Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Dance ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

1x5 part 7- Final Chapter

 

Wufei woke up gradually and tried to open his eyes - and failed. What- oh, yes, bandages. He fingered them lightly and found out that it was rather loosely bound, with the edges untucked, so he could pull them free - more like a reminder for him to keep his eyes closed than anything else. He was alone in bed but there were a warm depression in the mattress next to him, which meant Heero had been there until a short time ago. It made him feel nice since he knew Heero did not believe in lying in bed in the middle of the day for no reason. He put aside his bandages and blinked. His eyes felt strange, prickly, dry and there was a faint throbbing inside - a phantom pain that would not go away. Wufei decided to ignore that for the moment,

 

He sat up slowly and did a full body check. His cheek hurt like hell so the painkillers were running low in his system, his shoulder hurt, his leg hurt… well, his ass hurt as well but compared to the rest it was nothing. Well, technically nothing, since he'd not hurt there ever since he'd become extremely constipated on some new antibiotics a while back, and even that hadn't been this bad. It was just a new sort of pain and he wondered if he should get used to it becoming a constant one.

 

As he slipped into loose clothing, he wondered if he should take a shower first. He had been cleaned meticulously by Heero before he'd fallen asleep but he did have his own level of hygiene to maintain. However he decided to forego that in exchange for two pills of painkiller and some food to fight the insistent burn of his stomach acids.

 

But he wasn't sure if he wanted to go to the sitting room where most likely the rest of the former pilots were. He did not want to face them after what he and Heero had done. It was so… embarrassing and well… how was he supposed to explain that to them? They'd probably heard them fucking on the bed with just a wall to separate them. They were all private people despite being close friends, and sometimes it was better to ignore stuff than bring it to light. But this time, he did not think they were going to turn a blind eye or rather deaf ear to his and Heero's sexual acrobatics. What was he supposed to do? He was not going to go out ever. He did not think he could face Duo, who was going to be the worst ever. Once Quatre had pointed out Duo had the mentality of a male fag hag, and then - seeing the blank look in Wufei's eyes - spent ten minutes explaining what that meant. Wufei wasn't looking forward to finding out just what exactly it entailed. He was going to sit in his bedroom until the pain killer ate a hole through his empty stomach.

 

All right, he had to go out.

 

Wufei stumbled into the sitting room stifling a yawn, hitching up his sweats with one hand while scratching his chest through the ratty t-shirt with the other. He stopped at the sight blinking a little as his eyes adjusted to the bright light. that greeted him, debated whether it was worth running back into the bedroom then decided against it. It was, after all, he reasoned, his apartment.

 

The four were playing cards in the sitting room, sitting on cushions on the floor in a loose circle. They all looked up at his arrival and Heero moved to stand up but Wufei waved him down.

 

“I'm fine,” he said with a slight blush. He just had to walk without limping, that was all. “I'll just grab something to eat and join you.”

 

“Sit,” said Duo grabbing a cushion off the sofa and thumping it onto the ground. “I kept your soup in the microwave. I'll just heat it up and get if for you.”

 

“Soup,” said Wufei making a face. He had been hoping for something solider. But he was also grateful no one had mentioned anything about his recent activities Maybe Heero, if he had any common sense, would have already dealt with that problem.

 

“You can't have anything really solid,” Duo said pointing to his cheek. “Cracked cheek bones tend to object to that, even if they are healed. What you can do is dunk your toast into it until it's well soaked through and…anyway I saved an extra fluffy pillow for you.”

 

“I get the idea,” said Wufei sitting between Quatre and Heero on the cushion provided for him. Everyone had been sitting cross legged but Wufei did not want to attempt that. It would pull certain muscles in certain areas he rather not stressed but he did not want to sit with his feet stuck in front of him. It was so undignified to sit like that but how…He finally settled for lowering himself down carefully, angled towards Quatre. The blond helped him down with a hand on his lower back, something he would have found insulting a year earlier. Now, he no longer had his stiff pride to get in the way of relaxing with his friends.

 

As he sat, Quatre let his hand slid around Wufei's slender waist and pull him so he was leaning against the blond's side. Being taller and wider than him, Quatre was solid enough for him to lean against and he sighed softly. That was a little better. And, yes, he didn't think he was going to be able to sit on anything hard for a while. Damn Yuy!

 

“So,” said Trowa as he dealt the cards. “You can support Heero if you want to but we're in the middle of a game so you'll have to wait to join in.”

 

“I'll pass,” Wufei said as Duo came back surprisingly fast with a steaming bowl of soup and instant noodle mixture with a large spoon stuck in it.

 

“Would you have preferred chop sticks?” Duo asked. “Found a few in your kitchen but… you are going to slurp then and that might not be good for your cheeks so, spoon.”

 

“This is fine, thank you,” Wufei said as he took the bowl, his stomach growling at the appetizing smell.

 

“Uh,” said Quatre, who elbowed Trowa, who looked away then back at Wufei. Then he looked at Duo, who looked at Heero. Was it…

 

“What?” Wufei said in frustration even as he slurped in the contents of his bowl. It was pretty obvious that he wasn't fooling anyone. He was coloring nicely but decided against hiding his face.

 

“You got the bed from those two, right?” asked Duo, pointing at Quatre and Trowa. “It must be pretty solid. Not even a squeak and the headboard didn't even hit the wall once.”

 

“Maybe someone needs to go look at the headboard,” Quatre said suddenly. “Heero perhaps.”

 

Wufei stopped eating at that unsubtle hint to get Heero out of the room and looked up. “What…” He did not need to voice his question since Heero seemed to have expected it. He got up smoothly and, leaning down, gave Wufei's good shoulder a small squeeze before he continued towards the bedroom.

 

“We do need to speak with you,” Quatre explained softly. “Just you and not your other half. Now might not be the best of times but we really did need to have this conversation some time back so…”

 

“Look, if you want Heero back, we'll call him back and the talk can wait,” Duo said seriously as he looked straight at Wufei.

 

Wufei took a deep breath and shook his head. These were his friends. He saw less of them than he saw of Heero and that was because Heero came to him. His job and his lifestyle kept him effectively Earth-bound while the rest had time to colony hop. They had not seen each other in a long time but they were the people he trusted the most in the entire universe. “What is it?” he asked in a level voice.

 

Silence ensued, filled with a lot of eye movements between the other three that looked like `you ask- no it's your turn to ask.'

 

“Heero said you bled,” Trowa said finally with the face of someone dragging out a dead rat from the punch after everyone had taken a drink from it.

 

Wufei chocked on his soup.

 

“So…uh…do you usually bleed?” Quatre asked with the ferocity of someone stepping into the path of a charging bull. “In case you were wondering, the question has first been directed at me from Heero so I thought I'll follow through.”

 

“I don't have hemorrhoids,” Wufei muttered, wishing the floor would open up and swallow him.

 

“Do you usually bleed during sex?” Quatre amended looking as uncomfortable as Wufei felt.

 

“I wouldn't know,” Wufei forced out through gritted teeth.

 

“You mean…”

 

“Woo-hoo!” yelled Duo making them all jump. “You mean our little Wu-Wu just lost his virginity? This calls for a celebration party!”

 

“Don't call me little Wu-Wu,” Wufei barked, mentally strangling Duo. “And I was not a virgin.” Yes, humiliation can take you to new levels of homicidal rages.

 

“Was it really the first time for you and Heero?” Quatre asked quietly, his face serious. “The very first time?”

 

“Yes,” Wufei said abruptly, wanting to get the whole episode over with. “It was my first time with any man.”

 

“Well that explains why you were…” Quatre started to say then stopped hastily looking away. “Let me get you some more soup,” he said, taking the bowl from Wufei and standing up with a wince. He rubbed his left knee with his free hand then limped towards the kitchen, leaving Wufei frowning at his back.

 

“What?” Wufei asked mystified. “What was he going to say?”

 

“So,” said Duo overly casually. “Do you mean you and Heero are officially together now?”

 

“What's that supposed to mean?” Wufei bit out.

 

“I thought so too,” Trowa said firmly. “I was with Wufei while you were out.”

 

“What do you mean?” Wufei repeated, mystified. “And if you are referring to Trowa molesting me…”

 

“I sort of figured it out you know,” Trowa said casually. “When you didn't respond to my flirting as you should have.”

 

“I don't want to even know what your excuses are for your behavior,” Wufei shouted in frustration, making his teeth hurt in the process. “Just tell me in plain English what you're on to.”

 

“We thought you and Heero were fuck buddies,” Duo told Wufei bluntly. “That you regularly fuck when Heero goes out on missions.”

 

“I… what!”

 

“Here, have some more soup,” said Quatre, thrusting a steaming bowl into his hands.

 

“I don't want any more fucking soup.” Wufei made to stand up, winced as all his muscles protested, fell back into the cushion and winced again. “Just explain to me what you people are talking about. You thought I was cheating on Yuy?”

 

“The thing is,” Duo said thoughtfully. “Heero keeps tabs on you. It's pretty easy… it's just a credit card tab really, and I helped him with the basic program. And then when you took your little girls to these cheap motels they do show up. Then he'd hack into their lobby cameras and watch those recordings for days and kick around the house for another week before calming down.”

 

“I…” Wufei wasn't sure if he was angry at the invasion on privacy or feel sorry for Heero for what he had gone through. If what Heero had told him was true, Heero had liked him for a long time, and to know that Wufei was sleeping with other people must have been very painful for him. “Why didn't you just tell me?” he asked softly, stirring his soup half-heartedly.

 

“We thought you two were together,” Duo said finally. “I mean, we've been here before, remember? And we know the layout of the apartment… one bedroom apartment with a single bed, I must stress. When Quatre suggested a bed as a house warming gift, he thought it was so you two could use it and all. Plus, this is Heero's home base. He might crash in on one of us when he's free but we all know this is where he comes when he wants to relax”

 

“So I'm the only blind person here,” Wufei said softly. “Literally.” He looked down at his soup, which was cooling into an unappealing brown substance, and took a mouthful of it anyway to keep himself busy. It tasted just as good as the first bowl had and he wondered absentmindedly which of them made it.

 

“Maybe,” said Trowa. “But we all kept imagining things that weren't there. You were always a private person so we assumed you just didn't want to mention anything about the two of you.”

 

“Is this why I am always assigned to the same room as Heero every time we have one of your get-togethers?” Wufei said faintly amused.

 

“You always show up with Heero,” Duo pointed out. “And you never protest about being roomed with Heero.”

 

“Maybe we should change the subject,” Heero said, abruptly entering the room, and everyone relaxed a little.

 

“Not before you tell me about you shadowing every move of mine,” Wufei said, looking up and frowning. “I'm too tired to work up a screaming rage and really not in the mood to hear weak excuses. Just tell me Heero, did you really play stalker to…”

 

“I wasn't stalking you,” Heero said with a shrug as he settled back into his previous position. “I just wanted to make sure you were all right. I…asked Lady Une to keep me informed if anything were to happen to you and…”

 

“You couldn't have called me and asked?” Wufei said as he looked at Heero.

 

“I wasn't sure where I stood with you,” Heero said with a shrug.

 

“That's stupid Yuy,” Wufei said with a small smile. He'd discovered that he was in too good a mood to really work up any anger at the breach of privacy by his new lover. “You were my friend if nothing else. Just…don't do that again, all right?” He gave a low laugh and continued. “It's not like I'll be taking any girls to cheap motels from now on.”

 

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

 

Wufei wanted to crawl into bed and close his eyes. He was tired - as tired as he had been after his last three-day mission in Nigeria, somewhere close to the Sahara border. He was surprised by just how much of a toll the recent action had taken on his body. He closed his eyes briefly and leaned against the back of the sofa …and Heero's shoulder as the rest went on with their business.

 

“Dinner,” Duo said, annoyingly enthusiastic. “I guess it's take out.”

 

“Unless you want to cook,” Trowa offered from his seat by the window. Wufei wasn't sure if he was keeping an eye on the street below or simply enjoying the view. Probably a bit of both since old habits died hard.

 

“Pizza,” Duo decided.

 

“I don't think Wufei can eat pizza,” Quatre said cautiously as he leaned against the far wall, reading a financial news paper.

 

“They had that pizza flavored yogurt as well somewhere,” Duo said reaching for the vid-phone.

 

“Wufei doesn't want to eat,” Wufei mumbled sleepily; he was starting to feel comfortable despite the aches and pains, leaning against his lover.

 

“Perhaps we should just leave,” Quatre said. “And leave Wufei alone. He seems to be fine now and…”

 

“I forgot to ask,” Wufei said opening his eyes. He was being a lousy host to his friends. “Where are you spending the night? You aren't going back home so soon, are you?” He could not offer everyone a place to sleep for the night in his apartment but he felt guilty about turning them out for the night.

 

“We've booked a room at the Winner residential,” Trowa said with a shrug. “Duo is still not sure as to where he's going to stay the night.”

 

“You can crash here,” Wufei told Duo truthfully. “No bother, you know that, right?”

 

“In your bed?” Duo leered.

 

“Sure,” Wufei said with a faint smile. “Heck, you can even have Heero if you want. I don't think I want him any more after finding out he's been tracking me all this time and not telling me things…” He looked up sharply, alert. “What?”

 

“They have banana flavored pizza with a dash of mustard,” Trowa said helpfully and very unconvincingly.

 

“Is that the code for `I'm-hiding-something-else-from-Wufei',” Wufei asked dryly, shaking himself and sitting upright with a grimace. “Spill… before I decide to have another siss- hissy-fit and frankly, I'm too tired to get worked up.”

 

“Oh,” said Duo trying to be casual and failing. “It's no big deal. Really.”

 

“Try me,” Wufei said in a steely voice, which usually had his subordinates ducking for cover at the office.

 

“Your friend came to visit while you were sleeping and we sort of turned h…this person away,” Quatre said with an apologetic shrug.

 

“Who exactly showed up?” Wufei asked with a sinking feeling. He thought he knew who but he could do with a confirmation.

 

“A blonde with big boobs,” Duo injected suddenly, smiling in an embarrassed way. “You know.” He added and cupped his hands over his chest to emphasize size. Wufei decided that Duo was exaggerating since he knew the size of her uniform. Sharine did not have such large breasts, unless she'd decided to get silicon implants while he was having eye surgery.

 

“What about her?” he asked, looking at the long-haired man questioningly.

 

“She dropped by a couple of hours ago,” Duo said with a smile. “And wouldn't go away even when I told her you were resting.”

 

“You what?” Wufei growled out.

 

“Hey,” said Duo leaning back, hands held up as if to fend off an attack. “It was Heero's idea. He said I was to chase her off so I tried everything from…you know, my …sex appeal…” he leered meaningfully and Wufei groaned. What Duo said probably translated into him making a go at Sharine like a psychotic maniac. It usually did work when they wanted to chase girls away but then again, Wufei's partner was not simply a 'girl'.

 

Wufei smirked. “Where did she punch you?”

 

Duo scowled and looked away. “Stomach,” he grumbled. “She said she was aiming lower.”

 

“She wasn't” Wufei said knowingly. “She would have used her knee otherwise. So why did she leave?”

 

“She left when Heero came to the door and said, I quote, `Wufei is sleeping. He exhausted himself with strenuous activity and he needs rest' end quote,” Duo said smirking back at Wufei. “And in a tone that wouldn't leave any questions of what exactly Wufei was doing to be exhausted, coming out of the bedroom looking as if he had just hastily dressed.”

 

“He didn't,” said Wufei, sagging back into the sofa. “Please tell me he didn't.”

 

“He did,” Quatre said apologetically as he folded the newspaper and handed it over to Trowa. “We all heard.”

 

“God, you people,” Wufei practically screamed. “I do need to return to work you know? If you screw with my partner…”

 

“That was your partner?” Duo whistled to show his appreciation. “She's got class.”

 

“She was awfully concerned about you,” Quatre said tentatively.

 

“The day I showed up here, she answered the door in Wufei's shirt and nothing else,” Heero said in a snide voice.

 

“Oh,” said Quatre and looked away.

 

“It's not what you think,” Wufei seethed. “Dammit, Heero, you know it isn't. Don't go around insinuating things.”

 

“I wasn't,” Heero said, looking away. “I just told them what happened. I don't like her. She's too pushy.”

 

“Good for you…” Wufei stated heatedly when Duo stood up and dusted his hands. “Speaking of women, it's time I made a call to mine. Mind if I make a vid-call Wu-Wu?”

 

Wufei shut his mouth and glowered at Duo without avail. “Don't. Call. Me. Wu-Wu.”

 

Duo pouted and swung his braid. “He looks cute when he's angry, doesn't he Heero?” he asked teasingly.

 

“Just go make your call,” Wufei said grudgingly. “Heero and I are not about to have a fight over Sharine. Use the extension in the room. That way you can speak to Hilde in peace.”

 

“Thanks,” said Duo, walking into the room and in the ensuing silence Wufei looked at the other two.

 

“You know it's not going to go through,” Quatre said to Trowa who was still looking at the streets below.

 

“What do you mean?” Wufei asked in surprise. Was there a solar flare he'd not heard of?

 

“Duo is having some family problems, so to speak,” Quatre said with a shrug. “Figured it was the family situation and all. She wasn't too keen on adopting kids in the first place and …”

 

“Why did they adopt kids?” Wufei said after a while. “I mean, I know Duo wanted to save some orphans but he could have gone for the test-tube…”

 

“He can't,” Trowa said abruptly standing up. “He came to L4 to run some tests and the doctor said it was probably a lot of things starting with him being starved as a kid, and Hilde can't because she got most of her insides messed up sp…”

 

“Hey,” said Duo emerging from the bedroom, frowning. “Can't get through…”

 

“Could be a solar flare,” Wufei offered. “Happens all the time.”

 

“I guess,” said Duo settling back into his old place. “So, what were you talking about?”

 

“Um,” said Quatre looking at Heero.

 

“We were just discussing you and Hilde's…”

 

“…kids,” Wufei managed to inject while stepping on Heero's toes. Even though they were both barefoot Wufei managed to ground his heel into Heero's foot firmly enough to shut him up. “Heero told me you've adopted two children. I've been so busy these days I haven't had the chance to congratulate you.”

 

“Want to see them?” Duo's face split up in a smile and Wufei felt stunned. Duo looked so happy that he looked sixteen again. Duo fished around in his back pocket, mumbling, “Was going to get 3D holos of them but you know…the last shipment from the junkyard didn't come through. But I've got photos and…”

 

Wufei leaned forward and snagged the dog-eared photos from his friend and looked at them carefully. “Uh,” he said with surprise. “Your oldest is a girl.” In most Chinese families parents hope for a son to lead the family and look after younger siblings. Somehow the upbringing had stuck to Wufei no matter how far removed he was from that world.

 

“She's about four, we think,” Duo said with a smile. "Can't be sure. Her mother was an addict and sold her to me for five credits and a bottle of soda. On L2, most girls don't make it past the age of five unless you're in the trade, and even then…”

 

“I thought that was dealt with by the authorities,” Wufei said, going to Preventer mode automatically.

 

“What can you do about kids who don't exist, who are born to parents who are walking dead?” Duo said without missing beat. “You know what I mean.”

 

“I…” Wufei looked down and sighed. He knew exactly what Duo meant. With the new laws in place, Preventers could not interfere with anything as long as it was not strictly illegal. This meant people had to ask for help but like Duo pointed out, most kids born in L2 were not registered in the Colony's census department since they were born on the streets to parents who were drug addicts and most of the times not yet adults themselves. If they did not exist they could not ask for help since the moment the authorities got wind of unregistered citizens, they were shipped off to the ore mines. “I'd like to come and visit your children one of these days,” he said instead. “It'd be nice to see them in person.”

 

“Would you,” Duo perked up. “They're with Quatre's sister for the time being but I think I'll take them back to the Yard when I go back.”

 

Wufei did not ask if Hilde was also at Quatre's sisters as well, but instead nodded and said, “I have some free time coming up and I haven't visited your Yard in ages.”

 

“And perhaps you could …” Duo hesitated for a bit then said in a rush, “…teach them something, too.”

 

Wufei froze in surprise. Of the five of them, Wufei had always subconsciously known that he was the most educated. He had received an extensive education before the war started and he had followed it up once it was over. He was not as educated as he'd once hoped to become but he was satisfied with his night courses and his ongoing studies.

 

Quatre probably knew a lot about the financial world and Trowa, as Quatre's husband in everything but name, probably knew enough to take over the Winner business, should the need ever arise. Heero was a mixed lot. Wufei knew Heero could quote obscure poetry by heart but would look blank at the mention of Othello. Could do advanced trigonometry in his head but wouldn't know the difference between integration and differentiation.

 

Duo had fared the worst of the five of them. He had not had much education as a child and now was a junkyard owner living with a former OZ space suit pilot. He struggled to make ends meet. During the war he had spent some undercover time at boarding schools but Wufei wasn't sure just how much time he'd spent learning anything. None of them ever thought of offering Duo money; he was too proud for that. But Wufei wasn't sure just how learned Duo was; he was a good mechanic but most of what he knew was what he had learned through hard earned experience. Wufei did not think his long-haired friend had the time and the funds for night classes or correspondence courses.

 

He looked at Duo, staring at him with wide purple eyes, and smiled. “I'd be honored,” he said seriously and bowed formally to show just how much that offer meant to him.

 

“So,” Duo said with another smile. “Have you two thought of having children?”

 

"Duo,” Quatre said hurriedly. “It might be a little too soon for them, you know.”

 

“You mean adopt,” Heero asked, looking slightly interested, which in turn made Wufei feel worried.

 

“No, no,” Duo hurried to clarify. “Unlike me - I don't think you guys shoot blanks and yes, I can guess what you were talking about while I was out of the room…” everyone, apart from Heero had the decency to look embarrassed. Heero simply looked puzzled and Wufei wondered fondly if Heero would ever learn that manners are that important.

 

“We're sorry,” Trowa spoke up first. “It really wasn't any of our business and…”

 

“Guys,” Duo interrupted with a wave of his hands. “It's all right. I don't care. What I was going to suggest was test tube babies… you know like in Quatre's family.”

 

“We were considering that,” Trowa admitted slowly. “There is a new procedure where two men can have a baby too. Something about it being able to extract the DNA from both sperms and merging it.”

 

“And there is a higher possibility of the child being a boy,” Quatre injected. “25% or something.” [1]

 

“What do you mean?” Wufei asked in surprised.

 

“Well, in test tube babies, there is a higher probability of the child being a girl if you let it develop on its own,” Quatre explained. “Why do you think all thirty-nine of my sisters are test tube babies? My father wasn't exactly trying for a harem but he didn't want to mess with the end result more than necessary

 

“If you know all that, does that mean you've thought of the possibility of having kids?” Wufei asked the blond cautiously.

 

“Somewhat,” Trowa answered in his lover's place. “We do want kids and we're not children ourselves. We did go to the L4 Genetech to make sure we don't have any mutation lurking around waiting to be passed on to the next generation.”

 

“It would be nice,” Heero said thoughtfully. “Having kids - with…” he drifted off when he met the steely glare of Wufei's dark eyes. “…I wasn't going to suggest that you join in the baby rush.”

 

“Good,” Wufei snapped angrily. “Because I'd seriously like to know how the heck we can raise kids when we can barely keep ourselves alive. If I ever do have kids it'd be when I no longer have a gun in my hand and a target on my back…”

 

“If we have kids, you mean,” Heero said, sounding a little confused.

 

“It's not exactly as if you stay in one place long enough to raise a child,” Wufei told him heatedly.

 

“Guys,” said Duo standing up. “I'm sorry I brought this up. We've all had a long day so maybe we should just get something to eat and call it a night.”

 

“No, it's all right,” Wufei said looking away from the hurt look that appeared on Heero's face. “I'm…just a little under the weather…”

 

“No, you're correct” said Quatre quietly. “We do have to make some drastic changes to the way we live if we're to have children, you know.”

 

“You mean like your tendency to dress in those pink maid uniforms?” Duo said teasingly and much to Wufei's surprise the blond blushed.

 

“You do!” he blurted out before he could help it.

 

“We all have our preferences,” Trowa said softly as he walked over to Quatre and put a hand on his shoulder.

 

“So we have our kinks. What of it?” His eyes were challenging as he looked over at the rest. But it was not hostile and Wufei was aware that everyone was waiting for him to freak out.

 

“I'm not like that,” he said in defense, though he did remember that during the war he had been rather loud in his opinions about other people's sexual preferences. “I've seen enough weird things in the time as a law enforcer to freak out if Quatre likes to wear pink frilled apron.”

 

“You have photos of that?” Heero suddenly asked and Wufei picked up a cushion to smother him with.

 

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

 

“So…what do you intend to do now?” Quatre asked Wufei as he dealt a card face down to Duo. It was cards all over again. It was not as if they actually played the game and Wufei still had no idea as to what they were doing but it was relaxing. They were, again, seated on the floor, this time with Wufei leaning against the back of the sofa next to Trowa. The rules of the game were simple; every player would bet something other than money or goods that can be brought. It could be favors but not sexual - food was allowed. Duo had introduced it to them as a leftover from his days on the street and they had accepted it without question.

 

Wufei decided it was childish to pretend he did not understand the contents of the question. “I don't know,” he said honestly, avoiding eye contact with Heero.

 

“You do have some down time, don't you?” Duo pointed out as he turned over his card, made a face and then passed it on to Trowa.

 

“I have some leave collected,” Wufei agreed.

 

“What if you quit the Preveters,” Trowa said abruptly as he passed the card to Heero without even looking at it.

 

Wufei looked up startled, thought over what he had to do and shook his head as if to clear his mind. “It's…” He tried to explain his situation. Being a Preventer was all he knew. He had no family, no colony, no Gundam, no war to fight for, and definitely no cause. He was a warrior without a purpose and being a Preventer, wearing a uniform and hunting down criminals gave him a purpose. “…all I know,” he finished weakly.

 

“There will be an investigation regarding the attack on you,” Heero pointed out calmly as he picked up the card and looked confused. “What do I do with a joker?” he asked.

 

“I didn't shuffle that in,” Quatre exclaimed leaning forward and pulling it out of Heero's grasp. “Duo, did you just palm a card?”

 

“Who…” Duo looked up, his purple eyes wide open, giving him an innocent look. “Me?”

 

“No,” said Trowa as he took the pack of cards from Quatre along with the cards in Duo's grasp. “The tooth fairy must have done it.”

 

“Do you mind,” Wufei growled in frustration. “I…”

 

“…won't be allowed back until the present investigation at the Preventer headquarters is completed,” Heero said firmly. “I spoke to Une earlier and she thought it best if you took that time to recover.”

 

“You think I should quit,” Wufei stated softly.

 

“I think you aren't as happy doing what you do as you used to,” Heero told him bluntly. “You said it yourself. Preventers isn't about just crime and punishment anymore, it's mixed up with politics and the core of the organization is corrupted.”

 

“I know,” Wufei said in frustration. “But what do you suggest I do? Globe trotting with Heero sounds like fun but it's not just fun, is it? I don't even know what sort of jobs you're doing these days… are you a mercenary?” It was the first time he'd asked about Heero's job directly.

 

“Nothing like that,” Heero said, looking at Wufei steadily. “But if I tell you I'll have to kill you.”

 

Wufei looked up at that and smirked. “I'd like to see you try,” he said dryly.

 

Heero looked at the others and shrugged. “Not when you have back-up.”

 

“So, what do you do?” Wufei asked deciding to let the other topic slide. He'd test his skills against Heero when he was fully recovered.

 

“I investigate likely threats in all aspects on all colonies, asteroids, anything,” Heero said without breaking eye contact. Wufei blinked since his eyes were starting to dry but continued to keep his mouth shut. Next to him, Quatre stirred but remained silent, realizing just how important Heero's revelation was. “That's what I am… an investigator. Though what I do involves a lot of stealth, stalking and breaking the law. Sometimes, if a threat is too great, I have to eliminate it. I don't mean killing people. Sometimes it's destroying weapon blue prints or sabotaging a process so its creators would think it a failure and give up on it. It's more complicated than that but I can't go into details now…we don't have the time. I just don't have to go through the red tape like Preventers do.”

 

“And you want me to come with you,” Wufei said pointedly.

 

“Sometimes, there are two man jobs,” Heero said reluctantly.

 

“Sometimes.” Wufei scowled.

 

“How about a compromise?” Quatre asked as he looked at the two of them.

 

“Meaning?” Wufei looked at Quatre angrily. Compromise was a diplomatic word used to pacify balding men to prevent them from cutting off their budgets.

 

“Une will never let you go,” Trowa said as he gave the cards to be cut by Heero. “She knows you're the best agent they've got.”

 

“My partner is proficient,” Wufei said out of habit. Heero scowled and Duo managed a snort.

 

“But Une will never agree to let you go,” Trowa said getting back on topic. “You could do what Heero does. Stay with the Preventers as an outside consultant. You could choose your cases that way and you'd have more free time. Since you are already a Preventer you would have more access to everything and you'd probably be able to keep your rank.”

 

“I don't care about rank,” Wufei said, though the idea was appealing. No more drunken domestic violence cases, no more mopping up snot-nosed kids high on the latest synth-drug from the labs.

 

“Plus, you are more analytical that Heero,” Quatre pointed out. “No offence Heero but you do think more in terms of explosives and bullets, you know? Wufei could be useful when analyzing a situation.”

 

“I know,” Heero agreed readily, taking his cards. “He could even stay here while I send him reports and analyze them…”

 

“Nice try, Yuy,” Wufei said smiling openly. “Either I'm in or I'm not. No two ways about it.” Then to show that the conversation was over, he turned to Quatre and said. “Is that what you mean by a compromise?”

 

“Which is what Trowa and I do,” Quatre said with a shrug. “We both have families, our own lives and still we've made us work.” Seeing Wufei's confused expression he hurried to explain. “We both spend time together, sometimes on L4 and sometimes at the circus.” Wufei nodded. He knew that since the last time he'd dropped in on the circus, Trowa's trailer had been a communication room for Winner enterprises and Quatre had been in the middle of a vid-conference. “Sometimes, some of my associates are not that…um…understanding about Trowa and my relationship so we don't go on those business trips together. Then he stays with the circus and I stay on L4.”

 

“It's just that while we can rub it in those old geezers' faces, Quatre runs a business,” Trowa added softly. “He respects their whishes and in return they pretend they don't know about us.”

 

“I think I get what you mean,” Wufei said thoughtfully. “Heero and I aren't children who need to see each other constantly.” He wasn't sure he really liked saying that, even if it was the truth. But he just didn't want to sound too needy or clingy. It just wasn't him but still, he knew his and Heero's relationship would never be like the ones shown in those sugar sweet romantic movies.

 

“But it would be nice,” Heero said softly and Wufei looked at Heero, eyes wide. “Yuy,” he said in disbelief, heart thumping loudly. “That's…” The word on the tip of his tongue was "sweet" but it would sound so wrong to associate such a sappy word with Heero Yuy the killing machine.

 

“You two are new to this aren't you,” Quatre said with a knowing smile. “You're in the honeymoon phase so enjoy it while it lasts.”

 

“Yes, `cause afterwards you'll want to play dress up in maid's costumes with whips and high heels and…” Duo started to laugh openly. “Like certain people I know who…”

 

“Shut up, Maxwell,” Trowa ground out with a slightly embarrassed voice.

 

“Why,” Duo demanded. “We're making heck of a job making Wu-Wu blush like a virgin on her wedding night…oh, damn I forgot, it was his fi…umph…”

 

“Just because you don't have any dirty laundry to air doesn't mean we're going to let you do that you know?” Heero said, hand over Duo's mouth. “Stop picking on Wufei. Any more and he'll combust.”

 

“Thank you,” said Wufei, pushing aside his card. “I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you guys.”

 

“But the fact you are means you are actually considering leaving the Preventers and teaming up with Heero,” Trowa observed.

 

Wufei silently handed back his cards and thought it over then nodded. “I guess we could always come back here when we're not busy.”

 

“Flexible time table,” Heero replied. “Some missions take time but sometimes I get up to three months in between.”

 

“And in that time I could go to L2 to look into that child-selling business,” Wufei said, looking at Duo, who promptly dropped his cards and threw his hands around Wufei in a hug.

 

“You will? Oh, man that'd be great!” he said.

 

“And we can visit L4,” Heero said with a small smile. “To…”

 

“Have a foursome?” Duo asked enthusiastically. “Invite me when you do, I'd love to watch.”

 

“He's straight,” Quatre muttered to Trowa in a fake whisper.

 

“Never mind that,” answered Trowa, collecting all the cards. “We'll discuss the details later. Place your bets, everyone. New game.”

 

“Wufei, bet something,” Quatre said, turning towards him.

 

“Uh…” Wufei thought over his possessions. “I don't know…what…”

 

“How about your porn collection under the floor board,” Duo quipped making him color.

 

“I didn't know it was there,” Heero observed.

 

“You weren't supposed to,” Wufei mumbled while Trowa sniggered.

 

“Uh…Heero,” said Quatre, trying to dissipate the situation.

 

“I can bet anything I have?” Heero asked with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

 

“Y….es,” the blond said a little wearily.

 

“I bet…” Heero pondered for a moment. “…Wufei.”

 

Wufei carefully put his cards down. “Start running, Yuy, and it had better not be towards the bedroom.”

 

_-----------------

 

A/N- Now that is love.

Finished. Finally. Ha, that's what I get for trying to write a one-shot.

 

 

[1] In reality, according to my beta…50%, if you consider all combinations of XY-XY. But I think that, seeing as the percentage of failure is pretty high: 25% (if you get two Y chromosomes) the doctors would not leave it to chance and would probably select the right DNA and know the gender before they begin the procedure. Btw, that's the same percentage for male offspring you'd get with combining XY-XX, except that there, the 25% chance for failure of the XY-XY combination would be eliminated and added to the 25% chance for female offspring.

 

Ah- First of all, thank you for all of you who reviewed and stuck with me to the end. Sometimes I didn't update on time and sometimes my writing stunk. You get points for endurance.

 

Secondly, I left a lot of open threads in his final chapter like Duo's family, Quatre and Trowa's likes and dislikes, even Wufei and Heero's future. Kids, work. I didn't want to give definite answers because I hate to think that they stopped living as soon as this story ended.

 

They will have a compromise, work, play, fuck. Who knows I might pick up a thread and write a drabble for it—maybe-- eventually. Just not now.

 

I you have questions or anything else just feel free to drop me a message. Leave your e-mail address and I'll try to get back to you, ASAP.

 

Special thanks goes to my beta who helped me get this fic online and made it readable. Thank you Stray.