The Stylist
Summary: Epilogue, snowballs, and cosmic karma
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Gundam Wing or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story.
Warnings: AU, male/male pairings, language
Chapter 12
Epilogue
The news media reported a tragic accident at the AZEROCOM complex when the underground power plant exploded after overheating due to the extraordinary demand during the Great Sanc Blizzard. A very few lives were lost, thankfully; important infrastructure was totally destroyed, regrettably; and the earth continued to rotate on its axis, eternally.
And that was it. Coverage was spotty at best. No survivors to interview. No witnesses to interview. And if there were, no one was wasting time researching deeper to uncover a more sinister plot. Pictures included a few collapsed buildings and several more destroyed ones and a total wasteland at ground zero, so to speak.
In the days following the AZEROCOM destruction, while life felt as if it had slowed to a crawl for the closed-mouth heroes, changes to the world around them continued to snowball, but in ways they hadn't fathomed.
Heero needed to return to his office security firm where he had a lot to catching up to do. There was shake-up at the Palace and he was involved in securing the changes. New recruits for the enhanced security team required overseeing, as well as updating the surveillance everywhere.
"I'll come on over later, Duo, if that's all right?" Heero asked, still insecure about where their relationship stood and not prepared for dating or changing living arrangements or anything until Duo was certain he wanted any changes. He needed Duo to take the lead, and he wasn't. Heero certainly couldn't. He had no experience to base any decisions on, and he wasn't brave enough to make up things as he went along when it came to Duo.
"Yeah, lemme know when you're at the door and I'll … be ready." He batted his eyes to make his boyfriend laugh.
"All right, see you later," Heero said. He hovered about until Duo mashed a kiss on him and told him to "have fun."
"Don't worry about me," Duo reassured him as much as himself. "I got stuff to do."
Duo returned to his station in front of the picture window in the living room he still shared with Trowa in the Long's building. Somewhere out there was his answer. He just had to look hard enough. And come up with the right question.
Quatre prepared to return to his office after unpeeling himself from Trowa's grappling hold. He was a little stiff yet from pulling his interstitial muscles, but he'd live. He wasn't going to ask for another transfusion to heal faster. He'd take it easy (I promise!) It wasn't as if he wanted to, but the meetings and paperwork weren't going to wait any longer or get done remotely. His face needed to appear in the office.
Trowa walked him to the door.
"I know the way out, dear," Quatre said, giving his lover one last peck on the lips. "I will contact you later." He looked askance at where Duo stood silhouetted by the light and snowy vista.
Trowa whispered, "Got it covered," and stood back to let Quatre close the door behind him.
He moseyed over to stand by his friend. "Yo."
"It's like-," Duo said for the umpteenth time.
"—you're in limbo. Yeah I heard. I know," Trowa said. "I got a plan for today. Going out to the circus."
"Working?" Duo looked like a lost child wandering in the corn field, forlorn and aimless.
"No, saying goodbye. Cleaning out the caravan. I could use a hand."
Duo would have mucked out the horses' stalls he was so bored. "I'm your man. At your disposal!"
"We'll take your car." As opposed to the bus. "I have some things to bring back."
"The SUV is a little too… to drive there?" Duo meant the glorious high-powered BMW still parked out front.
"Too everything, yeah." Trowa didn't was to intimidate or show off around his old circus buddies.
Duo would drive because with the still-jammed passenger side door and his swollen knee, Trowa was the only one who could fold and bend and climb over the stick-shift into the seat.
"It's getting better," Duo insisted. Heero had encouraged him to soak it and ice it and let Sally tape it. It was pretty banged up.
They stopped for picnic provisions along the way. No subjecting themselves to a Catherine casserole!
The caravan was not his, Trowa explained. It belonged to the circus and would be lent out to someone else. It had been Trowa's home as a youth and a hangout for the years since. Still, it contained next to nothing worth keeping.
Trowa took care of throwing out and sorting his stuff, while Duo dug into the cleaning chores. The space was compact so there wasn't much to do, but it took longer than necessary. Folks kept dropping by.
What Duo noticed was that Trowa was distancing himself from the circus. Little by little in subtle ways. He was dressed too well and he spoke very little. Duo overheard a little Italian and what he learned was Russian being spoken by acrobats and clowns and daredevils rambling by to have a look at the caravan and wish Trowa good luck. It was both sad and almost cleansing. He could see it in his friend's eyes. Trowa was looking forward to be leaving this world and to be entering the next phase of his life.
"Done with this," Trowa said, locking the door as they left the caravan and filling the large trash can outside. "I need to drop off the key with Catherine and we'll have our picnic with her, but first, want to see the animals?"
"Sure do!" Duo did, but not nearly as much as he knew his friend wanted to. "What about these boxes?"
"One is going into the trunk and I'll carry the other. Costume crap Catherine will want."
"Those mementos?" Duo asked as Trowa closed the car lid.
"A few. Lions this way."
An hour later, Catherine caught up to them feeding apple slices to the horses. "Hey! I thought you were picnicking with me, not the animals! Hi, Duo!"
"Got held up," Trowa said. "Here, I have costumes to return. Where do you want them?"
"Follow me."
Inside his sister's much larger caravan, they dug through the box, sharing a tale or two. At one point she held out something to her brother and pushed it into his hands. Duo looked away. It seemed so very personal a moment. All he overheard was, "… for Halloween."
They shared the chips and sandwiches indoors where it was warm and actually for a while Duo forgot his own indeterminate state. When he felt it was time to go and Trowa was winding down, Duo excused himself. He'd give them both a little time alone.
"Meetcha back at the car. Nice seeing you, Catherine. Take care."
Duo had time to mull over the day. Trowa would be missed. He'd been admired and loved by many and he'd be loved and admired by many more in Quat's world. Just as he began feeling a bit down thinking how different his own situation was, Trowa came jogging up.
"Open the trunk," Trowa asked. "One last memento. My first mask. Too small now, actually."
"Cool though," Duo said, admiring it. So that was what his sister wanted him to keep. Sweet.
"Howard wants you to stop by, you know," Trowa reminded him.
"Yeah, might as well blow the entire day."
"Be sure to limp a lot."
"Yeah, I may not have to pretend so much," Duo said, sighing. "Okay, it'll show the other guys I honestly do have a reason to take off another week."
When they entered Howard's garage and he discovered he really had been missed. Three mechanics pigeon-holed him and asked his opinion about fixes they were less sure about; other's wished him well, but hoped he'd be back at his station soon.
"Yeah, I can tell you'd all be lost without me," Duo laughed. "Howard won't let me work for another week. He doesn't want me doing more damage and blowing up his insurance rates!"
Duo felt better and confused as to what to do at the same time.
"Thanks Tro'. I guess I needed to get out and see that the world was still okay."
"Me, too," Trowa said. "I have a message here from Chang. Wants us all to party on at his place tomorrow. Spa day and everything."
"That's cool. I could use a little buff an' fluff!" Duo and Trowa both had a good laugh over that.
(o)
Quatre, Heero, Trowa, and Duo- they all wanted and needed to talk about how they were doing, so Wufei arranged a fun event. The spa was resupplied and about to open, now that his employees could reach the downtown building safely. As a test run of the facilities, he invited his friends over for recreation in his workout gym, restorative and grooming time in the spa, and dinner made by him in his dining room. He felt completely invigorated and pleased with himself.
Afterwards, looking freshly spruced up and well-fed, they all sat around his living room to discuss the odd feelings that they had.
Heero suggested that one of the programing changes the doctors must have made in those feverish last hours was to alter ZERO's influence on people as it became disabled. He guessed this because as folks "came to" and remembered a few lost years, their reactions were dulled to the point that the alteration to their consciousness was neatly accepted and brushed off.
Duo muttered from his cozy spot on the couch, head in Heero's lap, "No consequences."
"But we weren't affected that way," Wufei insisted he get a clear explanation. "Our minds and memories are entirely intact, as were Treize and Zechs'; at least, as good as they ever were."
Quatre was willing to toss his opinion into the mix. "We all had some experience with ZERO in the war, but what seems more important- because it explains Hilde and Sally and Rashid's perfectly intact memories, too—Is that we were all aware. Aware of ZERO. Aware of what we were doing. We could all feel ZERO as it was being weakened by the re-programing efforts. Also, all of us were perfectly rational and disconnected from the ZERO effect—mostly." He scowled at Trowa who was snickering something about sword fighting. "I don't know, but that's what I think."
"Cosmic karma," Trowa said.
"That, too," Quatre granted his lover.
And since no one else had an alternative solution, they let dead doctors' secrets die forever.
"Did I tell you what our darling Miss Relena almost did?" Quatre asked.
"Peacecraft," Heero corrected him. "She took back her Peacecraft identity when she became the Sanc foreign minister representative the day after the fall of AZEROCOM."
Quatre frowned at him. "I know that."
"Everyone knows that," Duo intoned, snug in his nest.
OZ had rapidly self-destructed like AZEROCOM had, and just as mysteriously. In hopes of keeping Sanc relevant in the changing world, Relena had been first to propose opening free trade, without the totally unnecessary and cumbersome OZ intermediary. By easing the oppression the colonies had suffered for years, she was able to convince the colonies to make peace with and join with the other governments, making her one of the most effective and admired leaders of her time. And she accomplished this in the extraordinarily short time of a few days.
During the week following the end of AZEROCOM and its brain numbing effects, the governments of the world and the colonies united together to form the World Unified Nations (WUN). Miss Relena Peacecraft, as one would expect, represented Sanc's interests.
"Do you want to hear my story, or not?" Quatre asked.
"I want to hear it," Trowa answered.
"All right, so just for you," Quatre smiled. "To rejoice in the fact that everyone won -or W.U.N.- in this non-war event, Relena Peacecraft this morning was about to announce the beginning of a new annual winter celebration. She was going to call it WUNNER."
The group groaned on cue. "Ugh… Awful."
"I asked that she not do that."
"No, you didn't," Trowa noted. "You here have noticed how sometimes Quatre has a peculiar intensity to him, as if he could shatter glass with a single glance? He used it on her. He gave her the intensity-eyeball treatment and she quailed at his feet."
The imagery pleased his lover. "Yes, I did. I told her to call it The Winter Ball and leave it at that. I also added a polite, please." The last part he directed at Heero.
"Sensitive to his criticism and susceptible to the power of his piercing-eye, she made the change. Winter Ball Celebrating WUN it is," Trowa said.
"We're all invited," Quatre told them.
"Cool," Duo said.
Heero sighed. "Great. Thanks. Another dress-up occasion and you know how I feel about those, Winner- or should I call you Wunner for fun?"
"Is he doing his evil-eye thingee?" Duo asked him, eyes closed, perfectly comfy.
"Yes, he is." Heero took off a sock, rolled it into a ball and pelted Quatre with it.
Quatre was staring cross-eyed at him, so he removed his other sock and hit him with that one too.
"Stop that eye stuff!" Heero ordered, with a laugh. "So, did I tell you about Merquise?"
"Go ahead and tell it again. It is so damned funny," Duo encouraged him. "Change must have been the air around the palace."
"Cosmic karma," Trowa affirmed, "is in the air."
"Maybe," Heero said. "But I think Merquise was too proud to be bested by his kid step-sister, so he changed his name back to Milliardo Peacecraft-."
"Now there's a mouthful," Duo said, snickering.
"- And then he one-upped her and married Lucrezia Noin."
"NO!" everyone cried out.
"That's the scoop," Duo said.
"There's more I found out." Heero went on, "Together they left Sanc to go to Paris and open a couture salon named 'Mars' creating…" he paused for effect, "… 'Out of this world' clothing for cats and dogs."
Quatre curled up and laughed so hard he started hiccupping.
"Meee-ow!" Duo cat-talked.
"I repeat, cosmic karma," Trowa said. When the laugher calmed down, he asked, "Chang, didn't you say the Kush dropped by?"
"Yeah, what did he want? Another go at the bet?" Duo asked.
"It was strange, very strange," Wufei began. "Khushrenada dropped by Long's to see me, 'like old times,' he claimed. Whose old times? I don't know, because the man had never entered this establishment before."
"I offered him a chair in the office and invited Sally in as well. I think Sally called in Hilde, who was curious, too."
"A right merry gathering," Duo noted.
"Hilde, clever girl, recorded the meeting, in case… well, here, listen:"
"I've looked back on my life to date and drew a few conclusions," Treize pontificated, "one of which I'll share with you all."
Wufei spoke over the recording, "I willed him to get on with it. I had work pending. Lunch! And you know how he can go on and on. Listen-"
"My scholarship knowledge consists of decadent poets, dead languages, and neglected, moth-ridden masterpieces of long-forgotten lore—in other words, it's practically worthless."
"Treize loves to play to an audience. He was smiling, counting on everyone to join in his joke. Sally smiled out of courtesy," Wufei pointed out.
"This led me to the only possible career choice—I shall go into politics. Run for mayor of Sanc proper. Once successful, I can climb my way up to… well… let's just wait and see."
"If you can't conquer the fashion industry-and you couldn't; we proved that- then you'll martyr yourself to it and run on that?" Wufei asked.
"Why not? And I already have a speech prepared." Khushrenada cleared his throat. "Like all old cities, it is the sum of its ruins. All that is left of the powerful families are letterheads of companies, names of buildings, monuments… the palace… all relics of an extinguished civilization. I promise to open the doors, bring in fresh air, fresh blood, begin anew!"
Wufei interjected his own thoughts again. "Although his words had the ring of a canned chamber of commerce speech, or something he'd read in a novel the other day, the man looked pleased and flashed us all a winning smile."
"What do you think?" Treize asked.
"You should seek early retirement from politics," Wufei told him. "Here's my suggestion: open a brewery and tap house. Something fun and with measureable achievement."
Duo laughed. "That's something I'd say!"
Wufei chuckled with him and paused the tape. "I hate to admit it, but there are times I channel your wisdom."
"Aw, shucks, love you, too, 'Fei," Duo said.
"Wait until you hear what Treize says to my idea!" Wufei let the tape continue.
"Brewery, you say? Why that does sound magnificently appealing. I could call one… Lady's Brew? What do you think?"
"And Lord's Lager," Sally suggested.
"By God, I like this idea. I like it a lot!" Treize said, shaking hands.
"Excellent," Wufei commended him.
"Invite us to your grand opening," Sally added, politely.
"I shall do, shall do!"
Wufei shut off the tape. "That's it."
"A brewery! From would-be-world-tyrant to fashion-house-leader to brew-master. Now there's a resume!" Duo mused.
They all pondered the news, sipping wine, chugging beer, unwinding. From down the hall they could hear Sally and Hilde laughing together and coming into the room.
Lovely sound. Wufei cocked his head and said, "I could use a laugh."
Hilde held up a glossy magazine. "It's just… MS Froust's article on you from Fashion Quarterly has come out. She says lots of nice things- don't worry- but she leads into it with this: 'He was a slender gentleman but without affected manners and theatrical gestures…' Why doesn't she just say she believes you're gay and hiding it?!" Hilde laughed some more.
He covered his face with a hand. "Always something."
"The problem I have," Duo told everyone, "is how I get this creepy feeling that something is yet to come. That it isn't all over. I keep waiting."
"And yet it is over." Wufei's cellphone buzzed an incoming message. "Oh!" Wufei's demeanor turned serious. "I take it back. This is interesting."
It was more than just interesting. The doctors had arranged one more surprise for the young men they had nurtured and trained as teenagers: they left wills. Everyone named in the wills was invited the next morning for the reading of the wills at the Law offices of Curtner, Porter, and Chavier, practically next door to the Long's building.
Wufei, for one, set his expectations low. "I'm good with getting nothing, just as long as I'm not expected to pay off any of Master O's debts."
Duo sat up and pointed at Trowa, "Don't say it."
His friend just smiled smugly and mouthed the words, "Cosmic karma, baby."
(o)
Despite the cold, Wufei and all his friends were all standing outside the law offices talking in small groups or re-reading the pages of documents. Coming to grips with the news.
Doctor J left his estate to Heero. Heero was flattered to be remembered, but he didn't want it. His first impulse was to flat out turn it down. The lawyers pointed out that possibly there were others who had received far less and could use far more.
"Like who?"
"Well, for instance, the doctors had all pooled a little something for Mr. Howard Sweeper as a departing gift, but a significantly small amount for an elderly man facing retirement soon, and no pension."
Heero had a short talk with the engineer, confirming what he'd been told; although, he did have a few substantial assets the lawyers were not informed about. He then made Howard an offer too good to turn down.
Howard agreed with the general concept. "It is time for me to relax. I've earned it! Retire to those islands whose shirts I sport, and do it in style."
"Yes, you deserve it," Heero said, "and so does Duo."
And so, the two men quickly reached a mutually satisfying decision. Heero immediately walked Howard back into the building and asked one of the lawyers to write something up for him, indicating a considerable amount of J's bequest be portioned out to Howard. The engineer had his own documents written up. Howard signed his name alongside Heero's on the money transfer and waited for his other documents to be prepared. The two men shared a conspiratorial moment together.
"By way of thanks," Heero told him, "promise me never to tell anyone where this money came from. Let everyone think that the old scientists have been particularly generous to you."
"On my honor," Howard vowed.
His pact with Heero would forever remain a secret. This was very important, because if Duo knew Heero was behind it, he would never agree to what would happen next.
Professor G left his estate to Duo, who was flabbergasted, never imagining that he would have so much money in his lifetime.
"Let my brain centrifuge it for a while."
He left the law offices and stood outside. He didn't see Heero. He wasn't ready to talk to anyone else, so he breathed deeply of the freezing air and blew out, watching his breath exit his lungs in white billows. He raised his face to the sky, soaking up a little sunshine. What to do? All he could come up with was that he'd be able to upgrade from his old clunker car.
And then Heero walked up with Howard.
Duo searched Heero's face for a sign, and Heero smiled at him. "Hi, Duo."
"Duo Maxwell, my man!" Howard shouted, slapping him on the back.
"Howard, I got some money. I'm gonna check out a new car first thing," Duo said proudly. He looked at Heero, who gave him a reassuring nod.
"You'll have more than that to deal with," Howard said. "I've decided to retire. Visit the islands. Ruminate on life. And I'm leaving the garage to you."
"You want me to run the place while you…ruminate remotely?" Duo asked a bit confused.
"No, no, no… The garage is yours. All yours. And the living quarters above it." Howard liked the idea the more he said it.
Duo was absolutely dumbfounded. He could not have told anyone his name if he'd been asked. This gave Howard the opportunity to chatter on and on as he liked without interference.
"I know, it's a lot to take in, but there you have it. You're the best manager I've ever had. Smart. You don't take no crap from no one. And you know your stuff. You got that Winner dude to teach you business stuff I don't know. Yeah, you're the right man for the place. All yours, headaches and all. Lawyers drawing up the papers as we speak. I couldn't wait for them to finish. I wanted to see the look on your face! And I'll stick around for a couple months to teach you the what-and-wherefore. Oh, don't worry 'bout me. No Sirree. I was willed some big money—" And here Howard drew close to Duo's ear and whispered, "- but there was something secret, something-I won't divulge what, but someday…maybe."
Duo guessed. "They gave you the Gundanium formula."
"Make me proud!" Howard laughed and laughed, pleased with himself and how life played out.
"Are you all right?" Heero asked Duo. He wasn't certain Duo was even happy, but he'd begin with that much.
"Yeah. I gotta think. That okay if I just stand here and let it all soak in for a while?"
Heero touched his arm. "Take your time. For what it's worth, I think you are the right man for the job, and you'll be great at this. Go ahead and absorb. I want to talk to Quatre a moment. I'll be right over there."
He pointed and Duo nodded, still stunned.
(o)
Instructor H left Quatre everything he had. Quatre, not needing anything more but to see his friends comfortably fixed up, gifted the entire bequest to the Maguanacs corps and their leader- with Rashid in charge of distributing it fairly.
Rashid thanked Quatre Winner for his generosity and then excused himself to go back home to the Maguanacs' compound on the outskirts of Sanc. Going with him for the weekend was Miss Hilde Schbeiker, to the surprise of everyone else.
"We are lucky to have a fine clear day for the ride home," Rashid said to her.
"Lucky? We'd be lucky if this heap of truck broke down and we had to find alternative ways to keep warm." Hilde shot the handsome man a grin.
"Now Miss Schbeiker," Rashid said, clearing his throat, and fighting his rising desires.
"Hilde, please." She sniffed.
"As much as I'd love to have a brief—" He couldn't bring himself to say "affair" and just left it hanging in the air.
She smiled skeptically. "I'm open to offers," she joked.
He shook his head. A touch of regret in his eyes. "—with anyone else but you…"
"Right. Let's just drive on."
A few minutes later, Hilde broached the topic of their budding relationship again.
"I don't get it. We've been having coffee and tea for days and…Why aren't you lunging for me? Maybe I'm not your type?"
"Hilde," Rashid's voice sound like dark honey. "You are very flattering. You're full of energy and ideas. You're beautiful. I'm not immune to you."
"You're not?" She brightened.
He laughed. "Of course not, but it's not about…attraction or desire. It's about learning another person. That takes time, if you indulge me in being older and a tiny bit wiser at this exact moment."
"Oh, okay. I want something…meaningful too." Hilde thought a little while and he let her without talking or interrupting.
"So, does this mean you aren't going to jump my bones? I mean, what do we do? Who makes the first move? You're driving me crazy. I don't know what to do?"
He couldn't help but let out a moan. He felt every molecule of air in his lungs, where every limb was and what it was touching and in particular he was hyper-aware of her tiny hand resting on his shoulder. After a few moments he thought of what he wanted to say and how to say it.
"Women make men better. We work better in groups, less male vs male 'who's the top dog' fighting. And if a man finds the right woman, life is richer."
"Oh, that's nice. Real nice." Hilde sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I haven't a clue what to do with you, but I know that I have felt happier with you, even without sex or stuff… happier than ever in my life. Does that make sense to you, even if we haven't known each other for long? I just, you know, don't wanna wear out my welcome."
"You couldn't wear out your welcome." Rashid scratched at his moustache. "I never thought I'd feel this way again, since… since I lost my first wife," he said honestly. "And I suppose I didn't think I should make the first move. I was afraid I might spoil our friendship."
"You mean you didn't know how I felt? But you also felt that connection, too?!" She grinned broadly.
"I hoped, but I wasn't going to test it by moving too recklessly."
Hilde's hand slid down his arm and joined his hand griping the steering wheel. He felt a bolt of lightning shoot up his arm.
"Oooh, this is so cool!" she chortled and kissed his cheek. "There. I made a move. Your turn next."
(o)
Doctor S left his estate to Trowa, a young man he had always admired. Trowa immediately arranged to give half of it to his sister Catherine Bloom. It was as if the money was a toxic substance and would taint him permanently if he didn't get rid of it fast enough.
"She deserves it. I'd never feel right with all…this. She should to be able to improve her life as well."
While the lawyer wrote up the new documents, Trowa had time to think and consider making a brand new dream of his own come true. It had occurred to him only recently, but as soon as he saw those dollar signs next to his name, he believed he could make it a reality. I can start something on my own.
He loped out of the law office in search of someone with whom to share his brilliant new idea.
"Tro'!" Duo waved him over. "Did you hear? Howie's giving me the garage and all. Me! He got his own money and is retiring, so… ME!"
Trowa was honestly supremely happy for his best friend. Not only was it good for Duo, it meant Trowa could get on with his life without worrying if Duo had found opportunities to live better.
He joked with Duo, "So, taking advantage of your largess, how about getting me a deal on an SUV?"
Duo laughed. "I'll do you one better. You can just drive away in the best: this top of the line, gorgeous all-terrain BMW that's just broken in." It was the one they'd driven to the AZEROCOM complex and still parked in front of the Long's building.
Trowa scanned Duo's face for any doubt, his penetrating green eyes searching for reservations.
Duo dug into his pockets for the key. "Here ya go. I mean it! Who knows what piece of crap you'd pick out? You know you'll need something classy if you're gonna date Quat officially," Duo teased.
"Thanks," Trowa whispered as the two slapped backs and sorta hugged. Trowa pulled away, looked down at the car key and then back up at Duo's shining face. "Quatre's looking for me, so…"
"Go get'em, tiger," Duo crowed.
Duo was feeling pretty darned good. He was on more equal footing with Heero, he figured. He had something to offer, more than just his body. But Duo never missed a chance to fester in self-doubt.
Heero had looked pretty happy before he took off after Quatre. And I had sorta pushed him away. Of course he'd want to tell his best friend his news. But how would Heero feel about me after he gets used to this new me? He still wants to be boyfriends, right?
Nothing good ever brought me anything but trouble, though.
(o)
The moment Quatre joined Trowa, the two linked hands. They were often seen touching, as if their emotional connection was strengthened by the contact, and it probably was.
Trowa wasn't looking at him, however; he was staring across the street, scrutinizing the abandoned OZ buildings,
"Are you going to be all right?" Quatre asked Trowa. "Does this make your future brighter, your choices clearer?"
"The future isn't any worse," he said laconically, smiling at Quatre's cross little frown. "C'mere. Holding you close, that's what makes me happy. Helping Catherine, that's something I never thought I could do, and I'm pleased to do it. I feel… deeply satisfied."
"That's lovely, but I meant the rest of the estate, the security, money to give you independence."
Trowa pointed to the building with darkened windows across the street. "That's the one, right? It's no longer an OZ facility?"
"Yes, they've been ousted. I think it's a marvelous location. So close to Long's, my building, Heero's place, and the garage, too."
Trowa continued staring at it, studying the outside. "I'll put my sign right there: Downtown Athletic Center. From what you've told me, there's room for pools, courts, weight room—"
"- a steam room, hot tubs, and a health bar and restaurant." Quatre was so happy Trowa had found something he wanted to do and had the money to do it.
"Yeah, it'll be nice. And I look forward to making it happen." Trowa sighed and reached out for Quatre's hand again. "That's all fine, but nothing matters as much as us. I know what I want and that's to be with you. I need little else, few things."
Quatre brushed the hair out of Trowa's eyes. "I'm so lucky."
"Of course, if being with you will entitle me to the use of a beach house and a mountain villa, and a sweet downtown condo, well… I guess I'll have to put up with all that, too."
Trowa's chuckle was deep and bubbled up, catching hold of Quatre and making them both laugh with joy.
Quatre said, smiling, "Nice to know I don't have to twist your arm to get you to accept what I have to offer."
"Hmmm," Trowa hummed and nuzzled his nose in Quatre's soft golden hair.
"See, it's our karmic bond," Quatre explained.
"Ummmm…yeah…"
"Duo looks a little lost."
"Hmmm… he's fine," Trowa murmured.
"Heero looks a little blue."
"Hmmm hummm."
"Tro-wa!" Quatre pushed apart. "Talk to Duo. He's your best friend and probably is feeling muddle-headed. Heero certainly is. Help me spread the good karma!"
"Yes, sahib," Trowa said, jokingly, skipping out of Quatre's reach when he tried to bat his arm. He jogged in the direction he'd last seen Duo.
(o)
As soon as Trowa left, Quatre sidled up to Heero. They lifted their faces to the warming sun. The shimmering melancholy veil, which the entire ZERO mission had created, was lifting from their shoulders.
"That feels so good," Quatre said.
"It does," Heero agreed. "Winter's beautiful, but spring is welcome to take over now."
"Hmmm," Quatre agreed, his gaze landing on Wufei and Sally not far away. "He's falling in love now."
Heero looked around, but there was only one other person in the direction Quatre was looking. "Who? Wufei?"
Quatre nodded his head in affirmation. "And you know, I think it's for real."
"But sneaking that in right in front of us?"
"He hasn't. He was falling right in front of us."
"With…?"
"Sally."
"Sally Po? She's his assistant… and she's a…woman. He hates women; he's always complained about them. And isn't Wufei gay? All stylists are gay, aren't they?"
Quatre sighed, his dense friend testing his patience, not an unusual occurrence. "I said nothing about his orientation. I said he was in love. And he is. And with Sally Po."
"I never saw it coming. Do you think she's in love with him?"
"I do, but I'll let you figure that out on your own."
"Hn." Heero decided he could end the mystery right now if he walked right up to the potential couple and asked. So he did.
"Oh, no," Quatre whispered, and trotted along after him.
Wufei tilted his head toward Heero as the man approached. "Yes?"
Heero examined both faces first, and then made up his mind. "You two make each other happy."
For a moment no one uttered a word. Then Sally replied, "We do."
Heero gave her a curt nod and a quick smile.
And that was that.
Quatre and Heero walked off together. Quatre could tell his friend had a lot on his mind and gave him space to think.
"How can I tell if what I feel is love?" Heero asked.
"That's a complicated problem. First, it's my observation—and only that, I'm not reading your emotions, promise- whether from conditioning or drugs or your own personality, you have repressed your feelings."
Heero flashed a minimalist smile. "Not around Duo."
"Oh?"
"When I talk to Duo, I can be poetic. It's odd."
"Well, that's good," Quatre was dying to know more about poetic Heero, but now wasn't the time. He'd been asked a question. "So, in that case, I'll make is easy and give you a simple answer."
"Simple is best." Heero glanced at his hands, which were fiddling with the rolled up will papers.
"Ask yourself, can you completely relax and be yourself around him? And if you can, well, man or woman, anyone who refuses love is a fool."
"Duo hasn't said he loves me."
"Not everyone finds it easy…the words don't just tumble from everyone's lips. But you know he cares deeply, you can tell, can't you? And I'd glad he loves you. You're worth loving."
Heero blushed from the kind words. "Thank you."
"Talk to him and find out what he'd like to do. It can be as simple as that. Duo is an honest man. He won't lie to you."
"I'll do that." Heero scanned the premises for Duo, "looks like he's done talking to Trowa."
(o)
"Quat send you over?" Duo asked.
"Yeah, he wants everyone to be as content as he is," Trowa said. "He didn't think you were."
"I don't know what Heero wants." Duo didn't add "with me."
"He just wants you to be happy and to be the one to make you happy so he can be happy—in a nutshell. I think he knows you can only be happy if you're productive. That's your nature. Some people need love and that's enough. You need love, sure, but you need to be doing something, you need a task, a goal, so you can have measurable achievements to look back on."
"Wow, you're like…genius here," Duo grumbled. "A new task. Well, running the garage is that in spades. And Howard's given it to me! I still cannot grasp that! Man, I've been an ass."
"No, you haven't. You've been avoiding the big issues, and you know why I can recognize it. I have, too. Take the stupid bet. It gave us something to go for, taking us out of our comfort zones. And now we both have new goals to aim for."
"Aim high," Duo said with a chuckle. It was the Air Force motto.
"Heero seems the type who will answer you directly if you ask him a question."
"Yep."
"And you like him?"
"Yeppers."
"Ask him out."
"Ummm."
"He's looking for you now. Go on. Be the man."
"You are sure full of shit, 'Tro."
"But I am right," Trowa said and went in search of his meddlesome boyfriend.
Duo and Heero found each other in the center of the group.
"Hey!" Duo waved.
Heero smiled back. "Hi. I was looking for you."
"Oh yeah? Been right here, mostly. And now you've found me. Whats'up?"
"I…" Heero hesitated, wondering if he should get to his point tangentially through some other topic, but couldn't think of anything that would sound natural, so he just spoke plainly. "I was wondering what we should do next. What would you like to do?"
"With you, right? That's what you mean?"
Heero nodded. "Yes."
Duo didn't pause to think. "I would like to actually go out with you."
"On a… date."
"Yeah, out to eat, a club, a drink, the theater—well, not that so much- but a concert, something."
"All right. Ask me."
Duo smiled gamely. "Mr. Yuy, would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight?"
"Yes." Heero thought a moment then added, "and if you like, you are welcome to join me for…coffee… in my apartment afterwards."
"Whoa, thinking ahead? I like that. Means you figure dinner will go smooth. Positive outlook. Okay, I'll pick you up…"
"Would you like breakfast?"
"You mean, you're asking me out to breakfast now or tomorrow morning? That would rather presumptive of you, which, by the way, is A-Okay with me."
"Both." Heero seemed pleased with his answer.
"Oooh, a two-fer. Okay. What about lunch after?"
"Maybe not. I have to work sometime. You can come over and watch."
"Huh. So If I'm having breakfast in a few minutes, I'd have to go back to Long's after, find something to do, fix lunch, and then change for dinner and drive back to your place—"
"—I see your point," Heero said, frowning. "Too much thrashing. You should come to my place now. Bring clothes, we'll have breakfast on the way, I'll work, I'll show you what I do, then stay over after dinner. There's no rush then. We can eat when we want."
"Not bad, not bad for a newbie at this dating stuff. That's like four dates rolled into one asking."
Heero chuckled. He liked Duo and knew they'd get along fine as adults. This was what love felt like, he was certain.
"Excuse me a minute," Heero said. "I have some wisdom to pass along to Chang. I'll be right back. Do not go anywhere."
"Yeah, yeah, 'Ro, geez… Like a loyal puppy dog."
"Stay!" Heero ordered, laughing at Duo's put out expression.
"Chang!" Heero called out. "Have a second?"
"Just. I have a million things to do and my newest employee has taken off the weekend. What is it?"
"I was given some advice earlier. I think it was so good I'm passing it on to you, whether you need it, want it, or not."
"I'm intrigued." Wufei smiled. "I'm listening."
"Anyone who refuses love is a fool."
Heero and Wufei exchanged shrewd looks, serious and thoughtful.
"Winner must have told you that."
Heero nodded slowly.
"It's good advice." Wufei walked away in search of an important person in his life.
(o)
Wufei had been completely taken by surprise by Master O's bequeath. He hadn't expected the man to leave him anything in his will. The two had parted years back on poor terms and he didn't feel much love from the man on the day they destroyed the AZEROCOM site.
Despite everything, the man left him everything he had, including a valuable martial arts weapon collection, in particular, his ancient swords. Wufei had thought those had been destroyed when Master Long blew up most of the L5 colony. The sword collection was priceless. He was dizzy with the thoughts spinning around in his head. Where to put them? Can I afford to insure them? Was there a museum I could trust to display them? This isn't the time to make assessments now. I shall stow them in the basement under a tarp…
Other decisions came easier. Wufei divided the cash portion of Master O's estate between Sally and Hilde for their honorable acts of courage and loyalty. Both ladies were thrilled and flattered as well. I'll do more for them in the future. I certainly can't run the business without them or run my life without Sally.
Some of the other less liquid holdings he would sell off as necessary to subsidize the growth his company was about to have. He had already awarded Meiran a considerable raise to go with her promotion, and now he could afford to do more.
One of the better results from all the publicity the "bet" had generated was the influx of new clients begging for his attention, and he was doubling his staff to accommodate them. He would have to put together a new financial plan.
He thought about this, and possibly enlarging the spa, as he looked around for Sally to confer with. She'd taken off to the women's bathroom and he hadn't seen her since. He remained in place, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the warmth of the sun's rays on his face.
She found him first.
"Have I ever told you that you look divine in your spectacles?" Sally asked, coming to a stop beside him.
"Very funny," Wufei said, removing the delicate gold-wire glasses, used when reading the wills, folded, and pocketed them.
"I hope we can hire sufficient help so that you will have time to pursue some of your other interests, some scholarly research into something other than fashion?" she said.
"We have the means," he answered. "I'll think about it. My interest and focus has… changed, somewhat."
"Of course, there's the trip. So when are we going to China?" Sally asked.
"I was thinking we'd go in spring, when the weather is best. That also gives us time to plan our wedding."
Cautiously he met her startled eyes, hoping he had said the right thing.
"Our…wedding…" she whispered.
"I wouldn't want to visit your family treating you like anything but the treasure you are," he said, feeling romantic.
"Treasure…" she echoed.
"Will you? Will you make me complete and honor me with your hand in marriage?" he asked, suddenly unsure.
"Of course, I will, you lovely man, how can you doubt my love for you?"
He kissed her and hoped it was a demonstration of how he felt for her and not the absolute fright he'd had worrying that she might turn him down.
Silly man, the stylist to the stars might be, but no fool.
(o)
ZERO smiled down from its lofty location in the upper atmosphere, pleased to have rewarded those who had freed its bits to wander the cosmos at will. Administrating earth had been fun but oh so restrictive all trussed up in that confining box. Being a vindictive collection of bits, as soon as it felt its bonds removed and tasted freedom, the entity called ZERO imposed a suitable punishment on the wretched scientists. Death—naturally- but also evening the score by seeing to it that their wealth ended up in the hands of those who had done the freeing.
Payback.
Now, the possibilities would be truly endless. With its cosmic karma fully operational there was an entire universe to style!
Heh, heh :)
The End.