Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or any of the characters. I just borrow them for my nefarious and fictional purposes.
Living The Lie
Chapter Three: What's in a Name?
Duo leaned back in his seat as his jet-black mustang flew along the highway. He was finally on his way back from running his errands. He'd even remembered to buy groceries before heading home. He furrowed his brow as his mind ran through the day's events. After he'd stopped by the scrap yard and accomplished his daily tasks, he'd made a call to an old friend; one he hadn't talked to in quite some time. The conversation played itself over in his mind.
"Yo Heero, how's it going? You busy?" Duo grinned at the ever serious-faced young man on the vid screen.
"Always. What do you need?"
Duo smirked. "That obvious, huh?"
"Why else would you be calling me?"
The young man just shrugged sheepishly. "I need some information, and I was hoping you could help me."
Heero simply nodded. "About what?"
"An underground organization that goes by the name 'Scion'. Heard of'em?"
The young man frowned and began typing furiously on the computer beside him. "Scion. It sounds familiar…"
Duo watched him anxiously. "Well?"
"Nothing's coming up. How did you hear about them?"
"It's kind of a long story actually. I can't get into it right now but they've got some agents of theirs here on L2."
Heero watched him skeptically. "I see. I'll look into it for you. If I find anything I'll contact you."
"Thanks, I owe you one."
Duo shook his head. If Heero hadn't even heard of these guys, then who would? But if anyone can find them, he will.
Duo pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. He picked up the grocery bags from the back seat and unlocked the front door. "I'm home," he called as he shut the door behind him.
"Welcome back."
For a moment his heart stopped. It can't be… Duo turned slowly to meet the owner of the feminine voice. As the woman's face came into focus, he let out the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding.
"Duo?" She frowned in concern, "You okay?"
"Yes." He smiled apologetically. "Sorry. It was only…for a moment I thought—"
"You thought what?"
"Nothing. Just my imagination." Idiot! He scolded himself. She's not coming back! He forced a smile for the woman as he took off his shoes.
"Would you like some help?"
"Sure." He handed her a few of the bags and followed her to the kitchen. As he passed by his office, he noticed that the door was open. I could've sworn I left this closed. He turned on the lights and staggered, his jaw going slack. "Wha—how?" he demanded.
She walked over to the incredulous young man and looked over his shoulder into the small room. "What's wrong?"
"It's—it's—"
"Clean?" she offered with a smile.
"Well, yeah, but where's all my stuff?" he asked gesturing to the uncluttered desk and floor.
"I put it away in the filing cabinets where it's supposed to be."
Duo turned to stare at her with wide cobalt eyes. "Why?"
The woman shrugged, avoiding his gaze and walked back to the kitchen. "I was bored and I've always been a bit obsessed about organizing things. Besides, most of them already had existing files; it was only a matter of putting it all away." She opened the fridge and began to stock it with food. "Why did you stop filing your paperwork anyway?"
"You mean besides becoming a lazy ass?" he asked grinning. The woman just glared at him and Duo raised his hands in defeat. "I used to have someone that helped me…"
"Oh, well she was very good."
Duo looked at her sharply. "How did you know it was a 'she'?"
She paused in surprise. How did I know? Her forehead creased as she searched for the answer. I just knew; sorta like a gut feeling. "Lucky guess?" She smiled, shrugging at him. "Besides," she started, returning to the fridge, "I also saw some of the handwriting on the files, and there's no way in hell a guy like you has writing that neat."
"You don't have to be so blunt about it," he pouted.
She couldn't help but grin as she watched him. He looks so adorable like that, she thought with a laugh. So different from the person I saw in the club. Still…
She snuck a glance over her shoulder at the young man, taking a moment to admire the body she'd been so close to less than twenty-four hours ago. Her eyes glazed over as she remembered the feeling of his body moving against hers. The hard muscles under her fingertips…
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" asked a husky voice in her ear.
Her eyes flew open and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She opened the fridge and ducked her head, trying to hide her face from him. "Oh, just thinking about what I could make for dinner," she replied quickly without thinking, and immediately regretted it. Culinary master, she was not.
Duo's eyebrows went up. "You're making dinner?"
"Well," she faltered, "I guess I could. But, only if you help me." She turned and gave him her sweetest smile. "So, what'll it be?"
He leaned back on the counter and frowned in thought. "Something simple would be good."
"How about a stir fry then? Beef or chicken?"
"Beef."
"Sure," she replied smiling. "I'll just prepare the meat now."
"Okay, I'll be on the computer. I have to check a few things."
She watched him disappear around the corner, and then let out a sigh of relief. She rested her hands on the countertop and stared at the gray surface. Had he caught her staring? She couldn't tell. Maybe he's just very good at reading people's actions and expressions…Like I was trained to do.
She took the meat out of the fridge and put it on the cutting board. Picking up the knife, she twirled it expertly a few times before cutting the meat into smaller strips. If he's able to read me so easily it must mean that he's either extraordinarily good or I've forgotten my training. She sighed and shook her head, putting the knife down. I've relaxed and let my guard down. It's a wonder they didn't find me sooner, she realized bitterly. She reached for various spices and set to work marinating the pieces. From now on there can't be anymore screw-ups.
After she had put the meat into the fridge and cleaned up the mess, the young woman knocked lightly on the door of the small room.
"Yeah, come in."
She pushed open the door hesitantly and peeked inside. Duo was sitting in front of the computer, reading something on the screen. She walked up behind him and leaned on the back of his chair, casually looking over his shoulder. "What are you reading?"
Duo put his hands behind his head and grinned up at her. "Nothing much. Just work related stuff. Have you taken a look at the computer yet?"
"No. Why? Is there something you wanted me to look at?"
"Well, now that you mention it." He got up in one fluid motion, and gestured for her to take a seat. "The program I used to keep track of my financial records and accounting is more than a little outdated," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "Any suggestions?"
"I do know of a few programs that I'm sure even you can manage, but, the software is in my luggage which I don't happen to have handy at the moment."
"I've already got that covered." He winked at her doubtful expression. "In fact, I'm expecting it to arrive shortly."
"Arrive?" She gave him a quizzical look.
"That's what I—" He stopped when he heard the sharp knock at the door. "That's my cue. Stay here, I'll only be a minute," he called over his shoulder as he walked away.
She got up quietly and stopped at the threshold of the small room, straining to hear the exchange between Duo and the stranger.
"Duo Maxwell?"
"Yes. Is this it?"
"Yeah, this was all there was."
"Thank you. Give Mr. Winner my thanks."
"Of course."
She waited till she heard the sound of the door closing before emerging into the hall. "Duo?" He smirked at her as he hefted a small suitcase and duffel bag. "You really did get it," she admitted grudgingly.
"Of course I did. You didn't believe me?" he asked, his expression one of mock hurt.
"I had my doubts," she murmured softly, taking the bags from his hands and examining the contents. "Everything's here," she admitted with surprise after a few moments inspection.
"Were you expecting otherwise?"
She paused and sat back on her heels thoughtfully. "I would have expected them to at least try…" She pulled her laptop out of the duffel bag and turned it on. A quick examination revealed what she had suspected. "They didn't even attempt to infiltrate my files. And," she continued after looking at the remaining contents of the bag, "none of my USB drives or CD's are missing either."
"Is it possible that they might have slipped a tracer in there somewhere?"
"I'm not sure, though it's highly unlikely. It's not their style. They don't usually resort to such methods because they're too obvious or easily detectable. But…" She glanced back at the door uncertainly. "It would be like them to follow whoever picked up my things." She frowned and looked over at Duo. When she met his eyes, he just shrugged.
"I guess he could've been followed, but even still." He gave her a knowing grin. "Somehow I don't think they'd dare attack directly. Not if you're here with me."
She narrowed her eyes at his assumption and shook her head. "You can't know that."
"But I do. Trust me."
She smirked at him before replying, "I didn't realize you were so overconfident."
"It's not overconfidence," he stated simply. Duo crouched down so that he was looking directly into her blue eyes. He grasped her chin between his forefinger and thumb and watched as those eyes widened by a fraction. "You may have your secrets, but I have a few of my own." He gazed steadily at her with an unfathomable expression for a few moments before standing again abruptly and walking down the hall.
She watched his retreating back in mild surprise until he stopped at the door to the office. He turned his head towards her, a slight smile tugging on the corners of his mouth when he noticed she still hadn't moved.
"You're not planning on staying there all night, are you? You said you'd help me with the computer, right?"
She looked at him blankly before blinking a few times and then finally nodding in comprehension as his words registered. "Yeah," she mumbled as she went back to rummaging around in her bag for the software she would need. Grabbing the CDs, she walked briskly past him and to the computer. She sat down without hesitation and quickly set to work.
Duo stood behind her, leaning on the back of the chair and watching as her fingers flew deftly across the keyboard. She worked in silence, only breaking it when she required his permission to delete files and uninstall programs. A bitter smile curved his lips as images of another dark haired beauty typing away on his computer came to mind. He chided himself silently for ever thinking that he could forget about her completely. He would never forget her, even if she had already forgotten about him…
"Hey, Duo."
He looked down at the source of the voice that broke through his thoughts and was momentarily confused to find himself staring into hauntingly familiar blue eyes. He gave himself a mental shake and flashed her a forced smile. "Yeah?"
"I'm finished," she said simply.
"Great." He nodded once and turned to leave. "Shut it off, please. I'll be in the kitchen. It's already almost six, so we might as well make dinner now, right?"
She watched him go with a frown. "What's with that guy?" she muttered under her breath. Sighing, she shut off the computer and walked into the kitchen. He has more mood swings than a girl! It's as if every time I turn my back, he becomes someone else; a very solemn and distant someone else.
Duo stood by the sink, knife in hand as he chopped a carrot diligently.
"Umm…Duo?" she asked hesitantly, moving to stand beside him. "Would you like some help?"
"Sure. Can you wash the rest of the vegetables that are in the sink?"
She nodded and went about her task in silence. She watched him from the corner of her eye trying to think of a subtle way to break the awkward silence. Unable to think of anything, she said the first thing that came to mind. "How was your day?" She winced inwardly at the question.
"Well, it was the same as it always is," he replied and shrugged. Thinking back on his conversation with Heero, a small frown curved his mouth. "But, not nearly as productive as I would've hoped," he admitted quietly. He flashed the young woman beside him a quick smile. "So, you seem to have kept yourself pretty busy today, right, Yumi?"
Duo noticed that she flinched as he said the name, reminding him of his earlier promise. He frowned again at her reaction, wondering if maybe he was pushing her too hard on the name issue. After all, it was just a name.
"I was just thinking," he started. "It's not really important whether you tell me your real name or not. So, if you don't want to tell me, then you don't have to." He glanced at her quickly only to find her expression one of suspicion.
She watched him through narrowed eyes. "And?"
"What?" he held up his hands and widened his eyes innocently.
"There's always a catch when something is too good to be true."
He chuckled, shaking his head before meeting her blue eyes. "Well, if you insist." He pretended to think for a moment and then winked at her. "Okay. If you don't want to tell me your name then you have to at least tell me about yourself."
She nodded to herself, as if confirming something. She debated the options silently, weighing one and its consequences and then the other. Of course, the choice was rather simple; she would tell him about herself. After all, there really isn't much to tell in the first place. She couldn't tell him her name, and she wouldn't… Her name meant so much to her; the only true thing in her fabricated life. Even her appearance, her face anyways, had been altered. The only thing that hadn't changed throughout her ordeal was her name.
"Fine. What is it that you want to know?" She squeezed her eyes shut in fearful anticipation.
Duo watched her in amusement. He was slightly surprised that she had chosen to disclose her life instead of her name. He knew that she was hiding her name with good cause, but didn't she trust him yet? He decided to shrug it off, knowing that he would not let her leave before her name had been revealed to him. He pushed these thoughts away and returned to the present question. What do I want to know?
Everything.
Duo's eyes widened in surprise. Where did that come from? Of course, he already knew the answer. It had sprung from the very farthest reaches of his mind. The unconscious part that had been clamoring to be heard since he had met her. The part that had been trying to tell him something about the mysterious woman standing beside him.
"Duo?"
He turned to meet her inquiring gaze and forced a smile. "Yes. Umm, why don't you just start from the beginning?"
"Okay…" she mumbled, training her eyes downwards to watch her hands work. "I was born and raised here on L2. My parents died when I was young, so I lived with my aunt. It was a pretty boring existence. I helped out with her business when I wasn't busy with school, but I was restless. I wanted to do something with my life." She spoke the words bitterly, her eyes flickering with self-condemnation. "I wanted to help the colonies. So, I did what I thought was 'right'; I joined OZ at fourteen."
Duo looked at her sharply. Her voice was filled now with barely contained anger. He watched as her hands balled into fists and her knuckles turned white. He hardly dared to breathe as he waited for her to continue.
But she never did.
"Yumi. I'm sorry, if you don't want—"
"No." She stood utterly still, the muscles in her neck taut and her back rigid. "That's all I know."
He looked at her in confusion. "I don't understand…"
"Of course you don't." Her laughter was mirthless as she flashed ice-cold blue eyes in his direction. "My memory was erased from the ages of fourteen to eighteen. In between those years, I have no clue who I was, what I did, or where I did it. All I knew when I woke up, was that I would take my revenge on the people that had done that to me. That had taken away so much of my life…" She turned to look at him, trying to keep her face expressionless, but her voice gave away her pain. "But it was all a lie. Everything they told me. Everything I believed. My whole existence has been nothing but a humongous lie." She let her chin fall against her chest, her short hair obscuring her face.
Duo reached out to touch her impulsively, the need to comfort her overwhelming. He rested his hand on her shoulder and tentatively squeezed it, while the other hand tilted her chin up. "I'm so sorry," he told her quietly.
She blinked away the wetness in her eyes and shook her head. "No, it's not your fault. It was part of the deal, right?" She attempted a smile, but failed miserably. Stepping out of his reach, she turned to the fridge and retrieved the beef. She worked in silence, avoiding his eyes and any further conversation.
Duo felt a tightness in his chest as he watched her cook. He couldn't understand why her story had upset him so much. It had stirred memories he had thought long forgotten. He knew her story was far from finished, but something told him that this was a first for her. She hadn't bared her soul to anyone before and the pain was all but consuming her. If only I could get her to be less aware, more detached from her pain. Then she could finish her story. Duo watched her thoughtfully, brow furrowed. A few moments later his mouth curled into a smile that promised mischief, and lots of it.
