The Price 21
Betaed by Skippyscatt
Heero watched as Zechs sighed, rubbed his wrist again and with his usual old world courtesy offered tea. Wufei accepted and sat on the couch.
"Why don't we sit and visit for a while? Duo, why don't you and Heero go to his quarters for a private visit."
Duo jumped on the idea happily. Heero nodded hesitantly, he was still watching Zechs. He didn't like the set of his shoulders nor the tension in his face.
Zechs just gritted his teeth. "Heero, Duo would like time with you and I'm sure you would like time with him and Wufei. Please."
Duo blinked, Wufei stiffened and Heero sighed. "Zechs whatever you have in mind, don't."
Wufei started for Zechs but he held out a hand. "Don't touch me. Leave me alone. I . . . can't . . . just GO!"
Duo took Heero by the hand and pulled the reluctant man out the door, whispering, "Leave him to Wufei. We should be least in sight for a while. We'll keep an ear out in case it gets really rough. Might have to do something about the staff too. Come on."
So Heero went with Duo and met several members of the staff right outside the door. They didn't take long convincing them to go away. All they had to do was assure them that Zechs wasn't leaving the facility and that they would take care of any 'untoward activities' as one man put it.
The unhappy expressions on their faces told both Duo and Heero that they really didn't want trouble. So they left the pilots to their own devices.
Heero leaned against the wall and tugged Duo into his arms. They didn't need to do more than listen. So they occupied themselves with a short necking session. Duo hummed happily.
Wufei didn't leave as Zechs requested instead he stepped up behind him and wrapped his arms around him. "You'll not get yourself into trouble while I'm here. Come. Sit with me."
Zechs jerked out of Wufei's arms despite the hold he had. He pulled away so abruptly that Wufei didn't have a chance to let go of his shirt so it tore with a harsh sound.
"Zechs, I'm sorry. "
"Damn the shirt, I don't care about it. Wufei . . . leave, I'm not safe. I can't do this. I'm tired of being calm, avoiding trouble. I want to rip and tear, I want to fight . . . just get away from me before I hurt you."
Wufei snorted. "You really think you could? I'd like to see you. Come . . . bring it on. . . . I'll fight you."
Zechs shoved Wufei away and Wufei came right back. Zechs took a swing at him and he punched Zechs in the shoulder.
They wound up fighting like two cats in a sack. Wufei lured Zechs into the larger living room and they proceeded to wreck the room. For every punch, kick or throw Zechs came up with Wufei had a counter. Some of them worked some didn't. Zechs had longer limbs and more strength, Wufei knew more moves and was a lot quicker. He also wasn't in a blind funk.
Finally Zechs dropped to his knees, exhausted. He panted for a few moments then looked around. He saw Wufei flat on his back on the floor a few feet away.
He whimpered softly and scrambled on hands and knees to carefully pick Wufei up. He settled him gently against his chest.
"Ming Long. Please, wake up."
Wufei groaned softly, straightened up and rubbed his jaw. "Ow! You've got a fist like Yuy's."
Zechs sighed his relief and settled back to caress his own jaw with bloodied knuckles. "Yeah? Well, yours is no pillow."
Wufei pushed away from Zechs gently and settled back on his heels. He gingerly fingered his split lip and bloody nose. Zechs explored his own aching cheekbone and swelling eye.
"Feel better?"
"I guess." Zechs looked around the room and groaned. "We made a real mess. I don't think I've ever made such a mess alone."
Wufei tried to smile and winced instead. "Mingzhen, we'll just have to clean it up together. Maybe if we make puppy dog eyes Yuy and Maxwell will help us."
"You think?"
"Maybe, if we look pitiful enough."
Zechs limped to his feet, hissing softly as muscles pulled and protested. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Wufei accepted the helping hand and stood up with a groan. "I'm ok. I'll be stiff soon, so we better get to cleaning up this mess . . . umm . . . we broke the desk?"
Zechs looked where Wufei was looking and nodded. "I think you slammed me down on it."
"Oh . . . and the wall? I think that was me. The dent is too low to be your head."
They both groaned again as they realized that between them they'd pretty much trashed the place. Zechs anted the groan and raised it a sigh. "I'm in deep shit. Last time I made such a mess it took me three days to clean it all up. And no bed to sleep in, as I wrecked the bedroom."
A voice from the door made them both jump and turn quickly.
"Well, I see you've managed to work out a bunch of hostility. I want you both in the training room at once. Wufei, I'll be sending in the Iron Maiden. Unless you want Mr. Merquise on report, you'll do as she says."
Dr. Terry was standing in the doorway with one shoulder against the frame, arms crossed over his chest, the off side ankle crossed over the weight bearing one. He looked around the room and shook his head.
"It's to be expected, I assure you. I was wondering if you had any outlet for your passions. Noin . . . didn't seem to be much in the way of . . . well. . . I can see by your face that she's not on the discussion list any time soon. Never mind for now. Go to the gym."
Heero and Duo, standing behind the doctor relaxed and went to Heero's room to continue the session that Zechs andWufei's battle had interrupted.
Miss O'Donnell met them in the locker room and directed them both into the fitness or examination room. She didn't give them a chance to protest, just ordered them to 'get naked' and turned to the cabinets to rummage while they stripped.
She turned around to glare at them both, throw towels at them and order them onto tables.
They both climbed onto the tables, giving each other shamefaced looks.
Miss O'Donnell dumped an armful of supplies onto a table then rolled it over between the examination tables. She examined Wufei first, over his protests, and declared that all he needed was an ice pack, a butterfly, and some sense.
Her examination of Zechs was just as perfunctory. And her remarks just as caustic. "Now, I want you both in bed, preferably in the same room. I'll . . . hello, Heero. You going to take care of these two idiots?"
Heero walked in with a short nod and one of his trademark grunts. "Hn. I'll put them in my bedroom for tonight. Zechs tore the hell out of his quarters. Rather I should say they did. Wufei, Duo has permission to stay here for tonight as well. We'll see to it that they don't suffer any unpleasant effects of this . . . expression of temper."
Zechs felt his jaw drop. Wufei smirked as best he could with a split lip.
Duo popped his head in the door. "I talked to the warden, Relena called. She said that, and I quote, 'I hope you will make allowances for my poor brother. He's had quite a trying life.' I nearly spilled my guts, he's 'reconsidering' some of his orders pertaining to Zechs." He cheerfully snickered and left.
Heero watched him leave with cautious eyes. Duo had 'that' look in his eyes.
"Hi. You know you're a real pain in the ass? And I really, really don't like you."
Mr. Webster woke up to a sharp poke in the belly, and realized that a rather beautiful, bright eyed young boy was crouched in his bed.
"Who are you? And what do you want? I don't keep money in the apartment. . . aside from a few coins for the . . . " he stopped talking when the boy started shaking his head with a mournful look on his face.
"You made Shinigami angry. You messed with one of his friends. Actually you messed with three of them. Not good. Now you'll suffer."
Mr. Webster shuddered. Miss Relena had taken his hide off in strips. He knew that Mr. Winner had black balled him and he was going to be looking for a job for a long time. All he could think was 'now what' he knew this was not good.
Duo knelt on the bed and moved up the man's body a little. He gently took one of Mr. Webster's hands in his.
"What. . . what are you doing. I don't . . ." the sharp crack of a breaking finger sounded loud in the silence of the bedroom. Mr. Webster screamed.
"There you nasty little toad man. I'll be back in a few days. Wonder what I'll feel like breaking next time." Duo tossed his braid over his shoulder, hopped off the bed, then turned to look over his shoulder at the shaking man. "Oh, don't try to keep me out. You can't. And don't bother moving. It won't work either." He smirked evilly at Mr. Webster and sauntered out the door braid swinging jauntily.
Duo was careful to make sure that all the security systems of the building were back on line before he left.
He snickered softly. That would also make it impossible for the EMT's to get in quickly. A high security building was one thing but this mess was another entirely. Its systems were messed up completely. It was easy to hack into the systems and open any door in the building, but the swipe card code for the emergency responders was outdated. He watched from the shadows as the EMT's swiped their card, then swore as the doors refused to open. They finally had to buzz the manager and get him to open up from his rooms.
Duo walked into the night, headed back to Heero and bed.
Zechs rolled over in the bed to look at a still sleeping Wufei. Zechs was lying on a cot while Wufei was in Heero's bed. Heero was in the living room on the couch.
Zechs got up and wandered into the living room. "Heero. I need another dose. Is there anything?"
Heero looked up from the music book he was studying. "Sure. Sit down on the couch and I'll get you something. Miss O'Donnell gave me some pills for both of you."
Zechs sat and waited, he still felt dazed. Things were changing rather too fast for him. He wondered how much mess he was going to have to face alone. Wufei was going to be so stiff tomorrow, he shifted uncomfortably, so was he. He'd have to start early or he was going to put Heero out again.
"Pill. Take it don't look at it." Heero's hand appeared in his line of vision.
"OH . . . thanks . . . where's Duo? I thought he was going to stay here tonight."
Heero smirked at Zechs. "He. . . Shinigami had something to do. He'll be back in a little while."
Zechs felt a sudden chill and shuddered. He sometimes forgot that even the gentle Quatre was as ruthless as he was. He wondered what Duo was up to, then decided he didn't want to know. If he didn't know, he didn't have to lie.
Duo slipped in from the terrace just as he was swallowing the pill. Naturally he choked on it and had to be slapped on the back by Heero.
Duo eyed Zechs for a second then just plopped down on the couch. "I'm bushed 'Ro. We gonna sleep in here on the floor, or what?"
Heero just motioned Zechs off the couch, pulled it out into a bed, and started undressing. Zechs returned to his cot and settled down to try to sleep. A voice out of the dark made him flinch.
"You really going to try to sleep on that rack? . . ." Wufei lifted the covers and just waited for a few moments. "Zechs, get the fuck in the damn bed. We're both going to be stiff enough in the morning as it is. You'll freeze solid if you try to sleep on that thing. Come on."
Zechs tried to resist the temptation, for all of two seconds. He knew they weren't going to do anything more than sleep, but the need to just touch Wufei was driving him crazy. I'm too old for him. I don't deserve him. God, how I want him.
Wufei didn't even try to snuggle with Zechs, the man was way too jumpy for that. Wufei settled on his side of the bed and firmly told himself to go to sleep. Finally he did.
Heero woke up first the next morning and sighed happily. This was the first time he'd awakened with Duo in his arms in he couldn't remember how long. He started to repress tears, then decided he didn't need to. He let them flow.
Duo felt something wet on his forehead. He turned his head slightly and saw that Heero had tears in his eyes, one of which had dropped onto him.
"Hey, 'Ro. What's wrong? What hurts?" He started to get up, but Heero gently held him in place.
"I'm ok. Nothing hurts, except that I haven't had you right here every morning. I miss you so much, sometimes it makes me sick to my stomach. Just lay here for a while, ok?"
Duo snuggled back down. "Ok. Feels good. You . . . scared me. I miss you too. But Zechs, he . . . he's good for us all. You know? I like him. He'll make sure Relena . . . she's something, you know."
Heero laughed, sometimes Duo didn't make sense. He realized that it was because Duo thought so much faster than he could talk that he jumped from one thought to another, leaving out giant parts of his thoughts. He was fairly good at translating, so he was pretty sure what Duo was talking about.
"Yeah, go back to sleep, you don't make sense. But Zechs is a good friend, so we need to take care of him. And Relena has something up her pink sleeve or I miss my guess. Especially now that she knows that Zechs was cut off from her . . . instead of rejecting her. I'd like to get my hands on that toad-man for two seconds."
Duo yawned, "Huumm. Only took me one. Sleep now." And started snoring softly. Heero craned his neck to look down at Duo for a second then shrugged, jostling Duo, who snorted then went back to snoring. He'd ask Duo exactly what was up when he was awake enough to answer coherently.
He was awakened again by someone tapping on his terrace door. The tapping was hesitant and light. Heero sat up groggily and wondered if Duo was in the bathroom then saw him opening the sliding glass door.
"Hi. Good morning. Who the hell are you and what do you want?" Duo's cheerful voice belied his words.
"Hello. I'm Mr. Fox. Who are you? And watch your mouth. You're much too young to use such crudities."
Duo snickered. "I'm Duo. Friend of Heero's and Zechs. And I'm two days older than dirt. Come in. I'll beat the coffee maker into submission in a minute."
Duo wandered into the bathroom leaving Heero to deal with Mr. Fox for the moment. Heero just got up and started making coffee.
"Is he . . ." Mr. Fox's eyes rounded in astonishment as he realized exactly who Duo was. "Are you all so young?"
Heero eyed the coffee maker with a jaundiced eye, realized that it was too small to make enough coffee for them all and got out his big chemex. As he folded the filter, Mr. Fox patiently waited for his answer.
"Yeah. We're all about the same age. We never had tests, except me. But Quatre knows how old he is and that's seventeen. He's offered to have tests done to make sure how old we really are, but who really cares? I don't, neither does Duo. Wufei knows and Trowa's pretty sure. So . . . yeah, we're all so young."
"Except me. I'm twenty. Morning. Wufei is making alarming noises. Does he have nightmares?"
Heero snarled and headed for the bedroom. Wufei did have nightmares, bad ones. Not frequently, but when he did he tended to get violent.
Mr. Fox eyed the boiling water, chemex setup and sighed softly.
"I'll make coffee. Duo will be out in a minute and he'll be unbearable without it. You?"
"I'm not so much hostile as cranky. If all I have to do is pour the water into the top of this. I'm ok. Perhaps you should see to your friend?"
Zechs thought for all of two seconds, until a shout from the bedroom brought Duo running. "Fei?" Zechs nodded and crossed the room with quick strides Duo right behind him.
In the bedroom Wufei was sitting up in bed, wild eyed, with Heero behind him holding onto his crossed arms. Wufei was pulling hard and Heero was having trouble holding him without hurting him.
Zechs climbed onto the bed and pinned Wufei's thrashing legs down by laying across them. Duo followed him and between the three of them they finally managed to immobilize Wufei.
"What now. Tiger by the tail and all that."
Duo patted Wufei's face gently. "Hey pal. Open your eyes. It's me. Wakie-wakie. Come on." Wufei shuddered thrashed once more and stilled. He collapsed so bonelessly that Zechs was startled.
Heero let go and motioned for Duo. "He's awake. Come on." Duo just nodded, patted Wufei on the shoulder, muttering something into his ear and scrambled after Heero.
"Coffee? You got coffee, don't you? That guy. Fox was it? Who's he? Fei's gonna be so pissed. He hates it when he does that. "
Heero grinned, grabbed Duo and kissed him until he whimpered.
"Gentlemen. A-hem. I don't want to be a wet blanket, but is your friend ok? Do you need me to call someone? And . . . coffee?"
Mr. Fox held up the pot and started pouring cups. Duo grabbed one and sipped happily.
"Sorry about that. I don't get to see Heero as much as I'd like. Coffee's good. And Chang Wufei will be fine in a few. He just needs to wake up. Umm. Heero? Is there tea fixin's. I'll make him some."
Heero was already rummaging in his cupboards for that box of special tea he'd picked up.
"I got some of that sleeping something he likes. Has linden, and cat mint, and hops in it. And valerian . . . I think it had lavender and . . . " Heero mumbled off as he nearly disappeared into the pantry looking for the box of tea. Duo just grinned at Mr Fox and refilled the kettle.
Heero dropped the tea bags into a small pot and set it on a tray. Then he poured himself some coffee. He was getting used to it and drank it now to be sociable.
Zechs stuck his head out the door and motioned to Duo. They conversed in the doorway for a moment, then Duo nodded.
"'Ro, Zechs wants to know if we'll help him clean up his rooms."
Heero shrugged. "If you want. I want to go to the mall and . . . shop." Heero tugged a lock of Duo's bangs "Don't look at me like that. I like shopping. I knew you'd do that. Stop it."
Duo spluttered into his coffee cup and finally gave up trying to drink it. He couldn't stop chuckling. Heero just gave him a mock offended look and turned to pour the now boiling water into the pot.
"Two cups, I think. Sugar?" Duo shrugged, so Heero put the sugar bowl on the tray along with some slices of lemon. Duo went to open the door for Heero, who just walked into the room with the tray.
Zechs took the tray with thanks and carried it to the bed. Wufei was sitting up, propped up on pillows. He looked so young and tired that Zechs wanted to wrap him in cotton wool and stuff him in a box. He knew Wufei would be highly insulted at the very idea, so he put the tray on the bedside table and settled on the edge of the bed.
Neither one thought anything of the fact that they were both bruised and battered. Both of them bore bruises on face and body that would have had any other person begging for relief. Zechs poured tea for them both and handed Wufei one of the two pills Heero had placed on the tray, each in its own little sauce dish.
Wufei eyed the pill with some misgivings. Zechs took his without comment and sipped his tea.
"Want to talk about it?"
Wufei shrugged. "I . . . dream. Not pleasant ones. You know about my trouble with . . . smells. I dreamed about being captured. Duo has similar dreams. We usually help each other through. U m . . . thanks for . . . everything." Wufei buried his nose in his teacup and flushed.
"I also have bad dreams. You could do some therapy. It's called desensitization therapy. It could really help all of you."
Wufei nodded. "Quatre is looking for a therapist. The best one isn't available. And the next best is so busy he turned us down flat. Quatre won't settle for third best, so I don't know what we'll do."
Zechs settled against the head board and pulled Wufei against his chest. "We'll figure out something. I'll do some research and see if I can't get Relena to put some pressure on number one. Finish that tea. . . I'll finish mine. We ought to be seen in the common room soon. We've worried everyone, and Mr. Fox is here. Must do the pretty you know."
Wufei sighed, then nodded. It wouldn't do to have trouble with the man because they'd offended him.
So finally they were all in the common room and settled for coffee and breakfast. Mr Fox politely asked what had happened last night and got an animated explanation from Duo, who as always was the unofficial storyteller of the group. Mr Fox made appropriate sounds of horror and surprise at the proper times. Then told Zechs that he'd be happy to help clean up the mess.
They all headed to his rooms with cleaning supplies in hand, only to find that the worst of the mess was cleaned up. All the mess had been taken away, broken furniture removed and torn curtains replaced. All that was needed was final cleaning.
It didn't take them long to complete the cleaning, especially as they found out that Mr. Fox had a sharp eye for cobwebs and such. He also took one look at the harp standing safely away from harm and smiled to himself. He brushed his fingers over the strings carefully and cocked his head to hear the tone.
"This is a nice harp, you play, or is it just a fashionable decoration?"
Zechs shook his head. "I play, but we don't have time for it now. I just got a message from the warden. Since I broke it I have to replace it. It seems sensible to me. And that way I get to choose what it want. . . Heero . . . go in there and break that damn bed. I hate it."
Heero just smirked at Zechs, his laughter told Zechs that no one was taking him seriously.
Mr. Fox looked surprised. "You're going shopping? I thought . . . well . . . it's. . ." He stammered to a halt and Wufei took pityon him.
"You can leave, if you sign out. You won't be allowed to leave the campus for a while. But once you've finished your probational period, they'll tell you where you can go and who can visit." They all smiled at Mr. Fox's confused and delighted expression. He left almost immediately, mumbling something about finding out exactly what he could do.
Zechs smiled at Wufei and Heero as they conferred quietly about furnishings. Duo was sitting on the counter swinging his legs. There were no whole chairs left in the rooms to sit in.
Duo eyed the two combatants and decided that he really didn't want to be in a 'for real' fight with either one of them. He hopped off the counter and sauntered over to Heero. He put his arms around him and rubbed his cheek against Heero's shoulder.
"Yes?" Heero leaned back against Duo waiting for him to speak.
"Nothin'. Just wanted to be near you. They're gonna toss us out tonight. We shopping or what."
Heero clasped Duo's wrist and tugged gently until they were both on their feet. "Yeah we're going shopping. Zechs will just have to decide on the fly I'm not wasting any more of my time with you nattering about furniture. I like Swedish Modern."
Duo choked. "Swedish . . . but that stuff is hundreds of years old. Why do they call it modern?"
"Because when it first came out it was . . . modern that is. I like its functionality. And it fits in here much better than that institutional innocuous. That stuff is . . . " Heero stopped talking before he said something to hurt Zechs.
Duo nodded shortly. "'Fei, come on, let's get the lead out. I want to find something special."
Wufei came out of the bathroom and Duo blinked. He stalked over to Wufei and walked around him staring. Wufei smirked at him and walked over to Zechs. "You want me to cover that for you. You look like you walked into someone's fist."
Zechs touched his still tender cheek. "I don't think so. It's still a little tender. You look good."
"Thank you. I'm not about to go out looking like I've been brawling. But it's you and yours. What will you say if someone asks you a question."
Zechs just stood up to his full height and looked down his nose at Wufei. "Nothing. We going or what."
The walk to the mall was fun except that Zechs kept getting sympathetic looks from people. Wufei walked beside him and kept up a flow of conversation that was answered kindly if a little distractedly. Zechs seemed to have something on his mind but Wufei knew better than to force the issue. He'd talk when he was ready and not before.
They entered the mall and walked around for a while looking in windows and commenting on things there. Not always kindly.
Duo took violent exception to a suit in a window. It was tight and looked rubbery, with fat, rolled piping down the outside of the legs and over the shoulders.
"What the hell is that supposed to be? It looks downright lewd." Zechs snorted. "What? I know words. Just because I don't use, them doesn't mean I don't know them."
"Wasn't the word I was laughing at. It's that suit. It is downright something. Poor taste, to begin with. I wouldn't be caught at a pimp's ball in that thing." Zechs eyed the suit with ill disguised distaste.
Duo snorted crudely. "Shit, pimps dress better than that. I knew guys that wore cashmere and silk. Looked like undertakers. Street pimps answered to them. That thing would scare little kids."
Wufei eyed it with undisguised disgust. "What's it supposed to look like? I don't . . . it looks familiar."
Heero finished his examination of the suit, frowned as he ran through his memories. "Looks like Trowa's space suit. The one he wore first. Sort of. In a back handed sort of way. Ugly. Polyester. Furniture store is just up here." Heero walked away leaving the other three staring after him.
Duo made a rueful face. "And all those poor poly's died to make that horror. The . . . ack! Ok, ok. " Duo ran after Heero as Wufei figuratively prepared his first broad side.
Then they were off and running. Duo continued to aggravate Wufei, much to Zechs amusement, and Wufei managed to maintain his dignity, sort of.
Zechs touched Heero's shoulder. "Should we be worried?"
Heero watched Duo peek over a rack at Wufei and point out something that made Wufei scowl and shake his head in disgust, real or feigned. When Duo turned away, Wufei smiled gently at the back of his head.
"I see." Zechs filed that away for future reference. "We ok?"
Heero just nodded shortly, then said. "We better separate them for a while . . . for our sanity's sake if nothing else. If Duo pesters Wufei too much it's liable to get ugly."
Zechs stiffened. "Ugly? Duo wouldn't hurt Wufei would he?"
Heero gave Zechs a stern look. "No, neither of them would hurt the other. But Wufei will get a head ache, then Duo will try to take care of him. Do not let Duo nurse you. He's the universes worst. So we better separate them. I don't feel like dealing with Duo wallowing in guilt in our last few hours together."
So the collected their, prospective in one case, and loving in the other, boy friends and went their separate ways.
Duo swiped his hand over his forehead, shoving his bangs out of his eyes. "Geeze, Heero. I thought Zechs would never take the hint and get Wufei away from us for a little one on one."
"He didn't. I told him you'd give Wufei a headache eventually. So he finally took the . . . a-hem . . . hint, and took him off. I hope they take up. They're both so lonely, it's just plain sad."
Duo gave Heero a startled look. "You . . . you're match making? . . um . . . where's the Heero Yuy, I knew and tolerated."
Heero smirked at Duo. "He's here, sans armor. I am learning. Slowly, but surely. Love you. Close your mouth."
Duo snapped his mouth shut, then snickered. "Yes, Mom."
So they headed for the Ikea store to walk around and dream about furniture and as Duo put it 'a real home of our own. With kitchen stuff and . . . stuff.'
Heero kept his arm around Duo's waist or shoulders, as if he was afraid he would slip away. Or disappear, or something.
Duo pulled him from one end of the mall to the other, laughing and happy. Heero entered into the fun as best he could. He still had some problems with emotions, especially strong ones. But this was fun, he liked seeing Duo so happy, so he did his best to keep what he thought of as the momentum of the situation going.
And they did, Heero smiled, Duo chattered and people near them had to smile at the sight of two young men doing a mall crawl.
Duo turned around in the large open area in the middle of the mall. The area where they'd seen the Gundam game. It was long gone, in its place was some sort of fountain.
Duo sighed softly. "I'm really sorry we didn't get to play it more. But . . . it was fun to work on it and get it going again. Right?"
Heero grinned at Duo. "Yeah. It was. But . . . come with me no questions? Ok?"
Duo gave Heero a slightly doubtful look but agreed. "Sure. It's not something nasty, is it? You wouldn't pull a prank on little ol' me, would you?"
Heero pulled him into a hallway. "No, it's nothing nasty. And I wouldn't prank you." Heero crossed his fingers behind his back.
When Duo saw the machine, he nearly squealed like a girl, not that he'd ever have admitted it if he did.
There in the middle of a big room, was the final Gundam Game machine. It was huge, it looked almost exactly like the original model except more finished. Heero walked up to the attendant and just handed him his bank card.
"How long can we have?"
"As long as you want. We just opened for the day. The lines won't start forming until school is out. And if I find out that you two are skipping you'll get banned for a week. Ok?"
Heero just shrugged. "Duo come on. You're first."
Duo quit staring at the machine and stepped up to the attendant, who asked him a bunch of questions only relevant if you weren't a Gundam pilot. Then he helped Duo settle into the pilot's chair, strapped him in and asked his level.
"Gundam pilot."
"Kid, you sure? It's really rough. Grown men give up after a few seconds."
Duo looked over the man's shoulder at Heero, Heero just gave him an encouraging nod.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Let 'er rip."
So the man closed the door and started the game. Heero leaned back to admire his lover as Duo worked his way through the opening levels of the game. He made it look easy. Which it was, for him.
The attendant was having cats, kittens and cows. He called his boss to come see. He called his girlfriend, who called all her friends and they all showed up to watch.
Duo didn't notice, he was busy. He'd reached level eight by the time the crowd started building. Heero put his back against the wall behind the attendant's desk and admired Duo's technique. He'd never had time to really watch him before. Usually when Duo was fighting they were either separated or he was fighting for his life too.
Duo fought with a concentrated fury that made Heero smile. He'd seen Shinigami perhaps three times and each time he did it reminded him that Duo hadn't been made a Gundam pilot because he was beautiful. He was as fierce, as hard, as dedicated as any of the others.
In fact he was scarier than any of them except Heero and Heero knew it. So Heero watched, admired, and analyzed. Then he noticed the noise. The muttering background had turned into gasps and cries. The room was crowded now, and all the watchers were either silently awed or loudly excited.
Duo finally won the last battle and the machine shut down with a loud fanfare and a stupid announcement that the winner was to be awarded a certificate of completion. Heero sneered.
The attendant helped Duo out of the unit and he staggered slightly as he came down the steps. He was sweating heavily and Heero hurried to his side.
"'Ro! I can't get my breath. I can't . . ." Duo was gasping for air, panting hard and shuddering. Heero simply supported him for a few seconds waiting for him to catch his breath.
The attendant stepped forward and touched Heero on the shoulder, nearly getting himself decked. "Hey easy. Come on, bring him over here. We get this now and then."
Heero picked Duo up and carried him to a chair behind a screen. Another attendant made a short announcement telling the crowd what was going on and assuring them that Duo was in no danger, just 'oxyed out' and in need of a good sit down.
Duo was still panting when the attendant carefully put a face mask over his nose and mouth. He held it until Duo nodded and put his own hand on it to hold it in place.
"You'll be ok in a few minutes. We get this once in a while. I don't know how the original pilots managed."
Heero shrugged. "I didn't need any help, but the others had high concentrations of oxy in their cabins. It kept this from happening."
Duo shook his head. "Quatre had h-oxy equipment. I didn't. I don't know if Wufei did or not. Trowa had some kind of concentrator, I think. You never saw me right after a mission. I always had this happen. I just lay in the chair and gasped like a landed fish until I got caught back up."
Heero just stood and stroked his shoulders until he put the mask down in his lap and leaned into his lovers stomach.
There was a slight disturbance as the screen rattled, then Wufei peeked around the edge. "You ok? What happened?"
Heero explained what had happened and Wufei turned to speak to someone hidden by the screen.
"He's ok. Look's like he oxyed out again. I don't think I want to try that machine, it doesn't make any allowance for heightened oxygen needs. Zechs, could you get him a drink? He's sweating like a pig."
Duo grimaced, he was really thirsty and tired. He tried to hide it, he wanted to eat out with Heero before they were parted again. He didn't exactly succeed, but Heero didn't say anything.
They could see Zechs making his way to a machine to fetch a bottle of water, but he was stopped only a few feet away by someone who offered him a sealed bottle. He bowed gracefully obviously thanking the person. He returned with it and handed it to Heero, who handed it on to Duo.
Duo drank carefully, he knew if he gulped the cold liquid, he'd regret it, and others might as well. He sipped at the bottle until his mouth didn't feel quite so much like he'd eaten cotton.
"'Ro, I'm ok now. You going to take a turn?"
Heero rubbed Duo's shoulders one last time. "No, I don't think so. I don't want to take up the time. Maybe Zechs and I will come back some other time. I'd rather spend my remaining time with you."
Duo got a forlorn expression on his face. "Heero. I'm so sorry. I . . ."
Heero put one finger against Duo's lips. "Don't. I love watching you. I never got to see you fight much. It's something rare and wonderful. At least to me. You're like a force of nature. The God of Death. I love you so much. And that's enough of that." Heero replaced his finger with his lips kissing away Duo's apologies.
Wufei watched for a moment then sighed loudly. Duo's eyes popped open and he crossed them at Wufei, who made an annoyed noise which made Heero stop kissing Duo.
"Chang Wufei, I will get you for that. Sooner or later."
Wufei just rolled his eyes at Duo and muttered, "I'm so scared. View me scared."
Zechs looked from Wufei to Duo and, deciding that there was really no threat, pulled Heero away telling him that they'd better get some dinner if they wanted to eat out before they had to be back at the facility.
"I don't care what anyone says. A contained helmet is too claustrophobic. I couldn't stand one."
Wufei shoveled rice into his mouth from the bowl he held just under his chin. "Mmphf." He swallowed quickly in order to argue for the idea. "You wore that silver mask for years. What's the difference?"
"I wore that damn thing, yes. And I think that's why the idea of a contained helmet bothers me so much."
Heero chewed for a moment then shrugged. "A contained helmet would be better. You have all the heads ups in one layer and everything else in another . . . what . . . two or three? And switching between them is voice controlled. It's better and easier. Also there's the added benefit of injectability. And concentrations are controlled. So . . ."
Wufei interrupted wearily. "Could we talk about something else . . . please? I'm tired of O2 concentrations and holo layers. My head is starting to ache."
Duo turned to Wufei. "I'm sorry. We're . . . never mind. You got something?"
Wufei rubbed his forehead wearily. "No. I'll be ok, just no more Gundam talk. They're launching the disposal unit soon. Nataku . . . she'd . . . ." Wufei gulped trying hard not to show his upset.
Zechs signaled for the check and pulled Wufei's chair out. Heero and Duo rose too. Wufei was really upset and they could all see it.
When the waiter came, Zechs easily navigated his questions and offers. "No, everything was fine. The young man is just over tired. Long day, don't you know. I'll pay the check and we'll wait outside for a cab." He signed the check and motioned the waiter away. The host came over to tell Zechs that a cab was waiting outside.
They got into the cab and Zechs settled Wufei against him, using the excuse that the cab was crowded and the jostling would make his head worse. Wufei didn't seem to mind. Heero settled Duo against him in a similar pose and they rode in silence until they reached the facility.
Duo walked Heero to the desk and they stood talking quietly until one of the guards announced softly, "Ok, guys. Hate to be a wet blanket but it's curfew so one last kiss and you, young man, have to leave." He turned to Zechs and Wufei, who'd been sitting together in companionable silence on a nearby bench. "And you two also. Kiss and say good-bye."
Neither Zechs nor Wufei bothered to correct him.
Zechs waited until Duo and Heero were done then he gently bid Wufei 'good night, Yazhen.'
"Good night, Dawei" Wufei put his arm around Duo and Duo returned the favor. They walked out the door back to the cab. Heero's eyes followed Duo all the way. No one noticed that Zechs did the same with Wufei.
Trowa examined the final papers and sighed. "I don't like this. Relena is . . . is . . ."
"Foolish in the extreme. I know. But it's a bow to the peaceniks. They think that all we have to do is destroy all the weapons of mass destruction and everyone will suddenly become a dove." Quatre rubbed his eyes in frustration. He'd argued against this until the last second, but he'd been over ruled at every turn.
Trowa put his arms around Quatre and hugged him. He couldn't have cared less about Heavyarms, as far as he was concerned the suit was just a weapon. He had to admit to a slight pang, but not the angst of Quatre, Duo or Wufei. They were heart broken and trying hard not to show it. He had no idea what Zechs thought about it all.
"It's an almond for a parrot. It's futility at its most oblivious. I don't care that much about my Gundam. It is, after all, only a machine. And he always ran out of ammunition at the worst time possible. But if something happens, and it will, we start out at a disadvantage."
Quatre just shrugged. "Let Lady Une deal with it. The ban on gundanium will only keep honest people from manufacturing mobile suits with it. And, besides it's obsolete anyway."
"'Fei?" Duo rolled his head on the seat back.
"Yeah." Wufei stared at the back of the cab drivers head.
"I think I'm sick. They're launching soon."
Wufei didn't bother to ask what Duo was talking about, he just bit his lip to keep from screaming, or crying, or doing something else girlish. Watching Duo in the simulator had hurt.
"'Fei?"
"Not now, Duo. I'm tired."
Duo rolled his head back to face front. "Sorry. I just. . . I wish . . . 'Fei, they'll be sorry. I just know it. It makes my belly knot."
"Mine too. We're going to be caught per nostrum pardus down."
Duo blinked into the darkness. "With our pants down, you betcha."
Zechs managed to make the call with a minimum of fuss. After speaking to his contact he sighed into the darkness. A soft tap on his door drew his attention away from his thoughts.
Heero stuck his head in the door and looked at Zechs sitting in the darkened room.
"You ok?"
Zechs switched on the desk lamp and got up to make hot chocolate. "I'm fine. Are you ok?"
Heero moved into the middle of the refinished room. "It's a machine. A machine to kill with. I don't quite know how I feel. I should be glad, but I'm not . . . not really. I get a cold feeling between my shoulder blades. How about you."
Zechs handed Heero his cup and took a sip from his own. "They didn't get Talgeese. He's hidden. They've been relentless in their attempts to get me to tell where he is. One of the reasons, no doubt, that I'm still here. But I'm not telling. Not for a while yet."
Heero just nodded. Then he cocked his head, "I think you are wise to keep your silence. No matter what."
Zechs squared his shoulders. "Not pleasant though."
Heero just sipped at his cocoa and kept his own counsel.
Mingzhen - Shining Pearl
Yazhen - Cultured Treasure
Dawei - Greatly Accomplished.