Pairing: 1+2
Warnings: Angst, Drama
Disclaimers: Do not own the G-boys. Just lurve toying around with their emotions.
Well, this was awkward – two former partners forced to sit together beneath dim disco lights in a bar that was supposedly inconspicuous. They made a rather odd couple for people who wanted to remain anonymous. However, in this little world of theirs, where everyone knew everyone, seeing the couple hardly raised a curious brow…at least it seemed that way.
They couldn’t look anymore different if they tried. With his signature long hair draped over shoulders hidden beneath a rather large fur coat and dark sunglasses, the pop star, Duo Maxwell stood out like a beacon of attraction for all to see. His slender hands were adorned with rather expensive rings of every shape and size, his fingernails a dark shade of purple today. When he lifted his arm, his wrist would reveal a simple silver bracelet which nearly overshadowed the tattoo of a thorny red rose on his skin. When he moved or shifted on his seat, the fur coat would open a little to reveal a bare chest that glistened with glitter beneath the lights. A small black choker with a silver cross was his only accessory for that part of his flesh and every now and then, he’d lift an elegant hand to caress it gently.
“I’m sorry for dragging you out here,” he began with an attempt at a smile as he watched his silent companion behind the safety of his sunglasses – a welcome shield against the pain he so wanted to hide.
“It’s no problem,” came the calm reply as the man placed the cigarette between his lips. He lowered his dark brown locks to light up the stick and as Duo watched, he couldn’t help thinking of just how much they had changed over the years. Heero Yuy was still as practical and sensible as he had ever been. His fingernails were well manicured, that strong body hidden beneath a simple but damn expensive black business suit. And those blue eyes…
Damn those eyes.
“I do have a studio session later on so…”
Duo waved a hand in understanding. “Yeah, I know, I know. Mister Hotshot has some new broad to sign on his record label.”
He couldn’t hide the bitterness in his voice.
“What’s the matter, Duo?” Heero asked softly as he leaned back in his seat allowing the waiter to place their plates of food upon the table. He gave their handsome server a small nod and waited until he was a relative distance from their table before continuing. “I’m not the one who got suckered into the pop industry by some other big shot record label.”
He stuck a fork into his steak while crushing out his cigarette. He couldn’t hide the bitterness in his voice.
“Hell, Heero, all I wanted was for us to make a new sound, man!” Duo hissed back angrily as he began to cut into his own steak a bit harder than he would have liked. “We were so behind, don’t you see? Everyone else was moving along and we were just…”
“We were fine,” Heero interrupted curtly. “You just couldn’t understand, could you?”
“No. You were the one who couldn’t understand,” Duo finished quietly and lowered his gaze.
Yes, things had definitely not changed since their nasty breakup almost a year ago. Duo could still remember how nervous he had been when he had walked into the studio with the signed contract in his hands. He would now become a member of the largest recording label in the world – Jet Records. He had been signed for a two year, ten million credit contract that was the largest of its kind for any new artist.
He had mustered a smile and had announced it to this band mates, being careful to watch Heero’s reaction from the corner of his eye. He could still remember the stunned silence that had greeted his decision and how Heero himself had not looked up to acknowledge anything. But there was no denying the tension that had now seeped into his body as he continued to ‘read’ through the lyric sheet.
“Well….Heero? What do you think?” Duo had finally asked with his heart pounding so hard, he was sure everyone else in the room could hear it. “We could both go and…”
“Congratulations, Duo,” he had said simply before dismissing the rest of the band and walking out of the room himself.
Later that night, in the warm confines of their apartment, they had argued like never before. Their voices had risen, higher and higher until someone had walked out in fury– Heero actually.
“We made good music together, Duo,” Heero said suddenly, causing Duo to lift his head quickly. But his former partner wasn’t looking at him. Somehow, his steak seemed more fascinating for some reason. “I wanted…I knew you were good…your voice…”
“Heero…”
“When you sing…your voice…it makes me…feel so good.”
“Ah…” Duo blushed and pushed around a broccoli on his plate. He shifted restlessly on his seat and lifted a hand to caress the cross again. Although, they hadn’t ‘seen’ each other in almost a year, it was amazing to see just how much Heero could still affect him like this.
“You have a concert in Prague next week, don’t you?” Heero asked as he lifted his head to pin a rather intense look on his companion.
Duo nodded and reached for his glass of wine to down it quickly. “It’s a two week tour around Europe. It’s going to be a bitch.”
“I see.” They fell silent again and then, “Sing for me, Duo.”
“Huh?”
“One last time before you walk away from my life again,” Heero demanded quietly. “You owe me that much.”
“Hey, now….Heero…I mean you hear me sing all the time on the radio and TV…”
“It’s not the same, damn it. Remember? How we used to sit in the apartment with no damn heater on…”
“That’s because you forgot to pay the bills…”
“With only my guitar and you singing for me and only me? Remember that, Duo?”
How could he forget? How could he forget their fruitless hours running around from one studio to the other, hoping that someone would accept their demo tapes? How could he forget the long days and nights when they’d work crazy hours just to make enough money to rent a studio? How could he forget the elation and ecstasy they had experienced the day they finally got the call from the Indie label?
Christ, what beautiful music their bodies had made that night.
He sucked in a harsh breath as he felt Heero’s firm hand upon his and the silent plea in his ex-lover’s eyes. “Sing for me, Duo…please…”
Duo couldn’t remember agreeing to this, neither could he remember them leaving the club nor getting into Heero’s brand new convertible. His friend had obviously done well for himself since their split. Heero was already being taunted as the hottest new producer of the year and his resume of talented and budding artists were growing by the month it seemed.
“Switch off your cell phone,” Heero advised as he did the same. Duo did as he was told, finding it a bit ironic that their first hit was currently playing in Heero’s CD player. He closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat, allowing the familiar lyrics to fill his mind again. It was a ballad of love lost and the found between two friends. They had been careful not to base the situation on either heterosexual or homosexual partners. Simply put the situation could have been for anyone.
How painfully ironic.
Give me one more chance
To make it right
Look into my eyes
And see tonight
That I love you….
Duo was unaware that he had been singing along until he gave a shaky laugh and opened up his eyes. “Damn, I sounded like crap back then, didn’t I?”
“No…well…we were just starting out remember?” Heero said around a soft laugh. “Your voice has matured in the past year. It’s much richer.”
Duo was grateful for the darkness or his embarrassment at being complimented would have been evident. He tried to say something witty at the statement but ended up blinking in surprise as the car pulled up to the upscale condo. Damn, Heero had really upgraded his lifestyle!
“Don’t tell me,” Duo said with a raised brow as a garage door that seemed to appear from nowhere slowly opened up to let them in. “You’ve got a studio in here as well?”
Heero laughed again. He seemed to be in a much better mood since Duo agreed to come with him. “I’m a producer, remember? I have to have a studio with me at all times. Come…let me show you around.”
It might have been small on the outside, but Heero’s apartment was spacious and rather Spartan in design. It was done in rich browns and dark red, a combination that gave it an air of warmth and yet class. There was a curio cabinet with several awards adorning its shelves. Gold and platinum records from his accomplishments graced the walls as Heero led them down a narrow pathway towards an oak door which had the words ‘Studio In Session’ written in gold upon it.
“Wow…” Duo whispered in awe, as he walked into the control room. The short fur jacket made no effort to hide the narrow hips and firm ass beneath the black tight pants he wore. His fingertips danced over the mixing console that looked so damn complicated with its numerous buttons and switches. “Damn, you really are big time now, aren’t you…huh?”
He looked over his shoulder as he felt Heero’s hands upon his jacket. He met the amused blue eyes that looked even darker in the dim studio and felt his insides quiver with nervous butterflies.
“Let’s get you out of this,” Heero was saying. “And this….” He took off the sunglasses, his smile becoming a smirk at the surprised gasp that slipped from Duo’s lips. “How long do you intend to hide behind them?”
“I wasn’t hiding,” Duo began in defense but lost his train of thought as Heero wrapped his arms around his waist from behind. He closed his eyes and tried to even his breathing but Heero wasn’t helping much for his hands had begun to draw little circles on Duo’s stomach. His breath, warm and husky whispered into the singer’s ear. “Acoustic?”
Not trusting himself to speak, Duo could only nod in response. He had to bite back a small moan of protest as Heero pulled away to take off his jacket. It was tossed to the floor to join Duo’s.
“Do you remember that song we wrote back in college?” Heero began as he rolled up the sleeves of his blue dress shirt and reached for the Gibson guitar he had owned since he was sixteen. He sat upon a swivel chair and smiled softly as he struck a few chords with his lucky pick – Duo had noticed him bringing it out of his pocket earlier.
“The one about killing off our professors?” Duo laughed as he sat on another chair opposite Heero. He nodded softly in time to the chords Heero began to play. Heero lifted his head and smirked as his fingers moved faster and faster and as their eyes met, they were no longer hot shot producer and pop star. They were back in their small dorm room, sitting on the floor in their jeans and not much else with dreams of stardom that had seemed beyond reach.
Heero normally didn’t sing and did his best not to torture people with his voice at such times, but with Duo, he felt he could sing a million and one songs and never falter. He closed his eyes and allowed the music from his guitar to fill his soul. His lips parted and the words came forth, rich and clear in the silence of the studio. Duo stared in awe for a moment, watching the near blissful expression on his former partner’s features with a warm smile.
This was what music was all about. It wasn’t about being popular and having a million and one people at your bidding. It wasn’t about selling a gazillion and one records or CDs. It was about the sound, the emotion, the excitement of knowing that the melodies you created was purely yours and no one else’s. It was the simple joy of being with the one you loved and will always love come what may.
Duo longed for those days of untainted innocence but knew with a pang of sorrow that they would never come to pass again. They were grown ups now with different views and different tastes. They were worlds apart in this dirty business of money, power and backstabbing politics.
But for now…for now, they were just two young men who lived for the rhythm within their hearts.
And as Duo finally opened up his mouth to join Heero, their voices became one in perfect harmony.
~The End~
Gundam Wing Fiction
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