Memento [Part Eleven]
Routine inspections had never been so boring. The owner of the mobile suit company was smiling too pleasantly at them it was making them sick. They were offered food and drinks while being lead around miles and miles of production equipment. Nothing was amiss but there was just something about an overly hospitable host that brought about the beginnings of doubt in their minds.
"As you can see, our mobile suits are used for nothing more than agriculture. They're 100% human friendly, 100% human-like, 100% safe and most of all 100% non-combat."
Duo grimaced. The man's grin was so broad it was making him sick. Trowa, however, didn't mind the extravagant performance and continued sipping his tea. He was almost to the bottom of the cup where the remaining honey was waiting to be licked clean.
"Aren't their cookies great?" Duo whispered, choosing that moment to nudge Trowa. He only nodded, wiping the spilled tea off him.
"And this, gentlemen, is my pride and joy," the owner said as they came to a stop. "The Plow Master 500X. Isn't it a beauty? It spreads cow dung through a mile of land like you've never seen before."
He pushed a button and Duo burst out laughing almost instantaneously. Some of the chewed cookies were flying out of his mouth. Wufei was the one to quiet him down and haul him out of the factory.
"Please excuse him," Heero said while Wufei was busy dragging him out. "He's never seen fertilizer released through the rear of a mobile suit before."
Trowa didn't know how Heero could keep a straight face while saying it. He had to turn his back to conceal any traces of amusement. His mouth was already starting to twitch upward. It wasn't good to embarrass the man. After all, his machine, although a bit eccentric, was going to be one useful piece of equipment for the farmers in the colonies. But there was no denying the fact that a mobile suit excreting was comical in and of itself. If Quatre had come with them, he was sure that they would have been able to share a few good laughs.
"Uh, alright," the owner continued. "So as I was saying, this suit is the ultimate gardening tool. It also has a built in seeding system that embeds seeds without having to dig through the soil. Gentlemen, please observe."
Duo could be heard laughing even louder from the other end of the factory and what was surprising was that Wufei was laughing just as loud as he was. Trowa was so shocked he couldn't believe it. After the owner pushed another button, the mobile suit's mid-area opened up to release a hose-like tool that continually released seeds in great intensity that it did indeed embed the seeds in the soil.
"Man, how do you stop that thing... put a giant condom over it?" Duo yelled. Trowa and Heero excused themselves before joining in the laugher.
===
"You should've been there. It was hilarious."
After they were kicked out of the factory and pushed back into their shuttle, Duo immediately made a call and started talking non-stop when Quatre's face came into view.
"God, we all miss you Quat. Too bad Une won't let us baby-sit you anymore."
"Nah, it's alright. I've been waiting to get a new place anyway."
"So you got the apartment?"
"Yeah. I just need to buy furniture. I promise to invite you guys over for dinner when I'm done cleaning. Oh, before I forget, could you tell Heero that I'm picking up the rest of my stuff later tonight."
"No problem Quat," Duo said and pulled Trowa by his shirt to face the vid-phone. "Here, you could talk to Trowa while I tell Heero. Tro here's in need of new furniture for that apartment of his he hasn't fixed up since who knows when. I'm sure he'll come with you. We'll drop him off on the way back to headquarters. I'm sure Une will give him the rest of the afternoon off. Wow! I'm such a genius I can't even believe it."
Trowa looked down to arrange his shirt before facing up to talk.
"I think it was a good idea," he said. "I need to get some new furniture for myself as well."
"Have you been sleeping on the floor?"
"Practically," Trowa answered.
"You got rid of all the old furniture, huh?"
Trowa nodded. After he moved out of his impossibly large house, he chose to get rid of everything save for a few mementos, a few pictures, and a few necessities. After all, everything in that house was something jointly shared, something that wouldn't feel right without the presence of the other half. Trowa knew that part of his life was already over.
"I have to hang up," Trowa said when he felt a bit of a shake. "The interference is strong around this area. Did you give Duo the address?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I'll be there in an hour."
True to his word Trowa was there with time to spare. The apartment complex was not big but very clean with each unit looking almost exactly alike from the outside. It was plain but it looked hospitable. Trowa thought about moving out of his place and living there instead. It was tempting but he thought better of it.
He walked up the stairway to the third floor and looked up the unit number before standing in front of his intended destination. Making sure that he was at the right location, he knocked twice and then waited.
"So, what do you think?" Quatre asked as he opened the door to his newest apartment.
"Empty," was all Trowa said.
Quatre chuckled.
"You know," he said. "For some reason, I knew that was the only thing you'd say. So, do you know any good furniture stores?"
"Around here... no."
"Good, because I know one close by and I'm sure they could deliver to your area too."
Quatre picked up his jacket and together, they went down the steps and into the street. The walk was a little quiet but not at all awkward as it had been a few times before. There was no wondering, no apprehension, just companionable ease. Trowa looked at Quatre closely and wondered what he was supposed to do now. Life as usual? But it was a strange way to continue considering the circumstances. It may have been acceptable but it was still a little strange.
After the Une's revelation, their commander thought it best to leave the investigation to a different group of experts. What was surprising was that none of them had objected to her decision. There was a time when they acted solely on impulse, immediately rejecting whatever orders came through. After all, they were once the best, unparalleled in skill and experience.
Trowa smiled. As they'd gotten older, they'd become less impulsive and more contemplative. Even Duo's once fondness for momentary exhilaration was diminished, only to be replaced with the wisdom of someone who knew better. He couldn't forget the number of times he'd almost had Duo locked up for including Quatre in his escapades. Of course, he'd never tell Duo that he was now a wiser, older man lest he find his friend trying something rash in an act of defiance.
"What's wrong?" Quatre suddenly asked. "Is there something funny you were thinking about?"
Trowa shook his head and then looked down at his shoes.
"I just remembered something," he said. "I don't want to bring it up since I'm sure it would be rude and a bit insensitive. I don't want you punching me again."
"Let me guess," Quatre said. "It involves a certain someone with the same name."
"Yeah."
"I don't have a problem with it," Quatre said. "Talk away," he urged.
"Alright." Trowa stuffed his hands inside his pant pockets. "It involves Duo a bit too. Tell me first how you would describe Duo in one word?"
"Loud."
Trowa stared ahead.
"I was thinking of a different word but that sounds about right," he said. "Quatre once jumped off a bridge next to Duo."
"Now that's just crazy," Quatre said, not looking bothered by the fact that it sounded like they were talking about himself.
"Crazy is exactly the word. They said they had a crazy feeling for going bungee jumping that day."
"So what did you do?"
"I wanted to slap Duo a couple of times but then Wufei had to remind me that I wasn't going to do it because I trusted him with the welfare and safety of my husband."
"What did you end up doing then?"
"I watched Wufei slap him a couple of times instead."
Quatre chuckled and then pointed his finger in the direction of their next turn. The streets were quiet and they ended up passing by several smaller stores but neither of them noticed anything.
"Did they ever do it again?" Quatre asked.
"Of course," Trowa answered. "They convinced Heero to jump off a cliff with them the next day."
"What?" Quatre gawked, questioning him further. Some things were just too inconceivable to imagine.
"They went hang gliding," Trowa said.
"It sounds like you guys were really close, close enough to expect to keep each other in one piece," Quatre said, glancing at Trowa every once in a while.
"We were," Trowa said. He continued to look forward, not once looking toward his companion's direction. "...just like the way we are with you. It's a bit different but essentially the same."
With their destination coming into view, Trowa shook Quatre's shoulder, just in case he didn't notice they were close. Quatre remained silent; seeming to digest what was just revealed to him. It meant a lot but it was difficult to give any sort of reaction.
"You asked Duo," Trowa started again. "You asked him why we refused to take part in the investigation."
Quatre nodded and seemed mute more than anything but if there was anything wrong with his expression, Trowa did not notice. After all, he'd been avoiding any glances toward his direction.
"Under different circumstances we would have taken it, by force even. You complicate things."
Trowa kicked a couple of pebbles along his path and waited for Quatre's response. The statement was never meant to attack him and he hoped it wasn't taken as such. It took a while before Quatre said anything.
"Is it more comforting to have me around then?" he finally asked.
"Yeah," Trowa answered. There was really no room for covering up the truth. Quatre's presence was indeed comforting, not only for him but for the others as well. It didn't seem fair to all parties involved but that was just the way it ended up.
By that time, they had already reached the entrance of the store. As soon as they stepped foot, they were approached by a hoard of salesmen eager to make a commission. Their moment of contemplative silence was replaced with that of loud sales pitches. Quatre, helpless in the situation, allowed himself to be lead toward the sea of sofas. Trowa simply followed him, keeping an eye on any suspicious figures. It had become a habit hard to get rid of.
Two hours later, Quatre had picked his newest couch and desk while Trowa was already in the process of picking his mattress. Lying down, he tested how firm the cushion felt on his back but ended up staring at the ceiling above him instead.
"Is this the one?" Quatre asked all of a sudden. Trowa nodded in response and felt another weight join him.
They were finally left to their own devices for the first time since they entered the store. Trowa concluded that the salesmen were busy attending to other customers.
"What were the results?" Quatre asked, choosing that moment to confront him.
Trowa hesitated for a moment before answering.
"You have normal levels of blood sugar, your cholesterol levels are pretty normal, you're 4.5 pounds underweight, and you're somebody else," Trowa said.
If Quatre didn't pay close enough attention, he wouldn't have been able to catch the last statement.
"Then why?" Quatre asked in a voice so quiet it was almost lost in the sounds of enthusiastic salesmen.
Trowa found that the question was easy enough to understand but it required a great deal of willpower to answer.
"I would have told you if I knew why."
Trowa expected another round of silence but was surprised when he was faced with the opposite. Quatre turned to his side and shook Trowa's shoulder to get his attention.
"Hmm?" he asked as he turned his head toward him.
Quatre looked a bit pale.
"We have to go. I think I feel another stomachache coming on."
Trowa smiled and stood up, reaching his hand out to pull Quatre up. The only problem was that Quatre was already curled on his side, the picture of ill health he'd always been.
"I guess this means we need a ride back," Trowa said.
Quatre nodded and then buried his head in the mattress while clutching his stomach.
Half an hour later, Heero showed up at the store, immediately zeroing in on their location. By that time, Quatre had fallen asleep, much to Trowa's relief. Sometimes Quatre was better unconscious. He was thankful that the salesmen were too busy to notice them. Otherwise, they would have been driven out of the store and back to their homes earlier than he wanted.
Heero approached them and since he didn't look like he wanted to stay there any longer, he gave Trowa two choices.
"It's either I carry him out of here in which case we end up embarrassing him or you wake him up and get him to walk far enough into the car," he said.
Trowa didn't answer and instead sent him a reprimanding stare.
"You obviously don't approve either way. What do you suggest?"
Trowa shrugged.
Another half an hour later, Duo and Wufei came into the store. Trowa was just about ready to tell Heero that he might as well carry Quatre to the car and deal with the consequences later. But before he could even open his mouth, Duo was right next to them. He rubbed his hands together. Trowa noticed him retrieve a bottle from inside his coat pocket and then approached the sleeping figure.
"Don't tell me you're drugging him," Trowa said almost immediately.
"Relax, buddy," Duo said. "I know exactly what I'm doing."
Duo splashed a bit of the liquid on Quatre's shirt, dabbed a bit on his lips and then gave Wufei thumbs up. Together, they hauled Quatre up, placing each of his arms over their shoulders. Trowa covered his face in embarrassment.
"Is that alcohol?" Heero asked. "Don't tell me you're turning him into a fake drunk."
"Loosen up Heero," Duo answered, grinning. "A drunken Quatre is much better than an incompetent one. Besides, I don't think we want to risk waking him up. Remember, a sick, conscious Quatre is equivalent to a Quatre in pain. Hey, and Wufei said he'd back me up on this one."
"I'm afraid that I have to agree with him," Wufei said, adjusting Quatre's arm on his shoulder. "You carry him out here like a child and he'll never forget about it. I'm sorry it's come to this but I must say that Duo has come up with a brilliant plan."
"Told you," Duo said with a smug look. "Wu and I brought a truck so you two muscled men might as well get at least the mattress in there so he'll have a bed to sleep in tonight. I've already got the sheets covered so it'll be a cinch setting things up before putting sleeping beauty over here to bed."
No other objections were heard.
It took them approximately five hours to get Quatre back home, unload the things he left at Heero's place, set-up his sleeping area, and put him in his pajamas. All the while, he was fast asleep, not even noticing the ruckus they were making while setting up the room. It wasn't perfect but it was enough to keep him rested for the night. Making sure that everything was set and in order, they made one final stop to check if they placed Quatre where they originally intended to and then left his apartment, tiptoeing out the door.
"Shouldn't we lock the door," Wufei said before they made it all the way to the stairway.
"I think it has one of those automatic locks," Heero answered.
"What if it doesn't?" Trowa asked.
"For the love of god," Duo said. "Why don't we just grab his keys, lock his door and drop by tomorrow morning. You people sound worse than Hilde."
"You should talk," Wufei muttered.
Another quick stop and they were finally at the parking lot, checking to see what they should do next. Since it was already dark out and they'd yet to eat dinner, Trowa offered to treat them out. It was his turn to cook after all and he was too tired to even try doing so.
"What did he say?"
Trowa paused in his position halfway into the car. He knew that they wanted to know and that Duo was the one who'd bring it up. Trowa found that he'd already had enough awkward pauses that day. There was no need to delay anything.
"He didn't say anything," he said. "We like it the way it is and he doesn't mind the way it is so I'd rather not decide on anything right now."
"Enjoy the moment," Duo interrupted. "That's all we could really do right now - enjoy the moment."