Memento [Part Four]

There was always something so strangely maddening about what he was doing at that moment. Somehow, through all the brown sludge he'd had to watch through, he still had that lingering admiration for the creature that defecated on him. The smells were so pungent and yet the owner was so adorable that he couldn't blame him for doing such a revolting act. A few more minutes were all he needed before it was all over. He'd found that out in the last few weeks he'd been working on the particular job.

"Geez Trowa, you'd think that you love that kid's crap the way you're staring at it so lovingly."

Trowa turned his head to the direction of Duo's voice.

"What? It's true. I mean that kid's been going at it for the past five minutes and you've been staring at his ass so reverently the whole time. Aren't you feeling sick or something?"

Trowa didn't know how to respond to the comment. Perhaps his fascination for the little creature whose legs he held up was far beyond admiration that he'd forgotten the horrid sight. He always found children interesting, especially the little infants. Being around older people all his life taught him how to appreciate the innocence in the tiny bundles of life. It was what Lady Une had said after all - what better way to punish the lechers than to expose them to the purity and innocence of children.

"This child is pure evil concealing itself in the guise of innocence!" Wufei suddenly bellowed. His hair was in disarray and his face was red from anger. The infant he was in charge of was giggling and hitting the rattle repeatedly on his head before letting out a fine layer of drool on his already ruined shirt.

"It looks like Heero's the only one fairing well," Duo said and Trowa had to agree to that. While his charge seemed to love displaying his excrement in large quantities, the little girl Heero was looking after was such an angel. She cooed and she giggled and she adored Heero like she adored her mother's milk.

"You don't seem to be in such a bind either," Trowa said, shifting his hold on the child's legs. He was going to have to hold him over the toilet bowl soon if he didn't stop.

"Yeah but the kid won't stop chewing on my braid."

Trowa looked at the little girl. While she did stop crying in the last few minutes, she had taken to sucking on the bottle and chewing on Duo's braid intermittently. He watched thinking about the times he wished that he had one of his own. Quatre agreed to adopt one not long before he disappeared.

"Hiwo!" Heero's charge squealed and snuggled deeper into his shirt.

"I'm taking this one to the washroom," Trowa announced. He realized that the kid won't stop anytime soon and that the already soiled diaper was filling up faster than he expected.

He put the kid down, watched him and then sighed. Lady Une sure had a cruel way of extracting punishment. Ever since the incident in the confinement areas, he couldn't take his mind off the mysterious so-called 'doctor' who happened to grace him with his presence. It wouldn't do to sulk around his friends because he knew that they would try to bring him out of his reverie. Once in a while, he did enjoy ruminating on things, the subject of his missing partner specifically.

Enough time hadn't been spent on investigating the new evidences that have piled up in his head. For some reason, distractions always diverted his attention from it. Today, he thought, was going to be the day he started putting the pieces together.

"Trowa, aren't you done with the kid yet? I think our time's up."

Looking down at his hand and the pile of wet wipes he'd disposed of, he smiled as he kissed the forehead of the infant who now seemed to enjoy his presence more.

"Too bad you're nice to me now just as I'm about to leave," Trowa said. "I hope they take good care of you when I go."

He wrapped the child up in a fresh diaper before coming out of the washroom to join his friends who have already given up their charges to their respective caretakers. For some reason, he didn't want to hand the baby in yet.

"I know that look," Wufei said, forcing him to look up from the little face. "There's no way in hell you're bringing that kid home. We have other things to discuss before you start pampering the thing."

Trowa just nodded and handed the child to one of the caretakers although his eyes couldn't leave that of the child's.

===

"From the top! I want to hear it again from the top."

Trowa watched Wufei sigh as Duo demanded for a repeat. He was confused too but instead of asking, he let Duo do all the talking for him. Little bits of information were coming together but there still wasn't enough information they could go on with.

It was a little after lunch when all four of them decided to have a serious discussion about the bizarre turn of events that have been happening around them. All the pieces seemed to revolve around their missing friend but then there were certain things that didn't fit into the whole story. Trowa wasn't buying it and neither was Duo.

"He said they're after Quatre," Heero stated, taking over for Wufei. "The reports Wufei handed in to me stated that all the suspects so far were paid to assassinate Quatre Winner just as our beaten assassin said."

"It's no coincidence that they were following Trowa around," Wufei added. "The latest gossip columns have stated the supposed relationship between the representative of the colonies and Gundam pilot zero-three."

At the statement, Trowa lifted his head to regard his friend. It was possible for such news to get by without his knowledge. He wasn't one to keep up with the newest gossip even if it did concern him. The only real news he was aware of were the little bits of half sentences that came out of his radio in the early morning.

"How would they know who zero-three was?" Duo asked.

"That's not the real problem here is it?" Trowa finally spoke, taking his cup and drinking his still warm tea. "It's either Quatre is in some location we aren't aware of or someone who looks exactly like him is stirring up trouble."

"Most likely," Wufei answered.

"Wait a minute. Just hold on a second," Duo interrupted. "You think our geeky buddy from the other day's stirring up trouble? What if the guy just happened to look like the wealthiest businessman in the Earth sphere? We can't conclude that without further proof."

"I don't agree with you on that one," Heero said.

Every one except Duo nodded in agreement. Duo just stared at Heero in disbelief. It was either he was just being defensive of Quatre's look-alike or they were seeing something he wasn't. Either way, he didn't look like he was going to give up.

"There must be a reason he ended up here," Duo said. "I suggest we go to Une and find out what exactly she was doing with that guy."

Trowa had to agree. Even if he was just forcing himself to believe it was really Quatre, he still wanted to see the man again.

"Don't bother finding me."

Trowa almost choked on his drink and Duo spit his coffee halfway across the room. Une was the last person they expected to see after a quiet lunch. They hoped that she still wasn't going on about their lack of conduct.

"We were just..."

"Don't bother. I have a new assignment for all four of you if you accept."

Nobody answered but they were all waiting for her to speak. She didn't have them wait too long because it was only a second later that she signaled for somebody from outside to join them.

"What? Them? Are you sure?" were the first words out of the new visitor's mouth.

"They are the best we have despite their earlier... misconduct," Une said. "I'm sure that they will protect you far better than anyone else in our organization."

"Who are you?" Trowa suddenly interrupted.

"Zero-three, that's hardly the behavior I expect from you," Une warned but Trowa continued with his questioning.

"Who are you?" he asked again. "What's your name?"

Their newest guest seemed confused by the rude welcome. He was tugging on his shirt and trying to hide his face behind his thick blonde hair. He didn't look like he was going to face them but he answered anyway.

"Quatre Winner."

"Oh hell no! You have got to be kidding me," Duo said, being the first one to react out of the four. "Quatre, I swear, if that's you, I'm going to have to..."

"That is enough zero-two," Une said. It was obvious that she was getting a headache from simply being around them. She should have known it was coming. At least that was what Trowa thought. "Dr. Winner," she started again, emphasizing the word 'doctor'. "...is an engineer from L3. He is in no way associated with the former representative. That same false association is to blame for the recent attempts on his life. He was sent to us to be protected. The last people we sent were blown up along with his home. Your four are the last people I would call on for this job but for the sake of 'his' memory, I request that you protect Dr. Winner the same way you would him."

"But we didn't protect him, did we?" Trowa said with bitterness in his voice. "Isn't that the reason why we're in this situation right now? I, for one, will not accept this assignment. Unlike you, I consider this a mockery of his memory."

Quatre's expression changed from that of shock to that of disappointment. If Trowa would have looked at him longer, he probably would have taken back his words. That was exactly why he chose that moment to look away. The other three looked uneasy with the situation but Une decided to ask the question anyway.

"How about you three? What's your answer?"

"I'm not taking part in any of this," Wufei said.

"Heero?"

"He's right."

"Hey, don't look at me," Duo said before she could ask. "If Trowa's not up to it then I'm not either."

"I'm not about to force any of you into doing anything you don't want to," Une said with a sigh. She too looked somewhat disappointed. "Just talk to me if you change your mind."

Without waiting any loner, she exited the room with Quatre, leaving the four to digest their current situation.

"So," Duo said to lighten up the mood. "That answered part of our question, huh? I mean we know who those assassins were after. I guess all we have to do is strip the guy down and find out if he's lying or not, right?"

"I'm going back to work," Trowa said and then filled his cup with more tea before leaving for his office.

===

He was halfway through a when he was rudely interrupted. Although the other four barely knocked whenever they came into his office, they knew when to back off. He was decidedly angry about the earlier encounter and they knew it. It was never good to talk to him when he was in such moods and they all knew that he would most likely ignore them or simply shrug them off.

He heard the footsteps come closer to his table but he remained impassive as if not noticing the intrusion in the first place. If the intruder was not going to leave him alone then he was going to wait until he or she decided to do so.

"Why?"

He suddenly looked up, hearing the familiar voice and came face to face with the Dr. Winner he'd met only twice in the past few days. He could've ignored anyone, even Duo's loud wails but he still couldn't look away from his current guest. It was too surreal to see him there with an equally angry stare.

"Why what?" he answered with indifference.

"You obviously didn't want to take the job. Why? What is it about me?" he asked, his voice starting to increase in volume as he spoke. "Is it the clothes?" he said, tugging on his crisp and pressed oxford shirt. "Or was it the hair?" he continued flicking a rather thick clump of his blonde lock. "Do I look so hideously unappealing that you'd turn me down right in front of my face?"

He was angry but Trowa didn't notice it. All he noticed was the pout that was almost forming on the other man's face. If he'd known that this 'Quatre' would come to him and demand an explanation, he would have preferred to turn down the offer when he was nowhere in sight. It seemed that the damage had already been done so he was left to deal with the consequences.

His guest now had both hands on either side of his waist. Try as he might, Trowa couldn't find the stance threatening at all. In fact, it looked more adorable than anything else. But then he didn't loose his cool. He was still in charge of the situation after all. The impostor before him was still and will always be an impostor.

"Well?"

"You remind me of someone," Trowa finally answered.

It seemed the answer fueled even more rage into the man's already angered state because he slammed his hands down flat into Trowa's table and began his lecture.

"That is such a lame excuse and a juvenile one at that. You'd want me running around in danger just because you don't like me? Just because I look like someone you know? What is it with you? First you have me molested the first time we meet and now that I've come for help, you're turning me down like I've done something wrong."

"Why ask me?" Trowa said, evading the onslaught of accusations.

"Because your buddies keep on looking at you before they made their decision. I assumed that you were the ringleader. Who else would be able to control his gang aside from the leader? So, tell me please just exactly why you abhor my presence. That's all I need to know then maybe I could die in peace when someone decides to shoot me in the head."

"I never said that I abhorred your presence."

Trowa watched as his guest sank down on one of the chairs. He was surprised to find such a reaction from the man who looked like he couldn't kill a fly a few minutes ago. Then again, he underestimated Quatre many times before too.

"Look, I don't want to go home. The last time it was checked, they found bugs everywhere, not to mention the bomb that went off while I was out for lunch. I'm not here to be your charity case. I'd just like it if someone were nice to me for just five minutes."

"Why come to me?" Trowa insisted on asking, feeling as though he may get something out of it.

"Because you're the first one who popped into my head."

"Can't you think of anyone else?"

He knew that he was pushing it but he just wanted to see if the real Quatre would appear just in case his current guest slipped up.

"What is this, twenty questions? Can't I spend a moment of peace without you trying to get me angry?"

"Why say that when you're the one intruding into my office? You're making small talk when not necessary and you're trying to find an excuse to stay here longer than you're supposed to."

He wasn't really angry now, just curious. By that time, he knew he reached the limit because in the blink of an eye, he saw the man stand up from his seat and point an accusatory finger at him.

"You have the personality of a lame donkey... asshole!"

To say that Trowa was surprised was an understatement. Absolutely no one had the guts to call him as such. Sure, there was the occasional teasing from his friends but this one was flat out insulting and derogatory. He wasn't angry though. He was far from angry. In fact, he was highly amused. He began laughing so hard he thought that Quatre would think him in ill health.

It wasn't long before his friends came in to check what the strange occurrence was. It wasn't like Trowa at all to burst out laughing, especially when he was in a bad mood. It didn't sound like the same person who was ready to kill only minutes ago.

"What's wrong?" Wufei asked and then noticed that Quatre was in the office as well. It didn't take a genius to guess that the look-alike was the cause of the commotion.

"Tro? You alright buddy?" Duo asked but Trowa kept on laughing.

"I've picked up a new baby-sitting duty," he said and looked at his prey with strange intent. Quatre couldn't decipher the look and slowly backed away until he could make a run for the next person he could trust.

"I guess he thinks you're a loon," Duo said. "I'm beginning to think you are too."

Trowa smiled but only to himself. All of a sudden, it didn't really matter if he was Quatre or not. His look was close enough; his voice a little off; and his choice of clothes, a disaster but he knew that he wouldn't have been able to resist for long anyway. The new Quatre felt oddly familiar, enough to relieve his longing even for just a little while.

"He called me an asshole," Trowa said, trying to stop from laughing out again. "I think he meant it too. He's brutally honest and he's changed my mind because of that."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Of course. Besides, nobody's made me laugh that much in a long time."