Hitch - part #4

'Today I stumbled from my bed... with thunder crashing in my head...'

Heero didn't realize it when Duo started waking up. It wasn't the first time that night the young man had stirred, and not much distinguished it from the rest, not even the faint moan-like sound Duo made.

When Duo muttered slowly something incomprehensible and started to yawn, the game was up, though.

Heero moved his fingers along Duo's side, just enough to get his attention. "Good morning," he whispered.

"Mmm... hi," Duo mumbled back against Heero's chest, if possible half-hugging his pillow even closer.

With part fright, part anticipation and a great deal of curiosity, Heero asked "Did you have a good dream?"

Duo smiled, touched one side of his mouth against Heero's skin. "Could have been better..."

"Was I in it?"

At first, Duo considered not answering that, but Heero deserved to know. "I don't think you were..."

"Oh..."

"...but reality is good enough for me," Duo muttered as he rubbed his thigh against Heero's, delighting in his sudden short intake of air and consequent relaxation. "Thank you for... this, Heero. Really didn't want to sleep alone last night..."

His throat dry, Heero was barely able to hoarsely whisper back a "You're welcome..."

They lay like that for a few more minutes. Then, Duo yawned again and decided enough was enough. Still draped in over Heero, he started stretching his legs and his one free arm. He ground his cheek against Heero's chest as he did so. With a deep breath, he pushed free from both Heero and the blankets.

The cold rush of air wasn't pleasant. Heero knew it was coming, but had been distracted by Duo's first moves, half wondering if the 'nothing else' of last night would be 'something else' that morning. As the blankets came down again and Duo sat at the side of the bed, his bare back against him, he didn't think so. His eyes took in Duo's spine from top to bottom as the boy stretched his arms in a big 'Y'.

It took him a moment to recover enough thought to scoot up on his elbows, before finally sitting upright. A mix of numbing tingles and pain coursed his left arm, and the way he winced and clutched it betrayed him.

Duo studied him as he failed to mask it. "Does your arm hurt?" he asked.

Heero looked at his right hand clasping his biceps and grimaced. "A bit," he said in a low voice.

He nodded. "Lie down and roll over."

"Huh?"

Duo grinned. "I'm not planning anything naughty... not really. I just thought I'd return the favor from last night - the backrub? Only, for your arms too?"

Heero briefly remembered the tentative massage he'd given Duo last night. He'd been very careful where he put his hands, not wanting to give Duo ideas - or get ideas himself. He wasn't sure Duo would restrict himself in a similar fashion.

Maybe that was why the offer was so tempting.

Even so, he decided to pass. He shook his head. "Thanks, but I'll be alright. Just need to get the blood flowing again." He nodded towards the door at the far side of the room. "You take dibs on the bathroom."

Duo gave a brief snicker. "Okay." He hesitated for a moment, then leaned down to plant a kiss on Heero's lips; a light one only, but slow enough to make Heero lean after Duo as he pulled back again.

Judging from Duo's expression, the young man had noticed, too. Heero smirked to himself, watched the end of Duo's braid as it moved across the small of Duo's back, his eyes drifting down more than once in the few seconds it lasted. As the bathroom door closed, Heero collapsed back on the pillow and yawned. Maybe he'd rest for just a few more minutes. His numb arm fell in the spot where Duo's residual heat remained.

A thought struck him. He reached for his thigh and swept his fingers up along the skin, coming up with nothing.

Perhaps he wouldn't need a shower - but one of his last conscious thoughts was that a change of underwear was probably in order.

He was asleep by the time Duo got back.

---

'...though you're not good for me...'

From across the table, Duo eyed Heero with great concern. He swallowed the bite of sandwich in his mouth, put the rest of it back to the plate. "Hey, Heero - you okay?"

"Hm?" Heero answered distantly. "No, I'm fine..." he mumbled.

"Ah-huh..." Duo said. "So, you want orange juice on your cereal?"

He paused, opened his drooping eyelids enough to glance at Duo, at the carton in his hand, at the bowl in front of him. "No," he growled and put the carton away. He grasped for the milk carton, but missed at the first attempt.

Duo kept watching him. He'd not been too worried when he'd found Heero back asleep the first time, or when he'd watched Heero stumble into the bathroom. He'd even asked if he needed help - as a joke, of course. Heero hadn't seemed to take it as one. In fact, he hadn't seemed to notice it at all.

Heero had sent Duo out to look for a place to have breakfast. It hadn't taken all that long, but the place was packed. He'd run back and met Heero by the car, all but hauling him over to the diner. They'd been lucky to find not only a table, but even some items that weren't already stricken from the menu for being out of stock.

Duo had ordered for the both of them, leaving Heero to occupy the table. It had seemed the best idea, as Heero was still drowsy. By the time Duo got back, Heero had almost fallen over on his side.

"Heero, are you sure you're okay?" He paused, gave it thought. "...did you get any sleep last night?"

Heero gave him a faint glare before he proceeded to struggle with aiming the flow of orange juice into his glass.

"Fuck..." Duo muttered. "You should have woken me up. I could have slept on the floor."

He frowned, landed the carton hard back against the table. "No!" he snapped. "I would not have let you sleep on the floor, Duo. I would have done that myself instead, but..." he paused, pursed his lips. "But your idea sounded better."

Duo started to grin. "Thanks..."

Three mouthfuls of sandwich later, he tried to get his concerns across again. "Heero, you're in no shape to drive. If you haven't slept at all-"

"I've slept," Heero muttered. "I just... woke up a lot."

His smile went rather sheepish. "Sorry." Duo picked up his nearly empty glass and swirled the contents. "I guess I'm more of a heavy sleeper. I haven't slept that good for a long time, Heero."

The remark registered, but got no feedback.

"Heero... Let me drive today, okay? At least until you've taken a decent nap, or something."

"I've told you, I won't-"

"Heero!" Duo cried out, part amused, part afraid - not only for Heero, but for himself. "You can barely get through breakfast! What makes you think you're in any shape to head out on the interstate?"

Grudgingly, Heero had to agree to that.

"Look, I do have a license. I can drive. Besides, we only have to follow I-40, right? I thought you said it went straight to Flagstaff from here."

Heero nodded. It did. Still, that hadn't stopped them from taking lengthy detours earlier that week.

"Heero... please?"

He lifted his gaze from his half-empty bowl of cereal, showed Duo a surly face - if only because Duo was right. "Fine..." Heero growled. "You drive - but you'd better be damn careful, okay?"

Duo couldn't help but grin, even though he knew that was probably not the best expression to show Heero right then. "Sure, you can count on me, pal. I'll get you to Arizona, safe and sound."

Wanting to believe that, but unable to, Heero stuffed another scoop of soggy cereal in his mouth.

---

'...and you'll surely find the way...'

It had taken some time for Heero to fall asleep. His initial distrust at the state of Duo's driving skills made him force his eyes open. It was merely self-preservation at work.

Eventually, Duo won out - but not before Heero had played backseat driver for most of the way to Amarillo. At the city limits, he'd dozed off, and by the time Duo left the highway in search of a badly needed gas station, Heero was fast asleep. If anything convinced Duo of this, it was the fact there was no outcry when he reached for the volume knob and completely silenced the already subdued king.

It had taken him a while to find that gas station, though - and afterwards, he'd suffered a brief panic spell trying to make his way back to the highway. It had been with great relief he'd hit the onramp and continued down the road.

As they left Amarillo behind, the road became ever smaller. This was not unexpected; most highways expanded where there was need - and in the more remote areas, four lanes in either direction would be overkill. Even a single lane each way seemed to suffice, as the time between sightings of other cars increased steadily.

Duo occasionally slowed down to check on Heero in the reclined passenger seat. Now that he wasn't giving commands of where to turn or how to adjust the speed, Duo felt he was quite likeable. The relaxed look of sleep suited him well.

It was while returning his attention to the road from one of these observations Duo's gaze accidentally dropped to the ashtray and the compass still lodged in it. As always, the red metal tip pointed northwards.

Unfortunately, the needle was also pointing dead ahead.

Duo's heartbeat raised a notch, and he could almost feel the pressure build-up in his eyes. His hands slipped at the steering wheel, and he almost veered out on the narrow shoulder.

Regaining control of both himself and the sedan, Duo's mind raced for ways out of the mess he'd apparently gotten himself into. Even after all that boasting about how he wouldn't get lost, he had - and he also had the feeling Heero would give him that message when he came to. Get lost.

As the road persisted heading north, Duo became convinced they were on the wrong road, not merely in a large bend of I-40. At a soft murmur at his side, he gave Heero a nervous glance and gulped. Wherever they were was not exactly populated. Walking for miles along a deserted road had to be even more of a pain out here under the sun than in rural Ohio. There, at least, there was the occasional natural shade and shelter to seek out. The current bleak landscape offered little of that.

He contemplated pulling over and checking the large fold-out map - but doing that carried a high risk of waking Heero. He'd know something was wrong in no time flat. It seemed far better to Duo that Heero stay blissfully ignorant for the time being.

In the end, he decided to do what Heero probably would have done, judging from past experience - gamble at the next turn left and pray. New Mexico was still somewhere west of them, Duo hoped. They couldn't have driven that far north. All he had to do was find a road heading west. Even North-west would do for a start.

And for the jackpot, he prayed he'd find the interstate before Heero woke up.

---

'Having no way to tell you...'

Duo held his breath every time he heard Heero stir towards wakefulness, intensely relieved with each false alarm. He resisted the urge to drive faster than the roadsigns designated. Highway patrol sirens and bullhorn orders were some of the last things he wanted Heero to wake up to.

He checked the compass again. While they weren't heading due west, he'd at least gotten them on a road leaning in that direction. He would have to backtrack south for a bit, once a promising road showed up. Unfortunately, there hadn't been a large crossing for some time now. The few roads latching on to their current one were mostly dirt and gravel roads, some which didn't give the impression of having seen traffic since before there ever were cars.

If only Heero would stay asleep a little longer... No, a lot longer, and he might come out of this unscathed. A delay, he could explain away. Traffic was a major random factor, after all. Getting lost was not.

Heero moved again. Duo froze and silently prayed Heero would just try to roll over in his reclined and strapped position, maybe itch his nose again like last time, or rub his legs together, as the time before that.

He had no such luck.

Heero started yawning, stretched his arms, then tensed up his entire body and groaned to satisfaction.

Duo gulped and stared dead ahead while clutching the steering wheel in a deathgrip. "Morning, Heero."

"Mmm," Heero replied before yawning again, too late in covering it up with his palm. He rubbed his eyes, glared out at the bleak landscape. "Where are we? Have we passed Albuquerque yet?"

It was with some effort he refrained from wincing. "Not... quite..."

"Oh?"

"Uhm - we hit some heavy traffic earlier," Duo said. It was true enough - if for only a few minutes in downtown Amarillo. "We're not in New Mexico yet."

Heero frowned as he glanced at the clock in the dashboard. Fortunately for Duo, he didn't look down. "I've been asleep for a while - even with delays, we should have reached the state line by now."

"It can't be far," Duo replied, quietly reciting a prayer that reality wouldn't make him a liar. The half a minute Heero spent digging a soda can from the backseat and opening it ended with Duo's faith boosted just a little. He grinned. "Heero, look!" He nodded up ahead.

Heero's expression softened slightly at the huge billboard sign welcoming them to New Mexico. "Good..." he started. He opened his mouth to suggest he take over the wheel again, only to take note of the rest of the information up there. He blinked, tried to read it again to confirm his suspicions, but they were already past the sign by then. He looked around them as he took another swig. "This doesn't look like the interstate..."

"It narrowed down a bit. Not much traffic out here."

Heero gave a slight grunt. For the next few minutes, he said nothing. Then they hit another road marker. Heero scowled at it after reading the number. He shot Duo a glare before reaching for the glove compartment, hunting for their roadmap.

Duo gritted his teeth, aware the game was up. Still, he said nothing.

He checked the compass, confirming his suspicions they were off course. "Okay, Duo... I'll ask you again... Where are we?"

"...in New Mexico?" Duo said, grinning sheepishly, crouching together in his seat as best he could, fearing Heero's outrage.

The deafening silence was almost worse.

Duo couldn't stand it for long. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? We were running low on gas when we hit Amarillo, so I left the interstate to find a gas station. I got a bit lost - I thought I'd found the interstate - it was a highway when we headed up the onramp, I swear! I don't know how it turned into... well, this..." The last few words, he mumbled. "And when I finally noticed, we'd been driving for a long while, and I know how you feel about detours - I didn't know how to tell you I'd gotten us lost again, especially after I promised-" He gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry, that's all. Tried to find a way going west, but this was the best I could do. Didn't want to wake you, because... I was afraid you'd toss me out."

Heero still didn't say anything. Instead, he'd closed his eyes, his lips a firm line across his face.

To say it was unnerving was an understatement.

After a deep breath, Heero returned to the land of the living. He checked the map again, tapped it when he found what he was looking for. "I think this is the road we're on. We should reach a city soon - Clayton. When we do, we're going to stop. Then, we're going to talk."

Duo nodded. Until the car stopped, this was the last exchange of words they had.

---

'The drive-in's cozy when the lights are low...'

Duo hesitated in finding a place to park once they reached Clayton. Even so, he obeyed when Heero pointed towards a ramshackle diner at their left. Duo activated the parking brake and killed the engine.

Without looking Duo's way, Heero undid his seatbelt and held out an open palm. "Keys," he demanded.

Tentatively, Duo obeyed.

Heero's hand snapped shut around the keys. He opened the door and got out, rushed to flip the lock and close the door again. Duo followed suit, but almost forgot to lock the door. An angry glare of Heero's reminded him. That done, he rushed to follow Heero towards the diner, grasping for the words of grace. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean for this to happen. I-"

Heero pushed the diner door open with more force than was strictly necessary, the arrival bell chiming off repeatedly. "I can't believe I trusted you!" he close to shouted. Half a second later, he had checked the vacant room, sought out the table he wanted and started heading that way.

Duo followed and sat down at Heero's opposite. "I told you I'm sorry! So, I made a mistake. So, we got a bit of a detour and we'll get to Flagstaff a bit later - but we'll get there!" He puffed a jet of air into his bangs. "And I didn't get us lost the last two times - You cleared me of Louisville yourself!"

Neither of them noticed the middle-aged waitress approach, not until she was already upon them, holding out two single-sheet menus encased in new plastic and old grease. Heero snapped one for himself, but didn't as much as look her way, busy directing his anger elsewhere. "But your lousy map reading skills sure led us straight to the lair of that bloodsucking profiteer of an old hag back in Missouri!"

Duo shirked back just a tad, lifting both palms off the tabletop in his defense. "Okay, I'll accept partial blame for that, even if you should have picked up where the detour ended before I did - but you messed up all by your lonesome the first time - that's when you found me, remember?!"

"I sure wish I hadn't!" Heero growled and focused on his menu, all but curling the plastic edges.

Duo stuck out his tongue as he grabbed a menu for himself.

Heero caught glimpse of it. "Oh, very mature, Duo. Not that I should expect differently from you - you got us lost, and you didn't even see fit to tell me!"

"You were asleep!" Duo yelled back, gesturing exasperation to match. "And I knew you'd be flying pissed about it! I was afraid you'd toss me off right when and where I told you, and this wasteland didn't exactly look hospitable!"

Heero gave him another glare and looked at the menu again. "What makes you think I won't toss you out now?" he growled.

The waitress tapped her pencil to her notepad, but neither of the two young men seemed to acknowledge her presence. Frowning, she started tapping her foot in a slow rhythm.

Duo bit at his lower lip. If he'd shown restraint so far, there was no point holding back any longer. "What sort of an idiot drives across the whole damn country to see friends, anyway? Why the hell didn't you do what normal people do and fly to Arizona?!"

After glancing at the source of the taps, Heero all but shoved the menu back at the waitress, but focused on Duo. "I'm afraid of heights, moron! It doesn't matter if I see it or not - I've got a very sensitive inner ear! Didn't you pick up on that back at the tower?!"

Duo slammed his menu down to the tabletop and slid it towards the increasingly sour-faced woman. She scooped up the menus and stuffed them in the large pocket of her stained apron. Her fingers brushed across the carton of menthol cigarettes there, and it was with great restraint she refrained from picking it up. "If you're that prone to vertigo, why the hell did you follow me up there in the first place?!"

Heero balled his fists. "Because of your promises - it seemed like the fastest and simplest way of getting us back on the road. And you were so damn insistent about it!"

Not wanting to admit as much, Duo backtracked and attacked again. "Driving all that way is still damn stupid - haven't you heard of trains?"

"I don't like trains - or buses, for that matter. I don't like to just be along for the ride. I want to feel I'm in full control of my own destiny - and right now, my destiny says I ought to be in Flagstaff, Arizona, and sure as hell not in this dump!" He gestured the general surroundings.

The waitress had heard enough at this point. Mental calm cried out for her vice. She pocketed the pencil and notepad, and before Duo could mount a retort, she intervened by slamming both palms against the table top, and in a raspy voice clearly marked by decades of indulging that same vice, she burst out "And just how long have you boys been married?!"

Silence followed. Both Heero and Duo looked at her, at each other, at the table top.

She coughed violently into her fist and straightened up. "Now, I've seen a lot of sorry-ass fights in this place, but this sounds like complete hogwash. I gather you boys got a bit lost, is that it?"

"We were headed for Arizona..." Heero started in a meek voice. He cleared his throat, glared at Duo. "At least until he got us off track again, and-"

Duo was about to defend himself, but again, the waitress cut in. "Big deal, little man. Wherever you were going ain't running away from ya." Again, she entered a short coughing fit. Calming down, she shifted her voice as far from razorblades and towards honey as she could muster. "Let's start this over, shall we?" She reached into her apron and pulled out the menus again. "Hello, my name's Vivian, and I'll be your waitress today, seeing how this dump-" She glared at Heero, with the result of the young man shrinking in his seat. "Is my damn diner," Vivian pushed on, "And nobody else is on duty, except the no-good lard-ass of a cook. Now, there will be no more arguing on my shift, or I'll have the cook chase the two of you out of here with a goddamn meat cleaver. Are you boys with me so far?"

Stunned at first, they both had the sense to nod, if reluctantly.

"Good," Vivian drawled, handing them the stained menus. "Now, please have a decent look at your menus and tell me what you're going to have."

Grudgingly, they accepted.

Vivian reached for her pen and notepad again. "Here's a word of wisdom for you, kid," she started, addressing Heero. "Detours aren't all that bad. Sometimes, they lead you right where you wanna go, and you don't even know it. Look back at your life for a second. Maybe you had a teacher sometime that inspired you to make a special choice. Maybe you had teachers that talked you down, and you were dumb enough to believe 'em. Maybe the girl you had a crush on found someone else and broke your heart. Maybe the girl found you. Maybe you were at the right place at the right time for a whole new path in your life to open. Maybe there are thousands of paths you never even knew you could choose. Thing is, you never know where you're gonna end up. That's life for ya - and I recommend the stir-fried chicken and rice. Now hurry up and order, I need a cigarette, and I'm trying to keep this a non-smoking establishment."

Considerably deflated, Heero all but mumbled "Chicken and rice sounds good..."

The waitress nodded curtly and trained her scopes on Duo. Grinning defensively, he glanced up from the menu and tentatively asked "...uhm, what's the cheapest dish..." The glare that came down across her hawkish nose made Duo's voice trail off. He swallowed, grin wavering. "Two of those. And water. The water's free, right?"

She huffed in reply. She made a chicken-scratch at her notepad and started heading back towards the counter. After packing pen, notepad and menus away again, she put a palm to her mouth and yelled "Yo! Elvis! Two house specials! Get your ass moving, I don't pay you to sit on it!"

At the sound of the chef's name, Heero and Duo had exchanged startled looks.

This bafflement did not abate as they heard an old man's voice from the kitchen shout back "A-huh-huh!" in ascending tones, followed by a slamming sound - and in short order, a cry of pain and a ruckus from falling kettles and kitchen utensils impacting the linoleum floor.

Vivian rolled her eyes and hurried for the swing door to the kitchen. "I told you not to use your hip to close the stove anymore, you old fool!" She yelled, pushing the door aside. "You'll bust something - and I don't mean the stove!"

They did not hear the hurt chef's reply to that - short of the groans as Vivian helped him get back on his feet and the vague outlines of her rants and curses and mumbles about someone thinking he was still in his damn thirties.

Duo licked his lips, and after some hesitation he dared speak what he was fairly sure Heero was thinking, too. "You don't think..."

Heero understood, and shook his head. "I sure as hell hope not. This is not a place fit for a king."

Duo shrugged his shoulders. "Christ was born in a stable. Who's to say this place ain't royal in it's own way?" He dared to smile, even though Heero didn't look quite pleased with his statement. At least the anger had toned back to mild annoyance again. "Why don't you ask Vivian to meet the guy, just to rule it out? Or are you afraid of discovering your grandmother was right after all?"

He dismissed that notion with a grunt. "Even if Elvis didn't die back then, he wouldn't have ended up here."

Duo might have pushed further, but Vivian chose that moment to back out the kitchen door, turn around and head their way with two glasses of water. Placing them on the table, she cleared her throat. "Elvis is fixing up your dinner right now. It'll be a few minutes, though - I'll be out front for a smoke if you need me." She glanced around the room. "And you damn well had better not go anywhere," she muttered as she headed for the door. "You're my first customers for the last couple of hours. Damn fair across town stole all my regulars..."

Again, Heero and Duo exchanged looks, Heero venturing a chagrined smile. "Weird woman," he mumbled.

"Yeah," Duo said, slowly spinning his glass around. "But she's right. You never know where you'll end up."

Heero nodded. "Or with whom."

Duo brightened up at that, but said nothing. He opted for a sip of the fresh tap water. It wasn't cold, but at least it was clear.

"Flagstaff isn't that far away..." Heero began. "But you're on your own from there, like we agreed."

"Seriously?"

Again, Heero nodded, grabbing his own glass.

Duo's grin broadened. "Thanks a lot, man..."

"You're welcome."

Until Vivian was back with their order, smelling like her raspy voice implied, they didn't speak.

---

'I heard about a king who was doing swell...'

While not exactly a luxurious meal, the stir-fried chicken and rice was acceptable. For that reason, Vivian merited at least a standard tip - though Heero chose to play it safe and padded it a bit. One lecture from strangers a day was sufficient.

"Duo...?" he started.

"Yeah?" Duo answered, swirling his glass around.

"You never told me about how the call went last night."

The water sloshed as the glass froze. "You're right. I didn't."

Heero paused, for a moment expecting Duo to continue, soon enough realizing it wasn't going to happen. "You still have my phone card, right?"

He checked his pocket. "Yeah - want it back?"

Heero shook his head. "If there's still some cash left on it, there's a phone booth outside."

Duo started to frown.

"Call Frank, Duo. I have a hunch the two of you still have stuff to talk about."

"Look, Heero - that's my problem. I'll deal with it when I feel up to it, okay?"

Heero's expression matched Duo's. "Duo, don't make me feel like some damn kidnapper. Call him and make my day a little easier, would you?" He lingered there for a moment, then added "Please?"

They engaged in a brief contest of light glares. In the end, Duo admitted defeat. He growled as he pushed himself up. "Fine, I'll call - but after this, you stay out of it. Deal?"

Heero nodded curtly as he studied the tab trapped under his empty glass. He didn't look as Duo stomped off on his errand. He dug out his car keys from his pocket, played around with them for a bit, then slammed them to the table. He stuck a finger in the ring, made circles at the table top. The only thing that kept him from returning to the car was the fact he didn't want to appear to eavesdrop on Duo's conversation. Like he'd said, it was his problem - at least mainly. If Duo had told Frank about him, Heero wondered if there was a warrant for his arrest out already, charging him with kidnapping.

At least there'd be none regarding taking advantage of a minor - provided Duo's license wasn't a very good fake. Heero didn't think it was. Duo knew how to drive, if not how to find directions. Heero could hardly fault him for that.

The thud of a big, red plastic box broke him out of his monotonous reverie of swirling keys. Startled at first, he'd snapped up his keys. The elderly heavy-set man broke out a grin and a rag, and started swiping one end of their table down like a good bus boy. "Hey," he greeted.

Heero nodded in return, watched as Elvis proceeded to stack away the dirty dishes. He carefully put the glass aside and scooted the tab and money off the side-plate over at the clean end. Then, he got to swabbing down the other side. Done with that, he grabbed the box and trotted off towards the kitchen doors, a slight limp in his step.

Heero recalled Duo's remarks. The man had the name, and had the king lived on, he would have been around this age. The sporadic gray and white whispers of hair adorning this head might once have been black - there was no way to be sure.

Except perhaps one.

"...Elvis?"

The man paused, turned around slowly. His grin had remained throughout, and certainly didn't diminish now. "That's my name, kid - Elvis Peasley. Don't wear it out." He started a cracking snicker.

Heero tried to analyze the voice, compare it with many an old record and soundbyte he'd heard over the years - but it proved futile. The mature bus boy's vocals were far too marked of age, too broken, perhaps through sharing Vivian's vice. It was nowhere near a perfect match, but it didn't rule out the possibility... No, it had to be all in his head, he concluded, right before slowly asking "You're... not... him, are you?"

Elvis took a moment to study Heero's expression, then broke out in that hoarse laughter of his again and humped the last few steps to the kitchen. He pushed one of the swing doors open with his back, but paused at that. He gave Heero a wink. "I stopped giving out autographs a long time ago, son. I'm sorry." And he was gone, the flap of the door all that remained.

Heero's face set into a deep frown as he stared into the table. No, it definitely couldn't be. Legends that die young don't deteriorate to something like that, he surmised. His denouncement had nothing to do with not getting an autograph.

Comparing signatures would only have been a last resort.

"Hey," another voice called out.

Heero looked up to meet it. "Hi. How did it go?"

Duo shrugged. "Like yesterday."

"That doesn't tell me a lot."

He started a faint smile. "I know. Anyway, I'm good to go. You?"

Heero looked at Duo for a moment, then studied the swing doors as they finally came to rest. There was a clutter on the far side; someone had begun dealing with the dishes. "Yeah..." Heero started as he stood up. "Nothing of interest left here." He gave Duo another glance. "Almost nothing." Without elaborating, he made for the car.

Duo was convinced he was missing something. He looked over his shoulder again, and a thought struck him. Grinning, he ran off after Heero, intercepting him out on the parking lot with a pat on the shoulder. "So, did you get to meet him?"

"Who?"

"Elvis, of course!"

"You mean the cook."

Duo shrugged. "Same difference. Think it was really him? I mean, like, for real?"

Stopping for a moment, Heero let go a long sigh. "It doesn't matter. Either way, the king is definitely a thing of the past."

"Bet your mother would disagree."

Not having expected that, Heero gave him a long, scrutinizing look, then broke out smiling. "Maybe... Now, let's get going. We need to figure out the fastest way to Flagstaff from here, and-"

"No need," Duo interceded. "I had a talk with Vivian after I'd finished with Frank. The best way would have been the US-56, but that's partly closed for maintenance now. She said we ought to head along US-64 to Raton, and head south along I-25 from there. Might not reach Albuquerque today, but at least we'd be that much closer, right?"

Heero had to give him that much. At least they got steadily closer to Flagstaff. At this rate, tomorrow, at the latest. There really wasn't enough road left for major detours - unless they took a left at Albuquerque, or something.

---

'...California on my mind...'

They'd barely left Clayton when Duo decided to ask something that had been bugging him for a while. "You must really miss those friends of yours..."

"Hm?"

"Driving across a damn continent to spend some time with them, I mean. How long are you staying? A month or two?"

Heero shook his head. "About a week or so. Then I have to head back."

"A week? You serious?"

He gripped the steering wheel tighter with his left hand and geared up. "What makes you think I'm not?"

"A week..." Duo shook his head, half amused, half appalled. "Hell, you'll spend more time on the road than with your friends! You really should overcome your fear of heights, Heero. Flying would have been so much easier."

"It would," Heero tersely replied. His lips curled to a tilted smirk as he added "And I wouldn't pick up strays."

Duo slapped the back of his palm to Heero's shoulder in response, hard enough to emphasise gender, soft enough not to bruise. "Still leaves trains. Would have been easier."

He snorted at that. "What, delays and cancellations, breakdowns and missing the next train in the chain of interconnected lines I'd have to take? Better to take my chances on the highway. At least I'm in control."

"You said that earlier, too..." He clenched his teeth a couple of times, sent a jet of air up in his bangs. "You really have issues with trust, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't trust people easily. Not the train engineer, or the motel clerk... or me."

He resisted the urge to bite his lip. "I di- I do."

Duo shook his head slowly, a sad mien coming over him. "You don't. Perhaps you did, for a while. You did let me drive, after all - but I blew it."

Heero eased his foot off the throttle. "Maybe you did - but it's over and done with." He paused. "It's not that I don't trust people. I just find it difficult to rely on others."

One corner of Duo's mouth curled upward. "Not much of a difference, is it?"

He raised his shoulders, but didn't answer.

"So..." Duo drawled. "You're obviously obsessive-compulsive, pushing yourself on all-day drives just for a short visit. Not to mention crazy, but it's not always easy to separate those two, is it? Oh, and there's your fear of heights, obviously, and your affinity for dead rock stars - even if that's kinda inherited. And you sell shoes for a living. Boston, I'm not exactly an expert, but I'd say you need help. A lot of it, and fast."

If nothing else, it earned him the sideways scowl he'd planned for.

"But all those issues are trivial. Your biggest issue is the one you're hiding in."

Heero overtook a convertible cruising at much too mellow a speed. "I'm not sure I follow you."

"The closet, Boston. Stop thinking you're not gay. You are, even if you haven't fully realized it yet." Duo grinned. "Why won't you come out and play, Boston?"

Heero's frown had eased up for a moment, but now it was back in full. "You promised you'd stop calling me Boston!" he snapped. "You know, I could drop you off right here and now," he said, gesturing to the bleak landscape with one sweep of the hand. "This is still my car, my rules!"

Duo shook his head. "You wouldn't dare."

"Why the hell not?!"

"Because you want to have sex with me!"

Heero choked down the breath he'd meant for a scathing reply. His control of the car was briefly affected, but he caught up with the swerves, calmly hit the brakes to slow down, but not stop. After several false starts and matching expressions, he glanced at Duo, caught somewhere between shock, outrage and the slight smug face of someone being caught red-handed. "I do not."

Duo laughed, for a number of reasons. "Like hell you don't! I wasn't sure for a while, but after last night? You want into my pants, first chance I give you."

He clenched the wheel, stared forward. "Duo, I-"

"You think I didn't notice the spare bed? Or that nice bulge in your underwear this morning? Or that you barely slept at all last night?" He started smirking. "What I wouldn't give to know what you were thinking of..."

Heero's cheeks grew rather warm, but he fought it back.

"Actually," Duo said as he leaned back in his seat, stretched his arms forward, interlocked his fingers and cracked his knuckles. "I was a bit surprised you didn't try anything - anything at all." He sighed, face toned down to the shade of a smile. "I was sorta disappointed, too. I thought there was something wrong with me."

"There isn't," Heero replied without thinking. After three seconds of doing so, he smirked. "Well, there is, but not about your-" Again, he paused to think. "Duo, I barely even know you! We met three days ago!"

Duo closed his eyes and shrugged the argument off. "And we've already kissed many times - and you've seen me naked."

Heero let go a snort. "During high school I saw plenty of naked guys - but that sure didn't make me want them the way-" the way I want you.

Tormenting silence followed.

At length, Duo started smiling again. "I knew I wasn't the only one who wanted to share that bed..."

Heero didn't bother refute it. There really wasn't a point to it. It still made him consider something else, though. "Duo... About Frank..."

The smile vanished, and Duo sighed. "Would you quit getting back to him all the time? He's my stepfather, not yours. My problem."

"Your parent," Heero chided him. "You won't tell me anything about those conversations you've had, but there's something else to them, isn't there? I don't get the impression you've fought, and you obviously didn't make up, since you're still with me and not heading home."

"Your point being...?"

Heero nibbled at his lower lip, wondering whether his next train of thought was worth whistling through. In the end, he waved the green flag. "...were you planning on using me to get even with your dad? Go all the way, first chance you got? And I don't mean to California, Duo."

At that, Duo seemed to wake up again, straightening up. "Heero, that's not true. I like you, I give you that - and hell yeah, I'd like to see how far we could go together - but not to spite Frank, for Pete's sake! I don't give a damn what he thinks of my choice in lovers. If I did, you think I'd have pushed my ex for a birthday present?"

Half a smirk formed. "Is that what you call it? Was that why you gave me that CD? So you'd get a return gift?"

Duo rolled his eyes, raised his palms for a moment and crashed back against the seat, frustrated. "You really don't trust people, do you, Heero? Fuck..."

Heero resisted the urge to push, and opted for a moment of silence.

"...Frank told me some things, that's all." Duo finally mumbled. "Turns out my dad is still alive."

Heero shot him a look. "You mean-"

"Yeah..." Duo slowly answered. "My biological father. I'd have to go home for the details, but... Mom never told me. She chose not to tell me. Even Frank wanted to... Do you have any idea what that feels like? The one person I trusted the most, lied to me."

"She didn't lie - she merely left certain truths unsaid," Heero corrected.

"Big difference," Duo muttered. "She should have told me - at least when I wasn't a kid anymore."

Heero chose not to point out that technically, that was only a few days ago - much too late for his deceased mother to have mentioned this part of their joint pasts.

"I'll go home," Duo finally continued. "Just... not yet. Need some time to think, cool off, that's all. California sounds like a nice place for a breather. Isn't that what they say? Live in New England once, but leave before you grow hard - and live in California once, but leave before you grow soft?"

Heero started to smile, and ditching the first, cruder comment that came to mind, he said "I heard it with New York and Los Angeles, but yeah..." He hesitated, gave Duo another long glance, careful not to stray from the straight road ahead. "Your aunt... Are you absolutely sure she'll take you in?"

Duo shrugged as he slouched down into his seat. "Nothing's ever certain, Boston - but I like to think she will. Been a long time since I saw her. I don't know if she'll even recognize me..."

He let go a grunt. "If you've had that hair for as long as you claim - I think she will. You stand out."

He smirked. "Yeah, I'm outstanding, all right - just like you, Boston."

Heero's brows closed up, but he still smiled for contrast. "You promised you'd stop calling me that..."

Duo started a snicker. "Yeah, I did. Sorry. Old habits, and all that. I'll try harder."

"I..." Heero started, but saying he didn't mind would have been lying. The nickname was certainly still annoying - but nicknames have iffy ways of growing on you, even the less flattering ones. He could do far worse than 'Boston'. Heero was sure Duo could, too - and that was not a Pandora's Box he wanted a peak in right then. "I'm sorry too - for interfering."

"Nah..." Duo breathed out, getting comfortable in the passenger seat again. He closed his eyes. "I chose you, come to think of it. Back in Mount Vernon. If I'd gone on the bus instead, you'd never have had a chance to. Glad I stuck with you, though - thanks."

"You're welcome..." Heero muttered. For a while, he focused on the road ahead, affording more than the occasional glance at Duo's face. "Duo... are you sure you'll be okay when we get to Flagstaff?"

"Sure - there's bound to be buses heading west from there, right? If there isn't, I guess I'll just hitch a ride westward. I'll get to California, you'll see."

Heero hesitated on his next question. "...and Frank?"

Duo pressed his lips together, but didn't open his eyes. "Eventually. Pittsburgh can wait for a while. I'm not sure I want to talk to Frank just yet - not more than will keep him from calling the cops." He brought up a wry grin. "Eighteen, innocent and with my own parole officer. Not bad for a rookie delinquent."

Heero gave him a look. "Well, two out of three isn't bad."

At that, Duo popped one eye open. Noting Heero's smirk, he blew him a raspberry. "Idiot... Anyway, I think I'm gonna nap for a bit. Wake me up if you need a third-rate navigator?"

"Will do, Kali."

A snort was all the reply he got before Duo slid his cap down over his eyes.

---

'...feel my temperature rising... higher and higher, it's burning through to my soul...'

Sleep came hard to Duo. The motions of the car, the sounds of the road and the constant backdrop of Elvis - even on a near-inaudible level, which only made it all the more noticeable - were altogether more than enough to prevent a proper nap. A slight drowse with heavy elements of daydreaming was as close as he got.

All in all, it wasn't too bad. There had never been a problem with his imagination.

Heero brought them past another sleepy New Mexico hollow. He glared down at the compass, still signaling northwest. It was with a quick, quiet prayer he wished this place called Raton wasn't too much further down the road. He could barely wait to get on the southbound interstate. At least, there should be more signs of life there. It had been a good fifteen minutes since he'd last seen a car, unless the derelict pickup truck marking the turn-off of the last hamlet counted.

A low snicker brought him out of boredom. He looked to its source and caught Duo's big grin. The odds of him still being asleep appeared low, indeed. Mesmerized, Heero watched as Duo opened his mouth, licked his lips and ground back against the headrest. It took some effort to focus on the straight, deserted road again. "Penny for your thoughts," he offered.

Duo's eyes flew open as he tilted his head towards Heero and smirked. "Sure you can handle the truth? You didn't do too good earlier."

Something in Duo's challenging expression went straight to his gut. He wrongly blamed the strange warm tingle to gas, but rightly realized curiosity was getting the better of him. "Whatever you can dish out, I can take, Kali."

This earned him a laughter. "Fine, Boston - but remember, you asked for it!" He moved a hand up his thigh. "They say a picture tells a thousand words..." he muttered as his palm rubbed over his crotch, calling for Heero's attention. Only then did he pop the top button of his shorts, the rest following as he spoke. "So, picture this, Heero..." His fly open, Duo reached inside his boxers and brought out his erection. Closing his eyes briefly, he moved his hand lazily along the length and groaned contentedly.

Heero gaped. Each glance at Duo lasted longer than the ones at the road ahead, and as Duo's sound effects began, Heero momentarily lost control of the car, enough to let the rumble of wheels crossing rifled road markings wake him up. He focused on the road again, swallowed as his mouth dried out. "F-fine," he stuttered, doing his best not to look anywhere but dead ahead. "So you're horny. Point taken. Now, stuff that back in your pants."

"Oh, I can't do that..." Duo teased, fingertips caressing the base. "It's too big now, it couldn't fit anymore, not without it becoming painful." He cocked his head towards Heero. "And you don't wish me pain, do you?"

Heero gave him a look that screamed 'don't be so sure'. "Don't get full of yourself, Duo." He glanced down at Duo's crotch, upon which Duo proudly tipped his cock towards him, then back up. "It's not that big. I've seen bigger."

Duo started chuckling as he played with himself. "So, finally admitting you snuck peeks at the guys in high school after practice, huh?"

There were definitely no bends coming up. Heero started to smirk. "Who said anything about looking at other guys?"

That, at least, gave Duo pause. He raised a brow and gave Heero a skeptical look, then moved his attention down to give Heero's crotch a quick appraisal. Meeting his eye again, he said "Now who's being cocky?"

Heero simply snorted, trying hard to keep his heartbeat down. Blood was already starting to sing in his inner ear, among other places. "Duo, just button up. If a patrol car came by-"

He grabbed a firm hold of himself. "But I haven't even told you why I'm horny yet... Don't you want to know?"

He did. He thought he knew. He hoped he was right, scary as the alternative was.

"You..." Duo all but mouthed. He closed his eyes and leaned back into the seat, sighing.

In Heero's mind, a voice screamed 'Score!'. Beyond that, he had trouble doing anything but listen.

Duo pushed a hand up under his T-shirt, exposing much of his flat, vaguely outlined stomach. "I'm thinking of you raining butterfly kisses all over my chest..." He swept fingers across a nipple. At the third pass, it was as stiff as his dick. "Thinking of you, rubbing my cock in this delicious, slow way..." As if to demonstrate, he gave himself a couple of lazy pumps. "I'm thinking of how you smooth a palm up the inside of my naked thigh..." He spread his legs slightly, moaned from deep down his throat. "Your fingers leaving my dick for a moment to caress that soft spot just behind my balls..." Again, he demonstrated, lifting his testicles aside to sweep across a spot still obscured by his boxers.

It took Heero by surprise when Duo tilted his head towards him and opened his eyes again. The hand landing on his knee almost jolted him.

"Thinking of me... trying to return the favor..." Duo's palm slid steadily upwards, curving in on the way.

Heero's mouth ran completely dry. He didn't know what to think, much less what to say. He had enough to cope with just watching now, and when the questing hand was barely two fingers' breadth from the bulge in his slacks, he croaked out "Duo!"

Duo grinned wide. "Yeah, just like that... you're crying out my name just like that in my fantasy too..."

Half in panic, he clutched the steering wheel. He cleared his throat, coming down from falsetto. "Duo, just tuck that thing back in before-"

"Before what?" Duo asked, loosely grabbing his hilt. "Before you're tempted to drive my stickshift instead of the sedan's?" He swayed his erection back and forth.

Again, Heero's jaw relaxed. At a lack for words, he pursed his lips and glanced at Duo's cock, just as the boy tugged at his foreskin and moaned again. Heero barely managed to keep quiet in response.

"You can touch it, if you want. I don't mind..."

Heero swallowed. Yes, he'd figured that much from Duo's demonstrative recital. Briefly, he toyed with the idea of acting stuck-up, perhaps even insulted - but the truth was, he wanted to. Worse, Duo knew, judging from his satisfied expression. Hesitantly, Heero eased down on the brakes, slowing them down. Tentatively, he shifted his right hand towards Duo, fumbling against Duo's thigh while his eyes were forward, barely allowing a rare glance to coordinate better.

Duo intervened, grabbing a hold of his wrist. Heero drew a short breath as his fingertips grazed the cockhead. Soon enough, Duo was in his palm, Duo's hands closing his own down, coaxing it to move. Very slowly, Heero started the motion on his own. At another of Duo's throaty groans, his own pants felt immensely restricting.

Content at what he'd started, Duo eased back and put his hands behind his head, relaxing his entire body under Heero's servicing. He was not above vocally letting Heero know how good it felt.

Heero was barely able to keep one eye at the straight and narrow road ahead of them. Most of his attention was focused at the man leaning ever further back beside him.

"Yeah..." Duo hissed under Heero's light massage. "Like that, Heero." He opened his eyes as slits, watching the good movement. "Mmm... Feels nice..." He shifted his hip a bit, breathed out. "Aah.... Just- Look out!"

Duo's unexpected scream startled Heero out of his reverie. Immediately, he focused on the road and started a swerve to avoid whatever the hell the thing fast approaching them from the right was, missing it by good margin. The tumbleweed passed unscathed behind them at its own erratic pace.

Duo had been just as inattentive of the landscape, but recovered enough to start laughing aloud at it - right up until it was cut short by a yelp of pain as delayed nerve reaction set in.

Already slowing the car down, Heero gave Duo a look, following Duo's eyes down at- Immediately upon understanding, he released his stranglehold on Duo's cock, Duo's own palms quick to cup his crotch while he muttered a string of rather vivid expletives, keeling forward.

Some of the expressions, Heero had never heard of. And that last one was definitely not anatomically possible. His cheeks flushed, more from how he'd all but crushed Duo's dick in his hand than Duo's demonstration of non-traditional vocabulary. "God, Duo - I'm sorry, I'm so sorry - I didn't mean to-"

Still hunched forward, Duo afforded him a pained grin. "Yeah, I know..." he wheezed. "Just- God, it hurts - just remember, choking junior is fine-" He groaned again. "-but don't strangle the precious, okay? I only got this one."

Heero nodded, staring straight forward again, briefly checking the speedometer. Even a T-Ford could outpace them now. He dared another glance at Duo, the feel of guilt rising steadily.

Duo drew in another sharp breath. "When was the last time you cut your nails, anyway?" He braved himself to inspect the damage.

Heero didn't dare answer, convinced that anything he said would be taken the wrong way. "Are you bleeding? Should I try to find a hospital, or-"

He struggled to calm his breath. "No, not cut - just... crushed." He put on a grin, squinting one eye shut. "Not exactly the place I expected to get bruises, ya know?"

He thought about it for a moment, then made up his mind. The car slowed down further, and the wheels hummed as they passed the road markings and out unto the narrow shoulder. Complete stop ensued.

"Heero?"

He killed the engine, undid his seatbelt and turned to Duo. They shared a brief look before he focused on Duo's crotch. Heero took hold of Duo's hands and lifted them aside. He studied the wounded, crouching fellow, tentatively touched it, caressing its base, brushing through Duo's crass pubes. He nudged the sac with two fingertips, licked his lips as he looked at Duo's face again. "Kiss to make it better again?"

Duo's mouth remained agape for a few seconds, and he barely got himself together long enough to nod. "S-sure..."

With permission granted, Heero leaned over, scooting back as he tilted up on his side, lowering his head down in Duo's lap. He stuck his tongue out, touched tip to tip, tasting the slick, salty drops there. He swirled around the crown, then rubbed his tongue against the underside. His lips encased the recovering erection, and he descended, taking more of Duo into his mouth.

With a hiss, Duo clasped the sides of the seat. He closed his eyes briefly, fully aware of how Heero slid down around him, then back off until he was almost out, down again... With a whimper, he decided to look. As Heero's tongue started a delicious wiggle, Duo ran one hand through Heero's dark curls, fisting into his hair, coaxing his motions.

Reality beat fantasy any time of the week.

Except perhaps in the grittier details.

Heero's mouth working him was too much. He'd already gone hard for a while, and despite Heero's 'crush' on him, his body retained much of the pressure build-up from earlier. Feeling the back of Heero's mouth with his cock was doing a number on Duo, and he barely kept from thrusting up into Heero's mouth. There was no denying they were fast approaching the end, though. Duo sensed the tell-tale warmth spread through his guts, felt his cock grow even more rigid under Heero's now rapid bobbing pace. Duo had long since released his grip of Heero's hair. "Waitwaitwait - Heero, a tissue, a rag, something - I can't hold - I'm gonna-"

In response, Heero plunged down to his deepest level yet and sucked hard, flicking his tongue at the base, Duo's pubic hair tickling his nose, the stark scent overcoming him. Accompanied by the guttural sound from above, he felt the first of it hit the back of his throat. He sucked and swallowed as best he could, lapping up all that came. Through a strategically placed palm, he felt Duo's thigh tremble, then relax, the short gasps of Duo's breath calming down.

Heero lingered for a moment. Slowly, he slipped Duo's cock out of his mouth. He pumped him softly to get the last of it out, which he promptly licked up. Deciding to swallow had been rash, but this taste of Duo wasn't bad - not really good either, but definitely not bad. Not quite ready to face Duo, he rubbed Duo's balls, played with the head of the fast limping erection, toying his tongue against the slit.

Duo hissed through his sated grin. "Heero... if you keep that up, I'll be hard again in no time..."

He smirked at that, and for another minute or so, he kept going - but eventually, he decided enough was enough. He sat up straight again, content at letting Duo soften completely.

A hand caught his neck, and before he knew it, Heero was pulled in for a sloppy kiss. Surprised, but not to be outdone, Heero shoved his tongue into Duo's mouth, intent on giving him a taste of his own medicine.

Duo accepted the offering and sucked at Heero's tongue, wrapping his own around it. He'd tasted his own come before, purely out of curiosity - but that had been nothing compared to this. Heero added more than a little spice to the flavor. As they pulled apart again, Duo couldn't help but notice the slight trail that slid out of the corner of Heero's mouth. Apparently, he hadn't caught it all, after all. Briefly, he entertained himself with the thought of not saying anything, wanting to see if Heero even noticed before it crusted over. It would have been fun to see the face of a highway patrolman eyeing that, if they were pulled over later.

He thought better off it, though. Duo leaned in, startled Heero a bit by licking up the trail, and upon reaching the end, they kissed again, if less intensely. "Thanks..." Duo murmured.

"You're welcome..." Heero muttered back, and without breaking eye contact, he fingered for Duo's underwear. A few tries later, he hooked the waistband with two fingers and pulled it back up. Duo interfered to help with the buttons.

The stickshift had been poking Heero in the side for a while, and it was finally getting to him, now that he was short of distractions. He sat back up in his seat, sighed contentedly and closed his eyes.

It took some effort to keep them shut when the hand landed on his thigh, giving his flesh a quick squeeze before moving upwards. It would be far too late to cover up his own enthusiasm provoked by earlier actions - but he didn't really care. Especially if that palm would only slide a bit further...

He heard Duo shift in his seat, figured he leaned in - but was still taken by surprise when Duo's tongue flickered against his ear, coordinated by the hand cupping the large bulge in his pants. He drew a sharp breath, struggled to keep his eyes close.

"Want me to return the favor...?"

Duo's warm whisper made his crotch throb under the palm. He figured that would be answer enough. Still... He pulled back and looked at Duo. "I..." He glanced down, and the hand retreated. "Yeah, I do - but not here."

"Why not?"

His brows closed for a moment. "I told you earlier - someone could drive past us at any minute. I don't want to be caught with my pants down, that's all."

With a crooked grin, Duo snorted. "Sissy. Why would that bother you now? Didn't seem to matter a couple of minutes ago."

Heero managed a shaky smile. "I wasn't the one flashing my cock around then."

Duo gave a stunted chuckle. They both looked back down the road, then locked eyes.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

He flashed Heero a grin. "I don't know... Do your thoughts include riding crops, whipped cream, handcuffs and a deflated rubber chicken?"

Heero eyed him with skepticism for but a flicker before Duo burst out laughing.

"Only toying with ya, Boston - but I would like to pay you back sometime."

Heero nodded. "Believe me, I want you to - but not in the car. We drove past a small town back there, didn't we?"

Duo touched two digits to Heero's knee and moved them in slow circles. "Yeah... and I think I saw a motel sign, too..."

His mouth started to run dry as Duo's fingertips started working up his thigh.

They dipped down between Heero's legs upon reaching the crotch, slowly circling upwards. "How fast do you think you can get us there?"

Heero flashed him a look before going for the car keys.

---

'...fool about my money, don't try to save...'

Heero flicked the signal, turning off the road. "Okay, we're here - would you please remove your hand now?"

Duo snickered, but obeyed. "Was only keeping your engine running..."

Heero shot him a look and snorted lightly. "I think you'd get me going again in no time..." He parked the car and removed the keys. "I'll get us a room. Be right back."

Duo nodded at Heero's rear. He struggled not to laugh as the guy walked just short of a jog up the stairs to the reception. Once Heero was out of sight, Duo glanced about in the car and started tidying up the worst mess of candy wrappers and empty soda cans. If they were stopping, they might as well take advantage of a waste bin.

Heero had rushed straight up to the desk. The clerk was in, but had his back turned, seated by a small table at the back, browsing a newspaper and enjoying a cigar. He scratched his shoulder just beneath the strap of his string vest and puffed out another smoke ring.

Heero's eyes went to the desk bell, which he promptly slammed his palm down on repeatedly.

The clerk was still sluggish to respond. He turned to give Heero a scowl when he didn't stop. With a growl, he put the paper aside and got his considerable bulk to his feet, stumbling over to the desk as he scratched his badly shaved chin. "Calm down, kid. Where's the fire, huh?"

"I need a room."

The clerk snorted as he opened the registry book. "You're in luck, then. We have some."

"Do you rent by the hour?"

The man paused, gave him a look, then started a sleazy grin. "That sort of fire, is it?" He gave off two beats of gruff laughter. "Yeah, we do. Write you down for one hour?"

Heero glanced back towards the door. They weren't planning anything more than quid-pro-quo, but you never knew. For the first time, there was a hold-up on the trip he didn't really mind. "Make it two."

"Right..." The clerk flashed his bright yellow teeth as he made a quick note in his registry. "We've got a special on a room with a Jacuzzi. Plenty of room for two. Three, in a pinch."

Heero met the man's eyes with a glare. "Fine, I'll take it. Just hurry."

Chuckling to himself, the clerk made another scribble, then lifted the book onto the counter. "Twenty bucks, up front. Sign right there."

Heero forked over the bills, wrote off a John Hancock and pushed the book back, exchanging it for a key he all but ripped out of the clerk's hands. He checked it, but found no number plate.

"Number twelve," the clerk explained. "Now, you treat her good, ya hear? Don't want any trouble."

He'd opened his mouth to snap back there wasn't a 'she', and that it was him getting the good treatment this time. He thought better off it, though. He had the distinct impression he hadn't been the first young guy out in this errand. This motel was probably a safe haven for young couples still living at home yearning for some private time. He closed his mouth and walked towards the door.

"Oh, son? Do yourself a favor and stop by the vending machines down to the left there on your way out."

Heero shot the clerk a puzzled glance over his shoulder, but he still took that left right before the door.

After three steps, he froze.

Greeting him were vending machines offering all sorts of condoms, even a few types of lubricant. The one at the far end even provided assorted small accessories.

If he'd been in doubt of this place being a port of call for illicit or young affairs, they were all wavered now. It made sense. Stuck pretty much in the middle of nowhere between several ramshackle towns, it would be a good escape for horny youths and others in need of a bed and some privacy.

He dug around in his wallet for coins and surveyed the selection. There was nothing wrong with being prepared. He would just have to make sure Duo didn't find out. This was not payment, and it would be wrong to expect anything more than tit-for-tat.

Heero didn't see anything wrong with hoping, though.

---

'Whoops, there goes a teardrop... rolling down the face...'

They'd wasted little time upon entering room twelve. Duo had excused himself to use the adjoined bathroom first, but Heero hadn't minded. It gave him a precious few moments to lift the contents from his pants pockets and hide them in the bag he'd brought with him. He figured Duo might notice if there was more than one bulge in his slacks.

He'd barely hid the bag under the pillow of a chair by the time Duo was back. With some jitters, Heero watched him walk over, but once in Duo's embrace, he relaxed, even thought to return it. They kissed once, twice, and Heero felt himself being coaxed sideways towards, then down onto the bed.

He let himself be guided. This was all Duo's show, and Heero was more than content with letting him run it. Heero worked his cuffs as Duo started unbuttoning his shirt from the neck down. They kissed again, sloppy, unfocused. Duo shifted down, touched his lips to Heero's chin, then in short grazes down the expanse of skin he was opening, button for button. At the last, he tugged the cotton out of the slacks.

Heero grasped at the covers as his fly went open. He hissed when Duo pressed a warm palm against the obvious bulge in his underwear. "There's - I got-" Duo's lips closed against the outline, slid up. Heero gritted his teeth and suppressed a moan. "My wallet - a condom, if - if you don't want to-"

Duo lifted his eyes to look down Heero's bare torso, taking his time. "Nah, that's okay. Don't like the taste of latex, anyway." Still, he hesitated. Heero's comment had broken some of the momentum. He reached for the hem of Heero's underwear and slid his fingers along the inside of the waistband. "Just so you understand... I'm not doing this to pay you back or anything, okay? Not for the blowjob you gave me in the car, either. I'm doing this... because I want to. Got that?"

Heero nodded - a little too eagerly, but Duo could tolerate that much. Heero rested his back against the bed and looked up at the ceiling. As Duo started tugging at his briefs Heero raised his hips, allowing Duo to slide his slacks and underwear down his ankles. He felt his erection slap back against his belly, taut and slick already. His heart pounding, he closed his eyes and fists, surrendering himself to whatever Duo wanted. He'd probably have to change shirts later, and his socks were itching in his shoes. With his pants pooled at his feet, shoes and shirt was pretty much all he could be said to be wearing.

Luckily, that was all he needed for service.

Duo pushed Heero's knees further apart and leaned closer to Heero's crotch. He jerked back a bit as the cock twitched. The sticky puddle of precome caught his eye, and he gulped. He'd had a taste of his own, but this would be something new.

Then again, all of this was something new. He had a pretty much naked man spread out in front of him; at his mercy. Duo was well aware of what was expected of him now, but he slowed his approach. His nose butted Heero's abdomen as he latched his lips to the dry base of Heero's dick.

Heero moaned and shifted his hips, enjoying the slight friction and the tickle of Duo's tongue. They'd barely begun, but already his sac had tightened up. He blamed that on the long lead-up. One thing was clear; he wouldn't last long. Then again, he didn't care.

The faint salty taste of Heero's skin didn't get to Duo nearly as much as the potent smell of his crotch. Heero didn't have much in the way of extraneous body hair, for which Duo was glad. The patch of dark pubic hair was enough; his balls were nearly hairless.

Duo shifted downwards and sucked one of the nuts into his mouth, playing against the surface with his tongue. Heero's hiss made him smile. He rubbed a palm up and down Heero's thigh and slacked his jaw to engulf the other one too.

This was good. This was very good. His cock shifted again, weeping more precome onto his belly. Duo's oral massage of his balls was a hell of a turn-on, and Heero started to wonder if he'd climax before they got much further. His crotch was warming up nicely, heat pooled in his guts and his fists yanked at the cover sheets when Duo let go of his sac in favor of the slim expanse of skin just behind them.

He had heard of rimming, but Duo wasn't sure the thought appealed to him. Moreover, he wouldn't be able to spread Heero's legs sufficiently for it, courtesy of the makeshift ankle shackles. He slithered his tongue upwards again, around the sac and through dark, stiff, pungent pubes. His hands trailed up the insides of Heero's thighs, thumbs in a vanguard sweep.

And still, he dodged the main issue, licking a path up Heero's hip bone, circling wide towards his belly button.

The truth was, Duo was afraid - afraid he'd like the flavor and feel of Heero's cock. Afraid Heero would like having it rammed into his mouth. Afraid either of them would ask for more than what they'd come to a quiet agreement on. His tongue trailed through the sticky substance splattered against Heero's skin, and he broke contact long enough to taste it, deciding he was indifferent to the flavor.

"Duo..." he heard Heero close to whimper.

He sensed Heero's anticipation and impatience, especially as his dick shifted again, thumping against his cheek. Tentatively, he touched his lips to it, slid his way up to the head and lingered there. Finally, he stuck out his tongue and lifted the tip of Heero's cock into his mouth, starting a few soft bobs.

Heero writhed under Duo. After that build-up, the actual blowjob felt all the better. He had little to compare it with, but it beat his right hand every day of the week. Duo's mouth was working him; Duo's thumbs were rubbing the lines between his legs and crotch. The pressure in his guts was reaching its limits.

Heero's panting was heavier now, his breaths more frequent, more intense. Duo wasn't stupid; he could read the approaching finale. He pulled off Heero's dick and flickered his tongue along its underside. At the base, he latched his lips to it again and swept the crack of Heero's ass with a thumb.

That did it. With a thrust of his hips, Heero let go a cry and came, streams of warm, sticky come hitting his stomach - except one stray pulse, which splattered against Duo's cheek, making him wince. At least it missed his eye, or perhaps worse, his hair.

Duo shifted back and more onto the bed. He took a hold of the base of Heero's cock and pumped the last of it out.

Heero couldn't see straight. Even opening his eyes didn't help. He panted as the last good shivers pulsed through his body. Flesh sated, his thoughts went groggy, his body heavy, the faint chill in the open air of the room finally registering with him. He grinned as he managed to roll his head over to one side, facing Duo. "Thanks..." he breathed out, not quite able to focus on Duo's eyes, especially as a pair of fingers slid up his far side and curled in over his chest, circling a nipple.

"You're welcome..."

It took him a moment to see the drop trailing down Duo's cheek. With some effort, he was able to lift his right arm over and around Duo's neck, coaxing him over. Expecting a kiss, Duo went along with it. Still, the final alignment made for a miss, and he felt Heero's tongue lap at his cheek.

He shrugged it off. There were worse ways of cleaning it up.

Heero's tongue flickered against Duo's ear. He'd meant it to be erotic. Duo's snickers was not what he'd hoped for.

"Sorry," Duo quickly excused himself, landing a peck at Heero's lips. "I'm sorta ticklish there." He leaned down again for a more proper kiss and a quick sparring of tongues, then rolled back over at Heero's side, sighing contently. "So... how long did you rent the room for?"

"Two hours..." Heero muttered, not bothering to tell anything but the truth. His mind was not clear enough to come up with a believable lie, anyway - and of this, at least, there was no need to.

Duo started chuckling. "Well, I guess we got fifteen minutes down. What should we do for the remaining hour and forty-five minutes?"

Heero looked at him as he grew a smirk. "I've got some ideas..."

The knuckles of Duo's hand brushed against his exposed hip, heading down. Heero struggled not to shiver. "I'm sure you do," Duo replied. "Don't let them go to your head." He glanced at Heero's abdomen. "Either of them."

He grunted at that. "Did you see the Jacuzzi in the bathroom?"

Duo rolled his head over to the other side. "Yeah, I saw it." He took a deep breath. "A bath sounds nice..." He faced Heero again. "No offense, but the seats in your car aren't all that good for long trips. My back ain't happy."

Heero was well aware of that. It wasn't as if his own spine hadn't gotten a rough ride.

He tugged at the end of his braid. "I'm sure I can find some way to keep this out of the water, but I don't have any trunks with me. You fine with skinny dipping together?"

He grinned as he nodded. He would have been sort of disappointed with any other scenario.

---

'You love him so much... you're too blind to see...'

"Look, Heero - that's the interstate, right?"

Heero squinted towards the upcoming roadsign. Approaching it, he slowed down to read it carefully. "Yeah, I-25, finally."

"Drive under and to the left, now..."

He snorted. "I'm not stupid. I don't want to visit Colorado today."

"We've taken wrong turns before."

Heero shot him a look, but instead of snapping back, he curled one corner of his lips. "Or just the right ones. Vivian had a point."

"Viv- oh, the chain-smoking waitress?"

He nodded as he signaled and made the turn, bringing them up to the southbound side of interstate 25.

"Maybe..." Duo conceded, then fell silent. He took to looking out the window, taking in the outskirts of Raton. It was already past six PM, so he doubted they'd reach Flagstaff tonight - but tomorrow was almost a certainty.

Heero shot him a glance every few minutes. The sudden quiet wasn't unwelcome, but it felt strange. They'd even given Elvis a rest now.

He'd enjoyed their rest stop, there was no doubt about that. He'd enjoyed Duo's company, Duo's lips, Duo's body... He shook his head. It was not the right time to reminisce.

And it dawned on him he wanted more.

He'd never thought himself gay. Hell, even after sucking and being sucked by another guy, he still wasn't sure. He hadn't felt anything about men in general - but Duo had definitely found and pushed his buttons, hard. It was strange. A few days ago, he didn't even know Duo existed. Now, he could even tell of funny birthmarks in hard-to-find places - not that he planned to tell anyone.

Gay was a big step. Being lustful, he could at least accept - especially when it came to Duo. Still, he'd be hard pressed to admit even that. Things had felt awkward ever since they left the motel. Their trip would never be the same.

Duo suddenly turned around, and Heero immediately focused on the road ahead. He still caught Duo's grin from the corner of his eye. He'd seen he'd been watched, then. His heart pounded just a little faster, picking up another beat as Duo's hand landed on his thigh.

"Thanks, Heero..."

He glanced down at the hand, circling slowly upwards. "For what?" he croaked out, voice dry. He cleared his throat.

"For a lot of things..." Duo teased. "Like the hand-job in the tub. I enjoyed that..."

"I did too," Heero answered truthfully. It had started out with playful footsie in each other's groins, but had escalated when Duo had come over to sit between Heero's legs, supposedly for a shoulder rub. "You're welcome." He gave Duo another look, and his eyes lingered at Duo's neck. His T-shirt had slid down at the left shoulder, revealing the hickey Heero had made there. The mark went straight to his crotch, as well as to his left shoulder. He steadied the wheel with his knee and rubbed the sore spot.

"Does it still hurt?"

Heero couldn't miss the thick concern in Duo's voice. Duo blamed himself for it, that much was obvious. Heero didn't. The tub had been slippery, and when Duo had arched his back upon coming, he'd accidentally crashed back against Heero's chest, toppling them both. That incident had sort of killed their mood. "Just a little stiff," he said, grinning. "The porcelain wasn't all that hard."

Duo snickered, muttered "Liar..."

They exchanged smiles. A pause followed.

"So... can I drive again soon? Just hitching a ride is getting awfully boring, and I think you could use a rest from the wheel, and-"

"No," Heero answered flatly.

"Oh, come on! I even sucked your dick, for crying out loud!"

"Being good at blowjobs doesn't mean you're good at driving." Heero looked at him. "And you did it of your own free will, not for favors - you emphasised that yourself!"

Duo let go a grunt. He knew that, but it was worth the shot. He still felt a little snappish, though. "You're unbelievable, you know that? You trust me not to bite your little head off, but you don't trust me enough to drive your battered, old junker."

"It's not a junker," Heero bit back.

"And don't give me that line about control again - you were perfectly fine with having me drive back at the motel."

Heero pursed his lips. Damn Duo for being right. "It's not the same thing."

Duo started to smirk. "Damn right, it isn't." He paused. "So, I was good, huh?"

Heero shot him a quick glance, then focused on the road ahead again, starting to smile. That was all the answer Duo was going to get.

"You were too," Duo admitted. "Maybe we could do it again sometime." For emphasis, he grabbed at Heero's thigh.

A good shiver raced Heero's spine. He could feel the hair at the back of his neck prickle. His leg had jerked, too - and Duo had taken that as a sign to remove his hand, to Heero's regret. He didn't dare speak it. The fact remained, Duo was a young man, barely legal in some states, and on the run from home. There was no doubt in his mind a good lawyer would find plenty of things to sue him for as it were. Duo seemed willing to go further than they had already done, but that carried risks. A jury might not see it that way. Was it worth adding an alleged rape to the list?

He made another sideways glance.

Yeah, Duo probably would be, if their trysts so far were anything to go by. It was a small risk, anyway. From what little he'd heard of Franklin Briggs, he didn't think he'd sue the pants off whomever eventually - perhaps inevitably - deflowered his willing boy.

For a moment, he wondered if the problem could be avoided entirely, if he were the one to spread his legs. The thought was new to him; he hadn't considered being on the receiving end in such a coupling. He knew Duo's girth, as well as his own. Surely, that would have to hurt. Still, gay people had sex, and as far as Heero knew, both sides tended to enjoy the experience. He'd never asked Trowa and Quatre who wore the pants - figuratively speaking - more often. Their sex life was really none of his business.

Although he was tempted to call Trowa for advice now.

He chased the notion away. No, if he were to call Trowa, it would be to confirm his final arrival estimate. They wouldn't make it tonight, but sometime tomorrow...

Again, he shot Duo a look. Tomorrow. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but Duo beat him to it.

"Hey, look at that!"

"Hm?" He followed Duo's gaze, caught the roadsign.

"Looks like we're coming up on Maxwell, New Mexico." He flashed Heero a grin. "Gotta be a nice place, don't you think?"

Heero snorted at Duo's enthusiasm. "There's got to be a dozen villages and towns in this country with your name on it. It's a fluke."

Duo shrugged. "Maybe. We Maxwells have always been fond of travelling. I know there's one place in California. Mom and I drove through it once when I was a kid." He paused, locked the memory back away. "It didn't look like much, to be honest."

Heero tugged at a smile. "You're still a kid, Duo."

He punched Heero's good shoulder lightly. "At least I'm a big kid -and if you're gonna say I don't look like much next, don't expect to get away with a soft slap like that. I'd deck you - after you'd stopped the car, of course."

Heero didn't answer. He acknowledged the first part, and the second joke didn't sit right with him, anyway. Duo looked good.

The fact he thought that, concerned him more. Perhaps he was only gay for Duo - if that was even possible. He'd have to sit down with Trowa and - perhaps - Quatre, and have a long talk about this. Until a couple of days ago, he'd been sure of his sexuality, if reserved. It had been a while since his last date. Years, come to think of it. He didn't want to wake up and realize his sessions with Duo had merely been his body seeking release from the first available source.

Duo deserved far more than that.

But they'd be in Flagstaff soon. He licked his lips again, swallowed. "Duo, I-"

"Heero," Duo cut in. "Mind if we take a break in Maxwell?"

"Why?"

He shrugged. "No reason. Just want to have a look at the place, and we still haven't stopped for dinner. It's been a while since the diner, and I'm starting to get hungry. Besides, you don't pull over unless I remind you."

Heero tilted his head. That was true enough.

"Besides, you really should get another rest."

"Like last time?" Heero teased. "You horny again?"

Duo huffed at that and crossed his arms indignantly. "Despite what I've said and done, I can live without playing with your dick, Heero. Or my own, for that matter."

"Bet your life wouldn't be half as much fun."

He shot Heero a look, but started to laugh. "Maybe... Fine, take the next turn-off, and I'll treat you to dinner. Eat with Maxwell, in Maxwell. What do you say?"

Heero opted not to ask if he could just eat Maxwell instead. Truth was, the growling needs of his stomach weighed more than his libido, at least right then. "I say... are you sure?"

Duo wrinkled his brows. "Look - I might be on a budget, but I think even I can afford two Happy Meals from a drive-through somewhere."

He smirked as he made the turn. "Sounds good."

"Yeah..." Duo agreed as he beheld the hamlet bearing his name. "Provided they've got a drive-through in this place."

Heero shrugged. "This is America. If it can't be done from a car, it can't be done. We'll find something."

Duo's hand landed on Heero's knee again. "I think I already did..."

He glanced down at the hand, his chest growing warmer, his cheeks starting to flush. "Oh?"

The hand made two quick taps. "Yeah, right over there - there's a McDonald's out here too. Can you believe it?"

Heero slouched forward, thoroughly deflated. "Barely," he muttered, and made the turn. At least there was no queue to speak of.

---

'I got a wishbone in my pocket...'

The first hour out of Maxwell had been largely forgettable. The dark landscape gave away little, not that there was much to start with. Elvis was back on, albeit on a low volume - a compromise made in return for a kiss and a quarter of Duo's fries.

"...Heero?"

"Yeah?"

"We did take the right highway, right? We didn't accidentally head towards Nevada, or something?"

He shot Duo a glance. "Why do you ask?"

Duo nodded up ahead, towards a roadsign.

Welcoming them to Las Vegas.

Heero frowned, resisting the urge to slam his forehead into the steering wheel. This - this simply wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. Sure, they'd been under the influence of Elvis, but not even the king's magic could bring them that far off-track in just an hour.

Then, the compass caught his eye, showing they were driving southeast. Somehow, he didn't think they'd gone the long way through Colorado and Utah without noticing, nor crossed through Arizona. The car was good, but it couldn't make that distance in that sort of time. "It's got to be a mistake."

Ahead of them, the lights of the upcoming city reflected in the night sky. "Doesn't look like neon..."

"Check the map."

Duo went for the glove compartment and started folding out the big map. "What am I looking for?"

"Any place called Las Vegas in New Mexico. This has got to be a fluke. We can't have gone to Nevada in just one hour."

He scrutinized the map for a few seconds, collapsing it to center on the area of interest. Then, he found it, tapping his finger on the spot. "Hah! Yeah, looks like there's a Las Vegas here, too. I thought cities that big escaped duplicity. I can understand small places like Maxwell, but... Las Vegas?"

Heero shrugged. "Las Vegas wasn't much a century ago, Duo. Small places can grow big in a hurry if someone's dreams make it happen."

"Yeah..." He stuffed the map away again, not bothering following the creases. As many times before, he landed a palm on Heero's thigh. "So... What do you say to a night out in Vegas, Boston?"

He glanced at the hand, shot Duo a quick glare. The offer was tempting, but... "This isn't the Las Vegas, Duo. I don't know what the legislature in New Mexico is like, but I doubt there's gambling and shows worthy the city of sin here..."

"That's okay," Duo said, tripping his fingers upwards. "I think we can gamble, show and sin all on our own..."

Again, something Heero was sure was true. "Duo, I don't know - if we push on, we can probably reach Albuquerque tonight, and-"

"And miss Vegas?"

He frowned. "It's not Las Vegas!"

Duo shrugged. "Doesn't mean we can't make a good evening out of it. The town looks big enough. I'm sure they've got a decent hotel in town, probably a decent restaurant or two... And Flagstaff isn't going anywhere."

Heero so badly wanted to make the easy choice and give in. He was convinced Duo would make it worth his while, and Flagstaff would be there tomorrow... tomorrow...

"Oh, come on, Boston."

He tugged on a smile, half rolled his eyes. "Yes, my goddess..."

Duo let go a huff. "Look, deal with the nickname without the backfire, and..." The fingers crept ever more up Heero's leg. "I'll try to make it worth your while..."

Pretty much rubbing his bulge now, the hand caught Heero's undivided attention for a moment. He steadied the car and looked at Duo again. A devilish grin faced him, supporting the promise. Indeed, it was a version of Kali sitting beside him, promising both to revitalize and kill him, probably at the exact same time. "Duo, I don't know about this..."

He worked at the top button as he leaned in to whisper in Heero's ear. "Don't think. Listen to your body. It knows."

It was becoming increasingly difficult to cope with driving. Perhaps taking an early night was worth it. "I want you..."

His throat dried up. To say he didn't want Duo too, would be lying. Right then, saying anything was difficult, though.

Duo latched his lips onto the earlobe and slipped down, grazing it with his front teeth. "How fast do you think we can find a good hotel...?"

Wisdom and caution could take a hike, Heero decided. He only had one life, and he'd wasted years as it was. Succumbing to Duo's wiles, he pushed the pedal to the metal and raced into Las Vegas, New Mexico, dangerously close to speed limits.

---

'...a-wop-bop-a-loom-a a-wop-bop-boom...'

Things had passed in a blur after that. Heero vaguely remembered finding a hotel and ordering a suite. They had raced past the restaurant next to the lobby, and in the elevator up, he pointed it out to Duo. "We could go there after we-" He swallowed. "Go there later."

Duo pushed him up against the wall for a thorough kiss and pressed their bodies together. "There's room service," he said. He tugged at his black Batman T-shirt. "Your grey flannel shirt might fit, but I'd only get stared at."

Heero reached for the stray strands poking out near Duo's ear and tucked them back in. "Only because you're beautiful."

That earned him another push up to the elevator wall, but not a kiss. "I'm a guy, Heero. Don't make me prove it to ya before we get a room." He glanced up at the camera in the corner and smirked. "Or do you want me to, you kinky bastard?"

He grabbed Duo's wrist. "Mine. Mine alone."

Duo had started to snicker. "I can live with that..." The elevator bell sounded off, and the doors opened. He grabbed a hold of Heero's hand as they all but ran down the corridor, blissfully vacant. "Besides, there's really only one thing I'm hungry for right now..."

Heero gave him a look, was met with Duo snapping his jaws in his direction. His heartbeat raised a notch.

"That's it!" Duo pointed ahead.

Heero nearly lost the keys in the struggle to get the door opened. Having Duo shove his hands down his pockets didn't help. Together, they stumbled into the room, only to break apart. One went for the light switch, the other set up the 'do not disturb' sign and locked the door.

Bags were dropped by the door, clothes shed in a hurry and bedspreads pushed aside. Lips locked, hands wandered, a leg pressed in between others, two erections ground against each other.

Heero kissed Duo's lips, his nose, grazed his cheek going for his ear and hissed as Duo's fingers bit lightly into his back. "How far?" he breathed out, before backtracking for another sloppy kiss.

"Wherever," Duo replied, hooking one leg around Heero's, rubbing their calves together. "If you want..." he got cut off by Heero's hungry lips, moaned as Heero rocked their hips together again. He smoothed a hand down to clasp at a buttock. He stared up in the ceiling mirror, admiring another side of the man on top of him. "Fuck me, Heero..."

He paused from the hickey he was working on at Duo's neck, body slowing down. "Are you sure?"

Tentatively, Duo nodded. "Yeah... I don't think it'll get better if I wait... and I don't mind if the first time is with you..."

Heero started to smile, glad to feel Duo pull him down for a quick touch of tongues. "This is new to me too."

"I know..." Duo murmured with a grin. "Not forcing you."

He scooted down, kissed a path to one of Duo's nipples. He swept his tongue over it. "You wouldn't have to."

"Good... But... I don't have condoms. I think I can find something in the bathroom for-"

Heero pressed a finger down across Duo's lips, then trailed it down and off. "I have some. Condoms and lubricant."

Duo flagged a brow. "I can understand a straight guy packing condoms, but... lube?"

His cheeks were growing heated, and he knew it wasn't just from the situation he was in. He reached around to scratch the back of his neck. "Back at that motel... They had some vending machines."

With a snort, Duo reached up for Heero's flushed cheek, pinched it lightly and wobbled it. "You bad boy - I was right, you were gunning for my pants all along, weren't you?"

"I was not!" Heero denied, suddenly aware of the palm cupping his balls. He glanced down, then at Duo. "It was just in case-" he hissed as the palm closed tight. Not crushing, but not quite comfortable, even though it did make his cock twitch; good pain. "I hoped, that's all! I swear!"

Duo offered him release, slipping his hand up along Heero's length. "Good to know..." He flickered his thumb across the tip. "So... where's your stash?"

Heero nodded towards the bag he'd brought.

"Go get it."

He had no trouble obeying that, albeit untangling himself from Duo for even a moment made the room feel much colder. He fought the zipper until it nearly ripped apart, dug in for a tube and a couple of plastic wrappers and hurried back, promptly pulled down for a kiss, then rolled over on his back.

They lingered like that for a moment, Duo halfway draped across him, the dogtags sliding down Heero's shoulder. Duo's hand sought out his crotch, flat palm rubbing both balls and cock. Heero moaned against Duo's lips, panted as he got a breather. Only luck kept him from bursting the tube trapped in his fist.

Duo pulled back and repositioned himself, resting at Heero's side, but with his face to Heero's groin. "You've got to prep me, Heero. It should hurt less if you lube and loosen me up beforehand." With that, he leaned in for a quick lick of Heero, base to tip.

Heero barely managed to nod before his body shivered in response. Only with some effort was he able to shift closer to Duo's rear. He grabbed Duo's hips, trying to make the young man more accessible. He undid the cap and looked between the lube, the condoms, his hand and Duo's butt. "How...?"

"Figure it out," Duo managed to say without laughing, before taking some of Heero into his mouth.

He might as well have asked for the world. Thinking was not a task Heero found easy at that moment, with Duo's dogtags intermittently pooling in his pubes and Duo's tongue flickering like that. With some effort, he ripped one of the packets open and rolled a condom onto his index finger. With a bit of desperation, he undid the cap and smeared some of the slippery stuff onto the covered digit, hoping to keep the mess to a minimum. He put the lube aside, forgetting the cap. With his free hand, he clasped Duo's hip, and with some trepidation, he grazed his finger across Duo's pucker.

Duo shivered at the touch and tried to calm himself. At least he only moaned around the head of Heero's cock, resisting the urge to close his jaw. He resumed his bobbing as the finger slipped inside him and wiggled about tentatively. It felt more weird than painful, at least this far.

Heero scooted on his elbow, bringing his line of sight more aligned with Duo's ass. He worked his digit around for a while, then decided to up the ante. It had nothing to do with how Duo had started massaging his balls.

He pulled the finger out, tried to work the condom so that two fingers went inside. It should have gone just fine, but his grasp of the latex slipped every time. In the end, he gave up. Harvey had once told him sex wasn't supposed to be neat - the messier it was, the better it was. Heero figured they would give the maid something to earn her keep. Perhaps something to blush about too. He wasn't sure how often the maids here came across stained and wrinkled sheets.

He was willing to bet not nearly as often as they would in the real Vegas.

Heero grabbed the lube again, applied a generous amount on his fingers and lathered them up. He wiped his palm on the sheets, steadied Duo's hips and brushed two fingertips to his anus.

Duo tensed up and let Heero's cock slip out of his mouth. He took quick, deep breaths and willed himself calm. "Just do it," he commanded, lowering himself to kiss Heero's abdomen just below the belly button. Heero's erection thumped against his cheek, craving his attention again.

Heero obeyed, sliding both of them in, tentatively flexing them apart, feeling Duo's flesh resist, not quite ready to surrender - but giving in. It would take a little while longer.

It would take him less, the way Duo was currently sucking him off with shallow, but intense bobs. "Duo..." he breathed out. "Easy... If you keep that up, I-" he hissed as Duo tried to devour him entirely, failing sufficiently to come completely off and start coughing.

Done, Duo turned his head to flash him a sheepish grin. "Sorry..."

Heero grunted, and shoved three digits back in. Duo hissed as he collapsed onto the mattress on his elbows. He flexed involuntarily, fought his body down. "God..."

"I'm just a place. You're the deity," Heero teased, removing his fingers again. "Want to try?"

Shakily, Duo nodded. He rolled over on his side, waited for Heero to crawl in above him again. "Kiss me, Boston."

Heero did, as soundly as he could. He cupped Duo's cheek and slid a palm down his hip.

Duo moaned into the kiss, shifted his legs further apart, allowing Heero's soft rocking motion to affect them both equally. He wrapped his arms around Heero's neck and hooked his fingers as Heero's tongue flickered against his ear. A good chill went down his spine and curled up in his belly. "Fuck me..." he breathed out, voice trembling.

Heero heard him, but still lingered where he lay on top of Duo. The words had gone straight to his little head, but his larger picked up on the hints of fear as well as desire. He slid down, landed a kiss at Duo's collar bone.

"Now..." Duo hissed.

His heads reached a compromise; obey, but take it slow. He crawled off of Duo, grabbed one of the condom packets and ripped the plastic wrapper open with his teeth. His fingers fumbled with the rubber, and after what seemed like an eternity he managed to roll it on properly, leaving a bit of room at the tip. Most of his patience spent, he went for the lube, squeezed out a liberal amount and lathered the latex up hurriedly, swiftly wiping his greased palm on a corner of the sheets, figuring he might as well give the cleaning lady some extra overtime.

Duo watched intently, taking in Heero's size. Heero's struggle with the condom left Duo enough time to make rough estimates, and he gritted his teeth. It wasn't that Heero packed a monster, going from what porn he'd watched to make comparisons with. It was definitely big enough to concern as much as thrill him, though. One thing was certain; he was never going to believe in Asian stereotypes again.

As the butterflies in his stomach multiplied, he looked away from Heero applying lubricant and caught sight of a pillow. Thinking ahead, he reached out for it, pushed his hips off the bed and shoved the pillow in under the small of his back.

Heero crawled back in between Duo's legs. Duo pushed his thighs against Heero's, then twisted one leg to rub his heel just below Heero's butt. Momentarily distracted by it, Heero gave a huff and smirked down at Duo, taking a hold of his legs behind the knee, coaxing them aside, exposing Duo's crotch.

Leaning forward, he smoothed one palm up Duo's chest, loosely grabbing at his pec. With his other hand, he reached down to give Duo's erection some soft pumps, shedding the last of the lube against his skin. He alternated the lax motion with cupping Duo's balls, gently massaging them.

Duo was having trouble keeping his legs still, and had already started closing them around Heero again. He'd long since made fists in the sheets, and he pulled at it as he felt the head of Heero's cock graze against his crack. Unable to keep back his appreciation, he moaned deeply, giving Heero pause. "Get on with it," Duo growled, his heart racing.

He almost regretted the order as his dick and balls were left alone. Duo closed his eyes as he felt Heero take aim, nudging the very tip against him. Duo swallowed hard, fought his body to relax, trying not to think too much.

Heero chose that moment to pinch the nipple he'd been palming. As Duo let go a yelp and arched slightly off the bed, Heero started a slow descent into Duo's body, hoping the brief pain would distract Duo for just long enough.

He miscalculated somewhat. Not quite fully seated, he sensed Duo's body offer increased resistance and stopped, watching Duo pant. He tried not to sound as concerned as he was, not wanting to stress Duo more. "Does it hurt?"

Duo managed to focus on Heero's face, offering him a sound glare. "I've got-" he breathed, "A huge dick jammed up my ass!" He gritted his teeth in a hiss. "Of course it hurts!"

He caught sight of Heero's expression, making him wonder who was in pain here. Regretting the snap, he raised his arms to claw after Heero's neck, at last reaching around. Gently, he pulled Heero down for a kiss, hoping to make up for it. He missed with the final aim, leaving it but a sloppy graze of lips, but that was enough.

Heero shifted just a bit down, his wayward bangs tickling Duo's cheek as he latched onto Duo's neck, giving him a soft bite, matched by the clawing of Duo's fingers into his back.

Duo rubbed his legs against Heero's as best he could, feeling calmer now. "Okay," he hissed out as Heero's tongue brushed tender skin. "The rest of it now..."

With some trepidation, Heero pushed himself upright again, scrutinizing Duo's face, trying to convince himself he wouldn't hurt Duo more by their plan of action. Tentatively, he pushed in deeper, pausing as Duo let go a short breath through clenched teeth. Duo's glare made him close the last, short distance, his pubic hair prickling against Duo's ass. Fully seated, he lingered, feeling Duo's body close and flex around him.

Even though his arms felt heavy, Duo went for Heero's chest, prodding him right below a nipple, grinning. It still hurt, but not as much. "Move, you bastard..."

Heero's eyes met him, asking what he didn't say. For an answer, Duo tried pushing his hips against him, glad to see Heero give a curt nod. Heero carefully pulled back, then forward in a slow, firm thrust. He repeated the motion as he attempted to steady Duo's hips. Leaving one hand at his side, he parked the other palm at the mattress level to Duo's chest and leaned in on it, hovering over Duo as he moved his hips against Duo's, for a moment concerned with why Duo wasn't looking at him, but past him.

Then, he realized.

Duo panted as he watched Heero fuck him in the roof mirror. The burning feeling was fast dissipating, especially as Heero had started rubbing against a sweet spot. Duo knew what it was, but he'd never felt this before. Not that he cared, as it felt good. He tried pushing his heel against Heero's rear, wanting him to pick up the pace. He grazed Heero's spine, then curled his fingers at a particularly vicious, delicious thrust. A corner of his mind hoped it hadn't been long since he'd cut his nails. At that point, he didn't really care if he would have trouble sitting tomorrow.

His free hand stroked down Heero's chest, brushing across nipples and sweat-stained skin on its slide down, fingertips barely touching Heero's belly before his hand landed in his own crotch. He groped his own cock and started jerking himself off, trying to time it with Heero's motions.

It became tricky as Heero leaned down to land fleeting kisses against his shoulder, his neck, his cheek, his chin, finally a sloppy one against his mouth, the thrusts almost broken then, as Heero struggled to meet both ends.

Heero broke off the attempted kiss, focusing at the other and just as pleasurable task. He caught sight of Duo's hand in motion, slowly raised his gaze to meet Duo's face. A good shiver went down his spine at the sight of the lax grin and the devilish glint in Duo's eyes. "Race you..." Duo wheezed, "To the finish line."

Not cutting his pace, Heero glanced down at Duo's crotch, catching on. His own breath strained, he grunted out "Prize?"

Duo hissed at the next thrust. "We'll think," pause, "Of something."

And the race was on. Duo moved his hand faster, his abdomen pounded from both sides, his sac already taut, Heero's balls still slapping against his ass. He grinned to himself.

Heero struggled to pick up the pace. He straightened up and put both hands on Duo's hips, watching Duo work himself. Even as he slammed harder and faster into Duo, he knew it was futile. It was clear Duo only enjoyed his sharp prods now, and by the looks of it, he was in for a loss. Heero started to smirk. He should have expected Duo to give him a bet he couldn't possibly win.

Then again, he had no problem with that. He was having his prize.

Duo didn't even notice when Heero's pace slowed down, not until it was too late. He barely had time to give Heero's smug expression a surprised glance before the pooling heat in his guts cried for release, not waiting for permission. Arching his back, crying Heero's name, Duo came, warm splatters landing on his stomach and chest.

Panting heavily, arms collapsing at his sides, he flashed Heero a sated grin. "I won..."

"Maybe," Heero stated flatly, continuing his slow, shallow thrusts. "But I'm not done with you yet..."

"God, I hope not..." Duo replied, his leg pliant as Heero took hold of his ankle, raising it up to rest against Heero's shoulder as the man straddled the other leg.

Duo had heard the expression 'fuck me sideways' somewhere before. Experiencing it was a different matter, and he doubted whoever came up with it had actually experienced it - for it felt damn nice. Again, he bit his teeth together as Heero brushed the sweet spot, and he made another set of wrinkles in the sheets.

Heero tilted his head to kiss Duo's calf, eased himself forward against the leg, right up until he saw the pained twitch around Duo's eye. He relented, slipped the leg down and rolled Duo over on his back again. He coaxed Duo to raise his knees, keeping his slow pace of thrusts until Duo's knees were almost at his chest.

"Ready?"

Duo nodded eagerly, willed himself to relax. The pain was gone now; pleasure all that was left as Heero started pounding into him again; fast, hard, shallow thrusts. Even with his mind hazed and groggy, Duo tried flexing his ass muscles, well aware Heero had to be close now, going from the sweat falling from his soaked bangs, his stressed panting and deep groans.

"Yeah, fuck me, Heero..." Duo called out. "God, yes, harder - ha-" his soft cries were cut off by Heero latching onto his lips for another sloppy kiss, and he moaned against them.

Two breaths for air more was all he managed, "Duo-!" Heero managed to hiss out before reaching his own release, not stopping his thrusts as his body emptied itself into Duo's. His heart still racing, his body shivering in warmth, fast growing heavy, he still refused to stop, struggling to hover over Duo and keep his hips rocking. When he finally stopped, his arms started to give in.

Duo welcomed him down, shifting his legs to better accommodate the man between them. He felt Heero's softened state slip out, his sweat-soaked torso against his, warm, stressed breaths grazing his neck. Duo hugged him as best he could, with arms and legs alike. "Love you, you bastard..." he mumbled against Heero's ear.

Heero tensed up immediately, and he stared into the mattress, glancing towards the back of Duo's head. Fighting to relax again, he knew it was too late. Duo had to have noticed. The hands smoothing across his back felt nicely soothing, adding to his calm.

Right up until Duo's impatience got the better of him. He snaked a hand in between them and pinched Heero's nipple, hard.

Gasping, Heero pushed himself up and off Duo, glaring down at him. Duo's laughter dispelled his upset and indignation. He managed an unsure smile in return. "I... I think I love you too..."

It took him but a few seconds to see that wasn't quite the right answer - or at least not the one Duo was hoping for. Feeling sheepish, Heero rolled off to the side and worked off the spent condom, tying it up. He put it aside, swiped his crotch and stomach with a corner of the sheets and lay down next to Duo, taking due note that the grumpy expression lingered. Hoping to save the situation, he flipped over on his side, one leg over Duo's thigh, cupping his cheek with a soft palm. Then, he kissed Duo with all his might, tongue and all.

Duo wasn't objecting. He groped Heero's side, slid his hand down to squeeze his butt, pleased to hear Heero moan into their kiss.

The necessity of air reared its ugly head eventually, breaking them apart for a moment. Heero glanced down Duo's body, and on impulse, he shifted his palm down Duo's side to this hip, then moved his knuckles through the fast drying smears at Duo's belly. He put the slick digits to his mouth and sucked hard on the sticky fingers, making sure Duo watched him.

"...if that's you being uncertain, I can't wait until you know for sure..."

Heero snorted for a response, then kissed Duo again, just slightly less intense. At next air break, he muttered "Idiot..."

With a snicker, Duo grabbed another corner of the sheets and wiped the worst mess off of himself. At least they'd kept the biggest wet spots away from where they lay - which was good, as the only thing left on his mind was fast becoming sleep, surpassing even present company.

It was a good thing the room was warm enough to fall asleep on top of the sheets.

And for once, he didn't sleep naked alone.

-End Part #4-

Part #5