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"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 " Note: A bit of 3x4 lime in this one. 20) Within the room they shared at last, Trowa pulled Quatre tight against his body, then covered his lover's mouth with his before Quatre could say a word. His heart was pounding, not only from arousal for his kitten, but from sudden fear that Quatre could still be upset with him for not telling him about the real Trowa Barton. [He let me save face in there, but will he be angry with me now? I can't bear to see that...] "Mmmm, Tro," Quatre said as he gently pulled out of the kiss. Its suddenness and intensity surprised him, but then he knew they only had a very short time left together and he wanted his lover, too. "I love you, Trowa," he said, flushed from the kiss. "And I... I'm afraid of what it will be like with you gone... and not being able to watch out for each other." He turned his face away, shame racing through him. How he loved this boy and wanted desperately to be with him always. "I suppose you think that's weak of me." "I don't think you're weak," Trowa replied, one hand between them already busily unfolding the neat cravat at his lover's throat. "Don't say that. We're soldiers and we'll get through this." [He's not upset with me... is it true he doesn't care what my name is? I won't bring it up, then...] Quatre looked back at his lover with wide, tearful eyes. "Yes, we're soldiers," he said, swallowing hard. He and Trowa had come so far over the last three weeks. It had been like a beautiful dawning for Quatre to watch their love and the intensity and openness of that love grow. Even now, with Trowa taking the first steps at removing his clothing, it thrilled Quatre to know that they could be like this. That his lover instinctively knew that his need would be met without question. He mirrored Trowa's actions and unbuttoned the boy's shirt. "No more thoughts of war... just for a little bit," he said as he made fast work of the buttons and slipped his hands inside to feel warm skin. "Right now I just want us to be lovers." Trowa quickly dispensed of Quatre's uniform jacket and shirt, taking care to tease nipples along the way, then opened the front of the other's pants and slipped his hand inside. Breathing a little deeply, he gave his lover a dark-green, smoldering gaze as he closed his hand around the other's length. "I'm going to make love to you, Soldier Kitten," he breathed in a low voice. "Yessss," Quatre moaned and shuddered. His body arched into his lover's knowing grasp. "Take me, Tiger," he said, heatedly, slipping his hand down to cup and rub Trowa's erection. "Make me yours..." "Oh, yeah," Trowa replied with hooded eyes, dark with desire as he collected his kitten up into his arms and strode toward the bed in which he would take him. Upon reaching his room and finding it empty, Zechs leaned forehead and fists against the door, bewildered and growing a little angry at his whole situation with Duo. [He *is* avoiding me! Does he truly believe things have deteriorated between us to the point where we cannot talk about it anymore? How the hell did this happen? I thought we were fine yesterday morning... then that damn rematch... but it really got worse when he overheard about my nightmares. So what, he thinks he's sparing me from having to deal with the Death God who haunted my dreams by absenting himself from my daily life? Then he got drunk - is that why? Could he not bear to face me any other way?] Drawing away from the door, Zechs wrapped his arms around himself and walked over to the couch, dropping onto it with a deep sigh. He leaned forward, his head in his hands, trying to make sense of it all. [Duo... my Dancer... if only I could talk to you... tell you that I'm almost healed, no, that I *am* healed! Just let me tell you that much, then we'll talk... please...] He'd told Duo to meet him here, so here he would stay for as long as he could bear it, hoping that Duo would surface. Searching for him would be useless; Duo was way too good at not being found, as he knew all too well just from yesterday. [Come... please, my darling love, come and we'll turn this all around for good... please...] In the computer room, Heero had already located and downloaded the plans for all five Gundams, and was opening the first of the files taken from the Gundam scientists on Space Fortress Barge. Lance, beside him, was impressed with the boy's cool, professional manner and his obvious expertise with the computer files. But he did wonder if the pilot of Gundam 01 ever smiled. "So this is what they're working on," Heero muttered a few minutes later. "The Vayeate... advanced beam cannon system... and this one, the Mercurius... oh, interesting, defensive shield disks creating a security field around a mobile suit." His fingers flew over the keys, accessing screen after screen of data and designs. "Trowa's gonna need this." He inserted a second disk into the computer to begin to load the needed files onto it for Trowa to take with him. Lance looked at the scrolling data and was pleased that they had indeed hit the jackpot with this information. He was proud to have been the one to deliver it to the Gundam pilots and also reveled in this opportunity. "Heero," he said, speaking in a friendly tone. "How did you get to be a Gundam pilot? Were you recruited?" Heero continued typing, his eyes fixed on the screen before him. "In a manner of speaking. I was raised to be an assassin and an operative. When the chance to pilot a Gundam was offered to me, I decided it was a logical extension of my skills. Although I'd opposed the Alliance... and OZ... all my life." He glanced over abruptly, fixing his gaze on the other soldier. "Now let me ask you a question. Why did you leave OZ?" [I don't think Treize sent him as a plant, but it doesn't hurt to be sure of this guy.] "I'm a soldier like you," Lance said proudly, straightening his back. "I joined OZ to honor my family and hoped to make a career of it, but then everything changed... for the worse." His blue eyes became a bit clouded as he remembered how disillusioned he had grown with the direction the war had taken. "I have long been loyal to Treize, and when he approached me about working against Romefeller, I didn't hesitate. So you see, leaving OZ wasn't difficult at all... I am still under the command of the one person I admire most." "So for you, it's not about the cause at all," Heero said, feeling a surge of contempt that he suppressed. He sat back, unwilling to continue at the keyboard until he understood this man better. [Don't judge too quickly...] He could almost hear Dr. J telling him that. [Even a man's words don't tell the whole story...] "If you're under the command of Treize Khushrenada," he continued, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest, "why the hell are you here? To us, Treize is our subordinate. Ultimately he answers to our committee, even though it's plain he has his own ideas of how to achieve our goals. Are you placing yourself under *our* command as he has, then?" Lance grinned, satisfied by the young man's fire. [This is why they will win this war...] "I have been sent here to become a member of *your* team, Heero," he said with a slight bow of the head. "As such I am under the command of the GAIA leadership committee." He paused a moment, placing his hand over his heart. "I believe that my loyalty to Treize's ideals is no different than yours to the colonies. We all need something to fight for... don't we?" "Hn," Heero made his usual noncommittal noise. [Polite, not easily flustered, intelligent, honest. I suppose he passes.] He gestured at the computer as he sat up again to resume his examination of Treize's files. "Do you know what else we're supposed to find in here?" "No, but I got the impression it's something big," Lance said and nodded for Heero to continue with his search. [I guess we understand each other now. I'm glad... I have a feeling it's not easy getting in his good graces.] Rifling through the list of files, Heero paused when he saw the name of the final file. "Hmmm... well, we'll look at that when we come to it. I want to study the Vayeate and the Mercurius a little more before we move on. That shield disk technology is very new. You know, the possibilities are pretty interesting..." It was obvious that what they were reviewing was highly confidential information and very valuable to their cause. Lance listened carefully to Heero's explanation, feeling suddenly as if he could learn a great deal from this young man. [His Excellency was right about the purity of their cause... I'm beginning to see it now.] Duo closed the door, locked it behind him, then pressed his back against it. [That was easy,] he thought, breathing heavily from his sprint back to his room. He had never stopped to look back, feeling the whole time as if he was being pursued. Maybe it was his own conscience chasing him... telling him to stand up like a man and face his former lover. [At least I should leave him a note... We were in love... once,] he thought painfully and then swallowed, trying to get some moisture back in his mouth. He pushed off the door and headed into the bathroom to gulp down a glass of water and then went to sit at the computer desk. He quickly found a pen and pad of paper in a drawer. He let his hand brush over the white, blank surface several times, as if ritually preparing it to receive his last message to Zechs. For long minutes he sat staring at the paper, unable to find the words to match the feelings of his leaving and the end of their togetherness. Finally the silence was broken by a sob and he began to cry as the memories flooded him. Memories of tender kisses and passionate embraces, of laughter and talking, of holding hands and making love.... and of promises. And most of all the wonderful feeling of being loved. A big part of him wanted to stay. A very big part. He wanted to believe that this was all another misunderstanding and that Zechs and he would talk this through and things would be better than ever. But that was a silly dream... just like the man he had created to keep him warm and safe at night when he slept. His dream man... glimpsed, tasted and now gone. And in his heart he felt that Zechs had never truly forgiven him for what he had done, though he believed the man had sincerely tried. Then Heero had to come into their lives and there was no chance for Duo to recover what he'd lost in Cairo. When he was able to stifle his tears again, he wiped at his cheeks and then began to write. A little while later he folded the note and inserted it into an envelope and sealed it, writing simply 'Zechs' on the outside. He would slip it under the door to the man's room when he made his way to the hangar for the last time. Now he would ready himself for his departure. Trowa's shuttle would be launching in less than two hours and he had decided his only course of action was to sneak aboard, knock his fellow pilot unconscious and then take his place. Fitting his sour mood and broken heart, Duo stripped out of his GAIA uniform, laying it carefully on the bed, then pulled his priest's garb from a dresser drawer. He remembered all too well the last time he had worn these clothes. At Quatre's house outside Cairo he had wanted a visible barrier between him and Zechs that would impress on the man that he wasn't hurt by what had happened between them, but also that he was dangerous and Zechs should never try to get near his heart again... Of course that resolve hadn't lasted. How could it? He was desperately in love. Had been since the moment Zechs had first kissed him. And to stay now would only create a hardship for everyone... So, he dressed in the black, somber clothes and cap to transform himself into the only persona he knew that could handle this worst of all missions. He had only to wait now. Wait out the hour or so and then slip stealthily into the shuttle... and disappear into the blackness of space. After an hour, Zechs hauled himself up off his couch. [He's not coming. God, I wish I knew what he was thinking... what he might do... I just can't believe he's given up on us, I won't believe it...] Making a growling noise in frustration, he went to the desk in his room and woke up the computer. He fished in his uniform jacket pocket for a small set of keys, then unlocked a drawer of the desk. In moments he had one of his security devices set up so that he could make a certain call to a certain country. In moments, Lucrezia Noin, wearing a Sank Kingdom Imperial Guard uniform, appeared on his screen. "Greetings, Noin," Zechs murmured... bracing himself for what he knew was coming, knowing her. The smile that Noin had used to greet her friend quickly diminished. "What's happened?" she asked, panicked by his shocking pallor. "You look like death warmed over, Zechs." [Dear Noin...] "I suppose I haven't been eating right. Something like that." He ran fingers through his hair absently. "How's Relena?" The woman blinked at him several times. [Oh, my, something is terribly wrong... but I'll ease his mind about his sister first.] "Relena is just fine. No, she's better than fine... she's wonderful," Noin said, smiling, warmly. She truly enjoyed Relena's company and the challenge the girl brought to her life. "Zechs, you'd be so proud of her... the way she's managing this school. Leadership qualities must run in the Peacecraft family." "That's good to hear... that she's well," Zechs replied, feeling a small twinge of guilt that it should be him there guiding his sister, or even leading the country, but that was not in his destiny, he knew well. "Has Treize contacted you at all?" "No, we haven't heard from His Excellency," she said, wondering if that was a good thing or not. "It's been pretty quiet here, Zechs. Should we expect visitors?" "Yes, actually..." [How to tell her of the immanent invasion... hmmm...] "I don't suppose he feels he has a secure enough line to get word to you there, but Treize will be on your doorstep, hopefully shortly. He's resigning." Noin's violet eyes went wide with shock. "He's coming here?" she asked, her mouth gaping. "Whatever for? I mean... what is he expecting from us?" [Treize will change everything. He'll have an entourage... he'll be giving orders... he'll have extravagant needs.] She couldn't help but sigh. "Easy, Noin," Zechs replied quickly to soothe his friend. "He will have to disappear from the world stage for a while, as he still has a great deal of influence which is a threat to Romefeller once he resigns. He has chosen to disappear to Sank... and is offering his experience to Relena as a... guide... so to speak, as she becomes more and more a voice for peace on the Earth." He sighed, hoping this wouldn't come out the wrong way; he was short on sleep and hadn't eaten since lunch with Duo before the rematch the day before. [Was it really only yesterday?] "I know you are doing an excellent job with her, Noin, but Treize's experience with Romefeller could be critical in keeping the nation safe from that organization. And, frankly, I could use you here to lead the complement of Tauruses... since I am sending Bronn to the Sank Kingdom to be a GAIA envoy. Treize will not be under the auspices of GAIA... yet. The name GAIA still must remain a secret, and especially there. Or at least, as Treize says, until Romefeller ceases to be a threat to the Sank Kingdom. Only then can our northern allies be revealed." "I understand," she said, sincerely. It didn't take her long to wrap her mind around the significant, albeit confidential role Treize could play in Sank. "He'll be a great resource for her if she's willing to listen to him." She smiled at that, knowing well how unpredictable Relena could be. "So you think we should expect him as soon as... tomorrow?" [She's buying it, good,] Zechs thought. He'd been worried that Noin might resent Treize essentially taking over her role in assisting Relena. [Noin is sensible... and she'd be happier here with us than dangling at Treize's elbow...] "That's a possibility," he replied. "Or later today. Treize sent us an envoy of his from Bremen along with some critical mobile suit files. The man indicated Treize was resigning today." [He means he's resigning before they can execute him,] she thought wryly. "Zechs, I've enjoyed being with your sister very much, but I can't help but feel isolated here." What she meant was that she felt isolated from the war. Relena had her pacifist school under way and unless the battlegrounds were drawn along the Sank border, Noin's role in bringing this war to an end seemed non-existent. "I'm glad to hear you want me back in Antarctica.... and I sincerely think Treize will have a good influence on Relena." "Thanks, Noin, it's good to hear you say that," Zechs returned. "We have not made any specific plans to go to space, but we now have twenty Tauruses, and our pilots need your experience. We'll let you know when it's a good time to return." "Good, thank you," she said in agreement. "Now tell me what's really going on down there." Noin crossed her arms over her chest and gave him her best 'I'm going to get to the bottom of this' look. "You look terrible," she said, her brow tightening with worry. And then hesitantly she asked, "Is it Duo?" Zechs met her gaze, remembering how Noin always was so concerned about his heart, and how true a friend she'd always been to him. He'd almost retorted something back in response to the "look terrible" remark, but it died as he saw her caring look. "Yes... I may be losing him. I have had a need to heal in a certain manner after... after Cairo... and it's become too much for him, waiting for that to happen. He's been... avoiding me." "Oh, Zechs," Noin said with a sigh. She hated to see her friend hurting, and especially now when she had thought Zechs had found true love and a life partner. "But I know he loves you, Zechs. It was in his eyes and everything he said and did." She tilted her head, looking on her friend with sympathetic eyes. Oh, she had never experienced love like Zechs and Duo had with each other, but she could still feel terrible for her friend. "Do you think he's too young to understand what you need?" "I don't know, Noin," Zechs sighed. "It must be... but he's so tough, so strong, all while he's almost innocent... I don't know. The worst part is that I'm healed, I think, of what was giving me trouble..." [And I will *not* elaborate on that...] "But I haven't been able to tell him yet. You know how bad my timing is... well, now it seems worse than bad." Noin's heart ached for her friend. "You won't lose him. You two are right for each other... all you need to do is sit him down somewhere quiet..." As she spoke she could see the frown on his face growing more pronounced. "What is it? Is there some reason why you haven't spoken to him about this?" "Like I said, timing," he snorted, musing darkly that he ought to call out all the personnel on base to hunt down one short Gundam pilot with a braid. "I've tried to speak to him, but he either slithers away somehow or... I don't know. Last night he came to my room drunk on his feet. I've never seen him like that... he even passed out on me." "He sounds... scared," Noin said, quietly. [I wonder what really happened between them? Zechs would never hurt Duo... so it has to be a misunderstanding of some kind.] Just then Noin received an incoming message on her monitor. "Zechs, I'm sorry... Relena needs to speak with me. I'd better go," she said, and then pressed her hand to the vidscreen. "Please take care. Somehow things will work out... they always do," she said and smiled. "Thanks, Noin," Zechs murmured, relaxing. It did help, talking to her. "I do hope so. Zechs, out." When the screen went blank again, he sighed heavily, Noin's words ringing in his mind: "He sounds... scared." [Oh, my Duo... why?] (tbc)
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