Author: Merula
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yaoi, Assassins
Pairing: 2x1
So, all my muses fled to cooler climes for the day, so I went with my Bri-muse. He asked me to write a short One Night ficlet sometime after the game ended with Trowa and Quatre. So, here is a ficlet about something that happened six months after the game.
One Night Sidefic 6
Opening Moves
His back was to the door. Trowa suppressed a smile. Sitting with your back to the door in this business meant you were either very confident- or incredibly stupid.
He knew perfectly well that the other would've chosen this restaurant for a reason, that he was no doubt surrounded by the other man's employees.
Perhaps he should've been worried- but he had an ace of his own up his sleeve.
He sat down in the seat opposite Chang. "Sorry I'm late."
The other man just lifted an eyebrow. "Only by a few minutes. Was traffic bad?"
"No more than usual." Trowa smiled faintly. "I must say- I was surprised to get your call."
Chang folded his hands in front of him. "Not used to getting phone calls from former employers?"
"Well, can't say that I left the Org under the best of circumstances." Trowa shrugged. "Defaulted on the job, faked my death, went to work for the man I was hired to kill..."
The corner of Chang's mouth curved in a smile. "Ah, just following in the footsteps of some of your smarter coworkers."
"I'll pass on the compliment."
"Do that," Chang leaned back as a waitress deposited a teapot and two cups on the table and vanished again. "I suppose you are wondering why I asked you to meet me?"
"I am curious. The game isn't due to start for another six months. I don't think things have gone so badly that you'd be looking to shift alliances, and I doubt that you'd look to align yourself with me as I have no power of my own. Plus, you have to know that my loyalty to Mr. Winner is unquestionable."
Chang poured himself a cup of tea. "Loyalties can change." He lifted a hand when Trowa opened his mouth. "I am not implying anything. I am merely stating facts. You were loyal to the Org once, weren't you? Then a better offer came along..."
"It wasn't like that." Trowa frowned. "I might have stayed loyal to the Org if they had dealt fairly with me, but...."
"I know it." Chang frowned. "I did not choose wisely when I left. Unfortunately they were more like the person I inherited the Org from in the first place."
Trowa nodded. He didn't think the Org had done everything as well as it could have when Chang had been in charge, but it had been much better under his leadership than it was now.
"Tell me," Chang said, leaning over the table. "You spoke of having 'no power'. Do you truly believe that is so? You were a valuable piece in the last game. Don't you think that being Cathy's brother and Winner's lover gives you some kind of power?"
The back of Trowa's neck prickled. Was this some kind of trap? He had thought that Chang and Treize were happy with their new alliance... but they had been loyal to Zechs before. He scanned the restaurant quickly.
Two waitresses moving from table to table, smiling politely, a table full of footballers talking loudly, a few families with children, a couple sitting close gazing into each other's eyes, a man by himself reading a newspaper, a woman on a laptop, two business men getting buzzed at the bar... some of them had to be in Chang's employ...
"I suppose it does," he said. "I never thought about it. I know Winner is not the type to be swayed by sentiment- and my sister wouldn't endanger the people who work for her just for me."
Chang smiled. "I think you undervalue yourself." He took a sip from his cup, leaned back in his seat. "However, your value to them is not what I brought you here to discuss."
"Then why am I here?"
"I need someone to run the Org. Someone who values the operatives and understands them. Someone like you."
Trowa blinked. "Why me?"
"Why not you? You've worked for the Org for a long time. You know how things should be done." Chang shook his head. "I would take it over myself, but I cannot oversee every detail, and I need someone I can trust in charge." Chang took another sip of tea. "As far as what is in it for you- a power base of your own."
Well, this was interesting. "For which I would be indebted to you."
"Exactly." Chang tilted his head to the side. "Don't look like that. Hear me out. I have no intention of breaking the deals I made with Winner. He has treated me fairly, kept his promises and kept faith. I have no intention of returning to Zechs," his lips twisted slightly, "nor does Treize."
"There are other players," Trowa reminded him.
"There are," Chang agreed.
Trowa had to smile. "I am greatly flattered that you would offer me such a place. It is tempting- but I have to refuse."
"May I ask why?"
"I have other duties that take precedence- duties that would keep me away from the Org for periods of time. The Org needs someone who can keep a close eye on it."
Chang nodded. "I agree. The other duties you speak of- would you like to be free of them?"
Trowa lifted an eyebrow. That was an interesting question. Why was Chang asking it?
"At this moment I am content with things as they are." He replied carefully.
Chang didn't look surprised. "Life is a series of changes. If a change occurs and you wish to take my offer, then it will be waiting for you."
Trowa bent his head and got to his feet. "If you will excuse me," he said with a smile.
"Of course." Chang lifted his hand. "I look forward to continuing this at a later time."
Trowa nodded and made his way towards the door, half expecting something to happen. He made it to the door and stepped outside. The woman with the laptop stood there, smiling slightly. "At last. I wondered when you'd finish."
"You left me in there." Trowa frowned.
"Hardly, Heero is still in there after all." Duo grinned and brushed his hair off his shoulder. "I got a call I had to take." He lifted his hand and gestured toward a familiar looking limo at the end of the block. "Mr. Winner is waiting for you."
What? "He's home already?"
"I think he was a little disturbed when we called him last night and told him Chang had asked to meet with you."
"Duo- I told you I could handle it!"
"Trowa- he's the man that pays us- and he scares me at times. We had to call in." Duo rolled his eyes. "I did tell him that you could handle it- and I told him that Heero and I would go to back you up- but you know how he gets about your safety." He grinned and patted Trowa on the shoulder. "He's waiting. Relax, he likes you too much to kill you."
Trowa groaned and headed towards the car. The back door opened as he approached it and Rashid stepped out. He winked at Trowa and gestured him inside.
Winner was in the backseat, his black suit nearly blending into the upholstery, arms crossed in front of him. Trowa wasn't used to seeing his lover idle- usually there were folders, computers, reports... but Winner looked like he had just been waiting... not a good sign.
Trowa prudently took the seat across from Winner, who simply looked at him with that cool blue gaze as the car engine started up and the car began to move.
"Why did you not report to me immediately that Chang had asked for a meeting with you?"
"Because I wasn't sure what the purpose was," Trowa replied. "For all I knew, he wished to try and have me smooth things over between Cathy and himself, or between the two of you or he may have wished to ask me questions about the Org. His purpose could've been totally innocent. He is your ally, after all."
"He is a new ally and one that is still earning my trust." Winner snapped back. "Why did he wish to see you?"
"He wanted me to take over the Org."
Winner frowned, considering. "He wanted to put you in debt to him."
"Yes."
"Did you accept?"
Trowa shook his head. "Of course not. Taking over the Org would require me to give up my current job. I have no desire to do that."
"What did Chang say?"
"That the offer was open if I changed my mind," Trowa replied.
Winner frowned. "So, the opening moves are already being made."
Trowa nodded. "I think so. He asked if I wanted to be free of my duties- and yet also claimed that he had no intention of breaking his alliance with you. He said he wanted someone who would know how things should be done in the Org."
Winner was silent for a moment, deep in thought. "It's possible that he is simply looking to see if he can get someone trustworthy to run the Org. The only other possible one would be Yuy- and he would never take that offer."
"Definitely not. By offering it to me, he establishes closer ties to Cathy as well."
Winner nodded. "I can only hope it's that simple- but just in case, I think I need to keep a closer eye on Mr. Chang."
"I think that would be wise."
Quatre's lips curved in a smile. "And on you as well. I can't let you out of my sight for a moment."
"I took Duo and Heero with me!"
"Into what may have been a trap," Quatre countered. "You are too careless with your life." He leaned forward and pulled Trowa into the space beside him. "How many times do I have to tell you how important you are to me?"
"I know I am," Trowa slid his fingers across Quatre's cheek, caressed the nape of his neck. "It worries me."
"It worries me too." Quatre said quietly. "But I can't change it."
"I don't want you to," Trowa replied and gently kissed his lover.
OWARI
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