title: we five, complete, fandom/pairing: gundam wing / none, really - but some faint hints and lots of friendships, warnings: hints of BL, AU (the boys are middle schoolers), slice of life
author's note: written for dysis's request for "3x4 schoolfic" ...sorry hon. it's not smutty at all.

He was running late again, walking at a fast clip, glancing between the book he held in his hand and the commons room floor. The sandwich line had been slow; too many wanted special orders and it was meatloaf day in hot foods. Quatre's own sandwich was tucked away in his pack next to his Sobi and the little plastic bag of baby carrots his older sister insisted he eat.

...suit was sealed. He was ready to exit the ship; repairs were waiting, and... Quatre rounded the building corner, turned the page, and ran into something soft - but hard - knocking him back and dropping his book. He jerked his head up even as the boy was apologizing.

"No, I was, uh..." Quatre flushed and bent to pick up his book. The boy reached it before him and held it out.

"Nigel Weller!" the boy exclaimed and pulled the book closer. "I was just looking for the first book of this series in the library." He grimaced. "Some jerk-off has all five checked out and hasn't returned them yet."

Quatre's flush deepened. "Well, uh... I would be that jerk-off." The boy looked at him, his own cheeks beginning to stain. "But I have them in my backpack. I could loan it to you, if you'd like?" he offered and then said suddenly, "You're that whiz kid in Maths Wufei wouldn't shut up about during third period!"

The boy's thumb ran over the edge of the book's cover, straightening the tendency of it to curb upward. "I have Maths during second period."

"I'm Quatre," he said smiling.

"Trowa," the boy said with a nod. He held up the book. "You have the others? I was hoping to have something to read this weekend..."

"Come with me and I'll share them!" Quatre jerked his head toward the glass door ahead. "I was going to lunch on the grass."

After a glance back at the library doors, Trowa nodded. "Sure."

Quatre led the way through the history overflow trailers, past the Shop class and up a short hill. Taking his pack from his shoulders, he dropped to the ground and sat cross-legged on the grass next to a tree. "I'm nearly done with the fifth book, but brought the rest just in case we had a free period." His pack was open and he took out his lunch, setting it aside to dig down deeper. "Here." He handed the first book to Trowa and reached down inside for the others.

"Thanks." Trowa sat close-by and tossed the first book near Quatre's lunch. "I've read his "Infinity" series and had just started the "Inverted" series when we moved." He frowned down at the book he now held.

"Infinity was good, but too detailed," Quatre said and pulled a handful of paperbacks from the pack. "Inverted has more action and you can really get into Jack's character more." His eyes fell on the first book's cover and he blanched. The cover art was most definitely not from Inverted, and he knew for certain Eternal Love Pirate was not one of Weller's works. With a quick look in Trowa's direction, he shoved the book back in his pack. He must have picked up one of his sister's books.

"But the details were great!" Trowa's eyes lit up, and he flipped about mid-way through the book. "The fighting machines he described – I could just picture them. And living in space."

Quatre watched him stretch out and begin to read. Giving a little shrug, he opened his book, his drink and reached for his sandwich. Trowa didn't appear to be eating. "I could see building up space stations to support potential mining of minerals from asteroids, but to actually live in space..." he shook his head.

"Duo, if you'd just wait a minute, I'll pull your notes out." Quatre turned his head to watch his two friends walk up the hill; Duo behind Heero with his hand stuck down inside Heero's pack.

"But if it's not there, I want to go grab... got it!" He stepped back and waved a handful of loose papers.

Heero threw him a glare, glanced in Trowa's direction and took a seat on the grass across from Quatre. "I told you I picked them up for you." A paper sack was produced, and a sandwich pulled from its interior.

Throwing himself on the ground next to Heero, and giving a nod to Trowa, Duo dragged Heero's pack closer. "But I really need to study, man. Didn't get the chance last night and if I don't pass this test, Baily's going to fail me." Another paper bag appeared. "And you know Howard'd ground me for the rest of my life if I flunk another class."

His look took in his friends and Trowa; he bit into a carrot. "If you'd stop messing around with AO, you'd have time to study."

"But I was leading this raid we'd been planning for days, and then they dropped this armor and..."

"We don't want to hear about it!" Heero and Quatre said at nearly the same time.

"What gang are you with?" Trowa asked, looking Duo over. "I'm a 'trox soldier."

Duo made a face. "Sucks to be you. I'm an optifecs shade, Doolan." He popped open a can of cola. "Usually run with the Bridges, but I'm an independent."

"I've ran with them a couple of times. But mostly pick up a few independents for raids on my own." They shared a grin.

After pulling out the second sandwich from his bag, Duo glared at it. "Bologna. I hate bologna."

"You eat it nearly every day," Heero commented, finishing his own sandwich and moving onto a small bag of chips.

"Yeah, and that's why I hate it." Duo cast a look around and held it out to Trowa. "Hey do me a favor and eat this, k?"

Trowa picked up the bag and nodded. "You didn't put anything weird in it, did you?"

"Nah," Duo laughed. "It's only got mayo and cheese on it."

Looking up from his book, Quatre glanced between his friends. "Oh, this is Trowa. He's new."

Duo offered a greeting, but immediately went back to his sandwich and notes. Heero nodded, a slight frown between his brow. "You're in my home room."

Trowa lifted his shoulder and dug out a pink class schedule. "Stevens?" he asked looking up from the list.

Leaning over to read the schedule, Quatre pointed. "You'll be in my English and music classes! Cool!"

"Who transfers to a new school a week before Christmas vacation?" Heero was still looking at Trowa.

"No one sane," Duo replied, not looking up from his notes.

"That proves it," a new voice joined the group. "Duo's the expert in insanity." Wufei sat between Heero and Quatre. Giving him a nod, he began to stare at Trowa. "Finally someone who knows more than that ass, Renken."

Duo glanced at Wufei, told him to, "bite me," and went back to his notes.

"Wufei, right?" Trowa asked. At Wufei's head-shake, he gave a faint smile. "He did act like he knew more than anyone else."

"So who's going to Relena's party on Saturday?" Quatre asked. "I already know you are Wufei."

"Not going to make it," Duo said, holding his place with a finger. "Movie night."

Heero was nodding. "We made plans last week." Catching sight of a sheet of paper in front of Wufei, he picked it up. "Is this the tournament schedule?" And began to read.

"Yes. I just got it from Coach Bleach," Wufei told Heero, and glanced at Quatre, "And yes, of course I'll be there." He looked at Duo with a slight smirk. "Going to see Revenge of the Sith again?"

Duo nodded and took a drink.

"Haven't you seen it a hundred times already?"

"Twenty-four," Heero supplied. "This will be the twenty-fifth."

"But we only saw Clones like ten." Duo wrinkled his nose. Heero smacked him on the back of his head. "Hey!"

"Study," Heero told him, jerking his chin at the notes. "If Howard grounds you again, the weekend's shot."

"You can go with me, if you want to," Quatre told Trowa. "Relena wouldn't mind."

"Like a date?" Duo asked looking between the two.

"Study!"

"Duo!" Quatre threw a carrot at him, flushing.

Wufei snorted and jumped to his feet. "I've got timed laps fifth period," he said by way of explanation. He moved off a few feet from the group and began stretching exercises.

"Sorry!" Duo dragged the word out, but bent over his notes once again.

Heero set Wufei's tournaments schedule aside and found the page he'd been reading in his textbook.

"Saturday?" Trowa asked.

"Yeah, it starts at seven, usually winds down about midnight." Quatre was nodding. "There should be pizza and a bunch of stuff. Relena has good parties."

Trowa was staring at the book still open in his hand, but he nodded. "I'd like to go… with you."

"Great! My sister can give you a ride home." Trowa glanced up at him, and he added in a hurry, "just to find out where you live." Trowa's smile was short, but Quatre felt his cheeks heat.

"Speaking of rides," Heero turned to Duo. "Think Howard can give me one on the twenty-ninth?"

Duo looked up frowning. "That's a Friday, isn't it? Shouldn't be a problem. Got a meet?" He jerked his chin at the tournament schedule.

"The twenty-ninth of December, and the fourth and fifth of January. J should be back by the first…"

"Just let me know." Duo had turned back to his notes.

Quatre sat back for a moment, stretching his back and rolling his neck. He stopped to watch Wufei working his hamstrings, palms against the tree. Duo's murmured question to Heero, and Heero's answer pulled his attention. He wanted to say something about how cute they looked all huddled together, but didn't. Maybe it was because they did look cute leaning against each other, going over Duo's notes.

He let his gaze slide over to Trowa, and linger. The boy was now propped up on an arm, his book on the grass in front of him. Quatre tilted his head to the side, trying to see Trowa's eyes behind his long bangs. He was the new kid, but somehow, he didn't feel like it.

Turning his book over in his hand, Quatre altered looking at the cover and each of his friends in turn. He mentally assigned names to the five young men on the cover art. Though none were alike in appearance, each character matched one of his friends to a high degree.

Quatre scanned the grassy clearing again, watching each of his friends for a moment until he was back at Trowa. It was like Trowa had always been a part of their group. And maybe he had but didn't know it until they'd bumped into one another. Quatre shook his head internally and went back to his book. It was a good day, a good book, and winter vacation would soon be there.

enjoy!