Opposing Angels
By Amber
Standard warnings and disclaimers apply AU in nature and any scene or plot similarity to another person's story, movie or anime is purely coincidental. Rated R:
Silently the elevator traveled lower and despite the logic and phenomenal control over his body, Hiro's breathing unwillingly increased. He hated the dark, the silence; it reminded him too much of the chamber he had spent so long in and the nothingness relieved only by sporadic dreams. The endless nothing that sucked him under until the next time they imputed information that allowed him to dream. Gliding through the security he moved deeper into the bowels of the cavern when suddenly lights somehow triggered by his presence snapped on and illuminated him. The small circle of lights made him the center of the ominous green glare of the caverns silent sentinel.
Allowing his gaze to travel methodically upward, he stared impassively into the otherworldly stare of Wing Zero. A flash of green lit the cavern but before the Gundam could initiate defense measures Hiro smiled mirthlessly and uttered to code words that would alter the course of his life forever more. Hiro tilted his head the watchful menace that seemed to permeate the chamber changed to one of expectation. He wondered just how much computer and circuitry within this machine was altered over time with the continued blending with its humanoid pilot because it truly seemed human like itself in an elusive manner that was beyond his ability to explain. Which was probably why he didn't feel foolish standing here talking to it.
"No I am not 01. I am 001. But you know that. Don't you? I have no code name that I will accept. I am far beyond the expectations of Heero Yuy."
Green eyes flashed, with what might be a protest or acknowledgement he could not say which. And until he could activate the ZERO system he wouldn't have that deeper connection to Wing Zero that Heero had so there no way of detecting the inner workings of one of the most lethal devices known to man. That was what today was about insuring his access to Wing Zero should the need arise.
"I call myself Hiro to remind me of what I started as and how far I've come you can acknowledge me so as well. But, one way or the other I must have access to your abilities should the need arise." The seconds stretched until the compartment hissed and the cockpit opened slowly followed by the sounds of hydraulics preparing to lower the pilot cord.
Hiro smirked, disdaining the cord he leapt upward balancing on the crouched leg but for a split second before pushing off to land lightly by the entrance to the cockpit. Glancing curiously around for a moment at the machine he had only seen within his dreams, he cautiously moved within and strapped himself in. Flipping on the system he key coded in the correct sequence of numbers that was his own personal set of passwords then hesitated a spilt second before finally typing in ZERO. The system roared to life with the punch of an avalanche. Screaming silently, he flailed because even though he suspected the mental power required still nothing could prepare him for the reality of it. Mentally he was trying to orient himself so he could separate his identity from that which was Heero's. As well as avoid being swallowed up by Zero when he felt her, it was as if a breeze blew lightly through his mind and for a moment he thought Zero had truly driven him mad.
"Relena," he whispered. He felt a silent acknowledgement echo through him as if Zero had understood and responded. And with Hiro's comprehension, Zero was finally free to process Hiro's input into the equation. creating something entirely new.
"Relena is in here as well." He gave voice to his wonder, his confusion. How did Dr. J input her data when he didn't have access to Wing Zero's location? Unless.. Unless, Zero contacted him he'd bet Heero didn't know about that little piece of information. He felt understanding flash across his consciousness as he and Zero moved deeper into sync to achieve the understanding necessary to perform as a single unit.
Lights started to strobe behind his eyes as he struggled with the answers he sought. Images over lapped with scenes from battles, memories even emotions not his added to his confusion, enemies unknown yet some how familiar. When he felt he had reached his limit and was about to go out of his mind a cocoon of soothing peace seem to blanket his mind. His breathing slowly returned to normal. His thoughts began to gain once more some semblance of order returning his sense of purpose. Hiro felt the essence of what Dr. J had processed from Relena Darlian slowly seek purchase within him and merge to become an eternal part of he and Zero, all it had been waiting for was 001's contribution.
The self sacrifice, the fierce determination to protect, the uncompromising belief in justice tempered by compassion, but none of those were in and of themselves concepts unknown to either entity. Moving deeper still, they were immersed into unswerving loyalty to a boy who effortlessly stole her heart and wove his way in to her imagination. They learned how in her mind Heero made her a better human being. Slowly Wing Zero and he stabilized. The core of what and who Relena Darlian was, became imprinted into their combined consciousness and the process of analyzing the traits and characteristics within that made her such an integral fascination to the pilot of Wing Zero began. And through this, it was hoped giving them both the ability to achieve what Dr. J had so ruthlessly destroyed in Heero so many years ago.
The quiet hum of the ZERO system powering down woke him from his trance as man and machine internally examined one another. Each, separately determining how this new data would affect their performance. The machine concluded faster than the man that this added understanding would indeed provide useful insight into his partners' mental pathways.
The man stood slowly taking stock of each ache before turning his search within and was undecided if this change was for better or worse. What he did know as he lightly jumped to the ground and began walking away was this. For better or worse he would never be the same again. Hiro paused, looking back at the subdued glow emitted by Zero's eyes and detected an almost feeling of pleasure permeating the cavern. Perhaps after so much merging and mingling with humans, within humans the Gundams had become sentient themselves. Hiro swallowed a lump in his throat as he finally allowed himself to examine the last bit of data that filtered into his mind and Zero's massive circuitry. The unconditional love Relena had for Heero Yuy. Even now, he could feel the conflict within him on how he felt about it overlapping with Zero's boundless fascination with the concept as much as the woman herself. Stepping within the elevator, he maintained a troubled gaze with Zero. There was no need to remove evidence of his presence here Zero would see to that. So it left him with nothing but reflecting on the latest revelations in his life, as well as the disturbing realization of how much they man and machine resented Heero being the reciprocate of that boundless love. Before he slowly disappeared from sight he wondered if perhaps things would have been better left as they were before ZERO further enhanced their fascination for Relena.
*************
Relena leaned back against the couch pleasantly relaxed she nudged Duo with her bare foot. "Remind me again, why we do this since you know I loathe the taste of beer? Couldn't we live dangerously once and O I don't know say.. Try a wine?" So saying she tilted the bottle taking another sip before she rolled her head to study Duo finishing off the rest of the pizza.
"Because babe, it's the only time you get any culture in your life."
"Ah, wasn't that what you said about that martial arts movie last week?"
"That's not culture that's a staple of life like the air we breathe, the water we drink." Relena nodded sagely as she watched him close the lid on the empty box of pizza and toss it into the fireplace. There was a slight whoosh before the cardboard blazed then caught. Turning back, he smiled.
"Your full of it Maxwell your eyes should be brown."
Duo laughed grabbing a coral colored toenail. "Not buying that one hmm?"
"Nope." His eyes twinkled as he took her foot and gently massaged. Relena groaned sliding even further down. "Oh lord that is sinful."
He smirked; "you need to stop wearing those damn heels."
She cracked an eye and glared. "You told me at the Henderson gala you liked my quote un quote hooker shoes."
"O yeah," he smiled reminiscently stealing a mischievous peak at her before continuing. "Those were some hot looking shoes made those little legs look like they went on forever before they ended at a really great asset."
Relena shook her head closing her eye she smiled. "Duo my love, telling someone that has spent most of her life much to her dismay categorized as petite about her little legs looking better with heels is a sure fire way to get you brained. Not to mention it also tells her you need to get laid." Duo's fingers stopped, his mouth dropped open. Relena frowned opening her eyes. "Hey, why did you stop?"
"I can't believe you said that."
She smiled wryly taking another sip of the beer. "What that I would brain you for calling me little or that I know about sex and suggested you need to get laid?"
Duo shook his head grimacing, "my girl is growing up."
Relena smiled sadly pulling free she sat up and crossed her legs. "We all grew up long ago." Duo studied her intently watching the firelight turn her hair to molten gold. They had been a part of each other's life for so long, he knew her as well as he knew himself but her mood tonight eluded him. Once more, he was reminded of the sick feeling dread he had earlier today.
"Lena talk to me. Is it Heero?" She shot him an inscrutable look. "OK strike one. Trevor?"
She shrugged, "maybe a little. He wants me to marry him."
Duo laughed. At her still expression he sucked in a breath, leaning forward his eyes searched hers urgently. "What did you tell him?" Again she shrugged her eyes curiously enough avoided his. "O god you told him yes," he whispered appalled. "Why?" He drew in a shaky breath pulling out the big guns. "What about Heero? "
Relena laughed raggedly. "O please, don't you dare. Not him, not with me, not now." Tilting the bottle, she finished off the beer shuddering at the bitterness. Or was it the memories or the silence that made it bitter? She stood disappearing into he assumed the kitchen.
He turned his eyes toward the fire trying to make sense out of all the thoughts crowding his mind at once. How long he stared into the fire he didn't know before it finally dawned on him she had returned. His head turned letting his eyes glide upward slowly he took in the smooth bare legs until he reached the apex of her thighs where the bounty ended and the real treasure was covered by her shirt. He smiled at the soft blue t-shirt with the picture of dolphins jumping. A gift from him after a proposed trip on Howard ship to see the dolphins and whales he had talked about so much fell through. He knew she had been disappointed and it wasn't as good as the real thing but she seemed to be genuinely pleased with the gift. So he hadn't worried anymore after that about the lack of expense. Sadly it covered all the important parts and not for the first time he couldn't help but prefer her this way. No persona, just soft and relaxed, adorably sexy. Lena instead of Relena Peacecraft or Minister Darlian.
"Duo?"
He blinked. She waited patiently for him to take the beer she offered before sitting once more. "You don't love him."
She stared at him a moment. "No."
He frowned. "You are in love with Heero you have been for as long as I've known you. How can you marry this guy?"
"Heero, doesn't love me."
"That's not true." Her eyebrow lifted challengingly but said nothing more. "What about me," he whispered?
Her eyes softened, "nothing will change."
"Who are you trying to convince angel me or you?" Suddenly he felt desperate. "Don't do this I love you. Heero loves you in his own inept way he's just so fucking clueless on how to show you much less tell you.
She smiled but it held a hint of sadness. "You that well versed in what the great Heero Yuy thinks?" She grew serious, "I love you too you know that."
"No, I mean I love you." she stilled.
"Duo.." she paused choosing her words carefully. "It's been some time since Hilde and you were linked together as a couple. You don't ever mention anyone in your life and I don't press but never the less Duo your popular and good looking." When she saw he didn't understand she became blunt. She held his gaze steadily as she leaned forward to clasp his hand. "I don't discuss you or press I felt if you wanted to talk about it with me you would. But others do, people talk. Duo... It's common knowledge you're involved. My staff they have a pool going to try to find out his identity. When I tried to discourage it I was told there is also a long standing one at Preventers HQ's. "
"No." He shook his head. She smiled sadly remaining silent. "No." Duo clasped her shoulders searching her eyes. That sad defeated look scared him more than he could say. "I know you, you don't give a damn about shit like that love is love to you. You adore Quatre and Trowa and could care less that their lovers." He could see her prepare to speak and suddenly he didn't want to hear what she was going to say next. He rushed on instead. Maybe this was what the cold knot of dread had been trying to warn him about. "It doesn't mean I don't love you, haven't loved you for years. Let me prove it."
Duo captured her lips in a tender kiss that quickly deepened into something desperately hungry. Her hands slid up to cup his face, her thumbs lightly brushing his cheeks, gentling his passion to a dance of coaxing, soothing persuasion. Shaking from the force of his emotions, he pulled back enough to rest his forehead on hers. "Don't marry him without at least letting me try." He swallowed painfully. "Or at least letting me tell Heero. If you marry him, we'll loose what we have." She shook her head. "Yes," he insisted. "Do you really think, after you marry him Trevor will tolerate me in your life or Q and Trowa we're not conventional enough for his blue blood."
"Nothing will change, I wouldn't let it."
"Maybe not at first, but I know you Lena you don't do anything without trying your best and eventually he would wear you down. Why marry him?"
"O Duo. Why not? I want to be loved too. I'm tired of being alone, sleeping alone. I'm sick of the pedestal everyone insists I stay on. Even you, even though it's to lesser degree than others." She pinned him with an intense look. "Before you joined and were assigned to my detail for months someone tucked me in when I fell asleep at my desk, made tea for me when I was ill. Left me flowers and chocolate when I was sad. It made me feel special loved. I've missed it. But more importantly it reminded me that I am more than a figurehead and if Heero won't or can't love me then he has to let go and let someone else." She laughed softly at the look on his face. "Duo, do you really think I am that naïve? As soon as they permanently assigned you to my detail, it stopped all of it. What did you believe I would think? Did you think I didn't notice any of it at all?"
"Relena, its not him."
She nodded sadly pulling away. She slid her hands down his face in a parting caress. "Heero? I know that. Better than anyone, I know it is not Heero..."
He frowned at the separation immediately wanting it back he pulled her into his lap and tucked her underneath his chin. "I don't want to loose you. I've been trying to take my cues from you. I can see now I should have said screw it and followed my instinct and my heart."
Relena sighed listening to the frantic thrumming within his chest. "You are not loosing me. I would never let that happen. But I wont put you in the middle of this either torn between him and me. I haven't said yes I told Trevor I would think about it and I owe him that much."
He clutched her tighter. "Think no," he begged.
***
Heero turned the collar up on his jacket, as his eyes stayed pinned within the house. The cold seemed to cut through him like a knife tonight. Why he had no idea, the cold wasn't usually a factor he allowed consideration much less acknowledgment. Duo pulled her close and covered her mouth with his, Heero tried to shrug off the haze of jealously and envy as he watched. Why couldn't he allow himself that freedom of enjoyment the sweet surrender her love would bring him? He remembered all to well even now years after the fact the softness of her mouth, the light summer smell of her hair as he buried his face within its strands. His hunger for her had grown at a steadily increasing rate since he was in his teens being near her stilled the storm that was his emotions but it also magnified the hunger to unmanageable proportions. His emotions surged but the only sign he gave of his inner turmoil was the hand clenched on the brick and stone along the window. The edge of it crumbled it into a fine powder dusting the ground below but he was oblivious. Just as quickly as it came the surge of emotion went leaving him physically spent and emotionally unsatisfied hungering for that illusive more. He dropped his head slumping. Maybe he should give in go to her he knew Duo was right they could be so beautiful together. He straightened in the next instant physically and mentally, until his emotions for her strangled her in their intensity or impaired his ability to protect her and got her killed. What he felt for Relena came from the gut, something primal without cliches and platitudes without the illusion of society niceties. No, it would be like, trying to put a wild animal in the middle of civilized society it was better this way. Because the last thing she inspired in him could be remotely considered tame. He lifted his head watching the desperate expression on Duo's face as he pulled her into his lap and held her as if she was going to disappear. His jaw clenched, the muscles in his stomach knotted, as a wave of terror crawled up his spine. So why did he suddenly feel like he had just made a serious tactical error that was going to cost him irrevocably?
*************************************************
Relena sighed as she watched what she felt was an ostentatious display of security sprint down the steps of the shuttle. This was unfortunate and not how she would have wished to approach this meeting it just seemed to shout to L1 she didn't trust them. But even she answered to a higher authority and in this area she had been out maneuvered and powered hell out bullied truth be known. Not for the first time, she wished Duo were here to make some insane comment about shared mentality of her security personnel. Even Wufei, with his overly obsessive attention to detail and ranting, would have been a welcome distraction from the tedious lack of originality of her current team. Slipping off her sunglasses, she leisurely let her eyes scan the port, wondering why they all looked alike. Or had she just been doing this so long that she was becoming blasé?
Relena blinked, glancing back at the agent who had touched her arm gesturing her ahead. She nodded her compliance as she donned her most attentive demeanor and once more prepared to help hold peace together however she could. She moved briskly down the steps toward the car security had just finished checking over. Once she crossed the tarmac, she let herself acknowledge the crowd. Modest as it was it was because of security stipulations it still a significant testament even with the current tensions to the drawing power and popularity of the current Foreign Minister. She offered one more wave to the crowd thanking them for their show of support as Jenkins she thought, his name was, opened her car door signaled their need to leave. Relena glanced up to thank him. Distracted in her own thoughts she was already planning the best approach for the upcoming meetings when she saw him. Just for a spilt second. Eyes so blue they looked like a fire blazed within them, hair as long as hers and her brothers tried to escape his best restraining efforts. Time seem to slow as they locked gazes, hers widened the only sign that she recognized him. Then time as if in defiance of her wishes restarted as he spun away. A black duster flared around him as he headed back into the obscurity of the crowd. Relena blinked what just happened here?
"Mam?"
Coming out of her confusion she plastered on an apologetic smile and seated herself within the car. It was natural to think of Heero she was on L1 like it or not he had been in her thoughts allot lately. She smirked, worthy of Heero himself at what must have prompted this latest visit assuming it was even him. The situation between here and Earth must be more explosive than she thought. Ironic really, he couldn't live for her or with her but could die for her. Well no thanks the older she got the more she learned she was an all or nothing kind of woman if he couldn't be with her in good and bad she wanted no part of it. Settling back she closed her eyes and willed herself to rest she was going to need it for the next few days and by the time she finally drifted off she had convinced herself she imagined it all.
*****
The persistent beeping and the absence of a warm willing bed partner next to him finally filtered through his determination to escape his worry in sleep. If it hadn't been the draft cooling his side, then it was hearing Quatre's voice that finished waking him the rest of the way. Duo shoved the pillow from his face and blinked blearily it must be important since Heero promised it would only respond to certain codes. He watched Heero initiate the link.
"Heero, I'm sorry to disturb you and Duo on your vacation but.." Heero nodded silently. Quatre bit his lip hesitant for a moment. I have received some disquieting information from an old contact. Heero were you aware of a special project Dr. J was working on before his death? "
"No."
Quatre frowned.
"Hey, Q." Duo yawned leaning his elbow on Heero's shoulder.
"Duo," he smiled in acknowledgement.
"Quatre?"
"Hmm? Sorry Heero, as you know when the scientist were killed I still had a few remaining contacts associates, assistants, the like. A week ago, I got an obscure email from an old box I had during the war Allah knows why it sat so long before being sent on to me. Tom Chapel was his name he was an assistant within the labs Heero no real access to anything secret. But he mentioned Jerry discussing a proposed project of Dr. J's called Arc-Angel." Heero frowned. Quatre sighed, "so it means nothing to you either?"
"No."
"So, what's the dire Q?
"He's dead."
"How?" Heero leaned forward intently.
"Ah, you sense a connection as well. A foiled bank robbery of all things."
Duo shrugged, "so?"
"Your right it maybe nothing. But witnesses said the robber didn't even try to rob the bank. When I looked further in to it the transcripts one officer stated the perpetrator was deliberately provoking. Inviting a retaliatory action when they exhausted all avenues of ending it peacefully, they were forced to return fire the hostage was killed. The assailant escaped, after exhibiting according to another witness, almost inhuman strength.
"Your saying this guy wanted the nerd killed so he arranged this elaborate plot to do it? Come on Q-man."
"I know," Quatre smiled. "On the whole it sounds like a movie. But taken with the unexplained explosion of Dr. J's labs, his assistant's murder, a rash of several other unexplained deaths within the ranks of the other professors past colleagues. The email hinting at some sort of mystery that coincides with Tom's unexpected demise." He trailed off.
Heero nodded. "One more unnatural or inexplicable death would have been too blatant and had one of us investigating it. It needs a more thorough examination but after Relena's returned I can't afford to have my attention divided right now unless we deem it becomes a threat to her or a connection some how to the current situation."
Quatre nodded thoughtfully. "I can have some of my own security make some discreet inquiries."
"How good are they?"
"Good, as long as it doesn't escalate past what it is now."
"Keep me apprised I don't want anyone tracing this back to you making you a target as well.
He smiled warmly, "of course, have a good vacation."
"Hey, Quatre." Quizzically, Quatre paused in disconnecting. "Have you talked to Relena?" Heero glanced at Duo then Quatre trying to understand the nuance. Very rarely did Duo call Relena by her given name he was too prone to using his nickname for her as well as terms of endearment to show his affection. For him to do so now meant something was wrong.
Quatre stared silently at him for a long time before reluctantly answering. "I know Trevor is suppose to visit her on L1."
"Wha?!" He leaned over Heero.
Quatre sighed. "She didn't tell you?"
"No," he gritted.
"Duo?" He slid a glance at Heero for a moment before turning back to Quatre.
"Do you..?" he faltered.
He smiled sadly his eyes slid briefly to Heero as well before answering. "Duo, Relena would not be one to cause you unnecessary pain if there was no need that may be why she simply refrained from mentioning it. And no, I don't know what her answer will be."
"But you knew?" He was strangely disappointed at the idea that Quatre might have known and not warned them.
And almost as if Quatre knew what he was thinking he nodded. "Yes, I knew." Before his eyes, Quatre went from sympathetic to sternly resolute. "You can not have the luxury of having it both ways Duo. I'm sorry. I am friend's with you all but you and Heero have chosen this path and whether I agree or disagree I have walked the line between keeping your secrets and Relena's confidences without lecturing, sensor, or interference. If you are suddenly tired of this stalemate then you and Heero have the power to change it. So do so."
Heero stiffened. The look of despair from last night on Duo's face came back to him in a rush. "What is going on?" Heero demanded coldly
They both looked at him a moment before Duo turned back to Quatre. "Will you give her a call?"
"Duo.." Quatre sighed with reluctance. "Why don't you give her a call?" He stared at them a moment, his heart aching for them all, he could understand Heero's fears, Relena's heartache and longing, Duo's pain being trapped between the two unwilling to hurt either one. Perhaps he could offer some small hope. "I was there when he asked her. Relena and I were having lunch together. Whether he tracked her down or simply was already at the restaurant and chose to be impulsive," he shrugged. "I don't know. I think he felt it was a romantic gesture she would appreciate, one where she would be swept away enough in the moment to give him an immediate answer. But that wasn't what I was sensing from her. I.." Quatre bit his lip hating to think ill of anyone. "I don't think he knows her very well." Quatre shifted his attention from Duo's pained look to Heero's stunned blankness. "I can call her and let you know what I learn but I don't know how that will help either one of you. Surely if she told you about Trevor she explained how she felt?" He paused a moment to let it sink in, he didn't really expect an answer he smiled sympathetically before he signed off. "Be well my friends."
Duo leaned his hands on the desk stunned. A month. It had been a month ago Quatre was last here. "Duo?" He pushed off the desk and turned. Heero grabbed his hand. "I watched you last night you were upset, you're upset now. What is he leaving out?"
Duo laughed brokenly. "What? Didn't want to join us? No, that would mean coming out of the shadows wouldn't Heero?"
Heero searched his face closely that knot in his stomach just grew larger. "What is wrong?"
He studied him a moment then shrugged, he thought it was self-explanatory but he felt numb so maybe Heero was in shock too. "Trevor proposed to Lena." Heero blinked.
Suddenly he was furious Duo leaned forward caging him in the chair. They were so close he could see Heero's pupils dilate. "Did you hear me? He has asked her to join her life with his. And when it happens she will no longer be yours or mine because Trevor may be a prick but he's not a stupid one. He knows if he's ever going to stand a chance with her, he has to separate her from me because he hates my unacceptable gutter trash ass and most especially the ongoing emotional tie to the great Heero Yuy. We will loose her as surely as if she died."
"She.. She was never mine to start with. I .."
"NO! Spare me that at least, the on going bullshit you feed yourself and others gets old. You may be with me but you and I both know the love of your life is Relena regardless of where she sleeps at night. The difference between us is I don't try to deny my feelings for her. She has been a part of us since we first laid eyes on her. Even now with just you and I here, can't you admit it? Just once?"
Heero shoved the chair back and moved to the window pulling the curtain aside. Duo watched the muscles flex and shift in his back as Heero tried to stave off the build up of too much emotion with no where to go. "So she's considering marriage maybe this is for the best if she is truly.."
"I asked her if she loves him." Heero leaned forward gripping the window seal tightly in an impressive display of strength barely leashed. Duo said no more, he left if there if Heero cared enough to want to know the answer he could damn well ask like he had to do.
A moment passed then two.. "Does she?" He asked in a tone barely audible.
"No."
There it was honest simple out there now with no chance of going back. And, if Heero felt the tension ease and the clenching in his stomach stop he ignored it as he ignored everything else in his life he couldn't understand or explain satisfactorily. He just needed to figure out how to get her to see this wasn't the correct course of action for her logically methodically. "I'll go to her tell her that she is doing this for all the wrong reasons that there is a man out .."
Duo interrupted impatiently before he was finished. "It won't matter. She tried to tell me last night and I didn't understand. I didn't want to understand. Even Quatre in his own I'm Mr. Sensitive-way tried to tell me just now. After I told her I loved her convinced her of it. at least I think I convinced her. It changed nothing. She knows I'm involved with another man how long before she knows who that man is? Relena told me last night she won't put me in the middle of course she's talking about between her and my mystery man. Imagine though, Heero her reaction when she learns its you. I've kept my silence for years. Our friends, who are also her friends, have kept their silence. You have been right under her nose all along and didn't have the guts to be honest with her. Fuck both of us have been to cowardly to do what needed to be done for that matter. She has been in love with you since she was what fifteen, sixteen? She is tired of waiting for you and thanks to the timing going to her now wont convince her of any world shattering revelations on your part."
Duo stormed forward grabbing his arm he jerked him around. "Do you understand what we've lost if she says yes? Look me in the eye and tell me you don't mind him kissing her, holding her?" Heero went to turn.
Duo jerked him back. "No. Tell me you don't mind him waking every morning wrapped in silky hair so soft that it clings to your fingers like it has a mind of its own? And the smell. it leaves behind a hint of flowers you can't get out of your mind even hours afterward. A body so soft you think you've died and gone to heaven. Or you think for once you did something right and your sleeping with an angel?" He held Heero's eyes by sheer intensity alone. "Tell me you will smile and wish her well knowing he will make love to her every night. Yeah that's right you don't like that do you? Every night he's where you would kill to be. Tell me how well you will sleep at night knowing he will see her expression when he brings her to ecstasy? He'll listen to every breathy moan she makes when he is buried deep within her silky depths. Tell me that you won't want to grind his bones into ash knowing its his name she will call when she orgasms? And if those don't make you want to kill yourself for being a coward all these years what about when her body grows round with child? Tell me you won't have one regret that the child isn't ours and I won't say another word we will let her go her way wish her the best and never once talk about this again." Heero growled and jerked away.
"That is what I thought," he whispered.
***********************
Hiro moved swiftly through the hallways of the now silent hotel. Glancing up at the security camera's he calculated he now had a sixty-second window to reach the room and enter without being seen on camera. He needed to ascertain her safety before completing the rest of his tasks. To his way of thinking it was an acceptable risk. Moving the small case of pin locks and security cards he extracted the digitally altered card and swiped. Slipping within he shifted into the shadows and froze eyes scanned the darkened living room mentally taking stock of the floor plan as well as exits and entrances.
Extracting his rotor unit, he scanned the room quickly and efficiently before moving on to the balcony doors, he checked that the locks on the doors were indeed secure. Heading on soundless feet into what must be the bedroom, he again paused. Stretching his senses he listened to the sounds the body on the bed made before deeming she was indeed asleep. He smiled, from previous experience he knew once Relena went to sleep. She slept like the dead. Pulling the rotor out once more he did a sweep of the room for not only incendiary devices but bugs as well. Satisfied he headed out the way he came. Hiro hesitated, turning he slowly moved back toward the bed.
He knelt. He couldn't understand the deep satisfaction he derived from just watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful, unburdened by weight of always having to think for others. Sliding off his glove, he allowed a finger to brush a silken strand of hair off her cheek and onto the pillow before following the smooth strands down the side of the bed. Wrapping it around his finger, he bound them together if only for a moment. He liked the imagery but unlike the mythical Samson, his feelings for this woman did not weaken him. His eyes narrowed no they made him much more deadly. Deadlier than they could ever imagine. Heero? Now him, he did feel sorry for just as much as he wished him into oblivion because he truly had no idea what he was missing and if Hiro had his way he never would. Slowly releasing his hold on her hair, he allowed it to slide from his finger.
Because it was what he wanted the most, he saved it for the last. That initial glimpse of her face, the smooth soft skin. The way her flesh delicately heated in a rosy glow as his fingers caressed and mapped her features. He would take the memories out and savor them for when the hours of duty held him at bay, away from her side where he really wanted to be. His thumb lightly brushed her brows tracing their tilted arch before softly grazing lashes that seemed too thick to be real. It was not enough, he had been away from her for too long cleaning up the mess the Doctor had created with his incompetence as well as investigating the newest threat to her safety. He removed the other glove now and brought both hands into play as his fingers lightly traced her face. Sliding into the fall of hair at her nape, only his thumb remained unencumbered to softly stroke her bottom lip.
She shifted followed by a soft murmur that made him freeze until she once more settled. Leaning down over her mouth, he parted his lips drawing in the very same air she breathed before the mental clock in his head reminded him of the passage of time. He wanted to kiss those lips yearned for them, dreamed of it, but he wouldn't take from her what was only hers to gift. No matter how much he hungered for it. Bidding her a silent goodbye, he slid his gloves on once more and stood, removing the carefully preserved rose he laid it on the nightstand before disappearing into the shadows once more.
*************************
Relena thumbed through the menu selection trying to find something that appealed so far the only thing that sounded good wasn't on the exclusive hotel menu. It was rare for her to be difficult or flaunt her status but she really wanted a cheeseburger. She had been here three days and the talks were not going as well as she had hoped. The second night her car had been attacked on the way to dinner with the ambassador of L1. According to today's findings, another three shuttles had disappeared with an as yet undetermined cargo and just checking her messages after her meetings brought on a headache of monstrous proportions. If that wasn't enough to keep her life interesting her secret admirer had returned. Her glance drifted to the single bud gracing the coffee table with a kind of wistful longing. She knew it wasn't Heero so why did she torture herself this way still it gave her a warm feeling to know someone cared about Relena the woman. Deliberately pushing those thoughts away she chose to live dangerously. She requested her food choice for once not worrying to much about inconveniencing someone else she really needed that cheeseburger and chocolate shake.
Resigning herself to the philosophy better now than later she thumbed through her messages deciding most of them could wait for later. A frown tightened her features Trevor was becoming more persistent in his desire for an answer. But just because he wanted this to happen more than she did didn't make it a done deal for once his force of personality had met an unmovable will. She of all people should know that by now if personality alone did it, Treize Kushrenada would have been the victor so many years ago and she through sheer will would have had Heero in her bed long ago. Damn. She swore she wasn't going to go there. Surprise, surprise not even her mind was hers to control it seemed. So be it then lets have it out once and for all. All she wanted to have was that special someone and for awhile she made herself believe she could make it work with Trevor. But the longer she imagined life with someone she wasn't sure she liked much less loved, the more she realized it wasn't ever going to happen with him. And she couldn't make them both miserable by letting him convince her otherwise. Common goals and a desire for a family were not enough. Truthfully, on days like this it would be so easy to just surrender and go with the flow. Fortunately, Trevor's feelings were not the issue nor what prompted his decision to propose or she would have felt allot worse for what she was going to do. Tightening her robe she sat down at the com and made arrangements to place her call. Ouatre would cheer her up, plus give her some much needed distraction. She looked at her watch and did some calculations she had enough time to shower before they got through to Quatre and by the time she got some food in her she might even be human.
Standard warnings and disclaimers apply AU in nature and any scene or plot similarity to another person's story, movie or anime is purely coincidental. Rated R:
Silently the elevator traveled lower and despite the logic and phenomenal control over his body, Hiro's breathing unwillingly increased. He hated the dark, the silence; it reminded him too much of the chamber he had spent so long in and the nothingness relieved only by sporadic dreams. The endless nothing that sucked him under until the next time they imputed information that allowed him to dream. Gliding through the security he moved deeper into the bowels of the cavern when suddenly lights somehow triggered by his presence snapped on and illuminated him. The small circle of lights made him the center of the ominous green glare of the caverns silent sentinel.
Allowing his gaze to travel methodically upward, he stared impassively into the otherworldly stare of Wing Zero. A flash of green lit the cavern but before the Gundam could initiate defense measures Hiro smiled mirthlessly and uttered to code words that would alter the course of his life forever more. Hiro tilted his head the watchful menace that seemed to permeate the chamber changed to one of expectation. He wondered just how much computer and circuitry within this machine was altered over time with the continued blending with its humanoid pilot because it truly seemed human like itself in an elusive manner that was beyond his ability to explain. Which was probably why he didn't feel foolish standing here talking to it.
"No I am not 01. I am 001. But you know that. Don't you? I have no code name that I will accept. I am far beyond the expectations of Heero Yuy."
Green eyes flashed, with what might be a protest or acknowledgement he could not say which. And until he could activate the ZERO system he wouldn't have that deeper connection to Wing Zero that Heero had so there no way of detecting the inner workings of one of the most lethal devices known to man. That was what today was about insuring his access to Wing Zero should the need arise.
"I call myself Hiro to remind me of what I started as and how far I've come you can acknowledge me so as well. But, one way or the other I must have access to your abilities should the need arise." The seconds stretched until the compartment hissed and the cockpit opened slowly followed by the sounds of hydraulics preparing to lower the pilot cord.
Hiro smirked, disdaining the cord he leapt upward balancing on the crouched leg but for a split second before pushing off to land lightly by the entrance to the cockpit. Glancing curiously around for a moment at the machine he had only seen within his dreams, he cautiously moved within and strapped himself in. Flipping on the system he key coded in the correct sequence of numbers that was his own personal set of passwords then hesitated a spilt second before finally typing in ZERO. The system roared to life with the punch of an avalanche. Screaming silently, he flailed because even though he suspected the mental power required still nothing could prepare him for the reality of it. Mentally he was trying to orient himself so he could separate his identity from that which was Heero's. As well as avoid being swallowed up by Zero when he felt her, it was as if a breeze blew lightly through his mind and for a moment he thought Zero had truly driven him mad.
"Relena," he whispered. He felt a silent acknowledgement echo through him as if Zero had understood and responded. And with Hiro's comprehension, Zero was finally free to process Hiro's input into the equation. creating something entirely new.
"Relena is in here as well." He gave voice to his wonder, his confusion. How did Dr. J input her data when he didn't have access to Wing Zero's location? Unless.. Unless, Zero contacted him he'd bet Heero didn't know about that little piece of information. He felt understanding flash across his consciousness as he and Zero moved deeper into sync to achieve the understanding necessary to perform as a single unit.
Lights started to strobe behind his eyes as he struggled with the answers he sought. Images over lapped with scenes from battles, memories even emotions not his added to his confusion, enemies unknown yet some how familiar. When he felt he had reached his limit and was about to go out of his mind a cocoon of soothing peace seem to blanket his mind. His breathing slowly returned to normal. His thoughts began to gain once more some semblance of order returning his sense of purpose. Hiro felt the essence of what Dr. J had processed from Relena Darlian slowly seek purchase within him and merge to become an eternal part of he and Zero, all it had been waiting for was 001's contribution.
The self sacrifice, the fierce determination to protect, the uncompromising belief in justice tempered by compassion, but none of those were in and of themselves concepts unknown to either entity. Moving deeper still, they were immersed into unswerving loyalty to a boy who effortlessly stole her heart and wove his way in to her imagination. They learned how in her mind Heero made her a better human being. Slowly Wing Zero and he stabilized. The core of what and who Relena Darlian was, became imprinted into their combined consciousness and the process of analyzing the traits and characteristics within that made her such an integral fascination to the pilot of Wing Zero began. And through this, it was hoped giving them both the ability to achieve what Dr. J had so ruthlessly destroyed in Heero so many years ago.
The quiet hum of the ZERO system powering down woke him from his trance as man and machine internally examined one another. Each, separately determining how this new data would affect their performance. The machine concluded faster than the man that this added understanding would indeed provide useful insight into his partners' mental pathways.
The man stood slowly taking stock of each ache before turning his search within and was undecided if this change was for better or worse. What he did know as he lightly jumped to the ground and began walking away was this. For better or worse he would never be the same again. Hiro paused, looking back at the subdued glow emitted by Zero's eyes and detected an almost feeling of pleasure permeating the cavern. Perhaps after so much merging and mingling with humans, within humans the Gundams had become sentient themselves. Hiro swallowed a lump in his throat as he finally allowed himself to examine the last bit of data that filtered into his mind and Zero's massive circuitry. The unconditional love Relena had for Heero Yuy. Even now, he could feel the conflict within him on how he felt about it overlapping with Zero's boundless fascination with the concept as much as the woman herself. Stepping within the elevator, he maintained a troubled gaze with Zero. There was no need to remove evidence of his presence here Zero would see to that. So it left him with nothing but reflecting on the latest revelations in his life, as well as the disturbing realization of how much they man and machine resented Heero being the reciprocate of that boundless love. Before he slowly disappeared from sight he wondered if perhaps things would have been better left as they were before ZERO further enhanced their fascination for Relena.
*************
Relena leaned back against the couch pleasantly relaxed she nudged Duo with her bare foot. "Remind me again, why we do this since you know I loathe the taste of beer? Couldn't we live dangerously once and O I don't know say.. Try a wine?" So saying she tilted the bottle taking another sip before she rolled her head to study Duo finishing off the rest of the pizza.
"Because babe, it's the only time you get any culture in your life."
"Ah, wasn't that what you said about that martial arts movie last week?"
"That's not culture that's a staple of life like the air we breathe, the water we drink." Relena nodded sagely as she watched him close the lid on the empty box of pizza and toss it into the fireplace. There was a slight whoosh before the cardboard blazed then caught. Turning back, he smiled.
"Your full of it Maxwell your eyes should be brown."
Duo laughed grabbing a coral colored toenail. "Not buying that one hmm?"
"Nope." His eyes twinkled as he took her foot and gently massaged. Relena groaned sliding even further down. "Oh lord that is sinful."
He smirked; "you need to stop wearing those damn heels."
She cracked an eye and glared. "You told me at the Henderson gala you liked my quote un quote hooker shoes."
"O yeah," he smiled reminiscently stealing a mischievous peak at her before continuing. "Those were some hot looking shoes made those little legs look like they went on forever before they ended at a really great asset."
Relena shook her head closing her eye she smiled. "Duo my love, telling someone that has spent most of her life much to her dismay categorized as petite about her little legs looking better with heels is a sure fire way to get you brained. Not to mention it also tells her you need to get laid." Duo's fingers stopped, his mouth dropped open. Relena frowned opening her eyes. "Hey, why did you stop?"
"I can't believe you said that."
She smiled wryly taking another sip of the beer. "What that I would brain you for calling me little or that I know about sex and suggested you need to get laid?"
Duo shook his head grimacing, "my girl is growing up."
Relena smiled sadly pulling free she sat up and crossed her legs. "We all grew up long ago." Duo studied her intently watching the firelight turn her hair to molten gold. They had been a part of each other's life for so long, he knew her as well as he knew himself but her mood tonight eluded him. Once more, he was reminded of the sick feeling dread he had earlier today.
"Lena talk to me. Is it Heero?" She shot him an inscrutable look. "OK strike one. Trevor?"
She shrugged, "maybe a little. He wants me to marry him."
Duo laughed. At her still expression he sucked in a breath, leaning forward his eyes searched hers urgently. "What did you tell him?" Again she shrugged her eyes curiously enough avoided his. "O god you told him yes," he whispered appalled. "Why?" He drew in a shaky breath pulling out the big guns. "What about Heero? "
Relena laughed raggedly. "O please, don't you dare. Not him, not with me, not now." Tilting the bottle, she finished off the beer shuddering at the bitterness. Or was it the memories or the silence that made it bitter? She stood disappearing into he assumed the kitchen.
He turned his eyes toward the fire trying to make sense out of all the thoughts crowding his mind at once. How long he stared into the fire he didn't know before it finally dawned on him she had returned. His head turned letting his eyes glide upward slowly he took in the smooth bare legs until he reached the apex of her thighs where the bounty ended and the real treasure was covered by her shirt. He smiled at the soft blue t-shirt with the picture of dolphins jumping. A gift from him after a proposed trip on Howard ship to see the dolphins and whales he had talked about so much fell through. He knew she had been disappointed and it wasn't as good as the real thing but she seemed to be genuinely pleased with the gift. So he hadn't worried anymore after that about the lack of expense. Sadly it covered all the important parts and not for the first time he couldn't help but prefer her this way. No persona, just soft and relaxed, adorably sexy. Lena instead of Relena Peacecraft or Minister Darlian.
"Duo?"
He blinked. She waited patiently for him to take the beer she offered before sitting once more. "You don't love him."
She stared at him a moment. "No."
He frowned. "You are in love with Heero you have been for as long as I've known you. How can you marry this guy?"
"Heero, doesn't love me."
"That's not true." Her eyebrow lifted challengingly but said nothing more. "What about me," he whispered?
Her eyes softened, "nothing will change."
"Who are you trying to convince angel me or you?" Suddenly he felt desperate. "Don't do this I love you. Heero loves you in his own inept way he's just so fucking clueless on how to show you much less tell you.
She smiled but it held a hint of sadness. "You that well versed in what the great Heero Yuy thinks?" She grew serious, "I love you too you know that."
"No, I mean I love you." she stilled.
"Duo.." she paused choosing her words carefully. "It's been some time since Hilde and you were linked together as a couple. You don't ever mention anyone in your life and I don't press but never the less Duo your popular and good looking." When she saw he didn't understand she became blunt. She held his gaze steadily as she leaned forward to clasp his hand. "I don't discuss you or press I felt if you wanted to talk about it with me you would. But others do, people talk. Duo... It's common knowledge you're involved. My staff they have a pool going to try to find out his identity. When I tried to discourage it I was told there is also a long standing one at Preventers HQ's. "
"No." He shook his head. She smiled sadly remaining silent. "No." Duo clasped her shoulders searching her eyes. That sad defeated look scared him more than he could say. "I know you, you don't give a damn about shit like that love is love to you. You adore Quatre and Trowa and could care less that their lovers." He could see her prepare to speak and suddenly he didn't want to hear what she was going to say next. He rushed on instead. Maybe this was what the cold knot of dread had been trying to warn him about. "It doesn't mean I don't love you, haven't loved you for years. Let me prove it."
Duo captured her lips in a tender kiss that quickly deepened into something desperately hungry. Her hands slid up to cup his face, her thumbs lightly brushing his cheeks, gentling his passion to a dance of coaxing, soothing persuasion. Shaking from the force of his emotions, he pulled back enough to rest his forehead on hers. "Don't marry him without at least letting me try." He swallowed painfully. "Or at least letting me tell Heero. If you marry him, we'll loose what we have." She shook her head. "Yes," he insisted. "Do you really think, after you marry him Trevor will tolerate me in your life or Q and Trowa we're not conventional enough for his blue blood."
"Nothing will change, I wouldn't let it."
"Maybe not at first, but I know you Lena you don't do anything without trying your best and eventually he would wear you down. Why marry him?"
"O Duo. Why not? I want to be loved too. I'm tired of being alone, sleeping alone. I'm sick of the pedestal everyone insists I stay on. Even you, even though it's to lesser degree than others." She pinned him with an intense look. "Before you joined and were assigned to my detail for months someone tucked me in when I fell asleep at my desk, made tea for me when I was ill. Left me flowers and chocolate when I was sad. It made me feel special loved. I've missed it. But more importantly it reminded me that I am more than a figurehead and if Heero won't or can't love me then he has to let go and let someone else." She laughed softly at the look on his face. "Duo, do you really think I am that naïve? As soon as they permanently assigned you to my detail, it stopped all of it. What did you believe I would think? Did you think I didn't notice any of it at all?"
"Relena, its not him."
She nodded sadly pulling away. She slid her hands down his face in a parting caress. "Heero? I know that. Better than anyone, I know it is not Heero..."
He frowned at the separation immediately wanting it back he pulled her into his lap and tucked her underneath his chin. "I don't want to loose you. I've been trying to take my cues from you. I can see now I should have said screw it and followed my instinct and my heart."
Relena sighed listening to the frantic thrumming within his chest. "You are not loosing me. I would never let that happen. But I wont put you in the middle of this either torn between him and me. I haven't said yes I told Trevor I would think about it and I owe him that much."
He clutched her tighter. "Think no," he begged.
***
Heero turned the collar up on his jacket, as his eyes stayed pinned within the house. The cold seemed to cut through him like a knife tonight. Why he had no idea, the cold wasn't usually a factor he allowed consideration much less acknowledgment. Duo pulled her close and covered her mouth with his, Heero tried to shrug off the haze of jealously and envy as he watched. Why couldn't he allow himself that freedom of enjoyment the sweet surrender her love would bring him? He remembered all to well even now years after the fact the softness of her mouth, the light summer smell of her hair as he buried his face within its strands. His hunger for her had grown at a steadily increasing rate since he was in his teens being near her stilled the storm that was his emotions but it also magnified the hunger to unmanageable proportions. His emotions surged but the only sign he gave of his inner turmoil was the hand clenched on the brick and stone along the window. The edge of it crumbled it into a fine powder dusting the ground below but he was oblivious. Just as quickly as it came the surge of emotion went leaving him physically spent and emotionally unsatisfied hungering for that illusive more. He dropped his head slumping. Maybe he should give in go to her he knew Duo was right they could be so beautiful together. He straightened in the next instant physically and mentally, until his emotions for her strangled her in their intensity or impaired his ability to protect her and got her killed. What he felt for Relena came from the gut, something primal without cliches and platitudes without the illusion of society niceties. No, it would be like, trying to put a wild animal in the middle of civilized society it was better this way. Because the last thing she inspired in him could be remotely considered tame. He lifted his head watching the desperate expression on Duo's face as he pulled her into his lap and held her as if she was going to disappear. His jaw clenched, the muscles in his stomach knotted, as a wave of terror crawled up his spine. So why did he suddenly feel like he had just made a serious tactical error that was going to cost him irrevocably?
*************************************************
Relena sighed as she watched what she felt was an ostentatious display of security sprint down the steps of the shuttle. This was unfortunate and not how she would have wished to approach this meeting it just seemed to shout to L1 she didn't trust them. But even she answered to a higher authority and in this area she had been out maneuvered and powered hell out bullied truth be known. Not for the first time, she wished Duo were here to make some insane comment about shared mentality of her security personnel. Even Wufei, with his overly obsessive attention to detail and ranting, would have been a welcome distraction from the tedious lack of originality of her current team. Slipping off her sunglasses, she leisurely let her eyes scan the port, wondering why they all looked alike. Or had she just been doing this so long that she was becoming blasé?
Relena blinked, glancing back at the agent who had touched her arm gesturing her ahead. She nodded her compliance as she donned her most attentive demeanor and once more prepared to help hold peace together however she could. She moved briskly down the steps toward the car security had just finished checking over. Once she crossed the tarmac, she let herself acknowledge the crowd. Modest as it was it was because of security stipulations it still a significant testament even with the current tensions to the drawing power and popularity of the current Foreign Minister. She offered one more wave to the crowd thanking them for their show of support as Jenkins she thought, his name was, opened her car door signaled their need to leave. Relena glanced up to thank him. Distracted in her own thoughts she was already planning the best approach for the upcoming meetings when she saw him. Just for a spilt second. Eyes so blue they looked like a fire blazed within them, hair as long as hers and her brothers tried to escape his best restraining efforts. Time seem to slow as they locked gazes, hers widened the only sign that she recognized him. Then time as if in defiance of her wishes restarted as he spun away. A black duster flared around him as he headed back into the obscurity of the crowd. Relena blinked what just happened here?
"Mam?"
Coming out of her confusion she plastered on an apologetic smile and seated herself within the car. It was natural to think of Heero she was on L1 like it or not he had been in her thoughts allot lately. She smirked, worthy of Heero himself at what must have prompted this latest visit assuming it was even him. The situation between here and Earth must be more explosive than she thought. Ironic really, he couldn't live for her or with her but could die for her. Well no thanks the older she got the more she learned she was an all or nothing kind of woman if he couldn't be with her in good and bad she wanted no part of it. Settling back she closed her eyes and willed herself to rest she was going to need it for the next few days and by the time she finally drifted off she had convinced herself she imagined it all.
*****
The persistent beeping and the absence of a warm willing bed partner next to him finally filtered through his determination to escape his worry in sleep. If it hadn't been the draft cooling his side, then it was hearing Quatre's voice that finished waking him the rest of the way. Duo shoved the pillow from his face and blinked blearily it must be important since Heero promised it would only respond to certain codes. He watched Heero initiate the link.
"Heero, I'm sorry to disturb you and Duo on your vacation but.." Heero nodded silently. Quatre bit his lip hesitant for a moment. I have received some disquieting information from an old contact. Heero were you aware of a special project Dr. J was working on before his death? "
"No."
Quatre frowned.
"Hey, Q." Duo yawned leaning his elbow on Heero's shoulder.
"Duo," he smiled in acknowledgement.
"Quatre?"
"Hmm? Sorry Heero, as you know when the scientist were killed I still had a few remaining contacts associates, assistants, the like. A week ago, I got an obscure email from an old box I had during the war Allah knows why it sat so long before being sent on to me. Tom Chapel was his name he was an assistant within the labs Heero no real access to anything secret. But he mentioned Jerry discussing a proposed project of Dr. J's called Arc-Angel." Heero frowned. Quatre sighed, "so it means nothing to you either?"
"No."
"So, what's the dire Q?
"He's dead."
"How?" Heero leaned forward intently.
"Ah, you sense a connection as well. A foiled bank robbery of all things."
Duo shrugged, "so?"
"Your right it maybe nothing. But witnesses said the robber didn't even try to rob the bank. When I looked further in to it the transcripts one officer stated the perpetrator was deliberately provoking. Inviting a retaliatory action when they exhausted all avenues of ending it peacefully, they were forced to return fire the hostage was killed. The assailant escaped, after exhibiting according to another witness, almost inhuman strength.
"Your saying this guy wanted the nerd killed so he arranged this elaborate plot to do it? Come on Q-man."
"I know," Quatre smiled. "On the whole it sounds like a movie. But taken with the unexplained explosion of Dr. J's labs, his assistant's murder, a rash of several other unexplained deaths within the ranks of the other professors past colleagues. The email hinting at some sort of mystery that coincides with Tom's unexpected demise." He trailed off.
Heero nodded. "One more unnatural or inexplicable death would have been too blatant and had one of us investigating it. It needs a more thorough examination but after Relena's returned I can't afford to have my attention divided right now unless we deem it becomes a threat to her or a connection some how to the current situation."
Quatre nodded thoughtfully. "I can have some of my own security make some discreet inquiries."
"How good are they?"
"Good, as long as it doesn't escalate past what it is now."
"Keep me apprised I don't want anyone tracing this back to you making you a target as well.
He smiled warmly, "of course, have a good vacation."
"Hey, Quatre." Quizzically, Quatre paused in disconnecting. "Have you talked to Relena?" Heero glanced at Duo then Quatre trying to understand the nuance. Very rarely did Duo call Relena by her given name he was too prone to using his nickname for her as well as terms of endearment to show his affection. For him to do so now meant something was wrong.
Quatre stared silently at him for a long time before reluctantly answering. "I know Trevor is suppose to visit her on L1."
"Wha?!" He leaned over Heero.
Quatre sighed. "She didn't tell you?"
"No," he gritted.
"Duo?" He slid a glance at Heero for a moment before turning back to Quatre.
"Do you..?" he faltered.
He smiled sadly his eyes slid briefly to Heero as well before answering. "Duo, Relena would not be one to cause you unnecessary pain if there was no need that may be why she simply refrained from mentioning it. And no, I don't know what her answer will be."
"But you knew?" He was strangely disappointed at the idea that Quatre might have known and not warned them.
And almost as if Quatre knew what he was thinking he nodded. "Yes, I knew." Before his eyes, Quatre went from sympathetic to sternly resolute. "You can not have the luxury of having it both ways Duo. I'm sorry. I am friend's with you all but you and Heero have chosen this path and whether I agree or disagree I have walked the line between keeping your secrets and Relena's confidences without lecturing, sensor, or interference. If you are suddenly tired of this stalemate then you and Heero have the power to change it. So do so."
Heero stiffened. The look of despair from last night on Duo's face came back to him in a rush. "What is going on?" Heero demanded coldly
They both looked at him a moment before Duo turned back to Quatre. "Will you give her a call?"
"Duo.." Quatre sighed with reluctance. "Why don't you give her a call?" He stared at them a moment, his heart aching for them all, he could understand Heero's fears, Relena's heartache and longing, Duo's pain being trapped between the two unwilling to hurt either one. Perhaps he could offer some small hope. "I was there when he asked her. Relena and I were having lunch together. Whether he tracked her down or simply was already at the restaurant and chose to be impulsive," he shrugged. "I don't know. I think he felt it was a romantic gesture she would appreciate, one where she would be swept away enough in the moment to give him an immediate answer. But that wasn't what I was sensing from her. I.." Quatre bit his lip hating to think ill of anyone. "I don't think he knows her very well." Quatre shifted his attention from Duo's pained look to Heero's stunned blankness. "I can call her and let you know what I learn but I don't know how that will help either one of you. Surely if she told you about Trevor she explained how she felt?" He paused a moment to let it sink in, he didn't really expect an answer he smiled sympathetically before he signed off. "Be well my friends."
Duo leaned his hands on the desk stunned. A month. It had been a month ago Quatre was last here. "Duo?" He pushed off the desk and turned. Heero grabbed his hand. "I watched you last night you were upset, you're upset now. What is he leaving out?"
Duo laughed brokenly. "What? Didn't want to join us? No, that would mean coming out of the shadows wouldn't Heero?"
Heero searched his face closely that knot in his stomach just grew larger. "What is wrong?"
He studied him a moment then shrugged, he thought it was self-explanatory but he felt numb so maybe Heero was in shock too. "Trevor proposed to Lena." Heero blinked.
Suddenly he was furious Duo leaned forward caging him in the chair. They were so close he could see Heero's pupils dilate. "Did you hear me? He has asked her to join her life with his. And when it happens she will no longer be yours or mine because Trevor may be a prick but he's not a stupid one. He knows if he's ever going to stand a chance with her, he has to separate her from me because he hates my unacceptable gutter trash ass and most especially the ongoing emotional tie to the great Heero Yuy. We will loose her as surely as if she died."
"She.. She was never mine to start with. I .."
"NO! Spare me that at least, the on going bullshit you feed yourself and others gets old. You may be with me but you and I both know the love of your life is Relena regardless of where she sleeps at night. The difference between us is I don't try to deny my feelings for her. She has been a part of us since we first laid eyes on her. Even now with just you and I here, can't you admit it? Just once?"
Heero shoved the chair back and moved to the window pulling the curtain aside. Duo watched the muscles flex and shift in his back as Heero tried to stave off the build up of too much emotion with no where to go. "So she's considering marriage maybe this is for the best if she is truly.."
"I asked her if she loves him." Heero leaned forward gripping the window seal tightly in an impressive display of strength barely leashed. Duo said no more, he left if there if Heero cared enough to want to know the answer he could damn well ask like he had to do.
A moment passed then two.. "Does she?" He asked in a tone barely audible.
"No."
There it was honest simple out there now with no chance of going back. And, if Heero felt the tension ease and the clenching in his stomach stop he ignored it as he ignored everything else in his life he couldn't understand or explain satisfactorily. He just needed to figure out how to get her to see this wasn't the correct course of action for her logically methodically. "I'll go to her tell her that she is doing this for all the wrong reasons that there is a man out .."
Duo interrupted impatiently before he was finished. "It won't matter. She tried to tell me last night and I didn't understand. I didn't want to understand. Even Quatre in his own I'm Mr. Sensitive-way tried to tell me just now. After I told her I loved her convinced her of it. at least I think I convinced her. It changed nothing. She knows I'm involved with another man how long before she knows who that man is? Relena told me last night she won't put me in the middle of course she's talking about between her and my mystery man. Imagine though, Heero her reaction when she learns its you. I've kept my silence for years. Our friends, who are also her friends, have kept their silence. You have been right under her nose all along and didn't have the guts to be honest with her. Fuck both of us have been to cowardly to do what needed to be done for that matter. She has been in love with you since she was what fifteen, sixteen? She is tired of waiting for you and thanks to the timing going to her now wont convince her of any world shattering revelations on your part."
Duo stormed forward grabbing his arm he jerked him around. "Do you understand what we've lost if she says yes? Look me in the eye and tell me you don't mind him kissing her, holding her?" Heero went to turn.
Duo jerked him back. "No. Tell me you don't mind him waking every morning wrapped in silky hair so soft that it clings to your fingers like it has a mind of its own? And the smell. it leaves behind a hint of flowers you can't get out of your mind even hours afterward. A body so soft you think you've died and gone to heaven. Or you think for once you did something right and your sleeping with an angel?" He held Heero's eyes by sheer intensity alone. "Tell me you will smile and wish her well knowing he will make love to her every night. Yeah that's right you don't like that do you? Every night he's where you would kill to be. Tell me how well you will sleep at night knowing he will see her expression when he brings her to ecstasy? He'll listen to every breathy moan she makes when he is buried deep within her silky depths. Tell me that you won't want to grind his bones into ash knowing its his name she will call when she orgasms? And if those don't make you want to kill yourself for being a coward all these years what about when her body grows round with child? Tell me you won't have one regret that the child isn't ours and I won't say another word we will let her go her way wish her the best and never once talk about this again." Heero growled and jerked away.
"That is what I thought," he whispered.
***********************
Hiro moved swiftly through the hallways of the now silent hotel. Glancing up at the security camera's he calculated he now had a sixty-second window to reach the room and enter without being seen on camera. He needed to ascertain her safety before completing the rest of his tasks. To his way of thinking it was an acceptable risk. Moving the small case of pin locks and security cards he extracted the digitally altered card and swiped. Slipping within he shifted into the shadows and froze eyes scanned the darkened living room mentally taking stock of the floor plan as well as exits and entrances.
Extracting his rotor unit, he scanned the room quickly and efficiently before moving on to the balcony doors, he checked that the locks on the doors were indeed secure. Heading on soundless feet into what must be the bedroom, he again paused. Stretching his senses he listened to the sounds the body on the bed made before deeming she was indeed asleep. He smiled, from previous experience he knew once Relena went to sleep. She slept like the dead. Pulling the rotor out once more he did a sweep of the room for not only incendiary devices but bugs as well. Satisfied he headed out the way he came. Hiro hesitated, turning he slowly moved back toward the bed.
He knelt. He couldn't understand the deep satisfaction he derived from just watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful, unburdened by weight of always having to think for others. Sliding off his glove, he allowed a finger to brush a silken strand of hair off her cheek and onto the pillow before following the smooth strands down the side of the bed. Wrapping it around his finger, he bound them together if only for a moment. He liked the imagery but unlike the mythical Samson, his feelings for this woman did not weaken him. His eyes narrowed no they made him much more deadly. Deadlier than they could ever imagine. Heero? Now him, he did feel sorry for just as much as he wished him into oblivion because he truly had no idea what he was missing and if Hiro had his way he never would. Slowly releasing his hold on her hair, he allowed it to slide from his finger.
Because it was what he wanted the most, he saved it for the last. That initial glimpse of her face, the smooth soft skin. The way her flesh delicately heated in a rosy glow as his fingers caressed and mapped her features. He would take the memories out and savor them for when the hours of duty held him at bay, away from her side where he really wanted to be. His thumb lightly brushed her brows tracing their tilted arch before softly grazing lashes that seemed too thick to be real. It was not enough, he had been away from her for too long cleaning up the mess the Doctor had created with his incompetence as well as investigating the newest threat to her safety. He removed the other glove now and brought both hands into play as his fingers lightly traced her face. Sliding into the fall of hair at her nape, only his thumb remained unencumbered to softly stroke her bottom lip.
She shifted followed by a soft murmur that made him freeze until she once more settled. Leaning down over her mouth, he parted his lips drawing in the very same air she breathed before the mental clock in his head reminded him of the passage of time. He wanted to kiss those lips yearned for them, dreamed of it, but he wouldn't take from her what was only hers to gift. No matter how much he hungered for it. Bidding her a silent goodbye, he slid his gloves on once more and stood, removing the carefully preserved rose he laid it on the nightstand before disappearing into the shadows once more.
*************************
Relena thumbed through the menu selection trying to find something that appealed so far the only thing that sounded good wasn't on the exclusive hotel menu. It was rare for her to be difficult or flaunt her status but she really wanted a cheeseburger. She had been here three days and the talks were not going as well as she had hoped. The second night her car had been attacked on the way to dinner with the ambassador of L1. According to today's findings, another three shuttles had disappeared with an as yet undetermined cargo and just checking her messages after her meetings brought on a headache of monstrous proportions. If that wasn't enough to keep her life interesting her secret admirer had returned. Her glance drifted to the single bud gracing the coffee table with a kind of wistful longing. She knew it wasn't Heero so why did she torture herself this way still it gave her a warm feeling to know someone cared about Relena the woman. Deliberately pushing those thoughts away she chose to live dangerously. She requested her food choice for once not worrying to much about inconveniencing someone else she really needed that cheeseburger and chocolate shake.
Resigning herself to the philosophy better now than later she thumbed through her messages deciding most of them could wait for later. A frown tightened her features Trevor was becoming more persistent in his desire for an answer. But just because he wanted this to happen more than she did didn't make it a done deal for once his force of personality had met an unmovable will. She of all people should know that by now if personality alone did it, Treize Kushrenada would have been the victor so many years ago and she through sheer will would have had Heero in her bed long ago. Damn. She swore she wasn't going to go there. Surprise, surprise not even her mind was hers to control it seemed. So be it then lets have it out once and for all. All she wanted to have was that special someone and for awhile she made herself believe she could make it work with Trevor. But the longer she imagined life with someone she wasn't sure she liked much less loved, the more she realized it wasn't ever going to happen with him. And she couldn't make them both miserable by letting him convince her otherwise. Common goals and a desire for a family were not enough. Truthfully, on days like this it would be so easy to just surrender and go with the flow. Fortunately, Trevor's feelings were not the issue nor what prompted his decision to propose or she would have felt allot worse for what she was going to do. Tightening her robe she sat down at the com and made arrangements to place her call. Ouatre would cheer her up, plus give her some much needed distraction. She looked at her watch and did some calculations she had enough time to shower before they got through to Quatre and by the time she got some food in her she might even be human.