"Remade and Remodeled
"
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: Alternate reality, hurt/comfort, angst
Pairings: 6x2
Summary: The challenge of an outlandish bet brings
unforeseen consequences
"Remade and Remodeled "
At Tommy's all heads turned as the sleek, black car pulled into the
lot. The place was known for "good food, cheap," which translated
to a working man's hangout where pickup trucks and used cars were
the norm. Unlike Woodman's there was no loading zone, so Zechs had
to mix with the commoners and park between a Japanese-made compact
and a motorcycle. He put up the top to lock in Eve.
"You okay with this?" Duo asked as they headed inside.
"Of course," Zechs said, but there was obvious tension in
the set of his shoulders.
Duo shrugged and led the way, part of him excited to be bringing Zechs
here--showing him off--and part of him embarrassed. Zechs couldn't
look any more out of place than a shiny new penny in a pot of tarnished
nickels.
At Duo's request, the hostess sat them in a booth by the window so
Zechs could keep an eye on his car. Tommy's was little more than a
glorified diner that hadn't been remodeled in thirty years. Its celery
green and white vinyl seats were cracked and tearing, and in places
mended with silver duct tape. The tabletops were red speckled laminate
with metal trim and each had the regulation napkin dispenser, salt
and pepper shaker, ketchup, sugar packets, and white opaque vase with
plastic carnations.
Zechs fussed with the line of his tailored jacket.
"I'm sure you've seen fancier, but the place has got character,
doesn't it?" Duo knew it was a little evil bringing such a worldly
guy here.
When Zechs looked up his eyes shone with a glint of humor. "I
can't argue that."
Duo smiled, lost for a second in the blueness of those eyes. Damn,
were all rich guys this good looking? But Duo could see it was more
than just the expensive car, fancy clothes, and well-groomed hair
that made Zechs handsome. The man had a confident air that made people
step aside, clear a path for him when he came into a room. Even the
regular folk here at Tommy's seemed downright mesmerized by him. They
hadn't stopped staring since they walked in the door.
"Sorry about..." Duo said, nodding toward the other customers.
Zechs grinned, almost seductively. "I don't mind, if you don't."
Duo was about to joke that he got this kind of attention all the time,
but was interrupted by a sharp pinch to his arm.
"Ow!" He grabbed his arm.
"Hey, Duo. Where ya' been hiding?"
"Hi, Hilde," Duo said, rolling his eyes at the waitress.
"I haven't been hiding. Got a new job is all."
"Oh, yeah?" She snapped her gum. "They got you working
24/7, huh?"
Duo sighed. "Well, I'm here now. You gonna take our order or
not?"
The dark-haired girl eyed Duo a moment and then looked to his companion,
her face lighting. "Hi there, handsome."
"Hello," Zechs said, nodding.
"I don't remember seeing you 'round here before. You a friend
of Duo's?"
Zechs looked at Duo and raised an eyebrow.
"This is Zechs. And yeah, he's a friend." The look on Zechs’s
face made Duo uncomfortable. Was he right in introducing him as a
friend? "Now how about getting us a couple of burgers with the
works?"
Hilde scrunched her nose at him and got out her order pad. "How
do you want 'em?"
"Medium well. And we'll need two Cokes and a basket of those
fried mushrooms," Duo said, glancing back to Zechs for approval.
The man smiled subtly as though they shared some great secret. Duo
didn't notice when Hilde went away. "Hope you don't mind me doing
the ordering."
"Not at all. Is she your girlfriend?"
"Just a friend. We went out a couple of times, but didn’t
jive that way.”
"But she still wants you." Zechs’s smile broadened.
"Well, I am a damn good kisser." Duo laughed and then felt
embarrassed by his admission.
"That must be why she still wants you."
"If she does... she should know better."
"Why is that?"
Before Duo could decide whether it was a good idea to share such personal
information, Hilde was back with their drinks. She winked at Zechs
and then ran off again.
Duo sighed and took a sip of his Coke. “You probably get that
a lot, huh?”
“What makes you think that?”
“I don’t know… the way you look.”
Zechs smiled, but didn’t respond at first. He looked out the
window toward his car and then back at Duo. "Have you ever dreamed
of being famous?"
“Like rock star famous? Sure, doesn’t everyone?”
“I suppose. But do you ever imagine that your art might one day
be well known?”
"Nah," Duo said, taking another sip. "The only famous
artists I know are dead."
Zechs grinned. "You have a point, but there are artists who do
quite well for themselves and who are very much alive."
"Oh, yeah? Like who?"
"Charlie Brennan, the tapestry artist. He lives in a penthouse
in L.A."
"Never heard of him."
"Miko Sosha, the modern dance choreographer. And there’s
Randolph Manning, the muralist. Or perhaps you’ve heard of the
lovely Ella Frye, the photographer and painter. They’re all artists
living the good life."
Duo shook his head. "Yeah, a few get lucky, but I could name
ten times as many who haven’t made it.”
“Sometimes it’s a matter of being in the right place at
the right time.”
Duo's mouth opened to respond, but then Hilde was there, holding their
basket of mushrooms.
"I brought ranch dressing. Is that all right?"
Duo frowned. These interruptions were starting to bother him. "Yeah,
fine. Thanks." She set the basket down, but didn't leave. Duo
stared up at her. "Forget something?"
"Could I talk to you a minute?"
"Now?" Duo reached for a hot mushroom, dipping it in the
sauce.
"Yes, now or I wouldn't have asked." Her eyes darted toward
Duo's companion.
Hilde could be very persistent, and Duo didn’t want a scene so
he agreed with a nod. As he got up from the table he apologized to
Zechs. "Sorry. I'll be right back."
"Take your time," Zechs said, piercing a mushroom with his
fork.
Hilde led Duo half way across the diner to the wait station where
other waitresses were filling drink orders.
"Okay, let me have it." Duo began, holding up his arms in
surrender. "I haven't called you in two weeks so shoot me."
She shook her head and sighed. "Stop being so dramatic! I just
want to know if that's Zechs Merquise?"
"How'd you know?"
Hilde's eyes widened. "Oh my god, it is! When you said his name
was Zechs, I thought I'd heard wrong, but it's such an unusual name
it had to be right."
"So what if he's Zechs Merquise? Now step off so I can eat my
dinner...."
Hilde lunged forward, taking hold of the lapel on Duo's jacket, her
eyes wild. "How'd you meet him?"
"It was an accident..." Duo leaned back against the counter,
surprised by his friend's boisterous attack. "What's the big
idea? You and I broke up months ago."
Hilde released him and laughed. "You really have no clue, do
you?"
"From the way you're acting, I guess not."
"That man, and his mentor, Treize Khushrenada, are personally
responsible for the careers of hundreds of people... from politicians
to movie stars. They're two of the richest men in this country."
"How do you know that?"
"Trade magazines... though there hasn't been much published about
Zechs. He likes to keep a low profile."
Duo gaped at his friend. "You're not joking, are you?"
She rolled her eyes. "You know I'm in the business."
"You're a TV commercial extra!"
"Okay, okay! Keep your voice down!" She pushed him into
a tiny alcove by the restrooms. "Listen to me, Duo. He's a very
busy man, so why is he spending time with you? In this place?"
"I don't know... because he finds me charming?"
Hilde put her hands on her hips and smirked. "Very funny. What
has he been talking to you about?"
"Art."
"What about it?"
Duo rolled his eyes. "Just stuff like famous living artists.
He was telling me about Charlie Brennan and Ella Frye."
"Ella Frye... the photographer?"
"Will you stop playing detective already? I don't know why he's
hanging around. Maybe he's tired of all the stuffed shirts at the
top. Who cares?"
"You used to," she snorted.
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
She shrugged.
"Fine. You want me to put in a good word for you?"
"No."
"Really? 'Cause it sounds like you do. Maybe he can get you a
better gig? Say goodbye to TV commercials."
She shook her head. "OZ is who you hire after you've made it
big."
He looked back toward the booth where Zechs was waiting. OZ, huh?
He didn't completely understand who or what they were, but if Hilde
was impressed then maybe he should be, too. But it begged the question
why was Zechs, one of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry,
sitting here in this hole in the wall diner?
"Be careful, Duo." Hilde put her hand on his forearm.
"Why are you saying that? I thought these OZ guys were the movers
and shakers."
"Movers and shakers of the already rich and famous."
Duo's brow furrowed. "Okay, so he likes slumming it once in awhile."
Hilde gave him a worried look.
"Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go back and enjoy my dinner...
and hopefully some pleasant conversation."
He straightened the collar of his jacket, smoothed down his braid,
and headed back to the table.
+ + +
Zechs's eyes drifted to his car. This was the umpteenth time he had
checked on his baby. Why had he let Duo bring him here... park her
here? Any moment some Neanderthal was going to bump into her, ding
her pristine body and then things would get ugly. Zechs could not
tolerate his possessions being touched. And that was Treize's fault.
The man had heightened Zechs's natural instinct toward perfection.
He had also tried to rule Zechs's life. There had been a time when
Zechs had needed that level of scrutiny and direction, but those days
were long gone. Zechs had made a name for himself within the company
and within the industry. These days he was requested by clients as
much as Treize, causing a subtle shift in power at OZ. Oh, Treize
was most certainly still the king, the general to whom all courted
and bowed, but Zechs's rise was not missed by anyone.
Zechs did not doubt that Treize was proud of him. He was the man's
scion. But to keep the peace, Zechs made certain to retain a smaller
staff and to occupy a smaller suite in the OZ complex.
When his gaze slid back to the diner, to the greasy, fried mushrooms
on the table, he was again reminded of the ridiculous bet. There was
no other reason to be put through such torture, to be thrown in with
the masses and make small talk with a petty thief—unless perhaps
that thief was holding his attention in other ways.
Just then, Duo returned to the table, his eyes bright with apology.
"Hey, sorry 'bout that. Hilde's quite a talker." He sat
down and tucked into the mushrooms.
"I'm in no hurry."
"Great." Duo chewed once, twice more and swallowed. "Maybe
you can tell me about OZ. Unless you'd rather not talk shop."
Zechs raised one white eyebrow. "OZ?"
"Sure, isn't that who you work for?"
He chuckled, amused, but also disguising his surprise. "It's
more like OZ works for me. But tell me... how do you know about that?"
"Hilde." Duo nodded toward his friend who was bringing their
hamburgers over now. "She reads movie trade magazines."
Zechs never would have guessed that their spunky waitress and Duo's
friend would have her finger on the pulse of the biz. That was twice
this week he had underestimated women at the bottom of the ladder,
but then he did have issues with women. Noin had been pointing that
out for years.
Hilde slid their hot plates in front of them, smiling. "Right
off the grill."
"Thanks!" Duo immediately reached for the ketchup and began
assembling his burger, piling on all the fixings.
"Enjoy!" Hilde turned with a whoosh of her skirt, rushing
to pick up her next order.
It wasn't that Zechs minded Duo knowing about OZ. It was a very large
and very powerful company, and many people were aware of its existence.
But this was a bit like being upstaged. This was his game. No one
made a move before him.
"OZ..." Zechs began slowly, watching Duo bite into his burger.
“Is a very complicated and well-oiled machine. And like the wizard
behind the curtain you must pay no attention to it."
Duo blinked. "That's an odd thing to say."
"Is it?"
"Yeah, makes it sound... covert."
Zechs grinned.
"Aren't you gonna eat?"
“I was rather enjoying watching you eat.”
From the looks of Duo he couldn't weigh more than 100 pounds, and
that translated to not a lot of meals like this. That open can of
raviolis must have been his dinner, and probably on special at Woodman's
Grocery. Zechs had never known poverty like this. He had never worried
about money. He was born into wealth and went to all the best schools.
Even after his parents were killed in a car accident, he never wanted
for anything, except perhaps love and friendship. That was what Duo
had in spades. He could see it in the waitress' eyes. She was Duo's
closest friend, and despite his slight embarrassment over her interruptions,
it was obvious that Duo valued her friendship.
Zechs reached for Duo's hand, and like the predator that he was, grabbed
it securely by the palm and wrist. The boy gasped.
"You haven't been listening to me," Zechs said in near a
growl.
Duo's eyes spoke of shock and something more. "Huh?"
"I said it's a matter of being in the right place at the right
time.”
There was hesitation, a gulp, and then, "Am I in the right place
at the right time?"
"You most certainly are."
A pink blush crept up Duo's neck to his cheeks, and Zechs smiled.
Now he understood completely why things hadn't worked out between
Duo and Hilde. They were playing for different teams.
"What are you saying... exactly?" Duo asked.
"Your sculptures are world class. I know people who would pay
thousands for them."
Duo laughed, his eyes flicking between their hands and Zechs's watchful
eyes. "No way."
"Oh, yes. I could show Eve to some key people in the art world
and guarantee they would sit up and take notice."
"Is that why you wanted her? To make money?" Duo pulled
his hand away.
"No.” Zechs frowned. “I wanted her because you made
her... gifted her to me. I felt a connection to your work at once."
"What work? It's junk."
"Not junk, Duo. Art."
"That's bullshit."
Zechs's eyes narrowed. This resistance would never do. "You're
an artist, and the world is starving for what only you can give her."
"The world doesn't even know I exist."
"That can change very quickly."
Duo turned his head and seemed to be searching the diner for his friend,
and then looked back at Zechs. "Why me? I don’t want the
attention. None of it was made for show."
"Which makes it all the more brilliant.”
Duo shook his head. "But you don’t understand. I can’t…”
The boy looked sincerely afraid, but Zechs summed it up as nothing
more than opening night jitters. He reached for Duo’s hand again,
this time cupping both his hands around it. “I’ll handle
everything, Duo.” Zechs looked deeply into Duo’s wondrous
blue eyes. “All you need do is create.”
Duo took a shaky breath. “I don’t know…”
“I’ll be with you every step of the way.” The words
sent a tingle through Zechs’s body and he squeezed Duo’s
hand. He knew he was pushing Duo into something the boy could barely
fathom, but so be it.
“I can’t think with you holding my hand.” Duo’s
eyes darted to the other customers, no doubt hoping no one had noticed.
“Of course.” Zechs pulled his hands away.
“Do you hold all your clients’ hands?” Duo asked and
chuckled, still a little embarrassed.
Zechs smiled. “Never.”
“Oh.” Duo’s eyes widened, and the way his mouth curved
to form the word, Zechs nearly forgot the purpose of their conversation.
“Say you trust me, Duo, and the rest will come in time.”
“I want to trust you.”
“That’s a start. Now I’ll do the rest.”
Zechs would make something of Duo Maxwell, and he had exactly eighteen
days left to do it.
~ * ~
Chapter 7
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