Dropping By for a Visit (Wufei/Duo) LW4 Title: Dropping By for a Visit Authors:trio and petermaxwell Characters: Chang Wufei and Duo Maxwell Fandom: Gundam Wing Theme Set: LW4 Theme(s): Far Off Places Warnings and Notes: male/male relationships
It was a moderate sized house on Earth, and though the outside looked basically Western, there were small Eastern decorations around it, little things that spoke of the man within. It was brick, with a deep green trim. One could almost see the white picket fence missing from the picture, and the welcome mat that should be displayed just below the green door. But neither were present, saying even more about the man within.
The man that paused on the walkway, taking in this sight was perhaps one of the few that would notice such things. The lack of a welcome mat brought a smirk to his face as he shook his head lightly. "Ever the charmer, Fei.." he murmured, glancing to the paper in his hand with the address once more. There was really no question, but he wanted to be sure. As Duo Maxwell stepped towards the front door, he was starting to feel the first hints of trepidation. After all... it had taken him a while to find this place. What if Wufei didn't want to be found?
Just as he lifted his hand to knock, a car pulled into the driveway, stopping. Wufei stepped out a few moments later, briefcase in one hand and keys in the other, the warm brown suit he wore complimenting his gold skin nicely.
Duo's hand was still lifted and he turned to face the sound as it approached. The smile widened just a bit, his thoughs chiding him for thinking Wufei would even be home on a work day. Of COURSE he had a job... he'd drive everyone crazy otherwise. "Evenin', Fei!" he called out, one hand resting on his hip as he leaned a shoulder against one of the porch supports. Duo himself hadn't changed much over the years. The braid had gotten a bit longer, and was graying at his temples, despite the fact that he barely seemed old enough for that. His clothing was simple, but nice, a pair of dark blue jeans and a button-down top that instead of being his normal black, was a dark cobalt that brought out his eyes. The tank top he wore beneath the unbuttoned shirt, however... well, that was black. Of course.
Wufei paused, blinking at Duo for a long moment before arching an eyebrow. The faint smile on his lips, however, told Duo that he was welcome. "Maxwell. Have you been waiting long?"
Shaking his head, Duo stayed on the porch, waiting for Wufei to approach. "Just got here, actually. Was about to knock when you pulled up." The smile was returned, Duo's posture relaxing just enough that the other man could see just how nervous he'd initially been, even if he hadn't seemed like it.
"Staying for dinner?" Wufei asked, moving to unlock the door for Duo.
"If that's an invitation, then yes." Waiting for the door to be opened, Duo had a chance to really look at Wufei, without the other man knowing. Fei hadn't changed much either... although the smile had thrown him for a moment. A smile from Wufei had been rare in the war, but had always been something Duo liked to see. Even now that they were both a little older, despite all they'd been through, it was good to see that Wufei could still smile. Once he was inside, Duo toed his shoes off, leaving them neatly on the tile floor just inside.
Wufei did likewise, drawing a quiet breath once he was inside. The house was decorated surprisingly nicely, with paintings and furniture matching but warm, the chairs and sofa soft and welcoming. It was a mix of Eastern and Western, really, complete with live flowers on a small table heading toward the kitchen. "What would you like?"
Shaking his head, Duo just grinned. "Whatever you're making. I have no idea what you have or what you want to make. Surprise me."
"All right. While I cook, tell me what brought you here?" Wufei invited, setting his briefcase down just outside the kitchen and moving to take off his jacket.
"My feet?" Duo commented, the grin still present as he moved to pass Wufei and head into the kitchen. "Actually, I've been looking for you for a few months. Managed to track you down and get an address about a week ago."
Immediately, Wufei turned, jacket still in his hands as he looked carefully at Duo. "Did something happen," he asked, black eyes narrowing in worry.
Another shake of his head. "Nah, nothing bad," he answered, waving a hand. "Quatre and Trowa are 'expecting', though. I thought you might want to know." He dropped into a chair, fixing his gaze on Wufei. "They're adopting. The baby's due to be born sometime within the next two weeks, if all goes well."
Wufei blinked, turning to the fridge as he considered that. "I should get them something," he finally mused. "Do you know any specifics?" he added, rummaging around for eggs and vegetables.
Shaking his head, Duo grinned. "They didn't want to know if it's a boy or a girl, Quatre's been driving everyone CRAZY buying everything he thinks the baby just might need someday, and poor Trowa's stuck figuring out how to fit it all in a nursery the size of your HOUSE."
Wufei considered that for a long moment, then turned to Duo. "What do you recommend, anyway? What... would a baby need?"
Duo snorted softly, spinning around so that he was straddling the chair with his chin resting on the back. "This one likely needs Valium. For the blonde. Quatre's gone nuts over these preparations, I swear. But I think he's neglected the basics." Duo started ticking off on his fingers. "Onesies, cloth diapers to protect those thousand-dollar shirt shoulders, gowns to put him/her in at the beginning because changing babies with actual clothes on is a pain..."
Wufei blinked, understanding most of it, but... "Onesies?" he asked curiously.
Duo lifted a brow. "Onesies. They're kinda like a t-shirt but with a flap that snaps closed at the bottom. Great for newborns, because they have to be changed so often."
"Ahh," Wufei nodded, picturing the concept for a moment before nodding and waving to Duo. "Mind making a list for me while I cook. We're having stirfry."
"Got paper and a pen?" he asked, knowing better than to ask if Wufei needed help cooking. The LAST time he'd asked that, he'd gotten chased out of the kitchen with a wok.
"Look on the desk in the study. Down the hall, first door on your right," Wufei directed. "There should be a pad and pen there."
"All right." Duo got to his feet then, sliding the chair back in out of the way, and headed off in the direction Wufei had suggested. He couldn't resist, however, and instead of going directly to the office, he moved through the house, peering into some of the other rooms he passed.
The second door on his right revealed Wufei's bedroom, decorated in rich earth tones with a bit of black and white to offset the warmth. The bathroom was small, but fully appointed, and there was an extra room on the left with a couch and dresser inside.
Duo lingered in the doorway, hesitant to set foot in his friend's 'sanctuary'. Still, he let his gaze drift, marking every piece that seemed to suit Wufei amidst the rest of the room. He hadn't really thought of any of them actually settling down, buying a house... still, it didn't surprise him any that so far he was the only one that hadn't. That thought sobered him a bit, and he pushed away from the door, moving into the room and letting his fingers drift over the coverlet on the bed. Part of him wondered what it would be like to actually have something permanent.
"Could you find it?" Wufei called out after a moment, as the sound of metal on metal began in the kitchen.
"I..." Duo started, then flushed and moved quickly out of the bedroom. He found the office easily enough, and saw the pen and pad of paper on the desk there. "Found it!'
"Good," Wufei called, smiling and turning his attention back to the rice.
Returning to the kitchen, Duo moved to sit at the table again, this time a bit more quietly. "So how long have you lived here?" he asked, starting to make his list.
"About three months," Wufei said, looking around the kitchen quietly for a moment before offering Duo a smile. "It's odd."
"Is it?" Duo didn't notice this smile, his head bent over the paper. "I wouldn't know, really. I've just been moving around, finding work where I can."
"I'm not used to being in a house by myself," Wufei shrugged. "I keep expecting noise. It's disconcerting when there is none."
Smirking faintly, Duo glanced up from beneath his bangs. "I'll make noise while I'm here, okay?"
"Promises, promises," Wufei rolled his eyes. "What do you do, anyway?"
"I'm a pilot," he answered, jotting down a few more things on the list. "I fly cargo transport ships between the colonies and Earth. The pay sucks, but I always have a roof over my head, and I don't have to worry about dealing with people."
"I would've expected that to be one of your strengths," Wufei mused softly.
"Not really," came the softer reply. Duo frowned then, scratching out one item on the list and replacing it with another. "I don't really like being around others much now. I'm afraid someone's going to startle me and wind up dead or something."
"You have more control than that," Wufei frowned quietly, looking at Duo.
A soft shrug answered him. Finally, he deemed the list done and shoved it across the table towards Wufei. "That should be it."
"What did you get them?" Wufei asked, not wanting to press the issue of control.
"I got him a bassinette cradle," Duo said, smiling a bit. "A brass one, that swings. It's small enough that they can keep it next to the bed for the first few weeks. Poor Cat was thinking that the kid was just going to automatically sleep through the night. Guess that's what he gets for being the baby of the family."
"Maxwell... I probably know less about babies than Winner," Wufei said, mentally sympathizing with the poor blond.
Sighing a bit, Duo nodded. "I guess I'm the only one of us that had any experience with kids. I keep forgetting."
Wufei frowned as Duo deflated, and moved to serve up the food, setting a plate in front of each of them before sitting down. "How long are you here for?"
"A fwe days," he answered, sliding the plate a bit closer. "Thank you..."
"You'll stay here, of course," Wufei informed him.
Brows lifted slightly and Duo stopped with a mouthful of food halfway to his lips. "I'm not going to be a pest, Fei, I can get a hotel room."
"You're not a pest, Maxwell," Wufei returned. "You'll stay here."
Smirking faintly, Duo just nodded. "Not arguing," he replied, then started on his food. Somehow, it felt good having that knowledge.
"You can go shopping with me tomorrow after work," Wufei added, smirking back at Duo.
"Shopping for what?" He paused again, fixing Wufei with a curious look.
"The stuff for Winner and Barton," Wufei said, blinking a bit.
A blink answered the Chinese pilot back. "Oh... yeah. Okay." Duo grinned then, and went back to his food. "It should be amusing trying to pick out stuff that's not gender-specific."
Wufei eyed the grin warily, then nodded slowly. "I have a feeling my life suddenly became more complex..."
"At least it's not YOUR kid we're shopping for, or it really would be more complex suddenly," Duo replied, then snickered to himself.
Wufei snorted. "You won't have to worry about that particular concept," he assured Duo.
One hand shook the fork towards Wufei as Duo bit back his mirth. "Funny, that's what we said to Quatre too..."
Wufei blinked, then arched an eyebrow. "Winner has one particular thing I lack," he pointed out dryly.
"And that would be?"
"A lover," Wufei said, before taking another bite.
"Only because you're not trying hard enough," came the immediate reply, Duo still intent on his bowl of food.
Wufei snorted, chuckling. "I haven't found anyone who interests me, Maxwell. That's 'not trying hard enough'?"
"Oh." Duo went quiet at that, pushing the bowl away and stretching in the chair. "Good dinner, Fei... But since I've been hijacked into staying, can I also mooch your shower?"
"Of course," Wufei said, frowning and wondering what he'd said wrong. "There are clean towels in the linen closet just inside."
"Thanks." He pushed away from the table then, moving and heading down the hall without another word. Once he'd gotten the towels and made his way into the bathroom, he just leaned against the door, staring at himself in the mirror with disdain. "Well, what the hell else did you expect, Maxwell..." he muttered.
Wufei cleaned up the kitchen quietly, waiting for Duo to begin his shower before moving to spread his work out on the dining room table, examining each page thoroughly.