A/N: Feeling a little surprised as my plot line did a one-eighty and rebelled as Quatre suddenly refused to leave Duo's side for a couple of scenes. Finally managed to tempt/force him out at gunpoint. He's managed to cause some rather large repercussions for later on – poor boys! However it does mean that I've moved away from my original scribbles so I'd be grateful to know what you think. Big thank you to those who reviewed, your comments were really appreciated. The rest of you, don't be shy!
Dickensian Streets
By Corralero
Chapter Six
Khan's private quarters were…unimpressive. Quatre stared round at the room, disappointment twisting his gut. The feeling surprised him slightly but inside he knew that he had been hoping, almost longing, to see something of…quality on L2, somewhere he could maybe feel slightly more at home, more comfortable with. The admission made shame and guilt mix with the disappointment. To distract himself he took in the room more closely, starting with the door standing opposite the one they had entered, a bolthole, he supposed. The room was sparse. There was a low bed previously containing two girls lazily inspecting their nails. They had left the room on Khan's brief command. There was a basin and a rusty shower stood in an alcove. Duo had said this was one of the most powerful gangs on L2. Wherever their power and money was, it wasn't here. A card table, left in mid-game, was surrounded by several chairs and bottles of whisky. Khan was stood by the table, indicating to them to sit. They sat and an uncomfortable silence fell. Khan seemed in no hurry to speak, studying the faces before him closely. Quatre shivered. The man's eyes were a stormy grey, flecked with gold. Wolf's eyes. Their intense scrutiny almost made him squirm as he attempted to return the gaze neutrally, until Khan looked away dismissively.
"Who's your hustler pal?"
Duo grinned quickly at Quatre. "Bryon. He wa' on th' ship wit me when th' police turned up. Got tangled an' had ta cut an' run wit me."
Khan nodded, apparently loosing interest. Instead he leant back, crossing his arms over his chest and gave Duo a cold smile.
"So, Demon. What do ya want?"
There was silence. Duo was sitting with his chair backwards, arms resting on the back, eying Khan who was staring into his half glass of whisky, swirling the amber liquid idly.
"So," Khan spoke slowly, "let me get this straight. You want me and my gang to help bust you and your little buddy off L2. You want us to be your firearms and to crack open the control and access centres long enough to break the lock down. In payment for this, I get in with whoever this big ass dealer it is who you're gun running for, which is the reason why you need to get off L2 in the first place."
Duo nodded. "Got it in one."
"Yet if we screw up then we all get screwed. Why the fuck should I take those odds?"
Duo snorted. "Wha'ever, Khan. Like hell ya would. Handed me over ta save ya ass an' they'd turn a blind eye. 'Sides, gains outweigh risks. Ya get in wit G an' th' profit margins are tha' big ya mamma couldn' imagine 'em."
It wasn't a lie. Huge profit could be made out of involvement on the right side of the war. Quatre held his breath. Duo with his silver tongue could make even hell seem appealing.
"Bullshit," the gangster laughed unpleasantly. "Think I'm fuckin' stupid, Maxwell? Or have you forgotten how much I hate your ass. You can fool the others with your pretty little face and clever moves, but it don't work on this bastard. I don't like you and I don't trust you. You're expecting me to run on a damn guarantee. There's no fucking way to check this dick, G, even exists. If you want to get the goods, I want something upfront. Now."
Quatre winced. Khan was good. Mind whirling, he glanced at Duo. If Khan wanted something upfront then maybe Quatre could give it to him. After all he was the Winner heir, and despite his current tensions with his father, he did still have access to the massive resources of his family. He'd already used his wealth and status many times to help aid the war effort, this would just be one more time. But even as he opened his mouth to speak, Duo caught his eye, the word no most emphatically stamped on his face. However, Khan's attention was already caught.
"Got something to say?"
"No, he ain't," Duo's tone was brusque, his eyes burning with anger. "An' fuck ya, Khan. Ya know I keep my word. If I say I'll cut a deal, then I'll cut a deal."
Slumping back, Quatre cringed internally at his near error and watched as Duo's anger ignited Khan's own enough to distract the gang leader from the Sandrock pilot.
"That ain't good enough, rat. You're asking me to pull some big shit here and I have a damn big score to settle with you."
"Fuck!" Duo exploded. "Will ya let it go, Khan! So wha'-th'-fuck-ever I didn' join ya gang. I didn' run wit no gang. Ya know I don' do tha' shit." Duo's glare turned scathing. "'Sides I never could work out wha' ya wanted more, my knife or my ass. Thought I was a dumbass? Ya had more than enough whore walkin' for ya, ya didn' need one more. Sheesh, talk 'bout an over-reaction."
"Stop strokin' your damn ego, Maxwell. Tha' wasn't the score."
Duo's head shot up as he stared at Khan with narrowed eyes.
"Wha'?"
"Have ya forgotten?" Khan's voice was a bitter sneer. "I could have been here four fucking years ago if it wasn't for your damned meddling –"
"Shit, Khan!" Duo's eyes were wide in genuine surprise. Quatre felt a wave of lurching panic from him. "Swear ta God tha' weren' 'bout y-"
"Really? Then who? Saving that fat git upstairs?"
"Wha'? No! For Christ's sake, there were kid's down there as well an' th' Alliance less than a block away. Wha' th' fuck did ya think they were gonna do when they got there?"
"And this?" Khan lurching to his feet, the chair slamming back on to the floor. Eyes blazing, he pulled back his hair to reveal a deep ugly scar stretching from his ear to his neck. Duo let out a bitter laugh.
"Ya were comin' after me wit a bunch of heavies an' a chain wrapped around ya fuckin' fist. Wha' ya expect me ta do, give ya directions ta th' nearest salsa bar?"
"Nice try," Khan had skirted around the table and was leaning down, right in front of Duo, "but it ain't good enough. You don't have a leg to stand on, Maxwell. You need to get off L2? Fine. Done. But I hold all the cards here and I want something in return. And that's going to be on my terms and my terms only. Capeesh?"
Quatre watched aghast as Duo hesitated, eventually giving a tight little nod. Khan straightened up, a predatory look of satisfaction on his face. He smirked at Duo.
"Wait here."
Quatre watched as he strode off, disappearing through the bolthole door. Duo slumped slightly in his chair. "Shit."
"Duo, maybe we can negotiate. We can use my –" Quatre flinched as Duo turned on him.
"Leave it, for damn's sake. I've already told ya –" cutting himself off abruptly, Duo drew a shaky breath and lowered his voice further. "Sorry. Look, bad as this seems, it could be a hell lot worse. He thinks he's got me, so trust me it's goin' good. I just kinda forgot how well he holds a grudge."
Quatre gave him a wan smile. "Guess it puts Heero and Wufei's moods in context."
He received a surprised chuckle for his pains, which was cut off abruptly as Khan re-entered the room, handling a sleek laptop. He watched as the two teenagers straightened up from their conversation. The laptop was placed on the table and snapped open, whirring quietly to itself as it woke up. Khan sat back, watching Duo.
"Y'know what, Maxwell? I'm rather enjoying having you at my beck and call." Khan's voice was disturbingly soft. To Quatre's surprise, Duo flinched then lashed out.
"Cut th' crap, Khan, an' get ta th' point, will ya. Whaddya wan' me ta do?"
Surprisingly, Khan didn't take offence at Duo's impatient tone. He almost seemed to take a perverse pleasure from having the advantage over the braided boy. He leaned forward.
"Wait your turn, boy. As you can see, things ain't exactly been easy round here. Business ain't what it used to be. The war is screwin' things up proper. Now that wouldn't be too bad, but as I'm sure you've heard, we've got a new good guy in town."
"Ryan Mercer," Duo muttered.
"Chief of police and as straight as fucking die. He's not exactly co-operative and it's starting to piss me off. He's got a nice little family, from what I heard. Wife, several kids. I know you like lots of targets."
Quatre felt sick. Scarcely daring to breath, he looked carefully at Duo. Duo's hands were flexing under the table.
"In th' middle of a lockdown? Don' be a jackass. Wouldn' get near him."
"With the rig you want me and my boys to pull, you can bet your ass he'll be there."
Duo's eyes narrowed. "Ya wan' me ta shoot him if an' when I get th' chance? Don' sound all tha' water-tight for ya."
A mocking smile curled the man's thin lips. "Damn, you've got me there. Looks like I'll be needing something else." Duo's face twitched. Standing up, Khan turned the laptop around so it faced the two pilots and came to stand behind them, leaning down to speak into Duo's ear.
"Now you see, this is the problem with bloody do-gooders. Wan' to help every bastard everywhere."
Quatre stared at the webpage Khan had drawn up. A bold banner proclaimed 'The L2 Fabella Initiative'. Quickly, he scanned the rest of the page…a united coalition with local government, guilds, religious authorities and trade unions to get the orphaned and vulnerable off the streets and poverty of L2………the most effective strategy………with dedicated staff and generous financial backing from multiple governments and agencies………applauded by the UN and ESCSS………signed Chairman, Chief of Police Ryan Mercer………
"Ya fuckin' bastard." Duo was white, glaring as the screen. Khan chuckled, malicious enjoyment seeping into his voice.
"They're doing an excellent job. Shame they weren't around when you were a streetrat, isn't it? Get to it, Maxwell."
"Duo?" Quatre turned, puzzled, to his friend, to watch as nimble fingers moved rapidly over the keyboard. The screen flickered, window after window appearing as encryption codes were entered, as Duo slithered and slid between securities and firewalls. "Duo!" The motion had stopped and Quatre was looking at the banking account of the L2 Fabella Initiative.
"Empty it all. Now. Into banks 278399#2334, 738853#8396 and 7780283#0998."
Fingers in motion once more, Duo hit the button as the account began to empty, figures decreasing as the money swirled down the drain into the underground.
"Duo! No!"
"Shut th' fuck up, baka." Duo's voice was barely audible, hissing from clenched teeth. Quatre stared numbly at the empty account.
"Melt their administrative systems."
"For fuck's sake…"
Khan's voice cracked like a whip. "Do it now or the deal's off."
Fingers shaking, Duo dragged up more information. Quatre's practised eyes ran over the virus codes he was using. Skagos. Beyond retrieval. The countdown started, Duo sat back, jaw clenched, shoulders rigid. He didn't look at Quatre. The bar slowly crept up to completion, striking the 100 marker and sending the L2 Fabella System into chaos.
"Great job, Demon. Set them back four years or so, at least."
"Bastard."
Khan looked thoughtful as he finally stood back from Duo's chair. Duo remained seated, staring fixedly ahead.
"When ya finished preenin', can we head?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. Quatre rose, anxious to get out of the oppressive room and get of the colony as soon as possible. Glancing at his watch, he bit his lip. Time was running on. Duo followed suite, jerkily standing. They began to move for the door when Khan's smooth, thoughtful voice stopped them.
"I don't think I've ever seen you this desperate, Maxwell." Duo froze but didn't turn around. "That cargo crap Sid fed me was bullshit, you wouldn't come to me over some late deliveries and no-one here is exactly looking for you, yet." Quatre watched as Duo's jaw worked, and fought down the urge to bolt for the door. Duo finally turned as Khan padded over.
"Wha' th' fuck are ya on 'bout?"
Quatre frowned as Khan came closer and closer, invading Duo's personal space, forcing the other to tilt his head back to meet the man's eyes.
"I've been hearing rumours. Big rumours. Concerning all sorts of armies. OZ Romfeller, the Rebel Alliance. Since we both know you're not a big fan on authority figures, I'm guessing you're tied up in the rebels. The question is how much?" Duo remained silent, as Quatre felt his eyes widen in shock. Khan spared him a sideways glance and gave a low chuckle. "Your innocent hustler friend, huh? I bet he knows how to use that gun he's carrying." Duo's eyes narrowed as Quatre flushed, cursing himself inwardly. His face, as always, betrayed him. His heart on his sleeve. Khan raised a mocking eyebrow. "Now, I can't confirm this for sure, but my contacts tell me that your ship holds some damn interesting and damn large cargo…I'm sure OZ would love to hear all about tha-"
"Ya fuckin' son of a bitch…"
Suddenly steel flashed and Duo was in motion, fisting Khan's shirt, a lethal blade pressed hard to his throat. There was a click and Khan's gun was shoved against Duo's flat stomach, pure hatred mirroring on the two faces. A second click sounded, and Khan's eyes flickered to see Quatre press his gun against the man's head. Quatre's heart was pounding as he rapidly analysed the situation, thoughts filtering through his head. This was the first time either party had touched the other, a gunshot would echo down the corridor and bring the Wolves in baying for the kill, and even if they killed Khan and got away with it they would still have no way off L2. Khan knew it, although for an instant Quatre could see the flicker of fear and uncertainty as he faced the unpredictable boy in front of him, then it was hidden under the smooth inscrutable mask, but Quatre knew. Khan was still afraid of Duo.
"My price has upped," Khan almost gasped out. Duo snarled and pressed the knife tighter, drawing a thin line of blood. "Kill me and you fuckin' loose. Face it, Maxwell, you're all strung out to dry."
Slowly, Duo loosened his grip, still not removing the knife. Quatre hesitated, unsure of what to do next. Duo's next words took him completely unawares.
"Bryon, go an' sit wit' Sid."
Hurt and surprised, Quatre protested even as he lowered the gun, "Duo, no. I can help…"
Khan took the opportunity to take a step back, gun still pointed warily at Duo's midriff.
"Yeah, c'mon Duo, Bryon can help us negotiate."
There was an undertone in the man's voice that Quatre didn't understand but nevertheless triggered alarms in the Arabian's head. Duo, it seemed, felt the same way, as he grasped Quatre's arm and shoved him towards the door, snarling harshly under his breath, "Told ya ta go, now go."
Quatre hesitated once more by the door. Something wasn't right and he bit his lip as a wave of emotion from Duo hit him. Anger, desperation, hope, resignation, fear. Violet eyes sough out his, an oddly pleading look in them.
"Quat," the whisper was near desperate, "ya promised…"
Hating himself at every moment, Quatre stepped over the threshold, turning as the door shut in his face, locks clunking into the sudden quiet.
To Be Continued…