22-Jul-2000
Title: Shades of Red
Author: Laekin (seregill@aol.com) and bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com)
Archive: GW Addiction & Darkflame if she wishes
Category: yaoi, angst
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 1x2, 5x4x3 (or some weird order of the same)
Warnings: Lemon/Limey stuff, later; angst, suspense. Language.
Spoilers: Series, EW but not really
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the
copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here. As with all
our fics so far, while our goal is to stay as in character as possible, any
discrepancies are our mistakes.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Trowa stood in the hospital room, leaning against the far wall, his arms crossed. To the casual viewer his face looked completely impassive. To the close observer he wore an expression of tender irritation.
On the bed sat Quatre. It had taken him close to fifteen minutes to achieve the sitting upright position and getting his legs over the side of the bed. His face was set in an intense expression of concentration. Contentment had many uses. Its primary focus was to interrupt motor coordination, leaving the user without the subconscious control over arms, legs etc. That was why it was often used as a *rape* or *kidnap* drug. It took away all fight from the user making them completely pliable.
It also sent the mind into a waking dream-like state, twisting the sensory input until the user was unsure what was reality and what was their own mind's creation. Melding the two together until it was impossible to know what was going on. Sort of like... Zero system on acid... Quatre was thinking to himself as he panted softly. Alright.. come on arms, we can do this.
He scooted a little closer to the edge of the bed. Trowa continued to watch but he made no move to actually assist the little blonde.
The door of the room opened and Wufei looked in, quietly in case the patient was sleeping.
He saw Trowa and then saw Quatre trying to get up, came in and closed the door.
"Quatre," he said, and with a brief look at Trowa, went to the bed and sat beside the blond. He looked at him closely, trying to gauge his condition.
Quatre gave Wufei a shy grin. "Hey there. I want to go home." He said simply. As silence filled the space, Trowa shoved off the wall and moved to lean against the foot of the bed, his quiet voice still holding hints of strain from the past hours.
"He wants to go home. I told him he could go home only if he walked out on his own. That was about thirty minutes ago."
Wufei frowned. He looked at Trowa, clearly not wanting to contradict the tall boy in front of Quatre and just as clearly disagreeing with him totally. If Quatre wanted to go home, Wufei would be happy to carry him. The conflict was clear in his face. It was the first time in their new relationship where he had truly disagreed with Trowa on something to do with Quatre's well being.
Finally he simply said, "Hn."
He reached over and took Quatre's wrist, resting a finger lightly on the inside of it, clearly counting his pulse. Or maybe not so clearly. He closed his eyes for a minute.
Okay, Chang, he was thinking. It has been a long time but you used to know this. He felt the fluttering pulse and compared its pattern to what he had learned so very long ago. It was clear the blond was not in perfect condition, but Chinese Traditional medicine used various diagnostic methods including patterns of pulse to determine more things about the sick person's condition that just heart rate.
After a moment he opened his eyes. He got up and moved around the bed so he could get behind Quatre where he sat, and then ran his fingers lightly down his spine from neck to waist. Then his fingertips moved back along that path, finding a spot, pressing against it hard, but not with the kind of force that would push the boy over, then moving to another spot, pressing hard. He did this several times.
"How do your hands feel?" he asked quietly.
Quatre watched Wufei's actions with a curious little tilt to his head. Trowa likewise seemed more intrigued then anything. Taking a couple of quick breaths at the presses he slowly closed each finger, finding them much more cooperative now then they had been mere moments ago. His limbs still tingled and felt like lead weights but he could control them with much more ease.
Giving a shadow of his normally beaming grin he nodded carefully. "They feel a lot better. It's not as much work to make a fist."
Wufei nodded, frowning in concentration, and then placed his hands around Quatre's lower back and hips, with his thumbs against the base of his spine. He felt for a moment, then pressed with his thumbs, hard. Then he moved quickly around the bed in front of Quatre and said, "Stand up."
He was standing close enough that if Quatre fell, he could easily catch him.
Quatre gave a little wince. His body felt like it had been rolled under a steamroller and then flattened by all 5 of their Gundams at once. He'd looked at Trowa and wondered why anyone would want to take stuff like this voluntarily. Stroking his lips with his tongue, the expression of intense concentration once again came over his features as he scooted a little closer to the edge of the bed.
Bracing himself, he slid down. His legs felt like they wanted to go every which way and he automatically grabbed for Wufei and the edge of the bed.
Trowa watched this impassively but with a gentle light in his green eyes.
Wufei caught Quatre's hand, and his eyes were locked to the blonde's. He seemed to be trying to transmit strength to Quatre's legs through the contact.
Quatre could keep his feet. He swayed badly but he could stand. Now... walking however felt beyond him. He gave Wufei a sheepish grin and one to Trowa as well, acknowledging that he wouldn't even be standing if Wufei wasn't helping him in these subtle ways.
Still.. he didn't move to get back into the bed. He was standing.. didn't that count for something?
Trowa chewed on his lips for a moment, then nodded. "Alright... I'll get the paperwork started at the nurses station."
Wufei threw a look at Trowa that was a mixture of gratitude and a flash of temper for putting Quatre through the trial, but he nodded.
Then he simply picked Quatre up in his arms as if he were a baby.
Trowa met the glare with a small duck of his head. He knew Quatre was bull-headed when it came to staying in hospitals and he was still frightened for the little blonde's health. With their usual tact the doctors had been jabbering on about keeping Winner at the hospital for at least 4-5 days.
Walking out of the room, Trowa bee-lined for the nurses station to inform them that their patient would be leaving as soon as he was dressed and they had best have all their little forms in a row to be signed in that time.
Quatre exhaled in relief as he no longer had to motor under his own flagging power, leaning his head against Wufei's shoulder with a content little noise.
Wufei sighed and kissed the top of Quatre's blond head. Then he placed him in a chair and proceeded to find his clothes and get him dressed in short order. He planted little kisses here and there as he exchanged the hospital gown for the pants and shirt.
"Trowa... has already scolded you? Or you have that to look forward to?" he asked, as he finished the job.
Quatre tried to help as much as his still quirky limbs would allow him to, his smile growing shyly to the gentle touches of Wufei's lips on his skin. Happy he could feel those ghosting caresses. Leaning back into the chair as soon as his shirt was on, he gave a soft chuckle.
"I have been thoroughly, gently scolded. First for taking public transportation and being too impatient to wait for my own shuttle. Second for taking such a harebrained risk at such an early point and third for basically being too damn stubborn for my own good and his peace of mind." It was obvious in the affectionate way Quatre related the information that he knew Trowa's gentle fussing stemmed from the tall boy's desperate fear.
Wufei nodded. "Then it is my turn. You should not have taken the public shuttle. It was stupid," he said, not mincing words. "I do not expect stupid from you. The risk... dumping the fuel... was acceptable. The stubbornness..." Wufei said, scowling down at the blond ferociously.
Then he knelt in front of Quatre's chair and put his arms around him. "You are a Gundam pilot... I would expect nothing less from you, and you have never disappointed me. I am proud of you, Quatre Raberba Winner. You have lost nothing of your warrior spirit." Then he kissed Quatre's lips tenderly.
It was a bit of a struggle, but a struggle well worth it as Quatre got his arms around Wufei, delivering a heartfelt if weak squeeze. Returning the tender kiss lovingly and smiling to the other boy as he nodded to all his points.
"It was perhaps not one of my wiser courses of action, the shuttle, but I wanted to get home before you and Trowa headed out on your days. I wanted to show you what I was given." He looks a little flustered for a moment. "Oh damn.. where is the briefcase I took with me." Then he shakes that off and looks up into Wufei's dark eyes with a hint of fire in his own blue-green gaze.
"I can't expect you and Heero and Duo and Trowa to pull me out of the fire all the time, Wufei. That would be irresponsible of me."
Wufei gave the blond a very gentle shake. "When you make decisions like a Gundam pilot, you need not concern yourself over such things. The decision to take the shuttle was not the decision of a Gundam pilot. Your life is important... if not for you, then for the mission. Are you thinking there are no more missions? The mission is to be alive in case I need you. In case Trowa needs you. In case Duo or Heero need you. It isn't yours to throw away so carelessly, my stubborn love."
Quatre ducked his head a little, flushing a bit as he accepted his scolding without a show of temper or trying to *explain* himself. It had been a mistake and he knew it. As he became aware of what information came to the fore from the hijacking he'd feel a little torn about his part in it but for now he gave a firm nod and warm smile, fighting with his body so he could lean in and deliver a soft kiss to the side of Wufei's mouth.
"I like it when you use endearments... you do it so rarely." He grinned around the whisper then leaned back.
Wufei kissed him once more on the cheek. "Trowa is not the only one who was frightened." he said. "But that is the price of loving. I pay it willingly - just try not to make me pay it needlessly, koi."
Quatre got his hands to come up so he could take Wufei's face between them, looking the dark eyed boy directly in the eyes and putting the full weight of his own indomitable will behind his next words. "I will...do my best." He didn't promise... because who knew if it was a promise he could keep but he did give the assurance with all the conviction in him.
On the heels of this, Trowa came back into the room. "They'll have the papers for you to sign ready in a moment, Quatre. I've called the car around the back, there is a gaggle of reporters out at the front." Another reason Trowa had wanted to wait, in hopes that the reporters would remove themselves eventually. Trowa grabbed up Duo's overcoat from the closet, shaking it out and holding it out to Wufei to wrap Quatre up in.
Wufei took the coat and did so, lifting the boy again in his arms as if he weighed an ounce. He took a moment to look into Trowa's eyes and offer a silent apology for the flash of temper before. This is all new to me, he seemed to say.
Trowa gave Wufei a small smile over the top of Quatre's head, understanding written in his strained green eyes. They both wanted what was best and a part of Trowa agreed with Wufei and wanted Quatre back at the safety of home. Giving Quatre's shoulders a gently stroke as he tucked the small blonde's head under the cover of the large coat.
"Do you want to take him? Or shall I?"
Wufei considered, and then placed Quatre in Trowa's arms. "You take him. I'll strong-arm the media."
Trowa nodded, wrapping his arms around Quatre who's muffled voice echoed from the confines of the cloth. It was hard to understand him but whatever he said made Trowa frown ferociously. "Absolutely not, you baka."
Trowa growled and then began to head for the door, stopping at the nurses station long enough to hold Quatre close to the desk so small clumsy fingers could scribble out his signature on a parade of forms. The nurse then held out a small clear bag that had bottles in it.
"The instructions for what he's supposed to take, when, are on the bottles."
Wufei took the bag, glancing at it cursorily and stuffing it in a pocket.
That done Trowa began to move towards one of the back exits. For the most part the ploy worked but a few reporters who were more observant then the rest had noticed the dark limo glide behind the hospital and had followed curiously.
Wufei interposed his body between the reporters and Trowa's path to the limo, glaring at the media men and women ferociously.
Trowa curled his upper body around Quatre protectively as he made his way through the path cut by Wufei, saying nothing as he slid with surprising grace despite his burden into the limo, scooting out of the line of where cameras could take vids and waiting for Wufei to get into the car and close the door.
Once Trowa and his precious burden were in the vehicle, Wufei hopped in and slammed the door on several of the pushier types. "Let's go!" he told the driver in a sharp voice.
As hired and trained by Wufei, the Winner drivers were experts at handling the big cars in any situation. The limo pulled away from the curb with a low growl of its engine scattering the reports that stood in front of it and was quickly picking up speed as it took its passengers away from the small circus they were leaving in their wake.
When Quatre felt the limo moving, he surfaced from the folds of Duo's coat blinking at Trowa and Wufei, his hair slightly disheveled but a more relaxed expression on his face knowing he was headed home.
Giving them both a quick cheeky little grin. "Got out of there without being awake for so much as one shot."
Trowa groans and leans his head back against the soft seatback.
Wufei smiled, with a rather interesting twinkle in his dark eyes. "I could have gotten you walking out of there if I'd had my needles," he said in an off-handed tone.
Then he looked at Quatre. "Acupuncture?"
Quatre eeped softly and curled back against Trowa. Trowa peeked down at the small blonde and gives a snort. "It would serve you right."
Wufei's eyes widened. "You mean you didn't realize why I want to get you home? I don't have the proper things with me to treat you... at home I have my needles and cups..."
Large turquoise eyes looked balefully at Wufei. He wasn't serious.... was he? Quatre looked up quickly at Trowa who just shrugged. "It's for your own good little one."
Quatre glared at them both with a soft harumph and began to try to wriggle off Trowa's lap. "You two..."
Trowa laughed and instead of hindering Quatre's escape leaned and handed him over to Wufei. "Here... so you can get started soonest."
Wufei grinned, taking the blond who didn't quite have enough in him to get away.
"I can get started... yes... what a good idea," he says, looking down. Then he captured Quatre's mouth and kissed him deeply.
Trowa shifted over to sit beside the other two, chuckling low in his throat as he lay a hand supportively on Wufei's shoulder while the Chinese boy kissed the breath out of the little blonde.
Quatre seemed stunned for a moment before his lips responded to the kiss, weakly but avidly enough!
Lifting his mouth, Wufei smiled. "Of course, there might be benefits to not having him recover too soon," he mentioned to Trowa. "This could actually be quite enjoyable. I haven't had the pleasure of molesting a weakened Quatre before... he certainly got to do it to me..."
Quatre's slightly sleepy expression, not really sleepy more like thoroughly kissed expression becomes one of... 'you wouldn't... would you?' Trowa stretched out and leaned closely to his two lovers, as if still wrapped protectively around them both, his long fingers stroking through mused blonde hair.
"Hmmm.. you might have a good point there, Wufei. I mean he is always so restless, I think we could be kind and keep him amused while he's bed ridden. You of course have priority. Must pay him back for taking advantage of you in your weakened state after all."
Quatre craned his head around to look into Trowa's eyes. Then back to Wufei. "I'm in delicious trouble aren't I?" He couldn't quite stop the sassy little grin from breaking out on his features.
Wufei smiled back indulgently. "Yes you are... of course, these medications they gave me for you... might put you to sleep. But that could be all right too. I think I could find a way to keep busy while you are too limp to molest," he said and turned, capturing Trowa's face with one hand and kissing the green-eyed boy deeply, in front of those wide aqua eyes.
Trowa blinked a little surprised before returning the kiss. Into this kiss he put a little more then just play, also adding relief and the passion of two people who have shared a similar fear and come through it. Quatre watched this with a very content little smile on his face, nestling in against Wufei's chest and yawning delicately. "Good, I'd hate for you two not to take advantage of each other as well."
Wufei smiled, his eyes on Trowa's as they moved a little apart from the kiss. "I think Trowa deserves some care...he worried about you, of course, as did I. But I think he deserves a little relaxation from the ordeal. Perhaps I can help with that... there are several relaxing positions, Trowa, that would allow me to... massage you... deeply... to ease your tension..." Wufei said, his voice low. Then he glanced at Quatre. "Might be fitting punishment for you to have to watch instead of getting to play."
Quatre's eyelids have already started to go heavy and closed over his eyes but he gave a soft little giggle. "I can always play with myself." He whispered sleepily. Trowa gave a small smile down to the top of the blonde head, stroking his fingers through the silky hairs for a moment before looking to Wufei with a gleam already firing in his green eyes. He just said two words to the Chinese boy. "Willow Trees"
Wufei's eyebrows went up. He tilted his head. "Hmmm?"
Trowa gave a shy little shrug, peeking at Wufei from under his bangs." I was just thinking.. we don't want to keep him awake and...it's a balmy night."
The Chinese boy smiled. He nodded. Then he kissed Trowa again. "Trowa... there are things I have wanted... but I don't know... whether... it is right to ask of you..."
Trowa returned the kiss with one of his own, passionate and gentle as is his quiet shy way but also firm with desire. Leaning back he studied Wufei's face quietly and reached up to stroke his fingers along the other boy's jawline soothingly. "Just ask me Wufei."
Wufei flushed. His eyes dropped and then came back up. "All.... all right. When you and Quatre make love... who... receives...?"
The tall boy didn't so much as blink, nor did he lay down some sort of winding response. "Usually, Quatre."
Wufei flushed again and nodded. "Yet when you are with me... it is different."
Trowa cocked his head to the side, giving Wufei a puzzled look and silently asking for a rephrase of the statement.
Wufei took a breath. He much preferred doing these things to talking about them but... he was afraid of causing a conflict with his lovers. "When we... were in the shuttle that time," he began. "In that wonderfully tiny restroom... you let me... take you..." he said, the last few words falling to a low throb, showing the emotions that the memory aroused in him. "I wondered... if it was... if I had..." He dropped his gaze, trying to get control over his words to finish the conversation he'd gotten himself into.
Trowa listened closely to Wufei, smiling gently to encourage words when it would seem the other boy would stop, then finally reaching over and pressing his fingers against Wufei's lips, stilling the awkwardness that is hurting his lover. "Wufei... there is... a lot to it but boiled down it's a physical preference on Quatre's part as to the physical role he plays in our love making. I am sure you have realized by now that he is in no way "traditionally passive" it's just... what he enjoys physically and I... would do anything to please him. For myself either way is pleasurable as long as it is with someone I love and trust. You did nothing to me that *I* did not want or enjoy." He smiles a little and blushes. "Though I will admit to being up for paying you back. " The last words growled out softly.
Wufei's eyes widened on Trowa's last words and he leaned forward, kissing the green-eyed boy's lips.
"That... is what I was unsure... about asking," he said softly. "I loved.... taking you... and I want to have that again... but I have also wanted you... but I felt that perhaps that was not appropriate for me to ask... it seems as if much of what I have to give both of you... is strength... but there... I can... also give surrender..."
Trowa frowned a little and reaches up to stroke at neatly kept dark hair. "We are doing you an injustice Wufei. You should never feel hesitant about asking for what you want. Please.. not with me, and not with Quatre. This is not.. only about what you can give us but what you will accept from us as well. I know that Quatre would happily give you the world if he could and I would like to be given the chance to give you whatever I have to offer."
Wufei turned a slight scowl inward. "I sound as if I am complaining. I promise you I am not! I am already overwhelmed by what you both have given me. I wake up a different person now... it is true. I'm bad at this..." he said, shrugging gently, so as not to disturb the sleeping blond. "I... just know that when you are ready to... pay me back," he said with a slight smile, "I will... be ready to accept my... punishment." His voice on the last word and his expression show no signs of anything unpleasant or coercive associated with the idea.
Trowa studied Wufei closely for a long moment, then shifted till he could wrap an arm around the other boy's shoulder, pulling him close to the warmth and strength of his body. Setting his chin on the top of Wufei's head he nodded and whispers. "I have more I would say about this my friend but it will wait till we are alone." The words promised nothing but warmth and support.
TBC
Let us know what you think!
Laekin and bonnejeanne
Please send comments to: Seregill@aol.com or bonnejeanne@yahoo.com