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"Band of Steel"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, shounen-ai, yaoi in later chapters,
some language, drugs Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3 Summary: With the Sanc battle of the bands contest on the horizon, do the GW boys need the exciting singer from L2 to give them the winning edge? Other credits: Songs are credited in the chapters they are used. Recognition should go to the late Mitch Hedburg for a couple of his wonderful one-liners used. In chapters 7, 11, 12, 15, 17, and 18, dialog from the anime was incorporated directly into the storyline. Acknowledgment goes to someone else for the 'cats are gay', 'knowing color names is gay', and other gay jokes sailing around the Internet. And the New Age affirmations are not mine, but may seen and heard everywhere, even in the GW universe. (Original version 2007 - this is the rewrite version
2009) "Band of Steel " Chapter 14 - Head Over Feet A/N: Lemon alert "Hey, there! Man, you look like hell musta set up camp in your room," Duo said. Zech assumed the singer was commiserating as best he could, considering he was more interested in tempting the black cat in his arms with bits of cheese between nibbles of his own. "I'm worried about Quatre, among other things," Zechs said. "You'll get fat if you keep eating that," Wufei whispered in Duo's ear in passing. He was making tea. Duo gyrated around, tracking Wufei. "Hey, I've never ever had a surplus of food, endless quantities of it, in boxes, cupboards, refrigerators, and sideboards overflowing with courses at mealtime and snacks in between. I can't pass by without tasting. I never knew when my next meal might be my last." "Looks like your cat's as much of a glutton as you," Wufei put in before Duo could. Zechs thought the cat had an enormity of fur. "Yeah, well..." Duo paused. "I got no argument for eating all I want, since I'm not gaining weight at all. I'm more interested in what Zechs has on his mind, because, like, Quat's pretty numb from the shock. He needs to accept what happened, grieve for the loss, experience the pain before he can start to adjust to the changes." He looked at the cat in his arms, hefted it a couple times, and asked Wufei, "You saying my cat's fat?" Zechs fiddled with a packet of Nutrasweet resting half-torn on the kitchen table and smiled, thinking it was an obvious sign that a girl was living in the house now. "Quatre needs more time than we can give him, I'm afraid." Wufei pretended to look the cat over. "Yes, chunky in fact." "Well, I'm not," Duo insisted. He turned toward Zechs again, the cat's tail catching the long blond hair and giving the cat something to reach for. "At least Quat's not alone. He's got someone to lean on now, several 'someones,' in fact." "Quit calling him 'Cat'," Wufei said. "I can't tell if you're talking about that damn animal or our friend." Ignoring him, Duo went on. "Trowa just fell into place at the right time for Quatre, that's on an emotional level, like as a best friend, I'm saying. So, the rest of us are left to do other things for him." Zechs pulled a fine lock of his hair from the cat's claws. "I'm trying, but he's not ready to listen to what I have to say." "He's listening, Zechs, he's just not reacting yet," Duo said. "Aw, man..." The cat entangled both paws in his hair, making her frantic when she couldn't free them. "Hold on... I'll get this... What was I saying?" "Quatre-" Wufei began. Zechs distracted the cat with a feather from his necklace while Duo gently loosened the knots and separated the claws from the lovely hair. "Oh, yeah. We can't let him withdraw from the world; that's what we do for him now. Then we'll have to help him get past the guilt the 'what did I do wrong?' stuff, which you know will be huge for Quat, and then let him assume some responsibilities of the daily grind again, so he can take back his power." Zechs smiled a little and pulled his mane into a ponytail in back, tying it off with a band from Duo. "Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life?" "That's it," Duo said. "Always have a bit of hope in your heart." Zechs shook his head. He knew that for Quatre, there was an utter inability even to hope. As long as his home was intact, his family safe, and his father alive, there was the possibility hanging out there that he could mend their rift and reunite. Now, the future was an abyss of the unknown where existence was a fear in itself. He was completely dependent on the charity of Zechs Merquise. And Zechs didn't need to be a mind reader to know how difficult that was on the pride of a young man of old family and independent means. As Quatre fully comprehended his dismal situation, Zechs could see the resulting misery given away by his eyes. Even Heero had noted Quatre's change to Zechs, which meant that Quatre's emotional state was painfully transparent no matter how hard he tried to hide it from everyone. "Don't you New Agers say stuff like 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'?" Duo asked. "Yes, we do." Zechs sat back in his chair and met Duo's eyes. "So, we shouldn't expect him to change overnight." "You are right, Duo. Healing from loss, grief... it is a gradual process that will take time. We should all be patient with him, help him love himself, and enjoy life again." "Man, that's deep, Zechs." "To have compassion you must first have an understanding of the oneness we all share." "Whoa, now you're going all magic crystals, rainbows and meditation music on me again." Duo switched his cat to the other arm and raided the refrigerator for a soda to wash down the cheese. Zechs chuckled and turned the page of the paper. "It's the time element that's the problem. That band contest doesn't move out with our needs." The news carried a wide variation of stories covering the attack on the L4 colony and attack on the reigning Winner family. One parallel that wasn't drawn, but that Zechs saw with his newly opened eyes, was the movement of Treize Khushrenada. In a small article on the business page, Zechs found the announcement that Romefeller Recording Industries main offices were moving to a small satellite colony not far from L4. When Treize took to the stars, it was an OZ response to a decision to engage the Alliance openly, and proof, as far as Zechs was concerned, that Treize was a part of the OZ higher command. "Did you see this?" Zechs handed the paper to Duo. Wufei joined them to read over his shoulder. "'Evil' is 'live' spelled backwards. You know what OZ spells backwards?" Duo asked. "Nothing," Wufei supplied. "But 'dzo' is some type of yak. Now, 'Duo' backwards spells 'oud', which is an Arabic lute." "It spells 'death'," Duo said. "Backwards or forwards, OZ spells 'death'. If you don't believe me, research it yourself. Just follow the money flow. Record companies, drugs, weapons. You'll find OZ greasy paw prints everywhere and the flow runs through the sewer in the form of fluid death the reality of which tickles through your fingers when you try and grasp it." "I will look," Zechs replied. "You make valid points, but it begins to ring of paranoia when the conservation groups get included." "Hell, manufacturing pollutes! OZ recording plants always got some nitwits marching 'round pointing out the crud destroying the environment is pouring out of it. It'll be off planet soon, if not already. I'll bet they've looked at rebuilding L5 just for that purpose." "Wufei?" "I will research that. It is my clan's responsibility, or was. He has no authority to touch a particle of its surface." "So," Duo went on, "OZ pays off these activist groups to cause controversial destruction in the name of conservation-" "That would be Dorothy's employer? Earth Liberation Front?" Zechs asked, sighing and rubbing his temples. "Right. They distract the reporters from what's really going on and smears some of the legit stuff groups like the one Relena works for-" "Nature's Concern Conservancy," Zechs supplied. "Yeah, that one. Listen. Now, this is just one scenario I thought up. Say you got this huge manufacturing operation, maybe thousands if you add up the recording, arms, and drug companies. You use up lots of resources and spew out tons of toxins, possibly. Maybe you own the power companies or just one of them. Let's see... L4 produces oil-like substitutes; maybe you want control of that. You use environmental groups to stop or significantly reduce production on Earth and now you control a large proportion of the resources. You feed the kids' heads with music, drugs, lies and you got potential armies. You got the arms and the resources, why it looks like OZ might have the world by the balls!" "My God!" Wufei shouted. "Does the man's greed know no limits? We have to stop them! We must stop Treize!" Zechs groaned as his head pounded. "How about we win this battle of the bands contest first, and then see how it goes?" "You are in pain. I will make you an herbal tea," Wufei said. "My job here is done," Duo said. "I think I'll go see what 'Ro's up to." Zechs cleared his throat. "What?" Duo asked, both his and his cat's eyes narrowing in defense. That alone sent shivers through Zechs. "You think I'm corrupting him? You know, Relena's a catch-beautiful, smart, and rich. If this," he twirled around to show off his body, "wholly fuckable package attracts him more, then I'd say he's fag and I ain't the cause, just the lucky recipient of his lust. Ta, ta!" Duo snatched a couple sandwiches left over from the lunch spread and an apple on his way out. Zechs guessed he did it mostly to annoy Wufei. He almost smiled, but actually all of their fighting and romancing caused Zechs no end of anxiety. He moaned and closed his eyes, his head hanging forward, the band slipping off the silvery mane, so it fell loose over his shoulders, hiding his face. His concerns didn't stop with the boys either, because his significant other, Lucrezia Noin, was a talent scout for Romefeller Recording Industries and in close association with Treize. He worked and reworked what he wanted to say to her when she would visit later that day, which led to another stab of pain across his brow. Also, contributing in no small way to his migraine this morning was Lady Une's relationship with Treize. He blocked out the rest of his thoughts as he became aware of someone else's presence at his elbow. "Yes?" "You must drink the tea to activate the healing properties," Wufei admonished him. He pushed the cup nearer to Zechs' fingertips. "Tea? Oh, yes, thank you." "You have helped me, taught me how meditation is a path to healing. Let me help you now." Zechs closed his eyes, nodding, preparing to relax and listen to Wufei's calming words. "... and through your own individual strength you can heal yourself effectively. It's always a process. Meditations are meant to assist you in your healing process. Do not ever underestimate your personal power to heal--" Wufei murmured on and on. "The challenges we face in daily life bring strength, wisdom, and perspective. The Way creates the warrior. Martial arts come from an ancient lineage of training mind, body and spirit, we call this the Peaceful Warrior's Way--" (o) Duo left his sleepy cat in his room, stowed the sandwiches in a pocket, ate the apple, changed his mind and ate one of the sandwiches, and then set out to find Heero. He automatically ate the second sandwich, soaking up real sunshine, and breathing in naturally produced air. Paradise. He found his boyfriend with Trowa and Quatre in the garden. Heero sat, back-turned his way, beside a nearly empty plateful of sandwiches and a six-pack of soda. The moment Trowa sighted him, Duo could see his lips move and everyone turn around, but they weren't smiling. Duo!" Quatre called out. "Yo!" Duo stared at the last remaining sandwich until Heero offered it to him. "Nice day. Zechs is inside meditating with 'Fei. So, whatsup?" "Heero was telling us about the tunnels below sector 12 on L2-the, ah, unabridged version," Quatre said. "Oh." Duo looked askance at Heero who was staring out at sea, only it wasn't a sea, more of an ocean of blossoms. "Are we talking about the sex or the violence." He chuckled and looked at Heero to gauge his comfort level. "Wouldn't mind more of the sex part of the story," Trowa said. "There wasn't any," Heero bit off. Ouch! So, Heero was only just so comfortable with his actions, Duo mused. It made him want to take Heero away and straighten him out. He had done what was needed at the time to give them a plausible cover story. Duo thought Heero understood that already. "Oh, so after Duo ripped off his clothes and most of yours and pulled you to the ground... that was it?" Trowa pushed. "Yep!" Duo said. "You gotta be quick to get outta trouble there. Whoring's legal, remember? And a couple of busboys or waiters or dancers fucking in the depths, making a little cash like that's accepted. No kid should be running around on his own unless he's sharp, but there's worse things than a little unexpected roll now and then." "But with so much casual sex, doesn't it become mundane after awhile?" Quatre asked. "Shit, Quat, how much fooling around do you think I've done?" "More than him," Trowa put in. "Well, if I could put it to music, we'd go, like, aluminum." Quatre and Trowa both laughed and punched him from different sides. "Don't you guys have anything better to do than talk about my sex life?" The answering silence was awesome. "Guess not. I mean, I don't claim to be some fucking saint or anything, but I never did it for money either. Balancing the physical need with the mental can be tough. I've seen kids reduced to despising everyone they had sex with. Anyway, early on I decided it would be different for me. I didn't want to become what amounts to a public convenience into which some would relieve themselves and then move on to the next victim. I mean, I was made desiring men, but I wasn't going to become a slave to my passions. And I sure as hell wasn't going to exchange money for it." "Not a healthy lifestyle, certainly. It disgusts most people," Quatre said with a sidelong look to Heero. Duo said, "I hear ya. The piloting was a godsend. With training came a job, money, and safety. So that's my story. How about you, Trowa? You got some dark secrets you want to share? Quatre?" Heero's cell phone buzzed. "Hn," he said to the caller then listened a moment. The sound of his hang-up was eloquent. It was action and comment compressed into one little monosyllable. "So dinner will be a little later than usual tonight-- Zechs' request," Heero said as he stowed his cell phone. "The kitchen help calls you?" Duo asked completely flummoxed by the idea. "No," Heero frowned at him. "Zechs." "Lucrezia's visiting," Trowa surmised. "He'll be better once he's getting some again. No rush is good." Duo looked with acute suspicion from Trowa to Heero out of the corner of his eye. "No rush?" "We have hours until we're expected for dinner." Quatre smiled ravishingly up at Trowa. "Maybe we can go to your room and you can show me those circus photos?" "I-" Trowa's voice would hardly obey him. Duo did a double-take. Had Quatre just propositioned Trowa or simply asked to be alone with him? Not that it mattered. This was a nice turn of events. Duo knew Trowa wouldn't chance leaving Quatre alone, not with his past OD history, but Quatre talking and asking for companionship was a good thing. His heart was high in his throat or might have started to sing. "That would be-" Trowa gulped and swallowed hard. "Yeah." He stood, wearing a silly smile, which he tried to hide. Quatre, on the other hand, looked at him with a most curious smile, half interested and half amused. He extended his hand, which Trowa took, and said, "Okay, then, let's go." "That was interesting," Duo said to Heero. "Not as interesting as what I was thinking," Heero said. "You know what I was thinking?" "Better not have nothing to do with elephants. You've been babbling about them for days." Heero's head shook back and forth very slowly. "Guess again." Duo's heart beat so hard he hoped the shaking of his body wasn't visible, and his mouth was completely dry. He could feel Heero's cold, blue eyes raking him over. He must have stood too long without answering; Heero was staring openly, waiting, so Duo said something obtuse just to say something. "I gotta idea." "Unless you don't feel up to ...what I have in mind." Heero's eyes stopped in their examination with the pause in his words and locked on Duo's. "You look up for anything, to me." Was he that obvious, Duo wondered? It took all his control not to grab Heero by the hand and pull him to the grass. He couldn't even move, though! Besides, he hadn't come outside prepared for sex, which was what he guessed was on Heero's mind. Heero looked away, then back. It was direct contact before he began talking, speaking haltingly. "Underground on L2, when I felt you, your skin touching mine, it was... amazing... like I was on fire. I couldn't function, but you did. You did, well, the right thing to throw Treize off-course. It was ingenious, in fact. But, if you ever do anything like that again, take a chance with your life, I'll--" Duo melted with the praise, and then grinned at him. He didn't want to smile, but he could not help it as his chest filled with a fierce warm ache he never wanted to lose. Heero had not touched him, nor he him, but the look in Heero's eyes had been a caress in itself, a touch that would never fade. Duo let out the deep breath he hadn't known he was holding. "I think I need to cool off inside." "Okay, sure. I'll bring drinks," Heero agreed hefting the six-pack a few inches in the air. Duo starting walking he knew not where, but ended his walk inside Heero's bedroom. He stretched and pulled down his t-shirt where is stuck to his sweaty back, and then perched on the wide window sill, feeling the almost-cool draft. The old jeans he was wearing were torn under the back pockets. When he lifted a leg, placing a bare foot on the sill, he knew the split would show Heero he was naked underneath. His eyes closed to slits as he watched Heero step lightly across the rug, heading his way, carrying what was left of the sodas, the young man's dark brown hair nonreflective in the ambient light. Duo unconsciously licked his lower lip and lowered his eyes as the young man approached. Smokin'! "Hot?" Heero asked. Duo looked up, startled- he thought he'd read his mind. "Huh? Oh, yeah, summer, ya know?" What a stupid thing to say! Heero stopped, a foot away, the corner of his lips curled upwards. "What did you think I meant?" Duo felt the heat rise up his neck to his cheeks. "I wasn't thinking, exactly. Just reacting." "To the heat...?" Heero stepped closer. "To you," Duo said, looking down. He brought both arms up to run his fingers through his damp bangs nervously. Why was he nervous for fuck's sake? He didn't hear Heero set the sodas to the side. Instead he felt his wrists caught up in Heero's one-handed, vise-like grip, pressed back onto window frame, pinned. He winced, struggling against his defensive reactions so as not to kick Heero in the face. He wasn't a docile person by nature, but he'd let Heero make the first moves if it would make it easier for him to deal with the situation. Duo opened his eyes just in time to get poked by Heero's coarse hair, to feel the warm breath moments before contact. Heero slammed into him, their teeth clicking together under the brunt of his assault. It didn't register with Duo at first that the other man was kissing him, but when it did, his entire body shook, fighting back from his submissive pose before relaxing into the window, allowing Heero to dominate him. His lips firmed slightly, resisting Heero's forceful attack, and he wiggled into a more comfortable position, spreading his legs slightly and allowing Heero to press closer. Feeling the other man's heat along his thighs caused an ache of pleasure centered in his groin. He tilted his hips without thinking, adding friction, and arousing them both more. Duo moaned into the kiss, parting his lips slightly, and was rewarded with a hot tongue, trusting into his mouth, pressing and massaging his own erotically. This was a dream. It wasn't Heero dribbling spit on his chin, thrusting his erection into his, holding him captive. It couldn't be. It had to be a dream. He'd be waking up any minute now. Then he wondered how the inexperienced guy got so good. Maybe it was only guys he hadn't fucked, but girls were another thing. That would explain it, Duo decided. Asexual, the hell... Heero released his wrists, only to bury his fingers in Duo's hair. He nipped at Duo's lower lip, sucking, then nipping again, driving Duo mad with need. Duo used the opportunity to slide his hands beneath Heero's shirt. When he felt Heero move back a few inches, Duo opened his eyes. Yes, Heero was still there. Heero pulled his shirt over his head then removed Duo's just as swiftly. Duo knew Heero was awfully excited, because his sentences were getting shorter. "Better." "Cooler," Duo agreed. Heero smoothed Duo's glossy, though, slightly mussed bangs, trailing his fingertips along his braid, and kissed him on his bruised lips. "Gods, it's so soft. Your hair." And they did kiss for a long time before Duo felt Heero's hand leave the back of his head and slide slowly, lightly, down his back. Heero's hand paused on his jeans. "Nothing under these?" Heero's low voice asked. It was a touch husky with hope. Duo wasn't about to kill his hope. "Just the best damned package you'll find in all this-here Sanc Kingdom." Heero didn't even blink. "I know what you've got." He jerked at the zipper. Duo smiled as he wiggled out of his jeans and Heero yanked off his own, tossing them across the room. Immediately he had both hands on Duo's naked ass and moaned into an urgent kiss. Duo let him continue to lead-to the bed, side table-groping hands and lips locked in a violent intensity. Heero flipped on the radio, careless of what was playing. "...You've
already won me over, in spite of me They rolled onto the bed, testing for dominance, nuzzling, kissing, fondling, keeping each other hard. Together squirming, forcing hard contact, rubbing skin to skin-- they couldn't stop. "Don't
be surprised if I love you for all that you are Heero's fingers hurt when they dug into his hip to hold him in place, but his tongue felt so good licking his chest he forgave him and let him explore. "You're
love is thick and it swallowed me whole The humping at his thigh ended in an explosion of wet and a surprised cry. Duo nearly came himself, lurched, and poked his boyfriend with his erection. He managed to get out a murmurred, "You're so hot-" "You're
the best listener that I've ever met His voice cut off as a warm palm wrapped his heat. For a heartbeat he worried about his boyfriend's roughness and strength, shooting both hands down to protect his crotch. "I've
never felt this healthy before But Heero treated his fragile parts with tenderness, rubbing his own slimy cum over and around forming a slick tunnel. Duo moaned and writhed at his touches, coming moments later with a shout that could be heard over the music, and probably down the hall, too. "You've
already won me over, in spite of me "Oh, God, Heero-f-fuck!" "Don't
be surprised if I love you for all that you are Heero shoved his already-hard erection into his stomach as he smothered him with kisses. A long tongue punished his mouth, thrusting, stabbing, forcing him to give in and just take it as his body weight crushed him into the mattress. "You're
love is thick and it swallowed me whole Stars twinkled against the blackness behind his eyes. He needed air and struggled to get up. His heavier boyfriend shifted off his chest and broke the kiss. Dark eyes and a nose abutted up to his face. Moist hair and a raging hard-on tickled his hip. "More." Duo chuckled, low and deep in his chest. "At your command. Your call." "I want to fuck you." "Smooth talker, that's my 'Ro. 'Kay, well, I won't deny ya, babe, but we'll need-" "I got lube right here in the drawer," Heero said, stretching across the mattress. "Okay, I'm pretty, ah, loose already. You got me really hot. But you will need a rubber. In my jeans pocket. Left one. A pre-lubed..." Heero balked, but Duo was insistent. Without being too blunt he reminded Heero that although he'd tested clean for STD's, part of the medical testing Zechs had insisted on, Heero shouldn't trust him, or anyone. "Six months-- minus, uh, two of abstinence here-- gives us about four, and if it's still just you and me, well, we can talk about dropping the condoms in four months." To his astonishment, Heero actually penciled in a note on his wall calendar and agreed, right before he grabbed both the lube from the dresser drawer and the condom from the jeans. Heero crawled back over him and knelt with Duo's legs stretched to either side along his hips. "I read about how to do this," he said. A glob of cool gel appeared on the ends of his fingers. "Need it or not, it won't hurt if I use it." "It's easier if I roll over," Duo recommended. When Heero nodded, Duo showed off his agility by swinging a leg up and over Heero's head and rolling onto his stomach in a single graceful move. Head down on his folded arms, ass up, he gave Heero all the access he could. Next thing he knew, a cool finger entered him. "You weren't kidding about ready," Heero said. "You can train your muscles to relax," Duo told him. "Uh, that feels really nice, 'Ro." He heard the tear of packaging and a grunt from Heero when he unfurled the chilly condom and condemned it for being, "Cold." "Not for long," he assured him. He wished he hadn't eaten that second, or third, sandwich, and then all though faded away as he succumbed to sensation. He credited the months of abstinence for his lack of control. Heero hit his "love gland" and he shot into outer space. He could feel Heero slapping against him and then collapse on his back, but his universe was spinning. "Did I pass out?" "Yes." Heero must have left the room, because now he was returning with a damp washrag and towels. Duo lay silent, watching as his lover cleaned them both then dried. "Thanks for doin' that," Duo said, the awe evident in the tone of his voice. "Get used to it," Heero said. "I'm not into...sticky and moist. We'll lay out a towel next time." "Next time" sounded excellent to him. "So, it was all good, huh?" Duo asked. Now he was insecure? Warm lips pressed against his, parted for an instant, then left him cooling with a tongue print. "Yes." Heero covered them with the fine, lavender-scented, Egyptian-percale sheet and a feather-weight, cream-colored, Merino wool blanket with a boneless Duo nestled to his side. Feeling safe and warm was nothing compared to feeling well loved. Snuggling on a cloud of euphoria, yeah. Duo could take this ending to every day. He got about fifteen minutes. Someone burst into the room. "Yuy! Oh! Ah, sorry, but damn. Reeeally, sorry, man, but Quatre's gone!" He heard Heero growl "Barton? What the hell?!" and felt the mattress dip. Duo cracked open an eye to see his lover leaving the bed. "He's taken off with Wufei... to L4. I'm pretty sure. To fight!" Duo rolled over to watch Heero drag his jeans over his fine ass. Well, it had been good for awhile. Maybe Heero would invite him again. His thoughts were still groggy from the short sleep, but Trowa's anxious tone cut through. "Wufei came to my room, asked to borrow Quatre a minute, and after 30 I went looking for them." His voice cracked and elevated to his upper register. "T- There's all this stuff! Ah, papers, printouts lying about Wufei's room!" "Sounds serious," Duo said, fully awake now. Alert and ready to rumble, Duo leaped from the mattress to snatch at his scattered clothes. They dashed to Wufei's room as he fastened his jeans. While he and Trowa and looked over the papers strewn about, Heero brought up Wufei's computer. "He was looking at L5 investors," Trowa said. "He printed out pages of names." Duo looked around his shoulder. "Mariemaia is an OZ corporation named after Treize's daughter." "Oh, yeah? He's underlined that name numerous times in association with power companies and one... weird... one opera house?" "Did any of you know Dorothy Catalonia is the granddaughter of one of the leaders of the financial organization behind OZ?" Heero told them. She's also Treize's cousin." Duo caught his eye. "No wonder she got the job with ELF." "Oh?" "OZ contributions fund them by circuitous routes, like I said," Duo said. "Though, she's in trouble now. Wonder if the charges will evaporate?" "Chang was tracing Treize." Trowa held up a sheaf of paper. "Ends on L4." Heero muttered as he read from a website, then shouted, "Une came out of her coma and escaped from the hospital! Wufei's been following the blog. Look here!" "How much you wanna bet that Une didn't escape, but was kidnapped instead and is now on L4, too?" Duo asked. "Not a dime," Trowa said. "So, Wufei wants to get back at the syndicate for destroying his clan, and Treize is buying up L5 land for the syndicate. That means that Wufei will want to attack him, but Treize is on L4 and Wufei's never been there." Duo shook his head. "So he gets Quatre to go with him. Quatre was all crazy with guilt and probably dying for vengeance," Trowa said. "He'll be fucking reckless," Duo said, "which is bad for them both." "Dangerous as hell," Trowa agreed. Heero shut down the computer. "Zechs locked up my gun. What about yours?" "Guns, knives...all gone," said Trowa. Duo was impressed. "Guns? Wheredyagettaholda guns? I gotta few knives, garroting wire, small stuff. We're going to L4, right?" "Right." "Wrong." "Zechs?! Aw, fuck!" Duo shouted. "Listen first. We have to go get Wufei and Quatre before they fucking go off and -" "Before they do something very daring but very stupid?" Zechs said, and eyebrow raised in question. "Yeah!" Heero and Trowa filled in their guardian with what they'd learned, showing him the paper trail, and explaining their discoveries on the computer. When Trowa showed Zechs the empty spot in the garage where his expensive sports car was missing, Zechs hauled out his cell phone and made travel arrangements. "Yes, shuttle to L4," he ordered some poor employee on the other end, covered the mouth piece, and aimed at the three waiting boys, "but no weapons, is that understood?" The three pretended they hadn't heard. Zechs related more demands for the flight as his girlfriend tip-toed down the stairs. "Zechs? Is something wrong?" "Noin-" He turned his back on the boys and signaled her closer to continue his conversation in private." "We should pack something to eat," Trowa suggested. Duo admired how clear-headed he'd become under the circumstances. "I'll help." He crammed a few health bars into a sack while Heero rounded up the juice boxes and bottled water. Trowa collected packets of nuts and dried fruit. Good sex had left Duo feeling kind of mellow, under the circumstances, which meant his sense of humor was acting up. "...Make the note brief and leave it on the kitchen table. Relena will be certain to find it there." Zechs voice preceded him as he and Noin joined them in the kitchen. He lounged on a chair at the table. "All set. A driver will pick us up in a few minutes. You'd best pack a few clothes for yourselves and the missing boys. I'll handle the weapons and first aid kit." Duo sat backwards in a chair. He fondled the empty sugar-substitute packet lying where they'd left it on the table, and chuckled to himself. "What now?" Heero asked. "Oh, nothing much. I was just thinking of a joke I'd heard." Trowa nudged him. "Yeah?" "Straight guys never use this stuff. Just ask Zechs." The manager looked up. "Ask me what?" "I'll bet, even though your sister uses it, you haven't, right?" "NutraSweet? NO." " Right. Have you, Trowa?" "Once, it was bitter. Quatre likes it, though." "Heh, heh... Yeah, well Zechs and Wufei will never, ever know what artificial sweetener tastes like." "What's your point?" Zechs checked his watch. "Make it quick." "Okay, it's a gay thing. If you've had NutraSweet in your mouth, you've had a man there, too." Trowa shook his head. "You are so bent, Maxwell." Duo grinned. "Just a little to the left." He held up a finger with just the slightest bend in illustration. "Enough, messing around, boys. We have a shuttle to catch!" Zechs shouted as he led Miss Noin upstairs to collect their things. And, once again, Duo wished he had only eaten two sandwiches and the apple as his stomach twisted into a knot of anticipation.
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