Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. However, I do own the various characters I have created.
Chapter 1:
Paperwork. Oodles and oodles of paperwork. Quatre smiled whimsically at the old phrase and sighed. If he had known there would be this much paperwork involved in running WEI, he would have joined Preventers instead.
"Mr. Winner!" Gail, his secretary, stumbled in the door. She was carrying (surprise, surprise) another stack of papers, and had kicked off her shoes for easier movement. "The colony ambassadors have complaints and wish to schedule a meeting; Prime Minister Peacecraft has requested you call her; and there were several other calls." Gail handed him a list of names as she maneuvered the papers onto the already groaning desk one-handed.
Once Gail was gone, Quatre groaned and slammed his head down onto the desk. He needed a break, and needed it bad. His eye caught the list of calls. Glancing down the column, he lighted on a very familiar name. Quatre grinned and grabbed the phone.
"Gail, get me Preventers." Quatre waited a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk. "Agent Sanchez, this is Quatre Winner. Please give me the office of Agent Maxwell."
As Quatre waited for the connection, a dark shadow detached from the wall and slid over to his chair, winding up the metal legs. With no sound, it wrapped around Quatre's neck and disappeared, as the oblivious blonde began to chatter happily with Duo.
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Heero tapped out a command and his computer shut down. He cracked his neck, sighing inwardly. The workday was over, and he was going home, to check his mail and feed his pet, a fat, fluffy Persian with a sweet personality named Mana. She had been a surprise birthday present from Duo.
"Hey, Hee-chan!"
Duo plopped himself down on Heero's desk, his usual manic grin firmly in place. "Wuffers and I are going to see Trowa tonight! Want to come?"
Heero tweaked a brow in slight surprise. "I thought we all had tickets for the show tomorrow."
"C'mon, doncha want to see Trowa again NOW? I mean, it's been a whole year since we visited!"
Wufei had walked in sometime before Duo's wheedling had started. He had already changed into civilian clothes; he caught Heero's eye and shrugged.
"It has been a long while since we've seen him. Duo informed Quatre of our intentions earlier. He shall meet us there."
"Very well." Heero smirked slightly. "It appears I have no choice."
"Nope!" Duo agreed cheerfully. "Change quick! We'll meet you in the parking lot." He ran out the door, and yelped softly. Heero and Wufei gave him curious and concerned looks.
"Duo?"
"Baka, what did you do to yourself this time?"
Duo grinned sheepishly. "Sorry guys, just one of those weird shivers going up my back. Let's go!"
The unseen shadow slid out of Duo's collar and wrapped around his neck, disappearing without a trace.
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There was something wrong. She could sense it. With a soft mew, Mana leapt off her master's bed and padded through Heero Yuy's sixth-floor apartment. Stopping at the balcony doors, she gave a soft trill a cat should have been unable to manage. The locks glowed, then clicked softly and the doors swung open, admitting a gust of chill autumn wind.
Mana paid no attention to the cold, leaping onto the balcony rail. A sparrow with a gold ring on its leg dropped beside her and began to chatter.
Not a minute later, the balcony was deserted.
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Quatre looked up and smiled as three motorcycles tore into the circus parking lot. The cyclist with the braid popped a wheelie and waved as the three parked with military precision beside Quatre's small car.
Duo frowned beneath his helmet as he got a good look at Quatre. The blond was smiling, but it seemed forced. There were dark circles under his tired blue eyes, and he wavered ever so slightly in his walk, though none but other Gundam pilots would notice.
Wufei caught Duo's eye, conveying his own concern, but Heero was as blunt as ever. He scowled at Sandrock's former pilot as he pulled off his helmet.
"You have been overworking yourself again."
Quatre's smile disappeared and he heaved a sigh. "You guys can read me like a book, can't you?" He rubbed his chest, just above his heart. "It's not just work, though."
"We'll speak of it later." Wufei said calmly, filing the gesture away for future reference. "I'm sure Trowa will want to add his own opinions. And there is Cathy."
The tall girl was running toward them, waving happily. She immediately hugged them all, her grey eyes shining with glee.
"It's wonderful to see you all! Trowa told me you weren't expected till the show tomorrow." Cathy let them into the grounds, giving them a curious look.
"It's been nearly a year, Cathy." Duo smiled as he tugged on his black cap. "We missed him."
Cathy nodded. "I understand. He's in the back, with the lions." She watched them go, her expression softening. She really did understand. Together, those five boys had been through horrors she could never imagine, forging a bond of brotherhood that was stronger than anything she had ever experienced. Cathy chuckled and hurried to her trailer, where she had the makings for beef stew. They would be hungry soon, and were still growing boys, after all.
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Trowa lay in contentment on a pile of hay, the sun warming his face. The lioness Ngina purred in her cage beside him, nursing her new litter of three cubs. Her mate Masha and two other lionesses, Geisha and Minnie, were dozing in a cage a few feet away.
Trowa slitted one eye and observed Geisha curiously. The lioness was a strange one. Her fur was extremely pale, making the black markings on her face and tail stand out more than usual. Her eyes, too, were strange; a pale gold that seemed to hypnotize you. Usually Geisha had the calmest temper of any creature Trowa had met, but today she was restless. She was pacing her cage, growling softly and flicking her tail in all directions.
With a soft sigh, Trowa sat up and pulled his flute from its case. Geisha's restlessness was getting to him too. Maybe some music would calm them both.
Soon the lilting strains of his flute filled the air. Ngina's purring grew louder, and the other lions and her cubs joined her…with the exception of Geisha. The pale lioness just sat and watched the lanky young human as Trowa lost himself in his music, her hypnotic gaze calculating.
Then four different scents wafted through the air. Geisha pricked her ears, picking up the faintest swish of clothing and soft breathing. Four young men appeared in her vision. They moved quietly and assuredly, their attention fixed on her flutist. She growled, baring her fangs at the intruders; they were dangerous.
Green eyes blinked open and glanced over at the intruders as Trowa continued to play. Geisha watched, still growling softly, as the four came closer. To her surprise, Trowa merely smiled and kept playing, closing his eyes again. The blond and the man with the braid settled into the hay beside Trowa, while the two with scowls perched on a pair of crates. Geisha continued to watch with suspicion, till a flash of gold caught her eye. A sparrow lighted on Ngina's cage, twittering cheerfully, with a gold band around its leg. Sudden realization made Geisha's eyes flicker with silver for a brief second; too quickly to have been noticed by anyone.
The notes of the flute soon died away, and Trowa dropped the instrument into his lap. He smiled slightly at the four strangers.
"I should have known you would come early."
Duo grabbed Trowa in a back-slapping hug. His grin was big and bright, making his violet eyes glitter.
"C'mon, Tro! It's been almost a year! How've you been?"
"Fine, Duo." Trowa chuckled quietly. "The circus' reputation is expanding. We've had to turn down several invitations." A sly expression crossed his face. "This one was nearly refused as well."
"Trowa! You wouldn't dare!" Quatre laughingly protested. "After all, even that French chef my sisters made me hire doesn't cook half as good as Cathy!"
It looked like Trowa was pouting; but since everyone knew Trowa (and Heero and Wufei) did NOT pout, he merely looked rather forlorn.
"That's all you come for? Cathy's cooking? I see where your priorities lie." Trowa slid his flute into its case and turned his slight smile on the two youngest pilots, who were pouting at him and protesting his statement loudly. Heero met his gaze and rolled his eyes. Wufei merely snorted and stood.
"If you would show us to your trailer, Trowa, I believe Cathy is cooking."
The five left, talking quietly and cheerfully. Three pairs of eyes watched them leave. Geisha lifted her head and met the shimmering blue eyes of Mana. The cat meowed and disappeared behind a barrel. The sparrow chirped and lifted off, following the boys.