The back door opened and Duo sauntered out, dressed in jeans and a battered tank top. He leaned against the half brick wall that separated the driveway of the house he shared with Heero from the neighbors. There was a lit cigarette in his fingers and he took a drag, absently picking at a stray piece of tobacco on his tongue as he watched the work in silence.

Duo was tense as a coiled spring. Heero thought about that as he kept working. He decided it was best to wait and let things progress at Duo's pace.

Finally, Duo shifted a little. "I don't need anyone to take care of me, y'know."

Heero looked up but Duo's gaze was on the cigarette in his hand. "I know," he said quietly after a moment.

Duo waited while they tested a bad brake light. "You don't need to bring me coffee in the morning."

Heero stopped, crouched on his heels near the back tire and looked up at Duo. Trowa quietly got up and walked to the back of his truck where he made a show of rearranging his tools. Duo glanced at him and snorted.

Heero stood and cocked his head. He thought he knew what all this was about and it wasn't about the coffee he'd brought to Duo's bedside. It wasn't about the cigarette that Duo knew he disliked. Heero was even pretty sure why Duo had chosen to bring this up in front of Trowa. He walked over to stand in front of Duo and waited for Duo to lift his eyes.

"I brought you coffee because I know what you're like in the morning without it. And it pleased me to bring it to you. I don't think you need anyone to take care of you. And last night..." Heero knew he was on the right track when Duo made a rude noise and rolled his eyes.

"Last night," Heero continued with a smile, stepping closer, "I had sex with someone who was undeniably male and 100 percent capable of taking care of anything he wants to take care of." He reached out a forefinger and snagged one of Duo's belt loops. "I'd also like to remind you that there's a whole lot of different...things...we haven't done in that bedroom...yet."

Duo relaxed, letting Heero's finger tug him closer. His smile was back, eyes half-lidded and focused on Heero's mouth. It was a look Heero was beginning to recognize and wanted to see a lot more often.

"You know what your problem is, Yuy?" Duo's fingers teased at Heero's waist through his t-shirt.

"Hm?" Heero's brain was beginning to fuzz.

"Your contact switch is broken." Duo's eyes sparkled and his grin widened. He stuck a finger in the middle of Heero's chest and pushed. "Happens often when you change the brake lever. Hey, Tro! Come on over here and help me get this switch out."

Trowa wasn't too sure what had happened, but Duo was upbeat and Heero's humming was back. Still, he thought as he smiled to himself, he just might not stay quite as long as he'd planned.