After the Dance

DISCLAIMER: Gundam Wing was created by Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino. The series is copywrited and protected. I do not own any of the characters, plots or Mobil Suits. This story is my own creation and is not sanctioned by those who created and own Gundam Wing. Because of this, I am not making any money at all from writing this story. And suing me would be a waste of time - you can\'t get blood from a turnip.

Any orginal characters that appear in this story are mine and can not be used without my permission.

This is a WIP. There will be many elements involved - see codes listed in description.

Multiple Pairings: 1x2,2xH,3x4,5xC,6x9

WARNING: This story takes place five years after \"Endless Waltz\" and the pilots have gotten older, like everyone does. They have changed. If I get any flames about characters acting OCC, the flamer will receive an award for stupidity and be ridiculed.

Special thanks to my beta reader Chii Chan. The best in the business.

After the Dance

Chapter One

Heero Yuy stopped typing on his keyboard long enough to glance up at the wall. Placed between the open window, which allowed some breeze to filter into his cramped office... and a calming picture of the ocean; the old-fashioned circular timepiece informed him that there were only ten minutes left in his work day. Turning back to his monitor, Heero let his gaze scan over the random series of numbers and letters he had already input. Nodding to himself, he resumed punching buttons. Ten minutes was long enough to finish the program.

His mind only half on the security program he had devised, Heero focused his remaining attention to his plans for the evening. Usually, after work, he returned to his two-bedroom apartment, had a quick dinner of frozen food or take-out, listened to Jrock and read a book. Tonight, however, he was going out with Trowa Barton.

The former Heavy-arms pilot had approached him only this morning. He’d quickly gotten the obligatory questions out of the way... \'How’s work been going, still like your apartment, learn how to cook yet?’ - before asking, \'I need to talk to you. Do you have time after work?\'

Heero had nodded and they’d agreed to meet in the basement parking lot. Thinking back on it now, a slight smile crossed Heero’s lips. He had a pretty good idea what the conversation would be about: a certain young blonde. He would have had to be blind to miss the way the two of them interacted with each other.

As head of the Winner Corporation, Quatre Raberba Winner was a very powerful man. In the four and a half years he’d been in charge of the company, assets had risen by forty-eight percent. Even the Board of Directors had little to complain about at the monthly meetings. But that hadn’t always been the case.

When Quatre took up the reigns of power, there had been an understandable uproar. In their minds, no \'child\' would be able to handle an intergalactic business with as much diversity as Winner Corp. To begin with, each meeting had been fraught with tension; the directors blocked every suggestion he made, stating loudly and without words that they would not allow him any authority.

The only thing the meetings accomplished was the blinding headache Quatre suffered following one. Unable to get the backing of the Board, he went out on his own, using his own financial power to cement relations with other companies. Using this method, he brought more businesses under the Winner “umbrella”, doubling shares in six months. Not only had the young Arab proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he could manage the company in its entirety... he\'d ventured even further.

Not only did the corporation flourish under his leadership, but Quatre also won the devotion of the employees. His approach to management was to treat each worker as a member of the \'family\'. That closeness made for a pleasant work environment and even affected his Head-of-Security: Heero.

After the fiasco of disintegrating the falling space station, Heero had served a stint with the Preventers. The work had been exciting to begin with, but then boredom set in. He had been at loose ends when a call came from Quatre, pleading with him to take over the security of Winner Corp. There had been problems with rival companies suddenly having access to \'secret\' information.

Approximately 5 billion dollars in lost revenue was the result.

Heero had always been good with computers, able to make them do anything except make coffee, and Quatre counted on this talent to protect his business. Not only was Heero in charge of preventing sabotage, he also took responsibility for screening potential employees, installing monitoring devices in the various buildings, hiring security guards and a myriad of other small details designed to make the company run efficiently. He did his job with the same single-minded determination that had once served him as a Gundam pilot and earned the staggering salary his job boasted.

Stretching his back to relieve the tension from sitting for five hours, Heero raised his arms high over his head and let out a huge yawn. The new program was complete and ready to be put into effect immediately. As Head-of-Security, Heero often updated the safety measures installed in the computer system. He firmly adhered to the old adage of the best offense being a good defense and since his employment four years ago; outsiders had accessed no sensitive material. It paid to be vigilant.

He shut down his computer and then closed and locked the window before leaving his office. The handprint scanner installed next to the door insured that no unauthorized access would be sanctioned. Only he and Quatre had access. Taking the elevator down to the parking lot, Heero whistled and allowed himself a small smile. He always felt good after a productive workday.

Heero’s smile broadened when he saw the man standing next to his black Jag. In the five years since the war, the lanky brunette had filled out. Trowa had always been taller than the others, but he’d had an unfinished look about him. Now, with broad shoulders and well-toned abs, the former pilot looked like he could hold his own in any fair fight… and probably a few unfair as well.

Trowa held his hand out in greeting and Heero clasped his wrist for a moment before giving him a sly wink. “Wanna drive it?”

Trowa chuckled softly. “Guess you don’t mind someone else touching your car. Who would have thought things could change so much. Speaking of which – you’re smiling.”

Heero shrugged before turning to unlock the vehicle. “I think we all have changed a lot. That war sapped so much life out of us.” He opened the passenger door for Trowa and with a grin added, “Just look at you; once you hardly spoke at all and now you are a PR man.”

Trowa laughed as he climbed into the car. “I didn’t know what to think when Quatre offered me that job. I thought for sure he’d gone Zero again.”

Heero closed the door with a shudder. He didn’t particularly want to remember that experience. After walking around the car and climbing in on the driver’s side, he turned to his passenger again. “So, where are we headed?”

“I know a nice little restaurant that serves Japanese food. It has some secluded tables, so we shouldn’t be disturbed. Sound good?”

Heero nodded, “Yes. It’s been a long time since I had a decent home cooked meal.” He left the parking garage and, following Trowa’s directions, flowed with traffic until they reached their destination.


X----X----X----X----X


They spoke about small matters throughout the delicious meal. Both of them enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and being together outside of a work environment. It was over tea that Trowa finally broached the issue that troubled him.

He cleared his throat and began speaking in a soft voice. “Heero, I think you’ve already guessed what I\'ve asked you here to talk about.” He paused, glancing at his dinner partner, who nodded. “I’m not sure what to do about the feelings I have.”

Heero watched Trowa quietly. Of all people, he had little experience when it came to relationships. He understood why his old comrade would seek his advice; they had been through a lot together. He only hoped that he could give the tall brunette the answers he needed.

Trowa’s voice gained in strength as he continued. “We’ve both known Quatre for years. He was the first one I met.” He chuckled warmly, “he came out of that suit of his, looking like an angry cherub. When he told me to put my hands down, I felt a glow in my chest. I wanted to trust him immediately.”

Trowa lowered his eyes. “You’ve probably figured out what my life was like before. It’s not something I like remembering and I’ve never talked to anyone about it. The short version is that I… I used to be a sex toy.”

Heero nodded again, then noted that Trowa was still looking at the tablecloth. He quickly voiced his reassurance. “I thought it had to be something like that. You were so worried about getting close to anyone. Only my being injured encouraged you to trust me at all; you knew I couldn’t harm you.”

Trowa let out a long breath of relief and raised his eyes to meet Heero’s again with a grateful smile. “After all this time, I\'ve finally met someone who understands. I was with a bunch of mercenaries. There weren’t many jobs for someone with no name to hold. Being smaller and younger than the others, I became their victim. They would beat me up and often rape me. After I got away from them, I vowed never to let anyone get close to me again.”

Heero gave him a knowing smile. “And then you met Quatre.”

Trowa grinned back. “And then I met Quatre,” he repeated. “The immediate trust I had for him startled me. When he took me back to his home, welcoming me like an old friend, it was like being part of a family. The Maguanacs even fixed Heavy-arms. The whole situation became too much for me. I felt that if I stayed, I would be betraying the promise I had made to myself, so I left. After that, he showed up again in my life, insisting that the two of us should work together.” He paused and clarified for Heero, “that was when we met you other three pilots.”

“And all hell broke loose,” Heero finished, ruefully.

Trowa nodded. “I spent time alone with Wufei, and then with you. Because Quatre melted a hard core within me, I began to trust in all of you. But there was always something special about what I felt for him. When he went Zero, I thought my heart would break. I had lost my golden-haired angel. And after I saved him, he brought me back.”

Trowa paused to take a drink of his cooling oolong tea. “When the war ended, I was at a loose end. I had no idea what to do with the rest of my life. He showed up one day and offered me employment, hired me as an assistant to the PR head, to learn the job and prepare to take it over when the man retired. Quatre convinced me that the job suited me, said I had what it required. We ended up spending a lot of hours alone together. I think I know him better than he knows himself.” After taking another drink, he stated in a low voice, “I love him.”

Heero nodded, expecting this revelation. “If you can trust my opinion in this, I believe he returns the feeling.” Taking a drink himself, he grinned and asked, “So what are you going to do about it?”

Trowa blushed in response, then reached into an inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a small felt-covered jewelers box.

Heero’s grin broadened. “It’s about fucking time!”

Trowa blinked, looking relieved. “You don’t think I’m a pervert?”

“If there were two people more suited for each other, I have yet to meet them,” Heero assured him. “So… when are you going to ask him?”

Trowa slid the precious box back into his pocket. “Quatre is returning tonight from the conference. I’ll wait for him at his apartment and then…”

“Pop the question?”

Trowa blushed again and nodded.

“I wish you all the best, my friend.”