Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ 2 Reign ❯ Something Gained ( Chapter 22 )

Chapter Twenty-two: Something Gained

 

I couldn't focus. Something was wrong…and I was tied.

 

I yanked at my arms, since I'd been trying to rub my eyes, but whatever bonds held them…were metal. Cold metal.

 

“Oh, you're awake!”

 

The voice sent chills down my spine. It was cheery enough, to be sure, someone actually happy to see me, but…

 

“I trust you aren't too sore? I know that some pain is unavoidable, but…well if you hadn't fought…”

 

“Jun.” I realized suddenly.

 

“Yes, Wufei,” he said happily, moving suddenly into my view. He was dressed in fashion, his hair neatly styled. He looked good, but that was mostly lost on me.

 

“Untie me,” I muttered darkly.

 

“You killed one of my men,” he added as if in reprimand, “Very uncouth of you.”

 

“Only one? Damn, I must be losing my touch.”

 

His expression turned annoyed.

 

I laughed, “What? It offends you that I've killed a healthy dozen of your men?”

 

“You're not a killer!” he protested instantly.

 

I blinked at him in amazement, “Aren't I?”

 

“Mr. Chang, please…I know you work for the government now, but you are not your friends…”

 

“What kind of moron are you?” I asked him, realizing suddenly that he didn't know I was a Gundam Pilot.

 

“Excuse me?” he looked highly offended.

 

“Your stupidity overwhelms me,” I informed him.

 

He hit me.

 

I could not believe this…how was I with him…tied in a room alone with him…

 

“Yes, we are in Deniel. My own building, actually.”

 

“Great, stupid and cunning.”

 

He hit me again.

 

I met his eyes.

 

“Now,” he added, grabbing my hair and forcing me to face him, “We've had our differences in the past, but I would like to make things better now…”

 

“So you kidnap me and tie me to a chair…in your room,” I looked the place over as best I could.

 

He let me go, “Oh, no, this is not my bedroom,” he laughed, “This is a guest room. My own bedroom isn't nearly so gaudy. Would you like to see it?”

 

I met his eyes again, narrowing my own.

 

“Since you cannot be civil, I'll just…” he pulled out a needle from one pocket.

 

Sick nausea coursed through my veins as I watched him tap out the air and meet my eyes, “Don't worry, I have a doctor who gave me the dosage information. This will simply knock you out for a few hours.”

 

“Don't,” I muttered, realizing what must have happened on the air-bridge. I had felt something like a pinch at my throat. I hadn't seen the needle, though, so I hadn't been able to understand why I couldn't move right.

 

“Will you talk to me civilly, then?”

 

“Will you unchain me?”

 

“You've only worn those chains the last five minutes or so,” he reassured me, “After you killed your…healthy dozen…I decided that maybe I might want some help when I was here in person. How do I look? I took care in my clothing today.”

 

I really wanted to spit at him, but I didn't have my full faculties. My muscles were sluggish to respond and my mind was still clouded. I couldn't fight him off yet, and I really didn't want to get shot up with more of whatever he had.

 

Chances were, it was addictive.

 

He smiled slightly at me, moving forward, “You look stunning.”

 

I looked away from him, wishing I hadn't taken my own care to dress up and go out. I'd only wanted to get drunk, I didn't need to look good for that.

 

“Where are your rings, though,” he added, walking around me and grabbing my left hand, massaging my ring finger, “You were wearing the Cat's ring for a while…and my men reported that you had a diamond over that.”

 

I forced myself not to try and yank away from him, realizing that if I didn't say something he would react, “My fiancé left me.”

 

“Surely, the Cat isn't such a fool!”

 

“I wasn't engaged to the Cat,” I muttered, staring at the wall.

 

“Ah, so the reason he was gone becomes clear. Who was it, then? The Assassin became king…was it Rob?”

 

It took me a moment to remember that Quatre had been going by Rob when he met Jun.

 

“No.”

 

“Really?” that was confused, “Then who?”

 

“Marcus,” I muttered, remembering the night at Jesse's house where Duo had made the name up.

 

“The street fighter?” that was shocked, “I wasn't aware your interests were such.”

 

“I don't care about what he did,” I muttered, meeting Jun's eyes again.

 

His smile was one of understanding.

 

I wanted to choke.

 

He considered me a long moment, then thought a second, “You must be hungry!”

 

“I will not eat any food you offer me,” I informed him, another sick knot in my stomach.

 

“I wouldn't poison you!”

 

“Drug me?” I demanded, raising my eyebrows at him.

 

He started laughing, leaning forward so we were eye to eye, “You have to eat some time.”

 

“You trade a little too much in kaseen for me to chance it.”

 

He smirked at that, tilting his head, “Now, Mr. Chang…”

 

“I don't trust you, I don't trust your motives in kidnapping me, and I know for a fact that your interest in me is a little obsessive.”

 

He laughed again, sitting in front of me and looking up to study my eyes, “You wound me.”

 

“No,” I returned, “I can wound you, however.”

 

He narrowed his eyes, raising the syringe.

 

“Keep me drugged, there's a plan. That way I don't have to eat.”

 

“Unconscious men…”

 

“Don't know what's going on.”

 

He narrowed his eyes at me again.

 

“I've been dreadfully curious since the Cat came back to me,” I added, wanting to change the subject, “What did he say to you?”

 

Jun's eyes narrowed even more as he thought back and he jumped to his feet, dropping the syringe and pulling the button-up shirt open. It took him a moment to struggle out of the undershirt, and when his chest was bared, I could see a series of scars that looked almost measured in length.

 

I choked back my laughter, wondering what the fuck Duo had done.

 

“You think that's funny?” he demanded, turning so his back was to me—and displaying another long scar that stretched from his shoulder-blade to below his pants-line.

 

I couldn't help but laugh.

 

He hit me again, but I could see the frustration in his eyes.

 

“I'm curious,” I added, turning back to him to study the side the scare ended on, “What was my dear kitty doing to you when he did these things? Did you enjoy them? I know he did.”

 

He took a deep breath, his jaw clenched.

 

I smiled at him, knowing he'd probably knock me out again, “They'll come for me, you know that don't you? I have too few enemies for them not to know it's you. Plus, your little henchmen have big mouths. There were cameras all over the parking-garage they took me from…you know that, right?”

 

“None had sound.”

 

“All it takes is someone who can read lips…and I might add that the Cheshire Cat has many and varied talents…plus every resource of the kingdom.”

 

He narrowed his eyes.

 

“Because you know the Cheshire Cat is Duo Maxwell…Sir Duo Maxwell. We mustn't forget that he was knighted.”

 

“And what will he do?” Jun demanded in irritation, “Why would he bother saving you if you left him?”

 

I laughed again, meeting his eyes and leaning forward as far as my bonds would allow, “Do you honestly think my marital status would mean a damn thing to him? Think about what you know of him…” I remembered some of the implications Duo had showed us since he'd been back and the things he'd said to this man before, smirking, “Did he show you his belt?”

 

When Jun's face blanched I realized suddenly…that Duo was something else even than I knew.

 

I forced another laugh though my stomach was in the tightest knot yet, “You just keep that in mind, Jun…because he did that for me.”

 

-

 

I was experiencing all forms of deja vu as we all drove toward Deniel. It wasn't even the road we were on, though. We were in a transport van and there were two rows of soldiers running up either side. The air was heavy with sweat and the smell of…guns. Ammo, cleaning liquids, oil…those smells that are associated with unused weapons. I was standing at the back window of the van, and my brethren were on either side of me. Even Heero had come with us—of course Heero had come with us.

 

We were in the middle of a convoy. Not even the middle. We'd just jumped into a van when we were ready and the entire train had started moving. We had a few veterans riding in other vans, people who had helped us with the training of these…boys…behind us.

 

“You get any gloomier and we're all gonna start crying,” Trowa noted.

 

“Fuck you.”

 

“No thanks, I'm engaged.”

 

I turned to glare at him and he shrugged innocently at me.

 

“Are you ready for this?” Heero asked me, “Are you ready for a war?”

 

“I was ready since the day I was born,” I muttered distantly, “This is what I'm here for.”

 

“No, you're here to be a pain in everyone's ass,” Trowa muttered, “You're here to save our asses and flick us shit about it…endlessly.”

 

I laughed lightly at that, realizing that my demeanor probably wasn't good for our aspiring soldiers.

 

“Now you, on the other hand, are here to freak out on us when the firing starts,” Trowa went on.

 

“Shut-up!” Jacob still sounded amused, though his protest was vehement enough.

 

“And you are here to tell us what to do when we're too busy to think about it.”

 

That had to be Quatre, and he had to have nodded.

 

“You…are here to piss us all off by going off to fight alone.”

 

Heero laughed and hit Trowa.

 

Trowa laughed again, “And I'm here to provide light and refreshing entertainment.”

 

“Or to use up all your ammo,” I added.

 

“Hey!” Trowa protested.

 

-

 

The first order of business was to go into the police station and start things moving with the local authorities; actually, that was what Trowa and Quatre were going to do. Duo and I were going to hit Jesse up for information. After that things would get dicey, because Jesse may have put himself outside the loop. Jun could have put him outside the loop anyway, since Jun knew who I was.

 

“Stop bouncing,” Duo hissed at me in Japanese, then moved from his back-door vigil. I watched him lean against the wall and half-expected him to slide down it into his seat. He didn't, however, which was very like he'd become in the later days of the war. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and wedged himself in the position, lowering his head and closing his eyes.

 

“Do you have…” I started to ask Trowa, then realized that asking if he brought the tranquilizer someone had suggested for use on Duo…in front of Duo, probably wouldn't go over well, “…the time?”

 

This got me several looks from several people, including Duo.

 

“It's ten,” Duo muttered, studying his watch-face, “Should we synchronize?”

 

I didn't see the point, but if I argued this, he'd probably wonder what I was really going to ask if I did, “I think so.”

 

“All right, it's all you, your kingness…” he hit a few buttons and…several watches beeped.

 

I looked around the van, realizing how many people had responded to this without instruction.

 

We'd done good, then.

 

“Two-after,” I muttered, waiting for all the beeps to subside before really focusing on the flashing seconds of my watch, “Now.”

 

Every watch beeped again and I had to hide my grin. This was…odd.

 

“Hey!” I added intelligently after a moment, realizing what Duo had said and glaring at him, “Can you stop that shit?”

 

He laughed at me.

 

-

 

My head swam as I sat on the bed, massaging my temples. Whatever that tranquilizer had been was doing a number on my system. I had no doubts now, that it was addictive. I wanted water…badly, but I didn't trust the food and drink Jun had set out for me.

 

Of course, I'd always been able to smell kaseen in a cup if someone had slipped it at the bars, but it had been years and the scent was trace at best.

 

At any rate, I could dump whatever he was trying to give me to drink and get some water from the sink or the tub. I was locked in a room with bars on the windows—not that I couldn't get around those if I really felt I had too, but until I could walk without stumbling and think straight, I wasn't going to play at escaping. I had no idea what building this was, how high up I was, or how far away my brethren were. I couldn't even sleep properly for fear that Jun would come in again.

 

And fear was a good term for it…unreasonable panic was starting to come close. Coming to consciousness and being chained to a chair was an experience I never intended to repeat, but dealing with him without that fuzz of confusion in my mind meant that I could remember exactly what he'd been willing to do when I had Duo with me.

 

I was alone now.

 

Very alone.

I stood slowly, then scanned the walls. I wasn't sure if he'd put cameras in a guest room or not, I had no idea how twisted this guy was. He had tried to kill me three times, tried to kidnap me two times…sent me shit time and again…and now he had managed to kidnap me.

 

I was completely under his thumb.

 

I took the cup from the tray and moved into the bathroom, half expecting someone to come running in and shout at me—nothing happened, however, as I dumped the stuff…some kind of cola…the caffeine sounded really good and I almost saved the end out of it to have at least some.

 

I was paranoid about everything. I even unscrewed the metal screen…just in case. It was nice to drink water, and I realized that I really could not eat the food.

 

Of course, all Jun had to do was sedate me…

 

I shook my head, trusting that he'd…what? I couldn't trust the man.

 

I groaned and flicked the shower on, running my head under the water. The lovely thing about the water was that it flushed my system with a bit of that damned drug. I had the same problem with alcohol sometimes…drink enough, drink water…get re-drunk…

 

I swayed where I stood, pausing as I dried my hair—I was too light headed…I was going to…

 

-

 

“Jesse, get the fuck out here you under-world scum!” I pounded hard on his coat-closet, looking around the familiar foyer.

 

“Duo!” Heero hissed, giving me a look.

 

“Where are you, asshole?” I shouted, ignoring Heero as I started up the stairs, breaking into Jesse's bedroom and staring curiously at the gun he had leveled at my chest.

 

“Oh, it's you…” he let out a relieved sigh, falling backwards on the bed—a blonde chick was staring at me with huge eyes as a sheet pulled up to her chin.

 

“No shit, it's me, genius. Who else would your guard-dogs let into your house without warning?”

 

He gave me a look.

 

I frowned at the chick, then noticed a shirt on the floor and tossed it to her, meeting Jesse's eyes, “We have to talk, now.”

 

“Tailor…” he started.

 

“Tailor my ass,” I snapped.

 

“Please, Jesse,” Heero added.

 

Jessed suddenly realized who I was standing with and sat up, looking at us.

 

“We'll be downstairs,” I added, turning and starting out the door as Heero paused a moment before shutting it and following suit.

 

“What a way to wake up,” Heero noted.

 

I sniggered, “I rather prefer your method.”

 

“My method?” he returned, sounding like he really had forgotten.

 

“Two-thirty in the morning and a silencer,” I formed my hand into the shape of a gun and tapped his temple.

 

He laughed evilly, rubbing the back of his head a moment, “Oh yeah.”

 

I grinned at him, moving to the kitchen and digging through the huge fridge for something to eat.

 

“You really are the world's biggest asshole,” he muttered—though he did accept the piece of cheese I threw at him and start eating it.

 

“We all have our fortes,” I muttered, not looking at him. I didn't think I really was that much of an asshole, but everyone kept telling me I was. I knew I did some things people didn't agree with, but the way they all acted was like I was always…the worlds biggest prick.

 

“Hm,” he muttered, eating the cheese, “What are we going to do if he doesn't know?”

 

“Beat the fuck out of him until he tells us.”

 

Heero stopped, blinking at me.

 

I raised an eyebrow at him, then glanced to the door as Jesse came in, buttoning a shirt, “What's up? Make yourselves at home.”

 

Heero grinned a bit at that.

 

“Where's Wufei?” I demanded.

 

He blinked at me curiously, “He pull a Houdini on you guys, too?”

 

I stared at him.

 

“Not exactly,” Heero interceded before I could say anything, “Miguel left him.”

 

“So he…pulled a disappearing act?” Jesse asked, focusing on Heero instead, eyebrows up slightly.

 

“Don't even pretend you don't know,” I said quietly, “No way in hell Jun would…”

 

Jesse focused on me, frowning—then stepped back slightly, staring at me in shock.

 

“Please, Duo,” Heero muttered, coming around the counter, “He's your friend.”

 

“He'll be a dead friend if we don't find Wufei.”

 

“I don't know anything about that!” Jesse protested, staring at me in shock.

 

“Jesse,” Heero muttered calmly, giving him a look. He turned back to me, shoving at my shoulder, “Jun knows who we are, fucker, and he knows we're in good with Jesse. I don't think he'd let Jesse know it was happening.”

 

“But this is a major action!” I protested, “There's no way…”

 

“Duo,” Heero snapped in a tone of such complete authority that I shut my mouth.

 

“What the hell is going on?” Jesse snapped at us, gaining both our attention, “Why did Miguel leave? How is it that Wufei's turned up missing, and why…is the damn cat about to gut me?” as he said the latter, he was moving around the island from me.

 

I thought a moment, feeling a vague buzzing in my mind. I must be being irrational, it had happened before…and always…that…tingle…

 

“Duo and Miguel have been going head to head for a couple weeks now…since just after Alex's birthday.”

 

I focused sharply on Heero when he grabbed my wrist, lifting my hand into view.

 

Jesse whistled.

 

I focused on my hand as well, realizing it was the ring. I'd given Wufei that ring in the living room of this very house.

 

I stared at it as the sunlight shone through it.

 

“He hadn't taken it off more than a handful of times since Duo gave it to him,” Heero added quietly, “So you have to imagine how pissed he was.”

 

I felt guilt wrenching in my stomach and wondered at it as the buzzing intensified.

 

Heero recounted the story of the past few weeks quickly, touching only on what really needed to be told. Jesse's expression became more and more shocked as Heero went. He sighed finally, shaking his head and glancing at me a moment, “Miguel and the bitch took off in his Bronco.”

 

“Shit,” Jesse looked to me.

 

“Wufei clung to Duo, of course…as far as I can tell, until about two-thirty this morning.”

 

“Forty-five,” I corrected.

 

“Yeah,” Heero didn't even pause, “He went back to his rooms…and then took off to the bars.”

 

“It figures.”

 

“It also figures,” Heero snapped before I could get annoyed, “That he left alone.”

 

Jesse blinked.

 

“Swathe lackeys hover around the palace like flies on a carcass. I like it that way, because I can tell when something major is about to go down. Anyway, Wufei got as far as the parking garages.”

 

“He…almost got into the club,” I muttered, thinking back to the tapes, “But…the guys came from the clubs.”

 

Jesse groaned, starting to rub his face.

 

“He was far enough away that he almost got back to his car…but one of the fuckers shot at a window near him and he dodged it.” I added, wondering why I didn't feel anything, “More words…and he killed the guy with the gun. They attacked…he downed two more…but they had tranquilizer.”

 

That was when I first felt the buzzing—when Kayla died…

 

Heero was muttering quietly, but I couldn't make out what he was saying…

 

“I see,” Jesse muttered, “I…” he looked to me, then nodded again at Heero.

 

“We know he's in the city,” Heero added, “But we're not sure where to start.”

 

“Jun owns buildings all over down-town,” Jesse muttered, “I knew where he lived once, but he moves all the time. He knows I'm your friend, so he doesn't let me know shit.” Jesse studied us, “This is it, isn't it? Time for me to take the low road?”

 

Heero nodded slowly, “We'll sweep through here eventually, so you'd better not be around.”

 

Jesse nodded, eyes going distant, “Jun might kill Wufei.”

 

“He will not!”

 

Jesse tensed, focusing on me instantly.

 

“He won't!” I snapped, moving past Heero to get into his face, “I won't let him!”

 

“Okay, Duo,” he muttered, “I believe you.”

 

“Don't patronize me!” I started, reaching for a knife.

 

“Calm down,” Heero muttered, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me away from Jesse, “You really need to calm down, Duo.”

 

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and trying to force the buzzing away. I was tired, that was all. I needed to sleep…I'd had several hours of sleep, but…

 

“I'll do what I can,” Jesse muttered quietly, “But Jun knows that I'll help. I can't…do much.”

 

“You're not playing me, are you?” Heero asked, still holding my wrists.

 

“You're my king,” Jesse said in a vaguely annoyed tone.

 

“Just checking,” Heero reassured him, then started shoving at me, “It'd be best if we never showed up here,” he added, “Tony and Tailor.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“I'll call you later,” I muttered, not wanting to leave Jesse thinking I was angry with him.

 

This wasn't his fault.