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"Worlds Apart"Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing nor any of
its characters. I only own the original characters. And nobody's paying
me to write this. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Angst, AU, Non consensual Pairings: 1x5, 2x4 (eventually) Summary: Duo meets a stranger and falls head over
heels, but Quatre is hesitant to jump into a relationship with the
braided man for reasons he won't say. "Worlds Apart" Wufei smiled softly as he woke. Sunlight poured through the doors leading to the balcony off their bedroom and Heero was spooned behind him, arm wrapped around his waist. He untangled himself from his still sleeping lover and crossed silently to the glass doors to look out over their private beach. In the four months since they'd moved to Hawaii, Heero had worked to get him out into public places. He'd started with taking him to sparsely populated areas where they'd see people but didn't necessarily have to interact with them. It was rough at first and Heero had practically had to drag him out of the house. He smiled as arms wrapped around him and a kiss was placed to his temple. They stood silently for several minutes, watching the waves lapping at the shore. “Morning.” “Morning. Did you sleep well?” Wufei nodded. “Very good. No nightmares in a month.” Heero's arms tightened. “Hawaii's been good for you.” “You've been good for me.” He licked his lips. “Heero?” “Hm?” “Can we go to the cafe for lunch? Just get out for a bit?” Heero smiled and pulled away. “I'd love to. You go ahead and take your shower and I'll fix us some breakfast. Okay?” Heero left the room and went down to the kitchen where Duo was pressed to Quatre's back, pulling soft laughter from the blond as he whispered to him. Heero shook his head and moved beside them. “Is the coffee being held hostage or can I sneak by you and get some?” Duo laughed and released his lover. He sipped from his own coffee cup, looking to Heero. “Have you thought any more about the bar?” Heero fixed his coffee and turned, leaning his hip to the counter. “It sounds like a good idea, but I need to focus on Wufei right now.” Duo nodded. “Zechs said he'd help me get it going until you're more comfortable leaving Wufei for longer than a couple of hours.” He grunted. “One stipulation, though.” “What's that?” “I can't steal Quatre from him to work for us.” Quatre chuckled. “Who said I'd want to work for you, anyway?” “Ouch, that was cold.” Quatre finished his orange juice and grabbed an apple off the counter. “I need to go.” He gave Duo a quick kiss. “Love you.” “Love you, too.” He turned back to Heero after his lover left. “I don't think it'll take too much work to get the bar up and running.” Heero shook his head. “You've sold me on the idea, Duo. You can stop trying to convince me.” He tilted his head to the side. “What made you decide you wanted to run a bar anyway?” He shrugged. “Well, I've got that business degree I haven't done anything with and I think it'll be cool to run my own business.” “Half own. We're partners, right?” “You know what I mean.” “What about bartenders?” He rolled his eyes. “It's as simple as putting out an advertisement that we're hiring.” Heero moved to the fridge and pulled out eggs and bacon. “Are you hungry?” “Naw, I had a bowl of cereal.” Heero nodded and put the bacon in the microwave as he scrambled four eggs in a bowl. “Wufei and I are going out for lunch.” He looked to his friend. “Per his request.” Duo smiled. “Good to hear.” ****** Wufei kept his eyes down as he and Heero walked down the almost empty street. Although still uncomfortable with large crowds, he could tolerate them as long as someone was with him. They'd had a nice lunch and now he'd decided to brave a stroll through town instead of taking the back way home. He stopped walking and Heero glanced to him. He followed his lover's gaze and raised an eyebrow. “Wufei?” “Can I... have a look?” “Inside?” He bit his lip and nodded. Heero smiled. “Of course.” He opened the door and Wufei stepped in, going straight for the cage at the window. He knelt down and put the fingertips of his right hand to the door. A soft whimper came from inside and Wufei smiled softly. “Come on, I won't hurt you.” Liquid brown eyes looked up to him and slowly, the skittish puppy moved toward the door of the cage. He sniffed at Wufei's fingers before lapping his tongue over them. Wufei laughed softly. “You're a sweet one, aren't you?” Heero's heart broke as he watched his lover with the small shi tzu. In many ways, they were the same. Afraid of touch. Afraid of new people. “She was one of our rescues.” Heero looked to the pet store clerk. “It shows.” She nodded. “She's only seven months. When we recovered her, she was sorely malnourished and abused.” She cut her eyes to him, lowering her voice. “As was your friend, yes?” He glared and she held up her hands. “Honey, I see crap like this every day. Hurt calls to hurt. He needs someone that needs him.” Wufei's brows drew together and he looked to Heero, completely ignorant of the conversation his lover had been having with the woman. “Do you think we could...” Heero smiled. “We'll take her.” The brilliant smile he was graced with was all the thanks he needed. Wufei looked back to the pup. “You're going home with us. Is that okay?” The puppy licked his fingers again and he laughed, looking back to Heero. “Thank you,” he whispered. The woman crossed over and unlocked the cage. Wufei cradled the black puppy in his arms and scratched under her chin. “Does she have a name?” “Not yet.” Wufei tilted his head to the side. “Shadow.” Heero nodded. “That's a good name.” Wufei held the dog tight to his chest as Heero took care of all the details to make the puppy theirs. Shadow put her paws to Wufei's chest and pushed up to lap at his chin. He grinned. “I can't wait till Quatre sees her.” They spent the next hour buying a bed, food, a collar, and license. Heero had never seen the other Asian so happy. They left the store with Heero carrying all the supplies and Wufei carrying the dog. “We could put her on the leash.” “But it's a long walk. She'll get tired.” Heero chuckled. “She's a dog, Wufei.” “Your point?” Wufei's eyes stayed trained to the puppy and Heero's were focused on Wufei, so neither saw the man paying more attention to texting than he was to where he was going. He and Wufei collided, sending the Asian to the ground with the man landing on top of him. In an instant, Wufei felt his heart shoot to triple time and couldn't get air into his lungs. Shadow was yelping and the man was pushing up, apologizing profusely. Heero could see the panic flame in Wufei's eyes and he dropped the bags, helping the man up before pulling Wufei to sit up. “I'm really sorry.” The man stared at Wufei worriedly. “Is he all right?” Heero looked up to the man. “It isn't your fault. He's prone to panic attacks.” He looked back to Wufei, whose arms were tightening around Shadow again. “Wufei, calm down. It was an accident. You're safe.” He loosened his hold on his puppy and raised his eyes to Heero, looking from him to the man who was still apologizing. “I... I'm okay...” He licked his lips. “I wasn't watching where I was going.” He ducked his head again. Heero smiled, rubbing Wufei's back. “He's all right.” The man held his hand out to help Wufei up and he stared at it for a long moment before taking a breath. He shifted Shadow to his left arm and took the man's hand. He released it as soon as he was on his feet and backed away a step. “Thank you.” Heero stood with a smile and grabbed the bags as the man left. “You've come a long way.” He offered Heero a shaky smile and they continued their trek toward the house. ****** The bell over the door chimed and Quatre turned from the sink, wiping his hands on a towel. He smiled. “Hi, Zechs, I didn't realize you were coming in today.” The taller blond shook his head as he came around the counter, heading for his office. “I forgot the deposit when I left yesterday.” “Oh.” He grabbed the coffee pot and crossed to the counter. “Need a top-up, Mrs. Evans?” “Yes, please.” The older woman set her cup down. “How long have you been working here now?” He filled her cup. “Almost three months.” She smiled. “You're a lot better than the last help Zechs had, that's for sure.” He gave her a shy smile. “Thank you. It's actually the first real job I've ever had.” She leaned her elbows on the counter and set her chin on the back of her joined hands. “How's Duo.” He smiled, wiping the counter even though it didn't really need it. “Good. We're planning on going to one of the smaller islands next month.” “Which one?” His nose crinkled slightly. “I don't know. He won't tell me.” She laughed fondly. “Sounds like he's keeping you on your toes.” “Yeah.” She was quiet for a long moment and he looked up to find her studying him. “What?” “I see something in those pretty eyes of yours that I've seen in my own. The look that says you've seen far more than someone your age, or any age, should have to see.” He ducked his head. “You could say that.” “Duo helped you out?” He snorted. “Pulled me out kicking and screaming.” She nodded. “It's hard, isn't it? Learning how to trust.” “Especially when you don't deserve them.” She tilted her head to the side. “Why wouldn't you deserve him?” “I... wasn't a very good person.” “That isn't what Duo told me,” Zechs said as he left his office. Quatre looked to his boss. Surely Duo hadn't told him the truth. “What did he say?” He tucked the deposit bag under his arm. “That you had to make your way on your own after your father died and just needed a break to get back on your feet.” He nodded. “You're a good worker and I'm glad he recommended you.” He patted Quatre on the back as he left. Mrs. Evans sipped her coffee. “Were you on the streets?” He gazed at her silently for a long moment and she put her hand over his. “Sweetheart, I walked the streets for years. There's nothing you could say that would shock me.” He licked his lips and dropped his eyes. “It doesn't bother me all the time... I have my 'one day'.” He looked back to her. “If it wasn't for Duo, I'd be dead.” Her brows drew together. “How?” “I got tuberculosis. Duo paid for my hospitalization, the medication, and everything.” “And you're all right now?” He nodded. “I get winded a little easier now than I used to, but my doctor says that'll fade over time.” She smiled. “I'm glad to hear it. Everyone deserves a second chance. Is that why you moved here? To get away from that place?” “Not for me... For my friend. He had it a hundred times worse than I did. He was scared to leave the apartment. Afraid our pimp would find him again. Afraid he'd run into old johns. He was having horrible nightmares.” He shook his head. “He had it so much worse than I did. Our pimp raped him on a regular basis... I didn't even know.” She shook her head. “Oh, angel, that-” “Don't call me that.” She appraised him. “Street name?” He nodded. “Sorry... Honey, what happened to him was horrible, but it wasn't your fault.” “But it was. Some of it, at least. After Bruce found me... he wanted me, but Wufei made a deal that he would do whatever Bruce wanted if he didn't touch me.” “When did you find that out?” “I pissed Bruce off and... he broke the deal.” She squeezed his hand. “You did nothing wrong, Quatre. You survived, and so did your friend. Just because he's hurting, that doesn't mean you have to hide your own pain.” He closed his eyes and turned as the bell chimed over the door. By the time the customer reached the counter he'd composed himself. He fixed her a latte and sighed when she left. Mrs. Evans stared at him as he gazed out the window, waiting. He licked his lips. “I don't sit around feeling sorry for myself.” She nodded. “Some days are harder than others. You weren't quite yourself when I came in.” “Is that why you admitted you thought I used to be a whore?” She gazed at him levelly. “I thought you had a hard life. I didn't ponder over what that might have entailed. But, yes.” “I'm sorry, that wasn't fair of me.” “Why not? You're allowed to get upset, you know. There's obviously something you haven't dealt with and you've got the perfect person right here to unload on.” He shook his head. “I don't really have much to unload. Heero managed to pull Wufei out of the house this morning, which is happening more and more, but part of me wonders if his phobia wouldn't have been so bad if he hadn't been raped by Bruce all the time.” She sighed. “Playing 'what ifs' is dangerous, sweetheart.” He nodded. “I know. It's just... one of those days. You know?” She smiled softly. “I hear ya, honey.” He finished out the rest of his shift and walked back home, mind a dull buzz of chaotic thoughts that he barely allowed to register. He reached their house on the beach to hear laughter and a dog barking. He frowned and moved around to the back of the house. He froze at the corner, watching as Wufei played with a black puppy. Heero and Duo were watching them from the deck off the back of the house. It was quite possibly the sweetest scene the three of them had ever seen. All of Quatre's tension and fear melted. No matter how horrible he felt about the past, his friend was definitely a hundred times better now than he had been. He had a future, and it seemed he wasn't allowing the past to hold him back any longer. Quatre took a breath and moved toward them. Wufei looked to the blond with a bright smile. “We got a puppy. Her name's Shadow.” Quatre smiled. “I see that.” He knelt down and held out his hand. Shadow huddled behind Wufei's legs for a moment, staring at the newcomer warily. She stepped away from Wufei slowly and sniffed at Quatre's hand before licking it. “How was work?” Quatre scratched behind Shadow's ears as he looked to Duo. “Good. Mrs. Evans came in and she's always good company during the slow hours.” He stood and made his way up toward his lover, pulling him into a loose embrace and kissing him softly. “And how was your day?” Duo smiled. “Better now.” ****** Quatre sat on the patio chair and took a sip from his wine before setting his glass on the table between his chair and the chair Wufei sat in. He gazed at the sun setting over the ocean. “I had... a dream last night.” Wufei looked to him. “I'm sorry.” He shook his head. “All day I worried that your life was ruined because of me.” “Quatre-” “Let me finish.” He wet his lips. “But then I got home and saw how you played with Shadow.” He looked to his friend. “And I realized that no matter how much the past sucks, you're okay now.” Wufei nodded. “Getting there... at the very least.” “Thank you.” The Asian frowned. “For what?” “If you hadn't let Heero in, we wouldn't be here. I'd probably be dead and you'd still be stuck on that corner.” Wufei shook his head. “You couldn't have hidden the TB much longer. I'd have done whatever it took to get you well. I would never let you die if I could prevent it.” He laughed softly and relaxed. “Then I'm glad you didn't have to attempt it.” Wufei studied his friend. “You're something else, you know that, Quatre?” He frowned. “What do you mean?” “You've got to be the strongest person I've ever met if you can worry about other people while faced with the possibility of a long, painful death.” Quatre shook his head. “If I had to stay walking the streets after Duo, I'd have rather died.” He looked to the ocean and the setting sun. “I'm not strong, Wufei. It's quite the opposite, actually. I couldn't handle it anymore. After Bruce... did what he did, I was empty. I was ready to quit and accept whatever was handed to me. I gave up.” He looked down as Shadow jumped into his lap and put her paws to his chest, licking his chin. He chuckled and scratched behind her ears. Wufei smiled. “She's sweet, isn't she?” He nodded. “I'm glad you found her.” He looked over to their respective lovers tinkering with the grill. “And I'm glad we found them, too.” Wufei followed his gaze. “We have our 'one day'.” He raised his glass. “Here's to not screwing it up.” Quatre laughed. “Here, here.” The end.
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