"Surprising"
Part 3
Written By: CalicOcat
Life With Heero Arc fic 87
Genre: Angst, Friendship
Pairings: None yet
Rated: PG-13
Warnings: AU, OOC, Swearing
Archives: At Mediaminer.org under Calic0cat. Anyone
with archive permission for my other fics can help themselves; anyone
else, please ask.
Disclaimer: Duo and Heero and the rest of the
GW gang aren't mine. This story is. Nuff said.
Notes: The arc begins between one and two years
after Endless Waltz. Trowa POV in this story.
'Thinking'
"Speaking"
************ Time passing or scene change
Author's Notes: This is the first in an arc of
stories. I don't know for sure how many stories there will be or how
often I'll be posting them. The length of each story in the arc will
vary, anywhere from ficlet to multi-part. Warnings will vary from
story to story as well, as will the genre. Pairings will probably
eventually make their way in, but it will be quite a while since the
first half dozen or so stories are drafted out and there's no real
indication of pairings in them as of yet. Feedback is appreciated.
Surprising Part 3
Arc fic 87
Trowa watched thoughtfully as Heero and Duo made their way across
the crowded market. Something was definitely a bit off, or at least
*different* between them... His musings were interrupted a moment
later by Quatre's voice.
"Trowa, I need you to keep Heero busy for a while
so that I can talk to Duo. I have to find out what's wrong and..."
"No," Trowa said simply but firmly, cutting
off the concerned words. "Quatre, let it be. *If* there's something
wrong, they are quite capable of dealing with it themselves. Neither
of them will thank you for interfering." He wasn't convinced
that Quatre's perception that their friends were at odds was correct.
There was tension, yes, but it could be caused by something as simple
as mutual worry over a contract bid. And even if it was due to an
argument, Heero and Duo were perfectly capable of handling their own
disagreements without any outside assistance. Even that of a certain
blond with good intentions.
Quatre frowned slightly. "I have to try to make
things better. It might be our fault for just showing up without any
warning..."
Stifling the urge to sigh, Trowa knew that he was going
to have his work cut out for him trying to persuade his lover to mind
his own business. He loved Quatre's tender heart and deep caring for
his friends and family but unfortunately those same feelings had a
tendency to lead to Quatre being a bit of a busybody. Not to mention
a worrywart.
"Quatre, if our surprise visit is to blame then
that's all the more reason to stay out of it," he pointed out
patiently. "I told you that it would be better to call ahead;
Heero prefers things to be planned out in advance. And they both value
their privacy; neither one of them will be grateful if you start poking
your nose into their friendship." Glancing across the concourse
to where the others stood talking, Trowa added quietly, "Do they
really look as if they are at odds with one another?" He waited
while Quatre followed his gaze and watched the two friends as they
spoke, heads bent close together, before entering a butcher shop.
Whatever might be going on, the two stood and walked just as far inside
one another's personal space as always.
"No... not exactly..."
Trowa nodded, relieved by the admission. Maybe his lover
was going to be easier to persuade than he'd feared. "Quatre,
they've shared a house for a year and a half now and have been working
together almost as long. I think they're capable of working out whatever
it is that you're sensing on their own."
"I suppose... But there *is* something wrong,"
Quatre said firmly.
"Maybe. But if they want your - our - help with
it, they will ask," Trowa said just as firmly. If Quatre insisted
on interfering, he would have to do it on his own. Trowa certainly
wasn't going to give in this time. He'd given in on making the visit
a surprise one rather than calling ahead and he still felt uncomfortable
over it. He had no intention of going against his better judgement
again and letting Quatre talk him into meddling in Heero and Duo's
friendship.
***
"Ah! If it isn't my two favourite boys, just in
time for lunch! And with guests, too!"
Following Heero and Duo into the small pasta stall,
Trowa blinked in surprise as a matronly Oriental woman swooped down
on the two of them, hugging them and bestowing quick pecks on their
cheeks. He exchanged a startled look with Quatre, both of them bemused
by the sight. 'I knew that Heero had changed a lot since moving here
but I would never have believed that he would allow *anyone* that
kind of familiarity! Joining Duo here has been a very good thing for
him...'
"Mama Lucia, these are our friends, Quatre and
Trowa," Duo said with a grin. "They dropped by for a surprise
visit this weekend and the cupboards were kinda bare so we figured
we'd stock up and feed them lunch at the same time."
"Such handsome young men - but too thin!"
Mama scolded. "Young people these days! None of you eat properly.
Come along, now. Mama will make sure that you all get at least *one*
proper meal today." She shooed the four of them briskly into
the small cafe and seated them at a table. "Now, which will it
be? The chicken parmesan or the fettucine alfredo?"
***
The rest of the afternoon passed surprisingly quickly.
After returning to the house, the four ex-pilots gathered around the
kitchen table to talk, updating each other on recent happenings and
reminiscing.
'Heero and Duo seem much more at ease than earlier in
the day...' Trowa decided. He was convinced that he and Quatre should
have called before showing up for a visit. Their friends were clearly
glad to see them; Heero and Duo had simply needed time to recover
from the surprise nature of their arrival. Heero had always preferred
that things be planned, organized, controlled. Despite the changes
Heero had gone through in the past year and a half, Trowa didn't think
that had changed. And the very fact that Heero was ill at ease would
set Duo on edge as well. Duo had always been good at reading Heero's
moods.
'Quatre was wrong. It's obvious that the two of them
are getting along just fine. Their friendship is just as solid as
ever; maybe even stronger and deeper.'
Though Trowa couldn't help thinking that something *did*
still seem a bit different in the way that they interacted...
#################################################
On to arc fic : 88 Surprising
part 4
Back to CalicOcats fics
Back to Gundam Wing Authors page
