fic - two chances : 7

Two Chances : 7

"Um.  So..."

"Don't feel obliged to make conversation with me."

"...Ouch."

Heero winced faintly and turned to his companion.  "Sorry.  I just meant, this isn't a double-date or anything, so... Wait.  This isn't a double-date, right?"

Duo blinked for a moment.  "Um, no?"

"I was very clear to Quatre that this would not be a double-date."

"Okay, not a double-date.  Very clear to me, too."

Heero took a deep breath and let it out again.  "Sorry.  Again.  Let me start over.  Quatre invited me out.  Of course, he would be attended by his boyfriend.  That was fine by me.  But it is my understanding that Trowa invited you to balance things out.  I don't want to impose on you.  He should not have felt that he had to do that.  Especially given the last time..."

Duo chewed on his lip for a moment, sorting through his responses.  "I wasn't sure you even remembered the last time."

He grimaced.  "Honestly, I remember Quatre scolding me afterward, the most."

"Oh, uh, well, I didn't think it was so bad that it would have warranted a scolding..."  Both conciliatory and true.  Heero hadn't really spoken to him any more than necessary the last time, either.  Duo thought maaaaybe the last time had been intended to be more double-datey, but certainly Trowa had learned his lesson.  Or at least, Duo had made sure he remembered the lesson, when inviting him out this time.  He, too, had been very clear that he was just riding wingman on this one.

Heero's lips twitched into another grimace.  "It was less to do with you, and more to do with my... ahem, interrogation of Trowa."

Duo snorted.  "Heh, Trowa remembers that part, too.  Probably why he felt like he had to invite me along as backup.  I think he despaired of Quatre ever seeing him again, after that night."

A corner of Heero's mouth moved, this time, in perhaps amusement?  "Mission accomplished, then."

"Hm?  But, they're still seeing each other."

Heero shook his head slightly.  "I wasn't trying to break them up.  I was just... testing Trowa's mettle."

"Huh.  So... I guess Trowa passed the test, since they are still together?"

"For now," Heero answered serenely.  It almost sounded simply provisional and not altogether omimous.  Almost, mostly.

Duo chuckled.  This wasn't the sort of guy he had imagined would be one of Quatre's best friends, but.... maybe he could see it.  If he squinted.  "Okay, so, then, just to be clear... There's no bad blood between us?"

Heero seemed faintly surprised by the thought.  "No, not at all.  My apologies if I gave you that impression."

"No offense, but I suspect that may be an apology you're pretty used to delivering."

Heero laughed quietly, which faintly surprised Duo in turn.  "True, I may often give that impression to people... But I don't often apologize for it."

Duo found himself smiling.  "Ah, well, I'm honored."






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