Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and Come 'N Go are the property of their respective owners. I do not own anything.
Get in the mood: "Come 'N Go" by Bleu
The Tower
Chapter 2
"It can come, it can go and you just never know."
"I'm getting closer. No identities yet but I was able to overhear a transmission that may prove useful. I'm patching it through now. The quality isn't very good but it's something."
*Seperate... lovers. The tower... capture... to me... completed your tasks.*
"Hn. Could be a code. I'll cross reference what we've already discovered and report to Agent Rose."
"I've been content with our relationship so far but I don't see a future for us. I'm sorry Mr. Winner."
Dorothy looked directly into Quatre's eyes and delivered the speech she had meticulously practiced for the past few days. Her cool demeanor and stoic facade reminded him of how she had been during the war so many years ago. The same lost girl who brought him to life.
"Mr. Winner? So we're back to where we started? I thought-" Quatre shook his head in confusion and disbelief.
The past few months had been heaven for him. Was it true she didn't feel the same? Those days and nights they spent together, those private moments sharing everything about each other, one couldn't fake that. Could she? She knew him better than he knew himself and he knew her better than she knew herself, at least that's what he had believed. With her declaration, he felt as if he knew absolutely nothing. At times he couldn't read her feelings as easily as he could read others but he was sure she had been as happy with him as he had been with her. Why all of a sudden? Quatre was at a loss for words as his mind raced to figure out the mystery of their relationship's collapse.
"I honestly can't see you as anything more than a good friend. The last five months have been fun but we've reached an impasse. A romantic relationship between us is impossible. I still enjoy your company and the conversations we share. I just know that any further romantic progress would be a mistake," Dorothy continued in a matter of fact manner. "I really had hoped things could have worked out between us Mr. Winner..."
"Mr. Winner? Mr. Winner?"
The voice that woke Quatre from his dream was not the same smooth, soothing voice as Dorothy's. Instead it was the matronly voice of his secretary who peered at him concernedly from the door. He reluctantly lifted his head from his desk which was littered with paperwork and straightened himself in his chair. He blinked a few times to gain his bearings before addressing the kindly woman.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Ashurey is there something I can do for you?"
"No, no I'm sorry to disrupt you Mr. Winner. It's just that you have a visitor. A young gentleman by the name of Mr. Barton is here to see you. Should I let him in?"
"Oh, yes. Please show him in as soon as you can."
Quatre's eyes lit up at the news that Trowa had come. Mrs. Ashurey was visibly relieved at her employer's change in mood.
"Of course, Mr. Winner. I'll send him in right away."
She nodded and smiled as she backed out of the room, closing the door as she left. Happily, Mrs. Ashurey scurried down the hall to fetch Trowa. In the meantime, Quatre busied himself by organizing the mess of paperwork scattered about his desk. At long last, the knock that he had been anticipating sounded at the office door.
"Please come in!" He called from his seat.
As Trowa entered, Quatre rose to greet his tall, long banged best friend.
"This is a welcome surprise Trowa! We just saw each other last week. How have you been? Are you touring with the circus? How is Catherine? Are the animals healthy and behaving? Is there something I can help you with?" Quatre rambled as he motioned Trowa to a seat in front of his desk.
He himself sat back down in his own chair. Trowa paused and assessed his friend's frame of mind, silently contemplating the best way to broach the subject in his own mind.
"Actually, I was worried about you Quatre. Lately, you seem less... like yourself when I've seen you. We didn't have much opportunity to talk at the ball. Is there something bothering you? I mean. Something more personal than than work?"
Quatre smiled softly, "Am I that transparent?". He sighed, "Honestly, I don't know what to do. I've been confused over-" A slight blush tinted his cheeks. "Over her," the last words coming out barely above a whisper, his eyes downcast.
"Dorothy Catalonia?" Trowa guessed.
Quatre snapped out of his trance to look at his friend.
"I saw you two last week on the balcony and it wasn't the first time." This time it was Trowa's turn to show a slight blush. "I didn't mean to pry".
Quatre sighed deeply again and buried his face in his hands.
"I'm sorry Trowa. We had been together for months before she ended it a few days before that party. That time was bliss for me. I wanted to tell you, tell everyone! Dorothy didn't feel comfortable with it though. She wanted to keep our private life, well, private. No gossip, no media sniffing around. She said it was to protect my reputation but I could have cared less! I didnt care what the world, the universe thought! I just wanted to be near her. I..." he trailed off.
During Quatre's ranting, Trowa just sat in silence absorbing every word. He waited patiently for Quatre to sort his racing emotions and thoughts. The circus performer could tell his friend was in turmoil and only wished to provide the support they had grown accustomed to lending each other over the years.
After a few moments to collect himself, Quatre shook his head sadly. He opened his top right hand drawer and retrieved a small velvet box which he gingerly placed on the desk.
"I was going to ask her to marry me Trowa."
Quatre could feel the tears stinging behind his eyes. He closed them tightly, willing the burning liquid not to spill over as he reclined back, defeated in his chair.
"Do you still love her?" Trowa inquired.
Quatre bolted upright in his chair with a look of utter shock on his face.
"Of course I do!" his reply flying off his lips.
He stared at his friend with a mixture of confusion and anger as if the brunette had just slapped him across the face.
"Do you still want to marry her?" He pressed on unfazed by his sudden line of questioning.
"Yes!" Quatre was furious that his good friend would even doubt him.
A smile crept onto the clown's face.
"Then what are you doing here still moping around?"
Quatre was rendered speechless.
"I know she makes you happy and I'm glad you've found 'the one'. But don't you think you should be telling her all this and not me?" Trowa chuckled and Quatre couldn't help but smile at his friend.
"Thank you Trowa. I was lost for a little while. I'm glad that it was you who found me."
Quatre pocketed the box that held the symbol of his love, "I guess it's about time for me to visit our dear duchess."
