Author: Merula
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yaoi, assassins, angst, alternated POVs...
Pairing: 1x2
One Night Sidefic 10
Your Move
Quatre POV
I looked up from my files when Heero stepped into the room. "All secure?"
"Yes," he closed the door behind him and came to stand beside my desk. "The system is up, the guards have their rotations, everything is as you requested. Rashid is double checking the system now."
"Thank you." Efficient as always. "Trowa?"
"Is on his way back from his meeting with Cathy. Duo is with him."
"Good." I didn't think I needed to add that I wanted an extra eye on Trowa this time around. The man seemed to attract trouble- especially during the game. "Abdul has just delivered the files."
"Any surprises?"
"The White Queen has some new allies- as we suspected. No surprises there that I can see."
Heero didn't say anything. He only lifted an eyebrow and I nodded back. We'd be keeping a close watch on Relena.
"The Red King?"
"Zechs has some new allies as well." I flipped through the files, scanning the pages. "Apparently he's made some alliances lately- one of which is supplying him with new security."
Both of Heero's eyebrows lifted. "That's a risk."
"Zechs didn't make it this far in the game without taking a few." I stopped on one of the pictures and frowned. "He's surrounded by guards- rather inconspicuous, don't you think?"
Heero leaned over the desk and I heard him inhale sharply.
"What is it?"
Much to my surprise, his hand seemed to shake slightly as he pointed to a tall man beside Zechs. "I know him."
"Who is he?"
"One of the Org's orphans."
That made me blink. "I thought Duo was the last."
Heero's face darkened and I wondered what he was thinking. "So did I."
Not good. "So this one was supposed to be dead? Did he vanish somehow?"
"The orphans didn't vanish. They weren't allowed to. And this one..." Heero rubbed his forehead. "This one- Duo killed."
"You're sure?"
"Yes." Heero's expression flickered. "Yes. I remember when it happened."
"You saw it?"
He shook his head. "It was the first time Duo had gone after one when we were together. He didn't want me to go along. But I remember him coming home afterwards..." His voice trailed off and his frown deepened.
"Maybe Duo didn't do it. You said he thought of them as siblings." Not siblings that he had been fond of, if the stories Trowa had told me were true, but there had to be a lot Trowa didn't know. "Maybe he was covering up an escape."
"I-" It was the first time I had ever heard that hesitation in Heero's voice when speaking about Duo. I knew why. Never had he considered that Duo might have lied to him. I hated bringing it up- but I had to- the game was too important. "I suppose it's possible but-" He stopped again.
"But...?"
It was like watching an actor pull on a mask. Heero's face went blank; his voice lost any hint of shade or warmth. "But unlikely. Duo's actions when he returned home indicated to me that he believed he had killed this man."
"Then perhaps this is only someone who looks like him? Maybe on purpose to shake Duo up? Now that it's known that you two survived?" I had thought something of the kind might happen when I allowed them to come out of hiding last year. "Was Duo close to him?"
Heero didn't answer my last question. "It's possible that it is meant to shake him up. Someone from the Org has to be helping Zechs if that is the case."
Chang? I doubted it, but it was a possibility. Trowa was the one with the contacts in the Org; he might have some ideas. "I'll ask Trowa to see if anyone knows anything about- what is his name?"
Heero nodded. "I will look into it as well." He didn't specify how, and I didn't ask. "His name is Solo- if that's him." He turned to go.
"If he is one of the orphans, he'll be very dangerous." Not that Heero didn't know that, but given the feeling I was getting from him, I thought a reminder was prudent.
He stopped at the door and gave me a half smile. "I know. But so am I."
~*~
Heero POV
I passed Trowa in the hallway and nodded at him. "Boss man is waiting for you."
He nodded back. "Duo's downstairs. Is Quatre busy?"
"Not too busy to make sure you came back in one piece." I smirked at him.
"I only went to see Cathy!"
"You ended up with a lot of extra holes in you last year. Remember?"
He rolled his eyes at me. "No, I've completely blocked it out. Go see Duo before he gets twitchy."
I nearly retorted that Duo didn't get twitchy anymore, but considering what I had seen in that file- well, it was a possibility.
How could Solo be alive?
Did Duo know he was?
I remembered Duo coming home from that mission- he'd been upset. It just didn't seem like he'd been faking- and Duo never lied to me ... but... there was always a first time. I knew how good of an actor he was when he needed to be- had his reaction only been an act for my benefit?
Could he have been faking that reaction? It was something I had to consider. Just because Duo seemed to tell me everything, it didn't mean he really did.
That thought hurt. More than I expected.
Solo had been different than the others. Special to Duo. I knew that, though I had never asked Duo exactly what was between them. I didn't want to know. Killing Solo had shaken him badly- worse than any of the others. He'd done it not because the Org had told him to kill the renegade- but because Solo had asked. Had it been part of a plan to get Solo free?
"Heero!" Duo hailed me from the base of the stairs. "There you are." His smile was warm and affectionate- the smile I thought of as mine.
"How did it go?"
"Well, Cathy's people are definitely better about this alliance than they were last year." Duo joined me, his eyes narrowing a little. "What happened here?"
"Nothing much. Rashid and I got the system up, everyone settled in. Talked to Winner about the other players a bit, got some things to look into. The usual."
I was reluctant to mention the man in the picture. Was it a good idea to bring it up? How would Duo react?
He frowned at me. "What else?"
"Hm?" I met his gaze as calmly as I could. "What do you mean?"
The frown deepened. "You're tense. Something's upset you. What is it?"
Damn it. He knows me too well. I made an effort to relax and gave him a smile.
"Zechs has some new allies that could be trouble." I prevaricated, knowing a half-truth was better than a lie. "Trowa and I are going to look into it."
Duo glanced around and then I found myself pinned against the wall, my lover's hands on my wrists. He leaned into me, his mouth nearly touching mine.
"Heero- tell me."
Inwardly I cursed again. I must be out of practice. Watching Duo's expression, I said carefully: "It's one of the orphans."
Surprise flashed over his face. "But that can't be. I'm the only one-" He paused. "Then again, I managed to break conditioning- Mari, Magnus and Lora did all go down out on missions- I didn't take them out. It's possible one of them escaped. Is it one of them?"
I shook my head. "No."
"But all the rest are dead. I killed them. Are you sure it's an orphan? Which one?"
"It's possible that it is just someone who looks like one- brought in to shake us up."
Duo let me go and stepped back. "That has to be it. Who are they pretending to be?"
"Solo," I said and watched, heart sinking, as Duo's expression changed.
Damn it, damn it, damn it.
~*~
Trowa POV
Quatre looked up as I slipped into the room. "There you are. Is Cathy well?"
"Very well- and ready for this round."
"Good." He studied me for a moment. "Back safe and sound I see."
"Of course." I moved to stand beside his chair. "I don't get injured every time I leave your sight you know."
"No," he agreed. "Sometimes you do it right in front of me." He reached up and twined his fingers around the end of my tie. "No risks this time Trowa. I mean it."
Kneeling beside his chair, I leaned forward to catch his mouth with mine. "Only if you're at risk. Don't ask me to stand aside and let you get into trouble."
He sighed against my skin, his lips brushing my cheek. "Don't make me tie you up for the duration of the game."
"I wouldn't let you. Afterwards though- you can do anything you want."
His teeth nipped my ear. "Don't give me ideas right now or you'll find yourself spread out on my desk, game be damned." Before I could answer, he kissed me and let the end of my tie go. "I have a job for you."
"What is it?" I stood up and accepted the picture he handed me.
"See anyone familiar?"
"Well, it's Zechs-" then the man next to the Red King nudged my memory. "Holy Hell. It's Solo."
"One of the orphans?"
"Yes. Did Duo see this?"
"No, Heero did. He was quite sure the man was dead."
"I was quite sure he was dead too. I remember the fuss in the Org about it."
"Why?"
"He asked for termination- and the Org didn't want to give it. So he ran-"
"And the conditioning kicked in- and Duo was sent?" Quatre finished.
"Yes. Heero told you?"
"Sort of," Quatre frowned. "The picture shook him- badly."
"Well, it's not often the dead come back-" I tried and then realized why Heero might be shaken. "He thinks Duo didn't really kill Solo?"
"I don't know." Quatre leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Duo told Heero that he had."
"Duo doesn't lie to Heero." I said and then paused. Crap- would Duo lie to his lover for the sake of one of his 'siblings'?
"Heero thinks it might be an imposter."
I looked at the photo again. "A damn good one- but it's possible. I take it you want me to look into this?"
"Yes please. Use your contacts- even sound out Chang if you think he'd be helpful."
"Very well." I tucked the picture into a folder. "I'll start this right away."
"Thank you." Quatre said and a knock made him look towards the door. "Come in."
Rashid poked his head in. "Miss Relena is requesting a meeting."
"Very well." Quatre didn't look surprised and I wondered why. "Where shall we set it up? Does she have a safe place in mind?"
"No sir," Rashid said carefully. "Miss Relena is here- and she'd like to talk to you right now if possible."
Surprise flickered in Quatre's expression, but it vanished quickly. I had to pull my jaw closed.
"Where is she now?" He asked.
"I put her in the reception room. She has one aide with her."
That's all? I thought, but managed to stay silent.
Quatre got up. "Please tell her I'm on my way."
~*~
Duo's POV
Solo? The orphan was Solo?
No.
It couldn't be him. It couldn't. Someone had to be impersonating him, maybe with the intent to rattle me- and why would I matter in the game? Maybe he was here to rattle Chang? Solo had asked-
But...
"Is there a picture?" I asked Heero and he nodded.
"Winner has it." His eyes were a cold hard blue, his mouth curved downwards. I knew that expression. Why was he upset? I knew that he hadn't wanted to tell me about Solo- and I could guess at the reasons why. I put my hand on his arm, seeking to reassure him, but before I could find the words- the doorbell rang.
Immediately the hallway filled up with Maguanacs. Yeah, so we were a little paranoid- but no one really had cause to come visiting- not this early in the game. Heero tensed beside me as we waited for Rashid to appear.
"It's Miss Relena," he said to the hallway as he walked out of the room that held the security screens. "She has only one person with her."
The White Queen? Here? Rashid opened the door and ushered her in. Was she insane?
Then again, Winner was pretty civilized- and hadn't they been allies at one time?
"Good evening, Rashid," she said pleasantly. "Is Quatre available?"
"I will ask." Rashid turned slightly. "Heero, will you take Miss Relena to the reception room?" He lifted his eyebrows at me. I nodded and slipped away as Heero moved forward. I knew what Rashid wanted me to do.
As I got into position, I studied the White Queen. Perched on the edge of the sofa, looking for all the world as if she had just dropped in for a friendly visit, I had to give her points for style. You'd never dream that she was in enemy territory. Her aide stood behind her- a dark haired female who looked just as serene as her boss. She wasn't carrying any weapons that I could spot, but the easy grace of her stance told me that she really didn't need a weapon. Very clever.
Heero stood by the doorway, that frown still curving his lips. I should've said something to him- something to take that look off of his face- but what should I say?
I always told the truth to Heero. Always.
Except once. Once I had told him only part of it- because someone had made me promise not to tell him all of it. So I hadn't. It had hurt not to tell him, even though I knew Heero would forgive me anything, it still hurt to hide this from him.
Maybe it was time to tell him all of it. If that was Solo with the Red King, then the promise was already broken.
The door in the room below me opened and I watched through the vent as Winner and Trowa came in. Winner sat on the sofa opposite the White Queen, Trowa at his back, mirroring the aide's position.
"Relena," Winner said with a smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
I had to give him points for style.
"Perhaps I simply dropped into chat?" She smiled back, just as warm. "An old friend dropping in for a visit? Am I not welcome?"
Winner lifted his eyebrows. "It's hard to believe you're just dropping in for a visit," he said. "You were never one to waste time in idleness."
"True," she said, recrossing her legs. "I assume you've been keeping tabs on my dear brother and his activities?"
"It would be foolish not to," Winner replied.
"Then you know the alliances he's made? The push for armaments?"
"He's updating the weapons systems of his colonies," Winner nodded. "I am aware."
"I am without an alliance of my own, as you know. I do not want a war in the Sphere."
"No one does."
"I fear Zechs does- or those he has aligned himself with do. So I am here to make an offer of alliance to you. Together we can stand against him."
Winner was silent for a moment, and I wondered what he was thinking. Was this offer genuine? Was she sincere?
"You realize I have to consider this carefully," he said after a moment and she nodded.
"I do." The White Queen lifted a hand and her aide produced a folder. "In here is all the information I have gathered that I thought you needed to consider my proposal."
Trowa reached out and took it from the aide as the White Queen got to her feet.
"I promise you I will consider it carefully." Winner said and she smiled.
"I hope you do."
I stayed in my position as they left the room. Then I went to look for Heero. Winner would be up all night after this visit- I didn't envy Trowa in the slightest- which should give me plenty of time to talk to Heero and figure out what to do.
If the guy was Solo. Maybe it was an imposter and there was nothing to worry about after all.
I wouldn't be that lucky.
Sure enough, Winner was already enclosed in his office by the time I reached the security room. "Where did Heero go?" I asked Rashid.
"He said something about having to run an errand and took off," Rashid's gaze was focused on the monitors. "We have people sweeping the street just in case- can you check the cars?"
An errand? At this time of night?
"Sure. I'll get right on it."
Heero wasn't back when I finished. No one had seen him come in, no one knew exactly where he had gone. I even dared disturb Winner and Trowa, but they didn't know either.
This was very bad.
~*~
Quatre's POV
Trowa closed the door to my office as I sat down behind my desk. He didn't speak; he knew I needed this time to gather my thoughts. Carefully opening the folder that Relena had given me, I studied the contents.
It was a set of reports by Relena's people. Each one more disturbing than the last. In addition to the reports were transcripts of meetings, spreadsheets for companies that specialized in weapons, and lastly a page that outlined Relena's conclusions, speculations and considerations.
If Zechs was up to half the things these reports implied... then he was seeking war. War between the colonies and Earth. I had wondered about some of the political maneuverings that had gone through the Sphere's government this year- and now the pieces were falling into place.
But why? Why did Zechs want a war? Wars were expensive- though good for some businesses- and it was a way to increase power- if your side 'won'. Many of Zechs' new allies had some sort of interest in war businesses- but I hadn't thought Zechs was the type to be swayed by money.
There was a knock on the door and Duo poked his head in. "Excuse me, but have either one of you seen Heero? He left right after the meeting."
"No," Trowa answered and I frowned.
"Did he tell anyone where he was going?"
"He told Rashid he had an errand."
I didn't like the expression on Duo's face. I really didn't like Heero going off on an errand after our earlier talk. Granted, Heero was usually level headed- but this concerned Duo- who knew what he might do?
"I didn't give him one." I told Duo. "But when he comes in, ask him to report to me."
"I will," he bowed his head and shut the door.
Trowa looked at me, concerned. "You don't suppose he went orphan hunting?"
"The thought occurred to me. Let's hope that he didn't." I looked back at the folder. Then again, if he did, maybe Heero would come back with something useful. The orphan was with Zechs after all- and Heero was skilled at getting information.
Tapping the folder, I focused back on the project in front of me. "I need to get these reports double checked. If you would- see if you can set up a meeting with Chang and your sister tomorrow- as early as possible."
Trowa nodded and vanished out the door as I flipped once again through the reports. I had a feeling the information would check out. Relena wouldn't offer false information- it would be too easy to prove her deception. But it might be biased, and that's what I needed to find out. Relena was very practiced at slanting things her way, as I knew only too well.
I looked up when the door opened, though there was only one person who never knocked. "Cathy and Chang will be here tomorrow morning at nine." Trowa said and I gave him a smile.
"Thank you. Did you tell them what it was about?"
"Only that you needed their expertise." Trowa perched on the edge of my desk. "What do you think of the files?"
I sighed. "That if this information is true- then I think I will have to take Relena up on her offer."
"Can you trust her?"
I laughed. "Not a bit. I was aligned with her once upon a time. I know what kind of ally she is- but I also know that she is sincere in her desire to avoid a war."
"Could the two of you manage to avoid a war if Zechs pushes for one?"
"That I don't know. I only hold two colonies- but Relena holds the Earth. Zechs has his three colonies- and I daresay will start a propaganda war against mine for not joining his if he does declare war. That might make things very difficult."
"So what will you do?"
"We'll have to make sure the war doesn't start."
The corner of Trowa's mouth quirked up in a smile. "Oh well. That should be easy." He drawled and I smiled back.
"You know me- I'm always up for a challenge." I reached up and seized his collar, pulling him down to my mouth.
Before I could do more than brush his mouth with mine, there was a knock on the door. I released Trowa as Rashid stepped into the room.
"Pardon," he said with a faint smile, "but Yuy has returned."
"He was supposed to report to me."
"That's why I'm here. He was injured-"
"Badly?" Trowa demanded.
"How?" I asked at the same time. Was it from the orphan or did Zechs have men out there already looking for mine? Or was it Relena? Or some other threat?
"I am not sure. It is not life-threatening," Rashid assured us. "Maxwell is taking care of him- I couldn't get too close."
"I'll go," Trowa said and slipped from the room. I nearly stopped him, but Trowa had worked with the other two for a long time. He knew how to handle Duo. There was no reason to worry.
Or so I told myself.
~*~
Heero's POV
Duo had lied to me.
I'm not sure why the thought of it hurt so much. It was silly of me. We were- had been assassins, and sometimes things needed to be hidden. I knew that. It was one of the first lessons Odin had taught me all those years ago.
But Duo had never lied to me before. Not ever.
I tried to focus on the conversation going on in front of me. I knew I should be paying attention to what the White Queen was saying- but I couldn't. The job was important here, not my personal life, and at one point in my life I could've shoved all of that personal crap to the side and focused on the job.
But Duo was more important to me than the job.
What would Odin have said to that? What would any of my teachers said to that?
Wait a moment. Perhaps that was the answer.
I looked at the clock on the wall. It was late- but not that late. And since I was here, I did owe a courtesy call. I had meant to make it with Duo- but...
The conversation ended. I followed the White Queen to the door and Rashid and I watched her drive away.
"Check the cars?" he said to me.
"Can't. Ask Duo to do it. I have an errand to run. I'll be back soon." And before he could protest, I headed to the garage to grab one of the bikes. After giving it a cursory inspection, I pulled the helmet on and took off.
It was late enough that most of the traffic had died down and I reached the familiar apartment building in good time. The light was on in the fifth story window, so I parked by the curb and headed for the door.
Pressing the buzzer in the old pattern, I was not surprised when the door simply clicked open without having to speak into the intercom. As I entered the tiny hallway and pressed the button for the elevator, I was not surprised to feel the knot of tension between my shoulder blades.
The door was invitingly ajar, and I cautiously pushed it open. Carefully scanning the room, I didn't see anything out of place- from where would the attack come?
Of course, it came from the last place I expected-
Blade flashing, she descended on me from above- and I only just managed to get out of the way, her blade slicing across the top of my shoulder.
"Slow," she said, dropping to the floor behind me and closing the door with a gentle click.
"You usually attack from the right."
"I know. Why do you think I changed the pattern? Expect the unexpected." She arched an eyebrow at me and I had to smile.
"So you've said many times Maestra. I should've expected an 80 year old woman to drop on me from the ceiling."
"Don't be impertinent. It's 85, and you know it." She moved past me, her silver hair swinging in its usual ponytail. "I wondered when you would visit. You've been here for nearly two days." She tossed a hand towel at me. "You're bleeding."
"I realized." I pressed the towel against the injury and bowed my head. "I apologize, but my new employer needed me to help settle him in."
"Understandable." Maestra beckoned me over to her small kitchen table. Two cups were already waiting. "Coffee?"
"Thank you." I sat down opposite her, but didn't reach for the cup. I hadn't seen her pour it after all. "How have you been?"
"Good," she smiled, her dark eyes glinting. "You've been leading an interesting life, or so I hear."
"That's one way of putting it."
"I'm glad you got away from the Org. I didn't think that was the place for you, no matter what J said about it." She snorted. "Old reprobate." Leaning back in her chair, she smiled a little wider. "All that aside, I am sure you didn't stop by just to gossip with an old woman."
"Speaking with you is always a pleasure."
"Charmer. Still, I suppose you want to use the eyes and ears?"
"Do you still run them?"
She snorted again. "I'm old, not dead. There are still many people willing to pay for information, and though I am not in the league of the powers your new boss can control, it doesn't mean I don't have business."
It didn't surprise me that she knew about Winner and his allies. "Then I need a favor- and I'll pay the usual rate for it-"
When I left Maestra's apartment, I felt somewhat better- though my shoulder ached. The bleeding had stopped, but riding the bike back to Winner's complex opened it up again. By the time I pulled in, the blood had soaked my sleeve. Hopefully I could go get cleaned up before Duo saw me.
"Heero!" The door opened before I even reached it. Duo stood there, his eyes narrowed. "Where the hell have you-" he stopped in midsentence as I reached the door and I saw his expression darken.
"Duo-" It finally hit me that it had not been a good idea to just run off. I had been so off balance that I had forgotten that Duo didn't like to be left out of the loop...
"Who hurt you?" It was a growl.
"Duo-"
"Who hurt you?"
Rashid appeared behind Duo, his eyes widening at the sight of me. "Heero- Master Winner wanted to see you-" Duo's head whipped around and I didn't see the look he gave Rashid, but it was enough to make Rashid back up a few steps.
"I'll be there soon, let me just clean up," I said and Rashid vanished gratefully.
"Heero-"
Carefully, I pulled Duo close to me, putting my head against his forehead. "It's nothing. Just a bad scrape. I'm fine. I'm very sorry- I shouldn't have left without telling you."
His arm tightened around my waist. "You're avoiding my question. Tell me who hurt you, Heero."
"Come help me clean up and I'll explain." Duo followed me to our bathroom docilely enough, but I could feel the way he was nearly buzzing with tension and I cursed myself again. Letting myself get so off balance that I forgot what was best for my lover was not good.
Duo helped me with the shirt, then got a towel and began cleaning the blood off.
"This isn't a scrape, it's a knife wound." The tone of his voice made me reach out to him again. Putting my hands on his hips, I tugged him close to me, brushing a kiss over his collarbone.
"Not a serious one."
His fingers tightened on the towel. "They were aiming for your throat."
Before I could answer him, Trowa appeared in the doorway, hovering just out of range. Rashid must've warned him.
"Are you okay, Heero? Do we need to get a doctor?"
"I'm fine," I assured him, keeping a firm hold on Duo. "Just went to visit an old friend of mine in this area. She's one of the local information sources- thought it would be good to see if she could lend us a hand."
"Can she?"
"Yes."
"I'll let Quatre know. Why don't you report to him in the morning? Get some rest?" His eyebrow went up in a silent question as he glanced at Duo.
"I'll do that." I shook my head once. "We're good here."
He flashed me a smile in reply and left.
"Did the information source do this to you?" Duo's voice was still icy cold.
"She's one of my old instructors. She always attacked me when I entered her apartment. It's her way of saying hello." Much to my surprise, the tension suddenly went out of him.
"Then how did she manage to hit you if you were expecting it?"
"She dropped from the ceiling, she's never done that before."
Duo made a faint tsking sound. "You should've expected it."
"She's 85."
"So?" He finished cleaning the blood off and I wondered at his sudden mood change. Then again, Duo's teachers had often hurt him- "I don't think you'll need more than a bandage, but you'll have to be careful not to pull it open again."
"I will." Now that he was calmer, I pulled him close again and kissed him. "I really am sorry. I shouldn't have gone off like that. I just-" How to explain this?
"You were mad about Solo." He said against my mouth and I started. "I could see it. I knew you were. I was so afraid that you'd gone..." He stopped, inhaling deeply, his hands tightening on me.
"I wouldn't leave you-"
"Even if I lied to you?" An anguished whisper. His eyes met mine, filled with pain, and I finally realized what it had done to Duo to keep this secret from me.
I was such an idiot.
"Not then. Not ever."
~*~
Trowa's POV
Heero seemed to be fine- at least as far as I could tell from a distance. Duo had been vibrating with tension, setting off nearly every alarm I had- but Heero had been holding tightly onto him. I was almost glad he'd refused my help- I'm not sure what I could've done.
I hurried down the stairs and nearly ran into Rashid. Before I could apologize, he grabbed my elbow. "There's something you need to see."
"What is it?" I followed him down the stairs and into the room we had put aside for security.
"Take a look at this-" Rashid led me over to one of the monitors. The camera showed the street in front of the house. He hit the rewind button for a moment and then let the tape play. It showed Heero heading into the gates.
I gasped. A man stepped out of the darkness across the street just as Heero entered our gates. He stood there for a minute, looking after Heero with an expression that made my blood run cold.
Then he moved across the street, closer to our door and the camera. Carefully, deliberately, he looked up into the lens of the camera and smiled.
Shit. "Solo."
"Are you sure?"
"If not, it's someone that looks a hell of a lot like him."
On the monitor, Solo turned away from the camera and strolled off down the street.
"What should we do?"
"Make a copy. Quatre will want to see it- and we should show it to Heero too." If that bastard was after Heero- "And Duo needs to see it too. First thing in the morning- Heero has a meeting with Winner. Can you have it ready to show then?"
"Of course." Rashid was frowning. "What do you think he's up to?"
"I haven't got a clue- but I don't like it."
~*~
Quatre didn't like it either. "And you're sure it was Solo?"
"Like I said with the picture- if it's not then they've got someone who looks an awful lot like him." I perched on the edge of his desk. "Guess the game is already starting."
"Not surprising. If Zechs really is involved in the things Relena says he is, then he's going to be pushing as hard as he can at our weak spots. Anything to throw us off."
"Maybe he's trying to recruit Duo?"
"It's possible. Duo could be considered a weapon- and a valuable one." Quatre leaned back in his chair. "The question is- where do his loyalties lie?"
"With Heero," I didn't need to think about that one- not after seeing the way Duo was hovering over Heero a few minutes ago.
"But this Solo is one of the orphans- one that might have considerable hold over Duo- if what Heero said earlier is true."
"Yes- and I admit I thought of that too- but- I just don't think he could have as strong a hold on Duo as Heero does..." Seeing Solo on the street- seeing the way Duo nearly snarled at me as I came to check on Heero- I was remembering an awful lot of things from the bad old days at the Org...
"And now Solo is following Heero around in the dark."
"If he threatens Heero, Duo will kill him- again."
"Will he? Or will he do something to keep Heero safe? Maybe make a deal with Solo? Go work for Zechs?"
I shook my head. "No. Trust me. I remember- well, one of the orphans decided to do that one time. Take Heero away from Duo-"
"What happened?"
I couldn't repress a shiver. "I don't know exactly- they had me go with him- to help hunt Kira down. They thought he'd be less tempted to kill me. Duo didn't let me go in to face Kira- he sent me to the hospital with Heero. But I went back later with the clean up crew- Duo had blown the place up- and judging by what we found-" Bile rose up in my throat and I had to swallow hard. "Let's just say that it's not a wise idea to threaten Heero. Duo doesn't take it well."
Quatre placed a reassuring hand on my knee and squeezed.
"Besides," I added. "He promised to work for you. Duo doesn't break promises."
"I know- but when Heero's involved- and now this maybe-Solo..." Quatre leaned back in his chair. "If I didn't need them here, I'd be tempted to send them away until the game was over." He sighed. "I just wish I knew if I could trust Relena-"
"Well, hopefully your morning meeting with Cathy and Chang will help with that." I looked at the clock. "And since you need to be sharp enough to deal with those two- plus Duo and Heero to start with- might I suggest some sleep?"
"I will," he promised me. "Right after I look at the file again. I need to make notes for the meeting tomorrow-"
"I'll help you," I told him, leaning down to brush a kiss over his cheek. "That way I know you'll get to sleep sometime tonight."
"Just sleep?" He asked with a raised eyebrow as he opened the folder.
"We'll see..."
~*~
Duo's POV
I finished cleaning Heero's wound, relieved that it had just been a minor one- my teachers would've given me worse for less of a mistake.
When he'd finally returned to the complex- his arm covered in blood- it had scared me badly. I thought that he'd left me- gone out to hunt Solo- and that I'd never have a chance to explain. My hands were still shaking a little as I pulled the bandage tight, warning Heero not to let it break open again.
Heero reached out and I went willingly into his arms, opened my lips under his. He was safe- that was all that mattered- and I was going to keep him safe. No matter what.
"I really am sorry." He said softly. "I shouldn't have gone off like that. I just-" I heard the pause in his voice.
I had to tell him. We had to talk about it.
"You were mad about Solo." I felt him flinch. "I could see it. I knew you were. I was so afraid that you'd gone..." Would he leave me now when he found out?
"I wouldn't leave you-"
"Even if I lied to you?"
His hands tightened on me. "Not then. Not ever."
Relief swept through me before I reminded myself that Heero didn't know the whole story. "But- I never told you-" My throat closed.
"So tell it to me." He tugged me out of the bathroom and down onto our bed. "Please? If you can?"
Wrapping myself around him, wondering if it was going to be for the last time, I buried my face in his shoulder.
"That night... I couldn't go in and kill him. I did it with all the others. Talked with them before they died... but I couldn't with Solo. I knew he was going insane- I knew he was hearing the voices more and more- I was scared he wouldn't hear me- he wouldn't know what I was doing... I told the Org I'd do as he asked- that I would go kill him- but I couldn't go in there and do it face to face..."
Heero stroked my braid gently. "So what did you do?"
"I got a rifle- set it up across the way. Shot him in the back of the head- at least- I thought it was him- from the back it looked like him! I went in afterwards. The body was on the sofa- dressed in his clothes... The shot had ruined the face- and I didn't look too closely. Just set the fire and got out. That was a mistake."
"It wasn't him."
"No, it wasn't him. I didn't know til months later. Saw him by accident on the street when we were in Rio... You were at the hotel- I thought he was one of my ghosts at first..." Heero's lips brushed over my forehead, but I didn't look up at him. "I followed him- he pleaded... he hadn't set me up on purpose, he had meant to let me kill him- but he'd gone to a bar- saw someone with the same height and build- wondered if he could get away- it stopped the voices- he'd thought to set up a suicide thing- destroy most of the body- but I'd gotten to the guy first and it was too good of a chance..."
"Of course it was."
"He made me promise not to tell anyone- not even you. Pointed out that if the Org found out that they'd take it out on me- and you. It was before we figured out a way to leave- and I was worried. He promised that I'd never see him again- I could just forget it all."
"And you promised."
"Yes." That tight feeling was back in my throat. "I wanted to tell you- but if the Org found out and they knew you knew... and afterwards... well, I had forgotten a little... I didn't expect to ever see him again..."
My lover didn't say anything, and I felt the fear that had been lurking inside me rise even closer to the surface.
"Are you very mad at me?"
Heero sighed and pull back a little. I let him go- knowing he was going to be furious with me- but he didn't go far and he didn't let go. He just slid a finger under my chin and tilted my face up to his.
"Why would I be? I know that," he paused for a moment, biting his lip. "I know that Solo was- is," he corrected, "dear to you. I wouldn't expect you to turn him in- and I understand why you didn't tell me. I'm not mad."
Relieved, I leaned forward and kissed him. I shouldn't have doubted him- I shouldn't have worried- but I can't help it sometimes. He's really too good for someone like me...
Slipping my arms around him, I held him tight. "So you aren't going to leave me?" I asked, just to be sure.
"Never." His arms tightened a little. "The only way I'd leave is if you wanted me to go."
I pressed him back against the pillows, careful of his shoulder. "Never," I repeated and captured his mouth with mine.
~*~
Quatre's POV
I accepted the coffee cup that Trowa handed me gratefully. I had managed to catch a few hours of sleep last night, but knowing that the game was already heating up hadn't made it restful.
"Heero and Duo are on their way down." Trowa said as he perched on the edge of my desk.
"Do you have the tape to show them?"
Trowa nodded. "All cued up and ready to go. Wufei and Cathy should be here in about an hour- we got word from both of their staffs."
"Perfect."
There was a soft knock on the door, and Heero opened it a moment later, Duo a shadow behind him.
"Good morning," he said and I gestured at the chair in front of the desk.
"Good morning. Care to tell me about your little errand last night?"
He sat down, Duo still hovering over him, and I wondered if he'd realized his lover had no intention of letting Heero out of his sight anytime soon.
"I have a former teacher in this area. She runs an information network. I paid her a courtesy call and sounded her out a little."
"Trustworthy?"
"I think so."
"Is she willing to work for us?"
"Yes. I asked her to have her people keeping an eye on Zechs' compound- as locals they can blend in better- tell us about any visitors."
"Perfect. She'll report to you?"
"Yes."
"How did you get wounded?" Had Solo attacked him?
"My teacher always greets me with a little training exercise."
Ah. "I see. I was worried you ran into someone else- you see- we had a visitor last night." I nodded at Trowa and he flicked on the monitor.
I didn't need to see the tape again- I watched my employees. Heero's expression didn't change- but Duo's... Duo's made me inch a bit closer to the gun hidden in my desk.
"He wanted to be seen," Heero said when Solo stepped back out of sight. "But why?"
"So I'd know it was him." Duo's fingers tightened on Heero's shoulders. "And to mark his target."
Trowa hissed out a breath. "Heero."
Heero reached up and covered Duo's hand with his. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
I knew why. "Zechs of course. We know Solo is working for him. I'm sure that's why he's here- to checkmate you two."
"That's not going to happen." Duo's gaze turned to me, and Trowa slid a bit closer to my side. "Permission to hunt him down?"
On one hand, I wasn't sure I wanted to send Duo after someone in Zech's employ so soon in the game- and someone who obviously had planned out his little side game. But Zechs was the one who had started this little maneuver- and I had a feeling telling Duo no wouldn't be a good idea.
"No." Heero said and I blinked.
Duo's expression darkened. "No?"
"No. He's after me- I'll deal with him."
~*~
Heero's POV
"No. He's after me- I'll deal with him." The moment the words left my mouth, Duo's hands tightened down painfully on my shoulders. Reminding myself not to wince, I slid my hand between his fingers and my injured shoulder. His grip loosened immediately and I heard the sharp hiss of breath between his teeth. I knew he wouldn't argue with me in front of Winner, but I also knew he wasn't happy. Patting his fingers reassuringly, I kept my gaze on our boss. "But I won't do it until you know for sure what game the White Queen is playing."
Winner's eyebrow lifted. "That would be for the best. I don't want to start hostilities until I have a clearer picture."
"Understood."
"However- if violence is offered- I do not want you to hold back. They are the ones starting this little side game- I want you two to be the ones to finish it." His eyes flicked up towards Duo and I wondered what he saw on my lover's face.
"I won't hold back," I told him and he frowned at me. Before he could answer, I continued: "What if Duo can convince Solo to switch sides?" I saw the flicker of acknowledgement in Winner's face. Now he understood.
"Anyone we can convince to switch sides is a bonus- if we can be sure of their loyalty."
Before I could answer, Rashid knocked once on the door and stepped inside. "Chang and Miss Bloom are here."
"Show them in please, Rashid." Winner turned his attention back to me. "Until we have more information do not leave the compound without informing me- and taking your partner with you."
I nodded, turning my head slightly to catch Duo's expression. Ah, that would be why Winner added that last stipulation.
"Understood."
"Good. I don't need you two here for this meeting- return to regular duties."
I got to my feet and headed for the door, Duo a silent shadow behind me. We stepped out just as Bloom and Chang were about to step in. She nodded to us, her eyes already searching out Trowa, but Chang met my gaze evenly.
"Yuy."
"Chang."
"Maxwell," he added and I saw him turn faintly pale as he looked at my lover. Duo didn't acknowledge the greeting- he was focused on me, his expression unchanged. I waited for the door to close before I turned to face Duo fully.
"It has to be this way." I told him softly.
"No it doesn't!" His voice didn't rise but I heard the anger in it all the same. "It doesn't! I don't want you dead..." There was fear behind the anger- I could hear it now.
"Duo," I took his elbow and tugged him down the hallway and into the empty dining room. "It's not right to ask you to kill Solo. He's your... he's dear to you. You need to try and get him on our side."
"If he kills you I don't want him on our side."
"He's not going to kill me."
"He's marked you Heero- he's going to-"
"I'm not going to let him kill me. Not until you've talked with him."
"If you survive that long- Heero-"
"I've survived you, haven't I?"
He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "So far." I reached out and tugged him into an embrace. "Why won't you just let me kill him?"
"Duo, love, I know what it did to you the first time- when you thought you killed him. I can't put you through that again- not for me."
His arms tightened around me. "What if he says no to switching sides?"
"Hopefully he won't." Before he could answer, I tried another tack: "Duo- I'm an assassin too, remember? I can look after myself."
He swallowed hard and I felt him sigh. I hated using that tactic against him, but I hated the thought of causing Duo more pain.
"All right. You win," he said softly against my ear. "But if he so much as bruises you, then I am going to rip him to pieces."
I knew better than to argue with Duo when he used that tone. "Deal."
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