Title: The Tow [part 4 / 4]
Pairing: Heero/Duo
Warnings: language, angst, sexual situations, sap
Disclaimer: I don't own them, thank you!
Notes: Song lyrics are from Elliott Smith "No Name No. 5". This is the last part of The Tow, but I'm enjoying this AU a lot, and already have some ideas for side stories ^_~

Thanks to bleedtoblue for looking at it for me last minute!




The Tow


The mountains were already painted in vivid reds, oranges and yellows. The cool autumn air had appeared seemingly overnight, but Heero wasn't complaining - it was his favorite time of the year. Business tended to pick up in the fall when people came for a bout of leaf peeping and ended up with car trouble. He was looking forward to getting caught up on some bills, and maybe take an entire weekend off when he'd caught up to spend with Duo.

Despite the chill in the air, Heero had the top down on his '67 Rambler and was enjoying the crisp, clean smell of autumn leaves. He'd managed to close up shop by 3pm, leaving plenty of time to get to Duo's before the sun set and the temperatures grew too cold to fully enjoy the ride. It felt good to be bundled up in a warm sweater while the breeze tousled his hair and the radio played. For the first time in a long time things were looking up, and Heero was feeling that life was pretty damned good. He'd forgotten what this was like.

Slowing down behind a mini van filled with what looked like a group of blue haired old ladies oohing and ahhing over the leaves, he took a deep cleansing breath and smiled to no one. Even with the increase in seasonal traffic, he loved this drive - it reminded him why he bothered with the day-to-day struggle. There was beauty in the world and Duo on the other end of the line - he couldn't ask for anything more.

They hadn't kissed goodbye when Duo had left that first time, but they'd both admitted afterwards that they'd wanted to. Oh how they'd wanted to. Instead Duo had offered his phone number, a firm handshake, and a smile that could melt the stoniest of hearts. Heero had circled his number on the invoice for the work he'd done, and penned a small note for Duo to call. It was hard for him to watch Duo drive away, afraid that he might not get him back. It had been a long time since he'd met someone he'd wanted back.

Duo had called that first Sunday morning, excited about his new apartment. He'd been beyond pleased that it was actually nicer than it had looked online, and couldn't wait to tell Heero that he had a deck that looked out over the mountains. Heero had been touched that Duo wanted to share his excitement with him, and he was remarkably less lonely just hearing Duo's voice on the other end of the line.

He made the first drive to Lewiston that following Wednesday night, and the stars had been glorious from Duo's deck, as they'd shared their first real kiss. Looking back Heero couldn't believe they'd known each other for only five days - they'd connected so completely.

Their relationship hadn't followed any rules from the get go, and neither of them wanted to impose them. It had evolved quickly, yet naturally as they'd fallen into a routine of nightly phone calls and weekly visits. They let their friendship thrive and flourish without bounds as they tried taking their time becoming lovers. The attraction between them was almost overwhelming at times, but both of them agreed that they'd wanted something different from a relationship this time around. Not that they'd kept their hands to themselves by any means, but they'd resisted the urge to jump into bed as soon as they were together for fear they'd stay there and never resurface. They took the time to talk, genuinely wanting to get to know each other, and were both pleased to realize that they had a lot in common despite their different backgrounds. Heero had been afraid that Duo would find him lacking, but Duo saw his intellect and his strengths. They enriched each other.

Speeding up, Heero passed the mini van and let the tires eat up the miles. He turned up the radio and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as his mind wandered.

"What do you think of this one?" Duo held up a shower curtain covered in flames. Duo had moved with only the basic necessities jammed into his car and had been trying to furnish and decorate his apartment in his free time. He hadn't been in a rush, and the two men had enjoyed their shopping trips in search of items to suit Duo's odd tastes.

"I don't know if it'll go with your 'duckie' bath mat, but I think the flames suit you." Heero grinned and held up a shower curtain covered in raw steaks. "What about this one?"

"If there's going to be meat in my shower, it's going to still be breathing." Duo leered at Heero before tossing the flame shower curtain in the basket and starting further down the aisle.

Heero chuckled to himself remembering that day. Duo had been living in his apartment for two weeks, and Heero had been shocked to learn that Duo had been showering with a sheet draped across the curtain rod the entire time. Shopping for just about anything wasn't an easy feat in the mountains region of New Hampshire, and they'd driven two hours for a store that suited Duo's needs.

After they'd finished shopping they had a leisurely dinner at a small Italian restaurant. They'd shared a bottle of wine, and talked about anything and everything that crossed their minds. Heero had never had a boyfriend who'd been curious about him. Common interests and sex had been the only things brought up in past relationships, and looking back Heero realized that he'd really never had much in common with those men to begin with. Being with Duo made him want to travel beyond his comfort zone, because he knew that he wouldn't be doing it alone. That night they'd made love for the first time.

"Got bitten fingernails and a head full of the past
And everybody's gone at last
Sweet, sweet smile that's fading fast
'Cos everybody's gone at last
Don't get upset about it
No not anymore"

"This is really sad, who is it?" Heero had been stretched out next to Duo on the futon in Duo's bedroom listening to music and talking quietly.

Duo had been holding Heero's hand and tracing hard calluses with the tip of his finger. "Elliott Smith. The man was a musical genius, but a tragic soul." Duo rolled to his side and studied Heero's face for a moment. "I can change it if it bothers you."

"I like it, it just makes me ..."

"It makes me want to cry," Duo said softly, brushing a kiss across the tip of Heero's nose. "Sometimes I do."

Heero rolled towards Duo and pulled him closer. He could feel both their hearts beating together, and he found himself suddenly unable to express himself. Instead he kissed Duo gently, letting his actions speak for him. After that the rest was shared moments of intensity and emotion as they touched each other. Heero had never experienced sex as being tender and loving and was suddenly glad he'd been forced to wait for this moment - it made it special. It made Duo special.

Heero was smiling as he eased his car to the right when the road forked. He could see Duo's place coming up on the left. Duo's apartment was in the bottom half of a carriage house set back from the main residence where the landlord lived. Heero could see kids playing in the yard and at a second glance he realized that Duo was among them being chased. Heero could hear Duo's laughter floating across the yard, and couldn't help chuckling in response. When he swung the car door shut, Duo looked up and waved, saying something to the kids before jogging over to where Heero was standing.

"You got out early!" Duo took hold of Heero's hand and brushed a kiss across his lips. "You saved me from being 'it'."

"You sure I'm not ending your fun?" Heero let Duo lead him towards the house, walking through the screen door and letting it swing shut behind him. As soon as the door clicked, Duo wrapped his arms around his neck and rubbed his nose against Heero's.

"You just got here, the fun starts now."

Duo had done wonders with his empty apartment, and entering it gave Heero a feeling of coming home. The once empty rooms were now eclectically decorated with odds and ends Duo had happened upon. From stores and catalogues to yard sales, Duo had managed to make his place feel warm and inviting in the month or so he'd been here.

"Is this new?" Heero pointed to the black metal 2D man sitting in the middle of Duo's kitchen table appearing to be chugging a bottle of wine. He noticed the wine was the same they'd shared the first night they'd made love and couldn't help but grin.

"Isn't it cool?!" Duo returned Heero's grin. "I found it online from a store I used to go to while I was in college. Of course I had to buy the wine separately."

"Nice vintage." Heero pulled Duo into his arms, burying his nose in the nape of his neck and inhaling. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." Duo snuggled closer, wrapping his arms tight around Heero's waist. "Will you be able to stay the night?"

"I will, but I'll have to leave early, I have someone dropping off a car at 8." Heero kissed Duo's neck, nipping lightly before pulling away. "Can you come to me this weekend? I have some work to do, and Betty has been accusing me of keeping her from you."

"I have some papers to grade anyway, I'll just take them with me." Duo closed his eyes as Heero kissed his neck. "Can we make time for that hike to the waterfall again? I could bring the wine."

"Absolutely." Heero breathed across Duo's parted lips before he kissed them fully. "God I've missed you."

Heero's pulse quickened when Duo took his hand and led him towards the bedroom. He watched in amusement as Duo shoved the clean and folded laundry onto the floor to make room before sprawling across the futon and pulling Heero down with him. Heero could tell just by the expression on Duo's face how aroused he was, and loved that he was the one able to do it. Clothes were discarded quickly, but once they were naked they slowed down and enjoyed each other. They'd missed too much being apart - this wasn't a race to the finish, but a journey they wanted to take their time with.

It was fully dark by the time they were curled around each other, sleepy and sated. There was nothing between them but sweat and the scent of sex, and Heero couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this content.

"I had intended on making stir-fry before dragging you to bed, but I forget myself when I'm with you." Duo untangled himself before sitting up and stretching.

Heero reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Duo's ear. "We can cook together, it's more fun that way."

"It's more dangerous you mean!" Duo grinned and reached for a pair of grey sweats out of the clean clothes pile. "The last time you set a wooden spoon on fire."

"If you remember correctly, I was being distracted." Heero laughed, and swung his legs to the floor. "I'm thinking we'll be more on task now."

Duo tossed a pair of clean navy blue sweats to Heero, who immediately stepped into them. "I'm not sure, you are pretty insatiable."

"Now who's the pot calling the kettle black?" Heero took Duo's hand and tugged him gently to follow. " I promise to behave if you do."

"Sadly that's a promise I just can't make." Duo pinched Heero's backside before laughing and sprinting towards the kitchen with Heero in close pursuit. Heero caught him before he could skirt around the table, and wrapped him in a bear hug from behind.

"You really are a brat," Heero teased, kissing the back of Duo's neck.

"You love me that way," Duo countered without thinking. As soon as he realized what he'd said, he stiffened slightly in Heero's embrace - they had yet to utter the 'L' word. "Heero, I-"

"I love you exactly as you are." Heero turned Duo in his embrace and pressed their foreheads together. "I do."

"I'm a lucky man." Duo rested his cheek on Heero's shoulder, holding him. "A very lucky man."

I won't ever hurt you, not like he did. Heero didn't expect Duo to reciprocate the term of endearment, nor did Heero feel slighted because he didn't. He could tell by the way Duo looked at him, by the way he touched him and shared with him that Duo felt the same way. The words would come when Duo's heart healed, but Heero didn't need to hear it when he knew the feeling was there.

"Come on, lucky man, and help me start dinner." Heero pulled away. He saw insecurity in Duo's eyes, and tried to smooth it away with a kiss. "I want nothing more in the world right now than to cook a meal with you, then maybe curl up and watch an old movie. With you, and only you."

"Thank you." Duo took a deep breath, trying to control the emotions that Heero could see just below the surface. He turned, opened the refrigerator and started pulling out vegetables. "Come on, I'll show you how it's done."

You already have. "I'm sure you will."


END

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