by Mummraa

The yaoi/non-yaoi debate is one of the most heated issues in Gundam Wing fandom. Everyone seems to have an opinion on why the G-boys are or are not romantically involved, and most people are offering "proof" of their claims.

I'll come out and say it right now; I dont think there is any direct proof on the show. I think the shows producers left it deliberately ambiguous. They knew that there are lots of fangirls who like the idea of pretty-boys hopping into bed together, but they also knew that they would drive away a lot of potential fans if they included direct yaoi-proof...so what did they do? They left a few vague, annoyingly inconclusive hints and refrained from giving any of the G-boys girlfriends, leaving the whole relationship-thing open to interpretation.

That out of the way, I will now explain why I think that Trowa and Quatre -- possibly the most canon yaoi-couple in Gundam Wing -- should be together. I'm choosing to focus on Trowa and Quatre because...
A. I like them.
B. Though I can see how Heero and Duo (the most *popular* yaoi-couple on the Net) would be good together, I dont think there is any real evidence of their relationship on the show. Any indications of affection/concern between the two of them could be easily dismissed as a heterosexual friendship, whereas Quatre and Trowas relationship is a little harder to label as platonic.

So, here it goes...

Those of you who have seen Gundam Wing (and if you haven't, why are you reading this essay?) have probably noticed the way Quatre acts around Trowa; basically, he follows him around like an adoring puppy. There is one instance where, after Trowa leaves the desert-compound, Rashid comments on how its risky to let Trowa go because he knows the location of the compound and might attack. Quatre replies, "I almost wish he would. Then I could see him again." Hmm...got attached awfully quickly, didn't he? Trowa's affection is less obvious, but in the later episodes he starts to express more concern toward his friend, such as the incident when the ZERO-system got its nasty ol' claws into Quatre's brain.

One alternate theory I've heard is that Quatre sees Trowa as something of a father-figure (though they're about the same age, Trowa definitely *acts* older...) because, as some fans have noticed, Quatre's dad has that same distinctive, gravity-defying hairstyle that Trowa does, and their faces are shaped kinda the same. As a matter of fact, I noticed that as well...at which point, the Freud-o-meter in my head started going DING DING DING! Can you say 'Electra Complex,' boys and girls? I knew you could.

Come to think of it, Noin has Trowa-hair too. Must be a fad.

But I digress. Next bit of evidence!

Simply put, Quatre is not a straight male. He doesn't act, speak, or dress like one. One could argue that he couldn't possibly be gay because he's a warrior, and warriors are masculine by definition...but who's to say that feminine people can't fight? Granted, its less common for women or gay men to strap on armor and march out into the battlefield to gun down rows of enemy-troupes, but there are female GW-characters who do just that. Come on, it's the new millennium, people! Can't we leave behind those tired old stereotypes? Not that I'm the most politically correct person around, but ah well...

Anyway. As previously stated, Quatre is -- in my mind -- obviously gay, or at least strongly bisexual.

Take a look at his outfit. Go ahead; take a good, long look.

He wears an adorable little vest-and-slacks combo which, if worn inside a public high-school, would get him dragged into the boys' bathroom and beaten within an inch of his life. Plus he's sensitive and empathic, and he drinks tea and plays the violin and likes animals and...well, now *I'm* stereotyping, but all those things together sort of project a distinct sense of femininity, hai? I think a chick actually does his voice in the subtitled version of the show (of which I've seen only a few episodes); I don't have any proof of this, it just sounds like a woman's voice to me. And when you look outside the show, into the trade-pics (which are *official stuff,* and can henceforth be considered canon), there is even more evidence. What's this? Quatre in PINK? And LAVENDER? Good heavens, send that boy off to Bible-camp! And there is one rather widely-used pic, of the G-boys playing together in a band, where Quatre wears A FRILLY SHIRT. I'm not kidding. That shirt is pale blue and has FRILLS on the sleeves and neck. It looks rather cute on him, but thats not the point; the point is, it's FRILLY. I'm putting that in caps so everyone knows what an important bit of evidence this is. I repeat once more: QUATRE WEARS A FRILLY SHIRT. I need not even mention that frilly, ruffly garments are a traditional symbol of femininity, but I'll mention it anyway.

Some say that yaoi-fans are over-imaginative, and work far too hard to dig up bits of evidence that aren't really there. I say that some people work far too hard to *ignore* bits of evidence, some of which practically leap out of the screen and whap you in the face like a vengeful carp. When I first started watching Gundam Wing with my brother (who doesn't even know what "yaoi" is), they were showing the episode where Quatre meets up with Trowa in San Francisco, and Quatre is running after him, chirping, "Two is better than one!" My brother immediately started going, "*cough*queer!*coughcough.*" Additionally, my friend was once watching the show with her mother-in-law (who, as mother-in-laws go, is pretty open-minded) and -- upon observing Trowa and Quatre together--asked, "Are those two gay?"

I kid you not.

To me, and many others, the way Quatre eagerly pursues the tall, silent Trowa simply smacks of infatuation...and though Trowa is more cautious and doesn't respond immediately to his advances, I think the way he sticks up for Quatre indicates that he returns Quatre's feelings.

Which brings me to my next morsel of evidence; Trowa and Quatre's respective personalities, and why they click so well together.

First, off, Trowa. He brings new meaning to the phrase "strong and silent type." He is withdrawn, introspective, and seemingly slow to trust. From this, one can gather that he's probably been hurt or betrayed at some point in his life; one popular theory (among yaoi-fans, at least) is that he was abused by the mercenaries who raised him. If this is true, then he has probably formed a protective shell around his heart, a shell which minimizes future hurts but which prevents him from making friends easily. All his emotions and needs are buried deep beneath the surface, where no one can reach them...except, perhaps, someone with a lot of patience and gentleness; someone who can gradually coax his heart out of hiding. Someone with a caring, nurturing demeanor. Let's seeee...who could that person be?

Yep, you guessed it. Our own little Quatrekins.

If Quatre isnt a born nurturer, I dont know who is. He has such a strong sense of empathy that he actually feels others pain (see the episode where Heero self-destructs and Quatre has his first heart-of-the-universe-attack.) Another episode shows a brief scene of him giving water to an injured Heero; one trade-pic, of the G-boys camping out in the woods, has Quatre smiling affectionately as he drapes a blanket over a relaxing Duo. He displays countless little flashes of maternal instinct (or "healer's instinct," if you prefer something more gender-neutral.) It seems natural that he'd be drawn to the soul-scarred Trowa and want to heal him. And Trowa, for his part, could act as Quatre's protector, shielding his sensitive companion from physical and emotional threats. Say it with me, people: "Awwwww...they're so sweet together!"

So, lets review our evidence, shall we?

Yaoi-hint numero uno: Quatre is VERY friendly around Trowa.

Yaoi hint numero dos: It seems dubious that Quatre's a straight male.
Need I mention the FRILLY SHIRT?

Yaoi hint numero tres: Trowa and Quatre's personalities fit together like *this.*

Another thing; I've heard some fans claim that because there was no romance on the actual show, yaoi-fans somehow pollute the essence of GW by adding an element of romance. What in the hale?! C'mon, now...sexuality is an integral part of human nature. Just because the show didn't explore it in-depth doesnt mean the *fans* can't...in fact, isn't the whole point of fanfiction to explore things that werent presented on the show? I mean, what fun would fic-writing be if we had to stay within the narrow boundaries of the material given to us?

Besides, though there is no actual sex, it is easy to read sexual symbolism into certain aspects of GW (granted, human beings could probably read sexual symbolism into a box of Cap'n Crunch if they put their minds to it...y'know how the slogan goes, "You and the Cap'n make it happen!" eh-heh...anyway...) I'm thinking, at the moment, of that sword-duel between Quatre and Dorothy (who, by the way, Ive seen paired up in fanfics -- how weird is that? I mean, I guess I could see them as an item, if I weren't so hung up on the whole Quatre and Trowa thing...but what a couple they'd make! Every time I try to picture them together, I see Dorothy in dominatrix-gear and Quatre at the end of a chain-link leash.) Anyway, Quatre and Dorothy are sparring for dominance with swords, which could easily be seen as phallic-symbols; long, hard shafts used for thrusting and penetrating. And Dorothy is going on about how soft and kind and pure Quatre is. Though her words have the feel of mockery, there seems to be an undertone of genuine admiration (or perhaps "fascination" would be a better term.) She is drawn to that kindness because her own was burned out a long time ago. It's a sort of reverse-gender-role thing, especially evident when she thrusts her sword into his flesh, symbolically penetrating and conquering him. At this point, the Freud-o-meter was dinging almost as loudly as it had when Quatre's father first waltzed onscreen sporting his gel-encrusted Trowa bangs.

Okay...I'd better get off this tangent as quickly as possible, because I'm starting to get bizarre ideas for a fic called "Dorothy and the Leather Glove."

Besides, I've strayed from the topic that I meant to explore; that is, Trowa and Quatre, and why they belong together. I've stated pretty much all my evidence, except for one thing...during the fiasco with Quatre and the ZERO-system, Trowa remarks that all this mindless destruction isn't like Quatre at all. Which means that, at some point, he and Quatre got to know each other pretty well...perhaps at the desert-compound, or in San Francisco, where they met up later. The writers chose not to clue us in to exactly what happened between them, thus feeding more fanfic-fuel to us over-imaginative yaoi-fans.

Just for the record, let me state once more that these are my opinions; you can believe whatever you like about Trowa and Quatre. Believe they're gay, or straight, or telepathic bisexual elf-kings from the Magical Land of the Singing Mushrooms. The nice thing about fanfic is that you can take great liberties with canon. My advice is to take full advantage of this liberty and don't seek to deny anyone else that right by bombarding them with silly flames (this applies to yaoi and non-yaoi people alike.)

Anyway, I'll get down off the soapbox now. Just remember...