Duo hefted the last bundle of newspapers off the loading dock and tossed them into the back of his station wagon. Closing the tailgate he lifted his face towards the sky and shrugged. "I hope so, Bud, I have no desire to play in the rain today."

The sun was coming up, but the low ceiling of thick clouds was keeping the dawn at bay. The air was heavy with the smell of rain and Duo was anxious to start. With a wave over his shoulder to Bud, he got into the wagon and headed out towards the first part of his route.

"Good morning, Mrs. Franco," Duo said, handing the morning edition of The Times through the window of the giant red Cadillac with a warm smile. "Did you watch Survivor last night?"

Mrs. Franco was barely a puff of blue hair over the steering wheel as she scowled. "I can't believe those bastards voted off the eye-candy!" She revved the engine and shook her head. "When you get to be my age, Duo, you need all the eye-candy you can get." With a wink she put the Caddy into drive and set off at a snails pace down the road. Duo grinned as he watched the car roll through the stop sign and make a right onto the main road. Mrs. Franco was one of the things that made the job tolerable; it was pretty cool getting to know the people on his route.

So what if he had to get up before dawn everyday, no matter the weather, and deliver four hundred and thirty-four newspapers. Sure it sucked in the rain and snow, sure it sucked when he'd been up too late the night before and was hung over, sure it sucked when it felt like he couldn't lift another god damned bundle of papers into the back of his battered station wagon because he had a fever and a cough that rattled his bones. This job was the only one that worked around his regular job at the garage and the extra money was the only way he'd ever reach his goal.

Turning, Duo slid back behind the wheel and continued his route. Keep your eye on the prize had become his mantra when he wanted to stuff the papers into the nearest dumpster and call it quits. Keep your eye on the prize ... a Harley-Davidson Softail Cross Bones with a Twin Cam 96B engine, ape-hangers, shotgun slash-cut exhaust, and chopped front fender. He could totally see himself on that bad boy cruising the strip at Laconia next summer. With a flick of his wrist he sent the next paper onto a front porch, adding up his mental score as he hit the welcome mat dead on.

The rain was just starting to fall when he reached his last neighborhood; sadly this was the neighborhood with all the legwork. Most of the patrons had requested the papers be brought to the front door, not an unusual request, but all the houses were set back from the street and he had to do it on foot. He didn't usually mind, he'd gotten to know quite a few people from this daily routine, but getting soaked was rarely fun.

He moved quickly, jogging up long driveways to toss the papers on small front porches out of the rain. Mrs. O'Neil on Rosemont had handed him a large Dunkin Donuts coffee when he ran up her front steps, which he gratefully accepted. It amused him that he seemed to be an elderly babe magnet, they were all so thoughtful and it warmed him. By the time he reached the last house he was soaked, but still happily sipping his coffee. He flicked the paper towards the porch, but at the last second the rain-slicked plastic got away from him and the paper was propelled towards the bushes. Shit.

Putting his coffee on the front steps, Duo waded into the bushes under the front window to retrieve the paper. It took a minute for him to snag it and was straightening up, trying to untangle himself from where the bush had snagged his shirt, when he stopped cold. Holy god. For a moment he couldn't move, frozen in place by the sight. Eye-candy his mind provided, recalling his earlier conversation with Mrs. Franco; the man in that house was total eye-candy.

Clad only in red boxers, the man was standing in the middle of the living room watching a news report on the television while sipping something from a mug. He was angled with his broad back to the window, but turned enough that Duo could see that his stomach was firm and flat, and his body deliciously muscular. The man ran his hand through sleep-tousled brown hair before shrugging slightly at the television and disappearing into the back room.

Duo remembered to breathe. He staggered out of the bushes feeling both ashamed at becoming a peeping tom, and thrilled to have seen such a spectacle. His heart was racing as he tossed the retrieved paper onto the porch and ran back to his car. That guy was totally freakin' gorgeous.

He was barely aware of the ride home he was so preoccupied with what he'd just done, what he'd just seen. It wasn't like he peeped in the guy's house on purpose! He was just trying to deliver the stupid newspaper as requested. It wasn't his fault the rain had set his aim off! If the guy didn't want to be seen in his underwear he should've shut the damned curtains! Really.

Once he'd gone home to change and had headed out to the garage for his day job, he'd almost convinced himself that Eye-Candy was at fault. The man was begging to be peeped at! Who looked that sexy first thing in the morning anyway? As the day progressed he blamed his two banged up knuckles and broken wrench on Eye-Candy too. It was Eye-Candy's fault he couldn't focus.

When he reached his apartment after a way too long day at the garage he'd realized he'd become pathetically obsessed with Eye-Candy. It was an affliction.

"You're here early today, Duo. Got something special planned?"

Duo's mouth snapped shut; eyeing the grin on Bud's face suspiciously for a second before realizing the man was just making small talk. Of course it wasn't obvious that he'd barely slept the night before anticipating the chance to see Eye-Candy again. Not that he'd spent the entire night trying to plot a way to see him again without being overly creepy -- he'd fallen asleep before that could happen.

"Nah, just up early and figured I'd get a head start." Duo forced an innocent smile and snagged a bundle of papers with each hand. "School starts today and I want to be done before the buses hit the street." Good one!

He managed to load his station wagon without any more small talk and drove off with butterflies in his stomach. He'd resisted the urge to run his route backwards, not wanting to mess with his time line. Forcing himself to make small talk with some of his friendlier customers, the piles of newspapers slowly dwindled in the back of the wagon. As the numbers grew smaller, the butterflies in his stomach grew larger until they felt like pterodactyls.

Once he reached the last house he parked at the end of the long drive and tried desperately to look normal. Getting out, he grabbed the last paper, and walked up the driveway. He'd never really noticed this house before yesterday. It was always just one of hundreds he saw every morning, the last obstacle to hurdle before he started his day job. Now in the early morning sunlight he noticed the deep green lawn, neatly manicured bushes, and tidy little flowerbeds. He wondered vaguely if Eye-Candy had a lawn guy or if he did it himself.

There was a small garage attached to the house, big enough for only one car, and there was no other car parked in the driveway. Not that it necessarily meant the guy wasn't with someone, but it made Duo feel better to think that he wasn't. There were no toys in the yard that he could see, none of those weird decorations that screamed 'feminine touch'. It wasn't like Duo to assume that a guy living on his own was gay, but he could hope couldn't he?

He hesitated at the bottom of the steps, knowing he should just toss the paper in front of the door and leave. But how could he be satisfied without another look? Just one peek? He must've been standing there holding the paper for longer than he realized because suddenly the door opened.

"Is something wrong?"

Shit! "I --" Eye-Candy was wearing a pair of running shorts and a t-shirt. Duo had thought the man was sexy from behind, but he had no idea. Stop drooling like an idiot and speak! "I'm sorry, I was just wondering if you used a lawn service, it looks really nice." Doh!

Eye-Candy raised one eyebrow, and Duo's heart stuttered as he noticed the beautiful blue of his eyes. "I do it myself." Eye-Candy smirked slightly. "I'm not for hire."

"No, I --" Shit! Shit! Shit! He took a step forward and held the paper out. "Have a good one."

For the record Duo did not run back to his car. He just didn't want to be late for work, so he moved quickly. It had nothing to do with Eye-Candy, or the low chuckle he heard when he turned away. Not. At. All.

"You're going to think I'm a freak," Duo groaned, resting his forehead against the bar.

"I think you're a freak anyway, nothing you could say will change that," Quatre said in mock seriousness, patting Duo's arm. "You're going to tell me anyway, so you might as well get it over with."

Duo straightened up and took a long swallow of his beer before turning to face his friend. "I saw this guy --"

Quatre groaned, stopping Duo mid-sentence. "Why is it you never start with 'I met this guy'? It's always 'I saw this guy, Quatre, now I shall angst'."

"This is why I didn't want to tell you!" Duo growled, downing the rest of his beer. "I should've called Trowa instead."

"Trowa would've told me anyway, you know, but I'm sorry, I'll behave," Quatre promised. "You saw this guy..."

"He's the last house on my paper route. A couple of days ago I accidentally tossed his paper into the bushes and when I went to get it out I happened to look in his window --"

"You peeped on him? Wow, Duo, you're right, I totally think you're a freak!" Quatre was laughing, his teasing tone evident, but Duo was having trouble finding the humor.

"Shut up! Do you want to hear this or not?" Duo glared at his friend until he mimicked zipping his lips shut. "He's beautiful, Quatre. I don't know how else to describe him. The first day I only saw him from behind, but the second day he came out on his stoop and --"

"Please tell me you weren't exposing yourself." Quatre laughed harder, ducking when Duo moved to smack the back of his head. "Sorry! Sorry! I couldn't help it. Please go on."

"Seriously, I don't know how Trowa puts up with you." Duo couldn't help but grin. "Anyway, as I was saying, the second day he coincidently was coming outside as I was delivering his paper and I saw his face. I'm talking Greek god here. Since then Eye-Candy has been coming an obsession! I keep trying to --"

"Eye-Candy?" Quatre snickered. "You're calling him Eye-Candy?"

"Blame Mrs. Franco," Duo muttered, holding up his hand and shaking his head when Quatre opened his mouth to ask who Mrs. Franco was. Quatre could really be difficult to talk to, there were always so many questions. "Since then I can't stop thinking about him, about how I can talk to him. I mean, I don't know if he's gay, hell, I don't even know his name, but I at least want to try --"

"How can you not know his name?" Quatre asked, serious for once.

"What? You expect me to knock on his door and introduce myself?"

Quatre shot him a DUH look. "Shouldn't his name be on his route list? Remember that damned printout you forced me to read out loud the first week you started the job so you could find all the houses? Speaking of which, you still owe me for that! You know how much I like morning sex, and Trowa --"

"The route list!" Duo smacked his forehead, then smacked Quatre's.

"What was that for?" Quatre frowned and rubbed his head.

"For whining about sex, you get way more than I do." Duo grinned. "Man, I can't believe I forgot about the route list! Once I memorized the route I just started crumpling them up."

"This is why you keep me around," Quatre said, nudging Duo with his shoulder. "That and no one else would put up with you. So what's your plan, Mensa, once you know his name?"

"That's what you're supposed to be helping me with. So far what I've been doing could easily be confused with creepy stalking. I've dropped things in his driveway so I could pick them up, I've lost his paper in the bushes ... twice, and I've stopped to tie my shoe. So far he hasn't come out again. I'm considering slashing my tire at the end of his driveway and asking to use his phone."

"Man, you've got it bad. This is farther than you've ever gone with creepy stalking." Quatre nodded and motioned to the bartender for more beer.

"I told you, this one is special!" Duo groaned. "I need this to go beyond the relationship I've made up with him in my head!"

"Is he good in bed? In your head that is," Quatre asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"I think I'm giving myself Carpal Tunnel Syndrome." Duo slumped on his stool and flexing his wrist.

"Ouch." Quatre nodded in understanding. "You could just knock on his door and ask him out."

"I've seen this guy in nothing but boxers. If he's straight I don't want to be on the receiving end of his fist." Duo shot a hopeful look at Quatre. "You could always come with me on my route, your gaydar has never been wrong."

"No way, I've given up enough morning sex for your paper route." Quatre furrowed his brow, thinking. "You could always stage a newspaper related problem. Like a problem with the billing or something."

Duo's eyes widened as the grin spread across his face. "Quatre, you're a genius!"

Quatre laughed, finishing off his beer and putting a twenty on the bar. "Then my work here is done."

Once Duo had a plan he felt much better. Oh, his obsession over the man he'd learned was named Heero Yuy hadn't diminished; it had just become more keenly focused. He'd decided to wait until Saturday, hoping that the guy wouldn't be rushing off to work, giving him more time to gauge the situation. In the mornings before Saturday he still lingered in the yard for longer than necessary, hoping to get even a fleeting glimpse, but always left in disappointment.

The week dragged, but when Saturday came it seemed so sudden. Duo got up earlier than usual and actually put thought into dressing -- making sure he wore jeans without holes and grease stains, and a t-shirt without anything obnoxious on it. Frankly this was more than he usually did for dates, he was pulling out the big guns.

Before he knew it he was down to one paper and parked at the end of Heero Yuy's driveway. When he reached the porch he almost wimped out and just tossed the paper onto the mat, but the knowledge that Quatre wouldn't put up with his pining if he didn't at least try was enough to bring him to the door. He hit the doorbell, hearing the sound echoing through the house and waited.

When the door wasn't answered he was flooded with both relief and disappointment. He'd tried, he truly did, but no one was home. At least could feel good that he'd had the guts get this far. Duo could almost hear Quatre's cheer up speech in his head as he turned away from the door. He'd just made it to the top step when he heard the door swing open behind him.

"Can I help you?" The voice alone was enough to make Duo's toes curl, low and slightly rough. When he turned around he completely short-circuited -- Heero Yuy was standing in his doorway wearing nothing but a towel and drips of water.

"I --" Holy fucking shit! "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"You're the paperb-- man, right? Is there a problem?" Duo swore he saw something twinkling in those blue eyes; unfortunately his brain wasn't firing on all cylinders.

"Yes, I'm sorry to interrupt your, uh... there's a question with the billing, Mr. Yuy, and they asked me to speak to you." Breathe, just breathe.

Heero's eyes narrowed, a small frown line appearing between them. "A problem with my billing?"

"Yes, it seems that they haven't received your last payment and the phone number you'd given wasn't working." Duo was barely aware of the story he was creating, having trouble getting over the fact that Heero Yuy was standing in his doorway, wearing nothing but a towel, and having a conversation like it was nothing.

Heero's brow furrowed for a moment before his eyes widened slightly. "Oh. The number did change, I'm sorry." He looked genuinely apologetic. "But I can assure you that my bill has been paid."

What? The number thing was true? Duo couldn't believe his luck. "I'm sure we can work this out, Mr. Yuy --"

"Please, call me Heero. Why don't you come in so we can figure this out?" Heero took a step back and invited Duo in. As soon as Duo had crossed the threshold, the door swung shut behind him. "Let me get out of this towel and I'll get my billing statement Mr..."

Get out of this towel. "M-Maxwell, Duo Maxwell. Please call me Duo."

"Alright, Duo." There was that twinkle again. "I'll be right back."

Duo silently thanked any and all deities he could think of as he watched Heero disappear upstairs. He stood rooted in the entryway, wiping a hand across his chin to make sure he wasn't drooling, and willing his heart back to normal. When Heero returned wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt, his bare feet silent over the tile floor, Duo had to wonder when breathing had become so hard.

"You've been delivering my paper for a little over two months now," Heero stated, leading them into a small den off the foyer.

"Uh, yeah." Way to sound intelligent, Maxwell!

"It must be interesting." Heero quirked his eyebrow as he sorted through a neat pile of papers on his desk.

"It is. I've met some interesting people." Duo stuffed his hands in his pockets, starting to feel bad about lying.

"I bet you've seen some interesting things," Heero said, pulling a single sheet of paper from the stack and turning. There was the briefest hint of a smirk on his face, making Duo want to take a step back.

"I -- uh --" Duo took the step and it didn't seem far enough.

"Some very interesting things, I'm sure." Heero stepped forward with the paper in hand, his blue eyes burning into Duo's. "Tell me, Duo, what's the most interesting thing you've seen?"

"Oh, I don't know," Duo muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. He was way over his head.

"Come on, Duo," Heero said in a low voice, stepping closer. Duo took a step back and found himself against the wall. Heero held the paper out as if daring Duo to take it. "I'm sure you can think of something."

"It's pretty early when I'm out and about," Duo replied lamely. "Listen Mr. Yuy, I'm sorry for bothering y--"

"Heero. Didn't I ask you to call me Heero?" His lips quirked into a full-blown smirk. "Now you could take my billing statement and go, Duo, or you could tell me why you're really here."

Duo's jaw dropped but no sound came out. "Or," Heero continued. "I could guess?"

Just like that Duo lost any control he might've had over the situation. In one moment he was looking into the challenging eyes of Heero and in the next he was being pressed against the wall. He flinched as Heero's hand came up to cup his face, fully expecting to be struck and feeling as though he deserved it, but was totally thrown by what came next.

"I'm not going to hit you," Heero whispered as he brought his lips to Duo's and kissed him.

Suddenly Duo's world was all heat, muscle and lips. He only hesitated for a brief moment before he slipped his hands around Heero's waist and held on. He had no idea how the fuck this happened, but had no desire to question it. Heero's kisses were demanding but gentle and if Heero had suddenly let go Duo would be a boneless lump on the floor.

Heero pulled away laughing softly, but Duo could hear genuine pleasure in it. "I was wondering when you were going to get up the nerve to talk to me."

Clear. Clear as crystal. "Wait!" Duo said in disbelief. "If you knew I was interested in you why didn't you say something?" He put his hand in the middle of Heero's chest, forcing himself to ignore the delicious heat of him, and pushed him gently away. Heero offered no resistance, backing away only as far as Duo insisted.

"I was having too much fun watching you," Heero admitted, ducking his head slightly and looking at Duo through the fringe of his bangs. "Although I was starting to weaken."

Duo snorted, shaking his head. "I don't believe this. All this obsessing over how to meet you and you were interested the whole time. You're sadistic!"

"No." Heero shook his head, his tone serious. "Never sadistic." He took Duo's hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing the fingertips. "I was just enjoying the feeling of being wanted a little too much."

"Like you're not used to that." Duo rolled his eyes. He wanted to be angry, to pull his hand away and leave, but Heero suddenly looked unsure. That totally did him in.

"I don't see a lot of people knocking on my door to ask me out." Heero shrugged.

Any anger Duo felt melted away. He gently pulled his hand out of Heero's grasp. He grabbed the front of Heero's shirt with a smirk of his own. "I did."

Heero smiled outright for the first time since Duo set eyes on him. "You're asking me out?"

"After you take care of this bill," Duo teased. This time he initiated the kiss, wrapping his arms around Heero's neck and pulling him closer. Forget the Softail Cross Bones, this prize was much, much better.

"She's beautiful," Heero agreed, running his fingers over the smooth black paint. "Twin Cam, Shotgun exhaust ... I can see why you wanted this one."

"Well, if I was to get my dream bike it would be an Indian Chief, but I didn't want to be delivering papers for the next five years." Duo rested his hand on the leather seat, knowing that this final moment of achievement was sweeter because he could share it with Heero.

"Didn't this model come with the solo seat?" Heero put his hand over Duo's, entwining their fingers on top of the black leather sidekick seat.

"It would be no fun going to Laconia without you, babe." Duo pulled Heero against him, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Just think, my newspaper days are behind me and I won't have to get up so freakin' early everyday."

Heero grinned, wrapping his arms around Duo's waist and nuzzling his neck. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."