Author: Merula
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yaoi, assassins and bad things abound
Pairing: 1x2
This one takes place in the bad old days when the boys are still with the Org. I would say after Duo killed Solo, but before he killed Kira. How's that for vague?
One Night Sidefic 9
Duo hangs up the phone and I can tell from the set of his shoulders it's not good news. The Org must've come up with a job for us despite the promise of a week off after the last one.
"What is it?" I ask as he turns to face me.
"I have to go in today. Right away."
"Alone?" I thought we had established that Duo and I were partners now. It had been a while since they tried to send him solo.
He smiles a little. "It's not a job, they just need to know where I am."
"Why?"
"The last of the trainers is making a visit today. They don't let any of the orphans out of their sight during his visit."
Last of the trainers? Not the ones who trained Duo and his siblings? "I thought they were all dead." Rumor had it none of them had died very peacefully. Not that they deserved a peaceful death after what they had done to Duo and his "siblings". Vicious bastards.
"Except for one, they are," Duo's lips turn up at the edges. It is not a smile. "Very hazardous job you know, training killers."
"I can imagine." I reach up to pull him down beside me. "So one is left and I take it they are trying to safeguard him?"
"Of course." Duo's voice is flat, nearly monotone. "He's the most valuable. The one who had the best technique. The trainer of trainers."
Bile rises up in my throat. I know from Duo's descriptions which one he means- and what this man has done to him. "Elder."
"Yes." Duo twists his braid between his fingers and carefully I put my arm around his shoulders. I don't want him to feel restrained. Not now of all times. "Which is why they don't let us out of their sight. Why they double check the building several times before he arrives and hold us until after he leaves."
"You've tried before?"
"Several times. We can't do it in person- since if we're in a 100 miles radius they call us in. They keep us locked up during his visit in the cells they used to keep us in. I don't even know why he dares come into headquarters- unless he has some kind of knowledge that's too dangerous to share any other way?" Duo shrugs. "They've found every bomb, every trap- at least so far."
"I'm sure you've tried tracking him down to his home?"
Duo nods wearily. "Several times. No luck at all." He covers his face. "I just want to forget it," he says in a soft voice. "But I can't. Not as long as I know he's walking the earth. What if he's doing that to other children?"
I don't know what to say to him. So I kiss his forehead, hold him as close as I dare.
He curls up tight against my side. "I should get going."
"I'll go with you."
I feel the way he tenses beside me. "You can't Heero. It's not like they put us all in one room, but the others will be there. I don't want you..."
"Shh. I just mean I'll go into the building with you. I can log some hours on the computer, get some reports done. Okay? Then I'll be there to take you home."
The relief in his eyes is obvious. "You don't mind?"
"Of course not." I dare a kiss, a light one, and he smiles. "I'd rather be where you are, you know that."
"All right." He takes a deep breath and gets up from the sofa, extending his hand to me. Much to my surprise he pulls me into a tight embrace. "Thank you," he murmurs against my shoulder and then releases me.
"Just let me get my coat." I turn towards my desk as Duo heads out into the hallway. It only takes a minute to pick up the disc I need as well as my coat. The knife I need is in my desk drawer and easily slips into the back of my shirt. I can leave it in the car when we get there.
Duo is silent on the ride to the Org, his gaze focused inward. I know what he's doing, know what horrific memories that he's reliving. He's told me all about them after all.
I still can't believe that he trusts me that much.
When we reach the Org, Duo parts from me in the lobby. Chang's security is already there, waiting for him. I head to the computer room. I need to sign in- make my presence known.
Once there, I'm relieved to see that there are several rooms available. Then it's only a matter of locking the door and inserting my disc into the drive.
Now I can take care of my real business.
~*~
Duo is waiting for me in the lobby when I emerge from the computer room four hours later. He's pale and practically vibrates with tension. Another happy family reunion I guess. The orphans have a very curious relationship and not one I ever try to figure out.
"Did you finish the reports?" Duo asks me and I nod.
"Turned them in too." Cautiously I put a hand on his arm. "How was it?"
"The usual." Duo's arm is tight under my fingers. "He made his 15 minute meeting with Chang and they kept us locked up for three hours after."
Duo doesn't like being locked up.
"We'll go right home," I promise him. "Unless you'd rather do something else?" It's always good to offer him a choice.
"Home please."
Duo's just as quiet on the way home. Once we make it inside and perform our checks, he turns to me with a ghost of his normal smile.
"I'm going to go stretch out on the couch."
"All right." I know why he doesn't want the bed right now. "Are you hungry?"
He shakes his head. "No. You eat. When you're finished, maybe you can join me?"
"I'm not hungry either," I tell him and his smile brightens a little. He follows me into the den and we curl up together on the couch. Duo rests his head against my chest and closes his eyes.
I wonder if he's truly sleeping. I wonder if this will be another night where his memories catch him and he'll wake up screaming from his nightmares of guns and knives and silk sheets and blood.
My teachers may have been stern. They may have trained me to do terrible things- but they never abused me. They never made me hunt my friends or played sadistic games with me for their own amusement. Their lessons were harsh, and their punishments worse, but they were nothing like Duo's. I'm grateful to them now.
The phone rings. I glance at it and sigh at the number displayed. I reach up and hit the speaker button, not wanting to move more than I have to.
Besides, if it is what I think, Duo needs to hear this call.
"Yuy."
"Chang. Is Maxwell there?"
"Right here." Duo lifts his head from my chest. "What is it now?"
"Elder is dead."
Duo's eyes widen. "When?"
"About an hour after he left our offices. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it?"
"How could I? You only told me he was coming this morning and yanked me in where you could watch me."
Chang sighs. "I know. Both you and Yuy are accounted for, don't think we didn't check, but it's very suspicious."
"What about one of the others?" Duo asks.
"They were all locked up with you. We checked the security feeds and everyone is accounted for- no one left the building after he did for at least two hours."
"Maybe he pissed someone else off," I suggest.
"I'd say it was above pissed. Elder was cut up all over. Must've taken him at least a while to die. Very professionally done. The cuts were surgically precise."
"Well, I didn't do it." Duo frowns. "Unfortunately."
"Well, let me know if you hear anything from one of the others. They may have an outside accomplice."
"Yes sir." Duo slaps the hang up key. I can't read the expression on his face.
"Are you okay?"
"Elder's dead." Duo smiles a little. "I'm very fine. I wonder who killed him." He settles himself back down on my chest.
"Can't be any of the orphans. You were all under surveillance."
Duo nods. "Nope. Must be someone else he pissed off."
"Maybe he hurt someone they loved."
"Maybe. Whatever it is, I'm glad he's dead."
I run my hand over Duo's braid and close my eyes.
"Heero?" Duo's voice is soft.
"Hm?"
"I was thinking... didn't one of your teachers have some kind of technique like that? A lot of small cuts?"
"The death of a thousand cuts." I had wondered if he would remember.
"Does it hurt?"
"That's the point. Each cut causes pain. It's only the final one that brings death."
"Did you...?"
I open my eyes and smile for him. "You heard Chang. I was in the computer room all afternoon."
His kiss is warm and deep. "So you were. I forgot."
He settles back down again as I stroke his braid. I know what I did today was not entirely rational. The death of one man will not cure Duo's nightmares or give him back what he lost.
But then I am not always rational when it comes to Duo.
OWARI
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