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"Halfway to Sublimity"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: When Duo moves to a new town on the river,
he meets a young man running the river and a rich boy who seems nice.
Maybe he'll settle down for awhile, or maybe not. "Halfway to Sublimity" Chapter Sixteen Duo, Heero, Wufei (POV) In the city-state of Sanc, a promise of marriage was binding, and breaking an engagement informally was a crime. Trowa running out on Middie would be considered extremely informal. Wufei argued that Trant only had the girl's word that there was an engagement to begin with, and that it wasn't true. Trant said that was enough. Trowa would have to remain in jail until his accuser dropped the charges or until his trial. It didn't help that Middie, the adopted daughter of Dekim Barton, agreed to help Trant get proof of other crimes Trowa committed as a mercenary, including cheating and gambling. And so, Trowa was jailed. Heero had been the most composed man Duo had ever known-until he met Trowa Barton. The Cajun was even more self-reliant and self-contained. Even his anger was self-contained. Duo just hoped the guy knew how far he could take a relationship before it was irrevocably revoked. Trowa had declined Quatre's visits. He only talked to his friends through Wufei, who was acting as his counselor. Quatre, generous and gracious down to the bone, paid Wufei handsomely and while he pined away his days in solitary at his estate. Trowa would not tarnish Winner's name with his infamy. It was as if he'd resigned himself to fate. Possibly he was tired of running from Dekim, but he did not reveal his soul or offer information to Wufei. "I left, wondering why I even came," summed up Wufei's last visit with the Cajun. Duo and Heero invited the frustrated Wufei to join them at the Saturday market. Together, they conducted their usual circuit with their goat cart, dined on the bounty of summer harvests, and secured supplies. When it was time to go, Wufei walked to their home to look over the improvements. Heero gave him the tour with special emphasis on the nearly operable soaking tub. That was where Duo found them after unloading the goat cart. "Listen, guys," Duo told them. "I'm worried about Quatre. I'll take the goats back to his barn and see if he'll talk to me." No one tried to stop him. In fact, at the estate he was warmly welcomed. Rashid was delighted to let Duo in. "Maybe you can coerce the young master out of his room." "I'll do my best," Duo assured Quatre's long-time servant and bodyguard. "Quat! Open up! I hate standing here yelling at a door." He heard a shuffling inside the room and then Quatre's voice very close to the door. "Duo, please go." "I will when I've had my say. You are both assholes. You've declared the situation hopeless and totally given up. Any fool can see you're in lo-" The door opened and he almost fell on his head. "-ove!" "Shhh!" The door slammed shut and a teary-eyed Quatre stood before him. "They'll hear!" "Who? The help? Don't you think they know where you sleep at night, what you do with Trowa in bed? The servants that change your bed linens aren't rubes! Are you that naïve?" Quatre slumped onto his bed, which was a mess. "I suppose you're right." "'Bout time you got that straight. As I was sayin', you are both assholes. Big Twit is clammed up in his cell. He won't let you get drawn into his troubles cuz he won't, and I quote, 'besmirch Winner's reputation and good name.' How's that for rat's-ass stupid and donkey-bum stubborn? Don't answer! You're no better. In fact, you're the moron hiding in his room! It's like you guys never had friends to trust or lean on, ones that are able and willing to go that extra mile for you. Friends that-" Quatre cut his tirade off. "I haven't. Ever. Not ones I didn't pay to befriend me." "Ah, man... I mean, I'm from the streets of L2 and I never took money for nothing like that. Not sex and not my loyalty." "Not a house?" Quatre asked his question in a timid voice. "No, or a house. If you think you've been buying my friendship with a remodel then you are a bigger asswipe than I thought." Quatre flung himself at his friend and enveloped him in a needy embrace. "N-no, I didn't. I was afraid you might see it that way, though. Oh, Duo!" Duo held on tight and smoothed a hand along his back, feeling Quatre's silky shirt and the slender body underneath. "Aw, now don't start cryin', Quat. I can't take that." Quatre sobbed harder, causing Duo to break down and join him. "Damn." After a mutual decision to dry up, they broke apart and sat side by side on the bed. Quatre needed to get a few things off his chest, Duo figured, so he waited. "All my life," Quatre began shakily, "I've been able to...sense how others have felt. Like I knew you and Heero were in love the first time I saw you together. It was like birds singing on high." Duo laughed at what he said. "Yeah, it still is." "But when people had their hearts trampled and broken, it was devastating. I promised myself never to feel that way about anyone so I wouldn't have to suffer." "That sucked." Quatre smiled. "Yes, it did, but it kept me safe." "Until you met Big Twit, er, Trowa." "Yes, he got past my guard and charmed the sense right out of my head." "Not enough of it." "That's why when he shut me out it hurt so bad. I could feel his love and pain and then I knew why I never wanted friends." "Tough shit. You gotta take your downs with your ups. Now, your bud's at a real low point in his life. He's humiliated and is sure he'll never be worthy of a man like you now. But, what you've got and what he's got is us, 'Ro and 'Fei and me. We won't let him go to jail for life. We'll get him out. What you need to do is get yourself together and be there when he's freed. I don't know what to tell you about how to get him back, but you're a clever guy, I'm sure you'll think of something." "Oh, Duo. I don't deserve you." "Yeah, you do. We're buds and that's what buds are for. If we don't stick together and help one another, no one else will. Now, get up and get out there and show your face. You've done nothing wrong." "My father would think so. Homosexuality-" "Is just a way of life for some of us. Someday it will be accepted. Hey, maybe you can get Zechs to use his political clout to legalize it!" "Maybe I can. Thanks, Duo, for coming here and helping me. You made me listen to things I needed to hear." "No prob! Now, I gotta go and convince my man to take off a few days to go Middie-hunting." "I don't suppose you'd take my money to hold you over?" "Then you suppose wrong!" Duo laughed and Quatre joined in. "Then, let me know what your plans are and I'll help you with supplies, deal?" "Deal!" (o) The first thing Duo told Heero when he got back to their house was that Quatre was okay; the second was that he was going to provide supplies for their mission; the third was that they had a mission to save Trowa. Something had to be done and soon. Having had the financial burden of taking time off from work lifted, Duo and Heero could begin a plan of action to track Middie down. Duo and Heero agreed to sleep on it and start over in the morning when they were fresh. The next morning was Sunday, their day of rest. Before the cleanup crew arrived, Heero and Duo made a mess of their sheets with their tussling and love-making, and they worked up an appetite. Heero volunteered to make coffee and let Duo clean himself up. "Just don't fall back asleep," Heero warned him. Far from being asleep when Heero came in to check on his progress, Duo was in beautiful disarray on the bed lounging in drawstring pants. Heero stood by their bedroom window, sipping his drink, dressed to go out, and watching the construction workers. This was a skeleton crew working a couple hours to clean up before rain could damage the remaining materials. If he dared to look over and down at Duo, he'd be back in bed, too, and with the men hovering about outside their window there wasn't privacy for what he'd want to do with Duo. "You should get dressed," he told him. "Oka-ay," Duo drawled, "while we think about what's up. First thing I thought of was that Trowa said he was from the L3 sector and traveled with a circus." "And Winner said the circus had a circuit bringing it through here on its way to its wintering location." Heero nodded. "Are you thinking he may have circus associates that might help him?" "Yeah, and I'm thinkin' family. He had family once in the L3 area. Wouldn't they want to vouch for his character or something? Get him out of the mess he's in?" "If that's possible. If Winner can't swing anything, I don't know who can." "Quatre is clever, but slinging money at Sheriff Trent isn't the way. Listen, 'Ro, the house is about done, I'm good as new and we have work to do." He twirled a lock of loose hair around a finger. "And you want me to say you can come back to work." "I want you to want me to come back to work and do some snooping." Heero gave in. "Wufei wants to visit Hilde, so we can drop him there for a week while we hunt down the circus and that Middie girl." Duo's smile widened. He tossed back the worried tendril of hair as if telling it to go to hell-to the delight of the devil. He rose off the bed and angled himself closer to Heero. "You are so sexy when you give in." "I'll give...in... even more," Heero said mixing a purr with a growl. Duo readied himself for that rock-steady, Heero-signature-tight embrace that he'd grown so fond of. Their intimate moment, however, was interrupted by a workman, banging on the window. "Gotta minute?" They did. Duo threw on a shirt and joined Heero and the crew out-of-doors. Most of the men were standing around or staring wistfully at the packed lunches piled on a wood pile. "We gots this extra material, you know, and we could haul it off and all but since you've got that little dog, we could build it a house." "Hell, yeah, that's super. Ruggles would love an outside place of his own." The old outhouse was disassembled, the hole filled in with rock and dirt, and the wood burned. The new indoor bath house and WC was operable, although they hadn't initiated the giant tub yet. The first tub began life as a horse trough, something they didn't think would excite Wufei, but then, he had a horse so maybe it would! It was downgraded to become the wash tub, while Quatre ordered a new one built to Duo's specifications. And it was delivered on a huge wagon. Solid wood and expertly hand crafted -- smoothed, joined and sealed, with graceful legs and detailed carvings of roses in the corners. The wood shone dark with layers of varnish. Duo adored it, but couldn't use it for another week while the wood sealant "soaked" in, so he lovingly wiped it down every day. Heero was close to being jealous of the damned thing. "Certainly," Heero agreed. "Build Ruggles a doghouse. He's been patient." He turned to Duo. "And so have you. After last night's marathon in bed, you proved yourself ready to hit the river again." He couldn't help but smile as Duo's eyes turned smoky with lust. "I want you to come with me when I search for that girl." He lowered his voice to a whisper and tugged on Duo's shirt. "I've missed you." That earned him a quick kiss out of sight of the crew and Duo's help weeding, watering, and harvesting fruit and vegetables from the garden for the rest of the afternoon. The plums, his favorite, were divine. (o) Wufei agreed with wholehearted enthusiasm to join Heero and Duo on their journey southward, mostly to see Hilde, but also to watch for Middie, should she pass through Serendipity. He had no doubt that Duo was strong enough to handle the flatboat, despite Yuy's concerns. Who he had serious misgivings about was Trowa. He believed that Trowa was withholding information that could help them in their search, and intended to meet with both the reluctant, taciturn Cajun and the ardent, agreeable Quatre before taking leave of Sublimity. So, the next day when Duo and Heero packed for travel, Wufei met with Trowa and then Quatre one last time. Trowa reluctantly told him about a few hideouts further inland, but wouldn't go into detail. He hit Winner's place next, where he was pleased to find that Duo had indeed enticed the occupant out of his doldrums. Quatre had been busy going through Trowa's travel bag looking for photos, letters, or other clues to his past, and located maps. Putting the information together Wufei knew Duo and Heero could come up with plan, but it would take time away from their business. Winner assured him that he would cover the costs without making Heero or Duo feel beholding to him. Saving Trowa had become a mutual mission for them all. As a result, the river trip to Serendipity was a pleasant one. The weather was warm, but fine and dry for a change. Wufei shared his maps, information, and Quatre's offer to provide support. Duo told him he and Quatre already had an understanding, but thanks anyway, especially for the maps. Heero shared their food and coveted the maps, studying them every chance he got. (o) After dropping Wufei at Hilde's, Heero let her talk them into staying the night. Howard dropped by keen to hear the latest news and pass on a bit of his own. Duo kept one eye on his ex-employer and Heero waited. He figured that the man would say something when he was ready. "...Then you all can prepare for your journey well rested," Hilde said. "Wufei and I have other business to discuss." "Hn." Heero didn't have to see Chang's face to know the sexual fantasies at work in the man's head at that suggestion. He'd been chipper the entire river trip, and, being a man, Heero knew it had to be the anticipation of a sexual encounter to fire up Chang that much. He based that on his own experience, and raked Duos bangs with his fingers as a reminder of what kept his heart humming. Duo was already stretched full out on her couch. He took no convincing to get a good night's sleep. Heero sat cradling Duo's head on his lap and running a hand along the long braid like he might smooth a cat's back. Hilde went on to assure them that she was on board. "If that Middie girl comes this way, we'll get her and hold her. No lying little scoundrel's going to run off and leave Trowclair cooling his heels in jail, then get back in time to pitch her lies to the judge." "I just hope the maps Trowa's given us help," Heero said. "Trowa had practically nothing to do with it. Winner located them. I gave them to you," Wufei clarified. "But they were Trowa's," Duo insisted. "Let's just hope if she's hiding inland that she uses the same maps." "Trowa said she's hidden out near a place called Moose Factory, but that was in the past," Wufei said. "So Trowclair did help," Hilde teased. "I said 'practically'!" "Sugar, I know." Hilde kissed Wufei and shut him up. Heero consulted the map one more time and Duo followed his finger, tracing the "preferred" route through swamps, streams, falls, and rapids to that destination. Heero hoped Duo would be up to the trip, but wouldn't insult him by doubting his ability. They'd make it, sooner or later, but they'd make it together. "We'll find her either along this track or she comes through Serendipity or she's back in Tumult with Barton's people," Heero said. Heero knew and hated that last possibility. "This side trip will take week. And if we get back empty-handed and you haven't seen her, then we go north." "Well, don't you worry none. We got Sweepers covering your route so you won't lose your business," Howard assured them. "Your friend, Mr. Winner's, got it all taken account of. Some of my boys are up the way at the Tallgeese River Post packing supplies for you. That Winner kid's building something secret in there. Something big up that way." Both Duo and Heero shot him a hot stare. "Hey! It's just between us and him. I know that! Nothin' escapes these lips what isn't supposed to." "Thanks, Howie," Duo said. "I wouldn't want Winner's secrets exposed. Anyway, it's nice that he's helping us as best he can. He doesn't want Heero to lose his freight contracts while he helps Trowa. And Quat's not so stupid to think he could go where 'Ro and me can." It wasn't so much what he'd said but how he'd said it that grabbed Heero's attention. It just now occurred to him, although it must have been coming on slowly for some time. All that time in Winner's house, having lessons in being a gentleman, had worn off in Duo's speech patterns. His L2 accent was there, but his heavy slang was fading. The next morning Heero and Duo stocked up on tobacco for a trading, but little else. They shoved off south for less than a mile to catch the inland river route. Bales of beaver pelts awaited loading at the Tallgeese River Post, located on the delta of the Tallgeese River which fed the mighty Rogue. Smaller boats, handled by the sweepers and others, would move the pelts to the larger Serendipity wharf. The post, founded decades earlier by fur traders, and once under the control of the Alliance Company, was a thriving but tiny port, similar to the one in Tumbletown. An elegant house surrounded by substantial barns and out-buildings anchored the post. This was Winner family property; they'd been told it had been purchased in preparation for his steamboat building. Quatre, good to his word, had a two-man boat and supplies waiting for them. They tied up the flatboat and transferred part of their tobacco and food freight to the much smaller skiff. Where they were headed inland, they would have to drag their boat through swamps, so a small light boat was required. The miscellaneous boxes of goods had to be carefully loaded. To pack well and to combine weight and bulk, in the proper proportion, especially when there was a variety of goods, required skill and hard work. Perishable goods such as sugar, salt, flour, beans and crackers were placed on top of canned goods. This arrangement prevented cargo spoilage by water entering the small storage box. The next morning, Duo was up to forging on, so the two-man brigade headed up the Tallgeese River, crossing the Pigeon Portage and poling through Mallard Lake to Loon Lake. Between Loon Lake and the winding, narrow stretch of water known as Crooked Lake was a dry stretch. Here they had to portage across the height of land that divided the watersheds of the Rogue River to the bay opening to the great sea beyond. River veterans like Heero were unimpressed: the route was not a dramatic pinnacle of rock, but simply a low and swampy woodland trail. But to a city-boy like Duo, this was an exciting adventure. At the end of the trail, they were rewarded with the shimmery view of the upper end of the Whiskey Hill waterway. If winds were high, the trip through Whiskey Hill Lake would be dangerous. "I think we are early enough in the day to miss the wind," Heero told Duo. "Wow," Duo said, and not in response to what Heero had told him. As the skiff rounded Gundam Point, their paddles fell silent. The mythical figures of Sandrock and Tallgeese loomed into view on the rocky cliffs. "If Trowa were with us, I'm sure he'd be able to do more than just name the rocks," Heero said. "'Course, if he was with us, he'd be free and we wouldn't need to do this." Heero rewarded Duo with an "Idiot," and pressed onwards. At the northeast end of the Lake, rested the Whiskey Hill Lake House, part of the river trader's supply chain. Here, Duo and Heero traded sought after fresh food and tobacco for information and protection for a good night's rest. They learned no news of pirates, girls, or travelers besides the expected and well-known traders. The next morning they set off before dawn, beginning their descent of the Whiskey Hill waterway. First was a nasty, buggy passing through the swampy stretch of Corsica marsh, where they both thanked Wufei's ancestors for teaching him to prepare the best insect repellent ever. Thankfully they cleared the marsh in an hour and were following a swift, serpentine path through churning waters and narrow gorges throughout the hot afternoon. Portages were frequent, sometimes over well-worn trails, sometimes over treacherous, jagged rocks. After the previous day's workout, another long day was not going to happen. Duo's arm was aching many hours before dusk, so they found a dry sheltered spot to camp under the stars and rest. He was stiff, but not discouraged with their non-existent results locating sight or word of Middie's whereabouts. "The next stop is close," Heero told him. "It's a more likely spot for her to hold up. A little further off the trail." "'Sokay, 'Ro. I'm getting back into shape. I'll be better tomorrow." The fact that he fell instantly asleep told Heero more about his lover's constitution than words. He hoped he wasn't pushing him too hard and doubted the wisdom of letting him come on the trip. Had he been alone he would have traveled much further and faster. But the look in Duo's eyes, knowing how much Heero trusted his judgment, had overwhelmed Heero's senses. Duo could do that to him with just a look. Would he always be so vulnerable to Duo's charms, he wondered? Yes. Yes, of course, because it made life worth living. The next morning they were up with the songbirds. Split Rock Falls was a sight in the glow of the rising sun. From there, the river plunged into the quiet waters of Lonefir Lake, heading for the newly-constructed post, Lonefir House, near the north end of the Lake. They replenished their supplies, trading tobacco, and spent the day exchanging news and looking for any sign that Middie had recently traveled through. They slept in a camp house near the wharf, listening to the wave's slap upon the supports and an owl's soulful hoot keeping time. Refreshed again, the two men paddled back to the Whiskey Hill waterway, just in time to run and lift their way through the long series of rapids leading to Thundering Falls. They relished the challenge. The water soaked their skin, cooling them. They yelled and cheered as the light boat rose and crashed through the rough water. Using paddles to push off the sharp rocks and guide the craft, Duo and Heero rode out the rapids. They were young, healthy males with toned bodies, strong muscles; they were in their prime. Together they shouted at the high walls of rock and heard the answering echo. Nothing was better than that ride and to have survived it. They rested at the end of the rapids. Heero was first to strip off his wet clothes and then Duo followed, laying everything out on the hot flat rocks. They emptied the boat and set it on the shore to dry inside. Heero found a wide, level rock and beckoned Duo over to join him. There they lay side by side to dry and sleep an hour, listening to the roar of the water and touching finger tips. They had bested the rapids, they had each other, and they had a cause to keep them energized. They would need that youthful energy for the challenges to come. With a quick glance at the solitary pillar of the Conjuring House Rock rising up from the tumbling water, they decided to pole their way down Coal Creek, skirting the dangerous, dramatic drop-off of the exposed rocky cliffs overlooking the clay-covered bay lowlands. Free of the Falls, they struggled through the next miles the trip, running, lining and portaging the river's relentless current. Just upstream from the last piddle of a river, the men glanced longingly at the remnants of Drain House, a former fur trading post that had been closed for almost 20 years. "We'll camp here anyway. For all we know this is used as a pirate hangout some of the time." Lucky for them, there were no pirates, just raccoons, eager to loot their boat that night. They slept long into the morning, breaking for a gentle lovemaking session. A bite to eat and they were back on the Whiskey Hill River, which broadened as it was joined by two other rivers. The resulting river was named the Moose River. Paddling steadily and monotonously, Heero and Duo reached their Moose Factory destination before noon. At Moose Factory, the final bales of tobacco were exchanged for coins, which they pocketed before heading to the only saloon within miles for a cool drink and a solid meal. No sign of river pirates. No members of Barton's gang. No Middie. Wherever she was, it wasn't in her usual haunts. After that there was nothing left to do but return back the way they had come. They returned to the Rogue none the wiser, but Duo was back in shape. They sent a short note to Wufei through Howard's men, and then turned the flatboat northward. There was no Middie in the Tumult area either. Duo and Heero did learn something of value, so it wasn't a complete waste of time. The circus was a few miles inland and moving south. Shipping overland might take the circus a week to get to Sublimity. Roads were terrible, not maintained, broken by swampy land, and beset by bandits, which was why river trade was bustling. The circus animals, however, wouldn't tolerate river travel. Duo and Heero raced back to home, docked their boat, and borrowed Winners' horses for a fast ride north. This was something a city-bred boy like Duo was not fond of doing either, but there was no other way. They met up with the circus the two days later, and there they finally discovered something they were looking for. (o) While Heero and Duo were tracking the elusive "Middie" inland, Wufei and Hilde wasted no time carrying out their end of the plan. Wufei and Hilde walked the beat. They checked the bars and lowlife hangouts near the docks and poorer parts of town. If Middie showed her face in Sublimity, they would know and act upon it. That didn't mean Wufei didn't have romance on his mind. On this one particular evening at the week's end, blossoms of honeysuckle perfumed the sultry air as they passed the park for the third time. All they needed, he imagined, was music to spark her affections. He plucked a long narrow leaf from a tree. He held it taut between his fingers, put the edge to his lips, and played a tune as if it were a kazoo. "How pretty! Was that Chinese?" Hilde asked. "Yes. A folk tune. A 75 year old woman taught it to me. She played the 'leaf' too." He smiled with the memory. "Hmmm, nice evening." "Yes," he agreed in a rush. "Let's call it a short night and go back." "Oh, you charmer," Hilde said with a wry smile. "You know what happens if we keep fooling around that way." "You're not--?!" "Shhh!" Hilde hissed and pulled him into the shadows. He followed her directions without question, his heart racing with excitement and his mind reeling with concerns. Is it possible I'm so blessed to have a woman so fertile? I am to be a father?! Dear Buddha in all your incarnations! Can we afford it? Who cares? It doesn't matter really, does it? We can't go backwards. Hilde was not a weak or foolish woman. His admiration for her had grown as he knew her better. If he earned a better salary, if he could afford a larger home and another horse, then he might consider proposing marriage. They were both eighteen, the perfect age. If only! "That's her," Hilde whispered. "Hold it. I'll get her to come this way. You incapacitate her and-" "I do what?!" Miss Hilde was also over zealous. "Knock her out; keep her silent, you know. Darn! She's going the wrong way. Now, be ready when we walk by!" And she was gone. He couldn't hit a woman, could he? What a dishonorable man he had become. His woman he had slept with and was now ruined since he hadn't the earnings to marry her. Now he must hit another, because somehow, Hilde had befriended her and was walking arm in arm his way. "Forgive me, ancestors," he whispered. Middie must have been completely unsuspecting and unaware of Wufei when he struck her from behind. She collapsed without a whimper and he caught her before her head hit the ground. "Good job! You'll have to show me those exotic Chinese moves sometimes. Now we'll each hitch one of her arms over our necks and make like she's on a drunk and we're walking her home. It's all good, isn't darling?" It all could be good, but right at the moment Wufei felt it was all as far from good as it could be, except that Hilde was gazing up at him with adoring eyes. That was good. Very, very good. Now, what had he done to get her to look at him that way, he wondered? He should do it again. Sweepers had their own special drunk tank-a room where they could stow away one of their team hiding from the law or sleep off an inebriated state. Hilde put the girl in the lockup, and then found a member of the Sweepers, who was recovering from an injury and not working, to guard the door. "Now, we tell Duo and wait." The wait was shorter than they thought. Wufei received word to return to Sublimity. His client needed him. Hilde booked him passage on a Sweepers quick-boat and wished him good luck. "Miss Hilde-" He hadn't broached the subject of their future. There hadn't been any privacy. He hadn't the words. He still hadn't. "Don't you worry yourself none about me. I'm just fine. You take care of your friends and hurry on back as fast as you can." He squeezed her arm and nodded, grateful not to have to say what he couldn't. "I shall return in two days, or write." "You do that, sweetie. Now hurry!" When he arrived at the dock to Duo and Heero's home, he was in for a surprise. So were they when he told them about capturing Middie. He had ten minutes to meet the newest game card before going to the jail to play his biggest hand yet. "This is Chang Wufei, Trowa's lawyer." Duo said. "'Fei, this is Catharine Bloom from the circus. She claims Trowa is her brother. And she can prove he's a part of the circus. We will fill you in on the way to the jail." (o) Wufei would make this short. And why not? He was about to win. It would be an injustice to drag it out just to gloat. "Sheriff Trant. This man you are holding is Triton Bloom, not that Nanashi character the girl claimed him to be. I demand you free him at once." "I suppose you have proof?" Wufei nodded and Heero escorted Catharine into the room. Trowa leaned his head back against the brickwork of the enclosure; his cigarette sparked the night as he drew on it. He appeared calm but the glimmer in his one visible eye signaled his interest, possibly his recognition. "I expect you can imagine how I've been worried," Catharine opined to her borther, "not knowing where Triton had disappeared to." The room seemed to be misting over with cheap emotion. It was all strictly a gamble. "We were from a wealthy family. Our caravan on holiday was attacked by thieves and our parents killed. I was sold to the circus and had been hunting for him for years. Knew him from the scar over his right eye, hidden by his bangs. And he has a tattoo of the circus emblem on his right hip." Trowa swept back his bangs, revealing the scar, and then loosened his belt and dropped his leather pants far enough to display the crest which matched the one on the flyer posted around town. "Now, we need our performer immediately to practice. You do want the show to go on, don't you?" Catharine asked. Trowa opened his mouth then shut it after Wufei scaled him with a razor-sharp look. He was not going to show off his injuries which might prevent him from performing. He was not going to say a thing. He was going to be mute and and dumb and put on a good show, like an Imperial carp in the Imperial pool in the Imperial garden of the L5 colony. Trowa sucked on his cigarette and struck a pose. What a ham, Wufei thought. Or a trophy fish. And it worked. No, the sheriff didn't want to be the one responsible for stopping the show. He knew the first circus trailers would be arriving and setting up on the open commons below the Saturday market. Money would be made selling goods to the circus folks and visitors sure to pout into the small town. Livelihoods depended on the success of the event. "Where is this young lady whose fallacious testimony put him here in the first place?" Wufei demanded. Of course, Wufei knew where Middie was locked away and he knew she wasn't going to make her court date in a week. He could see Trant sweating and decided to help him out. He laid out his hand. "What if I promise to return the accused should your Miss...ah... Middie Une reappear at that time? Winner would be happy to ensure bail." Yes, that would suffice. The show would go on. Justice would be served. The bail itself could run his department for the next year. "Set him free," Trant shouted back to one of his men. They all regrouped an hour later in Winner's dining room for a little celebration. Quatre was glowing and very quiet, doing his best to make Trowa's sister comfortable. Trowa, on the other hand, was acting particularly derisive. "Cat'arine. You say you are my sister?" he said, but his tone suggested that it was something best forgotten. "It's possible. You could be Triton Bloom." She had about her that self-deprecating air of someone who, not born to sainthood, had gone out to get it. "You fuckin' decided dis after knowing me for how many years?" Apparently she knew when she'd been licked and, blushing, headed to the window. Wufei was a little surprised that she hadn't made the journey on her hands and knees. Quatre rushed to her side and returned her to her seat, whispering reassurances. Trowa kept his opinion brief. "Hn." She appeared to chew the question over with her bite of sandwich. The single, unconcerned syllable irritated her to death. She repeated her earlier reply. "It's quite possible. I thought so from the start, when you first ran with the circus, but I had no proof. And then it was too late. I have a picture of our uncle. You can see the likeness for yourself." Trowa studied picture and then the coal end of his cigarette, his expression beautifully reflecting a man torn between something and something. Everyone waited for Trowa to fill in those blanks-blanks probably as much to Trowa as to his visitors-torn between nothing and nothing. Trowa's sigh was resigned, as if he, the lone keeper of the truth, now had to give it up. Wufei ached to hit him. He stubbed his cigarette out suddenly, collected his wine glass, and went to the door. "Well, everyone. Meet my sister, Cat'erine Bloom. My name's Triton Bloom, as if I needed the burden of anoder name. And, now, I'm going to sleep in my bed, if you'll excuse me." This sudden acceptance came a surprise to everyone. Trowa seemed to always be traveling light, so to speak, without benefit of family. Quatre rose immediately. His face looked devoid of color. "Go," Wufei said with a brush of his hand. "We can entertain Miss Bloom and see that she gets to her room. Talk to him."
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