A/N: Alrighty, everyone. This is the last College Days chapter, and many thanks to all of those who have stuck with it since the beginning and to those who found it buried away. I'm actually going back through the entire story and fixing some horrid timeline inconsistencies (I have a beautiful spreadsheet that starts at Treiz's birth and goes well past the end of both the other couples stories.) So if anyone is feeling adventurous and wants to re-read, I'd say wait until I change the description to say 'revised' somewhere. And while I am re-editing CDs I am currently throwing little story snap shots of 5 and 6's story to Sylenctone, who fantastically puts up with my helter skelter way of writing a story. So hopefully, I'll be posting that sooner rather than later.
Warning: I also did all my own editing, so my apologies once again if things just aren't right.
Chapter 22 – The Gang's All Here
(Quatre POV)
I would love to say I was a useful member of society between the time that Trowa and I arrived back in Sanc from our trip to Massachusetts to when Heero and Duo arrived back from their honeymoon. But that would be a lie, because I wasn't...at all.
Trowa decided on the Monday we got back from Massachusetts to get some help in finding his lost memories. I think my talking of the past made him really want to remember it. My oldest sister, pulled some strings and Trowa was able to get an appointment on Wednesday with the best neurologist for the job. Luckily, he is in Sanc, which makes things much easier. It is stressful enough not remembering anything, but having to travel any significant distance to a doctor would probably make it even more stressful.
Wufei called to check on me Tuesday when we didn't show up to run. I assured him everything was all right and that we'll tell everyone what happened when we're all back in Sanc. He seemed a little miffed about that, but I didn't want to tell the story lots of times, and I didn't want to tell it over the phone, since it is Trowa's story as much as mine.
Trowa and I made sure to show up for the morning run from then on. Zechs just kept smiling, but I think it is hard not to smile when you are around people who emanate joy and love. The golden prince didn't ask us a thing, save for how our flights went. Wufei probably told him that we wouldn't be telling anyone anything until Heero and Duo get back. Which is why we are getting ready to go clubbing; to celebrate their return and marriage.
Zechs owns a club in the heart of Sanc's capitol city. I think he owns it because he can, than anything else, and we go there every once and a while to dance and have fun. We usually end up crashed in his private party room. And no, we don't do anything other than eat food, drink water, and pass out on the padded floor when we have danced all our energy away.
"Quatre, get dressed, we're going to be late." Trowa says as he throws a golden, almost sheer, top at me. I catch it and hold it up.
"Wait a minute. Don't act like it is my fault we're running late. You had plenty to do with it too." He gives me a wolfish grin and tosses a pair of leather pants at me, which I in turn toss onto the bed.
"What the hell is this?" I hold the 'shirt' up and look at it and frown when I can see Trowa through the thin fabric.
He laughs. "I found it in your things. It definitely isn't mine. And I can't see any of the other guys being able to pull that color off."
"It's see through." I whine.
He waggles his brow. "I know." He dives back into the closet and pulls out boots. "For clubbing?" He holds them out to me. "They look like it."
"Yes, for clubbing." I take the boots from Trowa. I'm not a big boot wearer, but they looked better with the leather than anything else did, so I went with them.
"Good, now get dressed." Trowa leaves my closet, gives me a quick kiss and goes to our bed where a pile of his clothes sit. And, yes, I did mean 'our bed.'
I nod my head obediently, but remain standing there, unmoving, just watching him getting dressed. He shimmies into his pair of low rise leather pants and I can't turn away. I've never seen him in these pants, but he looks delicious in them. They sit low on his hips, to an almost indecent level, but they hug his body like a second skin, so I doubt he's ever had any unwanted wardrobe fails with them. They have a button-up front, similar to mine, obviously those who made them understood that zippers were unkind if your pants leave no room for anything underneath.
"Quatre, dress." He orders and I try to pretend I wasn't staring at him.
Grumbling some nonsense, I do as told and walk over next to Trowa and pull my pants on. They aren't as tight as Trowa's, since I'm not really sure how he actually fit into his, but they don't bunch or slouch anywhere and they feel like a second skin. I look up from buttoning my pants closed and securing the decorative buckles to see my boyfriend standing there his black microfiber tank top on both arms, but not quite over his head. "You going to go clubbing like that." I ask with a seductive smile and run a finger from his abdomen to sternum and he moans softly, but pulls his shirt over his head. I move my hand as he pulls the shirt down.
"Why is it I feel like we can't make love enough?" He asks very seriously as he leans close.
"We're making up for the four years we've been apart." He nods, knowing that the answer is far more complicated than making up for lost time.
I snap out of quiet moment and realize I haven't pulled socks out yet, since I hadn't gone to the drawer to get underwear, and there was no way I was wearing my boots without them. Trowa is also putting his footwear on and, when I turn back after collecting socks, I stop and stare at him. The boots he has on are fucking beautiful, in that I'd actually consider letting him wear them while we are having sex, and I'm not really one for having any clothing on, because I like the feel of skin way too much. They are matte black knee high boots that look like they had been made for his legs. They lace up the sides and are secured further by black buckles, and I think the straps of the leather are embossed with some sort of design. They are beautiful on their own, but on him, they are drool worthy.
"How much did those cost."
Trowa chuckles and looks up at me, his hands still on one of the buckles. "About two thousand. I did a lot of clubbing Freshman and Sophomore year and I hated having to stop because my feet hurt. So I saved up and commissioned them. Don't regret doing it either. I have worn them so much that it has more than made up for how much I spent on them."
"I'm jealous now." I attempt to pout cutely.
"Quatre, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have a problem finding someone who would love to take your money to make you boots." He sits up and wiggles his foot about.
"Probably." I admit and sit next to him on the bed so I can put my boots on. "Though, they would probably mark them up for me, figuring I could afford to pay more."
He laughs at me. "Now you're just being cheap."
I harrumph. "Nothing wrong with that. Just because my family has more money than they know what to do with, doesn't mean I have to spend it frivolously."
Trowa rocks into my side and pushes me gently. "I know, but every once and a while you are allowed to be frivolous."
"Maybe." I make sure that I don't sound convinced and before I can process what is going on Trowa is pushing me back onto the bed, my feet barely touching the floor, and he's straddling my chest, his knees on either side of my body. How the hell is he doing that in those pants?
His lips are on mine before I can protest about being pushed back."I think you would look even sexier in your leather pants if you had boots like them." His voice is hoarse and I run my hands over his legs, feeling the smooth, warm leather. Then, without any warning he slides backwards off me and the bed. "That was not the smartest thing for me to do." His face is flushed red in embarrassment and there is a painful looking bulge in his pants.
"Think unsexy thoughts."
"With you standing there without a shirt, it is kinda hard. Actually, I don't think the shirt would make things better." He grimaces.
I grab my shirt and boots and walk out of the room. Then right at the door way I stop, smirk, turn around and say, "Doctor Hodgekins fucking Doctor Lidel." Trowa's face distorts into a look of absolute disgust and I bolt into the living room. Doctor Hodgekins, our psychology professor, has been nicknamed Jabba the Hut, for his likeness to slug creature in Star Wars. Doctor Lidel, our biology professor, is just ugly. In fact, she's often been mistaken for an extremely ugly man. She's sweet and brilliant, but was not blessed with any beauty.
Trowa makes a choking/gagging sound and comes staggering into the living room after me. "Oh god, Quatre, that is disgusting." He looks as if he's got a foul taste in his mouth, but the vision appears to have done the job. The giggles overcome me and I fall over the sofa laughing uncontrollably. "You are a sick, sick man." I'm laughing so hard that I'm crying. "Breath love. You're as red as a crayon."
I hold my hand out, he grabs it and pulls me up over the back of the sofa and into his arms. It is enough to stop my giggles, and the gentle kiss is enough to make them disappear completely. I pull away before it turns into something that would require us to conjure up more hideous visuals. "Love you." I say softly, gazing into his green eyes.
The side of his mouth curls up into a goofy, happy smile. "Love you too."
Just as we lean in to kiss again, my phone rings. "Shit." I bound over to it and answer. "Hi Duo ((you queers on your way?))...Yeah, we're on our way...((::chuckles:: You even dressed yet?)) mostly," I eye Trowa and he stifles a laugh." ((ok, then get down here, we want to hear everything))... We're leaving now. See you in a bit."
"Duo, by the sound of it?" Trowa asks as he picks the keys for the Rover off the rake and tosses them to me.
"Yeah." I look at the keys and then back to him.
"I don't want to have to get up out of a car." He makes a sweeping motion as if showing off his legs. "Less bending, they're not meant to do any of that."
"Ah, yes, good point." I sit on the arm rest and pull my boots and shirt on. Now that we're actually being missed, we should leave.
"Money? License?" Trowa asks and I grab my wallet off of the coffee table. It is nice being friends with the owner. No ID required to get in and we can keep valuables in the small safe in the private room so we can dance and not worry about something getting stolen.
We both make sure we have everything, which isn't much, and head out. The drive downtown isn't far, about 15 minutes from garage to inside the club. The exterior of the club is non-descript as if it doesn't want to be found. Nothing fancy, nothing that stands out, unless you know what you are looking for. There isn't even a name anywhere on the building that would imply that there were anything here at all, and Zechs likes it that way. He doesn't advertise the club, never has and never will, since he likes to control who comes in and who doesn't. He even tends to recruit three couples, gay, lesbian and straight to camp near the entrance and the bouncers watch those standing in line for any reaction; you show disgust for anyone of the couples making out, you are either a prude or aren't tolerant enough to be allowed in. I'm pretty sure he's prevented a lot of fights by weeding those people out before they get to the door.
We park between Heero's SUV and Wufei's bike. "Just the boys tonight?" Trowa asks as he slides out of the car.
"It does seem that way, doesn't it?" I grab my wallet and get out. When I hear both doors shut I arm the security system. As Trowa rounds the side of the Rover, I grab his hand and we walk towards the long line of people eagerly waiting to be admitted. I resisted the urge to make 'haha, I'm better than you' faces at those who would probably spend hours in line and never be granted entrance. The bouncer at the door greets us with a smile and allows us to pass inside without a word. There is a chorus of 'no fair' and other choice words and I can't help but giggle a little. Trowa tilts his head just a bit as if to ask what is so funny and I just shake my head. I'd probably be pretty pissed if I was standing on line and saw the bouncer let two people in without so much as a word to them or checking their ID, but at the same time, people like me always have a place in the owner's club, no matter how packed it is.
The interior of the club is the exact opposite of the exterior. It is almost classy, if you could have a classy dance club. The lights are low, but not so low that you would walk into someone or something. The walls are draped with velvet and silk, all dark colors, but done in a very artistic way, with warm colored lighting angled up into the folds of the silk and velvet to add a more dramatic mood.
The main dance floor is the dead center of the club. Off to the right is the bar and behind the bar are Zechs' private rooms. There are three more dance floors, one to the side and one to the back of the main dance floor and then one on the upper level. The upper level one had come to be where the ravers go to practice their skills with things that light up in the dark (glow sticks, balls and such). Most people stay away from there unless they feel brave and want to chance getting smacked in the face by a rouge glow stick. All dance floors are sound sealed from each other to prevent the music of one room bleeding into the next.
The main dance floor is textured marble, to prevent slipping when the floor becomes slick from sweat and drinks. Empty and with the lights on the place feels warm and inviting, full, with the lights dim, it feels almost primal and the pulsating music makes you want to act on animal instincts. It is certainly doing its job well as it is taking everything I have to not pull Trowa flush to me and move to the beat.
Any thought of dancing quickly leaves as we approach the bar. Duo, Heero, Zechs and Wufei stand in the corner. Heero is leaning against the bar, a bottle of water in one hand and Duo's braid in another. Duo appears to be bouncing, like he's very excited about something and produces a piece of paper from… I have no clue, seeing as he's wearing vinyl as tight as Trowa's leather and a black mesh 'shirt.' He unfolds it and hands it to Zechs. The prince looks at it, for a moment his brow furls and then he smiles and hands the paper to Wufei, who reads it and, for lack of a better way to describe it, freaks out.
Duo, looks incredibly proud of himself, as does Heero, and Wufei bolts behind the bar where he appears to be burning the piece of paper. Heero, puts his bottle behind the bar and starts reeling Duo back by his braid, slow enough that he doesn't fall backwards, but fast enough to make sure his husband isn't maimed by an angry Wufei. Zechs appears to be laughing as he fetches his love, who seems to be hyperventilating. I wonder what the hell was on that piece of paper to elicit that sort of reaction from 'Fei. As Trowa and I arrive within speaking range, Heero notices us first and nudges Duo to look in our direction.
Duo's face lights up, and he reminds me of a child who has just opened a box containing the gift they truly wanted, and he bolts towards us. He almost knocks me over as he tackles and hugs me. "Everything ok?" He says just loud enough for me to hear.
I can't help but beam. "Oh yeah."
He grins back and looks at Trowa. "Good to have you back Trowa. You've got a lot of catching up to do."
Trowa looks a little embarrassed. "I know. Working on it."
"Come on guys tell us your story and then we go dancing."
Duo turns around and heads back towards Heero and Zechs leads Wufei by the hand to the back room. I grin as I watch both couples lead the way, and I realize that I am truly happy. As sappy as it sounds, I really am. I glance at my love as we follow the other four, and he takes my breath away. He is beautiful in all imaginable ways and he's mine. I know that is a little creepy in how possessive it sounds, but he tried being other people's, like I tried to do the same, and we found out that it just didn't work.
Trowa and I have a long road ahead of us, but no couple is ever gets off the hook. It is just whether you choose to travel the road together or separately, and I know that someone is going to have to try awfully hard to pull us apart. I mean, we still found each other even after Trowa lost all his memories of our prior time together. I'm pretty sure that there is only thing that would have made sure we stayed apart, and that was to make sure one of us was dead, which is not something I choose to think about.
It is here that I will end my story. Oh, I'm sure more interesting things are bound to happen, and eventually, I think, Trowa and I will marry as well. Just not yet, we're going to work on getting him remembering what he has lost and get used to being with each other again. There will more than likely be other stories, but after this, I am no longer the storyteller. Thank you for listening.