UNDERLYING AGENDA

CHAPTER NINE

Duo wasn't sure what time he had finally passed out, but the creak in his neck and the smell of breakfast wafting from the kitchen was enough to motivate him to get up off the carpet and start his Saturday at the ungodly hour of 7:00AM. After a long shower, he grabbed a comb and headed downstairs where Heero and a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast alongside a tall glass of OJ awaited him.

"Morning," Duo murmured groggily, handing Heero his comb in exchange for a fork. "What time did you get in?"

"1:00AM."

"Hm," he managed, quickly shoving fluffy eggs and bacon into his mouth.

Heero bided his time, combing through and plaiting his drying hair while he finished up with his plate. "There's enough for three in case you want seconds."

"Thanks…" Duo said, putting down his fork beside the empty glassware. Grabbing his SmartVid, he began to fiddle with it pensively before the floodgates finally collapsed. "I read it; Noin's medical history."

Tying off his braid, Heero sat down beside him and nodded quietly.

Duo's jaw dropped in silent desperation, awestruck by the lack of urgency. Then again, this was Heero Yuy. "What the fuck, Heero? Why doesn't anyone tell him the truth?"

"It's none of our business to do so, Duo."

"What about Relena?"

"I have no right to speak on her behalf."

Duo looked incredulous, "Are you telling me she's know the truth for almost a year and has never thought to tell Zechs?"

"I'm sure she has. She's just as concerned about Zechs's well being as you are, but things have been difficult with him for all of us, and the opportunity to discuss the matter from any angle simply hasn't lent itself yet."

"There's no time like the present, pal." Duo said, scoffing at the thought that Zechs and Relena were cut from the same stone. "What the hell is she waiting for? The moron…"

"I'll sort out Relena. What are you planning on doing about it?"

"I'm not going to let him rot with unnecessary guilt," he said, clearing his dishes before heading into the hallway to fish out the car keys from Heero's coat pocket. "I may not be blood, but I sure as hell ain't a goddamned coward."

Leaning against the kitchen doorframe, Heero watched him lace up his boots and knew all too well the chaos that ensued when Duo acted haphazardly on his emotions. Tact was something he needed to master if he intended on conquering Zechs Merquise. "This isn't the time, Duo. Not like this."

"What's the alternative? Sit by like the rest of y'all waiting while Zechs slowly self-destructs? Hell no! If I'm damned either way, then I say to hell with it. He deserves to know."

"And how will you explain your sources? Medical records are strictly confidential, Duo, and no part of the investigation gave the Preventers or the Vice Foreign Minister any jurisdiction to access them."

"I highly doubt that'll be his greatest concern at this point, Heero." Duo ripped his jacket off the hanger and kicked the front door shut as he exited. Agent Poe fully confirmed Heero's claim at last night's little psychotherapy session. It appeared that no one other than the aforementioned had any idea about Noin's medical history, or its potential to blow the whole case wide open.

Climbing into the jeep, Duo anchored the key into the ignition and paused abruptly. He colored with the shame of having eavesdropped on such a private conversation between two close friends. Hell. Sally was more like family to Zechs than Relena only hoped to be. "Cowardly bitch… You may have been Queen of the World, but you sure as hell don't deserve to have the pleasure of being Zechs's saving grace." Sally alone seemed to be the only safe and trustworthy individual to relay the truth, with her credentials and all, but something in Duo didn't completely fall in love with that idea either.

It needed to come from someone Zechs personally selected. Someone Zechs deemed worthy of his emotional investment instead of the other way around. Someone he trusted to be telling him this God awful truth with no underlying agenda, and to guarantee support when it rips him apart thereafter.

Pulling out the quickly crinkling wedding photo again, Duo recalled the incredible memory it captured and felt his determination newly restore. "Mission accepted."