"Defying Gravity"

A Romance in Three Parts

Written By: Kaeru Shisho

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: AU, yaoi, some language

Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3

Summary: A multi part story of romance starting with a turning point vacation, developing throughout a dangerous UC mission, and moving ahead through the unexpected challenges of a summer vacation.

"Part Three: It's Another Vacation"

Quatre gulped as entered the courtyard and saw the shamiana erected in the center of the rose garden for the ceremony. He knew he was going to do the right thing, but he also knew that it was going to be very difficult. On Quatre's arrival, Nada's brother, Aden, held out a glass of sweet sharbet ready to exchange drinks, as a traditional part of the ceremony, but Quatre had no drink in his hand.

"Quatre?" Aden said as soon as he saw him. "You are a little early, but that's-- What happened? Is everything all right?"

"Ah," Quatre began uncertainly.

As he entered the heavily decorated tent, drums and instruments revved up to announce his arrival, making it hard to hear anything else. Throngs of dressed up guests had gathered, ready for the wedding to begin. Those who had waited until the last minute could be seen running here and there. The sisters of the bride had been welcoming the guests by playfully hitting them with a stick wrapped in flowers, but now they stopped and turned to stare at the beautiful, blond man soon to be their brother-in-law.

"Is everybody okay?" Nada's parents asked, as they joined their son and soon to be son-in-law.

"Yes," Quatre managed to say, unable to meet their steady gazes. "I have to meet Nada. It's just for a few minutes."

"But the bridegroom isn't supposed to see the bride before the wedding; it's supposed to bring bad luck," another member of Nada's family said worriedly, "Is everything all right?"

"It's really urgent. I need to talk to Nada," Quatre pleaded.

"She is not arrived at the altar yet, as you can see. She is with the bridesmaids, preparing herself, however, since this is important...?" Aden paused.

"It is!" Quatre assured him.

"Well, then we can arrange for a veil. That way, you can talk but won't be able to see each other. Is that acceptable to you?" Aden suggested.

"Yes," Quatre said.

The joyous atmosphere, which had reigned when Quatre entered, disappeared. Most of the people grew quiet as they watched the groom and family-to-be wrought with tension and whispering. Quatre was the center of attention which he knew would soon turn ugly. The worst was yet to come. Feeling everyone's eyes on him, made Quatre even more uncomfortable as he followed Aden to the rooms set aside for Nada and her attendants to prepare. Nada sat with several other girls.

"Nada, draw you veil. Cover your face," Aden ordered.

"I want to talk to Nada in private, please," Quatre said quietly.

Aden and the girls left the room without much fuss and closed the door, leaving the two of them alone. Nada was sitting immobile on the bed, completely decked up as a bride in cherry red and a fine ghunghat veil hiding her face, shoulders, back and almost down to her waist. Dust from the stars seemed to have fallen on her bridal attire and shone in the light. Delicately carved golden jewels and ornaments adorned every part of her body- anklets on her ankles, rings on her fingers, bangles on her wrists and several necklaces circled her neck. She was very beautiful.

He thought of Sally in her red veil and shoes. It seemed a lifetime ago that he arranged the wedding ceremony of his good friend Wufei. He had buried himself in work to avoid thinking about his own turmoil. Well, he couldn't hide from his heart's desire any longer.

"I really don't know how to say this," Quatre finally started after a few painful moments of silence. "Nada, I-I-- Nada, I can't marry you. I won't hide anything from you today, Nada. I'm gay and I love Trowa. We have been boyfriends for the past year. When I came here to train for work, I discovered that my sister was really weak. I thought that to save her life and to preserve my family's honor, and my place in the company, I had to accept the proposal of marriage. But today, I realized that I won't be able to live without Trowa. I'm the guilty party, Nada. I have cheated you. I don't even deserve to be forgiven. I know I have, perhaps knowingly, ruined your life. And I'm so sorry!"

Quatre's gaze fell to the floor as tears threatened to spill out. Quatre could no longer look at the Nada's immobile body. He could feel anguish rolling off her in waves. Perhaps, if she shouted and created a scene, the pain would have been less. He wondered if he would be able to forgive himself for having hurt this innocent girl. He lifted his eyes, expecting to see some kind of reaction but there was none. Then, two drops of water fell on her hands.

"Outside," he waved vaguely, "I'm going to tell everyone that we're not going to marry. I'm going to tell them that I... that I am at fault. And then I'm going to the hospital, where he's...been in an accident. And--" Quatre said slowly, but then stopped. He was about to say. "Forgive me, if possible," but he reconsidered, knowing he did not deserve forgiveness. "I'm just so sorry."

Quatre turned away, let himself out, and released a shaky sigh in the empty hall. He was grateful not to have to face her brother and the attendants before he collected his thoughts and prepared what he would say to everyone else. When he returned to the ceremonial tent, everybody was waiting for him. He avoided meeting their gaze, and approached the altar. He took a deep breath and started, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to inform you that Nada and I aren't going to marry. This is all my doing; Nada is not to blame. Feel free to stay and... eat, but there will be no further celebration."

After a count of three heartbeats, the tent erupted into chaos. People jumped to their feet talking loudly amongst themselves and gesturing violently in his direction. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Aden making a beeline for the altar.

"Should I ask what joke this is?" Aden shouted, his face flaming with mounting anger. His name meant "fiery one", although "incendiary" better described how he looked to Quatre.

"It's not a joke, Aden--"

"How dare you?" he roared.

Aden grabbed Quatre's collar and whipped the smaller man around. Several men scrambled up to the altar and pinned Aden's arms, though, to stop further reckless activity. Quatre twisted around, tearing the collar of his fine jacket as he freed himself from Aden's grasp.

"Let me explain myself," Quatre said. "I love somebody else. I—"

"I don't care about you or your lover. You're going to stay here and marry Nada!" he said, choking back other words he wanted to say.

"Is there something wrong with our daughter? Forgive her if she made a mistake," Nada's father said as he approached Quatre.

"No, it's not--" he began, but when he overheard Nada's mother weeping with some other women, cursing the stars and the sins her daughter had committed to deserve this dishonor, he couldn't stand for that. He had to put a halt to any misconstructions before nasty rumors started circulating.

"No, no! You do not understand. It's me who's wrong. I love someone else. There's nothing wrong with Nada. She deserves someone much better. I'm sorry. I never wanted this to happen. Forgive me, please. I must go now," Quatre said as he started towards the door.

A firm grip to his arm brought him up short. "You're not going anywhere," Aden said. "Just because you are rich and were once a Gundam pilot, doesn't mean you can walk out on our family, ignore your responsibilities, and break you promises!"

Quatre turned to explain, and met a fist to the face. He fell back into the wall, head spinning. He was sure that in a few minutes, an ugly bruise would appear. If his luck held he'd have a broken nose and chin. That would be special. He almost hoped for a broken jaw, that way he'd never have to justify himself again.

"Leave him alone!" a familiar voice said from behind them.

All action froze. Nada stood not far away. She had removed all her make-up and accessories. Her body looked bare without all those ornaments and jewels. For the first time, Quatre saw her without a smile. Her face showed signs of both exhaustion and fatigue, but no traces of tears or extreme grief.

"Brother, why did you strike him?" Nada asked her brother calmly.

"He's going to ditch you!"

"I agree that he was wrong to lead me on, to give me false hopes, but he eventually realized his mistake, didn't he? Just imagine if he had married me. I would have been his wife, but there would have been someone else in his heart. How long we would have been happy? One year? Two? Five? The marriage would not have lasted forever and three lives would have been destroyed- his, that of the one he loves, and mine. And why do you all believe that my life has been ruined by a canceled wedding? Is my fate only tied to that of my husband's? Why can't I live for my own fate? Is a woman weak without her spouse? Is it really absolutely necessary to bind me to someone with the chains of marriage?"

Everyone remained quiet as Nada let her emotions out. Quatre admired the courage compressed into her petite frame. She was standing up to everyone.

"You can go, Quatre. I don't blame you. I blame our families for pushing this upon us, too fast. I wanted to go to college first, but... We were never meant for each other, but I'm glad to have met you." She stepped closer to him. "The circumstances could have been much better, but never mind that. Now go! Someone is waiting for you. Only lucky ones find their love and the luckiest ones never lose it!"

"Thanks," Quatre whispered as he hugged her.

"You can thank me later by inviting me to stay with you and your friend Earthside, where I can start over."

"You have my word," he said, "as a friend. And I know Zaira would travel with you, but if not, I'll come get you. I have a friend who can pilot us anywhere." They shared gentle, but teary smiles, and then he took off to find out what had happened to Trowa.

(o)

Heero scanned the slight but well-built and nearly naked young man standing with his hands on his hips. His eyes lit on the chastity belt obscuring the boy's sex, avoiding the burning intensity of his eyes.

"Just give me the fucking keys!" Duo insisted. "I was insane to let you lock me up in this fuckin' piece of shit again!"

Heero smiled and shook his head. "No. My pleasure." He would be the one to unlock his lover's sex, the only one.

"'Ro, I can do that," said Duo. Heero batted away his fingers, causing Duo to let out a sulky huff. "Fine. Do it your way then. Just get the frigging cage off."

He cut Heero dead with a look from eyes the color of the sea outside their door. At least Heero imagined that was what the sea must be like at the time, deep shimmering blue blending into the purple horizon.

"No, no," Heero laughed. "It's a service I'll happily perform for my stud boyfriend who has endured so much to please me, again."

He went to the bathroom and came back with a small basin filled with hot soapy water and a cloth. Heero carefully removed the cock cage by tugging it lovingly away off the twin posts and set it in the basin. Duo shivered. He then carefully removed the belt and chains and dropped them in the basin as well.

Duo moaned and lowered his eyelashes as he smoothed a hand over his chestnut-brown braid. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," was all he said.

Heero smiled, rinsed off all the pieces, and set them safely aside to dry before turning all his attention on his lover. With the warm cloth, he laved the now released cock of his friend and then his balls. Duo moaned again. His prick started to grow.

"I don't see any sore spots. How do you feel?"

"Like I need to get off really bad," Duo said, punctuating the end with a groan as Heero massaged oil into his tender skin. "Do not stop."

"Not until you are comfortable." Heero continued his ministrations a few minutes later then retreated again to the bathroom to wash his hands.

(o)

"I'm going to miss this ceiling," Duo whispered. "I've seen a lot of it this vacation."

Heero stood by the bed satiated fully and watched Duo, reclining on the bed, head pointing at the foot end and his legs bent and resting on the headboard. "I should move a bit." His long legs flipped backwards, somersaulting him over the end of the bed. He rose and stretched; a sight not just for the sore-eyed, but for the blind. "That's better. With that thing, I'm afraid to move to much and maybe slice myself in half, or worse."

"What could be worse?" Heero asked, amused by Duo's parading and preening, just for him.

"It could cut off my balls! Haven't you noticed how it cups me with metal?"

"I've noticed you."

Duo smiled and started to respond, when there was a light knock on the door. "Hold on!"

Heero wondered what Duo had planned, but waited and watched as Duo struggled into a pair of skin-tight jeans and answered the door.

"Thanks, man," Duo said and came away carrying a tray covered in steaming bowls of white rice and something else hidden beneath covered plates. "Your favorite!"

Heero had no idea what his favorite was, but he was suddenly hungry as hell. For drink, food, and another round of sex. "Thank you," he said, straight-faced.

The steam coming off the bowls could not complete with the steam the two lovers created on the windows that evening.

(o)

"Nurse, can you tell me where Trowa Barton is? He's a foreigner. Tall, sandy, light-brown hair--?" Quatre asked, the description coming out rapid-fire. He panted as he tried to regain his breath.

The nurse appeared shocked at his sudden appearance. He had forgotten about his blossoming bruise and blood oozing from the split across his cheek, but she couldn't ignore it. His state of dishevelment weighed on her mind as she answered his question.

"Room 213. Turn left and it's the third door. You should get that looked at, young man!" she called out to his retreating back.

Quatre dashed haphazardly to avoid other people walking the hall until he found room 213. The door stood ajar, so Quatre nudged it open and peeked inside. He found, to his instant relief, Trowa sitting up in bed, head bound, arm in a sling, chatting with a roomful of other agents perched on chairs and the window sill. Quatre rested against the doorway, thankful that Trowa's injuries didn't appear serious. When Trowa looked his way, Quatre noticed then that his eyes were puffy and red. Their eyes locked. Both young men tuned out the others and regarded each other a moment, drinking in the sight.

"Quatre, what are you doing here? And you're hurt! Aren't you supposed to be at the wedding?" Trowa asked, staring incredulously at him.

"Oh, that's how you welcome me?" Quatre laughed. He fought hysterics and knew his voice must have sounded artificial.

In two quick strides, he arrived at his bedside, and without asking permission, sat next to Trowa on the bed. "Oh, Trowa," escaped his lips and without answering any questions, Quatre hugged him. He really missed having Trowa in his arms, and when Trowa's good arm encircled his shoulders, all his tension evaporated. He felt as if everything would be fine. They stayed like that for a moment.

"Okay, I think it's okay, now," Trowa said under his breath, chuckling. "You don't want to make these guys too uncomfortable, do you?" Quatre felt Trowa separate from him slightly as he said a bit louder, "And I want to know what happened! And then you have to take care of that. It's one damn ugly cut."

"Oh! Excuse my poor manners, please." Quatre smiled weakly at the other men in the room, regained his composure and moved over to chair next to the bed.

Edwards nudged Williams and they gathered the other two agents, excusing themselves. "Uh, that's okay, uh, Quatre. Trowa can tell you about what happened. We're going to go get something to eat. And, don't worry, Trowa, we'll handle the report to Commander Une. You guys try and have a good vacation, what's left of it."

"Thanks," both Trowa and Quatre said at the same time, they all chuckled uncomfortably, and the agents left the pair in peace.

Chapter17

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