|
"Friends "Written By: Karina
Series: Friends Pairings: 2+6 Ratings: M 15+ [In Australia] Rated in the event of bad language and violence. Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the characters. That’s the way it is. Warnings: Not a death fic despite how it starts.
Aussie spelling and unbetaed. Summary: When Milliardo Peacecraft is abducted
and left to die a solitary death Duo Maxwell decides to take a hand
in the proceedings.
It was eerily silent in the small room. The wind still blew hard against the walls of the cabin giving rise to a continual chorus of creaks and groans, and the general impression the structure could come crashing down at the next gust. The fire cracked and spat and Heero reached out to flick an ember from the tent as he watched Duo. As had been decided they had separated, Barton and Chang making their way into the larger room to make their final preparations and crawl into their respective tents for what rest they could get. Duo had, after one last penetrating glare, crawled into the tent to speak with Marquise, leaving Heero to poke at the fire. It was a delicate balance Heero would have to achieve, to keep the flame low but the coals generating a respectable amount of heat. Heero decided he understood well enough why Maxwell had allowed the fire to die before withdrawing into the tent for the night with Marquise. The wood sent off sparks that would very quickly turn the little room into a death trap if it was left unattended for long. Movement in the outer room had ceased a while ago as Chang and Barton settled down and Heero waited patiently for Duo to emerge from the tent. He could just make out the low murmur of voices carefully gauged to ensure he could not differentiate any words spoken. This time Duo would not put him off, he was certain of that, and at the moment he was probably reassuring Marquise that none of them would put a knife in his back, or deliberately feed the flame and burn them out. Marquise had to be a paranoid bastard given the life he lived. Heero was paranoid enough for three people, or so he had been told in the past, and he had not attempted to drop a space fortress on the planet. Given this most recent incident of abduction and attempted murder, Marquise would likely lift his game to the point where there would be an increase in the sudden death rate. That the man was more than capable of killing Heero did not doubt, but he did have to wonder if Zechs would lose sleep over those killings. Despite the Libra incident and the rumours surrounding the Black Opal, if Marquise was indeed that secret operative, Heero did not think Marquise was a cold, calculating killer. Though Marquise might well make an exception for the person who had so recently tried to execute him. //Not that I would blame him, I would certainly go after them before they tried again. However, it is possible it will be Preventers who will be expected to hunt him down, and Une would know him well enough not to send regular agents after him. They would not stand a chance. If she were serious about rounding him up and taking him out it would be Barton, Chang and I she would assign to the hunt. How am I supposed to get closer to his sister on a personal basis if the people I work for are hunting her brother with orders not to be too shy about shooting first and asking him to surrender later?// He did not look up as Maxwell slipped quietly past him and into the other room. In the wake of Duo’s passing Heero could feel eyes on him, a silent intent stare he felt was devoid of malice. The eyes on him would mirror patience, interest and not the slightest trace of fear. Turning his head slightly he waited for the glare from the fire to leave his vision and eyed the open flap and the darkness within the tent. There was insufficient light with the fire banked low to illuminate more than the open flaps, so he could not see the occupant of the tent, but he could feel that powerful gaze centred on him. A quick glance at the entrance to the larger room to ensure Duo had not paused in the doorway and Heero edged a little closer to the tent, inclining his head to make it obvious he was intending to speak to Zechs. “I know you are not as damaged as you should be from what you have experienced. Was it Oz that modified you? Cybergenetics? Perhaps a nanobot implant?” For a long moment the silence hung heavily in the air and Heero waited, tense, half expecting a knife to be flung at him, or something as potentially deadly. He was inclined to think the man would talk first and kill later. Zechs Marquise, in the past, had proven he would not kill unless the need was there. Heero had few illusions as to what the former Prince of Sanc was capable of, given his level of training. If not for his early rearing as a pacifist the man had the potential to be a cold blooded bastard. He was not cold, however, as had been proven in the past. He had a lot of passion and drive and Noin should have had more sense than to have believed what ever it was he had told her to incur her wrath. “Nanobots.” So he would talk. Heero was relieved, but how long before Duo returned? How much had he told the braided one? How much would he be willing to tell Heero? Perhaps the suggestion of common ground might loosen the man’s tongue? “Dr. J implanted me with a nanobot series. I recognized the signs of healing in you after watching the video Duo took. You need not be concerned I will mention the implant, I have my own secrets to keep.” It was obvious to Heero that Marquise would not want anyone unauthorized to know he had been modified. Heero had admitted to being modified but was uncertain how giving Zechs would be in return with any information on any additional modifications that might have been made. He had received other questionable modifications by Dr. J at the instruction of Dekim Barton, and he did not feel particularly inclined to real off all of his modifications simply to get that information. He assumed Zechs would share the same reticence. In all honesty he was astounded someone had dared to play with the genetic make up of one of the old aristocracy of Europe. From what he knew by associating with them in the circle that moved about Relena, beyond the odd bit of cosmetic surgery, they were fiercely protective of the purity of their bloodlines. “Much appreciated.” “Can you tell me anything about what happened? Give me any clues as to the identity of the one who abducted you, or what, or who, was behind it?” “No, and to be frank, Mr. Yuy, it is better none of you know what little I do know. I find ignorance to be safer.” Heero scowled, hardly surprised, but if he could gain some little information it might help them to decide what they were to do when they returned Zechs to civilization. There was obviously a conspiracy involved in this assassination attempt, and it had undoubtedly been meant to be an execution. “We are not rank amateurs and our training has been extended and expanded upon since joining Preventers. We could be of use to you.” There, he had hinted they might not side with any investigation which might be forthcoming. Chang need not know he had hinted they might not be so cowed as they had attempted to lead their watchers to believe. “Believe me the less people involved in this matter the better. Why should you chance your opportunity to escape the watch dogs by no longer keeping a low profile? You have other matters to attend to and I am more than capable of dealing with this inconvenience. I am warned and I will not be taken so easily a second time. How is my sister?” So he knew how they lived and why they did what they did. The man kept his fingers on the pulse of the world and an eye out for those he held interest in. “I believe you know that well enough. Why should I waste my air telling you what you already know? You are always aware of where she is and what she is doing.” Heero had expected a polite refusal and he was uncertain why he had made the offer, but something within compelled him to make Zechs understand what he was offering, even if he did not himself understand exactly why he made the offer. If he had been in Marquise’s place he certainly would have desired to deal with the matter himself. There were a great many similarities between himself and Marquise and, curiously enough, Heero did not hold ill will toward Zechs Marquise for their mutual past. He respected the other man. It had been war and they had been equals on different sides of the conflict. They had found in each other a test for their individual resolve and their purpose in life. They had been, in a sense, ‘best enemies’. “Knowing her schedule does not give me the information I desire. I know her schedule well enough and what company she keeps, but I would know how she is.” “Healthy enough; active and tired of being pursued by the uber-wealthy, aristocrats, the famous, and the infamous, and by the media.” He heard the deep rumble of amusement from within the tent and huffed softly, but it was true. Relena was tired, thoroughly sick of the attention focused on her. She was constantly being distracted from what she saw as her responsibilities to the people by the attention focused on her. Personally, Heero though it was about time she looked for something for herself other than work. Hence, his decision to attempt to get closer to her, though he was uncertain if he would be good for her. That was why he wanted Maxwell to stand in for him. He was not an easy person to live with, nor was he a fool to consider himself God’s gift to women. He had been trained in the social graces, but that did not naturally give him ease in polite society. He was more inclined to want to jam his fist into a courtier’s face than stomach the drivel they spouted. He did not like the games they played and he was firmly convinced, after so many years of guarding Relena, that those at the top did not know how not to play games. In that elitist circle every word, gesture and deed held ulterior motives. The players spent their days and nights attempting to accurately determine what those motives might be and who might benefit the most; and if it would behove them to join in and perhaps gain some personal profit. “Your sister is becoming adept at surviving at the top.” “Yet she has not lost that which is essentially Relena,” the deep voice whispered. “No, she has not. She still cares too much for others and not enough for herself.” “You should never want her to change, Heero. It will be a sorry day for the Earth Sphere if she does.” Heero grunted softly, not so certain he wanted Relena to continue to extend herself as she had been. There had to be limits and it would be his place, if they could co exist as more than friends, to place those limits in a manner in which she did not chafe at the restraint and resent him for the influence he exerted. It would not be an easy dance, but it would have to be executed with grace and patience.
|
