Part 5
Quatre woke up the next morning, feeling still a little weak from the experience. He had had strange dreams all night, and he felt unsettled. He hadn't told everything to Wufei last night … he hadn't told him what he had felt, when he had reached out for the killer's mind. And he wasn't sure he was ready to tell.
Quatre rubbed a point between his eyes, fighting the headache that was threatening to spread through his head. He had the day off, but he didn't intend to be sick today. Having to go to the reception tonight was a pain in the ass, but it seems great donations meant you had to go to a great reception. And his father would probably want to introduce him to some business partners as well.
Quatre started when Wufei suddenly came in through one of the great doors that opened on the terrace outside. The Chinese man was only wearing white linen pants, and Quatre supposed he had been practicing his katas outside.
"Good morning", Wufei said. "I slept on your couch, I hope you don't mind."
Quatre looked at the couch, then at Wufei. He didn't remember very well what had happened after they had come back to the hotel.
"I don't mind", he finally said, "but why …"
"Well, I practically had to put you into bed last night, and then you started talking in your sleep. You were sweating and all, I almost thought you had a fever or something. So I stayed to be able to check on you."
"Thanks", Quatre said with a smile, "but you shouldn't have bothered. It happens to me sometimes when I use my empathy a bit too much. It's no big deal, really."
"Well, maybe not for you, but from an outsider point of view, it was impressive. You almost destroyed the bed, you know."
Quatre looked down at the discarded sheets. He had probably moved a lot last night.
"Are you going to tell me at any point what exactly is happening ?", Wufei asked calmly.
Quatre looked up at his friend. He hesitated. Not because he didn't want how to explain, but because he didn't really know how.
"I … I'm not really sure what happened last night, Wufei. In fact, it is very strange, because I met this kind of feelings only once before, with only one person."
"Who was it ?"
"You."
Wufei stopped dead in the middle of what he was doing and turned to face Quatre.
"What do you mean, it was me ? I am not a psycho trying to kill you !"
"That's not what I mean, Wufei. Please, come sit down, it makes me dizzy to look up at you."
Wufei complied, a light frown on his face. Quatre smiled weakly to try and ease the situation, but it didn't really work.
"Just try for one minute to consider this man not as the person who was paid to kill me, but as a human being, Wufei. Not just a vague silhouette, but a person, with memories, with feelings. Well, I remember very well what happened the first time I saw you. You were sending out waves of despair, and a sadness so deep that I wondered what or who had hurt you so badly."
"You told me that already. What's the link with that killer ?"
"He's sending out the same kinds of feelings, only differently. Imagine someone wearing a mask, for example. He's been hurt, he's sad, only he's trying to crush it down, and push it away. He's hiding from his pain, he's keeping it locked up in the back of his soul. Which is why I feel it even more that yours."
Wufei shook his head, trying to find a sense in Quatre's words.
"You mean he is just as sad and lost as I was, right ?"
"I can only guess right now, but that's what it felt like. Only, he doesn't know it, not really. He thinks he's living the life he has chosen, but something in the back of his mind tells him that he's living a life that was chosen for him. And he hurts because he wants to live for himself, but he doesn't know how."
"And it looks like he's far better than myself at hiding from his pain", Wufei muttered.
"Then it will only hurt him more once he will face it."
Quatre put his hand on Wufei's shoulder.
"You did the right thing, Wufei. Looking at your pain in the eyes is the best way to start accepting it. He has not a clue he is suffering that much."
"Until you will show him", Wufei said dryly.
"Well, if he keeps coming after me, I don't see how I could prevent myself. This type of feelings are overwhelming, and difficult to block out. If he comes too near me, he may be surprised. I lack training in that area, I'm too sensitive to sadness and pain."
Wufei got up and went to the window.
"There's no need for me to tell you again that it's dangerous, uh ?"
"No. I know it is dangerous. But I don't know who is in more danger, him or me. And I'm not sure I wish for him to be in more danger."
"Quatre, this man has been paid, probably a lot, to kill you."
"Wufei, I … I don't know what is going to happen, but I am sure of one thing. If someone is going to kill me soon, it will not be him."
Wufei frowned again.
"Have you been hit on the head yesterday or what ?"
"Wufei !", Quatre laughed. "I know it sounds crazy, but honestly, when you saw your pain in my eyes …"
"You're right, there was nothing I could do", Wufei noticed, remembering the incident. "I was paralyzed by the feeling."
Quatre sighed with relief, but Wufei eyed him seriously.
"That doesn't mean he won't try to get you, Quatre. And as far as I'm concerned, my priority is to keep you alive. I won't prevent you from doing what you want, but you must swear you won't prevent me from going after him if he tries something."
"I swear", Quatre said holding his right hand up. "If I am mistaken, you can do whatever you want."
"Good."
Wufei began to make his way out, but stopped and turn around to watch Quatre. The blond young man was still sitting on his bed, hugging his knees and apparently lost in thoughts.
'That's it', Wufei thought. 'He need to get his mind off this for a while, or it's going to eat him alive. I suppose Duo would be a good remedy for that, but that will have to wait for some days. Until then …'
"Quatre, I am waiting for you in the training room in 15 minutes sharp. Wash up and get some breakfast. You need to start training again."
Quatre looked up a bit surprised.
"OK", he finally said with a smile. "You want me to stop thinking about that, don't you ?"
"Yes", Wufei admitted. "Your mind needs time off, and a good long sweaty training session is one of the best things for that. I'm keeping you all morning down there, so eat enough. No hypoglycemia for my students."
"You want to kill me ! I knew it ! I knew it !", Quatre laughed.
"Damn, my diabolic plan to get rid of you has been unveiled. Whatever, just get ready, I'll find another one."
"I'm sure of that. Go ahead, I'll be downstairs in ten minutes."
O.O.O.O.O
Heero awoke with a start. He sat up in his bed and wiped sweat off his face. He realized that he had torn his bed sheets in his sleep and frowned. He was used to nightmares. He had quite a lot of them, which explained why he didn't like to sleep. But it had never come to the point of tearing out his sheets.
The morning lights were peeking through the blinds. Heero clutched his head, trying to remember what it was he had been dreaming about. And the first image that came back was a blond young man with huge green-blue eyes, staring at him and smiling.
"K'so !", Heero yelled, punching at the wall beside his bed.
A large chunk of the wall fell down, but Heero didn't even notice. He didn't notice the sharp pain in his hand either. All he could think about was that he had had a dream about his target. Again. Heero shook his head, trying to understand what was going so wrong this time. It shouldn't have been so different from the other times. The boy shouldn't have been more than a line on paper and the promise of one million dollars. It had always been like that before. Training, killing getting paid, until it started all over again. A solitary life. Heero had to admit that it had been harder since Odin had been …
'Don't think about that', he snapped at himself mentally. 'Don't think about it. Mind on the mission.'
Easy to say, considering that the 'mission' was actually the cause of the problem. Heero did not enjoy killing people. It just so happened that it was one of the thing he could do better than anyone else in the world. And some other things too, like breaking and entering, hacking protected databases and blow up secured facilities. No wonder he was mostly employed by crime lords and syndicates. His tariffs didn't make him a logical choice for women who wanted to get rid of their husbands for the insurance money. Very few people knew what he really looked like, and those who did didn't know he was a killer.
Heero tried to understand when exactly it had all started to go wrong. That day at the airport, when the young man had looked straight at him without any hesitation … No, even before that. In fact everything was wrong since the say he had accepted the contract. Usually crime lords paid him to get rid of rivals. Bad guys like them, scum that did not deserve to live. True, the people who hired him where as bad as the people he eliminated, but that made some bad guys out of the pictures, and on the whole, it was a good deal. But Quatre Winner did not answer to the definition of the bad guy. He was rich, well-mannered, doing his job correctly, setting up charities for the deprived, spending his father's money to make things better … If all bad guys were like this, Heero would be jobless.
"I made the greatest mistake of my career the day I said yes to that mission", Heero grumbled to himself.
Now his reputation was at stake. If he failed to accomplish this mission, he was as good as dead. Everyone would say the Perfect Soldier had gone soft, and they would all try to get him. The one who would kill him would be the next big man in the trade. And Heero Yuy could not let that happen. But …
There was a but. Heero Yuy did not want to kill Quatre Winner. For the first time ever, his technique of getting close to his target proved to be a liability to the mission.
"Why didn't you just shoot him when you had the chance, Yuy ?", Heero yelled angrily.
'Because it would have been wrong', a little voice said in the back of his head. 'Because, as much as you try to convince yourself, you are not a cold-blooded murderer. Because you are proud to be one of those who get rid of the scum of the universe, ridiculously proud, if I may add that, and he is not one of them.'
Heero stood stunned, looking around as if to check if there was no one else in the room. Which was stupid of course. But this little voice inside of his head … The voice of reason and logic that he had been crushing for so long, the voice that spoke like … like …
"Don't … think … of it !"
Heero sat back on his bed, completely lost about what he was supposed to do. But part of his mind decided for him. He had accepted a contract. He never failed to accomplish his missions.
'Well, you failed once', the little voice said.
"Shut up !", Heero snapped at no one.
Quatre Raberba Winner had to die. It was a question of honor. It's not because the target was unusual that it changed a thing. A name, a bullet, a million dollars. That's all it was. Nothing more.
"Nothing more", Heero said aloud as if trying to convince himself.
O.O.O.O.O
Quatre checked his image in the mirror. The white tuxedo fitted him perfectly. Quatre always preferred wearing white when attending those kinds of receptions. Because it made him stand out in the crowd, he had to admit, but also because he just liked white and there was no rule that said men all had to wear black tuxedos at receptions.
Wufei came in without knocking. He had taken the habit, and Quatre really didn't mind. He was kinda used to it. When you live in a house filled with servants, you know you're never really alone. Quatre had had to fight fiercely with his father (again) to make sure there were no cameras in his bedroom. No one else but him needed to know what was going on in there.
To Quatre's surprise, Wufei was wearing another traditional outfit, white again.
"You're not dressing up ?"
"I'm not on the guest list", Wufei reminded him with a smile. "I know I could come in with you if you just said I'm with you, but I'd rather stay with the security staff tonight."
"Are you sure ?"
"Yes. No offence, but tailing you while your father is introducing you to everyone is not my favorite idea of an pleasant evening, and I don't know any of these people enough to make small talk with them. You know me."
"Yes, you would probably end up knocking out someone. Which would make the party a bit more interesting."
"So that's why you want me with you, uh ?"
Both young men laughed at the idea. Quatre checked himself again before turning away from the mirror.
"If that's what you want, okay then. But you'll see, watching us all through the monitors is not that much fun either."
"Well, I'll try to make it fun then."
"Are you really worried about security issues, Wufei ?"
"Not really", Wufei admitted. "I don't think our 'friend' would try anything during the reception, in fact, if I were him, I would take advantage of the fact that you're not in the hotel to break into your room. Maybe someone else could try something, though. Some people really don't like big corporations, and WEI is basically the biggest corporation that exists. I'll need to be careful when you get in and when you get out. No sneaking out this time."
"I promise", Quatre said solemnly. "And not just because you would strangle me if I did. I'll suffer this reception to the end."
"You are very brave", Wufei said with a smile.
"I know. Maybe someone should give me a medal for this. If I have to talk about money all night, I think I might abuse the champagne and do something silly."
"I thought Muslims didn't drink alcohol", Wufei said.
"Most Muslims don't, but I find it very difficult not to accept a glass of Champagne in a reception. People often get offended when you don't try their wine. And I'm not really into the all-religious thing."
"You do your prayers."
"Yes, but I just fail to see why drinking a bit of alcohol would be a lack of respect towards Allah. Don't get me started on this, I was the nightmare of the only person who tried to teach me about those kind of principles."
"I guess you couldn't help ask 'why this' and 'why that' instead of learning like a good parrot."
"Well, yes", Quatre said with a chuckle. "I just … I have my own way of worshipping my God, that's all. How in space did we start this conversation ?"
"I think it was when you talked about getting drunk."
"Right. I think it would be best to end it now and get downstairs to the car."
"As you wish, Mr Winner", Wufei said, mockingly imitating Quatre's bodyguards.
Quatre chuckled some more.
"Hey, if things really get boring, just come and pretend I have a phone call to answer, okay ? It always works, and it'll give me fifteen minutes to be away from the crowd of people who are so rich they don't even know how much they own."
"You are one of them."
"I am painfully aware of that fact", Quatre said bitterly.
"Sorry", Wufei said. "I didn't …"
"It's okay, I am being the brat here. Everyone would dream to be in my place, and do you know what I wish ? I wish I could be with Duo in a scummy bar on L2, because at least I would have a good laugh tonight. How lame is that, honestly ? I have everything money can buy, and I wish I were the poorest thing in the universe, because it would be less boring."
Wufei considered his friend in silence for a moment.
"I am just going to tell you one thing, Quatre", he finally said quietly. "Never be ashamed of who you are. Never forget that. If you are, then you're just pitying yourself, and that's pathetic. Be proud of yourself and of what you do. Make your life worth living, instead of waiting for things to happen. You'll be happy if you work for it, Quatre."
Quatre gaped at Wufei. It took him some minutes to regain enough composure to talk.
"Whoa, I never thought you could say that kind of stuff. Who taught that to you ?"
"You did", Wufei said simply. "It seems you sometimes forget what you say."
"Apparently", Quatre said. "I will not do it again. Thanks, Wufei."
"It's okay", Wufei said with a smile. "It's good for you to remember that on the whole, you're just human like everybody else, but you have the power to make things better. Don't waste it."
"Okay, okay, enough with philosophy now", Quatre laughed. "We need to go, or we're going to be late."
Quatre got out of the room. Wufei did not follow immediately.
"Everything money can buy", he said thoughtfully to himself. "But we both know that money can't buy what we need, don't we ?"
O.O.O.O.O
"And it is up to us, who have the power to make things change, to make sure that our fellow space citizens are not abandoned in their misery. It is our duty and responsibility to use what power we have been given to make things right. And I hope that WEI's donations will only encourage other donations to the L1 charity funds, who make the greatest job trying to help those who need it."
Applause erupted throughout the hall as Quatre finished his speech and went down the stage, although some people in the crowd were not really cheering at his words. Treize Kushrenada wasn't, for one, although he did compliment the young man on his speech.
Quatre shook some hands, gave some thanks to compliments, smiled politely to people who told him that he was truly inspiring them and escaped as soon as he could, retreating near the buffet. He sighed with relief. It hadn't gone too badly after all, and if some of the people in the hall clearly had not appreciated the bit about duty and responsibility, Quatre left it to them. He knew what he had to do, that was all that mattered. That, and the fact that his father had given him a great smile when he had heard his son. Quatre's heart was still singing when he thought about that smile. It finally looked like his father and him could find some common grounds.
"It was an excellent speech, Mr Winner", a voice said behind him.
Quatre turned around, ready to utter an automatic thank you, but stopped. He didn't know the girl who had spoken, but she was barely older than himself. She had thoughtful blue eyes and long dark blond hair flowing down to her hips, and she was smiling kindly.
"And it did bother more than one people here", the girl kept on. "Not surprising, but they didn't expect this from you. I must admit I didn't either, but I, for one, was pleasantly surprised."
"Excuse me", Quatre finally said, "but we haven't been …"
"Oh, I'm forgetting all my manners. My mother would be horrified. I am Relena Peacecraft. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Winner."
"The pleasure's mine, but please call me Quatre."
"Alright, if you call me Relena."
Quatre smiled, immediately at ease. His father had introduced him to the Peacecrafts earlier this evening. They were ruling the Peacecraft Foundation, a corporation that was into environmental development, help to under-industrialized countries, and medical assistance. They were mainly based on Earth, but some of their programs included the space colonies as well, which explained why they had come to work close with WEI Charities.
"This reception is …", Quatre started.
"Absolutely boring", Relena finished. "Don't you think ?"
Quatre smiled brightly.
"Well that's not what I was going to say, but it sums it up quite well."
"I bet your father bullied you into coming. Same for me. I spend half of my life going to those kind of social events when I could be doing something more useful."
"Yes, I know the feeling."
"I suppose it must be hard to be the only boy in your family."
"Not that hard", Quatre said. "I'm lucky, I adore my sisters and they adore me back. Do you have siblings ?"
"Actually, I have one older brother, but he's not going to be the one who will keep on with the family business. That burden is for me."
"Why that ?"
"Well, he's twenty-two, and he has another job. He has never really been interested in business, although he is the first to say our purposes are noble. He is in the army, and his fiancée is too. He likes it there, and he said that when the time comes, he'll let me rule the business as I wish, and support me, but not take any active part in it."
"And here we go. Why is it always that way ? My sisters are all more or less involved in WEI, but it is common knowledge that I'm the next CEO and no one even cared to ask me if that's what I wanted."
"But I'm sure you're excited by the challenge."
Quatre looked at Relena, puzzled. She was right. It was a challenge, and he was looking forward to it.
"You're right", he said with a smile. "How did you know ?"
"I feel the same way. I am horrified by the amount of work it is, and part of me would like to run away from it, but I know it's what I have to do. I am, as you would say, taking full responsibility. People trust me to do this, and I will not fail them."
"Same here", Quatre said, smiling more widely. "I think that entitles us to become very good friends, doesn't it ?"
"Sure, it does."
The two youngsters were interrupted by Quatre's father.
"Quatre, it is time for us to go. Excuse me, miss Peacecraft, but we're making a shuttle trip tomorrow."
"Oh, don't apologize, Mr Winner, I understand", Relena said with a graceful smile.
She turned to Quatre.
"I hope we'll see each other again. You'll probably be to that reception on L3, at the embassy."
"Yes", Quatre said, "I think it's on my schedule."
"I'll be there too. And meanwhile, here are my phone number and e-mail. Keep in touch !"
"I will", Quatre promised, before he went away with his father.
O.O.O.O.O
Wufei would have been pleased to see that his deductions were the good ones. Heero broke into Quatre's room about twenty minutes after the young man had left with Wufei. He looked around. A hotel room did not show the personality of the people who lived in it as well as a bedroom, but it showed some. Heero noticed that the two pictures, the one of Quatre with his father, and of Quatre with the other boy (Duo, apparently) were on the bedside cabinet. A pile of folders and a laptop were on the great oaken desk. Some clothes had been left on the floor, and the bed was unmade.
Heero had thought that he could just stay here and wait for his target to come back, but he had soon realized that it would be a bad idea. Quatre Winner would be flying to L2 tomorrow, and it would probably be best to wait until he got there. Heero just took out an ace of spades and put it on the desk next to the laptop.
Unable to resist, he opened the machine and hacked the security code. His eyes widened when he saw what appeared on the screen. It looked like the laptop had been secured for this type of hacking. No, in fact, someone had made sure that if he, Heero Yuy, broke the security code, he would fall on 'this'.
A black screensaver had appeared. In the middle, in a glowing white, the letters detached themselves from the dark background.
'You are not alone.'
No one had ever seen Heero Yuy fleeing from a hotel bedroom before, but Heero didn't give a damn. He ran out of the building as fast as he could, trying not to think about what those words on the screen implied, trying not to think about anything else but running. Pounding his feet on the ground. And he ran into the night, his form dissolving in the darkness as he fled.
O.O.O.O.O
Quatre and his father were alone in the back of the limousine that was driving them back to the hotel. Mr Winner had insisted for his son to come with him and dismissed all the bodyguards, even Rashid. Wufei had taken another car.
Silence was not uncomfortable for once. Quatre just felt relaxed and happy sitting here with his father, knowing that he was proud of him.
"That was quite some speech, Quatre", Mr Winner said.
"You think ?", Quatre asked timidly.
"Yes. I am not sure I would have had the nerve to state things that way, but you were right to do it."
Quatre blushed furiously and tried to hide his embarrassment by looking outside the window.
"I just told the truth. I want to work for something I believe in. Why do you think I asked to start with the charities ?"
Mr Winner's smile widened.
"I must admit I first thought this was another of your rants about independence. And maybe it was one of them, actually, since you forced it out of me in the end, didn't you ?"
Quatre's eyes widened in stupor. Had his father just made a joke ?
"Anyway", Mr Winner kept on, "I can only look at the results and acknowledge that you are doing very well. I am impressed by the amount of work you've already done, and I don't doubt that you will do great."
Quatre could hardly believe his ears. This must have been the only real serious happy conversation he had ever been having with his father. This was so wonderful.
"I am proud of you, Quatre."
Quatre's eyes looked up straight at his father, filling with happy tears, as a smile erupted on his lips. Mr Winner was struck to see how much the boy looked like his mother. Even more now that he was on the way to manhood. The big ocean-blue eyes were exactly like Catherine's. All of his daughters had blue eyes, but none of them had them of that particular shade, as if hesitating between green and blue, changing colors with the mood of their owner. It was the same with the hair, very light blond and fine as baby hair, glowing almost white and golden under the lights of the car. Even the smile was the same, that smile in which all the heart and soul could be seen. That smile Catherine had given him before drawing her last breath, just after she had looked upon her son.
Mr Winner shook his head, pushing the memory away. If there was another resemblance between Catherine and Quatre, that was how obstinate they both were. Mr Winner had to admit that he himself was not really easy to live with, but the constant fights between him and his son had been a source of sadness for him. Knowing that Quatre cared for him and his appreciation was a gift he wanted to savor as much as possible.
"Father ?"
Mr Winner gave a start. He met Quatre's puzzled gaze and smiled. He had probably been lost in his thoughts.
"Yes ?"
"There's something I wanted to talk to you about. I … I'd like to stay more than just four days on L2. You don't need me for the first part of your tour on L3, and I promise I will be on time for that reception."
Mr Winner caught the hint.
"Duo", he just said with a grin.
"Yes", Quatre said, almost sighing with relief. "He said he wanted to do something with me for my birthday, so I figured I could just stay three more days. Wufei will stay with me", he added.
Mr Winner saw absolutely no reason to deny this request. Or more exactly wish. Clearly, Quatre had just warned him because he thought he had to. Mr Winner didn't think the boy would care if he said yes or no. And it was nice of Duo to think of special occasions like that. Mr Winner had the distinct memory of a petulant child with long hair who, for a time, was the only person who could bring a smile on Quatre's face.
"Do as you wish, Quatre", he said. "And please, tell Duo he is always welcome to come visit you at the Mansion. I am sure you two would like to see each other more often."
Quatre literally glowed, taking Mr Winner's breath away. He didn't remember his son looking so happy before.
"Thank you, Father. I will tell him", Quatre said with a big smile.
O.O.O.O.O
Quatre got into his room, yawning widely. The evening hadn't sucked as much as he had feared. He had met someone very nice who was on her way to become a dear friend, and he had had a nice no-shouts talk with his father. His father who had as much as invited Duo to spend some time at the Mansion. Quatre had never dared inviting Duo before, but he would certainly take advantage of the situation.
He stopped when he felt the now well-known strange vibe around the room. He shot a look to his laptop and didn't look remotely surprised to see it open, the white letters glowing in the dark. He smiled lightly and came to the desk to close the computer. He noticed the white card beside it and picked it up.
It was another ace of spades with another inscription on it, this time in English. It just said 'Soon.'
"Yes", Quatre muttered to himself. "Soon. But can you just imagine what is going to happen if you come too close ? Can you imagine how painful it will be for both of us ? Why can't you just go away ?"
But somewhere in his heart, something told him he didn't want this to end.