More GW to archive
Title: The Silent Series
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Pairings: Eventual 1x2, 3x4 and 5xR
Rating: Varies from G to NC-17
Chapter Two: Silent Reunion
By Moonraven
“Trowa. Quatre.” Heero nodded to the two young men in the room.
“Heero.” Trowa nodded solemnly back but Quatre beamed at him from across the room. He had never understood how these two could communicate with only a few words between them.
“How are you, Heero?” Quatre asked as he came forward and embraced Heero. “We were worried that maybe Relena was really sick.” He stepped back and watched Heero closely. Something was not right with Heero. He sensed resignation... pain... and something else he couldn't quite name. Regret? Quatre turned and glanced at Trowa but as usual, nothing could be read on the tall brunet's face.
“I'm fine, Quatre, thank you,” Heero said quietly. “And so is Relena. She's safe with Wufei at the moment.”
“Wufei?” Trowa asked, one delicate eyebrow rose elegantly.
Heero nodded. “He's back from New L5.” Heero turned and gave Quatre a small smile. “It seems you've struck a protective cord in Wufei as well.”
Quatre suppressed an urge to roll his eyes. He glanced sideways at Trowa but the taller man was staring stoically at a point somewhere behind Quatre's left ear. The blond sighed inaudibly and gave Heero a tight smile. “That appears to be the ONLY thing I can strike in anyone,” he mumbled half to himself.
Then, not wanting to dwell on the gloomy subject of his unrequited love for Trowa, Quatre shook his head ruefully and gave Heero a bigger smile.
“Where are you staying? Trowa has done a marvelous job securing the grounds as well as the living quarters. And you know we have plenty of room; you must move in here with us.”
Heero raised a brow at his last comment and Quatre's eyes widen in horror. THAT didn't come out right at all! He dared a peek at Trowa from under his bangs but nothing in the other man's expression gave anything away. If Trowa had noticed how cozy his offer had sounded, he gave no indication of it.
“No offense, Quatre but there are too many people here who might recognize Relena even with her disguise.” Then Heero frowned as he suddenly realized something and asked abruptly, “Where's Duo?”
Quatre blinked at Heero, and then turned to Trowa for help.
“Duo is checking the security at the space port,” Trowa said smoothly. “He won't return for sometime.”
Quatre could see Heero's shoulders relaxed slightly and the ex-Wing pilot nodded. “Good. There's no point arguing with him about this.” He looked from Trowa to Quatre knowingly. “I take it he wasn't too happy with Relena and I being here?”
Trowa said nothing; he just stared at Heero. Quatre cleared his throat and waved his hands airily. “You know Duo... I'm sure he'll be very glad to see you, just...well...not Relena...AND you...together...” Quatre broke off awkwardly. He wondered for the hundredth times how he could speak eloquently in front of millions of people but couldn't string one complete sentence together in front of his friends.
Trowa shifted his gaze to Quatre for a few seconds then went back to watching Heero again.
Heero didn't comment but looked skeptically at Quatre for a moment before he turned to Trowa. “Let's go over the plans.”
Trowa nodded and looked at Quatre. “Are you done?”
“Yes.”
Trowa spoke into his lapel again, telling one of his men to come and stay with Quatre. The blond frowned and protested. “Trowa, I don't need constant supervision; I'll be perfectly fine on my own for few hours. Besides, I want to come with you too.”
His head of security studied him for a full minute before nodding. Trowa canceled his last order then led them out into the adjoining room, which served as his office.
“You're cutting this a little close aren't you?” Trowa asked Heero as they poured over the details. "The conference is tomorrow and Relena isn't secure here yet."
"She’s secured,” Heero replied, not looking up at the map. “She just won't be here until tomorrow." Then he pointed to the southern wall enclosing Quatre's 200 acres home. “How many men do you have here?”
“Four at the gate and one every fifty feet along the wall.”
Quatre watched the two men lose themselves in the details of the upcoming event and smiled a sad little smile. It was so easy to slip back into the soldier mode, even their tone of voice changed. Quatre shivered involuntarily then moved closer to Trowa and peered down at the scattered contents on the table.
Listening to Trowa and Heero discuss strategies and security plans brought back bittersweet memories of their time together and Quatre had to swallow the rising lump in his throat. The war may have held some very unpleasant memories for Quatre but he could never regret that it had brought Trowa into his life. Not that it had done him any good. Four years after the war and Trowa was no closer to being his than he was during the war. But at least, now he was close by.
Quatre remembered the time when Trowa had suddenly started taking assignments that kept him far away. He had worried ceaselessly and every sense of loneliness and pain he had detected - no matter that it probably wasn’t Trowa - became his private hell. He kept imagining Trowa all alone, hurt or dying. It ate away at his health, making him ill.
Then Quatre got shot.
No matter how serious the incident was, Quatre was thankful that it happened; it brought Trowa back almost immediately... and he hadn't left Quatre's side since. He fought to be allowed to be Quatre's head of security and only consented to Duo or Wufei replacing him when it was necessary. Even Rashid had to take the back seat when Trowa was that determined. Guilt was a powerful thing.
Quatre sighed at the memories and his two friends looked up from their discussion.
“Something wrong?” Trowa asked. “Did we miss something?”
“No!” Quatre shook his head quickly. “If anything, it's overkill.” He grimaced at the taller man. “Really, Trowa, one would think that I'm not the same person who piloted a Gundam and destroyed a whole colony.”
Trowa frowned and looked away from Quatre. “I thought we weren't bringing that up EVER,” Trowa reminded him quietly.
Quatre sighed. “I'm sorry. I know you're just doing your job, nothing more, but it does make me feel helpless... useless sometimes. I used to defend colonies, Trowa, protect people who can't fight for themselves and now I'm reduced to making speeches and cowering behind men who're willing to come between me and my death...”
“You’re not cowering,” Trowa interjected, his voice almost harsh. “You put yourself in danger every single time you make those speeches. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I am not ashamed. Just…” Quatre spread his hands helplessly. When the other men failed to respond, he gave an exasperated sigh. “Never mind. I'll go see to the menu or something equally important. Please carry on." It was hard to keep the sarcasm out of his voice but Quatre managed it. Gods knew he had plenty of practice. With his frustration partially in checked, he spun on his heels and walked out the door before either of the men could speak. He certainly left before Trowa could scold him or call a baby-sitter for him.
Quatre leaned his back on the closed door and closed his eyes. As horrible as the war was, some part of him wanted to go back to those times when the others actually fought beside him; when they had allowed him to risk his life like they risked theirs; when they respected his judgment and decisions… when they didn't treat him like he was a liability.
When he belonged... when he was one of them.
Quatre sighed. He really must stop the self-pity, which he was getting far too familiar with. Sure some days he felt empty, and useless (days that came by more frequently of late) but there were plenty of days where he felt good about his role in society; where he knew he had actually made a different in this new world they had fought hard to bring about. He really should focus on those days…
Quatre rubbed his eyes tiredly and pushed himself off the door. He walked towards the kitchen, though he had absolutely no intention of thinking about the menu. Sa-an, his to-die-for cook, usually had a few batches of chocolate chip cookies made at this time… he was going to make sure he got at least a dozen to take to the library. Maybe he’d take them all just so Trowa won’t get any! Ha! He was beginning to feel better already.
As he turned the corner, two men came out of the shadows and followed a few paces behind. Quatre shook his head mentally and thought about withholding more than just cookies from Trowa - dinner for next two weeks should do it. Quatre muttered a few choice words, courtesy of Duo Maxwell's vocabulary list, and swore that between Rashid and Trowa's men, they were slowly but surely suffocating him to death.
So he received a few more death threats than the average person. That didn’t mean he couldn’t take care of himself… Well, getting shot and nearly dying probably didn’t help his argument but how many of them hadn’t been shot at? Really!
He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs for SOMEONE to take him away from all this.
But he wanted that someone to be Trowa and Trowa would never do that...
== == ==
Relena Peacecraft stared in disbelief as Wufei settled comfortably on the couch with his book, completely prepared to ignore her. Of course she knew that casual conversations were probably not in the Stoic Bodyguard Handbook, but complete silence after just two minutes into his shift? He has got to be kidding! Well, let just see how long he could ignore her.
Relena walked over to the door but before she could open it, Wufei's deceptively soft voice stopped her.
“Where do you think you're going?” His voice was practically at her elbow and Relena gasped in surprise. She turned around and involuntarily took a step back when she found his hard black eyes regarding her from just a few feet away. She didn’t hear him move at all… Relena pressed her back against the door and swallowed. Even Heero, in his darkest mood, couldn't put the odd fluttery feeling in the pit of her stomach like this man could with just a look.
“I... I'm going out.” She lifted her chin slightly to let him know that she wasn't afraid.
“Really.” Wufei looked at her as if she had spoken another language. He continued to watch her silently until she began to lose her temper.
“No, actually, I like to open the front door now and then for entertainment! Would you care to join me?” You are a princess, Relena. She told herself. You have stared down egotistical dignitaries and pompous royalties all over the galaxy; you could certainly handle one ex-Gundam pilot...
“Heero said that we're to stay here until he returns,” Wufei replied, completely ignoring her comments.
You are one tough woman, Relena…
“Do you always do what Heero tells you?” She challenged softly.
One of Wufei's delicate black brows rose and his eyes narrowed calculatedly. Relena didn’t think that was an easy thing to do. “When I have given my word, yes.”
“I believe your duties were to keep me safe, Wufei Chang, not to be my personal jailer. And since I intend to go out, you can keep your word to Heero by joining me.” She used her best ‘non-negotiable’ tone and hoped he fell for it like many of the representatives she had to mediate for.
Well... Judging by the look that flashed across Wufei's face, Relena guessed that her strategy didn’t quite work the way she had wanted it to.
“How about... ‘NO’?” For a second there, he had almost looked amused.
Relena took a deep breath and reminded herself again that she was the princess of a pacifist nation. She could NOT do what she really wanted to do, which at that very moment involved violence to the person of one infuriating ex-Gundam Pilot.
No violence, no violence...
“How are you going to keep me here, Wufei? Tie me to the chair?” Relena asked; her face lifted in quiet defiance.
Wufei actually looked thoughtful for a few seconds though he remained quiet as he watched her.
“I didn't think so.” Relena turned towards the door once again and reached to open it when a steely hand gripped her wrist firmly. She gasped and turned to stared at Wufei in disbelief.
“Unhand me, sir!” She straightened to her full height of 5’6” and managed to stare down a man who was at least a good many inches taller than her. “This is hardly a behavior of an honorable man!”
Wufei dropped her hand immediate and took a step back. “Forgive me.”
Although his apology seemed automatic, Relena did her very best not to break into a smile. She nodded curtly, thinking that this whole ‘honorable’ thing might come in handy after all.
As Wufei was distracted with self-reprimand, Relena opened the front door and slipped out.
Wufei's cursing could be heard as she nearly sprinted down the hall in her haste to get as far from him as possible before he caught up to her.
“Good afternoon.” She slowed to a brisk walk as she passed an elderly couple. “Beautiful day, isn't it?”
They nodded with a smile and she hurried on, knowing full well that Wufei was just a few steps behind her. Relena bypassed the front desk and slipped out the side door. When they were out of the building and in the relatively secluded area by the side of the building, Wufei moved in front and barred her way. The thunderous look he gave her was enough for Relena to gulp audibly, never mind that it was not ladylike.
“Have you changed your mind?” She asked innocently while trying not to look nervous.
“What on earth do you think you're doing?” Wufei's quiet voice was carefully controlled though the angry flash in his eyes showed how furious he was.
“I want to see the city. After tomorrow night, everyone will know that I'm here and I won't be able to. Please, Wufei.” When all else failed, beg. It wasn't something she would have done when she was younger but she'd learned much about people since then. Having convictions about something was good and fine but stubbornness and inflexibility just didn't get you anywhere.
Wufei looked taken aback for a second then shook his head. “Heero would not approve.”
“Grrrr!” Relena clenched her fists in frustration. “I don't care whether or not Heero approves. I want to see the city!” Did she say she had learned much about people? Obviously she hadn't had extensive dealings with Wufei Chang!
Wufei frowned at her disapprovingly and crossed his arms.
“What?” Wasn't he going to say anything? He was just... staring.
“Where I came from, a woman does not dishonor her betrothed in such a manner,” he reprimanded sternly.
It was Relena's turn to stare at her companion, her mouth hung open rather unbecomingly. At Wufei's deepened frown, she snapped her jaw shut and swallowed.
“B-betrothed? What are you talking about?”
If the creases between Wufei's brows got any deeper, Relena was afraid that his face would crack.
“You and Heero are betrothed to each other,” he told her impatiently.
“Says who?” Relena asked, completely mystified. The last rumors about them were almost two years ago and they were only lovers then. When had THAT escalated to ‘betrothal’?
Wufei blinked at her uncomprehendingly. “You mean... you're not?”
“No! I cannot believe that YOU, of all people, would listen to rumors.”
The muscles in Wufei's jaw twitched as he glared at her.
“You don’t know anything about me,” Wufei said tightly. “As for this little rumor as you called it, it was never denied by Heero. All of us, including Duo, believed it to be true.”
Relena didn't understand the significance of ‘including Duo’ but that was the least of her concern at the moment so she filed it away to ask Heero later. Now she had to deal with Wufei.
“Well, it's not true and since I am no longer dishonoring ANY betrothed, can we go see the city now?”
“NO!” Wufei threw up his hands in disbelief. “What part of ‘we have to stay here, it's not safe to be wandering around’ don't you understand?”
“What part of ‘no one recognizes me so I'm safe’, don't YOU understand?”
From the look on his face, Relena was sure Wufei was ready to throw her over his shoulder, to hell with dishonorable behavior. Luckily for her, from somewhere behind them, they heard someone clear their throat.
“Excuse me, folks.” A strange voice called to them and Wufei turned abruptly to face the newcomer, putting himself between Relena and any potential danger.
Two tall men in Peace Officer's uniform watched them from a few feet away, their hands resting casually on their batons as they gauged the arguing pair.
“Are you all right, Miss? Is this man bothering you?” One officer asked.
Relena blinked blankly at the men and then had to suppress a giggle as Wufei grunted and stiffened in front of her.
“No, officers. I'm fine, thank you very much.” She moved from behind Wufei and glomped onto his arm, ignoring the choking sounds from her bodyguard. “My boyfriend and I can't seem to agree on where to go, there are so many things to see. Can you perhaps make a suggestion?” As Relena smiled disarmingly at the peace officers, she was aware that Wufei was so stiff if she tugged just a tad harder, she was sure he'd tip over and fall.
“Oh that's easy; the pier two blocks down is quite romantic. You get the perfect view of the city as well as the ocean,” one officer said helpfully.
“Or if you like to shop, the Tremaine District is quite famous for that.” The other chimed in.
Relena beamed her thanks to them before turning to her asphyxiating ‘boyfriend’. “Darling, shall we try the shops?”
Wufei nodded stiffly and Relena headed off towards the direction that the officer had pointed, towing the semi-comatose Wufei along.
“Thanks again, officers.” Relena turned to wave at them then burst into a fit of giggles as they turned the corner. “Oh my god, that was so much fun!” She nearly doubled over in her hysteria, completely missing the murderous look on Wufei's face.
“Are you quite done?”
Oh-oh. Relena choked back another fit and swallowed hard.
Judging from the ice forming all around them, Relena would say that she was in trouble.
Boy, was she EVER in trouble.
== == ==
“Incompetent fools!” Duo muttered under his breath as he rounded the corner of Quatre's mansion... and ran headlong into a brick wall, or so it felt. Duo yelped loudly, falling back on his rear, muttering curses.
“Goddamn son of a b-“ Duo never finished his sentence. The words died on his lips as he stared into the deepest, darkest blue eyes he'd ever seen. The very same eyes that he'd drowned in so many years ago as the owner made love to him and told him heart aching lies. Lies that destroyed his world.
“Jeezus, Heero, carrying gundanium on you or something?” Duo looked away quickly as he made a production of getting up and brushing dust from his pants. He wasn't sure he understood the look on Heero's face at the mention of gundanium. Heero was never sensitive before even if he had understood Duo's jokes, not that Heero had ever understood them. “I swear if I hadn't known better, I'd say I hit a brick wall.”
Heero still hadn't said anything but stood staring at him like he was a ghost or something. Duo waved a hand in front of Heero's face. "Hello?"
“It's been a while, Duo,” Heero's quiet voice finally said. “How are you?”
“Good, couldn't be better.” He flashed Heero one of his infamous grins and asked, “How ‘bout you?” Okay, technically, he wasn't lying. He was doing well... physically. Hell would freeze over before he'd let Heero see how much the man still affected him.
Heero nodded once and said, “Good.”
They stood staring at each other silently for a long time and Duo puzzled over the emotions he saw in Heero's eyes. The other man was usually very good at shutting himself off that Duo wasn't sure how to read the multitudes of sentiments that flickered behind those blue depths.
Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Duo broke the silence and Heero looked away suddenly.
There were so many things left unsaid between them but Duo couldn’t bring himself to start. The number of times they had met after Heero left, the subject of their break-up had never came up. Heero had kept their conversation strictly work-related and only a few words were ever exchanged between them. Even now, Duo wanted to shake the man and ask, ‘Why did you leave me, Heero? Wasn’t my love good enough for you? Did you find what you want with Relena?’ But all that came out was, “Er... What the hell are you doing here, Heero? I can't believe you would bring Relena here at a time like this.”
Heero turned his gaze back to Duo, a small smile touched to side of his mouth. Duo swallowed a lump in his throat. Heero was as breathtaking as ever.
“Are you worried about Relena?” His quiet voice carried a touch of contentment that Duo didn't understand. Did the mention of the woman's name make him that happy?
“No.” Duo scowled and crossed his arms.
Heero's smile grew bigger at his posture. “I know you don't really hate her, Duo. I'm glad.”
Duo frowned at the sadness that seeped into Heero's voice. There was something about Heero that was different. He couldn't put his finger on it but Heero seemed tired... drained somehow. Like he was running out of energy...
“Of course I don't hate her,” Duo said grudgingly, his eyes still scrutinizing Heero. “She's just... real annoying sometimes.”
No matter how he had tried to hate her, Duo found that he couldn't. It wasn't her fault that Heero loved her; Duo just needed someone to take the blame sometimes when he felt really lonely and his needs for Heero overwhelmed him.
It was HIS fault after all for not being good enough for Heero. HE wasn't worthy. It had nothing to do with Relena.
“She really likes you,” said Heero.
“Huh?” Duo asked intelligently. While he was wallowing in self-pity, Heero pulled a Quatre on him.
“Relena admires you a lot.”
Duo gaped at Heero. Were he and Quatre talking behind his back? He had nothing. He WAS nothing... he couldn't even keep the one person he loved, how could the Queen of the World admire him?
“Heero...”
Heero looked away and ran a hand through his perpetually untidy hair. Duo remembered how soft it was and his hand itched to do the same.
“Heero, are you all right?” The only times he had ever seen Heero ‘not all right’, was when the man got injured during their missions and that was only once or twice. Heero didn't get sick and despite his reputation for seeking death, Heero was actually quite careful once he had found a reason to live. At one time, Duo had thought that reason was him.
Heero looked up and nodded once. “I'm fine. I have to get back to Relena.”
Duo gritted his teeth and willed the giant lump in his chest away. “Yeah, sure. I...er ... congratulations, man. I didn't have time to say it before.” Duo thanked god his voice was steady. The last thing he wanted to do was break down in front of Heero.
Heero paused, as he was about to turn to leave and stared uncomprehendingly at him.
“On your engagement,” Duo clarified quietly.
Heero looked as if he wanted to say something but his phone rang and he fished it out mechanically.
“Yes?”
The video came on and Duo saw Sally's face on the palm-size screen, scowling at Heero.
“Heero, I need to see you ASAP!” She did not look pleased.
Heero glanced at Duo and turned around, shaking his head. “I can't.”
“It's not a request, Heero. This is very important.”
“In two days.”
“Heero...”
“I'm not alone Sally.”
Sally paused and Duo could just imagine her glaring at Heero. After a few seconds, Duo heard her say, “Two days or I'm flying there and drag your butt back here myself! Sally, out!”
“Damn, Heero. You're not cheating on Relena, are you?” Duo asked lightly when he saw that Heero was still deep in thought.
Heero's head jerked up in surprise. “No!”
“Are you sick, Heero?” Duo knew that Sally left Preventers a couple of years back to return to medicine. If Heero was seeing her, then...
“No.” Heero said quickly. “I'm... she's working on something for me.”
“She's not with Preventers anymore, Heero. What do you need a research doctor specializing in genetics for when Preventers has the best to offer?”
Heero frowned but remained silent for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold and crisp. “It's classified.” He turned and nodded to Duo curtly. “I have to go.” Without waiting for a reply, Heero turned on his heels and walked down the walkway towards the main gates.
Duo watched his ex-lover's retreating back closely. Heero was lying. He wasn't sure which part was the lie but he knew Heero well enough to know that the man was hiding something.
What was Heero hiding?
And why the hell did he care?
Duo closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. He cared because he was still in love with the perfect soldier. He was still in love with Heero Yuy.
~ end chapter two ~
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Pairings: Eventual 1x2, 3x4 and 5xR
Rating: Varies from G to NC-17
Chapter Two: Silent Reunion
By Moonraven
“Trowa. Quatre.” Heero nodded to the two young men in the room.
“Heero.” Trowa nodded solemnly back but Quatre beamed at him from across the room. He had never understood how these two could communicate with only a few words between them.
“How are you, Heero?” Quatre asked as he came forward and embraced Heero. “We were worried that maybe Relena was really sick.” He stepped back and watched Heero closely. Something was not right with Heero. He sensed resignation... pain... and something else he couldn't quite name. Regret? Quatre turned and glanced at Trowa but as usual, nothing could be read on the tall brunet's face.
“I'm fine, Quatre, thank you,” Heero said quietly. “And so is Relena. She's safe with Wufei at the moment.”
“Wufei?” Trowa asked, one delicate eyebrow rose elegantly.
Heero nodded. “He's back from New L5.” Heero turned and gave Quatre a small smile. “It seems you've struck a protective cord in Wufei as well.”
Quatre suppressed an urge to roll his eyes. He glanced sideways at Trowa but the taller man was staring stoically at a point somewhere behind Quatre's left ear. The blond sighed inaudibly and gave Heero a tight smile. “That appears to be the ONLY thing I can strike in anyone,” he mumbled half to himself.
Then, not wanting to dwell on the gloomy subject of his unrequited love for Trowa, Quatre shook his head ruefully and gave Heero a bigger smile.
“Where are you staying? Trowa has done a marvelous job securing the grounds as well as the living quarters. And you know we have plenty of room; you must move in here with us.”
Heero raised a brow at his last comment and Quatre's eyes widen in horror. THAT didn't come out right at all! He dared a peek at Trowa from under his bangs but nothing in the other man's expression gave anything away. If Trowa had noticed how cozy his offer had sounded, he gave no indication of it.
“No offense, Quatre but there are too many people here who might recognize Relena even with her disguise.” Then Heero frowned as he suddenly realized something and asked abruptly, “Where's Duo?”
Quatre blinked at Heero, and then turned to Trowa for help.
“Duo is checking the security at the space port,” Trowa said smoothly. “He won't return for sometime.”
Quatre could see Heero's shoulders relaxed slightly and the ex-Wing pilot nodded. “Good. There's no point arguing with him about this.” He looked from Trowa to Quatre knowingly. “I take it he wasn't too happy with Relena and I being here?”
Trowa said nothing; he just stared at Heero. Quatre cleared his throat and waved his hands airily. “You know Duo... I'm sure he'll be very glad to see you, just...well...not Relena...AND you...together...” Quatre broke off awkwardly. He wondered for the hundredth times how he could speak eloquently in front of millions of people but couldn't string one complete sentence together in front of his friends.
Trowa shifted his gaze to Quatre for a few seconds then went back to watching Heero again.
Heero didn't comment but looked skeptically at Quatre for a moment before he turned to Trowa. “Let's go over the plans.”
Trowa nodded and looked at Quatre. “Are you done?”
“Yes.”
Trowa spoke into his lapel again, telling one of his men to come and stay with Quatre. The blond frowned and protested. “Trowa, I don't need constant supervision; I'll be perfectly fine on my own for few hours. Besides, I want to come with you too.”
His head of security studied him for a full minute before nodding. Trowa canceled his last order then led them out into the adjoining room, which served as his office.
“You're cutting this a little close aren't you?” Trowa asked Heero as they poured over the details. "The conference is tomorrow and Relena isn't secure here yet."
"She’s secured,” Heero replied, not looking up at the map. “She just won't be here until tomorrow." Then he pointed to the southern wall enclosing Quatre's 200 acres home. “How many men do you have here?”
“Four at the gate and one every fifty feet along the wall.”
Quatre watched the two men lose themselves in the details of the upcoming event and smiled a sad little smile. It was so easy to slip back into the soldier mode, even their tone of voice changed. Quatre shivered involuntarily then moved closer to Trowa and peered down at the scattered contents on the table.
Listening to Trowa and Heero discuss strategies and security plans brought back bittersweet memories of their time together and Quatre had to swallow the rising lump in his throat. The war may have held some very unpleasant memories for Quatre but he could never regret that it had brought Trowa into his life. Not that it had done him any good. Four years after the war and Trowa was no closer to being his than he was during the war. But at least, now he was close by.
Quatre remembered the time when Trowa had suddenly started taking assignments that kept him far away. He had worried ceaselessly and every sense of loneliness and pain he had detected - no matter that it probably wasn’t Trowa - became his private hell. He kept imagining Trowa all alone, hurt or dying. It ate away at his health, making him ill.
Then Quatre got shot.
No matter how serious the incident was, Quatre was thankful that it happened; it brought Trowa back almost immediately... and he hadn't left Quatre's side since. He fought to be allowed to be Quatre's head of security and only consented to Duo or Wufei replacing him when it was necessary. Even Rashid had to take the back seat when Trowa was that determined. Guilt was a powerful thing.
Quatre sighed at the memories and his two friends looked up from their discussion.
“Something wrong?” Trowa asked. “Did we miss something?”
“No!” Quatre shook his head quickly. “If anything, it's overkill.” He grimaced at the taller man. “Really, Trowa, one would think that I'm not the same person who piloted a Gundam and destroyed a whole colony.”
Trowa frowned and looked away from Quatre. “I thought we weren't bringing that up EVER,” Trowa reminded him quietly.
Quatre sighed. “I'm sorry. I know you're just doing your job, nothing more, but it does make me feel helpless... useless sometimes. I used to defend colonies, Trowa, protect people who can't fight for themselves and now I'm reduced to making speeches and cowering behind men who're willing to come between me and my death...”
“You’re not cowering,” Trowa interjected, his voice almost harsh. “You put yourself in danger every single time you make those speeches. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I am not ashamed. Just…” Quatre spread his hands helplessly. When the other men failed to respond, he gave an exasperated sigh. “Never mind. I'll go see to the menu or something equally important. Please carry on." It was hard to keep the sarcasm out of his voice but Quatre managed it. Gods knew he had plenty of practice. With his frustration partially in checked, he spun on his heels and walked out the door before either of the men could speak. He certainly left before Trowa could scold him or call a baby-sitter for him.
Quatre leaned his back on the closed door and closed his eyes. As horrible as the war was, some part of him wanted to go back to those times when the others actually fought beside him; when they had allowed him to risk his life like they risked theirs; when they respected his judgment and decisions… when they didn't treat him like he was a liability.
When he belonged... when he was one of them.
Quatre sighed. He really must stop the self-pity, which he was getting far too familiar with. Sure some days he felt empty, and useless (days that came by more frequently of late) but there were plenty of days where he felt good about his role in society; where he knew he had actually made a different in this new world they had fought hard to bring about. He really should focus on those days…
Quatre rubbed his eyes tiredly and pushed himself off the door. He walked towards the kitchen, though he had absolutely no intention of thinking about the menu. Sa-an, his to-die-for cook, usually had a few batches of chocolate chip cookies made at this time… he was going to make sure he got at least a dozen to take to the library. Maybe he’d take them all just so Trowa won’t get any! Ha! He was beginning to feel better already.
As he turned the corner, two men came out of the shadows and followed a few paces behind. Quatre shook his head mentally and thought about withholding more than just cookies from Trowa - dinner for next two weeks should do it. Quatre muttered a few choice words, courtesy of Duo Maxwell's vocabulary list, and swore that between Rashid and Trowa's men, they were slowly but surely suffocating him to death.
So he received a few more death threats than the average person. That didn’t mean he couldn’t take care of himself… Well, getting shot and nearly dying probably didn’t help his argument but how many of them hadn’t been shot at? Really!
He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs for SOMEONE to take him away from all this.
But he wanted that someone to be Trowa and Trowa would never do that...
== == ==
Relena Peacecraft stared in disbelief as Wufei settled comfortably on the couch with his book, completely prepared to ignore her. Of course she knew that casual conversations were probably not in the Stoic Bodyguard Handbook, but complete silence after just two minutes into his shift? He has got to be kidding! Well, let just see how long he could ignore her.
Relena walked over to the door but before she could open it, Wufei's deceptively soft voice stopped her.
“Where do you think you're going?” His voice was practically at her elbow and Relena gasped in surprise. She turned around and involuntarily took a step back when she found his hard black eyes regarding her from just a few feet away. She didn’t hear him move at all… Relena pressed her back against the door and swallowed. Even Heero, in his darkest mood, couldn't put the odd fluttery feeling in the pit of her stomach like this man could with just a look.
“I... I'm going out.” She lifted her chin slightly to let him know that she wasn't afraid.
“Really.” Wufei looked at her as if she had spoken another language. He continued to watch her silently until she began to lose her temper.
“No, actually, I like to open the front door now and then for entertainment! Would you care to join me?” You are a princess, Relena. She told herself. You have stared down egotistical dignitaries and pompous royalties all over the galaxy; you could certainly handle one ex-Gundam pilot...
“Heero said that we're to stay here until he returns,” Wufei replied, completely ignoring her comments.
You are one tough woman, Relena…
“Do you always do what Heero tells you?” She challenged softly.
One of Wufei's delicate black brows rose and his eyes narrowed calculatedly. Relena didn’t think that was an easy thing to do. “When I have given my word, yes.”
“I believe your duties were to keep me safe, Wufei Chang, not to be my personal jailer. And since I intend to go out, you can keep your word to Heero by joining me.” She used her best ‘non-negotiable’ tone and hoped he fell for it like many of the representatives she had to mediate for.
Well... Judging by the look that flashed across Wufei's face, Relena guessed that her strategy didn’t quite work the way she had wanted it to.
“How about... ‘NO’?” For a second there, he had almost looked amused.
Relena took a deep breath and reminded herself again that she was the princess of a pacifist nation. She could NOT do what she really wanted to do, which at that very moment involved violence to the person of one infuriating ex-Gundam Pilot.
No violence, no violence...
“How are you going to keep me here, Wufei? Tie me to the chair?” Relena asked; her face lifted in quiet defiance.
Wufei actually looked thoughtful for a few seconds though he remained quiet as he watched her.
“I didn't think so.” Relena turned towards the door once again and reached to open it when a steely hand gripped her wrist firmly. She gasped and turned to stared at Wufei in disbelief.
“Unhand me, sir!” She straightened to her full height of 5’6” and managed to stare down a man who was at least a good many inches taller than her. “This is hardly a behavior of an honorable man!”
Wufei dropped her hand immediate and took a step back. “Forgive me.”
Although his apology seemed automatic, Relena did her very best not to break into a smile. She nodded curtly, thinking that this whole ‘honorable’ thing might come in handy after all.
As Wufei was distracted with self-reprimand, Relena opened the front door and slipped out.
Wufei's cursing could be heard as she nearly sprinted down the hall in her haste to get as far from him as possible before he caught up to her.
“Good afternoon.” She slowed to a brisk walk as she passed an elderly couple. “Beautiful day, isn't it?”
They nodded with a smile and she hurried on, knowing full well that Wufei was just a few steps behind her. Relena bypassed the front desk and slipped out the side door. When they were out of the building and in the relatively secluded area by the side of the building, Wufei moved in front and barred her way. The thunderous look he gave her was enough for Relena to gulp audibly, never mind that it was not ladylike.
“Have you changed your mind?” She asked innocently while trying not to look nervous.
“What on earth do you think you're doing?” Wufei's quiet voice was carefully controlled though the angry flash in his eyes showed how furious he was.
“I want to see the city. After tomorrow night, everyone will know that I'm here and I won't be able to. Please, Wufei.” When all else failed, beg. It wasn't something she would have done when she was younger but she'd learned much about people since then. Having convictions about something was good and fine but stubbornness and inflexibility just didn't get you anywhere.
Wufei looked taken aback for a second then shook his head. “Heero would not approve.”
“Grrrr!” Relena clenched her fists in frustration. “I don't care whether or not Heero approves. I want to see the city!” Did she say she had learned much about people? Obviously she hadn't had extensive dealings with Wufei Chang!
Wufei frowned at her disapprovingly and crossed his arms.
“What?” Wasn't he going to say anything? He was just... staring.
“Where I came from, a woman does not dishonor her betrothed in such a manner,” he reprimanded sternly.
It was Relena's turn to stare at her companion, her mouth hung open rather unbecomingly. At Wufei's deepened frown, she snapped her jaw shut and swallowed.
“B-betrothed? What are you talking about?”
If the creases between Wufei's brows got any deeper, Relena was afraid that his face would crack.
“You and Heero are betrothed to each other,” he told her impatiently.
“Says who?” Relena asked, completely mystified. The last rumors about them were almost two years ago and they were only lovers then. When had THAT escalated to ‘betrothal’?
Wufei blinked at her uncomprehendingly. “You mean... you're not?”
“No! I cannot believe that YOU, of all people, would listen to rumors.”
The muscles in Wufei's jaw twitched as he glared at her.
“You don’t know anything about me,” Wufei said tightly. “As for this little rumor as you called it, it was never denied by Heero. All of us, including Duo, believed it to be true.”
Relena didn't understand the significance of ‘including Duo’ but that was the least of her concern at the moment so she filed it away to ask Heero later. Now she had to deal with Wufei.
“Well, it's not true and since I am no longer dishonoring ANY betrothed, can we go see the city now?”
“NO!” Wufei threw up his hands in disbelief. “What part of ‘we have to stay here, it's not safe to be wandering around’ don't you understand?”
“What part of ‘no one recognizes me so I'm safe’, don't YOU understand?”
From the look on his face, Relena was sure Wufei was ready to throw her over his shoulder, to hell with dishonorable behavior. Luckily for her, from somewhere behind them, they heard someone clear their throat.
“Excuse me, folks.” A strange voice called to them and Wufei turned abruptly to face the newcomer, putting himself between Relena and any potential danger.
Two tall men in Peace Officer's uniform watched them from a few feet away, their hands resting casually on their batons as they gauged the arguing pair.
“Are you all right, Miss? Is this man bothering you?” One officer asked.
Relena blinked blankly at the men and then had to suppress a giggle as Wufei grunted and stiffened in front of her.
“No, officers. I'm fine, thank you very much.” She moved from behind Wufei and glomped onto his arm, ignoring the choking sounds from her bodyguard. “My boyfriend and I can't seem to agree on where to go, there are so many things to see. Can you perhaps make a suggestion?” As Relena smiled disarmingly at the peace officers, she was aware that Wufei was so stiff if she tugged just a tad harder, she was sure he'd tip over and fall.
“Oh that's easy; the pier two blocks down is quite romantic. You get the perfect view of the city as well as the ocean,” one officer said helpfully.
“Or if you like to shop, the Tremaine District is quite famous for that.” The other chimed in.
Relena beamed her thanks to them before turning to her asphyxiating ‘boyfriend’. “Darling, shall we try the shops?”
Wufei nodded stiffly and Relena headed off towards the direction that the officer had pointed, towing the semi-comatose Wufei along.
“Thanks again, officers.” Relena turned to wave at them then burst into a fit of giggles as they turned the corner. “Oh my god, that was so much fun!” She nearly doubled over in her hysteria, completely missing the murderous look on Wufei's face.
“Are you quite done?”
Oh-oh. Relena choked back another fit and swallowed hard.
Judging from the ice forming all around them, Relena would say that she was in trouble.
Boy, was she EVER in trouble.
== == ==
“Incompetent fools!” Duo muttered under his breath as he rounded the corner of Quatre's mansion... and ran headlong into a brick wall, or so it felt. Duo yelped loudly, falling back on his rear, muttering curses.
“Goddamn son of a b-“ Duo never finished his sentence. The words died on his lips as he stared into the deepest, darkest blue eyes he'd ever seen. The very same eyes that he'd drowned in so many years ago as the owner made love to him and told him heart aching lies. Lies that destroyed his world.
“Jeezus, Heero, carrying gundanium on you or something?” Duo looked away quickly as he made a production of getting up and brushing dust from his pants. He wasn't sure he understood the look on Heero's face at the mention of gundanium. Heero was never sensitive before even if he had understood Duo's jokes, not that Heero had ever understood them. “I swear if I hadn't known better, I'd say I hit a brick wall.”
Heero still hadn't said anything but stood staring at him like he was a ghost or something. Duo waved a hand in front of Heero's face. "Hello?"
“It's been a while, Duo,” Heero's quiet voice finally said. “How are you?”
“Good, couldn't be better.” He flashed Heero one of his infamous grins and asked, “How ‘bout you?” Okay, technically, he wasn't lying. He was doing well... physically. Hell would freeze over before he'd let Heero see how much the man still affected him.
Heero nodded once and said, “Good.”
They stood staring at each other silently for a long time and Duo puzzled over the emotions he saw in Heero's eyes. The other man was usually very good at shutting himself off that Duo wasn't sure how to read the multitudes of sentiments that flickered behind those blue depths.
Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Duo broke the silence and Heero looked away suddenly.
There were so many things left unsaid between them but Duo couldn’t bring himself to start. The number of times they had met after Heero left, the subject of their break-up had never came up. Heero had kept their conversation strictly work-related and only a few words were ever exchanged between them. Even now, Duo wanted to shake the man and ask, ‘Why did you leave me, Heero? Wasn’t my love good enough for you? Did you find what you want with Relena?’ But all that came out was, “Er... What the hell are you doing here, Heero? I can't believe you would bring Relena here at a time like this.”
Heero turned his gaze back to Duo, a small smile touched to side of his mouth. Duo swallowed a lump in his throat. Heero was as breathtaking as ever.
“Are you worried about Relena?” His quiet voice carried a touch of contentment that Duo didn't understand. Did the mention of the woman's name make him that happy?
“No.” Duo scowled and crossed his arms.
Heero's smile grew bigger at his posture. “I know you don't really hate her, Duo. I'm glad.”
Duo frowned at the sadness that seeped into Heero's voice. There was something about Heero that was different. He couldn't put his finger on it but Heero seemed tired... drained somehow. Like he was running out of energy...
“Of course I don't hate her,” Duo said grudgingly, his eyes still scrutinizing Heero. “She's just... real annoying sometimes.”
No matter how he had tried to hate her, Duo found that he couldn't. It wasn't her fault that Heero loved her; Duo just needed someone to take the blame sometimes when he felt really lonely and his needs for Heero overwhelmed him.
It was HIS fault after all for not being good enough for Heero. HE wasn't worthy. It had nothing to do with Relena.
“She really likes you,” said Heero.
“Huh?” Duo asked intelligently. While he was wallowing in self-pity, Heero pulled a Quatre on him.
“Relena admires you a lot.”
Duo gaped at Heero. Were he and Quatre talking behind his back? He had nothing. He WAS nothing... he couldn't even keep the one person he loved, how could the Queen of the World admire him?
“Heero...”
Heero looked away and ran a hand through his perpetually untidy hair. Duo remembered how soft it was and his hand itched to do the same.
“Heero, are you all right?” The only times he had ever seen Heero ‘not all right’, was when the man got injured during their missions and that was only once or twice. Heero didn't get sick and despite his reputation for seeking death, Heero was actually quite careful once he had found a reason to live. At one time, Duo had thought that reason was him.
Heero looked up and nodded once. “I'm fine. I have to get back to Relena.”
Duo gritted his teeth and willed the giant lump in his chest away. “Yeah, sure. I...er ... congratulations, man. I didn't have time to say it before.” Duo thanked god his voice was steady. The last thing he wanted to do was break down in front of Heero.
Heero paused, as he was about to turn to leave and stared uncomprehendingly at him.
“On your engagement,” Duo clarified quietly.
Heero looked as if he wanted to say something but his phone rang and he fished it out mechanically.
“Yes?”
The video came on and Duo saw Sally's face on the palm-size screen, scowling at Heero.
“Heero, I need to see you ASAP!” She did not look pleased.
Heero glanced at Duo and turned around, shaking his head. “I can't.”
“It's not a request, Heero. This is very important.”
“In two days.”
“Heero...”
“I'm not alone Sally.”
Sally paused and Duo could just imagine her glaring at Heero. After a few seconds, Duo heard her say, “Two days or I'm flying there and drag your butt back here myself! Sally, out!”
“Damn, Heero. You're not cheating on Relena, are you?” Duo asked lightly when he saw that Heero was still deep in thought.
Heero's head jerked up in surprise. “No!”
“Are you sick, Heero?” Duo knew that Sally left Preventers a couple of years back to return to medicine. If Heero was seeing her, then...
“No.” Heero said quickly. “I'm... she's working on something for me.”
“She's not with Preventers anymore, Heero. What do you need a research doctor specializing in genetics for when Preventers has the best to offer?”
Heero frowned but remained silent for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold and crisp. “It's classified.” He turned and nodded to Duo curtly. “I have to go.” Without waiting for a reply, Heero turned on his heels and walked down the walkway towards the main gates.
Duo watched his ex-lover's retreating back closely. Heero was lying. He wasn't sure which part was the lie but he knew Heero well enough to know that the man was hiding something.
What was Heero hiding?
And why the hell did he care?
Duo closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. He cared because he was still in love with the perfect soldier. He was still in love with Heero Yuy.
~ end chapter two ~