01-03-02

Title: Promise of the Rings
Series: A Matter of Heart
Arc: Dance of the Heart #4
By: Andrea Readwolf
Email: <andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com> or <andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com>
Rating: YA-Adult
Pairings: 3+4 (4x3/3x4), 1+2+5 (2x1/2x1, 5x2/2x5, 1x5/5x1), 6+9, 6+13, R+D, 11+S
Archive: This fic and others in this Series are hosted at these wonderful sites: P-Chan's Heaven, Eos's Fan Fic Archive and GW Addiction
Warnings: The following fic contains scenes that are humorous, sap, and angst; slightly AU with Incoherence and random POV switching. Original Characters are presented; all characters are IC according to the author's interpretation of them.
Lemon-goodness. YAOI, YURI, and HETERO.
Spoilers: Gundam Wing and its OVA: Endless Waltz.
Feedback: C&C is always welcomed and adored. Constructive Criticism is... digestible. ^_~
Acknowledgements go out to the wonderful people who have made my sojourn in GW-fanfiction more than just enjoyable: Thank You!
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belong to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency and are only being used for non-profit entertainment purposes.
References to printed texts, films, sitcoms, musical pieces, and/or other fanfictions don't belong to the author either.
Notes: This is the Sequel to "In the Pale Moonlight" and represents Part 4 in the DANCE OF THE HEART Arc. The action picks up hours after Heero blows up the Mariemeia's fortified castle and continues up through the following Christmas. Original characters will be appearing throughout the fic: the Behr siblings, the Winner Clan, the Raberbas, etc.
Additional Note: It would be impossible to embark on the next leg of this journey without giving credit where credit is due. My 1+2+5 obsession is heavily due to Bonnejeanne, Vonceia, RavynFyre, and KeelyWolfe. It's unthinkable to me to precede with "Promie of the Rings" without acknowledging those ladies who have paved the way for me with this grouping. As a result, my opinions and writings may seem very similar to theirs'. This fic is not an attempt to steal their words-only an attempt to finalize what was set in motion in "Have You Ever..."
This fic and the ideas contained within are copyright of the author and may not be reprinted without permission.

*Additional Warning: Analingus*

Promise Of The Rings by Andrea Readwolf

Part Two: Love Shack

It was close to nightfall before the small shuttle carrying Duo and Trowa took off. Heero wasted no time, telling Wufei to grab his bag and follow him. The coffee-haired teen wouldn't tell his companion where they were going-this frustrated Wufei to no little amount, but the Chinese pilot continued to follow the other teen through the woods that covered this Winner estate's backyard. Heero seemed to know where he was going, and for now, Wufei had to trust him-as infuriating as it was.

About a half hour's hike into the woods they came across the hunting lodge. This was no cottage in the woods. Some rich man must have built this to impress guests or some such nonsense, Wufei thought, staring up at the double story building that was larger than several homes he'd lived in.

Heero walked right up the steps like he owned the place and only paused at the door when he realized Wufei wasn't right behind him. "You coming?" he called down to the dark-haired boy, one eyebrow lifted in query.

"What is this place?" Wufei returned, not moving to go up the steps to where Heero stood, waiting.

"Home, for the next week," the coffee-haired boy answered. Heero turned to face Wufei fully, his small overnight bag swinging behind him. "Consider this an initiation or redemption of sorts. Whatever you want to call it. One week. You and me. Here. Quatre's people already stocked the place so we should have everything we'd need." He lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. "We'll get reacquainted."

Wufei's obsidian eyes narrowed. " 'Reacquainted' *how*?"

Heero's bag fell to the wooden porch and he moved back down the steps. He stood silent a moment in front of the Chinese boy before reaching for him and pulling him closer, his mouth slashing over Wufei's.

This was not the same kiss they'd shared in the study yesterday afternoon. This was a kiss filled with passion and promise and hunger. One hand cradled Wufei's neck and skull, holding his head in place as Heero's tongue swept through Wufei's, demanding from him. Another hand pressed into Wufei's lower back, holding him against Heero's body in a most disturbing way that allowed the teen to feel more than he wanted to of Heero's body. The hand smoothed down, lower, covering his ass. The tight squeeze caught Wufei off-guard and he started, surging forward against Heero. The coffee-haired teen used the opportunity to move one of his legs between Wufei's, adding friction to the ebony-haired teen's already stirring arousal.

Wufei was shivering from more than just the frozen night air; his breath puffing from his lungs in icicle clouded pants to evaporate against Heero's warm face. Belatedly, the Chinese pilot realized he was clinging to the other teen and pulled away from him, angrily. "What the hell was that for, Yuy?" he growled, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth and face.

Heero stood where he was at, watching Wufei's actions. Mentally he frowned. "I want us to get reacquainted in everyway possible," he answered instead. "No secrets between us."

"Is that how it is with you and Duo?" the Chinese teen snapped, slapping his hands on his pants as if to swipe out some imaginary, offending wrinkle.

Heero nodded. "There are no secrets between us," he answered. "I don't know everything about him, and he doesn't know everything about me, but there are no secrets between us."

Wufei stared at him, his expression indescribable. "Why?" he asked finally, a waver in his voice.

"Why what?" Heero questioned softly.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Wufei swallowed and Heero noticed the bright shimmery sheen in those dark eyes.

Heero once again closed the distance between them, his arms moving up around Wufei in a gesture that seemed so natural to him now after a year living with Duo. He pulled the other pilot close, holding onto him tightly, burying his face in Wufei's throat. "Because we care about you, Chang Wufei," he answered against that caramel skin. "Because *I* care about you."

The body in his arms shook more noticeably. Wufei's head fell to Heero's shoulder. He was crying, and he knew it, and he hated himself for it. "Why?" he asked again, his throat choking on the word.

Heero's lips turned up, kissing Wufei's cheek. "No why," he replied. "Just do." His hands worked over Wufei's back in somewhat soothing touches that soon loosened some of the Chinese teen's tensed muscles. "Let's go inside; there should be a fire waiting for us. We can continue this conversation in there."

Wufei didn't protest as Heero led him up the steps and into the lodge. It was much warmer inside-the luxury of central heating. The sweet aroma of apple cinnamon, orange spice, and wintergreen pleasurably assaulted their senses as they traipsed through the rooms in search of the source of the crackling fire they could hear.

The lodge was tastefully decorated-with oil paintings of animals in place of any stuffed heads hanging from the walls. Rich forest greens, red wine mahoganies, nautical navy blues, burnished golden yellows, and stained woods created the color scheme of the downstairs rooms. The furniture looked stiff but inviting.

In the back room the fire awaited them, blazing roasty bright. A large fur-like rug was thrown over the floor before the fire. Heero moved Wufei to the rug; the Chinese teen sat without being told, staring at the fire like a lost soul. Heero took their bags and moved them into the one downstairs bedroom he saw as they passed through before heading into the kitchen to grab something to warm them both up.

He returned some minutes later with two bowls of soup, a couple of sandwiches slapped together from a platter of cold cuts, and two mugs of hot tea. Setting the tray down next to Wufei, Heero dropped onto the rug and pulled over a blanket from a nearby love seat. Taking one of the bowls and a sandwich for himself, he dipped the sandwich into the soup before turning to Wufei. "Now, why don't we start with why you left MOII without telling anyone?" he suggested before taking a bite from his makeshift meal.

Wufei looked at him, studied him, before reaching over for the second bowl of soup. "You talk more than you used to."

"Hn. Don't avoid the question."

He stirred the soup with a spoon, watching the blend of vegetables. "I spoke to Quatre and Trowa before I left." Green beans, carrots, yellow corn. "You and Duo were asleep."

"You could have left a message," Heero pointed out, reaching for another sandwich.

"I had nothing to say."

Heero stared at him, frowning openly. "Why?"

Wufei looked up at him, thoughts racing through his head with blazing intensity. "What would you have had me say?" he questioned instead.

"Why did you sleep with me?" Heero asked.

The ebony-haired teen sighed, dropping his spoon, giving up the charade of eating. "We were both drunk. It was a mistake on both our parts-even more so because of Duo. What would you have had me do, Heero? I had no explanation so I left none."

Heero said nothing. Wufei stared at his lap. "You told me once that actions spoke louder than words," Wufei whispered. "My actions were coming between the two of you. You cared about Duo; Duo loved you. I knew that, so I removed the distraction. I got out of your way."

"I tried to find you," Heero said finally, rolling onto his back and staring up at the ceiling. "On MOII, and then, later, after we got to L2. No one knew where you were. It was like you fell off the face of the universe."

"Hn. In a way, I did." Wufei fiddled with a clump of fake dark fur. "I returned to L5; wandered around a bit until I found a place to hole myself up in." Heero didn't a say a word, just let the other teen talk as he listened. "And there I started to waste away. Dying, bit by bit, until one day, my master appeared and dragged me out of there."

Wufei looked up, staring into the flames. "That must have been June or July. Then we came to Earth. And here I was until November, when I returned to the colonies." Wufei shrugged, concluding his little narrative.

"And now, here you are," Heero summed up, rolling over onto his side. Wufei looked down at him, but didn't answer.

"I left for L2 with Duo and Hilde," Heero informed the dark haired teen. "We enrolled in a couple of university courses-"

"Maxwell?" Wufei's lips twitched with disbelief.

Blue eyes stole the would-be smile away. "He did better on the entrance exam than I did," Heero admitted, albeit grudgingly-and yet, proudly. "Hilde and Duo took over a salvage company, and then Duo got it into his head to rebuild his old neighborhood."

"The Miramar Project?"

Heero nodded. "And Maxwell Orphanage."

Wufei fell onto his side across from Heero so it didn't feel like he was towering over the other teen. "Maxwell Orphanage?"

Heero nodded again. "Apparently, when Duo was growing up, he spent some time in a orphanage. The guy running the place was a priest, Father Maxwell. Duo says that's where he got his last name. The place burned down, though. Took the priest and everyone inside out. Duo was the only survivor."

Wufei frown, not looking at Heero but still facing him. "I didn't know that."

"This war has made all of us orphans, you know," Heero pointed out, rolling onto his stomach.

Wufei fell onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. "How so?"

"Well," Heero sighed. "You and Quatre lost your family, Trowa and I never knew ours and the people we grew up with are dead. Same for Duo."

"Doesn't Quatre have some sisters?"

"Twenty-nine of them," Heero confirmed. "But he wasn't raised with any of them. He just met most of them for the first time last year."

"Hn. I didn't know that."

Silence settled between the two teens as each boy gave himself over to his thoughts. It was after several minutes had passed that Heero sat up and ordered Wufei to roll over.

"What?"

"Roll over," the coffee-haired youth repeated, twirling his finger for demonstration. "And take off your shirt and jacket."

Wufei, who had been in the process of rolling over onto his stomach, froze.

"Don't worry. You'll like this," Heero reassured, moving up behind the Chinese teen to loosen his belt and help him out of his jacket. He dropped them over the loveseat while Wufei removed his shirt. "Now relax," he commanded, straddling Wufei's hips and leaning over his back.

He started with small, soft touches around the neck and shoulders, working down over the caramel-colored back. Beneath his fingertips, muscles jumped and quivered in response. Heero grinned, glad the other boy couldn't see him. It was like a special treat-being allowed to touch Wufei like this. It was exciting and exhilarating and a huge turn-on.

His hands skimmed down the Chinese youth's sides and he leaned over, gently dropping a kiss on the almost-sleeping boy's back. He leaned in closer, until his lips brushed Wufei's ear. "I want you, Chang Wufei," he whispered. "I want your body, soul, and love."

A shiver ran through the body beneath his. It raced directly into his cock. His fingers swept over caramel skin until they reached cloth. There they toyed, daring to slip below the cloth, just scant inches, before sweeping out again.

"I don't understand why," Wufei whispered, burying his face in his arms.

Heero stretched out his body over Wufei's, melding the two as closely together as possible with him still fully clothed. "There is no why," he answered. "Just do." His lips danced over Wufei's neck, and shoulder, before biting down. "I want to make love to you and have you still here when I wake up."

Wufei's body tensed, but he forced it to relax, even as he forced himself to continue breathing. He had agreed to... try... hadn't he? He had come out here tonight, knowing... there had been a good possibility that... "I will not leave," his hoarse voice replied for him. He licked his dry lips and rolled out from under Heero-only to have the other boy move back over him. "I will stay with you here as you have requested."

Heero grinned at him, leaning forward and capturing his lips, teasing them between his teeth. "I wasn't aware I was requesting," he murmured, his hand smoothing down Wufei's chest and stomach.

"Request, demand-they're all the same coming from you," Wufei gasped as Heero tweaked one dusky nipple. He felt his cock jump and suddenly he felt dizzy with desire again.

"We're not intoxicated this time," Heero pointed out, lapping at the other teen's throat, reveling in the euphuism Wufei gave him. "There's no excuse for the way your body's reacting." His hand strayed lower to cover the defined bulge tenting Wufei's pants.

Wufei moaning, his hips rolling up into that touch, his back arching, head tilting back onto the rug. "Heero..." his voice growled out.

He started blazing a trail down Wufei's chest and stomach, pulling the white pants from the other teen the lower he went. By the time Heero's lips were teasing Wufei's proud flesh, the Chinese boy was attempting to kick the pants all the way off. He cried out, his body arching off the rug, mad with pleasure.

Heero laved around the base of Wufei's swollen penis, nuzzling the shaft with his cheek as his thumb slid back and forth over the tip, smearing the tiny, pearlized bead of precum. And then he slowly dragged his tongue upward, bathing the pulsing shaft from base to tip. His lips moved over Wufei's head, sealing a tight suction even as he pushed the length farther down his throat.

Wufei screamed above him, fingers clenching clumps of dark, mocha hair, torn between pressing for more of the delicious, torturous suction, or pulling away from those glorious sensations. "Heero!" he shouted, pressing into that dangerous mouth as a hand gently began massaging his balls. He came a second later, body paralyzed with the ferocity of climax.

Minutes later, when his ears stopped ringing and his vision focused without serious concentration, Wufei still laid, stunned, on the rug, staring up at the ceiling, panting. Heero was still playing with his body-nuzzling it, kissing it, licking and tasting it, as was his want.

"I want to see you come a hundred times over before this week is over."

The quiet statement broke through Wufei's haze, snapping him back to consciousness, where, he realized, he was laying naked, on a rug, in the middle of nowhere, with Heero Yuy doing scandalous things to his body.

"Wh-what?" he asked, trying to push Heero's hands away from his body. "What the hell are you talking about, Yuy?"

Heero threw a leg over Wufei's, clamping down on the other boy's resistance. His fingers continued to play with one dark nipple, watching it pucker and harden and strain. "You look beautiful when you come, Wufei," Heero answered, his fingers reaching to play with the dark spun ebony silk. "I want to watch you come again... and again... and again... a hundred times over," he finished, leaning over to taste Wufei's throat.

"Don't say such nonsensical things," Wufei breathed, trying to ignore the sensations Heero's attentions were provoking.

Heero was looking down at him, grinning. "That was one," he announced, leaning down and brushing his lips over Wufei's. Back, and forth, before pressing against the other boy's lips, coaxing the other's to part for him, for his tongue that swept into Wufei's mouth, drawing its mate forth for Heero to suck on.

"Master Quatre, you asked for me?"

The sunny-haired youth returned his teacup back to its saucer on the large dark wood desk and leaned back into the huge master's chair. His bright, shining eyes studied the proud man standing inside the office door, staring intently, as if weighing the man's immortal soul in judgment. He didn't speak for a full minute, and the large man shifted on his feet, uncomfortably aware of the other's uncharacteristic scrutiny.

Quatre seemed to snap out of whatever thought had pursued him and motioned for Rashid to take one of the high-back chairs positioned in front of the desk. He had yet to smile at the other man. "Yes, please," his calm voice broke the silence with order. "Sit."

Rashid hesitated for seconds, suddenly not as sure of himself as he had always been, and then he moved to one of the seats.

"The war is over," Quatre announced as soon as the older man was situated. "Parliament has called for a complete disarmament from all independent forces not directly allied with the current government."

Rashid opened his mouth to speak, but Quatre raised a hand to forestall any argument or explanation the man might give. Rashid remained silent.

"I believe their intentions are just and good," he continued, returning both hands to his lap as he watched his friend. "However," and he paused and watched closely for the other's reaction to his next words. "I have no intention of allowing the Maganac soldiers to be completely disarmed."

They stared at one another for tense moments-and then Quatre leaned forward and pushed a small stack of paperwork across the expanse of desktop towards Rashid.

Dark eyes flickered from papers to the face of the young man across from him. "Sir?" Rashid asked, not reaching forward to take the papers, but remaining stiff in the somewhat too-small-for-his-frame chair.

"Read them," Quatre instructed, nodding and settling back into his own chair, hands folded once more across his stomach as he watched the larger man retrieve the papers he'd had his secretary draw up for him only this morning. For several minutes only the turning of papers interrupted the weighing silence. Finally, at the end of the last page, the dark man looked back up at the golden boy.

"I do not understand," said Rashid gruffly.

"They are commitment papers for the Maganac soldiers to become my personal security force-" Quatre began evenly.

"Master Quatre," Rashid stopped him, both with upheld hand and standing up tall until he towered over the sitting youth. "You do not understand," he announced. "The Maganac people are already loyal to you. Bound to you-"

"And this," Quatre said, pointing abstractly to the papers that were crumpling in Rashid's large fist, "will merely make that bond legal in the eyes of the current government. A legal contract between myself and the Maganac soldiers, complete with wages paid."

The leader of the Maganac soldiers tossed the papers to the desk as though they'd burned his fingers. "We do not accept pay for our loyalty," said Rashid stiffly.

"You will now," Quatre informed him, still remaining calm in the face of the other's obvious anger. Rashid's lips pressed together in a tight white line slashed across his face; his huge hands fisted at his sides. "I intend to offer this contract to Heero and Duo, as well," the blond continued, his chin lifting a notch. "Wufei would have been invited as well; however, he has already elected to join the Preventers."

"And you, sir?" Rashid managed to ask through his rigid jaw set. "Will you consider joining these Preventers now that the gundams have been... taken care of?"

Quatre sighed and relaxed his posture for the first time that morning, falling back against the chair with shoulders slumping. "I would like to," he confided in his friend. "I would like to, but as the chairman of WEI I don't think that option is either wise or available to me."

Rashid did not reply.

"Duo and Trowa left for the colonies," Quatre told him. "They will be returning to us before the end of the week."

"You will be remaining at this residence, than, Master?" Rashid asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, I think we will." Quatre looked out towards one of the darkened large bay windows lining the side of the office. "It will make some things difficult with WEI, I'm sure, but I have missed Earth. Anything that needs my personal attention can wait the time it takes for me to shuttle myself to space."

Rashid nodded, clearly agreeing with that assessment. "And Master Barton?" he questioned.

Quatre smiled for the first time that evening. "He's staying, Rashid." And his eyes sparkled when he looked up at his friend and confidant. "He has agreed to stay."

The corners of the older man's mouth twitched. "Very good, Master Quatre," replied Rashid. He glared at the papers for a moment before finally picking them up. "I will... review this contract more and share it with the others; though I cannot guarantee their agreement."

"They are to be signed and returned to me the day after tomorrow by every member of the Maganac army," Quatre instructed, "or else his weapon is to be confiscated."

"They will not like that."

"Then it is up to you, my friend, to persuade them," Quatre charged.

The older man frowned but finally was swayed. "It will be as you say," were his parting words, a fist slapped to his breast and a bow from the waist before turning away from the room.

Quatre studied the door; the silence pressing in on the room, held back only by the loud clamor of his thoughts. They would not be happy, no, Rashid was right. Many would probably see payment for their loyalty as an insult, as Rashid had. The Maganac soldiers were of a proud people, but the government would not understand-it would not recognize that pride where weapons were concerned.

Yes, they were a proud people, but they were not poor. The Maganacs were rich in treasures of family and health, as well as mere wealth. Quatre never questioned their quantity of secret bases, complete with up-to-date equipment; their top-quality mobile suits and the spare parts needed to maintain and repair each suit. Their families were all well fed and well dressed. Their homes, while modest, did not lack for any comfort. Yes, they were a proud people, but they were a happy and content people. A loyal people whom Quatre felt very privileged to know.

And now that he had to, in fact, force their hand in this matter so that they could maintain that-

The comm. unit on the desk rang out with his personal work frequency tone. "Yes, what is it?"

"Oh, Mister Winner! *Finally*! I've been trying to reach you for the last twenty minutes-!"

Forty minutes later, Quatre stood at the top of the front door steps, waiting for his car to pull up, suitcase at his heel. He looked off to the dark woods that encircled the side and rear of the estate and towards the building he knew was tucked somewhere away in there and he smiled. "Good luck, Heero, Wufei," he said to the wind before being ushered into his waiting chariot.

And then his smiled brightened. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be able to stop in on Trowa and surprise him...

Wufei stared into the dying fire, his chin propped up on his arm, his teeth grinding together. His head throbbed from the pressure, his eyes watered. He had been there for several hours, laying on his stomach, staring into the dwindling firelight.

The blanket that covered him from the waist down twisted and pulled, threatening to leave him as an equally naked body pressed against his side, an arm sliding over his back as a leg pressed against his until Wufei relented and allowed the body to tangle with his own. Hot breath scalded across his neck and back as a head used his shoulder as a pillow.

Wufei nearly laughed. Nearly. 'Who knew Heero Yuy was a cuddler?'

Wufei had been awake for hours after Heero had fallen asleep. Hours, just... thinking. He was struggling to put his life into place; what his life had become, into place. Naked. In another man's arms... with the promise of more.... Of something.

He was employed by the Preventers-Lady Une, his former enemy, was now his ally and superior. He had a purpose, a job to do, a responsibility to fulfill, someplace he was needed. But not until after the 18^th. Wufei had been surprised when his superior had informed him he wasn't to report back to work until the 18^th. That was, until he had notice his superior in the arms of his partner two nights ago. He had been immediately surprised, shocked at what he was seeing-two women together-but just as quickly as the emotions rose up, he pushed them away and chided himself for the reaction. He had no right to question two persons' relationship. Especially considering his own situation.

He turned over, Heero's body moving with his until the Japanese teen was laying on Wufei's chest. He looked down at the chunks of dark hair distinct against his lighter dark skin-not black, like his own hair, despite Heero's Asian heritage. Of course, it was possible that Heero really *wasn't* Asian-despite his hailing from L1. Still, there was...something about his shape, his coloring, even his mannerism-they were familiar to Wufei, a part of himself.

It was one of the reasons they had felt comfortable with one another during the war-they were alike. Heero and him. They shared a burning desire to excel-to be the best, to be perfect. They were... quiet, analytical, reserved... they both fell in love with the same person.

Duo's image popped immediately up to mind. He would be back in four days. And then...

It was crazy, what they were thinking of doing. A three-way relationship. Would it work? Could it work? It was so crazy. Almost completely unheard of. Rarely were successful relationships with three-or-more partners recorded and they were never openly accepted-either on Earth or in the colonies.

He would never even *think* of attempting such a relationship situation if his family was still alive, he knew. They would not have allowed such a thing. He knew, and that knowledge made him feel an incredible guilt.

"You're frowning."

Wufei started and realized two brilliant blue eyes were staring up at him, flames dancing in their dark glossiness. "I was just thinking," Wufei answered, unable to break away from those eyes. They seemed to pierce into his very soul.

Heero leaned up onto one arm, hovering over him. "Of?"

"My family," he answered without hesitation, a soft, sad, tired wisp of a reply.

"I'm sorry."

Wufei started again, frowning more than before. "Why?" he asked.

Those blue eyes bore down into him, baring him open. A hundred words swam across those cobalt pools though Heero's lips remained sealed. It was as if he was trying to tell him with his eyes alone, as if they were supposed know what each other was thinking-was that what it was like between Heero and Duo?

"I was wondering," Wufei finally said after another moment of silence, "what they would think of me... if they knew..." Wufei's voice trailed off and he looked away, looking back to the dying fire.

Heero settled off against Wufei's side, their legs still tangled. He brushed his fingers back and forth across Wufei's chest-a gesture that Duo liked. Wufei made no move to end the familiar touch. "Do you think they would be anything but proud of your accomplishments?"

" 'Accomplishments?'" Wufei scoffed. "I have made no accomplishments, Yuy. If anything-" Wufei took a deep, shaky breath. "If anything, I have shown them nothing but failure. I have failed the trust they placed upon me; failed the honor of their memory."

"That's crap."

Wufei's face snapped around, his dark eyes burning with hurt and disbelief. "Who do you think you are to criticize me?" he asked angrily.

Heero didn't answer immediately-he pushed Wufei onto his back, pressing him into the fur blanket on the floor with his body and holding him there. "You haven't failed anyone, Wufei," Heero said softly, his voice rough with pressure. "I don't know where you got that cockamamie idea. You ended the war between Earth and the colonies-that's exactly what your family hoped and died for. You won the peace they gave their lives for. You won peace."

"I did no such thing!" Wufei protested, pushing up at Heero, but the other teen refused to yield. "You were the one who-"

"I just blew a chunk of metal out of the sky and kept Zechs busy," Heero interrupted, his words fast and furious but low. "You fought Trieze. Because you defeated him, the Earth Forces surrendered. *You* are the reason the war ended, Wufei. Not me."

The fight sapped away from Wufei's limbs at the mention of Khushrendada's name. Wufei lay limp beneath Heero, cheek pressed to the fur as he stared at the golden embers. "I didn't defeat him," he whispered hoarsely-so low Heero almost missed the words. "He did not defend himself. He purposefully-" His words choked off. "I have never been so dishonored, so used."

Heero hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do, and then he leaned down and dropped a soft kiss over Wufei's cheek before pressing his own face to Wufei's. "You gave him his fantasy, Wufei," Heero whispered in the other teen's ear. "You allowed him to die as the hero he dreamed to be."

"It was a cowardly act," Wufei spat.

"Yes," Heero didn't deny him, "But that's not how it is remembered." Heero settled firmly against Wufei's side, enveloping the Chinese youth with his warmth and body. "Trieze Khushrenada, leader of the Earth Forces, died bravely in battle, defending the Earth from a tyrannical colonial terrorist faction set on destroying the planet.' That is how they remember him; that is what they write in their histories. There is no mention of you or I or the gundams. People will soon forget that mechanical suits were ever used for warfare. It will be like a fairytale for future generations. A myth."

"More like a nightmare," Wufei sulked.

"Only for us." Heero squeezed him. "Only for those of us who have seen the nightmare and know it was real." Heero sighed. "It's late. You should sleep."

And he did. Wufei fell asleep bathed in the warmth of Heero's arms and body and slept a truly peaceful sleep for the first time since... well, forever.

He wasn't past the first tents before he heard the excited squeal of children.

"Trowa's back! Trowa's back!" was the chorus that greeted him just before they attacked, latching onto whatever available piece of him there was: an arm, a leg, a waist, a neck. He laughed and obediently lifted his arms and legs, raising the children up and down, and was rewarded with their delighted squeals.

"Okay, that's enough," a woman's rough voice ordered. "Get back to work now and let Trowa unpack already. He's just gotten here!"

Trowa looked up, lowering the children back to their own feet, and offered a small smile for his 'sister'. Catherine finished wiping her hands on a rag and tossed it at one of the dispersing children. And then she turned her gaze upon him, eyeing him critically before nodding and walking over to hug him.

"Mmnnn, look at you! Back so soon. Did you have a good time? You don't look like you've lost any weight, at least, so you must have liked the food. That's good, you can't afford to lose any; you're already skin and bones." She pinched his side before heading back down one of the rows between tents. "Come on. I'll make you some warm goulash and you can tell me all about your visit."

She dragged him back to their twin trailers, leading him into hers. He followed, studying her as if seeing her again for the first time. Her rich dark red hair was a bit more brown than when they'd first met, and longer, too-falling to just below her shoulders instead of just to them. The curls weren't as distinct at the moment, but he knew that they would be in place in time for a show-their secret, along with her hair color, hidden safely away somewhere in the depths of her humble abode. She was still lean-some would say "skinny"-and tall, even though she stood a good measure under his own height. But, then, there weren't many who were actually taller than him. Her eyes still flashed with her wit-neither a blue nor green, nor brown nor grey, but somehow, an enchanting blend of all.

Today she was barely covered in tight navy short shorts-that left a great length of shapely, muscled leg showing-over a daisy yellow leotard with a white half sweater covering her long, slender arms. Despite it being early January, the colony's thermostat was dialed to an agreeable 72 degrees. There was chalk and dirt tucked under her clear-polished nails and a slight glowing flush to her face that led him to believe she'd been practicing on the trapeze again.

Having grown up in the circus, Trowa knew that Catherine was competent in all areas of the spot light. But her favorite-second only to her sharp daggers-was the swinging bars and daredevil stunts of the high wire and trapeze. Until recently, some one else had filled that spot in the show, but the month before last, one of their acrobats had taken up with a local boy on route and decided to jump wagon. Catherine had been asked to fill in until a new girl could be located.

"So?" Catherine asked, setting a cup of soup before him and smiling. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

Trowa smiled and pulled the woman into another, strong hug. "Happy New Year's, Cathy."

It's so great that you came back, Duo!" the boy cried excitedly through a wad of chewing gum. "I told Kenny you'd be back, but he didn't believe me. Kenny said that no one in their right minds would ever come back *here* if they could get out. But I said, I said, 'Duo, he's been outta here already but look! He came back once, and he'll come back again!' and see! I was right, wasn't I? Kenny, he didn't like that and so he up and slugged me. See! Isn't it a great one, Duo?" the boy asked, gingerly fingering the ugly yellow-and-purple bruise under his left eye.

Duo paused in his survey of the near-empty apartment and offered a rueful grin for the boy. "I bet Lexie didn't like that one bit," he said, ruffling the boy's dark curls. "Didn't she say you weren't supposed to be fighting?"

"Auh, but I wasn't fighting. See! That's the glory of it! I didn't even get a chance to hit back! Lexie saw Kenny swing at me and he's the only one who got in trouble!" The boy returned Duo's grin with extra exuberance.

"Besides," Duo continued. "Kenny was right this time. I *am* leaving."

The boy's smile faded in a nanosecond as he jumped off the counter and gaped at the older boy. "You're leaving?" Duo nodded. "Heero, too?"

" 'Fraid so, Jake," Duo said, squatted down on level with the six year old. "Heero and I are going to be staying with some old friends of ours back on Earth. But don't you worry. Lexie's still here and she's got my number. I'll be getting regular reports on you." He ruffled the boy's curls again. "And I'll still be stopping by and visiting once and awhile, you know?"

The boy's bottom lip quivered but he stubbornly struggled against any threatening tears.

"Hey, listen," Duo said, slipping his favorite black cap off and sliding it onto the boy's head. He stood, towering over the child. "I have to stop by and talk to Lexie yet. How would you like to ride back to the house with me on my bike?"

The boy's reaction was immediate. "Really?" he cried, and, with an affirmative nod from Duo, he raced off out of the room without the older boy.

Sighing, Duo took up his keys and gave them a little toss. He looked back at the place that had been home for the last couple of months. This apartment had served them well, him and Heero. They'd had a lot of fun and did a lot of good from in here. It was a shame to leave it, but equally shameful to let it go to waste when there were still other people, families, who didn't have a real home. He just hoped the family moving in here tomorrow would enjoy as many good times here as he had.

The horn from his bike blasted through the late afternoon air and with a final goodbye, Duo closed and locked the door behind him.

Heero savagely pushed him against the wall, his sculpted body right there to hold Wufei, caught.

"You are my prisoner," Heero grounded out, grinding their trapped erections together brutally.

Wufei gave a tiny cry but didn't protest. In his mind, he'd convinced himself that this was part of his punishment. Punishment for betraying his friends, betraying his family's honor. Punishment for betraying himself. He submitted, completely. Heero's mouth slashed over his in a wild, frenzied kiss. Despite himself, despite telling himself that he shouldn't be finding pleasure in "punishment", Wufei was highly aroused.

"This is going to be different," Heero told him, sucking on his throat. He pinched a nipple and nearly groaned at Wufei's excitatory startled, sharp cry.

"Before we leave, you're going to be screaming," he promised.

Wufei's cry was lost in Heero's mouth. Heero's hand dug into Wufei's thighs. "Spread them," he commanded, lifting Wufei's legs up and around his waist when the Chinese man complied. From this new position, Heero pistoned against Wufei's writhing body and held the man tight against the wall when, a moment later Wufei shouted out his release.

Mentally, Heero smirked and thought, 'And that makes orgasm number 7.'

When Wufei's breath had evened out some, Heero stepped back, Wufei's legs falling from around Heero's waist back to the floor. Heero watched him predatorily.

"Strip."

A whimper escaped his throat and Wufei cursed his weakness. Shaking hands reached for the top elongated button on his jacket. With familiar ease that was hindered only slightly be his trembling fingers, he shed the jacket and handed it to Heero, wondering why he had bothered to dress completely this morning at all. Without looking, the Japanese man tossed the white article of clothing in the direction of one of the chairs, his eyes never leaving Wufei as the Chinese man deftly removed the black tank top and then reached for his pants' fastenings.

Heero almost groaned aloud when Wufei stepped out of his white pants, tossing them to the side, and stood tall, shoulders back, proud and naked before him.

"Beautiful," Heero whispered, stepping closer.

Wufei wanted to scoff at him. Tell the other man that *he* was not the beautiful one, but then Heero's hands were moving over him... And where Heero's hands led, his lips were sure to follow.

"Take my shirt off."

Wufei's hands fell immediately to Heero's waist, tugging at the green tank top, pulling it free from the tight jeans. Just as he was beginning to lift it up over his arms, Heero's hips grounded into his, scratchy-smooth denim digging into Wufei's bare thighs and penis. He faltered, cutting off his cry. Heero's fingers pinched into Wufei's hips, holding him still.

"Off."

Wufei pulled the tank free, Heero holding him to the wall with just the weight of his lower body. Heero dipped, and he caught a dark, dusky nipple between his teeth, worrying the other between his thumb and forefinger. Wufei writhed against the wall.

By the time Heero had worked himself down to his knees, Wufei's cries were falling freely, filling the cabin with their erotic sound.

Warm hot breath extracted a long moan from the Chinese man. Heero's mouth had long hours of practice and worked over Wufei's engorged penis with skillful cruelty. Wufei's hands buried deep into that soft, coffee-colored hair, urging that warm, wet mouth closer, deeper. Heero's fingers snatched at the hands, pulling them away, shoving them against the wall, wrists outward.

"Stay," he ordered.

Wufei whimpered and then choked off a scream when Heero tried to suck the not-so-tiny silky sac hidden beneath Wufei's raging erection into his hot mouth.

Heero's thumb slid over the wet, slippery slit, his hand pumping Wufei's penis while his tongue and mouth continued to lick and suck away.

"HEERO!!!"

He pulled back. Allowing the thin, pearly white milky cum to splatter across his chest. Above, Wufei was panting and shaking. Heero smirked.

"That's eight."

Wufei groaned, his knees giving out under him and he used the support of the wall behind him to slide to the floor.

"We're not done yet."

Wufei just looked at him, boneless from his second orgasm in less than half-an-hour. "Don't you ever get tired?"

Heero drew a finger across his runny chest, bringing the cum-coated digit to his lips and sucking it clean.

"Mmm. Good."

A hand threaded through Wufei's ebony silken hair, cupping his skull and then yanking him forward.

"Lick it."

Too weary to argue, Wufei obediently darted a quick tongue out and swiped out across Heero's bared chest. The taste was new, but not unpleasant.

"All of it."

Wufei bit back a moan as Heero laid back against the floor, dragging Wufei up over him so the Chinese man was straddling him. Wufei leaned over and began licking Heero's chest clean. Beneath him, Heero squirmed, rubbing his trapped arousal against Wufei.

When he had finished, Heero ordered him to remove his jeans.

With languid motions, Wufei slipped the brass button free from its loop before tugging on the shiny, smart zipper. The rasp of hissing metal teeth pulling apart warred with panting breaths for the only sound in the room. Wufei slid his hands inside, under the loosed waist and over Heero's smooth sides. Slowly, his palms caressing waist... hips... thighs... Wufei pulled the denim down, wondering all the time if this was going to be it. If Heero was going to...

"Wait."

The denim halted at Heero's knees.

"Left pocket."

Wufei reached in and pulled out a reddish-pink tube, reading the label. One thin, dark eyebrow rose and Wufei looked at him, his heart quickening with excitement as well as amusement.

"Cherry flavored?"

Heero actually smirked at him.

"Duo has grape."

And then he pulled Wufei down by his neck and kissed him, running his tongue inside, along the walls of Wufei's mouth, swiping over teeth and tongue. It was a surprisingly sweet and gentle kiss and Wufei whimpered into it. Heero toed his jeans the rest of the way off, thankful that he'd already removed his socks and sneaks.

"Wufei, I want," he panted.

"Anything," the Chinese man promised.

Heero looked up at him, cradling his face, surprised at the honesty in that statement. 'He looks like a seductive god...' It was sexy as hell.

"I want to, like before, on MOII. But this time, with this."

Heero held up the cherry-flavored lube and watched Wufei for his reaction.

"And no running away after, either. You are still my 'prisoner'," he teased softly, with just a hint of uncertainty.

"If I am your prisoner, than you do not need to ask my permission to use my body as you like any more now than before," Wufei replied dryly, his body stiffening.

Heero's lips teased Wufei's until he relaxed again under the influence of the kiss.

"Consider me an honorable captor, then," he murmured against Wufei's mouth.

Wufei muffled a moan, turning whole-heartedly into the kiss. Heero snapped the tube open.

"Prep yourself for me," he requested, squeezing the cool, red-tinted gel onto Wufei's fingers. Wufei groaned, cupping his fingers to prevent losing any of the slippery gel. And then his groan deepened as he reached behind himself with the gel. Wufei gasped, working a finger past his reluctant ring for the first time.

"It's okay," Heero murmured against Wufei's chin and throat. "A few more minutes will do it."

It only took a minute for the slippery gel to do its job-another two before Heero's control vanished under the weight of Wufei's heavy moans.

Heero surprised him, pressing him back into the floor, forcing his lips open; Wufei's mouth opened for the Japanese man's tongue as his body seemed to surge up and over him, pressing Wufei completely against the wooden planks beneath them.

Both boys groaned, moving against each other in an attempt to feed the fires racing through their blood. Wufei tore his lips from Heero as a cry tore from his throat, his frustration, his need to feel whole. Heero bent over him, his mouth seizing over Wufei's bare shoulder and biting down hard against the caramel skin. Wufei screamed, jumping beneath him. Heero's hips thrust against him, pressing him back into the floor. Wufei squeezed his eyes shut, ignoring the tears as Heero lapped at his abused shoulder. His arms wound round tight against Heero's chest and torso, to hold the other to him. It wasn't enough.

Heero pulled back; Wufei cried, distressed. A moment of fear and trepidation passed over him as Heero's head dipped, his tongue pushing into Wufei's mouth. Wufei welcomed it, craved it, sucked on it as Heero's hips came crashing down into his with fiercesome pressure, causing him to moan around the invading tongue. Heero's erection dug into Wufei's, trapped between their two bodies as their hips rocked against each other. Wufei's arms and legs managed to wrap themselves around Heero's body, holding them closer together.

The tensing of the muscles above him was the little warning given to him before Wufei's world rocked, tilted, turned over, and Wufei found himself moving over Heero as the other man rolled under him, changing their positions, causing Wufei to fall onto Heero, grounding their erections together with more force than before. Wufei gave a startled cry, pulling back, falling back as the full length of Heero's penis moved beneath the underside of his own, teasing the sensitive skin of his most private areas. Wufei could feel the head of the other's penis, right *there*, moving back and forth over his opening with every thrust of their hips.

"I want you," Heero's rough voice whispered against his ear, warm breath sending shivers through Wufei's entire body.  "I want to fuck you again.  Like we did before..."

Wufei whimpered. "Yes," he breathed against Heero's sweaty shoulder. "I want you to fuck me, too."

"Hard," Heero growled, thrusting against the smaller boy.

"Yes."

Hands moved up over his chest, smoothing down the planes and contours. Beneath him, Heero's moans and groans reverberating through his chest and torso, humming between Wufei's thighs. The sight of Heero, beneath him like that, head thrown back, muscles cording, straining, tensing... hard... sleek... sexy as hell.

He wanted this man... He wanted him inside him. Trembling fingers wrapped around that swollen penis-familiar, and yet, still foreign, his mind registered. Bigger than him-and squeezed, coaxed. Beneath him, Heero became even more vocal than before, moving against Wufei's hands, taking as much as he was willing to give. Demanding more.

Wufei dropped his hips, swallowing Heero's entire length inside himself. The scream that tore through the room was choked off at the throat as Wufei threw his head back, back arched, eyes squeezed shut against the streaming tears. Heero held absolutely still, torn between two warring desires: The first, to plummet into the boy, to fuck him long and hard. The second to not move, to allow Wufei the time he needed to adjust. In this position, it was Wufei who was in control.

Wufei shifted on his knees, embedding Heero's penis deeper inside of himself. It still hurt. But, beneath that hurt was something else... the delicious feel of being filled... It felt good. It felt so damn good, just like before. He forced himself to open his eyes, to look at Heero. The other man was watching him intently, licking his lips and panting with restrained desire.

He moved again, rising up so only the tip of Heero's penis remained inside his body. And then he fell down; grinding his hips against Heero's as hard as he could. Both men cried out, arched in a tangle of pleasurable pain. A second passed, filled with nothing but the heavy, panted breaths and their own sensations of pain and pleasure, before they looked at each other. A beat. A heartbeat. And then they moved, thrusting against one another, their bodies demanding, taking, giving, screaming for something more than just a sexual release; Pushing, pulling against the other, their wills clashing, clanging, banging, fucking, kissing, understanding, loving, forgiving...

Until each was too exhausted to do more than moan and succumb to the release that courted them.

The dark haired woman-child set the tall glass of cold soda down on the kitchen table that was serving as her desk for the time being before sliding across from him with her own glass.

"So you're really leaving, then, huh?" Lexie asked, absently pushing a dark strand of loose hair back behind one ear. She shook her head, frowning, worry knitting her face. "Duo, I don't think I can do this without you. There's too much-"

"You're not alone, Lex," the longhaired teen stopped her, smiling encouragingly at her. "You already have the makings of a great staff, and I'm always just a phone call away."

The younger teen snorted. "Like I'd spend the money to call down to Earth."

"You most certainly will," said Duo, catching her eye and holding it. "Listen, I'm expecting to hear from you at least once a week, you get me? And if there's a problem, you better damn well be on that phone over there with me on the other line, got it?"

Her shoulders fell and she shook her head, for the longest time not saying a word. And then, she sighed and looked over to the over-sized refrigerating unit covered in watercolor paintings. "So what grand project has caught your fancy now, oh mighty Duo Maxwell?"

Duo grinned and relaxed a bit in his chair. "No grand project," he said, twisting the glass between his palms. "Just life, living. I'm gonna be seeing to a little wager some friends and I have going."

Lexie shook her head, her eyes avoiding the multitudes of paperwork scattered over the tabletop. "And is... Heero leaving, too, then?" she asked.

"Yep," Duo nodded.

"Oh." Outside one of the kids shouted "TEN! Ready or NOT!"

"Duo...? I know... I know it's probably none of my business and all, but... about Heero...? He was your roommate, right?"

"For going on two years now, yeah, why?" he answered and asked without missing a beat. He swallowed some of the soda, allowing the fizzles to tickle down his throat, and watched her, but she wasn't looking at him.

"Do you, well, happen to know, I mean, what kind of, what type of girl interests, appeals to him?" she managed.

Duo blinked. "Well, now, I don't think we talked about girls all that much," he admitted, frowning as he tried to remember any conversations they might have had on the subject.

"Oh. Oh, of course not. Never mind. It was silly of me to ask any way. Just forget-"

Duo was not a dense boy. You couldn't make it on the streets of L2 if you were dense. But there were just some things you weren't expecting, that so broadside you-The scarlet blush of the girl's cheeks across from him; the down-turned dark eyes; the napkin that was surely being twisted to death between nervous fingers. And with complete lack of finesse, Duo exclaimed, "You've got a crush on Heero!"

Lexie jumped to her feet, upsetting her chair and almost tipping her glass. "No!" she shouted, and then with a bit more composure, "No, of course not, Duo. I don't know what you're getting at." She grabbed up a cloth from the sink and began wiping down the counter top.

Duo laughed at her. "You *do*!" he grinned, leaving the table, too, and getting right up in her face. "You think he's cute!"

"Well, he's no Duo Maxwell," the girl snapped, tossing the rag back in the sink, "but he's not bad himself."

"I'll be sure to tell him you said so," Duo promised, still laughing.

And then she turned on him. "Don't you dare!"

"Oh, but I must!"

"Duo Maxwell!"

And then a sobered. "Listen, Lexie," he cleared his throat and tentatively rubbed her arm. "You're a great girl-I love you like a little sister, and all-but believe me when I say Heero Yuy is not the right guy for you, okay?"

Her flush brightened and just as quickly, she looked away. "Of course not. What guy wants a girl with baggage, right?"

He stopped her from pulling away only by pulling her closer and holding her. "Lexie, Lexie, listen. There's a great someone out there just waiting to met you, and he's gonna come along and make you really happy, you hear me? And it won't matter to him if you have one or a million bags with ya, he'll still love ya. But believe me when I say, that someone ain't Heero, okay?"

"Why?" she asked, only half-angry with him now. "Because he's your friend?"

Duo smiled, though she couldn't see it, and gave her one last squeeze before releasing her. She moved to the fridge, readjusting one of the sloppy paintings of a large house with a flower garden, and then turned back to look at him.

"No," he said slowly, holding her gaze with a steady look. And he hesitated-just for a brief instant-before continuing. It wasn't like they'd intentionally tried to *hide* their relationship, but... "Because he's my boyfriend."

He knew the exact moment when his meaning broke upon her. Her dark eyes grew large and her lips formed a silent "O" before working voicelessly. He barely managed to suppress his grin as he leaned back against the counter, watching her.

"Oh," she finally managed. "Oh, I mean, oh my god," and she turned away from him, walking towards the pantry before turning back. "Oh my god. I'm sorry. I didn't realize. I mean, I didn't know. Oh *god*." And she fell into her chair at the table, propping her head up in her hands. "You must think I'm such an idiot," she mumbled.

He laughed-relieved beyond words that she was taking it so well. After all, some people still didn't condone alternative lifestyles even in After Colony 197 (and if Heero was successful with this little week-retreat he'd had planned, their relationship would definitely move solidly into the "alternative" category). "Actually," he told her, moving back to the table now, too, "I think you have highly good taste."

"Oh god," she groaned. "I should've known..."

"We didn't exactly advertise the fact," he pointed out as her arms folded in on each other and she rested her head on the table with a weak laugh.

"Please don't tell Heero I said anything," she begged, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "I don't think I could live with the embarrassment."

"Don't be embarrassed, Lexie," he asked, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed himself. "And, if... if you didn't want to work for me anymore, because of this, I would-"

"Of course I want to work for you!" she cried, suddenly wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. "This is probably the best thing that's every happened to me since Father Maxwell and Sister Helen left-" She swallowed. "I still want to stay," she said, "and work here. For as long as you'll let me."

He leaned over and dropped a kiss on her forehead. "You really are a great girl, Lexie. Thanks."

He had his driver drop him off two blocks away from the circus grounds, allowing him to walk the remainder of his trip. The clothes his secretary had procured for him when he'd asked for an L3 streetwear/commonwear outfit blended in perfectly with the people around him-stone washed denim that was a little over-stiff from being brand new, a three-button navy short sleeved polo shirt, a brown weave belt, and brown suede shoes. All he had with him was in the duffle bag his secretary had handed him on his way out the door. He still hadn't looked in it, yet, to see what had accompanied him on his impromptu visit to the circus.

The grounds were bustling with activity and few people took note of him as he passed by, weaving in between trailers, tents, and animal pens. Children ran back and forth across his path, filling the air with laughter and shouts. A flutter of activity even when there was no show scheduled, the circus grounds always provided something interesting to discover. Quatre had been to the circus only a handful of times in his life-his father hadn't approved of such going-ons-and he'd only been to this circus once. That time hadn't been a joyous occasion.

He wasn't sure where Trowa was in all the mayhem, so he paused at each gathering, looking for the lanky youth. He was currently at the elephants' pen when a voice beside him proclaimed, "You look lost."

Startled, because he hadn't realized anyone had noticed him, Quatre jumped a little before recovering and smiling at the elderly woman. "Hello, I'm sorry," he said in his most polite voice. "I was just looking for a friend of mine-"

The old woman's dark eyes squinted as she stared at him, frowning with serious concentration, and Quatre's voice faltered-And then, she nodded and said almost to herself, "Ye be the one," before smiling a gap-toothed grin at him. "Young Bloom can best be found near where the lions be, but today, you'd be best to look for him near the wire in the top tent. He be helping his sister and them practice."

"The-the top tent?" Quatre stuttered.

The woman jabbed a wrinkled, dirt-encrusted thumb over her shoulder. Quatre's eyes, following in that direction, fell upon clearly the largest tent he'd ever seen, towering over the other surrounding tents.

"And Raberba," she called after him. "You have a clear, pure soul, young man. You'll make him happy."

Quatre blinked dumbly at her, stammering a 'thank you.' If she heard him, she didn't respond as she heaved herself into an old-styled near-by wagon. He shook his head, bemusedly, when he read the wooden sign with 'Psychic' scrawled across it, and then turned back to high tail it over to the top tent.

It took Quatre a couple of minutes to get over there-only because his eye kept snagging on this or that interesting or intriguing thing in the tents and pens he had to pass. Once inside, however, he found himself one of many who stared up, entranced by the sights happening high above. Three men and one woman were swinging, somersaulting, and flipping back and forth through the air. One of the men, Quatre recognized instantly as Trowa, and the woman, he felt sure, must be Catherine.

He'd only met Catherine once-the last time he'd visited this circus-and it had not been a good experience. Trowa had lost his memory, a fault of Quatre's actions, and the woman had been fiercely protective of Trowa and aggressive towards anything and anyone she perceived as a threat. Unfortunately, she saw Quatre as a threat. In their time together, however, Trowa had talked about the woman, the girl he thought of as a sister, and Quatre knew he valued her opinions and her friendship.

Both reasons gave the blond president of the Earth Sphere's largest corporation motive to fear the fiery young woman.

The quartet overhead finished off with a dazzling finale and the gathering back on the ground erupted into thunderous applause. Quatre was the only one to cry out when first one pair and then the other jumped clear of the platforms and plummeted to the ground. Miraculously, they bounced-and then, as the people in front of him moved away, Quatre saw the large mesh netting that stretched beneath the trapeze rigging.

"Thanks, Trowa!" one of the guys was saying when Quatre finally calmed his racing heart and pulled together enough nerves to propel himself over to the netting. The lean teen nodding in acknowledgement, not saying a word as he wiped his hands on a rag one of the children had handed him.

And then he looked up-as if sensing someone was watching him.

And his green eyes widened-just a fraction of an inch with surprise.

And then his lips twitched, the corners curling up in a little smile, and he hopped off the netting, tossing the rag back to a kid.

"What are you doing here?" he asked softly, clearly happily surprised.

Helplessly, Quatre grinned back at him, wanting to reach out and touch the other boy, but also acutely aware of all the surrounding people. "I got a call from work," the blond explained, sliding his hands into his pockets to help curb his impulse. "I'm going to be in meetings all afternoon tomorrow and probably the next day, too. But tonight-and all tomorrow morning..." he led on hopefully. "I have completely free, and are all yours-if you want them," he amended, his grin widening as he stared up lovesick at the lengthy teen.

"All mine?" Trowa asked, amused, realizing he was probably grinning like a lovesick fool, too, and not caring a bit. "You mean, I get to have Mr. Winner's attention for a full 24-hours?"

"I don't know about Mr. Winner," Quatre replied playfully, "but you can have Quatre until 11 o'clock tomorrow morning."

Trowa leaned over until their noses were almost touching. "I'll take it," he whispered. "Hungry?" At Quatre's enthusiastic nod Trowa turned and shouted across the tent. "Dylan! Tell Cathy I went out and won't be back till late!"

"Sure thing, Tro!"

And then he grabbed Quatre's hand and was pulling him out the tent.

They were almost clear of the circus grounds when Trowa twirled him into a tent, followed right behind him, and pulled him into his arms, his lips slashing across Quatre's. When he finally came up for air, they were both smiling and glowing. "Missed you," Trowa whispered.

"Missed you more," Quatre returned, leaning up and brushing his lips over Trowa's. "I hated watching you leave, even though I knew you'd be back."

"I hated having to leave." Trowa's hands moved over Quatre's back, pulling at the shirt tucked neatly into the belted jeans. "How 'bout that dinner?"

"I'd rather have you."

Trowa grinned, pulling reluctantly away from Quatre. "You already do."

Quatre reached up and pinned Trowa's chin, his thumb brushing against his lower lip as he brought Trowa's face down to his own. "Love you," he murmured against Trowa's lips.

"Love you, too."

Heero lifted the fine-spun ebony silken hair away from Wufei's neck and trailed tiny, teasing kisses over the pale caramel skin.

"Mmm... should you be pampering your 'prisoner'?" Wufei asked, stretching out against the bed, shifting into Heero's hands as they roamed over his back.

"You're my prisoner. I can treat you as I like," Heero rationalized. "And since I'm planning on screwing the daylights out of you again very soon, a little pampering now won't hurt."

Wufei moaned. "I can't do anymore, Heero..." He rested his cheek on his folded arms. "I don't know how you have anything left."

"I've had *lots* of practice," Heero replied, trailing a line of slow kisses down Wufei's spine until he was nibbling at the small of the Chinese man's back.

Wufei's legs eased apart with little encouragement from Heero. Lips teased the sensitive fleshy cheeks of Wufei's firm little ass, a hot tongue tracing a cooling slick path that left the Chinese man with goose bumps.

And then that same tongue was at his sore-stretched opening, teasing the puckered rim. Heero's hand snuck beneath Wufei, forcing one leg to ride up the bed, until his fist closed around his new lover's throbbing penis. His thumb rolled over the moist slit as his fingers squeezed and massaged the stiffening length.

Heero's tongue pressed forward, pulling a whimper from the man under him.

"Heero..."

He thrust his tongue inside the other man, lapping at the cherry flavor of the special lube mixing with the distinct flavor of his own semen along with something else. Something musky that was wholly Chang Wufei.

The man beneath him was panting, tiny cries begging for release. Heero wanted nothing more at that moment than to grant Wufei that release. He quickened the pace of his hand, sliding his palm down to roll over the tightly held sac. Wufei's strangled cried marked his orgasm, his body tensing with it, before going limp.

Heero smiled as he nipped one buttock cheek. It wasn't even noon yet, and they still had all night...

Dinner was a pizza followed by a movie and a stroll around town. By the time they made their way back to the circus grounds it was past late.

"I can stay at a hotel," Quatre offered, eyeing the size of the trailer Trowa led him back to. Trowa, however, turned around, placed a finger over Quatre's lips, pointed over to a nearby trailer and leaned in closer to Quatre. "Catherine's a light sleeper," he warned, grinning against Quatre's ear as he nuzzled the soft skin. "So we have to be really quiet." He pulled Quatre completely into the trailer and immediately into his arms. "Think you can?" he challenged.

Quatre nipped back at Trowa's lips, his arms encircling Trowa's waist and plastering his body against him. "Is that a dare?" he growled.

"What would you do if I said 'yes'?" Trowa gasped as a hand slid over his backside, tracing the indent.

"Strip," Quatre ordered, moving back as well as they both broke apart long enough to shed their clothing-their fingers often tangling as they attempted to help the other in the process. Precious minutes later they were both naked, pressing back up against each other, arms ensnaring them in living, wriggling ropes of flesh. Quatre's mouth took Trowa's, just like his body was demanding to-hard, his tongue thrusting into that greedy mouth, that sucked him in-just like he knew this exquisite body would draw on him.

They stumbled into chairs and a table as they fumbled their way back toward the single bed. Trowa fell first, pulling Quatre down on top of him, wrapping his legs around those muscular hips-so many thought Quatre was skinny, puny, under all his layers of clothes. They couldn't be more wrong, Trowa knew. He shifted his hips forward, feeling that delicious presence of Quatre's engorged penis shifting against his ass. It took only a second of positioning before Quatre was sliding inside of him.

He almost screamed.

Quatre did moan-it was so good. An arm hitched under Trowa's leg, raising it higher as he pressed closer, burying himself deeper into that sweet, willing body. Their bodies slapped together with each straining thrust. Always so good. A cry left Trowa's throat as he came, wetness splattering over Quatre's stomach and chest. He paused, long enough for Trowa's climax to wind down, before reaching for his own, bucking against Trowa's hips, burying himself again and again and again until he thought he was going to scream with need.

And then Trowa's mouth was on his; Trowa's tongue pushing past his lips, sweeping deeply into his mouth. Fingers brushed against his nether opening, teasing him with their presence, and his body flared. If he screamed, he didn't know it. He didn't know anything beyond falling-exhausted, spent, happier than he could ever remember being-against Trowa's sweet, willing body, and then falling even farther, this time into sleep.

The next thing he was aware of was an unfamiliar woman's voice-"Trowa? Are you going to sleep all morning-Oh my God!"

In reality he could have stayed another day to finalize things, but he didn't want to. What he wanted was to get back to Earth as soon as possible. To get back to Heero... and Wufei.

It would take some thought adjustment, to be sure. It wouldn't just be the two of them, him and Heero, anymore. He was definitely attracted to Wufei. He'd always been somewhat drawn to the other boy-even with all his attitude and spunk. And, of course, Wufei had been his first...

Yes, he had loved Heero, but he'd also been drawn to Wufei. And obviously, Wufei had returned that attraction if events from the year previous could be taken as proof. Wufei had told him he loved Duo. But Duo had loved Heero...

He wouldn't lie-he refused to. It bothered him that no one had been able to find Wufei this last year. He knew Heero was searching for him, and knew from the other boy's silence that he hadn't found or heard anything of Wufei. He'd been both angry and relieved when Wufei had shown up two weeks ago.

Angry because he'd been hoodwinked and bamboozled into fighting for that twit, Dekim. Relieved because he was alive, if not exactly well.

He hadn't lied to Wufei the other night, either. He meant it when he told the other boy he loved him. It had taken him a year to realize it, but he did. After many talks with Heero, he realized the truth. It wasn't the same kind of love he felt for Heero-that burning need for the other boy that bordered on drug addiction-and maybe that's why he didn't recognize it at first. He needed Heero, plain and simple. He didn't even want to think about living without him-and despite what some might say, it wasn't just the sex, though that was damn good. It sounded like waxy poetry crap, but Duo really felt like Heero was a piece of him-a large chunk of his soul that he just couldn't live without. Where Wufei fit into that, Duo wasn't quite sure, but he was willing to try and find out.

With Wufei... His feelings for Wufei were a softer kind of love. Tender, respectful. An admiring love.

It would be interesting, if nothing else-this relationship they'd started. It seemed strange, though, to think of having two lovers. It was even stranger to think about what Heero and Wufei were possibly doing at this moment. And even if they weren't having sex right now, they would be eventually, or probably already had-and with a start, Duo realized he was feeling jealous and doubtful. What lf Heero liked sex with Wufei better than sex with him? What if they decided they didn't need Duo in their relationship? They had each other, what could he possibly provide them? Sure they had both told him they loved him at one time or another, but... what if Wufei realized he didn't really love Duo and left? Would Heero blame the failure on him?

Duo sighed, shifting in the uncomfortable coach seat, debating whether or not to let Heero know he was coming back earlier than expected as fears and doubts continued to plague him.

"Catherine!" shouted Trowa, sitting up in the bed so fast, Quatre almost went sprawling to the floor, butt-naked.

"Oh, god," the furiously blushing young woman repeated, holding a hand up to her eyes and turning back around to face the door she'd just come through. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you---had company," she swallowed hastily before rushing back out the trailer door in high fluster.

"Cathy! No wait!" Trowa called, ready to dash after her, but Quatre grabbed his wrist, hushing him.

"Let her go," Quatre hissed, "Or have you forgotten that neither one of us is exactly dressed?"

Trowa was still watching the door-but then he relaxed and looked down at a precariously perched and very naked Quatre. He pulled Quatre back onto the bed and sighed. "You're right; I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize, love," the blond replied, leaning over and lightly kissing Trowa's lips. "Let's just get dressed and then we can go find her. Deal?"

Trowa nodded but didn't answer. It was only after they were both dressed and ready to leave that Quatre hesitated and asked, "Ah, Trowa? Did you tell Catherine that you were...? I mean, that we were...?"

Trowa held the other's eyes for a moment before slowly shaking his head. Quatre exhaled rather loudly. "I wasn't trying to hide," Trowa said, still holding Quatre's gaze. "There just never seemed to be the right time to discuss my sexual preferences with her."

"I understand," Quatre replied gently, taking Trowa's hand in his. "May I suggest now as a good time?" He teased softly, smiling up at his love.

"You don't need to come along," Trowa offered, swallowing.

"It's okay," Quatre smiled wanly. "We're going to have to learn to get along at some time."

Catherine was a bit cool towards them when they knocked on her door. When Trowa told her that he would be leaving the circus to return to Earth with Quatre. Her stormy eyes had flickered first to Trowa, then to Quatre, before looking away again. "I see," she's replied.

Trowa had packed up his few belongings and left the key to his trailer with Catherine before turning to leave with Quatre.

"Will we every see you again?" she called to him, her voice hoarse from fighting back tears and a swollen throat.

Trowa turned back to her and hugged her tightly. "I'll be in touch," he promised.

And then he left. Left the circus that had provided him with a cover during the war and a home and family in its aftermath. He was moving on with his life. Starting new.

With Quatre.

As pleasurable as sex was, there was only so much you could do before your body refused to do more. During those times, Heero and Wufei ate and slept, but mostly, they talked. They talked about the war and how they'd gotten involved in it; they talked about their life before the war; they talked about computers and philosophies, healing remedies and foods, mobile suits and gundams... but most of all, they talked about Duo-what they loved about him, when they first realized how they felt about him, what it was like being with him.

"It's strange, you know," Wufei announced that afternoon as they lounged lazily on the couch, staring out into the space of their thoughts. Wufei's feet were tucked under beneath Heero's bottom while Heero's feet sat on Wufei's lap.

"What is?" Heero asked, lifting an elbow to look out at Wufei. "My feet?"

The Chinese boy smiled and shook his head, searching for the right words to voice his thoughts with. "No, this... this thing you've done. When Duo returns, things wont be like this," he said quietly, looking not at the floor but some point far beyond it.

"Yes they will," Heero countered, sitting up and reaching over to clasp Wufei's shoulder. "Only we'll get to share this with Duo."

Wufei looked up at him steadily, breathing heavy with his uncertainties. "I... don't know if I can do this," he whispered his admission.

Heero slid his feet to the floor and dragged Wufei across the couch and into his lap, spooning him, wrapping his arms tightly around the other boy and holding him against his chest. He rested his chin on Wufei's shoulder as they both faced the crackling fire. "You love Duo, right?" Wufei nodded, his loose dark hair teasing Heero's throat. A hand slipped beneath Wufei's brief shirt, fanning across his taut stomach. "And you like me, right?" Heero asked.

For a moment it seemed like the other boy wasn't going to answer, and then, slowly, Wufei nodded and voiced and whispered, "Yes."

Heero slid them down together until they were both laying on the couch. "Then don't worry. Things will work out." He nuzzled some of Wufei's hair out of the way and then rested his check against Wufei's. "Duo's coming back tonight," he told the Chinese boy. "Tonight it will be just the three of us."

Wufei started to get up, but Heero held him down. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Wufei hissed, not bothering to struggle against Heero's grip.

"I only found out while you were taking a shower," the other boy replied. "He left a message saying that he hoped we were doing okay and he was coming back earlier than expected." They were silent for a moment, and then Heero offered, "If you don't want to do this... you don't have to."

He knew what the other boy meant. Knew what was going to be expected of him tonight. The three of them would have sex together. There would be no slow build-up for them. No gradual getting-to-know you phase. They would be thrown into an immediate physical relationship. Sure they had known each other for two years; sure, they could have been considered friends at one time... But they lacked the normal relationship buildup, the courtship phase. Reviewing missions and fighting together in battles hardly counted as a date.

It would be like kissing on the first date, moving too fast.

On the other hand... it wasn't like they hadn't already had sex...

'You don't have to,' Heero said, but he wanted to. A part of him really, really wanted to. Wanted to compare reality to memories-the memories that had been following him for the past year. If his recent activities with Heero were any indication, then the memories held nothing but phantom colors against the bright spectrum of reality. And Wufei desperately wanted to fall into that reality, to bathe in it.

"It's okay," he answered, swallowing back another lump of fear. "What did you have in mind...?"

His longhaired demon-lover was fast asleep when he slipped into the silent room they shared. He wasn't surprised-it was, after all, well after midnight and past experience told him that, without a reason-and a very good one at that-Duo Maxwell wouldn't come out of bed unless he had to. The dark-haired teen was smiling softly in the darkness, staring down at the muddled heap on the bed that was his lover.

So beautiful... so beautiful... Duo looked like an angel, to him, a surreal being that'd come into his life and filled it with love and laughter. As he watched, Duo mumbled Heero's name and curled in around the other's pillow, burrowing his face into the casing. Long, night-darkened hair lay in limp, wet clumps, freed from its braid.

Heero smiled. Absolutely beautiful... He kneeled onto the bed near Duo's hip-the other boy shifted and mumbled something unintelligible. Heero's grin widened. Even in sleep, his partner was aware of his presence-he knew if it had been anyone else, the longhaired boy would have had his gun pointed directly at Heero several minutes ago.

The instincts of a trained killer at rest.

Fingers brushed over Duo's shoulder... down his arm, back up to trail down his back.

"Duo...? Come with me," Heero said softly as he worked his arms around and beneath the sleeping man.

"Heero..." the other sighed, still asleep though he snuggled willing into Heero's arms.

Again, Heero smiled and he dropped a little kiss on the sleeping boy's lips before picking both Duo and his blanket up and walking back out of the room. He carried his partner down the staircase and out the back door; following the same path he'd led Wufei only two short days ago. It wasn't long before they reached the hunter's lodge set back away from the main house. Wufei was waiting for them at the door.

"Are you sure about this?" the Chinese youth asked, holding both the front door and then the door to the bedroom open for them.

Heero laid Duo out on the bed; talking softly to the sleeping boy the whole time he secured Duo to the bed. He dropped another soft kiss on Duo's lips before turning and ushering Wufei out before him.

"Yes," Heero answered after the door was closed behind them. "Now, you have two choices. You can come to bed with me and we can go to sleep..." He advanced on the other boy. "Or... you can come to bed with me, and we can have mad, crazy sex, and *then* go to sleep..."

Wufei's back brushed the wall. "Gee, what a choice," he replied, already lifting his face for Heero's kiss.

One minute he was enjoying a completely illicit dream revolving around Heero... and the next, he was awake. Just like that. He yawned and stretched, annoyed at the still-darkness outside...

Only, his arms didn't move.

No, that wasn't right. They'd only move so far-which wasn't very far at all.

"What the F-"

It only took a moment to register, and another second for surprise to be replaced with anger.

It wasn't still dark outside, like he'd assumed-he was blindfolded. Another wiggle of his wrists confirmed that, yes, they were bound to *something*, and from the softness under him, he had a pretty good idea it was a bed. Whoever had bound him knew what he was doing, too, and Duo had a *very* *excellent* guess who that "he" was.

"HEERO!!" he shouted, kicking out with his legs-which *hadn't* been tied down. Good, he could kick the bastard when he came. "God dammit, HEERO! You Sonofab-" he panted, twisting at his bindings. "I'll *GET* you for THIS!!!"

For all his struggling, the binds didn't loosen, nor, for that matter, did the blindfold. But then, he really shouldn't be surprised, should he? Considering who'd put him here in this position in the first place.

Duo froze.

Wufei had already been awake and making some coffee when he first heard Duo's shouts. Cautiously, he had approached the room Heero and he had left the other the night before. He met Heero at the door.

The Japanese pilot offered him a wry smile and nodded-clearly not at all surprised *nor* intimidated by Duo's curses. He motioned for Wufei to go in first, but snatched at the hand that reached for the doorknob. Surprised, Wufei shot him a look and Heero held a finger to his lips, reminding him to be quiet. Taking a deep breath, Wufei nodded and then pushed open the door.

It was completely silent in the room when they entered, and Wufei was sure the others could hear as his breath caught.

In his struggles, Duo's long hair had managed to fly away from the two wet partitions Heero had left it in last night to almost everywhere. Shiny and clean, the air-dried hair was a cascade of waves that caressed and framed his face, his raised arms, his bare chest and torso... A rosy flush darkened all the bared skin, straight down to that semi-stiff protrusion at his groin.

He hadn't noticed the other boy was naked when Heero brought him in last night. Wufei felt himself harden instantly at the sight.

He approached the bed on silent, hesitant feet until he stood over it, looking down at the intense, slightly frowning naked young man.

"Heero...?" Duo asked, confused.

Wordlessly, Wufei shook his head, forgetting for the moment that the other boy was prevented from seeing him by the black blindfold.

"Heero, I'm gonna-"

Wufei reached out and touched Duo's bare chest with his fingertips, sliding them down until his entire palm caressed the warm, smooth skin. Duo gasped. The explorative touch danced down the center of Duo's chest, down to his washboard stomach, up over half the six pack, up over one side, the hard nipple bud teasing his palm... across to its mate, circling before drifting down, lower, over the second half of rippling muscles, lower... lower, smoothing over the stretch of stomach leading lower, to that tiny thatch of golden brown hair that circled Duo's quickly rising penis.

Wufei's fingers bypassed that delight in favor of one lithe, yet muscular, thigh... hardness encased with silk.

It had been so long... Wufei thought he had remembered what it was like, touching Duo. He was wrong. Memories didn't do the truth justice. He bit back a groan; from the head of the bed, Duo whimpered.

Wufei leaned over and breathed in the intoxicating scent of the longhaired boy. Uncontrollably, his tongue flicked out and swiped against Duo's thigh; loose soft black hair fell over his shoulders and teased Duo's skin.

"Oh, God!" Duo's hips jerked.

Wufei's lips trailed lazily upwards, nibbling, tasting, raining tiny kisses all over. Wufei kneeled between Duo's spread legs, leaning forward as his hands skimmed up Duo's sides.

"Oh God!" Duo groaned, panting. "Please..." His lips formed "Wufei", but only the second half found voice. "'Fei, please..."

A tongue flickered over one hard nub and Duo's wrists strained at his bindings. His hips and torso arched off the bed, straining for contact, and he rubbed his straining arousal against Wufei's warm stomach, hidden beneath a shirt. Hands worked beneath him, coming between him and the bed, teasing his shoulder blades and arms all the way up, around his wrists until fingers threaded with fingers. Lips ghosted across his throat and Duo was past desperate before those lips ever made it to his.

The longhaired boy used the only thing available to him-his legs-to hold the other pilot to him as they lost themselves in a frenzied mating of teeth, tongue, lips, and breath. Long, muscled legs wrapped around Wufei's waist and hooked around thighs, pulling at the soft-cloth pants, tying the Chinese boy. "Untie me?" Duo pleaded softly against Wufei's lips.

Wufei hid his face in Duo's throat, swallowing back a growl as his hips rocked into Duo's, their erections grinding against each other. Heero had told him not to untie the other boy. He squeezed Duo's hands in apology and rained tiny kisses over the erratic pulse under his lips.

"Please! Fei!"

"Shh, shh," the Chinese boy tried to sooth the frantic boy beneath him. "Shh..."

A hand ghosted down the center of his back and Wufei jerked, looking up to find Heero standing over them, watching them with burning eyes. Wufei hesitated, caught in a moment of doubt-What the hell was he doing? These two men were together, and he...

Heero's hand threaded into Wufei's loose hair, pulling his head back and up before crushing his mouth in a savage kiss that numbed Wufei's doubts. The kiss softened, turned almost teasing in its gentleness. Wufei was in a blissful haze of desire when the Japanese boy pulled away.

"We don't have to," he whispered, so low Wufei could barely hear him over Duo's keening pants.

"Heero? Heero? Is that you? Goddamn you! I'm going to get you back for this! Don't think I won't!" Duo shouted, yanking again at his bound arms.

Wufei leaned back, kneeling still between Duo's legs as they wrapped around him, and Heero leaned in. The coffee-haired boy brushed Duo's swollen lips with the pad of his thumb. They parted for him and the digit slid into that hot, moist cavern. Intense, lustful blue eyes turned on Wufei as Heero began to pump his thumb in and out of Duo's mouth.

"Strip," he ordered, his other hand moving down Duo's chest and stomach to wrap around the boy's turgid penis.

Wufei realized Heero was already nude and blushed. Of course, he thought. You don't crawl onto a bed to have sex dressed. He felt a moment of embarrassment as he pulled his tank top off and reached for his pants-and there he stopped. He couldn't get his pants off with Duo's legs around him like that.

Heero was nibbling at Duo's ear and wasn't paying any attention to Wufei. The ebony-haired boy struggled for several minutes, trapped. "Heero..."

"Mmm... Duo... spread your legs for us..." the other boy ordered without looking as his hand abandoned Duo's penis to reach beneath for the sensitive sac.

Duo's legs fell apart magically and Wufei couldn't get his pants off quick enough. He grabbed for the bottle of lubricant Heero had left on the bed near him and poured a generous amount into his palm. The slippery liquid ran down his fingers as he teased the puckered ring of muscle of Duo's ass. Around Heero's thumb, Duo groaned wantonly. Wufei slid a finger passed and Duo's groan melted into one of satisfaction.

Heero watched from the corner of an eye as Wufei prepared his longhaired love-it was a highly arousing sight. He wanted to lean down and wrap his lips around Duo's weeping cock as it danced and begged for attention. He wanted to kiss Wufei's slightly parted lips as the Chinese boy lost himself in the feel of Duo's insides. He knew from experience what it felt like to be stroking those velvety walls.

He had it set in his mind how he wanted this first time between them to be and he was determined to keep to the plan. There would be plenty of time later to do all the things he wanted to do to these two beautiful men in his grasp.

Wufei was looking at him, watching him through hooded eyes, Heero realized. And he couldn't resist. He leaned forward and stole another kiss. "It's okay," he whispered, brushing Wufei's cheek with his lips. "Go at your own pace."

"Mmmnnn," Duo said around Heero's thumb, calling to them. Grinning, Heero ghosted one more kiss across Wufei's lips before bending down and replacing his thumb with his tongue to quiet Duo for just a bit longer. Duo's legs had found their way around Wufei once again and were pulling at the boy, begging him to come nearer even as his arms pulled at their restraints.

Wufei was caught between want and fear.

The Chinese boy growled--actually growled--releasing his tightly held control. His body pressed down fully into Duo's-his aching shaft pressed into Duo. So hard. So strong. So good. So delicious. He rocked his hips against Duo. The other boy groaned and returned a thrust of his own. He pressed farther, slipping into that tight heat, and Wufei thought he might scream. Duo's muscles clamped around him and wrangled a startled groan from the Chinese boy.

"Please, please, Heero..." Duo moaned, his body adjusting quickly to Wufei's presence. "Untie me. Let me touch you... Please..."

"Not yet," the Japanese boy replied against Duo's lips. He retrieved his hand from between Duo's legs, rubbing it in soothing circles up the boy's torso. "Soon, Duo, soon," he promised, moving to straddle his waist. "Wufei? Slick me."

Wufei's dark eyes blinked open, recovering from his moment of hazed bliss, and noticed Heero's ass hovering before him. Trying not to move too much, he reached for the lube bottle he'd abandoned with shaking hands. Duo wasn't helping much though as he took every opportunity to wiggle, thrust, and squeeze against him. Wufei didn't know how much longer her could hold out without giving in and thrusting against the longhaired boy.

By the time he was working three fingers in and out of Heero's ass, Wufei was panting against Heero's neck and shoulder-just form the strain of *re*straining.

Heero seemed to be taking it the best out of all three of them-but it was just a façade. The dark-haired boy was doing everything possible not to cum right then and there what with Duo beneath him and Wufei behind him. His senses were going into overload with delicious abandon. It didn't matter how many times in the last two days he'd ejaculated. Just the sight, the smell, the *feel* of Duo beneath him, Wufei behind him, those fingers fucking him...

Heero groaned, "Ready," and leaned forward.

"Let me see you," Duo panted. "At *least* let me see you! Please, Heero!"

"Position him," Heero gasped. His hot breath puffing over Duo's chest and throat was maddening.

Wufei was afraid to move, feeling more and more like an interloper between two lovers.

"Position him," Heero repeated. He looked back over his shoulder, eyes meeting Wufei's. "Please...?"

Hesitantly, Wufei reached under Heero, his fingers wrapping around Duo's penis and pulling it back towards him. Heero lowered himself down, seating himself completely on the turgid flesh with a gratified grunt.

"HEERO! Please!" Duo was whimpering beneath them.

Heero moved his hips, rocking into Duo, rocking Duo into Wufei. Wufei gasped. Duo cried.

"Oh my God! You are *so* going to pay for this!"

"Shh," Heero whispered gently, clenching around Duo. He leaned back against Wufei, resting his head back on the other's shoulder. "You're scaring Wufei. He thinks you're not enjoying yourself."

Duo's breath left him with a silent cry. "Please... Please, just let me see you...?"

With a sigh of resignation, Heero leaned forward and tugged and released the blindfold, tossing it onto the nightstand before leaning back against Wufei. "Touch me, Fei," he whispered, hooded eyes watching Duo's face.

Without needing to be told twice, Wufei wrapped his arms around Heero. He looked over the other man's shoulder to see Duo staring at them, hungrily licking his lips. And then he thought he understood what Heero was doing.

Experimentally, Wufei brushed his fingertips back and forth over Heero's pert, brown nipple, his other hand skimming down that taunt stomach. He rocked his hips forward. Both men groaned under his influence.

Heero's head rolled back onto Wufei's shoulders. "Fuck us. Please, Fei."

It was like the gunshot that signaled the beginning of a race. Instinctively, Wufei's hips snapped, his pelvis picking out a rhythm and pumping it into the other two boys.

Each body fought for its release.

Heero thrust down. Wufei thrust up. Duo screamed as he was caught between them.

Heero snatched up Wufei's hand and both's fingers wrapped around Heero's weeping cock, pumping it.

"Come for me, Heero," Wufei rasped in his ear. The Japanese youth obeyed with the same determination he gave to any mission; the milkish semen spurting up to cover their hands and Heero's stomach. Beneath them, Duo screamed as Heero's muscles clenched tightly with release, clamping down around Duo's sensitive penis still trapped within Heero's body, coaxing Duo to join Heero in release. The longhaired man did so joyously. Wufei's muffled shout was lost into Heero's throat, swallowed up by the sweaty flesh.

They stayed like that, panting, too tired, too sensitive to move... until Duo bonelessly, half-heartedly, tugged at his restraints again. "Will you *please* untie me now?"

Smiling, tired, Heero fell forward, knocking the wind from his partner. "You look *good* tied up," he murmured as his fingers worked up Duo's arms to the fastenings.

"I'm sure you say that to all the pretty boys you tie to your bed." Duo's now freed arms threaded around Heero's sweaty back and tugged, pulling Heero down against his side as his lips worshiped Heero's. The Japanese boy moved there with practiced ease, slipping off Duo and molding against his side, an arm thrown around the other's waist and dropped a final tiny kiss on Duo's shoulder.

Duo's legs had stopped trying to choke the life from Wufei and now just casually rubbed against him. Duo's fingers played in Heero's coffee-colored hair as he stared down his body towards the Chinese boy still kneeling between his thighs. "Hey," he said almost shyly in greeting.

"Hello," Wufei replied, torn between laughing at the oddity of the moment, or crying.

"Have you two boys been having fun without me?" he teased.

"Missed you," Heero mumbled, turning his face into Duo's shoulder.

Duo smiled. "Missed you, too, koi," he answered, dropping a kiss on top of the head pillowed on his chest.

"I should leave you two alone," Wufei began, feeling even more embarrassed as he started to pull away from the couple.

Duo's legs tightened around him instantly. "Didn't you miss me, Wufei?" he asked, frowning. "Even a *little*?" He gave the other a pout. "I mean, I *know* Heero can be very demanding at times, but... still..."

Large, hooded, violet-blue eyes looked up into onyx orbs; there was a shine in those bright gemstone-like eyes that Wufei was afraid to understand. "I missed you," he answered softly.

The frown was instantly replace with a grin. "Good." Duo patted the mattress on the other side of him. "There's some space here, you know..."

Wufei gingerly crawled out over Duo's legs and sat at the edge of the bed, looking down at the couple. "Are you sure?"

Duo grinned and dragged the other boy down next to him, curling in, around, and over Wufei until he was snuggled just right. Behind him, Heero moved up, meshing their bodies together and throwing an arm over Duo and Wufei's waists.

"There now, all comfy," the chestnut haired boy declared.

Wufei was at a state to disagree, too tense to relax, and long after the two other boys fell asleep, Wufei remained awake, wondering what the hell he'd gotten himself into and if it wasn't going to be the death of him, yet.

End Part 2

Andrea Readwolf

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