Chance and Circumstance
    Quatre laughed happily as he stumbled from the plane into Trowa's arms, hugging him before moving aside and yawning loudly. “I can't believe how long I just slept!” he informed Duo and Trowa as they also hugged, exchanging a long look. “I like…crashed…what, five minutes after we took off?” he appealed to Duo for this.
    “More like twenty,” Duo corrected, moving to wrap his arms around the blonde's waist as he stood behind him.
    Quatre sighed happily, leaning back against Duo and closing his eyes. “I could sleep again…if you wanted to go…” Quatre left that hanging.
    Duo smirked.
    “I think not,” Trowa said darkly, glaring at them. “You can sleep when you get home, right? And you can fuck when you've been here for more than five minutes.”
    Quatre's eyes snapped open and he blushed as he looked at Trowa.
    Duo laughed as well, studying Trowa. “I think that was an open invitation for you as well.”
    “Duo!” Quatre was completely disbelieving and aghast as he pulled away from his lover to stare at him in utter amazement, glancing to Trowa to see how he responded and blushing even more when the guy didn't seem the slightest bit perturbed.
    Duo started laughing. “I'm just kiddin', love, let's go…” he gestured for both of them to follow him, wrapping an arm around Quatre's shoulders as the smaller teen joined him.
    “Coulda fooled me,” Trowa muttered, not sure if he liked that he was pleased.
    Duo winked at him.

- -

    “So…what did you want to talk about?” Trowa asked Duo quietly as they moved silently into his dressing room. Quatre was showing Relena and Hilde what he'd got them in Venice, so Trowa figured this would be the best of times to talk to Duo. He leaned against the wall just inside the room, ducking his head slightly as he looked up at Duo.
    Duo shut the door and moved to stand in front of him, bracing himself against one hand beside Trowa's head. “I think you know,” Duo muttered, moving like he'd nuzzle Trowa's ear.
    Trowa caught his breath, then smacked Duo in the stomach when he realized he wasn't actually intending to do it. “Oh really?” he snapped.
    “Really,” Duo agreed, moving like he'd kiss Trowa.
    Again, Trowa paused before smacking Duo again. “Would you quit it?” he demanded.
    “But it's…” Duo brushed his lips lightly, “so very…amusing.”
    Trowa's irritation got the better of him and he shoved Duo hard so he stumbled backwards and tripped over the coffee table, laughing his ass off and cracking his head against an armchair.
    “Ouch,” he muttered, still laughing and not making any attempt to rise to his feet.
    Trowa hesitated a moment before letting his guilt take over and moving quickly to Duo's side. “I'm sorry!” he muttered. “I didn't realize you wouldn't catch yourself.”
    “We're only in cramped corridors with no where for me to get my footing,” Duo agreed, rubbing his head where he'd hit the chair, studying Trowa with a slight pout.
    Trowa chuckled slightly, tilting Duo's head to study where he'd hit with his eyes and fingers. “You're fine,” he muttered, sitting back with a slight sigh of relief before remembering why he'd knocked his friend over to begin with and hitting him in the stomach again.
    Duo grunted in pain, laughing weakly. “Shit…” he muttered. “I'd forgotten how violent you are.”
    “And you only know the half of it,” Trowa smacked him upside the head as he rose to his feet.
    “Don't make me hurt you,” Duo threatened, looking around to see what was where.
    Trowa laughed evilly, stopping in the door to the room to study Duo. “Is that a threat, or a promise?”
    Duo blinked at him.
    “Because either way,” Trowa added, grinning, “I like the sound of it.” He disappeared.
    Duo stared.
    “Let's go, Duo,” Trowa shouted. “We have to get the girls and your lover. Heero and Wufei will show up within the next fifteen minutes!”
    Duo scrambled to his feet, wincing as his head and leg protested at the movements.
    Sometimes he really did not get his ex.

- -

    Heero watched Duo moving around the room in amusement. Duo had a slight limp, and Trowa had let them all know that Duo had annoyed him, so he'd knocked him over. Duo had not contested this story, so Heero allowed himself to revel in Duo's apparent defeat.
    Wufei, on the other hand, was snuggled up with Relena on a couch. Neither of the pair seemed to think anything else existed as they talked to each other quietly, smiling often.
    Hilde was running her mouth to Heero, who was making occasional listening noises and nodding when she paused in any given line. He knew the basic gist over her conversation, so he felt pretty sure he'd be able to get away with it if he were questioned–of course, he also knew he could take the “guy” out, as Duo often called it. He could just point out to her that her shopping trip hadn't exactly riveted his attention, so maybe she should have made her point another way.
    “So anyway, the guy flipped me off and muttered something about a 'puta' before storming away,” Hilde continued. “I was going to kick his ass, but Relena told me I shouldn't…I don't even really know what the word means. I've heard it used before, but…”
    Heero's attention had been attracted back to her and he shrugged. “Whore.”
    “Really?” Hilde demanded as if this were the most offensive thing she'd ever heard. “I knew I shoulda kicked his ass! Relena, why didn't you let me kick his ass? He called me a whore!”
    Relena gave her a look. “That's not the way to handle such things.”
    Hilde snorted. “What? You want me to get a champion?” she demanded, flicking Heero's hair with her fingers. “I'd rather do it myself.”
    “Well, Heero or I could really do a number on some guy,” Wufei muttered, grinning at Heero. “So…”
    “That's true…” Hilde muttered. “But still…”
    Wufei shrugged and focused on Relena again.
    “So anyway,” Hilde focused on Heero. “She dragged me into some sissy lingerie shop…”
    “Really?” Wufei wasn't the only one whose attention was now on Hilde.
    Hilde grinned at him, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “Yes, really,” she focused on Heero. “But it was all modest stuff, you know?” she muttered, raising one hand to indicate a high neckline. “Lace, frills, and lots of cloth.”
    “I'm not going to buy a teddy, Hilde,” Relena said as if offended.
    Wufei gave Heero a slight grin, but both knew better than commenting.
    “Why not?” Duo asked curiously, evidently not knowing better. “You'd look good in one…slightly modest, you know? Just enough skin to fuel the imagination with just enough dignity to match your elegance.”
    Relena blushed at that, flattered and embarrassed.
    “He's got a point,” Wufei muttered.
    “I know you're not talking about my sister in a teddy,” Zechs snapped in slight amusement, appearing with Quatre and drinks.
    “No, we're talking about Hilde in one,” Heero lied easily as both Duo and Wufei froze.
    “Dignity and elegance?” Zechs demanded. “Please.”
    “Fuck you!” Hilde snapped at him, rising to her feet to stare at him in hurt and amazed disbelief.
    Zechs froze as well.
    “He didn't mean it like that,” Heero muttered, not sure why he was sticking up for the guy. He kinda felt bad for him, knowing that this kind of stupid comment was one he would make when not thinking about it. “For you it's more…sexuality and sass.”
    Hilde faltered, glancing at Heero.
    “I can see you in black and red,” Duo added.
    “But you won't be seeing her in black and red, will you?” Quatre muttered, setting the sodas he was holding on a table. “You don't actually want to, do you?”
    Duo considered this a moment, winking at Hilde. “Yes and no.”
    Quatre laughed, focusing on her and looking her over. “I think I know what you mean.”
    “Quatre!” Hilde gasped in amazement.
    Heero laughed, reaching forward and pulling Hilde toward him by her wrist. “So what did you do? You went to a modest lingerie shop…” he prompted.
    Hilde glanced back at the couple before looking to Zechs and Relena before sitting and facing Heero again, thinking a moment. “Well…she tried to buy this really cute pair of underwear, but they were…too girly, you know? Like, something a freshman would wear at the beginning of the year. So I dragged her with me to a real lingerie shop.”
    “Bira's,” Relena said, blushing some more and meeting Wufei's eyes.
    Hilde's laughter was slightly evil. “We had fun in there,” she agreed, looking back to Heero. “That guy kept showing up though, and he'd glare at me…”
    “What guy?” Zechs asked, moving to stand next to Heero.
    “The one who flipped me off,” she explained.
    Zechs snorted. “I kicked that pansy's ass,” he informed Heero. “I couldn't believe he'd gotten so pissed over a fricken ring.”
    “You did what?” Relena demanded, focusing on her brother.
    Hilde also had a considerate and startled look on her face.
    “He was being a bastard to both of you,” Zechs defended himself. “I couldn't just let him walk off when he was being a prick to not only my sister, but my girlfriend…”
    Relena sat back slightly, studying Zechs. “And what of Noin?”
    Zechs blanched.
    “You know what, Zechs,” Heero muttered helpfully, “I think you should just go lay down…go find a quiet place to seclude yourself until you get your foot out of your mouth.”
    Zechs flashed him a grin before looking back to Relena. “What about her?”
    “You never used to call Hilde your girlfriend. You always used to call Noin your girlfriend,” Relena explained. “So I want to know if you're finally going to leave her.”
    Zechs blinked, then looked back to Heero. “I'm going to take you up on that offer, you got my back?”
    “As long as you have mine when I need it.”
    “It's a deal,” Zechs shook Heero's hand before starting for the door.
    “Zechs!” Relena protested, nearly jumping from her seat.
    “Relena,” Heero muttered, gaining her attention instantly, “did Wufei give you his present yet?”
    “Oh, shit!” Wufei muttered, sitting up slightly to dig into his pocket as Relena focused on him in disbelief.
    “You're a god, Heero,” Zechs muttered, grabbing a soda and stating for the door.
    Heero laughed. “I know.”

- -

    Duo sighed as he sat heavily beside the tent, rolling onto his side to stare up at the sky full of stars.
    That was one thing he truly loved about the isolated spots of earth. There were stars galore. It might be a long drive to get out to the circus to begin with, but it was worth staying the night just to see the sky.
    “Duo?”
    Duo focused on Trowa, who was wiping the small black teardrop off his cheek.
    “Oh, hey, Tro…there's something I've been meaning to tell you,” Duo muttered, grinning slightly.
    “What's that?” Trowa asked, sitting next to him.
    “Spandex?” he muttered, indicating Trowa's costume. “They aren't your thing…Heero only just managed to pull them off, and…well, you just don't got it.”
    Trowa laughed, smacking him in the arm…and pulling them down.
    Duo watched him in shock as he kicked them off–he'd wiped the paint off his face with a pair of boxers.
    “Quatre would get upset with you,” Trowa muttered in sing-song, pulling the boxers up and meeting Duo's eyes.
    “That was not my fault,” Duo returned.
    Trowa laughed, sitting next to Duo and kicking at the suit. “I only have to wear that when we do that bit about the chick dropping out of her window.”
    “That was you?” Duo was startled.
    Trowa snorted. “There's no way in hell they'd trust anyone else to catch her. She was dropped before.”
    Duo shook his head in disbelief.
    “You said we should talk when we got here,” Trowa added, meeting his eyes. “You've been dodging me all week. We've got three more days here before we move on, and I don't think there will be anywhere else we'll be able to get time by ourselves.”
    Duo nodded slowly, looking to his lap. “I don't know if we should talk about it,” he muttered.
    “I think we should,” Trowa replied, laying a hand on Duo's thigh, “because it will bother me if you just drop it.”
    Duo met his eyes, staring into them a long moment.
    Trowa swallowed, leaning forward slowly–slowly enough that Duo would not misunderstand his intent…and kissed him.
    Duo kissed him slowly, pulling away slightly. “We really…should talk about this…in a room.”
    “Let's go,” Trowa whispered, rolling off him and pulling him to his feet, gathering up his suit. “My room will be free and no one will miss us for an hour or so.”
    Duo paused a moment–until Trowa kissed him again. “Duo?”
    Duo caught his breath, studying Trowa's eyes a moment before smiling and kissing him back. “Lead on.”
    I'm going to burn in hell. That's where sinners go…I just hope they don't make me too crispy.

- -

    Duo studied Quatre a long moment, looking away when Quatre glanced at him. Quatre smiled more, turning back to talk to Heero again. Wufei followed Duo's gaze to Trowa, who was sitting happily and quietly in the corner, playing a game of solitaire. He'd showered and kept brushing his wet hair back behind his ear–or trying to. It wasn't quite long enough to do so. He seemed very content…smug.
    Wufei looked back to Duo, noticing another hickey on Duo's neck and looking slowly back to Trowa as he realized something.
    Trowa had hickies on both sides of his throat as well.
    “Duo?” Wufei said, sitting forward slightly.
    Everyone looked at him.
    “Yeah?” Duo asked, blinking.
    “Where'd you…that, huh…” he indicated the hickey that hadn't been there earlier in the evening.
    Duo touched it, staring at Wufei in disbelief as Trowa sat up straighter.
    Quatre spluttered slightly, almost giggling. “Where do you think?” he demanded.
    Wufei focused on Quatre. “He didn't have that earlier.”
    “It's good to know that you notice the small details,” Heero informed him, smirking slightly.
    “Fuck you,” Wufei informed him calmly, looking up to meet Duo's eyes.
    Duo narrowed his almost dangerously. “Where do you think I got it, Wufei?”
    “I'm not sure, but I could have sworn you and Quatre hadn't disappeared.”
    Duo looked slowly to Trowa and met Wufei's eyes again. “Who else would have given it to me?”
    Wufei glanced at Trowa, who'd dropped his chin slightly. “I haven't the foggiest,” Wufei replied insincerely.
    “We did ditch out of the show for a few minutes when Trowa was off-stage,” Quatre informed Wufei with a slight grin. “We didn't really want you to notice.”
    “I see,” Wufei conceded, looking from Quatre back up to Duo. “Forgive my error.”

- -

    Wufei looked the club over quietly as he moved across the room. He was meeting Duo in Fade, an alcohol free dance club. The music was pounding and the floor of the club seemed to be moving. It was more than the strobe lights flashing in unison with the throbbing noise, it was the people. The club was packed. Wall to wall people, in fact, Wufei wouldn't have gotten in if it hadn't been for the fact that his name was on the guest list.
    Duo had been very suggestive with Wufei after the discussion of the hickey. He'd also been slightly neurotic. He'd eventually finagled it so he got sent ahead a few days earlier than the rest to make sure their reservations were still seen to.
    Wufei had his own thoughts on the why of it all. He'd watched Trowa change from tense to laid-back in the matter of an hour. Wufei knew Duo too well to think that his spending time with Duo would make Tro fell better.
    “Chang!”
    Wufei turned sharply at Duo's voice, but didn't see his friend.
    “Chang!” this time it came from the opposite direction.
    Wufei focused more closely than he had, searching the people around him.
    “Wufei,” this time it was whispered in his ear.
    “Shit!” Wufei sputtered, turning again to face Duo, who was right in his face. “Jesus, Duo…”
    Duo laughed evilly, ducking in.
    Wufei froze, staring at Duo's mouth–he just knew Duo was about to kiss…
    “How was your trip?” Duo asked in his ear instead, grinning still more.
    “It was…I…what?”
    Duo started laughing, keeping the distance between them the same. “How was your trip?” his lips brushed Wufei's lightly. “Are you…tired?” he studied Wufei's eyes carefully. He hadn't intended to imply anything when he first saw his friend, but Wufei had responded as such, and watching him fumble through the sexual haze and confusion was more amusing than it probably should have been. There was no way in hell Quatre would accept the game, but Duo just couldn't make himself care.
    Wufei mumbled incoherently, staring into Duo's eyes. He was disturbed, because he wanted Duo to kiss him, he wanted to feel Duo's hands…
    “Wufei?” Duo still hadn't moved back, but he knew he really needed to stop, because Wufei was likely to kick his ass when he realized what was going on.
    Wufei took a deep, shaky breath, resting his weight against Duo and looking down. “Yeah?”
    Duo couldn't resist running a hand down Wufei's side as he studied his eyes. “Are you tired?” Duo bit his tongue sharply, that wasn't what he'd intended to say.
    “A little,” Wufei muttered, still not meeting his eyes. “I haven't gotten a room yet…”
    Duo's heart started beating double-speed at the nearly blatant offer of sex. He didn't know what Wufei was thinking, he didn't know if Wufei even realized what was going on–or what those simple words implied.
    Not to mention the ramifications on his and Quatre's relationship.
    “You can share mine,” he breathed, feeling his throat constrict. “The bed isn't very big,” he added, knowing that Wufei should have some idea of what might go on–that he needed to bring Wufei's awareness up to speed with his actions.
    Wufei swallowed. “That shouldn't be…a problem,” he muttered, his breathing starting again.
    “All right,” Duo muttered, still not sure what he was going to do about this. “Let's go.”
    Wufei didn't move, meeting Duo's eyes again. He was in a haze, still confused…he did, however, know that he wanted to feel Duo's lips on him. He didn't know what to say or do, he just stared into Duo's eyes.
    Duo froze for a moment, but Wufei's fingers had dug into his arms. He kissed Wufei softly–as Wufei pressed his body against Duo's.
    Wufei, who'd had sex only a handful of times, was diving further into the confusing haze of lust. His kisses were uncertain for only moments before becoming hungry, starving. Duo, who very well knew exactly what was going on really wanted to stop, but there was something about Wufei that…
    “Get a room,” someone muttered behind them in irritation.
    Duo turned and gave the guy a very level look as Wufei blinked, startled. The guy receded, then disappeared.
    “Come on,” Duo whispered, grabbing Wufei's hand and pulling him toward the exit.
    Wufei followed willfully, pausing to pull off his wife-beater as Duo hailed a taxi. He was hot, he wasn't sure why he was so hot…he tucked one end into his pants-pocket as Duo slid into the cab, following him and sitting as close to him as he could manage in the car.
    “Where to?” the driver asked, not even giving them a second glance.
    “Paradise motel,” Duo replied, sighing and sitting back in his seat, dropping his head back to stare at the ceiling.
    Wufei watched his face a long moment before running a hand down his abdomen. He hadn't realized that Duo was also wearing a wife-beater, and the fit was tight. His hard-packed abs were firm under Wufei's fingers.
    Duo blinked at him, looking startled.
    Wufei smiled, throwing a leg over his companion and moving to straddle him, leaning in to kiss his throat softly. He had no idea what he was doing, not really. He just wanted Duo, and until Duo told him he was doing something wrong, he would…just…let it all go.
    Duo let out a shaky breath, tilting his head to one side as he ran his hands down Wufei's arms and onto his sides. He let his friend continue the treatment for a moment before catching Wufei's lips, moving along his jaw line and down onto his throat.
    The driver sighed, tilting his mirror slightly…and hit the gas.

- -

    Wufei sighed in contentment, reveling in the warm arms around him. He could tell it was probably four in the morning.
    He opened his eyes, staring into the darkness of the room.
    Where was he?
    Who the fuck was holding him?
    What the fuck was going on…
    He sat up, looking around the darkened room slowly, placing the smell.
    Duo.
    His mind cleared in an instant as he realized what he'd just…
    He turned to look at Duo, who was blinking drowsily at him. “Wha's wrong?”
    “Holy shit!” Wufei fell out of the bed before his feet could move, realizing he was completely naked–and further, that Duo was as well.
    Duo'd sat up slightly to watch him in confusion as the blankets followed Wufei to the floor, then dropped back onto the mattress, laughing weakly.
    “Duo…what the fuck…why…I…where…” he fumbled a moment longer as his memory revisited the pleasure from hours earlier. Wufei brushed his hair back slightly, blinking up at the bed as he resituated the blankets.
    “Two things,” Duo muttered, not looking at him. “I've seen you from head to foot…” he chuckled slightly, “very nice package, that…”
    Wufei felt himself blush.
    “And…like I just said. You have no reason to be embarrassed or hide yourself.”
    Wufei blushed even more, looking down and tightening the blanket around him still more.
    “Wufei,” Duo growled slightly–Wufei liked the sound of it.
    “Yeah?” he muttered, trying to regain the flash of irrational anger he'd felt minutes before; failing miserably while he was at it.
    “I'm cold.”
    “Sorry!” he muttered, blushing again and pulling the actual blanket off himself to toss up to the bed.
    Duo covered before rolling onto his side to meet Wufei's eyes. He could see the blush and confused disbelief on his friend's face–and it struck him again that he really shouldn't have done any of it. He shouldn't have given into Wufei's confusion.
    “Duo?” Wufei's voice was uncertain, he felt like he was pleading for some reason, and he didn't know why.
    Duo caught his breath, shocked at the tone of it. He'd expected Wufei to be pissed–possibly even to fight. But…no.
    Wufei shifted slowly so he was on his knees next to the bed, staring into Duo's face. “What happened?” he whispered, looking Duo over and picturing what he'd look like under the blanket. He shook his head sharply, clearing the image from his mind and trying to meet Duo's eyes again.
    “I don't know,” Duo admitted. “I was fucking with you in the club…and…”
    “You were going to kiss me,” Wufei nearly accused. “I could tell that much.”
    “But I wasn't…I mean…I was fucking…I mean…” he mouthed momentarily at his friend.
    Wufei leaned forward and let his forehead rest against Duo's chest, thinking over everything that had happened since he'd found Duo. He lifted his head to stare wide-eyed at Duo. “The cab…”
    Duo laughed weakly again, raising one hand to grab Wufei's right wrist, looking at the cut Wufei had gotten from the wires in the cab before meeting his eyes again. “You're very impossible, you realize that, don't you?”
    Wufei blushed again, thinking about what the driver must have thought. He settled on the floor, keeping one hand on Duo's thigh, blinking up at him again as he pulled his hand away. “What am I going to tell Relena?”
    Duo stared at him, dumbfounded. “Tell?” he whispered, raising his head slightly. “After everything I've done to Quatre…you want to tell this?” he sat up, shaking his head. “No way! He'd leave me for sure!”
    Wufei stared at him in utter amazement as these words sank into his mind. “Maybe he should!” Wufei snapped, feeling his ire rising again. “Maybe I should just go call right now! I could even cry!” he moved to jump away from the bedside as Duo snatched at the sheet he had wrapped around him, successfully inhibiting his motion so he nearly fell again. “Leave me alone!” Wufei snarled.
    Duo yanked hard so that Wufei stumbled back toward him, falling across him and the bed. He had the extreme urge to shout at his friend, but decided against that. Instead, he stared intently into Wufei's eyes, pinning him to the spot.
    Wufei found that he lacked the will to move.
    “We can't tell anyone,” Duo muttered. “All right? We won't tell?”
    Wufei blinked at him. “Why not?”
    Duo loosened his hold shaking his head and looking away. “It's just…”
    “You slept with Trowa,” Wufei added, looking away from Duo and moving to sit up. “I can tell…”
    Duo nodded, looking away. “I did,” he said quietly. “I just…I don't know,” he met Wufei's eyes again, shaking his head. “I don't want to hurt Quatre or Relena, you know? What happened tonight,” he swallowed thickly, staring into Wufei's eyes, “was…both of us.” He shook his head and looked away. “I've always been attracted to you, so I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later…but…I'm sorry, to you. My manipulation and games…”
    “I…” Wufei muttered quietly, looking away. “You can't take all the blame. I'm a big boy, I knew what I was doing.”
    Duo met his eyes again, studying them carefully. He didn't want to comment that Wufei hadn't actually known what was going on, not really.
    “I don't regret it, though,” Wufei muttered, meeting Duo's eyes uncertainly.
    Duo smiled. “My only regret is breaking Quatre's trust.”
    “But you'd fucked Trowa,” Wufei muttered, frowning at him.
    Duo looked away, shaking his head.
    “Was it the same with him?” Wufei asked quietly.
    “Yes,” Duo lied. “Sometimes I do things I shouldn't, and don't have the self control to stop myself.”
    At least that wasn't a lie.
    Wufei ran a hand over his neck and his eyes went wide–before Duo could ask what was the matter, the Chinese teen had ran across the small room and into the bathroom, flicking on the lights. “Son of a bitch, Duo! How am I going to explain this!?”
    Duo realized the problem, rubbing his nose slightly and looking toward the doors. “Just like Trowa did, I imagine.”
    “A chance one night stand?” Wufei demanded sarcastically, moving to stand in the door and stare at Duo.
    Duo grinned slightly at him. “That's what it is, isn't it?”