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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 30
Heero narrowed his eyes momentarily, then relaxed. "Who knows about this game you're playing with Romefeller?" He unfroze as he spoke, and went back to the credenza for coffee and another sandwich. For some reason, the political dancing made him very hungry. Zechs relaxed a bit, watching him. "Duo knows who the Rose Knight is. Quatre only knows that it's someone highly placed within Romefeller. This person has some personal influence among the troops and apparently has collected a little faction of his own. If it helps, Heero, the Rose Knight, as he calls himself, knows his own time with the Foundation is limited. He has agreed to assist us as long as he can." "He's in danger, then," Heero murmured. "They'll execute him if he's found out." //He's quick on the uptake!// "Yes," Zechs replied solemnly. "If it matters, he offered to help us. I never asked him. He already knew I was leaving OZ." Heero was getting a tickle of a suspicion, but he would not allow himself to ponder it, being more concerned about getting an opportunity to hack into Zechs's computer systems. "So your game plan is to use this 'faction' of the Rose Knight to disrupt Romefeller... and what of this base? What else are you planning?" //He's not asking who the Rose Knight is yet,// Zechs realized with relief. //Just answer his questions...// "Quatre and I have talked about this some. I believe it would be in our best interest to upgrade our mobile suits to be able to handle the potential upcoming threat of the mobile dolls... and to prepare to go to space." "Space!" Heero now was truly stunned. "You intend to confront OZ in space?" Zechs nodded slowly. "But not necessarily in a full-out battle. I don't think that would endear the Gundams to the hearts of the colonists, do you?" "You've got a point there." Heero took a deep breath, processing. "Especially not now, no. Upgrading the suits is an excellent idea... but you'll need help. I think Duo knows someone, actually." He'd sat down again, but now rose, his movements smooth and sure, decisive. As he talked he began to clean up the lunch debris, even to stowing leftovers in the little refrigerator in the bathroom. "Mobile dolls can be operated in a synchronous fashion, and will have greater response times," he muttered as he worked. Zechs stared at the boy, wondering. Heero Yuy's body movements were very different from the more fluid and sensual Duo Maxwell's; Heero's movements were too abrupt, military-precise. //He's cleaning up...// he wondered, astonished. Indeed, Heero was rummaging around in the credenza for containers. He surfaced with a container for the remaining soup, and a plastic bag for the last two sandwiches. "How long do you expect we'll have to work on the upgrades?" Zechs shook himself out of the reverie. //And I thought Bronn was a neatnik...// "One month should do it. It'll be a waiting game right now. Even in the colonies... it will take time if they're to convert industry to mobile doll production. Hopefully we can interfere with that in time." Heero was busily wiping down the surface of the credenza, food all stowed. He set the empty carafe and plates back on the tray and went to set it on the floor outside the door. When he returned, he stood with hands stuck in jeans pockets - they were a little too long on him, being a spare of Trowa's. "Thanks for lunch. I should go do a post-flight assessment on my mobile suit." //Compulsive, isn't he?// Zechs was still thinking after having observed a wholly unexpected domestic side of this fierce little Gundam pilot. //Order means a great deal to him and he's determined to be thorough in all things, even to cleaning up lunch. Interesting.// He almost smirked. //He'd have made an excellent butler or personal valet... or even an aristocrat. He has the bearing...// "So, did I answer all your questions to your satisfaction?" "Yeah," Heero murmured. "I may have some more later." //Yeah, like after I hack in and see what you've really been up to...// He glanced up at the ice-blue eyes watching him. "You said at breakfast yesterday that meeting Duo changed things for you. Duo is a good guy, but he's not easily taken in. So I have to think you're on the level... and this alliance thing is starting to make sense. Still, I want to think about the whole thing some more, Zechs. This business with Romefeller and your 'insider' - it's dangerous." "Don't tell me you mind a little danger, Heero Yuy," Zechs replied with a snort. "I know it's risky, but we need to stop what's happening with the mobile dolls as soon as possible. Fighting, I think we've both seen, isn't the answer to everything. In fact, it's lost you your support in the colonies." Heero nodded solemnly. //Damn, he's right. This is the best response to take. The little blond kid was right, we need to join forces. We need Zechs, too. His insight into Romefeller... as well as his contacts... could make the critical difference between eventual defeat and future peace.// "I see what you mean. I'll give you my answer later today." "Thank you," Zechs replied, sighing. "I need to talk to the others, but I think it might be good if we all got together for a meeting tonight, perhaps before dinner. I want to share with them the news about the so-called 'ice storm'. That will be welcome news to all." "Sure," Heero murmured. "I'll let you know then." //That gives me just about enough time...// When Heero had gone, Zechs sagged back into the chair behind his desk. //Facing the Perfect Soldier is almost as stressful as facing the God of Death,// he mused, calling his room in hopes of finding Duo there. There was no answer. //Oh, so he didn't go back there to wait for me...// Zechs leaned back for a moment. //I'll have to ask him if he wants to share my room... or maybe he wants his own space...// Then he leaned forward again and called Duo's room. The beeping of the computer woke Duo from a sound sleep. After leaving Zechs behind to talk to Heero, and sulking about it, Duo had made his way to the base kitchens. There he'd watched and pestered the cooks for a while to amuse himself, but once their sneers had become a bit much, he'd snatched a couple sandwiches off a tray and had darted out of the preparation area. "Hey! Those are for Commander Zechs!" one of the cooks had shouted after him. Laughing, Duo had raced down the hall, though no one was actually pursuing him, and had returned to his room nearly breathless from the "chase." He had quickly eaten the sandwiches and then, completely exhausted, had dropped down on his bed to nap. With a long, slow stretch, he now made his way over to the computer and yawned as he answered. "Yeah?" "Duo," Zechs murmured. "Did you get something to eat? I'm free now and would love to see you, though I need first to clean up and change." He studied the image on his screen as the boy yawned again. "You've been asleep... did I wake you?" "Uh, yeah, I was sleeping, but I'm glad to see you," Duo said with a half-smile, half-yawn. Zechs seemed eager to see him. That was good. Maybe he would share what he and Heero had discussed over lunch together. "I'd like to change, too," he said, looking down briefly at his battle attire. "Where you wanna meet?" "In my room, fifteen minutes? I've had lunch, but if you haven't, I'll order something in for you. I just need..." He paused, feeling a wave of weariness pass through him. The battle... Zechs took a deep breath. "I just need to relax with you, Duo." "Zechs, you're exhausted," the younger man said, concerned. The fatigue was more than evident on his lover's face. //He pushes himself so hard... and not just in battle.// "Forget changing, I'll meet you there right now. You need that massage and to rest curled up with me! And don't worry about lunch, I ate some of *your* sandwiches earlier," he said with a snicker. "I need a shower worse, and how could you have eaten my sandwiches?" Zechs asked, thinking his hearing must be foggy. //It's from trying to battle wits against Heero Yuy,// he thought, realizing that the cross-examination from the dark-haired pilot wore him out nearly as much as Tallgeese did. "Whatever... sure, come right now. If you don't mind that I'm going to take a shower alone. Sorry..." "I was in the kitchen when they were making your lunch..." Duo started to explain, but he could see that Zechs wasn't really listening. Not that the man didn't care, but he could see that he was just too damn tired for a Maxwell story. //Maybe I should just let him shower and nap and then meet him?// he wondered, but then shook his head, unhappy with that option. "No, I don't mind about the shower, as long as you don't mind that I'm going to take one right after you... alone," he said, teasingly. "That's good," Zechs replied, smiling wanly. "I'll meet you there momentarily then. I look forward to 'curling up' with you." "Okay, see you in a bit," Duo said with a grin and closed the connection. He turned to his pile of clothing that had gone from the bed to the floor instead of neatly into drawers. //Need to put this stuff away,// he thought and then sifted through it until he found the little pair of cut-off shorts he'd worn when he first chatted with Zechs online. He'd also worn them in Cairo and they'd driven Zechs absolutely mad... leaving little to the imagination and exposing just a hint of his round bottom. "Heh," Duo chuckled devilishly and then went out into the hall to wait. Noin was heading back to her room after having finished her post-battle check of the Aries suits. "Duo, nice to see you," she said with a bright grin. "Hi, there," Duo said, smiling back. The uniformed woman looked him up and down. //He's not wearing any shoes and he's standing outside of Zechs's door...// "So, did Zechs kick you out of his room?" she asked, laughing. Duo tilted his head and smirked. "No, he's suppose to meet me here any minute now," he said. He liked feeling comfortable enough with Zechs's "girlfriend" to talk this way. "I hear the cook is planning something special for dinner tonight to celebrate our victory," she said, and then tugged on the folded denim in his hands. "Looks like you're planning on doing some celebrating yourself." The young Gundam pilot blushed. "Um, we're just gonna talk... and nap." Noin chuckled. "Of course you are." She pinched his blushing cheek and said, "You are so cute!" And with that she turned and continued down the hall, waving back at him. "Have fun, Duo. See you at dinner!" Shaking his head, Duo leaned against the wall and waited for his lover to arrive. Hoping that no one else would stumble along to tease and pinch him. As soon as Zechs stood up, the computer beeped insistently. He froze, staring at it. //I am not talking to Treize right now... and everything else can wait. Can't it?// His white eyebrows drew together in a scowl, then he opened the connection. "Yes?" he asked, trying not to sound too nasty. To his relief, it was only Captain Federi. "Sir, I know we haven't had time to set up procedures, and I'm not even sure what those are, but I've had everyone prepare reports from this morning." He paused, unsure what else to say. But he could not miss the expression on their commander's face. //He hasn't come down from the battle yet...// "Sir, I'm sure they can wait. Just tell me what to do with them?" Zechs relaxed. "Federi. I'm sorry, I got tied up talking to Heero." "A very intense young man," the control tower chief replied gravely. "Yes. Thank you, you may forward the reports to my computer. I'm sure you've ordered immediate maintenance to be started on all the mobile suits..." Zechs rubbed at his face, thinking that Duo must be waiting in the hall for him. Federi nodded, glad that he'd had the foresight to do that. It was clear that Zechs had a lot on his mind with the Gundam pilots and the battle and the new alliance... as well as running this undermanned base. "Yes, sir, it's been started. I'm sending the reports now. Anything else, sir?" "Yes." Zechs straightened. "Please call a meeting after dinner, say about 6 pm? Contact the Gundam pilots, Noin... I'll tell Duo as I'll be seeing him... and you, yourself are invited as well. No others." "Sir?" Federi asked, puzzled. "Not the Aries pilots, I don't think. This is strictly about the alliance, Federi." Zechs looked thoughtful. "A very important meeting. But just leave messages. I think we all need downtime right now." "Yes, sir, I agree," the man responded, concerned. "That's it. Thanks, Federi." "Of course, sir," the officer replied quietly. "I'll see you at dinner then." "Yes. Zechs, out." He closed the connection, relieved that the base was taken care of. Now he could rest in the arms of his beloved, heal from the horrors of war they'd just committed.
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