Author’s Note: Wheeeeee! This is what happens when I watch Endless Waltz while drinking orange juice that I SUCCESSFULLY made! Hee-chan is orange juice, I tell ya! He won’t stop exploding unless I put on either a scene that just screams 1X2 goodness or put Duo on nonstop.....anyway, that’s another story. THis story is NOT 1X2 or related to orange juice in any way. It’s more like I finally figured out how to write the nice little 3X4 fic I’ve wanted to do forever. Hey, you can’t deny it isn’t there! Quatre only has eyes for my flute playing baby! DON’T DENY IT!

...maybe I’ll do humor next. Then these ANs won’t seem so out of place. And as an additional disclaimer, I never claimed to be able to write GW fanfiction well. I only did that with Esca and FY ^_^.;;


Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of it’s characters. Which is really too bad, because that means I’m a thief, and every time the boys yell that from my closet they’re telling the truth. I must purchase this show, then I can make them shut up and get back to making them amuse me from within my closet.



“I’m worried about Heero.”

Duo’s eyes were dark with concern as he looked at me. I made myself answer. “We all are, Duo. But I think he’ll be fine, really. The war has been over for almost a year now, and he’s seemed fine when you’ve talked to him, hasn’t he?”

“Well...yes,” Duo admitted. “He’s just been so quiet, though.”

“He always is.” My chest tightened for a moment, and I made my mind go blank of all thoughts except cheering up Duo. “If you talked to Trowa and he was quiet, you wouldn’t think a thing of it, right?”

Duo cracked a smile. “I’d be more shocked if the Silent One said more than three words to me at a time.”

I’d be glad to even get that much. “Exactly. It’s just who he is. Heero’s the same. He just doesn’t open up as much. And really, he seems to be happier now that the war is over when I talk to him. He might not know what to do with himself, but he’s not trying to destroy humanity, and that seems to be more important to him right now.”

Duo looked at me, expression considerably more cheerful. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m just worrying about nothing. Guess I was just worried because once we toast these babies, there’s no going back.” He waved a hand carelessly at the back of the craft towards where our Gundams were stored.

“Don’t worry about it. Heero will be fine. Everything’s fine.”

Except for Trowa. I don’t know how he’s doing. I never did...

“Yeah, he will.” Duo grinned, already his usual cheerful self again, and leaned back in his seat. “I’m gonna sleep for a bit, all right?”

“Sure thing.” I stood up. “I’ll be right back, then.”

Duo flashed me a thumbs-up, eyes closed, and I headed towards to back of the ship.

Lucky Duo. He can tell what Heero’s thinking. And he’s so good at looking on the bright side. I wish I could do that more often. Or confide in someone. I wouldn’t feel right telling Duo, I’m his confidant, he’s not mine. Heero’s out of the question...and I don’t think Wufei’s the right person to tell this sort of thing to. He’s too serious, anyway, even if....even if this were a different situation. And Trowa...I can’t tell Trowa. I don’t even know what he’s thinking most of the time. He might not even care.

I’m just so worried....

I sat down amidst the cargo, and pulled my violin from it’s spot tucked safely behind some piping. I normally didn’t carry it with me except on longer voyages...this wouldn’t take very long at all, so why had I bothered? Duo was sleeping, he didn’t need me practicing and waking him up. He never particularly seemed to like listening to me play anyway. If Trowa had come along...

I pushed that thought away, but it kept slipping into the front of my mind. If Trowa were here, he’d join in. But he didn’t come. He’s busy with Catherine’s circus. Who would have guessed it? Trowa doesn’t really strike you as the clown type...then again, I never would have figured him for a musician, either, but he’s amazing. I’ve never had that much fun playing duets before. We sounded great together. I never would have thought...then again, maybe I should have. His lips set naturally like a flautists, and when he speaks or even when he smiles-how ever often that happens!-you can tell, if you know what to look for.

I think...how often have I seen him smile? That’s beside the point. I like Duo, we’re great friends, but I wish Trowa would have come. Even if Duo were sleeping, he wouldn’t mind waking up to that music. I bet even Heero and Wufei would enjoy it. I just love playing with him...listening to all the emotion I never see or hear any other time around him, watching him move to the music, seeing his lips perfect against...against...

Thought ceased. I stared at the violin case I held for a moment, then hugged it to my chest, closing my eyes. Trowa...





Everyone seems to think of Duo and I as the cheerful ones, so I suppose it makes sense that we’ve gotten so close. We sort of gravitated towards each other even while we were getting closer to the others-him to Heero, me to Trowa, neither of us to Wufei but I doubt he minded. What Duo told me that one night certainly made me stop feeling guilty about not really knowing him.

“Explain this to me again....why did you drag me out of bed in the middle of the night?”

Duo let out a long-suffering sigh. “Because Wufei would kill me, Heero would kill me and then try to kill himself for no reason whatsoever, and Trowa’s your friend, not mine. You’re the only one who wouldn’t seriously hurt me, or mind me dragging you out of bed int he middle of the night. Right?”

”Of course I don’t mind, but...”

“Good. You’re good at making tea, right?”

“Well, yes, but...”

”I’ve got everything ready. You make the tea. I’ll probably blow something up.”

I suppose looking back on it that was the night I really realized how much I trusted Duo, because he made it very clear that he trusted me. That’s probably why I told him, however unintentional it was.

Duo made a face into the teacup. “You know, I’ve never been big on this stuff.”

“Try it. It’s very relaxing.”

“Sometimes you’re so relaxed, Quatre, I can’t stand you.” Still, he took a quick sip from the cup. He paused, then took another drink. “Hey, you’re not bad at this.”

“Thank you. I’ve had a lot of practice.” I sat and picked up my own cup. If I’m going to be up all night, I suppose things could be worse. Good think Duo picked something that won’t put me to sleep.

Although I had my suspicions that he’d just pulled out something that didn’t look too green.

As I set down my cup again, I noticed Duo looking at me strangely. “What is it?”

“How do you do that?’” he asked in a strained voice. “And without trying?”

I blinked, and looked down. “Oh..I just naturally sit in full lotus now, I guess. It’s habit. Meditation. You see?”

Duo shook his head. “It looks painful. You’re so weird, Quatre.”

“I’m...how?”

Duo shrugged. “You’re one of us, but you’re so incredibly nice and understanding and completely...at peace, I guess, with everything. Nothing ruffles you. You play violin, you meditate, you like tea, and it just doesn’t fit.”

“This is really quite comfortable, though. I could show you-”

Duo laughed. “There you go. You’re probably the only one who acts your age out of all of us.”

I took another sip of tea. “Heero, Trowa, and Wufei really are too serious. But you aren’t, usually.”

“Yeah, I’m the kid here.” He grinned. “Guess that’s why we get along so well, huh?”

I smiled back. “We’re the only ones who can have fun, you mean?”

“If you weren’t so damned composed all the time, yep.” He glanced down into his cup, surprised. “Hey, it’s empty. Got any more?”

“That would be what the teapot is for.” I poured him another cup and sat back again.

“Makes sense. Hey, you know Wufei was asking a bunch of questions about us?”

“No, actually. Why would he do that?”

Duo shrugged, then made a face as several long strands of hair fell into his cup. “Aw...stupid thing. I need to rebraid it.”

I leaned forward, curious. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without your braid. How long is your hair, anyway?”

Duo grinned slyly. “You can see firsthand, but you’re putting it back in.”

I laughed. “All right, deal. This should be really fun.”

“You say that because you don’t have to braid it every day.”

“And I never will.” I set to work unraveling the long rope of hair, and turned back to our earlier conversation. “So what was Wufei asking?”

“Ah, you know him. Just a bunch of stuff about where we came from, where our loyalties lie, that sort of thing. Then he got weird.” I could hear the frown in his voice. “He started asking about what we do when were off together with the others there, why we get along so well, and the next thing I know he’s asking ...”

He suddenly started laughing. “He’s asking if you’re my girl now!”

I blinked, then frowned. “Wait, why am I the girl?”

Duo leaned forward, pulling the start of the braid from my hands, and laughed harder. I smiled and joined in. “Where did he get that idea?”

Duo somehow managed to stop laughing enough to wheeze out an answer. “No idea. I asked him if someone’d hit him over the head or something.” He snorted. “How out there is that, huh? No way!”

I stifled another laugh. “Well, I suppose I could see where he thought of that. We do spend a lot of time together.”

“Yeah, but still!” Duo peered over his shoulder at me and I went back to braiding. “I mean, you’re a friend and all, but I’m not planning on dropping on you any time soon.”

“Good to hear it. I’m perfectly happy with Trowa. We’re a good fit. I don’t think I need to look for anyone else.”

Duo’s head swiveled in surprise, and I realize what I’d just said. “Well, I mean, we’re not, you know, a couple or anything, we’re just friends...I don’t even know what he’s thinking half the time...I mean...”

Duo stared at me for a moment, then broke into a wide smile and leaned over me. I pushed away from him, startled, and he crawled after me. “I seeeeeeeeee...I get it now...don’t know how I missed it in the first place....well, well, well.”

“W-what?” I stammered.

Duo sat back on his heels and raised his eyebrows, expression smug. “Quatre, you have a thing for Trowa Barton, don’t you?”

“I-what?”

“Right. You do. Or you don’t, and I’m squeezing Relena on the side.” he titled his head, thinking, then shook it. “Nope. Don’t recall. She’s not my type, anyway. So our little Quatre’s got a crush!”

I blushed, and wished the lights were darker so he couldn’t see. “Duo!”

“You do! I don’t know how the rest of us missed it, especially him.” Duo nudged me with his elbow. “So how intense is this little relationship, hmm? Is he a good kisser?”

My face hurt from the rush of blood to my cheeks. “Duo, really!”

Duo shrugged, face overly innocent. “It’s a valid question. He does play flute, after all. I dunno, you’re the musician, maybe it’s not true, ut I heard wind players had great lips. Have you at least told him?”

The blush subsided, and I shook my head. “No. I told you, we’re just friends. I don’t even know if he thinks of me as that, even. He’s hard to read.”

Duo draped an arm lazily over my shoulder. “Yeah, well. You know how to pick ‘em. That guy’s tougher to understand than Heero sometimes.”

“Yeah...” I looked down at my hands, then peeked up at him for a moment. “Duo, how do you feel about Heero?”

His face changed, became worried. “He’s my best friend, but I don’t know what to think of him. He’s so cold...”

Duo shook his head, and suddenly the cheer was back. “Tell you what, your Trowa is a hell of a lot easier to deal with compared to Heero. You might not know what he’ll think of you, but I’m betting he won’t go off and brood himself into depressing and try and kill himself after you tell him.”

I blinked. “True. I suppose-hey, wait!”

Duo had stood up, and was picking up the various drinking implements he’d brought. “Don’t mind me. Why don’t you go back to watching your lover boy sleep, hmm?”

I blushed again, and covered it by playfully pushing him lightly against the shoulder. “I’m not that weird, Duo.”

“Says you.”





Back then, all of us were together. We all knew each other more intimately than anyone else. Now, though...I opened my eyes, staring at the Gundams filling the cargo bay. Now we were separate, going our own ways, and only heard from each other by chance. I probably wouldn’t have seen Duo for years if he hadn’t contacted all of us about this mission of peace.

I wondered how Trowa was doing.

I wondered if he missed me. He was probably too busy with everything: the circus, getting to know Catherine better, making a new life for himself that didn’t revolve around Oz or fighting...

I wondered if he knew who he was yet.

I know who you are. You are Trowa. Not Trowa Barton, a stolen name, not a nameless no one. My Trowa. If I knew you knew that, maybe I wouldn’t be so worried. You’d have an identity. Now that the war is over, do you still have one?

I hugged the violin case tighter. I don’t care who you are. You are who you made yourself, Trowa, the person I thought of as my closest friend, who made people laugh unexpectedly, who never did anything without thinking it through, who surrendered that first time we met, who made such beautiful music with me. Whoever you really are, I never cared. I still don’t. I just loved you for you.

“Hey, Quatre, we’re almost there.” Duo walked in, yawning. I quickly stood up, and put my violin back into its safe place. He blinked at me fuzzily. “Whatcha doin’ in here?”

“I was thinking about practicing, but I didn’t want to wake you up.”

“Yeah? Thanks.” He stretched, and his eyes began to clear faster. “Well, ready to do this?”

“As soon as we get there.”

He walked over to me, and we both stared at the Gundams in silence for a long while before either of us spoke again. Even then, I didn’t voice my thoughts. Duo didn’t need to worry about me when he was still so concerned over his best friend, no matter how well he masked that concern. I stayed silent, but I couldn’t help thinking it.

Once these are gone, there’ll be nothing for me to remember you by. Nothing I can see or touch, anyway.

Do you even remember me, Trowa?