Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Final Grade ❯ Chapter 9

Title: Final Grade
Chapter: 9/?
Warnings: Angst. Zoi gets off on angst. ^_^
Disclaimers: Gundam Wing and all characters associated with it is not mine, nor am I making any money from this. This is purely for my personal enjoyment, and the enjoyment of the people who read this. GW is copyright Bandai, Sunrise, etc.
Dedications: Firstly, to everyone who's waited so long for this part, and all who have given me feedback. ^_^ I love you all! Secondly, this is dedicated to Andrea Doolan on TQML, because I posted this chapter on April 30, 2001 --- her 21st birthday. ^_^ Enjoy!

It was odd to wake up next to someone after three years of near-chastity, but Quatre didn't mind at all. He sighed and smiled softly down at Triton. So beautiful . . .

'And so mine.' That thought pleased Quatre above all others as there was a knock at his bedroom door. 'Damn, it's almost sunrise.' He made a face as he got up carefully, throwing a robe on. 'I need to find a religion where I can sleep past sunrise.' He smiled slightly. It would never happen, but it *would* be nice. The young noble kissed his sleeping lover's cheek gently before he went and unlocked his bedroom door, smiling down at an angry Amir.

"Father! You locked me out! How dare you, Father?!" Small fists were planted on slender hips, legs apart, and sea-blue eyes flashed angrily.

Quatre chuckled. "Hush, son. You'll wake Triton up." He picked his son up and walked through the bedroom, opening the French doors to the balcony.

Amir's eyes went wide as he stared at the bed and its slumbering occupant. "Father, you and Triton---"

"Yes. Hush, he doesn't need to be awake just yet." Quatre set Amir down and looked out over the brightening horizon.

"Does this mean Triton's going to be my daddy?"

"I don't know."

"Is Triton going to have a baby now?"

Quatre laughed and knelt, holding his child close. "No, Amir. Men can't have babies."

That brought a sigh of relief. "Oh, good. I didn't think so, but I had to check." The young face lit up. "Can I start today, please, Father?"

Quatre smiled. "Of course."

* * *

The first thing Triton was aware of when he woke was a splitting headache. The second thing was that he was naked and in a strange bed. He squeezed his eyes closed tighter and tried to remember where he was and how he'd gotten there. Two soft voices intruded into his jumbled thoughts, and he paused to concentrate on them. Triton couldn't understand the language, but he was sure that it was Quatre and Amir talking. He tried to go back to sleep but his head hurt too much, then he heard a door shut and the bed shifted as someone lay down next to him. He made a soft sound of protest and rolled over, burying his face in the pillow. A gentle hand rested on his bare back.

"Triton? Are you awake?"

Yes, that was Quatre. Apparently Triton was in Quatre's bed. How had he gotten here? He shook his head and moaned as that made sparks of pain shoot through it. What had happened last night? Triton remembered a party, and dancing with Quatre, and then Heero had given him something to drink, sake or something . . . God, his head hurt . . .

A frown creased Quatre's features. This wasn't the reaction Triton should be having at the moment. A thought crossed his mind and his jaw dropped, horrified. What had Triton had to drink last night? Quatre himself wasn't an expert on hangovers, but Heero had gotten drunk a few times when they'd been together, and Triton was behaving like Heero did when he had a hangover . . .

"Triton? Triton, did you have . . . have anything to drink last night?" 'Oh, please no. No. He wasn't drunk; please don't let him have been drunk. Please. Please.'

"Nnn . . ." Triton winced and nodded, then winced again when that made his head hurt. He tried to talk, but his mouth was dry and he couldn't quite make words form. He sat up and held his head in his hands, not looking at Quatre. If he was naked, and not in his own bed, and Quatre had slept next to him, then there was really only one logical explanation for what had gone on the night before. 'Please, no. We didn't have sex; that's impossible. Someone tell me we didn't have sex . . .'

"What did you have?" Had Heero been drinking? Yes, he had. Triton had been sitting with Heero and Sylvia for a while, too. Quatre bit his lower lip and trembled.

"Sa---sake? Heero gave it to me . . ." What had happened after he and Quatre had tucked Amir in finally came back to Triton, and he froze at the same time Quatre did. "Shit . . ."

"Shit." Quatre covered his face. Triton had been drunk last night. Everything seemed to stand still as that knowledge sank in, then Quatre reached hesitantly for Triton. "Triton, look, I did---"

"Don't touch me!" The Latin man jerked away from Quatre and nearly fell off the bed, whimpering when he jolted his head too much. "Don't fucking touch me!" Tears welled up in the young man's eyes as he clutched the covers to his chest, then he snatched his dress away from Quatre when his teacher handed it to him, furious.

"Triton, please, let me ex---"

"Explain? Explain what?" Triton asked acidly as he struggled into the garment. "Explain that you're just like the rest? Just like James? God, I was a fool to think you actually cared for me. You just wanted to get me in bed. Well, you did. Are you happy now? Was I a good fuck, Quatre?! Did you enjoy yourself?!" Tears were falling openly down Triton's cheeks and he stood, holding the back of one hand to his mouth to muffle his sobs as he hurried to the other side of the bed and started gathering up his shoes and panties.

The Arab shook his head, stung by his student's harsh words. "No, Triton, please listen!" He reached down and took both of Triton's hands in his own. "I didn't know, Triton, I swear it! I wouldn't have---"

"Don't *touch* me!" Triton yelled, jerking out of Quatre's grasp and stumbling to his feet, feeling hurt and betrayed. "I can't believe you! Why did I care about you? You're just like James!" He turned and fled the room, sobbing openly now.

"Triton! No, Triton! Wait!" Quatre got up and pulled a robe about him as he rushed after Triton, following the young man into his room. "Triton, please! I wouldn't have touched you if I'd known! You've got to believe me, Triton. Please!"

There was a snort as Triton threw his things together. "Get the fuck away from me. Leave me alone!"

"Triton, I love you!"

Triton froze and turned slowly to Quatre, setting his bags down as he walked up to the blond. He brought his hand back and smacked Quatre across the cheek, then roughly wiped away tears. "Fuck you," he snarled quietly, then picked his bags up and almost ran out of the room. He ignored Quatre's calls for him to come back and hurried out of the house, past a shocked and confused Amir. He didn't care if Quatre had the fastest means of getting him home, he wasn't going to turn around. 'I'll walk home. I'm good-looking; someone will stop and give me a ride if I need one.' That brought more tears to Triton's eyes. 'Yeah, they'll give me a good 'ride.' I may as well just lay down now and spread my legs; let everyone at me. Why did I believe Quatre cared? Why do *I* still care? I want Cathrine; she'll know what to do . . .' The purring of a motorcycle made Triton look up as the machine pulled up next to him, and Duo offered him a helmet.

"Get on," the ex-pilot said softly. "I'll take you home, no questions asked, no nothing."

Triton glared at Duo, and almost refused. Then he thought about how far he'd have to walk, and grudgingly accepted the helmet. Duo got off the bike long enough to load Triton's bags on it, then got back on and waited until Triton was safely seated before driving off. Triton hesitantly wrapped his arms around Duo's waist to steady himself, sniffing. Duo didn't say anything, for which the Latin man was glad. He didn't feel like talking. Or doing much of anything else, for that matter. He closed his eyes, then opened them when scenes from the previous night played out behind them. He whimpered slightly. He didn't want to remember. He didn't want it to have felt good.

'I was drunk. He took advantage of me. I should hate him. I need to hate him. Why can't I hate him?' Triton raised his bowed head when the motorcycle came to a stop, then got off and unstrapped his bags. He looked up at Duo, bitter. "Gee, thanks. What do you want for payment? Why don't you come in, and *you* can fuck me, too?" His voice was heavy with tears. He hadn't stopped crying.

The older man just shook his head with a sigh. "I think not. I'm going back to Quatre's to try and comfort him. He really didn't know, Triton." With that Duo turned the bike and drove off, not looking back.

Triton turned and wiped at his face before trudging up the steps to he and Cathrine's trailer, throwing the door open and hurrying to his room. Cathrine looked up from where she was curled up on the couch, surprised.

"Triton? Triton, what are you doing home? What's wrong?" She followed him to his room.

Triton flung himself on his bed and started sobbing even more, not knowing how he could tell Cat what he'd let Quatre do to him. What he'd enjoyed. 'I can't tell her! She'll think I'm a slut. *Am* I a slut? Oh, God, I'm so confused . . . Why? Why is life *so* confusing?'

"Triton? Oh, baby, come here . . ." The young man was pulled into his sister's arms as she sat on the edge of his bed, and rocked gently. "Shh, shh . . . What happened, Triton? Why are you home, and in that dress? What's wrong?"

Triton sniffed and tried to get a hold of himself. "I . . . I . . . God, Cathy, I'm such a slut!" That brought a fresh wave of tears.

"What? Triton, what are you talking about? You're not a slu---"

"Yes, I *am*! I'm a slut! I let Quatre fuck me!"

Cathrine went still, and Triton knew she was shocked. "What, what happened? You and Quatre had sex?"

Triton snorted. "I wouldn't call it sex. Amir --- Quatre's son --- had his birthday party last night, and Heero gave me some sake to drink, and I . . . I . . ." He broke down again, burying his head in his sister's chest.

Cathrine stroked his hair gently. "You got drunk, you mean." Triton nodded. "Isn't Quatre Muslim?"

"H-Heero isn't."

"Well . . . did Quatre *know* you were drunk?"

Triton shrugged. "He said he didn't, but shouldn't he have noticed something wasn't right? I . . . I let him take me, Cathrine." Triton trembled and lowered his voice. "I begged him to."

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Cat's voice was soft.

Triton sniffed. " . . . yes . . ."

A sigh. "How much sake did you have?"

Triton thought hard on that one. "About . . . two-thirds of the glass?"

Cathrine shifted and lay Triton down, pulling the covers up to his chin. "All right. Triton, I'm going to give you some painkiller that's going to knock you out for a while. We'll talk more after you've had a chance to rest, all right?" The young man nodded, staring up at the ceiling as Cathrine left. She came back in moments, holding a glass of water and a little plastic cup full of green goo. "Sit up and take this. It tastes nasty, so you need to drink it like it's a shot." Triton gave her a blank look, and Cathrine explained. "Hold your breath, gulp it down, and don't breathe until you've swallowed."

Triton did as he was told, gagging and grabbing for the water at the nasty taste of the medicine. He gulped the clear stuff down, then made a few more funny faces.

Cathrine smiled. "Good. Now lay back down." She tucked Triton in and kissed his forehead. "Don't worry, love. You're not a slut; I promise. Now sleep, all right?"

Triton nodded and curled on his side, and it wasn't long before he was deep in sleep.

* * *

Quatre stormed through his house after Duo went off for Triton, throwing a temper tantrum. The servants had scattered, afraid to face his anger. After the ZERO System incident it still took a lot to make Quatre angry, but once he was, he stayed violently angry for a long time.

'Damn it! Damn it all! How could I have been so dense?!'

"Quatre?"

The young noble whipped around, leveling his most evil glare on the intruder. "What?!"

Sylvia rolled her eyes. "I've seen better glares, Quatre. Now stop throwing a fit; you're scaring Amir. What happened?"

"What happened? What *happened*? Triton was drunk last night and I fucked him, *that's* what happened! I took him to my bed without knowing he was drunk. Or maybe I did, and just didn't want to think about it because he was there, begging me to take him." He trembled. "He hates me now, Sylvia. Triton hates me. I hate *myself*. How could I have been so stupid to think that he was finally over his past enough to let me love him like that? He told me I was just like the man who'd molested him. And maybe I am." Quatre sank down in a chair and held his head in his hands. "Why didn't I notice he was drunk?"

Sylvia sat next to him and put an arm around his shoulders. "Because he was hiding it well. *I* didn't know he was drunk, Quatre. He accepted the sake Heero gave him, and I didn't think anything of it. None of us did." She hugged Quatre gently. "It wasn't your fault, Quatre. It wasn't."

Quatre was about to answer when a servant hesitantly poked his head into the room. "M-Master Quatre? A Ms. Cathrine Bloom is on the teleunit. She's quite adamant about speaking with you."

Quatre groaned. "Enter the protective older sister, who throws knives. She's going to castrate me. At least I have an heir, so it really doesn't matter . . ." He stood up.

Sylvia just shook her head. "Relax, Quatre. She might just be calling to get your side of the story."

"Or to tell me she's coming over to cut my penis off." Quatre glared at Sylvia as she stifled a laugh, then followed the servant. He took a deep breath, then leaned over the screen. "Ms. Bloom."

Cathrine raised an eyebrow at him. "Mr. Winner. Triton just came home, Mr. Winner, and he was very distraught before I put him to bed. I'd like to know why."

'I don't *want* to think of putting Triton to bed . . .' Quatre cleared his throat. "Ah, well, Ms. Bloom . . . You see . . ." He closed his eyes. "Oh, hell. Triton and I had sex last night, Ms. Bloom. Apparently my friend had given him some sake before, and I didn't know that. I . . . I would never have touched him if I had known, Ms. Bloom. I love your brother, Ms. Bloom. I would never do anything to hurt him if I could help it. I . . . I honestly thought that he was sober." Quatre opened his eyes and looked down at his beloved's sister, who was just watching him.

"Do you have any good excuses as to why you wouldn't notice that Triton was drunk, Mr. Winner?"

"Other than that I'm Muslim, and my religion forbids the consumption of alcohol, no. If I had had my hormones totally under control, I might have noticed. I might not have. I . . . I'm sorry, Ms. Bloom. I never meant to hurt Triton."

Cathrine sighed. "He said he'd drank sake. I've had it before, and it'll knock you off your feet even if you're *used* to drinking. Triton isn't used to drinking." She paused and looked to the side. "Well, I'd love to hate you. But . . . well . . ." The young woman wiped at her face. "I don't know. Hilde's telling me that you're telling the truth. I don't doubt her. But . . . God, this is confusing. I'm not sure if Triton will agree to go back to your class after this. I know that you'll have to start all over with gaining his trust. You may never get it back. But . . ."

"But?" Quatre rubbed his eyes.

"But I think that Triton really does love you, Mr. Winner. I think you both made some mistakes last night, and it will be a long time until he trusts you again, but I think it *will* happen. Triton was more upset that he was *drunk* and enjoyed himself than anything else, I think. I'm going to talk to him when he wakes up. Just . . . please, Mr. Winner, be extra gentle with him."

Quatre nodded. "I, I understand, Ms Bloom."

"All right. I need to go now."

"Goodbye." Quatre shut the teleunit off and sighed. He was such a fool . . . But was Cathrine right? *Did* Triton love him? 'I can only hope . . . Damn it, I have to go to work tomorrow. I need to think of some way to apologize for what I did. I'm so sorry, Triton. I'm so sorry . . .'

"Father?"

Quatre turned and knelt, opening his arms for his son. "Hello, Amir. I . . . I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier, Amir. I shouldn't have done that."

Amir let himself be gathered in Quatre's arms, and gently pet his father's hair. "That's all right, Father. Father . . ."

"Yes, my son?"

"Where's Miss Triton, Father? Is she still here?"

Quatre took a deep breath, then hung his head. "Amir . . . Amir, Triton . . . he went home, Amir."

"But, why? Why didn't she tell me goodbye? Doesn't she like me?"

"Amir, Triton is a man. And yes, he likes you. It . . . I made Triton upset, Amir, and he left. I'm sure that if I hadn't hurt him, he would have said goodbye to you. In fact, I *know* he would have."

Amir looked sad. "Well . . . what did you do, Father? Doesn't Triton love you now? You two had sex, right? Doesn't that mean Triton loves you?"

Quatre crushed his son against him, tears in his eyes for Amir's innocence. "Oh, Amir . . . It doesn't always work like that, Amir. Just because two people have sex, doesn't mean that they love each other. Amir . . . I had thought --- Triton was drunk, Amir. I didn't find that out until this morning, and Triton got really upset with me. I tried to explain, but he wouldn't listen." Quatre's voice softened. "I'm so sorry, Amir. I know how much you love Triton."

The small boy thought for a moment, then brushed the tears from his father's eyes. "Is Triton coming back, Father?"

"I don't know. I don't think so."

Tears filled Amir's eyes and he nodded, voice small. "O, okay. May I, may I please play outside?"

Quatre nodded, his gaze mournfully following his small child as Amir trudged dejectedly outside. 'Damn it. I forgot that I'm not the only one hurt by Triton leaving. Amir wants Triton to stay forever. What do I tell him? "I'm sorry, Amir, but my hormones took over and now Triton hates me and won't ever come back?" But I didn't know. I didn't *know*.'

"Ne, Quatre?"

The Arab stood and turned to the door. "Yes?"

Duo crossed the floor and took Quatre in his arms, rocking from side to side slightly. "I'm sorry, Quatre. No one thought that maybe Triton wouldn't be able to handle alcohol."

"Damn it, Duo, I don't need your pity. I don't *want* it, either." Quatre rested his forehead in the crook of Duo's neck, arms slipping around his friend's waist. "And it's not like *you're* ever going to be in this situation."

Duo snorted. "I beg to differ, Quatre. I can't stay alone with Mariemaia because I want her so much. If she were against us having sex at least until she's legal, then I could handle it. But she doesn't give a damn about what's legal, and the only thing keeping her from seducing me is the knowledge that I'll go to jail for it. And believe me, if she seduced me I wouldn't be able to do anything *but* go willingly. I think our situations are strikingly similar, Quatre. We both have people we want, but can't have, and we both can't keep our hands to ourselves when we're alone with those people."

Quatre snorted. "True, but you didn't sleep with Mariemaia, then find out in the morning that she was drunk. And she's not hating you now. Your actions didn't not only hurt you and her, but your son as well. Amir loves Triton, and now I may have to tell him that Triton won't ever come back because I never stopped to think that maybe Triton had been drinking last night. Because I never stopped to *think* at all. And now . . . I may have lost Triton forever."

"My friend, the drama king," Duo murmured, lips meeting Quatre's neck gently. He continued to sway from side to side while running his hands under Quatre's robe and around his back, kneading gently. "But it's not as bad as it seems, I guarantee it."

"Duo, no . . ." Quatre shook his head, eyes falling closed as Duo moved to his throat, kissing and sucking softly. He tilted his head back as his body started reacting to his friend's feather-light caresses. "Please . . ."

There was a soft chuckle as Duo pressed one knee between Quatre's legs. "Hush, darling. You need a distraction, and if there's one thing I'm good at, it's distractions. This will be good, for both of us."

"But Mariemaia---"

"Knows. I sat down with her last night and we had a long talk about our relationship as it is now, and what it could become in the future. I told her in no uncertain terms that I love her, but I'm *not* going to jail because of her. We had an argument over age differences, and how they don't matter the older you get, but that right now ten years is a lot." Duo was gently maneuvering Quatre to his room, lips still on his neck. "I told her that I'm not going to be able to keep away from her without some release for my desire. Masturbating isn't going to help, not when I'll be picturing her naked body beneath me." The young man trembled, a soft moan forcing its way from his throat as he pushed Quatre to the bed. His deft fingers unbuttoned Quatre's shirt effortlessly. "She said to take a lover before I could suggest it. Mariemaia doesn't want me to go to jail."

"God, Duo . . ." The young noble tilted his head back and pulled Duo's braid up until he got to the end, carefully removing the hair band holding the mass together. Duo's low chuckle vibrated against his chest as the brown-haired man pressed his lips firmly to it, then he rolled them and looked down at his friend. "You're sure---"

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here." Duo smiled and sat up on his elbows, shrugging out of his shirt. That done, he and Quatre got rid of his pants, and it took a moment to get the lubricant and condoms out because Quatre leaned on Duo's hair, and Duo shrieked in pain, part real and part feigned. That done, they were well on their way to screwing each other's brains out by dinner time.

* * *

Triton wandered out of his room a few hours after he'd fallen asleep, rubbing his eyes. Hilde bounced up to him and gave him a big hug, then tackled Cathrine when the young woman walked in.

"Oh, Kate, I'm so sorry! It was a stupid thing to fight about! I should have kept my mouth shut, I really should have. Please, do you forgive me?" Hilde took out a box and opened it, removing an expensive-looking necklace. "This is for you. I love you, Kate, and I don't want you mad at me."

Cathrine's eyes were wide as she took the necklace, then turned so that Hilde could put it on. That done, she turned around again and hugged her lover, tears in her eyes. "Of course I forgive you, Hilde. I'm sorry, too. It wasn't that important." They kissed, then Cathrine looked up as Triton turned to go back into his room. Great. Cathrine and Hilde had made up and were happy. Where the hell did that leave Triton? Still miserable. "Triton, you're up. How are you feeling?"

The young man shrugged, then closed his door and changed his clothes. He put on a traditional Chinese-style shirt that buttoned diagonally from his right collarbone to the left side of his waist, and was black and silver see-through material. He left the bra off and donned a long black skirt that was slit up to his hips with silver trim. After that, he grabbed his keys and started out, but Cathrine stopped him.

"Where are you going, Triton?"

Triton considered. " . . . The library. I . . . I need to look something up. I'll be back, Cat, don't worry." He kissed her cheek and opened the door. "Enjoy yourselves."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Triton slid into his car and checked to make sure he had his library card, then pulled out and headed for the library. 'I'm not weak. I hate being weak. I hate being afraid constantly. I've been afraid for too long. I know I'm stronger than this, and I know what I need to do.' He swallowed nervously. He was going to find out about rape and what had happened to him, and he was going to get over it. 'And maybe, just maybe, be able to apologize to Quatre . . .' He hadn't meant to get drunk, hadn't meant to lead Quatre on like that. 'But would I have still ended up in bed with him? Not last night, I'm sure. But . . . He's trying so hard, and he seems to care so much. And then there's Amir.' Triton sighed and parked, rubbing his temples before he got out of the car.

The library was a huge old building that was two stories full of books, and a basement and sort of attic that held even more of them, old and dusty. Triton loved it, and normally would spend hours just browsing, but now he was on a mission. He didn't want to look this up, but he had to. The young man went to the computer terminals and took a seat, not looking anywhere but at the screen as he typed.

'Rape. Child abuse. I don't want to read this.' Triton pursed his lips and printed out the page of results, then went to look for the books. He gathered a stack of them and started reading, not really sure what he was looking for, but reading all he could. It was closing time when he gathered the few he had left and checked them out, not meeting the eyes of the librarian as he did so. He murmured a thanks and escaped into the cool evening air, head lowered, and ran into someone. "Ah!" He landed on his rump and winced, then looked up.

"Oh, hey, I'm sorry. Here, let me help you." The man knelt and held his hand out to Triton, whose eyes were wide.

"Oh, uhm, thank you . . ." He stood and then knelt, gathering up his books as quickly as he could. The man looked almost exactly like Heero. Triton flushed slightly as they both reached for the same book, the stranger's hand covering his own, and looked up. "Um . . ."

"Hello," the man murmured, smiling slightly. "I'm Ralph." He started to glance down at the book, and Triton snatched it up and stood.

"Thank you, sir. I've got to go now, thank you." He started backing away, holding the books to his chest tightly.

Ralph just raised an eyebrow and leaned against the wall. "All right. But before you do, do I get your name? One as lovely as yourself surely has a lovely name."

Triton flushed and looked to the side. "Ah, Triton . . ."

"That's a beautiful name." Ralph straightened. "Well, Triton, perhaps I'll see you around." He tugged at the sleeves of his poet's shirt, and smoothed down his tight, brown soft-leather pants. Now that Triton looked, he was dressed right out of seventeenth century France. He looked wonderful.

"Maybe . . ." Triton turned and hurried across the parking lot, heart racing as he got in and started his car. He tossed the books on the passenger seat, then covered his face. 'All right, since when do I have hormones? Since when are they *active*?' He shook his head and pulled out, unable to resist glancing where the man had last been standing. He was still there, a half smile on his face, and bowed from the waist as Triton passed him. Triton turned back to the road and swallowed, heart still beating fast. 'God, he's gorgeous . . . What am I thinking?! Gyah . . .' Triton scowled and pushed his lower lip out in a pout, but there was no one there to see it, much less be affected by it. 'And really, only Quatre's affected by it.' Triton rolled his eyes and pushed the CD in the CD deck in, then sighed. 'What number's Mis-Conceptions? Oh, right.' He smiled and started singing softly. "I've got a unicorn's horn in the middle of my forehead, and the antlers of a stag on either side. I've got pointed ears that are something like a deer's, or something like an elf's; I can't decide. I've got long green hair to match my flowing em'rald mane, that turns red with the oak trees every fall. With my goat-like eyes it should come as no surprise that I've got feathered eyebrows, and that isn't all." He smiled and turned the music up. "My mother never talks about that orgy, and I can't really blame her much, although I would love to see the guest list for that party, and if there's another like it, let me know."

He didn't go back to the circus at once, but drove to the park and parked. The young man then leaned his seat back and turned on his stomach before picking up the book he'd been reading before he'd left the library. It was hard, making himself read all this. Most of it hit home with a vengeance and Triton had to put the book down after fifteen minutes or so, rubbing the wetness from his eyes.

'All right, let's take this slow. You may have the tendency to jump into things, Triton, but take this slow.' He turned on his back and stared up at the top of the car, pursing his lips. 'I can't believe I begged him. I mean, did I *have* to tell him to *fuck* me? Couldn't I have been a little more, oh I don't know, *elegant* about it?' Triton covered his face and shook his head. 'I'm such a bitch. Quatre did *not* deserve *any* of the crap I gave him. Even if he *did* know I was tipsy, he didn't deserve to be yelled at and cursed. Maybe hit. Yes, I think he deserved to be hit. But I shouldn't have yelled at him or cursed at him. So what do I do *now*? Apologize? I can't avoid him. But I don't know how I can do anything else, after last night!'

Between worrying about what to do about Quatre and the books on child abuse, Triton was well on his way to a migraine by the time he got back to the circus. To make it worse, Cathrine had some news for him.

"The circus is leaving next weekend, Triton." The young woman wiped her hands on a towel and leaned against the wall. "We've been here too long. Since before you started college, actually."

Triton sat on the couch and rubbed his temples. "I can't leave. I have to finish the year or else I fail." He looked up. "Can't we stay a little longer?"

"I'm sorry, sweety. I asked. The ringmaster said no, we have to leave."

"All right. All right. I'll find a place to stay, then." Triton stood up and wandered into the bathroom, looking for some painkiller.

Cathrine followed him, brows knit together. "What do you mean? You're not going to be coming with us? Migraine med's are in the second drawer to your left."

Triton banged his knee on said drawer and cursed, backing sharply into the wall and cursing again. "This damned trailer is too damned small! Yes, I'm staying. I can't very well leave, can I? You yourself threatened my life if I didn't get a college education." He downed three of the pills, grimacing.

"I know, but . . ." Cathrine sighed. "I never really thought you'd be leaving the circus, you know? I'll miss you. You're my baby brother."

The brown-haired young man sighed and edged his way past Cathrine to his room, then flopped on his bed and covered his eyes. Cathrine covered him up and kissed his forehead, which made his lips twitch. "Thank you, Kate. Could we talk about this tomorrow? I'm tired and I've got a migraine."

"Sure, babe." Cathrine moved away and then the light went out. "Sleep tight. Love you."

"Ditto." The painkillers took effect quickly, and Triton didn't wake up until his alarm went off.

* * *

Mr. Chang and Queen Relena were attached at the lips when Triton walked into his first period class. He tilted his head to the side and frowned as he tried to figure out how they were breathing, then cleared his throat softly. The young blonde woman twirled around with a gasp as her hands flew to her lips and both of them turned various shades of red. Triton just smiled slightly and walked to his desk.

"Five minutes until class, Mr. Chang."

"Thank you, Mr. Bloom." Wufei and Relena both looked at each other, then at Triton, and Triton looked politely back.

"Yes, Mr. Chang?" The Asian man was curious about the previous night, Triton knew, but he also knew not to pry.

"Ah, nothing, Mr. Bloom." After clearing his throat, he turned to Relena, trailing his fingers down her arms and pulling her close. "Are you staying for class?"

"I'd love to. No one will recognize me, dressed like this." Indeed, the young queen was wearing faded blue jeans and a white and black, flannel button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled just above her elbows. Her long hair was pulled back in two French braids on the sides of her head, and she was wearing very little make-up. She looked like just another college girl, albeit one who was lip-to-lip with the professor.

Wufei nodded, pressing their lips together once more before he pulled away. "Good." He glanced at Triton, who looked down at his book quickly. A few minutes later the bell rang, and class started. Wufei tapped a ruler on his desk for attention. "Class, I have an announcement to make."

"You got laid this weekend and decided to give us all A's?"

"Nice try, Schbeiker. No, this concerns how this college will be run from next year on. I've received a letter from Her Highness, stating that this is a college, not a high school, and therefore, starting next semester, it will act as such. That means no more eight period days, so on and so forth."

"So does this mean you got laid this weekend?"

Wufei pursed his lips. "Don't push it, Schbeiker." Hilde shut up with a smile and made vague, suggestive motions with her hands. Triton caught Relena's eye and they both smiled slightly.

* * *

Triton was sitting at Quatre's desk when the blond entered the room, idling rotating the chair back and forth, long legs crossed as he leaned back. He was turned slightly and his arm rested across the back of the chair. Quatre stopped in the doorway and almost had a heart-attack, then walked cautiously toward the younger man.

"The circus is leaving next weekend."

"Is that so?" Quatre asked casually. He stopped a foot or so in front of his desk. "Are you going with them?"

Triton shook his head and examined his hands, not looking up at Quatre. "I need a place to stay."

Knees weak, Quatre walked forward and leaned on his desk. "Triton---"

"I can work to pay for room and board, and this beats trying to find a job and apartment in less than a week."

"Considering last weekend, I don't think---"

Triton finally raised his eyes to Quatre's and stood up, leaning over the desk between them. "Please. I need a pla---"

"Miss Triton!" Amir appeared in a side door and rushed over to Triton, almost climbing up his dress in his haste to see the brunette. "Oh, Miss Triton, you're back! Are you coming back, Miss Triton? Please? If, if I call you a man will you come back?" Tears were welling up in Amir's eyes as he clung to Triton's neck.

"I'm sorry, Amir, I'm---"

"Yes, he is," Quatre interrupted. He looked at his son and then at Triton as Amir squealed with delight. "The circus is leaving next weekend and Triton needs a place to stay for the rest of the school year."

Triton closed his eyes and nodded, then hugged Amir tightly. "I'm going to be staying with you, Amir."

"Oh, yay! Father, I love you! I love you, too, Triton!" Amir covered Triton's face with kisses, making the young man chuckle, then Quatre stepped to their sides and rested his hand on Amir's back.

"Calm down, Amir." The child laughed joyfully and then turned and clung to Quatre, and his father smiled. Quatre looked at Triton and then down, unsure of Triton's reasons for wanting to stay with him. 'Unless he just wants to drive me crazy. But . . . has he forgiven me? I don't dare ask.'

"I need to stay to help get everything together, but I'll come over after the circus leaves." Triton produced a candy bar from his shirt pocket and tapped Amir on the shoulder with it. The boy looked, but Triton moved it to his other shoulder.

"When are they leaving?" Quatre smiled as Amir looked frantically for what was tapping him, then Triton bopped him lightly on the head with the candy bar.

"Sunday morning." Amir looked about ready to cry, so Triton handed him the candy.

"Oh! Thank you, Triton!" Looking first at his father for permission, Amir opened the candy and started nibbling on it.

"You're welcome." Triton moved to his desk and sat. "I hear the school's changing."

Quatre raised an eyebrow as he brought up a coloring program on his computer for Amir. "Yes. Relena was rather upset about this college being just an extension of high school. I, of course, blame it on the Dean."

"She's not a very stable person, is she?"

"Not really. Her sister is taking over, thank God." Quatre rolled his eyes and pulled up another chair to sit down, watching as Triton took out his book and started reading. He was so beautiful. Did he realize he held Quatre's heart in the palm of his hand?

Quatre was watching him. Triton no longer knew how to react to this. Normally he'd look up and maybe give Quatre a hint of a smile, or more, but not now. Triton found himself shifting a bit, preening a little under the heavy gaze of his teacher. No matter how much he resented what had happened Sunday, even though a nagging voice told him he *didn't*, he was still attracted to Quatre. It was all very confusing.

'But you *like* the attention, don't you?' Triton ignored the tiny voice and hunched his shoulders a bit, wishing it would leave him alone. 'Even if I do,' he thought back, 'that doesn't excuse what happened Sunday night.' He was grateful when the bell rang, and blocked out everything but the lesson until he could escape this bittersweet torture. He would have escaped, too, had not a certain bundle of Middle Eastern energy decided it wanted to crawl into his lap and fall asleep there. The rest of the class thought Amir was cute. Triton was almost ready to strangle the child.

"I'll take him." Quatre reached out and gently took Amir out of Triton's lap and the last student left the room, careful not to wake the child.

"Thank you." Triton stood and gathered his books. He nibbled his lower lip. "Qua--- Mr. Winner, why did you agree to let me stay with you?"

Quatre smiled softly as he rocked Amir back and forth, rubbing the child's back slowly. "Amir would be heartbroken if I hadn't. I would do most anything for my child."

Triton accepted this and nodded, then walked out of the room without a backward glance.