GW Fic: "Learning to communicate" part 2
Well I was going to try to get this out on the 1st but then Sunhawk posted the next part of her excellent ion arc, which quite frankly had to take priority and then my Grandmother gave me a couple of books for Christmas and now it's the 4th. Oh well it's been nearly 5 months (yikes) since I posted the first part of this so I don't imagine 4 days will make that much difference.
Title: Learning to communicate part 2
Pairing: 1x2 with a side of 3x4 and 5xS
Warnings: Yaoi pairings, and the occasional shameless descent into cliche. This fic is unbeta'd.
Rating: R perhaps
A/N: Duo and Heero's POV, set after EW. The new administration has found a nice peaceful occupation for the pilots.
For those of you who don't have memories like elephants part 1 (written so long ago, I'm sorry) is here. I promise the next part will not take that long.
When Duo woke he was completely naked in an unfamiliar room, his arm was slung over Heero who had a hand clamped on Duo's hip, for a long disorientating minute Duo couldn't remember how he had got here at all. Then the alcohol blurred details rushed back and he wished they would go away again. He had meant to talk to Heero last night, not sleep with him, or at least not until after the conversation. Alcohol and small talk had been used to avoid the confrontation and by the time he had got around to explanations they didn't seem very important. Why was it that talking to Heero was so difficult? He sighed brushing his hand affectionately through Heero's hair before trying to extricate himself from the desperate grip of his occasional lover, he winced as fingers capable of bending steel closed reflexively as he pulled away before Heero lifted his hand away with an apologetic look.
Duo cut off any apologies, pleasantries, or death threats Heero might have made "Hi 'Ro, think I owe you an apology I asked you out last night to talk and make things clear, not this." Duo gestured indicating the unmade bed and their state of undress.
Heero nodded calmly only the tiniest shift in his expression betraying any hurt, Duo lent forward grabbing his hand "That came out wrong, I didn't mean I didn't enjoy this, because I did." He grinned "If nothing else it was nice to get a decent nights sleep."
Duo winced as Heero's expression turned carefully blank "that wasn't what I meant either, I didn't sleep with you just so I could get some rest, it was a joke." he took a deep breath biting down on his irreverence "This is coming out all wrong, ignore all that, what I meant to say is I wanted to talk to you."
"I know," Heero stood up in as he spoke pulling his hand away from Duo's grip and turning to pick up his jeans "You need me to swap with your roommate. I'll move after class."
Duo sighed, talking to Heero about anything that wasn't mission related always led to misunderstandings, from his perch at the edge of the bed Duo watched Heero walk across the room dressing quickly. Duo was a master at reading body language and he could see the very faint signs of tension and stress that even Heero's natural grace and extensive training could not entirely hide in the set of his shoulders, until even those traces were covered as he finished dressing.
Duo was snapped out of his daze as Heero reached the door "Wait, 'Ro that wasn't all I wanted to talk about."
Piercing eyes turned to him "Alright, I'll speak to you tonight I need to get to class. Lock up when you leave." and then Heero was gone.
***********************************************************************************************
As always Heero arrived precisely 2 minutes before the lecture was due to begin and selected a seat next to the door with his back to the wall, this had the unfortunate side effect of putting him at the back of the lecture theatre but Heero had excellent hearing and eyesight as a gift from Dr J and the added security was well worth the inconvenience.
So far none of the lectures he had attended had covered anything he wasn't already expert in but it was against his nature not to work to the best of his abilities at anything he undertook but today his attention seemed harder to maintain. He supposed that this might be what people meant when they talk about being preoccupied or daydreaming, his mind kept returning to review the conversation with Duo that morning. Duo had said he hadn't wanted to sleep with him last night, perhaps Heero had again broken some unspoken relationship rule he was unaware of.
On the battlefield Duo was chaotic but highly efficient, fully capable of completing his mission and providing backup as required. On the battlefield their styles were different but Heero understood both his goals and tactics. Heero had never been trained to maintain any long-term nonprofessional relationships and as a friend and a lover Duo was a mystery to him. He could only hope that Duo was not going to tell him that he was leaving again, he hadn't realised last time how much Duo's absence would increase his stress levels until after his partner had left. He was so disturbed at the idea he almost failed to notice the error in the lecturer's telemetry calculations, such inattention could lead to failure in mission conditions. He turned his mind back with more resolution to the issue at hand, the conversation with Duo would wait for the correct time. He raised his hand firmly to question a false assumption that had just been mentioned.
Heero sat with Wufei at lunchtime, he had come to respect the Chinese pilot during the war but the two boys had never had any social interaction. It was only with the end of the conflict that they had discovered that they had a similar outlook and opinions on many matters not pertaining to battle and that their personalities were compatible enough to allow them to study and train together. Heero found many of Wufei's ideas and priorities illogical but he admired his focus and professionalism and respected his opinion. Wufei also had a better understanding of social situations and what was considered appropriate, but he still understood Heero's focus and peculiarities making him a suitable person to give advice. Wufei had stared in surprise at his request and frowned at the idea of discussing such personal details.
"Yuy, surely it would be better to have this conversation with Maxwell."
"I am unsure what has caused the situation."
Wufei sighed unhappily "I have never understood the convoluted reasoning by which Maxwell makes his decisions, but if you must have my advice I believe your best course of action is to be honest."
Heero nodded shortly in thanks, returning his full attention to his meal.
****************************************************************************************
Duo placed his forehead on the cooling metal of the dining table closing his eyes against the pounding in his head he continued to speak into the table. Quatre stared across the table at the top of Duo's head a faint frown betraying his concern at his actions.
"So you didn't talk to Heero at all?" Quatre asked gently
"No, well I spoke plenty, just not about anything useful. I was kinda drunk by the time we got round to it. So now I don't know what he's thinking, or planning, whether that was just one night or if he wants to date again. Then this morning everything I said he just seemed to take the wrong way, we're supposed to be talking tonight and I'll probably accidentally insult his mother or something."
"I can't tell you how to talk to him Duo" Quatre frowned "It has to come from you otherwise it won't work."
"I know Quat, it's just talking to Heero is like trying to communicate in a language neither of the people actually speaks. I just need him to understand me."
"Try being direct, say exactly what you mean, and be completely honest."
"Oh great, you'll come visit me in the hospital whilst I wait for the bones to heal won't you Quat?"
"Duo, that is exactly what I mean, Heero will completely misunderstand that sort of comment." He pointed out in exasperated affection
"I know, I know. Don't worry Quat, we managed to take down Oz together I'm sure we can work out our relationship, though hopefully with a bit less collateral damage."
Quatre nodded reassuringly taking a calm sip of his tea,if Duo knew him he would probably be pacing up and down in his room later but for now Quatre was a study in tranquility.
Next part
Title: Learning to communicate part 2
Pairing: 1x2 with a side of 3x4 and 5xS
Warnings: Yaoi pairings, and the occasional shameless descent into cliche. This fic is unbeta'd.
Rating: R perhaps
A/N: Duo and Heero's POV, set after EW. The new administration has found a nice peaceful occupation for the pilots.
For those of you who don't have memories like elephants part 1 (written so long ago, I'm sorry) is here. I promise the next part will not take that long.
When Duo woke he was completely naked in an unfamiliar room, his arm was slung over Heero who had a hand clamped on Duo's hip, for a long disorientating minute Duo couldn't remember how he had got here at all. Then the alcohol blurred details rushed back and he wished they would go away again. He had meant to talk to Heero last night, not sleep with him, or at least not until after the conversation. Alcohol and small talk had been used to avoid the confrontation and by the time he had got around to explanations they didn't seem very important. Why was it that talking to Heero was so difficult? He sighed brushing his hand affectionately through Heero's hair before trying to extricate himself from the desperate grip of his occasional lover, he winced as fingers capable of bending steel closed reflexively as he pulled away before Heero lifted his hand away with an apologetic look.
Duo cut off any apologies, pleasantries, or death threats Heero might have made "Hi 'Ro, think I owe you an apology I asked you out last night to talk and make things clear, not this." Duo gestured indicating the unmade bed and their state of undress.
Heero nodded calmly only the tiniest shift in his expression betraying any hurt, Duo lent forward grabbing his hand "That came out wrong, I didn't mean I didn't enjoy this, because I did." He grinned "If nothing else it was nice to get a decent nights sleep."
Duo winced as Heero's expression turned carefully blank "that wasn't what I meant either, I didn't sleep with you just so I could get some rest, it was a joke." he took a deep breath biting down on his irreverence "This is coming out all wrong, ignore all that, what I meant to say is I wanted to talk to you."
"I know," Heero stood up in as he spoke pulling his hand away from Duo's grip and turning to pick up his jeans "You need me to swap with your roommate. I'll move after class."
Duo sighed, talking to Heero about anything that wasn't mission related always led to misunderstandings, from his perch at the edge of the bed Duo watched Heero walk across the room dressing quickly. Duo was a master at reading body language and he could see the very faint signs of tension and stress that even Heero's natural grace and extensive training could not entirely hide in the set of his shoulders, until even those traces were covered as he finished dressing.
Duo was snapped out of his daze as Heero reached the door "Wait, 'Ro that wasn't all I wanted to talk about."
Piercing eyes turned to him "Alright, I'll speak to you tonight I need to get to class. Lock up when you leave." and then Heero was gone.
***********************************************************************************************
As always Heero arrived precisely 2 minutes before the lecture was due to begin and selected a seat next to the door with his back to the wall, this had the unfortunate side effect of putting him at the back of the lecture theatre but Heero had excellent hearing and eyesight as a gift from Dr J and the added security was well worth the inconvenience.
So far none of the lectures he had attended had covered anything he wasn't already expert in but it was against his nature not to work to the best of his abilities at anything he undertook but today his attention seemed harder to maintain. He supposed that this might be what people meant when they talk about being preoccupied or daydreaming, his mind kept returning to review the conversation with Duo that morning. Duo had said he hadn't wanted to sleep with him last night, perhaps Heero had again broken some unspoken relationship rule he was unaware of.
On the battlefield Duo was chaotic but highly efficient, fully capable of completing his mission and providing backup as required. On the battlefield their styles were different but Heero understood both his goals and tactics. Heero had never been trained to maintain any long-term nonprofessional relationships and as a friend and a lover Duo was a mystery to him. He could only hope that Duo was not going to tell him that he was leaving again, he hadn't realised last time how much Duo's absence would increase his stress levels until after his partner had left. He was so disturbed at the idea he almost failed to notice the error in the lecturer's telemetry calculations, such inattention could lead to failure in mission conditions. He turned his mind back with more resolution to the issue at hand, the conversation with Duo would wait for the correct time. He raised his hand firmly to question a false assumption that had just been mentioned.
Heero sat with Wufei at lunchtime, he had come to respect the Chinese pilot during the war but the two boys had never had any social interaction. It was only with the end of the conflict that they had discovered that they had a similar outlook and opinions on many matters not pertaining to battle and that their personalities were compatible enough to allow them to study and train together. Heero found many of Wufei's ideas and priorities illogical but he admired his focus and professionalism and respected his opinion. Wufei also had a better understanding of social situations and what was considered appropriate, but he still understood Heero's focus and peculiarities making him a suitable person to give advice. Wufei had stared in surprise at his request and frowned at the idea of discussing such personal details.
"Yuy, surely it would be better to have this conversation with Maxwell."
"I am unsure what has caused the situation."
Wufei sighed unhappily "I have never understood the convoluted reasoning by which Maxwell makes his decisions, but if you must have my advice I believe your best course of action is to be honest."
Heero nodded shortly in thanks, returning his full attention to his meal.
****************************************************************************************
Duo placed his forehead on the cooling metal of the dining table closing his eyes against the pounding in his head he continued to speak into the table. Quatre stared across the table at the top of Duo's head a faint frown betraying his concern at his actions.
"So you didn't talk to Heero at all?" Quatre asked gently
"No, well I spoke plenty, just not about anything useful. I was kinda drunk by the time we got round to it. So now I don't know what he's thinking, or planning, whether that was just one night or if he wants to date again. Then this morning everything I said he just seemed to take the wrong way, we're supposed to be talking tonight and I'll probably accidentally insult his mother or something."
"I can't tell you how to talk to him Duo" Quatre frowned "It has to come from you otherwise it won't work."
"I know Quat, it's just talking to Heero is like trying to communicate in a language neither of the people actually speaks. I just need him to understand me."
"Try being direct, say exactly what you mean, and be completely honest."
"Oh great, you'll come visit me in the hospital whilst I wait for the bones to heal won't you Quat?"
"Duo, that is exactly what I mean, Heero will completely misunderstand that sort of comment." He pointed out in exasperated affection
"I know, I know. Don't worry Quat, we managed to take down Oz together I'm sure we can work out our relationship, though hopefully with a bit less collateral damage."
Quatre nodded reassuringly taking a calm sip of his tea,if Duo knew him he would probably be pacing up and down in his room later but for now Quatre was a study in tranquility.
Next part