Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Do make sure you read the type between or under the scene divisions. You might get confused if you don't.

And now, on with the story…

Enter the Bitch-

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Quatre shook his head regretfully, "I should have killed myself off and let Duo play the diplomat while I had fun."
"Speaking of Duo, we should bring him out." Trowa said, thinking that the braided boy was probably bouncing off the walls with curiosity about what was going on.
"I'll get him," Heero said standing and walking the way, "Maybe one of you should talk to Zechs though, he seems rather upset."
Quatre looked towards the kitchen rather startled at the sight of a furious Zechs staring at his clenched fists, "I'll take care of him." He walked over and stood in front of him, wondering what to say. He was startled when Zechs stood up and made towards the door. Startled he put out an arm to stop him. "Where are you going?"
Zechs turned his head to look at him, "Out."
Quatre knew he should let the man be alone for awhile before he asked him for a decision, but knowing that Dorothy might still be prowling around he had to be sure he was a friend before he let him out of their sight, they couldn't afford to become victims of a trap, or misplaced suspicion, this early in the game. "Why?"
"To think." He tried to walk forward but Quatre's grip remained strong. "Let me go." The words were accented by forceful pulls on his arm in an attempt to free him-self.
Seeing the growing anger in Zechs' eyes Quatre knew he was pushing the envelope, but he had to know. His story of Duo's death may have been amusing, but the situation was all too common in wartime. He had seen how not trusting a member of the group could put added stress on missions, and once they got to Relena's their wouldn't be time to test his loyalty, they had to know now. "Not until I know whose side you plan to fight on."
Zech's anger overflowed, all he wanted was to get away from this place for awhile and think, god, he had just heard he would have to at least imprison, probably kill his sister and this little boy wanted to know who he was going to fight with. "Please let me go now."
Quatre forced himself to keep his grip, he could see the hurt and anger in the man's eyes and wanted nothing more than to let him go, but he couldn't, not yet. "No." Anything else he might have said disappeared as Zech's fist connected with his eye. Caught off guard he was knocked down just catching Zechs last words as he hit the floor, "I did say please."
He watched Quatre fall, then turned and walked to the door, brushing past a pissed Trowa as if he wasn't there. Before the door closed though he heard the beginning of Duo's laughter. Thinking it was his actions that were being laughed at he stormed off the porch and towards his car, planning on driving awhile to clear his mind. In his preoccupation he didn't hear the door close again or notice the graceful man following him.
"Where are you going?"
Zechs turned, startled to realize someone had been following him. When he saw who it was his anger lessened a little, but it could still be seen in his eyes, prowling like an animal waiting to be released by a careless action, "What are you doing out here? I don't recall asking for company."
Wufei shook his head in agreement, "No, you didn't, but then I don't remember asking for company after I killed Trieze either."
"Hn."
Wufei smiled, "That seems to be a popular noise today."
Zechs said nothing, just stood there watching the boy, trying, but failing, to keep hold of his anger when faced with the boy's smile.
Wufei's smile grew broader as he saw Zechs relax a little more and he took a few steps forward, bringing himself within touching distance of Zechs and placed a hand on his shoulder, remembering how human contact had helped him so much all those years ago, and waited for Zechs to speak.
Zechs felt the rest of his anger disappear as he watched the boy walk towards him. He allowed his eyes to travel up the boys form, noting again the grace with which he moved, and finally settle his face. He had just begun to wonder what that hair would feel like when he was jerked back to reality by a hand on his shoulder. Realizing it was just Wufei's he relaxed a little but not completely, he knew this game, it was the same one he had used on Wufei. The boy was trying to use the silence to make him talk and, dammit, it was working. "Why would she want this, she was always so against violence."
"I won't even try to speculate on what's going on inside her head." Wufei said relieved that Zechs was finally talking, any longer and he might have done something they'd both regret, although it wasn't his fault Zechs' lips looked so tempting. "All I know, and all I need to know right now, is that she wants a war and we have to stop her. If you can't deal with that then fine, but make the decision yourself, don't get angry and try to force us to make it for you. Anybody in that room will understand if you can't fight and let you leave with no loss of respect, but if you act the coward and cause trouble until we have to throw you out so you can blame your lack of action on us then any respect they have for you, any respect I have for you, will get thrown out with you." He crossed his arms and waited for Zechs to speak but seeing that he was about to deny trying to force the decision on them he broke in again. " Before you try to deny anything think about what happened in there." He jerked his head towards the building, "Why else would you punch Quatre other than to piss us off? Think about it and you'll see I'm right." With that he turned and began walking towards the house planning on leaving Zechs alone. He had reached the door when a voice directly behind him spoke.
"You win, I'll fight."
He turned and smiled, his faith in the man restored, "Better get ready then, I don't think Trowa's to happy with you."
Zechs blanched a little as he remembered the angry Trowa he had passed. Somewhat hesitantly he followed Wufei into the house, fully expecting a fist to come flying towards him at any moment. He wasn't disappointed, he made it two steps, one farther than he had expected, before he found himself seated on the floor with a bloody lip, courtesy of Trowa's fist. He probably would have had a nose and eye to match if Heero hadn't stopped Trowa.
"You're even Trowa, leave it."
"Fine." Trowa then proceeded to walk over to the table and sit next to Quatre, glaring at Zechs the whole time.
Seeing that Trowa was safely out of reach, Wufei offered a hand to Zechs, "Told you he wasn't happy."
"Unhappy's a bit of an understatement don't you think?"
Heero grinned, "Well, you did punch Quatre. Now, we were about to discuss what to do about the upcoming meeting, care to join us?"
Zechs nodded his head and sat at the other end of the table opposite Trowa enabling Trowa and himself to continue their glaring throughout the meeting.
Wufei, who had taken the seat beside Zechs, sighed exasperatedly at the men's antics. Not that he was complaining, with Zechs attention focused on Trowa he could watch him all he wanted without Zechs noticing. Life was indeed good.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Two Days Later


Quatre stood on the porch surveying the scene before him. Heero, dressed in snug, faded blue jeans and a long sleeved button up shirt of dark blue, stood beside the jeep trying to get Duo, who was dressed in snug, black jeans and a deep violet shirt of the same style of Heero's, that it was perfectly safe to ride in the back under the luggage. Duo, however, stubbornly maintained that with all the equipment Heero insisted on packing there was no way he would be able to sneak away before they unloaded it, if that was, he managed to avoid being squished like a pancake by it all.
Trowa, dressed in loose fitting tan slacks and a green turtle neck, was watching amusedly as Wufei, wearing white slacks and a black t-shirt, and Zechs, clothed in dark tan slacks, a tight navy blue shirt and knee length coat, argued over who would get to drive the convertible. Wufei insisted that Zechs would spend the whole time glaring at Trowa and drive them off the road and Zechs said that Wufei would be to busy yelling at him for something or other to concentrate and drive them into ditch somewhere.
Quatre, deciding that they had all flirted with each other enough for one day, walked over to where Duo and Heero were. "Duo stop complaining, you know good and well that Heero isn't going to put anything heavy on you. The equipment goes around in the suitcases and the clothes on top in duffle bags so that they'll mold around and conceal you. You'll have no trouble getting out." So saying he left them to glare at each other and proceeded over to Wufei and Zechs. At a break in the yelling he stepped forward and held a set of keys towards each of them, "Since you can't decide who gets to drive the car, take the bikes." Surprised into temporary silence, Wufei and Zechs took they're keys and walked towards the motorcycles. The bikes were just a few of the many Quatre owned that had been brought in case they were needed. They were identical black ninjas, preventing them from fighting over who got what. Suddenly grinning mischievously, Wufei looked at Zechs who grinned back. Simultaneously they turned, yelled their thanks to Quatre, slipped on the helmets, mounted the bikes and took off racing down the road at rapidly increasing speeds.
Quatre glanced at Trowa worriedly, "Maybe I should have just let them argue."
"And spoil their fun?"
"Apparently their not the only ones having fun." He jerked his towards Heero and Duo who were now arguing over how much room Duo needed. "You think I should intervene again?"
"Nah, it's fun to watch them flirt, besides," He gestured with his hand, "It seems they've managed a compromise.
Quatre looked at them again in time to see Heero jerk a few suitcases back while moving a few closer, giving Duo a longer but thinner hiding place. "Just in time too, Dorothy will be here soon." They continued to watch until Duo was situated and hidden then walked over to talk to Heero.
"Everything set?"
Heero nodded, "When's she expected?"
Trowa looked away from where he had been staring at the road, "Right about now if one's to judge by Wufei and Zechs' face."
They all turned and saw a seriously pissed Wufei and Zechs riding in front of a small black limousine, they all heaved a small sigh of relief at the color, apparently Relena's tastes had improved. Heero and Trowa leaned against the car to watch as Quatre stepped forward to greet their guest, wondering how stupid he would have to act this time. "Greetings Dorothy, we are pleased to see you again and," He glanced at his watch, "exactly on time. A moment sooner and you would have had to wait, but as you can see we are done now and ready to move out on your command."
Dorothy looked around at the different vehicles, "Are all these really necessary? Surely you could share cars."
Quatre glanced uneasily at Zechs and Wufei, "I'm afraid it's necessary to keep those two apart, they... don't get along well."
A glance at their scowls and she believed it, "Well, surely you three could ride together, the luggage would fit in the cars trunk no doubt."
Quatre took a deep breath and looked up to buy some time to think of an answer.
Trowa, seeing the trouble, stood and walked over, laying a comforting hand on Quatre's shoulder, "I'm afraid Heero's never forgiven him for..." He paused to glance at Quatre's now troubled face, "Well, you know."
Dorothy nodded, she could see Heero's glare from there, "Very well then, I'm sure Miss Relena will be willing to accommodate your needs. Lets be off, I'm in a hurry to be home."
"Very well then," He bowed to Dorothy then turned to the others, "Gentlemen, lets move out."
At this Wufei and Zechs positioned themselves on the sides of Dorothy's limousine and Quatre, Trowa, and Heero got into their appointed vehicles. Heero giving the luggage a few pushes to "make sure it was secure".

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Relena's House

Half a day and one shuttle ride later they arrived at Relena's mansion.

"Well gentlemen, these lady's," Dorothy gestured towards three maids, "Will show you too your rooms. I'm afraid Miss Relena is busy and won't be able to see you until tomorrow, but feel free to call me should you need anything. Good evening."
Quatre stood and bowed, "Thank you Dorothy for the hospitality and I would like to once again apologize for the trouble at the port. If I had know so many vehicles would cause that much trouble I would have insisted we all ride together."
"It was nothing, now follow these kind ladies up stairs and I shall see you tomorrow." She bowed a goodbye and left them to find their rooms.
A thin, mousy maid stepped forward and gestured to Quatre and Trowa; "If the gentlemen will follow me I will take them to their rooms." Smiling they bid goodbye to Heero, Wufei, and Zechs and trailed after the maid.
After a considerable trek down somewhat confusing halls the maid stopped in front of a large oak door, "Miss Dorothy said the gentlemen were to share a room, this is correct?"
Quatre smiled at her interest and said that it was, indeed correct, smile growing broader as she blushed and hurried away. "Don't know how we're supposed to ask for anything when they rush away like that."
"Well, it'll be better for when Duo comes if a maid isn't around to see." Trowa said, opening the door.
Quatre smile turned mischievous "That won't be a problem," He paused to wind his arms around Trowa's neck, "I told Duo to hide out in Heero's room."
Trowa closed the door behind them and laced his arms around Quatre's waist, "They're gonna kill you, ya know."
Quatre leaned, so that their faces were almost touching, "Nah, they get along fine when they're alone."
"Yeah, but when you're with them they aren't exactly alone are they." He bridged the small distance between them and kissed Quatre softly, effectively cutting off conversation for the bulk of the night.
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Wufei and Zechs

A large, robust maid of the type one would expect to see in a country in, sure, but not at Miss Relena's mansion which was full of delicate things those large hands looked to heavy to handle, stepped forward and pointed at Wufei and Zechs, "You two are to follow me, mind ya walk quickly now, I haven't got all day." She turned and began to walk quickly up a set of stairs opposite the ones Quatre and Trowa were led up.
After a short journey around relatively straight hallways that Wufei was sure had led them in a circle, the maid stopped and gestured heavily at a large, solid oak door much like Quatre and Trowa's.
Wufei and Zechs looked at each other a moment then turned back to the maid, "We're required to share?" Zechs asked as Wufei interrupted with, "I refuse to share with this thing!"
The maid looked bored, "Look, there aren't many rooms here fit for living in, and only three are fit for guests. Your couple there got one, ya'll get this one, and that angry boy got the third. So unless your wanting to sleep with the servants I suggest you stop complaining and get in."
"A house this big only has three rooms fit for company." The skepticism in Wufei's voice was real; the house was huge after all.
The maid's boredom was turning to annoyance, "This house has 65 rooms, and the servant wing takes up 40 of those. Out of the 25 left, 10 are still under construction from Miss Relena's renovations. Five more are being prepared for renovations and have no furniture. That leaves 10; out of those only three I mentioned are fit for male company.
"What do you mean, "Fit for male company"?" Zechs asked.
I mean those other seven are full of pink, frilly, lacey things, so be happy you got what you got and not those." Finished talking she turned and walked heavily away, not very impressed by the new guests manners.
After making sure the door was shut behind them Zechs turned to Wufei, "I refuse to share a room with this thing?" He said, eyebrows raised, surely I'm not that bad.
Wufei turned from his survey to face him, "Quatre did tell Dorothy that we hated each other, I assumed we were to carry out the act."
Zechs shrugged, he had a point, "I wonder why we were roomed together, considering our supposed hatred of each other, wouldn't they have put one of use with Heero?"
"Relena probably wanted to make sure Heero's room would always be empty so that she can visit him whenever she wants. She always did have that thing for him."
Zechs' eyes darkened and Wufei feared he had said the wrong thing, telling him that his sister's probably trying to get herself laid may not have been the smartest thing he could have done. The eyes soon brightened again, though and Zechs managed a slight smile, "Heero has my sympathies, Relena's not fun when she doesn't get what she wants."
"I almost feel sorry for Relena."
Zechs looked surprised, "Why?"
"Duo's rooming with Heero, when Relena pays her nightly visit, or visits, he's not going to be at all happy. I wouldn't be surprised he finds a way to get back at her during his spy time."
Zechs laughed at that, wondering how Relena would explain the jokes Duo would undoubtedly play on her. "Maybe be could convince her that it's Duo's ghost come back for revenge."
Wufei smiled happily, he could still see pain in those eyes, hiding behind the laughter, but it was less than it had been before and no longer threatened to break out at any moment. Without thinking he reached up to brush away a strand of hair that had fallen in Zechs face when he laughed, marveling again at the mans beauty and wishing he understood the emotions just watching the man evoked.
Zechs froze when he felt Wufei's hand on his face and looked into Wufei's eyes, the warmth he found there surprised him, it was the same warmth he was sure came to his eyes when he watched Wufei, but surely... In question he reached a hand out hesitantly to touch Wufei's face, keeping their eyes locked. In answer Wufei leaned his face into Zechs' hand, the smile that had faded when he felt Zechs stiffen at his touch resurfacing, and let his emotions show clearly in his eyes, no longer trying to hide the emotions he didn't fully understand himself. Still hesitant, as if afraid it was a dream, Zechs drew Wufei closer to him, their bodies almost touching and leaned down, eyes never leaving Wufei's, ready to release him at the first objection. Seeing only the same warmth he closed the distance between them and kissed him, slowly at first then harder as he felt the boy respond, sure now of what he had seen in those eyes. It was the same emotion he had felt since he had first met the boy. He didn't know if it was love, but he did know that it was want and caring and need and that was all that mattered right now. He pulled Wufei closer, molding him to his body as they both quickly became lost in each other.
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Duo
He waited inside the bags until the voices disappeared then began to shift cautiously. When no one raised the alarm at self-moving bags he pushed himself up and looked around. He didn't see any guards but just the same he snuck down the side and hid next to the car Quatre had parked there for that purpose to wait and make sure they weren't simply making rounds. When he saw no one for five minutes he decided it was safe and took off down the lawn scanning the windows for one with the blinds and window open three-quarters of the way. He had just spotted it when he heard barking behind him and the sound of running feet. He didn't have to look back to know what was chasing him. He made it in the window before they caught him and he heaved a sigh of relief, thinking they wouldn't know how to get in the window. He looked up to smile at Heero, but received only a look of horror in return. He had just enough time to turn around before they were on him attacking his leg and his arm, biting almost to the bone. He got one off his arm by slamming it into the wall and knocked the other out with a hard punch. Seeing that Heero had recovered from his shock and was doing fine, Duo decided to let him fight the rest and began the task of closing the window one armed. He had just given it up as impossible when another hand came up to join his and the window slid shut. He looked over and saw Heero standing next to him, considerably worse for wear. Concerned he stepped forward to see if he was okay only to discover just how bad his was leg hurt and collapse in a haze of pain, noting only that his head never hit the floor. When he came too again he was lying on a bed and Heero was kneeling before him with and arm full of medical supplies. At the sight of the bottle of alcohol he wished he had blacked out for longer. He withstood the initial cleaning and binding of his arm and leg without complaint, but when Heero apparently decided that it was fun to cause Duo pain and dumped the whole damn bottle on his leg he was to busy trying to stay conscious to control the whimpers he knew he must be making. Once his hand stopped shaking enough to let him, he took the painkillers Heero offered with relief and soon dozed off. His last thought was that the feel of Heero's hand and that warm, concerned look on his face were better painkillers than any pill, faster too.
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Heero (The above scene from his perspective)

"Why the hell does she need guard dogs?!" Heero fumed as he punched the newest attacker in the head. He got no answer from Duo who appeared to be concentrating on closing the window. He swung a kick at the stomach of the last one, then walked over to help, trying to ignore the pain in his leg. He couldn't believe Relena would own such viscous beasts, but then again, birds of feather flock together, or so Duo said. He looked worriedly at Duo's arm as he straightened away from the window; it looked more like raw meat than an arm. He stepped forward to help the boy just as Duo did the same. Heero watched in agony, unable to help as Duo gasped in pain and collapsed. He stepped forward quickly, just managing to catch Duo's head before it could hit the ground. His heart twisting at the pain he saw in that face, Heero maneuvered Duo over his good arm and carried him to the bed. After making sure he was comfortable Heero grabbed Duo's knife out of his boot and cut the boy shirt and pants off so he wouldn't have to disturb the wounds. Grimacing at the sight of the bites he ran to the one bag he had brought and pulled out bandages, alcohol, and painkillers. Ignoring his own screaming wounds he walked quickly back to Duo and began to clean out the bites. Duo's arm wasn't as bad as he had feared and would heal fine without stitches as long as it was wrapped and cleaned daily. The leg was another matter, even after it was cleaned it looked more like hamburger than a leg. It would be the perfect place for infection to set in. Grimacing he upended the small bottle of alcohol and let it empty onto the wound, his heart breaking again at the small sounds of pain Duo made. He hated seeing the man in pain; it was ten times worse knowing that he was causing it. When the bottle was empty he wrapped the leg tightly and tied it off. Then reached quickly for the painkillers and a glass of water both of which Duo took after a moment's hesitation. Still worried about him, Heero knelt there despite his screaming leg and stroked Duo's head until the painkillers took affect and he drifted off. Only then did he proceed to clean and bind his own wounds and throw the unconscious dogs out the window, he suspected that the one he had punched was dead, but couldn't be sure. When he finished, he put a note on the door saying he was not to be bothered under any circumstances and climbed into bed next to Duo. Ignoring the fact that they both were all but naked he pulled Duo against his chest and positioned him so that the boys braid face the door. This position had three benefits. The first was that if anyone came in they would assume Heero had simply found a friendly servant. Second, this way he knew Duo wouldn't get up and try to walk on that leg while he was asleep. These were really just excuses he would present to the others later on, it was the third reason, he admitted to himself, that really explained why he held Duo like this, simply because he wanted to.

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The Next Day

The five men stood in a large sitting room waiting for Relena to appear. Late last night they had all met in Heero's room and discussed how best to excuse his wounds, or rather, the others had discussed while he fussed over Duo's wounds. They had finally decided on saying that Heero had gone out to take a walk and been attacked on his way back. That would explain the dead body outside his window as well as his wounds. Apparently he had been right about one being dead.
"Are you sure you should be walking around Heero, that leg looked pretty bad last night."
Heero jerked out of his thoughts and turned towards the voice, it was Quatre again. "I'm fine." His voice was sharper than he had meant but he was worried about Duo.
Any comment Quatre might have made was cut off by Relena's entrance. The whole group stood, mouths agape at what they saw. Relena stood in the doorway dressed in a short tight skirt and tank top with spiked heels. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and her lips were painted bright red. She looked, as they all agreed later, like a whore who had made it big. Apparently her mode of dress had changed along with her ideals on peace. That this conversation might prove interesting after all was the thought running through all their heads. Especially when she walked over and kissed Heero.