Heero Yuy slammed the door of his bedroom. The cobalt eyes burned with an intensity of anger and frustration. The Wing pilot took a step into his room and stopped. His eyes took all in the room and his senses perked up as he realized that he wasn't alone.

"What are you doing in my room?" He sneered as he finally took notice of Trowa standing against the far wall.

The Heavyarms pilot had his slender arms folded across his chest and seemed to almost disappear into the faded walls. His eyes met with Heero's and locked, the Prussian orbs answering back with cold anger.

"At first I just came in here to borrow your Dostoevesky," Trowa answered. The mercenary turned clown's voice was an expressionless tone. But his green eyes narrowed at the anger in Heero's question.

"I don't like people touching my stuff," Heero replied darkly. "If you want to borrow something of mine then you'd better ask next time."

The two stood as if sizing each other up. Both were calm and composed but noticed the other's instinctive twitch towards their respective pistols, as a door slammed shut elsewhere. The atmosphere was tense and thick and it was obvious that Trowa had come for more then just a book.

"You have the book so I think you should leave," Heero said, a tint of irritation beginning to nudge into his voice. "Or did you want something else?" And the tone in the Wing pilot's voice implied that Trowa better not want a thing.

"Quatre," Trowa replied simply.

It was one of those characteristic things about Trowa. In one word he could open a new subject, ask a question and almost interrogate a person. Heero pondered whether to snap back 'What about him?' but realized he would look like a little kid. So he answered as honestly as he could.

"It's none of your business."

The reply suggested…demanded the end of the conversation but Trowa wouldn't allow it. The lanky pilot pushed off from the wall and walked over to where Heero stood. He stopped only a foot from the spot where Heero stood.

"He is one of us Gundam pilots," Trowa's voice was barely above a whisper. "His capabilities during missions will be lessened if you weaken his mental health now. What goes on here will effect him on the battlefield and consequently effect all of us."

"But it's not just on a professional level," Trowa continued before Heero could interject. "I've had few people in my life that I could call friends. I'm not really sure I understand what it even means. And I certainly can't say much for my position on love."

"But you're hurting Quatre. You two are falling apart as a couple. I've read the writing on the wall and watched for awhile as he's scrambled to fix things between you two. But, now I'm tired of you hurting him. He deserves better then that, Heero."

"I've always been against relationships with partners and co-workers but I won't stop yours. It's actually almost ironic that here I am trying to help yours."

Trowa stopped and let the silence sink in again. He was infuriating Heero and he knew it. Heero was never one to let others tell him what to do. He hated advice, too bad for him. Finally, as if making a momentous decision, Trowa grazed past the Wing pilot and opened the door.

"Empty love is hurtful love," he offered as parting words. And then Trowa silently shut the door, leaving Heero alone with his emotions.

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Quatre was walking down the hallway, eyes downcast on the plush carpet. His cheery expression was faded away and had seemed to be swallowed up by the sad thought he was currently brooding in.

/I love him. I've never wanted to hurt him, or make him angry. Ever since I first met him I was so overtaken by him. His confidence, his strength, and above all I love his heart. He's received so little his whole life… but still he brings happiness to mine. Or at least it was that way/

The Sandrock pilot stopped suddenly as Trowa surprisingly appeared from Heero's room and mumbled something. Quatre watched in curiosity as the lanky pilot gently shut the door and with only the scarcest of glances towards the blonde youth, stalked off down the hallway.

/I don't know what that's about/ Quatre frowned. /But it's probably none of my business/

Suddenly Heero's voice echoed in his head, "Kuso! It's none of your business Quatre." Heero had said that many times, always throwing the smaller pilot with the angry tone in his voice. It had never stopped bothering Quatre. Heero could be so violent and temperamental one moment, yelling and scolding Quatre. Then the next moment, caring and loving, gently holding the Sandrock pilot and whispering words of love in his ear.

/But he does love me!/ A voice inside him said as he paused momentarily at the door to Heero's room. /Even if he does get upset at me it's usually my fault. I irritate him so much. Sometimes it seems like we're just not the right people for each other. It's like we fight and make up and do it all over again/

Quatre gripped the doorknob tightly as he gently turned the silver knob. Holding his breath he opened the door and peered into the darker room inside. The room was dimly lit and seemed to be washed in dust of apprehension and tension. Finally Quatre's crystal blue eyes fell on the figure sitting at a desk towards the back of the room. The glow of the laptop cast a strange light on his face. Quatre let out a small breath as his eyes locked with the Prussian blue across the room.

Almost immediately the blonde youth forgot his frustration, his pain. The expression on Heero's face and the flush of emotions in his eyes made it disappear. Never taking his gaze away from the Japanese boy Quatre quietly shut the door.

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"If you think your advice can save their relationship and change around that bastard Yuy," Wufei said darkly, "Then you may need to seek a therapist."

Trowa barely looked up from his glass of rum as Wufei finished his rant with a curse.

/I'm tired, I'm not in a very good mood/ Trowa wanted to say aloud. /Hammering sense into that baka Heero is hard work. And the last thing I need to hear is one of Wufei's rants about justice/

"If they need me to intervene so their relationship can work then it'll fall apart soon," Trowa simply replied, hoping this would perhaps quiet the Chinese noble.

"You guys are supposed to be *supporting* them remember?" a mellow voice rang out as Duo casually entered the room.

/No hope for silence now/ Trowa grimly thought as he finished off his drink in one quick gulp.

"I've roomed with Heero before and I can tell you that he can seem like he's from another dimension sometimes," Duo said as he plopped down into a chair. "The guy just doesn't know how things are supposed to work in real life, let alone with a lover."

Ironic as it seemed Shinigami had actually cast a spell of silence over the room. Wufei cursed under his breath in Chinese and Trowa wearily eyed the bottom of his glass.

/It's not just that/ Trowa thought darkly. /It's not just Heero. It's both of them. Quatre tries hard and struggles to make everything work. It's always like they're fighting to stay afloat and weighing the other down at the same time/

"I just feel bad for Quatre" Duo sighed and leaned back in his chair, tipping it slightly. "The poor guy's got enough on his mind as it is. And Heero, damn him, can be so cold to him. He nearly made him cry earlier today. First thing that he does when he gets into the safehouse, he hurts Quatre's feelings."

"He's too weak for Heero," Wufei said sharply and all eyes turned on him. "Quatre may be smart and an excellent strategist, but he simply lacks the strength we have. He's like any other normal boy. I've often wondered how Heero can possibly put up with him."

"What the hell are you saying?" Duo angrily snapped at the Shenlong pilot. "You saying it’s Quatre's fault for caring? Are you saying Quatre's to blame because he's too kind and innocent? I really can't see what he does in that stoic guy. He's as cold as ice."

"Not that it's any of our business in the first place but you're both wrong," Trowa's voice was calm and serene. The two fellow pilots turned to look at the slightly intoxicated circus performer. "Heero is Heero. Lots of the things you both said are true. Just remember that he's still the same person that Quatre fell in love with. Quatre loves Heero and Heero loves Quatre."

A hush fell on the trio as Trowa went to refill his glass. The room was quiet except for the sloshing sound of alcohol as Trowa filled his glass to the top.

/I've got a mission in three days. Might as well get stinking drunk in the mean time/ he reasoned.

The Heavyarms pilot took a quick gulp of the rum and then continued, "Neither Heero nor Quatre have changed that much have they? I mean, when they're around us they act just as they always have. It's when they're together that the problems start. Its called empty love. A relationship based just on commitment and nothing else is like being stuck. Nobody wants that."

"Your rational is rather good for a man who is well above legally drunk," Came Wufei's snide remark. "Maybe you have a point about this 'empty love' idea. Regardless they'll snuggle and make up. But before you know it Yuy will be slamming doors again and Quatre will be sniffling like an onna."

"Ch', I've heard enough from you already Wufei," Duo said, as he got up from his chair and started to leave the room.

Wufei swore again in Chinese as Duo disappeared upstairs. The Chinese noble turned to look at his one remaining companion. Trowa was slouched over the table with his head resting on his arms. With a small clank the Heavyarms pilot placed his glass on the wood surface next to him. Wufei's jaw dropped.

"You drank it all?" Wufei asked in disbelief as he eyed the very empty glass next to Trowa.

"You do have a point though," Trowa's voice floated up from the table. "They'll make up but the same thing will happen again."

"Even when you're drunk you've got more reason than that baka Maxwell," Wufei answered calmly, happy that someone had finally agreed with him. "I really don't know what Heero or Quatre could do to save themselves from hurting each other…their relationship."

Trowa lazily picked his head up and replied, "They could end it."

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Heero held Quatre to him gently as the smaller boy cried into his chest. They'd made up of course. Heero had grudgingly apologized for his insensitive actions and Quatre had readily offered himself as the point of blame. If there had been a tape recorder it would have picked up a dialogue very similar to one that had occurred just over a week ago.

"Quatre koi," Heero's voice was soft and soothing, his hot breath whispering into Quatre's ear. "I'm really so sorry for hurting you. I should never have acted that way with you. Let's not fight again koi. Onegai, I can't stand to see you hurt. Let's not fight again…"

But even as Heero's words faded away and he softly kissed Quatre's cheek the Arab boy couldn't help but somewhat doubt them.

/He says he loves me. He says he's sorry/ Quatre thought as he cried himself tearless in Heero's arms. There were many things that caused the poor blonde to shed tears. /I feel like I'm the problem. I always make it seem like it's his fault, but I'm the one that creates the problem. We've gone through this so many times. It hurts him too, God I don't want to ever hurt him/

/We never seem to stop fighting. It was all so magical and happy at first. Not a second went by that I didn't thank all the forces of the universe for him. Now all I ever do is cause trouble for him. For the first time ever I feel like maybe we can't work things out. Maybe we can't succeed in living together happily. For the first time I can't help but think that maybe our relationship is going to end/

-end part 2

Notes: finally finished! I've been having writer's block up the yinyang lately. But I finally finished this part. I didn't really get as much in this part as I wanted to but I think it's pretty good. Please tell me what you think. Send C&C to [email protected]