Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ 2 Reign ❯ Things in Between ( Chapter 25 )

Chapter Twenty-Five: Things in Between

 

Quatre was rubbing his temples as he sat at the table with Jacob at his side.

 

“What's up?” I asked, blinking at him as I moved into the dining room. The room had become our main headquarters. Duo was still gone, though, and Heero was very tense.

 

“I have to go back to the castle,” he muttered, meeting my eyes, “Did you get Lea anything?”

 

I realized suddenly that it was my niece's birthday and stared at him in amazement.

 

“Don't worry, Hilde will have thought of it,” he brushed me off, moving to stand, “I won't be able to come back until tomorrow.”

 

“I understand.”

 

He nodded and started for the door.

 

“Excuse me, Sir,” a soldier came in holding a plain box, “Sir Maxwell asked that I deliver this to you.”

 

Quatre and I both stared at the box in amazement as Jacob moved up and took it from the soldier, “Thank you.”

 

The man nodded and moved back out to his post.

 

“Duo is such an asshole,” Quatre breathed, accepting the package from Jacob and studying it, “What do you think it is?”

 

“I don't know.” I moved forward and took the thing from him. It wasn't heavy…

 

A pitiful mewling came to us.

 

“He did not!” Quatre snapped, setting the box down and pulling it open—to reveal a pet-carrier.

 

I choked on a laugh, moving up beside Quatre.

 

“Look, a letter,” Jacob muttered, indicating one that said Quatre's name on it.

 

Quatre opened the thing, staring down at the carrier in dismay before focusing on the sheet of paper in his hand, “Q,” he read, “…if something happens and you actually don't open this up before you get to the castle, you'll want to feed him. I'm hoping he doesn't mess along the way. He's a very affectionate little kitty and I think your daughter will enjoy him. Don't be mad at me, it was Nira's idea.”

 

“It figures,” I muttered, grinning and pulling the carrier from the box.

 

Quatre gave us sarcastic looks, reading on, “And since I know this won't make it back to the palace before he mews, I suggest you let him use the restroom so your daughter doesn't have a stinky kitty.”

 

Jacob coughed slightly as Quatre gave us both dirtier looks.

 

“You also might want to give him some water and stop on the way home…that asshole!”

 

I laughed, opening the cage and pulling the terrified ball of fur out. It was pure grey, the fur wasn't very long—and it looked about six months old.

 

Quatre picked up a file from the box and opened it, “Three months old, neutered…full shots…three-hundred dollars?”

 

I focused on Quatre, blinking.

 

He was amazed, “You don't spend three-hundred dollars on a cat for a seven year old!”

 

I laughed as the thing looked around. It seemed completely miserable.

 

“Here,” Quatre muttered, taking it from me and stroking it a moment before disappearing out the front door.

 

“I think Alex will be jealous,” Jacob informed me.

 

“And how,” I agreed.

 

“I don't think Duo will stand for that very long,” Jacob added almost pointedly.

 

I met his eyes and shook my head, “He won't buy my daughter a kitten.”

 

Jacob smirked at me, “Don't be so sure.”

 

-

 

I stared the street over below me, wondering how many of those people were part of Marionette. How many of those people I'd have to deal with before Marionette fell…

 

It had taken us three days to get all of Reality, and two to get Citadel. I'd gone through Citadel and taken out a few heads so the people would panic more and our men would be able to take them out, but I wasn't so sure I wanted to kill anyone in Marionette. Marionette wasn't all about the money or the land or control, Marionette simply wanted a place where people could come and play without worrying about allegiances. Marionette was neutral. Chances were that they'd fold as soon as Heero found their leader.

 

“All right, I'm going to go. This is nerve-wracking,” Jesse muttered from where he was behind me, “I have a feeling that I'll need to be somewhere hidden when Heero goes to find me.”

 

“No, he's not going after you. He'll be looking for your first.”

 

“He's uh…in China.”

 

“Good.” I turned my head and met Jesse's eyes, “We have no intentions of taking Jaded down.”

 

“You wouldn't put me in prison, would you?”

 

“Don't ask me that, Jesse. I'm a knight…and you're my friend…don't make me think of choices I won't have to make if you keep your head down.”

 

He nodded, moving to the door.

 

“Be careful out there. Swathe knows you're our friend and they might try to put a hit on you.”

 

He nodded again, moving across the room and hugging me quickly, “Take care of yourself…and for the love of god, get Wufei before Jun can do something permanent.”

 

“Yeah…I'm working on that.”

 

He smiled slightly at me, then disappeared. It took several minutes before he appeared out front of the building, waving up at me once before climbing into his car and speeding away.

 

I had no idea if I'd ever see him again.

 

I sighed, moving back to sit on the arm of the couch.

 

Marionette was neutral and small…even if they did put up resistance, Heero could crush them.

 

I smiled, deciding it was time for me to hit the Burn.

 

-

 

“Where do you think Wufei is?” I muttered to Trowa, meeting his eyes a moment.

 

“I don't know,” Trowa muttered, looking over the skyscrapers, “I'm sure he's fine, though.”

 

“Or as fine as he can be.”

 

“Same thing…where do you think Duo is?”

 

“I don't want to know,” I admitted, “My knight is rather unpredictable.”

 

“Make me a knight.”

 

“When we get back.”

 

“All right.”

 

We fell silent again.

 

“Where do you think Quatre is?” Trowa asked.

 

“Probably telling Relena and Hilde what's going on here by now. I feel bad that we couldn't make it for Lea's birthday.”

 

“We'll throw her a party when we're all back again.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Duo got her a kitten.”

 

I groaned.

 

Trowa laughed.

 

“God, this is just so…wrong.”

 

“Isn't it, though,” Trowa agreed mildly.

 

“Aren't you the chatty one…” I noted irritably.

 

“You're chatting enough for both of us.”

 

I hit him.

 

-

 

“It's a kitty!” Lea squeaked, all excitement as her friends moved around her in awe and she held up the little cat Duo had bought for her, “Oh, Daddy! Uncle Duo is the best!” she giggled hard, turning with it so all her friends could see it again.

 

I nodded half-heartedly, looking out the window at the quickly descending evening and wondering what Wufei was doing—Duo himself.

 

Hilde came up to my side, grabbing my hand in hers and smiling at me, “Just breathe, Quatre. That's all any of us can do.”

 

“I'm gonna call him Shadow!”

 

-

 

“You want me to bring you some caffeine or something?” Keith asked me curiously, studying my eyes.

 

“No, I can break myself of that and be better off for it…maybe some multivitamins or something.”

 

He nodded.

 

“Thank you for helping me,” I muttered, fiddling with my ring again, “I appreciate it.”

 

“I'm going to give that back to Duo,” Ace muttered, indicating it, “If I keep carrying it, I'll lose it.”

 

I nodded.

 

“Any requests…I mean, I have nothing but time on my hands.”

 

“You and me both…I know, kill Jun for me.”

 

He laughed an evil and excitable laugh that really reminded me of Duo, “I can't do that, sorry. There are far too many morons who are loyal to him.”

 

I nodded again, passing the ring back to him and meeting his eyes, “Have you told Duo where I am?”

 

“Selena did. If I go near him he's likely to kill me.”

 

“If he hasn't yet, he may not.”

 

“I'm not so sure of that, and I'm rather fond of my life.”

 

I smirked slightly at him, “Against my better judgment, I think I like you.”

 

“Don't get any ideas, Chang, I don't swing that way.”

 

I laughed, tossing my trash at him and sighing.

 

“You really should stop pissing Jun off, though. You wouldn't believe how much he rants about you to me.”

 

“He knows you know where I am?” I was startled.

 

“He doesn't know I have a sister who,” he made a face, “Is in love with his mortal enemy.”

 

“Duo's really not that bad.”

 

“Aside from wanting to kill me and hurt me while doing it,” Keith agreed.

 

“Hell, he'd hurt you without killing you,” I smirked.

 

“Okay, he's scary enough without you feeding me ideas like I'd like them.”

 

I laughed.

 

He waved once at me, then disappeared.

 

-

 

The music was pounding as I moved into the VIP room of the Burn, studying the floor over before focusing on the bar—and Jun. I ran my fingers through my hair as I watched him, giving myself a slightly mussed look. It was a bit cold out for a wife-beater, but inside this room full of dancing drunkards, it felt like a normal summer evening…and the shirt was just tight enough to emphasize my abs.

 

I'd dressed like this so many times it wasn't funny anymore, and each time had succeeded in my ends…not that I had to be dressed up for that.

 

This time was different, but I still intended to get what I wanted.

 

I moved up behind Jun, sliding my hands around his waist before he realized I was there, pinning him against my body as he tried to turn and look at me—and then he saw me in the mirror.

 

Pure terror passed across his face as he froze completely.

 

“Hi, Jun,” I muttered, nibbling at his ear, “Long time no see.”

 

“The longer the better.”

 

“Or bigger.”

 

He didn't say anything to that.

 

“Or harder…or more painful.”

 

Jun looked away from my eyes.

 

“Or all of thee above.”

 

“Thee?” Jun asked, blinking.

 

“I would say the, but I mean you.”

 

He tried to break away from me, but he didn't have the leverage.

 

“I'm going to kill you slowly,” I whispered to him, “I'm going to take my sweet time and bleed you dry, do you know that? Do you have any idea what I can do? You realize that I've hit a spot where nothing matters anymore? It's all crap, so why not make it fun?”

 

“Let go of me,” he muttered, “Or I'll…”

 

“I've killed before,” I whispered, studying his eyes in the mirror, “And I'll kill again. Today? Tomorrow? It doesn't matter…” I ran my hand up his chest and rested my fingers around his throat, “How about now?” I dug my nails slightly into his skin.

 

He didn't move, meeting my eyes in the mirror.

 

“I think you've underestimated me and mine,” I added, licking at his ear, “I think…what's left of your life will be hell.”

 

“But I'll have Wufei.”

 

I bit behind his ear hard enough to draw blood and he tried to jump from my grip—which finally brought attention to us.

 

I grinned slightly, licking the blood from my lips as he watched in the mirror with large eyes, “Think about what I've done before,” I muttered, “You think long and hard about my last visit…and you think about my best friend. I want you to decide if that's really worth what I'll do to you in the end.”

 

The bartender was moving toward us, seeming to recognize me and starting to open his mouth to speak.

 

“I'll catch ya later, Mr. Martin,” I muttered, pulling away from him and starting for the doors.

 

“I have your best friend, imagine what I can do to him!” Jun seemed to want the last word.

 

I turned and flashed him a grin, then left the room into that damned hallway.

 

-

 

I jumped out of the bed as the door to my room slammed open unceremoniously and Jun stood there, looking in a towering rage.

 

So he'd finally lost his patience…

 

“Lay down!” he snapped at me, storming across the room with purposeful strides.

 

My stomach churned, but I stood my ground, “Why don't you make me?”

 

He smiled slightly at me, starting around the bed, “If you insist.”

 

-

 

“Duo!”

 

I turned to watch Ace approach me in amazement. He didn't even hesitate…he came right up to stand in front of me, offering me something.

 

“What the fuck are you doing?” I demanded of him in sheer amazement.

 

“Wufei can't keep this, and I'll lose it,” he replied, turning his hand palm up to reveal the sapphire.

 

I stared at the ring in shock.

 

“Take it, Duo. It's yours.”

 

“It's Wufei's.”

 

“Until it's on his hand, it's yours.”

 

I stared at him a long moment, “How is he?”

 

“Depends on what you expect.”

 

“Has Jun…I mean…”

 

“Raped him? Not yet. I was there a couple hours ago, too.”

 

I narrowed my eyes at the guy.

 

“I've been taking him food,” Keith added, losing his comfort and looking down—I could see him realizing just how close he was standing to me.

 

I studied the guy a long moment before taking the ring from him and sliding it onto my finger, “Where is your sister?”

 

“I'm not completely sure,” he muttered, shifting back slightly and crossing his arms. He met my eyes again, “Last I knew, she was with you.”

 

“Hm,” I studied the ring a long moment, then met Ace's eyes, “How is Fei?”

 

“Jun's been hitting him. I don't think Jun realizes that Wufei is a pilot.”

 

“Mentally?”

 

“Irritated. He's been meditating a lot. Since he didn't eat for a week or whatever, he's starting to recover.”

 

“He's not drugged?”

 

Keith kinda grinned at that, “No, actually. Whatever that sedative was really did a number on his system. Jun's scared too give it to him anymore.”

 

“A sedative?” I asked, blinking at him, “Wufei wouldn't get sick over a sedative…”

 

Keith shrugged, “That's just what I know from Jun.”

 

“Hm,”

 

“Where's your king?”

 

“Not here, obviously.” There was no way to tell which side of this Ace was really playing. I had no intentions of giving an assassin the whereabouts of my best friend.

 

“I hear that Reality fell.”

 

“And Citadel,” I studied him a moment.

 

“You're gonna let Jaded get away, aren't you?”

 

“Jesse is my friend,” I replied, “He knows what we're doing and that he has to really minimize his bullshit before we take him down.”

 

“Do I get the same censure?”

 

“You killed my fiancé, Keith, why don't you take a moment to think about that for me.”

 

He looked down, “I said I was sorry.”

 

“Sorry doesn't bring Kayla back to life. Sorry doesn't make me her husband. Sorry doesn't give me her children. Sorry doesn't make the grief go away.”

 

“What about Selena?” he demanded, frowning up at me.

 

“What about Selena?”

 

His entire bearing turned cold and he stepped away from me, shaking his head.

 

“Kayla told me she wanted me to love again,” I spoke up before he could get more than five feet away, “I'm not giving Selena up.”

 

He didn't bother to acknowledge that.

 

“I will always love Kayla,” I informed him louder, “That doesn't mean I don't love your sister.”

 

He stopped for a moment, then disappeared around a corner.

 

I studied the ring a moment, then looked to the sky and the stars that were shining above me.

 

…sometimes, my life really sucked.

 

-

 

“I miss living here,” Trowa muttered as we stared up at the house Relena and I had been buying. It seemed so very long ago, but still so recent…

 

“I dunno, I really liked my apartment,” Quatre muttered, stepping up to my other side with Jacob on his heels.

 

“I really liked living here when Kayla was still alive,” Jacob muttered, smiling slightly, “Because Duo was really fun then—without actually trying to fuck me.”

 

“As if that was an issue,” Quatre muttered.

 

Jacob smiled at him and shook his head.

 

“Unrequited love is so cute,” I muttered to Trowa.

 

Trowa sniggered.

 

Quatre perked up and gave me a look, though Jacob was giving me the most priceless look of all. It looked like he was torn between protest and agreement.

 

“I think you mean unrequited lust,” Trowa corrected me, “Because you know why Jacob is still hanging around.”

 

I coughed on that.

 

“Hey!” Quatre snapped.

 

Jacob started laughing, moving away from Quatre and shaking his head at us.

 

“It's nice to see you all laughing.”

 

We all turned as one to Duo, who was walking up the middle of the street with his hands in his pockets.

 

“Duo!” I muttered, starting for him and realizing that he'd be to us in moments.

 

“So what are we still doing here?” he asked as he did stop near us, stepping up to lean against Trowa.

 

“Waiting for the sweep to be finished,” I explained, shrugging. “We have to follow protocol, even here. Jesse's gone, isn't he?”

 

“Yeah, he took off on Friday.”

 

“Good.”

 

“How did Lea like her present?” he asked, focusing on Quatre.

 

“She was absolutely thrilled, though I'm not so enthused.”

 

Duo smiled at him and shrugged, “Every little girl needs a kitten.”

 

“Every little girl but Alex,” Trowa suggested.

 

“Oh, no, she deserves one. I'd give her a puppy but I think Heero'd have issues about that.”

 

I gave him a mildly annoyed look.

 

“I'll save the puppy for my new one,” he added to Jacob, nodding a bit, “When that little one is about seven.”

 

“No you won't,” Trowa muttered, giving Duo a look.

 

Duo laughed.

 

“Where have you been?”

 

“Doing things you don't want to hear about,” Duo said pointedly, meeting all our eyes, “I know where Wufei is.”

 

No one moved.

 

“We have to take out Gray Day and Endgame before we can touch Swathe,” he added.

 

“Pain,” I muttered, still not able to think properly.

 

“That will take about half a day. The only leaders left are the ones we'll be arresting.”

 

We all exchanged looks at this, realizing what Duo'd been up to.

 

Duo grinned slightly, “That woman I didn't kill back when I killed Donovan is in charge now. I shouldn't have much trouble convincing her to give up willingly.”

 

“We're trying to remain disassociated from our alter egos, Duo,” I muttered, blinking at him, “If what we did here came out, we'd all be fucked over.”

 

“We're already fucked over, Heero,” he muttered with a smile, “Why not have fun with it?”