Just a Shadow
Disclaimer: - I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters!
Chapter 8: Fun at the Zoo
Krage: Thanks so much for the review! I'm happy you like the humour! I can' seem to write a fic without adding traces of humour:P
Nolwe the Lady Dragon: It's not fair! I hope you get your account reopened soon! I'm happy you liked my decision of making the boys stay with him after all.
RP: I've saved your email address to my hotmail and I'll email you each time I update, you may end up getting emails for my other fics too though, I have a lot of people asking me to email them and I get confused sometimes.
Charlie00: Your review made me so happy! I don't mind that you haven't reviewed until now, you took the time to review eventually and that's what really matters! I'll continue o write as long as you continue to review!
Ms Son: Sorry that I didn't vote with tragedy rather than drama, but the drama/humour drama just seemed to make more sense. I'm happy you understand! Thanks so much for the review! I always love to et them from you!
The hit count is now up to 1258 with 26 reviews. Thank you to all the people who took the time to review my fic so far!
Normal – Present day
Bold Italics – Past/Flashbacks
Normal Italics – Flashback whilst in the past
"So what do you guys want to do?" Heero asked "We can walk or we can drive"
"What do you think?" Quatre replied "You live here, so you know best"
"I prefer to walk" Heero explained "Driving is quicker but parking is hell!"
"Walking it is then" Wufei replied, making his way out the door "Get a move on Maxwell!"
"Aww man!" Duo whined "You guys know I'm lazy! Are you sure we can't just drive?"
The braided man was met with for icy stares and began to laugh nervously.
"Geez! Okay, okay! I'll walk!"
After about 15 minutes, the pilots had made it to town and were being led by Heero to the zoo.
"I think you'll like it here Trowa" Heero commented
"Mmm?" the uni-banged man looked at Heero quizzically for a moment "I don't mean to be rude Heero, but how would you know?"
"I used to watch you with the lion's in the circus, and I saw the news article about you buying a lion cub when you moved in with Quatre"
"Oh" Trowa replied Why do you think I will like it there? There are many more animals in a zoo than lions"
"Yes" Heero confirmed "but for a limited time, there is a special display on at the zoo I'm taking you to"
"Which would be?" Duo asked curiously
"It's a secret" Heero replied, smiling slightly "You'll just have to wait and see! We're almost there anyway"
The four pilots watched as their former leader walked on ahead of them and exchanged a glance before catching up again.
"You really have changed eh Heero?" Duo asked "I mean you talk more, act friendlier, treat us out and I haven't heard one 'hn' since I got here"
Heero stopped and looked at Duo a while before a small smile crept onto his face and he continued to walk.
"Hn" he replied, earning a giggle from Quatre, a chuckle from Wufei, a laugh from Duo and even a smile from Trowa.
"Look guys!" Duo laughed "He even cracks jokes! Who are you and what have you done with Heero Yuy?"
"I'm not the only one who's changed" Heero commented "Quatre's a lot more confident, Trowa smiles and talks more, Wufei hasn't ranted about justice at all since he's been here and you seem calmer Duo"
"Well, we've all got to grow up some time!"
"Yeah right" Heero scoffed "As soon as we get to the zoo, you'll start running around like a five year old!"
"Will not!" Duo pouted after sticking his tongue out
"We'll see" Heero replied
The other boys just walked on silently, listening to their friends argue playfully.
"He's right you know" Wufei whispered to Trowa and Quatre "We have changed a lot"
"I know" Quatre smiled "Nobody ever wrapped it up in a nut-shell like that, so I guess we've never really noticed"
"Do I really talk more?" Trowa asked
Quatre and Wufei turned to each other before bursting out laughing. Trowa looked at them as though they had joined together and grown another head before his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"What?" he asked quietly "I don't think what I asked was funny"
"It was just so out of character Trowa!" Quatre replied, wiping a tear from his eye "You hardly ever ask questions, and you've never asked one about yourself before"
"Next thing you know he'll be asking whether that shirt makes him look fat!" Wufei sniggered
Trowa looked down at his top, then to the boys and then back to his top. That was just too much for Quatre and Wufei and they started laughing again. Trowa stared at them for a few seconds before re-evaluating the way he was behaving and chuckling quietly himself.
Duo and Heero were oblivious to the entire conversation and they were still in the middle of the argument.
"I will NOT!" Duo shouted
"Yes you will" Heero replied calmly
"WILL NOT!" Duo yelled
"You will" Heero replied quietly
"WILL NOT! WILL NOT! WILL NOT!" Duo screamed, sticking out his tongue
"We'll see"
Duo pouted as Quatre continued to laugh. Trowa smiled t his best friends and sighed shaking his head. Duo eventually broke into a grin and laughed with him.
"You two are idiots!" Wufei scolded, but the smirk gave away his true feelings "Here I am, taking care of Yuy and what are you dong? Laughing over some event from the past!"
"If I recall correctly" Trowa interrupted "You were also laughing a minute ago"
Wufei glared at Trowa, who quickly smirked.
"I'll take over Heero, you go join in the fun" Trowa ordered, taking a cloth from Wufei "If you'd have watched him with the porridge, this wouldn't have happened"
Wufei snorted and joined his other two friends.
"Clown boy is one to talk" the Chinese man snorted again "I can still remember the trouble he caused!"
Heero smirked at the expression on Trowa's face. Pure awe. It was not frequent for the silent man to show his emotion or let his mask slip, so when it did it meant he was truly feeling what was showing.
"Holy…"
"Please don't curse Trowa" Quatre interrupted
"I thought that was my line!" Duo grinned "I think Trowa's spaced out on us guys!"
Duo laughed loudly for a few seconds before he suddenly stopped. The others turned towards the braided boy, only to find him gone!
"Duo?" Quatre called, worry lacing his voice "Where are you?"
"Don't worry" Heero reassured "He's probably over there"
Quatre followed the direction in which Heero was pointing to the display of bats and killer beasts only to see Duo running around like a five year old trying to get into the cages.
Their attention was suddenly pulled away from their braided friend when a shout echoed through the zoo.
"Stop!" One of the zoo keepers yelled "You can't go in there! It's dangerous!"
Trowa paid them no mind however, as he approached the big cat's cage. For one week only, a special exhibition and trial was being held where a large number of different breeds of big cat were being introduced to one another. The keeper's hopes were that new breeds could be created through interspecies breeding such as the liger.
The cats at first growled at Trowa's intrusion on their territory, but soon enough he found himself nestled between several of the big animals. None of the zoo keepers could get close for fear f the large animals attacking them. They seemed protective of the quiet human.
"Have a nice time Trowa!" Heero called as he waved to the Heavyarms pilot before heading in another direction himself. Quatre followed, feeling no desire to join his friends with the animals. Wufei followed simply for the company.
Before long, the Chinese man found himself enchanted with the Komodo dragon and allowed the other two to go on without him. Heero and Quatre continued to walk through the zoo, talking about random topics and filling in gaps from the last five years.
"So you see Quatre?" Heero explained "I had to go because I had to be human again. I know I'm not perfect, but I get a little better each day and soon I'll probably even be able to come back with you guys"
"That would be wonderful Heero" Quatre replied sadly
"What's wrong?" Heero asked concerned at his usually happy friend's odd behaviour
"I'm just sorry"
"Sorry?"
"I'm sorry that we can't stay with you" the young blonde sighed "But everything's just so hectic right now!"
"It's okay Quatre" He replied "It was just a silly dream I had, to live with my family and be happy forever"
"Family?"
"You and the other pilots, that's why I did all of the decorating, it kept me busy"
"You consider us family?"
"Of course, you're the closest things to family I have" Heero explained "I've never had a real family, but I consider all of you to be my brothers"
"Heero…"
"I know" Heero smiled "That was really out of character"
"Don't give up Heero!" Quatre protested
"I know I'm being selfish even thinking you'd stay, but that's impossible, so I might as well just forget it!"
"Don't say that Heero" Trowa whispered
Heero spun around quickly and came face to face with Trowa and Wufei.
"You want us to live with you?" Wufei asked "Permanently?"
Heero nodded before staring at the ground and the three boys looked at each other.
"I accept"
Heero looked up and spotted Duo.
"What about the junkyard?" Heero asked
"I'm sure there's work around here"
"Well, there are lots, but what about Hilde?"
"I'm not with Hilde in that way man!" Duo explained "I'm not ready for a longterm relationship yet!"
"I must admit, it does sound tempting" Wufei smirked "May I join you in a year or so after I finish with Preventers?"
"But … I thought … what about Sally?"
"Same answer as Duo"
"I'm retiring from the Circus in the next two years" Trowa added "I would also like to accept your offer of accommodation"
"And Rashid is arranging for my sisters to take over the company gradually over the next two years" Quatre smiled "I would also like to live you Heero"
"But what about your homes?" Heero asked "Your families?"
"Heero" Duo grinned "You are our family!"
Heero lowered his head and a few silent sobs shook his body. The others smiled at him before speaking up.
"Yuy?" Wufei smirked "Are you crying?"
"No!" Heero sobbed lightly, but made no other indication he was crying
"I never thought I'd live to see the day my buddy shed a tear!" Duo grinned "When did you first learn how to cry?"
"I'll tell you in the cinema" he whispered, suddenly blushing lightly
"Are you okay Heero?" Quatre asked
"Yeah" Heero smiled "I just need someone to change the mood"
"Injustice!" Wufei shouted
Everybody, including Heero burst out laughing and Wufei smirked at his joke.
"I didn't think you would ever be the one to lighten the mood!" Duo admitted "Mr Wufei who-shoved-a-stick-up-my-arse-I-don't-know-what-fun-is Chang!"
"Very funny Maxwell!" Wufei growled
"Calm down Wufei" Trowa smirked "Duo's right … for once"
"Yeah! Did ya hear that?" Duo smirked but then his face vaulted as he realised what Trowa had said " Hey!"
A small chuckle escaped Trowa's lips and Duo pouted when all of a sudden the doorbell rang.
Heero groaned and Duo looked at the door warily
"What's wrong Duo?" Quatre asked
"Nobody ever visits us" Duo explained
"Calm down Maxwell!" Wufei sighed walking to the door "I'll get it"
A moment passed in silence before Wufei's voice could e heard.
"What are you doing here?" Wufei asked
"Who is it Fei?" Duo called
"I'm here to see Yuy" the person asked from the door "Can I come in?"
That's it for this chapter! I hope it was okay! Does anyone want the boys to go out anywhere or do anything? A birthday maybe? The cinema? Just leave your request in a review and I'll consider it! We've got a whole month to kill here people!
If anybody wants me to email them when I update, just ask me in a review, but email addresses don't come out very well so if you are anonymous write it in the email address space and if you are a member then please sign out and write an anonymous review. It makes things a lot easier for me!
Thanks.
Until next Time!
Clarobell