|
"That Which Mends"Written By: SkyLark Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them. Pairings: 2x1x2, past 2xOC, 5xOC, 3x4 Warnings: Angst, Violence, Sap, Lemons/Limes, AU Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm
and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html Summary: Heero is a straight A student studying Psychology and finds his world turned upside down when he attends a Frat party.
"That Which Mends" [These streets are yours, you can keep them Chapter 20
A chill shot down Heero's spine as his prussian eyes widened.
Holding up the chip of Gundanium, Anna replied, "This metal withstood literally everything that I could throw at it- acid, fire, blasts, cutting tools, you name it. My theory is that Thomas Klein somehow managed to get his hands on this sample so that we could see for ourselves how indestructible it is as a bargaining chip to not press any charges onto him for cooperating and bringing this to light."
She set down the metal, stating, "Whoever went through the trouble of manufacturing a new metal for that purpose, they're going in big with whatever they have planned for everyone outside of this stuff's protection. We're talking wide-scale destruction and a lot of lives lost."
Covering his mouth, Duo breathed, "Holy shit."
Wufei managed to keep his own fear in check as he took a deep breath and nodded firmly. "We need to double our efforts in sorting through Klein's connections and the threats they've been putting out there," he told to his team. "We have no idea what kind of timeline we're up against, so any and everything that sparks a concern we need to look into it."
Nodding, Trowa and Quatre broke from their stricken states and shot for their desks, tapping at their keyboards to resume their research. Chang stopped Maxwell to ask him, "Any word from your fake license plates contact?" "He's dragging his feet in getting back to me," Agent Scythe answered. He pointed at the elevator columns over his shoulder as he smirked darkly, "I'm going to skip out for a few hours to pay him a visit and give him some... motivation."
Without so much as blinking at what was being hinted, Agent Wolf inquired, "Are you going to need backup?"
Duo shook his braided head, , "Nah. He spooks easily and he'll clam up if he has two or more of us to deal with. I can handle this."
Satisfied with that, Wufei nodded, "Okay. Keep me posted." Focusing on his lover, he addressed, "Anna?" As the redhead met his gaze, he praised, "Nice work." He was rewarded with a warm smile. Drawing a deep breath, he ordered the others, "Alright. Let's keep digging until we have a trail to follow, everyone."
Not needing to be told twice, the Preventers dove into their tasks as Chang hurried off in the direction of the break room by the elevators.
Biting her lip when Maxwell headed past her desk, Downs urged, "Be careful out there, Duo. Report in as soon you can." "Will do," the braided agent vowed. Squeezing her shoulder as he walked by, he kissed her temple and told her softly, "Great job, by the way, Annie." He winked at her as she leaned against him, adding, "And don't worry about me. I've got everything under control."
Pointing over at the couple across from them, he smirked, "Plus, I'll still be back in time for game night at your place later tonight." Winner and Barton chuckled in amusement, eyes glued to their monitors.
Heero swallowed roughly as he watched his one transgression round the desk cluster. "Try to keep out of too much trouble," he heard himself call. There were other impulsive things that he almost said, but he managed to refrain himself to the sentiment that seemed the most fitting considering Maxwell's personality.
Pausing mid-step, Duo turned back to blink in surprise at him. Quickly recovering, he smirked, "Can't make any promises there, Ro. But we'll see what happens." With a wave, he spun back on his heels again and disappeared from sight.
At the sound of the elevator bell that rang at his departure, Yuy explained away his worry as a natural reaction since he saw them as friends. Pushing down his unrest, he caught Lady Une pushing herself up from Downs' desk as she asked, "You can take a few minutes to yourself if you need it, Anna." In that same instant, Wufei emerged from his brief leave to lower a glass of water that he had collected before his lover. Instantly steadying herself, Agent Fire grinned to him again and shook her head to their supervisor. "No, I'm good. But... thanks for the offer."
"Of course," the Commander said quietly. Gesturing to her office, he informed, "I am going to pass on what we have to the powers that be so that they are aware of how our new development in the case." She faced Chang, requesting, "Please let me know of any changes immediately."
Wolf responded, "Yes, ma'am." As the Commander walked away, he peered over at Heero and motioned for him to follow him into the break room.
Taken aback by the request, the scholar fell in step behind the team lead until they were standing in the nook filled with a large round table, a water fountain, refrigerator, sink and a couple of vending machines... well beyond sight of the others.
Meeting the counselor's gaze, Chang murmured, "Thank you for intervening. I never would have thought to have Lady Une get through to Anna like that." Shoulders sagging, he shook is head, "It absolutely kills me whenever she starts coming down on herself like that. It doesn't happen often but, this was the first time in a long time it caught up with her, but when it does come on... it's bad."
"Unfortunately, that's to be expected," Yuy frowned. "Her Mom did a real number on her. She's come a long way in accepting herself, but she will continue to have spells like this from time to time since it's especially hard when that kind of psychological and physical abuse comes from a parent, someone who should be the last person delivering that kind of treatment."
Biting his lip, Wufei nodded. "What can I do for her when it happens again?"
This was a make or break moment, Heero realized immediately. The Chinese agent was clearly not one to ask for such advise from others... let alone someone who he was still only just getting to know. His clear opposition to counseling was only outweighed by his love for Anna and his profound need to look after her.
In the end, Heero took a page out of tried and true research in cases like Downs' by advising, "You do exactly what you did just now. Compliment her, but don't overdo it. She'll take it as patronizing her if you do. The men in her life were never the ones to wrong her but she feels like you, her father, Duo, Trowa, Quatre and Treize only say nice things because you have to. She needs to remind herself of her own worth by having the same patience and understanding all of you showed just now."
Chang’s dark eyes shifted in deep concentration, mentally comparing notes from his experiences with Anna to what was being suggested. In the end, he decided that there was merit in the intern's advise and nodded firmly in resolve, “Okay.”
Stoic as he was on the outside, Heero breathed a deep sigh of relief internally. This was a small, but vital win in gaining his friend’s confidence. It would still take a lot more time for trust to be built between them before Agent Wolf was comfortable enough to share his own demons, but this was a great foundation for that bridge to grow from.
Together, they headed back out onto the floor to find Trowa and Quatre were wrapping up their own meeting with Downs as they stood by her desk. Laughing quietly, the pair exchanged embraces and peck on the cheek with the redhead before they went back to their own stations.
Smiling as her partner came to her side, Anna leaned against him as he held a kiss against her forehead. "I wasn't a total basket case, was I?" she frowned.
Gently running a hand over the back of her head, Wufei smiled lovingly, murmuring, "No. You were fine."
“I can’t take full credit for my analysis,” his girlfriend stated, nodding to Yuy. “You were the one who spurred me into figuring out why I couldn’t dissect that Gundanium.”
The scholar snorted, smirking, “Oh, I don’t deserve credit for that. You had the answers all along. I never would have come up with what you have when you did, so you’ll just have to live with the deserved praise for your discovery.”
Giggling, the weapons expert relented, “Alright. Alright.” Chang, Winner and Barton smiled at Yuy in gratitude for his sentiment, further proving that he was racking up points with them.
“Is there any way I can actually be of assistance in your search?” Heero inquired. “Maybe be another pair of eyes to go through the data you’re sorting out?”
Wufei grinned, “I was hoping you might ask that.” He waved for his friend to join him at his desk. “Come on. I’ll show you what we’ve got.”
* * * *
[Flashback]
"You're one of the most resourceful people I've ever met." Frowning deeply, an all too thin boy stuffed the box of cigarettes he'd managed to swipe off a passerby into the folds of his flimsy coat and spun on his heels to face who had spoken up. He blinked in surprise when a young, lovely woman emerged from the darkness of the alley to stand beneath the beam of a streetlamp.
The teenager's fight-or-flight instinct was suppressed ever so slightly by the sincere warmth he found in the brown eyes on him. "It'd be a shame for skills like yours to go to waste out here," the woman commented, a real concern in her tone. "My name's Lady Une and I'd like to make a proposition to you."
[End Flashback]
* * * *
The streets of downtown Milwaukee were as sketchy and dingy as Duo remembered. There were half-demolished, abandoned and burned out buildings than there had been the last time he walked the beat that he had traveled time and time again; but for the most part, the area was virtually unchanged since his last visit.
"Home sweet home," the braided agent murmured to himself while walking past a series of rundown apartments that overlapped one another in one of the seedier parts of the city.
Wearing everyday clothes that he had changed into on his way out so he didn't stand out as an officer of any sort, he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jean shorts and kept his head down. Still, that wasn't enough to keep him completely inconspicuous given the residents around. Those who recognized him either ducked away into alleys or subtly grinned and waved at him in acknowledgment.
A small smirk curling his lips at the friendly gestures, Maxwell nodded firmly in greeting and continued on his way to the car mechanic garage at the end of the stretch. Slipping through the side door, he was taken in by the sound of engines roaring, clicking and a buzz saw chopping through metal as a small crew worked away on the vehicles that had been brought in for their care.
In these parts, this particular shop was one of the few honest ones. Even people who were in better off neighborhoods drove here to have their cars tuned up. And the reason behind the good business was its owner...
"Hey, Howie," Duo smiled as he approached the old man in a loose Hawaiian floral shirt. "How's it going?"
As they broke away, Duo snickered, "Oh, you know. Living the dream." His grin fading, he closed the office door behind himself. "I wish that this was a social call, buddy, but I'm sure you know why I'm here."
Howard's entire body sagged heavily. "I told you I'm out of that business, Duo," he replied. He tried to sound convincing. He really did, but even he knew better than to lie to the young man that he had helped stay off the streets before he was recruited to the Preventers.
Few people in the area were as good at fabricating IDs of every sort as the old man was. And the Preventer knew his calling card all too well when it came to his craftsmanship of vehicle license plates.
Torn over having to come down on him, Maxwell ran a hand over the top of his head and sighed. "Listen, man, I get it," he said earnestly. "You have mouths to feed, a shop to run and what bit of cash I can send you isn't enough to keep it all going... but eventually your side job is going to get you in trouble and there's not a damn thing I'll be able to do to stop it. I need the names of the people you've been commissioning bad plates to."
Lowering himself into his seat behind the desk, Dawton rubbed his weary eyes and took a long pause to think his options over.
His head shooting up, the balding man's jaw fell open as his eyes grew in horror. Raising a hand, Agent Scythe assured, "I never came forward with any of this because along with being the man who saved my life, you're not the one who sells the plates directly to who wants them. I know you would never have willingly let something like that happen. Just give me the identities of the middle men who do so we can get to the guys we're after before something even worse happens- and get out of this for good."
"Alright, but... w-what's gonna happen to me if someone was already killed?" Howard breathed, still shaken by the news. If I talk and they get any wind of how I was involved-"
Leaning over the back of the chair he was perched on, Maxwell promised, "That's not gonna happen, Howie. Preventer's honor. I'll make sure you're taken care of without any backlash until this shit storm's over."
Dawton opened the top drawer of his desk to remove a pen and pad of paper, nodding, "Okay, okay. Let me get you those names..."
* * * *
Why he trusted that woman was beyond him. Already feeling out of place in the lobby of a glass-decked building where he had been directed to wait until his escort arrived, he fidgeted in the couch that he had taken up as his perch. No. This was a mistake. What the hell was he thinking when he was offered a job with the same government that had condemned him to the streets? Climbing to his feet, he brushed his braid over his shoulder and was about to take off before anyone noticed when the building's front door opened to a girl who couldn't possibly have been a day over eighteen... same as him. A waterfall of thick, red curls that reached her lower back bounced as she scanned the lobby with wide blue eyes.
Looking over so that their gazes could meet, the pretty young woman relaxed. "Hi," she greeted in a cheerful voice with a sweet grin that lit up the room. "This must be your first day, too, I take it?"
Caught off guard by her friendly demeanor, he cleared his throat and settled down... somewhat. Enough to nod shallowly in response to her question. "Good," the redhead sighed in relief. She giggled, "I was going to bolt if I had to go this alone. Looks like we're in this together, then."
Right then and there, the kid from the streets decided that he was going to like her... and they were going to be fast friends. For the first time in a while, he had a real smile on his face
He could do this. He could stick around. At least for a little while to try this new venture out.
Stretching a hand out to him, his newfound kindred spirit offered, "I'm Anna."
That grin of hers was as contagious as her disarming nature. Feeling his own lips turn upward, the boy shook her hand firmly as he introduced, "Duo."
[End Flashback]
* * * *
"Dinner is served," Trowa announced to his guests, carrying a short stack of pizza boxes as he headed into the kitchen. Quatre was laying out paper plates, napkins and cups for the variety of beverages waiting at the end in the long counter while their friends in the adjacent dining room ended their conversations and began to move from the table they were sitting at.
Anna gently nudged him when they were the only two around. "No need to worry, Heero," she reassured with a small grin. "Duo said he'll be here, so he'll be here."
Embarrassed that he had been caught fretting, the scholar faced the redhead to scoff, "I'm not worried about him." And he wasn't... at least he was pretty sure that he wasn't. Quick to deflect the allegation, he smirked, "Besides, it's not like you should talk. You've been checking your phone practically every five minutes since we got here."
Nodding, Agent Fire retorted, "Of course I am. I'm worried about him."
Jaw hanging and eyes widening, Heero collected his thoughts enough to throw his hands in the air as he all but shouted in exasperation, "You just got done telling me not to worry!"
"Yes," his friend nodded again, unfazed. "That's because I'm worrying enough for the both of us, so there's no need for the both of us to be on pins and needles when we should be trying to have a good time."
Arms falling at his sides, Yuy sighed tiredly, "Anna, has anyone ever told you that you can be exhausting?"
Shrugging, Downs replied with matter-of-fact tone, "At least a couple of time a day."
Heero snorted and shook his head, opening his mouth to retort when the sound of the front door opening filled the air. "Have no fear, folks!" Duo's voice bolstered through the first floor of the estate. "The God of Death has arrived!"
Instantly, the two former lovers of the braided agent sighed long sighs as their bodies sagged. Their eyes locking, they smiled at each other in amusement and relief.
Walking around the corner into view, Maxwell sniffed the air. "Ah perfect timing," he snickered. "I'm famished." Heading past his teammate and the intern, he waved. "Hey, guys. Hope you didn't miss me too much." Before either of them could react, he vanished in his trudge for the kitchen.
"Don't tell him-" Yuy cut himself off, blinking in surprise at almost completing his request that he had intended to keep as a thought.
Her head twirling back at him, Anna's own blue eyes were enlarged. She knew what he was about to say... and with it she had further ammo to continue on with her crazy notion that he might have feelings for the braided agent. Then, her lips curled into her defusing smile that promised all was right in the world. "Okay," she murmured, "your secret's safe with me."
Downs never elaborated on how deep she thought that secret went... and the scholar was not about to ask, content to leave the discussion where it was as opposed to risking opening more debates between them.
In the kitchen, Wufei was about to start making a plate for himself when Duo walked up beside him. "Did you get what you were after?" the team leader questioned as he looked to his colleague.
"Yea," Scythe nodded. Biting his lip, he smiled nervously, "Could I... uh... talk with you alone for a sec, Fei?"
Chang groaned, "Why do I not like the sound of this?"
Waving a hand over his shoulder, he led the way to one of the side rooms and closed them off from the rest of their friends. "What's going on, Maxwell?" he pressed, folding his arms across his chest when they were facing each other.
"Look, he got in deep without knowing what he was getting into, Wufei!" he shouted in frustration. "I know this guy and he'd never willingly get involved in anything like what we're dealing with!" Taken aback by the agent's use of his full name, Chang knew that this was a very serious matter... the likes of which Maxwell was equally serious in seeing through. "But he willingly manufactured dirty plates," he challenged. "No one with good intentions asked to get their hands on something like that. However you try to paint the situation, your friend's an accomplice."
Dry-washing his face, Scythe moaned behind his hand, "I know... I know." Throwing his arms back down, he shrugged, "He gave me every name associated to his commissions, he's even getting together the images of his clients that his surveillance videos were able to catch. So, he's cooperating with authorities in catching the guys who are leagues over him as far as their involvement in this case."
In a rare display of vulnerability, Duo's whole frame slumped in defeat. "I know I give you shit for being Mister By the Book, but I get it in this case," he mumbled, staring at the floor at his feet. "The law's the law and people have to answer for what's going on," he said, meeting the dark eyes watching him.
"But you don't know what it's like out there, Wufei," he whispered, shaking his head with a haunted look in his violet eyes that took his friend further aback. "People are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables. They don't have a whole hell of a lot of options outside of making bad calls to make a little extra money on the side."
Chang shifted on the balls of his feet while keeping the expression on his face blank.
Stretching his arms out at his sides, Duo gave in. "I know asking for immunity from any charges by keeping his identity hidden is asking a lot and frankly, I wouldn't blame you if you refused to agree to it. He's perfectly aware that he'll likely have charges come down on him, but he still wants to help, so neither of us are going to grovel for your mercy here-"
"Alright," Wufei cut him off quietly.
Wide-eyed, Maxwell sputtered, "Oh-I-uhwha?"
Unfolding his arms, the Chinese agent shrugged, "Alright. We'll keep his involvement out of it." He raised a finger, warning, "But if I hear about him so much as jaywalking from this point on-"
Duo shook his head vehemently, insisting, "You won't. And if he does get in any trouble, I'll arrest him myself." Finally able to take a deep breath, he breathed, "Why?"
"Because you're right.. I don't know what it's like out there... living the way you had to," Chang replied. "And if I was ever in your friend's shoes, I'd hope that someone would give me a chance, too."
With a lopsided smirk, Wolf said, "I might be someone who goes by the book, but I also read between the lines when it comes to bending a rule every now and then when it's the right thing to do." His braided associate remained stunned as he walked right by him for the door, suggesting, "Let's go before dinner gets cold." That said, he slipped from the room. Holding back the shimmer in his violet eyes, Duo gulped down the knot in his throat. Once again, he had underestimated the people in his life and misjudged them. Guilt crept in over how he had expected the meeting to go, but he swallowed that down to move on from here and blinked away the small tears that he kept from falling.
A small grin on his face, he righted himself and turned on his heels to return to his friends, who were becoming more like his family every day.
TBC |
