15-Apr-2002
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or its characters. They are the property of Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency. I make no money from the fan fictions I write. All I get from writing them is a sense of satisfaction that I'm pissing the hell out of my family by sitting in front of the computer all evening. ^_^
Title: When All The Laughter Dies In Sorrow 13/?
Author: KwyckSylver mailto:kwycksylver@yahoo.com
Rating: NC-17 for sex, violence and salty language - you know, the stuff they show on prime time television.
Pairings: 1 + 2 which will lead to 1x2x1, 6x2 and 13+/x11 (not really sure yet how to rate that last one).
Spoiler Warnings: None, this fic is AU. Although I am trying to keep the characters as IC as possible, they may exhibit some OOC behavior.
This fic contains angst, humor, betrayal, mystery, skullduggery, romance, sex and other healthy things.
Zechs opened his eyes and saw ceiling. Living room ceiling. He recognized the small light fixture he was staring at as the one that lit the front entry way. He raised to a sitting position and was overcome by a momentary dizziness and he could feel his whole face throb. Although dazed, he waited until the vertigo subsided before he tried to stand. He raised his hand to his face but jerked it away when he touched his nose, it hurt too much. He looked at the smear of sticky warm blood on his fingers and hoped like hell his nose wasn't broken.
Zechs considered calling the emergency medical service but changed his mind. The last thing he wanted was a nosy neighbor poking around and asking questions. He looked in the phone book and found the address of the nearest emergency clinic. He dropped some ice cubes into a plastic freezer bag then wrapped a clean dishtowel around it. He entered the garage and punched the button that opened the door.
He looked at himself in the rear view mirror before backing out of the drive way. His nose seemed three times larger than normal, both eyes were blackened and he was sporting a fat lip.
It seemed getting hit by Duo was becoming a habit.
After long minutes of staring at Heero, then the cabinets, then at Heero, then to the sink, back to Heero, then the floor, again to Heero, then at the stupid looking vegetable clock on the wall, and once more at Heero, without one word being said, Duo stood and stretched then headed to the living room.
"I've known since Monday, after I dropped you off. One of our hackers found the report about your father," Heero spoke up, breaking the silence.
Seconds later Heero found himself bent backwards over the table, suspended by two fistfuls of shirt.
"You gutless jerk," Duo yelled, "you knew since Monday and you didn't tell me?"
"Our orders were not to, I do have to obey them even if I disagree," Heero answered calmly, "now let me go."
Duo pulled Heero up, releasing his hold on him as he stepped away, "Why? Huh? Tell me that. Why didn't anyone think it was important for me to know?"
"They didn't want you to compromise yourself or us. Do you really think you could have kept pretending to cooperate and act like you didn't know?"
"You could have given me the benefit of the doubt," Duo said, turning his back on him, "I may not be trained like you are, but I'm not stupid."
"No one said you were stupid, Duo. But do you really think you could have kept your emotions in check?" Heero moved forward, closing the gap between them, "I thought we should tell you but the all the reasons not to made more sense."
Duo slumped down into a chair and began rubbing his temples, he could feel a headache coming on, "God, I feel like such a fucking moron. I go to bed with Zechs but I end up getting screwed by you."
"You make it sound like you wanted to," Heero accused.
There was a hint of jealousy in those words, tempting Duo to lay it on thick about what had happened between Zechs and him. He was still upset, and he was tempted to but the scowl on Heero's face changed his mind.
"No, Heero. I didn't want to," he sighed, "I chose to. I thought I had a good reason," he gestured for Heero to sit, "yesterday morning Zechs told me Oz had changed their minds about the deal they made."
"That doesn't surprise me," Heero snorted, choosing the chair next to Duo.
"Wait, let me finish, this isn't easy for me, so I have to say it fast," Duo said, taking a deep breath, "he said I was dead after I found the mole unless he could convince them I was switching sides. He led me to believe Oz expected me to . . . to do what I did, otherwise they would kill us, my dad and me. I spent all day yesterday convincing myself it was the right thing to do. It wasn't until afterwards that I realized my father was already dead. I confronted him and he told me the truth. Then he said that my dad was a traitor to the people who loved and respected him and that the Alliance was not the bad guys. And then he had the gall to tell me that we made a good pair, that as long as I was with him he could protect me from Oz. That's when I left and took a walk and ended up here with you."
"Duo, I wish you would have told me about Zechs"
"And I wish you would have told me about my father," Duo snapped, "so because you kept your mouth shut, I didn't think I had any other options. I was determined to make sure my father stayed safe. Besides, you couldn't have done anything except try to talk me out of it, and I wouldn't have listened to you anyway. I told you I was a moron, if I had truly understood what Zechs was saying yesterday morning, I would have realized what he telling me."
"That asshole took advantage of your naivety " Heero growled, "but after this morning, I doubt he'll go anywhere near you."
"What did you do?" Duo asked, dreading the answer.
"I punched his lights out," Heero grinned viciously, "and if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have stopped with just one."
"Aw hell, what'd you go and do that for?," Duo groaned.
"Don't tell me you weren't thinking of doing the same thing," Heero countered
"It wasn't your place to do it. I can take care of myself, you know," Duo reached out and grabbed Heero's arm, "don't you understand? He's seen you now and he's going to ask me who you are. No, he's not going to ask, he's going to demand. What the hell were you thinking?"
"There's no way he saw me and I don't see why you're so upset unless you're afraid I messed up that pretty face of his," Heero said peevishly.
"You *are* jealous," Duo quipped, "why?"
Heero gave him a 'that's a stupid question' look, "I don't want you to go back to that house. There's no reason for you to. You need to get as far away from Oz as you can get."
"Oz? Or Zechs?" Duo asked.
"Both," Heero answered.
"I can't, at least not yet. I want Oz to give my father a proper funeral. They owe him that and Zechs promised he'd get them to do it."
"Duo, Oz's promises don't mean a thing and Zechs is Oz," Heero reminded him.
"The jerk-off likes me, Heero. Right or wrong, I'm going to use him to make sure my dad gets buried alongside my mother instead of in some unmarked grave somewhere. That means I have to stay with him a little while longer."
"No," Heero said, it was a command, not a statement.
"Huh? What'd you just say to me?" Duo challenged.
"I said no."
"What makes you think you can order me around?" Duo could feel the hairs rise on the back of his neck.
"What makes you think that you won't disappear once you leave town?" Heero pointed out.
"Because I haven't finished my mission. You know, turning you and Coach over to them," Duo wisecracked.
"Ok, you got me on that," Heero agreed, "but Khushrenada has a step-brother named Milliardo Peacecraft. Wufei and I found a picture of him in a newspaper when we were looking for any information on Zechs. Peacecraft matches the description you gave us. And since we cannot find any evidence that Merquise even exists - well - it's a natural assumption they might be the same person. I was too busy hitting Merquise to get a good look at him. I want you to take a look at that picture so you can confirm it."
"Heero, why is that so important? What does it matter what name Zechs is using?"
"You said it yourself, the guy has a thing for you. What if he doesn't give a flying fig about Oz or spies or anything else? What if he has his own agenda?"
"Ok, I get your point," Duo agreed, "show me the picture."
"It's at Wufei's. Let me get the key," Heero said as he walked to the back door to pluck it off the rack.
"Flying fig?," Duo chuckled.
"Hm? Did you say something?" Heero asked.
"Not really," Duo said, "but I will say that this doesn't mean I'm not still mad at you."
"Would you say that again, in English?" Heero grinned.
"Oh, never mind. Let's go look at that picture," Duo sighed.
"I can't tell you if you're nose is broken until the swelling goes down," the doctor told Zechs, "I'm afraid all I can do right now is prescribe ice packs and a pain killer, if you need one. Come back in a couple of days and let me re-examine it, the swelling should be reduced enough by then to tell. In the meantime, I suggest you stay away from school girls with jealous boyfriends."
Zechs gave the doctor a dirty look, "I got hit in the face by a door," he said.
The doctor smirked, "that's what they all say. Here take a look, " he handed Zechs a mirror, "I guess that door was wearing a high school ring, see the nice little imprint it left?"
Zechs held the mirror to his face. There was a small rectangular mark with a shape inside it where he had been hit. It looked like a reptile of some kind.
"How do you know this came from a high school ring?" Zechs asked
"I recognize it. St. Georges High School, their mascot is a dragon. My son goes there."
Zechs got off the examining table, "thank you doctor, you've been more help than you know."
"The nurse will give you a prescription for some pain medication and instructions on when and how long to apply ice. I'll re-examine you once the swelling goes down. I should be able to tell if it's broken by then. But in the meantime, if your nose starts bleeding and you can't get it to stop, get yourself to the hospital emergency room."
"I will, and thank you again," Zechs said offering the doctor his hand. The doctor accepted the handshake then pointed Zechs towards the cashier's desk.
As he drove home, Zechs would catch a glimpse of the ring imprint whenever he looked in the rear view mirror. Duo didn't wear a ring.
"Son of a bitch!" Zechs exclaimed loudly as he stomped on the brakes, coming to a screeching halt. Behind him, tires squealed as a car swerved to the other lane and passed him, the driver yelled a variety of colorful obscenities while giving him the one-fingered peace sign. But Zechs ignored him.
Duo making excuses not to be driven to school. Him coming home late on Monday night, disheveled and in an obvious state of arousal, when he was supposed to have been studying at his coach's place. Missing practice the next morning and not coming home last night. It appeared Duo had met someone he could trust and talk to.
He stepped on the accelerator, quickly picking up speed. He was now in a hurry to get home. It seemed Zechs had a rival and that rival was the mole.
TBC
End of Part 13
KwyckSylver
Please send comments to: kwycksylver@yahoo.com