Chapter Text
July 23rd, AC 201
The first rays of sunlight timidly filtered through the half-open curtains, drawing thin golden bands across the rumpled sheets.
The silence of the house was broken only by the distant chirping of a few birds and the deep breathing of the two sleeping men.
.
Duo slowly opened his eyes.
For a few seconds, he remained still, still caught somewhere between sleep and reality.
His gaze immediately fell on the chest he was curled against. He could clearly hear the steady beat of a heart against his cheek.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
His fingers slowly traced their way up the arm of a certain Japanese man.
He lifted himself a few inches and placed a first kiss on his collarbone…
Then a second…
Then a third, a little closer to his neck.
He continued like that, placing his lips a little higher, just beneath his jaw, then against the sensitive skin beside his mouth… without ever quite reaching it.
Heero stirred almost imperceptibly.
The corner of his mouth lifted before his eyes even opened.
-…Do you really think I’m still asleep? he murmured in a hoarse voice.
Duo let out a small laugh.
-I was hoping I could enjoy your body…
He leaned in again, placing a kiss just beside his lips, then another, still deliberately avoiding them.
Heero’s eyelids finally fluttered open.
His still-clouded gaze met Duo’s.
A spark of amusement flickered in the other man’s eyes.
The Japanese man raised a hand, slowly ran his fingers through the long brown braid and, without warning, pulled him against himself.
Their lips finally met.
The kiss remained simple, a little sleepy, but Heero didn’t let him go right away. He held him a little tighter.
Duo smiled despite himself.
Their foreheads touched.
-Good morning…
-Mornin’, ‘Ro…
Heero pressed a kiss to his forehead before wrapping his arms around him again.
Duo let out an amused sigh.
-You know…
-Hm?
-We should probably get up…
A low groan answered him.
-‘Ro…
He murmured almost against his lips.
-It’s already late.
Heero gave the slightest nod, but made no attempt to loosen his hold.
Duo rolled his eyes.
-If you keep holding me hostage…
-I’m not holding you hostage.
-Oh, really?
He continued.
-You’re not respecting *the* rule…
Heero finally raised an eyebrow.
-It can wait.
-You think so?
A mischievous smile spread across Duo’s lips.
-You know perfectly well that if we don’t come downstairs soon… the others are going to start complaining.
-They’ll survive.
-Maybe…
He moved closer until their lips barely brushed.
-Or maybe they’ll decide they deserve their morning cuddles too.
Heero stared at him for a second, then let out a resigned sigh and finally loosened his arms reluctantly.
-You’re insufferable.
Duo burst out laughing.
-I learned from the best.
Finally free, Duo sat up with a laugh.
He quickly pulled on a pair of boxers, grabbed an old T-shirt that was far too big for him and hung almost to his thighs, then ran a hand quickly through his braid.
He gave his lover’s lips one last quick kiss.
-I’ll give you fifteen minutes. Otherwise, I’m coming back up with a bucket of water…
-You wouldn’t dare.
-Try me…
A quiet laugh answered him.
Before Heero could catch the American, the latter slipped out of the bedroom.
He went downstairs and entered the kitchen, where the delicious smell of pastries greeted him.
-Hello, everybody!
Three smiling faces turned toward him.
-Good morning, Duo, Quatre replied with his usual smile.
Wufei raised an eyebrow.
-You finally decided to emerge.
-Jealous?
-Absolutely not.
Duo walked over to the blond and naturally placed a kiss on his lips.
-Mornin’, Q.
Quatre smiled at him.
Then Duo walked around the table and placed both hands on Wufei’s shoulders.
-You…
He studied his face with exaggerated seriousness.
-You’re making that wise old sage face again.
Before Wufei could answer, Duo planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
-That should make things a little better.
-You’re insufferable.
His tone was meant to be curt, but the smile that accompanied it told an entirely different story.
-Heero said the same thing less than five minutes ago.
Across the room, Trowa had just sat down, a cup of coffee in his hand.
Duo didn’t even slow down and immediately dropped himself onto his lap.
Trowa naturally slipped an arm around his waist.
-Good morning.
-Hey.
The Frenchman’s hand remained resting on his hip while the other lifted his cup to his lips.
Without even looking up from his plate, Quatre slid a large mug of steaming hot chocolate toward Duo, already prepared with exactly two sugars and a little cinnamon.
-Thanks.
Wufei stretched and let his arm rest along the back of Quatre’s chair, their shoulders naturally touching.
Trowa absentmindedly wound the end of Duo’s long braid around his fingers before letting it slip through his hands, brushing his back with his fingertips as he did so.
-Sleep well?
Duo nodded with a smile.
-Like a baby.
Wufei looked up from his cup.
-Considering the noise coming from your bedroom last night, I doubt it.
A crooked smile appeared on Duo’s lips.
-The door was open.
Quatre nearly choked on his tea and hurriedly brought his cup to his lips to hide the laugh escaping him.
Trowa gave Duo’s braid a gentle tug.
-Duo.
-What?
-Let him breathe.
Duo turned toward Wufei with a mischievous smile.
-I’m trying.
Quatre gently shook his head, an amused smile on his lips.
-Well… since some people have decided to liven up breakfast…
He set his cup down.
-What are you doing today?
Duo finally brought his hot chocolate to his lips.
-I was thinking of going to the market.
-We do need to get some more groceries, Quatre agreed. We’re almost out of fruit.
-And we’re out of chocolate, Duo added gravely.
-You’re drinking some right now.
-It’s the last one.
-You say that every morning.
-Because it’s always the last one before we buy more.
Quatre rolled his eyes with a laugh.
-I’m beginning to understand why the food budget keeps exploding.
-It’s entirely Duo’s fault, Wufei confirmed without hesitation.
-No.
-You buy everything you feel like having.
-I buy things that make people happy.
Trowa finally looked up from his cup.
-You bought six kinds of jam last month.
-They were on sale.
-Three of them are still unopened.
-That’s what you call planning for the future.
Quatre burst out laughing.
-Well… the market for the two of us, then?
Duo nodded enthusiastically.
-Yes.
-And you, Trowa?
-I need to finish repairing the fence behind the house.
-I’ll help you when I get back.
Trowa simply nodded.
They all turned toward Wufei next.
-The vegetable garden, he replied before anyone could even ask. I still need to transplant the strawberry plants.
Duo immediately looked up.
-The Mara des Bois?
Wufei nodded.
-Yes.
A smile instantly lit up Duo’s face.
-Great!
Wufei calmly took another sip of tea.
-Provided you wait until they’re ripe this time.
Duo put on a perfectly innocent expression.
-That only happened once.
Quatre raised an eyebrow.
-Twice.
-Three times, Trowa corrected.
Wufei set his cup down.
-Four.
Duo looked from one man to the next before letting out a dramatic sigh.
-It’s amazing how little you trust me.
.
.
A sound of dragging footsteps echoed down the staircase, cutting their exchange short.
They all instinctively looked up.
Heero finally appeared in the doorway, his hair still a mess, his eyes half-closed, a black T-shirt that had clearly been thrown on in a hurry and a pair of sweatpants.
He stopped for a second in the doorway, swept his gaze across the room, and paused briefly on Duo, who gave him a small, knowing smile.
Heero didn’t answer, but as he slowly crossed the kitchen, he passed behind him and, almost without thinking, let his hand slide over the back of Duo’s neck—a brief, almost absentminded gesture—before continuing on his way.
He sat down beside Quatre.
Without saying a word, he simply rested his head against his shoulder and closed his eyes.
Quatre gave a small, fond laugh.
-Good morning, Heero.
In response, Heero let out a vague grunt.
Wufei stood without a word, took a cup from the cupboard and poured some still-steaming coffee into it. He placed it in front of Heero before returning to his seat.
-Thanks…, the latter mumbled without even opening his eyes.
Duo burst out laughing.
-I think he’s still booting up.
Heero emitted another vague grunt without opening his eyes.
Duo nodded gravely.
-Confirmation.
Quatre smiled softly.
-Leave him alone.
He absentmindedly ran a hand through Heero’s still-mussed hair.
-He has a few years of sleep to catch up on.
Then, without lifting his head from Quatre’s shoulder, Heero lazily raised one hand and pointed at Duo.
-Not with him…
He discreetly yawned.
-…am I going to catch up on them.
A predatory grin immediately spread across Duo’s lips.
-Are you complaining?… Because I can remind you who…
The sentence died in a small “Ow!”…
Trowa had just given his braid a gentle tug… just enough to make him stop.
Duo turned his head toward him.
-Traitor.
-You were about to start again…
Quatre shook his head with a laugh.
Even Wufei’s lips curved slightly.
.
.
.
.
By the end of the day, the house had returned to its usual calm.
In the kitchen, Quatre had set about preparing dinner. Sheets of lasagna were lined up on the counter, a tomato sauce was simmering gently in a saucepan, and several bowls filled with carefully prepared ingredients were arranged nearby.
Duo had been put in charge of chopping the vegetables.
Well… officially.
Duo grabbed a carrot from the cutting board before Quatre could react.
-Duo.
-What? I’m checking the cooking.
Quatre looked at the carrot between his fingers.
-It’s raw.
Duo put on a perfectly serious expression.
-Exactly. I’m checking that it’s properly raw.
Quatre shook his head with a smile.
-You know you could simply wait until dinner is ready?
Duo leaned slightly toward him with a falsely serious expression.
-And miss the opportunity to annoy you? Never.
Quatre shook his head.
-You really are incorrigible.
-I know.
Duo paused, then added more softly:
-But you love me anyway.
Quatre’s expression softened.
-Yes.
The answer was so obvious…
Duo smiled and placed a quick kiss against his temple.
-Come on… chop the vegetables.
-Yes, chef.
A sigh came from behind them.
-Are you aware that dinner isn’t going to cook itself just because you keep talking?
Wufei stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
Duo looked up at him.
-Are you spying on us now?
-I’m simply checking that you’re capable of doing something without turning the kitchen into a battlefield like last time.
Duo looked falsely offended.
-That was one time.
Wufei gave them a skeptical look.
-One time that required two hours of cleaning.
Quatre looked away slightly, unable to hide his smile.
-It wasn’t entirely my fault.
Duo turned toward him, scandalized.
-Sorry? You’re the one who threw the first handful!
-Because you started it.
-I was just making a comment.
-You had your hand in the flour bag…
Wufei sighed.
-You’re both twenty years old.
Duo smiled.
-And?
Silence fell.
Wufei held his gaze for several seconds.
Duo didn’t blink.
Quatre eventually let out a laugh.
-I think you lost, Wufei.
-I didn’t lose.
-You didn’t even try to answer.
-Because I know it’s pointless with this *shǎzi*.
Duo placed a hand over his heart, pretending to be deeply moved.
-You’re finally learning to know me…
-I didn’t…
Wufei stopped himself.
*What’s the point?*
A small smile finally tugged at the corner of his lips despite himself. He walked over to the counter and picked up a knife.
Quatre naturally handed him the vegetables to chop.
Duo watched the scene with a smile.
For a few minutes, the only sounds filling the kitchen were the steady rhythm of knives against the cutting boards and the gentle bubbling of the saucepan.
.
Through the window, Quatre spotted Trowa and Heero in the garden, still busy repairing the fence.
Without taking his eyes off them, he asked:
-How much longer do you think they’ll be?
Wufei cast a brief glance outside.
-They have one last board to secure.
Quatre nodded absently.
His gaze remained fixed on the two men.
As usual, they worked almost without speaking. A glance, a slight nod, a hand extended at just the right moment was enough. One of them always seemed to know what the other needed before he even had to ask.
This way of working together was nothing new. It had been born on battlefields. Back then, that silence had left no room for hesitation or emotion. It had been nothing more than a survival tool.
Today, though…
Quatre smiled.
That same silence had changed its face. It had lost its harshness. It had become peaceful.
.
When Heero tapped the last board to check its sturdiness, Trowa simply gave a slight nod.
Then they quietly made their way back toward the house.
.
A few minutes later, the door leading to the garden opened and they stepped inside, their hands covered in dust and sawdust.
After a quick stop at the sink to wash their hands, they naturally joined the others in the kitchen.
Without a word, Trowa moved behind Quatre.
He gently slid his hands over his hips, his chest settling against Quatre’s back, before placing a kiss in the hollow of his neck.
Quatre’s smile was almost imperceptible as he tilted his head slightly, as if to give him more room.
Meanwhile, Heero walked around the counter.
As he passed, he grabbed a strip of bell pepper from one of the cutting boards. He calmly bit into it before taking a seat between Duo and Wufei.
Duo pointed at Heero with exaggerated outrage.
-Oh… and nobody says anything to him?
Quatre gave Heero an amused look.
-He’s tasting.
-Me too!
-You’ve been tasting for an hour.
Duo’s eyes widened.
-That’s favoritism.
The corner of Heero’s lips lifted.
Without a word, he held out the last piece of bell pepper he had between his fingers.
Duo looked at him for a second, then naturally leaned forward and took it directly between his lips.
Only then did Heero let go of the piece.
-Thanks.
-You’re welcome.
Duo calmly chewed the pepper before saying with a satisfied smile:
-Finally… favoritism works for me too.
Quatre rolled his eyes.
-You two are impossible.
Trowa smiled faintly against his neck.
-As usual…
.
.
The sun had slowly given way to the first hints of twilight.
Dinner was over, the dishes had been put away, and the last bursts of laughter had faded as the house gradually emptied out into the garden.
As often happened when the evenings were warm and gentle, they had lit the stone fire pit at the back of the property.
The wood crackled softly, casting orange reflections across the lawn.
.
Duo went upstairs for a few moments.
When he came back down, two sweatshirts, one black and one cream, rested over his forearm.
As he stepped out into the garden, he instinctively slowed.
They were already all settled in.
All four of them.
Trowa was sitting on the ground, his back resting against an old tree stump. Quatre was sitting between his legs, leaning back against his chest.
To their right, Wufei sat cross-legged, a cup of tea between his hands.
Heero, meanwhile, was lying in the grass, his arms crossed behind his head. One of his legs was absentmindedly touching Wufei’s, while his hand rested, without him even seeming aware of it, close to Quatre’s.
…
They were there.
His former comrades.
His former brothers-in-arms.
His family.
.
A few years ago…
He never would have imagined a scene like this.
Nothing had been decided.
Nothing had been planned.
There had been no promises.
No vows.
Only days that had turned into weeks.
Weeks that had turned into months.
Then years.
An outstretched hand.
A shared meal.
A walk.
A night when no one had wanted to sleep alone.
A smile.
A laugh.
A first kiss.
An embrace.
Little by little…
They had stopped being five soldiers.
They had become a home.
.
As if he had felt his gaze, Heero slowly turned his head.
A tender smile lit up his face.
He simply held out a hand toward him.
-Coming?
Duo smiled back.
He walked toward the fire, then, before even sitting down, placed the cream sweatshirt over Quatre’s lap.
-You’re going to tell me again that you’re not cold.
Quatre looked up at him, amused.
-I’m not cold.
-Of course you’re not.
Despite his protest, he pulled the sweatshirt on under Duo’s satisfied gaze.
Only then did Duo pull his own sweatshirt over his head and sit down between Heero and Wufei. His legs tangled with Quatre’s. He then leaned back until he felt Heero’s chest against his back. And without even thinking about it, he reached for Wufei’s hand.
The Chinese man simply intertwined his fingers with his before turning his gaze back toward the flames.
No one commented on any of those gestures. They had become as natural as the crackling of the fire or the breeze moving through the trees.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
They didn’t need to.
Silence gently settled around the fire.
Only the crackling flames disturbed the peacefulness of the evening.
Duo let his gaze drift over each of them.
Heero
Quatre
Trowa
Wufei
They were together, and it now seemed so obvious to him that he sometimes found it difficult to remember that things had ever been any different.
And yet…
There had been a beginning.
A first step toward this life none of them had ever imagined.
The memory surfaced gently.
The memory of that day when the war had finally ended.
The moment when each of them had been preparing to go their separate ways.
He saw their faces again.
The silence that had settled between them.
Then he saw himself, *him*…
Smiling to hide the strange knot tightening in his throat.
He had said then, almost without thinking…
“What if we didn’t go our separate ways just yet…”
.
.
.
To be continued
.
.