Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing
Warning: Shounen ai, OOC with a purpose and angst
Discription: Trowa's gone. Quatre angst's (Geez I suck at this...)
A/N: Takes place after the war. Quatre's taken over the Winner family business.
~*~*~
Rain splattered against the glass pains of the window, dark storm clouds hung low in the sky. On the inside a warm fire blazed in the hearth of the study, adding a golden glow to the walls and shelves. A small figured sat stooped over a large oak desk, frowning down at a pile of forms. One hand messaged his temple while the other skipped over the paper.
A soft sigh escaped pale lips as he glanced at the clock. 3:00 A.M. And still there was more work to do.
The fire crackled and burned. A clock on the mantle ticked on into the night. The small blonde kept writing, the glow from the fire casting deep shadows over his face. The sun would rise in a few hours, leaving the young man with little to no sleep before continuing on to his office. It was not his chosen life, but one did what they had to do.
The hours ticked on slowly until the pinkish lights of dawn bordered the horizon and still the young man had not had any sleep. Finally, just past 6:00 A.M. he stood and stretched. He gathered his things, had a shower and headed off to work.
He was met at the office by his ever cheerful secretary, Julia Bullock. She gave him the days schedule and e was shooed into a meeting. As the night had, the day dragged on. An endless routine of paperwork and meetings. The young mans eyes had lost the shine they had one held in youth, and were now just dead cerulean orbs in a pale, lifeless face.
Life had ended that fateful day when Trowa had left his life, never to be heard from again. Not a letter. Not a phone call. Nothing! His life had slowly drained away with each day that had passes. Days had turned to weeks, weeks into months and finally months into years. All hope of finding the other exploit was gone.
His existence went on, despite all this. He threw himself into the family business without passion. Doing what was expected of him by his sisters and the colony. He refused to be seen in public, too weary at the end of each day for anything but a small meal and his paper work.
Each day the same as the last. He hated it and knew that he would do nothing about it. No one said anything, too used to what Quatre had turned into. His sisters stayed out of his affairs, only introducing him to suitable young women when they thought it appropriate. He ignored this. If he couldn't dredge up enough energy to take care of himself, how could he take care of a family? He didn't wish himself on any of the young women he had met.
And so like everyday, the young Winner was sitting in his office, just ready to pack his stuff up to go home when there was a buzz and Julia spoke through the intercom. "There's a young man here to see you, Mr. Winner."
Quatre sighed as he leaned forward to speak into the com himself. "Who is it?" He was used to these unexpected visitors from people who wanted a private word with him.
"He won't say, sir. Just said to tell you it was 02. That you'd understand." came the women's reply, voice slightly altered by the machine.
'Duo...'
"Send him in, please, Julia." the door was immediately opened and in bounced the American pilot of Death Scythe. The young man had grown at least five inches and had matured quite a bit. Though he still he held that slight childish, immature look about him that had always been there.
"Your looking well," the blonde said as he shuffled distractedly through another stack of forms that would need filling out.
"A full month with nothing' but sand 'n sun can do that to a guy," came the mans cheerful response. "Me 'n He-chan decided to pay a little visit to all the other pilots. You were the first one we found any info one."
Quatre looked up at him. "I don't exactly keep myself hidden from the publics eye. I can't. That's the problem with being a representative of the colonies and owning a business."
"Well, duh.." Duo rolled his eyes.
"I was about to get ready to leave," Quatre told the man as he stood. "If you'd like you may come with me and we and we could finish this conversation at my house. This invitation extends to Heero aswell."
Duo grinned. "Sound great! Wait a sec while phone Heero." He pulled out a cell phone and began to dial the phone. "Hey, koi." He said after a few moments. "I'm goin' to Quatre's house do ya wanna come?" A slight pause. "KK See ya there!" Duo put the phone away and turned to Quatre who hadn't moved. "He'll meet us there. This'll be great! You should see how much he's changed since than!"
He nodded and led Duo out to his car, the other man riding shot gun. He could understand that Heero had changed. He'd changed..He had already sensed his companions shock and confusion about his own behavior, though he did an excellent job of discizing it.
The ride home was alight. Duo rambled aimlessly about what he and his lover had been doing since the Eve Wars. Quatre suspected it was to ease the silence, because he wasn't doing much to held the American with the conversation. Duo was really becoming uneasy with his silence. After all, besides Duo, Quatre had always been the most friendly of the group. Now he was coming off as emotionless as Heero had once been.
They pulled up to the mansion to find Heero waiting for their arrival, perched on the seat of his motorcycle. He slid off to greet the two, and smiled almost inperceptibly at Quatre.
"It's nice to see you again," the blonde said, more out of politeness than of real sincerity.
Heero nodded and shot a 'look' at Duo who gave a slight shrug. None of this went past Quatre. One needed to be an expert at reading body language in order to be successful in the business world, as well as in the political.
He led them into the house and ordered the maid who greeted them to take some tea to the drawing room. The sat in the comfortable room and Duo asked him question. What he'd been doing, how life was treating him, things like this. Quatre was waiting for a certain question and wasn't surprised when it came.
"So... Where's Trowa," he asked.
"Wouldn't know," the blonde replied blandly. "He left about three years ago."
"Ahhhh...." Duo's violet eyes were wide. Obviously, he hadn't been expecting this. After all during the war, the only thing that could separate him and Trowa was a mission or death. Quatre still wondered what it was that made Trowa leave.
"Well, It's been nice seeing you again, but," Heero stood up and checked his watch. "Duo and I really must be going. We have to get up fairly early tomorrow."
Quatre nodded and led the two to the door to bid them a proper farewell. He gave a slight sigh of relief as he shut the huge oaken doors behind him. Having those two here had brought back too many memories. He turned towards his studied. There was always something to do.
~*~*~
Shade: I know I should be working on Saviors but this just kinda popped into my head. I have been obsessing over 3x4 lately and couldn't resist. I'm getting tired of the stereotypical way most 3x4 fics are portrayed and decided to give it an angsty twist. Now it's just deciding which way the plots gonna turn and why the heck Tro-chan left our blonde friend. Not to mention giving it a title.... Have any ideas for the title? Would be appreciated.