Title: Gundam Diaries Part 26 ~ Trowa
Author: Makoto Sagara
Archive: www.afallenangel.net/makotosagara/frames/fanfiction.html, www.wufeiduo.net, www.fanfiction.net, www.foreverfandom.net, www.sailorandco.crosswinds.net/gundamwing/fanfiction/fanfiction.html,
www.geocities.com/daqdaqduck/
Category: Romance, Angst
Pairings: 5x2x5, 3x4, 1+2, R+1
Rating: R
Warnings: Shonen ai, angst, OOC, language
Disclaimers: Um, nothing new here. Don't own. Don't profit. Don't sue. Don't flame.
A/N: It seems that the new schedule I imposed upon myself is working. I managed to finish a chapter of Gundam Diaries, A Child's Love, and my new fic, Maybe Angels, each last week. I wouldn't hold out for this to keep up, but as this fic wraps up, I hope that you stay with me, and that you take a minute to read and review the other two stories as well. Remember, if you feed the muses, they will give you ficcage. ^_^;;; Old fangirl saying, no doubt.
Dedication: To my real life muses, my little brothers, who make life much more interesting, and give me a new prospective on everything all the time. Without them, I do believe that I would be lost as to where I could actually push the G-boys, whether I read fics or not. Thank you, you two. *kisses and hugglz from your older sister*
Symbols: *blah* emphasized word
*~*~* Major change of scene
*~~~* Minor change of scene
April 18th, AC 195.... 00:13:51
I am no longer at the safehouse where Quatre and Heero still reside, as far as I know. I am sitting inside an OZ base, which I have infiltrated and convinced my superiors that I am a worthy OZ soldier; and not for the first time this year. Seriously, how does OZ expect to win the war with such lax security; where anyone spouting enough gentility about war can sign up and be admitted on base, even the enemy. It's rather disgusting. And, unfortunately, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to write down what has occurred.
As far as the other pilots are concerned, Duo and Wufei are both gone. Duo said that he was headed off to see Howard on Peacemillion, and extended an invitation to everyone else. Wufei, I assume (although it is dangerous to do so during a war), is with him as well, even though he told no one where he was going. Quatre received an email communiqué from him after I left, and he also received one from Duo, which is indeed a small miracle because it has calmed him more than my words could even do so.
This mess started a few days ago, two days after Duo's injuries from Heero and Wufei, and went downhill *very* quickly. Let me explain as best as I can.
*~~~~~~~*
I woke up that day, pulling my arm from under Quatre's blond head, and took a shower. Once I was finished, I decided to go spend some time in the gymnasium before everyone else woke up. I was surprised to find Wufei standing outside of Duo's door, looking like he did after his defeat at Treize Khushrenada's hands. I continued my walk down the hallway, and when I was approximately twenty centimeters from him, he decided to move, almost bumping into me.
"Excuse me," he muttered, not looking up, and just kept walking towards his room. I may never understand emotions the way that Quatre does, but I knew that there was something off with the other boy.
I fought back the urge to reach out and grab his arm, instead opting to call out to him. "Wufei!"
He turned around, his face screwed up into a look of utter annoyance. "Yes?" he snarled, to my surprise. I faltered for a moment before coming up with sometime to say next.
"How is Duo today?"
He looked pained as I said Duo's name. "He is..." He stopped and a pensive look stole over his face. "He is fine," he said, quickly disappearing down the hall and into his own room. As I passed the door of said domain, I could hear his voice rattling off in Chinese about something. Whatever happened between himself and Duo, no doubt.
Knowing that if it became important, he would tell me, I left from in front of Wufei's door and followed my plans. After a nice hour practice in the gym, I headed into the kitchen to start breakfast. I was acutely aware when Wufei's footsteps passed through the kitchen and headed downstairs to the laundry room. I knew he didn't leave to the hangar because the washing machine started up shortly after he went down the stairs.
I had completed making the batter for French toast when Heero showed up, looking like shit - to be perfectly honest. He poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot that I had started before cooking and sat down at the table. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, but he made no movement or sound. He barely responded with his usual grunt when I set a plate of French toast, eggs, and turkey bacon in front of him.
A few moments later, a buzzer went off downstairs, followed by the reappearance of Wufei minutes afterwards. Quatre and Duo would sleep in, this I knew, so I set a plate of food in front of the scowling Chinese boy and took a seat with a plate of my own. Breakfast was a cold, steely, and silent affair that morning.
Both Asian teens sped through their meal, and Wufei took off for the basement as soon as humanly possible, while Heero took off for the study. Ah, the joy of teamwork at its best.
So, I was there alone, unless you count the fact that Wufei traveled back through with a basket of clothes, headed for the second floor, to clean up the kitchen again. It was becoming a habit. I had just finished cleaning up the dishes I had cooked with when I heard shouting coming from the hallway, followed by someone stomping on the stairs, who in fact turned out to be Wufei in his training gear with sword stomping outside, followed by more shouting that sounded like Duo. A door slammed, and moments later, Quatre came into the kitchen, paler than normal.
"I think he hates me," he whispered as he sank into a chair at the table, knowing that I would hear him.
"I warned you about drugging his drinks, Quatre. You're just lucky all he did was yell, seeing as how you are in one piece," I said, taking the seat next to him.
"I know," he cried, putting his face in his hands. "And he hates me now. I just wanted to help him, Trowa. He was in *so* much pain, and I could feel it." He lifted his head, tears streaming from his beautiful blue-green eyes.
I sighed, trying to not let myself get caught up in his tears, no matter how much it hurt me. "Quatre, mon petit... Duo does *not* hate you. He's upset right now. Give him a while." I stood up, and pulled him into a tight embrace. "He will come around. You are one of his closest friends. No matter what else, you have his respect, and his brotherly love." I stressed the brotherly part more for my own selfish reasons than any other.
He relaxed against my chest, his small frame racking with deep sighs as he tried to stem the flow of his tears. A muttered "thank you" was breathed against my chest.
"You are welcome, my love. Now, why don't you sit down, have some tea, and just relax. Duo will be down eventually, and you can speak to him then if he allows it." I watched as he sat back down at the table and then went over to the stove. "Are you hungry?"
"Yeah," Quatre said, sounding a bit stronger. I uncovered one of the two plates that I had saved, handed it to him, and walked towards the door.
"If you need me, I'll either be in the gym, or down in the hangar, working on Heavyarms," I said before I left. A nod was my reply, and shrugging to avoid saying that I thought that he should take this better. After all, I warned him about his actions, told him to stop, was ignored, and now I had to help him deal with the consequences. It did *not* mean that I had to like *any* part of this whole situation, and I didn't.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Approximately two hours later, I was still in the gymnasium when Heero emerged with a stack of printouts and a puzzled look on his face. Intrigued as to why he had come to me, I climbed down from the rings setup and walked over to him.
"Something wrong, Heero?"
"Iie. Not exactly. I need to see you and Quatre sometime soon," he said with a very pensive look following his statement.
"How soon is soon?"
"A few minutes."
"Fine. I'll get Quatre..." I stopped because Heero was shaking his head.
"He is already in the television room. Just be there quickly," he said, turning around. I watched as a sheet of paper fell to the ground, and I quickly walked over to pick it up and see what it was.
It was the plan for our 'meeting' with Relena. Things were crossed out, written again, crossed out yet again. In other words, it was a mess. Totally unlike anything I had ever seen from Heero Yuy. I looked again, and what I saw made me frown.
'Let Duo have a few minutes alone with Relena with a loaded gun, and walk away.' 'Let Duo have a confrontation with Relena, but keep Quatre on hand to supervise, and talk with Wufei.' 'Kill her before anyone else comes in.' That one was underlined a few dozen times. 'Leave her and Quatre alone, and make sure that Trowa is outside.'
Shoving the paper in the back pocket of my jeans, I walked out into the TV room to find Quatre on the couch and Heero seated on the love seat next to it. I took a long look at both of them. Heero looked like he had had a shower recently, for his hair looked even messier than normal. Quatre, on the other hand, was pressed and neat, as usual, and no trace of his emotional slip was evident.
Carefully, I sat next to Quatre and turned my attention to Heero. "You called this meeting? Where are Duo and Wufei?"
Heero just shrugged. "Couldn't find them," he said, spreading the papers that were still in his hands across the table. I cast a side look at Quatre, who was looking just as curious as I felt, and shrugged. "I need a few opinions on the new plans I'm making for the 'mission' with... her." He face looked impassive as he said it, and his voice was cold and lifeless.
"Heero, the last plan you made was wonderful. Why would you redo it?" Quatre asked.
"There were a few important elements missing. I thought that everyone would like a moment to speak to... her... while we are up there. And while one person is talking to... her... another can keep watch over Dorothy so she doesn't do anything stupid."
"Ok, I see your point. How can we help?" I asked, hoping that he would have to leave to go to the restroom soon.
"Well..." Heero started and pointed to a certain paper. "The facility is not that large, but it's adequate enough for our needs..." Soon, the three of us were lost in the finer details of the plan.
*~~~~~~*
We were deep in planning when Wufei's sharp voice rang throughout the living room, sounding... well... (to quote Duo) pissed as fuck. "Maxwell? Where are you going?"
I looked up to see Duo standing in the doorway of the kitchen, his duffle bag on his back and his laptop under an arm. The American turned around with a smile and looked at everyone else in the room.
"Going to see the Sweepers on Peacemillion. Care to join? Howard said you guys are welcome to see them at any time with me," he said, obviously straining to maintain the cheerfulness that wasn't reflected in his eyes, even from where I was sitting. "Any takers?"
I felt a hand grasp my own, and I looked at Quatre. He was confused and asking me something that I couldn't catch while thinking over what Duo and Wufei's interaction could mean. I also looked at Heero, whose face was a cold stone mask. Quickly, I looked back at Duo who nodded and left through the door to the hangar. If I had known better, I would have sworn that Wufei's world had just come crashing down around his knees when that door closed.
He looked at the coffee table, examining what he could see, and I would have continued trying to observe him, but Quatre took a sheet of paper out of my hand and started talking about what we had left off with. I nodded, looked at the paper, and continued myself. "Right here." I pointed to a part of the layout. "This could become a security breech." I was vaguely aware of the loosening of Heero's body as he paid attention to what I was saying.
We continued with our discussion until I left to cook dinner, and I was surprised to see Quatre follow me. "Hello, Quatre. Is there something I can do for you?"
"I want to help you tonight," he said, slipping behind me. "Is that so bad?"
"No, and I would appreciate the help." I began taking out the required ingredients for the rich potato soup that Catherine taught me to make.
"It looks like I'm not the only one that Duo is upset with," Quatre said, picking up the knife to peel the potatoes I had set down on the cutting board.
"Hmm?" I was busy preparing the herbs.
"He's mad as Wufei, but it's forgivable. He's still upset with Heero, and not likely to forgive him any time soon, but he isn't quite as angry as before."
"Quatre?"
"Yes Trowa?"
"Be quiet and help me cook." I gave him a small smile when he looked at me. It was something to let him know he was loved but that I didn't want to continue that conversation.
We were busy working on a beef roast when Heero showed up. Turning around, I saw that he was glaring at... the stove? I cleared my throat, and he turned to look at me. "How long?" he asked.
"Two minutes," I answered, amused by his Perfect Soldier routine.
"Status?"
"Almost complete. Retrieve Chang and we will commence."
"Ninmu ryokai," he said and left for the stairs.
"I *hate* it when you two do that," Quatre said, taking dishes out of the cabinets. "I'm going to set the table. You deal with the soup before it burns."
I chuckled and did as he asked. Footsteps lightly stepping in my direction alerted me to the fact that Wufei had returned to join the rest of us. More footfalls told me that Heero was not that far behind him.
"Hello, Wufei. Sit down. Dinner is done, and Trowa should be out soon with the rest of the food," Quatre said cheerfully as he took the first course out to the table.
Wufei came to the door and asked if there was any way that he could help, but we both declined his offer, and Quatre repeated that he should sit at the table, since we did have a few things to tell him about. He sat down, Heero following suit, and Quatre and I joined them with the last of the meal.
"Well, now that we are all here, let's enjoy this meal that Allah has allowed us to have together," my lover said, and sorry to say, but the forced cheerfulness that he gave out was enough to make my eye twitch. Wufei bowed his head once, stiffly I might add, we started to eat.
At first, things were silent, which normally I would have begged for. But this silence was more nerve-wrecking than listening to Duo's chatter for the whole meal. I couldn't take it. I know that it is very unlike me, but it was unnatural. I had to speak. To do *something* to make it feel like there was more than just myself at this damn table. Perhaps that is why Duo talks so much. The rest of us aren't entirely that large on speaking unless we have to, Quatre included, but that was ridiculous.
"We have made adjustments to the plan with Ms. Peacecraft-Darlian and Ms. Catalonia," I said to Wufei.
"What kind of adjustments?" he asked, placing his fork down and staring at me.
"You and Duo both will be allowed 'face time' with Relena," Quatre said, a cold smile gracing his normally angelic looking face.
"That is satisfactory," Wufei said, moving to eat once more.
"I'm going to email Duo later, so I will tell him then. If that's alright with everyone," my lover replied, but was greeted by silence. If Duo was upset with everyone, the only two who he would speak to first were Wufei and Quatre. Not to say that I had upset the American. Far from it. It's just that he is more likely to respond to something from either of them than Heero or myself. Especially now with Heero.
Suddenly, Wufei excused himself and left, leaving half of his plate's contents still there. The rest of dinner went along swimmingly, if you don't count the fact that Heero spent the remainder with a look of disgust on his face and that Quatre seemed to be a few hundred thousand miles away, and had been since he mentioned Dorothy's name.
Heero then offered to clear the table and wash the dishes, so I let him and dragged Quatre away, tossed him onto the piano bench, and kissed him.
"You are *not* about to go Zero System on me. In fact, you are going to sit here, in front of this piano, and play with me until I am dead tired. Understood?"
Quatre shook himself, looking a little shocked at the amount of emotion I let him see. (What can I say? He frightens me when he does that. The last time, he destroyed whole colonies. This time, his anger is geared toward two women. There's no telling what he will do.) Slowly, he nodded and made room for me, and we began to play.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Unfortunately, the peace did not last, I noticed that Altron's engines had started up, over the din of the piano, and we stopped. "Wufei."
Before I had time to blink, Quatre flew from the room, and up the stairs. I followed at a much more normal rate and found him staring into the dark room that had been Duo's only that morning. The door to Wufei's room was open, and a look inside told me that not a trace of the Chinese boy was left. I could only assume from the defeated look on Quatre's face that Duo's room yielded the same results.
"They're gone."
"You knew that, Quatre," I said, avoiding my own feelings on the matter.
"Yes, but... This is so final. Like, I might not get to see them again," he whispered.
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course..." He raised his hand to my lips and cut off the rest of what I was going to say.
"It doesn't matter. I'll see them again, sure. But it's different now, Trowa. I'm going to our room." He turned and left me standing there, feeling helpless for the first time since my bought of amnesia.
A faint beeping caught my attention, and I followed it back to the source, my laptop. There, I saw my latest mission.
"Where?" Quatre asked when I was done going over the specifications.
"South America, Chile."
"OZ base, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Now."
A sigh.
"Quatre?" I asked tentatively.
"What? What do you want me to say? It's probably some infiltration mission where you have to kiss up to some slimy superior. You are the only one who can do it. So, go."
"Stop behaving like a child!" I yelled. "This is how this always starts. If you actually thought before you did some of the things you did with Duo and Wufei, they might still be here." I stopped and cooled off with a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Quatre. That was uncalled for."
"No, you're right," he said, moving from his position on the bed over to the desk where I was. "I shouldn't have done what I did, and I should have watched what I said to Wufei. You're right. Be safe?"
"Promise." I was relieved that he wasn't upset with me. I know I would have been had the roles been reversed.
"Email me when you get the chance. Break a few OZ soldiers' legs for luck." He winked and smiled impishly. I couldn't help myself, I chuckled.
"Will do. Now, help me back?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That was the last time I talked to mon ange (1), and now.... I've been stuck in this hell for two days trying to get things straightened out. Excuse me for being short, but I am a little tired. I am going to email Quatre back, and then get some sleep.
Bon nuit. (2)
~ Nanashi
Notes:
[1] mon ange - French, my angel
[2] bon nuit - French, good night
Author: Makoto Sagara
Archive: www.afallenangel.net/makotosagara/frames/fanfiction.html, www.wufeiduo.net, www.fanfiction.net, www.foreverfandom.net, www.sailorandco.crosswinds.net/gundamwing/fanfiction/fanfiction.html,
www.geocities.com/daqdaqduck/
Category: Romance, Angst
Pairings: 5x2x5, 3x4, 1+2, R+1
Rating: R
Warnings: Shonen ai, angst, OOC, language
Disclaimers: Um, nothing new here. Don't own. Don't profit. Don't sue. Don't flame.
A/N: It seems that the new schedule I imposed upon myself is working. I managed to finish a chapter of Gundam Diaries, A Child's Love, and my new fic, Maybe Angels, each last week. I wouldn't hold out for this to keep up, but as this fic wraps up, I hope that you stay with me, and that you take a minute to read and review the other two stories as well. Remember, if you feed the muses, they will give you ficcage. ^_^;;; Old fangirl saying, no doubt.
Dedication: To my real life muses, my little brothers, who make life much more interesting, and give me a new prospective on everything all the time. Without them, I do believe that I would be lost as to where I could actually push the G-boys, whether I read fics or not. Thank you, you two. *kisses and hugglz from your older sister*
Symbols: *blah* emphasized word
*~*~* Major change of scene
*~~~* Minor change of scene
April 18th, AC 195.... 00:13:51
I am no longer at the safehouse where Quatre and Heero still reside, as far as I know. I am sitting inside an OZ base, which I have infiltrated and convinced my superiors that I am a worthy OZ soldier; and not for the first time this year. Seriously, how does OZ expect to win the war with such lax security; where anyone spouting enough gentility about war can sign up and be admitted on base, even the enemy. It's rather disgusting. And, unfortunately, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to write down what has occurred.
As far as the other pilots are concerned, Duo and Wufei are both gone. Duo said that he was headed off to see Howard on Peacemillion, and extended an invitation to everyone else. Wufei, I assume (although it is dangerous to do so during a war), is with him as well, even though he told no one where he was going. Quatre received an email communiqué from him after I left, and he also received one from Duo, which is indeed a small miracle because it has calmed him more than my words could even do so.
This mess started a few days ago, two days after Duo's injuries from Heero and Wufei, and went downhill *very* quickly. Let me explain as best as I can.
*~~~~~~~*
I woke up that day, pulling my arm from under Quatre's blond head, and took a shower. Once I was finished, I decided to go spend some time in the gymnasium before everyone else woke up. I was surprised to find Wufei standing outside of Duo's door, looking like he did after his defeat at Treize Khushrenada's hands. I continued my walk down the hallway, and when I was approximately twenty centimeters from him, he decided to move, almost bumping into me.
"Excuse me," he muttered, not looking up, and just kept walking towards his room. I may never understand emotions the way that Quatre does, but I knew that there was something off with the other boy.
I fought back the urge to reach out and grab his arm, instead opting to call out to him. "Wufei!"
He turned around, his face screwed up into a look of utter annoyance. "Yes?" he snarled, to my surprise. I faltered for a moment before coming up with sometime to say next.
"How is Duo today?"
He looked pained as I said Duo's name. "He is..." He stopped and a pensive look stole over his face. "He is fine," he said, quickly disappearing down the hall and into his own room. As I passed the door of said domain, I could hear his voice rattling off in Chinese about something. Whatever happened between himself and Duo, no doubt.
Knowing that if it became important, he would tell me, I left from in front of Wufei's door and followed my plans. After a nice hour practice in the gym, I headed into the kitchen to start breakfast. I was acutely aware when Wufei's footsteps passed through the kitchen and headed downstairs to the laundry room. I knew he didn't leave to the hangar because the washing machine started up shortly after he went down the stairs.
I had completed making the batter for French toast when Heero showed up, looking like shit - to be perfectly honest. He poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot that I had started before cooking and sat down at the table. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, but he made no movement or sound. He barely responded with his usual grunt when I set a plate of French toast, eggs, and turkey bacon in front of him.
A few moments later, a buzzer went off downstairs, followed by the reappearance of Wufei minutes afterwards. Quatre and Duo would sleep in, this I knew, so I set a plate of food in front of the scowling Chinese boy and took a seat with a plate of my own. Breakfast was a cold, steely, and silent affair that morning.
Both Asian teens sped through their meal, and Wufei took off for the basement as soon as humanly possible, while Heero took off for the study. Ah, the joy of teamwork at its best.
So, I was there alone, unless you count the fact that Wufei traveled back through with a basket of clothes, headed for the second floor, to clean up the kitchen again. It was becoming a habit. I had just finished cleaning up the dishes I had cooked with when I heard shouting coming from the hallway, followed by someone stomping on the stairs, who in fact turned out to be Wufei in his training gear with sword stomping outside, followed by more shouting that sounded like Duo. A door slammed, and moments later, Quatre came into the kitchen, paler than normal.
"I think he hates me," he whispered as he sank into a chair at the table, knowing that I would hear him.
"I warned you about drugging his drinks, Quatre. You're just lucky all he did was yell, seeing as how you are in one piece," I said, taking the seat next to him.
"I know," he cried, putting his face in his hands. "And he hates me now. I just wanted to help him, Trowa. He was in *so* much pain, and I could feel it." He lifted his head, tears streaming from his beautiful blue-green eyes.
I sighed, trying to not let myself get caught up in his tears, no matter how much it hurt me. "Quatre, mon petit... Duo does *not* hate you. He's upset right now. Give him a while." I stood up, and pulled him into a tight embrace. "He will come around. You are one of his closest friends. No matter what else, you have his respect, and his brotherly love." I stressed the brotherly part more for my own selfish reasons than any other.
He relaxed against my chest, his small frame racking with deep sighs as he tried to stem the flow of his tears. A muttered "thank you" was breathed against my chest.
"You are welcome, my love. Now, why don't you sit down, have some tea, and just relax. Duo will be down eventually, and you can speak to him then if he allows it." I watched as he sat back down at the table and then went over to the stove. "Are you hungry?"
"Yeah," Quatre said, sounding a bit stronger. I uncovered one of the two plates that I had saved, handed it to him, and walked towards the door.
"If you need me, I'll either be in the gym, or down in the hangar, working on Heavyarms," I said before I left. A nod was my reply, and shrugging to avoid saying that I thought that he should take this better. After all, I warned him about his actions, told him to stop, was ignored, and now I had to help him deal with the consequences. It did *not* mean that I had to like *any* part of this whole situation, and I didn't.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Approximately two hours later, I was still in the gymnasium when Heero emerged with a stack of printouts and a puzzled look on his face. Intrigued as to why he had come to me, I climbed down from the rings setup and walked over to him.
"Something wrong, Heero?"
"Iie. Not exactly. I need to see you and Quatre sometime soon," he said with a very pensive look following his statement.
"How soon is soon?"
"A few minutes."
"Fine. I'll get Quatre..." I stopped because Heero was shaking his head.
"He is already in the television room. Just be there quickly," he said, turning around. I watched as a sheet of paper fell to the ground, and I quickly walked over to pick it up and see what it was.
It was the plan for our 'meeting' with Relena. Things were crossed out, written again, crossed out yet again. In other words, it was a mess. Totally unlike anything I had ever seen from Heero Yuy. I looked again, and what I saw made me frown.
'Let Duo have a few minutes alone with Relena with a loaded gun, and walk away.' 'Let Duo have a confrontation with Relena, but keep Quatre on hand to supervise, and talk with Wufei.' 'Kill her before anyone else comes in.' That one was underlined a few dozen times. 'Leave her and Quatre alone, and make sure that Trowa is outside.'
Shoving the paper in the back pocket of my jeans, I walked out into the TV room to find Quatre on the couch and Heero seated on the love seat next to it. I took a long look at both of them. Heero looked like he had had a shower recently, for his hair looked even messier than normal. Quatre, on the other hand, was pressed and neat, as usual, and no trace of his emotional slip was evident.
Carefully, I sat next to Quatre and turned my attention to Heero. "You called this meeting? Where are Duo and Wufei?"
Heero just shrugged. "Couldn't find them," he said, spreading the papers that were still in his hands across the table. I cast a side look at Quatre, who was looking just as curious as I felt, and shrugged. "I need a few opinions on the new plans I'm making for the 'mission' with... her." He face looked impassive as he said it, and his voice was cold and lifeless.
"Heero, the last plan you made was wonderful. Why would you redo it?" Quatre asked.
"There were a few important elements missing. I thought that everyone would like a moment to speak to... her... while we are up there. And while one person is talking to... her... another can keep watch over Dorothy so she doesn't do anything stupid."
"Ok, I see your point. How can we help?" I asked, hoping that he would have to leave to go to the restroom soon.
"Well..." Heero started and pointed to a certain paper. "The facility is not that large, but it's adequate enough for our needs..." Soon, the three of us were lost in the finer details of the plan.
*~~~~~~*
We were deep in planning when Wufei's sharp voice rang throughout the living room, sounding... well... (to quote Duo) pissed as fuck. "Maxwell? Where are you going?"
I looked up to see Duo standing in the doorway of the kitchen, his duffle bag on his back and his laptop under an arm. The American turned around with a smile and looked at everyone else in the room.
"Going to see the Sweepers on Peacemillion. Care to join? Howard said you guys are welcome to see them at any time with me," he said, obviously straining to maintain the cheerfulness that wasn't reflected in his eyes, even from where I was sitting. "Any takers?"
I felt a hand grasp my own, and I looked at Quatre. He was confused and asking me something that I couldn't catch while thinking over what Duo and Wufei's interaction could mean. I also looked at Heero, whose face was a cold stone mask. Quickly, I looked back at Duo who nodded and left through the door to the hangar. If I had known better, I would have sworn that Wufei's world had just come crashing down around his knees when that door closed.
He looked at the coffee table, examining what he could see, and I would have continued trying to observe him, but Quatre took a sheet of paper out of my hand and started talking about what we had left off with. I nodded, looked at the paper, and continued myself. "Right here." I pointed to a part of the layout. "This could become a security breech." I was vaguely aware of the loosening of Heero's body as he paid attention to what I was saying.
We continued with our discussion until I left to cook dinner, and I was surprised to see Quatre follow me. "Hello, Quatre. Is there something I can do for you?"
"I want to help you tonight," he said, slipping behind me. "Is that so bad?"
"No, and I would appreciate the help." I began taking out the required ingredients for the rich potato soup that Catherine taught me to make.
"It looks like I'm not the only one that Duo is upset with," Quatre said, picking up the knife to peel the potatoes I had set down on the cutting board.
"Hmm?" I was busy preparing the herbs.
"He's mad as Wufei, but it's forgivable. He's still upset with Heero, and not likely to forgive him any time soon, but he isn't quite as angry as before."
"Quatre?"
"Yes Trowa?"
"Be quiet and help me cook." I gave him a small smile when he looked at me. It was something to let him know he was loved but that I didn't want to continue that conversation.
We were busy working on a beef roast when Heero showed up. Turning around, I saw that he was glaring at... the stove? I cleared my throat, and he turned to look at me. "How long?" he asked.
"Two minutes," I answered, amused by his Perfect Soldier routine.
"Status?"
"Almost complete. Retrieve Chang and we will commence."
"Ninmu ryokai," he said and left for the stairs.
"I *hate* it when you two do that," Quatre said, taking dishes out of the cabinets. "I'm going to set the table. You deal with the soup before it burns."
I chuckled and did as he asked. Footsteps lightly stepping in my direction alerted me to the fact that Wufei had returned to join the rest of us. More footfalls told me that Heero was not that far behind him.
"Hello, Wufei. Sit down. Dinner is done, and Trowa should be out soon with the rest of the food," Quatre said cheerfully as he took the first course out to the table.
Wufei came to the door and asked if there was any way that he could help, but we both declined his offer, and Quatre repeated that he should sit at the table, since we did have a few things to tell him about. He sat down, Heero following suit, and Quatre and I joined them with the last of the meal.
"Well, now that we are all here, let's enjoy this meal that Allah has allowed us to have together," my lover said, and sorry to say, but the forced cheerfulness that he gave out was enough to make my eye twitch. Wufei bowed his head once, stiffly I might add, we started to eat.
At first, things were silent, which normally I would have begged for. But this silence was more nerve-wrecking than listening to Duo's chatter for the whole meal. I couldn't take it. I know that it is very unlike me, but it was unnatural. I had to speak. To do *something* to make it feel like there was more than just myself at this damn table. Perhaps that is why Duo talks so much. The rest of us aren't entirely that large on speaking unless we have to, Quatre included, but that was ridiculous.
"We have made adjustments to the plan with Ms. Peacecraft-Darlian and Ms. Catalonia," I said to Wufei.
"What kind of adjustments?" he asked, placing his fork down and staring at me.
"You and Duo both will be allowed 'face time' with Relena," Quatre said, a cold smile gracing his normally angelic looking face.
"That is satisfactory," Wufei said, moving to eat once more.
"I'm going to email Duo later, so I will tell him then. If that's alright with everyone," my lover replied, but was greeted by silence. If Duo was upset with everyone, the only two who he would speak to first were Wufei and Quatre. Not to say that I had upset the American. Far from it. It's just that he is more likely to respond to something from either of them than Heero or myself. Especially now with Heero.
Suddenly, Wufei excused himself and left, leaving half of his plate's contents still there. The rest of dinner went along swimmingly, if you don't count the fact that Heero spent the remainder with a look of disgust on his face and that Quatre seemed to be a few hundred thousand miles away, and had been since he mentioned Dorothy's name.
Heero then offered to clear the table and wash the dishes, so I let him and dragged Quatre away, tossed him onto the piano bench, and kissed him.
"You are *not* about to go Zero System on me. In fact, you are going to sit here, in front of this piano, and play with me until I am dead tired. Understood?"
Quatre shook himself, looking a little shocked at the amount of emotion I let him see. (What can I say? He frightens me when he does that. The last time, he destroyed whole colonies. This time, his anger is geared toward two women. There's no telling what he will do.) Slowly, he nodded and made room for me, and we began to play.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Unfortunately, the peace did not last, I noticed that Altron's engines had started up, over the din of the piano, and we stopped. "Wufei."
Before I had time to blink, Quatre flew from the room, and up the stairs. I followed at a much more normal rate and found him staring into the dark room that had been Duo's only that morning. The door to Wufei's room was open, and a look inside told me that not a trace of the Chinese boy was left. I could only assume from the defeated look on Quatre's face that Duo's room yielded the same results.
"They're gone."
"You knew that, Quatre," I said, avoiding my own feelings on the matter.
"Yes, but... This is so final. Like, I might not get to see them again," he whispered.
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course..." He raised his hand to my lips and cut off the rest of what I was going to say.
"It doesn't matter. I'll see them again, sure. But it's different now, Trowa. I'm going to our room." He turned and left me standing there, feeling helpless for the first time since my bought of amnesia.
A faint beeping caught my attention, and I followed it back to the source, my laptop. There, I saw my latest mission.
"Where?" Quatre asked when I was done going over the specifications.
"South America, Chile."
"OZ base, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Now."
A sigh.
"Quatre?" I asked tentatively.
"What? What do you want me to say? It's probably some infiltration mission where you have to kiss up to some slimy superior. You are the only one who can do it. So, go."
"Stop behaving like a child!" I yelled. "This is how this always starts. If you actually thought before you did some of the things you did with Duo and Wufei, they might still be here." I stopped and cooled off with a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Quatre. That was uncalled for."
"No, you're right," he said, moving from his position on the bed over to the desk where I was. "I shouldn't have done what I did, and I should have watched what I said to Wufei. You're right. Be safe?"
"Promise." I was relieved that he wasn't upset with me. I know I would have been had the roles been reversed.
"Email me when you get the chance. Break a few OZ soldiers' legs for luck." He winked and smiled impishly. I couldn't help myself, I chuckled.
"Will do. Now, help me back?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That was the last time I talked to mon ange (1), and now.... I've been stuck in this hell for two days trying to get things straightened out. Excuse me for being short, but I am a little tired. I am going to email Quatre back, and then get some sleep.
Bon nuit. (2)
~ Nanashi
Notes:
[1] mon ange - French, my angel
[2] bon nuit - French, good night