Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ In the City at Night ❯ Playing With Time i ( Chapter 27 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Playing With Time i

"So," Jordan muttered as he moved into the room Terry Shifton was sitting in, "How are you?"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Maxwell," Shifton returned after taking the moment to be sure he was being addressed. "I'm very well, thank you."

"Talked to Jon lately?" Jordan demanded quietly.

Terry focused on him a moment in disbelief, then looked around the mostly empty room.

Jordan sat, resting his chin against his intertwined fingers. "I'm just all sorts of curious."

"I haven't seen Jon in months," Terry noted, frowning at Jordan. "I mean, I've seen him moving around base, but the two of us haven't talked."

"He's dead," Jordan lied easily.

Terry's face paled, and something like grief shone brightly as he stared at the man, "How?" he whispered.

Jordan considered the man a moment, then shook his head. "He's not. I wanted to see how you'd react."

And Terry's expression turned instantly to anger.

"You want to be a king, Terry?"

"Why would I want to be a king?" the man demanded in return. "You're not being funny."

"You'd like to be king of the world?"

"What the hell for?" Shifton returned a confused look. "You've upset me."

"Jon is alive in holding," Jordan returned easily. "He'll be let out soon...maybe the two of you should rekindle."

"So you can rip us apart again?" the acidic tone left no doubt to a layer of bitterness.

"I thought you'd frame him, and how wrong was I?" Jordan raised an eyebrow. "You may not have set up the assassin yourself, but it went through your accounts."

Terry frowned, looking down.

"We caught an assassin this morning by Breer's cell," Jordan lied.

Terry swallowed, staring at him uncertainly.

"Nothing came of it." Jordan considered the man, hoping Quatre was close enough to read him. "Do you want Jon dead?"

"No!" Terry half rose in his seat as he half-shouted the word. "I could never want him dead!"

Jordan considered him a moment, then rose from the chair he'd sat in uninvited. "Thanks for your time."

"Maxwell," the guy protested, still on his feet. "What's going on?"

"Your life is in danger," Jordan shrugged nonchalantly. "Breer's life is in danger."

"He's not...not dead?"

"No."

Terry fell silent a moment, then lowered himself into his seat again. "Thank you."

Jordan turned to meet his eyes very briefly, then turned and left the room.

Nothing would be decided until Quatre gave his opinion.

X x X x X

The summer seemed interminably long. The July heat broke into the August bake as the pilots scampered around the base, occasionally putting on shows of baser-stupidity for Matthew Corringer or one of his cronies.

It was hard to function normally when they all knew how easy it would be to just throw Corringer in a cell and beat the shit out of him until he submitted. Unfortunately, there were conventions against such things, and a person couldn't be taken out of their country of origin without their permission.

It was a very hot mid-August day when Jordan showed up in the early hours to the main base building and sat on the bench he and the others had taken to meeting at. The others were still home, probably sleeping, but Jordan wasn't able to rest.

"You're up early," Corringer noted, moving down the breezeway toward him. "Escaping the heat, Sir?"

Jordan turned to focus on the man a long moment, "I'm meeting with my second."

"Your second?" Corringer asked, blinking. "That cute little boy who runs around after you?"

"Xane is not a cute little boy," Jordan retorted, raising an eyebrow at the man.

"He's not very worldly, though," Corringer protested, moving forward some. "He seems really naïve to me."

Jordan's eyes narrowed as he noted the man had been paying attention.

"Just an observation," Corringer reassured him quickly, raising his hands in the air as if surrendering. "I don't mean anything."

The pilot rubbed slightly at his nose, then looked to the right as Xane's little piece of shit car slid into the parking lot.

"That thing looks about to fall apart," Corringer noted.

Jordan gave him a look and rose to his feet. He moved to the end of the parking space Xane was taking, and was greeted with a smile...that fell as he focused beside Jordan. The former pilot focused on Corringer, raising an eyebrow, "Can I help you in some way?" he demanded of the man. "Or are you just trying to provoke me?"

"Sorry!" Corringer protested, raising his arms again as he backed off. "I'm going, I'm going." He turned and started for the building with a pointed sort of strut.

"What's he doing out here?" Xane demanded somewhat uncertainly as he climbed from the car.

"I don't know, he just started talking to me," Jordan rolled his eyes. "What did you need?"

"My mom and little sister are dying for me to come home for a week long visit," Xane explained, moving to the end of his vehicle. "I don't have the leave-time saved up, but I know I'm under you and you can approve it."

"What's in it for me?" Jordan retorted in amusement.

"Anything?" Xane smirked at him, then laughed a bit. "How about we go with the eternal gratitude thing that usually gets your cooperation?"

Jordan laughed at that.

"If you do this for me, when you put me through those damn ceremonies you were mentioning, my mother will be all sorts of ecstatic to meet you and tell you exactly how much I've talked about you."

Jordan laughed again, "You talk about me?"

Xane gave him a look, moving up to the bench. "What do you say? A week of leave time?"

"I'll check the schedules," Jordan reassured him. "I don't think there's anything going on that I can't put off. So you mean, like, take off this Friday?"

"That would be perfect," Xane offered him the smile again. A motion caught his attention, and he looked down the breezeway to focus on Corringer. The man was standing at the door.

Jordan followed his gaze, and they both watched as the man languidly pulled the doors open, and disappeared inside.

A shiver crept down Xane's spine, and he turned his attention back to his superior. He wasn't sure if it was just him, or if the man's aire had really been self-satisfied...all he knew is that casual strut through the door had seemed threatening.

"He's such a fuckin' freak," Jordan muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Has Raul got back yet?"

Raul had gone into the city to see how close he could get to Crater, since Judas and Danielle had both been spotted by the man. Raul had been armed with the empath training before heading out on his first personal mission.

"I'm expecting him any time now, that was why I suggested you come in so early."

Xane nodded, moving to sit closer to his superior when the man sat on the bench. He leaned forward, staring at the cement as Heero's commentaries on atrocities came to his mind.

"What's the matter?" Jor muttered, rubbing his back slightly.

"Tired, I guess," Xane lied, hoping the man would let it lie. For the month, month and a half since Heero had first informed Xane he was a target, there had never been a situation where the information seemed prominent. To suddenly be met with the man standing directly next to Jordan had been unnerving in it's own rights.

"Go back to bed," Jordan muttered, pushing slightly at his back. "I don't need you here until ten or so."

Xane offered him another slight smile and rose to his feet before kicking at the man's foot. "Thanks...I'm glad I got dropped in your lap."

Jordan winked, watching him move to his car as he sat back again to wait more.

X x X x X

"He called him Xane," Corringer noted to Eastland as they sat in the little officer's box. "He came to beg time off."

"Maxwell would be his superior," Duty returned, studying the guy. "Why do you ask after him?"

"I've just seen him tailing Maxwell around and wanted to know what you knew about it...I mean, I've seen the guy with guys and chicks around the base...so is Jordan cheating on his girl?"

Eastland found that an odd observation. "No...Featihl is his second...for whatever his swat team does. You seem awfully interested in the runt."

Matthew shrugged slightly, "I saw Maxwell this morning and he was waiting for the guy."

"You talked to him? And he didn't rip you a new asshole?"

"I was being polite, come on..."

Eastland laughed, "I imagine you got one of those 'what the crap' looks from him, didn't you?"

"Shit, for a minute I was sweatin' like a two dollar whore in Sunday church."

Eastland laughed again, harder.

"Featihl, huh? You know anything about him?"

"He's bisexual," Duty shrugged. "Got himself about three boyfriends and three girlfriends at any given time...Maxwell's second. I dunno...just about as average player as you can get."

Corringer grinned at that.

"You interested? I'm sure he'd take you to bed for the night...but I somehow don't think you'd hold his attention long."

"Shit, I'm quite fine, thank you." Corringer rolled his eyes, then sighed. "I'm expected. I have to go."

"All right," Eastland agreed. "All's well that ends well, huh?"

The comment seemed amazingly suiting to Corringer, and he turned a true smile onto the man, "Amen to that."

Eastland laughed and raised his hand like he was toasting with a bottle, "Cheers!"

X x X x X

"He was asking about him on Wednesday? And you're jus telling me now? Shit, Duty...these things are supposed to be prompt."

"Sorry," Eastland muttered. "I didn't realize it was an issue."

"So what was he asking?" Heero demanded in a half-whisper, looking down the breezeway to where Jordan had his crew around him and they were in the middle of making gaudy jokes to Daneille's embarrassment. Wufei was sitting on the low half-wall and watching with amusement as Quatre rolled his eyes, looking away. Jordan was obviously enjoying putting the little princess through the torment, and Trowa was tapping his lip with one finger.

"Nothing too specific, seemed more like a date work-up," Eastland sounded like he'd shrugged. "It wasn't anything too...I dunno..."

"His name, though, huh?"

"Yeah...was I not supposed to tell him that?"

"Probably wasn't the best idea, but hey...it's done now. Featihl is leaving tonight for his parent's place. Do me a super huge favor and stop anyone who tries to follow him."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Eastland sounded a bit put-out. "I have to have reasons for these things, Yuy."

"Make something up," Heero snapped. "I'll join you in the booth when Xane's about to take off and bring some Amber, all right? I'll help you stop anyone and you can just claim that you got the list of people who can't leave wrong, all right? Big accident."

"But why?" Eastland demanded irritably.

Heero moved further away from the group as Wufei burst out laughing and moved forward to save poor Danielle from her abuse. "Because I heard someone saying they wanted to perform some atrocities on him."

That met silence.

"They specifically said atrocity, and that leaves me in doubt to him making it through it fine."

"Can't you arrest them?"

"It'd be my word against theirs and that's just messy. Jordan can't even pull that one off anymore...come on, Eastland. I brought Xane down there with me before, you know what I mean...he might be perfect for what Jor's doing, but..."

"I'll kill anyone who tries to follow him," Eastland reassured him quietly. "No one has the right to make that kind of threat against anyone."

"Thank you," Heero sighed in mild relief. "I think I'll put one of my men to tailing him just in case, though. There are other cells out in the city."

"I'll let that happen, Sir," Eastland agreed. "Is this all Corringer's doing?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss that information."

"He disappeared for a while when Baits disappeared, you realize that don't you? And he kept taking off when Beedus was out there...and before the attack on Marquise. He was all shocked and upset when I told him Marquise wasn't dead...and the next day Piet turned up dead."

Heero swallowed, though he and his comrades had independently verified Corringer's leave time in comparison to the various attacks on the various leaders.

"Why aren't you arresting him?" Eastland asked in a half hiss. "Why is he free to do this?"

"Because we're trying to track down all of his cohorts. It's all well and good to practice cutting off the snake's head, but that doesn't mean it's not a hydra."

"I see," Eastland went silent a moment. "If anything happens to that poor boy, I will hold you personally responsible."

Heero found that there was nothing he could say to that, and he closed his phone.

"You're just as bad as they are!" Danielle was protesting cutely to Wufei. "Even worse!"

Wufei started laughing.

X x X x X

"Hey, Yuy!" Eastland greeted the man happily as he walked up to the booth. "We've got us a party!" he laughed, though there was a wry twist to the sound.

Heero moved up to the door with his case of Amber and met eyes with Corringer. He smiled at the man's consternation. "We should both have one of these so Duty has to call to get us removed," he noted in amusement, moving to set the case on the table.

"You know more about Featihl than me, Sir," Eastland noted with that same hard edge to his voice. "Corringer seems real interested-like in him."

"He's taken...several times over," Heero noted, studying the guy in amusement. "I hadn't realized you were the type." He twisted his drink open to smirk at the man. "But then what does anyone know about anyone else, huh?"

Corringer laughed, then looked to the case and frowned. "You can afford this shit?"

"I have an officer's salary," Heero reminded him. "Plus several years worth of savings. I'm not hurtin' for anything."

"All you rich assholes can kiss my ass," Corringer noted.

Heero laughed delightedly at that as a car moved up to the blockade.

"Yuy!" Xane hopped out of his car and bounced toward them before noting Corringer and hesitating.

"Xane!" Heero returned, moving out to sweep the guy into a hug. "We're watching him," he whispered.

"Isn't it a little early for that?" Xane demanded, indicating the drink.

"My god, it is," Heero stared at the offending bottle a moment before downing it in one pull. "There. All gone now."

Xane laughed at that, "Don't let Jor get killed while I'm gone. I'll be put out with you if he's not here to clear my leave when I get back."

Heero laughed, smacking the guy in the ass as he started back for the guard-shack and Eastland let the boy out. He smirked at Corringer, "I like the boy...one of the ones I'm serious about."

"I didn't think you were the type, sir," Corringer noted.

The former pilot smirked, studying the guy, "You wouldn't believe what I've done and what I'm willing to do."

The half implied threat of the comment was not lost on the man.

"I'm getting out of here," Corringer noted to Eastland, rising to his feet.

"Ah, but the fun's just starting," Heero muttered, following the man to the door and leaning against the jamb. "You back into my car, fucker, and it'll just give me another reason to kill you."

"Fuck you...Sir," Corringer slid into his own vehicle and backed out with a squeal of tires.

Heero toasted after him as he gunned his piece of shit's engine and darted back into the base area.

The car of Heero's second, Mario, slid around the corner. He waved slightly at Heero as Eastland studied the man, rolling down the window.

"He turned left, he'll be hitting the speed zone soon," Heero noted. "Keep him in sight and stay on him while he's there."

"Sir," Mario muttered as Eastland hesitantly hit the button.

"Kill for him, Mario," Heero called. "He's the same to Jordan you are to me."

"The blood's not on my hands," Mario noted, starting to slide from the gate, then gunned his own engine.

"I don't understand," Eastland muttered as the gate clicked shut again. "Why are you sending your second after him? Isn't he worth about as much?"

"For all that they both could probably get out on their own, Xane is considerably less worldly. He'd be able to pull of some self-defense, but I don't know what his stance on killing is. Mario was given a mission, and he'd die for that. He knows I need him more, too...he's a lot like me. There's a time to live and a time to die."

"And your god will let you know such times?"

"My sun," Heero noted, an image of an angel with black wings entering his mind. The angel was holding a scythe that looked remarkably like the one Deathscythe Hell had carried...but the face was obscured...loose black robes...

Sometimes he wondered where he came up with the shit.

A car pulled up to the gate, looking rushed. The man waved slightly to Eastland, and Duty frowned, thinking. He turned and pulled up a list of names, then printed them out.

"What's wrong?" the guy demanded, looking irritable.

"I could have sworn your name was on the list," Duty shrugged a bit. "Just a second."

"My superior told me to go," the man snapped. "Take it up with him."

"Which one?" Heero asked sweetly. "Just take a deep breath. Blame it on Eastland if they try to get on you about it."

"I have to go," the man snapped.

Heero straightened, raising an eyebrow as he shifted so his name and rank tag was more obvious.

The man sighed, looking away.

"No, I think you forgot something," Heero noted, moving from the building.

"I'm sorry, Sir," the guy muttered.

"You'd do well to remember your place, Soldier," Heero noted. "The dance of your superiors plays out where you can't see it, and some little mess-up like a possible name on a list..."

"You're on the list, Reagit," Eastland muttered, moving to the door and looking at a sheet of paper. "I can't let you leave."

"I told you..."

"Where's your note? Why haven't I been called?"

The guy stared at him.

"I can't let you out without someone's permission," Eastland pressed. "So back up and get out of my lanes or I'll call security."

The man started cursing and backed up, turning back toward base and squealing his tires as he disappeared.

"Let's hope that was all," Heero muttered, crossing his arms as he moved back toward Eastland.

"Get out of uniform before you drink more, Yuy," Eastland retorted, setting the sheet of paper down on the windowsill. "It's one thing for Xane to see you, but Corringer could raise hell."

X x X x X

"Yeah, the drive was fine," Xane reassured Jordan. "I just wanted to call and let you lot know I got here safely."

"So why did you call Heero's cell?" Jordan asked curiously. "Is mine off?" he pulled his out and opened it experimentally.

It was fine...

That was the question Xane was hoping Jor wouldn't ask. "I figured I'd call you at your house when you were off duty so we could use a vid," he adlibbed, remembering to keep the lie simple. "This is running up my bill and we talk."

"Ah," Jordan accepted that. "All right, I'll let you go."

"Um...why do you have Yuy's cell?" Xane asked.

"We told you we filch it off him from time to time, right?" Jordan grinned a bit. "When there's nothing pressing going on we just steal it and fuck with his friends."

"Ah," Xane nodded a bit. "All right. I'll let you go for now, but I'll call your vid this evening?"

"All right, later," Jordan waited for the line to go dead before clearing the timer. He folded the thing and put it back in his pocket.

"Where the hell is Quatre?" Heero demanded, moving up to Jordan. "Tro took my damn phone again and said he'd palmed it to Quatre."

Jordan gestured and Heero made an irritated noise, starting away.

"Oh, hey," Jordan added after a moment. "Mouthy called, said he made it fine."

"That's good," Heero muttered, hesitating and wishing he had his phone. He nodded once more at Jordan and moved inside the building.

The phone started ringing again and Jordan raised it to read the caller I.D.. He considered the unfamiliar name a moment and opened the phone.

"Don't say anything," an unfamiliar male voice muttered quickly. "You'd better be at Sins tonight. I haven't seen you in a fucking month. That's bullshit, Chance. Not fair. Be there."

The line went dead and Jordan considered the phone a moment before looking after Heero...and grinned again.

He needed to talk to Chai.

X x X x X

E/N: I'm trying to keep more to the point (I have an unfortunate tendecny to stray when something amuses me, this set of chapters here is a case in point). but yeah...bare with me, please. Sorry about the triple set today, I completley missed updating last night like I was going to so instead of just two...yeah. rarr.