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Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is still not mine. Dammit.
Things changed around five o'clock in the morning.
That was when a part of the hospital blew up.
More specifically, the part he'd been in no less than two hours ago.
Apparently a huge accident had occurred on the highway – odd for that time of night – and since he'd been about
to leave, they moved him to a temporary overnight room instead of a room with a watch. That had cost those poor crash victims
straight into the line of his enemies' fire.
Nurses and doctors scrambled to try to save those in and around the explosion, but Duo already knew those in his room were
dead. He felt relief and guilt flood him equally, but neither stopped him from reacting.
The nurses paid no notice of him except to say a quick, “everything's fine! Don't worry!” He nodded, then waited
for the last nurse to pass his room. Then he stood and, for the second time that night, donned his own clothes.
With practiced ease, he escaped through the window. Whoever said hospital windows should be barred hadn't prepared fr this
situation. Either this hospital had, or it had thought that barring the windows would be ridiculous. If only they knew.
Well, they would find out soon enough.
He didn't look back.
<*>
Heero sat up at the sound of the phone. If it was still this early, it had to be work. No one called him before he was awake,
mostly because he had the habit of waking up merely a half-hour from now.
“Lieutenant Yuy.”
“There's been an explosion at the Burgundy Hospital.”
Heero stilled. He felt a tightening in his gut. Duo was in that hospital. “Casualties?”
It was the Chief of the Department on the line, three lines up from the lost Deputy Chief Fellur. “Yes,” he answered.
Treize Khushrenada was known to always have the information. At least most of the time. Heero couldn't help but wonder if
Khushrenada had seen any of Fellur's conspiracy.
“Who?” Heero didn't realize he wasn't breathing; all he knew was that the pain in his chest increased.
“I haven't received names yet. The doctors and nurses are horrified, though; it seems patients were in that room.”
“What room?” Heero's voice had dropped to a whisper.
“Room 214.”
Things warped in front of Heero's eyes. His mind, valued because of its analytical ability, absolutely blanked.
Duo's room.
“Yuy?”
Heero only then felt the pain in his hand as he gripped the receiver hard enough to break it. His head swam. Duo. Was he alive?
No, whoever in that room... if he was the target...
Was he really Shinigami?
But the thought blipped into his head, one small, insignificant thought among the fear tearing him apart. Because if he'd
been targeted by someone and they had bombed that room, there was no way he could still be alive. No way.
“Yuy?” Khushrenada repeated.
“I'm all right,” he managed. “I'll head over there immediately.
Khushrenada wasn't falling for it, but he wasn't arguing, either. “Chang will be going with you.”
“Of course.” They were partners, after all.
Khushrenada made a noncommittal sound and hung up on him.
Heero couldn't put his phone down. Duo. Duo was...
That warm skin, those deep violet eyes. God. The scent. Everything was gone. In a blaze of fire and smoke, Duo was lost to
him before Heero had truly managed to grab him.
He felt a hard stone in his heart. Whoever had killed him, Heero would make certain the man died. Preferably slowly.
Mechanically he hung up the phone, stood and dressed. He couldn't help but stare vacantly at the inside of his closet for
a minute. There was nothing to see there but clothes and shoes, but he stared nevertheless. It was stupid, but he saw nothing.
Nothing of any importance, at least.
His phone rang again.
He was vaguely surprised to find that he was dressed. He turned back to the phone and answered it on its second ring.
“Lieutenant Yuy.” His voice was dead.
“Heero, I just got in touch with the hospital. Maxwell had been moved to a different room.”
The words sank in slowly, but when they did, they broke through with a power that knocked him breathless. “Duo's all
right?”
“Yes.” Wufei's voice echoed his own relief. “Of course that means that some other poor bastard had taken
his hit, but...”
Heero felt, for the first time, the sensation of having weak knees. “He's alive.”
“Yes, and the nurse told me that he had been fine on the last check-up. He should be in his room grumbling about not
being informed on the situation.”
Heero nodded, relief still singing through his veins. Still, the foreboding inside him didn't dissipate. “He's Shinigami.”
Wufei hesitated, but he grudgingly agreed. “That's how it looks,” he said cautiously.
Heero knew he should be absolutely furious. Duo had played him multiple times, and he'd fallen for every single one. But he
couldn't. There was no room for horror and outrage when there was so much sheer thankfulness inside him. “Then he'll
be targeted again. And this time they'll be more careful.”
Wufei was quiet, as if he didn't want to speak. Then, “I don't want to break this moment, but you do realize
that you just showed concern for Shinigami... right?”
Heero jerked almost violently. “It's not like that,” he argued, but it was a completely useless argument. It was
exactly like that.
“Are you telling me, then, that you weren't worried?” Wufei said dryly. He was making it clear that he already
knew it would be a lie.
“No,” Heero argued. “It doesn't matter. We need to get down to the hospital.”
Wufei dropped that joke and let his voice firm, as well. “Fine. From what I was told, the fire company and a bomb squad
have already made their way to the accident-”
“Accident,” Heero scoffed.
“I know,” Wufei said, his voice also fairly snide. “We know damn well it was no accident, but...”
Heero nodded. “I'm heading out. I'll meet you there.”
“All right. See you.”
Heero hung up the phone and strode out of the room, down the hallway, down the stairs, and straight to his hall closet, grabbing
his coat. He snatched open the door and froze.
Duo stood on his doorstep.
<*>
Wufei was at the hospital looking around when he received a call.
He flipped it open, shocked to see Heero's number there. “Heero?”
“Duo's with me.”
Wufei froze. “He's what?!” he barked. “He's supposed to be in the hospital. Wait.” He paused.
“How does he know where you live?”
“I'll have to go there with you later. Call Khushrenada, tell him I'm held up with our potential witness. Get him to
send someone else. Don't go in there on your own.”
“Any other orders you want to give me right now? Get you a drink, perhaps? Massage your feet?” He grimaced, however.
The last thing he wanted to do was call Treize.
“Wufei,” Heero warned.
“Yes, yes.” he sighed. “Fine. Take care of him, Yuy. Don't jump down his throat; we need him.”
Heero growled. Obviously Wufei had just put a leash on him when he wanted to chomp freely on Duo's leg. “I'll let him
live.”
“Gee, thanks, Mr. Wolf,” Wufei said dryly, calling Heero by his nickname around the station.
“I'll see you later.” Heero prepared to hang up.
“You'll see me later tonight,” he warned, just before he heard the tell-tale click. He sighed. He knew Heero heard
him; Heero had probably expected it.
He stared at his phone in trepidation. He knew damn well he had to get someone else with him. It would be stupid to walk around
without a partner. What if whoever had attacked was still here? It would be extremely stupid to walk in to this situation
alone.
But...
Wufei snarled and punched in the number. He knew it, of course; he knew it from a long, long time ago. The bastard had never
had it changed. Wufei didn't want to believe it was because he was waiting for Wufei to call him again.
But dammit, this was business.
The phone was picked up on the first ring, like the bastard had been waiting for his call. “Chief of Department Treize
Khushrenada.”
“Treize.”
There was a short pause. “Ah. Wufei. To what do I owe the honor?”
Wufei caught the pun on that last word. It set his teeth on edge. “Yuy has a suspect in his home.”
Treize's voice sharpened abruptly. “And what is a suspect doing in Lieutenant Yuy's house?”
“He showed up there when he was about to leave.” Wufei wanted to rip the man's throat out. How dare he think that
Heero was sleeping with a suspect?!
“Hm. Which of course means you need an escort.”
Wufei wanted to snarl. Escort. As if he were an actor. Or someone else who needed a bodyguard. Someone helpless. “I
need a substitute partner.”
“Of course. I will be there in about twenty minutes.”
Wufei gaped like a fish. The phone was already silent. Treize was on his way. Treize. The Treize.
He could handle that. No problem.
“Yuy, you bastard,” he hissed.
<*>
“What are you doing here?” he asked again, not at all for the first time.
Duo shrugged. “I figured by now hiding would be stupid.”
Heero's hands clenched into fists. “Meaning you are Shinigami.”
“I have no doubts that you never stopped believing that.” Duo's eyes were sharp when they met his. There would
be no more hiding. “I never wanted anyone to know,” he murmured, “but it looks like I don't have a choice.
Even with my computer, I can't dodge explosions. At least, not forever.” He chuckled dryly. “Shit, I feel bad
for the fuckers who got into an accident today.”
Heero had to sit down. He'd believed whole-heartedly that Duo was Shinigami. Still, having the man calmly sitting in his living
room talking about his identity and the explosion that almost killed him... hell, he still wasn't quite over the shock of
realizing that losing Duo Maxwell would destroy him so much. Let alone the weak-kneed relief he'd suffered through earlier.
“Keep talking,” he ordered, his voice stronger than his nerves.
“I became Shinigami shortly after the destruction of the Maxwell Church. The warehouse I stayed in had an old computer.
I found I had a knack for the thing. The neighboring businesses, though shitty, had wireless internet. Useful. I went to school
– the free public school. Hacked into the system.” He shrugged again. “Then I went to the library and looked
up everything I could about computers. I absorbed it all... like I'd been born to hack. I caught petty thieves in the area,
got rid of them to make things safer for myself. I kept thinking that if I continued, eventually I would find the bastards
who took away Father Maxwell and the Sisters.” His eyes were cold. “And I did.”
Heero nodded. It fit. It all fit. He didn't know whether to be pleased he now knew the truth or to be furious that he's been
jilted so many times. But the jilted reaction might seem a little bit too much like a lover who'd been left in the dark. That
option didn't look too pleasing when looked at in that light.
Duo's eyes shifted around. He sat on the edge of the chair as if ready to spring to his feet. He didn't seem to trust Heero
any more than he did whoever bombed his room. It put Heero's instincts on full alert. He shouldn't trust Duo, either. “It
doesn't matter, I'm sure,” Duo said finally, “but I never helped the criminals.”
Heero snorted before he even realized what he was doing. “You expect me to believe that?”
“Nope,” he said with a bright grin. It threw Heero off, that big, wide smile. “Not at all. Actually, I didn't
even expect you to let me sit here on your couch. I was ready to either bolt or be dragged to the station. I expect you're
waiting for Wufei.” Duo's eyes shot to the door. “What's taking him so long? I know you called him...”
Heero had been out of the room at the time he'd made the call. He didn't bother asking how Duo knew; if he'd been willing
to say, he would have segued into the explanation on his own. Criminals tended to do that.
Of course, Duo wasn't exactly a conventional criminal. Still, he had to remind himself, he is a criminal nonetheless.
“Wufei was called to the hospital.”
A nod was all he got for giving Duo the information. “I see. I stopped you from joining him. Who is he calling for back-up?”
Heero didn't bother asking how Duo knew police procedures, either. “The Chief of Department.”
Duo smirked. “Poor bastard,” he murmured. Then louder, “what are you going to do with me?”
Heero had no fucking clue. “Who bombed that hospital?”
Here Duo's eyes got troubled. “That I don't know. One of J's little bastards is watching me, making sure I help you
copperheads.” The insult flowed smoothly through those lips. There was no thought to it; it was an automatic term. Somehow
that was just as bad. “But J just wants us to take down Romefeller. So it may have been an attack by their group. I
can't be certain. Not even with my computer.”
Heero stood, unable to continue sitting on the couch with so much running through his head. He began pacing. “You sent
the message to us just a few hours ago.”
“So Wufei was there. I was banking on that.”
Heero grimaced. He hadn't meant to let that slip. The man was good. Damn good. Heero glared at him. “You were being
watched then?”
“Right after I woke up in that hospital,” he confirmed. “J warned me he would send someone out to make sure
I helped you.”
“You spoke to J.” He turned square-on to Duo. “When?”
“He was the one who ran me over.”
Heero wanted to take his hands and wrap them around that pretty little neck. “You said you couldn't remember.”
“I lied,” he said flippantly.
Without thinking, Heero spoke to hurt. “Do you have any idea how Wufei is going t react to this?”
Duo flinched slightly. “Yeah.” His voice was still bright and cheery, but the smile was a bit smaller. “He's
going to be so pissed... he'll probably hate me forever.” He stood. “I came to tell you, to try to get this guy
off my back. I felt his eyes all the way here. I won't be staying, of course. I'm going to try to get hidden. I'll find a
computer somewhere and catch up with you.”
“You aren't going anywhere,” Heero snapped.
“Sure I am. You gonna hold me against my will, Lieutenant? Isn't that kidnapping?”
I he had to continue listening to that constantly-happy voice, he was going to lose what little patience he had left. He could
feel it draining out of him. Only Duo could poke holes in his self-control. It was infuriating. “You will stay
here.”
“Nope,” he retorted cheerily. “Actually, I'm leaving. Tell 'Fei I said hi.” He hesitated. “Actually,
don't.”
“Duo.” Heero stepped forward, once more not thinking.
Duo paused. “Don't,” he whispered.
Heero moved behind him. He managed to retain enough control to not touch the man, but he was close enough to feel his heat,
smell his skin. He closed his eyes and let the scent soak through his nostrils. Such a simple thing to miss, to fear losing
for all eternity. They hardly knew each other. It was ridiculous. Absurd. Stupid, even. But undeniable. “You feel it,”
he murmured.
“It doesn't exist,” Duo said sharply.
Heero wanted to say the same, but ignoring hard facts was blatant negligence of justice. He didn't indulge in it, even in
times like this. “It does. We just don't like it.”
“Then destroy it,” Duo growled, moving away.
Heero grabbed his arm, holding him in place. Duo swung his head around in fury, making that braid swing like a whip. Heero
glared down into those fierce violet eyes. He saw the fear in them, deep below the surface. He wouldn't take advantage. Not
tonight. “We're here to save, not destroy.”
“Sometimes the only way to save is to destroy,” Duo hissed. “Don't you know anything about roses, Mr. Yuy?”
With that, he wrenched himself free and slid to his door. “Good-bye, Lieutenant. I'll be in touch.”
“I'll see you soon,” he returned. Duo didn't even bother retorting to that.
Heero watched that door shut with an odd sense of trepidation. Despite everything, the fear of Duo in danger made his gut
clench. He needed to get himself under control, and fast.
<*>
Wufei watched that sleek black Porsche sidle up next to his cop car and ground his teeth together. Treize was never inconspicuous,
was he? It would serve him right if some dumb bastard decided to shoot the damn car full of holes. Wufei would laugh in delight.
Of course, it didn't happen.
Treize slid out with that same smooth elegance that had initially captured Wufei's attention. I was young, he reminded
himself. And stupid.
“Wufei.” Treize was in a suit – a fucking suit – and had that superior smile on his face. Wufei
wanted to spit on him. How could the man still look so attractive to him? He'd decided to go straight. He'd always found elegance
and beauty in both men and women. Surely, he'd thought, it would be simple to go completely straight.
Damn Treize. It was just another nail in the bastard's coffin.
“Well.” Treize moved around his car and came up to the sidewalk where Wufei waited. He stopped right in front
of Wufei, still smiling down at him. Wufei had to look up to maintain his own stare. He felt Treize's body warmth. Dammit.
“You look good in the moonlight.”
Recollection slammed through Wufei. He'd heard those words from those lips before. “We're on duty,” he reminded
his superior coldly.
“Of course.” That superiority morphed into outright arrogance. “We can duel afterwards.”
The term duel had changed a few weeks after Wufei had suffered his first humiliating defeat at the man's hands. Wufei glared.
“That was a long time ago.” And it won't happen again.
“As I recall, it was only three years ago.”
Wufei wanted to snarl, but he managed to swallow it back. “As I said. A long time ago.”
That infuriating smile never wavered. “I see.”
Wufei shivered slightly. Treize had this way of lowering his voice that made Wufei's interest stand at attention. It was smooth
and charming – just like the man. After all these years, Wufei had learned to trust his analytical skills and political
maneuvering. But he couldn't trust the man personally. Not after...
“Shall we go?” Treize swept his hand before him, indicating the chaos surrounding the Burgundy Hospital.
As if he's been waiting for me. Wufei scowled. He also knew that accepting Treize's cavalier invitation
to go first would place him solidly as submissive. “Fine,” he replied, but he didn't move forward.
That damn smile quirked itself into a grin. “Hm...” Treize let it go, allowing Wufei to walk beside him. Wufei
knew it was a victory of sorts, since Treize never allowed anyone dominance over his life. Still...
He didn't want to be working with him.
<*>
Okay, two things. One: I had gotten confused near the end of this. I suddenly thought, 'but wait, isn't Treize dead?' And
then I realized, 'um, no, that would be in Sub Rosa, not Fangs of the Wolf. Son of a bugger.
And two: I know I may have hinted earlier in the story about Wufei's sex interests, and I know without a doubt that they didn't
include Treize. But this is where the story is headed and, quite frankly, I'm feeling lazy, so I'm not going to fix whatever
chapter that introduction-to-'Fei's-interests is in. So yeah...
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