Idle Chatter

Chapter Five; Trowa POV:

I sighed as I thought over what had happened last night. That had to have been the worst date ever in the history of all dates. Drawing a deep breath, I picked up my phone and dialed the only person I knew I could turn to. The phone rang three times before it was finally picked up. I closed my eyes as I heard the familiar voice of Sister Helen. She was a very nice woman. In fact, she had been able to help me get over my nerves of speaking with people. It was because of her that I could even handle being in school, let alone speaking to anyone.

"Maxwell Church and Orphanage. This is Sister Helen, how can I help you?" she asked, her soft alto voice washing over me and calming my nerves, at least for the moment.

"Hello Sister Helen. Is Duo there?" I asked. She laughed softly.

"Hello Trowa. Yes, Duo's home. Let me get him for you." I could hear the rustle of the phone as she moved it away from her mouth as she called for Duo. When Duo didn't answer, she must have caught someone else, because she suddenly asked someone to go get Duo. She then brought the phone back up. "Just a second. I sent Mark up to go get him. He was great at the service today. He even sang a song entirely on his own. It was as if the angels had come down to help him sing. It was simply heavenly." I grinned. Duo had obviously been unable to talk Sister Helen out of being in the choir today, and even less able to keep her from making him sing solo. Sometimes Duo let her walk all over him in more ways than one.

"Too bad I missed it, Sister. I would have loved to have seen it," I told her, a laughing note to my voice. Duo would have hated it and it would have been great fodder for future teasing.

"Oh, we've got it on video. You're more than welcome to come see it anytime," she told me, chuckling lightly as I caught Duo's words in the back ground.

"Don't ya dare, Sister Helen! He teases me enough on the whole drama kick I'm on. I don't need him teasing me about my girlish voice." Helen laughed richly at that.

"All right, Duo." She then turned her voice real low. "You come over anytime you want to see it, Trowa." Duo sputtered indignantly. The sounds of the phone passing hands could be heard before Duo's clear tenor voice sounded through the phone.

"Don't even think of accepting, Trowa. I know where you live, buddy boy." I chuckled at that. Both of us knew full well I would be seeing that video the next time I came over wither I said I wanted to or not. Duo knew I only teased him because he's my best friend. If I didn't like him, he'd know it by my lack of anything being said toward him. In fact, that's how it was when we first met. It had been Duo who had introduced Sister Helen to me when he had brought to entire orphanage to the circus with Jonathan's blessing. Jonathan had been so surprised to find out Duo was one of the children from the orphanage that he had created one night a month when the orphanage was able to come down and enjoy the circus without having to pay anything. Even the food was free. I had to admit, Duo was really good at coming up with great ideas. There was even a half price night, in which those who couldn't normally afford the asking price could come and enjoy the place as well.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Duo. You couldn't happen to take me into our private room so we can talk, can you?" I asked. Duo snickered and I could hear him move through the hall and open and close a door. I then blinked as I heard Duo mutter under his breath. It was so soft I couldn't hear what was said, but I could tell it wasn't talk he'd normally use at the orphanage. I heard something crash and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Duo, what happened? Everything all right?" Duo muttered once more before I could finally hear his reply.

"Yeah, I'm cool. Just had an old pew fly out into my path. I guess they finally got around to fixing it in the church and Father Maxwell just decided to handle this his way."

"Meaning everything gets tossed into the storage room," I finished, saying it with mild humor in my voice. Duo snorted.

"Obviously. Yet I'm settled now. All's good to go. What do ya need to talk about that requires my undivided attention and obviously our little hideout?" I drew a deep breath before plunging ahead, knowing Duo was the only one who would be able to help me.

"I think I blew my date with Quatre yesterday." Duo chuckled.

"Unless you honked at his mansion for him, I'm certain you did nothing life changing." I couldn't help but feel my eyes widen at that comment. Duo had no idea how close he had come to what Quatre's sisters had said last night. In fact, I was pretty certain he'd never really met any of them. Therefore it was really eerie to hear this before I mentioned it.

"No. My horn doesn't work, otherwise, I might have done just that. Eight of his sisters seemed to think it was necessary to swarm me and give me the third degree. Of course, it didn't help that I had been grilled at the gate before I even made it to his front door. Then, add to that I was dressed way too casual and then wound up taking him to a place he owns. The only positive event was the fact I got to kiss him and he accepted my gift." I could hear Duo laugh softly, letting me know he wasn't really laughing at me but at the outcome of the night.

"Whoa, and here I thought that finding out my internet man was the one person I had never expected would have been the craziest thing to happen yesterday. What'd ya give Quat?" I blinked, realizing that Duo had taken to calling Quatre Quat, while his sister had called him Kitty Quat. It really made me wonder if one of the reasons I liked him so much was because he reminded me of a cat. He was sleek, slender, and his hair always seemed to shine. Panthera was the same way.

"I gave him Charlie," I answered. Duo giggled softly, just like a school girl.

"Aww, how sweet. You gave him your sugar glider. I think that's cute, and so you, Tro-man. Giving the one you care for something you love." I could feel my cheeks heat and I found myself suddenly embarrassed. Duo seemed to know me very well. Perhaps even better than I realized. When had Duo become so good at reading people? Whenever it was, he seemed to have become unafraid to say what came to mind. Not that Duo had ever been afraid of speaking his mind, but he wasn't usually this straight foreword when it came to what he knew.

"Hn," I muttered. I then realized what he said earlier and I pounced on it, wanting to get his attention off of me. "So who was your mysterious poet from the internet? Do I know him?" Duo laughed and I could tell he had some rather interesting news to tell me.

"Oh, yeah. You know him Trowa. The whole school knows him. I find myself as the official boyfriend of one Heero Yuy." I gasped and Duo chuckled over the phone. This time, he was laughing at me, and not the situation. "Yeah, I thought it was pretty surprising myself. I couldn't believe he was my wonderful writer that I fell for over the internet. I also came to realize we both liked each other for a lot longer than just our internet time. Seems we had secret crushes on the other for a while. He helped me realize I can't take out certain idiots ways of thinking on everyone who happens to share something in common with them. I'm not against the rich any more, Trowa. I'm just against those who do stupid things."

"Let me get this straight," I began, surprise coloring my voice as I spoke to him. It was always amazing how unused I was to talking. Yet when it came to talking to Duo, I just couldn't shut up. It was like he brought out the motor-mouth in all of us. It was amazing and scary at the same time. "You are dating Heero Yuy?"

"Yep. I've got a name bracelet to prove it, too." I blinked. Had he allowed Heero to buy something for him? If so, then it really was love.

"THE Heero Yuy? The leader of the Regal Three?" I asked, still surprised. Duo laughed deeply then, his laugh infectious.

"Yes, Trowa, THE Heero Yuy. Although Quat's more the leader than he is." Duo shifted, and I could tell he was changing ears. "Besides the fact that you weren't the best you could have been, don't you want to see Quat again?" I swallowed, all my insecurities coming to light. I wasn't something he needed. I wasn't good enough for him. I was just a passing fancy that he would eventually let go of once he realized I wasn't going to be comfortable in his life. "Quit thinking that you don't deserve him, Tro-man. There is no one more worthy of him than you. Although you haven't been good with people, you could be. You just need a little help." I felt my eyes widen and I couldn't help but stare straight ahead. How had he done that?

"How?" I asked, not bothering to explain further. Duo sighed and I could tell he understood me.

"I KNOW you, Trowa. I know how you think. Tell ya what, how about I come over and stay the night tonight. That way I can help you get dressed for school on Monday and we can show Quatre a whole different side of you. How does that sound?" I glanced up at the mirror over my bed. Meeting my determined emerald gaze in the glass, I knew I would do anything to make things work for Quatre and me.

"Sure, Duo. Come on over. Yet you have to realize I don't have anything nice like you do." Duo snickered.

"Oh ye of little faith. I've got soooo much money put aside, I think I can afford to pick ya up something suitable." I felt a protest on my lips but it died with his next words. "Stop. No arguments. You know I'm not happy unless I'm doing something for someone else."

"But that's your house money, Duo. You're saving for a place of your own." I could hear him shrug, which was rather shocking.

"Doesn't matter. I'm needed here for the moment, Trowa. I can stay here a while longer. You are my best friend. The first real friend outside the orphanage I have ever had. I can't let you toss something that will obviously be very good for you away now can I?" I shook my head, even though he couldn't see it.

"Of course not. That would go against the Maxwell way of living," I commented. He chuckled.

"Too true, Trowa. So I'll be over in about twenty minutes."

"I'll see you then, Duo." We hung up at the same time. We always had that uncanny habit of never letting the other be the first one to hang up. I then sat back and waited for Duo to arrive, slightly nervous about what he'd be bringing.

Monday came around and I found myself dressed as I had never been dressed before. If I had my way about it, I possibly would never be dressed like this again. I felt uncomfortable, especially when I had gotten several whistles from girls I had never paid much attention to. Then again, I didn't really prefer women and thus I tended to ignore them in general. I walked to where Quatre and I had agreed to meet when I had dropped him off at home. I saw him first, dressed as nicely as he always was in a pair of dark gray slacks and a soft, white-pink shirt. His hair seemed to shimmer in the sun light. He still was very handsome, even when he wasn't trying too hard to be manly. His aquamarine eyes turned from Wufei, whom he was talking with and met mine briefly. He let them then skim over me and when they widened in pleasant surprise and wonder, I couldn't help but feel thankful for Duo's help.

I was dressed in a pair of dark navy colored slacks. They almost seemed tailored to my body, for as perfectly as they fit. Perhaps they had been. Duo was amazing me more and more with how much he knew about everyone. I had a short sleeved dress shirt of a very beautiful black color that had a very stunning picture of a snow tiger on the back of it. I hadn't even realized they had dress shirts that were this gorgeous. I could actually learn to like dressing like this. I think that was Duo's whole plan when he got it. My usual work boots had been exchanged for a pair of brand new dress shoes. My Economics teacher had taken one look at me and wondered if I was trying to take his job. I graced Quatre with a smile, both eyes visible. It had been Duo's work as well. He had arranged my hair so that it wouldn't fall into my eyes and hide them. He said I had very stunning emerald eyes that I should let the world see. I suppose, seeing Quatre's reaction, that Duo was right, once more.

"Trowa?" Quatre questioned as he came over to me, waving farewell to a retreating Wufei. I nodded, uncertain of what to say. After all, I may have dressed differently, but I was still uncertain on what to do in general. "You look really amazing," Quatre finally said, looking up into my eyes.

"Thanks. I got Duo's help. It seems I need to apologize for Saturday night. I wasn't a very smart date then and I want to make it up to you. How about tonight? Dinner and a movie?" Quatre's blue-green gaze seemed to soften in happiness.

"Sure. It sounds great," he answered, his smile warm. I laughed softly and raised his hand to my lips, kissing his palm softly.

"Good. Then it's a date, Kitty Quat," I said, my smile warm and teasing. After all, it was a nickname his sister's used on him. While I thought it was more than fitting, I knew that not everything was always perfect. Yet for this moment in time, it was for me.