Toi Et Moi

Heero stood by awkwardly as he waited for Trowa to finish storing away the groceries. He held the slim package behind his back and tried not to shuffle his feet with impatience. As Trowa had suggested the previous night, they had gone out shopping the next day and had bought more things than Heero would have thought to buy had he done it alone.

For example, it had never occurred to him to buy a set of candles and a flashlight should the electricity happen to short out one day. At least Trowa seemed to be the more domesticated of the two of them.

Heero had excused himself while Trowa had been picking out vegetables at the greengrocer’s and had snuck off in search of a music store, which was easier said than done. Finally, after wasting precious time, he found one.

He allowed himself a few moments to peruse the selection, but soon found himself rather stuck in his decision. All the flutes looked the same to him, the only difference being that some were silver coloured and some were gold. Which would Trowa prefer?

Thankfully, one of the store workers seemed to notice Heero’s dilemma and had offered his assistance.

“I’m here to buy a flute for a friend,” Heero stated bluntly.

“All right then,” The assistant said, opening up the display case with a key. “Did you have any idea of what type of flute you’re looking for?”

Heero frowned for a moment, deep in thought. “One that he can play,” he replied finally.

The sales assistant smiled. “Sorry, I’m afraid I didn’t make myself clear. What level does your friend happen to play at?”

“Level?” Heero repeated blankly.

“You know, is he a beginner, intermediate or advanced?”

Heero frowned again. “I have no idea,” he said honestly. He was starting to regret not discussing this with Trowa the previous night.

“Well, have you ever heard him play?”

Heero shook his head. “That’s why I want to buy him one.” The assistant umm-ed and ahh-ed for a moment, but then Heero remembered hearing Quatre one time playing his violin when they had stayed with Relena in the Sank Kingdom.

From what he had heard, Quatre had been pretty good and that was when the blond had mentioned his duet with Trowa. Heero imagined that if Trowa had been able to play with Quatre on that level, then he must be either intermediate or advanced.

“I think he would be at about the intermediate stage,” Heero announced. “Maybe advanced, but I’m not sure.”

“Well, then this one may be a good choice,” the assistant had told him, handing him one of the flutes on display. “It all depends on what price range you’re looking at as well. How much are you prepared to spend?”

“As much as it takes to find him a decent flute,” said Heero simply.

He’d eventually walked out of the store with his purchase almost fifteen minutes later with the sales assistant’s advice still ringing in his ears. Apparently, if Trowa didn’t like the one he’d bought, all he had to do was bring it back with the proof of purchase and he’d be able to exchange it for another one.

He’d found Trowa sitting on a bench outside the grocery store Heero had left him in and he felt a little guilty for having taken so long.

“What’s in the bag?” Trowa had enquired casually.

“It’s a surprise,” Heero replied, feeling foolish. Trowa had given him one of those barely there smiles and rose to his feet, announcing that they were done shopping.

Now Heero was wondering how to give Trowa his gift. Should he simply hand it over to him and grunt, “Here you go"? Heero tried to think what Quatre would do. Quatre was the sensitive type, so how would he give a gift to Trowa? With a sweet little poem, a kiss and a big hug, Heero thought with a scowl. Okay, not his style…so what would Duo do? Attach himself to Trowa like a leech and scream out, “Hope you like your present!” Not a good way to go…

“Heero? Is everything okay?”

Heero snapped out of his thoughts to find Trowa looking at him in concern. He cleared his throat and avoided the taller boy’s gaze. “I, uh…” He thrust the package over to Trowa, still not looking at him. “This is for you…Um, if you don’t like it, you can just take it back, so you don’t even have to open it if you don’t want to…”

Trowa stopped Heero from embarrassing himself further by gently pressing a finger to Heero’s lips. “I’m sure I’ll like whatever it is that you’ve bought me,” he said simply. Heero frowned, hoping that Trowa meant it.

Trowa slowly pulled off the wrapping while Heero watched on tenterhooks, willing him to open the damn thing faster. Finally, Trowa snapped open the box and stared at the flute it held inside. For a long moment, he didn’t say a word and Heero was fighting desperately to keep from panicking. He’d wanted so badly to please Trowa, he didn’t know what he’d do if the other boy rejected his gift.

As it was, he needn’t have tortured himself though because the next thing he knew, he was in Trowa’s arms, their lips crushed together in a fierce kiss. Heero’s knees almost gave out in relief and he clung to the taller boy, probably hurting him in the process, but Trowa was making no complaints.

“I take it you like?” Heero asked weakly when they broke apart for breath. Trowa bestowed him with the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen and Heero’s eyes widened in amazement. “Wow, if it means getting this sort of reaction from you again, I think I’ll keep buying you more gifts,” he joked.

“Thank you, Heero,” Trowa told him quietly.

Heero was fairly glowing with happiness, basking in the knowledge that he’d done something that had made Trowa happy. “Maybe now you can play for me?” he asked hopefully. His brow creased slightly in confusion when Trowa shook his head.

“Later,” Trowa told him huskily.

“Later?” Heero repeated. He was about to ask why, but Trowa prevented any further speech by kissing him fervently.

“I want to thank you,” Trowa murmured.

“You just did,” Heero said softly, now feeling more confused than ever. Trowa didn’t say anything in response, only lowered his head and began trailing kisses up the side of Heero’s neck. Heero moaned softly, finally understanding what Trowa had been getting at. “Ohhh,” he said, his lips curving up into a smile as he allowed Trowa to lift him in his arms and carry him into the bedroom.

When they made love that afternoon, it had been as natural as everything else they’d done together. Heero had still felt a little nervous about it though, which was strange for him because he had never felt nervous about anything in his life before.

At first, he had been fumbling and awkward, not quite knowing what to do with his hands. As always though, Trowa had been patient with him and had guided him, showing him what to do.

Heero had felt somewhat apprehensive about baring his body to Trowa, but that soon went away when he saw the look in Trowa’s eyes. It was as though he didn’t care about the scars on his arms and chest, didn’t care about the little imperfections.

Trowa had taught Heero how to look at himself through his eyes. Whenever Trowa looked at him in that way, he felt beautiful, like he was the only person in the world who mattered.

Heero had given up all of his control to Trowa that day, trusting the other boy to care for him, to love him. Trowa had done all of that and more as he touched Heero in ways that he had never been touched. His hands were gentle and tender and his expression was reverent as he worshipped Heero’s body.

When Trowa had pushed into him though, it felt like he was splitting him in two and Heero had squirmed and writhed beneath him, trying to ease the discomfort. It was too much, too much…and then Trowa had slid in deeper, pressing against that spot and oh, he couldn’t go deep enough.

Heero had been anxious for more of the sensation, but Trowa refused to be rushed. He kept a slow and steady rhythm for as long as he could, ignoring Heero’s demands for more, just pressing a loving kiss to his lips and resting his forehead against Heero’s as their bodies moved together in a dance that was as old as time itself.

In spite of how much Heero wished, it couldn’t last forever and finally, something snapped in Trowa. He abandoned his slow and steady pace in favour of a rhythm that was hard and fast. Heero had taken everything Trowa had to give and still he begged for more, clinging to his lover and whispering words of encouragement into his ear.

Heero came first, arching his back and calling out Trowa’s name. Trowa had followed soon after, releasing himself inside Heero before collapsing weakly on top of his smaller lover. Heero just held him, gently combing his fingers through Trowa’s sweat dampened hair as they lay there, both of them breathing hard from exertion. Neither of them spoke, but they didn’t have to.

Just knowing that Trowa was there had been enough for Heero, just knowing that he would be there to catch him when he fell. It was then that Heero realised he’d given something more than that flute to Trowa that day.

He’d given him his heart.