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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"
After Wufei and Duo finished their staring—er, scowling—match, their attention turned back to Heero’s birthday, and how they might make it even more of a special occasion. It was Wufei who came up with a solution he found acceptable, in that it didn’t involve Heero and his “foster son” disappearing alone together for some quick, hot sex. (A/N: Killjoy.) He decided that the boys from Team Wing should catch a couple of hours of sleep, while he sent for a jeep to be brought up from the camp. Then, he planned to take them into town, to the burger joint that the locals had recommended the last time he’d been there. It seemed a fitting reward for their achievement, as well as a special treat for Heero’s benefit. Without telling the boys of his plan, he had them sack out on some of the spare sleeping bags, and the moment they were asleep or resting, he stepped outside to make radio contact with the base. “Chang?” The voice over the transmitter sounded a bit sleepy and confused. “Yes, sir.” “Something happen?” came a slightly more alert response. “It’s…not even zero six hundred hours.” “I know,” sighed the Chinese man. “I just thought you’d want to know immediately when you won the bet, sir.” There was a long pause…and then a strangled sound, followed by a cross between a laugh and a cheer. Wufei sighed. He’d known his superior officer would be smug as hell about winning the bet, but the gloating was a bit much. “Are you finished?” “Not nearly! I want to hear it all! How’d they do it? When? How the hell did they get to the mining shack so quickly?” Wufei interrupted when Merquise paused for air. “They scaled a cliff, sir…one they shouldn’t have even considered.” “God, I love those boys, Chang! Sign ‘em up right now!” came the gleeful response. “That’s my intention.” The young officer leaned back against the wall of the shack, running a hand over his sleek hair. “But before that, I’d like to request a transport. Can you send a vehicle large enough for five passengers and a driver?” “Consider it done!” “I’d also like permission to take the boys out for lunch, sir,” Wufei added. “They deserve a little something for their achievement, don’t you think?” “Absolutely.” There was a brief chuckle. “But as much as I like them, Chang, they’re not invited to dinner with us.” Wufei was glad for the audio-only transmitter, so the other man couldn’t see him blush uncomfortably. “Ah…right.” He cleared his throat uneasily. “The wager.” “You aren’t thinking of trying to back out--?” The Chinese officer bridled at that. “I am a man of honor!” he said sharply. “I would never welsh on a bet!” Again a quiet laugh came through the speaker. “Of course not. Forgive me for suggesting such a thing.” “I suppose it’s understandable, given my hesitation,” Wufei admitted, mollified by the apology. “I swear on my honor, Chang, I’ll be a perfect gentleman. And if you choose to limit this dinner engagement to a one-time thing, I’ll respect that. But first, you have to allow me the chance to impress you with my witty banter, elegant manners, and exquisite taste in dinner company, eh?” Wufei smiled wanly to himself. “Of course, sir.” “So, what time will you have my favorite team back here?” asked the other officer. “Mid-afternoon, at the latest. Oh, and Major? Could you have the driver bring along four Academy uniforms? I’d like to get the boys out of prison garb for the trip.” “Good idea. Wouldn’t want to attract the wrong kind of attention, eh?” “Exactly.”
“So, why are we dressed like this?” Duo asked, tugging at the snug collar, and looking down at the unfamiliar outfit. “It’s a surprise,” Wufei said mysteriously. He looked over the back of the seat at his charges. “Trust me, Maxwell, you’ll like it.” Duo eyed him warily. “Like I haven’t heard that before.” Heero leaned over to whisper something in his ear, and the braided boy gave a coarse laugh. “Well, that I’d like.” “Yuy…” Chang’s voice carried a blatant warning. “If you’re going to tell me I need your permission to date Maxwell…” “Need I remind you I’m his guardian?” Wufei pointed out. “Not to mention a black belt in tai kwon do, aikido, kenpo, and…” “Point taken,” Heero shrugged, looking out at the scenery with studied nonchalance. “But that won’t stop me,” he added quietly. Duo smiled widely, darting a defiant look at Wufei, and edging even closer to Heero, enjoying the close quarters in the back seat of the jeep. “Hey, Yuy,” he whispered, putting his lips right next to the other boy’s ear. “I won’t stop you, either.” Heero turned to reply, but instead ended up brushing his lips across Duo’s, and decided to take advantage of their position by stealing a lingering kiss. “Fuck it,” Duo breathed when their lips parted. “I’ll not only not stop you…I’ll help.” “I’m counting on that,” Heero smirked, leaning back in the seat and simply enjoying the heady feeling of a well-earned victory. Wufei graciously pretended not to see the intimate moment, opting to study the scenery as they bounced along the rugged logging road.
“Real food?” Duo asked, eyes lighting up. “This from the boy who ate milkbones,” Trowa said with a smirk. “I thought it might be a nice change from institutional food,” Captain Chang told them. As they piled out of the jeep, Duo threw his arms around Wufei in a teasing hug. “Man—you are the best!” Wufei squirmed at the intrusion into his personal space. “Maxwell--.” “Hey—I thought he was a close second,” Heero reminded his teammate. Duo released the indignant officer. “Aw, ‘Ro, that depends on what we’re talking about. You know you’re number one with me.” His grin turned sly. “—01.” Heero just smirked in response, enjoying the way Duo walked close enough that their shoulders practically touched. Quatre and Trowa likewise were companionably close as they entered the diner. The little establishment looked like it came right out of some down home magazine—from the much-used jukebox in the corner, to the checkered tablecloths. There was an old television in a corner behind the lunch counter, with some news show currently airing, and a waitress leaned comfortably on one elbow, reading a newspaper, while the few patrons were apparently all taken care of. The place was less than half full, with a couple of families having lunch and a bunch of teenagers playing pool on a beat-up table in an alcove off to the side of the dining area. It was clearly the local hangout—probably the only place in the small mountain town for the kids to go. And in spite of the obvious age of the building, it was clean, bright, and airy, and it smelled deliciously of grilling burgers and homemade bread. The waitress perked up at the sight of new customers, and even moreso when she saw the MSC uniforms. “Well, hey there!” she greeted them, eyeing Wufei’s captain’s bars. “Can I show you gentlemen to a table?” “Thank you.” They sat at a table by the big picture window, looking around at the homey surroundings. “This is nice,” Quatre said with a smile. He hadn’t realized how much he missed simple things like going to the local ice cream stand. It seemed like the regimentation of detention center life had gone on forever. Duo looked wistfully over at the pool table, wondering if the local kids might leave soon enough that he could challenge his teammates to a game. One of the girls playing pool caught his glance and smiled invitingly. “Don’t even think about it, Maxwell,” Wufei muttered under his breath as the waitress passed out menus. “What?” Duo looked at him blankly. “I do not want you mingling with the locals,” Wufei clarified. He’d noticed the boy next to the girl who’d smiled at Duo, and the narrow look he’d shot at Duo. “I don’t wanna mingle,” Duo retorted, leaning back in the booth. “I was just hoping they might leave so I could kick your ass at pool…sir.” The sarcastic emphasis on the last word did not go unnoticed. “Watch that tone, or you’ll be doing laps when we get back to camp,” warned Captain Chang. But he softened the scolding by smirking. “Besides, you can’t possibly kick my ass at anything—sonny.” Duo’s indigo eyes narrowed, as his teammates snickered. “Oh, Chang—you are so asking for it!” “Well, if the local gaggle of teens leaves before we do, I’ll be happy to prove my point.” Wufei glanced again at the kids gathered around the pool table, noting the coy glances several girls were darting at the boys in uniform. Drat the luck. This would have to be the local hangout…and on a Sunday afternoon, when there was nothing else to do. Despite his concern, they ordered their meals without mishap, the four boys discussing the successful mission, and speculating on the order in which the other teams would finish. “I think Chase will be second,” Heero predicted. “In spite of being a bunch of assholes, they’ve done well in most events.” “But Jase’s team’s just as good,” Duo protested. “Ben’s done a great job since he took over.” “Actually,” Wufei spoke up. “Both teams have performed well enough to deserve an invitation to the Academy.” Duo looked up sharply. “Y’mean more than one team could get to go?” “Certainly,” replied the officer. “Although only the first-place team is assured entrance, any individuals or teams performing to my satisfaction could also be offered a place. And, frankly, about half the boys at camp have shown sufficient intelligence and trainability.” He shrugged slightly. “That’s not to say they might not flunk out the first semester…but they’ve shown promise.” His brow creased slightly. “And to level with you four, there’s been talk of war brewing between the colonies and Earth. We need able-bodied recruits in training as soon as possible, and in substantial numbers. I’d like to get the best and brightest in the door before they think about lowering the standards.” “War?” Heero asked, his face even more somber than usual. “Seriously, ‘Fei?” “I fear it’s inevitable,” replied the dark-haired man, picking up his glass of water and sipping it distractedly. “It’s just a question of when.” “Way to kill a celebration,” Duo muttered, doodling in the condensation on the side of his glass. An apologetic look crossed Wufei’s face. “Damn, Heero. He’s right. We’re supposed to be celebrating your birthday, and here I am bringing up bad news.” Duo sidled a little closer to Heero in the booth. “I could distract you, Yuy,” he whispered, dropping a hand under the edge of the table to land on his boyfriend’s thigh. “Maxwell!” Wufei snapped out sharply. “Hands where I can see ‘em.” “God, Wuffers, you just keep spoiling the moment,” Duo whined, putting both palms flat on the table. “Don’t call me ‘Wuffers,’ or you really will be doing laps when we get back,” warned the Chinese man. “Okay…dad.” “And pushups.” “Prick.” “Smartass.” Wufei’s glare lacked venom, as he was secretly relieved that Duo had drawn the subject away from the talk of war. And shortly thereafter, the meals arrived, and they were too busy enjoying freshly grilled burgers and fries to let their minds dwell on unpleasant topics. They ate their meals in near-silence, savoring every bite, and then finished up with hot fudge sundaes, one of which the waitress put a candle on after Wufei mentioned it was Heero’s birthday. When the Japanese boy blew the candle out, his eyes were riveted on Duo, who gave a knowing, conspiratorial smirk. “Can’t imagine what Yuy wished for,” Trowa muttered into Quatre’s ear in a stage whisper. The blonde giggled helplessly at that, leaning comfortably against the former circus performer. Wufei sighed, carefully averting his gaze. He just didn’t want to know what was going on between the teammates. “Aw, I think I drank too much soda,” Duo announced. “Is there a restroom in this place?” Heero wordlessly pointed across the room to a sign pointing into a back hallway. “Cap’n?” Duo looked at Wufei for permission. “Go ahead,” Wufei said, waving a hand dismissively. “You don’t need permission to use the john.” “Actually,” Heero pointed out. “We’re still technically inmates, ‘Fei. He does need permission.” The officer scowled briefly. “You’re right, Yuy. But I want all four of you boys to know, it won’t be long before you are free, and with clean records and a fresh start.” All four boys’ eyes widened, and Duo grinned irrepressibly. “Like I keep saying, Chang. You’re the best.” He winked at Heero then, assuring him that he’d really meant second best. “Be right back.” The braided boy stood up and sauntered across to the restrooms, disappearing around the corner. Wufei sighed, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips. He was gripped by a curious lightness of spirit at the thought that very soon the four deserving boys would be out from under the supervision of the juvenile justice system and on their way to the Academy, where their abilities and intelligence would be both appreciated and cultivated. Heero had been able to read his friend’s face since they were kids, and his smile mirrored that of the Chinese man. While he’d started at the camp intending to make his own way upward, he now realized it meant just as much to him that his whole team would be with him in that success. And it felt good not to be alone any more…not to mention the fact that he’d found a partner he wanted to keep around for the foreseeable future. Quatre fairly beamed, snuggling just a little closer to Trowa without being obvious about it. He could feel the sense of well-being and optimism radiating through his teammates and their benefactor, and after all they’d been through, it felt wonderful. A few moments later, Duo walked out of the restroom to find a girl leaning in the hallway waiting. “Hi,” she said with a tentative smile. “Uh, hi.” Duo glanced past her to see Heero looking up from the table curiously. “Not from around here, are ya?” “Not really. No.” The girl eyed Duo’s uniform, putting a finger on the insignia over the left side of his chest. “What’s ‘MSC’ stand for?” “Mobile Suit Corps.” “You a soldier?” she asked, eyeing him dubiously. “I’m, uh, gonna be attending the Academy this fall.” “Oh, so you’re a—cadet?” “Yeah, I guess so,” Duo said, smiling faintly as he mulled over the idea. He thought maybe he could get used to being called that. It sounded kind of classy. The girl looked over at the table where the other three boys and Wufei were seated. “Are they cadets, too?” “Three of ‘em are. That guy with the dark hair pulled back into a pony tail is Captain Chang. He’s an MSC officer.” “So that’d make him, what? Your boss?” “Kind of.” Duo found himself smirking slightly. “He’s my guardian, too.” “Guardian? He doesn’t look that much older than the rest of you.” “I think he’s around twenty,” Duo shrugged. “How old are you?” “Seventeen.” The girl smiled brightly. “I’m sixteen.” Her gaze turned slightly coy. “You want to come play some pool with me an’ my friends?” “I really can’t,” Duo said with as much regret as he could muster, glancing over her shoulder at the group gathered around the pool table. Already a couple of the boys were giving him unfriendly looks. “It’s my friend’s birthday, and we’re kind of celebrating.” She looked back over at the table. “Which one?” “The guy with the messy brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes,” Duo said, his voice a little dreamy. “Oh.” She eyed Duo speculatively. “Maybe we could get together some other time. You want my number?” “I—um. I’m kind of taken,” Duo shrugged apologetically. “Got a girlfriend waiting back home?” she guessed. “Something like that.” “How about ‘Blue Eyes’ over there? Has he got a girlfriend?” “Ah…he’s taken too,” Duo said firmly. “So are the others.” “Oh.” This time her voice was tinged with disappointment. “I guess all the handsome soldier types are spoken for. Too bad.” She teasingly ran a finger over the MSC patch again. “Kara!” One of the boys had sauntered over from the pool table and was scowling darkly at the girl and at Duo. She gave him an offhand glance over her shoulder, leaving her fingers trailing suggestively down Duo’s shirt. “Listen up, soldier boy,” snarled the newcomer. “You leave my girlfriend alone.” Duo raised his hands slightly, taking a step back. “Whoa. You’ve got it all wrong, pal. I didn’t start anything. She started talking to me.” “I don’t care,” snarled the boy, his grip on his pool cue tightening. “Kara’s my girlfriend, and I want you to back the fuck off.” “Consider it done,” Duo said with a shrug. “Y’mind if I go back over to my friends?” He started to step around, but the other boy moved in front of him again. Indigo eyes flashed in irritation. “Look…whoever you are…I’m not trying to make trouble.” In fact, Duo was seriously concerned that the local boy would start something that was likely to get him arrested again. And he’d worked too hard to let his chance at the Academy slip through his fingers over some high school girl. “You started trouble when you hit on my girl,” growled the other boy. “For fuck’s sake,” Duo muttered under his breath. If he were back on L2, he’d have broken a chair over the bully’s head by now. But he wasn’t back on L2, and he could almost feel Captain Chang’s stern gaze boring through him. “I don’t want your damned girlfriend. I don’t even like girls!” Oh shit. That was sooo not the right thing to tell a bunch of small-minded local yokels in some backwoods diner! Maxwell, you are a fucking idiot! The boy laughed derisively. “Ha! Soldier boy’s a little fairy, eh?” Duo nearly slapped his own forehead at his stupidity. “Listen, dipshit. I wasn’t hitting on your girlfriend. I don’t want any trouble. And I don’t care what you think about my sexual orientation. Okay? Just get the fuck out of my way before you get hurt!” “Problem, Duo?” came a deep, calm voice. The braided boy looked up to see Heero standing at the other boy’s shoulder. “It’s no big deal, ‘Ro. This asshole just jumped to a wrong conclusion, and isn’t bright enough to know when to back off.” “Now would be a good time,” Heero said with a small, menacing smile at the belligerent local boy. The broad-shouldered kid turned, eyeing Heero condescendingly. In fact, he was a good five inches taller than either of the two inmates, and his size advantage made him think he had a chance. “Really?” he sneered. “And what if I don’t back off?” “You’re liable to get hurt,” Heero shrugged. Duo realized the other local boys were drifting closer, and he nearly groaned aloud. Why now? Boot camp was almost over…Team Wing was on top of the world. This was not the time for an altercation. The choice was quickly taken from them as Kara’s boyfriend took a swing at Duo with his pool cue. The braided boy ducked, and the cue shattered against the wall, falling from the attacker’s fingers upon impact. When Heero caught the boy’s shoulder, holding him back from going after Duo, the boy turned and swung at him. The Japanese boy calmly caught the punch in the palm of a hand, and squeezed very hard until he heard a faint cracking sound and his attacker crumpled to his knees, cursing. “Oh, nice!” Duo said cheerfully, stepping to Heero’s side just as the boy’s friends rushed over to join in the fray. Wufei cursed aloud, jumping to his feet as Trowa and Quatre dashed to their teammates’ rescue; but the MSC officer need not have worried. The four boys from Team Wing knew full well they were facing untrained, undisciplined assailants, and they showed remarkable restraint. Forming a circle, back to back, they faced off against the local boys, doing nothing more than simple evasive and defensive moves, protecting one another without losing their cool. Their controlled blocks and parries caused their unschooled attackers to crash into or trip over one another, inflicting unintentional injuries to each other, instead of their intended victims. Folding his arms across his chest when he saw that his recruits had themselves and the situation under control, Wufei sauntered over next to the waitress. “Excuse me, miss. Could you be so kind as to call the local police and ask them to come collect the boys that are attacking my recruits?” He phrased the question very deliberately, so the woman would remember that the four inmates had done nothing to provoke the others or retaliate for the attack. “Oh, of course,” she agreed, hurrying to the vid-phone and placing the call. By the time the sound of sirens broke through the combatants’ concentration, all six of the local boys were bruised, bloodied, and exhausted, while the four juvenile delinquents were barely ruffled. Kara’s boyfriend made one last-ditch effort, taking a quick swing at Trowa while the auburn-haired boy was distracted. But with his acrobatic skills and reflexes, Trowa dodged it, and the punch went straight into the nose of the girl who was lingering behind him. “Oh shit!” The boy was on his knees instantly, apologizing profusely to the girl he’d knocked down. She had both hands to her face, blood seeping through her fingers from an injured nose. “Kara, I’m sorry!” “Fucking asshole!” she snarled, batting his hands away, as her girlfriends ran to her side. The other attackers stopped, gathering in stunned fascination as their leader groveled before the girl. Wufei took the opportunity to round up his four recruits, sending them to stand by the table in anticipation of the arrival of local law enforcement. They followed his instructions, although their eyes drifted towards the door as if considering making a run for it. Old habits die hard. Seconds later, two officers burst through the door of the diner, immediately taking in the sight of the town’s teens grouped by the injured girl and her erstwhile boyfriend. “What’s going on here?” demanded the first one, looking from the waitress to Wufei. “Aw, Verne, it was all Harley’s fault,” the waitress volunteered. “Kara was talkin’ to the kid with the braid, and Harley got jealous, tried making trouble.” The cop looked Duo up and down, his gaze lingering on the unusual hair and the defiant gleam in the indigo eyes, and Wufei quickly decided he should take charge. “I’m Captain Chang, from the Mobile Suit Corps Academy. These four boys are my recruits.” He nodded towards Heero and the others. “Not one of them threw a single punch,” he assured the policeman. The man looked back at the local bullies, taking in the black eye on one, a bloody nose on another, and various bruises, cuts and scrapes on all of them. “How’d they get so banged up?” he demanded, turning back to Wufei. “They’re clumsy,” shrugged the MSC officer. “All my recruits did was duck and dodge. Your village idiots beat each other up.” The cop glanced at the waitress, who nodded affirmation. “C’mon, Harley,” sighed the policeman, walking over and hauling the boy to his feet. “Your father won’t be happy about this.” “All I did was try to keep that fucking queer away from my girlfriend!” Harley blurted angrily. Duo raised an eyebrow. “Shit, Harley, d’you hear yourself? You just said I’m gay in the same sentence where you claimed I was hitting on your girlfriend. Do you even see how stupid that is?” “Quiet, Maxwell,” Wufei snapped, glaring. He turned back to the cop with a polite expression firmly fixed on his face. “I’m very sorry about this incident,” he assured the man. “And although my recruits acted only in self-defense, I certainly plan to lecture them on their public relations skills.” A faint smile crossed the officer’s face. “Are these some of your troops that are working with the juveniles at Camp Peacecraft?” Wufei suppressed a smirk. “You could say that.” He didn’t see any point in informing the man that the four boys were inmates, rather than soldiers. Besides, it wouldn’t be long before they graduated boot camp and could truly be called soldiers. The second officer had corralled the rest of the local gang, and they were filing out of the diner nursing their wounds. Harley trailed along last, while Kara stayed behind and let the waitress help her put a bag of ice on her injured nose. “Are we finished here?” Wufei asked the police officer. “Yeah, I don’t guess it’s worth taking down names and statements…seein’ as Bess agreed with your version of the events.” The cop walked over to put a hand on Kara’s shoulder. “Y’okay, Kara?” She nodded. “Harley’s a total dick,” she muttered. “All I was doing was talking to the cute one.” Duo smirked at Heero. “Aw, she thinks I’m cute.” Blue eyes glared back, and then softened. “You are.” “So are you.” Heero gave a wry snort. “No…really. When I told her I was taken, you were her next choice.” “Gee, I’m flattered,” came the dry response. Wufei decided it was time to leave, before anything else could go wrong. “Uh, miss? Bess, was it? Could I have our check please?” She waved him aside. “It’s on the house, hon. You an’ your boys were perfect gentlemen. I’m sorry Harley and his thugs spoiled your lunch.” Duo flashed her a dazzling smile. “Spoiled it? Hell, that was the best cheeseburger I ever had!” He gave Kara a charming grin as well. “Plus I got hit on by a knock-out of a girl.” Kara eyed him skeptically. “How would you know—seeing as you’re—y’know--? “Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate pretty when I see it,” Duo shrugged. He smiled warmly at her. “An’ it was still flattering as hell.” She blushed a little, still holding the ice pack on her bruised face. “Yes, well, that’s enough chit-chat, Maxwell,” Wufei told him firmly. “We need to get back on the road.” “Yeah, sure, dad.” Wufei rolled his eyes, pushing the boy out the door ahead of him. “I swear, you attract trouble.” “I don’t mean to.” The officer snorted wryly as they piled back into the jeep. But he was almost beaming with pride at how much restraint the four boys had shown. He knew for a fact that both Duo and Quatre were renowned for getting into fistfights in lockup, and both Trowa and Heero had been convicted of assault. The fact that they’d held back and kept themselves out of trouble impressed the Chinese man to no end. “Yuy.” The boy looked questioningly at him. “I’m very pleased by the way your team performed in there,” Wufei told him frankly. “It shows me how much all four of you have matured during this camp.” “Does that mean I can have permission to date?” Duo teased, sliding an arm across Heero’s shoulders. Wufei sighed deeply. “I’ll think about it.” “I’ll bet I could find someone you approve of,” Duo predicted, his gaze on Heero. “Hmph,” came the noncommittal reply. “You forget how long I’ve known Yuy.” “Hey!” Heero protested.
Duo had fallen asleep on the ride, his head tucked up under Heero’s chin and most of his weight draped over the other boy, but he woke when the vehicle jerked to a stop, and stretched languorously. “Mm…we home ‘Ro?” “Yeah, we’re home.” Heero nudged him upright, rubbing his shoulder to bring feeling back into it. “You’re heavy, Maxwell. Next time bring a pillow.” “But you make such a comfy one,” teased his braided teammate. They all climbed out, yawning and stretching from the long ride, only to pause in that task when they saw Major Merquise walking across the inner compound towards them. Kushrenada was at his side, and there were four men with them wearing law enforcement uniforms. Wufei walked over to meet them, and Duo turned a scowl towards Heero. “Who’re the goons with Merquise and K.?” he wondered. “I don’t recognize the uniforms.” Heero’s face was intent, his expression dark. “They’re L1 enforcers,” he said quietly, his tone unexpectedly tense. “L1?” Duo eyed the approaching men warily. “Can’t have anything to do with us. We’ve all been locked up here for weeks.” The boys could hear Captain Chang’s voice raised in agitation, though they couldn’t make out the words. “I don’t like the way they’re looking at us,” Duo muttered to his teammates. “You s’pose this is about what happened at the diner?” “Can’t be,” Quatre assured him. “We came straight back here. Even the local cops couldn’t have beat us, let alone colony police.” “It’s about Yuy,” Trowa guessed, his face shadowed by his hair. “They’re from L1. It’s got to be about you, Heero.” Duo’s jaw tightened and he frowned at the chocolate-haired boy. “Heero? What could they possibly want with you?” “We’re about to find out,” shrugged the team leader, as the group of men approached them. Wufei, Merquise and Kushrenada were still embroiled in a heated argument, but the four officers from L1 walked straight up to the four boys. “Heero Yuy?” said the leader. Heero nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re under arrest,” continued the man, gesturing to two of his colleagues, who approached the boy with handcuffs ready. “What?!” Duo demanded, stepping in front of his teammate. “How can you arrest him? We’re in a fucking jail already!” “Out of the way, kid,” muttered one of the officers, putting a hand on Duo’s chest and shoving backwards. The boy stumbled back a step, and then launched himself at the cop, only to be held back by Quatre and Trowa. “Duo, calm down!” Heero cautioned, seeing the deadly look on the officers’ faces, and knowing they wouldn’t hesitate to arrest the braided boy if he tried to interfere again. Captain Chang jogged forward, putting himself between Duo and the men from L1. “Stand down, Maxwell. There’s nothing we can do.” His voice was bitter. “What? Why not?” Duo demanded. “What’s going on?” Warden Kushrenada stepped in then, a smug smile on his face. “Your precious team leader is being arrested for murder…that’s what’s going on.” Duo’s jaw dropped, and he turned a wide-eyed gaze towards Wufei, relaxing so that Trowa and Quatre could release his arms. “Heero’s guardian died this morning,” Wufei said quietly, onyx eyes filled with frustration. “His--? The bastard who raped him?” Duo demanded. “Good! He fucking deserved to die!” The L1 enforcers had handcuffed Heero by this time, taking positions around him, while warily eyeing his three outraged teammates. Wufei turned to face Duo, his dark eyes betraying his anger, though his voice was calm. “Whether he deserved it or not, Duo, it still constitutes grounds for a retrial for Heero, on the upgraded charge.” Duo’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “But that’s not fair! It’s not right! Heero is not a murderer!” He turned a livid glare to Kushrenada. “You did this, you fucking bastard! Somehow you arranged this whole goddamned thing…I know you did!” Kushrenada smiled smugly. “Sorry, Maxwell, but your little fuck-buddy did this all on his own. And since he’s eighteen now, he’ll be tried in adult court, and given an adult sentence. Better tell him goodbye.” Duo started for him, but Quatre and Trowa held him back again. “Don’t do it,” warned the aquamarine-eyed boy. “Duo, you’ll end up on L2 if you lay a hand on the creep!” Kushrenada gave a taunting look to Duo. “Come on, Maxwell. Take your best shot. You know you want to.” Yeah, give me an excuse…any excuse at all. Duo turned his face away, cursing, and caught Heero’s concerned gaze. “Baka,” murmured the Japanese boy softly. “Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.” “How can it be okay?” Duo demanded harshly. “How can it ever be okay again, Yuy?! The fucker raped and abused you for seven years—he fucking deserved to die! You shouldn’t be punished for that!” “He won’t,” Wufei assured the braided boy. “You have to trust me, Duo. I’ll fight this; I’ll help Heero fight it. There were people who knew about the abuse; we can prove self-defense.” “When?” Duo demanded. “After they throw him in general population so he can be beaten and—and raped?” His voice cracked on the last word, and he looked down at the ground, pressing a fist to his forehead. “This is fucking bullshit!” “He won’t go into general population,” Wufei promised. He lowered his voice, not wanting to tip his hand to Kushrenada. “I won’t let that happen, Duo. Trust me.” Duo looked up, scowling. “How will you--?” Wufei shook his head, a clear warning in the onyx eyes. “Later. We’ll talk later.” “You about finished, Chang?” asked one of the officers. “We’ve got a shuttle waiting.” “And it will have to wait a bit longer,” Merquise told him coldly. “As I said before, I won’t authorize the extradition until I have a direct order to do so from my superior. And she can’t be reached until morning.” “The warrant is all the authority we need,” the other man pointed out. “While I’ll concede your warrant is valid, I still can’t allow you to take Yuy until I have confirmation from Colonel Une. You gentlemen may as well resign yourselves to the fact that you’re staying here tonight.” The warden turned with a vicious scowl. “Merquise, I have no place to put these men up! Let them take the filthy little killer and go.” “You have an entire empty barracks since several inmates failed the program,” the Major replied smoothly. “And where do you suggest I keep Yuy?” demanded the tawny-eyed man. “Captain Chang won’t tolerate the use of our solitary confinement.” “No,” Wufei confirmed. “I won’t…not after having seen the appalling conditions.” He gestured to the orientation building. “As I recall, you have several adequate holding cells in there. Use one of those.” He pinned the warden with a cold gaze. “And I’ll provide the guards, Kushrenada. I know none of my men would beat and rape an inmate!” The four men from L1 looked a bit puzzled at the exchange, finally turning back to Major Merquise for direction. “Gentlemen, if you’ll come with Captain Chang and I, we can show you the detention area.” Jerking free of his teammates, Duo went over to Heero, looking up into his face, indigo eyes brimming. “This isn’t right and you know it, ‘Ro.” “I’ll be okay,” Heero assured him. “But you have to stay out of trouble. Promise me.” Duo shook his head. “I don’t know that I can.” “You have to,” Heero said evenly. “You heard Chang and Merquise. Nothing will happen to me.” “I wish I could believe that.” Duo felt tears stinging at his eyelids and blinked to hold them back. “This isn’t fair.” “Yeah, I know,” Heero said calmly. “But we have to trust that Wufei knows what’s best for now.” “God, Heero,” Duo murmured brokenly. He stepped closer, but one of the guards put a hand out to stop him, and he paused, looking at Captain Chang pleadingly. Wufei shook his head, walking over to place a comforting hand on Duo’s shoulder. “Sorry, Maxwell. You have to back off and let this happen.” Heero looked past Duo to Wufei. “Chang, I’ll be wanting that top-notch lawyer you mentioned before.” “You’ll have him,” Wufei promised. “And I’d like you to keep my teammates out of trouble,” Heero added, glancing fleetingly at the others. “All I can do is try,” Wufei said dryly. “If you’re done, Chang,” Kushrenada said curtly, his voice laced with contempt, “they need to get Yuy locked up.” His tawny eyes gleamed with triumph. “And I suggest you keep the other three on a tight leash, or they’ll be joining him.” As the officers from L1 started to follow Major Merquise towards the detention center, Wufei gestured to the three boys from Team Wing. “Get to your barracks. Now. And stay there until I come for you.” Quatre nodded, putting a firm arm around Duo’s waist to keep the distraught boy from going after Heero. “C’mon, Duo. It’ll be okay.” Trowa eased in on Duo’s other side, and together he and Quatre firmly ushered their teammate away. Captain Chang glared at Kushrenada. “This is not over,” he swore coldly. “Oh, but it is, Captain. You lose. I win. End of story.” “We’ll see.” Satisfied that Heero’s teammates were indeed on their way to their barracks, Wufei turned and went after Major Merquise and the L1 officers and their prisoner.
tbc... |
