Disclaimer: Not mine. Don’t sue.
“Well, Trowa, your sister is one very…interesting lady,” Zechs announced as he led Trowa down the hallway and into the spare room.
“You can call her scary if you want,” said Trowa with a shrug. “I won’t tell.”
Catherine had indeed chewed Zechs out two days ago, but thankfully, he had taken Catherine’s protectiveness and aggressiveness in good stride. She had approved of him in her own way, but had threatened him with disembowelment should he do anything to hurt her baby brother. Trowa would have found the experience more than a little embarrassing if he hadn’t already been used to the way that Catherine was.
Zechs glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just some overprotective big sibling thing. Relena probably hates me for acting the same way around her. As the baby of the family you’ll just have to put up with it I’m afraid.”
He placed Trowa’s bags down on the bed and looked around. “It’s pretty small, but I’m sure you’ll be able to make do.”
Trowa raised an eyebrow. “It’s still a lot bigger than what I’m used to. You don’t have to apologise.”
“All right then. Well, I’ve given you the grand tour, all that’s left for you to do now is make yourself at home.” The phone rang suddenly and Zechs excused himself to go get it. While he was gone, Trowa set about unpacking and he was just putting away his clothes when Zechs peeked round the doorway.
“It’s for you,” he whispered, holding out the phone.
Trowa nodded his thanks and took the phone, cradling the receiver to his ear. “Hello?”
“Trowa? Is that you? Is everything all right?”
Trowa sighed. If anyone was more protective of him than Catherine, it was Quatre. “I’m fine, Quatre,” he said quietly, moving over to sit on the edge of the bed. “Is there any particular reason you called?”
“I just wanted to speak with you,” Quatre said innocently and Trowa “uh-huh-ed” into the phone, his expression sceptical. “All right, all right!” Quatre exclaimed. “Catherine told me that you’d moved out to join the Preventers and she gave me a forwarding address. She also told me that you’ve moved in with Zechs Marquise.”
“And?”
“And? Trowa, are you really sure you know what you’re doing here?” Quatre’s voice was urgent and concerned. “Look, I know that he’s not our enemy anymore, but still, why Zechs? Why didn’t you move in with Wufei?”
“He’s living with Sally,” Trowa said tonelessly, cradling the receiver between his ear and his shoulder as he set about finishing his earlier job of unpacking.
Quatre sighed and Trowa almost smiled. He knew how much he tended to frustrate the blonde boy and how much he tended to disapprove of most things Trowa did. He had disapproved of Trowa’s relationship with Heero and now he wasn’t too happy about him staying with Zechs for a while. It didn’t bother Trowa. He found it amusing if anything.
“Trowa…” When Quatre spoke again, his voice was softer. “You know you could still move in with me anytime you wanted. You could just as easily work for the Preventers if you’re with me.”
“I’m fine the way I am,” Trowa told him gently. “I appreciate your concern, Quatre, I really do. But Zechs wanted some company and…so did I to be honest.”
“You have me,” Quatre reminded him. “And Wufei as well. You can’t forget about Duo either even if he is all the way over on L2.”
“I know that,” said Trowa patiently. “But Quatre, I’m fine. Really, I am.”
“Well, just make sure that Zechs doesn’t do anything like Heero,” Quatre told him and Trowa could just imagine the glare on the Arabian’s face. “I know how…upset you were when he…when he left. I keep looking for him, Trowa, but I really can’t find any sign of him. It looks as though he’s well and truly gone for good this time, so you’ll just have to learn how to deal with it. Trowa, I know it’s hard and I know that you still lo–”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” said Trowa, quickly interrupting him. Quatre sighed again.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” he asked softly.
“Quite sure,” Trowa replied. “Quatre, I’m okay. I’m strong. You of all people should know that. I get by just like I always have. The only thing that’s changed is that I’m going to start work at the Preventers. That’s something that you’ve always wanted for me, right?”
“Right, Trowa. I’m happy for you, really I am. You’ll be sure to let me know how it goes, won’t you?”
“I know you’d only send Rashid round for regular reports if I didn’t,” Trowa told him wryly and he allowed himself a small smile at the sound of Quatre’s laughter.
“I miss you, Trowa.”
“Hnn.”
Quatre laughed again. “The space heart does have its advantages you know,” he informed his friend. “It helps me interpret all those little grunts you make. I know you miss me too, you just won’t say it.”
“Hnn. Maybe.”
“I guess I’ll have to settle for that then. Anyway, I have to get back to work, but I’ll call you again in a few days to see how you’re settling in. Say hi to Wufei for me, won’t you?”
“I will.”
“All right then. Take care, Trowa.”
“You too, Quatre.”
Trowa rose from the bed and walked back into the living room to place the phone back into its cradle. He watched Zechs out of the corner of his eye who seemed to be intent upon reading a book. Trowa didn’t think he’d want to be disturbed, so he turned to leave. Zech’s voice stopped him, however.
“Who was that?”
“Quatre,” said Trowa simply, leaning back against the wall. Zechs glanced up at him from over the top of his book and Trowa decided to elaborate a little. “He’s concerned about me. He always is.”
“I see,” Zechs said. “He cares about you deeply.”
“Maybe.” Trowa almost smiled again. Quatre knew that he cared. He knew better than anyone.
“I don’t bite you know,” Zechs announced suddenly. Trowa stared at him and he continued. “This is your house too now. You don’t have to lean against walls all the time now that you’re here. I’m sure you would find the couch to be pretty accommodating if only you gave it the chance.”
Trowa shrugged and walked across the room, hovering at the side of the couch for a few seconds before finally perching himself on the arm. Zechs looked at him in what seemed to be amusement and Trowa frowned at him defensively.
“You don’t have to glare,” Zechs informed him. “Just don’t go blaming me when your ass starts getting numb from sitting like that.”
Trowa’s expression relaxed slightly and he slid down so that he was sitting on the couch cushions. Duo had often teased him about his habit of ‘perching’ rather than sitting. Not like Duo could talk. He never did anything short of a sprawl and whenever he sat down, it was a job for anyone else to sit next to him.
“Why would the idea of my ass getting numb concern you anyway?” Trowa asked archly.
“Because I don’t want the owner of said ass getting all tetchy on me now,” Zechs replied. “Trowa, you don’t have to be on your guard around me all the time. I’m not going to strangle you in your sleep or stab you in the shower. Just relax.”
“I am relaxed,” Trowa argued.
Zechs just rolled his eyes. “Turn around,” he said suddenly.
“What?”
“You heard me. Turn around please?”
Trowa stared at him suspiciously for a few seconds, but eventually, he did as he was asked. Zechs edged closer to him and placed his hands on either side of Trowa’s shoulders. Predictably, the other man tensed at his touch, but Zechs ignored it, instead beginning to gently massage the tense muscles beneath his fingers. Trowa still sat a little stiffly and Zechs sighed.
“Relax,” he said softly. “This isn’t going to work if you’re all tensed up.”
Trowa nodded reluctantly, letting his breath out on a long sigh and his body relaxed considerably. “What’s this for?” he asked quietly.
“Consider it as payback for braiding my hair,” Zechs told him as he worked out the knots of tension at the base of Trowa’s neck. “That and I just wanted to see what you look like when you’re not being suspicious of anything that moves.”
“Old habits die hard,” was all Trowa said, but Zechs chose not to respond, instead focussing his attention on massaging the stiffness out of Trowa’s body. He smiled when he heard tiny sounds of pleasure escaping the boy’s lips and felt him relax even more into his touch.
“You’re very good at this,” Trowa murmured, his head dipping forward slightly so that his chin was almost touching his chest.
“I’ve had practise,” Zechs replied calmly, thinking of all the times he’d done this for Treize. He pushed all thoughts of Treize out of his mind and focused on Trowa, working his way down the boy’s back, firmly kneading the flesh beneath the thin fabric of his turtleneck.
For a long time, neither of them said anything. Trowa had apparently lapsed into a place that hovered between sleep and wakefulness, but he quickly came to his senses when Zechs wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Zechs?” he muttered, his voice uncertain. “What are you…”
“Hold still,” the taller man whispered, pressing hard against the small of Trowa’s back. As he’d expected, Trowa hissed and tried to arch away from him, but his arm prevented that and he kept it tightly round the smaller man’s waist. Zechs concentrated on working out the ache in Trowa’s lower back and pretty soon, the boy had calmed again, his body almost limp as he allowed himself to rest against Zechs so that his back was pressed against the other man’s front.
“No wonder you were so tense,” Zechs said as he absently rubbed one hand over Trowa’s shoulder. “You don’t often let someone do this for you, do you?”
Trowa shook his head silently. “I never allowed anyone to do that before,” he said simply.
Zechs smiled, feeling a mixture of surprise and satisfaction upon hearing the other man’s words. “There’s always a first time for everything,” he said casually. “You were the first person I allowed to mess about with my hair. I wouldn’t even let Noin touch it.”
“Hnn. You still want me to braid it for you?”
“Maybe some other time. You should get some sleep now.”
“Sleep?”
“Yes, Trowa, sleep. You know, the thing you do when you walk over to your bed, lie down on it and close your eyes?”
“I know what sleep is.” Trowa’s attempt at irritation failed somewhat when he realised he was just too comfortable to be cross. “Besides, you don’t need to have a bed in order to go to sleep.”
“I’m aware of that,” Zechs said, somewhat amused. “But I know you must be tired, Trowa. This is the first time I’ve heard you ramble.”
“I do not ramble,” Trowa muttered, trying to muster the energy to frown.
“I didn’t say that you do,” Zechs said agreeably. “I just said that you’re rambling now. Get some sleep. You need it.”
He released his hold on the smaller man, laughing softly when Trowa made a small sound of discontentment. Zechs helped him up, pushing him in the direction of the bedroom. “Go,” he said with a chuckle. “Don’t forget you have to be up early tomorrow for your first day at work. Lady Une does not tolerate tardiness.”
“Yes, mom,” Trowa said with a snort, stumbling over to his room. “Whatever you say, mom.”
Zechs called for him before he could close the door. “Trowa?”
“Hnn?”
“Goodnight.”
“Oh. Goodnight, Zechs.” He disappeared into the room and Zechs smiled ruefully, laying down on the couch and picking up the book he had been reading. He idly wondered what work would be like now Trowa was around. ‘Well, I guess I’ll find out soon enough,’ he thought to himself, flipping to the page he had marked earlier and started reading again.