2000
revised: 11-Jul-2001
Continuation, AU, OOC, R, 4x1/2x1, Sci-Fi
AC 203
Quatre slowly pushed open the door of his former cell, hoping that it'd be empty. He froze as his eyes rested on the one sight that he had most dreaded seeing.
Heero opened his eyes and raised his head from Duo's shoulder, and saw Quatre standing in the doorway, one hand still on the doorknob, a gun held limply in the other. Heero instinctively moved away from Duo's embrace, flushing guiltily as he gazed on the white, stricken face of his friend. Duo frowned as he felt Heero move and started to release him, then grabbed hold of his arm and twisted it behind his back, forcing Heero to his knees, as he saw Quatre.
'Let him go.'
Quatre stated coldly, his gun now aimed directly at Duo's face.
In response, Duo raised his own gun and held it next to Heero's head.
'He's mine. I'll see him dead before I let him go with you.'
He stated flatly.
Quatre glared at him in fury as he hesitated, his hand on the gun trembling from the effort to keep from firing. He still felt sick with rage and apprehension from having seen Heero in Duo's arms, and more than anything he wanted to blast that arrogant face but he didn't dare take the risk of Duo firing. He slowly lowered the gun, hating the smug grin that spread across Duo's face, and repeated,
'Let him go. Please.' He added hollowly.
Duo smirked and moved the gun away from Heero and pointed it directly at Quatre.
'You can't imagine how tempted I am to get rid of you, once and for all.' He stopped and twisted Heero's arm a little further, forcing a grunt out of him. 'Don't move Heero.' He turned his attention on Quatre who was looking on in rage. 'Now then, seeing as the odds are two to one in your favour, I'm afraid that I need to balance the odds a little, so I'm going to ask you to take that gun and put it outside, then close the door and come over here and join us.' He waited until Quatre reluctantly sat down.
'As you just saw, Heero and I are back together again.' Duo smiled sweetly at Heero who turned his face away. 'So, I'm going to have to ask you to stop interfering in our lives and to stay away from us, especially Heero, who's going to be staying with me. If you can agree to that, I think we could start discussing letting you leave.'
Quatre looked at Heero whose eyes remained downcast, refusing contact with either Duo or himself. He said heavily, 'I want to hear that from Heero first. Do you want to stay with Duo? Heero?' He prompted again, as Heero remained silent.
Heero looked first at the pale blond, then at Duo who smiled back at him in confidence. His voice was calm and soft as usual as he replied. 'No. I'm leaving with you Quatre. We have what we came for.' He flinched involuntarily at the sudden darkening of Duo's expression and turned towards him with a pleading look. 'Duo, I'm... I'm sorry. But you know that I can't stay with you. We are no longer fighting on the same side. I...' He broke off as a bullet sped past his cheek, barely missing him.
Duo was now turning his gun on Quatre who had jumped to his feet when the gun went off. 'Sit down. Now.' He snapped. 'If I shoot at you, I won't be aiming to miss. Just remember that you are both trespassers and I can always claim self defense, especially with the gun outside with Quatre's prints all over it.' He looked emptily at Heero who had tensed when he first turned the gun on Quatre. 'I don't understand. I thought you loved me. Are you just playing games with my head? What can I do or say that will make you understand that I love you. That I need you.' He ground the last words out, burning with bitterness. 'Stay with me,' he cried out.
Quatre looked at Duo who had started to cry, and at Heero whose face was ashen and felt guilt and jealousy gnawing at his guts as he saw the unmistakable pain in Heero's eyes. He thought about all his dreams of a future with Heero and for the first time, he felt sympathy for Duo.
Heero stood up and walked over to Duo, then cradled his head in his arms as Duo continued to weep. After a moment, he began speaking.
'Fighting for peace. Imposing Freedom. We still haven't learned our lesson. I can't live by killing others, not any more. I'm haunted by death, Duo. Of those I've killed, and those I've seen being killed. You want me to tell you, I love you? That's easy, I love you, Duo. I always have and always will. But I can't stay with you. Look at what you are doing, what you've done. You are still killing people. You even threatened to kill me, and Quatre. For what reason? Simply because it was expedient? Because they were in your way? I can't stay with you because you don't even see how wrong it all is.' Heero fell silent and dropped his arms as Duo looked up with an angry face, his eyes still reddened.
'Don't you realise that the Colonies are preparing for another war, this time, with each other. It'll be a Firestorm that will engulf this tiny solar system.' He spat, getting to his feet and grabbing Heero's shoulders roughly, he began shaking him. 'Don't bury your head in the sand. You're tired of all the fighting and killing. Well, so am I, and Wufei and all the others in the Foundation. The difference is that we're willing to do something about it. We're the ones responsible for breaking off relationships with the Colonies. Quarantine!' He laughed scornfully. 'The Colonies didn't even understand that we deliberately engineered the breach with them so that at least we could stay out of the coming war. You are right when you said that we haven't changed. But look at yourself, at Quatre, breaking illegally into this building and destroying property, stealing information! You haven't changed either, Heero. You can try to hide from yourself as much as you like but in the end, you, we are all still Gundam pilots, soldiers and killers. The Foundation is trying to explore the different ways in which we can change, our physical form, our minds and our society, to prevent this cycle of violence. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't, but at least we're trying. Damn you.' He snarled, suddenly shoving Heero away from him. 'Why can't you understand that we're still on the same side?'
Quatre started to his feet and swiftly moved to the fallen figure, helping Heero to get back on his feet. He glared at the angry man, both of them totally oblivious to the gun that had dropped to the ground during the scuffle.
'You can't justify bombing a building to delay construction of a relay satellite, especially when a group of school kids got caught in the blast. And you can't justify kidnapping and torturing people for your sick experiments. You are working for the Foundation for power and money, for your self-aggrandisement and not for the benefit of others. No matter how you try to defend your actions, the ends don't justify the means Duo. Treize finally learned that lesson but only when it was too late for him, remember? You can still put an end to all this. Help us to shut down this project. Help us rescue those poor men in the lab.'
'Poor men.' Duo laughed out loud, throwing his head back in genuine amusement. He grinned smugly at the bewildered look on Quatre's face. 'You really do have me pegged as a total villain, don't you Quatre? Those poor men, as you called them, are volunteers, who underwent strenuous physical and mental examinations before they were accepted into the project as test subjects. We have no intention of picking just any one off the streets and forcing them to participate. That'd be a total waste of funds and energy.' His lips curled scornfully, as he turned to Heero who had watched the exchange with a still face.
'Now then, Heero. Please. For the last time, come back to me and we'll start all over again from beginning. It'll be like the first time, you'll see.'
Heero looked at the outstretched hand and the engaging grin, and his hand started forward, only to pause. He turned his head and looked at Quatre who had paled when his hand moved and turned deliberately and walked to his side. He looked sadly at Duo who was stunned into immobility.
'It can never be like the first time, Duo.'
Duo's face twisted into a bitter smile as he saw Heero reach over and take Quatre's hand firmly.
'So, after all your fine words, in the end, you are nothing but a whore. What did he offer you Heero? Tell me how much you were worth.'
Heero put out a hand to restrain Quatre when the latter started to rush forward, anger plain on his face.
'Don't Duo. Don't do this, to yourself, or to me.'
'I'm not the one who cheated in this relationship!' Duo exploded furiously, 'I'm not the one who dumped someone I love, just because I got a better deal.'
'Duo, I told you that we were finished when I left our home. Quatre has been very kind to me. I don't think you understand how much I needed his support. I was devastated when I first left. I didn't know what to do, where to go. I don't know what I would have done if Quatre hadn't been there.'
'Oh, I can tell you where you'd be. With me, where you belong. If it wasn't for his meddling, you wouldn't have left me in the first place. Why can't you see that he's been manipulating you, that all he wanted was to break us up so that he could pick up the pieces. Don't you see that?' Duo felt like howling with frustration as he pleaded with Heero.
'Don't blame him for our breaking up.' Heero answered tersely, wishing that there was a way to make Duo understand once and for all. 'I told you that he had nothing to do with it. Damn you. I left you because I couldn't stand to fight with you any more. Because I couldn't stand this. Why won't you listen to me?'
Quatre looked on in appalled silence as the two started to argue even more furiously, no longer listening to each other, or even, to themselves. He walked over and picked up the gun that Duo had dropped and hesitated for a moment then in silence, he turned and shot Duo in the leg.
Heero started at the noise, then looked blankly at his lover who slowly collapsed, while blood started spilling down his trousers.
'Duo...'
Quatre moved and grabbed hold of Heero's arm firmly as he started to surge forward, and said urgently. 'Don't. Don't go to him. It's over. We have to concentrate on getting out of here. Remember? He's not hurt too badly, he should recover completely as soon as he gets medical help.'
Heero looked pained but allowed Quatre to pull him out of the room, his eyes glued on Duo's accusing stare.
'Take good care of her please.' Ryo whispered urgently as he gently passed the unconscious woman into the arms of the waiting man.
'What about you? What are you going to do?' Zechs looked at Ryo with concern. 'Your cover's pretty much blown thanks to this escapade. And since you worked under your real identity, trying to hide from the Foundation is going to be pretty difficult. Would you like me to set you up with a new identity in one of the Colonies?'
'No. Wait. I'm going to go back.' Ryo answered steadily, 'I asked Heero to see if he could cover our escape and I need to go back and check that he's okay. And if I'm still not discovered than I can continue to work undercover. If it's too late then,' he shrugged. 'I guess that the best I can do is to try to get out with as much information as I can.'
'It's too dangerous.' Zechs frowned, as he checked the harness holding Sally's body, 'but I don't have time to argue with you. I have to get her some medical attention as soon as possible. So, I'll take your word for it. If you can, try to call for assistance. Good luck.'
Ryo stood back as the white robot lifted off and disappeared into the dark sky. He wished that he was as confident as he had sounded. But he felt a strong sense of obligation to the dark haired man who had helped him and Sally. He had to check that Heero was okay. He turned and started to walk back to the car.
'Did you really have to go back and bandage his leg?' Quatre asked, unable to hide the annoyance in his voice.
Heero continued to climb up the elevator shaft in silence, as he tried to find the words to explain how he felt and failed.
Quatre sighed at the continuing silence from the above figure and simply concentrated on climbing. He wanted to ask Heero about the scene that he had witnessed when he first walked into the room. He wanted Heero to tell him that it was all over with Duo. He wanted... he sighed again. He wanted to go home with Heero and to put all this out of his mind. He wished that he had shot Duo in his black heart when he had the chance. He wondered if he would ever feel confident of Heero's feelings. He gritted his teeth and decided that he needed to work out more often. It had been a long time since he had been required to engage in this level of strenuous exercise and he was definitely feeling the strain. He gazed at the nimble figure moving steadily and easily above him and focused on trying to keep up.
Heero moved almost automatically, not really thinking about where he was putting his hands or feet, as he remembered the relief in the violet eyes when he had walked back to the room. He couldn't explain to Quatre that he had returned to Duo because he couldn't bear to think of Duo just lying there, bleeding. He knew that Quatre had been hurt when he had walked in and saw him in an embrace with Duo and he didn't want to hurt him any further. As always, he took refuge in silence and hoped that Quatre would understand. They were so close to getting out. As soon as they reached the roof, they could take the waiting helicopter and leave this place and Duo, once and for all. Heero started to move faster.
Quatre groaned to himself as he forced himself to keep pace.
'I can't believe Quatre shot you.'
'Would you stop saying that? It's ridiculous and you're driving me crazy. Believe me, I've still got the bullet to prove it.'
'I guess that it's all over with you and Heero then.'
Duo clenched his fist and slammed the table. 'The hell it is. That blond menace shot me and dragged Heero with him. I have to save him, from himself if necessary. I know that it's not his fault. He's being manipulated by Quatre. I swear if any harm comes to Heero from this, I'll kill that blond barracuda with my bare hands.'
Wufei looked at the furious face and decided against trying to convince him that Heero appeared to be acting completely under his own volition. He was beginning to be seriously alarmed that the relationship between the three was going out of control. He had always counted on Quatre to remain calm and rational, despite the excesses of Duo's jealous temper but the shooting had badly shaken his confidence that the matter could be resolved without a permanent breach in their friendship. He didn't believe that Heero had been tricked into having a relationship with Quatre, if the pilot of Wing Zero was involved with the blond beauty, it was for his own reasons. The problem was in trying to convince Duo of that. Wufei sighed to himself at Duo's stubborn refusal to accept that Heero was no longer interested in having a relationship with him.
'He told me that he still loves me.' Duo's eyes glittered feverishly as he leaned heavily against his pillow, 'I knew it.' He crowed gleefully, ignoring Wufei, who discreetly folded away the table and started to tuck the blanket around him. 'I knew that he loved him. And I love him. We're going to be together again, Wufei. You'll see.'
He fell silent as the drugs finally took effect and Wufei left him to sleep. He had decided that Duo's recent actions had all been due to the stress of his unhealthy obsession with Heero and that as a friend, it was his duty to try to help him. He felt confused by Heero's actions, he had seen the way the slender man had looked at Duo and he agreed with Duo, they were both still in love with each other. So why the complication? It seemed to Wufei that for Heero, at least, that love, was not enough.
Beep!
Quatre glanced down and stopped, glad for an excuse to rest briefly. He unhooked the small beeper carefully and looked at the display.
CANCEL INTRUDER ALERT! ALL SECURITY UNITS REPORT TO SECTION COMMAND!
'Heero.'
Quatre called softly, bringing the above figure to a halt. 'The security alert has been cancelled. And that means,'
He swore as a sudden hum interrupted him and the shaft began to shudder.
'The elevators are back on.'
Heero finished grimly as they looked up and saw the dark surface of the lift approaching.
'But Director Chang, I'm not sure if,'
'Don't worry. I'll take full responsibility. There hasn't been any damage to the property aside from the lift doors and until Director Maxwell recovers, I'm in charge of this Project. Release all exits as I've told you. One other thing,' Wufei's eyes narrowed as he looked at the building plans, 'tell the pilot standing by in Duo's helicopter to leave. Now. I don't care where, just tell him to leave immediately.'
He hummed softly under his breath as he traced the glowing lines of the plans on the monitor. He was confident that Heero and Quatre would be trying to leave by the helicopter so all he had to do was to make sure that they weren't hampered in their attempt to get to the roof. He grinned, Maxwell had a tendency to overdo things, it wasn't really necessary to bring any others into this. He didn't even mind letting them go, although he thought that he should ask Heero to stay behind, to keep Duo quiet, as long as he could get the CD with the copy of the Project files. He got up and straightened his jacket, then walked leisurely out of Duo's office.
'We have a problem.'
Quatre sagged with exhaustion and leant against the door heavily.
'Please, no more climbing. I can't take it anymore. We had to ride all the way down to Level 1B, thanks to that wretch lift, my arms are killing me from hanging onto the lift, and then we had to walk up 9 flights of stairs thanks to the alert being cancelled. Every muscle in my body is killing me.'
Heero pointed to the empty heliport and shrugged.
'Unless you can grow wings, I think we have to go back down.'
Quatre groaned loudly as he started reluctantly to get to his feet.
'Someone really hates me. I'm beginning to be sick of this building. I swear I'll never come back if I can just get out of here.'
Heero laughed softly and helped Quatre up.
'I told you that you should exercise more. And cut out the extra serving of chocolate fudge sundaes.'
Quatre grinned tiredly as he put his arms around the slender body and tugged him closer, dropping light kisses on the dark hair, the smudged cheek and soft lips.
'Mmm... maybe you're right. As soon as we get home, I think we should exercise. The kind that I like.'
Heero chuckled and pushed him away light heartedly.
'Don't. I'm ticklish.'
Then he started as Quatre remained still, staring at him with a serious expression and widened his eyes as Quatre tightened his arms around him.
'Heero, I love you.'
Heero felt his heart thumping wildly as he froze in Quatre's stare, unable to speak or to move, as the blond man leaned in slowly, their lips locking in a burning kiss.
'Excuse me.'
Heero jumped and he hurriedly broke out of Quatre's embrace, flushing scarlet as they turned to see Wufei next to them.
Wufei looked at Heero who reddened and looked away, then, at Quatre, looking very annoyed and put out by his interruption. He carefully closed the door behind him and walked over to the dark haired man then slapped him hard, once. Heero put his hand up to feel the bruised cheek and bit his lips, as the black haired pilot of Shenlong glared at him.
'That's for Duo. To think that I believed you when you swore that you still loved him. Do you have any idea what you're doing? You can't have it both ways. Either you love Duo or you don't. You can't keep whining that you love him and then turn around and have an affair with Quatre.'
Heero had paled under Wufei's accusations but he held still and looked at him in the eyes.
'I do love Duo but our relationship is over. And now I'm trying to make a new life with Quatre. Is that clear enough?'
Quatre had hurried to his lover's side during the confrontation and had started to take him into his arms when he was suddenly pushed aside.
'No.' Wufei spat grimly as he inserted his body between the two. He looked at the angry blond with disdain. 'You have no honour Quatre. You desire that which belongs to another. Whatever problems Heero and Duo are having, you have no place in them. You should not be here with him. I will allow you to leave, as long as you do so alone. Without Heero or the CD.'
Quatre narrowed his eyes coldly as he glared back at the implacable onyx eyes.
'Heero is no one's property. He stays or goes as he wills. And as for the CD, we need it as evidence. Duo's out of control Wufei and you know it. Help us to stop him before he goes too far.'
Wufei turned to Heero who stared at him in mute appeal. 'You do realise that both of you are trespassers. Duo is more than in his rights to have one or both of you shot. I don't want to have any more violence. You told me once that you were sick of the killing. That you didn't want to live as a warrior any more. Prove it, Heero. Stay and convince Duo. He would listen you. You know that. As long as,' he gave Quatre a scathing glance, 'you stay away from him. There's nothing that Duo wouldn't do for you. If you really love Duo, then you'll stay and give him a chance.'
'This is none of your business, Wufei!' Quatre stormed, grabbing the black haired man's arm and shoving him against the wall. 'How dare you interfere! You have no right.'
'And you have no honour. By what right do you interfere in Heero and Duo's relationship? You are worse than scum. You coveted your friend's lover. I despise you.'
Quatre blanched and dropped his hands, as he flinched from Wufei's remorseless words. Wufei pushed himself off the wall and started to brush down his suit.
'I'm giving both of you a chance. I'm willing to let Quatre walk out of here now, as long as Heero and the CD remain here with me. Not as a prisoner.' Wufei added smoothly, 'Heero can leave when he wants to, as long as it's not with Quatre and he gives Duo a chance to talk things through.'
'No.' Quatre heard himself saying dully as he brought out his gun and pointed it at Wufei who simply stared back coldly. 'I can't. Heero's staying with me. No deal.' He snarled suddenly and fired.
Wufei stayed still as he saw Heero pushing Quatre's arm out of the way. His heart hammered rapidly as the bullet sped past and buried itself in the wall behind.
'Duo was right. You are a psycho.' He sneered. 'You shot at an unarmed man. So much for your great principles. Well, Heero?'
Heero looked at shaking man in his arms and slowly pried his fingers from the gun, then held it out to Wufei, along with the CD. 'I'm not leaving Quatre, Wufei. So, I suggest that you get out of our way. This mission is over. Come on Quatre, lets go home.'
Quatre breathed heavily, his eyes still glazed from the shock. He hesitated, looking at the CD in Wufei's hands, then nodded.
'You're right. Wufei.' He spoke icily, 'Tell Duo that I'll be watching him. If he steps out of line again or if we can find some hard evidence, we'll close down Project Epsilon. But for now, I'll back off.'
Wufei glowered back and started to walk behind him.
'There's nothing wrong with Project Epsilon. You just got sore because you lost the plans to Wing Zero. If you had just sold it to Duo when he first asked for it, none of this would have been necessary. Don't set yourself up against the Foundation Quatre, or you'll find that you've bitten off more than you can chew. We have resources, political, economical, that you can't even begin to imagine.'
Wufei halted when they arrived at the elevators.
'I suggest that you leave through the maintenance entrance in the rear of this building. I assume that you have a car parked nearby?'
Heero nodded silently, then hesitated before calling out toWufei who had started to move away.
'Wait. There's something that I think you should know.'
Wufei paused, his head inclined slightly as he looked back at the smudged figure.
'It's about Sally. Sally Po.'
Wufei stiffened at the mentioned of his old partner in the Preventers. He hadn't seen her since their fiery dispute over his involvement in Project Delta.
'She was here. In my cell. And hurt bad. I don't know what happened but I think Duo was involved somehow.' Heero spoke softly, his eyes betraying the pain and worry that he felt, 'I... I managed to get her out, I think. But I thought that you should know. You should be careful of Duo, Wufei. He's dangerous. I don't know what he's capable of doing any more.'
Wufei nodded politely once than left, his mind churning furiously over Heero's words. He remembered the amused look in Duo's eyes when he had mentioned Heero's cell-mate with a sinking feeling. 'What are you really up to Duo?' Wufei wondered.
'Sally? She was here? How?' Quatre broke off his startled questions as Heero lightly pressed his lips to him.
'I'll tell you later. The lift's here. It's time we went home.'
Duo glared at Wufei who simply stared back implacably.
'You let them go. You cancelled my alert, took over my guards and just let them go. Just like that.'
Wufei shrugged.
He briefly debated with himself over whether he should tell Duo what he had witnessed on the roof but then prudently decided on the better part of valour. Instead, he decided to remind him of their priorities.
'What are you going to do about this mole that you talked about? Do you have any ideas on who it might be yet?'
Duo smirked as he turned the terminal toward Wufei, showing the face and profile on display.
'Let's just say that I have pretty good idea. I think that for the moment, I'll just leave him alone. I don't really mind having a mole as long as I can keep track of what he sees and reports. If he becomes a problem, well, it looks like we have a pretty good candidate for one of Dorothy's pet project at Omega.'
Wufei grimaced at the mention of the blond woman.
'I don't know how you can stand working with that woman. She's vile. And how do you know what's going on at Omega?' Wufei knitted his brows in suspicion, 'didn't she demand a security blanket over her Project? Only the selected members of the Board get reports on what's going on over there.'
Duo grinned and leaned back on his hands. 'Oh, lets just say that I have connections.' He looked at the photo of Heero on his desk, the dark hair falling into the intense blue eyes as he smiled dazzlingly from the crystal frame, and promised, 'It's not over yet, Heero.'
~Owari~
Kat: This is continued in 'Minuet'. (renamed from 'One Year War' ^_^;; remember? I decided to refer to this AU continuation as the Minuet series in the end) Please note that the rating is changing to NC-17 as the next arc will contain dark themes and a lemon part. I got really fascinated by the world that I was making as a backdrop for the triangle and decided to focus on that more in the next series. However, Heero, Duo and Quatre are still continuing their little 'dance' as Heero starts to realise that he had been truly 'in love' with Duo, and that he was still attracted to him.
Katana
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