Author's Note: It's time to get down to it. I think the warning should tell you all you want to know about this chapter and be prepared. You should all know by now that none are safe from me, be they Gundam pilots or normal people. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Warning: language, shounen ai, death

The Smell that Precedes Disaster

Wufei woke up in a foul mood that morning.

That was the short and long of it. He had woken up sometime in the early morning hours and had glared up at the ceiling of his room until he had to get up and get ready for school. All that did was serve to put him in a fouler mood as he couldn't find one of his shoes, which made him late for breakfast. In the end, he found it by the fireplace that had enamored him since he had been a young boy but had to just grab a piece of toast as he would be late if he stayed to eat the full course meal itself.

So yeah, when he approached the school building, he did not have a full stomach, he hadn't gotten the full eight hours of sleep he needed to be functional for the day, and was all around in a bad mood. He was more than sure that the rest of this day was going to be bad, if not worse than this morning.

Fortunately for him, he didn't have to deal with the rest of the student body or the teachers who would have undoubtedly given him a hard time. No, he had the luxury of being an office assistant for his first period and since it was usually slow early in the morning, he didn't have to do much of anything thus was able to have the time to try and gain some sort of semblance of his usual demeanor.

Yes, it was quiet this morning, something he was extremely grateful for. The main office was empty this morning as the principal and assistant principals were currently out and about in the school itself, the office aides/secretaries were doing their usual business, and the front desk attendant was currently late arriving for today so that meant he was to hold that role down until she got here. Not that he was complaining about it since he didn't have to get up and help out with other office tasks that he had been acquainted with since he first signed up for this.

"Excuse me."

The deep voice ripped through his peace of mind but the Chinese teen couldn't allow his irritation to show as he was not among the rest of the student body but with adults who were older than him and didn't take crap from anyone younger than them. He sat up straighter and prepared to greet the latest arrival in the office.

What he found was a very tall man who expressed the same amount of emotion as a brick wall would, said man's eyes boring into him. The man was dressed in the plain, brown uniform of a postal worker and held in his hands a rectangular, brown wrapped package that was as big as a box of cigars. He could see mailing stamps on the package but the man's hand was covering the name of the recipient of said package.

Blinking, Wufei spoke, "Can I help you?"

The man stared at him as if unused to such social interaction before realizing that he had just been asked a question. "Uh, yes. Yes you can. I have a…delivery for a Dwaine Maxwell."

Wufei frowned. Who was Dwaine Maxwell? He had never heard of such a person and did whoever this Dwaine Maxwell was even attend this school? Still, it would be best if he just accepted the package and make sure that this Dwaine Maxwell got it.

"I'll make sure that he gets it," Wufei said as he held out a hand to receive the package.

The man hesitated, as if he didn't want to relinquish it. Frowning at the dilemma, Wufei clear his throat to try and speed this thing up. Finally, the man handed the package to him and left briskly. Wufei could only blink at the occurrence. Wasn't a signature required for something like this, something that said that the delivery had been accomplished? Then again, it wasn't any of his business now was it? First thing was first, he needed to find out where Dwaine Maxwell was and call him into the office so that he could pick up his package.

He turned to the computer at his side and brought up the names of all the students that attended the school and began to scroll down it. It was easy enough to find the name Dwaine Maxwell but something struck him as funny. There was only one person in the school with the surname of Maxwell listed. He was more than positive that that rat known as Duo also had that surname yet his name wasn't anywhere in the list. Frowning, Wufei decided to delve further into the matter as he opened the student's file and checked on the chosen student's class schedule. He was more baffled as he found out he had a class with this so-called Dwaine Maxwell, at least two of them. But he was sure that in both of those class he had that queer rat in them.

Unless…

Then his eyes widened in clarity. Dwaine Maxwell and Duo Maxwell were one and the same! That was the only explanation for this anomaly! He looked back at the recently delivered package and stared at it, finding that there was no return address on it.

So here he was with an unknown package addressed to the bane of his existence and he didn't have any idea as to who had sent it to him. The rat's luck as of late had been quite good; there was a great chance that whatever was in this thing it was something that would make that fag's life better. Why should he have everything handed to him? Hadn't he, Wufei, suffered enough already? Didn't he deserve a break of some kind?

His mind was made up. He would take this package home with him and find out what was inside. If it was something good, he'd keep it and if it was something bad, he'd give it to the faggy rat tomorrow and enjoy the show. But what if it was something that didn't help or hurt? He'd keep it anyway, just in case.

All he needed to do now was to just say he'd give this to the rat to the rest of the main office and hope that it would cover him until he got home later that day.

--

It had been much simpler than he had anticipated. Odin was back in his car and was immediately out of the school zone as fast as he could without breaking the speed limit. The last thing he needed was to get a ticket that would connect him to what was to happen later on today.

Now all he had to do was wait a few hours before heading to the Winner Estate and opening up a gas pipe. He was confident that nothing could go wrong with this.

Absolutely nothing.

--

"I was beginning to wonder how long it was going to take."

Those were the first words uttered at lunch and what was surprising was that it was Trowa of all people who said them.

Duo stared at the unibanged teen in confusion. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"The other guys on the team found out about my part in beating up Heero," Trowa explained nonchalantly.

"When did you…oh, right," Duo began to argue but stopped as he recalled exactly what Trowa had been referring to.

"It took them long enough," Solo commented. "Some geniuses they are, huh?"

"My thoughts exactly," Trowa agreed.

"Are they holding it against you?" Quatre questioned worriedly, putting a hand on the teen's shoulder in a preempting attempt to comfort.

"A few of them are," Trowa shrugged. "Maybe about half the team. It doesn't matter really since I quit anyway."

"You what?!" Duo sputtered, coughing out some of the milk that he had been drinking, Solo patting him on the back helpfully. "But…I thought you loved football too much to give it up!"

"If my being there affects the team negatively, why should I stay?" Trowa shrugged emotionlessly. "It is a team after all and no one person is the center of it, or at least is not suppose to be. I'm just doing what's best for the team, that's all."

"But aren't you trying to get a scholarship for playing?" Duo demanded. "You can't give up on that man, it's too important. Screw the team! You're future is on the line for this!"

"I knew I might have to do this the moment I agreed to help Quatre and Solo get back at Heero for you," Trowa stated. "It was a risk I was willing to take. It's just that I lost this round. Don't worry about me, it's not a big deal; I'll think of something."

"But how else are you going to go to college?" Duo asked shrewdly. "It isn't exactly cheap you know and do you really think you can afford it for long?"

"Let me worry about that," Trowa replied. "If given the choice to either do what I did or not do it, I'd do it all over again. I don't regret it one bit."

"I think that's the most words you've even said to me in a conversation," Duo said, blinking owlishly. "Ever," he added.

"You'd be surprised how much he can say," Quatre said dryly.

"I bet you know that from personal experience," Solo jabbed, winking at his cousin knowledgeably, Quatre blushing at the implication.

"He didn't mean that and you know it," Trowa intervened, giving the smaller blond a comforting glance.

"Yeah, stop being a pervert all the time," Duo added in, grumbling.

"You like it and you know it," Solo challenged good-naturedly.

"Shut it guys!" Quatre suddenly hissed. "We have company!"

From the way Quatre was looking, both of the long haired teens assumed that he was looking at something or someone behind them. Duo was the only one of the two to investigate Quatre's sudden warning by turning his head, his eyes catching sight of one of the main offices ladies, one that he practically knew by heart due to the amount of times he had had to go up there.

"Mrs. Darlian!" he greeted perkily. "How's it going?"

The middle aged woman smiled down at the braided teen, her eyes brightening in pleasure. "Everything is going smoothly," she answered, her voice containing a motherly tone that could immediately calm down even the most emotionally unstable of teenagers. All of the four teens felt a certain aura of relaxation fall over them as the kind woman gazed at them. "It's a pleasure to run into you outside of the office," Mrs. Darlian commented. "By the way, did Wufei give you that package yet?"

Huh? What? "Package?" the braided one repeated. "Not yet," he continued. "I'll go find him later."

"You do that," Mrs. Darlian replied. "I hope you're having a good day with your friends Duo. If you'll excuse me, I have my own lunch to get to."

"By all means," Duo said. "Talk to ya later."

As the woman left, Solo looked down at the braided one with a raised eyebrow. "What was that all about?" he demanded curiously.

"That was just Mrs. Darlian, she works in the main office," Duo answered, still fondly watching said woman disappear amongst the crowd of teens and faculty that watched over them like hawks. "I hope you don't mind if I have a friendly conversation with her…unless you're jealous of her."

"What about that package she mentioned?" Trowa brought up. "What did she mean about that?"

"Don't know," Duo replied truthfully, "but she did mention Wufei in the same sentence. That asshole just might know what she's talking about. I'm thinking about paying him a visit after school."

--

It was with impatience that Duo waited for the final bell to ring and end school for that day. Before it had even finished ringing, he was up out of his seat, his backpack hanging from one shoulder, and practically out of the door. His pace was quick and steady as he power-walked to the school's main entrance where he would have a good view of all the students leaving, Wufei sure to be one of them.

"What's your hurry?" demanded a frazzled Solo who had been unfortunate enough to be caught in the slow moving traffic that consisted of the student body. Needless to say, the blond was a bit put out at how slow the other teens were, always moving at the same speed whether it was going to next period or leaving school itself.

"I still want to have a talk with Wufei," the braided one answered absently as his violet eyes were scanning the mob of students leaving the building. "If I wait for him out front, he's sure to come by."

"You could have waited for me," Solo mumbled sulkily as he leaned up against the school building itself.

"You're a big boy, you can handle it," Duo replied even as he continued to stare out in front of him, not even glancing back to the long haired blond next to him.

Solo folded his arms childishly over his chest and continued to sulk as he did not receive any attention. It probably would have been worth a giggle or two later had Duo cared enough to throw the blond a glance but since he didn't , it was a moot point.

Upon catching sight up a peculiar head of raven black hair, violet eyes gleamed with achievement. Without giving Solo any hint as to what he was doing, Duo left his self-appointed post, heading straight towards what was becoming undoubtedly the person he was looking for. He could hear Solo swear from behind him as the blond realized that the braided teen was not at his side but several yards ahead and growing with each step.

"Wufei!" Duo called out as he closed the distance between himself and the Chinese teen, said youth stopping instantly as he heard his name. Slowly, Wufei turned his head towards Duo, a look of disgust painted on his face.

"What do you want?" he spat.

"I heard that something came for me today," Duo stated, "and I also heard that you have it somewhere on your person."

"And who told you that?" Wufei sneered. "Whoever it is is lying. I would never get involved with anything that has your name on it, fag."

"I don't think that Mrs. Darlain would purposely make up stuff," Duo shrugged.

Wufei paled slightly. Crap, how was he going to get out of this one? Mrs. Darlain was a person of unquestionable integrity and it was frowned upon for someone to say that the kind woman would lie on purpose.

"I don't know what you are talking about," he snapped as he tried to get away from Duo's presence.

"Wufei," Duo growled.

Without warning, Wufei spun around and punched Duo in his gut particularly hard. Not expecting such an attack on his person, Duo clutched at his stomach in agony as he kneeled down onto the ground beneath him. He heard Wufei's footsteps rush away from him soon followed by Solo's as they came hear him.

"Duo!" Solo exclaimed.

"Stop Wufei!" Duo managed. "I'll be right behind you."

He could feel Solo's expression of doubt bore into him but the blond obeyed him nonetheless as he took off after the escaping Chinese teen. Gasping for as much air as he could in a short amount of time, Duo forced himself back onto his feet, his arms never leaving their protective hold on his abused gut. Doing the best he could, he made a poor attempt at a trot in a clearly vain move to catch up.

By the time he got to the street, Solo had come back up to him, empty-handed but concerned over his injury.

"Little asshole got away," the blond growled as he put an arm around Duo's shoulders gently and began to escort the braided one to their limo. "Probably going to his house," he continue to mutter, "Gonna kick his ass tomorrow when I get my hands on him."

Panting as he sat down in the limo's seating, Duo waved his hand at the blond in a dismissing gesture. "Forget about it for now," he managed. "Damn," he swore, "he really got me good this time."

"If ya think I'm gonna forget about this, you're mistaken," Solo growled even as he doted on him. "Nobody hurts my uke."

Duo paused at that and slowly raised his head to look straight up at the blond. "What did you say?" he questioned, the events that had happened only a couple of minutes ago gone from his mind as he focus solely on this single declaration.

"What?" Solo asked, confused.

"Did you say 'uke?'" Duo demanded. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I found it on the internet," Solo answered, puzzled as to why Duo was concerned about a single insignificant word when he should be concentrating on getting back at Wufei for that cheap shot back there. "Forgot where I saw it but there was this chat room I found and I had no idea what everybody was talking about but that word came up. Asked Hilde about it later and found out that she likes watching gay porn behind everybody's backs when they aren't looking."

"And what does this have to do with that word?" Duo hissed.

"Well, she started talking about dominants and submissives and…" Solo found that he was getting quite uncomfortable where this was all heading. "Look I don't want to talk about it anymore, okay? I still get creeped out that Hilde is some sort of gay guy fan/nut thing."

"How do you spell it?" Duo asked.

"Huh? Why?" Solo asked, bewildered.

"When we get back to the mansion, I'm going to look it up on the internet," Duo told him. "If you're not going to tell me what I want to know, then I'm going find out from a place where nothing is held sacred."

"Oh boy," Solo muttered to himself.

--

There, it was done.

Odin quickly began to distance himself from the Winner Mansion the moment he began to smell the methane rise from the ground. His job done, he quickly began to retreat off the estate lands and back to his car where he would wait for the explosion that would signal to him that his job was done.

He stopped only long enough to hide himself as a limo pulled up into the long driveway and watched as the two long haired teens from within left the vehicle, heading for the front door.

--

Wufei rushed into his room and slammed the door shut behind him, locking it so that he wouldn't be disturbed. He was hot, he was sweaty, but he was in the sanctity of his bedroom where he would be—

The screech of a cat howling in pain nearly gave him a heart attack. Jumping away, he noticed that one of his mother's cats was in his bedroom, glaring at him reproachfully for stepping on its tail. With a growl, he sent the cat out of his room and made sure there weren't any unwanted guests still in his room before shutting the door and locking it again.

Now he was alone, safe from being bother by anybody. Now was as good a time to look at that package that had come to his eternal nemesis. As he took out the small package from his backpack, he noticed a strange smell in the air but dismissed it immediately.

Behind him, where the fireplace in his bedroom was, one of the golden handles on the floor was turned, cat hair dangling from it, releasing a steady stream of flammable gas into the fireplace, prepping it for the fire that was meant to be set in it.

--

Grabbing his laptop out of his room, Duo stopped as an unfamiliar smell breached his nostrils. Sniffing the air, unable to determine what it was, he called out for Solo, said blond coming in a few moments later.

The blond stopped dead in his tracks the moment he entered the bedroom. It was obvious that he recognized the smell for whatever it was.

"I think we got a gas leak," the blond said as he placed his hands on Duo's shoulders and began to push him out of there. "Better call my dad or uncle and tell them about this."

"Are we in any trouble?" Duo asked.

"Only if someone lights up or there's a spark," Solo muttered to himself as he continued to push the braided one down the hallway, trying to get as far as he could from the leaking gas.

--

The brown wrapping paper had been peeled off as gently as it could be without being ripped. Just as he had begun to suspect, beneath that paper was a metal tin but the question remained: what was inside of it?

He huffed irritably as it seemed the strange smell in his room was taking over all the air. He made a mental note to himself to get his bedroom fumigated or whatever was needed to get rid of this annoying smell. But first, the package needed to be open and all that would take would be a couple minutes.

Reverently, he held the tin in one of his delicate hands and tightened the fingertips of his free hand on the tin's top. Applying pressure, he took the tin's top off and placed it to a side and looked into the tin eagerly.

What he found was something he did not expect.

There were wires all over it and two small bottles of different colored liquids that began to bubble ominously. Below there was what looked liked to be a dial that one would normally find on a small eggtimer, the small dial clicking happily away. (1)

In a moment of sudden clarity, Wufei realized two things. One was that he was holding some sort of bomb, something that only Hollywood could probably come up with. The other was that he recognized what the strange smell in the air was.

His head snapped over to the fireplace where he saw to his increasing horror that one of the handles near it was turned to the "on" position.

He only had time enough to look back at the primitive bomb in his hands before his whole world was suddenly engulfed in fire.

(1) For those of you who've seen or can recall "Con Air," this might seem really familiar.