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"Alternative Directions: Options "Written By: Karina Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the lovely
boys and their girls in the series. Wish I did. Please don't sue me.
I haven't even got a brass razoo to give you. Rating: Deffinately PG in Australia, at the moment,
but probably safer to say R for later chapters. Not sure about international
ratings Warnings: It will be 6x2, even though it does
not start out that way. After all, Zechs and Duo never met in Gundam
Wing and only spoke briefly over a com line in Endless Waltz. I've
tried to keep them in character as I saw them in the series. A bit
of language creeping in under stressful conditions. Pairings: eventual 6x2, past 2xH, 2+H,6x9, 1+R
Summary: Directions is set post Endless Waltz
and roughly 2 years have passed. Zechs and Noin are on Mars and Duo,
after spending some time with Hilde in a relationship leaves L2 to
join Preventers. Hilde was not happy about his decision. I guess enough
said. Here t'is, and I hope you like it. This is also AU for the standard
setting, as well as the series and Endless Waltz. Spoilers: Gundam Wing Series and Endless Waltz Many thanks to Dulin for volunteering to beta this. //... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options"
New Port City, Sanc Preventer Headquarters Date: Feb 20th AC 198 Time: 07:14 Duo //Gaah. Jet lag. God, I hate meetings when I have to prop my eyelids up just so I look awake. My own fault. Purely my own fault. I should have timed that warning a little more Duo friendly. Mmph. Sludge, but I suppose you can’t expect to get a decent cup of Java at this hour of the morning.// The conference room was not by any means crowded, but the lack of quantity was more than made up for in quality as far as he could see. Earth, Lady Une, sat with a small clutter of papers in front of her, loose brown hair falling to half shield her face, softening her profile. Preventer Agent Dragon, Chang Wu Fei was standing at the windows, watching the first traces of dawn lighten the eastern horizon, far beyond the city and seascape of the Sanc coast. Ice, also known as Heero Yuy stood near the door, messy brown hair looking messier than usual after the five hour long meeting, reviewing the next month’s security arrangements for the Vice Foreign Minister’s engagements. Water, Dr Sally Po, sat nearest to Une. She had been in Australia, Duo recalled and probably looked worse than he did. Trowa Barton code named Chameleon had been called in from L1 where the circus he worked with was currently resident. //Hmm. Chameleon.// Duo studied his friend from the cover of pushing his bangs from his face, eyes narrowed, allowing his fatigue to show for just a few seconds. Chameleon. The Preventers had Romefeller spies. The Preventers had been infiltrated. Trowa’s specialty was infiltration. //No. Surely not Trowa.// he mused. Trowa was a former Gundam Pilot. He was one of THEM. Yet how well did Duo really know him? His past was a mystery. Being a Gundam Pilot had not stopped Chang Wu Fei from making the mistake that saw him serve under Dekim Barton. //I have to stop this. I have to trust someone. We went through a lot in the war. I have to make up my mind who I can and can not trust. I need sleep.// “Duo? Duo, are you awake?” Earth’s voice dragged him out of his contemplations. “Uh? Sorry. Must have drifted off there. What was that?” Lady Une sighed, but glancing to her right noticed Sally Po, head resting on folded arms, soundly asleep. “I think we need to adjourn for now. Agent Chameleon will search for the source of the warning. We believe it originated from the L1 cluster. Agent Ice will resume his position as personal bodyguard to the Vice Foreign Minister until further notice. Agents Dragon and Reaper will liaise with the Vice Foreign Ministers Security Office. You all know what you have to do.” Under the cover of lowered lashes, pretending to doze, Duo waited for Une to nudge Sally Po awake and exit the room. Yuy grunted and walked out with Chang Wu Fei while Trowa moved to gently nudge Duo, standing almost at arms length away to do so. He was not fool enough to encroach on the personal space of any of the other pilots. “You’re not asleep, so stop play acting.
I’ve never known you to sleep at a briefing. What’s up?” “Better get some shut eye, then. You’re due at the Palace in ten hours.” Trowa studied him for a long moment. “You don’t look so good.” “Yeah, and I haven’t eaten anything besides donuts for at least twelve hours. I need something to eat that isn’t round with a hole in its centre or ultra sweet. Never thought I’d say that. And a bed for at least twelve hours. Since I’m not going to get the ideal, I’ll just have to settle for a snack and maybe eight hours, if I’m lucky.” Duo stood, stretching. “When are you returning to L1?” “This evening. I have a few things to check out. What do you think about this ambiguous warning?” Duo shrugged, leading the way out of the conference room. “I dunno. No actual threat was made against Relena, was it?” “No. Just a warning given that there is a threat to the Vice Foreign Ministers safety.” “Someone’s always got a problem with someone else. I wonder what the point of fighting the wars was, sometimes, Tro. No one seems content for long. Not even after coming so close to destroying the planet.” “Human nature, Duo.” Softly. “I wonder sometimes myself. So what have you been doing with yourself since the war? I remember you were talking about a Scrap Yard and that brunette, Hilde.” He almost winced. His parting with Hilde had not been on the best of terms. “Signed the scrap yard over to Hilde and joined up with Preventers. I was bored to tears by a month after the One Year War. Stuck it out until the Barton Incursion, and then I knew for sure I was just fooling myself. Seems I can’t settle down . I needed some excitement. That’s why I joined Preventers. You?” “The circus keeps me occupied and I do missions for Preventers where I can. The circus gives me good opportunity to travel. I’m not just a clown there now.” Duo narrowed his eyes, glancing at the former pilot of Heavy Arms. “You still let that girl throw knives at ya?” “Yeah. Cathy sort of adopted me. I’ve got a home now, Duo. I hope one day you find one that suits you.” Duo grunted as they entered the elevator and pushed the button for the basement car park. He had thought he had found one, on L2, with Hilde, but it had not taken long for him to realize that quiet and laid back just was not him. Not yet, at any rate. “Yeah. One day. Seems a bit much though, to have your sister chuck knives at you all day.” “She doesn’t miss, Duo. I trust her.” Lips twitched into a faint smile. “Better you than me, man. I tend to shoot people aiming weapons at me.” He grinned. Trowa’s smile widened, and he saw the shorter man’s eyebrow arch in surprise. “Yes, I do know how to smile, Duo Maxwell. Heero said he hasn’t seen much of you for the last few weeks.” //Ah, third degree time.// The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Duo grinned and gave Trowa a saucy wink. “Une has kept me pretty busy.” “He said you moved out of your apartment?” “Sure did. Nosey neighbors. Couldn’t have old Mrs. Timble constantly banging on my door. Nice old bird really, but man, if I had to hear one more word about nice young girls living just down the hallway, boys my age should be in school and what sort of work did I do that kept me traveling so much-I probably would have shot the old girl. Besides, Une has had me traveling constantly for the last four months. I only had a three month lease on the place. I don’t actually own much so it’s not a problem to pull up stakes and just move.” “So do you have a place to stay now?” Duo grinned. “Yeah, booked into a hotel for two days until I found out what Une wanted me to do. Didn’t know where I was going to be sent this time. Guess I’ll have to find a place here for a while, if I’ll be liaison with palace security. Not too sure I can stand living at the palace for any length of time. Place is like a mausoleum.” “Heero has permanent rooms there.” Duo glanced around the car park as they stepped from the elevator and sighed. There were more cars here now than when he had parked. The day shift of Preventers headquarters was arriving and he really needed some sleep. He waved the key tag in the air and the rental car he’d hired at the shuttle port beeped at him. With a nod he started toward the car, realizing that Trowa was still with him he gave him a friendly wave. “Hope you don’t mind man, I’m wiped out. I got to get some sleep.” “It’s okay Duo. I hope to see you before I have to go back to L1.” “Should do, man. G‘night.” As he drove out of the garage and into the brilliant light of early morning Duo winced. Well, he hadn’t told a single lie, but he really had to get some sleep and decide who he could trust. He could not let his curiosity over Romefeller take over his life, or make him second guess about his trust of his friends. He needed a lot of things, but priority now went to getting into a bed and sleeping himself out. Even food could wait. The drive to the hotel was dogged by the early morning traffic and he wished he had had the presence of mind to get a taxi. Driving while he was this tired was not a smart idea, especially when the snow and ice was so thickly blanketing the streets. Snow plows were blowing the powdery snow in miniature blizzards but it was too late now. Just two blocks left till he reached the car park. //Liaison duty with the bloody palace. Great. Just great. Could be worse I suppose. I’ve definitely had worse. Why did Trowa want to know where I’m staying? I’m doing it again. I’m letting paranoia get a hold on me. Are you still there, little tail? Ah, yes. There you are. One of these days I’ll get someone on my tail with imagination. That would be a change. Are they trying so hard to be obvious? I should slit the bastard’s throat. Wouldn’t that go down well? Nah. Too much to do. I need to chase down this business with Romefeller. Can’t let myself get distracted with such pleasant thoughts.// Pulling into the basement car park of the hotel Duo almost fell into the elevator. The thought of the bed awaiting him upstairs was comforting. He really was tired. He really did want nothing more than to fall into bed and sleep. Just so long as he remembered to set an alarm. Wouldn’t do to be late. //At least while I’m at the palace I can start to chase down Zechs. Someone has to know where he is. At least I’ll have a few people to ask some questions. Pagan, Relena and Heero are all going to be there. Oh, God. Bed. I just want to sleep. Everything else can wait until later.// Never the less, old habits die hard and he checked the security of his suite before trusting enough to fall onto the bed and immerse himself in blessed darkness. t.b.c. Karina Robertson 2005
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