Summary: In the first stages of HIV, Quatre tries to find a way to tell his beloved, Trowa. Stage 2: He learns that he can't fight it, and prepares for death. Final stage: he says good-bye.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Gundam characters. Duh.
AIDS Chapter 1 – Sick
It began on December 13, at 10:27 in the morning. I distinctly remember that now. I woke up with my head on Trowa's chest. I had a strange feeling in my stomach, and knew immediately I was going to vomit. I ran to the bathroom, and did the foresaid in the toilet. By the time I was done, Trowa had awoken, and I told him I was sick. He said fine, and went about his daily routine without me.
I spent day one in the bathroom.
Day two wasn't much different. Trowa began to worry about me, but I figured it was just the flu. I knew I had to go see a doctor to get antibiotics, but I didn't like doctors much after everything with the war, so I postponed it.
By the third day, I thought I would be better. Not so. My condition had gotten worse. Trowa was overly concerned about my health, and he dragged me to his doctor so she could look at me.
"Just as I thought," she mumbled nonchalantly, "you were right Mr. Winner, it's the flu. But it's odd…" she added. "It isn't flu season yet."
Nonetheless, Dr. Hiram gave me antibiotics for my flu-like symptoms.
That night we were having an engagement party to celebrate Trowa's finally popping the question. Everyone was there: Duo and Heero, Wufei, Lucrezia, and Hilde. The party went well, and I felt fine, for the most part. But something deep down was troubling me. I had never had the flu before now, and it wasn't even flu season.
Over the course of the next few days, the medication stopped working. My conditioned worsened again, and I was hugging the toilet once more. I went back to Dr. Hiram myself this time.
"All I can suggest," she sighed, "is a blood test. But that's strictly for HIV patients. All we can do is check. I know that you and Mr. Barton are a couple, so it stands to reason that you might be HIV-positive. I hate to have to tell you all that but we could always check to rule it out."
"Okay," I said, "okay, let's do that."
She took blood from the crook of my arm and I left. She said she'd call when the results came back.
The next week came and went with unruly anticipation. I knew I didn't have HIV, but maybe there was something in my blood. There might be another STD that a blood test could detect, and maybe I had passed it on to Trowa. Could I deal with it if I had passed something on to him?
Finally, on December 24, the day before Christmas, while Trowa was shopping, Dr. Hiram called.
"Quatre," she said quietly, "I need you to come in. Your test results are in."
I knew things weren't good, just from the way she said my name. I drove to her office in a hurry, afraid of what I would hear. Did I have HIV? Or maybe cancer? Or another STD? And whatever I had… how would I tell Trowa? Would he still love me? Would we still get married? I was so scared.
I walked up to DR. Hiram, and she had a concerned look on her face.
"What?" I asked. "What do I have?"
"Step into my office," she instructed me.
I did.
"Quatre," she said, "you are HIV-positive."
I left crying. I knew that HIV was the beginning of AIDS. But I couldn't have AIDS. I was at the peak of my life. Maybe I deserved it. I had killed a ton of people in the war, now maybe God was getting back at me.
When I got home, Trowa was there.
"Trowa," I sobbed, "I'm HIV-positive."
I saw two minute tears roll down his cheeks.
"I love you," he said, "and AIDS won't change that."
And despite everything, we made love right there on the living room floor.
There Ya Go. Chapter 1. Chapter 2 will be up before you know it. Review?