. Instead, knowing that Duo would be busy on the show, Heero had convinced himself that the artist wouldn't want to be disturbed. Maybe he'd never wanted to be disturbed in the first place; had never really wanted any connection with the Yuy Corporation, let alone Heero Yuy himself. Their last meeting had opened up all sorts of confusion and contradiction; passion and pain. There'd been such physical ecstasy - matched with emotional discord.

But then he'd already been warned how Duo felt about it all, hadn't he? Duo had told him once, had confessed to the way he fucked -'plenty enthusiasm, but fuck all commitment!' he'd said. Heero couldn't deny he knew how things stood.

He wasn't used to this sort of thing - this personal conflict. His only strategy had been to take himself away, and try to regain some perspective.

For the first time ever, he hesitated at going up to see Duo. There was a sliver of pale light under the closed door up to the apartment that suggested that Duo was at home - just feet away. Quite deliberately, Heero turned back to stare around the gallery instead. They always met here, didn't they? The gallery felt like neutral territory in the middle of a war zone. They planned here; they argued here; they discussed here. Duo drew here; Heero watched. They fucked here. He wanted Duo to come to his apartment sometimes; he wanted him at his house. There'd never even been the suggestion of it.

There was a rustle of noise behind him then, and a slice of the low light spread out across his feet. The door up to the apartment had opened. He didn't turn back to face it. When Duo spoke behind him, it wasn't a surprise, though the tone of his voice was. He sounded a little drunk.

"Heero Yuy - now there's a surprise! You've been Mr Busy for the last coupla days, I think. It's a little late now for checking the hold, isn't it? The pirates have been and gone - we sail tomorrow, with or without your blessing!"

"Is that how you see me?" asked Heero. "Checking up on you?"

"I'm an employee," mumbled Duo's voice. "I do what I'm told -"

"You've never fucking done that in your life!" snapped Heero, suddenly furious, and he whirled round to face Duo.

Duo stood, framed in the doorway, backlit by the gentle upstairs light. Heero saw the tall frame, the casual way he leant against the door; the grimace on his face. He saw the lean, tight body, barely dressed as Duo so often was; the naked chest and legs; the soft jersey shorts.

He realised suddenly that in his brief time away he'd gained no perspective at all where Duo Maxwell was concerned. He realised for the first time in his life what it felt like to want to jump someone's bones. He realised how damned miserable he was going to be if all they ever did was argue; he realised how it didn't matter a flying fuck to him where they met, so long as he got to touch him, and be with him, and listen to that sharp, bright, vivid voice...

He was lost to it all!

+

"Whoa, Heero - we don't often hear you swear, do we?" Duo's eyebrows were raised, as he stepped out into the gallery. His footing was sure, even in the semi-darkness; he wondered if Heero had smelt the drink on his breath, and assumed he was drunk. Heero should know better, of course - he should know that Duo wouldn't have risked that, the night before the show. Heero's show.

But he'd had a couple of disturbed nights, and he'd needed a quick pick-me-up tonight - his regular sleep had been broken by the return of nightmares. They'd been very frequent just after Solo died, but the therapists had all said they'd pass. He hadn't had them for a while now, and not since he'd been working at the gallery. They just came back occasionally - when he was at his most tired. At his most stressed.

That's all it was - stress about the show.

"Guess that's true, about me not doing what I'm told," he said, more coolly. "Is that why you've been avoiding me, then? Scared of what I'll be unveiling tomorrow?"

"Of course not!" snapped Heero. He looked around the gallery, seeing dark shadows and unidentified stacks of equipment. The whole room looked cluttered, full of display materials and discarded packaging. Pictures were already hung on the walls, but covered in sheets that shone dull and grey in the night time. Some lay stacked against the walls for the time being - there were careless piles of paper and tissue on the floor. The perspex wall was completely shrouded - there were only a couple of mysterious little bumps under the fabric. The ceiling wires hung down, glinting emptily above their heads like thin, metallic snakes.

Duo noticed how Heero held his hands tightly at his side - as if he had to stop himself reaching out. He was a little shocked to feel how strongly he felt the same - the sight of Heero had been a shock that rippled through him, speeding up his heartbeat and shortening his breath. Looked like he'd come straight from work - smart suit, a little creased from travel; hair a little less than perfect; that habitual cologne, a light, musky smell that was all Heero. Duo felt as if Heero were all around him; the warmth of his presence suffused the cold night air of the gallery, its teasing tendrils creeping out towards Duo's body. His skin shivered in response.

"Looks to me like you're worried about it..." he said, a little sulkily.

"I want the show to do well, Duo!" Heero protested. "I want my gallery to do well -"

"Your gallery?"

It sounded like Heero cursed under his breath. "I didn't mean -"

"But that's what it is, isn't it?" Duo heard his voice rising in both volume and pitch. "Your gallery."

"It's part of your life, too!" Heero's expression was startled - he was rushing out his words. "Your life will have a share of that success too -!"

"You took my life away with your damned Corporation and your bills of sale and your heads of leases -!" spat Duo. He wondered where the hell that had come from, but he couldn't bite the words back now. He glared at Heero, instead - the dark indigo eyes met his in return, darkening in anger.

"Damn you!" growled Heero.

"And what am I now?" Duo continued on, relentlessly. "On a salary - on a leash to the great God of Commerce!" He felt like he'd opened his mouth, and words were falling over themselves to escape. "I'm nothing but an employee - nothing but a surplus-to-requirements Mr Ordinary. Everything else has gone. Everything I cared about - everything that was mine! My dreams, my plans, my talent, my independence -"

His eyes were blurred with dampness and anger, and for a brief moment he felt as distraught as he had when Solo died. But this was nothing like it, of course it wasn't!

What the hell's going on, kid? he asked himself, in the one small corner of his mind that was still sane. Why are you giving the guy such a hard time?

He didn't have an answer.

"Why are you like this, Duo?" came Heero's cold voice, echoing once again his own thoughts. It was uncanny, that... "Full of self- pity... picking a fight with me. What's happened? Have I upset you somehow?"

"Christ, Heero - you are so -!"

"So -?" Heero scowled.

"So - " Duo floundered - his throat was too tight to speak properly. Look at the guy there! Even when he was angry, he looked so cool - so in control. So self-confident, so together. So gorgeous - so right!

Heero stared at Duo's furious face for a second or two more, and then his body seemed to tense up. He buttoned up his suit jacket - tugged absentmindedly at a wrinkled cuff. "I don't have to stay and put up with this, Duo, and you know it. If you think I've got something to answer, OK, we can talk about it. But you don't appear to be in that kind of mood, so I'll go." He turned on his heel to stride back to the door. "You appear to hate me too much to listen -"

"I don't hate you," said Duo, loudly; abruptly. Heero paused, his back still to Duo.

"I missed you like shit," said Duo. He didn't know what else to say, and his words sounded bleak and pathetic in the deserted room.

"I was only away for a couple of days," said Heero, quietly.

"I can fucking count!" said Duo, sharply.

And then Heero started laughing.

+

Duo broke his mouth away from Heero's, gulping a deep and desperate breath. They'd fallen against each other just after Heero started to leave - they'd grabbed, and grasped, and reached for each other like parched men would snatch water from its source. Now they leant against the wall nearest to the apartment door, still standing, still wrapped around each other as if they were one person. The only light was from upstairs, and from the greedy shine in their eyes. Their hearts hammered fiercely - their hands gripped tightly to each other's clothing. They'd been crushed against each other for what felt like hours, but what was probably actually only minutes. Heero's jacket was now on the floor, his shoes kicked off and rolled to the side of the room, and his tie was loosened. Duo's shorts were still on, but they hung dangerously loosely at his hips, as if there'd been some abortive tussling by a couple of pairs of eager hands.

"I'm not going anywhere now -" Heero laughed and moaned at the same time. "Let me breathe -!"

"Maybe," gasped Duo. "Maybe not!" There was more laughing - more hunger - more mouths reaching, and sucking, and licking -

"Did I scare you, Duo?" Heero sighed and smiled, and relaxed into the soft taste that he'd never forgotten, not even in his sleeping hours; the taste that he couldn't imagine surviving without. "Thought I was running out on you?"

"Like you'd dare..." Duo hissed. "But then you ain't scared of anything, are you, Heero Yuy?"

I never used to be, thought Heero, to himself. I think I am now. His hand gripped Duo's waist as if to reassure himself of his reality.

"Of course, you might be scared of somethin'," murmured Duo playfully, running his teeth along the lobe of Heero's ear. "Scared that in a coupla days I've forgotten all about ya - that you won't get another taste of my sweet ass this side o' Christmas..."

"Like you've kept me at arms length tonight!" Heero scowled, only half joining in the teasing.

Love that scowl, thought Duo. Love the way his mouth purses like that! Love the way he tries so hard to make sense of the total crap that I fling at him -

He felt the shame wash over him like a sudden, ice-cold wave.

"Is this arms length, then?" He tightened his arms around Heero almost aggressively. He saw a slight bubble of salty saliva at the edge of Heero's mouth, and he quickly licked it away.

Heero grinned - and growled. He wanted him - badly. Duo felt the increased heat between his legs - the pressure of Heero's swelling erection against the front of his shorts.

They held each other tightly for another few seconds. Duo thought that it felt like a damned good fit. He reached to kiss Heero again - and again! He could feel the coil of mischief and lust stirring deep inside his groin. He slipped a hand down and gripped the straining arousal in Heero's pants.

He snickered softly, and felt Heero's breath hitch.

"Duo -"

"Want you, too, Heero. Let's do it here!"

"Here? - what do you mean? Don't you want to go upstairs -?"

"What I want, Heero Yuy, is to strip that tired old business suit off your luscious limbs, suck the outline of my name all over your belly, and then spread myself for you to fuck. Right here!"

"Here?" re-echoed Heero. His voice sounded weak with lust at the mere thought.

"Uh-huh!" grinned Duo. "Right at the scene of the crime, eh? Where tomorrow we'll either see my victory or my commercial crucifixion!" He started to peel away at the buttons of Heero's shirt; he tugged mischievously at the tie, until it slid out from under Heero's collar.

Heero felt the shudder of desire launch itself through his body. "I don't -"

"You do!" muttered Duo. "Whatever excuse you have - whatever inhibition you've re-learned up north - it ain't gonna resist me!"

Duo's mouth slid hungrily along Heero's chin, licking at the slight evening stubble he found there. He started to lap at his neck, sorely tempted to suck a mark there, but just restraining himself at the last minute. He had a terrible longing to devour Heero - to possess him - to absorb him into his very being! Heero's skin was hot and wet under him; the dark-haired man arched himself back, gasping - his neck was bared to Duo, as if he begged for more attention.

"You're mad, Duo -"

"Uh-huh," Duo agreed, but he couldn't have told Heero exactly what he was admitting to. It was just so perfect to have Heero back under him, squirming and gasping and willing! He had, indeed, missed him - he'd fought the alien feeling, and he'd despised himself for the strange weakness, and he'd tried to immerse himself in the preparations for the show... but he'd still missed Heero like shit.

Damned man was addictive!

He didn't allow into his memory the thread of fear - the night time horror of waking, and imagining that Heero wasn't coming back at all; at the very least, not to him.

The nightmares had been nothing to do with that, had they?

+

Heero stumbled in the semi-darkness over a pile of stacked palettes, and two packing cases. He swore at the sudden pain in his shin. "Christ, this is awkward, Duo -"

"Plenty of space!" grinned Duo. He could hear his breath panting now - his cock was aching inside his shorts. With one hand he grasped at Heero's neck, drawing him back in for another bruising kiss. He slid the other hand down the front of his own shorts, rubbing some relief to his arousal.

"I want to do that," came Heero's growl. Duo smirked - it worked every time!

"Be my guest," he murmured, and sucked in his breath as he felt the long, slender fingers sliding in under the thin fabric, and wriggling around his damp pubic curls. Heero took a steady, yet reverent hold of his cock, and Duo groaned.

He leant back against the wall, and now it was his turn to arch his neck and rub up against the firm caress. He kicked away a roll of wiring at his feet - he saw Heero's hand push out at a trolley that had somehow come rolling up to greet them. Heero's body came tight up against him, the two of them pressing close to the wall.

"We can be seen from the street -" gasped Heero.

"Like - if they get down on their knees and peer under the blinds and have a relative with bat-sight -" moaned Duo. "I got no problem with that -"

Heero started to pump him - lazily; carefully; deliciously. "Fantastic..." he sighed. "Never got this up north..."

"Should fuckin' well hope not!" whimpered Duo. He'd peeled Heero's shirt open - now he pushed the cloth back off his shoulders, wanting to feel the naked skin against his own. It fell to the floor with a crumpled whisper. The door to the upstairs was ajar - it shifted gently from a distant breeze, and the cooler air swept across their chests, nipples springing erect in sudden response.

"Goddd...." groaned Duo. "I wanna be naked, Heero - I want you to touch me, to hold me - to fuck me -!"

"No sucking?" murmured Heero, his arm around Duo's bare shoulders, and his eyes fixed on the protesting tent in his lover's shorts. Duo grabbed at his other hand, pulling it up to his face, and drawing the fingers into his plump lips.

"Can't wait that long! Only these!" he growled. "I'll suck 'em - if you'll put 'em where I most need 'em -!"

"Looks like you've been missing this down south, as well..." said Heero, throatily. He swallowed heavily, just the once, then watched as Duo sucked enthusiastically on his fingers, soaking them with his warm saliva. Duo's voice moaned around the fingers and his own busy tongue - his legs moved apart; his hips strained against Heero's groin, feeling for the response he needed.

"You want me to get on the floor -?"

"No," hissed Heero. "You're the one who said we'd do it right here. So turn around -"

Duo's eyes flickered in the dim light, full of excitement and surprise alike. He let Heero's fingers slip noisily out of his mouth, and he slowly turned on his bare feet, to face the wall. He put out tentative hands, to brace himself. He was breathing heavily; he was unusually tense.

Heero's body was close up against him, the naked muscles of his chest covering Duo's bare back. Duo felt his braid moved gently to one side, and fingers running down the raised surface of his spine. He arched up against them, wondering if he really was purring like a cat, or whether it was just his desire calling. He felt the soft brush of Heero's hair against his neck, and then there were teeth and soft lips against his skin, making the shape of bites all across his shoulders and down to his shoulder blades. He was a mess of sensation; his arms threatened to shake and lose their hold; his skin leapt with goosebumps.

Heero's hands came to his waist, and tugged gently at the shorts. Not gently! gasped Duo to himself. How the hell was he meant to cope with this if Heero touched him gently? He felt the flimsy fabric start to slip down his thighs - he felt the inexpressible joy of his cock springing free, and the fresh air stroking against the weeping tip. The material pooled around his ankles, and he stepped quickly out of it, kicking it to the side. He was naked - he felt every breath of air in the room, every whisper of movement from the soft, rustling tissue around the patiently waiting pictures. Heero's fingers were tracing softly against his hip - Duo knew he was following the pattern of his tattoo. Heero liked to touch it; to kiss it; to stroke it, as his fingers meandered their way down Duo's hips towards his groin.

Duo arched his spine again and stretched his head back towards Heero's - his hands dropped a little way further down the wall, and his ass was pushed out against Heero's hips. He could feel the rock hard shaft between Heero's legs, forcing itself impatiently against the fabric of the smart pants; rubbing against the cleft of Duo's buttocks, as if it were looking for its home away from home.

Duo groaned aloud. "Now, Heero - God - get on with it -!"

Heero's hand pressed firmly on his back, making him lean further forward. Both arms were braced against the wall now, his back straightening out and his head dropping down between his shoulders. A hot, clothed thigh thrust itself between his own, kicking his legs further apart. He was panting even more heavily now. He felt the frisson of fingers at his entrance - a palm gripping his buttocks, and prising them wider open. The fingers were still damp with his saliva - with his sucking. He heard Heero catch his breath, and then one of the fingers slid possessively into his ass.

Duo moaned - he wriggled up against it, trying to suck it into him even more deeply. To seek its companions - to encourage its exploration. There was a soft laugh of pleasure from Heero, and another finger joined it. This time, it was hooked - this time it probed at him, looking for a place to bring him even more delight; even more agony.

Duo yelped as Heero found the place - as he pressed against his prostate, his body already sensitive with anticipation. His legs started to shake.

"Tell me, Duo..." whispered Heero's voice at his ear. He was panting, too. "Tell me what you want -"

Duo didn't have the time or the energy to examine this reversal of roles - the loss of his usual verbosity. He just ached for Heero - his mouth felt full of unspoken pleas; his chest felt strangled by his neglected needs. The sound of Heero's zip rasping open was music to his ears. The muscles of his hole flexed; his ass throbbed with the anticipation. He could feel the hot, damp flesh of Heero's groin at the back of his thighs.

"Lick me first, Heero..." he whispered hoarsely. "I - please -"

He felt Heero hesitate for a second behind him, and then kneel down on the floor. The hands still played at his buttocks, but now the invasive fingers slid out, and he felt his muscles tighten back up without them. Heero's lips touched at his thighs - licked at the clenched muscle of his buttocks. The fingers returned to his ass, pinching the flesh, opening up the crevice between his cheeks. There was hot breath between them - there was something hard, and slick, and demanding up against his entrance again. Duo was almost speechless - his throat was gripped with excitement.

The tip of Heero's tongue pressed its way inside his ass.

+

Duo shuddered with something deeper and more shocking than he'd ever felt before. His response was animalistic - his body surrendered every ounce of sexual control it had ever had. He couldn't understand how he could still be standing, when every nerve was reduced to liquid, leaking its sensual way all through his body. When Heero started to withdraw, and then plunge his tongue back into him, he began to wail.

"Hush," came the warning; he could feel the shape of Heero's smile against his skin. "You want the traffic out there to hear you and call the police?"

Duo thought they could sell fucking tickets and he wouldn't care! Slowly, tortuously, Heero fucked him with his tongue, gripping hard at his legs to hold himself in place, and burying his face into the sweetness of Duo's ass. Duo wailed some more - he cursed aloud at the need for more stimulation for his agonised cock. He yelled when Heero slid a finger in beside his tongue, and started to probe for his prostate again. Heero sucked, and licked, and thrust, and Duo was a blubbering wreck.

"Didn't want to miss out on the sucking, Duo," came the muffled words. "And now? What do you want now, Duo?" His lover's voice was a damp, musky breath against his buttocks.

"I want you, Heero -" he gasped. Why did the words feel different in his mouth tonight? Why did it seem more than just the usual banter - the usual begging for physical satisfaction? He felt disorientated; it wasn't just his physical nakedness making him feel exposed. "Heero... please...take me now! Fuck me now -!"

When he heard the slight rustle of a plastic package being opened behind him, he realised that he'd not yet asked Heero to use protection - it hadn't even crossed his mind! Desperate times, he groaned to himself. He was so impossibly fraught that he'd have taken Heero's cock as it was - in all its uncovered glory. In fact, the vision of that sent shivers down an already shivering body. He wondered when the hell Heero bought condoms - when he'd started to carry one with him. 'Praps it was one of the quaint customs he'd brought back from the alien north...

'Praps Heero was as much involved in this relationship as he was himself.

Duo wondered - yet again - why tonight felt so strange; so different.

Then the physical excitement swamped him; the crown of Heero's cock was pressing insistently into him. It was damned hard - but the touch was frighteningly soft. He bit his lip as he tried to stretch his legs further apart - as he felt Heero's body bend slightly to get a better angle.

This is where we meet - he thought, wildly. Heero was forcing himself in deeper - Duo could hear his gasps of concentrated breath. Looking down under his braced arm, he could see the shapes of the gallery behind them; the place that he knew so well; the preparation for the show that was so much more his than Heero's. Where things were familiar - where he could continue to hide for as long as he was allowed. This is where we fit together! he thought. Heero's hands were tight on his hips now, pulling him back and forth on to his shaft. This is how it's always gonna be...

Isn't it?

Heero groaned above him - there was a sudden throb to his cock, a swelling that heralded his imminent coming. He slid a hand under Duo's belly, where the muscles were taut and stretched; he grasped at Duo's cock, and began to pump him. Duo knew he wouldn't last long either - his climax already threatened, his cock bobbing out thickly from his groin. His whole body was as tight as a wire with the thrill and the need for Heero. He wanted to call to his lover - he wanted to tell him how he felt. To ask him to join in the amusement and the joy.

He said nothing - instead, he clenched his muscles around Heero's cock, and allowed the waves of ecstasy to flood his nerves. The floor creaked very slightly underneath them - there was the sound of sweaty, slapping flesh as Heero thrust in and out; Duo felt the muscles in his calves straining in protest as he held himself up for Heero's best comfort.

Duo gasped - "Shit, Heero -" and then his climax ripped through him, bursting out of his cock and straining against the boundaries of Heero's strong hand, the cum sending its steamy, thick trail over Heero's fingers, and splattering down on to the bare boards of the floor. He shook under Heero's body - his limbs jerked with the force of the reaction.

There was a sharp, sweet urgency to this coming - not that he hadn't been desperate before, many other times. But there was an emotion much deeper this time; much more than just the passion and lust. His chest was too tight - his limbs too weak. There was a pain inside that felt like heartache; the suspicion of tears springing to his eyes.

Heero shuddered above him, his hips slamming tightly up against his buttocks. He gave a deep, guttural groan of satisfaction as he came, and Duo felt him throbbing deeply up inside - felt the muscles of his torso tighten fiercely against Duo's supporting back. His arm clutched tightly at Duo's body, anchoring them both in the sensation.

Don't leave me, thought Duo, hearing the thread of a new desperation in the words. He didn't want Heero to hear him - he seemed to have little control over his voice tonight. But he couldn't stop the emotion itself. The anguish came from nowhere - and consumed him.

Don't ever leave me, Heero!

+

Duo's legs buckled as Heero drew out of him, and he sank down to sit on his ass on the cold boards. He felt exhausted - he felt exhilarated! He felt as if he'd run a marathon and then jogged up and down a mountain for additional entertainment. He felt like months of need and desire had just been released.

Heero turned his back to the wall and slid down to the floor beside him. For a while, they sat there, panting, trying to regain their normal breathing. Duo was completely naked - Heero had his pants on, but they were open, and snagging halfway down his hips. He dragged a handkerchief from his pocket - he pulled off the condom with a satisfied sigh.

Duo sneaked a look out of the corner of his eye - Heero looked good! He looked flushed, and his chest heaved a little after the exertions, but he looked damned happy. Physically satisfied; content.

Heero looked back at him; caught his gaze. His tongue licked out at his dry lips. "Water?" he murmured.

They both stared over at the corner of the gallery, where there was a faint glint of reflection from a water cooler. Then they both looked back at each other; propped against the wall, their breathing harsh in the still air, their bodies shining with sweat. There were clothes in a heap beside them and their critical muscles were still screaming complaint. Neither looked as if they'd be moving any time soon.

"Not bothered," said Duo, lightly. They both laughed a little; a happy, weary sound.

"Remember, Duo, you said you fucked with plenty enthusiasm -?"

Duo flinched a little beside him.

"Love the enthusiasm!" sighed Heero. His head went back against the wall - his hands were limp at his sides.

A grin broke out over Duo's face; his eyes sparkled. "Welcome back, Heero," he teased, a little of his mischief returning with his wits.

Heero grinned back. It was a companionable feeling, sitting here with Duo, in the afterglow of fantastic sex. Of course, the evening hadn't exactly started out very promisingly...

He shifted, as if to get more comfortable. His foot knocked against the trolley, causing one of its wheels to squeak. "Look - what you said earlier, Duo -"

Duo's heart sank. "It was shit!" he said, sharply. "Forget it. I was outta order, OK?"

Heero ignored him. "Everything has gone, you said. Everything that matters to you. I want to know if you meant it. What you meant."

Duo rolled his eyes, and rested his own head back against the wall. "I don't know what I meant, Heero. I don't know what to think, half the time. It's all just words to me - matters; cares; wants. Just words! I haven't got time to talk it all out."

Why did Heero's silence seem to drag the answering words out of him?

"I've had a coupla bad nights, y'know? Cut me some slack, I just - look, I'm just nothing. While you were away I thought and thought around it all - me; you; the gallery. Stuff. But I can't get away from the crap. I'm nothing on my own. I've nothing to offer. Things just don't work for me."

He sighed. "I wanted to be different from Solo, y'know? Loved him - but didn't wanna make the same mistakes. Wanted to be different..."

"You are," whispered Heero. "You're so much more than nothing that I can't find the words to describe it!" Duo was shaking his head, but Heero continued. "You're bright and bold and you speak your mind, even -"

"- if it's crap?" grimaced Duo.

Heero tsked. "You're honest and talented and you've worked damned hard for something that you've committed to -"

Sounds like you, Heero, thought Duo. Sounds like you... Are we that alike after all?

There was a short silence. Duo felt one of his calves cramping up - his ass felt a bit numb.

Heero's voice had become soft, low, and very chill. "Do you want to leave, then? Do you want to finish this? If that's part of the problem; if it's causing you such grief; I - I can let you go from the job..."

Duo let his head hang down, staring at his own lap. He didn't want to meet Heero's eyes for fear of - well, for fear of something. "You'd do that? Let me give it up?"

What? thought Heero. Let you go from the job? From me? He felt nauseous. His words felt like hot, dry sand in his mouth.

"If that's what you want. No point in having a hostile employee..."

"I'm an executive, I'll have you know -!"

"Yeah," smiled Heero, a little sadly. "So you are."

There was another silence.

"OK," said Heero. He slid his legs out in front of him; let loose a small groan as a joint creaked. "I'm going to say this, whether you listen or not. I didn't mean to take everything from you - it was never meant that way. I just saw the gallery deal - saw what I wanted."

"I know that," grumbled Duo. "You didn't take it away from me, of course you didn't! I acted earlier like a spoiled kid. You just bought it - it was me who gave it away."

Heero was ignoring him again. Duo didn't know whether he liked that or not. It confused him.

"So take it back!"

"Huh?"

"Take back the gallery!" said Heero, sharply. "It can be yours again - all of it."

"Don't be fucking stupid!" protested Duo. "I can't ever afford that, even at the stupid rates you pay. And there's no other way I could take anything off you."

They glared at each other for a moment.

Then Duo made a grunting noise and reached out for his crumpled shorts.

+

Heero felt the warmth of Duo's body rolling away - he felt the withdrawal even more deeply than that physical sign. Duo had wriggled his shorts on to his ankles, and was now kneeling up, pulling them back up to cover himself.

Heero sighed; he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm finding this difficult, Duo - carrying on like this. I don't want to, but it's the way I am. It's hard...never knowing how you'll be - never knowing how you feel towards me."

"You're - we're great, of course..." Duo's voice sounded hollow. "Anythin' else is just more words, ain't it?"

"No," said Heero, deliberately. "There should be more, I think. That's the problem. More than just this overwhelming lust..."

"Nothin' wrong with lust," muttered Duo. "Damn sight more reliable than all that love 'n devotion stuff..."

Heero smiled, a little sadly. "You may be right, of course. But I care for you as well, Duo - I care a hell of a lot." Not just words, he thought, but feelings. That's what overwhelms me.

He sighed, deeply. He ran a hand through his tousled hair again; didn't seem to know what else to do. Duo's disapproving silence was like a fist around his windpipe, throttling him. He was determined to speak, though - even if it were the last time he had the chance.

"You've changed me, Duo - just meeting you; just being with you. I can't describe it, because it's been a revelation to me, and I haven't really got my head round it yet. Christ, that's half the problem, isn't it?" He laughed, self-consciously. "My difficulties in handling this properly - trying to offer you what you want. But it's been magnificent! I want you to know that..."

Duo had turned back to stare at him. His hand paused at the waistband of his shorts; he sat back on his heels. His eyes were wide, and fixed on Heero's mouth, like he was trying to understand words in an alien language. He looked almost stricken.

Heero struggled on. "You see, I don't want to be always hiding away in the gallery, meeting only at night, fucking in the dark - you know, just as we have been. It's exciting - God, it's exciting! - but I don't want that to be all there is. Getting off on the conflict - ignoring everything else for the sake of fabulous sex." Hadn't Duo said that to him once - that he didn't want the intimacy to be good for the wrong reasons? Had all that been forgotten?

"Duo, I want to spend the days with you, as well." He thought he'd forgotten to breathe, because his chest was hurting so much. "I want to be with you - openly."

He saw Duo shift again beside him, and he realised how hot he felt - how his head was hammering. "I know you're not looking for that, Duo, but it's something I have to say for my own peace of mind. I've never known anyone like you - I've never had anything like this before. Hell - I don't want anything like this again, at least, not with anyone else! I want to spend months learning more about you - "

Years, sighed his inner voices. Years...

"I've never felt this passion before." His voice was wondering; it was softening further and further. "The colour blindness extended to more than my sight. I never saw such colours in life - never saw the things you show me."

He couldn't find any more words. He thought he should probably get up and make his way home now, before Duo had to ask him to. But it was Duo who spoke next. His voice was suspiciously quiet.

"You're astonishing, Heero Yuy. You're - I never met anyone like you! You say I've changed you - I doubt it, man. I'm just a bit of rough for you - something a bit different..."

"No," replied Heero. The pain in his chest was very sharp now. "You misunderstand. You have no idea of my experiences before you met me - and I'd thank you not to assume you do. That's not what I meant at all. I know what I want; but I understand that you don't necessarily feel the same -"

Duo flinched beside him. Heero's words had been harsh; but then, his had been patronising. "Sure. You understand - yeah, of course you do. I can't give you more than this, Heero. I guess that's what I've been trying to say all this time."

Heero's pain was still acute, but he felt quite calm now - he felt a great relief for having spoken his true feelings. He knew that he wouldn't get the same from Duo - and he'd make sure he didn't ask again. He could live with the misery, he thought - for a while, anyway. It was all about managing his expectations, wasn't it?

He'd wanted to tell Duo that he'd take whatever was on offer, for as long as it was on offer. His feelings didn't really matter - it'd be enough for him. But he knew that was a lie - just as he'd known that his pride wouldn't let him do that.

But he didn't know where to go from here.

+

Duo's words were almost a whisper now. "I wish I knew what I wanted... I wish I were you, Heero."

"Stupid idea," Heero snapped. "Stupid ambition, too -"

Duo was still musing aloud. "Your confidence - your assurance. It's fucking attractive. I wish other things, too - other stupid things! Like I wish you had something else of mine other than those two old pictures. Wish I could give you something else..."

"I don't want anything like that from you, Duo," Heero sighed. "Though I'd like to share my collection with you some time - see your reactions to it - see what tastes we may have in common."

"After the show, then," said Duo, so softly that Heero almost missed it.

"You want to see it?"

"Sure."

Heero wanted to shout, I want to show you! I want to show you how I feel - how I really am! He didn't. He rather thought he'd spoken more than his fair share already; if he said any more, he thought he'd run the risk of breaking everything up completely. He'd not had a definite response from Duo about whether he wanted to leave or not. Dammit, he didn't want to hear!

Duo turned away from Heero again, groaning slightly as he struggled to his feet, pulling up his shorts properly and wincing at the returning circulation to his legs. "Gotta go now, anyway. Gotta get some last things ready for tomorrow. You'd better go home tonight - I don't need any more distraction!" He smiled gently as he spoke, trying to relieve the harshness of the words.

"Leave me to finish up here, Heero."

He stared at Heero, as if he were disturbed to see the effect his words were having on the other man. Wishing, perhaps, he'd chosen another phrase; something less dismissive; less ambiguous.

"It's been a hell of a night, hasn't it?" he said - there was a plea in his voice, barely hidden.

"You're damned right it has," replied Heero, softly. He got carefully to his feet, trailing his creased shirt in his hand; zipping up his pants. For a moment, Duo seemed at a loss for words.

"I - need to think things through, Heero. Y'know?"

"I know," said Heero. "So do I." He looked up at Duo whose hand was on the apartment door, ready to open it wide and go through. He didn't say anything to try to stop him.

Duo sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow then, OK?"

He closed the door very quietly behind him.

[part 8] [part 10] [back to FancyFigures' fic]