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"The Locker Shock Incident "Written By: Asymphototropic
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam wing. Author: Asymphototropic (attracted toward the
light, but never quite arrives there) Email: asymphototropic@aol.com Rating: R Warnings: language, yaoi, violence Summary: Post EW Preventers. Maxwell undertakes a death defying shuttle flight to destroy a killer's alibi on behalf of Yuy's case. Merquise feels an unaccountable urge to protect Duo. When the assassin comes stalking, will the combined skills of Zechs and Heero be enough to save 02 from the deadly blade? Pairings: 1x2, 6+1+2
"The Locker Shock Incident " Part Two. Peacecraft stood outside the cubicle. The first thing his gaze fell upon was Duo Maxwell on the floor. The Commander's initial alarmed reflex was 'man down'. But a moment's inspection indicated that the boy was neither injured nor ill. Zechs' next feeling was astonishment that Maxwell would choose to sit on the floor of his work cubicle. The view served to remind him that Duo had grown up homeless, that the orphan might consider chairs to be optional, even luxury items. Peacecraft's next observation was of the intimacy shown between the two young men. Special Ops Agent Yuy was one of the Commander's own team. Zechs knew Heero rather well, and had found him brilliantly, but coldly, efficient. Never before had Peacecraft seen such easy openness in his agent's comportment. As Yuy toyed carelessly with Maxwell's hair, Zechs found the view of the two attractive and talented friends rather appealing. The subject of their discussion forced itself upon Peacecraft's perception. The Maelaport case. The murder on L2 of a high ranking but shady L1 official, by Earth's most successful hired assassin, was having far reaching repercussions. The sordid affair continued to attract considerable lurid media attention. Prominent members of the United Earth Sphere Assembly were expressing vociferous outrage. And Une had given the entire mess highest priority as it descended rather quickly upon Commander Peacecraft's desk. Yuy's input had been essential in the recent arrest of the illusive criminal. As a matter of fact, Yuy had been the one to place the handcuffs on Maelaport. "Insanely dangerous maneuver," Zechs heard Yuy say. Peacecraft himself was a superlatively good pilot. In his expert opinion, Heero's estimation might have been an understatement. Yet Dickerson was ready to go ahead with the plan. 'Over my dead body,' Zechs thought. No way in hell would he permit Maxwell to attempt such a flight. Of course, he amended, Maxwell was Une's man. The decision would rest with her. Surely she would reject the proposal outright. But then, if Duo were to survive a successful terminal to terminal plummet, the probability of convicting Maelaport seemed so much higher. Dickerson was already sold on the notion. Obviously the L2 Commander had no particular investment in Duo's welfare. Which brought Zechs back around to a perception of his protective feelings toward Maxwell. Feelings that currently came under the category of psych evaluation, he grimaced. He abruptly ended that train of thought and entered the crowded cubicle. "Commander." As Duo rose from sitting to kneeling, crouching to standing, he got an inch by inch look at Peacecraft's athletic form. The young agent found the statuesque body well worth viewing, and he ended facing Zechs with a wide grin. "Maxwell, Yuy. This case bears further discussion. Would you care to join me for lunch?" Peacecraft issued the invitation that represented his initial purpose in being there. Yuy's unreadable feature's showed a flicker of surprise. But he nodded agreement. "I'm available," Duo added enthusiastically. "Where are we going?" "My club, my treat," Peacecraft replied, smiling genially. "Cool," Duo's heliotrope eyes glittered with unsuppressed pleasure. It was exactly the response that Zechs craved. Sally Po had recommended treating Duo to the finer things. Fine, expensive, elegant, rich. These were adjectives readily applicable to Peacecraft's regal life. And exact polar opposites to most of Maxwell's existence. As the three young men left Preventers Headquarters, Zechs wondered just how much spoiling a youngster who was used to sitting on the floor could tolerate. He hoped the answer was 'considerable.' Zechs had debated driving them in his vintage 2052 Lotus Europa. But then decided to have the club's limousine pick them up, so that the three could lounge comfortably and chat during the ride. Arrival at his club was always something of an event anyway, considering he wasn't just a member. His ancestor had been one of the club founders. The staff of the place treasured His Royal Highness' patronage and showered him with every loyal attention. Maxwell and Yuy were about to experience that level of care. Of course the arrival of Prince Peacecraft in the company of two universally famous gundam pilots was bound to generate a stir anyway. As the three handsome men, impeccably attired in Preventers uniforms, were seated at a centrally prominent table, the polite murmur of surrounding lunch conversation became somewhat more obvious. Zechs had learned to tune out public attention when it was non-threatening, but he became uncomfortably aware of it on behalf of his two guests. Too late to ask for a change of tables, he told himself. Moving would cause further fuss, perpetuating the situation. He opted for calmly sitting and allowing things to settle spontaneously. The table, lavishly draped in white linen, glittering with polished flatware and fine porcelain, met with the Prince's approval. Following his brisk inspection, he expressed this to the headwaiter with a brief nod. Attendants unobtrusively moved about, offering hand scribed cards of the day's menu. Zechs was impressed with how comfortably Yuy and Maxwell blended with the surroundings. Duo's conversational flow was easy and amusing, delineated by Heero's crisp counterpoint. They seemed to complement each other, two complexly intertwined parts of an intriguing whole. Still, Zechs did not feel excluded. He chided himself. He was meant to be entertaining his guests, and yet the reverse seemed to be occurring. He roused his intellect to a further effort. The three way fire of wit took on a sparkle that outdid the table settings for gleaming highlights. 'Damn we're clever. Someone should jot down a transcript,' he chuckled to himself. On second thought, the hint of interest on the servers' faces suggested that the kitchen staff would be treated to a recounting of what had been said by whom. The Preventers knew quite well not to talk business in public. The waiters' gossip would be harmless, and Peacecraft had no objection. So it took him by surprise when conversation halted abruptly. A server was pouring water into the crystal glasses when the hiatus occurred. Zechs perceived first that there was purpose in Yuy's pause. Then he took note of Maxwell. The boy's features had taken on a seraphic look as his hand contacted the glistening beads of water vapor on the cool crystal. Duo's eyes closed briefly, satin lashes settled upon cameo skin. His lips hinted motion. Zechs recognized reverence, at the same time Yuy offered the soundless phrase to him, 'prayer in thanks for water.' Peacecraft nodded somberly. And then the brief moment was gone. If Yuy hadn't punctuated the event, Zechs might have missed it. He quirked a quizzical eyebrow, but merely received a minute shrug from Heero. Then came disappointment. Yuy ordered grilled salmon, Zechs chose filet mignon, and Maxwell requested asparagus, artichoke, and potatoes. Peacecraft's good cheer dropped a notch, in spite of himself. Perceptively, Duo explained. "Maxwell's Rulebook of Wildcard Survival. When on Earth, eat vegetables while you can get them." The boy's smile shown megawatts. "Tomato soup, nice fresh salad. Yum. I'm indulging myself today." "Then you absolutely must have dessert," Zechs smiled at him. "The pastry chef here is world famous. And we can't have you wasting away on such low calorie fare." Duo laughed, a sunny sound that seemed to come from deep within his soul. "I'll make an effort to choke something down, then, sir." The boy sipped his water appreciatively, as another might savor champagne. The meal passed pleasantly enough. Eventually Duo plunged his fork into a chocolate filled creme puff, generating a little cloud of powdered sugar, while the aforementioned world famous pastry chef eagerly watched the boy's reaction at a discrete distance. Duo hummed appreciatively on the first bite, and winked at the man while offering a thumbs up, drawing a hearty laugh from the chef as he returned to his ovens. The headwaiter approached Peacecraft with a somewhat nervous appearance. "With your indulgence, sir? The Baron's granddaughter is studying for her atmospheric pilot's license. The Baron wonders whether he might prevail upon your good will, to consider autographing her menu? And the other gentlemen?" As Zechs accepted the proffered pen and menu, Maxwell spoke up. "Do you know, I have a shelf full of books on courtesy and manners, I've consulted them all, and not one gives a clue on the subject of autographs?" "You're joking," Peacecraft chuckled as he inscribed his signature with an ornate flourish. "He really isn't," Yuy informed his commander, while signing rather more sedately. "He has the books and has studied them." "Fascinating subject. Such diverse opinions on how a young man ought to comport himself most properly." Duo grinned while scrawling his typically reckless autograph. Suddenly he bounced up from their table and strode to where a silver haired, upright elder sat with a petite teenaged girl. Maxwell handed the young lady the autographed card. There he stood, addressing the Baron and his granddaughter. Zechs studied the Baron's features from across the room, assessing how the old fellow was taking the lively presence of one Duo Maxwell at his granddaughter's side. After a while, Duo shook hands with each, the Baron standing for the sake of the gesture. "Like I said," Duo again wielded his fork, in resumed consumption of the neglected cream puff. "The reference books are no help at all on the subject. But I figure it would be rude to want someone's autograph but not want to make their acquaintance too. So I sort of work on that assumption whenever I'm asked to sign, and offer up a handshake and howdja-do, hmmm? The Baron's quite the card, great sense of humor. Elsie says she's just about to solo, so I wished her luck on her big flight.
"Damned civil of young Maxwell to stop by our table. Elsabett's in seventh heaven." Zechs turned to regard the Baron who now stood at his elbow. They shook hands. "He's quite the bright spark, that lad. Knows when to laugh at a fool's joke when he hears one. I can tell you, the girl was quite moping about having to eat at the old man's stuffy old club. Then you three showed up. Ha! I suppose Maxwell's spoken-for, hmm? Got him a lovely already?" "I'm afraid I wouldn't know. The Pilots tend to be rather quiet," Zechs replied neutrally. The Baron was playing matchmaker? "Quite right, quite right. Well good to see the Earth Sphere's peace is in such capable hands," the Baron rumbled, waved farewell to Maxwell in the car, lit his cigar and sauntered off. During the ride back, Zechs couldn't keep from contemplating Maxwell. The boy seemed all strange contrasts, from sitting on the floor to charming the old Baron inside his club. Duo's having spotted the chef in the distance, recognized who the man was, the cheerful thumbs-up gesture that was greeted with happy laughter. Zechs considered it possible that Duo knew the staff better after a single visit than the Prince did after many years attendance at his club. Peacecraft stared at the two comrades, now eagerly back to discussing the ins and outs of the Maelaport case, back to Preventers business. Yuy looked like he would walk through a wall of fire on Duo's behalf. Zechs could sense the commitment there. Imagine, Maxwell having a shelf full of etiquette advice. The former poverty ridden street rat, teaching himself the silly twists of society. And so successfully, at that. But beyond everything, Zechs remembered that moment of rapturous transport, the boy praying, fervently grateful for the blessed water. The brief influence of Maxwell Church upon the youngster, before all those poor souls had been blasted to kingdom come. But for that crushing violence, might Duo have become a peaceful priest instead of the supremely lethal soldier? Peacecraft shook his head. He thought Dr Sally Po might just have sent him on an impossible mission.
"With respect, Commander, a suggestion." "By all means, Agent Yuy." "Sir. You might offer Duo a cup of coffee tomorrow morning." "How does he like it?" "Rather strong. Double cream, single sugar." "Very well. It shall be so," Zechs chuckled. "Any particular reason?" "Yes," Yuy responded cryptically. "Will there be a debriefing afterwards?" "If you like, sir. But I believe the results will be self-explanatory." "Excellent. All will be clear, eh?" Zechs
clapped Yuy on the back, and then laughingly turned to retreat to
his office. ~ * ~
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