Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 97 ( Chapter 97 )

Many thanks to everyone who is reading and warm hugs to all who have reviewed. I thank you for taking the time to let me know what you think!

 

Sorry for the delay in getting this one out. I was trying to get my entries for the Moments of Rapture fic comp finished.

Anyway, here it is but please note there is an extra warning on this chapter. Angst, blood and torture are prominent - nothing too over the top, but Shinigami insisted and I wasn't about to argue.

 

 

“Family Ties”

 

Chapter 97

 

January 2007 ShenLong

 

[Satellite XRB 23 - Corridor outside the Control Room]

 

Hearing a soft noise, Zaheer turned around, just as the knife curved through the air and embedded itself in his upper arm. The big man froze in shock, eyes traveling down to locate the source of his sudden pain. The hilt of the knife protruded from his bicep. “Fuck!” he snarled and grabbed the hilt, pulling the knife free.

 

“What?” Matthews began as he turned around upon hearing the expletive. His face paled, eyes widened and his stomach rebelled as he watched the large man pulling the knife from his upper arm. His gaze didn't linger for long though as a second knife came sailing through the air and picked his calf as its resting place.

 

Matthews went down like a sack of shit.

 

In the alcove, Duo watched as the second knife found its target. He gave an evil grin and ducked back out of sight.

 

Heero raised an eyebrow, knowing better than to peek around the alcove right now.

 

“Two direct hits,” Duo whispered.

 

“They're not...”

 

“No, Heero. Both are still very much alive. I aimed to incapacitate, not kill. I want to have a bit more fun with the asshole before I kill him.”

 

“What about the other one?”

 

“He's yours, you can do with him what you wish. I'm only interested in Zaheer. The other asshole that I had a promise to keep with; I've already dealt with him.”

 

“Duo?”

 

Duo turned to look fully at Heero. “Duric. He was the main one in the band that originally kidnapped me. His boss, Nolen and he were the ones that threatened Nurse Brown and Keitaro. When this lot came onto the scene, they killed Nolen. I took care of Duric when Wuffers, Tro and Quat turned up. My only regret is I didn't get the chance to make him suffer for what he put me through and for touching what was mine.”

 

Heero knew better than to ask for further details, he'd get them later from one of the others, of that he was sure.

 

“Right now, I have a score to settle with this asshole. You can have the other one, I don't give a shit about him, but Zaheer, I want to take him down and apart piece by piece.” The purple fire was back in those eyes as Duo spoke.

 

“Be careful,” Heero whispered and checked his gun.

 

“I will.” Duo claimed Heero's lips in a fierce kiss, one that promised his lover everything once this was over.

 

Breaking from the kiss, Heero nodded towards the corridor, Duo giving a nod back and taking a quick peek around the corner of the alcove.

 

Having pulled the knife from his arm, Zaheer looked at Matthews who dropped to the floor and noted the knife protruding from the man's calf. Quickly, he glanced down the corridor, trying to see where the weapons had come from and who had sent them. He had a pretty good idea.

 

Matthews was groaning on the floor, knife still embedded in his leg. He hadn't the same will as Zaheer to pull the thing free. “Shit, it fucking hurts.”

 

“Pull it out then,” Zaheer snapped as he pressed himself back against the door of the control room. It didn't do a lot to conceal his bulk, but it would make him less of a sitting target.

 

“No fucking way!” Matthews moaned.

 

“Then suffer, you wimp,” Zaheer snarled.

 

“Where did it come from?” Matthews asked, looking around.

 

“Down that way. I'd say our long haired freak is hiding down there somewhere.”

 

Matthews grunted. “I think I'm gonna pass out.” Seconds later, he slumped to the floor, out cold.

 

Zaheer looked to the man lying unconscious in the corridor a pool of blood steadily forming around his leg. “No fucking backbone,” he muttered and then turned his attention back to the corridor and his enemy. “I know it's you, Maxwell,” he called out. “Why don't you come out and fight like a man, or are you too girly for that?” he taunted.

 

“I owe you, asshole,” came Duo's reply. “But I'm not stupid enough to come out and let you pick me off.”

 

Zaheer smiled to himself. The man did have a brain after all. But Zaheer did have a little bit of honor in him. Besides, to shoot the freak dead wasn't what he wanted to do. Sure he wanted to kill him, but Zaheer wanted to have a little fun first. “I am a man of my word and I promise you I will not shoot you dead if you step out. I would much prefer to settle this without guns.”

 

“Duo,” Heero warned. “I don't trust him.”

 

“Neither do I,” Duo replied. “I have no intention of simply stepping out there, Heero.”

 

“I swear, I will not shoot you. I'd prefer to settle this one on one,” Zaheer called.

 

“Hand to hand combat is what you're saying?” Duo shot back.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Hmmm. Not that I'm opposed to that, in fact, it would suit me quite well to beat the shit out of you, but I don't believe you will keep your word and not shoot me the moment I step out,” Duo called back.

 

“Then we are at a stale mate.”

 

“Looks like it.”

 

“Duo?” Heero hissed. “Is there another way to get to the other side of the corridor?”

 

Pausing in his verbal sparring match, Duo looked at his partner. “Why do you want to get on the other side?”

 

“I have an idea,” Heero replied and filled Duo in.

 

Violet eyes sparkled. “Heero, have I told you lately how much I love you?”

 

“You may have just once or twice,” Heero chuckled.

 

Duo pressed a passionate kiss to his lover's lips. “Here's how to get to the other end of the corridor...”

 

* * *

 

[Satellite XRB 23 Dome Corridors]

 

“Careful,” Wufei warned as the pair rounded another corner and he heard something up ahead.

 

Zechs pulled back and into a doorway, Wufei beside him. “What is it?”

 

“Not sure. I thought I heard something, although it wasn't all that intelligible.”

 

Zechs strained his ears. “It sounds like it's coming from a couple of doors further up.”

 

Both men pulled their guns out and checked the safeties were off before skulking down the corridor. As they drew closer to the door where Zechs thought he heard the noises coming from, so those noises grew a little louder.

 

“There's someone in there,” Zechs whispered.

 

“I gathered that much,” Wufei replied, the sarcasm in his voice hitting its mark.

 

Zechs glared. “They don't sound right though, sort of muffled,” he stated.

 

“Didn't Maxwell say something about a couple of people they had left for us to collect?” Wufei questioned.

 

“I think you could be right.” Zechs inched his way forward, closing the distance between himself and the doorway slowly but steadily. When he was close enough, he took a quick look inside, pulled back and barely held the snicker.

 

“What is it?” Wufei asked, his voice impatient.

 

“Take a look. It's quite safe,” Zechs snickered.

 

With a puzzled frown on his face, Wufei snuck forth and took a peek. “Only Maxwell could be that ingenious,” he sniffed.

 

Holstering their guns, the pair stepped into the room. Immediately they entered, the two men sitting inside began to make further sounds, obviously asking for something, but nothing understandable could be made out due to the sock gags they were both sporting.

 

“You got the handcuffs there?” Zechs asked as he studied the intricate knots of the cord cut from the drapes that had been used to tie the two men up.

 

“Here,” Wufei said and passed over a pair. He kept another other pair for himself and locked them around the wrists of one of the men, something he thought the prisoner wasn't too happy about if the spluttering coming from the gag was anything to go by.

 

Once both men were secured, Zechs removed the sock from his prisoner's mouth, Wufei doing the same.

 

“I demand you release me immediately,” Zechs' prisoner spat.

 

“I'm sorry, I can't do that,” Zechs replied in his calm tone.

 

“Do you have any idea who you are dealing with? I'm Senator Wainright from the ESUN! I'll have your badge for this!”

 

Wufei's ears pricked up when the name was spoken. It didn't mean anything to Zechs though. “Senator Wainright? Is that correct?” Wufei questioned.

 

“Yes, yes it is. Now release me or I'll see to it that you won't be able to get a job cleaning the streets!”

 

Zechs looked a little confused but he guessed that Wufei knew something he didn't and so he was quite happy to sit back and let the Chinese agent take over - he'd pick it up as they went along.

 

“If you're Senator Wainright, then you must be Senator Richards. Correct?” Wufei looked in askance at the man before him.

 

“Yes. I'm Richards.”

 

“Take these handcuffs off now!”

Wufei turned back to Wainright. “No.”

 

“I beg your pardon!”

 

“Senator Wainright, Senator Richards, I am Agent Fire of the Preventer Organization, this is Agent Wind. You are both under arrest.”

“On what grounds?!” spluttered Wainright.

 

“Conspiracy to murder innocent people, conspiracy to start a war, embezzlement of charitable funds, kidnapping, purchasing of armaments... Shall I continue?” Wufei replied, his voice totally calm.

 

“Bullshit! You have no proof!”

 

Wufei cocked an eyebrow and was about to speak again when Richards interrupted.

 

“Give it up, Donald. The game's over. Face it, we're fucked.”

 

“No! It's all bullshit! They have no proof, just their word against ours,” Wainright argued.

 

“That is where you're wrong, Senator. We do have all the proof we need to put you away for a very long time.” Wufei gave an evil smirk at the look on the senator's face. “Oh yes, remember your computers?”

 

“There's nothing on those,” Wainright exploded, but his face paled.

 

“Maybe not to the ordinary person, but at Preventer we have one of the best hackers and computer savvy people you could come across. You may have deleted the files, but those files also have a shadow file locked away in the depths of the hard drive.”

 

“I don't believe you.”

 

Wufei shrugged. “I'm not asking you to. I already have the proof, those files have been recovered and will be presented in evidence against you in a court of law when you stand trial for your crimes.”

 

Wainright slumped in his seat, then opened his mouth to start again, only he wasn't quick enough. Zechs reached forward and stuffed the sock back in his mouth. When Wufei looked at him, Zechs tilted his head. “I couldn't stand the whining any longer,” he said by way of explanation.

 

Wufei snickered.

 

“By the way, I should let you know that whilst you are not obliged to do or say anything, anything you do say or do may be used as evidence in a court of law,” Zechs said.

 

“A bit late for that,” Richards muttered and then sighed as the sock was shoved back into his mouth.

 

“They aren't going anywhere,” Zechs stated. “We'd better get a move on and find Day and Night. We can collect these two on the way back.”

 

“Roger that,” Wufei replied. Turning back to their prisoners, Wufei spoke again. “We will be back for you both, meanwhile, I suggest you relax and think about what prison life for the next twenty or so years is going to be like.” With another evil smirk, Wufei spun on his heel and exited the room, noting exactly where it was for the later retrieval.

 

Zechs nodded to the pair and then followed Wufei out. “How far to the Control room?”

 

“Not far now. This way.” Wufei checked his palm top and then set off once more.

 

* * *

 

[Control Room Corridor]

 

Heero slipped away, leaving Duo to continue `talking' to Zaheer. The directions Duo had given him were clear in his head as he sprinted down one corridor, skidded around a corner and then picked up speed again. A bullet whizzed past and barely missed him.

 

He aimed to come in from the opposite end to where Duo was, putting Zaheer and Matthews between them. There was a another corridor that came out pretty close to the control room door and this is where Heero was aiming for.

 

Still running as fast as he could, Heero was sure to make as little noise as possible. He was also on high alert for anyone he might come across. He was lucky. The satellite currently had minimal people on it, the majority having been Barton's `army' and thus on their way to Earth.

 

Hearing Duo's voice getting louder, he slowed his headlong rush to a more sedate jog, not wanting to alert Zaheer to his presence. He could see the gap in the corridor up ahead and figured that was the other end to where Duo was.

 

Zaheer glanced down at Matthews who was still unconscious on the floor. A slight movement caught the corner of his eye and he turned quickly to see a person running down the corridor. He raised his gun and let off a shot, the bullet just missing the figure. Before he had the chance to shoot again, the figure had disappeared around the corner.

 

He figured it wasn't Maxwell, that bastard had a length of hair one couldn't miss, so that meant he had help. Zaheer frowned, then smiled. Obviously Maxwell was still there, this other guy had most likely run as he was scared.

 

“Why didn't you run too? Run away like your yellow bellied partner?” Zaheer taunted. “At least he's got sense.”

 

Duo felt the anger swell with the words. “Calm down, Maxwell,” he scolded himself. “That's exactly what he wants you to do, get riled up so you will make mistakes.” He took a deep breath. Zaheer didn't need to know what Heero was up to. “I don't need a partner to take you down, asshole,” he called out.

 

“Big words now, freak, but soon you will be begging me for your death.”

 

“I think you will find you will be the one begging for death, Zaheer.”

 

Zaheer snorted. “You think that you, a puny, fag assed excuse for a man will be able to take me down? Don't make me laugh.”

 

“I was a Gundam Pilot in the war, I've seen and survived more than you could ever dream about. You will be so easy compared to some.” Duo had deliberately raised his voice so Heero would be able to hear him and know when he was getting close to his target.

 

“Ohhh, I'm all scared of the big bad Gundam Pilot,” Zaheer sneered.

 

Heero crept to the corner of the corridor and chanced a look around. He could see Zaheer up ahead, focused totally on Duo's voice. He noted the gun in the hand and pulled his own revolver free. Flipping the safety off, he lined up the hulking man. Now all he needed was that one, clear shot.

 

Duo spotted Heero at the other end of the corridor, took a look at Zaheer and noted the position of the gun. He swallowed and prayed that Heero wouldn't miss. “You should be scared, Zaheer, you see, I was given a second name during the war, a name for my alter ego.” Duo began to move his body out of the alcove, letting Zaheer see exactly where he was. As he'd presumed, the big man raised his gun. Before Zaheer could close his finger on the trigger, another shot rang out.

 

Seeing the freak starting to move out of his hiding place, Zaheer couldn't believe his luck. The asshole believed he wouldn't shoot! Well, Zaheer was going to shoot, just not to kill. He raised the gun and took aim. Before he could fire another shot was heard.

 

Seeing his lover starting to step out, Heero focused completely on the gun in Zaheer's hand. It began to raise, Heero locked on his target and sent the bullet from the chamber.

 

The bullet flew through the air, Heero's aim completely true. The bullet connected with the gun in Zaheer's hand, sending it flying from his grip and bouncing along the floor away from the man.

 

Zaheer looked on in shock as the gun was sent flying from his hand and skittering down the corridor. He didn't get a chance to try to retrieve it though. Duo was in motion the second the bullet connected with the gun. He was out of the alcove and rushing down the corridor towards Zaheer. The gun went bouncing past him, Duo ignoring it completely and focusing on the man ahead.

 

He connected with Zaheer's midsection, sending the big man to the floor. Instantly, he pulled the knife from Matthews' calf and jammed it against Zaheer's throat. “The name for my alter ego is Shinigami, Zaheer.”

 

The big man paled a little but Duo wasn't finished yet.

 

“Shinigami, the God of Death. He comes out to play from time to time and believe me when I say you will only get to meet him once.” The words were whispered as the knife caressed the large expanse of throat, not enough to kill, but just nick the surface of the skin.

 

Zaheer managed to turn his head a little, enough that he could look into the amethyst eyes of his enemy. Only those eyes were no longer amethyst - they were a deep purple. Zaheer shivered and for the second time he felt fear lodge in his chest. Those eyes, they burnt with an unholy flame and Zaheer knew the man he'd been taunting and promised to kill was no longer there. This was eerie. Those eyes belonged to something else, something that promised a cold, cruel death.

 

“I told you I would kill you, Zaheer - and I never lie. But, I'm a reasonable man too so I won't kill you straight out. I think you deserve a little payback first.” The knife moved from Zaheer's throat, Duo shoving the man away from him as he pivoted and took up position.

 

Zaheer rolled to the side and scrambled to his feet, hands forward in a defensive posture. He ignored the protest of his injured bicep as he waited for his opponent to make the first move. His lip curled into a savage grin as he suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Duo.

 

Watching carefully, Duo let the other man grab him, but twisted himself as those arms closed around his shoulders and made a grab for his arms.

 

“You should have killed me when you had the chance,” Zaheer snarled. “Now I'm going to break every bone in your body, one by one.”

 

“Are you sure about that?” came Duo's reply and he swung the knife down and across, slicing neatly through the tendons and ligaments at the back of Zaheer's knee.

 

The man let out a howl of pain as his leg buckled and sent him crashing to the ground.

 

Duo was right there. “You said you wanted to break every bone in my body one by one. Did you mean like this?” Duo swung around and let fly with a solid kick to Zaheer's shin.

 

The crack of the bone as it broke echoed along the corridor, followed by another scream of pain from Zaheer.

 

“Or maybe you meant to start with the fingers?” Duo lunged for the man's hand.

 

Having sent the gun flying and then watching his partner tackle the big man, Heero stepped out from the end of the corridor and made his way along. He would not interfere, just watch and let Duo have his revenge. If Duo started to get into any difficulty, then Heero would step in and assist his lover, but for now, he's simply observe. He twitched a little as Duo let the other man get a hold of him, but then relaxed when he saw the sweep of the knife. He knew if he were to jump in, not only would he rip the man apart with his bare hands, but then he'd have a very pissed off Duo to deal with too.

 

Besides, Duo was doing a pretty good job by himself. Heero winced as he heard the bone snap.

 

Pulling the hand up, Duo was quick to bend the pinky and ring fingers in a direction they were not meant to go, satisfied when he heard the bones break and a yelp of pain from the asshole.

 

Through a haze of pain, Zaheer spotted Heero leaning against the wall, legs crossed at the ankle, arms across his chest. “Stop him,” Zaheer cried out.

 

Heero lifted his head. “You talking to me?”

 

“No, I'm talking to the tooth fairy,” came the sarcastic reply. “Of course I”m talking to you! Stop him, he's crazy!”

 

Heero made a big show of looking from Duo to Zaheer, to the finger Duo was holding ready to snap and then back to Zaheer. “He's not crazy, a little insane maybe...”

 

“Hey! I resent that,” Duo said as he snapped the finger and grabbed the next one.

 

“If you were sane, you would have started with the toes, then the knee caps and worked your way up to the fingers,” Heero replied with a smirk.

 

Duo cocked his head as if in deep thought. “You know, you might have a point there.” He broke the pointer finger.

 

“You're both fucking mad!” Zaheer screamed.

 

“I did tell you I would take you down,” Duo snarled, right in Zaheer's face. “And I meant it.” He broke the thumb.

 

The screams began to penetrate the unconscious mind of Matthews and he began to stir. He blinked his eyes open and groggily tried to raise his head. “Zaheer?”

 

“I think you should remain asleep. This isn't going to be pretty,” Heero said as he shoved off the wall and knelt beside the prone man.

 

Matthews shifted his eyes and stared into deep cobalt - a blue that was like ice and sent chills down his spine.

 

“Goodnight.” Heero clocked the helpless Matthews on the back of his head with the butt of his gun.

 

“Do you think I should gut him?” Duo asked, turning to face Heero who was straightening up after checking Matthews' pulse.

 

Heero shrugged. “Will it make a lot of mess?”

 

“Probably. Given his size I'd guess there would be quite a lot of entrails to spill out,” Duo replied.

 

Zaheer choked, desperately trying not to vomit. He spotted the knife he'd pulled out of his arm and then dropped when he'd lost the gun. It was just a few inches away.

 

Heero saw the look on the man's face and noted where the eyes had strayed. He stepped forward just as Zaheer stretched out his uninjured hand to make a grab for the knife. He brought his boot down hard on the hand. “I don't fucking think so,” he snarled.

 

Another yelp of pain left the big man's lips.

 

“I thought you were going to let me take care of this?” Duo questioned. “You're spoiling my fun, Heero.”

 

“Sorry, next time I'll let him grab the knife shall I?” came the sarcastic response.

 

“Ah. In that case, thank you.”

 

“You're welcome.” Heero shifted back against the wall. “Do you think you could hurry it up a little? We still have to arrest Barton and the rest of this outfit.”

 

“I suppose so.” Duo turned back to his victim and hissed. “Think yourself lucky, asshole. My partner wants to hurry up so I won't get to torture you as much as I would like to.”

 

Zaheer gave one last effort and managed to bring his `unbroken' hand around. He swung as hard as he could and connected with the side of Duo's head, sending Duo sprawling on his back.

 

“You fucking piece of shit,” Duo snarled and rubbed his cheek where the fist had connected. In a second he was back on his feet and attacking. The knife sliced through the air, cutting through cloth and flesh, blood running freely, covering the ex pilot and pooling around him. His eyes were glazed as Shinigami took over, cutting the big man's wrists. Finally, the head was raised and the throat exposed. Duo pressed the knife against the skin. “Prepare to meet your maker.” The knife pressed home, cutting from left to right.

 

Zaheer gurgled, shuddered and then his eyes stared out at nothing.

 

Duo let the hair go, the head dropping forward. A hand to his shoulder had him spinning around, knife at the ready again.

 

“Duo, it's finished. He's dead,” Heero said softly as he coaxed his lover to return and put Shinigami back in his box.

 

Cobalt locked with purple, Heero pulling his lover up from the floor and holding him against his chest. He stroked Duo's back, calming his partner with the soft touches and murmured words of love. Slowly the fire in those eyes began to dim and the color return to the gentle amethyst they usually were. Once the trembles had stopped, Heero pulled apart a little and captured Duo's lips in a warm kiss, one that grounded his lover completely.

 

“He's dead?” Duo whispered.

 

“Yes. He's dead,” Heero replied.

 

Duo held on for a moment, then pulled away, taking a deep breath and settling himself. “Good.”

 

The sound of running feet could be heard rapidly approaching and both men dived for the alcove again, pressing themselves into it.

 

Moments later Zechs and Wufei came around the corner, guns drawn and pulled up short when they saw the carnage ahead.

 

Duo snickered. “Now the cavalry arrives.”

 

~ * ~

tbc...