The Stylist
Summary: In this chapter Sally Po returns to the rescue, while Duo and Trowa deepen their friendships with Quatre and Heero
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Gundam Wing or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story.
Warnings: AU, male/male pairings, language
Chapter Five
Day 3
"I left you a message last night not to come in before 11:00," Wufei Chang stated without looking up from the computer screen. Who else would blunder in unannounced but his thoughtless truants?
"Not me you didn't," his assistant, Sally Po, responded, smiling. She pushed the door open with a foot, carrying a tea tray with a steaming pot of his favorite blend and two cups.
"Oh, Miss Po, I'm sorry." He cleared his desk and relieved her of the tray.
"I know you didn't know it was me. It's perfectly fine. Hands off! This needs to brew a few minutes more."
His eyes were bruised; he hadn't slept well and hadn't cared to cover it up.
"I'm here because you have that interview you promised two weeks ago and I'm sure you are just pretending to have forgotten."
"Of course I know about it. It's on my schedule. I can't forget. I am simply ignoring it until the last possible second."
"Wufei. What is the matter?"
"Matter? What makes you think there's anything wrong? Just because I received a scathing email yesterday from Zechs Merquise concerning Maxwell and Barton. Just because he is threatening a lawsuit for battery against Maxwell. And that, he reminded me, is a serious crime that, and I quote, 'involves the unauthorized application of force resulting in actual physical injury and punishable by criminal fees and time spent in jail.'"
He paused just long enough to breathe. "Just because I provided Maxwell and Barton new top-of-the-line smartphone s with full PDA capability, shouldn't I expect them to answer when I call? By what right should they ignore my messages? I half expect them to come barging in during my interview, but it seems that they can read handwritten messages left atop the gorgeous clothes delivered to their expensive suites—all courtesy of me."
"So, the boys stirred up a little kerfuffle at OZ and are hiding from you," she said, unruffled by his outburst.
His glare could have melted the bronze dragon statuette which his father once used as a paperweight but now gathered dust on the bookshelf Sally had her back to.
"I looked over the stills Meiran took of them—excellent work by the way; she deserves a raise-and of course a person would have to be avoiding technology not to notice the excitement they have stirred up. Unconventional, mysterious, and hot, hot, hot! Where did you find those two? Tell me that they aren't from Khushrenada. That stable Merquise maintains is…" she paused to assess his expression. "You winced."
"Winner's part-time parking attendants," Wufei said. "I filled you in on the bet, didn't I? I'm a little preoccupied."
"You mentioned a bet, in an email, while I was on the road. And I have already begun a simple word-of-mouth campaign amongst OZ rivals, who will be clamoring for opportunities to showcase their newest designs with our 'boys'."
Sally waited for him to recognize her contribution with a curt nod. "It is fortunate that you used Mr. Winner. He has exquisite taste and unerring judgment in people, so beginning with individuals he has vetted is an excellent start. It is as if he was clairvoyant," she mused. "I also recommend you listen to their side of the story before making any decisions."
"And if they called me, messaged me, or emailed me, I would, woman! Weren't you listening to me?"
"I was. Now, think about it. Why would Zechs Merquise graciously lend you his facilities, wardrobes, staff, and studio time and his personal expertise— at no cost to you?"
"Well, you told me he's been 'pining for me' for years."
"I also included myself in that category." Her eyes bore into his forehead.
He looked up and met her steady dark blue gaze with his own deep, dark brown. I am no coward. I despise cowards and anyone showing weakness. I can take what she has to dish out like a man. Even her confession of affection for me. Which comes at no surprise. I am not naïve. Typically.
She smiled.
"Wufei," she said with a great deal of fondness, "I was trying to knock some sense into you, without hitting you because you had a headache. Zechs Playboy Merquise collects men like cufflinks and accessorizes with them. A different one each night. He didn't offer all his services because he loves you or wants to impress you. He wants to sabotage the bet, naturally."
"No, that's dishonorable—!"
"The man has no honor!"
Wufei's head sank onto the desk, dispirited.
Sally moved to the desk and patted his back. "I didn't mean none at all. He works for Khushrenada. He will do anything to win this bet for him. I know you understand that kind of single-minded devotion."
"I'm doomed."
"Oh, you might not win this bet with Khushrenada, but you'll do your best, do it honestly, and lose, but you'll do it with integrity and honor. You'll do your countless ancestors justice."
"You are patronizing me, woman."
"Never."
Sigh. "I need my migraine pills," he murmured.
"You don't need meds," she said in a reassuring tone. "Just a nice cup of tea." She poured his cup to the brim. "And you never know, miracles can happen."
Ten, nerve-calming, tea-sipping silent minutes later, Meiran tapped on the door and stuck her head it. "Excuse me, Mr. Chang, MS Froust from Fashion Quarterly is here for the interview."
"Wonderful. Show her in, please. Miss Po?"
"Shall I assist, Sir?" Sally asked, intending to no matter what he said.
"Please. Yes. Stay."
Wufei Chang greeted the woman who he judged to be a little older than himself. With better makeup she could look much younger. "Hello, I'd like to introduce my assistant, Sally Po, back from touring Sanc's finest design houses."
As he shook MS Froust's hand, he held out chairs for both Sally and Froust. He felt stronger and ready with Sally seated at his elbow. She was good and resilient, for a woman.
Sally leaned forward. "Just so you know, this is about Mr. Chang and not about his phenomenal new clients." She smiled to soften the blow then added, "You will get some stills of the young men on your way out."
That put a very big smile on MS Froust's face. "Thank you!" she said enthusiastically. Pulling herself together she began the interview. "Mr. Chang, tell me a bit about what your job entails."
"I help men and women look their very best – from the clothes they wear to their hair and their make-up," Wufei replied, succinctly.
"Describe a typical day at work, please."
"There is no typical," he said and was going to stop with that.
Sally answered for him. "It changes daily but could involve analyzing a client's colors, a make-up lesson; he might go out to do a wardrobe audit or to take a client shopping and back in the studio to do a Style and Line {which is helping a client figure out what works for their body shape}."
"Not to mention the side of the job you assist me with most importantly—research," Wufei put in. "I must keep informed what is current, just on the horizon, and what future predictions might be."
"Tell me about the most memorable moment since getting your job." Froust moved on.
Wufei's face darkened, thinking about the latest catastrophe. Sally must have read his mind, because she jumped in with the politic save of ambassadorial magnitude. "Why, Mr. Chang, you were just telling me how you still get goose bumps when you read one of Fashion Quarterly's articles on you, so it must have been that first time Long's Signature Style was featured in Fashion Quarterly that you most treasure." She smiled.
"Yes, that's it," he agreed. Easier that way.
"How kind of you!" MS Froust gushed. "What do you enjoy about your job most of all?"
Wufei opened his mouth, looked over at Sally, and then said, "Seeing how great our clients feel after we've worked with them."
"What qualifications and previous experience got you the job?"
"I inherited it."
"He's also qualified in Color Analysis, Body Shape Analysis, Wardrobe Development and Make-up Artistry," Sally added skillfully.
"Which personality traits/skills/attributes help a person to get a job like yours?"
Before Wufei could get beyond, "great restraint—"
Sally further illuminated with, "—and buckets of empathy, sales skills and an eye for style."
The interview continued like that for a few minutes, and then Meiran tippy-toed into the office. Leaning close to Sally she informed her that Mr. Winner and Mr. Yuy were waiting in the lobby, and then quietly left.
"I don't want to rush you," Sally said, "But Mr. Chang has clients waiting to see him—emergencies come up and clients must come first, I'm sure you'll understand if we take just two more questions," she said, deftly bringing the interview to a close.
"Yes, of course! I only have one more question, and that is: what sort of job could you go to from here?"
Wufei looked far too thoughtful for Sally's taste. He was likely to give an honest answer he'd regret later. "Oh, you wouldn't want to do anything else, would you?! You so love your job."
"Of course," he agreed. "I don't consider what I do a 'job'."
"If everyone could be so fortunate, wouldn't it be a better world? One last thought, please. What's going to be the hottest trend, besides those two fabulous clients of yours?"
"Men's grooming and the associated products, including makeup," Wufei answered, standing to signal he was done.
"That's just perfect for the article. Thank you, Mr. Chang and it was good to meet you, Miss Po, the talented woman behind the man."
Neither Sally nor Wufei found that summary flattering or that it characterized their working relationship, but MS Froust was on her way out and after all, it was over and they had more important things to do that they, possibly, had control over.
Meiran adroitly escorted the fashion journalist through the lobby to the exit, generously supplying her with a pamphlet of Long's latest offerings and other expected publicity propaganda, including Duo and Trowa exclusives. Keeping to the shadows, Quatre and Heero surreptitiously avoided Meiran and MS Froust at the reception desk, and nimbly headed into Wufei's office.
"Why aren't they here?" Quatre cried out.
"What happened?" Heero demanded simultaneously.
Sally pulled up a chair, joining the group, and listened. She shouldn't have left Wufei alone at the OZ Couture show at the Winner Grand Hotel. Just look at the mess he got himself into without her! A bet with Khushrenada!
Wufei threw up his hands. "I have no idea where they are, and very little verified information about what happened yesterday. I know from the limousine driver that they arrived at the OZ building on time. Also from the driver, they left three hours later. They refused a ride back here, instead accepting a ride downtown. I have not heard from them since I saw them 26 hours ago. And there you have it. The sum total of the facts."
"I saw Trowa for a short time in the evening. We had dinner; he was left by the back door, and I retired early," Winner told everyone. "Heero, you saw Duo."
"He drove over. We had dinner. He left about a quarter to ten. He made a remark about burning a bridge, but aside from telling funny stories about the getups he wore, nothing else. No details. I had the impression that he regretted the outcome."
"Trowa didn't say anything about his day," Quatre said, frowning at his hands. "I have this bad feeling."
"I'd like to say that I suspect Merquise set them up to fail," Sally said.
Wufei straightened his shoulders. "Zechs sent me a disturbing email threatening to file criminal charges against Maxwell, for assault. A broken collar bone. I contacted Long's lawyer on retainer, but I haven't heard back. If this is true, and it has not been confirmed, then, of course, this jeopardizes everything I'd planned."
Heero grunted. "Merquise is like a dog sniffing around a fire hydrant, and you sent two attractive candidates directly to him. There should have been a watchdog accompanying them."
"Like a chaperone? Can you imagine Duo's reaction if I tried to do that?" Wufei spat, incredulous a grown man would suggest such a thing.
"That's right," Winner said, "Don't blame Wufei. They weren't minors requiring a guardian. Zechs Merquise is a pompous ass at times. Trowa or Duo, I'm sure, would be aware of his social position, but I doubt either one would be in the least intimidated by him. They might annoy him by not stroking his ego, but to resort to violence? I can't believe it."
"I can," Heero said.
"Heero!" his friend shouted.
"Under the right circumstances you'd defend yourself," Heero explained. "So would any of us. I think we'll find Zechs did something to provoke them."
"Trowa was so terribly upset. I had to shut him out. And then he said nothing…nothing last night." Quatre looked to Heero. "You understand?"
Heero nodded, and then said, "Try now. You're not at your hectic office. This place has good feng shui."
"Feng shui, I am familiar with, but other than that I don't understand what you are talking about. Wufei, do you know what are they talking about?" Sally asked. "This is getting us nowhere. We need to talk to Duo to get the truth."
Wufei put a finger to his lips and looked pointedly in Quatre's direction.
Quatre sat very still, eyes closed, his right hand over his heart. The others soundlessly watched this strange performance for several minutes until he smiled and opened his eyes.
"Trowa's happy…floating serenely," he announced. "I know where they are!"
"And that is-?" Heero prompted him impatiently.
"Ice skating. Does anyone know where the closest rink is? An outdoor one?"
"Yes, of course," Wufei said, dashing off a quick text to the driver. "I even mentioned it to them as an activity they might enjoy. Sally, do you skate?"
"I do."
"Then come with me."
"All right, but someone better explain what's going on," Sally said.
"I'm coming too!" Quatre insisted. "And so's Heero!"
"All right," Wufei agreed.
On his way through the lobby, he left concise instructions for Meiran- spa is to remain open but he and Sally are out indefinitely. Call if you must.
"The car's pulling up outside now for anyone interested in a visit to the ice rink," Wufei said.
The foursome headed out the door and into the waiting limousine.
"Mr. Winner," Sally began before seat belts clicked into place.
"Please, call me Quatre."
"Sally," she said, smiling. "What were you doing in there? How did you 'find' Trowa and Duo?"
"It's a family trait, a kind of empathy. It's hard to explain. My mother and I had this rapport…" Quatre said, in spurts and drips.
"A connection forms with certain people and he senses their feelings," Heero clarified in his succinct manner.
"It doesn't always work and I can't choose who it works with," Quatre said with pink coloring his cheeks.
"But it works with Trowa and Duo?" Sally guessed.
"Just Trowa." The blush ran up to his part.
"Have you told him?"
Quatre shook his head. "No, not yet. I was planning to soon. I guess I should tell him today."
"I think you are right," Sally agreed. "He might feel the other end of the connection and not understand what is happening."
They tumbled out of the limo before it had come to a complete stop, Quatre taking the lead at a run.
"I see Trowa in his fur hat!" he cried out. "Oh! He really skates beautifully!"
On his heels, Heero traded off scanning the skating rink for Duo and watching Trowa, who was given space by the other skaters while he executed a perfect spin, jump, and one-foot landing. "Trowa knows how to skate skillfully."
"I'm going down there," Winner announced. "Come, too, Heero. Let's get some skates and find Duo. Wufei! Sally! Join us!"
The skate rental desk wasn't busy, so everyone was fitted quickly.
Wufei surveyed the crowd, but couldn't spot Maxwell. "Although, I usually hear Duo first."
Quatre skated away to team up with Trowa. "He might know if Duo has gone someplace else."
Heero abandoned his friends to look for Duo on his own. He'd been looking out for the braid, but that may have been a mistake; he might have tucked it under his coat. Would Duo be alone? Unlikely. Duo had told him about the spa employees' happy send off after their first day of the make-over. Even last night he'd told him about all the attention the Merquise people had given him. The man collects a following. So, I should study the clusters of laughing young people.
"There!" he said pleased with his powers of deduction. Duo was being pulled around with girls hanging onto both arms. Clearly, the man couldn't skate at all, didn't trust his "helpers" to ensure he didn't fall, and was unable turn back to the hand railing. "Idiot!"
Heero speed skated to cut off the Duo-crowd, making a sweeping turn, blades slicing into the ice sending a spray of ice particles into the air.
"Whoa! Hey, is that you, 'Ro? Dude, get me outta here! These shit boots are the footwear of the devil!"
As he shook off the last of the young ladies, he politely thanked them, but adamantly denied further need of their attention. "You did what you could, and I 'ppreciate it- I really do- but it's time for me to get back to terra firma."
"Just walk to me," Heero told him, and then ignored Duo's whining determination not to remain on the ice rink. "Shut up. Now, bend your knees and put your arms out for balance. That's better. Turn out your toes slightly and take baby steps. Yes. March to me. You are doing fine, Duo. Don't panic. If you fall, just relax into a sideways descent."
When Duo minced to within arm's length from Heero, the sure skater grasped his trembling arm securely and reeled him to his chest. "See?" Heero said. "You can do it."
Minutes passed and Heero had Duo sliding and gliding over the ice, one arm wrapped around his waist.
"Okay, it's kinda fun now," Duo acquiesced. His face was pink with cold and exertion, eyes bright and wide with mirth.
"Try looking up. Over there," Heero said with a smile, dying to take him far, far away with him.
"Hey! If I didn't think it was impossible, I'd say that's 'Fei-man with a girl!"
"It is. That's his assistant, Sally Po. Chang's been worried about you." Heero knew that there were a few problems to solve (mostly his) before he could have Duo completely to himself, but for the time being, this felt very, very good.
"He looks pretty damned relaxed." Duo gazed up at Heero. "Let's not bother them."
Heero was fine with that. "Ready for a break?" he asked. "There's a snack bar."
"You got me on 'break', heh heh." Duo laughed, wobbled, but stayed upright thanks to Heero's iron strength.
The pair had just turned in their rental skates, when Wufei and Sally came off the ice.
Wufei picked up his pace to talk to Duo, but Sally dragged him to a slow crawl.
"When you show restraint and he tells you the story without goading, then," she said, "you'll earn his respect."
"All evidence to the contrary," Wufei muttered. He met her confident gaze and sighed. "All right. I'll give him a chance."
He introduced Sally to Duo. Duo possessed the most charming smile in the world, and was strikingly handsome, especially close up, so it took a great deal of strength for Sally not to be effusive over him.
"Nice to meet you," Sally said with a firm handshake.
"Yeah, nice to meet you, too," Duo said, wearing a slightly puzzled, surprised expression, which lasted only a second, and then he gave Wufei a triumphant look announcing, "I learned to ice skate!"
"Duo, you have proven that you are a man of dazzling courage—a mark of trailblazing talent." Wufei mocked him with a deep bow, but chuckled also. "But I think credit is due to your tireless, patient boyfriend, there."
Duo gave silent thanks that there were no other eyewitnesses to his blushing, which could have set off a bomb a mile away. "Ahhhh…"
"Come over here and help me pick out the food," Heero called, letting Chang's remark fly past him. He wasn't Duo's boyfriend, yet, but he wasn't going to outright deny it when he hadn't had a chance to discuss the possibility with Duo. Is that what either of them wanted? What future was there for them? Besides, it wasn't Chang's business.
"Hold up. Here come the other two," Sally said. "My, Mr. Barton is tall, isn't he?"
"It's the hat," Wufei told her.
"Is it? Wufei, claim a table over by that heater, please."
"When did I start taking orders from a woman?" Wufei asked…aloud…by mistake.
"When you started thinking of her as a woman and not an assistant, I imagine," Duo said, smiling, as Wufei passed him.
Sally and Duo decided to place a large order for everyone and Heero waited to help carry it. By the time their purchase was prepared and packaged, Trowa and Quatre had gathered at the table with Wufei. Outdoor propane heaters stood on tall stands between each table, generating 46,000 BTUs of blizzard-beating warmth and making it possible to eat out-of-doors under the falling snowflakes. String lights draped from trellis' added cheerful sparkles in the wan winter light.
"Here we come!" Duo called out, tottling along with unsteady trays of hot drinks.
Wufei bounded out of his chair and helped deliver the trays to the safety of the table just in time.
"I had it under control," Duo told him. "Nothing was dropped or even a tiny bit sloshed."
Wufei said sharply, "That's what made my save come just in time—before the disaster."
Heero unloaded the heavy paper bags, meticulously setting them out equidistant from each other. Duo ripped open the one nearest him and soon all were open and the contents passed for everyone to choose from. Sally handed out napkins and plastic-ware packets. Once again, Wufei remembered to introduce Sally, this time to Trowa.
"You are a spectacular…," she paused for effect, then smiled, "skater."
"Uh… thanks. I learned in the circus," he said. "The need to stay fit brought us here. I'm used to working out daily."
"I can tell," she said and chuckled when Wufei's eyes slid her way.
Hungry from the exertion of skating, everyone helped themselves to sandwiches, cups of hot soup, and as a treat, hot chocolate.
"Quit glaring at me, 'Fei. You did tell us about this place," Duo reminded him.
"I'm not glaring, only looking. You are seated across from me. And… I didn't remember having told you about ice rinks in time to make a difference."
"So, howd'ya find us?"
Trowa pointed an index finger at the blonde head leaning against his shoulder. "Jedi mind tricks."
Quatre smiled. "I have this…way of sensing certain people. I told Trowa today that I have a kind of empathy I barely can control, but it helped me find Trowa just now."
Duo, who stopped eating to listen to this weird explanation, had his attention diverted for a second. "Uh, huh, um… Tro'? I bet your hat is going to be trending like crazy," Duo pointed out. "There's guys with telephotos up on that roof, aiming this way."
"Yeah, been there all the time. Quat's got security all over keeping them out of our hair."
"Is Mr. Tall, dark, and moustached at my ten o'clock one of them?" Duo asked.
"You can see Rashid?" Quatre asked, twisting around to make sure Duo wasn't making it up. He wasn't.
"Amed is drinking hot tea about ten meters away," Heero pointed out. "Winner, they don't hide."
"Well, I don't notice them," Quatre said in a little huff.
"So which one of you would like to begin?" Sally asked. She was unafraid to break the ice. "We should get on this before Mr. Merquise sends his goons around to bash in your nose or his law team to sue your pants off." Her smile widened at Trowa and Duo's looks of disbelief. "Meiran and I have a bet going with a new pair of earrings at stake. Since I don't want to affect the outcome, I'll tell you about it later. Now, who goes first?"
"Not much to it," Duo said. "Merquise was playing some kind of game I didn't like. When he took it too far, I punched him in the stomach and we took off. After that… we walked a bit until the limo driver caught up to us. Nice guy, Kevin is. Dropped us at the downtown cinema where we had popcorn for lunch 'cause the royal cheapskate only served us water—and that I had to find on my own."
"I didn't get any water," Trowa said.
"I slept through the feature," Duo confided.
"Guardians of the Galaxy," Trowa supplied.
"Okay, thanks, 'Tro. I walked back to Long's, picked up my car, and drove to 'Ro's for a fantastic dinner." Duo smiled in Heero's direction.
"Quatre met me across the street at a jeweler's and we had dinner and I went home." Trowa relished his hot chocolate, sipping it with his eyes closed.
"If Merquise has some beef with me," Duo said, "I could have the same with him. He punched me back. I got the bruise on my ribcage to prove it."
"Well, I'm sorry you're hurt, Duo," Sally said with feeling. "We should have a doctor look at your ribs, if just for a law case, should it come to that. You have to understand, he is threatening to file charges against you—for battery."
"Battery! I hardly made contact with him!"
"He says he has a broken collar bone."
"That's not possible," Trowa said, at last. "Zechs hit Duo hard. He was moving just fine at that point, but Duo couldn't walk. I half carried him out." He drew a deep breath. "This is all my fault."
"No, it is not!" Duo yelled.
"Duo, I don't mind talking about this, I mean, I do, but someplace private- not out here in public," Trowa said.
"Then let's go back to my office," Wufei declared, standing. Everyone's smartphone buzzed. He could hear them going off all over the immediate area.
Severe weather alert! Blizzard conditions forecasted for Sanc environs. Severe weather alert!
Sally and Heero cleared the table and disposed of the trash, then caught up to the others, where Quatre was sorting out who would ride with him back to Chang's office. Since Quatre claimed Trowa, and Heero seemed attached to Duo's side, and Duo insisted on staying with Trowa, the four rode in a car supplied by one of the Winner security men.
Wufei didn't mind- at all—not sharing a ride with those lunatics, taking Sally's arm and returning to the limousine, where the driver, Kevin, tipped his hat. He hadn't learned the driver's first name in the five years he had been employed. Duo had learned it the first day.
He sighed.
"Don't worry, Wufei," Sally told him. "We'll get this settled in no time."
"You can put the car away, K-Kevin," Wufei told him. "Take off the rest of the day and get home safely."
"Thank you, sir!"
Wufei and Sally messaged all the employees to lock up and go home. Be safe. They were first to arrive at Long's. Meiran jumped when he bolted through the front door. "Mr. Chang! There's a young woman in your office. Waiting to see you."
"I told you I was out, and you should be locking up—"
"I know, but she just flew inside and said she shouldn't be seen here. Her life is in your hands—she said!"
"Her name?" Sally asked.
"I wrote it down… Hilde Schbeiker, but she goes by Lulu at OZ. She works for Mr. Merquise and has vital information for you."
"All right, Meiran, thank you. You may leave now and drive safely." Wufei marched to his office door. "I'll take care of this in an instant."
Sally shadowed him into the room, greeting the young woman with a smile and handshake before taking a chair at the side. Hilde was cute and pert with a lively face, piercing blue-grey eyes behind glasses, and dark, lustrous hair. Her hand shook with nervous tension.
"You might as well leave at once," Chang declared. "I want nothing to do with any representative from Zechs."
"You misunderstand my purpose for coming. I'm here to help Duo." Raising one carefully waxed eyebrow in a mischievous arch, lost her the innocence of her smile. "Zechs is lying and I have copies of the security feed to prove it."
She held up two tiny memory cards. "If you look at this one, you'll see that Zechs slipped on water after stepping on a stray water bottle-"
"-He really broke his collar bone?" Sally asked.
"No, that's not possible. Bruised up probably lots of ways—Duo might'ave contributed to that when he shoved him off Trowa. The other one captured what happened before that. Duo was protecting Trowa from unwanted advances. I don't know why Trowa didn't do it himself. He looks like he's in shock or something. Anyway, Duo does shove and hit Zechs, but it's nothing compared to the beating Zechs gives Duo. Those are yours to keep."
"Dear Ancestors, Duo…" Wufei whispered. The haughty expression he'd worn into his office was nowhere to be seen; instead, he looked serious and concerned. "Why…?"
"And that's not all!" Again, Hilde gave him one of her cloak-and-dagger looks, one eyebrow raised. "I also have copies of all the fashion shots taken. All." She held out memory sticks like they were playing cards. "Plenty of good stuff there that you can use for publicity. A few with Zechs' hands all over Trowa, but don't use those."
"I would never-!"
Hilde shook her head and waved his excuses away. "Yeah, you are an honorable man. Everyone knows it, that's why I'm here. Ya see, Zechs has always seemed trapped in his own reflection in the mirror. He really can't see beyond his own limited needs."
"I've often felt he was a self-absorbed man," Sally said. "Please continue."
"Duo, well, even though he was totally aware of his social position, or lack thereof, he wasn't in the least intimidated by a man like Zechs. It was hard for me! I mean, all his assistants just sorta… glided away at the slightest order from the great master like a body of insects. Duo wasn't impressed at all and that irked Zechs. Trowa acted like he was under a spell! He just submitted and gave up. Duo stayed close and fended off Zechs most of the time. He was so brave! I couldn't let Merquise get away with this."
"We truly appreciate your help and honesty, Miss Schbeiker," Sally elaborated, "But we'd like to know why are you doing this? You'll certainly lose your job. What do you want in return?"
"Oh, I quit as soon as I got all this evidence and left. I said I was doing this for Duo Maxwell, and I am. We go way back to our colony roots. You mess with me and mine and you're messing with the whole trailer park."
"Did you go to school together?" Sally asked, containing her mirth while seeing an opportunity to learn more about the mysterious Duo.
"Naw, he had the military espionage training and the deal to get a scholarship to the Sanc Academy. I was part of the uprising he got out of. Ya see, we worked at the salvage yard together—that was the L2 colony—when the fighting really started. Every kid was drafted and tested. Duo tested so high in every category that he got put into this special program. I'm sure he's told you all about that."
Wufei observed her with his hands joined under his chin and his elbows on his desk. He beckoned her with his right hand to continue unraveling the jumbled story.
"Okay, so Duo was pretty proud to get a special assignment and sent to Sanc. It sure was a shock yesterday to see him at an OZ facility, considering."
"Considering…what?" Sally prompted.
"Well, how OZ was one of the chief enemies. You know, the colonies were exploited by lots of OZ owned companies." Hilde looked at them hope beaming from her face. "Hey, you don't know of a job opening in the spa here or something?" she asked and smiled cheerfully.
Wufei looked at Sally, who nodded and said, "Come with me and let's talk about your future at Long's."
Wufei was pleased to have a moment to himself to think. Well, whatever delusions he had had about the Honorable Zechs Merquise were firmly put to rest. It made him wonder about the nature of Treize Khushrenada to instill that kind of devotion in a man. Was the sophisticated head of OZ really in possession of a superior mind and character? Or were those beliefs misconceptions as well?
No matter what answers he came up with, his brain kept returning to the same question: what was the special assignment that brought Duo Maxwell to Sanc? He bet that it had necessitated erasing Duo's past. He bet this Duo and the beat up kid he'd met in prison were one and the same. He bet "the bet" was becoming more complicated than he'd expected it would.
Fifteen minutes later, the "boys" tumbled into the office.
(o)
Quatre instructed Amed to take the long way, then continued to send messages to his various offices to close immediately for the day, just in case there were any doubts as to what to do. He also cancelled the rest of his security detail for the same reason. Satisfied that he'd taken care of business, he sat back and looked at Trowa, taking his hand.
"I can feel your hurt, anxiety, and a deep sorrow," Quatre told him.
"Sorry about that. If I could fix myself, I would."
"I can feel your pain, but I can't read your mind. Why don't you tell me what happened to you and let me help you? There is no reason you should suffer, when I can help."
He gave Trowa all the time he needed to collect his thoughts.
"Okay. So, there are certain kinds of people, men mostly, but women, to a lesser degree, that have this power over me."
"Dominating?"
"Yes. I simply…fold."
"Oh, Trowa, Something terrible must have happened to you in the past, when you were young."
Trowa bowed his head, letting it sink into his hands resting on his knees. Quatre pulled him across his lap and held him tightly. "I'm here and I'm not like that at all."
Remarkably after a few minutes in Quatre's arms, Trowa felt significantly better. As if a wind blew away the dark clouds and golden rays shone on and inside him. He even felt like talking a bit more.
"However hard I try, I can only remember being very quiet. Looking at everything pensively and never laughing. Even growing up and being a circus clown, I'm not funny. I do stunts."
"That's all a part of the same pain," Quatre explained, continuing to stoke the soft brown hair and easing his feelings through their connection. "Relax."
"I think you're funny," Duo remarked.
Trowa murmured quietly, "So, now that I've revealed my innermost trauma, are you going to tell Heero yours?"
Quatre placed a kiss on his temple and whispered in his ear. A few seconds passed and Trowa was asleep.
"That is amazeballs!" Duo shouted, although muted completely by Heero's hand.
"Let him sleep while Quatre works his magic," Heero told him.
"You mean, Quat really is fixing his head?"
"Shhh…"
Duo cocked his head Heero's way. "It doesn't work on me."
With a shrug Heero replied, "All right. It's your turn. If you are ready to trust us with your secret identity." He punctuated his request with a poke to Duo's midriff.
Duo winced. "Ouch! Zechs hit me, remember?"
"I'm sorry. I forgot." Heeeo smiled. "But I didn't forget what I asked you."
"It's not that big of a deal anymore 'cept for your current job. I like you, 'Ro, and I don't wanna mess up the possibilities."
"There's a chance what you have to say will bother me, but I doubt it. You are talking about something that happened or something you did in the past. It can't interfere with the future, can it?" Heero asked.
"We'll find out, I guess," Duo said yielding to Heero's warm look. "Oh…Kay… So, back in the L2 colony where I grew up things weren't so hot. Trade wasn't good, jobs lost, companies going broke… and a few bad eggs made things worse. When the colony revolted, all kids twelve and over had to report to a military recruitment station, get tested and put into training. Okay so far?"
"Yes. You should know, I originated from the L1 colony and underwent induction as well, but go on, please," Heero said with another nudge.
"Oh, yeah? Well, I was such hot stuff that I was forced into special training. I got sent to Sanc on a mission. The scholarship to the Sanc Academy was part of the subterfuge."
Heero straightened his shoulders, tension tightening his expression, staring out of the car at the snow falling against the backdrop of stone buildings with golden lights in the windows. "A mission."
Duo held his breath and let it out slowly, calming himself. "This is the sensitive part. See I was told that the Princess of Sanc was being targeted by an assassin. She was, according to the dudes that trained me, really pro-colony rights, and was in position to take power. They wanted her alive. So I was put there to—"
"Kill the assassin," Heero finished. A sudden image flashed in his mind of a figure coming out of the shadows, the gun in his hand shining like a scythe.
"Yeah," Duo broke into a grin. "When I found out she had this huge crush on you and you were protecting her, well, I figured you'd do a better job than me. So I let my superiors know the gig was up. I had to leave the school after that."
Quatre met Duo's eyes and said meaningfully, "That's too bad."
Heero looked miserable. In an increasingly hoarse voice, he said, "You left school, and it was my fault."
"Huh?"
"I was there on a mission as well—I was the assassin. I was supposed to kill Relena."
Duo's eyes widened to saucer size for a moment then seeing how upset Heero was, he felt his stomach knot up. "Um, okay, so this is the about to mess everything up part, huh?" Duo whispered.
Heero shook his head.
"I hope not, 'Ro. I mean, you didn't harm me at all. I wasn't getting much out of that academy and I wouldna been left there much longer, ya know? Damn, I should have guessed you were a plant, you were so…determined, but—"
"I was a trained assassin, Duo. I tried to kill her, but then you interfered and I got distracted."
"Eh, we were just kids, 'Ro—"
"—you were the distraction," Heero looked away, anyplace but at Duo. "I couldn't live with that failure. She knows. As my penance, I became a part of her security guard, and…here I am."
"Right! Here you are! And me! We are no worse off than before, better, maybe. I'm wearing fancy clothes, riding around in a Winner limo with my best friend and two deliciously hot guys—how can you feel bad for me, heh?"
Heero stared down at his hands and shook his head.
"And you have a terrific job, a fabulouso place to live, and a very, very chill friend back there who is doing more for my buddy than anyone ever has. So, how can you regret doing what you did to get to this place?"
Heero gaze bore into Duo's, scanning his eyes, mouth, taking in and calculating how Duo felt about him.
"Not that I'm any kind of prize or anything," Duo went on, one cautious line at a time, "but you can throw me into that mix of friends too, if you like. I mean, it feels as if you've been waiting for me," he revealed. "As if you've been hiding out there for me since I was born."
Heero looked at him in astonishment.
Duo's lips crinkled into a smile. "What have I said?"
Then without thinking, barely brushing his lips, Heero kissed him.
There was a rustling of clothes and limbs from the seat behind them. "Whoa… what did I miss?" Trowa asked, smoothing his mussed bangs.
"I'll fill you in later," Quatre promised. "Looks like we've arrived at Long's. Shall we go in?"
"After that catharsis," Trowa grumbled, "nothing Chang can throw at us can be worse."
"Them's fighting words, dude," Duo called out as he leap from the car. Then he laughed and opened his arms wide to catch a few drifting snowflakes.
(o)
"Took you long enough," Wufei chastised them, but there was no heat in his words.
Their timing was actually perfect. He'd had the informative, closed room talk with Hilde, had a chance to confirm the information on the data recorders was good and clear and notified the lawyer. He was scanning the photo shoot pictures when the room filled.
"I've sent all the employees home," he told the four unusually subdued men. "I'm sure you listened to the severe weather alert? Blizzard?"
Duo appeared blissful, smiling with a wistful expression, which seemed concentrated on Yuy. Trowa gazed serenely, mostly at Winner, apparently content with the world at large.
Well, fine. I can use a quiet interlude. Yes, I can work with this.
"I don't know what you are doing here, Winner…Yuy, but I won't throw you out."
"Good because I think we can be of service," Quatre declared, not to mention he'd sent Amed home with the car so he had to stay.
Wufei stared at Yuy. "They don't need protection—not from me. I'm not going to lecture anyone to death."
"I am here to offer my help," Heero said, with a small smile.
"Good. A little birdie has lent me solid proof of your innocence, Duo, and some excellent video to save just in case."
"Lulu!" Duo guessed. "I'm right? Yeah, I knew she was gold."
"Miss Hilde Schbeiker has provided us with—" Wufei started to explain, again.
"Leverage," Quatre said.
"Yes," Wufei said, relieved someone was following along, "and it is obvious from the footage that Zechs' behavior was unprofessional. Trowa, you could bring him up on charges of sexual abuse in the workplace."
Trowa shrugged indifferently.
"Can I see that footage?" Quatre asked in a demanding tone.
Trowa rested a hand on his arm. "No…please…Maybe later."
Quatre appeared reluctant to let it go, but the return of Trowa's look of misery and desperation convinced him to let it pass—for now.
"Moving on then," Wufei said. "Look at these." He indicated the flat screen on the wall as he brought up stills from the OZ photo shoot.
"The clothes are outlandish," Heero declared, "but the models are not at fault."
Quatre was laughing, mopping at his eyes with Trowa's cashmere scarf. "N-nice… p-purses… hahaha heh heh…"
"These are the shots taken before… the incident ended the appointment," Wufei said. "We can use these. I'd like to try a few other fashion studios; Sally… Miss Po, already got the ball rolling, but with these studio shots as ammunition, I believe the other design studios will want to compete for publicity. Mostly, we need a plan. We need to win this bet. Ideas?"
Sally Po and Hilde Schbeiker stormed into the room, laughing. "Look at those pictures carefully," Sally said pointing out a few features. "I think Trowa looks bored out of his mind and might at any second kill everyone blocking his path to the exit and Duo looks like a dangerous punk ready to kill everyone else to eliminate witnesses. But that's just my opinion."
"And now that I have everyone's attention," Sally announced, "We have a plan!"
Hilde cried out, "You're all over the internet! Ice skating is trending! Cossack hats are sold out everyplace! Oooh! Listen to this: Wufei Chang has secret to the mystery men's identity!"
She rushed into Duo's arms and gave him a huge hug. "And, Duo, it's like old times, right?"
"Um," Duo wasn't sure how to answer that.
Sally continued to develop the plan. "We have the website builder working up new pages with the OZ photos. We could use some super-hot glam shots…"
"You'll have to work around Duo's bruised ribs," Heero remarked.
Duo smiled at him wearing a dreamy expression, but said nothing.
Hilde, it was announced, had become Sally's assistant by mutual consent. Wufei was happy not to have to take on more than he could handle; in fact, most of the work related to the "bet" seemed to be entirely out of his hands. Lining up more staged shots around town—Winner knew where to gather the most press. Keeping Trowa and Duo safe—Heero had no problem taking this on. Exciting new clothes—Sally had the studios lining up. Websites and social media—Hilde had more contacts than Wufei thought were possible.
Trowa and Duo were so mellowed out from Quatre's empathic treatment and Heero's kiss, that they just sat back and played games on their smartphones, contributing very little but their assent, when asked for.
"Listen to this," Sally said, turning up the volume on the ancient radio Wufei adored and listened to regularly.
"-There is a lot of moisture associated with this storm and since it is moving so slowly it will continue pumping moisture into the region," the weatherperson reported. "High snowfall rates and wind gusts between 35 to 45 mph are creating treacherous driving conditions across the area. Winds of 54 mph were recorded at the Sanc International Airport. The region is seeing snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches of snow per hour, making it difficult for crews to keep emergency roads clear. Stay off the roads!"
When they looked out the front door of the Long's building, the street was like a river of sparkling white sand, and the wind blew the snow about in gusts. Streetlamps and trees emerged like masts in a fog. There was no man or vehicle in sight.
"I think we should all go upstairs and stay here," Quatre determined, "if that's all right with you?"
Trowa smiled serenely. "Sure."
Duo looked over at Heero. "Okay with me."
Heero nodded curtly. "Acceptable."
The snow continued to blanket Sanc with a whispering, "ssssssssssssssssssssssss."
TBC