Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Maxwells ❯ Chapter 3

Damn finals…sorry this update took so long…

 

 

 

 

 

Taking a deep breath with his eyes still closed, Duo groaned and rolled over, his internal clock forcing him awake. Slowly, large amethyst jewels opened, they were sharp when they landed on the still sleeping form of his husband beside him. The other man slept on his stomach with his face away from Duo, and the braided man was almost tempted to reach out and pet the unruly bed hair.

 

The Japanese man's cutting comments at the Bloom's house party last night, however, quickly squelched the tender thoughts. Narrowing his eyes and shaking his fists childishly at his oblivious husband, Duo sat up and stood off the bed gracefully.

 

Rushing his shower, he shaved and braided his hair before getting dressed and running out of his bathroom. Dragging a roller suitcase behind him, he quietly walked out the back door and into their backyard, a large black guitar case over his shoulder. Undoing the lock to the wooden door, he walked into the unassuming shed, whistling to himself as he did. Stooping down to the floor, he knowingly pushed aside a heavy tarp to unlock a metal latch in the floor.

 

Continuing to whistle, he pulled up the previously hidden door to reveal a bottom level to the shed. Stepping down, he flipped on a switch causing linoleum lights to flood the room and display wall to wall furnishings of various guns, explosives, and rocket launchers. Quickly grabbing a few bombs and stacks of hidden cash, he stepped back up into the shed and shoved them into the guitar case.

 

Re-locking everything once he stepped out of the shed, he hurried to his car and took off for work.

 

Hearing the car in the driveway, Heero's blue eyes shot open instantly, his face still buried in a pillow. It took him less than a second to notice the absence of his husband in the bed before he bolted up right to hop into the shower.

 

Slipping on a robe, after he finished in the bathroom, he casually made his way into the kitchen. Work wasn't for a while, so he had some time to read the paper. Putting in the filter for his coffee, he picked up a section of the paper and walked across the kitchen over to the oven. Pulling down the front he kept his eyes on the paper in his hands as three metal drawers spilled out and opened to reveal and array of knives and small handguns. Taking a gun and a pocketknife in his hand he turned away from the stove, his eyes still moving across the paper before he quickly kicked up a leg to close the oven door.

 

 

 

 

 

Glancing up at the large billboard that read `Maxwell Contracting' Duo pulled into the parking lot of his slowly growing `business'. The building was small, and it's walls were beginning to yellow. He smirked at the old building, his firm had set this up as a cover for him and the other business's around were none the wiser. Carrying his two black cases with him, he walked into the office, an elderly woman seated at the secretary's desk and her equally senior husband organizing files in the corner.

 

“Morning Mrs. Nolan,” he said, nodding to her husband as well, “Morning Lou.” The old couple smiled at him, Mr. Nolan nodded, bidding Duo a `good morning' while Mrs. Nolan held up a tissue and fussed over her braided boss.

 

“Spit out that gum,” she cracked, her old hands shaking beneath the tissue she offered.

 

Duo smiled gently at her and bent to spit out his gum obediently. “Is Fei here yet?” he asked, already making his way to his office.

 

The black haired man poked his head out of a doorway when he heard his name, “Maxwell, there's a new target.”

 

Duo ignored the other's words, turning to open his door, “Morning Fei.”

 

Knowing his friend had heard him, Wufei decided change the topic, “I'm having a barbecue this weekend. Work crew only.” His offer hung in the air as he leaned against the doorframe to his office, watching while the other man fumbled with his keys.

 

Duo couldn't stop the smirk that he hid by keeping his back to other man. The implications of his invite were obvious; don't bring Heero. Even after five or six years the Chinese man found it hard to trust the other Asian. “I'll ask Heero and get back to you,” he said, finally getting his door to open.

 

Sneering when his violet-eyed friend disappeared into his office, he scoffed, “Would you like to use my cell phone, Maxwell? Maybe you should ask for permission to stay out past your bedtime.” His voice was raised slightly from annoyance and also so the other could hear him through his now closed door.

 

“You live with your mother!” came the muffled accusation.

 

Gritting his teeth, Wufei objected, “Why would you bring her into this? She's an honorable woman!” his objection turned into a rant and Duo sighed as he turned in his leather chair. “…She cooks, she cleans, she washes…I'm the dumb guy?”

 

Shaking his head at the other man, Duo grabbed a remote, pointing it to a wooden stand beside his desk. Pressing a single button, he waited while the top of the wood slid back to allow a three-paneled computer rise out of it. Scooting his chair, closer to the desk, he leaned forward, “Duo Maxwell,” he intoned, the screen creating a wave that quivered with his voice.

 

Suddenly all three screens lit up and a `ding' could be heard as the program started. “Hello, Duo.” A computerized woman's voice greeted as many different windows began to pop up.

 

“Morning, Atlanta.” Duo said, “What you got for me today?”

 

The computer buzzed before a face lit up one side of the center screen. “We have a priority one, Duo. Mariemaia Khushrenada. A.K.A. the missile. She's a direct threat to the firm. The target will be handed off eight miles north of the Mexican border. I need you to make sure the target does not change hands.”

 

The girl on the screen had chin-length reddish orange hair and large sky blue eyes, she looked to be about nineteen; young but definitely not dangerous. Duo nodded to himself, pressing his finger to the screen for details, “The missile?”

 

 

 

 

 

Heero walked confidently into the Wall Street office building, melding his way in between the various businessmen. Making his way up the elevator, he stepped onto his floor and into a secured door. He was instantly covered in blue lighting, the lasers scanning his body before he was allowed into the office. He stopped when a screen in the tiny corridor lit up, confirming his granted access.

 

The screen soon gave way to a fuzzy figure and Heero recognized his boss' voice, “You have a new mission, and you know the competition we have. So I need you to handle this one…personally.””

 

Blue eyes narrowed and Heero nodded, listening attentively, “Target?”

 

The screen quickly flashed as his boss continued to talk, revealing a young woman with wide eyes and short hair. “Mariemaia Kushrenada. I need this quick, clean, and contained.”

 

“Yes, sir,” the brunette finished as the screen went blank and the doors opened to reveal an intern patiently waiting. Dismissing her, and handing her a file, Heero made his way into the sleek office, walking down a small flight of stairs. “Ladies. Gentlemen.”

 

“Morning, Heero,” came the chorus from the scurrying figures in the modern black and steel network office.

 

At the last step stood another intern his hair short and his suit pressed. He handed Heero a large white mug of coffee and held up a manila folder for him to see. “Grant Sherwin is in border custody, and has forty-eight hours,” he mumbled.

 

Dark eyes scanned the folder briefly as the two walked before Heero dismissed the other, “Get him out by noon.”

 

Once the boy had walked away, instantly another girl was at his side, “We've received eight of the G-40's and the grenade launchers are here,” she said, looking up at him expectantly.

 

Without missing a beat, he merely continued to walk, “Order ten more.” Walking away from her and nodding to the blonde who now stood before him, he finally took a seat in his leather desk chair. “Alright, Go Quat.”

 

The blue-eyed boy smiled and turned to a television monitor, holding a remote, “The targets name is Mariemaia Khushrenada A.K.A the Missile. He is being moved south of the border to a safe house and the only point of vulnerability will be about six miles north.”

 

Heero nodded, “Get me weaponry, GPS of the canyon, stats, and requirements.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dirt roads were rocky and uneven, as three Hum-V's plowed their way through the canyon desert, sand billowing up around them. In the middle car, a slender girl sighed, her face scrunched in boredom and irritation. She was sandwiched between two bulking men in military wear, and the desert elements were beginning to wear on her.

 

“Do you think you could scoot a hair closer to me? That way your sweaty thigh could completely cover mine. That would be great, thanks.” Her smile was tight and her voice was taunting while the much larger man merely turned to stare at her with a blank expression.

 

She roller her large eyes at his response, and opted to stare ahead, seeing nothing but dirt and desert. Little did she know what lie ahead only a mile into the canyon.

 

Heero frowned, his binoculars over his eyes as he watched the three cars quickly approach. Checking his watch, he turned, walking into the small wooden station built on the side of the rocky canyon hill.

 

Slipping dark sunglasses over his eyes, he stopped to press a few buttons on a cable box before continuing to sit on the dusty floor, his tanktop hot against his skin as he began to fiddle with his laptop. The screen showed a detailed graph of a pre-set bomb trap laid out for the unsuspecting hummers.

 

The computer `bleeped' and Quatre's voice came through, “Are the perimeters secure?”

 

Nodding, Heero replied, “Affirmative. We are green and ready for the target.” Taking a swig of his water bottle, the dark blue eyes glanced down at the innocent dirt road, his trained eyes catching the small sensors he'd set up to initiate the bomb sequence. Checking his watch again, Heero leaned back and waited.

 

Stereo blasting, Duo swerved across the rocks and sand of the canyon desert in his tacky go-kart. He laughed to himself, his goggles blocking the thick sand from his eyes as he sang along loudly to the rock song. He tugged hard at the helmet on his head with a gloved hand, securing his braid in it.

 

A few miles up the road, as Heero sat, he saw a quick movement out the corner of his eye, the faint hum of a motor catching his attention. Frowning, he leaned forward, sitting up and grabbing his binoculars.

 

Gritting his teeth when he noticed the small vehicle, he stood for a better look. “Are you getting this?” he asked his computer in exasperation.

 

“Affirmative,” Quatre replied, “Is it a threat?”

 

“No,” Heero said when just as one of his censors was triggered. The clumsy driver had made a sudden swerve, his go-kart knocking the tiny machine. “Damn it,” he mumbled, scrambling over to another set of equipment.

 

“Commencing countdown,” the computer informed as Heero began to pull at a cluster of wires. Fumbling with the blue and red strings for a minute, he listened as the computer counted. Finally growing flustered, he grabbed a fistful and tugged sharply, instantly halting the countdown.

 

“Get rid of him,” he heard the blonde say as he went to glare at the man who had now jumped out of his vehicle and was currently relieving himself among the rocks, his back to Heero.

 

Sneering, the Japanese nodded, grabbing a sniper gun, loaded with harmless pellets, before taking aim. “Civilians,” he mumbled the word with distaste, watching the man finish and turn to make his way back to his go-kart.

 

From the distance, Heero couldn't see what the man had in his trunk, but he didn't wait to see, promptly shooting the man in the right shoulder blade. The shot forced his tall body forward, and the man flew forward into the sand.

 

Heero didn't wait to see the other man get up and turned when he heard his computer chirp, his eyes instantly searching out the three trucks making their way closer. The black Hummers were in the zone and the computer was once again counting down. Watching the caravan closely, Heero never noticed the `civilian' slowly moving below.

 

Grunting from his position on the ground, Duo growled, there was another target. “Shit,” he mumbled, standing slowly and rolling his shoulder. Obviously the other hadn't intended to kill him or they would have. Moving to the back of his go-kart he quickly grabbed a large rocket-launcher and slung it over his shoulder. Positioning himself, he took aim for the small hut he was sure the shot had come from.

 

Hearing his computer ring in warning, Heero glanced up when he heard Quatre's worried voice, “ We're detecting a weapon!”

 

The countdown was nearing completion, and deep blue eyes trained themselves on the figure walking towards him with a heavy launcher over his shoulder. “Not a civilian,” he nearly yelled as he quickly turned to run out of the hut, jumping when the missile hit the wooden hut. The force blew him into the ground hard, and he watched as the countdown finished, the three trucks enveloped in a series of explosions, which were meant to distract rather then cause harm.

 

Smirking in satisfaction when the hut exploded, Duo glanced down at the weapon in surprise, “Damn,” he mumbled before suddenly jumping in surprise when he heard explosions coming from behind him and throwing himself to the ground.

 

Standing once he realized he was in no apparent danger, he turned to see smoking equipment strewn across the sand. Kicking at a computer he looked up when he heard a motorbike, the hitter from before had survived and was speeding away.

 

Grabbing the computer with a sigh, Duo made his way back to his go-kart.

 

 

 

 

 

Shoving the burger into his mouth, Duo glared at the counter top , grabbing a handful of fries and turning to Wufei, "I think I got ID-ed on that hit,” he mumbled low and quickly, turning back to his food.

 

The Chinese man turned to him in his stool, glancing around the small diner they were in before looking back at his friend shovel food in his mouth.

 

“You ever been ID-ed on a hit?” came the hurried question.

 

“No. Never,” he answered, his stomach reeling slightly at the amount of food the braided man was consuming.

 

“Right, so I'm in trouble,” Duo muttered, more to himself, as he stopped eating for a moment, his eyes shifting in thought.

 

“Did you see the other hitter?” Wufei asked, leaning into his friend.

 

“Little thing,” Duo mumbled, resuming his meal. “Probably around 5'7, 5'8”.

 

“Phillipino?” the other man asked.

 

“Maybe,” Duo said slowly, his eyes still moving in thought, something about the other hitter was familiar and he needed to find out who that laptop belonged to.

 

 

 

 

 

Back in his office, Heero walked briskly to his desk, two women struggling to keep up with him as he growled out, “I want an identification for that idiot. Get me that tape!”

 

A woman with medium brown hair and a phone in her hand, hurried to be beside him, “Heero!” she called.

 

“Get me that tape.”

 

The whole office turned to look at the flustered agent when he stopped at his computer, one of the woman behind him stopping with him to gently dress his wounds. The other, calling out to him again, “Heero.”

 

Turning in annoyance, Heero snapped at the girl, “What?”

 

“It's him,” the other said evenly, her response calming Heero instantly.

 

Taking the phone Heero spoke into it tonelessly, “FBI secured the package, sir.”

 

News of his failure pained him as much as it did his boss who firmly responded, “I told you we could not afford any mistakes.”

 

Nodding, Heero continued, “There was another player, sir.”

 

There was a pause before he heard his boss sigh, “You know the rules if this player ID-ed you, Heero.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“You have 48 hours to clear the air, Yuy. Don't disappoint me.”

 

Heero pursed his lips, glancing up to a worried Quatre, before responding, with a `yes, sir,' and hanging up. Sighing as he handed the phone back to the girl he glanced up at the blonde before turning to the rest of the office, “We have 48 hours and a new target. Let's find out who he is.”

 

 

 

 

Grinning down at the blonde, Duo sheepishly offered the tattered laptop. Staring at the mangled machinery in horror, the computer tech reached for it, “What the hell did you do to it?” she asked accusingly.

 

Duo shrugged and she set it down gently, “Buy a new one,” she mumbled, glaring through her forked brows.

 

Pouting slightly, Duo protested, “It has sentimental value for its owner.”

 

Icy eyes turned back to him, “And who might that be?” she asked.

 

Charming grin firmly in place, he rocked slightly on his heels, “Well, Dorothy, I was hoping you could tell me.”

 

Staring at him for a moment she finally relented, grabbing the laptop again and turning it over to pull out the bottom. Watching her for a moment, Duo turned back to a window in the cluttered room, fiddling with a trophy covered in dust on the messy tabletop. “Why do you wanna know so bad anyway?”

 

Duo turned to look at the girl who was still engrossed in the bottom of the computer before he turned away, tossing a reply over his shoulder, “No reason. Just trying to be a Good Samaritan I guess.”

 

Looking back at the trophy he asked a question of his own, “You fence?”

 

She glanced up for a moment, holding a chip between some tweezers, “No,” she replied, pausing. “My girlfriend does.”

 

Duo nodded before she again caught his attention, “Here we go…” she mumbled.

 

She pulled out a small chip, turning it over and setting it in her own computer. Duo hurried to hover over her shoulder as she described it, “It's Chinese. Imported by Dell and shipped to…”

 

Duo waited, holding his breath before she read the name. “Looks like there wasn't a recipient. Just an address.” Duo nodded. “It's here in New York,” she continued. “300 Lexington Ave. Suite 5001. That's where the billing went to.”

 

Hearing the street made Duo's heart beat faster, and the building he knew was there only made him frown in curiosity. Heero worked in that building.

 

“Know the place?” the blonde, asked, turning to other. But she gasped when she realized the other man had already left.

 

Hurrying down the crowded streets, he walked into his husband's office building with a purpose. Stopping I front of the directory, he pressed a few buttons, his eyes scrolling the names before they stopped on the number `5001'. Moving his eyes instantly his eyes widened and he backed away in disbelief, “Oh my God…”

 

 

 

 

 

Squinting in concentration, blue eyes scanned the footage for umpteenth time. The movements and body figure of the man seemed all too familiar to Heero and he paused the video, turning to the other two agents beside him, “Quatre needs both of you,” he said sharply, is intent evident as the other two quickly left him to his tapes.

 

Sitting back in his chair, Heero paused and rewound the footage constantly, that body and that ridiculous sticker-covered helmet could only belong to-.

 

“Heero, It's your husband.”

 

Dark sapphires shifted instantly to the owner of the voice before the blonde across the room continued, phone in hand, “…He wants to know what time dinner is.”

 

His shoulders slumping, Heero responded, “Tell him…” he glanced back at the screen before looking to Quatre, “Dinners at 7.”

 

 

 

 

 

Standing downstairs, still in the office lobby, Duo waited before he heard Quatre again, “Hey Duo,” he smiled at the blonde's voice, “Heero says dinner's at 7.”

 

Nodding and walking away from the directory, Duo replied, “It always it.”

 

 

 

 

 

Domo -

 

( aynia ) Thank you for the review, this is a lot easier to update since I already know where I want it to go. But I'm glad you're enjoying it. `To sleep with a Traitor' will be updated and then probably `Behind blue Eyes' and I'm going to try and resurrect a few stories from the summer so thank you for your patience!

 

( Nita-sama ) -bows- thank you, thank you! You are too kind and so cute! I'm glad you like it. I'm going to try and finish this as quickly as I can so bear with me. I'm also going to be updating my other stories so be on the look out for those.

 

( drkwndz ) Thank you so much for your reivew. You're right about the lines, I realized I've been following the movie way to closely after I read through the first two chapters a few times. I'll try and clarify whose speaking and who I'm referring to better, and I'm glad you thought Une as the therapist was funny (at least someone did) Thanks again!