Disclaimer: . . .
Authors note: Ok . . . I should probably be staying away from the angst . . . but . . . I just HAVE to finish this story to get through some stuff . . . strange, ne? Well . . . here's Chapter 9 . . .
~ ~ ~
Upside down, inside out.
By Bubblegum Thai
Chapter 9; Someday.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING
"Hello?" Quatre murmured down the phone sleepily, rubbing a swollen eye,
"Good morning Quatre!"
"Oh . . . hello Dorothy!" He sighed, "What can I do for you?"
"Well, Relena asked me to arrange a meeting for you and I."
"Uhm, why?"
"Because she's going away, to visit some sick ambassador or something, but she needs to discuss funding for the preventers with you . . ."
"It can wait."
"Oh no, Miss Relena insisted that it is discussed immediately."
Quatre huffed, rolling his eyes,
"Alright Dorothy, when would you . . .?"
"Tonight."
"Tonight? Erm . . ." Quatre cast a longing glance at Heero who lay beside him, sleeping peacefully, "I might not be able to . . ."
"Quatre, it's urgent!" Dorothy whined,
"How long is this going to take?" Quatre muttered, impatience growing,
"Uhm, an hour or so?"
"Fine." He sighed, "Seven?" "Nine?"
"NINE?!" Quatre exclaimed, "Eight, at the very latest!"
"Fine . . . eight . . ." Dorothy sighed,
"Why does it have to be so late?"
"I'm busy all day, and you should be too." She told him sternly,
"I am . . . hence why I wanted my evening clear."
"See you tonight."
"Yes. Goodbye."
Quatre dropped the phone back down and sat, staring at the floor for a few minutes,
"What does Dorothy want?" Heero mumbled from under the covers,
"To meet to arrange some funding."
"Fun . . ." He yawned, rolling over and placing an arm over his lover's torso, "When will you be home?"
"About nine-ish."
"Nine . . .?" Heero half heartedly protested, "But . . . but that's so late . . ."
"I know, I'm sorry . . . she was really persistent!" Quatre whimpered,
"Well . . . enjoy . . ." Heero sighed, rolling over again,
"Hey! What do you think that you're doing?"
"Going back to sleep."
"Like hell you are!" Quatre snorted.
- - -
"Thanks for letting us stay the night, Cathy!" Duo beamed, "You make brilliant eggs!" Duo gulped a large fork-full of scrambled eggs,
"You're very much welcome, boys." Catherine beamed, clasping her hands together at her stomach, "You can come and eat all of my food anytime."
"Thank you." Trowa said softly,
"What's up Tro'?" Duo asked, nudging his lover with his elbow,
"Nothing . . . I'm just thinking . . ."
"About?" Catherine pressed on,
"About Quatre."
"Huh?" Both Duo and Catherine said, looking at one another,
"Uhm . . . love . . . why?" Duo asked, placing an arm around Trowa's shoulders,
"I'm worried about him. I mean . . . we all know that Heero can be . . . well . . ."
"Violent?" Duo asked, an eyebrow raised,
"Yes. Exactly." Trowa nodded firmly, "And . . . well . . . Quatre's so sensitive . . . we were so caught up in our own drama last night that we didn't really stop to think about whether or not Quatre would be safe."
"Tro' . . . you have much to learn!" Duo chuckled, "But . . . I dunno if I should let ya in on this . . ."
"Uhm . . . what? Why?"
"Because you look so CUTE when you're all concerned and confused!"
"What is it Duo?" Trowa sighed heavily,
"Heero would NEVER and I mean NEVER, not even in his most drunken state, would he hurt Q! There's just no way! You don't know Hee-chan like I do and there's NO WAY in HELL that he would EVER hurt Quat!"
"Oh . . ." Trowa trailed off and Catherine placed another plate of bacon and eggs before him,
"Eat up Trowa!" She cooed, "You'll need this for the drive home."
"SHIT!" Duo exclaimed, standing up immediately, "I'm SO late for work!" He waved his arms over his head frantically . . . and over dramatically as he darted for the door, calling over his shoulder; "I LOVE YOU TRO'!"
Trowa shook his head as Catherine fumed,
"He knocked over my chair!" She scoffed, waving a spatula after the braided American,
"I'm sorry about him." Trowa mumbled, picking up the chair,
"Oh . . . I'm not really that bothered . . . I'm more worried about you, Billy said he saw you arrive, he said that you were in a terrible state! I didn't get a chance to ask last night."
"Oh . . . yes Cathy, I'm fine." Trowa smiled slightly, "I . . . something happened . . ."
"You wanna tell me about it?"
"No, it's alright . . . I'd rather forget about it."
"Ok . . . fine . . . but, Trowa . . ."
"Yes?"
"I . . . I think that you should come back to the circus!" She blurted out,
"What?" Trowa asked, uncertain if he'd heard her right,
"I think that you should come back to the circus!"
"Why?" Trowa blinked several times,
"Because . . . I think that it'd be better for you hear . . . with us . . . where it's safe . . ."
"Cathy . . . I'm 21 . . . I'm a big boy now . . . I can take care of myself . . ." Trowa muttered sarcastically,
"I don't like the effect that Duo is having on you! You would NEVER have said that back when . . ."
"Back when what?"
"Back when . . . you were . . . my . . . Trowa . . ."
"Cathy . . ." Trowa sighed, standing up and hugging his older sister, who's head came up to rest on his chest, "I . . . I'm happy where I am. I have a great job, a nice house that I share with my friends and most of all I've got Duo . . . I don't need you protecting me anymore."
"You never really needed me anyway . . ." She growled,
"That's a lie, and you know it! I will ALWAYS need you hear because I love you . . . but I don't deserve to be babied anymore."
Cathy smiled faintly, wrapping her arms tighter around Trowa's waist and pulling him tight against her,
"Alright then Trowa . . . but you'd better make sure that Duo treats you right . . . if he doesn't . . . I'll HAVE to hurt him . . ."
"Ok . . . I'll let him know . . ."
- - -
"Duo . . . you're late . . ." Quatre sighed, standing by the water cooler, "And where's your uniform?! Une's going to have a conniption on the spot!"
"I know Q-man . . . I know . . . we were at the circus and, well . . . Cathy's eggs are just SO good that I forgot that I had to go to work this morning!"
"Cathy's eggs? Are you sure that it wasn't Tro . . ."
"Q . . . stop RIGHT there!" Duo demanded, pointing at the small blonde, "I know what body part rhymes with legs and just so we're clear on one thing, they weren't wound around any part of me this morning!"
"Oh . . . so you're a bot-"
"QUATRE!" Duo growled, "Stop it and lemme go to my office!" Duo whined, stamping his feet,
"Agent Maxwell?"
"Ahh . . . fuck it . . ." Duo muttered, hanging his head in shame and turning slowly, "Uh . . . Yo! Ma'am!" He saluted Lady Une,
"Maxwell, where is your uniform?"
"In my office!"
"Why are you not wearing it? You weren't LATE, were you?" She asked snidely, her left eye twitching,
"Oh dear . . . someone's having a bad day . . ." Duo thought as he gulped, "Erm . . ."
"Oh Duo . . . please tell me you weren't late again . . ." She huffed, placing her hands on her hips, looking up at the slightly taller man,
"Uhm, ok! I won't tell ya!" He said proudly, nodding up and down,
"Duo . . . I'm sorry . . . but I'm going to have to report this . . ."
"Bugger . . ." Duo sighed, slapping his forehead as Lady Une walked off with a somewhat sympathetic smile, "This is YOUR fault!" Duo growled, pointing an accusing finger at poor, defenceless, innocent, little Quatre who was standing, still by the water cooler, looking blissfully unaware of anything bad in the world, "Oh no you don't! That cutesy act works on everyone but me and you KNOW that! C'mon!" Duo tapped his foot,
"I . . . don't know what you're talking about!" Quatre said, looking around the corridor as he walked past Duo,
"Hells harlot!" Duo muttered,
"Satan's slut!" Quatre retorted,
"Ouch! Meow!" Wufei made his presence known as he popped his head out from his office, "I could hear Maxwell as soon as he came in through the door . . . munching on whatever overly salted snack that he picked up this morning!"
"I didn't pick it up! It was in the car already!" Duo announced proudly, producing a faded looking packet of salt and vinegar crisps,
"Duo . . . how . . . long have you had those in there?"
"Erm . . . AC 199! EUCK!" Duo pulled a disgusted face as he glanced up at the calendar on the wall marked AC 201, "Suddenly . . . I don't feel so good . . ."
"Oh dear . . ." Quatre sighed, following Duo down the hall, "Wufei! Call Sally please!"
"With pleasure!" Wufei nodded, disappearing back into his office faster than one could said Wing Zero.
Wufei sat down in his large, swivel leather chair and reached for the phone;
RIIIIING RIIIIING RIIIIING
"Uhm, hello?"
"Wufei!" Sally greeted,
"Sally?! I was just about to call you . . ."
"Oh . . .?"
"Yes . . . Maxwell's . . ."
"Wufei! I found out something really important from Noin that I think you need to know about!"
"Oh . . . really . . .?"
- - -
Wufei came running down the corridor to Quatre's office where he flung open the door,
"WINNER! WHERE'S MAXWELL GONE?!"
"He went home . . ." Quatre answered carefully,
"How long ago?"
"About an hour . . . he said he was feeling better, but not well enough to hang around and do physical so . . . have you been on the phone all this time?"
"Yes! I have something very important to tell you! IT'S AN INJUSTICE!"
"What? What is it?!"
- - -
"Ok . . . so . . . you came and picked me up from golf, why?" Heero asked sulkily as he folded his arms, sitting in the back of Wufei's bright yellow Honda Civic,
"Heero! This is important! Somethin bad is going to happen! Relena and Hilde have gone insane!" Quatre whimpered,
"Huh?"
"Relena and Hilde are out to destroy your relationships! As soon as Sally heard she told me and I came running down the corridor as fast as I could."
Heero rose an eyebrow,
"It's true . . . he did . . ." Quatre said earnestly with a nod, "We have to get home! What they have in store for poor Trowa is truly . . . it's truly heart wrenching!"
"Uhm . . . alright then . . ."
But, little did the three former Gundam pilots know, Dorothy had already been to their home, performed her task and left.
- - - To be continued . . .
Dun, dun dun! Well . . . the next chapter's gonna be the last! I hope that you liked!
Authors note: Ok . . . I should probably be staying away from the angst . . . but . . . I just HAVE to finish this story to get through some stuff . . . strange, ne? Well . . . here's Chapter 9 . . .
~ ~ ~
Upside down, inside out.
By Bubblegum Thai
Chapter 9; Someday.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING
"Hello?" Quatre murmured down the phone sleepily, rubbing a swollen eye,
"Good morning Quatre!"
"Oh . . . hello Dorothy!" He sighed, "What can I do for you?"
"Well, Relena asked me to arrange a meeting for you and I."
"Uhm, why?"
"Because she's going away, to visit some sick ambassador or something, but she needs to discuss funding for the preventers with you . . ."
"It can wait."
"Oh no, Miss Relena insisted that it is discussed immediately."
Quatre huffed, rolling his eyes,
"Alright Dorothy, when would you . . .?"
"Tonight."
"Tonight? Erm . . ." Quatre cast a longing glance at Heero who lay beside him, sleeping peacefully, "I might not be able to . . ."
"Quatre, it's urgent!" Dorothy whined,
"How long is this going to take?" Quatre muttered, impatience growing,
"Uhm, an hour or so?"
"Fine." He sighed, "Seven?" "Nine?"
"NINE?!" Quatre exclaimed, "Eight, at the very latest!"
"Fine . . . eight . . ." Dorothy sighed,
"Why does it have to be so late?"
"I'm busy all day, and you should be too." She told him sternly,
"I am . . . hence why I wanted my evening clear."
"See you tonight."
"Yes. Goodbye."
Quatre dropped the phone back down and sat, staring at the floor for a few minutes,
"What does Dorothy want?" Heero mumbled from under the covers,
"To meet to arrange some funding."
"Fun . . ." He yawned, rolling over and placing an arm over his lover's torso, "When will you be home?"
"About nine-ish."
"Nine . . .?" Heero half heartedly protested, "But . . . but that's so late . . ."
"I know, I'm sorry . . . she was really persistent!" Quatre whimpered,
"Well . . . enjoy . . ." Heero sighed, rolling over again,
"Hey! What do you think that you're doing?"
"Going back to sleep."
"Like hell you are!" Quatre snorted.
- - -
"Thanks for letting us stay the night, Cathy!" Duo beamed, "You make brilliant eggs!" Duo gulped a large fork-full of scrambled eggs,
"You're very much welcome, boys." Catherine beamed, clasping her hands together at her stomach, "You can come and eat all of my food anytime."
"Thank you." Trowa said softly,
"What's up Tro'?" Duo asked, nudging his lover with his elbow,
"Nothing . . . I'm just thinking . . ."
"About?" Catherine pressed on,
"About Quatre."
"Huh?" Both Duo and Catherine said, looking at one another,
"Uhm . . . love . . . why?" Duo asked, placing an arm around Trowa's shoulders,
"I'm worried about him. I mean . . . we all know that Heero can be . . . well . . ."
"Violent?" Duo asked, an eyebrow raised,
"Yes. Exactly." Trowa nodded firmly, "And . . . well . . . Quatre's so sensitive . . . we were so caught up in our own drama last night that we didn't really stop to think about whether or not Quatre would be safe."
"Tro' . . . you have much to learn!" Duo chuckled, "But . . . I dunno if I should let ya in on this . . ."
"Uhm . . . what? Why?"
"Because you look so CUTE when you're all concerned and confused!"
"What is it Duo?" Trowa sighed heavily,
"Heero would NEVER and I mean NEVER, not even in his most drunken state, would he hurt Q! There's just no way! You don't know Hee-chan like I do and there's NO WAY in HELL that he would EVER hurt Quat!"
"Oh . . ." Trowa trailed off and Catherine placed another plate of bacon and eggs before him,
"Eat up Trowa!" She cooed, "You'll need this for the drive home."
"SHIT!" Duo exclaimed, standing up immediately, "I'm SO late for work!" He waved his arms over his head frantically . . . and over dramatically as he darted for the door, calling over his shoulder; "I LOVE YOU TRO'!"
Trowa shook his head as Catherine fumed,
"He knocked over my chair!" She scoffed, waving a spatula after the braided American,
"I'm sorry about him." Trowa mumbled, picking up the chair,
"Oh . . . I'm not really that bothered . . . I'm more worried about you, Billy said he saw you arrive, he said that you were in a terrible state! I didn't get a chance to ask last night."
"Oh . . . yes Cathy, I'm fine." Trowa smiled slightly, "I . . . something happened . . ."
"You wanna tell me about it?"
"No, it's alright . . . I'd rather forget about it."
"Ok . . . fine . . . but, Trowa . . ."
"Yes?"
"I . . . I think that you should come back to the circus!" She blurted out,
"What?" Trowa asked, uncertain if he'd heard her right,
"I think that you should come back to the circus!"
"Why?" Trowa blinked several times,
"Because . . . I think that it'd be better for you hear . . . with us . . . where it's safe . . ."
"Cathy . . . I'm 21 . . . I'm a big boy now . . . I can take care of myself . . ." Trowa muttered sarcastically,
"I don't like the effect that Duo is having on you! You would NEVER have said that back when . . ."
"Back when what?"
"Back when . . . you were . . . my . . . Trowa . . ."
"Cathy . . ." Trowa sighed, standing up and hugging his older sister, who's head came up to rest on his chest, "I . . . I'm happy where I am. I have a great job, a nice house that I share with my friends and most of all I've got Duo . . . I don't need you protecting me anymore."
"You never really needed me anyway . . ." She growled,
"That's a lie, and you know it! I will ALWAYS need you hear because I love you . . . but I don't deserve to be babied anymore."
Cathy smiled faintly, wrapping her arms tighter around Trowa's waist and pulling him tight against her,
"Alright then Trowa . . . but you'd better make sure that Duo treats you right . . . if he doesn't . . . I'll HAVE to hurt him . . ."
"Ok . . . I'll let him know . . ."
- - -
"Duo . . . you're late . . ." Quatre sighed, standing by the water cooler, "And where's your uniform?! Une's going to have a conniption on the spot!"
"I know Q-man . . . I know . . . we were at the circus and, well . . . Cathy's eggs are just SO good that I forgot that I had to go to work this morning!"
"Cathy's eggs? Are you sure that it wasn't Tro . . ."
"Q . . . stop RIGHT there!" Duo demanded, pointing at the small blonde, "I know what body part rhymes with legs and just so we're clear on one thing, they weren't wound around any part of me this morning!"
"Oh . . . so you're a bot-"
"QUATRE!" Duo growled, "Stop it and lemme go to my office!" Duo whined, stamping his feet,
"Agent Maxwell?"
"Ahh . . . fuck it . . ." Duo muttered, hanging his head in shame and turning slowly, "Uh . . . Yo! Ma'am!" He saluted Lady Une,
"Maxwell, where is your uniform?"
"In my office!"
"Why are you not wearing it? You weren't LATE, were you?" She asked snidely, her left eye twitching,
"Oh dear . . . someone's having a bad day . . ." Duo thought as he gulped, "Erm . . ."
"Oh Duo . . . please tell me you weren't late again . . ." She huffed, placing her hands on her hips, looking up at the slightly taller man,
"Uhm, ok! I won't tell ya!" He said proudly, nodding up and down,
"Duo . . . I'm sorry . . . but I'm going to have to report this . . ."
"Bugger . . ." Duo sighed, slapping his forehead as Lady Une walked off with a somewhat sympathetic smile, "This is YOUR fault!" Duo growled, pointing an accusing finger at poor, defenceless, innocent, little Quatre who was standing, still by the water cooler, looking blissfully unaware of anything bad in the world, "Oh no you don't! That cutesy act works on everyone but me and you KNOW that! C'mon!" Duo tapped his foot,
"I . . . don't know what you're talking about!" Quatre said, looking around the corridor as he walked past Duo,
"Hells harlot!" Duo muttered,
"Satan's slut!" Quatre retorted,
"Ouch! Meow!" Wufei made his presence known as he popped his head out from his office, "I could hear Maxwell as soon as he came in through the door . . . munching on whatever overly salted snack that he picked up this morning!"
"I didn't pick it up! It was in the car already!" Duo announced proudly, producing a faded looking packet of salt and vinegar crisps,
"Duo . . . how . . . long have you had those in there?"
"Erm . . . AC 199! EUCK!" Duo pulled a disgusted face as he glanced up at the calendar on the wall marked AC 201, "Suddenly . . . I don't feel so good . . ."
"Oh dear . . ." Quatre sighed, following Duo down the hall, "Wufei! Call Sally please!"
"With pleasure!" Wufei nodded, disappearing back into his office faster than one could said Wing Zero.
Wufei sat down in his large, swivel leather chair and reached for the phone;
RIIIIING RIIIIING RIIIIING
"Uhm, hello?"
"Wufei!" Sally greeted,
"Sally?! I was just about to call you . . ."
"Oh . . .?"
"Yes . . . Maxwell's . . ."
"Wufei! I found out something really important from Noin that I think you need to know about!"
"Oh . . . really . . .?"
- - -
Wufei came running down the corridor to Quatre's office where he flung open the door,
"WINNER! WHERE'S MAXWELL GONE?!"
"He went home . . ." Quatre answered carefully,
"How long ago?"
"About an hour . . . he said he was feeling better, but not well enough to hang around and do physical so . . . have you been on the phone all this time?"
"Yes! I have something very important to tell you! IT'S AN INJUSTICE!"
"What? What is it?!"
- - -
"Ok . . . so . . . you came and picked me up from golf, why?" Heero asked sulkily as he folded his arms, sitting in the back of Wufei's bright yellow Honda Civic,
"Heero! This is important! Somethin bad is going to happen! Relena and Hilde have gone insane!" Quatre whimpered,
"Huh?"
"Relena and Hilde are out to destroy your relationships! As soon as Sally heard she told me and I came running down the corridor as fast as I could."
Heero rose an eyebrow,
"It's true . . . he did . . ." Quatre said earnestly with a nod, "We have to get home! What they have in store for poor Trowa is truly . . . it's truly heart wrenching!"
"Uhm . . . alright then . . ."
But, little did the three former Gundam pilots know, Dorothy had already been to their home, performed her task and left.
- - - To be continued . . .
Dun, dun dun! Well . . . the next chapter's gonna be the last! I hope that you liked!