Title: #22 A Whole New Wardrobe?
Arc: Life With Heero
Author: Calic0cat
Story Completed: Jan. 21, 2003
Genre: Shonen Ai, Yaoi, Domestic, Friendship
Pairing: 3+4 implied
Rated: G
Warnings: AU, OOC
Archives: At Mediaminer.org under Calic0cat. Anyone with archive permission for my other fics can help themselves; anyone else, please ask.
Disclaimer: Duo and Heero and the rest of the GW gang aren't mine. This story is. Nuff said.

Notes: The arc begins between one and two years after Endless Waltz. Quatre POV in this story.

'Thinking'
"Speaking"
*** Time passing or scene change

Author's Notes: See earlier fics for notes on the arc as a whole. Feedback is appreciated.

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Qua tre looked at his reflection in the changing room mirror in amazement. He could hardly believe what a difference there could be between two business suits.

Once he'd explained to Duo that he wanted to change his image and thought he needed a few new outfits, Duo had quite readily agreed to go shopping with him. *He* had been thinking in terms of a new outfit or two for casual wear or a night out. *Duo* had pointed out - quite correctly - that he spent far more time wearing suits than casual clothes and if he really wanted to change his image, he should start with his business wear. He had agreed to at least try a few different suits on, but hadn't committed to actually buying any.

Quatre had been extremely surprised to meet Duo in the front foyer to go shopping and discover that Heero was coming too. And was he ever glad Heero had!

Exiting the changing room, Quatre smiled brightly at his waiting friends. "Heero, this is perfect! I'm glad Duo talked you into coming along to help - I would have never thought to ask you!"

Heero shrugged slightly and answered, "I might not have talked to all those people Relena met with, but I watched and I listened. The suits you usually wear were popular with the older generation. Younger men tended to wear ones more like the one you have on now."

Quatre turned to check his appearance in the three-way mirror as he answered, "My other suits were just like the ones my father always wore. I never even considered getting something different - after all, a suit was just a suit." Examining the way that *this* suit fit, he continued, "Was I ever wrong!"

Quatre's other suits always made him look rather young and lost - like a child playing dress-up with his father's clothing. This suit, however, did not. It was more fitted than the other suits, yet not actually snug. The material itself was softer and followed his body more closely yet did not - quite - cling to it. Instead of making him look petite and delicate, the suit more closely reflected his real build - compact, but wiry.

Even the colour of the suit was more flattering than his others. While still a thoroughly appropriate shade of blue, it was a richer tone that was more appropriate to his youth and also did not make him look pale and sickly like the more traditional drab navy did. And the tan suit he had tried on before this one had been an equally big improvement.

'Forget about "a new outfit or two",' Quatre thought, 'I'm getting a new *wardrobe*!' He had originally been thinking only of changing his image in Trowa's eyes, but *this* would have an impact on his business image as well. Considering how much difficulty he sometimes had in getting people - particularly his Board of Directors - to take him seriously, that could only be a *good* thing!