Category: Angst.
Timing: This is actually the scene that Trowa refers to in Operation
The one that Duo wished he could be a fly on the wall for. It's not going
to make a lot of sense unless you've read Operation first.
Disclaimer: Not mine. No money being made.
Archive: Please not until Operations is finished.
Summary: It can't always be smooth sailing.
"You did what?!?!" Quatre spun about on the heels of his expensive loafers and fixed Trowa with an icy glare that would have done Heero proud.
Trowa stood midway down the steps that led up to the penthouse loft. His green eyes blazed with the impassioned fury of a fanatic. "You heard me perfectly well and *YOU* didn't leave me much choice. " Trowa's voice was calm but clipped hard. He used his own physical height as well as his position on the stairs to loom over the smaller blonde.
Quatre was having none of it. Taking two gliding steps back he flung up his head, tossing his brief case off to the side and locking his hands behind his lower back as he braced his legs apart.
"I told you to leave it alone. I told you, you didn't need to be concerned. Why the hell didn't you trust me?" Quatre seemed legitimately hurt by the lack of trust Trowa's actions showed.
Trowa's head snapped back at the accusation. His eyes brightened as he rode his anger over the momentary hurdle thrown in his way by Quatre. " Why wouldn't you trust *me*? Because you knew what you were doing was wrong? Mankind isn't ready for this."
Quatre sucked air in through his teeth, forcing himself to exhale slowly before he answered and even then he had to answer through teeth locked so tightly together, Trowa feared Quatre would crack his molars. "I'm going to remind myself that you don't know what you're talking about."
Making a dismissive gesture with his hand, Quatre wheeled about and stalked towards his study, snapping up his discarded briefcase. Trowa wasn't ready to let the subject go yet. Coming down off the stairs in a series of jumps, his long stride quickly closed the distance between himself and the Winner heir, so that Quatre was unable to slam the door in Trowa's face.
"I have an idea Quatre, let's pretend that you trust me and why don't you tell me what it is I don't understand about Comet's Tail." Trowa took care of slamming the study door all on his own and took a certain pleasure in watching Quatre jump, startled.
Quatre glared at him for a long moment before storming around behind his enormous ebony desk and tossing the briefcase haphazardly across the piles of folders sitting on the surface. Setting his hands on his hips he rocked back on one foot, taking the stance of a man who expects to be inconvenienced. Trowa felt his anger grow a notch at the haughty position his lover took. Sometimes Quatre could play "to the manor born" a little too well.
Closing the distance between them Trowa smacked his hands down on the other side of the desk and leaned in.
"The money you are pouring into this project could be better spent helping troubled colonies like the ones in L2. There is no reason for us to be pursuing deep space travel at this juncture."
"Says you?"
"Says..."
Quatre again made the negating motion with one his hands. "Forget it Trowa, I've heard the arguments. I've heard them ad nauseam."
"THEN WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN?!?" Trowa actually yelled loud enough to shake the delicate tea cups that sat beside the sterling silver tea service on the desk.
Quatre straightened further. His blue eyes blazed with a will that seemed to add height to his slender frame. "I do not have to answer to you Trowa."
Trowa reared back off the desk. His green eyes answered the challenge in his lover's blue gaze for a long moment before he quietly posed his next question. "Who will you answer to, Quatre?"
Quatre's eyes narrowed and he looked ready to say something in rebuttal when instead he whirled around, turning his back on Trowa.
A moment passed, during which time Quatre watched Trowa, watching him in the reflective mirror that was his study window. Quatre's shoulders were drawn tight and as the moment lengthened Trowa found a lot of his earlier anger and righteous indignation leaving him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't forthcoming with you Trowa. I don't have a lot of room to make demands in this project. People want it kept quiet. Given the information you've heard, I can imagine you understand why." Quatre's voice was so soft Trowa barely heard him. " However... how could you go behind my back like that?"
Quatre turned back toward Trowa. Hurt and confusion had replaced much of the arrogance in his blue eyes. Trowa flinched internally. He hated seeing that bewildered expression in his lover's gaze.
"I can't tell you everything Trowa. You are the most important part of my life. But you are not the center of it."
This time Trowa flinched physically. Quatre caught the small motion and moved quickly. Coming around the desk he darted in front of Trowa before the taller boy could turn and retreat. Reaching up, he caught Trowa's upper arms and shook him gently. Quatre's voice was soft but intense.
"I love you, you fool. I know you love me. Do you want me to stop being the person you fell in love with and become an extension of you? Have I asked you to stop being Trowa Barton and become an extension of me?"
Trowa gave a minute shake of his head, his eyes fixed on the ground. Quatre opened his hands and slide his palms soothingly up and down Trowa's arms as if he were warming the other boy through the contact.
"We both made a mistake in this. Miscommunication got the better of both of us. I am sorry I made you feel like you had to go to outside sources and I'm sorry I accused you of not trusting me."
Trowa looked up at that. His green eyes bore passionately into Quatre's eyes. "You know that I do trust you?" The question was softly spoken but the weight of Trowa's emotions backed it up.
Quatre nodded immediately and rocked forward onto the balls of his feet to press a soft kiss to Trowa's lips. Whispering against the taller boy's mouth. "Yes."
Trowa reached up and caught the smaller boy up in a tight embrace, tucking his face into the crook of Quatre's neck. The feel of silken hair tickling his eyelashes and the scent of Quatre's cologne served to soothe away the lingering tension in the ex-pilot of HeavyArms. Very softly Trowa whispered.
"I do love you."
Quatre returned the warm embrace, turning to whisper back. "But you still think I'm wrong in this." It was not quite a question.
Trowa sighed deeply and leaned back without releasing the small blonde. Looking down into Quatre's face, he took in the dark smudges that marred the underside of Quatre's eyes and the tension lines that were running along the delicate boy's brow. Reaching up to brush his fingers along Quatre's temple in a soothing gesture, Trowa leaned forward and pressed his lips to the top of the smaller boy's head.
"Yes, I think you're wrong."
Quatre nodded and gave Trowa a comforting squeeze. Trowa returned the gesture, then ducked his head to press his lips to his lover's yet again. Quatre understood where he stood on the subject of the project. That would have to be enough for now.
Laekin
Please send comments to: mailto:Seregill@aol.com