12-Jun-2000
Category: Adventure, Angst, Romance, Friendship
Time: After the events in OCT
Rating: Umm PG
Pairings: 3+4, 1+2 and multiple highlights of friendships.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing already has an owner. I mean not disrespect to them
and do this for no money.
Notes: Again, Bonne is the wonderful voice of Wufei here. All kind comments about him to her please. I'm going to split this up into two mailings. Hope I don't discourage anyone from reading!
Duo shifted uneasily in the leather bucket seat of the Aston Martin as it went zinging around a curve. He couldn't help feeling that this was a mistake, that they should have sent the information out to Heero and Trowa and let them follow up on the possible lead. But Quatre had insisted. The person they were going to talk to was a very old family friend and Quatre didn't want her treated like a criminal.
So, here they were, careening along back roads at eighty miles per hour, in an open top car of all things. Duo pondered that he should have insisted they take one of the limos, at least those were closed up but Quatre had looked at him like he was out of his mind.
"Duo?!? You don't even like the limos, you say they're too hoity toity for you."
"Yeah, but they're closed, not hanging wide open like the top of this thing."
"It's a gorgeous day out. Come on Duo I know you like the wind whipping through your braid."
"Quatre..."
"Listen, any of my limos are just as distinctive if not more so then this car. We're not going all that far. I know you promised Wufei that you would keep me safe but we need to talk to this person."
Duo had just thrown up his hands. Trying to redirect Quatre when he'd set his mind to something was impossible. However, he'd taken a moment and grabbed a small gym bag, sliding a machine gun, a couple handguns and plenty of ammunition into it.
Driving along now, Duo felt the same sense of unease return. They were further from the estate then he'd expected, but on roads that were for the most part free of traffic. Duo felt the hairs on his neck rising and kept looking in the sideview mirror. Quatre seemed mostly unbothered by the situation. He simple drove along, his thoughts kept to himself, though Duo could tell the small blonde was pondering the interview ahead.
Duo was getting positively jumpy when they finally turned off the paved
roads onto a long, well kept gravel driveway. With a certain sense of relief
he watched the heavy iron gates swing shut behind them. At least they
weren't out in the open any more.
Quatre navigated around the circular drive with surprising skill, drawing to a halt at the steps leading up to the modest mansion. On the top of the steps stood an old woman. Frail looking but still standing straight with iron gray hair and a face that looked like it never did a lot of smiling. Her dark brown eyes lit up though, as Quatre bounded from the car and trotted up the stairs, embracing her.
"Hello Mrs. Huffean. It's so good to see you again." He exclaimed.
"Oh Quatre dear, my how you've grown up. It's good to see you also, though I do wish the circumstances were better." She seemed to want to hug the young man for a long time, as if afraid to let him go. But after a moment she took notice of Duo lurking in the background and a formal politeness that Duo had come to term the 'Mannerly Mask' shuttered her features.
"And who is this?" She asked politely but pointedly.
Quatre turned and blushed. "Oh, please forgive me. Mrs. Huffean this is a good friend of mine Duo Maxwell. Duo, Mrs. Huffean is an old friend of my family. I believe she's godmother to at least half my sisters."
Mrs. Huffean laughed. "All of them dear, and you. But please, come inside."
There was a certain level of seriousness to the old woman which spoke to Duo and he stepped up, crowding Quatre forward. Quatre turned and gave the lady his arm, escorting her into the stately manor. They exchanged a little more small talk on the way to her drawing room but as soon as they were within the bright room with the door closed she turned and fixed Quatre with a sad gaze.
"Quatre lad, I didn't want to have to talk to you about this, in fact for a long time I'd hoped I was wrong. It seems, however, that I'm not and I fear I could have saved you a lot of pain had I spoken sooner. I pray you will forgive a foolish old woman."
Quatre blinked, sitting down on a small hassock in front of her, taking both her frail hands in his. His expression kind. Duo stepped over to the large window, standing by the curtains, watching for any movement outside.
"Mrs. Heffean..." Quatre began, but the lady quickly forestalled him with a dignified shake of her head.
"No, you will listen to me little Winner. Ever since your father's death there have been people within WEI who have pushed to circumvent your taking control. They succeeded for a little while since WEI was held in trust by your sisters until you turned 16 but after that, power reverted back to you. You are a bright young man, I know you have not been unaware of your opposition."
Quatre nodded. As always, he was saddened that people who had worked with his father so loyally could not find it in their hearts to accept him.
"Right. It's only a small group of holdouts Quatre, you've done a wonderful job of stepping into your role. But this small group is a powerful knot of people who believe that you are taking WEI in a wrong direction. They are still frightened from the war Quatre and they are frightened of your part in the war."
"Frightened people can be very desperate."
"Yes. Even more so when they believe they are right. When you made the decision to back the Comet's Tail operation, a lot of these people felt it was the last straw. They approached even me to ask for assistance in... well, in having you removed from your position."
Quatre reared back a little and Duo's head snapped around. There was a soft thump as his braid hit the window and his violet eyes narrowed on the woman, muscles tensing for a split second, fearing a trap.
Mrs. Heffean read the defensive posture of the two young men and shook her head sharply. "Don't be foolish. I said I would have nothing to do with it. We were here to protect you children, not steal your birthright from you. No one pressed me, they went on their way but their decision was clear. They meant to take you out of power Quatre."
"Who was it Mrs. Heffean?"
"I only met with three men Quatre but there are more."
"The three?"
She took a deep breath, looking out the window. "Paul Atrick, Martin DuBois, and Carl Lefwequi."
Quatre's eyes widened and for a moment he just looked at her. Mrs. Heffean nodded sadly.
"Yes Quatre, they were the three men who ran WEI between the time of your father's death and when you came into your own. I'm sure that they believe they are doing what is right for the company but I think they just got very used to the power of the position."
Quatre's hung his head, his voice so soft it was nearly a whisper. "They were my father's closest friends."
Mrs. Heffean pressed two fingers beneath Quatre's chin and lifted his face to meet her eyes. "Yes.. your fathers... but not yours I fear. I have documents here that will show you a papertrail of where they have been trying to come up with legal means to take WEI away from you. I think it will give you enough evidence to track... further into their activities."
Turquoise eyes flinched. He heard what the older woman was not saying and though they already suspected Paul, he didn't want to believe it went any further. Seeing the pain in Quatre's eyes, Mrs. Heffean stroked his cheek, then stood looking to Duo.
"I'll get the papers, if you can wait a moment."
Duo nodded, watching the back of Quatre's hanging head.
As the old woman left Duo walked over till he stood behind Quatre.
"Hey... you alright little buddy?"
"Huh? Oh.. yes I guess so Duo. I just..." he looked up, " we've got to follow through with this and I know it's not a big surprise but I'm beginning to fear just how far this will go."
Duo winced. He knew what Quatre was thinking. Laying his hand on the small blonde's shoulder he gave it a supportive squeeze. Mrs. Heffean reentered the room with a leather briefcase in her weathered hands.
"Here. Everything is in here, even a few little memos." She stroked her hand along the leather for a moment, then held it out to Quatre. "Take it: defend yourself Quatre."
Quatre hesitated then he stood and took the briefcase from her. Leaning forward he pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.
"Thank you godmother."
Mrs. Heffean hid a choked breath behind a little laugh, swatting his shoulder. "Don't call me that, it makes me feel old. Now, scoot both of you. I've stuffed all my handsome young lovers in various closets and I need to let them out."
Duo couldn't help chuckling at the woman's words as he took Quatre's arm and coaxed him towards the front door. Quatre even managed a smile and a wave before allowing himself to be drawn away.
tbc
Laekin
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