Explaining to the Preventers
Warnings: multiple pairings; shonen ai, yaoi, violence. Some OOC for Treize, but all things considered, that's understandable.
Setting: sequel to A Happy if Farfetched Ending for 5+13; after Endless Waltz; Part of the Willing Slave universe, which will be apparent after the WS sequel.
Disclaimers: Gundam Wing characters belong to Mixx Entertainment, Koichi Tokita, the SOTSU Agency, Sunrise, Kodansha and anyone I may have forgotten, not to me. I make no money off of this.
*****
"Wufei--"
Sally froze as the young Preventer jerked back, startled from the reports on his desk. Wufei, once he realized who was speaking and that he was overreacting, put the gun down and leaned back in his stiff chair.
"Damn it, woman, don't do that!" he snapped, glaring furiously.
From across the office, Duo cackled. "Yeah, Sally, you shouldn't scare fierce warriors like that!"
Wufei groaned and picked his pen back up. "Of all the people to be in here when that happened..." he grumbled.
"Wufei, are you okay?" Sally asked, not at all flustered by her sudden brush with death. "You've been jumpy ever since you got back from China."
"I'm fine, just...tired," he said, hating the fact that it was true. Keeping this secret was nerve-wracking.
"Well, in any case," she sighed, knowing he would never confide in her, or anyone else for that matter, "have you finished that satellite survey on the Mars surface?"
He nodded and lifted one small stack of papers, sliding out a thick stapled collection of diagrams and maps. "Here," he said as he handed it to her. "But I thought you didn't need it until next week?"
Sally rolled her eyes. "Une wants it finished as soon as possible, and you know how she can get."
All three of them shuddered. Above them against the wall the small clock began to chime the hours, counting off six strokes.
"Woo hoo, quitting time!" Duo grinned and jumped out of his chair, vaulting over his desk and running to throw open the door. "I'll see ya tomorrow!" he yelled over his shoulder.
Wufei and Sally both looked up in shock. "Duo, wait, no!"
Too late. Duo had just maneuvered through the door when it closed shut, trapping his braid. From the other side of the door came a screech followed by a thud. "Ow..."
Sally shook her head sadly and opened the door, revealing Duo sitting on the floor, his abused hair in his hands. "You okay?"
"Uh-huh..." Duo mumbled, rising. "Um, you didn't see this, okay? Heero'd never let me live it down."
Wufei smirked. "Then you did not see Sally startle me."
"Deal!" Duo laughed, a grin back on his face as he ran off again.
Sally looked back at Wufei as he got up a little more sedately. "See you tomorrow, Wufei. Try to get some rest."
He nodded once as she left. "I'll try." Once he had gathered his things together, he left the building and found his motorcycle all alone around the corner. Reflexively checking over one shoulder to make sure he was alone, he revved the engine and took off into the middle of evening traffic. Fortunately his Preventer uniform kept the local police from pulling him over for his various minor infractions. Most of them were too absorbed with chasing a braided wild goose at high speeds nearly a mile away already.
After a few minutes of travel, Wufei pulled up to an expensive apartment building known for its exclusionary prices and excessive luxuries. With tight security Heero admitted was "decent, even for civilians," it was the perfect place for a former gundam pilot to live. But the real reason he'd chosen it was that it allowed its residents absolute privacy.
And personal gardens. That was vital. He absolutely loved coming home to the scent of roses, real grown roses.
Stepping into the glass elevator, he rose to the topmost level and walked down the short hall to the main doors. Glancing around once just to be sure he was alone, he unlocked the door and entered.
"Wufei!"
From the kitchen door nearby came strong, warm arms, wrapping around his shoulders and trapping him in a loving embrace. "I missed you."
Wufei tilted his head up and received his expected kiss. "I missed you as well. I trust you are fine?"
"You're so formal with me," Treize said, smiling as he came around and locked the door. "Was I like that before?"
Wufei dropped his bag on the carpeted floor and caught the slightly taller man's wrists, pushing them against the door and holding him hostage. "Oh yes. You were elegant, polite to a fault, aloof...mm, I'm running out of words."
"Desirable?" Treize asked.
"That most of all." He released Treize only to drift his hands upward to the pale lips and blue eyes. "You were the most beautiful, most intelligent person I'd ever met."
"Am I, still?" Treize whispered, lowering his eyes.
Wufei put his fingers just beneath Treize's chin and made him look back into his eyes. "You are so much more..."
"But I can't remember anything."
"Perhaps..." Wufei still wasn't certain that was his ancestors' doing or the effects of death on a soul, and there were some things he didn't think Treize was ready to recall. "Perhaps that is best. Besides, you remember some things."
"True." Treize smiled again and gently tugged Wufei to the living room. "I made dinner, and I thought we might watch the Leary marathon tonight."
Indulgent in his lover's risque taste in humor, which had surprised him to no end before, Wufei allowed Treize to seat him comfortably on the spacious couch and snuggle close. As the colony's artificial light faded away for the night cycle, the vid screen's flickering light colored the room bluish white and lulled Wufei to sleep after a few hours.
Treize stared down at him for several minutes, simply watching him. The light gave his blue eyes and smile a sinister edge, but the most he stole was a brief kiss and a pull on the dark hairband, releasing the tight ponytail. Taking another kiss, he slipped his arms beneath Wufei and lifted him up, carrying him to the bedroom.
"Lights low," he whispered.
Voice activated, the lamp on the side glowed, providing enough light for him to set his lover on the bed and begin undressing him.
"Hmm...what...?" Wufei mumbled.
"You fell asleep," Treize said. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. You must be exhausted."
"I had...paperwork..."
Treize only chuckled and finished getting Wufei's clothes off, then disrobed himself. He was about to pick Wufei up when the Chinese pilot grudgingly got to his feet. "Wufei..."
"I won't stumble," he said. "I do not need to be carried."
Treize found that his little dragon needed to be steadied from time to time, however. Somnolent, Wufei followed him into the shower and leaned against him, using his shoulder as a kind of pillow as he drowsed standing up. Treize happily worked him over with the rose-scented soaps, but he jerked a little when Wufei put his hand up on his chest and stroked his side. "I thought you were sleepy."
"Not that sleepy." His teasing ministrations worked down to Treize's abdomen and lower, until he had his lover biting his lip and sighing in pleasure. "You never grunt or groan, my love."
"Mmph...too 'refined' I sup-p-pose..." Treize put his arms around Wufei, resting his hands on the darker shoulders from behind.
Wufei grinned and continued to make his lover feel wonderful, completely in control despite the slight advantage Treize had on him in height and strength. Finally Treize cried out softly and tightened his embrace, thrusting once into Wufei's fingers until his shuddering stopped.
"I love you."
Treize blinked and shut his eyes, still holding on. "I will always love you."
"Ready to finish our shower?"
"Why do you do this in the bath or shower?" Treize smiled, rinsing both of their bodies off. "Not that I'm complaining, of course."
"Maybe because I am a...clean freak...as Duo puts it."
"More like you're insatiable." Treize put his hands on either side of Wufei's face, enjoying the view. "Will I ever get to meet this Duo person?"
Wufei closed his eyes.
"Or Heero, or Sally, or these other people you mention?" Treize asked. "Or talk to someone, at least?"
"Treize..."
"I feel so lonely here sometimes..."
Glad that the shower kept the little nagging tear camouflaged, Wufei ran his fingers through Treize's hair and hugged him. "I know, and I wish it were otherwise...but Treize, they wouldn't understand. They wouldn't trust you, they might even hurt you."
The entire discussion was too familiar to them, and they wordlessly left the shower, drying off separately. Treize left the bathroom and disappeared back into the bedroom. Wufei groaned to himself and shook his head. Saying no was harder and harder each time.
He shut off the lights and climbed into bed beside Treize, breathing a quick sigh of relief when his lover snuggled close, pushing his face into Wufei's throat and nuzzling his cheek. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I know you want to see more, and it's unfair to box you up like this--"
"No...no, it's...it's all right...but..." Treize stretched out and relaxed again. Settled like this, Wufei's toes barely reached his ankles, but the pleasant touch reassured him for some reason. "What kind of person was I?"
Wufei held him tight against himself and yawned, close to sleep again. "You were much like you are now. You've lost a little...ambition...some goals that are no longer applicable...you were very determined then. You defeated me twice."
"I must have been very good with a sword."
Yes, you cut me to shreds...twice..."No, I have merely improved a little. Shall we duel again tomorrow?"
"I would like that." Treize closed his eyes and kissed Wufei once more. "Until morning then."
Wufei smiled in the dark. When he was sleepy, Treize's manner lapsed back into his previous formal tone. "Until then, my sweet rose."
*
"Wufei, are you getting any sleep at all?" Duo demanded, hands on his hips.
The Chinese pilot gave him a sullen look that rivaled even Heero's. "Yes. I merely woke up too early."
"I know what you mean," Duo sighed. He stretched his arms out over his desk and lay his head down. "I can't believe Une called us in at six. Talk about brutal."
"I can't wait for the desk turns to change," Wufei admitted. "I'm sick of sitting behind these things. Useless woman's work."
"Ahem."
Wufei didn't even move. "Hello, woman."
"Polite as ever," Sally rolled her eyes. "I came to drop these things off--" She plopped two stacks of papers down in front of the boys, letting them hit the wood with a satisfying thud, and turned back to the door. "--and to let you know that once you finish those, desk jobs rotate."
Duo and Wufei both looked up in disbelief. "Really?" they asked at once.
"Yup. Then it'll be Trowa and Heero sitting here." She sighed and shook her head. "Y'know, compared to those two, you guys aren't so bad to have around."
"What do you mean?" Wufei grumbled, grabbing his stack. Just another mass of forms...this shouldn't take long.
"At least you two talk," she smiled. "Anyway, it doesn't look like we'll have any assignments for you just yet, so unless there's an emergency--"
"Vacation city!" Duo grinned. "I'd better buy more whipped cream."
Letting that little comment drop, Sally picked a finished report from Wufei's desk. As she brought it up, she noticed a peculiar scent coming from the bundle of papers. She took another breath and blinked. "Roses?"
Wufei forced himself to relax and hoped no one had seen him freeze for just a second. "What?" he asked as innocently as possible.
"Hmm...the report smells like roses...weird..."
"Must be the roses along the building," he muttered.
"Ooh, Wufei's got a girlfriend..." Duo sing-songed. "What's her name, huh? Huh? Huh?"
"Maxwell..."
"Is she cute? Is she nice?" His eyes opened wide. "Oh, wait, you hate women! Is she a he?"
Wufei hoped the heat in his face wasn't a blush. "I do not hate women!"
"No, you just pick on us every day," Sally said.
He ignored her and went back to writing.
"I bet there is someone!" Duo practically bounced in his seat. "Someone who likes roses...probably leaves little trails of rose petals to the bedroom...covers the bed in rose petals..."
Now Wufei knew he was blushing. He kept his eyes on the paper and didn't even grunt out a response.
"Agent Maxwell," came a new voice. "Have you finished those reports so quickly?"
Duo was the only one in the room daring enough to grin at Une in Colonel mode. "Nope, haven't even started!"
Colonel Une only sighed and left the room again.
Later that evening, around seven thirty, Wufei stretched and tossed the last sheet on the last stack. "Thank heavens. Finished."
Duo glared. "Show off."
Wufei smirked at him. "If you had not wasted your lunch getting a happy meal--"1
"Hey, not everybody packs a cup o' noodles!" Duo griped. "Some of us like having a real meal."
"And a free toy?" He threw on his jacket, picked up his pack and moved to the door before Duo could think up any nasty pranks.
Unfortunately Duo was not interested in pranks. "Hmm...you sure finished quick, Wufei," he mused. "Someone special waiting back home?"
"Maxwell..."
Far from being intimidated, Duo laughed and spun in his chair. "I knew it! You only get pissed when I'm right. So, who is it? Cute? Tall? Blonde? Brunette? Red head?"
"Bite me, Maxwell."
Duo blinked in surprise as Wufei left. Damn, that was weird. Why wouldn't he want me to know? He isn't ashamed, is he? Man, now I'm really curious...
And sadly, Wufei had forgotten what Duo was like when he got curious.
*
Treize hastily cleared up the table, whisking the plates to the kitchen before Wufei found anything to snap at again. Something had upset his lover, but every time he tried to ask, the Chinese boy would bark out a single word answer or worse, stay silent. While he was in the kitchen, he heard footsteps head for the bedroom and sure enough, Wufei had walked away without so much as an explanation or apology.
Maybe...he's just really tired. Treize nodded to himself, yes, that must be it. He finished cleaning up and went to check on his companion. Wufei already lay in bed, body softly rising and falling as he slept. Treize smiled despite himself and watched him until his legs began to cramp up.
"I'm sure you'll feel better after your rest," he whispered, not expecting to be heard. Instead of joining him, however, he retreated to the living room and turned the lights off so that the only light came from the vid. He sat down and pulled the vid screen close, and the blue glow reflected off of his eyes. He typed in a few words and waited as a chat program searched for his usual room.
*
Duo leaned across the bed and gave Heero a little kiss before the stern boy could fall asleep.
"Again?" Heero murmured.
Duo grinned but shook his head. "Nah, you had a rough mission. Pleasant dreams, see you in the morning." He pulled the blankets up to Heero's throat, using it as an excuse to brush his fingers across the smooth cheek and silky hair. Being able to do this was worth the time it had taken to let Heero adjust to Duo's constant presence in bed. Before the slightest touch had jerked him awake, but now even a hug only made him smile in his sleep.
The braided pilot eased out of bed and headed to the living room, where he opened up Heero's laptop and ran a specialized program Heero had designed the year before. He typed in Wufei's address, filched from the Preventers office, and then ran a scan for that particular vid's individual identification number.
Error 23: Access Denied.
"Yeah, right," Duo smiled, fingers flying across the keyboard.
Error 79: User Unknown.
"Getting closer..."
Another screen popped up, informing him that his password was incorrect, then gave him a limited root directory to choose the password screen from. Instead he opened the services screen and routed through the employee directory. He found the head of security and opened the password screen again, this time gaining access to the employee pass page. Opening another window, he brought up the Preventers main computer and looked through their military database. His hunch paid off, the security chief was an old war veteran. And his highest commendation...
Password: Purple Heart
Access Granted.
Immediately he pulled up the vid identification numbers for the entire building and found two for Wufei's apartment. He copied them down, then closed the window entirely. Now he went back to the search engine software modified for Preventers and ran both numbers.
"Maybe they've searched for stuff," he wondered out loud. "Toys, finances...movies..." He gasped. Instead of reporting back old data files, he was presented with a diamond. One of the vids was online in a chat room under the name Snowfire.
"Oh...yes..."
Without looking to see what kind of chat it was, he logged in and quietly watched the conversation. And his jaw dropped.
Blaze: Are you watering them too much?
Bonica: I don't think so. I've got them on a drip.
Crimson Glory: Can't be the water then. The wrong fertilizer?
Bonica: No, I checked that, too. It's right, I even took it back to the store to make sure. .
Snowfire: Have you checked for mildew?
Sunbright: You're kidding me. -_-
Snowfire: No, I'm serious. Especially the powdered type. Bonica is a tough little plant, but it could still catch it.
Bonica: I hadn't checked for that. :o
Snowfire: Look around the roots especially.
Bonica: I'll have to separate the pot and dirt for that.
Snowfire: Look, you're growing these for competition, right? Use glass pots, it's easier to look.
Blaze: He's right, y'know. I use them.
Bonica: But my ceramics are so pretty!
Crimson Glory: Then use 'em in your kitchen. Not for show plants.
Bonica: But
Blaze: If you like winning, you need to invest in glass or plastic.
Sunbright: Make sure you do it soon. I think Snowfire's right about the mildew.
Crimson Glory: Don't bother. She logged out.
Blaze: She's so damn emotional... :(
Snowfire: What do you expect? We raise roses.
Sunbright: cute :p
Duo tilted his head. "Roses...so his babe...no, Blaze called Snowfire a 'he'." He smirked. "So, Wufei's got good taste. Let's see, is there a picture in your profile?" He clicked on the link and instead found an empty box with n/a inside."Guess not. Well, you can't be Wu, so who are you?"
He searched the apartment database again, but again there was only one name listed for the suite. He hacked into the security camera over Wufei's door, but there were no shoes left outside. No name plate on the door. No cutesy little sign.
"Of course not, it's 'Fei, for crying out loud."
A tiny tug on his braid made him look up into sleepy blue eyes. "Hi, Heero. Whatcha doing up?"
"My boyfriend's typing. What's so interesting?" He blinked at the computer screen. "More porn?"
"I was tricked onto one site!" Duo snapped. "That doesn't make me a porn addict!"
"There were five windows up when I caught you."
"Yeah, two windows pop up when you try to close one. It's like playing whack-a-mole with the devil. It wasn't my fault, the link said it was a toy shop and nothing else!"2
"So what are you looking at then?" Heero leaned over Duo, draping his arms around his shoulders as he stared at the screen. "Voyeur cam?"
"Uh-uh. Wufei's apartment camera. He's got a boyfriend, but I don't know who it is." Duo snickered. "Someone who likes roses, though."
"How do you know?"
"See, I hacked into the apartment, which wasn't easy 'cause I had to use the Preventer database to help, and then I got in and found the vid i.d. numbers, and one of them is online and the guy likes roses, so it can't be Wufei, so I checked out here, but--"
"You used the Preventer computers?"
Duo fell silent. "Did...I say...Preventer?"
"Yes."
"I...uh, I meant uh...my work station back at the office!"
"Which is connected to the main database." Heero leaned forward and shut off the laptop. "Which is not allowed." He eased around the sofa and straddled Duo's hips, pinning him to the couch with one hand. "And punishable with loss of privileges."
"You wouldn't punish me, would you?" Duo murmured, peering up at him through his lashes.
"Maybe..."
*
Quatre's brow creased as he watched Duo ease onto the cushioned seat, wincing in sympathy when his friend gave a little whimper. "Duo, are you all right? Did you get the bug going around?"
He shook his head and relaxed, picking up his own cup of tea. "Nah, just a little rough-housing last night."
Quatre handed him a menu from the table top. "Spanking again?"
Duo gave his friend a sheepish smile. "He caught me messing around with something, so instead of restriction for a week, I got this instead."
"You really have to stop using the computers for unofficial business," Quatre chided.
Duo opened the menu with a little nod. "I know, I know, or so everyone keeps telling me. I mean, come on, Une's the only one who gets ticked, and she never does anything! What're you having?"
"Sweet and sour chicken. What were you doing this time?"
Duo scanned the page, then flipped to the back menu. "Spying on Wufei. He's got a boyfriend."
"He does?" Quatre's eyes opened wide. "I thought he was straight!"
"As straight as you or me."
The waiter came by with their appetizers, and they ordered then. Once they were alone again, Quatre smiled and half closed his eyes.
"I wonder who he is. Not just anyone could handle Wufei's personality."
"You mean put up with him. Wufei won't even admit he's seeing anyone, but it's obvious now. Has Sally told you yet?"
"Told me what?"
Duo giggled. "His reports smelled like roses."
"Roses?"
"Yeah, and the guy on the chat site--"
"You spied on him in a chat?" Quatre gasped. "Duo, that's not nice!"
Duo tilted his head with a smirk. "Right. Like you've never spied on Trowa."
Quatre pouted and lowered his head. "That's different."
"Uh huh...right..."
"I thought he was cheating."
"With who, his sister? Admit it, Q', you were jealous."
"Okay, okay," Quatre grumbled. "Anyway, what about Wufei's boyfriend?"
Duo grinned and edged forward. "He's really into roses. I mean, to the point where he's giving people tips on how to raise them for show. And his chat name...it's Snowfire."
"Oh, like the rose," the blonde smiled. "I know those. We have some in the garden."
Duo sighed and rest his head in his hands. "It took me three different searches to find that out."
"So what are you going to do now?" Quatre asked.
Duo gave a little mock gasp and flopped one hand. "What, you think I'd spy again after Heero caught me?"
Now Quatre smirked. "Of course. You'll probably do it tonight."
Duo shook his head. "Nope, before Heero comes home. Wanna drop by and spy with me?"
They both held still as steaming hot dishes on pretty blue plates were set before them. Quatre took a quick bite of chicken and considered.
"I don't know," he wondered. "Trowa'd be upset if he found out."
"They won't find out!" Duo promised. "When we hear Heero come home, we'll turn off the camera and catch whatever's on the vid."
Quatre grinned. "Sure, it'll be fun. We can play cards while we watch."
*
Treize leaned back in the circular window seat, staring out over half of the colony. He never asked his lover how much the suite cost, but the price must have been astronomical for the view alone. Of course he never asked about the job, either, just assumed that it paid enough. He smiled despite himself. A park lay not too far from their apartment complex, complete with playgrounds and grass and trees and bunches of transplanted wildflowers. In the center a fountain had been constructed with a rose motif, but the only reason he knew that was because he'd seen a detailed photograph on his vid screen.
Everything I see is on a vid, he sighed. He lay his fingers on one of his treasured climbing roses on the wall and stared out of his luxurious prison. He wanted to go out so badly.
Treize shook his head. After Wufei's stern admonition to never ever "on any circumstances" leave the apartment, his life had dwindled to house work, gardening and the damn vid. At least, he thought it had dwindled. All he could remember about his past was sitting in a dark void before the pain of fire and vacuum struck his chest, sending him to unbearable cold.
"Or maybe he's ashamed of me," he whispered to himself.
"I'm not ashamed of you at all."
Treize's head snapped around to see Wufei standing right next to him, dressed in loose jeans and a tank top. His face held a strange, unreadable expression.
"I'm sorry," Treize apologized. "I didn't mean to--"
"No," Wufei stopped him. He took a seat facing Treize and stared at him for a moment, letting his gaze linger on his lover's black robe. The top half had begun a slow descent down one shoulder while the bottom revealed one long leg all the way to the thigh. Roses grew thickly around the room, framing the windows and doors and lining the long tables. One vine of roses seemed to swirl around Treize's foot and calf. With a little effort Wufei looked out the window. "You haven't done anything wrong. You've been more than perfect in putting up with me."
Treize lowered his eyes. "But...you seemed so angry at me..."
"Not at you." Wufei took Treize's hand in his own. "Myself. I'm sorry, I should have told you...weeks ago. You have a right to know why you're shut up in here all alone."
"I did something awful, didn't I?' Treize breathed, unable to look up.
"In a way," Wufei said. "I've replayed the events in my memory, everything I knew, every scrap of information I could look up. The things you did were necessary. They prevented mass slaughter...but that does not excuse all of it."
"All of what?" Treize asked.
"Manipulations...things you did to those who considered you their friend. You had your reasons, but...oh, Treize...you were a grand dictator hiding in the wings."
"I'm only getting more confused," Treize murmured, tightening his grip on Wufei's hand. "Who was I?"
Smiling faintly, Wufei lay his hand on Treize's cheek and tilted his head up. His lover's hair sparkled red in the bright light. "Yes, exactly. You are not who you used to be. Not anymore. You don't have to be." He reached into one pocket and pulled out a disc case. "I've managed to put the facts of your past life on this disc, along with my own notes and some video files. Watch it when you feel you are ready. None of it has propaganda, one way or the other."
"Propaganda?" Treize gasped. "What on earth did I do?"
Wufei didn't respond. He took Treize's hand and lay the case inside. "Just remember, when you choose to watch this, that I love you. I always will. Once you've finished...I will answer any questions you have."
"I'm only more frightened now," Treize said.
"Don't be." He leaned forward and wrapped his lover up in a tight embrace, allowing him to do the same. "It's all over now. Things are far better than they were before. You're with me."
*
Quatre heaved another sigh when he glanced at the vid screen. "I can't believe this. Are you sure they'll still inside?"
Duo grunted and tossed an eight of spades down on the little pile of cards. "Yup. Man, who the hell spends the entire day inside? I mean, even if he's screwing his boyfriend's brains out, he could at least take him to dinner after."
Quatre winced and lay a three of clubs down. "Maybe his boyfriend can cook."
"He better be able, 'cause the last time I ate Wufei's cooking my heart almost exploded." He lay a diamond four down. "God help me, he is the worst health nut I've ever met."
"Duo, the tofu wasn't even the main dish!" Queen of hearts.
"Doesn't matter." Ten of spades. "I've been permanently scarred."
Quatre shook his head to himself. "Just because he didn't make you french fries..." Ace of hearts.
"Hey, he had potatoes! He had a sword! He coulda' done it!" Ace of diamonds.
Quatre's hand darted out and landed with a harsh smack on the pile, startling Duo who fell backwards out of his chair. "Two aces, Duo. You've gotta be more prepared than that."
Duo grumbled as he sat back down and rubbed his sore posterior. "You are such a business man, Q."
Quatre grinned and gathered his cards into a neat, thick stack. "Jealous."
Duo stuck out his tongue. 3
*
Treize lay the disc down, pushing it half under a rose blossom on the sill, and shook his head. "I want to but...I know I'm not ready yet. Maybe in a few more weeks, but I'm just too frightened to look."
Wufei nodded his understanding with a relieved smile. "I was hoping you wouldn't. I'll leave this here for you when you decide."
Treize let out a quick breath. "Thank you. I...I realize this must have been hard for you."
Wufei shrugged as if it were nothing, but he lowered his eyes. "I can't keep you locked in here without telling you why. I feel awful enough as it is. You deserve walks in the park, and going out to restaurants, and...having friends."
Treize smiled and reached his arms out, one hand on Wufei's shoulder while the other brushed his loose hair back. "I have what I want most. Those things wouldn't matter without you."
"You're such a sweet talker," the Chinese boy murmured, trying to hide how his eyes misted over.
"Mmm, you're sweet." Treize began to pull Wufei closer, but a knock came from the door just as they touched.
"Damn it," Wufei groaned. "Always at the wrong time."
"I'll get it," Treize offered. "You did leave the money at the door, yes?"
Wufei nodded. "Pizza, like you asked. Though why you asked at all..."
Treize laughed and stood up, stretching his arms and legs. "I've cooked it before. I want to see how a professional pizza tastes."
"Greasy."
"Get in bed, love. I'll be back in a moment."
"Dinner in bed?" Wufei smirked. "I think I'd prefer dinner on Treize."
His lover blushed pink and tightened his robe a bit. "Greasy pizza on your lover?"
Wufei laughed low in his throat, almost growling. "I'd lick all the juices off, I promise."
Treize brought one hand to his mouth in a vain effort to hide his smile. "I'll...be right back," he promised, rushing off down the hall. The faster he went out, the sooner he could come back in.
*
"Hey, we got action!" Duo grinned. He pointed at the screen, where a pizza delivery girl dropped off a box and scooped up the money on the floor outside the door. She knocked once, then turned and left.
"Pizza?" Quatre blinked. "Wufei would never order pizza."
"Must be his boyfriend." Duo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. "I wonder which one of 'em will pick it up?"
The door opened a little, then opened wide.
Duo's eyes opened wider. Beside him, Quatre's grip on the cards weakened until they fell to the floor, scattering wildly. Not a sound as Treize picked up the box and started to turn. Before he disappeared, however, he jerked a hand back and held it up.
*
"Ow..." Treize winced and put the finger to his mouth. Paper cuts hurt so much, and only more so when they came from heavy cardboard.
Soft hands took the box from him and set it down somewhere inside the apartment, and then Wufei forced Treize's hand down to inspect the tiny injury. "What happened?"
"Just a nick from the cardboard," he whispered. "It startled me, that's all."
Wufei brought the hand down to his own mouth, where he sucked the last bit of blood away. "I didn't apologize, did I?"
"Apologize?" Treize echoed.
"For treating you so coldly yesterday." He ran his fingers through Treize's hair, glad of his little growth spurt of a few inches.
Treize smiled and shook his head. "Nothing to be forgiven. You were just upset--"
"No," Wufei argued. "I threw a tantrum at the wrong person." He didn't say who the right person was. "I'm sorry."
Treize wrapped his arms around him suddenly, inclining his head next to Wufei's. Resigned to the fact that he'd always be taller, the slightly uneven hug still felt good. "I think I know a way you could make up for it."
Wufei grinned and looked up at him. "Would it involve your robe tie and your wrists?"
Treize blushed and laughed. "You know me so well."
Breaking the embrace, Wufei slipped the silk sash around Treize's waist off and started to wind it around Treize's hands, which the tall man held together for his lover's convenience. Using no complex knots, Wufei merely used the silk to keep Treize's hands firmly together.
"You know, you surprised me so much when you said you liked this," Wufei whispered.
"It feels...nice," Treize tried to explain. "Being helpless with the one you love..." He sighed, still smiling. "In any case...you'll still...um...you know?"
"Feed you dinner a bit at a time?" Wufei nodded. "I know you well enough, Treize. Sometimes I wonder just how helpless you are."
Treize blushed brighter and allowed Wufei to tug him back into the apartment and shut the door.
*
The two pilots exchanged looks, and Duo stretched in his chair, letting his head fall back so he could stare at the ceiling. "Okay," he said, "I'm officially confused now."
Quatre finally regained control of his voice. "How can he be alive?" he gasped. "How...we saw him die, we saw the recordings...there's no way anyone could survive that."
"Wufei was in love with him?" Duo shook his head. "The whole time, he was in love with our enemy?"
Quatre let his mind process that thought. "Oh...poor Wufei. That must have been awful. No wonder he felt so lost after the war."
"That's why he didn't want me to know," Duo said. "But...how the hell is Treize alive? I mean, even if he wasn't incinerated, the vacuum would have killed him."
"We'd better go over the records again," Quatre said. "If he survived, then Wufei must have helped him somehow."
"If?" Duo echoed. "What do you mean, 'if he survived'? He's right there, you saw him."
Quatre nodded once, staring at the screen in intense thought. "Duo, there's a possibility that it wasn't Treize in the Tallgeese at all. If the explosion was fatal to the pilot and Treize is alive, then logically Treize was not the pilot."
Duo narrowed one eye while the other widened. "Mmm...I'll admit, I hardly knew the guy, but he didn't seem the type to send someone in his place. If he said it was him, it was probably him."
Obviously troubled, Quatre sighed and switched off the camera feed. "Let me bring up the Preventer recordings of the explosion. We need to look over them again."
Duo knelt and began to gather up all the scattered playing cards. Halfway through, he looked up at Quatre. "We can't tell them."
"What?"
"Heero or Trowa...or anyone else. We can't tell them about this."
Quatre made a little noise of protest. "But Duo, we have to tell them. They deserve to know--"
Duo put his hands on the blonde's shoulders, interrupting him. "What would they do if we told them?"
Quatre glanced aside.
"Damnit, Quat', what do you think they'd do? Do you honestly think they'd just sit back and wait for Wufei to say something?" Duo tossed the cards aside, making another mess. "This is Treize Khushrenada. If they found out he's still alive, do you think they'd even hesitate going in guns blazing?"
"No...but Duo, Treize could be plotting something. He could be working on new plans, manipulating Wufei--"
Duo almost laughed. "Manipulating? Letting Wu' tie him up is manipulating him? Giving gardeners hints on growing roses?"
"Duo, why are you saying this?" Quatre stood up and walked a few feet away, arms around himself. "He was your enemy, too. He's responsible for thousands of deaths, he turned on people who thought he was their friend...do I have to remind you what Une's going through because of him? I'm all for peace, but Duo...he's dangerous."
Duo lowered his head and sat down slowly. "He was dangerous," he murmured. "But that was then. Maybe he's changed."
"Duo--"
"Look, if he was trying anything, we'd have noticed. We have connections everywhere, right? There's no Oz resurgence, no underground movements, nothing political. And all he's done so far is talk roses and live with Wufei. Okay, the reports smell like roses, big deal. I admit, I've sprayed lavender on Heero's gun sometimes."
"Why are you so quick to defend him?"
"Why are you so quick to hang him?"
Quatre blinked. "What?"
Duo wouldn't meet his eyes. His hands twisted nervously, and when he spoke, his voice hardly rose above a whisper. "Sometimes...people change. People can change. Just because they were a certain way before doesn't mean they can't get better. Just because they've killed...doesn't mean they can't stop."
The hiss of static on the vidscreen filled the room as nothing was said. A full minute passed, and neither of them moved. Quatre let out a breath and shook his head to himself. No, it was wrong, it wouldn't work, it was irresponsible.
"All right," he agreed in a soft voice. "We don't say anything until we have evidence one way or another."
Duo smiled and nodded. "One way or the other."
Quatre sat back down and typed in a few instructions. "The film footage will take a bit to download. We'd better clean up those cards."
Duo bent and scooped up the nearest flat pieces of paper while Quatre joined him on the floor. Duo had just set his hand on an ace when his head snapped up, eyes wide. "Q, they're back!" he whispered. "Stop the download!"
Quatre wasted no time asking how he knew, he simply clicked the cancel button and flipped the vid to another channel. He heard footsteps on the staircase outside, and he merely grabbed the rest of the cards and plopped into the couch. Duo gathered half the cards and pushed them into a neat stack while Quatre did the same, and slapped one card down just as the door opened.
"Hi!" the two chirped. "Wanna play?"
Heero and Trowa stared at their lovers, taking in their smiling faces and bright eyes, and exchanged glances. Both knew the pair was up to something, but neither said anything as they sat down and joined them.
*
Early the next morning, Treize woke up to a strange rasping sound. He opened his eyes and looked around. Everything seemed normal enough, the lights were still off, no alarms had sounded, Wufei still lay beside him.
"Lights dim," he said quietly, and he leaned over as the room lit just enough to see his lover's features nestled on pillow. Lowering his head to Wufei's chest, he held his breath. A moment later, he winced as a steady wheezing dragged through with his breath. "Oh, Wufei..."
Black eyes cracked open and struggled to focus on him. "Treize--" A coughing fit cut off his words, and he sat up quickly, one hand over his mouth. When the hacking died down, he kept quiet, gently rubbing his throat.
Hardly knowing what else to do, Treize rubbed his back for a little before helping him lay back down. "Try to rest," he whispered. He lay one hand on his lover's forehead, gauging his temperature. "I'll get something for you."
He brought the blankets up to Wufei's throat and headed for the bathroom, turning the lights lower on the way and closing the bathroom door halfway behind himself so only a little light trickled into the dark room. He swung the mirror on the wall to one side, revealing a well stocked medicine cabinet. They'd never had to dip into it before, save for the time he'd accidentally burned himself on the stove. He could see the mark on the side of his hand when he reached for the various medicines.
"Cough suppressant, fever reduction, headache relief..." he read the list on one blue bottle. "That should do." He also filled a small metal bowl with water and dropped a washcloth inside, bringing that back with the medicine.
"Trei..."
"Shh, I'm right here." He grabbed the nearest chair and pulled it close to the bed, and he set his armful on the nightstand next to him. "Sit up," he whispered.
Wufei tried to obey, but needed Treize's arm behind his back to help him move. His eyelids drooping, he parted his lips and downed the capful of blue liquid. He lay back down and closed his eyes.
"That's it, just sleep," Treize forced out with a smile. Wringing the excess water from the cloth, he dabbed it along Wufei's forehead to fight off the rising fever.
*
"Did you find out anything?" Trowa asked, slipping one paper into the out box and taking one from the in box.
Heero nodded while he finished another report. "They were running a background on Treize Khushrenada, specifically files recording his death. We came in too soon for it to finish."
Trowa didn't change his expression. "Why would they be so interested in that? It was years ago."
"I don't know. Duo's also been spying on Wufei. He said he thinks Chang has a boyfriend."
The tall pilot tilted his head curiously. "Strange. It must have been something in the gundam components."
Heero blinked. "What do you mean?"
"That we all like males," he said.
While he returned to the work at hand, Heero paused.
"I never thought about that. All of us...maybe the genetics helped with our piloting skills."
Trowa shrugged. "Does it matter?"
Heero went back to his work. "Not really. I..." He paused. "Have you finished the L5 point report?"
Trowa shook his head and checked his in box. "It's my next sheet, why?"
"One of the numbers isn't adding up. The orbital drift, it looks wrong."
He looked over the paper, frowning as he spotted what Heero had noticed. "I think you're right. Who added those up?"
"Wufei. I'll call him." He reached for the phone.
"Lunchtime!" Duo cried, coming in the door with Quatre not too far behind. "Who's hungry?"
Trowa tilted his head. "What are you two doing here? It's not your shift."
Quatre smiled and sat down on the edge of his desk. "I didn't want the love of my life to go hungry during lunch, since I know you'd never go out and get any yourself."
"The vending machine is down the hall," Heero defended himself.
"Ew, preservatives in plastic," Duo grimaced, sticking out his tongue. "Might as well eat those cardboard space rations for all the taste you get." He plopped down on the center of Heero's desk and brought his legs up after him so he could lay across the top. "Look, I even brought you something!"
Four Happy Meals materialized on the desk. Heero's eyes widened.
"If you're gonna eat unhealthy, at least enjoy it!"
Quatre giggled and lay two well packed lunch boxes on the table, opening them to reveal cutely wrapped sandwiches, fruits, tea and dessert. "I thought you might prefer something more substantial."
Trowa lay his hand on the blonde's cheek, holding him still for a quick kiss. "You thought right."
Duo blinked. "Have I just been insulted?"
Heero opened a box, grabbed a fry and held it up to his lover's lips. "Hush and eat."
The braided pilot eagerly sucked up the french fry, but he didn't lift his head, instead bending another inch to lick the excess salt from Heero's fingers.
"Have you no shame?" Quatre said as he blushed from the display.
Duo grinned at him. "None at all." He turned his attention from his boyfriend to the food on the desk, popping open each box. "Oh man!"
"What's wrong?" Heero asked.
"They forgot the napkins!" Duo said. "Ah well, I guess I can always use my pants--"
"Duo..."
"Okay, okay, lover, I'll use your pants."
Trowa looked up from his sandwich. "There are some paper towels in the bathroom."
"Aw, but those are brown and ugly!"
Heero sighed. "Go get some, Duo."
"Spoilsports," he grumbled, jumping off the desk. "I'll show you. Maybe I'll come back wearing nothing but paper towels!"
Heero smirked. "Fine by me, but if Une sees you like that--"
Duo held up his hands in defeat. "Enough, you win already! Be right back."
He took off down the hallway, passing the vending machines and a few hallways. He was near the bathroom when he heard one of the phones ring in the main office in front of him. Figuring one person was in the bathroom while the rest were out to lunch, he picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"H-hello? Is...is this the Preventer's office?"
He tensed, then looked over his shoulder to make doubly sure that he was alone. "Yes, it is. Duo Maxwell speaking." A sigh of recognition, as if Treize knew his name.
"I...it's Wufei...he's sick, he won't stop coughing, and his fever...he wouldn't let me call anyone but he's getting worse and I can't keep the fever down and--"
"Whoa, slow down," Duo said, trying to soothe the rising panic he could hear in the other man's voice. "Calm down. Is he still awake?" Sure as hell didn't expect him to actually call me!
He could almost hear Treize shake his head. "No, no, the medicine's finally let him sleep. But he's still coughing...and...and..."
There is no way this is Treize Khushrenada, Duo thought to himself. Maybe he looks like him, but...no way. "Does he know you're calling here?"
A pause.
"No..." A small sniffle. "He said not to call anyone. But he needs a doctor, I can't do anything to help him. Please..."
"I'll be right there," Duo promised. "Hang up the phone and if Wufei wakes up, don't mention you called us. He'll probably just get mad at you."
"O-okay."
The braided pilot waited until he heard the phone click, and hung up the receiver. He leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. The voice had been so familiar, but the way he'd sounded...so frightened. He shook his head and retrieved a handful of paper towels before he headed back to the office.
"Hey, Quatre, I've gotta take care of something down on the west side," he said with a cheery smile, tossing the towels on Heero's lap. "Wanna come?"
Still sitting on his boyfriend's desk, Quatre nearly declined until he caught Duo's quick wink and tilt of the head. The blonde nodded.
"Sure. Be right with you." He bent and gave Trowa a kiss on the cheek, ignoring his questioning look. He then took off after Duo, who was already halfway down the hall.
Neither spoke until they reached the parking lot, both climbing into Quatre's dark blue convertible. Duo stretched out, enjoying the leg room, but smirked when his friend entered. "You sure you can reach the pedals?"
Quatre glared sideways at him and refused to comment. "Okay, where're we going that you didn't want to tell our boyfriends?"
"Wufei's apartment."
He just stared at him.
"I'm serious. He's sick, really sick."
"And you know this how?"
"Treize called the office."
Quatre didn't even start the car. "You're kidding."
"You think I wouldn't recognize his voice? It was him." He frowned. "I think. He didn't sound the same at all. Sounded like he was gonna start crying any minute."
"Treize?"
"Yup."
"Crying?"
Duo nodded.
Quatre sighed and started the car, heading out of the parking lot. "All right, but don't get upset if I carry my gun up with me."
He didn't reply.
*
"Okay Q', promise me you won't rush in there guns blazing," Duo said as their elevator reached the top floor.
Quatre shot him an exasperated look. "You know I never would. It's just one of us should be cautious."
The elevator doors opened, and they both edged against the walls out of habit. When no gunfire erupted from the door, they stepped out and headed to the main door. Quatre knocked, and when there was no response he tried the knob.
"It's unlocked," he said in surprise.
"Then let's let ourselves in."
The blonde followed the braid into the apartment, expecting anything from a sneak attack to a full frontal assault. Instead the lights were bright, the area was quiet, and nothing seemed out of place except the shoes hastily kicked to one side in the doorway.
"You go that way," Quatre whispered, pointing to the right. "I'll check this room."
Duo raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. He checked inside the kitchen, and he couldn't help his smile at the dried roses placed on the wall, the small crystals hanging on the window and throwing rainbows all around the room. Quatre stepped in beside him and tapped his shoulder, jerking his head at the bedroom. Duo nodded silently and they moved down the hall without a sound.
A faint moan, half a word uttered before fading, came from the room, followed by several hushed whispers. They glanced at each other and moved down the hall. Quatre stood beside the door while Duo pushed it gently in.
He froze, and Quatre hurried to look in case whatever had surprised him was lethal. Instead he held perfectly still as well.
His back to the door, Treize wrung out the washcloth in the steel bowl and pressed it to Wufei's face, slowly dabbing it along his cheek and throat. The Chinese boy moaned and tried to sit up on one arm. Instead he found he couldn't make any muscles work.
"It's all right," Treize whispered, bending to press a kiss to his lover's forehead. "I know it hurts, but that'll go away. I hope," he added in a smaller voice. Wringing out the cloth again, he kept up his ministrations. "Oh, love, why aren't your friends here yet?"
Duo glanced at Quatre, expecting him to make the first move. When he found their normally outgoing pilot rooted to the spot, he decided he'd better take over. "Um, hello?" he said softly, walking in with what he hoped was a reassuring grin. He'd half expected the former general to be in his old uniform, but the tall man only wore a loose gray shirt and dark pants, nothing else.
Treize looked up, and both Preventers noticed the dark lines under his eyes and the tired expression on his face. "Are you...?"
"Duo Maxwell," he said, dispensing with any amusing antics. "And this is Quatre Winner. We're Preventers."
Treize's eyes closed and he smiled in relief, his shoulders drooping as he lowered his head. "Thank God. I was beginning to think you wouldn't come. My name is Treize."
"Just Treize?" Quatre asked.
He returned to treating Wufei. "That's all I remember."
Duo kept his smile up and stepped closer, leaning over Treize's shoulder to see his comrade shivering under the blankets. "How long has he been like this?"
"Since early this morning. I woke up and he was coughing and trying to hide it..."
"Sounds like Wufei all right," Duo said. "It looks like it's just a bad case of the flu, but maybe we'd better call in a doctor."
Quatre sat down on the other side of the bed, looking over his friend for signs of abuse or mistreatment. "I agree. Sally'll know someone discreet."
Duo met Quatre's eyes, debating whether to argue or not. He decided he'd pushed his friend far enough and pulled his phone from his hip pocket. "Go ahead," he said, handing it over.
The blonde took the phone and dialed while he walked into the hall. "Hello, Sally? Now listen to me very carefully before you say anything..."
Treize looked up at Duo. "Is...something wrong?"
The young man shook his head and lay his hand on Treize's shoulder. "Uh, let's just say things are gonna get really weird soon."
Part 2