Well folks here we go again. Finally finished this part and before school reopened too. I will attempt to finish this but now I have another problem…really weird Internet access. We still use dial-up and the funds are a bit too low to go to a cyber-café. So you will probably see multiple entries from me, since I have a lot of stories written out and waiting.

Thanks to everyone for their patience. I'm happy you're waiting. I promised myself I would not be one of those authors who abandon a story (I'm not saying that you guys are evil or anything…you probably had a damn good reason to stop and are probably telling me to kiss your collective asses…my apologizes for any insult…)

Everything should be in order for this story soon, so until then enjoy this thing of mine.

_____________________________________________________________________

Mutually Assured Devastation to the nth degree.

By goingdownhillagain

Part Two: Why Alcohol is EVIL

Marcus was getting paranoid and drunk, and in the corners of his addled mind he knew that was a bad combination. In the twenty minutes his wife had disappeared in search of her favorite beer, someone had handed him two beers, a shot of brandy and scotch on the rocks. He could feel the beginnings of an acidic aftertaste that hinted at the stomach's reluctance to accept any more alcohol. Still nothing could distract him from the unease buried deep in his chest. Anna wasn't back yet and although he could rationally hypothesize her delay, the primitive side of him chaffed at the fact that she wasn't …well, here.

Marcus looked around, his eyes carefully scanning the crown for her familiar sheen of black hair. She had cut it short before the conference, thus with her somewhat petite frame, she looked like many of her compatriots in the Preventers. Suddenly his mind began to remind him of all the other things she shared with the people she worked with, things that separated him from her on too many levels.

Fear clawed at the back of his throat. He needed to find her, before someone else began talking to her, began to lure her away with their understanding, and make her realize that she may have made a mistake with him.

"Oi, Marcus! Man, you look like you saw something bad, man. What da hell's up with you man?"

"Have you seen Anna?"

His friend backed off, instinctively recognizing the hazardous tilt in Marcus' voice.

"Whoa man, she went to get a drink. Remember, she told you that."

"Which direction?"

"Marcus-"

"I said which direction?"

"Dude outside. Where the other Preventers are."

But he was talking to air. Marcus' friend stared for a moment, the shock of what just happened shoving him to sobriety. He knew that something really bad just happened, but he had no idea when or where he was going to reap the consequences. He looked down at his seventh bottle of beer. Maybe if he kept drinking the suddenly terror he felt would go away.

He took a strong swing of the bitter ale.

###################

There was something going on between Heero and Daisuke.

That Duo knew for certain. Ever since they both joined the group they had achieved a level of stillness that was only seen in a high-level infiltration mission. Many would have chalked it up to their personalities, especially if you were talking about someone like Yuy, soldier boy extraordinaire. But the few instances Duo worked with Daisuke, the man was always friendly, open without giving too much information. In a way he was the image of what Heero could be if the man would just let go. Duo hoped that it wasn't something he did. He was ecstatic when he spotted Heero in the crowd and it seemed like Daisuke was with him. He had no problems with the guy so he figured he'd invite them both over. As a matter of fact Heero would be more comfortable with Daisuke since they shared more mission than Heero and himself.

Duo watched as Heero carefully did not look at Daisuke. As Heero did his quick surveillance of his companion, Daisuke continued to follow the conversation next to him. He seemed totally oblivious to what was going on next to him. Except Duo saw the small twitch by his mouth Every time Heero seemed to lean closer to him…

Duo's blood went cold and his esophagus pumped the last gulp of beer back up to his throat. Why he didn't see it, why didn't he realize that he never had a chance, that no matter how much he wanted it, his dreams, his desires would never be fulfilled…

Why didn't realize that Heero would never be interested in him since he already had someone else?

###################

Wufei had reached the fifty-fifth reason why he should not have to kill his officers. Unfortunately he had to repeat reason number twelve; the one with the wife and children about twenty-seven times. It amazed him how approximately twenty-five trained officers could miss something so simple as a camera.

"Okay, so you know where it is…right?"

"Well yes…sir. We do know where it is, but…"

"But…"

"But we don't really know…"

"HOW DA HELL-"

The officer flinched as Wufei's face turned red. It would have been funny, except they all knew that the red was a precursor to a tanned hue, which usually meant a 100-day training session in Antarctica.

"Well…um…we know that the camera didn't leave the premises…"

"And how so?"

The agents looked at each other desperately, before the youngest flipped a switch on the control board. A screen materialized in front of them and the image jumped across its surface. There was a kaleidoscope of lights but after a second the image settled, only to jump again. As Wufei watched the image shift, he felt a sense of vertigo and his mind subconsciously nudged at a remembered experience.

"They're…throwing…the camera…around?"

There was silence.

"Yes, sir…um… That's what we just figured. We were trying to figure out where this is happening. We haven't been able to focus on any of the uniforms with the speed of the throw but hopefully-"

Wufei just got up and walked out of the room. The agents froze in terror, unsure of what had just happened and what the hell they were supposed to do.

"WELL, aren't you going to join me?"

Twenty-five bodies snapped in panicked attention before scuttling out the room. No-one looked up as Wufei rounded the corner and stepped into the bright lights of the corridor that led to the party.

But everyone did see the beginnings of a lovely tan on his cheeks.

##################

Daisuke knew he had a chance. When Duo called them over, he knew that he could win over the young boy. He was even more certain now…especially as he had finally met his competition. Who would have thought that the famed 01 Pilot was his adversary? He smiled knowingly as he remembered the look on Yuy's face when they first noticed each other. He had a funny feeling that this was the first time the young man ever had to face someone who was prepared to fight him tooth and nail for something he wanted.

Good, Daisuke was quite happy to teach him.

"So Duo, I take it you have plans for your vacation, right?"

Duo seemed a little distracted as he jumped when Daisuke spoke.

"Oh…um yeah. I'm going to see a friend of mines. She lives on L2."

"Oh, Hilde? I haven't heard from her in a while. How is she?"

Heero smirked at Daisuke's shocked expression and Duo's surprised one.

"Yeah…she's okay. Ian says she officially on bed rest now, since it's triplets. They set the delivery date for next month."

"Really? And when is that?" Duo's eyes swung back to Daisuke.

"Oh, the tenth of July. By that time it should be about twenty nine week gestation period."

"Oh, are there problems."

"Oh, no. It's just that having a multiple birth is putting a lot of pressure on her body. They want her to be as rested as possible to give her body a chance to support the development of the babies."

"Oh, so she had gone into pre-mature labour last month."

Duo blinked, "Yeah, how did you-"

"You were telling me about it. When I asked about your need to take emergency leave. Remember I said I would cover for you."

"You…did? Thanks! Sorry if I didn't notice."

Heero merely nodded his head and smiled. Daisuke spoke up.

"So you're going to spend your entire six weeks there?"

"Well no. I really had no plans. Jesse and Luc were inviting me to a heavy metal concert up state. It sounded pretty good."

"Yes …I heard about that. Tickets are really hard to find. They must have pre-ordered theirs."

"Yes, I was planning to attend."

"Whoa Heero, ya serious? I thought ya hated the music."

"I hated it when you played it too loud. But the music was good. Ogawa's right, the tickets are very hard to come by."

"Man, that's too bad… Well anywho, I 'm considering their offer."

"Oh really."

The temperature drooped as both men recognized the importance of what Duo said, even if he didn't understand it. Both knew Jesse and Luc a bit; working with the Preventers allowed you to be in contact with almost every agent on some level or another. Jesse Diablo and Luc Waterway were competent agents in their own right and no one had anything bad to say about their relationship; professional and personal.

But in the eyes of these two suitors they were dead. Daisuke and Heero knew what they were trying to do, knew what plans they had for Duo. The men were very open about their relationship but the idea that they would include him in their little…

Subconsciously they joined forces.

"You know I heard that a big storm was heading that way."

"Yeah, I know, but it's a rock concert. No self-respecting rocker would be put off by a little rain."

Heero snorted, "True Ogawa. Though at your age you need to be careful, yes?"

Daisuke just glared.

"I'm just saying. The venue is a valley that has little to no drainage. With this storm the place is going to become a lake."

"Oh shit! I didn't think about that! Yo Jesse, did you know ya concert is happening in a storm?"

The young man with the red hair looked confused.

"Whoa?! Run that by me again?"

"Dude, the storm. Daisuke was just telling me about it. Said that Corner's Valley's like a lake waitin' ta happen."

Both men watched as Diablo's face folded into impartiality. His eyes scanned their faces for a brief moment before focusing on Duo's face.

"Oh really, well If da storm is comin' in I won't be too worried. I heard they were trying to install a temp drainage system. Besides I think the organizers keepin' the crowd down for this concert."

"But there was warning bulletin concerning a new professional scalping and forgery ring. They mentioned the concert you and Waterway are planning to attend as one of the targets."

Diablo stared at Heero for a nano-second and Heero reveled in the animosity that brewed there. Then taking a swing of his beer, he began to turn back to Waterway.

"Well, I figure they would want to do that. That's why we bought our tickets from the promotion company. Still, Yuy, I will take your advice. If this group is something to concern the Preventers, maybe it might be prudent to check."

"You do that."

######################

Diablo wanted to swear, loudly and badly. He wanted to cuss everyone within a five-meter radius, then take a wet towel, knot it and whip everyone else. Then he wanted to grab Maxwell, drag his boyfriend back to their apartment, then spend the rest of their vacation brainwashing Duo into accepting their proposal. And why? Just so that he could watch the knowing look on both Yuy and Ogawa's faces bleed out.

They weren't smirking; they were too busy keeping their faces blank and their eyes on each other. However there was a certain confidence in them that always use to annoy him on a superficial level. Both men, whether on missions or off-duty, always walked with a grace that told you they had the means and the right to destroy lesser mortals. Waterway told him once that both men (yes men; Yuy was more man than most people) were accustomed to ruling efficiently and brutally, and you had to remind yourself that you weren't the enemy but a fellow officer. Still Diablo just wanted to smash his beer bottle into their faces.

Just so that they could move away from –

"Jesse, you're growling again."

"What? Uh…no I'm not. You're-"

"You're growling."

Diablo looked into Waterway's eyes …and let out the breath he was holding.

"I know…I know…it just…"

"Jesse, he isn't our boyfriend…"

"Yet!"

Waterway rolled his eyes.

"Jesse, I don't think we have a chance right now."

"What?! Ya givin' up already? I don't believe ya! Look at them! Dominatin' Duo like he some piece of meat! Not givin' him an' anyone a chance-"

"Um…Duo hasn't shown any-"

"Because those two bastards are hogging him! I thought you wanted this!"

Waterway did want this; he was the one who introduced the idea. However as he looked on he knew that as much as Duo was tempted, he was long taken by someone else. And quite honestly that was a fight neither he nor Diablo could win.

"Jesse what did we agree to?"

Diablo opened his mouth and then closed it.

"Jesse, one thing we both agreed was that we were not going to push ourselves on others. That was the golden rule. You want to break that now?"

Diablo began sulking.

"If you won't say it I will. I don't think Duo would be comfortable in a threesome."

"But you don't know-"

"Jesse. Look at him."

"I…I don't want to…"

"Jesse…"

"Luc, it's…it's not…"

"Alright let me put it another way. What if Duo was only interested in you, not me? If he asked you to choose between me and him, would you?"

Diablo looked at Waterway just smiling at him and he thought of all the things that he liked about Duo Maxwell. He loved his hair, the way he smelled, the way he carried himself; it was as if Duo was the embodiment of all things perfect. Just like…

Diablo looked at his beer bottle.

"Oi, ole' man! Stop being an ass and get me another beer. Ya senile sentimental ole' goat."

"Whatever smartass."

He refused to acknowledge Waterway's knowing smile.

#####################

Anna was feeling twitchy. That was the only way she could explain it. If she was out in the fields, it meant that things were about to get uncomfortable very quickly. If she was on the base, it meant that someone was stupid enough to piss off her boss and everyone was about to pay in a double shift sort of way. But, even with her favorite beer freezing the skin on her palm, she had the sudden urge to find her husband and leave.

As she started back to where she left him, she wondered if his grouchy attitude was more a reflection of the strain he and his comrades were under. Granted life sucked for them at the moment but at least the world didn't blame them for the shit that has been happening. Maybe it was a good thing that he had a month's leave. Maybe he would come down from that dangerous high she had been sensing for the last month.

Anna looked around and realized she hadn't moved. Shaking her head she set off, not bothering to check the direction she was walking.

She just wanted to find her husband.

#######################

It took all of five minutes for Ellis Anderson to recognize that his crush would always remain a crush. It then took him five seconds to accept this fact. And he moved on, it was that simple. Things were very simple for him and he liked it that way.

So it didn't surprise him that what was happening in front of him was a big steaming rancid pile of complicated. On one hand there was Yuy and Ogawa, two men who wanted Maxwell desperately; on the other side was Diablo and Waterway who wanted the same and it seems had a more coherent plan of attack. But they didn't seem very focus right now. It was as if the decided to wait for something. And there was Duo, who had no idea about what was going on around him and quite honestly didn't care. His eyes were only for one person.

Okay, so it wasn't that complicated, but the fallout from this situation was getting more complicated. And Ellis knew that it wasn't going to be a simple as Maxwell choosing one and everyone shaking hands with the victor. And he wasn't known for being well coordinated in a fight.

Suddenly Diablo and Waterway began to back off. They didn't give any vocal indication; as a matter of fact they were still neck deep in whatever conversation that was going on. But as Ellis watched, each man seemed to exhale; their bodies settled into a finality that he only saw in fugitives at the end of a manhunt. They had surrendered. They recognized something, a sign, a word and had given up.

And the competition recognized it. Already Yuy and Ogawa had begun to subtly circle Maxwell, drawing him into their space yet eyeing each other with malevolent intent.

The situation just got worse.

#####################

It took them five minutes to locate Relena, but forty-five minutes to get to her. Alcohol had made many belligerent and both Trowa and Quatre found themselves resorting to elbow shoving to get through the crowd of Councilors, Army and Preventers high officials. Relena leaning against the grand piano, smiling in pained pleasantness as Commander Headley bragged about his past prowls, each achievement raining on her face like the spittle that shot out of his mouth.

Surprisingly Relena seemed very sober from their vantage point. Trowa could see her eyes frantically searching for any excuse to end the conversation. They danced in rapture as the two men approached.

"Miss. Peacecraft. Can I have a word with you please?"

Commander Headley, who in his drunken state was certain he had swept the young Peacecraft of her feet, was not amused that his final symbolic tug to the marriage bed was interrupted.

"Mr. Barton, do…do…do…do you not see that the young lady and I are…are…are discussing matters of security? We don't…don't…don't have time for rabble-"

Trowa just stared.

"Actually, I asked him to report to me! Commander, if you will excuse me for a moment?"

But the Commander didn't want to be dismissed.

"Really, I don't understand…why…why… why you rely on riff raff like him. What you need is strong men committed to order … and …and …good breeding. Not rebel riff raff!"

Trowa, Quatre and Relena froze mid-stride, but for totally different reason.

For Relena, it was the knowledge that Headley was stupid enough to insult the one group of people who were responsible for his position. A small voice pointed out that technically she was also one of the riff raffs. She said a small prayer of thanks Heero wasn't anywhere-

Trowa could not believe that fat bastard said that. He could not have been that stupid-Even as his face settled into apathy, cold pragmatism bled into his eyes. He remembered many instances this man was so easy to kill-

Quatre felt hollow; a shell of himself filled with the roar of a thousand scorpions in a stinging frenzy. He could feel a heat of rage just hanging over the oblivious idiot. He could feel hidden bodies just waiting, and Trowa…Trowa-

"Sir," Relena began slowly, "you and your squadron have been working hard for this conference, right?"

"Well…that's…true…true…"

"So why be concerned. The Preventers are here to ensure that you have the opportunity to relax, sir. I have complete confidence in them…unless of course you have reason to question my decision."

Quatre cheered silently as the underpants of Headley's self-preservation bunched uncomfortably with his dress pants of arrogance.

"No…no…no…I…I…I didn't…mean…"

"Good, so why don't you relax. This wouldn't take long. And I really would like to hear the end of that story."

And with a dazzling smile she swept Trowa and Quatre into the crowd.

"Relena, you scare me sometimes."

"Not as much as Trowa can. Trowa? Trowa! You can hunt him later! What is it?"

They watched as Trowa shook himself out of his berserker stupor.

"Um…we…um came to ask you…"

"We came to ask you if Heero was with you back there?"

"No, I took him off duty about an hour ago."

"Where did you send him?"

"Quatre, why are you two panicking so much? He hasn't started a fight, has he?"

Trowa and Quatre looked at each other carefully. Relena felt sobriety rush to her skull like a gunshot.

"What happened?"

Trowa opened his mouth.

Quatre looked on while Trowa whispered the entire problem in her ear. He saw as her face went from uncertainty to shock. But her emotions told the real story. He could feel waves of absolute terror coming off of her, but underneath it all was a sensation which really scared him; absolute resignation.

Trowa finished his report and looked at Relena cautiously.

"Relena?"

"Yes?"

The crowd buzzed around them.

"So what do you want us to do?"

Relena kept staring.

"Relena?"

She looked at them. Quatre looked uncertain.

"You have a plan? Some idea what we can do because there's-"

"Not a blessed idea."

"Oh…"

################

In the crowd that night, an animal was stalking. It (he) searched for its…mate wife…wife…amongst the bodies of potential prey…comrades, remember they're your comrades, friend…yeah... The veil of civility was a mere scrap of cloth now and as it greeted others it could smell the threat…friends…comrades...and knew it had to stake its (his) claim…soon. (NOW!)

It let its eyes scan the crowd, well a much as it could scan since it was a bit…short. It realized that it was in Preventers territory and for a moment it allowed itself a snarl of disgust. If not for his mate, he would have personally eradicated the little brats. Everyone hated how they just moved in like they owned the place. But now it was not his concern. His main prerogative was to find his…wife and leave…

He saw a wisp of black hair flutter through the crowd in front of him and a almost inconspicuous scent danced over his nostrils.

She was close. Its eyes grew focus as it moved off in the direction of the scent.

#################

The music was pumping, thorough the walls and the floor. The chandelier shook to the rhythm of a trance-beat that the entire party felt compelled to follow

Both Daisuke and Heero could feel the pulse of the music under their skin and it fuelled their own personal, hormone-induced visions of a happily accommodating Duo. Each envisioned Duo whispering his name with adore as they lay on the beach or sofa of their choice. Each saw in his mind's eye the dates they would go on, the quiet dinners at home, and the trips they would take. Each saw time passing and dared to dream of a future filled with Duoness.

All they needed to do was get rid of the other.

"Duo I'd like to apologize about just now. I didn't know you were looking forward to the concert."

"Don't worry about it, Daisuke. I really didn't make up my mind about it. I figured since they were nice guys, it wouldn't have been so bad."

"Oh…well that's…fortunate." Daisuke tried not to smirk.

"So you don't know them that well."

"Well, I won't say that I don't know them. They worked with me for a couple of cases. Come on Heero you should remember them from that Forester case a month ago. They are some pretty stand up guys."

"Oh, yes I remember. They were quite efficient."

"Actually, I'm quite curious about them. Weren't they on opposite sides of the last war?"

"The one with Mariemaia?"

"Yes…I believe so."

"You're right. They met when Mariemaia's army surrendered into Preventers custody. Diablo was seventeen, and since he was a minor…"

"He could not be charged as a consenting adult."

"Yeah Heero, that law Relena passed really saved a lot of people."

Daisuke and Heero looked at each other and Duo carefully. They both tried not to think where their Duo would be without that particular ordinance.

"Anywho, because of the whole minor thing, Diablo needed to be put under 'secured supervision'. The powers that be decided that Agent Waterway was the perfect solution."

"And I take it that it worked out well?"

"Um, if you consider the eighteen trips to the hospital 'working it out'."

Both Daisuke and Heero's eyes rose.

"Yeah, they spent most of the time fighting. Diablo always joked that he's forever ashamed that a skinny old man beat him. Sometimes I wonder though…"

"Wonder what?"

Duo looked at Heero and Daisuke for a moment and his heart clenched in pain.

"As much as they tried to kill each other…as much as they caused each other pain, they found each other. I mean they are totally committed. It makes you wonder…"

Suddenly Diablo interrupted.

"Hey guys someone just brought in a fifty cases of beer. The good stuff this time! Any takers?"

"Jesse, you're not taking any."

Diablo pouted as Waterway came up from behind, "But whyyyyyyyy?"

"Because idiot you already have ten beers. That's way over your limit. I want you coherent for the next three weeks."

"But I thought you said you wanted me incoherent for the next three weeks."

"And preferably horizontal, but not over a toilet."

"Oh like the last time you drank beer."

The three men watched as Diablo and Waterway traded insults, the promise of free beer long forgotten. Heero and Daisuke could see what Duo was talking about. The men looked radically different from each other, Waterway towered over his younger lover like an elder brother. They were not known for being demonstrative of their relationship. Waterway sometimes was Diablo's superior depending on the situation. But one always got the feeling that there was something more to their relationship that workplace camaraderie. Diablo's insults always seem to have a soften edge to it. Waterway's gruff demeanor blanketed a concern that made the coldest person feel a pang of jealousy. They were, in essence truly into each other, and so confident that they didn't have to follow the rules of establishing their relationship.

Soon the insults became raunchy so Duo decided to end it before they began to expound on Waterway's manhood.

"Don't worry. As a matter of fact I think I'm going to cut myself off too. What about you guys?"

Daisuke and Heero glanced at each other.

"Well I don't drink that much so it's no loss," Daisuke began but was savagely interrupted by Heero. "I don't drink. Actually this the first time I've ever drank beer."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that, Heero." Duo smiled, "So how was it."

"It was…alright. But I think beer is always better enjoyed in good company."

Heero's smile was small but Duo's heart fluttered at the genuine warmth that radiated from his eyes. But then his mind replayed Heero's words and his body turned cold.

Risking a glimpse at Daisuke, he saw the man look at Heero with an unreadable stare.

Duo knew he didn't have a chance.

Diablo didn't look too disappointed. As a matter of fact, he didn't seem to care.

"Oh okay. Well better get back to Luc. The alcohol's beginning to affect his reasoning."

"I heard that asswipe!"

"Ya was meant ta! Ya jackass!"

The still-arguing couple disappeared into the crowd.

Daisuke and Heero just raised an eyebrow in amusement, but Duo's face ha a strange mixture of frustration and wistfulness.

"That is what I want."

"What?"

"Pardon?"

Both men turned their heads to Duo but he didn't even notice.

"That sense of comfort, that peace. That feeling that I can trust anyone with that part of myself. Sometimes I get real jealous of Luc and Jesse. I wonder sometimes…"

Ogawa leaned in closer, "What is it? What do you wonder?"

Duo head swung at Daisuke's voice. For an instant a pain danced across his face, but years of conditioning shoved it behind a small smile.

"I wonder when it would be my turn."

"Maybe someone is just waiting for you," Heero's voice was as solemn as his gaze,

"They are waiting for the moment when you would finally recognize them."

Duo snorted in disgust, "Well whatever. I'm getting tired of waiting. If they can't make up their minds, I will."

And suddenly he could no longer stand the conversation he had started. Making up an excuse that sounded half-baked even by his standards, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving two equally confused suitors in his wake.

Silence, or as much silence as a party had, reigned between the two men. Then they remembered who the other person was.

"So, Yuy, now that we know where he stands, where do you stand?"

Heero's stare turned ice.

"My intentions are perfectly clear. What I'm concerned about is your intent."

"Oh Yuy I didn't know you cared. Now if you were Maxwell's paramour I would be scared."

"And you are?"

Daisuke smirked in confidence.

"Let's just say, I have a better chance that you will ever have. Tell me, how long do you think Duo's been waiting?"

Heero could feel the growl building at the back of his throat.

#################

It was amazing how the fear of Chang would sober up anyone deep in the dregs of drunkenness. This was the case with an unfortunate cadet. One minute he was taking his turn to see if he could toss the mounted camera without 'compromising' it, next he was staring into the glaring globs of one highly annoyed captain.

"I hope you and your friends get a good night's rest tonight. Because come tomorrow all of you will be taking Basic Equipment Maintenance 1265 for the next week!"

"Ye-yes sir." The young man tried desperately not to faint.

Captain smiled, though his eyes remained cold, "Good, now-"

A beer bottle mashed with such a force into the pillar above Wufei that not much was left to fall unto the ground. Everyone, including Wufei, looked at the little bits of glass on the ballroom floor.

#################

If Duo had turned his head he would have been very reluctant to leave Daisuke and Heero alone. As it was people around them were slowly backing off from the seemingly innocent but escalating argument. Both men didn't seem to notice.

"He's not yours and he will never be yours."

"Oh, Captain Yuy, getting straight to the point! Excellent. I thought this was going to be one of your mind games."

"This coming from a man who waits for others to fuck up before picking at their carcass."

"Ouch, aren't we getting snarky!"

"Whatever, he's mine. And you're not going to succeed."

Daisuke folded his arms and smiled with a satisfaction suited only to one who has already gotten what they wanted.

"Oh really Yuy and what makes you think that he's yours?"

"He said so himself. I asked him and he said yes."

"In your fantasy world or during one of your infamous concussions?"

"He agreed damnit!"

Heero could feel the rage sear his skin as Daisuke's disgusted glare bored into his skull. Both men didn't even bother to acknowledge the crowd around them.

"Well if you are so committed to your 'relationship', you have a hell of a way of showing it!"

"What do you mean…"

"Oh you don't remember. Let me refresh your memory. You didn't seem too concern when Maytower was making moves on your boyfriend!"

Heero grew still.

"If I do recall, I saw more interest out of Chang than I saw out of you! You were too busy guarding the Peacecraft girl. If Duo is supposed to mean something to you, hell shouldn't have stopped you from dealing with Maytower!"

By this point Daisuke was snarling, his eyes blazed in anger. No longer was he interested in proving his superiority of Yuy. He knew he was better and that this little brat didn't deserve anything.

"Yuy, do you know what your problem is? You just think that you're better than everyone around you! Just because you flew a Gundam you think you own everything and anyone. Well, you don't! I am going to take great pleasure in taking Duo away from you…wait a minute I just made a mistake. How can I take someone who isn't even yours?"

"Duo is MINE!"

"Really," Daisuke smiled smugly "let's ask Duo, oh wait you can't"

He never saw the first punch.

####################

"What in the gods name-"

Then they heard the fight. It was a wall of sound rising to a crescendo as it approached Wufei and his crew. Soon they could distinguish voices, the sound of flesh meeting flesh and the cheers of men and women enjoying a good fight.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

Wufei staggered into the thick crowd. His officers weren't stupid enough not to follow.

####################

Duo had to get away. He knew if he stayed one more second he was going to embarrass himself by bursting into tears. For a brief moment he wondered if maybe Dorothy was right and that he was meant to be a woman. Maybe he would feel a lot more comfortable with these…upheavals.

His ears heard the sound and his mind recognized the noises before he even turned around. Already the pathway he had taken through the crowd to the bar had been swallowed by the mass of humanity who always enjoyed a good fight. Duo wondered superficially who would be so stupid as to start a fight but already his body knew the answer.

"Man, look at Yuy wail on Ogawa!"

"Dude, what the fuck brought that on?"

"Don't know, but I think Yuy just broke something."

Duo stopped in shock, his body refusing to believe that Heero would lose control. Then he remembered who Heero was.

"Oi, jack-asses let me through!"

###################

It was like two lions roaring for dominance and anyone with any sense of self-preservation knew the call. Instinctively the crowd around them turned to the source, even as bodies backed away from the brawl. The two Asian men didn't care. Theirs was a fight of eradication; their sole purpose was to remove the other from what they considered theirs.

Heero took advantage of his first strike, following up his punch into Daisuke's nose with one straight into his gullet. He then took his elbow and began to ram it into the side of Daisuke's neck, taking an almost euphoric pleasure in watching his opponent's neck snap with each strike. But Daisuke had recovered enough to kick out at Heero's left ankle. The pain was inconsequential, but the action distracted Heero enough to allow Daisuke two swift upper-cuts to his gut followed by a body hurl against the balcony. Daisuke snarled, satisfied when Heero's body bounced off the railings.

Heero jumped up quickly, his bloodlust gone far beyond the pain. He watched as Daisuke took a moment shove his broken nose back into place before wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. Suddenly Daisuke looked up and smiled when he saw Heero looking at him.

"See you're not the only one who can do it."

Heero charged.

###############

Relena was never cut out to be an agent. She could now admit that without shame. In the time it took her to reach the centre of the ballroom, both Trowa and Quatre had to backtrack seven times just to ensure she knew where they were. The men moved like hummingbirds, their bodies hovering in space before disappearing in the great expanse of the crowd. Relena, for the umpteenth time, marveled that she and the Alliance had survived that long with boys like these in the world.

"Relena, are you okay? Are we moving too fast?"

"Yes Quatre, but I keep reminding myself that I'm working with masters of wallflowerism."

Trowa just blinked, but Quatre had the decency to blush.

"Guys," Relena continued, "this isn't working. I can't keep up and quite honestly I'm not going to. So, go ahead and get to Heero. Hopefully nothing has happened as yet…I desperately hope so!"

Trowa spoke up, "What about you?"

"I'll figure out something…where the hell is Chang when you need him?"

"Woman, what is your problem now!?"

Relena, Trowa and Quatre looked on in awe as Wufei appeared, his mere aura parting the sea of oblivious partygoers.

"Makes you wonder what the exodus would have been like if he was in charge."

"Probably over before it began."

"True."

"What are you babbling about?"

"Nothing…nothing at all. Wait a minute, why are you walking around with backup?"

Wufei looked at his squad.

"Incase you haven't noticed, Barton, there's a bloody fight starting on the balcony."

Relena's eyes opened wide.

"But how did you-"

Suddenly they noticed how…less noisy the place was. Granted people were still speaking the language of a large drunk mob, but even Relena could hear the conversations becoming controlled, as if the speaker were timing their responses to a far off disturbance.

Quatre looked around

"Do you think?"

Wufei rolled his eyes.

"Definitely, since Miss. Matchmaker here set the scene."

"Chang, fuck off!"

"Relena!"

"Seriously Quatre, if he opens his mouth one more time about that night I will show him the many uses for a damn stiletto!"

Trowa watched around for a second, then began to speak.

"Chang, secure Relena. Quatre and I will go and retrieve Duo and Heero. It is probably nothing but I would feel better if they aren't here."

Quatre looked on as both Relena and Wufei muttered under their breaths.

"Fine. Report anything suspicious. Remember, I have an entire squad at my disposal. Well, Miss Peacecraft, if you will come with me."

"Whatever." And with a parting snort she took Wufei's hand and allowed herself to be led away.

The two boys looked at the area where their friends disappeared.

"Trowa, I wonder…"

"Pardon me?"

"Um…nothing…let's go"

Like ghosts they disappeared.

#################

Duo fought hard to get back to where he was earlier, the crowd had become as thick as a woven mat. Twice he had to stop to let someone pass him and once he shoved someone out of his way. Thankfully he was long gone before it had become a new fight. Finally he made it to the brawl and as he emerged he immediately tried to head for the two combatants. Six muscular arms bodily picked him up and pulled him back.

"What da fuck! Let me-"

"Duo, NO! Don't go out there!"

Duo turned around to see Ellis, Jesse and Luc staring at him.

"What da hell, guys! Shouldn't we be stopping them?"

"Dude, you more than anyone should know whose fighting! Look at them!"

Duo turned around just in time to see Daisuke ram Heero into one of the pillars. Daisuke got only one chance to pound his knee into Heero's spleen, before Heero caught it, twisted it and shoved Daisuke off of him. The older man fell awkwardly to the ground but Heero didn't bother to wait as he immediately dove on him, using his fist like battering rams. Duo could see that the balcony already suffered from the rigors of this brawl.

"Still we have to stop them. Une is going to flay our asses if this gets worse."

Waterway cringed, "Aw HELL... Duo, grab Heero, I know you can probably do it. Jesse and me are gonna grab Daisuke. "

Jesse watched as Daisuke flipped Heero unto his back and tried to slam his skull into the concrete floor. Unfortunately Heero couldn't cooperate, as he was too busy choking Daisuke with all his might. The fact that Daisuke's face was turning red proved that it was working.

"Amazing, this entire thing started because they want the same thing."

Ellis' voice was soft in a sea of jeers and cheers, but the three men's head swung around in disbelief.

"What?"

"Come on Jesse, even you and Luc wanted the same thing. Hell, even I wanted it to a

lesser extent."

"Ellis, what are you talking about?"

"He's talking about you."

Duo eyes opened wide. Luc had to be joking.

"Luc isn't joking."

"Jesse?"

Ellis decided to take over the conversation.

"Duo, one of the things I like about you is the fact you are so innocent with your emotions. If you like someone, you like them unconditionally, without vice. If you don't like someone, you at least try to work with them. You don't hold on the vendettas. And people are drawn to that, some more than others. Especially since that same innocence makes you so oblivious to what's happening around you"

"But ain't Heero and Daisuke together? Not that I would deny them their happiness but-"

"Do they look like they are together?"

Daisuke realizing that oxygen was more important than instant victory tried to pry Heero's hands off his throat. This gave Heero enough momentum to fling the older man over his body and right into one of the standing pillars. Both men groggily scrabbled to their feet, and then charged each other again.

"Okay, I guess not…But what does that have to do with-"

"Heero and Daisuke want you more."

The men looked on as the fight escalated. Heero and Daisuke were feeling the wear of their brawl though both men were reluctant to admit it. The fight had degenerated into a punching contest and it was a bloody, bone-crunching tie. But Duo's mind was still at a loss at what to do. Here was an idea so alien to its systemic pathways that it tried everything to deal with it.

"You know what, fuck this! Let's just stop this shit. Then we'll talk about this rampant hormone demonstration."

And with that the agents rushed into the fray.

#################

Anna was panicking. She had finally made it back to where she left her husband and in simple terms, he…wasn't…there. Under normal circumstances it would probably mean that he went to the men's room but the twitchiness she felt earlier had morphed into a full-blown tremor. The beer was long abandoned and sobriety was now a permanent resident in her skull.

"Yo, Anna!"

Anna turned, only to see one of Marcus' friends. Some guy he was talking to when she left.

"Dave, have you seen Marcus?"

"Actually that's why I came to talk to you. He looked real pissed. I'm not too sure what's going on but I think you better find him."

"Shit! That bad! Do you remember where he went?"

"Don't know, but Anna…he looked well you know…like he did when Alex tried to make moves on you last year."

The tremor increased in ferocity.

"Understood. Thanks man."

"Good luck, kid."

Anna tried to not run into the crowd.

#####################

Duo and the others made back into the fray and discovered just how tough it was to break up a fight. Heero and Daisuke were so bent on killing each other that they were quite happy with using anyone to do so. Duo was able to avoid all their attempts, but Jesse and the others sported black eyes and bruises from random but well-aimed swings. Still it was a no go in the ending of the fight.

The crowd around them didn't seem to mind at all. They had given up the pretence of mild interest and many of the faceless crowd was yelling for more blood.

"That's it, when this is over, I'm going to kill both of them!"

"Please, they're your superiors. You can't do squat!"

"Yeah, but Waterway can. He's on their level…well sort of…"

"Jesse! Focus! Revenge later!"

The four men rushed into the fray once more. This time everyone had learnt his lesson. Theirs became a dance of dodging and darting; of escaping fists and ducking hands. There were moments of victory; a hand stayed and fist stopped by strong hands, a foot tackled and unbalanced by a determined body. The crowd wasn't cooperating however. All their attempts at ending the fight were undone when anonymous hands and arms foiled their many attempts. Finally Duo had had enough.

"Alright, this is the last time. Everyone when I say go, scream like hell and rush the bastards! Got it?"

"Works for me!"

And with a bloody roar they rushed the two combatants, overwhelmed them and shoved them to the floor.

"Stay on him! Heero, stop fighting ya idiot! Or do you want Une using our spleens as earrings?!"

"Ellis, hold Daisuke's arms down- no, oh God-"

"Da hell! Duo, he's trying to bite my arm!"

"Crap, move ya hand down, Jesse!"

"Damnit, now he has my jacket! Leggo ya mad ass!"

"Um, Luc?"

"Ogawa, I have a lot of respect for you but if you try to dig my eye out one more-oh, for the love of-!"

"Can someone please help here or – Heero, stop that! Or all you all constipated from the beer?!"

Duo voice seemed to seep into the hazed minds of some individuals, tentatively moving their legs into some sort of coherent pattern. Soon there was enough bodies to allow the original four men to get up. With the fight over, many of the fans began to bleed back into the faceless crowd. But Duo knew that Une was going to know what happened on the balcony in the next ten seconds.

Heero had settled down a bit but still the men trying to restrain him moved cautiously. He sat on the ground by himself, just staring as Daisuke, who was still fighting to get off the floor.

Duo grabbed Heero's shirt collar and in a rage dragged his pathetic carcass upward.

"What da fuck's wrong wit ya mad ass! Do you know what shit-"

#######################

He watched and he raged. She was here struggling to get to him in the crowd. He knew that she had to defeat those against him, those that wanted to keep her away from him. Already he could smell their intent. The way they smiled at him while thy blocked his way. How they misled him, pushing his body in the wrong direction, away from what was his. But he was on to them and now he had her scent. And they wouldn't dare…

Suddenly more came. He watched as they swarmed her, taking her down and holding her slight body to the ground. Even as he clawed his way to her, he could see those…things grabbing her arms and legs, touching her, hurting her…

Then when they were finished they walked away.

With his mind screaming for blood, Marcus burst through the last barrier people, ready to grasp his precious prize and reign justice on all those who touched her.

Then he saw it, the longhaired one grabbing his love by her neck. Yelling and screaming at her, shaking her fragile body that had gone through so much.

That was it.

#################

A roar suddenly rose and crashed through the patio windows. Everyone in the ballroom raised their heads in fright as it took advantage of the acoustics of the dome shaped room. Duo, just as surprised as everyone else, didn't see the movement until it was too-

As a fist crashed into Duo's face, he dimly marveled at how unpracticed his reflexes were, and how much he out of shape. His last thought before the back of his skull met cold marble, was that the resulting concussion was going to be a bitch and that Relena was going to kill them all.

###############

It was almost instantaneous. The moment Marcus' fist connected with the young man's face, a spell burst and crumbled into nothing. Suddenly he noticed things. He noticed how quiet the hall got and how much attention he was getting. He also noticed the strange growling to his left, starting off like a whisper then growing in ferocity. His eyes and ears automatically searched for the source, even as his sub-conscious screamed in warning and frantically scrabbled amongst his brain folds looking for an escape. Laughing to himself in panic, the image of a mini-him running around in fright, he finally found the source only to see…four men and his wife…who was not his wife…staring at him in cold calculating silence. His mini-self, realizing that Marcus was completely useless, took over aggressively manipulating nerve endings to muscle movement.

But it was too late.

As his face, was swallowed by bodies and fists, Marcus wondered how long he was going to be in the dog house with his wife.