Him to Die Part 4
Duo watched from the doorway as Heero dropped into sleep. Damn, to drop out that fast, he had to have been up for awhile...
Pulling the door closed, Duo headed back to the room he'd claimed, his mind still lingering on Heero. Here he was sure the other man had made a new life for himself- settled down somewhere- and all along, he'd been on the move, keeping an eye on things...
Duo stretched out on the soft bed- how did lab techs rate this?- and stared at the ceiling. He felt guilty. Sure, he'd thought about Heero a bit, wondered how he was doing, but he hadn't tried to track him down. Hadn't thought the other pilot would give much of a damn one way or the other...
And yet here he was- exhausting himself to make sure that Duo was safe.
They'd been partners- nearly friends- during the war, but Duo hadn't ever expected Heero to come riding to his rescue. He hadn't thought the other man would really care...
Somehow he'd misjudged Heero- and that worried him.
Closing his eyes, he made a silent promise that whatever the outcome, he wasn't going to make that mistake again...
~*~
Heero was frowning at an odd looking comm system on the table beside his computer when Duo stepped into the lab. He placed his finger to his lips and Duo nodded to show that he understood.
"We want more proof," said a voice, scratchy and filtered, impossible to place.
"Of course," Heero replied, still frowning. "Of what sort did you have in mind?"
"More pictures. The ones you sent are low light. We need better ones."
Duo noted that Heero's frown lightened a little. "Easily done. Electronically sent or do you want a delivery-?"
"No delivery." There was a pause. "Was he... damaged?" Duo thought the voice sounded hopeful, even with all the electronic blurring.
"Not very much."
"Is he awake now?"
"No. He's dangerous. I have him drugged. Did you wish to speak to him?"
"No. Not yet. Maybe soon. Just the pictures for now. We might need more later that..." the voice paused and Duo bit his lip. "That show more damage. Understood?"
Heero's expression made Duo shiver, but his voice was even when he replied. "Understood. The pictures should arrive in less than two hours. Acceptable?"
"Yes."
Heero hit a button on the system and snarled. "Damn it."
"At least they didn't want a finger." Duo said lightly as he joined Heero at the desk.
"If they had we'd at least have a place to watch- they'd have to pick up a package."
"Can you trace where you're sending the pictures?"
"Working on it." Heero gestured at the comm system in front of him. "It's a little tricky trying to trace while blocking them from doing the same...I tried yesterday when I sent the others with no luck." He looked up at Duo, his lips curving faintly. "Maybe you'd like to try today? You were better at this sort of thing than I was-"
"Of course," Duo leaned over and examined the system. "We have a couple hours, right? You did say we'd send the pictures in two?"
"Yes. Is that not enough time? I can tell them there was a problem- get us some more time-"
"We'll see if we need it." Duo tapped his fingers on the board. "Let's do the pics first- at the very least I might be able to add a trace on the files-"
Heero nodded and got to his feet, scooping up the camera. "I already set something up, just in case." Duo followed him as he wended his way through the lab, obviously heading towards a set of doors on the far side.
"Hey," Duo noticed something among all the equipment. "There's a table with restraints right there-"
"No," Heero said, not stopping, and Duo barely caught the shudder that shook his frame. "Not there."
Looking at the set of Heero's shoulders, Duo decided not to ask the question that was hovering on his lips. Apparently, Heero had some bad memories of this lab...
Pushing open the door, Heero gestured Duo inside. "What do you think?"
It was Duo's turn to repress a shudder. "They had a holding cell here?"
"You know the docs. Always prepared." Heero gestured at the chair sitting in the middle of the bare concrete room. "Have a seat, we'll do this as quickly as we can." There were restraints attached to the arms and legs of the chair- and it was bolted to the floor.
Duo took a deep breath. This was going to be difficult.
Perching gingerly in the chair, trying not to flinch when Heero knelt to snap the restraints around his ankles, Duo tried to focus on something else. A trace might be noticeable on the files, but maybe if he sent something else... through other channels.
"You okay?" Heero had just fastened the second of the arm restraints. His fingers were resting on the inside of Duo's wrist, right on his pulse point.
Duo managed a wry smile. "I'll be okay. At least I know you're not tying me down to beat me up or ask questions about the gundams..."
"Exactly. I'm just going to take your picture. All you'll have to do is glare at the camera." Heero snapped the wrist restraint closed and smiled back.
"Ha," Duo put his head back and took a deep breath. Keep it light, he told himself. Focus."Why do I always end up in these sorts of situations? Why do I never get tied up for something fun?"
"Something fun?" Heero repeated as he got to his feet. "Well, you can imagine this is fun..."
"Or kinky? I'd take kinky."
"I'm sure you would." Heero lifted his eyebrows. "But I don't think I'd be in that mental scenario." He moved behind Duo, lifting his braid. "Mind if I mess this up a little?"
"Sure you would. I had a terrible crush on you during the war. Go ahead."
Duo felt Heero's hands pause for a moment before he started shaking out the bottom part of Duo's braid.
Maybe he shouldn't have admitted that?
Heero reappeared in front of him, a gag dangling from his fingers. He studied Duo for a moment, face expressionless, and Duo bit his lip.
"Uh... sorry?" He tried and Heero snorted as he bent to touch his fingers to Duo's pulse point again.
"It's okay. I think this is bothering you more than you're letting on."
"Trying to psychoanalyze me, Yuy?"
"Trying to help you, Maxwell." Heero leaned over the chair. "I'll make this as fast as I can. In the meantime-" His lips touched Duo's- firmly, but not forcefully, a warm pressure that sent a spark down Duo's spine. Before Duo could open his lips in return, before he could do more than lean into Heero's mouth, cursing the restraints, Heero moved away just enough and slipped the gag over Duo's mouth. "Imagine the fun we can have when we're finished with the photos..."
TBC...
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