15-Aug-2000
Category: Adventure, Angst, Romance, Action.
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4x5 (or variations there of.)
Rating: PG
Universe: Companions of Fate
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money being made or sought here.
NOTES: Sorry for the small break between 2 and 3. Real life has had me in it's grip for the past couple of days and as you can see.. 3 is a little lengthy! If you have it, you might want to pop in Annie Lennox's Medusa CD, track 4 "Don't let it bring you down" cause that's what Quatre is exercising too.
Bonne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) is the wonderful voice and puppeteer of Wufei. I'm responsible for the little blond. (seregill@aol.com)
Sometime in the night, Quatre shifted and moved away from his lover's body. Rolling onto his back, holding the Chinese boy close to him, Quatre watched the stars as they spun lazily in the sky above.
When the sky began to lighten into the soft grey of morning, he leaned down and kissed the top of the sleeping dragon's head. He then shifted carefully away from Wufei, sliding out of the bed, trying not to wake the sleeping boy.
As deep as the relaxation was Wufei still woke, opening his eyes slightly to see his blond lover move silently around the room.
Quatre tugged his wrinkled dress slacks up over his hips. He caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and turned, smiling apologetically towards Wufei whispering. "I do love you. Rest."
Licking his lips, Wufei shook off the sense of loss as Quatre slipped from the room. He curled up in the warm spot still scented with Quatre's presence, willing himself back to sleep.
Though it's young master tended to keep very awkward hours, the Winner household staff maintained a strict schedule. When Quatre had first taken up a semi-permenant residence on Earth, the staff had tried to be on call for him at all hours but Quatre had found this unfair to his people and he'd quickly put an end to the practice.
The kitchen staff woke and began work at 6:30 in the morning every day and though Quatre had been up all the night, this day was no exception. The tempting scents of cooking eggs, fresh breads and tea were soon filling the large house.
Rising early, Wufei sat up, events of the previous night whirling through his head. A certain soreness let him know it hadn't been simply one of the most incredible erotic dreams he'd ever had. He smiled, then sighed and got up, unable to stay there a moment longer. Showering quickly, he dressed and neatened his room quickly, then headed out.
Angling through the kitchen, Wufei headed for the door to the back of the house. A cook was in the kitchen, cleaning up from making bread. She smiled to Wufei as he entered then looked back to the television that sat on the corner of a counter, blaring the early morning news. As he passed, Wufei's attention was grabbed by the story being related...
"Indeed Cheryl, making such an aggressive move on Winner Enterprises Inc. was a surprise move on Gortect's part. Roger Mattes, the CEO and owner of Gortect has spoken out publicly against Vice Minister Relena Dorlan's work to change conditions on L2 and has spoken out even more vehemently since WEI has moved to back the Vice Minister's actions."
"And Gortect isn't the only corporation to speak such is it Kent?"
"No Cheryl. These very aggressive moves on the part of the Vice Minister and Quatre Winner have been shaking up the political as well as the business community. Still Gortect's attempt to gain control of over half the Winner natural satellites was blocked at the 11th hour by the quick work of WEI's CEO. If Gortect had been able to push through their bid it would have seriously crippled WEI's resources and I have no doubt Gortect hopped that such would keep WEI from backing the Vice Minister as vocally as they have."
"And interesting situation Kent. We'll bring you more as this story continues to unfold. In other news..."
The mention of Winner Enterprises had of course been enough to catch Wufei's attention and he frowned as his listened to the rest of the commentary. Instead of heading outside he turned into the house, checking Quatre's study first.
The study was empty, though the monitors were already on and humming softly, bringing news down from the many different sources Quatre kept in touch with. Further down the hall, Wufei could now hear the soft strains of music, from the stereo being played in the large open room Quatre had designed for indoor training.
Wufei followed the music, ducking into the training room. The song had a very steady, slow motion beat. A shirt fluttered loosely about his slightly damp body as he worked out, using the physical activity to help dispel the effects of a sleepless night. He'd already worked through the faster katas and exercises. His style a mixture of martial arts learned from Wufei. Acrobatics from Trowa and movements designed to heighten his stamina courtesy of Heero.
He worked with two short staves in his hands. Spinning the weapons through his fingers as he took careful measured steps, bare feet landing silently against the hardwood floor. Sweat already darkened the golden strands of his hair at his forehead and the sunlight caught rivulets as they trickled down his chest. His eyes were fixed on a point across the room but obviously turned inwards, his lips moving in time to the singer of the song.
The staves spun in slow but deadly arcs around his head and back. At one point he swept down into a painful crouch. It was a movement usually performed very quickly but Heero had the small blonde work on it at about 1/8 speed. It made his muscles scream but it forced him to regulate his breathing. He couldn't perform the motion without taking slow, deep, careful breaths.
The muscles in his body strained into relief as he slowly came out of the crouch. He timed his rise to the up tempo of the music the staves spun, whistling softly through the air at the end of his graceful fingers. He seemed very much on automatic pilot as he moved.
Wufei leaned against the wall, watching. He measured the improvements the little blond had made in the last few weeks of his training and nodded to himself. Still, the body needed rest. He could detect signs to exhaustion. Possibly time to nag again. For now, though, the moving picture was quite pleasant.
Quatre seemed unaware of his audience as he danced through the deadly patterns, using the time to work through matters in his mind even as he moved. Chewing on the issues, tracing his opponent's steps and through that trying to outthink the next attack. A part of his mind swam with the sensations and events of the night before... the events that happened when he came home, to Wufei's bed.
Quatre smiled a little as with that light touch, the images came tumbling forward again, filling his mind's eye. He was not consciously aware of the young dragon's presence but his subconscious was always attuned to his lovers whereabouts. His thoughts becoming warmer as he remembered Wufei's passion the night before, he performed a graceful dance step off to the side bringing the staves up across his chest as he ended the routine.
Wufei watched, smiling as Quatre came to rest. "You're improving," he said quietly. "But you still need sleep."
Quatre looked up quickly, the tension lines in his face smoothing out to a smile of warmth and welcome. Tucking both staves into one small hand he ran his fingers through damp hair, making it stand up in spiky strands over his forehead. He moved over to where a bottle of water sat patiently on a weight bench.
"Good morning koi. Between the three of you, I'd better be improving!" Quatre chose not to address the second part of Wufei's statement.
Wufei shook his head. He pulled a clean towel from a locker by the door and threw it at the blonde's head. "The accomplishment is yours," he said. "As will the damage if you do too much of that without proper rest."
Quatre set the staves down just in time to catch the towel as it careened into his face. Laughing softly he stroked the sweat off his features then warped the towel across his shoulders.
"It helps wake me up and it makes me feel good. Gets rid of all the aches that come from sitting in a chair." Smiling softly he picked up the water and moved towards Wufei, his voice softening. "I'm all right Wufei. A sleepless night is not going to hurt me." His turquoise eyes searched his lover's face warmly. "Besides, I wouldn't trade last night for all the sleep in the world."
Wufei smiled, reaching out and picking the blond up by the waist. "Winner." he said sternly. Then he kissed his lover deeply. "Nor would I. And it's true, one sleepless night won't hurt you... as long as it's only one." He did not put Quatre back on his feet but held him against Wufei's chest. "When were you going to tell us about Gortect?"
Quatre giggled as he got picked up, wrapping his arms up across broad shoulders to help hold himself in place. He groaned and leaned his head back. "Oh hell. It already hit the Earth news has it? I should have known it would. It happened very quickly Wufei, that's why I had to go back up to space yesterday."
Wufei gave the blond a little shake. "When were you? Hmmm? Going to try and head off the news by... an hour or two? If you knew enough to know you had to go to space..."
Quatre let his head roll to the side with the motion of the shake. Then gave a little wriggle with his feet. "Let's head back to the study. I'll fill you in on what I know and what is suspected."
Knowing it was the only answer he was going to get, Wufei opened his hands, letting the blond catch himself. Quatre landed lightly on his feet with a little bounce, chuckling a bit before leading the way back up to his study. Stepping into the large room he moved to lean against the front of his desk. Picking up a remote, he pressed buttons, pulling up a collections of reports.
"Since Relena announced her plans to focus on the crisis in the L2 colonies, on the 4th in particular she has asked corporations to focus on implementing action that will bring jobs and a shot in the arm to the L2 economies. As you know... I put WEI up front on this charge. It's brought in a lot of corporations, who were not so sure about Relena's plans, onboard to the ideas and things are being done."
Quatre paused as he flicked through a number of corporate names. He highlighted each momentarily and gave Wufei a quick run down on their product, service, etc., and how they were contributing to the L2 colonies.
"However, there is a block of corporations.. of which Gortect is a member who have been vehemently opposed to what we're doing. They call themselves, Unity and they've made a lot of noise and waved so many flags in the air that it's hard to tell exactly what it is they are opposed to. Gortect, Synex, Jesco and Burm are headed up by politically affluent men. It's one of the reasons I've been attending more and more political conferences with Relena."
Quatre took a slow breath and a slug of water. "It's... sticky. I'm not really certain what is going on but they are making all sorts of moves to cripple Relena and... well as you heard, WEI."
Wufei listened, scanning the reports Quatre pulled up. He sat on the arm of the big couch. His arms crossed. "They want to kill the 4th. There's some financial gain or liability tied up in it," he said.
Quatre nods. "I believe you're correct. This is somehow tied into the L2 colonies. I suspect that someone, somewhere has been making a profit off what's been happening there... while we've been focused elsewhere. The problem is... there is no proof. The smoke screen is too thick still and we're just scratching the surface on this."
The little blonde looked down at the remote in his hands, turning it over and over. "There is... also something else. Something... I haven't told you."
"Why am I not surprised?" Wufei said with a touch of his old sardonic tone.
Quatre looked up a little hurt at the tone but he merely took a deep breath and set the remote off to the side. "Gortect was able to get a near strangle hold on WEI because my sister Frecila dumped her control stock into Gortect's lap. It would have been a devastating blow ... if I hadn't been watching for it." Quatre paused here, a small flush of shame touched his cheeks, as well as a pinch of pain brought on by his sister's actions. "Frecila's name was on documents that Paul Atkins had. Not enough to... take any actions... but enough to raise my suspicions."
Wufei nodded. He watched Quatre for a moment. "There are two ways to deal with this. Try and find proof of Gortect's involvement in something they shouldn't be doing, or simply... taking them out."
"I wish we could go with the latter of those koi... but the political situation is too delicate. I've spoken with Relena and we've agreed to let this continue to play out. I can and I *will* protect WEI but I can stay at her back politically." He pushed away from the desk and walked a little in the study looking around. A touch of sadness filled his turquoise eyes, a hint of longing but it was gone in a moment and he lifted his chin.
"But I need to go back up to space. I can't do what I have to from down here. I also need to talk to Heero and Duo... but I think it's important that someone we can trust implicitly is on the 4th and in the L2 at all times."
"You're thinking of Heero and Duo for that?" Wufei asked, watching his lover.
Quatre nods slightly. "Yes. I know that Duo is beginning to chafe being inactive ... even if it is just the lull in between missions from the Preventers... but I think both of them could do more good based on the 4th. I don't know though.. Heero might want to keep close to Relena." Quatre gnawed on his lower lip, thoughtfully.
Wufei shook his head. "He'd go to her if she insisted. But as long as she is being guarded by competent people, it shouldn't be necessary for him to be there. I also want you to have your personal security doubled while you are in space. There are enough good people in the unit now to do it. Pay them the overtime."
Quatre chuckled softly. "That spitfire of indeterminate age you dug out of the mountains to head up WEI security has already done just that. They're discreet and I still felt like I was going to trip over them." He groused softly but he'd made no moves to either reverse the orders or make security's' life difficult.
Quatre leaned against the desk again and looked at Wufei. The conversation they were having was a hard one for him. Once again the team was splitting. As it needed to. The bonds were still there but they couldn't always go around like a happy little unit from spot to spot. Still... it hurt to let go. Smiling a little he studied Wufei closely. His voice softer.
"I... I've been remiss. I didn't ask. How are you?"
"I'm good." Wufei said, meeting his lover's eyes. "Don't waste your worry on me. I'm still adjusting but it gets easier."
With his very words, Wufei doubled Quatre's concern. He focused on Wufei's face. "I..." He stopped, blinked, then continued. "What's wrong Wufei?"
Tilting his head, Wufei frowned, trying to figure out the reaction. "There's nothing wrong, little one. Aside from what we were discussing. I'm not holding anything back from you."
Quatre's brows tightened and he shook his head..."No... there is something. You slipped behind your mask when you asked about Gortect. You're upset with me... aren't you?"
Wufei crossed the room and took the blonde's hands. "No," he said firmly. "Not upset. I recognize... a shift in you. But it's not something you can help. It's not something anyone can do anything about. I wish things were different - I almost wish," he said, shrugging to keep it light. "That this were an open war. Then I could work. But in this kind of conflict, you are the only one of us who has the right tools to fight the battle. It's hard for me, yes. If I had money or property, I could support you through supporting WEI. If I were skilled in the business world, I could sit in conferences with you and fight those battles. But I don't have the wealth, or the skills, to weigh into this battle. That does frustrate me but I swear to you, it's not you that I'm frustrated with."
Quatre studied Wufei's eyes as he spoke. His hands, resting in his lover's gentle grip, twitched at certain points. Stroking his tongue across his lips he shook his head gently. "No... no Wufei you're wrong. It's a different type of war... yes... but it's not just my battle. I'm just going to be defending one front. This is politics, it's public awareness... just like what we were fighting to raise in the Gundams. Duo and Heero will be protecting the true innocents. " Quatre paused... the next words cost him.. a lot. "You... and Trowa... are also needed on the front lines protecting the innocents, making certain that their soft cries are heard above all the noise and... arguments that Relena and I will be embroiled in. "
Wufei studied Quatre for a moment. "Koi... you may be right about Trowa, in this, although my suggestion was going to be to keep him with you, but I'm going to ask you... not to get too firm about what plans you make for me. Not just right now."
It was hard... hard for Quatre to let this person in particular move out of his sphere of...'control,' Quatre's mind ruthlessly supplied and he flinched physically. Ashamed of himself for that thought, he held his tongue, refusing to ask Wufei to stay with him as *his* personal guard. Instead he nodded.
"I'll talk to Duo and Heero when they get back from the mission. Trowa as well...
"Wufei watched the blond closely and placed his fingers on Quatre's lips as he had done once before in this room.
Quatre's lips stilling under the young dragon's fingers as he looked up quickly into dark eyes.
Instead of speaking immediately, Wufei looked deeply into the aqua eyes for a little while. Then he said quietly. "Were you considering giving *me* control of something - you?"
Quatre's head cocked to the side, not shifting the fingers from his lips but giving Wufei a quizzical look, unsure of the Chinese boy's meaning.
Wufei moved the fingers back to Quatre's hand. "Because if you were, my requirement is simple. I have the last say every moment about where you are and who is with you." Wufei said, watching the blond.
Quatre stood there for a moment, his thoughts flitting across his mind quickly. He wanted to keep them all close.. but he couldn't. He of course wanted Trowa and Wufei close... but that was not always possible. He wanted to protect them all... keep them safe.. but none of them were bred, born or trained to be safe. Safe, didn't mean happy with this bunch.
Quatre inwardly cringed at the idea of putting Wufei in that sort of danger but he didn't even know if there was going to be danger. He could control the security guards around him now... if he had to. Wufei... well he would be giving up control of himself in that case. Taking a deep breath, he looked up to the other boy's eyes yet again whispering.
"You... are my bodyguard."
"I'm glad you remembered," Wufei said, looking back. "All right... here it is. You should have come to me first. Before you were ready to tell the team. The moment you knew there was an enemy targeting WEI and therefore yourself. This morning... last night... was incredible... I loved it more than I can say... but when you left... that wasn't right. You should have told me. If you hold me at a distance, I can not do my job."
Quatre looked down. "Leaving.. was wrong of me. I regretted it after I'd done it. I should not have left you... not after what happened. I was still a little too full of myself... off to defend the world, " turquoise eyes swept back up to Wufei's face. "Not remembering to stay and cherish that which needed me. I betrayed the trust you placed in me last night Wufei." The last sentence was spoken in tone of miserable realization.
Wufei tilted the Arabian's chin up. His dark eyes showed no hint of censure. He simply kissed the blond, deeply. After a moment, he leaned back and said, "No. You did not. Let go of that notion. What you did do, was forget I can be... more than one thing." Wufei shrugged slightly. "It would be an easy mistake to make after last night. That's... oh, only one of many reason but it is one, why I rarely ... accept that role. It's too easy for the other person to forget it's just that - a role. One of several. One I truly enjoyed playing with you, one that gave me a great gift. But I'd give it up in a second if it means you forget why I am here in your life. "
Quatre frowned a little, brushing his hand across Wufei's chest, resting his palm over the Chinese boy's heart, feeling it beat beneath his fingers. " I meant what I said last night Wufei. Needs, do not make you weak. It would be selfish of me to always take without paying attention to my lover's wants. I don't want to be selfish. You do not... *give up* to be in my life." Quatre frowned even more fiercely at that statement.
Wufei gave the blond another little shake. "Fine," he said, his lips curving slightly. "Then don't forget... I have more needs than one. One of my needs is to have you trust me with your life."
Quatre looked up quickly. " I do." He answered immediately, automatically. "But you must understand how desperately I wish to protect you. All of you. I... I can do nothing in the battlefield ... each one of you is more then capable of defending themselves and I only get in your way. There... in the battlefield, I'm weak and flawed. But there is one place I know where I can defend my team and my team mates."
"If you are weak and flawed. " Wufei said, his voice even. "Why do you bother to train? Something weak and flawed... can't be trained very much. I think... Quatre-sama, when you gave up your Gundam you lost something else. Damned if I know how to give it back to you, nothing I've tried seems to work. The only time you ever got in my way was when I was trying to destroy myself!" He said, his voice starting low and ending with a growl that was half angry and half hurt.
Quatre was silent for a long time, digesting the words Wufei threw down before him. He lifted that little chin finally and reached up, grasping both of Wufei's upper arms. "I train... because I will not allow myself to be the reason you or Trowa or Heero or Duo is injured trying to protect me. I train... because a certain stubborn, Chinese lover of mine struck the fear of Allah into my heart when he tied his life to mine. Maybe I lost something when I destroyed Sandrock. For a long time... Sandrock was my strength... he made up for my errors. And damn straight I got in your way when you tried to destroy yourself, and don't expect me not to do it again if you try to again!" Quatre's own voice lifted in tone as he choked around the tightness in his throat, his bright eyes a little brighter with moisture that he rapidly tried to blink away.
Wufei sighed and shook his head. "How can I get through such a thick Arabian skull?" He wondered aloud. "This weakness you see in yourself... doesn't exist. It is in your mind. As long as it is there, it will rule you and no amount of training will overcome it. Sandrock your strength... do you think Sally could have piloted that Gundam? Or Noin? Or even Treize? It wasn't designed for a weak pilot. It was designed for a Gundam pilot. Quatre you created and piloted Wing Zero!" Wufei couldn't put enough expression into his voice. "Wake up, koi! Are you afraid you may cause one of us to be injured or killed? The fear... that's what kills. The weakness.... you have to give it up, Quatre... it's a myth... it's like... like one of the phantoms of the Zero system - it's *not* *real*."
Quatre pulled back, eyes flashing. "Zero.. controled me. I nearly killed Trowa with Zero.. I destroyed colonies.. COLONIES... the very things I was supposed to be protecting because I wasn't the pilot for Zero. Even Zechs couldn't handle Zero... only Heero."
"And that's your excuse... for clinging to weakness?" Wufei said. "You cling to your weakness because you are afraid of your strength!"
Quatre stumbled back towards the desk. Flinching under the power of the words Wufei was throwing at him. They were burrowing past constructed, phantom truths he had been believing in, hitting home with a level of truth he couldn't deny and it was shaking him at his very core. Falling back against the desk, he slammed his fists into the front of the heavy structure, shaking his head blindly.
"No... no no no." The word repeated though each time with less conviction then the time before.
Wufei watched, his heart tearing for the pain he saw. "Quatre!" he said urgently. "Heero... you've forgotten what you saw with your own eyes. Heero didn't master the Zero right away. He lost it as well. It took time. And you did master it. Why can't you let go of this?"
Quatre looked up at Wufei. For once the tears had not fallen but his eyes were large in his pale face as he blinked in confusion up at the Chinese boy. Swallowing tightly before whispering. "I... I don't know... I don't understand this." Somehow, in all his empathy and ability to read people... he'd lost track of that part in himself. "I don't know."
Wufei nodded. He stepped forward, slowly and tried to gather the Arabian against him. "It's all right," he said softly. "We'll figure it out."
Quatre's limbs were still and easy to gather as he turned his face, staring across the room even as he rested his cheek against Wufei's chest. Funny how the smallest things can take your world and swing it up on it's axis. He felt stunned.
"A..afraid of my strength..." The concept felt so.. alien and yet at the same time, screamed to something deep within.
Wufei stroked the Arabian's back gently. He swallowed. "I understand you, koi," he said softly.
Quatre looked up towards Wufei's face."Glad one of us does." He whispered as his arms tightened around Wufei's waist.
Wufei's chest moved in a silent laugh. "Oh yes... I do. But it must be worse for you, sweet koi. Nevertheless, you have to find a way to understand this. Even if it takes time. You've no more choice than I did. You are needed. Not those emotional needs you get so caught up in... I'm speaking of larger needs. Things we have no choice about. You were born a warrior, no matter that your father was a pacifist. And though his ideals are admirable, warriors are still needed. Like Relena and Heero - two necessary sides that can not succeed without the other."
Quatre exhaled softly, suddenly feeling that sleepless night. " At least they're not trying to occupy the same body mass at the same time. By Allah.. how can I feel so confused?"
Wufei laughed silently again. "I believe I told you once before... since we're back in my old neighborhood, I'll be glad to keep you company. I know the landmarks, I know the inhabitants. I even know what is bringing this up so much for you now. Your visit to the 4th.... 'FC'..."
Quatre groaned and buried his face in Wufei's chest. "I'm going to starch Duo's shorts for that name." Then he was still, remembering that part of himself, what and whom he tapped to create FC. It was now his turn to laugh silently at himself, little shoulders shaking in Wufei's hold. "I want to be so... much more for you then just this, koi." He would cling to that truth and wait for the storm to calm down so he could pick through the rubble and find the other truths he'd been shielding himself from.
"And I." Wufei said softly. "Want nothing less than all of you... *all*. I don't expect you to accept this immediately but I'll say it now so I can say it again later: I am not afraid of you. I am not afraid of your strength. I can handle it. It doesn't make me any less than I am." He kissed the top of Quatre's head tenderly, promising himself to repeat these things whenever it seemed right.
Quatre was still in Wufei's arms as he listened to those words. Taking them close to his heart, he held them against himself and smiled very softly. Then the little blonde did something very... very strange. He fell asleep, standing up, in Wufei's arms. Completely and utterly asleep, total trust that he wasn't going to get dropped on his ass.
Wufei felt the muscles relax and caught the blond, lifting him carefully. Silently he carried Quatre to the big couch and placed him there carefully, pulling a folded covering over his body and tucking it around him. Then he went to the desk and silenced everything that could ring, beep or alarm. Last, he sent a message to Trowa. It was a simple one.
"When you can, we need to talk."
End Part 3
Laekin
Please send comments to: seregill@aol.com or bonnejeanne@yahoo.com