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"Boot Camp"Written By: Snowdragonct Disclaimer: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing or the characters, more's the pity. This is for fun...no profit involved. Warnings: AU (sort of), yaoi, swearing (lots), some OOC (probably), some violence, references to NCS (especially in later chapters) Pairings: 1+2, 3+4 (to start with) A/N: This is the first time I'm getting up the nerve to post a story...hope it's not too similar to anyone else's (haven't seen one just like it). Candid, kindly-delivered critiques will be greatly appreciated...please don't rip my head off too much? Um, and the old "don't like, don't read" phrase holds true. Oh, and it's fiction, and I don't have a law degree, so there's sure to be some inaccuracies...can we just pretend, please? Thanks in advance. Rating: NC 17 Summary: Four boys in the juvenile justice system
receive a last chance to make something of their futures. Will boot
camp make or break them? And can they ever learn to be a team? "Boot Camp" Chapter Twenty Seven: Holding Back the Storm Trowa was uncharacteristically elated as he and Quatre made their way back towards the barracks. The meeting between Kushrenada, Catherine and him had gone perfectly. The warden had seemed quite charmed by Trowa’s pretty sister, and she’d given all the right answers about how they’d ensure the public’s safety from Nanashi. Nanashi had been the perfect gentleman as well, happily greeting the girl as if he’d known her from birth. And Catherine was completely in love with the tawny dog before the visit ended. And not only had Trowa introduced her to the friendly pup; he’d gotten to introduce her to Quatre, after the blonde’s sisters left. She’d given Trowa a surreptitious thumbs-up behind Quatre’s back before she left. “You seem really happy,” Quatre noted, as they walked through the compound, after taking Nanashi back to the kennels. “I am,” Trowa shrugged. “It went perfectly.” He couldn’t help the smile that lit his face. “I can’t believe I’m going to get to keep Nanashi, Quatre.” His green eyes shone with elation. “And I have you to thank for giving me the idea.” Quatre shrugged modestly. “You’d have thought of it, I’m sure.” Trowa shook his head. “I was in a panic when I thought he’d be killed. My brain just froze up.” He gave his teammate a warm look. “Don’t ever say I don’t owe you for this, Quatre. I-I don’t even know how to start to thank you.” Quatre smiled almost coyly. “Being my friend is a good start,” he said ambiguously. Trowa nodded enthusiastically. “I am,” he said firmly. “Always.” Quatre shifted the brown paper bag he was carrying, and Trowa gave him a curious look. “What’s in the bag?” “Ah, a little present for Duo,” Quatre said with a smirk. Trying not to show his reflexive jealousy, Trowa raised an eyebrow curiously. “We’re supposed to camp out Thursday night…before the river crossing,” Quatre reminded him. “And..?” Trowa’s imagination was beginning to kick in, and a slight frown creased his brow. “Remember last time? Duo wanted s’mores.” Trowa gave a short, relieved laugh. “You didn’t!” “I had Iria bring graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows,” grinned the other boy. “Did she have to smuggle them past security?” teased Trowa. “No. I got Captain Chang’s permission,” explained the blonde. “There’s nothing hazardous about s’mores.” “I’m not so sure,” suggested Trowa. “What if Maxwell ends up with marshmallow in that hair of his?” Quatre laughed aloud. “Oh, Allah, he’d kill me!” he gasped between chuckles. “But it would be hilarious, wouldn’t it?” “I’ll protect you,” Trowa offered, boldly putting a hand on Quatre’s shoulder and keeping it there the rest of the way to their barracks. But when they walked inside, they both paused in surprise. Heero and Duo appeared to be at it again. “Goddamnit, Yuy! I don’t give a shit! I’m going to fucking kill Kyle--!” “You can’t make a move, Maxwell. Chang will be all over that…not to mention Kushrenada…” “Fuck ‘em both!” Duo spat angrily, stalking the length of the room. “I don’t care how many so-called ‘witnesses’ say Kyle’s team was at the library. They did it! I know they did.” “Damn it, Duo. Get a grip on yourself and think, for once!” Heero looked almost as agitated as the braided boy, though he held himself back from pacing. “This is exactly what Kushrenada wants. You attack Norton, and he’ll have you on the next flight to L2.” “Whoa…attack Norton?” Quatre cut in, wanting to know what had caused the anger and concern he could feel filling the small building. “Why would you do that, Duo?” “Because he nearly killed Jase!” Duo snapped, turning an agonized look to his friend. Quatre exchanged a puzzled glance with Trowa, and then looked at Heero. “What’s he talking about?” he asked the team leader. “Apparently, last night someone lured Jason out of the barracks alone and beat him half to death,” Heero sighed, gritting his teeth in frustration. “Chang hasn’t been able to prove it was Norton or his team.” “But we know better!” Duo interjected. “We know nothing!” Heero snarled in response. “There are two guards willing to swear Norton’s team was at the library last night during the attack.” “They’re lying!” Duo spat angrily. “And I’d like to know why,” Heero insisted. “If there are two prison guards backing Norton’s team, someone must have put them up to it. My bet would be Kushrenada.” “I don’t care who’s backing them. All I care about is what they did to a friend…and how I can pay ‘em back for it.” “Maxwell, I forbid you to go anywhere near Norton!” Heero growled sternly. Duo’s eyes widened. “You forbid--?” he asked incredulously. “Are you fucking insane, Yuy? You can’t ‘forbid’ me to do anything. You’re not my boss…and you’re not my mother, for fuck’s sake!” “No, I’m your friend,” Heero said evenly, his deep blue eyes meeting the indigo ones squarely. “And I care what happens to you.” Quatre nearly smirked when he saw Duo hesitate at that admission. Nicely done, Heero. “I care about you,” Heero added quietly, knowing he’d won when he saw Duo’s shoulders relax slightly. He walked over to stand squarely in front of the other boy, who had his head bowed, his chestnut bangs shading his face. “Duo?” Duo’s shoulders rose and fell in a deep sigh, and he nodded without raising his head. Heero reached one finger to lift Duo’s chin so the braided boy was looking at him. “I need you to trust me, Duo. We’ll find out the truth, and we’ll see whoever hurt Jason punished for it. But I won’t let you sacrifice yourself to exact revenge. Understood?” “Yeah,” Duo said wearily, reaching a hand up to push his unruly bangs from his eyes. “It’s just—if you’d seen how battered he looked—how pale he was. And all because he picked the wrong friend.” “We’re not even going to discuss how wrong that is,” Heero said with a shake of his head. His blue eyes turned to the other two teammates. “Chang showed up after you two left, to tell us they were about to medivac Jason off to a hospital,” he explained. Quatre walked over to Duo’s side, sliding a comforting arm across his shoulders. “I can tell how worried you are about him,” he said quietly. “It must’ve been pretty bad.” “It was.” Trowa frowned at Heero. “Why do you think Kushrenada had something to do with it?” “I saw Norton leaving his office a little earlier,” replied the team leader, his gaze still on Duo’s face. “And there are two prison guards swearing they saw Norton’s team members at the library last night when the attack occurred.” “They could be acting without his knowledge,” Trowa persisted, not wanting to believe the man who’d treated him so well could be that underhanded. Duo gave him a scathing look. “Still as naïve as ever, eh, Barton?” he sneered, pulling away from Quatre and walking to the door. “I’m going out for a breath of fresh air.” Heero gave a low growl of frustration. “Then so am I.” He spared a glance at Trowa. “How’d things go with your sister?” “Great. She loves the idea of adopting Nanashi.” Trowa glanced at Quatre. “And I think she’s a little taken with Quatre, too.” The blonde blushed at that. “He’s making that up, Heero. She was just nice to me, that’s all.” “I’ll see what she says in her next letter,” shrugged the boy from the circus, smirking as he went to his bunk to relax. Duo had paused at the door. “Coming, Yuy?” He gave a look over his shoulder that was half exasperation, half invitation. “Of course,” came the simple reply as Heero joined him at the door.
“Not really,” sighed the Chinese officer, frowning slightly. “I have two guards swearing that the boys were in the library, and no other witnesses to refute it.” “Why would the prison guards lie to protect inmates?” wondered Zechs. Wufei’s scowl deepened. “Recruit Yuy said something that stuck in my mind, sir, about the purpose of the attack being to get to Recruit Maxwell. The boy who was injured was, uh, romantically interested in him.” “Oh.” Zechs appeared to consider that for a moment. “So someone beat up Carroll to prove something to Maxwell?” “It’s a possibility,” shrugged Wufei. “And we know Kushrenada has no fondness for the boy. Although I hesitate to accuse him of telling his guards to cover for Norton’s team, I can’t completely rule it out. At this point, I can’t even rule out the possibility of the guards’ having carried out the attack themselves.” He sighed heavily. “I’ve met with every team… inspected hands for cuts or bruises that might have been caused in a fight, checked out uniforms…with no leads. Whoever did this either wore gloves or used a blunt object to inflict Carroll’s injuries…and then got rid of whatever it was. I’m not sure Norton’s boys are that clever.” “I see.” Zechs ran a hand back through his long hair. “Well, Captain, all I can suggest is that you keep on top of things. Be careful with next week’s competition. Don’t have activities that could separate a team…safety in numbers, you know. Make sure your soldiers are the ones overseeing the recruits, rather than using prison guards. And keep a close eye on Team Wing, since they seem to be at the top of the hit list.” “Well, they’re the odds-on favorite for winning next week,” Wufei said with a fairly smug grin. “When they work together, they are quite formidable, sir.” “Perhaps we’ll have to keep them together when they get to the Academy, eh?” “Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves?” asked the Chinese officer, raising an eyebrow. “How about we make a little wager, Chang? I’ll bet fifty credits that they end up winning next week. If you lose, you have to let me take you to dinner when you get back to the Academy.” Captain Chang gaped for a moment, wondering if the connection were faulty. Did Major Merquise just…proposition…him? “Sir?” Zechs laughed at the panicked look on the face of his best training officer. “Or would you rather put up cash?” he offered magnanimously. “I’d rather not bet against them, sir,” replied Wufei, regaining his composure quickly. “I know Yuy too well.” “Ah, so we agree. I look forward to meeting all four of the boys on this remarkable team of yours, Chang.” “Yes sir. I should get back to my investigation…” “Of course. Carry on, Captain.” The screen went dark, leaving Wufei staring blankly at it. “Dinner?” he said quietly, to no one in particular.
“I don’t want to hear it, okay?” came the sharp response. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.” Indigo eyes darted him a sharp glance. “No going after Norton…no going after his teammates…no…” “I was going to say…” that I wish I could hold you and make you forget everything bad that ever happened to you…that I want to protect you from anything that might happen from now on…that I couldn’t care less about the boot camp or the mission, if it puts you in harm’s way. And how about that ‘first kiss’ that got interrupted earlier? “Ah, forget it.” Heero sighed, scowling in frustration. Duo cocked his head questioningly, noticing the team leader’s tension. “You mean that’s not what you were going to say?” Heero stopped, turning to face his teammate. “You keep telling me…telling all of us…how tough you are. As if growing up on the streets made you stronger…more able to look out for yourself. But look what happened to Jason.” A scowl creased his forehead. “I don’t want that to happen to you. I want you to use your brains, and think before you act, and work with the team, instead of going off alone.” “I thought that’s what I just did,” Duo said coolly. “I waited for you, because I knew if I stormed out of that barracks alone, you’d throw a fit.” “But did you know why?” Heero demanded. God, Duo, just admit that you know I care…that you want me to care. “Yeah, Yuy,” Duo said, eyes narrowing slightly. “You need four team members to win the competition.” Heero stared for a moment, and then shook his head. “You asshole,” he muttered, turning on his heel and heading back towards the barracks. Duo crossed his arms, glaring at the retreating back. That’s better. Don’t care too much, Yuy. It’ll be safer for you in the long run. Heero stopped before he was out of sight of the other boy. Despite his anger, he wouldn’t leave a teammate alone. “Maxwell. Barracks. Now!” When he heard the quiet crunch of sand behind him, he started walking again, knowing the braided boy was stalking sullenly along.
Then, just after supper, there was a sharp rap on the door, and Captain Chang and Corporal Carter walked in, the latter carrying a duffel bag and folded cot. The four boys stood at attention, albeit a little grudgingly on the part of some. “Yuy…I’ve been to each barracks this evening, and given the same talk you four are about to hear,” said the Chinese officer brusquely. “For the duration of the upcoming competition, your MSC liaison will be bunking with you.” His sharp black glance swept past Duo. “There will be no midnight excursions to seek any sort of retribution against anyone for anything. Is that clear?” “Yes, sir,” Heero said, his own gaze sliding warily over to see the smoldering frustration in the indigo eyes. “Furthermore, during next week’s competition, there will be no name-calling, no taunts, threats, or direct action taken against another team…no matter what!” This time his gaze pinned Duo down. “Am I making myself clear, Maxwell?” “You are.” “Do I have your word you will leave Norton and his teammates alone?” Duo nearly squirmed under the intensity of Wufei’s glare, seeing no way to circumvent the issue at hand. “But…” Wufei stepped closer, lowering his voice so only Duo could hear him. “I don’t think they were the ones who hurt Carroll.” The braided boy’s eyes flew wide, and he turned a disbelieving gaze to the officer. “You’re lying!” “I swear by my ancestors, I’m not,” said the Chinese officer, shoulders stiffening. Heero darted a warning glance at Duo. For Christ’s sake, don’t question Chang’s word! Don’t be that stupid, Maxwell! Duo frowned thoughtfully, and then his gaze dropped to the floor. “Okay, Chang. I promise, I won’t do…or try to do…anything to Norton’s team this week.” “No sabotage…no goading them into starting an altercation?” “Nothing!” Duo said sharply, raising an angry glare to the officer. “Go ahead and do it your way, Chang, for all the good it’ll do you! What the hell? He’s just an L2 brat to you…so why should you care--?” Wufei’s hand cracked sharply across Duo’s face, and the boy gaped in astonishment, blinking back tears of pain. “Recruit Carroll is one of my trainees, Maxwell. And I do care what happens to him. And don’t you ever dare question that again!” Duo rubbed his cheek absently, a disbelieving look still plastered on his face. The Chinese officer took a deep breath, visibly regaining his composure. He turned back to Heero. “I expect your team to display exemplary behavior this week.” “Yes, sir,” Heero said quietly, still watching Duo out of the corner of his eyes. He half-expected the braided boy to tell Wufei to go fuck himself, and was rather surprised when he didn’t. Captain Chang glanced once more at Duo, his expression almost apologetic; he rarely lost his temper, and when he did, he never felt good about it afterwards. But he left without a word, shutting the door with a solid bang. Carter looked sympathetically at the boys in Team Wing. “The Captain’s very wound up about last night’s attack. He wants to find and punish whoever did it, and so far hasn’t had any luck.” Duo gave the corporal a long look. “So that makes it all okay,” he said with a studied shrug of indifference, turning and climbing onto his bunk, stretching out and facing the wall. Heero sighed. “Where do you want to set up your cot, Carter?” The soldier chose a spot right under the only window, which would make it nearly impossible for anyone to get in or out of the barracks unseen. After all, that was the point of his presence there…to keep the peace by any means necessary. Quatre eyed Duo warily, tempted to try talking to the boy from L2, but knowing there was little he could say at that moment to make him feel better. “Let him alone,” Trowa suggested quietly.
The one thing he understood about Duo was the other boy’s need
for solitude sometimes. He was the same himself…an orphan and
a survivor…and when he was angry or hurt, all he wanted was to
go off and brood on his own. “He’ll be better tomorrow.”
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