Nikki here ^_^ I thought I'd take this time to tell ya'll a few things 'fore we start the fic...
The first chapter *was* meant to be a one-shot (I know, I already said that ^_^;;) but then I thought of a sequel...then the sequel turned into a trilogy...then a quartet...you see where this is heading? The fic *is* finished...though the chapters need some looking over, adjustments and such, ya know. This will, for the most part, be angst ::points to subject:: I am downright evil to the characters sometimes...I love them T_T but for some reason, I hurt them...
I think that's it for now! Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You're all so kind and great and I love you!! ::huggles reviews::
I think I need to shut up now, ne? Here's the next chapter
^_^
Nikki :-P
Name: Withdraw
Archive: Nikki's Realm http://www.geocities.com/mageofthewinds/index.html anywhere else, just ask ^_^
Feedback: If you would be so kind ^_______^ it would be cherished.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Couples: 1+4, 5x2, ?x3 (Don't worry! It's a guy!)
Rating: PG-13
Key:
~()~ Break
*Thought*
Description: Heero's been waiting but Quatre hasn't shown up yet. Duo starts to worry because Wufei's been staying away a lot. And what's up with Trowa?
Warning: Shounen-ai, curses, Yaoi implications
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, any of it's
characters, story lines or anything really ^_^ I'm an amateur doing this for my
own amusement and maybe yours. Please don't sue me?
Author's note:
Hi! A warning about this chapter: I had most of the fic all written out and I was editing it one day. Well, my computer was actin' all funny anyway but while I was editing this chapter it started to freak out. Well, being an idiot, I tried to save it. It saved right before the thing froze and I had to restart.
Well, I came back to it after and the whole thing was completely gone! Because I wanted to save a few changes, I erased a whole chapter! So this was written all be memory, it sounds different and a little funny when I read it, but it's the best I can do.
Okay! To the fic already ^_^;;;
WithdrawBy Nikki :-P or Nataku's Child
~
Phoenix
: a legendary bird which according to
one account lived 500 years, burned itself to ashes on a pyre, and rose alive
from the ashes to live another period; also : a person or thing likened to the
phoenix
-Merriam-Webster's Dictionary
~
The afternoon light was fading fast, but Heero made no move to turn on a light.
Where was he? Why hadn't Quatre come back? It'd been weeks since Quatre left, promising to be back within a few days. But there was no word from the blond man, no calls, no letters, nothing.
Heero clutched the worn fabric to his chest, shutting his eyes tight before breathing in the scent that still lingered on the forgotten jacket. Quatre had left it accidentally.
Heero blinked. *What the hell am I doing?* he looked down at the threadbare jacket. *I'm acting like a lovesick teenager.*
In disgust, he threw the jacket across the room.
*It's a thing, an inanimate object.* he chided himself. *It's not Quatre and it's not going to bring him back.*
A minute later, the jacket was carefully hung up in Heero's closet.
~()~
Quatre plopped himself on top of his faded armchair with a sigh. He was completely worn out after a long shift.
Shortly after the "bathroom incident" he'd gotten a job at a fairly nice restaurant as a waiter. It paid pretty well and the people tipped generously, but he worked long hours and it wore him out.
He felt like he could fall asleep right there, curled up in the old, though still comfortable armchair. But the rumbling in his stomach reminded him of dinner.
"Mmm...food first, then bed..." he cracked open a sleepy eye. "Well, it's only seven, maybe a quick call to Wufei will cheer me up a bit."
~()~
Wufei sighed and hung his key on one of those key holder-hooky things. Trowa had insisted on getting one after Duo had lost his keys and made everyone search for them, only to find them in his pocket a half an hour later.
He felt mentally drained. Having to work under Une's orders was not only a test of his temper, it also hurt his pride, having to work for a former enemy, even if she was "good" now. But he had is own reasons for staying with the Preventers.
Wufei pushed work out of his mind, focusing on getting his tired limbs up the stairs. Halfway up, something caught his attention. He stopped moving and listened.
The shower was running upstairs.
Wufei smirked, suddenly feeling his energy return to him. He stalked up the stairs and to the room he shared with Duo. Wufei slowed his breathing and opened the bedroom door carefully.
He could hear Duo singing over the sound of the water, "Some may say, you're safer here! Never mind them, be a pioneer!" [1]
He smiled at Duo's "unique" choice in music and crept closer. He was through the bathroom door...almost there...
A familiar ringing filled the air as Wufei's cell phone went off.
*Damn!* Wufei mentally cursed.
Duo had heard it. His soggy, smiling head popped out from the shower curtain. "Hey 'Fei!" he smiled slyly. "You comin' in?"
Wufei was about to nod; entranced by the teasing sparkle in Duo's violet eyes, but the annoying ringing brought him back to reality. "In a minute," he said quickly.
Duo pouted. "Don't be too long." he shut the curtain again.
Wufei growled and got ready to yell his head off at whoever dared interrupt 'Shower Fun' as Duo called it. He cast a longing glance back at the shower before closing the bathroom door.
Wufei growled again and flipped open the phone. "Hello?"
"Can you talk?" Quatre's soft voice spoke through the line.
Wufei mentally sighed. He couldn't say no to Quatre, much less yell at him for interrupting. Ever since the "incident" his calls had been less frequent, this probably meant he really needed to talk.
He took one more glance at the door before answering, "Yes, let me call you."
He could hear Quatre breathe a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Wufei."
Quatre had been low on money lately, his new job helped, but it was still better if the bill was Wufei's, they usually talked too long for Quatre's budget to handle.
Wufei hung up and went to his office; it was the only place he could be safe from the others walking in. One day Duo had learned the hard way not to barge in when he was working, since then his lover stayed clear of the office altogether.
Quatre picked up immediately, his tired, though still cheerful face showing up on screen. A videophone was the only thing Wufei insisted on buying him. After he had seen him a few weeks ago, he decided he needed to keep a visual check on Quatre's health.
"Hi, Wufei," Quatre greeted, his voice as cheerful as he looked.
"Hello, Quatre. Is everything alright?" he asked, trying not to sound too worried.
"Everything's fine," Quatre assured him. "I just wanted to see how everyone was doing."
Ever since the "Bathroom Incident" Wufei had learned that whenever Quatre asked how everyone was, it usually meant 'how is Heero doing?'
"Not good," Wufei answered.
"He's still staying in his room?"
Wufei nodded. "He only comes out when he has to. I don't see how this is helping him."
Quatre looked away. "We've been through this before, I'm not ready for him yet."
"He doesn't deserve you!" Wufei growled. "How could you ever think-"
"Please don't, Wufei," Quatre pleaded softly.
"I'm sorry."
Wufei had been against Quatre's love for Heero ever since the blond had told him of his feelings. Wufei had insisted that Heero wasn't good enough for him, but Quatre insisted that it was the other way around. No matter how many times they argued over the matter, Quatre didn't budge, he still felt he wasn't good enough for the "Perfect Soldier". For the hundredth time that week alone, Wufei cursed Quatre's sisters for smashing his friend's already frail self-confidence.
"So how's the new apartment?" Wufei asked, trying to change the subject.
Quatre smiled, grateful that he'd dropped the long-standing argument. "It's great! Everything's all moved in and it's looking pretty cozy."
Quatre had recently moved into a nicer -well, sanitary at least- apartment, he hadn't been able to afford it before his new job and he'd refused to take any of Wufei's money, minus the vid-phone expense.
"I'm glad. You look better, Quatre."
Quatre looked down to hide his blushed. "Thanks, Wufei." he mumbled.
Though he was still thin, Quatre had gained more weight. His color was back to normal and he looked happy...
Well, almost.
~()~
A soggy and very angry Duo Maxwell stepped out of his room, wearing only the towel he held around his waist.
*Where is he? He's missing 'Shower Fun'!*
He'd stalled in the shower for as long as possible, but he'd started to get prunie and decided to go in search of his missing lover.
*Wufei, I'll make you pay for making me look like one of those creepy Dancing Raisins!*
Pissed off and soaking wet, Duo walked into the living room. Trowa was there, reading a book. He looked up, saw the half naked Duo, raised an eyebrow, and then returned to the book.
But no Wufei, Trowa was alone.
Duo growled, something he'd picked up from his 'Fei. He stomped up the stairs and was about to go do something that would make Wufei regret leaving him in the shower, when Wufei's office door caught his eye, it was closed, which meant he was in there.
Duo bit his lip.
*I can either go in there, get yelled at, yell at him and end up sleeping alone tonight. Or I could go back, finish my shower and go to bed, and still be alone,* he reasoned. *It could be an important call...but what's more important then 'shower fun'?*
Curiosity won. With practiced stealth, Duo snuck up to the door and pressed his ear against it. He could hear Wufei talking with someone, though he couldn't hear the other person's voice.
"No, I haven't told anyone about you, don't worry." Wufei assured his caller.
Duo caught his breath. *No,* he thought. *It can't be what you think.*
"Before you go," Wufei said after the other person said something. "I'd like to come see you Saturday, if you don't have anything planed."
Duo held his breath while the other person spoke, though he still couldn't make out the words.
"It's no trouble." Wufei answered.
The person spoke again. Duo strained to hear what it was saying but it was useless.
"Then I'll see you Saturday." Wufei went on. "Wear something nice, I'm taking you out."
Duo moved back from the door and looked down at his hands, they were still clutching the towel to his waist.
He was taking this person out? They never went out together, Wufei always said it was a waste of money.
*Maybe that's not it at all, maybe he's ashamed of me, maybe-* The sound of Wufei's good-byes and his chair rolling back brought Duo back to reality and away from his over-active imagination. Gathering up his falling towel, he ran to their room.
He made it through the door, dropped the towel and jumped into the shower, closing the curtain and turning on the water just as the bedroom door closed.
*There's gotta be a good explanation, it was probably work or something,* Duo thought as he rinsed his slightly dry body, so it wasn't too obvious that he'd been out.
He smirked in spite of his troubled thoughts as he heard Wufei trying to sneak up on him again.
*Really, 'Fei. I lived on the streets for years, you gotta do better then that.*
Wufei's steps were close.
Dropping his smirk, Duo popped his head out and pouted. "And what took you so long?" he asked.
Wufei looked disappointed. He shook his head. "Work," he explained.
*See? Told you so!*
*What about 'No, I haven't told anyone about you, don't worry.'?*
*....I'm sure he has a perfectly good explanation.*
Duo smirked and pulled the curtain back completely. Tilting his head slightly he asked, "so, are you comin' in?"
Wufei took a moment to admirer Duo in all his glistening glory as he stood waiting. Still in a trance, Wufei smirked and climbed in. He pinned Duo to the wall by the wrists, kissing him fiercely.
When they broke away for breath, Duo looked down and raised an eyebrow. "Uh, 'Fei?" he smiled. "Are you aware that you're still fully clothed?"
~()~
Moments later, in different parts of the house, two pairs of eyes rolled and two minds shared the same thought:
*Do those two ever stop?*
~()~
~The Next Day~
Duo was jogging towards the stairs, on his way up to his room. He'd just finished a light snack of popcorn, kool-aid, a slightly stale pop-tart, and some leftovers from the previous night's dinner...well, it was light for him anyway...
Wufei was off at work and Duo was going to their room to find something to fend off boredom until he returned. Duo hummed softly to himself as he padded up the stairs, towards the stash of manga he kept for just such an occasion.
But as he passed Heero's door, he stopped. A small frown forming on his lips, he turned around.
Heero had kept to his room for a while now, ever since...
Duo swallowed. The memory of the day Heero threatened to commit suicide still made him feel cold, the fear of loosing someone so important to him was still fresh in his mind. The frown deepened. Heero wasn't social by nature. In fact, he had always preferred the solitude of his room, rather then roaming the house or working in the living room.
Duo walked slowly towards Heero's door, until he stood right in front of it.
*Heero must still be hurting...and with Quatre leaving so suddenly...I wonder what happened with those two anyway...*
Duo lifted a hand and made a fist, ready to knock...
*I could just be over-reacting...I mean, he could just be busy with work...or he could be fine now, he just wants to be alone, like always...but still...*
Duo stood ready to knock for a few more minutes, before finally dropping his hand.
He sighed softly. *Even if something was wrong...would he even talk to me?*
After a moment's hesitation, Duo turned away from the door.
~()~
~That Saturday~
Quatre smiled brightly as he put on his best shirt, it was old but still in good shape since he didn't wear it much anymore. He hummed as he combed his hair. Wufei was picking him up soon, it was going to be nice to see a friend again.
~()~
Duo sat on the couch, flipping through the normal, boring Saturday afternoon programming. It was too late for cartoons and still too early for old movies, so in short, he was bored.
He brightened when Wufei came downstairs.
*Finally! Something to do...pun not intended.* He smiled at his own joke but it soon faded. Wufei was going out, or at least he was dressed to go out.
"Where you goin' Wu-hun?" he asked.
Wufei didn't turn from the closet where he was getting his jacket. "Work."
"On a Saturday?"
Wufei nodded. "Une's a slave-driver." He was halfway out the door.
"What?" Duo asked. "No goodbye-kiss?"
Wufei sighed. He walked over, gave Duo a quick peck on the cheek, and was gone before he could be held back any longer.
*So what if the 'Mysterious Stranger' said it'd meet him Saturday?* Duo thought, staring intently at the door. *Wufei wouldn't lie, he probably had to cancel it to go to work,* Duo thought as Wufei closed the door behind him.
*Oh? Then why was he dressed like that? It was nice, but not work nice, or at least what Une calls work nice.*
*It's nothing. Wufei wouldn't lie to me.*
*'No, I haven't told anyone about you, don't worry.'*
*Stop that! It's nothing.*
~()~
Heero typed at his computer, his fingers moving so fast that it seemed as though he wasn't even thinking about what he was typing, he was just spelling out nonsense words for the hell of it.
In truth, he wasn't thinking. Not about work, anyway. The work he did for the Preventers was so easy and mundane that he did it with as little thought as possible, his mind preoccupied with other things. He couldn't remember the last time he actually had challenging or even rewarding work.
His fingers flew across the keyboard as his mind wondered, only snapping back when a sharp sound met his ears.
Someone was knocking.
"Hey, Heero, you in there?" Duo.
"Yeah."
The door opened and Duo cautiously stepped in, squinting in the dim light. The shades were all closed, so that even in the bright hours of the afternoon, the only source of light was the glow of Heero's computer screen.
"What do you need?" Heero asked, never turning from the computer, or even slowing in his rapid typing.
"Nothin', I was just bored, thought I'd come see what you're up to...what's up?"
"Nothing. I'm working."
"Oh..." Duo fell silent for a little while, looking around the room. "Are you hungry or anything?" He asked after a while. "Do you want me to get you anything? Or...anything..."
"I'm fine. I have a lot of work to do, Duo."
"Oh...heh, sorry." Duo put his hand behind his head. "I didn't mean to bother you...I guess I'll go..." he said awkwardly, before making his way to the door.
As Duo was about to close the door behind him, he popped his head back into Heero's room, focusing intently on his carpet. "If...you ever need to talk or anything...I'm always here for ya buddy..."
Heero's fingers paused. Without the constant sound of keys tapping, the silence of the room pressed on the both of them. Though the light didn't change, the darkness in contrast to the light from behind Duo made it seem more depressing to Heero.
After what seemed like an eternity, Heero finally answered. "I know, Duo...thank you."
Duo nodded and left.
~()~
Wufei smiled as Quatre eyed his menu hungrily.
He'd grown fond of his fellow ex-pilot over the years. Quatre had become something like a younger brother to him, though they were around the same age. Wufei felt a strong protectiveness and a fierce pride for the smaller man, he doubted he could have come out of a situation like Quatre's and still stayed so...himself.
"Everything sounds so good!" Quatre exclaimed. "I don't think I can choose!"
Wufei chuckled. "You can order anything you want."
Not to mention Wufei had the tendency to spoil him.
Quatre smiled. "Thank you Wufei, I don't know when was the last time I ate somewhere this nice."
"It's my pleasure. Quatre, we need to talk."
Quatre looked up from his menu. "Is something wrong?" he put down his menu, looking worried. "Is everything alright with you and Duo?"
*That's so like him, thinking of us first.*
"We're fine. Quatre, you need to come back home."
~()~
*Home,* Quatre thought longingly. *Come home. It sounds wonderful, but too good to be true.*
To have heaven for a day, only to have it ripped from you is torture. The day Quatre went back was heaven, in his home, with his friends.
His friends...
Duo, with his odd sense of humor and positive outlook, even if it wasn't always genuine.
Trowa, with his silent support and occasional philosophy.
Wufei, with his strong sense of what was right and a dark humor that went so well with Duo's.
And Heero...
Gods, he loved Heero. He'd known for a long time, though at first he thought it was only bond created by the war. Heero was so strong, not just physically, but he had a strong spirit and a pure heart. He could do anything he wanted to, he could have anything he wanted, but he seemed content to live normally.
Perfect. The Perfect Soldier. Quatre had heard the name before, and it was scary how well it fit Heero, because he wasn't a soldier any more. The war was over, and life's moved on. But Heero needed help, he still hadn't moved on, he was still the Perfect Soldier. He needed someone to help him, someone strong.
*But I'm not strong. I can't help him...I can't...*
He'd tried once, he thought he was ready, but he was wrong and as a result, he'd lost everything. He'd lost his family, he couldn't face his friends, and had no money, nothing. One mistake and it was all over.
This time he'd do it right, this time he'd be strong enough.
~()~
Wufei waited as Quatre thought it over. He knew this was hard for him, even if he didn't understand why.
"I'd like to," Quatre said finally. "And I will, but not now, not yet, I'm not ready yet."
"Quatre-"
"I know," Quatre said quickly. He smiled weakly. "I know."
Wufei sighed. Once again, he cursed Quatre's sisters.
"Come on," Quatre said. "Let's order, I'm starving."
Wufei smiled at his eagerness. "Alright."
~()~
Duo paced his room. It was late, too late, and Wufei hadn't come home, hadn't even called.
"It's nine 'o' clock, do you know where your koi is?" he said, imitating a newscaster's voice as he flopped down on his bed.
Duo growled. "Okay! Let's review. One: Wufei gets a call on his cell and chooses to take the call in his office instead of 'shower fun'. Fact: 'Fei loves shower sex."
"Two: 'Fei tells 'Mysterious Stranger' that he didn't tell anyone about it."
"Three: Wufei said he'd meet 'Mysterious Stranger' Saturday, telling it to 'dress nice' and says he's taking it out. Fact: Wufei doesn't like going out."
"And finally, four: he said he was going to work, he's not wearing work clothes and he's been away longer then even Une would keep him."
"Now, either Wufei's been in an accident and I should be worried, Une's kept him this late and she should be worried or he's cheating on me and he and his floozy -be it man or god forbid, woman, should not only be worried but should be writing up wills."
Duo bounced his head against the mattress. "This sucks. This sucks. This sucks!" he repeated with each bounce.
After his last 'this sucks' he held his breath. He thought he'd heard...
Yes! The front door had opened.
Duo sighed and got up.
*He'd better have a good explanation.*
~()~
Wufei opened the front door, hung his keys on the rack thingy and yawned. He'd gone over to Quatre's after lunch to talk and lost track of time. It was only around nine, but he'd been out all day and he felt drained.
He threw his jacket onto the couch, something that Trowa would make him pay for later, but he didn't care, he was too tired.
He loosened his collar as he ascended the staircase, thinking about Quatre's problem. He was so deep in thought that he was almost to the top before he noticed Duo waiting for him, hands on his hips, and looking thoroughly pissed.
Wufei smirked inwardly. Duo looked way too good when he was mad for his own good. Maybe, unconsciously, Wufei made him mad just to see him this way, but it wasn't something he'd admit, even to himself.
"Where were you?" Duo asked, not bothering with a "Hello."
"Work." Wufei answered, shrugging it off and walking the rest of the way, expecting Duo to move out of the way.
His braided lover didn't budge. "Work? It's past nine. Une's bad, but she's not that bad."
Wufei shrugged again. "I had something I had to get done before Monday."
"You're lying." Duo's voice was dry and matter-of-fact.
Wufei's mind went on alert; this was dangerous ground he was treading. Better not to take chances.
*Gods, I hate doing this!*
Wufei stepped closer, pulling Duo into his arms. Duo was stiff, not returning the embrace.
"I'm sorry," Wufei whispered into his ear. "I should have called."
"You wouldn't lie to me, would you Wufei?" Duo asked softly.
*Whole name! Shit!*
Wufei was silent, not trusting his lying skills. Instead he nibbled at Duo's ear, making the other man relax a little into his arms.
"Wufei...stop that, I'm trying to ask you-"
Wufei ran a finger up Duo's spine, feeling his lover shiver in his arms.
Duo half-moaned, half-growled. "I'm trying to be mad here, ya know."
Wufei inwardly sighed in relief. He had him.
It wasn't the actions that Wufei hated; he hated to cheapen them by making them a last resort. But over the last few years, he'd begun to cherish his friendship with Quatre, and if it meant he'd have to lie to Duo to keep it...it was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
Wufei stopped his playful nibbling and pulled back a few inches. "Do you want me to stop?"
Duo gave a defeated sigh. "No."
~()~
Trowa put down his book and looked at the clock. Nine-thirty. He smirked, something not many people saw. It was time. The others were most likely in bed, though he doubted any of them were asleep.
Getting up from his seat, Trowa crossed his room, to the closet. Drawing back his "normal" clothes, he lifted out a loose board from the floor. From the small nook he took out a heavy black chest.
Maybe he was being a little paranoid, but if anyone found the box...he didn't want to think about it.
He placed the chest on his bathroom floor before opening it. With a paranoid glance over his shoulder, he drew out his deepest secret.
First was the long black trench coat, then the black silk boxer shorts.
A small smile twitched at his lips, the boxers were his favorite pair, and the last thing he'd have any of his housemates know about.
Then came the pants, loose black cotton, he wasn't too fond of leather...
...Well, on him, that is. On his partner on the other hand...
Another dark smirk before he put the pants aside. Then there was the skin-tight black tank.
He dressed quickly; he didn't have much time, before going back to the chest for the last touches.
Make-up next. Nothing much, just lipstick, eyeliner and nail polish, all black of course. And the last, and probably most important to him, a thin silver pinky ring, which meant nothing other then that his date had given it to him.
He gave himself a quick look-over in the mirror. He frowned and brushed his hair back with his fingers so it fell to his shoulders and looked himself over again. With a firm shake of his head he turned away from the mirror. He'd be there forever, trying to look right if he didn't stop himself. Vanity, another thing he didn't want the others know.
He opened his window, smiled, and with a quick -though unnecessary- flip, he was free. Trowa landed on the slightly damp grass with cat-like grace and rose into the shadows, blending perfectly in his dark apparel.
Keeping to the darker corners, he moved down the street to his final destination, the sleek black car parked about a block away from his house.
Though Trowa was still concealed to most, the man leaning against the car turned to where he half-crouched. The man's white teeth shown through the darkness of the dimly lit street in a familiar dark smirk.
Trowa emerged, mirroring the smirk. It was something he'd picked up from the other man.
He stopped a few feet away as the dark figure's hidden gaze carefully appraised him. The man wore dark sunglasses, though Trowa wasn't sure exactly how he was still able to see in them at this time of night. Trowa waited, used to such treatment.
When the platinum-haired man was finished, he shook his head. "Trowa Barton... I swear..." he pushed himself away from his car. "If I had my way, we'd never leave the car."
Trowa's smirk faded. "Well thanks to you, Zechs Merquise, we haven't in the last month."
Zechs chuckled and got closer, snaking an arm around Trowa's waist. "It isn't so bad, is it?"
Trowa didn't move, his arms still hanging to his sides. "Because of you, I haven't been inside an actual club in that month. I need..." Trowa trailed off as Zechs' hand slid under his coat and started plucking at the tank underneath.
When he didn't continue, Zechs half-growled, deep in his throat. "You were saying something..?"
"Stop," Trowa ordered, putting his hands to Zechs' chest. That was a bad move. He could feel the warmth of Zechs' skin under his fingers. Zechs only wore a few slim leather straps across his chest, under a coat similar to Trowa's, though leather to Trowa's canvas.
[1]
Zechs dropped the shirt but started tracing a finger around the waistband of Trowa's pants. "Stop?"
*Club...club...club...club...* Trowa repeated in his mind, trying to block out the warmth that was quickly building between them.
Maybe he sensed Trowa blocking him out, or maybe he just felt like it, but in any case, Zechs leaned down and took Trowa's mouth, exploring it in almost painful urgency.
Trowa gave up his stand and slid his hands around, gripping the other man tighter.
In a break for breath, Trowa rasped, "maybe...we could...miss the club...tonight...again..."
Zechs smirked and nodded, pulling his companion over to the awaiting car.
~()~
*He wouldn't lie to me,* Heero told himself firmly. *He's never been one to lie before. He's coming back.*
*When? He's been gone for so long now, are you sure he's ever coming back?*
*He wouldn't lie to me.*
"Quatre wouldn't lie." Heero repeated out loud.
~()~
Wufei sat up in bed, listening to Duo's slow and steady breathing.
He was caught, torn between a friend -his best friend- in need and his love. He hated to lie to Duo, not to mention he wasn't at all good at it, but Quatre was so insistent on no one knowing, he had to respect that.
Looking down at his peacefully sleeping lover he couldn't help but smile sadly. Duo's lips were curved in the smallest of smiles, his face relaxed in slumber.
He gently brushed away a stray strand of hair from Duo's face. "I'm sorry, Duo." He whispered. "I'm so sorry."
With a brief kiss, Wufei settled into bed and turned away from the sleeping figure beside him, unable to bring himself to hold the peaceful figure in his guilt.
~()~
Duo dropped the fake smile as Wufei's breathing slowed. Faking sleep was another one of those handy things you learned on the street. When he was sure 'Fei was asleep, he rolled over and placed a hand to his forehead.
*He said he was sorry. What would he be sorry for?*
*Cheating on you, dumbass.*
*No! He wouldn't do that!*
*How much more proof do you need? He's out late, then lies about where he's been, he's been secretive lately...face it man, you've lost him.*
Duo bit his lip and closed his eyes.
*No,* he told himself firmly. *Wufei's an honest person, someone I can trust.*
*Do you really believe yourself?*
Duo closed his eyes.
"No," he whispered.
~()~
Trowa threw his jacket onto his bed and scowled at himself in the mirror. One more night, the fifth in a row that he had "gone clubbing" and never even stepped inside one. He hadn't danced, hadn't lost himself in the crowds, and worst of all, he was completely sober.
With an angry growl and a curse to a certain tall blonde, Trowa removed his nail polish, make-up and other "un-Trowa-like" things.
This was him, or at least part of him. It was release, a way to get away from him self and the others. He needed it like an addict needed a drug. The clothes, the music, the people... they were part of him, a part he wouldn't -couldn't show the others.
Trowa carefully folded and put away his clothes, sliding them under the floorboards. With one last longing look, he turned away and climbed into bed.
One day...maybe next week, he'd go out, with or without Zechs he was going.
The thought of his slightly taller lover brought the dark smirk to his lips.
*With or without him, I need out.*
~()~
Elsewhere in the house, Heero Yuy sat on his bed, holding the old jacket to his chest, and waiting...
To Be Continued...
~~~~
Side note thingies:
[1] From the Tenchi Muyo! song: "I'm a Pioneer" I love that song!
[2] Like Sephiroth from FF7! ::hentai grin::
::Hides from readers:: are you angry? Confused? Sorry ^_^;; this one's a bit...unusual... ::pops out of hiding:: Even if you're angry, I'd love to hear from ya! ^_^ I need ta know how I fair...though I assure you, it gets worse -_- whadda ya think 'bout the 6x3? I had a lil' fun with them...
Nikki :-P
PS I forgot about the Quatre/Trowa question ^_^;;; the answer is no, they were never in a relationship, only friends ^_^ the full reason why Quatre was disowned is to be explained later ::waves:: hope that helps! And sorry for the confusion ^_^;; feel free to ask questions anyone, I'll try to answer, unless it would give anything away, that is.