Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Wake the Dead ❯ Helena ( Chapter 5 )

Wake the Dead

Summary: Nine years since the final war everyone involved has a new life. But were the choices they made the right ones? And, if not, how can they live with the consequences? Drama, angst. 1xRx1, 1x2x1, 4x3x4, possible 5xRx5. Song fic, shonen ai.

A/N: First, I would like to thank those who gave me reviews. ahanchan, yeah I like back stories. I’m glad you like it so much! Dark Kaizer Ken-Wolf, I’m glad you think they’re excellent. That’s quite a compliment and I really appreciate it! Thanks a lot for taking time to read and review. It means a lot to me! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Also, this is another My Chemical Romance song from their Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge album. As always, I’m too lazy to come but with my own chapter titles so I just used the one from the song.

Disclaimer: Blah, blah. I don’t own Gundam Wing. I guess I should also add I don’t own the songs. They belong to that talented group of guys, My Chemical Romance.



Helena

Long ago.
Just like the hearse you die to get in again.
We are.
So far from you.

“Damn it,” Quatre said and slammed the phone down. No one was answering. Which, in itself, wasn’t unusual for that late on a Friday night right before the holidays. He took a long sip off of the water bottle on his desk and glanced at the time. It was already after eight. He’d promised Trowa he’d be there sooner then that.

However, he needed to get this work done. It would only take him a few more minutes, but he silently swore at himself for being the last one there. It was just like him, and he wished it wasn’t.

A few minutes later he saved the file to disk and sent it to the contractor. They would take care of the rest and call if they had any problems. It was out of his hands, for now. Then Quatre stood and stretched. He’d been sitting for over an hour and his back was killing him. It wasn’t the first time he’d wished he was as flexible as Trowa, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.

With another glance at the time, he hurried into the bathroom and washed his face. He was already tired from a full day of work, now he had a full night of partying to attend. He sighed. He really wished he could just go home and watch a movie on the couch with Trowa. They hadn’t spent a lot of time together lately, and he was worn out. But, he had to go. So, after his face was clean he changed clothes and ran out of his office while dialing the number of his chauffeur.

“Bill? I’m ready to go,” he told the driver and hung up the phone as he stepped into the elevator.

He tapped his foot and and ran his fingers through his hair as he waited for it to reach the ground floor. He would have taken the stairs, but he was just too exhausted. When the doors opened he hurried out and waved goodnight to the security guard at the desk.

“Have a good holiday, James.”

“You too, Mr. Winner.”

Quatre nodded his appreciation and walked out of the glass doors. Bill was waiting at the curb with the door open.

“Thanks,” Quatre said and climbed in. Before he sat back, he leaned over and grabbed a bottled water out of the refrigerator and took a sip. He briefly thought about taking a nap until they got there, but he couldn’t. His hair was a mess and he should make it somewhat presentable. He was supposed to look pulled together and not worn out. It was a hard front.

The glass that separated the driver from the rest of the limo was a mirror, so fixing his hair was made a bit easier by not having to hold one up. He took a bit of the water and ran it through his hair. He styled it as best he could. It didn’t look half bad, and he knew no one would really notice anyway.

By the time he was done he saw the mansion in the distance and smiled. Then he lowered the barrier between Bill and himself.

“Just pull up and let me out. You can go home, and have a happy holiday.”

“Thank you, sir,” Bill said and pulled in front of the house.

Quatre climbed out of the backseat and straightened himself. He saw Duo and Heero sitting out front, and smiled while he started toward them.

Burning on.
Just like the match you strike to incinerate.
The lives of everyone you know.

“Duo, Heero,” he said and stopped in front of them.

“Hey, Qat,” Duo said and put out his cigarette before pulling Quatre into a hug.

“You look great,” Quatre said when he pulled back and admired the suit he’d bought his friend.

Duo snorted. “Yeah, I have great fashion sense.”

Quatre nodded at Heero before pulling him into a hug too. “It’s been a while.”

Heero lightly patted his back and pulled away. “I saw you last month.”

Quatre chuckled slightly. “I know, but I see Relena more often then I see you.”

Heero nodded and Duo flinched. Quatre noticed both and felt slightly insensitive for mentioning her when he knew Duo didn’t like it. But, he also knew it was something Duo couldn’t run from forever. Heero had married her, even if Duo had refused to go anywhere near the wedding.

“Shall we go in? Trowa’s expecting me.”

Heero looked at Duo and nodded. “Yeah, we should. They’re probably all waiting for us.”

Duo sighed and nodded. “Fine,” he said and stood up.

They walked in without saying a word. Quatre silently congratulated Relena for doing such a lovely job. Heero didn’t pay much attention to anything, and if Duo was impressed he didn’t show it.

“They are serving a wide variety of food, I hope,” he said and smiled at Heero.

“Yes, but there may not be enough crab cakes,” he said and smirked at Duo secretively. Quatre noticed but didn’t say anything. He supposed it was an inside joke.

They entered the ballroom as inconspicuously as they could and all three hurried to get something to eat. Quatre briefly scanned the crowd, but spent more time scanning the buffet table. Heero was right. They were out of crab cakes. He sighed and dished up a number of other delicacies.

When he glanced up, Heero and Duo had moved to the deserts and Duo was piling an unhealthy amount of cream puffs onto a plate. Quatre only smiled at him. That was Duo for you. He never really grew out of that hungry L2 street kid, and that was one of the endearing things about him.

Quatre decided not to tag along with those two and began to look for his own man. He found Trowa quite easily. He was nestled in the corner with a large decorative plant beside him. He was watching the crowd impassively and sipping a glass of Champagne. Quatre felt the familiar ache he always felt when he saw Trowa like that. It was like a burning in this stomach. All the bad things he ever did came to the surface when Trowa’s face was empty like that, and it was all his fault.

And what’s the worst you take.
From every heart you break.
And like the blade you stain.
Well I’ve been holding on tonight.
What’s the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay.
So long and goodnight.

A few minutes later, Quatre stood next to Trowa. He leaned up the way he had to, and kissed him gently on the cheek.

Trowa turned and smiled. “Hey,” he said and leaned down to return the kiss.

Quatre let him as he began to eat. “I’m sorry it took me so long. I got here as fast as I could.”

“It’s all right,” Trowa said and gently picked up a piece of cheese off of Quatre’s plate and popped it into his mouth.

Quatre nodded, but he still had the terrible aching feeling that Trowa was lying. “Have you been okay?”

“Mostly. I was in the bathroom for a while, but Wu Fei came and talked to me so now I feel better.”

Quatre chewed slowly. “Good,” he said and forced a smile.

Trowa held the glass up to Quatre’s lips and he took a sip. “Thanks. Where’s Cathy?” he asked and frowned.

Trowa shrugged. “She was around. I think she was talking to Sally.”

Quatre nodded and sighed. “I’m exhausted,” he admitted as he finished the food on his plate.

“Do you want some more?”

“No,” Quatre said truthfully. “I’d rather pick up a burger on the way home.”

Trowa nodded and smiled. Quatre smiled back, but it was forced. He gently put his arm around his boyfriend’s waist and leaned on him. Trowa wrapped his arm around Quatre and held him there.

“Where’s Relena?”

“She and Wu Fei disappeared a few minutes ago,” Trowa said neutrally. Quatre took the information in stride. It really didn’t surprise him.

“Why did Heero marry her?” he asked without expecting an answer.

“Why does Heero do anything?” Trowa asked and gave Quatre a slight smile.

Quatre giggled slightly. “Yeah, I guess,” he said, but it didn’t stop him from wondering.

They stood there silent for a few minutes watching the people of the crowd. Heero had been separated from Duo and was talking to Une. Duo was drinking Champagne and talking to Noin, or flirting from what Quatre saw. He rolled his eyes and turned them back to Trowa.

“You’re tie looks perfect,” he said and ran his finger down it.

“You really think so? We shouldn’t take another trip to the bathroom?”

Quatre glanced up into the green eyes that were still searching the crowd. That was something people in a new and fresh relationship did. It was something they had done when they were young and couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. Now, they were an old couple. They sat at home and watched movies and went to bed early. But that didn’t mean Quatre didn’t want to.

“Maybe we should,” he said and slipped out of Trowa’s grasp.

Came a time.
When every star falls.
Brought you to tears again.
We are.
The very hurt you sold.

Quatre opted to go to an upstairs bathroom instead of any of the downstairs bathroom. There was more privacy that way. He waited for Trowa to get in and locked the door behind him.

“I haven’t been in this bathroom before,” Trowa noted and glanced around. It was rather plain compared to the rest of the house. The towels were classic white and there weren’t any fancy touches in it at all.

“I don’t supposed Relena counted on anybody using it tonight,” Quatre said and smiled at Trowa.

“Probably not,” he agreed and ran a hand gently down Quatre’s cheek.

Quatre’s smile relaxed as Trowa’s hand wound its way down his neck and over his shoulders. He leaned into the taller man’s touch and gave him a soft kiss.

Trowa returned it and wrapped his arms around Quatre’s waist. He leaned into the kiss and pulled on his boyfriend’s shoulders desperately.

“I missed you,” Trowa whispered as he pulled his lips away.

Quatre didn’t know if he meant just that night or for the last few months, but he still felt guilty. He knew it was his fault for working so much. But he was responsible for so many different things, and he was just one man.

“I missed you too,” he whispered into Trowa’s neck and gave it a hard kiss. He didn’t want to feel the guilt right at that moment. He had a much different idea about what he wanted to feel.

And what’s the worst you take.
From every heart you break.
And like the blade you stain.
Well I’ve been holding on tonight.
What’s the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay.
So long and goodnight.
Well if you carry on this way.
Things are better if I stay.
So long and goodnight.

They’d been in the bathroom a good thirty minutes when Quatre was washing his hands and Trowa was rebuttoning his shirt. He was still slightly flushed, and Quatre was quite pleased with himself for getting Trowa to make all those sounds. He’d almost forgotten how exciting it was when there was a chance of being caught.

“That was a good idea,” Quatre said as he dried his hands off.

Trowa merely nodded and pulled the tie back around his neck. Quatre began to tie it without a word. Trowa stood absolutely still as he finished up.

“Perfect,” Quatre said and gave Trowa a quick kiss before turning his attention on his own tie.

“It always is,” Trowa murmured and leaned against the wall.

Quatre watched his lover’s reflection in the mirror. He had that look in his eyes again. That dead look. The look Quatre hated, but he didn’t know what to do about it.

“Hey, I’ll bet we should be getting back,” he said and shook Trowa’s shoulder.

“Oh, yes. I guess we should.”

Quatre stared at him for a moment. Trowa slowly looked down at him and gave him a soft smile. It was a smile Quatre was sure only he and Cathy had ever seen.

“What?” Trowa asked.

“If you need to see a psychologist Trowa, you should let me know. There are plenty of good ones and they really can help,” Quatre said and noticed that his voice unintentionally sounded like he was begging.

Trowa took a deep breathe. “I’m fine,” he said and kissed Quatre on the head, “I just don’t like parties.”

Quatre didn’t believe him, but there was no use talking about it now. There was always later. Plus, they’d been away from the party long enough.

Quatre unlocked the door and they slipped into the hall. They made their way downstairs and were nearly to the ballroom without being noticed when Cathy ran up.

“Where have you been?” she scolded. “I’ve been looking all over for you two. They wanted to start.”

Quatre’s cheeks went slightly pink. “I’m sorry,” he said and glanced at Trowa who remained impassive. “We were talking.”

Cathy nodded, but Quatre doubted she was convinced. “Well, come on,” she said and grabbed Trowa’s arm. She dragged him into the ballroom with Quatre trailing behind.

Can you hear me?
Are you near me?
Can we pretend to leave and then.
We’ll meet again.
When both our cars collide.

Cathy lead them to a space beside a raised platform that Relena was standing on and giving a speech to the attendees. Duo, Heero and Wu Fei were already there. Although, Wu Fei seemed to be the only one paying any attention to Relena at all. Duo was busy flirting with Dorothy, and Heero was glaring openly at both of them.

Quatre smiled sheepishly when they noticed Trowa and he had arrived.

“So, they finally found you two?” Duo asked and winked.

Trowa only nodded and Quatre did the same.

“How’ve you been, Dorothy?” Quatre asked quickly to change the subject.

“I’ve been doing quite well, Mr. Winner. I have been meaning to talk to you about the Winner Enterprise's fundraising dinner though,” she said and smiled.

“Yes, what about it?” Quatre was glad that she refrained from asking about where they had been. You could never tell what Dorothy was going to say, and it could have been even more embarrassing. It was a relief she was talking about work.

“Well, I was just wondering what charities you wanted to be involved this year. I’m sure I can talk to any you have in mind.”

Quatre nodded. “Thank you. We’ll get together for lunch and talk about it.”

“Anything for you,” she said and smiled before being summoned onto the stage by Relena.

What’s the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay.
So long and goodnight.
Well if you carry on this way.
Things are better if I stay.
So long and goodnight.


Quatre watched Dorothy speak for a moment and felt Trowa standing stiffly beside him. He was probably nervous about speaking in front of a crowd. Sure, he was used to performing, but he didn’t have to say anything.

Quatre was about to put his arm around Trowa’s waist when an arm flew around his own shoulders.

“Hey,” Duo said, “so, where exactly did you guys fuck? Heero’s study?”

Quatre gently pushed Duo’s arm off of him. “No,” he said and willed his cheeks not to flush,”and I think you’ve had enough to drink.”

Duo laughed and shook his head. A few people around them turned to look, and Quatre felt himself getting more embarrassed.

“It’s none of your business,” Heero said quietly, but Quatre still heard the harsh edge in his voice.

Duo looked slightly hurt but smiled anyway. “Jealous because no one fucks you in the study?”

Heero balled up his fist and took a deep breath. Quatre knew there was a time when Duo would have gotten a black eye for that comment. Heero sure had matured.

“All of you are being rude,” Wu Fei leaned over and whispered. He made a motion toward the stage and Quatre took a look. Relena kept throwing them worried glances. Heero and Duo seemed to pay Wu Fei and Relena no mind in the world as they stared each other down.

Quatre sighed and put his arm around Trowa. He tried to focus his attention on Relena. He listened to part of it, about the war and how just about everyone who had been involved was there and going to give a speech. She talked about how peace had brought them all together no matter what side they fought for. The crowd seemed to eat it up. She was good at things like that.

Then she offered the microphone to Dorothy. This captured Quatre’s attention more then anything Relena had said. He knew Dorothy quite well, and if she was going to say something it would have repercussions.

She gave the audience her best smile. “Good evening. I am very pleased that we could all be here tonight. However, there is one person who isn’t here tonight. Many of you may not know about her, but she played a major role in the outcome of the War.” She paused and looked to see who was paying attention. Quatre did the same. He glanced at Duo who was staring with his mouth open. Heero was once again glaring at her, while Wu Fei looked moderately interested.

She continued. “We lost her many years ago, and I just thought someone should say a few words about her.” Dorothy raised her Champagne glass to toast. “This is for Hilde Schbeiker. She died young and unfortunately, and she is missed.”