The Mexican (Part 5)

yue kato

220501

As they whizzed past the sign that indicated they were still a hundred miles from Vegas, Duo was startled out of his sulking by the Chinese man's voice, slightly tinged with curiosity. "Why did you choose to use this mode of transport anyway? It is much easier to take the tube or a shuttle."

Sighing, Duo decided he might as well talk to the guy. Silence was not in his nature, and the lack of conversation, even if it had to be with the 'villain', was killing him. He was beginning to go mad from stewing in his own thoughts. "Cars are my hobby. I own a scrapyard back on L2. This was supposed to be a vacation where Quatre and I drove down to Vegas. We thought it would be a nice change," he explained dully.

"Then why were you heading to Vegas without him?"

If looks could kill, the other man might have konked over right that instant. "We BROKE UP, remember??"

"Aa."

But the ball had started rolling, and once he began, Duo found he didn't want to stop. "It was supposed to be a vacation, godammit! And what does he do? Barely into the second day, he tells me he has to go to work again, for the-- god knows how many times it's been, I've lost count. And what's worse, he always tells me it's the last time, but it's fucking not! And sucker that I am, I actually let him lead me on. But no, nuh uh, this is it! I'm not going to take it anymore!!"

The Chinese man raised an elegant eyebrow. "He does not sound like a trustworthy character. Then why did you choose to be with him in the first place?"

"Hey!" That stung. It was one thing to be ripping your own boyfriend - correction, EX-boyfriend - apart, but when it came from someone else, it couldn't help but make him feel defensive. "He wasn't always like that! It just started last year, after he got obsessed with making a lot of money, cuz he thought that by doing that, his sisters would get off his case and he could finally propose to me..." He trailed off, slowly sinking into silence. The more he said, the more it seemed like he had wronged Quatre. He resolved to keep his mouth shut - he wanted to nurse his holier-than-thou rage for a little while longer.

"If that is the situation, you could be a little more... understanding."

Duo stared at the other man. How on earth did he end up like this, getting pointers on his love life from a man, whom for all he knew, was a professional hitman? "What's your name?"

"What?!"

Duo smirked, satisfied that he had for once, managed to rattle the man. "I said, what's your name? If I'm going to sit here, listening to you critique my love life, which I don't think comes under your assassin credentials anyway, I've got to at least have a name."

The Chinese man glanced at him once, then shrugged. "Chang Wufei."

"So, do I call you Chang, or Wufie?" He'd meant to call the guy by his name, but couldn't quite get the pronounciation right.

Wufei shot him a withering glare. "It's WuFEI!"

"Right, Wufie."

Another glare. Duo nearly giggled. The other man seemed almost... cute, when he got upset like that. "Okay, okay, chill, man! Wu...fei?"

Nodding, the self-assured mask dropped back over his features.

"Yeah, well, I can't really say nice to meet you, under these circumstances. But anyway, I'm Duo. Duo Maxwell."

"I know."

"You do?"

A small nod.

"Oh."

Five more minutes passed quietly, with only the purring of the engine to fill the compartment.

"It's not only that, you know. What if he doesn't really want to commit? And he's just using work as an excuse? What if he's already tired of me, but he's too nice to dump me? And like the dumbo that I am, I still keep pushing myself on him?" He had to stop himself, he could sense the depression encroaching upon him by the minute.

"Do you really believe that he is so weak?"

"No." He sighed and leaned back, watching the blurred landscape zip by.

"Do you still love him?"

"What??"

"Do you still love him? Did you leave him because you don't love him any longer? Or because you are merely angry at him?"

"I... It wouldn't have worked out anyway."

"Is that so? The way I see it, the reason why it doesn't work out is if you don't love each other anymore. If you still do, then other problems can always be solved. And they can't be solved by running away."

Duo eyed Wufei with something approaching admiration. "I have never imagined that coming from a professional hitman."

A slight flush seemed to stain Wufei's olive skin. "Is there a crime in that? We're human as well. We can be sentimental if we want to. We have emotions too," he snapped.

"I'm sorry," Duo hoped he could hear his sincerity, "I never saw it that way."

"Well, now you know."

The rest of the trip was spent in silence. Duo felt it more prudent to keep his mouth shut, he seemed to have struck a nerve there. But his mind was churning. He hated to admit it, but Wufei was right. He did still love Quatre, with all of his being, and he was quite certain that his emotions were reciprocated. But he was sick and tired of feeling like a doormat, and having the Arabian step all over him, ignoring how he felt everytime he cancelled on their time together. It made him start to feel insecure, which had led to the fights, and although the make-up sex was great, after all of that, they were back to square one again. Running away, escaping, avoiding the issue, and blaming each other wasn't going to solve anything. When this was all over and they found Quatre, they were going to have a good long talk with each other.

Decision made, he felt much better, and perked up, beginning to pay attention to his surroundings again. Wufei was cruising off the highway, turning into the exit into Vegas. "Hey, Wufie. This may sound weird and all, considering you're a kidnapper and I'm the kidnappee, but thanks. You were right, running away wouldn't have solved anything."

"I'm pleased that you have come to that conclusion. Appreciate the time that you already have together, instead of begrudging that which you do not have. Others may not even have the luxury that you already enjoy." There was a wistful note in the hitman's voice that hinted to Duo that there was a wealth of experience behind that statement.

"How did you become such an expert anyway?" He might as well probe if he could.

A small, knowing smile touched Wufei's lips. "Aa." But he did not elaborate.

Shrugging, Duo settled back, taking in the sights of the city. He would have been more shocked if Wufei had really answered. "Where are we going anyway?"

"To the spaceport. We are going to Mexico City."

"What for?" he asked warily.

"Mr Winner can be a stubborn man at times. I am sure you can help convince him to be more flexible."

"But I thought you didn't know where he is," Duo protested, heart sinking at the thought of being used to threaten his lover.

"My contact is working on that even as we speak. I'm sure that your boyfriend will be able to meet us as we step off the shuttle in Mexico."

Wufei turned into the multi-storey parking lot next to the Vegas spaceport that was located on the outskirts of the city. Switching off the engine, he grasped the cuffs around Duo's wrists, drawing them towards him. "If I take these off, I want your word that you will not try to escape."

Duo snorted. "I'd be an idiot if I actually agreed to that."

"Very well, then I'd just have to inform my contact that Mr Winner's life is... expendable."

/Shit!/ Duo closed his eyes, and drew in a deep breath. He was trapped. Sighing, he nodded. "I won't try to run away."

"I knew you would come around." A flick of his wrist and the cuffs came off.

They entered the spaceport, heading to the departure hall when suddenly Wufei came to an abrupt stop. The strangest expression crossed his face - something Duo never thought a cold-blooded killer would have. His eyes lit up, and his features softened, it seemed like he was going to smile. Then his brow creased in a frown, and he grabbed Duo's arm and dragged him behind him as he swiftly strode off. "Come on!"

They came up to a tall, slim, brown-haired man, a long fringe hiding one eye. "Trowa! What are you doing here?" Though it was soft, Duo could hear the urgency and worry in his voice.

"Trieze knows that Winner has disappeared. He sent Une to get his boyfriend. But you got to him first, as I can see."

Wufei cursed. "Yes, but not without shooting her. Does Treize know that something's up?"

Trowa nodded, but his face remained expressionless. "We might still have a chance. If we get to the gun first and give it to Marquise. Tell him to come straight to Mexico instead."

The troubled expression did not leave Wufei's features as he ran through whatever it was he was thinking of. "I guess that's the only way."

"The shuttle is about to leave. Let us hurry."

Wufei tightened his grip on Duo's arm and turned towards the departure hall in response to Trowa's reply, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He looked back, a question in his eyes. The hand on his shoulder moved higher, and the back of Trowa's fingers gently brushed over his cheek.

Trowa's impassive features mellowed, and a slight smile danced across his lips. "I missed you."

Even Duo could not deny that the smile that spread across Wufei's face was dazzling, though it lasted for less than a fleeting second. Then it struck him. "You... You... He... You..."

"Yes?" Wufei arched a delicate eyebrow, the calm veneer back in place, although his eyes still shone. "Was there a law that states hitmen can't be gay?"

End part 5