Title: Written in Blood
Author: AstroKender
Pairings:only 3+4 as of yet...more to follow
Rating: action/mystery
Warnings: None in this part...well...maybe bad coffee.
Spoilers: None.
Notes: Takes place after the Eve Wars of Endless Waltz. Everyone works for the Preventers.
Disclaimers: I own nothing...not even my computer. So obviously GW isn't mine. Don't sue.
Duo walked into the office sleepily, His Preventer uniform slightly askew. Yawning hugely, the American made his way over to the coffee maker. Seeing the pot pitifully empty, he scowled. Bending over, he rummaged under the counter for a filter.
"Nice view. Though I wasn't expecting such a sight so early in the morning."
Duo glared over his shoulder at the figure leaning against the doorway. Trowa smirked. Duo just glared harder and continued his search.
"We're out of them, you know." Trowa said conversationally.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Throwing the empty filter box over his shoulder, narrowly missing the Latin boy's head, Duo straightened and sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I told you that you shouldn't have drank so much last night." One visible green eye twinkled with mirth.
"You had just as much as me, Trowa Barton, why isn't your head falling off?" Duo's eyes fell on the slightly used dishrag by the sink.
Trowa laughed. "Cause I know how to hold my liquor."
"Injustice." Duo muttered. Rinsing out the rag, he placed it in the coffee maker.
Trowa raised an eyebrow at his antics but decided not to comment. "Now you are starting to sound like WuFei." He said instead.
"Who sounds like WuFei?" Quatre asked, walking into the break room. "Oh. Good morning Duo."
Duo halfheartedly raised his hand in greeting, busy pouring the coffee grounds onto the dishrag. Quatre kissed Trowa good morning and cast a curious glance towards the braided pilot. His eyes widened.
"Duo! What are you doing?"
"Making coffee." Duo growled, trying to shove the filter-holder back in place.
"That disgusting!"
"What's disgusting," Duo decided to simply hold it in place as he poured the water in. "Is having to wake up at seven in the morning and having no coffee."
"But you're using a dishrag as a filter." Quatre protested.
Duo shrugged. "Adds fiber."
Heero walked through the door, smelling the brewing drink. Going over to inspect it, the Japanese boy nodded approvingly. "Rag coffee." Duo smirked at him.
Duo grabbed the pot and poured them both a cup. Leaning back against the counter, Duo drank it down, black. Heero did the same. Quatre walked over hesitantly.
"Rag coffee?" Hesitating, he nevertheless poured himself a cup.
"Aa. We were at a safe house once and didn't have any filters." Heero explained. "So Duo improvised. It's good."
Quatre looked doubtingly down at the thick black liquid. "It's got stuff floating in it."
"It's just coffee, Q-man." Duo laughed, feeling more human after his second cup. "It won't bite."
Quatre glared at the braided boy and, after adding a liberal amount of cream and sugar, took a small sip.
"Blech!" The blonde sputtered. "This taste's horrible!" Strangely, he found himself taking another sip. Heero smirked.
"You get used to it."
Duo groaned and lay his head on the on his arms. He hated deskwork. Three cups of coffee, while doing wonders in allowing him to rejoin the human race, just wasn't enough to keep him awake through a mountain of paperwork.
Sleepy violet eyes watched as Quatre skipped by to sit on Trowa's desk, causing his files to scatter across the floor. Quatre giggled and the banged boy glared at Duo, silently telling him that by no means should the Arab be given 'rag coffee' again. In, answer, Duo's eyes drifted closed...only to pop wide open at the sharp tug to his braid.
"Itai!" Duo simultaneously glared at the figure while rubbing his head. "Dammit, WuFei!"
The Chinese boy gave him a glare of his own. "You're slacking off again Maxwell. Une's going to have your hide."
"No she's not, cause I don't swing that way." WuFei snorted at the cheeky remark. Duo continued. "And besides, when did you become Une's little lapdog?"
WuFei's face turned a very interesting shade of red and his mouth opened to no doubt begin a long and painful justice tirade when a female voice resounded throughout he office.
"Duo Maxwell! Get in here!"
Duo paled and glanced up at the dark-haired boy. "I didn't know you could throw your voice, Wu-chan."
"You too Chang!"
WuFei choked on his scathing reply, eyes wide. "I can't."
Both boys walked out of the room as if facing a firing squad.
End Prologue
Duo waltzed into Une's office with WuFei in tow. Executing a mock bow, he turned his most charming grin on the brunette. Une looked up, unfazed, and gestured for them both to sit.
"Do you know what brings you both to my office?" The woman took off her glasses and set them aside.
"Bad coffee?" Duo offered. WuFei glowered at him.
"It's a case, isn't it, Lady?"
Une nodded and rubbed her temples. "It's not pretty. There has be a series of murders. Brutal murders. And we have no clue who the murder is and can only guess at his intentions."
"But shouldn't it be up to the police to find a serial killer?" Duo asked, puzzled.
Brown eyes darkened. "It isn't that simple. This killer is a trained assassin. The victims are not ordinary people, but dignitaries from both Earth and the Colonies."
Duo leaned forward, expression suddenly serious. "So this killer is hoping to restart the war?"
Lady Une stood up and started pacing the room restlessly. "I don't know. It does point in that direction. That's why we were called. And," She turned to face the two. "That's why I am putting you both in charge of the investigation."
WuFei nodded. "Where do we start?"
"The mortuary. I called ahead and they're expecting you."
WuFei rose, and with a small bow, left the room. Duo also made to leave, but paused in the doorway.
"Anne?"
Lady Une looked up. "Yes Duo?"
"I understand why you picked WuFei for this case, but why me? I've never done anything like this before."
Brown eyes met violet and Une smiled. "I was told that you have a sharp wit and were capable of thinking of things that others would look over as unimportant. Your ability to think analytically is what made me choose you for this case."
Duo blinked at her. "Oh...I'll do my best, Lady." The, with a jaunty salute, he walked out the door.
"I'm counting on it."
Duo walked down the hall, deep in thought. So deep, in fact, that he wasn't paying attention to where he was going until he ran smack into someone.
"Sorry-Heero? Where are you going? Your shift's not over yet."
"Hn." Heero grunted. "New mission."
"You too?" Duo asked with surprise. "What's the perimeter?"
Dark blue eyes glared at him from underneath unruly bangs. "Protect the Vice Minister."
Duo eyes went wide. "Relena?" He thought about for a moment and nodded to the Japanese boy. "Makes sense." He looked at Heero. "I'll try to capture him as soon as I can. Protect ojisan and tell her I won't let her down."
He continued down the hall but was stopped when a firm hand tugged at his arm. Large violet eyes looked back to meet confused cobalt ones.
"What are you talking about?" Heero demanded.
"Une put me and Chang in charge of finding the killer and capturing him, if possible."
Heero stared at him a moment longer, then released his arm. "If you need any help, you know where I'll be." At Duo's nod, the Japanese boy turned away.
"Be careful, baka." He called over his shoulder.
Duo grinned. "You too, O Indestructible One."
A snort was his only answer.
Trowa glanced up from his paperwork as Duo strode purposefully into the room. The Latin boy raised one eyebrow in question and Duo shook his head, gesturing to the blonde bundle of energy sitting on Trowa's desk.
"Quatre, could you do me a favor?"
The blonde looked up at his lover, eyes shining. "Anything, Koi."
"I've got a slew of paperwork to do. Do you think you can get me some coffee?"
Quatre beamed happily. "Of course, Trowa! Cream but no sugar, right?"
Trowa nodded and the Arab bounced away. The Latin boy smiled slightly at the retreating figure and then turned suddenly serious emerald eyes towards Duo. Duo smiled encouragingly.
"It probably nothing, Tro-chan, but the case I'm on is pretty serious and it wouldn't hut to be careful."
"Quatre?" Trowa asked.
"Anyone who has ties to the peace delegation may be targeted. I just want you to keep an extra eye out." Duo bent over and fondly swept the Latin boy's bangs aside, revealing the twin to the intense green orb.
Trowa's hand shot out to clasp the braided boy's before it got away. "Consider it done."
"Shame on you both!" The two boys glanced up at an irritated Quatre.
Damn. Busted. Duo thought. Quatre hated the thought of anyone having to protect him for any reason. Duo opened his mouth to explain but was cut off.
"If you two are going to make out during office hours, you should have invited me!"
Duo looked over at Trowa and chuckled. The taller boy looked back at him in relief, but a faint blush colored his cheeks. He released the braided boy's hand.
Quatre smiled and walked over to the two, sitting a steaming coffee cup on Trowa's desk. Wide aquamarine eyes batted at Duo coyly.
"You know, the offer still stands, Duo. Anytime you want to join us your more than welcome."
Now it was the American's turn to blush. They had all been lovers, at one time or another. The hardships of war took its toll on the young boys, and the found comfort where they could get it. In this case, it happened to be with each other. First Quatre, then Trowa, and lastly, Heero. He had given a part of himself to them all and received apart of them in return. They had mostly gone their separate ways once the war ended although, he was happy to discover that Trowa and Quatre had found a lasting relationship with each other. One by one, they had joined the Preventers, Duo being the last. Ever since, the couple had tried to get him in their bed.
"Now, now, Q-man. You know that inter-office relationships are frowned upon by the company. The only way you got away with Trowa is cause you threatened to go zero-system on them."
Quatre smiled brightly, but there was a familiar glint in his eye. "I'm sure I can make them see reason. I did it once didn't I?"
The American chuckled and shook his head hopelessly. Quatre was one persistent little squirt; he'd give him that. It wasn't as though he was adverse to the idea of renewing old flames, but he didn't want to threaten the unity of the relationship between the two. They undoubtedly had something special, and Duo didn't want to ruin that. It was the same with Heero. Their bond of friendship was as strong as Gundanium. But there was no need to test that bond with a physical relationship. Duo chuckled to himself. The only one none of them had been able to coerce into their respective beds was-
"Today, Maxwell!" WuFei stood irritably by the door, jacket in hand.
Duo waved goodbye to the couple and followed the brooding Chinese boy. Nope. No one had managed to sleep with WuFei. The boy was too prudish for his own good. And probably as straight as a Gundanium rod. Duo mused.
Trowa watched the chestnut braid as it retreated down the hallway. He had a bad feeling about this case. He would take Duo's advice and watch over Quatre like a hawk. He only hoped that someone would watch after Duo, who was now going to be in the eye of the maelstrom.
Absently, he brought the cup of coffee to his lips and took a sip. An almost comical expression appeared on the Latin boy's face as he spat the brown liquid everywhere. Muffled giggles were heard from the vicinity of the Arab's desk.
Trowa wiped his chin carefully while glaring at the offending coffee cup.
"Rag coffee." He muttered.
End Part One
(:./astrokender/written1)
