Chapter Text
New York, New York
205 December 20
Duo arrived at the apartment close to 20:00, breezing into the apartment shortly after Heero and Wufei themselves had gotten home. Heero greeted him at the door, his jacket abandoned and his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. They embraced briefly at the door and Heero could feel the cold radiating off the other man; the short walk from the subway station apparently sufficient time for the winter air to seep into the other man’s skin.
“You look like you just left the office,” Duo observed, giving him a once over as he kicked off his shoes in the entrance and followed Heero into the main living area.
“We did,” came the reply, in unison. Leaning back on the couch armrest, Heero added, “Our coworkers decided today was the last possible window to do any business before everyone leaves town. Wufei is heading back, actually. He refused to order take out from the office.”
“Because eating at your desk is the definition of detestable,” came the reply from the kitchen.
“Oh, what’s this bullshit? What do you mean you’re ‘going back?’” Duo asked, sounding utterly appalled his eyes searching out the apartment’s second occupant who had just appeared out of the kitchen, a hastily brewed cup of coffee in hand.
Wufei threw back the last of the mug’s contents and explained, “There’s a vid conference at ten. And a brief that precedes it. Both of which I have to be at.”
Duo winced and shook his head. “Sucks, man.”
Heero watched the two exchange quick words of apology and reassurance. He’d seen Wufei’s schedule while they were still at the office and suspected the man wouldn’t finally escape his duties until well after midnight. It was become a more common occurrence than he thought either of them had anticipated.
Duo followed Wufei back to the front door and Heero heard him threatening to give the Branch Director a piece of his mind if Wufei didn’t get downtime over the next two weeks. For a moment, the tension that had followed them back from work evaporated and Heero heard Wufei laugh at the threat. But then – with a word of goodbye – he disappeared out the door, leaving Heero and Duo to their own devices.
In the silence that followed Wufei’s departure, Heero watched Duo fidget near the entryway, apparently weighing whether to keep his distance. It was the first time they’d been alone together since that hurried kiss in the airport.
Seeking to defuse the sudden tension, Heero asked, “Hungry?”
He watched the anxiety evaporate as Duo grinned and sighed, “Starving.”
“Order in or do you want to go out somewhere?”
Duo considered this a moment before replying, “Out. I’ve been trapped in a plane so long my knees hurt, which is a feat—” he gestured widely at himself, acknowledging his slight stature, [1] “—so I’m up for a change of scenery if you are.”
Heero nodded and stood, already heading toward his room. “I know a place. Let me change and we’ll go.”
Heero led Duo across town and eventually down a side street lined with neon signs above and chalk easels below advertising nightly specials and fare that spanned the Earth Sphere. Turning into one building, they walked up a flight of stairs and into a Korean restaurant. Picnic tables and plastic chairs were packed into the small space, while flags and banners boasting colonial colors [2] ran the length of the ceiling to disguise the industrial infrastructure overhead. Two of the waitstaff saw them enter and one of them, who Heero knew to be the owner’s daughter, gave him a wide grin gestured to an empty table. She then disappeared into a back room.
No sooner had they sat down than the owner himself burst through the kitchen door and into the dining area, the door swinging violently in his wake. Kim Chung-Hee stood barely as tall as Heero himself, but made up for his short stature with a wild abandon rarely seen in men his age. His hair was graying at the temples, his waistline was growing with age, and he had the tendency to welcome wayward colonials with open arms. Heero knew—he was one such wayward colonial.
“Heero!” the man exclaimed, making short work of the distance that separated them and promptly embracing the younger man in a bone-crushing hug. Pulling away, he bombarded him with a flurry of Korean. “It’s been too long, boy—so good to see you. You look well. How’s Wufei? Who is this? Is he a friend or a ‘friend?’”
Heero opted to pick one of the multitude of questions to answer, pointedly ignoring the insinuation of the last. He gestured to Duo—who was watching the happenings with growing amusement—and answered in English, “Chung-Hee, this is Duo.”
The older man turned his attention on the newcomer and shook his hand emphatically. “Heero’s friends are my friends. Welcome, welcome!” And then clasped Heero by the shoulders again and held him close to his side as if he was presenting his own son to a possible suitor. The thought made Heero flush. “Good man,” Chung-Hee asserted. “Very good man.”
Duo’s eyes danced between them, an honest smile gracing his lips. “I know,” he assured the owner.
Heero felt his cheeks burn and grimaced even as another flurry of affection was thrust upon him. When Chung-Hee finally disengaged and disappeared back into the kitchen, Heero collapsed down into his seat and found he was not quite able to meet Duo’s steady gaze.
“So…despite being friends with Seo-yeon and all, I don’t actually know any Korean,” Duo told him, his tone light. “What was that all about?”
“I know him.”
“I gathered,” Duo said, sounding amused.
Heero collected his thoughts, his eyes drifting towards the kitchen. “Chung-Hee is from L1. [3] They moved down here post-conflict once transit routes opened up. He and his family got wrapped up into a frame job when he refused to pay protection money to the mob. Wufei and I – and the legal team – got him out of it.”
Duo looked as if he was about to ask after the circumstances but was brought up short when their waiter swung into earshot. They ordered quickly and sat back to wait. Still reeling from the reunion with the restaurant’s owner, Heero struggled to come up with something to discuss. Luckily, Duo saved him. “So, other than saving colonial immigrants from Earth’s judicial system…how’s work?”
“Work’s fine,” Heero answered. “Busier now that Wufei is officially off the team.”
“How’s he doing with the new job?”
Heero shrugged. “He’s stressed.”
“It’s Wufei. He’s always stressed.”
Heero had to concede that point—it seemed to him that Wufei’s default setting was ‘high-strung.’ He had been surprised when the promotion was announced and at the time was unconvinced Wufei had in fact wanted the job. But after three months, his roommate seemed to be thriving on the work and responsibility…even if it did mean late nights at the office. “There’s something to be said for knowing your leadership trusts you not to blow up the eastern seaboard while they go skiing out west.”
Duo laughed. “Is that where your Branch Chief is? Leaving Wufei to serve as first runner-up, huh?” He sighed when Heero nodded in affirmative. “Is he going to get any time off?”
“He will, yes,” Heero assured. “He knows he’s technically hosting, not me. But he might be in and out depending on what’s happening at the office.”
“Sometimes I worry he’s going to burn himself out. Him and Quat,” Duo confided, leaning forward on the table with his arms crossed underneath him. “They’re rather bad at self-regulating.”
Heero considered this for a moment and then offered, “Well…that’s why everyone is coming, isn’t it? To reset before the new year enters in force?”
Duo met his eyes and grinned. “This is a vacation. You will have fun, dammit.”
Heero chuckled but before he could reply, their waiter returned with several banchan and the dishes they ordered. Meanwhile, Chung-Hee’s daughter trailed behind with several they hadn’t. As the two deposited the dishes on the table, the girl explained, “Appa [4] says it’s on the house.”
Heero groaned and protested, “You can’t let him do that.”
“You try arguing with him when he’s in a good mood,” she countered and flitted away before Heero could reply, leaving him flustered and silent.
Then Duo murmured, “I say we pay double and make a run for it when we leave.”
Heero turned to his companion and found his eyes full of mischief and conspiracy and something he couldn’t name. He relaxed and nodded, accepting the plan.
When the time came, they dropped a small mountain of cash and bolted out of the restaurant, occasionally stealing glances behind them to ensure Chung-Hee hadn’t run out after them. Heero didn’t truly begin to relax until they reached Bryant Park. Their strides slowed as they moved away from the street and wove their way through the Christmas Market. Shoppers bustled stall to stall before dispersing into the night, their breath coming in puffs of white clouds in the cold.
After a time, Duo broke the comfortable silence that had settled between them as they walked. “What do you want to do now?”
“We could go home if you’re tired,” Heero suggested, glancing up at the other man. Duo shook his head so he offered an alternative. “I know a place,” he began, hesitant, “but I haven’t been there in a while…”
“Why not?” Duo asked.
Heero shrugged, noncommittal. “It’s small, so not many people know about it…or want to go.” He thought of Jason’s disapproval and shook his head to dispel the toxic memories.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. Quite a lot, actually.”
“Let’s go then,” Duo said. “Small, local, secret bar sounds pretty cool to be honest.”
Heero nodded and turned north, fighting the nerves that threatened to divert him with every step they took.
When they reached The Lighthouse, they hovered in the entryway while Duo took in the space before them. A bar on the far end, the top buffed till it gleamed. A cluster of patrons in the far corner. Walls heavy with NYC paraphernalia. Rainbow LED lights strung overhead. Bartender MIA. The dim room was as claustrophobic as it was intimate.
“Jesus, you weren’t kidding about it being ‘small,’” Duo hissed, clearly stunned. “How many people can fit in here? Maybe…fifteen, standing room only?”
Heero winced, feeling a knot form in his belly. “About that, yes…”
Duo shook his head in disbelief, but then a wide smile appeared on his face as his gaze bounded about the room. “I love it,” he said, his voice leaving no room for doubt. “Let’s grab a seat.”
But before they could move from their position by the door, a call went out from a new voice, “The prodigal son returns!”
From across the small space came Eve. The drag queen sashayed rather than walked toward them, her stilettos clicking on the floor as she turned the bar into her personal catwalk. Her makeup dramatic, her hair perfectly coiffed and curled.
Heero thought she was a sight for sore eyes. Eve had been the first to sense something was amiss with Jason and had done her best to take Heero under her wing. She had turned The Lighthouse into somewhere he could run to—if ever, whenever he needed it—and had sought to build his second family out of her own.
He was thus relieved when she drew him in for twin pecks on each of his cheeks. “Where have you been?” she demanded when they parted. “You have been missed in these parts.” She then turned her attention on Duo. “And who is this?”
“Eve, this is Duo—”
“Wait. The Duo?” she gasped and leaned in to plant a kiss on each of Duo’s cheeks. “You are most welcome, my dear. It’s a pleasure.” She then hooked her arm through Duo’s and led them to the bar along the opposite wall.
Duo chanced a glance over his shoulder at Heero, his eyes betraying his confusion and curiosity. Heero could only offer a reassuring smile as Eve deposited the two of them down at the bar and began introductions for the benefit of the new addition. Andrew the off-duty NYPD beat cop. Thinh the aspiring doctor who was about to complete his residency. Kane the quintessential starving artist.
Heero turned to Miguel—the upstart fashion designer—who was presently serving himself a refill from behind the bar and asked, “Where’s Darius?” [5]
“Ah, he went to pull some stuff up from storage,” the man answered, nodding his head to the other side of the room.
Heero thanked him and tapped Duo’s shoulder. “I’ll be right back,” he murmured and slid off his barstool. Duo’s eyes asked him questions but he nodded silently, turning his attention fully on the others with a wide grin. It was a defensive tactic Heero recognized. He made a note to make this quick.
But as he approached the STAFF ONLY door in the back, Darius emerged carrying a box full of bottles. Heero waited until the bartender had set the box down before making his presence known. “Hi Darius.”
The man started and spun on his heel to face him. “Heero!” he gasped, clutching his chest as he recovered from the surprise. Taking a step toward him, he placed both of his hands flat against the polished bar top that separated them and gave him a once-over. Heero let himself be studied and suppressed the shiver that raced up his back. He covered the response by stepping forward and crossing his arms over the bar. The last time he’d seen the other man it had been far more…intimate. He flushed at the thought.
As if reading his mind, Darius offered a reassuring smile. “You look good.”
“You too,” Heero acknowledged, nervously running a finger along the wood grain of the bar.
They shared an uncertain silence for a moment until Darius spoke again, his words echoing Eve’s. “We’ve missed you around here. I’m glad you’re back.” He glanced down the bar and nodded his head at the assembled group. Heero followed his gaze and found Duo surrounded by a growing crowd of patrons. It looked to him like the other man’s smiles were genuine now, but he couldn’t be sure with the distance. “Friend of yours?” Darius asked.
“Yes.”
“More than a friend?”
Heero hesitated. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Heero shrugged and looked away. How they framed their relationship had yet to come up in conversation with Duo. Under the parameters of The Experiment, they were friends first and agreed not to discuss the new dynamic within the family. But what to call it…in the end, Heero settled on, “We’ll see where it goes.”
At this, Darius leaned close over the bar, his dark eyes boring into him. “Tell me this, Heero,” the bartender began. “Tell me that he’s kind to you. Tell me that he makes you happy. Tell me he’s a good man, and I’ll stop worrying about you.”
Heero took a breath to answer, but was cut off by a sudden burst of raucous laughter from the other end of the bar. He found Eve and Duo holding court over the rest of his friends, the two of them sparring in animated gestures and peals of laughter. Heero smiled.
Darius chuckled, drawing Heero’s attention. The man waved his hand as if to dispel his earlier questions. “Say no more. Let’s go check in on the lot of ‘em, shall we?”