Author's Note: An anonymous reviewer mentioned the idea of a sequel about the boys in the Academy. Well, if one were to assume they made it (some or all of them), it would be entirely possible I couldn't resist telling the tale. One might even surmise parts of it are already in progress...IF one were to assume some of them got to the Academy. ;)
Boot Camp Part 40
Past the Worst...or Not
By the time the morning light came streaming through the barracks window, Heero had nodded off sitting up in the chair beside Trowa. The auburn-haired boy had been resting so peacefully that there was no need to constantly watch him.
Duo woke up first, having slept a little restlessly without his Yuy security blanket, but he felt well-rested anyway, and hopped quietly out of bed to pad silently across the room to the bathroom.
When he came out, he stood for a moment to watch Heero sleep. It was a novelty for Duo to be able to stare unabashedly at the face he was so fond of, and a soft smile curved his lips as he did. He found himself studying the way the dark lashes brushed against Heero's cheeks, and how peaceful and innocent the team leader looked when completely relaxed. There was no guarded expression, or stern tension on the soft planes of the boyish face, and Duo's fingers twitched with the urge to caress the smooth, tanned cheeks.
But just as he almost succumbed to the impulse, those deep blue eyes opened and gazed back at him. "Duo..." Heero's voice was a little rough with sleep, and he sounded almost like he thought he was dreaming.
"G'morning love," Duo said with his usual teasing grin. He reached out and rumpled the untidy hair, letting his fingers linger just a little longer than he thought they should. "Sleep okay in that nasty chair, did you?"
Heero straightened up, wincing, and groaned.
"Guess not." Duo was never one to pass up an opportunity when it presented itself, and he eased up behind the chair, dropping his hands to Heero's shoulders and beginning a gentle kneading motion.
"Oh." Heero relaxed under the skillful massage, closing his eyes. "God, Duo. That feels good."
"Yeah," Duo said in a breathy whisper, loving the way the muscles in Heero's shoulders flexed under his touch. "I could do this for the rest of my life," he murmured to himself.
"I could let you," Heero replied.
"God, Yuy...d'you have superhuman hearing, or what?" Duo demanded in exasperation. "I can't get away with anything."
Heero smirked. "Yeah. I know all and see all, Maxwell. And don't forget it."
Duo looked up from his study of the Japanese boy's face, and glanced at Trowa, who seemed to be sleeping fairly peacefully. "How's the fucking traitor doing?" he asked coolly.
"Better, I think," Heero said, ignoring the snide phrasing of the question.
"Good."
Heero tilted his head to look back at Duo. "Good?"
"Yes. The sooner he gets back on his feet, the sooner I can beat the living shit out of him."
The team leader sighed. "Could it wait until after we win at capturing the flag? He won't be much good to the team with broken bones, Maxwell."
"I won't break him," Duo hissed in a deadly undertone. "I promise. I'll just mess him up a bit."
"The trouble with that is I think he spars as well as you do," Heero pointed out.
"You haven't seen me when I'm motivated," Duo replied smoothly. "Really motivated."
At that point Trowa stirred, groaning and rolling over before opening his eyes. He blinked, frowning as if confused. "Where 'm I?"
"Jail," Duo supplied helpfully.
"Camp Peacecraft," Heero corrected him. "Remember, Barton? Boot camp?"
"Boot camp?" Trowa closed his eyes, shaking his head wearily. "Whatever," he mumbled, falling back into a restless slumber.
"Oh, if he thinks developing a convenient case of amnesia's gonna save him from me..." Duo said dangerously.
Heero chuckled quietly. "No, Maxwell. Amnesia's not a side-effect of withdrawal. He's just half-asleep, and confused. It'll clear up when he really snaps out of it." He straightened, wriggling his shoulders under Duo's hands. "I should get up, I suppose. And you should see how Quatre's doing."
Duo glanced over at the slumbering blonde. "Looks like he's still sound asleep." He smiled wryly. "Knowing how well those pills work, he might be out another couple of hours." He raised an eyebrow, giving Heero a speculative look. "We're more or less alone, Yuy."
The look he got from the deep blue eyes brought an immediate blush to his cheeks, despite his smartass comment. "Don't tempt me," Heero muttered in a husky voice.
"But that's what I do best," Duo shot back at him. "Didn't you point out how...seductive...I am?" He lifted his hands from the team leader's shoulders, and made a motion as if to slide them under the collar of his shirt.
But Heero caught the slim hands just as they touched his skin. "God, Duo...don't."
"Don't what, Yuy? Throw you to the floor and fuck you senseless?" Duo's eyes had a very dangerous gleam.
Heero tore his gaze away, groaning quietly. "You are a fucking monster, Maxwell, you know that?"
"You don't know the half of it."
The team leader forced himself to stand up, gently pushing Duo's hands away, and keeping the chair between them. "I'm gonna go use the bathroom, and then you can take a turn sitting with Barton while I go to the mess hall and bring back some food."
"You aren't supposed to be out alone, Yuy." Duo was still watching him with an almost predatory gaze, and a slightly suggestive smirk. "Why not stay here and kill some time?"
"Norton's gone...Pritchard's no longer a threat. I think I can risk a quick trip across the compound by myself."
"And trust me to watch the bastard who stabbed me in the back?" Duo asked, shaking his head. "Sometimes you can be terribly naïve, Yuy."
The dark blue eyes fixed him with a searching gaze; one that froze Duo in place, and wiped the snide expression from his face. "And sometimes you don't give yourself enough credit, Maxwell." He turned the chair around, nodding towards it, and Duo slowly, almost reluctantly, straddled the seat, folding his arms across the back of the chair and letting his glance settle on his sleeping teammate. Heero reached out to smooth the chestnut bangs, letting his fingers slide down the side of Duo's face. "You watch over things here, and I'll be back before you know it."
The indigo eyes glanced up at him, and Duo sighed deeply. "I don't know why I do what you tell me to sometimes, Yuy."
"Because I'm team leader?"
"More likely because I'm a total idiot."
"Hn," came the totally ambiguous reply, before Heero turned and headed for the bathroom.
When he came back out, Duo had settled his chin onto his crossed arms, and was idly watching Trowa sleep, his expression impossible to read.
~*~
Quatre woke up to find the barracks quiet, and when he sat up, he saw Duo sitting by Trowa's bunk. "Hey, Duo...how is he?" he asked, sitting up and yawning.
"Better than he has a right to be," came the muttered reply.
The blonde boy winced, frowning to himself. He understood Duo's bitterness, but it didn't make things any easier for him, knowing that his best friend hated the boy he had such a deep affection for. And honestly, if he were to mull it over himself, which he had studiously avoided so far, he wasn't sure how he felt about Trowa any more. The boy from L3 had betrayed them all; he'd caused irreparable harm to Duo, and had broken any trust his three teammates had in him. Part of Quatre wanted to hate him for that; and yet he knew how much Nanashi had meant to the boy from the circus, and how desperate he'd been to save him; desperate enough to risk anything and anyone.
Duo looked over his shoulder at the sad aquamarine eyes, and scowled, turning back to his post. "Yuy will be back with some breakfast soon."
"Sounds great." Quatre decided it was too soon to try discussing the situation with Duo, and instead he got up and dressed, going through their normal Sunday morning routine as if nothing was wrong in the world.
~*~
Heero decided halfway across the compound to make a quick side trip to Wufei's office. He knew the Chinese man kept early hours, and wasn't surprised to find him at his desk.
"Morning, Chang."
"Yuy." Wufei raised an eyebrow curiously. "How are things with your team?"
"Meaning how badly did Norton's bullshit mess with Duo?"
A trace of a smirk touched Wufei's lips. "Well, I'm sure if he had nightmares you were right there to help, eh?"
Heero gave a wry snort. "That boy doesn't need much help, 'Fei. In fact, I think being able to defend himself from Norton might have bolstered his confidence a little. He's downright cheeky this morning."
"He was born that way, Yuy. A little thing like boot camp isn't going to knock that out of him. In fact, it's one of the character traits I think will make him an exceptional pilot."
"Or a thorn in your side," Heero muttered back.
"Ah, but you're his team leader, Yuy. He's your thorn...not mine."
The Japanese boy merely shook his head, sighing. "At any rate, Chang. I didn't come here to discuss him. I came to let you know Barton's got a touch of the flu. We got the doctor to look in on him last night, and she gave him some meds...but I think he'll need a day or two off from the real physical stuff."
"Not a problem," replied the officer. "This week is going to be prep week for the next competition. There'll be a lot of research and planning to do, and only the usual calisthenics and obstacles for physical training. Two days off won't set him back much."
"I'm glad to hear that." Heero leaned against the wall, relaxing slightly. "Could you also let his sister know he won't be up to visitors today?"
"Ah, that's right. She's been here faithfully every week," Wufei recalled. "I'll try to get in touch with her before she makes the trip out here."
"Thanks. I'm sure Barton would appreciate that."
"She's a very devoted sister, from what I've seen...and it was very sporting of her to take the dog."
Heero's glance darkened at the mention of Nanashi, and the recollection of what it had cost Duo. "I'm glad she was able to save him," he said carefully. And on the heels of that thought, his mind turned towards the cruel warden who'd set the whole thing up. "How are things with Kushrenada?"
The dark eyes shot him a smoldering look. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I know how badly he wants to hurt Duo, and I'm sure he didn't like having his little stool pigeon Norton shipped off to the hospital."
"We had words," shrugged Wufei.
"Swear words?"
"A few," came the smirking reply. "He told me to watch my back."
The Prussian blue eyes widened. "The bastard threatened you, Wufei? To your face?"
Wufei nodded. "He suggested that if something happened to me, he'd tell Merquise that he'd warned me about the dangerous tendencies of my recruits."
"Damn it, 'Fei! He's up to something," Heero said flatly.
"I'm sure he is." The Chinese officer leaned back comfortably in his chair. "In fact, I'm nearly certain he told Norton to goad Maxwell into a fight, hoping your impulsive teammate would throw the first punch and end up in trouble." He scowled slightly. "Of course, he knows I have the final say in Maxwell's discipline...so he should have surmised that I'd be unlikely to ship the boy off to prison for a simple fistfight. In which case, I'm not sure what he was hoping to accomplish."
"Maybe he wanted Duo hurt."
Wufei snorted wryly. "You're stating the obvious, Yuy."
"And apparently now he wants you hurt, too." Heero scowled deeply. "You should consider having someone with you at all times, Chang...safety in numbers."
"That has occurred to me," Wufei admitted. "And I've already apprised my commanding officer of the situation. He's on his way here, ostensibly to supervise the upcoming competition. But in reality, I think he just wants to be in place to prevent Kushrenada from blowing this whole program right out of the water." The Chinese officer stood up, pacing restlessly across the room. "If anything did happen to me, and an inmate took the blame, the Peacecraft Initiative would be completely discredited."
"Sounds like the warden has wanted us to fail from day one."
"He as much as told me that the first week. He thinks the Initiative is a bunch of bleeding heart nonsense, and that all the juveniles who end up in enough trouble to land here are beyond redemption."
Heero barely resisted the impulse to tell Wufei that Kushrenada was dealing drugs right there under his nose. But explaining how he knew that was too risky yet, so he bit his tongue. "I'm worried about you, 'Fei."
The Chinese man smiled wryly. "Don't be. I'm more cautious than you realize. I know I'm not invulnerable, Heero. I don't, and won't, take any unnecessary risks."
"That's good to hear." Heero glanced at the door. "I guess I should get going. I promised to bring back some breakfast for Duo and the others."
"I told you you'd make a good leader," Wufei said with a smirk. He threw a cavalier salute, which Heero returned before leaving.
~*~
The morning passed quickly, with Heero, Duo and Quatre taking turns keeping watch over Trowa. Soon it was time for visiting hours, and Heero insisted that Duo accompany the blonde Arab to the visitor center, while he remained by their ailing teammate.
"You need the break," he told the braided boy, who was still not quite himself after two emotional days in a row.
Duo gave him a smirk in reply. "Why not? I guess I can go charm Quatre's sisters a bit." His expression turned slightly devilish. "I hear they've got money, 'Ro. Any one of 'em would be quite a catch."
Heero didn't take the bait. He kept his gaze on the screen of the laptop. "Too bad you don't swing that way, Maxwell."
Seeing that the team leader wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of showing so much as a twinge of jealousy, Duo sighed deeply and turned to Quatre. "You mind introducing me to the sweetheart who brought you the stuff to make s'mores? I'd like to thank her in person."
"Sure."
The two boys headed off to the visitor center, and Heero kept working on the computer, keeping one eye on Trowa.
Long before Duo and Quatre were due back, Heero heard a groan from Trowa's bunk, and went to investigate.
"How are you feeling, Barton?"
Green eyes blinked wearily up at him. "Like shit," came the raspy reply.
"Could you be a bit more specific?" Heero asked. "I'd like to be able to give the doctor information she can use."
"Doctor?" Trowa tried to sit up in alarm. "You're getting the doctor?"
"Already did. Last night," Heero told him. "You were delirious...close to having a seizure. We had no choice."
The auburn-haired boy sank back into the pillow, closing his eyes. "How soon before they ship me out?"
"It's not gonna happen," Heero replied steadily. "Doctor Po agreed to treat this as a case of the flu, for the time being. But if I were you, I'd be sure to stay clean after this. She's not likely to be so forgiving a second time."
"I told you, Yuy. I'm done with that shit," Trowa sighed, clearing his throat uncomfortably.
"Want some water?" Heero held out the cup, and Trowa sipped cautiously, nodding when he was done.
"How'd you get the doctor to agree to keep this quiet?" he asked wearily.
"She likes Duo," Heero said simply, noticing how Trowa winced at the name.
"So do I," Trowa said softly, his voice laced with bitterness. "You don't know how sorry I am about what happened."
"'Sorry' won't erase the past," Heero said unyieldingly.
"I know." Trowa looked up at him questioningly. "What the hell am I supposed to do, Yuy? I can't change the past. I can't make it up to Duo. So what am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know," shrugged the team leader. "For starters, just do what you can. Do your best for the rest of this camp, and maybe things will work out okay."
"D'you hate me?"
Heero shook his head. "You fucked up Barton. It's as simple as that. But you didn't know what would happen. You didn't deliberately plan for Duo to take the fall, and you sure as hell didn't expect what the fucking guard did." His piercing blue eyes darkened. "Don't get me wrong. I'm pissed as hell at you." He shook his head. "But 'hate'? No. We've come too far as a team for me to hate you because of a mistake, no matter how big of a mistake it was."
"And what about Duo?"
Heero sighed. "Yeah, well. I'm pretty sure he hates you."
"No shit."
"D'you expect anything less?"
Trowa shook his head. "I'll be surprised if he doesn't kick the shit out of me next time we spar."
"Or sooner," Heero shrugged.
"What if he goes to Chang about this?"
"I don't think he will." The team leader considered for a moment. "Duo's not big on authority figures; he's not the type to run squealing to anyone in a position of power. He prefers to fight his own battles."
"--and exact his own revenge?" Trowa guessed.
"I've already gotten him to promise not to break any bones," Heero said wryly.
"That comforts me no end," came the sardonic response.
"Can we get back to how you're feeling? Specifically."
The boy from L3 frowned thoughtfully. "Weak," he finally concluded. "Feels like I can hardly move. My stomach hurts...sore muscles from puking. Throat's raw. And I've got a headache to end all headaches."
"Sounds about right," Heero agreed. "Doctor Po is going to come check on you this afternoon, and I've asked Captain Chang to excuse you from calisthenics and obstacles for a couple of days."
Trowa grimaced. "Why the hell are you going to so much trouble for me, Yuy? Damn it! I sabotaged the team...screwed us out of winning the competition...nearly killed you and--" His voice broke momentarily, and his eyes took on a slight sheen. "--and Quatre." He closed his eyes tightly. "I almost hurt Quatre," he said, his voice ragged.
"Look," Heero said curtly. "You want to confess...go talk to a priest. I know what you did, Barton; we all do. And if I were you, I wouldn't go reiterating it...especially in front of Duo. Just drop it!"
Trowa nodded, getting a grip on his emotions, and turning his head away. "I'm gonna get some more sleep," he said quietly, closing his eyes.
Heero just shook his head, got up, and went back to the laptop.
He was still working on the computer when Doctor Po stopped in to check on Trowa's condition. She kept her visit short and sweet, merely taking his vital signs, asking him how he felt, and prescribing more bed rest and mild food until he felt better. But her prognosis was very positive, in that she was sure he'd made it through the worst of the ordeal, and merely needed to build his strength back up.
"And if you need pain killers, young man," she added, her eyes sharp with warning. "You come to me! I don't ever want to hear of you taking anything like the crap that got you into this mess!"
Trowa nodded meekly. "I promise...never again."
Doctor Po gathered up her things, nodded to Heero, and told him to say 'hi' to Duo and Quatre for her. Then she went on her way.
~*~
While Heero was taking care of things at the barracks, Duo and Quatre enjoyed a very pleasant visit from several of Quatre's sisters who had made the trip. But at the end of the visit, just as they were headed back out, Quatre caught sight of Wufei talking to Catherine, and he paused, catching Duo's arm.
"Hey, Duo...can we just say 'hi' to Catherine real quickly?"
The braided boy looked over at the pretty girl, and then nodded rather wearily. As much as he hated Trowa, and anything remotely connected to him, he couldn't refuse the pleading tone he'd detected in Quatre's voice.
They quickly walked over to join the MSC Captain at the visitor station.
Wufei turned at their approach, nodding a greeting. "Winner...Maxwell." He looked at Catherine, whose face was a study in concern. "These are two of your brother's teammates, Miss Bloom. Perhaps they can give you an update on his condition." He stepped aside to let Quatre take over, pausing beside Duo for a moment. "How are you feeling, Maxwell?"
"I'm good," Duo said honestly.
"Glad to hear it." With a polite nod, Wufei continued on his way.
Duo turned to find Quatre talking to Trowa's pretty sister. "He seems a bit better this morning, really. I think the worst of the flu is over."
She eyed him searchingly. "Flu. You're sure that's all it is?"
The boy from L2 nudged Quatre with an elbow, leaning in close. "She knows, Quat."
The blonde looked sharply at Catherine, but decided to keep playing dumb for the sake of any guards who might be trying to overhear. "The doctor saw him last night, Catherine. She gave him some meds to alleviate his symptoms." He looked her squarely in the eyes, hoping she'd understand why he couldn't say more. "She'll be back this afternoon to check on him again. I promise, he's in good hands."
Catherine nodded, appearing to catch on. "Well, he's lucky to have a team that will support him through this," she said carefully. "Tell him to be strong...and that I hope he feels better very soon."
"I will."
"And tell him that everything at the circus is fine, and I haven't forgotten what he told me to do about Nanashi, okay?"
Duo and Quatre exchanged a puzzled glance, and Duo looked at the girl with a frown. "Is the mutt okay?" he asked, giving her a teasing grin.
She nodded, and then cocked her head to one side. "Mutt? He's a purebred shepherd."
Duo laughed at that. "I know. I just say 'mutt' to annoy your brother." He gave her a teasing wink. "And you, too, apparently."
She laughed along with him, shaking her head. "I'm not as easy to aggravate as Trowa."
This time the braided boy snorted wryly. "That's putting it mildly."
Quatre smiled gratefully at his friend, glad he was being so pleasant to Trowa's sister. He fondly recalled that one of Duo's favorite pastimes had been baiting Trowa until the horrible night of the auburn-haired boy's confession. But his eyes dimmed with sorrow that the friendly teasing would never happen again.
Duo caught the expressions that crossed his friend's face, and he sighed. "C'mon, Quat. We should let Catherine get going. It must be a long trip home for her."
She smiled warmly at both of them, her gaze lingering on Quatre. "It's nice to see you again, Quatre," she told him. "Give Trowa my love."
He blushed slightly at the look she gave him...almost as if she knew something he didn't know. "S-sure," he stammered out hastily. "Have a safe trip."
He and Duo made their escape from the visitor center, the braided boy uncharacteristically quiet. They were halfway across the compound when he spoke up in an almost hushed voice. "You still like him, don't you?"
Quatre sighed, shaking his head. "I hate him, Duo. I hate what he did to you. It was unforgiveable." His blue eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
Duo stopped in his tracks, crossing his arms. "But...?"
The blonde flicked a surprised look his way.
"I can tell there's more."
"It's just..." Quatre looked down at the ground. "He's so sorry, Duo. He's filled with so much self-loathing and pain..."
A frown crossed the braided boy's face. "So you're hurting because of it." His frown deepened into a scowl. "The asshole just can't seem to stop hurting people."
"You're in pain, too," Quatre pointed out quietly.
Duo shot him a glare. "No shit, Winner. I was beat up and raped a week ago. Of course I'm still in pain."
"You know what I meant. You hurt emotionally...because someone betrayed your trust." Quatre gave him a pitying look. "The only trouble is that your anger towards him hurts you too."
The braided boy ran a hand across his face. "What the fuck do you want from me, Quat? You want me to forgive him?"
Quatre shook his head. "How can I ask you to do something I can't make myself do?"
"Well, what then?" Duo demanded. "What do you suggest?"
The blonde sighed deeply. "I don't have any suggestions yet, Duo." He fixed a wary gaze on his friend. "Will you listen to me when I do?"
All he received in response was a shrug, as the indigo eyes turned away from him. "Depends on what you have to say. I'm not making any promises."
"Fair enough," Quatre said wearily.
~*~
They continued on their way, unaware of the cold, tawny eyes that watched from a window in the administration building. Kushrenada scowled deeply, and then went back over to his desk, where the files on each member of Team Wing were spread out and open.
He sank back into his seat, looking down at a mug shot of Duo Maxwell. It was a recent one, rather than the pitiful picture of a beaten twelve-year old, and yet it was still recognizable. Except for a more jaded look in the indigo eyes, and a slightly leaner face, the boy hadn't changed much. He'd just gone from 'pretty' to 'handsome,' and a lot shrewder.
"Not as shrewd as I am, though," Treize said aloud. "God damn you, Maxwell...I'll find a way to toss your ass in prison if it's the last thing I do. If I have to take out everyone you care about in the world, I will."
That brought him to the next file, that of Heero Yuy. And he placed it atop the pile, glaring at the stern blue eyes and finely chiseled features looking out from the mug shot. "Abused child...computer hacker...attempted murderer." He could see the progression in the court transcripts and police reports. And although there was documentation of the boy's rough childhood, it had been conspicuously left out of his plea bargain with the court. He took the Camp Peacecraft deal by pleading 'no contest' to the assault and attempted murder charges; thus the abuse he'd taken at the hands of his adoptive father was not factored into his crime. "Odd," mused the warden.
But he wasn't concerned with trying to understand Yuy's motivations. His only concern was finding the boy's weakness so that he could use him against Maxwell. It had been easy enough with Barton. Twice convicted of drug possession, a member of the street gang known as the Mercs, and then finally committing a well-documented assault against a police officer, the boy from L3 was just too easy to set up. A vaguely pleased smile crossed the cruel lips as Kushrenada took comfort in the fact that Barton had given him Maxwell on a silver platter, even temporarily. And while he'd failed in his attempt to ship the boy out, he'd at least gained the satisfaction of knowing he'd made him suffer.
But it wasn't enough. He still wanted Maxwell incarcerated on L2, where he'd finally lose that arrogant smirk for good.
"Winner," sighed the warden, looking down at the angelic mug shot in the last file. "Hopeless idealist. Loyal teammate and friend." Of course, any action taken against the boy from L4 could seriously backfire. The family had money and influence; and although neither had been used to prevent the boy's incarceration, plenty of both had kept him out of the worst detention facilities. Not that the boy had committed any violent crimes. He was, conspicuously, the only member of Team Wing without a single incident...at least until he'd spent enough time in juvenile lockup to become the target of some bullies. Then he'd put two of them in the hospital, though the details of the incident were unclear. Witnesses simply said he went berserk on them when they cornered him in a laundry room. But that hardly explained how a small, slight boy like Quatre Winner had soundly beaten up two of the biggest bullies in the place. No one had laid a hand on him since. And he'd been an exemplary prisoner in all other respects.
Kushrenada tossed that file to the bottom of the heap. "Useless."
Sitting back and lighting a cigar, the warden opened a file containing information on the MSC personnel assigned to Camp Peacecraft. And several hours later, he finally found a very disturbing, yet useful, bit of information; Captain Chang and Heero Yuy both were listed with the same home town. Since they were barely two years apart in age, it was safe to assume they'd known one another while growing up.
The tawny eyes narrowed. "Well, well, well...that explains a lot." He realized at once why Chang seemed to favor Team Wing...why the Chinese officer had insisted on grouping the boys by test scores instead of randomly. He wanted his boyhood chum to excel; to make it into his Academy. "We'll see about that," murmured the warden, furiously making notes on a piece of paper. He put Heero's file beside Wufei's, cross-referencing anything he could. And when he was done, he began to formulate a plan.
Eliminating Heero Yuy would be a strike against both Maxwell and Chang, since the Japanese boy was important to both. It could drive Maxwell to make a stupid, punishable mistake...and it would take away Chang's motivation to see his "recruits" succeed. However, taking direct action against Yuy was risky at best, since Chang would undoubtedly investigate to the fullest. No, there had to be another way to hurt the boy...to get rid of him for good. If only he'd break a rule or law.
And then, recalling something in Yuy's file, Kushrenada had a flash of inspiration.
He smiled in satisfaction, shuffling back through several pages until he found the one with the pertinent information...the medical report on one "Odin Lowe," Yuy's abusive guardian. He was still in a coma...one he wasn't expected to snap out of; but it made all the difference between an assault charge and a murder rap.
Shuffling further, the warden looked up Yuy's date of birth, smirking triumphantly when he saw how soon the boy would turn eighteen...that magic age when he'd no longer fall under the vast protection afforded by the juvenile justice system. Perfect!
Treize Kushrenada quickly punched up a number on his vid-phone, keeping the screen dark for anonymity.
"What y'want, K.?" came a rough voice, with the heavy accent of low class street scum.
"I have a job for you, Lou...on L1."
TBC...
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