"Crisis"

Written By: Artemis

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties. I make no money with this fic.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: yaoi lemon including rimming, angst, violence, language, reference to past NCS involving a minor, death, angst.

Pairings: 6x2, 3x4

Summary: Sequel to Interfacing: Regained. GAIA prepares to go into space and announce itself to the world; Duo and Zechs' relationship goes through its own crisis.

"Crisis "

17)

Once Quatre was moving off to escort Lance duChien on the quick tour of the base before the meeting, Zechs took out his personal radio and called Bronn Sangers to ask him to meet him in his office. Then he headed there himself.

When the Aries chief pilot entered, Zechs immediately noticed that the man, though as impeccably dressed and polished as always, was suffering from what looked like a hangover, his face puffy and his eyes bloodshot. [Oh, now, isn't *this* interesting...]

Bronn closed the door and approached his commander, who was leaning back on the front edge of his desk, arms folded over his chest, regarding him curiously. "Sir, I apologize for my appearance," he began hastily, standing at attention. Zechs normally waved off salutes, so he didn't want to irritate him by offering one, though he itched to do it. "I assure, you, sir, I neither encouraged him nor teased him about it. It's not my fault..."

[Ah. Duo was with Bronn or perhaps a group of pilots last night.] Zechs merely smiled. "Whom are you talking about, Bronn?"

The dark-haired man gaped at him, thinking his brain must still be foggy. He had a roaring headache, but was trying very hard to ignore it. "Um, Duo, sir... I don't know why he got so mad at me. I swear I wasn't cheating, and really, I try to stay out of his way. I'm careful not to say anything to him to upset him, I promise."

[Oh, no... what is going on here?] "Bronn, I haven't any idea what you're talking about," Zechs murmured, "except that, yes, Duo got quite wasted last night. He did not do a lot of explaining... but now that you've brought it up, I would be interested in hearing the story... briefly. I have other business with you."

[SHIT!] Bronn realized abruptly that Zechs had not in fact called him in to berate him for his supposed part in the drunken state of the commander's lover. He swallowed and responded, "Ah, yes, sir. Duo joined some of us pilots over cards last night..."

"Cards?"

"Toothpicks," Bronn hastily reassured him of the method of betting. [Like the ones that feel like they're poking out of my eyeballs...]

"Go on."

"Ah, we were drinking vodka shots, sir. Duo, ah, more than held his own. After getting the first one down, he was tossing 'em back with the best of us. But he seemed a bit..."

Zechs straightened. [Here we go...] "Yes?" he prompted.

"Oh, you know he doesn't like me, Zechs... Duo was... edgy. But then he's always looking to pick a fight with me, not that I ever would goad him into one, sir!" Bronn paled, remembering how Zechs had dealt with him before. [God, I never want to see Zechs that angry with me again...]

"I know, Bronn, it's all right," Zechs replied mildly. [Duo does tend to hold grudges... I know he was upset to find out that Bronn had been with me a couple years ago...] "So, what happened?"

Bronn shrugged, bewildered. "I have no idea - I beat him in this one close hand, just down to the two of us, then all of a sudden he's yelling something about perfect soldiers and how they should go to hell. I guess he meant us? I have no idea... then, ah, he said some other stuff he shouldn't have." He flushed then glanced away.

[Oh.] Zechs could guess. [What's that about 'perfect soldiers'?] Then he remembered Duo saying something about that in reference... to Heero? [Oh, for heaven's sake, don't tell me he's still nursing a grudge over that stupid simulation rematch... is *that* why he was so strange last night?]

"Is that when he left?" Zechs asked calmly. It was clear Bronn had done nothing to stir up Duo's ire other than simply be there.

"Yes, sir - he said something about 'have to face him', then he left the game room. I think Linden went after him to see that he got wherever he was going okay." Bronn was feeling tremendous relief; Zechs didn't seem to blame him for any of it.

[Have to face... who? Heero? Me?] Duo Maxwell could be quite the puzzle sometimes, Zechs knew, thinking about the many aspects that made up the Deathscythe's pilot - the God of Death and Dancer - and remembering the Death God and the Angel from the dream. "Well, he's sleeping it off and I'm sure whatever it is will look brighter in the light of day," Zechs murmured thoughtfully. "Now... I did call you here for a reason. And I assure you it has nothing to do with last night... nor with Duo Maxwell at all, Bronn. The Committee has a mission for you."

Bronn gaped at the handsome commander for a moment. [Mission? Away from Zechs?] Then as he thought that, he realized at the same time that very thought was reason enough for Zechs to need to send him away. [Ow, and my head already hurts...]

Zechs could read the man all too clearly. "It's not what you think... we really do have a mission and I think you're the man for the job. We need a trustworthy and loyal officer for this, Bronn. Our contact in Bremen has just sent us a representative... and we have need to send him ours."

But it still stung, even as Bronn realized Zechs was serious. "And it would be... easier... if I was elsewhere. For Duo. I understand."

"No, you don't," Zechs insisted, then straightened to put a hand on the man's shoulder. "Bronn, we're soldiers with a cause. It happens that your absence might ease Duo's mind, that's all. The bottom line is that I cannot send just anyone. I know you are loyal to me... to our alliance, Bronn. That's why I can send you to Treize Khushrenada for me."

The blood drained from the pilot's face, making his skin paler against the black hair. "T...Treize?"

Zechs nodded. The Aries/Taurus pilots and other personnel at the base only knew that GAIA had a secret contact at Romefeller. "Yes. You're in the confidence of the Committee now. Our secret ally in Romefeller is indeed Treize Khushrenada. He has worked diligently to lead that organization astray for us. In fact, he is highly likely to be resigning as commander-in-chief of OZ today... which is why I cannot send you to Bremen, but to a location to which Treize hopes to escape. Noin is there already with another person very critical to our future."

[He... he *trusts* me, even after...] Bronn felt a hot stinging in his eyes. It had been only three weeks ago when he'd foolishly thrown himself at Zechs - with whom he'd once had a brief fling. And then had received the dressing-down of his life. Now Zechs was entrusting him to be GAIA's envoy to their northern allies. He swallowed hard, feeling pride swell in his heart. "Sir, you can count on me," he replied evenly, straightening. "You and GAIA have my loyalty and I will serve our alliance proudly. Thank you."

[I knew he'd come through for us,] Zechs thought of the hot-blooded young knight. [Though I am relieved for Duo's sake as well...] "I thank *you*, Bronn!" He clapped the man hard on the shoulder, soldier to soldier, then let his hand drop, crossing his arms again. "I'd like you to attend this meeting we're having with Treize's man this morning, then I think you'll need to get on your way as soon as possible - you can take the shuttle that he just brought in."

"Yes, sir!" Bronn drew himself up proudly and saluted. His headache even seemed better. "I'll be ready!"

"Good man," Zechs replied, as usual waving off the salute with a little smile. "Now, we'd best get to that meeting..."

As Bronn preceded him out of the office, Zechs hoped Duo had been able to get up without too much difficulty. Before he could turn down the hallway to go check on him, however, he was intercepted by Howard, who steered him immediately toward the hangar, insistent on showing him the new Tauruses which had just come in.

Bronn wondered at the brief flash of frustration that came over the commander's face before leaving with the engineer. [Hmmm, Zechs has looked better... I wonder...] He shoved his fists in his pockets and started toward the conference room. [Nah... not my business. Zechs has made that clear...]

"Shit... my head," Duo said with a drawn-out moan as he stirred awake. "What the hell happened last night?" he asked as he looked around the room... Zechs's room. [So, I made it back here.] Then he remembered. He had gotten drunk at the card game, then had come here and Zechs had held him, but had never said anything about Heero. [He probably thought I couldn't handle it in that condition... but it would've been better if he'd told me then...]

Slowly, very slowly, he slid his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. "Oh... not good." His head throbbed something fierce, but at least the spinning had stopped. "Shower... that'll help," he decided, but as he stood he noticed that he was only wearing a shirt. "Did we...?" He reached back and gently touched himself between his ass cheeks. When he didn't feel any soreness there he sighed... disappointed. It hadn't happened and it would never happen again. Zechs was in love with Heero now.

"I have to get off this iceberg," he thought bitterly. "Hell, I have to get off this planet!" The time for self-pity was over and the time for action had come. Duo knew he had to leave. There was no way he could work side-by-side with the new lovers. [I can run and hide... I'm good at that,] he thought harshly.

With great effort, more effort than he thought he was capable of this morning, Duo padded into Zechs's bathroom. He slipped out of his blue uniform shirt and ducked into the shower. Somehow he knew this was the last comfort he would feel all day...

After his shower, Duo hastily dressed in his GAIA uniform and gathered up his only possessions from Zechs's room... a toothbrush and nightshirt. He did so with as little emotion as possible, but couldn't help a shudder as he left the room, the permanence of the act hitting him hard. Back in his own room, Duo began packing his clothes into two worn duffel bags. His decision was made, but it didn't make it any easier. He had tied too much of his life and future to Zechs to leave without it tearing him apart.

[Just remember why you're leaving, Maxwell,] he thought. "Heero." The name broke the silence in the room like a thunderclap. Heero Yuy had somehow stolen Zechs's heart...

From the very beginning the Lightning Count had had a connection with the Perfect Soldier, a connection that Duo could not compete against. [It just wasn't meant to be...] he decided sadly, and returned his thoughts to how he could leave the base with as little commotion as possible. [Maybe I can slip out in the night? But that'll mean I have to spend another day here...] The thought made his stomach tighten again and he hurried about his packing.

As he stuffed clothes in the duffel bags he heard the computer beeping. "Now what?" He walked over to the computer and turned it on. There was a pre-recorded message from Federi informing him about a GAIA central committee meeting. "Damn it!" Duo said. A meeting would only mean he'd have to face all of them and pretend that everything was okay. [And I'll have to avoid talking to Zechs. I really don't want to hear it from him... I'd rather just leave without a word.]

With his bags only partially packed, Duo headed to the conference room anyway.

Trowa tugged again on the short GAIA pilot's jacket as he left the room he shared with Quatre, and found himself abruptly faced with Chang Wufei. He stopped short of the other pilot, returning a curious gaze. "You're still here," he observed dryly.

"Yes, I seem to be," Wufei replied with a sigh as he fell into step with Trowa who proceeded down the hall. "Mind if I ask a few questions?"

"Not at all," Trowa murmured, but wondered why the Chinese pilot would seek him out - why not Heero or Quatre, or even the talkative Duo?

"You still don't say much," Wufei replied, glancing up at the taller boy. He's seen the little blond slip his hand into Trowa's last night as they went off to dinner after the meeting. "So are you here because of your boyfriend?" [I hope that's not too rude...]

Trowa didn't make any outward reaction to Wufei's observation. "It's a part of it. Mostly I'm here because this group has the best chance of defeating OZ, that's all."

[He's not trying to hide his relationship... interesting...] Wufei frowned. "Because of Zechs? For all its size, his mobile suit doesn't look that impressive."

Trowa slowed down. "Oh, that's right," he said with a wry note. "You haven't seen the Tallgeese fight. Of course you would say that."

"Huh? What, does it have some special weapon?" Wufei, as soon as he'd seen the Tallgeese in the hangar, had been very curious about it.

The corner of Trowa's mouth curved up slightly. "Sure. Aside from wanting to win all battles on its own, Tallgeese has a speed and pilot advantage. Zechs has pretty awesome reflexes, almost unnatural."

Wufei snorted. He'd believe it when he saw it. "What do you mean it wants to win battles on its own? It's a mobile suit!"

"That may be," Trowa murmured. "I don't know the specifics, something about the cockpit system. I understand it's pretty hard to manage."

"Hmph." Wufei couldn't imagine what the fuss could possibly be. Tallgeese was a machine, wasn't it? Even the talk yesterday about mobile dolls didn't seem very intimidating. "Well, I don't know what you guys think you're going to accomplish with that thing and four Gundams."

"And by now," Trowa added smoothly, "twenty Tauruses. We've been slowly adding those to the Aries complement on the base."

"Oh, the ones with lasers?" Wufei asked.

"Yeah. Pretty slick suits, if you ask me. Not like a Gundam, of course, but they can fly like a plane, too."

They'd reached the conference room where the meeting was to be held. "You sitting in?" Trowa asked the other pilot. "Or rather, I should ask if you were invited?"

Wufei shrugged. [I don't belong anywhere...] "It doesn't matter. I have to be leaving anyway," he murmured.

[Too bad,] Trowa thought, a hand on the door. "Well. Where are you off to, then?"

"I suppose I'll go to space. Maybe return to my colony," Wufei sighed. "I don't know. But I'll be sure to stay out of your way. Good luck."

"Thanks, Wufei..."

"Wait," Wufei said quickly before Trowa could turn the knob. The other boy turned back to him. "I just wanted to ask... you're... you're with Quatre. Does it make a difference?" [Meiran never thought so... she only *tolerated* me...]

Trowa gave him a minute smile. "Yeah. It makes all the difference in the world. It gives me a future." The tall, russet-haired pilot nodded to him, then went into the meeting.

"A future... it gives him a future?" Wufei shook his head, confused all over again. [These other pilots think strangely...]

(tbc)

Chapter 18

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