Newbreed

Chapter 5: Nature walk part 1

Duo decided that he was going to take the others to a clearing in the woods that he had found when they had first moved there. The clearing had a small pond in the middle of it that was good for soaking in on hot days. Duo had started on plans to get the others to agree to go. Quatra would be easy since he would want to find out about the new boys anyways but Wu-Fei was going to be more difficult and he decided that he would need some help. He thought about it for a moment and then came to the conclusion that Merian would be the best person for the job. He knew that the two got into a lot of fights but he also knew that in the end Merian usually won. Wu-Fei would never admit it and he knew that it would be dangerous to try and tease him about it but if it was going to help now he figured it would be worth keeping his mouth shut.

Merian was with Hilde in their room. The girls were trying to teach each other their respective languages. German and Chinese languages were too different so they were having some trouble but they were progressing. Duo said that he needed their help with a problem he was having. He told them about the two shape-shifters need to be outside often and about how they actually spent most of their time outdoors and about their need to get to know them. The girls nodded starting to get the general idea of his problem but they still didn't know what he needed their help with.

"Well it's like this I think I can get Quatra to go on a nature walk to this place that I know in the forest and Heero and Trowa will go if Cathryne tells them to. Wu-Fei is the only one I think I'm going to have a problem with and I think that if you talk to him he might go. Tell him that it would be dishonorable not to or something."

Duo gave them one of his most hopeful looks silently pleading with them o help him. Merian looked to Hilde to get the other girls opinion but thought that it was pointless since the she would do anything for boy she had lived with for the better part of both their lives. Merian sighed in defeat but decided that it was for the best since Wu-Fei would have to get to know his knew roommates. She told Duo that she would talk to Wu-Fei but that he had to help her with her German since he had lived in Germany with Hilde for a few years. He agreed and said that it would be easy since he knew how hard it was to learn in the first place and could show her some tricks. They decided that he would teach her every Thursday after they finished with training.

By the time dinner came around Duo had managed to get Quatra to agree to go and to help him plan out what they could do and Merian had started working on Wu-Fei. Everyone was helping out in the kitchen to get stuff done faster when Trowa and Heero came in through the back door. Actually Trowa walked in with a cougar following closely at his heels. As they entered the kitchen everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at the large cat at Trowa's feet. Finally they snapped out of it and everyone tried to shake it off. They knew that the cat was Heero but it was still unnerving to have a predator animal in the house. Trowa noticed their unease and said that it was all right. He had Heero change back to his human form and everyone relaxed a lot more.

Trowa went to help with the food and Heero helped with the table and everything was finished in a few minutes. With everyone seated the meal began. Cathy thought that it would be best to bring up the nature walk now so as to give the two a chance to get ready for it. Duo was nodding eagerly and Quatra looked expectant but Trowa wasn't sure about the whole idea. He said that they already explored the wood thoroughly in their animal forms. Quatra looked slightly disappointed but Duo wasn't going to be deterred now that he had a goal.

"It's not that we want to explore necessarily. I mean we could just go out and enjoy the scenery and I know this nice little clearing that even has it's own pond. It would be a great place for a picnic and we could get to know each other better. That is if you're up to it. I don't want to force you into something that you don't want to do."

Trowa looked thoughtful for a moment and then looked at Heero. They seemed to be talking. After a few minutes Trowa looked back at Duo and said that they would go if that was what everyone wanted. He said that it would be good to get to know them. Duo looked ecstatic. The rest of the meal was relatively quiet as they were discussing what kind of food they should take for the picnic. Cathryne was glad that Trowa had accepted the invitation. She had seen how the two boys seemed distant with the others and was hoping that this excursion would help them.

After dinner Duo and Quatra helped with the cleaning while everyone else got ready for bed. When they were done they came out to see what the nights entertainment was. Sally and Cathryne had decided to go to bed early while Wu-Fei was practicing with Merian in the dojo. Duo and Hilde were watching a movie in the living room and Quatra decided to join them. When they saw that Trowa and Heero had nothing to do they invited them to watch the movie as well. Trowa looked to Heero then back at Quatra and asked what a movie was. Duo burst out laughing only to be smacked by Hilde while Quatra glared at him. Quatra explained what a movie was and then what this particular movie was about and then he asked if they wanted to watch it with them. Trowa considered for a moment but then shook his head.

"Thank you for the offer but I would rather finish my book. I will see you in the morning"

Trowa gave them all a short bow and then walked out of the room followed closely by Heero. Quatra shrugged his shoulders and told Duo to put the movie on. As the movie finished Wu-Fei and Merian came up from their practice session so they all went to their room together. As they came to the door the boys said goodnight to the girls and went inside. What they got was a shock as they saw what was inside. On the floor Trowa was lying on his back reading his book. That they could accept the shock was that Heero was using him as pillow in the form of a house cat. They had seen how close the two were but they had never pictured Trowa as a pillow and they had definitely never thought of Heero as a house cat. It was just too weird. The three boys got over their shock and walked into the room.

"Do you guys always sleep like that? I don't mean to pry or anything and sorry if I sound rude or something but that's just a little weird isn't it?"

As soon as Quatra heard what Duo was saying he smacked him. He sent a glare at Duo and told him that yes he was being rude. Duo looked apologetic but that didn't make him any less curious. He started to ask another question when Quatra let out a huge sigh and told him that it wasn't polite to pry like he was. Quatra said that it was their business how and where they slept and that they probably didn't appreciate it when he kept throwing questions at them. They all looked up from their little debate when they heard Trowa chuckle.

"No we don't always sleep like this Duo. In fact when we were in the Guild we were usually kept in separate rooms. The only reason that we sleep like this now is to make sure that the other is still there. I'm sorry if it bothers you. We can sleep outside if you would like."

Trowa was looking at them for an answer and didn't seem to notice that he had shocked the other three boys with his speech. Duo snapped out of it and told him that he wasn't bothered by it at all and in fact that he encouraged guys to sleep together. And at that comment Quatra went beet red. Wu-Fei looked between his two friends trying to figure out what was wrong with Quatra and why Duo would say something like that. He decided the best way was to just ask. Duo got a huge grin on his face and said that he forgot that Wu-Fei didn't know. He said that he would be delighted to tell him but that it was someone else little secret.

"Oh fine! Duo you're impossible I can't trust you with anything. Ok I suppose that I might as well tell you now. I'm gay. Duo found out a couple of months ago and I made him promise not to tell anyone. Sorry Wu-Fei."

Wu-Fei looked a little shocked at his friend's outburst and admission but just nodded saying that he understood. As Quatra turned to get into his bed he remembered that his friends weren't the only ones in the room. He knew that his friends would accept him for what he was but he didn't know about the two new comers and he didn't want to scare them off. He looked over to where Trowa and Heero were laying down and decided to get it over with and asked if they had a problem with him being gay. Trowa thought about it for a moment and then said that it was really none of his business but that if Quatra was concerned that Trowa personally had no problems with it. When Duo asked if Heero had a problem Trowa got a sad smile on his face that disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Trowa told them that Heero didn't know what gay meant but that no he wouldn't have a problem with it.

"Are you sure he won't have a problem with it? I mean if he doesn't know what it means then how do you know?"

Trowa nodded and said that it was part of the training that Heero had gone through. He said that Heero was trained to go on a mission with no biases. He was trained to be able to deal with all circumstances so if he had to go on a mission that required him to sleep with another man that he would be able to. He said that he was trained to accept any conditions of such a mission so there will be no problem with Heero should Quatra decide to bring a boyfriend home. Quatra went red again at the mention of bringing a boyfriend home. He had never done that before and he hadn't told anyone else about his preference yet though he was sure that Hilde knew and he suspected that either Cathryne or Sally knew.

He thought about what Trowa had said as he climbed into bed. He asked if what he said meant that Heero was gay as well but Trowa told him that Heero didn't really have a preference so he guessed that it made him bi. Quatra nodded and then asked if Trowa was the same way. Wu-Fei looked a little shocked that Quatra was asking these kinds of questions after yelling at Duo for less but Duo was laughing about it. Duo decided that he would tease Quatra about his curiosity later because he was interested in hearing the answer as well. He knew that he was straight and that Wu-Fei was as well but he was curious about the new boys. Trowa said that yes he was the same in the fact that he had no sexual preference but that since he was involved with Heero that he supposed they could say he was gay if they wanted.

That caused them to shut up for a moment and that was exactly what Trowa had wanted. He was at a really good part in his book and wanted to finish it but with all of their questions he kept getting distracted. He was hoping that they would stay silent long enough for him to finish the chapter. He had timed their reaction pretty well because ass soon as he finished the last word of the chapter they started talking again.

"You're what? I thought you guys were close but wow!" was Duo's exclamation.

The other two were about as intelligent in their remarks. Wu-Fei looked at them funny for a moment then shook it off and nodded his head. Quatra on the other hand had a really weird smile on his face. Duo just looked like he should of expected it. Heero on the other hand had decided he had had enough. He changed forms from that of a house cat to that of a panther and let out a low growl at the three teens in their beds.

Trowa looked amused at is lover's attitude but calmed him down when he realized that the other boys were really scared. He knew that Heero would actually kill them if he got too annoyed so he decided that it was time for bed. He told the others that Heero just got grumpy when his sleep was disturbed and that it would be best for them all to go to sleep. Everyone quickly agreed and the lights were turned out and Heero curled up next to Trowa who had also shifted to a panther form.

TBC…

Well I was going to put their nature walk in this chapter but it just wouldn't fit so it will have to be in the next one sorry. I hope you like it so far! ) Oh and I'm going to try and explain more about their past in the next chapter too. I think it's going to be mainly about Duo but I'm not sure yet so if you have a particular person who's history you want to know then please review and tell me. Thank you!