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"A Little Less Normal"Written By: Clara Barton Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. The following is an intellectual exercise with no intention of profit. That said, these characterizations, words, and situations are mine. Please ask before reprinting.
Warnings: AU, Yaoi, Lemon, Language, Angst, Romance Pairings: 3x2, 1x5, past 3x4 Summary: Trowa Barton starts a new job and intends to start a new life, free of complications like falling in love with your boss. But life doesn't go as planned, and Trowa struggles to find balance between work, love, and handsome strangers. A/N: This fic will feature several different pairings - and probably not the ones that you expect after a first glance. This is told in third person POV, but it will switch to different characters with each chapter. While not a crossover, I definitely want to acknowledge that the TV series, "Dirty Sexy Money" and the movie Two Weeks Notice both influenced me to write this. I would appreciate any feedback, whether it be negative or positive, criticism or lavish praise. Lavish praise preferred.
"A Little Less Normal "
It was two weeks after the disastrous dinner with Quatre before the blonde emailed his information on Treize to Trowa. It was a Friday evening, and Duo, Trowa, and Heero were leaving the office to prepare for Relena's birthday party later that evening. Duo insisted that they stay to at least glance through the extensive files. "We can be fashionably late," he told the other two. Trowa smirked at that, and Heero shook his head, but the three men crowded around Heero's desk and looked at his computer. "Wow. Treize has been a very bad boy," Duo said after they had skimmed through most of the documents. It seemed that not only was Treize involved in attempts to blackmail members of the Saudi royal family, and was also implicated in a number of smuggling activities around the Red Sea. "We can use this," Heero said with confidence as he shut down his computer and rose from behind his desk. "It will be difficult to get any of this admitted to a US court," Trowa argued. "But – but if we can bring him up on any charges relating specifically to this company, we could probably introduce this as character evidence." "Hn." Heero looked thoughtful for a moment, but then he shook his head. "I just wish I knew why Mother gave him her shares in the first place." Heero checked his watch. "We need to go or we are going to be much later than fashionably." They split ways outside the office building, with Heero going back to his apartment and Trowa going home with Duo. Trowa was spending at least three nights a week at Duo's house, and when he had come over last night he had brought his tuxedo in preparation for Relena's birthday party tonight. Duo had gleefully informed Relena just a few days ago that he was bringing Trowa as his date, and that he was confident that Heero would be bringing Wufei. The look of disappointment on her face had brightened Duo's day considerably, and made the hours he spent on the phone in his office almost bearable. Unlike his brother, Duo had always enjoyed formal events, and as much as he didn't care for Relena, she always threw the best parties. This year, the year of her twenty-eighth birthday, was shaping up to be one of the best yet. Duo had no idea HOW she had managed it, but someone Relena had managed to get the Brooklyn Bridge closed for four hours that night so she could actually have her birthday party on the bridge. "Gotta give her points for style," he mused as he tied his bowtie. He had chosen a very traditional black tux, but he had paired it with a royal blue vest and bowtie. Trowa was scowling as he struggled with his own bowtie, and Duo took pity on him and tied it. "I hate wearing a tux," Trowa complained. "Too bad, you look incredible." Duo leaned in for a kiss when he finished the bow. "Then why don't we just stay here – I promise to wear it all night just for you." Duo chuckled. "Nah, I want to show you off." He winked at Trowa. Nathalie was downstairs watching TV, Bella curled up beside her on the couch, but she looked up as they came down. "Wow. You look like princes or something." Duo smirked. "And in a few years, when you start getting dragged to these things, you are going to look just like a princess." "Wait, does that mean I have to wear a poofy dress?" Her face twisted into a sneer of disgust. "Doesn't have to be poofy," Duo assured her. He leaned down and impulsively kissed her forehead. "Don't stay up too late – and listen to Sara. I'll see you in the morning." She looked a little dazed by his kiss, but then she smiled and turned back to continue watching tv. "Night," she called to them as they left. When they arrived at the Brooklyn Bridge, there were already several hundred people milling around, all in formal wear. It was an odd contrast to the setting, made even more odd by the raised platform and the band playing on the stage. Automated lighting instruments were sweeping saturated light over the crowd and the band. "This is ridiculous," Trowa muttered as they got out of the cab and walked towards the mass of people. "No kidding. Classic Relena, though. But hey – this is good. There are so many people here that we only need to say hi to her once and then we can just blend in." As they made their way into the crowd, the band started to play and Duo turned as he recognized the song. "Please tell me that she didn't get Mumford and Sons to play at her birthday party," Trowa said. "Ah… I could lie to you, if you want me to," Duo said with a chuckle. Trowa shook his head, but before he could offer another comment, Duo wrapped his arms around the other man and swung him around into the crowd of dancers. After a moment, Trowa's arms came up to hold Duo. "This is the world we live in, you know," he said as they danced. "I know – it's just – not normal to have a birthday party on the Brooklyn Bridge with Mumford and Sons playing happy birthday!" "Well, they haven't done that song yet," Duo pointed out with a cheeky grin. Trowa rolled his eyes. "I know – but the fact that they will is just…" "Soul crushing," Duo supplied. He liked the band, and he wasn't really looking forward to the idea of them singing Happy Birthday to the most spoiled girl he had ever met. "Yeah, that's one way of putting it." Duo laughed, and was about to say something, but he spotted Heero and Wufei getting out of a cab. They looked just as uncomfortable as Trowa was, and Duo knew that the three of them were no doubt plotting the quickest escape they could manage. "Heero's here," he said to Trowa, and nodded towards his brother. They walked over to meet them, and Duo couldn't help but notice how clear it was that his brother was sleeping with the Chinese man. There was a certain way that they looked at each other, and even the distance between them – he wondered if he and Trowa were as obviously a couple. "Hey guys," Duo greeted them. "This is ridiculous," Wufei muttered as a greeting. Duo noticed that his hair was down, and he wondered how much Heero had to do with that. "That's what I said," Trowa agreed. "It's Relena Darlian!" Duo pointed out. "This is the girl who had Disney World shut down for her twelfth birthday party so that she, by herself, could experience the entire park without having to wait in line." Heero shook his head. "She should have grown up by now." "I think it's a pretty cool idea," Duo argued. "Great band – great location –" "Too many people," Wufei cut in. Duo was about to continue in his defense of Relena, but he saw Celia and Thomas Darlian out of the corner of his eye. They were removed from the crowd, leaning against one of the railways to the side of the bridge, and they seemed to be engaged in a very serious conversation. He had avoided his mother for the past two weeks, unable to speak to her or even look at her after learning that she had given him up for adoption. He simply didn't know what to say to her, and he couldn't shake the sense of loss and anger he felt whenever he thought about it. Wufei followed his gaze and then gave him a sympathetic look. "I think the bar's over there," Heero said, nodding across the crowd to the other side of the bridge. "You guys go ahead – I'll catch up," Duo told them. He figured that now might be as good a time as any to confront Celia. If the conversation got out of hand, they could simply go back to the party. As they walked past him, Wufei squeezed his shoulder, earning a curious look from Trowa. Duo rolled his eyes to indicate it was nothing, and Trowa followed Heero and Wufei towards the bar. Duo drew in a deep breath and steeled himself for what would no doubt be a VERY unpleasant conversation. He walked over to them, and as he neared he noticed just how close they were standing to each other. Darlian was actually holding Celia's hand on the railing, and their heads were almost touching as they spoke. A sudden, horrible thought occurred to Duo just as Darlian looked up and noticed him approaching. The older man frowned and released Celia's hand. He said something more to her, and then left her alone to rejoin the crowd of guests. His mouth seemed to be moving before his brain, and the question was out before Duo could censure himself. "Please tell me that Thomas Darlian is not my father." Celia spun around at the sound of his voice, and her face was a mask of fear. "Oh – oh Duo." She managed to compose herself quickly, but the lack of a denial confirmed it for him. He did, however, appreciate that she didn't try to pretend that she didn't know what he was talking about. "You cheated on Dad with his best friend?" He demanded, all anger at his own abandonment forgotten. "Duo – darling, you don't understand." "Oh? Then please, please, Mother, enlighten me." She drew in a deep breath and looked on the verge of walking away from him, but then she squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Odin was a wonderful man, and an amazing father to both you and Heero, but he was… not the love of my life. After Heero was born – his heir – it became obvious that Odin and I weren't suited to each other, in a physical sense. I was relieved, because, well, I had always been in love with Thomas. We grew up together. And, after Heero… we weren't very careful." Duo closed his eyes. "So I'm an accidental bastard." "Stop it, Duo." Her usual strength was in the command, and he found himself reacting almost against his will. She glared at him, but then continued. "I gave you up for adoption because we had no choice." "No – no choice? You could have kept me, you could have –" "The scandal would have ruined Thomas' chance for his campaign. He was running for re-election to the State Assembly, and it was very important that he maintain his wholesome image." "Wait, wait. You didn't want the scandal to ruin his life? What about Dad?" "Your father… hardly even noticed me. I didn't start to really show until I was six months pregnant, and so I took an extended vacation to Hawaii. You were born premature, and in two months I came home." "Good as new," Duo muttered. He couldn't believe the lack of regret in her voice, or how easy it was for her to explain the circumstance of his birth. "Duo, this is ridiculous. I cannot change the past, and nor do I regret my actions. I did what was necessary, at the time. And in the end, you came back to me." Her expression softened. "I have always loved you." "Just not enough for it to matter." Duo let out a sigh. "Did he know – did Dad know?" She frowned. "At first, I didn't think so. I thought it was all just some ridiculous coincidence, but when you were fifteen – that stupid stunt you pulled at the Louvre – we were discussing a divorce at the time, and he told me that he knew that you were my son, that he had known all along." Duo winced, imaging the conversation. "Did he know about Darlian?" "No. No one knows about Thomas. Duo, I love him. I always have. Life has just kept us from being together." Duo looked over to where Darlian stood with his wife, Relena's mother. Relena. "Oh God. I'm Relena's brother." He groaned at the sudden realization. "Darling –" "How can you just stand there and be so calm? I found out that I'm the biological son of my adopted mother, that my mother CHEATED on the man I worshipped as a father, and with my father's best friend. A man who, I have to point out, has always hated me!" "That isn't true! Thomas –" "Thomas has never said anything to nice to me. Ever." "It's been hard for him, seeing you raised by another man. He always wanted a son, and –" "And he got one!" Duo shook his head, willing himself to calm down. "Just, please, tell me that you giving Treize your stock shares has nothing to do with this." The crestfallen look on her face was all the answer he needed. "Would it have mattered that much? If he told the world that I was your son?" "People would have asked who your father was! I couldn't ruin Thomas' life like that!" The words completely froze Duo's brain, but it was jump started again when he heard a sharp intake of breath behind him. He turned to see who had overheard them, and it was the birthday girl herself, Relena Darlian. "What – are you –" Relena's blue eyes were wide as she looked between Duo and Celia, and then she spun on her four inch heels and started to sprint away, past her guests, and down the abandoned bridge. "God damnit," Duo muttered, and took off after her without another word to his mother. As much as he did not like Relena Darlian, it was her birthday party, and she had just overheard a very nasty secret. It didn't take him long to catch up with her, but by the time he had she had fallen down to the ground and was leaning against the side railings of the bridge. She seemed to be hyperventilating. Duo crouched down beside her. "Relena, calm down, just – breathe deeply. Count to ten or something." He gripped her face and made her look up at him. "Calm down," he repeated, holding her gaze. She took a few more gulping breaths before she managed to start breathing normally. "I'm okay now," she eventually said, and he released her and, after an awkward moment, decided to sit down beside her. "I don't know what to say," Duo said after a few moments of tense silence. "You could say that it's an elaborate joke. That you planned this whole thing, and that I'm not, in fact, your sister, and that my father didn't actually cheat on my mother." Duo winced. He hadn't even considered that. He had worshipped Odin, and the knowledge that his mother had cheated on his father was almost as devastating as the knowledge that she had given him up for adoption in the first place. His parents and Relena's parents were among the only undivorced adults that they knew. "I wish I could." He leaned his head back and looked up at the night sky. "Fuck, I wish I could." "How – I'm assuming you only learned about this recently." "Two weeks ago I learned that I was my mother's son – that sounds so stupid. I didn't figure out about your father until tonight." "Our father," she corrected him in a bitter voice. "Yeah, I guess so." Duo was still having trouble coming to terms with that. He could remember so many times when Darlian had sneered at him to grow up and be more like Heero – some of his earliest memories were, in fact, of Darlian visiting the Yuy house and telling Odin and Celia that they shouldn't coddle him so much, that they should make him get his 'ridiculous' hair cut. He frowned at the memory. "I – oh God I almost slept with you!" That made Duo laugh. Relena's sixteenth birthday had been an exercise in binge drinking, and Duo had been almost as drunk as Relena when she propositioned him. Looking back, he was never so thankful that he had turned down his one chance to sleep with a girl. "Yeah, well, this probably explains why I hate you so much." She glared at him and he shrugged. "I'm just saying – isn't it natural for brothers to hate their little sisters?" "I have a big brother," she repeated dully. "Duo Maxwell is my big brother." "It's not the end of the world," he told her. "I mean, you get me as a relative, but I have to deal with the knowledge that you are my sister!" She punched him. "I," she frowned. "I didn't even think about this. Celia gave you up for adoption and then –" "Yeah, well, I guess Odin tracked me down and decided to adopt me. He knew all along." "But why would she do that?" "Well, you know Mother is a Catholic. She said I was an accident. I'm guessing she didn't want to risk hell anymore than she already was with her adultery, and couldn't bring herself to have an abortion." "Don't say that! She chose to give you a life." "Yeah, well, don't go taking her side. The only reason she's kept this a secret all these years is because she's in love with your father and she didn't want to ruin his life." Relena frowned. "I just don't get it. Father and Mother have always been close – I've never even seen them fight." Duo shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you… Happy Birthday?" She scowled at him. "I hate you," she muttered, but then she sighed. "I suppose this explains Treize convincing her to give him control of her stock. He blackmailed her, I'm guessing." "Yeah – but not about your Dad. No one knows about him. Well, just her, and him, and us now, I guess. And no one else knows about me for that matter." "You haven't told Heero? Or Trowa? Aren't you dating him?" That answered Duo's question about whether or not he was maintaining a professional distance from his boyfriend at work. "I am, and no. I – I don't want Heero to know about Mom. I wish you didn't know." "Oh, because you're the only one who deserves to know the truth." "No, because I don't want anyone else to have their illusions about their parents shattered." They were quiet for a few minutes. "I should go back to my party," Relena said eventually. "Great band, by the way," Duo said as stood and helped her up. "Thanks. I opened your present. It was completely tasteless and embarrassing." Duo smirked. He had purchased a Chippendales calendar and then pasted Heero's face over each of the models before wrapping it up and sending it to her. "Completely appropriate coming from your big brother," he assured her. She rolled her eyes and stopped walking as she noticed Heero, Wufei, and Trowa talking off to one side of the bar. Each man had a drink in hand, and it seemed to have relaxed them enough that they were joking. Heero laughed at something Wufei said, and Relena sighed. "Relena, you do realize that Heero is gay – dyed in the wool gay." "I know. I just – I've loved him since he first pushed my swing for me on the playground, when I was three." "I think twenty-five years is long enough to have a crush on someone. You should move on." "He seems different. I noticed it a few days ago. He's more relaxed, happier even, than I've seen him in years." Duo winced. "Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure that steady sex has something to do with that." Relena looked at him, and then back at Heero. "What – no! He and Wufei? I didn't know Wufei was gay!" "Fraid so." "Then I definitely don't have a chance. Heero's been in love with him almost as long as I've been in love with Heero." She sighed. "He's happy?" "Seems that way." She drew herself up. "Well, in that case, this is me letting him go." Duo followed her as she marched up to Heero, who was mid sentence, and wrapped her hands around his head and pulled his face to hers for a very long kiss. When she finally released him, she smirked and looked at Wufei. "Take good care of him," she told the shocked Chinese man. Duo couldn't help but laugh at the looks on Heero and Wufei's faces as Relena tossed her hair over her shoulder and walked away to mingle with her guests. "What – what just happened?" Heero demanded after wiping his mouth. "I'm pretty sure Relena just grew up," Duo told his brother. He clapped him on the back. "So, how was it? Everything you dreamed it would be?" He winked at Wufei. "Did she use tongue? Did she have on cherry lip gloss? What about –" "Stop it right now," Wufei warned, his voice a low growl. Duo exchanged a grin with Trowa, who appeared to be almost amused by the event as Duo himself was. Heero took a healthy sip of his drink. "I hope that never happens again," he muttered, still looking a little disgusted. "It had better not," Wufei grumbled. Duo rolled his eyes. "Come on, it couldn't have been that bad." "It was worse," Heero assured him. He shook his head and then sighed, seeming to resign himself to the reality of having been kissed by Relena. "I saw you speaking with Mother earlier, did she say anything?" Heero asked. Duo tensed. "Ah, about you and Relena?" He tried to dodge the question. "No, about Treize." "Oh, um, no. She said it was complicated and… her reasons were personal." It was bending the truth a lot for Duo, but it was as close to honest as he could be on the subject. Heero scowled. "I should talk to her." "No," Duo and Wufei said at the same time. Heero gave them an odd look. "I'm sure it's wrapped up in her emotions over Odin's death," Wufei tried to explain. "I have no doubt that she respects you and Duo. She just – reacted strongly over something. I'm sure she regrets her actions." "She doesn't," Duo said, and couldn't help the bitterness in his voice. Heero and Trowa both frowned at the cryptic turn the conversation had taken. "She has to," Wufei assured him. "No, she doesn't. I'm pretty sure she'd do it the same way if she could do it over again." "They aren't talking about the stock shares anymore," Trowa said to Heero. "No," Heero agreed. His forehead was creased. "What are you talking about?" He demanded. Duo sighed. "Nothing. Just – nothing." "You haven't even told Trowa?" Wufei asked. Duo groaned. "No, no I haven't. That was kind of part of not telling anyone!" He scrubbed his face when he noticed the sharp looks that both Trowa and Heero gave him. "But thanks, for making it impossible for me to not tell them now." Wufei looked completely unrepentant, and Duo realized that he had been manipulated. "I really do not want to have this conversation at Relena's birthday party," he said when everyone looked at him expectantly. "McClaren's?" Wufei suggested. "Yeah, I was kind of angling for the NEVER suggestion." "Something has been bothering you for weeks," Trowa said. "I haven't asked you about it because I didn't know – I didn't want to push you into anything." Duo closed his eyes and felt a wave of guilt as he realized that Trowa had probably assumed that Duo's state of general depression these last few weeks was somehow related to him or their relationship. "No, it's – fuck it. Let's go to McClaren's." He led them through the guests and back to where a fleet of cabs was waiting to take the drunken guests home. The party had been in full swing for less than two hours, and Duo had only been there for an hour, but he felt no guilt about leaving so early. They piled into an SUV taxi, with Duo claiming the front seat. As soon as the taxi pulled away and started moving in the direction of the bar, he noticed all three men in the back seat loosen their bow ties or remove them entirely. He rolled his eyes. He found it ironic that the three men who spent their lives in ties and suits were so uncomfortable in tuxes and bow ties, yet he, who despised business suits, loved to wear a tux. When they arrived at the bar, Duo immediately ordered a scotch on the rocks for himself and took it to the booth in the back that had long been his haven. The others joined him a few minutes later with their own drinks. Trowa slid in beside him, close enough that their legs touched under the table, and Duo decided to take that small measure of physical comfort. He pressed his leg back against Trowa's, and was relieved when the other man didn't pull away, but instead bumped their knees together. "So… it turns out that I'm your brother," he told Heero without preamble. Everyone around the table was silent. "I'm… assuming you don't mean in a strictly legal sense," Heero eventually said. His expression was completely unreadable. "Ah, no. I'm talking biologically." Heero frowned. "Half-brother," Duo clarified. "Who?" "Mom. She, ah… the details aren't important, but she had me and gave me up for adoption. She thought Dad didn't know, but turns out he did, and he adopted me a few years later. And… that's that." Heero was silent, and Duo looked away from his closed face to Trowa. "Why were you talking to Relena?" Trowa asked. Of course Trowa would have noticed Duo running after Relena and talking to her for nearly half an hour, Duo realized. He sighed. "Well…" he debated whether or not to keep Celia's secret, but then he shrugged. "Fuck it. Turns out Thomas Darlian is my biological father." "You're Relena's brother," Wufei said, and his voice was filled with the same horror that Duo's had been. "I know!" Duo tried to latch onto that line, hoping that Heero wouldn't feel the same blinding rage that he had felt when he realized that his mother had cheated on their father with his best friend. From the way that Heero's hand was clenched around his glass, so hard his knuckles were white, Duo knew that it was a lost cause. "Treize blackmailed her into giving him her shares with the information about Duo's birth," Wufei added for Heero and Trowa's benefit, in case they hadn't connected the dots. Trowa nodded thoughtfully. Duo decided that he did not need to clarify that Celia had given in not because she didn't want people to know that she was Duo's mother, but because she didn't want anyone to know about his father. "Um… so, do you want to say anything?" Duo prompted Heero. His brother stared at his drink for a long moment before he tossed it back in one swallow. "No. I – I need some time." Heero stood and walked away without another word. Duo sighed and leaned back against the booth. "This would be why I didn't want to tell him," he said Wufei. The Chinese man scowled, but scooted out of the booth and went after his lover, leaving Duo and Trowa alone. "Brings back old times, huh?" Duo asked and started to tip his glass towards Trowa's lap. The other man removed the glass from his hand and set it back down on the table. "Duo." He had to swallow against a sudden lump of emotion at the way Trowa said his name, but he looked up into his green eyes. "I love you," Trowa said, and he didn't need to say anything else. Duo sighed, and he released all of the tension and negative emotions that had been building inside of him for weeks. "I can't believe you thought – I should have said something to you." "Let's go home," Trowa suggested, ignoring Duo's attempt to apologize. Duo took that to be a sign of forgiveness, and the fact that Trowa has said HOME convinced him of it. Even though they were back at least two hours than Duo had told Sara to expect them, Duo was relieved to see that Nathalie was already in bed, and that Sara was in the living room reading. "Thank you for staying with her," Duo told her. "Of course. I didn't expect you home so early." Duo shrugged, and then he had a sudden thought. Sara had been with the Yuys since Heero's birth. Did SHE know? Duo refused to think about it anymore, and he couldn't bring himself to ask her. "Good night," he said to her as she made her way downstairs to the first floor and her apartment. He turned to Trowa and smiled tiredly. "Well, we've got the house to ourselves. Feel like re-enacting Risky Business?" "No, but I do want to get out of this tux." Trowa tugged at Duo's bowtie, loosening it and then using it to pull him close. "And I'd like to get you out of yours, too." Trowa kissed him, and Duo leaned into the kiss, letting himself forget about everything and just focus on the sensation of Trowa's mouth moving over his own. "Sounds like a good plan," he said when Trowa pulled away. "I know," Trowa agreed with a smirk.
That Sunday, like the one before it, Duo called and cancelled on his mother's brunch. He had also been avoiding the Wednesday night family dinners, and now that Heero knew – he didn't know when the family would get together again. By Monday he still hadn't heard from Heero, or Wufei, and he was starting to worry about his brother's reaction to the news of their biological relationship. He wanted to believe that Heero was just angry about Celia's infidelity, but the more time that passed the more he had to consider the possibility that Heero was upset by the knowledge that Duo really was his brother. When he arrived at the office that morning after dropping Nathalie off at school, Trowa was already ensconced in his own office hard at work, and Duo, with a sigh of resignation, went to his brother's office. Heero was behind the large desk where Odin had once sat, and Duo had a sudden, vivid memory of when he and Heero had been fourteen and fifteen and had rushed in to announce that they had made the varsity baseball team at school. It would have been an impressive feat for any sophomore and freshman - but of course it had become a competition between them for Odin's approval. Duo remembered how Odin had congratulated Heero, but had been much more effusive in his praise of Duo's accomplishment. "Morning." Duo sat down in the leather armchair across from the wide desk and patiently waited for Heero to look up from his work. It took a while, but eventually Heero gave in, threw down his pen, and leaned back to look at Duo. "I don't know what to say to you," Heero said after what felt like an hour long staring contest. Duo nodded. "Yeah, I figured." He shrugged. "Just – get it off your chest." Heero looked uncomfortable with the suggestion, but he eventually sighed. "I didn't go to Mother's yesterday. I couldn't – I can't believe she would do that to Odin." "Yeah, that part bothers me a lot, too." "But you are my brother. You always have been. As much as I'm furious about her doing that – if she hadn't, I wouldn't have you." Duo had not considered it from that perspective, and he was shocked that Heero had. " It also helps me put Odin's actions into perspective. I know he loved you – he always considered both of us to be his sons – but now, I think, I can understand why he was so much more demonstrative towards you." Duo nodded, he had been thinking the same thing. "Guilt." "But he did love you," Heero insisted. "I know, but I agree – he let me win so much because he figured I needed it more." Heero scowled. "But Mother – all this time. Thomas Darlian." "Right? Such bad taste in men." Duo shook his head morosely. "And Odin knew. All along." "Kind of makes me wonder why they even bothered – did you know they talked about getting a divorce when I was fifteen?" Heero frowned and shook his head in the negative. "Me either. Mom said they did – and that's when Odin told her that he knew. I wonder – d'you think HE wanted the divorce or her?" Heero's face was dark. "I really don't want to know." "Yeah, well – I guess I'm going to go and glare at some paperwork for a few hours." Duo stood. "Do you mind if I join you and Trowa for lunch today? I'm not trying to break up your buddy club – I just, well, it'd be nice to have some company." Heero frowned. "Do you usually eat alone?" Duo shrugged. Even after Heero learned that Duo and Trowa were dating, lunch between the two men had remained a daily occurrence, and Duo didn't want to interfere with that. Which often meant that he ate alone – he wasn't about to invite any of the suits at the office to lunch, for fear that they might discuss work – and Duo also didn't like his friends to see him dressed like a corporate sell out. "Not today," Heero said when Duo didn't elaborate. "Oh, okay, then." Duo tried to hide his disappointment – but he had really wanted to have the company of his brother and his lover after recent developments. "I mean – you can eat with me, but Trowa has some mysterious lunch date. He's going to be gone most of the day, actually." Duo frowned, wondering why Trowa hadn't mentioned anything to him. "Weird – well, in that case, want to grab some sushi in a few hours?" "Yes," Heero smiled. "It'll be nice to eat it with someone who isn't trying to avoid vomiting. Duo laughed and then waved before seeing himself out of the office and making his way to his own personal dungeon. It was nearly four when Trowa stopped by Duo's office, and the fact that he was grinning from ear to ear clued Duo in to the fact that something was up. Trowa might smirk, and he did grin occasionally – but never before like this. "Hi," Duo said cautiously. "Hi," Trowa returned and then sat down in the chair across from Duo. "So… you've got this grin on your face – and while I like seeing you happy, this is the kind of grin that borders on evil-genius about to conquer the world look." Trowa nodded in agreement. "Yeah, well, it turns out that I AM an evil genius." He let the grin slip a little, but there was still a triumphant smirk on his face as he continued. "I told you that I had lunch plans for today." "Yeah, your secret rendezvous – which forced ME to have lunch with Heero, by the way, and we had sushi. Lots and lots of delicious, raw fish." Trowa turned a little green, but he continued anyway. "I had lunch with Une." Duo frowned. "About Nat? What happened? Is –" "Not about Nat. And everything is going fine with her adoption. No, we talked about Une's other client." "Who happens to be…?" "Treize Khushrenada." Duo sat up in his chair, suddenly a lot more invested in the cause for Trowa's maniacal grin. "Go on." "It turns out, Treize is not an upstanding, law abiding citizen." Duo rolled his eyes. "Tell me something I don't know." "He's being investigated by the IRS for tax fraud, tax evasion, extortion and money laundering." "I'm not surprised. I'll bet it's damn near impossible for them to actually find anything solid, though." Trowa nodded in agreement. "They've been investigating him for the past ten years, actually." "Since before he worked for Dad." "Yes – and as you said, they had a hard time tracking down any solid evidence." "Which explains why you're so happy." "I told you before that I interned during law school for the firm Une worked at – and that she essentially made my life a living hell for four months." "Yeah." "Part of the reason for WHY she made my life a living hell was because I wouldn't sleep with her." "Well, you're gay." Duo frowned, not liking the idea of that frigid woman tormenting his lover. "And she's a creepy bitch." "Well, after all these years, she still has a soft spot for me." "I could tell – the way she practically rolled over during that custody hearing. Oh, wait, no she didn't. If that's her soft spot –" "No, her soft spot would be telling me that she works for the IRS and has been conducting an internal investigation of Treize's assets for the past two years and has accumulated enough information for the IRS to press charges and for them to actually stick this time." Duo blinked and tried to process the information. "Wait, wait – she's an undercover IRS agent?" "Yes, and she's been assembling a case against him. She was also very grateful for the information I gave her that Quatre sent us. But there's a catch." Duo groaned. "Of course there's a catch! What is it?" "Recently, Treize acquired a substantial share of Yuy Inc. stock, without purchase or sales tax – or reporting it for the purposes of income tax. If the IRS knew WHERE that stock came from, it would be the impetus they need to press charges and arrest him." Duo frowned. "So you're saying that my mother needs to tell the IRS that Treize blackmailed her into giving him her stocks." "Yes." "Which means that it's going to be used as evidence in court, which means that it's going to be public knowledge. Which means that people are going to investigate and find out that Darlian is my father." "Yes." "Fuck me." Duo scrubbed his face. "She won't go for it. Not if it means exposing her lover," Duo said bitterly. "Not even to save the livelihood of both her sons? Not even to make amends? Not even to save the legacy of the man who raised you as his own son?" Trowa pressed. "Well, why don't you ask her, then," Duo growled. "I will," Trowa assured him. "What, you're just going to call her up and –" "Let's go to dinner with her on Wednesday. All of us." Duo scowled. He had been counting on at least another month of avoidance before having to face the woman who had given birth to him and then spent his entire life denying the fact. "Duo, this isn't some small thing. He won't get a slap on the wrist. If they can convict him, we're talking fifteen to twenty years in prison, and his reputation will be destroyed. THIS is the justice that you and Heero and Wufei need." Duo sighed and then picked up the phone on his desk and dialed Heero's office. After a moment his brother answered. "Heero Yuy." "Yeah, hey, it turns out that my boyfriend is about ten times cooler than yours –and he's a badass. So, Wednesday night we need to go have dinner with Mom."
To say that dinner was an awkward affair would have been an incredible understatement, but Duo was very proud of everyone for pretending to have a normal meal in front of Nathalie. Unlike her sons and their lovers, Celia seemed to be her normal, indomitable self, and she managed to converse with Nathalie as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred a few days before. Earlier that day when Duo had told Nathalie that they would be having dinner at Celia's house, she had been surprised and excited. Duo felt a pang of guilt when he realized that in avoiding Celia himself, he had also kept Nathalie away from the woman who seemed to wholeheartedly embrace her as a grandchild. It had been a shock to everyone but Celia when Relena Darlian showed up just before dinner was served and joined them for the meal. When she sat down beside Duo and smirked at him, he had sensed that Relena had something up her sleeve, but he still didn't understand why she was there. Over the years, Relena had joined them for these Wednesday dinners off and on, but not since Heero had been sent off to Macau, and certainly not since his return. "Well," Celia said when the final course was cleared from the table, "darling, would you mind excusing the adults while we discuss a few things in the library?" She directed the question to Nathalie, who immediately looked to Duo with a frown. He shrugged. "We shouldn't be too long," he assured her. "You can hang out in my old room and play video games for a while, if you want," he added when she still looked unsure. Nathalie regarded his old gaming consoles, especially his Super Nintendo, with a mixture of contempt and fascination. "Okay," she said and then left the table. Celia rose as well and led them from the room and to the library. "I imagine that you have spent the last few days preparing this confrontation," she said once Heero had closed the doors and everyone had taken a seat. "Not really," Duo said. He looked over at Relena. "Celia invited me," she said, answering his silent question. "We had a long talk on Sunday, and… we've come to an understanding about things." Relena's voice was very firm, and her blue eyes hard as she looked back at the woman who had had an affair with her father. "Okay…"Duo was pretty confident that he didn't want to know, and was glad that he had NOT been present for that discussion. "Mrs. Yuy," Trowa spoke up, "you are aware of the struggles that your sons have had with Treize Khushrenada." "I am," she agreed in a chilly tone. "There is a very good chance that those struggles can end – immediately." Celia arched an eyebrow at him. "Are you suggesting that we murder him?" "I am," Duo muttered, earning glares from everyone. "Not at all," Trowa assured her. "There is a very legal way to dispose of him. He's been under investigation from the IRS, and they have assembled enough information that, with the right, key evidence, they can successfully prosecute him and end his career – and his hold over your sons." Celia frowned. "What kind of key evidence?" "Extortion and blackmail." Celia was silent for a moment. "You want me to tell everyone about Duo's parentage." Trowa shrugged. "I want you to testify that Treize Khushrenada blackmailed you into signing over your stocks – and therefore avoided having to purchase the shares and pay the associated taxes. It's inevitable that the investigation will want to know the extent of the blackmail." "This family would be ruined by the scandal." "No, Mother, we wouldn't," Heero spoke up. "This family could would finally be honest. This family will be ruined by Treize if we don't stop him. Everything that my father – that our father," he indicated Duo, "worked for and gave to us will be ruined." He paused and drew in a deep breath. "I can't pretend to understand your motivations for having an affair with Thomas Darlian, and I can't know what your life was like with our father, but I do know that you are the one chance we have of making this right." "Thomas –" "My father will accept the consequences for his actions," Relena interrupted. "He has to." "This is ridiculous. Treize is too well connected. He has the best lawyers and –" "He does have one of the best lawyers I've ever met," Trowa agreed with a smirk, "and he is well connected. And all of that will be his downfall. The political and economic climate won't allow for this kind of thing to go away. Treize will be prosecuted and he will be convicted for his crimes. IF you help us." Celia looked at Duo, and it was the first time their eyes had connected all evening. Now that he looked, Duo could see a lot of himself reflected back at him. It was ironic – growing up he had wished that he really was a Yuy – that some accident had happened and he was really their long lost son. But now the knowledge was a burden, and he was terrified that Celia would, in fact, repeat her previous decision and choose Thomas Darlian over her son. "Very well."
Thursday morning's board meeting was perhaps the first – and Duo certainly hoped the only– meeting that he had ever looked forward to. Trowa had spent the previous night at Duo's house, and Duo had been very effusive in thanking the lawyer for his efforts to take down Treize, and the two had gotten very little sleep. Even so, Duo had woken early and dressed with care, very conscious of how he wanted Treize to see him this morning. He eventually decided on a tan, three piece suit, white dress shirt, and a violet tie. Trowa approved of the look so much that Duo had to dress twice, and Nathalie was half an hour late to school. By ten, all of the vice presidents had assembled in the large conference room except for Treize. Duo was half convinced that the man wouldn't show, and from the tense way that Heero sat up in his chair at the head of the long table, it was clear that he had similar misgivings. However, at ten fifteen, just as Duo started to discuss quarterly earnings, Treize walked in and took the open seat beside Relena, a look of completely bored nonchalance on his face. It was eleven before Duo finished the earnings reports, and most of the board members didn't bother to hide their desire to leave, but Heero held them back. "Sorry, one more thing," he said, and gestured to the secretary by the door. In the years to come, Duo would treasure the memory of Treize's face as the large doors burst open and Une, followed by New York City policemen, came bursting in and arrested him. It was a purely theatrical moment – there was no need to arrest him in front of the entire board, in such a public setting, and with so much flair, but the idea had filled Duo and Heero with such glee that they hadn't been able to resist it. Treize's face went from pale to red to purple as he realized that Une had been setting him up, and the glare he sent Heero could have caused the sun to go super nova. "Treize Khushrenada, you are under arrest for multiple counts of fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, black mail, and extortion," Une calmly informed him as the policemen handcuffed him. "As I was saying," Heero continued once Treize had been escorted out, his voice completely calm and not a hint of expression on his face, "I've been looking over Odin's will with my lawyer, and we've decided to nominate a new CFO to the board – Relena Darlian." The rest of the board was still in shock at what had just occurred. "I'll second that," Duo spoke up into the echoing silence. "I'm – what –" There was a sudden burst of chatter as the board members finally vocalized their confusion about seeing Treize arrested in front of them. "Some of you may be concerned about what just happened," Duo spoke up over them," but, as the CEO, I assure you that Yuy Inc. will always cooperate with federal agencies to investigate and prosecute criminals. None of you need to worry about that." He added a wink, because he could, and because several of the board members had gone pale at his words. "Shall we put it to a vote?" Relena suggested. "My nomination, that is," she clarified with a sweet smile when the bewildered board members turned to look at her. When Duo left the office that evening with Trowa, he
couldn't help but feel that, all drama and theatrics aside, Odin would
have approved of what they had done to Treize. The old man had been
proud of his sons, as much as he tried to manipulate them, and he
had been proud of the company he had built. The fact that, together,
they had saved it, would have certainly earned his approval. ~ * ~ tbc... |
