Notes: This fic focuses primarily on Wufei and Duo's relationship, but it will not be romantic. This is 2x1, although that will take something of a backseat. Quatre and Trowa will show up toward the end of the fic.

205 AC

There's rioting on Earth and it's spreading the colonies.

Duo watches the violence rise and fall from his cramped apartment in L2, piggybacking on various news feeds, security cameras. Thirty screens displaying thirty different altercations - only five are live, the rest are recordings, the stuff Duo missed while tinkering in his shop downstairs.

He's watched enough of these events in the past year to know there's something off. Riots happen, yeah, but there's an oddly manufactured pattern to these ones, and if he didn't have access to raw material, he might suspect the news of warmongering. But they're not, the violence is real, and really happening, just as they say: the riots start, crowds rush and destroy and pillage, Preventers show up, they end. Another riot starts up on the other side of the state, anger and discontent picking up and going with it. There are no efforts being made to keep the peace in the areas that rioted, because there's no need for it. The towns immediately begin picking up the pieces, falling back to their relatively peaceful way of life.

But, if Duo is going to be honest, he couldn't care less about the riots.

He doubts he's the only one to've noticed the obvious rabble rousing, and he's never assisted the Preventers in that capacity - he's not a detective or problem solver or a brain. He's a shadow, and he's not watching the feeds to figure out who is trying to seed discontent in the population.

Duo shovels cereal into his mouth and monitors the activity, waiting. He put the rioting on C-035, C-006 and A-0059 on the higher screens, and the Earth rioting, the ones in Tokyo and Kyoto, on the very center screens. Duo really, really doubts they'd send Heero to the colonies. If he's anywhere he'd be in Japan, but, if he's going to be honest, that's kind of a long shot, too. He can't imagine Agent 01 being their first choice for crowd control, but he can tell Preventers are spread pretty thin. A fire is a fire, and Agent 01 can certainly handle a fire.

There's absolutely no chance that Heero would actually make it on camera, but Duo can recognize his work and all he wants is a glimpse, which, if he's going to be honest, is pretty creepy. This is basically the secret agent equivalent of looking through an ex's trash, and he wouldn't have to resort to this kind of stalker activity, he used to be able to check up on Heero with just a few clicks and a twitch of his nose, but about a year ago, all of Agent 01's activities went to the strictest classification. The kind of lock down that not even Duo can crack without getting a shuttle and visiting the HQ in person, and -

"Huh?" Duo pauses, leaving the spoon in his mouth when his laptop monitor, which had been displaying Denver riots, starts flickering, as it usually does when he has an incoming message. Sue enough, there's a flashing new letter in his inbox. He pauses everything, taking a moment to decipher the standard Preventer code.

02: CODE WHITE. MEL'S HOAGIES

Duo snorts, licking the spoon once then tossing both it and the bowl over his shoulder, into the massive pile of plates and garbage covering his floor. Mel's? For real? For a code white? It takes about three seconds to track down the feed for that grease bowl, and . . . yes. For real. Mel's is having a good day when three people sit at the counter, and yet there are currently eleven very fit, well cut, well groomed young people in casual clothes in the diner. Preventer muscle.

He lets out a low whistle when Lady Une herself walks in. So it really is a code white, too. Huh.

Because Mel is a cheap bastard, the quality of the feed is grainy, black and white and fuzzy enough for Duo to write off the kid holding her hand as Mariemaia until he remembers that no, she's turning sixteen and hasn't been that small in almost ten years. He takes a closer look, leaning toward the screen, then freezes.

He knows that kid.

He grabs his coat and barrels out the door.

x

The main thing is that Chang Wufei has been dead five years.

But as soon as Duo thinks it, the main thing becomes: now, why the hell did he believe that? There were no remains. He didn't even think to question it. Obviously this was a mistake because Chang Wufei is very much not dead.

Well, let's just get it over with. He's also a kid. Chang Wufei is (maybe?) about five years old and he's sitting across from Duo at Mel's Hoagies, staring forward with a remarkably bored look on his face.

Une watches Duo expectantly, waiting for a response, waiting for him to open the folder that she's passed his way. It sits under his hands, ready and waiting, but he's kind of barely keeping in his hysterical laughter/confusion/tears/general freak out as it is, he's not reading this in front of her.

"So, Une!" Duo forces a smile. "When'd they start letting you outside?"

"When the situation calls for it," Une says, deadpan as hell. She's stiff, back straight and shoulders back, she pretty much stinks of guilt, which confirms a lot of things about this whole kid situation, in one neat little package: she's responsible, she needs a favor, and, most importantly, this is the real deal. This is not a clone, this is not a son, this is not a relation. This is Chang Wufei. Une is a shit actress and there's no way she'd work up guilt about anything but one of those options.

"What is the situation, exactly? I can't remember the last time I was briefed in a fast food joint," Duo says, fiddling thoughtlessly with the folder, running his thumb up the thick corner, through the pages. Une's eyes are trained on his finger's movements sorta like a dog following a bone, and Duo wishes that this whole situation didn't involve the resurrection and mutilation of a friend, because otherwise it'd be pretty funny.

"Unfortunately I don't have time to be anything but blunt," Une says, and gestures at the child beside her. "Chang Wufei is not dead."

"No," Duo says, almost not sarcastically, but not heavy enough for her to pick up on, and she continues.

"His death was faked by allied rebels, and we were only recently able to recover him. We discovered that he underwent various . . . treatments - "

"No!" Duo says again, and that was forcing it. Une's eyes narrow.

"I take it you already discovered Project Rebirth."

"Just recently," Duo says. Like about ten minutes ago. There had been no question, at all, as soon as he saw Wufei, he knew exactly who that boy was, or used to be, and he's not even sure how. Maybe some latent newtype ability. Maybe there's just something uniquely Wufei about the kid that's impossible to fake, that Duo could pick up on even through the grainy security camera. The little springy ponytail? Maybe.

Une huffs. "Who else - No. There's no time. We've been compromised. I need you to take Chang off the radar."

Duo eyes Wufei again, but he's not showing much in way of response. Bored, or maybe even zoned out? Are his eyes even in focus? Duo grabs a sugar packet on the edge of the table, shaking it idly as he considers: What the hell is going on? Seeing Wufei zoned out in public is almost weirder than him turning up minus a few decades - well okay, no, it's not, but it's close.

"What's he on?" Duo asks.

Une raises an eyebrow. "On?"

Duo flicks the sugar packet toward Wufei. It hits one soft, round cheek, then lands on the table. Wufei's expression remains unchanged, his gaze doesn't even twitch.

"If I'm gonna be carrying this kid around then I'm gonna need to know what sort of downer you've been feeding him."

"His system's clean, if that's what you're saying," Une says. "Rebirth was built on behavior modification. What did you think that would look like?"

Duo's expression goes about as blank as Wufei's - smooth and unreadable. "Don't really see the point in creating a catatonic five year old."

"Neither do I, frankly," Une says. "But it we didn't have time for stealth when we brought him here, who knows how many people are closing in on this location as we speak. We really don't really have the time to sit here and discuss the practical applications -"

She stops, eyebrows rising. A man and woman enter the restaurant, and hey, maybe it's possible that two ridiculously fit body builders decided to get together in the middle of the work day and check out the greasiest food available in L2, but Duo's money is on hostile agents.

"Go," Une says.

Keeping his movements slow and calm, lifting his body to block Wufei from the pair's immediate sweep of the diner, Duo takes the folder and leans forward, tucking it into Wufei's shirt. He then stands, casually taking Wufei's hand - no resistance, good - and leading him toward the bathrooms.

Depending on the severity if the hostile's reaction to their movement, he'll either hoist Wufei over his shoulder and make a dash for the doors in the back, but preferably, they'll make a quieter exit out the storm windows in the bathroom. Duo's twenty-five, and he's gotten quite a bit bigger since his glory days as a teenage terrorist, but he's still small-ish and can squeeze through most openings when need be. There is concern about Wufei, though - he's allowing Duo to lead him, little legs moving, but will he know to land if Duo forces him through window about seven feet off the ground? Will he know how?

BLAM! - BLAMBLAM!

Out the back door it is!

Duo hoists Wufei up easily, he's ridiculously light against his hip, and he immediately begins clinging, arms and legs, a bit like a koala, courteously freeing Duo's hands.

"Thanks," Duo mutters, flying out the back alley. He's pretty sure the two hostiles won't be making it out of the restaurant, not with Une and eleven of her men, but Duo doubts they're the only ones in the area. Or in the sector.

They need to get off L2.

x

"This is an injustice!" Duo says. "Well, sorry, Wufei. But they're gonna be looking for a little boy from L5, you know? I gotta disguise you somehow. You kind of stick out."

Duo tucks a few essentials and Wufei's previous outfit into a tiny pink backpack, then his own braid under his hat.

"I would rather fight them face to face and die like a man than hide and escape as a female!"

"Oh, Wufei!" Duo sighs. Of course, real Wufei had no response, verbal or otherwise, to the floral dress Duo pulled over his head. Wufei has done nothing but stare forward, sigh once or twice, track movement with his eyes every so often, but that's about it. This is all disarming, disturbing, enraging, even, but Duo is on the move will have time to think about it in contexts other than how it could help or hinder them later. Unless Duo's plans involve sitting and contemplating Wufei as he's surrounded on all sides by hostiles, he has to keep moving -

Damn. He forgot shoes.

Duo digs through the backpack and considers the white tennis shoes Wufei originally came with. Unfortunately, he doesn't know much about little girls, little boys, or the subtle differences in shoes they chose to wear, so the contemplation does little good. He shrugs and slips the impossibly tiny things back on Wufei's feet.

The dress alone is enough to pass as a girl, easily, but odds are that they're familiar with that signature little tail of hair, so Duo pulls it out, ruffles the thin strands - Ah, mistake. Fucking mistake. His hair is now a mess and Duo doesn't have a comb, and such an unkempt child will definitely get looks, especially with an adult male on his own. Duo winces, finger combing it as best he can, Wufei's head rocking limply with the motion when Duo snags on a tangle. He's dismayed to discover that the hair beneath his fingers is almost greasy to the touch, covered in a kind of grimy layer that comes from using only water to rinse it out for months on end, and Duo -

Does not have time to think about the conditions Wufei's been living in!

When Wufei's hair is as tamed as it's going to get, Duo cuts a long, thin strap from the backpack, tying it in place around Wufei's head as a makeshift headband, and it looks suitably adorable.

"First trip to Earth, sweetheart?" The stewardess smiles brightly at Wufei at the gate. He's clinging to Duo in the full body koala-hug again, ankles crossed over Duo's hip, which is less convenient when you're not running away from hostiles, and more incredibly noticeable. The body language screams terrified, and just a little too young, even for a five year old.

"She's shy," Duo laughs, once again attempting to tip Wufei's head onto his shoulder, hoping to pass him off as tired, but his head immediately rises, eyes staying open.

It's a midday flight and there are only eight passengers, so they're given a decent amount of privacy, three rows between them and the nearest person. Duo takes the aisle seat, and Wufei straps himself in as soon as he's set down. Duo watches him move, trying to figure out what the line is, here. He can respond to a seatbelt, but not a goddamn sugar packet thrown at his face?

"Time for some answers," Duo mutters to Wufei, yanking out the report, and wow it is disconcerting how Wufei is just staring at the seat ahead of him, mouth slightly open. They have privacy, but the stewardesses are still mobile and Wufei is the only child on the flight. They're going to get attention.

Duo pulls Wufei closer, making him lean against his chest, and as long as Duo keeps his hand holding him there, it kind of looks like Wufei is reading the open folder along with him, if you don't notice how his eyes aren't moving along the page at all.

Mission Status: Completed

Target [Agent 05/Pilot 05] retrieved [from Sojuznyj's Turkish base].

Sojuznyj [is a rebel faction centered on Earth, in the eastern European region] Sojuznyj was not viewed as a serious threat in the past [While HQ was aware of Sojuznyj's potential reach, their objectives were focused on local political scuffles]. Sojuznyj's collaborations with White Fang, CAO, RaTT, Barton Foundation, New OZ, [among others] were brief and directly related to financial concerns. (See Reports 20.304, 43.5422)

[After three months of surveillance it was discovered that] Sojuznyj's previous local objectives were a front. Their true objectives are to weaken [ESUN] and encourage conflict between global and colony powers.

Project Rebirth [was one of Sojuznyj's attempts to make this happen.] Mission objective [to retrieve 05] was completed with minimal damage. Sojuznyj operatives and base was swept clean. Agent 04's cover as a financial backer in Project Rebirth was maintained and may be of use in future Sojuznyj infiltration.

[Target healthy and agents unharmed.]

[Because of the wide and unorganized expanse of Sojuznyj,] the full objective of Project Rebirth are unknown [and could not be found out by exhaustive interrogation: despite working directly with the target, no one at the particular facility was informed of overall objectives]. The full extent of 05's augmentation are unknown. 05 is functional and uninjured. 05 [was initially unresponsive].

05 was conditioned to [respond to] trigger phrases. All phrases are coded in an Earth dialect [Russian]. The following [phrases, translations and results were] retrieved by Agent 04 and have not been verified as of yet. [There are possibly more phrases that were not fully documented at the Turkish facility]

Rasslab'sja, ja jetim zajmus. (Don't worry, I'll see to everything) - Sleep

Schastlivogo puti. (Have a comfortable journey) - Stand-by

Nam nuzhen perevodchik. (We need an interpreter) - Full consciousness

Ty ne boleesh? (Aren't you sick?) - Pause

Mojo zolotce. (My golden one) - Activate

Ending notes:

[Active agents on this mission recommend that] the threat level of Sojuznyj be reassessed. Sohuznyj's ties with [various rebel factions] are much deeper than previously assumed.

[Active agents on this mission recommend that] 05 should be kept under strict Preventer custody and monitored carefully, [both for his own well-being, and the safety of those around him].

[Active agents on this mission recommend that] the existence of Project Rebirth [as well as the status and location of 05] be [kept on highest possible security clearance].

Report compiled by Agent 01 on 03.15.0204

Report edited by Agent 04 on 03.15.0204

Duo almost laughs, but knows it would sound Joker-level crazy so he doesn't. He really didn't need the signatures at the end to know Heero had written this up, but still. Seeing it was something like a light slap to the face. There's something about his clunky yet efficient report write ups that send Duo tumbling back to a decade ago, a teenager with stick thin arms and legs, stinging eyes and the hopelessly, stupidly optimistic offer of his heart, the hopelessly, stupidly optimistic belief that that would solve everything.

So this is what Heero's been up to? It doesn't take him long to do the math, this mission took place over a year ago, and Duo doubts it's a coincidence it's square in the ballpark of when Heero's activities were sealed.

He skims the report brief again. He hadn't given much thought to the folder before, disinterested in the lies and heavy editing these reports always end up getting before seeing the light of day - cleaned up to the point of uselessness by the time a wildcard like Duo gets his hands on one. But now, he's sort of actively dreading the rest of it, the prospect of reading Heero's name again, and again.

This is what he wanted though, right? This is what he was combing through those videos for: just a sign, a glimpse. Apparently Duo didn't even know what he was looking for, or what he wanted. His heart is pounding hard, and he feels oddly exposed, like Heero's going to get a notification each time Duo's heart tripped up as he read this report.

But! Keep moving, keep moving, the rhythm of Wufei's slow, placid breathing reminds him of where he is in terms of this assignment and exactly how far away that is from being able to hold any pity parties. Or get upset that neither Quatre or Heero saw the need to tell him that OH YEAH WUFEI ISN'T DEAD.

Heero he can understand, but Quatre? But - whatever.

So.

Full consciousness. Duo mouths the phrase carefully, nahm new-zhen peha-vod-chick? PeRAH-vod-check? Freaking Russian. He's reasonably sure Wufei is on stand-by status at the moment, he can't imagine anything more stand-by-esque than this, and it sure as hell isn't fully conscious.

His gut is saying to try the phrase, which is dumb. They're in an enclosed space, and it's been five years since he last talked to Wufei, let alone whatever they've been doing to him. He has absolutely no clue what sort of temperament he could be greeted with, what Wufei is on stand-by from - for the safety of those around him? - and if the two of them were spotted getting on this shuttle back on L2, a not-so-welcome wagon waiting on Earth, would his 'full consciousness' mode help? Would Duo be better off with a doll he's reasonably sure won't wander away from whatever corner he sticks it in? Yikes, the unconscious use of it in that sentence is gross enough to pretty much guilt Duo into trying the trigger. Besides, he can't remember the last time his gut led him wrong.

The shuttle bathroom is cramped as hell, really built to discourage anything more than one person at a time, and he ends up lifting Wufei to sit on the toilet just for standing room.

"Nam no-zen perevodchik."

Wufei blinks, blank as ever. Duo makes a face, and refuses to believe anyone actually speaks this language.

"Namm nuch-zen peerVADchick."

Nothing.

"NAHm nuh-shen PEHA-vod-chik."

Maxwell Church had a massive fireplace, and Duo remembers helping Father Maxwell tend the fires, the thrill he'd get at being entrusted with the poker, stirring up the black coals, how they'd light up with bright red in warning before simmering back to a brighter, deeper black than before, and he's reminded of this, those coals, as Wufei's eyes abruptly flare to life.

Wufei gasps, jerking all over in an obviously involuntary series of twitches, his brain stem apparently reintroducing the rest of his brain to his body.

"Shenme - zài nǎlǐ - " he stutters out, thankfully pretty quietly. The bathroom also isn't designed for privacy.

"Wufei? Hey, you with me?"'

"Maxwell," he says, eyes wide and wild. "What - what - "

"We're in a civilian shuttle," Duo says. "We're about three hours from Earth."

Wufei stares at Duo, breathing hard and fast, obviously trying to collect himself. It's strange - his blank and lifelessness of before made him look like a doll more than anything, but with his face lit up in fear and confusion, he looks like the Wufei he knows, but also more like a child, a more vulnerable thing, and the contrast makes him seem even smaller, the fists on Duo's shirt particularly tiny.

"Are we - followed? Were we compromised?"

"Hopefully not but probably, and yes," Duo says. Wufei nods, pulling back his hands, composing himself. "So I don't suppose you can save me some reading and shed any light on this situation," Duo says. "Like, what the hell is going on? Who's after us? Why they took you to begin with?"

Wufei frowns. The expression is an almost perfect miniature of older Wufei, to the point that Duo has to swallow a hysterical laugh. "A civilian shuttle? Is it - secure?"

"Man, at this point anyone's who's on us, is on us. The only one in the dark here is me."

" . . . And me. I don't have the answers to any of your questions," Wufei says sullenly, gaze drifting down, like he's admitting some personal failing. "What year is it?"

"'05," Duo says. "Almost October." Wufei nods, taking this in slowly. "Is, uh. Is that pretty close? To what you thought it was?"

Wufei shrugs, still radiating shame. "I didn't think it was anything. I've stopped guessing." He freezes then, and spots a strand of hair breaking free of the headband out the corner of his eye. He grabs it and stares at it. " . . . What is this?"

Duo doesn't even bother to hide his shit-eating grin, grateful for the tension breaker and stepping back to allow Wufei a decent view of the dingy little mirror above the sink.

Wufei stares at himself, blinking rapidly. Haha, this is gonna be good!

"I - I don't like it," he says, looking positively heartbroken, shoulders hitching up in an unmistakably childlike move. He looks up at Duo in an open, vulnerable plea for him to fix this. "Maxwell?"

. . . And that woooshing sound is the wind officially leaving his sails.

"I know, I knew you'd hate it," Duo says. "But I had to disguise you somehow, and it's not like you'd make a convincing midget. It's just until we make it to somewhere secure on Earth, alright?"

"That could take weeks," Wufei says, his face is falling, is he going to cry?

"Nah, I've got like, six hide outs in the area we're landing," Duo says. "Just a ten minute drive, we'll be there before you even know it, Master Chang."

"Stop," Wufei says, pulling away, and his knees up to his chest.

"Stop what?" Duo bends down as best he can in the cramped space to look him in the eyes. Which are dry. False alarm on the tears.

"Don't be nice like that," he says, maybe trying to scowl but that is definitely a pout. "It's condescending, Maxwell. I won't allow you to placate me!"

Oh, Jesus. He missed Wufei. Stiff, easily ruffled Wufei. "But what if I want to?"

"I won't allow it!"

"Alright, alright," Duo says. "I'll be an asshole."

"Good!"

"It's gonna be hard to resist, though, you make such a cute girl," Duo says. Oh. Apparently that was below the belt.

"You - made me look humiliating - and now you - you think it's funny," Wufei says, obviously fighting to compose himself, hugging his knees tighter, more defensively. So maybe Wufei doesn't want Duo to be an asshole as much as be better at hiding any kindness.

"You don't look humiliating, Wufei," Duo says. "If you looked humiliating you'd stick out, eh? You just look like a kid."

"I don't want to look like a kid," it's just short of a wail. "You're an adult. And Yuy is an adult. And I'm wearing a dress, on a t-toilet."

Duo makes a little noise of sympathy - then blinks in surprise. He's been rubbing Wufei's knee as a comfort instinctively, the surprise being that Wufei's allowing it. But why is that a surprise? Obviously Wufei has been - somewhat affected by his current condition. Understandably.

There's a knock on the door, and both of them immediately sober, staring at each other as the stewardess's muffled voice drifts in. "Sir? Are you in need of assistance?"

It's already become habit for him to hoist Wufei up into his arms - but not for Wufei, who obviously wasn't expecting it, and disapproves, stiff as a board, but knows better than to make a fuss when Duo opens the bathroom door.

"We're good. Someone's just a little afraid of flying," Duo says with a smile, nodding toward Wufei, who's still red-faced, eyes slightly red-rimmed.

"Aw, doll face. Well, it's almost over," the stewardess says, and her smile is so sweet, Duo rushes them back to their seats before she can see the hellfire that's been raised in Wufei's eyes.

Wufei does not buckle his seatbelt, and it may have been five years, but Duo can remember being partnered with Wufei in the past, the eggshell walk of trying to figure out what Wufei will best respond to - a gentle reminder that'll go ignored? An order that would be seen as an insult? So he just defaults to what worked five years ago; not giving Wufei a choice, reaching over and buckling it himself.

Wufei glares - he really is a cute kid - but turns his attention to the window.

Earth is a massive, imposing shape, and only growing more so as they approach. Duo hunts out the the line of his original trajectory, the one he made disguised as a shooting star so many years ago, something he has a habit of tracing when approaching Earth. He gazes over the massive chunks of land, the forests and smog of cities. He smirks. So many, many places to hide.

Duo's no stranger to going off the grid for months at a time, though he's never taken anyone with him before. But considering the person is Wufei, it shouldn't make that much of a difference, right? It's not like it's some politician or royalty or whatever. Wufei obviously still knows the score, even if he is somewhat . . . compromised.

Once they land, Duo will head to his Bludhaven safe house - it's the closest, and the isolated location will mean the smallest mess when they're inevitably tracked down by Sojuznyj, or anyone else who's interested in a vulnerable, mindfucked ex-Gundom pilot. They'll stay in Jersey as long as they can manage before seeking cover in his Kyoto hideout. Wufei could somewhat blend with the populace there, and there's enough of a tourist presence that Duo won't stick out too badly either. After they're spotted in Japan, there's E-0331. It's a long, boring trip to the ratty ass colony, but they should be able to keep a low profile there for at least two or three weeks.

Duo spins the folder in his hands, idly laying out a potential year or so of travel, well beyond what they could possibly need, going over the list of favors he can call in for when various arrangements fail. And talking about shit hitting the fan. . . .

"So, where are you in terms of, uh, defending yourself? Fighting?" Duo asks, sudden enough to make Wufei start. Duo fully expects a violent confirmation from Wufei, along with anger that there could be any doubt about it, but all he gets is an angry little shrug. " . . . What does that mean?"

"Have you not humiliated me enough?" Wufei snaps, hands in fists, and Duo's eyebrows raise in surprise when he sees that they're shaking with anger.

Duo opens his mouth to say something comforting, then to tease, then to ask a question, thinking better of it each time. He's startled when Wufei starts speaking again on his own.

"There's footage," Wufei mutters, eyes staring forward and something only he can see, and it's beyond creepy with that little voice. "Of myself fighting. Like this, like I am now, after I've been shut down."

"And?"

"It's not me. I don't remember it, those aren't my - moves. Or tactics."

"But it's good?"

Wufei scowls and turns back to the window. So Wufei doesn't really want to talk about the detailed results of his brain getting fucked sideways. Duo supposes he can understand that, but he still needs to know. He sighs, supposing he could actually read the rest of the report. . . .

But then again, there's only so much a five year old body is capable of anyway. Duo isn't banking on Wufei defending himself even if Wufei swore on the name of his ancestors that he was ten times better than ever, and no write up from even the one and only Heero Yuy would change that.

x

The shuttle opens and they're immediately bombarded by the mayhem of the space port. Mundane mayhem, but mayhem all the same. Space ports on Earth are oddly muted but frantic - civilians rushing, but in straight, regulated lines. He's grown used to it by now, though, and it takes Duo a second to realize what's going on with Wufei, why he's sticking so closely to Duo's thigh, scanning the crowds. He's nervous.

Understandably. Earth is fucking crowded.

You think you're used to press of human bodies in a colony, but no, a colony has limits and regulations, if it's overcapacity, people are getting off, and no one else is getting on. Duo's pretty sure that no one's really calculated the capacity limit for New Jersey, and people mill wherever they want. He had some experience with the sheer size of the crowds during the war, but the day-to-day grind of the place took some getting used to. It was overwhelming, a constant but steady buzz of complete strangers rushing over and past him, a never ending tide.

Wufei bumps against his thigh again, and Duo opens his mouth to tease, ask if he's feeling a shy. But then he remembers the shuttle bathroom, how he'd been so - open and vulnerable. So Duo just takes his hand instead, hurrying along.

"Maxwell!" Wufei says suddenly, giving a sudden bid for freedom, jerking at his arm. "I need to - attend my business."

"What?" Duo asks. He's going to be frank here, five years ago it felt like he only understood about a third of what Wufei said, and it doesn't look like much has changed.

"I need to use the restroom," Wufei says, the tight-lipped expression odd and hilarious on his little face.

There's a bit of dithering as they approach - he shouldn't let Wufei out of his sight, but does Wufei look young enough to be escorted into the men's bathroom by a father? Whatever, Wufei doesn't think twice about it, marching straight into the men's bathroom with his chin held high as ever.

As he waits for Wufei to complete his business, Duo decides to drain what little of the coffee he was able to drink this morning, whistling loudly as he goes about it.

"Maxwell!"

"What?"

"Is that really necessary?" his little voice asks sharply from the stall, and Duo beams to himself, eyes actually watering. He didn't cry at Wufei's funeral, too numb and shocked and distracted for such traditional mourning, but over the years he's missed the ornery little guy like a physical ache.

"I think it is, yeah," Duo says, and starts whistling a little louder, tapping his toes as he finishes, zipping himself up, strolling over to the sink. His whistling stops when he sees Wufei in the mirror behind him. He's taken off the dress, back in the scrub-like outfit he originally wore.

"That dress will give us about five seconds at best!" Wufei says, pointing his finger accusingly before Duo can so much as open his mouth. "It's not worth it! I won't wear it!"

Duo shrugs. "Alright," he says. He hands Wufei back his little fastener and watches him pull his hair back into place with harsh little jerks.

Honestly, Wufei is probably right. Long clan is an incredibly distinctive group, impossible to miss if you know what you're looking for, and a little girl from A0206 wouldn't exactly sneak by someone looking for a little boy from A0206. Twenty minutes into making a getaway, the disguise would probably help, but five hours later? Not so much.

Duo sighs and pockets the essentials, tucking the folder away, and they leave the backpack and dress behind. Wufei seems much more confident now in the horde of strangers, though he doesn't protest when Duo takes his hand again.

"Attention. All incoming passengers should report to the security check on the bottom floor," A voice on the overhead chimes, and Duo groans as the message begins repeating in multiple languages. This is not a coincidence. They were spotted? Was Wufei reported as a hostile? Was Duo? Is ESUN itself in on this, or did one of the many factions of Sojuznyj just manage to infiltrate the shuttle ports?

A equally pleasant female voice suddenly chimes on the overhead, "Ty takaja chestnaja."

Russian. Duo's on guard immediately, but it doesn't help - he's yanked down hard by the hand holding his.

"Wha - " Wufei has him off balance and he slams his leg into the back of Duo's knee. Duo drops, and Wufei's on him. Duo's larger size suddenly feels like a weakness, lumbering and slow, too slow to stop Wufei from slamming his entire weight into Duo's neck and chest, knocking the wind out of him.

Duo stares up, dazed. Black eyes, no longer warm coal or unfocused pools, but a kind of cold, calculating sharpness Duo could've sworn were unique to cobalt blue. There's a sudden flash of gold in those eyes, fast enough that Duo might have imagined it. Duo is stunned, blinking owlishly as Wufei lifts himself up. The entire attack took less than five seconds, and Duo is still trying to get his lungs to accept air as he watches Wufei effectively disarm a deeply confused cop, knocking him to the ground, spinning to take on his partner.

Wufei was right - those aren't his moves. That's not how Wufei moved at all, he was nothing like this tiny jackhammer pounding ruthlessly through each body. Wufei had been smooth and fluid and untouchable. This was more like -

"Rasslab'sja, ja jetim zajmus!"

Wufei drops.

Heero.