Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ It's All Been Done ❯ New York ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N
-In the next few chapters, I mean no disrespect to New Yorkers! New York people are cool. (And it's not like I'm insulting their accent, 'cause I'm from "New Joisey," and my own is pretty close...)

Warnings:
Being written by one very lazy authoress, AU, cliffhangers, name changes, Fate, past lives, anachronisms, cursing, angst, shounen-ai/het and a major death fic. You know, the usual.


Chapter 6: New York

"You go your way, I'll go mine...

It's all been done...
It's all been done before..."

This week was... different. The curse remained, and to my good fortune, I remembered this crucial fact on Saturday. Everything changed. Sure, Monday through Friday were the same as always (terrible as usual) but Saturday, my life went from dull and annoying to hectic and, well, annoying.

It didn't matter though. This was my chance. I had to focus, I had to stay on track. This was the only chance I'd be getting, I knew it, and I had to make it count. Carpes Diem. Seize the day. It was now or never. ...and it sure as hell wasn't going to be never.

After going through the plan in my mind at least three times, I was ready to start the morning. I was on a strict schedule and everything had to be timed perfectly. If I were late to anything, I could lose everything. It was as simple as that. I could only hope that everything would be the same as it was back in the West.

Yet, there was the problem. Back in the West the town was small; getting from one place to another took all of two minutes. Here in the Big Apple, though, things weren't nearly so close together. That royally screwed with my schedule. I'd be cutting things close, too close for comfort, and there was no room for guessing; I had to KNOW where to go, who to find, and where to find who.

Damn it. This would be harder than I thought.

Come hell or high water, though, I was prepared. My plan was set today and I'd be set for tomorrow. If everything went right, I'd beat Fate Herself. ...but how often does stuff ever go right for me?

Immediately clearing the thought, I stood and stretched, my ragged black-turned-gray tee-shirt riding up, exposing part of my stomach to the harsh morning air. Pulling my shirt back down, I yawned and started focusing my mind. Okay. Now what? I decided to stop my future death (hard decision, I know). I had to find someone and make sure I changed something... but who? The root of all evil: Hilda, the gypsy girl. Somehow I knew that she'd be in prison right now, and Zeches would be there too - and he was the first person I needed to talk with. The real problem, though, would be that they'd both have different names this time and asking for someone who doesn't exist doesn't go over well with the feds. It didn't matter. I'd think of something on the way there.... So I started my way to the City Police Station. I hated going there (for obvious reasons) but I didn't have a choice.

What I did have a choice about, though, was how I got there. No way I'd walk: it'd take forever. I could catch a cab, but I couldn't pay the driver. There was only one other option. It was a stupid thing to do considering my destination, but I'm not one to pass up a good opportunity because of a little risk... or a lot of risk.

So I hot-wired a car. Simple enough. Wasn't anything nice, just some clunky thing that nobody'd really miss. But the engine ran - and in my mind, that's all that mattered.

When I arrived at the station, I parked in the back and decided that I wouldn't be coming back for "my" car later; in the mean time, someone might be reporting it stolen. If I needed to, I could always stea--, uh, borrow another one later. With confident steps (even though my brain was screaming at me to run), I pushed open the glass doors and strolled to the main desk. There I met with a thin woman in a blue uniform who was slouched over a couple of files. I cleared my throat and the woman looked down on me with a drawled out, "Whaddya want?"

A New Yorker after my own heart. As she looked up, I realized who it was: Une. Shaking off my hatred for her, I inquired gently, "I'm lookin' for my mom and sister. They called and told me they were here, but didn't say why."

"Their names?" I blinked momentarily. This wasn't good.. come on, think fast, Dust.

"Huh?" ...oh yeah. Real good one, Idiot. At least it bought me a whole second more thinking time and made the woman just a little more upset with me. Great. 'Cause a pissed off Une is just what I need in my delicate plan.

Une looked annoyed at having to repeat herself. "Ya mom and sister's names."

"Uh, well, I'd tell ya, but they... they pro'lly used different ones when ya brought 'em in here. My family's weird about identity and stuff since we're from a different country and had ta change 'r names when we came 'ere." I paused and added dramatically, "It was traumatic, really." I smiled genuinely. The woman rolled her brown eyes. "But I, uh, I can describe 'em to ya. My sis is about my age, real black hair, tan skin, blue eyes, ready to bite ya head off. My mom's got the same hair cut and skin only with purple eyes like mine. They're pro'lly wearing some weird costumes, too, knowin' 'em."

The woman flipped through some papers on his desk, looked around for some sort of escape, then sighed in frustration. "Fine, folla' me."

I sighed in relief and smiled. "Thanks." Une strode off through a few hallways and to a group of cells, me hot on her trail. There she made a gesture with her hand. Taking the hint, I walked by each of the cells looking for "my family." When I found Hilda and her mother, I gasped and fell forward, grasping the bars dramatically. "Mom, Sis! I've been so worried about yous guys! When ya called ya didn't tell me what had happened an' Dad wasn't home so I came by myself and I was worried sick!" Seeing the twin blank looks, I cast a knowing glare at Hilda.

The girl looked to the side with a contemplative expression, then turned back to me with joy-filled eyes and exclaimed, "Dustyn!" She then pulled herself to her feet and ran forward, hugging me through the bars. "I'm so glad you came, brother! I was so scared! Are you going to get us out of here?" Luckily, Une didn't give a second thought that my "sister" didn't have the same accent I did. Okay, maybe I -do- get lucky sometimes...

"Uh..." as the girl released me, I turned back to the cop who had led me in, "What're they in fuh'?"

Une simply leered in my direction for a minute, then shook her head. She shrugged impassively. "I'd have ta pull up their files and I ain't got the time for it, kid."

I narrowed my eyes. Didn't have the time... I bet. What an ass. "So when're they gettin' let out?"

The woman came towards me, "When somebody pays bail. Now come on, I don't got all day." With that, she grabbed my arm and started pulling me out.

I wrenched my arm out of her grasp and glared up at the woman. I spat venomously with the utmost seriousness, "Don't touch me." then stomped off in the direction we had come, the cop following me, for once.

Une sat back at her desk with a thump and glared down at me. "If you don't got the money, then get out. You're wastin' space."

I growled under my breath and turned. As I was about to walk out, I stopped myself just in time to watch a tall blond man in a gray trench coat come through the door. Looking around suspiciously, I walked over to Zeches and blocked his way. The man glanced down at me, then excused himself and tried to pass. I wouldn't allow it. Finally, he stopped attempting to pass and asked, "Can I help you?"

I smiled, but it faded quickly. "Yes. You can. I need ta talk with ya."

The man raised a light colored eyebrow, then asked, "About what?"

I whispered hurriedly, "About a certain two prisoners currently in the back cells."

He paused and looked curious for a second, then tried to walk past once more. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I stopped him again and whispered hurriedly, "Yes, ya do. And they're gonna get killed if ya don't listen to me."

The man looked shocked for a minute then angrily replied, "Outside. Now." And proceeded to drag me as inconspicuously as possible out the door and around to the back of the building where he pushed me roughly against the wall. "You stay away from them or they will be the -least- of your problems."

I tried to back up, but only managed pushing my head against the brick wall. "Woah, woah, slow down! I, I don't wanna hurt 'em! I wasn't threatenin' 'em! Hell, I wanna help ya -save- 'em! Hmph, some thanks I get for it, too. Is this the way ya treat all ya future allies?"

"Allies?" The man looked a bit confused, but still suspicious enough to keep me against the wall, his fist pressed roughly against my collar bone.

"Yes, allies! If... uh, ya let me down, that is."

The man growled lightly then placed me back on my feet. After ceremoniously dusting off my bedraggled t-shirt and black jeans I looked back up at him. "Look, I wanna help ya. I know ya were gonna help those two escape tonight but believe me, it wasn't gonna work. Yous all were gonna get caught and then killed on Monday." The man looked suspicious but I continued, "But, if ya give me the means and put the job in my hands, I'll do it for ya. And I won't get caught, either."

The man stood silently for a minute before asking hesitantly, "How do you know all this?"

I smirked, "Ask Hilda."

He raised a blonde eyebrow in question. "Who?"

Sighing, I replied sharply, "The girl - the daughta' of the woman you're in love with, whateva' 'er name is."

Zeches blinked a few times. Ignoring my looks, he muttered to himself, "You know I'm in love with Lu?"

I nodded casually, "Yeah, of course, why else would ya risk ya future job ta bust 'er and 'er daughta' out?"

The man frowned deeply. "I didn't tell anyone that." The man glared at me in suspicion, "I didn't even tell -them- that."

"I know." My gaze matched his in intensity. "Ya just have ta trust me."

Zeches stood silently for a minute before looking back to me in defeat. "Why are you doing this?"

I grew grim, "Because lives depend on it." My life, to be precise.

He looked away for a minute, then hardening his expression, Zeches asked, "So what do you want me to do?"

We discussed the plan for that night thoroughly, then stoically went our separate ways. Zeches headed back into the Station.

And I was stuck again.

I knew the plan, I knew Zeches knew the plan (or his part in it), and that's all that really mattered. The rest would depend on everyone else involved acting the way I predicted they would, and being where and when I knew they would be.

Just then, another piece of my plan waltzed through the back alley: in the form of the Dorthy. She was dressed in a rather... revealing red outfit that looked like ten cows were killed to make it. Colorblind cows. She was carrying an arm load of things all piled in boxes and bags taller than the girl herself. I was surprised that she could even move in all of that tight leather, never mind how she managed not to fall over. It was pretty amusing to watch her wabble from side to side trying to avoid garbage cans and stray cats, actually. Then she wandered a little too close to the street... Cars whizzed by, honking their horns as the blonde began striding out into the open road, without the right of way. Gathering my senses I ran out to help the girl before she got run over. I sprinted over and grabbed some of her bags, muttering about idiocy, cars, traffic signals and "women and shopping." After giving me a few dirty looks (yes, I'm dashingly handsome, especially in my unwashed clothes and ragged hair, I know), she dumped all of her stuff onto the sidewalk and proceeded to scream at me. "How dare you touch me, mongrel! Go steal something worth stealing, I spent hours picking out these clothes for my sister and I and I'll not have your filthy hands on them or me!"

"Hey! Look, Lady, I don't want ta touch ya goods." I eyed her up and down. "ANY of 'em." She scoffed, and I continued, "Excuse me for savin' ya life! You shouldn' just wander off aimlessly inta traffic and expect ta make it ta the other side! Why don't ya look where ya goin'!"

Dorthy stuttered for a moment, then looked down angrily. "Thanks." She muttered.

I smiled victoriously. "Ya welcome." Then I sighed and bent down, gathering up her many packages. "C'mon, I'll help you with these."

"I can manage, thank you!" She began grabbing packages from my hands and stacking them back up. The girl stood once more, boxes piled to the sky, and began tottering off.

I rolled my eyes. Nice girl. Really. Watching her struggle to glance around the boxes and keep from tripping, I felt a bit of street instinct kick in. As fiery as she was, she'd still be a REALLY easy target - for mugging, pick-pocketing, or whatever else some sick individual decided. Dressed like that, she was just screaming, "attack me!" I sighed heavily. Why am I so nice sometimes? And I followed the girl, watching her back for her, and making sure all of the traffic was with her. This had -so- better be worth it, because if I'm THIS nice and still die... man, then Life's a bitch.

I followed her to a rather nice looking building with at least twenty or so stories and hundreds of rooms. She walked in, oblivious to me, and shut the door behind her (which politely slammed in my face with the force). Having nothing better to do, I hung around outside. I didn't have to talk with Reena or Quatre, their part in my plan didn't involve my interference. Heck, my interfering could HURT the plan. But I had nothing to do until later tonight... so I sat on the stoop and thought. Of course my thoughts were optimistically depressing (figure THAT one out), so I won't go into detail.

Anyway, after a few minutes of sitting there, I saw an odd-looking trailer pull into the back parking lot. I sat on the stoop, watching but looking inconspicuous (being a thief as an occupation, you pick up a few neat tricks like that). So a group of pretty normal looking people rounded the side of the building and stepped up to the stoop without even really noticing me. A thin brunet woman read the sign on the building and nodded to the people behind her, then she entered, followed by the rest of the troupe. As they all gradually filtered into the building, one tall boy a little older than I was paused, looking down at me with little expression. I raised an eyebrow and just stared back for a minute, silently asking what he thought he was looking at, putting as much sarcasm as you can in a single eyebrow. The green-eyed boy shrugged, then walked into the building after his family. Where he had paused, though, were a few scattered coins. Ah yes, one of the entertainers. Hey, I didn't ask for his charity... or a magic show... but I happily accepted both, sweeping up the coins and tossing them into my pocket.

As predicted, they were only in there for a few minutes, before the brunette woman came storming out, blue fire in her eyes, followed by the group, looking dejected. I quickly dodged out of the woman's warpath and watched her storm back to the trailer. A few minutes after that, the tall brunette boy opened the door, walked out, glanced over his shoulder back into the building, then shut the door. Before he could walk away though, I stopped him. "Hey, thanks, man, but I don't want ya money."

His green eyes just stared at me for a minute with almost a vacant expression, before he shrugged and began walking away. "Don't worry about it."

I called out after him, "Hey! What's ya name, anyway?"

He turned slowly and answered. "If you must call me something, call me Triton." Once more, he walked away at a steady pace. From the back parking lot I vaguely heard the woman calling for his name, and Triton calling something back. A few seconds after that, Quatre opened the door slowly, his bright blue eyes peering from behind the slit in the wood. His eyes looked hopeful, but when they fell on me, that meager hope vanished. Oh, I was hurt. I laughed, "Sorry to disappoint ya, kid, Triton left."

Quatre opened the door fully, looking at me with awe. "That was his name? Triton?"

I laughed again, "Ya mean ya didn't even ask the guy's name?"

Frowning, he answered softly, "I, I didn't think of it, I guess." He turned to go back in the building, then catching himself, the blonde finished, "Thank you, um...?"

"Dustyn." I answered nodding.

He smiled politely. "I'm Calvin Pececref." With that, he walked lightly inside and shut the door behind him.

...Weirder and weirder.


Seeing how there wasn't much I could do about anything at the moment and how I had a lot planned for later that night, I decided to leave and find some place to sleep for a few hours. It was getting dark and I could almost smell the night air already. I wandered around the city, trying to find any place I could sleep that was both dark and safe - a combination that's hard to find in any major city. Eventually, I decided on the alley behind the police station. Not only was it both relatively safe and dark, but also close to the heart of my plan - Hilda and her "family." I piled up a few cardboard boxes and old stacks of paper to settle in, then sat down. I scanned the area one last time for possible danger, and seeing nothing, I plopped down onto my makeshift bed.

I was laying there for a few minutes when I heard a soft whooshing sound. I cracked one of my eyes open slowly, and found myself staring up into the face of a little red-haired girl. Yelping softly, I sat up, causing the girl to fall backwards onto her backside. I shouted down in annoyance, "Whadda YOU doin' 'ere?!"

I should've smacked her, I should've kicked her, I should've turned her into the police as a missing child. But instead, I talked to her. How stupid can a guy get?!

She didn't speak at first, only stared up at me with those huge eerily empty eyes.

"Well? Whadda ya want from me?"

"I want nothing, Dustyn."

I laughed bitterly. "Yeah, me neither, so why don't you just go away?"

She sat in silence, the only noise being the soft rustle of her heavy breaths filtering through her unkempt bangs.

After a while, I noticed just how terrible her breathing sounded. "Hey, y'all right? Ya don't sound so good."

The child looked straight through me, "Worry about yourself, Dustyn. Remember this, and heed it: the queen can not be so easily hurt by a lone pawn, no matter how much knowledge his player has. The queen may grow weary of the game; she may grow tired of chasing the last remaining piece about the board, but she will not be defeated in one move, especially if that same move has failed before." Then her red hair flashed as the back of her head faced me again, and the girl walked off.

I thought about her story for a minute before asking softly, "Failed before? You mean... ...but who?" She turned to face me once more, twin lifeless blue pools for eyes staring into me, almost annoyed.

"You are not the first to play this game, and you will not be the last. Do not think so highly of yourself, Child; the world does not revolve around your death alone." The girl paused simply staring silently for a minute before continuing. Her face relaxed into an expressionless mask that was nearly as dead as her eyes. "That egotism handicaps your abilities, as it has handicapped those before you." The child turned slowly, then tossed her head over one slender shoulder and finished, " ...if you do not believe me, then ask she that moves you about the board." And with that, she walked away from me, her slight form blending and becoming one with the darkness.

She was gone before I could ask any more, so I muttered it to myself after she left. "...she who moves me about the board? I thought that was you, Marie. But if I am a pawn, and you are my opponent, not she who moves me, then who holds the pieces?" It gave me the shivers just thinking about it.

A long yawn wrenched itself from my mouth and I realized just how tired I was - and how little time was left before my Grand Plan was put into motion. I had to sleep; there was a huge day ahead of me. I lay down once more, my eyes closing with heavy lids. I slept restlessly, constantly waking to check my (stolen) watch what time it was, then drift back off into a world of nightmares and nonsensical mysteries.

It's scary how much a dream world is akin to my real one.

And some time later that night, after the moon was high and the world was asleep, before the dawn but after Midnight, a ball of calamities, miracles, horrors, and tears was set into motion; I awoke to the sweet air of night, and as my watched ticked off the seconds, the day of my predestined death officially began.