Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Heart's Treason ❯ Chapter 3

Heart's Treason

By Llewlyn

Summary: Thrown in an OZ cell together, Zechs and Trowa fall in love. But before they realize it, they're torn apart.

Rating: PG-13 for chapters 1-4, NC-17 for a lemon in chapter 5 and lime in the epilogue.

Two interrogations, a sprained wrist, and a fractured leg later, Zechs and Trowa began wondering when OZ was going to realize Trowa was innocent. He had revealed nothing but loyalty to the organization, never letting anything slip through tormented lips. Trowa was steadily losing strength from the beatings, though, and a few more interrogations would most likely break him, and not just his bones. OZ and its minions were smart- they always let him heal completely before the next beating, and it was not much longer before the next would come.

However, the next would never come. Soon after Trowa could support weight on his broken leg, the door to the cell opened and the customary gorillas lumbered in. Zechs leapt to defend Trowa against the soldiers, but fell back when he saw, not the arrogant lieutenant who usually accompanied Trowa to his torture, but Lucretzia Noin.

"Zechs Merquise. I am startled to find you in here," Noin said, though she didn't show an ounce of surprise. "They finally decided you were too opinionated?"

"Yes, and you shouldn't be, and you aren't. Why are you here and not that priggish puppy?" Zechs was still on guard, even in the presence of his friend and would-be love interest.

"I'm wounded, Zechs. I'm not here to take that boy you're so carefully tending to interrogation, I'm here to release him. General Kushrenada's orders. He is innocent, but is to be expelled from OZ. He will be given money and an honorable discharge and sent on his way."

"Glad to hear it. But why are you here and not a lower officer. Anyone could have released him. You don't normally concern yourself with prisoners." Zechs was right, of course. He knew her too well.

"I'm here to release him. That is all. I heard you were in the same block as he, so I came to see how you were. Even if you are treasonous, you are still my friend. So stop hiding the boy and let him have his freedom." Noin moved closer to Zechs and gently pushed him aside, hissing, "I'm getting you out of here, Zechs. Just follow my lead." She was already gesturing to Trowa to come with her. "Can you walk on that leg?" Trowa nodded. "Then, Mr. Tristan, come with me. You are hereby proclaimed innocent and given an honorable discharge from OZ."

Noin turned towards the door and stood next to Zechs. As quietly as possible, so he alone could hear, she whispered, "On my signal, take out the one on the left. We're breaking you and the kid out of here." She stepped towards the door. "Ready?" she asked, seemingly towards the soldiers. Sensing Zechs readiness from the subtle shift of position behind her, she nodded as they did and said, "Then let's go!" Immediately she darted towards the soldier on the right and with a swift chop of the hand to his windpipe, incapacitated him and took his rifle. Less than a millisecond after she moved, Zechs followed suit and disarmed his less-than-worthy opponent. Both of them armed and ready to go, they turned to look at Trowa.

The boy stood watching them, amazed. He had never seen anyone, even the other Gundam pilots, work with that speed and synchronicity. They were like two parts of one machine. Zechs laughed at the expression on Trowa's face. "Tristan, Noin and I trained together at the Academy. We've been fighting side by side for years. Now will you hurry up so we can get out of here? I have a feeling you're not being legitimately released, either." Noin nodded in confirmation and Trowa walked stoically across the floor to the armed and waiting pair.

"Let's go, then." Noin gave a half grin and led the way, saying, "The halls should be clear, I switched some schedules so we won't have any troubles getting out and away safely." Even with the safety of time, the trio walked as stealthily and quickly as possible towards the waiting transport. They made it out without a hitch. Trowa's abused leg hurt like hell, but he bore it as silently as ever. He was a soldier, no matter for what side, and he had borne worse pain than this. His breathing was hitched by the time they reached the transport and lifted off, though.

Zechs noticed this, but didn't say anything. The younger male was a stoic and had way too much pride for one his age. He had to bear everything on his own, couldn't let any one near. Of course, part of that had to do with his secret. Despite all the time they had sat together, waiting on fate and the decisions of politicians (the two being roughly synonymous), `Tristan' had always clung to the alias, and Zechs had never questioned him about it. However, now that they were relatively safe, it was time to ask.

"Tristan- are you all right?" Zechs' voice was tinged with concern, no need to think about that, but how to draw out his real identity… mentally Zechs smirked as he thought of the perfect way. Meanwhile Trowa nodded, always trying to hold out against any and every question. "Good. Your leg is still not completely healed, so when we get away, I'm taking you to a doctor." Trowa grimaced- doctors… not good. Doctors could easily figure out you weren't who you said you were, just by a routine blood test. "Of course, I'll have to know your real name…" Zechs watched Trowa carefully for his reaction. There… there it was- the slightest tensing of his muscles, the minutest irregular intake of breath. "You know and I know you aren't Tristan Bland. If you are, then my name is Relena Peacecraft. And I am most definitely not my little sister." Crap. Now he had done it, now his identity was out too. Noin's little gasp had been a sure enough sign of that. But perhaps now, `Tristan' would be more willing to let slip his true name.

Noin was trying to form coherent sentences. "Zech… you're not… you're…" While Noin was babbling, Trowa came to a decision and quietly cut off the stream of disconnected words.

"Trowa Barton."