Chapter 25:

In which Quatre is stood up for his date with Trowa and is very unhappy about it.

Quatre didn't even notice that Trowa was late picking him up until he was getting out of the shower. It was a quarter past six, and he'd been supposed to come at six.

It wasn't a problem at first. It was actually quite considerate of Trowa to have dropped those ridiculously fascist notions of punctuality, and accept Quatre-time.

An hour later, there was still no sign of him.

Which, when you thought about it, was just plain rude. He could at least have called. Anyone might conceivably get lost in a book, or in taking a bath, or get distracted on the way by a new shop or delicatessen, but Quatre always called people to say he was running late.

It was just good manners, a concept which apparently eluded Mr. Trowa Barton entirely.

Well, there was no way he was going to spend the evening at home alone; not when he was all dressed up.

He could go into town and spend an hour at his favourite café – life would seem a lot better after a ginger and passion-fruit juice, and a nice salad, and maybe an Earl Grey muffin. And then he could go shopping.

It was perfectly possible to have a good time without someone as ungracious as Trowa Barton.

And life was always better when one walked up the dilapidated, crumbling staircase, through the narrow tunnel lined with dingy white tiles and came out into the glory of Le Fenetre Soleil.

It was a little piece of Bohemian Paris in the middle of Sanque's Business District, hemmed in by merchant banks and stock brokers offices.

They were playing Edith Piaf on the stereo, and the whole place smelled of warm passion-fruit sauce.

Bliss.

Trowa, Quatre thought happily, collecting a menu and a couple of French magazines, and making his way to his favourite velvet armchair by the window, would hate this place. He'd say it was pretentious, just because there was a crystal chandelier, and a four-poster bed in one corner draped with silk scarves, and huge arrangements of exotic flowers, and three pages of the menu devoted to herbal teas.

Really, he was far, far better off without someone like that.

Wufei,on the other hand, would probably appreciate this place, Quatre decided, leafing through the menu and deciding to go forego salads for something stickily, squelchily sweet for a change. And Wufei would never, never have stood him up like this.

He smiled up at the waitress. 'I'll have the passion-fruit crepes with ice-cream, please. And orange and ginger juice.'

'Excellent choice,' a familiar voice approved from behind his chair.

'Wufei!' Quatre exclaimed in delight. 'I was just thinking about you.'

'Good things, I hope?' Wufei beamed at him, obviously just as delighted at the chance meeting.

'Of course, good things. Won't you sit down? Or are you with someone?'

Wufei shook his head. He looked amazing. Mouth watering. Quatre hadn't seen him in such casual clothes before and they suited him perfectly. A fitted – very fitted – t-shirt that clung to his body and a pair of worn jeans.

And all that martial arts training Zechs said he did had very obviously paid off.

'No, I'm by myself. I thought you were seeing Trowa tonight?'

'I was,' Quatre muttered. 'Supposedly. He stood me up. That hasn't happened to me since I was nineteen and then it was because he'd been in a car accident, so it doesn't really count. He never even bothered calling me. Trowa, I mean. Don't you think that's appallingly rude?'

'Unimaginably so,' Wufei agreed, sitting down and adding fair-mindedly, 'Perhaps he was in an accident or something.'

'You don't have to make excuses for him.'

'I'll stop then.' Wufei smiled at him. 'I'm doing rather well out of the situation, after all, since I get to see you again.'

'Thank you. I'm so sorry I had to cancel going to the cinema with you yesterday. Trowa said he was fine but I didn't want to leave him all alone in case he felt sick again.'

'Don't give it a moment's thought.'

Right. That was clear enough. Wufei wasn't interested either, if he'd forgotten that quickly. No one seemed to like him any more.

'Quatre.' Wufei's hand was suddenly on his arm, like it belonged there, like being touched by him was the most natural thing in the world. 'I didn't mean it like that. I just don't want you to feel guilty about me. You made your decision. Of course being with your sick boyfriend takes priority.'

Quatre sniffed. 'Maybe I made the wrong decision.'

'Stop. You're angry with him now, but he could have a perfectly good reason for letting you down. He probably wasn't feeling well; you said he had the 'flu and it takes a while to get over that.'

'Well, if he had a relapse it's his own fault. On Tuesday, he insisted on going out to check on his pets even though he had a fever. He's the world's worst patient. I actually threatened to tie him to the bed at one point.'

Wufei groaned. 'Don't tell me things like that. You do realise I won't be able to sleep for a week, with the images I'm getting from that one statement.'

'Mr. Chang!' Quatre twinkled up at him. 'Are you flirting with me?'

'Quatre, I've been very determinedly flirting with you ever since you sat down. Haven't you noticed?'

Quatre nodded happily. 'Oh, yes! You probably shouldn't, you know. We did decide we were going to be just friends from now on.'

'We could be friends who flirt.'

'I'm not sure if Trowa would approve of that,' Quatre said demurely.

'I'm sure Trowa would disapprove heartily,' Wufei agreed. 'Of course, he's not actually here. He's a fool, Quatre, to treat you like this. You deserve so much better.'

'You know, you're perfectly right!' Quatre decided. 'I do deserve someone better! Someone who's at least going to be a little considerate of me.'

'Of course you do,' Wufei assured him, shifting his chair a little closer as the waitress appeared with his order. 'While you're waiting for your food, would you like something of mine to start?'

'Earl Grey muffins!' Quatre's eyes lit up. 'Oh, I'd love one. Thank you so much.'

'I have the recipe, if you'd like it.'

'No! Seriously? I'm always begging them for it and they refuse to give it out.'

Wufei smirked slightly. 'I visited family in China last year, and brought back some special spices for the chef. In exchange, he gave me some of his recipes. I'm not supposed to tell anyone but I could make an exception for you.'

'Yes, please. You won't have to kill me or anything if you tell me, will you?'

'Nothing like that.' Wufei put a piece of muffin in his mouth and chewed. 'I'm sure you can find a less lethal way to thank me.'

Oh, gulp. There was a smattering of tiny crumbs at the corner of his lip. Very distracting. Very tempting, just to reach out and brush them off with one finger. Or to lick him clean.

Ugh. Bad thoughts.

He had a boyfriend, albeit an evil one, and he didn't cheat. Ever. Even if Trowa was off with someone else; some edgy man who liked being dragged into doorways and pawed, and would sleep with someone as soon as look as them.

'I'll email it to you when I get home.'

'Thank you.' Quatre wet one finger, and cleared up the crumbs on his plate. 'At least, I'll have one thing to look forward to,' he said dolefully.

'Stop that,' Wufei ordered. 'Self pity doesn't suit you. Have you tried calling him?'

'Certainly not! He's the one who should be calling me, not that I want to hear whatever stupid excuse he's going to invent. Do you know what? I don't want to hear whatever he comes up with. I'm going to turn off my 'phone!'

It didn't hurt quite so much as he'd imagined it would. Wait 'til he told Duo he'd actually switched off what his friends called his life support machine! But it wasn't that bad. After all, his family and his closest friends had his other number.

'Where was he supposed to be taking you tonight? Somewhere nice?'

'Bowling.'

'Ah.' Wufei's voice was very dry. 'Do you like bowling?'

'I don't know. I've never done it before. Then we were going to some Mexican restaurant for dinner. I suppose it might have been fun. Anyway, it's rather nice to have a free evening; one of my nieces is having a birthday party at the weekend. I have to buy her a present, and I still have to get an anniversary gift for my parents.'

Wufei nodding, sipping his tea. 'It's their fortieth, isn't it? I've seen some beautiful ruby-red Venetian crystal in that antique shop in the Victoria Arcade. Would they like something like that?'

'I think that would be perfect. They open late tonight, don't they?'

'Nine o'clock.'

'Excellent. And I can get something for Aimée in the bookshop next door and then wander around a little bit.' He dipped his spoon in the pool of fruit sauce on his plate and licked it thoughtfully. 'I don't suppose you'd like to come with me? It's a nice evening for a walk.'

'I'm not sure if that would be a very good idea.'

'You said you wanted us to stay friends.'

'I know I did. And I'm sorry, but you've got a boyfriend.'

'Have I?' Quatre asked bitterly. 'This was supposed to be our third date, you know. And he couldn't be bothered to turn up. It's not exactly a good omen.'

'You're really upset about this, aren't you?'

Quatre nodded, tearing his eyes away from Wufei's; away from the compassion in his expression. 'I like him a lot. I don't even know why half the time. He hates practically everything I like; we have hardly anything in common; he doesn't even like my best friend, and he's refusing to meet my family. I asked him to come to Aimee's birthday on Saturday and he clearly wasn't remotely interested.'

'Why do you like him then?'

'I don't know! He's intelligent and interesting and he can be really funny sometimes, and well, you've met him. I know it was only for a short time at the rally, but you know what he's like.'

Wufei looked fixedly at his plate. 'I do. Quite the competition, actually.'

'What does that mean?'

'Work it out. It sounds like I have a rather serious rival.'

'You said you'd accepted that I'd made my choice.'

'Yes, well, I'm thinking I may have to change my mind. If you were happy with him, then that would be different. But you're quite obviously not.'

'He's still my boyfriend,' Quatre whispered. 'I think, anyway.'

'For now.' Those amazing black eyes were suddenly very direct. And very close, because Wufei was leaning across the table to him. 'You just said that maybe you'd made the wrong decision. I'd like to convince you of that. If I may?'

He could have moved away. Wufei didn't pounce, or anything so crass. He took his time about it, giving Quatre plenty of time to pull back, or object, or take a swing at him.

There was one hand gently cradling his jaw, and tilting his face very slightly. It was all very slow and gentle, and none the less forceful for that. He'd wanted this ever since he'd first seen the man.

'No.' He jerked back suddenly. 'I'm sorry, Wufei. Truly. It's not that I don't want to, because I do but it would be wrong.'

'Is this about not wanting to hurt Trowa?'

'Not exactly. He'd never know. It's more about me. I've never cheated on anyone in my life. I'd rather not start.'

Wufei shook his head, a few stray strands ghosting over golden skin. 'He doesn't deserve you. Let me do this at least?' He leaned in, and pressed his lips to Quatre's cheek; the sort of platonic gesture that was perfectly acceptable between friends in Sanque. Just a kiss, that maybe lasted a moment or so longer than was considered usual. And then Wufei's head titled slightly and his mouth was over Quatre's. The barest, briefest touch of flesh to flesh.

'Wufei,' Quatre whispered. 'Please.'

He couldn't have said, at that precise moment, when he was pleading for, except that Wufei let him go, and left a lingering feel of loss.

'I should apologise,' Wufei said quietly, 'except I've wanted to do that ever since I first saw you in that club. ' He smiled. 'It was worth the wait. And don't worry; you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.'

'Yes.' Right then. The world had just lurched on its axis. The Earth moving in its simplest sense.

Trowa.

'I can't. I have ….'

'I know. A boyfriend.' Wufei was smiling, very slightly, as if Trowa was no more than a tiny objection to be brushed aside. Hmmm. So there was a totally different side to the diffident, scholarly man who'd first courted him. That was interesting.

'I'm sure you can find a solution to that particular problem if you think about it a little.'

Quatre jerked up his chin, nettled by the sheer arrogance in Wufei's voice. He didn't like being taken for granted. 'I'm not sure if I want to, actually.'

'You will.' He laughed at the look on Quatre's face. 'I'm sorry; that was ridiculously presumptuous. I just meant that I'm planning to do everything in my power to show you how much I want to be with you.'

'Yes, well.' Quatre took a mouthful of his cold tea. He wasn't used to feeling flustered. But, Heavens, this was all very flattering. And of course he shouldn't have returned the kiss, but it was all Trowa's fault in the first place, for letting him down, and for all he knew Trowa could be off with someone else anyway.

'Relax, Quatre.' Wufei took one of his hands and stroked the palm with one fingertip. 'I just wanted to register my interest, and let you know I'm not giving up on you. Is that permitted?'

'I suppose so. If you must.'

'Oh, I must. It's absolutely imperative.'

What was absolutely imperative, Quatre decided, was for Wufei not to stop touching him like that. Just the pad of one finger, dancing over his skin, and it was almost shockingly intimate. There was the whole martial arts thing as well, and that was oddly erotic. He could probably break someone's neck with that one finger.

Which was disturbing to think about, for someone who was totally opposed to violence.

'Are you really into Karate?' he asked, because his brain needed to find something else to absorb it.

'How did you know that?' Wufei looked amused.

'Zechs told me.'

'I can't imagine how he'd know,' Wufei sounded nonplussed and Quatre laughed.

'Oh, he knows all sorts of things about you. When is it that you two are having dinner?'

'On Saturday.'

'You don't exactly sound thrilled about it.'

Wufei arched an eyebrow at him. 'I'd much prefer to be taking you out. Anyway, since you asked, yes, I am interested in martial arts. Not Karate but some ancient Chinese and Tibetan disciplines.'

Quatre shook his head. 'I can't really see you doing something like that.' Of course, he'd never have thought that Wufei would have a motorbike either. Quite the interesting dichotomy, was Mr. Chang. 'How did you ever get into it?'

'My grandfather taught me; he believed I needed discipline. It was originally a form of anger management.'

'You?' Quatre gaped at the smiling man opposite him, as serene as sunlight on still water.

'I'm afraid so. I was rather a brat as a child. Horribly arrogant and totally sure of my own brilliance. When my grandfather came to live with us, he informed my parents that I was an appalling child and decided to take me in hand.'

'You must have hated that!'

'Oh, I did, at first. But I'd been raised to respect older people, so I went along with him, and then I found I was enjoying learning a whole new set of skills.'

'It just doesn't seem to go with the image of being an art historian,' Quatre grinned at him. 'Going around breaking bricks in half and whatever else you do.'

'I've never broken a brick in my life!' Wufei looked slightly offended. 'It's just a hobby, Quatre. A good way to keep fit, and impose discipline on mind and body. It doesn't define who I am.'

'No.' God, he was as bad as Trowa; quite impossible to pin down and identify. 'Did you always want to study art?'

'Not in the least. I wanted to be a fighter pilot when I was a teenager.'

'Really?' Quatre couldn't imagine anything more horrible. 'Why?'

Wufei laughed. 'I was a fifteen year old boy. I wanted speed. All that power. Anyway, I had a medical test a year or so later, and my eyesight wasn't good enough, so that was that.'

'Did you mind?'

'At the time, gods, yes. It also meant I couldn't join the police, which was another career I'd thought about. Anyway, I ended up studying law in my first year at university. I spent the summer working for a friend of my father's, who's a lawyer, became totally disenchanted with the justice system, and decided I wanted to do something completely different.'

'Wow. That's a lot of career changes!'

Wufei shrugged. 'Who knows what they want to do when they're teenagers, really? What about you?'

'I wanted to be a professional violinist, but I wasn't good enough.' Quatre put down the cup he'd been nursing. 'If you'd like to change your mind about coming shopping with me, we'd better go, before it gets too late.'

'Of course.' Wufei nodded to the waitress. 'Quatre, just give me a chance. Please? We could be wonderful together, the two of us. Will you at least think about us?'

'I will.' Quatre stood up, stretching. 'It's just…complicated. If it weren't for Trowa, then yes. Certainly. I don't know, Wufei. I'm confused and I kissed you and I shouldn't have done that…'

'Shhh. I kissed you. You didn't have any say in the matter. You've done absolutely nothing wrong.'

He had though, Quatre reflected miserably, collecting his jacket and following Wufei downstairs.