tantrys - ffiction - stop the world - 4
Stop The World
4
Shounen ai Gundam Wing
Warnings: Constant P.O.V. shifting, new paring of 13xRelena. Wow, that's new. Had to fit them in somewhere.
Also, someone brought up the curious concept of my inspiration ^_~. The song 'Peace', by the Eurythmics, actually. I'll put the lyrics at the end of this... Whenever that comes.....
PART 4
The cold burst of air that followed Detective Chang and Barton into the 32nd Precinct was an unwelcome stimulant upon the slow afternoon drone that had settled over the small office. Several desk workers complained lightly, and greeted the lead investigators with moans of 'shut the door!' Wufei glared at the usurpers as he passed, and burst into the closet he called his private office. Trowa followed, and closed the door. Companionable silence followed as the two pulled off their heavy coats, hung them up, and sat down at the square table in the center, where the small pile of evidence from the Iria Winner murder sat, glaring in its mystery.
Trowa watched as Wufei scowled at the photo of Iria's body, sprawled on the floor in a black pool of blood. Her brother had found her... She was beautiful, talented, an aspiring actress. In the picture her short wavy blond hair was matted to the back of her head with blood. Three shots to the chest, and one to the head.
"Death was instant," Wufei spoke suddenly. He leaned back in the chair, swinging one arm over the back and slouching. An uncommon gesture for the disciplined detective; one in which he fell into only for brainstorming. His plain white dress shirt was rumpled from wear and from the gun holster that was cradled beneath his arm. "Four bullets at close range, piercing the heart three times, and the head once. Time of death was 12:32 a.m."
Trowa nodded. His partner was in his own world now; zoning out or in as was appropriate to the case. Wufei continued.
"Weapon was an unregistered .32 pistol and the lab reported silencer markings on the bullets. The killer had to have been close to her-- there were no signs of a struggle. Our motive is unknown. The only suspects we have are the brother--" Wufei's eyebrows raised slightly and he tapped the folder on the table in front of him.
"Unlikely," Trowa offered. Wufei didn't acknowledge him, but his agreement was obvious. Grief is easy to fake... But on him.... Trowa left the thought unfinished. Wufei was standing now, arms folded before him and stance relaxed.
"And the boyfriend, who still doesn't have a name, nor much of a face. There's always the break-in theory, but again, she didn't panic."
"The sweepers didn't find any fingerprints, or hairs," Wufei stepped forward and swept aside a few folders. He lifted a large clear plastic bag, sealed and labeled. He held it up to study, and looked at Trowa. "They did find a feather." He paused again and frowned. The soft, nearly transparent feather shifted in the bag. It was too long for any bird-- the lab tests and common sense had proved that.
"A feather," Wufei repeated. He let out a short, disbelieving huff of air. "Of all the damn things..."
"I can drop by tomorrow and see if the brother remembers anything about the boyfriend," Trowa offered. "Or if he knows what that is." He pointed loosely at the feather and Wufei shook his head approvingly.
"Fine. Maybe we can snap at the lab boys again, see if they found anything else..."
"Snap at them," Trowa agreed. A brief smirk passed over his lips, and he inclined his head. "Or be snapped at, which ever comes first?"
Wufei narrowed his eyes at his lanky friend. He surprises me too much. I should learn to be more suspicious of the man. He couldn't help but smile ruefully as well.
"Shut up," he replied smoothly. "They respect me, I'm their superior."
"Of course," Trowa agreed softly. "The signs they put on your back are the epitome of respect...." Trowa grinned at his openness-- I only seem to crack jokes at his expense. Anyone else I know would be shocked that I can talk.
"I thought you were known as the Silent Wonder around here," Wufei complained, eyeing Trowa with dark eyes twinkling in amusement. "You sure do talk a lot for a Wonder."
Trowa stood up and began neatening the table. He didn't reply. Wufei muttered something about recording their conversation next time and shuffled out of the office, plastic bag and feather in hand. The door slammed behind him.
Iria Winner's last photograph ended up on the top of the last pile Trowa made. He studied it briefly, and closed the folder.
It was so warm. Warm and light, bright and white. He sighed and kicked his feet gently in the air. His arms were thrown back, palms up and fingers moving faintly. There was an ever present warm breeze flowing around him, tickling the white gold hair across his forehead. It rifled over the feathers of his wings, spread aimlessly behind him.
I'm so lazy, he reflected with a grin. She was never lazy. She was beautiful, and clean. She smelled so wonderful... Like flowers... he laughed loudly, because he could, then quieted for his thoughts... Her blood.... smelled so wonderful... Like copper. Copper, and flowers.
It's funny, that a human could die so beautifully. But she did. She was pure. He scowled, and thrashed once in the air as if to rid himself of the thought. But it remained. She had no right to be so pure. Humans are never pure....
He began to spin, slowly, almost swimming in the air. His hands paddled along, and he hovered over the floor that wasn't quite there... It was a favorite past time of angels. To float, to fly...
Never pure, he repeated forcefully. That's why she's dead. She was wrong. HE was wrong.... Another twisted smile crawled its way onto his peaceful statement. I killed him too. Well, he'll die eventually, and that's what he deserves. He opened his eyes suddenly. They were very pale, and vibrant. Something other than heavenly conviction was present in his gaze. He floated on through the endless sky, watching the tell tale white clouds pass by in a lazy route...
"I don't see what was wrong with the green vest, Treize," Relena shouted from within the walk in closet. She buttoned the front of her smart pale pink business suit, and neatened the collar. Turning once before the three paned mirror, she nodded.
"The only green I like is on a rose stem. Green vests were never meant to be!" Her husband retorted. His voice rose as he stepped inside the closet and eyed Relena's slender, willowy figure appreciatively. His smile was seductive as he neared. Relena rolled her eyes at his predatory reflection and ignored him. She pulled on her matching pink pumps and studied the mirror again. Treize sniffed indignantly at the rebuff and walked back out. "I'll make sure the car's ready."
She smiled as he disappeared from the mirror's reflection. He looked great, as always, in black. It accentuated the brown blonde highlights in his hair, and his baby blue eyes. Had to have been the eyes I fell in love with, she mused. That or his impeccable fashion sense. She paused in fluffing her hair as their private bedroom telephone began ringing, and turned to go answer it.
"Hello?" She intoned fluidly.
"Hello angel," a sweet familiar voice answered. Relena smiled. Quatre had called her that ever since she'd told him her story, of angels, the heavens, Guardians and the fall....
"Hello angel yourself," she laughed. "How are you?" Her smile muted when she heard him sigh. It was such a sad sound.... Damn the Fates, she swore silently. They find the sickest pleasure in death.
"I'm hanging in there," he answered honestly. "Duo is helping me a lot, and working helps me keep busy... I think we have a new employee, too."
"You think?" Relena mimicked playfully. "Do elaborate!"
"I do think, we're still interviewing him. He's... strange, but there's something about him..." Quatre stopped slowly, and Relena waited patiently. He usually fell quiet when he was thinking about something important. "Relena."
"Yes, angel?" She smiled at his pet name, and could hear the smile in his voice as he went on.
"You're a fallen angel, right?"
His question was surprising. He'd refused to talk about her fantastic past after she'd explained it all on their first meeting. Of course it was all completely unbelievable, and anyone who did believe it would have been committed. If Quatre were any other person, I *would* have been committed, she remembered. She wasn't. Quatre hadn't believed, but he'd accepted it. And now?
"Yes," she answered softly.
Another pause. "You mentioned losing your wings when you well. Were they-- cut off? Or did they just disappear? "
"They vanished after a few years," she explained. She sat down gently on the bed, and hefted the phone base into her lap from the bedside table. His line of questioning was bizarre, especially now. Has he seen an angel? I wouldn't think one would come, when Iria died... "I chose to fall, because I found love here... They just went away..."
He was quiet yet again, but she thought he muttered 'crazy' before sighing loudly and speaking purposefully, with a small whining hint he used to get what he wanted. It was very effective.
"Can you visit soon? Tomorrow maybe?"
"Of course! I'd love to. Tomorrow is perfect!"
"Great," Quatre breathed. "I have to go-- Duo might talk our first potential employee to death. Love you."
"Love you too." She hung up slowly. All this talk of angels, she reflected. ... I love him that much.... The ache of ghostly wings had long ago faded, and her memories were faint as well, but the reason. The decision, and Treize's love...
Strong, warm arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind, and the comforting pressure of a dry kiss pressed against her ear. Treize settled his chin into the crook of her neck and purred slightly.
"Just who do you love?" He pouted playfully. She leaned into his embrace and smiled a secretive, remembering smile.
"Quatre. Oh, and you're nice too." She craned her neck and kissed his cheek soundly. With a swift turn he had her flat on her back on the bed and was ravaging her mouth. She sighed happily but pushed him away pointedly. Treize however, was not deterred. He gave her a pitiful puppy eyed look and she couldn't help giggling girlishly.
"Look at this," she scolded. "You're tangling my hair and wrinkling my dress. How will I ever look presentable at the banquet?"
Treize crawled off of her and shrugged handsomely. He straightened his jacket and winked at her as she pushed up from the bed.
"You could pull off presentable in your p.j.'s," he retorted. "C'mon, we're gonna be late."
Relena glared halfheartedly at him and followed his swagger out into the hall.