The Taki and Wufei Story
Chapter 3: Second Chances
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"Okay, Bisho! I'm going!"
Duo gulps down his coffee and catches a muffled groan and/or murmur from his sister. He looks over his shoulder at her small frame completely covered in blankets. With a wry grin, he shakes his head at her. She is definitely not a morning person.
He glances at his watch and notes the time. Well, I suppose 5 a.m. is a little early to be up and about... He pulls on his suit jacket and plucks his leather satchel from the counter. He checks to make sure he has all of the documentation he might need for his job interview. Although he doesn't particularly want to work for the colony spaceport, he knows it would be good experience and, hopefully, regular hours.
Duo sets his empty cup down in the sink and tries to get out the door as quietly as possible. He heads down the stairs and out the front door, checking his watch again. It's too early for buses to be running, so he'll have to walk it. He's not really worried. The spaceport isn't that far away. He gazes out at the empty streets, knowing that his prospective employer had arranged the interview time based on the rush hour traffic schedule. Soon, the mechanic bay would be bustling with passenger carriers and cargo ships. The dead of morning and the dead of night were the only times available for an interview.
He rolls his shoulders and tries not to think of working under such hectic conditions. Maybe it is just the supervising mechanic who has so little free time. Duo sighs. He can hope, anyway.
Still, even though Duo has plenty to think about, the old instincts that force him to pay strict attention to his surroundings override his thoughts. Which is fortunate. Otherwise he would have overlooked the huddled figure occupying a stoop just inside a shadowed alley. Normally, Duo would only have given the person a cursory glance, just to confirm that the stranger isn't in any shape to cause him trouble. But there is something about the rumpled form that makes him pause and look closer.
He comes to a halt on the sidewalk and attempts to make out the figure in the shadows. Dark hair. Leather jacket. Female, he decides. Then he sees the girl's backpack. His eyes widen as he takes a step closer.
It's easier to see her once he's standing in the shadows. His gaze moves over her and finds it suddenly difficult to swallow. Slowly, he reaches out. Softly, he calls her name. She doesn't so much as twitch. It's only when he's close enough to feel her breath against his face does he realize what he is seeing.
Her breath, heavy with the scent of alcohol, the dark circles under her eyes, her limp, dirty hair, the clothes that look like they've been worn for three days straight... It all tells a story of a young woman who has simply given up on life. Gently, he wraps an arm around her. Completely down for the count, she sleeps through his clumsy operation. When at last she's cradled against his chest, Duo stands.
It takes him longer to return to the apartment, but considering his burden he still makes excellent time. As he fumbles with the lock and kicks the door open, Duo is greeted by his sister's voice coming from beneath the small hill of blankets.
"That was fast," she mutters.
"I didn't go," he replies, heading for his bedroom to lay the girl in his arms down. "This is more important." He begins unzipping the young woman's boots but pauses at the sound of his sister's soft gasp. He looks up in time to see his sister, rumpled from sleep, staring at their guest.
"Oh my God..."
"Help me get her out of her coat?" he asks.
Bisho nods. "Yeah..."
Together, they manage to get her tucked into bed. With that accomplished, Bisho asks him, "What are you going to do?"
Duo runs his fingers through his hair, messing up his braid. "I'm not sure." He tries to think of who he can call... He winces as one candidate's name comes to him. It's unlikely, but what other options does he have?
With a sigh, he heads for the phone and punches in a number. After a moment, the call connects. Duo clears his throat and doesn't bother with false brevity. "Hey, Wufei. I'm sorry to bother you, but... well, it's about Taki..."
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"It's about Taki..."
"What about her?"
"She's... God, Wu, I found her passed out in an alley."
"Where is she now?"
"With me, but..."
"Then what's the problem, Maxwell?"
"She's drunk, completely exhausted, and looks like she hasn't seen the inside of a shower in days."
"So she needs money? A place to stay? What?"
"Wufei, Taki knows how to take care of herself. She's just chosen not to."
"What am I supposed to infer from this, Maxwell?"
"She's trying to kill herself, you moron! Someone who's grown up on the streets knows it's fatal to let down their guard. Jesus, she might has well have painted a red bulls eye on her forehead!"
"So what do you want me to do about it?"
"I don't God damn know! I thought you might..."
"Might what?"
"...care..."
Wufei rolls his head toward the shuttle window and watches the darkness scroll past. In silence, he replays the conversation he'd had with Duo only a few hours ago. Unsure of how he should feel about this situation. Unsure of how he should feel about Taki in general. His hesitation on the phone had spoken volumes.
"Gee, Wu, I can tell you're really torn up about this."
"I..."
"Look, maybe you don't give a rip. Fine. I'll call... I don't know... someone else..."
"No, Duo, don't do that. I'm catching the next flight."
His eyelids slide closed on a sigh. Why had he agreed to leave his investigation and go to L2? Why had he indirectly agreed to look after Taki? They didn't even like each other. Well, for the most part anyway. There'd been just that one time, on the roof of the hotel, when he'd held her... Other than that, they'd done nothing but exchange glares and insults. And a kiss, of course.
He sighs.
He knows why he'd agreed. Her best friend had been killed destroying a threat to peace that Wufei should have already taken care of. The bottom line is that it should have been Wufei in that building. His ineptitude had cost Taki her friend and, it also seemed, her will to live.
Wufei rubs his temples, feeling this new guilt heap itself up onto the pile already threatening to crush the air from his lungs. Somehow, he's got to find a way to get some good out of this. For the sake of his own sanity at the very least.
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She's slowly going insane. Taki realizes this. She quickly closes her eyes, blocking out the vision that she knows is impossible. Although why her mind insists on presenting this image to her she does not know. Wufei Chang is the last person she wants to see. So why is it she cannot escape his presence?
"Taki? Are you awake?"
She turns away, wraps herself around a very flat pillow, and mumbles, "Piss off you ferret loving asshole."
And then her hallucination grunts. "That's the most imaginative yet," he tells her.
"Stuff a sushi in it. I'm sleeping."
And damn if she can't hear his smirk. "So I see. And very noisily at that."
Her next grumble is completely incoherent.
Wufei takes a deep breath and releases it silently. He hovers over her blanket-swaddled form for another moment, waiting to see if she truly wakes up. She needs to wake up. But, at the moment, she doesn't seem so inclined. He leans away from the bed when her breathing levels off again. Wufei frowns as he experiences both disappointment and relief. Disappointment because Taki's been drifting in and out of consciousness for more than a day. Relief because he is hardly looking forward to explaining why she's in his custody.
He slides into the chair behind the desk and resumes the comm. window on his laptop.
"Is everything under control, Agent Chang?"
"Yes. I apologize for the interruption, Commander Une." His gaze shifts momentarily to the open doorway just a few feet away and Taki's sleeping figure beyond. "Did you receive my progress report successfully?"
"I did. But you neglected to include when you'll be meeting with the computer forensics analysts."
Wufei nods. "I've been receiving daily reports. Thus far, they're still searching for all of the fragments in the blast site. The technicians don't have enough material to begin rebuilding the database yet."
Une nods. "Keep me informed."
"Of course, Commander."
Wufei disconnects and leans back in his chair. Giving in to an old nervous gesture, he reaches behind him and combs his fingers through his ponytail. He's not particularly proud of himself at this moment; he hasn't told Une that he is no longer on L1 and it is imperative that he return. He just hopes this situation with Taki will resolve itself. Soon.
Taki hesitates in the doorway, blinking at the sight before her. She ignores the details of the hotel room in favor of studying the man leaning back in his chair, hands behind his head, eyes closed. And to think she'd nearly convinced herself that she'd been dreaming him. She stares, thinking how very much younger he looks without a scowl on his face. Damn, he almost looks his actual age.
Reluctantly, she clears her throat. Taki stays right where she is and watches him unveil his dark, dark eyes. "What am I doing here?" Her voice isn't nearly as clear nor as pissy as she'd expected. The husky quality of it as well as her reluctance to speak at all combines and she feels suddenly rather angry with herself. Christ, I'm acting positively meek!
Wufei slowly drops his arms onto the desk and returns her tired glare. He ignores her question. "How are you feeling?"
"Fan-fucking-tastic." She repeats, "What. Am. I. Doing. Here?"
He reaches for the phone. "You should get cleaned up. I'll order something to eat. Any preferences?"
"Answer my question," she retorts, attempting to ignore his comment about needing to get cleaned up. Yup, you sure know how to make a girl feel real special.
His lips twitch. "That's not on the menu."
She glares. "Whatever. Just make sure they don't forget the ketchup." And with that, she slams into the bathroom.
At the desk, Wufei releases a slow breath and dials for room service.
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"Are you going to answer my question now?"
Wufei meets Taki's gaze over the remains of their meal and nods. "Duo found you. Passed out on the street."
Taki digests this. She sifts through her memories, recalling a lot of loud music, grief-numbing drinks, and swirling lights... then, nothing. "If Duo found me, then why am I here?"
Face perfectly expressionless, Wufei tells her, "Duo and Bisho are living in an efficiency apartment. There wasn't any room for you."
Taki winces at that last bit. "The story of my life," she mutters quietly, but not quietly enough.
Wufei's eyes narrow.
Taki doesn't notice. "So, why you?"
"Excuse me?"
She elaborates, "Why did Duo ask you? I mean, he must have. You're not the sort to just... volunteer your hospitality to an almost stranger."
His voice is quiet when he tells her, "I was the closest." And he's not entirely sure he's telling the truth. He frowns.
"Well, thanks for the bed and the shower and the meal. Now that I'm capable of defending myself against slave traders, muggers, pimps, and johns I'll be on my way."
Wufei watches as Taki pushes away from the table. She plucks her coat from the open closet and slings her backpack over her shoulder. Not once during this does she acknowledge his existence. His jaw clenches as something inside of him strains. He tells himself it's his honor that makes him stand and block her route to the door.
When Taki turns around, she discovers the silent obstacle in her path. She arcs a brow at him. "You gonna try to stop me from leaving?" she dares, incredulous.
For a moment, he doesn't reply. He simply looks into her eyes, reading the pain and the anger and the... resignation. Duo had been right. She doesn't want to live anymore. He glares at her. What had happened to her fire? Her invincible determination? How dare she just give up. He says, "Is Duo going to find you on the street again?"
She opens her mouth to respond.
Wufei talks over her. "I don't have time to walk the streets checking up on you."
Taki's eyes flash with anger for a tiny moment. Then she shrugs. "Did I ask you to?"
He hears himself say, "Yes."
Her gaze snaps to his. "Get your hearing checked."
Wufei scowls at her. "That look in your eyes asked me, Taki. So just save us both the trouble and stay."
"Oh, you know I live to make your life easier."
He ignores the sarcasm. "The point being that you live."
"And since when do you care?"
Normally, Wufei would have paused and carefully composed his reply to a challenge of that nature, but his mouth seems to be on autopilot. "Did that moment on the rooftop mean nothing to you?"
Taki blinks, shocked. "I..." Of all the things she would have expected him to say, that is not among them. Even Wufei looks a little startled at his words. She tries again, "I..."
Wufei takes a breath, determined to convince her to just stay put for the time being. Her voice is telling him she can take care of herself, but her eyes communicate otherwise. Besides, he doesn't particularly want to get a call from Duo again during the shuttle ride back to L1. He confronts: "Why weren't you at the funeral?"
"I was there," she states, too surprised to think of a lie.
"I didn't see you."
"I was there." She looks away from his gaze. "I didn't want to be seen."
He frowns. "Why not?"
The look she sends him is not a little angry. She refrains from responding.
"Why not?"
"Go to hell," she growls, attempting to push past him.
His palm slaps against the wall and suddenly his arm is blocking her escape. "You're not going anywhere, Taki."
"God, what is with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You don't even like me!"
Slowly, Wufei nods. "You're right. I don't like you..."
Taki glares at him. Through clenched teeth, she advises, "Then get out of my way."
He continues, ignoring her threat, "... but I could."
Her entire body stills. The tension in her shoulders dissipates in the wake of his flat statement. "What?"
The words roll out of him involuntarily. He hears himself speaking and is surprised that they don't sound false to his ears. "You're not the only one who's alone right now. Don't deny it," he tells her without heat as she starts to argue. "You're alone. I'm alone. And it gets very... tiresome."
She simply looks at him, waiting for the punch line.
He says, "Stay for a few days."
"Why?"
He shrugs. "Why not?"
Taki hesitates. Her gaze flows over him, taking in random details as well as his expression. She stares at a wisp of hair that has escaped his severe ponytail and sighs. Maybe he's right... for once. It's not like she has someplace else she needs to be right now.
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~End of Chapter 3~
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Author's Note: Hey, there! I'd like to take this opportunity to say a little something to Seak... Thank you so much for your reviews. You know you're the main reason I'm even posting this story, right? I hope you enjoy! And for the love of all things G-boy, if anyone else is happy that I wrote this, let me know, dammit! *grins* Until then...
