Taking a sip as he walked back into the living, he nearly choked at the sight -- magazines, plastic bowls, popcorn bits, chips, pillows...all over the place. The TV was turned off, miraculously, the remotes on the floor, buried. Tapes and discs were strewn everywhere too, some floating on crumbs, some dunked in it. Cans piled on the coffee table, most opened, some even crushed.

After a long, Friday evening, hungry and tired, this was not the sight Heero expected to come home and see.

Annoyed, and the slightest bit worried, Heero tiptoed around the trailing mess from the living room to the bedroom. The colourful path dispersed rather quickly, to his relief. Knocking on the closed door, Heero tentatively called out, "Duo? Are you there?" After hearing no response, Heero knocked again, then opened the door and walked in.

The bedroom was in no better condition. Socks, shirts, pants littered the floor. Papers -- they looked like they were from work -- laid scattered on the bed. The bed wasn't made. The glass of juice on the bedside table was half-finished. The closet door was left ajar haphazardly. Heero wouldn't have been surprised if he had walked in to find it still swinging back and forth.

A click sounded from the front of the apartment, a creak of hinges, a clap of a closing door. Duo walked in, surveying the damage and shaking his head ruefully, only to walk into the bedroom absentmindedly to find not-so-amused eyes piercing him through. Duo gave a small, belated cough.

"Where have you been?" Heero asked, almost levelly.

"I was just seeing the guys out," Duo replied.

Heero raised an eyebrow. "And what of this mess?"

Duo shrank just the slightest bit inward. "Well, they called 'bout an hour ago, said they were gonna come up, and just hung up. I'd just come out of the shower when the phone rang, so I was in my robe and I had all my dirty clothes ready to take down to wash; when I heard the phone, I dropped everything and rushed to get it. I thought it was you. You never told me you were working overtime tonight."

"And you had no time to even shove everything to one side. What about the papers?"

"I was working, and then I decided to take a shower before I got back to it, so I left it on the bed. And c'mon, you know how my coworkers are. They're more spontaneous than me." Duo's eyes frowned slightly. "And not in a good way."

"Fine, but did you guys have to make such a mess out front?" Heero reprimanded. "I can't find the carpet."

Duo turned away sheepishly. "Yeah. Well. You know how rowdy they get with alcohol..."

"You let them have it."

"They're grown men! I didn't let them do anything. They brought their own beer." Duo sighed. "Heero, what's wrong?" He put his hands on Heero's shoulders, concerned at Heero's unusual annoyance.

Suddenly, Heero looked more tired than ever. To Duo, it looked like he wanted to do nothing more than collapse in his arms. Instead, he replied, "Nothing." Walking over to their dresser, Heero took out his robe and some clean clothing. "I'm taking a shower. I want this mess cleared up when I'm out."

"But..." Duo protested. "I'm guessing you didn't get a chance to wipe up the bathroom before the phone rang," Heero interrupted.

Duo sighed. "No. I'm sorry."

Heero merely shrugged and walked out to the other washroom.

Duo watched him leave, his entire face frowning. Heero looked really stressed; his tense body language screamed it. Convincing himself not to get worked up over Heero's behaviour, he set out to tidy the living room.

Heero stayed in the shower much longer than usual. The streams of water and puffs of steam knew just how to massage his aching muscles. He could feel the grime from the work day trying desperately to cling to his hair, his skin, everywhere. But the scented body wash -- Duo's choice -- took care of that easily.

He had been too hard on Duo. He didn't mean to be. But that mess wasn't the best surprise he'd ever been given. Still, he hoped Duo wouldn't be upset with him.

Drying himself and matting his hair, he put on his undergarments and his robe. He systematically wiped off the mirror, dug his hair out of the drain, and exited the bathroom. There were no longer any wandering crumbs in the corridor, and the living room looked just about spotless. Heero was pleased. He turned the other way to walk into the bedroom. Opening the door, he peered in.

Not yet seeing the entire room, he could already make out dirty white socks on the carpet. Taking deep breaths to keep from becoming annoyed, he braced himself for the messy bedroom again and opened the door fully.

The room was clean. The bed made, the papers missing, the closet door closed, the carpet obvious, cleared of all random clothing, save the articles lying at the end of the bed.

Socks and shirts arranged, awkwardly, to form a large, misshapen heart. Variously colored ties spell in imitation-fancy-cursive: Duo + Heero.

"Like it?" Arms came around Heero's shoulders, across his front. A body plastered itself to his back.

"Yeah." A small smile.

Duo inhaled Heero's scent, now cleared of filth and the outside world. He leaned his head on Heero's neck and smiled. "I thought you might."

Heero leaned back into Duo's body, feeling completely relaxed. "Trying to tell me to let up on your messiness?" Heero teased.

"I'd say this looks pretty organized."

"Does it need a matching heart with my name in front?"

A chuckle. "Only if you want." Duo propped his head on Heero's shoulder, arms still rubbing softly over Heero's front, massaging. "Rough day at work?"

"Yeah."

"I figured as much. You're usually not so grumpy with me."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so upset."

"I know."

Heero turned in Duo's arms and brought his own around Duo's body. "I meant to call home sooner. I really did."

Duo pulled Heero closer. "I know."

They stayed, warm in each other's arms, basking in tenderness and comfort, content with just being there.

"Hungry?"

Heero nodded numbly against Duo's chest.

"Alright," Duo laughed. "Let's get some soup in both of us and we'll curl up with a movie, okay?"

Heero nodded again. "Just one thing, Duo."

"Hmm?"

"No chips, no popcorn."

Duo laughed and squeezed Heero. "Alright. No messes. I promise."