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"The Heist "Written By: Kaeru Shisho Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing
or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, male/male pairings, language Pairings: 1x2x1 Summary: Duo's planning a robbery, considering a reality TV show, and falling for the man who can lock him up for good. Can his friends help him? Can he help himself? A/N: This story takes place in a universe more
like ours today, where the colonies exist on land, not in space, and
where the world is on the cusp of change. Thanks goes to Waterlily
for her tireless editing and thoughtful suggestions throughout. "The Heist " Chapter 12 - And Now You Don't! "I'm okay," Trowa said in a gasp. He had a secure foothold and a safety line attached to another of the handles. His tools hung from a short tether line. He was good and prepared for anything, like the professional he was. "I wasn't gonna say nothing about you and Quat-" "-Good idea." "But I am now." "No." "Yeah. Are you gonna be able to focus up here? 'Cause, you know, no job is worth dying for. I mean that. Not even this one." "I'm fine, Duo. I can do this. I wasn't even thinking about him." "The shit!" Duo yelled. "You nearly passed out from a kiss, man. You're brain's low on oxygen." "I'm fine now. If you hadn't been here I would have been fine then, too. I take precautions, Duo. I know what I'm doing." "Okay, okay..." What they were doing was simple and approved by security; at least what the palace guard believed they were doing. This had something to do with a tightrope act for the next day, because Trowa had told them it was, but it wasn't. In reality, Trowa was attaching guy wires to support and stabilize a structure over a skylight. Trowa attached five tensioned cables to the frame work in a radial pattern, while two trusted circus employees anchored the other ends to the ground. He was doing most of the work, while Duo backed him up and got instructions for what he'd be doing the next day. The other part of their task was to test the support structure. Its purpose would be to carry Duo's weight as he propelled down through the skylight window, down, down, down 13 stories, or thereabout, directly into the crown jewels display room. That was the plan. It would film fabulously, Duo had been told. From the roof, though, the display room was so far away and the lighted cases- open to the public for tours-melted into a single dot of light. Oh, my God. He felt queasy for a second and had to close his eyes. The experience gave him second and third thoughts, "Why am I doing this?" becoming his mantra. "I hope your eager-beaver sentinel friend keeps his nose outta here." Trowa tested the lines one at a time. "I'm ready to cut the glass now. If something goes wrong-?" "I know what to do!" Duo snapped. "Shove my foot through the glass and say I fell. Let's just make sure that doesn't happen. Okay... security is... definitely turned off. Go for it." Trowa reached back into his pack for the handled suction cup, fixed it into place against the middle of the glass pane, and positioned the glass cutter at the top corner. "This is the one you want," he said. Duo knew his friend one talked when he had something to say, so he treated this as important. "Okay." "This is the tricky part," Trowa commented again. "I start at the top, which is hardest to get at." Duo watched as he ran the cutter horizontally in a straight line along the glass. He admired the straightness, considering it was being done freehand-that took nerves of steel and sharp focus. Because he didn't want to have to do delicate, finicky cleanup work while supporting a heavy piece of nearly-free the window in one hand, Trowa went back and cut the same line a second time, then did the same kind of cut down both sides, first on the left then the right. "The slice across the bottom is hardest." "I can hold the glass," Duo offered. "Okay." Duo carefully worked his fingers around the handle, feeling a grip. Trowa hadn't let loose. "Got it? It is heavy; brace yourself for the change in weight." "Ready, steady, and set." Left elbow braced against frame work, Trowa slowly released the handle, one finger at a time. "I've got it fine," Duo assured him. Trowa carefully cut away at the glass, once, twice then pocketed the cutter. "Done. Get ready to move the glass without slicing off any body parts." At first Duo thought his buddy hadn't cut enough, but then, with unexpected speed, the pane angled backward into the empty space below them. Duo needed both hands on the handle and both elbows braced on the frame in order to keep control of the glass. He could feel the warmth of his friend's hands around his waist, providing support. "It's pretty heavy," Duo said. "Yeah, like I said." Holding tight, Duo lifted the pane up and away from them both, keeping away the freshly cut edge, and then wrapped it in a cloth which had been buried in the backpack. "That's done." Trowa handed him some rope. "Tie it down to the side there." As he was securing the glass, he peered into the abyss below. "Geez, I can't believe I'm going down that." It was a long way down. "I'm taping the frame edges so nothing cuts the line," Trowa said and then ripped off a length of duct tape with his teeth. "Make sure you test all the lines before you go over the edge." "I will." He wondered who would test his brain for insanity? He watched Trowa cover the opening with clear plastic wrap, in case it rained and breathed a little easier. At least he had a quick access route to the roof. "Thank you, Heero," he thought. That route hadn't been on the map he'd lifted. He hoped he hadn't missed anything else important because of an incomplete map. Done, Duo returned the security system to "on" and the two men climbed back over to the roof entry door. Down the stairs and out the exit to find Quatre's anxiously awaiting them, or at least Trowa. Quatre kissed Trowa to a breathless state the moment he appeared back on terra firma. "I'm going in to change clothes," Duo told the oblivious pair. "See ya at the party." (o) The first person he recognized was his friend Quatre Winner, so as Duo entered the ballroom-turned-party central, he walked in his direction. Quatre was an extraordinarily good-looking young man who seemed to be entirely unaware of the fact-a trait that endeared him to Duo because it wasn't true. He was a little delicate, with a kindly expression, shy earnest eyes and untidy soft, blonde hair. He could work his appearance to his advantage until his business rivals learned not to underestimate him. "If I wanted to put forth a tough-guy image I would smoke unfiltered Camels and drink Jack Daniel's out of a galvanized-iron shot glass," he once said. Duo had warned, "But then you'd lose your edge." "Don't I know it!" he'd laughed, completely accepting of his calculated wickedness. From what Duo could see, Quatre was working this crowd, too. Dignitaries, actors, tycoons carried glassware brimming with alcoholic beverages, swarming the prince, the princess, and Quatre Winner. Duo caught his attention and was waved over. "Looking good, Quat. Seen 'Ro?" "Oh, he's here and you can't miss him." Quatre gave him a wicked smile. "Governor Solomon just arrived no more than a minute ago and has been asking for you," Quatre said excitedly. "He really does know you! Not that I doubted your word!" Duo shot him a "forget it" smile and let his friend direct him into another knot of well-dressed folks. Even knowing his suit was a good one and fit well, he didn't feel completely at ease in the company of the elite. He'd let out his braid because there was no way he could hide it and not look like he was hiding something like a giant head. It got him second looks, which would have killed his chances of success, if he'd been working as a pick-pocket. Still, he hadn't yet spotted Heero. Trowa appeared at Quatre's other side from nowhere, it seemed, looking like a movie star from an action movie. The rakish hair always lent him that unconventional yet stylish edge that Duo envied a little. "Evening," Trowa greeted him. "Yep, it is," Duo responded. "Seen the princess's guard?" Trowa asked with a wry smile. "No and I've been looking." That was all the time Duo had for that conversation, because Quatre had led him to the governor. Governor Solomon give the impression that he was very pleased to see a fellow L2 colonial and childhood friend. Normally, a handshake would have been the appropriate greeting, but, Duo noted, the man had picked up the continental hug-and-kiss greeting on the way from rags to riches. It wasn't all for show, though. Solo used the opportunity to whisper into Duo's ear, "Good to see you, kid. Got your message. Thanks for the heads-up. I got her a real glittery bracelet." Duo looked down and from a pocket saw the sparkle of diamonds and sapphires, both pink and blue. "Wow, hot stuff." "Perfectly legitimate," Solo smiled to acknowledge his intentional play on the word "hot". "I paid good money for this...investment." "Gonna give it to her?" Duo asked, pulling apart. "You coming with me when I do?" "Sure." Duo clapped the man on the back. "I've met her and her 'tall drink' of a brother. C'mon." "The prince? Yeah, he's awfully like that White Fang leader-" Solo began. "Shhh!" Duo warned. "Not a topic to be voiced aloud around here, okay? We can talk about it another time." The Prince and Princess were pleased to meet Duo's illustrious friend. After the introductions were over, Duo stood back and observed. He learned more by watching faces than by listening to carefully crafted interchanges that passed for proper party conversation in polite society. Solo was older than Milliardo by a couple years, stood nearly shoulder to shoulder in height and carried another ten pounds in muscle. He wore his shoulder-length, darker-than-honey colored hair parted in the middle and tied at the base of his neck in a short ponytail. As he kissed Relena's tiny hand, Duo could see that their hair matched. Yeah, his childhood friend cleaned up fine. "As a gift from the colony of L2..." Duo stopped listening and concentrated on Relena's expression as Solo presented her with the gem-studded bracelet. Oh, yeah! The lady liked the stones. "... mined from the recently discovered sapphire mines of L2..." Not only did she seem delighted by the gift, Duo liked the how her eyes lit when she gazed into the other man's eyes. Was this a romance in the making? He hoped so. He hoped to free Heero from her clutches. Even if things didn't work out for him and Heero, Duo wanted the other man to gain something, maybe even look back on his time with Duo as a good thing because it freed him from the princess' unwanted attention, if nothing more. Speaking of Heero-where was he, Duo wondered again? "You look nice." The familiar voice from behind caught him off guard, especially since Duo had been just thinking about him. He spun on a heel and got an eyeful of Heero. "Heee-!" Duo was unable to finish with Heero's name he was laughing so hard, or trying not to. Although the party had been advertised as informal, everyone was in a suit and tie or fancy dress-certainly not casual. Duo guessed that the princess liked things on the fancy side, because she was wearing the only full-length gown, and her brother was suited in a military-like uniform-although nothing like his wartime red and white one-with plenty of gold braid and shiny brass buttons. So, despite the informality of the occasion, considering her tastes, it shouldn't have come as a surprise that she'd have had her elite guardsmen costumed extraordinarily. But it did. Perhaps if Heero had simply worn a formal dress uniform patterned off his daily one, except in starched white or velvet black, then Duo would have recognized him earlier. As it was, Duo had passed over him, thinking he was a stuffy, old-school footman. Pastel blue wasn't too bad a suit color; although, Duo could think of many more manly colors. The high-necked jacket was draped in gold braid and five-inch long, bullion fringed epaulettes embellished both shoulders, reminding Duo of dusters left there in error by the cleaning crew, and was altogether over-the-top awful. Duo didn't mind the skin-tight fit of the pants; he would have liked to have seen Heero in them without the silly jacket obscuring the rear view, but when the lower pant legs were tucked into a pair of white leather boots glittering with gold buckles marching up both sides, and you combined that with the white, fringed gloves, the overall impression was what Duo could only think of as a carnival costume. Or the silly footman of yesteryear. And then to top it all off, literally, and send Heero into the big ring of ridiculousness was the tall, white hat perched upon his head, mashing the dark hair into his eyes. The curling blue ostrich plume bobbed when he moved his head, as if to say, "I'm a dork." Duo broke out into a belly-laugh. Whatever kind words Heero had been about to say, melted on his lips. The testosterone in his body surged and his blood rose. The man had the self-control not to punch his lover in his wide, laughing mouth. The flare of his nostrils, drawn brows, and clenched fists were warning, though, of his annoyance. "Inviting you was a mistake," he growled. Duo drew a steadying breath. "Oh, man. Sorry, 'Ro, but in that getup you just don't look your intimidating self." He held his stance a moment longer, and then the anger ran out and he relaxed a little. "I know. At least we aren't in pink." "No!" Duo exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Yes," Heero whispered. "That was her first choice. Pargon told her we would all run if that happened." "Glad he put his foot down. That man's got a good head on his shoulders. Um, I like the pants." Color flooded Heero's face once again. "They're too tight." "Yeah," Duo said with a dreamy tone to his voice. "It's why I like'em. Heh, heh. Listen, how much longer do you have to hang out here? Any chance you getting off soon, and I do mean that in the dirty sense?" "Two hours and my shift is over." "You know which room is mine, don'tcha?" "I do." Duo smiled, as he turned on a little smoldering charm. "That's good." "I wish it were sooner," the guard said, casting a quick glance over a shoulder. "It's time for the photo shoot. Both the prince and the princess will be wearing their crowns for the first picture of them together, and the last before Milliardo's coronation." "Can I go with?" Duo asked, hoping there wouldn't be a problem to screw up his plans. "Since I'm providing the security, I insist." This time Heero smiled warmly. "Security, bah! There's no way you're carrying. No holster and no damn room under that jacket or in those pants for any sorta weapon." "I manage," Heero said smugly. "We're going to the next room over." Along the way, both Quatre and Trowa materialized, Quatre becoming involved at once in a discussion with both Relena and Milliardo over the move. And since there were no objections, clearly Quatre and his handsome friend would accompany them to the shoot as well. Duo flashed Trowa a quick hand sign for "all is well", and Trowa shot him a sappy smile in reply. The photographer had already setup for the shots in an alcove and so, it took no time from the moment the two figures struck a pose to complete the session. When he had an opportunity, Duo asked Milliardo where he was hiding Wufei. "He couldn't make it tonight," the prince said. That jolted Duo out of his complacency for a moment. "He's okay, isn't he? Not sick, I hope!" Or in trouble, or has found trouble, or encountered any number of other untimely problems? "He's well; thank you for asking." Mill smiled in a reassuring manner. "I'll see him tonight, later, as it happens. He simply wanted to double check a few important work-related details." "No worries, then?" "None at all." Mill removed his crown. "Would you like to hold this one?" "Would I! Sure! Man, this one's heavy." Duo admired the glittery gems adorning them. Surreptitiously, he also checked for Howard's mark, which would have meant that it was a copy. "Hey, can I hold them both?" Duo asked as Relena's crown was passed to Heero. "All right," Heero said. "One at a time. And don't drop them." Trowa stepped into place just as Duo needed for him to do. "Hey, Tro' lookit the size of this ruby!" "It's large," the circus man commented, taking the crown in his hands for examination. Duo waited for Heero to rest the smaller crown of Relena's into his hands. "Amazing, huh?" No mark was present; both crowns were the real deal. Quatre took his cue and positioned himself properly to get a look. "Oh, let me! I've never touched anything like this before!" A lie, but he sounded so bedazzled Heero just stood by and watched as Trowa passed him one crown and took the other from Duo. "Is that the guard who's to deliver these back to where they belong?" the blond asked Heero. There was another gaily dressed guard outside the door waiting in the shadows with two boxes obviously designed for transporting the valuable crowns. "Yes," Heero said. "Come, Trowa. Let's put them in the boxes for him!" And before Heero could object, Quatre had taken off with a crown with Trowa right behind him. What could he say? Everyone could see the guard watching over the packing and the crowns being carried away with all proper etiquette. Duo felt a little bad for Heero, though, because what appeared to be one of the Sanc Elite Guard was really one of Winner's Maguanac Corps members. The carrying cases would be disguised as hat boxes later and stacked alongside countless other hatboxes of Relena's destined for the L4 colony. When they re-entered the ballroom, Quatre began cheerfully introducing his sisters around. Only one, Iria, a doctor in the L4 colony, was familiar to Duo. The women were thrilled to be of service to Princess Relena, helping her move the next day. They extolled the virtues of L4 and described all the fun the lovely princess would have there. Maybe find a rich and handsome young man? Solo had worked his way to Relena's side and before long, wrangled an invitation to visit Iria's estate. Duo knew his old friend had the touch for coming out on top and getting what he wanted. He always had. After a bomb had leveled their neighborhood, he and the other orphaned kids had banded together. Solo, the oldest and a natural-born leader, kept them together and safe until an orphanage could take them all in. His name hadn't been "Solo" though; he had named himself that because he was alone in the world. He was "solo, man"-Solo Solomon. He called Duo "kid" until Duo decided to call himself "Duo", because, as he said, "You're not alone. With me around, we're a duo!" After a year at the orphanage, Solo had become a good-looking boy on the verge of manhood, nearly old enough to become a soldier, but he had been adopted, incredibly, by a man of position in the government, the District Attorney of L2, and then educated and groomed for the law and statesmanship. Duo grew up to join the war effort as part of Howard's colony rebellion force, the backbone of the L2 sovereignty movement. The two kept in touch, although rarely, but the bonds of friendship kept them united in their hearts. Duo gave Solo a thumbs up and Solo returned it with a silent thanks. Everything had gone smoothly. Duo was about to toast himself on his success, when he overheard an irritating voice at his back. He turned and observed a young lady sweep her long blond hair over a shoulder as she addressed Relena. "I don't understand all this chaos going on!" Relena looked puzzled but unruffled. "There's no chaos, Dorothy. Everything's under control." "Control? Control of whom? There's all this packing up and storing, painting, cleaning, a circus performance and now I hear there's going to be a television company here filming tomorrow? That's insanity!" "It's busy, but every year we have the circus come to open the summer season. It's all for the children in the inner city. Sometimes it's later in fall-" "Don't you think it's a little curious that it's a major refurbishing too? How's something not going to be lost in the confusion?" "Dear, dear Dorothy... there's no confusion at all. We even have time for this party! It's all so well organized and we have so many trusted agents in charge." "I don't know, 'Lena. It just the timing of so vast amount of moving and with the circus and the TV people, your security and guards will be stretched awfully thin." "Oh, don't be so suspicious of everything." Duo agreed with that. He wanted to strangle the vixen and stop her from seeding doubt in the mind of the princess or anyone else, but the pair walked out of his listening distance. Well, it was just too damn late for her to cancel everything, he hoped, and drank his glass of punch to the bottom. Duo felt a hand on his shoulder and turned into the touch. "You need me any more tonight?" Trowa asked him. "Nope!" Duo grinned. "Got hot plans of my own. Have fun." "I hope to." Trowa smiled, his cheeks a telltale pink, so that he hung his head and hid behind a curtain of bangs. "Is there a problem?" Quatre strode up to them. He seemed anxious to get going. "No," Duo said. "Not for me. But I was just gonna warn Tro' here about you." "What about me?" "What about him?" the circus man asked with a warning flicker of green in his eyes. "Quat? He's up all night, which you won't mind, but then watch out! He's up again before the birds at the crack of dawn. I know you're capable of handling wild animals and ropes, so you'll probably have no problem keeping him down." "That true?" Trowa asked, the glint in his eye now eager rather than wary and the toothy smile totally disarming the blond. "Of course not! I sleep just like anyone else. I simply wake up with ideas and can't go back to sleep until I I'm satisfied that-oh!" Quatre blushed all the way to the part on his scalp. Trowa coughed into his fist. "Took you long enough to get the bondage connection." Duo said, holding back his laughter. "I think you've said enough, Duo. We both have," Quatre said tartly. Not that Trowa minded a bit, Duo figured. If their joking around at Quatre's expense broke the ice between those two, then Duo felt it had been worth it. Duo watched as Quatre wrapped an arm over the circus man's shoulder and led him away. A guest room had been reserved for Duo, too. Heero had said he knew where to find him when he went off duty. He had seemed interested, and Duo found that that was sufficient positive motivation to depart the party. A young guard appeared in his path who insisted that he accompany Duo to the guest wing. Wouldn't want to have a thief wandering the halls alone. Of course, Duo had studied the maps of the place thoroughly and could have found his way in the dark, but he didn't want to tip off the man and give him a reason to start speculating about him. "Thanks," he said, and trundled off alongside the younger man. "Nice place. Work here long?" "Six months this week. It's a great job... an honor!" "Yeah, I'll bet." Duo looked to the side, smiled and waved. There was no one there. "Why did you do that?" the guard asked. "For fun. You ever review the surveillance logs?" "Um, no. That's never really done unless necessary. Mostly just spot- oh, I shouldn't talk to you about that." Duo waved him off carelessly. "Not important. I once had that job, you see. Boring with a capital "B". So, when I see a camera, I try and spice things up for the operator, should there be one. Try it some time. It makes them feel like they aren't alone." "Really? I never thought about it that way, but I can imagine having to look at hours of video from over fifteen cameras would get dull fast." The kid smiled, looking about fifteen years old, at most. "Maybe I'll wave next time." "You do that. So, is this my room?" Duo asked, knowing it was. His invitation had specified the "Lavender Room." "Yes, Mr. Maxwell!" His escort tipped his hat, topped with a smaller feather than Heero's, and stood at attention until Duo closed the door. And, no, he wasn't locked in. As he undressed and emptied his pockets on the bedside table, he became amused at the lack of contents. All those wealthy people, and not once had he given into temptation and lifted anything. He had learned that the security was as lax as he'd guessed, as he was counting on for the success of the next day's activities. Fifteen cameras were about what he and Trowa had estimated, too. No surprises then. Check off another worry. He climbed into bed and switched off the light. The crescent moon was by then low enough in the western sky to shine in the window. No clouds. That was good; rain was an unwanted element. Filtered through the curtains, the moonlight cast a shimmering pattern of lace roses on the comforter and across the hardwood floor to the door, a strangely ominous sign. Duo closed his eyes and gave himself to a succession of impressions from the day: the feel of Heero's body pressed against his in the stairwell, the look in Trowa's eyes when he slipped on the roof, the glint of the jewel-encrusted crowns which he'd held in his hands for less than a minute, the smell of the food at the party. As the pictures melted into one slowly moving picture show of the day's events, he felt himself drift into a state of semi-slumber. The sound of the click of the door being opened triggered Duo's reactions and he sat up in bed fully alert, focused on the handle turning, tensing, ready to launch himself at an attacker. Heero, the world's most handsome palace guard stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He looked vulnerable with his mussy hair, tie loose, jacket draped over one arm. "Can I come in?" He looked spectacularly delicious in those molded-to-his-body pants. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't." Duo folded his legs atop the bed and propped himself up on the pillows. "You have a perfect ass." "Idiot." Heero chuckled, a little embarrassed. He watched as Heero removed his clothing. And then he watched as the comforter moved down and Heero slipped under it and nestled next to him, absorbing his warmth. "Just hold me," Heero said. He was curled in a ball, his back to Duo. Tenderness for the other man overwhelmed Duo. He rolled towards him and draped an arm over his shoulders, gently pulling the guard closer. A shuddering wave of excitement passed through him and knew Heero had to have felt it, too. This cuddling wouldn't last long, Duo suspected, but he also knew that they were sharing something important, something special, something new. Duo gave him permission to take over, and Heero did. Following the quiet overture of affection, the ecstasy of sex let loose an avalanche of feelings, one following the other in quick succession-desperate need, mounting desire, grateful release. After a cursory cleanup with towels, the two lovers coiled around one another and fell into a deep, satisfying asleep.
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