The account is set up, the five thousand in it, and Duo nods. "Done. Deal," he says, and steps into the trap.
Merquise sets his phone on the desk, flips through a few screens, and then music begins to play. It's low and sultry with a strong beat—the kind of music made to dance dirty to.
"I expect a show, Duo," Merquise reminds. The use of Duo's given name feels pointed.
"No talking," Duo says, turning his back to him to start. This was going to be hard enough under his eyes, he didn't need Merquise's voice dragging him back.
Merquise falls silent, and Duo begins to sway slightly with the music, finding the pocket of the beat. Then he begins to put on a show. He may not want to do this, but he isn't going to give Merquise a reason to pull out of this. He's going to give Merquise his money's worth.
It starts as a whim. Duo Maxwell needs money; Zechs Merquise has it. For a more than fair price, Duo is willing to perform for Zechs, who has always been a little curious about the L2 pilot. Appointments bare not only skin, but words and history, and Duo goes from an idle—if enticing—curiosity to a puzzle, a fascination. And then he becomes a person Zechs finds he desperately wants to keep.
My notes: "Zechs has money and Duo has debts" could be a set-up for a very uncomfortable non-con, but that's not this fic. Zechs is definitely Duo's big bi rabbit hole, but this fic skirts the danger zones and finds a path between them that's fun to watch. It's also got super-protective but not-an-asshole Duo, which is very enjoyable in action. Also, I'm a sucker for a tattooed Duo.