Another Version of Events
by Karan Seraph
Chapter 99
When Heero woke next, he was back in his room in Quatre's house.
Koi was in the bed with him. For a moment he thought to tell Koi to get
off the bed before Duo noticed, but then he realized Duo was not with
him.
"Awake?" Trowa asked.
"Aa." Heero was sure he had once again drunk too much the
night before. He wondered if he had done something foolish. He remembered
talking to Hilde in the kitchen. "Why are you here?"
"I saw Duo downstairs. He had to go out early to be sure to get
everything done for the test tomorrow. He said he thought it best you
sleep in."
"I drank too much." There was a pain in his side somewhere
and he felt a need to urinate. "Need to..." Heero said
and waved his hand toward the adjacent bathroom. He realized then he was
in the other bed, not the bed he had last seen Duo sleeping in, not in
his bed, but the bed Koi had claimed.
Trowa said nothing, but got out of his way. Heero shuffled into the bathroom
and found the toilet. He heard Trowa calling to him from the door. "I
thought you and I would work on our tans or something. Can't do
that everywhere in October except buying time in a bed."
"A bed?"
"They call them that, the devices you get in to tan in a salon."
"I did not realize..." Heero washed his hands and then
dared look in the mirror. He might be fortunate with the permanent bed
hair that worked, as Duo had said. He actually looked better than he felt.
Heero rinsed his mouth and brushed his teeth and then walked from the
bathroom.
Trowa looked at him expectantly. He was wearing his cut-off fatigues,
or one of several similar pairs he probably owned, and a tee as well.
Heero thought maybe it was really Quatre's shirt, but he was not
sure why he believed so, he was sure Trowa also owned tees.
"You don't have something to do with Quatre?"
"I'll go by myself if you have something else to do."
"Did Duo say anything?"
"Not really. Were you expecting something? I don't really
care, actually."
"I was just..." Heero shook his head. "Being too
suspicious of your motives."
Trowa laughed warmly. "Your paranoia is not new. If I want to fuck
or go on a date I can call Quatre and he'll come at least halfway
through the Sphere to meet me, sometimes all the way. I see Duo way too
much at work. Wufei, you know." Meaning that Trowa and Wufei were
not really friends only old allies from the war and associated with each
other through Duo or Quatre. "I'll go by myself, but I asked
you because I wanted to."
They were friends. Possibly almost at the spill your guts while sober
without fear of embarrassment level. You really had to have respect at
the least for the guys who bathed you while you were comatose. "I'll
need some water. I think my liver hurts."
"Then lying still in a warm place is a good plan for you."
"Aa. I will need my sunglasses as well."
"And a sunbathing garment."
"Not afraid you will get lines?"
"I have my small one, but I do know a place here we can go nude."
"I trust your motivations, but sunburned cock is not something
I even want to risk."
"You could try a leaf."
"I'll find something to wear, but a private place actually
does sound good to me."
"No problem, it's part of the roof. Let's go get you
some water and a bit of food before we go up."
Heero agreed with a nod.
Some while later, Heero followed Trowa through the upstairs hall and
then through a narrow door to a narrow set of stairs that led up onto
the roof. Heero could see there were sections of the roof sloped and tiled,
some flat sections of concrete supporting network of sun-tracking photovoltaic
panels, some metal ladders and catwalks for utility access to roof-mounted
air conditioner units and security devices.
"There," Trowa said, pointing to an area presently behind
Heero. He turned to see the watchtower there and a flat section of roof
above it. They walked along the narrow access path between the glare of
solar panels and into the unoccupied watchtower. "They only have
this tower manned if they are already on a higher level of alert, the
property can be monitored from other areas ordinarily," Trowa explained.
It really did seem a secure property, very much a residence that could
serve equally as getaway resort or military headquarters depending what
was needed. Actually, it probably served as something of a conference
center and business office as well. A rope and wood ladder led up to a
trapdoor in the wooden roof above. Trowa suggested they leave their lunch
in the lower part of the tower and climb up to sunbathe.
It was very like laying out on a wooden deck, though one without railing
and which was several stories above the ground. The roof and tower had
a clear view of all the rear yards and of the other sections of the roof.
Heero could see there was another tower across the roof from which the
drive to the villa could likely be viewed.
Trowa quickly stripped down to his small sunbathing suit and tossed his
clothing down into the tower. He began applying suntan lotion then. Heero
did the same, stripping down to a pair of undershorts and then borrowing
Trowa's lotion. He was saying that in summer here it was even hotter
and the villa's location got sun through most of the year and it
never got very cold except at night, so it was better to use lotion with
some protection than oil.
When he had applied lotion, Heero lay on his front on a borrowed towel
and then after a moment's thought, wriggled out of his underwear.
He would be sure to wear them if he flipped. Folded his arms in front
of him and looked down on to the grounds through his sunglasses. He could
see Relena and Gwenevere were both in the pool, along with some of Quatre's
sisters. Heero had seen that Quatre's family believed in dressing
modestly in public but when in their own home did not show the same regard
for modestly. Heero wondered what Adin was doing, as there seemed only
women at the pool.
Some people were playing tennis, Heero thought Seth Naquib was among
them. Farther away, still in the villa's grounds, he saw some men
on horseback playing polo and some others only spectating.
Later in the day, after Heero and Trowa had gone down into the tower
for lunch and back up to tan their other sides, they heard Quatre calling
to them from below. Trowa opened the trap door and looked down into the
watch tower. "You always look cute in uniform."
Quatre laughed and the sound drew closer to say he was climbing the ladder.
"Only dress uniform and upper class sport uniforms." He pulled
himself up through the trapdoor and sat with his legs still hanging through
the door. Heero looked up at him. Quatre had a scent of fresh perspiration
and designer fragrance. That and the uniform said he had only just finished
playing polo. "I'm not one who can look really sexy in fatigues."
"Whether you look sexy in camo is not what matters to a soldier."
"Might get you better prices when you get into town to visit whores."
"If there were any change in price for soldiers, I think it would
have to be motivated by the fear of seeming to favor either side and not
whether they were attractive or not," Heero said.
"Did you really visit whores, Trowa?" Quatre asked.
"I never said I did. You said ‘whores'. I think I saw
a stripper when we were in the Balkans, but no whores."
"Did you Heero?"
"Yes, but not for the purpose of having sex with them."
"Someone arranged for me to have a lap dance while at a party."
Trowa and Quatre looked at each other in silence and Heero thought this
meant they were deciding if this upset Trowa in any way. "I'll
strip if you give me a lap dance," Trowa said decisively.
Quatre laughed happily. "You should probably come in from the sun
now," Quatre told them. I am going to wash before dinner. I know
Duo's team have been training the MCP's selected pilot on
the Tinman controls all day, but I suppose they would come in to eat."
Trowa looked down along his body. "Usually one cannot tell how
dark they got until they've been out of the sun a few hours."
"I am willing to go in," Heero said.
It seemed decided, so they all climbed down into the tower. Trowa and
Heero dressed before leaving. Quatre led the way back into the house,
following the same path Trowa had taken to bring Heero to the tower. They
separate to their own rooms to wash and dress for dinner.
When Heero had dressed for dinner in black pants and white shirt, he
left the room, thinking to locate the dogs. When he got to the hall, he
saw many others in this wing and past the stairwell, as well, were either
going down to dinner or coming upstairs from various activities to wash,
so there was a bit of congestion within the hall. Duo spotted Heero quickly
and put his right hand on Heero's left arm to lead him back into
their room.
Heero supposed Duo's outfit was supposed to be his idea of warm
weather business attire, but it came across more as someone's idea
of a military uniform without any insignia. The shirt and pants were black
and his tie, belt and tops of his shoes were all red. The tie was flipped
between two buttons and tucked into the shirt so that it could not fall
and get caught in anything, but that only made it seem more a military
thing.
"I was going to look for the dogs."
"I'm sure they are both in the room with Quatre's dogs,"
Duo said loosing Heero's arm. He had one blue velvet bondage cuff
on his right wrist. "I just need to talk to you for a second."
"Right."
"Don't say anything," Duo said, as he crossed his arms,
"I mean, you don't have to tell me anything. I am just saying
that I know you drank about three glasses of straight rum last night after
taking some painkillers and I think it was a pretty stupid thing to do
and though the dumb shit acceptance still stands between us, if you do
the same specific type of dumb shit again I will take you to have your
stomach pumped and I will go through all your stuff and take all your
pills."
"You will what?"
"I tell you this as partner, boyfriend, buddy, best friend and
lover, Heero. I will do it. I don't care if you struggle or curse
or decide you hate me for a while. I love you and I am not having it.
Got it? That's my line and you are pretty near crossing it. I've
seen this before. OK? I know kids that casually drop into conversation
that their grandmother had a back problem and when she died they stole
her prescription painkillers. I know about boys that take painkillers
before going out to drink and dance thinking it's a brilliant way
to loosen up...and maybe it doesn't hurt at all when someone's
fucking their ass later, but I highly doubt they were making sober informed
choices about who they let fuck their ass being so doped up. I want to
know that when you grow old and get some random injury there is going
to be a painkiller your body will respond to when you really need it."
"It was only two. I did not overdose...! It is not like some
movie star with sleeping pills or...!"
Duo's eyes widened violently as he glared at Heero. "You
poured three glasses of rum down your throat within an hour! Maybe you
can't remember, but I'm the one who carried your ass up the
stairs!" Duo drew his hands up in a gesture nearly like surrender
that Heero took as Duo distancing himself from the argument enough that
he could not touch some part of it any longer. His posture seemed to relax
overall and when he spoke again it was quiet. "No one knows. Oh,
Hilde knows you got drunk off your ass, but it's just me that knows,
Heero. And, I'm not even going to ask what has you bothered..."
Heero drew a breath to protest but Duo cut him off.
"And I do not know what you and Hilde talked about. I just asked
her about how much you drank and she told me you asked her about something
but as far as she knew it was not my business. I don't care if you
are friends with Hilde. It would be good for me if you could be friendly
with each other, so...I don't need to know about that. And I
know you are not a weak person or like some kind of brainless party boy,
so you did it for a reason, but I'm absolutely sure whatever pain
you are feeling, and I know it's pain, is not the type to be effectively
treated with pills and alcohol, Baby. I really think if it was something
I could help with, you would have told me already, so until you figure
whatever it is out, as far as I am concerned, I don't even need
to know what it is."
"What kind of thing is that to say to me? That you have decided
I am in pain and you don't care why, so long as I don't upset
you by displaying addictive behaviors?"
"For someone who professed to defend my intelligence, you sure
act like I'm stupid sometimes." Duo said quietly, coldly.
"I did not pull you back in here to fight, Baby. If you want to
tell me what's going on right now, then please, tell me, but if
not, then what I said stands, or what I am saying, as you cut me off.
Finished?"
Heero nodded.
"You getting drunk that night with Johnny was different. It was
getting drunk celebrating with a friend. I'm talking about your
damn self-medicating. It makes little difference if it is painkillers,
or sleeping pills or muscle relaxers...and before you interrupt, I
do know the difference, I am saying it's not better it was only
some OTC pain pill. Kinda worse given we discussed your potential dependence
on them before."
"Duo! It is not like I am some addict!"
"I love you, and I can kinda understand your motivation, but I
will treat you like some addict if I witness this behavior again, because
the behavior is wrong. Something is bothering you and I'd have to
be stupid not to notice. So, what I am saying is do what you have to,
Heero. Do whatever you need to figure it out. If you need something from
me, let me know. If you only need space, then I'll let you have
it. But when you cross that line from working out your problems to hurting
yourself, I'm going to step in whether you give me permission or
not and I will not apologize about it. I care about your life."
"I care about my life. It was not...it was only one time."
"Except it wasn't. Heero. I know how it is, that somehow,
when the war is ongoing, and you're out there, you can shut the
emotions away when you have to do something difficult, just to keep going.
Heero, you of all people should know..."
"We need our emotions. Even if you shut them out for a time, or
something does it for you, the feelings still exist."
"Yeah. Baby. Having feelings is human. Sometimes, lately, I can
see you trying to make yourself numb again. Don't do it. Heero,
you know why it's important, even if it's hard. I know. Maybe
you are having conflicting emotions; not knowing what you want most. We
know I went through something like that, so it's not like I'm
speaking without first-hand knowledge here. It's better to deal
with it than try to make it go away, because it is not going away, no
matter how much you drink."
"I did not do it on purpose," Heero rasped. "I did not
want to hurt myself, or hurt you. I am not like those people. I am not
an addict or crying for help."
Duo stepped toward him and put his arms about Heero. It felt better to
be held. Heero truly feared that Duo already knew everything. He did not
want Duo to know that sometimes he was really scared and sometimes he
wondered if he wanted someone else. He wanted to be the perfect boyfriend
Duo said he was, but he did not believe he was. He wanted to be confident
and impress Duo, but he was doubting himself. He wanted to be someone
who could really know that he could mean every word of a marriage vow,
but he was not even close yet.
"Duo."
"I love you." Duo's lips pressed his right temple.
"Let's go get something to eat."
Heero drank water with dinner. He spent a short while at his computer
checking mail and banking information and status of Lowe client files.
When he was sure his dinner was settled he changed into his swim shorts,
which he had packed, and told Duo he was going to swim.
Duo had been lying in bed reading a book and said he might be down in
a few minutes.
Heero stopped on his way to retrieve the dogs and let them outside and
then began swimming laps. He did not think about anything except breathing,
moving through water and reaching the far end of the pool, and it was
good not to think. He did need to work things out, but dwelling on his
inability to know the best path only made his head hurt, and swimming
was not going to destroy his liver.
Koi caused a bit of a disturbance by leaping into the pool, but he paddled
his paws and kept his head above water, so Heero did not worry. He looked
toward Koi every time he did one lap, to see if he panicked or went under.
When Koi began to look panicked and tired, Heero swam to him, pulled him
to the edge and boosted him up onto the concrete surround. He did a few
more laps himself before getting out. By that time Duo was sitting in
one of the chairs near the pool, still fully dressed and reading. Hilde
was nearby typing at a mobile computer, her own, Heero supposed.
"Chlorine and black clothes. You are not getting near me until
you rinse," Duo said, hardly even looking up. Just for that, Heero
planted his hand on Duo's shirt before calling Koi and walking back
into the house.
He could hear Duo cursing him as he went inside.
Upstairs, Heero commanded Koi into the shower so he could rinse out his
coat and then climbed in after the dog. Duo came into the room shortly,
naked to the waist, and went straight to the sink to rinse his shirt.
"You are such a child sometimes!"
"Same to you," Heero called.
Duo hung his shirt on the towel rack and then left the bathroom. Heero
got Koi washed and then stepped out of the shower to dry Koi before letting
the dog leave the bathroom. Heero still had some dog hairs stuck to his
damp skin when he had dried Koi, so he stepped back into the shower, which
was still running. Just as he stepped out of his wet swim shorts he sensed
someone behind and turned to see Duo capturing a photo. "I truly
hope you do not let yourself get distracted in class looking at all your
photos and video of me that they have to confiscate your computer."
"I really don't think they do that in college." The
camera clicked again, though Duo was not looking through the viewfinder.
"I think I'll spend some time looking at my collection, or
are you through avoiding me?"
Heero pushed wet hair from his brow. "Terrific way to be supportive
and give me space!"
Duo laughed, because Heero really had been joking. "Hey, I think
it's better to just admit it than make up some lame excuse about
using the bathroom or wanting to sleep in the other bed to hide what I'm
doing and have you hear the skin slapping sound anyway! Hell, I even said
I'd be looking at pictures of you!"
Heero shut off the water. Duo was in the doorway, biting at his lower
lip and watching Heero through the viewfinder. "You know about lap
dances?"
"Eh?"
"I'll have sex with you tonight if you do a lap dance for
me."
"So, that's why the chair appeared?"
"I think Quatre did that while we were at the pool."
Duo seemed to consider the offer. "Uh, is the bartering for sex
your contribution to the 'New Chaos'? You know it's
not very chaotic at all when it has a name."
"Well, that was my contribution." Heero stepped out of the
shower and walked up to Duo. "Do you accept the offer or not?"
"I give you a lap dance and I get to fuck you?"
"No, but I will let you choose your position."
"Deal." He swallowed hard. It was, in a word, awesome. It
was a good feeling to know, even feeling so wretched lately, he could
make Duo feel want and intimidation. Not that he wished to be cruel, really,
but from his point of view, Duo was so often the intimidating one, possessing
that combination of looks, skill and experience. It was good to think
that Duo could feel the same way, even if it was not experience that affected
him. "You need to get dressed."
"To receive a lap dance?"
Duo laughed and turned his back, then sauntered toward the conspicuous
chair. "What a hitman wears, or maybe just what you wore to dinner."
The clothes were not really dirty he had worn them for such a short time
today. He went to his luggage. "Why is it?"
"Well, what would you wear if you really went out to a nightclub
to get a lapdance?"
"Underwear too?"
"Yes!"
"I never actually went to a nightclub to get a lap dance."
"That's OK, I never actually performed a lap dance, but..."
Duo set the chair against one wall, facing into the room, and then stooped
to his nearby luggage. "fortunately I travel with an emergency supply."
"Supply of what?" Heero stepped into his pants and tried
to view the interior of the bag Duo was digging in.
"Emergency relationship savers. Never know when I might need them."
"Am I supposed to be sorry about it?"
Duo shook his head. He sat on the chair to get out of his current clothing.
"Guess I'm not supposed to say 'supposed to'
regarding a feeling."
"Yeah." Duo was quiet for a minute, stripped down to briefs
and socks and contemplating something wadded in his hand. He lifted his
head and grinned. "You have any cash? I think you'd want cash
to give your dancer."
"Why is it your games always involve me losing money?"
"You owe me a shirt too!"
"Yeah? How much is that Heero Yuy designer in the bathroom worth?"
"Well, we'll see when it's dry," Duo said perkily.
"Time to pick out my music?"
Heero buttoned his shirt. "I have no special request."
Duo gave a nod and crawled across the floor to his computer. He was damn
sexy just crawling on the floor. "We need mood lighting as well."
Heero knew this. Duo had made him put fabric over his lamps once when
they were playing their video boy game with each other. Heero stepped
over to Duo's luggage, because he usually had things like scarves
tucked away somewhere. "So, what else is in the emergency supply?"
"Well, if I told you...I mean it's for emergencies..."
"I understand it means you are holding out on me."
"Ha ha," Duo said, not actually laughing, "let's
say 'saving something for marriage'."
He did not know if it was included in emergency supplies, but Duo had
one of his dildos in his bag. Heero picked up a red scarf and went to
drape it over the lamp between the beds. He ushered the dogs into the
bathroom, shut the door, and then switched off the overhead light then
returned to the chair. Duo seemed to still be fussing with the music selection.
"I am a little worried that if I say you'll marry me you'll
surprise me with something..."
"Like what?" He was naked and buckling bondage gear.
"I don't know exactly," Heero said as he sat down,
"something hardcore, like golden showers or something."
Duo laughed loudly. "Are you totally turned on by being pissed
on?"
"Decidedly not."
"Same here, so no worries." Duo showed Heero a little black
leather garment no more substantial that the horrible sunbathing suit
he had made Heero wear. Clearly it was meant to be his costume. "You
really worried?"
"No secret to you I am spooked by marriage, and it not as if it
is the only reason, but there is this sort of itchy tingle worry feeling."
"It's only your fear to admit you like doing what I'll
let you do to me." Duo's voice had several times been equally
as sexy and sultry, but never more. He raised the volume on the music
player, stood, then walked toward the chair, and of course that meant
sauntered. The rings on his blue bondage gear clinked and with the particular
percussion in the song, it made Heero think of belly dancers or gypsies
or some ancient black and white video that was all hips and scarves trimmed
in coins.
Heero had expected something a little more cheesy nightclub with visions
of shiny go-go boots and dioxins in the air, but he liked this music.
Heero dug the billfold from the pocket in which he had placed it and
held the bills aloft between two fingers. Duo danced his way right up
to Heero. Heero slid his legs farther apart. Duo stepped right between
his knees and went into slow gyrations of his pelvis.
It was very much what Heero had expected a lap dance was supposed to
be: someone, Duo in this case, performing erotic dance, or at least moving
suggestively in time to music, in very close proximity to the viewer's
lap.
"Did she just say 'cuffed'?" Heero whispered.
Duo only continued his dance. If anything, he added some thrusting motions.
Heero still admitted to liking the music, but he truthfully did not know
that people sang songs like this with words like afraid, ashamed, attention,
discipline, pain, masked, cuffed, rush, naked...
Duo did a turn. The back of the garment was made of nothing but vertical
and horizontal leather thongs. It was a really nice view. Heero hissed
a breath and awkwardly folded a bill over the strip of leather above Duo's
right buttock.
Duo bent forward, giving Heero a glimpse of asshole before he straightened
and turned around. This was such a good idea, Heero thought, good enough
that he was not really upset Quatre was the one who had thought of it.
"Did she just say 'cock'?" Heero choked. Not
only that...it sounded like: choked cock throbs in time liberate your
sperm come in wondrous waves breaking through the walls of shame.
Heero wanted badly to touch Duo. He could not recall Duo saying it, but
he knew touching was not allowed. If he did find a dancer who would allow
touching, it would most definitely cost more to do so. Heero raised a
hand and let the remaining billfold run down the center of Duo's
chest and abdomen. Throbbing was correct. Duo had his attention, and then
came his finale.
Rapid gyrating to the drumbeats of the song, hands caressing his flesh,
head and hair tossed wildly. When the song ended, there was a pause, and
then another began to play, but Heero understood this dance was over.
Duo leaned forward, breathing hard. His nose touched Heero's nose
and then he put a few centimeters between them.
Heero swallowed. "I think I want the leash," He whispered.
"You think?" Duo teased.
"Get the leash, Duo-chan."
Duo leaned closer, breathed on Heero's ear. "As you wish."
A powerful lure.
Duo returned in a moment and presented the leash to Heero with both hands.
Heero clipped the leash to the ring at the front of Duo's collar
and then thread his hand through the loop at the opposite end.
"Put your hand in my pants."
Duo grinned, with delight, Heero thought, and slipped his right hand
down the front of Heero's pants and into his shorts to stroke his
cock. "Fast learner."
Heero gripped the chain of the leash in his left hand such as to give
Duo less slack and brought his right hand up Duo's body to the ring
through his left nipple. A little restriction for reminding Heero that
Duo had once given him the same command. A tip of the head and slightest
pull on the leash and Duo closed the rest of the space necessary to meet
Heero's mouth with a kiss.
Nice. It was so nice, deep, wet, enough to make Heero not care that he
was moaning. Duo's left hand went for the buttons of Heero's
shirt. He tried to voice assent through the kiss, and Duo seemed to understand.
Heero felt his way down Duo's torso and pushed one side of the thong
free of his hips and then the other. He had to take one hand from Duo
at a time to remove his shirt and continue to hold the leash, but he did
so without a thought. Another half a minute and they were both naked,
apart from some bondage gear and jewelry.
"Name it."
"Right there in the chair, or maybe, mm, bent over something or
on my knees, you know, from behind."
"To start?" Heero asked as he sat back in the chair.
Duo asked for slack by shifting his weight against Heero's resistance.
Heero loosed the chain so that Duo could move the length of the leash.
"You'll do it for me?" Duo asked, flashing a condom.
"Tell me it is for a good reason."
"Good."
Heero nodded.
Duo came back and stood before the chair. He waited.
Heero reached out a hand. "I'll roll it, you do a few more
moves for me."
Duo straddled Heero and the chair and did a few torturously slow thrusts
into the air, as Heero rolled the condom on. It was thick and pre-lubed,
and Heero did not even try to guess why Duo had picked this one. Heero
tried to catch Duo's dick with his mouth. It danced away from him.
"Tell me I can't," Duo whispered. "Say you'll
tell me when to come, not 'til later."
"Can you?"
"Tell me what will happen if I cum too soon."
Heero understood. "If you cum before I say you may you will only
disappoint us both. I will say when you can release. It will feel so good
to do it, better than ever, if you wait on my command."
"Yes, Heero. What happens if I cum before you say?"
"Do not."
"Tell me what happens...please."
"I'll leave you in here alone and go sleep with Quatre and
Trowa." There was a pause and then Duo smiled. Heero smiled back.
"I might say some things, but you don't have to listen."
"I will fuck you. Saying no will not stop me." Heero put
his hands to Duo's ass and spread his cheeks to demonstrate his
point. "I will trust your skills," Heero said.
"That's good to hear," Duo said, smiling through the
mechanics of entry, though Heero was certain it caused something like
pain. Heero could not actually see the way the bodies joined, but this
position was one of the best for seeing Duo's reaction, and for
Duo to see his.
"You are so..."
"I know. Oh. You, too." Heero touched his fingertips to Duo's
dick, stroked lightly as he could. "Oh, don't. Don't
even touch me." At that moment, 'don't' was not
the word that meant not to do.
And some minutes later, when Duo was on hands and knees on the faux wood
flooring, panting "Stop," that meant neither cease nor desist.
But Heero did go slow for just a bit, because he knew Duo's task
should be a challenge, not impossible.
When Heero came, cock buried deep in Duo's ass, with Duo begging,
"please...I can't," he still would not tell Duo
it was time to cum, because he knew how Duo really wanted things to end,
without mindreading, and Duo was not ready yet.
"Soon," Heero groaned out, "on your back, it will be
amazing." Duo turned and lay amid the litter of his luggage. Heero
quickly slathered lube on Number Two, which he had freed from its protective
plastic and Duo's bag during a slow moment. A few more seconds and
he was pressing the dildo to Duo's ass. This time he could see the
entry.
"What are you. Heero. Let me!" Duo said quietly.
"Listen," Heero said. He paused a moment, watching Duo take
Two. He spoke quickly, "Things are going to get faster again. I
want to do something for you with my mouth, so I cannot tell you the exact
moment. Understand? Give me at least fifteen seconds. Duo. Fifteen seconds,
then you can cum. You will cum so hard..."
"God..."
The position was slightly awkward, a hand to steady Two, Duo's
cock in his mouth, and the fingers of his left hand reaching for Duo's
mouth. This was how Duo wanted to go out, fucked, sucked and sucking.
It was brilliant to behold, so much involuntary twitching and thrusting,
and no accidental biting at all.
Duo, having caught his breath, beckoned for a kiss, and so Heero moved
to surrender the kiss. Light, but highly enjoyable. Heero did not notice
Duo's hand going for his cock until it was in his fist.
"More?"
"Ya know...because you really helped me..." Duo whispered,
"If you had enough...but I want to."
"Hai. Find a blindfold, then." One of the scarves was already
in Duo's other hand. It was almost like dreaming, but too sharply
pleasurable to be a dream. It had been so good what they did, but it was
true while Heero focused some part of his mind of what Duo was allowed
that he did not completely give himself over to his own enjoyment. Duo
made certain it was complete. He had Heero near shouting.
When Heero felt Duo's mouth against his lips, he pushed the blindfold
from his face. He felt a rush in his blood when he looked into Duo's
weirdly blue eyes. Duo made a rather dramatic sigh and Heero wondered
if it was not a little forced and perhaps melodramatic. But, it made him
laugh.
Duo made some small noise. He smiled. His left forearm was braced across
Heero's chest and his fingertips stroked Heero's face. Heero
could see his eyes were unfocused, as if he were looking somewhere past
Heero. Maybe, Heero thought he was going to say something, but he only
smiled.
Heero felt good, but now they were not actively having sex his sense
of time and space reasserted itself and he realized they had somehow traveled
very close to the bathroom door and that he felt that sort of stickiness
of drying sweat and was probably bruised in places from contact with the
flooring. Yet, Heero did not feel a pressing need to turn away or wash.
Heero decided Duo could be having similar thoughts, so he lifted his
right arm, and understanding the offer, Duo slipped his left arm under
Heero's arm and then lay his head to Heero's chest. Heero
closed his eyes.
"Verdigris."
Heero's eyes snapped open. He lifted his right arm.
"No!" Duo said, loudly, and then lowered his voice again.
"I mean, put your arm back, for a bit." Heero put his arm
down against Duo's shoulders and Duo continued, "I only said
the word so you could know that you can believe everything I say again."
"Hn."
Just breathing. Heero could almost sleep. He felt peaceful. "That
time, it was really good for me," Duo said quickly. He moved then,
kissed Heero, and got up from the floor. He said he would get a quick
shower.
Heero thought he would just rest on the floor a while, but he heard the
taps and pads of claws and paws on faux wood and sat quickly. Somewhere,
in the litter of clothing and sex toys that had been Duo's luggage
there was likely a used condom. Heero just did not feel right about letting
the dogs find it first. It rather made him wonder how couples ever found
the opportunity to have a second child.
By the time Heero had straightened the room enough to prevent fire hazards
and embarrassing trips to the animal hospital, Duo was out of the shower.
He came into the bedroom wearing a towel and combing his hair. "You
need to use the shower?" he asked.
Heero gave a nod.
"Get in the bed with me when you're done."
In a way it was good Duo said it, so Heero would not wonder. Then, Heero
had not wondered about sleeping arrangements until Duo reminded him of
all the awkwardness there had been between them. So, it was bad that Duo
brought it up. The reportedly satisfying sex really should have cleared
up the issue for him. And there Heero was using 'should' again,
and that often got him into trouble, particularly with Duo.
Duo's hair was already braided when Heero slipped into the bed.
Heero reached around Duo to grasp the end of the braid. He pivoted his
wrist such that the braid wrapped around it once, then drew the plaited
hair over Duo's shoulder and held it close to his chest. "This
way, I'll be sure to know if you suffer insomnia and get out of
bed."
"You would know anyway."
"That's right. Your boyfriend adapted to life's trials
by becoming a stealthy, bad ass light-sleeper and master of observation
while feigning unconsciousness."
"Did you prepare that bit ahead of time?"
"Ha ha. Touché."
"But, point taken."
"Glad that is worked out."
"I am sorry, Duo."
"Just do better."
Heero said nothing else. He realized that his wishing to spare Duo rather
than depend on him was a continuing source of conflict between them. Even
when it was not the old competitive nature, and instead the willingness
to spare one he cared for pain, Duo still ended up hurt or insulted.
Though Duo found ways to let Heero discover the error of his ways and
to express that he felt insulted, he kept staying with Heero and taking
the pain. Duo was not a weak person. It was just he did not judge the
amount of insult and pain great enough to break up with Heero over it.
Heero smiled to himself and began counting backwards. Sometimes Duo did
the dumb shit, and Heero had not broken up with him yet. Emergency relationship
savers, be they toys or kinks, were good. Heero was certain he would fall
asleep soon and sleep well. It was not that the sex really stopped Heero's
worries, but it reminded him that he and Duo could do something better
than make each other worried or irritated, and that was motivation to
work things out.
There was no way Quatre was going to appear in any erotic dream of Heero's,
unless maybe he was there to watch Heero and Duo go at it.
The last thing Heero was really conscious of was Duo making a small,
pleased laugh at something in his sleep.
The next day went very well. It was taken up with the Tinman tests. A
selected pilot and back-up pilot had been selected by the council to pilot
the mobile suit during the live test. As well, a group of experts, titled
the advisory committee advised the MCP council on the assets and draw-backs
of each of the three bids and the related prototypes.
Both pilots, advisory committee and council had been given access to
the Tinman Mars Type, as Duo had dubbed this particular suit, during much
of the previous day, to analyze the suit, its systems and controls, and
the materials from which it was constructed. They had not yet seen it
in action.
Of course, the nature of such evaluation was that none of the present
MaxTech staff knew what the council thought of the Tinman or how it compared
to Wadjet's still secret prototype, which they had already tested.
Duo had informed Heero at breakfast that he was cleared to view the live
tests. The observers were driven to a location some distance north of
Quatre's villa where the ESUN had arranged to perform the test.
They met there a number of Preventers from a substation in Riyadh who
had been dispatched earlier to set up seating for the observers plus various
devices and obstacles for the test.
The Tinman was also trucked to the site, and then tipped up onto its
feet by the carrier rig. Heero, sitting beside the empty seat that awaited
Duo, had his first clear, full view of the Tinman. It seemed changed from
his impressions formed months ago in Duo's garage, and Heero supposed
the team had modified Duo's original design to better fit the needs
of the MCP. It still had the bright predominantly blue and white scheme
with red and gold accents. It still had a certain Gundamness to its shape
and decoration. Now, the boot-like shape of the lower legs and the feet
seemed wider that Heero's previous glimpses had showed.
Heero saw Duo talking to the pilots at the Tinmans' feet and then
passed something to them. Shortly afterward, Duo jogged toward the canopied
seating area as both pilots used the cable lift to reach the cockpit.
There was some murmur among those seated, of which some had never seen
the Tinman, debating why the mobile suit was a two-seater. Apparently
this had not been a requirement of the MCP, but Duo had not changed his
original design to present the previous unquestioned mobile suit tradition.
As Duo was taking his seat, Trowa, on Heero's other side, was saying
that the Tinman was not only a tool to allow a human to do heavy labor
in an inhospitable environment, but Transportation to the site where work
would be done, like a rover. And if one had to spend months off-base on
a surface survey or aquifer drilling mission, it was better to have another
live human there for company.
Quatre said he had heard similar sentiment from his people on Mars and
most vehicles there, light and rugged as they were, did carry at least
two people.
A pair of large video screens with speakers activated either side of
the seating area. An image of the pilots, within the cockpit, was displayed.
It seemed regular a/v communication, with the pilots able to see the four
members of the council and respond to their direction or questions. They
were both civilians, called Narim and Lily. Narim was former Alliance
military, with experience in piloting many models of land mobile suits,
now a mobile suit pilot instructor, and Lily was a freelance pilot of
land based mobile suits and exo frames used in various industries such
as farming and construction, recently off a job surveying ice sheet thickness
in Antarctica.
The pilots began, as instructed, by putting the Tinman through a series
of basic maneuvers, such as one would do when testing for a mobile suit
pilot license or in military mobile suit pilot training. Performed by
experienced pilots, the maneuvers were also a good gauge of a suit's
capabilities. The Tinman was made to put its arms in various positions,
to lift each leg, to walk forwards, to turn around, to walk backwards,
to lean and/or bend forward, backward and to each side as far as possible
without falling, to go down on one knee, to bend at the knee and lift
a cargo crate with its hands, to carry the crate, and then to set the
crate in a designated location.
All these basic moves seemed to be performed adequately. Gwinter then
instructed the pilots to go through the obstacle course. This was made
of the natural tract of dry rocky ground before them, buried items to
be found or avoided, a number of boulders, some man-made platforms to
approximate changes in land level, test dummies and vehicles to avoid
stepping on, and some sheets, slurries and flows of various substances
and mixtures meant to approximate the effect of walking through such obstacles
as sudden floods, ice, mix of sand and ice, and fines. There were also
blowers placed so that the course could be navigated in sandstorm conditions
as well as calm.
"This should be no problem, an average pilot could do it with Tinman,
and they're really good pilots," Duo said. He did seem confident,
leaning back comfortably in his chair. Hilde, however, looked nervous,
sitting a row ahead of them, with Yuji and Meiser.
"You are really not worried?" Heero asked.
At that moment Duo's brow wrinkled in what seemed concern. "well,
not worried about the test, just worried they'll pick another suit
for the MCP. Tinman exceeds most of their requirements, I mean so that
it can function on earth just as well as Mars. See? What this."
Heero looked toward the test range where Tinman fired small jets on its
sides to lift itself off the ground for the leap to a higher elevation.
It cleared it and then some.
"I see, they scaled the obstacle to account for the difference
in gravity, but Tinman could clear the distance required even when at
1g."
Duo nodded. "And this version has built in GPR in the feet, which
was not mandatory, and still had the leather interior and a bunch of other
stuff that might make it cost more. I mean..."
"Well, it is only a prototype. If they like it, but think it's
a bit much, they can buy the lot for Mars stripped down without all the
fancy options."
"Duo, you built in ground penetrating radar?" Quatre asked.
"Oh, yeah! I figure that'd be dead useful on Mars looking
for changes in density below the surface like aquifers and all that! It
was not something they asked for, but..."
"Not the color scheme I would for," Trowa said, "but
it looks like they did not find its full range of movement in those test
maneuvers, and it probably could have climbed to that elevation without
wasting fuel."
"Yeah, but that'd require a skilled pilot, and though there's
some brilliant scientists on Mars, some are there just on pioneering spirit
and willingness to leave the Earth Sphere for years at a time. Some of
them are even in the penal program."
"So, not all rocket scientists?" Trowa laughed.
"Not even all mobile suit pilots, though they understand the advantage
in training to be. That's kinda the reason the MCP needs the mobile
suits. People like Peacecraft see how they are really useful for that
environment."
"I think MaxTech will win the contract," Heero said.
"You always think that," Duo complained.
"No, look. They're smiling." It was true. The video
screens showed Narim and Lily were smiling as they piloted through the
obstacle course.
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