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"After Happily Ever After "Written By: Clara Barton Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. The following
is an intellectual exercise with no intention of profit. That said,
these characterizations, words, and situations are mine. Please ask
before reprinting. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Language, angst (I mean, duh), sex Pairings: 3x4, 2x3, 1x4 Summary: What happens when Happily Ever After turns out to be the worst thing that ever happened to you? A story about second chances, love and friendship. And Quatre Winner. A/N: This is not my fault. I didn't want to write.
I absolutely do NOT want to write a fic with Quatre Winner as the
main character but… I have to. "After Happily Ever After " Chapter Three "You should come with us." Heero arched an eyebrow at the offer and looked at his best friend. Duo was in the process of changing out of his scrubs and back into street clothes. He hadn't pulled on his sweater yet, and his bare torso, as usual, invited stares from the others in the changing room. And Duo, as usual, completely ignored them. After all, he had had years of people staring at his tattoos and his hair and making snide remarks under their breath about him. Heero could see why so many of their colleagues regarded Duo with raised eyebrows - he sure as hell didn't look like a cardiothoracic surgeon and even less like someone who wanted to specialize in pediatric surgery, but that didn't change the fact that he was brilliant and worked his ass off every hour of every day. "No thanks," Heero told him. It was Duo's turn to arch an eyebrow when after his head emerged from his sweater. "Why not? I checked the schedule - you've got the next two days off as well. Come on. Tro and I got this great little cabin right by the slope. The snow has been perfect his year and it'll be good for you to get away from here for a few days and relax." "I can't," Heero hesitated and Duo was instantly on alert. Damnit. Duo knew him too well. "You can't because..." Duo trailed off and then a wide grin split his face. "Because you've got a date? Because you're going to spend the next forty eight hours fucking the brains out of some gorgeous guy? Come on, who is it?" Heero could only glare. "I've only just met him - this is our first date. I'm not going to spend the next forty-eight hours fucking his brains out." "Shame. You could use it." Heero took a swing at Duo, but the other man easily blocked it and grinned at him. "Getting slow, old man." Heero rolled his eyes. "I'm three months older than you, Duo." "I know. Scary to think what old age has in store for me." They finished dressing in silence and then walked out of the hospital together. Heero waited for Duo to check on one his patients one last time - an eight year old heart transplant case recovering in the ICU - before they headed to the bar two blocks from the hospital. "So... who is he? How'd you meet?" Duo had waited until they were at the bar and nursing beers before asking, and Heero was actually impressed by his self-control. "We met at the bookstore - when you asked me got get that book for you last week." Duo nodded, his face curiously neutral. "And?" "And... I got his number and we're going out tomorrow night." Heero knew he didn't have the best "people skills" and had been beyond relieved when the annoying blonde girl had given him Quatre's phone number. But of course, when he actually sat down to call the handsome man, Heero had felt incredibly awkward. He wasn't used to dating - Duo had been his wingman all through college, medical school, internships and residencies and now their fellowships and Heero realized that Quatre was the first guy he had ever asked out of a date that wasn't pre-arranged by Duo. "Where ya taking him?" "That French place by the lake." "Lac Lune?" Duo nodded. "Nice choice. Fancy, but a little casual... yeah. Good choice." "I'm so glad I have your approval," Heero growled and Duo ruffled his hair. "My little Heero, all grown up and going on dates on his own," Duo sniffled against fake tears. "I'm just so proud." "I'm just so tempted to break your fingers," Heero muttered. Duo gave a gasp of outrage and held his hands against his chest. "You wouldn't! Think of all the good I can do with these fingers!" Heero sighed. "Yeah, yeah, tell me about all of the little kids lives you're going to save and -" "No, I was referring to all of the hand jobs I can give Trowa. If you break my fingers now, my technique -" Duo had to lean backwards to avoid Heero trying to push him off of his bar stool and instead fell off himself. Heero had to chuckle at him and Duo glared as he stood up and brushed himself off. "As I was saying -" Duo started, but was interrupted again. This time by the arrival of Trowa Barton, who walked up to Duo and draped an arm around his shoulders before pressing a kiss against the side of his forehead. Heero watched as Duo leaned against him, watched his smirk transform into a soft, contented smile and he marveled, not for the first time, at the two of them. When Duo had stood up in that church a year ago and begged Trowa to give him a chance, Heero had thought it would amount to a disastrous fling and Duo would realize what a complete asshole he had been and Trowa would drift away after the thrill of their somewhat illicit relationship wore off. To Heero's great surprise, it hadn't happened. Duo and Trowa seemed perfect to each other and Heero had quickly had to revise his initial impression of Trowa as incredibly good looking, superficial and dull. He was a veterinarian, and he had convinced Duo to move in with him after three months - a first for Duo, who had only ever had Heero as a roommate and never dated anyone long enough to even consider moving in with them - and he was damned intelligent. Heero had resented him at first, for months, until one night when the Heero had been invited over to their house for a cook-out and Duo had been called in to the hospital for an emergency. He and Trowa had spent three hours together and by the end of the night, Heero not only no longer resented him, he liked him and considered him a friend. But - Heero choked on his beer as he looked at the way Trowa looked down at Duo and he realized. Quatre. The handsome blonde from the bookstore - it was Quatre Winner. The man Trowa had left at the altar. Heero had thought he looked familiar, but couldn't place him and, frankly, had been too distracted by his smile and his monstrously huge dog to think about it. "You okay?" Duo asked. "Yeah," Heero assured him. "Long night?" Trowa asked and sat down at the bar on Duo's other side, signalling the bartender to bring over another round. "Yeah, I had my transplant surgery tonight and Heero had - what was it? A hospice van was hit by a city bus?" Heero nodded. It had not been a particularly good night. He wasn't used to having that many people die on him, but several of the elderly victims had been beyond saving. "I'm sorry," Trowa said, his voice grave. Heero nodded in acceptance of his words. "How about you?" Duo asked. "Did you have to deliver that horse?" "The foal," Trowa corrected softly, his lips curving into a smile. "I did - that's why I was late. She's beautiful." "You think badgers are beautiful," Duo muttered into his beer. Trowa rolled his eyes. "Anyway, she's healthy and so is the mare." "I was trying to get Heero to come with us to the mountains tomorrow," Duo said, "but he's got a date." Trowa arched an eyebrow at him. "Good for you." They didn't normally talk about relationships - Heero had made it clear to Trowa very early on in his relationship to Duo that he didn't approve of the way their relationship had began and had no interest in talking about his own love life with someone who would do that - but Trowa was usually supportive and less annoying than Duo. "Some guy he met at the bookstore when he picked up A Canticle for Leibowitz for me," Duo continued. Trowa nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I hope it goes well," Trowa said after a moment. Heero nodded in agreement - he did too. It would be his first date in almost a year, and it was with a man whose life his best friend had ruined. He wasn't sure how it could go well, but he was certainly willing to give it a try if it meant the chance to see Quatre smile at him again. ~ * ~ |
