Half-Assed Mechanic
Here's the first the story. I decided to try a songfic for this one.
I hoped it turned out right, so be nice!
Title: Half-Assed Mechanic
Author: Aoko
Part: 1/1
Category: songfic
Pairings: 1x2
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: yaio
Feedback: Yes!
Notes: I hope Duo and Heero are IC. I think Duo is pretty much IC,
but I'm not sure about Heero. Forgive all mistakes---spelling,
grammar, or otherwise. Especially with the Japanese...
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. I don't own the song. A nice,
San Francisco band called Loquat owns the song.
**********
The only sound permeating through the silent and lonely air was the
sound of graceful fingers moving quickly across the keyboard of a
black, laptop. A young Japanese boy, dressed in his friend's white
boxers and a white T-shirt, sat Indian style on the bed,
concentrating on the screen in front. The sounds of sirens wailing
through the dark night echoed in the cheap, broken-down motel room on
the rough side of L2 colony. The smell of sex and cheap perfume still
lingered in the room. The voices of those lost in life, and living
day by day on nothing but the pleasures of life, drifted slowly
upwards and into the room.
The boy frowned. His concentration was broken by the sound of a woman
offering up her body for a shot of heroine. He thought about his
friend, Duo Maxwell, out at night maneuvering through the unforgiving
streets littered with whores, thugs, and drug addicts. He imagined
the boy darting in and out the shadows, his long chestnut braid
disappearing into the darkness with him as he eluded various taunts
from some lost soul looking for a night of pleasure. Somewhere out
there, a perverse human being was looking at the violet-eyed,
American boy, hoping to lose themselves for one night in whatever
pleasure he could-would-offer. He could imagine the lustrous looks
the elfin boy was receiving by predators of the night. An
overwhelming desire to protect Duo washed over him, but he knew full
well that Duo could take care of himself.
The boy cursed himself for getting distracted, but Duo was a
distraction. Every thing he did, the Japanese boy noticed; everything
from the way he titled his head when thoughtful to the way he
brightened whenever the boy gave him praise. The boy smirked to
himself. It all boiled down to one thing: Heero Yuy was in love with
his best friend, Duo Maxwell. The problem was recognized, but the
solution still managed to evade him. He didn't know where to start or
even how to approach the boy. Duo may talk a lot, but he doesn't say
much at all. In fact, Duo was more secretive with his feelings than
Heero. But to be honest, Heero was frightened of this new emotion,
and didn't mind Duo being secretive at all. Love was new territory.
Just then, the door burst open and the object of Heero's thoughts
bounced in the room, smiling jovially at his partner. "Hey man,
what'cha doin'?" he asked. Duo threw a brown paper bag on Heero's
bed.
Heero looked suspiciously at the bag. "What is it?"
"It's not a bomb or anything. I was at the music store and—"
`Music store?' Heero thought. He glared at Duo.
"—Found this really cool—"
"Duo!" Heero yelled, interrupting the boy, "What were you doing at a
music store? You suppose to be out gathering information on the new
OZ base."
Duo grinned maniacally at Heero. "Don't worry `bout that Heero-kun."
Heero frowned. Duo had a new-found fondness for Japanese terminology.
Heero just stared at Duo a minute longer and turned his attention by
to his laptop. He didn't know what Duo meant by `Don't worry about
that, Heero-kun,' and he was pretty sure he didn't want to know. The
sinister tone in Duo's voice spoke volumes sometimes.
Duo reached inside his shirt and pulled out his gun and a computer
disk. He threw them both on Heero's bed and walked towards the
window. It wasn't very cold on the colony, but still, it was cool
enough for jacket. Why Heero always cracked a window, despite the
temperature outside, always baffled Duo.
Heero glanced at the American boy dressed in his traditional priest
outfit. Duo raised the window and leaned out. "What are you doing?"
Heero asked.
"Do you miss the Earth, Heero?" Duo asked.
Heero considered the question. Heero knew quite well that a question
asked by Duo will turn into the most moronic conversation. So, he
could either: A) Call Duo a baka and ignore him, B) Call Duo a baka
and tell him to shut-up, or C) Call Duo a baka and humor him. Duo was
the type of person you couldn't ignore if wanted to. Telling Duo to
shut-up was the same as saying, "Go ahead, talk all you want." So,
the obvious answer would be to call Duo a baka and humor him.
"Why?" Heero finally asked.
Duo closed the window and sat down on his bed. "Suspicious till the
bitter end, Yuy. But seriously, do you?"
An image of a blonde girl with blue eyes by the name of Relena
Peacecraft chasing him around the Earth popped into his head. "No."
"Figures," Duo said, toying with the end of his braid, "I do. Don't
get me wrong, I love Outer Space, but I do miss the Earth. On the
Earth, everything seems bigger, more beautiful, you know. The Earth
has a natural, breath-taking beauty that no one or no place can
imitate."
Heero looked at the boy and snorted. `You're wrong, Duo. You're
beauty can't even begin to compare to the Earth's natural beauty.'
"You probably think it's stupid, right?" Duo asked, grinning
foolishly at Heero. "You need a vacation Heero."
"Aa," Heero said. He really couldn't disagree.
Duo sighed and kicked off his shoes. He pulled off the priest's
collar and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, tossing it to the side when
pulled it off. Next, he pulled his T-shirt off. Finally, off came his
socks, pants, and Pokemon boxers.
Heero knew exactly what Duo was doing, and it took all his willpower
to not look at Duo. Instead, Heero grabbed the disk Duo set on his
bed and began working on decoding it.
Duo walked proudly in all his naked glory across the room towards the
bathroom. He left the door partially open. Duo pulled the black band
at the end of his braid off and began to unravel his hair from the
confines of its long braid. His silky hair fell down his back in tiny
waves.
Duo stepped into the small shower and turned the water as hot as it
would go. He let the scalding water flow across his body, turning his
alabaster skin red. He leaned his head against the tiled
wall. `Heero,' Duo thought, `I'm trying so hard not to feel anything
besides comradeship for you. But it's so hard when I notice you
trying to hide the lust in your eyes. I don't wanna feel this way for
you… it's too dangerous.'
Heero noticed the lack of noise coming from the bathroom. `Hmm… that
baka always sing in the shower. Is something wrong? I don't care.
He's quiet and that's all that matters. I've been traveling with him
for two weeks, and I will savor this blessed silence.'
"Hey Heero!" Duo shouted cheerfully.
`Damn! So much for my blessed silence,' Heero thought.
"Hey Heero! Hee~ro!"
"What?!" Heero shouted. "What?!"
"Could you play that CD I put on your bed?"
"No!"
"Please! Come on Heero! My radio managed to end up underneath Wufei's
Gundam about a month ago. I haven't had time since then to steal a
new one!"
"Shut up, Duo!"
"Just play it! Please man! Come on! I promise I won't sing loudly!"
"Fine, if it'll shut you up!"
Heero sighed and reached for the for the paper bag on his bed. He
ripped the paper bag out sheer frustrated and threw the paper in the
general direction of the garbage can. He growled as he worked with
getting the plastic paper off the CD case. Once he got it off, he
exited out the program he was in. He found the CD player on his
laptop and popped the CD in. He turned the volume up for Duo to hear.
A yawn escaped the Wing pilot. He sat his laptop on the nightstand,
and sort of fell into a sleepy haze as a sort of dreamy, trip pop
melody played. Heero yawned again, as he started to fall
asleep. `Even the Perfect Soldier can't on forever without sleep,' he
absently noted. Heero took note the cathartic and sarcastic voice
singing. In sleepy haze, he couldn't really be sure if it was Duo's
voice he was hearing, or the girl singing... perhaps it was both of
them.
//Why is there a missing piece in everyone I know
I never have the right part to make it work out right//
"Duo?" Heero whispered, missing the next line.
//Such a half-assed mechanic
I can't even fix myself//
Heero forced himself from the realm of unconsciousness.
//If you tip it over on its side
Crack it open
Maybe you will find out why//
`That baka plays the weirdest music,' Heero thought, bringing his
knees to his chest. `What's going on inside that head of yours, Duo?"
//Look at all the wires
How their twisted till that make just a little sense to you//
`Duo... I want him. I want him to be mine. All mine.' Heero thoughts
were going at full speed. For some reason or another, Duo always
played music that Heero think about things he didn't want too. But he
always played it when they were alone. When they were with the other
pilots, he played music that made Heero want to throttle Duo.
//Maybe if you're smart you can figure out the problem
And solve it like—//
Was Duo trying to tell him something? Heero paused the song, ushering
a protest from the boy in the shower. "Hee~ro! Why'd you go and do
that? I was just getting into the song!"
"How much longer are you going to be in there?" Heero really didn't
like taking cold showers.
"Just till the song finishes! Now turn it back up!"
//But then it just might break again
And you will be back here
Pulling out your hair//
Heero closed his eyes, wishing that he could touch the violet-eyed
pilot. It was almost as if Duo was running. Heero looked at the
bathroom, his eyes narrowing. `What are you afraid of, Duo?'
//Why is there a missing piece in everyone I know?
I never have the right part to make it work out right
So be the one with their temperamental lives off track
Such a half-assed mechanic
I can't even fix myself//
Heero was at a loss. He didn't know what to do, other than be
himself. But, there was no way he would ever confess the way he felt
to Duo. Doing nothing seemed like a perfect, if not frustrating,
strategy for handling the situation.
//I keep on stressing out
If I don't distract myself
With something else
If I don't take a break//
Heero smirked slightly. `Perhaps that's it. Maybe Duo is feeling
stressed out. This is war after all. But Duo is trained terrorist. He
can handle it.' Heero sighed, his smirk replaced by a frown. `No, no
he can't. Duo may be a soldier, but he's human. What makes me think
Duo can handle the pressures of war when I couldn't handle killing
all those innocent people... that little girl and her dog.'
//With you it's like a little game
Picking at your brain
Till I get some sort of clue//
`How much longer is Duo going to stay in there?' Heero wondered. He
felt himself getting sleepy again, but he really did want to shower
first. `I bet there'll be no hot water left.'
"Oi! Heero, man, there's plenty hot water left! So, save your death
threats for later, when I really do screw up."
//I finally think I understand
Then when you surprise me
And throw me for a loop
You put me back to square one
I have to rethink my hypothesis again//
Heero quirked an eyebrow. He shook his head, a small smile on his
lips. `One day, I'm going figure out what makes that beautiful,
braided baka operate.'
//Who's to say I will
Find an answer for you//
Duo stepped out bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist and one
wrapped around his head. "Man, a shower is very relaxing." Duo walked
towards the closet.
Heero didn't bother answering; he just turned the CD off and shut his
laptop down. Duo was too busy rummaging threw his small suitcase to
notice the way Heero was looking. Duo found a pair of Dragon Ball Z
boxers and a black T-shirt. Duo pulled the towel off his head and
threw it down on the floor. He pulled the towel on waist off and
threw it down too.
Heero watched Duo get dressed, admiring the boy's small, lithe body.
He wished he could run his hands across Duo's pale skin, but quickly
cursed himself for thinking such things.
Duo turned around and noticed Heero staring at him. He smiled at the
Japanese boy, and winked. Heero glared murderously at the boy.
"Hey! I was teasing. Don't look like that," Duo said, holding his
hands up.
"All the hot water is gone, right?"
Duo smiled sheepishly and slipped his boxers on. He pulled the T-
shirt on and started hunted through his suitcase for a comb and
brush. After finally finding one underneath the burnt, worn bible, he
bounced over to his bed and sat facing Heero.
"Are you angry that I used up all the hot water?" Duo asked.
"No," Heero replied, "I expected that from you."
"Itai! Heero, you hurt me!" Duo shouted, feigning hurt.
"If it weren't for the missions, I probably would," Heero mumbled.
Duo smiled. "I hate to be the one to inform you, but Mr. Omae o
korosu, you a major stick up ass."
Heero reached down besides his bed and picked the biology Duo
*forgot* to return to the last school they were at, and threw it
towards the American's head. Duo reacted quickly and ducked. The book
sailed over Duo's head towards the closed window. The window
shattered and the biology book landed outside on some poor,
misfortunate soul's head. The long string of profanity proved that
the person outside was not as amused as the people laughing.
"See what you did," Heero said. He stood up and pulled the covers
back.
"Me?!" Duo yelled. "You threw the book!"
"But if you hadn't annoyed me, I would have never thrown the book."
Duo rolled his eyes, and looked at the window. Glass was all over the
floor. "The motel owner ain't gonna be too happy about this."
"So what?" Heero said, climbing into bed.
"There's a hole in the window, Heero," Duo said. "And my hair is
still wet. I can't sleep here next to the window. I'll catch a cold
or something. Switch with me?"
"No," Heero replied.
"Why not!?"
"Because, it's gonna get a bit cold tonight."
'What a sadistic bastard,'Duo thought to himself. "Mind if I climb in
with you then?" he asked.
"Do what you want," Heero answered, a yawn escaping him.
Duo began to comb out his hair and put it back in his traditional
braid. An hour later, Duo smiled, turned the lights off, and hopped
into the small bed with Heero. It was a tight fit, but they managed
to make it work. Heero was laying on his side. Duo was also on his
side, his back to Heero.
The room was illuminated with light from the street lights outsides
and a neon, bar sign blinking off and on. The street sounds filled
the room, bringing back childhood memories. Not wanting to remember
those particular thoughts when he so close to Heero, he began to hum
to himself.
Heero had finally managed to drift off when Duo's humming woke. Heero
scowled at the Deathscythe pilot's back. "Duo?"
"Yeah Heero?"
"Shut-up."
"I'm tired, but I'm not sleepy yet. So, I thought I'd entertain
myself," Duo explained.
"I don't care. Just shut-up," Heero replied.
Duo started to laugh, once again disturbing Heero from his slumber.
"What's so funny, Duo?"
"I was just thinking about that last mission where we enrolled in
that boarding school. The Headmaster made you take that sensitivity
class." Duo started to laugh uncontrollably as he remembered the look
on Heero's face when the Headmaster told him.
"Omae o korosu," Heero growled.
"What was the last you assignment you got before we left? Hug a tree
or something like that?" Duo asked, snickering to himself.
"No," Heero said, "That was the day before we left. And for your
information, the last assignment was to write the one, most horrible,
vilest thing we hated most in the universe."
Curiosity overtook Duo. "What did you write?"
Heero considered this for a moment. "I'll tell you I hate if you tell
me what you hate."
Duo tensed for a moment but relaxed. "Alright," he said. Duo Maxwell
never backed down from dare, and what Heero said sounded exactly like
a dare.
"Well?" Heero asked.
"I hate being afraid," Duo replied quietly.
Heero bit his lower lip. `What to do? Ask him what he's afraid of?
Put my arm around him? What?'
"You want to know what I'm afraid of?"
"Hai."
"I'm afraid of falling in love with you."
Heero gasped slightly. "Duo?"
Duo remained completely still. His voice was soft and quiet. "Your
turn."
"I hate that I can't touch you," Heero said quickly.
"What?" Duo asked, sitting up in the bed.
"You heard me."
Duo took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Touch me, Heero."
Heero sat up and stared at Duo. He could see Duo tremble slightly.
Heero put an arm around Duo and pulled the boy closer to him. Duo
rested his head on Heero's shoulder.
"I shouldn't let you do this," Duo whispered. "You'll get hurt in the
end."
Heero gently stroked, Duo's cheek, marveling at the softness of the
boy. "Hn," he replied.
Heero lifted Duo's face and stared down into Duo's violet eyes. Heero
leaned down, brushing his lips against Duo's, silently asking
permission.
`Oh God, what I am getting myself into?' Duo wondered briefly, before
submitting to Heero.
Heero held Duo tightly in his arms, claiming Duo's mouth with his
tongue, in a moment of passion. He'd wanted to kiss Duo's cherry lips
for so long, and now, to finally hold the unnaturally beautiful boy
in his arms, and to actually be kissing, was like blowing up an OZ
base and destroying a hundred mobile dolls on the battlefield. And in
Heero's mind, that was a very good thing. Of course, Heero could have
said it was being like Heaven when kissing Duo, but Heero positive he
didn't belong there.
Heero broke the kiss, oxygen taking precedence over pleasure.
"Tell me, Heero, what are you thinking?"
"Omae wa ore no mono da."
Duo smiled a bit sarcastically. "I'm all yours."
//Why is there a missing piece in everyone I know
I never have the right part to make it work right
So be the one with their temperamental lives off track
Such an half-assed mechanic
I can't even fix myself//
"We have to get rest now, Duo." Heero glanced at the clock on the
wall. "It's 1:00 in the morning. We're leaving at 7:00, no matter
what."
Duo yawned. "Looks like Morpheus has finally got me in his grasp.
G'night Heero."
Duo and Heero laid back down on the bed, snuggled up next to each
other. Just as Heero drifted off into slumber one more time, Duo
started mumbling incoherent phrases in sleep.
"Pikachu, thunderbolt attack..."
Heero quirked an eyebrow, and decided he didn't want to know. He
literally kicked Duo out of his bed.
"Itai!" Duo yelled, falling face. He sat up rather indignantly and
glared at Heero.
"You're noisy. Even in your sleep," Heero explained.
Duo got and marched over to his own bed. "I can't wait till leave
this motel and go back to Quatre's nice mansion with big, soft beds,"
Duo ranted to himself. He climbed into his bed and crawled underneath
the covers. "Heero no baka. Didn't have to kick me so hard. I hope he
knows that's going to leave a nasty bruise. I can't believe I like
Mr. Personality over there. He couldn't have just woke me up and told
me shut-up... no, not Mr. Omae o korosu. That's too much like being
normal. Why does everything always end up in violence whenever he's
around? Does he have some sort of special magnet that draws violence
to him? I mean—"
Heero threw a shoe at Duo, hitting him in the head.
"Itai!" Duo screamed sitting up and holding his head. "Heero!"
"Next time, I'm going to shoot you. Shut-up, Duo!"
"Fine!" Duo said, laying back down. `I guess I can't expect him to
change in a night, ne?'
Just as Duo drifted off into sleep, he heard a very faint sound come
from his partner's direction. It sounded like, "Suki da, Duo, zutto."
Duo smiled, falling contentedly into a pleasant sleep.
~Owari~
***********
I can't believe it. Hopefully the next one will turn out a better.
Aoko