05-Jun-2000
Category: Adventure, Angst, Romance, Friendship
Timing: After the events of OCT, the investiation continues.
Pairings: 3+4, 1+2 But there will also be a lot of scenes of the friendships between the five.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money being sought just lots of wonderful feedback
and enjoyment by all.
Notes: I want it understood that Wufei is ALL Bonnie in this. She wrote him and spoke for him and did a remarkable job. Any comments about how great Wufei is... and he is... are to be directed to her.
Back at the estate Quatre looked like an overturned bug. He'd been working with Wufei on a breathing exercise called Chi Gong. Of all the exercises he'd learned from his friend, the breathing ones were the most difficult for him still. The damage done by the respiration tube along with the bullet made the recovery of his wind and endurance the hardest test.
Wufei had made the exercise seem so simple. Moving with a fluid power through the actions that Quatre wanted to be able to emulate and he had pushed himself too far and instead ended up in an undignified sprawl on his butt in the grass. They used the gardens whenever the weather permitted it, both preferring the fresh air and open space of outdoors.
With more patience then Quatre would have expected from him, Wufei knelt beside him, taking one of his hands. Before Wufei let Quatre get to his feet, he looked directly into turquoise eyes.
"You are trying to hard. You must relax and flow," Wufei said.
Quatre, remembered to calm his breathing this time instead of trying to gulp in great amounts of air. He'd learned the hard way that small breaths hurt less then panicked breaths. His slender fingers closed around Wufei's hand.
"I know.. you've scolded me about that before." He worked up a warm grin. "I may be blonde but I'm still stubborn."
Wufei snorted. "Hair color has nothing to do with it, " he said, helping Quatre to his feet. "Now lets try again, and this time, listen to your sifu. When your legs begin to tremble, begin to stand. Do not wait until you can't hold yourself any more. This is not an endurance test!"
Quatre flushed a little and peeked out from under his bangs at Wufei. There seemed to be some little comment hovering about his smiling lips but what ever it was, the small blonde swallowed it back and instead turned his attention towards resetting himself and attempting the exercise yet again. Wufei followed him through it, his body rock steady as if he could have stood in that slight crouch for an hour.
Wufei could have.
However, he watched Quatre closely, leading him slightly, anticipating the small blonde's strength and rising himself when he felt it was time for Quatre to do so. A fine sheen of sweat had broken out on the Arabian's body from the stain but at least this time he didn't go tail over teacups into the grass.
Straightening, Quatre winced and bent over, bracing his hands on his thighs. "I never knew that something made to look so easy could be so complicated."
Quatre had always respected the discipline in martial arts, even if he didn't fully understand the history of the function and forms. Now he was coming to have a whole new appreciation for the art.
Wufei reached out and pulled gently him up. "No... walk around... you have now a lot of chi in you belly... don't want it to stagnate, but flow through you... walk it off."
Quatre gave a soft grumble but straightened obediently and began to pace across the well manicured grass. Turning his face up towards the sun, Quatre reflected how much he did enjoy being on Earth. There was a slight breeze stirring the air and as the cramps left his chest he flung his arms out turning into the scented air and inhaling deeply.
"Oh that feels good."
Wufei smiled slightly. "We are done for today. Tomorrow, the same thing, until it is easy for you. I want to ask you some questions. May I?"
Dropping his arms Quatre turned towards Wufei with a bright smile that lit up his turquoise eyes. "Of course!" His hands settled against his hips as he resisted the urge to sit down, making himself stand in a relaxed pose.
"What training have you had? In fighting techniques. You have a unique style in your Gundam. It seems almost familiar to me, but... who taught you to fight?"
Quatre blinked. He hadn't thought about it in so long. For a moment his face became very shuttered and he ducked his head away, as if he wouldn't answer or was seeking a way to answer without answering. In the end though he turned back to Wufei, facing the other boy directly.
"I never had formal training. Not like what Heero and Trowa had. My father was a pacifist, he didn't believe in physical combat. I learned strategy and the history of warfare in my education but no physical training. Then I was on my way to Earth when the Magnacs highjacked my shuttle. I suppose you could say I learned mobile suit fighting and survival from them. Trial by fire."
Wufei nodded. "In China, there have been many martial arts, with ancient beginnings. Some of the schools were started by priests... pacifists. It is said that kung fu was developed for health. There are also those who believe that a man who is prepared to defend himself makes the best pacifist of all."
Quatre ducked his head in agreement. "I came into that war to defend my loved ones. Someone had to. Now... well what we do with the Preventers is a good fight. It's premise is one I can believe in, like what we did with the Gundams."
Wufei watched the little Arabian. "You are a good mobile suit fighter. I think you could become a good martial artist as well, with a little work. This would have a benefit. It would make you safer. You do not have your Gundam to take around to boardrooms with you. Perhaps it might help Trowa to worry less about you."
Quatre gave Wufei a direct look. The conflict was easily read in his eyes but in the end he nodded. "Your words have wisdom and I think the mental discipline would be beneficial as well." Taking a slow, deep breath he looked towards a rose bush and frowned. "And I do want to be able to do something to help ease Trowa's mind."
Wufei smiled slightly. He hadn't chosen his arguments idly. "Good. If you prefer another sifu, now, or later, I can recommend several I know who are good teachers."
Quatre nodded, then smiled a little shyly at Wufei. "I've rather been enjoying the time we've been spending." He took a breath to speak further but stopped. There were still some liberties he didn't feel comfortable speaking yet and he was still unsure how far the other boy wanted the lines of budding friendship pushed.
However, Wufei was very observant and Quatre's features were just a tad too expressive. "You can say what you are thinking, Quatre," Wufei said. "I am not as easily offended as my reputation implies."
Quatre chuckled ruefully and settled down on the grass. Weariness still snuck up on him but at least he was learning his limits and pushing past them daily. Locking his arms around his knees he grinned up at Wufei. "I don't so much fear offending as overstepping the bounds of the friendship we seem to have been expanding these past weeks. You're a very difficult man to know Wufei. Which is funny. I know how you'll move in the heat of battle yet I can't seem to figure out if you'll take umbrage to a nosey question or two."
Wufei folded himself gracefully onto the grass before answering. "Are you frightened of my... umbrage, Quatre Winner? If you ask a question I don't care to answer, I simply won't answer it."
Quatre tilted his head to the side. "Well... that would make things rather straight forward now wouldn't it. Alright. You've obviously spent a lot of time with your art, not only the physical but the mental and spiritual as well. Why did you choose to fight?"
Wufei glanced up and away for a minute. "I didn't," he said finally. "My wife Meiran did. She chose to fight for our colony, while I chose to read books and study philosophy and literature. Then the Alliance, lead by Treize Khushrenada, came to eliminate us. Meiran fought... alone. I could not bear my own cowardice so I fought also. But not in time to save her."
Quatre winced. He knew bits and pieces of the story but never the whole. Reaching over he placed a small hand on Wufei's arm. "I'm sorry for your loss my friend."
Wufei shrugged. "We all have losses, Quatre. I thank you for your sympathy. So, as you can see, I have not been a warrior for that much longer than you have. I studied Wushu and Tai Chi Chuan since I was small, but only for the exercise and discipline."
Quatre studied Wufei for a moment before withdrawing his hand and pulling back out of the other boy's space. " The training has served you well. We should probably work a little bit more on some of the exercises if you're up for it?"
The small blonde realized he was perhaps being a little bullheaded about the whole thing but he felt a sense of urgency on his shoulders. A call from the mansion caught his attention, however and he turned to look towards the open doorway. A frown grew on his thin lips as he recognized Paul.
"Oh bother, what does he want."
"Better see," Wufei said. "We can do this again this evening if you have time for it."
Quatre winced as he scrabbled up to his feet. Paul was already coming across the open expanse of grass towards them. "If you wish to Wufei, you are welcome to stay."
tbc
Laekin
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