Open Your Eyes

“I’m so pleased you brought me here, Trowa,” Dorothy said sweetly as they found their seats. She hovered for a few seconds before Trowa realised that he was supposed to take her coat off for her and he did so, draping it carefully over the back of her seat. Who knew how much it had cost her?

“The Phantom of the Opera is one of my favourite shows,” she continued as they sat down. “Grandfather often takes me to see a musical, but he’s been somewhat busy lately. Now you understand why I was so happy when you told me you had tickets for tonight’s showing. Have you seen this before?”

Trowa shook his head. “Sister Helen, one of the people I live with mentioned that it’s the best musical there is. She has good taste so I decided to take her advice and get tickets.” ‘That and I can avoid Duo,’ he added mentally. The tickets had cost him a small fortune, but there was no way Duo would be able to get in here without paying. Trowa allowed himself a small smirk at the thought of Duo frustrated as all Hell wondering what was happening between him and Dorothy.

As it went, nothing much had happened between the two of them. Trowa had discovered that away from her friends, Dorothy was actually quite a nice person. She liked to talk and he liked to listen, so the arrangement suited both of them just fine.

Dorothy was polite, courteous and seemed quite an intelligent young woman. Definitely a society girl. Trowa couldn’t help but wonder what she saw in him. She was obviously interested in him for some reason or another, but he just didn’t know why. He didn’t really have anything to offer, he wasn’t really popular, he tended to push other people away before they got too close…

“Dorothy?” he asked softly, clearing his throat to get her attention.

“Yes, Trowa?” she replied, taking her eyes off the empty stage in order to look at him. Her piercing blue eyes bored into his and suddenly Trowa was reminded of a totally different pair of blue eyes that were even more intense and almost always narrowed in a glare.

“Why did you challenge me to a fencing match at school?” he blurted out. He’d been dying to know and he figured that now was as good a time as any to ask.

“I enjoy fencing,” she replied coolly. “All the more so when I manage to come across an opponent as marvellous as yourself.”

Trowa frowned and looked away. “Be honest, Dorothy,” he said. “I was terrible that day. I got distracted far too easily and anyway, I’m not really a worthy enough opponent for you. You seem pretty good to me.”

“The best,” she corrected him with a small smile. She leaned closer suddenly and lifted a hand to his face, brushing aside his hair. Trowa stiffened slightly, feeling slightly unnerved. Heero had also done that to him, pushed his hair out of his face, but he hadn’t minded. Not that he minded Dorothy doing it either, but it just felt different somehow…

“I like you, Trowa,” Dorothy continued, stroking the side of his cheek. “You don’t know how boring it is having to be around other children like me. All the dinners and the balls…Of course, they can be fun I suppose, but after a while, one can find them to be somewhat banal. Everyone is so pretentious. They all pretend to be something that they’re not, whether it’s someone who’s pretending that they really have more money than they actually do, or someone who thinks they’re cleverer than they really are. But you…you’re nothing like that at all. You’re honest, Trowa. You’re different.”

“Oh,” was all Trowa could say in response. He didn’t know how to feel. Should he be flattered that she thought so highly of him? Or should he be offended that she considered him to be a bit of entertainment from the ‘lower classes’?

“You know it’s really quite appropriate that we’re seeing this musical today,” Dorothy informed him.

“Why’s that?” Trowa asked softly. Was it just him or did she seem to be moving closer to him?

“I think you’re quite similar to the main character,” Dorothy replied. “You both wear your masks…” She paused for a moment before leaning even closer to him. “You’re hiding something, Trowa Barton and I intend to find out what it is,” she whispered.

Trowa didn’t even blink, but his eyes did widen when Dorothy touched her lips to his. His body stiffened slightly, unsure of what to do. He’d never been kissed before and it felt…different. Dorothy’s lips were warm against his and tasted like cotton candy. It wasn’t an unpleasant taste, but still, it felt a little awkward to him.

Eventually, Dorothy pulled back and smiled up at him. Trowa felt his cheeks colour in embarrassment and he avoided her eyes, fixing his gaze firmly on the floor. He flinched when he felt something against the corner of his mouth and he looked up to see Dorothy dabbing at him with a handkerchief.

“I got a little of my lipstick on your mouth,” she said in way of explanation and Trowa felt himself blushing even harder. Dorothy smiled and pecked him on the cheek. “Who would have guessed that you were so shy?” she murmured in his ear. Trowa just grunted in response, relieved when the lights finally dimmed and Dorothy focused her attention on the stage.

Halfway through the show, the curtains had closed for the interval and Trowa had excused himself to go to the bathroom. Dorothy had just smiled and told him not to be too long and off he’d gone.

He found the men’s washroom easily enough and was pleased to find that it was empty. He didn’t think he could handle dealing with large crowds right now.

The date had been going pretty well so far, or so he’d imagined. Dorothy seemed nice enough and they had seemed to get along. When she had kissed him though, it had thrown him off-balance somewhat and now Trowa didn’t know how to act. Until now they’d stuck to safe territory, talking about schoolwork, music and books and Trowa had been comfortable with that.

It was the kiss that had got him so confused. He still didn’t think that he even liked Dorothy in that way. ‘Oh, come on, Trowa!’ a little voice told him. Funny how that voice sounded just like Duo’s. ‘It wasn’t like the girl needed a written invitation to give you a smack on the lips now, is it?’

‘She still might have asked though,’ another voice argued. ‘I just wasn’t expecting it.’

“Enjoying the show?”

Trowa almost jumped out of his skin when a new voice interrupted his internal argument. He looked up and his eyes widened when he saw who was leaning back casually against the wall.

“Heero? What are you doing here?” he asked in disbelief.

“Same reason you’re here,” Heero replied casually. “I’m watching the musical.” He moved away from the wall and stepped closer to Trowa. The other boy backed away a little, keeping a satisfactory distance between them.

Heero smirked and took another step closer. Trowa took one step back and so it continued until Trowa realised that he’d backed himself into a corner…literally. Still Heero kept coming though, finally stopping when he was right in front of Trowa.

Trowa could feel the heat radiating from Heero’s body and he fought the urge to shiver. Heero’s invasion of his personal space was distracting him and he longed to get away. It made him feel uncomfortable, but at the same time, he welcomed it. He wanted to have Heero close to him, his body was telling him that he liked Heero’s presence. Trowa didn’t think he’d ever felt so confused before.

Heero reached up and adjusted the tie around Trowa’s neck, smiling at the way Trowa’s eyelids drooped, the way his mouth parted slightly.

“Are you enjoying your date, Trowa?” he asked quietly, his smile growing predatory when he brushed the tips of his fingers over the other boy’s throat. He could feel Trowa’s pulse quicken underneath his skin and Heero felt pleased by that. Heero tilted his head slightly so that he could look up at Trowa’s face. Trowa was considerably taller than he was, but it didn’t worry him. He waited a few seconds before saying, “I asked if you were enjoying your date.”

“Hmm?” Trowa blinked at him, his expression a cross between sleepy and confused. All in all, he looked quite endearing to the smaller boy before him.

“Not paying attention, huh? That’d get you punished in school,” Heero said mildly. “Do you like being punished, Trowa?”

Trowa seemed to snap out of his daze at that and his eyes narrowed, his hands coming up to push the smaller boy away. Heero was too quick for him however. He grabbed Trowa’s hands and pushed them back, pressing his body into Trowa’s and pinning the taller boy against the wall with his weight. Trowa struggled for a moment before realising that Heero wasn’t going to let him go any time soon. He might be small, but he was strong.

Both of them stood in silence for a moment and the only sound was that of their breathing. Heero moved his head slightly and nuzzled at Trowa’s throat.

The taller boy went completely still and his breath caught in his throat. He released it on a hiss when he felt small, sharp teeth nipping at his skin.

Heero grinned to himself as he slowly kissed his way up to Trowa’s face. The taller boy’s eyes were closed and he was breathing hard, almost panting. Heero leaned up on his tiptoes and grabbed the back of Trowa’s neck, pulling his mouth down for a kiss.

Trowa made a small sound of surprise when he found Heero’s lips crushed against his. Dorothy’s kiss hadn’t been anything like this. Where Dorothy had been soft, Heero was rough. Dorothy had been gentle while Heero most definitely was not.

Trowa gasped when he felt Heero’s tongue rubbing insistently against his, his cry quickly swallowed by the other boy’s mouth. Dorothy certainly hadn’t done that.

Then almost as soon as the kiss had started, it ended. Heero released him and Trowa couldn’t stop the whimper of disappointment that escaped his throat. Heero wiped a hand across his mouth, looking for all the world as though he was bored. His eyes spoke otherwise though. Trowa had never seen anyone look at him like that before. Heero’s eyes were usually dark and intense, but now they were even more so. And they were fixed on him.

Whereas Heero was casually composed, Trowa was flushed and trembling. He took a few shaky steps away from the wall and almost fell. A hand shot out to steady him and he didn’t have to look to know that it was Heero’s. He reluctantly accepted the help and desperately tried to get his face back to its usual expressionless state. It took him a moment, but he managed it.

He glanced down at Heero who just stared up at him, his expression smug. Trowa didn’t know whether to punch him or kiss him.

“You’d better be getting back,” Heero told him, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Your girlfriend will be wondering what has happened to you.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Trowa replied automatically. He was pleased to hear his voice sounding flat and emotionless. That was how it was supposed to be.

“Don’t swing that way, huh?” Heero said, chuckling quietly. “Don’t worry, Trowa. Your secret’s safe with me.” He gave Trowa a little push in the direction of the door. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime,” he added. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

And with that, he left.