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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"
Major Merquise was the first to notice the change in attitude in Team Wing. When the boys arrived at simulator class, they weren’t talking or joking around. Even Duo, usually the most vocal whether he was elated or upset, was uncharacteristically withdrawn. But while occupied with teaching, Zechs couldn’t inquire as to their change in demeanor. Nor was he able to catch them after class, when they were needed at martial arts testing. He wrote it off to their concern over Heero and their obsession with finding proof of Kushrenada’s corruption, and went back to his office to evaluate the day’s test results, a task that took him through the supper hour most afternoons. Meanwhile, when they finished with martial arts, the three boys headed to the mess hall, and Quatre prepared to launch his “scorned lover” act. Duo was in the food line, with Trowa close behind, leaning over his shoulder to whisper into his ear from time to time. And even that additional bit of closeness was drawing glances from some of the other teams. “Hey, heard anything about Heero?” asked Ben, walking up beside Duo as they headed towards a seat. “Nothing new,” Duo sighed, glancing aside at Trowa and smirking just slightly. Oh yeah, he could act the part. You didn’t live long on L2 without having that kind of basic survival skill. Ben’s gaze darted from Duo to Trowa, and then over to Quatre, who was glaring down at his food tray as he walked. “Sorry to hear that,” Ben added. “Yeah,” Duo agreed. “It sucks.” He managed to make his voice sound nonchalant…almost indifferent, though it killed him to do so. This time the boy from Jason’s team frowned slightly. “Y’okay, Duo?” The braided boy shrugged. “Sure.” Trowa took the seat next to Duo, forcing Quatre to sit opposite them. The blonde managed to give the pair a slightly wounded look, plunking his tray down just a little harder than necessary. Fuck, this was harder than he’d expected, Duo decided. It was all he could do to keep from reaching across to his best friend. But he stuck with the plan, and let his shoulder and arm brush against Trowa’s as they ate. Ben was diagonally across from Duo, and kept glancing from his food tray over to the boy from L2. But he kept quiet, apparently pondering the situation. When Duo reached across the table for salt, Trowa reached at the same time, and their hands met in the middle. Muttering an “excuse me,” Trowa looked away as if a little shy and unsettled. They were partway through the meal when Adam and Austin arrived, settling in at the same table and striking up a conversation about the mobile suits. Duo joined in enthusiastically, glad he could act normally about at least that aspect of their training. Quatre got up partway through his meal, giving his two teammates a pained look. “I’ll see you two back at the barracks.” He stalked quickly away, leaving puzzled faces behind at the table. “What’s with Blondie?” Austin asked, looking squarely at Duo. “How should I know?” replied the braided boy, leaning back in his chair, and letting his thigh rest against Trowa’s. “He’s had a bug up his ass all day.” Ben glanced at Adam, who shrugged, and then looked at Duo searchingly. “Not to pry, Maxwell, but aren’t you and Quatre pals?” “We were,” Duo said simply, pretending to glance at Trowa and quickly away, as if being evasive. “Were?” Ben asked incredulously, color rising in his face. “The guy saved your butt from being shipped off to prison, Duo. What could possibly get in the way of your friendship?” This time Duo flashed a longer look at Trowa, and then gave Ben a fake smile. “Hey, shit happens, y’know?” He stood up and picked up his tray, turning away from the table, but pausing beside Trowa. “See ya outside,” he murmured in an undertone, deliberately allowing others to overhear. Then he strolled off to put away his tray and go wait on the steps to the mess hall. All eyes at the table were now trained on Trowa, who carefully donned a mask of indifference. “Guess I’ll head back, too,” he muttered. Austin had other ideas, though, and after a quick look at Ben and the others on Jason’s team, he stood up and stepped into Trowa’s path. “Wait a second, Barton. Something’s going on with you guys. You want to tell us what’s up?” Trowa fixed him with a cold gaze. “None of your business.” “Bullshit,” came the quick, curt reply. “Couple days ago we were all lookin’ out for Maxwell, feeling badly because he was broken up about Yuy bein’ gone. Now you’re all acting weird and you say it’s none of our business?” The auburn-haired boy felt a twinge of guilt over that. The other teams had been amazingly supportive, and it was hard to keep them out of the information loop. But it was necessary if they hoped to dupe Kushrenada into believing the rumor of Duo’s planned escape. “What happens inside Team Wing is our own business,” Trowa said evenly. “You didn’t get bad news about Yuy, did you?” Trowa shook his head. “No news at all.” “Then what’s eatin’ you guys?” Sighing deeply, Trowa gestured with his tray. “You wanna get the hell out of my way, Pritchard? Duo’s waiting for me.” “And why’s that?” Ben spoke up, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I thought you three were sticking together for safety’s sake. Why’d Quatre go off alone?” Trowa rolled his eyes. “He and Duo aren’t getting along too well right now. So just give it a rest.” Wary looks followed Trowa as he crossed the room, dropping his tray onto the stack by the door. When he pulled the door open, Duo was just outside, and reached for his hand as he stepped through. They walked across the compound very deliberately, knowing the glimpse the other boys had gotten as the door swung shut was of the two of them walking hand in hand, and guessing that at least a few would try to get another look, either from the door or a window. “I fucking hate this,” Duo hissed under his breath, tilting his head closer to Trowa’s as he whispered. “I know. But if it works, word will reach Kushrenada that you and Quatre are at odds over me.” “Yeah, and that I’m a stinking, two-timing whore,” Duo muttered unhappily. “We’ll clear all that up later,” Trowa assured him. He gave the hand he was holding a slight, reassuring squeeze. “Just remember, after we prove K. was involved in Lowe’s death, and is running a huge drug ring, we can tell everyone here the truth.” Duo managed a wry smile. “You’re a pal, Trowa.” “I’m learning how to be one,” came the quiet reply. That drew a small chuckle from the braided boy. “Stop beating yourself up, Tro’. I told ya before, we’re square. Both of us had a lot to learn about teamwork when we got here. And I think we’ve all done a hell of a job of it, too.” Trowa opened the barracks door, and Duo walked in first, only to have Quatre wrap him in a reassuring hug. “That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done!” the blonde exclaimed. Duo hugged him back. “Me too,” he sighed. “Damn it, Quat. I’m not sure I can pull this off.” He pushed the blonde to arm’s length. “You looked like a whipped puppy back there.” “Really?” Quatre asked, grinning. “I was kind of trying for drowned kitten.” “You little shit,” Duo muttered, letting go of his teammate and walking over to fall onto Heero’s bunk. “All those glaring looks? It fuckin’ felt real.” Quatre waited for Trowa to close the door before hugging his boyfriend, burying his face in the front of his shirt. “It’s not too late to back out,” Trowa said somberly, feeling his lover tremble slightly. His green eyes were concerned as he guided Quatre over to his bunk and sat them down. “With your empathy, you must’ve been able to sense the hostility back there. I know I did, and I’m not exactly great at reading other people’s feelings.” “Ben was confused…a little suspicious,” Quatre said quietly, leaning against Trowa as the other boy began rubbing small circles on his back to relax him. “Adam was, too. And Austin was kind of irritated.” He glanced over at Duo, who had thrown an arm theatrically across his face. “I think Austin figured if you ever dumped Heero, he might be next in line?” he guessed. Duo had told him about the conversation in the locker room, and he groaned slightly. “Yeah, he might’ve thought that.” He sighed heavily. “You pick up on anyone else?” “Well, we were being watched, and listened to,” Quatre assured him. “I can guarantee that enough people overheard us to make sure word spreads.” “Tro’ and me holding hands across the compound should’ve cinched that,” Duo told him. “You held hands?” “Yeah…but we walked close enough to make it look like we were trying to be subtle about it,” Duo added. “By the way, Maxwell,” Trowa spoke up. “Nice touch. That bit at the door was pretty clever.” “I fucking hate my life,” Duo replied flatly. “I just know this is gonna be hard to fix.” “Imagine if Heero were still here,” Quatre commented with a nervous giggle. “I couldn’t do it,” came the absolutely certain reply. “If I had to act like I’d dumped him with him here? No way in Hell.” He rubbed his face with both hands, the previous late night catching up with him. “I’m gonna try to sleep a little. You two want to wake me in half an hour so I can study for tomorrow’s mobile suit exam?” “Sure,” replied Quatre, glancing up at Trowa mischievously, and edging closer for a kiss. “And keep it quiet, eh?” Duo added without opening his eyes. “No loud moaning for God’s sake.” “Duo!” Quatre exclaimed in outrage, blushing furiously. Trowa just smirked at him, and pulled him closer for that kiss.
Major Merquise stepped in, his ice blue eyes narrowed. “Wow. Word travels fast,” Duo smirked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The Major fixed a positively chilling look on the braided boy. “So you know why I’m here.” Duo nodded, yawning slightly. “Ya wanna close the door, sir? I’d like this to be a private conversation.” Zechs slammed the door rather forcefully, and walked over to sit on the edge of the desk, facing Duo, who was sitting up on Heero’s bunk. “Talk, Maxwell.” “You first,” Duo suggested. “What did you hear?” “I heard you’ve dumped Yuy, in absentia I might add, for Barton, breaking Winner’s heart in the process.” “Holy shit! The rumor mill here is really good,” Duo said with admiration. “Tell me it’s wrong!” ordered the officer angrily. “Whoa, stud. You wanna cool off a bit?” Duo chided. “Of course it’s wrong.” The Major looked a bit taken aback by that answer. “It is?” “Yes, it is,” Duo said, dropping the banter and giving the officer a long, serious look. “I’m still crazy in love with Yuy, and Barton’s still completely infatuated with his blonde angel over there.” Merquise looked over at Trowa and Quatre, who were sitting trying to look innocent at opposite ends of Quatre’s bunk. Then he turned a frown on Duo. “Explain.” “The plan,” Duo said simply. “We told you we’d work out a plan, and we have. Trouble is, you weren’t in your office earlier so we could share it with you, and now it’s changed a bit anyway.” The MSC officer rubbed his temples wearily. “Maybe I should have Winner explain.” “No! I can do this,” Duo insisted. “The plan is that Tro’ and I are supposed to act like we dumped our partners for each other. Quatre’s gonna go to Kushrenada and tell him he wants revenge for my stealing his boyfriend. Then he’ll tell him I’m planning to escape late Sunday night. While Kushrenada heads out to intercept me, Trowa and Quatre will slip into his office to get what we need off his computer.” Zechs was shaking his head, a skeptical expression on his face. “It’s too risky, and you don’t even know what you’re looking for on the computer.” “But we do!” Quatre spoke up. “Kushrenada is the head of a major drug smuggling operation. We have shuttle schedules and ship manifests from our previous hack—er, computer reconnaissance. All we need is data to link it all together and to provide some names, dates, and financial transactions.” “And his phone logs,” Duo added helpfully. “We still need to trace a call that could have set up Lowe’s murder…a call to L1.” The Major was still scowling. “Do you boys have any idea how many things could go wrong with a plan like that?” “Major,” Duo said in a conspiratorial tone. “Do you have any idea how many things have gone wrong in our lives? Every one of us is here because of things that went wrong. Now we finally have a chance to make something right.” “While I applaud your desire to bring Kushrenada to justice, I question your methods…” “It’s all we’ve got,” Duo said plainly. “One chance.” He edged closer, indigo eyes pleading. “You’ve got to give us a chance, sir. It might help Heero, and it’s all we can do for him.” Major Merquise rubbed his eyes for a moment, considering their plan and their desperation. While he’d much prefer they wait until after graduation, he knew their impatience wouldn’t allow it. Nor did he think there’d be time for any kind of setup once the camp ended. It was really a now or never proposition. “If I let you do this,” he said slowly. “First, you keep me involved. I want to know every move you make, and every detail of the plan.” The three boys all nodded agreement. “Secondly, next time I speak with Chang, I’m going to relay the information to him. If he feels it’s too dangerous for you, I will call a halt.” Duo frowned a little at that. “How about you let me talk to him?” He gave a little cajoling smile. “I can be very persuasive.” “I’m beginning to realize that,” came a dry response. “Very well. If Chang is opposed to the plan, I’ll arrange for you to speak to him…but only if you agree to abide by his decision.” He gave a feral smile in return. “You are, after all, under his supervision, Maxwell.” “I can’t wait until I turn eighteen,” Duo muttered. “God help us all,” Merquise replied. He swept the boys with an appraising look. “You three have got half the camp talking about what will happen if Yuy gets back and finds out his lover has moved on.” Duo looked up hopefully. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything on that subject?” Zechs shook his head. “Not yet. I expect news tomorrow, though, when Colonel Une checks in with me.” He noticed Duo’s dejected look, and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Maxwell. You know Chang’s got his back.” “I know.” “And honestly, it might be better if he’s not here for this crazy plan of yours. I’ve seen the way Heero looks at you, Maxwell, and at anyone who gets too close. He could play the part of a murderously jealous lover very well.” “Play?” Trowa snorted. “I’ve seen his jealousy, sir. I don’t think he’d have to do much acting.” “Uh, speaking of acting,” Duo piped up. “You will make sure Wufei tells Heero the plan, right?” “I promise to have Chang pass your message along…especially if they’re coming back before graduation. We wouldn’t want Heero to believe any rumors he might hear.” “Damn straight,” Duo asserted. The Major stood up, stretching languidly. “Well, I have more lesson plans to finish.” He gave them a wicked smirk. “Tomorrow’s mobile suit exercises should challenge even you three.” “In that case,” Duo sighed. “I’m going back to sleep.” Merquise headed for the door, but paused, looking back with a stern gleam in the ice blue eyes. “One more thing, Maxwell. Don’t ever call me ‘stud’ again, or you’ll be on KP duty for the entirety of your military career. Got that?” “Aye, aye stu—er—sir,” Duo mumbled sleepily, smirking to himself.
The blonde looked up as Ben and Adam fell in step beside him. “Hey, Quatre, what’s up with you guys?” Ben asked bluntly. “Us guys?” “Your team. Why does it look like Barton and Maxwell are getting chummy all of a sudden?” Quatre looked away with a feigned scowl, but the other boys stopped right in front of him. “C’mon, Winner. We helped you sabotage the bus that would’ve hauled Maxwell’s ass to prison. Last I knew, he was head over heels for Yuy. Do you honestly expect me to believe that changed?” Quatre looked up at the boys he’d come to trust, wincing slightly. “I need you to believe that changed, Ben.” He met the worried gaze steadily. “Trust me.” The boys from Team Clip exchanged a thoughtful look, and then Ben spoke up again. “So you’re up to something.” “I wish I could tell you,” Quatre said simply. “You don’t need to.” Ben glanced at Adam, who nodded. “If anyone asks, as far as we know, you boys are on the outs, and Maxwell’s a two-timing bastard.” Quatre nodded. “That’s how it looks. Right?” Adam gave a wry snort. “You should hear the talk in the locker room,” he muttered. “Austin saw Maxwell and Barton makin’ out behind the building and just about had a coronary. He wondered if everyone got a piece of Maxwell but him.” “Shit,” murmured Quatre, wincing. Maybe the plan was working a little too well. “Just, go along with whatever they’re saying, okay?” “Yeah, but you’re gonna owe us a hell of an explanation,” Ben warned. “Jase, too. He wrote and asked how things were going. He’ll want the whole story next time we write back.” Quatre nodded. “I better get going. I have an errand to take care of before lunch.” And a hell of an errand it was. After morning classes, he was supposed to slip away to Kushrenada’s office and betray a teammate. While it was all an act, there was still a feeling of dread in his stomach, because he knew when they executed the plan, Duo was going to be in harm’s way, while he and Trowa broke every boot camp rule and a couple of laws. It could all blow up in their faces so easily…or it could pay off richly.
“Information,” Quatre said flatly, giving her a steady glare. She got up and went to the office door, tapping quietly and sticking her head in. While he couldn’t hear what was said, Quatre assumed the warden agreed to see him, because the woman opened the door wider and gestured him through. He walked in and stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting for Kushrenada to acknowledge him. The tawny-eyed man cast a wary, searching gaze on the boy, leaning back in his chair and pursing his lips thoughtfully. “Something on your mind, Winner?” “You said you wanted Maxwell,” Quatre said flatly. “You can have him.” An elegant eyebrow rose in a skeptical look. “I can? Weren’t you the one who said he’d done nothing wrong? If I’m not mistaken, your exact words were ‘You can’t prove what isn’t true,’ were they not?” “Do you want an excuse to ship him off to prison or not?” Quatre asked impatiently. “The clock’s ticking. Camp only lasts another week.” Kushrenada gave an elaborate shrug. “I don’t know, Winner. What’s the price?” “Just get rid of him.” “How?” “He’s planning an escape. You promise to catch him and not fuck it up like every other time you’ve tried to put one over on him, and I’ll give you the details.” The warden’s tawny eyes were fixed on Quatre’s face, as if they might determine his sincerity by his expression. “Knowing Maxwell as I do, he’s probably been planning an escape from the first day of camp,” he said coolly. “He has.” “And how long have you known about it?” Quatre shrugged. “Long enough.” “But you waited to come forward? Why?” “Because up until now, I had no reason to want him gone.” The warden had a knowing smirk on his lips. “So it’s true. As soon as Yuy was gone, he started fucking your boytoy.” “My reasons are irrelevant. Do you want him or not?” “Of course I do. But the boy is slippery as an eel. Why should I believe you can deliver him?” Quatre tossed Duo’s sketch and notes onto the desk. The warden looked it over carefully, face tightening as he realized how accurate it was. “Why that conniving little brat.” He looked up warily. “How do I know Maxwell drew this? You could have done it yourself.” “You’ll just have to take my word for it,” Quatre said more calmly than he felt. He could sense the warden’s hesitation…his skepticism…and knew they were on a razor’s edge. He could laugh in the boy’s face, or buy into his story. “Assuming you’re telling the truth,” said the man slowly. “This map doesn’t include a date or time.” “No. But I can give you those.” “First give me a reason. As you pointed out, camp is almost over. Why wouldn’t Maxwell bide his time for one more week?” “Because even though he’s fucking my boyfriend, he still wants to get out and try to get to Yuy,” Quatre said sharply—bitterly. “He doesn’t give a shit about the Academy. He never did.” He raised an angry gaze to the warden. “Besides, with Chang and Yuy gone, he’s afraid you’ll catch him at something he can’t weasel out of. He’s scared of you.” That brought a crafty gleam to the cruel eyes, and the hint of a smile to Kushrenada’s lips. “He should be,” he said coldly. “He killed my brother, and he knows I’ve made it my life’s pursuit to grind a confession out of him.” “So…you can believe me, and catch him in the act of escaping…and own him. Or you can continue to be a skeptical asshole and let him slip through your fingers.” Quatre crossed his arms over his chest. “Frankly, it’s all the same to me. Either way, he’ll be gone.” “Then why tell me about the escape plan?” “Because having him gone isn’t good enough,” Quatre said in such a vengeful tone he surprised himself. “I want him dragged off to prison so I know he can never come back. And I want him to suffer for what he took from me.” He fixed a cold look on the rather stunned-looking man. “Nobody fucks over a Winner and walks away unscathed.” A slow, sly smile spread across Kushrenada’s face. “Well, I wouldn’t have believed the quiet little mouse could turn into such a tiger. I think I might have underestimated you.” “People often do,” Quatre agreed. “At their own peril,” he added dangerously. The warden chuckled. “Very well, then. It looks like Maxwell finally screwed over the wrong person…a mistake he’ll live to regret. When and where?” “See where the perimeter fence is marked slightly darker?” Quatre said, indicating the map that was spread out in front of Kushrenada. “Sunday night. I heard him telling Trowa he’s going to slip out around midnight. There’s a couple of loose floorboards in the bathroom of the barracks. He’s used it to sneak out before.” While he hated to reveal their little secret, Quatre knew the warden would be looking for verification of his story. It would be typical of the underhanded man to check out the barracks when they were at class. Kushrenada nodded, a fiercely triumphant gleam in the tawny eyes. “You’ve made the right choice in coming to me, Winner. We both want the same thing, and have the means to attain it.” “You’ll make sure you catch him in the act, right? Don’t screw this up!” Quatre warned, giving the man his most imperious glare. He was met with a seething look in return. “I won’t screw it up, boy. The only reason Maxwell has gotten by this long is dumb luck and Chang’s gullibility. He won’t have either of those things going for him Sunday night.” He stood up and offered his hand. “Nice work, Winner. Keep me informed if anything changes.” “I’ll do my part,” Quatre said evenly, forcing himself to take the hand and shake it. “You just do yours.” He turned without waiting to be dismissed, and walked briskly from the office, feeling the tawny gaze follow him out the door. It was hard not to race across the compound and dive into a shower to wash the vile feel of that handshake off. But Quatre managed to suppress the urge, and kept a measured pace as he headed to the mess hall instead. Duo and Trowa were there before him, sitting side by side eating lunch. Quatre grabbed a tray, though he had no appetite, and threw a sandwich and drink on it, walking over to sit with Ben and Adam between him and his teammates. Duo looked his way, a question in the indigo eyes, and Quatre tried to project an affirmative answer without changing his facial expression at all. He wasn’t sure he was succeeding when the little frown across Duo’s forehead didn’t disappear. Their little staring match did not go unnoticed; nor did the fact that Trowa interrupted it by nudging Duo with a shoulder and holding out a cookie. The braided boy blinked, turning back to Trowa and taking the offering with a small smile and a fond glance. And then Quatre surprised everyone by standing up and tossing his tray at his two teammates before stalking out of the building. “Holy fucking shit!” Duo snarled, trying without success to salvage what was left of his lunch. He stood up, turning as if to follow Quatre, but stopped when Trowa caught his wrist. The auburn-haired boy simple shook his head once in warning, keeping a firm grip, and Duo settled back onto his seat, facing his teammate with a decidedly worried look on his face. He knew it was all an act. Right? So why did it feel so real to him? He could almost sense the hostility from some of the teams they’d considered friends, and knew his apparent betrayal of Heero wasn’t going over well. Although Ben, Adam and Troy had backed off a bit, Austin seemed angrier than ever, and several other former allies wouldn’t speak to either Duo or Trowa. The braided boy wasn’t sure he could tolerate the cold shoulder for three and a half more days. “I’m gonna go to the barracks, Tro’…study a bit before afternoon tests, y’know?” “I’ll go with you,” Trowa said with a sigh. He stood up in his usual slow, nonchalant way, though both boys wanted to get to their clearly upset roommate as quickly as possible. Austin’s teammate Richie glared up at both of them. “Why don’t you two just leave Winner alone. Y’think he needs to see you flaunting it in his face?” Duo turned a well-rehearsed puzzled look to the boy. “Flaunting what?” “You know what.” “Well maybe I want you to say it,” Duo snapped out coldly. “You’re fucking his boyfriend while yours is out of reach, and doing it right under his nose. Y’think it’s not obvious?” “I think,” Duo said icily. “It’s none of your business.” He’d seen a couple of Kyle’s teammates watching intently from a couple of tables away, and was sure they’d heard every word Richie said. Austin gave a short, sharp laugh. “No, but it’s Yuy’s,” he said crisply. “Wait’ll he gets back, Maxwell.” Duo gave the other boy an alarmed look, though not for the reason most people thought. He would hate for Heero to get back before the plan played itself out and he could reveal that it had all been an act. But to the other boys, his expression might just as well have conveyed fear of his lover’s untimely return. “Y’know what, Austin? He’s not coming back. If I thought he was, I’d be long gone.” And with that cryptic hint dropped, he turned and stalked out of the mess hall, Trowa close behind. Once outside, Trowa slipped an arm around Duo’s waist, and the braided boy actually leaned into the reassuring warmth. “Fuck it, Tro’. I don’t think I can do this any more.” “Just a couple more days,” Trowa said soothingly. “By now K. must’ve heard you’ve stolen me from Quatre. And if that’s where Quatre came from just now, he’s sold him on the escape. We just have to hang in until Sunday, and we’ll have all the evidence we need to put the bastard away for good.”
“Ten tries!” Wufei growled, snapping his phone shut yet again. “Cells won’t work from off-planet,” Heero reminded him. “Not even yours.” “Neither will the land lines,” muttered his friend. “It all has to be relayed by satellites, which are useless with this much interference.” “I told you we should have called from the jail,” Heero shrugged, leaning back in his chair and stretching his legs out in front of him. “I did contact Une,” the Captain reminded him. “But getting us to the port seemed to be the most urgent matter at hand. I figured we’d have all the time in the world to call from here. How was I to know the satellite relays would go down?” “Want a suggestion?” Heero asked, trying to remain calm and relaxed, even though he was beginning to chafe at the delays too. “Call back to the jail and ask them to try to get through on their frequency. They could tell your Colonel to inform Major Merquise we’re headed home.” Wufei glanced up at the arrival schedule. “I suppose I have time to go outside and call.” Heero eyed him with a trace of amusement. “Why do I get the feeling it’s not just my teammates you want to touch base with? Could it be that you’re impatient to talk to your Major?” His friend blushed at the suggestion. “Yuy, I merely want to inform my commander that we were successful in clearing your name, and that we’re on our way back.” “And that you’re dying to have that intimate dinner date?” added Heero, closing his eyes and putting his arms behind his head as a pillow. “I don’t like having an unpaid debt,” came the stiff response. Heero snorted wryly. “Uh-huh. You’ve been thinking over what I said, haven’t you? Thinking about having a partner who’s your equal in strength and intelligence?” He half-opened one eye revealing a sliver of glimmering blue. “Thinking about his broad shoulders, and long, flowing hair…those ice-blue eyes…that firm chin and those lips—.” “Enough!” snapped Wufei, shoving Heero’s boots with his own. “Quit while you’re ahead, or I’ll leave you to find your own way back to Earth. And I won’t give my consent for you to date my ward, either.” “Whoa. How would Duo say it? That’s harsh—Wuffers?” “Yuy!” Heero started to snicker quietly then, unable to keep his elation hidden. “God, ‘Fei, you are so easy to bait! No wonder Duo can’t resist.” His tone softened when he mentioned his lover again, and Wufei picked up on it immediately. “That’s not all he can’t resist, is it?” said the Chinese officer. “You’ve got the boy totally infatuated with you.” “I’d like to think it’s a little more than infatuation,” Heero said quietly. “It is,” Wufei assured him. “On both sides.” At Heero’s raised eyebrow, the Captain continued, his tone mischievous. “Admit it…you’re thinking about those slim, muscular shoulders, and the way that gleaming chestnut braid swings across the small of his back when he walks…those indigo eyes…that firm chin…” “Okay! You win!” Heero laughed, raising his hands in surrender. “We’re a couple of lovesick fools, you and I, desperately wanting to cross the distance from here to Earth in a heartbeat instead of waiting for a broken-down shuttle and some storms in the troposphere to abate.” “D’you know how great it is to hear you laugh?” asked Chang, shaking his head and grinning widely at his friend. “As great as it is for me to hear you,” came the warm reply. Heero settled back again, this time stuffing his jacket between his head and the wall to act as a pillow. “Let’s catch a nap while we can, ‘Fei. I have a feeling neither one of us will get much sleep our first night back at camp.” Wufei was glad Heero’s eyes were closed so he couldn’t
see the bright blush on his friend’s face. But, truth be told,
he was looking forward to his dinner “date” with Zechs Merquise…and
he’d thought about those broad shoulders and that flowing hair
a lot more than he’d ever admit.
tbc... |
