06-Apr-01
Title: T'ien Lung Ge (Celestial Dragon Song)
Authors: Laekin and bonnejeanne
Category: Action, Adventure, Romance, ANGST
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4x5 (Combinations there of)
Rating: R (Adult Situations)
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money being made or sought here.
WARNINGS: Angst. A very young Original Character, and at least one heartrending scene with dying children. Lemon in one section.
NOTES: What is being posted here was written by myself and Laekin together, just as everything else in the Companions of Fate series. The plot is hers, with a few small contributions by moi; she writes for Quatre, Trowa, Duo and T'ien. My contributions are confined to Wufei and Heero and some brainstorming. The writing sessions for this were between October 19 and December 6, 2000.
Pilot First Class Jack Wiggins was concentrating for all he was worth to keep his hands from trembling slightly where they rested on the controls of the sleek shuttle he was piloting. It was a little nerve racking to be approaching the colonies for a landing, all the traffic, but that tension was doubled by the presence of his boss in the cockpit with him.
Though Chang Wufei was younger than Wiggins, the WEI security chief had a reputation of putting even the eldest WEI retainers on their toes. Wiggins was trying to fly and sit at attention at the same moment. He got information in through the headset resting against his ear and in a firm respectful voice relayed the information.
"I've just gotten word from the docking hangar Mr. Chang. We are cleared for direct dock when we arrive. Our ETA to touch down is 23 minutes. The limo is waiting at the docking bay parking lot and I've been informed to let you know that a Mr. Yuy and a Mr. Maxwell are awaiting your arrival in the terminal."
Whew... got that out without even one stutter. Wiggins was feeling mighty proud of himself.
"Hn," Wufei remarked.
Wiggins waited a few beats, hoping that the reserved young man would go back into the main cabin? Maybe? Hopefully? Fighting the urge to squirm in the pilot's seat as he maneuvered the shuttle in between two freight carrying cruisers, Wiggins almost cringed as he heard himself politely remark.
"Would you like me to relay the information back to Master Quatre?"
"Relay what? That we're cleared? How unlikely is it that we wouldn't be? That we dock in 23 minutes? That's the scheduled time. That Heero and Duo are waiting with a limo? We're expecting them. If I were you, I'd concentrate on my piloting. That freight hauler on the left isn't watching where he's going," Wufei said, and uncrossed his arms, turning to leave the cockpit. The turn covered the slight smile.
Wiggin's cheeks burned. It had been a banal thing to say. He wasn't sure what it was about the calm, icy, even head of security that made every brain cell he possessed disappear. Carefully adjusting their course to give the inattentive hauler more space, Wiggins finally allowed himself to breath as Wufei moved to leave. He gave a heartfelt, if softly spoken, "Yes sir!"
Back in the cockpit, Trowa had dimmed the lights slightly. He sat on one of the long couches, curled up into the corner. Dressed, once again, in a dress shirt, tie, and uncomfortable looking leather soled shoes, Quatre lay stretched out on the couch, his head in Trowa's lap, fast asleep. The green-eyed boy was holding him close, stroking his fingers through freshly washed blond hair, interspersing the strokes with soft kisses.
The light in the back of the cabin was about the same as the light in the cockpit, so at first Trowa didn't seem to respond when the door was opened. His head was turned, allowing him to rest his cheek against the top of Quatre's head, while he stared out through a window looking across the vastness of space.
There had been no question, when Quatre had softly put the matter to Trowa ten days ago, that Trowa would join his lovers back up in space. He had accepted the change with the same gentle, calm dignity that he accepted so much, though the very perceptive would have seen the almost boyish wistfulness that had come into his green eyes as he'd last looked upon the wild life compound.
Wufei walked back and took a seat beside the green-eyed boy. He studied him for a moment or two. "This will be the last time I ask you, I promise, but are you certain you are fully recovered?"
For a moment, it almost seemed as if Trowa hadn't heard Wufei, though the young dragon would know that both his lovers were always *aware* of his presence, no matter how distracted they seemed. Without turning from the window, Trowa's arms shifted, pulling Quatre closer against him, almost the way a frightened child might hold a beloved stuffed animal. Quatre slept on, undisturbed or as if he knew it was his quiet, sleeping presence that was needed not his penetrating gaze.
A breath passed and Trowa began to talk, almost seeming to pull the conversation out of left field.
"We were born in space. We defended space. Space turned its back on us and still we defended it, fought for it. We sacrificed our youth, our innocence, our peace for Space. On Earth... the Earth didn't care about us. The people shuddered, feared, cried, fought but the Earth it didn't care. It just... existed. The Earth didn't demand anything of us."
Trowa took a breath and held Quatre closer, almost squeezing him. "Space... asks for it all. Our complete devotion. Our protection. It strips us of our peace, even now after we fought to give it stability." Trowa fell silent, finally turning his face towards Wufei. His eyes were large, expressive, a brilliant shade of green that seemed to burn and brighten all at the same time. His normally impassive face wore a very subtle expression of ruefulness.
"Am I recovered? I don't know, koi. More to the point, I don't know what I'm supposed to be recovered from. It's all right. I won't be anywhere but with you and with him."
Wufei listened, his gaze not sharp or penetrating, just resting gently on Trowa's face.
"There are different kinds of peace, koi," he said at last, his voice gentle. "I know I should be the last person to talk about such things, but not every peace is worth having."
Trowa's auburn brows drew together in a puzzled expression and he cocked his head at Wufei. "What do you mean, love?"
"The peace of being irrelevant, useless, the peace of being so without function that one's existence doesn't matter to anyone... Space asks it all... yes. As you and he ask it all of me. Between you, you have forced me to change, and it has been the best thing that could have ever happened in my life, the most unexpected of blessings. Perhaps some day you will feel differently about space, but until you do, I think you should make every effort to return to Earth whenever you can."
Trowa took a deep breath and gave a small nod. "I like the Earth. I liked what we were doing." Trowa gave Wufei the little grin. "Guess I'm whining a little, aren't I? I should probably wake him up." Trowa continued to hold Quatre tightly against his chest.
"We won't be docking for another twenty minutes, let him sleep," Wufei said. He placed his hand, palm up, between them as an invitation.
Trowa was in no real hurry to wake Quatre up and he gratefully took Wufei's logic as a good reason not to. Reaching out with one hand, he closed his own across the extended palm. Quatre would wake soon enough and slam into high gear. Trowa felt a pang of regret for the past weeks when he'd had Wufei and Quatre all to himself. He didn't dare give voice to these pangs because he felt he knew what Wufei would say. Trowa needed to fight to keep "Space" from separating him from his little love. Fighting on a personal level was something Trowa had very little experience with. He was going to have to try to change that.
Settling Quatre in his lap, Trowa stroked his hand down along a linen clad rib cage and he grinned a little at Wufei.
"Ooops. I wrinkled him."
Sure enough, the neatly pressed shirt had picked up a couple of wrinkles from where Trowa had been cuddling the small Arabian against himself.
"Horrors," Wufei said dryly, relaxing a little as he felt Trowa's hand resting in his.
Trowa gave a soft chuckle as he gave up trying to smooth out the wrinkles. "Now, now. You know how he is about clothes. It's got to be one of the least masculine traits he has but face it, koi... we're in love with a clothes horse."
Wufei smiled. "He's beautiful, why shouldn't he dress well? Trowa, pride in one's appearance is only 'unmasculine' in the West... One of the many oddities of a culture still in its infancy..."
Trowa's eyes sparkled a little. The expression one that was very, very rarely seen but that indicated he was getting ready to have a gentle little difference of opinions with someone he loved.
"I see your point, koi, but I would put this back to you. When was the last time you raided my wardrobe? Or I yours?" Trowa paused, waiting for an answer to his question before he continued.
Wufei smiled slightly. "I will never raid your wardrobe, Trowa. Your pants are entirely too small - I need to be able to move my legs. That tight little strut may be sexy on you, but it would be very embarrassing for me to sit down and split your jeans up the back."
Trowa's soft, warm laughter filled the cabin for a moment. In his lap Quatre gave an indignant little mutter before settling back down when Trowa's hand gently stroked him. Eyes twinkling, Trowa winked at Wufei. "Of course but you do realize I'd be more than happy to cover your flank while you searched for cover."
Taking a moment to make sure Quatre was settled back down, Trowa chuckled as he spoke. "The point I was trying to make is, he has three times as many clothes as anyone, save maybe Relena Dorlan and yet I constantly find him in *our* wardrobes helping himself. Not that he doesn't look cute as hell running around in a pair of your loose pants. Even with a belt, they hang off his hips."
Trowa grinned, allowing himself a moment of visual reflection on the image then he sobered. "I know he uses his appearance and his clothes like a weapon sometimes. I guess I got used to the idea that clothes kept you warm and your gun made your point for you."
Wufei returned the grin. "And thank you, koi, you just made *my* point. He doesn't wear our clothes because of an unmasculine sense of vanity - as you pointed out, they often look ridiculous on him. You know why he does it. He wants to feel close to us. I find it endearing."
Trowa couldn't help his soft laughter as he rose to the challenge. It wasn't that he disagreed with what Wufei was saying but he found himself enjoying the discussion. "We'll see how endearing you find it when you go looking for your favorite pair of pants only to see them go walking out the door on a blond butt. Besides, that wasn't what I was talking about. I'm talking about this..." Trowa made a sweeping motion with his hand along the tailored little body. "Linen and silk shirts, fine wool pants with silk lining, silk ties, combed cotton socks, hand tooled leather shoes with matching belts, of which he's got hundreds. I think I might own one belt. And he'll spend up to an hour in front of the mirror making sure he matches." Trowa leaned and pulled up a pant leg, exposing the socks which matched perfectly to the tie that was knotted around Quatre's neck.
Wufei turned his eyes to the sleeping blond and his gaze softened. "On my colony..." he said softly. "...we would have dressed him in silk, each item hand sewn with stitches so tiny a machine could not have reproduced the work. He's a prince, Trowa. A far more deserving one than I..." Wufei stopped himself abruptly, though his expression remained loving. He looked up into Trowa's green eyes. "And you would have been honored, koi. In a way you never have been. My clan was a warrior clan, and the respect they'd have shown you..." he shook his head, dispersing the fantasy. "We *are different, each of us. If his difference makes him primp in a mirror at times, it also makes him braver than any lion in Africa. You won't win the argument with me. I love you both too much to see any faults in either of you that someone else might see."
Trowa's green eyes were keen as they watched Wufei's face. He lifted the hand he held up to his lips and kissed the back of Wufei's knuckles very softly, before allowing his thumb to stroke across the back of the strong hand he held.
"Perhaps it's selfish of me but I like it when it's just the three of us roughhousing in the dirt like young adolescents. Maybe that's why I miss the Earth. Down there we're just... three young men. Up here..." Trowa gave a gentle shrug. "But, you are here and he is here so I am here." The sentence was said softly but with a strength of complete conviction.
Wufei gently stroked his thumb over the back of Trowa's hand. "We have time to work it out," he said simply.
Trowa gave a gentle nod. "At least you're here for me to talk to. I like being able to talk to you, Wufei." The green-eyed boy spoke in just a whisper but the shy little smile that accompanied the words was endearing.
Wufei gazed into those deep green pools and Trowa could see the dragon relax as he did so. "As I love the sound of your voice," he said, with no irony at all. Trowa might be the silent one, but for Wufei, his words were like listening to a low, sweet music.
Trowa smiled and squeezed Wufei's hand, taking a moment to lace his fingers with his lover's. In Trowa's lap, Quatre started to stir.
Left to his own devices, not being awakened abruptly by an alarm clock or his own over active mind in the throes of a nightmare, Quatre Winner was slow to regain consciousness. First, the little blond muttered, then he began to stretch out across his sleeping space. Wriggling about, he performed a full body stretch, arms out above his head and well-shod little toes pointing towards the foot of the couch. Trowa couldn't help chuckling as he whispered to Wufei.
"Growth spurt!"
Wufei muffled his laugh behind his free hand.
Hearing Trowa's voice, if not yet coherent enough to take in the words, Quatre's head lifted and he blinked sleepy turquoise eyes at Wufei, then up at Trowa. Scrabbling a little out of Trowa's lap, Quatre sat up and knuckled his eyes, a childhood habit the Arabian seemed in no hurry to lose as he let out a cavernous yawn.
"We almost docked?" he asked in a sleep-heavy tone.
Having a hard time keeping his face straight, with Wufei trying to cover his laughter, Trowa chortled as he nodded.
Quatre looked back and forth between his two amused lovers, blinked, then yawned again before continuing to stretch.
Giving himself a little shake, Quatre rubbed his face. Surfacing, looking a little more alert, he grinned at them both and stood up.
"I should go splash some water on my face. I'll be right back."
Again, Trowa gave a loving nod, his green eyes positively glimmering with mirth and affection.
Quatre's face became puzzled as he turned to take a step towards the small bathroom in the shuttle. He got about half way there before stopping and looking back at them both.
"What? Is my hair sticking up on end or something?"
Wufei composed himself and shook his head solemnly. "You're fine. Go wash your face. Maxwell and Yuy are waiting for us."
Quatre gave both of them a wary look but shrugged and disappeared into the bathroom.
Trowa kept his face as straight as possible as he looked over at Wufei.
"What do you think... half a millimeter taller?"
"You're prone to over-exaggeration, aren't you?" Wufei smirked slightly.
Unable to help himself, Trowa covered his mouth to hold back the deep laughter he was indulging in. The tall green-eyed young man got himself pulled together by the time Quatre resurfaced, though his brilliant emerald eyes still twinkled softly.
Quatre eyed both his lover's warily. He'd checked himself over thoroughly for any *kick-me* signs stuck on his butt or shoulders. Seeing none he decided they were up to some as of yet unrealized mischief. His suit coat and vest hung on a hanger looped over the back of a chair and he now slid into the vest. Fixing the knot on his tie he walked over to the desk that was built into the shuttle and opened a drawer. He drew out a small black velvet box and pushed it open. For a moment he just stared at what ever was in the box. He'd had it for awhile, just hadn't had a reason to wear it yet.
Though Quatre didn't say anything, a little bit of a shy blush stole up into his cheeks and he fingered whatever was in the box for a moment, before finally drawing it out and setting the box aside. Turning towards a mirror, Quatre stroked his tie into submission and began to affix the tie pin he'd taken out of the velvet box.
Noticing the blond's reaction, Wufei looked curiously at the small piece of jewelry.
Quatre, ducked his head a little, as he noticed Wufei's inspection. He made no move to cover up the little pin and after a moment he unpinned it and handed it over to the curious young dragon.
"I had it made... a while ago. I just, didn't have a chance to wear it."
The pin was like much of what Quatre wore, simple yet elegant. It had obviously been made by the finest jeweler's hand, not because of its extravagance but because of the detail on it. It was a W done in black crushed onyx; wrapped around one side of the W was a rampant lion with a gold body but the most brilliant dark sapphire eyes and claws. On the other side was an exquisite dragon, wrapped around the other side of the W. Green enamel with delicately worked gold scales, wicked gold claws and flashing dark emerald eyes.
The lion's right paw and the dragon's left claw were reaching for the middle lift in the W, with the two tails wrapped down beneath the bottom point. The effect was an unbroken, interwoven circle.
Wufei smiled slightly, and handed the pin to Trowa. "A very clever design," he said softly, and got up to stand in front of Quatre. He kissed the blond's lips lightly but lovingly.
Trowa turned the pin over and over in his hand before smiling softly towards Quatre. "So, that's what you were working on."
Quatre stood in front of them both, blushing softly. He turned his head up when Wufei kissed him, closing his eyes for a moment and letting himself sway on his feet, then he looked between the two of them, still shy.
"I... I was doodling one night and, it just sort of grew. Then..." He stopped and gave a little shrug. "I, I know it might seem a little hokey. I, I don't have to wear it, or I can pin it down so my vest is sure to cover it."
Wufei reached out and took the pin from Trowa, and carefully pinned Quatre's tie so that the pin was displayed perfectly.
Trowa stepped up behind the little blond. Reaching over Quatre's shoulders, Trowa gently fixed the immaculate tie knot and smiled at Wufei.
"Everything straight, would you say?"
Quatre's eyes darted between his two lovers and his gentle smile grew to almost beaming as Wufei fixed the pin and Trowa fixed his tie.
Wufei glanced at Trowa, sharing his enjoyment of the blond's expression with his green-eyed lover. He dropped a light kiss on Quatre's bangs and stepped back.
Trowa winked to Wufei, then gave Quatre an long, tight hug. Holding the little blond against his chest for those last moments before he released him and stepped back. Trowa turned and picked the suit jacket up off the chair and shook it out before holding it up so Quatre could slither into it.
Once the shoulders of the coat were settled, Trowa brushed the back a little then stepped around Quatre to stand beside Wufei, close enough so that their shoulders brushed.
Quatre buttoned up the jacket and brushed out a couple of wrinkles. As he finished brushing out the last wrinkle, the bright cream colored walls of the docking bay came into view as the shuttle came in for a landing. They should probably have been sitting down but Quatre merely braced his feet apart as did Trowa.
The shuttle came to a graceful standstill with minimal jarring and Quatre took a long slow breath.
"Back to the fray."
Wiggins' co-pilot stepped out of the cockpit with a nod to all three young men before she went to the door. Like Wiggins, she gave Wufei a nervous look before asking.
"Mr. Chang? Shall I let the door open?"
"Hai," Wufei said.
Quatre lifted his brows a little, dropping back so he could speak without being heard by the woman who was now wrestling with the door.
"I thought *I* signed their paychecks?"
Trowa ducked his head, he wasn't going to get into the middle of this. Though his hand did find its way to the small of Wufei's back where he rubbed gently.
Wufei slanted a look down at the little blond, his face a mask of cool. His dark eyes, however, contained a twinkle that Quatre was able to detect.
"And it is my job to make certain that you are around to do so," Wufei returned coolly. "Which is why they are trained to ask *me*." He gave the co-pilot a slight nod in acknowledgement.
Trowa stuck close to Wufei. Once he was touching the young dragon, he realized that he needed the physical contact to help dispel the chill he was feeling. It was a mild touch of anxiety and something that he'd been warned could pinch from time to time. Touching one of his lovers helped remind him that he was warm and safe.
Quatre lifted his little chin, as he always did when he and Wufei played this game. Giving a small sniff he turned on his heel and walked towards the door. The woman stood at attention at the door, though her pretty blue eyes shifted from her boss to her *boss*. Quatre grinned at her and touched her arm, speaking in soft tones. After a moment, Wufei and Trowa could see her visibly relax and she smiled to something the Arabian was saying.
Quatre nodded approvingly and moved to the steps of the shuttle, exiting the vehicle.
Wufei turned, heedless for a moment of the co-pilot or anyone who might be watching, and kissed Trowa briefly, but deeply on the lips. He looked for a moment into those jewel-green eyes, sending reassurance through the contact.
Unconcerned as well, Trowa leaned into the brief kiss. He met the look in those dark onyx eyes and gave a little nod. 'I'm all right,' the nod said. 'Just, need you.' Trowa gave a wry grin and rested his forehead against Wufei's neck for a moment, taking long slow breaths.
Wufei stood patiently, steady as a rock. There wasn't the slightest indication he had any desire to move. He stroked his hand gently along Trowa's back.
Trowa stood there, in the shelter of Wufei's presence and the shuttle. He again felt the desire to run back to Earth but he firmly squashed it. Wufei was here, Quatre was here. Hell, Heero and Duo were here. Taking a couple deep breaths, Trowa straightened and reached up, automatically straightening Wufei's shirt before he seemed to realize that it was Wufei and not Quatre's tie. Giving the Chinese boy a sheepish grin that made him look much younger than his 19 years, Trowa turned towards the door and walked towards it, shoulders straight and head raised.
Wufei took a moment to watch Trowa, then ducked back into the cockpit for a second. He tapped Wiggins on the shoulder lightly. "Good job," he said. Then he disappeared, quickly catching up with Trowa as the tall boy left the shuttle.
The hangar was emptied except for the Winner shuttle. Once off the actual hangar floor and into the terminal, Trowa and Wufei could see that the terminal had likewise been emptied. Not a single vid cam, still or live, intruded upon the premises. However, they weren't completely alone. Duo sat in one of the chairs off to the side, swinging his leg and looking at Heero. Quatre was a little distance away from Duo and Heero, already talking to Marilyn Phipps, Alexis and three tall men whom Trowa recognized as high level execs in WEI.
Trowa paused, looking over at the animated little knot of suits, then he turned as Duo bounded out of the chair and careened over to hug him.
"Hey Tro-man, how are you doing? You look great!" Duo exclaimed. His violet eyes were bright and burning. Trowa didn't doubt the genuine affection he saw in Duo's eyes but he could also see the suppressed rage that made the American so manic at times.
"Hello, Duo. Thank you. You look energetic as ever. Heero not wearing you out sufficiently?"
Duo snorted. "Hell Trowa, that just revs me up for more!" The braided boy gave his lover a saucy grin over his shoulder then he nodded towards the small gathering.
"Ms. Phipps been fighting with those assholes for the past hour. I hope his cuteness can tell 'em to shove off and make it stick."
Duo then turned and beamed a grin at Wufei, though he knew better then to attack the reserved Chinese boy in public. "Hey there Wu-man." Something flitted through Duo's eyes as he looked at Wufei. A sort of... relief?
"Maxwell," Wufei acknowledged. He studied the braided one. "Something on your mind? Besides the usual insanity I mean."
Trowa was also looking at Duo closely. Duo took a breath and looked over his shoulder once again at Heero, then back to Wufei.
"You two need to talk... or whatever it is you do to communicate."
"You seem to have a working set of vocal chords," Wufei said dryly. "Why don't you tell me what you mean. It isn't like you to be so cryptic. It's one of the things I actually like about you, normally."
Duo took a deep breath and drew Trowa and Wufei a little further away from the escalating yelling over in Quatre's general direction. He again looked towards Heero, wondering why the other boy was maintaining his distance from everyone. Then he looked at Wufei directly.
"We found something Wu-man. After the attack on Quatre, that night Heero and I followed T'ien. Err... the boy who brought you the note. We found something, really disturbing. Heero brought T'ien back with us and we were going to head right back out but when we got home, you had taken off and Quatre was in hysterics so it got shuffled back. Then... we, you know. Anyway, Heero's just... I'd call it obsessed but how could you tell?" Duo said with a touch of wryness, that quickly left his face.
"I don't know how to explain it Wufei, but he's driven like I've never seen him. I can't... I try to talk to him but I can't understand what it is, sometimes I can't even understand the conversations. He switches back and forth between Japanese and Standard and I don't think he realizes he does it."
Wufei frowned slightly. He glanced at Heero, who looked back with no expression.
"T'ien... the messenger," Wufei said. Then, "What did you find that was so disturbing, Maxwell?"
Now, Duo positively squirmed. He reached up and caught hold of his braid, pulling it over his shoulder and stroking the end through his fingers in the telling insecure gesture of old. He looked around a couple of times, as if to make sure that no one was paying them any attention and then he began to speak, very softly.
"We found a satellite, only it had been re-outfitted so that it was mobile on its own. It was... a lab of some sort." Duo took a slow breath, finding it hard to talk about. "I didn't see much of the actual lab part, I was going after the bridge, but Heero saw more. He caught up with T'ien, who took him places. They're making clones, Wufei. T'ien, he was one of the... earlier experiments, a *mistake* is what his file says." Duo knew he was babbling but he couldn't seem to get a coherent hold of the information. He knew it was because his own mind seemed to be rebelling against the possibility of the atrocities that Heero had told him about. A mind could only take so much before it snapped and Duo's seemed to be blocking a lot of this out of a sense of self-preservation.
Wufei's frown deepened to a scowl. He looked again across at Heero and this time the Japanese boy stood up. He walked over to the group of arguing business people and said a few clipped words that halted the discussion. The next thing anyone knew, Quatre was walking with Heero over to the group of three pilots.
"Duo's explained about T'ien," Heero said, to Wufei. "It's time for you to meet him. All of you."
Marilyn was skillfully herding the annoyed looking business men away from the terminal. She looked towards the knot of five young men and her expression seemed a touch sad, then she and Alexis did the job that they were so good at. Quatre, who was the last remaining clueless person, looked between Duo, Trowa and Wufei, then to Heero.
"Who's T'ien?"
Trowa reached out and caught Quatre's elbow. "You'll find out soon enough, little one."
Heero answered anyway. "The boy you were too much in a hurry to meet -- not that you didn't have a good reason. The boy who gave us the information we used to infiltrate Kuang's headquarters so easily."
Without saying anything more, he turned and led the group to a limo.
Quatre still reeled a little from the chastise. He looked at Trowa and Wufei in confusion but said nothing as Trowa just gently shook his head and urged the little blond to follow Heero. Duo turned and looked Wufei right in the eye, lifting his dark brows a little. If Wufei looked closely he could see the signs of genuine strain in Duo's face and eyes. The American was closer to snapping than the young Dragon had ever seen him.
Heero was not oblivious to the looks and reactions going on around him, though he might appear to be. He regretted the stress on Duo, he even regretted Quatre's reaction to his words, but he did not know a way to do things that would make everyone happy, not under the circumstances. Diplomacy was Quatre's forte, friendliness was Duo's. All Heero could do was try and make the right choices in a situation that all but tore his heart from his chest.
They got in the limo and Heero managed to sit next to Duo without appearing to make any special arrangement. He placed his hand next to the braided boy's, fingers overlapping slightly. The driver already had instructions and took off as soon as they were all settled.
Wufei kept his demeanor composed, though underneath the surface, he was beginning to feel a crawling chill.
End Part 1
Laekin and bonnejeane
Please send comments to: seregill@aol.com or bonnejeanne@yahoo.com