*pouts sadly* Almost nobody commented on parts 1 and 1A - is it really that bad?? Well, I'm posting part 2A, B and C all in one shot - the response will determine whether or not this continues....I value every comment I get - and I really need feedback on this 'cause I'm determined to do my best on it - but I don't know if that's any good if you don't tell me! *gets on her hands and knees* Please??
Title: Into The Heart Of Darkness - X-over with X-men
Parts: 2A B and C
Author: Stormy
Warnings: Angst, sap, battle
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, Rogue/Remy ^_~
Archive: At Jackies page (addy's in the sig) and whoever else wants it!
*looks at Darkflame and Tyr hopefully*
(Year: 195 Location: Former New York city)
Quatre's safehouses were not ordinary safehouses. Oh no. They were stately, old-Victorian style mansions masquerading as safehouses.
Duo grinned widely as he stuck his head out the window of the vehicle like some braided sheepdog as Heero carefully manouvered the huge transport truck up the long winding driveway, trademark to nearly all the Winner residences. Prior experiences, including multiple trees, gates, and busted fire hydrants had taught Heero the value of NOT letting Duo drive.
Ahead, they could already see several members of the Winner family mini-army; two members of the Maganac Corps were flagging him down, indicating that Heero should follow a ramp they had uncovered, that led to an underground hangar.
" Over there Heero!" Duo excitedly pointed out two large spaces that had obviously been cleared away for them. Trowa's Heavyarms, Quatre's Sandrock, and Wufei's Shenlong were already in their resting places; silent metal sentries standing guard. More Maganacs scurried about the complex, doing repairs, shouting out orders and seeming to have a wonderful time while doing so. Raucus laughter rang throughout the underground base.
Backing up slowly, warning beeps and all, Heero stopped the rig at the base of a slightly raised platform and cut the engines. Duo cackled and bounded out of the truck's cab, rubbing his hands together. He flipped a switch on the side of the truck and watched as the metal clamps unlocked. Taking hold of the huge canvas, he cackled again, tugging it off in a grand gesture. Well, that was his intention. Two Maganacs on either side had to help him fling the heavy covering off.
" Shinigami LIVES!"
Glinting in the harsh lights of the compound, Deathscythe Hell and Wing Zero lay in all their Gundanium splendour. Scrambling up to the hatch on Deathscythe's chest, Duo punched in a pre-programmed code and then jumped to the ground, grinning.
" I LOVE this part!"
The Maganacs burst into laughter as Deathscythe Hell rose to it's feet and stalked over to its new resting place next to Shenlong, it's braided pilot waving his arms around like some demented scientist crying, " It's ALIVE! It's ALIVE!"
Heero shook his head in wry amusement as he activated his own Gundam to set down beside Deathscythe. After making sure both Gundams were secured, he turned back around in time to see Duo launch himself off the platform and into a small, blond-haired man.
" Quatre!!" Duo yelped as he glomped the Arabian pilot, who staggered back under the American's assult, giggling the whole time.
" Hello Duo!" Quatre hugged the American back, and then pulled away slightly so he could see Heero. " And to you too, Heero!"
Heero nodded, watching with faint jealousy as Duo hugged Quatre one more time before letting him go. " Quatre."
Duo was already prowling around the blond like a nervous cat, looking all over the place. Finally he gave up and pointed at Quatre.
" So where is he?"
" Where's who?"
" The Unibanger!" Duo grinned. " Where is he? You keepin' him locked in your closet Quat-man?"
" Actually, I keep him locked in mine," came a dry voice from behind him. Duo spun around.
" TROWA!"
Trowa stoically endured one of Duo's patented spine-crushing hugs, but the sparkle in his eye totally belied his bland expression. Duo pulled away and grinned.
" I better stop before I make Quatre jealous, neh?" he teased. Quatre flamed red to the roots of his blond hair.
" Duo!"
" Kidding! Kidding!" Duo yelped as Heero's hand snaked behind him and delivered a sharp tug to his braid.
" ITAI! Yeesh, always with the hair!" Duo scowled and backed out of range, petting the brown tail with an injured air. Heero ignored him as he delivered his own greeting to Trowa.
" Where's Wufei?" he asked casually.
" I am here. " Wufei appeared in the doorway, absently smoothing a non-existant wrinkle in his immaculate white pants. He eyed them all. " Greetings."
" Wu-chan!" Duo crowed. Wufei's eyebrows twitched involuntarily, and he automatically reached for his sword. It wasn't in it's usual place of honour at his hip. _Damn_. Duo approached him at warp speed, barelling into the chinese pilot. " Wu-chan!"
" Get OFF of me Maxwell!" Wufei growled out between gritted teeth. Duo squeezed him once more before climbing off. Wufei got to his feet and deliberated whether or not he wanted to smack the braided baka upside the head. Looking at the American's obvious delight in seeing him however, momentarily derailed his anger and he sighed once.[1] " Hello Maxwell. Heero."
Heero grunted, hand half raised in greeting. Duo bounded back to his side and Heero felt a small surge of....happiness?...at the pilot's apparently automatic gesture. Then he shook his head. There would be time enough later on to sit down and analyze his feelings. He looked at Quatre who was safely esconced once again in Trowa's arms and felt another pang of jealousy. He scowled blackly at his traitorous hormones. _ I said, LATER_!
" Is there a place where we can talk privately Quatre?" he asked, picking up his duffel bag. Quatre nodded and then swatted Heero's hands off the bag.
" The main drawing room," Quatre nodded. " And leave your bags alone - Rashid will get them. You know the rules!"
Duo chuckled. " You'd think we'd have learned our lessons last time." Memories of Rashid looming over them threateningly made him giggle out loud.
Heero allowed a faint smirk on his face as he dug through the bag, pulling out his laptop. Rashid then scooped up his and Duo's bag and preceeded them into the house.
Quatre led the way into the drawing room as a servant darted forwards to open the large bay windows. A light breeze off the nearby ocean swept into the room, bringing with it the faint salty sea spray and ruffling the hair of everyone in the room.
Duo flopped down on a large, wood-framed fouton with a thick white mattress, sinking into it's depths with a sigh.
" Ummm..." he murmered, stretching his legs out and lacing his fingers behind his head. " This is the life."
Heero snorted as he sat next to the American. Duo inwardly cheered with glee when the Perfect Soldier joined him. _Maybe, just maybe_, he thought wistfully. Quatre cleared his throat.
" Well, we all know why we're here, right?" he asked, not really expecting anyone to reply in the negative.
" The base is approximately fifty miles from here," Heero stated from his seated position. " We can be there in under twenty minutes."
" What kind of defences are we talking about? Trowa spoke up from where he stood next to the window.
" The Maganacs reported mostly Leos and Aries. A few new test Scorpios, but pretty much the norm," Quatre said. Wufei crossed his arms and nodded.
" What about data retrieval?"
Heero looked at Wufei. " Duo is the best at infiltration, and I can crack any Oz security code they have. The two of us will go in and retrieve the data."
Duo grinned at the compliment and didn't deny it. " Piece of cake, dude!" he said in a thick surfer's accent, throwing them a thumb's up. Quatre laughed and then quickly sobered.
" Does anyone else get the feeling something isn't quite right though?" he asked unexpectedly.
Duo looked at the blond as though he'd grown a second head. " Since when has anything we've done, ever been considered normal?"
" I know what you mean, " Heero interjected quietly. " I read the data Dr. J sent - why would Oz be constructing black holes?"
" To quote you: 'That's what we're supposed to find out, baka!'" Duo snickered at his partner.
" Whatever they're doing, my space heart is telling me something...dangerous, is coming. " Quatre rubbed his chest absently. Trowa looked at him in concern.
" Then we shall just take more care then usual," Wufei shrugged. He looked at Duo. " Or in some cases, take care for the first time in their life?"
Duo stuck his tongue out. " Love ya too, Wu-chan!"
" Baka," Wufei muttered.
" I suggest we get some rest," Quatre said, clapping his hands together briskly. As though it were an unspoken command, servants appeared and scurried into the room, tyding it up and closing the windows. Rashid stood patiently by the door to escort the young men to their respective rooms. Quatre took one last look at the sky before the curtains were completely closed.
_Something dangerous is coming_, he thought again as Trowa took his arm and led him out of the room. _But what_?
End Part 2A
Stormy
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