Notes: #...# indicates thoughts/thinking.
Interlude VIII
Duo approached the estate carefully. It wasn't as heavily guarded as it should be. Most of the troops seemed to have been pulled recently. He flitted from shadow to shadow, not believing that Oz troops here were more lax about security then the ones that usually guarded military bases. The outbreak in hostilities towards the Sank Kingdom and the Pro-Treize factionalism lent a little disorder to his enemies, but this was ridiculous! There was no one here. How were they guarding this place? Where they inside? Was he in chains? What?
Duo continued to slowly infiltrate the base, trying not to get too overconfident. He couldn't relax his guard until he was out of here and on the way to the Sank Kingdom. He hoped that T-chan didn't have guards in his rooms, that would put a crimp on one set of plans that he had. He had missed T-chan. He wanted to be able to spend the night with him, just being held. He didn't care if they actually did anything, he just wanted to be with him.
Duo slowly worked, by passing the security system and going through the computer controls. He was surprised to see embedded in so very odd looking programs, the fact that all the Gundam pilots could waltz in and out of Romafellers headquarters with ease. The security program had them flagged as friendlies. He had to ask T-chan about that. He figured out where T-chan's ‘guest' quarters was and made his way down to that level. From the information that he could gather, the Romafellers left Treize alone to his books, his music and other amusements. It was an honorable confinement, but Duo was not too sure how long it was going to last.
The Romafellers played dirty and they played for keeps. The scientists were only about two baby steps aside from them for treachery and dirty dealings. Duo half heartedly mused on all this as he made his way towards his target. Hopefully T-chan was alone, but there was no way of telling until he broke into the place. In for a penny, in for a pound, he could always claim he was to shoot him or free him whichever made more sense at the time. Duo held his breath, prayed and silently unlocked the door. He slipped in quietly, worried to see that the lights were out, it was too early for T-chan to have hit the sack. Classical music played in the back and Duo followed the sound. He ghosted through the apartment, silently following the music until he reached the source. He recognized the piece as the Hungarian Dance from "Swan Lake". He hoped that T-chan wasn't torturing himself by listening to Duo's favorite piece. The poor guy was in enough trouble already. Duo got to the edge of the door and just looked.
Treize was in bed, curled up with a book, with a glass of wine by the side of the bed. He appeared to be alone, but Duo couldn't resist just taking a look at him before he announced his presence. T-chan looked pale. Duo thought it was because the other man was not getting enough sun. Imprisonment did that to you. He looked engrossed in whatever he was reading, but there was an air of sadness about him. Duo felt his heart skip a little, knowing that he was the cause of that. He made a little scuffling noise before he stepped into the light. Duo was surprised to see that T-chan dropped the book and pointed a pistol at him. Duo laughed. It was the perfect way to be reunited with him, over the barrel of a gun.
"I missed you," Duo said softly, "And I'm sorry that I worried you."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Duo crossed the room in a couple of strides and leaped onto the bed. Treize barely had time to drop the gun and the book before his arms were filled with Duo kissing him like he never wanted to stop. Treize returned his kisses, eventually rolling Duo over, trapping the smaller figure beneath himself and just staring at him.
"I was worried. I wanted to find you, but realize that hiding was the best thing for you. You look better then the last time that I saw you." he said before starting another round of kisses. Duo's hands hadn't been idle, he was busily running them up and down Treize's back and arms, any place that he could touch. "Quatre told me you were safe and I was happy." Treize murmured, moving down to nibble on Duo's ear lob.
Duo moaned helplessly. Every place that T-chan touched felt like it was on fire. He tried to get closer to his lover, attempting to physically merge into T-chan, though their hug. "I wanted to come and hold your hand and tell you that everything would be okay." he whispered softly.
"That is touching. Impractical, but touching." Treize smiled down at him. "The verbal dancing that you have done both reassure me and not lie would have been breathtaking."
Treize leaned his weight on his left arm, freeing up his right hand for the important task of unbuttoning his shirt. As he undid each button, he kissed the chest that was showing beneath it. Treize was very thankful that Duo was only wearing a loose denim shirt, it made undressing him so much easier. Duo whimpered when he felt Treize's lips touch his chest. He gasped when Treize nudged the shirt aside and attacked his nipple. The small nips that he felt sent his desire higher and he writhed on the bed, moaning loudly. Treize transferred his attention to his other nipple, playing with gently as his fingers pinched its mate. Duo clutched at his hair and made the oddest noise, a cross between a scream and a mew. After a few minutes of this Duo tugged Treize's head up and wiggled down the bed, afraid that if Treize continued his attentions he'd come in his pants. Duo kissed Treize deeply, stabbing his tongue into his mouth, seeming to try and swallow him whole. He frantically ripped at Treize's shirt wanting to feel him against him. he' s been hungry for his touch, the smell of him, his presence. He felt Treize gasp against his mouth as his fingertips found his nipples and gently stroked them. They hardened under his touch, causing Treize to moan loudly in his mouth, then start to kiss down the side of his neck, nibbling and sucking on his skin, getting drunk on the feel and taste of Duo. It had been too long and he'd spent too many nights worried about Duo. He needed to take him now. To feel him around him, to lose himself in the warmth and life that was his lover. He fumbled lower, unfastening Duo's pants and pulling them down. Duo helped, toeing off his boots and wiggling with abandon so that Treize could pull off his pants. He fumbled trying to get Treize's pants off him, but he was shaking so hard he could hardly undo the buttons.
Treize smiled and quickly took off his pants, amused that Duo was so gone in his passion that he couldn't see straight. As they both lost their pants, Duo started uttering little whimpers and shaking. Treize started slowly rocked back and forth, moaning when his erection rubbed across Duo's. Duo arched and moaned back, clutching Treize harder. "Make love to me, like nothing else matters." he begged.
"Nothing else matters, but you right now. We are the only two people in the Universe." Treize replied, kissing him. Duo moaned and opened his legs, wordlessly begging the bigger man to take him. He didn't care if he was ready or not, he wanted to feel T-chan deep inside him, filling him and taking away all the empty spaces inside of his soul and his heart.
"Shh my sweet, shhh." Treize soothed him, wondering if he could let go of Duo long enough to get the bath oil in the other room. He didn't think that Duo had anything with him, since he was missing the usual pack he carried on his visits. Also looking into Duo's glazed eyes and yearning body, Treize doubted that Duo could tell him were his pack was, if he had brought it with him. It was difficult, but he managed to heave himself away from Duo, dragging his reluctant body away from the boy, and stumbling into the bathroom, trying not to falter from the keen of loneliness that Duo made.
He was back in a second, his own body screaming at him to take Duo right now, no matter if he was prepared on not. Treize controlled himself with difficulty and rejoined Duo in the bed, slowly pouring oil down the front of him, watching him gasp as the cold liquid hit his skin and then trailed ticklingly down his body. After a second Treize trailed his fingers through the oil and then delicately tickled his way down Duo's firm stomach and around his cock to probe at the small rosebud that interested him at this moment. Duo wailed and clutched at the sheet, writhing at the sensations that were going through his body. He unconsciously hitched his hips closer to Treize, practically impaling himself on the fingers that were trying to gently stretch him.
"Shh Duo, my love, my sweet. I don't want to hurt you. You can wait, only a moment and then I'm yours."
"Now...please...love me...I want you...please!" Duo cried brokenly, arching upwards, searching for something, he couldn't tell what.
Treize leaned down and kissed him, slowly removing his fingers. Duo moaned and then sighed when Treize's fingers were replaced with something else, gently probing at him. Duo moaned, shifted and then suddenly wrapped his legs around Treize's waist and forced him inside from the strength of his legs. The both cried out, Treize in amazement at the feelings that being joined with Duo gave him. He held still for a moment, letting Duo adjust to him inside. Duo gasped for a few moments, glad that one of them had the presence of mind to hold back and kept the damage at a minimum, he was pushing to the limits of what he could stand. With a soft cry, he started to rock, wrapping himself around Treize, again trying to merge with him, covering him with kisses wherever he could reach, hands stroking ceaselessly, trying to memorize the feel of him.
Treize kissed Duo deeply, maneuvering him so that he was gentle rocking Duo, hitting that small piece of him that caused his nerves to sing and moan. Duo threw his head back, engulfed in the sensations that T-chan being deep inside of him caused. It took only a few strokes before he tensed and screamed, covering T-chan and himself with his seed. Treize came a thrust or two later, driven over the edge by Duo's scream.
As Treize came back onto his mind, he realized the Duo was still clutching at him and kissing his chest. Treize attempt to move, stopped by Duo softly voiced, "Don't."
"I won't, then." Treize said softly, tilting his head down and kissing Duo deeply. Treize felt himself gradually soften and reluctantly withdrew from Duo, disturbed over the soft cry of loss that he gave. He frowned at the slight traces of blood that he found on himself. "Duo...?"
"I'm afraid." #Don't be angry. I didn't feel it. I'll heal. Just love me. Don't let go.#
"I'm not going to disappear the instant you let me go," Treize comforted him.
"I know that, but my heart refuses to believe it. I don't want you to leave like all the others." was Duo's mumbled reply. Treize shifted so he that was lying on the bed with Duo on top of him, cuddling him closer. He idly undid Duo's braid to let his hair cascade over the two of them. Duo snuggled down further, trying to have his entire body touching Treize's. "I know that's silly and childish..." Duo's voice trailed off as Treize kissed him into silence.
"I love you Duo. I know that you love me too. And you are afraid because everyone that you've loved has died. You are not being silly or selfish." Treize reassured him. #You've been hurt so often, I surprised that you let yourself fall in love with me.#
"I'm sorry." #T-chan, what were worse then the dreams about you, were the nightmares. The ones that told me that you were dead. Or that you didn't want me any more.#
"About what? That you left with Wufei that night? You didn't lie to me and tell me that everything would be fine. You didn't know what would happen. And you never lied to me about anything, so you weren't going to lie to me about that. I know that what you are doing is needed. I understand that your sense of responsibility will not let you give me what you want to. I worried about you, but I was never angry at you." #I just don't have to like it. I hate it because it's you, more then anything. The others I just think of it as a tragedy, a waste of what they might be. For you it tears at me because it's draining the life out of you.#
"Thank you," was Duo's whispered reply. "I can't choose between you and the colonies. I was so tired. I still am. I'm torn, I don't want to hurt you. You've been hurt enough, by the Federation and other people."
"Duo, the way things are now, we are never going to meet in battle. I understand what you are doing. We have time." #Your ghosts and your guilt demands that you see this through. I understand that. The specters that haunt me are the same. People I've killed, lives I've ruined mistakes that I made. We are both bound by our pasts to finish this to the end, even if it kills us or not.#
"Do we?" Duo asked sadly. #Time, just stolen moments, not the rest of our lives together. I want to leave this. To stop fighting. I want it to be you and me on a far off place that has never heard of OZ or Gundams. But that's never going to happen, because I can't stop fighting. I won't put someone else though this hell I call a life. And you won't let go to have the Romafellers ruin the dream you have. We are both too obsessed with the thought of not having someone else suffer.#
"We have now. And how long can you stay?" Treize asked. #Let me comfort you and spoil you. Give you good memories to keep you going, to have you endure the others distrust and your loneliness. #
"A couple of days. Quatre is going to have me meet the rest of them in the Sank Kingdom. I don't know what their reaction is going to be. I know that they don't trust me. They shouldn't." Duo mumbled and then yawned. "Suddenly I'm wiped."
"Could it be that we were just rolling around like a pair of crazed cats? Could that have something to do with it?" Treize asked drolly, fighting back his own yawns. #Why shouldn't they? You are in this fix because of them, whether they believe it or not. Your controllers thought that you were pawns to be moved and used in this game, not realizing that you have feelings and needs. I am no better then they are, but I know that people were dying for me, not things.#
"Don't wanna to sleep. I want to be awake the entire time..."Duo protested as his voice dropped off and his eyes closed. Treize threw the cover over the both of them, cuddling Duo close as he slept, hoping that his presence would chase away any bad dreams that he had.
He was dreaming, he had to be. He was swimming though a sea of warm chestnut, engulfed in its warmth and security. Treize dreamed of this often, when Duo wasn't with him, covered in the silkiness of his hair and the pleasure of his being there in bed with him. They had too few moments that they were together. Treize woke up slightly as he felt Duo's hair move and felt the ghosts of kisses that he was covering his body with. Treize sighed and wiggled, enjoying the feelings of desire that were growing within him slowly. Duo moved up his chest slowly, centimeter by centimeter, covering him in soft kisses and gentle caresses. He stopped when he reached Treize's mouth and slowly covered it with his own, shyly almost, slipping his tongue between his teeth.
"Mmmm...Duo" Treize moaned. "Don't...."
"I won't" was the husky reply. "Let me love you..."
"Always," Treize replied, opening his eyes to look into Duo's. "Forever. No matter what. I will be yours." Duo glowed at that simple declaration.
"I love you."
"I've known that for a while. I've reveled in the knowledge and feared that it would break you." #If something happens to me, I don't think that you'd last long. You'd follow me, because it hurts too much to be left behind all the time. And I fear that because you have so much ahead of you, even if you don't believe it. #
"You've given yourself to Death, do you really want that?" Duo asked sadly.
"You are Shinigami, but death is not evil. You are needed sometimes. And you are so alive, so loving. Death is not a bad thing to belong to if it is you." Treize reassured him. "Love me. Claim me."
Duo didn't answer him but leaned down to steal another shy kiss. Treize returned it, astonished at the gentleness that Duo was showing, the opposite of their wild coupling earlier. Duo had faced his fears finally and was showing him his feelings, because he was still afraid to tell him. Treize didn't mind, they had time. Duo knew when words wouldn't do, when he could only show his feelings. Treize acquiesced to his lover's quiet, desperate demand and let him love him.
Duo continued to cover his body with soft ghostly kisses, tantalizing and delicate. Treize moaned, writhing under the faint pressure, wishing that he would press harder. After an endless hazy time when all that mattered to Treize was the feel of Duo lips, hands and hair on his body, he felt Duo stop. Treize blinked at him in his haze, wondering what was wrong. Duo smiled reassuringly and started to gently stroke Treize, oiling his cock so that he could impale himself on it. He wanted to be joined with Treize, to never be separated from him. Treize stopped him and gently drew him down for a kiss.
"Take me." he whispered into Duo's mouth. Duo's eyes widened and he shook his head ‘no'. "I trust you. You'll be gentle." he encouraged him.
"Are you sure?" Duo's eyes huge eyes looked at him with love. " I'll stop if it hurts." He promised.
"Duo. It shouldn't hurt. And it would if you let me take you again. I saw the blood. I don't want to hurt you." Treize said softly.
Duo leaned over and kissed him again, oiled fingers gently trailing down Treize's body to find what he was looking for. They teased him gently, slowly entering him and then withdrawing, almost tickling him. Treize was almost insane with desire by the time that Duo judged that he had been stretched enough. Treize had almost grabbed Duo and forced the boy to take him, but realized that Duo didn't want to hurt him. It was interesting sensation, giving all the control to Duo. He whimpered with forefillment when Duo slowly entered him, pausing to let him readjust after each inch had been absorbed by Treize. He then thrust gently, finding that small bit of heaven that when he brushed against it, he sent stars flashing in Treize's brain.
Duo whimpered, amazed at the heat that he was feeling. It was so different to take Treize, to be the leader in this waltz. He sighed when he withdrew and groaned when he was welcomed back into the tight heat that was his lover. He never wanted this gentle torture to end. He kept his eyes open, staring into Treize's, watching the look of wonder that appeared in them as his orgasm exploded within him. That was the last sight that he had as his own body responded to Treize's joy. His vision greyed out and when he could think again he was still in Treize and being engulfed by his arms.
"Thank you Duo," Treize whispered in his ear, "I want to know how it felt, when the person loved you."
Duo tilted his head up and looked into his eyes. "Now you know how it feels, you make me feel like that every time, no matter what. You have given me something that I can't describe."
"I understand, because you have given me the same gift." Treize said, gently caressing his face. Duo shifted and gently withdrew, gratified that Treize just sighed as he left him. He was still terrified that he had hurt him. Treize wiggled a little with a thoughtful look on his face.
"You were right, it does feel like good. I should do this more often."
Duo buried his head in Treize's chest and giggled. Treize smiled down at him and stroked his back. "I don't hear that enough. You're filled with laughter and I don't see it out of you often enough."
"It was just so funny," Duo replied, looking up at him, after he curled up next to him. "Like it was, oh I don't know, something like a note to Une, ‘remind me to be the bottom more often. Is enjoyable like eating coffee ice cream.' ya know?"
"But it is. I never thought that it would be, past experience...." Treize's voice trailed off as Duo hugged him wordlessly.
"If I wasn't enjoying you, do you think that I would let you do that? Or if I didn't trust you..." Duo's voice trailed off as he yawned again and threw the blanket over the two of them. Treize wrapped his arms around Duo as they dozed off, content in the afterglow.
Duo roused himself from the circle of his lover's arms to listen closer to the reports that had been filtering in during the time that they had been lost in each other. T-chan wasn't as cut off as he thought. He still could observe everything that was going on, just couldn't do anything. Must be driving him insane. Duo was starting to get alarmed at the steady stream of Romafeller troops that were surrounding the building that they were in. It seemed that a battle was going to be fought right above their heads. Lovely. The Pro-Treize troops were either making their last stand above them or trying to get T-chan out of here. They would be very surprised if they broke in and found Duo here with T-chan. Duo and Treize sat up and started over to the desk, settling down to listen to the reports. It didn't look like it was going to be pretty.
"Romafeller Foundation really wants to get rid of you." Duo remarked wryly, leaning over his shoulder to watch the monitor, at the vast amount of Mobile Dolls that were gathering outside. "New model too. I think that they are called Virgos."
"My death is needed to stop the rebellion in OZ and to stop the war, I am sure of it." Treize said quietly.
"How are you sure?" Duo demanded, surprised that he sounded so reasonable when there was a voice in the back of his mind screaming ‘NO! NO! NO!'
"I'll tell you later, I experimented with something that I shouldn't have to get that information." Treize replied, a haunted look in his eyes. "Also Romafeller seems to be targeting the Sank Kingdom also for harboring some of the Pro-Treize troops. They want to wipe the board clean of their enemies." #They want to purge everyone that opposes them. It isn't any different then it was thirteen years ago. Why did I think they would change?#
"They won't with the Sank Kingdom, the rest of the pilots are there. Whether Relena likes it or not, they will fight to save her. She's too important even though she's a pain." Duo said firmly. "Also Treize Kushrendra is the one that has to die, not you T-chan."
"We both might have to die Duo. I'm sorry, but that is a fact." #I don't want to leave you, but I might have to. I am not lying to you about that. And even though you want me to, you will prefer it if I tell the truth.#
"Just don't do anything stupid." Duo pleaded, aware that not three meters away was the bed that they had spent the last several hours making love in. "I have the deed to that cabin. Une owns it now. She doesn't know it though. Just go there if the war ends and you're still breathing. The name on all the ID is Trevor Solo. There's enough ID to give you a new start, plus all the accounts that I set up. You survive, you have few years before you have to worry about stuff. More if you invest it. I have a lot on money stashed away, thanks to OZ"
"Duo. Thank you." Treize's voice was quiet. "I will try to survive, I told I wanted a life with you after this war. No matter who wins." #No mention of yourself, my sweet. It really wouldn't be worth it if you're not there with me. You don't think that you'll survive this do you?#
"Thank you. I'm just worried that the Maxwell luck will catch up with you. Everyone that I have loved died in an icky, spectacular manner. I don't want to add you to that list."
"Don't worry about that. Just concentrate on getting yourself through this war." Treize replied tenderly, kissing him on top of his head. "You're on the front line doing stupid things more then I am."
"It's a Gundam pilot thing." Duo teased back, uncomfortable suddenly with the emotions that were dancing around them. #Oh God T-chan. How could I have told you how much I love you without worrying about my luck or my friends or your position. How can you tell me that you love me, after finding out all the terrible things that I did to survive?#
Duo stared at the screen, noticing that the Treize troops were rapidly falling to the Mobile Dolls. " I'm sorry T-chan. This shouldn't be happening. War is evil, rotten and disgusting. Mobile Dolls don't show the Romafellers that. And they're slaughtering your men like they would animals. And we just watch."
"There is something that I can do. I have a mobile suit and I'm going to use it." Treize declared running to the door. He barely stopped long enough to grab clothes and dress. Duo rushed after him, fumbling with his own clothes, trying to stop T-chan from doing something really stupid and suicidal.
"Damn it! Stop!" Duo screamed, trying to pull on his pants and braid his hair at the same time. "Don't just run out on me! Explain what the Hell is going on!"
#Shit T-chan do not pull a Heero Yuy on me. ‘Cause you may hate me afterwards, but I will stop you from self destructing. So explain. I don't think that the Romafellers would let you take a suit into arrest with you, so you have something that they don't know about. And you're going to tip your hand to save a couple dozen soldiers that are willing to die for you. That's the man I fell in love with.#
Duo was still talking to himself when he bumped into the back of Treize, They were standing in what looked like a library.
"I've something to show you Duo. This machine that I had built is what I thought was the next step in mobile suit production. I was wrong. But it's still here and I'm going to use it to save those men." Treize said quietly.
"Not you, me." Duo replied firmly. "I'm the better pilot, I've seen more real action then you have recently. I also have the advantage of experience. I've fought against the Mobile Dolls more. And you can't sneak to save yourself, it's not in you. Just show me what it's got and I going to save those guys. Don't argue- we don't have time."
Treize stared, cursed and nodded. Duo was right. He had more time against the mobile dolls and his tactics were sneakier, which was what was needed in this situation. Duo was a professional, no matter what anyone thought about him. If Treize had been the better person for this operation, Duo would have stayed behind. He would have screamed a lot, but would have stayed behind.
"Epyon will increase your response time against the Dolls. But it has some side effects in battle that I found out. You not only will see who is your enemy, but who might be your enemy. It gives you answers that you don't want to know to questions that shouldn't be asked." Treize quietly explained Epyon's functions to Duo, as he ran through a very quick warm up and was ready to blast off, when Treize stopped him.
"Duo, I love you." Treize said quietly. "Don't let this monster of a machine get to you. It's not friendly like Shinigami, Epyon is hostile to its user. Come back to me. Don't fight to win, just get as many of those men out of there as possible. Winning is what drives you insane."
"T-chan, I love you. And I am already insane. Just let me try and save lives instead of killing them." Duo asked, tears coming to his eyes. This was not fair! He shouldn't to do this to T-chan. He was going to go through hell before Duo got back and then hate himself if something happened. Treize kissed him hard and climbed out of the cockpit. Duo waved and took off.
Duo waded into battle with his usual glee. It had been too long. And he was trying to save something, not destroy it. That was enough to make him laugh with joy. At first it wasn't bad, the fighting wasn't too heavy and he did mange to buy enough time for the troops to retreat to the Sank Kingdom. It wasn't much, but they had a better chance there then facing the waves of dolls that Romafellers were dumping on them. Then he noticed it. His response time was speeding up, he had a faster reaction time then the Dolls it seemed. And then the hallucinations started.
The screen melted and a sharp pain just shot through his head. Duo screamed and clawed at the helmet, trying to get it off him. Then it started. At first there was only one. A tiny dancing Shinigami. Then he split into dozens of the bloody things, all moaning at him. If he concentrated he could make out what they were saying, but he knew that it would be a bad thing if that happened. Whatever they wanted to tell him, he didn't want to know. He shouldn't know. So he screamed some more in his head and when he stopped screaming he found out that an hour had passed. And there was nothing left standing within five miles of his position. He had gone berserk in Epyon when the hellish machine had whispered its poison in his ear. And he remembered all of what the damn thing had told him. All of it. It lay in the back of his mind, ready to jump out at the worse possible moment. Aside for the oblivious thing that he was his own worse enemy. He didn't need a machine to tell him that.
Thankfully Luxembourg was still standing and the Romafellers had paid more attention to the Sank Kingdom then himself. Duo pulled himself together and managed to make it back to T-chan without too much trouble. He landed, almost on top of T-chan, his control slipping at the last minute. T-chan waited for him to very shakily climb out of the cockpit and collapse at his feet before he gathered Duo in his arms and cried.
"Duo, I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have had to do that. I shouldn't have been a coward. I couldn't face my demons in that machine and you had to suffer for it." Treize scooped Duo up and carried him into the bedroom, cradling him tenderly. He noticed that Duo had bitten his lips a lot and there were dried tears on his face. His body and hair were soaked, as if he had been swimming.
"T-chan," Duo said hoarsely, he had screamed his lungs out more then once, he thought. It hadn't all been in his mind. "I survived. You survived. How many got away before I lost control?"
"All of the survivors, about twenty or so. They made it to the border unscathed and were escorted further in by a Taurus." Treize reported. "Sleep my sweet. I'll wake you in a little while with some tea."
Duo murmured at this, already falling asleep as Treize stripped him of his clothing. Treize made no effort to lock himself in. If the Romafellers were looking for him, they had the keys. He didn't care about anyone else. He curled up beside Duo, gathering the boy in his arms. He was surprised that Duo seemed to sleep peacefully the first hour or so that he watched him before he dropped off himself.
Treize woke up and gently disentangled himself from Duo. It was like sleeping with an octopus at times, between the hair and the fact that Duo did not want to let him go. He didn't want to leave himself, but if he didn' t there was going to be another wet spot on this bed and not in a good way. Treize made his way to the bathroom, and afterwards splashed water on his face in an effort to wake up. Duo hadn't quite exhausted him, but it was damn close. The battle and worry about him fighting on top of that didn't help.
Treize was going over the reports from the Sank Kingdom when he felt a movement at his back. He cursed the fact that his pistol was beside the bed with Duo's. After the first week here, he always had it within reach. He usually wasn't paranoid, but it didn't pay to take chances. He went to stand up to grab his pistol, when a large hand came down on his shoulder and pinned him to the chair.
"Treize, Koibito. It's been a long time." purred a familiar voice in his ear.
"Zechs or is it Mirialdo? You do seem to switch back and forth between the two." Treize asked in a lazy manner, that tried to cover the panic buttons that were going off in his head. His instincts told him that the other pilot was trouble. Duo curled up naked on his bed didn't help. Ex-lovers never wanted to know that they have been replaced. His last experience with Mirialdo had been painful physically and mentally. He didn't think that he could repeat that. Not after Duo.
Duo woke up, trying to fight his way through the cotton batting that was surrounding his brain. There was someone else in the room, but he was too strung out to recognize the voice. It was low and rumbly, with the same aristocratic accent that T-chan had. Okay that meant that it could be anyone from the Romafeller Foundation to one of Relena's supporters. He'd wait and hope that nothing went wrong because the way that he felt, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.
"But I thought that was what you liked about Lady Une and I. Our dual natures because of the feelings that we had for you. It was those feelings that resulted in Une getting shot on the moon base. She's been transferred to the Balji and is in a coma."
Duo cracked his eyes opened slightly. That was news to him. he hoped that Une was going to be okay, cause T-chan needed her. She was practically his other half. Just couldn't be more then good friends. He really couldn't see who it was, because the room was so dark. The monitor was flickering, it had gone into screen saver mode, so the guy had been here a while. He was leaning over T-chan and they were kissing noisily. He had tipped back the chair and was leaning over T-chan trying to see if he had all his teeth with his tongue. T-chan wasn't fighting it, but Duo sensed a tension in his body that suggested that he wasn't enjoying the attentions of the other man. The long light hair gave Duo the clue about their unannounced visitor. It was Relena's brother, Mirialdo. T-chan's ex-lover. Duo's heart stopped for a second and he almost sobbed until he realized that no matter what Mirialdo thought about stepping back into T-chan's life, T-chan wasn't happy about it. The body language screamed that fact to Duo.
Mirialdo stopped kissing T-chan, but still kept the chair tipped back so that he could tower above him. The look on his face was neutral, leaning towards hostile. He was not happy about the lack of cooperation from his ex-lover. He thought that Treize would be overjoyed to see him again, they had been together for a while. But breaking in and seeing that street rat of a Gundam pilot peacefully sleeping in bed was infuriating. And Mirialdo could guess why he was asleep. The entire room smelled of sex. Treize still kept that kurva around. And how did Duo manage to sneak in here? He couldn't be that good at anything besides spreading his legs.
"I see you kept that little bastard in your bed. Honestly Treize, he is street trash. You replaced me with a cheap whore. Were you that desperate? Or is he actually that good? He is beautiful, but...."
"Mirialdo, what do you want?" Treize interrupted calmly. "You lost the right to govern my actions or care about who was in my bed when you walked out on me. I never complained when you and Noin were together."
Mirialdo started at the mention of Noin's name. He didn't think that Treize had known about them. But it might have been hard to hide since Lucrecia just glowed when he was around.
#So the someone you've allied with is the Gundam scientists, who are about the only people that know about Duo's past. That means that they've joined White Fang with you. But what do you want now? I don't think that it was love for me that brought you back here.# Treize thought, quickly considering and discarding several plans of action to get away from Mirialdo. Nothing that he could do would get him away from Mirialdo fast enough without causing the man to hurt Duo.
That Mirialdo thought that he would be waiting for him eagerly showed how little the other man understood him, after all the time that they had been together. Or that he was forgetting very conveniently the last few months that they had been together. He'd always been good at forgetting those things that were inconvenient to him, as shown with his obsession with dueling Heero Yuy and rebuilding TallGeese.
"I want that prototype that is sitting in the courtyard. You made it for me and I'm claiming it as mine." Mirialdo growled. "You may have let him fly it, but you made it for me." #I need that suit to escape. TallGeese is scrap now from the fighting. I think that little bastard Yuy enjoyed shooting at me.#
"I made it for myself actually. Mirialdo. You may think that you could have been the test pilot, but you lost that chance when you went into space as my enemy. You had finally pushed the Foundation too far with your personal fight with Heero and I couldn't protect you anymore. Not that I wanted to after our last encounter. Did forcing me make you feel any more powerful? Any more secure?"
"Submissive. That's what you wanted." Mirialdo taunted him, ignoring his questions. "He is willing to lie back and get fucked by the great man. So you were willing overlook the fact that he's been had by almost anyone stationed in the L2 sector for the price of a meal and water."
"Considering how expensive water is in L2 the colonies, that is a lot. But aside from the stupidity that you are indulging in right now of angering me by questioning my taste in lovers, what are your plans?" Treize asked, fury in his voice. Mirialdo didn't seem to notice it.
#Mirialdo, have you ever been hungry?# Treize raged silently, #Aside from a few nights after the fall of the Sank Kingdom, you have been taken care of by someone in one way or another, be it your father's people, the Academy and then finally OZ. You have never had to scramble for anything that you wanted. You never cared enough to sacrifice yourself to protect someone else. So do not judge a boy that did not have the good fortune to be orphaned from a royal family. And a heart that was willing to make sacrifices for others. #
"I'm going to screw you and then take the Gundam Epyon into Space with me. The Earth is no longer worthy of life. Humans have not learned that war is futile. So I will teach them the error of their ways. You can not change the world into what you once wanted because you allowed yourself to be distracted by that cheap piece of meat that is warming your bed. The last thing that he going to see and hear is you moaning my name as I fuck you up the ass. Then I'm going to kill him." Mirialdo threatened, leaning down to kiss Treize again.
The quiet click of Duo cocking his gun sounded very loud in the room.
"Mirlaldo, step back or I will kill you. Do not touch him again. He doesn't want you to. Live with it. And if you don't think that I am bluffing, ask Dr. G next time you see the bastard how many men I killed. I was their favorite assassin for a while. You'd just be another body that I had to clean up. No more. No less." Duo's tone was quiet and matter of fact. The gun was steady in his hand. Mirialdo looked into his eyes and saw that they were very cold and very hard. They looked harder then the amethysts that they resembled. "If he wanted you, I wouldn't argue about it. But he doesn' t seem to be enchanted to see you again so take the damn Gundam and don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out."
"So the bitch does have claws. I though that all the spirit had been taken from you when you were willing to crawl into bed with the enemy general without a murmur of complaint." Mirialdo observed in amusement, slowly backing out. There would be other times. "Until we meet again Koibito." he said to Treize, his tone taunting, "Did he tell you that it was orders? Or did he actually say that he loved you? "
Duo kept the gun trained on Mirialdo until he was out the door. Treize sat still and allowed Duo to track the bigger man until he was out of sight. He waited a few moments and then made his way to the bed. He was surprised when Duo curled up into a ball and started shaking.
"Thank God he didn't know that I couldn't hit the broad side of a Mobile Suit right now." Duo muttered.
"Thank you. I let my guard down. I should have known that he was going to be here." Treize said softly. He put his arm around Duo and relieved when he shifted his position and rested his head on his lap, handing him his gun.
"Why? Because he'd be worried about his sister? I really doubt that. Or because Epyon called to him? It wasn't like I was actually discreet out there. Do you know how much damage I caused? I hope that I didn't kill anyone that got caught between the two forces. He's welcome to the bloody machine. He's brain is la-la enough that it won't notice the blasted thing whispering to him." Duo spat out. His voice softened, an uncertain note coming into it. "I hate to ask this, but I am feeling a little uncertain here...do you still want a relationship with him? You guys have a history that I can't match. I don't think you do, but I don't own you."
Duo looked up at Treize with bright eyes, soft and caring. And guilty. He felt like a fool for asking that question, but it had to be done, because if it wasn't it might ruin what they had. He was hanging on to himself by his fingertips and he could feel himself slipping. T-chan rejecting him would be the final blow.
Treize smiled down at him. Duo had every right to ask that question, considering what Mirialdo had been doing to him before Duo intervened. And a little uncertain was fine. Duo had just gotten his brains scrambled by Epyon and did have a slight problem with confidence about himself. He didn't think that he was worthy of love because everyone died on him. It happened to some people and Duo shouldn't think that he was a Jonah because people died on him. But Mirialdo had never looked at him with such honest and selfless love in his life. There had always been a calculated side to their relationship for him.
"Duo I love you. I don't love him. He killed any hope that we had the night he abused me. Walking back into my life like he never left didn't endear him to me either. Now I am going to go brush my teeth because I want to get the taste of him out of my mouth." Treize quietly said, dropping a kiss on the top of Duo's head. "Thank you for protecting my virtue. It needed it because I let him get the drop on me. I got too comfortable."
"Treize. I hate to say this. But I have to leave. They did give me a few days but, I got to tell the others that Epyon exists and that Mirialdo has it. So a shower and then I gotta run." Duo said, his eyes darkening. "I keep walking out on you and that sucks."
"You are leaving me to tell your fellow pilots vital information. That does take back seat to me. I understand that. I'd rather have a long shower so that it would give Mirialdo time to get out of the area. I do not like the way that he was looking at you. You've made an enemy in him my sweet."
"I don't care. He was threatening you." Duo's tone was fierce. "You don't have to put up with that crap from anyone. The worse that he can do is to kill me. That's it. And he's gonna have to better then he did this afternoon ‘cause it was pathetic."
"A shower then and off you go. Hopefully you won't run into something that you can't handle, because you still look a little shaky." Treize replied worriedly. Duo did look wobbly. The nap that he took didn't do anything about the side effects of the machine. He wasn't too happy about the information that Epyon had talked to Duo. It didn't effect him that way, but then he didn't go beyond minor simulated skirmishes in the thing. Very different from a full out battle.
But he would let Duo go back to the war, while he was trapped here playing the waiting game. He knew that something had to give and that the tide would turn in the Romafeller Foundation and Treize would again be able to manipulate things to his own advantage. And then it would be to bring this endless bloodshed to an end. He was tired of wondering if his lover would die in battle or be killed during an assignment.
He had enough of the bloodshed and the Mobile Dolls would allow this puppet war to go on forever. Enough was enough. He had to wait, gather his strength and then strike back at his ex-lover. Treize wondered when his life had started to fall apart, when he ordered the destruction of the Federation doves? When Mirialdo left him to pursue a dream of vengeance for his family in a manner that would horrify his father? Or was it when he kept letting the one good thing in his life, Duo, keep running headlong into battle?
End Part 11
Christine
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