Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are the
property of Sotsu, Sunrise, TV Asahi, Bandai, etc. I don't own any part of it
and I'm not making any money out of it either. This is purely for entertainment
purposes, nothing more and nothing less.
Warnings: Mild language and violence. Slight 1+R but it's still a 2+R fic.
A.N: Some people have been wondering why I'm putting the same disclaimer over and over again on my fics instead of the comments I used to have. Well, I'm just too tired to try and be clever; I'm busy trying to devise plans on how to get my oniisan offline. He's been playing Diablo II online from morning till night for the past few weeks which means I'm basically barred from the PC. So far, I've already gotten a couple of people hunting him down online and I hope they can get to him soon, that rat bastard! BTW, for those wanting to know more about Todesengel, there's a little part that gets more into them.
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My Ojousan
Chapter 8: A Night of Nomadic Thoughts
By: veGie-kun
"Duo, what's wrong?" Trowa questioned, having caught up with the despondent youth. The other was leaning against the steel wall of the worn down building, his head hung low.
"... Nothing's wrong, I just needed to get out for a breather. I mean, I'm not scared of the dark or anything... but it can be a little unnerving sometimes... ya know?" He looked up to the taller man for support.
"I understand," Trowa replied, joining Duo at the wall, his easy manner disguising the weariness that flowed through his limbs. "I've never been fond of the dark myself. There is always something about it that leaves you feeling empty, no matter how many are with you." He closed his eyes and savored the gentle wind that swept by, created by the colony's air conditioning system. "So, what exactly unnerved you back there? It couldn't have been the shadows." He mused, sounding as if he already knew the answer to his own question.
Duo raked a hand through his hair before placing both of them in his pockets, his back on the wall, eyes staring to the farthest reaches of the colony. "Heh heh, I'm not usually like this, ne? Just that... I've been putting off having to deal with some things up till now..."
"Relena?"
"Yeah..." He confirmed with a hint of a smile on his lips. "I'm kinda confused as to what I should do once this thing blows over... I thought that maybe I could ask her to stay on L2 for a little while longer so that we could spend extra time together but-" Trowa quirked an eyebrow but said nothing, leaving the mechanic to finish his ramble. It was quite amusing to see the former Shinigami fumble over words; one thing's for sure, he never ran out of them. "... now that Heero's here, she's probably forgotten about me already... Hah, it was stupid of me to think I could've had a chance with her. But that's me, Duo Maxwell, the fool."
Trowa chuckled slightly at that assessment, wondering if he would ever feel like that someday. "You haven't exactly told her this, have you?" he queried in a light, sympathetic tone.
"Thank you, no, but I'd like to keep my dignity and pride in tact. I don't think I could take having them smashed to pieces when I'm told that I'll never have a chance." He huffed and kicked a small pebble near his right foot. "I mean, when you consider the options she has, it's easy to see who her choice will be... Oh Shinigami, my heart hurts..." he gasped, clutching his shirt as his mind sorted the erratic emotions flooding his mind. //It's all coming to an end. This strange fairytale I deceived myself into believing; the beautiful princess being protected from unknown villains by the handsome youth that she would eventually fall in love with.// Although the youth hadn't exactly expressed his desire for such a thing, the past few days allowed him moments for which this fantasy came into being. He'd been the one to see her smile and laugh, to see her let go of all her inhibitions and formality, to see her wake up with the morning rays bathing her in divine light, to see her carefree and happy. It wasn't fair that those things were going to be taken from him after he'd just experienced them. It was like exposing a child to candy then telling the child that was the one thing he/she couldn't have.
//Why the HELL is life screwing with me!? Why am I being the one tortured here!? You can't do this to me! YOU CAN'T!// The mechanic wasn't quite sure who he was addressing at that moment: God, Heero, or Relena, but knew that one of them had to be the cause. "I think..." he began slowly while Trowa listened attentively, "that I'm life's personal plaything."
"... We all are, Duo," the stoic man rebuked calmly, "We all are."
"So what do you think I should do? With Heero here now, there's no way I can avoid the issue with Relena..." the words came out sullenly, "I was better off not knowing about his existence..." they were bitter now, "at least I didn't have to deal with it or even think about it," he ended regretfully.
Trowa pushed himself off the wall and stood in front of the shorter man, his hands at his sides, his stance commanding. "Putting issues such as these off accomplishes nothing. Will you run from this all your life? Will you continue to run from the choices and responsibilities that are inevitably yours? What will you do when you regret not doing anything in the end? What is there to be afraid of?"
Duo chuckled softly, that was the most he'd ever heard from the entertainer in the years they'd been friends. It was quite refreshing and he would've pondered on it more, but the questions needed to be answered. "The only thing to be afraid of... is rejection."
*****
The silence around them intensified, seeping into every crevice of the abandoned warehouse. Like a scene frozen in time, Heero stood unmoving as Relena held his gaze, entranced by those midnight blue eyes. It became like one of those instances between two people where awkwardness took control and anything spoken would've spoiled the moment.
The busy feet of nearby rodents jumping onto empty oil drums and pipes shattered the stillness. Heero spoke first, concentrating his gaze on discarded crates off to the side. "... It's nice to see you again, Relena," he admitted truthfully, slowly making his way to her once more.
The young woman hesitantly stood up, cautious of what his true intentions may be. After searching his eyes for hints of deception, she slowly walked forward and embraced him. Almost instantaneously the tears came, and she cried unashamedly onto his shoulder. His arms wrapped around her body a few seconds later and held her reassuringly, waiting for the tears to subside. //Oh God... Heero, it's actually you. You're not a dream; you're real... it's really you...// It took a few minutes before the tears shut off and Relena stirred, pulling out of the hug. She looked at him with sad eyes, conveying all the pain and loneliness collected in those ocean blue orbs over the years.
She brought up a hand to wipe away a stray tear then recomposed herself into the dignified diplomat the solar system was used to seeing. "What brings you here?" She asked in a controlled tone, every bit the politician her father trained her to be.
If Heero had been surprised by that sudden transition, he didn't show it; he'd seen the young woman in all her different stages before, it was nothing new. "... I came by to check on you; see how you were doing."
The simple answer didn't seem to satisfy the young woman's curiosity and so she pressed on. "Really? Tell me something, Heero, was it just my imagination, or were you the one shooting at us back there at Hilde's house?"
The Japanese youth couldn't help the smirk that crept its way to his lips and he released a soft chuckle. "I'm working under cover," he stated, "I've been doing so for almost a year now."
"Oh?"
"The organization I'm employed to is the same one trying to kill you; I'm the project leader," he informed her as if it were an everyday thing.
"... How did I know you were going to say something like that?" she sighed and laughed softly. "Honestly, Heero, I think you're becoming predictable." Again she laughed, her light teasing easing the tension. The other gave a glare, but his eyes softened at her carefree attitude. "So, what's the name of this so called organization that's threatening my very life?" she asked dramatically, her outlook seeming to have changed with Heero's presence.
The youth shook his head and reprimanded her, "This isn't something to take lightly; they may have me hunting you but that doesn't mean they don't have other people doing it as well... It also appears as if they're getting suspicious of me. I don't know how long I can keep up this charade." He turned away from her but soon realized he hadn't answered her question. "Todesengel," he whispered hesitantly.
"Todesengel..." Relena breathed out cautiously as if the enemy could hear her, "... Angels of Death?"
Heero raised an eyebrow at that startling revelation, "You know German?"
The young diplomat lifted her head to meet his gaze, answering him, "A little... Just enough to pass idle conversation with the other diplomats and politicians... This group... they sound dangerous..."
"They're more than dangerous," Heero replied gravely in a low voice, "They've never failed in any of their assignments so far; all of their missions have been completed successfully."
"This is just great..." she huffed, sounding as if she would have a breakdown, "I always seem to attract all the so-called unstoppable forces of Earth and space. Is it just me, or does the whole solar system seem to regard me as some sort of target that'll earn assassins special recognition if they succeed?"
Heero noticed Relena drawing into herself, a distant look on her face, and walked forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I won't let anything happen to you. As long as I'm here I'll protect you; I promise." He declared into her soft hair, taking in the clean scent of spring.
"... Duo said the same thing to me..." Relena whispered offhandedly, unaware that she had spoken.
The Japanese youth tightened his grip, unidentifiable emotions constricting his heart. //... She... she cares about him... I-I have to ask... it's now or never... I can't be there for her, but... maybe he can...// "... Relena?"
"Hn?"
He was silent for a few moments, trying to piece together what he wanted to ask. "What," he began slowly, "... what are your feelings for Duo?"
*****
Stretching out his body, the mechanic glanced up at the colony, wishing he were on Earth, staring at the beautiful moon. Some things were just better seen and admired from afar. It had been quite some time since he was last on the Earth appreciating the moon's true splendor. Now that he thought about it, he'd been given another reason, besides the moon, to visit the Earth more often. //Relena... I'm not going down without a fight! I-I want to be with you. I want to be there to see you smile and laugh; I want to be there when you're sad so that I can make you happy again; I want to be there when you wake up so that I'm the first thing you see in the morning... Relena... There's no way I'm stepping aside and letting Heero take you away.// He looked up at Trowa and grinned widely, his mind made up, he headed for the door.
"May I ask what the cause for this sudden change is?" The clown queried dryly already aware of what it was about.
"I've decided to take you up on your advice and talk to her," he answered with good spirits. "I mean, the worst thing that could happen would be her rejection, but then again, she'd still be my friend. If we can't have a meaningful relationship with one another, then we'll have a meaningful friendship." Whistling into the night air with hands in his pockets, the mechanic walked over to the door.
"I wouldn't go in," Trowa remarked, stopping the other in mid-step.
"And why not?"
"Because Heero's in there," he replied stoically. Duo's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in total disbelief before he caught a glimpse of something moving in the shadows.
*****
The girl stood frozen, wondering if she had heard correctly. //Duo? What does Duo have to do with any of this? Why would Heero ask such a question? ::Because he knows you and Duo have been getting close:: How would he? ::It's Heero, he's able to do almost anything, except live a normal life:: ... Duo... What are my feelings for him? Do I feel anything for him? ::That answer should be clear; you harbor very strong emotions towards him. Up till this morning, the two of you were acting quite cozy, like everything you did together was natural:: But I love Heero! ::Do you? Or are your feelings for him now just tied over from the war? From your desire to give him a life that excluded war and all of its incarnations?:: ... I... I never thought about that... I just wanted to make him happy... ::Maybe you already have:: ...//
"Relena?"
Startled, she looked up and met his eyes and saw his need for an answer, one that was truthful and honest. "I-I don't know..." Her hands fell to her sides and she took a few steps back, averting her gaze to the floor, suddenly doubtful of the things that, mere moments ago, she believed she was certain of. "... I guess I like him... during our time together he was so nice..." A smiled crossed her lips as she continued to stare at the concrete ground. "He'd always try to make me laugh whenever I looked down or gloomy and he always looked like he had a smile ready just for me. The last two mornings he's even made me breakfast... I didn't even know he could cook! He's very... caring and... sweet... When I was with him, I-"
"What?" Heero's expression was sad, but he pressed on ignoring the pain stirring in his heart.
"... I didn't even think about the rest of the universe. For the first time in a long time... I didn't think about anything else... I had a chance to be... me... Relena Darlian, a normal girl without any worries." That small confession stirred up feelings of guilt; she was supposed to be in love with Heero, so it seemed wrong to have had such a wonderful time with Duo.
"... Relena, if you love him... I think you should be with him and forget about me..." //Oh Kami-sama, that hurt even more than I thought it would.//
"What?" She looked at him, horror-stricken. "Why would you tell me this? I don't even know what I feel for Duo."
"That's because you won't allow yourself to feel anything for others, afraid that in doing so, you'll be abandoning me," he stated firmly, his heart heavy.
"That's not true, Heero..." she denied shaking her head, "I've cared about you since the first time we met... All I ever wanted to do was give you hope and reassurance that the war wouldn't last forever, that one day your life would be normal..." Her pleading eyes found his and they stared deeply into each other. "... I just wanted you to be happy..." Again guilt flooded her and she broke off her gaze choosing a nice section of the floor. //I thought I was feeling this way cause I was spending so much time with Duo... so why would I feel like that by telling Heero that I want the best for him? ::The answer isn't that hard when you look at it from another perspective. You love both of them, or at least your feelings border along those lines. Leaning towards one or the other would naturally stir up such emotions:: Is that it? Do I really care that much for the both of them?//
The Japanese agent was silent, having doubts and second thoughts about what he was actually trying to accomplish. //No! I have to do this!// "Relena, don't think about me or what will happen to me should you turn to Duo. You shouldn't worry about my outcome because you already know that whatever choice you make I'll still protect you; that's a promise I mean to keep... And don't assume you hold any obligations towards me... You've done just as much for me."
"But-"
"If I wasn't a factor in this situation," he quickly interrupted her with a serious tone, "If you never even saw me this entire week, if I wasn't here at all... Do you think that you and Duo could have had something?"
The young woman was unsure and suddenly became uncomfortable under his scrutiny. "I don't know... but Heero-"
"Relena," he interrupted again, "... If-If Duo is the person who can make you happy; I don't want you to pass up that chance because of me... I don't want to be the cause of your unhappiness."
"But I can't help thinking about what will happen to you. I know you care for me, Heero... So I can't help but feel that I'm leaving you alone in this world," she countered with tears in her eyes.
Heero's expression softened and he wiped the crystalline drops away. Placing a hand on her cheek he looked into her eyes and told her what was true in his heart. "As long as you're alive and happy, I'll never be alone in this world."
"Heero!"
Trowa's voice snapped the two into attention and they caught sight of the clown running in their direction with Duo close behind. The look in his eyes told him without words that they had been discovered. With hesitated movements, he left Relena's side and ran past Trowa, yelling over his shoulder to the taller youth. "Protect her!" he screamed, drawing out the gun from the holster inside his blazer. As he approached Duo, he signaled for the youth to follow him and soon the two were gone.
*****
The two men stared at each other, one displaying anger while the other played innocent. "See," said Marcus, "I told you he was a spy." After their leader informed him that he'd be departing their company again to look for the target alone the two had become suspicious. There was just something about his attitude towards the mission that kept them on their toes. At one moment he was as stiff as a board, being the most anal and mission-oriented bastard the two had ever known. Then there were times when they were chattering about Darlian where the young man would get distracted and even nervous. Although the normal person would not have recognized such symptoms, they had been around him for nearly a year.
After their decision was made to trail the stern youth, it hadn't been much of a surprise when they discovered that his destination was the diplomat's hideout. Chris, still somewhat loyal to his leader, suggested that it was just the Japanese's great tracking skills. Marcus, on the other hand, countered that possibility by stating that the young man never hesitated on his way to the warehouse, meaning he knew exactly where the girl would be. It was just too convenient to be chalked up as coincidence.
Shrugging at the accusation, Chris pulled out his gun and readjusted his shades. "Well, it doesn't matter now; if we keep on reasserting who was right and who was wrong, then our target's going to get away." He smiled at the annoyed expression his partner gave him.
"Tch, you always did know how to shift the blame away from yourself," Marcus commented. He looked down from the building's roof and scanned the grounds below, searching for signs of his former leader and the two men with him. //I've got you now! Heh, I can't believe you were able to fool us for so long, but now your time's up. After I kill you and expose you to the rest of Todesengel, I'll be praised and promoted for my actions. Heh, this is going to be sweet.// He stopped in his thoughts when he saw his comrade pulling out his cell phone. "What are you doing?"
The other arched an eyebrow before explaining. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm calling headquarters; they need to be informed that the operation has been jeopardized."
"You'll do no such thing," Marcus exclaimed, placing a hand over the phone, "If you call them now, they'll think we're asking for help. We'd never be able to live it down, especially with those guys from Engel. I can already hear them jeering at us; this whole week has been nothing but crap and that's the last thing I want to happen to top it off."
His partner sighed and slumped his shoulders in defeat, well aware of what the other was trying to get through. Todesengel was divided into five main units of assassins: Gott, Teufel, Engel, Damon, and Heiliger. Gott was the group that held the leader of Todesengel; in a way, they consisted of the best the organization had. Teufel and Engel were the closest next to Gott, and after them, the others were pretty much equal. He and Marcus were part of the Teufel unit whose rival where those in Engel. Bitter towards one another, they always tried to one-up each other during missions. Contacting Todesengel at this point would make it seem like a distress call, as if they were crying to home with their tails between their legs.
"Scheisse! You're right. I'll be damned if I ever let those bastards have the last laugh," he spat vehemently, putting away the phone. "So what course of action do you suggest we take?"
To that, the taller man already had a plan in mind. "Easy my friend," he exclaimed, placing an arm around Chris' shoulder bringing him close, "All we need to do is take care of this minor technicality ourselves. We kill him and his two companions will become easy pickings, after that the Darlian girl will be no problem at all. Then we'll report back to Taylor, get the rest of our pay, and go back to Todesengel and report to them the events that transpired that led to our assassinating the project leader."
Chris though still held his doubts, realizing that the so-called solution sounded a bit too easy for comfort. The Japanese youth wasn't their leader for nothing; his skills were far superior to many in the organization. The only thing keeping him out of Gott was his lack of experience and hesitation to kill; those in Gott had been around for decades, they knew everything that took place inside and outside of Todesengel. In the first two months alone, the Japanese youth had gained the admiration of the organization's leader and had worked his way into becoming a leader himself, assigned to one of the best groups.
"You may say it'll be a piece of cake, but remember," he warned in a serious tone, "he defeated the both of us in unarmed combat during training."
Marcus turned his head to the side abruptly, not wanting to be reminded that someone younger and smaller than himself had outmatched him. "Tch, I already know that! All I'm saying, is that we have to get rid of him in order to get to Darlian." He saw the other nod and they quickly made their way down the building, mentally preparing themselves for the inevitable conflict that would soon come to pass. This wasn't a first for them, they'd been in many battles prior to this, however; it would be the first in which they'd draw arms against someone who was a comrade, someone they'd been living with for close to a year now. While Marcus didn't have to much problems with it, his desire for leadership fueling him on, Chris, despite his talks, still felt odd about possibly killing his leader, spy or not.
*****
//I shouldn't be here.// The mechanic repeated for the fifth time in his head. //I shouldn't be here following Yuy to Shinigami knows where; this doesn't feel right. Where is she? I should be with her, protecting her like I promised. This doesn't feel right at all.// Lost in thought, he didn't notice when Heero had stopped and ran right into his back, knocking the Japanese youth a couple steps forward.
With a menacing glare Heero turned around and aimed his gun at the American. "Watch where you're going, we don't know where the enemy is and slipups like that give them the opportunity to retaliate," he told the other sternly. Cocking his gun again, he surveyed the area outside the building, wary of the shadows that loomed over them.
"Well excuse me, Mr. Perfect Soldier!" Duo remarked sarcastically, "But if you think I'm such a screw up then why did you drag me along? Wouldn't Trowa have been a much better choice?"
//Dammit! I don't have time for this!.// Grabbing Duo's shoulders, the disgruntled youth swung the mechanic so they were face to face. "It's because you're such a screw up that you're with me. Relena's the top priority right now and I'm not going to jeopardize her life by letting someone who gets easily distracted guard her," he hissed furiously.
Angered by the remarks, the braided youth slapped away the hands and glared. Fueled on by thoughts of loss and inferiority he held his ground and rebuked. "I'd never let anything happen to her-" He was cut-off mid-sentence by gunfire and both he and Heero scrambled for cover behind a wall of stacked oil drums and crates. "Shit!" he cursed and returned fire to the unseen enemies.
"Like I said," Heero began from the other end of the 'wall', "you're too much of a liability to be the one guarding her."
"And you think you could've done better?" Duo retorted ducking his head to avoid a hail of bullets. He looked over his shoulder at his partner-for-the-time-being, and saw him mentally psyche up for what he was to do: shoot with the intent to kill. Duo sighed, he'd heard about the promise Heero made to himself after he'd foiled Dekim's plan. //Dammit, Heero! You shouldn't be here either; you might not have it in you to kill again!//
Heero was silent for a moment then looked to his comrade. "No," he stated firmly, "I wouldn't have done better; my emotions would get in the way."
"Emotions? You have none!" Duo shouted angrily but the look in Heero's eyes to the comment made him automatically regret it. "... Gomen... but emotions don't hamper a person's ability. I'd give my life to protect her..." He stared at the ground and let loose a sob.
After returning fire for a round, Heero looked to Duo again replying, "And you think that it's all right to sacrifice one life for another?... That is not what Relena would wish for... but then again, she would do the same thing. Trowa won't let that happen... Duo... if you care about her try your best to stay alive... For her, stay alive."
The mechanic snorted and shot at the shadows concealing the enemy. "Hmph, shouldn't you be the one trying to stay alive? You're the one she cares about... not me."
The other youth's eyes softened sympathetically; he'd never seen the usually buoyant man so dejected. "Are you sure about that?" he asked in a light tone. The other's eyes widen but his thoughts were stopped when he heard the screeching tires of a car. "That would be them."
*****
The two stopped shooting and lowered their guns, tuning their ears to the sound that pierced the night wind. Marcus scowled loudly and replaced his gun back inside his coat. "Scheisse!" he cursed aloud, "That was Darlian! C'mon Chris, we can forget him for now!"
"But you said that getting rid of him would make Darlian's assassination easier!" Chris protested, firing another shot at the makeshift wall, unwilling to retreat. He would've continued if it not been for his companion tugging insistently on his arm.
"I know what I said, but how do you suggest we kill Darlian if we can't find her?" he rebuked impatiently, his temper wearing thin and his reserve gone.
Realizing the situation they were placed in, the blond regretfully left his post and followed the other into the darkness that hid their vehicle. They were hasty in their movements, they'd already wasted precious seconds by arguing the matter; they didn't need to lose anymore. Jumping inside the car, they forego buckling their seatbelts and drove off, screeching tires loud enough to wake the dead.
*****
It had already been close to ten minutes and Trowa's calm attitude certainly didn't reflect much in his driving; his turns, starts and stops looked normal enough... if you ignored the speed at which he was going. Of course, it wasn't totally reckless; he was using his utmost skills to avoid hitting any of the pedestrians that had the unlucky sense to step onto the pavement.
"Where exactly are we going, Trowa?" Relena asked curiously, calm in her demeanor yet gripping the cushion of the seat so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
"For now, we're just trying to get away," he replied stoically. An offhanded glance in her direction told him she was frightened, and so, he tried to accommodate her needs by slowing down a fraction. But despite his efforts, the young woman still seemed preoccupied and that's when it occurred to him that she didn't fear her own safety, but those of the two left behind. "They'll be fine, Gundam pilots, retired or not, can survive anything."
She looked in his direction and smiled, "So I've heard... and seen." Chuckling softly, she continued to try and establish some sort of communication with the normally quiet one. "Exactly what does it take to get rid of a Gundam pilot?"
"Personally, I do not know but..." he trailed off and sadness crept into his voice, "I think that in order to kill a Gundam pilot, one must kill all those the Gundam pilot cherishes... I know that I wouldn't be able to survive if Catherine were taken from me..."
Relena smiled and stared off into the light-filled streets, reflecting on his words. "... You must really love her, don't you?"
Trowa was silent for a second before answering, "I've spent an entire childhood away from her," his voice stayed its usual monotone but it wavered minutely, "Without knowing what it was like to be loved and to love someone back just as equally. She's the reason I'm fighting right now."
"... I wish I'd been given the chance to do the same with Milliard," the diplomat confessed. "The only thing I know about him is from what Colonel Une, Sally Po, Noin, and Pagan tells me. Other than that I only know him as the man who left the Sank Kingdom's ideals in order to gain revenge against the Alliance." Again, her field of vision turned to the streets as memories from a few years passed made its way to the forefront on her mind. "I guess I can understand what he was trying to do... but... but I just wish I had the chance to spend more time with him... To have him tell me what our childhood was like; I remember so little of it... but he's gone now... Did I ever tell you that I really do envy you, Trowa?"
The former pilot chuckled softly causing the girl to get confused. "Remember what I said about Gundam pilots; they can survive anything. If my memory serves me right, he was the official pilot of the Epyon. If you're alive and well, then so is Zechs," he reassured her gently.
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mi-" The car came to an abrupt halt, sending the girl forward with the momentum. It took her a second to regain equilibrium, her hands clutching her head for balance. "What happened?" she asked confused, still dazed.
True to form, Trowa had not lost his cool and checked the area they were in through the car windows. "It seems," he began still carrying out his surveillance, "that there's been an accident around here," he informed taking note of the three car pile-up that blocked their path. Around the street many people had gathered, awaiting the ambulance and excitement that came with it, which included the possibility of being on TV. From the angle of all the cars, Trowa surmised that the middle one had done it, possibly being careless and turning when it obviously wasn't his turn. //Shit.// He thought as he tried to back out of the street, but unfortunately another car had already gone into the same street, now barring his rear exit plan.
He wasn't sure if it was better to remain in their current position or abandon the vehicle and head out on foot. Checking the situation behind them, he realized it would be impossible for them to escape through that route. The sounds of more vehicles pulling up made him apprehensive and so, deciding to take advantage of the gathering people as cover, he unlatched his and Relena's seatbelts, motioning for her to leave the car. With his gun securely hidden inside his coat's pocket he stepped out the door and made his way over to the girl and led her through the mass of bodies.
Slipping through with little difficulty, Trowa pushed on until they were safely covered within the darkness of the alley. Out from public view both Relena and Trowa were allowed to recollect their thoughts and reassess where they stood at that particular moment. They were somewhere, although, Trowa wasn't exactly sure where since his main objective was to put some distance between Relena and her would-be assassins. He sure did a good job of that considering they were practically a good ten to fifteen miles from the warehouse. The other problem was where they should go for coverage; it had to be a place that accommodated all their needs and allowed easy access to things such as the web and videophones.
To his knowledge the only place he knew that would meet most of those needs was the circus but he refused to even allow those men within twenty miles of the vicinity. There was no way in the world he was going to endanger his family; this wasn't a problem that concerned them in the slightest. But figuring out where he couldn't go wasn't what was needed and he focused more of his concentration into locating areas where they could conceal themselves. "Relena," he found himself speaking suddenly, "Maybe we should head back to your hotel room. So far, it seems the best suited for a hideout; after the Preventers inspected it they were able to clear it of all the dangers. It's also pretty heavily guarded considering the conference being held this week."
After sneaking in a glance at the crowd sill forming, she faced him and answered, "Well, I guess that's the only place we have left. The only problem would be how to get in there. I can just walk in there without any setbacks but I don't think it would be good for me to be seen with you. Questions might arise and I really don't feel like trying to explain this to the media should they catch wind of it." She straightened out and smirked, "Remember, I have a public image to maintain. What would they say when they hear that I'm sneaking tall, handsome, strangers into my hotel room? Just try and guess how long I'll be able to stay in politics..." Her voice trailed off when something suddenly came to mind. "Oh no! My keys! I left them in my bag at Hilde's!"
The Stoic One chuckled and took hold of her hand, guiding her through the dark alley. They only had a few more hours before dawn would set in and they still had no idea where they were. The surrounding area did look slightly familiar but still they were technically lost. Looking back over his shoulder he offered his reassurance, "Don't worry, we'll figure something out."
*****
"Where the hell did those bastards go!?" Duo screamed into the silent night when fifteen minutes had passed without anything happening. No response came and he turned to see what was wrong with Heero. "Dammit! You're supposed to answer my question!"
The Japanese youth barely acknowledged him with more than a huff before he stalked away, shouting to the other. "Where do you think they've gone? Most likely they heard Trowa and Relena driving away and have left to follow them before they lost track." He walked away checking his gun to see how many remaining bullets he had left with Duo in tow. "Since Trowa took the car," he continued with set determination, "we need to find some other means of transportation lest you prefer walking on foot."
Duo sighed and gave up the argument, walking silently behind with his hands in his pockets. //Damn... Relena... I'm so sorry...// He looked up and stared at Heero's back wondering if the usually stoic one was going through the same self-loathing he was. He chuckled to himself realizing the answer should have been clear to him. All those years Heero had kept himself away from the diplomat for her own safety; in the back of his mind he wondered if he would have done the same thing. "I don't know what I'd do anymore," he whispered to himself quietly, "this entire thing's really starting to confuse me." Yet, despite his ramblings, he knew in his heart the one thing that remained true, his feelings for Relena. //Relena, no matter what happens in the end; no matter if it's Heero you choose, I'll always love and protect you. Maybe I won't be as great as Heero in that department, but I'll do my best. Please stay alive for me.//
The mechanic heard Heero mumble to himself and inquired, "What's wrong?"
"Trowa has my extra cell phone," he informed his comrade, "I can call him to get their location." He heard the mechanic give a sigh of relief, the tension automatically leaving his body, and smiled. With swift fingers he dialed the other cell and waited for Trowa to pick up the other line. //C'mon, c'mon, c'mon.// He repeated nervously in his mind though it never surfaced in his appearance. //I need to know that the two of you are alive.// The other end clicked and immediately he heard Trowa's voice.
"Heero?" he asked unsure if it was the Japanese agent or his former comrades.
Giving Duo a nod in affirmation, the grim youth concentrated on his conversation over the cell. "They're on your tail," he said not wasting any time, getting straight into the seriousness of the situation. "I doubt they know your exact whereabouts, but still, try to keep out of sight. I also need to know where you two are or at least where you're headed." Duo who was standing to his right grinned; he'd almost forgotten how severe the other could sound during such circumstances.
"Relena and I are headed back to her hotel."
Heero's brows furrowed and hid voice became firmer, "Are you sure that's wise. The two of you could be seen."
"Don't worry," Trowa's voice reassured, "we won't go in through the front door; Relena left her keys at Hilde's house."
"Ryoukai," Heero replied looking at his watch, "stay there until we come for you around noon. Make sure she gets enough sleep and try to get something to eat as well." Turning off the phone, he averted his gaze and caught Duo peering across the grounds to the bright lights of the city. "Shall we?"
Unable to suppress a grin, the American nodded and Heero could see a dangerous glint in his eyes. If only those assassins knew what they were getting into; a supposedly normal Duo was hard enough to control, but a Duo bent on protecting someone he cared about, and in the case of Relena, someone he loves, was going to a fight they wish they never instigated. "Yes, we shall," he answered humorously; flashing yet again his 100watt smile.
Unlike Duo; however, Heero was not as optimistic in his attitude. He knew quite well what those assassins could do; hell, he'd been the one to teach them some of the skills they were now utilizing. But the last vestige of his mind coerced him to look towards hope, telling him to trust in his friends and in his own abilities. //I already know those two won't be much of a problem, but Todesengel itself is what concerns me.// He was silent once more.
-to be continued-
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Grrrrr! I'm getting so frustrated! My muse has problems, which ultimately leads to me having problems since she IS my muse! Argh! I wanted this fic to have more 'happy' moments, but she's been so depressed lately I've had a hard time writing 'happy' things. I'm doing my best trying to tap into my inner happiness but unfortunately I have none. I'm desperate to find something happy and I know where I could go... but I refuse to turn to those hyper, rabid, bishounen-obsessed, sugar-addicted, fan girls at school! I've known a few of them for years now and all I have to say is that they really scare me; they really do. Of all the things in the world that cause a chill to run down my spine, they make me freeze. The only thing that scares me more than that is the thought of telling the person I love that I love them and getting rejected (that's where a lot of Duo's feelings are coming from in this fic). I'm hoping that my muse can get her act together cause I'm not going to find another one; I've had this one since junior high and I'm not about to let her bail on me.
Oh, as for the names of the five units, their meanings are: Gott=God, Teufel=Devil, Engel=Angel, Damon=Demon, and Heiliger=Saint. I wanted it to seem like a hierarchy of God, devils, angels, demons, and saints; I know that it might seem contradictory since they're assassins, but oh well. It's supposed to show that they think themselves higher than mortals, that they're above everyone else as well as the law.
Warnings: Mild language and violence. Slight 1+R but it's still a 2+R fic.
A.N: Some people have been wondering why I'm putting the same disclaimer over and over again on my fics instead of the comments I used to have. Well, I'm just too tired to try and be clever; I'm busy trying to devise plans on how to get my oniisan offline. He's been playing Diablo II online from morning till night for the past few weeks which means I'm basically barred from the PC. So far, I've already gotten a couple of people hunting him down online and I hope they can get to him soon, that rat bastard! BTW, for those wanting to know more about Todesengel, there's a little part that gets more into them.
My Ojousan
Chapter 8: A Night of Nomadic Thoughts
By: veGie-kun
"Duo, what's wrong?" Trowa questioned, having caught up with the despondent youth. The other was leaning against the steel wall of the worn down building, his head hung low.
"... Nothing's wrong, I just needed to get out for a breather. I mean, I'm not scared of the dark or anything... but it can be a little unnerving sometimes... ya know?" He looked up to the taller man for support.
"I understand," Trowa replied, joining Duo at the wall, his easy manner disguising the weariness that flowed through his limbs. "I've never been fond of the dark myself. There is always something about it that leaves you feeling empty, no matter how many are with you." He closed his eyes and savored the gentle wind that swept by, created by the colony's air conditioning system. "So, what exactly unnerved you back there? It couldn't have been the shadows." He mused, sounding as if he already knew the answer to his own question.
Duo raked a hand through his hair before placing both of them in his pockets, his back on the wall, eyes staring to the farthest reaches of the colony. "Heh heh, I'm not usually like this, ne? Just that... I've been putting off having to deal with some things up till now..."
"Relena?"
"Yeah..." He confirmed with a hint of a smile on his lips. "I'm kinda confused as to what I should do once this thing blows over... I thought that maybe I could ask her to stay on L2 for a little while longer so that we could spend extra time together but-" Trowa quirked an eyebrow but said nothing, leaving the mechanic to finish his ramble. It was quite amusing to see the former Shinigami fumble over words; one thing's for sure, he never ran out of them. "... now that Heero's here, she's probably forgotten about me already... Hah, it was stupid of me to think I could've had a chance with her. But that's me, Duo Maxwell, the fool."
Trowa chuckled slightly at that assessment, wondering if he would ever feel like that someday. "You haven't exactly told her this, have you?" he queried in a light, sympathetic tone.
"Thank you, no, but I'd like to keep my dignity and pride in tact. I don't think I could take having them smashed to pieces when I'm told that I'll never have a chance." He huffed and kicked a small pebble near his right foot. "I mean, when you consider the options she has, it's easy to see who her choice will be... Oh Shinigami, my heart hurts..." he gasped, clutching his shirt as his mind sorted the erratic emotions flooding his mind. //It's all coming to an end. This strange fairytale I deceived myself into believing; the beautiful princess being protected from unknown villains by the handsome youth that she would eventually fall in love with.// Although the youth hadn't exactly expressed his desire for such a thing, the past few days allowed him moments for which this fantasy came into being. He'd been the one to see her smile and laugh, to see her let go of all her inhibitions and formality, to see her wake up with the morning rays bathing her in divine light, to see her carefree and happy. It wasn't fair that those things were going to be taken from him after he'd just experienced them. It was like exposing a child to candy then telling the child that was the one thing he/she couldn't have.
//Why the HELL is life screwing with me!? Why am I being the one tortured here!? You can't do this to me! YOU CAN'T!// The mechanic wasn't quite sure who he was addressing at that moment: God, Heero, or Relena, but knew that one of them had to be the cause. "I think..." he began slowly while Trowa listened attentively, "that I'm life's personal plaything."
"... We all are, Duo," the stoic man rebuked calmly, "We all are."
"So what do you think I should do? With Heero here now, there's no way I can avoid the issue with Relena..." the words came out sullenly, "I was better off not knowing about his existence..." they were bitter now, "at least I didn't have to deal with it or even think about it," he ended regretfully.
Trowa pushed himself off the wall and stood in front of the shorter man, his hands at his sides, his stance commanding. "Putting issues such as these off accomplishes nothing. Will you run from this all your life? Will you continue to run from the choices and responsibilities that are inevitably yours? What will you do when you regret not doing anything in the end? What is there to be afraid of?"
Duo chuckled softly, that was the most he'd ever heard from the entertainer in the years they'd been friends. It was quite refreshing and he would've pondered on it more, but the questions needed to be answered. "The only thing to be afraid of... is rejection."
The silence around them intensified, seeping into every crevice of the abandoned warehouse. Like a scene frozen in time, Heero stood unmoving as Relena held his gaze, entranced by those midnight blue eyes. It became like one of those instances between two people where awkwardness took control and anything spoken would've spoiled the moment.
The busy feet of nearby rodents jumping onto empty oil drums and pipes shattered the stillness. Heero spoke first, concentrating his gaze on discarded crates off to the side. "... It's nice to see you again, Relena," he admitted truthfully, slowly making his way to her once more.
The young woman hesitantly stood up, cautious of what his true intentions may be. After searching his eyes for hints of deception, she slowly walked forward and embraced him. Almost instantaneously the tears came, and she cried unashamedly onto his shoulder. His arms wrapped around her body a few seconds later and held her reassuringly, waiting for the tears to subside. //Oh God... Heero, it's actually you. You're not a dream; you're real... it's really you...// It took a few minutes before the tears shut off and Relena stirred, pulling out of the hug. She looked at him with sad eyes, conveying all the pain and loneliness collected in those ocean blue orbs over the years.
She brought up a hand to wipe away a stray tear then recomposed herself into the dignified diplomat the solar system was used to seeing. "What brings you here?" She asked in a controlled tone, every bit the politician her father trained her to be.
If Heero had been surprised by that sudden transition, he didn't show it; he'd seen the young woman in all her different stages before, it was nothing new. "... I came by to check on you; see how you were doing."
The simple answer didn't seem to satisfy the young woman's curiosity and so she pressed on. "Really? Tell me something, Heero, was it just my imagination, or were you the one shooting at us back there at Hilde's house?"
The Japanese youth couldn't help the smirk that crept its way to his lips and he released a soft chuckle. "I'm working under cover," he stated, "I've been doing so for almost a year now."
"Oh?"
"The organization I'm employed to is the same one trying to kill you; I'm the project leader," he informed her as if it were an everyday thing.
"... How did I know you were going to say something like that?" she sighed and laughed softly. "Honestly, Heero, I think you're becoming predictable." Again she laughed, her light teasing easing the tension. The other gave a glare, but his eyes softened at her carefree attitude. "So, what's the name of this so called organization that's threatening my very life?" she asked dramatically, her outlook seeming to have changed with Heero's presence.
The youth shook his head and reprimanded her, "This isn't something to take lightly; they may have me hunting you but that doesn't mean they don't have other people doing it as well... It also appears as if they're getting suspicious of me. I don't know how long I can keep up this charade." He turned away from her but soon realized he hadn't answered her question. "Todesengel," he whispered hesitantly.
"Todesengel..." Relena breathed out cautiously as if the enemy could hear her, "... Angels of Death?"
Heero raised an eyebrow at that startling revelation, "You know German?"
The young diplomat lifted her head to meet his gaze, answering him, "A little... Just enough to pass idle conversation with the other diplomats and politicians... This group... they sound dangerous..."
"They're more than dangerous," Heero replied gravely in a low voice, "They've never failed in any of their assignments so far; all of their missions have been completed successfully."
"This is just great..." she huffed, sounding as if she would have a breakdown, "I always seem to attract all the so-called unstoppable forces of Earth and space. Is it just me, or does the whole solar system seem to regard me as some sort of target that'll earn assassins special recognition if they succeed?"
Heero noticed Relena drawing into herself, a distant look on her face, and walked forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I won't let anything happen to you. As long as I'm here I'll protect you; I promise." He declared into her soft hair, taking in the clean scent of spring.
"... Duo said the same thing to me..." Relena whispered offhandedly, unaware that she had spoken.
The Japanese youth tightened his grip, unidentifiable emotions constricting his heart. //... She... she cares about him... I-I have to ask... it's now or never... I can't be there for her, but... maybe he can...// "... Relena?"
"Hn?"
He was silent for a few moments, trying to piece together what he wanted to ask. "What," he began slowly, "... what are your feelings for Duo?"
Stretching out his body, the mechanic glanced up at the colony, wishing he were on Earth, staring at the beautiful moon. Some things were just better seen and admired from afar. It had been quite some time since he was last on the Earth appreciating the moon's true splendor. Now that he thought about it, he'd been given another reason, besides the moon, to visit the Earth more often. //Relena... I'm not going down without a fight! I-I want to be with you. I want to be there to see you smile and laugh; I want to be there when you're sad so that I can make you happy again; I want to be there when you wake up so that I'm the first thing you see in the morning... Relena... There's no way I'm stepping aside and letting Heero take you away.// He looked up at Trowa and grinned widely, his mind made up, he headed for the door.
"May I ask what the cause for this sudden change is?" The clown queried dryly already aware of what it was about.
"I've decided to take you up on your advice and talk to her," he answered with good spirits. "I mean, the worst thing that could happen would be her rejection, but then again, she'd still be my friend. If we can't have a meaningful relationship with one another, then we'll have a meaningful friendship." Whistling into the night air with hands in his pockets, the mechanic walked over to the door.
"I wouldn't go in," Trowa remarked, stopping the other in mid-step.
"And why not?"
"Because Heero's in there," he replied stoically. Duo's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in total disbelief before he caught a glimpse of something moving in the shadows.
The girl stood frozen, wondering if she had heard correctly. //Duo? What does Duo have to do with any of this? Why would Heero ask such a question? ::Because he knows you and Duo have been getting close:: How would he? ::It's Heero, he's able to do almost anything, except live a normal life:: ... Duo... What are my feelings for him? Do I feel anything for him? ::That answer should be clear; you harbor very strong emotions towards him. Up till this morning, the two of you were acting quite cozy, like everything you did together was natural:: But I love Heero! ::Do you? Or are your feelings for him now just tied over from the war? From your desire to give him a life that excluded war and all of its incarnations?:: ... I... I never thought about that... I just wanted to make him happy... ::Maybe you already have:: ...//
"Relena?"
Startled, she looked up and met his eyes and saw his need for an answer, one that was truthful and honest. "I-I don't know..." Her hands fell to her sides and she took a few steps back, averting her gaze to the floor, suddenly doubtful of the things that, mere moments ago, she believed she was certain of. "... I guess I like him... during our time together he was so nice..." A smiled crossed her lips as she continued to stare at the concrete ground. "He'd always try to make me laugh whenever I looked down or gloomy and he always looked like he had a smile ready just for me. The last two mornings he's even made me breakfast... I didn't even know he could cook! He's very... caring and... sweet... When I was with him, I-"
"What?" Heero's expression was sad, but he pressed on ignoring the pain stirring in his heart.
"... I didn't even think about the rest of the universe. For the first time in a long time... I didn't think about anything else... I had a chance to be... me... Relena Darlian, a normal girl without any worries." That small confession stirred up feelings of guilt; she was supposed to be in love with Heero, so it seemed wrong to have had such a wonderful time with Duo.
"... Relena, if you love him... I think you should be with him and forget about me..." //Oh Kami-sama, that hurt even more than I thought it would.//
"What?" She looked at him, horror-stricken. "Why would you tell me this? I don't even know what I feel for Duo."
"That's because you won't allow yourself to feel anything for others, afraid that in doing so, you'll be abandoning me," he stated firmly, his heart heavy.
"That's not true, Heero..." she denied shaking her head, "I've cared about you since the first time we met... All I ever wanted to do was give you hope and reassurance that the war wouldn't last forever, that one day your life would be normal..." Her pleading eyes found his and they stared deeply into each other. "... I just wanted you to be happy..." Again guilt flooded her and she broke off her gaze choosing a nice section of the floor. //I thought I was feeling this way cause I was spending so much time with Duo... so why would I feel like that by telling Heero that I want the best for him? ::The answer isn't that hard when you look at it from another perspective. You love both of them, or at least your feelings border along those lines. Leaning towards one or the other would naturally stir up such emotions:: Is that it? Do I really care that much for the both of them?//
The Japanese agent was silent, having doubts and second thoughts about what he was actually trying to accomplish. //No! I have to do this!// "Relena, don't think about me or what will happen to me should you turn to Duo. You shouldn't worry about my outcome because you already know that whatever choice you make I'll still protect you; that's a promise I mean to keep... And don't assume you hold any obligations towards me... You've done just as much for me."
"But-"
"If I wasn't a factor in this situation," he quickly interrupted her with a serious tone, "If you never even saw me this entire week, if I wasn't here at all... Do you think that you and Duo could have had something?"
The young woman was unsure and suddenly became uncomfortable under his scrutiny. "I don't know... but Heero-"
"Relena," he interrupted again, "... If-If Duo is the person who can make you happy; I don't want you to pass up that chance because of me... I don't want to be the cause of your unhappiness."
"But I can't help thinking about what will happen to you. I know you care for me, Heero... So I can't help but feel that I'm leaving you alone in this world," she countered with tears in her eyes.
Heero's expression softened and he wiped the crystalline drops away. Placing a hand on her cheek he looked into her eyes and told her what was true in his heart. "As long as you're alive and happy, I'll never be alone in this world."
"Heero!"
Trowa's voice snapped the two into attention and they caught sight of the clown running in their direction with Duo close behind. The look in his eyes told him without words that they had been discovered. With hesitated movements, he left Relena's side and ran past Trowa, yelling over his shoulder to the taller youth. "Protect her!" he screamed, drawing out the gun from the holster inside his blazer. As he approached Duo, he signaled for the youth to follow him and soon the two were gone.
The two men stared at each other, one displaying anger while the other played innocent. "See," said Marcus, "I told you he was a spy." After their leader informed him that he'd be departing their company again to look for the target alone the two had become suspicious. There was just something about his attitude towards the mission that kept them on their toes. At one moment he was as stiff as a board, being the most anal and mission-oriented bastard the two had ever known. Then there were times when they were chattering about Darlian where the young man would get distracted and even nervous. Although the normal person would not have recognized such symptoms, they had been around him for nearly a year.
After their decision was made to trail the stern youth, it hadn't been much of a surprise when they discovered that his destination was the diplomat's hideout. Chris, still somewhat loyal to his leader, suggested that it was just the Japanese's great tracking skills. Marcus, on the other hand, countered that possibility by stating that the young man never hesitated on his way to the warehouse, meaning he knew exactly where the girl would be. It was just too convenient to be chalked up as coincidence.
Shrugging at the accusation, Chris pulled out his gun and readjusted his shades. "Well, it doesn't matter now; if we keep on reasserting who was right and who was wrong, then our target's going to get away." He smiled at the annoyed expression his partner gave him.
"Tch, you always did know how to shift the blame away from yourself," Marcus commented. He looked down from the building's roof and scanned the grounds below, searching for signs of his former leader and the two men with him. //I've got you now! Heh, I can't believe you were able to fool us for so long, but now your time's up. After I kill you and expose you to the rest of Todesengel, I'll be praised and promoted for my actions. Heh, this is going to be sweet.// He stopped in his thoughts when he saw his comrade pulling out his cell phone. "What are you doing?"
The other arched an eyebrow before explaining. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm calling headquarters; they need to be informed that the operation has been jeopardized."
"You'll do no such thing," Marcus exclaimed, placing a hand over the phone, "If you call them now, they'll think we're asking for help. We'd never be able to live it down, especially with those guys from Engel. I can already hear them jeering at us; this whole week has been nothing but crap and that's the last thing I want to happen to top it off."
His partner sighed and slumped his shoulders in defeat, well aware of what the other was trying to get through. Todesengel was divided into five main units of assassins: Gott, Teufel, Engel, Damon, and Heiliger. Gott was the group that held the leader of Todesengel; in a way, they consisted of the best the organization had. Teufel and Engel were the closest next to Gott, and after them, the others were pretty much equal. He and Marcus were part of the Teufel unit whose rival where those in Engel. Bitter towards one another, they always tried to one-up each other during missions. Contacting Todesengel at this point would make it seem like a distress call, as if they were crying to home with their tails between their legs.
"Scheisse! You're right. I'll be damned if I ever let those bastards have the last laugh," he spat vehemently, putting away the phone. "So what course of action do you suggest we take?"
To that, the taller man already had a plan in mind. "Easy my friend," he exclaimed, placing an arm around Chris' shoulder bringing him close, "All we need to do is take care of this minor technicality ourselves. We kill him and his two companions will become easy pickings, after that the Darlian girl will be no problem at all. Then we'll report back to Taylor, get the rest of our pay, and go back to Todesengel and report to them the events that transpired that led to our assassinating the project leader."
Chris though still held his doubts, realizing that the so-called solution sounded a bit too easy for comfort. The Japanese youth wasn't their leader for nothing; his skills were far superior to many in the organization. The only thing keeping him out of Gott was his lack of experience and hesitation to kill; those in Gott had been around for decades, they knew everything that took place inside and outside of Todesengel. In the first two months alone, the Japanese youth had gained the admiration of the organization's leader and had worked his way into becoming a leader himself, assigned to one of the best groups.
"You may say it'll be a piece of cake, but remember," he warned in a serious tone, "he defeated the both of us in unarmed combat during training."
Marcus turned his head to the side abruptly, not wanting to be reminded that someone younger and smaller than himself had outmatched him. "Tch, I already know that! All I'm saying, is that we have to get rid of him in order to get to Darlian." He saw the other nod and they quickly made their way down the building, mentally preparing themselves for the inevitable conflict that would soon come to pass. This wasn't a first for them, they'd been in many battles prior to this, however; it would be the first in which they'd draw arms against someone who was a comrade, someone they'd been living with for close to a year now. While Marcus didn't have to much problems with it, his desire for leadership fueling him on, Chris, despite his talks, still felt odd about possibly killing his leader, spy or not.
//I shouldn't be here.// The mechanic repeated for the fifth time in his head. //I shouldn't be here following Yuy to Shinigami knows where; this doesn't feel right. Where is she? I should be with her, protecting her like I promised. This doesn't feel right at all.// Lost in thought, he didn't notice when Heero had stopped and ran right into his back, knocking the Japanese youth a couple steps forward.
With a menacing glare Heero turned around and aimed his gun at the American. "Watch where you're going, we don't know where the enemy is and slipups like that give them the opportunity to retaliate," he told the other sternly. Cocking his gun again, he surveyed the area outside the building, wary of the shadows that loomed over them.
"Well excuse me, Mr. Perfect Soldier!" Duo remarked sarcastically, "But if you think I'm such a screw up then why did you drag me along? Wouldn't Trowa have been a much better choice?"
//Dammit! I don't have time for this!.// Grabbing Duo's shoulders, the disgruntled youth swung the mechanic so they were face to face. "It's because you're such a screw up that you're with me. Relena's the top priority right now and I'm not going to jeopardize her life by letting someone who gets easily distracted guard her," he hissed furiously.
Angered by the remarks, the braided youth slapped away the hands and glared. Fueled on by thoughts of loss and inferiority he held his ground and rebuked. "I'd never let anything happen to her-" He was cut-off mid-sentence by gunfire and both he and Heero scrambled for cover behind a wall of stacked oil drums and crates. "Shit!" he cursed and returned fire to the unseen enemies.
"Like I said," Heero began from the other end of the 'wall', "you're too much of a liability to be the one guarding her."
"And you think you could've done better?" Duo retorted ducking his head to avoid a hail of bullets. He looked over his shoulder at his partner-for-the-time-being, and saw him mentally psyche up for what he was to do: shoot with the intent to kill. Duo sighed, he'd heard about the promise Heero made to himself after he'd foiled Dekim's plan. //Dammit, Heero! You shouldn't be here either; you might not have it in you to kill again!//
Heero was silent for a moment then looked to his comrade. "No," he stated firmly, "I wouldn't have done better; my emotions would get in the way."
"Emotions? You have none!" Duo shouted angrily but the look in Heero's eyes to the comment made him automatically regret it. "... Gomen... but emotions don't hamper a person's ability. I'd give my life to protect her..." He stared at the ground and let loose a sob.
After returning fire for a round, Heero looked to Duo again replying, "And you think that it's all right to sacrifice one life for another?... That is not what Relena would wish for... but then again, she would do the same thing. Trowa won't let that happen... Duo... if you care about her try your best to stay alive... For her, stay alive."
The mechanic snorted and shot at the shadows concealing the enemy. "Hmph, shouldn't you be the one trying to stay alive? You're the one she cares about... not me."
The other youth's eyes softened sympathetically; he'd never seen the usually buoyant man so dejected. "Are you sure about that?" he asked in a light tone. The other's eyes widen but his thoughts were stopped when he heard the screeching tires of a car. "That would be them."
The two stopped shooting and lowered their guns, tuning their ears to the sound that pierced the night wind. Marcus scowled loudly and replaced his gun back inside his coat. "Scheisse!" he cursed aloud, "That was Darlian! C'mon Chris, we can forget him for now!"
"But you said that getting rid of him would make Darlian's assassination easier!" Chris protested, firing another shot at the makeshift wall, unwilling to retreat. He would've continued if it not been for his companion tugging insistently on his arm.
"I know what I said, but how do you suggest we kill Darlian if we can't find her?" he rebuked impatiently, his temper wearing thin and his reserve gone.
Realizing the situation they were placed in, the blond regretfully left his post and followed the other into the darkness that hid their vehicle. They were hasty in their movements, they'd already wasted precious seconds by arguing the matter; they didn't need to lose anymore. Jumping inside the car, they forego buckling their seatbelts and drove off, screeching tires loud enough to wake the dead.
It had already been close to ten minutes and Trowa's calm attitude certainly didn't reflect much in his driving; his turns, starts and stops looked normal enough... if you ignored the speed at which he was going. Of course, it wasn't totally reckless; he was using his utmost skills to avoid hitting any of the pedestrians that had the unlucky sense to step onto the pavement.
"Where exactly are we going, Trowa?" Relena asked curiously, calm in her demeanor yet gripping the cushion of the seat so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
"For now, we're just trying to get away," he replied stoically. An offhanded glance in her direction told him she was frightened, and so, he tried to accommodate her needs by slowing down a fraction. But despite his efforts, the young woman still seemed preoccupied and that's when it occurred to him that she didn't fear her own safety, but those of the two left behind. "They'll be fine, Gundam pilots, retired or not, can survive anything."
She looked in his direction and smiled, "So I've heard... and seen." Chuckling softly, she continued to try and establish some sort of communication with the normally quiet one. "Exactly what does it take to get rid of a Gundam pilot?"
"Personally, I do not know but..." he trailed off and sadness crept into his voice, "I think that in order to kill a Gundam pilot, one must kill all those the Gundam pilot cherishes... I know that I wouldn't be able to survive if Catherine were taken from me..."
Relena smiled and stared off into the light-filled streets, reflecting on his words. "... You must really love her, don't you?"
Trowa was silent for a second before answering, "I've spent an entire childhood away from her," his voice stayed its usual monotone but it wavered minutely, "Without knowing what it was like to be loved and to love someone back just as equally. She's the reason I'm fighting right now."
"... I wish I'd been given the chance to do the same with Milliard," the diplomat confessed. "The only thing I know about him is from what Colonel Une, Sally Po, Noin, and Pagan tells me. Other than that I only know him as the man who left the Sank Kingdom's ideals in order to gain revenge against the Alliance." Again, her field of vision turned to the streets as memories from a few years passed made its way to the forefront on her mind. "I guess I can understand what he was trying to do... but... but I just wish I had the chance to spend more time with him... To have him tell me what our childhood was like; I remember so little of it... but he's gone now... Did I ever tell you that I really do envy you, Trowa?"
The former pilot chuckled softly causing the girl to get confused. "Remember what I said about Gundam pilots; they can survive anything. If my memory serves me right, he was the official pilot of the Epyon. If you're alive and well, then so is Zechs," he reassured her gently.
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mi-" The car came to an abrupt halt, sending the girl forward with the momentum. It took her a second to regain equilibrium, her hands clutching her head for balance. "What happened?" she asked confused, still dazed.
True to form, Trowa had not lost his cool and checked the area they were in through the car windows. "It seems," he began still carrying out his surveillance, "that there's been an accident around here," he informed taking note of the three car pile-up that blocked their path. Around the street many people had gathered, awaiting the ambulance and excitement that came with it, which included the possibility of being on TV. From the angle of all the cars, Trowa surmised that the middle one had done it, possibly being careless and turning when it obviously wasn't his turn. //Shit.// He thought as he tried to back out of the street, but unfortunately another car had already gone into the same street, now barring his rear exit plan.
He wasn't sure if it was better to remain in their current position or abandon the vehicle and head out on foot. Checking the situation behind them, he realized it would be impossible for them to escape through that route. The sounds of more vehicles pulling up made him apprehensive and so, deciding to take advantage of the gathering people as cover, he unlatched his and Relena's seatbelts, motioning for her to leave the car. With his gun securely hidden inside his coat's pocket he stepped out the door and made his way over to the girl and led her through the mass of bodies.
Slipping through with little difficulty, Trowa pushed on until they were safely covered within the darkness of the alley. Out from public view both Relena and Trowa were allowed to recollect their thoughts and reassess where they stood at that particular moment. They were somewhere, although, Trowa wasn't exactly sure where since his main objective was to put some distance between Relena and her would-be assassins. He sure did a good job of that considering they were practically a good ten to fifteen miles from the warehouse. The other problem was where they should go for coverage; it had to be a place that accommodated all their needs and allowed easy access to things such as the web and videophones.
To his knowledge the only place he knew that would meet most of those needs was the circus but he refused to even allow those men within twenty miles of the vicinity. There was no way in the world he was going to endanger his family; this wasn't a problem that concerned them in the slightest. But figuring out where he couldn't go wasn't what was needed and he focused more of his concentration into locating areas where they could conceal themselves. "Relena," he found himself speaking suddenly, "Maybe we should head back to your hotel room. So far, it seems the best suited for a hideout; after the Preventers inspected it they were able to clear it of all the dangers. It's also pretty heavily guarded considering the conference being held this week."
After sneaking in a glance at the crowd sill forming, she faced him and answered, "Well, I guess that's the only place we have left. The only problem would be how to get in there. I can just walk in there without any setbacks but I don't think it would be good for me to be seen with you. Questions might arise and I really don't feel like trying to explain this to the media should they catch wind of it." She straightened out and smirked, "Remember, I have a public image to maintain. What would they say when they hear that I'm sneaking tall, handsome, strangers into my hotel room? Just try and guess how long I'll be able to stay in politics..." Her voice trailed off when something suddenly came to mind. "Oh no! My keys! I left them in my bag at Hilde's!"
The Stoic One chuckled and took hold of her hand, guiding her through the dark alley. They only had a few more hours before dawn would set in and they still had no idea where they were. The surrounding area did look slightly familiar but still they were technically lost. Looking back over his shoulder he offered his reassurance, "Don't worry, we'll figure something out."
"Where the hell did those bastards go!?" Duo screamed into the silent night when fifteen minutes had passed without anything happening. No response came and he turned to see what was wrong with Heero. "Dammit! You're supposed to answer my question!"
The Japanese youth barely acknowledged him with more than a huff before he stalked away, shouting to the other. "Where do you think they've gone? Most likely they heard Trowa and Relena driving away and have left to follow them before they lost track." He walked away checking his gun to see how many remaining bullets he had left with Duo in tow. "Since Trowa took the car," he continued with set determination, "we need to find some other means of transportation lest you prefer walking on foot."
Duo sighed and gave up the argument, walking silently behind with his hands in his pockets. //Damn... Relena... I'm so sorry...// He looked up and stared at Heero's back wondering if the usually stoic one was going through the same self-loathing he was. He chuckled to himself realizing the answer should have been clear to him. All those years Heero had kept himself away from the diplomat for her own safety; in the back of his mind he wondered if he would have done the same thing. "I don't know what I'd do anymore," he whispered to himself quietly, "this entire thing's really starting to confuse me." Yet, despite his ramblings, he knew in his heart the one thing that remained true, his feelings for Relena. //Relena, no matter what happens in the end; no matter if it's Heero you choose, I'll always love and protect you. Maybe I won't be as great as Heero in that department, but I'll do my best. Please stay alive for me.//
The mechanic heard Heero mumble to himself and inquired, "What's wrong?"
"Trowa has my extra cell phone," he informed his comrade, "I can call him to get their location." He heard the mechanic give a sigh of relief, the tension automatically leaving his body, and smiled. With swift fingers he dialed the other cell and waited for Trowa to pick up the other line. //C'mon, c'mon, c'mon.// He repeated nervously in his mind though it never surfaced in his appearance. //I need to know that the two of you are alive.// The other end clicked and immediately he heard Trowa's voice.
"Heero?" he asked unsure if it was the Japanese agent or his former comrades.
Giving Duo a nod in affirmation, the grim youth concentrated on his conversation over the cell. "They're on your tail," he said not wasting any time, getting straight into the seriousness of the situation. "I doubt they know your exact whereabouts, but still, try to keep out of sight. I also need to know where you two are or at least where you're headed." Duo who was standing to his right grinned; he'd almost forgotten how severe the other could sound during such circumstances.
"Relena and I are headed back to her hotel."
Heero's brows furrowed and hid voice became firmer, "Are you sure that's wise. The two of you could be seen."
"Don't worry," Trowa's voice reassured, "we won't go in through the front door; Relena left her keys at Hilde's house."
"Ryoukai," Heero replied looking at his watch, "stay there until we come for you around noon. Make sure she gets enough sleep and try to get something to eat as well." Turning off the phone, he averted his gaze and caught Duo peering across the grounds to the bright lights of the city. "Shall we?"
Unable to suppress a grin, the American nodded and Heero could see a dangerous glint in his eyes. If only those assassins knew what they were getting into; a supposedly normal Duo was hard enough to control, but a Duo bent on protecting someone he cared about, and in the case of Relena, someone he loves, was going to a fight they wish they never instigated. "Yes, we shall," he answered humorously; flashing yet again his 100watt smile.
Unlike Duo; however, Heero was not as optimistic in his attitude. He knew quite well what those assassins could do; hell, he'd been the one to teach them some of the skills they were now utilizing. But the last vestige of his mind coerced him to look towards hope, telling him to trust in his friends and in his own abilities. //I already know those two won't be much of a problem, but Todesengel itself is what concerns me.// He was silent once more.
-to be continued-
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Grrrrr! I'm getting so frustrated! My muse has problems, which ultimately leads to me having problems since she IS my muse! Argh! I wanted this fic to have more 'happy' moments, but she's been so depressed lately I've had a hard time writing 'happy' things. I'm doing my best trying to tap into my inner happiness but unfortunately I have none. I'm desperate to find something happy and I know where I could go... but I refuse to turn to those hyper, rabid, bishounen-obsessed, sugar-addicted, fan girls at school! I've known a few of them for years now and all I have to say is that they really scare me; they really do. Of all the things in the world that cause a chill to run down my spine, they make me freeze. The only thing that scares me more than that is the thought of telling the person I love that I love them and getting rejected (that's where a lot of Duo's feelings are coming from in this fic). I'm hoping that my muse can get her act together cause I'm not going to find another one; I've had this one since junior high and I'm not about to let her bail on me.
Oh, as for the names of the five units, their meanings are: Gott=God, Teufel=Devil, Engel=Angel, Damon=Demon, and Heiliger=Saint. I wanted it to seem like a hierarchy of God, devils, angels, demons, and saints; I know that it might seem contradictory since they're assassins, but oh well. It's supposed to show that they think themselves higher than mortals, that they're above everyone else as well as the law.
