Author: Merula

Pairings: 1+2

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Post-war, Duo POV

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.

Day Off Part 1

When I opened the door and found him standing on the other side, I should've been mad. I should've yelled at him, asked him where the hell he'd been, should've asked him why he'd felt the need to run off again.

But I didn't. I was just happy to see him.

So I leaned against the doorframe and grinned. "Little early for a social call, isn't it?"

I doubted it was one though. There was only one reason why'd Heero show up out of the blue.

"I need your help."

Of course. The man would never stop by just to chat.

"Sure thing," I stepped backwards and waved him inside. "Always glad to help a friend."

That earned me one of those dark-eyed looks- not quite a glare, more intent, as if Heero was trying to figure me out.

Those made me feel better- at least I wasn't the only one who hid my motivations.

Heero followed me to the couch. "How's the business going?" He asked and I nearly fell over with surprise. Heero didn't usually ask questions like that- that one was almost personal.

"Pretty good actually." I sat down and propped my legs up on the coffee table. "Howard came in on it with me you know, and we do pretty well."

Heero sat down and I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. "Better than 'pretty well' from what I've seen," he said, his tone amused.

"What you've seen?" I lifted an eyebrow. "Did you hack my files again?"

That got me a smile. "Hardly- your ads are everywhere."

"Howard believes in advertising." I laughed. "Plus, he says we have to do well to keep all the guys employed." A thought occurred to me. "Is that why you're here? Do you need a job? We always have room for another pilot- and I remember you being passable."

He shook his head, still smiling. "Just passable?" The smile faded. "Actually, I'm here for another reason." He pulled a disc out from his pocket and handed it to me. "Take a look at this."

This did not look promising.

I stood up and headed towards my computer. "Why do I get a feeling that I'm not going to like this?"

"Because I don't?" Heero followed me and stood behind my chair as I put the disc in.

"Not reassuring Heero." The disc's contents started scrolling on the screen and I felt even less reassured. "Shit."

"Exactly."

"How many of these are there?"

"Just that one."

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure." I heard him sigh. "I did a lot of checking."

"All of this kind of stuff was supposed to be decommissioned after the war!"

"They skipped one."

"On purpose?"

"Someone made sure it didn't get destroyed."

I turned around in my seat. "So you want to destroy it."

"Yes."

"Have you been there? Is it guarded?"

He shook his head. "No- my current profession doesn't exactly leave me with access to ships- or the means to rent one."

Ah hah. So that's why he'd come to me. Damn it. Silly to think otherwise.

"Quatre does."

"Quatre is the head of a very public organization. If he helps me and word gets out- he could be in trouble. You rent ships Duo- if I 'rent' one from you and do something illegal with it- you won't get in trouble if I do get caught."

Good point. But- "Wait a minute- you're planning on doing this alone?"

He blinked at me. "I have to-" I opened my mouth to protest, but he continued. "Duo- you can't just take off- you have a business to run!"

"Why the hell not? Howard does it all the time."

"And if you get caught then your business will suffer." Heero shook his head. "You worked hard to get it going Duo- I don't want to ruin that- but I didn't know who else to go to..."

I bit my lip before answering. Heero was trying to keep me out of this. Was it for the reasons he was using- or something else?

"I know you prefer doing stuff like this alone, but Heero- what if it is guarded? It really would be better to have a backup..."

"It's not that I prefer doing it alone," he corrected me, "it's that I think it would be better to do so. You've got obligations- you can't just run off on some mission with me."

I snorted. "And you don't have obligations? What kind of life are you living?"

I was sorry the moment the words were out of my mouth. Heero's expression changed and I felt like I had kicked a puppy.

"Not much of one," his voice was soft. "So... will you loan me a ship? It won't be for very long- only a few days."

Damn it. I should've kept my mouth shut- but the man always did rattle me.

Instead of answering, I got up, went to the vidphone and dialed Howard's number.

"Kid- the sun is just barely over the horizon- you'd better have a good reason for calling." Did the man sleep with those sunglasses on?

"Heero just showed up and asked me to go on a little trip with him. Mind if I leave you to watch the shop for me?"

"Business or pleasure?" He leered.

If I could've smacked him through the screen I would have.

"Business."

"Bad?" One eyebrow went up.

"Potentially. Just doing some preventative work, so to speak."

He nodded. "Understood. Do I need to call in? Ask the boys to get your ride ready?"

"That would be great Howard- thanks."

"No problem." He hung up and I turned to Heero.

"See? No problem."

Heero smiled. "Thanks Duo."

~*~

I looked at the address again. Heero had left my apartment shortly after I called Howard, saying he had a few things to do before we left. He had given me an address and asked me to meet him there when I was ready.

I didn't have too much to do- pull out my old kit, make sure everything was still functional- mentally ready myself to spend more time in Heero's company...

The address was a nice apartment building several blocks away from mine- and I wondered what Heero was doing there- I expected a hotel or a restaurant... not an apartment. Maybe I had gone to the wrong address?

But Heero opened the door when I knocked and ushered me in. "Just another minute."

I looked around as he went back to his computer set up in the corner and leaned over the keyboard. "Nice place, Heero."

"Thanks, I like it."

Suspicion arose. "Have you been here long?"

He shrugged. "About a year."

A year? He'd lived on my colony for a year?!?

"What?!"

He glanced at me over his shoulder. "What is it?"

"You've lived here a year? And you don't contact me until you needed something?!"

Heero blinked. "I.. I wasn't sure you'd like me being in your territory."

In my...? "I'm not a dog, Heero."

"You know what I mean."

I did know what he meant. After the wars we had all gone to different colonies- or in Wufei's case- stayed on Earth... almost as if we did claim our areas to watch over...

Still...

"You could've called."

"I thought about it," he said, turning off the computer and turning to face me. "Several times."

"But you didn't."

"I know." He picked up two heavy looking bags and headed for the door. "Are you ready?"

I followed him silently, still fuming.

It was stupid of me- I know I didn't mean as much to him as he did to me- I wasn't even sure he considered me a friend... and that hurt. More than it should've...

We got down to the street and stowed Heero's bags in the trunk. I didn't know what to say to him as we started for the shuttle port.

"Duo-" he said as he watched me nearly rear-end another car. "I really am sorry. I wanted to call... but I wasn't sure how you would react. I mean- you do great when I show up with some crazy mission- but if I had shown up just to visit..."

"I would've liked that."

He blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah really. What's wrong with that? Is it bad to think of you as a friend?"

"No," his voice was soft. "I'm glad you do."

TBC...

 

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