Title: Morning Tea

Summary: A moment in the office. Heero, Duo and some really terrible bisuits.

Disclaimer: Don't own GW.

He's back again, twirling himself around in the office chair and gnawing on one of yesterdays biscuits. He seems more distracted than sad today, he keeps staring out the window as if he expects something to leap through it any second. I suppose it's preferable, since I don't like Duo being sad, but it'd obviously be an improvement if he decided to be happy instead.

It's strange that he's dropped by two days in a row. Normally it's not more than twice a week since we usually have lunch together. I'd suspect he had something to tell me except that he's not giving any kind of indication that he wants to talk. He's just sitting there in his own little world, revolving.

I watch him out the corner of my eye as I calculate provisions for my field mission next week. It's not more than a minute or two before I see him glance in my direction, then glance to the bin and back to me. The biscuit is obviously not agreeing with him anymore or he's now awake enough to take notice of his tastebud's. No doubt they're telling him he's not tasting much at all since I'm sure Relena forgot to put sugar in this batch. If she did, it clearly wasn't enough. Maybe she was making them healthier or something.

I made a show of looking through my desk draw for something giving Duo ample time to dispose of it before I turned back around. When I did, he'd rolled his chair up next to mine so he can take a look at my computer. I let him flick through the screens I had open and watch him add to the food supplies.

He grinned at me and poked me in the ribs, indicating that I'm already too skinny. I'm tempted to poke him back but it'd probably make him leap out of his chair. I liked where he was at the moment; very nearly pressed up against my shoulder. His knee bumps into mine every now and again as well. It's comforting to have him so close.

He spent a few minutes breaking my Tetris record while I organised the remainder of my Nenwai mission papers for filing, but sooner than I'd like he was up and out of my office again, taking a couple more of Relena's biscuits.

I sat there wondering about Duo and whatever problems he could be having until Maria brought me another cup of tea, then I stacked my folders on the corner of my desk and went back to my mission plan.

By the time I'd finished, it was well into my lunch hour so I packed up my desk and went to find Duo. He was sitting at a table in the cafeteria with a harried looking Trowa and a rather perplexed Quatre who seemed to be trying to convince him of something. Duo looked incredibly relieved when he saw me across the room.

The lunch lady, Amelie, made my sandwich as per usual, and I wove my way between the tables as quickly as possible in order to save Duo from whatever argument Trowa and Quatre were inflicting upon him. The tail end of the conversation didn't give me any clue as to what they were arguing about but it can't have been pleasant as Quatre was looking downright cranky when I sat down and Trowa was glaring at the wall. I glanced at Duo trying to get some kind of reading on what was going on but as soon as I looked his way Duo started talking about Hilde's new cat so whatever it was obviously didn't involve me.

Quatre left when Wu Fei showed up and Trowa went back to his office soon after. When Sally came and dragged Wu Fei away again I had a little time with Duo, but he left to go and find Quatre before our lunch hour was finished.

I sat there at the table for a while pretending he'd come back. Duo never used to leave me alone but he seems to do it all the time now. It's hard to watch him walk away. Once he's gone, he's gone. It used to be that I could never get rid of him, now he no longer even turns around to wave.

Nougat, I believe this is your fault.