THIS is to keep Wufei from throttling me...

[windandwater]

Wufei watched Trowa teach Duo how to skip stones across the still water through flat black eyes. After a few miserable attempts, Duo's stone bounced once, twice across the water before sinking. The braided young man let out an ecstatic yell, throwing his arms around the taller man's chest and jumping up and down in excitment. Trowa was a s unmovable as always, though his arms did lift casually to wrap around his bouncing braided lover's waist. Coal black eyes narrowed at the negligent gesture. What was this feeling that was crawling through his chest, threatening to suffocate him? Jealousy perhaps? A sort of muted longing and feeling of defeat? How could Trowa be so casual with his lover? Why couldn't Heero be the same?

That casual intimacy. The unrestrained and simple love that warmed you simply because it was *there*. That was what Wufei wanted. So how could *they* find it while he was left bereft?

"Wufei?"

The Chinese man was startled, turning around to see Quatre lifting a puzzled brow at him. The Arabian was loosening his tie, his suit jacket already slung over one arm, briefcase hanging from one hand. Wufei cursed himself for his negligence -- had he been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he had not heard Quatre approach? Schooling his face into a neutral expression, he inclined his head.

"Quatre. It's nice to see you again."

Whatever doubts the blond had were wiped away by his words and Quatre smiled. "Of course, Wufei. It seems that we all have busy lives these days." His marine eyes glanced quickly to where Duo and Trowa were standing by the shore of the lake and back to Wufei's face again.

It could have been a casual thing -- not staring at someone because it was rude. It could have been a nervous thing -- the little betrayal of someone who was at a loss of what to say. It could have even been an unconscious gesture from a person trained for war -- a quick scan of the area for threats and enemies. But it wasn't any of those. Quatre's eyes had softened as he glanced quickly at the pair. No... *his* look was one of a lover who did not want to be away from his love, even for the sake of propriety and politeness.

And Wufei hated it. Hated them. Hated them for everything they had -- no, *shared* with each other. Every sidelong glance and questing touch became a mocking gesture that ripped through Wufei's soul and dragged him into darkness.

Wufei blinked, then realized Quatre had asked him a question. He focused on the small talk again.

"-- you were hard enough to track down, even though you work for the Preventers. I should have known Heero would be difficult to track down as well. Do you know where Heero is, Wufei?"

The ebony-haired man frowned at the innocent, harmless, *EVIL* question.

Oh yes... he hated them.

"No," he finally answered, shoving away memories of angry Prussian eyes and twisted bedsheets. "I don't."