Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing
_sorry about the long wait, but here is Chapter five, for all of those who asked for it.
Lose and Gain
Chapter 5 'The Beginnings of War'
Heero stepped out of the steam of the shower and rubbed his head vigorously with his towel. When he removed it he shook his head sending a spray of water around the room and onto the walls. Yawning slightly he let his gaze fall on the single occupant of his bed. Solo lay his little fist curled near his cheek and his breathing easy and steady he slept there ever night. At first Heero had tried to leave him in his own room, but the boy refused to sleep there. He would come into Heero's room and crawl into the bed with him as if he needed human contact.
Heero didn't much mind though. The child was a comfort to him as well and over the last couple of weeks Solo had broken out his of completely emotionless attitude. He would nod and sometimes smile at Heero, but only at Heero. Solo refused to listen to anyone else and would almost wail in protest when they tried to take him away from Heero. The emotional attachment had left Heero in a slight predicament. He couldn't do his work with Solo around and Solo refused to be anywhere else but by Heero's side. Because of this problem he had almost completely fallen away from the case. Sally was still researching it, but Heero rarely participated in the actual looking unless he was asked directly.
Placing his towel on a chair by his bed he moved to hover over the little boy and reached his hand out and rubbed his fingers over the boy's sides. He stirred under the touch but curled up tighter and refused to wake up. Heero felt a smile building on his lips and attacked the little boy's sides without mercy. Immediately the child's squeal of laughter reached his ears and Solo's eyes flew open. Heero watched as the boy giggled and tried to roll into a ball to ward off Heero's attack.
"Do you give up?" Heero asked him hoping by some miracle the child would answer, that any word would escape his mute lips. Solo didn't answer but began shaking his head in between giggles and Heero gave up for a moment and stopped his attack. "Do you want breakfast?" Heero asked him and lifted Solo off the bed by his waist and carried him downstairs. Solo nodded his head and Heero smiled.
Life was easier, better, with Solo around. His thoughts rarely if ever in fact dwelled on the past. All of the sudden he had other things to focus on. More important things to do even if it was just as simple as making breakfast, or finding a lost toy.
"Do you want a waffle, or eggs?" He asked the child purposefully making it a question where a response was required. It didn't work though and Solo remained quiet. Heero shook his head as he entered the kitchen and set the boy in his chair. "Waffles?" He asked again and when Solo nodded he smiled. "All right, waffles it is."
Before he made the waffles he went the fridge and poured Solo a cup of orange juice. He set the sippy cup in front of the child and watched happily as he reached for it. It had taken a while for Solo to do things as simple as that for himself. It had almost seemed like he didn't care whether he lived or died. Heero didn't know if a child as small as himself could comprehend that, but he didn't think it matter much either way. The child had lost his zeal for life. He had become like Heero had been perhaps even worse off. When Solo was happily drinking his juice Heero reached into his cabinet for the waffle mix and started to make breakfast.
A phone ringing interrupted him just as he was about to close the waffle maker. Giving Solo a momentary look he shut the waffle maker lid and went to answer the phone. As he turned on the video phone screen it up he made sure to keep an eye on Solo he didn't want the little boy wandering over to the waffle maker and burning himself. "Hello." He said absently as he made sure Solo was still seated at the table.
"Heero, its Quatre. I know you're busy and everything, but I really need you hear that this conference today." Quatre paused and waited for an answer.
"I can't leave Solo." Heero confessed and let his eyes stray from Solo and he looked intently at the Quatre. "I don't know if it would be a good idea to leave him with someone else or not."
Quatre swallowed. "I know, but this is important. The conference is outside and the discussion has a lot to do with Relena's plans for Mars."
Heero froze as the words sunk in. It has been Relena's life's work. It was all she had talked about up to the time she had become pregnant. She had left her brother in charge of the affairs, but not everything had gone the way it had been originally planned. "What's wrong?" He asked forgetting to watch Solo for the moment.
"Well there's been a take over." Quatre sighed. "I didn't even see it coming. Bradford, has gained a lot of support in the council and together they've managed to push Milliardo out of office. He's infuriated and has taken legal action, but that could take years."
"What does he want to do?" Heero asked his voice faltering slightly.
"He's demolished the whole project. I don't know what he's doing Heero, but it's definitely not peace related. It had nothing to do with the original plans. He's not building a summit building for peace talks or a world council."
"How could this happen!" Heero half screamed into the phone. "Why haven't you done anything?"
"I've tried but the access Relena had given to me to help with the project has been denied. I can't get in anywhere and I have no idea what's going on." Quatre creased his brow worriedly and sighed. "This is my last attempt to gain support. If I can convince these people that Bradford is planning something destructive, and I know he must be, we can take action and get the leadership back to Milliardo."
"That sounds like a plan Quatre, but where do I belong in all of this. I wasn't much for the public speaking. Relena did most of that. My primary work was on defending her."
"I need the people to see that those who Relena was closest to are still backing the original project. Believe it or not you are a major influence in the political world. You may not have the fiery speeches your wife had, but you have the fact that you were married to her. People respect your opinion on things, and I'm hoping your appearance there will sway the meeting. Besides it could help to have an extra pair of eyes watching the proceedings."
Heero sat silently letting it all sink in. He had been out of public eye for eyes. He hadn't liked it when Relena had been involved there was too much risk, to many narrow-minded people. He knew that Quatre wouldn't ask unless he really felt that it was necessary, but what about Solo? Heero turned for a moment and looked at the little boy he was still sitting in his chair sipping his drink. He couldn't put Solo at risk like that and how was he supposed to get him to stay with anyone else. Did he even trust anyone else with his safety? Immediately he knew he didn't. The only option would be to bring Solo with him to the convention. "Listen Quatre, I want to help, but I'll have to bring Solo with me." Heero paused and glanced worriedly at the little boy. "You better beef up security, don't hire anyone he don't trust."
"I know this is bad timing, but this is my last hope. I have a feeling something really bad is going to come from this. Bradford is a sneaky man, Relena didn't trust him when she was alive, but she didn't have the heart to remove him from the council. He was no threat when the people's hearts believed in her, but Milliardo is not nearly as popular with the public. Some of his ideas are viewed as outlandish and un thought out. You and me know better, but sometimes people are too trusting too compliant when it comes to leadership. I just hope we can stop this before something unexpected happens."
"Do you have the Preventers on this?" Heero asked suddenly. "The can get access to Mars. They can look for anything suspicious. Maybe something that would sway the council."
"Already done Heero. They can't get in. I don't know how, but I have a feeling Bradford his friends in high places." Quatre ran his hands over his face in worry. "It's tomorrow at 4:00." He smiled warily and rubbed his eyes. "I haven't slept in two days."
Heero glanced at him and responded. "Try to get some sleep. You need to make a good impression tomorrow."
Quatre nodded. "I'll do that Heero just be there all right, bye." With that he ended the call and the screen went blank.
Heero sat there for a moment and stared at the blank screen. He was about to be shoved into a world he had thought left behind. Politics, Relena's life. It all tied together in a massive knot, a knot that was building in his stomach. He didn't think he was ready to go back. Too many memories, but how could he refuse? Heero was so lost in his thought he jumped when he felt something pulling on his shirtsleeve. Turing he saw Solo looking at him hopefully. He was pointing across the room toward the kitchen his little mouth creased in worry. "What?" Heero asked letting as anger and confusion seep into his speech. "What do you want."
The words were harsh and unnecessary and he immediately regretted them, but the damage was done and Solo shrank away from him and let his hand fall to his side. Heero watched with regret building inside him. He didn't know how to apologize for the harsh words though and reached out to touch Solo. To his surprise Solo moved away from him. "I didn't mean it buddy." Heero started hesitantly and was about to try again when the smell of something burning reached his nostrils. Jerking up immediately he saw the waffle maker smoking heavily. "Shit!" He cursed forgetting his promise not to do that around Solo and ran to the counter and opened the maker. The waffle was black and burnt the bottom of it. There was no way that was edible.
Turning slowly he looked back at Solo. He had been just trying to warn him, why had he been so pushy? Grumbling in frustration he threw the maker into the sink causing a loud crash. The motion made Solo jump and Heero looked just as the little boy ran up stair and disappeared into the gloom. Sullen and defeated Heero pushed his hair out of his eyes and left the kitchen hoping somehow he could salvage the damage that he'd done in only five minutes.
* * * * * * * * * * * ** *
"So we're going after Winner at the convention tomorrow." Calvin sighed tiredly as he watched his boss's shadowy form on the video screen. The figure nodded and the connection was terminated. Calvin leaned back in his chair and glance over his shoulder to where Trent sat smoking. "Did you hear that?" He asked.
"Yeah," Trent replied. "We'd better not screw this up. This has got to be perfect. An upset like this could divide the people permanently." He laughed as some smoke curled around his head. "Another Heero Yuy. Another to die for the 'peace of the world.' We my friend are about to make history." He smiled and stared at the ceiling.
Calvin let his chair swivel around to face Trent. "Do you think we're doing the right think. I mean I know…." He trailed off as Trent interrupted.
"You are in too deep to back out now. We still have three more pilots to destroy and a war to cause. In the end you'll be on the winning side and I don't want to be the one to tell the boss that you had doubts." Trent smiled wickedly and flicked his cigarette across the room. "We're starting a new age Calvin. We'll be his most trusted associates. We'll rule the world."
Calving swallowed and pushed a nervous smile onto his lips. "I suppose your right and besides, who else would ever have the chance to end the free world."
"That's the spirit." Trent added and his eyes darkened for a moment. "One thing though. If Yuy's there with the kid we get them both too." Trent narrowed his eyes. "The funeral was just for fun, just to scare them. This time all ends will be erased and they'll never find out who we are."
Calvin smiled back. "Good, I've been wanting to take care of that kid for some time. It's about time we got him. Do we get him during or after."
"We keep them separate." Trent added. "If we can. We'll just have to see how things unfold."
So what do you guys think. I beat you want to know what happens at the conference. The next chapter won't take nearly as long in coming. Thanks for being patient.