Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Angel Heart ❯ The Art of Shopping! ( Chapter 4 )

Title: Angel Heart

Pairing: 6x3 at the moment but as the story progresses 5x2, 1x4 and other pairings.

Disclaimers: How many times do I have to tell you! >< They're not mine!! DAMN IT!!! WHY CAN'T THEY?!? --;;; Just using my babies because its fun!!

Warning: Alternative Universe, Drama, NCS, Angst, Consensual sex as the story progresses.

Achived: if you want, but please ask first.

Hosted at: Dreamer's Isle - www.geocities.com/dreamersisle, Fanfiction.net and a couple of others

Additional Notes: Quarte is gonna be a little occ.

Quarte: A LITTLE? You've got me acting like Duo!!!

Sparky: ^_^;;;; Well Me and Silver plotted it that way.

I want to dedicate this chapter to Silverfox who helps me when I'm down! I love you girl. I always want to dedicate this to Amanda. I love you girl and even when life makes you down, I worry. So email me sometimes…*sending her virtual Duo plushie!*

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Angel Heart

Chapter 4: The Art of Shopping!!

 

 

The alarm rung bright and early Saturday morning and Treize was up, coming down the stairs for his usual cup of java. Passing the living room, a mustered blanket was the only indication of his younger brother's presence. "That boy." The older man silently thought. What was he going to do about him? He paused only a few moments before he ventured onward into the kitchen to see about breakfast and was not surprised because it had already been prepared, covered in blue and white ceramic pots. The coffeepot perked with happy sounds, steaming hot with black heaven while Treize's favorite mug with the engraved red roses and green intertwining vines sat quietly waiting for its master to come. Right next to that was Marie's mug, also with roses but smaller with white petals. The tiniest quirk arched on his mouth.

 

"He's turning into our mother..."

 

~***~

 

Duo secured his bike to the railing, gazing upward at the structure of his high school. It felt so strange to come early on a Saturday morning. None of his practices were ever on the weekend, usually on weeknights for about two hours or so and that included warm-ups.

 

A gentle breeze blew through his hair, tousling his chestnut strands around like a father ruffling his son's head.

 

Father.

 

No. He was not going to bring that up and ruin his day. Putting a hand into the side pocket of his jeans, he made sure he placed the special pass Dr. Noin issued him was there. Taking a deep breath, he walked up the stone steps one at a time, each step representing another stepping stone towards his goals...his future.

 

The future. Most students were terrified of the inevitable, the closing of the chapter of childhood to journey into the unknown challenges of adult life. But Duo? Afraid of growing up? Please! He yearned for its completion...craved the freedom of being his own person. Sure he enjoyed his precious moments as a teenager, but most of his stolen seconds were ripped away by a man bonded to him by blood. Such a complex child but he could not help having the insight of an adult at a very young age, but due to circumstances beyond his control he had to deal with it. Dealing with the knowledge of things he wasn't to suppose to understand until he reached adulthood.

 

The soft scruffs of his sneakers padded down the empty corridor usually accompanied by sounds of panicky freshman, chaotic sophomores, insane juniors and edgy seniors. Usually the cleaning crews were on the grounds during the weekends along with the rest of the Maintenance department making sure everything was fine for the following week. A simple routine enforced by the forces of administration, but with great benefits and lots of privileges.

 

Duo smiled as he passed by some of the cleaners, having acquainted with them when he used to practice in the late afternoons while on the basketball team. Alex and Wayne waved as he went straight to the principal office, inquiring the educator of the room assignment for his tutoring group.

 

Finally with information in hand, Duo proceeded to the tutoring office located in room S168 on the south side of the campus. It didn't take long to get there.

 

"I'm here." He sighed nervously bouncing on the balls of his feet, like a dancer from one foot to the other in front of the door. Gazing through the tiny window, he could see the blonde-hared boy called Quarte smiling, writing happily on the board. The boy reminded him so much like an angel that it wasn't funny and he was too blonde to be Arabian. Shifting a little, he could see the other boy. The one called Wufei. He bit his lower lip nervously watching the Asian lad balance himself precariously on the chair as he rocked back and forth reading a newspaper.

 

Duo blinked, his large violet eyes widening as glowing amethyst focused on the smooth lines on the Chinese teenager's denim, eyes tracing the natural curves of tight well developed muscles. The tee shirt clung to Wufei's muscular frame, each ridge fitted his form like a glove and for the first time in a long while, Duo felt very warm.

 

But that would change as total embarrassment registered on his heart-shaped face when the owner of those two onyx jewels stared him in the eye.

 

Strange. Wufei felt someone looking at him and when he turned, his own dark visions were captured by a set of wary indigo. He adjusted the glasses on his nose as he sat up, causally pulling a stray of ebony back behind his ears. Since it had been a while when his great grandfather passed and his refusal to cut it again for respect, his hair had finally lengthened over the summer and now glossy darkness hung long down the middle of his back. He motioned to Quarte of the presence of their honored guest and the eager blonde blinked once in confusion. Then he looked at the door. "He must be nervous." Quarte answered in understanding. "I better get him."

 

Duo watched as the blonde honor student bounced towards him, smiling an invitation for him to enter. His whole face was red, blushing from being caught in his scrutiny, especially from Wufei. "Oh shit." The words escaped his mouth before he could stop them and luckily for him no one was in the hall to hear him.

 

The heavy wooden door opened wide with poor Duo toppling in with a very sheepish Quarte looking down at his lithe form on the floor. "Well there you are. We've been expecting you, young man." He replied a wink.

 

Big indigo eyes widened. Did he just wink at me? "Uh...yeah. I was kinda figuring that." Standing up, Duo brushed himself off and bowed to Quarte. “Ohayo sensei.”

 

“Oh please…” Quarte giggled, rolling his eyes at the other boy's display. “We're all students here, Duo. No formality is needed. Good morning to you too.” Moving to the side, Quatre ushered the nervous boy in. “Come on. Wufei and I were just wondering where to start with you.”

 

Understanding Duo smiled timidly as he walked behind Quarte to the table. “Well…how about from the beginning. I can tell you if I know it or not.”

 

“Sounds like a plan.” Quarte sat on the table, while Duo took his backpack off.

 

“Let's see…” Duo thought tapping a finger against his chin. “Calculus? Physics? Advance Literature? I didn't blow up the lab yet especially thinking there was only one thing he hated worse than bullies. “Calculus kinda…a little problem…”

 

Quarte's entire face lit up. “ Great! I'm a A+ student in that!” His line of sight focused on Wufei, who had gotten up to go the blackboard already in sync with Quarte's mindset. “Wufei can do some problems at the board, while I'll do one on one with you to help you out.”

 

Nodding, Duo sat down, taking out his notebook. He flipped open the book to a fresh page, waiting as Quarte called out the pages he wanted to work on loud enough so Wufei heard him. Duo's gaze shyly looked at the boy at the board becoming mesmerized with color of Wufei's hair, such long black hair. He blinked wondering why it enchanted him so.

 

Quarte watched silently as Duo kept stealing glances at Wufei. The boy's story was kind sad. Such adversity he endured and yet such a brilliant mind and spirit overcoming it. “Listen up. We don't bite, Duo.” He could see and feel the tenseness radiating from the teen.

 

Blinking at Quarte's remark, Duo bowed his head again, blushing as he wrote the figures down. “It's not that.”

 

Aquamarine blinked curiously, waiting for the beautiful boy to continue. “We used to move a lot.” Duo replied softly, concentrating on the assignment and not looking up, afraid to reveal his emotions. “This is our first permanent place.

 

“Oh.” Quarte blinked in understanding. Then he got closer, not wanting Wufei to hear. “The people I see at the table with you all the time…no friends right?”

 

Duo looked up, gazing into the prettiest eyes befitting an angel. “I have friends…” Quarte's gaze somehow stopped the words from leaving his mouth. This delicate boy, with the soft golden waves and big blue-green eyes made him feel funny. It was as if somehow he could sense his thoughts, which he could not lie to him. “Kinda…”

 

“Kinda.” He didn't need to hear anymore. Quarte already knew without using his special sense that those people Duo hung with were not really his friends. They were more like associates and not to mention feeling like Duo did in his freshman year.

 

Duo continued writing as he talked. “Family drama. No one would understand so I keep a safe distance you know. It was hard making friends…just…you know what I mean.”

 

Nodding, Quarte smiled, his eyes closing remembering his first days at this high school. Trying to fit in, trying to find his place among the masses. It was only Monday when he became acquainted with Heero and Wufei and boy did his world change. The two brothers'-in-law was comical, especially how they reacted around their new niece and nephew. All the football games in the world could not prepare Quarte for the innocence in Heero Yuy's eyes or the scene that the football star made holding his newborn nephew in his muscular arms. That same innocence lingered as he droved the two teenagers home and that day the moment they got out the car, Heero's saw an elderly woman in trouble and helped her across the street.

 

His complexity…the multiple facets that created the enigma called Heero.

 

Yes. Quarte knew exactly what Duo meant. “Hai, Duo-san. You're just sorta scared to do anything. You can't really believe anything is true…that it's stable. But now you have to find some permanency in your life.”

 

Duo was about to reply when he noticed Quarte staring intensely at the blackboard. “Wufei, that's wrong. There is an error in the calculation for the third step.” A giggle then bubbled from his throat as Quarte then turned back to his confused pupil. “Really. I'm gonna have to tutor him as well.”

 

Loud growling rumbled through the room and the sound of broken chalk resonated against the blackboard. “Oi!” Wufei growled, swirling around as his arms crossed over his chest. “You're the master at math, you should be up here!”

 

The smile on Quarte's face made Wufei blinked twice. Unknown to Wufei, Quarte knew he had the biggest crush imaginable on Duo. Though only a week had passed, he and Wufei had become great friends. The Chinese youth was on his highly respected list and the more they talked the higher in ranking he journeyed. Dotty teased the hell out of him when he told her the next day of his new tutoring job, tutoring the elusive Duo Maxwell with his co-tutor being Chang Wufei. She jumped up for joy in their club and a stream of pointers flowed from her mouth giving his tips to snag his brother in law. Quarte knew he didn't have to try hard for that. Wufei was cool and Heero…sigh.

 

“What…”Quarte giggled, eyes turning to cat like slits and in a playful mood, “ and let you sit with such a pretty boy?!”

 

Duo blushed and poor Wufei, if he had been drinking water it would have spattered across the room. He choked leaning his form against the graphite board, trying to regain his composure and at the same time, getting chalk particles all over his back and hair. But this would be the least of his worries. Just as he reached into his pocket to get his calculator, a loud snap erupted in the room. Quarte blinked twice watching ebony strands billow out to Wufei's side and down his back.

 

“What?” Wufei blinked confused, and then he noticed strands of hair all over the place. “Kisammaaaaa!” Quarte chuckled at him. Swearing was not going to fix the broken band in his hand. He hated that he went through more rubber bands than a girl did.

 

Duo couldn't help but stare at the Asian boy. Wufei's hair wasn't as long as his but it was pass his shoulder and the way the light reflected off it. He had to turn his head back down toward his book as forbidden thoughts popped into his head. He was not ready for that.

 

~***~

 

Time flew as the session got busier and the rest of the day ran smoothly. Since it was their first meeting, Wufei and Quarte both agreed to stop half an hour earlier not to waste the rest of the afternoon in a boring room. Apparently Wufei had some things to do for his parents before he went home.

 

Wufei stretched, blinking sole eyes out at the world as he finally arrived at the entrance, outside the building. The long braid of their pupil flew in the wind and he watched as it could be seen flying down the long winding road. He didn't even get a good chance to talk with the boy; Quarte monopolized most of the time sitting by his secret heart's side while he stood at the board writing all the examples and formulas.

 

Quarte shook his head from the side corner for the main entrance watching silently as Wufei followed their student's retreating form. Evilly, slyly creeping up on his prey, nimble hands retracted in and out like claws seeing an unguarded firm butt…

 

“Etai?!?!” Wufei yelped, clutching his molested buttocks and then swirled to glare at Quarte.

 

The blonde boy just giggled to Wufei's dismay, hugging his books to his chest, innocently. Stepping back a second, Wufei did not like the evil grin on the so-called angel's face. “You like him, don't you?”

 

“What?!?” Each syllable sputtering from his mouth as ebony strands kept blowing in his face.” “NO! No way!”

 

Walking innocently in front of his dark hared friend, one finger poked Wufei delicately in the nose. “Youre bluuushing! Don't bothering fibbing to me Wufei, it won't work.”

 

Hands started flapping in the air like a duck franticly. “I'm not lying!”

 

“So you like him!” Quarte shrugged, not really caring and starting to walk beside him, keeping in step this time. “It's okay, he's cute.”

 

“I do not like him!!”

 

Quarte just ignored him, throwing a dubious look this way.

 

His arms crossed over his chest and Wufei just glared. “You and Heero are driving me nuts with that!”

 

The tiniest giggled escaped again from Quarte from the expression of his friend's face but then his cheeks reddened slightly in embarrassment. “Really. It's okay to like a guy, Wufei. Honestly, you had me worried with your chauvinistic ways.” Looking down at his watch, he sighed at the time. It was still so early and his parents and older brother were gone as usual discovering that fact from the messages from the maid this morning. Back home, was an empty house…an empty lonely house. He didn't want to go to it or let Wufei know how depressed he really was. “Well, it's almost two o'clock. I guess we'd better get home.”

 

“Oh!” He stopped Quarte before he walked off. “I'm supposed to be picking up a present at the mall today. I have no idea what to get twins.”

 

“Trust me.” Quarte grumbled, “Nothing's the same. They especially hate it when they have matching gifts. I have a couple of cousins in another state that whine to my parents all the time not to send identical stuff.”

 

Wufei blinked a moment. “But they're newborns. They wouldn't care.”

 

Quarte just shrugged. “So…” Wufei paused, knowing he needed help. “You wanna come?”

 

Shrugging delicate shoulders again and knowing he didn't have anything better to do, Quarte nodded. “Sure. I wanted to get some clothes anyway.”

 

“Heeh…” Wufei snickered, “Yeah. Clothes…”

 

Quarte poked him in the gut playfully. “Perv! How about I drag you to V-Secrets and pretend you're my cross dressing boyfriend?!”

 

“What?!” If Wufei's eyes could get any wider…”I don't think so! It's bad enough my parents know I'm bi.”

 

The expression on Quarte's face from Wufei's admission shocked the hell out of him. Both his parents were so busy touring the world with their multibillion-dollar companies; they were never around to notice his or his brother preferences. It was like giving him everything he could have ever wanted except the one thing that he did want, the thing he craved more than anything; the love and affection a parent felt for their child. “At least they're around to know.” Quatre mumbled to himself quietly.

 

“What about you?” Wufei questioned innocently. “Zechs and Trowa are always going at it like rabbits in the Yuy's garage. Me and Heero love going there to tease them.”

 

Hearing Heero's name, seem to brighten Quarte's mood. “Well let's go then! On to Victoria Secrets!!” He yelled with Wufei protesting from that last remark but Quarte ignored him dragging him down the steps helplessly towards their destination. Poor Wufei grumbled the whole way helplessly under Quarte's grip, smiling in spite of himself. “You are sick, you know that!!”

 

~***~

 

Duo arrived back home in record time. Taking his bike saved him some money in carfare. He hadn't ridden his bike in a while so it also gave him some much-needed exercise. The wheels squeaked softly as he rode into his garage in the back of the house. Before he even got a chance to get off he heard strange sounds coming from the front of the house and cautiously rode his ten-speed back around the front. That was when he saw his brother coming out the front door along with his niece locking up the house securely. “Niisan?!” He questioned in surprise. “What?! What are you doing here? I thought you two were at the zoo since this morning?”

 

Broad shoulders relaxed and his brother's blue eyes turned up towards him smiling. “I received a business phone call this morning. I had to modify some of the numbers and fax it over to the office. Since rain was in the forecast, I decided to take Marie to the mall.”

 

Duo smirked at his niece who was playing with the game boy he gave her for Christmas. He laughed at her antics as she did a silly dance cheering her pikachu on. The mere mention of shopping caused her to raise her head at her father and uncle. Duo just blinked remembering he was in great need of some stuff. “Oh! Great! I need a new pair of sneakers from Foot Locker. They have a two for one sale. I saw it in the paper Sunday.” He pulled out his house keys about to go back into the house when a thought struck him. “Wait a sec. I have to go get my stash…” He looked at his brother oddly, smiling devilishly. “Unless….” Duo paused with the biggest smile possible to fit on his face.

 

Treize already knew Duo wanted something. He had to agree with Duo, the boy did need a lot of stuff especially some new clothes. His baby brother only stood only five feet six for someone at age seventeen and looked exactly like their mother looked when she was alive. Thank goodness he had a good enough job to provide for the three of them. Feeling a slight tug at his heartstrings and pants, he looked down locking eyes with his other trickster.

 

“Daddy!” Marie whine, beginning her turn in the shopping mall game, “I want to get Pokemon gold!”

 

The two misfits continued their cutest “we want stuff” assault at the older man. Trieze just shook his head and gave up valiantly. “Alright. I'll buy!”

 

“Thank you, Bro!” Duo bounced up then, hugging his much taller brother while Marie just hugged them both, loving her crazy family.

 

~***~

 

Crossing his arms and pouting adorably, Quarte R. Winner was annoyed. That was not a great feat. The drive over to the Galaxian Mall was refreshing. The cool ride did the boys good just commenting over the landscape, enjoying the autumn breezes and dandelions floating on a mission of renewal. Everything was fine when they entered the mall. There was nothing like the smell of new stuff and buying was the perfect pick-me-up when depressed especially topped off by a banana split from Basken Robbins. Like most malls over the planet, true ecstasy was sorting through multiple stores spread across of a maze of concrete, glass and plastic searching for stuff you didn't want or need but had to have. But as they entered the majestic mall, Wufei remembered that he needed some new sweats for his martial arts class. Now Quarte was leaning in the sneaker section, standing by a rack of some sort, sorting through various colors of t-shirts with the oddest expression on his face.

 

“BOORRRRRRRING!!” The blonde teen groaned, nimble fingers picking up another t-shirt and poking at it like it had the plague. “Umm tell me again…Why are we here anyway?”

 

Wufei rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time since entering the Foot Locker store with Quarte. He turned, seeing the honor student making faces at the Adidas sweat socks before moving on to something else to torment. It was bad enough he totally forgot Heero was suppose to meet him here after he finished babysitting. Relena had to do a quick errand Heero had told him earlier that morning when they went jogging and she would probably be back by the time his tutoring session was over. Sighing over this new predicament, he picked up a pair of silver gray Foot Locker brand pants and stretching the material for elasticity. Quarte's continuous whining caused him to speak out in anger. “Stop complaining already! Those are Nikes at least!!”

 

“All jock stuff is gross!!! I mean c'mon…” he replied pointing to a pair of odd looking sneakers, “Look at these shoes!! UGGGLY!” He moved over to pick up another pair, a pair of black and white Ascics track sneakers to make his point.

 

Wufei just shook his head, continuing to ignore him. He rubbed his forehead in pain while Quarte was thinking how the fashion police needed to come for his dark hared friend with a vengeance. “I must take you to the Gap or Old Navy before we leave, Wufei.”

 

“Oh brother.” He was about to say something else when he glanced up a second, spotting a familiar mess of brown hair. “Hey…isn't that?” Blinking dark eyes again, he smiled when he saw the head search around for something and he began waving his hand trying to catch his brother-n-law's attention. He knew that had to be Heero. “YO HEERO!!”

 

Heero who was outside in front of the store looking around, stopped in his tracks upon hearing his name. He turned towards the voice, smiled and waved his arm. “Yo! Fei!” But then he spotted a certain blonde that had been on his mind since he drove them from the hospital. The blonde teenager seemed to be in trouble when he entered to store.

 

“AND FURTHERMORE….” Quarte ranted to the sales clerk, “Anybody who wears theses shoes should be dragged into the street and shot!”

 

The sale clerk just looked at the boy as if he was crazy. Adjusting the collar of her referee uniform that was standard for all Foot Locker employees, she simply replied, “Ah sir…if you are not buying those…could you please put the shoe down?”

 

Quarte blinked a couple of times and replied; “Uh yeah…” noticing that everyone was looking at him. His face reddened in embarrassment as this angel slowly put the shoe back among his friends on the rack. But that was just the start of his worries. Poor Quarte was ranting so much that he didn't see Heero approaching from behind, nor the fact the fact that his secret crush was wearing the same shoes that he was complaining so adamantly about.

 

“Er…” the soft voice of Heero purred near his ear, “ You don't like these shoes, Quarte-san?”

 

A cold chill entered the room and entered Quarte's body. His lithe form froze as rigid as the coldest day in December, not believe he heard that voice. Taking a chance, needing to see with his own eyes, he slowly turned staring right into the confused face of his dream. “H-H-HEERO?!?!”

 

Wufei walked over then, holding on to two pairs of sweatpants rather than one. “So! You did pop up!”

 

Heero simply shrugged. “Yeah! They just got back and that idiot sister of mine drove me out the house. I don't know why I always let her irritate me!”

 

“Because you let her.” Wufei answered. “I'm glad I just have Shin and with him married now…It gets so boring at times.”

 

While the two family members conversed, Quarte's face was reddening with each thought that had transpired. Because of his big mouth, he knew Heero had heard him say all those terrible things. He couldn't help himself. The words just flowed from his mouth, stumbling in a rush. He was too embarrassed to even raise his head to look at Heero and started backing up away from them. “Wufei, on second thought, I have a lot of homework and I need it done by tonight baaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!

 

Wufei blinked watching Quarte zoom out the store, smoke trailing down the mall corridors trying to get away. Looking back at Heero, who was looking at Quarte's retreating back, he shrugged and told his brother in law about the latest sale on Adidas and Nike cross trainers.

 

~***~

 

Meanwhile Quarte was running so fast trying to not to bump into anyone, he didn't see the small family approaching him. He slammed right into the teenager. “OMPH!!”

 

“OMPH!!!”

 

“Er sorr…Quarte?”

 

Quarte rubbed his sore butt, looking up sheepishly about to apologize to the person but was shocked by two violet hues of his student. “UH?! OH DUO!!” He answered confused, “Hi…Didn't see ya!!”

 

Duo smirked down, helping Quarte up. “Yeah. I could see! It looks like you were being chased by a pack of mad dogs, Quarte! What are you doing here?”

 

Tenseness disappeared magically as Quarte relaxed a little. “Ah. Just shopping and you?”

 

Duo pointed to his brother who at the moment was being tugged towards Kay bee Toy Stores. “That's my bro and my niece.”

 

“Well…” Quarte began, rolling his eyes for emphasis. “I was shopping. Wufei dragged me to all the stores I don't like though.” He watched Duo smile, trying his best to speed up the conversation. “And er…ah.” A blush widened on his cheeks when Heero's face displayed vividly in his mind. “Um gotta go, see ya!” and off he ran.

 

All that remained in Quarte's stead was the smoke from his soles. Duo stood in the middle area staring at Quarte's back in confusion. “Weird.” Shaking his head, he yelled to Treize that he was going into Foot Locker for his sneakers.

 

The blonde boy slowed to a stop when he reached the foot court, plopping down quietly into a chair, depressed as hell. “Damn. Stupid me! Can't do anything right. Heero probably thinks I'm a total geek.”

 

~***~

 

Wufei and Heero were still in Foot Locker sorting through masses of sport shirts, underwear, jackets and denim jeans. Teasing shortly began when Wufei questioned Heero of his new sleeping arraignments.

 

“So Hee-chan…” Wufei teased, poking a finger into Heero's shoulder, “How are the babies? I know you love staying up with their crying?”

 

“Actually…they sleep through the night. Now the mother is the problem. Lena looks like a wildebeest every morning! It's funny as hell!!” Heero snickered, stretching a Karl Kani shirt. “I can't wait until your brother gets that call about their new house.”

 

“Yeah right!” Wufei replied, himself checking out a jacket.

 

“Yeah…” Blushing from his confession, “The kids are adorable. They can stay! LOL!”

 

It was at that response, Wufei spotted a familiar face; a face he didn't expect to see until Monday. Blood pressure rose in a matter of seconds and his face flushed to a golden bronze. The object of his desire had just walked into his favorite store…alone. Duo many not have noticed the boys but Heero just stared at his brother in law curiously while the teenager hurried turning around and starting to bury himself in mounds of clothing.

 

Wufei watched the supple form move from display to display with such grace and elegance, his fingers softly caressing the different styles of sneakers like he would a body. From his hiding place, Wufei watched Duo compared sales prices, the shade of the shoe against his skin and bending the sneaker while checking the soles for durability. “He's just really girly looking…” He thought to himself. “That's why he…makes me feel so funny. Because he's so pretty…just like a girl.”

 

“What are you doing?” Heero inquired, leaning against the rack Wufei was hiding behind.

 

Onyx orbs blinked, looking very stupid for a sec before Wufei finally responded back at his brother in law. “Uh? Oh! Nothing. I don't see the other pants I need for the tournament here. You want to go get a shake at the food court?”

 

“Sure.” Heero agreed, and the two boys walked one, one more cautiously than the other. The whole time Wufei blushed as he watched a Foot Locker assistant approach Duo to help him with his selection.

 

As soon as they were safe enough distance from the department store, Heero looked over to Wufei shaking his head. “You are terrible, Fei. You just need to talk to him. I mean look you are his tutor, for crist sake!”

 

“Just because I'm a tutor,” he stubbornly replied, “ doesn't mean I have to talk to him.“ He grumbled as his hands slid into his back pockets as they walked. “Jeez! You and Quarte both keep trying to make me like someone! What make you both so sure Duo is someone I like?!”

 

Wufei was then taken back by the smooth cobalt blue of Heero's eyes. They glimmered with a knowledge even Wufei was afraid of. A lone eyebrow rose, arching like the mountains of a plain, all knowing secure and still. “Trust me. You talk in your sleep, Wufei.” Heero then snickered, “and I know my name does not start with `D'.”

 

If the earth could have swallowed him, Wufei would be standing in quick sand. Golden skin flushed beet red and he glared at his brother in law in anger. But Heero just shrugged not caring because he knew he spoke the truth where Wufei was concerned. He didn't understand while his friend would be so afraid to just confess your feelings. The look Wufei was giving him was enough to freeze anyone in their tracks. “Well you do!”

 

Wufei opened his mouth to reply but he thought about it for a moment and ignored it totally when he spotted Quarte sitting all alone in the food court. The blonde boy had changed from his usual school uniform he had worn earlier that day for the session into a pair of low riding baby blue bell bottoms; A black Gap shirt with the words angel were imprinted in the front. “He's still here?”

 

“Who's here?” Heero questioned. When Wufei didn't answer and pointed instead, Heero followed the direction of his hand aiming directly at the slim form of Quarte. Heero blushed, grabbing Wufei's arm pulling him towards that area. “Let's go over there.” His eyes lingered over the sad boy. Such a delicate face sipping on a drink of some sort and his heart broke. He watched as Quarte had one knee drawn up to his chest while the other leg just dangled, swaying under the table back and forth in a beat only the owner knew.

 

Wufei just smirked. “And now who's talking in their sleep, lover boy?” Wufei replied slyly still walking, going around people since it was a large food court.

 

The reddish hue of Heero's cheeks only grew deeper in color. “At least I know I like someone. You won't even admit it.”

 

Wufei ignored that, removing his arm from Heero's grip as they walked over to their friend. He frowned at Heero while plopping unsuspected next to Quarte. “Oi! Quat! I brought your favorite Ken doll!”

 

Totally surprised, cola nearly spurted from the blond boy's mouth as shock registered on his face. “I-I was just leaving!” he stammered, his arms flapping up and down. “I just called my butler to come pick me up!!”

 

Wufei just stared at the young Arabian wondering why the heck he was lying when Quarte drove him to the mall?!? Heero interrupted his thoughts.

 

“Hey. You look like you need a friend.”

 

Wufei smirked, agreeing with Heero but not wanting to blow up Quarte's spot. “Right. It's Jeeves day off.”

 

Quarte groaned knowing that Wufei knew he was lying but thankful he didn't tell his brother in law.

 

“Come on.” Heero replied quietly. “ You don't have to leave. Come and hang with us.”

 

Bubbles of aquamarine looked up into Prussian shyly. “You don't mind?” He bowed his head in shame again. “I didn't mean what I said.” He replied apologetically for his overacting. He didn't want Heero to believe he was a brat. “Well I did mean about the style but not like that. It's just I hate jock stores…”

 

Heero smiled. He didn't understand it but he didn't like Quarte to ever be sad for anything. “It's okay, Quarte-san.” He replied, gently lifting Quarte's face by the chin to look him in the eyes. “I don't mind at all. They're just sneakers. I didn't really care about the style when my sister brought them. Now all I'm worried about is getting those blankets for the twins.”

 

Smiling finally by Heero's gentle admission, he replied. “So you want to go to the Gap? They have the cutest sale of baby stuff this week? It was in the paper Wednesday.”

 

A distinct melody vibrated in the air as both Quarte and Heero stopped in their conversation and stared at Wufei who was humming a familiar tune. “Quarte and Heero, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G---OW!!!”

 

Heero growled “Shut up!” while Quarte rubbed his fist, lowering it from Wufei's head. “Honestly, Wufei! Grow up!!” Quarte finished his soda, placing the empty can back on the table. “At least I'd be honest enough with myself to kiss him!”

 

A golden finger pointed on Quarte's nose. “AH! HA! See! You do like him!!!”

 

Two pairsof cheeks reddened and Quarte's eyes widened in embarrassment. Wufei chuckled from the two, his smile bigger that his head watching the interactions between his friends, both of the teenagers blushing so cutely. “I'll see you two later! Since Quarte going with you, Heero, I'll be at the martial arts store. I've got some pants to buy.”

 

But Wufei would never make it to his destination. Quarte looked up, swearing he was hearing Duo's voice again and this time he was right. He saw the boy laughing with his family again. He watched hungrily as Duo giggled from his older brother's ranting. Since he was a very good lip reader, he could see it had something to do with a Kay Bee sale clerk and his inability to help them find Marie's game. His eyes followed the group as they entered the Foot Court area. Smirking, he knew it was time to turn the tables on a certain dark haired brat.

 

“And then,” Treize grumbled, “She asked the clerk to define the word `ignoramus'. And when he couldn't he pointed at him. I mean, Duo, the game was right there on the counter and he still couldn't find it for her!!!”

 

“Duo?!” Quarte called, smiling over to the group as they looked for a table.

 

Duo was still giggling but turned when he heard his name. “Quarte-san?!?!”

 

“Yeah! I'm still here!!” Quarte giggled, waving his arms wildly wanting Duo to come over to his table.

 

Duo maneuvered around the other patrons at tables, his hips gracefully shifting ever so delicately as his brother and niece followed behind.

 

“I changed…my mind.” Aquamarine orbs glancing quickly at Heero, who was on his right side talking to Wufei. Wufei had his back to Duo, leaning his elbow on the table, not truly hearing Duo behind him because of the noise in the food court. Quarte had to poke him to get his attention, grinning like a imp with a smile swearing payback from that teasing earlier.

 

Duo naively just smiled, dimples showing making his heart shaped face appear younger than he already was. Only when he was happy did he seem to have a glow around him. “Hey Heero-san, Wufei-san…”

 

“OW!” Wufei yelled before his eyes widened in shock. He just heard someone say his name with such a huskiness he thought he was getting a hard on. If Quarte could have wanted revenge, the look on Wufei's face was enough blackmail to last a lifetime. He watched the ebony haired lad freeze like a doe caught in headlights. Wufei slowly turned, his throat dry as hell! “H-Hi!”

 

Smiling, enormous violet eyes blinked at Wufei. Wufei couldn't breathe. Words stumbled from his mouth in a jumbled mess! “W-What are you doing here?!?!”

 

Treize heard the boy speak to Duo, yet Duo just stared at him a second longer than he should. “Duo, Aren't you going to introduce us?”

 

Shaking his head out of his staring session, Duo blushed sheepishly. “Oh!! I'm so rude!!” Turning to his brother, he pointed to each of the boys as he introduced them one by one. “Nissan…this is Quarte Winner, Heero Yuy and this…” he paused wanting his Niisan to recognize the boy's by face, “this Chang Wufei. You know…Xi-Shin's younger brother? The one he's always talking about?”

 

Quarte leaned over a sec and a little breeze fluttered by Wufei's ear. “You're can dooooo it, Fei-chan!”

 

Wufei gurgled, shutting his eyes to calm down, his eyes moving slightly to the side to glare at Quarte. He then saw the tall man with the bronze colored hair and piercing blue eyes. Wufei had to blink at the colors in Treize's hair: red, gold and brown. It seemed that Duo's was almost the same color just a little darker than his brother. He saw the older man extending his right hand in respect.

 

“Nice to finally meet you, Wufei.” Treize replied smiling at the younger boy. The lad did look exactly like his older brother. Treize couldn't help but admire Mr. Chang, yet out of respect for his marriage and his preferences and would never acknowledge this fact.

 

Speaking shyly, Wufei replied “Hai” and grabbed Trieze's hand a friendly yet firm handshake.

 

“Shin is funny!” Duo giggled, looking from Wufei and then his brother. “They do look alike, right Niisan. I told you so!” Trieze nodded in agreement, highly impressed.

 

Wufei just blushed internally amazed that Duo was talking about him to his older brother. It seemed like a dream but the facts were before him. He smiled to camouflage his thoughts. “Till you are the butt of his jokes,” he replied muttering under his breath after several years of suffering from the bunt of his older brother's antics.

 

Heero snickered already knowing the thoughts running in Wufei's head. It was then he told Trieze that Xi-Shin was married to his sister, Relena.

 

Duo looked back stuttering in shock and surprise. “Xi-Shin's married to your sister? I always thought you were cousins?!?!”

 

“Naah…” Heero explained, “We've been friends since birth so naturally we think of each other as family. We told everyone we were cousins not be to bothered. Now we are related.”

 

“Wow!” Duo gasped, “So you two are the proud uncles of twins! That must be so cool! Shin said it was the first in the family.”

 

“Yeah!” That was the only good thing his sister had done: falling for Wufei's brother. Having the twins in the house was a dream come true. He would always go in the room to check up on the two and kiss them good night every night. Smiling and his eyes slowly glancing at Wufei, he secretly wished to have his own set some day with a certain blonde.

 

“So. What's going on, guys?” Duo asked curiously.

 

“Well…” Quarte answered seeing Wufei about to open his big mouth. “Wufei is shopping for a security blanket.” He ignored the glare he was receiving from Fei, giggling at the over reacting youth. “He can't sleep without one!”

 

Muscular arms and spilling hair frantically waved in denial swearing justice on Quarte when this was over. “NO! NO! Don't listen to him!! Heero and I are buying one for the twins!!”

 

“You wanna go with us, Duo?” Quarte asked, having a hidden agenda. “These two jocks couldn't tell a baby blanket from a jock strap!” He stuck out his tongue at Wufei and ran behind Heero for protection.

 

“I can too!” Wufei growled! Treize just smirked from the comedy. The interaction between these boys seemed to be the right type of medicine his younger brother needed.

 

“So you do have a baby blanket?” Quarte questioned over Heero's shoulder.

 

Duo looked on in confusion. “Baby blanket? OH!” He yelled in understanding. “I'm great at getting gifts…especially baby stuff. They have half price sale at the Gap that was in the paper.”

 

Clapping his hands, Quarte stepped from behind Heero and walked directly to Duo. His eyes sparked, happily finding someone who had good taste. He took his arm, giggling at having a comrade against the other two. “Good! You help me pick out Wufei's Christmas presents later on in the year then!!”

 

Gawking, Wufei watched speechless as the two walked off down the aisle. “When then that boy become such a tease?!??”

 

Thinking just like his cousin, Heero just shook his head smirking. “Let's just follow, Fei.” But before he walked off, he turned making sure he excused himself properly in front of Treize. “It was nice meeting you, sir,” he replied, taking Treize's hand to shake.

 

Quarte was still pulling Duo down the hall but he waved bye to his brother. Treize then started laughing at the departing boys. Marie finally looked up from her Game boy, smiling. “I'm so proud of him. I got tired of their nerds hanging around him.”

 

Trieze looked down at his only daughter confused. “Eh?!”

 

Marie just giggled, more knowledgeable than everyone thought she was. “Yup, Daddy! Duo is in good hands with those guys. Especially that Wufei boy!”

 

“I hope so.” Trieze replied, still a little worried. A tiny hand patted him on the back as he stared a face so much like his deceased wife.

 

“Trust me, Daddy. Just trust me.”

 

TBC

~**************************************************************** ***************~

Author notes: Finally it done!! Goodness! I thought I would never get this chapter done!! It would have been done sooner if not for RL and the fact the direction of the story to be worked on a little. I don't want to leave too many gaps so you guys don't understand what's going on here. Hope you enjoyed it! And I started the next chapter already!! YIPPEE!! I'm on a roll!!

 

Duo: I'm just waiting to get with Fei-baby

Wufei: BLUSH!! Damn you sure change from passive to aggressive!

Quarte: I taught him everything he knows!!

Heero: Hn *grabbing Quarte's hand just to make the blonde blush!*