Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, I don't own the songs, I don't own Fruits' Basket and whatever else. I just own the storyline.
Notes: Written for the Moments of Rapture contest. :D I drew inspiration from a whole bunch of things, and Furuba fans, yes, that Hiro.
Also: It is in a really weird, format, and I realize that. O_o; It probably disrupts the reading process thingy, and I'm sorry ^^
Warnings: language, angst, fluff, some impossible action sequences (got no experience with those things...), weakest plot I've ever seen, OOC?

Better Together
by Raz

"Obviously. After all, I am having coffee with you."

"Yeah, but we're not on a date. Hey, fuck -- did I just concede that having coffee with me is desperate?"

"Yes."

"Fuck you, Chang. I'm thinking it's the other way around. At least I have a lover."

"Who, Yuy? Maxwell, I could land him easily."

"You'd better not. I'm very possessive, and I have claws."

"I'm sure Heero can attest to that. I saw him wincing and clutching at his back that day."

"Haha, he deserved it. Don't change the subject on my ADD mind. I can tell you're lonely." Duo leaned back, smugly sipping from his coffee. Wufei could tell that his Preventers partner was pleased with the way he'd managed to sneak the last word in and he grumpily took a drink from his cup as well. Clearly ignoring his companion, he glanced outside. They were seated at the back corner, but because the coffee shop was vaguely small, he didn't have any trouble with surveying the passersby.

"Hey, don't give me the cold shoulder! I'm just a concerned friend looking out for your well-being! Not to mention, mine, since you get grumpier every second you don't get some..." Duo added loftily, balancing his legs on the unused chair next to him.

"Right, 'concerned'. For your information, Maxwell," Wufei replied, leaning forward with a hard gleam in his eyes, "I am perfectly fine with being single."

Duo looked him up and down skeptically. "Yeah, sure. And I'm some really famous historical figure that I'm not." Wufei didn't even bother rolling his eyes at that.

"How are things going with Yuy?" Wufei asked, changing the topic as he finished the last of his coffee and pastry. The fact that he had a sweet tooth always seemed to stun other people, but it was something that he'd developed early on, the time he'd had a sweet red bean paste bun in China. He'd never forgotten how that first one had tasted.

"Son of a bitch is always away doing something or other." Duo made a face and grinned. "I miss him sometimes, but it just means I get really hot sex when he comes back."

Wufei coughed. Maybe he shouldn't have brought it up. He discreetly looked around, checking for anyone who heard that. Wufei took notice of the time, and saw Duo glancing at the clock as well. Their break was almost over. They both put down the money for their food and drinks, rising out of their chairs to get back to work.

"He should be thanking his lucky stars that I even got with him." Duo snickered. "Coffee pot half-full," he joked, gesturing towards the coffee pot sitting peacefully in its holder on their way out.

"Yes," Wufei echoed, opening the door for Duo as they exited, his gaze on the said coffee pot. "Half-full."

FUCKER

"Hey."

Wufei looked up; Duo was leaning in the doorway, and he raised an eyebrow in greeting and went back to his work.

"Did you see the new recruit?" Duo wasn't fazed. He was used to the silent I-need-to-work-get-out-now-now-now routine. Wufei shrugged. He could care less.

"Another Gundam pilot joins the ranks."

Wufei glanced up, irritated at the sound of Duo's voice, before the words really registered. "...Barton?"

Duo nodded.

"...fuck."

Duo laughed.

LOVES ME NOT

"Are you uncomfortable with me working here?" Trowa inquired, his whisper finding its way into Wufei's ear as they pretended to concentrate on what the executives were saying.

"Why should I be?" Wufei quietly replied. Trowa shrugged almost imperceptibly in response. Soon after, the conference was adjourned, and they gathered up their notes and papers. Wufei had to resist the urge to bolt from his seat. He settled for a brisk pace. Trowa easily caught up.

"Is it because we were prior acquaintances?" Trowa asked, his folder neatly grasped under one arm.

"Is that what we're calling it these days?" Wufei replied carelessly.

"Wufei..."

"Don't." Wufei turned around. "Don't make it sound like we had something. It's obvious we didn't. Let's just act like what we are -- 'acquaintances'. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

Trowa watched as Wufei walked away.

HAVE YOU GOT IT IN YOU?

A knock sounded in the room, quieting the rapid sounds of typing keys as Une cleared her throat. "Come in."

Duo obeyed, shuffling inside with a feral grin as he closed the door behind him. He stood at loose attention, and despite his deadly-cheerful expression, Duo was alert. "You rang, Commander?"

"Yes." Une paused, seeming to be reluctant to voice what she had to say.

"With all due respect, Commander, just give me the mission." Duo said, after a long moment's silence. "You'll only make it worse by drawing it out."

"Of course." Her stern demeanor came back at Duo's edgy words, her forehead wrinkling slightly. "Future search and extract." Une handed a folder to Duo. He strode forward and took it, frowning as he started flipping through it.

"...children?" Une nodded grimly at his grim question.

"Yes. Particularly the poor and or orphaned." Une watched Duo's expression harden, his eyes narrow as he frowned, with clinical detachment. She would let Duo have this moment, but this was his job. Une expected him to have full control of himself once he left this room.

"They take the kids in and then train them to become mercenaries for hire?" Duo closed his eyes briefly, hands clenched tightly around the papers.

"Yes. These children go through all kinds of training -- interrogation, terrorist, seek and destroy...The list goes on." Une's lips pressed together. "This will be a solo mission. It is only recon for now. We don't have enough information for anything else. Do you understand me?"

Duo blew his bangs out of his eyes. So he would be there with the bastards but he wouldn't be able to do anything about them. After an expectant pause, Duo nodded.

"Yes, Commander." He turned to leave.

"Agent Maxwell."

"Yes, Commander?"

"No one else is to know of this until I give the word. No one."

"...Understood."

A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION

"Incoming!" Duo burst through the door, sending the poor blinds on said door flying around. Wufei grimaced at the noise and stood up, ushering Duo inside before closing the door, slowly.

"New mission?" Wufei asked, leaning against the nearby wall. Duo plopped himself down in a chair and splayed out, loosely holding the mission parameter papers in his fingers.

"Yeah. It's a solo, so don't worry. You won't be missing your talk shows this weekend." Wufei snorted. Despite the humor, Duo had a feeling that Wufei would in fact camp out with Heero and stay up watching whatever was on television, keeping each other company.

"I did hear Winner got engaged to Dorothy. I wouldn't want to miss that, now, would I?" Wufei asked dryly, smiling slightly.

"Ah, see, I've always been looking out for you. I even got your favorite shows down pat." Duo winked and stretched. "Not to change the fascinating subject, but...what's the deal with you and Trowa?"

"Me and Barton? That was a long time ago." Wufei took the papers from Duo's hand, idly flipping through to check out what the gist of Duo's mission would be.

"Aha! So there was something, then. Spill!" Duo settled back happily, his foot doing a jubilant jig in midair as he awaited the down and dirty.

"What makes you think that I'll tell you?" Wufei asked, rolling his eyes and pushing off the wall, heading back to the chair behind his desk to get some more work done.

"Uh, because I'm your best friend? Ha! Don't even try to deny it, you know you can't hide it."

Wufei coughed. He glanced innocently to the side, whistling slightly.

"Hey!" Duo threw a nearby pen at him in retaliation.

Wufei caught it readily, and placed it safely on his desk. He carefully replied, "Barton and I used to have something right after the war, but then he wanted to go back to the circus and I wanted Preventers, so we went our separate ways. Nothing too exciting."

"Right...and that's all. It was just a fling. Nothing major. No strings attached. No feelings hurt. Clean split."

"...I think you have adequately used up every synonym for a relationship that simply didn't work."

"You know what really kills me about all this?" Duo asked, blowing a breath of exhalation to shift his bangs away from his eyes.

"What?" Wufei asked, accommodating.

"All the opportunities of teasing I've missed out on. Damn it."

"...I'm sure you'll cope." Wufei poked at his temples gently, warding off an incoming headache.

"I dunno, Wufei. I might have lost all hope of recovery." Duo made a face and thus ended their customary banter session. "But seriously, everyone's talking about you two. Rumors have it you eloped to L4 and burned out your hormonal urges for each other before you ran away from Trowa, who is abusive, and he chased you down because he knows you have control issues." He winked. "Oh, and by the way, you both have an abnormal love for trees. Just to give you a heads up." Duo caught sight of Wufei's horrified look and laughed.

"Tell me you weren't the one who spread these rumors."

"Hmmm. If I tell you, will you buy me lunch?" Duo asked, playing with his uniform's collar.

"Was that the entire point of this conversation?"

"Yeah."

"Argh." Wufei's head met his desk.

SUNDAY MORNING

The shrill alarm went off, and they stirred restlessly. Duo moved closer, while Heero raised slightly to turn the machine off. Duo lightly kissed Heero's chin.

"Mornin'," he whispered.

"Good morning," Heero said back, brushing a kiss over Duo's forehead. "I'll go make breakfast." Duo clung unto him, struggling slightly before Heero gently wrestled free.

"Yeah, I guess y'should go do that..." Duo murmured reluctantly as he flopped back onto the pillow. Heero rolled his eyes in good humor and made his way into the bathroom. Duo squirmed a little more in the bed before giving up and getting up. He padded over to the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe as he just watched Heero make eggs and slice vegetables and look good while he was doing it all.

Fuck, Duo thought affectionately, running a hand through his bangs. I'm in this deep, aren't I?

Heero looked over his shoulder at that moment and raised an eyebrow, mouth lifting slightly in greeting. He flipped the omelets onto two plates and placed them on the table. Duo moved over to one of the chairs and sat down, preparing to dig in. Heero smoothed Duo's hair back into place.

"Have you been thinking, again? I thought I told you not to do that anymore. It messes up your hair," Heero said, snickering as he took his seat.

"Since when did you care about looks? Don't make me cut it up into a mohawk..." Duo snickered at the distinct look of terror that crept unto Heero's expression and ate a triumphant bite of omelet. "Mm...this is good."

Heero summoned a brief smile at the compliment before letting it fade into a frown. "You have another solo mission coming up, don't you? That's why you're taking so long this morning." His tone was quiet, unaccusing. Duo sighed.

"It'll be alright, Heero. It's a regular mission. In and out, standard procedure, okay? You can even look at the mission specs with me. C'mon, I know you're twitching to do it!" Duo coaxed, waving his fork all over the place.

Heero had tried out Preventers on active duty, but he'd always been more comfortable with playing the techie. Duo had helped him start his own company, saying that it was perfectly fine to partner with Wufei again. Heero still didn't like the solo missions, but he would rather be able to call in sick and take care of Duo when he was injured than to have to keep going undercover on the latest mission, only hoping for the best.

"...Alright." Duo smiled at his response, and Heero thought it was worth it to see that. "But first, finish your breakfast."

"Oh, no...what do you think will happen to me if I don't eat the most important meal of the day?" Duo snarked, poking his fork through another piece of omelet. "I do believe I will be eaten by the Breakfast Bear."

"The Breakfast Bear?" Heero shifted slightly from Duo, stealthily inching away. Duo caught the movement and dragged Heero's chair back.

"Yeah. Right up there with the Chupacabra and Bigfoot," Duo responded solemnly, disregarding his mouthful of food.

Heero blinked. "You've given thought to this, have you?"

"It's an important subject!" Duo threw a bit of omelet Heero's way. Heero snorted and picked it off of his shirt, wrinkling his nose.

They went back to eating and discussing Dorothy and Quatre's engagement.

"...Duo, what are you doing underneath the table...? ...Duo! Now is not the time for a game of footsie! Eat your breakfast!"

REGRET

"Wufei."

"Barton."

Silence.

"You don't just start a conversation and leave it like that," Wufei grumbled, turning off his computer and putting on his coat. "What do you want?"

"...a second chance," Trowa answered quietly. Wufei froze, eyes narrowed.

"A 'second chance'? What does that mean?" Wufei asked, pausing in his preparations for going home.

"I know that I messed up with you the first time around. Let me make it up to you."

"Aren't you a bit late with this?" Wufei asked carefully, letting only indifference show in his tone.

"Before we decided to end it, you told me --"

"That was a long time ago, Trowa." Wufei quickly cut Trowa off, looking down. "Sometimes it's better to forget, if not forgive. Goodnight." Wufei started to brush by Trowa, trying to reach the door before Trowa caught his arm.

"Do you really want to live a life of regret?" He asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Wufei avoided Trowa's eyes, jerking his arm away.

"I know you do. I can tell when you look at me." Trowa's voice was tender. Wufei easily shook the restraining hand on his arm.

"Alright, fine, I do want to live a life of regret! Will you go away now?"

"No."

Wufei sighed. Why did he even try? Why? He was about ready to strangle Trowa. The bastard was more blockheaded than Duo was. And that was saying something. Wufei pushed past Trowa, making to walk past him.

Trowa's reaction to that was to stop him.

Wufei's reaction to that was to sucker punch Trowa.

Love. It's just a vicious cycle.

CLOSING IN

Wufei shook his hand out, wincing slightly. He glanced over to where Trowa was sitting, an ice pack clutched to his face. He gritted his teeth. Trowa really hadn't deserved that punch. Not really. Though it had felt damned good to deliver...

"I'm sorry, Trowa," Wufei allowed, jaw clenched, every syllable pronounced clearly. "I did not mean to punch you that hard."

"...But you meant to punch me." It was clear that Trowa did not think highly of Wufei's apology. Wufei scowled. At least he'd given one.

"Yes! I was hoping to knock some sense into you!" Wufei griped. "And apparently it didn't work," he added, muttering. Trowa gave him a sharp glance. He'd heard that last part. Wufei rolled his eyes.

"Don't be such a wuss, Barton. You've endured worse than this," he said, rubbing his hand.

"And you've punched harder," Trowa said, painfully nodding at Wufei, who was holding a coolant at his own hand. They stared at each other. The banter was almost like before, when they'd been comfortable with each other, with their relationship. It pissed Wufei off.

"You think I want this back?" Wufei rolled his shoulders back and got up, loosely tossing Trowa his ice pack. "No, thanks. I'll go back to jerking off in the shower." He shook his head at Trowa's gaping mouth.

"...You've been spending too much time with Duo," he finally replied.

"Actually, Heero. He can curse like a sailor." Wufei shrugged. "But he's probably the one who spends a lot of time with Duo, considering."

"I'm not surprised."

"No," Wufei said thoughtfully, "neither was I." They dwelled on the image of Heero in a sailor suit, cussing Duo out for something or other. Aside from the sailor suit, it wasn't very hard to imagine. Wufei twitched slightly. Damn. He'd let himself relax again. He gave Trowa a wary glance, backing up a little toward the door, almost as if he were a caged animal just waiting to spring and escape.

"Wufei, calm down. We're just having a conversation." Trowa looked tired.

"I believe the point would be the fact that I don't want to have a conversation with you."

"Then who do you talk to? Duo told me you barely even give anyone besides him and Heero the time of day." Trowa alternated to the ice pack Wufei had thrown to him, seeming to decide that he might as well make use of it.

"You're the one who's been speaking to Duo, have you?" Wufei threw his arms in the air. "How am I supposed to trust you when you go behind my back and do things like this?"

It really was just like before.

"You're never going to forgive me, are you?"

"Why should I?" Wufei shot back.

"I don't want what happened to ruin you."

"And whose fault would that be, if it did, in fact, 'ruin me'?" There was silent anger on Wufei's face.

"Mine," Trowa admitted quietly.

"Damn right it's yours!"

"Then don't let your guilt take over," came the firm reply. Wufei's mouth opened in surprise. He closed it with a hard click of his teeth, and shook his head, almost as though trying to shake out the memories of the past few minutes.

"Leave me alone, Barton. It is what you do best, isn't it?" Wufei tossed that last barb over his shoulder as he twisted the doorknob and left. He would be the one to leave this time.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

"Wufei..."

Fuck. Trowa had followed him out?!

"Why don't you just leave me the fuck alone?" Wufei wheeled around, still quickly walking away backwards.

"That would also leave me alone," came the soft replyl.

"Since when have you had to worry about that?" Wufei yanked the door open and exited into the cool night air. "I thought you had a long line just waiting for your attention!"

"I know you're angry..." Trowa followed as silently as he could, almost tiptoeing to avoid further annoyance from Wufei. Walking ahead of Trowa and therefore not offering Trowa his facial expressions, he mimicked what he knew Trowa's expression was as he uttered this loathsome words. "...but I mean to do right by you this time."

"Well, how gentlemanly of you. I applaud your sense of chivalry if nothing else."

"If you stopped being so sarcastic --"

"Only when you stop being an asshole, and we know that will never happen."

Trowa stopped, tilting his head up to the sky in frustration. Wufei sensed the halted pace and he walked faster. Maybe he'd be able to escape. He reached his car and took his keychain out of his pocket, quickly finding his car key and unlocking the door.

"Wufei." A pained whisper resonated next to his ear. Wufei closed his eyes and sighed silently. So much for the quick exit. "Give me a chance." Wufei turned around and faced Trowa, biting his tongue. Trowa looked earnest. Pathetically so.

"I already did." Wufei said, pained.

"I won't screw it up this time. I promise." Trowa's voice was loudly desperate.

"Of course your word should be enough," Wufei mocked, half-heartedly. He refused to meet Trowa's eyes, fixing his eyes resolutely on the car door Trowa stood in front of. Trowa lowered his forehead to Wufei's, staying there for a moment until Wufei glanced up.

"Believe me, Wufei, I will never hurt you again," Trowa swore, staring unblinkingly into the other man's dark gaze. Wufei's eyebrows drew together, and he found himself incapable of looking away, because, fuck, this was Trowa, and what else could he do but forgive him?

"I swear, I hate you," Wufei exhaled, tilting his head back to rest against his car's roof. He caught Trowa's small, but radiant smile in the corner of his eye, and groaned. "No gloating, Barton."

"Wouldn't dream of it." As Trowa's lips descended on his in the barely-lit darkness of the parking lot, pressing them together against the smooth surface of Wufei's car, Wufei tried to gather his doubts around him as a shield, willing himself not to give into Trowa's uncertainly fragile embrace.

Too late, his mind whispered in sweet surrender.

SEXX LAWS

"I hate you."

"I love you, too, Wufei."

"...shut up and go back to sleep."

"Yes, sweetheart."

"Barton, if you don't stop that, I will go crazy on your ass."

"You've been hanging around Heero too long, honey."

"Grr..."

"Afterglow always did make you cranky."

"...will you just shut the fuck up?!"

"Yes, love."

"Agh."

AREN'T YOU DEAD YET?

Duo snaked his way through the air vents, hoping that the room temperature was enough that no one would get the whim of turning the air conditioning on.

Wouldn't that just be lovely.

It was enough trying to navigate through the damn things. He was getting too old for the whole crawling thing.

It wasn't too long after when a shrill alarm was set off. Duo could hear the beat of pounding feet in the hallways underneath him. He hoped and prayed that they hadn't spotted his ship, or maybe even him. The bad guys might have started placing cameras in various parts of the ventilation. They were wising up. Probably because the so-called "good guys" always used the same tactics. But they couldn't have, or were Une's mission specs wrong?

"Intruder alert! Search every single room! We can't let them escape!" A harsh voice called out orders.

"Shit," Duo whispered softly to himself. Still, the commander or whatever had said 'them'. He might have a chance if they were expecting a whole group of badasses. No time to waste. He had to get the goddamn disk and get out. Duo quickly scooted to the fork in the ventilator road, pausing. Just to the right and he would be taken to the holding cells, where the children were...Duo thought about his odds. Too low, even for him. He swore and went to the left.

Reaching his exit, Duo quietly went flat on his stomach, surveying the room through the spaces in-between the slats. There were two men and a guard. He would have to wait out the two armed dignitaries first. They would get to him too quickly. Fuck. He swiftly took out a handy-dandy screwdriver, running a mental commentary as he worked.

Heero's gonna kill me. And then Wufei's going to shit on my grave. Damn...Aha! The two unknowns shook hands and left, satisfied smiles gracing their expressions. Bastards. Duo would take their organizations down and then shit on their graves. He unscrewed the last part of the vent window and carefully lifted it to the side. Even with his effort, the guard got a lucky glance up at the ceiling at Duo. Fuck! The guard was just opening his mouth to holler as Duo slipped out of the vent at a run, gun drawn and a near-silent swfft! later, the joe was down. Duo holstered his weapon, grateful for his ever-handy silencer.

Now for the recon.

"C'mon, c'mon..." Duo whispered as he clicked on a various icons once he'd found a way to hack into the unsurprisingly-guarded comp. "Where is the goddamn file...? Gotcha!" He quickly downloaded the file, hoping against hope that it wouldn't have a virus attached. That would be a whole other can of worms, however, so Duo didn't pay attention to the hacker in him that was sighing over how much work it would be to decrypt the disk once he got out of there.

If he got out of there. That could take some flubbing. Duo climbed on top of the desk, making sure not to step on anything important. He lifted himself up into the vent once more, with only a soft grunt of effort. He crooked his knees and hung back down, a duster grasped in his gloved hand. Duo quickly dusted the desk in midair, getting rid of any traces of his footprints or even indents on the keys. He bent back up and took care of the vent window, grieving for a second that he couldn't leave the window on the ground as a 'I so just screwed you over' type of message. Calling up the vent map in his mind, he veered sharp left and kicked through the vent there, jumping down, gun in hand.

"What the -- get him!" The bewildered cadets were aiming miserably as Duo ducked behind a desk, downing two of them by shooting at their feet from the gap that happened to be underneath the middle of the desk.

He took a run for it after counting carefully to three, shooting his own cover fire as Duo shouldered the exit door's push-handle and ran for his escape vehicle. It was easily hidden, next to a few that looked almost identically beaten-up but Duo'd remembered the parking space number. Cursing at the fact that he would be open to gunfire as he crossed the parking lot, but having no choice, Duo sprinted as fast as he could while exhausted.

Although Lady Luck had been with him for a little while inside the building, outside, she'd apparently rolled over and decided that it might be comfier on the drug dealers' side of the bed. Duo got shot in the shoulder, and all he could do was grit his teeth at the pain and yank open the handily unlocked car door. Peeling out of the parking lot, thanking his good sense for a bulletproof car and trying to keep his mind off the immense pain -- not the one he was enduring, but the injuries that he was going to have to bear once Heero and Wufei got through with him, Duo drove quickly to where he'd stashed another car that would be less recognizable, hidden behind some trees.

Quickly taking off his jacket as he backed into the highway, Duo took out his braid and hoped it would be enough disguise. Rolling along the road easily, the black armored helicopters of the enemy swirling around in puzzlement, he clutched at his bleeding shoulder and glanced over at the accursed disk.

It had better have been worth it.

SITTING, WAITING, WISHING

Heero glanced over at the time. It was around the hour that Wufei usually came over to await news of Duo when the braided man went on solos. Then again, Duo had hinted slyly at something between Wufei and Trowa, so that could be it. Heero shrugged and went back to work. It would still be awhile until Duo would get back, and he had a few new programs to develop in the meantime.

Brrrr, brrrr.

"Hm?" Heero looked up at the phone.

Brrrr, brrrr.

"Hello?" Heero answered. "...where is he?" Heero hung up angrily. He cursed as he ran over to grab his coat and keys, the door slamming behind him.

BANANA PANCAKES

Brring, brring.

Wufei raised his head at his cellphone's ringtone, blinking the sleep away from his eyes. "...Trowa?" The nearby warmth stirred as well, and looped an arm around Wufei's torso.

"It's too early. Go back to sleep." Wufei didn't bother arguing. He was too tired.

Brring, brring.

Leave a message after the beep.

Trowa brushed a few strands of hair from Wufei's face and disentangled himself gently before walking over to the bathroom. As he took his shower, Trowa reflected on what had happened in the past few years.

Quatre and he had broken up and he thought he knew why. He wasn't good enough. He never would be. When Wufei offered Trowa a room in his apartment, he'd accepted.

Trowa smiled at the thought of how they met.

"Barton?" Wufei asked, blinking rapidly at Trowa, as though wondering if he'd been eating too many enchiladas before bed again.

"Hi," Trowa replied. Wufei stared at him. They plunged into silence.

"...may I stay with you?" Trowa suddenly asked. Wufei blinked again.

"...sure..." He said as he moved aside, in a tone of voice that seemed to imply he had no idea why he'd just said that.

"Thank you," Trowa said, stepping into Wufei's apartment, grateful for more than just the room. Wufei nodded, closing the door behind him.

"Barton --"

"I'll pay rent. Cook. Do chores. You won't notice I'm here," Trowa assured Wufei quickly, setting his bag down on the floor. Wufei closed his mouth, raised his eyebrow.

"I tend to notice if someone is doing my laundry, Barton, but it's good to hear," he replied wryly. Trowa chuckled, shaking his head. "But..." Wufei hesitated.

"But?" Trowa prompted.

"There's only one bed," Wufei said bluntly. Trowa nodded and stood there.

"...I'll take the couch and you can take the bed," Wufei prompted, and from the look in his eyes, Trowa had a feeling he was supposed to respond somehow.

"If that's what you think is best," he offered, Wufei's darkening expression telling him that was not the correct reply. Trowa started sweating a little at Wufei's glare.

"Barton! This is the part where we haggle over who gets the bed and who gets the couch!"

"Is it really?" Trowa asked, smiling, moving an arm to cup the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Yes, and you are not cooperating. Commence haggling, please!" Wufei demanded. Trowa raised an eyebrow.

"But it seems as though you don't really need me to haggle with you. It seems you've already got it all planned."

"Writers already have the script ready for actors. It still means they have to play their roles!" Wufei huffed.

"I suppose that's true...but I think I've seen that movie. Do you want me to ask if we can both share the bed?" Trowa's lips tilted to the side, tugging into a smile.

"Hell, no," Wufei replied emphatically. Trowa laughed, and after a moment Wufei chuckled too.

Remembering that first scene of awkwardness was...well, not so much tinged with nostalgia as it was amusing. The ease to which they'd adapted to each other had been slow-moving. It took time to get used to each other's little nuances again, but they'd both tried. Somewhat. And eventually they had moved on to...well, share the bed.

And then one day Trowa ran into Quatre.

"...wa! Trowa!" He turned at the sound of his name, being called by a familiar voice...Quatre. Trowa let the groceries hang limply, barely dangling on his fingers.

"Quatre?" Trowa breathed, studying every part of the aforementioned man's face. The bump of a nose, the sweep of his mouth, the still very delicate curve of an ear...they were all so reassuring to see. Quatre smiled, and Trowa had a feeling he was being reeled in for the catch.

It was then that he made one of the biggest fuckups of his life. Quatre offered him a job, a home, and more, so much more and yet so little. He'd gone back to Wufei's apartment, packed up his things, and left without another word.

Wufei and Trowa had moved from what might have been love to not quite apathy to reluctant attraction to...whatever they had now. It was enough to make a man's head whirl, but it was a happy feeling. Trowa sighed, tilting his head into the punishingly hot shower spray.

This time, he would make it work.

"Wufei?"

He stirred at the sound of his name, groaning slightly. It was too bright, even though he knew the curtains were muting the light.

"Breakfast's ready."

It was the smell of food that did him in, and Wufei finally made up his mind to slip away from the comforting blankets. Sitting up and contemplating what had just happened, he stared at the bed.

Pulling on his pants, but borrowing one of Trowa's t-shirts (since he'd only had the dress shirt that he wore to work at hand), Wufei made his way into the kitchen. Trowa looked up, offering Wufei a fork.

"Strawberry crepe?" He asked, holding up a plate. Wufei raised an eyebrow.

"Need you ask?"

Accepting the items, Wufei seated himself, and Trowa followed suit. They started eating, the only sounds permeating the air were the metallic click-clacks of their forks hitting the porcelain bowls. The night before had dissipated into awkward daylight. Wufei finished first and set his fork down on the plate.

"It's almost like before, isn't it?" He asked, almost to himself. Trowa met his thoughtful gaze.

"No," he answered, reaching across to grasp Wufei's hand. "This time will be better."

BREAKDOWN

"Yuy? ...Heero? I just got your message -- "

Heero looked up. Wufei had to brace himself. Heero looked devastated. "Heero? Is Maxwell alright?" He held his breath until Heero slowly nodded yes. Trowa gave his arm a little squeeze and backed off. He didn't know the others as well as Wufei did, thanks to his little break from reality.

"Gunshot wound...doctor said he'll be fine..." Heero looked back down, and Wufei, suddenly realizing how pale his friend looked, sat down next to him. He reached out a barely hesitant hand on his friend's shoulder. A slight nod was his thanks, and it was enough for Wufei. Glancing over, he found that Trowa was leaning on a wall not too far away, silently lending support. As much as he wanted to see Duo, he had a feeling that they wouldn't be able to for awhile, and it seemed that Heero needed them more at the moment.

So Wufei would let Duo rest and recuperate, and try not to listen to the nagging voice in his head that told him over and over again that he should have answered the phone, he should have been there, he should have...

CATCH MY DISEASE

"...I'm fine! Hey, could you guys do me a favor?" Duo asked, looking around at all three of his visitors. They nodded without hesitation. "Could at least one of you look as though I'm not going to die? 'Cause I promise you, it'll still be awhile." Duo smiled, mostly directed at Heero, who was kneeling at his bedside. They'd just spent the past ten minutes with the usual fussing and are-you-sure-you're-okay-do-you-need-anything's and Wufei could easily tell that even though Duo was inwardly huffing from the mother hen crap, but he was trying to please Heero's protective side.

"You'd better be, Maxwell, because I'm going to kick your ass for not telling us it would be this dangerous."

"Hey, cut me some slack. It ain't my fault that you guys didn't read the specs right." Duo stuck his tongue out at Wufei.

"...you gave us false copies, didn't you?" Heero's voice tightened. Duo looked away to the side.

"Une told me not to tell anyone."

"Goddamn it, Duo..." Duo quickly glanced over at Heero, pleading.

"Heero, I didn't want to worry you. And, see, it went alright. I got the disk and I got out, right?"

"With only a gunshot in the shoulder, right?" Heero scorned bitterly.

"Hey." Duo's jaw locked. "I did what I had to."

Wufei and Trowa glanced at each other, silently exited. It was not their fight to see.

GETTING BETTER

"Think I should go into the matchmaking business? Got to say, I'm getting tired of getting shot at everytime I just want to borrow something from the...neighboring offices."

"'Matchmaking business'? God help us all. Who would ask you for advice?"

"I'll have you know, Wufei, that I just happen to have a sixth sense for these things!"

"Right, Maxwell. Weren't you the one complaining just a few weeks ago that Heero should spend more time with you?" Wufei set down his coffee cup. Duo shrugged, scowling, before covering up a wince at the action. It still hadn't fully healed, the reason that Wufei had insisted on an order of tea instead of the usual caffeinated beverage.

"Guess that's a thing of the past, now...Heero's not the fussy type, but every once in awhile he'll look over to make sure I'm alright...if I were a girl I'd cue a happy squeal right about now." Wufei snorted.

"You mean you're not a girl? Must've missed that memo." Wufei said loftily, easily dodging from the hit that Duo had aimed at his arm. "Careful, Maxwell...I think you're on the verge of hitting like one as well."

"Ooh, Sally's going to go apeshit on your ass after I tell her about that one!" Duo crowed. Wufei glanced around the small shop, glad that there weren't a lot of customers around the time that they visited, and that the staff was now used to their rowdy regulars. He shrugged in response to Duo's grin.

"I'll tell her. There's nothing honorable in pulling punches."

"Yeah, you're not one to bullshit people, but Sally will see that as bullshit. She might have to..." Duo paused dramatically. "Examine you. Or rape you. Same thing, right?" They exchanged a tortured glance. Both men remembered those visits to the blonde doctor. Ruthless.

"I dunno, she could always say that she wants to run some tests, then the restraints go on (with plausible reason such as 'jerking in your sleep' or something) and you'd be slave to her each and every whim." Duo waggled his eyebrows. "But I'm thinkin' that you have someone else who you'd like to satisfy...hmm?"

How does one respond to that? Wufei pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed slowly, reminding himself of all of Duo's good qualities. Unfortunately for his friend, he couldn't come up with too many at the moment.

"You do, don't you!"

"...Maxwell, don't force me to draw my weapon in a public establishment."

APPLY SOME PRESSURE

"Thanks to your brilliant partner getting injured," Wufei could see Commander Une's nostrils flare in irritation as she paused to regain her composure. "You and Officer Barton will be taking over on his assignment."

"How fortunate that Barton was able to take on this mission," Wufei said. Trowa's mouth turned up in a smile when he was the only one who realized that there was a droll tone underlying that statement.

"It will be an honor to assist you, Chang," Trowa replied, the smile lingering.

Commander Une nodded approvingly at the two. Dismissing them, she briskly walked away and disappeared around the corner.

"You like baiting me, don't you." An exasperated statement came out of Wufei's mouth as a sigh. Trowa laughed.

"Just a bit."

"...that was a rhetorical question."

"Are you worried about this assignment?" Trowa asked, changing the subject to a more serious topic.

"Perhaps. We'll see if it's difficult when we get there."

"Hmm." Trowa slipped the mission specs off the table that Commander Une had left it on for them. "Do you trust me?" This caused Wufei pause.

"Pardon?"

"Do you trust me?"

"...what brought this on?" Wufei asked, stalling.

"If we're going to work together on a mission like this, I need to know if you trust me." Trowa matched Wufei's indifference. Wufei hesitated, shrugged.

"I have confidence in you."

Trowa understood the implied message. He looked down and shook his head, smiling slightly. "I hope to change your mind for the better, Wufei." With a slight nod, he walked out of the room.

Wufei sighed. He stared at the spot Trowa had been standing. A split second later, he was veering out of the room as well.

"Damn it, Trowa, you took the mission specs with you!"

UNDER CONTROL

"Ready?" Trowa's voice sounded softly over the comm. Wufei nodded, and he headed in as according to plan.

With Trowa murmuring the codes to the lockpads on the doors that Wufei had to open, then close, and then jam, he passed through silently, having to disable only a guard or two on the way.

"Holding cell should be to your left, down the hall," Trowa said clearly.

"Roger." Wufei held his gun to the right first, glancing up and down the corridor to make sure it was clear before quickly making his way down the left. He caught sight of the prison but saw the children inside first.

Oh, god. The children.

They weren't huddled together, frightened, as they should be. The kids were settled calmly in their own spaces, an occasional group of two or three quietly discussing as they polished...guns. Knives. Weapons that Wufei did not want to think of children having.

"Presence of children confirmed," Wufei whispered into his mike, waiting for response.

"Roger. Reinforcements on way. Status?"

"In tact." Wufei hesitated. "Barton?"

"Proceed."

"They're armed."

"...Roger."

The knowledge of the cavalry rushing to his side in a few minutes was good enough for him to keep going. He took off his headset and placed it down on the ground without a sound, knowing that the fact Trowa was on the other end would distract him. Wufei made a slight scuffling sound in order to alert the children of his existence.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" A childishly harsh voice called out into the silence. Wufei slowly stepped out, his hands raised in surrender, kicking his gun in front of him. Every single one of them had their weapons out, and aimed at him.

"At ease, soldiers," Wufei said clearly. "You're armed, I'm not." Times like these where he fervently wished for Duo's expertise. His partner was much better in these situations than he was. The kids seemed to harden more at his words, accustomed to them already. "I am not your enemy," he said, slowly. "I'm here to grant you freedom. Freedom," Wufei pronounced.

"We're young, not deaf," one of the children sneered, the obvious leader. "What if we don't want freedom?"

"Then I will work very hard to give you what it is you want," Wufei said earnestly. "What do you want?" The boy eyed him for a few seconds, Wufei carefully keeping a blandly curious expression on his face.

"You a cop or what?" The kid asked. Wufei could tell he was trying to sound indifferent.

"A Preventer. Let me show you my badge." Everyone's gazes were locked on him once more, whereas before they'd started to show signs of cynicism. "Relax...just getting out my badge..." Wufei slowly lowered one arm into his jacket's front pocket, pulling his wallet out, and flipping it open. The kids' leader exhaled softly, biting his lip in thought. The expression was so young that Wufei made a mental note to let Duo blow the damn organization to pieces. After Wufei was done with them, of course.

"We stay together." He spoke so suddenly Wufei blinked for a moment, nodded slowly.

"You have my word," he said, bowing slightly. "But first what are your names?" They were all on guard again. Wufei chuckled slightly. "I just want to know what to call you all by. Make some up if you wish."

"Name is Hiro," the leader said. "Call me that." Wufei blinked, coughed slightly at the name. Perhaps it was a good thing that Duo wasn't there. He would have no choice but to associate the name with Heero's, and there was no way to tell what Duo would've done after that.

"Very well...Hiro. If you would please ask your comrades if they have any living relations that they might know of --"

"They don't." Hiro cut him off. "We're all orphans." Fuck, Wufei thought. No wonder Hiro had made sure that Wufei knew that they would have to stay together. And now he was doubly glad Duo wasn't there. Orphans...still, Wufei would make good on his word, whether he had to adopt them all or not.

"Alright," Wufei said smoothly, not giving a hint of what his thoughts were. "First, let's get you out of that cell --" He watched as Hiro immediately gave some sort of signal to the rest of the boy scouts as they immediately went to the back of the cell to retrieve something -- a homemade explosive, Wufei realized -- and rigged it up to a part of the bars.

"On my mark," Hiro said brusquely. "One, two, three, mark." The kids all squeezed their eyes shut and one blew up the bomb. A small explosion later, they all crawled through the hole, their bodies emaciated enough to push through. Hiro went last, helping the younger ones. Wufei was about to retrieve his headset when he heard loud noises indicating running footsteps.

"THE KIDS! THEY'RE ESCAPING!"

"Shit!" Wufei muttered, conscious of the kids' ears even during the oncoming attackers. He quickly grabbed his gun and drew it, plastering his back to the wall before turning rapidly and shooting down two guards. There were too many for him to take care of completely, but he seemed to be managing...until he realized those weren't his bullets.

The kids were joining in.

Wufei sighed loudly, cursing internally again. He needed their help, but he wished they didn't have to witness any more carnage. They'd already gone through so much...Wufei shoved those thoughts to the side and slumped to the ground in exhaustion as the last of the first string of guards keeled over.

"Thank you," he said to the kids, managing to smile less formidably. "Are any of you hurt?" They all blinked back at him.

"No," Hiro supplied for them. "We're much quicker, and we used you as a human shield. But you're hurt." Wufei raised an eyebrow, looking down. He hadn't felt anything...but there it was, a steadily bleeding puncture in his thigh. Well, now he definitely felt something. Wufei immediately ripped a piece of cloth from his shirt, lifting his leg to wrap it around the wound tightly. One of the boys shifted to get closer to Wufei, and pressed his small hands against the wound.

"...thank you," Wufei said, quietly sincere, gazing at the child. He nodded in response and looked quickly away. Hiro was watching the scene with unconcern.

"Will you get my headset for me?" Wufei asked Hiro, nodding in the direction. Hiro rolled his eyes before going to fetch it, tossing it over. Wufei almost laughed at the disdain the little boy was trying so hard to maintain.

"Barton?" Wufei spoke into the mike.

"Wufei?! Status?"

"...in tact," Wufei said once more, smirking slightly. No reason to get Trowa all worked up. "Where's the reinforcements?"

"They should be there now." As Trowa spoke, Wufei heard the nearby sounds of gunfire and panicked shouts from the enemy's side.

"Ah, yes, I hear them now."

"Wufei...are you sure you're okay?" Wufei hesitated at that, not entirely oblivious to the many pairs of ears that were eavesdropping.

"Yes, Barton," he said curtly. Too curtly, Wufei thought. "Thank you," he added awkwardly. He could hear Trowa's laughter through the static in the headset. "Barton! Do not laugh at me when I am trying to be pleasant!" Wufei commanded, mood growing sour at the sound of it. He'd only been trying to play nice. His glare swiveled to the sound of laughter, his eyes narrowing as he spotted many of the children snickering.

"I'll remember that next time." Wufei blinked. That sounded clearer than usual. He looked up. Trowa was standing above him, frowning.

"Wufei, you have a bullet wound. This is not what I'd call 'fine'!" Trowa bent over, checking it out, radioing in for medical attention.

"It doesn't hurt...much," Wufei said, closing his eyes. Now that Trowa was there, he didn't need to worry anymore. And he felt very tired. Running around all day throughout a maze, meeting child soldiers...enough to conk a man out.

"Wufei? Wufei?" Trowa's voice swam into one ear, only to leak out through the other. The view from the back of his eyelids was so very calming...

"Stay with me! Wufei?"

BETTER TOGETHER

"Who's the idiot now, eh?" Duo snickered, his wounds healed while Wufei was sitting across from him with a thigh injury.

"Still you," Wufei replied curtly, taking a sip of his tea. Duo made a face, stirring more sugar into his coffee.

"Very romantic how Trowa carried you back, though..." He blinked and burst out laughing as Wufei choked, handing him a napkin.

"He did what?" Wufei almost shouted. Trowa had definitely not mentioned that in his hospital visit. Duo shared a smile with their waitress over Wufei's behavior, only making Wufei more angry.

"Trowa carried you in his arms like a baby!" Duo cooed, goading Wufei's temper. Wufei slumped in his seat, closing his eyes as he raised a hand to his temples. "Oh, don't be like that. You really are a damsel in distress now!"

Wufei opened one eye. The better to glare at Duo with.

"Anyway...I'm just glad we found homes for everyone." Duo smiled. Wufei leaned forward, frowning slightly.

"Not everyone..." All the kids had been adopted onto the same block of houses, or apartment buildings...but Hiro, who'd pushed other kids unto the Preventers that had decided to adopt. It was lucky that there were so many, and that the Preventers' housing were all so close together.

"Yes, everyone!" Duo's lips were starting to form a full out mischievous grin. Wufei shrunk back slightly, starting to fear for the waitresses' lives. "Because..." Duo paused dramatically, his eyes peering out from behind his coffee cup, gleaming madly. "...Heero and I are going to adopt Hiro."

Wufei choked again, his mug slipping from his hands. Duo quickly snatched it, but not before damage was done, the tea leaking all over the place. Duo was laughing, though, saying something about being glad that he'd taken extra napkins from the counter.

"You? And...Yuy?!" Wufei gasped out, shocked.

"Well, what else were we supposed to do when we saw him? And heard his name, for that matter." Duo sat back in his seat, stating everything matter-of-factly.

"I should have known," Wufei said under his breath, mopping himself off. Duo was watching him, sniggering.

"It looks like you pissed yourself, man."

"I almost did at your news!" Wufei shot back, getting up to throw away the soggy napkins. Duo laughed again.

"You know," he said, finally calming down. "I would've thought that you and Trowa would have adopted one of 'em." Wufei sat back down, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you shitting me? Trowa and I can barely deal with each other!"

"Didn't look that way when you two were in the hospital..." Duo smirked as Wufei turned red. Of all the times for Duo to walk in...

"So you and Yuy are really doing it, huh?" Wufei asked, changing the subject.

"Uh, Wufei, have been doing it for quite awhile. Don't you remember that one time when you saw us --"

"That's not what I meant!" Wufei turned red again at Duo's amusement.

"Yeah, yeah, we are. Got the papers signed and everything." Wufei nodded and smiled.

"I'm glad to hear that, Duo." He hesitated. "...thank you." Duo looked up from his doughnut, surprised.

"For what, Wufei?"

"For helping me find them homes," Wufei explained.

"Well, actually, I did most of the work --"

"And that's why I'm thanking you. For heaven's sake, Maxwell, do not make me regret my actions!" He kneaded his temples harder. Every coffee break was a headache...

"You're welcome."

Duo smiled at Wufei, and they went on to discuss other things, whether Wufei was moving in with Trowa or vice versa, what school to send Hiro to, what Trowa looked like in his underwear...

Things would get harder before they got easier, but Duo and Wufei's friendship had proved that they were better together.