Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, or the characters within it.
Note: I've decided to stop promising updates in X amount of time, because frankly I can't do it. My previous excuses were lame compared to this time around, and I've decided to not even post this until I was sure it wouldn't completely disappoint. To make it short, the delays this time involved one death, one funeral, one wedding, three birthdays, one birth, three midterms, two trips out of town (one for a full week), and writer's block.
TO MY REVIEWERS: I had about two paragraphs written, and gave up to take care of, well, life in general. But I check my e-mail one day, and… I had some reviews!? The most compelling ones were the last two:
Bunch-o-Nuts: Please update soon! And sorry I fell behind...
Death Phoenix: Update really really soon!
For a person with writer's block and apathy, that's a kick in the shins. Plus, if my READER feels bad for falling behind, I should feel worse. I also noticed I'm on the watch list of TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS!?!? Well, damn. I have a duty, now.
Hope this is worth the wait.
The Perfection of 02
By: Maxwell-Yuy
Air Travel had not improved much over the last century; coach seating still became rapidly occupied by loud, uncultured people, and babies still cried continually. Luckily, Zechs didn't need to bother with commercial flights – not even on pleasure trips. He looked down to the fields of green, orange, yellow and brown below. Europe had always maintained a balance between the beauty of the countryside and the sophistiqué of the cities. The pilot made an announcement that the flight was on schedule, and once again Zechs found himself slightly on edge. He'd have preferred to fly the private jet himself, but protocol would only allow so much.
Though it would never show through his demeanor, he was anticipating seeing Noin again. He was also nervous. Love and war hardly mix, and the combination could be deadly. But for now, he was looking forward to meeting her for dinner. He'd gotten a suite in a separate hotel because he wasn't sure how the evening would turn out. With Noin, he was never sure of anything. They'd gotten together in a sort of sketchy and loose relationship towards the beginning of the war. He cared for her deeply, but he couldn't be sure of his feelings – he couldn't be sure that he could have feelings.
She would be waiting for him, he knew. He had three hours until they would meet for dinner and discuss… whatever it was that they would discuss. Usually meeting Noin calmed him, but this time Zechs was nervous, and couldn't squash the uneasy feeling in his stomach. Maybe, he thought, the fact that four of the Gundam pilots were in OZ custody in the same facility as Treise was creating this undoubtedly wrong sensation in his gut; or maybe it was because he was going to tell Noin tonight. Tonight would make or break whatever bond they shared.
>>>>>
The new and elegant restaurant on Friedrichstrasse by the Old Brandenburg Gate was like something plucked out of a history book and updated to meet modern needs. Built only months earlier, the establishment was in the Neoclassical style, something a man with all too much money dreamed up while hopping historical museums. Circular Corinthian columns, white and clean, stood vigil at the heavy bronze doors. As they entered, Noin looked up in the foyer to view the vaulted ceiling. She wasn't used to the elegance of her surroundings; she had been brought up in a middle class home, and since leaving had spent most of her time training or in the field. Even in the opulent palaces of Treise Kushrenada, as well as the Peacecraft estates, she'd been focused on her duty, not pleasure.
The matredeé recognized Zechs and ushered them to their reserved seats. Ever a gentlemen, Zechs pulled out her chair as Noin sat, but her attention was more focused on the coffered ceiling and gilded moldings. She would occupy herself with everything she could in order to delay the inevitable conversation. She was going to tell Zechs tonight. Tonight would make or break whatever bond they shared.
>>>>>
The night vision sniper scope picked up on Zechs and Noin easily as they entered the restaurant on Friedrichstrasse. Duo knew he was lucky the Sweepers managed to pinpoint Zechs in Berlin. The only thing left to do was wait for them to leave. Once Zechs was out in the open, he'd cripple the Oz officer and demand to know the location of his friends. As much as he wanted the man dead, it could wait until his comrades were in safe hands.
Though the other pilots might consider him impatient by nature, Duo had no problem waiting to acquire his target. His life on the streets coupled with G's long training sessions had made him as patient as the dead. Getting more comfortable, Duo stretched out on the roof of the building across from the restaurant. Even if he wouldn't let go of his hold on the rifle, or take his eye off the scope, he could take up a position that wouldn't make his limbs fall asleep anytime soon.
Checking the time displayed on his scope, he noted that dinner had now progressed a good hour. "Not long now, Zechs…" he breathed.
"Not long indeed."
Closing his eyes, Duo felt the familiar sensation of a cool metal barrel trained on his figure. He could almost feel it on his skin, though the memories that conjured that impression were older than the war. Loosening his grip on the rifle, he brought his hands up and stood with his back to the enemy. "Agent Kefflar, I presume. Four years training stealth operations under Captain Domes of Oz Special Forces. Almost two years in the field. Lone agent, non-partnered. Single, with a girlfriend in the L3 cluster… L3 01967X, to be exact. Born on Earth in Slovenia to an American and an Australian, raised in Hungary, and currently Oz's most deadly assassin."
"You know a lot about me."
"I know that you blew your cover five hours ago as I trailed Zechs from Schoenefeld Airport. You just haven't learned to blend in with foreign crowds. And your German accent is lousy."
A growl was his only response as the barrel of the gun was pressed to the back of his head. "And what are you going to do now, 02?" The barrel dug further into his scalp and Duo could feel his hair tugging and beginning to tangle.
"Watch the hair. You mess it up, and you're a dead man."
Floored by Duo's audacity, Kefflar grabbed his shoulder with a free left hand and pulled the pilot closer. Leaning into him, gun still trained on Duo's head, he whispered into his ear, "I'll do whatever I want to that pretty hair of yours." The hand and on Duo's shoulder slipping around the front and slowly snaking its way across his chest to the right shoulder, he continued, "My mission is to eliminate the threat against Marquise. I was never instructed on what method to use." Lips brushing softly against his ear, he breathed, "I will kill you."
"No," came a firm and resound voice. "You won't kill me. I am destined to be killed by 01."
The deadly and serious tone in Duo's voice sent the agent into a stupor, which was all he needed. Spinning, Duo kicked him in the groin and swiftly dislocated his arm and stole his gun. "It's silly, really. Oz should have known better than to send a chameleon sharp shooter to dispose of me, especially in hand-to-hand. The god of death isn't so easily taken down."
Quivering on the ground, Kefflar could only watch in horror as his own gun was turned on him. Duo shot him between the eyes. "Useless," he muttered. Turning back to his position, he paused. Something was wrong, and it wasn't the body on the rooftop behind him. Looking around, he spotted a dark figure approaching from the rooftop entrance.
Slow, sharp claps met his ears as the figure approached. Once in the light, the man clasped his hands together and gave Duo a once over. "Well now, mister, turn'd out betta than I'd expected. You sho you from L2? Naw, 'ourse you are, you's got them killer instincts in ya."
It was his dialect and his look that threw Duo off. There was something familiar about the way he spoke, something vague and somehow so clear, that reminded him of his past. He man's hair, worn shaggy, as though styled to look like he'd just rolled out of bed, was a grey-brown Duo knew he'd never forget. But it was his eyes that captured his attention. Before Duo knew it, he was lost in a sea of grey-blue that clouded his mind and sent him reeling toward a past he'd kept well hidden. Those eyes he'd seen so long ago, that had given him a reason to hope, were now in front of him once again. Those eyes that left him, that died and lost their luster, which left him alone and lost for so long now, belonged to the man standing on the roof with him.
He swallowed. "Pardon me, sir, but do I know you?"
"Not but through reputation, boy. You an' I, we've a friend in commun."
"A friend…" His voice had drifted off into a slight haze, and though still on alert, he wasn't sure if he could hurt the man before him, not if he had to look at his eyes. "Who do you know who is our common acquaintance?" He hid a cringe, knowing that his voice sounded less confident than he had hoped for.
The stranger smirked. "Why, what wuz it y'all called 'im? If I rememba right, which I can assure you I do, y'all called 'im Solo."
Duo was sure that his heart has stopped beating. The hair, the eyes, the accent, the clear and distinct accent that set the strangerapart from the himself… it was all so clear, he couldn't believe he had doubted his first impression. Now he needed more answers. "So, stranger, you knew Solo?"
The man chuckled, and replied, "I ain't no friend of Solo, but 'is real name, that wuz--"
"Don't!" he interrupted, "I don't want to know. Please."
Sensing the urgency of the request, the stranger paused as if to consider, and continued, "I knew 'im before he wuz called Solo. 'Ere, take a look." He reached into his pocket and held out what appeared to be a photo, but Duo squashed down his curiosity and after a moment the man withdrew the offered photograph. "Dunn wanna see? Just as well I s'pose."
"Who are you?"
"An employee," he said, stressing the first and last syllables of the second word, "of a Mister Kooshrenaydeh. When I found out just who ya were, I reckoned I outta send 'im a letter and volunteer my services. Afta all, I'm the only one who got anything on yo past, boy. Me brotha tol' me enough ta know ya when I saw ya."
"Solo was an orphan," he said quickly, "he didn't have any family."
"Wuzn't always like that. He done and run away, an' the ol' man an' ma didn't wanna hear from 'im again."
Overcome with anger, Duo demanded, "why are you here and what did you tell the General?"
"I didn't tell 'im nothin'! I just said I had a brother, an' he an' you were close. That'd it'd be my pleasure ta get rid of ya, since you're the reason he stayed on tha streets." The man saw the glimmer in Duo's eyes, one of an emotion he could not place, but knew had something to do with disbelief. "Didn' know he an' I coulda gotten a place of our own, did ya? Ma an' Pa died, an' I asked 'im if he wanted to come home. But that boy done an' told me he couldn't leave this sweet lil' thing behind. He wouldn't abandon his Duo. He stayed on them streets an' eight months later he was dead."
"Shut up! SHUT UP!" Voice breaking, Duo screamed on, not caring whether his voice drifted downward to the streets. "I have enough of a cross to bear without you adding to it! I don't have time for you, I finally made new friends, FINALLY, and they, too, will die if I don't help them. I don't want to lose anyone else!" Duo was so enraged, he didn't see the fear and surprise in the other's eyes. "I loved your brother, damnit! I did everything possible to save him! EVERYTHING! If you were so close to him, why'd he never mention ya? Why'd he insist he was an orph'n? Why'd he choose me over you? I don't fuckin' know, okay?" Lunging forward, he swiped up the gun from the dead hit man lying on the rooftop between then, and gun in hand, he continued softly, "I don't want to ever see your face again. D' ya hear me?"
In a flash, Duo pistol whipped the man across the face, and the other crumbled to the ground. Breathing heavily, he stared down at him and threw down the gun. "I ain't killin the closest thing to Solo there is left in this world."
Scrambling to his post, Duo looked down in time to watch Noin leave the restaurant by herself. Quickly scanning the street, he saw Zechs get into a car. The driver pulled away. "No! Damnit!" Grabbing his berretta from a holster at the small of his back, he ran to the fire escape ladder and slid down to the alley below. If Zechs was no longer a target for tonight, then Lieutenant Noin would have to take his place. She would tell Duo where Zechs was. And then, she would die.
A dark shadow followed Noin down Friedrichstrasse. The streets were by no means deserted, but there was no reason to throw caution to the wind by simply shifting and taking cover in the light crowds. Taking care to avoid street lights, Duo slunk into a corner as Noin crossed over to Duo's side of the street and made a left down Unter Den Linden. If there was a decent amount of pedestrians, there were even more cars and motorcycles on the busier street. Duo began to wonder if Noin suspected anything and chose her route in hopes that Duo wouldn't try anything with a public audience.
Noin walked until she reached the Brandenburg Gate. Duo silently watched as the Lieutenant pulled out a cell phone and made a quick call. Was she calling reinforcements? It was a likely scenario, and one Duo wasn't going to chance. While Noin was distracted with her call, Duo slunk into position. He couldn't hear what the girl was saying. Noin was speaking lowly and urgently. A moment after the phone call ended, Duo greeted Noin from behind with a knife to her throat.
>>>>>
Noin was still reeling in shock. Put their relationship on hold? Zechs wanted to put their relationship on hold?! After all that time, after all the long waiting, after… after what happened. She was going to tell him tonight. It was so important, and Zechs ruined it for her. She couldn't even think as she tore out of the restaurant and down the street, not quite knowing where she was going. And after breaking the news… he got a call and left for 'business.' How could she have been so stupid? Tonight was supposed to make them closer, not further apart. But she couldn't keep things to herself anymore. Zechs had to know.
Quickly pulling her cell phone from her purse, she stopped under the Brandenburg Gate and dialed Zech's private number. When voicemail kicked in, she had to suppress a scream. She didn't want it to be like this. The beep sounded.
"Zechs? It's me. I didn't want to do this over the phone. I had been hoping to tell you in person, at dinner tonight, but…" her voice faded off, and she paused a moment. "I needed to make sure I knew for sure, you know? I couldn't jump to conclusions, especially with you concerned. It's just… shit. I'm rambling, aren't I? I'm standing under a monument, I'm shaken to the core, I'm rambling, ME, rambling, and I'm pregnant. You're a daddy, baby. Congratulations and I hope you enjoy our 'apart time,' as you so eloquently put it." Hanging up, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand as a knife touched her throat and an arm trapped her.
"Hello Lieutenant. I've had a hell of a week, and an awful night, so I'll make this short and sweet." Duo's hold tightened, and the knife pressed closer to her skin, "Tell me where Zechs is."
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Worth the wait? Review it, if you like. Every time I think, "I'm not going to finish this" I get a review, and I keep going.
