Two Sides of a Triangle

Too many plotlines, not enough time! (or finger strength, lol)


Pairings: 2x3x4 or variations thereof.
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Duo sat at the table picking apart his straw paper and waiting. He glanced around the burger joint and saw his lunch companion walking through the door. Quatre smiled as he walked up and sat down across from the waiting man.

“Thanks for meeting me, Duo.”

Maxwell choked out a smile, knowing what was coming and not really wanting to go there, but not really having any choice. “So, what’s he done this time?”

The smile left the blonde’s face. “Am I that predictable?” Duo opened his mouth to respond, but Quatre continued. “I guess he is the main reason we get together nowadays, isn’t he? I apologize; I just don’t really have anyone else to talk to about it.” His face was sad, a lost expression painting the features that used to hold such joy.

Duo’s heart cracked a little for his best friend. “You know you can talk to me about anything, Q. He’s just been on your mind a lot lately. No need to apologize. Go on.”

Quatre nodded, silent for a moment as the waitress came and took their orders. When she was gone, he spoke. “He’s drawing back into himself again. I thought, after the wars, he would settle down and find someone for himself…”

Both men at the table knew the sentence read: find his way to Quatre.

“But it’s the opposite, it seems like the rules and regulations of the Preventers organization is letting him slip back into the roll of nameless soldier; he’s becoming an automaton again, and I don’t know what to do to stop it.” By the time he was finished, Quatre looked completely desperate, the cool strategic head of the five was beside himself.

Duo sighed. He really just wished he could kick Trowa’s ass for making Quatre feel this way, but Quatre would never forgive him. Q loved him; for the life of him, Duo couldn’t figure out why. “Maybe you should just talk to him about it.”

“I can’t!” Blue eyes went just a little wild for a second. “He hates me, Duo.” The sadness returned. “There was a time once, during the war; that I thought I could feel this overwhelming sense of love, passion, but then it was gone. Now all I feel from him is hate, black as night, disgust and loathing fills the room if I even smile at him.” Tears peaked at the corners of his eyes. “And I don’t even know what I did to make him hate me so.”

Duo regretted making it a lunch date because all he wanted to do seeing him so distraught was to pull him into his arms and rock him until he calmed. “You need to let him go, Quat.”

He sent Duo a vicious glare, but Duo held up his hand and continued. “How do you even know that one time was directed towards you, Q? Even if he dropped the frozen shoulder act and allowed you under his guard, I don’t think it would work between you anyways. He has no concept of tact or compassion, and you’re a very sensitive person, Quatre. All he has done since you’ve met is hurt you in some form or fashion. What has he done to have earned your love? Nothing.”

Both were silent for a few heartbeats.

“You need to let him go, Quatre.”

He gasped. “I can’t! Its not some switch to flip on and off, Duo. I see him and my heart stops. He’s too much for me to take, and yet I want all of him, even if it destroys me.”

Duo sighed, keeping his own pain masked deep within himself.

The waitress brought their meals and set them on the table, but Quatre pushed his plate away. “I’m sorry; I’m not hungry.” He pulled his wallet out and threw enough money on the table to cover the bill three times over. “I’ll see you later, Duo.”

“Bye, Q.” Duo watched him walk away, shoulders slightly hunched.

That was not the man Duo had met in the wars; Quatre had changed so much in his pining away after Trowa. The thief pushed his plate away, too disgusted at the conversation he’d just had.

He loved Quatre; he’d die for him; but Trowa was killing him, and Quatre wouldn’t let him do shit about it. Well, fuck that. If Q never forgave him, he’d deal with it; the blonde would be pissed as hell, but at least he wouldn’t be this desperate shade of the man he’d once been.

Trowa was going to get a piece of his mind…and probably a black eye or two.

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Barton’s office was like the rest of the pilots’ offices except his was a single. 01 and 05 shared an office because they were partners. Duo shared an office with Zechs Marquis. He was arrogant and a bit of a prick, but he was reliable which was more than enough for Duo. They got along fine business-wise, but didn’t extend the relationship past work hours.

Quatre wasn’t a field agent; he was usually in a board room somewhere discussing logistics and political maneuvers to keep the organization alive and funded.

Trowa did infiltration; he didn’t have a partner, per se, because he was a solo agent. A partner would get him killed. He did long stints undercover; he would be gone for months on end, then back in the office for a couple of months setting up his next cover ID and finding info he needed to know.

So Duo didn’t have to ensure Trowa was alone in the office; he always was. Duo slipped past the partially opened door and stood, leaning against the wall near the door, directly across from Trowa, whose eyes never moved from the computer screen he was viewing.

“We need to talk.”

“I’m busy.” Duo could practically feel Trowa’s fingers clench over the keyboard despite his calm words.

They were never really friends during the war, and Duo had never really tried to extend the hand of friendship at the Preventers, mainly because of his friendship with Quatre and Trowa’s wretched treatment of the blonde.

But to be honest, Trowa didn’t really treat him badly, not really. Trowa treated Quatre the same way he treated everyone: short precise conversations when necessary, otherwise very little interaction.

“Then I’ll wait.” Duo crossed his arms over his chest and made himself comfortable against the wall.

He heard Trowa sigh, saw green eyes close to hide his irritation before the stoic man turned his head to fully face his guest, head tipped down, bangs hiding half his face. He stayed seated and, Duo noted, didn’t offer for his guest to sit down. The thief was tempted to walk over and sit down just because of the lack of offer, but he knew the closer he was to the former performer, the more likely he was to hit him, and there was no chance of forgiveness from Q if Duo assaulted the man he loved, however unworthy.

“I’m listening.”

“You know he loves you, right?” There was no question of who ‘he’ was; Duo would be in Trowa’s office for one reason and one reason only.

His head lifted, revealing all of his face and the full force of his glare as emerald eyes narrowed. “Leave.”

Duo stood, pulling himself off the wall and giving just as good a glare as he got. “You’re killing him.”

“What?” Trowa looked confused for a split second before the expression was gone.

“He’s just a shadow of who he was; he never smiles anymore, he’s lost weight, he worries himself sick, literally, over what he did to make you hate him so much. He drives himself to madness trying to figure out how to fix it. He loves you with every fiber of his being, and you can’t even acknowledge his existence.” Duo’s face was harsh as he laid out Trowa’s crimes against the blonde.

Trowa’s eyes closed, and Duo saw, for a brief second, pain flash across his face, before he turned away. He faced his computer screen once again. “You should leave.”

“Don’t think so.”

“Please!”

The almost desperate tone of Trowa’s normally even voice brought Duo up short.

“Just walk away, Maxwell.” His voice had returned to his regular monotone, but he had shown the thief enough to make him want to know more.

“I can’t. Quatre’s important to me; I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“I haven’t done anything to encourage his affection. What else do you want from me?” Trowa’s voice was even, but his wording was revealing in and of itself.

“I want you to acknowledge him in some way so he’s not convinced you hate him.”

Trowa shook his head, still refusing to look at the other man. “I can’t. I won’t lead him on; he needs to forget about me and find someone worthy.” Duo’s eyes widened as Trowa’s mouth snapped shut. He hadn’t meant to say that, to give that much away; but it was too late now, and they both knew it.

The phrasing hit home with Duo. What he had told himself over and over again, that Trowa was not worthy of Quatre’s love, is the exact thing that Trowa believed.

That belief alone made him more worthy in the streetrat’s eyes. “Who could possibly be worthy of his love, Trowa?” His voice had softened some with the realization of Trowa’s feelings.

“I don’t know.” He refused to look at Duo, even going so far as to bring his hands back to the keyboard to key a few commands. But his fingers were motionless.

“Not good enough. You refuse to acknowledge what he wants so desperately to give to you, so who should he shift his attentions toward?”

Trowa remained silent, but Duo kept pressing. “Mikel Johannson?”

His pitch dropped almost to a growl as feral green eyes pierced Duo. “No, he is a greedy politician who’s only after Quatre’s power and wealth.”

Duo ‘hmmed.’ He agreed with the assessment, but he was trying to make a point. “What about Greg in accounting?”

Trowa closed his eyes; he looked tired. “What are you playing at?”

“Answer my question.”

He shook his head. “He’s a starry-eyed puppy who likes the thrill of being around any of the gundam pilots; Quatre is just one of five targets for him.”

Again, Duo agreed. “Who could possibly be worthy with such high standards as you’ve set for him?”

Green eyes looked sharply over the thief’s features. The wording didn’t sit right with his normal persona. Plus, he really hadn’t set any standards, just shot down some horrible choices for potential matches.

“Maybe one of us, is that what you’re leading me to, Duo?” His voice had gone soft, and Duo recognized the threat. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Me? How’d I get put in the equation?” Duo felt his face pale slightly.

Trowa had meant ‘us’ as in the five pilots. That’s what the conversation ended with…that’s who Greg was after, why would Duo ask about him, in particular? But Duo had taken ‘us’ to mean between himself and Trowa.

Busted, but Trowa had known that little tidbit for ages. “Of course. You don’t honestly think you’ve hidden your feelings toward him from anyone but Quatre, do you?”

“I don’t know what you’re…” Trowa raised a brow, and Duo stopped his half-truth and glared. “Quatre is my friend. I would do anything for him including set him up with an asshole like you if that’s what it took to make him happy.”

“But that’s just it. I wouldn’t. I’d make him miserable; we both know that. I’d hurt him over and over, a thousand times a day and not realize it. My manner will not work with someone as sensitive as he is.”

Duo nodded. “I know; I’m fairly certain he does as well. But he felt the depth of your feelings once, the “passion of your soul,” and there’s been no one for him since.

Trowa’s face went pained, and Duo wondered if he was suffering the same inner death as Quatre, unnoticed behind a face as smooth as glass. His heart broke a little for them both before anger filled the pieces. “Idiot. You don’t have to hold yourself back from him. He knows what you feel despite actions or words. He’s probably the only one who will ever know you well enough to survive your l…feelings.” He hesitated a split second before the last word, and Trowa noticed it.

“You genuinely care for him, don’t you.” Trowa’s voice was calm but piercing.

Duo could only nod in response.

He rose from his seat at the computer and walked around the desk, giving Duo all of his attention, analyzing Maxwell’s face. “And what will that do to you, Duo?”

The thief was frankly surprised he would care to ask, but he recovered from it quickly. “Hey, I’ll be fine. I’m nothing if not a survivor.”

“And when I hurt him, when he comes to you?”

Violet eyes narrowed. “I’m not going to try to bust ya’ll up if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Trowa looked surprised for a second. “No, I’m sorry. That’s not where I was headed. I meant no insult.”

Duo calmed somewhat. “So where were you headed?”

“To tell the truth, I’m not quite sure.” There was a wistful, longing expression on his face that Duo had never seen. “You’re good for him; he needs you much more than he needs me.” Trowa’s face became smooth again, hiding.

Duo was surprised how well he could read the stoic pilot until he shut down.

“Could there be anything between us, Duo?” Trowa’s eyes were searching for something.

The L2 native felt himself go cold for an instant. Did he mean to imply… “Of course. Why the hell would I be making a fool of myself trying to set you two up if I didn’t think there was anything there?” Duo played dumb, daring Trowa to continue, to clarify.

He was shaking his head. “Not me and Quatre, me and you.”

Duo’s eyes narrowed. “No.”

“I won’t do that to you, Duo. I know what its like; I know what you’ve lived through thus far.” He face was determined.

Trowa could see Duo’s jaw clench. “So that’s my choice, huh? All three of us suffer or no one does?”

Trowa laughed. “Do you even hear yourself? Your argument is asinine.”

Duo liked the sound of his laugh, he just didn’t agree with the humor behind it. “What’s asinine is trying to force a third party member into a relationship that will be unstable enough with just two.”

The performer was smirking. “It wouldn’t work for most, no, but think through it for a moment. I’m an asshole; you’ve already said as much, though its not intentional most of the time, an asshole that’s gone for months at a time on assignment. You’re street, Duo, you know me much better than you think for that reason alone. That, and…”

Trowa made to continue, but Duo cut him off. “You were a merc, not a streetrat, Trowa.”

“I wasn’t raised by them, and the unit was destroyed several years before I found the Barton foundation.” He let the information sink in, let Duo draw his own conclusions.

His eyes widened. “I never knew.”

Trowa’s hair hid the majority of his face. “I didn’t want you to; I don’t like to make it easy for people to read me.”

A lot of things made so much more sense now in Duo’s mind. Trowa’s complete lack of reaction to anyone or anything was a protective adaptation on the street. You never let anyone know anything, or you risked your life with the exposure. He was quiet, unnaturally quiet sometimes, like a snake. You could never quite pinpoint where his attention was focused. It was eerie how he could just disappear in a room, right before your very eyes.

Duo was the same way, but he chose not to let it show. His mask was the constant jester’s smile. The happy-go-lucky fool that is completely harmless, yes, pay no attention to him, he’s a harmless fool.

They needed that ability in infiltration, in all forms of stealth.

“You can be the arbiter. You would be, anyways, because you know he would come to you for advice. This way you would be able to hold him as he cried, keep him company while I’m off planet.” He smirked. “You’d be able to punch me without fear of me doing the same…or maybe you could find more suitable punishments.” His voice dropped dangerously low as his eyes traveled down Duo’s neck and shoulders.

Something tightened in his groin at the thought of being caught in between 03 and 04 on a physical level, not just emotionally. But he shook his head violently. “What about Quatre?”

“I already told you; he needs you more than he needs me. I’m the spare, Duo, not you. You said it yourself; he’s seen none since he felt my emotions. If there are two of us, he will see you, too. He already loves you, just not at the level you want, yet.” Trowa had lifted his head and was staring directly into violet eyes.

“…He’ll see me too…” His eyes narrowed as he picked up on what Trowa wasn’t saying. “And maybe his gaze will shift. Maybe you’ll bow out and let the two of us be at that point, sacrifice yourself back into the hell you’ve kept yourself in since the wars.”

Trowa dropped his head, hiding behind his bangs. “If I’m no longer wanted, yes, I’ll walk away.”

“You’re planning for it.” Duo accused. “You’re setting this whole thing up for the two of us.” Duo wondered why he was complaining. Trowa was offering him everything he wanted, but it didn’t feel right. The thief was beginning to see what Quatre had felt that one time. Trowa had a depth to him that was unfathomable; he cared for those around him with a passion that was incredible, and a willingness to sacrifice himself for them in an instant.

Duo felt extremely lucky to be included in that select few, and wondered when his status had changed.

He sighed. “Maybe you will hurt him, maybe Quatre’s gaze will shift to me while you’re gone, but what if mine splits? What if I want you to stay?” Duo took a few steps forward, hesitantly.

Green eyes closed, and he took a deep breath before they opened again. He looked tired all of a sudden, worried. “Don’t let me break him, Duo.” It was a plea, softly spoken into the air around them.

“I won’t.” He was resolute in his assurance. Then Duo smiled, trying to break the somber mood a bit. “You’re not nearly so much of an asshole as I thought, Trowa.” He looked perturbed for a moment. “It’s a nice thought, really, but Quatre won’t go for it.”

And it was true in his mind. Duo loved Quatre. Trowa loved Quatre. Quatre loved Trowa. There were two sides to the triangle, only two. He wouldn’t be able to just pretend there were three simply because he wanted to. There would have to be some form of bond between Duo and Trowa, and the thief reluctantly admitted that Trowa had already asked him about that, if there could be anything between them.

Lust, definitely, but anything else? Maybe.

And Quatre did not love him, did not look at him as a lover. But he wanted it to work so badly. He had loved Quatre for so long, without so much as a hint of returned passion.

“Leave him to me.” Trowa was confident. He raised his hand slowly and gently touched Duo’s cheek with his fingertips. “Thank you.”

Duo’s mouth quirked, trying to hide his overwhelming gratitude at having some help to win Quatre’s affections. “I should be thanking you, ya know.”

Emerald eyes glanced down at Duo’s lips as he wet them. “May I?”

It hit home, then, with Duo, that they really were going to do this. That it would be he, Trowa, and Quatre. That he was about to let someone he despised only hours before kiss him. But a lot had happened since then.

He’d learned a lot, about Trowa, about himself. He wanted this, he wanted to feel Trowa’s strength and Quatre’s warmth. And he wanted to be their laughter. “Yes.”

Duo felt Trowa’s breath flow out across his skin right before their lips met. It was completely chaste, but Duo could feel his heart in his throat, racing against the sensation of his body tightening. It was only a first step, but it was pretty amazing in and of itself.

Trowa pulled back, a soft smile playing across his lips as his fingertips trailed down Duo’s cheek and dropped away. “So it begins.”

Duo smiled in return. “I should get back to work.”

Trowa nodded and walked back to his seat behind the desk. Now he just had to figure out the right angle to play against Quatre.

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Not Beta'd, so be somewhat nice. I'll edit it when I post the next installment.

This story kept ambushing me as I tried to write other fics. Grrr, but Merc will be updated this weekend. Promise.

This is my first attempt at a threesome...kinda excited, kinda scared. Feedback is appreciated so drop me a line if you've got the time or push the vote button thingy. Review responses are posted in my authors page, as always.

Snugs!
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