tantrys - ffiction - stop the world - 7
Stop The World
7
Shounen ai Gundam Wing
Warnings: I'm still warning about shounen ai? Yep. Is this a mystery yet? Enough twists? -_-* *Any* twists?
PART 7
With a bright and optimistic twist Quatre unlocked the front door and flipped over the 'Open' sign. He was surprised as a figure immediately shadowed the glass door, and he looked up with wide blue eyes. They crinkled in recognition and he pulled open the door.
"Good morning Heero! You're right on time, on your first day--" He laughed. "That's more than I can say for Duo. We've had this shop for two years and he has yet to come in on time."
Heero nodded and Quatre led him back into the shop. They passed through the kitchen and Quatre pushed open the storeroom door. With a sharp click the lights flickered on brightly. Quatre waved around, and sighed.
"Nobody's ever had the time to actually give this place a good, thorough *cleaning*, so we just left it... I guess you could just start dusting--" Quatre paused to sneeze violently, and back out. He added a few hasty orders as Heero entered and began eyeing the thickly dust-coated shelves and floors. "Mops and brooms are in the closet, take your time." He sneezed again and laughed thickly. "I'm going to try to raise the dead-- also known as trying to wake Duo up."
He abandoned Heero to his job gladly and took the stairs two at a time. After knocking loudly on Duo's door once and receiving a loud snore in response, he entered and poked the pile of blankets on the bed.
"Duo, if you don't get up you're not going to get paid!"
Duo snorted tiredly. "You can't get me with that one buddy-- we don't *get* paid for working, we *pay* for working... I'll get up in a few minutes..... promise......."
Why is it that I highly doubt this? Quatre shook his head and gave Duo one last poke before leaving. Halfway down the stair case the bells above the front shop door began jingling. Quatre took a flying leap and jogged the rest of the way to the counter, all smiles.
"Good morning--" he half shouted before focusing on the customer. It wasn't a customer-- it was the quiet detective from yesterday, Lieutenant Barton. Quatre blinked in surprise and watched the man pause awkwardly at the end of the counter.
"I'm Lieutenant Barton," Trowa began softly. He'd mistaken Quatre's surprise as hesitant recognition. "I'm here to ask you a few more questions, about your sister--"
"Of course," Quatre interrupted, reducing his smile to a cheerful grin. He has a nice voice... "I remember you." He moved out from behind the cash register and halted before the Lieutenant. He looked up into the taller man's half hidden face expectantly. "What can I answer for you, Lieutenant Barton?"
"Trowa," he blurted. "Call me Trowa, please." Trowa winced at his involuntary outburst. Next you'll be asking him to go out for a drink, he scolded himself. He noticed Quatre's smile was still in place as he nodded, and replied.
"All right. Call me Quatre, then." Quatre winked, and felt a short thrill of surprise as the Lieutenant, Trowa, blushed faintly. He's cute when he does that....
Trowa nodded dumbly and reached hurriedly into his coat pocket. He pulled out the plastic bag with the feather, and held it out before him. Quatre glanced down obediently and gaped.
"This was found at the crime scene," Trowa explained, falling naturally back into his business like attitude and tone. "Our experts need help in identifying it, Quatre."
Quatre was stunned. The feather... It's like the ones on Heero's back-- only they're not bleeding. Found at the crime scene-- in Iria's bedroom? Why?
"Have you seen this before?" Trowa pressed. "Do you know what it is?"
Quatre found his head shaking negatively. I can't tell him. Even if it does look like Heero's I can't be sure-- Heero's wings are gone anyway.... Could it have been.. an angel, that murdered Iria.....?
"Quatre..." Trowa frowned down at the bowed head. He has such pale, soft blonde hair... But his statement had been all to obvious. He'd recognized the feather. "If you know something, you have to tell me. It may give us a lead--"
"I've never seen it before," Quatre declared suddenly. He looked up with a stubborn, meaningful gaze. "I don't want to be rude, Trowa, but I think you should go. I have a store to attend."
Trowa's attempt at staring into Quatre's crystal eyes with copious intent lasted all of two seconds. The blonde then turned, offering the back of his head to Trowa's heavy gaze. Trowa fumed slightly with aggravation, but knew he wasn't going to get anymore out of the inexorable blonde. He glared as the bells on the door rang when he stormed out of the store and down half a block to the street corner. He leaned up against a light pole and searched around briefly in the pocket of his coat.
He shouldn't clam up like that. That feather could be a major piece in this damned obscure puzzle.... He thumped his cigarette pack against his palm, flipping one stick out. He pinched it gently between dry lips and rummaged around in his pocket again for a lighter. He shielded the flame from both his folded hair and the wind and took a short puff.
A lot of relatives get panicked when they're questioned about a loved one's death. They feel confused, horrified. Mournful and devastated. He deepened his scowl as untimely memories presented themselves...
His own sister's murder. It had been his first year on the force, and Catherine had been alone at their shared apartment..... He still had nightmares, about finding her on the sofa, so peaceful.... Needless to say he'd found the killer; scraping up evidence and investigating beyond the initial case. The bastard was on death row three months later.
Persistence pays off, he mused dimly. Persistence and cooperation.... He closed his eyes as Quatre's beautiful yet melancholy gaze rose up before him again....
I'll never hear the end of it from Wufei, once he finds out Quatre and I are on a first name basis... He took another drag and grimaced. I knew I'd quit for a reason. He flicked the offensive roll into the street, and stepped down from the curb, crossing the momentarily empty street. He sighed deeply.
He had to have such beautiful eyes.