Impossible
A Gundam Wing Fan Fiction
Rambled Off by The Manwell
Book Two: PREVENTERS
Heero Yuy
Before I'd stepped through the front doors of the research facility, the game had already begun. In my mind, I struggle to keep up the mental image of Duo in full charisma mode. I have to hide in the open here which means doing things Duo's way. I've never really tried this before and I'm nervous, but there's no room for errors and that uncompromising standard steadies me.
I stride up to the receptionist's desk and announce myself. "Rupert Takahashi," I say with a small, friendly smile. Behind the greeting, I'm silently damning Duo. Again. The son of a bitch is probably leaning against the counter in the HQ break room right this minute, smirking his ass off and telling anyone who will listen that he'd managed to find a code name even more hideous that the last one he'd given me. It must have been quite the challenge to best Linus Levine. I continue smoothly, "I have an appointment with Dr. Adamsson at eight thirty."
The young man opposite me returns my pleasant greeting and asks me to wait for a moment. After a brief exchange over the phone, he tells me, "It'll only be a minute or so, Mr. Takahashi. Dr. Adamsson's assistant is on his way."
"Thank you," I remember to say. I even attempt to pitch my voice the way Duo does. Yet even after working with him for the past two years, it's hard to do.
I can freely admit that there is no one else in the world who can act like Duo unless it's... well, Duo himself. For a long time, I'd been amazed at the fact that Duo is capable of such enviable stealthwork. I've never quite been able to work out how someone like Duo can go unnoticed whenever he wants to. But then, I'd reconciled myself – a long time ago – to the fact that I will always notice him, regardless of time and place. Still, it baffles me how the attentions of other people are not immediately drawn to him unless he wishes it to be so.
I sigh. I tell myself to stop wasting time with this old debate. I haven't understood this since I noticed it during the war and it's highly unlikely that I'll figure it out now.
Time to get on with the show.
I glance at the receptionist and wonder if I should try to make small talk but he looks busy so I force myself to fiddle with my suit jacket, run my fingers along my tie, glance at the arrangement of spacescape paintings along the wall. Idly, I wonder how Duo does it: maintain that level of average-Joe-ease he's so very good at. I shove my free hand in my pocket and jingle the hotel key around. I realize I'm running out of things to do while I wait and I begin to get a little worried. I have to blend in. I must blend in. Standing at attention, deathly still, eyes roaming the lobby with the intent to map every exit will certainly get me noticed. I have to act like a personable, run-of-the-mill kind of guy. I readjust my wrist watch. Damn, this is hard.
"Mr. Takahashi?"
I turn and offer a grateful welcome to the young man stepping past the sliding glass doors. He holds out his hand and I grasp it, telling myself I can do this, reminding myself that my character has done things like this every day of his professional life.
The assistant introduces himself to me and continues apologetically as he steers me deeper into the research facility, "Dr. Adamsson sends his apologies for being unable to greet you himself. Several case tests coming up for review got moved up ahead of schedule, so you're stuck with me for the time being."
I chuckle, like I'm supposed to. "You mean, I'll be stuck with whatever equipment you need recalibrated for your operations here on the moon," I correct.
The assistant grins and nods. "We've certainly got enough to keep you busy for a while."
"That's good," I reply gamely. Out of nowhere, something I'd once heard Duo say comes to me and I grasp onto it with relief, "It'll keep me out of trouble."