( Chapter 7
)
Sally took a sip of her fresh drink, settling back
with a sigh. "So... what started this whole comedy of errors?"
Une
twirled her destroyed straw between her fingers, scowling at it. "Now,
that is the one area where I couldn't force details out of them.
Apparently, Quatre Winner held a party to celebrate the end of the war. Everyone
got drunk, and Chang and Maxwell had some kind of... well, 'misunderstanding' is
the word Yui used, and he said it as if it smelled bad."
"I think
it stinks," Sally muttered into her glass.
"So do I," Une replied dryly.
"Judging by Chang's expression -- and blush -- at that point, and the way Yui
danced around the subject, my guess is that it was something
sexual."
"Really? That would explain... never mind, go on."
"When
they caught up to him, Maxwell apparently said something about 'going away for a
month to get his head straight'. That seems to be what he did... and then, when
he tried to contact them, he couldn't get through."
"Which went on for
long enough that he decided they had all deliberately cut him off. I see," Sally
nodded, putting that part together with what Une had told her already.
"I
couldn't believe it when I saw him looking like that," Une sighed,
dropping the mangled straw into her empty glass and pushing it
away.
"Une... why are you so concerned about Duo?" Sally asked curiously.
"I mean... during the war, you were enemies; and you haven't seen him since
then, so you've hardly had a chance to form a friendship."
The other
woman smiled reminiscently. "I've had a soft spot for that boy ever since the
incident at Townsville Base, where he sent me roses after he escaped... and
kissed me on the way out."
"He didn't!"
"Oh, yes he did. He also
played antique music over the intercom and clogged the gates with pizza delivery
trucks. I was furious at the time, of course, but... how can you not like
someone who can be that happy, that irreverent, that alive, while
fighting a vicious war to the best of his ability? And it was a vicious
war. I did everything I could to make it worse... and he still kissed me, and
called me Une-chan." She sighed, smiling sadly, then turned anxiously towards
Sally. "Do you honestly think he'll recover? Really
recover?"
"Physically, yes," she replied without hesitating.
"Psychologically... well. That's another matter. I wouldn't give up hope,
though; I think his main problems are the feelings of betrayal and abandonment,
but he already seems to be relenting towards Relena."
"She fired her
secretary in front of him," Une put in.
"That would help, yes. It
will take much longer for him to come to terms with the others... except
Wufei."
Une raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Whatever the
'misunderstanding' was, it's pretty clear they don't blame each other.
I'd say each blames himself. Duo doesn't want Wufei out of his sight, and almost
panicked when I suggested admitting him... all right, I did more than suggest,
and it was Wufei he turned to. I actually think he was more afraid of being
separated from Wufei than of being put in hospital. Wufei was hovering over him
and extremely protective the whole time." Sally sighed. "If those two can just
make it through the next couple of weeks without another
'misunderstanding', I'd say they have a good chance... and so does
Duo."
"I hope so," Une said. "I'd love to see him back to his old self...
though it could get a trifle disruptive. Did he ever tell you what he did
to Treize-sama?"
~*~*~*~
"...and we've found evidence that he
hacked into, downloaded and then deleted at least fifty files from the
system," Une continued as she walked down the corridor one step behind Treize.
"He got in and out without setting off any alarms; the first sign of anything
wrong was when one of the technicians tried to access a file that he uses every
day and found it gone. We don't even know yet which Gundam pilot it was, or when
he was here."
"I trust you will keep me informed of developments," he
said calmly.
"Of course, sir. In the meantime, your quarters have been
prepared for you. There is a bath ready, with the rose scent you prefer, and
dinner is waiting; I'm sure that everything will be to your liking despite this
delay."
"I have every confidence that--" Treize cut himself off as he
opened the door, then continued slowly. "Lady Une... how long ago was
this room prepared?"
"Ah... half an hour ago at most, Treize-sama,
why?"
"I believe that we can narrow down how long ago the Gundam pilot
left the base, then," he said, stepping cautiously into the room.
The
small table had been set up with chafing dishes to keep the food hot; all the
lids were open and the single place setting had been used. The wine bucket was
empty. The bed, one corner turned down ready for Treize, looked slightly
rumpled, his sheathed sword was lying across the middle of it, and the computer
console on the bedside table had a graphic of a flashing thermal scythe on its
screen, with 'CLICK ME' written across the blade.
"Maxwell," Une
said decisively.
"Yes, definitely Maxwell," Treize said dryly, picking up
his sword. On closer inspection, it wasn't his sword; it was his sheath,
but what he drew out of it was a small plastic toy sword with a bright pink
feather glued to the end.
"I assume that's a message," Une said, stifling
a smile as she gestured towards the computer. "Shall I play it, or would you
like me to call security first?"
"Let's not," Treize sighed, sitting down
in a convenient chair. "They're already looking for him, and if he had left any
booby traps or bombs he wouldn't have left any sign that he was ever
here. It's not his style to rub someone's nose in the fact that he got in, and
then kill them."
"As you say, Treize-sama," Une agreed, clicking
on the scythe and stepping back.
A video file popped up on the screen:
Duo Maxwell in OZ uniform, lounging back on Treize's bed with his booted feet up
on the covers, a plate of food on his lap, and a fork in his hand.
<
< Evening, Treize! > > he said cheerfully, waving the fork. < <
Lovely to be here, wish I could stay to greet you in person, but duty calls,
yadda yadda. You just arrived at this base today, right? I'm sure you'll enjoy
yourself while you're here; the food is great. Give my compliments to the
cook! > > He took another mouthful. < < Mmm... and this bed is
really comfortable. Don't worry, I'm not leaving crumbs, > > he
smirked.
Setting the plate aside, he picked up Treize's sword from beside
him, turning it over in his hands and peering critically down the blade. <
< I hope you don't mind me taking this; a friend of mine has a birthday
coming up, and this will be the perfect present. You've met him -- about
my height, Chinese, drills holes through you with his eyes... I'm sure you'd
agree that he'll like it. > >
"I'm sure Chang Wufei will appreciate
it," Treize mused, propping his chin on his gloved hands. "It's rather a relief,
knowing it's gone to someone who will take proper care of it..." He winced as,
on the screen, Duo casually spiked the sword into the floor next to the bed.
"Not like that."
< < Anyway, I really should be going, >
> Duo continued. < < I'm sure you won't grudge me the wine; you
probably have plenty more of that year, and I want to share it with the guys.
I'm also glad to see you have the same tastes in shampoo and conditioner as me!
I can never find a store that stocks that brand, or if I do, I blow
something of yours up and have to leave the area without stopping to pick up a
supply. So, enjoy your stay -- just one thing, though. You might want to
tell the guards at the south gate that when a dignitary is coming in the
north gate, they should keep watching their security cameras, not
the welcoming ceremony. See you! > > He winked. < < Enjoy your bath!
> >
The video cut off; Treize and Une looked at each other, then
slowly turned to look at the bathroom door. Now that they were listening, they
could hear a faint bubbling sound from behind it... and a suspicious damp stain
was slowly spreading out from under the door. Une took a tentative step in that
direction, but Treize stood up and waved her back, listening at the door for a
moment before he stood well to one side and eased it open.
An
overpowering scent of roses rolled out on wave after wave of stiff, frothy
bubbles; the bathroom seemed to be packed solid with them, the ceiling light
gleaming dimly through glittering white. Very glittering; Treize peered
suspiciously at a sparkling mound of foam and swiped one gloved finger through
it, then chuckled as the bubbles popped but his finger still
glittered.
"Maxwell," he sighed, rolling his eyes upwards and
shaking his head.
It was some time before the room was returned to
something approximating its original condition; the corporal who had fought his
way through the bubbles to turn off the bath's air jets was still slightly damp
and covered in multicoloured glitter as Treize refused the base commandant's
offer to move him to a different room.
"No, I believe we've found all the
surprises," he said calmly. "I will be quite comfortable here, I assure
you... yes, goodnight."
Lady Une took the commandant's arm and
ushered the faintly protesting officer out, shut the door behind them and bade
him a firm 'good night'; then she set off in the direction of her own quarters.
*Perhaps Treize-sama will be a little less incredulous the next time I tell
him of Maxwell's latest exploits?* she thought, stifling a chuckle as she
closed the door behind her and stripped off her gloves.
Halfway through
unbuttoning her coat, she was startled when her com buzzed.
"Une here --
Treize-sama! Is anything wrong?"
< < Nothing serious, Lady. >
> He was already in his dressing gown, looking faintly irritated. < <
Could you please ask the housekeeping staff to send someone up to re-make my
bed? > >
Her eyes widened slightly as she looked over his shoulder
at the bed, just visible in the corner of the small screen. The covers had been
pulled down, and it had quite clearly been
short-sheeted.
"Certainly, Treize-sama," she said, the faintest of
tremors in her voice.
< < Thank you. > >
*click!*
Une gave way to helpless giggles. *Yes, I think
Treize-sama will have no reservations about believing me in
future...*
~*~*~*~
"Only Duo would sneak glitter into an OZ
base just in case it would come in handy," Sally choked, giggling
herself.
"And the sword. We mustn't forget the plastic sword," Une
smirked.
"And the feather!"
"God, I hope he
recovers."
* * * * *
"NO!"
Wufei jerked awake,
nearly falling off the couch as he kicked out reflexively. Clutching at the
cushions underneath him, he stared up at the ceiling in the dimness, heart
pounding; faint, fading images from confused dreams skittered through his
mind.
*Was that me?* he thought hazily.
A whimper came from
the bedroom, followed by a string of coughs, and he threw the blanket off and
bolted for the door.
Duo was twisted up in the quilts, sprawled on his
back, head tossing as he moaned. "No... don' do tha'..." He trailed off into low
muttering, then abruptly thrashed, lashing out with one fist.
"Bastard!"
"Duo? Wake up, it's just a dream... Duo?" Wufei struggled to
keep his voice calm and soothing, but some of his alarm crept into it as Duo's
movements became more violent and he coughed again, spasming. "Duo! Wake
up!" He reached out, intending to shake Duo's shoulder, but jerked back
as the braided boy cried out and writhed away from his touch.
*What do
I do now? He won't wake up, he won't calm down... I can't just grab him, I'll
hurt him! What did Heero do when he had to deal with
this?!*
A half-forgotten conversation surfaced at the back of his
mind.
*"...nightmares... only thing that calms him
down..."*
*...Right. I can do this.*
*Now I hope he
doesn't wake up!*
Wufei waited until Duo rolled away from him;
then, swallowing nervously, he slid onto the futon and gathered the thin boy
into his arms as he rolled back. Duo jerked and struggled as he felt Wufei's
arms close around him, but Wufei held on, one arm pulling Duo close while the
other hand stroked over his back and hair.
"Shh... shh, Duo, it's okay.
You're safe. I'm here... it's me, Wufei, shh..."
Duo stiffened, hands
pushing against his chest, then drew a shuddering breath and collapsed against
him. One hand crept up to clutch at the shoulder of Wufei's t-shirt as he tucked
his head into the hollow between Wufei's neck and shoulder and relaxed with a
hiccupping sigh.
Wufei blinked, surprised. *I didn't think it would
work this fast!* He shifted carefully, easing into a reasonably comfortable
position, and gave into the temptation to bury his face in Duo's hair, breathing
in the scent of his own herbal shampoo.
Duo murmured something
incomprehensible, hands clenching, and Wufei quickly soothed him again, patting
gently at his back; then inspiration struck and he started humming, pulling
snatches of old lullabies out of childhood memories.
*Thank god he
responds to me,* Wufei thought. *The way he's reacting to Yui at the
moment, I can hardly call him up and ask him to come over... as if I
would!*
*I remember the first time I saw him like
this...*
~*~*~*~
Wufei rapped briskly on the door of Heero
and Duo's room, opening it without waiting for an answer. "Maxwell, we--" he
began, stepping inside.
"Quiet," Heero said in a low growl.
Wufei
looked in the direction Heero's voice came from and stumbled to a halt, eyes
widening. Heero was lying on top of his bed, propped up against the headboard,
with Duo curled up asleep against his chest. One of Heero's arms was wrapped
firmly around Duo's waist; the other hand was gently stroking down the length of
his braid.
This apparently peaceful scene was not matched by the
glare Heero was aiming at Wufei.
"What?"
"Ah... uh, Maxwell and I
have a mission."
Heero glanced down at Duo, frowning. "He's in no shape
for it right now. I'll take it. Go find Quatre; tell him he and Trowa will need
to stay with Duo while I'm gone."
Wufei hesitated, puzzled, and looked at
Duo again. On closer inspection, the braided boy's sleep wasn't so peaceful; his
hands were knotted into Heero's shirt and his face was tear-streaked, neither
happy nor relaxed.
"He has nightmares sometimes," Heero said impatiently.
"This is the only thing that calms him down, all right? He can't be alone. Now
go get Quatre!"
Duo stirred and whimpered as Heero raised his voice, and
the Japanese boy immediately switched his attention back to him, stroking his
hair and murmuring something soothing in the gentlest voice Wufei had ever heard
him use.
Wufei backed out, closing the door silently behind him, and went
to find Quatre.
~*~*~*~
*I think that's when I really fell in
love with Duo,* Wufei thought, continuing to hum softly. *I could see him
as a real person after that... more than just the bouncing braided baka. And
that's also when I gave up on him, because he had Heero and I didn't want to
interfere.*
----------
Duo rested peacefully that night for
the first time in months, nestled into Wufei's reassuring warmth with a soothing
hum vibrating through his bones.
* * * * *
As the first light
seeped in through the blinds, Wufei carefully extracted himself from Duo's
still-sleeping grasp. Stifling a massive yawn behind one hand, he stumbled
towards the bathroom, hoping that a shower would wake him up enough to function
through the day.
*A cold shower,* he thought, adjusting his
boxers. *Definitely a cold shower...*
Leaning
against the wall as the water needled into his back, Wufei pressed his forehead
against the wet tiles and closed his eyes. *Gods, I hope last night was an
isolated occurrence, or I'll be in no shape to properly look after Duo. I didn't
get much sleep while we were looking for him; and last night I got, what, two
hours? an hour and a half? Then I spent the rest of the night lying
awake...*
*...next to Duo...*
Swallowing, he reached
out blindly and gave the hot tap a twist, dropping the water temperature even
further.
*I will not do anything to take advantage of
Duo while he is weak and dependent on me,* he thought fiercely. *I am not
going to pressure him in any way, or make advances, or even let him suspect that
I want to make advances! After what he's gone through, taking advantage
of him like that would be the worst, most dishonourable thing I could
ever...*
A quiet, rebellious voice piped up in the back of his mind.
*Of course, it would be entirely different if it were Duo who made the
first move... wouldn't it?*
He wrenched violently at the hot tap,
turning it completely off.
* * * * *
All over Preventers HQ,
agents on the early shift looked up in surprise as Lady Une's voice came over
the PA system. < < Leah McKenzie to my office, please. Could Leah McKenzie
please come to my office? > >
A couple of minutes later, a young
woman with red hair braided into a crown around her head knocked on Une's door
and leaned into the office. "You called for me, ma'am?"
"Ah, McKenzie.
Amanda is away sick, I'm afraid, and I'll need someone to take her place for the
next couple of days. Would you be willing?"
"Certainly,
ma'am!"
"Excellent!" Une pointed to a stack of files on her desk. "Your
first task for today is to dispose of those; most need to go to various agents
for action, but some need to be filed in the stacks. Then if you go through
Amanda's diary, I know she keeps detailed 'to do' lists -- oh, and Chang Wufei
won't be in until Thursday at the earliest, so go through his in tray and pull
out anything that needs to be dealt with sooner than that. Use your own
judgement and hand them out to anyone who doesn't seem to be grossly
overworked."
Leah nodded, scooping up the stack and heading out to
Amanda's desk to start sorting.
Half an hour later, 'to do' list firmly
in hand, Leah made tracks for Wufei's desk, tucked away in a corner and walled
off from the rest of the room with bookshelves and a neglected-looking fern.
Making a mental note to water the poor thing later, she negotiated the
improvised barricades and entered forbidden territory.
"He certainly
likes his privacy," she muttered. "I sit three desks away from here, and I don't
think I've ever said more than two words to-- ye gods! How much work does Chang
do?!" The meticulously squared-off stack of files in the in tray was
taller than the computer next to it. "I'm not carrying all that lot back across
the room to sort it. I'll do it here, and if Chang has a problem with my butt
warming his chair, he can bite me," she grumbled, sitting down. "And it's not
even a comfortable chair..."
For the next twenty minutes, Leah's
approach was received with cries of despair as she dropped files on any desk
that wasn't completely snowed under already. Clutching the last four, she looked
around, searching for someone she hadn't yet victimised.
*She's
swamped... I already gave him two... I can't give him any, he's going to
L4 tomorrow and it looks like he won't finish what he's got, let alone handle
any more...*
Her eyes narrowed as she focussed on a desk half-way
across the huge room. *What's going on over there? A chat session? Come to
think of it, every time I've seen Anders today he's been talking to someone
different... well, he can't say he's busy, then, can he?*
She sneered
inwardly as the little knot of men broke apart as she approached; some
farewelled Anders in theatrically loud voices and walked off. *Interrupting
something, am I? If you act that obviously out on a mission and you'll get
yourselves killed, boys.* "Don't you have any work to do,
gentlemen?"
"I'm on light duties!" Anders protested, holding up his
cast.
"'Light duties' means 'do paperwork', Anders, not 'hold gossip
sessions with friends and distract others from their work'," she said acidly,
slapping two files onto his desk and then pushing one at another agent who was
too slow to get away. "Here."
"What's-- hey! This is Chang's
work!" he howled as she turned to leave.
"He's not here and it needs to
be done. Do your job and deal," Leah snapped; then she looked at the last file
in her hand and smirked, tossing it on top of the others. "In fact, you can have
this one too. Have fun!" She marched off, pulling Amanda's list out of her
pocket and scanning it for the next thing that needed doing.
*Anders
is such a waste of space,* she thought disgustedly, *and so are
most of his idiot cronies. I can't wait until the Preventers have a bit more of
a reputation and we're up to our full projected manpower; all the jerks will
have to pick up their acts or get out, then.*
"Roll on the day," she
muttered, drawing strange looks from a couple of people. "Roll on!"
* * *
* *
The apartment was full of the smell of frying bacon when Wufei
finally went to wake Duo.
"Duo?" he said softly, reaching out to touch
the sleeping boy's hand. "Breakfast, Duo, time to wake up..."
Duo gasped,
eyes flying open as he jerked awake. For a moment he cringed away from Wufei;
then his eyes cleared and he relaxed, relief obvious on his face.
"'Fei?"
he whispered softly.
"It's past eleven," Wufei said gently. "I would have
let you sleep longer, but you need to eat and take your medicine. Breakfast is
ready; are you hungry?"
"...kinda..."
"That's good, because I'm
not used to cooking for more than one person and I think I made too much," the
Chinese boy lied with only the slightest pang of guilt. "I'll bring in a tray
and you can eat in bed. Do you want to wash up first?"
Wufei kept up a
stream of light, non-threatening chatter as he helped Duo to the bathroom and
back to bed; then he walked out into the kitchen and thumped his forehead gently
against the fridge.
"You're babbling like an idiot, Chang," he growled
softly. "Get a grip!"
* * * * *
"Miss Relena... do you wish to
wait for your fiance, or start without him?"
Relena shook her head. "I
don't think Heero will be coming to lunch today, Sarah. Please clear away the
extra place."
As the maid bustled off, Relena looked sadly towards the
closed study door; then she sighed, and walked
away.
----------
Inside the
study:
-TAKATAKATAKATAKATAKA-
-----------------------
end
'Reunion' chapter 7
-
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