Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Insecurities 1 ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

A/N -flashback scenes are going to be in italic.

 

Chapter 3

 

3.1: Why threesomes are awkward or just don't work.

 

“That's not so bad,” Duo scoffed. “So Tro got carried away and tried to pin you to a bed. You should have been there the time the three of us tried something…um… new.”

 

“Easy for you to say,” said Quatre grumpily. “You don't have to face Heero's or Wufei's sister afterwards. I have to be nice to Cathy and smile at her and I don't even have the heart to tell her that Trowa and I aren't together.”

 

“As if I have it easy,” Duo tossed back. “Heero goes into his silent mode and shuts us out and Wufei starts ranting which is equally bad. I swear that Heero has no idea what personal possessions mean.”

 

“Care to explain that?” Quatre said picking up a small pink elephant that could shake its head from side to side. Duo rolled his eyes at it. And he had thought shopping for toys for Quatre's sister's kids was going to be fun.

 

“Like …um…remember our Gundams?” Duo persisted. “When Lady Une suggested we blow them up, the only two people who shrugged were Heero and Trowa. I think in Trowa's case, he was thinking of going to the circus and Heavyarms isn't something you can pack in a bag. In Heero's case, I think it's `cause he doesn't really care.”

 

“You remember he stole parts from yours to fix his up…,” Quatre tried.

 

“But it was so he could complete his *mission*,” Duo stressed. “He doesn't feel anything about his Gundam. He doesn't even believe in owning anything. Look, the guy owns two sets of clothes and a sleeping bag.”

 

“So? You take him out on a shopping spree,” Quatre said putting down the elephant and picking up a robot resembling a mobile suit. The moment he picked it up, it made a loud rattling sound and lit up like a nuclear explosion. Both the boys jumped startled before Duo grabbed it forcefully and slammed it onto the holder.

 

“No, I don't think your sister will thank us if we get her kids something like that,” he said tossing his braid back.

 

“But…” Quatre looked thoughtfully at it then shrugged. “I always wanted one of those when I was a kid.”

 

“Well,” Duo pointed out. “You were the rich one. I was the one stuck with leftovers from other kids who donated their old, old toys to poor orphans.”

 

“I'm the one with a pacifist father, remember,” Quatre grimaced. “Still…” his eyes darted around and settled on a small wind up Gundam, which looked nothing like any of theirs'.

 

“Yeah, but…” Duo paused as two girls in short skirts walked by.

 

There was a stunned silence followed by a snicker from Quatre. “For a moment there I thought you were checking them out or something.”

 

“I was,” Duo protested.

 

“You were checking out their hair,” Quatre pointed out. “That's not the same thing.”

 

“Um, hair accessories for your sister's kids,” Duo said hopefully.

 

“No, I want something especial,” Quatre said with a scowl. “I don't know what to buy. Maybe I should have asked someone else.”

 

“You know, it's not like any of us had ordinary childhoods,” Duo pointed out. “I mean, Heero…back on topic now…doesn't care about owning anything. All he cares is that he has enough to get through the day.”

 

“I take it Wufei wouldn't know either,” Quatre said knowingly. “He doesn't look the type to have had toys as a kid. Maybe a collection of ancient swords…

 

“At least that guy is hoarding books as if it's going out of style,” Duo grumbled. “But he sleeps in a sleeping bag since anything more would mean he's thinking more of his bodily comfort than…what?” Duo stopped mid-rant to see Quatre looking slightly uncomfortable.

 

“Just that…I guess it's none of my business,” Quatre mumbled looking away and picking up a stuffed frog, which started wriggling realistically when pinched in the middle.

 

“Ask already,” Duo said, plucking the frog out of Quatre's grasp and putting it down. “It's not like you're a total stranger or something.”

 

“It's just,” Quatre said with a slight blush. “I thought the three of you would share a bed or something, not camp out in three different rooms.”

 

“We value our privacy,” Duo said automatically then stopped. He looked down at his feet and sighed. “Didn't I tell you things aren't working out too great between us either? I mean, Wufei is so shy if I try to hold hands with him in public he panics. If I hold hands with Heero he either thinks it's some secret signal or that I can't walk on my own. On the top of that, there's my… problem.” Duo looked embarrassed as he brought up the topic of his former rape but continued. “I don't want to start something. It feels bad that I can't …can't contribute to the relationship from both ends…you know…sexually.” Both of them blushed.

 

“But didn't you try….” Quatre started when they were interrupted by a pretty sales girl who had been watching them struggle from sometime.

 

“Can I help you gentlemen?” she asked as she smoothed down her pleated skirt. It was absurdly short and Duo was sure that a lot of male customers had her either bending down to pick up things or reaching up for things on the top shelf.

 

“Yes,” said Quatre looking slight embarrassed. “I'm trying to pick something for my nieces …uh…something new…”

 

“How old are they, sir?” the girl asked professionally and Duo gave her points for sounding serious in such a stupid attire.

 

“Five and six,” Quatre replied promptly. Duo knew his friend had to look up the company database to find that out. He didn't even know the names of the girls. The salesgirl looked pleased that someone actually knew the correct ages and nodded.

 

“Might I suggest dolls,” the girl said pointing to a different section of the store which was exclusively for dolls. “All girls like them. The latest craze are the Princess Relena dolls and our shop has one of the largest collections available from the Barbie version of Princess Relena to…”

 

“Uh,” said Duo doubtfully. He had enough problems with the teenage Queen of the World at office - he didn't want to be bombarded by miniature replicas of her every time he went shopping.

 

“Don't worry, sir,” The girl said misinterpreting Duo's hesitation. “A lot of boys have been looking it over as well. It would be quite natural for you to check it out.”

 

Duo opened his mouth to tell the girl just exactly what he thought of anyone starting a new doll line with Princess Relena when Quatre, probably guessing his intentions, grabbed his arm and pulled him deeper into the rows and rows of Relenas on display.

 

“Oh, my,” Quatre breathed as they walked past a life-sized doll with two young boys crouched in front of it, trying to look up its skirt. “This is rather overwhelming isn't it?”

 

Duo looked around with something close to horror as rows and rows of Relena look-alike Barbies in all sizes and color filled his sight. There was Relena in a swimsuit, Relena in a riding costume, dark skinned Relena (the Ethnic Relena Collection)… “I think I just had an overload in my system,” he said slowly as if afraid to speak too fast.

 

“This is scary,” Quatre whispered to him. “Is…is this the sex toy department?”

 

“I didn't think you knew of such things,” Duo said in a normal voice. He looked around hurriedly then knelt to check under the pink tu tu of Relena the Ballet Dancer. “Nope…silk panties and sort of a faint line…but nothing definite between her legs.”

 

“Duo!” Quatre hissed, pulling at Duo's braid. “Stand up before someone sees you…”

 

“And mistakes me for a straight guy,” Duo said with a grimace. He straightened using Relena the Aerobic Trainer's arm to help him up then dropped it with a startled cry.

 

“What!” Quatre asked alarmed.

 

“Nah,” Duo said shaking his head, taking the arm of the doll and examining it closely. “Take a look will you…here…feel it.”

 

“Amazing,” said Quatre running a hand up the dolls' arm. “They are using synthetic skin and there must be some sort of power supply to maintain this at body temperature.” He put a hand around the waist of the doll which was closest to him and tired to lift it. “Well…lighter than normal so must be hollow inside.”

 

“Let go,” Duo grumbled. “There is something slightly disturbing about the sight of you with your arms around Relena wearing a maid outfit.”

 

“Yeah,” Quatre said, leaning more towards the doll, grinning. “Maybe I'm straight.”

 

“Maybe I ought to tell Trowa that,” Duo threatened, smiling to show he was also joking.

 

“If you do I'm going to buy Heero a life size Relena doll in a bunny suit,” Quatre threatened.

 

“With my luck, Heero might take it off and try to put it on Wufei,” Duo said, his smile dampening a bit.

 

“Eh?” Quatre said, looking perplexed.

 

“Heero…” Duo said looking down. “He's so obsessed with Wufei, sometimes I feel like I'm only a spectator to their relationship.”

 

“Duo…” Quatre let go of the doll to walk towards his friend and put a hand around the skinny shoulders. “What brought that on?”

 

“Didn't I tell you it didn't go too well the last time we tried to well…you know…” Duo said blushing slightly.[1]

 

“Is this where you get into graphic details about how you three tried to have sex?” Quatre asked, looking half-amused.

 

“You'd like to know, wouldn't you?” said Duo picking up a palm sized Relena with blond hair down to her ankles and gave it a twirl.

 

“Does this have something to do wit Heero promising to help you with your problem?” Quatre asked.

 

“Yeah, he's ok at it…I think. It's not like he's a therapist or anything, and with Heero it's not exactly 'lets talk and discuss this' sort of issue,” Duo nodded, remembering the rather humiliating occurrence.

 

“What exactly did happen?” Quatre asked, picking up a new doll and accidentally knocking another down in the process. The one fallen on the ground started to scream in a high pitched voice, “Attack…help my people….we are under attack.”

 

Duo picked it up and put it back in its place, noting that the description said that the doll was capable of reproducing all of Relena's speeches. He failed to see how it screaming that it she was under attack was part of any speech. It was fascinating how they've managed to reproduce the same annoying tone though…

 

“Duo!!!'

 

“Oh, all right,” he said, slapping the next doll, which titled awkwardly. “It was just after we'd come back to Earth after meeting Sally on the Peacemillion. Remember, she had told Wufei about the colony and I guess he was feeling a little down and Heero's cure for everything seems to be sex.”

 

“….should help,” Heero said as they sat on the ratty sofa.

 

Wufei, who had been propping his chin on his palm, supported by his knee, looked up at Heero, then resumed staring out the window at the overgrown garden.

 

“Well,” said Duo, looking at their depressed lover who was seated between them and then nodded. “What do you have in mind?”

 

“We could work on your problem.” The calm, collected way Heero spoke about it -- as if it was a hydraulic line that had come loose in his Gundam -- would have bothered Duo, had he not been used to it by then.

 

“You think it's a good idea?” Duo asked hedging nervously towards Wufei, who absentmindedly put a hand around him. Duo relaxed against the Chinese youth. Duo wondered if Heero had noted that Wufei had been surprisingly quiet since they'd started kissing him.

 

Duo knew Wufei's weak point was just that - kiss him and he practically melted - even in mid-rant. In Heero case, it was the back of his neck - rub his there and he would lean back against the hand like a cat getting its chin scratched. Duo wondered if he had any weaknesses other than his fear of anal sex brought on by a childhood rape, and whether the other two were aware of it.

 

In reply, Heero leaned forward and Duo tensed, afraid that the next act was going to be Heero tearing his clothes off and turning him over. He leaned against Wufei, who straightened from his depression slump to hold Duo still. Thinking back, Duo was sure his lovers might have discussed this event beforehand, since Wufei did not act unduly startled. In fact, it was as if he had been expecting it.

 

Whatever horrible things Duo was imagining were going to manifest, did not. Heero kissed him. Though Heero's kissing style was different from Wufei's it was equally devastating. For a moment all Duo could feel was the heat of Heero's body in front of him and Wufei's at his back. Heero's kisses were more aggressive than Wufei's, his mouth demanded and conquered…Duo could feel the way the tongue probed inside his cheeks, and explored…as Heero's hands roamed over both his lovers.

 

They broke off after a while; it felt like hours but could have been only minutes, and Duo realized that Wufei had shifted on the sofa so he'd had one leg folded under him and one leg hanging free off the side of the sofa, supporting Duo's weight completely. Duo could also feel Wufei's erection against the small of his back as he twisted around and captured his other lover in a long kiss which had them both panting. Heero, in the meantime, had taken advantage of the break to divest his tank top.

 

Duo stiffened slightly. The three of them had never been naked together. It was a scary, tantalizing thought he didn't think too deeply about. Duo turned around and tugged at Wufei's shirt, wanting to feel bare skin against his back. While Wufei complied Heero leaned forward, his shorts tenting impressively, and pulled Duo's t-shirt off in one smooth move, which left him gasping. Then, keeping his eyes on both Wufei and Duo, Heero hooked two fingers into his waistband and pulled off his shorts.

 

Heero's erection was as impressive as his Gundam's Buster rifle. It was big and …rather scary; when Duo thought of it going into him…

 

“Take off your clothes Duo,” Heero instructed softly. “Wufei, help him with his shoes.”

 

It was then that Duo noticed that his hands were shaking slightly. Enough to make him think that unlacing his shoes was going to be a long process. Wufei obediently leaned forward, his upper torso muscles rippling and started to work on Duo's shoes. Duo watched the way the loose pants Wufei wore rode down, revealing the indent where his tail bone ended. It was like looking into forbidden territory. Technically, it wasn't anything new since Wufei had had sex with Duo but then, Duo had topped.

 

Now he was sure the other two were going to top him and… he was scared at the prospect of all those…damn…after taking off his shoes Wufei stood up and slid off his white cotton pants letting them pool around his ankles.

 

Wufei was by no means an exhibitionist and he was more self-conscious about being naked than Heero was. But lit by the light streaming through the curtainless windows, he looked enticing and perfect. Not even Heero had that clearly defined muscles... the sort obtained only from hours of sword and martial arts practices. His erection was longer and narrower than Heero's, and equally impressive.

 

Duo pressed his legs together as Heero started to work on the button on Duo's waistband. “No,” Duo said weakly

 

“Loose the hair tie,” Heero told Wufei, ignoring Duo's protest as he pulled down the zip. “Leave your hair in a braid, otherwise it'll get in my mouth.” Duo did not ask why his hair was going to wind up in Heero's mouth.

 

Wufei let his hair loose with one hand while helping Duo stand with the other, so Heero could pull down his jeans. In a synchronized move -- Duo would have bet they'd practiced before if it wasn't for the fact they'd never done it before -- Wufei pulled Duo's feet off the ground so Heero could ease his jeans off him completely.

 

Then Wufei gently placed him back on the floor and gave him a push on the center of the chest so he fell back on the sofa, dressed now only in his braid. There was no denying that he was the weakest of the three. Duo might be the best pilot and he might be able to pick any lock in less than a minute but in his own house, naked and sprawled across the sofa, he was painfully aware of his inadequacy.

 

Wufei knew how to use his entire body as a weapon. Heero was a weapon - extremely strong and brute strength did count. While Duo wanted to have sex with his lovers, faced with two impressive erections (not his) all he could think was that he was really going to get it.

 

Common sense told him that anal sex couldn't be all that painful if done properly but he was also aware of his inability to defend himself compared to the other two. He would have no way of protecting himself it they turned him over and pinned him to the sofa and used him like…that horrid man had done when he was kid. Now there were two of them and they were both so capable of forcing him, even if he was not ready.

 

“Guys,” he said, slightly nervously. “I don't think I'm ready for this.”

 

Wufei shrugged elegantly making no move to sit. “There is never a right time to do something you don't want to do,” he said philosophically, stepping over his pants which were discarded at his feet.

 

“Look, you are not the one who's going to be ...” Duo almost shouted, his semi-erection wilting. “…be…”

 

“We are not going to rape you.” Heero sounded shocked. “Duo!”

 

Duo felt bad. What was he doing? It was a relationship no matter the number of people involved and it was all about giving and receiving. If he could only receive…

 

“I'm nervous,” he said in a small voice.

 

“I'll insert a finger into you,” Heero said practically. “Nothing more. And Wufei will be there to make sure I don't do anything else.”

 

“Bring out a tranquilizer gun,” Duo joked weakly. He faltered when Heero seem to consider the idea. “Uh.”

 

In reply Heero kissed Duo again, holding him steady with one hand, while reaching for Wufei with the other. There was a whoosh and Wufei practically fell on top of them from the force of Heero's pull on his arm. “Suck my finger,” Heero said, presenting it to Wufei. Duo would have preferred lube but had one or the other gone in search of the elusive tube, he would have bolted out in during the break.

 

It was almost erotic to watch Wufei work on Heero's single digit - almost as if he had been practicing. Duo watched the way Wufei's cheeks hollowed and the way Heero's eyelids fluttered closed - and groaned. His groan registered as the start of their - experiment since Heero pulled Duo close and…

 

“Look,” Duo grumbled. “Do you want to hear the rest of it?” He looked at Quatre who was listening to him red-faced but fascinated, absentmindedly playing with a foot high version of Relena the pop-singer (leather and silk-covered). “It's just…”

 

“Yes, I do,” Quatre said, squeezing the doll. He was practically panting as helistened and Duo predicted a nosebleed in the near future.

 

“You just pushed one of its boobs in,” Duo pointed to the doll. “And it doesn't look as if it's going to pop out.”

 

“Knew something was feeling soft and squishy,” said Quatre, holding up the doll for close observation. He tried to force the indented part back out by squeezing the sides but the only part of the doll which was malleable seemed to be its breasts. “Oh, well,” said Quatre shrugging, pushing the other breast in as well. He smoothed down the bleached fiber which served as hair and put the doll back in the rack. “There - the male version of Relena.”

 

“I think that's called Zechs,” Duo said with a serious face. The two boys looked at the doll and then at each other and burst into laughter.

 

“So, what happened afterwards?” Quatre asked.

 

“Well, if you really want to know…”

 

“….no,” Duo almost shouted as he scooted back in the sofa. He was scrunched up into a small ball at the farthest corner, knees up to his chest, arms around his legs. He was naked so the only defense he had was keeping his legs close together and tightening his muscles. “I…don't want to…”

 

“It won't hurt,” Heero said gently.

 

Duo wasn't sure as to what exactly he was afraid of - the thought of pain or the thought of how he would react when Heero's finger was inside him. He had reacted very badly with Wufei at the suggestion of anal sex before and that had been utterly humiliating. He did not want the people he cared about very much and respected more than anyone else in the world to see him reduced to a blubbering idiot. What if he started to cry or…

 

“It's not bad at all,” Wufei, the person who'd had anal sex exactly once in his life, told Duo.

 

“Yeah,” said Heero turning around and grabbing Wufei. “I'll show you…”

 

Wufei looked surprised that he had been picked for the demonstration but did not protest when Heero practically threw him on the sofa and made him lift his legs. Duo sat up, feeling slightly winded but also disappointed at his protests had been accepted so easily…when Heero pushed a finger inside Wufei.

 

From the look on Wufei's face, it was obvious he was wishing he was anywhere else than at Duo's feet, with Heero working away at him from the inside. However, as Heero probed deeper, his expression changed from one of embarrassed discomfort to something close to surprised-bliss as his body arched upwards.

 

“Heee..ro,” Wufei almost shouted as the other boy added a second finger, kissing Wufei's inner thigh which was close to his face. Duo watched Heero suck Wufei's sensitive skin near his knee while working in two fingers. Wufei squirmed in pleasure, his head brushing Duo's feet…Heero put his free hand on Wufei's erection and pressed against the sensitive head. Then he methodically started to feel Wufei's cock, up and down, following the throbbing vein on the underside. Then, as he worked in three fingers, Heero closed his hand in a rough grip and moved it in a slow, unhurried vertical movement, rotating his grip once in a while.

 

Wufei lasted about five minutes against Heero's capable hands. He was panting and gasping, biting his lower lip to stop himself from crying out. Duo hadn't even known that Wufei was a screamer. He was enthralled by the show that was going on not two inches away from him. Wufei was sweating, flushed, his eyes closed tightly as if unwilling to look - and Heero concentrated on the boy he was pleasuring with all his attention.

 

It was making Duo feel excited and he unconsciously spread his legs a bit to relieve the pressure. He was hard and dripping and ached to be touched. Now, if only the other two did not act as if they had forgotten Duo was even there. Or maybe they had…

 

Wufei came with a strangled cry, His back arching, one hand clutching onto Duo's ankle by his shoulder. Heero looked up unconcerned that his erection was slapping his stomach and crawled over Wufei to Duo, pinning him with a gaze. There should have been something disgusting about Heero using Wufei's come as lubricant to effortlessly put a finger into Duo's tight passage, but there wasn't. It was done so swiftly that Duo did not have the time to panic.

 

It felt strange - not uncomfortable but not pleasant, the way it was pushed inside like a-- and Heero found his prostate. Duo gasped, arching up, claming his inner muscles around the digit, kicking Wufei in the stomach in the process. Too sated to react, Wufei tilted his head to look at Duo and grinned sleepily.

 

It was not as unpleasant as imagined, there was something erotic about the whole process now that the finger was in him - it felt very nice and Duo liked it. He was starting feel embarrassed that he had made a huge fuss over nothing. He wondered if he should tell Heero that he was ready for another finger and that it was alright. He was not going to panic and maybe they should really get on with it…

 

He opened his mouth to tell Heero that they should really get a move on it…he was close to coming just from having a finger up his asshole, just that he wanted to word it properly so he was not going to come out sounding like the Slut of the Century. He squirmed a bit and managed a faint, “eh.”

 

Heero pulled out so fast Duo gasped. “Is that enough for you, for today?” Heero asked.

 

“I…”

 

“Do you want to stop now?”

 

“I…”

 

“Was it uncomfortable? Things do get uncomfortable since you haven't done it in a while,” Heero continued. “Shall I insert something else other than a finger?”

 

“Eh?” Duo managed at last. “What?”

 

“How about my tongue,” Heero suggested.

 

“No!” The cry came, not from Duo but from Wufei who looked repulsed by the idea but also fascinated. Heero turned towards Wufei and must have seen that fascination overweighed disgust and proceeded to tell the Chinese boy of the joys of rimming.

 

“Uh, guys…” Duo said weakly.

 

“You have nerve-endings there…” Heero lectured Wufei.

 

“Um…” Duo tried again. He wanted to say that he was ready and waiting.

 

“It's not medically recommended but…”

 

“Hello…”

 

“Now if you require a demonstration…”

 

Last thing Duo waned to see was another demonstration, this time of Heero rimming Wufei. He sat up, stepped on Wufei's abdomen, Heero's chest and got off the sofa at the other end. “I think I've had enough,” he spat out as he picked up his discarded clothes.

 

“Uh, Duo,” said Wufei lifting his head. “You did well today.”

 

Duo wanted to scream in frustration.

 

“We will do something more in a few days time,” Heero offered.

 

Duo practically ran to his room, slammed the door and didn't come out the entire day.

 

“Oh,” said Quatre, flicking a doll, making its head go flying. It landed at the foot of a three year old shopping with her mother. The child picked up the yellow blob, studied it for a moment then burst into tears. Duo was slightly put out when he saw that his friend was trying very hard not to laugh at him.

 

“We'd better get out of here,” Duo said, with a grimace.

 

“Let's go back to headquarters,” Quatre said sounding dispirited. “Noin is supposed to come back today, right?”

 

“Just a mo,” Duo said. “I need to pick up a thing or two for my boyfriends.”

 

3.2: The Return of Noin

 

Wufei considered killing Duo - only the look of embarrassment on Duo's face stopped him from doing just that.

 

“I thought you were going home after your session with the new recruits,” Trowa said, trying to sound normal.

 

“Will you look at that,” Shaun sniggered. “God, where did you pick it from…what are you going to use it for?”

 

“I remembered the officers' showers,” Wufei replied through gritted teeth. “I thought I'll shower before I left for home and …since Heero was in office…I'd drop by…”

 

In fact, he had hoped both Duo and Heero would be there since Wufei had noticed that whenever Heero did not have lessons, Duo skipped school as well. The first time Wufei had become aware of Duo skipping classes he had told Duo in no uncertain terms what exactly he thought of people who squandered away free education. Afterwards, Duo skipped classes only when Heero did not have classes. And quite frankly, Wufei was getting tired of listening to Heero go on and on about how to help Duo over some his problem and how not to rush him into anything. It was almost as if Heero was more interested in Duo and Wufei was just a tag-along. Being asked the demonstrate how fun sex can be Duo's benefit made him feel like a trained monkey. The physicals actions had been nice but afterwards Wufei wondered if Heero had actually done that to him or had imagined he was doing it with Duo. Was he just a substitute until Duo was ready for the main event?

 

“You sure are a freak to buy those for your friends,” Shaun hollered as he leaned against the file cabinet.

 

“Shut up,” Duo shouted.

 

“I didn't think you'd have company,” Wufei had replied.

 

“Shaun brings us coffee at random intervals,” Heero offered.

 

“You mean he saw Wufei, then Duo and me walk into your office and wanted to know what was going on so he brought up some undrinkable beverage,” Quatre said, scowling at Shaun who was laughing hysterically.

 

“I hear you were an orphan,” Shaun said to Duo, taunting him. “You parents sold you to a mad scientist so they could get money to buy a shuttle ride off L2. You must have missed out on a lot.”

 

“Don't even go there,” Duo fumed.

 

“Well, if you're buying stuffed toys for your house mates, it must be because you are trying to pass on what you missed as a child to everyone else,” Shaun said with narrowed eyes, his barb hitting right on target.

 

“Shut up,” Wufei bellowed, seeing Duo turn speechless. “It's nothing. Duo knew I always wanted a…eh…” green frog which squirmed when squeezed in the middle. “…a stuffed toy,” he finished weakly.

 

“Really,” Shaun said, his voice laced with disbelief. “And I suppose you always wanted a pink elephant, too,” he said to Heero.

 

Heero looked perplexed. “I think it's nice,” he offered tentatively.

 

“So you guys into mutilating stuffed toys in your spare time?” Shaun wanted to know. “Oooh, little kittens, beware.”

 

“Why don't you go make more coffee,” Quatre growled, seeing that Shuan was making Duo uncomfortable.

 

“I thought people who play with little froggies and elephants drank milk,” Shaun answered back. “Poor dear missing your mummy already.”

 

Heero opened his mouth, most probably to comment on the milk but Duo intervened.

 

“Fuck off,” Duo said, his fists clenched.

 

“Oh, I forgot,” Shaun smacked himself on the forehead. “You don't have a mummy. I bet she never even wanted you.”

 

Wufei surged forward before Duo could move, picking up the annoying brat by the collar and lifting him clean off the floor.

 

“Not the face,” Shaun said as Wufei brought up a fist. “You wouldn't want obvious signs of assault on me, would you?”

 

“I really don't care,” Wufei said struggling to calm himself. “I will not have you making such degrading comments about my friends and me…”

 

“But you deserve it,” Shun spat at Wufei. “You Gundam pilots think you own the world when all you are is a bunch of pathetic…”

 

“Wufei!” The shocked female voice broke up the group as effectively as a bucket of cold water.

 

Wufei wordlessly tossed Shun away so he hit the file cabinet hard and slumped to the floor. Then he turned around calmly and regarded the new comer. “Noin,” he said. “What are you going to do…tell Sally I…” He broke off as he saw the person accompanying Noin. “What's he doing here?”

 

Wufei heard Duo whisper something close like Lightning Barbie to Quatre but he was too busy staring to turn around and confirm it.

 

Zechs Marquis had lost weight.[2] Not much, but enough to show, since he hadn't been exactly a fat person start off with. Now he was bordering on being skinny and his long hair looked neglected. But Zechs was still Zechs and was hard for him to look bad. He was paler than before, as if he hadn't seen much sun and was dressed in a thick, bright red, high necked wool sweater and a pair of black slacks. As usually, he was wearing knee high boots but his mask was missing. His cheekbones were more prominent and his eyes spoke of fatigue -but his face was calm. As Noin spoke, the Lightning Baron leaned against the door frame and regarded the room with a faint smile on his lips.

 

“I asked him to come with me,” Noin said, practically glowing with pride as Zechs Marquise stepped through the doorway in to the office. “He's going to be one of us from now on.”

 

“You've got to be kidding,” Duo shouted. “He's going to be one of us…” Wufei wonder if they would being in more male uniforms or dress Zechs in a blouse as well.

 

“I know there are some hard feelings left over from the war but…” Noin said trying to pacify Duo. “Zechs can be invaluable to us in helping out…”

 

“Excuse me,” said Duo butting in again. “Are we talking about the same guy who tried to blow away Earth in the name of peace and blew away a chunk in the upper…”

 

“The region of Earth Zechs fired upon was uninhabited,” Noin said hurriedly. “He didn't mean any harm to come to people…”

 

“You mean, there was no mention of human habitations in your registers,” Wufei said, stepping into the argument. “I know about how you operate. If they don't show up on your records, then they aren't humans at all, are they? And Zechs might have fired upon a jungle but think of all the animals and land he destroyed. That land is going to be a wasteland for the next five generations.” As he spoke, Wufei looked up to Zechs to see if he would defend himself. Apart from looking paler, Zechs did not react to the verbal barb. Instead, he crooked his head and continued to look into the distance as if he was observing something on the horizon.

 

“I suppose you are going to disregard Mr. Winner's little episode, where he shot down a colony and his fellow pilot,” Noin said sharply, her temper coming to play as her loved one was attacked.

 

“Leave Quatre out of this,” Trowa said equally sharply. “He was under the influence of the Zero system when that happened.”

 

“No,” Quatre said sharply. “There's no need to make excuses on my behalf.” He stepped forward, brushing past Wufei and Duo to stand face to face with Noin. “What I did was inexcusable and…”

 

“You were not yourself then,” Zechs spoke for the first time, his voice that same timbre that used to send shivers down Wufei's spine. He might not have met Zechs face to face but one did not need to do that to know the guy. “I take full responsibility for my actions with the White Fang. I was not drugged, lied to, or under the influence of any sub-zero system…” The self deprecating smile as he said it made him look more human “… so I and I alone am to blame for what I did.”

 

“That's not going to help, is it?” Duo said sharply. “You have no right to be here…so…”

 

“Let him be,” Heero said softly, speaking for the first time. “This is a place where we absolve our sins and start fresh. Everyone deserves that much.”

 

“Heero.” Wufei cringed mentally but Zechs did not comment on the fact that Heero was stroking the head of a pink stuffed elephant on his desk as he spoke. “I…thank you.”

 

“There's nothing to thank,” Heero said softly meeting Zechs' eyes. “But I'm not going to shake your hand.”

 

Zechs closed his eyes briefly and titled his head to show he understood. Then he looked at the final member of the room and walked up to him. “Are you going to condemn me as well?” he said softly.

 

Wufei looked at Shaun who was still lying in the same inelegant sprawl on the floor where Wufei had thrown him, his mouth slightly open, staring at Zechs with adoring eyes. Wufei was sure the boy was going to start panting and licking Zechs boots at any moment. The boy's father had been a loyal OZ soldier but he was there worshipping Zechs as if he was the next Earth Primus.

 

“I wonder if there'd have been a place to Treize here, too,” Wufei said before he could help it.

 

“Ah,” said Zechs, breaking his gaze away from the green-haired boy at his feet. He looked at Wufei and as he did, it was as if he had aged - his mouth twisted into a grimace and his eyes sparkled with emotions. “I remember - you were close to him weren't you.”

 

“At his dying moment, I was closer to him than anyone else,” Wufei replied evenly. “Perhaps if you hadn't sold your loyalties so easily, he might have been alive.”

 

“That's enough,” Noin said sharply. “Come Zechs, I'll show you to your quarters and…”

 

“I'm sure you have work to catch up,” Zechs said, not even looking at Noni. The dismissal was clear. “Why don't you go attend to it while I look around.”

 

“Your sister is also waiting for you,” Noin protested weakly.

 

“My sister has enough to distract herself,” Zechs said uncaringly.

 

“But you can't go around the headquarters by yourself,” Noin said.

 

“I'll have an escort,” Zechs said, holding out a hand to Shaun. “You seemed to be an outcast as well, here. What's your name?”

 

“Sh…Shaun.” The look Shaun gave Zechs had Wufei feeling slightly nauseated. It was the sort of look Princess gave their Prince where they'd been rescued from the fire-breathing dragon. He took Zechs' hand and was helped to his feet carefully. “Well, gentlemen,” Zechs said, giving a small bow to the room in general. “It was nice meeting you and I'm sure we'll be seeing each other frequently.” He ushered Shun before him with a hand on the small of his back and then followed out, closing the door behind him.

 

“I can't believe the nerve, having that guy working with us,” Duo fumed. “And that…that brat…”

 

“We'll see how it works out,” Trowa said softly. “It's not as if we have blameless pasts.”

 

“But that doesn't mean he had to work here,” Duo protested. “Ever heard of social services? And how could you be so calm about it,” he added turning to Heero. “And you…” apparently it was Wufei's turn to feel the heat. “…must you keep bring up Treize…he's dead, remember?”

 

“I'm going home,” Wufei said, feeling drained. His entire day from Jasmine to Zechs was starting to feel like some nightmare. “I'll see you later…” He reached forwards, grabbed the green stuffed frog and packed it into his backpack with his sweaty workout clothes and hurried out before anything else happened.

 

[1] I have very little experience with threesomes so from now on, my research will include mangas containing threesomes.

 

[2] It isn't too big a surprise that Noin had brought back Zechs, right?

 

In the Endless Waltz, Zechs walks into the Preventer HQ and ppl just accepted him. It doesn't happen that way, there had to have been at least a token protest in his name.