Fortnight

Ch 01 – Milieu

by APs

Betas – gothic-pixel and justanotheranimefreak (Who are both awesome!)

A/N – Please read, enjoy, and review!

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd.

--- Bertrand Russell

Duo Maxwell had been living in his house for two weeks and, if he was honest, Wufei was quite content with the arrangement. True, that probably had a lot to do with the restful nights of uninterrupted sleep he'd been enjoying, but there was more to it. When they weren't conversing amiably, Duo made all the noise of a passing spirit. He was considerate of Wufei's work schedule and morning grooming habits, always managing to be out from underfoot. Then there were all the small things he did around the house.

Dishes were done. Groceries were bought. Clothes were laundered. Windows were washed. Wufei's house had always been orderly, but Duo made it downright Stepfordian, yet it also came out oddly warmer, the small attentions lending the place a dynamic, used feeling. He even went so far as to do the yard work and cook meals, which were nothing special, but certainly edible. Duo demurred that it was the least a good guest could do, but Wufei knew better. Two weeks of personal leave, hiding out as though he was back in enemy territory, with nothing to do except heal and think, and the man was about ready to go out of his skull. Wufei used extra dishes when he cooked and filled his hamper every other day, even if half of it was clean. Neither of them said anything.

It was when he learned to brew tea and rewired the house's security for the eighth day strait that Wufei finally decided it was time to do something, perhaps, drastic. He and Sally stood in Une's office, last meeting of the day. The Director was watching them with the care and interest one would an untested science experiment. Sally had her little uncertain frown fidgeting over her lips.

Finally, Wufei simply plunged forward, "I would like to request a temporary partner transfer."

Both women choked a little. Such things were not unheard of, but usually only happened when one of the partners had gravely offended the other. Sally had brought Wufei into the fold; they had always worked well together and were a senior field team. It would not go unnoticed. Une raised an eyebrow, "May I ask why?"

"A personal issue," Wufei crisply articulated.

"Which is?" Une pushed when she realized that was all he planned to say.

"Miss Po has been making advances toward me which I find inappropriate and have made me uncomfortable in her company," Wufei explained calmly.

Sally balked, but Une was still in control of the situation, "That's a rather lenient request for such a serious claim."

"She has not crossed any lines and I do not wish anything to be put on record, as it is entirely my personal, cultural views," Wufei let a placating hand rise. "As such I would also like to request that Miss Po be reassigned to Agent Yuy. They have always worked well together in the past and have never exhibited interpersonal issues."

"Agent Yuy's partner has been on personal leave for two weeks and I was under the impression that Agent Maxwell and yourself were not on good terms," Une informed the room in general, starting to catch the drift. Sally glanced between the two.

"I have no quarrel with Maxwell." Meaning one of them had a quarrel with someone else. "In fact, I am certain he will lodge no complaint upon his return."

Une was an intelligent woman. Sally's passes at Wufei were something of an office tradition and the shadow of things that had resolved themselves long ago. The fact that Wufei was taking personal responsibility for the personnel shuffle was enough for her to realize the real reason was sensitive and not his to tell. Finally, Une nodded, "Granted. Consider it official beginning tomorrow. Good night, Agents."

The two nodded to their superior and withdrew. They headed back toward their offices in palpable silence. The second the heavy stairwell door clicked closed behind them, Sally sighed.

Wufei halted, turned to face her and waited. A slap would not be out of line, or unexpected and Sally had never been one to need prompting. She only glared at him for long minutes, searching for something small yet unmistakable.

"The next time you decide to throw our partnership on the pyre," she growled, drawing out the 'r' and moving close enough for their noses to touch. She grabbed his collar and smashed their lips together, fierce and casually tender. And then she was gone, moving down the stairs and finishing her thought, "It had better be this sweet and you had better damn well tell me first."

He blinked after her, heard her snort 'jerk' before disappearing two floors below. The man leaned back against the banister and breathed, letting the tingle on his lips and tongue die slowly with fond thoughts of nights past. He would have married that woman in a heartbeat, even if, as she was fond of reminding him, what they had wasn't love. She said she could see it in his eyes, whatever that meant. She insisted on not ruining a mutually beneficial arrangement with formalities. Eventually, he'd stopped trying to explain respect and honor to her. She just kept laughing at him.

The soft click of the door sounded again and Wufei found soft emerald eyes watching him. Trowa was holding a steaming cup of coffee and waiting. Unlike the blankness Heero came by honestly through ignorance and confusion, Trowa's blank facade was carefully calculated, allowing him to react according to what people projected onto him. It was a tactic Wufei was familiar with and didn't particularly appreciate, even from the master himself. Certainly not from a friend. Wufei stared blandly at him, stubborn.

Trowa hid a smile behind a sip of coffee as he surrendered, making the first move, "Good evening, Wufei."

"Barton," Wufei acknowledged, softening despite knowing the taller man was laughing at him. They had played chess too many times not to know how the other operated.

"Headed home?" Trowa went to the top of the downward staircase and paused, an invitation. Wufei fell in beside him and they leisurely started down together.

"After I stop by my office," Wufei admitted. He glanced at the other's coffee, "Another late night in Intelligence?"

Trowa let a bone weary smile show, "Mission prep."

"Long term?" Wufei quirked an eyebrow at the taller man. Intelligence agents came in a few flavors. Some were connected, high or low; others were good with computers, patterns, or people. Trowa's flavor was distinctly undercover. That generally meant solo missions and long commitments. Quatre was his contact.

Emerald eyes studied air, his cup lingering by his lips, "Long enough."

So, this was one of those conversations. Trowa had never asked anyone to watch after Quatre while he was away, at least never explicitly. Things may have been implied. The few times Wufei had been tapped, diners and activities may have just happened to be planned. It wasn't like he was spying or babysitting, more like making himself available. Quatre was his friend, after all, even if the blonde man didn't quite understand Wufei as well as he did the others.

"You're leaving tonight?"

"Gone," Trowa corrected. He was already on the clock. Plan A must have fallen through, Wufei realized, Heero and/or Duo.

"Then you should go," Wufei admonished lightly. He knew how much this meant to the willowy ex-pilot, "And put your mind at ease."

Trowa nodded, "Diner and a movie tonight at your place."

Wufei froze, surprise clear on his face. The other man stopped, puzzled. It had only been a simple warning. Quatre was planning to surprise Wufei. Quatre had gone to Wufei's house with old security codes. Odd in itself because they always informed each other when they were even considering switching them. Quatre would have to knock. Wufei's brain rallied admirably, "My house is a mess."

Trowa laughed, a rare enough sound, even now, rich and always slightly surprised by itself, "He wanted a less formal setting."

"So he chose to make me his host?" Wufei challenged in an exasperated growl. Trowa made a motion Wufei equated to a sympathetic shrug, even as that small taunting smile made its return. They reached the floor with Wufei's office and he turned aside.

Trowa continued casually downward, "Good night, Wufei."

"Barton." Wufei sighed, bypassing his office moving directly toward the lobby stairs and out to the parking lot. Quatre may already be knocking on his front door.

Wufei let out an explosive breathe he hadn't realized he'd been holding when he rounded the corner and saw his house. He wasn't exactly sure what he'd been expecting, but to his great relief as he guided his car into his garage, the house was still there and there were no extra vehicles on the street. He had time. Time to do what, he had no clue, but at least he had time to think about that now.

At the door, he put all the necessary information into the panel discreetly built into the wall beside his door. Heero had been the major designer of the system they all used, but they had each had a hand in its creation. Preventer's security was a pitiful joke by comparison. Honestly, Wufei did not normally use it when he was home. If someone decided to attempt to rob or assault him, in his home, then a security system was certainly the least of the fool's worries. Duo, however, relaxed more with it active.

"Welcome home, buddy," Duo greeted from the couch as Wufei stowed his shoes comfortably beside sturdy, old boots in the foyer. The braided man put aside the schematics he'd been reviewing and stretched, "What do you want for diner?"

"Winner is on his way over," Wufei notified him briefly. Duo took a moment to absorb it and Wufei watched him as he shrugged out of his standard issue jacket, "I can ask him to a restaurant, if you'd prefer."

"No," Duo finally sighed, letting a flippant little smile settle, "I can't hide forever. I completely forgot Trowa was leaving today."

So Duo had been plan A. Wufei barely had time to nod before a firm rapping sounded from the door behind him. He opened it to find Quatre, toting heavy looking bags and worrying, his natural state of being.

"Winner," Wufei greeted.

Quatre brightened, but only to polite levels, "Hello, Wufei. I hope this isn't too forward, but it's really been too long and I thought we could keep each other company tonight. I brought diner."

"But did you bring wine?" Duo laughed, slinging an arm over Wufei's shoulders to fit in the doorway.

Quatre jumped at the sudden appearance and Duo's nearly healed, yet stubbornly mangled face. All the blonde managed was, "Duo!"

"In the flesh," the man grinned. Even as he lounged against him, Wufei could feel Duo's tension, ready to break and run.

"What happened to your face?" Quatre was frowning, though he was far more relaxed now there was another person present.

Duo laughed again, a little sharp and a little bitter, "I blocked a fist with it."

Quatre blinked and glanced at Wufei, who was maintaining a strict neutrality he'd learned from years of being a fifth wheel. That told the blonde more than enough, though, as the Chinese man would never remain thus for anyone outside their group. Decisively, Wufei grabbed Quatre's burden and pushed it into Duo's chest, using the contact to maneuver himself and the other man out of the blonde's way. While Duo gaped at him over the bags, Quatre took the hint and stepped inside. Such matters were not for doorsteps and entryways. As the blonde slipped out of his loafers, Wufei shot Duo an appraising look.

The American rolled his eyes and grinned, "I'll go start diner."

Wufei nodded as he took Quatre's coat. Quatre stood in the living room in business casual and black socks, watching Wufei and trying to word his question correctly. Wufei sighed, "He's been here for two weeks."

Aquamarine eyes flashed, but the tone was kept polite, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"It is not your concern, Winner," though his voice was soft, Wufei still saw Quatre flinch. They both knew he wasn't trying to hurt Quatre's feelings, or make him uncomfortable, it just seemed to happen that way. It was common knowledge among them that Wufei considered them his clan, closer than brothers, yet his manner still managed to disquiet Quatre. Wufei had gone so far as to call him Quatre for an entire evening once, but it had only made things worse. The man was neither his significant other, nor his child, and referring to him so familiarly right in front of his lover had been unnatural and nearly indecent to Wufei's sensibilities. He had taken Trowa aside to explain and though he knew the taller man respected the cultural difference, he suspected he didn't fully understand. Wufei still remembered the first time he had spoken Meiran's name. He cherished that memory.

"You two coming to help, or what?" Duo smirked from the kitchen doorway.

Quatre was suddenly beaming as he padded toward the kitchen and Wufei found himself envying the American's odd ability to put others at ease. Where ever Duo was, he was in his milieu. Wufei's place in the world seemed to have died with his clan. He knew otherwise, of course. Both that Duo was never as comfortable as he seemed and that he, himself, had found a place of acceptance. That didn't stop him from feeling it, though, as he watched the other two bustling about his kitchen.

Duo was chopping vegetables, Quatre was at the stove, and they were prattling about this or that, small things neither of them really cared about. Wufei would grunt occasionally at some inane question. They both artfully omitted any references to the other's partner. Wufei found it fascinating, a verbal ballet.

"Hey, Wufei, what do think of--" Duo just stopped, testing spoon steaming in hand and violet eyes fixed over Wufei's shoulder. Quatre was wide-eyed. Finally, Wufei turned. Standing like a statue in the kitchen doorway was one, Heero Yuy.

"What the hell is this?" Heero was genuinely asking, completely confused.

"We're making diner," Duo informed him glibly. "Just what the hell are you doing here?"

Heero glared, "I knocked. When no one answered, I got worried."

"Worried equates to breaking and entering now?" Duo reasoned lightly, his own eyes narrowing dangerously. Quatre was not helping matters, looking guilt stricken by the stove. Wufei noted sourly that no one seemed capable of using his damned doorbell.

The glare darkened into a glower. It was still hard for Heero to express himself and being mocked did little to make it easier, whatever Duo may have thought. Heero held up a piece of paper he'd been holding, "I wanted to ask about this."

Duo laughed harshly, "Tell me you didn't track me down about paperwork, you asshole. I'll do it when I get back to work."

"With your new partner?" Heero snarled. Wufei could make out the personnel transfer notification in Heero's hand and gave himself a ruthless mental thrashing.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Duo let his brow furrow. He really didn't. Wufei had forgotten to tell him.

Heero, however, was not having it, "I've been reassigned as of tomorrow. You could have at least told me yourself."

Duo slammed both hands down on the island, contents of the spoon splattering, "I didn't do it! I didn't even know about it!"

"I did," Wufei cut in tersely. All eyes cut to him where he sat calmly. "I believe Yuy came to speak with me."

Heero's expression fell into blankness, glancing warily between Duo and Wufei. He nodded, but his eyes settled on Duo, cobalt flashing dangerously and he started forward. Now he'd found the man, he had things to say.

Wufei stood abruptly, "We can talk in the living room."

"Get out of my way, Wufei," Heero stated, colder than ice at being barred.

Wufei stood firm, watching him mildly, "You are in my home, uninvited. Any action you take against my guests is action taken against myself. Now, Heero Yuy, we can speak civilly in the living room, or you can leave."

Icy cobalt clashed against indifferent onyx. Heero was strung like a bow, ready to snap. Wufei was coolly serene. Heero stood head and shoulders above the Chinese man with forty pounds on him, easily. Of the pilots, Heero was undisputedly strongest, much as Duo was fastest. Yet, out of the lot, Wufei was the only serious martial artist. Wufei had seen Heero fight. He was deadly. Chang Wufei was not intimidated by Heero Yuy.

Heero drifted back to a blank stare, turned, and trudged into the other room. Wufei cast the barest of warning glances at the other two ex-pilots before following him. Heero was waiting and once Wufei stood beside him, brandished the paper in a silent question, arching a single eyebrow.

Wufei nodded, "I requested a temporary transfer."

"Why?" Cobalt eyes screamed betrayal.

"Officially, Po was offending my cultural boundaries," Wufei offered with a faint smile. Heero wasn't amused, though he did seem to register that, on the record, this had nothing to do with him. "Unofficially, Duo needs to work, but not with you."

Heero was lost. Wufei had realized a couple years ago that when Duo was in turmoil, he had to do something to work through it. Physical exertion was synonymous with emotional purge for the man. For Heero, emotions were physically exhausting enough on their own.

Wufei sighed, "He'll be in the same building, Yuy. This will help."

Heero clenched his jaw and balled his fists, but nodded. It left Wufei awkwardly between preparing to block a punch and letting the man cry on his shoulder. Everything was running both hot and cold and neither liked it much. Wufei took the time to take stock of the man before him. Heero was pale with dark bags under his eyes, lending him a particularly ghoulish look he'd managed to outgrow since the war.

Frowning, Wufei went back to the kitchen doorway where he interrupted a quiet conference all its own, "Winner, could you make up two plates and see Yuy home?"

He had everyone's attention again, placid as ever. Quatre nodded and started the preparations. Heero's reaction was not so compliant.

"I don't need an escort," Heero asserted.

Wufei turned back to him, "If you won't take care of yourself, we'll see to it for you."

Heero glared, again, "I'm not--"

"Yuy," Wufei cut clear through the low threat, "You will leave and you will eat, then sleep, or I will personally see to it next time." There was another lapse in time where they evaluated each other, cold calculation. It always added up the same. Heero scowled. Wufei smirked fondly.

Then Quatre was there, carrying a bag and refitting his coat and shoes. He smiled at the two having a glaring match from the door, "Ready, Heero?"

Heero nodded and moved toward the door, Quatre moving on ahead and Wufei close behind him. Once Heero was across the threshold, he paused and fixed Wufei with a look the Chinese man couldn't quite pin down. Cobalt eyes flitted over Wufei's shoulder quickly, "Be careful, Wufei."

Wufei watched his two fellow ex-pilots drive away with a confused frown before closing the door. Be careful with what exactly? Did Heero not think he could take care of his partner? Lost in a downward thought spiral, Wufei nearly missed the darkly smirking figure leaning against his kitchen doorframe.

"Did you really just pick a fight with Heero Yuy and send him home like a spanked puppy?" Duo's grin was slightly malicious, the broken nose wasn't helping.

Wufei blinked, "No, and I believe he tried to pick the fight."

Duo cackled, not laughed, cackled. It was too mean and too harsh to be laughter. "Wufei Chang, champion of the weak and defenseless."

Wufei snorted, "Don't be an idiot. Yuy was angered due to my actions. It was only right that I explain."

"Yeah, well, Heero's not alone on that front, buddy," Duo smiled at him. Wufei had never been fond of Duo's cheeky smiles, they smacked of violence.

"You're going back to work," Wufei told the American bluntly.

"Maybe I don't want to," Duo half shrugged.

Wufei stared at him with that implacable calm and Duo's smile faltered, then failed. Duo wanted to go back, he practically ached for it. Being useless was something none of the ex-pilots could abide for very long.

Finally, Duo caved, "Alright, but what's all this about new partners?"

"I requested a temporary transfer," Wufei repeated.

Duo quirked an eyebrow, "Why would you do a thing like that? Sally's going to kill you when she finds out she's stuck with me, even temporarily."

"What makes you think you're with Po?"

For a moment they stood looking at each other in equal bewilderment. Duo smirked, "She's really going to kill you if you stuck her with Heero."

Wufei crossed his arms, "I happen to know they work quite well together."

"If you say so," Duo grunted, running his tongue over his teeth. "Living together, working together. Geez, people are going to start getting the wrong idea, man."

"The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd."

Duo gave him an odd little frown before sighing, "Yeah, I suppose. Just, next time you plan to do me a favor, ask."

Wufei nodded, "How would you like to learn formal martial arts?"

Duo cracked a suspicious grin, eyes narrowing, "Were you planning to teach me by randomly attacking me?"

"No," Wufei conceded, "but if that's the way you would prefer I can always try."

That got a laugh out of Duo, actually somewhat happy this time, "I don't think so, man."

"Then we can just leave early tomorrow morning," Wufei informed him with a soft smirk.

Duo seemed to weigh his options carefully, "Fine. Guess I'm headed to bed."

"You're not having diner?"

Duo waved an arm at him as he went toward the bedroom hallway, "I ate when we fixed the others' stuff. There's a plate waiting for you. Night, Wufei."

"Good night, Maxwell," Wufei grunted after the quickly retreating back and its swinging braid. He went to the kitchen to eat alone, which he realized felt strangely odd. As he picked at the pasta dish the others had worked at for so long, the silence seemed out of place. It was a meal that had been crafted to eat with friends and suddenly seemed very unappealing. He pushed the plate away with a quiet sigh. Duo had only been there two weeks and, if he was honest, Wufei had acclimated a little too well.

Allora Gale – Thank you. Here it is, hope you enjoyed.