Log Post
Who: Kyouya and Wufei
What: Ice cream eating and mental sparring
Where: Kyouya's apartment
When: This past weekend, I suppose
Why: They hadn't seen each other in a while, and the idea of Wufei bringing ice cream to Kyouya's place was too amusing to pass up.
Also: No witnesses.
It was nice having high-level security clearance. It meant that you could do personal research and no one would question you about it, because they didn't have the clearance to, or they just didn't care what you did as long as you also did your job. Which was how Wufei was standing at Kyouya's door despite not having known the other boy's exact address upon landing in Japan. He knocked lightly, because it was just polite, since it really wasn't necessary to break into a non-enemy's apartment.
With a sigh, Kyouya lugged himself off the couch where he was watching TV to answer the door, figuring it was probably another in a long line of salespeople. Irritated, he opened the door, muttering loudly as he did so, at first not even bothering to look up, "I told you guys I didn't want that damn vac-- oh." His eyes widened and he flushed slightly as he looked at who was actually at his door. "Um. I... sup, Wufei," he finished lamely, then, regaining composure, "I don't remember giving you my address."
"You didn't," the Chinese boy replied with a small, satisfied smirk. "May I come in, or would you like to continue your diatribe to the invisible vacuum cleaner salesman?"
Kyouya's expression soured slightly at the remark but he stood aside so Wufei could come out of the doorway. "It's not my fault they always show up over here. C'mon in."
"I could arrange it that they don't," Wufei murmured, stepping into the apartment and taking a quick glance around, measuring everything he saw and memorizing it all out of habit, including the nearest three exits and possible weaknesses in security.
Kyouya shook his head. "I get a kick out of yelling at them. Sometimes." Noticing Wufei's glance around the apartment, he shrugged. "Not much, but it's all right."
Wufei blinked and redirected his attention to Kyouya. "No, it is a fine apartment. I was just..." His eyes rolled up to the ceiling as he struggled to rationalize what he'd been doing, since he certainly wasn't in anything like hostile territory, not really. "It is habit for me to assess my surroundings whenever I enter a room."
"It's not like anything's going to pop up and attack you," Kyouya said dryly. "Anyway. Make yourself comfortable." Kyouya wasn't used to anyone coming over unexpectedly and it had thrown him off-kilter, searching for whatever manners he might have left. "There's the couch over there and... um. I can get you some ice-cream," he said with a grin.
"Unnecessary," the Chinese boy responded in a clipped tone. He handed over a small shopping bag that he'd had partially obscured behind him. It may or may not have contained two pints of ice cream.
Kyouya laughed despite himself as he opened up the bag. "Aw, Wufei, you shouldn't have. You even got me praline! You're so damn sweet."
"That is only because I do not share pints of ice cream. With anyone." He reached out to pull his own pint of mocha chip fudge swirl from the bag and then seated himself gracefully on the couch, waiting for Kyouya to get them spoons.
"Right," Kyouya said, before sauntering off to the kitchen. He returned a minute later with spoons. Handing one to Wufei, he sat down beside him on the couch. "God, you'd think I would've gotten sick of ice-cream by now, wouldn't you?" he said while opening his container of it.
"You have had...a few days to recover," Wufei responded thoughtfully, prying open his own pint and daintily taking his first spoonful. And then he sighed and slouched a little on the couch, letting his eyes drift closed in contentment. Though he had a massive sweet tooth, he didn't often allow himself to indulge it.
"Well, it's pints at a time from now on," Kyouya said, shaking his head slightly before he absently started to eat his own ice cream. "You know, no one else--" he cut himself off, painfully noticeably, but tried to muffle the pause by shoving in another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.
Wufei opened his eyes and arched a brow in Kyouya's direction. He wasn't going to let the other boy get away with that, chocolate-induced good mood or not. "Yes?" he asked, once he'd swallowed his current spoonful.
Kyouya blinked, trying to make his expression as guileless as possible. "Nothing. Lost my train of thought there. So how's New York post-Christmas and New Year's and all that crap, eh?"
The Chinese boy deadpanned, and then carefully placed his spoon in the pint of ice cream, turning so that he could stare impassively into Kyouya's eyes. "Do you really think that I am going to let you off that easily?" he asked silkily.
The corner of Kyouya's lip twitched, and he snorted. "Do you ever?" he asked, then before waiting for an answer, "I just... maybe I overreacted."
"That is not how you began your sentence," Wufei pressed, voice prim and correct. "You said, 'You know, no one else.' No one else what?"
Kyouya sighed. "I stopped 'cause I knew better than to think you wanted to hear it. But since you're so determined No one else seemed all that concerned about Rukia. Beyond the obvious, I mean." Kyouya returned his attentions to the pint of ice cream in front of him.
"Perhaps they simply put it down as another symptom of the disease that is Brawl," Wufei suggested, picking up his spoon and prudently deciding not to bait Kyouya on the subject.
"Yeah, perhaps." Kyouya rolled his eyes, showing exactly how likely he thought that prospect was. "I'm probably making a big deal out of absolutely nothing. But when people crack up, it bothers the hell out of me."
Wufei's eyebrows furrowed. "But...doesn't that happen an awful lot around here? You should direct your energies elsewhere. Worrying never did anyone any good." He took another spoonful of ice cream, swirling it around his mouth thoughtfully.
"You're right. Of course." Kyouya took another bite of ice cream. He didn't need or want to go into how the fact that he was worrying so much was causing him to second-guess himself and if he'd really even gotten over Rukia or not. Wufei didn't exactly strike him as therapist material, and it seemed to Kyouya that he'd probably try his patience if he kept going on about her.
The Chinese boy gave Kyouya a long, measuring look. "Look," he sighed, shifting a little closer to the other boy and staring at him unblinkingly. "I have not been at Brawl for very long, but even I have noticed that problems tend to always right themselves eventually." He tilted his head, bird-like. "Unless that is not the only thing bothering you?"
Kyouya swallowed, figuring it was best to go ahead with it. "You're not going to give up until I tell you, are you? If it was just that, I probably would've just eaten an ice-cream cone and called it a fucking day." He set aside his spoon. "I never thought I'd say this but I'm worried about is that I care too damn much about her."
Wufei blinked. He had not quite been expecting that. "I..." He took another spoonful of ice cream and began again. "That is not something I have any experience with," he murmured, embarrassed now that he had pulled the truth from Kyouya and now could not even effectively continue the conversation.
"You were the one that wanted to know," Kyouya couldn't help but add, more sourly than he'd intended to, mentally wanting to kick himself for it a second later. "I mean. I-- sorry. It's stupid."
"Stupid?" Wufei shrugged. "I do not think so. You are right to be concerned about that... Especially if you are with Ren now." He looked at Kyouya thoughtfully, and then reached out with his spoon and snagged a scoop of the other boy's ice cream. And then pulled a face as he actually tasted it. Nope, still didn't like pecan.
"Hey!" Kyouya yelped, albeit a bit belatedly. "Two can play at that game, you know. 'Cept I actually like chocolate, too." He reached over in a vague attempt to steal a spoonful of Wufei's ice cream.
Even though he'd asserted not long ago that he didn't share, Wufei didn't even attempt to pull his pint of ice cream away, though he certainly had the reflexes to prevent the theft if he'd wanted to. "That is because chocolate is a far superior flavour," he sniffed.
"It's only good for variety's sake, really," Kyouya said with a snort as he scooped up a spoonful and ate it. He resisted the temptation to take advantage of Wufei's current goodwill and get another scoop. Barely.
"I'm sorry, that opinion is not valid," Wufei responded, very carefully shifting his ice cream out of Kyouya's reach once he'd taken his scoop and sagging back on the couch again to enjoy his treat. "You will just have to come up with something else."
Kyouya pouted slightly but returned to poking at the remains of his own ice cream. "Can I just say your opinion of my opinion's horribly biased?"
"You can say whatever you like, but that doesn't mean I will listen and/or care." The Chinese boy shot his friend a smirk. Then, as seamlessly and casually as anything, he added, "Did you know that your apartment has about a dozen security flaws? One would someone like you ought to be a little more careful..."
"Security flaws?" Kyouya raised his eyebrows, for some reason privately amused at the topic change. "Sure, the locks on the doors are pretty terrible, but I seriously doubt anyone thinking it was worth their time to break in."
Wufei raised an eyebrow. "You haven't made your fair share of enemies?"
"Surprisingly, no, not lately." Kyouya shrugged. "I guess I've straightened up too much for that."
"Even still," Wufei continued stubbornly, rather surprised that Kyouya really didn't seem all that concerned about his well-being and safety. "Would it really take too much effort to install some better locks on your door and windows?"
"It wouldn't be worth it. But when someone decides to rob me of my oh-so-valuable collection of yuri manga, I'll let you know." Kyouya said with a smirk. "Why's it bother you, anyway?"
"You know, you don't live here alone," Wufei murmured, carefully looking only at his ice cream, as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. "Even if you are not concerned about your possessions or your own safety..." He trailed off and glanced at Kyouya deliberately. Oh yes. Chang Wufei could be manipulative when he wanted to be. Though he had no idea why he wanted to be in this case.
"... Um." Kyouya chewed on his lip nervously. He knew he was being manipulated but he also knew there wasn't much he could do about it without coming off as the most callous boyfriend in the world. "... Ren's, er. Actually the only way you could stop him would be if you had a... gun..." he trailed hopelessly, falling into the trap despite himself.
"And, when and where I was from, that might be a valid argument. But in this time and place, do you have any idea how easy it is to get a gun? Even in the countries where guns are illegal. I have a lot of guns, and most of them aren't registered." He raised an eyebrow. "How many do you suppose I'm carrying right now?"
"Without reading your mind? I have no clue. Three?" Kyouya shrugged, finally set what little was left of his pint of ice cream down on the table near the couch.
Somehow, Kyouya's ability to read minds had slipped his mind. Wufei leaned back on the couch, continuing to eat his own ice cream slowly. "I can conceal up to five weapons, in the clothing that I normally wear on missions. Not to mention the weapons I don't bother concealing. In this," he gestured vaguely to the Chinese-style tunic and pants, "two at a maximum, but generally one of them is a knife. However, today I am only carrying my Luger, because obviously there should be no need for any greater firepower." He also carried his sword at his hip, but the other boy had probably already noticed that, if he wasn't completely blind. "The point is, guns are easy to get. You ought to be more careful."
Kyouya couldn't help but stare blankly at the other boy for a second as what he was saying hit him. "You brought a Luger. To go to my house to eat ice cream."
Wufei blinked back. "You never know what could happen. I also brought Nataku, but that was more because there is no faster way to travel," he sniffed, as if it were standard to bring a gun and a Gundam when one was out visiting.
"You're so paranoid, Wufei." Kyouya shook his head slightly. "I'll get better locks or something, though. Maybe. Just in case."
The Chinese boy looked away, as if he found the view out the window particularly interesting. "Even if you have not made many enemies recently, you are still consorting with me," he murmured quietly, reluctantly. Admitting his past to this boy was one thing. He had danced with his demons, and was fairly confident that despite his regrets, they couldn't easily be used against him by someone else. Admitting things about his life that could put him at risk...well, he didn't particularly want to do that, but he was likely endangering Kyouya by consorting with him at all, so the other boy had a right to know. "I have plenty of enemies, still. Very few of them actually know who I am or what I am capable of, but they know who I work for, and what I am to do."
"Oh." Kyouya didn't quite know what else to say to that. "God, they wouldn't seriously chase you all the way out to Japan, would--well. From the sound of it I guess they would."
"Some of them are in Japan. The Yakuza, for example, would not be pleased if a complete world peace could be reached." Wufei took his last bite of ice cream, hummed softly as it melted on his tongue. Then he licked his lips slowly and refocused upon Kyouya. "I live in the United States because that is where U.N. Headquarters is located. I do work all over the world, and have enemies everywhere."
"Damn." Kyouya glanced at Wufei, still sort of at a loss. "I... I really can't imagine having that many enemies. Which I guess is funny in retrospect, all things considered, but... that must suck."
The Chinese boy smirked humourlessly at that. "I would not know what to do if my life were any other way," he replied with a shrug. "That is why I came to this place. Where I am from, the fires are small and easily managed. My skills are better put to use elsewhere."
"I... see." Kyouya didn't really and he felt like Wufei probably knew that. For lack of anything better to say, he reached over and poked at the remnants of his ice cream with his spoon, wrinkling his nose at the fact that most of it had melted.
Wufei snorted, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "No, you don't. I have been very careful not to let anyone know what I actually do. If I am going to endanger you, however, you probably ought to know why..." he added, his expression souring.
"You know I could find out myself, if I wanted to," Kyouya said with a shrug. Not that he really planned on it. "Seriously I'm not worried about ending up endangered just by being friends with you or whatever."
Wufei was...well, not exactly worried, but perhaps concerned. He wasn't about to admit that though. "I hunt terrorists. The worst kind. The sort of people who do not care who they hurt, or how many, to achieve their goals. They would easily use innocent bystanders to reach the hound that stalks them."
"That's pretty noble of you." Kyouya had suspected something--well, vaguely along those lines, anyway. "How in the world do you end up with a job like that anyway? If you don't mind me asking."
"It is what I did in the place where I am from, after the Final War. I worked for an organization called the Preventers. In the public eye, the Preventers had no teeth, because it certainly would not have boded well for the peace if there was still an obvious force in control, wielding the weapons. However, the enemy would not simply use diplomacy, so there were a few of us in the Preventers who are used to fight back, put out the fires before they spread and grow out of control. I decided, when I came to Brawl and found a world torn apart by larger fires, that I would be of more use here." The Chinese boy wasn't used to talking so much. He flushed a little and darted a look towards Kyouya, wondering what his friend might think of him, of this crusade he'd set himself upon.
Kyouya shifted in his seat on the couch, visibly impressed. "I... that's--I wish I'd had a motive like that for coming here. I just... well. I was bored." That wasn't actually the case, but Wufei didn't really need to know that.
Wufei smirked a bit at that. "Well, boredom may have been a part of it for me, also. The fires were getting smaller and smaller, you see. This place...has many more problems. And I like a challenge."
"Apart from the disasters, it's always seemed to me like the biggest problems around were all relationship ones," Kyouya said, rolling his eyes. "But that might be 'cause those are the only problems I actually pay attention to."
The Chinese boy chuckled. "Well, Brawl doesn't appear to have many problems with terrorists. The world at large, however, is a far different story." Wufei shrugged and slouched a little on the couch. "It is better if normal people don't have to give much thought to the danger they are constantly in. I would rather concern myself with it instead, and let them go on, oblivious, caring only about the latest petty argument they had with a lover, or whatever else normal people think about in the course of a day."
"You'd seriously skip out on having a normal life just so they could? Most other people don't come anywhere near close to being worth that kind of a sacrifice." Kyouya shook his head, amazed.
"I would not know what to do with a normal life if I had one," Wufei answered, shaking his own head. "Besides. Even if there are those who do not deserve such a thing, there are always those who do." Wufei shifted, drawing his feet up and tucking them beneath him, settling into the corner of the couch. "Who am I to decide who deserves peace and who does not? I play god enough, in deciding who deserves to live and who deserves to die for their crimes." He unfastened his sword and laid it on the floor at his feet so that he could get a little more comfortable.
"I suppose," Kyouya said, ambivalent. "But I think you forget you're talking to someone who tried to start the apocalypse. My opinion of humanity's still more than a tad on the cynical side."
Wufei's head tilted, bird-like. "Do you think I am naive, then?"
Kyouya bit his lip, glancing down. "Well, maybe a little."
"It took a lot for me to step away from my cynicism. I am not sure that one can truly be called naive if they regain their faith in humanity after losing it." Wufei grinned humourlessly. "And, 'faith' is too strong a word, anyway. I do what I do because I do not trust many others to make the right choices, if they were in my position."
"I imagine not. So what got you out of being a cynic, anyway?" Kyouya asked, glancing over at Wufei, interested. "I mean, Ren... is such an optimist that it's pretty damn disgusting and that's still had almost no effect on me. What changed your mind?"
Wufei shifted. The answer...well, he was unsure how to put such a thing into words. He wasn't even sure how it had even happened, really. "It was..." He nibbled at his lower lip thoughtfully. "The other Gundam pilots. One in particular. He had always been a weapon. Practically an ideal himself. He fought for peace, not because he believed in it, but because he could not but follow orders when they were given. I was impressed by his sense of duty the first time I met him. Jealous of the fact that I could not be the same way. I strived to shape myself in his image. And, by the end of the war, I saw him change. Saw him begin to believe in this peace." The Chinese boy looked away, licking his lips almost nervously in the face of the very light flush he could feel in his cheeks. "I was shattered, at that point. I had discovered that the man I thought my enemy had orchestrated this whole war in an attempt to bring the universe peace, and I could not handle that knowledge. To see my fellow pilot, someone I had idolized, begin to believe in the peace, to grasp at it. How could that not affect me in some way?"
Kyouya didn't respond for a second, taking the information in. He was very surprised Wufei had even been anywhere near this open about it. "This guy... damn, he sounds like he must have really been something," he said, knowing that was probably a hopeless understatement but not being able to think of anything more substantial. War... technically he'd been in one when he was involved with the cult, but that... really was only technically. Somehow he hadn't realized how far removed his world was from Wufei's, really, until then. Despite the Gundam.
That evoked a small, nearly soft smile, which quickly grew fangs at the thought of the rivalry he and Heero had shared. "He is," the Chinese boy responded. "If you are very lucky, you might see him around Brawl, actually. He is not terribly talkative by any stretch of the imagination."
Kyouya grinned. "Oh, really? That'd be fine with me. I'd practically talk to a wall if I thought it might nod at me occasionally."
Wufei chuckled. "You're welcome to try." He glanced at Kyouya sidelong. "He's the one I have been intending to ask to be my partner, actually," he admitted. There was no need to worry about it now; he knew Kyouya wouldn't say anything.
"Seriously? And here I was almost thinking the whole finding a partner thing was a ruse to make people leave you alone about it," Kyouya replied. "You haven't actually asked him about it yet?"
"It was," Wufei responded with a smirk. "But I wasn't expecting any Gundam pilots to show up. They are the only people I would seriously consider a true partner."
Kyouya really couldn't help himself. "In all senses of the word?" he asked teasingly. "Picky, picky, Wufei..."
The Chinese boy raised an eyebrow. He knew that tone, but he had no idea what Kyouya was trying to imply. "What do you mean?" he asked reluctantly, his gaze suspicious.
"It's almost no fun when you don't get it," Kyouya said with a smirk. "Almost. Sexual partner," he finished casually.
Wufei's eyes widened, a brilliant flush staining his cheeks. "What? No!" he nearly exploded, trying not to sputter. "Yuy would never-- I am not interested--" Why would Kyouya even jump to such a conclusion? There was nothing in what he had said to even imply such a thing!
"Oh, like I'd believe that from the way you're blushing," Kyouya said, amused glint in his eyes as he took in the look on Wufei's face. God, he was too fun to tease. "You like him."
Wufei's lips pursed with a barely restrained fury, but his cheeks were still flaming and he had no idea why. Kyouya was completely off-target. "Yuy is not a likeable person. He is a soldier, a warrior, a weapon. He is the finest fighter I have ever had the pleasure of sparring against, but you are completely wrong about our relationship," he concluded petulantly.
"Now you're just protesting way too much for that to be the case," Kyouya replied lazily, not caring at all if he was pushing the other boy too far or not. "Bet you'd rather spar with him in bed than anything."
It was not physically possible for Wufei to turn a darker red. "You have no concept of how very wrong you are," he muttered darkly, trying not to actually think about the things that Kyouya was saying. After all, the other boy was wrong. Wufei didn't have desires. And especially he was not foolish enough, if he were to have them, to have them for Heero Yuy.
"You're just so cute when you're flustered," Kyouya said lightly, scooting slightly closer. He realized he probably wasn't the best person to be teasing Wufei about a crush, given his track record, but... it really was too hard to resist. "And in denial."
The Chinese boy growled softly, and as much as he wanted to move away, he refused to out of principle. "I am not in denial," he hissed furiously. "I have no interest in him outside of a professional one." He wasn't even really all that angry that Kyouya was picking on him. He'd gotten rather used to them picking at one another, even though he usually ended up taking the brunt of the jokes. He was angry that he was actually having doubts and second-guessing himself. Was there more than a professional interest?
As Kyouya listened in on his thoughts, his smirk only got wider. "Whatever you say, Wufei. I'll oblige. Maybe."
That expression was distinctly disconcerting, and Wufei's eyes only narrowed further. "You do not know what you are talking about," he insisted. But couldn't help thinking about a few of the times that he and Heero had sparred. It was usually hand-to-hand combat--a lot of physical contact, honestly. But he had never thought of it that way. And of course neither had Yuy. The 'Perfect Soldier' didn't think about things like that.
Might as well give himself away. Kyouya knew Wufei would've probably guessed what he was doing eventually. When he wasn't too busy waffling over that guy to remember he was sitting face to face with a mindreader. "Well, just 'cause you hadn't thought about it then doesn't really keep you from thinking about it now, eh?"
In a flash, Wufei was straddling the other boy, fingers clenched tightly in Kyouya's collar, his eyes wide with a strange mix of anger and what might have been fear if one looked closely enough. He'd forgotten about the mindreading, not that he would have been able to keep the other boy out of his thoughts even if he'd remembered. "Just shut your mouth," he snapped. "Even if I was thinking about it, he certainly never would, and I do not want to lose the best partner I could ever find before I have even managed to ask him, because of a trifle as insignificant as this."
Shit. He hadn't expected Wufei's reaction to be that. Kyouya swallowed, instinctively grabbing at Wufei's wrists even though he knew it was useless. Folding as quickly as possible was probably the best option. "Okay, okay! Sorry, all right? Would you let go of me?"
Wufei's fingers tensed a little at the feel of hands around his wrists, but Kyouya's demeanour did wonders for calming him down, and carefully, he released his grip a moment later, dropping his hands to his lap and simply staring at the other boy. "Even more than I am uninterested in such things, Heero Yuy would be uninterested," he murmured quietly, watching Kyouya's expression for some indication that he understood what he was being told.
"Why?" Kyouya raised an eyebrow before continuing, a little too flippantly.
"It's not like he's straight or something, is it? Or does being the perfect soldier or whatever you said mean he doesn't have a sex drive?"
Wufei frowned. It really was not a good idea for him to be thinking about this sort of thing at all. "I have to meditate in order to control my baser urges. It would not surprise me if Yuy were simply immune to them. It would not surprise me if they had simply been programmed out of him." Wufei imagined in flickers the way he would have tortured Dr. J if he had ever managed to get his hands on the man.
"There's no way you can program out a sex drive," Kyouya said dryly, shaking his head. "Sorry, but it just doesn't happen."
The Chinese boy raised an eyebrow in challenge. "You think so? There are ways. You are not terribly familiar with my fandom, are you? Each of the Gundam pilots..." Wufei trailed off, unsure how even to form the words. So instead, he thought about the drugs and boosters he had been given, the chemical enhancements and the way his immune system had been bolstered so that he wouldn't have to rest as much, eat as much, wouldn't get sick if he wasn't able to take care of himself as well. Dr. J was the most ruthless of the five, and though he was not sure what kind of program Heero had been on, it would not have surprised him if a hormone suppressant was among them. And though they obviously were not still taking the drugs, there would still be effects.
The mental images he was being bombarded with made Kyouya wince slightly, and without realizing it he shook his head. "... What the hell. That's so fucked-up. Then--" he started, not sure how to phrase it, "Well, how long's it been since you've all been off that stuff? I mean, yeah, there'd... probably be some effects, but... I mean..."
"Five years," Wufei answered quietly. "My immune system is still not normal, and maybe never will be. I have high tolerances for most anesthetics and painkillers. I do not know how long it might have been since Yuy stopped." If he even had. The pilot's stomach bottomed out a little at that thought, and yet, if any of them could handle continued exposure to such a program, Heero could. His eyes narrowed a little as he looked into Kyouya's face. "The doctors did what they could to make sure that we would survive. They meant us no ill will, but the most important thing was to complete our mission. They did not want any harm to come to us, but there were more important things to consider first."
"No ill will when they screwed with your immune system?" Kyouya stared straight back at the other boy, slightly horrified. "I don't care what it was for, that's--you don't do that sort of crap to people!"
"You think I don't know that?" Wufei raised his hands to Kyouya's shoulders, clenched his fingers in the other boy's shirt slightly. "Do you think I like the prospect of getting injured, and possibly waking up during the surgery because the doctor did not know what anesthetic to use?" Wufei's dark eyes were unblinking, perfectly steady upon Kyouya's. "It was necessary. Not conscienceable."
"Okay. Fine," Kyouya said, stiffening a little at Wufei's hold on his shirt. "I... I'm sorry." What he was apologizing for he wasn't even particularly sure, and he glanced away for a second, before finally, suddenly putting his arms around Wufei in an awkward hug.
Wufei stiffened too, in response to the hug. Despite what they had already done once, he still wasn't terribly used to being touched in a non-combative way. Little by little, he forced himself to relax, however. It wasn't...unpleasant. Finally, he rested his cheek on Kyouya's shoulder, and spoke softly, directly against the other boy's neck. "If you ever tell anyone any of this," and the hug was probably the most embarrassing of it all, "I will be fingerpainting in your blood."
Kyouya shivered at Wufei's breath against his neck. "Well, t hat's pretty kin-," Kyouya started on automatic, barely managing to cut himself off before he finished. "I... I mean. I won't tell anyone. Promise."
The Chinese boy relaxed a little more, though he couldn't bring himself to actually return the hug. He sighed softly, and then nudged his nose against Kyouya's neck inquisitively. "Why did you hug me?" he asked, without a hint of reproach in his tone.
"I..." God, why had he done it, anyway? Kyouya wasn't sure. It had been completely on the spur of the moment. "I don't know," he confessed finally. "It's not... something I normally do or anything."
"Well, I wish I could say I minded," Wufei muttered, biting his lower lip hesitantly. He hated this. He really did. But it was comfortable, and he didn't feel like moving.
Kyouya didn't feel particularly like making Wufei move either, even though he knew it was probably--no, definitely in his best interests. Before anything got... well. Reluctantly he let go of the other boy, flushing slightly.
Wufei noticed the flush, and he sat up, pulling away just enough that he could look directly into Kyouya's face. His lips curved into a knowing smirk, even though he knew that the other boy had every right to be reluctant, and he ought to be the same way himself. "You ought not to worry," he chided primly. "According to you my interests lay elsewhere." The slightest stain of crimson stole across his own cheeks.
"Yeah, I know," Kyouya mumbled, "but... well." As if that explained anything. He didn't back off from Wufei like he knew he should. Even though he knew exactly what it would look like to Ren if he ended up walking through the door.
Then, because Wufei knew that Kyouya deserved it, he thought about kissing the other boy. Just thought about it. Closed his eyes, and thought about a slow, fierce kiss, the movement of a forceful tongue across Kyouya's lips, his teeth biting down lightly on the tip of the boy's tongue. He wasn't going to start anything, especially after Kyouya had given him so very much to think about, but he deserved some payback for the teasing he'd endured.
"Stop that," muttered Kyouya, giving him the best glare he could muster under the circumstances. Never mind how tempting the idea still somehow was. It was just--Wufei was just baiting him, pure and simple. Nothing more. Nothing more at all.
Wufei's dark eyes danced as he opened them a slit so that he could gaze at the other boy. Focusing rather deliberately on Kyouya's lips and letting his tongue dart slowly across his own. Somehow, the act wasn't awkward in the least, and even the pilot was a little surprised at himself, and the way he could act when he chose to. He put it down as versatility; he was not usually the infiltrator, that was Trowa, but he knew enough not to end up dead if he had to sneak into a variety of places. "Stop what?" he murmured, like a cat that was watching its prey. "I am simply sitting here." Nevermind that 'here' was Kyouya's lap.
"Quit the innocent act, it doesn't work," Kyouya snapped. "I know exactly what you're doing." And that Wufei was enjoying every second of it. He raised up his arms as if to push him off his lap, then dropped them a second afterwards with a grumble. "Don't tempt me like that."
"You were teasing me," Wufei pointed out lightly, not feeling it necessary to make the obvious distinction between Kyouya picking on him and what he was doing, and the fact that they were obviously not the same thing. He arched an eyebrow. "Can't you take it, Kyouya?" he challenged softly.
"I could, but I'd rather not," Kyouya lied as smoothly as possible, staring hard at the carpet. "So... stop." The last word sounded almost nothing like much of a plea, even to him.
The Chinese boy gave the slightest of nods. However, a moment later he'd leaned in, pressing the lightest of pretentious kisses to Kyouya's forehead, just to rub in his victory. Then, the pilot shifted out of the other boy's lap and curled up again at the other end of the couch, his legs tucked neatly beneath him. That...had been distinctly satisfying, especially after what the boy had implied about Heero. As if that could ever happen. As if either of them wanted it to. Wufei mentally snorted in disdain.
Kyouya immediately flushed bright red at the kiss, light as it had been. Much to his annoyance, he wasn't completely happy with the turn of events. Sourly he decided to avoid the rest of the other boy's thoughts, settling for just glaring at him again, more frustrated with himself than Wufei.
Wufei's smirk widened into a grin at both the colour of Kyouya's face and his sulky expression. "Perhaps I should teach you the art of meditation," he mused, with great amusement. "Though I am not sure how helpful it would be for the likes of you..."
Kyouya snorted. "I told you I'm not patient enough for that kind of stuff," he said, trying to will away the blush and failing miserably. "Not my fault I'd rather spend my spare time doing crap than... sitting around trying to compose my thoughts or whatever."
"Oh?" Wufei asked smoothly. "And just what sorts of things are those?" A light flush staining his own cheeks, he stubbornly diverted his thoughts to what they had done once, on his bed--something that had quite obviously not been willed away by meditation.
Kyouya shifted very slightly closer to him. If Wufei was going to play that game, honestly, who was he to deny him? "I think you know the answers to that. Swordfighting. Tap dancing. Sex."
And now Wufei knew that he had pushed a little too hard, just by the slight hardness in Kyouya's voice. But he wouldn't be backing down, even with his cheeks turning a darker red. "Shameful," he commented casually. "I have never seen you tap dance," the words were muttered with the faintest hint of disgust, "but as for the other two, you probably ought to have had more practice, if those are the ways in which you occupy yourself."
Wufei had not just said that. He had not. Kyouya got closer, knowing damn well just doing that much was a terrible idea. Wufei was just that infuriating. He tried to keep his voice cool but the rage still bubbled under the surface. "I have plenty of practice in both those areas, thank you very much."
Wufei's eyebrows raised delicately in polite surprise. "Really." He licked his lips slowly, his expression calculating. "Is your awkwardness an act, then? Because if it is, then I must admit you had me completely fooled."
"Fuck you," Kyouya muttered, leaning in closer. "You don't even know what you're talking about."
"You simply do not want to believe that you are not. That. Good." Wufei said the words hotly, leaning in imperceptibly himself without even noticing. His eyes were narrowed and sated, nearly slitted, like a cat's. "I do not need experience to know what is satisfying, and what is not," he added silkily.
"Don't even try to lie. I know exactly how satisfied you were." Kyouya had all but moved straight into Wufei's lap. "Just admit it, Wufei."
Wufei's hands settled easily upon Kyouya's hips of their own volition, but the pilot's expression was extreme disinterest, with just the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "You mistake exhaustion and boredom for satisfaction," he replied disapprovingly. "How disappointing for you, that you cannot even tell when your partner is pleased."
"I can tell." Kyouya angrily grabbed Wufei by the shoulders, leaning in until their noses almost touched. "Do you want a practical demonstration?"
The Chinese boy blinked once, slowly. "No," he answered primly. "I cannot say as I am at all interested in a repeat performance. It would only be another chance for you to leave me as deeply unsatisfied as you did the first time."
"How fantastic," Kyouya snapped, tightening his grip on Wufei's shoulders. "Especially considering I wouldn't bother to give you another even if you were begging for it on your knees."
Wufei licked his lips, focusing on Kyouya and controlling his amusement so that when he spoke, his voice would be bland. He didn't answer immediately, however. Unlikely as it was to actually happen (because quite frankly Wufei could not actually see himself prostrating in front of anyone), he took his time, imagining himself on his knees in front of Kyouya, the slow brush of his tongue against a bare hipbone, unzipping his pants... And then, just as quickly, he forced the thought from his mind, focusing on the other boy's eyes to give himself something else to think about. "Would you not?" he murmured softly. "I do not think it would even take any begging, if I were interested in such a thing..."
And Kyouya wished he really had been able to stop reading his mind. He chewed his lip, trying to force himself to get back to the conversation, not the disconcertingly distracting images in Wufei's head. Trying to pretend the thoughts actually repulsed him. "And just what the hell are you implying?" Kyouya sputtered, as if he didn't already know.
"That even if I am not interested, you still are," the Chinese boy breathed, leaning in close, so that his words whispered across Kyouya's lips. Careful not to get too close. "You especially liked the idea of me on my knees, did you not?"
"No. I didn't," Kyouya said, hesitating only slightly before jerking his face away. He was not screwing up again. "I'm not fucking interested."
"Why are you in my lap?" Wufei asked blandly, drumming his fingers lightly against Kyouya's hips.
"Because you made me mad!" Kyouya snapped, wishing that were closer to actually being the case. "Stop touching me!"
One of Wufei's fingers drifted up, just beneath the hem of Kyouya's shirt, brushing very lightly and very teasingly against the boy's side. It would have been innocent, if not for the thoughts that the Chinese boy had been transmitting moments ago. "Your anger tends to lead to interesting situations," he pointed out, smirking slightly.
"Really," Kyouya managed, trying to ignore the feel of the other boy's touch on his skin. He paused for a second, mind unwillingly going back to the last time he'd met with Wufei... and how it had almost cost him his relationship. In was probably the only time in his life he'd actually exerted anything like self-control, he got up from Wufei's lap. "Sorry to disappoint."
"Disappoint? Hardly. That was last time. This time, you have not even done enough for me to bother getting my hopes up."
"That might be because this time," Kyouya said, gritting his teeth, "I'm actually staying faithful."
"Good for you," Wufei sniffed pretentiously. "Perhaps you could also learn to keep your relationship opinions and advice to yourself when it is not asked for nor wanted."
Kyouya visibly relaxed, settling back onto the couch. "That would be out of character, don't you think?"
"I would not feel behooved to retaliate if you did not say such things in the first place," Wufei pointed out coldly. "Especially do not speak about Yuy as though you know him." He knew how defensive that sounded, and didn't care. Kyouya could think whatever he liked so long as Wufei didn't have to hear about it.
"Hey, I was only trying to help you out. Sort of," Kyouya retorted. "It's not like I'm going to interfere if you'd rather just pine over him forever or whatever."
Wufei bared his teeth in a growl. "I am not pining," he seethed.
"Crushing, then," Kyouya corrected with a vague grin, even though he doubted he'd keep the upper hand too much longer.
Wufei's knuckles seemed to creak with the desire to bury them in something soft as he fisted them in his lap. Abruptly he stood. "I think that I shall be leaving," he announced. "I hope you enjoyed your ice cream," he added stiffly.
"... What? Hey, don't go yet!" Surprised despite himself, Kyouya got up. Had he really gone that far? ... Probably. But it wasn't like the teasing had been one-sided or anything like that. "I... yeesh, I'm sorry..."
It was more the fact that, every time Kyouya mentioned it, Wufei was forced to think about it, and much to his surprise, the thoughts he had were not terribly unpleasant. However, he still maintained that there was no way that Heero could ever be interested in such a thing, and therefore it was a waste of time to think about. The Chinese boy slowly turned and regarded Kyouya with a wary look. Then, a moment later, he'd returned to his seat on the couch, though he had no idea why.
Relieved, Kyouya slumped back down on the couch as well, suddenly at a rare loss for words. "Um. Anyway. Sorry again."
Wufei emitted a soft snort. "If anything, these frequent apologies seem out of character for you," he commented with a put-on air of distraction. If he'd been feeling in a more generous mood, he might have simply told Kyouya what exactly the boy had done that had annoyed him so badly, so that the subject could be avoided in the future, but Wufei just wasn't feeling that generous.
Kyouya grimaced. "So sue me for not wanting you to leave pissed at me," he said dryly. It seemed to him that Wufei had overreacted but Kyouya figured he probably had some kind of reason.
The Chinese boy raised both eyebrows in vague surprise. "It is not as though I would stay angry with you permanently. Not for a bit of baiting, at any rate." His head tilted to the side. "Do you really think so little of me?"
"I don't think little of you at all," Kyouya replied honestly, glancing down for a second. "You're just too easy to tease, is all."
Wufei would have been offended, except that a thought occurred to him. "You are very easy to bait as well," he smirked, and thought about brushing fingers across Kyouya's jaw so vividly that he might as well have actually done it.
"Would you stop?" The words were out of Kyouya's mouth before he realized he was only proving Wufei's point. "That's not the same thing!"
"Oh no?" Wufei murmured, rolling his eyes. "It makes you feel uncomfortable, does it not? I do not particularly enjoy having you insinuate certain things about my relationship with a comrade. I also do not enjoy giving such things thought when they are even less than impossible." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I will take my revenge how I see fit."
"Fine. By all means, keep on, then. I'll just have to start ignoring your thoughts, then," Kyouya replied with a glare. "Not like it's difficult."
One delicate eyebrow arched. "Is that all it will take to keep you out of my thoughts? Thinking about touching you, or getting you in compromising positions..." Wufei rolled his eyes to the ceiling as if in deep thought. "I am honestly not sure which is more unpleasant..."
"Unpleasant. Are you fucking kidding me." Kyouya narrowed his eyes, finding it difficult to keep his voice flat. "If it bothers you so damn much, find it in yourself to stop."
"And be at the mercy of your innuendos?" Wufei snorted softly. "It is a difficult decision, but I think I would prefer to make you miserable as well."
"Sadist," Kyouya accused. "I don't even think it takes a mindreader to get the feeling you're not miserable at all with any of those images."
The Chinese boy licked his lips slowly, his eyes glinting with merriment as he thought about Kyouya, on his knees, untying the sash of his pants with his teeth. "What on earth would give you that idea?" he murmured.
Kyouya could only stare for a second, fighting a losing battle to keep his expression impassive at this latest image, having to chew hard on his lip to stop himself from taking it further. "You're smiling."
"You are reading my thoughts," Wufei purred back, focusing on the other boy's lower lip. He thought about nibbling on it himself, sucking it slowly into his mouth, laving his tongue across it to soothe any soreness.
"Oh, fuck you," Kyouya whispered, folding his arms, continuing to bite his lip until he got to the point that if he kept on much longer he'd be tasting blood.
"Is that not what this is about?" Wufei asked innocently. He would not actually push it that far, to be sure, but it was still so very amusing to play with Kyouya, drag his tongue down the side of the boy's throat in thought only.
If he'd had a way to transmit thoughts to Wufei's brain in retaliation, Kyouya would have used it. "Apparently that's what it's about for you."
"What is it about for you, then?" Wufei looked the other boy up and down, and on the second pass, began to imagine what Kyouya looked like without clothing, flushing slightly as he did so, but otherwise resolute.
"I don't know," Kyouya lied. Willpower. Proving he actually had some. Proving he wouldn't get himself in--that situation ever again. He thought about how Ren had looked when he'd tried to manipulate him into breaking up with him and damn near succeeded. How he'd promised he wouldn't do anything like that to him again. Even if Wufei was practically sending him mental porn and even if it was the furthest thing from repulsive.
"If I had any assurance whatsoever that you might not make crude innuendos in the future, perhaps we could come to some kind of agreement..." Wufei sing-songed softly.
"Like I'd believe you'd keep up your end of it," Kyouya snapped.
Wufei's eyes narrowed darkly, and he surged forward, clenching his fingers tight in the front of Kyouya's shirt. "Do you doubt my honour? My word, if I gave it? I meditate so that I do not have to think about these things. I do not wish to focus upon them like this, nor do I enjoy the thoughts that your innuendos evoke."
"I don't doubt your so-called honor so much as I doubt that you don't enjoy those thoughts." And with that Kyouya trailed his fingers down Wufei's arm, just for a second before drawing back. Torment him back. That was all.
Dark eyes widened a little, the hairs on his arm standing up slightly as his fingers twitched and subconsciously loosened their grip a little. "I would prefer to use meditation to avoid them altogether," Wufei stated, his demeanour a little uncertain now that he was so very close to Kyouya.
The corners of Kyouya's mouth twitched into a slight smile. "Too bad for you it hasn't worked, hm?"
Wufei's lip curled in response. "It usually does," he answered primly. "You simply are not cooperating. If you could keep your opinions to yourself, I would not feel it necessary to think about things that only make my own self-control suffer."
"Well. Glad you finally admit it," Kyouya said smoothly, tone amused.
The Chinese boy snarled quietly. "So what now, then? Would you prefer to continue like this? The more you fray my tolerance, the more tempted I am..." And he imagined exactly what it was he was tempted to do, picturing the way he could oh, so easily throw Kyouya down on the couch and grind against him.
Kyouya shivered despite himself at the image. He tried to regain some semblance of anger or anything at all but want, tried to snap back a response but he cut himself short. This had to stop. Was going to stop. Now. He grabbed Wufei's wrist as hard as he could. "No, damn it."
With the hand around his wrist, he released his grip, hand open in concession. "Then end this," Wufei murmured, gazing unblinkingly into Kyouya's eyes. "I will follow your lead, and you have my word that I will not provoke you unless you start it. If I have my way, I will not entertain such thoughts ever again."
"I can't end anything with you in my lap," Kyouya said dryly. "But fine. I won't talk about him anymore. Happy?"
Wufei scowled fiercely, but scooted back to the other end of the couch. "Thank you," he muttered.
"Right." Kyouya's expression was still sour, despite his relief. It wasn't like any part of him had really wanted Wufei to actually act on any of his thoughts. Or anything like that. "... Now what?"
"Well, you can either invite me to stay for dinner like any gracious host might, or else I ought to be going home, to cook it myself," Wufei replied, his tone not showing any overwhelming inclination towards one option over the other.
Kyouya laughed hard and shook his head. "Oh, God, Wufei. My idea of dinner is instant ramen. My idea of cooking in general is instant ramen. Not that you're not welcome to stay over, but..."
Wufei looked incredulous, but it was only for a moment; he had survived on things far more tasteless than ramen, to be sure. "Very well then, you can either buy groceries so that I can prepare you a mean in your own apartment, or I am leaving."
"You'd cook for me if I bought groceries? Aw, Wufei, you're so very thoughtful," Kyouya said with a broad grin. "I'd almost say okay if I hadn't already gotten groceries for the, um. Week." Which consisted, essentially, of a twelve-pack box of ramen, a carton of milk, and a lot of snack foods, but Wufei didn't need to know that
The Chinese boy was not in the least surprised to have his offer refused. If the situations were reversed, he knew he probably would have tired of his company, too. He nodded once. "I will be off then," he murmured, rising to his feet. "Let us hope the next time we see one another, it will be less...unfortunate."
Kyouya got up as well. "Let me, um, show you to the door, then." Manners were hardly his forte and it felt awkward to even use them. "And thanks for the ice cream."
At that, Wufei shot the other boy a genuine smile. "I can see the door from here," he teased, but nonetheless observed propriety and let himself be 'shown' to the door. He bowed slightly at the waist. "You are welcome," he added.
Kyouya flushed very slightly, though why, he wasn't exactly sure, and he nodded as he opened it. "See you around, eh?"
The Chinese boy couldn't keep the flush from his own cheeks in response to Kyouya's, and he berated himself soundly in his head. "Certainly," he agreed, sounding more dignified than he felt at the moment, and before either of them could make further fools of themselves, he slipped out the door, and made for Nataku as if she were an escape shuttle.
What: Ice cream eating and mental sparring
Where: Kyouya's apartment
When: This past weekend, I suppose
Why: They hadn't seen each other in a while, and the idea of Wufei bringing ice cream to Kyouya's place was too amusing to pass up.
Also: No witnesses.
It was nice having high-level security clearance. It meant that you could do personal research and no one would question you about it, because they didn't have the clearance to, or they just didn't care what you did as long as you also did your job. Which was how Wufei was standing at Kyouya's door despite not having known the other boy's exact address upon landing in Japan. He knocked lightly, because it was just polite, since it really wasn't necessary to break into a non-enemy's apartment.
With a sigh, Kyouya lugged himself off the couch where he was watching TV to answer the door, figuring it was probably another in a long line of salespeople. Irritated, he opened the door, muttering loudly as he did so, at first not even bothering to look up, "I told you guys I didn't want that damn vac-- oh." His eyes widened and he flushed slightly as he looked at who was actually at his door. "Um. I... sup, Wufei," he finished lamely, then, regaining composure, "I don't remember giving you my address."
"You didn't," the Chinese boy replied with a small, satisfied smirk. "May I come in, or would you like to continue your diatribe to the invisible vacuum cleaner salesman?"
Kyouya's expression soured slightly at the remark but he stood aside so Wufei could come out of the doorway. "It's not my fault they always show up over here. C'mon in."
"I could arrange it that they don't," Wufei murmured, stepping into the apartment and taking a quick glance around, measuring everything he saw and memorizing it all out of habit, including the nearest three exits and possible weaknesses in security.
Kyouya shook his head. "I get a kick out of yelling at them. Sometimes." Noticing Wufei's glance around the apartment, he shrugged. "Not much, but it's all right."
Wufei blinked and redirected his attention to Kyouya. "No, it is a fine apartment. I was just..." His eyes rolled up to the ceiling as he struggled to rationalize what he'd been doing, since he certainly wasn't in anything like hostile territory, not really. "It is habit for me to assess my surroundings whenever I enter a room."
"It's not like anything's going to pop up and attack you," Kyouya said dryly. "Anyway. Make yourself comfortable." Kyouya wasn't used to anyone coming over unexpectedly and it had thrown him off-kilter, searching for whatever manners he might have left. "There's the couch over there and... um. I can get you some ice-cream," he said with a grin.
"Unnecessary," the Chinese boy responded in a clipped tone. He handed over a small shopping bag that he'd had partially obscured behind him. It may or may not have contained two pints of ice cream.
Kyouya laughed despite himself as he opened up the bag. "Aw, Wufei, you shouldn't have. You even got me praline! You're so damn sweet."
"That is only because I do not share pints of ice cream. With anyone." He reached out to pull his own pint of mocha chip fudge swirl from the bag and then seated himself gracefully on the couch, waiting for Kyouya to get them spoons.
"Right," Kyouya said, before sauntering off to the kitchen. He returned a minute later with spoons. Handing one to Wufei, he sat down beside him on the couch. "God, you'd think I would've gotten sick of ice-cream by now, wouldn't you?" he said while opening his container of it.
"You have had...a few days to recover," Wufei responded thoughtfully, prying open his own pint and daintily taking his first spoonful. And then he sighed and slouched a little on the couch, letting his eyes drift closed in contentment. Though he had a massive sweet tooth, he didn't often allow himself to indulge it.
"Well, it's pints at a time from now on," Kyouya said, shaking his head slightly before he absently started to eat his own ice cream. "You know, no one else--" he cut himself off, painfully noticeably, but tried to muffle the pause by shoving in another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.
Wufei opened his eyes and arched a brow in Kyouya's direction. He wasn't going to let the other boy get away with that, chocolate-induced good mood or not. "Yes?" he asked, once he'd swallowed his current spoonful.
Kyouya blinked, trying to make his expression as guileless as possible. "Nothing. Lost my train of thought there. So how's New York post-Christmas and New Year's and all that crap, eh?"
The Chinese boy deadpanned, and then carefully placed his spoon in the pint of ice cream, turning so that he could stare impassively into Kyouya's eyes. "Do you really think that I am going to let you off that easily?" he asked silkily.
The corner of Kyouya's lip twitched, and he snorted. "Do you ever?" he asked, then before waiting for an answer, "I just... maybe I overreacted."
"That is not how you began your sentence," Wufei pressed, voice prim and correct. "You said, 'You know, no one else.' No one else what?"
Kyouya sighed. "I stopped 'cause I knew better than to think you wanted to hear it. But since you're so determined No one else seemed all that concerned about Rukia. Beyond the obvious, I mean." Kyouya returned his attentions to the pint of ice cream in front of him.
"Perhaps they simply put it down as another symptom of the disease that is Brawl," Wufei suggested, picking up his spoon and prudently deciding not to bait Kyouya on the subject.
"Yeah, perhaps." Kyouya rolled his eyes, showing exactly how likely he thought that prospect was. "I'm probably making a big deal out of absolutely nothing. But when people crack up, it bothers the hell out of me."
Wufei's eyebrows furrowed. "But...doesn't that happen an awful lot around here? You should direct your energies elsewhere. Worrying never did anyone any good." He took another spoonful of ice cream, swirling it around his mouth thoughtfully.
"You're right. Of course." Kyouya took another bite of ice cream. He didn't need or want to go into how the fact that he was worrying so much was causing him to second-guess himself and if he'd really even gotten over Rukia or not. Wufei didn't exactly strike him as therapist material, and it seemed to Kyouya that he'd probably try his patience if he kept going on about her.
The Chinese boy gave Kyouya a long, measuring look. "Look," he sighed, shifting a little closer to the other boy and staring at him unblinkingly. "I have not been at Brawl for very long, but even I have noticed that problems tend to always right themselves eventually." He tilted his head, bird-like. "Unless that is not the only thing bothering you?"
Kyouya swallowed, figuring it was best to go ahead with it. "You're not going to give up until I tell you, are you? If it was just that, I probably would've just eaten an ice-cream cone and called it a fucking day." He set aside his spoon. "I never thought I'd say this but I'm worried about is that I care too damn much about her."
Wufei blinked. He had not quite been expecting that. "I..." He took another spoonful of ice cream and began again. "That is not something I have any experience with," he murmured, embarrassed now that he had pulled the truth from Kyouya and now could not even effectively continue the conversation.
"You were the one that wanted to know," Kyouya couldn't help but add, more sourly than he'd intended to, mentally wanting to kick himself for it a second later. "I mean. I-- sorry. It's stupid."
"Stupid?" Wufei shrugged. "I do not think so. You are right to be concerned about that... Especially if you are with Ren now." He looked at Kyouya thoughtfully, and then reached out with his spoon and snagged a scoop of the other boy's ice cream. And then pulled a face as he actually tasted it. Nope, still didn't like pecan.
"Hey!" Kyouya yelped, albeit a bit belatedly. "Two can play at that game, you know. 'Cept I actually like chocolate, too." He reached over in a vague attempt to steal a spoonful of Wufei's ice cream.
Even though he'd asserted not long ago that he didn't share, Wufei didn't even attempt to pull his pint of ice cream away, though he certainly had the reflexes to prevent the theft if he'd wanted to. "That is because chocolate is a far superior flavour," he sniffed.
"It's only good for variety's sake, really," Kyouya said with a snort as he scooped up a spoonful and ate it. He resisted the temptation to take advantage of Wufei's current goodwill and get another scoop. Barely.
"I'm sorry, that opinion is not valid," Wufei responded, very carefully shifting his ice cream out of Kyouya's reach once he'd taken his scoop and sagging back on the couch again to enjoy his treat. "You will just have to come up with something else."
Kyouya pouted slightly but returned to poking at the remains of his own ice cream. "Can I just say your opinion of my opinion's horribly biased?"
"You can say whatever you like, but that doesn't mean I will listen and/or care." The Chinese boy shot his friend a smirk. Then, as seamlessly and casually as anything, he added, "Did you know that your apartment has about a dozen security flaws? One would someone like you ought to be a little more careful..."
"Security flaws?" Kyouya raised his eyebrows, for some reason privately amused at the topic change. "Sure, the locks on the doors are pretty terrible, but I seriously doubt anyone thinking it was worth their time to break in."
Wufei raised an eyebrow. "You haven't made your fair share of enemies?"
"Surprisingly, no, not lately." Kyouya shrugged. "I guess I've straightened up too much for that."
"Even still," Wufei continued stubbornly, rather surprised that Kyouya really didn't seem all that concerned about his well-being and safety. "Would it really take too much effort to install some better locks on your door and windows?"
"It wouldn't be worth it. But when someone decides to rob me of my oh-so-valuable collection of yuri manga, I'll let you know." Kyouya said with a smirk. "Why's it bother you, anyway?"
"You know, you don't live here alone," Wufei murmured, carefully looking only at his ice cream, as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. "Even if you are not concerned about your possessions or your own safety..." He trailed off and glanced at Kyouya deliberately. Oh yes. Chang Wufei could be manipulative when he wanted to be. Though he had no idea why he wanted to be in this case.
"... Um." Kyouya chewed on his lip nervously. He knew he was being manipulated but he also knew there wasn't much he could do about it without coming off as the most callous boyfriend in the world. "... Ren's, er. Actually the only way you could stop him would be if you had a... gun..." he trailed hopelessly, falling into the trap despite himself.
"And, when and where I was from, that might be a valid argument. But in this time and place, do you have any idea how easy it is to get a gun? Even in the countries where guns are illegal. I have a lot of guns, and most of them aren't registered." He raised an eyebrow. "How many do you suppose I'm carrying right now?"
"Without reading your mind? I have no clue. Three?" Kyouya shrugged, finally set what little was left of his pint of ice cream down on the table near the couch.
Somehow, Kyouya's ability to read minds had slipped his mind. Wufei leaned back on the couch, continuing to eat his own ice cream slowly. "I can conceal up to five weapons, in the clothing that I normally wear on missions. Not to mention the weapons I don't bother concealing. In this," he gestured vaguely to the Chinese-style tunic and pants, "two at a maximum, but generally one of them is a knife. However, today I am only carrying my Luger, because obviously there should be no need for any greater firepower." He also carried his sword at his hip, but the other boy had probably already noticed that, if he wasn't completely blind. "The point is, guns are easy to get. You ought to be more careful."
Kyouya couldn't help but stare blankly at the other boy for a second as what he was saying hit him. "You brought a Luger. To go to my house to eat ice cream."
Wufei blinked back. "You never know what could happen. I also brought Nataku, but that was more because there is no faster way to travel," he sniffed, as if it were standard to bring a gun and a Gundam when one was out visiting.
"You're so paranoid, Wufei." Kyouya shook his head slightly. "I'll get better locks or something, though. Maybe. Just in case."
The Chinese boy looked away, as if he found the view out the window particularly interesting. "Even if you have not made many enemies recently, you are still consorting with me," he murmured quietly, reluctantly. Admitting his past to this boy was one thing. He had danced with his demons, and was fairly confident that despite his regrets, they couldn't easily be used against him by someone else. Admitting things about his life that could put him at risk...well, he didn't particularly want to do that, but he was likely endangering Kyouya by consorting with him at all, so the other boy had a right to know. "I have plenty of enemies, still. Very few of them actually know who I am or what I am capable of, but they know who I work for, and what I am to do."
"Oh." Kyouya didn't quite know what else to say to that. "God, they wouldn't seriously chase you all the way out to Japan, would--well. From the sound of it I guess they would."
"Some of them are in Japan. The Yakuza, for example, would not be pleased if a complete world peace could be reached." Wufei took his last bite of ice cream, hummed softly as it melted on his tongue. Then he licked his lips slowly and refocused upon Kyouya. "I live in the United States because that is where U.N. Headquarters is located. I do work all over the world, and have enemies everywhere."
"Damn." Kyouya glanced at Wufei, still sort of at a loss. "I... I really can't imagine having that many enemies. Which I guess is funny in retrospect, all things considered, but... that must suck."
The Chinese boy smirked humourlessly at that. "I would not know what to do if my life were any other way," he replied with a shrug. "That is why I came to this place. Where I am from, the fires are small and easily managed. My skills are better put to use elsewhere."
"I... see." Kyouya didn't really and he felt like Wufei probably knew that. For lack of anything better to say, he reached over and poked at the remnants of his ice cream with his spoon, wrinkling his nose at the fact that most of it had melted.
Wufei snorted, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "No, you don't. I have been very careful not to let anyone know what I actually do. If I am going to endanger you, however, you probably ought to know why..." he added, his expression souring.
"You know I could find out myself, if I wanted to," Kyouya said with a shrug. Not that he really planned on it. "Seriously I'm not worried about ending up endangered just by being friends with you or whatever."
Wufei was...well, not exactly worried, but perhaps concerned. He wasn't about to admit that though. "I hunt terrorists. The worst kind. The sort of people who do not care who they hurt, or how many, to achieve their goals. They would easily use innocent bystanders to reach the hound that stalks them."
"That's pretty noble of you." Kyouya had suspected something--well, vaguely along those lines, anyway. "How in the world do you end up with a job like that anyway? If you don't mind me asking."
"It is what I did in the place where I am from, after the Final War. I worked for an organization called the Preventers. In the public eye, the Preventers had no teeth, because it certainly would not have boded well for the peace if there was still an obvious force in control, wielding the weapons. However, the enemy would not simply use diplomacy, so there were a few of us in the Preventers who are used to fight back, put out the fires before they spread and grow out of control. I decided, when I came to Brawl and found a world torn apart by larger fires, that I would be of more use here." The Chinese boy wasn't used to talking so much. He flushed a little and darted a look towards Kyouya, wondering what his friend might think of him, of this crusade he'd set himself upon.
Kyouya shifted in his seat on the couch, visibly impressed. "I... that's--I wish I'd had a motive like that for coming here. I just... well. I was bored." That wasn't actually the case, but Wufei didn't really need to know that.
Wufei smirked a bit at that. "Well, boredom may have been a part of it for me, also. The fires were getting smaller and smaller, you see. This place...has many more problems. And I like a challenge."
"Apart from the disasters, it's always seemed to me like the biggest problems around were all relationship ones," Kyouya said, rolling his eyes. "But that might be 'cause those are the only problems I actually pay attention to."
The Chinese boy chuckled. "Well, Brawl doesn't appear to have many problems with terrorists. The world at large, however, is a far different story." Wufei shrugged and slouched a little on the couch. "It is better if normal people don't have to give much thought to the danger they are constantly in. I would rather concern myself with it instead, and let them go on, oblivious, caring only about the latest petty argument they had with a lover, or whatever else normal people think about in the course of a day."
"You'd seriously skip out on having a normal life just so they could? Most other people don't come anywhere near close to being worth that kind of a sacrifice." Kyouya shook his head, amazed.
"I would not know what to do with a normal life if I had one," Wufei answered, shaking his own head. "Besides. Even if there are those who do not deserve such a thing, there are always those who do." Wufei shifted, drawing his feet up and tucking them beneath him, settling into the corner of the couch. "Who am I to decide who deserves peace and who does not? I play god enough, in deciding who deserves to live and who deserves to die for their crimes." He unfastened his sword and laid it on the floor at his feet so that he could get a little more comfortable.
"I suppose," Kyouya said, ambivalent. "But I think you forget you're talking to someone who tried to start the apocalypse. My opinion of humanity's still more than a tad on the cynical side."
Wufei's head tilted, bird-like. "Do you think I am naive, then?"
Kyouya bit his lip, glancing down. "Well, maybe a little."
"It took a lot for me to step away from my cynicism. I am not sure that one can truly be called naive if they regain their faith in humanity after losing it." Wufei grinned humourlessly. "And, 'faith' is too strong a word, anyway. I do what I do because I do not trust many others to make the right choices, if they were in my position."
"I imagine not. So what got you out of being a cynic, anyway?" Kyouya asked, glancing over at Wufei, interested. "I mean, Ren... is such an optimist that it's pretty damn disgusting and that's still had almost no effect on me. What changed your mind?"
Wufei shifted. The answer...well, he was unsure how to put such a thing into words. He wasn't even sure how it had even happened, really. "It was..." He nibbled at his lower lip thoughtfully. "The other Gundam pilots. One in particular. He had always been a weapon. Practically an ideal himself. He fought for peace, not because he believed in it, but because he could not but follow orders when they were given. I was impressed by his sense of duty the first time I met him. Jealous of the fact that I could not be the same way. I strived to shape myself in his image. And, by the end of the war, I saw him change. Saw him begin to believe in this peace." The Chinese boy looked away, licking his lips almost nervously in the face of the very light flush he could feel in his cheeks. "I was shattered, at that point. I had discovered that the man I thought my enemy had orchestrated this whole war in an attempt to bring the universe peace, and I could not handle that knowledge. To see my fellow pilot, someone I had idolized, begin to believe in the peace, to grasp at it. How could that not affect me in some way?"
Kyouya didn't respond for a second, taking the information in. He was very surprised Wufei had even been anywhere near this open about it. "This guy... damn, he sounds like he must have really been something," he said, knowing that was probably a hopeless understatement but not being able to think of anything more substantial. War... technically he'd been in one when he was involved with the cult, but that... really was only technically. Somehow he hadn't realized how far removed his world was from Wufei's, really, until then. Despite the Gundam.
That evoked a small, nearly soft smile, which quickly grew fangs at the thought of the rivalry he and Heero had shared. "He is," the Chinese boy responded. "If you are very lucky, you might see him around Brawl, actually. He is not terribly talkative by any stretch of the imagination."
Kyouya grinned. "Oh, really? That'd be fine with me. I'd practically talk to a wall if I thought it might nod at me occasionally."
Wufei chuckled. "You're welcome to try." He glanced at Kyouya sidelong. "He's the one I have been intending to ask to be my partner, actually," he admitted. There was no need to worry about it now; he knew Kyouya wouldn't say anything.
"Seriously? And here I was almost thinking the whole finding a partner thing was a ruse to make people leave you alone about it," Kyouya replied. "You haven't actually asked him about it yet?"
"It was," Wufei responded with a smirk. "But I wasn't expecting any Gundam pilots to show up. They are the only people I would seriously consider a true partner."
Kyouya really couldn't help himself. "In all senses of the word?" he asked teasingly. "Picky, picky, Wufei..."
The Chinese boy raised an eyebrow. He knew that tone, but he had no idea what Kyouya was trying to imply. "What do you mean?" he asked reluctantly, his gaze suspicious.
"It's almost no fun when you don't get it," Kyouya said with a smirk. "Almost. Sexual partner," he finished casually.
Wufei's eyes widened, a brilliant flush staining his cheeks. "What? No!" he nearly exploded, trying not to sputter. "Yuy would never-- I am not interested--" Why would Kyouya even jump to such a conclusion? There was nothing in what he had said to even imply such a thing!
"Oh, like I'd believe that from the way you're blushing," Kyouya said, amused glint in his eyes as he took in the look on Wufei's face. God, he was too fun to tease. "You like him."
Wufei's lips pursed with a barely restrained fury, but his cheeks were still flaming and he had no idea why. Kyouya was completely off-target. "Yuy is not a likeable person. He is a soldier, a warrior, a weapon. He is the finest fighter I have ever had the pleasure of sparring against, but you are completely wrong about our relationship," he concluded petulantly.
"Now you're just protesting way too much for that to be the case," Kyouya replied lazily, not caring at all if he was pushing the other boy too far or not. "Bet you'd rather spar with him in bed than anything."
It was not physically possible for Wufei to turn a darker red. "You have no concept of how very wrong you are," he muttered darkly, trying not to actually think about the things that Kyouya was saying. After all, the other boy was wrong. Wufei didn't have desires. And especially he was not foolish enough, if he were to have them, to have them for Heero Yuy.
"You're just so cute when you're flustered," Kyouya said lightly, scooting slightly closer. He realized he probably wasn't the best person to be teasing Wufei about a crush, given his track record, but... it really was too hard to resist. "And in denial."
The Chinese boy growled softly, and as much as he wanted to move away, he refused to out of principle. "I am not in denial," he hissed furiously. "I have no interest in him outside of a professional one." He wasn't even really all that angry that Kyouya was picking on him. He'd gotten rather used to them picking at one another, even though he usually ended up taking the brunt of the jokes. He was angry that he was actually having doubts and second-guessing himself. Was there more than a professional interest?
As Kyouya listened in on his thoughts, his smirk only got wider. "Whatever you say, Wufei. I'll oblige. Maybe."
That expression was distinctly disconcerting, and Wufei's eyes only narrowed further. "You do not know what you are talking about," he insisted. But couldn't help thinking about a few of the times that he and Heero had sparred. It was usually hand-to-hand combat--a lot of physical contact, honestly. But he had never thought of it that way. And of course neither had Yuy. The 'Perfect Soldier' didn't think about things like that.
Might as well give himself away. Kyouya knew Wufei would've probably guessed what he was doing eventually. When he wasn't too busy waffling over that guy to remember he was sitting face to face with a mindreader. "Well, just 'cause you hadn't thought about it then doesn't really keep you from thinking about it now, eh?"
In a flash, Wufei was straddling the other boy, fingers clenched tightly in Kyouya's collar, his eyes wide with a strange mix of anger and what might have been fear if one looked closely enough. He'd forgotten about the mindreading, not that he would have been able to keep the other boy out of his thoughts even if he'd remembered. "Just shut your mouth," he snapped. "Even if I was thinking about it, he certainly never would, and I do not want to lose the best partner I could ever find before I have even managed to ask him, because of a trifle as insignificant as this."
Shit. He hadn't expected Wufei's reaction to be that. Kyouya swallowed, instinctively grabbing at Wufei's wrists even though he knew it was useless. Folding as quickly as possible was probably the best option. "Okay, okay! Sorry, all right? Would you let go of me?"
Wufei's fingers tensed a little at the feel of hands around his wrists, but Kyouya's demeanour did wonders for calming him down, and carefully, he released his grip a moment later, dropping his hands to his lap and simply staring at the other boy. "Even more than I am uninterested in such things, Heero Yuy would be uninterested," he murmured quietly, watching Kyouya's expression for some indication that he understood what he was being told.
"Why?" Kyouya raised an eyebrow before continuing, a little too flippantly.
"It's not like he's straight or something, is it? Or does being the perfect soldier or whatever you said mean he doesn't have a sex drive?"
Wufei frowned. It really was not a good idea for him to be thinking about this sort of thing at all. "I have to meditate in order to control my baser urges. It would not surprise me if Yuy were simply immune to them. It would not surprise me if they had simply been programmed out of him." Wufei imagined in flickers the way he would have tortured Dr. J if he had ever managed to get his hands on the man.
"There's no way you can program out a sex drive," Kyouya said dryly, shaking his head. "Sorry, but it just doesn't happen."
The Chinese boy raised an eyebrow in challenge. "You think so? There are ways. You are not terribly familiar with my fandom, are you? Each of the Gundam pilots..." Wufei trailed off, unsure how even to form the words. So instead, he thought about the drugs and boosters he had been given, the chemical enhancements and the way his immune system had been bolstered so that he wouldn't have to rest as much, eat as much, wouldn't get sick if he wasn't able to take care of himself as well. Dr. J was the most ruthless of the five, and though he was not sure what kind of program Heero had been on, it would not have surprised him if a hormone suppressant was among them. And though they obviously were not still taking the drugs, there would still be effects.
The mental images he was being bombarded with made Kyouya wince slightly, and without realizing it he shook his head. "... What the hell. That's so fucked-up. Then--" he started, not sure how to phrase it, "Well, how long's it been since you've all been off that stuff? I mean, yeah, there'd... probably be some effects, but... I mean..."
"Five years," Wufei answered quietly. "My immune system is still not normal, and maybe never will be. I have high tolerances for most anesthetics and painkillers. I do not know how long it might have been since Yuy stopped." If he even had. The pilot's stomach bottomed out a little at that thought, and yet, if any of them could handle continued exposure to such a program, Heero could. His eyes narrowed a little as he looked into Kyouya's face. "The doctors did what they could to make sure that we would survive. They meant us no ill will, but the most important thing was to complete our mission. They did not want any harm to come to us, but there were more important things to consider first."
"No ill will when they screwed with your immune system?" Kyouya stared straight back at the other boy, slightly horrified. "I don't care what it was for, that's--you don't do that sort of crap to people!"
"You think I don't know that?" Wufei raised his hands to Kyouya's shoulders, clenched his fingers in the other boy's shirt slightly. "Do you think I like the prospect of getting injured, and possibly waking up during the surgery because the doctor did not know what anesthetic to use?" Wufei's dark eyes were unblinking, perfectly steady upon Kyouya's. "It was necessary. Not conscienceable."
"Okay. Fine," Kyouya said, stiffening a little at Wufei's hold on his shirt. "I... I'm sorry." What he was apologizing for he wasn't even particularly sure, and he glanced away for a second, before finally, suddenly putting his arms around Wufei in an awkward hug.
Wufei stiffened too, in response to the hug. Despite what they had already done once, he still wasn't terribly used to being touched in a non-combative way. Little by little, he forced himself to relax, however. It wasn't...unpleasant. Finally, he rested his cheek on Kyouya's shoulder, and spoke softly, directly against the other boy's neck. "If you ever tell anyone any of this," and the hug was probably the most embarrassing of it all, "I will be fingerpainting in your blood."
Kyouya shivered at Wufei's breath against his neck. "Well, t hat's pretty kin-," Kyouya started on automatic, barely managing to cut himself off before he finished. "I... I mean. I won't tell anyone. Promise."
The Chinese boy relaxed a little more, though he couldn't bring himself to actually return the hug. He sighed softly, and then nudged his nose against Kyouya's neck inquisitively. "Why did you hug me?" he asked, without a hint of reproach in his tone.
"I..." God, why had he done it, anyway? Kyouya wasn't sure. It had been completely on the spur of the moment. "I don't know," he confessed finally. "It's not... something I normally do or anything."
"Well, I wish I could say I minded," Wufei muttered, biting his lower lip hesitantly. He hated this. He really did. But it was comfortable, and he didn't feel like moving.
Kyouya didn't feel particularly like making Wufei move either, even though he knew it was probably--no, definitely in his best interests. Before anything got... well. Reluctantly he let go of the other boy, flushing slightly.
Wufei noticed the flush, and he sat up, pulling away just enough that he could look directly into Kyouya's face. His lips curved into a knowing smirk, even though he knew that the other boy had every right to be reluctant, and he ought to be the same way himself. "You ought not to worry," he chided primly. "According to you my interests lay elsewhere." The slightest stain of crimson stole across his own cheeks.
"Yeah, I know," Kyouya mumbled, "but... well." As if that explained anything. He didn't back off from Wufei like he knew he should. Even though he knew exactly what it would look like to Ren if he ended up walking through the door.
Then, because Wufei knew that Kyouya deserved it, he thought about kissing the other boy. Just thought about it. Closed his eyes, and thought about a slow, fierce kiss, the movement of a forceful tongue across Kyouya's lips, his teeth biting down lightly on the tip of the boy's tongue. He wasn't going to start anything, especially after Kyouya had given him so very much to think about, but he deserved some payback for the teasing he'd endured.
"Stop that," muttered Kyouya, giving him the best glare he could muster under the circumstances. Never mind how tempting the idea still somehow was. It was just--Wufei was just baiting him, pure and simple. Nothing more. Nothing more at all.
Wufei's dark eyes danced as he opened them a slit so that he could gaze at the other boy. Focusing rather deliberately on Kyouya's lips and letting his tongue dart slowly across his own. Somehow, the act wasn't awkward in the least, and even the pilot was a little surprised at himself, and the way he could act when he chose to. He put it down as versatility; he was not usually the infiltrator, that was Trowa, but he knew enough not to end up dead if he had to sneak into a variety of places. "Stop what?" he murmured, like a cat that was watching its prey. "I am simply sitting here." Nevermind that 'here' was Kyouya's lap.
"Quit the innocent act, it doesn't work," Kyouya snapped. "I know exactly what you're doing." And that Wufei was enjoying every second of it. He raised up his arms as if to push him off his lap, then dropped them a second afterwards with a grumble. "Don't tempt me like that."
"You were teasing me," Wufei pointed out lightly, not feeling it necessary to make the obvious distinction between Kyouya picking on him and what he was doing, and the fact that they were obviously not the same thing. He arched an eyebrow. "Can't you take it, Kyouya?" he challenged softly.
"I could, but I'd rather not," Kyouya lied as smoothly as possible, staring hard at the carpet. "So... stop." The last word sounded almost nothing like much of a plea, even to him.
The Chinese boy gave the slightest of nods. However, a moment later he'd leaned in, pressing the lightest of pretentious kisses to Kyouya's forehead, just to rub in his victory. Then, the pilot shifted out of the other boy's lap and curled up again at the other end of the couch, his legs tucked neatly beneath him. That...had been distinctly satisfying, especially after what the boy had implied about Heero. As if that could ever happen. As if either of them wanted it to. Wufei mentally snorted in disdain.
Kyouya immediately flushed bright red at the kiss, light as it had been. Much to his annoyance, he wasn't completely happy with the turn of events. Sourly he decided to avoid the rest of the other boy's thoughts, settling for just glaring at him again, more frustrated with himself than Wufei.
Wufei's smirk widened into a grin at both the colour of Kyouya's face and his sulky expression. "Perhaps I should teach you the art of meditation," he mused, with great amusement. "Though I am not sure how helpful it would be for the likes of you..."
Kyouya snorted. "I told you I'm not patient enough for that kind of stuff," he said, trying to will away the blush and failing miserably. "Not my fault I'd rather spend my spare time doing crap than... sitting around trying to compose my thoughts or whatever."
"Oh?" Wufei asked smoothly. "And just what sorts of things are those?" A light flush staining his own cheeks, he stubbornly diverted his thoughts to what they had done once, on his bed--something that had quite obviously not been willed away by meditation.
Kyouya shifted very slightly closer to him. If Wufei was going to play that game, honestly, who was he to deny him? "I think you know the answers to that. Swordfighting. Tap dancing. Sex."
And now Wufei knew that he had pushed a little too hard, just by the slight hardness in Kyouya's voice. But he wouldn't be backing down, even with his cheeks turning a darker red. "Shameful," he commented casually. "I have never seen you tap dance," the words were muttered with the faintest hint of disgust, "but as for the other two, you probably ought to have had more practice, if those are the ways in which you occupy yourself."
Wufei had not just said that. He had not. Kyouya got closer, knowing damn well just doing that much was a terrible idea. Wufei was just that infuriating. He tried to keep his voice cool but the rage still bubbled under the surface. "I have plenty of practice in both those areas, thank you very much."
Wufei's eyebrows raised delicately in polite surprise. "Really." He licked his lips slowly, his expression calculating. "Is your awkwardness an act, then? Because if it is, then I must admit you had me completely fooled."
"Fuck you," Kyouya muttered, leaning in closer. "You don't even know what you're talking about."
"You simply do not want to believe that you are not. That. Good." Wufei said the words hotly, leaning in imperceptibly himself without even noticing. His eyes were narrowed and sated, nearly slitted, like a cat's. "I do not need experience to know what is satisfying, and what is not," he added silkily.
"Don't even try to lie. I know exactly how satisfied you were." Kyouya had all but moved straight into Wufei's lap. "Just admit it, Wufei."
Wufei's hands settled easily upon Kyouya's hips of their own volition, but the pilot's expression was extreme disinterest, with just the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "You mistake exhaustion and boredom for satisfaction," he replied disapprovingly. "How disappointing for you, that you cannot even tell when your partner is pleased."
"I can tell." Kyouya angrily grabbed Wufei by the shoulders, leaning in until their noses almost touched. "Do you want a practical demonstration?"
The Chinese boy blinked once, slowly. "No," he answered primly. "I cannot say as I am at all interested in a repeat performance. It would only be another chance for you to leave me as deeply unsatisfied as you did the first time."
"How fantastic," Kyouya snapped, tightening his grip on Wufei's shoulders. "Especially considering I wouldn't bother to give you another even if you were begging for it on your knees."
Wufei licked his lips, focusing on Kyouya and controlling his amusement so that when he spoke, his voice would be bland. He didn't answer immediately, however. Unlikely as it was to actually happen (because quite frankly Wufei could not actually see himself prostrating in front of anyone), he took his time, imagining himself on his knees in front of Kyouya, the slow brush of his tongue against a bare hipbone, unzipping his pants... And then, just as quickly, he forced the thought from his mind, focusing on the other boy's eyes to give himself something else to think about. "Would you not?" he murmured softly. "I do not think it would even take any begging, if I were interested in such a thing..."
And Kyouya wished he really had been able to stop reading his mind. He chewed his lip, trying to force himself to get back to the conversation, not the disconcertingly distracting images in Wufei's head. Trying to pretend the thoughts actually repulsed him. "And just what the hell are you implying?" Kyouya sputtered, as if he didn't already know.
"That even if I am not interested, you still are," the Chinese boy breathed, leaning in close, so that his words whispered across Kyouya's lips. Careful not to get too close. "You especially liked the idea of me on my knees, did you not?"
"No. I didn't," Kyouya said, hesitating only slightly before jerking his face away. He was not screwing up again. "I'm not fucking interested."
"Why are you in my lap?" Wufei asked blandly, drumming his fingers lightly against Kyouya's hips.
"Because you made me mad!" Kyouya snapped, wishing that were closer to actually being the case. "Stop touching me!"
One of Wufei's fingers drifted up, just beneath the hem of Kyouya's shirt, brushing very lightly and very teasingly against the boy's side. It would have been innocent, if not for the thoughts that the Chinese boy had been transmitting moments ago. "Your anger tends to lead to interesting situations," he pointed out, smirking slightly.
"Really," Kyouya managed, trying to ignore the feel of the other boy's touch on his skin. He paused for a second, mind unwillingly going back to the last time he'd met with Wufei... and how it had almost cost him his relationship. In was probably the only time in his life he'd actually exerted anything like self-control, he got up from Wufei's lap. "Sorry to disappoint."
"Disappoint? Hardly. That was last time. This time, you have not even done enough for me to bother getting my hopes up."
"That might be because this time," Kyouya said, gritting his teeth, "I'm actually staying faithful."
"Good for you," Wufei sniffed pretentiously. "Perhaps you could also learn to keep your relationship opinions and advice to yourself when it is not asked for nor wanted."
Kyouya visibly relaxed, settling back onto the couch. "That would be out of character, don't you think?"
"I would not feel behooved to retaliate if you did not say such things in the first place," Wufei pointed out coldly. "Especially do not speak about Yuy as though you know him." He knew how defensive that sounded, and didn't care. Kyouya could think whatever he liked so long as Wufei didn't have to hear about it.
"Hey, I was only trying to help you out. Sort of," Kyouya retorted. "It's not like I'm going to interfere if you'd rather just pine over him forever or whatever."
Wufei bared his teeth in a growl. "I am not pining," he seethed.
"Crushing, then," Kyouya corrected with a vague grin, even though he doubted he'd keep the upper hand too much longer.
Wufei's knuckles seemed to creak with the desire to bury them in something soft as he fisted them in his lap. Abruptly he stood. "I think that I shall be leaving," he announced. "I hope you enjoyed your ice cream," he added stiffly.
"... What? Hey, don't go yet!" Surprised despite himself, Kyouya got up. Had he really gone that far? ... Probably. But it wasn't like the teasing had been one-sided or anything like that. "I... yeesh, I'm sorry..."
It was more the fact that, every time Kyouya mentioned it, Wufei was forced to think about it, and much to his surprise, the thoughts he had were not terribly unpleasant. However, he still maintained that there was no way that Heero could ever be interested in such a thing, and therefore it was a waste of time to think about. The Chinese boy slowly turned and regarded Kyouya with a wary look. Then, a moment later, he'd returned to his seat on the couch, though he had no idea why.
Relieved, Kyouya slumped back down on the couch as well, suddenly at a rare loss for words. "Um. Anyway. Sorry again."
Wufei emitted a soft snort. "If anything, these frequent apologies seem out of character for you," he commented with a put-on air of distraction. If he'd been feeling in a more generous mood, he might have simply told Kyouya what exactly the boy had done that had annoyed him so badly, so that the subject could be avoided in the future, but Wufei just wasn't feeling that generous.
Kyouya grimaced. "So sue me for not wanting you to leave pissed at me," he said dryly. It seemed to him that Wufei had overreacted but Kyouya figured he probably had some kind of reason.
The Chinese boy raised both eyebrows in vague surprise. "It is not as though I would stay angry with you permanently. Not for a bit of baiting, at any rate." His head tilted to the side. "Do you really think so little of me?"
"I don't think little of you at all," Kyouya replied honestly, glancing down for a second. "You're just too easy to tease, is all."
Wufei would have been offended, except that a thought occurred to him. "You are very easy to bait as well," he smirked, and thought about brushing fingers across Kyouya's jaw so vividly that he might as well have actually done it.
"Would you stop?" The words were out of Kyouya's mouth before he realized he was only proving Wufei's point. "That's not the same thing!"
"Oh no?" Wufei murmured, rolling his eyes. "It makes you feel uncomfortable, does it not? I do not particularly enjoy having you insinuate certain things about my relationship with a comrade. I also do not enjoy giving such things thought when they are even less than impossible." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I will take my revenge how I see fit."
"Fine. By all means, keep on, then. I'll just have to start ignoring your thoughts, then," Kyouya replied with a glare. "Not like it's difficult."
One delicate eyebrow arched. "Is that all it will take to keep you out of my thoughts? Thinking about touching you, or getting you in compromising positions..." Wufei rolled his eyes to the ceiling as if in deep thought. "I am honestly not sure which is more unpleasant..."
"Unpleasant. Are you fucking kidding me." Kyouya narrowed his eyes, finding it difficult to keep his voice flat. "If it bothers you so damn much, find it in yourself to stop."
"And be at the mercy of your innuendos?" Wufei snorted softly. "It is a difficult decision, but I think I would prefer to make you miserable as well."
"Sadist," Kyouya accused. "I don't even think it takes a mindreader to get the feeling you're not miserable at all with any of those images."
The Chinese boy licked his lips slowly, his eyes glinting with merriment as he thought about Kyouya, on his knees, untying the sash of his pants with his teeth. "What on earth would give you that idea?" he murmured.
Kyouya could only stare for a second, fighting a losing battle to keep his expression impassive at this latest image, having to chew hard on his lip to stop himself from taking it further. "You're smiling."
"You are reading my thoughts," Wufei purred back, focusing on the other boy's lower lip. He thought about nibbling on it himself, sucking it slowly into his mouth, laving his tongue across it to soothe any soreness.
"Oh, fuck you," Kyouya whispered, folding his arms, continuing to bite his lip until he got to the point that if he kept on much longer he'd be tasting blood.
"Is that not what this is about?" Wufei asked innocently. He would not actually push it that far, to be sure, but it was still so very amusing to play with Kyouya, drag his tongue down the side of the boy's throat in thought only.
If he'd had a way to transmit thoughts to Wufei's brain in retaliation, Kyouya would have used it. "Apparently that's what it's about for you."
"What is it about for you, then?" Wufei looked the other boy up and down, and on the second pass, began to imagine what Kyouya looked like without clothing, flushing slightly as he did so, but otherwise resolute.
"I don't know," Kyouya lied. Willpower. Proving he actually had some. Proving he wouldn't get himself in--that situation ever again. He thought about how Ren had looked when he'd tried to manipulate him into breaking up with him and damn near succeeded. How he'd promised he wouldn't do anything like that to him again. Even if Wufei was practically sending him mental porn and even if it was the furthest thing from repulsive.
"If I had any assurance whatsoever that you might not make crude innuendos in the future, perhaps we could come to some kind of agreement..." Wufei sing-songed softly.
"Like I'd believe you'd keep up your end of it," Kyouya snapped.
Wufei's eyes narrowed darkly, and he surged forward, clenching his fingers tight in the front of Kyouya's shirt. "Do you doubt my honour? My word, if I gave it? I meditate so that I do not have to think about these things. I do not wish to focus upon them like this, nor do I enjoy the thoughts that your innuendos evoke."
"I don't doubt your so-called honor so much as I doubt that you don't enjoy those thoughts." And with that Kyouya trailed his fingers down Wufei's arm, just for a second before drawing back. Torment him back. That was all.
Dark eyes widened a little, the hairs on his arm standing up slightly as his fingers twitched and subconsciously loosened their grip a little. "I would prefer to use meditation to avoid them altogether," Wufei stated, his demeanour a little uncertain now that he was so very close to Kyouya.
The corners of Kyouya's mouth twitched into a slight smile. "Too bad for you it hasn't worked, hm?"
Wufei's lip curled in response. "It usually does," he answered primly. "You simply are not cooperating. If you could keep your opinions to yourself, I would not feel it necessary to think about things that only make my own self-control suffer."
"Well. Glad you finally admit it," Kyouya said smoothly, tone amused.
The Chinese boy snarled quietly. "So what now, then? Would you prefer to continue like this? The more you fray my tolerance, the more tempted I am..." And he imagined exactly what it was he was tempted to do, picturing the way he could oh, so easily throw Kyouya down on the couch and grind against him.
Kyouya shivered despite himself at the image. He tried to regain some semblance of anger or anything at all but want, tried to snap back a response but he cut himself short. This had to stop. Was going to stop. Now. He grabbed Wufei's wrist as hard as he could. "No, damn it."
With the hand around his wrist, he released his grip, hand open in concession. "Then end this," Wufei murmured, gazing unblinkingly into Kyouya's eyes. "I will follow your lead, and you have my word that I will not provoke you unless you start it. If I have my way, I will not entertain such thoughts ever again."
"I can't end anything with you in my lap," Kyouya said dryly. "But fine. I won't talk about him anymore. Happy?"
Wufei scowled fiercely, but scooted back to the other end of the couch. "Thank you," he muttered.
"Right." Kyouya's expression was still sour, despite his relief. It wasn't like any part of him had really wanted Wufei to actually act on any of his thoughts. Or anything like that. "... Now what?"
"Well, you can either invite me to stay for dinner like any gracious host might, or else I ought to be going home, to cook it myself," Wufei replied, his tone not showing any overwhelming inclination towards one option over the other.
Kyouya laughed hard and shook his head. "Oh, God, Wufei. My idea of dinner is instant ramen. My idea of cooking in general is instant ramen. Not that you're not welcome to stay over, but..."
Wufei looked incredulous, but it was only for a moment; he had survived on things far more tasteless than ramen, to be sure. "Very well then, you can either buy groceries so that I can prepare you a mean in your own apartment, or I am leaving."
"You'd cook for me if I bought groceries? Aw, Wufei, you're so very thoughtful," Kyouya said with a broad grin. "I'd almost say okay if I hadn't already gotten groceries for the, um. Week." Which consisted, essentially, of a twelve-pack box of ramen, a carton of milk, and a lot of snack foods, but Wufei didn't need to know that
The Chinese boy was not in the least surprised to have his offer refused. If the situations were reversed, he knew he probably would have tired of his company, too. He nodded once. "I will be off then," he murmured, rising to his feet. "Let us hope the next time we see one another, it will be less...unfortunate."
Kyouya got up as well. "Let me, um, show you to the door, then." Manners were hardly his forte and it felt awkward to even use them. "And thanks for the ice cream."
At that, Wufei shot the other boy a genuine smile. "I can see the door from here," he teased, but nonetheless observed propriety and let himself be 'shown' to the door. He bowed slightly at the waist. "You are welcome," he added.
Kyouya flushed very slightly, though why, he wasn't exactly sure, and he nodded as he opened it. "See you around, eh?"
The Chinese boy couldn't keep the flush from his own cheeks in response to Kyouya's, and he berated himself soundly in his head. "Certainly," he agreed, sounding more dignified than he felt at the moment, and before either of them could make further fools of themselves, he slipped out the door, and made for Nataku as if she were an escape shuttle.