Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Chapter 5: Homeless
Trowa awoke in a daze the next morning. His vision was blurry, his head foggy, and his body ached. Blinking to adjust to the light, he finally remembered where he was. He was tangled in the white bed sheets of Lucrezia Noin, who happened to be missing from them. Trowa's brow furrowed as he threw the bedding from his body and slipped back into his jeans. He wandered into the living room and ran across a short note next to a small vase of roses. It read 'Thank you for the wonderful night.- Lucrezia', her phone number trailing underneath the flowing script. Trowa smiled slightly and then looked at the clock. It was only ten in the morning. He helped himself to a shower and made the mussed bed before he left to catch his shuttle to the Mars base.
Upon arriving at the hanger, he noticed Andrea waiting to board the same shuttle. Guilt over not calling her rushed over him, but he knew that he could explain to her what happened, and she would more than likely understand. He quickly snuck over, tucked his arms around her waist, and lifted her into the air.
"Hey!" She squirmed in his arms. Trowa laughed and set her down gently.
"Good morning, Andrea." He greeted. Andrea's gaze fell sharply to the ground, her face twisted into a look of frustration, guilt, and embarrassment.
"Trowa, I am really sorry."
"No, don't, you don't need to apologize, if anything, I do." Trowa's smile faded.
"Yes, I really do, there are a lot of things I need to say." She was about to continue when they announced boarding. They hurried on, and took a seat near the back, out of the way of most of the passengers. Andrea sat by the window and buried her face into her hands with a sigh. Trowa sat right next to her, setting a reassuring hand upon her hunched shoulder and tried to get her attention.
"I should have stayed with you last night."
"No, that was fine," she sighed again and sat up, turning her body toward him, "the Briar family took care of me, you know, the club Manager. I spent time with his wife and their two sons today, and she got me back on my feet. I am not surprised that Mr. Briar kept you there. He loves to get soldiers off of bases, since they generally have the best time and are repeat customers."
"He doesn't really take no for an answer." Trowa cracked a small smile.
"No, not really, but he is a good person," Andrea suddenly shook her head again and bit her lip, bidding tears away from her eyes, "I am just really... really sorry for the way I acted last night."
"What are you talking about?"
"Trowa, I may get drunk, but I sure as hell don't forget everything." She looked at him sternly.
"Okay, well, what do you need to say?"
"Well..." she steeled herself, "That kiss... was rather abrupt, and I..."
"You can tell me." Trowa brushed an arrant strand of hair that fell across her eyes. She seemed to choke up a bit, her confidence faltered.
"I didn't mean it, it was in the heat of the moment. I didn't have total control, and my body was leading me..." she gushed, "I am really sorry, and it won't happen again."
"Andrea... I understand that these things happen, but you have to promise me something, okay?"
"Sure, anything."
"I never want to see alcohol near you again until you are legally able to drink it." Trowa looked at her with a serious mask across his features.
"That's fine," she gave a relieved sigh, "that is fine with me." Trowa could tell that she was holding back, but seeing as how upset she was he did not want to pry further. They were silent for a few minutes as the shuttled jettisoned into space toward their base. "So, where were you last night?"
"I..." Trowa faltered. He knew she was going to ask eventually.
"Well, you obviously stayed on the colony somewhere, since you are here with me now." Andrea seemed to perk up a bit now that the spotlight was not on her, "Were you with those two friends of yours who live there?"
"N-no I was not." Trowa clipped the sentence.
"So where were you?" Andrea arched an eyebrow, her playful mood back in full swing. Trowa swallowed his pride.
"I was out with someone I met at the club." If Andrea was any less of a lady she would have leapt into his lap with a gun pointed at his temple, demanding he tell the whole story, but she kept her curiosity leashed.
"So can you tell me about this woman, about what you did?" She wiggled her eyebrows in a suggestive way, and declared an inward victory when she noticed his features flush wine-red.
"She is someone I had not seen in awhile, and we spent some time together."
"Come off it Trowa." She scolded, "Do you remember who you are talking to? It is me, Andrea, you can tell me."
"Well, we danced, we had a couple of drinks, and she invited me home with her."
"So you stayed the night then?"
"Yes."
"How was the sex?"
"Andrea!" He said a little louder than he wanted to. He shook his head and then whispered venomously, "I don't think that... damn it."
"Just answer the question." She giggled.
"Earth-shattering." Although his tone was sarcastic, Andrea noticed a glint in his eye that backed up his statement.
"So, does this woman have a name?"
"I don't think that would be a great idea to tell anyone." Trowa warned.
"Oh come on, tell me."
"Andrea..." Trowa looked at her in the eye, "I just don't think it is wise." The pieces were all falling into place suddenly in her head.
"Oh god, Trowa," she looked at him desperately, "not her."
"Yes, her."
"Shit! Trowa do you know how much damn trouble you'll be in if Zechs finds out?!" Andrea was the one whispering now.
"I really don't give a damn about how Zechs will feel," Trowa suddenly felt ice running through his veins, "he had his chance, his fucking loss."
"Well yeah, his fuckin' loss, but Trowa!" Andrea pleaded, "That does not rule out how he can make life a living Hell for you on base!" Trowa had not thought of that. Zechs and Lucrezia had only recently broken up, and Zech's resentment and regret was still running high. Zechs was nothing but a time bomb waiting for someone to send him over the edge.
"Andrea... you can't tell anyone about this, not Gale, not Sally, nobody, okay?"
"Well sure, but don't feel hurt if I deny knowing if I get questioned on it." Andrea looked at him sadly.
"I understand totally, this is my mess anyway." They switched their conversations elsewhere for the rest of the flight. Andrea never let Trowa know the other reasons why his one-night-stand bothered her. Lucrezia was fresh out of a relationship, and she was already throwing herself at another man? Could this just be a rebound for her, could Trowa just serve as a method to satisfy her hunger? Andrea admitted to herself that even the best woman could be venomous and vindictive without noticing, and using a man for temporary pleasure was something women got away with regularly. Sure, with most men, it was not a problem, but with Trowa, it was different. It was as if he had only recently become acclimated with his emotions. They were deep rooted, and he had a good heart, but he had no real idea of the extent of people's exploitation of them. Andrea suddenly realized that Trowa was in real danger of getting hurt, but she had no bearing on the situation. The inevitable would just have to pan out, and it made her sick to her stomach. Looking at the man sitting next to her on the shuttle, chatting on idly about how their mission should go that afternoon, Andrea suddenly realized the depth of what she felt for him, and it made her want to die.
"Are you feeling up for today?"
"Huh, what?" She snapped herself out of her thoughts. Trowa's green eyes reflected relief and happiness again, and she felt her own features melt into that same good feeling.
"Yeah, I am fine, just a little headache, that's all."
"Good," he smiled, "I don't want my favorite girl anything below 100 percent on mission."
"She won't be." Andrea smiled. 'And she'll never be', she thought to herself. The shuttle arrived at the base at two in the afternoon. They had enough time to go and suit up for the mission, before going to the briefing meeting with their fellow officers. They even managed to dodge interrogation of the night before with a quick summary of the night before, sans a few important details. Trowa, however, did not avoid a questioning look from Zechs before the meeting started. Their mission was completed within two hours of take-off, and they headed back to the hostel to change up for dinner. Trowa was dragging his feet a little bit, wanting to read for a little while before leaving.
"I will save you a seat with us, hun." Andrea grinned before she left with Sally, Gale, and Wufei. Zechs told them that he was going to finish the mission report before he met up with them. Trowa finally stripped out of his mission uniform and put his book on the nightstand. He looked into the mirror in the small bathroom and smiled to himself. He didn't mind the scent of the room anymore, now that he had gotten to know the owner of that scent so intimately. He opened his room door to leave only to find himself in the same situation as the first night he arrived. Zechs, who formerly had to look down at the younger pilot, now used the same domineering stance while being at eye-level. He didn't say a word for a moment.
"There has been something strange about you since you came back."
"I don't know what you mean." Trowa slipped around him and shut the door. He started to walk toward the door into the main corridors when he heard Zechs growl from behind. Even with his quick speed and even quicker reflexes, Trowa could not avoid what happened next. He found himself being spun around and pinned painfully against the wall. Both wrists were pinned expertly above his head, and his skull made a resounding crack against the drywall. A yelp of pain came to his throat, but Trowa kept it down and stared darkly at his captor.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing!?" Trowa demanded. Zechs didn't answer. To Trowa's dismay and great confusion, Zechs merely leaned in, his face brushing against Trowa's neck and hair. A chill ran down Trowa's spine, and the urge to kick out of Zechs' hold was growing stronger. A sickness curled in Trowa's chest, and he wanted to flee. Suddenly, out of the mix of confusion, he heard Zech's low voice.
"You smell like her..." Trowa's heart started pounding against his chest again. He had been found out. Zechs pulled back to look into Trowa's face. He looked far too calm to be possible. Trowa's face was blank and stern, though inside he was in turmoil. He was so mixed up and distracted that he didn't notice Zechs swing with his free hand until it was too late. Trowa fell to the floor; an explosion of pain had erupted on the right side of his face. He looked up at Zechs and got into a sitting position, leaning against the wall. Zechs clenched his fists, looking as if to hit him again, but relented.
"Zechs..."
"If you speak of her, if you look at pictures of her, or worse yet, if you ever see her again, I will kill you." Zechs then turned and calmly left the room. Trowa sat on the floor stunned. He finally came to his senses and rubbed the side of his face, which still stung terribly. The evidence of the attack would surely show by tomorrow. A sudden rage filled his chest, and he leapt up and walked into the main corridors. He glided past groups in the halls with easy grace, but a fury in his step. Andrea noticed Trowa as soon as he entered the cafeteria. She leapt up and intercepted him, pushing him back toward the hallway. Trowa was fighting ahead, his eyes locked on Zechs.
"Trowa, don't even think about it!" She whispered hoarsely.
"I have to do this."
"And get yourself thrown out of here!"
"Andrea, let me handle this." He growled. Andrea glared up at him, knowing that her strength would falter long before his, but knew that she could probably talk him down.
"Trowa, what is this worth? Nothing! If you fight him now, it will be considered insubordination, and you will get relocated, or knowing his rank, get thrown out of here completely."
"Just because he is a higher rank than me does not mean he can assault me over personal matters and get away with it. He is going to get what he deserves." He pushed Andrea to the side a little more roughly than he intended to, and stormed toward Zechs. He placed his hand roughly on his senior officer's shoulder and spun him around violently.
"Trowa, just what the hell do you think you're doing?" Zechs asked; his blue eyes narrowed.
"Where the hell do you get off, Zechs?" Trowa seethed, "You think that you can demean me and assault me because you lost your lover? The last time I checked, it was not my fault that your relationship went dry. I can tell you this right now, you can try all you want, but I will not let you screw up something for me because of your jealously."
"Trowa, I suggest you stand down." The growl was hinting at Zechs' voice again.
"No," Trowa growled right back, "and I have a novel idea for you. Why not just let her be happy, eh? She obviously wasn't happy before." Trowa threw in one last glare as a flame flickered in Zechs' eye. Zechs watched the younger man start to leave when he approached again and grabbed him painfully by the wrist.
"Never speak like that to me ever again, do you hear me!" He kept his angered voice low in his ear. Trowa didn't even notice the pain he just kept his eyes forward.
"Get your hands off of me."
"That's it." Zechs stated flatly, and louder so that other officers would hear his decree, "Trowa, I want you off of this base. Take a week away from here, but if I see you in that interim, you will be out of the Preventers so fast, you won't know what hit you. Now get out of my sight, and get on the next shuttle to anywhere."
"Fine by me." Trowa jerked free from Zechs and calmly left back into the corridors. Andrea looked at Zechs with a mix of disbelief and anger, and then chased after Trowa. He had already reached the hostel when he heard Andrea running behind him.
"Trowa wait..." They both entered the common room at the same time, and she still followed as he stalked to his room and started packing a bag.
"Andrea, you should head back there," Trowa turned around finally, "I don't want you getting in trouble on account of me."
"I don't give a damn, Trowa, this is just so unfair!" Andrea bit her lip again, but a tear managed to snake down her face. Trowa's hard expression gave way, and he pulled her into a hug.
"God... I'm sorry Andrea," he sighed, "I didn't mean to upset you."
"Well goddamnit Trowa, you need to learn that sometimes taking a hit can work in your favor, as long as you don't fly off the handle as well." She looked up at him and wiped her face free of tears, "Just, get out of here for now, let things calm down. Stay with your friends for a while. Zechs will forget about all of this, I promise."
"Are you going to be okay, you know, here?"
"I will be fine, okay, don't worry," Andrea pulled away from the kind embrace and threw a couple of his books into his suitcase, "I just don't want to see you and Zechs get into it again." Trowa smiled and hugged her about the shoulders.
"Thank you, Andrea." Andrea blushed, but bit it back.
"You are welcome," she smiled, "and before you leave, I think there is a package for you on the table in the common room." Trowa packed the rest of his things and grabbed a small, modest package that was addressed to him on the table. Andrea escorted him to a shuttle that was heading to L2.
"I will stay with Heero and Duo for awhile, here is their number," he handed her a small scrap of folded paper, "call me if you need anything, even just to talk."
"Thanks hun, now get a move on, the shuttle is leaving in five minutes." Trowa looked down at the younger woman, who was his only real ally at the moment. A sudden grin played across his lips and he kissed her forehead.
"Thank you Andrea, you will hear from me, I promise." He boarded the shuttle, leaving Andrea to silently drown in the reverie of the contact, which was nothing more than a friendly gesture. She sighed and walked slowly back to hostel 5.
After the shuttle took off, Trowa remembered the package he had received in the mail. He pulled out the large, light envelope, which was obviously packaged with some sort of foam protective packaging inside. He noticed that the return address was Heero and Duo's place on L2. He opened it quickly to find letters from both of them, a new address book from Heero, and an ornate silver cross, obviously from Duo. He slipped the cross around his neck, and then looked at the address book curiously. He flipped through the blank pages until he found a note inside.
'Trowa,
You left your address book in the Nightshade, it must have fallen out of your pocket. Lucrezia Noin returned it to me, and it is in poor shape. Come to visit Duo and I and we can work on getting this new one started for you out of what is left of the old one.
-Heero'
Trowa smiled at Heero's cunning. It was certainly a persuasive way to get him to come on a visit. Little did they know that he would be there shortly.
"Well, at least I have a home away from home." He smiled.
A/N: Well, this flowed out of me REALLY fast... I had about a page hand-written when I started, and it turned into over 5 pages typed in one afternoon. I liked writing this chapter a lot, and I look forward to starting on the next. I have an idea on where this is going now, and there are still lots of twists and turns that I plan to wrench out of this piece. I warn you now, my Trowa-loving reviewers, you may feel the urge to hit me for putting Trowa through so much, but I am sure you will love the story all the way a long. Thank you folks so much for reading! - Lilly