Strike Force Five Part 3
Questions and Answers
Quatre and Trowa sat on the dinning table's left side; Wufei occupied one of three chairs on the right as they waited for the other houseguests to join them. Quatre had decided that a leisurely meal would provide an opportunity for everyone to get better acquainted. After dinner the organizational work would begin.
Quatre did not delude himself that his purposed team would come together smoothly. He knew that there would be tensions, "bumps in the road", but he hoped that once the seriousness of the situation was understood that the odd assortment would at least agree to disagree. The fear that Heero and Duo would not see eye to eye was pushed aside for Quatre could not afford to dwell on anything but positive thoughts.
Duo was the first to make an appearance. He sauntered in with an easy stride quite the opposite of his bouncing over the threshold upon his arrival. He had shed his leather cocoon for a pair of black jeans and a tee shirt that had "Damn but I'm good!" printed across the front. Nodding to the others he took a seat next to Wufei.
"You do have a nice place." Duo commented leaning back to stare up at the chandelier.
"Thank you Mr. Maxwell" Quatre replied pleased that Duo seemed at ease.
Duo straightened up leaning his elbows on the table. "Please call me Duo, Mr. Maxwell sounds old. Besides if we are going to work together we don't need to be so formal."
Quatre nodded offering Duo an understanding smile. "Is your suite suitable?"
Duo continued his inspection this time studying the table settings, "Suitable," he grinned, "I could get lost in all that space. I certainly will be comfortable." he declared. "If you don't mind me asking who else is on the hall?"
"Wufei's suit is next to yours. Mr. Yuy's suit is directly across from your room."
"Where do you sleep?"
"Trowa and I share a room in the east wing. Why, is that a problem?"
"Nope just wondering. I like to know where everyone is in case we have to get out of here quickly. If something did break loose we might have to back each other up."
"I don't think we have to worry about any outside threats." Quatre declared laying his hand on Trowa's arm. "Trowa has assembled a top notch Security Unit. He is sure of the estate's protection and I have complete confidence in him."
Duo shook his head, the grin faded away. "That might be true but I keep my own council when it comes to my safety. I hope there will be no hard feelings." he directed his remarks to Trowa.
"Your personal security is your business but in matters of estate security I am the boss." Trowa stated putting Duo on notice that he would not tolerate any interference.
"Fair enough." Duo agreed.
Quatre was about to change the subject when Heero walked in. As per usual he barely acknowledged the others seated around the table. Without a word he slipped into the remaining chair next to Duo.
"Heero this is Duo Maxwell." Quatre made the introduction.
Duo offered his hand. Heero made no move to take it. "Maxwell." Heero coldly replied to the friendly gesture. But he did take immediate notice of Duo's unusual lavender eyes.
Duo raised an eyebrow, "The shy type." he proclaimed trying to goad some response from the stoic soldier. Then to push the taunting a bit further he added a saucy wink to his verbal attack.
If Duo's words hit the target Heero didn't react to being struck. There was no outward change in his steely blue sight or the focused glare he had centered on the braided bigmouth. With a sigh Duo gave up but only for the moment. He was not one to surrender that easily and he had a lot more ammunition in his sarcastic salvo.
Dinner was served. Quatre spent most of the time keeping the conversation on an even keel and away from anything too personal. He didn't want the evening to deteriorate to the point that there could be no planning session afterwards. Occasionally Trowa would touch his lover's hand to sooth Quatre's obvious nervousness.
"This has to work." he whispered to Trowa as the servants cleared away the desert dishes.
Trowa tucked blond hair behind Quatre's ear, "It will." He whispered back his encouragement.
*********
The strategy meeting began without a hitch, as it became apparent that everyone was willing to put personal disagreements aside for the team's sake. Trowa repeated what he had told Wufei earlier concerning the traitorous officials and the newly formed OZ organization. Soon the tabletop was covered with rough drawings of an abandoned warehouse area that OZ had converted into a Base of Operations.
Trowa readily admitted that most of the information, although from reliable sources, was sketchy and that the details were fuzzy. In response to the doubtful facts Wufei stated that the only way they could be certain of anything was to get a closer look. Heero carried Wufei's statement a step further saying that infiltration was the best way to be certain of anything.
Duo agreed, "We have to have real info and a more detailed layout if we have any hope of succeeding. I am willing to stand in the front lines but I will not take any more unnecessary risks than I have to."
"We need the most accurate information we can obtain." Quatre declared, "As much as I want to destroy OZ I will not ask anyone to go on a mission without the best plan we can put together."
"Then the first thing we have to do is get up close and personal." Duo proclaimed glancing around the table for conformation.
"I will contact my informants in the morning and get the latest details," Trowa announced, "then we will proceed from that point."
"We should call it a night and get some sleep." Quatre instructed, "We are going to need all the strength and alertness we have if we are going to win this fight."
As everyone filed into the hall Duo paused watching Heero ascend the stairs. "I don't suppose you need someone to tuck you in?" he teased adding another wink for good measure.
Heero again glared at the smug man. "I would suggest that you concentrate on your responsibilities." he made the strong suggestion then stopped to peer over the upstairs railing, "Maxwell." he called down.
Duo cocked his head upward a sly grin plastered across his face. "Yes Yuy." he shot back.
"I will watch your back for the mission's success but do not mistake team loyalty for friendship. I will not hesitate to take you out if you push me too far." Heero warned before disappearing from sight.
Duo' smile widened as he stared at the empty spot where Heero had been, "I'm getting to him, I knew I would." he chucked under his breath.
*********
Quatre," Wufei turned to his friend before starting upstairs, "Yesterday you said that Heero owed you a favor and the subject was brought up again this afternoon. I couldn't help but notice that there is tension between you and him. Under other circumstances I would not ask but if I am going to work with Heero I need to know if you believe that he is joining us only out of obligation to you and not to the cause. I can't take the chance that he isn't sincere in his commitment."
"That is a fair question." Quatre replied glancing around to make sure that he, Wufei and Trowa were alone. "Last year," he began, "Heero was doing some troubleshooting for an industrialist in Central America. I don't know what happened but he was charge with spying, arrested by the local authorities and locked away in a local prison.
I financed a rescue operation and used my connections to secretly fly the extraction team into the area. When they broke Heero out of the government owned hellhole he was in bad shape. It was obvious that he had been tortured, no doubt to try to force a confession. I had him flown back here, hired a private nurse and took care of him until he got back on his feet. I suppose the tension as you call it stems from Heero's dislike of owing anyone for anything.
But I am sure that he would not have agreed to join if he was not totally committed. He has a soldier's soul and a strong code of ethics. I would trust him to back me up anytime." Quatre declared truthfully.
"Then some good did come of your generosity after all." Wufei stated, "We have a much better chance of victory with Heero on our side."
Quatre nodded smiling up at Trowa. "Something else good happened." he added, "That is how I met Trowa. He headed up the extraction team and escorted Heero back here. By the time Heero was well enough to leave Trowa had decided that he didn't want to go. So yes I would say a lot of good came from my generosity."
*********
Duo stripped down to his boxes and tee shirt and slipped between the hunter green satin sheets. Stretching out he let a satisfied sigh escape over his lips. "Nice." he proclaimed, "I could definitely get use to this." Switching off the bedside lamp he laid on his back watching the moonlit patterns of breeze-tossed branches dance on the ceiling.
Even though the house was cooled by central air conditioning, Duo preferred to breathe fresh air while slept so he had turned off the vents and opened the windows.
Outside a nocturnal bird, probably an owl, sang out its hauntingly beautiful call in time with the shadowy outlines of the trees. Low voices of patrolling sentries and the distance barking of a dog filtered though the windows. In the stillness Duo slowly became aware of another, more muffled sound, invading his otherwise peaceful bedroom.
A steady tap, tap, tap seemed to be coming from the hall. Duo knew Heero's room was across from his and he also knew that the monotone noise was not going to let him sleep. "Damn Yuy!" he exclaimed tossing the top sheet aside. Not brothering to pull on his pants Duo made a beeline for Heero's door.
The tapping stopped moments before Heero answered Duo's insistent knock. He didn't appear pleased to find the brash, half-dressed man standing in the hall. Heero hid his surprise as he took notice of the silver cross hanging around Duo's neck. Duo didn't seem like the spiritual type but Heero had learned long ago that no one knew what was in another person's heart.
"What in hell do you want?" came the curt question.
Duo ignored both the abrupt tone and the annoyed glare aimed squarely at his face. "It's almost midnight," he informed his Strike Force counterpart shooting back an equally acid stare, "I am normally a night person but it has been a long day and I need my beauty sleep." he informed trying to peek into the room to get an idea of what made Heero tick. In spite of Heero's body blocking most of the view Duo could make out a crossbow leaning against the foot of the bed.
"And I should care." Heero stated never lessening the piercing look in his gorgeous cobalt eyes.
Duo dared to lean forward as the ancient weapon captured his interest. Heero cleared his throat folding his arms over his chest. "Maxwell." he called raising his voice for emphasis.
Duo blinked refocusing on Heero's frowning face. "There is an irritating tapping coming from your room," Duo replied standing his ground, "and unless you are practicing for a dance marathon I would appreciate you holding down the noise."
"I was using my laptop." Heero explained then wondered why he felt he owed Duo any explanation at all. Then realizing that staring into Duo's oddly colored but quite alluring eyes had distracted him Heero snapped out of his trance. "If you leave I will stop." he promised willing to do anything to make Duo go away.
Duo couldn't resist the urge to get in one last parting barb even if it meant ducking a free-flying fist. "You sure you don't want me to tuck you in?" he teased shifting his weight in case a speedy retreat became necessary.
"Leave!" The door slammed shut.
True to his word no more noise came from Heero's room. Duo curled up on his side tucking the sheet under his chin. Visions of the crossbow played over again in his mind as he wondered why Heero had chosen that particular form of defense.
Clearly there was a lot more to the man hiding behind Heero's stoic facade. His curiosity peeked Duo knew that he had to find out more about the mysterious soldier that called himself Heero Yuy.
As sleep tugged at his eyelids Duo accepted the challenge, "You will keep no secrets from me." Duo pledged and Duo Maxwell always kept his word.
TBC...
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