A War Worth Fighting Part 7
"Yes. Thank you, sir. Please keep me posted if you hear anything new."
Lady Une entered the living room with a cup of tea in each hand as Zechs lowered the telephone receiver with a sigh. "Nothing?" she asked quietly while handing over one of the cups to her lover.
Shaking his head, the politician replied, "No. But, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Duo's body still has not been found. As distinctive as his braid is, there would have been such an ID made by now if he had been one of the soldiers lost."
His partner concluded, "So it just makes it all the more evident that he is alive and being held somewhere in Japan. The question is where."
Zechs nodded, "Exactly." Taking a sip from his tea, he gazed out the large window to the rolling fields just beyond the estate. "Now that France has been liberated and the scale of the war is closing in on the remaining Axis powers, hopefully it will not be long before even Japan is closed in."
Lightly biting her lip, Lady Une thought aloud, "I am sure that the main focus of the military will be on Germany at this point. There is no question that Hitler needs to be removed from the equation. Defeating him would have even the more reserved individuals in this country supporting the war and President Roosevelt for getting us involved."
Turning back to meet her eyes, the tall man smirked. His lover truly was a wise one. Having been pulled into the political world though her late husband, she had certainly learned a few things with how things were handled.
Of course there was more than one reason for the main push to fall on Germany. Gaining the full support of the whole of the nation was one of those reasons. Everything came down to politics.
And that included war.
For just a moment, he lost himself in recalling the first time he had seen the woman in his life. She had been a widow for nearly two years when they happened to meet at the Senate.
So well respected was her late husband that she was always welcomed to listen in to the meetings and deliberations. In fact, she was sought out by many of the Senators for her opinion even if she did not have an actual vote.
New to the Senate at the time as a sponsor, Zechs was completely taken by Anne's strength and poise. She exemplified courage even as she came to terms with a great loss. She had taken his breath away. And it had taken some time for him to build the courage to ask her if she was interested in simply joining him for a cup of coffee after a session.
Almost two years after that, what became of that little get together was far more than he had ever dared to hope or dream.
Memories of Duo then came to mind, bringing a small smile to Zechs' face. The young man certainly had been a challenge to win over when they were introduced.
Quick-witted and very protective of his mother, the braided teenager was not easily won over by any means. He had put the political sponsor through his paces to prove that he was not going to leave Anne heartbroken after she had already been through so much with the unexpected and devastating death of his father.
Throughout the grilling first few months, Zechs took it all in stride, seeing the frightened youth that Duo was as the time. Eventually, he knew that he had proven himself when the boy asked to have a private talk in which he opened up. That discussion was just the beginning of the close relationship that they currently had.
Zechs knew that he could never replace Duo's father. He never wanted to. But what they had was a strong a bond as any adult-child could have.
And whatever it took, he was going to bring him back home.
Leaning back on the sofa, Zechs returned to the present and frowned deeply, "There is something else. Something that is being kept as quiet as possible until there is actual proof behind it." Just the thought of what he had learned ran a chill through him.
Not liking the sound of that, Lady Une sat up with a frown of worry on her own face. "What is that?" she asked in little more than a whisper, already dreading what the answer might be judging by her lover's expression.
With a deep breath, the politician took her hand in his and hesitated before answering, "During France's liberation, two German-run camps were discovered where Jews were being held and killed by the dozens at a time. The soldiers that had been there reported that they had never seen anything like it."
Her brown eyes widening as she gasped sharply, his partner breathed, "Then... there is truth to the rumors that were spreading about a mass killing." Paling, she shook her head, "My God. If there were already camps in France, I cannot imagine what is taking place behind Germany's borders."
Zechs nodded and sighed, "That is the other reason why the focus will be shifting there." Shuddering, he looked away and gritted, "Damn it. We had word that something like this was happening as early back as before the Pearl Harbor attack, but we looked away because of lack of proof."
Squeezing his hand, Lady Une reassured gently, "There were better reasons to not step in besides just that. Best to not to dwell on what could or should have been done and focus on what we can do now."
A few small tears shimmered in her eyes as she said quietly, "As much as I would love for the primary assault to fall on Japan in the hopes that Duo might be found... I know that even he would rather sacrifice himself if it meant that a mass killing like this could be stopped. Germany needs to be taken care of first."
The politician sat back up to wrap his arms tightly around her and kissed the top of her head. "I know that he'll stay strong, love," he whispered into her hair. "He's survived this long. I know that he'll make it until help will get there."
"What do you think our chances will be against Germany?" Anne asked with a light sniffle when she pulled back to wipe the wet trails from her face. "Do you think that we'll be able to defeat them? And even if we do, how long?"
Pausing before answering, Zechs replied, "It won't be an easy fight. But I'm optimistic. Every friend Hitler loses becomes our friend. It's only a matter of time before he'll really feel the walls closing in on him."
Somewhat at peace with that, Lady Une nodded and took a deep breath.
Much as it killed her, she just had to wait. All that she could do was pray that Duo had the time to do the same.
* * * * * *
His hand trembling, the Sergeant Major reread the message that finally reached him. This news was as unexpected as it was unwelcome. Surely Japan must have been the last country in the world to learn this news.
Looking to the messenger, he frowned deeply. In their tongue, he breathed, "And this has been confirmed?"
Briefly hesitating, the uniformed soldier nodded firmly.
The Sergeant Major sighed deeply and dry-washed his face with his hands. It was a great understatement to say that things were not faring well for the Axis powers. If there was not a drastic shift in the way the war was suddenly progressing, and soon...
Shaking his head, he banished away those dark thoughts. They would persevere. This was their time to prove what they were made of.
Resolved in what needed to be done, the old man raised a finger and ordered, "I want you personally to see that all of my First Sergeants and subordinates are informed of this as well. No doubt the battles in the Pacific will be intensifying. We must not lose our ground. Knowing that, we will need to reinforce our military with as many men as we can spare."
With a deep bow, the messenger gave a rushed affirmative before all but running from the room.
Lowering himself into his seat, the Sergeant Major folded his hands before his face and turned to gaze out his window. "The strongest metal is tested in fire," he muttered to himself. "We will pass this test."
* * * * * *
Later that afternoon...
Walking down the long hallways of Muroran, Duo held tightly to a fresh batch of clothes as he walked stiffly with his wrists bound together. As he moved, Heero was gripping him by his right arm while leading the way.
Every guard they passed along the way was careful not to pay any mind to them. Duo swallowed roughly at the uncomfortable feeling that there were eyes on him all around. All the while, Heero kept his steady pace without pause and without making direct eye contact with his men.
At last, they reached a secluded corridor and the shower room for the soldiers stationed there. Cuffing the prisoner to one of the pipes at the entrance, Heero entered the room with a hand on the gun in his holster. With care and precision, he searched every shower stall for anyone that may have decided to try something even under the strict orders from the Sergeant Major.
Once all of the stalls were checked and the room confirmed clear, Heero moved back to his prisoner to remove the bindings around his wrists.
"Stay where I can keep you in sight. If you try anything, or if I so much as think that you are trying anything, you will lose this privilege," the sergeant said quietly in Japanese.
Instantly shaking his braided head, the private whispered in the same language, "I won't try anything. But I'll stay in sight if you still don't trust me." Unable to respond verbally to that, Heero tuned his back to him and placed his hand on the gun holster at his hip as he stayed in the entrance to the shower room.
Heading deeper into his surrounding, the private's violet eyes widened in taking in the bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Things that he had not seen in months. Things that had been taken for granted in the past.
Revived, Duo quickly stripped out of his clothing and let it pool at his feet before stepping over to the nearest shower stall. As promised, he made sure that Heero would have no problem seeing him if he looked over his shoulder.
Modesty went completely out the window at being watched for the sheer pleasure of enjoying such a simple pleasure of a real shower. Privacy, while nice, was an easy thing to give up at that moment. Especially when the person watching was also protecting him.
Reaching for the end of his braid, the private removed the small rubber band and untwined his hair. Lightly running his hand through his tresses a few times to remove the initial knots, he reached forward to turn the water on.
The moment that warm water ran down on him from the shower head above, Duo bit back a moan of relief. Sighing deeply instead, he stepped deeper under the spray and simply let the drops run over all over him for a blissful instant.
Briefly, the rest of the world was forgotten. In this rare, perfect moment, there was a sense of normalcy.
Glancing over his shoulder to check on his charge, Heero's cobalt eyes blinked in surprise. It had been the first time that he had ever seen Duo's hair down. Even wet, it was a sight as it stuck to every inch if skin that it touched from the nape of his neck to just above his knees. It was like a chestnut waterfall that ran down his back.
Suddenly feeling his mouth go dry for some reason, the First Sergeant turned his head forward again. Blinking in surprise, he could have sworn that his face actually felt flushed.
Quickly pushing back whatever it was that had struck him from nowhere, Heero dampened his throat and regained his composure. Folding his arms, he looked up and down the hallway as he resumed his silent watch.
Duo made no point of keeping his shower short. After nearly a half-hour, he stepped out of the stall reluctantly with a towel wrapped around his waist. Quietly humming to himself, he moved to where there was a brush waiting at the sink station at the middle of the room.
Thanks to the conditioner, the tangles were relatively easy to work through before the American wove his locks together again. Securing the end of his fresh braid with the rubber band once more, he dried himself off before puling on his briefs and blue jeans.
Appraising himself in the mirror, the private winced at the bruise on the side of his face. It certainly looked a lot worse that it felt, as dark and multicolored as it was. The same went for the other markings on his body from his fight with Akio. At least most of the swelling was down.
Moments later, when he did not like how long the room had fallen silent once the shower was turned off, Heero looked over his shoulder once more to watch as the American finished pulling on his new, deep-green shirt to go with the blue jeans hugging his waist.
Their eyes met and the sergeant entered to bind the wrists held out to him. Handing over the pile of discarded clothes and taking hold of an arm, he turned on his heels and led the way back down the corridors.
Once again, eyes were on them just as they had been before when they rounded the corner. Still, not a one made a move to do or say anything.
Never before had Duo been so relieved to be locked away in that office than he was when they returned. Finally able to breathe comfortably, he sighed deeply while Heero worked the ties around his wrists away.
For his part, the sergeant tried not to take in just how... different Maxwell looked now that he was properly cleaned and groomed... Tried not to dwell back on thoughts of him with his hair down.
Without a word, he ushered his charge back into his cell and took up the dirty clothes. Locking the cage closed once more, he set the articles into a laundry bag he had waiting by his desk.
Lightly rubbing his wrists, Duo smiled, "Thanks for that, man. I thought my skin and hair were going to crawl off of me if I didn't get a nice shower like that."
Shrugging, Heero returned to the work at his desk and replied, "It was under orders that you have all of your needs for proper care met. There is certainly no need to thank me."
'Right," the private thought to himself with a smirk. Little by little, he was beginning to see a bit more of a person beneath the soldier mask. Confidant as he was that there was more reason to a lot of the things that had happened over the last few days than simply following orders, he did not push the matter any further.
Duo curled his leg beneath him as he lowered himself to the floor to gaze on the clearing sky. Just in time to really show the vibrant colors of the sunset that had just begun.
Peering up from his paperwork, Heero watched his charge for a silent moment. The way that he sat there in silent awe with a small smile on his face was almost... captivating. Even in his situation as a prisoner waiting to be handed over as a toy, he seemed truly content to take in a simple a thing as a sunset.
Briefly, the officer to wondered when he last enjoyed a sunrise or sunset.
Frustrated at his mind's wanderings, Heero shook his head and focused back on the file before him.
There simply was no room for thoughts like this at a time of war. Especially when handling an enemy.
* * * * * *
As one new benefit for the special 'guest' of Muroran, a cot was brought into his cell later that evening. Once he was locked away with it, Duo changed into his sleep attire and instantly curled up on the soft mattress along with his pillow and blanket. With a wide yawn, his eyes fluttered closed as he prepared to drift off.
Snorting in amusement at the sight, Heero shook his head. The light of the full moon outside that poured in through the windows showed him the way through the otherwise darkened room to gather up his own bedding supplies. Like the previous couple of nights, he faced his charge as he settled himself down beside the cage.
For a long and quiet moment, the sergeant just watched his charge. That peaceful, heart-shaped face that was turned towards him had the tiniest of smiles on it. Images from the scene in the shower threatened to make Heero's mouth dry again as he forced a hard swallow.
More than just the captivation surrounding the braid, it was clear that there was a story behind it. No man in the forces let their hair grow that long. For someone in the American army, it must have been a tall order for him to be able to keep every strand in tact.
Biting his lip as he looked to that rope of a braid falling over that slender waist, he heard himself ask quietly, "What is the meaning behind that hair of yours?" Before he even realized he'd said the words, he froze when those violet eyes snapped open.
And in that gaze, a stunned Heero knew that he had been heard.
Years of dealing with the enemy with caution... and he had been caught.
TBC...
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