| *snickers* Tomanaiya's been on a "You're %&^$#@ insane" riff for the last few days. I'm *NOT* nuts; I'm slightly demented. There *is* a difference. And it is amusing, damnit. So to get on her nerves, I do entertaining stuff like Duo has so graciously consented to demonstrate for us in the latest part of Soft Beginnings. This works best if you have an uptight person to piss off and you happen to be a good actor. But I recommend everyone try something like this at least once; it's great fun. The songs used/referenced in this part are Your Town by White Town, I Do by Toya, Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf, World's Greatest by R. Kelly. All kick ass and I highly recommend you get them. I got 'em if you want 'em. I'm nothing if not eclectic. Title: Soft Beginnings 8/? (Book Three in the Stumbling Steps Arc) Author: Lady DarkAngel Ladydarkangel_1 @ yahoo.com Archive: Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library http://www.geocities.com/ladydarkangel_1/index.html,Darkflame's (if she'll take it�.) and anywhere else is fine, just ask me first Category: Yaoi, angst, sap Pairing(s): 3x4, 1+2 Disclaimers: Gundam Wing or Shinkidousenki Gundam Wing is copyrighted and trademarked by Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency and associated parties with all rights and privileges. The characters were used without permission for the purposes of entertainment only. This is not meant for sale of profit. Any characters not created by those listed above are mine and hereby considered the sole property and copyright of the author. Anyway, I'm just a poor college student. So can I play with them? I promise I won't break them�... much. Rating: PG Warnings: None really, just the Boys being boys Feedback: Kami-sama, YES!!! Ladydarkangel_1 @ yahoo.com (ignore the spaces); any and all comments are welcome like the sweet ego-sustainers they are. The next ten days passed by in an unremarkable blur. After the semi-memorable dinner in which they were all forced to ingest Quatre's valiant attempt at Cajun cooking, Duo and Heero settled into a routine. Waking up, going out to the hangar to work, bicker until noon, eat, type up data for hours (or Heero's case, until roommate physically removes the only light source available to make you stop), sleep, repeat until something happens. Well, on Wednesday, it did. Somehow, Duo'd managed to obtain the TANG-hydro from his contacts on L2 far earlier then expected. Three barrels of it, at a not unreasonable price. Hell, Heero'd paid more for cases of bad ammo on occasion (they all had at one point or another). Not a bad deal at all. The only problem was the amount wasn't anywhere near what they needed. They were running the precise calculations but it was clear they were going to have to make some decisions. Already they decided to give Wufei's Gundam top priority, as Shenlong had the worst rating at 40.2%. Both Duo and Heero could wait the longest, because Wing Zero and Deathscythe's 34.7% rating was the lowest and therefore most acceptable. Then the question of just how effective it was and how much of a decrease could be expected came into play. Theoretically, it could be as high as 12% but they would settle for somewhere around 8%. Live tests were planned but first, they needed to determine a rough schedule of graduations to try out. The sheer amount of data to be generated and processed was *enormous*. Duo had wryly offered the witty, rude but apropos comment that in order to not get their backasses blown off, they had to blow their brains out in the phenomenon known as suicide by math. Heero had not been amused; this was no laughing matter. Days and days of non-stop drudgework were beginning to take their toll on everyone. They were on stand-down until further notice but there was still plenty to do around the house and nowhere else to go. Add in the bad weather conditions that had been plaguing the area for the last week and presto, trapped in a grayish backwater. Cabin fever appeared to be setting fast in the five normally active teenage boys who were unused to such a thing happening to them. Tempers were starting to fray. Minor fights were breaking out, the pointless one between Wufei and Trowa yesterday was turning ugly before it broke up. Having Duo in the background egging them on and screaming "Give 'em a wedgie!" (he refused to identify who he was rooting for) didn't help one damn bit. In fact, now that Heero thought about it, much of the trouble had Duo involved in it one way or another. The boredom was getting to him worst of all. He glanced over to check on the American. From his vantage point at the desk, he could see everything in the room easily. Duo was across the room, sprawled all over his bed and bobbing his head along with whatever he was listening to on those wireless headphones of his. A very familiar sight indeed. A gift from Wufei of all people, so that Duo could enjoy his music without polluting the hearing of the rest of them. It was greatly appreciated on all sides. The sleek silver headset gleamed in the light of the laptop he was working at, standing out against his chestnut hair and forming a barrier between him and the outside world. Long thin fingers tapped out an erratic rhythm on the keyboard that Heero would have bet Zero's core programming was a match for the beat of what he was listening to. Which, judging by the words he was singing and the way he was enthusiastically belting them out, was Duo's new favorite song "I Do". Why he listened to such oldies was beyond the Japanese boy's comprehension. The CD mixes he made were just bizarre in their content and juxtaposition. Such esoterica as "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" was right next to "World's Greatest". It made no sense to any of them but then again, neither did its creator so D-Mix #1 through #17 were generally left untouched. <Duo is a lyrical creature.> The thought popped into his head. It made sense, non-sequitor though it might seem, as he covertly observed his partner at work. The braided boy would seem to be lost to the music and totally not focused on his work at all, swaying gently to a melody that had him enthralled. Then he'd break the routine to make a notation on the pad beside him, reach for a file nearby or switch gears entirely without breaking stride. Occasionally, he'd make a complex dance gesture, going so far as to stand up (he'd recognized that wrist-twist movement form Duo's ever-tasteless music video collection) but mostly it was simple, constant, full-body involvement. Even the braid was moving like a pendulum, interrupting its course rarely with brief jerks and twitches caused by rapid head movements. It was�� hypnotic. Different. No matter how many times it happened, Duo dancing and singing to himself took Heero by surprise. As his partner would fervently testify, he preferred to work in silence. It was one of the few times he could shut down some of his sense, downgrading them from the full alert they were usually stuck on to a more mellow stage of restful watchfulness. For him, it was a way to relax his guard safely and effectively. The laptop offered him a way out of the ever-vigilant Soldier mindset in a productive, useful and thus guilt-free manner. Something the American would never understand. His heated ire at the small black piece of portable machinery knew no bounds. Heero wouldn't put it past him to try and take it out one of these days. To him, it was nothing but boring, mind-numbing work that held the Wing Zero pilot hostage in some strange way. He'd never understand the simple joys of being able to tune out the world and do it your own way for once. He snuck another glance over there to see the braided boy mouthing the words as he worked. OK. So maybe he did have a clue. Snorting, he returned to his own work and frowned as the One-Way ANOVA he was running on the statistics they'd collected didn't turn out as planned. He'd been basing his calculations and subsequent expectations on a high degree of significance. Instead, the program was informing him in blinking red letters that his estimate was short of the mark. Very short. Which meant that he had to recalculate everything at the new level. Scowling, he pulled up a rough mental plan and concluded that the TANG-hydro wouldn't last as long as he had hoped. This brought up all kinds of new problems like obtaining and storing supplies, the money it would cost, labor if they decided it was more feasible to make it themselves, increased maintenance time�� <K'so!> "Heero?" "Yes, Duo?" he growled. He began to furiously type in various corrections to his work. Maybe it could still be saved�� "Whoa. Uptight much?" "Hn. And can the snarky tone. I'm busy." "I'm bored." Uh-oh. "This sucks. I don't want to do this anymore. Talk to me." "Not yet. We still have a lot to do and��" Maybe�� If he started working right away, he'd have the corrected set in an hour or so. "I know that. I want a break. We've been at this for hours; we're entitled to time off for good behavior. Come on. Let's go do something." "No. You can play later." "Please." "No." "I'm asking nicely." Duo smiled and asked in his sweetest honey-begging voice. The wheedling one that made even Wufei cave in seconds. <Be firm. Work to do. The rest can wait.> "NO." "Don't make me whine or do something you'll regret, Yuy." "I said *NO*!" Violet eyes raised to meet his with a strange glint in them. An impish grin was all the warning he got. Suddenly, Duo reached over and unplugged the wireless headphone's connection to the stereo. The loud music that blared out was unlike anything he'd ever heard before. It sounded like�� weird electrical violins and possibly windchimes; the closest instruments he could place. Damned techno and damn Duo for his obsession with it. This was NOT the time for this. "Duo, what in the HELL are you doing?! Plug your phones back in now!" He was vaguely aware he shouldn't be so angry but damnit, he had work to do! They *both* did! Instead of the expected swift obedience, he received an insolent and cheeky stare. "Aww, listen up! Smile, Hee-chan! You've been pissy all day; time for some FUN!" He began to dance around the beat, writhing and weaving around the room to the strange tones. As the current song died and a new one started to take its place, Duo's eyes lit up in unholy glee. "Oh yeah." Grabbing a brush, he spoke into it like an announcer on stage. "And now, gentle computers and resident prick, I'd like to dedicate this one to Ojou-san and every other little heart out there that's been shattered to itty-bitty pieces by the dark, scary, sexy menacing presence that *IS* Heero Yuy!" "Duo!" Too late; the song'd begun. {So tell me what you've got to say to me I've been waiting for so long to hear the truth} Duo punched the air and made a couple of aggressive 'come get some' looking moves, like he was spoiling for a fight. Fancy kicks and swipes that just begged to be used in combat. <Oh Kami. He's getting into it, I can see it now. That means I get the full display. This might take a while��> {It's comes as no surprise at all, you see So cut the crap and tell me that we're through} A snapped pair of fingers and an impatient toss of that braided head emphasized the point. The lithe figure whirled and stomped its feet in anger, stalking away from the other occupant of the room. {Now I know your heart, I know your mind You don't even know you've been unkind} Duo gave him his best mock-pouty look and wagged a finger at him in reproach. Heero was NOT amused. In fact, this little song and dance was irritating him. A LOT. But of course Duo knew that. That was why he was doing it in the first place. {So much for all your high-brow Marxist ways Just use me up and then you walk away Boy, you can't play me that way} Huffing dramatically, Duo twirled always to sulk in the shadows, shooting Heero evil glares as the refrain began to pound out. <What did I do to get *that* look? What did I do to deserve this, period?!> {Well, I guess what you say is true I could never be the right kind of girl for you I could never be your woman I could never be your woman I could never be your woman I could never be your woman} <Nani?! *Woman*?!?> That's it. Time to put an end to this bullshit. "That's *enough*, Duo. You've had your fun; now get back to work." {Well, I saw my best friend yesterday She said she never liked you from the start} Duo sang casually but the look on his face was anything but. "K'so! Will you *stop* that? You are *not* friends with Relena! And you better not be chatting with her behind our backs!! This is *stupid*!!!" He practically growled at his partner. But rather then be pleased with finally getting an emotional outburst from his target, all Heero got from his tormentor was that evil/angry stare that the violet-eyed boy was doing FAR too well and more nonsense. {Well, me? I wish that I could claim the same But you always knew you had my heart} Clutching at his chest, Duo stumbled like he was mortally wounded. Wiping away fake tears, he flopped down on the bed with a sigh to stare mournfully at his partner. Curled up in a loose ball, he looked utterly dejected and defeated. The Japanese boy sighed. His partner was building up to a fine snit. {Now you're such a charming handsome man Now I think I finally understand} <Understand what?> Unable to bear that sad, pathetic look (even if it was just in jest), Heero turned back to his laptop. Insane. Duo was insane. That was all there was to it. And you don't pander the madman, he knew that much. Humor maybe, but you shouldn't acknowledge. They might take it for encouragement and CONTINUE. That would be bad. {Is it in your genes? I don't know But I'll soon find out, that's for sure Why did you play this way?} <Genes or jeans? Agh, why did I think that? This is all his fault.> He resisted the urge whap his head against the screen. Or maybe Duo's instead. He was a soldier. He'd had worse torture. And that was what this was. Torture. Of the insane Duo musical variety. He wouldn't break. He *would* maintain his sanity in the face of hostile intent. He would. <Why am I talking to myself?> {Well, I guess what you say is true I could never be the right kind of girl for you I could never be your woman I could never be your woman I could never be your woman I could never be your woman} Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Duo get up and saunter closer to stand cross-armed and haughtily behind him. He kept his posture rigid and unafraid. <Do not show fear. Do not show desperation. Do not show loss of will to live.> He would NOT lash out. He would NOT lose. Duo was teasing him on purpose. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction of winning. {Well, I guess what you say is true I could never spend my life with a man like you I could never be your woman I could never be your woman} With one last sniff, the Deathscythe pilot stalked out of the room, presumably to carry out his snit but mostly likely to go laugh himself silly over this whole moronic incident. But there was an upside. Now that he'd preformed his daily required exercise in Frustrate/Confuse/Piss Heero Off methodology, the braided boy would most likely be scarce for a few hours. Finally free and with the peace he sought present, Heero returned to his typing only to hear a 'tsking' sound behind him. "What do you want, Wufei?" "He's quite the performer." "Tell me about it." "So heartfelt. Sounded like he really hated your guts there at one point. Then I thought he was going to swoon and cry over you. Very entertaining. I wonder if he's ever considered a career in show business?" "Good for you. I wouldn't know." "No, you wouldn't, would you? You know, I'd never thought I agree with Maxwell on this sort of thing but��" he shrugged and barely restrained a grin. "He's not the right type of woman for you. He's way better then you deserve." "Stop encouraging him! He is not a woman, I am not the cause of his or Relena's problems and I never said or did anything to imply or provoke all this and this is NOT productive! This is not funny at all! Stop laughing, Chang!" "Oh yes it is. Poor Duo, though. I do hope he finds the right kind of man soon. A boy like that is just *wasted* on a loser like you. And you don't even realize it." A snarled reply and flying objects chased the snickering Wufei down the hall. Once he got to safety, he decided it might be a good idea to see where the Braided Wonder went off to. He owed him for the laugh, at least. (TBC��) *sings along with headphones* Lady DarkAngel ---------- 'Neesan to Misuzu and A-chan Lady Protector of POVs in Hentai Onna-Gumi Chibi Duo's Babysitter Moderator of Duo's Sugar Intake Keeper of Duo's Nice Rear-end Co-Keeper of Shinigami's Wings (with Meela) Keeper of Heero's Homicidal Intentions Keeper of Quatre's Teacup Keeper of Trowa's Mask Keeper of Wufei's Sense of Honor Co-Keeper of Duo's Chatter (with Tomanaiya) Co-Keeper of Heero's "Hn" (with Tomanaiya) Co-Writer of Wufei's Rants (with Tomanaiya) Leader of the Inspirationally-challenged Muses: Alisande, Rynvi, and Kiagara Co-Keeper of real-life hamsters named Heero Yuy (Hee-chan) and Shinigami Eagle Vision (Shini Eagle)(with Tomanaiya) Keeper of the Hit List Proud Owner of two sets of chibis: Chibi Angel Duo and Heero in leather (twins of Tomanaiya's) and Chibi Angel Duo and Heero in black flight gear with stripes from the final GW episodes Acting GOD in Charge of The Anime Muse Adoption Center and WSCT of the AMAC Proud member of SDDI, the Society of Defending Duo's Intelligence Member of the Society Against the Complete Bastardization of Heero Yuy Occupant of the Happy Hentai House Master Hacker of the Shinigami Organization Assistant Mob Psychologist for the Shinigami Organization Founding Member of Saa-EEP!!! Happy to be a member of the DuoML Member of 1x2, 2x1 Fan Club and ML Many more MLs but you don't want to know... Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library www.geocities.com/ladydarkangel_1/index.html |