<Normal disclaimers apply, I do not own Gundam Wing, the creators do.>

<<<<<<<<<<<Subtle Wishes>>>>>>>>>>>>

<WARNING: Please do not read if sad/sappy stuff does not appeal or you don't like stories with a slow, barely there plot. Shonen ai & some lime (a little yaoi too). There is no sequel to this fict.>

<There are many subtle clues in the passages that may be vital to understanding the plot later. So read it carefully. Shifting character viewpoints occur regularly, as do time leaps forward.>

Subtle Wishes by Test One

~CHAPTER ONE~ Hidden Hearts

'I don't get him. Heero is always moving about the colonies as if he has nowhere to go. Although Relena told him that he was welcome to stay at her mansion, he chose not to stay with her.' The boy twisted his long braid between his fingers as he stared at the message upon the computer screen.

'Are they or are they not a couple?' Duo grumbled. 'He didn't even take up the position Sally offered him and so far', Duo frowned as he looked at the last message Heero had sent him, 'he hasn't stayed in one place for more than eight days at a time. It's like he's searching for something don't you think?' The young boy addressed the last remark to a silent figure behind him.

The tall youth shrugged, his lashes lowered as he read the message on the computer screen. 'Perhaps he is.' The statement was cryptic, rather like the youth himself. It was thirteen months since Mariemaia play for power had been brought down, and Earth and the Colonies, for the first time for years, experienced real peace. However Trowa seemed unchanged by the outbreak of space wide peace, his features still unreadable. Not even Catherine managed to break through the reserve the lofty pilot placed around himself. Duo studied the tall boy. The alert way he waiting for something to happen reminded Duo of Heero somehow. As if some inner tension within did not allow for relaxation. Or perhaps it was because he could not tell what the both of them were thinking.

'You don't suppose he's on some kind of secret, personal mission, do you think? It would be just like him.'

'Perhaps.'

Duo's gaze sharpened. 'You know something, don't you?'

The other youth did not reply. His focus instead was on message on the computer screen before Duo. L-2, District eighty-four. Heero was nearby somewhere. Despite moving rapidly around various numerous colonies, the dark pilot never went further past the L-1 cluster point, next to the one they were on now. Not even to the next relatively close points, L-4 and L-5. Something was holding him back. Or rather, someone was. He looked down at Duo.

'Something is holding him back. He's not going too far away from this here.' The boy tugged at his braid, his expression unusually thoughtful. His words echoed Trowa's thoughts. Duo lent close to the glowing screen. 'He's never too far away from Relena, you've noticed that?' Duo tapped the keyboard briefly, opening up a three dimensional map of the districts around them. Colonies visited by Heero were separated from the other, outer colonies, highlighted in red. 'In fact, all of her journeyed talks out of Earth during the last six months were also to these red ones here and around here. It's too much to be a coincidence.' Duo had been keeping record. 'Do you think he really is in love with her? It's like he's keeping an eye on her. Almost a third of all the colonies he's been to, Relena was there too.' A frown marred his forehead. If Heero loved Relena, why didn't he stay with her? His frown deepened as he realized the thought disturbed him. He quickly shrugged off the uneasy feeling.

'Aah, it's not like it's any of my business.' Duo exited out of the file with a little more force upon the keyboard then it was necessary. He swung back on the chair, lifting his legs up onto the table bench. Yawning, he looked up at Trowa from his position. 'Say, what's Quatre been doing? I haven't seen him since last month-'

'There's an incoming call.' Trowa interrupted Duo, his tone neutral. The monitor beeped. Instant Relay Message, the screen flickered. The file opened to a boy with familiar dark blue eyes looking out from the screen.

'Heero... ' the light brown hair youth eyes widened as he spoke the other's name involuntarily. It was drowned out by Duo's surprised cry.

'Heero!' Duo quickly removed his foot from the desk. 'You called?!' Heero had never called before in person. He studied the boy's face. It had not changed, his features were still the same. Delight danced in Duo's face. He looked well. And he still wore the army green singlet that was his standard wear, judging by the familiar color of the material near the bottom edge of the screen.

'Trowa, Duo.' Heero nodded at Trowa, his eyes briefly flickering over the standing youth, before settling upon the now attentive Duo. 'We have a mission.'

'A mission?'

He seemed to briefly hesitate before opening his mouth to continue.

'Du-'

'Did you get into contact with Duo?'

'Wufei?!' The view enlarged to include the second speaker. Heero stepped aside for the Chinese pilot. It was then that Duo noted the two were dressed in the same attire. The two wore the brown and black uniform of the Preventers. The drifting pilot had apparently taken up upon Sally's offer after all.

'I see Trowa is with you, that's good. Get into touch with Quatre and head down to District eighty-four of L-2. We will meet you at the shuttle station.'

'Do you acknowledge?'

'Acknowledged.' Trowa reached over and switched off the computer.

'Hey, I wasn't-'

Trowa was already out the door.

'Wait. Hey, I said wait for me... ' Duo fell off his seat as he attempted to rise quickly. He landed hard. 'Ouch- damnit', pressing a hand against his aching back, Duo limped after him.

Beneath his calm exterior, his blood rushed furiously around in his body. Only a slight flush upon his cheeks and the darkening of his eyes gave evidence to his adrelinated state. He was playing the fool yet again. Catherine, he knew, would be made unhappy by his leaving. Yet it was Heero that had called. He could never deny Heero anything. Trowa closed his eyes and conjured up Heero's image. It had been more than six months since he had seen him last. A long time spent trying to forget Heero, and forgot the feelings that came with his presence. However some desire within him urged him to go and see the other boy. Even if it would be painful, he wanted to be near him. A small, ironic smile curved the corners of his mouth upwards. And Duo was coming too. The forever smiling pilot of Death. It would seem that he was a machovist, asking for the knife to be twisted further in his heart. His smile disappeared. Heero never lied to him, although sometimes Trowa wished he would. If only for the memories.

'Trowa?' a soft voice inquired.

Trowa's head jerked up at the unexpected voice. He turned. 'Catherine...' She had surprised him. He had been too deep in his thoughts to hear the girl's arrival. His mask settled back into place. 'I'm here.'

'Are you okay?' Concern was written clearly on her face. Her gaze dropped to the bag before him on the floor. She looked up again. 'You're leaving the circus again, aren't you?'

'It would seem the battle arena is more suited to me.'

'Another mission. You're following those friends of yours again.' It was true. He was following someone. Trowa turned his back on her and began packing. He did not reply to Catherine's statement. Words were after all, unnecessary when actions already told all.

'Will you return?'

The bag was light. It contained few items. Trowa lifted it up and swung the bag over one shoulder. 'I don't know' he said truthfully. Whenever Heero didn't need him, he would return to wait for him again. He paused before her. Seeing the worry in her look, he smiled gently. 'Thank you.' For caring.

'Take care. Please, take more care of yourself.'

He did not look back as he walked out through the cool autumn night. Catherine watched him go, watched as the dark shadows slowly covered him and envelop him. A familiar feeling of déjà vu passed over her. A feeling of recall of another dark night when she had lost her brother and the childhood nightmares she had of it. It was a familiar sense of loss, but she did not know why she felt it. All she knew that she hoped to see the silent boy again, and wished him safe. Life was uncertain, and especially so in battle. She knew very well, as she had lost her family in one such battle. Although it was peacetime, battles were still fought, abide, not as on a wide scale as war. And such was the life of a soldier to respond to the call of battle. She crossed her arms and hugged herself. No matter how much she wanted to protect him he would still go, because he was a soldier. And the loyalty owned to comrades was absolute.

'You're going on another mission! Duo, I thought you were happy to stay here?'

'Eh?' Duo was taken aback by the excessive force of Hirde's objection. The small girl was looking at him almost with tears in her eyes. 'Hey, hey, calm down will you. I'll only be going for a little while. Ssh, even the boss didn't make that much of a fuss.'

'You're putting yourself at risk again. I thought you had enough of that after the war was over.'

'But they need me again-'

'They don't need you,' she objected hotly, 'the war is finished for you, don't you understand that. There are others who are keeping the peace now. It is their job to keep the peace, not yours. You're a mechanic now, not a soldier.' She bit her lip. It was very important that Duo realize that there were others who now kept the peace. He had no longer need to sacrifice his youth for the everyone else's sake. Why couldn't he realize it? Perhaps the routine of civilian life and work occasionally bored him, she thought, but there were many things that made up for the routine. Like knowing that they would be still alive the next morning. The eagerness which Duo seemed to grasped at the mission seemed as if... as if he had been waiting to go. Something cold curled up within her. She knew what it was too. It was fear that Duo would leave and never come back. She wasn't quite sure whether it was the thought of Duo dying or something else that produced the icy ball. Perhaps it was both.

'You're a civilian now.'

'You're wrong.'

The girl was brought up short by the flat statement. She had never seen him with the look on his face before. He was serious. His expression had no hint of humor about it. Duo tilted his head.

'You see, I may be a mechanic now, but I am also a soldier. I was first a soldier and will be always. It's not something that can be taken away or changed.'

'I... ' Hirde looked away from the steady gaze. 'Duo, I... '

'And besides,' Duo said lightly, 'I'm not sure if I'm suited to civilian life.'

Hirde looked up at the unexpected change of tone. She was unable to see his face as Duo's back was turned away from her, the boy now busily packing.

'Like, the old man was forever yelling at me that I was forever late. It was like I was working for a slave driver or something. It would be good to go somewhere where I'm wanted for a change. ' He lifted up the small sack bag and began walking towards the door, pausing to glance back at Hirde. 'Don't look so worried. I'll see you when I get back, so don't cry, okay?'

'I'm not crying. And why would I?' Hirde yelled out. And she wasn't now. Her tears had dried up in favor of another emotion. Anger. Her mind thought furiously. 'Since you're not leaving without me, you moron.'

'Huh-?'

'I'm coming with you.' Hirde stated. She crossed her arms, her face set. Her whole pose dared him to object.

The braided, long-haired youth looked reflectively at her. Judging by the stubborn tilt of her head, it was apparent the cross black hair girl was not going to move from her stance.

'I'm a soldier too, just as much as you.'

Duo laughed at her almost pouting expression. He paused indecisively, studying the girl. Then he grinned. 'Sure, whatever, I'm fine with it but,' his eyes sparkled a little as he thought of the one person who would object to her presence, 'try to avoid Heero if you are. He seems to get really cranky every time he sees you.'

'Hmmp, so it was Heero who was the one who asked you. It would figure. That boy is so obsessed.' She frowned as she thought about the dark boy. 'There's something about him that scares me. He's so unreadable and ... not normal.'

'Maybe.' Duo said noncommittingly. The two had never seem to got along. When he had introduced them, it was almost as if clashing sparks lit up between Heero and Hirde each time he saw them. Almost as if they were silently declaring war over territory rights. Flashing blue eyes. A chuckle made its way up through Duo as he remembered the scenes. Heero was just too cute when he was angry. Even if he was never sure why Heero disliked Hirde so intensely.

'What are you finding so funny?'

'Um,' he coughed slightly. 'Nothing really.'

'Oh?' She looked at him with narrowed eyes.

Duo smiled at her and winked.

'Duo-!'

The long-haired boy simply laughed and danced out of her reach.

Duo was waiting in the large atrium of the Winner mansion. A grin lit his face and it would not go away. He was smiling at the reflection of himself in the window. He did not know why he was happy. Or perhaps he did. Maybe Hirde was right when she accused him of looking forward to the company of the others. Duo chuckled. She was booking the flight now for the four of them. Quatre was still unaware of the mission and Duo wanted to tell him personally.

'Sir, Master Quatre is ready to see you. Please come this way.'

He looked away from his reflection at the servant's entrance. 'Uh, yeah... ' he was still unused to the rich surroundings and luxury Quatre lived in. It discomforted him a little, the sheer splendor of it all. He could not relax in such a place.

The servant led him to two large, oak double doors. The hinges did not creak as the butler open the door, swinging out silently.

'Ah, Duo!' The blond boy looked up from his desk and then stood. 'I haven't seen you for a while.'

'Yeah, I've been busy at the junk site.'

The Arabian had grown tall since the war ended so Duo no longer looked him directly in the eye, but instead looked a little upwards. Despite this, Quatre still retained the soft, boyish look around his face, an innocence still uncorrupted. He seemed not to notice the many looks he got from the female half of the household staff. Although seemingly outwardly comospolitian at times, the young blond was still very much a young boy.

'Wufei is calling for us to all go on a mission.'

Quatre blinked at Duo's direct statement. He immediately understood that Duo was not visiting for social reasons. 'Where?'

'Not sure yet, but Wufei wants us to meet them at L-1.'

'Is it really necessary that we go personally ourselves?'

The American youth shrugged. 'I dunno, but if Heero and Wufei want's our asses down there, it's best for all three of us to follow.'

'All three of us? Does that mean Trowa too?'

'Yeah, Trowa's coming along too.'

'Eh?' He was surprised. The silent pilot was a peaceful person. It was not like Trowa to actively seek out battles. Not like... 'Heero's coming too, isn't he?' Quatre deducted correctly. A brief flicker of sadness and mingled pain crossed his face at the thought of the other boy.

The braided pilot had his attention focused on the neatly organized desk piled high with paperwork and missed the other's passing expression 'Uh, yeah,' he grinned. 'All five of us together again. It'll be just like old times.' He pounded Quatre hard on the back, nearly knocking the other over with his force. 'Don't tell me you don't miss the action of dodging bullets, living life on the edge and all that. It's gotta be better then all this. Ssh, with all this, I wonder how you manage to find the time to keep in touch with everyone.' He swept his hand out in a wide gesture to illustrate his point, then his eyes widen as he caught side of the digits on the face of the wristwatch he wore. 'Gya, we're going to be late. The shuttle Hirde's booking us on leaves at twenty past, in about seventeen minutes! Shit.' His braid swung out widely as Duo turned on his heels and headed towards the door. 'C'mon, don't be so slow. Trowa's probably already there at the launch pad.' The doors swished shut silently after him. The room seemed deathly quiet without the other talkative boy inside.

The blond boy rubbed the sore spot on the back of his shoulders. His normally relaxed face was pensive as he looked towards the closed doors. He walked over to the large desk he had been working at before Duo interrupted him. Pressing a button on his laptop, he called up the reconstruction sector.

'Rasid?'

'Yes Master Winner.' The bushy, beard man appeared up on the screen.

'I'm leaving here for a while. I am so sorry as to leave you without much notice but...'

'Master Winner, there is no need for you to apologize.' He held up a hand to stop Quatre's verbal outpouring. 'It is already understood.'

A shared bond between them made allowances for any liberty Rasid may have taken in silencing the younger boy. He had been with Quatre since Quatre had been born. The relationship between Quatre and his men testified to the respect and love his people had for him. It was a closeness between ruler and ruled which rivaled, if not surpassing, the honor people paid to the lady Relena, the vice president chairman of the world and renounced princess of the Sank kingdom.

'I will try to be back as soon as possible', Quatre promised.

'I can handle things from this end but... '

'Yes Rasid?'

'You look pale.'

The obvious concern in Rasid's voice comforted Quatre. 'Er, it's nothing really... ' the lie came out badly. Quatre blushed furiously as Rasid looked hard at him. Please let it pass, Quatre begged silently. To his relief, Rasid did. The older man refrained from commenting.

'I have to go now. Please take care of things while I'm gone.'

'Will do.' The man saluted smartly. 'Please take care of yourself sir.'

'I will.' He smiled. 'Later then, Rasid.' Quatre clicked the file shut.

'Ag-' pain stabbed through his heart and he clutched at his chest. He began taking deep breaths, trying to untense his muscles. Gradually, the sharp pain subsided, leaving behind a familiar haunting emotion. 'Again... this is so familiar. This bittersweet pain inside,' he breathed out harshly, then drew in a quick breath before expelling it. 'Why do I still feel it?' he closed his eyes tightly, 'won't it ever end?' He felt a prickling behind his lids, but no tears escaped. He had long since passed the stage where crying offered any semblance of relief.

The automatic door swished open. Sally entered the communications room. Immediately her attention went to the two boys in the corner. As she expected, Wufei and Heero were here. A smile curved her lips as she saw the young Chinese boy look up at her arrival and nodded once before turning back to his surly counterpart. He had not bother to greet her verbally but Sally did not mind. Wufei only spoke when the subject compelled him to do so.

Although at times blunt to the point of rudeness, Sally knew very well a heart of gold laid behind his words and actions. The other boy on the other hand was a mystery to her. He had refused her offer to join the Preventers a year ago and yet, almost two weeks back, had simply turned out of nowhere and announce bluntly that he was now in the force. Whatever he had been looking for during all that time must have excluded him, if the dark brown haired boy had been looking for something in the first place. The two seem content together, if not happy. It was strange but Sally felt a little left out when she was with them. It was if some invisible bound of friendship forged in the war formed an almost tangible link between them. She guessed that it would be true with all the Gundam pilots. Warriors whom had gone through war together.

She clutched at the folder she held and drew in a deep breath. It was silly that she should be still a little nervous when she approached Wufei. After all, they had worked alongside as collages for a long time, and doing the period of the wars too. She was a grown woman. The two turned to face her as she drew up before her.

'Have you got the location data yet, woman?'

Sally frowned at Wufei. His tone still left a lot to be desired about being a female, she thought. Still, it since it was Wufei, she could live with it. Still, it did get a bit irritating at times.

'Woman, where is your head? I asked you whether you have the location data yet?'

Like now. 'Oh, yes-'

'Division forty five of L1.' Heero was already flickering through the thick folder Sally brought. The boy had simply walked over before and taken the folder. His piercing blue eyes were already scanning the contents of the folder. 'Main base camp position is undersea. Are the co-ordinates for the storage sites established yet?'

'No. Although almost all of the storage sites have been found, they cannot be deactivated. They are all interlinked and the only possible switch off point is the trigger. But,' Sally looked straight at Wufei and Heero, 'the whereabouts of the trigger is unknown. I suspect it's located either deep inside or hidden in a location not too far from the base, but the radar isn't coming up with anything. The intranet computer system is not connected to any outside lines so we can't hack into it and get the information out without raising any alarms.'

'I've already taken care of that.'

Sally paused, surprised.

'Where is it?'

'The main frame of this building here,' he tapped at a marked point close to the base, 'is a cover frame for half of the trigger system named Eighteen X. The actual system of Eighteen X is controlled somewhere inside the base. Both have to be de-activated at the same time, the outer cover and the internal cover. It is a variation on an old control system once used on Earth. The operation of the trigger is partially manual and partially computer based. We have to get into both places to finish the job with five days without triggering the release and before they activate.' Heero paused, studying the aerial map of the area rendered in three dimension lines. Numerous red blocks and criss crosses surrounded the base on the map.

'Ninety eight point nine percent of the surrounding terrain is completely monitored. The only area weakly monitored is about five hundred and eighty meters away from the base.' He tapped the spot. 'Leave two OZ-09MMS Pisces here. We'll need it on the way back.'

'Two sites?' She frowned. If the trigger had to be de-activated from two sites simultaneously... Heero would not work with any other Preventer beside Wufei and rarely with herself. The operation required more than three people though.

'I leave it to you Wufei. You can inform the others.' Heero slapped the folder closed. He handed the folder to Wufei and then turned away from the two.

'The others... ?'

Wufei nodded. 'The other three are coming as well. Otherwise the plan won't work.'

'What plan?'

'Later woman. I'll explain when the Quatre and the others arrive.'

'My name is Sally.' She pointed out, stressing the last two syllables slightly.

Wufei shot the older woman an irritated and faintly puzzled look. 'I know that woman, I am not a fool.'

The mansion was getting closed in. Despite it's considerable size and long corridors leading the way to the many hundred rooms, the mansion still felt like a cage. A glided cage but a cage nevertheless. She stared at the reflection in the mirror. A young girl's image looked back at her. Yet she was not a young girl. Her responsibilities seemed to have always burdened her shoulders. Even as a child she had taken the role of leader, perhaps unconsciously aware of the path she had to lead. Peacecraft. The name marked her role as much as it marked her aristocratic face. Even when she went by the name of Darlian there were many remainders of her true blood heritage. She stared at the perfect features that many others envied. Relena saw nothing to be envied about her face. It trapped her, and made her unable to freely pursue her one true dream.

'Heero... ' she breathed out the cherished name. The name that represented everything she secretly wished for, the girl inside her and not the politician. 'Where are you?'

She was tired already with the constant travelling between colonies. The moments when she had glimpsed Heero had been all but too brief. She was tired physically as well as emotionally. To achiever complete peace, mankind had to desire true peace in his heart. Yet the hearts of many were fickle, and given to the desire for power and turmoil. It was with persistent effort she kept the war wolves at bay. It was important, no, it was necessary for her to continue, no matter what dream she secretly held. A shade of brown caught her eye and she looked down from her reflection towards a small bear sitting below on the dressing table. The black beads of the eye seemed sympathetic to her heart. Relena smiled and cuddled the soft, plushness of the bear, her eyes closed briefly in happiness. Heero had given her the bear. Did it meant that he liked her? She did not know. Sometimes she thought she was getting through to him, but other times he seemed so distant.

A knocking was heard.

'Miss. Darlian? The president would like to speak with you.' The voice of her secretary brought her back. Relena sighed as she replaced the bear on the table. 'Yes, I will be coming now.' She flipped back her hair and tied it with a purple ribbon. Relena looked back into the mirror.

'Maybe afterwards... After all this, I will tell him.' she promised herself. She did not think of what would come after that. All she knew that she wanted to let him know of her feelings. She looked down at the lonely bear.

'I want to let you know of this feeling which intensifies each time I see you. I want to let you know of my affection for you.' Relena reached out and touched the bear's head, feeling the silky fur. 'Heero.'

Heero moved around his room quickly, placing the few items he had in the black bag open on his bed. Years of permanently shifting from place to place accustomed Heero to living on the bare basics. The bag only contained another change of clothes and his gun. Included, hidden away in the folds of his clothes, was a small photo. He zipped up the bag, glancing at the watch on his wrist as he did so. 1:23 PM. The shuttle carrying Duo, Trowa and Quatre would be arriving at 2:45 PM. He had more than a hour left to start setting up the cover.

He sat down on before the room's computer and switched it on. As the startup screen appeared he slipped a thin disk in. The familiar blue screen appeared before him. Enter Access Code. Searching for... , Heero's fingers rapidly tapped the last word in. The computer flickered silently. Then Heero began the process of enrolling himself and the others in the private school nearby the base.

Trowa was silent throughout the flight. That was to be expected. The dark green eye boy flickered silently through the book he held, ignoring the scenery outside by his right. However Quatre was quiet too, and that surprised Duo. On his attempts to draw the blond out, Quatre failed several times to notice that Duo had spoken. Instead he seemed to be stare at the window across Trowa. Duo gave up his efforts during the flight to draw him out and instead chattered excessively to Hirde, who was on the left of him.

The stars seem to had captured Quatre's complete attention. Although the four of them sat together, only two of them talked much during the flight. When they stepped out of the launch, Wufei and Sally was there to meet them. Duo waved to them. Quatre seemed to snap out of his odd mood then, much to Duo's relief. He had begun thinking that there was something really wrong with the blond boy.

'Sally, Wufei, it's been a long time since we've seen you. How have you been?' He quickly walked over to shake Sally's hand.

'Fine. And you?'

'Good thank you.' Quatre released the older woman's hand, quickly turning to the Chinese pilot.

A startled looked crossed Wufei's face when the taller boy grasped his two hands. 'Nihao, Wufei.'

Duo chuckled at the uncomfortable look on Wufei's face. Unlike Quatre, Wufei preferred to keep all contact with other persons to a minimum. Quatre's display threw him. It showed clearly on his face.

'I am well thanks.' His normally impassive face slipped into place. 'I see you have studied the old language of my ancestors.'

'Mm. I took quite an interest in languages when I was young, although now I'm a little out of practice with Chinese..' The look Quatre gave Wufei was a trifle uncertain. 'Perhaps we can spend some time together learning, if that isn't too much trouble.' At the Asian boy's nod, Quatre broke out in a happy smile.

'But only once the mission is complete.' Wufei added. Quatre nodded at this and then looked around. 'Speaking of which, where's Heero?'

That was what Duo had been wondering too. Unlike Quatre, who had only just noticed the absence of the pilot, Duo had noticed it immediately. Somehow, he felt a little deflated by Heero's absence.

'I don't-'

'He's over there.' Trowa said suddenly. The light brown hair youth pointed towards the far exit of the station. Duo had to scan the crowds for several seconds before he found Heero. The boy looked up at the same time Duo saw him. Even over the distance, Duo felt the stare of the Prurission blue eyes laser deep into his soul. He couldn't breath. Did he see everything? He couldn't know, could he? For some reason disjointed thoughts ran though his head. No, it was impossible, Heero...

And then the spell broke. Duo blinked as Heero glance away from him and towards the others. He shook his head groggily, confused.

'It looks like he's waiting for us.' Trowa walked past the still disorientated Duo. 'You don't want to keep him waiting, do you Duo?' the boy carelessly tossed over his shoulder as he went by.

'Huh? No.' Duo shook his head to clear his mind. Weird thoughts, he had been thinking weird thoughts. Briefly, he wondered where they came from. It was like the bubbling of some inner spring, if one was to be poetic about it. He shrugged off the strange feeling and threw a smile at the other four. 'Let's go now.'

Quatre slowly released Wufei from his hold. 'Mm, let's.' Something flickered across the black depths of the young Asian eyes. 'Wait.' He held out a hand to Quatre.

'Huh?'

Without speaking any further, Wufei lifted the bag Quatre carried from him and held it.

'Oh, you don't have to... '

'I would prefer to do so.' The stoic expression said little as to why. Quatre looked puzzled at the tightly lipped boy.

'Eh, thank you very much.'

Wufei then quickly went up to Hirde and took her bag as well, ignoring her thanks. Carrying both bags, he began walking towards where Heero was. The Asian quickly overtook Duo and Trowa.

'Hey!' Duo shouted. He lifted up his bag. 'What about mine?'

'You're like a horse. You can carry it yourself.' Wufei growled out, without looking back.

'What's that suppose to mean?'

'That you are like a horse.'

'That doesn't make it any more clear to me Trowa,' complained Duo.

The silent pilot ignored him.

'Duo?'

'Eh?' Duo looked down as a small hand slipped underneath his elbow. A smiling Hirde looked up at him.

'I don't think that you are a horse.'

The braided pilot groaned. 'Please, not you too.'

Hirde stuck out her tongue teasingly. Behind Quatre and SalIy laughed at his disgruntled look.

'If you guys are going to call me a horse, at least tell me what the heck you mean by that.'

'Ask Trowa.'

'Trowa-'

'Ask Wufei.'

Duo sighed, exasperated. As if he could. Wufei was already almost hundred meters away from the group. No use worrying about it, he would ask the fast moving Chinese pilot later on. Duo drew up near Heero and Wufei. Wufei stood apart from the Heero. Judging by his impatient look, it was clear that he was waiting for the remaining two. Heero nodded a nod of acknowledgement to the shorter boy next to Duo. Heero had also outgrown Trowa. The formally tallest pilot of the five was now the shortest, although he was still comfortably over the average height. Heero turned to Duo.

'Hey.' Duo grinned at Heero, 'long time no see. Miss me?'

Heero glared at Duo. To his surprise, Duo realized he had a few centimeters on Heero. The other gave him an icier appraisal. It was then Duo realized he had been staring at Heero for well over a minute. He quickly covered his lapse with a smile. 'Man Heero, you are so cold. At least you can say hello to your old pal Duo?'

Heero's gaze dropped to Hirde, who was still leaning against Duo. The girl returned his glare with another. Duo winced. He knew they didn't like each other, but Heero was over reacting a little. He blinked in surprise as Heero swung around abruptly without saying anything.

'Heero?'

'We're leaving in a hour. The girl stays here.'

'What!' Hirde gasped out, surprised. 'Excuse me?'

Heero turned. There was not hint of expression on his face but Duo had the gut feeling that the other boy was smirking inside. 'The mission requires us to pose as students,' he said calmly. There was a little pause, 'at a boys school.'

'School? We're going to school?' Duo injected. The other pilot ignored the question.

Hirde looked lost at Heero's statement. 'What... ?'

'You would be just in the way.'

'Oh... really?' she slumped. 'So I'm not wanted here... '

'No.'

'Yes, she is.'

Heero did not flicker as much as an eyelash as Sally joined in, however Duo could tell by the slight tensing of his jaw that the shorter boy was irritated by the woman's interruption. His face remained impassive as Heero looked up towards Sally.

'What do you mean by that?'

'If we are to have two Pisces, we need two pilots. There are two places to be hit, so the five of you will be busy,'

'Two of us is enough for both targets. The spare can pilot the other suit. We do not need Hirde.'

'Still, it is better to have a back up. This is an important mission.' Heero glanced at the now smiling Hirde. 'Do what you like.' He turned around and began walking away.

Duo looked at the retreating back of the short hair pilot. 'Hey, wait up will ya?' he ran to catch the pilot up, leaving the group behind. 'You know, you two don't get along very well. Why's that? Hirde's a great girl.' Heero did not respond. Feeling the icy waves from him, Duo decided to change the subject. 'Anyway, you know what?'

'What?'

'You still haven't said hello to me.' The dark brown hair boy turned his head towards Duo.

'And is that important?'

For some reason it was. To him, it was very important for Heero to acknowledge his presence and this surprised Duo. He struggled with himself to discover why, only to find out he did not consciously know.

Unconsciously, he did. Some of his confused emotions must have shown it on his face because Heero suddenly smiled. Duo was taken aback by the sight. He had never seen him really smile before. The smile gentled the normally hard set expression on Heero's face. And he liked it.

'Hello Duo.' Heero said softly.

Duo stopped mid-stride, and stared stunned at Heero. His pulse quickened as he was left momentarily speechless.

'Aren't you going to say hello back?' there was an odd note to his voice.

'Ah... hello Heero.' For some reason, Duo could not think as his attention focused on the movement Heero made with his lips. It appealed to him. 'Hello Heero... ' he repeated.

Then the dark hair boy moved off, leaving behind a frozen boy in shock about the rampant thoughts that had ran through his head. He had been looking at the other boy as if... he found Heero attractive. He had wanted him. There was no doubt it was not a trick of his mind. His body had reacted too. A guilty flush spread across his cheeks as he realized the nature of his attraction. Oh God, he had never suspected that he... to Heero, of all people.

'Duo... ?'

His head jerked up. Trowa looked at him, his expression mildly inquisitive.

'What are you doing here standing? The others have already gone by.'

'Ummm... ', some reason his mind would not work. 'Eh, nothing.' He began laughing and raised an hand to his head. Duo hoped the green piercing eyes did not see as much as it seemed. 'Nothing really at all. I guess I was daydreaming.'

'Oh.'

Duo laughed nervously and quickly looked away. 'Ah, guess we'd better catch up to them then. They walk pretty fast.'

'Mm.'

The silent boy turned and begun walking. Duo followed him. Although he kept up a one way conversation with Trowa, his turmoiling thoughts were directed inwards.

Although he was still smiling and talking, Trowa sensed that Duo was hiding something. He studied seemingly open face intently. Although Duo still looked at him in the face, the boy did not maintain it for long periods. It struck him that Duo was feeling discomforted by the intense study. As if he had discovered something that unease him and wanted to hide the fact. A faint, sad smile touched his lips as he drew his conclusion. It looked like Duo did like Heero after all. He had not been entirely sure before, but he had guessed. Another futile hope gone. However he did not moan its disappearance. Reality was reality. It was going to make the boy uneasy around Heero from now, he knew, at least until Duo realized Heero too... Trowa's eyes darkened painfully. Sooner or later, he knew it had to happen. Perhaps he should tell Duo outright. It would be better if the long braid pilot knew sooner... for the both of them.

'Duo.' He interrupted the pilot mid-speech.

'Huh? What is it?'

'There's something that you should know... '

'Know about what?'

'Heero.'

The other boy flinched and paled visibly at Trowa's mention of Heero's name.

'What about Heero?' There was a hint of unease in the cobalt blue depths. Trowa looked up at him, his expression bland. As usually, he adopted his mask. It kept the keening jealousy he felt hidden away. Keep the words short and simple, he thought dully. Treat like a mission statement. Except that he couldn't. He could not speak the words. It was stupid of him, not being able to voice the sentence that Heero loved Duo. As if he was afraid voicing it would make it more truer than it was already. He had dealt with the fact for years now. There was nothing left but for the two to get together. Except perhaps the utter destruction of the foolish dream he had quietly held within.

But the moment passed.

'Sally and Hirde have gone ahead on the hourly shuttle as to organize the end over there,' interrupted a voice. 'We will not meet them until the actual operation begins.' The two turned. Wufei had detached himself from the main group and had waited for the two pilots to brief them on the developments. Apparently the group ahead already had a quick briefing about the mission. 'All of the Preventer offices on Colony eight six are monitored, so there will be no direct correspondence with Sally until near the end.'

The time to speak to Duo privately was lost. Trowa looked away from the relieved features of the pilot whom he held in friendship and hatred, to focus on the frowning Chinese pilot. Despite his usual insensitivity, the Asian pilot seemed to sense that his presence had somehow intruded upon something important. Trowa glanced once more at Duo briefly. The chestnut hair pilot looked away. Trowa looked back at Wufei. Quickly, he turned his mind turned towards the mission. Time enough for personal talks later.

'Who do we go through?' he asked and listened as Wufei explained.

~CHAPTER TWO~ Sleepless Night

Heero had traced the source of the original half of the outer shell of Eighteen X to the hard drive of the secretary of the school during the earlier on. He logged onto the computer via a false electronic doorway he secured last night. Now he had to disable the layers of protection on the system. It was the decoding at night that was going to take the majority of the time limit he assessed. One wrong move, and the electronic system would immediately eliminate any possibilities of disenabling the project. In a move made fluid by experience, Heero inserted a special disk into the drive and began his night work. He ignored the figure by the doorway. His face directed towards the blue glowing monitor. No word passed between them, although Heero was well aware of the others presence. He simply ignored the light brown hair youth. However the rippled of the undercurrent of tension existed between them.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sound of the keyboard clicking away was loud in the silent room. Trowa watched him, his eyes peacefully settled on the boy's face. He had been standing there, leaning against the wall for over two hours now, content in simply studying Heero.

He looked at Heero beneath his lashes, admiring the straight back pose of the boy as he listened for footsteps down the hall. There was no footsteps, allowing him to continue studying the other. Heero had slender fingers, he noted. They moved seemly perfect and graceful over the numerous keys. He had the sudden urge to still them and draw them away, towards him. To feel the warmth of their touch. His own fingers twitched and he shifted his stance to shove his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Touching did not come naturally to either of them, and the desire to do so still felt alien to him. It was one feeling he could do without, he thought cynically. He looked away from Heero, and out towards the empty hallways.

'Trowa.'

The tapping had stopped. Heero had turned in his seat to look at Trowa.

'Get Wufei. You disturb me too much.'

They looked at each other. Knowledge flickered between them. Trowa knew that Heero was well aware of his feelings. And they both knew about the impossibility of it. Because of Duo. Only one other shared the secret of the relationship between them.

'Go to Quatre, Trowa.' Heero said softly, a rare element of gentleness in his voice.

Trowa looked back silently at Heero. He's not you. The words, though unspoken, was clearly heard in both minds.

The room was shadowed in darkness. A quick inspection revealed a soft, covered lump beneath the blankets of the bed on the right. Stray locks of blond hair fell messily from the head poking slightly out of the white blanket, confirming the sleeping presence of Quatre. As quietly as he can, he began to undress, unbuttoning the stiff collar of the school uniform as he tugged the necktie loose. He shrugged off the material, the tension from his shoulders beginning to fade.

'Trowa... ?' A sleepy voice inquired. Quatre had awoken despite the care he had taken not to disturb the boy. Quatre seemed to be able to always sense his presence in a room, even when asleep. Trowa made no reply. It wasn't necessary, as they both knew.

'We need to talk.'

'There isn't anything to talk about.'

'Stop it.'

Trowa head jerked up at the harshness of Quatre's command. Still, he did not turn to face him.

'Stop shutting me out Trowa. Stop wearing you mask, this is me you are with.'

He knew if he looked across the room, he would see the condemnation in the angelic blue eyes. He did not want to see it. At least not yet anyway. Trowa folded his shirt and placed it up on the top of the bedside drawer. He could feel Quatre's eyes on him, watching his every move.

'Trowa...' Quatre said his name tiredly.

After delaying the moment, he finally turned to meet Quatre. To his surprise, the blond was looking at him without anger at his delayment. Pain was reflected there however, but it was the old deadened pain he had came to become familiar with. It was something Trowa had placed in those once clear eyes and regretted. Ever since the night when their friendship had changed. Quatre had gotten use to it, but Trowa still had not.

'I hate it when you shut me out. We're more than that.'

After sleeping together during that one cold night. Ever since he had taken what Quatre offered, and attempted to destroy the innocence that was Quatre. Guilt rose in him. He could never undo what should have never been done. He had drawn the golden angel into walking the dark path he walked. And he could not save him either, as he was trapped, just as Quatre was, in the twisted tangle of unrequited love.

'I know you, and I know your heart.'

It lies with another. And it hurts.

'Tell me, it's Heero again isn't it? Something has happened.'

'Nothing has. Or at least, not between Heero and I,' he admitted softly.

'Then it's Duo. He knows now, doesn't he?'

'Not fully. Duo only knows his feelings. He's confused now. He doesn't know about the way Heero also... feels.'

'Have you told him?'

'I tried,' he said tonelessly.

'What about Heero?'

Trowa looked away.

Quatre sighed. 'No, I guessed not. That would be too much.' His blue eyes soften, 'come here Trowa.'

'Why?'

'Just come.'

Trowa moved across the room and stood before Quatre. To his sudden surprise, the blond boy reached up and grasped his hand. He pulled him into the single bed. Trowa landed on top of Quatre, his splaying to the side of Quatre's waist. Skin met skin as Quatre flung the covers around them. The blond was only clad in boxer shorts. Trowa could feel the hardness of Quatre through the thin material against his abdomen. He tensed.

'Quatre-'

A finger silenced his lips. 'I'm not asking for anything, Trowa. Don't misunderstand me, I know already. I'm just going to hold you.' Strong arms cradled him supportively. 'I feel you pain inside too.' Quatre whispered. Trowa gradually relaxed in the embrace, his face resting against Quatre's beating heart. The sound soothed him as he drew upon the quiet strength of the other. He breathed in the warmth, and wished. Knowing from the brief tightening of Quatre's embrace that the blond boy also wished the same.

'I am sorry for hurting you.'

'Don't worry about it Trowa.'

Reluctantly, Trowa forced himself away from the sympathetic warmness. He felt a sense of loss as Quatre dropped his arms away.

'You'd better return to your bed now.'

'Mm.'

He rose, and moved over to the other side of the room. And stayed there. Quatre laid there awake, watching him silently from out of his lowered eyes, secretly converting what could never be his. Heero was more than a fool at times, he thought regretfully, with a touch of anger, if he could not see the love Trowa felt for him. He studied the still figure and the seemingly peaceful face of the boy half covered by a fallen fringe. He watched the deep rhymatic breathing of the rise and fall of his chest and knew Trowa to be as wide awake as he was.

Duo could not sleep. He shifted underneath the blanket covering him. The silken boxers he wore felt too uncomfortable against his skin. He usually slept naked. Blast it, the band was too tight. He hooked a thumb under its elastic and lowered the shorts to his hips. It was only for the sake of covering himself up that he wore the black silk boxers. Even though he knew Heero would not care less, Duo did not want the Prussian blue eyes scanning his body. If the blue eyed pilot did, Duo was uncertain about how his body would react. He did not want to test out his reaction either. If Heero knew of his attraction... Lord knows he was having a hard time coming to terms with it himself. Duo did not want to see either the loathing or disgust in Heero's face if he found out. He shifted again uncomfortably. But the shorts were so goddamn uncomfortable. Duo glanced around to Heero's bed. Although the room was dark, he could see by in the dim light provided by the few stars shining through the clouds that his bed was empty. The sheets were straight, unslept in. Apparently the dark brown hair pilot was working again at the computer terminal in the head office. He had been for the last two nights, coming in only during the early morning to briefly snatch a few hours of sleep. Duo knew this well as he had been awake each time. The soft click of the door as Heero entered the dorm upon his return awoken him instantly. He had slept fitfully during the last few nights and it was all the boxers fault. He pulled down the smooth material further, letting the air in and cool his warm skin. That was it. Duo slipped his other thumb into the side of his boxer shorts. The blasted pants were going. Quickly undressing under the covers Duo then thew the offending boxer pants away. They landed in a far corner. Snuggling down beneath his blanker, now happier in his natural state, Duo reasoned that the blanket was adequate cover. Not that there would be much to see in the dark. As for the morning, he would wait for Heero to exit the bedroom before he got up. Simple. That was what he had done in the past. There really had been no reason for him to wear them either. He had no idea how Heero could slept fully clothed, especially in those tight jeans he constantly wore, but it was definitely not to his taste. Closing his eyes, he dozed off, sleeping soundly for first time for quite a while.

The night rain had finished falling when Heero arrived back. The cloud cover had been minimal so the shower had been light. Still, his shirt was soaked through to his skin. It clung to his body as he fished out his room key in his pocket. With a soft click, Heero opened the door and entered, his attention immediately going to the figure on the other bed automatically.

Heero inhaled sharply. Since the rain had stopped, the full light of the stars shone brightly through the window, illuminating fully the spawled figure on top of a twisted blanket. Duo was naked. The black silk boxers that had so irritated him laid crumpled in the right corner. The shorts the chestnut hair pilot had been wearing over the last two nights had obviously been discarded in favor of bare skin. Desire burned within him as his eyes devoured the sight. Duo had grown more muscular, bigger and manly since the last few years. He had outgrown Heero in many regards.

Without intending to, Heero found himself standing over the other youth. His eyes darkened with lust as he studied the sleeping boy. There was a dangerous chance that Duo would awaken suddenly and see him, however... A rare smile touched his lips. The possibility was almost non-existent. He could tell by the deep, rhymatic breathing that Duo slept deeply. The braided ex-pilot would not wake up easily. Heero studied the soft rise and fall of the boy's chest, his eyes following the chiseled flesh downward towards the lower part of his abdomen. There, his gaze stayed, his body hardening in visual response. Heero licked his lips dryly. Duo was beautiful. He looked up again to Duo's sleeping face. A stray lock of hair tempted his fingers.

Unable to stop himself, Heero reached over and brushed the loose lock away from Duo's face. His knuckles brushed against the boy's cheek. A intense spark flared at the contact. Heero exhaled out. He had been holding his breath. Guiltily, Heero reached out and touched the soft skin again, tracing a light path towards Duo's slightly parted lips. He touched them, feeling the softness of Duo beneath his fingers. Then he lent down and kissed Duo. He slipped his tongue briefly in, licking and tasting him briefly before quickly retreating. A flush spread through his body as he drew away. Heero immediately checked Duo to see for any signs of awaking. Nothing. The boy was still asleep. His breathing still steady.

The long length of his hair laid curved over one shoulder, braided as always into a plait. Heero picked it up and held the end to his cheek, brushing the loose, feathery soft hair against his cheeks. It had been a long time since he had felt its sensation. He had never seen it freed... his fingers crept over the thin black band which bounded the silky mane together. His eyelids lowered thoughtfully as he touched the tense, tight band. One quick pull downward, and he would be able to give in his desire. To finally find out what the braided pilot looked like without his plait. Unrestricted and flowing. The Prussian eyes glittered as Heero reluctantly drew his fingers back from the band.

He could look. And that he did, his gaze drinking in the sight of the unknowing boy. He reached downwards with one hand, pausing above the bare skin. Heat radiated from Duo's skin through the few millimeter separating the boy's skin from his touch. Heero traced over the curved muscles, above the sleeping Duo. The desire to touch him clawed at his gut. Heero tortured himself more, allowing his hand to drift down Duo's body, and further still. Duo shifted in his sleep. Bare flesh brushed against his hand. Male flesh. A exclamation hissed through Heero's clenched jaw. He felt himself jerk a little. His eyes darted quickly to Duo's. The chestnut hair boy was only breathing a little more faster, otherwise there was not much change. Still asleep. Heero relaxed and a satisfied smile curved his lips. He touched Duo again. He caressed him, his thumb rubbing against the tip of Duo's penis in a circular motion. As he watched, the member began to thicken and rise. He felt the beating pulse against his light hold. Keeping his eyes on Duo's face, he lent down and kissed one nipple. He flicked his tongue quickly around the erected nub, savoring the sensation against the very edge of his tongue. He could hear the rapid heart beat of Duo pounding beneath him.

Nervous excitement raced through him and peaked as Duo let out a little moan. Heero drew back his head and studied Duo's face. The other boy was breathing a lot faster now. He waited until Duo had calmed down a little. Even though he knew it was wrong, he wanted the boy. And hence he acted upon his desires. After a while, he touched Duo again. With both his hands, he began to stroking Duo's penis. As he felt Duo began to harden against his palms, he lent down and nipped his tip lightly, following the bite with a smoothing caress of his tongue. He breathed lightly across the stiff member, watching Duo closely as the other moaned again. However this time he did not withdraw away. Instead he trailed his tongue further downwards, towards the roundness resting between Duo's legs. Opening his mouth wide, he took half of one testicle in and suckled it. With his right hand, he fondled the other. A deep groan came from Duo's throat. His breathing grew more erratic.

Not good. He wasn't done yet. Despite wanting to see the cobalt blue eyes open in clouded want, the consequences were too uncertain. He stopped and waited for the other boy to drift back to a safer realm of sleep. Moments stretched as his heart thumped anxiously. It was when Duo gave a little sigh, and slipped back did Heero allow himself to move. Gazing in fascination at the proud erection Duo displayed, Heero moved to the foot of the bed, then lowered himself gradually onto the sleeping boy. He took the majority of his weight on to his hands, only allowing a few parts of himself to brush against Duo. He felt the hardness of Duo against his own through the thickness of the denim jeans he wore. Heero lift up his shirt and rubbed his abdomen against the penis, moving down. After trailing butterfly kisses down the hard, muscular body, his lips again reached the standing manhood of Duo. With an eager sigh, he took him into his mouth. Heero sucked hard on Duo. He flickered his tongue away from the tip, down to the curve of Duo's buttocks. Heero felt the tension in his own body build up, however with great self disclipine, he kept himself reined in. His body convulsed at the effort. He licked two of his own fingers quickly, then with a quick thrust, he inserted them into Duo's bottom. The muscles gripped his fingers reflexively as he pushed them upwards, and pressed against the firm wall he encountered. A shudder racked through Duo's body, alerting Heero to the oncoming flow. Hot, wet cum exploded into his mouth. He heard a half, muffled cry from Duo as the boy's pelvis thrusted upwards. Greedily he lapped the whiteness all up, forgetting himself in the delicious taste of the other. Little groans and sighs were now coming regularly from the boy in short intervals. They excited him further until Heero could no longer hold himself in. He came as he drank in the liquid, a hot, fiery explosion dampening the front of his crotch. One loud cry snapped Heero back. Duo was moaning louder. Lifting his eyes up, he noticed that the chestnut hair boy was clutching the bed sheets tightly as urgent shudders lapsed through him.

The boy's face was tightened in pleasure as the remnants of his orgasm rocked through him. Then Duo's face relaxed, once again peaceful.

Heero's eyes widened in surprise and relief. Duo had slept through it all. Not quite believing it, he moved closer to him. The eyes stayed closed. He was definitely asleep. However his breathing was becoming irregular, signaling that Duo was rapidly awakening. Heero quickly rolled off the bed. He had better get back to his own before Duo found out what he had done to him.

A moan arose from the back of his throat as Duo awoken dreamily. Heero... he opened his eyes to the darkened room, the name forming on his lips. Then he snapped quickly awake, and turned to check the other bed. The back of the dark brown hair boy faced him. God, I hope I didn't say that aloud, Duo thought anxiously. He felt a familiar stickiness on his lower body, a testament to the intensity of his dream. The bed lay damp beneath him. A deep flush of embarrassment burned his cheeks. He had thought he was past the age of losing control but apparently not. He touched himself below then quickly snatched his hand back. Duo took another quick look at the other bed, then slid out of his own. The night air cooled his too hot skin, flowing around his nudity. He pulled the sheets off his bed and dropped them to the floor. Hell, he had to get them cleaned before daybreak. He rummaged silently through the closet. There wasn't a spare set of sheets. Inwardly, he cursed. There was a laundremat downstairs he could break in he knew, but what a bother. But it had been good. Duo thew a guilty look towards Heero.

If only... get your mind out of there Duo, Heero was not like that. The guy's too straight and unbending for that. Duo pulled onto his jeans, For god's sake, he's got Relena. Although... no, it was foolish dream. With a wistful glance, Duo snucked out to wash away the stained evidence. Behind him, Heero's eyes opened.

Something awoke him. Quatre drifted from the depths of his sleep towards light. He slowly open his eyes and fuzzily focused on the view before him. The person before the window drew into focus, the breaking of false light bathed the person's features in a soft, bluish tint. It was Trowa. The banged boy was already dressed in his uniform despite the early hour. He was leaning on the window still with his hands, his face directed towards the early morning light. The look on his face was unusually open. Quatre could read every emotion there. The one that struck him the most was the deep sadness conveyed by the slight, downward slope of his mouth. Heero. Trowa was thinking about Heero again. The brown hair boy was always on his mind during missions. The passing time had not change Trowa's habit. Quatre rose up on his elbow to study Trowa better. The covers fell from his chest as he did so, falling with a soft shish down to his waist. The barely audible sound alerted the other boy and he turned his head.

'Good morning Trowa', his voice was husky from sleeping.

Trowa smiled slight. 'Not for you quite yet. Go back to sleep.' The boy walked over and pulled back the covers over Quatre's shoulder.

'I can't.' He reached out and grasped the other's hand. Quatre lifted Trowa's upturned palm to his lips and kissed it briefly. 'Not when you're like this.'

Trowa drew back his had as Quatre released it. 'There's nothing you can do. Please, don't worry so much about me.'

'I can't help it.'

Green eyes flickered with despair. Quatre felt Trowa gently brush his hair away from his face.

'I know.' He looked towards the door.

Quatre followed his gaze. 'Where are you going?'

'Outside, I want to see the sunrise from the gardens.'

'Wait, I'll come.'

'No, stay. You need your rest.'

It was his way of saying that he wanted to be alone, Quatre knew. Despite Trowa's tact, Quatre still felt hurt. Nevertheless, he respected Trowa's feelings. Trowa stood back, his hand dropping away from Quatre's cheek. He felt cold without the warmth of Trowa's hand. The boy turned and walked away. As usual Quatre watched him leave, ignoring the familiar pain inside.

At the click of the closed door, Quatre laid back down and closed his eyes. Sleep did not come.

He sat there, looking over the sloping hillside where he could see the faint traces of sunlight appearing. His hair hanged over one eye as he looked towards the horizon. The air was cooler outside than in the dorm, the snap of the oncoming winter evident in the breeze. Trowa shivered and drew his arms closer towards his chest, bring his knees closer too for comfort. The longsleaves of the white shirt were thin and did not offer much protection against the cold.

Soft footsteps alerted him to the presence of a new arrival. He did not need to turn around to know it was Heero behind him. Trowa could sense his presence anywhere. The footsteps paused behind him.

'You don't sleep much.'

'Neither do you.' Trowa replied, still not looking back. 'You sleep less than I do.'

'I guess we both have reasons not to.'

Jean clad legs came into his view as the other sat down. Trowa could smell the freshly washed scent of the other. Heero had taken a shower recently, the traces of the soaps perfume still lingered on his skin. It was subtle, but he still picked the scent up. His senses was heightened when the boy was near him. The wind whipped through the land, fluttering the material of his shirt. It pierced the thin layer to his skin. Trowa shivered.

A arm came around him and he drawn towards warmth. Heero held him.

'Only because we are both cold,' he explained softly. 'Nothing else.'

Trowa did not care. The arm sheltered him from the wind and he was warm. The two watched the rising of a new sun in silence.

Quatre stuck his hands underneath his upper arms and shivered. The outside was cold. He tried, but he could not get back to sleep. Quatre glanced at gold watch he wore on his left wrist. Anyway it wasn't that long till he had to get up. Trowa would be on top of the small hill past the gardens Quatre knew. That was where he had gone for the past few days. He knew that Trowa wanted to be alone, but Quatre did not planned to meet with him. He just wanted to see briefly if Trowa was okay or not. The innate despair he had seen in the other's green eyes disturbed him. It reminded him of another time.

The end of the walkway appeared. Quatre shifted his feet and walked off track, towards the large on the left. He stopped behind it. From there he could see the horizon. . His eyes sought Trowa. He found him by the main grassy knoll, sitting closely beside another figure. A boy with dark, brown hair. The two were leaning against each other.

Quatre's heart clenched. He had to support himself by placing a hand on the tree. Although he knew that Trowa was only truly content with Heero, the reminder hurt. He lent against the rough bark of the tree, his gaze focused on the two. They looked content together, the lonely Trowa no longer alone, at least for then. He hugged himself, and turned away from the scene. Lifting one foot in front of another, he began to walk away.

~CHAPTER THREE~ Communication

Hirde hummed a little tune as she watched the mass of shifting, moving bodies of students going from class to class. She attracted many stares, not so as much as she was the only female there, but she was an attractive girl. Hirde smiled at one passing boy who whistled and gave her a wink. However the boy was not the one she was waiting for. She spotted the sway of a chestnut braid in the crowd. Abruptly, she straightened from her perch.

'Duo!'

The boy turned, his eyes surprised as Hirde ran up to him.

'Hirde, what are you doing here?'

'I wanted to surprise you', she giggled.

Duo smiled down at her. 'Ah, you certainly have', he glanced around and then lent down and whispered, 'now everyone thinks I have a girlfriend. See their envious looks?'

'You're a tease.' Hirde laughed and nudged him with her elbow. She blushed. Two hands came between Hirde and Duo and pushed them apart firmly. Hirde looked up in irritation at the rough intrusion. Blue eyes looked coldly at her beneath dark, brown hair.

'What is your real reason?'

Hirde scowled and slipped her hand into her pocket. She gave the disk discretely to Heero. 'That's got the software you requested from Sally.' A frown passed his face. 'I asked her to download it to my laptop.' Hirde shrugged carelessly. She attached herself to Duo's arms. 'So now Duo, I think you promised me some ice cream.'

'I did? When?'

The girl smiled charmingly at him. 'Just now.' She pulled him away from

Heero and towards the exit. 'Come on now.'

The braided boy laughed and turned to his companion, 'do you want to come as well?'

Discomfort flickered across Hirde's face at the inclusion. She looked anxiously at the brown hair boy for his reply. The other caught her look, and scowled.

'No, I'm fine.'

She breathed out a sigh of relief as the other boy turned and walked briskly away. Hirde looked up towards Duo, however he had his attention focused on the back of Heero.

'Duo. Duo... ', concerned by the lack of response she was getting, Hirde gently tugged on the shirtsleeve of Duo. 'Hey Duo, I'm here you know.'

'Huh? Oh yeah, sorry, my mind was daydreaming. What was it?'

'Oh nothing. Say, do you want to go to the cinema as well? There's a really good film on.'

To her relief, Duo responded and began talking in his usual animated chatter. They laughed together as they made their way down towards the city center.

The dorm bedroom was small, basic, and bare. The rooms were divided into two mirrored sections, with two beds on either side of the room, and opposite each of them, a small bedside sat against the wall. Before the window in the middle of the room was a large wooden desk positioned before the room's window. Two chairs fitted comfortably on either side of it. Unlike the other bedrooms of the pilots, only one side of it was occupied. The other side remained untouched, even the chair on the opposite end of the table still rested in the position it had been in two days previously. Wufei drew up the left one as he sat down to write. He picked up his pen and opened the textbook. Quatre stood quietly by the door side, watching the Asian as the boy quickly scribbled numbers down on the first page of his new exercise book. It was a short period of time, only a few minutes, before the black hair boy stopped and closed the book.

'Have you finished?'

'Yes.' Wufei looked up towards Quatre. 'Have you?'

'Yes, I did it in the library during break so I lent my book to Duo then.'

'So that where you were.' The dark eyed boy gave the Quatre a critical look.

'He should do it by himself, and not take advantage of your kindness. Duo is a little lazy. Rather like a rumpy horse.'

'Oh, but I wanted to.' Quatre smiled, although it looked a little forced. The Chinese pilot merely raised one eyebrow at the reply. 'Why are you here?'

Wufei was the only pilot of the group who had a bedroom to himself. The other bed in his room remained unoccupied. Quatre was sharing his bedroom with Trowa and Duo shared his with Heero. It was the third day that they had been there enrolled, and Wufei was sensing an unknown tension between the four although he could not place what the feeling was. The tension seemed to have increased over the last few days.

'Actually, I wanted to see you,' confessed Quatre. He sounded a little nervous.

The answer surprised Wufei. 'Why?', he looked reflectively at the blond. The boy ran a hand through his hair, his gaze averted to an invisible spot nearby his feet.

'I was wondering if I can sleep with you.'

The pencil snapped in Wufei's hand as his head jerked up. A violent red flush darkened his olive skin, and his eyes looked a little wild. 'Excuse me?' he choked out. 'What's wrong with your bed!?' The other missed his reaction. Quatre had his gaze focused on the wooden floor. 'Nothing... nothing at all.'

'If there's nothing wrong then why-'

'I... ' Quatre's voice broke.

Wufei's eyes suddenly narrowed. A muffled sound emerged from the blond boy. It sounded like a choked sob, as if the boy was restraining himself from crying. No, he couldn't be, could he? The chair made a loud screeching sound as Wufei abruptly got up. As he came closer, he saw a lone tear traced its path down the boy's cheek. He was stunned.

'Quatre... ssh... ' he grabbed hold of the boys arm. Quatre looked up, and Wufei saw the eyes of the other were filled with unshed tears. A little lost at what to do, Wufei quickly drew the unresisting boy towards his chest, then moved him inside the room. He closed the door with his left hand, before pressing against it as Quatre leaned towards him.

'Sorry... ' Quatre kept his head down as he tried to wipe away the wetness now falling freely. 'I'm bothering you aren't I? These stupid tears won't stop and I'm getting you shirt wet. I'm so sorry.'

'Be silent.'

Without knowing why, Wufei instinctively hugged Quatre to his chest. The taller boy clutched at his shirt tightly, his head lowered against Wufei's neck. They stood there for a long time, Quatre silently crying and Wufei comforting him. Gradually the shaking of Quatre's shoulders subsided. However Wufei did not withdraw away from the boy.

'Sorry about this.' Quatre whispered.

Wufei ran his fingers through Quatre's fine, blond hair, feeling the silky soft strands fall through his hand. 'Stop saying sorry. I don't like the word.'

'I suppose this wouldn't make much sense to you, these tears.'

'You don't have to have to explain, or even have a reason.' Wufei patted Quatre's back, 'come stay with me whenever you like.'

'Thank you.' Quatre drew away from Wufei and smiled at him. This time, Wufei noted, it was a real one.

Duo stared absently at the rolling credits, not really reading them. He was wondering about Heero. Despite the fact he had not seen Heero for well over a year, he met him again it was like the time lapse never existed. Although now his feelings had definitely changed towards the solitary boy. When Duo thought about it, perhaps the feeling had always been there, hidden underneath what he perceived as friendship. A ironic smile tugged at his lips. Well now, it looked to be a lot more than friendships now, with the dreams he had been having about denim clad boy, never mind the especially vivid one last night. He shifted uncomfortable in his seat as the sensational memories returned. If washing the bedsheets before the crack of dawn was the punishment for his sinful thoughts, Duo was willing to concede. The lights flickered on and he blinked at the sudden adjustment in brightness.

'Do you want to go to the café for a while?' queried Hirde to the side of him.

Duo looked down. 'Hmm, that's a thought. I'm kinda hungry actually.' He checked his watch, 'but I have to get back to Heero in about a hour, so let's make it a quick dinner.' Duo picked up the two large cola cups from the resting hold. Hirde was almost half empty but his was still full. He had drank any during the movie.

Hirde sighed. It was a sound of exasperation. 'Heero, Heero, you always seem to be talking about him. Especially today.'

Duo placed a hand behind his head and laughed. 'Well now... ' he shrugged it off.

'It's almost sounds like you're in that way with him', complained Hirde as she walk on ahead. She spun around with a teasing smile on her face. 'Do you like him?'

Duo dropped the drinks.

'Aw, damn, I've really done it now.' He looked around and spotted an assistant. 'Wait here, I'll just tell them about the spill.' His braid swung out as he ran away. Duo did not see Hirde's sudden pale face as realization set in her eyes.

Night had fallen. The never-ending cycle of darkness blackening the skies. Heero drew up the chair he had sat in last night and lowered himself slowly into it. The morning had been awful with Hirde and Duo. He scowled as he remembered the laughter between the two as they walked arm in arm away from him. They looked like a couple. It made a bitter, metallic taste rise up in his mouth. He had envied the easy, natural way Duo moved with the others. He could never relax in the same way Duo did in the company of others. Hirde had the same skill too, he privately admitted to himself. It was one of many things he hated about her. Besides the fact she was too close to Duo for his liking. His scowl deepened as he glanced at his watch. It was almost nine now. Duo had supposed to have met him back in the office at eight. Irritated at the non-appearance of the long hair pilot, and even more irritated at himself for feeling a little hurt by it, Heero slammed into the boot up disk hard into the computer. He cursed softly when it did not go in properly.

'My, my, it looks like a storm in here. The clouds aren't just gathering outside it seems.'

Heero looked up with a frown as Duo entered. 'You're late.'

Duo shrugged and leant over Heero's shoulder. 'I thought you'd start without me.' He placed his hand on top of Heero's and gently pulled the disk out then in again. 'You do it gently. Hardware with very important software needs to be treated gentle like.'

His throat constricted as he felt the warmth of Duo's touch. His hand lingered too long on his own for Heero's comfort. It brought to mind last night's memories, how Duo had felt beneath him.

'I know that,' he forced out harshly. 'Do you mind getting to your end of things now?' He indicated the doorway with a jerk of his thumb. 'We can be found any moment unexpectedly if you don't keep an eye out.'

'Uh, yeah... ', Duo pulled back, his expression embarrassed. 'I forgot. Sorry.' Heero looked strangely at the other pilot, as he clutched the hand Duo held to his chest unconsciously. The pilot usually came back with some remark. He was acting odd. Heero decided to dismiss the lapse in behavior. There was time enough to ponder it later. For the moment, the mission had priority.

The sun shone brightly through the crack in the curtains. With a groan, Duo flung up an arm over his head to block out the light. He hand begun to drift off to sleep again, with warm, fuzzy thoughts of a brown hair boy drifting through his mind when his beeper went off. The shrill, beeping sound intruded onto his conscious, and Duo awoke abruptly.

'Aw... damn.' Duo sleepily grasped around for the device in his bedside drawer. Feeling the small box against his hand, he retrieved it from the jumble mess inside. He lifted it up. 'Meet me at the park, Hirde. The park eh?' he pressed a button on the pager and brought up the digital clock stored on it. 'She's got to be joking. It's barely pass seven.' That was earlier than the time Heero... Duo glanced at the bed opposite to his. Empty.

It looked like Heero still woke up earlier than any one else he knew. He sighed, disappointed. It would have been nice to see Heero asleep. A blush darkened his cheeks as he remembered his recent dream. Or perhaps it was just as well that Heero had gone out Duo thought as he glanced down. The black boxer shorts he wore did not hide everything. Duo quickly got dressed. Hirde was waiting for him. Briefly he wondered where Heero had gone. The boy never seem to sleep in the bedroom they shared.

She was waiting for him under the leafy, red autumn tree, her head turned upwards as the girl studied the occasional fall of each red and gold leaf from its branches. Hirde looked preoccupied. Duo paused some distance away behind her.

'Hirde?' he questioned hesitantly.

As if a whip cracked, the girl whirled around quickly. Almost nervously. 'Duo, you came.'

It was apparent that Hirde had called him for personal reasons. 'What's wrong Hirde?' He quickly assessed her face. She looked as if she had not slept the night before. There were tell tale dark smears under her eyes. Hirde shrugged. 'Nothing much, I just wanted to see you before you go to class.' She tilted her head to one side and smiled. Duo easily recognized it to be false. He knew it well enough as he had practiced it himself too often to not see through Hirde's attempt. Normally Hirde would be up front with problems. She did not dither at all. Something must be bothering her seriously. He decided to go along with her, at least for a while.

'It looks to be a nice day again,' he looked up at the clear sky. 'Say, do you want to take a walk around? It's too much of a nice day to be spending it in class, I think.' Duo grinned down at her.

'Eh? But you have to go to keep up appearances Duo. You've already skipped yesterday, so there's heaps of class work you have to catch up with.' Duo lifted his index finger up. 'Exactly.' He tapped Hirde lightly on the nose before reaching down and grabbing her hand. Duo pulled her forward. 'So then, let's go.'

With a surprised laugh Hirde followed Duo. The two ran along the winding pathways, past early morning joggers and down into the thicket of the woods of the park. They were more than halfway through when Duo finally slowed down to a comfortable walking pace. Duo grinned down at the laughing face of Hirde, noting the healthy glow. She was smiling with a real smile now, he noted with relief. The seriousness in her eyes had bothered him before. A small bunch of yellow wild flower caught his eye. The group grew around the edges of the footpath, pretty in their brightness. He released Hirde's hand and lent down to pluck one out. He snapped the stem and lifted it up.

'Here you go,' Duo gently tucked the flower behind her ear, 'a flower to compliment your pretty face.' He winked.

The laughter from Hirde's face died.

'Don't do that please.' She whispered softly.

Duo paused. 'Huh?'

'I hate it.' Hirde reached up and removed the flower from her hair. She twirled the flower back and forth in her hand. 'I hate it when you flirt like that.'

'What do you mean?'

A small, wistful smile curved the edges of her lips. 'You really don't know you're doing it, but you are. You're a natural flirt Duo.'

Duo lifted up an hand and ran it through his fringe, troubled. His expression was puzzled. 'Hirde, I know there is something wrong. Please... tell me what wrong and I'll-'

'I can't!' Hirde burst out.

Duo was taken aback at her shout. Hirde looked up at him, her eyes glimmering.

'I can't since I've already lost to him. To tell you of my feelings would make me feel even worse. Only... ' her voice trailed off.

'Only what?' he asked softly. 'Tell me.'

'Are you happy now?' she whispered. 'Before, don't tell me I'm wrong because I know I'm not, but I could tell you weren't happy then. You seem so much more relax now, here with your friends. I feel like I'm intruding on you now. You've always got your attention on... someone else. Even yesterday.'

'Hirde... I know the mission is-'

'It's not about the mission.'

Duo looked confused. 'Then what do you mean?' He tugged at his braid, 'I don't get what you are trying to say.'

'I don't want you to. Just tell me whether you're happy... or not. It's very important to me now.'

'Well now, I... ' Duo shrugged. 'I think I'm happy.' He looked away.

'Are you really?' Hirde captured his left hand and held it to her heart. 'Look at me Duo.'

Duo did not hear her. A familiar green tank top caught his eye. Down the pathway, he could see a small figure standing off in the distance in the playground at the end. Heero. So that was where he had gotten to. The dark, brown hair boy was standing by two empty swings, his head turned away from where Duo was.

'Never mind Duo.'

Duo blinked, and directed his attention back to Hirde. The short hair girl was looking at him with a sad, resigned look.

'Ah, sorry Hirde, what was it that you said?'

Hirde released Duo's hand and stepped back. 'I said never mind Duo. I think I have my answer now.'

'Huh?'

Hirde smiled and tilted her head towards Heero. Then, without saying a word, she walked past Duo in the direction they had came from.

'Hirde-!'

The girl waved her hand in acknowledgement of Duo's call, but did not turn her head.

'Goodbye Duo, I have to... go. Please excuse me.'

Duo frowned. 'Hey Hirde... ' he walked two steps after her, then stopped as the other abruptly broke and ran. 'What did I do... ?' The urge to go after her was strong, however somehow Duo got the feeling that Hirde wanted to be alone. Duo shoved his hands in the pocket of his black jeans and glanced towards Heero. He then looked back. Hirde had already disappeared around the curve in the pathway. Duo looked again towards the lone figure of the boy in the playground and began walking towards him.

'Hey.' Duo uttered a soft greeting. He stopped two meters to the side of Heero.

The other reached up and grasped the chains of the swing.

'Aren't you suppose to be dressing for school now?' Heero asked Duo without turning around. 'Class is in twenty minutes.'

'Hirde called me.'

'Where is she now?'

'I don't know.' Duo shifted his weight. 'What about you?' he changed the subject. 'What are you doing here? You're not in uniform either.' Heero shrugged, still studying the chain links.

Duo walked towards the other swing and sat down. 'This is my favorite, out of everything in a playground.' He pushed off his weight with the heels of his foot and began swinging. 'You feel like you're flying, if you go high enough.'

'But you always come back to the ground.'

Duo stopped the swing, dragging his foot.

'Yes you do, don't you? What about your favorite?' Heero finally looked at Duo. 'I don't know. I've never been on those', he admitted. Duo studied Heero's face, his head tilted to one side.

'Say, Heero... '

'What?'

'Come swing with me.' Duo pointed towards the second swing. 'It'll be fun.'

'We'll be late for class.'

'Are we going to class at all today?'

Heero looked at Duo. 'No. We're not.' He finally said.

Heero sat before the computer and tapped lightly. The screen beeped, then turned red. Numbers rapidly flickered across the screen. Abruptly they stopped.

'Done.'

The shadows in the room moved, revealing Trowa's presence. He walked over to the screen and studied the bared system. 'May I?'

Heero drew aside and allowed the standing ex-pilot through. Trowa briefly tapped at the keyboards, bringing up the second last layer. 'It is complex in its simplicity.' Trowa finally commented. 'When are we to breach the final layer?'

'Tomorrow night. I will enter in via the internal link.'

'Will Duo back you up?'

Heero paused.

'I don't want him to.'

'Quatre will be the runner than. Wufei can be my back up.' The disk ejected. Trowa picked up the small flat object and slipped it in his pocket. 'Be careful on your end.'

'I have to be. I'm risking something very important to me.'

Duo.

'See you in the morning then.' Trowa said neutrally. He turned to go. To his surprise, a hand restrained him by holding the back of his shirt. Trowa looked over his shoulder to Heero.

'You'll be careful too. This section will be quarreled off come the weekend.'

Trowa slowly nodded. 'Mm. I will.'

Heero released him. 'Tell Quatre. I'll drop by Wufei's room to tell him tonight'

'Don't concern yourself. I will see Wufei when I see Quatre.'

'What do you mean?'

Trowa paused by the doorway to explain briefly. 'He's with Wufei now. They're sharing the dorm together.'

'Wait.' He turned and tapped the a few keys. Heero exited the program, deleting the temporary files as he did so. He left no trace of his intrusion. Not knowing why Heero asked him to wait, Trowa nevertheless stayed by the doorway. The tank top boy rose of the seat and grabbed his denim jacket. 'I'll come with you.'

'Why? It is not necessary.'

Heero strolled past Trowa. 'I'm finished here anyway. Let's go.' Trowa followed.

Wufei peeked out of the bathroom. The blond boy looked to be asleep. A sigh of relief passed his lips. The towel the school supplied had been too small fit around his waist, so he had to dart to his bed in secrecy. He had not been planning on a dorm mate when he had packed his bags. He had no suitable sleepwear either. The door creaked open as Wufei made his way out. He was halfway to his goal before he heard Quatre's sleepy voice.

'Wufei? Are you finally out of the shower yet?' The boy rose up and looked at him with half closed lids. Then the blond boy started to laugh hard. 'Oh my, Wufei, I never knew! Your boxer shorts are so cute.'

A dark flush stained his cheeks. He had been caught. Oh the shame.

'They were a gift from Sally.' Wufei attempted to defend himself.

Quatre's laughter died, and with a serious look on his face, he flipped back his covers and walked towards Wufei. His heart thudded suddenly as Quatre came touchingly close towards him. The blond boy reached down and fondled the material. To Wufei's shock, he felt himself stirring. Shit, he was being turned on by a male. He wasn't even a woman.

'My', Quatre commented, 'the dragons on it are cuter closer up. I like the rainbow colors.' He dropped the satin material and smiled down at Wufei. 'Sorry about laughing before, but I never expected you to wear such things.' Quatre was too close. Yet he couldn't move away, something was holding him still. Quatre's smiled faded away, to be replaced with a darker, disturbing look. Wufei looked back into the blue depths, fascinated.

'Wufei?' he whispered.

The door open suddenly. Trowa and Heero walked in. They stopped at the scene. Heero turned as if to go.

'Pardon us.'

Quatre turned around in surprise. 'Ah- Trowa, Heero. No, don't leave.'

Trowa looked from underneath his bang. 'Are we intruding?'

Quatre gave Trowa a small, uncertain smile. 'Not really....' There was a hidden question in his voice. He knew the other would pick it up. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Heero nudge Trowa forward. The shorter boy baulked.

'The mission is tomorrow night', intoned Trowa emotionlessly, 'Wufei will be my backup. Duo will be with Heero. Is being the runner okay with you?'

Hesitantly Quatre nodded. 'It's fine.'

The door closed softly behind the two as they exited.

'It's more than fine', he repeated softly.

~CHAPTER FOUR~ Unraveling the red knot

Heero was hit.

The burning sensation in his right arm signaled to his brain that the bullet had only skimmed the upper skin of his flesh. Still, it was too close. Heero dove sideways, aiming the gun and pulling the trigger as he did so. Coolly he noted the soldier's head exploded into fragments. The semi-automatic he held had custom made bullets. They did the job well. His shoulders impacted onto the grounds and he began rolling. Whining breaths of air followed after him. He exited the doorway and quickly rocked back on to his feet, slamming the emergency close button as he did so. The metal door slammed shut. Duo, where was Duo? Damnit, where was the braided moron? He had been supposed to stay with him, not go away. The idiot was placing the mission in jeopardy.

No, correction, the idiot was placing Heero's heart in jeopardy. An explosion erupted down the corridor. No doubt about it, that was Duo's work. With real concern, Heero began running towards the communications room. Out of the smoke a figure of a boy emerged.

'Plan B boss!' shouted out Duo cheerily, 'something's came up! You go out first, I'm blowing this place sky high!'

'The mission is finished! Damnit Duo, you-'

The boy disappeared around a corner. Suddenly the overhanging ceiling began to cave in.

'Duo! You fucken stupid idiot!'

The afternoon sun was a bright golden color. It shone through the glass panes of the hospital, outlined the hallways inside with its glow. The semi-opened blinds sliced the burnished yellow in vertical pieces, so that the figures walking up and down the visitors hall looked surreal, as if not really part of reality. There was not much warmth from the fading sun, and did not penetrate at all through the thick, glassy widow pane. Inside the vivid , all were cold. As the sun went down, the artificial lights overhead switched on. Outside, the purple clouds were thick with promised rain and gathered, shutting off the last ray of light early.

Duo sat on the tiled ground, his legs drawn up. There was a chair beside him that offered a more comfortable position of rest however Duo did not take it. He did not deserve it. Nurses and doctors walked around the brooding boy. They had long, since learnt that the boy did not accept any consoling. All his fault, thought Duo morosely, if only he hadn't gotten so high on the adreline excitement. Damnit, he had forgotten the priority of the mission.

The mistake had almost resulted in the loss of Heero's life. Even if he didn't think that Heero would have gone after him, he shouldn't have been side tracked in the first place. A hand tapped him lightly on the shoulder. Duo looked up with blank, empty eyes. The nurse smiled gently down at him.

'He's out of critical condition now. You can visit him now if you like.' She said softly.

Duo tried to smile back, however his facial muscles failed him. Instead, he nodded slowly. 'I would like that.'

'He's in the room at the furthest right down that corridor. There's a friend of yours already in.' The nurse pointed the way down.

He stood up. 'Thank you madam.' Duo summoned up all the cheer her could then and manage to muster a small curve of his lips. 'It is very much appreciated.' He gave a perky as he walked away. The nurse smiled at his back, a little more relieved at the more natural behavior.

It was before the door to the room that Duo's shoulder sagged again. His hand rested indecisively on the door. He knew it would be Trowa in the room. The boy had made obvious his dedication to Heero. Duo would not be alone in the room with Heero when he made his apology. His hand tightened on the knob. But he had to. The door swung open silently, revealing a familiar light brown hair boy bent over the sleeping figure in the bed. His lips was upon the prone boy's lips.

Trowa was kissing Heero.

He abruptly lifted his head sharply as light fell into the darken room. His cheeks were flushed and his green eyes bright with emotion. The two stared at each other.

'I... ' Duo could think of nothing to say.

Trowa drew up slowly. He walked around the bed towards Duo and firmly closed the door behind the stunned boy. Darkness fell once more. The white light falling through the small door window only illuminated their faces.

'So now you know. I like Heero.'

'Are you and Heero together?' he asked.

'No.' Green eyes flickered.

'Then why did you kiss him?'

'Because I am a fool.'

'What do you mean?'

Trowa looked at Duo unflinchingly. 'He's in love with another.'

His heart suddenly clenched. 'The heck you say-' Duo suddenly pushed himself off the door. His hand snaked out to grasp the collar of Trowa's Preventer jacket. The other was in uniform still from the mission. 'What the hell do you mean?'

'You know exactly what I mean.' Trowa placed a hand on his. 'Let go of me Duo.'

Duo slowly released the material between his tight fist. 'Sorry. I lost control.'

Trowa stepped around the long hair boy.

'Where are you going?'

'Out. Heero is awaking soon. He'll be sure to be wanting to see you first.'

The door closed in Duo's face before he could reach out and grab the other boy again.

'Who does he like?' questioned Duo frustrated.

'Duo?'

Duo whipped around at the sound.

'Duo, is that you there?'

He cleared his throat. 'Yes, it's me.' Duo was at loss at what to say next.

'How are you feeling?'

'I'm in pain.'

Duo chuckled at the dry response. 'Well now, let's see what I can do for you. I'll get the nurse and-'

'Don't leave me.'

He stopped. There had been a trace of emotion to his words. It resonated into the inside of his core. Duo walked over to Heero and sat down on the seat beside the bed. Intense blue eyes tracked his movements. Almost if... Heero's entire attention was on him, that Duo was his centre.

'Thank you... Duo', his husky voice sent a pleasurable shiver down Duo's spine. There had been a slight pause before Heero whispered his name.

The door opened and the lights flickered on. A girl stood in the doorway, her eyes immediately seeking the brown hair boy in the bed.

'Oh thank goodness you're alive!' Relena ran across the room and flung herself on Heero. Her flying hair slapped against Duo's cheek as she went past him. The stinging pain brought Duo back out of his trance. Relena was gingerly embraced by Heero.

'Relena... why are you here?'

'Sally called me and told me. I was so worried so I came.'

'Your meetings-

'Delayed for a week, but I'm more concerned about you. Heero, I'm am so glad you made it through. Why are you still going on missions? The war is over, stop trying to kill yourself with these missions.' She burrowed her head into his bandaged chest. 'Heero, why can't you be with me?'

Duo watched as Heero gently lifted up Relena's chin and wipe away her falling tears with his thumb, as if he was wiping away a child's tears.

Duo felt out of place. Abruptly, he stood up.

'Since you have Relena, I'll just go now.'

Heero looked up at Duo, his face frowning. 'Duo don't-'

Duo grinned and tapped Heero lightly on the nose. The boy scowled at the treatment. 'Don't do anything I wouldn't.' With a cheery wave, Duo bounced out of the door. As the door swung shut behind him, his smile dropped. So that was what Trowa meant. For one brief moment he had forgotten about Relena and... He had thought idiotic thoughts. Trowa may have proclaimed himself the first fool, but he was a bigger one.

So now that the mission was over, they could all go home. Except he didn't want to go. It wasn't because there was a large pile of work waiting for him when he got back, it was something else. Or rather, a particular some one.

Quatre stared out the hotel window, his expression thoughtful. He had booked all of the team into the expensive establishment so the view outside was naturally a spectacular one. However it did not capture his attention. He was too focused on his thoughts. Absently he lifted up a champagne glass to his lips and tilted it. No liquid reached his lips. Quatre blinked and suddenly noticed the bottle was empty. The bottle on the table was empty, as was the one next to it. He had steadily been drinking all afternoon, lost in thought. The bowl of fruit was barely touched. No matter, there should be another bottle somewhere. He stood up and, without any sway in his walk, went straight to the mini bar. He was deep inside its cabinet when he heard a knock.

'Come in, the door is open.'

Footsteps entered the room. Light and barely audible. Wufei. Quatre smiled. He had been thinking of the young, Asian boy. Finding the type he wanted, he lifted it out and turned. The Chinese boy was standing in the middle of the room, surveying the empty bottles on the table near the window.

'You've been drinking', he stated flatly.

Quatre blinked at the note of condemnation in Wufei's voice. 'Yes, I have. Do you want to join me?' he lifted the bottle in his hand. 'This is very nice.'

Wufei did not respond. The boy walked over and placed a hand over Quatre's hand. Surprised at the contact, Quatre allowed Wufei to direct his hand to replace the champagne bottle back into the cabinet. Releasing Quatre's hand, the Asian boy closed it. As Wufei drew back, Quatre suddenly decided he did not want Wufei to move any further away from him. He liked being close to the other. On that thought, he made an instant decision to confess his feelings. Although there was a chance Wufei may reject him, Quatre sensed the other harbored similar feelings. He captured back Wufei's hand.

'Wufei, I have something to tell you.' Quatre lifted the hand to his heart, his fingers stroking the soft skin of the stunned boy lightly. 'Come close to me and I tell you.'

Puzzlement flickered across Wufei's features as he obeyed and stepped closer.

'What is it?'

'I like you.' Quatre embraced him. Taken by surprise, Wufei did not expect the weight and tripped. They fell. Quatre pulled Wufei to his chest and broke the other's fall. However before Wufei could regain his senses, Quatre quickly rolled on top of him.

'What the- Quatre! Get off me!'

Wufei squirmed. Quatre felt the rising hard length of Wufei press against his thighs as the boy moved. He breathed a sigh of relief. Before, he had not been entirely sure but now he knew for certain that Wufei replicated his desires. He could feel the evidence of mutual attraction rubbing against his legs. He couldn't help himself, he laughed in relief. The initial gamble had paid off. Now all he had to do was persuade the protesting Wufei to his way of things. Quatre ran his hand over the loose fitting silk shirt the Chinese boy wore. It shouldn't be too hard, he could feel the erected nipples through the thin material and see the beating pulse in Wufei's neck, evidence that the boy was feeling the heat at their closeness as well.

'Stop that.' Wufei tried to push the weight on him off. 'You don't know what you're doing, you're drunk.'

Quatre chuckled and captured Wufei's hand, wresting them to his side.

'Wufei, the wine I drank was non-alcoholic. I know perfectly what I'm doing.' Blue eyes sparkled mischievously. 'And I want to kiss you.'

Surprise crossed Wufei's face and he open his mouth to object. Quatre took full advantage of his parted lips. He kissed him.

'Mmpf.'

Wufei wiggled underneath Quatre, his black eyes flashing angrily at the forced kiss. However his anger soon died as he felt the hesitantancy of Quatre's tongue inside. The warm, slick tongue licked the cheeks inside of his mouth briefly before retreating to the outer lips. He liked the sensation. Wufei followed him with his own, chasing the exclusive tongue. He darted inside Quatre's, drinking in the saliva of the other. Quatre once again went forward and slashed his tongue deep inside Wufei. He delighted into the novel sensations caused by Quatre's exploration. He had never been kissed this way before. Vaguely he was aware of his shirt being removed from him and warm, roving hands investigating his hard, muscular chest. He was drowning in the kiss when Quatre drew back from Wufei and smiled. Wufei looked in hazy desire at him, his chest heaving as he drew in breath. His breathing was very ragged.

'So... what shall I do with you?' he laughed breathlessly as he lent down and sucked gently on the bottom lip of Wufei. 'My little dazed dragon.'

Wufei could not think, his thoughts to muddled with desire. 'Anything.' Quatre smiled at the submission. He moved downwards and briefly nipped at the erected nipples, inflicting slight pain before smoothing it over with a swirl of his tongue.

'Ah... ' Wufei entwined his arms around Quatre's neck as the boy moved further down, trailing butterfly kisses down the length of his body, towards his ache. The zip on his jeans made a soft sound as Quatre unzipped it, and then his jeans were pulled down to his knees. His erection sprang forth. Teasing fingers stroked him there and Wufei groaned. His penis throbbed with intense desire. Quatre's mouth descended on his aching shaft, the hot wetness consuming him entirely. He moaned then, his voice thick with desire.

'Quatre... ' Wufei clutched now at the Quatre's shoulders as the blond's head moved as he suckled on him. His legs were spread wide to accommodate Quatre. Allowing him full intimate access. Shudders racked through Wufei's body, his blood pumping furiously through him as a building sensation within him clawed towards climax. He ejaculated with a harsh cry, his hips jacking forwarding as he did so. As Wufei slowly came back to ground, he opened his eyes to find Quatre watching him with a tiny smile on his lips. It was then Wufei realised how easily he had given into the boy's desires. And what desires he had given into. Wufei blushed, his tan skin darking in both embarrassment and shame. Silence descended between the two.

Wufei turned away his face. It was bad enough he had done it, but now... he still wanted more. Already he felt himself stirring again, and he knew Quatre could see it. A hand turned his face towards his front again. Quatre looked at him, understanding and comfort in his eyes. Without a word, he lowered his head and brushed his lips against Wufei's own.

'Don't be ashamed Wufei, it's all natural.' Quatre stroked the throbbing pulse in Wufei's neck with the tips of his fingers. Wufei felt vulnerable at the touch. Not only was Quatre above him resting between his legs, he was complete naked. Quatre was still dressed.

'I... '

'Ssh,' he placed his fingers lightly on Wufei's lips. 'Don't think, just feel.'

Wufei gazed at Quatre, his expression uncertain. Then slowly he nodded. A smile of relief crossed Quatre's face and he embraced Wufei. Wufei hesitantly returned the hug.

'Quatre... you have too much clothes on. That is not fair.'

Duo kept the curtains closed. The darkness smoothed him. It felt like death, comforting in its absence of painful light. It had been several days since Heero had been released from hospital, with a watchful Relena. Several days of pretending that he wasn't jealous as hell. He felt like shit. The false acting had finally gotten to him yesterday, and so he had locked himself in his room. Away from the other boys, Trowa especially but Heero most of all. He had gotten the furthest suite away from them. The phone rang, the shrill ringing piercing the silence. Duo watched it ring, half hoping it would stop soon. It didn't. With a sigh, he picked it up and place onto his lap, punching in the line key as he did so. He left the monitor on blank.

'Hello?'

'You sound awful Duo.'

Hirde. The girl was calling him back from L-2 where she had returned. Hirde had returned on the day Relena had arrived.

'Not really, I'm just tired.' He tried to inject a note of cheerfulness in his voice. He failed.

There was a brief pause. 'Is it because of Heero?'

Duo nearly dropped the phone. 'What do you mean?'

'Don't pretend with me Duo, I know you that you like him... as more than a friend.'

Hirde knew. Duo was stunned. When did she... The scene in the park flashed to mind. Suddenly it made all sense now... all but... He quickly flicked on the monitor. Hirde blinked as she took in his sudden image.

'Why did you had tears in your eyes then Hirde? Why?'

Hirde tilted her head sadly. 'Damnit Duo, you are an idiot to the end, aren't you? I love you.'

This time, Duo did drop the phone. Cursing, he raced to pick it up. However the mini-screen was already blank. Whether it was because the machine was broken or Hirde had signed off, he did not know. He stared at the blank screen.

Every since Hirde had gone, Heero sensed there was something wrong with Duo. His smiles seemed forced to Heero's critical eye, and he evaded Heero's questions. Was he realising some deep attachment to Hirde? Duo seemed to take her absence hard. Heero paused outside the entrance the hotel room. Hesitantly, he knocked before he entered. No one greeted him. The living room was empty, no Duo in sight. Heero flickered his gaze over the suite. The bathroom door was open and the kitchen and games room was empty. That only left the bedroom. He approached the door and placed his hand on the handle. Heero opened the door. A lone figure sat in the middle of the bed, a beeping phone in his lap. The dial tone from the speaker was loud in the silence. At the sound of Heero's footsteps, the long hair boy turned, lifting his head up at Heero's entrance. His cobalt eyes were wide with recent shock.

'Hirde loves me.'

Trowa turned the flute in his hands over and then over again. Finally he placed the flute down. He did not feel like playing at all. The musical notes of the instrument could not alleviate the pain in his heart. If he actually played, Trowa thought privately to himself, the notes would be sour anyway. He sat down on his bed and placed his head into his hands, brushing away his falling fringe. The circus was waiting for him, he knew, as was Catherine. He had nothing here left for him. Turning his head, he looked at the timepiece standing on the mantle of the fireplace. Heero would be back in the suite next door to his own now. Unless... unless they were in bed together. Limbs entwined with limbs. He closed his eyes his eyes and tried to expel the images from his head.

A warm hand touched his chest. Trowa's eyes flew open. Heero stood before him, his expression grim.

'Keep silent Trowa.'

Heero pushed Trowa and he found himself flat on his back. With a determined expression, Heero mounted the lying boy and began unbuttoning his shirt. After the first three buttons, Heero got impatient and simply tore the shirt open.

'What are you doing?' Trowa attempted to capture Heero's hands, which were now down to his jeans. Instead he found his own hands captured. Dark blue eyes gleamed dangerously at him.

'I told you to shut up.'

He felt Heero's had tightened painfully. Something had gone wrong with Duo. Nothing else would have made Heero lose his control like that. He assessed the rapidly rise and fall of the boy's chest.

'Stop it Heero, you're hurting me', Trowa stated flatly.

Heero face tightened in suppression then his face smoothed into its normal mask. His grip on Trowa's wrist relaxed.

'Sorry', he said softly.

Trowa laid there underneath Heero, his shirt ripped to his sides and his chest exposed to the cool air. His nipples were erect. Heero looked down at him. They stayed there, gazing at each other.

'What happen between you and Duo?'

'Nothing.'

'Then why are you like this?'

Heero did not answer. Trowa reached underneath his arm and gasped his outside forearm. He moved Heero's arm up and rolled out from underneath Heero. Trowa sat up on the side of the bed.

'You don't really want me, you want him.'

'True.'

He looked over his shoulder at Heero. 'Don't use me as a substitute Heero. I need to be taken for myself, not Duo.'

Heero reached over and drew him down again with an embrace.

'No, don't... ' Trowa placed a hand on Heero's shoulder and attempted to pull away. 'Let me go.'

'I won't.'

Trowa exhaled harshly. 'What more do you want from me?'

'Everything Trowa- your heart, your soul', he drew the now unresisting boy towards his chest. 'And your body too. For me.'

'Why? Why now?'

'I feel empty inside.' Heero confessed. 'I need you to give me warmth now... if only a little. Don't leave me cold Trowa.'

'I am not Duo', he whispered.

'I'm not pretending you are.'

'That's the first time you lied to me.'

Heero kissed the pulse in Trowa's neck. 'I'm not.' Heero's hand trailed across Trowa's cheek. 'I don't need to lie Trowa. Why would I? I know you'll give me what I want regardless. So then... ' he licked the side of his neck, 'submit.' Trowa shuddered as the warm wetness moved in ever widening circles underneath Trowa's chin. It stroked his sensitive skin, invoking sensations with him. Unfamiliar yet familiar sensations. It felt like the ones he experienced in the dreams he had of Heero. He closed his eyes. Heero slipped his tongue briefly in his mouth, taste testing him.

'Give me what I want...' Heero pulled the shirt down around Trowa's triceps, trapping his arms to the side. Light fingers trailed down his chest, down past his abdomen and tantalisingly around the region where he was the most sensitive. Trowa moaned softly. 'And I'll give you want you want.'

Trowa arched towards Heero, allowing himself to be felt. Allowing himself to be seduced by exquisite touch. As he gave in, he opened his eyes to look fully into the blue depths of the other.

'Heero, you are a liar.'

'How so?'

'You'll never give me what I want... at least, not entirely.'

Heero rose back over him and kissed Trowa passionately. As they drew away, Heero whispered into Trowa's ear.

'I know.'

There was knocking at the door. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he opened the door. Relena looked back at him from the doorway and smiled. She was wearing an evening dress. Trowa could smell the subtle, rose scent perfume she sprayed on herself.

'Pardon me, but do you know where Heero is? He's not in his room.'

Footsteps behind him announced Heero's presence into the room.

'Is that Relena?' a husky voice questioned.

Relena looked past Trowa as she heard her name. Heero appeared from the bedroom shirtless and dressed only in jeans. The button on the jeans were undone and his zip was semi-opened. His blue eyes spotted the girl. 'What are you doing here?'

Blood drained from Relena's face as she realized what she had interrupted. She turned a ghostly pallor.

'You... ' Relena took a step away from Trowa as she looked back from Heero towards the silent youth. 'You... ' A half-choked sob rose from her. Suddenly she turned and ran.

'Relena!'

Trowa watched as Heero swore and grasped a shirt. It was his but the other boy fitted easily into it as wee. He silently handed Heero his jacket before the brown hair boy ran out the door after Relena. Then he turned towards the bedroom again. The sheets need to be changed before sleeping in the bed tonight. Heero would be back again later.

She was standing outside on the hotel balcony. The skirt of her white dress billowed out in the wind. Her hair was down from the style she had on earlier, and it swayed too in the night breeze. Heero's eyes adjusted to the dim light. He walked towards her.

'Don't the stars look beautiful tonight Heero?'

Heero stopped a few meters behind Relena. Despite the lack of noise he made, the girl still had sense his presence. It had always been like that, since he had met her. Realizing that Relena was waiting for a reply, he grunted his assessment.

'They are.'

Relena turned around, the hem of her white dress swirling around her feet. She was smiling. Heero looked at her, struck by a sense of deja vu. Her smile seemed so familiar... he had seen the same smile on another once before, years ago in another life. The child's smile he remembered now transposed itself onto Relena's face. He looked at her uncertainly.

'I want to tell you something Heero. A little secret.'

Carefully, he kept his tone neutral. 'What secret?'

'Come closer, and I'll tell you?'

She was acting strange, almost coy. Heero had never seen this side of Relena before. It was unlike her normal cool, mature nature, more playful like a child. He moved towards her however, standing a meter from her.

'What is it?'

To his surprise Relena flung her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

'Relena... ', he felt uncomfortable. 'I... '

'Heero please, will you just hold me for now?'

The playfulness in her tone had now gone. Without knowing how or what, Heero could sense Relena was struggling with something inside. Hesitantly he obliged.

'Thank you.'

Minutes passed. The wind ruffled his hair was he held the small, warm body in his arms. He waited patiently, looking down at the head buried in the front of his jacket. The two had not seen the figure that had briefly looked up at them from the streets. Nor had they noticed when the boy disappeared into the shadows.

'Relena... you said you had something to tell me.'

'What I wanted to express... ', she reached up a hand and placed in above Heero's beating heart. 'Was this.' She lent upwards and whispered into his ear.

Heero's eyes widened just as Relena pushed him away.

'Please don't say anything Heero, I don't expect you to. I can never be the person in your heart and I don't hope to be... any longer.' She looked up at him with teary eyes. 'So that's why I can't... I won't be seeing you again.' Heero stayed silent as Relena instructed and because he did not know what to say. It was apparent Relena meant every word.

'You are like the stars Heero, bright and just as unattainable although I wish... I wish... ' her voice cracked. 'I wish you to be happy.'

'I'm sorry Relena', he uttered softly. 'I have no handkerchief to lend you.'

And then he left.

~CHAPTER FIVE~ The lonely stars

Wishes were like stars. There are millions of them and new ones form every day. And every day many die as well Duo thought darkly. He dropped the whisky bottle he held and watched as the fragile glass fell down the cliff.

It smashed in tiny, silvery pieces on the rocks below. A barely audible twinkle on the rocky moors. Duo lent back, his balance unstable as he slowly lowered himself against the cold stones. He looked up at the sky. 'Na Solo, are you here with me?' Duo questioned the blinking stars above him. 'If you are, why do I feel so lonely?'

The End

Test One

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