windandstorm | (no subject)

While the movie was on, it hadn't been so bad. It wasn't a silent experience, by any means (when Duo involved, it rarely was), but comments were directed toward the screen instead of each other, and any silence was easily filled by the film continuing on. Once it ended, it was harder to keep himself distracted from the fact that things were off-balance, and that made it harder to pretend that they weren't. It was a stupid cycle, but he wasn't going to let the fact that he'd asked about something he probably shouldn't have screw up their friendship. Especially since it hadn't. Not yet.

It wasn't the asking that was causing the problem, it was the fact that things seemed different, but they weren't different, not really, and that was seriously throwing Duo off. It would almost be easier if Heero had been angry, if only because then Duo's nervous energy could be used trying to fix things instead of trying to not mess things up by anticipating nonexistent issues. He was trying to ignore all of that, though, so he just leaned back in his seat and stretched. If he acted like there wasn't anything wrong, there wouldn't be anything wrong... right? "That one wasn't terrible. Told you I could find a good movie if you gave me another chance."

Threaded | Flat

Duo hadn't quite come up with a response to that yet when Heero's phone went off. Duo startled and his eyes went wide. "Don't answer that."

Heero had already flipped open his phone by the time Duo had said something, and Heero hadn't recognized the number so he'd answered anyway... until he realized what that probably meant. His eyes went wide. He started to ask Duo why the hell Howard had his number, but remembered he'd already answered. So instead, he just gave Duo a Look as he spoke into the phone, "Hello?"

"Heero! How are ya? Haven't talked to you in a while."

Duo just pressed a hand to his face, looking rather like death had come calling in the form of Heero's phone. "Just tell him you're busy and hang up," he muttered through his hand.

Heero hesitated, but figured Howard would just call back if he hung up now. Besides, this was surely some sort of test. Hell if Heero was backing away from something like that.

"I'm well. And yes, it has been a while. How are you?"

Duo leaned his head back and addressed the ceiling. "He's talking to him. Of course he's talking to him, this is Heero. A normal person would hang up the phone. Move on. Ignore the old man and his insanity. But no, he has to talk to him, make conversation even."

"A little achy — I'm not as young as I used to be, you know. But fine all together. Everybody's got to have something to complain about." His next question would have been to verify Duo's presence, but it was hard to miss the rambling. He continued after a moment, the smile clear in his voice. "You know you can kick Duo out any time you want. He's still got a place here, even if he insists on bothering other people."

Heero waved a hand at Duo. He wasn't sure if Duo would even see it, but still. Whatever. His attention was still on the phone.

He was about to comment on the aching, maybe suggest something, but the conversation moved away from it. And really, he couldn't help but smile faintly. Just a little. "I know. But he's welcome here."

"Not sure why, but then again you always seemed like somebody who knew what they wanted. You're welcome here too, alright? Just because he won't stay it doesn't mean you can't drop by."

Duo had not, in fact, seen the hand. "I tried to tell him. If he'd just listened, he wouldn't even be on the phone. We could be at dinner. Like I said we were going to be. It wasn't even a lie."

"Yeah. I know. ... Thanks." So far, not so bad. Heero was kind of afraid of letting his guard down, of course, but so far everything seemed genuine enough. It was also a good thing he'd learned long ago how best to ignore Duo's rambling.

"And that's even if he manages to do something stupid, alright? Because if I know Duo he's going to mess up at least once, big time, and be too proud to say anything. I'm surprised he went through with talking to you tonight."

Duo had trailed off into muttering to himself by this point, just waiting for Heero to get off the phone.

Heero was surprised, too, of course. In a way, he still wasn't quite grasping the entirety of what this meant, but... that could be dealt with later.

"If it happens, I'll fix it. Don't worry." Heero found that he couldn't help but smile. "We're about to leave for dinner," he added, trying to wrap it up so Duo would stop fidgeting, muttering and worrying.

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