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"Occupation "Written By: t-shirt Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are
copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties.
I make no money with this fic. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU/Get Together Fic, Mild angst, attempted
NCS, mention of gang rape (not the guys) Pairings: 1x2 Summary: Heero is in the army that is sent to protect a city and its people. He never thought he'd have to protect the citizens from his own men and fall in love whilst doing so. "Occupation " Part 1 I never really advocated war. I joined the force because it served my needs. Being without a family left me few choices but the life of a soldier suited me. I had lied about my age when I signed up but have since proven my worth many times over so no one questions it yet, had I known at the time I would be forced to serve the needs of politicians instead of the people I might have reconsidered. We had been sent into a small prefecture in the Metia district to secure the area. The press was told by our leaders it was in danger of being oppressed by Iodein forces so a ‘defensive’ presence was necessary but those of us who actually enact their will knew better. There was something they wanted from these people but it wasn’t necessary for us to know what for them to take it. We were just soldiers, instruments who followed commands enabling those in power to do as they please. I wondered what it was they wanted this time while I watched a group of my off duty peers stumble out of a hovel down the block. They were laughing uproariously and had a girl under each arm which was the norm during occupations such as this. Some of them were opportunists who willingly offered their virtue for profit taking advantage of idiots who joined up in search of adventure and some way to vent their desire to dominate. Others were unfortunates who had been bullied or coerced into serving the needs of the resident men. Men I knew would go back to their barracks and write long letters of longing and loneliness to their wives once they were finished banging the locals. “Heeeey, Hiiro!” I tried to evade Gimbricks gaze but he’d spotted me and was stumbling my way almost getting his girl clipped by a car in the process. “What brings a shaft like you to the strip!” he laughed breathing his stank, whisky breath into his girls face and I resisted the urge to clench my teeth when she recoiled. Gods, she was so young but the insult of having been so casually labeled a ‘shaft’, which was a derogatory term for a steadfast soldier, took precedence. “Here,” McDally grinned offering me a flask. “Go on,” he snipped wavering dangerously but his girl helped him remain on his feet. “We ain’t got coodies.” “I’m on duty,” I informed him hefting the rifle on my shoulder a little higher. “You’re always on duty,” Gimbrick chortled. “Even when you’re off duty you’re on duty,” he laughed bouncing off McDally while they celebrated his humorous achievement but all I could muster was to shake my head. “STOP IT!” I turned to see what the young lady down the street was shouting about and suddenly longed to be anywhere else on the planet but there. She was just a teen and obviously not in the business of human trade because she had a backpack that appeared to be filled with textbooks but three of my fellow soldiers were surrounding her and trying to grope her ass anyway. “HEYYYY!” Gimbrick crowed jerking his reluctant companion to the front. “Just give’em a peek, baby!” he laughed jerking her shirt up so that her breasts were exposed but what I saw was her face flame red. “Back off!” My gun was ready and aimed before the soldiers back hit the wall. People had moved away from the group when a young man stepped in shoving the man away from the female student then placing himself between her and the others. “Here now,” one of them growled while they flanked him. I’d never seen anyone with eyes that flashed so bright. “We were only having a little fun.” It wasn’t uncommon for the men to get a little rowdy now and then but it wasn’t received well if they ended up in under arrest either so I was forced to let the scene play out and hope they’d get enough and move on without any major incident. “You gonna let that little girl push you around, Cable?” Gimbrick laughed adding fuel to the fire. “I’m gonna shove that braid right up your ass,” Cable Mason, a sergeant in our troop, growled pulling himself to his feet. “Maybe we should shove something else up there instead,” another laughed but I didn’t know him. “With a face like that it doesn’t much matter what hole ya use!” Gimbrick roared sloshing whisky down his front. “Get’im!” someone yelled and I got to assess the young man’s fighting skills. It was impressive and I honestly believe he might have won if there hadn’t been three of them but they eventually overpowered him. His friend had run off presumably in search of help since I couldn’t do much unless things really got out of control. I’m not sure why it shocked me when they dragged him kicking and screaming into an alley but I hadn’t expected them to get so serious right there in the middle of town. I followed somewhat numbly and watched with stunned detachment while they slammed him into a wall and started ripping his clothes off. They were seriously going to rape him. Even after the heinous things I had seen men do I still could not believe the depths to which they could crawl for no more reason than their own selfish desires. *PIOW!* They stopped when my shot reverberated off the walls but only to scowl at me. “What the fuck is your problem!?” Mason growled. “He is a citizen of Lowbridge,” I reminded him holding my gun at the ready while I asked, “What does that make you?” People had gathered at the entrance to the alley curious to see what was happening and I saw his eyes flash their way, his partners moving away from the winded boy who slumped to the ground and hid his exposed flesh. “He attacked me!” he shouted defiantly looking uncertainly at his fellows. “I have the right to defend myself,” he sniffed pulling his pants up the rest of the way. “Duo!” the young lady he had been defending shouted skidding around the corner with a seething Chinese boy hot on her heels. “Are you all right?” she asked keeling by his side. The Chinese boy didn’t say anything but he was lashing us all with is gaze. The darkness in his eyes was enough to convince Mason and his boys it was time to go and they sauntered off as if they’d won the cup. “Duo?” I turned back to find the girl helping her friend to his feet while the Chinese boy took up a spot between me and them. “I’m ok,” he rasped though I could still hear the tremor of terror in his tone. I wasn’t sure exactly what to feel when he turned his gaze upon me and simply said, “Thanks.” “Can you walk?” I don’t know why I asked but he still looked pretty shaken up. They hadn’t really hurt him that much but his legs appeared too weak to support him. “Let’s go,” the girl interjected but I couldn’t stand the thought of his having to stumble through town in tattered jeans and no shirt so I stripped off my jacket turning it inside out at the same time and offered it to him. He looked at it for a long moment then reached out and took it. I waited while he pulled it on and felt something take root inside me. We had been sent there on the pretense of protecting these people, charged with their well being and peace of mind yet this was the reality of what we had bestowed upon them. For the first time in my life I was ashamed of what I had become. However, it lasted only a moment because when he stopped to smile his gratitude the seed germinated and began to grow. ** “Sergeant Yui?” “What is it?” I replied topping off my coffee. “There’s a civilian asking for you,” Corporal Daniels informed me standing rigidly when my brow creased. “Would this…civilian… have a name?” I asked curtly. “Yes, sir!” the young man barked looking very nervous. “Mr. Duo Maxwell, sir!” “Duo?” I wondered walking past my aid dismissively to find the young man I’d helped the week prior outside my office. “Hi.” It was the strangest feeling. I’d been in the service for over four years climbing through the ranks through pure grit and determination, saved countless lives while sending innumerous others to their grave but never had I felt anything like what thrummed inside me when Duo smiled. “Hi,” I replied setting my coffee aside. “What are you doing here?” I asked flashing an appraising gaze at the resident soldiers. “I wanted to return this,” he explained holding out a bag he’d been carrying. I considered it once again assessing the room before guiding him into my office with an encouraging hand on his arm. “I’m afraid I don’t have much of anything to offer in return,” he was saying while I shut the door and closed the blind so Daniels could no longer stand outside and gape at us. “But I washed it,” he smiled holding the bag out again. I fought the upturn of my lips but failed while I took it and set it on my desk. The smile blossomed in spite of my reluctance when I discovered the expected jacket inside. “Thank you,” I said pulling it out. “But you didn’t have to trouble yourself,” I told him taking the time to hang it properly on the coat rack. “It was no trouble,” he shrugged seeming uncomfortable. “It’s the least I could do after you…” but his words stopped while his face crisped and his eyes found somewhere else to look. “We’re not all barbarians,” I defended though I couldn’t think of anyone in my ranks that didn’t qualify in that moment. “Wufei and I have been walking Hilde to class,” he countered and I smiled inwardly at his determination. “I told her to stop taking night classes but she has to work during the day.” “The men can be callous when they’ve had too much fun,” I commented. “It’s good that you’ve taken precautions.” “I wonder sometimes if your officers realize just how much fun they have at our expense,” Duo replied. I couldn’t blame him for the anger that sparkled in his eyes but I wasn’t at liberty to condemn my fellows either. “I’m glad you’re all right,” was all I could say and hope that he’d hear the underlying apology for my comrade’s behavior. “Isn’t the first time,” he told me clearly attempting to clue me in while he assured me, “Won’t be the last.” The idea that he’d endured such treatment before taxed me. I didn’t like the idea that the men were abusing their rights and tormenting the people but there wasn’t much I could do about it. It had always been that way. What the people didn’t freely give was either coerced or manipulated from them and at times… simply taken by force. “Are you all right?” Duo asked growing wary when my color shifted angrily. “Fine,” I assured him offering a smile while I tamed my aggravation. “It would be wise,” I told him stepping around him to ease behind my desk. Duo’s eyes followed me bringing a curiosity that set in my crawl. “For you to avoid the strip after dark.” “This used to be our town,” Duo sighed. “It will be again,” I reassured. “It’ll never be the same,” he replied distantly. An image of three men attacking a beautiful young man came unbidden to my mind and I had to clench my jaw to keep from growling. Duo had fought so hard and he’d be so scared even afterwards. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had been violated at some time in the past and wished horrible pain on anyone that had caused him harm. “Well,” he said into the awkward silence. “Thanks again.” “Duo?” I inquired stopping him with his hand on doorknob. “Yes?” “Have you had lunch?” ** “Duo?” “Hi, Sally,” he smiled flashing a wary glance around the café. “Is everything alright?” she asked looking my uniform over carefully. “Yeah,” he nodded. “We’re going to take the corner booth,” he told her smiling reassuringly at me while he led me away. It wasn’t uncommon for civilians to show caution when in the presence of a soldier but the glares that were following us made me decidedly uncomfortable. “Sorry,” Duo offered scooting into the booth farthest from the people. “They’re just not used to seeing green backs in here.” I paused at the nickname but it was infinitely kinder than I had expected. “Considering the present state of affairs,” I commented sitting straight backed in the seat across from him. “One might expect caution on their part.” Duo cocked his head smiling gently and I suddenly felt the need to swallow. “Do you like hamburgers?” “You eat that stuff?” I snickered picking up the menu. “You don’t?” Duo countered seeming lost. “There isn’t really anything in it that resembles sustenance,” I replied asking, “How’s the chicken salad?” “Sweet,” Duo laughed leaning over to call out, “Two number fours! Hold the onions on mine!” “You don’t like onions?” I smirked. “There’re a little strong,” he explained sipping the water Sally had brought. “The military takes most of the fresh stuff before we have a chance to…” he stopped glancing guiltily at my pristine jacket and the many insignia thereupon and looked away. “How long have you been a soldier?” he asked offhandedly. “Almost five years.” *cough!*cough!*choke!...cough…* “F…five?” he hissed dabbing the dribbled water from his chin. “What were you? Five when you joined up?” he laughed going ominously still when I replied simply… “Thirteen.” “They draft kids?” he asked going pale. “It wasn’t their idea,” I explained. “What about you?” I asked by way of a change of subject. “I’m… nobody,” he replied falling silent when Sally brought our food. I noted the way she looked him over then sized me up before leaving. “Don’t you go to school?” I asked having a look at my salad. He was right; I could small the onions already. “No,” he replied picking up his dinnerware. “I’m staying with Hilde right now but there isn’t enough money for both of us to take classes.” The conversation revolved around his life while we ate and I was surprised to learn he’d been born in outer space. Most everyone in these small towns had either been born there or were drawn by family but Duo had been transported from L2 when he was young. I felt a kinship with him when I learned he was also an orphan but the church that had taken him in had been attacked and destroyed. He didn’t seem comfortable elaborating on the subject so I didn’t push but I wondered at a soul that could have been through so much hardship and still be capable of that brilliant smile. “…could join us if you want.” “Excuse me?” I inquired having lost the gist of the conversation while contemplating his origins. “It’s just a get together,” he shrugged appearing off balance and uncertain. “Where?” “The Gilmore,” he brightened. “This Saturday.” Damn. “I’m on duty.” The crestfallen expression in my companion’s eyes prompted me to ask, “What time?” “Seven.” “I don’t get off till nine.” “But you’ll come?!” he exclaimed making it incredibly easy to smile. “If you don’t think it’ll be too late,” I acquiesced. “No way,” he laughed. “We’ll be at it till the dawn but…” he said glancing nervously aside. “Can you wear regular clothes?” I blinked. I didn’t have any ‘regular’ clothes. “It’s just like wearing a business suit to a dance isn’t it?” he asked making me feel a little self conscious. “I’ll…see what I can do,” I promised feeling decidedly unsettled when he beamed. ~ * ~ tbc... |
