Part 1
Music was playing softly in the background, as the couple in the center stage exchanged vows to be together for longer than eternity. Wufei stood close enough to Trowa & Quatre to notice the most content expressions on both of their handsome faces. After all, this was their wedding ceremony. Wufei and Duo were both best men, and Heero was assigned the important role of conducting the ceremony.
The war they fought was finally over. Wufei sighed, looking at the perfect couple in front of him; there were regrets, pain, and nightmares still lingered, but at least they were no longer in a war. Two months after the war, the five Gundam boys had been staying together at one of Quatre’s estates, struggling to decide what their future plan was going to be. It had not been easy trying to figure out how to enjoy a life without war. Everyone was surprised (except perhaps Quatre) when Trowa, who used to call himself “no name”, found out his destiny sooner than everyone else. He had wasted no time in proposing to Quatre.
Wufei still remembered seeing the tears of happiness shed as Quatre gladly accepted Trowa’s marriage proposal. His fellow pilots took turn to express their good wishes. As usual, Wufei gave his blessings last.
// “Congratulations. I am happy for you.” the old Wufei would never have “cared” enough about his fellow comrades to make such a personal statements, but the Wufei after the war was slowly letting his mask of arrogance and superiority slipped. He was glad that his two friends can be together.
There was a small smile on Trowa’s face. “Thanks, Wufei. Quatre and I have been a couple during the war. We loved each other, but both were afraid to get committed. Now there is no more war, we can finally do what all the normal people are doing. Settled down, find a job; not that piloting Gundam is not a great profession, but you know…”
Arching a perfect eyebrow, Wufei was surprised by the silent boy’s ability to go on and on about his future with Quatre. He almost talked as much as Duo! A small smile slowly crept onto Wufei’s features, as he realized Trowa was gradually letting his silent mask dropped as well. //
**Getting a normal job, hm… I should give that some thoughts. Now, what can I do? Maybe teach at a local university? I am more than qualified to teach any science subjects, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or maybe teaching art courses would be more fun? Literature, history, music, ok, maybe not music. Sounds like a plan. Wait a minute, I am only 16 and I don’t exactly have a degree… maybe I can get Heero to hacked into the university’s database and change things around …**
“Wufei~! WUFEI~!!! Earth to WU-BABY!!!”
“Huh?” Wufei finally shook himself from his thoughts, and realized everyone was staring at him, especially Duo.
“The ring?” Duo “whispered”, standing behind Quatre.
“Here. Sorry.” Wufei was embarrassed. He had never lost in thoughts like this while piloting Nataku or doing anything else for the matter in fact. He must be losing it! But then again, having been in a war for as long as he had, it was difficult to adjust to the fact that there was no more war now.
“You may kiss the bride… er … bridegroom!” Heero announced as the couple finally exchanged their rings, and the marriage was sealed with a kiss in cheering of friends and families.
##
At nightfall, Wufei was walking around Quatre’s huge estate, enjoying the cool breeze and starless sky. It reminded him of space.
He was quite far from where the main party was held. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Duo had more than a few drinks, and was trying to perform tap dancing. Wufei decided to seek for a little peace and quiet after laughing and drinking at the party for more than 2 hours. That’s the longest he had ever stayed in any social gathering anyway!
**It’s not that I hate people, but I just need to be alone for a while…** Wufei thought as he enjoyed the quiet environment surrounding him now.
All of a sudden, a noise startled him. It sounded suspiciously like a couple making out. Curiosity rose, Wufei poked his head out and saw two men seated on a bench, kissing and fondling each other. What shocked him was they were Heero Yuy and Zech Marquise.
Finally getting over his shock, Wufei realized he was invading the couple’s privacy. Oblivious to his surrounding, Heero looked vulnerable, and there was a surprisingly gentle expression on his normally hard features. Zech on the other hand, looked loving and caring towards his younger lover. Wufei moved back as quickly as possible, but obviously not quietly enough, as the perfect soldier suddenly turned his head and stared straight at him.
“Hn.” Heero’s customary greetings.
“Oh, Hello Wufei.” Zech acknowledged Wufei’s presence with a slight wave of his right hand, before letting it rest on his lover’s shoulder once again. “Did you have a good time at the party? What is Duo performing now, after rumba, tango, foxtrot, salsa and street dancing? Ballet or something?”
“No… Actually he is performing tap dancing.” Wufei relaxed slightly, “I am sorry that I invaded your privacy and discovered your secret. I assured you I will tell no one about it.”
Heero actually chuckled a little hearing that (if one can imagine Heero laughing!). Zech smiled, and looked at Heero for permission before telling Wufei, “Don’t worry about it. We have decided to make our relationship public tomorrow anyway. You just found it out 8 hours earlier than others!”
Wufei cracked a small smile, “I am happy for both of you. Now if you will excuse me, I think I better go find another ‘quiet’ spot!”
The rich laughter from Heero still rang beside his ears after several hundred steps from where they were. Clearly out of hearing range, Wufei let out a sigh that he had been holding. He was jovial for Heero and Zech; they obviously deserved each other, just like Trowa & Quatre. However, Wufei couldn’t help but not for the first time in his young life hoped that he had somebody as well.
What he didn’t expect was a loud echo of his sigh from behind of him. He jumped and twisted around, ready to fight in an instant.
“Hey, no need to get so defensive! It’s only cute little me.”
“I wouldn’t expect anybody else sneaking up on me, Duo.” Wufei let his defensive posture dropped, and relaxed. “So, you are done with performing dances inside?”
“Ah, yes. I got bored after 20 different types of dances.”
“Ha.” Both boys smiled.
“They made a beautiful couple, don’t they?” Duo commented after a while.
“Err?”
“Heero and Zech.” Duo said, pointing to the direction where Heero and Zech were.
“You knew?” Wufei was surprised, and slightly hurt. Although he was not very closed to Heero, he still consider Heero one of the few friends he had. And if Heero had told everyone else about his relationship with Zech except him, he will be practically wounded.
“Yes, but only by accident.” It was as if Duo could sense Wufei’s thoughts. “They have not been together for very long. The feeling was there during the war, but they couldn’t afford to explore that. Now the war is over, nothing stands in their way.”
“Now the war is over…” Wufei murmured. Again he was reminded so. It seemed like everybody else had somebody now that the DAMN war was over, but him. Quickly shaking himself off this train of thoughts, he asked, “Aren’t you… upset or something, Duo?”
“What do you mean?” Duo asked, then seeing Wufei’s comical expression, Duo realized what the Chinese pilot must have been thinking all these while. “Hahaha~” Duo broke off with an incredulous laughter, “You thought Heero and I are together, didn’t you?”
Wufei was embarrassed for the 2nd time in a day, but couldn’t denied that was exactly what was on his mind for a long time.
“You two were close!” Wufei fumbled for an explanation.
“We were just friends. Good friends. Like you and me.” Duo smiled. He never noticed the look on Wufei’s face.
“You know, I must admit it was uneasy for me when I first learned about their relationship.” Duo continued, “I know Trowa and Quatre are together, and I am really happy for them. Hell, I am happy for Heero and Zech too. They deserved some happiness after what they have been through. But what about me? Sometimes I think I am the loneliest soul on earth. All those that I loved and loved me died…” Suddenly remembered his audience, Duo stopped abruptly. Wufei was staring at him with a haunted expression almost mirroring his own, and a strange light burned in his dark eyes.
“Ops, I am sorry… I forgot…” Duo murmured his apology. He recalled the boy in front of him had suffered an even greater misfortune. Wufei’s whole colony was blown up into pieces, and everything that he could be associated with ceased to exist in a second. **Wufei has to be more alone than anyone of us, and yet I have never heard him complained. He must think I am so weak, that I can’t stand loneliness.**
“Duo…” Wufei stepped closer.
“Wufei?” Duo asked uncertainly. The other boy didn’t look mad or disgusted, but there was something in his expression. Could it be… longing? The thought hit Duo like a hammer, and he looked into Wufei’s eyes with new understanding. He wondered why he had never thought about it before. Both of them had been through hell and back. They had fought together in the war, experiencing the same kind of emotional and physical torture which nobody could ever come close to understanding except themselves and each other. Something stirred in Duo and for the first time he looked at his fellow pilot in a different light.
Wufei had never seemed more physically beautiful. His black hair appeared silky, and his delicate features can only be described as handsome. Even the way he moved was graceful, like a proud cat crossing a valley. And the way he stood slightly askew, like the poses in 18th century portraits, immediately drew eyes of any strangers. But what made Duo’s palms sweat, and his heartbeat racing to an unhealthy level, were Wufei’s onyx dark eyes; it spoke of depth, secrets and passions beyond imagination, but most of all, it promised an opportunity to love for both of them. No more lonesome nights… No more waking up from nightmares alone…
“Wufei?” Duo asked again. Now Wufei was so closed that they were almost nose-to-nose.
Wufei put his hands on either side of Duo’s shoulders, and lowered his eyes. **This is too much!** A feeling that he had never experienced before threaten to burst free. He knew that if he looked Duo in the eyes now, his soul would be lost forever. Lost to a boy with the most gorgeous violet eyes. Yet, he couldn’t say he would mind if that happened.
He had never suspected he would ever have feelings for anybody, let alone this braided baka whom he grew so fond of during the war. He was so successful in concealing his feelings, that he didn’t even know his own heart until just now. He understood why he felt a relief when Duo said he was never with Heero, and the need to comfort Duo when the other boy talked about deaths of all his love ones.
**No, there is no way Duo would feel the same way. I cannot risk losing a friend.** Wufei’s inner voice was working very hard to stop him from confessing his newfound feelings.
“Wufei,” came Duo’s calm voice, “Can you please look at me?”
Wufei finally raised his head, and they looked into each other’s eyes. Understanding downed on both of them.
“Fei,” Duo broke the silence, “I have no idea how this is supposed to work, I… I have not been with anyone before. But, I want to give us a try. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“Me too. Duo, me too.”
