Valentineless Quatre Winner By, Ri-chan A soldier might not get many Valentines, but Quatre was a war hero. It wasn’t that he stressed himself out over his empty mailbox…empty e-mail box, and the fact that he had zero messages on his answering machine for the phone. It was his first war free Valentine’s Day…Of course, Quatre was not thinking these things. Dorothy was not his girlfriend. The former Sandrock pilot didn’t have a girlfriend.

It was early in the morning on February fourteen; five o’clock to be exact. It was a weekend. Quatre had nothing particularly important to do, but was used to rising early what with his business. No plans had been made…none at all. Quatre stretched and ran his slender fingers through his platinum blonde hair and then turned to his bed. He pulled the blankets across it tightly and then fluffed his pillow before placing it back where it was. He then stumbled to the bathroom to brush his teeth and shower.

Rashid was not there. No maids were there and none of his sisters were either. Quatre had a retreat, a small apartment recently acquired for the weekends to escape the pressure of daily life and collect his thoughts. There was a bookshelf, a computer, a television, a radio, and a few board games and cards in case he had company. After his shower, Quatre chose a book to read as water boiled in a kettle. He selected a book of poetry and skimmed a few romantic nature haiku before the kettle whistled.

With the book in his hand, Quatre entered the kitchen. He opened up a cupboard and pulled out a small teacup. Opening a box of tea, he removed a few bags and slipped them into the kettle to brew. He then returned his eyes to the book. It amazed him how the Japanese author of the haiku fell in love with nature. There was one in particular about a flamingo. It reminded him of his own time on the Earth, one of his first, when they were flocked around and on Sandrock. His gaze, already soft, softened even more and his eyes seemed to shine. A smile was brought to his lips…and then his tea was finished. Quatre poured the tea and continued to read the haiku as he sipped it, just standing there and leaning against the counter.

When Quatre finished two cups of tea and almost, but not quite thirty haiku, he closed the book and brought it to its shelf. After putting the book away, he began to check his messages, starting with the phone and finishing with his e-mails; nothing. Wondering how they all were doing: Heero, Duo, Trowa, Wufei, Dorothy, Catherine, even Lady Une…but not Rashid because he had spoken to him only a day before, he sat down on a soft sky blue couch beside a silver radio and turned it on. Love was in the air, and romantic was playing. Quatre stretched and rested the back of his head on his hands.

After three hours of listening to romantic music, Quatre was a little bit depressed. There were some sad songs that put him in a not too happy mood and then there were those songs that seemed to work themselves out---the ones about two lovebirds with happily ever afters attached. At first they made him feel overjoyed and forget about the war, but he was alone. Even his best friends were, last he checked, on totally different colonies or on Earth. He began to think that he should have spent the weekend with the Maguanacs.

As Quatre was thinking about Rashid and his crew, the phone rang. Caller ID mentioned a Darlian, Relena. It didn’t ring thrice before he had it to his ear. “Hello?” he asked. It had been only twice that Relena had called since the war’s end, and he did wonder how she had been doing, “Is everything alright, Relena?”

“Oh Quatre!” Relena said cheerfully, “I wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“How have you been, Relena?” Quatre asked, not really receiving an answer from her.

“I am overjoyed. Heero gave me a ring today. We are going out for dinner,” Relena said excitedly.

Quatre smiled. “I am happy to hear that, Relena,” he said, “did he ask you himself?”

“No, but he did agree to it when I made the suggestion. What are you doing today?” the former princess asked.

“Oh…well, I suppose I am doing a few things. I read some nice haiku today and listened to some nice music,” Quatre said.

“Are you spending today alone, Quatre? I would invite you to come with me and Heero, but we are not even on the same colony…” Relena sighed.

“It’s alright,” Quatre said, “You have a nice day.”

Being polite, Quatre waited for Relena to say her sweet goodbyes and hang up. He went back to the couch and sat down. The radio was off, though he did not remember turning it off. He did, of course, but his mind was elsewhere. He wondered if Trowa was spending the day with Catherine, and if Duo was spending it with Hilde. If so, he did not want to call them and disturb their dates.

Quatre went back into the kitchen and put the tea back on the stove to warm it up. He had not yet eaten breakfast, though with cream the tea was somewhat filling. He decided that perhaps a nice meal would help him into a better mood, and that the slight lonely feeling was but an empty stomach. He opened the cabinet and pulled out a loaf of bread, then a box of hot cereal and some jam and then began to prepare breakfast for himself.

Quatre ate his breakfast alone and decided to go for a walk. The colony sky was blue and bright and the grass was green. Of course he could see through the artificial atmosphere and wished he was back on Earth. Yes, the longing was for Earth…and it was for friends. He must have walked five miles before returning to his door.

There was nothing out of the ordinary outside, but when Quatre stepped inside, he heard the faint crinkling of paper under his foot. At first he thought that a receipt from a grocery store or a quick reminder note for when he went back to business had slipped out of his pocket. He crouched down to pick up the small piece of paper. All it had was a number on it and an arrow pointing to it with “call me” underneath. The number was unfamiliar to Quatre. It must have been slipped underneath his door as he was out walking. He pulled his computer chair up to the phone and sat down, wanting to rest after walking.

The phone only rang twice before someone picked up. There was nothing but silence at the end. The pause was…awkward. “Hello, this is Quatre R. Winner. I am calling because I found this note by my door with the number on it…” he didn’t quite know if it was a prank or a mistake, so he waited for a response.

“Quatre?” the voice was oddly familiar, “Where were you?”

“Trowa!” Quatre gasped, “I didn’t recognize the number!” How could Quatre forget his best friend’s number? He had talked to Trowa several times since the war’s end.

“It’s a new phone,” Trowa explained, realizing from his friend’s tone that the Quatre felt bad, and realizing that it was probably because he felt like he was neglecting something that had to do with friendship. He also realized that Quatre seemed to blame himself for many things that technically weren’t his fault.

“You were here?” Quatre asked, “I’m really sorry, Trowa. I was out for a walk…”

“It’s okay, Quatre,” Trowa said, “if you are busy, I understand.”

“No, I’m not,” Quatre said, “is there something you wanted to talk to me about? You know I’ll listen…”

“Do you want to do something tonight?” Trowa asked.

Quatre hadn’t seen Trowa in a while, but he realized that there was something especially romantic about the day, and wondered about Catherine. “What about Catherine, Trowa?” Quatre asked.

Though Quatre couldn’t see it, Trowa was smiling. He was sitting in a teahouse on the colony a few blocks from the apartment complex where Quatre was. Catherine was beside him, and the circus manager was sitting at a table in the corner minding his own business. Quatre was smiling as well. Quatre’s question was especially loud, and she could hear it. “Go on,” she said, nudging Trowa with her elbow, “he is your best friend, and you haven’t seen him in a while.”

“We went out for breakfast today, and had dinner together last night,” Trowa explained, “and we are going to catch a movie late tonight…This is my only day this month on the colony, Quatre.”

“I would like to see you again,” Quatre said, and then asked, “What time?” “I’ll be there in an hour,” Trowa said, figuring it would give himself enough time to finish his tea with Catherine, who was still smiling as she reached into a handbag that was beside her and pulled out a rectangle in cerise wrapping paper.

Quatre was overjoyed as he said cheerfully, “I’ll see you here then! I promise I’ll be here this time.”

Trowa hung up and Quatre set the phone back where it was. He jumped to his feet and went into the kitchen to wash his dishes. He spent the rest of the time afterward reading the news online. He shut down the computer as soon as he heard the knock on the door, and indeed Trowa was standing there when he opened it. Quatre smiled and stepped out, already wearing his jacket and his shoes. “So where are we going?” he asked.

Trowa smiled. “You’ll see,” he said as Quatre began to lock his door. “Wait…” Trowa pulled his hand from behind his back and handed the rectangle to Quatre.

Quatre took it. “What’s this?” he asked.

“It’s a recording of my last few circus acts with Catherine. She…decided to wrap it,” Trowa said.

Quatre grinned. “Well, tell Catherine I said ‘Thanks’!” he exclaimed and opened the door. “Do you want to come in for a second?” he asked as he headed into the kitchen.

Trowa stepped in and looked around, but said nothing. It took Quatre less than two full minutes to put the tape on the counter and head back for the door. Trowa followed him out and then Quatre locked the door. “Follow me,” Trowa said and headed onto the sidewalk. Quatre followed.

Trowa had enough tea to last him a while, and so did Quatre. Knowing Quatre, Trowa assumed as much, and so they passed the teahouse. “Did you eat recently?” Trowa asked. It had been a few hours since his breakfast with Catherine and it had been at least three since Quatre’s breakfast, which had not actually been that large.

Even if he was full though, he would have sat and watched Trowa eat simply for conversation’s sake. “Yes, I had breakfast a while ago, but I could go for some lunch. If you want, I will buy,” Quatre offered.

Trowa said nothing about who had to buy, but would have paid for it all. They did not need to ruin the day with arguing over who would pay though. The walk to the restaurant would take a while. “So how have you been, Trowa?” Quatre asked.

“Good,” Trowa said, “busy, but good. Catherine has been trying some new stunts with throwing knives, so I think it would be pointless to call my old phone number at this point…You have been doing alright?”

“Yeah,” Quatre said, “busy, but good. I spend some weekends alone here…sometimes I go to Earth…sometimes visit my sisters…Rashid and the others are still supporting me.”

“That’s good to hear,” Trowa said as they walked. He noticed that Quatre was trailing behind and staring at the back of his head, at least until he glanced over his shoulder. He slowed down a little so that the two were walking side by side.

They reached the restaurant after a short while. It was no burger joint, but it was not a high class five star restaurant either; expensive yet affordable. They served cheeseburgers and turkey dinners, put olive oil and vinegar on their salads, and had a shift of real bands playing music, and only one kind of hot tea but fancy wine…that kind of place where people seated themselves and a waitress in a miniskirt found them ten minutes later. Quatre didn’t care. He was glad to be among friends. Trowa felt the same.

The two ordered their lunch, a three course meal starting with an appetizer to share and ending with dessert and some hot tea. The appetizer itself was going to take a few minutes, so they talked. Quatre had looked around and noticed a few tables for two, but Trowa had selected a table for three. “Is someone joining us?” Quatre asked.

Trowa nodded and leaned forward. “I suppose I spoiled the surprise already,” he said.

“Surprise?” Quatre asked.

Trowa didn’t answer. Instead, his gaze passed Quatre. From behind him, Quatre heard a cheerful and familiar, “Hey buddy boy!” Caught off guard, the former 04 nearly fell back in his seat.

“Duo!” Quatre gasped as the braided former 02 pulled back his chair and sat down. He waved to the waitress and said, “Hey there beautiful! Get me one of those steaks and a soda please!”

At least he said “please”. Quatre frowned. Duo rested his elbows on the table and his chin in his hands. “What’s the matter, Quatre? You don’t look very happy. Couldn’t find a date?” he asked.

“I don’t really need one…” Quatre said, “I mean, I would rather spend time with friends that I haven’t seen…I don’t really know any girls that well…if I had a date, it would be someone I hardly knew I suppose, but what about you, Duo?”

“Me? Hilde’s draggin’ me to some fancy ball tonight and made me breakfast,” Duo said, “not that I don’t wanna go, but I got nothing to wear.”

“You can borrow something of mine…” Quatre said. He kept a tuxedo or two in his closet just in case he was to find himself doing business on the colony.

“Thanks, man. I’ll go back with you later then,” Duo said, “I don’t gotta pay a rental fee, do I?”

“Duo!” Quatre groaned, upset that Duo would ever accuse him of such a thing.

Duo sat back and grinned, putting up both hands in defense. “Hey man, I was just kidding!” he said. Trowa chuckled as he sat back and listened to the two talk. “Hey man, thanks for informing me,” Duo said to him.

Trowa smiled. “Don’t mention it, Duo,” he said.

Duo looked at Trowa and then at Quatre, saying, “This is just like the good old days, remember?” he picked up an empty wineglass that they were not going to use anyway and lifted it into the air in a toasting motion. “Except you’re not sick in bed,” Duo said. He was referring to a day after the war when Quatre was sick in bed and Trowa was visiting, and he visited as well. Heero was not there and neither was Wufei. The three had made a toast.

Quatre and Trowa both nodded and played along, lifting their glasses, and then setting them aside to be taken away when the waitress came to clear the table for their appetizer. It was big enough for all of them, a blooming onion with different kinds of dips. Something healthy and yet deep fried. Duo was the first to take part in the meal.

“Thank God I’m not in a hospital today,” Quatre said, “but again Heero and Wufei aren’t here…”

“Yeah,” Duo said, “Wufei won’t let the Preventer business go. I suppose he and Sally get their kicks by working so hard and Heero…what is Heero doing?”

“He’s going on a date with Relena…and they aren’t on this colony anyway,” Quatre said.

“Ah,” Duo said, leaning back and resisting the urge to put his feet up on the table, though Quatre’s feet were a bit more sore than his own, “So he’s finally loosening up and admitting his feelings to that girl…”

“Yeah,” Quatre said, “I’m happy for him.”

Trowa did take part in the conversation. They talked about the war and what they had done since then. Duo had his business in the junk yard and was living with Hilde. It was a clean relationship, of course. Trowa had his job at the circus with Catherine and talked about that and the animals and many of the sights that he saw, mostly because Quatre questioned him about them. Quatre talked of Rashid and his group, and his sisters and the family business. They talked about their health, which was fine, and what they knew about those who were absent…Wufei, Une, and Sally with the Preventers, Noin and Milliardo getting married, Relena and Heero…and even talked about the food, which was delicious. When they finally could eat no more, Trowa paid up before Quatre could offer again, though Quatre was the rich one. Trowa didn’t care, and Duo certainly couldn’t afford to pay even though he was happy with his life in the scrap yard. It was…time to go.

They didn’t part ways. “Hey, don’t forget that fancy outfit,” Duo said. Quatre nodded and motioned for him to follow.

“I’ll walk with you guys,” Trowa said and followed as well, “Hey, if you guys have time, why don’t we watch that video?”

“What video?” Duo asked, “I’ve got a few hours.”

“Sounds great!” Quatre said, nearly skipping all the way back to his apartment.

They finally got back to the apartment. Quatre pointed his room out to Duo and told him to help himself to the clothes, but suggested he avoided the top dresser drawer, which contained underpants and socks, but Quatre didn’t say all that much. He then went into the kitchen and unwrapped the video. Duo picked out a black tux and white shirt as well as a tie and came back into the living room with them, holding them up. “How’s this, Quatre?” he asked.

Quatre smiled as he looked up from putting the video into its player. “Go ahead,” he said, telling Duo he could take them. Duo set them on the kitchen counter and then sat down beside Quatre, who was between Duo and Trowa, on the couch and began to watch the video, which consisted of throwing knives and trapeze acts.

Duo checked his watch when the video ended. “Well, I gotta go,” he said, “Hey Quatre, if you want you can come to the ball with me and Hilde…There might be a girl there for you.”

“Thanks Duo, but I’m not so sure…I mean, would it be okay with Hilde?” Quatre asked.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Duo asked, and glanced at Trowa, “and if you and Catherine aren’t doing anything…”

“I’ll talk to Catherine about it,” Trowa said.

The ball came and went. Trowa and Catherine did show. Quatre didn’t find a girl, and he stood and watched as Catherine and Trowa danced together and Hilde and Duo danced together to the slow music. The refreshment table was stocked with many treats, but the guys were still full from their lunch/dinner and when they did feel like standing around, they only sipped fruit punch and listened to the girls chatter. Finally there was a hippity hoppity song that Duo felt like dancing to. Catherine urged Trowa to try it, loosen up, have a little fun, and Trowa caved in. Quatre on the other hand had to be dragged by his jacket sleeve onto the dance floor. When out there, he only managed to move a little bit. Duo, going all out, ripped his pants…which were actually Quatre’s, as he did an extremely wild move in the not quite flexible enough outfit. He turned to Quatre to apologize, but 04 was too busy laughing to be angry.

Finally the ball ended, and the guys did say goodnight. Quatre returned to his apartment filled with excitement and joy. He did not even glance at the answering machine to see that there was one message on there. He would get it in the morning…and then call to apologize to a very concerned Rashid.