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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 Seven - Sleight of Hand After shrewd deliberation, for his next course of action Duo chose to get the paperwork for the television company out of the way. He was in the general area for starters. What he really wanted to do more was to see Trowa and tell him about Mill, but it was too early. Trowa was not a morning person. Duo wondered how he and Quatre would work that out between them? Quatre was on the go both morning and night; Trowa wasn't. Deciding that problem was not within his current scope of interest for the moment, Duo concentrated on what he wanted to achieve. If he wanted a tractable Trowa, one who wouldn't bite off his head, definitely after lunch would be a better time. Certain that Trowa wouldn't be so pleased about incorporating Zechs Merquise into the plan, and especially having to work with him, how then was he to broach the subject? Could his friend ever come to trust that man? When it came to Trowa, trust didn't come cheap. Duo decided to bring Trowa his favorite take-out lunch from town and butter him up and then introduce the hard cash to seal the deal. Trowa was less critical when he had a little extra pocket-money. Remembering the promises of ready money from the reality TV creators brought a smile to his lips. Trust may not come cheap, but luckily it could be bought. It certainly couldn't hurt his case, or himself, if he walked away from this meeting with some startup money. So, inspired by that pleasant feeling of anticipation, Duo stepped up his pace to get the contract out of the way. The AOK Broadcasting Company legal offices were right downtown not a block from the sparkling glass towers of the Winner Corporation. "AOK is a stupid name," Duo grumbled while waiting for the elevator to take him to the right floor. "Like everything's just hunky-dory and a-okay with them. Yeah? Well, why have a legal department, huh?" He passed through the entry area on a path heading directly for the desk, where he expected to find stacks of documents awaiting his signature. But, no, it was not that simple. The desk secretary buzzed for one of the "partners" to "walk him through" the process. "I shoulda called for an appointment," Duo apologized once he realized it was going to take longer than he'd expected. Then he remembered the manners Quatre had drilled into him and removed his cap. "Sorry, ma'am." "It's no problem," the lady smiled. "Please, make yourself comfortable and someone will be right out. Would you like some coffee?" "No, thanks," he said, taking a seat on the leather settee. He'd just become absorbed in reading an article on the love life of some leading starlet, when an attractive young woman greeted him by name. "Hello, Mr. Maxwell. I'm Lucrezia Noin." Not another blast from the past! Duo sat speechless at the sight of another enemy he'd fought. "You still have that braid. I'm glad. It's so distinctive." "Um, yeah. Still got it." He wiggled the tip in the air as proof as he thought of something intelligent to say. "So, you work for AOK?" "Yes, I do. Shall we get on with getting you on board?" she asked. Duo followed her to a bleak office more than happy to avoid conflict or talk of past conflicts. The happy feeling drained as he entered the room, though. Not being the office-worker sort of person, all rooms filled with nothing but tables, chairs and filing cabinets seemed dreary. He listened as Noin described the purpose of each document and pointed to the line requiring his signature. He read and understood each page before signing and moving on to the next. No legal eagles for him! He didn't trust cops or lawyers, except to get him into jail. He'd spent two years taking on-line law classes and figured he could pass a bar exam, if he ever had the notion to go semi-legit. It took forty-five minutes to go over all the documents and approve them. "There you are," Noin exclaimed. She furnished him a folder to hold everything. "When you are ready, you are all set to withdraw money from your account." "I have an account?" Duo had avoided banks, except to rob that one, which hadn't gone well. "Yes, here. The cashier's office is open now, if you want, or you can do it all electronically. The instructions are on the last page, here." A neatly-trimmed finger nail indicated the exact paper, a new one. "So, AOK's gotta bank?" Duo asked after scanning the paper. And then that one, too, passed into the folder. "A cash reserve that acts as a credit union and is used for payments to actors in particular," she answered swiftly. "Your final payment will be deposited when-" "When I've finished my role. I read that part. Thanks." She smiled and held the collection for him to take. "I've enjoyed seeing you again, Duo Maxwell. And wish you luck in the realm of reality television." "If I succeed in the realm of TV land, it will be due entirely to my skill. Luck won't enter into it." To his mind, luck was more of a revolving door. To make the most out of the good times took skill. On his way out, he hummed a merry little tune as he wrapped his braid under his cap. Yes, he was off to see a man about some moola. Getting paid upfront was a new thing and he liked it very much. (o) Oh, yeah. Trowa was pleased to see him and share lunch. And, double yes, he was absolutely delighted to get paid. "I'll show you how the train cars have been fixed up," he offered, "And then we can eat." Trowa rarely proposed anything and only showed off when performing under a tent to a roaring audience, so he must have been very happy, indeed. "Circus is on schedule to be ready?" Duo asked. He'd approved of all Trowa's accomplishments, so far. "Looks like it." His friend had really come through for him. How many people did Duo know that would? He really had to rely on him for this and it was a little overwhelming to know Trowa had followed through so capably. His friend was resourceful and discreet and ... Duo was touched. "Thanks Tro' for, ah," Duo choked up a little, "for being my friend and all." "Same here." They sat and ate, both feeling a little embarrassed over that outburst. Duo told him the story of his wild date with Heero as a spearhead into his proud announcement about finding the maps to the palace. Trowa listened, grunting or nodding at appropriate pauses. When he heard that Duo found maps of the layout and made copies, he slapped his friend on the back. "Excellent!" Trowa was as jubilant as Duo had ever seen him. Being in the money definitely suited the guy. "Perfect!" Trowa grinned and folded his arms across his chest. "I have a printer here." "To get hardcopy of the maps?" Duo asked. Duo had never seen him so outwardly excited, except when he'd talked about Quatre, and it was especially noteworthy that he was offering to do something for him out of the goodness of his heart. "Yeah. Use your phone to send them to me and I'll mess with them so the details stand out." "Okay." Duo sent the photos he'd taken of the palace maps to Trowa and watched him pour over the pictures, enlarging, sharpening, and enhancing the lines. "One of these is fuzzy, but the rest are fine. I'm printing...now." Trowa and Duo put heads together over the maps. "I don't see how there can be a hall from here to-" Trowa tried lining up two different maps, then turned one upside down. "There." "It goes all the way to the treasury-OH!" Duo figured out what it was just as his friend did. "Underground tunnel," they said together. Trowa smiled and folded his hands together, leaving Duo to hold the maps. "It makes sense that there's a way to get the coronation things into the palace without having to go outside." At which point, Duo wondered if this would help with another problem he'd thought up. "Quatre thought to hide the crowns in hat boxes and get them out with the clothes. Once I found out the real ones were in the treasury, I figured that plan was out." "They'd be hard for me to hide on the train, and hat boxes would look out of place, but might not be too bad mixed with the costumes, if it comes to that." "Thanks. Quatre will be disappointed not to get his sticky fingers on them, but the only other possibility is to take them from the treasury to the palace using this handy-dandy passageway." "Sounds risky," Trowa said. "I don't like it. I have plenty to do moving everything else." "I'm not crazy about anyone roaming the palace carrying the merchandise, except..." He paused before saying something he knew Trowa wouldn't like. "So, did I tell you Wufei has a boyfriend and I met him this morning?" "No. Is it important?" Trowa asked in a tone of total disinterest. "Well, yeah. Wufei wants to use him to move the art and rugs." "And, what did you think of him?" "That's complicated." "Shouldn't be," Trowa told him. So Duo told him who it was. "His name's Mill, as in Milliardo Peacecraft, Prince of Sanc." "Fuck. Duo!" Trowa was on full alert status now. "No chance." Duo let the joke soak in with only a turned-up lip to give it away. Trowa let out a calming sigh. "Okay, so tell me what's bothering you most about him." Think you can avoid telling me how you feel? No way, buddy boy, Duo thought. "I like the guy and wanna trust him. 'Fei sure does." "You want to trust the prince?" Trowa's eyes shone green, the gold flecks giving way in the brighter light of mid-day. "So, he flirted with you?" "Not really flirt, no. He made it clear that he's found his mate in 'Fei. Nah, we just clicked. He's dry as toast, hot as hell, plenty aristocratic, but earthy, too." "You flirted with him and he ignored you then." "I did not say that. There was no flirting involved." "It was all business." "Friendly chitchat and business, yeah." "No cravings to strip him naked?" "Trowa! I said no. I didn't have sex on the brain. I admired him, but most of the time I was trying to figure out where I'd seen him before." Trowa nodded and concentrated on looping the rope he'd picked up. "And the guard took you all the way to the beach for fish and chips?" "How did we switch over to him?" "I'm getting to that. How was the date?" Trowa's gaze was steady and intense. "I know it doesn't sound great, but it was. He took me to a fancy-ass place the first time." "His choice?" "Yeah, and I looked damned good, too." "But you felt uncomfortable there." "Pretty much. I couldn't read the menu, but he was cool about that." "And so for the next he met you at a bar of your choice." "That's right. He was okay eating there. That's when we showed up here at the circus." Trowa smirked. "I remember." Duo looked cross. "You intimidated him in some way." "I did, but if he cares about you, it won't matter." "I'd rather you become friends," Duo said glumly. At this point he realized that the end of the rope looked like a noose. "We'll see. You haven't had sex?" "Wh-what kinda question is that? Geez, Tro', I don't ask you stuff like that." "Yeah, you do." Duo just shrugged and looked away, content not to argue the point. He felt better when Trowa dropped the rope. "You ought to do him. You can have my caravan tonight. Give me a call if you aren't coming." "You are as pushy as..." But Duo decided to leave Quatre out of this discussion, "a goat or mule or... I don't know." "Duo, the man's had opportunities, but hasn't taken them. He's been accommodating you to make you feel comfortable around him." He's been trying to impress me, Duo filled in silently. "You're thinking about him, not just thinking about sex day and night with any man on two legs-" That's right. Just Heero dreams. "-meaning, you are dangerously close to becoming... involved. So, get the sex out of the equation." "First it's 'do it, Duo', and now it's 'get it out of the equation'? Make up your mind!" "You're not listening right. I mean, putting off the sex just makes him want you more. Take away that...exciting anticipation and maybe there's nothing left. That's all." Duo straightened. "You think once he's... he's had me he'll just move on? Is that what you think?" "Would that be so bad?" Trowa looked away into the distance, working his jaw before saying more. "If he was an Alliance soldier, and he catches you robbing the palace, after he arrests you, he will come down so hard on you that- what?" Duo's drawn brows relaxed and a smile spread across his face. Heero coming down on him...hard. "Now you got me thinking about sex." Trowa shook his head and turned away, his eyes tracking something in the distance. "Fine. The offer's still open and the suggestion still stands." "It probably won't happen. I think he's more caught up in his job than me, which is just as well." "Could be, but then he'd be stupider than I reckoned. Listen, thanks for the pay and the food. Cathy's waving. I'm needed." "Okay." "We'll talk more about this prince character." Trowa gave him an intense, final stare in parting. "Yeah, we will. But it's my job, my call," Duo reminded him. "I know. Think about my offer." "Later," Duo promised. If he could bring himself to tell his friend that the prince was also a man they fought against during the war, Zechs Merquise, then he'd do it. "Yeah, later." And so they parted still friends. Duo wasn't humming but he felt pretty good. While waiting for the bus, he thought back over his meeting with the prince. He'd mentioned his security clearance for a reason, and now Duo wondered if Mill had authorization to enter the treasury and, if he did, would Mill help emptying it? It would mean another meeting with the man and then getting him and Trowa in the same room together for one final planning session. Wouldn't that be fun? Suddenly, facing Heero with an armload of hot merchandise was sounding more attractive. So good, in fact, that he called Heero. "Hey, 'Ro? Busy?" "I just left a party-planning meeting. Your name is on the invitation list. Does that surprise you? It surprised me." "Life's full of surprises, which gets me to my point pretty fast. Would you like to get together tonight?" "I can't... It would have to be late." "Late's fine." "Where?" "I have access to a private place." Duo hoped he'd made his intention clear. He didn't think he could spell it out over the phone. 'Romantic tryst' sounded archaic and anything else his mind came up with sounded degrading for some reason. "Ah, sounds...um...all right. Good! I'll call and pick you up?" "Oooh! Another motorcycle ride!" Duo crowed. "Yes." "Great! Later!" "Bye, Duo." (o) The remaining payout from the TV company, in the form of checks, were burning a hole in Duo's pants. Giving his earnings away, hard-earned or not, was not in Duo's makeup, but it was a sure way to oil the machinery that was going to make his plan work. Trowa was satisfied with his payment, and Duo expected Wufei wouldn't turn down his. He called ahead, resulting in Wufei greeting him at the back door to Chang Antiquities. Duo wasn't sure why Wufei never invited him to tour the shop, but he never did. Was it to preserve Duo's anonymity amongst the customers, or was he afraid Duo might scare off the customers? Did his friend not trust him to look and not filch? Or, what Duo most believed to be the case, was the Chinese businessman hiding something? "I've poured tea," Wufei said with a pleasant smile. "Won't you come in?" Duo handed over the pre-payment with a smile of his own. "Don't mind if I do." Wufei took the offering with a reverent little bow. "The crates have been modified according to the size and shapes of the baubles to be stored. Would you like to see one?" "Oh, yeah, I would." An external examination would show nothing unexpected. Entry to the hidden compartments would require removal of the painting or an understanding of Chinese puzzle boxes. Wufei demonstrated how with a series of pushes here, slides there, and press-and-glide over and out, an entire side of a crate could be opened to reveal cushioned compartments. "'Fei, I am impressed. How did you get this done so fast? No, don't tell me. Man... Wowzer! This is... truly a work of art in and of itself." Duo had found the words to assuage the other man's pride. Wufei smiled a highly satisfied smile. "Thank you. There's a little exhibit inside that might interest you as well?" "Sure! Lead on!" Well, well, well... the prime treatment all of a sudden? Why hadn't he thought of lining the pockets of his friends and co-workers with money earlier? Except for the fact that he rarely had any to spare even a thought to. Sigh. Duo expected the shop to be dark and littered with hundreds of prints and framed art. It was, instead, well lit with thick carpeting underfoot, and tens of framed oil paintings dotting the walls, which were erected in a labyrinthine configuration. "I'm lost!" Duo called out from the bowels of the design. Wufei tut-tutted him off and told him to follow the yellow brick road back. To Duo's surprise and delight, there was a semblance of a gold path in the rug's pattern which did steer him to the outlet. "I hadn't noticed the design in the carpet going in," Duo laughed. "Because you weren't looking at your feet." "No, I was looking at the porn. Your choices in art are intriguing." "It's being changed out later today, but I thought you'd appreciate the taste of this particular artist." Wufei poured the last of the tea and gracefully balanced on the edge of a stool. "Gay subject matter is so common, but these oils showcase an evolved eye for composition." "Yeah, well, the model's hot, too." Duo waved off the rest of the tea party. "Thanks for the refreshments, but its time for me to toddle on." "Have you made a decision about Mill? It alters my plans dramatically if I can't utilize him." Duo smiled at that, figuring Wufei utilized his boyfriend just fine as it was. He didn't say anything, though, because he knew his friend hadn't a sense of humor about his private life. "I have not, but I'm hoping to meet with him tomorrow for the purposes of asking a few questions, but mostly... there's another person who might not be so happy." "I thought Mill's inclusion would be on a need-to-know basis only!" "Oh, it is or I wouldn't be inviting him." Wufei turned away. "You'll let me know?" "Right after I know, okay?" Wufei nodded a single curt dip of his chin, and Duo departed to meet with another client, war buddy, and friend. (o) "You saw Trowa? A-again?" Quatre's voice cracked. Duo did not, however, feel sorry for the guy this time. "Quatre, you can go see him anytime, just like I do. I don't wait for an invitation." "I just might do that!" Quatre flipped through his electronic schedule. "I wonder if tonight-?" "But not tonight," Duo said. "Heero and I are staying there." "Who?" Quatre asked innocently, and then his expression changed. "Heero Yuy?!" Duo nodded. "You've met him?" Of course he had! He was with the princess at the conference, idiot! "Heero and you?" Quatre choked and coughed. "Is this the Heero Yuy who is Relena's top security guard? The one that shadows her everyplace she goes?" "Um... yeah. Didn't I tell you about him?" "NO! No, you haven't mentioned anything about him and now suddenly you are planning to run away to the circus with him and... and stay with Trowa!" "No! Not with! It's more kinda just us. He's sorta lending us his caravan." "But why? You can't really take it anyplace-oh! Oh! Duo!" From the look on his friend's face he wasn't sure if he was about to slap him or cuddle him. Duo held up a hand to block whichever was coming his way. "It's so dangerous for you!" "I fly in the face of danger," Duo joked. But seeing that his friend wasn't smiling he tried to reassure him. "I don't know if anything will happen. I'm not sure what Heero wants, well, I'm pretty sure he's game to fool around, but I'm not sure what all will happen. I'd rather not speculate, okay?" Quarter hugged him lightly. "All right. He is a dish, I'll grant you that. But-" Duo stopped him with a combination "don't hurt me" and "say nothing against him 'cause I've heard it all before" look. "-But I wish you luck," the blond finished. "Thanks, man." Duo disentangled himself from his friend's well-intentioned but clingy grasp and moved on. When he offered his friend his check for services rendered so far, Quatre turned it down. "It's unnecessary, Duo, but thank you. Give it to your favorite charity, all right?" "I can do that." Duo proceeded to tell him things were going as planned, more or less. "I have another person to bring on board and... it's a tough call." "Who is it? Maybe I can help?" "Maybe you can. Lemme think about it and I'll let you know. I'm planning a little meeting of the minds tomorrow and if it goes okay, I'll call you in. I may just pass on the guy and then I'd just be wasting your time." "I'll make time for you," Quatre promised. "So how are you doing?" Duo asked. He couldn't think of what it was he needed to tell him and hoped by the time he finished chattering about his accomplishments, he would remember. "The party is creating security nightmares, I've heard. Poor Heero! We're giving him so much trouble." It would give him some tense muscles Duo would have to work out later with some loving. "-especially when he heard about the formal photo shoot! ' "Whatzat?" "The press has been promised a picture of the Prince and Princess of Sanc in their crowns! This will be the last time they'll be wearing those, because Milliardo's coronation is planned for- What is it, Duo?" "Crowns! That was what Trowa had mentioned. He's gotta problem if they are stored in treasury building and you want them." "He has?" "Not that he wants them, mind you. Don't let me give you the wrong impression. He's not greedy. He just can't walk them over to the palace while unloading the gold. He definitely isn't prepared to store them on the train. He made that clear. And- what?" "He's stealing the Sanc government's gold reserve?" Aw, shit. Those watery blue eyes should be outlawed, along with ties. "No, no, no. Not at all. It's all part of a bigger thing. I shouldn't said all that outta context. What I meant was just to assure you that he wasn't after the crowns and that moving them from the palace or from the treasury wouldn't be done by him. That's all. Really. Just forget about the gold for now." "Hmm," Quatre frowned. "I don't want him to get into trouble, Duo." "I won't let that happen. Got it covered. Promise." Hope to God I keep that promise. "Oh, all right. I trust you. For now. As for the crown situation, I'll give that some thought. One pair will be in the palace for the shoot, but the more valuable ones won't be and that is a problem." "Yeah, well, it's the least of my worries, which give you a hint of the immensity of my problems." "You don't look overly concerned to me." Duo wondered how he should look and crossed his eyes. "How's this?" His friend giggled. "You're silly." His smile grew sly. "Oh, you are thinking of tonight, aren't you?" To the detriment of everything else, Duo was about to admit. "I'm losing my concentration. Details are slipping away." Quatre's hand on his arm got his attention. "I'd trade places with you any day. Oh! If it were Trowa instead of Heero!" "Yeah." Duo wished there was something more he could do to bring his two friends together faster. Trowa seemed to believe that he needed the success of this job before moving forward. So, if completing the job would build Trowa's self-confidence and bank account, then there was nothing but doing his part well and right that could hurry things along. "Don't worry about me, Duo. Have a good time and call me later when you have decided about a meeting. I'll like to meet with everyone on the job." "Thanks. I'll keep in touch." Don't let the revolving door of life slap you on the ass on your way out, Duo my boy!
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