Thirty-Nine

Fucking Doors

      I’m not usually one to go throttling my friends, but I truly wanted to strangle Wufei. His lack of tact had brought Sam near tears, and the truth of his statement was the last straw for her. Her face was wet when she turned back to me.
      “You can’t do this, Quatre. It’s not fair. To the Winner family, to your guests...to me. You’ve no right to leave like this, without warning...” Sam was shaking as she berated me.
      I tried to put my arms around her, comfort her. I was murmuring that it would all be all right, but she would have none of it. Tears pushed aside, anger surfacing, she batted away my arms and jumped to her feet.
      “Don’t fucking patronize me, Quatre!” she shouted. “I know damned well that everything might not be all right. Is it all right if you come home in a box? Or if you’re blown into too many bits to bother even sending home?”
      “Sam...” I started, standing up.
      “Don’t. I don’t want to hear it.”
      She turned her back on me and took a step toward the door. I followed and finally put my arms around her.
      She turned to look me in the eye and shook her head. “How could you?” she whispered.
      With that she was gone, the door slamming behind her.
      I stared at it for a long moment, frozen by disbelief.
      “...Since you got layed last night, you don’t need to come back.” I heard Nikki’s accusation and turned to look at Wufei as she disappeared out the door.
      There was a slight pause.
      “Wufei, sometimes I can’t believe how incredibly fucking stupid you are.” Heero grated, standing.
      “It just proves my point...” Wufei was saying as I opened the door.
      “Proves your point?” Heero again.
      There was no one to be seen in the hallway. My heart pounded, remembering how she had been kidnapped, praying she had made it to her room safely. I didn’t dare to hope she had gone to mine. I ran down the hall and pounded a fist on her door.
      “What?” came the muffled reply.
      “It’s Quatre. Thank God you got here safely!” I yelled through the door.
      “No thanks to you, darling,” she retorted, opening the door, “Have you thought about that? Once you’re gone, I will be stuck in whatever room I’m in when you leave. Am I your new pet? The puppy that gets locked in the kitchen until its master comes home from work? How fucking condescending.”


      There was a heavy silence after the door shut behind Nikki. I turned to Wufei, noticing Quatre already had, “Wufei, sometimes I can’t believe how incredibly fucking stupid you are.” I stood up, pissed.
      Wufei accepted that, “It just proves my point.”
      “Proves your point? Wufei, last night we...” I shook my head, “Things happened that changed the entire situation...”
      “Not from my point of view.”
      I couldn’t believe this, “Wufei...” I looked around for support from Quatre and noticed he was gone. It occurred to me Nikki was alone, “We’re not finished.” I told him and turned to the door.
      Wufei was standing, “Well, what do you expect?” he demanded and I turned back to look at him, “You both looked like cats who got into cream...”
      I shook my head, “We did, Wufei. We got into cream. We shouldn’t have and we knew it, but we did it anyway. We are not finished.” I walked out the door slamming it behind me.


      He had a key. It was Heero, so there was no use barricading it...the bathroom then. I could lock him out of there.
      I shut the door behind me and flipped the lock.
      ‘Five, four, three, two...’ I counted backwards in my head, ‘one.’
      “Nikki?”
      I bit my lip and looked around the bathroom as he shut the door behind himself.
      “Nikki, unlock the door.” he commanded.
      “What the hell...” I started, “Am I supposed to salute and tell you ‘Yes, Sir’ ?”
      “Damn it, Nikki!” there was the sound of the door being slammed by a fist, “Open this fucking door!” he hit it again, twice as hard, and it flinched on its hinges.
      He had never seemed so angry, it was worse than what I could sense of him when he’d been fighting Trowa...worse than when he and Wufei were about to fight...worse than when he’d went after Kyle...my heart wouldn’t stop racing...
      I couldn’t say anything.
      He punched the door again and things rattled on their shelves, I could hear him pace away.
      I closed my eyes, not sure what he was doing.
      The sound of gunshots hitting metal met my ears and the bathroom door flew open, slamming against the wall behind it.
      I stared a him, wide eyed. He was like a wolf again and the gun in his hand was no reassurance.
      But it was Heero.
      “Nikki...” there was no longer anger in his voice, though his body vibrated with it...and hurt...I’d flinched as the door banged open...not like anyone could blame me...
      I picked up the soap tray from the counter and threw it at him, “How can you do this!” I demanded.
      “Do what?” he knocked the tray away with the muzzle and put the gun back at his side, he seemed to forget he’d just shot the door open and that he was going to leave to go fight...and he hadn’t told me.
      I felt tears coming again and fought against them, “Just leave like this? Do I mean nothing to you? What am I going to do if I lose you? Do you know how hard that was...you weren’t there...I was being held in a cell and you weren’t there...I don’t think I’ll make it if I lose you...”
      He didn’t say anything.
      “Do I mean nothing to you?”
      How could he just stay silent...
      “You mean the world to me.” his voice was calm, “Everything to do with you, from that smile to last night...everything about you means something to me...”
      “Bull-shit! If I meant anything then you wouldn’t leave me!”
      “I’m not leaving you.”
      “Heero, why didn’t you tell me last night?”
      He blinked, “Last night? Nikki, what were we doing last night?”
      “No, before that...”
      He smiled slightly, “I was trying to.” he walked further into the bathroom, watching for my reaction.
      Suddenly Trowa appeared behind him, his drawn gun aimed at Heero, “What the hell is going on?” he demanded.


      Heero was shaking his head, “We did, Wufei. We got into cream. We shouldn’t have and we knew it, but we did it anyway. We are not finished.” he walked out.
      I exchanged a glance with Kat.
      Evidently, they had neglected to tell them...I had been smart and told Kitty, though...I knew better than not saying anything...we’d had our argument about it.
      “Things seem to have gone a bit awry..” she noted.
      Wufei was staring at the door.
      Kris shifted, taking a breath.
      “He’s the one who told us not to get involved!” he said defensively, turning to her and gesturing wildly.
      She blinked in surprise.
      “He told you not to get involved with Nikki.” Duo replied.
      Wufei turned to him.
      “He told us to be careful what we did. Nikki’s his, Wufei. She’s been his since he first saw her.”
      Before Wufei could reply gunshots rang out.
      “That was from Heero’s room...” Kris was saying.
      That was obvious. I was opening the door before I realized I’d moved, my gun unnoticed in my hand.
      Nikki had been upset, Heero had been pissed...
      I opened the door to their room, my heart racing like mad, Heero was stepping further into the bathroom.
      I came up behind him, at first not seeing Nikki, aiming unthinkingly at Heero’s head, “What the hell is going on?”
      Duo and Wufei, followed by Kris and Kat, came into the room I ignored them, meeting Heero’s eyes in the mirror.
      “Trowa, no!” Nikki’s voice had a quality I hadn’t heard before.
      “What were those gunshots?” I knew Heero wouldn’t say anything in his own defense unless...
      “She wouldn’t unlock the door.”
      Unless he was unsure of her.
      “There’s the way to respect her privacy...” Wufei told him sarcastically.
      He turned on his comrade, “Watch me care.”
      Wufei’s eyes opened wide.
      “Wait, wait, wait,” Kris cut in, “You can not be serious!” she pushed past Duo and Wufei who both reacted with shock a moment, then Duo reached for her. She brushed him off and advanced on Heero.
      “Kris, stay out of this.” he told her coldly, the danger in him retreating.
      “Heero, you ruined Quatre’s door because she wouldn’t unlock it? And now you’re acting like...”
      “Stay out of this, Kris.” Heero repeated, some danger returning. It was controlled and it took a second for me to realize he was trying to intimidate her.
      She stared at him a moment, “Stay out of this?” she snorted, “That’s rich! You’re the one who drug me here, Heero! I would have been content to go home and go to bed that day, but instead, you pull me here, screw my friend, and now...”
      “Kris...” Duo’s voice broke her tirade.
      She turned to look at him, then glanced at my gun.
      With slight surprise, I realized it was still aimed at Heero. Un-cocking it, I met his eyes. I did trust him, but he’d shot the door open...didn’t I trust him?
      “Can you go check on Sam? I’m going to go talk to Quatre, about...this...” Duo was studying the door.
      Kris watched him a moment and slowly nodded. She looked at Heero a moment, then past him to Nikki, who nodded slightly, “Fine.”
      With that, she turned and left.
      Duo looked at Heero a moment, then followed.


      “How fucking condescending.”
      I knelt down in front of her, beseeching forgiveness with my eyes. Her lower lip trembled, and she started crying again.
      “Sam...” I whispered, reaching for her.
      “Shh...” she put one finger over my lips and stepped into my embrace.
      Standing, I picked her up and carried her into her room. When I had set her down, I closed and locked her door. Then I led her through the interior door to my room.
      “A puppy?” I asked. “You aren’t nearly tame enough.” Examining the hand I held, I added, “More like a kitten, with those claws...”
      Finally smiling, she leaned close and purred in my ear.
      That was a neat trick for someone only five and a half feet tall, compared to my six-two. She bit my neck playfully and then sighed, “How long?” she asked.
      “Hmm?” I asked, bemused by the scent of her hair.
      “How long will you be gone, Love?”
      “I’m not sure. We should be back sometime tomorrow.” I said, burying my face in her hair, “An hour’s too long...”
      We wrapped our arms around each other, clinging as though the universe would leave us alone, if only we held each other close enough.
      “I’ll miss you so much...” she said quietly, her voice trembling.
      “I’ll miss you too.” I whispered roughly as I leaned down to kiss her.
      Her kiss was hungry, but so was mine, and I kissed her hard. She started unbuttoning my shirt as I crushed her body against mine. I let go as she pulled her T-shirt off over her head. She started unbuttoning my pants when there was a knock at the door.
      “Who is it?” I yelled, breathless. Sam grinned wickedly at me as she finished undoing my pants and knelt down, “Stop that. There’s someone at the door...” I whispered.
      “It’s Duo.” he yelled through the door.
      “You don’t want me to stop.” she whispered, and kissed my stomach.
      “No, I don’t, but...Duo, go away! You can come back later.” I called.
      “Quatre, open the doors.” he yelled, pounding on the door.
      Grumbling expletives under my breath, I buttoned my pants. “Fine...” I opened the door, and punched Duo in the jaw.
      It sent him reeling, “Hey!” he yelled indignantly, catching his balance.
      Silence.
      “Sheesh...” he said, rubbing his jaw.
      “I’m sorry.” I mumbled, “I just...”
      “You were getting into the cream again,” he finished for me, looking past me to where Sam stared at us wide eyed, wearing jeans and a bra. “I understand.”
      I beckoned Sam over to us and put an arm around her shoulders. We stood there together and I looked defiantly at Duo.
      “We’re together now.” I said flatly. “Do you have a problem with that?”


      Trowa un-cocked the gun and lowered it, not looking away. So he didn’t really trust me...that was just grand...not surprising.
      “Can you go check on Sam? I’m going to go talk to Quatre, about...this...” Duo was studying the door, fiddling with the now limp handle.
      Kris met my eyes and looked past me to Nikki.
      “Fine.” she left.
      Duo looked at me, his eyes unreadable, then followed.
      I turned to look back at Nikki. She met my eyes, there was vague anger, but I knew she’d wait for us to be alone before saying anything.
      Trowa tucked his gun into his jeans, “If everything’s all right,” he said to Nikki, ignoring me, “I’ll go back to my own room.” he waited.
      I turned to him, glaring, not sure what to expect.
      “Everything’s fine, thank you, Trowa.” she replied quietly.
      Well, he trusted her. For some reason I knew that if he even heard my voice rise he’d be right back in here with the gun in his hand. He didn’t seem to realize that though, and I wondered what was going to happen. What his exact feelings for Nikki were and his exact feelings for Katie. He loved Katie already, not hard to do, I knew, but he loved her like I loved Nikki, and Duo loved Kris...and Quatre loved Sam. Maybe it was just lust. Nikki had done him a favor and he was the type to read things into that.
      Trowa turned to go, meeting Kat’s eyes. She looked at me, meeting my eyes. I could tell that she would wait and have words with me later, too. She silently followed him out.
      As they walked passed the door, I turned to Wufei.
      He was watching Nikki, his eyes vaguely hurt, after a time, he turned to look at me. His eyes were no longer hurt. He was, however, still upset. “Cream...” he muttered as he went out of sight.
      I grinned slightly.
      “Cream?” Nikki’s tone was ice as the door shut behind Wufei.
      I nodded, turning to study her.
      Her hair was in a ponytail and she was wearing jeans and a T-shirt with white socks. Her arms were crossed over her belly and she was glaring at me as she leaned against the counter.
      She waited.
      “A reference he made before I left.” I explained, noticing how tired and defeated she was.
      She nodded.
      I stepped forward, not sure of how she’d react.
      She didn’t.
      I stepped forward again, she only watched me.
      I started slowly toward her, noticing for the first time how far from the door to the counter it was...only a few steps, really...but miles separated us right now...hundreds of miles...
      She didn’t move or react.
      I stopped in front of her, watching for a reaction I realized would never come...
      Studying her features, it occurred to me how beautiful she really was...Even with the nearly healed gash under her eye...
      She flinched back as I unconsciously moved to caress her face. My heart skipped a beat, “Nikki...” she wouldn’t meet my eyes.
      I reached forward again, not stopping as she flinched. For a moment she held her face away, not moving to or from me.
      This flinching was different from...it was intentional...it was from her anger and hurt, not some unknown feeling.
      Finally relenting, she closed her eyes and leaned against my hand, “I just don’t want you to die...”


      Grumbling, I stalked through the halls.
      Duo was right. Nikki was Heero’s, I knew that...but, they had looked so damned smug. Both of them...with both woman I’d been about to fuck only three nights before...so much had happened...I knew Nikki wouldn’t have sex with me, and I knew Sam wouldn’t either...now. I’d thought they both would before...before Heero pointed out their personality traits...
      It’d been a rather long conversation that no one else had joined in.
      But I’d been so close with both of them...and suddenly they were obviously indifferent to me in any sexual manner.
      Sally understood. Sally would listen to me. She always did...to Sally’s room, was where I was heading.
      I slowed down as I approached her door, “Sally?” I called, knocking twice.
      “Come in, Wufei.” she replied in a slightly surprised voice.
      I opened the door and stepped through. My eyes were on the floor as I closed it behind me.
      “What’s the matter?” she asked and I looked up.
      She was sitting at her vanity, wearing her robe. Her hair was wet and held back in one ponytail.
      “It’s not my morning.” I replied, walking to her bed and collapsing back onto it, “I hope it’s not a foreshadowing of tonight.”
      Sally sighed, then perked up...so to speak, “What happened?” she was genuinely concerned.
      I lay an arm over my eyes, “Heero and Quatre were busy last night.”
      “Oh really? How so?”
      “I don’t know the details, but judging by how tired Nikki and Sam are...”
      She snickered slightly, “Oh, you mean ‘busy’. I see.” The bed shifted and she sat next to me.
      I moved my arm and looked at her.
      She was grinning. “I understand, Wufei, you need sex too.” she set her hand on my thigh.
      “You should have seen them. It was disgusting...” I acted as if I didn’t hear her comment, and did my best to ignore her slightly massaging hand.
      The only problem with going to Sally, was, she loved to turn me on and leave me hanging...just like Sam and Nikki...Why were the woman I associated with so entertained by turning me on?
      Her hand slid slowly up, causing my breathing to go jagged. I caught her wrist before she made it all the way.
      I was in no mood for games.
      “Not today, please, Sally?”
      She grinned and pulled her hand away. “When was the last time you had a woman?” she lay down beside me.
      “Longer than I want to think about.” I replied, annoyed, trying to brush the images of Nikki and Sam away...pushing to the back of my mind the hunger in their kisses...it had all been a game...
      “Mmm...” She began to unbutton my shirt.
      “Sally, please. No games. Not today...”
      She continued to undo my shirt, ignoring me.
      I couldn’t bring myself to stop her.
      She started to undo my pants, her other hand massaging my inner thigh, working slowly up. I closed my eyes, swallowing, if this were a game...
      “Sometimes, Wufei, the game gets serious.” she whispered.
      I opened my eyes, meeting hers.
      This was no game.
      She lay back the rest of the way onto the bed.
      Hesitantly, I shifted ‘til I lay over her, “No games?”
      She kissed me in reply, no longer teasing.
      That was all the answer I needed.


      I closed my eyes, giving in, “I just don’t want you to die.”
      He leaned against me, his arms encircling me, burying his head in my neck, “I won’t die.”
      “What’s to stop you?”
      “You.”
      “How do I know that? What if there’s too many to beat...”
      “Nikki,” he straightened to look at me, “They’re mobile dolls.”
      “So?”
      “I’ll destroy the entire damn base before I let them kill me.”
      “You should do that anyways...” I looked to the far wall, “All the people there now are the ones who are stupid.”
      “Don’t make me do that.” he told me, kissing me gently.
      I sighed, looking at his chest, playing with the buttons on his shirt, he was watching me and after a time, he leaned down, tilting his head to kiss me stronger.
      After a slight hesitation, I returned his slightly hungry, almost demanding kiss.
      He pulled away and stepped back, his hands trailing down my arms to my wrists and pulling. He led me to the bed and kissed me again.
      His kisses were like sweet fire and I knew I could never have enough.

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Kyeian