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"Puppy Love"Written By: Waterliliylf Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. All rights
remain with Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. No profit being
made here. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: sap, angst, fluff, Alternating Trowa/Quatre
POV, AU Pairings: 3x4 get together, Background 1x2, 5x6
Summary: quatre gets a new puppy and has ot take
it to the vet. "Puppy Love"
Quatre's POV: Chapter 34: Duo whistles as I climb into the passenger seat of his car. 'Wow. Someone sure as hell got laid since I last saw him.' 'Duo!' I splutter, feeling myself going crimson at record speed. 'How in the universe do you know that? You and Heero aren't staking out my house, are you?' He chuckles. 'Nope. Not yet anyway. It's not hard to guess, Quat. You look really happy, that's all. And you guys were totally having dessert sex in the restaurant the other night. That was pretty hot, actually.' 'That comment is…totally inappropriate.' My best friend hits himself in the forehead before pulling out of my drive. 'Duh! Stupid Duo, right? Gay men aren't allowed to comment of other guys being cute, even when those guys are feeding each other cake and practically giving the spoon a blow job.' 'You're not allowed make those comments about me!' 'I'm just joking. So, you let him stay over on Thursday night, right? And you missed the staff meeting yesterday morning?' I just goggle at him. 'How…how do you know that?' Duo grins in a way that's probably meant to be mysterious. 'Oh, I have my ways. Here, this is for you. Howard said to take some money out of petty cash to get breakfast. I got you some of that stinky tea you like, and a fancy bagel.' He gropes under his seat and hands me a paper bag from my favourite café. ''Lena called the school yesterday at nine thirty, looking for you. They said you weren't in, and you had your house 'phone switched off, so she called me to ask if you were OK, and I put two and two together.' His eyebrows climb halfway up his forehead. 'So…something you need to tell me?' 'I imagine you already know it.' For the first time, it occurs to me that maybe there might be some benefits to not sharing everything. Not that I really mind telling him; in fact, I want to talk about it, but it would be nice to have a little privacy, sometimes. 'What did 'Lena want?' 'Oh, she's going to some charity ball next week, and she needs an escort. Apparently it's your turn; I said you'd call her. Now stop trying to change the subject! Talk to me, Winner. Or I'll turn Heero on you.' 'It was wonderful.' I take a sip of my tea and break off the corner of my bagel. 'That's all I'm going to get? No way! I tell you every damn thing!' His eyes narrow speculatively. 'Yeah, I forgot to say, Heero found the whole cake feeding a real turn on as well. We nearly didn't make it home before he…' 'No! Stop!' I clap both hands over my ears and just grab my tea in time before it spills. 'I'll tell you, just please don't say any more.' Duo smirks happily. 'I can't believe you asked him to stay over. Well, I sort of can, given the way you were looking at him the other night, but it's still a pretty big step. And you actually missed a staff meeting. You never do that. Not even when you broke your ankle skiing and Zechs and I practically had to carry you up the stairs.' I nod. 'I know. I hadn't intended to ask him to stay. But he fell asleep on the couch - he'd had a horrible day at work - and I just couldn't tell him to go home. I wanted him to stay, anyway,' I add quietly. 'My bedroom was in the most appalling mess, though; you have no idea. It was so embarrassing.' 'What, there was a sock on the floor or something, was there?' he snorts. 'Quat, I kind of imagine that the guy was too busy looking at you to notice the décor. So…you got him into your pigsty of a bedroom and…who jumped who?' 'There was no jumping. We both fell asleep and oh, Duo, he was so sweet. I was babbling all sorts of nonsense; well, you know what I'm like when I'm nervous, and he just made out that it wasn't any big deal, and offered to go home if I really felt uncomfortable.' 'Hmm. And that's what put that shit-eating smile on your face?' He sounds a little sceptical. 'Well, no. Not exactly. That would have been what we did yesterday morning. It was wonderful. It just felt so right!' I sigh, remembering, and Duo reaches over to tousle my hair, the way he does when I say something he considers cute. 'The whole nine yards? Or should I be measuring in inches rather than yards?' 'That is one of the worst jokes you've ever made!' I take a sip of my Lapsong Souchong, in a pathetic attempt to stop myself smiling for one second. 'And, no, we didn't actually go all the way.' I can feel my whole face stretching into an enormous smile. 'Duo, it was unbelievable! He said…he just wanted to make me feel good.' 'I'm betting he did!' Duo interrupts and I nod. 'Oh, yes! I've never had anyone make me feel like that. I thought every bone in my body had turned into jelly. Jelly that hadn't even had time to set properly! And now I just can't stop thinking about it. Not just the physical, but things he said and the way he looks at me sometimes. And I can't wait to see him later.' I nibble another bit of bagel. 'Does that make me some sort of sex addict?' 'A vet addict, more like,' he quips and then sees my face. 'Quat, stop stressing about this. It's normal. You like the guy, he likes you, he makes you feel great. Of course you're going to think about it. And, if you don't mind me being crude, it's a while since you got any. From what you said, Simon was as selfish in bed as he was out of it, and now you've got someone who actually considers your pleasure as well. You should be over the moon.' 'I am. Honestly. I can't stop smiling. I woke up this morning and I was smiling! And he sent me the most beautiful flowers yesterday! I'll show you when you drop me back home. I don't know how he knew my favourite flowers!' 'Sure you do,' Duo winks at me and raises his cup of coffee to his lips. 'Work it out, Kitty Quat.' 'Oh! That's what you were talking about in the café!' 'Yep! So, let's see, you've got this hot, attentive guy who's pulling out all the stops to show you a good time, in and out of bed. You can't stop smiling and you're seeing him in a few hours.' He frowns. 'Why the hell do I get the feeling that you've got something that's worrying you?' I shake my head; my best friend is far too perceptive. Duo takes his eyes off the road for one second, and pulls the car to the side of the road. 'Talk to me, Quat. I can listen better if I'm not driving as well.' 'I don't know. I'm just feeling so incredibly stupid.' His eyes widen and I rush on. 'I can't believe I stayed with Simon for so long! And then I spent a whole year getting over him. It's like I've wasted whole years of my life!' 'Hallelujiah,' Duo mutters. 'He finally gets it. Listen, stop beating yourself up about this, OK? The whole Simon thing was a big, fat mistake. We've gone over this a thousand times. The important thing is that you finally saw what an asshole he was, and you got out. Sure, it took you a while to get your confidence back, but people deal with things differently. And look at it like this; if you'd got over him sooner, you might be with someone else now, and you'd never have met the HVG.' 'That's true,' I say slowly. 'I'd never thought of that.' He shrugs. 'It's a way of looking at things. Maybe you wouldn't be the person you are now, the person Trowa's attracted to, if you hadn't met Simon in the first place. I know how badly you got hurt, but it's made you stronger, Quat. You're way more confident than you were when I first met you; you're still a total people pleaser, but you are capable of putting yourself first.' 'What are you saying; that I've become really selfish?' 'No, you idiot. What I'm saying is that you've become a bit more assertive. Simon the asshole loved that you felt insecure around him, that you were always trying to make him happy. I think Trowa's secure enough to accept the guy you are now. Hell, he probably likes it. He's head over heels about you, anyway.' 'It's so different with Trowa. Not just the sex; everything. It's so much more comfortable being with him; he's easy-going, and he's so considerate and I can't stop thinking about him. It was never like this with Simon.' I hit myself in the forehead. 'I was so stupid, Duo. I never even loved him, not properly. I just needed someone and then I was so terrified of losing another person in my life, I jumped through hoops for him. Stupid. I almost lost you and Zechs because you tried to tell me I was making a mistake.' 'You didn't, though,' he tells me gently. 'We all got past that. And about Simon,' he chews his lip, usually my habit. 'There were some good times, right? You wouldn't have stayed with him for so long if you hadn't felt something for him. Even Zechs and I thought he was OK the first few times we met him.' 'Are you actually defending him?' 'Nah. I'm just saying that I know it wasn't all bad. Maybe it was what you needed then. And you should stop kicking yourself over it. It's over; it wouldn't hurt to hang to a few of the good memories.' I nod slowly. 'You really should be a psychologist or something, you know. You're so good at all this.' 'Yeah, right. Like I could pass any of those exams. And Howard wouldn't be too keen if I left him to become a shrink. He hates all that stuff. I don't know all that much, Quat, not really. I just went through losing someone and had to find ways to survive, that's all. One of them was finding you.' I swallow. 'Do you still…miss Solo?' It's one of the few subjects we tend to avoid; Duo's first lover and his death. As far as my friend is concerned, he was responsible. 'I'll always miss him,' Duo says softly. 'Always. But I think he'd be glad I found Heero. It's so different with 'Ro, you know. With Solo, I was always the kid; he was four years older. He was always the one who showed me stuff, who looked after me. I loved him to bits - still do - but it was never really an equal relationship. He made all the decisions, and I pretty much went along with it. Maybe it would've changed when I got older, I don't know. But with Heero, it's like this totally equal partnership. I sort of like that.' He glances at the clock on the dashboard. 'Yeah. We'd better go. It's nearly nine. Listen, I'm sorry to drag you out of bed so early on a Saturday. I really appreciate this.' 'It's not a problem.' I finish off my bagel and fold the paper bag neatly. 'What are we doing this morning?' 'Other than trying to avoid my boss? Actually, he might not be here, especially if we can get finished ASAP. There's one bedroom he wants painted; he called Howard yesterday and asked if it could be done by around eleven this morning. We got everything set up last night, so it shouldn't take that long. We might get out before he even arrives.' The house turns out to be quite near my parents' home; one of the city's most exclusive suburbs. The mansions are perched high on a cliff, overlooking the sea, and the residents compete over the highness of their walls, and the complexity of their security system. The house we are going to is protected by some of the highest walls, although the actual gate is wrought iron, with an intricate pattern of roses twined around each other. There are more roses lining the drive, miraculously blooming in April. There are fountains and gazebos and every leaf, ever blade of grass looks as if it has been individually trimmed. There is a small Greek temple. Duo slows down as we approach the house and nods towards it. 'Crazy, huh? Apparently, he had it shipped over from Athens; it's really ancient and he had to bribe all sorts of officials to get it out of the country.' He makes a face. 'What you can do with money!' 'So…what do you think?' he asks almost an hour later, having given me a conducted tour. 'It's beautiful, I suppose. He obviously has impeccable taste, and you and Howard have done an amazing job. It just feels more like an art gallery than a place where people live.' 'That's it, exactly. I mean, Zechs' place is more homey than this and it's a freaking palace! But I wouldn't want to live here, would you? All that marble and crystal and French antiques, but nowhere just to curl up and watch TV.' 'No, I wouldn't like to live here,' I agree. 'And it's far too big for one person.' Duo nods. 'Yeah. He has all these fancy ideas about the entertaining he's going to do. Garden parties, formal dinners, musical soirées. Come on, we'd better get going. Back up the sweeping staircase!' 'Actually, I do envy him the music room. The acoustics are superb; he could have a concert of chamber music in there.' 'He's always going on about how much he loves opera and all that, and all the concerts he's been to. Like we're supposed to be impressed. You probably know way more about that shit than he does, and you don't brag about it.' 'I wish you wouldn't call opera that shit.' Duo laughs at my pained expression, flinging a door open. 'Here we go; it's a pretty small room. We just have to do the walls and give the window sills another coat. Should be finished soon.' 'Are you sure this is the right paint?' I open one of the cans, inhaling the wonderful smell. It's a bright, sunshiny yellow; totally unlike the rest of the house, which is decorated in very masculine, earth tones. 'Uh huh. We checked yesterday. It's probably the maid's room or something. Anyway, let's get cracking.' A couple of hours later, we are at the clearing up stage. Duo has managed to winkle out practically every detail of my evening/morning with Trowa, and confided a few details of what he and Heero got up to on Wednesday evening when they got home. Not that I'd really wanted to know. He is piling up the empty paint cans and I'm wiping down the floorboards when we hear footsteps. 'Ah, shit,' Duo mutters. 'We should've started at six; we'd be home by now.' 'Duo?' a deep male voice calls my friend's name, and the door swings open. He is - not what I'd expected. He is in his early thirties, handsome apart from the rather scary eyebrows and the little smirk on his lips. If I saw him on the street, I'd probably think he was attractive. 'Hi,' Duo wipes his hands on his jeans. 'Sorry; we're nearly finished. We didn't expect you quite so early.' 'No problem at all. Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?' 'Oh. Right. This is Quat; he helps out sometimes when we're busy. Quat, this is, uh…' 'Treize Khushrenada.' He holds my hand just long enough that I'm feeling the urge to snatch it back. Which would just look ridiculous. 'Cat? What an unusual name. And charming.' I get a smile which is probably meant to be charming too, and possibly would be if it weren't so condescending. 'Do tell me, Cat, what do you think of my house?' 'It's beautiful. I especially liked the music room.' 'Ah. Are you fond of music then? I think it's one of life's greatest pleasures, personally. I have a private box at the Sanque Opera House; I'm going to see Aida this evening, actually. Perhaps you've seen it?' 'Several weeks ago,' I say coolly. 'When it first opened. It's an excellent production, but of course one really has to see it performed in Cairo, beside the Pyramids, don't you think? To fully appreciate it?' Oh dear, that was probably a mistake. His lips thin as he stares at me, that horrid little smirk withering. Patronising the hired help is NOT supposed to go like this. Well, I don't like people looking at me like that. I've seen that expression too many times when I was growing up. Powerful men, often friends of my parents, who believed that their wealth allowed them to do as they pleased with their secretaries or housemaids or children's nannies. Duo tries to break the awkward pause by saying something about how much he likes the colour of this room, and then a girl's voice calls from outside. Instantly, Treize's expression transforms into an indulgent smile. 'Leia, my love. Come in.' He pulls the girl into the room, draping one arm around her shoulders. She is very young, pretty, visibly pregnant. 'Your surprise, my darling. The nursery for our son.' 'It's beautiful! Treize, thank you so much!' She smiles at us both, shy but sweet. 'And thank you both for doing this. It was so kind of you to come in at the weekend.' 'It is their job, dear,' he says tightly and then forces a nasty little smile for her benefit. 'Now, gentlemen, I think we've taken up more than enough of your Saturday. As you can see, my wife is more than happy with your work. Perhaps I can offer you both some small recompense for your trouble?' 'No, that's fine,' Duo says quickly 'We'll put it on the invoice; it's no trouble. We have to go now, right, Quat? We'll leave you two to yourselves.' We both gabble farewells and almost rush out of the room. 'Shit.' Duo bangs the steering wheel with one hand as we race down the drive. 'That poor girl! And the poor kid. Hope he doesn't inherit those eyebrows. Even worse than Dorothy's! I thought he was going to give us some money there, probably try sliding it into our back pockets like we were strippers or something. Freak. I hate those fucking guys who just think they have to take out a credit card and people are going to bend over for them.' He grimaces. 'Ick. Seriously bad choice of words.' 'You never told me that he was married.' Duo shrugs. 'Didn't know. He's never mentioned a wife. Well, you didn't like him, did you?' 'Absolutely not. I've met people like him before and he's a total sleaze.' 'Yep. Still, we finish up next week, and we'll never need to see him again. I feel kind of sorry for the girl though. She only looked about nineteen or twenty and she's stuck with him. Look, Quat, don't tell anyone about this, OK? I mean, sure, the guy's a bit of a perv, and I'll be really glad to finish the job, but I think I just got a bit freaked out last week. It's not a big deal, really. Now, am I dropping you home or at Trowa's?' 'Home, if you don't mind. I need to get changed first.' 'No problem. So…what's the plan for today?' 'Nothing definite. We're taking Maggie for a walk, and maybe giving her a little obedience lesson, and then we might make a start on Trowa's bookshelves. He said he wants to cook something nice for dinner.' 'And then? Futon time?' 'I imagine so.' I try to sound nonchalant about that but I'm blushing. And smiling. 'Going to sleep with him properly this time?' 'I don't know. Honestly. All the reasons I had for not sleeping with him don't seem so important any more. I know we still don't know each other awfully well, but … I don't know. I think I'll just keep my options open and see what happens.' 'Options open, legs open,' Duo grins. 'Sorry, that was a bit crude. Just make sure it's what you want, OK? Not that you're trying to make the HVG happy. 'cause he seems willing to wait for you.' 'I won't do anything I'm not comfortable with, I promise. But I think …I do want this.' at least, I think I do, don't I? I certainly did yesterday morning. I would have let him do anything. Everything. 'What about you?' I ask. I'm not sure if I really want to keep talking about my sex life, or lack thereof. Not right now. It's a harmless question, but he suddenly looks a little bashful. 'Just hang 'round with Heero, I think. We sort of had this little discussion on Thursday, on the way home from the movies. Nothing major; just that we're both going to try spending less time at work, and do more stuff together. He's such a workaholic anyway, and I've been pressuring myself trying to get this job done, so we haven't seen too much of each other lately.' He shrugs. 'So we're just going to have some 'quality time' today, and tomorrow we're going to go out for the day. It'll be nice, I think.' 'It sounds very nice,' I say gently. 'Oh, yeah. There was one favour I wanted to ask. We might try to get away for a few days next month; would you mind watching Shin for me?' 'I'd love. You don't even have to ask. Where were you thinking of going?' 'That's one of things we're going to do this afternoon; plan our little trip. It's coming up to six months since we got together, so we should do something nice, right?' He grins suddenly. 'Lucky you dialled his number by mistake that night, wasn't it? The way things turned out.' I nod; things did turn out well in the end. I didn't lose Duo, the way I'd feared; in fact, I gained Heero as another friend. And now I have Trowa. ~ * ~ |
