Protector
Heero knelt between Trowa and Catherine and looked out the windshield as the trailer moved slowly over the gravel driveway toward the manor. He saw nothing and that was what worried him. Normally there would be someone outside tending to the flowers or sweeping the pathways around the estate. But today there was no one at all anywhere outside. As far as the manor itself was concerned, all of the windows and doors seemed to be closed and intact. It didn't appear to be forced into, but that meant nothing. There were many things he wasn't able to see at all.
Heero looked back over his shoulder and saw that the others were also looking out the windows. He was ready for this and, apparently, they were as well. Except Relena, that is. She was still sitting with her legs up against her chest and her chin on her knees. Heero could see her staring at the floor and shaking slightly.
*I hate seeing her like this. I'll be glad when this is all behind us. I think we all will be happy when it ends. And I will make sure that it does.*
Trowa stopped the trailer in front of the main entrance and turned off the engine. They sat in silence for a minute before Heero walked to the door. He paused before opening it and turned back to face the group.
Here's how we're going to do this. I'll take point. Duo, you stay behind me. Wufei, Quatre, Noin, Sally, and Dorothy, you five keep close to Relena. The rest of you bring up the rear. Got it?
They nodded firmly.
OK. When you get out move quickly, but don't get separated. Stay as close to the building as you can. When we get inside, don't move until I tell you to. Let's go.
With that, Heero opened the door and stepped out, his eyes immediately scanning the trees and shrubs nearby. Behind him, Duo looked up to the roof and windows, gun ready to shoot anything that looked like it would shoot back. The others followed them out and walked quickly to stand against the hard, stone wall of the manor. Quatre reached a hand out to ring the bell, but Heero stopped him, gesturing toward the door.
The door was closed, but not completely. Heero put a hand on his gun, which was still in the waistband of his black jeans, and pushed the unlocked door halfway open. He cautiously peered around the large, wooden door and down the darkened hallway. He reached for a nearby light switch and flicked it on. Nothing. He tried again. Still no light.
*So, he likes to play in the dark, huh? That's fine with me.*
Heero stepped through the doorway and abruptly stopped, feeling something slick under his foot. He looked down to see a small pool of dark crimson. His eyes followed a trail of blood drops to the closet a few yards away. Heero looked back at Duo and gestured with his eyes toward the closet door as the others filed through the doorway.
Heero pulled out his gun as Duo put his fingers on the handle and stood to the side of the door. Visually coordinating with Heero, Duo turned the handle and flung the door wide open. Pagan's limp form tumbled out of the closet. Relena gasped at the sight of her old friend on the floor.
Heero quickly clamped a hand over her mouth and raised a finger to his lips. She nodded to him, but quickly returned her attention to her fallen friend. Again, Heero looked toward Duo, but the braided pilot was one step ahead of him this time. He was already kneeling next to Pagan with his fingers on the older man's neck. The pulse was not as strong as it should have been, but it was definitely there. Other than a small bruise and a laceration on his forehead, Pagan seemed to be fine. Duo looked up at the others and flashed a thumbs-up. Heero nodded, turning to whisper to Sally.
Stay here and look at that cut. Wufei, you stay as well and watch the door.
The two nodded and went about their business. Heero started back down the hall, but something about the closet caught his eye. Taped to the inside of the door was a note that read:
Let the games begin!
Heero stalked over to the door, ripping the paper down and crumpling it in his fist.
*So this is all a big game to you is it? I'm going to take you down. You're mine you son of a bitch!*
He turned to the others and told them to stay put before slowly and silently advancing down the hall, his eyes darting from side to side and up and down. Duo followed a few feet behind him carefully watching for anything his friend might have missed, as unlikely as it was.
Heero stopped under the large archway and looked around. There was no one to be seen on the stairs and the room to his left seemed empty. However, when he turned to his right, he caught a glimpse of a shadow moving in a mirror. He wheeled around quickly and fired a single shot into the room he had thought was empty. It seemed that it wasn't empty after all. A shadowy figure dropped to the ground and lay still and silent.
With his gun still trained on the fallen figure, Heero looked around quickly to make sure there was no one else. Satisfied there were no other threats, he motioned for the group to move forward while he went to check on the body. Duo remained under the archway, still confused as to how Heero had even seen the guy, let alone taken him down with one shot.
The others joined Duo under the arch as Heero reached the man's body. He kicked the gun away and nudged the man with his foot. The body remained face down and silent on the floor. When Heero rolled the man over, his eyes went wide. He looked at the man's face and nearly had a heart attack. He didn't recognize the face at all.
*Shit! It's not him!*
His eyes went down to the man's shirt. Printed on it were four words that made Heero feel sick:
Game over. I win.
Heero heard the creak of a door opening and spun around. Standing at the top of the stairs was another dark figure. But this one was lowering a gun. The others hadn't seen him yet.
Heero sprinted for the group in a mad rush. He reached Relena and shouldered her out of the way just as the assassin fired a shot. As Relena was sent sprawling across the floor, Heero raised his gun and felt a sting in his shoulder while behind him, Duo dropped to the floor yelling in pain and grabbing at his leg. Heero fired two shots in quick succession. The first grazed the man's shoulder, but the second hit him square in the chest. He fell to his knees, but held firmly onto the banister. The assassin shakily pulled himself up and aimed again at Relena. Heero saw this and shouted at him.
Game over, Demarc!
The assassin slowly turned his head to look at the young man who had just yelled his name, his eyes wide in surprise. Heero focused on the dying assassin, blocking out all other sensory input. His eyes narrowed as a small, red dot appeared on the man's forehead.
I win.
Heero squeezed the trigger hard, as if all of his anger would be transferred into the bullet. He never heard the shot, but he had only to look at Demarc as his head snapped back, sending him in a heap to the floor. Heero let his arms fall to his sides as he bowed his head and closed his eyes.
*It's finally over. Now everything can return to the way it was and Relena can stop being afraid. Relena?! Where is she? What happened to her?*
Heero quickly made his way over to where she was still lying on the floor and got down on one knee beside her.
Relena, are you alright?
Relena managed to haul herself up to kneel in front of him. She looked at him and rubbed her sore arm.
Well, I'll probably have a bruise from you slamming into me, but other than that I'm fine.
Sorry about that. Didn't have much of a choice.
Oh, just forget about it.
He never expected what happened next. She lunged forward and planted a kiss right on his lips. Heero blinked in surprise, but quickly found that he didn't mind it at all. He circled his arms around her and returned the kiss with as much passion as he could muster. Her hands traveled up his arms to rest on his shoulders. He winced and pulled away.
what's wrong, Heero? Oh! You're hurt!
He looked down and brushed at the wound left where the bullet had grazed his shoulder.
It's nothing. Don't worry about it.
Relena dramatically put her hands on her hips.
Oh no you don't. Not this time. You are going to let me clean that and bandage it up.
After a brief argument, Heero finally conceded. As Relena dabbed at Heero's wound with a handkerchief, Duo yelped in pain as Hilde pressed a torn piece of her shirt on his injured leg.
Oh, stop crying you big baby.
Aw, come on. Gimmie a break, Hilde. I just got shot in the leg! I'll never figure out how though. I mean, I was standin' behind Heero for cryin' out loud! Ow!
He yelped again when Hilde pressed harder on his wound. Everyone laughed at Duo's predicament as they felt the pressure of the last three weeks disappear.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing or Perfect Dark (it came in earlier...don't worry about it now). They are copyrighted by people who have a lot more money than I do. This was written for fun and for the fans of the series. All ideas concerning the storyline are mine.
NOTES: OK, so maybe it's a bit cheesy, but hey, this is my fic and I'll write what I want! To all you Duo fans, sorry, but I couldn't resist. =) Somehow I think that Duo getting shot at would make the other characters feel better for some reason. And of course, he'd complain and Hilde would admonish him...yeah, whatever. This isn't quite the end yet. There's one last part to kinda wrap things up.
Comments and criticisms are welcome. Please send them to HeeroWZero@hotmail.com and be sure to include your name so I can get back to you. Thanks for reading!