Heero and Quatre were silent as they drove to their destination. Heero almost never talked, and Quatre wasn't sure about the reception that they were going to get. Duo had disappeared after the last battle with White Fang. He had helped save the world and then went back to the obscurity that he came from.
Quatre had spent time looking for him on L2 after everything had died down, but a recent message from Lady Une, of all people, told him that Duo was still on Earth. Heero was still wondering how Relena knew where Duo was. She had been the one in the beginning that told them to leave him alone. She must have changed her mind or Duo might have told her that he was ready to talk to them again.
Heero had appeared on his door step a few months ago looking for Wufei. The two of them had stayed together after the war, but Wufei had disappeared and Heero was starting to worry. He understood that Wufei sometimes needed time alone, but it had been too long since he had heard from his lover. He thought that Quatre might know where he was or allow him to stay with him, while Heero looked on his own. Even with Wufei's help Heero had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. He felt more secure around people that he knew. Quatre was just glad to have someone to fuss over, since Trowa and their relationship was an on and off experience most of the time. Not that they didn't love each other, it was that they weren't able to settle down. Heero didn't mention it, but he had been very hurt and stunned that Wufei had decided to walk out on their relationship without a word.
Quatre felt guilty that he hadn't helped Duo more when they were pilots together. Duo had admitted that part of it was his fault, he didn't want to get closer to them for fear that they would be hit by his bad luck. He preferred to keep them entertained with the clown's mask that he wore, rather then let them get to know him. He also had turned out to be the scientists favorite whipping boy and was assigned dirtiest and most objectionable assignments.
The nastiest one Quatre thought was the fact that they had told Duo that he was to seduce Treize Khushrendra. That the two of them had fallen love was odd, they seemed to have nothing in common. Quatre wondered if their relationship would have survived after the war. He snorted. None of the bonds that were developed during that time survived really. Trowa was away more then he was with Quatre. Wufei had disappeared one day, leaving a stunned Heero behind. Heero never talked much about their relationship after he came to live with Quatre. But that wasn't unusual, Heero talked less then Trowa most of the time. But he was someone that he could lean on. And he was wondering if that was a good thing, since Trowa and Wufei had disappeared, leaving them alone. And Quatre was beginning to have stray -yearnings?- about the other silent pilot in his life.
Now, after almost a year of ignoring Duo was going to barge into his life and demand that he destroy his Gundam. Quatre felt guilt about that, but they had to be destroyed. If they were still around, this fragile peace might be broken.
As Quatre watched the countryside pass, he looked around at the rural area that Duo supposedly chose to settle down in. It was deserted. The occasional farmhouse, cows and fields. Not the place to find a former Gundam pilot.
"Are you sure that it's Duo?" Quatre asked worriedly. You triple checked the information that Relena handed you because you didn't trust her. I hope that all that effort was worth it and we're not chasing phantoms. But it matched what Une had given me later, so it should be right. Une still has the ability to get all the information she wants.
"Short, long braid, purple eyes. Not many people match that description. Comes into town about once a week to get supplies. Does some tutoring and volunteers at the library, with the children. Doesn't seem to need money. Has to be Duo." Heero grunted. Didn't think that Duo liked children, but then I didn't think about him much at all. He was just there. Then he was gone because of his orders that those bastards gave him, and then no one could trust him. I wonder how he managed to keep himself together. According to Relena he hasn't, but she almost was a big a flake as her brother, so that might not be true.
He was as surprised as Quatre that Duo had retreated to this place. He didn't think that Duo would get into country living. Relena had hinted that Duo disappearing wasn't their fault, he just had a few things to work out. That he looked like hell on the monitor during the last battle with the White Fang hadn't escaped Heero's notice. Something had gone on between Zechs and Duo when Duo was his prisoner, but Heero could never find out what it was. Wufei killing Treize hadn't helped things either.
That Relena and Duo seemed to be getting along was suspicious, he didn't think that the airhead blonde liked any of the other pilots, including himself. She just had chased him because she was bored. Now that she was Vice Minster to the colonies, she kept out of his way. It must be keeping her occupied. But she had apparently had become friendly with Duo, after telling them that he just wanted to be left alone. Or it might have started earlier, he did run off to rescue her fast enough.
Quatre mused trying to analyze the information that he had, to figure out what they would find at the end of their journey. Hell, Duo had disappeared to rescue her off the PeaceMillion after Zechs's little announcement. Heero or Wufei wouldn't have bothered. If she was stupid enough to get herself into trouble in the first place.. And Trowa was more worried about him then anything else. So Duo must like her at least. Might even love her. He ran to her rescue fast enough.
Quatre sighed and stared out the window some more. The final battle was a blur to him. The stress from the ZERO system and his injury from Dorothy made things a bit fuzzy. It was a just a collection if hazy images until a few days later and Quatre found out that Duo had disappeared after he found out that Wufei had killed Treize. No message or anything. He was just left in his Gundam. Quatre hoped that the other pilot had found some measure of peace. And that they were not going to hurt him be reappearing into his life.
Heero turned up an overgrown pathway, that had been listed as a road by someone at sometime. In the summertime you would have a hard time even knowing that there was a road there. It was only because it was winter that Quatre even knew that something was there. But if it had snowed they would have never found it. Heero drove up the rutted track, ignoring the bone jarring jounces that the ruts made. He couldn't believe that this was the only road to Duo's place. There must be another way in.
After a few minutes, Quatre was thankful that a small cabin came into sight. It was close to a lake and looked deserted except for the bike that was parked on the porch. Heero drove up and parked next to the door, not caring to figure out if he was supposed to park there or if he was parking on top of a garden. They both climbed out of the car and stretched, tired after the long drive to this place. Heero eyed the small cabin, taking in the solid build and small windows. It looked like an easily defended place. Quatre sighed and walked up to the door. He really didn't want to do this. He knocked hesitantly and waited. He knew that Heero wouldn't make the first move.
Quatre wondered if there was anyone home after standing there in silence for a few minutes. He raised his hand to knock again when he saw Duo peering out one of the windows. He waited and was rewarded with the door opening and Duo gesturing him to come inside.
"I'm sorry it took so long. I didn't hear the door, Tony and I were working on a problem and I wasn't paying attention." he said. I hoped that it was the wind, because I still really can't face anyone that knew me. 'Neesan is tiring enough and she won't push. And she's thousands of klicks away, the worse she can do is nag. You will fuss Quatre and before I know it, I'll be dragged someplace so that I can get help. I don't want to be helped. I never got it before, so I don't need it now.
Quatre sighed and reached over to give Duo a hug. Duo returned it silently.
After a minute Quatre looked up and gently sighed. "You've changed." What happened to you? You didn't quite flinch when I touched you but it was close. And you always liked to be touched. Boston you were all over me when I told you that Treize had been arrested.
Duo shrugged, "It happens. May be this is more the real me then the person that you saw, all that time ago. Have a cup of coffee while Tony works on his last problem and then I send him home. You guys alone?"
Heero ignored the question and automatically checked out the room before he fractionally relaxed. Tony didn't even try to look like he was working as he stared at Duo's uninvited guests. Quatre and Heero stared back at Tony. He was a big kid, a little older then they were, who looked like he could wrestle Leos barehanded. He had a friendly open face, light hair and blue eyes.
"Tony, stare later, work now. When is the placement test for the Academy? How bad are you at physics?" Duo chided his student. Tony blushed and at least tried to work on the problem, listening to Duo and Quatre with half an ear. Heero had just found a chair and sat down, eyeing the entire room.
"Yes." Quatre said quietly. I know you don't want us here, or you would have gotten in touch with us. But I have to talk to you, then I'll leave you alone. If you need that. Lady Une is worried, which is why she finally told me where you are. And nothing worries that woman.
"There are no hard feelings, Heero. You and Wu should know that," Duo said softly, before going back to the table to check Tony's work. "It was business. I understand business" I was in the business since I was seven. I understood the difference between enjoying what you were doing and enduring it for money or duty, or friends.
"You're tutoring for the Preventer Academy's entrance exams?" Quatre asked, trying to make small talk. They couldn't blurt out the real reason why they were here in front of a stranger. Duo tutoring was strange. He usually had the worst grades of the group. Duo said that it didn't matter what he did, he wasn't going to college and he probably would be dead in month why work at it? It didn't mean that he as stupid or lazy, just unmotivated, as more then one teacher had complained.
"Physics and Math. Tony's bright and he's wants some extra tutoring to make sure that he passes it."
"You slept through physics most of the time." Heero said, looking out the window. Duo the clown shouldn't be out here like this. It was break in his mask that showed something was wrong. It was too alone. Duo used to need people like he needed to breath.
"I was bored. Same damn lesson most of the time. I needed to know what I did, so why push it?" Duo said lightly, checking Tony's math. "Not bad, but why don't we call it a day. Call me before you stop by. Might not be around." Duo said, shoving an obviously curious Tony out the door.
"You gonna be okay?" Tony asked before Duo closed the door, looking worried.
"They're old friends Tony. No problems. " Duo reassured him. He grinned suddenly, " 'sides what was the first thing that I taught you?"
"Little doesn't mean helpless." Tony mumbled, blushing. It had been a painful lesson. Duo was half his size and he cleaned his clock, twice before Tony got it. It didn't help that Duo had been not in the best shape at the time, still didn't look it. But these two looked tough. Not the blonde really, but darker kid looked dangerous. And these were people that Duo said were friends? No wonder he was living out here.
"Then stop worrying." Duo said. "Study if you're bored. Academy is tough, I've been told. The instructors will eat you for breakfast." Tony sighed and rode off on his bike,
"So what brings you around here?" Duo asked bluntly. It had been a while. He'd disappeared so that they wouldn't find him. T-chan's death had been hard on top his experience with Zechs and Epyon. He just wanted to get away from it all. They must have thought that he had gone back to L2 if it took them this long to find him. Or had they actually listened to Relena's request that they leave him alone. Quatre sipped at his coffee and Heero just stared at him, nothing really had changed it seemed.
"Man, where is Wufei? Where's Trowa?" Duo asked, concentrating on pouring his coffee. He was proud to see that his hand wasn't shaking. If he thought about it, would he would be scared silly right now. What did they want? He missed the stricken look in Heero's eyes, as he sipped at his drink. "I'm not mad at him. T-chan knew that it was needed, I knew that it would happen and Wufei actually was sorta innocent in the mess, so he shouldn't have not come."
"Wufei disappeared about five months ago," Quatre said quietly. "Trowa comes and goes. Heero's been staying with me."
"Shit!" Duo cursed quietly. "You guys were good for each other." he told Heero, "You kept each other sane." Man, I knew that you should be together when I saw you on the PeaceMillion. You were mad that I was cuddlin' him, but happy that I did. And that I was nice to you. Even if you couldn't figure out the why of it.
"How did you know that Wufei would kill Treize?" Heero asked, unable to call the enemy 'T-chan'.
"Epyon." Duo replied closing his eyes. "Damn thing told me it might happen. I already knew that Treize Khushendra had to die or disappear, so I created an alternative identity for T-chan. If he could make it here, he was golden. I told him that the last time I saw him, in Luxembourg." The pangs of loneliness were getting easier to handle, but they kept coming at odd moments.
"Duo, I hate to disturb you, but where is Shinigami?" Quatre asked, hating to see the pain on Duo's face. I didn't realize how much he meant to you. I should have. I'm sorry.
"Out in the lake under meters of water and mud. I ditched him out there that night and swam ashore. Hid out here for a while. After a time I started going into town for supplies. They got to know me and I haven't had any trouble." Little, harmless and innocent looking does go a long way.
"I want to destroy them." Quatre said passionately. "The war is over and they have no use any more."
"I think a few fish will argue with that," Duo joked. "I'll dive in the morning, cause it's getting dark. You can stay the night. I got stew for supper and some homemade bread. You guys get the bed. I'll take the sofa."
"Nice place." Heero said. Easily defensible and only one road in. A good place to hide. But you always were good at hiding, hiding yourself, your motives, your assignments. Better then I was.
"T-chan found it. I bought it from the State for back taxes. It's comfortable. I don't need much." Duo said shortly. A small silence fell over the group as Quatre ran through topics in his head that wouldn't upset either Heero or Duo. Quatre was surprised that it was Heero that broke the silence, Duo usually had been the one that filled in the uncomfortable silences with his chatter.
"You've been doing okay?" Heero asked. One of them had to be. It wasn't him or Quatre. Trowa wondering in and out of his life hurt that petite blonde more then he would admit. Fussing over Heero helped the pain a bit, he hoped. That was the main reason that he stayed. And he was starting to enjoy being fussed over by Quatre.
"I never knew that you cared." Duo teased him, shaking off his mood. "I survived. I'm very good at that. I like being alone, now. I read, listen to music and cook. Tony comes for the food more then the tutoring."
"You and he?" Quatre asked, hoping that Duo had managed to find someone to help him get over Treize. He had winced at the slight bitterness on the words alone and now. They had abandoned Duo when he needed them and Quatre guessed that it still hurt.
"Nah. He's got a sweet girl. Her name is Claudia. She comes by on occasion. Her father's the local sheriff. She reads while we work. And asks about the big city. Tries to fix me up with her friends." Tries to figure out why a little kid would live out here on his own.
"What have you've all been doing?" Duo asked as he started dinner. Please something nice, something harmless. I need to hear good things about you guys, to tell me it was all worth it.
"Heero helps me with the security end of the businesses. That's a full time job. I run the rest of the companies with the help of my sisters and Rashid. We all keep busy. Occasionally I run into Noin or Lady Une." Quatre said.
"Be nice Une, she's got her hands full. Being the head of the Preventers is a thankless job. She calls to see if I'm still breathing every month or so. Tells me her troubles." Noin can go for a walk outside a colony without a suit. I'm surprised she talks to you considering how she's reacted to Une and Relena being together.
"So that's why Relena knew where to sort of look for you." Quatre exclaimed.
"She asked Lady Une."
"She worries about me." Duo shrugged, not bothering to say if it was Une or Relena was the one that was worried.
He set the table and started dishing out stew and cutting bread. He motioned for the others to sit down and enjoy it.
"Why?" Heero asked suspiciously. Relena and Duo? Nothing had been said, but Heero never really found out much about the other two, not that he really wanted to. They both wore excellent masks, it had been a surprise that Relena actually had a brain under all that hair.
"Ask her the next time that you see her. Tell her that I said she could. It's complicated." Duo replied simply.
Quatre shook his head wondering what else had been going on that no one had wanted to tell them about. Duo sleeping with Khushrendra was bad enough!
Quatre frowned and ate his stew while he thought. It was really good stew. He hadn't remembered that Duo was that good a cook. But there was something that he was missing, something important that nagged at his mind. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Duo.
"Zechs got rough on you while he had you, didn't he?" Quatre demanded.
Duo shrugged and put down his spoon. "Yeah Zechs got rough on me." Duo said quietly, not looking at either of them. What did you expect Quatre? The man had just declared war on the Earth. That showed that he wasn't too stable to begin with. Or had gone overboard on sniffing the hair gel. And into his arms falls his ex-lover's current squeeze. He must of thought I was a gift from God.
"I'm sorry." Quatre said quietly. I'm sorry, but I was barely breathing at the time, I don't remember any of it. It was like a dream.
"I got over it. But it made things a little difficult. That's why I never said good bye. I was a little weirded out." Duo shrugged.
A little difficult was an understatement. Shinigami was soaked in blood after the battle. Duo wasn't sure if he could stand up, never mind walk. Zechs had done a number on him. So he ditched his mate in the lake, swam ashore and collapsed in the cabin. He knew that he should have seen a doctor, but had lacked the ambition or interest to do so. He had been hurt that badly before and healed without help, he could do so again. After Treize's death, he really didn't care if he lived or died.
"What did that matter?" Heero asked. Zechs should have hated me, but seemed more interested in killing Duo, but he couldn't get to him, I kept interfering. Why did he hate Duo?
"Zechs walked out on T-chan and wasn't too happy that I was the replacement." Duo said, staring at his food. He broke me though, and I had no one to put me back together, so he did succeed. "Relena felt bad that I got hurt trying to rescue her. I had told her that Zechs was a little off."
Duo's announcement killed any small talk that Quatre wanted. Heero ate silently, not knowing what to say to help Duo. That had always been his job in the group. Duo didn't feel like falling into the old pattern of cheering them up so he just sat there and waited for them to finish, so that he could clean up. Remembering what happened killed any interest that he had in eating. Not that he had much any more. Food tasted neutral most of the time. He ate only to because he had to, really.
Heero wandered over to examine the book titles while Duo washed up and Quatre helped him. There wasn't enough room for the three of them to help. He grunted when he saw some of the titles.
"These yours?" he called back.
"Yeah." Duo replied. A legacy from a dead lover who knew that I'd rather of talked about books or anything else, then the future with him. And now I can 't because he's gone. I wish I could have though. Whispered something to him that I believed that we'd survive together. But I didn't want to lie to him.
"Didn't know that you liked the classics. I thought you were more of a Manga reader, rather then the collected works of Tsu Sun, Seneca and Plato."
"You didn't ask and I didn't tell. Did any of us know the real person behind the mask that we showed?" Duo challenged him.
"No," Heero replied thoughtfully. "We ignored you most of the time."
"That's the past." Duo said. "I wasn't interested in you guys either."
"Really?" Heero asked, raising and eyebrow. "I caught you checking me out in the beginning." I was waffling about giving into that weakness with you, and then Wufei and I just clicked. One moment we were working out and the next we were tearing at each other's clothes and trying to screw each other silly.
"You got Wufei and I got T-chan. As I said it was the past." Duo replied flatly. He wasn't interested. Celibacy was nice. It was restful. He didn't miss sex, he missed T-chan. Relena and Une were saying that he needed counseling after his encounter with Zechs, but Duo wasn't up to that yet. He just wanted to hide a little while longer.
Heero raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged. Duo was a bit edgy with them here. He felt sorry about that. But Quatre wanted to find Duo, if only to see if he was alright, and destroy the Gundams. And Heero wanted to make Quatre happy. He had saved his sanity after Wufei had left him and he owed the other boy a lot.
"And if Tony didn't have a nice girl?" Heero asked bluntly. "Or if you told his girlfriend the truth?"
"He does, so I don't have to cross that bridge.' Duo said quietly. "And I don't think she cares. And I'm not interested."
"Heero," Quatre said quietly. "I think that we've imposed upon Duo long enough. This isn't an interrogation. Let the past go."
"Quatre, it's okay." Duo smiled at him. "Heero's just bein' himself. And he's trying to help. Just doesn't have the manners part down yet."
"Well what do you do around here for entertainment?" Quatre asked, trying to change the subject. This place is desolate. I saw more wildlife then people. And what about that road? Do you want to be alone that much?
"In the summer time, I watch the stars and the lake. Always something happening out there. It's too cold to sit outside now, so I read a lot. Was thinking of learning how to ski or snowshoe when the snow comes." Duo said.
"Are you doing okay?" Quatre asked gently.
"Not really." Duo admitted. "Are any of us? What happened to us during that year isn't just going to go away overnight. Heero, me and Trowa knew nothing outside that damn war. You and Wufei grew up in a nice normal home, had childhoods. It's going to take a lot of adjusting for me to get used to being a civilian. That I got a little beat up and stuff just made it harder."
"You should get help." Heero commented. Zechs did break you. Or at least finished the burnout job that was happening to you. Or else you wouldn't be out here, alone. Even I can figure that out, no wonder Relena is frantic about you. Her visit to me proved that. No flirting, no smiles, just handed me the address and said she hoped that I could help you. That Quatre got the same information of Lady Une was unusual too. I didn't think that those two got along. Relena did try to kill her.
"Right after you do." Duo teased. "Or is one of Quatre's many sisters a shrink and she's been treating you in exchange for services rendered?"
"No, but they all recommended someone." Heero said. "I was thinking of going to her. I just haven't been able to talk to someone besides Quatre about Wufei's leaving me. One day he was there and the next, he was gone. No warning or anything."
"That sucks. Wufei was always a decent guy. He would have told you why he was walking out." Duo commented.
"Not if he didn't want to hurt me. He'd been having trouble sleeping. Felt restless. Was trying to decide if he wanted to continue with his education or what. He didn't know if he could convince Universities to accept the work that he had done, that had been destroyed when his colony blew itself up. He had some of it, but." Heero's voice trailed off.
"That and trying to explain to a civie shrink the relationships involved. Most sixteen years olds don't settle down like we did." Duo grinned at Heero. Heero quirked his lips back. It was the closest that he got to smile now a days. Not that he had smiled much before.
"Most fifteen year olds aren't terrorists either," Quatre pointed out.
"True enough." Duo chuckled. " 'Well how did you meet your partner? What was your first date like?' type questions fall flat here."
Quatre's eyes lit up for a second as he remembered how he met Trowa. Duo smiled at that look and reached out and tousled his hair.
"You both look beat." Duo said. "I'll get the bed ready. Do you mind sharing? I want to warn you that it's kinda small."
Heero and Quatre shook their head no. Sharing a bed was a habit that they really hadn't outgrown from their Gundam days. Sleeping with someone occasionally was comforting, even if there wasn't sex involved. But with the way things were going, Heero didn't think that they'd be doing it much longer. It was too much of a temptation for him.
"There's a loft, what's up there?" Quatre asked.
Duo stopped for a second and closed his eyes. "I don't go up there." he said shortly.
"Why? You seemed to be moving okay." Quatre persisted innocently.
"There's a nice feather bed, big enough for two people. T-chan and I spent our one afternoon here up in that room. I don't go up there. The memories still hurt." Duo said. Don't make me remember Quatre. It still hurts that he was so close to surviving and then he was gone. I don't care if he had left me because I wasn't the same person he had loved, just so that he was still breathing. Because then I could say that someone had survived me.
"I'm sorry," Quatre said, walking over to give Duo a hug, ignoring the flinch. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"You didn't know." Duo said quietly. "We were here trying to decide what to do about the Mad Five."
"What do you mean, what to do?" Heero asked curiously.
Duo shrugged. "We were deciding what to do about the fact that they were taping us in his bedroom. T-chan always knew that I jumped into bed with him 'cause of orders. He never did tell me why he let me continue. And that was before he found out that there was a line waiting to form outside his door if I didn't please him. He always thought it was obscene that they treated me as a thing, not a person. He always gave me the option of walking away. He said that he would have figured something out to keep you guys safe. May be jump 'Neesan. She wouldn't have argued about it. I don't think."
"They were taping you in bed?" Heero asked stunned. Not a moment to yourself, no wonder you looked like zombie most of the time.
Quatre blushed and nodded. "Lady Une told me about that, I didn't know if you knew. I thought that was appalling that they were doing that to you."
"Quatre did it ever dawn on you that we were just tools to those bastards? They thought that I should have been grateful to them for getting off me the street. G couldn't understand why the hell I was upset that he pulled half the crap that he did on me. I'd been peddling my ass for years, why shouldn't he gotten a piece of it? That after all the training that I got and the shit he put me through, wondering aloud until Operation Meteor started if it wasn't better to space me and start over again. That was one of his threats. So I was very happy when that scum blew up in the last battle."
"Duo. They're dead, you can get on with your life." Heero said quietly.
"I have Heero. I've started to find out who I was meant to be, may be. Not who the street or the Docs created. Not the mask that I showed you guys. So I have gotten on with my life, in a way." Duo said peacefully. "I promised myself that if I survived. Just wished T-chan did too."
Heero sat down at the table opposite Duo. "Sorry if I woke you." Heero apologized. He couldn't sleep and had been sneaking out of the bedroom to walk outside when he noticed that Duo was awake too. They had both decided to get up and stop pretending that sleep was something that they were going to get more of. Neither one of them wanted to wake up Quatre.
"I don't sleep much, " Duo shrugged. "I'm awake all hours of the night. I'll put on some coffee and may be we can talk. Quatre hopefully will sleep though it." I didn't wake up screaming this time. I'm proud of that little fact, just so you wouldn't know how bad it is.
"Okay." Heero said, watching Duo make the coffee and poke through the cabinets and talking to him.
"Cookies." Duo tossed over his shoulder as he grabbed a tin with a cat on it. "I've got some around here. I also got brownies and other stuff. I was baking for a party at the Library."
"You bake?" Heero asked. I never realized that you could do other things besides what I saw of you. That was mostly blow things up and act like a clown.
"Not a bad one, if I do say so myself. I've got a devoted following for my cookies." Duo boasted. He continued in a teasing tone, "While you four where testing the mattresses at Quatre's place, I was making nice with the cook. Usually got some helpful tips and stuff. I cooked at the orphanage."
"Ah" was Heero's comment as he grabbed a chocolate chip cookie out of the tin. He was trying to ignore the fact that Duo was wandering around in shorts and a tank top. It was slightly disturbing to his hormones. He wished that Duo was wearing more clothes. He wanted to be wearing something else, but he didn't want to appear uncomfortable in front of Duo by asking him to put on more clothes or putting on more clothes himself. Duo had seen him wander around in his spandex far too often to be effected by it. What orphanage? And why were the lights so low in here, Duo wasn't trying anything strange he hoped, not with Quatre sleeping in the other room. But his hormones where cheering at the thought, and his shorts were getting snug.
"Where's Trowa?" Duo asked. "He hasn't disappeared too?"
"Said he was checking something out, but that was a while ago." Heero replied. "Not that he was around much. Floats in and out of the circus and Quatre's place."
"He's afraid that something is going to blow up in his face, I bet." Duo said thoughtfully, pouring coffee for Heero and himself.
"He should tell Quatre that. Quatre thinks that he's the one screwing up." We've had a lot of late night talks. And snuggling. Scared the crap out of me when Quatre first did it, but it was nice too. Trowa might find that he doesn't have anything to come back to, if things continue this way. Or at least not what he left.
"He would," Duo said contemplatively, "Guilt and responsibility since day one does that to you. You wanna talk about Wufei?"
"Why?" Heero asked, troubled that Duo would care. But he remembered walking in on Duo cuddling Wufei after the other boy had returned to the PeaceMillion. Duo had tucked him into bed also after making him cuddle up with Wufei. Duo just seemed to be a person that cared, that part of him hadn't changed. He was willing to reach out to his fellow pilots no matter what problems he had. It hadn't escaped Heero's notice that Sally Po was sleeping with Duo on the PeaceMillion. Quatre had said it was for his own protection, not because they didn't trust him. But who on the PeaceMillion had Duo need protection from?
"Talkin' about your problems means you don't ask about mine." Duo smiled at him. "And it helps." I keep you talking about Wufei and you stop looking at me like that. I'm just hoping that you don't notice the scars. You've seen me without my clothes on too much not to notice them. And you can guess where I got them. But I didn't think that you'd be awake too, so I thought I was safe. And you would have known something was wrong if I started throwing on clothes just to chat. We spent too much time wandering around each other in our shorts.
"Hnn" Heero thought about the offer and watched Duo. This was the first time that he had seen the other boy with his hair out of the braid that he always had it in. He hadn't realized how much of it there was or how beautiful Duo was with it hanging free down his back and over his shoulders. The low light, Duo's lack of clothing and Heero's loneliness combined to remind Heero how desirable Duo was.
"I can see why Treize didn't kick you out of bed." Heero said and flushed when he realized how tactless that sounded. He really did have to work on his manners. Reminding Duo of his dead lover was not going to get him into his bed any faster.
Duo laughed and shook his head. "You saw Zechs. Une is beautiful too. It wasn't my looks that kept me in T-chan's bed. " Heero's bluntness was nice. A polite Heero would have scared him. But he was going in a direction that Duo didn't want to go. Once he might of but it had been too much time and damage for him to think about it again.
"But those two are crazy." Heero pointed out. Zechs and Treize? That is odd. I know Duo told me earlier about that relationship, but I still can't believe it.
"So am I," Duo teased him.
"Nasty crazy" Heero explained. "Zechs roughed you up because Treize didn't want him anymore. Did he think that whatever he did would ruin what you had with Treize? Wufei told me that he loved you a lot. Une just is odd."
"Your still mad about her makin' you blow yourself up." Duo smiled and then got serious. "Une's been helping me a lot. She walked me through.getting some stuff settled. Zechs just got into hurting people. He hurt T-chan before he walked out on him. And then was pissed that T-chan wasn't happy to resume their relationship when he broke into that Luxembourg estate and took Epyon. That I was sleeping a few meters away from him when he pulled that shit didn't help. I threatened to kill him if he touched T-chan again, because he didn't want Zechs anymore. Even if I wasn't on the scene. So when he caught me trying to sneak Relena out of the Libra, he went nuts on me. His ex-lover and his sister preferred me to him. His ego couldn't take it."
"Hn" Ego was a lot with Zechs, he may have had as rotten a childhood as the rest of us, but he didn't have to be such a bastard about things.
"Come on, Wufie is a nice guy. A little uptight, but you relaxed each other a lot." Duo smiled, thinking of the past. "When he caught me with T-chan, he sat around drinking juice and swapping small talk with T-chan while I took a shower. Small talk and Wufie don't go together, that must have been hard. He didn't want me lookin' like I had been screwing around. Wufei wanted to give me anything that I needed to defend myself. That's not the action of the guy that walked out on you." Duo finished thoughtfully. Stop looking at me like that Heero, because I'm going to panic if you don't. I can't handle the attention. And I don't think that you're going to let me take my time about things.
"Why don't you sleep?" Heero asked, even though he could guess the answer. He wanted to change the subject, distract himself from watching Duo.
"Dreams," Duo replied quietly. "Of before the war, of after I was a pilot. Almost anything at all. I hate my dreams. You're up for the same reason. Sleep isn't a friend. It's our new enemy."
"I wonder what I could have done to keep Wufei with me. Or at least tell me why he left." Heero said quietly, staring at his half eaten cookie. Why was he telling this to Duo? They'd never been close, they had even tried to kill each other a couple of times. So what was it about him that made Heero want to tell him everything? That he was nice to him once? That he'd taken the effort to help Wufei when he couldn't? That he was hoping that it would lead to him and Duo going some place and screwing like minks?
"Wufei is screwed up. We all are." Duo said. "But he survived his colony blowing up and a war he wanted to die in. And the last person that he killed was a friend, sort of in weird way. In another time they might have been friends. They had the same code of honor thing going for them, so T-chan was not really his enemy. It was so confusing at the end. Survivor's guilt is a terrible thing. It eats you up."
"How do you know?" Heero asked harshly, ashamed that he was talking to Duo about this. He had always been self reliant. That's what he'd been trained to be. But that training wasn't helping him survive as a civilian, talking to Quatre was. And now he was clouding his judgment further for a pair of pretty eyes and hair he wanted to drown himself in.
Duo stared at him with his pretty, sad eyes. "I was the only survivor out over two hundred kids from the Maxwell orphanage. The Feds leveled the place while I was someplace else, causing them trouble. About half of the kids I ran on the streets with before that died in a plague. My family as killed when I was three. I am fucking indestructible. I know the voices that talk to you, blaming you that you didn't die with them." Duo didn't mention T-chan. He didn't have to.
Heero sighed. "I didn't know." That's why you and Wufei were doing that. You knew what he was going through, even if the rest of us just thought we did.
"As I said I didn't want to know you guys. I thought that was we were doing was dangerous enough without the Maxwell jinx."
"And afterward?" Heero asked. "After peace broke out." Give me a sign that you want something. That you know what you're doing to me.
"I wanted to be alone. I wanted to mourn and put my life together." Duo said, ignoring the stinging in his eyes. It had gotten less and less of a problem in the months that followed Zechs' attempt to destroy the Earth, he cried a lot during the first months after T-chan's death. Must have saved up all the tears that he couldn't cry before. But as he pulled himself together, got more involved with the people around him, the periodic crying jags had stopped. Now all he had left to deal with were the nightmares that left him wandering around the cabin in the small hours of the night. But nightmares were old friends, he'd had them most of his life. They were the only things that hadn't abandoned him. And he was certain that Heero was the same way, given the fact that he had been raised by one of those bastard scientists.
"But you should get out of here, and not just to that rinkie-dink place they call a town." Heero said. "Come back with us afterwards. Or tour the world. Didn't you say once that you wanted to revisit half the places that you've been when you were awake and not on the run?" Let me stop myself from ruining Trowa's and Quatre's relationship. Come back with us and let me distract myself with you. I may not be what you want, but we could work something out.
"Yeah," Duo smiled at the thought. "I did once, but I don't know. People are still freaking me a bit. Didn't help that the village idiot kept hitting on me either."
"Male or female?" Heero asked, raising an eyebrow. Duo didn't need that in his life anymore. He'd flirted a lot before, but nothing more serious then that. Then the whole Mad Five/Treize Khushrenada experience wasn't helping. Or how he grew up. But he could see why the guy had been hitting on him, and he was barely stopping himself from leaning over and kissing Duo now. But he realized that Duo didn't need that now even though Heero wanted to kiss him, not if he was saying that people were disturbing him. But he wasn't people, they had fought a war together.
Duo smiled. "Male. And he thought I was a girl. Didn't want to believe that I was guy even after I told him several times."
"How'd you get rid of him?" Heero asked, curious. The old Duo might have gone along with the joke before, but not this one in front of him. He was too serious, too controlled.
"Relena visited me. She dropped by for a couple of days, and went into town for supplies with me. No one recognized her, she was doing the incognito thing. And most of them thought that she was my girlfriend, except for the idiot. He hit on her, she drop kicked him across the ice cream parlor. I wished that I had gotten it on tape. That's about the second time she's pulled that move and I missed it the first time." Duo was smiling, lost in the memory. "He was covered in ice cream. She dumped hers and mine on him to add insult to injury. She may preach world disarmament but she did start to believe in self defense. I think someone is teaching her."
"Relena can fight?" Heero asked in astonishment.
"Not much. Just enough so that she can get away if she has too." Duo said. Just enough so that no one will hurt her again. Or she wouldn't be a liability in a fight. Like last time.
"I guess she isn't the same girl that chased me screaming 'kill me' all over the place." Heero muttered. He stiffened at the sound of a car pulling up. He checked his watch. It was about two in the morning, who would be calling on Duo at this time of the night? He didn't know if he should be happy or angry that they were having company.
Duo cocked his head and smiled. "That's Ian. He comes by for a cup of coffee if he's on the night shift. And Relena's as screwed up as we are in some ways." Or to see if I'm okay. He doesn't like the fact that I'm up all hours of the night. I tell him its because I don't have to do anything besides the stuff with the kids or Tony. I can be a night owl. Not because I wake up screaming, haunted by my ghosts.
"People that friendly out here?" Hereo asked suspiciously. Is he seeing someone? I hope not because I think we could work out some sort of relationship.
"Yeah, hard to believe that there are still small towns around here like that, They fuss about each other, ask about the kids, the spouse -stuff like that when they see you. The biggest excitement is the Spring dance and the Harvest fair three towns over. They laugh when I get excited about watching grass grow. Or flowers." Duo said fondly. "L2 is like a dessert. No plants. Dry, smelly and nasty when I was growing up."
Duo got up to let Ian in when he heard the knock at the door. Duo chuckled and walked over to answer it. "If I don't answer, he'll thinks something's wrong. The big tip off for him was Tony showing up at home or his house to eat dinner. I'm surprised that he didn't show up earlier."
"Why?" Heero asked suspiciously. Why would these people care? Noin did sum it up once very well, you either loved him or hated him. These people love him. Duo may not be in good condition, but he's being cared for. He may have found some people willing to try and to keep him alive. So why am I jealous of a guy that I haven't met yet? Because I want to be the one that fixes Duo? Or have Duo fix me?
"I don't ask that question, don't want to know the answer. They do. I can accept that. Someone caring is good." Duo said quietly, opening the door to let Ian in.
He grabbed his coat and threw it on a chair, motioning him to sit down and pouring him some coffee. Heero noted that Duo did this with the ease of long time habit. He wondered how many nights these two had been spending together? And how much did it get beyond cookies and coffee. Heero stonily stared at the newcomer, noting that he had no ring, was pushing forty and long ago lost the fight with his waistline. Heero shrugged. What Duo did on his own time was his own business. But him?
"Ian, meet Heero. Heero, Ian the friendly sheriff and victim of my kitchen skills." Duo joked.
Heero nodded and continued to stare at Ian. Ian shrugged and sipped at his coffee. What was it with Duo? He never mentioned last names. Look at that pretty thing that visited him last Fall. Called her 'Jousan', said it was a nickname. What hell kind of nickname was that for a girl? But she cleaned Roger's clock, which wasn't a bad thing. It was embarrassing to the boy that a girl beat him up, while her date just stood there and laughed. But that was the first time that he had seen Duo really laugh, outside playing with the children. And this kid, Tony was right, he was tough looking. Had the same eyes as Duo had also. Tired. Old. Hard. Up all hours of the night. Afraid to sleep too. Damn what had happened to these two? Ian snagged a cookie and was biting into it when he jumped at the phone ringing.
Duo looked nervously at Heero asking, "Any one know you're here?", before moving to answer it.
"Just Rashid. In case of trouble." Heero said. "He's still keeping tabs on Quatre."
"Okay, just wondering." Duo muttered before speaking, "It's the middle of the night, you're lucky I'm coherent."
"Damn it Duo, turn on the video, I have a tape that you should see." Une's voice came through, sounding real stressed.
"'Neesan?" Duo asked. "You okay?" Oh God what blew up? Is Relena alright?
"Just watch. This was broadcast about ten minutes ago, to Preventer Head Quarters. Look at it really closely. Is Heero with you? Is he awake?" Une fired off her questions in rapid succession not worrying about the answers.
"Yes," Heero said curtly, wondering why Lady Une would want to show him this. And how she knew he was here.
" 'Neesan, is it okay that Ian is here?" Duo asked.
"Sure but he can't tell anyone what is going on. Besides I never met the man, would be nice to see him." Une chuckled, trying to relax. Duo shook his head, Une at least had learned to relax a little. Her jokes had been as infrequent as Heero's smiles.
Duo hit the vid button and Une appeared on the screen. She smiled tiredly and said, "You're looking good. You had me worried for a while, you never turn on the damn video. I take it the man that I don't know is Ian?"
"Yes Ma'am." Ian muttered. She was so pretty and young, why the hell did she sound like she was so tough? And how did she know these two? And why would Duo worry about who was calling this late at night.
"Duo, I'm not supposed to be showing this, but you were the best person to ask about some of the information. Heero should be interested in some of the contents too. But the President wants to keep a lid on it just in case of a panic, I know that you two can keep a secret. Does either one of you know what the original specifications for Operation Meteor were?"
Duo shook his head. "G wouldn't give me the time of day after a while. Less I knew, less I'd spill if he ever had to have Howard disposed of me. And we both know it wouldn't have been out the airlock."
Une's eye's narrowed and she took a deep breath, shaking. "That.that.." You had to live with that too, They only reason that you were a pilot was because you were attractive. And that attractiveness, if you had failed to please him, would have landed you in a brothel someplace, chained to the bed until a customer got too rough one night. How did you survive?
Ian looked confused for a second and opened his mouth to ask a question, then closed it, he didn't want to know. He knew that Duo hadn't grown up on Earth, he got too excited about little things, like rain and flowers. But he didn't think that it was that bad. And if he called attention to himself, Duo might kick him out, because Ian had no business messing with calls that involved the President or anyone else. Une was so tough, because she had to be, but what about these two? And what the Hell was Operation Meteor?
" 'Neesan, it's the past," Duo soothed her, "What's the problem now?"
"Heero?" Une asked.
"Original mission plan was to drop a colony on the Earth." Heero reported in a monotone. He could never understand the thinking behind that. Even the ZERO System was confused by that objective.
"Like Zechs tried with the Libra?" Duo exclaimed. Those fucking bastards!
Ian made a small strangled noise he had heard about that. It had been everywhere after the war, what would have happened if White Fang had succeeded. Thankfully both Duo and Heero ignored him.
"Yes." Une replied tiredly. "I got a wealth of information after never mind, just watch this." Une flipped a few switches and her picture was replaced with that of a young girl, surround by Boy Scouts, Duo thought. That's what the uniform looked like. She was about eight or nine, short light brownish-blonde hair, blue eyes, with a determined look of her face. Duo thought that she looked familiar.
"I am Maria Mary Khushrendra. I am announcing my intention to reclaim my father's position as the military leader of the Earth and the Colonies. You will obey me. I have as a hostage Vice Minister Relena Peacecraft-Darlian. You will give me your answer in twelve hours or I and my followers will commence with the real Operation Meteor. Twelve hours!"
Duo just stared at the screen. Heero was looking at him with concern in his eyes. Ian just looked confused. What was upsetting Duo? After a stunned second, Duo muttered numbly. "I didn't know. He never told me. I don't think that he knew. Did he ever tell you 'Neesan?"
"I didn't know either. She could be lying. If he didn't tell you, he didn't know. You were the one he was closest too." Une said sadly. You were my last hope, but she looks old enough to have been from a relationship that happened before us, before Zechs even.
"But you spent more time with him, you two were close too. He didn't know. Nothing was mentioned. Not in his letters. He would have told me. He knew I liked kids. And we did kinda plan things, once.." Duo whispered, starting to shake. He groped for a chair, and when he found it sat down hard, staring at Une.
Une shook her head. "I thought that was the case. I'm going to run it again. Ignore the girl, she might just be a decoy. Look at everyone else."
Duo and Heero watched the tape again, Duo clutching his mug of coffee, trying to desperately warm his fingers and stop shaking. He was cold, so cold. He hadn't felt this way since Wufei walked in on him and T-chan. And what was Wufei doing behind that little girl in that ridiculous outfit? He grabbed Heero as the other one just froze. Une held the tape there and split the video screen to talk to them.
"I take it you recognize the one on the left?" Une asked sadly. "Did you have any idea?"
"He left me." Heero said tiredly. "I had no idea. He felt useless." Oh why this Wufei? I thought you hated the war, the killing. The innocents that were hurt. I held you often enough when you dreamed about them. It hurt to listen to you. Was the problem that I could never tell you that?
"Jesus Une! Wufei isn't in his right mind. He's overstressed and has no idea what's going on!" Duo exclaimed.
"How can you defend him?" Une snarled. He killed your lover! He might kill mine!
"Because of a lot of things, but mostly likely he felt that he had nothing left to lose. That for the last two years or more he was in a living hell, cause I bunked with him a lot in it. That he had to watch everyone die and he got left behind. 'Cause T-chan probably was doing something stupid to survive and it didn't work. And I'm Shinigami, everyone dies on me." Duo said quietly. Heero just sat there staring at the screen. Duo, leaned over and touched him gently, trying to bring his attention back to him.
Heero shook his head and muttered, "I'll be alright in a moment."
"Whose the old guy?" Duo asked, hoping to get things back on track.
"Dekim Barton." Une replied, "One of the original planners behind the Gundams."
"Barton? That guy's related to Trowa?" Duo asked skeptically.
"No, he isn't" Heero stated, not taking his eyes off the screen. "Trowa Barton, isn't who he says he is." He's like you Duo. No past, no name. No records. A side product of the war.
"Does Quatre know?" Duo asked softly. "We should wake him, it's starting to get messy and we need his brains. Neither one of us is in top form." No wonder he afraid of commitment. If his life was like mine, he's waiting for the bad stuff to start happening again. That he doesn't deserve love or respect or anything.
Ian just stared at the tape and then the two boys, wondering what was going on. He knew that he came into this at the tail end of things, from the conversations that he was hearing. No wonder they all looked so tired. What kind of life had they lived? And did what he just heard mean that Duo wasn't interested in girls? And this other kid too? And who was Quatre? Heero got up and shuffled to the bedroom, going to wake up Quatre. Duo was right, they needed someone that had their head together. Hopefully it was Quatre, because Duo looked terrible and didn't trust himself any more. But if he went to pieces about Trowa..
"Quatre, wake up. There's trouble." Heero said, leaning over to shake him awake. Quatre's eyes opened and he blinked a couple of times, trying to wake up.
"Give me a couple of minutes, I was having the strangest dream." he murmured, stretching a little.
"Okay," Heero grunted. "Locals are here too."
Quatre yawned and stretched again, looking adorable. Heero left the bedroom, just in time to see Ian switch on the lights, not registering Duo's panicked cry of "Don't!" to stop him.
Heero's eyes widened. Under the harsher light, without his clothes to cover them, Heero finally saw how hurt Duo had been by Zechs. The thin ridges of scar tissue and odd splotches that were scattered on his arms and legs didn't stand out on Duo's fair skin like they would on his, but they were noticeable in this light. Heero just wondered how Duo had managed to fight in that condition, because he would swear that he didn't have those when he left the PeaceMillion the last time. Pain and blood loss must have been hellish from the extent of the damage, they did disappear underneath the clothes, and he couldn't tell the extent of the damage. Duo felt Heero's eyes on him and Ian's small gasp. Heero hadn't thought that the Sheriff had seen this much of Duo, no matter how many late night visits he had made. That fact made him feel better.
"I survived. I healed." Duo said simply answering the questions in their eyes, not bothering to try and hide the damage. He had been caught at last. The mess on the outside wasn't as bad as the one inside. That he could still hide. All I do is survive. I am very good at that, hiding behind someone else so that Death doesn't take me.
"What the fuck happened?" Ian asked numbly. Someone worked him over good. I always wondered why he wasn't interested in Claudia or anyone. Or why he always wore long pants and long sleeve shirts in the summer when we saw him.
"I got caught by person I should have avoided." Duo said simply. Ian you can't believe that someone would carve me up for fun. The war never touched here, no matter how much the Earth was ravaged. You are innocent of all the evil that was the war. You were one the people that we were fighting for.
"She went to save him. And you went to save her." Heero said coldly. "Idiot" You paid for it. The price was too high. You had given too much already for peace.
"He was her brother. She felt obligated to save him from himself, even though it was too late by that time. And I couldn't send any of you. She managed to get out of her room and rescue me. I sent her back to Earth and went off to save the world." Duo said lightly, his attempt at turning it into a joke falling flat. "I would have rather saved something else."
"You were a Gundam pilot?" Ian asked stupidly. The quiet boy in front of him that baked cookies, volunteered with the children and helped out around town, couldn't have been a cold blooded terrorist. But if he was that would explain his sad eyes.
"We all were." came a soft voice behind him. Ian turned around to look down at a small blonde, blinking the sleep out of his eyes, but with a determined look on his face. "Heero said there was trouble."
"'Neesan just called. The colony that 'Jousan was on made an announcement that they want to start the mess all over again." Duo explained.
Quatre's eyes widened as he saw what Duo looked like now. No wonder you flinched when I touched you. What did Zechs do to you, when he had you? What did you do to yourself afterwards because you didn't want to face anything, because this happened? I never thought that this was the reason that you never got out of Shinigami. I thought you were angry with us and the Universe.
"Why would Relena check in with Lady Une?" Heero asked in confusion. How friendly was Duo with those two that they would call him for help? Besides the fact that he was a Gundam pilot. Why were they the only two that knew where he was? Lady Une might be friendly with Duo, but why Relena?
"'Cause they on occasion share a bed?" Duo said sarcastically. "God was I the only one to know?"
"Duo, Lady Une and sex are two things that I do not want to think about together." Quatre said in a pained voice.
Heero muttered "I didn't need to know that. She was sleeping with her while she was chasing me?"
"She did it to annoy you, among other reasons." Duo retorted. "I'll grab Shinigami as soon as we have a plan. Me and Heero jet off grab Wing, assuming he's around here and to rescue Ojousan and then we deal with the colony and the nuts. 'Neesan's probably getting her butt handed to her by the idiots in charge so she'll give you free reign. She trusts us. I just wish that we were all on the same side. You watch her back because Earth usually turns out to be a major piece in the game whether she wants to be or not. And you have to be our second line of defense in case we don't make it."
"I'll contact Rashid to take care of things on L4 and have most of the Maguanacs stay put." Quatre sighed. "Then Rashid and a couple of them can meet me in the capital with Sandrock. I was hoping that this was over."
"Hopefully this is the last gasp of insanity before it's all over." Heero said soberly. "I want it all to end."
"You all were Gundam pilots?" Ian repeated numbly. "And that little bit of a thing cleaned Roger's clock, was Relena Peacecraft?"
"Its really, really complicated Ian. Just don't say anything. Even if I survive, I don't know if I'll come back here." Duo said quietly. Welcome to war, Ian. I hope that this is all you see of it.
Heero slipped out the door, behind Ian, wanting ask him a few questions before he drove off. Ian was in his truck before he realized that he had a shadow. He was startled to see Heero staring at him.
"Whatcha want?" Ian asked, wondering what he had done to deserve to be in on this mess. The war starting again, may be and finding out that little Duo had been a Gundam pilot. Terrorists shouldn't be so fragile looking.
"How is he?" Heero asked harshly. Ian didn't have to ask who the he was.
"I don't know. He's quiet, well behaved, polite most of the time. Is that what you wanted to know?" Ian said sarcastically. Why do you care? If you were his friends, you would have looked for him sooner.
"I am going to be going into battle with him as my backup. I just want to know if I should worry about anything, And you have been the only person that has spent any amount of time with him, recently. You by default know him the best." Heero said coldly.
"Then I don't know diddly." Ian retorted "I thought he was a quiet kid, didn't think that he was one of you terrorists. Most of last Fall I tried to talk him into moving into town for the winter. I worry about him out here. But he kept saying no, he wanted his privacy. Now I know why. Hell, he looks like a frightened mouse most of the time. I only see him relax around the kids or here at night. And he's awake most of the nights I'm out here. We'd talk about stuff. Claudia, Tony, gossip, weather reports and his garden. Nothing major. But mostly he's quiet, just willing to listen to me talk."
"Damn" Heero cursed, as Duo opened the door. This wasn't telling him anything useful. Garden? Weather Reports? Duo quiet? What happened to the Duo that he was used to?
"Get yourself back in here Heero and stop bugging Ian." he called out. "We've got plans to make to save Wufei's butt. He isn't involved in this."
"He may look like a scared mouse, but he is deadly. And has been on his own since he was two, He can take care of himself." Heero smirked. "And he's protecting you now. He's worried that I might take steps to eliminate you as a leak. Don't worry. I've mellowed in the last couple of months. But Lady Une was right, don't talk about this. Panic is counterproductive."
"Heeerooo" Duo called out warningly. "I'm given you until five and then.."
"You take care of him.'" Ian said as he put his truck in gear. "And yourself. Come back and visit us again when this is all over, you'd like it here." Threats of violence and death. No wonder Duo wanted to forget out here.
Heero watched as Ian drove away, not wanting to look like he was actually worried about Duo's threat. And wondering what was with the people around here. He had threatened Ian and all he got in return was an invitation to show up again. These people were strange. No wonder Duo liked it here. He walked back to the house and sat down at the table, glad that Duo had put on more clothes and made more coffee.
"I thought that you were doing something strange with the lights,"Heero admitted. I was hoping a little. I was weak, but you were so desirable to me, still are. And I'm lonely, I didn't know if Wufei was dead or alive. Now I know and I can't figure out why he's doing what he's doing.
"No, just didn't want you to see the damage." Duo said in a monotone, staring at his hands. Heero was reminded of the time that Wufei had dragged him back after finding him with Treize. "I don't know what your problem is that you had to bug Ian, but I can function. I may be a little rusty, but you haven't done anything in months either, have you? Or does Quatre have a battle simulator you can play with?"
"No I'm rusty too." Heero admitted. "I wanted to know if I can trust you." I wanted to think with my brain again instead of my cock. I wanted to make sure that you were okay and I wasn't fooling myself because I wanted to spend more time with you.
"I don't know. I don't even know if Shinigami will work. It was a mess when I ditched here. I wasn't in good shape. The cockpit was soaked in blood and.." Duo's voice trailed off and he shuddered. "Lets say that it's going to smell interesting. But I don't think I've forgotten how to fight. I did it for too long. Just like remembering to ride a bike. Physically, I'm still too light, but I have gained back the weight that I lost during the first month I was here. I yo-yo'd a couple times before that too. So the weight isn't a problem. If I concentrate on the mission I can get out there. I just might be a basket case getting back."
"Back will take care of itself." Heero said. "And we better go before it gets light out because I don't want to have the locals know that there was a Gundam in their lake." I might be able to get you back, depends on what happens with Wufei.
"Fair enough" Duo shrugged. "But plans would be good. And info. Does Wufei have Natuku? How's Wing? Are you still using the Zero system? And can we get anymore info on Maria Mary?"
"I can shut off the ZERO system. We aren't going to need it, they shouldn't have any Mobile Dolls. Not if they are taking the Pro-Treize stance. I don't know where Wufei put his Gundam, that was something that we didn't discuss. I hid mine on Earth and he hid his some place else. Maria Mary probably is a tool for her grandfather."
"What do you know about Dekim Barton. How do you know about Trowa?" Duo asked, getting down to business. It was just like the old days, middle of the night drinking pots of coffee and planning to blow something up.
"Trowa told me about that, when we first became involved. He didn't want to hurt me. The original Trowa Barton was an obnoxious bastard from what I can find out." Quatre said quietly. "Trowa's controller ended up killing him to stop Operation Meteor. Trowa took his place. He mentioned once that it was nice even to have a pretend family. He'd seen a picture of Maria Mary once, she was cute. But I don't think that her family ever considered that she was anything more then a tool for them. Dekim has a reputation of being a hard man."
"He is," Heero said tone oddly distant, "I had failed in one of my missions. At least I thought it was a failure. I ended up killing some civilians. One of them was a little girl and her dog that I had seen earlier in the day. She had talked to me.." Heero took a deep breath and continued. "I found the dog's body and buried it. I felt so guilty that I had killed them. I knew that it was my fault. Dekim had seen and he told J that I need some more training. Or they would start again. With another model."
Duo and Quatre exchanged glances and they both shivered. Quatre realized that Heero had been controlled and ordered about most of his life, he didn't think that it was this bad. Heero and he had had some very long conversations during the last few months, trying to help him cope with being a civilian. Duo was wondering what had happened, how Heero had managed to save some of himself so that he could be human, could fall in love. And now his lover had sided with one of his tormentors.
"So we can count on the fact that he's been planning this for a long time. So the security is going to be heavy." Duo said, "Sneaking in will the best, but I think that we're going to need back up. May be Sally and Noin. Both work well together and are trustworthy. Noin may not like me, but she'll back me if its for Relena."
"Why doesn't Noin like you?" Quatre asked curiously.
"She thought I was lying about Zechs's and T-chan's relationship. She didn't think they were that 'good' friends. Especially since she was also was sleepin' with Zechs. She still thinks the bastard was a knight in shining armor. And she's majorly peeved that Relena and Une are sleepin' together. Can we say deep denial?" Duo informed them. I never told her the gory parts either. That Zechs was mad as a hatter before he left T-chan, he had to be if he abused his trust like that. Epyon's system just was icing on the cake.
End Part 9
Christine
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