Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sweet and Sour ❯ One ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Sweet And Sour
Part One

One eye opened warily against the haze of the dawn's first rays. Jet puff clouds hung lowly over the horizon, brilliant shades of blue, purple, and indigo splayed out across the smooth surface. The brilliant desert that surrounded every angle was vast and nearing a dark shade of orange. Every now and then, a tall cactus would be passed, followed by some varied object or animal that settled in the natural habitant of a plain.

Julie blinked tiredly, shifting in the back seat lazily. She buried her eyes in the crook of her arms, loathing even being awake now. Her daddy was still sleeping (perhaps the loud, bone rattling snoring gave it away) and she still wasn't "bonded," as he'd mentioned before, with the Chinese man, who seemed like a second father to her, for he was like her daddy and cared for her. She remembered that this new friend of her daddy's was an excellent story teller-one of the comforts she'd taken solace in as her daddy had been sick.

Her daddy's feelings were apparent-that little kiss he'd bestowed upon the other man made it pretty clear on what her daddy was thinking.

A small pang went through her as she remembered where they were heading to, and what her daddy had said about who would be there; Father. She had rarely known his real name, and other names (which she'd firstly heard from her daddy) weren't allowed to escape her mouth. Nor did she want them invading her thoughts. But, anyway, she was nervous and slightly afraid. Obviously, it would have been apparent that she'd let some information slip to daddy (what she hadn't been allowed to say). Then what would happen? How would Father act then? Would he harm her like he'd promised?

Involuntarily, she let out a small whimper, bringing the sleeve of her plaid jacket to her mouth to chew on. She hoped the man driving hadn't heard her.

Too late.

"Are you awake, little one?" He asked softly, looking into her daddy's magic mirror. He'd introduced it as magic because he could watch everything Julie was doing in it. She studied the obsidian eyes in the mirror, and then responded softly with a slight tremor invading her voice:

"Yes."

"Are you feeling okay?" His eyes went back to the road, not waiting for an answer. "Scoot up here; where there's more heat. You look cold."

Obeying nonetheless, Julie undid her seat belt, and climbed slowly into the front. The front seat stretched all the way across the width of the car, so she could fit comfortably between the man and her daddy.

"Are you hungry?"

Julie pondered her answer, and decided the affirmative. "Yeah…" She said, putting her hands in her lap and studying them. Her fingers just poked out from under the blue plaid designed sleeves. The shirt was a hand-me-down from her daddy, who'd grown out of it, and had given it to her to keep warm in the winter. "Not as much as Daddy may be when he wakes up."

The conscious man beside her gave a chuckle, and nothing else.

Julie eventually lost track of being awake, and fell into a sleep. A few curves to the right, and she was leaning against the man she didn't know too well, her tiny breaths evening out gradually.

***

Duo woke up shortly after the fall of dawn. He yawned broadly and stretched his limbs in the front seat, grinning broadly of the bright day ahead. In the middle of his morning calls (aka the sounds he was making as he yawned), he received a harsh, "Shh!" from the seat beside him. Turning his head, he blinked, and then went back to a sunny composure, whispering, "Hey, Fei. Why're you up?"

"Well…driving the call requires consciousness; even for an ex-Gundam pilot."

"Ah yeah…'s still early, ain't it?" Duo chuckled. "Who's your friend there? You two make peace or something?"

"I wouldn't call it peace, exactly…" Wufei sighed. "Just a little talk…sort of."

"Ah. Three words exchanged. I know how that is." Duo gave a languid pop to his arm, and sat up to view the landscape around them. "I'm guessing the nearest McDonald's would be a little ways off, eh?"

"Just a bit."

Duo sighed. "Man! Why does Q have to live out in the middle of nowhere? And a desert, it seems…I mean…why bother?"

"I suppose Quatre is very emotionally acquainted with the scenery and climate of the desert, seeing as he was raised about them." Wufei gave Duo a tiny smile. "He's a much attached, open minded person. I think we're lucky to have him as a friend."

"Aw, Fei's all mushy and happy." Duo grinned. "You're going to be a natural romantic one day. Makes me jealous…"

Wufei's cheeks were quickly tinged with a growing redness, but he didn't respond. He didn't know what Duo was inferring at this point…lest he be inferring anything at this point. Instead of responding, he just steered the car down the empty desert highway. As he concentrated on driving, a sudden, legitimate thought came to mind.

"Duo…where exactly are we?"

The one of the inquiry had curled back up in the seat, and now blinked sleepily up at the driver. "Wherever you're taking us."

"Don't be smart." Wufei tried to avoid sudden panic. "Pull out the map and see if you can find where we are?"

Duo acted immediately, sensing the command and the slight tenseness in Wufei's voice. He sat straight and opened the glove compartment, fumbling for the folded map. When he found it, he shook it to opened submission and glanced about it. "Give me, ah, a landmark or something elevated…"

"We're in the middle of the blasted desert, Maxwell, do you expect there to be a landmark or anything the slightest bit mountainous?!"

Duo took a brief moment to shoot Wufei a murderous glare, and traced the roads with his finger. As lady luck would have it, a four-way suddenly came into view. Wufei sighed in slight relief.

"Pull over here, and we'll check coordinates." Duo advised softly.

"I know, Maxwell." Wufei intoned, pressing the brake.

Duo wondered internally why Wufei suddenly seemed hostile and outwardly angry at him. Duo hadn't been driving in the first place, so it wasn't his lifelong duty to make sure they were always headed in the right direction.

When the car was securely in park, Duo hopped out, the map in hand, and spread it over the hood. He glanced up at the road sign, and then back at the map. 56…56…He traced along the national highway, and found no leads. His eyes darted around conspicuously.

"We're lost, aren't we?" Wufei asked grimly.

"No." Duo slurred slightly. "The road just is probably so small that it's not on this map."

"Right, Maxwell, like excuses will make it better." Wufei crossed his arms, a steely look crossing his features. "I hope your cell phone is charged."

Duo glared at him, slamming his hands down on the hood of the car. "What the hell is with you?!" He asked loudly. "I'm not the one driving the freaking car!"

"I told you to watch the map, Maxwell." Wufei stated calmly, annoyance threaded into his words. "But you were sleeping, instead."

"I need sleep, unlike you. You probably haven't slept since the nice you came!" Duo placed his hands furiously on his hips. "No wonder you're so grouchy all of a sudden! A little sleep may do you some good!"

"Sleep at the moment would be illegitimate, Maxwell." Wufei said.

"Whatever. Just let me drive."

"No, Maxwell. It's my car."

"Let. Me. Drive." Duo hissed threateningly.

"NO, Maxwell. It is my car, and from the way you used to drive, I wouldn't hand these keys to you for a million dollars." Wufei jangled the ring in emphasis.

Duo was extremely annoyed, angry, and eternally confused. "Well…" He searched for the right words, something that could show Wufei that he wasn't fazed in the least. But nothing more childish came out than a mere, "Screw you too! I'm walking, then!" Duo scurried into the car before Wufei could react.

His arms wrapped around his daughter protectively, and hauled her onto his hip. He glared furiously back at the man he thought he'd fallen in love with. Maybe he had been too desperate and blind, falling in love with the same personality that had left him broken. He stomped off, heading down the road.

Wufei didn't try to stop him.

***

Quatre glanced worriedly out the window. His palms, set primly in his lap, were sweaty with anxiety. He brought a hand up to wipe his brow, noting the heat.

"It's a bit warm for Christmas, isn't it?" He asked to the occupant of another chair across the room.

Eyelids enclosed over emerald orbs, the boy humming in response. "You think Duo or Wufei are lost?"

That thought had crossed Quatre's mind, but he hadn't wanted to pursue it. "No, Trowa. They used to be Gundam pilots…I think they can handle traveling across the desert."

Trowa nodded, sipping the iced tea in his hands. "I suppose."

Quatre looked back out the window, gazing off into the distance. "Do you think they're coming in the first place?"

He received a hesitant silence. When he received no answer, Quatre looked up, and restrained a gasp when Trowa was now standing over him, looking out the window. From Quatre's point of view, he could make out both of Trowa's green eyes, reflecting the gold from the mid day desert sun. His brown hair nearly shaded them to black, had it not been for the sun's glare.

Trowa stood and gazed wordlessly, until a gleam caught both their eyes. Quatre stood next to his friend, squinting in the morning. "Oh! That's Wufei's Porsche!" He smiled serenely. "It's the pearliest white I've ever seen on a car, and I know he takes good care of it." He rocked on his heels. "Should we go greet him?"

Trowa nodded once. "Sure."

***

Wufei huffed, stepping out of his car. He held himself, he regained his composure, all in the name of avoiding weakness. He didn't want Winner to be worried about him. Or worse…have Barton on him for not coming outright with it 'for Quatre'. He could swear, they loved each other to the point of overkill.

Love…

Wufei shook his head, pulling out his suitcase.

Heero once loved Duo…

He shifted through the backseat, fishing out Julie's bag.

But look where he is now.

Squinting his eyes shut, Wufei growled softly. "I am not Heero."

He threw Julie's duffel over his shoulder and decided against getting Duo's bag. He began to walk towards the large front doors of Quatre's estate.

Almost immediately, the gold trimmed doors opened without preamble, and Quatre slipped out. Inevitably, Wufei reasoned, the blonde looked exactly as he had those years he'd fought. Contrasts to his youth were scarce, as the same sunny blonde hair ripple over glassy pools of blue. His complexion had gone tan, supposedly from lying out or working in the desert heat.

"Wufei!" Quatre greeted, smiling cheerfully. "I'm glad you could make it!"

"Of course I made it, Winner." Wufei "snapped" sarcastically. "Why would I miss a *wonderful* get together with my fellow Ex-pilots?"

"Well, you mustn't be so negative!" Quatre snatched Wufei's bags in one swoop before the Asian boy could react. "No arguments; you're a guest." Quatre whisked himself off towards the house, and Wufei found it intelligent to follow.

The elegance and splendor of Quatre's home was not, and never had been, astounding as one would have thought. Being around riches often bored Wufei, one reason why he'd joined a nomadic section of the Preventers. But walking into the beautiful palace like abode now, it enthralled him secretively to no end. Amazing what the root of all evil could do…

Marble floors stretched languorously across for miles, it seemed. Wufei continued to follow Quatre, slowly finding himself in a sitting room. He gazed around it, and, at first glance, found it empty.

"Make yourself at home!" Quatre advised firmly, scooting off down a hall.

Wufei sighed absentmindedly, and plopped onto a nearby couch, pondering how he was going to face Duo. True, it was in his position to apologize, but his ugliness had caused the braided pilot to have possibly lost himself in a desert; a steaming, smoking, oven-like desert that few people could live a long life in.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind." A voice spoke softly.

Wufei wasn't startled, his old days kicking in, but felt his head snap around to face the intruder. His features softened considerably when he noticed who it was.

"Barton." Wufei was slightly relieved. "I apologize; I didn't see you there."

"It's not your fault." Trowa responded with a small smile. "I will make myself known when I desire such."

Wufei chuckled. "Sounds familiar."

"Quatre's logic." His face hardened. "Heero isn't going to be here."

The sentence rolled around in Wufei's mind. "Of course not." And that's all he cared to say in the matter; although he did want to express his utter disgust of Heero's actions.

And Barton rarely ever pushed information.

Quatre chose that moment to suddenly submerge from the hallway, and he bustled in, wielding a tray of various items. He was still all smiles, grinning as if he was a millionaire.

Which would have explained a lot.

"So Wufei," Quatre slipped into an armchair close to Trowa's. "How's it been for you lately?" He leaned forward, grabbing a glass from the tray. It was filled with an iced liquid, the cubes tinkling against the rim glass. Quatre took a sip. "I known you're working with the Preventers."

"The 'Traveling Preventers, as they're referred to as in most places." He smiled, giving Trowa a glance. The brunette smiled, catching the analogy and remembering his old days in the circus. "Things have been going smoothly for the while. I've read transmissions from Une, and she seems to be surprised and happy that everything is running flawlessly."

Quatre smile around his glass, taking another sip. "Delightful."

A strange feeling swelled in Wufei's chest, warning him off instinct and hard facts. Quatre's acting unusual…it's about his voice. Something in his voice is off…something I don't understand. And even Barton is starting to frighten me; I've never seen him smile this much in one sitting.

He decided to act on his suspicion. Wufei looked pointedly at Quatre. "Is there something you'd like to share?"

Quatre set his glass down on the table, and smiled radiantly. "It's to wait." His eyes sparkled mischievously.

"At least let me know if it's good or bad." Wufei reasoned.

"Depends."

Wufei could sense the inferiority in this conversation. A quick, stolen glance at Trowa confirmed that: Winner and Barton both knew something he didn't.

So, he began hopping to conclusions.

Duo got back, and told them what I did…Heero told them something nasty about Duo and I…He closed his eyes.

When he opened them, Quatre had a concerned look on his face. Trowa also wasn't smiling as he had been.

"Are you alright, Wufei?" Quatre asked, looking more like himself now.

"Just…thinking."

Before Quatre could respond, a servant suddenly walked in, bowing at Quatre. "Master Duo is here, Master Quatre." Quatre nodded comprehensibly and stood. "Excuse me." He slipped from the room.

Wufei felt his chest tighten when he heard the grand doors open. He heard two voices-both happy? His ears cocked, his head to the side.

"-glad you could make it!"

"Glad I could get here!" A laugh. "Deserts are bitches to navigate."

He's…happy? Wufei blinked. Why is he happy? I'm not understanding.

All at once, he received a mental image:

A rainy night, a lonely boy sitting at a kitchen table, his eyes brought low in his arms. His shoulders remained motionless and uncharacteristically still in the moonlight that tried to peek between the rain drops. Clad in all black-Death.

A figure stood just beyond, in the doorway, dressed in all white as a holy messenger. "Maxwell?" Softly spoken, a serene, yet formidable sound.

Chestnut head rises, eyes joyful. Where did the sadness escape to? "Fei? What are you doing up this late?" A smile to replace the grimace of pain.

The paint on the wall melted with the showering rain.

Wufei blinked, his eyes focusing once more on a Victorian style sitting room. His masks again…I thought they'd gone with the war…

"Oh, my, who is this?"

Wufei bowed his head. At least she's safe.

"Oh, this little tyke?" Another chuckle. "Do you have a name, sweetie?"

"Julie Maxwell." The essence of adorableness spoke up this time.

"She's precious, Duo!" A pause, as if Quatre had primped her in some way. Why didn't you tell me you'd adopted?"

"Well…surprises are good, yes?"

Another laugh. "Let's go into the parlor-we're not alone anyhow."

Wufei felt his heart speed up slightly. He watched the doorway, determined to see Duo, to see what damage he had caused. In his mind, he saw a raggedy, sand-encrusted black shirt just hanging off his thin frame. Stripped and worn jeans, shredded and ripped at the bottom, dirt acting as a shadow.

He saw Quatre enter, and smile as Julie skirted through the door, smiling and watching her 'Uncle Quatre.' He saw the familiar braid silhouetted against the beige carpet, and black shoes appear at the bottom of the door.

Wufei looked away.