Disclaimer: Gundam Wing would have had a tad more hentai if I owned them. Therefore, I think we know I don't.

Warnings: yaoi, shonen-ai, all that good stuff, language, OOCness. There will be violence, shootings, fighting, deaths… probably quite a few car chases. After reading my reviews, I realize this part is probably quite angsty, though I never seem to think so while I'm writing it. It just… is.

WOOHOO Does a happy dance around the computer I hit a hundred reviews… I love you guys so much… But enough celebration (read shameless gloating) and on to the story.

The Driver

Chapter Ten – Emotional See-saw

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"So I'm assuming you know why I'm upset." I quirk an eyebrow at him as I glance sideways.

Heero nods slowly. "I may have overheard your discussion with Quatre."

I smile grimly. "Yeah…" I suppose I was a bit vocal about it. "I think L5 heard my discussion with Quatre."

A slight crinkling around his eyes is the only sign that he heard my weak attempt at humor. He sits in one of the chairs on the far end of the room and I follow, dropping into it gracelessly. We're silent for several moments, then he turns to me.

"You know Quatre didn't mean for Solo to die."

"I know." I rub my forehead, trying to straighten out my thoughts. "It's just… I feel like none of this should have happened. I never should have gotten involved with any of you. Then he wouldn't be dead."

"I'm sorry."

Later I find out how rare it is for Heero to apologize for anything; apparently supernovas happen more often than Heero's apologies. Now, I simply shrug.

"It's not your fault. I shouldn't have said yes. I never should have gotten involved." The more I think it, the more it seems true. It is all my fault. My anger at Quatre is mostly so I don't have to be angry with myself. He really did try to save me, even if it was in a backhanded, manipulative way. "All I can do now is get whoever did this."

"You know we'll help." He pauses, then adds, "I'll help."

I look up, finally meeting his eyes and giving him a searching stare. He seems to mean what he says, though I no longer fully trust of any of them. I should have worried about how quickly I trusted Quatre. Growing up on L2 should have taught me better, but I wanted so badly to believe the best of him and the others.

"Thank you."

He nods, quiet once more, and we sit there for several minutes longer before he speaks again.

"You want to go pick out a car?"

No. I don't want to do anything that will make me relinquish this gloom I've been working on. I am an island in a sea of chaos. I really don't want to do anything, except possibly crawl in bed and die. Since I doubt that is an option, especially if I want revenge at some point in this lifetime, I nod and follow him out a back door and through the grounds. We eventually stop in front of what I suppose is where the hired help lives, though on any other property it would be considered a small mansion. Heero knocks on the door and it's opened by the old man from the other night, Howard. I take in his bright Hawaiian shirt and shorts, despite the fact that the weatherman has made it overcast, though Heero doesn't even seem to notice.

"Hey guys." Howard gives us a bright smile. "What can I do for you?"

"We would like to pick out Duo's car."

"Certainly." He puts on a pair of flip-flops and leads us around back, into a small courtyard behind his house. "I have a small selection back here, though we can always have something imported if nothing catches your eye."

After typing in a keycode the large gate in front of us swings open to reveal what can only be described as a small dealership. Cars, trucks and SUV's are lined up against each wall, all of them black and all of them in pristine condition. I walk down the line gazing from car to car, my earlier depression fading in the face of such beauty.

I have always had a thing for cars, for as long as I can remember. Something about the lines, the speed, the way they each seem to have their own unique personalities. Growing up colony-side, having a car is a rare thing and the first time I rode in one I was hooked. I'm sure Father Maxwell's old friend never imagined the trouble they would get me into; I doubt he would have taught me to drive behind the Father's back, especially if he could see me now.

"Are all of these Quatre's?"

Howard shakes his head, frizzy gray hair flying around wildly. "Not all of them. Some are his, others he brought in so you could have more options and the rest are his family's, though they never drive them."

"Why not?"

"Quatre's the only one willing to stay on L2. His father and sisters avoid it like the plague."

I run a hesitant finger over the hood of a two-seater, only half paying attention to Howard. "I didn't know Quatre had sisters…"

"Twenty nine of them."

"That's nice..."

Wait, what?

"Did you say twenty nine?"

Howard nods. "Master Quatre has twenty nine older sisters, and we on L2 are glad that none of them ever come to visit."

"I can imagine."

I pause by a sleek black sedan, made all the more beautiful by the subtlety of its lines and give it another inspection. Heero watches as I pop the hood and look slowly over the engine. After a moment, I close the hood gently and walk to the driver's side, quirking a questioning eyebrow at Howard.

"Go ahead. Master Quatre said you were to have full reign of the cars."

I open the door and slide in, gripping the steering wheel and looking around the inside. Howard leans up against the open door, watching as I inspect the vehicle.

"Whose is this?"

"That is Quatre's fathers, though I don't think he's ever sat in the driver's seat."

"Are you sure they won't mind if I choose the dad's car?"

"I doubt Winner senior will ever find out, let alone spare the time to care." Howard pats me on the back. "Good choice kid, she's all yours."

As I get out of the car, I give the old man a bratty grin. "Well that was certainly easier than having to steal one."

"So it's true? You were a car thief?" The way he says it implies that none of Quatre's staff is supposed to bring that up.

"I prefer the term liberator. That car was too nice to be driven by that old man."

Howard snorts. "I take it the justice system didn't agree with you?"

"No but then we've never really seen eye to eye."

Out of the corner of my eye I see Heero roll his eyes, though Howard is laughing as he throws me a set of keys.

"Why don't you take her for a test drive?"

I look down at the sleek car and feel a smile spread across my face. "You don't have to tell me twice."

I get back into the driver's seat and turn the key, feeling a chill as the engine roars to life then quiets considerably. Slamming the door shut, I roll down the window and look at Heero.

"You want to come?"

He looks at me for a moment then nods curtly before walking around to the other side and getting in. Once again, he pointedly refuses to put on a seatbelt, even as I throw the car into gear and spin it around, shooting out of the small courtyard and flying toward the winding drive. As we slide out onto the main street, I hit the power button on the radio and music begins blasting out of the speakers.

Me and this car will get along great, I can already tell.

I change lanes before maneuvering through several turns, trying to get a feel for how the car handles, and I am not disappointed. We fly through the mini obstacle course I've picked out through the city and I can honestly say I have no complaints about my choice.

Heero is silent through most of the ride, watching the scenery and letting me drive in peace. We're almost back to the house before he turns down the volume on the stereo.

"Quatre also said to let you do whatever modifications you'd like to whatever car you picked."

I nod, thinking it over in my head.

"Well, there's a not a whole lot. It's hard to improve on perfection. I'd like to tint the windows and get some racing slicks, but other than that it's good."

"Howard can help you with the tires, and I suppose we can go deal with the windows right now." I nod in agreement and he adds, "Turn left up here."

I obey wordlessly since he seems to know where we're going, and he eventually directs me to a small grey shop on a backstreet near the Heights. A young man comes out of the garage, waving as he sees Heero. Heero nods in hello and gets out of the car, pausing under the sign proclaiming 'Sweepers Garage'. I inspect the shop before turning to the young man and shaking his hand.

"Duo, this is Alex. He owns part of Sweepers."

Alex smiles in hello, then motions to the car. "What can we do for you?"

"I'd like the windows tinted." I flash him a bright, but completely fake, smile. "Make it look a bit classier, you know?"

He nods seriously, going over the car before uttering a low whistle.

"How'd you manage to get your hands on a beauty like this?"

"Well, the deal involved all my free time, my remaining family and part of my soul."

He laughs, though I'm not entirely joking, and continues his inspection of the car. "Well, it shouldn't take us too long. We're having a bit of a slow stretch so I can fit you in…" he inspects his watch critically, "now."

I nod and hand over the keys, not really wanting to part with them this soon after acquiring them. Alex notices my hesitation and gives me a reassuring smile.

"We'll be good to her, I promise. Feel free to hang around the shop, or if you want there's a killer pirogue place the next block over."

My stomach chooses that moment to remind me I never finished my toast this morning and I redden as both Heero and Alex stare at me. Thus, even though I have no clue what in the hell a pirogue is, we are walking down the street searching for the small building the mechanic described to us.

We share a nice lunch and, though I'm still not entirely sure what a pirogue is, I am satisfied as we walk back to Sweepers. My car is sitting out front, the newly done windows shining in the artificial light and I have to smile a little.

Hard as it is to believe my car may be sexier than Heero, though I would never tell him that. I ponder the issue as Heero pays Alex, finally coming to the conclusion that Heero is a close second, but only because I haven't seen him without a shirt on; until that time, my new car wins.

I say goodbye to Alex and we make it back to Quatre's in record time thanks to my superb driving. As we stop in the main courtyard, I see Quatre standing at the top of the stairs, leaning against the front door and watching me and Heero. I look up at him, unsure what I should be thinking. It kills me to say this, but there's really no point in me being mad at him. Sure he manipulated my life around in ways that were kind of fucked up, but he kind of did it for a kind of good reason, sort of.

As you can tell, I'm used to making excuses for people who fuck up my life.

As we get out of the car, he gives me a tentative smile, which I return just as tentatively. If he's going to help me get the person who killed Solo, I suppose I can at least be somewhat decent to him. Besides, without him I have no one. It's a depressing thought but if growing up on L2 has taught me anything, it's this; you can't change what's already happened. All you can do is deal with it.

And I'm used to getting dealt shit.

Unfortunately, all I can do about it right now is walk into the house and up to my room, flopping on my bed like I haven't slept in a week. Leave it to Heero to say two sentences that mean more than paragraphs and pages.

"You know we'll help… I'll help."

What the fuck was that supposed to mean. I'll help you, I'll help Quatre, I'll help just because I like shooting people?

"Arughhh!"

My pillow once again bears the brunt of my frustration silently, like the stuffed bag of feathers that it is, and I quiet once more. After a good hour, I haul my ass out of bed and head downstairs, not really sure what I'm looking for but determined to find it anyway. For once, I don't run into anyone on my way through the house and I'm left free reign. Quatre's study seems like the best place to find him, especially since I've seen what he does in there.

I walk quickly through the darkening hallways and pause outside the door. I'm about to knock when I hear voices coming from the other side of the door. I lower my hand and move in closer, trying to make out the words.

"He chose the same gun you use?" There was a hint of surprise in Quatre's voice, though I'd have to see his face to know for sure. "I thought you said they were awkward for anyone who wasn't professionally trained?"

"Hn." That would be Heero. "I had him try a couple but those were the ones he chose, and those were the ones he wanted."

"Maybe he's a natural." Trowa's voice is deeper than the others yet no less distinct.

"Maybe…" but Heero doesn't sound convinced.

"It could be worse. He seems to have good potential; he just needs some fine tuning."

"Why's that?" Quatre, again. "I was surprised that he knew hand to hand fighting, but he's just a kid off the street."

"Don't give me that, Quatre. You are the last person I would expect to underestimate someone. Haven't you noticed? He doesn't make a sound when he walks." That had to be Trowa. "I don't know if he does it naturally or on purpose but he doesn't seem to have to make an effort. He's a loud kid, but I didn't hear a thing til he threw the door open."

Heero grunts again and it's quiet for a moment.

"I still need to tell him about the ball." That would be Quatre

"Is he going to be ready?"

"He'll have to be. I need to be in public view at all times, and he's the only other person who would have a legitimate reason to be there."

"I know…" Heero pauses and I lean in closer, holding my breath. "Kushrenada's house can be intimidating though."

Someone snorts then I hear Trowa's soft voice. "I think you've gone soft Yuy." There's a pause, during which I'm sure Heero is glaring at Trowa, then the green eyed man continues. "So worried about the new driver. It's touching really…"

"Leave him alone Trowa."

"Thank you, Quatre…" Heero's voice has a dangerous tone to it.

"It's nice that Heero's finally feeling something other than blood lust."

Trowa mutters something indiscernible and then there's a growl from inside the room. I quickly sneak away before Heero tries for a dramatic exit and throws a door into me, retreating back to my room with even more to think about.

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A/N:: For the anonymous reviewer JC (my 100th reviewer) if you so choose, you can give me something you want in the story and I will try and work it in. Even if it's just a garden gnome in Kushrenada's rose garden or something stupid like that. No promises, but I will try.

I have no idea how long it takes to tint windows, and didn't really care enough to find out, so let's just pretend that in the future they have some super speedy way of doing it and can complete it in the time it takes Duo to wolf down a few pirogues (pronounced per-oh-gee) which are little balls of dough filled with cheese, potatoes and the like. Awesome, if you can find good ones. If I wasn't writing this at 2 in the morning, I would run out and buy some right now… I'm just full of useless information tonight, aren't I? Don't know how long it takes to tint windows (which is somewhat relevant to the story) but I can tell you what a pirogue is (which I could have just as easily changed it to a hamburger and been done with it…) Ah the joys of writing on little sleep.

And thanks to Kaeru Shisho for making private messages work and loaning me the island comment.