Night Wind

Part I – See the Sunlight Fading... Fading...

Chapter Five: Connection

Quatre disconnects the vid feed, content with the knowledge that the "caterer" is now successfully on his way. He leans away from the library's desk and relaxes back into the antique chair. He allows himself this moment, knowing that he cannot waste this opportunity to be near the vidphone and with an excuse to be using it.

He reaches for the keys and dials the familiar number. As usual, the video remains off so he feels no compulsion to straighten from his slight slouch when the call connects.

"Yeah?"

Quietly, Quatre says, "It's me."

"It's about that time, isn't it?"

Quatre makes a soft noise of agreement in his throat. "No specifics this time."

"Right," the other man replies. "I've made some progress on a few older projects."

"And the most recent?"

"I'm still working on it." There's a slight pause. Wryly, the voice says, "He's a cagey bastard, isn't he?"

Quatre smiles. "At the very least. So you have data for me on the others?"

"Yup. Ready whenever you are, boss."

"Thank you. I'll contact you later from a secured line."

The soft sound of static accompanies the almost inaudible purr of the speakers. Quatre disconnects the call. He regards the stately library he finds himself in and wonders about his... employee's progress. He can't help but wonder which older projects the hacker has found data on.

Quatre turns his gaze toward the large windows nearby, taking note of the silently setting sun. His thoughts wander backward in time and he finds himself frowning over his past need to be active, to be judged by his efforts alone. Once upon a time, Quatre Winner had considered that to be to only path to empowerment.

Such is not the case.

Since the mission on C555 and its consequences, Quatre has learned something very important about the world: it is not the hands and feet which have the potential to rule the universe, but the mind. He had realized that knowledge is power and that a time would come when a singular, central leader would be needful.

That time is already here.

On several occasions, he has considered sharing his insights and his burgeoning role with the others... but not tonight. Tonight is not the time for Quatre's celebration.

Besides, they will all know the truth soon enough.

The sounds of two sets of feet scuffing their graceful way down the stairs stall his thoughts and pull Quatre from behind the desk. He wanders to the doorway and leans into the hall in time to see Trowa and Yokaze descending the stairs. He takes a moment to study his friend's lover. It amazes him that she has recovered so speedily from her experience with plague. And it further surprises him to note not quiet contentment in Trowa's features, but anxious concern.

Yokaze sees him first.

"Hey, Q. What's the status?"

She is asking about the party tonight. He grins. "The caterer is on her way despite your attempts to waylay her." At her blank expression, Quatre elucidates, "Next time, I'm drawing the map."

She grins. "Heh. Does that mean I get to pick the, um, accommodations?"

Quatre eyes her with mock wariness. "You'd probably rent us a cave..."

Her grin widens and her lips part to retort, but then something... happens.

Quatre doesn't know how to describe it. The playful mood she'd been exuding is suddenly and inexplicably shut off Tension returns to her body. The sparkle of humor leaves her eyes. Her expression, now blank, accompanies her shift in attention. Without a word to either of them, she moves in perfect silence toward the front of the mansion.

Quatre frowns after her for a moment before returning his attention to Trowa. "What...?" he begins but gets no further. The annoyed expression and the heightened tension Trowa is displaying are answer enough, for now. But when Trowa brushes past him, intent on following Yokaze, Quatre doesn't retreat gracefully. He follows as well.

Knowledge is power, after all.

...ooo...

Taki almost laughs out loud at the chipmunk-caught-in-the-headlights-of-an-oncoming-semi look on Heero's face. What's a nudist, indeed? She snorts. Obviously, the boy is in need of a little guidance regarding the more, er, creative aspects of life. Oh, and Jaspien needs to have his question answered as well.

Without further pause, Taki tells the boy who is looking expectantly at Heero, "That's when Duo forgets to do the laundry and you don't have any clothes to wear."

Jaspien blinks at her matter-of-fact explanation before scrunching up his nose in an expression of distaste. "You mean... naked?"

Taki grins. "Yes, Jas. Very naked."

"Eww."

This time, she does laugh.

"Ah, behold the sound of evil." This comment comes just as Taki's mirth begins to subside. It is spoken dryly and without hesitation. With a wide grin, she leans her head back against the ridge of the lawn chair and regards her lover.

"It takes one to know one," she replies quickly.

Wufei arcs an ebony eyebrow at her but she notices the fact that he does not dispute the statement. With small snort, he concedes the point and addresses the newest arrival without taking his gaze off of Taki, "Yuy. You made it. I am pleasantly surprised."

Taki chuckles. "Hear that, Heero? You've pleasantly surprised someone. I guess there really is a first for everything..."

Wufei growls at Taki in Heero's defense, "Well you have yet to manage it."

"Grrr. Keep talking like that, pal, and I'm going to be the last remaining member of the Dragon Clan."

Wufei crosses his arms over his chest and looks down at his lover. "I would very much like to see you attempt what you threaten, love."

"I don't make attempts," she returns. "I always follow through."

"Like the sculpture you littered Duo's garage with last summer?"

"That's not–"

"Or the kitchen cabinets you were going to refinish?"

"No one uses that room anyway–"

"Or that unfinished portrait of Heero you promised Yokaze last year?"

"God damn it, Chang! I may have attention deficit disorder but not when it comes to maiming and homicide!"

"I'm monumentally relieved you can commit to something."

She scowls at him. "I've stuck with your for how many years now? Please. Give me a little more credit."

"Hm," he agrees with a smirk, easily and effectively conceding the conclusion of the very old and very familiar argument.

Taki, still vaguely amused by Chang's arrogance, asks indiscriminately, "Can you believe this guy? What does it take to make him happy, huh?"

"Maybe you should buy him some more red underwears," Jaspien suggests in a stage whisper.

Wufei snorts in unison with Taki's smirk. "Smart kid," he observes.

Jaspien's lips stretch in a wide, cocky grin. Both Taki and Wufei can read the boy's intent to reply easily but something stops him. For as suddenly as his mirth had appeared, it vanishes. Quickly, he turns his now frowning visage toward Heero.

Very quietly – voice shaking – he says his name.

Taki scowls lightly as she observes Heero's lack of reaction. And that's really saying something. She cannot recall a time when Heero hadn't been resting on a hair-trigger. But now... He stares into the fire as... something passes over his impassive expression. It's not a physical reaction. For an instant, she thinks she sees something... Something internal. Something reflected in his eyes...

And then his hands are gently easing Jaspien off of his lap as he stands and turns. His movements are stiff. Almost mechanical. But the soft look that transforms his face as he pivots and regards the darkness is not.

"Yokaze," he breathes in whispered greeting.

Beside her, Taki sees Wufei flinch upon realizing that Yokaze had somehow managed to approach their small gathering completely undetected. She stands not three feet away in plain view. Taki shakes her head and once again wonders at her friend's eerie stealth abilities.

Obviously having decided that it is her turn to state something obvious, Yokaze says, "You made it after all."

"Have I ever refused an order?"

She smirks. "Not from me, that's for damn sure."

He smirks back. "I value my peace of mind far too much."

"Then why haven't you disowned me yet?"

Their wry smiles are mirror images. Their gazes do not waver. The symmetry is a little... creepy, Taki decides. But, perhaps she's just forgotten how close these two siblings are.

Heero replies, "I'm still working on it."

At this point, Jaspien snuggles up against Heero's side, settling himself beneath Heero's hand which he makes sure rests on his shoulder. He also reaches out to Yokaze, his orphan's eyes serious. "Yokaze?"

For the first time since Heero had somehow sensed her presence and turned to acknowledge her, Yokaze's gaze is redirected. She grasps Jaspien's offered hand and grins. "Yeah, Jas," she says. That and no more. Yeah: Everything is going to be all right... finally.

Yokaze squeezes the boy's fingers before the brilliant grin reappears on Jaspien's face. "I gotta tell Duo!" he announces and tears off toward the house armed with his toasted-marshmallow-tipped skewer.

Taki feels the warmth of Wufei's hand on her shoulder as in the wake of Jaspien's abandonment, that weird... connection between Heero and Yokaze is reestablished. Once again gazes merge in the darkness.

She shivers, not knowing what it is about this reunion that is so startling. And it's not until later – much later when every nuance and observation becomes critical – that Taki realizes what it is that's off between them.

Heero and Yokaze wander toward the front door in synchronization, traversing the lawn in soothing silence.

Not a single kiss or embrace... or even touch... is exchanged.

End of Chapter Five