Author's Note: Okay, this needs at least one more proof-read...but I know how long it's been since I posted...so the heck with it. If anyone points out an error, I'll go fix the content...but meanwhile, here it is. (The next two chapters are done, and should be up very quickly.)
Boot Camp Part 61
Prep Time
With only two days remaining before graduation, the boys of Camp Peacecraft found themselves deeply ensconced in final exams. The morning was taken up with written tests, martial arts, and final weapons qualifications, while the afternoon was filled with Mobile Suit Simulator finals.
By supper time, every recruit was weary beyond belief, both physically and mentally drained. Yet even as they yawned their way through the meal, they talked excitedly about the day's tasks. In fact, they'd moved most of the tables together so that information could be shared between teams as well as within them.
"Gods, that last simulation was a killer!" Austin commented, looking at Heero for support.
"It was certainly the most challenging," Heero conceded, loathe to admit he'd found it more exhilarating than difficult. "But there was a pace to it--a rhythm."
"Exactly!" Quatre agreed. "If you just stopped trying to anticipate and merely reacted, it seemed to work much better."
Heero's attention drifted away from the conversation, as he looked over at Duo, wondering what his teammate was up to. Having left his barely-touched meal sitting on the table, the braided boy was going from person to person at the table, talking quietly to virtually every recruit.
After a few minutes, Heero couldn't restrain his curiosity. "What's he doing, Quatre?" he demanded abruptly.
The blonde looked up with a slight smirk. "Nothing, really," he replied evasively.
Heero's eyes narrowed. "Are you two up to something?"
"Nothing that can get us into trouble," Quatre assured him. "Honestly, Heero, we've finished camp. Our training's complete. All that's left is the graduation ceremony, which is really a formality."
The team leader glared dangerously. "You sound suspiciously like you're trying to rationalize something."
Trowa looked over with a smirk. "Let 'em play, Yuy. They're so damned cute when they're plotting..."
Quatre gave his lover an adoring look. "You think I'm cute?"
The former circus performer just shook his head. "No shit, Winner. You know I do."
"Yeah." Sliding a little closer, Quatre leaned an elbow on the table next to Trowa's, so they were nearly touching. "I think you are, too."
Heero rolled his eyes, and found himself watching Duo again, wondering what the little whispered conversations were about.
"You'll find out later," Quatre told him frankly.
"I'd better."
Duo bounced back over to them, his expression smug. "All set," he gloated, plunking down next to Heero, and picking up his fork.
"What's all set?" asked the team leader sternly.
"Tell ya later," Duo mumbled around a mouthful of food, setting his note pad next to his plate and reading over some of the notes he'd made for his speech.
Heero gave a frustrated sigh, realizing he wasn't going to get anything more out of his teammates right then.
His brooding was interrupted when Captain Chang entered the mess hall and walked to the front, picking up one of the metal trays and rapping sharply on it with a spoon for attention.
"Listen up, boys!" He gestured them to remain seated as a couple of the recruits started to stand. "I have a few announcements covering the activities that will take place over the next two days. First off, I commend you all on completing your exams. I know it was challenging, but from the scores I've seen so far, you've done very well as a group." His dark glance fleetingly settled on Team Wing. "Some of you have done extremely well."
The Chinese officer glanced down at the clipboard in his hands. "Don't worry about your final rankings--they'll be announced at graduation. Tomorrow morning you'll have the regular calisthenics and run...followed by showers and breakfast. The next order of business is the issuance of uniforms, which will take place right after breakfast. Every recruit will receive an MSC uniform--even those of you who won't be invited to attend the Academy. By completing this program, you have earned the right to wear the uniform to graduation, and keep it as a memento. Your uniform will consist of slacks, shirt, jacket, and tie, as well as a hat, dress shoes, and matching socks. Along with the uniform, you'll receive the appropriate patches and insignia, which you will be responsible for sewing onto the uniform in the correct places. You may refer to your handbook for the proper protocols."
"Sewing?" Duo mouthed, looking at Quatre with wide eyes.
"Yes, Maxwell," Wufei said with a hint of a smirk. "Sewing."
"Great. He reads lips, too," Duo mumbled.
"You'd be surprised at the skills a soldier needs to cultivate," continued the officer. "You'll each get a sewing kit along with the uniform, and every team will be issued an ironing board and iron to keep in the barracks. I expect every one of you to look sharp the day of graduation."
His dark eyes swept the ranks of his young recruits. "Some of you will have a little extra work, as in a few additional patches to sew on; the team leaders each will receive a leadership ribbon, and everyone who excelled at a particular aspect of the training will get an achievement patch. You'll receive certificates at graduation explaining what each award patch signifies."
He continued on without pause. "After the morning meal and issuance of uniforms, there'll be an assembly at the athletic field, where we'll walk through the graduation procedures. It's not very complicated, but we'll want things to run smoothly the following day. So you'll be told where you need to be...when you need to be there...and what you'll be expected to do. We'll explain the setup; where the spectators will be seated, and the order of events. Then you'll have the afternoon free to work on your uniforms. Oh, and to spit-polish your dress shoes." He grinned evilly. "Yet another skill set for you to work on, Maxwell."
"Aye-aye, sir," came the sardonic reply.
"Tomorrow evening, there will be an informal cookout. We'll have a bonfire in the compound--a small one, so don't get any ideas about getting carried away and adding to it." Wufei glanced over at Quatre with a small smile. "However, I took the liberty of ordering a few extra supplies, and the fire will be large enough for Mister Winner to demonstrate the correct technique for making s'mores to anyone who might have missed the opportunity the night before the river crossing."
Quatre blushed brightly, ducking his head and nodding his assent.
"At the end of the evening, we'll raise the MSC flag in place of the prison flag as a symbolic gesture of the christening of this training camp with the graduation of its first class. It will be flying first thing in the morning on graduation day, to show all the visitors that this is no longer a detention facility, but an official recruit training camp." He gave the boys a warm, assessing look that made each and every one of them feel they were being addressed individually. "Tomorrow evening is for you recruits...not for the visitors or spectators...but for you and your liaisons and instructors. The graduation ceremony will be formal and very public, which is why my troops and I decided you deserved a smaller, more private celebration the night before. I want you all to enjoy it." He gave a curt nod, turned on his heel, and strode briskly out the door, once again focused on his checklist of tasks to complete in the next two days.
"Whew," Duo breathed. "That was a lot of information in one breath." He gave a small smirk. "I didn't know Chang could be so long-winded."
"Maybe he should give that speech," Quatre teased.
The braided boy's face fell, and he glanced down at his notebook. "I wish," he sighed, a frown creasing his forehead. He eyed the page he'd been writing on, looking critically at the chicken scratch of notes, and then mumbled a curse and crumpled it in his hand. "I can't fucking do this!"
"Do what?" asked Austin, looking at the notebook and pen on the table. "Exams are over, Maxwell."
"I told Merquise I'd give the graduation speech if Heero got back before the end of camp. And now I've gotta get up in front of all the big shots from the Peacecraft Foundation, and Wufei's boss and everyone, and say something about why the camp was a success." Duo gritted his teeth. "I can't do it!"
"Sure you can," Trowa said confidently. "Shit, Maxwell, talking is one of your best skills...most annoying...but best."
"Fuck off, Barton."
"You're not helping, Trowa," Quatre said with a frown. "Duo has a right to be nervous. Public speaking can be very intimidating." He gave his teammate a reassuring smile. "But you'll be fine, Duo. Really."
"What's the worst that could happen?" Adam chimed in. "You get up there and freeze, right? It's not like anyone's scoring you on the speech. You already passed the boot camp."
"Um, I don't think he wants to hear anything about freezing up at the podium," Quatre murmured.
Duo stood up, leaving his half-eaten meal behind and stalking out of the building.
"Nice going," Heero growled at Adam, jumping up to follow his lover.
He caught Duo halfway to the athletic field. "Where d'you think you're going, Maxwell?"
"Thought I'd run a few miles to maybe take the edge off," Duo tossed back carelessly. "I'm thinking I'll start by heading north, and with any luck I'll be so far away by the time the graduation rolls around they won't be able to find me to make that goddamned speech."
Heero jogged up beside him, sliding an arm around his waist. "At least you still have your sense of humor."
"Who said I was kidding?"
The team leader chuckled. "C'mon. I have a protein bar back at the barracks, and if you behave yourself, I'll give you a nice back massage."
Duo paused, breaking stride momentarily. "A massage?"
"Yeah. Like I gave Trowa--only better."
"Ohhhh," Duo murmured, leaning into the warm side against his. "Y'mean I'd get to find out firsthand what all that moaning was about?"
"If we hurry, we'll probably have nearly half an hour before Barton and Winner get back."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Duo demanded, pulling away and grabbing Heero's hand to drag him along.
~*~
When the other two members of Team Wing got back, they found Duo lying face down on his bunk sound asleep. Heero looked up from the laptop, putting a finger over his mouth for silence.
But Quatre shook his head. "Sorry, Heero--but company's coming, and Duo will need to be awake."
"Company?" Heero demanded. "Does this have something to do with him flitting about the mess hall during dinner?"
"Naturally." Quatre went over and reached to gently prod Duo's shoulder. "C'mon, Duo. Time t'get up."
"Mmm--not now 'Ro--just fell asleep," came the sleep-muddled reply.
Trowa raised an eyebrow. "Exactly how did you wear him out, Yuy?"
"Not how you think," came the dry response. "I gave him a back rub to relax him. He was understandably tense."
"I see."
Quatre nudged Duo again. "C'mon, Maxwell. You've got locks to pick."
Duo pushed up from his pillow, turning bleary eyes to his teammate. "Locks? I thought I gave up my life of crime."
"Doesn't mean you don't retain the skills," Quatre noted. "Now wake up! Team Chase will be here in about ten minutes."
"Are you ready to tell me what's going on?" Heero demanded.
"Just watch," Duo advised, throwing his legs over the side of his bunk and rubbing his eyes. "You'll figure it out." He yawned and stretched, hopping onto the floor, and then walked over to wrap his arms around Heero's shoulders from behind, placing a soft kiss on the Japanese boy's cheek. "Thanks for the massage, lover," he whispered, grinning at the shiver that ran down Heero's body. "I owe you one." Unable to let well enough alone, Duo added an appreciative leer. "You just tell me what you want massaged."
The team leader closed his eyes and swallowed a groan, thinking of all the things he'd like Duo to massage. "You're evil, Maxwell."
"Yeah--that's why you love me," teased the braided boy, straightening up and walking into the bathroom to freshen up before their "guests" arrived.
Sure enough, a few minutes later there was a quiet knock, and Quatre opened the door to admit Austin and his teammates. "Good evening," he said cheerfully. "Welcome to the Wing barracks...step right this way." He gestured to his bunk, and Austin walked over and sat down, throwing one foot up on the chair beside it.
Duo sauntered over, slipping a slim piece of metal from his braid, and knelt to work on the ankle bracelet, dropping it from Austin's ankle after only a few moments. "Yesss!" he hissed in satisfaction, tossing it into Quatre's open foot locker. "Next?"
Each member of Team Chase went through the same procedure, and by the time they left, Duo had a growing collection of ankle bracelets.
Heero watched in silence, waiting for the plan to take shape, as one after another, each team showed up at the door, and Duo divested them of their anklets. Only after the last group had passed through, and it was nearly time for lights out, did the team leader speak up. "What the hell are you going to do with forty ankle bracelets, Maxwell?"
Duo walked over and knelt by Heero, sliding his pant leg up and deftly removing his tracking device as well. He looked up as he tossed it with the others. "Well--I have a little symbolic gesture of my own to make," he told the team leader. "Even though the shock mechanisms have been off-line ever since the river crossing, the GPS capability remained. Getting rid of the trackers is my way of showing Chang that all us recruits are free now. Our choice to go to the Academy if it's offered, is just that--a choice. Not a requirement--not a punishment."
"And how are you going to show Chang what you've done? Dump them on his desk?" Heero asked.
Duo went to the foot locker and began taking out the anklets, closing them one by one around each other into a long chain. "Actually, I've been trying to figure out the best way to display them for him."
"Might I suggest you attach them to the rope on the flag pole," Heero said with a shrug. "When they run up the MSC flag tomorrow night, it'd be the perfect time to make your statement."
Duo turned to him with a smile. "Why, Yuy! I do believe my deviousness is rubbing off on you. Could it be you're starting to like practical jokes?"
"On Wufei--yes."
"The flagpole it is, then," replied the braided boy, walking over with a chain of anklets trailing behind him, and giving his boyfriend an affectionate hug. "You're the best, Yuy."
"So you keep saying," smirked the Japanese boy, trying not to look too pleased with himself.
After stashing the anklets back in Quatre's foot locker, Duo took his notebook and went back to his bunk, much more serious than before. "I guess it's time to really get this speech thing figured out," he muttered, scowling and picking up his pen with determination.
~*~
The first thing Heero noticed when he woke up the next morning was that Duo hadn't come down from his bunk to join him. Trying not to feel disappointed by that, he rolled over and draped an arm off the edge of the bed, only to notice the rustle of paper as his fingers brushed something.
The team leader sat up, yawning, and looked at the floor, only to see it littered with balled-up paper.
"Maxwell..." he growled dangerously, sitting up and putting his feet down, hearing the crunch of a crumpled sheet underneath. "Duo--!" he added a bit more plaintively.
"Hmm?" came a mumbled, incoherent reply from the bunk overhead.
"What is all this?" Heero stood up, turning towards Duo, only to see the boy slumped in his bunk, the nearly-empty notebook clutched under one arm, and wads of rough drafts literally covering him. "Duo?"
The braided boy opened one eye halfway, groaning. "Morning already--?" he rasped wearily.
"Did you stay up all night trying to write that damned speech?" Heero asked in disbelief.
"Might've--if I hadn't nodded off awhile ago," came the yawning reply.
"Damn it. It's not worth running yourself into the ground, baka." Heero nudged one of the clumps on the floor. "Is it really that hard to put a few words on paper?"
"Nope...but it is if I want them to be the right ones," Duo told him, pushing himself up into a sitting position with great difficulty.
Heero began gathering up the ruined pages, tossing them into the trash can like little basketballs. "If you like, you can get another half hour of sleep before reveille."
"S'okay," sighed the other boy. "I should be up anyhow. I jus' need a new pen and some more paper..."
Heero just shook his head, continuing to pick up the litter as his lover slid wearily out of his bunk and stumbled to the bathroom to splash his face with cold water and wake up.
By the time Quatre and Trowa got up and the four boys headed to calisthenics, Duo had nearly finished what he insisted was his "almost final" draft of his speech. He folded the paper up carefully, tucking it into his foot locker, before leaving the barracks.
~*~
While his recruits were busy with the morning routine, Captain Chang was tallying final scores and checking over the skill evaluation reports from his instructors. He found few surprises in the team rankings, but had some choices to make for individual awards. Thus, he delegated the running of the graduation rehearsal to Lieutenant Wolfe, and spent the better part of the morning sorting through files and assessing each recruit's performance.
Once he'd made his decisions, he called the MSC hospital to contact Major Merquise for the necessary approval of his selections.
"Wufei!"
Once again he found himself looking into the compelling blue eyes of Zechs Merquise. "You're looking better," he said, allowing genuine relief into his voice.
The warm smile he got in return was well worth letting his guard down that little bit. "Feeling better, too," said the Major. "I'm looking forward to getting out of this miserably sterile environment."
"They said it would be another week at least."
"Of course they did. They're doctors--not soldiers. I'd be out the door already if Une hadn't stationed troops at the door."
"Uh--actually, I did that," Wufei admitted. "When I found out you were injured, I realized Kushrenada was probably behind it. And if he had anything to do with Lowe's death, he could have tried to orchestrate the same sort of demise for you."
"So you do care," came the smirking reply.
"I thought I'd already admitted that much," the Chinese officer replied dryly. "At any rate, the guards at your door aren't to keep you in--although, now that you mentioned it, perhaps their orders should be updated." He allowed himself a small, teasing smile, enjoying the frustrated scowl it brought to the Major's handsome face.
"That's not necessary, Chang," he said curtly. "I'll--tolerate the inactivity a few days longer."
"Ah, just because you're stuck in bed, doesn't mean you have to be inactive," replied Wufei. "I have this rather large stack of files in front of me, requiring your approval. There are a number of awards and commendations to be handed out at graduation."
The officer's face lit up. "How'd they do in simulator finals?"
"Yuy ended up first, as I knew he would...very closely followed by Maxwell."
"And the rest?"
They spent over an hour reviewing the scores and confirming the choices for individual commendations, based on performance in all aspects of the boot camp. And at the end of their rather lengthy session, even Major Merquise was willing to admit his exhaustion and submit to his doctor's insistence that he rest.
"Before we sign off," Wufei added, holding up a colorful flyer from the stack Merquise had been examining for their date. "This restaurant looked particularly intriguing...it specialized in private dining, intimate ambience, and excellent cuisine."
"You, Chang, are a tease," came an almost petulant reply, as Zechs noticed the glimmer in the dark eyes.
"Not at all," Wufei disagreed. "I'm the most straightforward of men, and you know it."
"I suspect Maxwell's had an unhealthy influence on you," suggested the blonde. "He seems to bring out the mischief in everyone." He sighed deeply. "Whatever restaurant you choose will be perfect, so long as I get to enjoy your company."
"Likewise," came the smiling reply. ""Now, if you'll excuse me, I should get back to work here. Colonel Une is due to arrive any time now, and I'm planning on introducing her to the recruits as I go from barracks to barracks handing out the award patches." He gave a slightly malicious smile. "That will give some of the boys a bit of extra work to do...and I want them to have ample time to finish it, so they look their best at graduation."
"Wish I could be there," sighed the other officer.
"You will--in spirit, at least--and the vid-link will let you watch the highlights." Captain Chang gave the blonde a warm smile. "Now concentrate on getting well, and let me do my job here."
Merquise chuckled quietly. "Is that an order...Captain?"
"A request, Zechs."
Oh, not fair! How was he to refuse such a tender tone in that usually-reserved voice? "You win, Wufei. I'll talk to you again when we set up the connection for the graduation ceremony. Until then, I'll be the perfect little patient."
"Thank you," came the simple reply.
Wufei went back to his work, organizing the stacks of documents and making lists of team and individual ranks. He was undisturbed until just after lunch, when the gate guard called in to report that reinforcements had arrived along with the Colonel.
In the time it took Captain Chang to stand, straighten his uniform, and walk briskly to the main gate, Colonel Une had turned over the troop reinforcements to Lieutenant Wolfe's command, and was just about to head for Wufei's office.
"Chang!" Her stern gaze met his as she spotted him approaching. "You have a lot to fill me in on, don't you, Captain?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied rather contritely. In their numerous conversations during the past five days, he'd told her much of what had transpired with Kushrenada; but he'd waited until he could talk to her in person to tell the whole story.
He accomplished that task while taking the officer on a tour of the facility, and introducing her to his staff and the recruits. Then they returned to his office so Colonel Une could present him with the information she'd been able to dig up.
"It seems your warden had connections on all five colonies, as well as Earth," she told Wufei over a cup of tea. "The data you secured from his private computer had complete records of his transactions and connections. His call to his hired gun on L1 was traced to a warehouse, where they seized several tons of controlled substances, as well as Lowe's killer."
"They got him? And did he implicate Kushrenada?"
"Oh yes. He was only too willing to spill his guts to the L1 enforcers when they offered him a deal. He used one of their latest 'designer' drugs to put just enough strain on Lowe's heart to kill him...injected it through the i.v. hookup on Kushrenada's orders. When he was shown the security camera shots that confirmed he was at the hospital the day before Lowe died, he gave it all up."
"Excellent."
"Furthermore, the two missing guards from Kushrenada's staff were located. Apparently the trigger man for the attempt on Major Merquise's life has cut a deal as well. He claims his failure on that job caused Kushrenada to send the other guard to get rid of him, and he wants to tell the cops everything he knows."
"It sounds like the case is shaping up nicely." Wufei tried not to sound smug, but it was very difficult.
"Shaping up? The case is open and shut, Chang. With statements from the two thugs you apprehended, as well as your account of the attempt on your life and that of two of your recruits, Kushrenada's fate is sealed. He won't see the outside of a prison cell for several lifetimes."
The smile that spread across Wufei's face was irrepressible. "Thank you for taking care of coordinating the efforts of all the law enforcement divisions that must have been involved."
"I figured you had your hands full finishing your recruits' training," she shrugged. "You've done a remarkable job here, despite some serious adversity."
"I had superb raw materials to work with," came the modest reply.
"I can't wait to see what the Academy makes of them."
Wufei couldn't help thinking the opposite...wondering what effect his talented recruits would have on the Academy. He had a feeling all the old standards would be out the window when his clever and talented young recruits showed what they were truly capable of. He suspected they'd raise the bar for all cadets that came after them. In fact, he knew they would.
~*~
The boys from Team Wing had spent the better part of the afternoon working on their uniforms. It seemed each of them had a rather substantial fistful of patches and awards to affix. When they got back to their barracks they'd immediately gotten started on their work.
Now, with the supper celebration nearly upon them, they were almost finished. Duo had gone back to scribbling notes for his speech, while Quatre stitched the last lightning-bolt insignia on a uniform sleeve, and Trowa worked on ironing their slacks. Heero had taken it upon himself to inspect and redo the spit-shine on each pair of dress shoes.
"Y'know, you may as well leave that until morning," Heero commented, glancing up at Trowa. "They'll just get creased on the hangers tonight. Better to give them a quick once-over just before we get dressed in the morning."
With a grunt of assent, Trowa unplugged the iron, and set aside the pants he'd been working on. "They're not that bad to begin with," he noted.
"Done!" Quatre said in satisfaction, tying off the last thread and proudly holding up his shirt. "Perfect."
Duo gave a wry snort. "Well with Mister Perfection for a team leader..." he muttered in an oblique reference to the way Heero had meticulously measured the placement of each and every patch on all four uniforms.
"Maxwell--"
"Duo."
"Duo." Heero heaved a sigh. "There's no point in relaxing our standards at this late hour. This is Team Wing, after all."
The braided boy laughed. "You're somethin' else, Yuy."
"Heero."
Another chuckle. "Yeah, whatever you say, 'Ro."
"Anyhow, let's get things put away here. It's almost time for supper," Heero noted.
Quatre went to his foot locker and pulled out Duo's daisy chain of anklets. "Have you figured out how you're gonna get this to the flagpole without being seen?" he asked, tossing it to his teammate.
"Stealth," Duo said carelessly, frowning down at his speech notes one last time, before folding the paper and stuffing it into a pocket.
"Hey--it'll be fine," came Heero's soothing voice from much closer than Duo remembered him being. "Whatever you say in your speech will be perfect."
He looked up into reassuring blue eyes. "I'd settle for adequate."
The team leader smirked teasingly. "You've never settled, Duo. Ever."
"True." Duo reached to run a hand across his lover's cheek, giving him a fond look. "I always demand the very best."
A faint blush crept up the Japanese boy's face. "You give it, too."
"Okay!" Trowa's voice cut in brusquely. "Time t'go to the cookout."
Quatre pulled out his duffel bag, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "Hey, guys...are we supposed to pack our stuff tonight?" He looked up at his teammates with dawning realization. "I mean, after the ceremony tomorrow, aren't we leaving?"
"That's right!" Duo exclaimed, sitting up sharply. "This'll be our last night here."
All four boys sobered suddenly, looking uncertainly at one another. But then Heero spoke up, dispelling the air of apprehension. "We're going to the Academy together," he reminded them. "The only thing final about graduation is leaving Camp Peacecraft; not each other."
A wide, relieved smile spread across Duo's face, and he hopped off his bunk to throw his arms around Heero's neck. "Damn, Yuy. You always know the right thing to say." He gave his teammates a mischievous look. "C'mon--we won't miss this ol' shithole that much, will we? So long as we've still got Team Wing?"
Quatre smiled back. "Yeah. That's what matters."
~*~
It was a cheerful group that assembled in the compound, as Captain Chang was overseeing the construction of the bonfire. Several barbecue grills were set up, and Mitch, the MSC cook, was directing several of the liaison soldiers in the making of their celebratory meal. Tables had been dragged out of the mess hall, and set with plates, utensils, drinks and condiments...not to mention heaps of chocolate bars, marshmallows, and graham crackers.
"Aw, he's really gonna make you do it!" Duo teased Quatre, elbowing the blonde affectionately.
"It's not that hard."
"Yeah--" Trowa chimed in. "If Maxwell could do it, anyone could."
Duo swung half-heartedly, and the auburn-haired boy ducked out of the way, grinning.
"So what's with the speakers?" Heero wondered, noticing Corporal Carter and a couple of other soldiers setting up a sound system. "Music?"
"Hey, it's not a party without music," Duo assured him.
Heero smirked slightly. "This may kill Chang," he noted. "He's not big on rock and roll."
"How 'bout you?" Duo asked, turning to face his team leader. "What kinda music do you like?"
Heero blinked, realizing that they'd never actually talked that much about small things like music and reading tastes, or favorite pastimes. It suddenly struck him that for knowing his teammates as intimately as he did, there was still a lot they'd never covered.
"'Ro?"
"I like all kinds," he said, snapping out of his thoughts, and fixing a searching gaze on Duo. "You?"
"Yeah--all kinds." Duo gave a small, speculative smile. "You got a favorite color?" he asked, apparently having picked up on the same train of thought.
"Indigo," Heero answered, looking straight into those deep, colorful eyes.
"Fuck, I love you," Duo whispered almost under his breath, blushing under his lover's scrutiny. He covered for his flustered moment by grabbing Heero's hand and giving a firm tug. "Let's go see what they're cooking."
Quatre watched them go with a fond smile, and a shake of his head. "They're good for each other, Trowa."
"Yeah, almost as good as you are for me," came the quick reply.
Quatre chuckled. "Ditto."
Within moments, there was music playing throughout the camp, and hamburgers and hotdogs were being served up on platters as fast as the staff could cook them. Forty hungry recruits and as many MSC soldiers made short work of the meal, enjoying the festive atmosphere as much as the food.
As darkness fell, Wufei ordered the music turned off and the bonfire lit. Then with a great deal of fanfare, he called Quatre up to the front.
The blonde blushed, fumbled, and protested, but got bodily dragged up to the Captain's side by his insistent teammates.
"Alright, Winner. How about that s'mores technique Maxwell keeps raving about?" Wufei asked with a mischievous gleam in the dark eyes.
Sighing in resignation, Quatre took a skewer and stuffed several marshmallows on, edging close enough to the fire to feel the radiant heat. "Fine, then..." He made such a show of demonstrating the proper doneness for a marshmallow...not too brown...but without white edges...that no one noticed Duo slip away on his own little mission.
Well, Heero noticed, of course. But only because he went along to watch Duo's back and steal a few heated kisses in the privacy of the shadows between buildings. They accomplished the attaching of the anklet chain to the lower ring on the flagpole rope without anyone even glancing their way.
Only when they slipped back into the circle of rapt watchers around the bonfire did Wufei pin them with a dark, slightly questioning look.
Heero gave his long-time friend a brief smirk, and pointedly nuzzled at the side of Duo's neck, as if to imply they'd snuck off to make out.
Rolling his eyes, Wufei turned his attention back to Quatre, who was holding up yet another perfectly prepared s'more, and challenging any comers to make one better. The next hour was occupied by a little contest in the fine art, and by the time they finished, everyone had had all they could eat of the tasty treats.
"Now that we've exhausted our marshmallow supply," Wufei announced. "It's time for a little activity to alleviate Maxwell's pre-speech jitters, before the flag-raising."
"Huh?" Duo asked, looking up sharply from sucking the last of the marshmallow off his fingertips while Heero stared in lustful fascination.
"I want each of you to come up front and tell everyone what one thing you feel you gained from your time here at Camp Peacecraft." He winked conspiratorially at Duo. "Consider it a practice run at getting up the nerve to stand in front of people."
"You kidding?" Duo asked, managing a jaunty tone. "I've been in more police lineups--"
All the former inmates cracked up at that, sharing a laugh at a common experience. That little ice breaker made it seem almost easy for each boy to walk up front and mention something he'd learned from the camp.
"Teamwork" was mentioned more than once, as were "perseverance," "self-confidence," and "courage."
When Duo's turn came, he strode up front with complete ease and confidence, smirking cockily. "Hell, Cap'n, I gained total respect for how hard it is to peel potatoes," he teased, receiving a dark glare for his efforts, while his fellow-recruits chuckled.
But under that look, he sobered fractionally. "Okay...okay...seriously, though. I gained a little...just a little, mind you...maturity."
It was Wufei's turn to smirk. "I'll grant you that much," he said with a shrug of a shoulder.
As Duo returned to his place beside the fire, Quatre went up to say he'd gained strength of purpose and a sense of his own capabilities.
Heero said he learned how to lead--how to work with and within a team, and appreciate the talents of each member of that team.
Trowa got up last, and was probably the most uneasy at being the subject of everyone's scrutiny. He looked warily at the Captain, who knew all the mistakes he'd made as well as his teammates did, and he almost chickened out. "I guess I learned...how to trust...and how to be trusted." He didn't feel he needed to elaborate, since the people he wanted to reach with that message knew who they were; so he started back for his team.
Wufei, however, caught his shoulder as he passed, and gave it a firm squeeze of approval, before the officer once again stood in front of the assembly. "Very well. Now that you all got a mere taste of what Maxwell will be facing tomorrow, we'll proceed to the flag-raising, and then you have about a half an hour of free time before I want you all in your barracks getting a good night's sleep."
He walked over near the flagpole, which was far enough away from the bonfire to keep it safe, but not totally in shadow. Lieutenant Wolfe brought over the MSC flag, and clipped it onto the two rings on the rope.
At that point, Wufei might have noticed the chain, except that he'd left the actual raising of the flag to Lieutenants Wolfe and Li. It wasn't until they hoisted the flag and the metal anklets clinked loudly against the flagpole that his dark eyes fastened upon the links.
While the MSC troops all looked in fascination at the dangling trail of ankle bracelets, the recruits began to cheer and whistle.
Wufei turned a sharp look to Team Wing, and more specifically to Duo. But when he saw how jubilant all the boys were, some of the sternness left his face. In fact, he didn't even need to ask about the symbolism behind the prank--it was quite obvious to him that his recruits were declaring their new-found independence. And rather than reprimand what might have been taken as disrespect of the camp flag, he chose to see the gesture as a sort of salute to it. The inmates had added their own personal statement to the christening of the camp, and Captain Chang had no intention of depriving them of their moment of fun.
But as the group broke off to enjoy their half hour of recreational time, Wufei walked over to Heero's team, his onyx eyes fixed on Duo. "Couldn't resist, could you?" he teased.
"It seemed like the best way to give Camp Peacecraft a personal touch," shrugged the braided boy. He looked up defiantly from his position leaning against Heero. "Wasn't even my idea, originally. I was just the 'muscle,' when it came to picking the locks."
Wufei sighed, looking at Quatre's innocent blue eyes, and slight, devilish smirk. "Why does that not surprise me?"
"Hey, it beats the heck out of bubble bath in a water fountain," Quatre asserted, recalling a conversation with their liaison.
"Who told you about that?" Wufei demanded. "No--wait--never mind." He turned away sharply. "Carter!" They could hear him saying something about "putting ideas into the heads of a bunch of creative delinquents," but the rest of the only half-serious tirade faded off.
"Aw, now you got our pal in trouble," Duo teased, watching Captain Chang stalk away to find their liaison.
Quatre giggled a little. "Yeah, but now I see why you like getting the Captain all riled up. It's kind of fun to watch him rant...as long as he isn't really angry at Carter."
"I'm sure Chang won't kill him," Heero shrugged. He glanced down to see Duo popping the last toasted marshmallow into his mouth. "Where'd you get that?"
"Saved one for last," Duo smirked, chewing the sweet morsel and then raising his sticky fingers to lick off the excess.
But Heero caught the hand halfway to Duo's mouth, and drew one of the marshmallowy fingers into his own mouth, sucking gently on it.
"Ohhhhh," Duo groaned, feeling a rush of heat settle below his waist. "Fuck!" he hissed quietly as Heero made a deliberate show of painstakingly licking and sucking on each sticky digit. "God, 'Ro..." he moaned. "Let's get the hell out of here."
The team leader smiled wickedly at him. "Took the words right out of my mouth." Nodding a farewell to their teammates, he slipped an arm around Duo's waist to usher him away from the fire light to some place a little more private. "Y'know what?" he added in a sultry tone. "I've got a great way to make you forget about your speech and relax tonight."
"Speech? What speech?"
TBC...
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