Riko (Quatre/Wufei):

Altron was malfunctioning. Usually, Wufei wouldn't trust anyone to be within a fifty-mile radius of his Gundam, but this was the fifth time in weeks, and he was getting desperate.

"You want me to fix Altron?" Winner asked, blinking.

"That's what I said, isn't it."

"Oh," Winner looked a little nervous. "Well, I'm honoured Wufei, but why...me?"

Wufei shrugged. "You built the Zero system. You have to be able to do something."

He still didn't look convinced, but he smiled and nodded shyly. "I can try."

Three bottles of oil, a broken wrench, and more swear words than Wufei had ever suspected Winner knew, later, the boy emerged from inside Altron, frowning and rubbing futilely at a black smudge on his cheek.

"You're just pushing her too hard. The belt in the engine's nearly worn through and the fan's chipped. It wasn't not hard to fix, but if you keep at it like this," Winner let it hang, shrugging in exhaustion.

"Thank you," Wufei said, stiffly. He'd never been comfortable giving thanks. "I am...in your debt."

Winner shook his head, blond hair falling into his eyes and in front of the smudge on his cheek. "No, no. No debt. I just need a shower and some coffee."

"I will make you your coffee," Wufei offered.

"Oh! You don't have..." Winner trailed off and sighed, smiling. "Ok. Yes. Thank you, Wufei. That would be nice. And...and maybe you could join me?"

Wufei smiled. "Maybe."

Lianda (Trowa/Heero):

Leaning against the cold, hard wall of the auditorium, Heero tilted his head back and half-opened his eyes. Tilting his head back slightly, he gazed covertly at the pale young women sitting on the stage, hands in her lap, eyes to the speaker. A shuffling of clothing came from his left, and a soft, monotone voice whispered close to Heero's ear.

"You don't even blink, do you." It wasn't a question.

"What do you mean..." said Heero slowly.

"When you watch her. You're always watching her."

Heero closed his eyes. "What's it to you?"

Trowa smiled slightly. "Nothing, really."

"Nothing?"

"Well...maybe something."

"What?"

"Is watching enough?"

"..."

Trowa slowly turned to look at the black-haired boy. "I watch you." He said softly.

Heero's eyes opened completely, and he turned his head to look at the taller boy. "So?"

Trowa leaned in, so close that Heero could feel the other boy's breath on his face. "Watching isn't enough for me.

Riko (Dorothy/Zechs):

He'd met her only once, at one of Trieze's "events". She'd been the youngest one there. Tall, blonde, wearing green and mingling among the old generals and famous politicians like she was their equal. No, their better.

"Good evening," her voice had throbbed at the throaty end of alto. "You must be Mr. Merquise."

"And you must be Miss Dorothy," he'd replied and then added, when she seemed faintly puzzled. "The eyebrows, very like your cousin's."

She'd laughed, low and soft, like a secret. Which, he thinks now, her laughter could very well be. A well-kept secret. "One of the few things we have in common, I promise."

"So what can I do for you Miss Dorothy?"

"Oh," she'd smiled, twirling her skirts around her long legs and playing a strand of hair around her fingers. "I was thinking we could dance, maybe chat for a while, and then slip out before dinner and fuck until morning. What do you think?"

He'd smiled, he fancies. "Alright."

And when morning finally came, she'd picked up her bra and her dress and left.

Lianda (Trieze/Noin):

They were in the middle of a crowded room with many coloured lights reflecting off their faces and uniforms. He reached out to her. "Come on..."

"No!"

"Please?"

"No!"

"But, Lucrezia...I love you!"

Noin shuddered. "Don't say my name, Treize. You make it sound really dirty."

Treize smiled, suave, sly. "Very, well, Noin. But really," he continued silkily, "What does Zechs have that I don't, hmm?"

Noin looked dreamy. "Blond locks and a husky, sexy voice."

"He hides his face in a mask!" Treize reached into his jacket and pulled out a single red rose. "I can offer you so much more!"

Noin sniffed. "If you ask me, you should follow his example."

Treize blink, nonplussed. "Pardon?"

"The mask thing. Ugly man...besides. Lady Une loves you...and look what happened to her! I'm not going anywhere with strange men, thank you very much!"

Riko (Hilde/Relena):

"I'm going to kill him!" Hilde raged, swing her arms wildly and nearly knocking a porcelain ballerina off of Relena's nightstand. "I'm going to take him by that stupid braid of his and then I'm going to bang his head against a desk and then I'm going to strangle him and THEN...oh, then...I'm going to start hurting him."

Morgue [it's the different part that's the problem]: Relena shuffled uncomfortably, clasping and unclasping her hands. "Calm down, Hilde. You're barely making sense."

"Ha!" Hilde rounded on her, hands on hips. "As I see it, I'm the one of the two of us that IS making sense. C'mon Relena, they made FOOLS of us."

"I'm...I am sure that was not the intention."

"Oh please. They could have told us they were gay. I mean, how hard would that be? 'Hilde, I like boys. In fact, I like that boy.' It wouldn't have been difficult."

Relena pursed her lips. "You...we still wouldn't have taken it well."

"Well, NO." Hilde flopped onto the bed beside Relena and sighed. "But it wouldn't have been as fucking embarrassing as that dramatic wind-up and then kissing in front of us. I mean, REALLY. I say we get back at them."

"By grabbing them by their braid and knocking them senseless?" Relena sighed and lay back as well, contemplating the ceiling. "I, unfortunately, do not have that option."

Hilde snorted. "Wouldn't be appropriate anyway. Make the punishment fit the crime, I always say."

Relena turned her face. Their noses brushed, lips hovering a hairbreadth apart. The distance hadn't mattered a moment ago, but now it seemed intolerable. "You mean..."

Hilde's lips quirked, soft and wet. "Mmmhmmm... Punishment," she moved a little closer, "fit," she raised herself onto and elbow, leaning down towards Relena, "the crime."

Lianda (Quatre/Dorothy):

Dorothy glared. "No," she whispered. "Go away. Leave me alone!" And with that, twirled around and ran straight for the door. Reaching it, she frantically turned the knob and rushed outside.

It was night. And it was snowing. A harsh snow, snow that brings a bitter wind that tore at Dorothy's face and blew at her platinum blond hair. She ran, blind, until someone caught her arm. "Dorothy!"

"No!"

She yelled, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "I promised I'd never cry! Why did you have to go and make me cry...what is it about you?"

Quatre sighed. And slid an arm around Dorothy's shoulders. "Because," he whispered. "I had to make you realize that war isn't the answer to peace...and that you have more to live for than fighting."

Dorothy choked on her tears. "W-well. It's over anyway."

"Yes. Over."

"What now?"

Quatre pulled her close, sheltering her body from the bitter winter wind. "Now we start again, yes?" His voice was soft, but somehow, she heard every word.

Riko (Duo/Noin):

"Duo!" Noin bellowed, leafing through the latest reports.

The boy sauntered in, grinning. He was dressed like he'd just got in, tight black clothing with a baseball cap pulled down over his eyes. It wasn't regulation wear, but she would deal with that after she got past the report.

"What's up, skip?" he asked, lazy American drawl in full force.

"I've been reading over your latest report. It doesn't make sense."

"Eh?" Duo leaned forward on the desk and peered at the offending pile of paper. "Well, it was a pretty confusing mission, y'know. Being Preventers isn't exactly easy, even for ex-pilots. Heero and me had to pull a lot of stuff out of our asses."

Noin shook her head. "I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about this." She stabbed the paper with her index finger. "Commas don't go there, and it's i before e except after *C*. And, for the love of god, I don't even think 'hotwiredified' is an adjective."

"Oh."

"You're going to rewrite this, Maxwell. And you are staying here all night to do it if you have to."

"But, Luuuu..." he whined, pouting.

"Don't Lu me. Fix it. And change your clothes."

Duo sighed, picking up the report, and scratched the back of head. "Fine. If you say so, skip. But, I'm only doing it 'cause I love you so, got it?" He grinned.

Noin frowned. "Get out of my office, Maxwell. Get out NOW."

Lianda (Howard/Heero):

Heero was adjusting one of the valves on Wing Zero when he felt a pair of eyes on his back. His eyes narrowed, and he turned around to face the old man in the Hawaiian shirt. "Yes?"

Howard grinned. "Hi hi! Just popping in. Seeing how you're doing and all."

Heero, stoic as ever, continued to glare. "Did you want something?"

Howard opened his eyes, frowned, and reached up to scratch his head.

"Well..."

"Spit it out, old man. I don't have all day."

"Well..." Howard blushed. "I wanted to asked you something."

"...what?"

Howard looked at Heero. And grinned maliciously. "How do you keep your gun in those tight spandex pants of yours?"

For the first time in his life, Heero sputtered. "What?!"

"You heard me," cackled Howard. "Haha!"

"You...you pervert!"

"Heehee! What a good joke!"

"What hole did Duo dig you up from?!?! AARRGH!"

Riko (Wufei/Noin):

Wufei popped his head through the door. "What did Maxwell do this time?"

Noin sighed, massaging her temples. "Wrote an incomprehensible report. I'm sure he did it just to irritate me."

"Hmph," Wufei folded his arms across his chest. "That sounds like Maxwell. He never realizes the amount of work he makes for others."

"He's not that bad," Noin smiled. "It's just been a long day, and I'm sore all over."

Wufei watched her for a half a moment before walking around behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders. And then he began to rub.

"Nnnnnghh," Noin purred. "That feels...ow!...good. But, don't you have work to be doing, Chang?"

"It can wait. I'm sure."

Lianda (Noin/Zechs):

The last time we checked in with them, Zechs and Noin were heading off into deep space. Alone. And Noin looked really happy about it. While Zechs looked...well...like Zechs always looked. Let's see how they're doing...

"...Zechs?"

"Yes, Noin?"

"It's been 4 months, 16 days, 20 hours, and 15 minutes since we left Earth."

"And?"

"...I'm REALLY bored."

Zechs put down that strange book he's always reading and looked up with his large, azure blue eyes. "We'll be there soon. And I'm sure the terra-forming project will keep you occupied."

"Yes, but Zechs," whined Noin. "We're not there yet...oh!"

"Oh?"

"I know!"

"Hmm?"

"Let's have null-gee sex!!!"

"...no, Noin."

Riko (Hilde/Quatre):

"Sorry 'bout the mess," the girl in the hat said as she unpacked groceries from the large brown sack.

Quatre swallowed and looked around his kitchen. It was...catastrophic, really. But he swallowed again, composed himself, and smiled. "It's alright, but...uh...who are you?"

"Hilde," the girl said, smiling. "I'm a friend of Duo's. He sent me to pick up some groceries for you boys." She squinted. "You're...let me guess...Quatre, right?"

"Yes, uh, it's nice to--"

"I got you your coffee. Caramel espresso?"

Quatre blinked. "What? No. Plain, dark."

Hilde frowned and dug around in her pocket. "Duo said caramel espresso. See?" She handed him the list, and, sure enough, the words 'caramel espresso' were scribbled in Duo's spidery handwriting. Hilde peered at him again. "I had a cup myself already. It's not too bad, a bit sweet but..."

"Yes, yes," Quatre said wearily, handing the grocery list back. "I'm sure it will be fine, and it's not even your--"

Hilde hands wrapped around his neck and pulled him close, mouth to mouth. Quickly, she dragged her tongue, slick and sweet, through his mouth before pulling away with a satisfied nod and going back to unpacking.

"What was--"

"Consider that," she said impishly, "a free sample."

Lianda (Duo/Trowa):

Trowa sat on the couch, reading, his eyes slowly scanning the words as his fingers caressed the pages of a thin book. The room was small, but clean; a couch rested against one wall, and a table with a coffee-maker was pushed against the other. Suddenly, the door opened and a yawning, braided boy walked in. Trowa tilted his head. "Duo..."

Duo stretched his arms out above him and opened one eye. "Any coffee?" He smiled.

Trowa nudged his head. "Over there." He said softly, his eyes going back to his book.

Duo got himself some coffee and sauntered up to where Trowa was sitting. He raised an eyebrow. "Reading?"

Trowa nodded.

"What?"

"Dante's Inferno."

"Well!" Duo chugged the rest of his coffee and jumped.

Ouf! "Aah...Duo..." Trowa's eye widened as he suddenly found Duo's head resting in his lap.

Duo grinned up at him. "Let's hear then. Now that I'm all comfy."

Trowa stared. Then shrugged. And began. "I am the way into the city of woe," he said quietly. "I am the way to a forsaken people...I am the way into eternal sorrow..." Trowa stopped. He'd felt movement on his lap.

After a few seconds of silence, the boy on his lap spoke. "Do you believe that? Of yourself?"

"Yes, once." Trowa smiled wryly. "No Name, remember?"

Duo looked up, brown eyes bright, and tilted his head slightly. "But not anymore, hmm?"

Trowa smiled helplessly. "No. Not."

Riko (Duo/Une):

"Mr. Maxwell," she said softly, coming up from behind. "You're here awfully late."

Duo smiled reclining in the little computer chair and looping his hands behind his head. "Yeah, well. Lu-Lu wasn't too impressed with my latest report. Asked me to do it again."

She leaned against his desk, smiling. "That's dedicated of you."

"Something like that," he laughed. "I'm almost done, though. Want to get a cup of coffee when I'm done, Lady?"

"I'm a little old for you. Don't you think, Mr. Maxwell?"

Duo shrugged. "You're only as old as you feel... so was that a yes or a no?"

"Finish your report, Mr. Maxwell. We'll see."

"Deal."

Lianda (Wufei/Trieze):

"This Treize, is my good-bye."

Wufei had said it with a smile, with relief. Treize had haunted him for the past year. The duel that never really ended, playing over and over in his mind, etched and burned into his brain.

"Are you all right, Wufei?" Sally had said. "Come work with me." Sally had said. And Wufei had agreed. With a smile. He was starting a new life now. A new life with new hope and new days and new adventures. His old life was passed. Treize was passed. And Wufei was content. He can finally stop fighting. He didn't need war.

Wufei's name means "flying". And now he was finally free to do it once more.

Riko (Quatre/Heero):

When faced with life or oblivion, Quatre had tried to choose oblivion. When faced with family or independence, Quatre had chosen independence and regretted it in the end. When faced with peace or war, Quatre chose peace every time.

When faced with death or coffee, Quatre thinks he might choose death.

"Heero, put down the gun."

Heero curls his lip in a snarl. The arm holding the gun doesn't even sway. "Get out of the kitchen, Winner."

Quatre takes a deep breath. "My coffee's in there, Heero. Put - down - the - gun."

"No. I'm working on a secret mission. I cannot be disturbed."

"Oh yes," Quatre snaps, nerves thoroughly frayed. "I can see that secret mission of yours. You're backing a cake, Yuy! It has pink icing for heck's sake. I want my coffee!"

"No. Go away."

Without a second though, Quatre lunges, grabbing the gun and trying to wrench it out of Heero's hands. Heero is, of course, stronger, but Quatre has the element of surprise so the match is pretty even. The struggle continues for a few minutes, until Heero catches his foot on the kitchen stool and falls, carrying Quatre with him.

Duo chooses that moment to enter. He looks at the scene, pink icing everywhere, Heero's hand encroaching on the ass range of Quatre's back, and Quatre's flushed face, and then he sighs.

"Secret mission, my ass! If you and Winner wanted to fuck in the kitchen, you only had to SAY so Yuy."

Heero's mouth follows open. Considering its proximity to Quatre's ear, this means a stream of hot breath weaves across it, tickling.

"Maxwell," Heero grumbles.

"What in the name of all that is HOLY?"

Quatre's still face first on top of Heero, so he can't see, but he thinks this new voice is Wufei.

"Ignore them, Chang," Maxwell says. He's moved from irritated to teasing now. "Winners just making sweet luuuuuurve to Soldier-boy."

"IN THE KITCHEN!?"

"Better the kitchen than anyone's bedroom, really? I wouldn't have thought you'd bottom, Yuy."

Heero begins to growl, but the noise is drowned out by Trowa's heavy footfall as he comes to join the crowd.

"What's going on?"

"Yuy and Winner are doing it..."

"I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU TOUCH MY SEASME OIL--"

"...and I think Chang's hanging around to pick up tips..."

"MAXWELL!"

Tired of lying around doing nothing, Quatre suddenly grabs the gun from Heero and rounds on the other pilots, shaking.

"I would LIKE to drink my coffee in peace, PLEASE! I would be MUCH obliged if you would ALL bugger OFF, NOW!"

The others freeze then slowly, convinced perhaps by the fluctuating intensity, begin to disperse. Duo lags behind.

"If you need any...help..."

Quatre clicks the safety off in a practised manoeuvre. "OUT."

Duo scampers. Behind him, Quatre hears Heero sit up straight and begin to pull himself together. He turns again and presses the muzzle of the gun against Heero's neck.

"No. You get to stay."

Between coffee and sex on the kitchen floor, the jury is still out.

-end-