Author's Note: I have returned with my latest fic. If I could smell, I bet this would have that new fic smell. Oh well, anyway, I'm taking a whole new approach with this one. So, without further ado, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Warning: mild…okay quite a bit of cursing and name-calling

Criss Cross

I Hate Roses

Upon opening the door to his office that morning, Duo's mood took a turn for the worse.

Once again, sitting there on his desk was yet another bouquet of roses. If there was anything Duo hated, it was roses. The main reason he despised this symbol of love was that he had a mild allergy involving it.

This was just great. Now he had to go work in the conference room. Again. Why couldn't the jerkwad sending these bundles from hell get a clue? Honestly, there were so many dumb people in this world.

"Good morning Duo!"

The foul Duo turned his gaze to his chipper colleague, Quatre Raberba Winner.

To look at the blond Arab, one would assume he was nothing more than a secretary or perhaps a new recruit. Indeed, he did not look like the heir to the Winner Family fortune or a trained killer who had piloted one of the five feared Gundams. After the wars had ended, the Arabian had tried his hand at the family business. A couple months later, he had had it and had given control over to his sisters. The day after doing that, he was in the Preventers as one of the active field agents.

And yet, somehow, he managed to keep a cheerful attitude.

That was usually his, Duo's, job and it had been. Now, he was serious half the time, but the other half was just to lighten the mood. One couldn't be serious for forever. That much stress would send a person to the grave sooner. At least, that's what he heard. But apparently it would take a lot more than stress to take out soldier boy, Heero Yuy.

As for him, Duo, he had tried out the salvage business for a bit. He had enjoyed it for a while but crushing metal scraps and old Mobile Suits got boring after a while. Plus, a mind for business was also needed when dealing with customers. Unfortunately, business was not his forte. Add to the fact that Hilde had an accident that almost claimed her life, he gave it up to somebody else and hitched a ride to Earth.

Getting there, he immediately joined the Preventers, finding himself head deep in paperwork just so he could become an active field agent. By the time he got through all the legal mumbo jumbo that he had difficulty understanding, it had been around the time Quatre joined.

However, he had already established a friendship with Trowa Barton by then. It was thanks to this one-eye angel from heaven that he was able to get through the morass of paperwork. Now while Trowa didn't talk much, he talked more often than most people gave him credit for. He had a wicked dry sense of humor that always caught him off guard. He preferred his coffee black with two sugars, just like himself. Hell, they could even be brothers if Trowa wasn't so tall and Duo's eyes were green.

Oh well, couldn't have everything in life.

However, it was two weeks after Quatre had arrived that Duo started to have bouquets show up at the office, either being delivered or snuck in during the night. The first time he received roses, he had gone into a sneezing fit and had to escape. The dumbass who kept sending them just didn't seem to get the hint though. He had already lodged a complaint with Une about it but all that did was prevent the roses from being delivered during office hours.

Fortunately, the asshole sent little notes with the flowers and through a process of elimination, he found out who was sending them.

Why, oh why, didn't they get the hint? Dumbass saw him everyday and should have seen his reaction the first time.

Seeing Duo's face that fine morning, Quatre's demeanor changed and he spoke, "Roses again?"

"Damn right," he muttered, glaring at the weeds as he liked to call them.

"I'll take care of them, just use my office today," Quatre said, already going in.

"You sure?" he questioned.

"Absolutely. Bring Trowa if you want."

"Whatever you say, Q," he replied, already starting on his arraigned course. The way things were going, he might as well take over Quatre's office. This was bullshit!

As he pressed on, Trowa got in the way of his warpath. The unibanged man was smart enough to step aside then trail behind him. It was only natural that the two stuck together.

"Roses I take it?" Trowa inquired, receiving a nod of affirmation. Snorting, he replied, "One would think they'd get some taste."

Duo barked out a laugh and clapped Trowa on the shoulder. "You really know how to brighten my day, you know that?"

"What else would I do in my spare time?" Trowa countered.

Duo eyes slyly slid over to a certain Preventer agent. Trowa followed his gaze and visibly stiffened. Duo chuckled and simply stated, "All in good time, man. All in good time. Until then lets get cozy and relax in Quatre's personal office. He might have something in the mini-fridge."

Breathing out his relief, Trowa followed. It was nice to know that Duo wasn't the type of person to push someone into something. Those thoughts left him as he settled down into the couch that only Quatre was able to keep hold of in the building. The blond Arabian had been adamant at having more than just cabinets, a desk, and chairs in this room. Plus it was a very comfortable piece of furniture.

Duo reclined into Quatre's office chair, setting his feet onto the desk and exhaled a deep breath. Oh yeah, how he wish he could figure out a way to swipe this chair from Quatre. He didn't care if his ownership of it was short, it would be worth it. Then again, Quatre just might give him the thing and buy another one. He'd rather work and pay for his own. Then it would not only feel deserved but that he had earned it.

Unfortunately, he was thrifty. He knew the value of money. He knew it all too well. He only bought necessities, rarely getting anything that he wanted or lust after, material-wise.

It wouldn't do to get spoiled after all. The future was so unpredictable…

"Enjoying my chair, I see."

He made some sort of noise of agreement.

"You know you can take it. I'll just get another one," Quatre suggested but Duo interrupted.

"Nah, Q, keep it. If I want one, I'll get it myself or steal it myself and blame it on Heero."

"You really don't need to steal it…"

"Quatre," Duo once again interrupted, this time looking the Arabian deep into his eyes. "I'd rather work for it, no matter how I do it. I don't want to get into some sort of funk where I expect everything to be handed to me on a silver platter."

Quatre smiled gently at the braided American and nodded. "Would you prefer if I kept the door locked or unlocked?"

Now Duo gave him a trademark grin. "Locked. Got to keep in practice. Never know when I'm going to have to tough it out."

Trowa decided to change the course of the conversation at this point. "So will Duo's office be cleansed sometime today?"

Quatre looked over at Trowa, answering simply, "Perhaps sometime after lunch, if not, then at closing time."

"I might as well stay here instead," Duo grumbled. "I mean, can you believe the nerve? How much dumber can that dumbass get?"

"They only prove it can only get lower everyday," Trowa commented, getting a laugh out of Duo once again.

"You got that right. How low can you possibly go?"

"We'll find out in all due time."

"Got that right."

"So what now?" Quatre asked.

"Good question," Duo said, gaining a thoughtful look.

"How about brunch?" Trowa suggested.

"The best idea I've heard all day," Duo congratulated.

"I'll go get it," Quatre volunteered. "You want a chocolate sprinkle donut and black coffee, two sugars, right Duo?"

"Be still my heart, you read my mind," Duo exclaimed melodramatically.

"And you, Trowa?" Quatre asked, turning to the other.

"I'll have the same," Trowa answered, smiling to himself.

"I'll be right back," the Arabian announced as he practically bounced out the office.

"Somebody has got to hide the sugar from him," Duo commented, earning a chuckle from Trowa.