Author's notes and warnings: Oh my goodness...I didn't realize it has been this long since I last work on The Silent Series. :hides from the boys: They are sorely neglected, no da! I should give SOME body a lemon soon or they might turn Relena on me. I truly apologize for the LONG delay, but those of you who are as engrossed in fanfiction as I am would probably understand the lull of new fandoms…

Hugs and thanks to my reviewers: Krysana, Sakusha, Yira Heerai, empyreal, riho and raven. Your encouragements kept me in the GW fandom.

Special thanks for my beta, always. :hugs Hitari-chan:

The Silent Series: Chapter Six – Silent Run

By Moonraven

"Spill!" Duo demanded curtly as he cornered Trowa in front of the hotel room they were all staying in.

Abdul, who was guarding the door, looked uncomfortable as the pair stopped practically in front of him to glare at each other but the Maguanac wisely looked the other way and ignored them.

"No," Trowa told Duo clearly as if speaking to a child. Then he turned to Abdul and sent him inside for Quatre.

"Tro." Duo put his hands on his hips and glowered.

"There's nothing to tell."

"That's crap! Something is up or you wouldn't be pissing stones and pulling guns on diplomats."

Trowa hesitated but then shook his head. "I can't…"

"Bullshit! I've never seen you behave like this before. The man is only here to pick up his 'friend'; you didn't have to make more threats."

"He brought flowers, Duo. Quatre is NOT a girl!"

Duo made a face. "Men… give men flowers. Hell, I gave Heero a rose once or twice."

"You guys were lovers."

Duo sighed. "Still. This isn't like you, man. You don't even know the guy, you're acting so OOC, it's not even funny! Now GIVE!"

Trowa sighed. "I… can't."

"Trowa."

"It's classified, Duo. I can't discuss it."

"So there is something about the guy… dude." Duo put his hand on Trowa's shoulder and gave him a look. "You're talking to me."

Trowa narrowed his eyes. "Exactly."

Duo used the hand on Trowa's shoulder to smack the tall young man's head. "What the hell is THAT supposed to mean? You KNOW I would never leak classified information!"

"But you're asking me to."

Duo froze, suddenly feeling sick. "Shit. Sorry, man." He sighed and turned away. "I KNOW better, I do… I shouldn't have asked that. It's just… lately… first it's Heero and now you…"

"What about Heero?" Trowa asked.

Duo shrugged. "It's probably nothin'." Then after a few seconds of silence, he turned back to Trowa and blurted out, "Did you know they weren't… that he wasn't in love with her? That they weren't getting married? That he left me for no reason?"

"Whoa, slow down." Trowa actually had to take a step back since Duo's face was inches away as the braided young man drilled him. "What are you talking about?"

"Forget it," Duo muttered and turned away again. Trowa really didn't need this now. DUO didn't exactly need it either but it WAS his problem.

Trowa took a hold of his arm and turned him back. The tall brunet's eyes were clouded with concern and it made Duo feel even worse. "Tell me."

Duo couldn't help the little smile that lifted the side of his mouth. "So now you want ME to spill my guts?"

Trowa's lips quirked slightly. "It's not classified, is it?"

Duo shook his head then looked down, hiding his face. Trowa took Duo's chin in a gentle grip and tipped his head back. "What happened?"

The door opened suddenly and the two turned to see Quatre and Abdul staring at them in surprise. Duo cleared his throat and knocked Trowa's hand away abruptly.

Quatre looked away quickly, muttering an apology. Then he slammed the door shut again.

"Damn." Duo blinked at the closed door, and then he looked at Trowa, who was still staring at the wooden panel. He pushed Trowa towards the door. "Get in there and fix it!"

Trowa turned and frown at him. "Fix what?"

Duo rolled his eyes and continued to nudge Trowa. "Gah! Quat's in there right now thinking that there's something between us!"

Trowa's frown deepened but he refused to budge and he didn't say anything.

"Tro, don't make me smack you again, man."

"We were talking about Heero, don't change the subject."

"HA! That's rich! You changed the fucking subject first! Now…" Duo steered Trowa a little to the side by the elbow, slightly away from the door and then he stared hard into Trowa's green eyes. "I'm going to start from the beginning… stay with me, here. Now, why the hell haven't you told Quatre how you feel?"

Trowa opened his mouth to answer but Duo clasped a hand over it. "I swear if you say there's nothing to tell, I'm shooting you."

Trowa scowled over Duo's hand. Duo lowered it with a grin. When Trowa failed to answer him, Duo rolled his eyes. "Fine, don't tell me, but I bet I know what it is. It's that 'no name' stuff again, isn't it? You can't commit to him because you don't know who you are?"

Trowa raised his eyebrows, looking amused. "No."

"No?"

"No."

Duo growled. "No, what?"

"No, you're wrong."

AGH! Duo felt like tearing off his hair only he loved it too much. Maybe he ought to tear out Trowa's instead.

But violence wasn't going to get him what he wanted… no… Trowa was actually talking, albeit minutely. He could work with this. "You are SO in denial, buddy."

Trowa shook his head. "No, I'm not. You of all people should know that names are only what people call you." Duo wanted to smack that little smirk off Trowa's face. Of course he knew! HE was the one who told Trowa that! But before he could get physical, Trowa continued, "I may not know much about my distant past but I know who I am now… who I've become. I have no doubt that Quatre knows that too."

Damn, Trowa was on a roll!

"Okay… is it the 'he's rich, I'm poor' thing?"

Trowa didn't even bother to answer this one; the man just stared at him. Mercenaries get paid and Trowa had been collecting without spending for years. Trowa never really did have many needs. Then after the war, there was the circus and the Preventers…

"Fine! So what the hell is it then? Is it the 'he's the innocent angel' and 'I'm the mercenary devil' thing?"

Trowa's his mouth hung open at that. Maybe he was getting somewhere after all.

Then Trowa blinked. "You're full of ideas today… WHAT have you been reading?"

Duo colored slightly and cleared his throat. "I… er… well, there're lots of information on the internet…"

Trowa shook his head. "You mean there are a lot of crap on the net. Quatre would hurt you if he ever gets a wind of THAT theory. You know that."

Duo shivered. "Yeah well, I know he's not all that angelic and innocent but seeing how you treat him sometimes, a guy's got to wonder, you know?"

"Quatre… tries too hard… cares too much about everything, you know that. If nobody stops him, he'll work himself to death, mentally and physically."

Duo folded his arms across his chest, "So you appointed yourself his guardian?"

Trowa frowned but remained silent.

"Trowa… that time… it wasn't your fault."

"He nearly died, Duo."

Before Duo could reply, footsteps and hushed voices came down the hallway and both men turned, hands going instinctively to their weapons.

Duo groaned softly when he saw that it was Azir Rasha. He was coming their way with two Maguanacs hot on his heels.

"You didn't expect me to wait in the lobby, did you?"

Duo thought he heard Trowa growl and decided that keeping Trowa out of jail was probably a good thing. He stepped smoothly between the two men. "As a matter of fact, we did but since you're here…" Duo opened the door and practically shoved Trowa through. "Go get Quat, will ya? No, no…" Duo shook his head at his friend. "I can handle this, you get Quat." Duo continued to smile at Azir while he tossed more instructions at Trowa. "No fighting, and for Christ's sake, TALK to him!"

"Talk to him about what?" Azir asked.

Duo's smile took on a hard edge. "I believe that's none of your business, sir."

Azir narrowed his eyes at Duo but his expression remained cordial. "I hope he's not going to violate the gag-" Then, as if he'd thought better of it, Azir shook his head and smiled at Duo. "Of course he wouldn't. I'm sure Trowa Barton is much smarter than that."

Duo feigned confusion and looked lost. It was apparent that the man was hinting at something… something that could probably get Trowa in a lot of trouble. Duo wasn't about to help him though.

Azir sighed and looked slightly irritated. Good, Duo smirked to himself. He was beginning to see why Trowa didn't like the guy. He was pleasant enough… but Duo sensed… something...

"I would LIKE to go inside, if I may." Oooh, so polite!

"No can do, sir." Duo stood with exaggerated stiffness in front of the door. "Authorized personnel only."

Azir's narrowed eyes narrowed even more. Duo was impressed. "A common soldier can go in where I, the son of a respected diplomat and a close personal friend, cannot?"

Duo pretend to think about that for a second, then nodded. "Yeah, that's about right."

"I am authorized to take him out, I think it stands to reason that I'm authorize to go into his room as well," Azir said softly, his eyes glinting in the late morning light.

Duo grinned. "You're good," but I'm better, he added silently. "I still can't allow you to go in, though. Boss' order and all that."

Azir raised his eyebrows skeptically. "You don't look like the type to follow orders, Agent Maxwell."

So the man knew his name and from the tone of Azir's voice, Duo guessed the young politician knew his reputation as well. Duo didn't let his surprise show, he just smiled innocently. "Who? Me?"

Trowa chose that moment to open the door and brought Quatre out. The blond gave Duo an uncertain look before he turned to Azir and greeted him. The mixed emotion on Quatre's face made Duo want to kick Trowa's ass. Was it too much to expect that clown to explain things to Quatre? Apparently!

Duo turned to Trowa. "Behave yourself."

Trowa gave him a bland look but didn't respond.

"Agent Barton is joining us?" Azir asked, not looking too happy. Hah! Duo crowed silently.

Quatre gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Azir, I didn't have the chance to tell you. If you'd rather not go, I'll understand."

Azir smiled and shook his head. "Nothing would stop me from spending more time with you, Quatre. I'd hope for some privacy but I guess with our lives, that's not quite an option. My father stuck me with a few guards as well."

Quatre laughed gaily at that. "Oh what a sight this would make! Between your men and mine, we'd take up the entire restaurant."

Azir smiled and turned to the Maguanacs that were tailing him. One of them was holding a small bouquet of flowers. Azir held out his hand expectantly. "Are you done inspecting it?"

The Maguanac looked uncertainly to Trowa, who nodded almost imperceptibly, before he handed the flowers back to Azir.

Azir handed that over to Quatre with what appeared to be a blush. Duo glanced surreptitiously at Trowa to see his reaction. The beanpole was as expressive as a… well… pole. Duo sighed.

"Thank you. They're beautiful." Quatre took the bouquet with a polite smile. Duo could tell that Quatre wasn't sure how to take this gesture but his good manners always came to his rescue.

Azir may have noticed too for he said, "I saw them this morning and remembered how you used to love staring at the Maestro's garden. They reminded me of you… I'm sorry if you-"

Quatre shook his head and smiled brilliantly at the slimy man. "No, I love them. Really! I can't believe you remember that."

Azir went in for the kill; Duo could feel it. The young man moved closer to Quatre and smiled down at him. "There's not much about you I can forget, Quatre."

Duo wanted to gag. What made it worst was the fact that Quatre seemed to be falling for it. He leaned sideways toward Trowa and whispered, "You sure you wanna go? I know you have an iron stomach but dude, maybe you should take some antacids with ya."

Trowa grunted but said nothing.

Quatre turned and gave Duo a warning look. Oops, had he said that too loudly? The blond thrust the flowers at Duo. "Please put these in water for me, Duo. I'd hate for them to wilt in the heat."

"Aye-aye, sir." Duo gave Quatre a mock salute then started for the door. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Quat. Oh, wait…" He paused suddenly, his hand on the doorknob. He turned and grinned at Quatre. "Don't do anything I would do, huh?"

Quatre tilted his blond head towards the silent Trowa. "Not much chance of THAT, Duo."

Duo laughed. "Good." He waved and slipped through the door and then leaned against the back of it heavily. Maybe he should go with them after all. Trowa had been very edgy around Azir; apparently there's history there though Duo couldn't imagine what that could be. Azir had also been laying it on a bit thick… if he kept that up, Duo was sure he'll be in a body bag very soon.

He'd almost turned and went back out when loud voices drifted from the bedroom. Relena and Wufei's voices to be exact. Duo groaned as he dumped the flowers in the nearest trashcan. WAS he the only adult in this bunch?

And wasn't that thought just a tiny bit scary?

"Don't slouch."

"I don't slouch!"

"You're doing it now."

"Am not!"

"Shoulders back."

"Hey!"

"CHILDREN!" Duo stood in the doorway and stared at Relena and Wufei in disbelief. "What's the problem?" Then seeing Relena's new outfit, he gave a low whistle. "Hey, looking good, princess."

Relena looked down at the Preventers uniform Wufei had made her wear, then looking up at Duo's grinning face, struck a pose.

"Do you really think so? This abominably uncouth person here…" She tilted her chin in Wufei's direction in disdain. "… thinks that I slouch. Please tell him otherwise."

Duo tilted his head to the side and scrutinized her a bit then frowned. "You know, Relena… you DO look different. You're not carrying yourself the way you normally do…" Duo tilted his head the other way, trying to figure out what was wrong with the picture. "It's almost like you're not… you know..." He demonstrated by pushing his own shoulders back and chest forward. "Sticking 'em out enough."

"I beg your pardon!" Relena could feel her face burning. What on earth was she doing taking posture lessons from ex-Gundam pilots? Instinctively she clutched at the rolls of buttons that held the shirt closed. Stick them out, indeed!

"You're not going to convince anyone if you walk around like it's a borrowed uniform."

"It IS a borrowed uniform," Relena interjected.

"You've got to own it," Duo continued as if she hadn't interrupted. "Be it… you know. BE a Preventer." Relena raised one fine eyebrow as Duo launched into one of the recruiting campaign's poses.

She sighed. "I'm trying to but it's so… snug. If I could just get a bigger size…" She complained in a small voice as she fingered the buttons anxiously. "I feel like they're going to pop anytime now."

A jacket appeared in front of her. It was hanging from Wufei's hand.

He'd better not be laughing at her. It would be just like him to find a small uniform on purpose just to get back at her for the assault charges. She glared at him.

"I don't remember this being part of Heero's plan." She snatched the jacket from him and grudgingly put it on.

"That's because you weren't there." Wufei seemed to be very good at keeping his face straight. Relena narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.

"Now c'mon, Relena. Be the few, the proud, the… um… no wait a sec, that's something else." He grinned then cleared his throat dramatically. "Be an active part of peace. Be a Preventer."

Relena couldn't help but laugh. Duo looked like himself again and he was making this whole exile easier for everyone, especially her.

"Is that why you'd join? To be an active part of peace?" She asked lightly and immediately regretted it when she saw a shadow flit across his face. She blinked but it was gone and he was grinning once again.

"Nah. They used a different lure all together back then."

Relena decided that she didn't want to know what that lure was and busied herself with the jacket. Once that was done, she felt much better. She tilted her head back slightly as she smile up at Duo. "Well, agent Maxwell, do I pass?"

Duo grinned and gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Then he tilted his head towards Wufei. "You might want to ask our resident drill sergeant, though."

Grudgingly, Relena turned to Wufei. He looked her up and down critically and made her turned around at least twice before he gave an approving nod. "Not bad. Now the hair."

"What?" Relena took a step back and clutched at the shoulder length hair. "I just cut it before we came here and it's dyed a different color; no one had recognized me these past few days."

Wufei looked over to Duo and some silent dialogues were exchanged for Duo scowled at Wufei, shaking his head fiercely

"No way." Duo pulled his braid over his shoulder and gripped the end tightly. "Get your own rubber band."

Wufei rolled his eyes and said mildly, "You have a spare somewhere, Duo. I know you do."

Duo scowled some more and then dug through his hair. He pulled out several evil-looking picks – in Relena's opinion – then finally a blue rubber band. He handed that over grudgingly.

"Thank you." Wufei took it as he shook his head in silent wonderment. "Where do you keep all these…?"

"Never you mind." Duo scowled at him and hid his various tools once again.

All this suddenly seemed very funny to Relena and she couldn't help the giggles that bubbled right out of her.

"What so funny, Relena?" Duo turned to her.

"I'm sorry," Relena said. "It's just like Heero's spandex. Remember how he could fit all kinds of stuff in there?"

Duo smiled and Relena was sure Wufei was adequately amused. "Princess, I don't even want to know what kind of stuff you saw coming out of there." Duo feigned shock and pressed a hand to his chest. "Were you even old enough to look?"

Relena blushed and clamped a hand to her mouth to stop the burst of laughter that threatened to erupt from her.

Duo had less success at keeping his mirth in and collapsed on the bed in a giggling fit. Relena gave in and joined the braided young man, leaving Wufei to stare down at them in gentle exasperation.

"Are you two done?" His own voice was full of amusement though his self-control seemed to have the better hand.

Duo and Relena paused to look up at him, both arms wrapped around their midriffs. Then they looked at each other and burst out laughing again.

It was a while before either of them was composed enough for Wufei. Relena gasped and wiped at her eyes as she sat up and reached for the tissues. She found them dangled in front of her. Wufei.

She gave him a smile as she took the tissues. "Thank you. I really needed that."

Duo uncurled next to her and grinned. "The tissues or the laugh."

"Both."

Duo nodded, using the back of his hand to wipe his eyes. "Me too."

Then they both turned and looked up at the composed Wufei expectantly. Wufei blinked. "I'm fine, thank you."

That threatened to send them off on another fit but Wufei stopped that quickly with a look. "If you don't mind, I'd like to proceed with our plan."

"You are no fun, Wufei." Duo sighed and got up, stretching languidly. Then he turned to Relena. "Hey, Relena, you wouldn't happen to know anything about Azir Rasha, would you?"

Relena blinked at the unexpected question. "Only that he is Representative Tamar's only son and intends to follow in his father's footsteps. Why?"

Duo shook his head and smiled. "Just curious. Gotta check out Quatre's suitors, you know. The routine stuff."

Relena nodded. She remembered Heero doing something similar last year when someone had asked her to dance at a charity ball. By noon the next day, they were informed of everything about the man from his dead pets to his favorite breakfast cereal to the color of his toothpaste. Relena sighed. She and Quatre had more in common than she realized.

Wufei, on the other hand, didn't look convinced. He watched Duo carefully but didn't make a comment.

"Representative Tamar… he's representing the mining colony in sector MN, isn't he?" Duo asked.

"Yes," Relena replied. "MN205. But he and his family actually live on L3."

"L3." Duo looked thoughtful for a second then gave Relena a big smile. "Well, gotta go check on some stuff. You two kiss and make up, okay?"

Before Relena could properly voice out her indignation, Duo had slipped out of the room. She risked a glance at Wufei and found him frowning slightly at the door.

"Excuse me, Relena," Wufei said quietly and then followed Duo out.

Relena was finally alone… but it was a condition she no longer wished for. Unexpectedly, she found herself craving Wufei's presence. Surely, that wasn't a good thing.

"Duo."

Duo turned to Wufei with a tired smile. "Yeah?"

"What's going on?"

Duo shrugged. "Don't know yet."

Wufei nodded, looking thoughtful. "Is it about the other night with Trowa?"

"Yeah."

Wufei frowned; he looked more troubled now more than thoughtful. "What do you know about Trowa's assignment on L3 two years ago?"

"Nothin' much. Just that he was in deep cover for over a year and that the mission was a success. Why? The guy has something to do with this?"

Wufei shook his head slowly. "I don't know. That mission had a high security level and I wasn't involved with colony issues at the time." Wufei did not looking pleased. "It would explain Trowa's behavior, wouldn't it?"

Duo turned again, heading towards the door. "Somewhat, but it doesn't explain the gag order."

"What gag order?"

"That's what we're gonna find out, Fei!" Duo tossed that over his shoulder as he turned to wink at Wufei.

"WE?" Wufei said indignantly. "There're too many people in 'we'!"

"C'mon! You know you're curious." Duo watched his friend sputter in outrage. "It's for Quatre," Duo wheedled. "The dude gave him flowers! That's injustice, man."

Wufei groaned and closed his eyes. He really didn't understand Duo's logic and wished that Heero would hurry and come back. Between Relena and Duo, Wufei wasn't sure he would live to see his 25th birthday…

Yet strangely enough… he wasn't sure he would want his life any other way…

TBC…