DID YOU READ CHAPTER 19? IF NOT, YOU'LL BE MISSING QUITE A BIT! HIT THE BACK ARROW, PLEASE???? ~ MAKO-CHAN
Title: Gundam Diaries Part 20/? ~ Trowa (recap & more)
Author: Makoto Sagara
Pairings: 5x2, 3x4, 1+2, R+1 (one-sided)
Rating: R
Category: Romance, Angst, Other…
Warnings: Shonen ai, lime, language, OOC, angst, Trowa POV, violence
Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing or it's characters, which are owned by Sunrise, Sotsu Agency, Bandai, and some more Japanese companies. I am only using them for entertainment purposes. I promise to return them the same way I found them, only a little better for it. I make *no* money for this piece of fanfiction.
A/N: *FINALLY* Poor Trowa gets to have his very own chapter. Expect more from him. I am truly sorry that he didn't have his own chapter before now, but I just couldn't find a way to make Neko co-operate to let me write one. But, he has one now! Yes, and *my* Trowa speaks French because I do, and I don't feel like looking up more than I have to. Bad enough with Q-man!
Dedication: To Rainy-chan, for her *excellent* suggestions that helped me use Allie-cat's long ago given suggestions. To Allie-cat, for her lovely comments and truly *evil* suggestions. And, finally, to Duo-chan, for graciously taking the time to make sure that this fic-arc-epic doesn't look like crap anymore. Hugglz to all three of you, and many offerings of Fei-plushies and chocolates. ^_^;;
Symbol: *blah* emphasized thought
*~*~* Major change of scene
*~~~* Minor change of scene
April 14th, AC 195… 22:37:41
Before now, I never thought it prudent to keep track of my day's occurrences or my thoughts on them. However, the events that have transpired here within these last two weeks are something well worth mentioning. Never in my life did I expect those three to come to so violent a conclusion. I suppose I should start from the beginning of this fiasco, so as I will not forget anything later if I do.
This situation is very singular in its many scenes. It started on the 29th of March. The day was mildly abnormal in the fact that the five of us were situated in one of Quatre's many mansions, with nothing much to do.
The day that "all hell broke loose," as Duo would say, was a calm day. We had been in battle the day before, and Duo's Gundam had been damaged more severely than any of the others. So, as a gift to my comrade, I fixed his favorite foods for breakfast that morning.
He padded into the kitchen in his normal style, sat in 'his chair', and all but squealed when I presented him a plate of strawberry pancakes. Breakfast was fine for the most part. Duo and Quatre were conversing about a movie they had watched the night before. I was amused at the energy those two possessed.
A sudden movement from Wufei's corner caused the rest of look at him. He was signaling to Duo that he had syrup on his face. I watched Wufei's face as Duo stuck his tongue out to remove the sticky substance. The Chinese teen's eyes bugged out of his head, and he suddenly stood, pushing his chair away, leaving the room. Heero took this as the sign that the social part of breakfast was over, and left as well. Duo was the last to leave.
Quatre helped me clean the kitchen, and soon, we were parting for separate activities. We do enjoy spending as much time as possible together, but for the most part, we do have other things that we enjoy as well. Besides, I had new moves to practice for the next time I went back to the circus with Cathy. I headed to the gym for a while.
I came out a couple of hours later, walking into the TV room, to find mon petit chér sitting on the couch next to Duo. I looked at the TV. They were watching that horrible shock television show from Earth, Jerry Springer. I sat next to Quatre, and whispered in his ear, "Small one, if they still made this show, do you think Relena would haul Duo and Heero on it?" That caused him to burst into a fit of giggles.
All of a sudden, Duo shot up, dumped the remotes on the couch, and left the room. I sort of felt bad, because sometimes we are a bit exclusive in our interactions, but I have no idea how to make it better for everyone without hurting my love's feelings.
A little while after Duo's departure, Wufei stormed through the house and went to his room. I raised an eyebrow at Quatre, and he just shrugged a bit. Ignoring the lack of commotion, I switched the television to an old movie channel. They were showing Braveheart, so I left it there. We settled against one another for the duration, and when an intermission occurred, we grabbed some sandwiches and sodas to consume during the second half.
We had just settled back down on the couch, when Heero reappeared from the study. He asked where the "Baka" was, and then asked about Wufei. Quatre told him that they were probably both in the hangar working on their Gundams. When Quatre asked why he wanted to know, Heero just said it was nothing, turning back to the study.
The movie finished two hours after that, and Quatre went off to make dinner, releasing me, after I set the dining room table. I did as he asked, and then proceeded to the music room for a small amount of time. When I returned for dinner, Quatre and Heero where the only two at the table.
Quatre was asking a very bruised Heero where he had received his sign of "glory", and Heero was trying delicately, well for him anyway, to tell Quatre to mind his own business. My love shot me a look of worry, and all I could do was shrug. If someone was going to tell us what happened, they would tell us in their own time. We finished dinner in silence, and Heero left as soon as he was done.
When we were alone finally, Quatre starting speculating who would have hit Heero. I calmly told him that we had two options, Wufei or Duo, both of whom failed to show for dinner. I was not comfortable with those choices, but they were the only ones available to us. Quatre continued to try and figure it out, though. I placed a hand on his shoulder, and looked into his bright blue eyes.
"Small one, they will tell us when the time is right. Just let it go for now. You can ask Duo and Wufei in the morning if you must, but right now, I would just like to clean the kitchen and then go to bed. Come."
Quatre sighed in response, but he did dropped the subject. We cleaned the kitchen in a comforting silence, and then I swept my love up in my arms, and carried him to our room; he was laughing quietly the whole time. When we arrived in our room, I laid him down, and carefully curled him next to me on the bed.
"Je t'aime, mon chér," I whispered as my eyes grew heavy.
"I love you, too, Trowa," he said, his voice heavily laced with weariness.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We awoke to the sound of a beeping. I sat up, stretching, to see the light on my laptop was beeping. I had received a mission from Doktor S. I was reading the specs, when Quatre sat up on the bed.
"How long?"
"Two weeks."
"Where?"
"Germany."
"What kind?"
"School infiltration. It seems I will be pairing up with Heero for this one," I sighed. "Merde(1)." I felt a pair of hand all too familiar rubbing my shoulders.
"What?" he asked. I shook my head as I quickly typed a reply back.
"Nothing." I stood when I was done, and saw Quatre giving me a look of curious concern.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I could use a cup of coffee, amour, while I pack."
"Ok, I'll go make a pot." He headed for the door.
"Quatre!"
"Yes?"
"Regular coffee. Not Arabic coffee. I just want to wake up, not act like Duo for the rest of the week." I gave him a small smile. He is the only who sees such things.
"Yes, Trowa, I understood that when you asked for coffee in the first place. Now, pack. I'll be back in a few." He turned on his toes and walked out of the room.
I was about halfway complete with my packing when he returned with a strong, but not Arabian strong, mug of coffee. I took it from him with a "Merci, chéri(2)." I hastily drank the scalding liquid and threw the rest of my belongings into my duffle bag. "Heero is awake, is he not?"
"Yes, he was pouring himself a cup of the coffee as I was coming back up. He should be ready to go about now," Quatre said.
"Then we should head downstairs." I kissed him, and he ran his hands across my back and arms, moaning as I slipped my tongue pass his soft lips. I let the kiss continue for a bit longer, but I stopped it before I could get fully aroused. I still had a mission to go on, after all, and sitting in Heavyarms with an erection is not what I would call fun. I broke for air, gently kissing his forehead.
"I'm going to miss you, Trowa," he whispered. I smiled again as I moved to retrieve my laptop.
"I will miss you too, Quatre, but at least it is not an no-communication." I saw a very wicked smile cross his sweet face. I know that look all to well.
"True." He winked, and then left the room. I knew at that moment that no good would come from that smile.
I came down the stairs, carrying my duffle bag and laptop, in time to hear Heero tell Quatre to relay a message to Duo that something was ok. Hmm, I could ask about it later, but I'm really not the prying kind. If he wanted me to know, he would tell me. Or I could just wait for Quatre to find out from Wufei and Duo, and then he would tell me. Either way, I wouldn't be getting in anyone's business without the proper provocation.
Quatre hugged us both, and then we left the house, walked to the hangar, and got into our Gundams, agreeing to meet by a cave about thirty meters from the school to hide them. None of this was new to me. I had expected his silence as soon as I saw that I would be accompanying pilot 01 on the mission. Hence, my proclamation of "Merde."
The trip was only a few hours long, which I spent just concentrating on the position of the school to the OZ base, and the type of outside hacking we would be required to do while staying there for the two weeks. I touched the ground first, but Wing Zero was not far behind me. We moved our Gundams into the cave, threw camouflage netting over them, and left the cave with our bags for the school.
We were quickly registered, given uniforms, and shown to a private double room that we would be required to share. When our escort left us in our rooms to get accustomed, I dropped my bag on one of the beds, and immediately set up my laptop. I saw that Heero had done the same, and I sat at my desk, getting ready to implement the hacking software that was installed.
"I think we should take turns. I don't think we will have more than an hour a day to actually hack into their system this time," Heero said. I turned to face him at his desk.
"Who should take the first shot?" I asked.
"I will. I am going to find a backdoor to slip into, and then I will tell the software that we are only a check that will occur everyday at four pm everyday, lasting an hour. That will give us the time we need and we won't have to worry about being caught, or kicked out."
"Sounds fine to me." I left him to his own devices, and decided to check my email. There was a message from Quatre already. He had found out about Heero's impressive bruise already. It seems that Wufei was the culprit, and Duo was the reason. I shot a glance over my shoulder the stony Japanese boy in the room with me. He was typing away madly. I typed back that the information was revealing, but that we should keep an eye out for any more trouble from them.
I put my laptop on standby, unpacked a little, and then went to take a shower. I had not had the opportunity this morning, nor last night, and I was very anxious to be clean once again. When I stepped out of the bathroom, Heero had changed into his school uniform. I raised an eyebrow at him, silently asking why.
"It is time for dinner. The system will be ready for your turn at the infiltration tomorrow after classes." I nodded, and changed into my own uniform, walking with him to the dining hall.
We were less than surprised when Relena showed up at the school the next day. To say that we were annoyed would have been and understatement. It took her three days of being there to get the student body and most of the staff that a dance would be a wonderful idea. A mandatory dance. In two days time. Oh yes, I was starting to see why Duo hated the girl so much.
On the evening of the third full day we had been at the school, Quatre sent both Heero and myself emails stating that both Wufei and Duo had been sent on separate week long missions which were non-communiqué. I was startled at this information, but I was very surprised to see Heero abandon his work at hacking and spill his chair on the floor.
I quietly walked behind the Asian boy, and took a look at his screen. He was searching the Doctors' database for something. I cleared my throat to let him know that I was standing behind him.
"Trowa, there are no such missions listed," he stated.
"What?" I asked, intelligently.
"The missions that Chang and Maxwell were sent on, they are not real missions."
"How?" How could someone send us false missions?
"I have no idea, but I intend to find out who sent these. Email Winner about the situation." I wasted no time in doing so. Quatre sent back a frantic reply an hour later. I calmly told him to alert the Maguanacs about this, as it looked like we would need their help finding our comrades.
We spent the rest of that night and the next in constant communication. Every hour or so, I received a new report from Rashid, Auda, Abdul, Hakim, and Quatre about how they faired in their search attempts. Needless to say, they were all futile. Then came the night of the dance.
We had decided beforehand that we would only be there for an hour, mainly just to let the faculty know that we had come, and we were "enjoying" our free time. When our hour was up and we were starting to leave, the Former Queen of the World came up to us.
"Oh, Heero, Trowa, how nice to see you finally here. And you both look so nice," she gushed.
"Thank you," I said quietly, wishing nothing but for her to go away.
"Oh, you both must promise me a dance." She gave us an imploring look, and then she got an odd expression on her face. "You weren't going to leave early, were you?"
"Yes, we have homework to finish, and this is taking valuable time away," Heero said quickly, turning on his heel.
"But, Heero, the dance isn't over," she whined. The girl could have put Duo out of business, and Quatre too.
"So? That is not important to me. I have things to do." He left, leaving me to stand in the doorway with her, pouting. Thanks, Yuy.
I returned to our room a half an hour later, with sore feet and a very sour disposition; not to mention I was not very grateful for being left with that Harpy.
I took my jacket off, and sat in my desk chair, trying to relieve some of the pressure from off my feet.
"You could have stayed to dance with her once."
"I owe her nothing. She needs to realize that," he stated flatly, evidently ending that part of the conversation.
"Anything productive as to where Chang and Maxwell are?" I asked, as my computer booted up.
"No."
"Fine." I checked my email program, answering the near-hysterical emails from Quatre. I reminded him yet again to calm down, and just continue looking for Duo and Wufei.
Heero continued for a few hours, and I tried to get some of the homework I had out of the way. When that was done, I took my turn at the search. I have to admit; I am no where near Heero with hacking capabilities. There is a good reason that Heavyarms is equipped the way it is. I am a surprise attack, to take as many of the enemy down as I possibly can with me.
Four days after the dance fiasco, we received an email from Rashid, saying that Deathscythe Hell and Altron had been found in a cave somewhere in Siberia, sans pilots, and that he would be positioning Abdul and Auda there to watch over them. I was worried then. There were very few things that the American loved more than his Gundam. His braid was one of them, and the other was Heero, at that time anyway.
It was a complete relief and shock when three days later, Quatre emailed me saying that Wufei and Duo were safe and sound and were on their way back to the safe house. About six and a half hours later, I received an irate email from Quatre giving me sketchy details on the situation of where our friends had been. The most I got out of it was that Relena was responsible, and was a sharmuta(3)and had to die.
I forwarded the email to Heero, and I knew he had read it when he had grabbed his gun and headed for the door.
I stopped him with an arm. "Is the infiltration of OZ's system complete?"
"Hai," he said through gritted teeth.
"Then we will leave in the morning. There is no need to cause a scene right now. We need to head back to the safe house to see how they are doing, really. Then, and only then, will we deal with Relena." I sighed, and released his arm. His whole demeanor had changed this week and a half. "Now, we should get some sleep, and try to clean up the fact that we were here."
"I will do that now," he said, sitting back down at the desk, tapping on his keys with his super-human speed.
I sat back down in my own chair, and emailed Quatre telling him everything that had occurred, and telling him the time that we would be back. I even went so far to tell him that I wanted to let Heero kill la petite garce(4), but that I was trying to think of getting back to him and the safe house as soon as possible. Then, I backed up the information we had stolen, put the disk in my bag, quickly packed everything up, and went to bed when Heero had done the same.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As if I didn't have my hands full with getting Heero out to our Gundams to leaving la connase(5) there, but she had to actually show *up* as we were about ten meters from the cave. I heard her running behind us, and I instinctively turned around, in time to stop the Japanese teen from shooting her right there on the spot. Now, I wish I had let him.
I placed a hand on his arm. He looked up at me, and I gave him a stern look. His hand dropped from his gun, and he glared at Relena.
"I am sorry, Relena. We are in a bit of a hurry," I said politely. "We must be going."
Her face fell, and she looked at Heero, who did nothing but glare at her. "H-Heero?"
I watched as he turned back the way we were walking, and then I followed him, neither of us actually saying anything farther to the twit. We reached the cave, and got into our separate Gundams. There was no communication between the two of us the whole way back to the safe house.
We landed there three minutes to ten, and no sooner had I descended from Heavyarms' cockpit before my arms were full with my blond lover. I managed to drop my duffle bag on the ground, all the while hugging him as fiercely as he was me.
"Mmm, Trowa, I missed you," he muttered into my shirt.
"I missed you too, Quatre, and I am going to make you pay for that email you sent me the first day I was away," I said, trying to disentangle myself to follow Heero into the house. His actions lately had me worried about his behaviour. Quatre let go, and we walked into the house.
I dropped my bag in the doorway, and went to stand behind Heero, wondering what had stopped him from entering the TV room. That is where I saw both Wufei and Duo sitting side by side on the couch, whispering. Suddenly, Duo jumped, and turned around, looking very… apprehensive?
Long story short, because I will not go into all the dialogue that occurred at that moment. Heero and Wufei traded death glares. Duo was visibly agitated. Quatre's head resembled a tennis ball being passed back and forth. I, quietly, watched all this, and noticed that most of Heero's anger was actually because he was wondering what Relena had said to Duo.
I finally mentioned the disk that Heero and I had yet to see. Quatre asked Heero to help him set up the equipment. I offered a few words from my observations. Finally, Quatre and Heero returned to the TV room, set the laptop to play to the TV, and sat back down.
We watched in varying degrees of horror as la chienne foute(6) came on the screen, insulted the intelligence of Wufei and Duo, told them they were in her way, and that she was neutralizing them to win "her" Heero. When the screen went blank, Quatre started to slip back into his Zero-System persona. It was very unnerving.
I tried my best to keep him calm and reasonable, but it was very hard when I agreed with him totally. Heero seemed just as eager to get her back, but in his own silent, slightly eerie way. The thing that surprised me most, though I wouldn't admit it then or even to anyone else except Quatre, was the fact that Duo and Wufei were oddly silent about the whole thing, and they were the ones that she had imprisoned and insulted.
Duo left the room, saying he would be back. When he didn't return in ten minutes, Wufei stood up, declaring that he would retrieve Maxwell. Heero seemed to have sunk into himself, more so as usual. I was still trying to keep Quatre in the realm of the sane. I was relieved when he turned to Heero.
"Heero, could you be a little less… cold? We do need Wufei and Duo to help with this," he asked
"I thought you were doing all the planning for this, Quatre." That was uncalled for, and quite unfair of him.
"There is no need to be so rude, Heero. I agree. You are making both of them feel uncomfortable," I added.
"I have done nothing. All I have done is walk through the door, and watch *her* and her stupid obsession put two teammates in danger," Heero said through gritted teeth.
"You don't have to do anything, Heero," Quatre sighed, and rubbed his forehead. He was starting to calm down from psycho-Quatre. "The last time you saw either of them, there was a confrontation. Evidently, Duo is very upset still, and I can tell you that your whole attitude is *not* going to help anyone. You need to settle this thing between the three of you," he leaned close to Heero, and started whispering, yet I could still hear everything he said. "I know you care for Duo, more than even you yourself know, and you did a very stupid thing when you left him to go on your mission without talking to him. You may have lost much more than just someone you love."
Heero was spared answering, for Duo and Wufei had reappeared. Quatre wanted to continuing to plot, but Duo mentioned something about lunch. I had to admit that I had quite forgotten about food. The only things on my mind this morning were coming back to the safe house and keeping Heero from hunting down Relena to murder her. I watched as Duo froze when Heero offered his assistance with lunch. He seemed panicked when he looked at Wufei, who sighed and made a smart-ass remark about needing to be able to consume our food.
Finally left alone for the time being, I grabbed my lover, and proceeded to calm him back down, with the only other available option I had: kissing him. I started off slowly and sweetly, but soon, the kiss became heated with our very need. I wanted to touch him more; to have more bodily contact with him, so I pulled him into my lap, and ran my hands up the back of his primly pressed shirt and vest.
His moans were making it impossible for me to maintain any semblance of self-control. I might have taken him right there, had I not heard Duo's footsteps coming in our direction. I, however, did not break the kiss from Quatre. I was rewarded with the sound of quickly retreating footsteps, and then I broke the kiss.
"We've had an audience, mon petit," I said, still trying to catch my breath. He nuzzled his head against my shoulder.
"Whom?"
"From the sounds of the footsteps, Duo."
"Again?"
"It would appear so," Quatre sighed, and stood up.
"Well, might as well go see why. Maybe lunch is done now."
"Perhaps." I stood as well, and we proceeded to the kitchen, where, sure enough, they had completed lunch without a blood bath. As we sat down, Heero mentioned that we were running low on supplies.
That hardly surprised me. Quatre had been going nuts while Wufei and Duo were missing, so I doubt that he even ate unless Rashid reminded him to. I know that I hardly ate much the whole time.
Duo offered to go with Quatre for the shopping venture. It seems that while he enjoyed his time with Wufei, they were closer than ever, but he hadn't enjoyed the time cooped up in a small, three-room shack. We all agreed, and lunch proceeded in silence. When we were done, my love dragged the poor American boy out of the kitchen, towards the garage.
As soon as they departed, Heero stood up, and left for the study. I was left with Wufei, who told me he would be outside. I was alone, but I didn't complain. I silently cleaned the kitchen, and proceeded to the music room. Quatre had received a new piece of music from Rashid, and I thought that this would be the perfect time for me to play it.
I was surprised when, a few hours later, Quatre reappeared, wanting to talk to me about Duo's behaviour. I could offer nothing as to Duo, but I tried to tell him about Heero's recent changes. When we were done, Quatre said something about finding Duo to talk, and left the room.
I was surprised when I heard stomping and yelling coming from Wufei and Heero. It seems that Heero wanted to talk to Duo, and Wufei wanted him to leave him alone. Quatre came back, rubbing his chest, and I held him for a few moments, before asking him to help me cook dinner.
When we were just about done, and the table was set, Duo and Wufei reappeared.
"Let me guess, Trowa cooked?" Duo asked.
"Yes, Duo. Trowa cooked," Quatre answered, sounding very irritated.
"I should have known," was Duo's retort.
"Why?" I asked, directed my attention at Duo.
He pointed to the kitchen. "No smoke."
Wufei looked as if he were about to choke on something, and Quatre seemed about to burst, he was smiling so widely. I raised an eyebrow. I had no idea what in the world they were talking about. It seemed that Heero didn't either. Quatre took pity on me, and finally told me about the burnt chicken fiasco, and how we had all be tricked into eating something I wouldn't feed to Relena. In fact, I felt a bit ill at the idea of eating burnt food.
Wufei asked if I was all right, calling me by my first name for the first time. I couldn't reply at that time. I just nodded and held my sides, which in turned caused Duo and Quatre to bust out laughing. Heero was even more confused, because he gave both Wufei and I a questioning glance that made Duo laugh even harder.
"Nani?" he growled.
"Be-betsuni…" Duo said, trying to talk between giggles. Heero fixed his glare on him. "Really, Heero, it's nothing." Duo's stomach growled right then. "Let's eat! I'm starving here!"
Quatre, ever the diplomat, stepped in before something unpleasant happened. "I agree. Time for food."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After dinner, and a mutual cleaning of the kitchen and dining room, we all went to the study, where Heero had told us he had some interesting news for our plan to get Relena back.
He told us that he has a copy of her schedule, and that the girl had about a week of free time coming up soon. We all agreed that that would be the perfect time. Quatre had returned back to his nearly frightening behaviour from before. We plotted a bit more, and agreed that locking her up for a week with Dorothy Catalonia would be the best. We also agreed to tell our own doctors of the plan and our parts to play in it.
Leaving the study, Quatre grabbed his laptop from the TV room, while I grabbed my forgotten duffle, and we went to our bedroom. I closed the door behind us, and we each sat next to one another, typing reports and such. About an hour or so, I had closed the lid of my computer and Quatre was putting a CD into his. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"I got this CD from Duo a while ago. I listened to it when I was left alone, and one song reminded me strongly of you," he said, blushing.
"Oh? And the name?" I asked.
"Of the CD or the song?"
"Both, I suppose." He was blushing yet again. To say I was intrigued at that point would have been an understatement. A gift from Duo was always guaranteed to be interesting.
"Um, well the CD is called Stripped by a 20th century Earth pop star, Christina Aguilera, and the song is called Loving Me 4 Me." He was blushing again. I smiled and wrapped my arms around him.
"And you would like to share this song with me?" He nodded. "Well, play it, amour." I walked over to our bed, and sat down as he fiddled with his computer a bit.
Soon the rifts of the song started, and the next thing I knew, Quatre was all over me, trying to undress the both of us as quickly as he could. He was kissing me hungrily, and I was reciprocating with equal fervor. Wouldn't you, if you had just spent almost two weeks reading the same email from your lover that was guaranteed to give you an erection every time?
You can imagine what happened then. I am *not* going into any details about that, but just know that it was utterly terrific. It always is when we are separated for longer than a few days.
We awoke the next morning to glorious peace and quiet, but alas, that situation was not to last very long. Quatre kissed me sweetly, and I drug him to the master bath, where we took a nice, long, and hot shower. Then, we went downstairs to the kitchen and started breakfast.
Heero appeared not too long after us, and Quatre handed him a strong cup of coffee, the kind where only he and Heero can drink it without wanted to gag. (Note to self: Teach Quatre how to make an acceptable pot of coffee, soon!) Heero mentioned something about seeing Duo with his hair down. I exchanged looks with Quatre, who shrugged and said he would be right back.
I heard his footsteps on the stairs, and he came back down a few moments later, saying that Duo would be back down in a bit. The three of us ate in silence, and sure enough, as soon as we were done and our plates were in the sink, Duo appeared.
"'Fei had a mission," he calmly stated. To be perfectly honest, I had never seen him look so happy and serene after just waking up. I nodded to his statement, and he looked around the table quickly, a look of *something* passing across his face, before he slid on his mask of manic energy.
"So, where is the food you mentioned, Q? I'm staaaaaaaaaaaarved."
"Not surprising," I said, pointing to the counter, where we had set up a buffet-style of plates consisting of bacon, eggs, toast, and hash browns.
"Yay! Food!" He snatched up one of the remaining clean plates, and proceeded to laden it down with everything, three times over. Then, he sat in "his" chair, and started eating and talking with his mouth full. "So, what's the game plan for today?"
Quatre just gave me this look that said, 'You would think he would swallow first', and spoke up. "Well, I have some more work for Instructor H to do. I don't know about anyone else."
"I have some reports to type up," Heero said, taking a drink from his coffee mug.
I shrugged. I had no real plans, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to do anything with Duo at that point. "I have already typed up my report to Doktor S, so, I suppose nothing really," I said. His chin looked like it was about to hit the table, and I was puzzled to say the least. "What?" Quatre just snickered.
"Nothing, Hennuna(7). It's just that the multitude aren't used to you speaking so much." I shrugged again. As if it is really my fault that the others don't talk to me as much. In fact, I once heard Wufei refer to me as "Winner's lover," as if I didn't have a name. Er, ok, so Trowa Barton isn't my *real* name, but he could at least have called me something other than Quatre's lover…
"No, it's just that Duo talks too much to realize that others are speaking," Heero said. Duo glared at him.
"Don't you have some reports to work on, Ice-man?" He sneered and continued to eat his breakfast. Heero made no reply to this, instead opting for leaving the room after he finished his coffee. "What's *his* problem?" Duo asked, feigning innocence, and failing miserably.
Quatre fixed his light blue eyes on Duo, and sighed. "Duo, I don't know what happened between you and Heero, nor do I think I ever will, but do you *have* to goad him like that?"
"I have *no* idea what you are talking about, Quatre." The American smiled, still eating. When he was finished, he pushed his plate away from him, and looked dead at me. "So, Tro, since neither of us have anything to do today, and well, it's boring sitting around here all day, wanna join me for some fun?"
"Fun?" Quatre and I said at the same time.
"Um, Duo, do you think that is the best idea? I mean, we are kinda noticeable, with our pictures going around, and everything else," the Arab said.
"I agree," I added, which in turn caused Duo to sigh.
"I can hide my hair and eyes, and Tro can put a hat on that bang. I mean, that's *his* most noticeable feature, like my braid is." He looked at the both of us. "Look, you both know me. I'm *not* stupid, but I don't want to stick around here all day with Heero…. I'd go nuts."
Quatre and I shared another look, where I tried to explain to him that I thought it might be a better idea to go along with Duo than to stay here. Quatre relented to my logic and sighed.
"Fine. But, don't do anything that will catch anyone's attention."
"As if I would."
"You would. That is why Quatre is warning you," I said quietly.
"Hey! Trowa! You're supposed to be on *my* side."
"I am, but I really do *not* want to be caught by OZ again."
"Fine. You win *this* round, but don't think you can do it again, Bang-boy." He stood up from his chair. "I'm gonna go find a hat for ya, Tro, and another for me. Might even change out my usual black. No one would expect Shinigami to be in something other than black, ne?" He ran out of the room.
"Do you really think this is a good idea, Trowa?" Quatre asked.
"At the moment, yes. I think there is a lot of unresolved tension between Duo, Heero, and Wufei, and with Wufei gone that leaves Duo alone with Heero. I doubt that is a good idea at the present time." I sighed, and rubbed my forehead. "I will gladly suffer this day to keep from having to scrape someone off the floor, wall, or whatever." I felt one of his small hands one my arm.
"If you are sure, Trowa."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
An hour later found Duo and I in the car, hats firmly in place, and Duo in a blue t-shirt and jeans. We reached the town, none too soon. Duo *insisted* on singing to every song on the oldies station. I feel that I will never understand how he can be so diverse in his taste of music.
When we reached the main street with a lot of places to attract his attention, I cut the engine. I had no sooner done that when Duo hopped out of the car.
"Yes, fresh air without issues. So, Tro, there's an arcade over there. You game?"
"An arcade?" I asked.
"Yes, you see, it's this place where you can play video games for money."
"I know that, but why? Isn't there an infernal video game system back at the house?" I sighed in wariness. No good could come from this.
"No, and I've been going nuts. Now, I'm going inside. You can either join me, or stand outside until I'm done." All did was shrug and walk up to him.
"Lead the way." He clapped a hand on my shoulder.
"My man! Let's go!" He grabbed my arm and drug me inside the darkly lit building, which was packed with a motley of different video games. He seemed to be trying to find the perfect game to start off with when he spotted one that really caught his attention. "Hey, Tro, ever played Pac-man?"
"I have never had the pleasure, no." In fact, I had never played any game before that moment.
"Great. I'm gonna go get some quarters, and you are gonna play this game till it breaks." He ran off, and I took the time to watch the demonstration screens. He returned shortly. "Something wrong?"
"Not really. I've been watching this demonstration screen while you were away. This game does not seem to require that much skill, or brain power." He seemed insulted by my comment.
"That's because you haven't seen the *Master* play before." He then placed about twenty creds worth of quarters in my hands, keeping one for himself, which he promptly placed into the machine. He played until his turn was over, and managed to acquire the new high score. He entered in 'Shinigami' as his name. "Yes! That is my *best* score, ever!" He looked over at me, appearing very happy at that moment. "I should bring you with me more often. That was great." He took back most of the quarters, allowing me to retain one. "Your turn."
I shrugged, and mimicked his earlier behaviour. By the time I had finished, I then had the new high score, beating the hell out of Duo's. I figured if he could enter Shinigami, then I would enter in 'Nanashi' as my name. I did so, and looked at my gapping companion.
"You… you…" I should have recorded that moment for later times. Duo Maxwell was actually speechless in my presence. It was a historical moment.
"Hey, Jake! Look! This guy just got like 500 billion on Pac-man!" another patron exclaimed, joining his friends at a few racing games.
"You *killed* my new high score!" He seemed to be in denial.
"It wasn't that hard. I do more strenuous things dealing with Heavyarms, and Catherine, every day." He then proceeded to fix me with a glare that would have made both Wufei and Heero proud.
"Fine, just have to find something more *challenging*." He walked away, looking harder at the remaining games, until he came upon one labeled Mortal Kombat 50. "This is our game, Tro." He pointed to the machine, and then pointed to the move diagrams on the board. "Just use the stick to move, and use the other buttons to punch and kick." Was I an idiot? Could I not have sent that for myself?
"I can see that, Du…Dee." I remembered that there weren't too many Duo's out in the world, and quickly covered up my almost mistake.
"Great, so you won't be offended when I beat the shit out of you," he replied cheerfully, as he placed the coins into the slots.
I suppose we must have played about fifty or so games the whole time we were there. Towards the end, I had actually started to get into the game, and was cheering when I got a nice shot in. Needless to say though, Duo was much better than I, and ended up winning more games than he lost. I hate to admit it, but I was actually having fun being irresponsible with Duo.
When we had finished, our unnoticed group of watchers busted out into a loud round of applause. We were bombarded by offers to play against the other patrons, but we declined, finally successful when Duo said that he was hungry.
We had walked away from the fighting machine, giving congratulations on our performances, when Duo spotting something called DDR by the door. I knew I was in for it when I saw his eyes shining in the poorly lit room.
"Hey, Tro, you up to playing a dancing game?" He wiggled an eyebrow. Hell yes, I was damned suspicious of anything that made Duo that happy.
"Dancing?"
"Yes, you know, moving your body to time with the music in pre-ordained steps. It's easy, and fun." The next thing I knew, he had grabbed my arm and was bodily dragging me over to the brightly colored machine. We waited patiently until the kids ahead of us were done, and then Duo pulled me up onto the platform, shoving the rest of the change into the coin slots, and fiddling with the game.
"Dee, I don't know about this," I said, which caused him to look at me stupidly.
"What? I've seen you dance with Q, when you thought no one was looking. You're good. Now, there are going to be arrows, and you just have to make your feet hit the corresponding arrows on the platform. Just make sure you are looking at the top row of arrows. It's that simple." He set the controls to the game and the music started.
Simple is not how I would describe this game. I was constantly getting the fast lines of arrows confused, and besides the point, the fact that there were little figures behind the arrows was throwing me off. I did not fare well with the dance moves. I was relieved when the song was over, and Duo placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Well, it could have been worse," He said, shooting a look at the screen and our scores. He had a Triple S, which I assumed was a perfect as he hadn't missed a step, and I had an F, which need no translation... "Nevermind. I will just shut up now."
"Thank you."
"Um, so, how about something to eat?" I shrugged, while he looked out the dirty, greasy windows.
"What is there?"
"Hmm, I'm sure there's some kind of burger joint. There always is in places like this. Then, there's this really nice Chinese restaurant that Q and I went to before the pink princess incident. Other than that, I dunno."
"We could find out." I heard some giggles behind us, and looked back. About four girls were following us.
"Sure thing, Tro," he said, looking behind us and wrapping an arm around my waist. We walked out the arcade and into the sunlight. When my vision cleared, I looked behind us; our groupies had left. We proceeded our search for somewhere to eat, and Duo stopped, finally, in front of what looked like an old-fashioned American restaurant. "Hey, Tro, want to have some greasy, *real* American food?"
"Do I have a choice?" He looked around the small town.
"It's either this, pizza, Chinese food, burgers, or that sushi bar."
"Fine, I'm sure I can get something there that won't kill me at an early age," I replied, which got a snicker from him.
"You are a funny man. You could die tomorrow in…well, you could die tomorrow." I tried to stifle the smile that was going to cross my face. He had remembered what we had talked about with Quatre.
"You are quite right, Dee." He smiled and then opened the door for me.
"Of course I am. Now, let's get some food before I go crazy." I raised an eyebrow, but the damn hat was blocking him from seeing it. "Ok, more than I am now."
We walked inside, and I was assaulted by the smells of grease, floor wax, and actual food cooking. The floors of the place were scuffed so I couldn't tell the original color of it, but everything had a clean feel to it.
"Just like I always imagined. Let's sit down in a booth." We walked down the aisle and a woman appeared from the kitchen.
"Sit wherever you want, boys. I'll be with ya in a second," she said jovially.
"Man, I didn't even know they still had places like this," Duo said, throwing himself onto one of the benches. I chose to sit down on the other.
"It seems to be far from most of the fighting. It's not that unreasonable to assume that they would survive," I said.
"That's not what I meant, T. I mean, these places where becoming scarce in the early 21st century. To think that they exist now is mind boggling."
"Well, kids, what can I get for you?" The woman had appeared at our table.
"Ok, I want a Coke to drink, and…" He snatched up a menu, and perused it, not really looking at what it held. A steak, medium rare, with fries and cole slaw." She then turned to me.
"And you, cutie?"
"Ham and cheese sandwich, rye bread, tomatoes, lettuce, light mayo and onions. Tea to drink."
"All right. I'll be back with your drinks in a flash." I looked at Duo, who was currently scrunching up his face.
"What?"
"Nothing, just glad that I'm not Q. I mean, you just ordered onions and rye bread. Deadly combination. Just don't ask me to kiss you." Ah, the perfect opportunity to get to the bottom of this. I wasn't able to get any information out of Quatre last night, because… Well, we had other things on our minds.
"That's good, because I had no intention of doing so." He stuck his tongue out. "Speaking of kissing, just how involved are you and Wufei?"
I think I managed to shock him. Another point for me during our day. He swallowed slowly, looking as if he were thinking of a way to correctly answer me.
"Yanno, your boyfriend is a bad influence on you."
"You have been a bad influence on him."
"Point." He smirked. "So, why do you ask? It *can't* just be idle curiosity."
"It's not." I adjusted my hat. It was itchy, and besides, this was definitely more of Quatre's way of obtaining information, not mine. "I saw something in Heero during the time that you and Wufei were missing that was unexpected." I looked at him, directly in the eyes. "Let's just say that I am picking up on some of Quatre's habits, and that I am worried about Yuy."
"'Fei is my lover. Point blank." I nodded, and allowed a small smile to pass my lips. I understood his feelings exactly, and the only flaw I could see in this at was Heero's reaction to losing the braided boy he was falling for.
"Here ya are, boys. I'll get your food to ya quickly," the waitress replied, placing our drinks in front of us. I placed the tea bag into the steaming cup of water, and watched as Duo drank about half of his drink in one sip.
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just that you are so… into your carbonated drink."
"Of course. It's Coke. It's *good*." He offered me the glass. "Wanna drink?" I shook my head.
"No, but thank you."
He shrugged. "Whatever. More for me."
The waitress returned with our food, and as she was about to leave, Duo reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Yes, darlin'?"
"Excuse me, but do you know where the putt putt place is?" he asked. Putt putt? What the hell was that? And how did he know such a thing existed here?
"Sure, you take the main road up a few miles, and then you'll see signs everywhere. You can't miss it."
"Thanks."
"No problem. Let me know if you want anything else."
"Will do." He looked at me. "What?"
"Putt putt?"
"It's like golf. It's supposed to be fun." I was not buying this. I've seen what Maxwell deems as fun. "What now?
"How did you know there was such a place?"
"Some kid in the arcade. He was talking about it with his friends while I trounced you at MK."
"Ah." He snickered.
"Aw, Tro, are you afraid I'm going to kick your ass at something else?"
"You wish."
"Great. So this should be fun."
"Yes, we will see."
"Yep, now, I'm gonna eat this steak before it gets cold." He cut into his steak, and I tried not to gag as the meat still bled over his plate. He scarfed down his meal, and I just ate my sandwich in a leisurely manner. I was finished before he was, but he sighed as he ate his last fry. "Haven't had something that good in a while. Well, besides when you cook, T-man."
All of a sudden the imagery of Heero's reaction to the joke we had at his expense last night caught up with me again. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at it.
"What?" Duo asked.
"Nothing." I was chuckling still. "I was just thinking about what happened last night at dinner. Well, before dinner, that is?" He smiled.
"You mean Heero getting upset because we were laughing at his inability to cook?"
"Yes." I finally managed to straighten my face out. "I am going to forbid him to cook ever again. Not even with the microwave."
"Sounds like a plan to me. I was sick for a week after that. But, he can do wonders with a knife." He thought about that. "That's not very comforting, is it?"
"Hardly. Maybe one of us should check that 'safe house' we are going to be stuffing Relena and Dorothy in before we let Heero in."
"Yeah, I mean, I don't like 'em, but that doesn't mean I want to stick 'em in a room with Hee-chan and a knife. So, ready for your trouncing?" He tried to smile sweetly, but I was no more fooled by his innocence than I was by Quatre's ploys.
"Let's go." I stood from the table. Duo dropped some creds on it as a tip, and paid the bill. I figured that this day was on OZ's account, and didn't bother to help to pay. We then left, got in the car, and proceeded to find the "putt putt place". We found it about 3 miles out of town, on a dirt road. It seemed kind of decrepit, but it seemed to be open because there were about twenty or so teenagers hanging around the outside.
"This has to be the place. I mean, just look at all the kids around."
"I agree, though I fail to see how this could be fun." He gave what could only be described as a 'hentai' smile.
"Tro, you use a stick to hit the ball into a small hole. Of *course* it's fun!" I gave him a hesitant look. "Just come on!" He got out of the car and walked up to the counter. I followed him, silently, regretting my decision to come along with him in the first place. "I need two clubs and two balls."
"That'll be twenty creds," the bored attendant said, holding his hand out. Duo gave him the money, and the boy spoke again. "What size clubs do you want? What color balls?"
"I need a medium club, and my friend will need a large. Give me a black ball, and… Tro? What color?"
"Green."
"And give him a green one." The attendant gave us the described implements with a scorecard and pencil, and we walked to the course.
"Ok, now, you just put the ball on the 'tee', and then the object of the game is to try and get a hole in one. You can go first."
"Thank you." I placed my ball on the tee, lined up my shot, and took a nice healthy swing, receiving a hole-in-one. I looked up to see Duo narrowing his eyes, and then he took his shot, taking 2 strokes to make the shot.
"Lucky shot," he said, writing down the scores as we retrieved our balls and moved onto the next hole.
To summarize this whole thing, I won the game, but Duo managed to get a hole-in-one on the last hole, earning him a free game, which he gave to one of the kids outside on our way back to the car. I must admit, once I got into it, the game was actually a bit fun.
"Good game, man. You so won that. What time is it?" he said. I looked at my watch as I started the car up.
"It's almost seven pm. Why?"
"Well, because that means Q will have something at the house for dinner by now."
"Ah." I drove off, and most of the ride home was quiet, until we had almost cleared the town again.
"Should be a somewhat quiet night, right?" he asked again.
"I suppose so, Duo. Why are you asking?"
"I dunno. I'm getting a strange feeling that something might happen. But, what's the worst that could happen, right?"
If only we had known then what was to actually transpire, I don't think I would have been quite so keen to go home.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Duo didn't even wait for me to turn off the car before he jumped out and ran into the house. I followed him a few seconds later, making sure the lights and such were off, and went directly to the kitchen, where Duo was asking Quatre about the twenty or so odd bags of Chinese take out on the counter.
"Q, there is enough food to feed all five of us for a few weeks. How much did you pay?"
"I don't remember. I paid with a card while working. What?"
"Oh, nothing." Duo shook his head. "You are incredulous, you know that?"
"Why?" He looked truly puzzled.
"Because you are the only one who would forget how much twenty bags of Chinese food would cost. Even working," I said from the doorway. Quatre scratched his head as he blushed.
"So, did you two have fun?"
"Actually, yes. It was quite… enlightening," I said, coming to wrap my arms around my smaller lover's waist.
"What did you do?"
"We played video games at an arcade. Trowa killed my new high score in Pac-man. I trounced him a few thirty or so times in Mortal Kombat 50. Then, we played DDR, which I wiped the floor with Trowa on. Lunch, and then putt putt golf, where Trowa wiped the floor with me." He smiled at us. "*But* I got a hole-in-one on the last hole, and won a free game."
"Oh?" Quatre said
"Yes, and he promptly gave it to one of the other teenagers outside while we were leaving," I added.
"Well, it sounds like you two *did* enjoy yourselves. Are you hungry?" Duo jumped from his seat.
"Always! Want me to set the table?"
"That's ok. Dinner is going to be in the kitchen tonight. Since it's just us four, and I'm too weary to worry about proper etiquette." That got a snicker from Duo.
"Great, do we have any chopsticks?"
"Of *course*. Help me out by putting the plates out like a buffet, and I'll go get Heero."
"'Kay." Duo didn't sound very happy with that statement from Quatre. I wanted to get to the bottom of this, and I would make sure to talk to Quatre after dinner.
Ten minutes later, the four of us had plates and were sitting around the small table, eating, recounting our day, and it seemed we all were just enjoying each other's company. Ok, Heero, who did *not* seem to be enjoying himself at all, was quiet and added nothing to anything that was said.
When we were done, Quatre and Heero left the kitchen. Duo stayed to help me clean up the mess on the counters and to put the uneaten food in the refrigerator. When we were finished, Duo headed to the TV room, and I walked into the music room in search of my lover for some answers.
I found him sitting at the piano playing the song Rashid gave him, and I sat next to him, playing the bottom section of the piece. We played in silence, and I was about to talk to him, when we heard a crash from the TV room.
We both jumped up from the piano, ignoring the bench as it spilled to the floor. We heard Duo scream out before we reached the door, and when it was opened, we saw Duo sliding down the wall, obviously unconscious, and Heero and Wufei glaring at each other, looking as if they had been fighting. The table that was in front of the couch was smashed into pieces.
"El Khara Dah?(8)" Quatre yelled, running over to the fallen Duo. "Trowa," he whispered, the fear in his voice ringing clear. I ran straight over there. "There's blood." He showed me the hand that had been holding the American's head, and then looked around us. "And it's on the wall too." I looked up, and there was a long, red smear on the beige paint. I turned on the two Asian boys, who were still glaring at each other.
"Avez-vous *perdus* les esprits?(9)" I raged, uncharacteristically. "Look! You could have killed each other, fine! But look at what happened to Duo!"
They both looked, and were properly horrified. I gently turned, picked Duo up, and carried him up the stairs, while Quatre proceeded to yell at them both in Arabic and English.
"Allah Yela'an (10) Heero and Wufei, for being the *stupidest* Asians to walk on this Earth! You are both such Wad al harams. (11)" I lost the rest as I was walking up the stairs, but I had a feeling that I knew the rest of what he was going to say, and there was no way that I was going to do a better job than he was.
My main concern at the moment was to stop the bleeding, and to see what other injuries Duo had received from those two imbéciles. (12) I took him to his room, and carefully laid him in his bed, trying not to stain the sheets with any more blood. Then, I hurried across the hall, retrieve a washcloth, got it wet, and ran back to Duo's room.
I cleaned the head wound, treated it with alcohol once the bleeding stopped, and made sure to keep it clean. Then, I lifted up his shirt to check for more injuries. A few ribs on his right side had been cracked; from the way the bruising was showing me. There seemed to be nothing else really wrong with him, except he was growing a rather large lump on his forehead, and he would be in a *lot* of pain when he woke up. I decided to just tape his ribs for then.
I pulled his desk chair over to the bed, and sat to keep watch over him for a while. About twenty minutes later, Quatre quietly walked in.
"How is he?" he whispered.
"Well, as far as I can tell, he will have a concussion from the lump on his head and the hit on the wall. A few ribs have been cracked, at the least. And, his tailbone may be bruised. It's too early to tell now," I said. Yeah, his butt was going to be rather sore for a while.
There was a knock on the open door. We turned around and there was Heero. Quatre strode swiftly towards him. "Go. To. The. Study. Don't. Come. Back. Unless. I. Tell. You," he ground out. I had never seen him this angry without being on the Zero-System. He then shut the door in his face. I blinked. And he was being rude. Hmm…
"Where is Wufei?" I asked.
"*Chang* is in his room. He walked up with me, and wanted to come see Duo, but I told him he had better not, unless he was asked for. Which I doubt for a while. He was muttering something about being an idiot in Chinese. I agree." I sighed, and watched Duo for a bit longer. Quatre left, for some reason, but returned a few minutes later.
That is when Duo woke up.
I stood to get a better look at him. He opened his eyes, and tried to move, but obviously thought that that was a bad idea.
"Oi, T, did you get the name of the mobile doll who stepped on me?" I sighed. He was going to be fine. If he could crack jokes, then he wasn't too badly hurt.
"Would you believe Heero and Wufei?" Quatre said from the door.
"Q? Where are you?" Duo said, hoarsely, and Quatre moved over to him, sitting down on the bed, carefully, next to the American.
"Hey, how do you feel?" Duo snorted, and then grimaced in pain. That must not have felt very good with the damage to his ribs.
"Like I just got the shit beat out of me. What happened?"
"That's what we would like to know. Wufei and Heero aren't exactly talking to us right now," I said.
"Where are they? Why is 'Fei home so early? What the hell is going on? It feels like I stepped into the Twilight Zone, and my head is killing me."
"Whoa! Slow down, Duo." Quatre sighed. "Heero is in the study, under orders to stay put until we tell him to come out. Wufei is in his room, sulking and berating himself perfectly in Mandarin. Wufei came home while you and Trowa were out playing. He asked me not to tell you. He said he had a surprise for you. I assume he was setting it up during dinner, and came looking for you when he and Heero started fighting.
"As for what the hell is going on, we don't know. We were hoping you could shed some light on this situation."
"What's the last thing you remember?" I asked.
"Um, we had dinner. I helped you clean the kitchen, and then I went out in the TV room to watch a movie. And then… I'm blank." He held his head for a moment. "My chest feels like it's bound. Why?"
"Well, it seems you stepped in between Heero and Wufei fighting, and Heero punched you in the chest, which cracked a few of your ribs."
"No shit. It hurts like you wouldn't believe."
"Also, we got a spectacular view of you flying into the wall. So, that might be why your head hurts so much," I stated.
"How'd I get here? Oi, someone get me some water, please."
"I'll do it," Quatre said, walking to the door, to find Wufei there. He told him to go away until Duo was ready.
"Whom is he yelling at?"
"Wufei."
"Hmm. So, how did I get in my bed if I was slumped against a wall in the TV room?"
"I carried you up, while Quatre proceeded to tell Wufei and Heero off in English and Arabic. It was… interesting."
He snickered, and moaned in pain. I wished he would stop trying to laugh. It was going to hurt until we got some pain medication in him.
"Damn… Where's Q with my water?"
"I'm right here, Duo. Trowa, lift him up so he can drink this." Duo's face contorted in anger, and he sat up.
"I can do it myself, Quatre. Just give me the goddamn glass," he snarled, snatching the cup from the Arab, and drinking the water quickly. He gave Quatre back the empty cup, sighing. "I need to talk to 'Fei. Could you guys go get him?"
"Are you sure, Duo? You are pretty beat up," Quatre said. Duo glared at him.
"Quatre, I am a *GUNDAM* pilot, and I have had *much* worse than this before. Now, find me my *lover* before I hurt you both!" The next thing I knew, Quatre had latched onto my arm, and was dragging me from the room.
"I put a quick dissolving painkiller in that water he just downed. I doubt he will be awake for much longer."
"He is going to kill you when he finds out," I said.
"You mean *if* he finds out. You know how Duo is about painkillers. He acts down right childish. So, if he doesn't know, then he can't protest, and he will get better sooner." We stopped, as we had reached Wufei's room. "Chang! Duo wants to see you!"
I blinked. He was being *very* rude. This was a very different side of my lover; one that he had never shown before now. We stepped back as the door opened, and Wufei stepped out, looking like… Well, he looked like shit. An hour ago, he had just injured his lover in a fight. I can't say I blamed him for looking so horrible. I don't know how I would have reacted if I had been the reason Quatre was in as much pain as Duo.
"Thank you," he muttered, walking quickly into Duo's room.
"I think I need to shower again, and then some sleep is in order," I said.
"I think that is a wonderful idea. I'm going to join you," Quatre stated, leaning his head against my chest. "I'm so tired right now. I can feel the pain just radiating from Duo, not to mention the pain and regret from both Wufei and Heero. Not that I feel sorry for either of them."
"Are you going to tell Heero he can leave the study?"
"Why? Let the jerk stay there for however long he thinks is a good idea. I'm tired. Let's go shower and sleep, Hennuna." I shrugged, swooped up my tired lover, and carried him off towards our room for the rest of the night.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, Wufei came down into the kitchen, where Quatre and I were having a light breakfast. The Chinese teen walked over to the pantries, taking out various items to fix pancakes, and took other things from the refrigerator. He then walked over to the stove and proceeded to fix breakfast, for Duo, I could only assume.
"What are you doing, Wufei?" Quatre asked, much, *much* calmer than he was last night.
"Fixing breakfast for Duo. I think he will be awake in about ten minutes," he said, never looking at us.
"How is he?" I asked.
"He is fine, Barton. He seemed to be fine before he fell asleep last night, and he didn't wake up with a nightmare, so I can only assume that he slept well."
"Would you please tell us how he is after he eats?" Quatre pleaded.
"Yes, I can arrange that."
"Thank you."
Wufei said nothing farther; he just went about fixing the rest of the meal for his lover. Quatre and I just sat there, eating, not talking, until the Asian boy left the kitchen with a tray, laden down with an appropriate amount of food for Duo.
When he left, Quatre sighed, and rubbed his forehead.
"I just set back our friendship about two months last night, didn't I?" he asked, wearily.
"I don't think so. He was curt, but that is Wufei. He feels guilty, and you know it. Just give him sometime with Duo, and then you can talk to him about it." I stood, and grabbed his hand. "Come, amour, let's go and do something for a while. It won't do any good to dwell on last night. Besides, none of it was your fault, or mine, or Duo's."
He wrapped his arms around me, and I hugged him.
"Thank you, Trowa."
"You are welcome."
"I love you."
"Je t'aime aussi(13), Quatre."
We walked into the music room, and played some of our favorite pieces for a while. When we were done with that, Quatre walked into the kitchen, and I went to the gym for a while. It had been a while since I had been in there.
I had been by myself for about a half an hour when Quatre poked his head in, beaming from ear to ear. He came over to where I was.
"Yes?"
"Duo has requested that Wufei, he, you, and I watch Dogma with him," he said, the happiness spilling from him.
"I take it he is ok?"
"Yes, he seems fine, and Wufei seems to be taking his punishment very well. Also, I think he is indulging Duo's whims for a while."
"Ah, guilt will do that. Fine, I will come and watch the movie with you three." I allowed him to drag me from the gym.
"Oh, I also told him that we would bring some snacks as well." He continued to drag me until we reached the kitchen. "What do you think is appropriate?"
"Well, Duo likes fresh fruit and vegetables, and popcorn is usually a staple of movie viewing," I said.
"Great. Let's get it all together." I popped some of that microwave-able popcorn, and then helped Quatre pick out enough fresh snacks to last for the movie's duration.
When we were done, we entered the TV room and walked over the assortment of furniture.
"Damn!" Quatre swore. That's when I noticed the problem. We no longer had a coffee table in this room. It was shattered in last night's events. He placed the snacks he had been carrying onto the loveseat, as Duo was laying in Wufei's lap on the couch, and walked off.
"Um, someone care to explain?" Duo asked.
"We seem to have forgotten that the coffee table was shattered in last night's… events. I think he went off to find a replacement," I said. "I think I should go help him, or we will be waiting for a while."
I found him in the very dusty attic, trying to drag a nice sized table that would work as a replacement for the one we lost.
"Quatre?" He turned around to look at me, smiling happily, and covered head to toe in dust himself.
"What do you think, Trowa? Will it work?" I couldn't help but smile back.
"Yes, it is perfect."
"Great! Let's take it down now."
We lugged the heavy oak monstrosity down the two flights of stairs, and I carried it into the TV room.
Well, we found it," Quatre stated, still happy with himself. "Even if it *is* a bit dusty."
"Where did you find it? In the middle of a sand storm?" Duo asked, which caused Quatre to look at his clothes.
Um, not exactly, but the attic is not exactly someplace that is spotless." He grinned, dusting his clothes off.
"I found him like that, trying to drag this thing by himself." I put the table close to the couch, but within arms reach of the loveseat as well.
Duo waited until we had gotten comfortable, and then turned on the television, switching to the proper channel.
"Ready?" he asked. Wufei snorted, Quatre smiled at him, and I shrugged. He laid his head back into Wufei's lap, and the movie started up.
We spent the next two hours watching the movie. I must admit that even though I never thought that Duo's usual movies had sparked my interest, this one was quite funny, if not a little crude in some parts. Overall, I enjoyed it. When it was over, Quatre and I took the empty bowls and cups into the kitchen, leaving Duo and Wufei alone for a bit.
"Trowa, I gave him more of the medicine in his soda," my lover confessed.
"Dammit, Quatre, if Duo finds out about this, you will be lucky if he ever talks to you again." He sighed.
"I know, but I hate seeing him in so much pain. And did you see those bruises on his arms when he was reaching for some of the food off the table. Dammit! This shouldn't have happened."
Suddenly, a yell came from the TV room.
"God dammit, Wufei, I don't need two mother hens! It's bad enough that Q was shooting concerned looks at me throughout the whole movie! I've *had* worse!" He came to the kitchen and glared at us both until my lover faced him. "And the next stupid person who asks how I feel will get a fist. I promise." He stormed away.
It was then that I saw Heero appear, from out of nowhere it seemed, and slip into the dining room, where Duo had just disappeared.
A few moments passed, where Quatre and I exchanged worried glances, until Duo's voice rang out again.
"I said GO AWAY, YUY!"
A few seconds passed, and then a chair fell to the floor, and we came to the doorway, to see Duo all but fall into Wufei's arms.
"Duo?" The Chinese boy asked, obviously concerned over the yelling.
"Hide me, love. I just punched the hell out of Heero." I saw Wufei raise an eyebrow, but he carefully helped Duo back to the couch.
"I take it you made good on your threat?" he asked.
"Yeah, and it's not my fault that Heero was the one who asked, though he deserved it. Bastard," Duo snarled, as Wufei held him. "Hm, I think I need a nap now." A very large yawn escaped Duo's mouth. "Stay here."
"You aren't going bite my head off again, are you?"
He yawned again, cuddling up close to his lover. "Nope, not yet. Give me a while."
The next thing that came from the TV room was a slight snore from Duo.
"Do you think he will be ok?" Quatre asked me. I turned around.
"Yes, some more sleep would benefit him greatly. And he is so tired because you keep slipping him pain medication, Quatre."
"I know, but dammit! He won't take it any other way." He sighed. "I'm going to go see if there is anything I can get for Wufei while Duo sleeps." He left me alone in the kitchen.
I washed the few dishes, and walked into the study, where I found Heero.
"I'm sorry, Heero. I will leave you be." I turned to leave when he faced me. Already, he was starting to show signs of a huge bruise on the other side of his face from the *last* black eye he had.
"It's ok, Trowa."
"Duo hit you that hard?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Aa. I heard him yelling about being mother-henned to death."
"So you had to make him angry?"
"No, I asked him how he was feeling so he would hit me." I was floored. I had just walked into the Twilight Zone, of that I was sure. Heero had *let* Duo punch him. What the hell?
"Excuse me?"
"I can't think of any other way to apologize to him."
"You are the one who cracked his ribs?"
"Aa. And Chang kicked him in the head. I didn't mean it, Trowa. He stepped in between us. I doubt that Chang meant it either." I took a few moments to process this. They were both idiots. Fighting over what? Duo's love?
"I don't know why you and Wufei were fighting, but whatever it is, give it up. If you want Duo to be friends with you again, which you aren't right now, then you *have* to apologize to him. Not let him punch you while he is weary and in pain."
"I know."
"Then give him some time to calm down, and then talk to him, without causing Wufei to become angry." I rubbed at my temples. I was gaining a migraine from all the drama. "What did you do exactly?"
"I kissed Duo."
"Merde! You are a real idiot, Heero Yuy!" I walked out of the room before I said anything else.
Wufei was reading a book, with a sleeping Duo in his lap, so I went upstairs to Quatre and my room to get my own. I was surprised to find my lover on our bed, staring aimlessly at the ceiling.
"Something the matter, mon petit?" I asked.
"Not really. Just wondering what caused all this drama. It was so peaceful yesterday. Then, Wufei came home, and disappeared in his room to ready some sort of surprise for Duo. Then, you and Duo come home. We had a good dinner. And *then*, all of the world came crashing down in huge pieces."
"Heero kissed Duo. I can only assume that Wufei saw it, hence their fight. Duo intervened and was injured." Suddenly, his blond head popped up, blue eyes blazing.
"Oh you've got to be fucking kidding me?" I shook my head. "Of all the stupid, brainless, *MORONIC* things Heero Yuy has ever done, this takes the cake. Not even self-detonating, which caused Duo *so* much pain, was *this* damn stupid!"
"I agree, and I told him as much when he confessed to me."
"I'm going to kill him!" I grabbed him and kissed him, passionately. Sometimes, he just feels too much.
"No. You are going to stay here, and take a nap with me. Then, when we wake up, we will reheat some of the Chinese food from last night for dinner." I looked at him. "*That* is what you are going to do." He melted into my arms.
"You are right."
"Of course I am. Now, let's get some sleep."
"Ok," he said, as we laid down on the bed, and did as I said we would.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We had reheated enough food for the five of us to eat comfortably, Quatre left to go get Duo and Wufei. He reappeared a minute later, and then, Wufei and Duo came into the kitchen a few minutes after he returned. Quatre and I had already started eating by that time.
"Hmmm… smells good." Duo said, walking to the counter, piling a plate with food, and coming to the table, already devouring the meal. "Tastes good too."
Quatre shook his head whimsically. "Nice work," he said. Duo looked up.
"Hmm?"
"You have officially out-done Wufei," Quatre stated calmly, and Duo smirked.
"Yes, quite a few times." He winked at his lover, who was a very interesting shade of red at that time.
"Maxwell," he growled. Duo gave him what was supposed to be an innocent smile.
"What?"
"Just eat, and don't talk."
Everyone laughed, and dinner continued on lightly, until Heero walked in.
The bruise had increased in size and intensified in color since I had my talk with him. He grabbed some food, never looking at anyone or talking, ate very quickly, and then left. The jovial atmosphere from before had disappeared, and the rest of us continued eating in silence.
Then, Duo started to sway a bit. He looked at Wufei, who was definitely watching him.
"Are you ok, Duo?" I asked.
"Yeah, T-man, just a little tired again. I think I'm gonna go to bed. Nice dinner, by the way, Quatre." Duo stood from his chair, and Wufei escorted him out of the kitchen.
It was then that I turned my attention back to my scheming lover.
"Quatre!"
"I didn't do it this time! I swear. He's been through so much, lately. I think it has finally caught up with him." I sighed. I knew what he said was true. I had personally watched him since we woke up from our nap.
We finished eating, and then cleaned the kitchen thoroughly. When we were done with that, we went back to the TV room, and watch some movie called The Bride Of Frankenstein that Quatre said he had yet to finish.
When we were done, I went to our room. Quatre said he would come up later because he had some paperwork for WEI to do.
I worry about him. He works far too hard for H and WEI, and cares intensely about us all. Not to mention the added stress of the past few days. I think I will suggest a *long* vacation and an assistant for him after the war.
Well, it is now well past one am, and…. Ah, Quatre has just come in. Time for some rest.
~ Nanashi
(1) Merde – French, "Shit"
(2) Merci, chéri – French, "Thank you, darling" (Quite the one with the love names, ne?)
(3) Sharmuta - Arabic, "bitch"
(4) La petite garce – French, "the little bitch"
(5) La connase – French, "the silly bitch"
(6) La chienne foute – French, "screwed-up bitch" (Are we seeing a theme yet?)
(7) Hennuna – Arabic, "dear, love"; a term of endearment
(8) El Khara Dah? – Arabic, "What is this shit?"
(9) Avez-vous *perdus* les esprits? – French, "Have you *lost* your minds?"
(10) Allah Yela'an … - Arabic, "May Allah curse…"
(11) Wad al harams – Arabic, "bastards"
(12) Imbéciles – French, "idiots" (duh, Mako!)
(13) Je t'aime aussi – French, "I love you too"