Trowa's Mission Part 3

Duo's voice sounded faintly raspy across the secure line. "So- no idea who this 'angel' is?"

"None." Trowa sighed. "I checked all of Quatre's address books- didn't find any connections at all." He frowned at the front doors of WEI's corporate headquarters. He'd slipped out of the meeting Quatre had been in, leaving Rashid there, to check on Quatre's car. Since it was clear and he had a moment, he'd called Duo.

Plus there was less chance of being overheard as well.

"Well, several of the black market deals we've been monitoring fell through this morning. We're watching all the branches of WEI we know about, so hopefully we'll see a shutdown somewhere." Duo reassured him. "Plus if it's this 'angel' that's been behind the deals we might be able to get Quatre out of this mess free and clear."

Trowa bit his lip. He had thought the same thing... though he wondered about the impact it would have on Quatre. Whoever this was had enough of a hold on Quatre's emotions to get him to cover their illegal activities...

"That would be the best scenario," he said finally, turning away from the front doors and looking across the street. Duo chuckled in his ear.

"It would. Anyway, Heero started working on it right as you called and he says he already found something..."

Trowa didn't hear the rest. Across the street from him was a person in a long black trench coat, their face hidden by a hat... suspicious as that was, it was even more so on a warm sunny day.

As Trowa watched, the person reached under their coat and pulled out something that made him curse and drop the phone. He sprinted towards the unknown, hands reaching for his gun and his com unit.

Some part of him knew that he'd never make it in time, but hell if he wasn't going to try.

"Rashid! Get Quatre out of that room now!" He yelled into the com.

He didn't listen for the response. The person across the street had seen him and paused for a moment, the end of the rocket launcher wavering between him and the upper floor of the WEI building.

Trowa clicked the safety off on the gun and fired off a shot. He missed, and the rocket launcher swung towards him.

And he was now really close...

Another shot and the muzzle of the launcher dropped towards the sidewalk. Trowa reached out and grabbed the collar of the trench coat as its owner slumped towards the sidewalk. The hat fell off and a cascade of blonde hair was freed.

A woman?

Then the rocket launcher lifted again, striking the side of his head and sending him reeling, his vision doubling.

"Damn clown!" The woman snarled at him, and the launcher headed for his head again. "This is all your fault!"

Trowa ducked, but a moment later the barrel was under his chin.

"I'll happily kill you instead of him."

Trowa smiled. "That's fine. As long as he's safe."

She shrieked in rage and Trowa pushed himself backwards, landing flat on his back on the sidewalk, his gun aimed squarely at his opponent's head.

"Drop your weapon!" He snapped and she growled.

"Never!" The launcher was pointed right at him. "We can die together."

He saw her fingers start to squeeze down, started to pull the trigger on his gun...

A shot rang out.

The launcher dropped from the woman's hands. Trowa blinked.

He hadn't fired...

The woman stared at him for a moment, her blue eyes clouding over, and then she fell...

Trowa saw the blood staining her golden hair and understood. He looked across the street.

Quatre stood there, his gun still aimed at the place the woman had been.

A moment later and the gun was lowered, the Maguanacs swarming across the street, the faint noise of police sirens rising in the distance.

Trowa got to his feet, his vision still blurry around the edges. He touched the side of his head and his fingertips came away bloody. Damn...

Rashid was suddenly beside him, his eyes anxious as he pushed Trowa's hand out of the way.

But Trowa was watching Quatre.

Quatre who was standing beside the woman he had killed, his mouth tight with anguish.

"Sera..." he said softly. "Angel. I'm so sorry..."

Rashid said his name, making Trowa focus on him. "We need to get you to a hospital."

"I'm fine. See to Quatre..." Trowa reached up to push Rashid's hand away and was surprised when he missed, his fingertips barely brushing Rashid's wrist.

"Right. Just fine." Rashid turned. "Abdul! Did you call the ambulance?"

"I don't need..." Trowa protested, and then Quatre was there, his cool fingers touching Trowa's face.

"Love, you need to go to the hospital. This is very bad." His eyes were dark with worry.

Trowa blinked. His vision was going on the edges. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for..."

Trowa wanted to tell him that there was a lot he was sorry for- but his vision darkened dangerously and the world seemed to tilt.

"Trowa!"

~*~

His eyelids felt heavy. He wanted to move, but his body didn't seem inclined to listen.

"I know you're waking up Barton," an amused voice said. "Can you hear me yet?"

Heero's voice.

Trowa managed to open his eyes. It was too bright for a moment and he winced.

"Give it a moment," Heero told him. "You have a concussion- your eyes aren't going to be focusing very well for a bit."

"Great."

"That's what happens when you get smacked with a bazooka. At least she didn't shoot you with it."

Trowa's eyes had adjusted a little and he was able to squint at Heero. "No- Quatre shot her. What happened? Is he...?"

"He's fine. He's with Une at this moment or he'd be here." Heero gave him a small smile. "Duo and I didn't realize that you'd take the job quite so... personally."

Trowa sighed. "I lied to him Heero. He made me an offer years ago and I didn't dare take it. I only took it this time because I knew it would get me close to him- so I could learn what we needed to know..."

Much to his surprise, Heero's smile widened fractionally. "So- you don't care about him at all?"

"Of course I do! But... he's going to hate me for this. He had to kill that woman- his angel..."

"His sister." Heero's smile vanished. "I'm afraid she would've ended up condemned anyway considering the things we found." He looked away from Trowa towards the door. "I daresay Quatre's solution showed more mercy than she planned for him."

Sister? Trowa was surprised- but the hair- and the eyes...

"Trying to get your point across again?"

Trowa froze. That was Quatre's voice.

"As many times as I need to," Heero smiled again as he got to his feet. "Persistence pays off- or so Duo says."

Quatre huffed. "He'd know."

Heero nodded at Trowa. "We'll be in touch."

A moment more and he was gone leaving Trowa to face Quatre alone.

"I am really sorry."

"Not as much as I am." Quatre sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers touching Trowa's bandage. "I didn't think she'd... try that. I knew she was desperate, but..." He shook his head. "That was too close for comfort."

Trowa reached up and caught Quatre's hand in his. "Why aren't you mad at me? You heard what I told Heero. You have to know I betrayed you..."

Quatre shook his head. "No. You took the job to get close enough to keep me out of trouble, right?"

Trowa nodded.

"So you do care about me."

"Very much."

Quatre sighed. "I have a confession of my own."

Trowa waited, puzzled.

"I was... well, I already knew about Kathy's marriage. She sent me an invitation. I called her to decline because I thought you weren't ready for- well- things to happen yet and I knew if I saw you that I'd be tempted to push." He smiled slightly. "Kathy told me that you were lonely- and I told her about the offer I made you."

"What did she say?"

"That you'd never take it. Not- without a push."

Trowa frowned.

Quatre met his gaze evenly. "So- I had a small crisis on my hands- my sister had involved her part of the company in the black market trade. Heero and Duo were working with me on it but they were known Preventers. If we had someone else- someone who I could take into the company without my sister suspecting anything..."

"Me."

"You."

Trowa processed this new information. So... Quatre had known. Heero and Duo had been in on it...

Quatre's hand touched his cheek hesitantly. "Are you... upset with me?"

"So, you used this situation to get me to accept the offer..."

"Yes." Quatre agreed.

"Because..."

"I missed you. I wanted you with me- and I knew I couldn't chase you." Quatre shrugged. "I have to admit- I think I would've done worse to get you."

Trowa couldn't help it- he laughed. "Devious bastard, aren't you?"

Quatre lifted an eyebrow. "Of course- takes one to know one, right?"

Trowa pulled him down for a kiss. "No more secrets though?"

"No more," Quatre agreed, his lips curving in a faint smile.

Trowa wondered if he had his fingers crossed....

OWARI

 

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