Disclaimer - Gundam Wing is owned by Bandai/Sunrise, and I'm just borrowing them for my own personal amusement.

Warning - this is probably a bit late, but I have been very remiss in not posting any type of warnings for this story. Anyway, just in case anyone's missed them, this story contains m/m sex, swearing, use of drugs and alcohol, violence, references to past abuse, and wanton destruction of artwork and rare trees….

Many thanks to KS for the title and the numbers...

Lessons Learned in Childhood:

Impatience had been always been considered a weakness on L5, indicating immaturity and selfishness; the need of a small child for immediate gratification. The universe moved at its own pace and always would, regardless of how much one fretted and fidgeted.

Chang Wufei possessed far too much self-control and dignity to fidget, even if he wished to. Those childhood lessons had been too well learned. It was futile anyway; Duo was relatively safe at the Preventers HQ. It was immaterial whether they arrived there ten minutes earlier or later.

Come on, Mil. He directed the thought towards his partner as hard as he could, but the other man gave no sign that he'd noticed. Are you planning to stand there all day?

This was utterly ridiculous; it really was. They'd left Italy in a rush, Zechs having commandeered the Sanque Embassy shuttle, but since then everything had gone wrong. L4's main shuttle port had been closed for the immediate future, which was understandable enough, but three other main ports had followed suit, citing safety concerns for all incoming traffic.

Finding a place to dock had taken far too long; eventually, Zechs had called an old friend on L4, who had somehow arranged for them to land here. The little-used shuttle port lay precisely in the middle of nowhere, and apparently was normally only to handle hazardous loads; shipments of chemicals or bio-waste. They were a good hour's drive to the City, and Zechs had spent the last seven minutes - Wufei had timed him - happily catching up with old friends. Ridiculous.

And it was unbelievably hot after the coolness of a European Spring.

It was two years since he'd been to L4, and he'd forgotten the quality of heat in the early afternoon. The air was thick and humid, almost tangible; beads of sweat were slowly starting to drift from his shoulder blades and down his spine, but that was a minor physical discomfort and easily bearable.

Being back on L4 was the real problem. The colony had been a second home for him and Duo once. They'd been so close, back then, the four of them. For the first few years following Duo's accident, they'd spent at least part of every vacation there; they'd had exclusive use of a guest cottage on the Winner estate, with a small garden and its own pool.

It had been a pleasant, peaceful place. Quatre had organised moonlit safaris into the desert, and or trips to the few gay nightclubs on the colony, and he'd resolutely ignored his family's criticism about how much time he was spending with his old friends.

L4's own tradition of pacifism only went so far, Wufei mused. He'd admired the colony once; seeing definite parallels between it and L5. A strong work ethic, an emphasis on the importance of family and duty and respect towards the elderly. If you looked beneath the surface though, there was a great chasm between the two cultures.

The twin pillars of L5 society were family and knowledge. Wealth was to be shared with those less fortunate and used to improve life for all. Power and position came with increased responsibilities, whereas on L4 obscene wealth was either hoarded or spent on ridiculously lavish lifestyles.

Come on, Milliardo.

Zechs glanced over that time, whether by coincidence, or because he'd felt the burning weight of his partner's gaze, and flicked Wufei a small smile. To anyone who didn't know him well, he looked his usual relaxed self, standing beside the shuttle dock, and laughing with his two companions. But all that glorious, gilt hair had been swept back in a ponytail for once, and his right hand strayed frequently to his hip, touching the gun he'd thrust into his belt as if for reassurance.

Pilot 06 was ready for action.

Wufei's own gun was a solid, comforting weight in the small of his back; one hand touched it as he pulled his shirt loose, flapping it to create a small breeze, never taking his eyes off the three men.

Zechs had introduced the others as old friends to Wufei when they'd landed, and he'd managed a few polite words before excusing himself, claiming he needed to stretch his legs after the long flight.

Old friends, of course, meant White Fang, or Oz, or the Academy, and he wasn't comfortable with any of it.

It made little sense, really, considering the past of the man of who shared his bed and his life, but he knew Mil, knew everything the former Lightning Count had done, and why, and how he'd tried to atone for it. With strangers, he never knew what they'd done during the war, whether or not they'd been involved in the attack on his home.

The taller of the two men flanking his lover was Theo Fichtner; it was the first time they'd met, but he'd been an occasional voice on the 'phone over the years, asking to speak to Prince Milliardo. They were old friends from the Lake Victoria Academy, and he was White Fang, of course. He shared Zechs' height and that cool, Nordic colouring, but there any resemblance ended. A livid scar crawled down the right side of his face, and his nose had apparently been broken too many times to set properly.

The smaller, slighter man, Jack Something or other, was quite different. Good-looking, if that was your type; shoulder-length coppery hair and sea-green eyes. Unlike Fichtner, who was obviously on the verge of saluting to Zechs' every comment, and addressed him as Commander, Jack treated him as an equal.

Damn.

He didn't want to have to go over, and tug at Zechs' sleeve like an overly impatient child, but this was merely wasting time. If he didn't come in two minutes, then Wufei would find a car and drive himself into the city, and Zechs could catch up when he'd finished socialising. Maybe that would be the best thing to do, anyway. Yes, he could do that; he'd resolved when his 'phone rang. Again.

'Duo isn't here,' he snapped. He'd spent a fairly significant part of their flight fielding calls from various friends of Duo, who'd seemingly lost yet another 'phone in his peregrinations around the galaxy. 'I can take a message,' he added grudgingly.

'But I wanted to talk to you,' Sally told him blithely. 'I've just been watching you and Zechs on TV.'

'You've been what? Why?'

'Relax, 'Fei. You did know there was an announcement in the Sanque Times of your engagement, didn't' you? The TV stations here are all running the story. I just wanted to congratulate you both officially.'

That's very kind of you,' Wufei said gratefully. 'Ah, Sally, would you mind if I called you back later, I'm a little busy at the moment.'

'Sure.' Sally's voice mellowed. 'I remember when I first got engaged; Kevin and I didn't see daylight for a week. I'll talk to you when you feel like coming up for air, OK?'

Wufei flushed slightly as he hung up. If Sally had a fault, it was that she sometimes treated him as one of her girlfriends, and expected him to respond in kind.

'Ready to go, love?' Zechs was standing in front of him, a little smirk dancing on his lips. 'Or would you prefer me to wait a little longer?'

'I've been ready since we got here. Have we got a car?'

Zechs indicated the first vehicle parked outside the terminal; a long, sleekly black limousine.

'Hmmm. Isn't there something a little less conspicuous that we could take?'

Zechs shrugged. 'This is L4. According to Theo, we'd be conspicuous if weren't in a limo.'

'I suppose he's right.' Wufei held out one hand for the keys, needing even that small piece of control. 'I assume it has a Sat Nav system?'

'It has everything,' Zechs' eyes gleamed, thrilled with his new toy, as he folded his legs, endless in dark denim, into the passenger seat. 'Fichtner had it specially made to his own specifications and it just arrived yesterday. It's got plate-glass windows that will repel anything up to a mortar attack, anti-theft flares, its own satellite communication system, a locking mechanism that can't possibly be tampered with….'

'Wonderful,' Wufei remarked dryly. 'Is any of that necessary for us? And do I want to know why your friend needs a car like this?'

'He runs a security company. And no, it's probably not necessary, but why take chances after everything that's happened here lately? It's not as if we're the most popular people ever to visit this colony.'

'True.' Wufei glanced in the rear mirror as a smaller, less showy car pulled in front of them. Jack, in the passenger seat, flicked them a wave. 'I take it that's why we have an escort, or is that mere coincidence?'

'Not quite,' Zechs admitted. 'They are heading back to the city, though, and there's only one road from here to the main highway. Who was on the 'phone just then? Someone else looking for Duo?'

'Sally, wanting to talk to me. But all the other calls were for Duo. You know, Mil, when we eventually catch up with him, I'm going to find some way of attaching a cellphone to his body. I'm tired of acting as his social secretary. What am I supposed to tell people anyway; Duo's not picking up because he's run off to L4 with his ex-boyfriend?'

'Two ex-boyfriends actually.'

Wufei considered that. 'I suppose you're right. I keep forgetting that.'

'And you didn't approve, did you?'

The Chinese man shrugged. 'I doubted it would ever work. Trowa's been with Quat for years; he couldn't just stop feeling anything for him. It's probably for the best that they broke up before either of them got too involved.' Wufei felt a little niggle of guilt at the thought of Trowa; it hadn't been fair to blame him for any of this. Duo and Quatre had always been inseparable; it had been foolish to think Duo wouldn't manage to himself get involved in some way if he thought Quat needed him.

'You're probably right. Especially given recent developments. Who were all the other calls from?'

'His boss, and then Howard, and then Leon, that nice man who works at Steel.'

'I know,' Zechs grinned. 'The hot bartender with the cute ass.' Wufei threw him a withering look. 'What - I'm supposed to be struck blind now that we're engaged?'

'I can tolerate you looking, if you must,' Wufei said with dignity. 'I would prefer you not to pass comments, however.'

'Agreed.' Zechs' grin broadened. 'No comments. I swear, from now on, yours is the only ass I will ever comment on.'

His partner sniffed. 'Oh, and Mikhail called.'

'Mikhail? Duo's ex-boyfriend Mikhail?'

Wufei nodded. 'He's been climbing in the Himalayas until this morning; he'd only just found out about Quatre's disappearance today, and he's been trying to contact Duo.'

Zechs whistled. 'Now, that's interesting. Poor Mikhail, so devastated by losing Duo that he's trying to bury the pain by conquering mountains. Rather a shame Duo's not into threesomes, isn't it? He could really take his pick of potential partners.'

'Well, he's not. Incidentally, Sally said we were on TV this morning. Apparently, the engagement is a big story.'

'I think it's a big story, certainly, don't you?' Zechs smiled over at him. 'We're going to have to start thinking about dates and locations now that it's all official. Or would you rather have a long engagement? It might be nice to go somewhere exotic, maybe on a tropical island?'

'Can we do something like that?'

'Of course,' Zechs sounded surprised at the question. 'We can do whatever we like. Why shouldn't we?'

'Well, you are a prince. Relena was talking about having an official ceremony in the palace; I thought maybe it would be expected, or that you'd want it.'

Zechs snorted. 'Of course I wouldn't. My dear little sister probably has all sorts of fantasies about decorating the palace with flowers and balloons, and wearing a long pink gown, but I certainly don't. We'll have to sign an official marriage license in front of a Sanq magistrate and two witnesses, but that's merely a matter of procedure; we can have the ceremony where and when we like. Dearest, you haven't been worried about this have you?'

'Not worried,' Wufei denied staunchly. He would have hated it with every fibre of his being, but if it had been in some way necessary, he would have done whatever was needed, or if Zechs had wanted it. He found it hard to see the wedding as anything than a formality in any case; as far as he was concerned, he would spend the rest of his life with Zechs, and that was that.

'An exotic beach at sunset,' Zechs mused. 'Would you like that? And we could stay for the honeymoon. Now, we need to decide on a date. I was thinking of the 27th of December, although maybe it's rather far off? '

'The anniversary of our first date?' Wufei smiled fondly, for once forbearing to tease his lover's sentimental streak. He'd considered it himself - 1227 - a date that was important to them both, and also one that contained auspicious numbers; 1 for unity;, 2 to signify harmonious co-existence, and which was doubly lucky since it appeared twice, and 7 which symbolised fate and destiny.

He didn't know, really, whether he believed in such things anymore, but all through his childhood, all important occasions had been determined by his grandmother and aunts poring over an endless series of complex charts and calendars. It somehow seemed proper to use that part of his culture to determine the most important day of his life.

'It is rather a long time to wait,' Wufei looked fixedly over the steering wheel, willing himself not to blush. 'I know it's very soon, but I had thought of the 20th of May. 520 was considered one of the luckiest numbers on L5. In Mandarin, the sound is very close to 'I love you'. And I do.'

'Tonight wouldn't be a moment too soon to marry you,' Zechs assured him firmly. 'But I can wait another month.' He leaned over and tugged Wufei's hair gently. 'I don't know how you have the nerve to call me a sap, love.'

Wufei's mouth quirked slightly. 'You do remember, then.'

'However could I forget the first time you said you loved me? You never told me the significance of the date before; it must have been a good omen that I managed to pick that particular day.'

One elegant, dark brow arched. 'It wasn't exactly a coincidence. I chose it deliberately.'

'Really? You chose it? I seem to remember being the one who set out to seduce you that evening.'

Wufei smiled. 'You thought it was all your idea, certainly. His blush deepened; he was still not entirely comfortable talking of certain things. 'I - it was one of the most wonderful days of my life. It always will be. I would very much like it to be our wedding anniversary as well.'

'The 20th of May it is then, assuming we're not on the run from the Preventers with Duo,' Zechs agreed. 'May for 05. We need to put an 06 in there as well, don't we?'

'The sixth hour,' Wufei said at once. 'Dawn is - was - considered the most auspicious time to embark on any new enterprise. If you don't mind getting up so early?'

'I'll survive, just this once. Provided we can go straight back to bed afterwards to celebrate. Now, that's all settled, we just need to find you a ring.'

Wufei laughed at the idea. 'Very funny.'

'What's so funny? A ring is traditional on Earth. Didn't the custom exist on L5?'

Wufei shrugged. 'For women, yes. Not for men.' He had certainly given Meiran a ring at their betrothal ceremony, an emerald that had been in his family for generations. She hadn't looked at him as he took her hand, cold and stiff in his. She had wanted the marriage as little as he had; the same elders who had praised his impassivity and acceptance had criticised Meiran for railing against the husband who had been chosen for her.

The ring had been too big for the fourteen-year-old girl; he remembered she had spent the whole ceremony with her fingers curled into her palm, like a fist, so she wouldn't lose it, and immediately after the service, his grandmother had taken it to lock away safely.

What would his family think if they could see him now? Homosexuality hadn't been forbidden, exactly, but a man's first duty was to marry and sire children, to carry on the blood of his ancestors. Any other choice was seen as pure self-indulgence.

'I think it's a charming tradition,' Zechs argued.

'Don't be absurd, Mil, please. I'm not a woman, who needs a trinket to show off to her friends.'

'I know you're not a woman, dearest. I have very intimate knowledge of the fact, and I'm very glad of it.'

'Then stop trying to treat me like one!' Wufei snapped, refusing to be charmed. 'I may have agreed to marry you, but it doesn't make me into your wife.'

'I know that. 'Fei, I…what was that?'

'Just a pebble on the windscreen,' Wufei had jumped himself at the sudden, sharp crack. 'I hope we don't have to return your friend's car with a broken window.'

'It would take heavy artillery to dent the glass in these windows, according to Theo. 'Fei, can you pull over so we can talk about this?'

'What is there to discuss?' Wufei wondered bitterly. 'Or is there something else you have to tell me? What next, Milliardo, will you expect me to change my name to yours?'

'Of course I won't. Wufei, please. Can you just stop the car for one minute?'

'Fine.' Wufei killed the engine and stared resolutely ahead. The L4 desert unfurled before him; sculpted sand dunes in tones of amber and ochre and sienna, bisected by the thin ribbon of road. Fichtner's car had disappeared around a curve in the road ahead; two grey SUVs were heading toward them. 'What exactly did you want to say?'

'I'm sorry, love.' Zechs placed a tentative hand on his lover's knee, squeezing lightly when he wasn't brushed aside. 'Please, just look at me? I never meant to offend you, you have to know that.'

'I know.' Wufei turned his head to look into the troubled blue eyes. He didn't know quite how to say it; how to say that he'd put a ring on a girl's finger, and it had been one of the worst days of his life. He'd seen her hand, that evening, seen where she'd clenched her fingers so tightly that her palm was scored with little, red marks, each one the shape of a crescent-moon. 'I'm sorry too.'

Zechs lifted one of his hands, and kissed it gently. I five-hundred-and-twenty you. I always will. You'll have to teach me how to say it in Mandarin.'

'I love you too,' Wufei gasped.

'Show me,' Zechs invited huskily, clicking his seatbelt open and leaning over for a kiss.

Wufei thought, for a heartbeat, that the thud against the windscreen was just another pebble. Until it shattered, showering them both with shards of glass, and Zechs cried out and slumped forward across his lap. Not before Wufei had time to see the stain on his white shirt, a blossoming flower of scarlet, and feel the first gush of blood on his thighs.

The two grey SUVs - damn, he'd forgotten all about them - were approaching fast, driving abreast on the narrow road.

Three options, precisely. Drive off the road, and the car would be bogged down in sand; a sitting target. He could turn and retreat, try to make it to the shuttle port and possible help. They'd probably expect that…Except he didn't have time, not with Zechs losing his life's blood on the seat beside him. Or he could drive forward meant into the gamut of their fire. Wufei would have done it without thinking, if Zechs hadn't been hit, but there wasn't, really, another option.

Let's do precisely as they expect, then.

'I'm turning around. Hold on, Mil.'

One hand yanked the car in a tight u-turn, turning back the way they'd come, while the other tried to hold Zechs steady. He was still alive, still breathing. That was the important thing, but the blood was still flowing. That was a good thing; corpses don't bleed.

Do it now, Chang. You don't have time.

A quick look in the mirror told him both cars were following; good. They were almost catching up, as he'd calculated. Two cars driving abreast; so sure they had him now they'd even stopped shooting. Fools.

Never underestimate a Gundam Pilot, Wufei thought savagely.

They weren't expecting him to pull ahead sharply, they certainly weren't expecting him to turn around and face them. The car spun so fast that it whirled around in a sand-cloud, and bore down on them in a blazing inferno. Wufei had located the anti-theft flares; he could already feel the heat but they would only last for a minute or two and they could survive that.

They could either separate, swinging off into the desert, or they could hold course and either hope he stopped, or face collision with a very large, burning car. As he'd hoped - prayed - each swung away on either side of him. One upended as its wheels hit the first patch of sand; the second moved smoothly onto the dunes and circled back, moving in for the kill.

Oh, no you don't.

He had to stop the car to aim properly, had to wait for them to get within range. His first shot missed completely, thrown off by Zechs' ragged moan as he shifted position slightly. The second ricocheted off the roof, and the third hit the petrol tank.

Third time lucky.

One down, one to go. There was no sign of life from the other SUV; swivelling to keep an eye on it, Wufei fumbled for his cell phone, dialling EMS and barking their co-ordinates into it, requesting immediate assistance.

The long fair hair was warm and sticky with blood. So much blood. The colour had leached completely from his face, leaving a faint bluish tinge around his mouth and nostrils, and the pulse was weak and rapid. The worst thing was his breathing though; the bullet must have hit a lung on its way out. It was a clean wound, Wufei saw, gently pulling down Zechs's shirt, and sliding off his own to press against it, trying desperately to staunch the gush.

Blood loss and a collapsed lung; neither of them fatal if help arrived in time. If. If whoever was still in the second SUV didn't summon reinforcements.

Hang on, Milyi.

The limo started grudgingly, a protest against its treatment so far, but it kept moving.

Damn, how long would it take for help to arrive anyway? For the first time, he thought of Fichtner and Jack; had they both been killed? Or had they just driven on, assuming he and Zechs had chosen to stop for some reason?

Oh, Gods.

Taking his hand off the wheel for one second, he flipped his 'phone open again, speed-dialling Duo. If his friend was still at Preventers' HQ, he could talk to Lucrezia and get someone to send a helicopter. And a medical team. Urgently.