Hey all – this is yet another part of the Jinx story arc.  You can probably understand it without reading the whole LONG "Jinx" story, but it will make more sense if you do.  I had to write it cause everyone seems to get a girl but poor Trowa.  *sniff*  but we can remedy that!

DISCLAIMER – I do not own Gundam Wing.

A RETURN TO THE MILITARY

Chapter One – The Job Offer

He smiled as she held his hand tighter, good-naturedly dragging him through the farmer's market.  She always got excited here, reveling in the fresh open air of the market, her energy increasing as she danced from one booth to another like a sprite under the sun's rays. 

She had changed since the first time he met her.  After they had destroyed the OZ meteor base and found her in Quatre's mansion, she had lived here on L4.  Being away from the influence of OZ and war, her personality blossomed and made her into something between Duo's talkative and lighthearted attitude, Quatre's sincerity and concern, Wufei's honor and pride, Heero's stealth and cunning, and Trowa's quiet and peaceful mindset.  To symbolize the change, she'd even changed her name from Jinx to Jin, and he'd been extremely pleased with that.  It was a bad omen to live with a girl whose name was Jinx, he thought.  And even more pleasing to him, she was finally letting go of her past, to move on with her future. 

"Trowa," she called him out of his reverie and tugged his hand.  "Come on, the sun's going down and Heero will be home soon."

Trowa smiled at her, noticing for the first time that some of the booths were beginning to close as peddlers shut their small shops for the night.  "Yes, my little sprite," he said to her, following as she pulled his hand and led the way out of the market.  "We'll be home before he gets back from his mission," Trowa assured her.

"Just in case," she said pulling on his arm harder, "move it!" 

An older woman chuckled as they passed by.  "Ah, young love," she reminisced.  Trowa was going to stop and explain to her that he was most definitely not in love with his friend's girl, but Jin was already pulling on his arm again.

"For a guy with those long legs," she said, "you sure do walk slowly."

"You're just in a hurry to see Heero."

Jin turned around and flashed a Duo-quality smile.  "Of course."

Trowa shook his head.  He'd moved in with Heero and Jin a couple of months ago, occupying their guest bedroom.  After Cathy left the circus, due to her engagement to Quatre, he'd had nowhere else to go and the overgenerous Jin had offered to let him stay with her and Heero.  So he worked in the junkyard, in the same way Heero had worked when he lived with Hilde and Duo years ago.  But now Heero was in charge of the yard, small shop, and apartment in the back.  Duo had moved out and started another "Devil's Attic" on L2.  Hilde moved there with him, but as his business partner only.  Trowa doubted that she could remain only a business partner for too long. 

The bustle of the marketplace was far behind them, and Jin slowed their pace to a leisurely walk.  Trowa readjusted the parcel cradled in his left hand and squeezed Jin's hand gently with his right.  It was times like this, walking home with a beautiful girl while the synthesized sky turned bright pinks and oranges with purple hinting around the edges, that Trowa wished he had found happiness with someone special.  Like the way Quatre and Cathy had.  And the way Heero and Jin had.  Even Sally and Wufei lived in perpetual bliss within the Preventor's ranks, happy to be near each other every day. 

"I think you should."  Jin's voice surprised him.  And even though neither one of them had so much as mentioned it in the last two or three hours, Trowa knew exactly what she was referring to.

"I might," he said softly.  Jin was talking about Noin's proposal.  Noin had called a few days ago, explaining that she was receiving a multitude of new recruits for the Preventors and she was in desperate need of experienced soldiers who would be willing to train them.  Heero and Duo had jumped at the chance, excited about being an instructor more than they were about being on active duty and perhaps getting their heads blown off.  But then again, training new recruits had its own hazards, and greenhorns with guns was another good way to get something blown off. 

"What else will you do?" she contested.

"I could be a bum and live off of you and Heero for the rest of my life," he said with a smile. 

"Ew."  She wrinkled her nose a little at the prospect.  "I think you should at least work part time like the rest of us do, Trowa.  You just might meet a chick."

Trowa simply looked ahead.  He knew she hadn't been reading his mind, but she nailed exactly what it was that had been bothering him lately.  She knew he felt alone.

"It would do you some good to meet new girls.  You need to settle down…"

"So do you," he interrupted softly.

"…and this isn't about me.  Its about you," she recovered gracefully, flashing him another smile.  "Meet some girls and go out with them."

Trowa opened his mouth to say something, but Jin cut him off before he could speak.

"And I don't count as someone you go out with, cause I've got Heero."

"Heero's not home yet," he said, noticing that they'd arrived at the yard and the lights of the house weren't on.

"Good, then I have time to fix dinner for you boys.  Just promise me that you'll think about the job, ok?"

_____

Hey everyone!  I hope you kinda like it.  I had to finish off the Jinx story with an epilogue story.  It didn't quite end for me.  So review and let me know what you think!