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"Regained "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, masturbation, angst, violence,
language Pairings: 6x2, 3x4, mention of 13+11, R+1 Summary: Sequel to Interfacing: Lost. GAIA, the
new alliance, fights its first battle in Antarctica; Duo and Zechs
begin to rebuild their relationship "Regained" Chapter 22
He turned on the computer and after it powered up, activated his special security device. He checked a file that contained contact information for Romefeller Foundation members - standard information available to OZ higher-ups - and then input the access numbers for one particular Foundation member with whom Zechs had been acquainted as a child. It was time to renew this old contact... On the screen after a couple minutes appeared the face of an old man with steel-gray hair and a mustache, an old fashioned night-cap on his head. "Who...?" He blinked, obviously having been woken up by the call, which he assumed was something official from the Foundation. Then he'd gotten a good look at his caller. "You... you're... I know you!" "Yes, it has been a long time, Marquis," Zechs murmured. "Or should I say... Uncle..." He and Relena had always called the old man that, though he was technically their great-uncle. "Milliardo," Marquis Weyridge breathed, staring at a face he hadn't seen for thirteen years. "My dear boy! This is a pleasant surprise! And it's only been a few weeks since I was reunited with your sweet little sister... well, perhaps I shouldn't say sweet. She's a hellion, but a precious dear all the same. Where are you? When can we see you?" //He's seen Relena! Good, Pargan has been attentive to seeing that she fit herself back into position as Princess of Sank.// Zechs shook his head sadly, "Not soon, Uncle, I'm afraid. Relena must not be told about me. And I cannot tell you where I am." The old man gaped at him for a few seconds. The hair... he'd seen long, platinum blond hair like that only on two other men in his life - King Peacecraft, his niece's husband... and Colonel Zechs Merquise of the OZ Specials. His expression hardened. "I should have guessed, I suppose, but it's very hard to believe... Colonel Zechs." //The old man is as sharp as ever,// Zechs mused, then returned the gaze evenly. "I'm no longer with OZ, Uncle." The man relaxed visibly, but frowned. "Well... this is a surprise. You're only the darling of the Specials, Treize Khushrenada's well-trained monkey. I'm not even sure I should believe you. What's going on, Milliardo?" //I suspected Weyridge only marginally supported the Foundation's plans, and now I know it for sure,// Zechs thought, relaxing. Despite the man's obvious derision toward him, it only proved where the man's sympathies laid. "Yes, I was that trained monkey, wasn't I? Tell me, Uncle, do you know about Romefeller's plans for the colonies? Do you know about the mobile dolls?" Weyridge's eyes widened. "Why, Milliardo, I'm an old man. Why would I know details like that?" Without taking his gaze from the screen, he pressed a button on his keyboard that would start a trace on the call. Zechs's expression relaxed. "I do not mean in any way to endanger your position, Uncle. Yet because you are sympathetic to the cause of peace, I know I can trust you to help me oppose those evil plans. I am a Peacecraft... I do not love fighting though it's all I've known for many years. I am not worthy of my father's crown, but must work toward peace in my own way. If you cannot help me, Uncle... then I request that you at least do not tell anyone I called you. I hope there are ties between us still to hope for that." The young man's apparent sincerity appealed strongly to the Marquis's own love of peace and his private hopes that Romefeller could be turned aside from its present course. //He is a worthy prince, I'll give him that... and if he is sincere, a worthy heir to the throne of Sank.// "Help... what kind of help are you referring to, Milliardo?" "Information... warnings... nothing overt." Marquis Weyridge was wary, but he understood the risk the boy had taken, revealing himself like this. Still... "Let me ask you this first, Milliardo... if you have in fact left OZ, what does Treize think you're doing at present?" "Sulking," Zechs answered immediately with a smirk. "Don't bother him with this, please. He's not likely to be interested." The casual, off-hand, confident response served to reassure the old man. //Milliardo always was supremely in command of himself, even as a child. Now he's just a rich, privileged lad dabbling in politics. Yet he had a brilliant military career. He's not doing this for the amusement of it, that's for sure.// "So you're seeking to undermine Dermail's support from within, is that it? I'm frankly surprised someone like you would actually be opposed to a military build-up." Zechs nodded, understanding. "I can see how you must view me, Uncle. One day soon I may send you a Gundam pilot to sit down to tea with you. I guarantee your life will change forever for you." "Gundam pilot! So, you're mixed up with those terrorists?" Alarmed, the Marquis straightened, wondering whom he needed to report this to. Treize, obviously. "You do know those 'terrorists' were tricked into attacking New Edwards Base," Zechs replied coolly. "The one who killed the Alliance pacifists, thinking they were OZ leaders, later went to each Noventa family member, offering to let them take his life." Weyridge sagged back into his chair, aghast. "Those pilots are desperate, but extraordinarily brave, determined, and devoted to the freedom of the colonies," Zechs continued smoothly. "I will be proud to fight beside them." "Against OZ?" "Against Romefeller." The old man nodded, understanding. "Against the new policies... against Duke Dermail's push to control the Earthsphere, to govern all the nations on Earth and the colonies." When Zechs nodded, he blew his breath out in relief. "Well... I can't support Dermail's policies, but I have little power on my own. If you and your friends can effect change... God go with you. And I..." He looked again at the young face of the Sank prince. "Milliardo, you'd be proud of your sister. She attended a function with me in Moscow. It seems that she believes Colonel Une was responsible for the assassination of the Vice Foreign Minister, her foster father. Relena, God bless her, tried to shoot the woman." He sighed. "These are terrible times, my dear boy. Dermail has a lot of power and charisma, as does Treize. We seem bent on a single course of action. I'm not sure force alone can stop it." "I agree, Uncle," Zechs murmured quietly. "Relena sounds like myself - reckless, rash, passionate. But she should be the peace maker. I am a soldier. I fight on the battleground. I am trying to learn more subtle methods, which is why I need your help. Will you give it?" Marquis Weyridge looked deep into eyes of ice blue. //I could almost be looking at the very young King Peacecraft my niece married... the same eyes and hair, but more importantly, the same burning fire in the eyes...// "Milliardo... yes, I will help you." Tremendously relieved, Zechs smiled. He gave Weyridge a special code by which to contact him and said good night to the great-uncle he hadn't seen since before the fall of the Sank Kingdom. After the call ended, Weyridge called up the trace program on his computer. To his astonishment, the program not only had not traced the call, but did not record that a trace had been requested. Thinking the computer wasn't working right, the Marquis then checked the log for the call. Nothing... //Huh... he must have sent an "enzyme", a bit of code that breaks down attempted activity. Very sophisticated...damn. Well, I guess I can still trust him...// Zechs shut off his computer and slid down in his chair, weariness stealing over him. //I don't know how useful that was... he probably doesn't trust me, but I think I can be certain he won't go running to Treize. He doesn't like OZ... that's good.// Yawning, he thought he'd rest for a minute before doing a last walk around the base before returning to bed. //Don't want to think about bed... he won't be there...// Sleepily, Zechs put his head down on his folded arms on the desk. In moments, he was asleep. The sound of a vehicle backfiring woke Duo with a start. "Huh?" He sat up, taking a second to remember where he was. //Oh, the Tallgeese...// Rubbing his eyes, he peered out into the hangar. "OZ-ies," he muttered, looking askance on the activity below. //Never thought I'd be working with them.// The suit's chronometer showed 2300 hours. He'd been asleep for nearly two hours. "Shit, I need to get out of here." He shut off the power to the controls and stood, yawning and stretching, before leaving the cockpit. When he stepped back into the cool, open air of the hangar, he could immediately feel that his time with the Tallgeese had been well spent. He had definitely needed to calm down after his conversation with Zechs, and though, in the end he had taken the base commander's orders and not flown the Tallgeese, it was good to have bonded with it a little. Additionally, he was beginning to believe that his tone had been unfair... even harsh to his lover, but still justified to his comrade-in-arms. //I still think he's uncomfortable with me being a Gundam pilot,// he thought as he walked back down the several flights of metal stairs to the hangar floor. //He likes the idea of needing to protect me.// He shook his head at that last thought. There was no way a Gundam pilot needed protection, but as Noin had pointed out earlier in the day, he shouldn't complain about a man like *that* wanting to protect him. Still it was something to get used to after so many years on his own. So many dangerous missions faced and conquered... on his own. And now this prince, this ex-OZ colonel was doing his best to watch out for him and keep him safe. //Stranger things have happened I suppose...// Heading through the hangar, Duo didn't bother glancing back at Wing Gundam. He really didn't want to know if Zechs was still talking to Heero. But he did notice Bronn Sangers watching him closely. //Pathetic twit,// he thought as he took in the man's oddly neutral features. Not one to pass up an opportunity, Duo snarled at the jilted man as he walked past him and into the corridor. Bronn didn't have a chance to respond before Duo disappeared down the hall that led to the inner workings of the base. "Heh," he chuckled, pleased with his timing. Continuing down the hall to his quarters, Duo began to replay his conversation with Zechs. It seemed everything had been fine until they started talking shop. Pillow talk was one thing... oh, they had a great deal in common in that regard... but once they started to talk about piloting it seemed they weren't compatible at all. //Maybe I'm just being too defensive? He was concerned... he said it again and again.// Unconcerned about running into his lover in this part of the base, Duo turned the corner onto the hallway where Zechs's office was located. The question of whether he'd acted belligerently to Zechs still weighed heavily in his mind, and in his concentration he kept his head down - eyes veiled behind heavy chestnut-colored bangs - as he considered the "what if's" and the "maybe I should apologize." He didn't notice the door opening or the man stepping into the corridor right in front of him... "Duo," Zechs murmured, looking a little sleepy, a crease on his cheek from pillowing it on his folded arms at his desk. He'd woken up a few minutes ago and decided he might as well finish the night in a real bed. Running into his fierce little lover unexpectedly served to wake him up considerably more than he'd expected. "Ah... excuse me. Hope I didn't, er, hit you with the door..." "Oh... right," Duo said, just as surprised by this encounter. //Damn, I really didn't expect to see him tonight.// "No, I'm fine. Just heading back to my room." //Looks like he's been sleeping, too. This is so wrong...// Closing the door behind him, Zechs leaned back on it, regarding Duo with an inscrutable expression, crossing his arms over his chest. "So... how was it? What did it feel like to be inside Tallgeese?" //He knew I was up there. Was he checking on me after all?// Duo wondered, observing the man's easy stance. "Tallgeese was... fascinating. Quite a large, and I suspect, very powerful machine," he said with a small grin. Part of his fascination was undoubtedly the fact that it was Zechs's mobile suit and the limited experience had afforded him with new insight into the man. He would now be able to *see* Zechs when they were fighting tomorrow. Visualize him strapped into his suit battling off the OZ attack. And of course, the fact that he had been given access to this machine of war only further proved Zechs's faith and trust in him. //None of the other Gundam pilots would've allowed anything like this.// "Thank you for letting me take a look. I appreciate it," Duo said, hoping to convey his sincerity in his words and tone. A tone he should've been using much earlier that evening... "You're very welcome," Zechs replied, hoping his tone of voice conveyed a little warmth despite his sleepiness. "I'm glad you're so interested. It is a marvel of a machine, for all that it's twenty years old. Heh, when Noin first saw it, she couldn't believe something that old could be so powerful." //Pilot to pilot... I hope he sees how I'm trying,// Zechs mused, relieved that Duo now seemed considerably more reasonable to talk to. "Yeah, it's hard to believe... I wonder what those scientists were thinking when they built the Gundams? I mean, why not keep the rockets? My Deathscythe could sure use them to get into space," Duo said, feeling a sense of satisfaction being able to speak with Zechs this way. //It's so much easier this time. Maybe we've both reconsidered that conversation...// //Hmmm, I like the all-black look on him,// Zechs was thinking. //God of Death or not, it suits him...// "I'm not certain. Tallgeese is bigger than the Gundams because of the Verniers, so perhaps it had been decided the design was too big and clumsy to be practical. Heh, not that Tallgeese is clumsy in the air! I've found the response time to be breath-taking." He grinned at that. //This is how the conversation should have gone earlier. He's listening now.// "But as for the Gundams, I'm surprised Deathscythe and Sandrock don't have the bird mode feature that Wing Gundam has. Those rockets are smaller and more efficient, suitable for Gundams. Why didn't your builders give that capability to all your suits?" "I suppose because a different scientist built each one," Duo said, warming with the ease of this discussion. //I'd still like to experience the Tallgeese fully... He obviously enjoys its power and so would I.// "Well, that makes a difference," Zechs murmured thoughtfully. "I wonder who designed the Tallgeese... or which one worked on it? Oh, well, a mystery to be solved another day." He yawned, feeling the exhaustion sweep through him again, and gave Duo a lopsided, sleepy grin. The fact that they were speaking as fellow pilots made Duo grin with smug pleasure. He liked this sense of equality with Zechs. //We are getting more comfortable with each other in this way...// But could they be both comrades and lovers? The question made him yearn to be in the man's arms again... to test that theory... to try to blend the two roles while enjoying the warm comfort of the man's bed as he slept. //That would prepare me for battle like nothing else, but I don't think he wants that right now...// Certain that Zechs was not amenable to sleeping together, Duo turned back to talk of suits and battles. "Well, I'm looking forward to seeing you and Tallgeese in action tomorrow," he said, enthusiastically. "And if I don't get a chance to speak to you before the battle... good luck and please... be careful." "Duo, wait," Zechs murmured, clasping Duo's hand before the boy could turn away. "Tell me all that in the morning. Can we please just... just go to bed now?" //I just want him in my arms - I think we're better now... I'll sleep better if I'm holding him...// The younger man blinked. Had he heard correctly? //We're okay?// "Oh... sure," Duo said casually as if Zechs had just asked him for the time instead of inviting him to bed. But the grin on his face revealed his true feelings... he was thrilled and very much needed to be close to Zechs. "I was hoping..." he said, looking down at the hand holding his and then back up into those fabulous crystalline eyes. "Hoping we could, but I didn't want to ask." They started walking, Zechs slowing his stride without thinking, their hands still entwined. "Then I'm glad I did," he said quietly. "Duo, I want to know the pilot in you... and I'm sorry I got a little overprotective. Please... forgive me." "Yeah... thanks," Duo said as they continued down the hall. "I want us to be friends and lovers and fellow pilots... the whole thing. And I'm sorry, too. Guess I freaked and got a little defensive... I shouldn't have spoken to you that way." It felt good to say that and to be holding hands again. Duo couldn't help but be reminded of shopping in the open air markets of Cairo. Where they would walk for hours on end, holding hands, sharing meals, and talking. //Just us...// "We're learning about each other's real lives," Zechs murmured with a smile.
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