Work Text:
“Where’s your partner?” Quatre asks, feeling the déjà vu of those words. He glances around at the counter, but it’s apparent that “Huang” is nowhere to be found.
“Contrary to popular belief, we’re not actually joined at the hip,” Duo jokes and tilts his head. “Americano? Or something else?”
“Oh, no, just Americano,” Quatre says, meaning that everything is fine. He’s just bored upstairs. He just needed to step away and stretch his legs. Honestly, Duo’s enjoyed Quatre being so accessible and the impromptu visits during the day have been a needed break. He’s going to miss this assignment when they wrap things up soon.
Duo looks back and says, “I could ask the same thing from you? Where’s, uh...um…?”
“Eduardo? On vacation with his family.”
“That’s a shame, he’s fun to mess with.” Duo smirks as he prepares Quatre’s coffee, “I like him.”
“He’s a good person,” Quatre agrees. “A bit...conservative, but I should be used to that by now. I’m used to stuffy, old fuddy-duddies.”
“Pfft, until I crashed onto the scene.”
“Yes, indeed...Oh! I learned a trick,” Quatre grins and raises his eyebrows once very smugly.
Chuckling, Duo encourages him. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“I’m very proud of it,” Quatre says with a smirk before glancing around to make sure he’s not being watched. Duo observes him in amusement and laughs when Quatre leans across the counter to nab a can of whip cream. With another look around, he expertly pops the cap off.
Quickly, he tilts his head and flicks the top to spray some whip cream into his open mouth. With that, he looks back to Duo with a sly, stretched grin as he swallows the cream and raises his eyebrows again, just as smugly.
Duo is completely just a mess of laughter and endearment. Of all the things he was expecting, it wasn’t that. He can't even breathe because of that proud, unabashed smirk on Quatre’s face. He’s just beside himself.
“Trowa taught me that,” Quatre explains with a lop-sided grin.
“I’m sure he did,” Duo manages to push out through each chuckle before applauding. “Wow. That was amazing. Never saw that before in my life. Definitely have never done that myself. You astound me, Mr. Winner.”
“Thank you. I figured you would appreciate it.” Quatre laughs, beaming. “I’ve been practicing at home.”
‘Oh, man,’ Duo thinks to himself, ‘All the things I could say in this conversation…’
But he behaves himself. Instead, he jokes, “Now I’ll have to charge you for the whip cream, too.”
“Bill me for the can,” Quatre quips and licks a small, errant dollop of cream on the nozzle before placing the cap back on. But then, more seriously, Quatre asks, “So, how’s he been?”
“Who? Huang? Fine, I guess.” The question surprises Duo, but he shrugs.
“He seemed...different the last time I saw him, kind of thoughtful. Maybe sullen.”
“A different sullen from the regular sullen?” Duo kids but Quatre catches his eyes.
“Did something happen?” Quatre carefully asks. Duo tries not to hesitate because if he does, Quatre will know; however, there’s a small, microscopic part of him that would be grateful if another soul knew about that kiss. And Quatre’s soul is the most forgiving and genuine one within hundreds of thousands of miles…
So, Duo shrugs but keeps his expression open because something didn’t not happen, either.
“Oh, hmm,” Quatre hums in rumination.
“It’s nothing,” Duo dismisses it but Quatre sighs and shakes his head.
“I wish the both of you could just be more open.”
“We’re open enough,” Duo says defensively.
“Not nearly.” Quatre frowns. He’s trying to navigate between both of their egos to get some actual, concise advice out there that Duo will accept. Finally, Quatre says, “You’re going to have to be patient.”
“Hey, I’m as patient as a saint!” Duo exclaims, feigning offense, but Quatre’s heard this joke before.
“Yes,” Quatre drolly cuts him off. “Right, Saint C-word Mc-F-Off. I know. But seriously, Duo. You forget that people don't all move at your speed...or carry the same humor.”
“Look, I’m hilarious and if he’s got a stick-”
“Duo.” This is said with a grave, strict tone and pleading eyes.
“Yes, sir,” Duo answers, almost seriously.
“He’s a good man, but-”
“Oh, I don’t know. He kinda seems like a shifty character.”
Quatre sighs, getting frustrated. He warns tightly, “Duo…”
“What?” Duo crosses his arms and huffs. “What the hell else do you want me to say when you’re telling me that I’m going to screw it up?”
“”I’m not saying that you’re going to mess it up. I’m saying to use kids gloves.”
Duo laughs, a straight and sharp thing that cuts through the conversation. “Kid gloves? Have you met W- Huang? The dude don’t need kid gloves.”
“He’s not like you,” Quatre persists. “He’s...I want to say ‘sensitive’, but I feel like you all would be horribly offended by that.”
“You’re lucky he didn’t hear that. You’d be broken in at least four pieces.”
“My point still stands. You need to consider that.”
“You’re meddling, Mr. Winner,” Duo says with a grin that’s a warning. It’s a rare smile that Quatre has seen, but never had directed towards him. “Think you can bring the boardroom leverage and boss us around down here?”
“You know that’s not the case.”
“I don’t know anything apparently, if you gotta come down here and tell me my business.”
The whip cream sours in Quatre’s stomach and the smile is still on Duo’s face, but his eyes are angry, maybe even hurt. Yes, hurt. He usually turns to anger when he’s hurt.
Taking a breath, Quatre nods. “No, I thought I was helping, but...Yes, I’m probably meddling. I apologize.”
At his contrite apology, Duo blows a held huff of breath through his bangs.It's rough. He's not used to friends like this, people who know him. People who are still trying to make his life better. He just needs to do this on this own, though.
After a pause, he murmurs, “Look, I get that it’s complicated...but I don’t need another cook in the kitchen. It’s chaotic in there already.”
“What do you need then?” The question is honest. Sincere. Quatre wants to know where he can fit into Duo’s life, where he should fit in.
“I need someone to eat whatever I cook up and tell me it’s not garbage even if it is,” Duo heonestly answers. He hasn’t had many people in his life like that. It would be nice to have again.
A breath eases out of Quatre’s lungs and he licks his lips. “You’re right. I was meddling. I’m sorry, I just want you -- both of you -- to be happy. But, yes, it’s your kitchen. I don’t belong in there. I'll, uh, cheer from the sidelines.”
“Thanks,” Duo says and means it. He even feels like they might have grown closer from this. He has a lot of boundaries and needs Quatre and his well-meaning heart to mind them.
“I should get back,” Quatre says with a small smile, picking up his coffee and can of whip cream. “How much longer are you... working here?”
“To be honest, we’re almost done. Just a few more shifts probably.”
“Well, it’ll sure be quiet without you.”
“You mean ‘lonely’,” Duo teases but Quatre’s smirk doesn’t tease back. No, his smirk is slow and somber, parting only to say, “Yes, perhaps.”
“What are you doing with our whip cream?” Wufei asks, coming from the elevator, spotting them immediately.
With a grin, Quatre turns to Wufei and corrects him, “You mean my can of whip cream? Bought and paid for.”
“Actually-” Duo starts, but Quatre shakes his head and tuts Duo. “I told you to bill me.”
Quatre moves to leave, but Duo stops him, calling out, “Hey! Wait! Don’t you want to show Huang your trick, Mr. Winner?”
To Wufei’s credit, there’s slight interest on his face, or at least mild skepticism. But Quatre only openly laughs and answers, “I’ll leave that to you! I’m sure you’ll be able to pull it off, too!”