Chapter 7

Author's Note: I've never written first person extensively before, so bear with me if this chapter comes out a little strange. Thank you as always for all the reviews, I read them and they help give me ideas and influence where the story goes when I'm at a loss for ideas. You guys help me figure out what I'm good at, and what you like and therefore help guide the story. Enjoy!

February 11th, AC 197

The sun was out, and it rarely snowed on this colony. It was a good day for a job.

Or so I thought.

I stood at the window's ledge, looking down. It was only a three story drop, but I needed to time it just right. Alongside the wall there were garbage cans that I needed to make sure not to hit when I jumped. I felt a small wave of discomfort pulse through me.

Huh? Am I actually nervous about this?

I'd never really noticed before, but the ground was pretty far away…

Before I could continue that line of thought a figure appeared some distance away on the street. It was a young woman with blonde hair. She was with two other men, dressed in suits. At first glance she appeared to be casually walking along but something in her hurried pace indicated otherwise. Her eyes were also darting back and forth along the narrow alley way.

I tried to shake off my previous thoughts.

I'm just overthinking this. I've done this a hundred times. Just need to focus.

I tensed, readying myself to jump down as I watched the area where the woman had come from.

That was when I heard it.

Footsteps.

Technically, they were coming from two directions. One was from below, and it wasn't from behind the woman as I had expected, but from ahead. However, it was the other direction I was more concerned about…

I heard the all-too familiar sound of a gun being cocked from behind my head.

"Stay quiet and I-"

I spun around and at the same time reached for the arm of my assailant. I grabbed it with one hand as I grabbed his body with the other, successfully twisting his arm behind his back. He dropped the gun and I kicked it away.

"What-"

Before the man could say another word I moved the arm I had been using to hold his body up to his neck and squeezed. In one smooth motion, I dropped the arm I had been twisting in order to grab onto my other one to complete the choke hold. The man's freed hands went up to his throat but I paid no attention as I looked out onto the street. The owner of the footsteps I had heard before had approached the group I had been watching. He was aiming a gun at them.

The man I was holding stopped struggling and I dropped him as he went limp. I quickly calculated my jump and braced myself against the window.

If I jump on him from this height, I could seriously injure him...

Somewhere inside myself the irony of that considerate thought wasn't lost on me as I leapt off the windowsill. I landed in a crouch beside the gunman and quickly stood up, narrowly dodging his attempt to hit me with the gun. At the same time I grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back as I had just done a few moments ago. I was now facing the two surprised bodyguards. I couldn't see the girl who had shrunk behind them.

"Is it just you two?" I said to the man I was holding. I wasn't expecting an honest answer.

"Like I'm going to- argh!" he yelled. I had twisted the man's arm very slightly.

"Talk or die," I bluffed. I tightened my hold on the man's body, trying to show some indication of my true strength.

It must have worked, because he broke out into a sweat. "I-I- just let me go and I'll tell you!" he begged.

"No," I said simply. "Tell me first."

The man squirmed in pain but I held him easily in my grasp. I focused my attention back on my surroundings and realized I saw something in the reflection of one of the bodyguard's glasses.

…What?!

On instinct, I moved, letting go of the man I held. A gunshot rang out and the man cried out in pain. He clutched his chest and fell to his knees. At the same time, the bodyguards in front of the girl had dived out of the way, leaving her exposed and terrified. A new man walked up, dressed in all grey with white plastic mask over his face.

I felt an overwhelming sense of imminent danger from this man and yelled out "Sylvia!" as I dived toward the girl. She startled as she turned her head towards me and our bodies collided. Another gunshot roared through the air as I tumbled with Sylvia and forcibly kept us rolling toward the side of the street. I rolled until we crashed into the garbage cans and trash spilled on top of us.

This is bad. How'd it go so bad so quickly? Did I screw up? No, no time to think about that right now.

We were sitting targets in this alleyway. I had to protect Sylvia. Now there were three enemies, each probably with a gun. I had checked out the background of those bodyguards myself, how could they-?

No, not now Heero!

The only thing protecting us was the hectic nature of the situation and the trash cans and boxes that had fallen on us. Any moment now they would start shooting and all I could do was cover Sylvia's mouth and shield her with my body. I had placed her between the wall of the alley and myself and now she looked up at me with frightened green eyes…and somehow I was reminded of Relena.

Sylvia...Relena...I'm sorry.

BANG! The loud boom of a gun being shot once again echoed through the quiet alleyway and I instinctively shut my eyes to brace for the familiar pain.

…

But there was none. Instead I heard another man grunt in pain and…

Is someone fighting?

Keeping Sylvia down I carefully raised my head just enough to see over the garbage can next to me.

What?!

Trowa?!

Trowa had one man down on the ground - probably the one that had shot the gun - and was punching the other one in the gut as I looked on. I was surprised at how strong he was. His usual style was more speed oriented and precise. But this was no time to be surprised.

"Stay here and don't move until I tell you to," I said to Sylvia. She looked confused and was visibly shaking but gave a slight nod. I felt a pang of sympathy for her and quickly added, "Help is here," before leaping out from the trash.

Trowa had knocked both of Sylvia's traitorous guards unconscious and was staring down the man in the white mask. He had in his hand a gun he likely got off one of the men. And he was aiming at the masked man who was aiming at him.

It was a standoff.

Trowa...!

When I leapt up the masked man's eyes went to me but his gun didn't waver. Just as I'd expected, this man was no amateur. My eyes met with Trowa's for an instant and he inclined his head just a fraction. I took it as acknowledgement - Trowa knew how I worked. I made up on mind and dashed straight for the man. He did a double take as he realized I had no intentions of stopping. He finally turned his gun toward me at last moment and in my peripheral vision I saw Trowa take aim.

I didn't stop.

A final gunshot rang out as I lunged for the gunman.

As I plowed into his legs, knocking him over, the man grunted and dropped the gun to the ground. I scrambled to climb over the man and pressed my elbow into his neck, as well as all my body weight. He was much larger than me and I knew there was a good chance he'd be able to throw me off as soon as he regained his bearings. I noticed his hand was bloody - Trowa had managed to hit him. Oblivious or uncaring to his own inury, the man started to struggle to throw me off. Trowa had run over however, and now pointed his gun at the man's face.

"You've been outmaneuvered and you're outnumbered. It would be wise to stop struggling," Trowa said coldly. I didn't risk looking at him, but I knew I'd find the expression of a killer if I did.

And I realized I didn't want to see that.

"Who are you?" I asked the masked man. Trowa crouched down to remove his mask but the man started violently thrashing around. He reached behind his back and grabbed me with massive hands. As I lost my hold on him, he forcefully rolled over and I was thrown off. I rolled on the ground to protect myself, and the masked man jumped up.

He threw something on the ground and smoke erupted all around us. Trowa and I both began coughing. They were violent, choking, gasping coughs. Some kind of tear gas?

My eyes were burning as I stood up, trying to see through the smoke. I stayed where I was though, not wanting to become a target for Trowa who I was sure was looking for the man. I felt the urge to vomit from the gas rising up in me, but my training kicked in and I calmed my stomach. I tried to slow my ragged breathing as well but after all of the tension, exertion and the gas, it was near impossible.

I realized that my poor eyesight wasn't just from the smoky nature of the gas. Everything was blurry and I felt like I was nearly blind. I tried to keep down the fear that the gas might actually have permanently have damaged my eyes as I realized Trowa - being even closer to the explosion - might have gotten hit worse. As my eyes burned and my stomach roiled, I heard nothing but silence. I found myself growing more and more concerned. And…

Sylvia was all alone!

"Trowa?" I finally yelled out. I knew that if the masked man was still around, I'd be an easy target. But I guessed that he probably wouldn't be coming back and I couldn't stand waiting around anymore.

"Heero," Trowa responded, from somewhere close to me. I gingerly walked over to where I had heard the voice until I felt a presence near me.

"That you Trowa?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah."

I reached out until I grabbed his arm. "Can you see?"

"Not much."

I started walking with Trowa, forcing my eyes to stay open as much as I could stand. We were headed back toward where we left Sylvia. It was hard to walk calmly back over to her when I knew she might be in danger, but I knew if we ran with our poor vision we might just land in more trouble. I relied on my ears but I heard nothing at all in the quiet alleyway. As we exited the gas cloud and neared the trash cans, I called out.

"Sylvia?"

Nothing.

"Sylvia...as in Sylvia Noventa?" Trowa murmured. Before I could answer, he said a little louder, "Sylvia, it's okay to come out now. You're safe."

More silence followed. I was about to go check the trash cans myself when there was the sound of cans falling. I spotted movement coming from the place I left Sylvia. She sat up, covered in trash, and I could hear her crying more than I could see it.

I stopped in front of her, not sure what to do or say.

"...Sorry," was all I could mumble.

Some escort I am.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around me. After seeing Sylvia off to her relative's estate, we came back to Trowa's trailer to wash off and get first aid. Once the tear gas had worn off, neither of us had been hurt beyond a few minor scrapes and bruises.

It's strange, but a year ago I wouldn't have even noticed that much.

When I came out of the bathroom, Trowa was waiting for me. Having already having showered in someone else's trailer, he was already dressed. Since his usual turtleneck and slacks combination were dirty from the fight, he was wearing a plain white button shirt and pants, much like the set he had loaned me over a year ago. Over that, he had on his black leather jacket.

He was sitting on the couch with his arms spread out over the top, leaning his head back. His eyes were closed. He looked peaceful, and not at all like someone who had just been wielding a gun and knocking out grown men an hour ago.

"In the top drawer."

"Hmm?" I said.

"You can use those clothes."

I walked over to the dresser and rummaged through the top drawer before finding some jeans and a faded yellow collared shirt. I put on the clothes and as I finished buttoning the collar Trowa spoke.

"Do you want to get dinner? Cathy's going out tonight and I'm too tired to cook."

"Sure," I said, turning around to Trowa.

He opened his eyes and sat forward. "I know a good Japanese place not too far from that cafe we went to. Is that okay?"

"Yeah."

He rose smoothly and put his hands in his pockets. "Let's go."

I grabbed my jacket and followed him to the door.