Chapter Three

Sabotage

Relena decided to use her long awaited vacation time and stay with the men while Duo worked up his courage to speak to Quatre. According to Relena, their plan would only work if everyone truly believed Heero and Duo were still a couple: which meant...Relena got the guest bedroom and Heero was back with Duo. Duo didn't complain. With how high-strung he had become, he would need Heero to calm him down at night.

The hardest thing for Duo to get used to was living with a female again. The last girl he had lived with had been Hilde...and Relena was no Hilde. Hilde had scattered machine parts all over the living room; with Relena, it was perfume. Duo learned quickly that gardenia was NOT his favorite smell; unfortunately, for Duo...it was Relena's.

"But it's good for you, Duo!" Relena tried explaining.

"I don't care! It's making my head spin!" Duo screamed, running for the door.

Things ran pretty smoothly for the next week, and Duo was actually gaining his confidence quicker than even he expected, until one morning when Duo was jostled awake by Relena.

"Someone is at the door." she said.

Duo pulled himself out of bed. "So? Go answer it then." he groaned and pulled the blankets back over his head.

Relena glared and ripped the comforter off of him. "I can't! I'm not supposed to be here, remember?"

Duo groaned again and sat up. "Make Heero do it!"

Relena rolled her eyes. "Heero is at work. Did you forget? It's Wednesday."

Duo blinked. "But...He's your bodyguard! Why does he have to be at work when you're not?" he complained.

She sighed. "It was Heero's idea. He said it would be smarter for my own safety if the public didn't know I was on vacation. If he's at work, everyone will assume I'm there too."

"Humph," Duo grunted and hauled himself out of bed, comforter and all, and walked lazily to the bedroom door.

"I'm going to take a shower so I won't be seen. If whoever is at the door asks, just say I'm Heero." She called to Duo as he stumbled into the hall.

"Hn" was Duo's reply.

He walked sleepily through the house to the front door, silently cursing random individuals as he went.

Damn Relena for waking me…Damn Heero for not being here…Damn whoever it is at the door…

He hauled the door open and glared at the figure standing there. "What!" He shouted.

"Uhh…I just…"

Duo blinked. Quatre stood in front of him looking as though he'd just been burned. Duo's face fell and he straightened up.

"Quatre! I…I'm sorry, Little Buddy." He smiled one of his typical smiles and stepped aside for the still small blond to come in. "I didn't realize it was you. I kept thinkin it was one a them salesmen."

Quatre smiled his warm smile and Duo melted. "It's okay Duo. I'm sorry to wake you so early."

Duo shrugged it off. "Eh, it's okay. Would you like some tea? I'm sure Heero made some…" Duo trailed off as he made his way into the adjoining kitchen.

He looked around the small room and smiled. As usual, Heero had prepared a pot of Duo's favorite tea. He walked over to it and pulled it from the counter grabbing two cups as he went. He walked back into the living room to find Quatre sitting on the couch. He set the tea down on the coffee table and poured the tea into each cup. He picked one up and handed it to Quatre.

"Thank you!" The blond Arab smiled.

They're hands brushed as Duo handed over the cup and he thought he might pass out. He reached down and picked his own cup up taking a quick sip to try and clear his mind.

"So, Q-man!" Duo smiled and turned to Quatre. "What are you doing up so early?"

Quatre smiled. "Oh I'm always up this early. I like to get things done so I can relax in the afternoon." He placed his cup back down on the coffee table and looked at Duo. "And the reason I'm here is because I have a request for you and Heero."

Duo's ears perked up. Quatre's voice had taken on its serious tone and that meant something had gone wrong.

"Okay. What's up, Quat?"

"I think someone is trying to sabotage my company."

Duo blinked. "Sabotage? Why would anyone sabotage you?" Duo clamped his mouth shut, hardly believing what he said.

Quatre shrugged. "I'm not sure, to be honest. But I've noticed some strange things happening lately. Certain reports will find that no raw materials were found when I know for a fact that there should have been at least some. And our store houses seem to be growing slimmer the more missions we take."

"Hmm…sounds like a thief." Duo said.

Quatre nodded. "Yes, it does. However, I don't have the time to check it out and I can't send any of my people on it because it will be too obvious."

"So you want Heero and I to check it out."

"Actually I was hoping you would check it out. I know Heero is busy protecting Relena but I figured he could have some connections in the senate and might have heard something."

Duo nodded. "Well he hasn't mentioned anything…" Duo thought for a moment. "But sure Quat! I'd love to help you." Duo exclaimed suddenly worried that he sounded to eager.

Quatre smiled widely. "Oh thank you, Duo! I promise to pay you and-"

Duo shook his head. "No no. No pay. You're my friend, Quat."

Quatre smiled and Duo thought he noticed a blush before the smaller boy stood up.

"Well, I really should get back to the office. Thanks again for your help Duo. I'll keep you updated on the condition of things."

Duo stood and followed Quatre to the door.

"Oh and Duo…" Quatre paused before leaving the doorway.

"Yeah, Q-man?"

Quatre smiled again. It was one of those special smiles that he only reserved for his closest friends. "Thank you, again. I can't tell you what this means to me."

Duo felt his cheeks flush as Quatre walked down the drive to his car.

"Your welcome…Quatre…" Duo muttered as the object of his affection drove away.

He watched him until the silver car was just a speck in the distance. He sighed and closed the front door.

"You didn't say anything did you?"

Duo jumped and turned around. Relena was standing behind him in nothing but a towel and wet hair. Duo half glared at her but then his face fell.

"I…I just couldn't." He said looking down. "Besides!" He looked back up. "Quat's in trouble. He thinks someone is trying to sabotage him."

Relena's eyes widened. "What makes him think that?"

Duo filled Relena in on Quatre's problem and she listened carefully. "We have to help him!"

Duo nodded. "I know. I think I'm gonna head to his office today and see what I can find out. Can you tell Heero?"

Relena nodded. "Yes, I'll call him and tell him to get home quick."

Duo nodded and ran back to his bedroom. Digging through his dresser for something to wear Duo's mind was racing.

Why would anyone want to do anything to Quatre? He's so sweet…so perfect. And he's done so much for the world! How can anyone want to make him look bad?

Duo finally decided on a pair of tight jeans and a red muscle shirt. He quickly pulled them on and glanced in the mirror. His hair looked horrible. It was tangled and thrown all over the place. Duo gasped when he realized that Quatre had seen him like this. He ran to the bathroom and began franticly running his brush through the brunette locks. Once all the knots were gone he stared at himself in the mirror. He pulled his hair back and began to braid it. It had been a long time since he braided his hair. He had stopped after the war because Heero had mentioned he liked it being down.

Those days are over…

Hair braided and clothes on, Duo headed out the door. He climbed in his red mustang convertible (a gift from Relena and Zechs for his 18th birthday) and drove down the street heading to Quatre's office building.