01-Nov-2004
Title: Tetractys: Binah, I
Author: Sol 1056
Rating: R for violence and language, some adult situations
Pairings (currently): 1+R, 1+2+3, 2x3x2, 4x5xM
Disclaimer: no, don't own 'em... duh.
Archived: sweetlysour and gwaddiction
Critiques: always welcome, natch!
Notes: Many thanks to those reviewing, and special thanks to those who let me rant and rave while bashing my head against the wall known as The Binah Sections. Thanks, all!
The image flickered into life, a bit scratchy. The signal strengthened, and the picture solidified to reveal Mariemaia - with her hair up in a ponytail - and Zhiyi, sitting side by side on a green sofa in front of a pale green wall. Both girls looked serious.
"This is Mariemaia Khushrenada-Barton," Mariemaia said, and gave Zhiyi a fond look. "And Zhiyi Long."
"Hi," Zhiyi said, and waved.
"The war has been going on for three months now, but in truth, it's been waged for much longer than that. The death toll is astronomical," Mariemaia continued, and for a moment her previous elegant visage was apparent. It was gone when she brightened, making her look closer to her sixteen years than even the ponytail and simple clothes. "Zhiyi and I would like to ask the people of the earth sphere nation to observe a week's ceasefire. It is our hope that by halting the hostilities, we can create a chance for the representatives of our governments to discuss some kind of peaceable accord, and come to a resolution that befits all parties."
Zhiyi nodded, solemn. "The fighting has been horrible. People dying, homes burned, forests and mountains and cities destroyed. Earth from space looks so peaceful and beautiful. That shouldn't just be an ill--" She squinted at the camera.
"Illusion," Mariemaia whispered.
"Right." Zhiyi swallowed hard, and gave the camera an intent look, though her voice quavered. "That shouldn't just be an illusion. We can make the world safe and happy and beautiful once more, if everyone stops fighting and starts talking."
"As of the moment of this broadcast, all Foundation personnel are operating under cease-fire orders," Mariemaia announced, her voice growing stronger. "Please, take this time to give the peace process a chance."
"Thank you for listening," Zhiyi said, and managed a smile.
The broadcast ended, and the local station returned, with an announcer looking more than a bit startled. He blinked at the camera, and his expression became a wide smile, if worried.
"Shut it off," Doro said. She turned away from the vidscreen, and poked at the limp vegetables on her plate. "At least Zhiyi's not drugged. Those broadcasts last month were giving me apoplexy."
"Mariemaia looks exhausted," Hil commented. "Either that, or she's fired her usual makeup person."
"Zhiyi looks okay," Lena said, and froze, the broccoli halfway to her mouth. She stared at the pale-green vegetable, and dropped it onto the plate. "When was the last time Zhiyi was in space?"
"Hunh?" Cat looked up from her ammunitions diagrams. "I guess when she was two or three. Why?"
"How would she know what the earth looks like?" Lena pinched the bridge of her nose.
"She was probably given the words to read," Doro pointed out.
"She didn't say it like that," Hil replied. "I got the impression she was speaking of a piece of art she'd seen. Reverent."
"Mariemaia is in space, then," Lena added. "We've got three days until the Foundation's forces get to Ploiesti, at the rate they're going."
"More, if they observe the cease-fire." Doro shrugged. "Space is huge, Lena. There's no guarantee we'll be able to find her."
"Zhiyi was taken to an MEO," Hil commented, a thoughtful look on her face. "We figured she was taken from there, to somewhere else. But if she wasn't, then she's been looking at the earth and seeing it big and beautiful."
"Hunh?" Lena gave Hil a puzzled look.
"You non-space baby," Hil replied, and shook a stem of celery at Lena. "From the colonies, the earth is only about as big as the moon looks from here on earth. You'd be looking at a blue-green ball through the skylights in the center rings. But from an MEO, earth takes up nearly the entire view on any earth-facing skylights."
"Makes sense," Lena mused. "Doro, have you gotten any word from the L1 or L4 rebels recently?"
Doro shook her head. "They've been keeping a low profile since the Peacemillion was destroyed."
"Try again. I'll find out about using one of the claimed Foundation shuttles to get us into space," Lena said, and pushed her plate away.
"Eat that," Doro said, pushing the plate back. "Too many people are going hungry for you to do without."
Lena sighed, and dutifully picked at her simple meal.
"Going into space... " Cat shook her head. "Still seems like a bit of leap to me."
Hil gave Cat a strange look, but said nothing.
"She's right," Doro said. "We can't just run off at the drop of a hat. The last message from Meiran said they're on L1 now."
"She can do it," Cat said, and shrugged. "For that matter, if she saw the broadcast and came to the same conclusion, she may be in Nataku investigating every MEO this very minute."
Duo knew it was coming; he'd seen the threads while he assisted the techs in refueling Deathscythe Hell. Clicking on the comm. and whispering a few words to Trowa and Heero, the three were waiting in the hangar when General Randt arrived.
"Pilots," Randt said, gravely. "We have been offered humanitarian aid by the nation-states of Mid-Europe and Britain." He paused, and his gaze didn't waver from Heero's steady stare. "However, this offer was on condition that their aid not be extended to weapons of war during the ceasefire."
"I see," Trowa said, giving nothing away.
Randt shifted, nervousness leaking through his stern visage. "When you're done refueling, we'd appreciate you leaving. The drops won't begin until we've confirmed your departure."
Duo snorted, and grabbed the towrope. It lifted him away from the General and his aides. Duo twisted on the rope, shouting down at the General.
"We saved your asses, General," he yelled. "If it were a true humanitarian gesture, it wouldn't have the string attached that you drop all defenses." Reaching the cockpit, he leaned over, his braid slapping against the mecha's chest. "And it sure as hell wouldn't require that you act so shamefully as to not even feed us before sending us packing!"
Duo flipped on the sensors, watching as Randt frowned at Heero and Trowa, who both shrugged and rode the towropes into their own Gundams. Duo grinned, and finished buckling into the seat. Firing up his jets, he pulled forward, overhead the General and his aides; Deathscythe Hell's thrusters forced the men backwards and apart. The mecha transformed into bird-mode before screaming out of the hangar.
Trowa and Heero followed directly behind, falling in as his wingmen. Duo set a course for Sanq, and didn't speak the entire four-hour flight.
"Bethea and Mikey will be picking us up," Wufei said, and shivered, toweling down quickly. Their hiding location was cold; extra use of heat would notify the Foundation that the abandoned apartment was in use. As it was, showers consisted more of getting wet and hoping that took off the worst of the dirt and sweat.
Meiran nodded absently; she was checking over the orbital map they'd stolen from the L1 Foundation headquarters the week before. There were a number of satellites that could be Mariemaia's location; MEOs were often used as half-way points for intercolonial shuttle leaps, and sometimes even as resorts for Foundation officers.
"We have an hour," Quatre added.
Quatre hadn't bothered to dress, despite having finished his shower before it was Wufei's turn. He glanced at Wufei with a smug look, and stepped up behind Meiran. She was damp from taking the first shower while Wufei arranged for their ride; her black hair was slicked back, her flight suit undershirt clinging to her skin. The white leggings were almost translucent, darker in places where she'd not toweled off completely. Quatre pressed up against her, and Meiran tensed. Slowly he pulled off the towel from around his waist, and Meiran looked over her shoulder at him.
"You like being clean," she observed.
"Makes him horny," Wufei agreed, coming up behind Quatre. He leaned into Quatre, who leaned into Meiran. She made a squeaking sound and elbowed Quatre sharply.
He merely grumbled slightly under his breath, turning around to kiss Wufei, open-mouthed; he was pleased to feel Wufei's breathing speed up against his lips. Quatre ran his fingers down Wufei's side, and jerked sharply at his hips.
Meiran turned to drape herself across Quatre's back, pressing up against him as she came up on her toes, her chin on Quatre's shoulder. A second later, Quatre yanked Wufei's towel off, and they were pressed together, toes to nose, warm flesh against warm flesh.
"Say yes... " Quatre gave Wufei a sly look, and leaned out of the way so Meiran and Wufei could kiss. He ran his fingers through Wufei's hair, keeping his voice low. "It's an hour before they get here... and another four until we get to Thayer's group... "
Wufei shuddered against him, and pulled Meiran around until they were huddled in a tight circle of arms. Meiran sighed, and tried to wriggle away.
"I want to," she whispered, tonguing Quatre's closest nipple. He groaned, supported by Meiran's and Wufei's arms. Meiran pulled away with a sad expression. "But you two both need to focus. We don't have time... "
"We do," Quatre growled, "join us... " It was the closest he would get to a plea. He pushed his thigh between Wufei's legs, and rubbed up and down until Wufei's breathing became a hiss. "We have time," Quatre replied, his fingers coursing across Meiran's skin and down to play across her crotch; the other reached for Wufei. "Five, six hours is plenty of time."
"We've gone without for longer," Wufei replied, contradicting his flat tone with a lick up Quatre's neck, to dip a tongue into Quatre's ear.
"We've been fighting for months, with few breaks," Quatre protested, but gently. "We need this."
"I don't know," Meiran retorted. She halted, her body coming to a standstill between them, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "What if... "
"We can fight without our skills," Quatre assured her, pulling her closer. He ran his hands up his lovers' spines, pushing at their necks until all three had their foreheads pressed together. "But... I need to remember I'm alive. That I have something and someone... someones... to live for."
Wufei's expression was dark, almost sad, and he stared at Quatre for several long moments. Once again they were conversing without words, and Quatre wondered whether Meiran was getting better at the little signals. The twitch of Wufei's eyebrow, asking a question; Quatre's almost imperceptible movement of his shoulders, indicating his willingness to let Wufei decide; the way Wufei's eyes narrowed, grew predatory.
Wufei's nostrils flared, and he dropped to his knees, burying his face against Quatre's hips. Meiran twisted to lean against Quatre, waiting while they cleared the buffer before she could join in.
Quatre sighed, enjoying the wet heat of Wufei's mouth. He and Wufei were isolated; this was not their world. They needed the affirmation, unlike Meiran who had learned to live with channeling her energies into her daughter and her cause. They needed to remember they had each other.
He smiled, watching Meiran's back arch in ecstasy when Wufei's fingers found their way to her crotch. Quatre leaned over, kissing her, including her in the circle. All of them needed to remember, and he would make sure they didn't forget.
The Prime Minister's face was creased in a grin so wide Lena was almost afraid his face was going to split in two. She blinked when his hands came up, flying around in a helplessly delighted motion. He realized what he was doing, and laughed, abashed. Still unable to express what had him so thrilled, he caught her by the wrist and led her to the building's window.
"Look," he said, and laughed again, pulling her into a waltz. He hummed, a bit off-tune, and swung her around.
"What am I looking at?" She craned her neck to see past him as they twirled around. Doro watched with an open mouth.
"The planes, they're coming--" Cole kissed her on the cheek and went running from the room. "We've got food!"
Lena blinked again, a hand coming up to her cheek, and she gave Doro a mystified look.
"I think he's on drugs," Doro said.
Lena shot an annoyed look at Doro, and headed out the door. Down the hallway, they met Hil and Cat, who were heading for them with wide smiles.
"Spain, Turkey, and Morocco are running drops!" Hil skidded to a halt, and caught Lena by the wrist. "Everyone's out in the streets--"
"Wait!" Doro's shout had them all freezing. Doro shook her head. "Lena's the Queen. She can't just head out into the street. Too dangerous."
Lena frowned. "But I--"
"No," Doro snapped. "I'm sorry, but no. Stay here. We'll watch from the meeting room window." She turned to Cat and Hil, who let go of Lena but nodded, understanding. "Get us some chocolate, would you? I've been dying for some good bittersweet... but I'll live with milk chocolate if I have to."
"We'll try," Hil said, and took off down the hallway with Cat.
Lena sighed, and trudged back into the meeting room. She kicked at the table leg, and collapsed into the chair facing the window. Off in the distance below the gray clouds, she could see bombers approaching, landing gear locked and ready. Flying low over the city, the bombers let loose crates that parachuted down to waiting throngs. The rumble of their engines was like a distant storm, and Lena scowled, crossing her arms.
"I don't like being Queen sometimes," Lena groused.
"I know," Doro said, coming to stand beside her. "But I have good news."
Lena twisted in the chair to look up at Doro. "Better than real food?"
"Better. The boys landed a few minutes ago, and should be here shortly." Doro's smug look became a mild pout. "Cole's unexpected entrance interrupted my glorious announcement."
"Yeah, bombers stole your thunder," Lena said, pointing out the window.
"The prodigal sons return," Duo's voice interrupted, but to Lena, it sounded like a mere shadow of the Duo she'd sent to the Scandinavian bloc. He traipsed into the room, Trowa and Heero behind him, and collapsed onto a chair next to Lena. "Hey, princess," he said.
"Hey, Duo," Lena replied. She looked up to see Heero staring down at her, upside down, and gave him an amused look. "That was quick."
"No guards stopped us," Trowa replied, crossing the room to stare out the window. "They're too busy distributing food to prevent any riots."
"See?" Lena shot an imperious look at Doro. "I'd be much safer down there, with all the guards. Up here?"
"Yeah," Doro replied, a bit dry. "Because you, me, and three other Gundam pilots would be a piece o' cake."
Lena made a face and crossed her arms, slumping down in the chair.
"We brought chocolate!" Hil and Cat burst into the room, their arms full. "Dark, milk, white, and some with almonds," Hil explained, dumping the loot on the table. "I told one guard it was for the queen and her advisor, and next thing I know... " She spread her arms, laughing, then realized Cat had grown very still. Hil looked up, eyes wide, and noticed the three men. "Hey! You got back - we heard about Sweden, crappy thing they did... and would you... like some... chocolate?" Her question trailed off, her gaze on Cat.
Cat stared at Trowa, who stared back, a mild frown on his face. Then Cat shook her head, making her red hair fly around her face. She turned on her heel and strode out, her chin lowered.
Trowa raised his eyebrows, and Doro moved in the way, picking up a bar of dark chocolate. With long, delicate fingers, she unwrapped it, breaking off a piece and offering it to Trowa.
"Cat tried to kill herself in the battle two days ago," Doro said, softly but impassively. "Self-destruct, and take out as many Foundation suits that way."
Duo narrowed his eyes, and grabbed a bag of chocolate-covered almonds. Ripping it open, he crunched noisily, waiting. Heero was still behind Lena's chair, and his hand landed on her shoulder, tentative but becoming firm when she raised her hand to put it over his.
"Seeing you is just making it tougher," Doro said, and took a bite of chocolate for herself. "We all have trouble letting go, but his sacrifice has always laid heavy on her."
"They weren't really brother and sister," Trowa replied, uncertain.
"Does it matter?" Hil chomped noisily on a chocolate bar, her expression dark. "If you say you're brother and sister or sister and sister or brother and brother then who gave birth to you doesn't matter. We're all kinda siblings in war, anyway."
"The reason to believe that," Doro continued, as if not noticing Hil's outburst, "is because we're stronger when we have someone to protect." Her gray eyes looked towards Duo, then Heero, and back to Trowa. "Cat fought for so long because she had something very precious that she felt she had to protect."
Trowa stared down at another offering of chocolate, and carefully took it from Doro's hand. Raising it to his mouth, he ate it, not chewing, but letting it sit on his tongue. After a moment, he nodded to Doro and left the room without a word.
Duo shook his head, making his braid beat against the back of the chair. "Color me dense, but Cat took over Heavyarms after her brother died. What did she still have then, to protect?"
"His memory," Doro said.
Mariemaia stared at the figures, and leaned over so Zhiyi could see them.
"Foundation deaths, three-hundred seventy-two thousand," she whispered.
Zhiyi ran her finger down the lists of casualties for the rebelling countries. "Brazil, two hundred. Greece, thirty-five thousand. Albania, twenty-seven thousand. Vietnam, eighty-two thousand. North America, four hundred thousand. Japan, ninety-two thousand... "
"India, twenty-four thousand," Mariemaia continued, noting the places she'd visited and loved the most. "Italy, two hundred thousand. Romania, eighty-nine thousand. Norway, fifty-three thousand. Korea, sixteen thousand... "
The list had more countries listed, but Mariemaia didn't want to keep reading. Zhiyi looked pale; she took a deep breath before giving Mariemaia a hopeful look.
"We are doing the right thing," she said, and shyly reached for Mariemaia's hand, squeezing it tightly. "People are going to talk, and even if they break up the Foundation, that's better than more fighting, right?"
"Yeah." Mariemaia sighed, and pushed the list away. "And then Alexander will have to admit we're right."
Zhiyi grinned, and squeezed Mariemaia's hand again. "The war will be over!"
"Over," Mariemaia repeated. She took another breath, a long shuddering one, and gave Zhiyi a crooked smile. "I have no idea what I'd do, then."
"You could go to school," Zhiyi said. "That's what I want to do. A real school, with other kids, and books, and tests."
Mariemaia made a face. "I've had private tutors. I don't like tests."
"My Aunt Lena told me at her school they had dances." Zhiyi shrugged. "Boys are kinda gross, though. But you get your own locker, and that sounds cool to me."
"I always wanted a backpack," Mariemaia whispered. Zhiyi giggled, and Mariemaia looked shocked, then annoyed, protesting. "I did, too! A blue one. I saw it on the vidscreen. It had extra pockets for a laptop and a cell phone. It was really cool."
"Backpacks are good," Zhiyi said, calming down. She settled onto the seat next to Mariemaia's desk, and swung her legs. "I've never had one, either."
"You could get one in yellow, and then we'd match," Mariemaia said.
"We'd go to different schools," Zhiyi pointed out. "You'd be, like, in high school."
"I wonder if everyone would hate me," Mariemaia said, forlornly. "I don't want to go to school if no one will talk to me."
"If they don't, you let me know," Zhiyi said, her expression fierce. She stabbed her finger at Mariemaia. "I'll beat 'em up. My mommy's taught me all sorts of moves."
"Really?" Mariemaia smiled, a little shy. "Could you teach me, too?"
"Did you talk to Cat?" Duo finished braiding his hair, tied it off with a band, and threw the heavy weight over his shoulder.
Trowa shook his head, and remained by the small window, his arms crossed. He'd looked for her in the hallway outside the meeting room, but she was already gone. The taste of the chocolate on his tongue didn't last much longer than the odd scent of sweat and knife oil that seemed to linger in her wake. Instead of returning to the room, he'd found someone to direct him to the rooms they'd be sharing, and he'd waited there for Duo and Heero to return. He'd showered and tried to nap while waiting. An hour later, Duo arrived alone, stepping promptly into the small shower and not getting out for almost a half-hour.
"Heero's visiting with Lena," Duo said, and pulled a loaned shirt over his head. It was a bit tight in the shoulders. "He'll probably be awhile."
"Ah." Trowa wasn't sure what else he could say. He felt distanced, and the idea of a ceasefire had him on edge. "This reminds me of that hurricane."
"That hurricane." Duo chuckled, stepping into a pair of jeans. "Any particular one or just in general?"
"During the Lisson-Miami Cartel case," Trowa added, almost petulantly. Duo had been too willing to forget their history, their own world, and although he didn't want to return and hated what they'd had, Duo's ease forgetting the past sometimes grated on Trowa. "Hurricane... Elizabeth?" He couldn't remember; it bothered him.
"Eleanor," Duo answered, unexpectedly.
"Yeah. The eye of the storm... after four, five hours in the shelter, one of the guys said if I'd never seen it, I should." Trowa stared out at the dusk across the mountain village below them. The line of planes had moved on during the previous hour, heading for other war-wrecked cities in Sanq, Romania, and Bulgaria. "It was bright, not a cloud in the sky... perfectly silent. Sunny... and completely still. No sound, no movement... "
"Eerie." Duo's movements were quiet, but he was making a bit more noise than usual. Trowa wondered if Duo were purposefully giving him a constant location, to alleviate some of the peculiar tension.
Trowa made a noncommittal noise in his throat, and a moment later, Duo was leaning against him, also staring out the window. People down on the street were still distributing food packets.
"Y'know, Trowa," Duo whispered, "I didn't think I'd say this, but I did miss... y'know, being with you. Figure now you'd rather I fall off the planet, and hey, that's cool, but--"
"Stop that," Trowa snapped, irritated. "Shut up if all you're going to do is put yourself down."
"Nothing meant by it," Duo said, shrugging lazily.
"Nothing ever means anything to you," Trowa replied, and stared down at the streets and homes. He wasn't sure why he was cranky, but he was, and he didn't feel like biting back his words.
"Things mean a lot to me," Duo said, softly. He moved away, his back to Trowa. "You know that. I don't know why you're acting like... you're fifteen again."
"Says the kettle... " Trowa closed his mouth.
Duo narrowed his eyes, suspicious, then shrugged. "It may be the eye of the storm, but for at least this little bit, we can have some peace before we're back into it again, right?"
"Maybe." Trowa shrugged.
"Would you snap out of it?" Duo shook his head hard enough to make the braid whip around behind him. "I'm halfway tempted to smack that sour look off your face. You've been like this since that mission at Kapellskar."
"If you weren't so willing to throw your life away for stupid risks, I wouldn't be," Trowa shot back. "But you roll the die and gamble it all and laugh like nothing matters to you."
"I didn't know I had to rent out a billboard to prove I care," Duo said, his finger nearly poking Trowa in the chest. "Just because I don't sit around and fuckin' brood about--"
"No, you just joke." Trowa arched an eyebrow. "You have two modes. Full stop, and full go, and neither include giving a damn about other people."
The next second, Trowa's head was slammed up against the window frame. Duo had clocked him in the chin, and thoroughly. Trowa swayed, putting a hand on the window, and the other on his jaw.
"Fuckin' asshole!" Duo was bristling, an alley cat spoiling for a fight. "I'm sick of your attitude. If you've gotta problem with--"
Trowa launched himself at Duo. The two went flying backwards. Duo hit the floor with a cry, kicked, and twisted over on top of Trowa. A shove and kick from Trowa and Duo was slammed up against the wall. Trowa came up on one knee, and punched Duo in the jaw. At the same instant, Duo's fist came up to land in Trowa's gut, and the two fell apart. They glared at each other, breathing fast, and just as quickly leaped again, rolling back to slam against the bed frame as they grappled.
The fight devolved to lesser punches; they were almost an equal weight and skill. Kicks became less powerful, and somewhere between landing on Duo's chest and slamming his head against the floor - and finding himself face down with Duo twisting his arm - Trowa discovered he and Duo were lying on their backs, about three feet apart. Somewhere in all that time, the sun had set, and the room was dark but for the city lights filtering in.
Duo's breathing had settled down from panting into something longer and deeper, but Trowa could tell that Duo wasn't asleep, just waiting.
"Why do you fight?" Trowa wasn't sure whether he was asking himself, or Duo. For a long moment, Duo didn't reply; perhaps he was wondering the same thing.
"I wanted people to be free to smile, and be happy, but maybe those were the dreams of a kid," Duo replied. He sounded sad, and almost unbearably weary. "For a long time that's what I told myself, that I was a kid who had crazy dreams that people could be happy, and I could... change the world, or at least my part of it." He rolled over on his side, to stare at Trowa; his eyes picked up the glimmer of city light, pinpricks in darkness. "We weren't making anyone happy but that bastard, and now... in this world... " He shrugged, giving Trowa a lazy smile, and rolled over on his back again.
"Damn it, Duo," Trowa snapped, "you're doing it again. You start to get serious and then back away with a joke."
"Hey, I've never been one for the easy way out," Duo jibed, getting to his feet. He threw his braid over his shoulder, and strolled to the door. "You wanna lie there and brood, fine. But there's six more days in this cease fire, and I'm gonna--" He halted, and rattled the doorknob, then yanked on it harder. "What the fuck?"
"You're not done yet," came Heero's dry voice.
"Heero?" Duo cocked his head at the door, then yanked on the doorknob again. Nothing happened, and Trowa sat up, watching curiously. Duo kicked the door; it didn't budge. "Heero!" He pounded on the door, then backed up to bellow, "let me the fuck outta here!"
"No."
Trowa raised his eyebrows, and got up to join Duo at the door. Duo waved his arms and stalked off while Trowa tested the doorknob. It was not only locked - from the outside, somehow - but also being held in place. Trowa turned to see Duo trying to get the windows open. They were bolted shut, for security purposes, and Duo fussed about lack of tools under his breath.
"Heero, not funny, you asshole," Duo shouted, despite the lack of any need to, given the comms' sensitivity.
"I'm not joking." Heero's voice drifted in through the door, and Trowa realized Heero was probably sitting right outside. "You're not going anywhere until you settle whatever it is that's got both of you wound tight enough that I could stick charcoal up your asses, twist, and get diamonds."
Duo's shocked expression was priceless, Trowa decided.
"Heero," Trowa said, calmly, "that's a new turn of phrase from you."
"Lena said it," Heero replied; his shrug was almost audible. "But I think it's quite appropriate. You've both been acting strangely. You get it out of your systems. Until you do, you're staying in there."
"Your idea of therapy sucks rocks, Yuy!" Duo stormed across the room, and Trowa barely sidestepped in time before Duo had thrown himself bodily at the door. The hinges didn't even squeak, and Duo growled in fury. "I don't need to settle jackshit, you bastard."
"You're entitled to your opinion."
Trowa shrugged when Duo looked his way, as though Trowa were responsible for Heero's sudden madness. Duo kicked the door a few more times, then stepped back, crossing his arms and scowling.
"You left your comms on," Heero continued, implacable. "Would you like me to repeat your lack of communication? Or did you think pounding the crap out of each other was satisfactory?"
"Fuck you!" Duo slammed his foot against the door, and it cracked, but held. Duo kicked twice more. "Let me out of here! I am not spending another minute with that fucking broody asshole!"
Trowa frowned.
"You're going to spend a whole week of minutes, if that's what it takes," came the response over the 'comm.
"No!" Duo kicked twice more.
"Stop acting like a child," Heero replied, and Trowa detected a faint hint of amusement. Trowa rolled his eyes behind Duo's back. Heero continued, "I thought we were all friends. What happened?"
"Nothing!" Duo roared, then turned on Trowa. "I was just being myself, and he's turned back into Mister Holier Than Thou. We get back into battle and the first thing Trowa does is get the hell away from me, can't wait to--"
Trowa froze, stunned; he slowly raised his chin to see Duo staring at him, equally astonished, hand still out-flung to point at Trowa, accusing. Trowa shifted, uncertain.
"Can't wait for what," Heero prompted, softly.
"To ditch me," Duo replied, testy. He backed up, away from the door until his back was against the wall, on the other side of the room from Trowa. "You two always got along best."
It dawned on Trowa, and such a surprising notion that for once he didn't think before he spoke. "You're jealous."
Duo snorted, and didn't meet his eyes.
"You are," Trowa repeated, frowning. "We're a team. Partners. How could you think... " He stopped, seeing Duo's open, haunted expression, and blinked a few times before managing to collect his thoughts. "Oh."
There was a grunt, and the rustle of something against the door, and Trowa recalled their eavesdropper. He sighed, wondering whether he should say anything, or whether it would hurt Heero more to hear the words it'd take to get Duo to hurt less.
"Heero," Trowa said, as gently as he could manage, and studied Duo for another several heartbeats.
Trowa signaled to the door, and towards both of them. Duo glared, but the glare softened into understanding when Trowa made the motions again. Finally Duo sighed, and his shoulders slumped.
"I think you should come in and join us," Trowa said. "There are... well, this involves you, too."
"Me." Heero sounded a little like he was expecting a trick of some sort; the single word was both question and disbelieving statement. Something clicked outside the door; there was a rattle, a scraping sound, and the door swung open to reveal Heero.
For a moment, Trowa could see Heero's face fully in the light of the hallway. He was hesitating on the threshold, and he looked... scared, Trowa realized. Trowa dropped his arms and let his body relax, turning just enough to emphasize the invitation. Heero's gaze flickered between Duo's sullen look and Trowa's inscrutable poker face. Slowly he stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Cole says he has paperwork for designating the conscientious objectors," Doro said, into the early evening gloom. She chewed thoughtfully on a chocolate-covered peanut, and watched through her eyelashes while Hil and Cat played chess. "There's precedent for letting them avoid a draft, if we need to have one, and giving them roles that aren't on the front lines."
"I guess I'll tell him I'll go with whatever Parliament decides. He or I can make the announcement, so long as I don't have to tell anyone else to leave," Lena said, and stretched out on the sofa. She fiddled with a candy bar wrapper, folding it up into smaller and smaller sizes. "Any word on the meeting in Geneva?"
Doro shook her head. Cole had promised to come by in the morning with the final details about the meeting between the rebel countries and the Foundation loyalist countries. Parliament was currently debating Sanq's attendance, if any, and who would go.
"Two days," Hil observed, and whistled. "Didn't know governments could move that fast."
"I don't like it," Cat said, moving her pawn, and taking one of Hil's rooks. "That's everyone in one place. Not safe."
"It's an act of good faith," Lena replied. "Staying home says you have something to hide."
"We do," Doro pointed out. "We've got seven Gundams."
Lena shrugged, and dropped the ball of colorful paper. "I guess this means I'll have to wear a dress."
The room was silent for several minutes, until Hil spoke up. "So... you 'n Heero."
"Hm?" Lena shifted on the sofa, and Doro noticed Lena was blinking a few times. She'd probably drifted off, in the quiet.
"You're an item, now," Hil teased.
"Not officially," Lena replied. She sighed, and stretched lazily before clasping her hands behind her head, staring up at the ceiling. "Taking it slow."
"The entire Earth Sphere is at war, and you've got the time to take things slow," Hil said, shaking her head. She realized Cat had just taken another piece, and made a face.
"Move your knight to C-3," Doro instructed, not looking up from her pile of chocolate. "That will force Cat to--"
"Enough helping her," Cat said, shooting a glare at Doro over her shoulder. "Go organize someone's life or something."
"I think we should take it slow," Lena said, as though the intervening conversation hadn't occurred. "I don't have time to be with someone right now. There's so much to do, and even if this ceasefire holds and we find a compromise--"
Doro made a skeptical sound, and Lena shrugged.
"--I know, unlikely," Lena continued. "But after that, I've got a country to rebuild." She was quiet, and even Cat and Hil paused their game long enough to turn in their seats, waiting. "I never really thought I'd... y'know, go through with it. I just wanted sanctuary, until I could get Talon refueled, and I had this idea if I could kick Sanq's ass and get them to fight back, but then it all just snowballed, and now I'm... "
"A queen," Cat said.
"Yeah. Me!" Lena sighed. "Heero's nothing like the boy I knew. He's... well, he's a cold-blooded killer. The Heero I knew... hurt when he had to kill. I've always thought his last moments were probably some of his most peaceful, knowing he was free of that burden. This Heero... he'll kill, and he just puts it all away somewhere I can't reach."
"You're not the same Relena that this Heero knew, either," Cat observed. "Apparently his Relena was rather--"
"She was a wimp, a spoiled little girl, infatuated," Lena spat, then calmed. "But so was I. Now... I'm frickin' queen. I can't... I mean, if we get peace, who the hell would want to put up with being with a queen?"
"I would think," Doro interjected smoothly, "that putting up with a queen isn't much of a sacrifice, considering what you'd have to put up with, too."
Lena frowned, glanced at Doro, and then away again, flushing. Cat and Hil noticed, and raised their eyebrows at each other.
"That Khushrenada mind-job," Cat whispered, her tone both startled and reverent. She gave Lena a solemn look. "Oh... he's a virgin. You'd be his first." Doro coughed, and Cat waved a hand. "No offense, but in their position, if my only option were sex with any of you, it wouldn't be sex so much as just more of the same." Cat shrugged. "I've had to put up with Hil's dirty socks for so long, I feel married already. No... I know you too well. With someone outside our circle, I can see that would be... "
"Yeah, but those three aren't like that, just Quatre and Wufei." Doro ignored Hil's embarrassed cough. "You could let him down easy, and suggest you wait... but I saw the way he looked at you, when they got back."
"I know." Lena draped an arm over her face. "We have a world to put back together. We don't have time to risk the team falling apart because one person can't handle... " She shrugged, but didn't remove her arm. "You know."
"Geez, we're not fourteen anymore. Say it. Because he might flip out after getting laid?" Doro rolled her eyes. "He's made of sterner stuff than that. You don't actually plan on breaking his heart, do you?"
"No."
"This is not the Heero you knew," Cat said.
"I know." Lena dropped her arm. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "That's what scares me. I don't know why, but it does."
"I think what scares you," Cat said, turning back to the chess game, "is you might actually get a second chance at the love you've mourned all this time."
"Maybe," Lena whispered, her voice hitching. "And maybe what scares me is the risk of losing it all over again."
"Which is all the more reason to try," Doro told her. "Don't let fear of what could be stop you from taking what you can get, in the moment."
She glanced at Hil, who nodded, staring down at the board. Doro turned away, picking up another bar of chocolate, and let the crackling paper cover the sound of Hil's tears dripping onto the chessboard.
End Part 33
(:./sol/tetra33)
