Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Forged Together ❯ Chapter 22 ( Chapter 22 )

A/n- Ok, the final parings are up and this is the chapter before last. You can consider this the last chapter and the next the prologue if you want. I'm already planning something like a follow up coz I couldn't deal with half the things I wanted to.

 

Well, just don't kill me for this. :)

 

In addition

 

“ 567788,” (double quote)- is for normal speech

 

` ` - that is…single quote is for lip movements alone. (read the lips)

 

~ ~ - Parseltongue (ok, sorry, can't help it with the new book out and all that stuff.

 

 

Chapter 22

 

Duo hated waiting rooms, hospitals, and anything associated with sickness and injury. It was not surprising though, to find the four of them standing in front of the operation theater at nine in the morning, eyes burning from fatigue and nerves

 

“So talk to me, Quatre,” Duo said as he fiddled with the plaster on his chin. The doctor who had picked out the glass from his skin had been a sadist. The guy had pulled them out with a tweezers, put some stinging liquid on the cuts and then stuck enough plaster on him that he was starting to resemble an Egyptian mummy…that is, if they used plaster instead of bandages. He even had a plaster on his inner thigh which was as uncomfortable as it could get.

 

Quatre stopped chewing his lower lip and staring at the closed doors of the operation theater to smiled wanly, letting Duo distract him for the time being. “It was a fraction of the Romefeller after all,” he said tiredly. “They set Relena up as the Queen of the World and they wanted her taken down. They assumed she was growing too independent and headstrong and they would not be able to control her. What better way to start a war and…”

 

“What did Relena say?” Heero asked from his position next to Duo on the plastic stool next to the two-person seat the other two were occupying.

 

“She said she was very sorry Trowa got shot,” Duo snapped. “And said she realized that maybe pacifism without the strength to fight for it was useless.”

 

“What does that mean?” The door at the end of the corridor swung open and Wufei walked in, scowling. His hair was falling loose around his face and he looked tired. “Is she going to take shooting lessons?”

 

“I really don't know,” Quatre said with a shrug as Heero stood up.

 

“Did I break it?” he asked pointing towards Wufei's wrist which was bandaged tightly. “I didn't mean to hit you that hard.”

 

“You're kidding,” said Duo with a wry grin. “You probably saved his life, Heero. Seriously Wufei, taking on all those people with guns, with a sword... What were you thinking?”

 

“When you put it that way, nothing apparently,” Wufei said wryly refusing to sit in the only other chair in the corridor…the one Heero had vacated. With a shrug he leaned against the wall and Heero did the same.

 

“So, is it broken?” Duo asked when he saw Heero glance at the bandaged wrist more than once.

 

“No,” Wufei said with a grimace as he flexed his fingers. “Just a simple fracture. The bandage was overkill.”

 

“He's been in there for ages,” Quatre muttered under his breath. “What's taking them so long?”

 

No one said anything since it had been five hours since Trowa had been wheeled in. Five hours since they'd all been brought to the hospital by one of Noin's special guards and left alone with instructions to the medical staff to treat them as special guests.

 

“At least things are settling down,” Duo said, attempting to distract Quatre again as he pointed towards the vid-screen mounted on the wall protected by a small force field to prevent people from fiddling with it. The sound was turned down but they could see Relena Peacecraft - Darlian holding a press conference, looking tired but alert, flanked by both Noin and Lady Une. “Yeah, but still…” Duo drifted off as Heero leaned against the wall next to Wufei and stared at the opposite wall.

 

Then it all came back like a ton of bricks. They'd all put aside their differences in the time of trouble but it was not something that could be dismissed. Their little group was tearing apart and if they didn't do something soon it was going to shatter like brittle bones.

 

“Uh, Quatre,” said Duo, getting up from the seat. “Give me a sec with Wufei, will you? There are a few things I need to tell him that cannot be pushed aside.”

 

“I'll be fine,” the blond said with a tired smile. “You're right, you need to get whatever is eating you guys over with.”

 

“Just…” said Duo, looked down the corridor they were seated in. The long, empty corridor with the guards in Sanc colors at the other end, giving them a semblance of privacy but also keeping watch for any sudden attacks. The guards were fresh while the four of them were exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally, and Duo felt better having someone watch their backs. It was nice to know there was people other than them who were carrying guns, not looking to kill them.

 

“One question, Winner,” Wufei said as if he and Heero had not been staring at each other for the past five minutes. “Where did you hide that rifle of yours?”

 

“The oldest place in the world,” Quatre said with a faint smile.

 

“You had a gun barrel up your…” Duo started with a cheeky grin.

 

“No,” Quatre spluttered while even Wufei colored a little. “I had it inside my violin case.”

 

“That's settled,” said Duo, stretching backwards and trying to work the kinks out of his neck. “Wu, can you and I have a word to word? Alone.”

 

“I'll leave,” said Heero immediately, moving aside.

 

“No,” said Duo before the others could react. “Heero, stay here with Quatre …Wufei and I will be in the…uh…men's room.”

 

“Should we ignore any loud groans or screaming from there?” Quatre asked wryly.

 

“Don't even think we're going to have sex at a time like this,” Duo snapped before he could stop himself. Then he felt ashamed of his outburst since that was what it looked like. He was dragging his boyfriend into some corner while his friend was undergoing surgery after being shot in the chest. “We just need to talk,” he said as he looked at Wufei.

 

Wufei's face was blank but Duo could see a puzzled look in his eyes. “Come on,” he said with a forced grin. “Let's just…talk.” He purposefully avoided looking at Heero. There were a few things he needed to tell Wufei before he could look at Heero in the eyes.

 

He dragged Wufei to the men's room, signaling the guards not to follow them. Nice, now three more people were going to think he and Wufei were going to have hospital-toilet-sex.

 

“What is it?” Wufei asked as soon as they were out of sight.

 

“It's about Heero,” Duo finally said, a little reluctant but in hurry to get back to Quatre.

 

“I…” Wufei paused and pushed a hand through his already loose hair. “Let's …just get this over with.” He looked around as if looking for a way to escape, before finally setting his eyes on the sink. He walked over to it, ran some water and washed his face. He stood with his back to Duo, his head down so his hair framed hid his face, his hands gripping the sink on either side. “I…don't want to hurt him,” he said softly. “I don't want to hurt you…either …”

 

“There's something I have to tell you,” Duo said as he walked towards Wufei. “I…wasn't exactly honest with you.”

 

“You've been lying to me, Maxwell?” Wufei sounded more amused than annoyed.

 

“No,” Duo said hesitantly. “Just withholding information.”

 

“About…”

 

“Me `n' Heero,” Duo mumbled under his breath.

 

“Don't tell me you've been with him, too,” Wufei said with a sharp bark of a laugh. “Throw in Quatre and you've got someone who's screwed all of us.”

 

“No!” Duo said sharply. “But…but…we…almost did.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Damnit Wufei,” Duo said in frustration. “Don't turn your back to me. Talking to you is like talking like talking to the fucking Great Wall of China…just turn around and look at me.”

 

“Are you trying to tell me you are with Heero?” Wufei asked tiredly as he turned around. “I'm not really surprised you know.” He shrugged resignedly and turned around, leaned against the sink and crossed his arms across his chest. The red and black clothes he had worn for the ball, which had accentuated his golden skin before, now made him look washed out in the harsh yellow light. The makeup that Dorothy had applied to cover his bruises was long gone and the purpling flesh stood out against the rest of his skin, making him look like a battered victim.

 

“Not surprised?” Duo said, stopping his explanation in mid-flow.

 

“You were after Heero longer than Winner has been after Barton. You know what he looks like without his clothes, you know his sleeping habits and you have been …” Wufei said monotonously as if repeating list

 

“Might I remind you that it's not me who was screwing his brains out while I was out?” Duo snapped back. “All I did was kiss him… twice. The second time I was a basket case…from…” he flipped the remainder of his braid. “Don't act as if I was the one who cheated on you.”

 

“I'm sorry,” said Wufei looking away, a faint blush tinting his cheeks. “I understand… just …Duo…do whatever you want and I'll just step aside and …”

 

“You're not listening,” Duo said angrily. “We have to go back so let me spell it out to you in short sentences. One, I like Heero. Two, I think he likes me …at least I think I give him a hard on.”

 

Wufei looked down at his boots and smiled a little at that but did not comment, seeing that Duo was not finished.

 

“Three, you like him and he likes you,” Duo said in a rush.

 

“I think I was merely a substitute at the time when Barton ended their relationship,” Wufei said, looking away.

 

“And he was snuggling to you in a public fencing room in front of two other pilots because he was feeling cold,” Duo snapped back. “And don't even say it was because he was trying to make Trowa jealous, because Heero doesn't think like we do.”

 

“Fine, I won't,” said Wufei. “But what are you trying to tell me?”

 

“I don't like it when someone takes what is mine,” Duo said clearly, looking into Wufei black eyes. He paused, swallowed and said in a low voice. “But you can't get too greedy… you learn that on the streets…sometimes… you share what you get.”

 

“Duo,” said Wufei, in an equally low voice. “Are you saying what I think you are saying?”

“Wufei,” Duo almost shouted. “I almost died falling off a roof. The stupid war is over and we are still being shot at. I'm not doing this for kicks…we'll never have normal lives. Face it man, we aren't normal…we're gundam pilots -- with or without out gundams -- and pretending we are otherwise is stupid. You know it and I know it. We've never looked for other partners...god knows why since I don't think any of us are bad looking or anything but...we've stuck together and I'd rather not split us apart because of this.”

 

“And Yuy'd agree with this,” Wufei said dryly. “Either that or he's going to freak out and kill us both.”

 

“Then choose,” Duo said in a pleading voice. “Choose one of us, it's either me or Heero. Can you do that Wufei…huh…can you?”

 

The Chinese boy looked down, studied his boots and silently shook his head. “Duo…this might not be the…”

 

“I suggest we ask Heero if he's with us then,” Duo said slowly. “He's not going to be here long once Trowa comes out of surgery so we'd better get this over with before he leaves for good.”

 

“Fine,” said Wufei straightening. “And when he turns us down…”

 

“He won't,” said Duo looking directly at Wufei. He gave an odd, twisted smile, which turned into a half sob. “I…” he waved slightly and the next moment threw up his arms as if giving up. “I ruined it, didn't I?” he said with a small cough /sob.“I shouldn't have stepped into this man, just go… I was going to tell you that you'd be perhaps off with Heero. I …have Hilde and the Scrap yard…I'll just clear out and…”

 

Duo turned around to go out but as he did, Wufei reached out and grabbed him hard by the upper arm.

 

“Duo,” he said, jerking the other boy around.

 

Duo let himself be pulled back until he was standing next to Wufei, almost nose to nose. Then Wufei seemed to stop to think for a bit before sweeping the other boy into a bone crushing hug. “Don't go,” he said simply. “I think you are right, we do need to be together…and …” he was silent for a bit, his head on Duo's shoulder, thinking hard. “…need…” he gave a low, self mocking laugh.

 

“What?” Duo asked, his arms around Wufei, his head on Wufei's shoulder.

 

“That's what Yuy… Heero said the day he came to my bedroom,*need*, that he wasn't needed,” He pulled back and looked at Duo. “I think you are right…He'll join us…if we ask him. We should…”He hesitated for a bit and then sighed. “If Yuy wants to join …er…us…then he should know everything there is to know, including your…”

 

“…reluctance to have sex,” Duo said blankly. “All right but…” They both turned their heads one as they heard a new sound. The sound of the operation theater opening its doors.

 

They both walked towards their previous seats as fast as possible, where Quatre was standing anxiously before a female surgeon in a blood-splattered gown, holding onto Heero tightly. From the way Heero had an arm circling Quatre's waist, it was obvious he was the one who was holding the blond up.

 

“…going to be fine,” the doctor was saying. “He's in recovery and will be waking up soon. One of you can see him for ten minutes if you promise to behave yourself.…”

 

Duo almost rolled his eyes when he realized that the lady doctor was talking to them as if they were children. But Quatre was almost sagging with relief.

 

“Is he really all right?” Quatre asked, letting go of Heero and taking to steps forward. “Can I see him?” he stopped and turned around, face flushed. “I'm sorry,” he told the other three. “Perhaps…one of you would like to go see Trowa instead…”

 

“No way, man,” said Duo with a shake of his head, holding onto Wufei, using the other boy as a prop. He had been afraid Trowa was going to die after having seen all that blood and now the relief was making him giddy. “You go see him. I don't think he'll appreciate me if I babble his ear full.”

 

“Go, Winner,” Wufei said with a shrug. “I don't have much of a bedside manner when it comes to dealing with sick people.”

 

“Uh,” Quatre hesitated then looked at Heero, slowly. His eyes were inquiring silently. “Heero,” he said softly. “Why don't you go…uh…he might like to see you instead…”

 

“He's yours,” Heero said blandly. “He was yours, even when he was with me.”

 

“Oh, good,” said Duo, grabbing Heero's right hand. “There's something we need to talk to you about.”

 

--!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11—

 

“…although I have this problem you see,” Duo said looking at the carpet. Whoever thought of puke-green carpets in hospitals… “I had a bad experience once on the streets and now… I sort of panic when some one tries to throw me down on my back and…” He stopped at looked at Heero who was pretending to be a granite statue, sitting between him and Wufei in the cramped two person chair.

 

Which he had been doing since Wufei had blurted out, “Maxwell here thinks you like both of us so he suggests that the three of us try out a relationship together.” Just as Duo was about a get up and run, the Chinese boy had also mumbled, “I agree with him.”

 

After which Duo had stated the points he'd made with Wufei in almost the same order, without the dramatic gestures. Then he'd started to list their weak points…well his weak points but still there was no reaction from Heero. The good thing was, Heero was still seated between the two of them; the bad thing was Heero seemed to be in shock. Well, why was he telling Heero his problems alone?

 

“…and Wufei is a cross-dresser and dresses up as an exotic belly dancer every Sunday, which is why he hates women,” Duo concluded with a flourish.

 

“Hey,” protested Wufei, turning an interesting shade of red. “I do not.”

 

“Hn,” said Heero.

 

“So?” said Duo, prompting for a more revealing answer.

 

“That night, when I heard you screaming in Wufei's room,” Heero said thoughtfully. “I thought you were coming on to Wufei and he had turned you down and you slapped him …”

 

“What do you think I am?” Duo burst out. “The slut of the group?”

 

“I thought that was my position,” Heero said blithely. “After all, I seem to be the one getting screwed over by everybody.”

 

“That's not fair,” Duo said heatedly. “We don't think of you like that.”

 

“But you did tell Wufei that he can lure me away from Trowa by using sex,” Heero pointed out.

 

“No!” Wufei and Duo both said at the same time.

 

“To have sex with you was my decision alone,” Wufei added hastily.

 

“That were the drugs speaking,” Duo said equally hastily. “When I found out Wufei was fuc- er—you know, with you I was mad `cause…you see, the problem… I told you before… just now. I couldn't give him what he wanted so I thought he went to you instead.” He paused but the other two did not speak so he went on. “I knew it wasn't true. Wufei isn't the sort of person who would sleep with you so he can force Quatre to pair up with Trowa. It's the sort of convoluted logic that only works in badly planned fiction and amateur written doujinshi. I knew he must have liked you to sleep with you but I was so afraid if I admitted it he would leave me and…”

 

“That night,” Heero said slowly. “You panicked when Wufei tried to top you.” Ok, so Heero had a one track mind and it was stuck on one particular night, fine!

 

“I think I forced him to remember a few things about his rape he'd rather not,” Wufei said in a low voice making Duo bristle. It was almost as if he was not there.

 

“I would not have gone to Wufei for…sex if I had known you two were together,” Heero said slowly. “I thought Duo and Quatre were a couple.”

 

“We are close friends, that's all,” Duo said firmly, feeling as if that was going to be a sentence he was going to be repeating for a long time.

 

“I would be intruding in something meant for two people,” Heero said firmly, looking down. “I'm sorry I caused problems for the two of you by intruding but I won't do that any more.”

 

“I think it takes more than one person to …cheat in a relationship,” Wufei said, looking ashamed. “You didn't know I was with Duo but I did. It was wrong of me not to tell you about it.”

 

“But why didn't you just ask me to stay away from Trowa?” Heero asked Duo instead. “Why did you come up with such an elaborate scheme instead?”

 

“Guess I am not exactly for the direct approach,” Duo said, blushing a little. “I am to be blamed for that.”

 

“But in the end, Yuy…Heero, we do want you,” Wufei said suddenly. “I find you sexually attractive and I know Duo does, too. More than that, we can function as a group and work from there. It's not like you are a total stranger.”

 

Heero remained silent, staring at his shoes.

 

“That's one way of putting it,” Duo fumed. “What Mr. Sensitivity here is trying to say is, Heero… stay with us. Let's see if it works between the three of us. It doesn't have to be permanent and we don't have to make any commitments …just as a trial. Stay….after all, don't you get lonely by yourself?”

 

“It's not going to work,” Heero said softly. “It's hard to make a relationship with two people work…let alone one that involves three. The probability…”

 

“But you'll give it a try,” Duo said, reaching hesitantly. He took Heero left hand in his and squeezed it slightly. Heero did not pull away.

 

“Hn,” said Heero softly as he leaned back holding on to Duo's hand.

 

Wufei hesitantly reached for Heero's right hand and clasped it, lightly. Heero did not pull away from either one of them and they sat, holding hands in the waiting room of the hospital.

 

“Does Wufei really go drag?” Heero asked tentatively.

 

---!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!---

 

The doctor was talking about something to do with a left lung collapsing, fishing out bone fragments and broken ribs but all Quatre could see was Trowa lying there inside the transparent tent, attached to machines.

 

“He came out of anesthesia faster than expected,” the doctor said as she stood by Quatre, looking slightly worried. “You can talk to him…he'll hear you but don't expect him to speak.”

 

“I...” Quatre swallowed. “Trowa…” he said hesitantly and reached for the protective covering. He kept his palm lightly on the protective tent and watched the machines beep away. He could see the green eyes, half closed but still alert, watching his move. Slowly, Trowa lifted his arm and kept it on the other side of the tent so their palms touched, almost.

 

Quatre bit back a sob and mouthed, “you idiot.”

 

Trowa managed a small smile through the oxygen mask and closed his eyes. Alarmed, Quatre turned around but the doctor was smiling.

 

“He's sleeping,” she said. “Let him rest….you can come back tomorrow and when he stabilizes, we can move him to a private room.”

 

--!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111—

 

“So, er… how does this physical aspect work in er... work with three people?” Duo wondered, making Wufei cough and Heero grunt. “I have… problems, you know.”

 

“Dioes the rape bother you?” Heero asked, showing his perfect memory. “Is that why you can't let anyone top you?”

 

“Yeah,” said Duo suddenly wishing it was Wufei who was sitting next to him and not Heero. He wanted to burry his face in someone else's neck and pretend the conversation wasn't happening.

 

“I… can relate to some of that,” Heero said hesitantly and Wufei looked up sharply from the other side. “I…” he hesitated and then shrugged. “We can deal with it when the time comes.”

 

“Uh,” said Duo speechless by the revelation. “Heero…”

 

“What's with the three of you sitting in one chair all cramped together? And are you holding hands?” asked a voice close by and all three of them jumped, only to be confronted by Dorothy, smiling at them in an amused manner.

 

“What is it?” Heero was the first to ask. “Why are you here?”

 

“You mean I can't visit Green-eyes?” she said with a small smile. “Anyway, I came to tell you that there's some harpy on the vid-comm who is screeching over Trowa.”

 

“Uh,” said Wufei, blankly.

 

“Said her name was Catherine and wants to speak to someone about…”

 

“Oh, god …Cathy,” said Duo, slapping himself on the forehead. “I forgot about her completely. She must have heard about Trowa from the World News…we'd better go and speak with her.”

 

“You speak with her,” said Wufei, balking. “I can't…”

 

“We'll all go,” said Heero.

 

---!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—

 

Two days later….

 

“You were wonderful,” Trowa said softly as Quatre sat next to the bed, smiling slightly. `You really showed them ...' He was simply mouthing the words letting Qutre lip read since he was not yet up to it physically

 

“I didn't get the last bit,” Quatre said shaking his head.

 

Trowa shrugged slightly to show it was not important and then smiled. `You can take care of yourself.'

 

“Of course I can you idiot,” Quatre said, more amused than annoyed. “What did you think I was? A helpless five year old?”

 

`Where are the others?'

 

“You'll see them,” Quatre said darkly. “They're just waiting for you to recover to break the news. I don't think you'd want a heart attack on the top of all this.”

 

`What?'

 

“You'll just have to wait,” Quatre mumbled. “Anyway, I have to go now. Visiting hours are over and the female troll who is guarding your lair will kill me if I overstay my welcome…”

 

`I'm sorry for what happened…'

 

“Whatever for?” Quatre asked, stopping half way out of his chair. “You didn't do anything. In fact I should be the one apologizing since I was the one who assigned you to Relena. I should have at least assigned you a bullet proof vest or a …”

 

“You did fine,” Trowa spoke painfully. “You were in charge and …it was nice to see you all fired up. You were in your element and…I'm sorry I thought you didn't have it in you to be a fighter.”

 

“You finally got it, huh?” said Quatre a little hurt that Trowa had thought he was incapable of looking after himself or the others. Still, what Trowa said was true. He had come out as the one with the softer side. Hell, even Duo had usually slashed his way through the enemies while he stopped to apologize. So maybe he was weak. Still, to think Trowa had turned him down because he wasn't an efficient killer was…disheartening…

 

“I…” Trowa swallowed painfully and continued. “…thought you'd be better off somewhere else other than with me after the war was over because you weren't cut out for this. Thought the best way to protect you from…”

 

“You thought that by chasing me away from you, I'd go back to live with my sisters and talk about mining asteroids?” Quatre said angrily. “Trowa, I might not be a mercenary like you but I do not want to go back to that life. I can't. The war changed us all, I'm not any different in that regard. I'm a gundam pilot now and I have blood on my hands. I enjoy planning security for Relena's ball. I killed those men and I'm not going to have nightmares over it. I did what was needed. I am this…” He opened his hands, encompassing everything. “Understand …whether you are with me or not… I'll always be the guy who went Zero.”

 

“Quat…”

 

“Just…think about it,” Quatre snapped. “I can kill and I don't loose sleep over it. I'm not some pampered pet and I can think for myself.” He got up again. “I've got to go…”

 

“Quat…” Trowa motioned him closer.

 

Thinking Trowa needed to say something but we feeling tired Quatre leaned closer. Suddenly, Trowa's hand sneaked out, grabbed him and pulled him until they were looking at each other nose to nose. Then he lifted his head a little and brushed his lips against Quatre's almost chastely. He leaned back looking satisfied…leaving a very confused blond in his wake.

 

A/n- hah, think Quatre is stupid to be fooled by that!