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"Ready to Fall"Written By: Miss Murdered Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing and never
have… shame Warnings: yaoi with m/m sexual relations –
both lemony and lime, angst, violence, swearing, hints of sap and
probably a dozen other things… Pairings: 1x2x1, side 3x4 Rating: NC 17 A/N: Hey all – this is the promised sequel
to Domino and will be of a similar length – aiming for roughly
24 chapters again but no matter how hard I plan a fic it always morphs
a little so let's just see how it goes! I would recommend anyone who
hasn't read Domino to read it prior to starting Ready to Fall as the
plot takes off about a year down the line from that particular fic
and I will be referencing events in it and it is kinda vital to the
plot… As always, songs are inspiring each chapter and
the title is taken from the Rise Against song of the same name. The
first chapter is inspired by Little Hell by City and Colour. This fic is beta-d by my good friend Elle Summary: Sequel to Domino. After the events on
L2, Heero and Duo have struggled to settle into normal civilian life.
When an attempt is made on Relena's life, they find themselves thrown
back into the world they left behind to fight a potential threat to
peace. But maybe this time it's not about peace… maybe this time
it's personal… "Ready to Fall"
The water was cold as I could get it as I splashed it
onto my face. The dude in the mirror looked damn tired and that would
be because I was. It was now the middle of whatever night as I'd lost
track of whatever time and I just wanted sleep – maybe a greasy
burger or something. But here I was in a Preventer Field Office bathroom,
feeling a slight shake in my hands and maybe a little increased heart
rate. Huh. I'd not been under a ton of stress since the pacemaker
and while most of the time I forgot about it, yeah, apart from the
big ass scar, now I felt the thudding of my heartbeat so fucking loud
in my ears. The bathroom door opened and Wufei walked in looking
less shaken. Of course, he'd not been interrogated for the last two
fucking hours. "I feel like I'm the bad guy here," I said
the anger bubbling just under the surface. "It's protocol." "Protocol? What the fuck is protocol about this?
Dead body with my tattoo on his chest means that I'm getting
my ass handed to me by fucking Merquise!" Wufei sighed and leaned against the door, blocking anyone
from coming in as he guessed I was gonna go on some angry tirade but
fuck, I was too tired for that. I'd been bundled back to the Field
Office in the back of a black town car and then brought into one of
the lower floor interrogation rooms. I stripped my shirt off so that
they could take a picture of every damn tattoo, taking each one in
minute detail, my arm out for what seemed like fucking forever. I
complied as Zechs stood with 'Fei and when I got damn annoyed after
being asked to move my arm a little or turn or whatever for the hundredth
fucking time, I could almost sense Wufei tense across the room and
give me that look that I'd come to be so damn fond of – that
one where it looks like I'm giving him a headache. Then we'd discussed who knew I had the tattoo which
I rolled my eyes during that line of questioning. Merquise pulled
out an "Agent Maxwell" and I told him. Told him about the
small tattoo shop in Berlin, about the sleeve being designed in consultation
with the artist – how it wasn't something I'd just walked into
the place and seen some flash for and gone "that one" or
whatever. I didn't elaborate – didn't say why it was angel wings
and I saw his cold blue eyes take it in coolly when I was stood in
my tank. I was surprised he didn't make some kinda Heero related comment.
Maybe he knew all my professionalism would vanish if he did and I
might punch him in his smug face. I can be predictably unpredictable
when aggravated. What can I say? The people who knew about the tattoo I guess were pretty
limited – I mean, hey, I may be a little scrawny but I have no
body image issues but few people got to see me naked. Though there
were nurses, doctors, people like that and when I'd worked at the
garage, I had worked in tanks and shit but it wasn't like I showed
off my ink. Yeah, it was there but it wasn't some damn big statement
or nothing. And now I started to question every person who could've
potentially seen it. The tattoo was only the half of it. Sitting at a metal
table opposite Zechs, Wufei leaning against the door, he asked the
question that I knew he'd damn well ask – did I know anyone with
a grudge against me? I downright laughed in his face. I'd killed people
in a big ass machine of death. I'd worked undercover. I'm sure there
were a list of people who held a grudge and wanted me dead but I looked
over at Wufei then, saying the name out loud that was on my mind. One person in the world had the biggest fucking grudge
with me. "Roth." Zechs had looked across at me with steepled fingers
and there was nothing else I wanted to elaborate on – he had
access, he could find all the shit he needed and that was when I was
done – which led me to being here in the bathroom, pissy and
tired. "He's doing what he has to, Maxwell," Wufei
said as I'd not spoken and I shot him a calculating look. "Yeah and he fucking wants me off this, right?" He looked briefly down at the tiled floor and I found
my hands balling into fists as that confirmed it. I was tempted to
level a punch at a stall door or something as it had been a weird
and frustrating day and I wasn't sure the last time I'd slept and
if I wasn't so... so fucking drained I'd be more pissed but instead
I saw a slight awkwardness in his stance. "You agree?" "If this has something to do with Roth, it's too
personal. Perspective is needed." It was a rational statement and I hated him for it.
"Like shit am I walking away! You didn't meet the bastard –
he didn't inject you with whatever shit and try to fucking
kill you." His answer was pretty damn cold. "I didn't kill
his daughter." The blow was low and I was tempted to lash out then
but instead I turned back to the water I'd left running and turned
the faucet off as the memories made me feel sick. Yeah, technically
I hadn't pulled the trigger but I was there and I'd seen her body
crumple. Heero had shot Zee, or Zadie Roth as she was actually known,
but he wouldn't have done it if she hadn't been threatening me. Never
wanted him to do it. Didn't want Heero to have to kill a damn kid
even though it was my life or hers. I shut my eyes tight – remembering the barrel of
a gun and the feeling of a bullet entering my body, my heart beating
way too damn fast. And now my heart rate was erratic again. I needed
to calm the fuck down. "And that's why I gotta be a part of it,"
I said, my tone pretty damn low as I opened my eyes and levelled my
stare at him. "I don't give a damn what blondie thinks –
I'll work this case with or without a badge and he can fucking watch
me." "Duo," he said and I cocked my head at the
use of my name – it was a rare thing and I admit, it weirded
me out little. "If this is personal then Zechs is only doing
what any commander would do." "Thanks 'Fei," I said the sarcasm dripping
from my voice. "Way to back up me over that self-righteous prick
– he was a goddamn enemy, remember?" "He's our commanding officer and the war is over,
Maxwell." My eyes narrowed then as I studied his face and I figured
it out. I knew people's cues – it's what had kept me alive my
entire fucking life. I knew on the streets who was an enemy, who was
a friend, which people to avoid and which to talk to. It was my life
and had always been my life and it was what made me an exceptional
undercover agent. The only person I'd never truly been able to read
was Heero and I suppose I liked that. He was the kinda guy that could
still blindside me, as evidenced by the ring on my finger. Always
the quiet ones and all. And Wufei was tricky, a little, as he kept everything
so damn tight to his chest but I had gotten cues earlier. Little cues.
When I'd talked about Zechs at the underground station and then I
realised I was so damn focused on being a pissy bitch in the interrogation
room that at the time I didn't process how they'd stood pretty close
together. Abnormally close together. There's this thing – like I'd always noticed it
with Quat and Tro – that people who've been together – had
sex, fucked, made love, whatever you want to call it – have this
thing that they mirror each other or something – that they have
this comfort thing with each other and it's noticeable. And then I knew why he was defending Zechs – not taking my side. Yeah, there was an element of sense to what Wufei was saying. There was the fact that I probably need perspective.
I was personally involved and shit but now I got it. I knew it was an asshole move. But I was tired and hungry
and a million other things. "How long have you been fucking him?" His face only twitched but it was enough. He was trying
to be composed and I realised that maybe, just maybe, I should have
worded it less harshly. Should've said it without my usually flare
for being crude but it was all I needed. He glared, cold, and I deserved it. "It's none
of your concern." I coulda gloated that I figured it out – made a
comment about him finally getting laid or whatever – but instead
all I could do was meet his stare until I realised I'd been a dick.
He could sleep with whoever, free country and all, but maybe there
was some wounding to my own ego – totally not in love with me
anymore. Or over me. Even if him and Zechsy baby were just doing the
nasty and it meant nothing. I held out my hands in an apology and dropped my gaze
– giving in to the staring contest. "Look, I'm sorry man
– I'm tired, I've not eaten. We allowed to blow this joint?" "You were never under arrest." He opened the door at that and walked out. I took one
last look at the dead man walking in the mirror. "Yeah but it damn well felt like it," I muttered
under my breath. If the drive back to the hotel – Preventer escort
and all – had been awkward, it had nothing on being confined
in a small space with Wufei. I almost made a comment about him going
to stay with his boyfriend and realised it would be the biggest douche
move I could make. I stop myself sometimes and fuck, Wufei didn't
deserve me being a jerk to him. He never had. I showered and took my cell to the bathroom to make
a call – purposefully out of the way. I left the water running
– hey, I wasn't fucking paying for it – and dialled, using
the sound of the shower to mask our conversation. I didn't think 'Fei
would listen in on purpose but then the hotel room was small, the
walls thin, and I wanted to talk to 'Ro alone. Woulda gone down to
reception if I wasn't so damn tired. The time was far too late or early depending on perspective
and I figured it was five a.m. in Sanc but I called anyway –
the phone only ringing for a few seconds before it connected, the
image taking a moment to be clear and I could see Heero was holding
it while lying against a pillow on his side, his hair mussed and his
eyes blinking away any sleepiness. "Hey. Sorry for waking you." He grunted and moved his position to sitting, the phone
camera giving an angle of his naked chest as he sat up. "You heard?" "What do you think?" he shot back, a slight
arch in his eyebrow visible on the small screen. "I think you'll be tracking everything I'm doing." He gave a little look in answer that said it all. I
paused, looked at him, at the fact he was still fucking gorgeous on
a tiny screen, even when he'd been woken up abruptly and hell –
me? I looked like shit. He was far too good for me in so many ways. "You think it's Roth?" I asked, the name harsh
on my tongue. "I don't think there's enough evidence. Don't jump
to conclusions." "You sound like 'Fei..." I said and I saw
a small twitch of his mouth that no one else would've picked up but
I let it slide. Hey, after all, I could reassure 'Ro that he wasn't
after my ass anymore. "But you didn't see it 'Ro, it was mine,
and no one knows this shit." "Other people have seen it." "Not that many." "It doesn't have to be him." "Yeah but who else would go outta their way to
get someone tattooed and then kill 'em? Or tattoo a corpse? I mean,
how the fuck does that one work? Who else hates my ass that much?" "Duo," he said my name so damn softly sometimes
that it made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end or something
and I just didn't want to be here. All I wanted was him, here, and I was hating the distance
between us, hating that I was in London and he was in Sanc. I itched
to touch his hair, to run my fingers through it as I did a lot when
he was half asleep or when we lay in bed together on scratchy sheets. Shit, I was getting all sappy and sentimental but I
was tired and I blamed that rather than anything else. "If it's him, it is. Now go get some sleep,"
he said, his tone a little teasing. "Hey, you know I never take orders, babe." "I know." I saw his smile, that little one that was only reserved
for me. "Since we're on the phone and all… you know we could…" The rest of the sentence didn't need to leave my lips
as I did a suggestive waggle of my eyebrows, which was enough. I wasn't
actually a hundred percent serious being that Wufei was in the next
room but he snorted and did that little eye roll thing that I kinda
adored. "When you're in a small hotel room with Chang?" I shook my head and let a little snort out. "Showers
on and plus he's screwing Merquise so you know, no longer fixated
on my ass, though does seem like he has a hair fetish..." My voice trailed off and Heero looked thoughtful at
that information, as though he was trying to figure out if it was
useful. He seemed to dismiss it – or maybe he just didn't care
who Wufei did as long as he wasn't still interested in me. Fuck knows.
As I said I can read a million people's cues – but 'Ro was still
something else. "You should sleep." His concern for my welfare was cute and all but I wanted
to fall asleep listening to his voice. Impossible unless I decided
to sleep on the cold hard tile – which actually was kinda tempting. "Yeah – I'm going. Just needed to speak to
you." "I have work in an hour." I knew what he meant. It was a "get off the damn
phone and let me get a little more sleep" or go to the gym or
shower or whatever. And it was kinda endearing that he didn't just
say "shut up, Duo" or hang up on my rambling ass. He'd grown
as a person I guess. Patience for me. Shit, me, his fiancé.
Hated that fucking word. "Work," I mused and then added, joking, "hell
– don't do anything I wouldn't do." Even through the tiny screen and the pixels, I almost
felt like I could feel the heat of his glare. It looked kinda cute
miniaturised and it looked less angry and more petulant. "And that would rule out what, exactly?" I pouted my best puppy-dog pout. "Remember, I'm
on my best behaviour and all. No trouble from me." There was a little sigh that left his lips and I knew
I should disconnect but I was being a little needy or whatever. Still
blaming the bone-weariness. "Go to sleep," he said and I finally admitted
I sure as hell needed it and I needed it now. "Yeah, yeah, I'm going," I replied and then I smiled that smile that only he got – the genuine one not disguised by any of my bullshit. "Take care of yourself, babe." He didn't answer, only quirked his lips a little and
disconnected the call. I didn't mind him hanging up on me or whatever
as it wasn't like that – we weren't those people who had endless
talks about our feelings or whatever so our goodbyes were never gonna
be intense. But I felt better having talked to him, my heart beating
at a normal rate as I turned off the shower and exited the bathroom,
making my way to the bed, only nodding my head to indicate Wufei could
use the bathroom. I slipped into boxers, throwing the towel wherever
and slid into cool sheets and while all I wanted was Heero, him in
the bed with me, his hand with my hair wrapped around it, I was too
tired to stay awake, falling asleep dreaming about a corpse with angel
wings sprawled on the floor.
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