Title: Trading Faces
Rating: PG-13, just because I feel like it.
Warnings: Profanity, violence, eventual 1x2 pairing, etc.
Disclaimer: Nope, they aren't mine. But I like to pretend that they are. Guess I'll have to settle for owning this story (not a fair consolation if you ask me…)
A/N: Apologies for the late timing on this chapter. I was out of town a few days, and suffered from computer separation. This chapter is a bit longer, so hopefully that will partially make up for it! I didn't get to everything I wanted to in this chapter, but I didn't want to put off posting any longer. Anyway, big thank-yous go to: Clairol, Insanity Rising, Bryony, bunetwo, tasha, LB, Violet, angelhereal, shinigami angel, Tori Sakana, SilverShinigami and Elle-FaTe2x1 for reviewing! I hope you all continue to enjoy this! Let me know how this chapter was, kay?
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Duo snarled viciously as he slammed his hands on the controls in anger. Of course, it all made such perfect sense now that he thought about it. Quatre could sense that they were in different bodies, even if the blond had no idea what he was feeling! That meant Heero really was in danger …
There was no other option. He had to find Heero fast. Swallowing a bit of nervousness that grew in his throat, he stared down at Wing's controls. Heero's gundam was special, he knew that. Normally he would never attempt to pilot it, but he didn't really have a choice. Fury welled up inside him, and he made a quick decision. He was going to pilot Wing and find his missing friend. He could do this … he had to do this …
No one was allowed to hurt Heero. No one.
* * *
Heero's head lolled to the side of its own accord; he let it hang there limply, because he didn't have the strength to lift it. Some time ago they had hauled him off of the floor to secure him to the metal chair where he now sat, upright only because of the thick wire restraints that held him in place. Footsteps and shouts that had long been silenced rang in his head hollowly, accompanied by a raging headache that robbed him partially of his senses. He didn't know how long they had left him bleeding on the cold floor; he couldn't recall now what they had done to make him bleed so much in the first place. His mind was too fuzzy.
The grating of the heavy iron door on the other side of the room forced him back to the present, and his eyes cracked open to peer in its direction with limited vision. He couldn't see so well … idly, he wondered why …
Moments seemed to pass, as a hazy figure conversed quietly with what had to be a guard near the doorway. Their voices were garbled and echoed awkwardly; Heero stopped trying to listen after a while. It was wasted effort.
"…big waste of my time!" one voice rose to a tone loud enough that Heero could understand, and he perked up slightly. It sounded horribly irritated. She. She sounded horribly irritated. It was a she.
"Ma'am, please …" the guard replied feebly.
"Have you ever had the pleasure of being in a base that has been attacked by any of the gundams?! Have you ever had to put up with fighting them face to face?!" she continued to intimidate the guard. "Well, have you?!"
"Er … no, ma'am."
"Well, then you wouldn't know why this is a waste of my time! Would you like to know why?! Would you?"
"Uh …"
"Because," she continued her rant, "that is not a pilot!"
"But ma'am … he was captured in an infiltration with a gundam nearby, and he certainly fits the description of the pilot 02 …" the guard attempted to defend himself, his voice shaking.
"I know all that. And he certainly does fit whatever physical description of 02 you may have seen … however, if you bothered to look a little closer it would be quite obvious that that is not him!"
"Ma'am?"
"I've been in this room a whole five minutes, and he hasn't said anything yet."
"…But, ma'am, he has just been through a thorough interrogation …"
"That doesn't matter. Not with pilot 02. Are his restraints secure?"
"Yes, ma'am."
There was the distinct sound of heels against the hard floor, and Heero managed to push his chin up just enough to be able to see the approaching individual. As the blurry person got closer, Heero was able to see more clearly that it was Lady Une. He steeled himself and put on what he hoped was a defiant face. His jaw felt oddly numb. Maybe they had broken it …?
"Well, 02, have you got anything to say for yourself?" Une asked almost amiably, leaning close to his face. Heero said nothing; he scarcely blinked.
"Come now, the interrogation is over. I know you managed to stay quite silent through that whole ordeal, but now it's just us two. Haven't you got anything at all to say to me?" Une coaxed, reaching out to press a finger into his inner shoulder. He winced, feeling a sudden burst of pain. He didn't realize he had been injured there …
"You aren't even going to curse at me, hmm?" she said after a moment, withdrawing her hand and straightening again. Again, there was no response. Une whirled to face the guard.
"You see? Entirely too silent! 02 would have been condemning me to hell the moment I walked in here, or at least would have attempted to befriend me in exchange for assistance in escaping. He is the most brash, rude, completely obnoxious individual I've ever come across, and he would most certainly not sit compliant while anyone aggravated his injuries …!"
There was a slight murmur from behind her, and she turned in curiosity to face the prisoner.
"What's that, 02? Found your tongue at last?"
"Duo … isn't … he's not obnoxious …" he murmured thickly, glaring fiercely at Une. Une's eyes widened in surprise, and then she snorted. Heero wondered why for a moment, then he realized what he had done. He had spoken the words in Japanese.
"You see? He's an obvious decoy. Pilot 02 is an avid speaker of the English language. A waste of my time, soldier."
"Wh-what would you like us to do with him, then, ma'am?" the soldier asked nervously. Une sighed.
"Send him back to interrogation. See if you can find out what use the pilots have for decoys, and who exactly he's working for. Whether or not you can find out his intentions, I want him executed. We have no need for extra prisoners, especially worthless ones …"
At that moment, the base's speaker system exploded in a barrage of heavy metal, practically shaking the floor with its intensity.
"What the hell is that?!" Une demanded to no one in particular, dashing to the com panel on the far wall and hastily connecting to the main communication room. A rather bewildered looking woman answered her call, her face blanched.
"La-lady Une?"
"What's going on down there?!"
"We don't know just yet, ma'am," the woman said apologetically, looking to the side for a moment as someone shouted something to her. "Something's wrong with the communications."
"I know that! What I want to know is why haven't you fixed it yet?!"
"We … can't shut it off, Lady. The speakers all read themselves as inoperative. They think they're already shut off."
"Can't you disconnect them manually?!"
"Not without cutting power to the entire base!"
"Oh hell!" Une swore, turning from the panel for a moment to think. A slight sound from Heero made her look up and glare at the pilot.
Heero laughed louder, the noise rough and hoarse in his parched throat. Une lunged toward him.
"Just what are you laughing at, huh?!"
"Sh-shinigami," Heero managed to rasp through his bursts of weak laughter. "He's here."
"The God of Death is in the building, people! Step aside or forfeit you life!" Duo roared as he charged through the base, grinning maniacally as he held a gun in either hand. He used them to take out a few of the more daring soldiers, then pounced on one before he had a chance to retreat with the rest.
"This is all your fault anyway, ya know? Stupid ozzies! What have you done with my beautiful bod, huh? Answer me!" he shook the man a little, then pushed him away as the soldier's eyes rolled back in his head in a dead faint. He snorted and continued down the hall. They were holding Heero somewhere, he knew it! Hopefully, he had caused enough damage to the other side of the base with Wing that a lot of the troops would be otherwise occupied. The music he had locked into the intercom system picked up in tempo, and he smiled grimly.
"Hope you don't mind the tunes, Heero, but I thought they were a nice touch. Just hold on a little more, okay? I'm coming for ya …"
"Just cut the power for a moment to get it to stop!" Une shouted at the woman as the music got even louder. "How long will it have to be cut?"
"Uh … it should be only a moment or two …" the woman replied hesitantly. "But is that wise, ma'am? What with the damage sustained to the northern wing?"
"Damage? What damage?" Une demanded.
"There … there was a gundam, ma'am. Our suits managed to force it into a retreat …"
"Oh, hell! Why was I not informed of this?!"
"Um … I assume since you were in the interrogation room …"
"Never mind! Turn off this ridiculous music this instant!" Une roared, and disconnected the feed as she whirled on the guard. "Find the person who ordered the retaliation against the gundam and bring them to me! I want to know why I wasn't informed!"
"But ma'am, the prisoner …"
"Are you suggesting that I am not capable of watching one half-conscious prisoner?!"
"Ah, no ma'am."
"That's what I thought. Now get going."
It was at that moment that the power was suddenly cut.
"Finally! Thank you, OZ predictability!" Duo said eagerly as the lights flickered out, taking the music along with it. Dim emergency lights lit the corridor at random places, and he tore down the walkway to the strip of rooms that he had narrowed down as the place where Heero was most likely being held. With the power cut he didn't have to worry about electronic locks. Figuring that the bug he had introduced to the OZ mainframe would give him a good ten minutes of chaos at best, he bolted around a corner recklessly.
He barreled straight into a man in uniform, who looked horrified the moment he saw Duo's guns. Duo grabbed him and slammed him into the nearest wall, leveling one of his guns at the man's chest.
"Please, you don't wanna kill me!" the man pleaded quietly.
"Oh yeah? How do you figure that?" Duo replied lightly, pressing the barrel of his gun more deeply into the man's skin. The soldier whimpered.
"You're … you're here for him, aren't you?" he asked quickly. "I'll tell you where he is, just … just let me go!"
"Depends. Who are you talking about?"
"The … the pilot! He's … the room at the end of the hall!"
Duo didn't waste any time. Slamming the hilt of his gun into the man's temple, he easily rendered the soldier unconscious. Pausing only to steal his gun and abandon another that was nearly out of ammo, he dashed down the hall.
Hang on, Heero, he thought. I'm almost there …
Une looked up as she sensed someone opening the door of the cell.
"What are you doing back alr … what?!" she began, then yelped when her eyes registered the site before her. Furious steel blue glared into her from behind dual gun barrels, accompanied by a highly uncharacteristic, malicious grin.
"Une! So glad to see you!" he said easily, striding into the room and glancing momentarily around the room. His eyes softened as they fell onto the limp figure in the chair.
"Heero? Daijoubu?" Heero lifted his glazed eyes with difficulty to meet Duo's.
"Hai … hai, daijoubu …"
"Just what the hell is going on here?" Une demanded, drawing Duo's attention.
"Just here to bust out 01, Lady. Hope you don't mind. Actually, I don't care what you think because I'm doing it anyway!"
"01? That's not pilot 01!"
"Is too!"
"And that would make you?"
"Pilot 02. Pleased, I'm sure," Duo said, rolling his eyes. "You look a little pale, Lady … well, you should! This is all your fault, you know?! Stupid OZ and their stupid experiments …!"
"Duo," Heero rasped, "sh-shut up …"
"Hmph. Fine. Not as though she's gonna live to tell the tale anyway …" Duo said calmly. Une growled and reached for her waist, probably to get her gun, when Duo pulled a trigger. Une stumbled back, clutching a bleeding right shoulder.
"I'll let you off easy just now," Duo said. "Because you kept such good watch over my friend here. Throw your gun down. Now!"
Une complied mutely, glaring daggers at Duo. Duo kicked the firearm away, and approached Heero with one gun still trained on the angry woman.
"Gonna use your binds, Heero, okay? Gonna tie her," Duo said. "All right?"
"All right …" Heero hissed, trying to ignore the pain that shot through him as Duo pulled at the wire that held him. As soon as he was free from the restraints he toppled to the ground, unable to hold himself up. Duo gave a sharp intake of breath.
"Heero? Are you …?"
"See to her," Heero said weakly. "I'm … fine …"
Duo frowned deeply, but he took the wire and used it to securely tie Une, who was bleeding profusely from her shoulder wound.
"Better hope your people find you soon, Lady, or that could leave a nasty scar," Duo said, dropping her roughly against the floor before going to Heero's side. He knelt carefully, for a moment forgetting the problem of time.
"Heero," he said softly. "Really. Are you all right?"
"I … I'll be okay," Heero said, unable to fight Duo as the boy pulled him into a sitting position and into his arms. "I think … they must have drugged me. Can't remember …"
"Ah. That would explain it. My system doesn't react well to drugs," Duo said ruefully, pushing Heero's bangs out of his flushed face.
"So I gathered …" Heero said weakly.
"Do you … suppose you could walk?" Duo asked gently.
"I … I will. I have to, ne?"
"Well, that would help a lot," Duo nodded. "But if you can't, I'll think of something. Don't worry, I'll think of something …"
"Help me up … I'll walk …"
"Okay. But you tell me if you can't do it, Heero. For real. I don't want a gimped up body, you know," Duo said, attempting to joke as he hauled Heero to his feet. The boy leaned heavily against him, despite the fact that he was attempting to stand on his own. Duo put an arm around him and pressed a gun into his palm.
"Can you hold this, at least?"
"Yes …"
"Good. You can cover my back, Heero. I'll carry you."
"What? Absolutely not …!"
"What?! Want to fight about it?!" Duo offered, thrusting his face close to Heero's and glaring challenge. Heero watched him quietly with wide eyes, taken aback by the sudden closeness. Duo suddenly felt awkward at the position he was in, and pulled back again. He blinked, and the feeling was gone. He was staring into his own face again, and he turned to look at Une.
"Maybe … maybe I have another idea, Heero. Can I persuade you into an OZ uniform? There's an unconscious guard down the hall."
"But … what do you mean?"
"Une's gonna help us escape. Isn't that right, Lady?" Duo smiled sweetly at Une's scowling figure.
Moments later they were headed down the hall, Heero limping against Duo's side and Une walking rigidly in front of Duo, a gun delving into her back between the bindings that roped her.
"Doing okay, Heero?" Duo whispered.
"Yes …" came Heero's muted reply. Duo reached up to secure the hat more firmly on Heero's head, making sure his braid was still tucked out of sight.
"You are both insane!" Une snapped quietly. "The very moment we meet any soldiers, you'll both just be captured again!"
"I don't really think so, Une," Duo said, nudging her to go faster. "They wouldn't want to risk harming their commanding officer and her faithful, already wounded soldier guard, would they? By the time your inept soldiers put two and two together, we'll be long gone and you'll be passed out from blood loss. No one gets too badly hurt, and we all just forget about this unpleasantness, hmmm?"
"You're more of an idiot than I took you for," Une retorted. Duo just laughed, and continued to prod her down the hall.
"Just keep walking, and direct us to the nearest exit with a vehicle. Then, we'll let you go. Good deal, if you ask me. Heero, what do you think?"
"Hn …"
"See? Good deal."
As Duo had predicted, the soldiers kept their distance as Duo appeared to direct his two 'hostages' onward. Une stayed silent, thanks to the gun in her back and the wooziness she felt from her throbbing gunshot wound, and Heero stumbled forward compliantly. Duo navigated him into a military truck, and dragged Une along with him as he rounded the side of the vehicle to get to the driver's side.
"Okay," he called out to the soldiers that were no doubt waiting in the shadows. "You can have your commander back, but I'm keeping the soldier with me to ensure that you don't pull anything funny! Follow us, and I'll make you regret it. That's a promise! So then, thanks for the escort, Une. Be seeing you!" With that he hit her squarely over the head, sending her the rest of the way into unconsciousness and pulling the door quickly shut as she crumpled to the ground. He then sped off into the darkness of the night, ignoring the stray bullets that bounced off the armored body of the truck. Duo glanced over at Heero, who slumped in the seat with a blank look on his pale face.
"Heero? Sure you're okay? How bad does it hurt?"
"Hn … doesn't. It's drugs, I think …"
"Probably," Duo sighed. "Geez, Heero, scare me half to death why don't you!"
"What about … your gundam?"
"Ah, I busted it out earlier and hauled it with Wing as I 'retreated' from the fearsome OZ defenses," Duo said wryly. "It's safe with Wing, hidden as far from the base as I could manage. They'll never find them. We'll be back for them later, huh?"
"Hn …" Heero muttered, hunching further into his seat. "How did you know … to look for me? How long has it been?"
"Not that long," Duo assured him. "I … uh, well, Trowa and Quatre called me."
"What?"
"Quatre thought you were in danger, so … they called me in Wing's cockpit, and I sort of put it all together," Duo shrugged.
"You were back … in Wing?"
"Uh … yeah."
"So, the disk? You have it?" Duo winced, and hesitated in his answer as he focused on the road. Heero scowled.
"Duo? You do have it, right?!"
"I, uh … not exactly …."
"What do you mean by that?!"
"I was gonna look, Heero, I swear! But I decided to research first, and I sort of fell asleep …"
"You what?! Stupid baka! Are you that dense?!" Heero burst, anger suddenly evident on the boy's face. "This isn't a game, you know! This should have proved that this isn't … isn't a fucking game! We need that disk!"
"Hell, Heero, I know," Duo defended himself, suddenly feeling ill at ease. Heero was really upset. "I kind of thought saving you was a higher priority!"
"Hn … you should have been looking for the disk in the first place! Bakayarou!"
"Well, excuse me! I'll just leave you to rot next time, shall I?!"
"Maybe you should."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
The ride was suddenly uncomfortably quiet.
Heero tore off the uniform he wore as gracefully as he could manage, and crumpled it into a ball before using it as a makeshift pillow. He leaned against the door and pretended to sleep, just so that he wouldn't be coerced into talking to Duo again. He hadn't meant to snap at the boy, but he couldn't help it. His nerves were frayed as it was, and he wanted so desperately to have his own body back. He wasn't himself without it. Being Duo was difficult; more difficult than he wanted to admit.
And then there was the fact that he cared about the reckless pilot. There really was more to Duo than he showed on the surface, and the longer they were stuck pretending the more he saw it. Duo had always been an ally, a compatriot in his life's mission, but he was quickly becoming more. That made Heero uncomfortable … it scared him.
The look that he had seen in Duo's eyes earlier … that concerned, sensitive look which revealed so well that the boy was worried about him. It had been alarming to see an emotion so strong in the steel blue eyes that he had trained to be so reserved. He didn't think his body would be capable of looking like that again.
Yes, that scared him. More than he wanted to admit.
Duo kept his focus pointedly on the road, trying desperately not to look at the boy who sat curled in the passenger seat, sleeping off the effects of whatever drugs had been pillaging his system.
He didn't know why he had snapped at Heero so easily. Heero had every right to be upset, and he probably wasn't even himself. Drugs could do interesting things to the strongest of people. It was plain to see that he was edgy around the boy, but he didn't want to admit to himself why.
He was becoming far too attached. Being in Heero's body gave him the opportunity to see Heero in an entirely different light, and it was clouding his usually good judgment. Heero wasn't the type to put up with friendship, though Duo couldn't help but consider him a friend.
And maybe more. That's what really made him stop in his tracks. During the past few days Duo had gained a greater understanding of his stoic companion, and it was leading to thoughts that Duo knew he really should derail before they caused trouble. He was probably just imagining things, creating emotions that weren't really there. All the same, it was a very good thing that he had been staring back into his own face earlier, and not Heero's, when he had picked his wounded friend off of the floor and held him that close.
Because he didn't know what he might have done otherwise.
Continued