Bishi Pile Challenge:
Major challenge response: Argue, Anger, Respect
Minor challenge response: Shadows
Word count: 2,028
Series: Friends 2: Friends and Enemies
Author: Karina
Pairings: Zechs + Duo, Trowa x Quatre
Ratings: M 15+ [In Australia] Rated in the event of bad language and violence.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the characters.
Warnings: No apology given for Aussie spelling, but fair warning given.
Many thanks to Katie for betaing this fic.
Character Challenge:
Chapter 6
He was not amused and he was not going to swallow his anger simply because Quatre was… well… his friend.
Friends did not toss you off the deep end of the pier at low tide or, in this case, expect you to drive up a ramp and into the belly of a semi at near to top speed and NOT warn you that you only had a little more than half of the trailer in which to pull up.
Friends gave you warnings about little details like that.
And just what the hell was Quatre doing running around New Port City in the back of a semi trailer anyway?
It was just wrong.
It was surreal, the whole impossible situation.
From the moment he had set foot on the mountain and found Marquise, to his homecoming and this drive through New Port City's night time streets. On the mountain he had been constantly spooked by the shadows surrounding them, knowing something lurked within them… knowing that somehow Marquise was at the heart of that fear.
He did not spook easily.
He knew the meaning of fear, he had fought in the war and knew what it was to live with fear… but this had been different.
He had expected to return to some sense of normality, and his return had thus far proven to be anything but normal.
Quatre was not where he should have been- safely at home- an anchor for him to catch and hold on to. Instead he was in the last place Duo would ever expect to find him. Quatre should have been at home, beside himself with worry, that was what Quatre did, or working late at the office but… he should not be here.
And he hated tea!
The mug sat before him on the small table squashed into a corner of the walled off section separating them from the main body of the trailer. Rashid had hauled him into the small room allowing no one near him, particularly not Quatre, and presented him with the black tea. He would have preferred coffee, but he supposed the stimulant effect of his usual strength brew would be the last thing Rashid wanted him to charge up on.
Tea was supposed to be soothing, relaxing him after his ordeal.
Punching Quatre in the nose was what would sooth him, not some fancy named dried leaves.
"I will not permit Master Quatre to enter until you have drunk the tea and you have, at the least, ceased to shake."
Rashid blocked the door, his vast bulk filling the small space and going a long way to making Duo feel claustrophobic.
"Don't like tea."
Damn, he sounded like a sulky kid.
"There are many things in this world we do not approve of, many of them we unfortunately can not avoid. Drinking that cup of tea belongs in the 'we can not avoid' category."
Well, wasn't Rashid a smart arse this evening? And if he was being treated like a kid why shouldn't he act like one?
"I suppose you think I should just ignore it?"
"Fighting will serve no purpose." The big man sounded infinitely reasonable, an island of calm in the middle of chaos.
Infuriating. He really wanted to punch something… someone.
"Punching the crap out of him will wear out a bit of the adrenaline and give me a damn fine sense of satisfaction!"
Well that was a lengthy pause and the cup of tea was still on the table and he… Mmm, now that looked appetising but no, he would not be distracted.
"Drink your tea, Master Duo."
No don't be distracted. He had every right to be pissed off at Quatre and no one was going to convince him otherwise.
"Just one punch, Rashid. Just one swing at him."
One would be better than nothing and if he was quick he might just get in a second before anyone could stop him. He really needed to relive the tension somehow and sex sure as hell was off the list of possibilities. The next best thing had to be punching the daylights out of someone.
"Tea."
The man had a one track mind.
"I don't have time for this shit. I need to find out what is going on."
"Then drink your tea before it gets cold."
He was an infuriating bastard, but he was a huge infuriating bastard and Duo had learned to respect him and his convictions. He only wished he had someone to stand guard-stone for him the way Rashid and his people did for Winner.
"Dried leaves reconstituted in water are not some magical cure all, Rashid. I'm still going to be pissed with him and want to darken his daylights for him."
"That is abundantly clear, Master Duo, and I cannot say that I blame you given the circumstances. You demonstrated consummate skill in getting the car to stop in such a short distance."
"A fucking steel wall stopped the car!"
"Duo? I'm sorry, but we really can't afford to be seen just now and we can't afford to be followed either."
A quick glare over his shoulder and he found Rashid still blocked the doorway. Quatre must have been directly behind the behemoth of a man and he did sound contrite… sort of.
"Hmmmph."
"You don't know what has been happening, Duo. It's not safe."
It's not safe? No shit! He was the one who had been up on that mountain. He was the one who had had his hair curled by the… whatever it was Marquise could do. He knew full well it wasn't safe!
"It sure as hell isn't safe when your friends try to make paste of you!"
"I learned many things about you during the war, only one of which was to have confidence in your skill. Piloting or driving, it does not matter; you have the skill and the drive to survive. I knew you would be able to stop the car in time."
Duo scowled fiercely at the cup, wrapped a hand around its warm sides and downed a mouthful of the tea before turning to glare at Rashid, intending his glare to pierce the big man and shine through to Quatre.
"Any idiot can stop a car by slamming it into a wall he doesn't know is there!"
"This is wasting time and serving no purpose. We have much more important things to discuss."
Quatre sounded tired but Duo was tired himself and more than a little miffed and far from impressed. Another mouthful of tea. It was surprisingly good, at least it was well sweetened… and there was a biscuit on a plate beside the cup that had been tempting him… Yeah, that tasted okay too.
"Duo?"
"Shut up. I'm drinking my tea and you're disturbing me."
Behind Rashid's protective bulk Quatre blinked and, with a muffled moan, dropped his head into his hands. What was wrong with Duo for him to act like this? They needed to talk and they could not afford to drive around the streets of the city all night.
He needed to debrief Duo on what had occurred up on the mountain; find out if he had noticed anything 'odd' about Marquise… and what the reactions of the man had been to him. He really needed to know everything he could about the man who had been born to be a King and who was, officially, dead.
Duo might know something that could prove, or disprove, his assumptions and at the present time, given what he had already done, Quatre was not sure if he wanted to know if his hypothesis was accurate or not. It was worrying not knowing, but if it was true… that would not be worrying, it would be something to really fear.
And he had to explain about his activities since Duo had left New Port City. His friend was sure not to be amused by his actions, but he was sure he was right to take the actions he had. He simply could not allow anyone to use that type of power to control others… to distort events to suit their purpose at will.
He had to know if Marquise was stable and in possession of a conscience. If the man had values, moral values, that might hold him in check. There was so much he needed to know.
"Duo, we need to talk. About Marquise. There really isn't any time to waste."
"What about Zechs?"
Ah. He had peeked Duo's interest. That was good. Finally they could get down to business and stop wasting time.
"Look, Rashid, can you get your butt out of the way? It's not like he'll really take a swing at me."
Duo's eyes flashed deep indigo and he glared at the big man in the doorway. "Yes, Rashid, as if little old me would actually take a shot at the irresistible and all powerful… and always right… Quatre Winner."
Rashid looked anything but amused. "Your tea, if you please, Mr. Maxwell. There are more biscuits in the tin."
Deciding he was peckish Duo reached for the battered tin sitting in the middle of the table and after a moment settled back with a neat pile of biscuits set in front of him.
"We can't talk with Rashid acting as a wall between us, Duo. It's ridiculous."
It was ridiculous, he had to admit that, and at any other time it might have been funny, but he was not amused, not with the memory of that wall rushing up to meet him. It had been a trying few days, his nerves were raw, and coming back to this bad spy novel was not what he had been expecting.
"Good cookies, Rashid."
"Thank you, Master Duo."
Quatre scowled, hands settling on his hips as he glared at the huge bulk of the man. "We are not here for you to eat biscuits and ignore me!"
"Tea's not bad either." Duo grudgingly admitted.
"Stop ignoring me, Duo! I'm not going to go away and we don't have time for this crap!"
"Oooh, Quatre swore." Duo almost chuckled, nibbling his way around the edges of the home made treat in his fingers.
"We have a lot to discuss and the clock is ticking. Rashid, will you get out of the way!"
Duo set his cup, now empty, very deliberately to one side, polished off the final biscuit and turned in his seat, dusting his hands off on his thighs as he slipped from the chair, squared his shoulders and met Rashid's gaze.
"Finished my tea, Rashid, and I've eaten too. See, no shaking hands."
He held up his hands to demonstrate, painting a calm and oh so reasonable smile on his face. Somehow he was sure the big man was not fooled in the least.
"Rashid! Enough is enough. Move!"
Duo noted the flicker of irritation in the dark eyes and for a moment Rashid met his gaze, no doubt reading him like a book. The big man gave the impression of forced calm but after a moment Rashid moved, heaving his bulk up and forcing Quatre to move back so that he could exit the cramped space.
Quatre squeezed past to enter the room and grinned, satisfied. Now they could get down to business.
"Now, Duo we…Ugh!"
Duo's fist landed solidly, snapping Quatre's head to one side as he fell back into the waiting hands of Rashid, who deftly picked him up and set him back on his feet. Duo resisted the urge to shake his hand… that had hurt!... but it was well worth the bruised knuckles he would undoubtedly sport. But the damage to his knuckles would not be as impressive as the black eye Quatre would wear for a few days.
Dazed Quatre held a hand to his face, blood streaming from his nose. Duo had hit him?
Duo had hit him!
It was impossible, but the pain in his nose was beyond doubt and if Rashid was not supporting him he would be on the floor.
"You… You… hit me!"
"I'll just have another cup of tea, I think, Rashid."
End
Karina Robertson 2010