13-Nov-2000
Title: Brother Maxwell 4/?
Author: TB
Archive: yes please
Catagory: adventure
Pairing: 2xH
Rating: R
Warnings: drug-use, swearing
Spoilers: some
Notes: My original characters are transferred in from an uncompleted novel I've never gotten around to finishing. This fic takes place when Duo is approximately 25, whatever AC # that is [215]. This is not an AU, so everything stands as it happened in the series and in EW. Duo has been living with Hirde during that time, apparently in the same fashion he always has (I imagine he's well-fed ^_~) He does occasional under-ground work for an organisation kind of like the Preventers, spying, stealing, etc (which is how he can work in a scrap yard on L2 and still buy expensive, durable, bullet-proof clothing :P, in addition to keeping a nice apartment!)
Feedback: please ^_^
Disclaimers: This is the sad and woeful tale of a girl who came, who saw, who desperately wanted Gundam Wing--but respected the law enough to put a cheesy disclaimer on her technically not-too-legal fan fiction in order to keep from being sued (assuming any lawyer would care). The end.
He caught Bruce's hand. "Don't," he ordered.
Bruce looked up.
"I've got a better idea," Duo rasped. "And you're going to help me."
Bruce looked at him for a long moment. Then, softly, he said, "Get real, Duo Maxwell," and injected the needle.
Julian held the door for Hirde, then followed her through into one of the airport's many gift shops. "I apologise again for the delay," he said.
"It's hardly your fault the flight was canceled," Hirde replied. She smiled at the red-haired man, then wandered slowly through the racks of garish tee shirts. "Do you think Duo's there yet?"
Julian glanced at his watch. "Probably talking to the Bishop as we speak." He leaned against a counter filled to overflow with various plastic collectibles, following her with his sky-blue eyes and smiling a little. "You worry about him," he guessed.
She glanced up. "Constantly. I guess it's the price of loving a Gundam pilot."
Softly the agent said, "You say that word so easily."
This comment made her blush. She was aware, dimly, that Julian's courtesy to her was going slightly beyond her intimate connection with Duo. That Julian was a very attractive man could have added to the complication--if he'd ever had a chance in hell of competing with her Duo. Gently she let him know that, saying, "I think I knew the first time I saw him that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. There's never been anyone else, and there never will be."
After a moment, Julian smiled. "That's very admirable, Miss Schbeiker. Duo is lucky. I hope he realises that."
Satisfied that Julian would keep their relationship purely at a working partnership, Hirde examined the baubles around her with slight interest. After a while, she announced, "There're some things I'd like to know. Would you mind an interrogation? Since we're not going anywhere right away, I mean?"
The man grinned. "Why not?"
"It's okay to talk about this here?"
"Reasonably. But why don't we go back to the bar, and I'll buy you a drink, and we can do this in comfort?"
Five minutes later, sipping fruit juices and perched on a bench away from the main crowd, Hirde picked up again on the line of conversation she had started. True to her nature, she got right to the point. "Why Duo?"
Julian seemed amused. "There's no good reason not to. It takes an extraordinary person to do the kind of work we do." He paused for a moment, reflecting back on something. "To be honest, the one we wanted was Trowa Barton. For a number of a reasons, I don't think he'd do nearly as good a job as Duo has. Barton doesn't have Duo's hangups, but people *trust* Duo. Maybe it's the grin. Who knows?"
Hirde thought about that. "How 'come the only one of you-people-we ever see is you? Julian-Julian what?"
The red-haired man laughed suddenly. "I don't have a surname, I'm afraid. You have no idea how much that aggravates customs officials."
Hirde smiled too. "Don't have one, or don't have one you care to share?"
"Ha. A wise woman. Which do you think?"
"I think you have more secrets than anyone I've ever met."
He sobered-but only for a moment. "Indeed."
Hirde quietly sipped her drink for a time. Then, softly, she looked Julian in the eyes, and asked, "What guarantee do either of us have that you won't screw us over?"
A long finger brushed over her cheek. The man's blue eyes were deathly serious. "None," he murmured. "That's why faith is such a crucial part of this business."
Josephe handed Bruce Duo's bank card, and Bruce put it in Duo's pocket. Duo wore a cold expression; but it was a mask to hide the shivers of mixed fear and almost sexual gratification that rocked him just beneath the surface.
"I dearly hope you find no fault with the quality of my stock," the Bishop noted.
"None."
Josephe frowned, not liking the ex-pilot's tone. Bruce hurried to smooth the situation over. "Maybe we can meet again, Bishop, under less, uh, strenuous circumstances?"
"Perhaps." The older man shrugged into his coat. "Mr. Maxwell, if you ever find yourself in need of a little adventure-" A small smile tugged the Bishop's mouth. "Let Bruce know. Though this was not the most cordial of meetings, it would be horribly unfair of me not to give you a second chance."
"Likewise." Duo wanted desperately to be alone. His felt flushed and on the verge of seriously embarrassing himself. He cursed himself for his lack of control. The Bishop noted that, smiling, and took himself off.
"Come on," Bruce said, and put his hand on the small of Duo's back, pushing him toward the door.
Duo balked. "Where are you taking me?"
"To your hotel. A hotel. You can pick, but I'll recommend a good one, if you like. You can afford it, and it'll keep up the show. You'll feel better for a shower and a bed, and we need to talk, anyway-about the drug in your blood, about what a certain redhead friend of ours needs you to do, and how much I can help you with that."
A burst of pleasure warmed his groin. His hands shook as he tried to hide his reddened face behind them, humiliated. Bruce kindly pretended not to notice, and this time, when he guided Duo toward the door, the pilot did not resist.
"I have to leave you here," Julian told her, sighing slightly. He leaned forward and tapped the shoulder of their driver; the man obediently began to slow down and pull over to the gas station that popped up out of the lush landscape like a strange, greasy sore thumb.
"Will you-"
"Keep you appraised, see you again, and let you know how Duo is doing?" Julian smiled at Hirde. "Yes."
She smiled back, relieved. She scooted over to the window as Julian opened the door and stepped around to the trunk, removing his small duffel and rain gear. He came back around the car, and leaned an arm on the roof, looking down at her with the sun at his back making a halo of reddish gold of his hair.
"Take care," he said at last, succinctly. "Don't waste time making yourself known to Kajol Singh."
"I won't." She hesitated. "It was a pleasure to meet you-finally."
"And you, Miss Schbeiker." He straightened, and shut the door. He stood back, nodded to her, and did not watch as the driver pulled out of the gas station and back onto the road, taking her to her mission.
End part 4
(:./erin/brother4)
