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"Honor Betrayed"Written By: Yanagi Disclaimer: I do not own or hold any rights to
[Gundam Wing]. Those rights belong to Bandai, Sunrise, and the Sotsu
Agency. These fan fictions were written for fun, not profit. However,
this story does belong to me. Please don’t snitch it. Warnings: the usual Pairings: 1x2 But it's Wufei centric [very] Beta note: I think the days in the trip to Shanghai
are messed up. They fly east so they'd arrive in late
afternoon/early evening and Yet another note: There are a lot of FAQ at the
end of the epilogue.
"Honor Betrayed " Chapter 4 He went home, entered the smithy and started unloading the duffel. He put everything on a long table so he could examine it. He broke down all the guns, long and hand. Unwrapped all the magazines and set them out. Then he turned to the swords, wondering what kind of steel he'd managed to get hold of. It turned out to be very good. Wufei, with his knowledge of steel, could have told everyone details of steel composition, tempering and grinding that would have delighted a devotee and put everyone else to sleep. But there was no one to share this with so he just removed the storage paper, wiped off the grease and put the swords back in their saya. He decided to take the set he thought of as the ninja dashio with him, as well as a handful of throwing knives and a hand gun, or two. He realized that he was going to have to get ammo here as he had no idea if he was going to make connections where he was going. He thought for a moment then just gathered up his ID and headed for a store. He could just by some. His ID should cover him. He avoided the store he'd burglarized like poison and instead took a taxi across town and entered a higher class store. He approached a clerk and asked about ammo. “Sorry, kid, you can't buy ammo at your age.” Wufei chose not to be offended, it wouldn't help his cause any. “I'm older than I look.” He produced his ID and handed it to the man. “And, I have clearance.” The man glanced at the ID, did a double take and said, “Well, shit. Ok, what do you need?” “9MM, .30-.06, .223 and .357. Ten case lots each.” “Jesus, kid, I mean ... Commander?” Wufei decided not to correct him as he wasn't sure what sort of rank he might have held during the war. He decided to check. “That's a lot of fire power.” “I have my own range.” Wufei smirked at the man's expression. It was then that Wufei realized that he needed to get a vehicle of his own. He was going to have to give the store his address as he could just see the expression on the taxi drivers face if he told him he was taking 12 cases of ammo with him. “Sir?” The clerk gave Wufei a concerned look. “You ok?” Wufei had to grin, an expression that changed his face totally. “Sorry. Mind wandered a bit. I don't have a car so you'll have to deliver this. I was just thinking about what the taxi driver would say about taking it with me.” The clerk laughed. “Not good. He'd probably have a spaz. I'll just get your address and we'll be all set.” Wufei gave it, told the clerk that it was a private residence and he didn't want the address used for anything other than the delivery. The clerk just nodded. “Ok, no flyers and stuff. And we don't give out addresses except to law enforcement. And, since you've got that clearance, we'd run it by Preventers central before even doing that.” He scribbled on his pad, clicked few keys and completed the transaction. “There you go. All set.” Wufei took back his card, nodded and left. He was getting a car. Which gave him pause as he really didn't have a drivers license, never had had one. He was going hacking again. He sighed, this was getting complicated. Then he realized that he'd never had it easy, two wars, all the training he'd undergone, the ungrateful populace throwing him away like trash. He'd just suck it up and do it. He had the driver drop him at a dealership, paid and thanked him for his advice on which dealership to patronize. Then he just sat down at the bus stop and got out his phone. He'd set up a remote system in his computer so he could access the internet through the new phone he'd bought himself during his shopping spree. It was net capable and actually more of a net book than a phone. He found that he did have a drivers license, Une had seen to it but somehow he hadn't gotten a physical card. He sent Une's secretary a scathing email guaranteed to express his displeasure. He noticed a small kiosk near the dealership with the international symbol for a government link. He went to check if it could provided the missing license, it could and he grudgingly gave it the required information. He wondered when his luck was going to run out. Then he went to the dealership to find himself some wheels. He never knew that both Heero and Duo were keeping track of him. And they were worried. What the hell was he up to? Une wanted to know rather desperately but they were also involved with several ongoing investigations and just couldn't deal with Wufei. Especially as he seemed to be doing nothing more than establishing himself in a new life. The second the salesman saw Wufei in his cargo/BDU pants and a t-shirt that said, “Don't give me attitude, I have a bad one of my own” he knew this was going to be a bad day and a hard sell. The kid was sure to want something he couldn't afford the payments on. “How can I help you today?” Wufei looked at the salesman for a moment then snarled, “Leave me alone until I make my decision.” Taken aback the salesman said, “Well, I'm very sorry. But it's my job to make sure that you are served. My boss doesn't like to see customers unaccompanied by a salesperson. I'll try to stay out of your way.” The salesman thought that should keep him calm. He was wrong but Wufei decided to let it slide as he knew what he wanted, all he had to do was find it. He eyed the salesman for a moment more then said, “I need something appropriate to my perceived station in life. Something unobtrusive preferably.” If this man had to hang around, let him do the hard work. “Well, I have several nice minis.” “No minis, I haul stuff.” Wufei decided a little cover was good. “For my job.” “Ah, I see. A working vehicle then. Pickup?” Wufei thought, he really didn't need one. “No. I was thinking more along the line of an SUV or van of some type. Most of the stuff I haul needs out of possible weather.” “I see. We have quite a fleet of good ... “ Wufei held up a hand and snapped sourly, “Spare me.” The salesman sighed and led the way to the rank of used vans and such. Wufei looked at everything there and didn't see exactly what he wanted. They were either too big or had no load capacity. The salesman thought for a moment then said, “I do have some very nice crew cab, long bed pickups. The back seat folds up. Perhaps you'd like to take a look?” “Yes, I find that the load limit on vans is too small but the cabs on trucks are also too small. What's a crew cab.” “It's a cab with a backseat. Meant to carry a crew of construction workers or whatnot.” Wufei grunted and followed the man to the next rank of trucks. He saw exactly what he wanted almost at once. It was dark green, crew cab, 4 wheel drive, short bed and very clean. Wufei opened the door and looked into the cab. “How much?” The salesman bit his lip. “Well, it's a nice truck, but it might be out of your price range. It's very low milage.” “I can afford it. Let's go back to the office and talk about it.” “Don't you want to drive it?” “I was assured that you were very reliable. I'll take your word that it's in perfect mechanical condition.” “Oh. Thank you.” So they wound up in the man's little cubicle, a desk with a pile of papers between them and started dickering. The salesman sweated and went back to talk to his manager three times before they were both as satisfied as they were going to get. “Now, all we have to do is arrange the loan and we're in business.” The salesman sighed, the loan agreement was going to get most of his commission on this deal. “I'll pay in full, now.” Wufei handed over his debit card. The salesman just ran the card, it was easier to do this than argue, run the card anyway and be proven right. He was proven wrong but he didn't care. His outlook was much brighter as the payment in full gave him a much better commission than he'd been expecting. “Insurance?” “No.” “Um ... I mean, do you have insurance.” Wufei actually rolled his eyes. “I meant, No, I don't have any. I assume you can provide that here as well as getting the plates for the truck.” “Yes, I do have to charge you a small fee...” Wufei just waived his hand. “Please stop dithering and get on with it. I've wasted enough of my time.” The man just shut up and dealt with things. He presented Wufei with a final bill and ran the returned sheet of paper through his computer. Wufei signed the charge slip, took the keys, bill of sale, pink slip and insurance papers and left, leaving behind a sweating clerk who told his break room buddies, “I swear, if he'd had a gun he'd have shot me at least once. He looked like he hated the world. Kids!” Unknown to him Wufei did have a gun. Wufei got into his new, to him, truck, started it and drove away. He found that he really did like the truck and was enjoying driving himself. Especially as the truck was bigger than almost everything on the road except light transport. As he drove, he thought, he was gearing up for his first attack on the men who'd abused him. He was still unsure exactly how they'd managed to get to him the first time but he was well aware of how they'd gotten to him again and again. The guards were in on it. As he drove by a motorcycle showroom his eye was attracted to a machine in the window. He flicked on the turn signal and crowded his way into the turn lane. He ignored the irate honking and parked by the door. He walked in and went over to the bike he was interested in. A salesman looked up, smiled then went back to flirting with the secretary. Wufei nodded in their general direction and turned back to the bike. It wasn't quite what he wanted so he wandered a bit. All the bikes in the show room were flashy, hot and squirrelly. He wanted something different. He needed something heavy, stable but still capable of a good deal of speed. He needed a hog not a crotch rocket. “Still looking or could you use a hand?” The salesman stood outside Wufei's personal space with an enquiring look and seemed ready to walk away if he wasn't needed. Wufei acknowledged that he needed some help. “I'm looking for something a little different from what's here.” “Sure, dude, tell me what you want and I'll see what I can do. What we have in the showroom are top of the line, newest on the market. I won't say what I think of some of them. Dangerous is polite.” “I'm in the mood to be rude. They're mostly chick bait. I need a set of wheels. Daily driver. Stable, work horse with a bit of flash and a burst of speed if needed. Not a hot rod.” “Gotcha in one. I've got just what you need out back. It started out as an OZ special, but you wouldn't know it by looking. You'd actually have to look at the serial number. Like to take a look?” Wufei gave the guy a sly grin. “Yeah, I would.” “Great, but I'll warn you, it's a kicker. Can't get a starter to fit it.” “Not a problem. I can manage.” So they went out back to find the bike in question, Wufei quickly saw that it was classified more as a motor than a bike or cycle. I was a huge, low seated monster with a 2000cc water-cooled power-plant. Originally built along the lines of a Harley-Davidson Sportster it now had swept back handlebars, wide tires, and saddlebags. It also sported a nice helmet trunk and a windscreen. He want it on sight. “It's in great condition but, man, I hate to lose a sale but I need to see you ride it. I don't what you killing yourself. Ok?” Wufei just smiled. “I don't mind. Helmet?” “Yeah, and, just cause the boss is an asshole, I'll see if I can't throw in a set of leathers and some boots. How's that?” Wufei grinned, an expression that, again, changed his whole face. “Very nice.” The boy led Wufei into the store by a back door, found him a helmet and the key to the motor. They return to the machine to find one of the mechanics standing by it. “Problem?” “No, just here to show the guy how to start it. Don't want him breaking a leg.” The mechanics grin took the sting out of his words and Wufei just shrugged at him. “I'll manage, I think. I really need to try myself so I know if I can start it.” Wufei returned the favor with a small smile. He stuck the key in the ignition, turned it on and primed the fuel pump with a slow strop of the kick lever. Then he romped it. The motor roared to life, coughed once and caught. Wufei adjusted the choke and twisted the accelerator, goosing the motor until it idled smoothly. He donned the helmet that the mechanic nudged his shoulder with. The mechanic plugged in the helmet systems and held up a handheld. Wufei nodded to him and waited while the man synced their systems. “Ok?” “Yeah, gotcha. Gimme a code.” “This side is Mech. You have a preference?” Wufei decide to take the bull by the horns. “I do. Zero Five.” “A-OK, got you, Zero Five it is.” Wufei eased the motor out into the sunlight and onto the small track behind the dealership. He knew the circuit was too small for him to build up a lot of speed but it was large enough to test the motor's handling and mechanical state. He started out at 15 kph and made two circuits, everything worked fine. The motor purred like a kitten and there was no slop in the handle bars or slack in the brakes. He twisted the throttle and smiled inside his helmet. The throttle was smooth, no binding or jumping. He increased his speed to 20 kph and tested the brakes again, no binding or squeaking. All in all he made 10 circuits of the track going from 15 kph to 40 kph he pulled back in, fearing to go much over 40 because of the size of the track. He spoke to Mech for the first time, “Zero Five to Mech. This machine is mine.” “That's great. Glad you like it.” Wufei pulled in, took off his helmet and tossed it to the mechanic. “Thanks, I'll go inside and find your guy. I'll need leathers and gear. Any advice?” “No, Mike knows his stuff. Just don't let him talk you into top of the line if you can't afford it.” Wufei patted the black leather seat of the dark moss-green gold-metallic monster and went inside to do paper work. As he sat down in a sling back chair, Mike handed him a soda. “I hope Mountain Dew is ok. It's the only thing we've got that's cold. Angie is the only one who fills the soda machine and she's out sick. Those pricks in the shop don't bother and they drink up all the cola then bitch when there's only hot. So ... helmet? Leathers?” Wufei accepted the soda and took a gulp. After he'd swallowed it he replied, “Top of the line helmet, but I don't usually wear leathers. Just a jacket and boots. Oh, and gloves.” “You got it. I have a really nice helmet here. Top specs but not uber expensive.” Wufei took it and tried it on. He liked it so he took it and turned to jackets and gloves. Mike suggested that they go to the racks and see if Wufei could find anything he liked. He took his time and found one he liked. Before they returned to the table that pretended to be a desk Wufei caught sight of a trailer pulling into the parking lot. “Trailer, I'll need a trailer just to get it home.” “We deliver, or you could drive it.” Wufei shook his head, “Thank you for the kindness but I have need of a good trailer anyway.” “Man, I hate to mind your business but this is going to add up to a hell of a payment every month. You sure?” Wufei actually touched Mike, patting him on the shoulder. “I can afford it. I had a very misspent youth.” “Ok, if you're sure. I've got a good tip trailer, easy to get the motor on by yourself and easy to gate. If you don't like it, all our trailers are the same price.” “Thanks. I need a tow bar, too. Truck's got a Reese hitch but no bar.” “I'll send out one of the guys to measure your hitch. We'll stick it in and hitch up the trailer for you. Get the motor on and so on. So ... you ready to cry?” Wufei stiffened then realized that Mike wanted to know if he was ready to pay. “As soon as I find some gloves.” That only took a moment and Wufei was back at the table waiting while Mike added up the damage as he called it. When he gave Wufei the total he expected Wufei to flinch at least. Instead, Wufei handed over his debit card and just waited while Mike did his thing. “Well, there you are. All set. If you'll bring your truck around to the back we'll stick in the tow bar and get you hooked up.” “Thank you.” Wufei went out to his truck and drove around to the back. It only took a few seconds to get the trailer hooked up. The motorcycle was already on it and lashed into place. Wufei tried to give Mike and the mechanic a tip but they both refused. Wufei noticed that there were only the three people in the shop, Mike, the mechanic and the secretary Mike had been flirting with. He decide that, if they wouldn't take a tip he'd do something else. He stopped at a local pizzeria and ordered a pepperoni and a supreme pizza to be delivered to the shop, paid in advance and walked out feeling very satisfied with himself. He drove home, pulled into the garage and unhitched the trailer. It was easy to push the trailer to the place he'd picked for it, unload the motor and park it. He then move his truck to face out of the garage and he was set. He went up to his apartment and settled in to arrange flights to get him to Chicago in what used to be the USA. . He found that, as he had a Preventers clearance, he could hitch a ride on a cargo carrier, no questions asked. So he loaded up his duffel with everything he thought he might need, made a trip to the supply store to buy some rope and got on a plane He didn't have to answer any questions, just show his ID. He was aboard the plane, tucked into a corner of the huge cargo bay, along with several other men and women. They all looked tired, stressed and uncomfortable. Most of them slept restlessly. Wufei kept to himself just as they did. The landing in Chicago was unremarkable. Wufei got a taxi, asked the driver for a good hotel in the area he knew his target was in and paid in cash. The driver warned Wufei that the area wasn't very good and Wufei nodded, saying, “I know but I'm supposed to meet someone there. I'll drag them to a better location as quick as I can. Thank you for warning me. I'll be sure to lock my door and stick a chair in front of it.” The driver grumbled a bit but dropped him off at the best hotel in the area. Wufei thanked him in a suitably humble manner and went in. . Heero looked up from the read out he was going over. Duo leaned over his shoulder. “What is it?” “I don't know. It looks like he's just using his inheritance to set himself up in a home and get a truck and so on. But ... I don't know. He's too calm about it. He's taken a job at a dojo and is restoring some antique swords.” Duo frowned. “And what about that bothers you? He's just trying to have a real life. So he doesn't want to be an active Preventer. He made a deal with Une. So maybe it's a cover?” Duo's doubtful look made Heero hunch his shoulder. “Don't know. It just ... he's too calm. I don't like it.” Duo shook his head. “Maybe he got counseling up there. We'll just have to wait until he steps out of line. You know Une said to leave him alone. But, we ought to email him at least once a week. Let him know we're available or where we are. Hold out a hand, you know?” Heero nodded his agreement and started typing up his email at once. Duo joined him. Neither one of them liked the fact that Une had told them to leave Wufei alone. It didn't seem that he needed to be alone, he needed friends. They obeyed Une under severe protest. . Wufei checked in easily enough, he just scowled at the clerk like he wanted to kill him, which he did, and the man stuttered and did as he was told. Wufei paid in advance, took his key card and went to his room. He connected to his server and checked his sources once more, they all said the same thing, his target lived at a down at the heels boarding house only four blocks from where he was now. Very convenient. He unpacked his duffel, got his harness on, holstered his pistol and tucked some throwing knives here and there. Then he got out the tanto he'd brought and checked the edge. It was just rough sharpened but it was sharp enough for his needs. He stuffed his rope and a few other things into a back pack and put it aside He put on the jacket he'd brought, thanking someone for the still chilly nights here on the lake shore area. The jacket wouldn't raise any suspicions. He gathered up his pack and walked out, locking the door on his remaining weapons and his computer case. He didn't bother to try to hide the fact that he was leaving the hotel. That would attract more attention, if he was caught, than his just walking out like he was going to eat. He wandered around a bit, familiarizing himself with the area. He spotted a small deli and stopped in for a sandwich. He walked on, munching on his Italian sub as he went. Now, he was searching for his target address. It didn't take him long to find it. He shook his head. The place was more than down at the heels, it was run down and, frankly, stank. He ambled idly around to the back and checked for a back door. He found a fire escape and smiled in a feral way that would have frightened even Heero, at least a little. He climbed the escape, counting floors. His target was in 421, fourth floor and odd numbers were on the back. If he was lucky his target would be in the room on the escape. He wasn't, he had to ease his way from window to window three times before he saw his man. He knew it was his man as the man had been his 'daddy', keeping him drugged for nearly a year, until he was released. The man who'd taken over had made the mistake of taking him off whatever they'd been using on him. He was now dead. Wufei shook away the memories and returned to business. He checked the window and found that it was locked but the lock was old fashioned and the boarding house had no security at all so he pulled out the tanto and jiggered the lock. He paused for a moment to make sure the slight scuffling noise hadn't alerted his quarry. It hadn't, the man didn't so much as twitch. Wufei eased over the sill and into the room. He made it to the bed in three silent steps and started his attack. It didn't take him long to get the idiot tied to the bed. He still didn't wake up so Wufei knew that he was passed out, drunk from the smell of him. Wufei pulled the ropes tight by leaning all his weight on them one after another. This woke his target up. He reared up with a snort and began yanking at his bonds. This did nothing but tighten the knots until they cut off his circulation. He started to yell, but a soft voice beside his ear said, “Daddy, I'm back.” He whimpered as he recognized the voice. “What do you want? What are you going to do to me?” “I'm glad you realize that I'm going to do things to you. Bad, bad things. Things that you did to me.” “Oh, God, please don't hurt me. I'm sorry. I'm really .... don't.” Wufei pressed the blade of the tanto against the man's lips. “Shhhh! Shhh! Daddy. It won't do any good. No more good than it did me. But I learned, didn't I? I quit it quite soon.” There was a soft hissing sound and Wufei drew back. The coward had pissed himself. “Nasty boy. Disgusting. No honor at all, but I should have known that.” His 'Daddy' just moaned and started to cry. Wufei hissed in disgust, this man had grabbed him when he couldn't defend himself and made his life hell on earth for nearly a year. Now he was reduced to blubbering and begging before Wufei had done anything at all. “Please, I'll do anything you want. You want money?” His eagerness disgusted Wufei. “I have money, I'll give it all to you.” “I don't need your money but I'll take it just the same.” “It's in the dresser. Top drawer.” Wufei opened the drawer and found a wad of cash, he didn't count it, just stuffed it into a thigh pocket. “Not enough. But ... Well, well, what do we have here?” Wufei lifted the small cylinder out of the drawer and examined it. It was a small bomb, called a pocked bomb as it would, supposedly, fit into a man's pocket. It was about four inches in diameter but only three long. He eyed it for a moment then turned to his target. “I knew something would come to me.” The man only moaned and shit himself. Wufei curled his lip, “You are so disgusting.” He avoided kneeling on the bed as he bent over the man. “Put out your tongue.” “NO! Oh, God, please don't.” “Either put out your tongue or I'll pull it out ... By the roots.” Wufei waited a moment then laughed without humor as 'Daddy' put out the very tip of his trembling tongue. He'd have stopped thinking of the man as 'Daddy' long ago, but that was the only name he'd ever heard the man called, even by the guards. “More. All the way out. Unless you want to lose it entirely.” Daddy put his tongue out more and Wufei split it from middle to tip with one slice, not bothering to avoid splitting both lips as well. Daddy screamed like a stuck pig. Wufei didn't worry too much about that as several screams from other quarters had aroused absolutely no interest at all. The nearly incoherent swearing, pleading and weeping was ignored as Wufei efficiently untied the rope holding his ankles to the bed frame and retied them to the head of the frame. Wufei pulled hard and drew Daddy's ankles to the top of the bed, putting his knees somewhere near his ears. “You better be quiet or I might get ideas. Hold still, this will hurt. A lot. I hope. Oh, and I'd really like to know where you got this pocket bomb. I do hope who ever made it was good.” Wufei picked up the bomb and shoved it 'where the sun don't shine' to an agonized scream that just might attract the kind of attention he didn't need. He laughed, patted the bomb, eliciting another scream and said, “Now, you need to wonder ... did I set the timer on that? ... or not. If I did set it, how long do you have? Do you want to attract attention and live with the shame? Or, do you want to wait until a friend shows up?” Wufei started back for the window. “Oh, and I am going to kill you. Sooner or later. See you.” And with that, he stepped out the window and dropped into a pile of cardboard boxes and paper trash in the recycling bin beneath the window. He hopped out and slipped behind it just in time to avoid being seen by a man taking a piss then realized that he'd only think that Wufei had been doing the same thing. He sighed loudly and zipped the zipper on his jacket up a bit, hoping it would sound like his trousers. “Hey! Who's there?” Wufei stepped out from behind the bin. “What's it to ya? Man's gotta piss, he's gotta piss.” Wufei gave the heavy set man what Duo would call a 'Fuck you' look and shoved passed him into the street. He was half way back to the hotel when an explosion behind him made him exclaim, “Well, fuck!” It seemed that the pocket bomb had been set off somehow. “Duo would have a fit. I know I didn't set the timer on that. Wonder what happened.” “Excuse me?” It was only when the woman walking towards him said something that he realized that he was speaking out loud. “Nothing. Just ... isn't anyone worried about that explosion?” “What explosion, honey?” “Ah! Nothing, nothing at all.” Wufei bowed slightly and started to walk on. “Need some company?” The woman looked tired, but eager as well. “No, but ... If anyone asks I paid for a drink.” Wufei handed her a twenty and walked away. The lady of the evening tucked the money into her purse and mumbled, “I'll say, two or three drinks and we talked about everything and nothing.” She turned and called, “Thanks, honey.” Wufei just waved a hand over his shoulder in a dismissive way and walked on. He made it to his room with a minimum of trouble. The desk clerk asked him if he knew anything about the explosion and he gave the man a bland expression and said, “What explosion?” The clerk gave him a disgusted look and snarled. Wufei glowered and fingered his sidearm, the clerk suddenly had business elsewhere. Wufei returned to his room, packed up and left, stiffing the clerk on his tip. ~ * ~ tbc... |
