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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 33
Most of what was there had to do with the Lake Victoria base; there likely hadn't been time to delete the materials. Heero remembered that Zechs had said that he'd gone to Cairo to meet Duo... and never returned to Lake Victoria. //He'd expected to return. Hmmm...// What exactly happened in Cairo was something Heero was going to have to ask Duo or possibly Quatre. //Later...// Then he came across another folder, titled simply "Roses". "The Rose Knight?" he said aloud, then noticed the folder contained five files. The first was dated four days ago - when Zechs was in Cairo? And the last was dated this day. To Heero's surprise, the first file and presumably the others, was a recording of a televideo conversation. He started the recording. To his horror, the other conversant was none other than Treize Khushrenada. Shocked, Heero hastily put it on pause then backed away from the computer, his mind whirling, heart pounding. The Rose Knight was the supreme commander-in-chief of OZ, Treize Khushrenada! Automatically Heero checked his sidearm, making sure it was loaded, then put it close to hand as he returned grimly to the computer. He didn't want to think yet about the consequences of this discovery... or the impact to Duo. But there were odd discrepancies already that warned the Wing pilot. //Zechs plainly wanted me to find this - and he said Duo already knows? What the hell is going on here?// Scowling at the computer, he played back the rest of the recording. Both OZ soldiers sounded stiff and hesitant - were they being monitored? It certainly seemed like it. When Treize mentioned destroying Gundams, Heero froze, but again there was this odd feeling that what he heard was something they were saying for someone's benefit. Heero got up suddenly, gun at the ready, and checked the office over. But his quick yet expert examination of the premises told him there were no monitoring devices in here, no listening devices. He checked the hall; distantly he heard the bang and scrape of machinery from the hangar in one direction, muted talking and laughter from the direction of the dining hall. Nothing amiss here. Returning to the computer, Heero played the second conversation. This was an audio call only, and the tone of the two men was completely different. //They're friends... and both alarmed by something... the news from the colonies...// Then Heero heard words that sent adrenaline rushing through him: "Tell me, Milliardo, it's your time, isn't it?" "Yes, Treize, it's time for me to go." Heero gaped at the computer, stunned. Khushrenada knew Zechs was leaving OZ! //Did he send that Inspector and the fleet after Zechs? What of their friendship?// The words to follow answered those questions and more that Heero had not as yet thought to ask. And the more Heero listened, the more he relaxed, though his mind was still running like lightning. He put the gun down, a plan formulating in his mind. //I've got a lot of work to do before that meeting,// he decided, his fingers already flying over the keyboard. A couple hours later, Zechs was gazing at his reflection in the long mirror beside the closet, finishing his ensemble with a customary cravat. Again he wore a pale shirt, v-neck sweater, gray pants, and the light gray morning coat over all. The outfit was elegant without being flashy, understated yet formal, suitable to an estranged prince or merely an aristocrat without connections. //This is the critical meeting,// he thought ruefully. A distant trickle of fear teased at him, reminding him that the new alliance could blow apart completely with the revelation of Treize's involvement... for he knew he had to come out with it now. //Heero has found it all out,// he added, and only the fact that the pilot of Wing Gundam had not already confronted him with what he'd found, allowed Zechs to calm. //I'm trusting Heero to be impartial. God help us.// The ex-OZ Colonel straightened. //For the Earthsphere... for peace... and the future...// Duo had retreated to his own room to find some less-sticky clothing to wear to the dinner meeting. He dressed in blue jeans, a black turtleneck and his usual black ankle boots. Deciding not to go *all* black was definitely a sign of his good mood. His battle mood and "don't mess with me" mood required all black, but since Zechs had come into his life he was less opposed to a splash of color here and there. After several minutes of fighting with his hair that suddenly would not be braided, Duo decided to head back to Zechs's room. To his delight he found the door slightly ajar and with a cursory knock let himself him. "Hey, good-looking!" he said with a smile. He crossed the room, looking Zechs's reflection over in the mirror and then back at the man himself. "Damn, you look too good to be cooped up in this meeting. I should take you out on the town!" Chuckling, Zechs turned from the mirror and pulled his little lover against him, grinning down at the boy's saucy expression. "You're looking pretty good yourself, beautiful, and it's a damn shame there isn't a town..." He threaded his fingers carefully through the long tresses. "Want me to braid this for you, love?" "Oh, would you? Please! For some reason it just won't listen to me anymore." Duo smiled and let his body press firmly into his lover's, his arms going inside the man's gray coat and around his waist. "I guess it's gotten used to the feel of your hands..." he said with more than just a hint of sexual innuendo in his words and tone. The feel of the solid little body against his and the subtly sensual tone of voice caused Zechs's breath to leave all at once. He caught his breath hastily, swallowing. "Touch is healing... and I am healing, Duo." He kissed his lover's temple, then bade him sit down on a chair. Taking the silken brown mass in his hands, he began to separate the three sections prior to braiding. "Remember the first time?" Duo asked, closing his eyes and picturing the scene in his mind. It was their first day in Cairo and they had already made love twice. The boy's lips curled into a smile from the memory. "I kept fidgeting while you tried to braid my hair. I wasn't used to anyone touching it... not since Sister Helen. Did I ever tell you she was the one who first braided my hair?" "No, Dancer," Zechs murmured quietly as he worked on the long mass of hair. "And I do remember the first time well. It pleases me so to do this for you." "Oh, Wolf," Duo said, feeling a little choked up from Zechs's words and his own memories. He reached back to lightly touch his lover's hands working his hair. "Thank you. You're the only one who could do this for me." And he meant so much more than braiding his hair... he meant everything. Zechs was everything to him. They fell into a warm, comfortable silence for a few moments, each choosing only the good things about Cairo to remember. Zechs worked steadily, expertly, but when he was about ready to tie off the braid, his hands stilled. "Duo... at the meeting. I will need to reveal Treize's involvement with us. Which I'm sure Heero has discovered by now. It could get... tricky." There was a tensing of the Gundam pilot's body when he heard that name. "Treize," Duo said, taking a breath. He turned his body slightly in the chair to look at Zechs. "You're right to worry," he said matter-of-factly. "But you have my support, you know that." "Thanks, love, I'll need it." Deftly Zechs tied off the braid, then returned it to Duo's back. "I can't delay it any longer. Thanks." He tipped Duo's chin up and bent to kiss him, a last, lingering indulgence before the possible confrontation to come. This time, fortunately, dinner was attended to first, much to the relief of the three ex-OZ officers and the four Gundam pilots present for the meeting to follow. Everyone was ravenous, and did substantial justice to the cook's expert rendition of steak Tartare. Conversation was limited to safe chatter about people's backgrounds, with Federi, Noin, and Quatre doing the lion's share of the talking. Heero Yuy was silent and resisted all efforts to be drawn into conversation... well, only Federi and Noin tried briefly, then everyone left him alone. Duo cast a brief scowl in the direction of the anti-social pilot, then shrugged and ignored him. Zechs studied him for a moment, but didn't attempt to speak to him. //He knows now,// Zechs thought, ice in his veins. //What is he going to do? I have to remain calm... the alliance will live or die this evening depending on Heero Yuy...// Trowa, at least, seemed more relaxed finally. He even smiled briefly at Quatre's enthusiastic chatter. //So,// Zechs mused further, //Heero hasn't even told Trowa what he's discovered. Interesting.// Finally they were enjoying a dessert of angel-food cake with raspberry sauce. Coffee cups were refilled before the door to the private dining room from the kitchen was closed, affording them security for their meeting. Quatre took that as his cue to start the meeting. He cleared his throat and stood, holding up his coffee cup in the air. "I propose a toast to our success on the battlefield today. An honorable victory over our enemy." "I'll toast to that!" Duo said enthusiastically, and stood to mirror his friend's action. "A toast with coffee?" Federi asked, amused, but stood up with his cup with the others. Trowa glanced over at Heero, who wasn't making any move to stand, but stood up beside Quatre. //Now what?// Zechs stood, all too aware of the "perfect soldier's" frozen posture. //Here we go...// "Hey, Heero, what's the matter?" Duo asked, looking down at the other pilot. //He's in one of his moods.// "Wasn't this a big enough victory for you?" The derisive comment from Duo was ignored. Heero appeared drawn into himself as if gathering energy for an explosion. He was slouched down in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, his entire posture screaming rejection. Suddenly Heero stood and leaned on the table, his movements so brittle that he immediately caught everyone's attention. But he looked to Zechs, fixing the ex-OZ Colonel with a piercing dark blue-gray gaze. "So, Zechs, just when were you going to tell everyone that your secret contact within the Romefeller Foundation is Treize Khushrenada?" There was a collective gasp in the room from several of those present, including Quatre, who then lost his grip on his coffee cup, sending it crashing to the floor. "Treize?!" he asked in shock, turning large aquamarine eyes to Zechs, and suddenly feeling very betrayed. "That's your contact?" Noin looked aghast at her friend. "Oh, Zechs, how could you?" she asked quietly, over Quatre's own disbelief. The risk just seemed too great. Why would Zechs involve Treize? Duo quickly scanned the reactions on everyone's faces. They ranged from Quatre and Noin's complete shock to Federi's uncertainty and finally to Trowa's barely contained anger. "Shit, Heero," Duo said, practically spitting at the pilot of Wing Gundam, as he set his cup down on the table. "Just give him a chance to explain." "How do you know all this?" Captain Federi asked of Heero, surprised yet wary. Heero's face was cold, closed, his voice utterly devoid of any emotion. "I have hard evidence. Khushrenada's code name is the Rose Knight. Zechs's is the White King. They have been collaborating since before the move to Antarctica." "Duo, you knew about this?" Trowa demanded suddenly of Duo, unconsciously moving closer to Quatre in a protective gesture. He slapped at his sides, but he was unarmed like everyone else in the room. This was very bad... "Damn you, Duo, just because Zechs is fucking you doesn't mean you can betray us like this!" "Trowa..." Heero said warningly. "Oh, shit," Federi muttered under his breath. Zechs, involved with a Gundam pilot! "You son of a bitch!" Duo shouted, leaning across the table and taking a swipe at Trowa, though he was at least a foot shy of his mark. Noin grabbed Duo by the waist and pulled him back. "Easy! This isn't going to solve anything!" she said, trying to calm the tempers that were flaring all around her while Zechs remained mysteriously quiet. //Come on, Zechs... you have to say something to save this alliance!// "Just fuck off, Trowa!" Duo yelled, his hands curling into fists at his sides as Noin dropped her hold on him. He was completely stunned, angered that Trowa, a fellow pilot, would taint his relationship with Zechs by accusing him of betrayal. He wanted to say more, since Zechs wasn't saying anything at all, but Noin seemed to sense this and placed her hand on his forearm, squeezing it lightly. He respected her judgment and sneered rather than shout again at the pilot of Heavyarms. "Quatre, we'd better get out of here," Trowa muttered, taking his lover's arm. When the blond boy didn't move, still staring in shock at Zechs who wasn't meeting anyone's eyes just yet, Trowa added in frustration, "Quatre, let's go!" "Not so fast," Heero retorted. "You're making assumptions that can get people killed. Everyone needs to hear what I have found before making any decisions." He glanced back at Zechs, who was looking at no one, silent and withdrawn. "Zechs, I think you'd better say something..." Zechs unfroze, exchanged a quick glance with a worried Duo, then leaned on the table to address them all. "Heero is correct. Treize has been collaborating with me; in fact, it was he who encouraged me to ally with the Gundam pilots." "Zechs, you were our prisoner, but I released you because I believed you," Quatre said quietly. He remembered the ex-OZ colonel's imprisonment... a broken and shackled man, but willing to give them all the information they needed. But now Quatre was bewildered by Heero's accusation. //Something tells me I should still trust Zechs. That he was going to tell me who his contact was, but just ran out of time.// "I have to believe that you would not betray us," he said, looking from Zechs to Duo. "But you do owe us an explanation." The former OZ colonel bowed his head for a moment, an icy-cold knot in his belly. In the blink of an eye, GAIA had lost Trowa's involvement and Quatre seemed on the brink of shying away, fearing a betrayal. Heero would never join them now, and Zechs's credibility had been damaged in the eyes of his ex-OZ colleagues, Federi and Noin. How could they trust his judgment now? He took a deep breath, then gave an ironic snort. "Again my timing is off," he said finally, not looking at anyone. "I seem to be developing a facility for that, to my dismay. Quatre, I was planning to tell all of you about Treize at this meeting, a little fact that bears a painful resemblance to my plan to tell Duo four days ago that his new lover was leaving behind his exemplary career in OZ... only to be pre-empted by your alerting Duo to the fact of my involvement in OZ before I had a chance to do just that." //So that's what happened,// Heero thought, glancing from one blond to the other. //I've made up my mind, but what about the others?// He took out the disk onto which he'd recorded what he'd planned to share with them, setting it aside his coffee cup. He was going to need it. //Oh, Zechs, you can never do anything small, can you?// Noin wondered, looking sadly at the faces around the room. Quatre opened his mouth to speak, but unexpectedly Heero spoke up sooner. "Why did you leave your security system open so that I could find the recordings, Zechs?" More than one turned their head his way, surprise again washing through the room. Recordings? Trowa scowled darkly, still feeling the urge to run with Quatre, escape from the OZ betrayal. "Isn't it obvious?" Zechs replied, straightening and fixing his gaze on the Wing Gundam pilot. "You were in my office earlier when the call from Romefeller came to report the very good news that I was planning to share with this company tonight. //What good news?// went the collective thought, but the dark-haired pilot was speaking again. "I didn't ask who the Rose Knight was." "You didn't. I didn't offer to tell you." Zechs's ice-blue eyes glinted and again he felt the heightened sense of excitement in facing off against this particular pilot. "I knew you would never accept it from me. I had to let you find those recordings. That's why I made them!" He tore his eyes away and looked around the room, still challenging. "My conscience is clean in this matter. Treize Khushrenada's days in Romefeller are numbered just as mine were and for the same reasons. Yet, as he is the leader of OZ, he is far too visible and important to slip away as I have. Therefore he has chosen to support our new alliance secretly." Quatre shuddered. He was determined to trust Zechs and could feel in his heart that the man was only doing what he thought best for the new alliance, but he still shuddered. "That's quite a risk, Zechs," Quatre said, looking at the other man, and seeing determination and a hint of fear on the handsome features. "Treize *is* our enemy," he added, putting a hand on Trowa's arm, needing the support of his lover. "He *was* our enemy," Duo said, correcting his friend. Quatre gave him a meaningful look and then turned his eyes away. //He's afraid... like I was.// But in fact, Duo was still a bit afraid of Treize's involvement, and the only thing easing that discomfort was his own love for Zechs. A love that made him trust like he'd never trusted anyone before, but also a love that led him to see the honor and purity of the man's heart. //He wouldn't do this if he didn't think the risk was worth taking...// Trowa, still frozen in his protective stance beside his lover, glowered at Duo darkly. //He's let his lust for the man blind him...// But Heero's posture and words had left him troubled. //So, is he mad about this, or isn't he? Damn, I can't read him...// "Come on, Quatre," Duo pleaded. "You were the one who believed Zechs when no one else would... not even me." Duo glanced at Zechs, feeling remorseful at having to dredge up that unpleasantness again, but Zechs seemed fine... at least on the surface. //He's being a hell of a lot more patient than I'd be in his position.// "Hey, I know this isn't an easy pill to swallow, I had my doubts about Treize, too, but if Zechs thinks we can trust him, then I'm willing to take the risk." "All right," Quatre said, sounding a bit exasperated. He trusted Duo, genuinely liked him, and didn't feel as Trowa did that the only reason Duo was siding with Zechs was because they were lovers. He knew better. Duo was not easily fooled or persuaded. Turning to Heero, the little Arabian said, "I'd like to hear what you've found. Everyone... please, sit down." As the group slowly and warily sat back down, Heero looked to Zechs, holding up his disk, remaining standing. "I have just the audio portions from the recordings. Since you use this room for meetings, I assume you have audiovisual equipment here?" "Yes," Federi replied. Upon Zechs's nod, he went to open a panel on one end of the room. "Here, you can use this system." "Thanks," Heero muttered, and activated the computer system, setting it up for audio playback off his disk. Then he addressed the group. "This is the first of the recordings, evidently a secured phone conversation, not a televideo call. I have verified that this recording and the others have not been tampered with. The time stamp on this first one corresponds to last Thursday around eight A. M. That time mean anything to you, Duo?" Zechs paled, the realization making his heart pound suddenly. He looked over at his lover, eyes wide, wishing for all the world to avoid remembering that painful day. //I would have spared you this, all of it... damn, damn... but I'm still glad now I chose to contact Treize just then, though it looks very bad from this perspective, time-wise...// Duo swallowed, feeling his heart rate increase. "Yes, it does," he said slowly, turning to look at Zechs and then back down at his hands in his lap. //Zechs made a phone call to Treize that morning... I'd forgotten he'd told me that.// "That's when I left the hotel to go to the fruit market..." "Duo, don't," Quatre interrupted, not wanting his friend to have to relive that terrible day. "What's your point, Heero?" "The point is that Zechs contacted Treize the morning that I surmise he was going to tell Duo who he was." "You knew!" Trowa snapped. Quatre had told him the whole story, how Zechs and Duo supposedly did not know who the other really was when they fell in love. "I did not!" Zechs countered, eyes flashing. He glanced down at Duo again, a stricken look briefly shuddering through his expression before he tore his eyes away and looked over at Heero again. "Play the recording!" "Gladly," Heero murmured, still coldly impassive. He activated the first recording... T: "Khushrenada." (Voice: irritated) Z: "Hello, Treize, it's me." (Sound: sigh) T: "Zechs!" (pause) T: "Where are you?" Z: "It doesn't matter. Treize, it's good to hear your voice. We need to talk, you and I. A few days ago... I saw Lady Une's display in the colonies on the news." T: "That!" (Voice: indignant) "You don't know the half of it. And I'm not talking about her, I'm talking about what's in the documents we've been asked to press the colonies to sign. Milliardo, things are not going well." Z: "I gathered that." (Voice: droll) "So what's in the documents?" (Pause) T: "The colonies' main industry will become weapons manufacturing, most notably mobile dolls." Z: "Shit. How does she expect to get them to sign the documents?" (Voice: disgusted) T: "It's seen as a deterrent to attack. The colonists want no more war. Of course, the fact that attacks are generally induced by OZ, trying to clean up the Alliance hold-on's, well, that's just a coincidence." (Voice: solemn) "It's shabby and demeaning." (Voice: derisive) Z: "I quite agree." T: "My lady..." (Pause) "She's becoming affected by this in an unexpected way. I'm afraid that my beautiful martinet is becoming a bit... unhinged. I think she's begun to believe the lies, Milliardo." (Voice: uncertain) Z: "What do you mean?" (Voice: hushed) T: "Oh, all the noise about a peaceful era beginning in outer space... Milliardo, a part of her sings for peace and harmony just as I do... and another part of her is still so skeptical and regimented." (Voice: uncertain) "There's two of her... and I don't yet know which one will win." Z: "I'm sorry, Treize." T: "Tell me, Milliardo, it's your time, isn't it?" (Voice: hushed) Z: "Yes, Treize, it's time for me to go." T: "I'm glad." (Voice: relieved) "I envy you, my friend." Z: "You do?" (Voice: surprised) T: "Of course. You're free of Romefeller. I, on the other hand, must remain either as their pawn or their dirty little secret - I rather think the latter will be the case. They'll never let me go, Milliardo. I have influence that Romefeller will find dangerous... in time." Z: "Treize, you should use that influence now while you can." (Voice: alarmed) T: "No, I can do more if I stay." (Voice: tired) "Zechs, it has to be this way. You must break away and oppose Romefeller." Z: "Treize..." T: "Don't yell at me for saying this to you, Milliardo." (Voice: firm) "But if I were you, I'd push hard to ally with the Gundam pilots." Z: "Treize!" (Voice: shocked) "But you said to kill them if I came across them. Not that I truly wanted to..." T: (Voice: chuckling) "Now, now, don't sound so surprised. This is a secure line and I don't need to quote the party line to you now. Indeed, I know you admire them. Wouldn't that be perfect? Besides, you're going to need other pilots with those skills to go up against Romefeller's mobile dolls." Z: "But those are just automatons, aren't they? Mobile dolls?" (Voice: uneasy) T: "Coordinated, synchronized automatons. Think about it." Z: "But if I oppose Romefeller, I oppose you." T: "Not in the least. Milliardo, I'm going to give you a code. Down the line you will use this to contact me. Then we will go to work to unravel Romefeller, you and me and whomever you win over to your side, you in direct, irritating opposition, me in subtle, hidden ways. This is how it must be." (Voice: confident) Z: (Voice: uncertain) "All your dreams..." T: "They'll still come true, Milliardo. It will take longer than we thought. And those bright young spirits will be critical players. You must try to contact them. We need them..." Z: "Yes, I will." Heero stopped the recording, crossed his arms, and glanced expectantly at the group.
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