Isn't life just a kick in the crotch

David was waiting impatiently for the door in front of him to open. Duo had called him earlier and told him that there was something important that he wanted to talk about. He had a good idea of what the braided man wanted to talk about. Wufei Chang. They were both worried about him, and if they had though he was bad before their hike, it was nothing compared to when they got back. The Chinese man had withdrawn even more than before, and all their attempts to get him to open up had failed. Hell, he would hardly answer the door. The first day of the hiking had gone pretty well... if you don't count the massive amount of rain that fell. But the next day had been hell. Wufei had stopped talking, and had looked half a step from a nervous breakdown. This had made Duo so frantic with worry that he could hardly see straight, and it had only gotten worse from there. In the end, they had cut their hiking short, and gone home. By then Wufei had looked like a walking corpse.

David didn't know what to do. Duo was the one who took care of Wufei's ¡§down periods,¡¨ but this time Wufei was avoiding the braided man like the plague. Which meant that it was more or less up to him to help their friend through this. They didn't expect any help from Wufei's family, because according to Duo they 'fucking suck at helping Wu'. They apparently lived after the 'tough it out' philosophy that, quite frankly, did not work all that well on Wufei's depressions. He raised his hand to knock again when the door opened, and revealed a nervous looking Duo.

¡§Hey David. Come on in,¡¨ he said, as he held the door open for his friend.

¡§So what¡¦s up? You sounded pretty serious on the phone. Is it about Wufei?¡¨ David shrugged out of his jacket and hung it up by the door.

¡§Wu? No, just me.¡¨

¡§Right.¡¨ They walked into the living room. Duo sank down in an over sized armchair, and David took a seat on the couch. The braided man cleared his throat and looked down on his feet. ¡§I've been meaning to tell you something... for a few years actually. I had a reason for not telling you sooner, but that reason is not really valid anymore.¡¨ He nervously ran his tongue piercing back and forth over his teeth.

David fidgeted impatiently. ¡§Come on man, just tell me. You're freaking me out here.¡¨

Duo took a deep breath. ¡§I'm gay.¡¨

David gaped in surprise. ¡§You're... gay,¡¨ he said, as if to confirm that he had heard him right.

¡§Yeah,¡¨ Duo said, and played with the end of his braid.

¡§Wha-¡¨ David blinked. ¡§Okay... I really did not see that one coming.¡¨ He ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair. ¡§I guess it's a stupid question to ask if you're sure?¡¨ Duo snorted, and David's lips twitched in response. ¡§Right...Why didn't you tell u-... does Wufei know?¡¨

He nodded. ¡§For a few weeks now.¡¨

¡§Oh, good.¡¨ 'I'll bet anything that this is related to Wufei's mood,' David thought, as he leaned back and watched his uncomfortable friend. ¡§So, how come you didn't tell us before?¡¨

The braided man swallowed thickly. ¡§I-... It's kind of personal, and I don't really want to talk about it.¡¨

¡§That's cool... but how the hell did you manage to keep it from everyone?¡¨

Duo gave a harsh laugh. ¡§I don't know. People only see what they want to see. They wanted to see a lady's man, and that¡¦s what they saw. Not that I can blame anyone, I kind of took it to the extreme.¡¨

David laughed. ¡§No kidding.¡¨

Duo snickered. ¡§What can I say? Chicks love the hair.¡¨

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

As David drove home, he thought about everything Duo had told him. He quickly realized that something was missing, and whatever it was, it had something to do with Wufei and his behavior. David decided to trash his previous decision to let his friends handle their own business. It was time to visit a certain Chinese man.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Wufei looked like he had just rolled out of bed when he opened the door. He was wearing a pair of wrinkled cotton pants, his hair was a mess and he had dark bags under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days. David chose not to comment, he was just thankful that his friend was talking again. Wufei made some if that healthy herbal tea, and they sat down on the couch. Wufei truly made a pathetic sight where he was sitting with his legs pulled up, and his hands wrapped tightly around his mug as he stared at the wall. They talked about random light subject before David started to test the water and broth up Duo and his newly admitted sexuality.

David sipped from his mug. ¡§I guess it's true what they say. Girls love the gay guys. Damn, but it's so not fair that all those hot females were totally wasted on someone who didn't appreciate breasts. ¡¨

That gave him a startled laugh from the slumping Chinese.

David took this as a good sign and continued. ¡§No, I¡¦m serious. Remember Kathlin?¡¨

Wufei thought for a second. ¡§Was that the one with the big breasts?¡¨

¡§That's the one. Damn, she was fine! She's a model now.¡¨

Wufei nodded slightly. ¡§Can't say I'm surprised.¡¨

¡§And then there was that Chinese girl¡Kwhat was her name? The one that played the piano?¡¨

Wufei frowned. ¡§Tzu Yun.¡¨

¡¨Right¡Kand the other one before that was named Gao Jun, I keep confusing their names. Anyway, the Tzu girl, she was unbelievably hot. I saw her a couple of weeks ago and she still has an ass that's not of this world. Didn't he date her sister before that? The one that always had her hair in a ponytail?¡¨

Wufei pulled his legs up tighter against his chest and looked down at his mug. ¡§Yes.¡¨

¡§I think he has a thing for Asians, because he sure dated a lot of them. He probably spent too much time with you.¡¨ David laughed at his own words and didn't notice Wufei's rigid posture.

David took another sip from his cooling tea. ¡§I wonder what his type is on the other side of the fence? Is he dating anyone now?¡¨

¡§No,¡¨ Wufei said, a bit too forcefully.

David gave him a strange look. ¡§Right. Well, there can't be a lot of gay guys in this town.¡¨

Wufei thinned his lips before answering in a stained voice. ¡§According to Duo there are two.¡¨

¡§Two? There has to be more than that,¡¨ David stated, in surprised voice.

Wufei laughed harshly, and wrapped his arms around his legs. ¡§That was what I said.¡¨

David had had enough of walking around the problem. ¡§¡KOkay, I promised myself that I was going to stay out of this, but I have to ask. What the fuck is up with you two? Are you pissed at him, or can't you handle the gay thing? What?¡¨

Wufei looked away. ¡§No, it's a bit more complicated than that.¡¨

¡§How?¡¨ David felt bad for pressuring his fragile looking friend, but he really believed that this had to be done. It was obvious that the man really wanted to tell someone but was hesitating to do so.

¡§Come on. Just tell me,¡¨ David said, in what he hoped was in an encouraging voice. He didn't think that he could ever replace Duo when it came to being the one Wufei confided things to, but maybe he could handle being a stand in until the both of them had worked out their differences.

Wufei took a shallow breath before answering. ¡§I- we dated for a while... It didn't work out.¡¨

David could feel his brain exploding and leaking out through his ears. ¡§What?! You¡¦re gay too?!¡¨

Wufei flinched. ¡§No. And therefore, the reason for the failed dating-relationship-thing.¡¨

The brunette hid his face in his hands.¡§... Fuck.¡¨ This was bad. This was really, really, really bad, and David had no idea what to do or say. He looked up at his friend, who was gripping his mug so hard that he was starting to wonder if it was going to shatter in his hands.

Wufei wrapped his arms around his naked chest. ¡§You don't know the half of it.¡¨

David desperately tried to gather his thoughts. ¡§This is so fucking strange. Did he ask you out or...¡¨

¡§No, I kind of did the asking,¡¨ the Asian said, and put his mug down on the coffee table.

David felt a headache coming along. ¡§... Let's see if I got this right. You are not gay. But when you found out that Duo was gay, you asked him out.¡¨

Wufei sighed. ¡§More or less. I just think that... mind over matter, right? That if I wanted to be gay, I could be gay. That if I just worked hard enough, I could control my own sexuality. Maybe I can't become gay enough to be attracted to just any male, but with Duo it's not the same thing... because... it's Duo. You know?¡¨

¡§Because he's your best friend... I must be losing my mind, because yeah, I get it.¡¨ He rubbed his forehead, trying to ease pressure there. ¡§... So, what happened? Why did you break up?¡¨

Wufei looked away. ¡§I freaked out, that¡¦s what happened.¡¨

¡§Over what? Couldn't handle the bad touching?¡¨ David snickered. This was all so bizarre that he couldn't help but see the humorous side of this fucked up mess.

¡§... Not exactly, but something in that direction.¡¨ The shorter man looked very uncomfortable, and it almost looked like he was blushing.

The brunette leaned towards his friend. ¡§Okay, stop with the bullshit, and just tell me what happened.¡¨

Wufei hesitated. ¡§We went on a couple of dates-¡¨

¡§How many?¡¨ David cut in.

¡§What does that have to do with it?¡¨ The Asian asked with a frown.

¡§Just tell me.¡¨

¡§Four, okay? Right, so we went on four dates and I-¡Kkind of got worried over the¡Kcopulation.¡¨

David managed not to roll his eyes. ¡§Sex, Wufei, it¡¦s called sex.¡¨

The Asian glared. ¡§Do you want to hear this or not?¡¨

¡§Yeah, but I don't get why you are pussy footing around it.¡¨

Wufei glared. ¡§Because it's embarrassing, that¡¦s why! I didn't know how it worked, so I got online and started to fucking -porn search- to find out. I saw some shit that freaked me out and I went running to Duo like I always do, and he dumped me. End of story.¡¨

David's jaw dropped in surprise. ¡§Just like that?¡¨

Wufei pulled at a loose thread on his pants. ¡§Yeah. He didn't think it would work, and that we were better of being friends.¡¨

David leaned back in the couch with his head on top of the backrest as he stared at the ceiling. ¡§Man, that¡¦s though.¡¨

Wufei made an agreeing noise. They sat in silence for what felt like forever, both thinking their own troubles trough.

Wufei suddenly spoke up. ¡§We were going to go to the movies. But I was early and-¡¨ He swallowed thickly and rested his head against his raised knees. ¡§They were on the couch. This huge guy was holding him down.¡¨ Wufei chuckled darkly. ¡§I thought he was getting assaulted, but instead he had only forgotten to mention that he was gay.¡¨

David realized that he sucked at this whole 'talking him through it' thing. But there wasn't anyone else. Duo was out, for obvious reasons, Wufei's family were out, Simon might be able to help. They had both known Wufei since their early teens, so he could probably help somehow. The only problem was that he was out of town. All the rest of their friends had moved. No, this was up to him, and he was going to do the best he could. ¡§Damn. This sounds like a bad TV-show.¡¨ David also realized that his best wasn't all that good.

Wufei snorted. ¡§It would probably look good on TV. Especially since I got in quite a few good hits on him.¡¨

'Ow,' was David¡¦s first thought. Wufei might look like a fragile guy, but with all that Karate that he had practiced over the years, he had one hell of a strong punch. ¡§Was he all right?¡¨

Wufei looked like just answering the question was giving him a bad taste in his mouth. ¡§-Kevin- was fine. Duo pulled me off before I managed to do any lasting damage.¡¨

'Now we¡¦re getting somewhere,' David thought in satisfaction. ¡§Kevin?¡¨

For a second he thought that he wasn't going to get an answer. ¡§The guy Duo dated after me.¡¨

David groaned. ¡§Don't tell me that he¡¦s just as much of a slut with the men as he is with the women!¡¨

Wufei flinched at his words. David clapped him on the shoulder. ¡§We all love the guy, but you know it's true.¡¨

¡§Well, he is not dating -Kevin- anymore ether¡Kapparently they are better off friends then¡K just like us¡K fuck, I need some alcohol.¡¨

David gave him a look of disbelief. ¡§I thought you didn't drink.¡¨

Wufei gave a short, bitter laugh as he wandered off towards the kitchen. ¡§Not without a good reason. And I have had a lot of great reasons to drink lately.¡¨

¡§Shit,¡¨ David whispered, as he heard the sound of glasses clinking together from the other room. This was not good. This was so far from good as you could get. The gay thing had been a surprise, but Wufei's quest to -become- gay so that he could date Duo had really turned everything inside out. But it didn't stop there. No, Duo had dumped Wufei, something that Wufei apparently did not agree with, but had gone along with.

This is where David felt a bit lost. Wufei wanted them to keep dating, but Duo had put a stop to it. But why had he done that? Wufei had said that it was because Duo had said that they were better off friends, but that didn't sound like the whole truth. Duo couldn't possibly have agreed to date Wufei, only to change his mind after four dates. The stakes was too high for casual dating. With anyone else, sure. But not with Wufei. Duo must have thought it through before agreeing.

This was all so fucked up. Maybe he could call up Clare; she might know what to do. If anyone could get them together it was his girlfriend. Maybe they could double date, or set them up on a 'blind date' with each other. David shook his head. No, things like that only worked in the movies. This was the real world, and there had to be a better way. David couldn't believe that he was contemplating how to get his two friends together as a couple. How the hell do you turn someone gay? Was it even possible? It seemed insane, but if anyone would be able to do it, it should be Wufei. Especially if he was doing it for Duo.

David realized that the more he thought about his two friends dating, the less strange it seemed. They had always been -unbelievably- close. Best friends to their dying breath. They grounded each other; you might even say that they completed each other. But to get them together, he had to find out why they had broken up. And for that, he had to go to the source. It was time to pay Duo another visit.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Duo opened his apartment door and revealed an uncomfortable looking David standing on the other side.

¡§Hey Duo, can I come in?¡¨

¡§Sure. Didn't expect to see you again so soon.¡¨ He stepped out of the way to let him in. Duo groaned when he caught a sight of his friend¡¦s stiff back. ¡§Are we going to be all awkward now? I'm not going to jump you.¡¨

David blinked in confusion before his eyes lit up in understanding. ¡§Hell Duo, get real. I couldn't care less about who you fuck around with, if it wasn't for the fact that Wufei somehow ended up in that category.¡¨

There was a moment of silence. ¡§So he told you.¡¨ Duo sighed and leaned back against the wall. ¡§ I did not 'fuck around' with Fei. We only dated a few times before we decided that the two of us were better off friends.¡¨

David crossed his arms, and leaned back against the wall opposite from him in the narrow hallway. ¡¨Funny, that¡¦s not what he said to me. He said that you dumped him.¡¨

Duo shook his head. ¡§I just said the words, but it was already over. It wasn't going to work. You can't change your sexuality. I should know, since I've been trying for years.¡¨

The brunette just looked at him for a few seconds before continuing. ¡§So you believe that Wufei feels the same way.¡¨

¡§Yes... He should. He does. He agreed with me when I said it. He was probably grateful that he didn't have to do it himself,¡¨ Duo said with certainty.

¡§That¡¦s not the impression I got... Do you want to know what I think?¡¨ David¡¦s eyes were hard and determined.

Duo sighed, and rubbed a hand over his tired face. ¡§...Yeah, sure,¡¨ he said, without enthusiasm.

¡§I think Wufei, as usual, got curious and went searching for answers. Only that he went too fast and panicked, over something that had nothing to do with the two of you. He then did what he always does when there is something he can't handle. He goes to you. Only that this time he didn't get the chance to ventilate his fears and get the help he needed. No, he got dumped. And since you obviously did not think your relationship was worth the hassle, Wufei didn't protest.¡¨

Duo stared at David with his mouth hanging open, before trying to stutter out a explanation.
¡§No! It- No we- He was-¡¨Duo took a deep breath. ¡§It wasn't like that. Or just not exactly like that... you should have seen him. It looked like he was falling apart. It was like a flashback from when we were teens and I couldn't risk him having a relapse, not over something that was never going to work out anyway. It would have been harder to break it off later, and by then it might have been too late... If we weren't friends any more-. I don't think I could handle it.¡¨

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

David was silent for a few seconds and just looked at his friend before speaking up. ¡§I've had enough of this. Wufei is falling apart and so are you.¡¨ Duo started to protest, but David just waved it off. ¡§So, I'm going to take off the silk gloves now, and tell it like it is. It's not going to be pretty, but here it goes.... I always thought you were the optimist and Wufei the pessimist, but from where I'm standing that is far from the case. Wufei had a lot of hope for this and really thought that he was going to make it, but you gave up before it even started. You know what else? I think you are scared. Yeah, that's right. Glare all you like, because I'm telling you anyway. It's obvious that you¡¦ve never had a relationship that worked out and you have no idea how to make one work. You have been dumped so many times that you probably don't even believe that you can keep someone. You don't trust yourself to make it work, and you don't trust Wufei to change for you. You are so scared of losing him that as soon as your relationship hit the first bump you stepped on the brakes. ¡§

¡§I- I- no, that- We-¡¨ Duo stuttered harshly.

David pressed on. ¡§You love him. Don't you?¡¨

¡§Yes,¡¨ the braided man said without hesitation.

¡§And if you had any faith in Wufei, you would know that one porn search was not going to destroy everything.¡¨

Duo hid his face in his hands, and David pretended not to see his shoulders shake, instead he kept going. ¡§You do realize, that if you just told him that you would like to try again he would happily agree.¡¨

¡§Yeah, well, that's Wufei for you. He would give anything for his friends, no matter the consequence for himself,¡¨ Duo muttered, roughly.

The taller man ignored him. ¡§It looks to me that Wufei thinks it would work.¡¨

¡§Well, he¡¦s wrong,¡¨ Duo stated.

¡§So you know him better then he does himself?¡¨ David questioned.

¡§Yes- No, but it's just- Would you stop it! It doesn't work that way. If you're gay, you are gay and if you're straight, you are going to stay straight.¡¨ Duo's eyes flashed angrily.

David decided that it was time to deliver the killing blow. This had dragged on long enough. ¡§Well, I don't think Wufei is that straight anymore, if he ever was straight.¡¨ He looked over at his friend, who looked like he was trying not to look hopeful at his words. ¡§The first clue is pretty obvious. Because I don't think a straight man would even consider dating another man.¡¨

¡§They might if they are self-sacrificing idiots.¡¨

¡§Hm, maybe. Did you know he makes this angry little frown every time he says the name 'Kevin'? A coincidence? I think not,¡¨ he said in a hard voice.

Duo shook his head weakly. ¡§He probably just... no one likes to be replaced. It doesn't mean anything.¡¨ He sank down on the floor and leaned his head heavily back against the wall.

David sighed. ¡§Okay, seriously. Listen to me. As far as I can tell, Wufei wants to try again. He didn't say it straight out, but it was very clear what he wanted.¡¨

Duo didn't say a word, and David had a slight de ja vu feeling when he looked at his friend, who had his hands clapped tightly together in his lap as he stared at the wall in front of him. He could just see Wufei mirroring his position, where he was probably still sitting on his couch. They really needed each other, and David was determined to get them together.

¡§What I want to know is, that if -he- told -you- that he wanted to try again, what would you say?¡¨

The silence was thick in the hallway. ¡§ I-.¡¨ The slumping man cut himself off and swallowed thickly. ¡§I would say yes.¡¨ He closed his eyes as if just speaking the words brought him great pain.

¡§Duo. You are going to have to think about that. Don't let your fears control you. Okay?¡¨ With that he clapped heavily on one of Duo's slumping shoulders, and left his friend to think.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Duo sat for a long time and stared blindly at the wall. David's words kept circulating in his head. He wanted to believe that he had broken up with him because Wufei had been uncomfortable and that he hadn't wanted to hurt him¡K not that he had been scared. That made the whole thing feel cheap. But David's words made a lot of sense. He had never had a working relationship. The closest he had got was his relationship with Sean, and look how that one had ended up. Loving people was hard, and he very rarely let himself feel more than fondness over the people he dated. He knew this. But shouldn't it be different with Wufei, since he already loved him? Had he been scared to let him in?

Duo thumped his head hard against the wall. No, he had let Wufei in. He really had done everything he could to make their relationship work¡Kbut maybe, just maybe he had given up too soon. What if he hadn't broken up with him? What if, instead of making tea, he had sat him down to talk? What if he had pulled him close and hugged him? What if he had asked Wu what he wanted? What if? What if? What if? The soul-cutting question tormented him over and over again.

Hours later he managed to pick himself up off the floor, and stumbled through his dark apartment to fall onto his bed. Maybe things would feel better in the morning. Duo snorted at the thought. 'Yeah, because the world just loves to make things go my way.' But as he pulled the cover over himself, he still prayed for a miracle.

He woke up, what felt like seconds later, to a very familiar phone signal. As blurry eyes took in the time, the drowsy man swore that Wufei better have a really fucking good excuse to be waking him up at seven in the morning on a Saturday. Fumbling for the right button he managed answer it, cutting the Mission Impossible tune off.

¡§Mhf,¡¨ he grumbled.

¡§Duo?¡¨

¡§Mhm.¡¨

¡§What are you doing?¡¨

¡§Sleeeep'n,¡¨ he mumbled, and pulled the cover up over his head.

¡§Oh... sorry.¡¨

¡§I's fine. Mmawake.¡¨

¡§Right... I-...I talked to David yesterday.¡¨ That woke him up like a bucket of cold water. Duo curled himself up against the headboard, feeling like he was trying to hide from the incoming words.

¡§Oh?¡¨ He managed to get out over the lump in his throat.

¡§He told me that...¡¨ Wufei cut himself off, but Duo had a pretty good idea of what their mutual friend had told him. He heard him take a deep breath before he spoke again.

¡§Duo...I want to try again.¡¨

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

AN/ And we are back on track ļ! Many thanks for my wonderful beta Reikoyazumi. There will be hugs for everyone that reviews. Hint-hint ;)

Oh! And another thing, this is the chapter where the story turns in to two versions. There is one version on fanfictionNet and one version on adultfanfictionNet/gundam-wing-fanfictionNet. The difference is that the AFFnet/GWU version is going to have detailed sex and a naughty Wufei who just can¡¦t keep his hands to himself, and the FFnet will not.

But the FFnet version is not the AFFnet version with the sex scene cut out. This story does in fact take another path. For example, this chapter that is only slightly different from it¡¦s other version on FFnet, has a part 2 where you get to follow Wufei after David left his apartment, that part has some adult situations that changes Wufei¡¦s character and therefore his actions. They are both going to end the same way (happy endings for everyone! Hurray!), they just get there differently. I hope that made sense. It will probably get clearer after a while

The reason why there is going to be two versions is that I (just for fun, back when this story was just a one-shot) wroth a chapter (that is now the part 2 of this chapter) where Wufei¡¦s sexuality is seen in a different light. This changes Wufei¡¦s view of himself and the way he deals with the situation. The problem was that it didn¡¦t fit in the story line. So I decided to make another one.

So there is the original story line on FFnet that is more focused on the emotional and the other story line on AFFnet/GWU that focuses a bit more on the¡K physical (in translation, there is sex and stuff in it). So now it¡¦s up to you which part you feel like reading ƒº

Well that is all from me. The next chapter is almost done and will be out as soon as possible. Thank you for reviewing