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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"
Wufei looked at the slim metal band Duo had handed to him, scowling at the braided boy, who was giving him the most sincere and earnest look he could possibly muster. “So…how, exactly, did this come off, Maxwell?” demanded the officer suspiciously. “It’s probably faulty…a piece of crap,” Duo said with forced nonchalance. “Right. And the only one out of forty to fail,” noted the Captain. He pinned Duo with a dark glare. “I find it very fishy that yours is the only faulty unit.” “I’m tellin’ ya, Chang…it just came right off.” “All by itself,” came the skeptical response. “Would you, by any chance, have helped it come off?” “Well, I was wiggling it around. It’s pretty uncomfortable,” Duo shrugged, not quite looking at the MSC officer. “Testing your lock picking skills, were you?” “Me? Would I do something like that?” “You’re evading the question,” Wufei noted. “Not at all,” Duo countered. “So…do you have a replacement for it, or not?” He put his hands on his hips, taking a defiant stance. Running a bluff! “We’ll take care of it later,” sighed the oriental man. He met Duo’s gaze steadily. “Will you give me your word you won’t try to escape during the river crossing?” Duo nodded somberly, all teasing gone from his face. “I promise.” Wufei studied him for a long moment. “If you break that promise, I will track you to the ends of the Earth, you know.” The indigo eyes widened, and then Duo grinned cheekily. “Why Captain, I didn’t know you cared.” “Get back to your team, or you’ll miss breakfast. And trust me; you’ll need it today.” Duo gave a snappy salute, and jogged back over to his teammates. Heero looked up from rolling up his sleeping bag. “Did Chang buy your excuse?” “I charmed the socks off him,” Duo smirked, rummaging through his things until he found a leftover chocolate bar from the previous night’s snacks. “Ah, breakfast.” “Maxwell, they’re making--.” Indigo eyes flashed a dangerous look at the team leader. “Duo.” Heero corrected himself, scowling. “The cook is making real food. I suggest you not spoil your appetite with chocolate.” “What spoiling? I’ll have this and breakfast.” Duo stuffed the candy into his mouth, chewing and swallowing while he rolled up his own sleeping bag. Quatre was relieved that the braided boy seemed much more like himself, even after the long night. And Heero’s tension had eased as well. But the blonde Arab couldn’t help noticing that Trowa seemed more wound up than ever. “Are you okay, Trowa?” he asked, bending to help the other boy pack his gear. “Tired,” came the terse reply. “Didn’t sleep well,” admitted the auburn-haired boy. “Nervous about the river crossing today?” pressed Quatre. Trowa shrugged one shoulder. “Guess so.” “If anyone should be nervous, it’d be me,” Quatre told him, helping to fasten the ties on the sleeping bag. “I grew up shuttling between Earth and L4. And while on Earth, I lived in a desert.” He smiled wanly. “We didn’t swim much. I’m not really that good at it.” Trowa paused, looking up in surprise. “Don’t tell me you didn’t have a swimming pool at the mansion, Winner.” “Chlorine irritates my skin,” said the blonde, blushing slightly. “The only place we have with untreated water is on a lake. And we hardly ever get to go there.” Trowa eyed him with wry amusement. “How many houses do you--? Aw, never mind. I sound like Maxwell. Didn’t mean to pry.” “That’s okay,” Quatre insisted. “Even I don’t know how many places my family owns. I just kind of go along for the ride.” He smiled. “That’s part of why I started dabbling in computer crimes…boredom.” “Neglect,” Trowa suggested. “I guess, in a way,” admitted the blonde Arab. “My father’s a busy man. He’s not home much.” “Enough to catch you with the gardener’s son,” Trowa pointed out, almost able to muster a smirk. Quatre looked away uneasily. “That was just—experimentation,” he said carefully. “He was the first guy who really seemed interested. So we kind of started a relationship.” He fixed an earnest gaze on Trowa. “All we ever really did was kiss. Just my bad luck to have my father catch us.” “I’m glad he did,” Trowa said absently, looking past Quatre as Kushrenada walked out of the tent. “Why?” The auburn-haired boy pulled his attention back to the blonde. “Because I never would have met you if he hadn’t.” Quatre blushed deeply at that, unable to look at the other boy. Instead he focused on gathering their gear. But before he carried it over to the backpacks, he glanced shyly up from under his bangs. “I’m glad, too,” he admitted quietly, turning quickly away, before he could see the small, pleased smile on Trowa’s lips.
“Holy shit,” Duo muttered, glancing at his teammates. “We’re crossing that?” “It is a bit…intimidating,” Heero admitted, looking at the raging whitewater with raised eyebrows. Captain Chang was already in conference with his lieutenants, trying to decide whether to cancel the exercise. The rain two days earlier had caused the mountain creeks to pour tons of water into the river, raising the level and causing it to be wilder than usual. But after several minutes of discussion, the soldiers decided to move a little further downstream to a somewhat calmer section and go ahead with the crossing. For safety’s sake, they positioned rescue crews on each side of the river. When a team completed the crossing safely, they’d return via a mesh bridge the safety crew had secured earlier in the week a few hundred feet downstream. If something went wrong, the crews could also use their utility bridge to aid in rescues. This time, instead of the first-place team going first, Captain Chang saved them for last. He had little doubt that Team Wing would excel at the task, as they had at all the others, so he wanted to savor the moment. Plus, he was aware that the guards and soldiers had done some wagering on the outcome of the competition, and he wanted to keep them in suspense…perhaps teach them a small lesson about the evils of gambling. The four boys watched Pritchard’s second-place team make the first crossing of the day, and their confidence increased at Team Chase’s success. “Well, if they can do it, we can,” Duo muttered, casting a narrow gaze at the rival team, which was now on the other side of the river. Austin noticed his scrutiny, and a sneer curled his lip. He threw a snide kiss Duo’s way, and the braided boy flipped him the finger, eliciting a rude gesture in return. “Maxwell!” Captain Chang’s no-nonsense voice interrupted the long-distance exchange of taunts. “Didn’t we have a discussion about this?” “We had a discussion about Norton’s team, sir,” came the prompt reply. “And I have left them alone, as promised.” Wufei rolled his eyes, glancing at Heero for support. “Explain to your teammate, Yuy, that I expect good sportsmanship among all the teams.” “Yes sir.” Heero scowled at Duo. “Don’t say it,” Duo cautioned, indigo eyes narrowing dangerously. “I’m not in the mood for a scolding today, Yuy.” The team leader met the gaze steadily. “Heero.” Duo hesitated, and then his jaw tightened. “I haven’t forgiven you that much yet,” he muttered, looking away. Heero couldn’t help but smirk. “Yet?” he asked hopefully. Duo glared. “Don’t get your hopes up.” When their turn came for the river crossing, the four boys from Team Wing set about the task quickly and efficiently. Only Trowa had difficulty, his hands shaking so badly he dropped the rope three times before he was able to make the knot to secure it. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. Duo happened to be next to him at the moment, glancing distractedly at the other boy. “You okay, Tro’?” His glance dropped to the unsteady hands. “Fine, Maxwell. Shut up and pass me another rope.” “Yeah, fuck you too,” Duo growled, obeying the curt order. Within a short time they’d made the rope “bridge” they’d practiced on before, secured it across the river, and were ready to make the crossing. “Okay…I’ll go first, and…” Heero began. “Let me,” Trowa urged, glancing worriedly at the three-rope bridge. “I’ve got the most experience on ropes. If anything goes wrong, I can pull myself out of trouble.” Heero nodded, seeing the logic. “Okay. Barton first…then Winner…Maxwell, and me.” He almost expected Duo to correct his use of the last name again, but the braided boy seemed to have no problem with it when it wasn’t part of a scolding. Trowa stepped up to the edge of the water, but paused as Quatre ran over to him. “Be careful, okay?” suggested the blonde. He was sensing so much trepidation from the auburn-haired boy that he felt he had to offer some reassurance. “I’ll be fine,” Trowa assured him, confident that he would, but dreading the outcome. Quatre frowned. “Are you okay?” “Yes!” snapped Trowa. “Just back the fuck off, Winner!” Stung by the angry snarl, Quatre went back over to Duo. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” he said quietly. Duo slung an arm around Quatre’s shoulders. “Hey…everyone has an off day, Quat. Look how I’ve been lately. He’s probably just nervous.” Quatre nodded, watching as the former circus performer inched out onto the bottom rope, holding the two side ropes for balance and slowly making his way across the bridge. About a third of the way across, Trowa felt the rope give slightly, as he knew it would, and he paused, ready to plunge into the water when it broke. But it didn’t, and he frowned, slowly continuing further; even bouncing slightly with each step, to help stress the weak spot. He glanced back at his teammates, and Heero made a gesture as if pointing to a watch on his wrist. Hurry it up, Barton! This is a timed exercise! “Fuck!” Trowa kept going, his mind reeling. If the rope didn’t break, and the team won, Nanashi would die. Trying desperately to think of another way to force a loss, Trowa edged further along the bridge. And then he looked back and realized Quatre had already started across in his wake. “Not yet!” he called, suddenly concerned that the rope might break under the boy he cared about; the boy who’d admitted he wasn’t a particularly strong swimmer. But Quatre couldn’t hear over the roar of the water, and didn’t even look up. Instead his aquamarine eyes were fixed on the churning current, and a slightly worried frown creased his forehead. Trowa hesitated. Three-quarters of the way across the river, he knew he couldn’t reach the blonde Arab in time, but he turned around anyway, feeling a sharp tug and sway as the overburdened rope started to give way. Seeing Trowa starting back and realizing something was very wrong, Duo and Heero ran to the riverbank, both calling to Quatre to turn around. He barely heard their voices, but sensed the rising panic, and looked back to see them gesturing to him. Acting on instinct, Quatre hastily wrapped an arm in one of the support ropes, just as the bottom rope snapped, dropping him into the water. The strong current tugged at his legs, threatening to pull him from the rope he held in a death grip. Meanwhile at the other end, Trowa was clinging to the end of the broken rope, almost completely under water, as the bridge had been lower there. Soldiers from the rescue team on the far side of the river hurried to help Trowa, while Heero, Duo, and those on the near side dragged at the rope Quatre was clinging to. “Fuck!” Duo muttered, realizing that although the bottom rope had snapped, the balance ropes were still intact, and keeping them from pulling Quatre in. He darted back to the survival pack, pawing through it for the jackknife, and dashing back to the river. Heero saw what he was doing, and held out a hand. Duo passed him the knife, and Heero waded into the river, one hand locked on the same rope that Quatre had an arm wrapped in. The team leader fought through the current until he was next to the blonde, who had been trying to work his way to shore hand over hand. Then Heero wound an arm around the rope as Quatre had, and with one motion, sliced the balance rope behind the blonde. For an instant, the current grabbed at the two boys, pulling them under. But then Duo and the soldiers who’d joined in the rescue were hauling them in, using sheer numbers to wage war against the river. The same battle was taking place on the far side of the river, where perhaps a dozen people were dragging Trowa to safety. And after several moments of struggling, both groups managed to bring their colleagues to shore. Duo grabbed desperately for Heero’s hand, pulling him up onto dry land, and then throwing himself back down to the shore to help with Quatre. The blonde looked up gratefully as the braided boy looped an arm around his waist and helped him up the bank. “What happened?” he gasped, glancing over his shoulder. “And where’s Trowa?” “They got him on the other side,” Duo assured him, letting go only once they were up on safe, level ground. Then the boy from L2 ran to where Heero was sitting on the ground, panting from exertion and pushing wet bangs out of his face. “Are you okay, ‘Ro?” he asked, deep eyes concerned, as they studied the team leader’s face. “Yeah,” came the breathless reply. “Fuck!” Duo gasped out in relief, pulling Heero into a hug. “I thought you were both gonna drown!” Heero barely had time to register surprise at the display of affection before the braided boy tore himself away and went back to check on Quatre again. Captain Chang was still snapping out orders, his dark eyes watching the scene on the opposite shore, where Trowa was on hands and knees spitting out river water, while the troops and recruits gathered to assist him and pull up the remains of the bridge. Warden Kushrenada made his way onto the scene, having watched it all from a vantage point in the prison jeep he’d ridden out in. “Chang! What the hell’s going on?” he demanded. The oriental officer looked up briefly, scowling. “I don’t have time for you right now, Kushrenada.” “Is this what you call reforming juveniles? Someone could have died here.” “I’m well aware of the risk factor,” Wufei snarled. “I suggest you let us ascertain what happened before you criticize our methods.” “Sir--?” Lieutenant Wolf had walked over, holding the coiled rope. “Uh, you might want to see this, Captain. Looks like it was cut.” Wufei turned sharply, dark eyes cold as granite. “Cut?” Heero had made it to his feet by then, as had Duo and Quatre, and all three soaked and exhausted boys approached the commander. “I cut one of the balance ropes,” Heero volunteered, holding out the jackknife he’d forgotten to drop. The lieutenant shook his head. “The bottom rope…the one that gave out first…was also cut.” “That’s impossible,” Wufei said in disbelief, taking the coil and examining the frayed end of the rope. He walked over and took the knife from Heero’s hand, looking from it to the severed line. “Yuy? Did you allow anyone access to the survival pack?” “Of course not. Maxwell signed for it and he’s the one who kept it secure.” The warden stormed over, his apparent indignation hiding the triumphant gleam in the tawny eyes. “Maxwell had it?” he demanded with a scowl. “And did he also have the knife?” Duo’s eyes widened. Oh fucking Holy Hell…! All eyes turned to Duo, and he felt a surge of panic. “I had the knife, but I didn’t cut the rope!” he blurted hastily, turning a desperate gaze to Heero. “I swear, Heero. I didn’t! I wouldn’t!” There was a flicker of hesitation in the team leader’s eyes, and his mind immediately backtracked to the braided boy sitting on a boulder, slipping off the GPS anklet and preparing to leave. “Are you sure?” he asked quietly, an intense gaze on his teammate’s face. Duo stared in shock. “I don’t fucking lie, Yuy. You know that!” Kushrenada gestured a couple of his guards over to his side. “Throw some cuffs on the brat with the braid. We’ll take him back to camp...throw him in ‘solitary’ until I can contact L2 for a shuttle.” His cold eyes pinned Duo in a predatory gaze. “Barton and Winner almost drowned, Maxwell. That’s attempted murder.” “No!” Duo said, backing a step, shaking his head. “I’m telling you, you’re wrong!” The guards hesitated, glancing at the warden for confirmation. “Take him!” order Kushrenada, trying not to smile at the stark terror on Duo’s face. “Wait!” Captain Chang wore a somber scowl as he studied Duo’s pale features. “Tell me you didn’t, Maxwell…that this wasn’t payback for what Yuy did in sparring?” A flush crept up Duo’s cheeks. “I—he—I wouldn’t--!” He’d been furious enough to leave, but the thought that they believed he’d sabotage the team on his way out, was too much to bear. “Oh, Duo,” Quatre sighed quietly, uncertainty and disappointment in the aquamarine eyes. The sight of the doubt on that one face was all it took to break Duo. He dropped his gaze to the ground, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He didn’t put up any resistance as the guards shackled his wrists, and took positions on either side of him. Kushrenada smirked in a very self-satisfied way at Captain Chang. “I knew it, Chang. Sooner or later, they all show their true colors.” His arrogant gaze swept the rest of the boys. “Start thinking about who’ll be next, and maybe you won’t have another near-death on your hands.” “What I’ll be doing is investigating this incident, before assuming there’ll be another,” Wufei asserted. “I’ll need a copy of the report you plan to send to the Commission…as well as the L2 transfer documents.” “You’ll have them,” shrugged Kushrenada. He turned and looked Duo squarely in the eyes, allowing a slow smile to touch the corners of his mouth. Duo’s jaw dropped, as realization hit him. Somehow, the warden had orchestrated this whole thing. And I never even saw it coming… “You fucking bastard,” he said quietly…flatly. “Take the brat to the jeep,” ordered Treize, glancing at the two men at Duo’s side. “I’ll be right there.” The guards pushed Duo bodily along between them, heading towards the jeep, and the braided boy looked back over his shoulder once, not quite meeting his teammates’ eyes. Then he lowered his head and trudged along peacefully. “I warned you about him, Chang,” said Kushrenada, his tone both scolding and conspiratorial. “Honestly, I’m sorry I was right.” He turned and walked after the guards and their prisoners, only allowing himself a triumphant smile after his back was turned to the MSC officer. Wufei gave Heero a long, somber look, before turning and walking away to help his lieutenants finish assisting the safety crew and Trowa back across the river. Quatre looked at Heero in dismay. “He wouldn’t—couldn’t have, could he?” “You tell me,” Heero said quietly, easing closer and lowering his voice. “You’re the empath, Winner. What did you just feel from him?” “Shock…fear…” Quatre’s eyes brimmed. “Betrayal.” He looked up sharply. “He was hurt that we didn’t believe him…” “Yeah, I thought so,” Heero sighed. “He didn’t do this.” His deep blue eyes followed Kushrenada and his guards as they shoved Duo into the vehicle. “More likely K. or one of his thugs did.” “Oh, Allah,” Quatre breathed quietly. “When we left camp…” Heero nodded. “The pack was there unguarded. Anyone…inmate, guard or warden…could have tampered with it.” He shook his head. “It makes no sense for it to be Kushrenada, though. If he’d seen us leave, I have no doubt he’d have been all over us for attempted escape.” “Norton’s team?” Quatre suggested. “Now, that’s a definite possibility,” Heero said coldly. “Plus, Pritchard’s gang was still muttering about payback for the dog shit prank. They might’ve figured this would teach you and Duo both a lesson.” “It could be anyone,” Quatre sighed in frustration. He looked up as Trowa staggered over, still coughing. “Are you okay?” “Where’d they take Maxwell?” Trowa gasped out, shaking the water from his hair. “Back to camp, solitary confinement, and then to L2,” Heero said somberly. “Why?” A knot formed in the auburn-haired boy’s stomach. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of. Somehow Kushrenada had twisted this to get at Duo. “Because the rope was cut, and Duo’s the only one in the team with a knife.” The green eyes flew wide. “What do you mean? Why’d he have a knife?” “Oh…you were off with Nanashi when Heero and Duo went to get the survival pack,” Quatre recalled. “Duo was the one who signed for the pack…and it had the rope, matches, some other survival stuff, and a knife in it.” Trowa felt sick to his stomach, and not from swallowing river water. He swayed unsteadily, and felt Quatre’s arm around his waist. “Trowa? Are you okay?” Shaking his head, the former circus performer dropped to his knees, vomiting in the grass on the river bank. “We need to get him to the infirmary,” Heero said firmly. “Captain Chang!” Wufei was walking back up the hill. “Not now, Yuy! I’ve got to get busy on this…” “Barton needs to see the doctor. Looks like he’s in shock from the accident…he’s experiencing nausea…the shakes…” Wufei gestured to one of his troops. “Hayes…you and Smith take the Barton kid back to camp in the MSC jeep…make sure he sees the doctor.” The dark eyes settled on Heero. “So, have you reached any conclusions?” “He didn’t do it,” Heero asserted. “And you know this…how?” “Because he wouldn’t have come back if it was really his plan to sink the team,” Heero said firmly. “Come back? From where?” Wufei started to ask. His eyes narrowed suspiciously “Wait. Never mind. I don’t have time right now, Yuy.” He glanced over as the two soldiers helped Trowa to his feet and headed for the military jeep. “We’ll talk later.” He strode off before Heero could stop him. “Fall in!” called Lieutenant Lareau, calling all the recruits to formation in preparation for the hike back to camp. Quatre looked at Heero. “What now? We can’t let them take Duo to L2…he’s innocent.” “We have to find a way to prove that,” Heero sighed. “Even you and I had doubts, which should tell you how bad it looks for him right now.” “But we…he at least needs to know we believe in him!” Quatre said urgently. “I can’t believe I doubted…even for a second.” He shook his head, aquamarine eyes too bright. “We need to tell him we’re behind him.” “We need to save him from going to L2,” Heero said firmly. He closed his eyes, easily able to imagine what would happen to Duo in prison. “Fuck it all, Quatre! This can’t be happening.” The blonde boy nodded sadly. “I wish it weren’t.”
He turned back to the door. “Hey—what about the handcuffs?” he demanded, holding out his wrists. The warden leaned in the doorway, smiling in satisfaction. “Get used to ‘em, Maxwell. They’ll be permanent jewelry for the likes of you.” Duo glared defiantly at him. “I want a lawyer.” “Nice try…but you knew the terms when you came here…one screw-up and it’s off to L2…no lawyer…no trial. You just broke probation, smartass.” He smiled in satisfaction. “I don’t know how you set me up, K., but when I find out--.” “Find out?” Treize eyed him with vast amusement. “Maxwell—you won’t live long enough to find out. When the boys in L2 get an eyeful of that pretty face…” He walked closer, tawny eyes agleam. “And that hair…” He reached out to touch it, and Duo jerked back, flicking his braid out of reach. “Get away from me.” “You’ll be saying that a lot—for all the good it’ll do,” smirked the warden. “By the time the first few inmates get finished with you, you’ll be wishing you were dead.” Duo swallowed hard, struggling to maintain a defiant front. “Naw—I’ll still be wishing you were dead.” His indigo eyes glittered with hate. “You better hope I never get out.” “Oh—bold words—pretty boy,” Treize sneered. He patted Duo’s cheek, and the braided boy flinched away. “Good luck up on L2.” Turning on his heel, Kushrenada left, and Duo breathed a sigh of mixed relief and frustration. Then, resigned to his fate, he walked over to the corner, picking up a blanket that was his only comfort in the stone cell, and curling up dejectedly. Kushrenada had paused just outside the cell, and glanced at the guard. “Tell anyone on duty that they’re to consider Maxwell dangerous, and take all appropriate measures, eh? By this time Monday, he’ll be on a shuttle to L2 and long overdue punishment.” “Yes, sir,” came the prompt response, along with a knowing look.
And the more he obsessed about the way he’d been used, the angrier he got. Tranquilizers notwithstanding, he needed to fix the mess he’d made. So on his way to the barracks, Trowa took a detour. He slammed into the warden’s office, face livid. “You said no one would get hurt!” he accused, eyes ablaze. Warden Kushrenada stood slowly, walking around his desk to close the door. He turned with his back against it to face Trowa. “No one did get hurt, Barton. Now what’s your problem?” “Maxwell’s in solitary. That’s my problem!” “No. Your problem is making arrangements for your sister to come get your dog.” Treize shrugged one elegant shoulder. “What’s it to you what happens to Maxwell?” “He’s innocent!” Trowa ground out between gritted teeth. The warden snorted at that. “One thing he’s never been is innocent, Barton.” “He didn’t cut that rope.” “Ah, but only you, me, and the lamppost know it,” crooned Kushrenada with a sly smile. “I’ll tell Captain Chang--.” “Tell him what? That you’re the guilty one?” The tawny eyes narrowed. “I’d have you on the next shuttle to L3—after you watch me put a bullet between your precious Nanashi’s eyes.” Trowa paled at that, eyes tortured. “You—you wouldn’t!” “In a heartbeat.” Trowa stared in disbelief, a sinking feeling in his gut. “You knew all along that Duo had signed for that knife, didn’t you?” “Didn’t you?” asked Treize, looking genuinely surprised. Then he laughed in delight. “Shit…you didn’t! You honestly didn’t know who’d get blamed for cutting the rope. That’s just priceless.” The warden smirked triumphantly. “So Maxwell takes the fall. Big deal. It’s not like he’s going to die—unlike the dog you’ve worked so hard to save.” “But it isn’t fair--,” Trowa argued. “Go ahead and send me to L3—just let Catherine take Nanashi, and let Duo go. I’ll go to prison. I don’t mind!” “I don’t want you in prison, Barton. I want Maxwell.” Treize smiled icily. “And right now, I’ve got him.” And soon the gangs in the toughest prison on L2 will have him, as much as they want. “Please--.” “Oh, don’t beg,” laughed the warden, waving a hand dismissively. “I’ve never fallen for that. Just deal with what’s happened and move on.” He leaned closer, tawny eyes alight. “Even if you tried confessing, I’d simply deny that we ever made a deal, and claim you’re trying to help out a teammate…a guilty one at that.” “You fucking, lying sonofabitch!” “Ah—sticks and stones. Maxwell’s a lot more creative in his insults—he usually drags my mother—sister—ancestors—and some livestock into it.” Kushrenada laughed at the recollection, elated at finally having his much-hated enemy at his mercy—or lack thereof. “Go on back to your barracks, Barton. Or I’ll just shoot the damned dog and ship you off to L3 on the next available flight.” Trowa seethed with anger, but there was nothing he could do for the moment, so he obeyed the warden, stalking angrily back to the barracks.
“Damn it, Chang,” sighed the blue-eyed major. “Isn’t there any hope of making a positive determination?” “Each team has a knife, assigned to one and only one member. Theoretically, it could have been anyone. I’ve confiscated all the knives, ropes, and packs, checking each for the condition it’s in. I’ve fingerprinted each knife. The only sets on the knife Duo signed for are his and Yuy’s.” “What do his teammates seem to think?” “Yuy said he didn’t do it. He seems very convinced of that…” Wufei let his voice trail off significantly. “But...?” “But I think he’s biased…emotionally involved.” “He’s in love with Maxwell?” demanded the officer in astonishment. “Well, in lust, anyway.” Wufei shrugged slightly. “Probably even a little deeper. Yuy’s not given to casual affairs.” “Shit,” sighed Merquise. He rubbed his face wearily. “Well, if it’s any help at all, I did find out why Kushrenada was so determined to solve that murder on L2…the one he blames Maxwell for.” Wufei cocked an eyebrow curiously. “It was Kushrenada’s brother who died.” Chang sat up sharply, eyes intent. “You’re kidding!” “No…I did the background checks myself to verify the information.” “Well, that certainly explains his attitude towards Maxwell,” Wufei said with a frown. “Except that as law enforcement, he should have accepted that the lack of physical evidence made pinning it on Maxwell a stretch by anyone’s standards.” “I’ll admit, the crime scene was typical of the kind of break-ins Maxwell was later convicted of…but for Christ’s sake, the victim was stabbed forty-seven times. I find it incredible that Kushrenada honestly believed a twelve-year old kid could pull that off, and walk away without leaving a trace of evidence behind. They didn’t find a murder weapon, bloody clothes, trace evidence on the boy…nothing. And believe me, they picked his life apart looking. On top of that, they beat the shit out of him trying to force a confession…one they never got. But because he was a street kid, they figured he could have dumped the murder weapon and clothes almost anywhere, and they tried to have him charged.” “Yes. According to Kushrenada, his public defender had a field day in court.” Wufei smiled grimly. “As much of a ‘pretty boy’ as Maxwell still is, at seventeen, he must have been painfully adorable at twelve.” Zechs held up a picture; a mug shot of a small, slight boy with the same heart-shaped face, big, sad eyes, and unruly bangs. The photo highlighted dark bruises around both of those soulful eyes, along the delicate-looking jaw, and leading down the neck to disappear under the collar of his shirt. “You should see the shots of him without the shirt on, Chang. They should have jailed the bastards who did that to him.” “Aye,” breathed Wufei, his voice choked with outrage. The dark eyes fixed steadily on the major’s. “It’s clear that Maxwell and Kushrenada have reason to be mortal enemies.” “You don’t suppose the warden had anything to do with this incident, do you?” suggested Major Merquise carefully. “If he did, I won’t be able to prove it.” Wufei scowled, rubbing his forehead. “At least, not in time. He’s got a shuttle coming at the crack of dawn on Monday to take Maxwell to prison on L2.” Zechs’ eyes bulged at that. “Didn’t you tell me Maxwell scored a ninety-eight point nine his first time in the simulator?” Wufei nodded, closing his eyes, and wanting to groan aloud. The boy’s score had been phenomenal…and only a fraction lower than Heero’s. He had the exact type of aptitude they needed in mobile suit pilots. “Fuck,” muttered Zechs indelicately. “Chang, I want you to examine that evidence with a fine-tooth comb. See if there’s anything that will point away from Maxwell. And update me tomorrow.” “Yes sir,” sighed the Chinese officer.
Trowa was seated on the barracks steps, his head in his hands, when his teammates arrived. “Trowa! I thought you’d still be at the infirmary,” Quatre said with relief. The green-eyed boy looked up miserably. “There’s nothing wrong with me, Quatre. I was just a little queasy after swallowing that river water. Felt better before I even got here.” Quatre nodded, frowning at the deep melancholy he felt in his teammate. “You’re not okay, though,” he said quietly, sitting beside him. “How the fuck do you expect me to be okay when Duo’s about to be shipped off to L2?” Trowa snarled. The blonde looked at him in surprise, and then smiled. “I’m sorry, Trowa. I didn’t realize you cared that much,” he said gently. “You and Duo could be a pretty volatile combination…I didn’t think you were friends, really.” Trowa waved a hand dismissively. “Doesn’t mean I wanted shit like this to happen to him.” “Speaking of that,” Heero cut in. “I’m going to see Chang. I need to convince him to delay the transfer until we can prove Duo’s innocent.” “How the hell do you expect to do that?” Trowa demanded harshly. “He had the fucking knife--!” If only he’d known Duo was responsible for the survival pack, he might have been able to figure out Kushrenada’s plan in time to warn the braided boy. I should have warned him…warned them all…told someone…anyone… Yeah, and watched Kushrenada blow Nanashi’s brains out… Heero shrugged. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I just know I have to.” “Go ahead,” Quatre suggested. “See what the Captain can do to help. I’ll stay with Trowa…we can try to come up with some ideas.” Trowa groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I’ve
been trying,” he mumbled into his palms. God knew he’d
been trying ever since he sat down on those steps to wait for the
others.
tbc... |
