Note - thanks to KS for editing.
Quatre's POV
Chapter 4:
Kissing Trowa properly was like dissolving into strawberry-scented bliss. I wanted it to go on for ever.
It's Trowa who pulls back, giving me a faint, regretful smile as our waiter shows a couple to the table beside us.
Oh. It's not always the best idea; kissing in public. The girl is concentrating very hard on the view over the sea, and her boyfriend shoots us a manly, disapproving glare.
I drop my gaze to my food and concentrate very hard on neatly cutting up my last pancake, trying to look casual and willing my blush to disappear. Maggie, who'd jumped over to my lap, quite unnoticed, during the kiss, pokes her nose against my hand and I break her off a little piece without thinking. She gulps it down happily, and then curls her tongue around my fingers, licking up stray crumbs. When I look up, Trowa is watching and I realise I'm breaking all the rules by feeding her tidbits.
'I shouldn't be doing this, should I? The books all say you shouldn't feed them at the table.'
Trowa smiles over at me. 'You probably don't want to encourage her to beg for food, but actually it's quite a good idea to hand-feed small puppies at the start. It helps them to bond with the person feeding them, and associate their scent with food and comfort.'
Hand-feeding. Gosh. I could quite happily feed Trowa by hand to help us bond. Well, it's best not to think about that sort of thing. I take a long swallow of iced water, hoping it will cool down my imagination, and stop thinking about Trowa's lips brushing against my skin, or sucking syrup from my fingers or …anything like that.
'Quatre?' Trowa is looking at me rather oddly. Glancing quickly around to check no one is paying any attention to us - the straight guy is practically devouring his girlfriend alive, but of course, that's allowed - he leans across the table to take my hand. 'Is everything all right? Am I moving too fast for you? The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.'
'No,' I shake my head quickly, needing to reassure him. 'I'm just - not terribly comfortable with the whole public display thing.'
He gives my hand a gentle squeeze and then lets me go. 'That's OK.'
Drat. I really hope he didn't take that to mean that I'll be ready for rampant sex the moment we have some privacy.
'The thing is…' I clear my throat, not quite sure if this is the best time to say this, 'my last relationship ended badly, and I haven't been out with anyone properly since then, and I'd just rather not rush into anything.'
Well, that's probably ruined any chance I ever had with him. Just as he starts to say something, my 'phone rings.
'Would you mind if I answered that?'
It's probably Duo; if I don't pick up, he'll just keep calling. If I switch off, he'll call the café and claim he was worried about me not answering.
It's not Duo; it's Zechs.
'Bonjour, cheri,' he says suavely, just to remind me that he's in Paris for the weekend. 'How is everything?'
'Fine.' I give Trowa an apologetic little smile, and hand him Maggie as I stand up and walk away from the table.
'Really? That bad? I was talking to Duo earlier; I understand you've got a new love in your life.'
Typical Duo. He's my best friend, but he can't keep a secret to save his life. Not that it's a secret, not that there's anything to keep secret, but it would be nice not to have him broadcasting my personal life.
'Duo's exaggerating, as usual,' I tell him coolly. 'I've only just met Trowa and he's being very helpful with my new puppy.'
'Who's Trowa?' Zechs wonders. 'Duo was talking about someone called Maggie.'
'Oh!' It takes about thirty seconds to realise he's sending me up. 'Very funny, Peacecraft. You and Duo are utterly hilarious.'
'Aren't we, though?' he agrees happily. 'Well, Duo was telling me about the puppy and he just happened to mention the cute vet. Do you like him?'
'I think so, ' I tell him, glancing over at Trowa who's taken Maggie on his lap and is letting her play with his bangs. It's not fair that she's getting all the fun; I've been longing to touch his hair. 'But I've only just met him and I'm not going to rush into anything.'
'Good,' he says decisively. 'Anyway, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and to invite you for lunch next Sunday. You can bring the cute vet and we'll check him out.'
'I'd love to go. I'll think about asking Trowa.'
'We'll have to meet him sometime. Might as well get it over with.' His voice becomes more serious. 'I just wanted to check everything's all right with you.'
'It is. Truly,' I say, meaning it, knowing exactly what he's talking about. This time last year, Simon and I had just split up. I'd spent my birthday in bed, hiding under my duvet. Actually, I'd spent days in bed; Duo and Zechs had physically dragged me out in the end, and forced me back to the real world.
When I get back to the table, Trowa's already paid, and only laughs when I say I'd wanted to pay, to thank him for all his help.
'You can get it next time,' He hesitates. 'I don't know if you have any plans for the rest of the day, but I'd really like to spend some more time with you.'
'I'd love that. I did tell Duo I'd call by his house later, but I have a couple of hours before that.'
'Good,' Trowa stands up, handing me Maggie's lead. 'We could take a walk on the beach, if you'd like that.'
'Oh, I'd love it,' I beam up at him. I love walking by the sea, and he'd definitely implied he wanted to see me again. Hadn't he?
Trowa gives us our first walking-to-heel lesson once we get down on to the sand. I'm far better at it than Maggie is; she wants to chase the seagulls, the waves, other dogs, the shadow of a kite overhead, whereas I'm utterly content to walk alongside Trowa. Apparently, dog training necessitates quite a lot of necessary contact, as he shows me the correct way to hold the leash, and just how long it should be.
He's incredibly patient, and only laughs when she starts to pounce on his shoelaces, and twirl around the lead, trying to bite it. After a while, she starts to walk obediently at my heels, but I think it's more because she's tired out than anything else.
'Want to sit down for a bit?' Trowa asks, and on cue Maggie collapses on to the sand, exhausted from all the activity.
'I'm not surprised she's tired.' I sink down beside her and pull her onto my lap. 'I don't think she slept at all last night; every time I dozed off I woke up to her licking my face and wanting to play.'
'I don't blame her,' Trowa says softly and then it's his turn to blush. 'God, Quatre, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud.'
