Hidden Part 7

Trowa leaned back against the hay bale and took a deep breath. Preventers were swarming all over the circus, checking the area, driving his coworkers and friends crazy. If the intrusion hadn't been for a good reason, Trowa suspected the Preventers would've been used as target practice by Cathy by now.

"How do you work with them?" she muttered as Doc examined his shoulder.

"I don't usually," he reminded her and flicked his gaze over towards Quatre. The other man was listening to the head of the Preventers' base on L3 with a look on his face that Trowa knew all too well. Apparently Cathy wasn't the only one who was annoyed. He considered stepping in to diffuse the situation but only for a moment. The Preventers deserved a little trouble.

"Not too bad," Doc said as he finished. "Need to let it heal a bit more- no performing for a day or two."

Trowa sighed, knowing it was useless to argue. Though-

"Maybe I should take off for a bit," he said to Cathy softly. "Let the Preventers lock me up somewhere until they know it's safe. It might keep them busy."

She rolled her eyes. "It might- but it would drive you insane. They'll calm down soon, I'm sure. They already checked your trailer- why don't you go rest before they realize Doc's finished with you?"

It was tempting. He cast another glance at Quatre and stifled a grin. The officer in front of Quatre looked ready to bolt. Trowa couldn't make out the words, but apparently Quatre's patience had finally snapped.

No one would even notice if he slipped out now...

He gave Cathy a quick squeeze and headed for his trailer. It was warmer now, the heat sinking into his chilled frame as he stepped inside.

Now that he was alone, the panic that he'd managed to suppress for the last hour or two rose up, nearly choking him.

Why was Quatre here? He knew- he had to know- how Trowa felt about him. Didn't he understand why Trowa left?

And there had been that strange comment of Quatre's- couldn't let Trowa escape? Escape what? Talking it out? Having Quatre explain to him why it wouldn't work between them?

Like he didn't already know that well enough.

Sighing, he tossed himself down on his bed and buried his head in his pillow. Well, there was one thing he could do- try to do- not that it would fool Quatre now... but still. It'd be hard enough to have the damn conversation as it was...

Flipping himself over, he closed his eyes and forced himself into an easy breathing pattern. He could do this. He needed to do this.

Caution. Distrust. Indifference. He started constructing his shield as he always had, but...

It was harder than it had ever been. Why couldn't he do this?

Focus, he told himself.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Trowa sat up, startled. "Quatre?" The other man stood in the doorway, glaring at him. "Did they find something?"

"No. It seems our friend was acting alone- just as he claimed to be. However, to be safe- and because your Doc says your shoulder isn't up for the performance- you're coming back with me." Before Trowa could think of an excuse, Quatre sat down beside him and leaned in close- still glaring. "And now that I answered your question, kindly answer mine. What the hell are you doing?"

Trowa opened his mouth, but Quatre didn't let him get farther than that. "I finally, finally discover that you actually do feel something for me, after years of thinking that you didn't, and so I chase you here, narrowly prevent someone from shooting you, only to find you doing your best to shut me out again!"

What? "I-"

"As if the last few days weren't awful enough! Bad enough you kept putting yourself in the firing line," Quatre continued, cutting him off again, "and worse still that you had to think you were dying before you even let me have a glimpse of what you've felt all this time! Do you have any idea what that was like? I thought I was losing you! You pass out for days and Sally kept saying you'd be fine, but then you didn't wake up- and when you do you take off again! I told Rashid to make sure you stayed put!"

"Quatre, you-"

"And don't even start that whole you're not as important as I am crap. You're important to me and not expendable and I am going to keep you safe from now on. Even if I have to tie you down somewhere- and I won't say it's not tempting because it damn well is!"

Trowa waited a moment.

"Well?" Quatre demanded. "Say something."

Trowa had to smile. "I wasn't sure you'd let me finish a sentence."

The glare vanished and Quatre's mouth curved. "You were planning on arguing with me, I could tell. I was shooting down all of the points I thought you might use."

"Now I see how you win all those negotiations. No one can make a counter argument with you around."

"And you'd better not be thinking of one."

"Suzanne?"

Quatre rolled his eyes. "My cousin. Try again."

"I'm a clown?"

"So? Once I resign from my business, I'll probably be cleaning up after the elephants." Trowa's jaw dropped in surprise. "Or whatever job I can find around here. Though I'm not volunteering to be Cathy's target."

Trowa found his voice again. "You can't-"

"I will. You're more important to me."

"You're needed in your job, Quatre. I don't want you to do that for me-"

"Well, I don't want you to give up everything for me. So we'll find a compromise."

Trowa took a deep breath. Was this really happening? Maybe he was dreaming? Maybe Quatre was just trying to get him someplace safe? But Quatre wouldn't...

Quatre leaned forward, resting his forehead against Trowa's. "Don't doubt me. I love you. I've loved you for a very long time."

"I didn't know- I never thought you would-"

"I do. So let's not waste anymore time, all right? No more hiding anything from me?"

"I promise."

Quatre's lips brushed his. "Good. So, let's get your stuff and get out of here before I am tempted to forget Une's orders to get us both someplace safe?"

Trowa laughed and slid off the bed, pulling Quatre with him. "Let's go."

OWARI

 

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