DINNER BLUES:

 

Duo pushed the door open with his booted feet, almost falling to the floor as the door all but slammed into his face again. He grunted and grumbled as he shifted the two brown bags filled with groceries in his arms.

 

“Could you move, Duo? You are blocking my way.”

 

“Sheesh, Heero. Could you hold on a second? I am trying to get myself unstuck from here…ugh!” A vehement push sent the door flying open again and Duo rushed into the kitchen, only to wince as he watched it fly back shut, successfully locking his partner outside again.

 

“Oops! Sorry, Heero. I don’t know what’s wrong with it…”

 

“You broke the hinge yesterday, remember?” Heero commented dryly as he walked in with his own arms filled to capacity with groceries. He placed them on the small table in their kitchen and removed the black scarf from his neck, shaking off the load of snow that had accumulated on it. Ignoring Duo’s mumble or complaint or whine, he began to unpack their supplies, brows creased in concentration as he read each label carefully, before sticking them into their appropriate places.

 

“What’s for dinner?” Duo asked, as he walked up to Heero and wrapped his arms around the lean waist. “Spanish, Mexican, Italian, American, Japanese, Chinese?”

 

Heero spun around and shoved a can of soup and a box of crackers against Duo’s chest. “Plain.”

 

“Aww man…not again.” Duo whined pitifully, as he stared at the hateful items in his grasp. “You said you were going to cook something special tonight and now…”

 

“Not until you fix the door, we are not, Duo. You promised to do that yesterday and you didn’t. The cold draft is coming in and…”

 

“Fine. I will fix the damn thing.” Damn, but Heero could bitch about the little stuff sometimes.

 

He pulled off his now soaked jacket, tossing it into the laundry room….

 

“Pick up your jacket, Duo. You are making the floor wet.”

 

“Yes, mother dearest. I will pick it up now before you get wrinkles on your fragile skin.”

 

Both exchanged glares before Heero snorted and continued with his sorting. “Just reminding you that’s all.”

 

“Why don’t you just take a post-it note and stick it on my forehead. Just in case I forget myself.”

 

Heero banged the package of frozen vegetables on the kitchen table. He followed that by a loud slam of the pantry door and an accompanying slam of the fridge as he practically threw the can of milk into it.

 

~ I will not get upset. I will not get upset. I will not… ~

“Where the fuck is the tool box?! I put it in here the other day!”

 

“That’s because you put it in the wrong place, bakayaro!! All tools should be placed in the attic, not in the laundry room!!”

 

“I will goddamn leave my tools wherever the fuck I want to leave them, got it?! Now where is it?!”

 

Heero spun around to face the grocery bags again. “I put them where they are supposed to be, Duo.”

 

Duo growled and stomped up to him, placing hands on his shoulders to spin the boy around to face him. Sticking his face within inches of the blank look on his partner’s own visage, Duo spat out coldly. “Where.Did.You.Put.Them?!

 

The shrill ring of the phone interrupted the glaring match they had gotten into and with another snort; Heero pushed Duo away and went over to pick up it up. “Moshi moshi?” He barked. “Hai…tonight?…can’t do that…what?…I know Quatre will be displeased, but I promised to make Duo dinner… Yes, thanks for the offer… Goodnight, Trowa.”

 

Heero noticed that Duo had left the kitchen. “That was Trowa!” He yelled out to his still furious mate, obvious from the sounds of things crashing in the room above him. “He wanted us to come over for dinner and I said no!”

 

“WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!” Duo bellowed from the attic, before sticking his head out of the trap door to pin blazing amethyst depths on him. “First you deny me dinner and now you refuse to allow me to eat with my friends!! Well, you can forget me fixing this damn door tonight!!”

 

Heero shrugged and walked out of the kitchen. “You aren’t going to eat anywhere until you are finished with what you have to do, so there.”

 

“Fuck you too, Heero.” And almost running down the flight of stairs, Duo slammed the trapdoor shut and reached for his jacket. “I am going out to eat, Heero and you can’t stop me! You hear me?! You don’t tell me what to do!”

 

Heero sat down on the couch in the living room and flipped on the TV, counting inwardly to ten before the sound of the door closing…slamming… behind Duo, caused him to stop. Hn…at least he got to eight this time. He flipped through channels quickly, before rising to his feet. He ran to the window and stared out of it, watching with amused eyes as his mate stomped down the flight of stairs and out into the snowy night. Nodding in satisfaction, Heero went back into the kitchen and began to bring out all the ingredients he needed to prepare the dishes that he had in mind.

 

He chopped and diced up vegetables, quicker than the eye could see. He placed the frying pan on the fire, pouring a bit of the red wine he had bought into it. A satisfied smirk lit his features as he watched the flame blaze out of it.

 

The chef was back in town.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Duo frowned as he patted his pockets. “Damn it. Forgot my gloves…” He pouted and spun around to stare back towards the direction of their apartment, knowing that Heero was back there probably typing away on his laptop. “Idiot!” He muttered. “I am not going back there!”

 

And with a determined nod, he continued on his journey…to a bistro….

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

The fillets were broiling. The vegetables were being sautéed. The sauces were boiling and the pasta was currently being drained.

 

And then the phone rang.

 

Heero held the bowl underneath his arms and continued to whisk the egg whites as he held the phone on the crook of his neck. “What?”

 

“Uh…did someone order a large bouquet of flowers for a Mr. Heero Yuy…”

 

“Yes, that’s me. Send them up. Thank you.” He hung up the phone and placed the egg whites on the table, bending down quickly to check on the chicken breasts that were baking in the oven.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

“Damn him! Damn him! Damn him!” Duo kicked at another clump of snow in annoyance. “Who the hell died and made him my mother anyway? I don’t have to put up with his crap!”

 

But Duo knew that he would and could put up with the crap because they were both partners and lovers and that this ‘fight’ was just another day in their pretty wacky lives. He sighed and sat down on a park bench, sticking his freezing hands into his coat pockets. Ever since, Heero had confessed his feelings to him back at the Preventer’s office that night, Duo had felt like his life was all one big dream that would burst the moment something went wrong.

 

But so far, so good. They fought, yes, but at least the make up sessions were oh so much better. However, he was always the one to apologize first, whether he was at fault or not. But not this time. This time, Duo was determined to stand his ground and not cave in to the urge to run back to the apartment and to beg for Heero’s forgiveness.

 

“Nope. No more begging. You will have to crawl to me this time, Heero.” And with that decision, he got off the bench and walked up to the waiting hotdog vendor.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Heero placed the finished fillet on the table and began to stir the pasta and sauce together. He eyed the clock with growing worry, although his expression didn’t change much. He prayed and hoped that Duo hadn’t actually gone out to eat something. That would defeat the entire purpose for tonight. He sighed and continued stirring. Waiting for it to simmer, he pulled off the apron he had on and walked into their bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes.

 

He found a pair of dark slacks and finished it off with one of Duo’s white shirts. Combing his hair with his fingers, he walked back out to the empty living room and waited for his lover to appear.

 

Thirty minutes later, Duo had still not arrived. Concern turned to anger and then to worry and then to dread. What if Duo didn’t come back? What if he had pushed the boy so far that he had decided to spend the night with Trowa and Quatre instead?! Practically running to the phone, he picked it up and dialed the familiar numbers, tapping fingers impatiently against his thighs as he waited for someone to pick up.

 

“Oh, hi…yeah, this is Heero. No…No we are still not coming…I was actually going to ask you if…” Heero sighed and held the phone away from himself for a moment, before placing it back against his ear. “I know I am a selfish bastard, Quatre, but could you at least tell me if…I am just asking a simple question…Kuso! Is Duo there or not?!….he isn’t?…thank you, that’s all I needed to know. Bye.”

 

He hung up the phone and walked to the window, peering out of it again as his dread grew.

 

~ Hn. Let him not come. See if I care. ~

He walked back into the kitchen and eyed the food he had so lovingly prepared. Some had gotten cold and Heero would have to warm it up again. Scowling to hide his dismay, he angrily picked up the fillet. He was just about to throw them into the garbage can, when the sound of the door opening sent him placing the bowl back on the table quickly, and out to meet his mate.

 

He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the kitchen door, watching through hooded eyes as Duo walked in to shrug off his jacket. Cobalt and amethyst clashed in silent duel, none giving away any expression of having missed the other or even caring that they had hurt each other in some way.

 

“I made dinner.” Heero finally announced coolly.

 

“I smelt it.” Came the equally casual reply.

 

“It’s French tonight.”

 

“No kidding.”

 

“I thought you liked French.”

 

“I do, Heero. I like anything you cook, remember?”

 

Heero couldn’t think of a right response as he watched Duo walk past him and into the kitchen. His body trembled at the simple yet powerful sentence. Cooking for Duo was something that he took great pride in, even if he didn’t show it, and every little compliment was like an aphrodisiac to his senses. He walked in slowly after him, dark eyes roaming over his lover’s body hungrily. He needed something that mere food could not satisfy.

 

He watched Duo eye the food, unaware that he was holding his breath in anticipation for some encouraging words. His anxiety grew as the other boy sat down on the table and reached for a fork, slowly piercing through the fish and slipping the piece into his mouth. Heero’s eyes watched the food disappear down the mouth he had kissed a million times over, his hands clenching into tight fists as he waited impatiently for the final verdict.

 

Duo swallowed and scrunched up his face in thought, before shrugging and reaching for the plate of pasta. He twirled the strings laced with sauce around his fork and stuck it into his mouth, darting out a tongue to lick off the small trail of sauce that had dripped out of his lips. Heero was practically sweating now. What was taking Duo so long? He usually gave his approval at the first bite. Was the food not good enough?

 

“Duo…”

 

The American raised a hand to silence him, reaching over for the chicken breasts dipped in mushroom and chicken sauce. The same treatment was given to it, the braided boy taking his time in savoring and enjoying the delicious meal.

 

Heero had had enough. Just as Duo was about to reach for the bowl of salad, Heero seized the bowl away from him and held it protectively against his chest, eyes narrowed in irritation.

 

Duo blinked around a mouthful of chicken, eyes bewildered and perplexed. “What the hell are you doing, Heero? I haven’t finished…”

 

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Why aren’t you saying if the food is good or bad? You always say it whenever you eat. Why aren’t you saying it now? Is it that bad? Do you hate it? Do you wish you hadn’t even….mmmppff!!”

 

Heero’s words were silenced with the taste of his lover’s lips against his. His eyes fluttered closed and he felt his knees give way as the pressure of the kiss intensified. He hardly felt the bowl being removed from his grasp, or the low rumble of pleasure that came from deep within his throat. Hands reached to tug gently on his mate’s braid, fingers seeking to unravel the long length impatiently. He could feel Duo’s hands begin to unbutton his shirt and he mewled in delight, wanting more…needing more…

 

“Mmmm…you taste like chicken…” He moaned around the questing tongue in his mouth.

 

“And you taste like heaven.” Duo replied, pulling back gently to chuckle at his cheesy line. “I think it’s a good thing I didn’t buy that hotdog after all.”

 

Heero rolled his eyes and then yelped as he found himself lifted over Duo’s shoulder. “Kisama! Put me down now!”

 

“I thought you needed me to give you a verdict on dinner tonight?” Duo asked with an exaggerated grimace. “Are you sure you still don’t want to receive it?”

 

Heero stopped his struggles and smirked lightly, raising Duo’s shirt to nip at his skin. “This had better be a good verdict, Duo. Or else…”

 

“Or else I get to cook tomorrow night?” Duo asked with faint hope in his tone.

 

The Japanese boy paled and shook his head as his mate kicked their bedroom door open. “Ano…I think I will pass on that…Duo!! You are going to break the door off its hinges! Stop kicking it like that…mmmm….”

 

Two breathless minutes later…

 

“You were saying something, Heero?”

 

“Nothing, Duo.” Came the panting reply. “I wasn’t saying anything at all…kiss me again…”

 

Five mintues later…

 

“Does this mean we are having Italian tomorrow night?”

 

“Kisama! Duo! Would you get your mind off food and concentrate on me?!”

 

“Gomen…you are just a damn fine cook and…”

 

“Then shut up and thank me properly.”

 

“Yes, sir…ouch! You didn’t have to tug on it so hard….”

 

“Baka!”

 

“And I love you too, Heero. I love you too…”

 

THE END!