Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Victoria Base Affair Extended Edition ❯ The Attraction Grows ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: The Attraction Grows

Treize decided the best way to alleviate suspicion about his sudden interest in the freshman class was to attend as many of the freshman live fire training exercises as his schedule allowed. Fortunately, live fire training was almost always in the afternoon and most of Treize's classes were in the morning. He managed to observe all but about a dozen of the freshman training sessions. He was not sorry to have missed a few of those.

“You were lucky you weren't here yesterday, Treize,” Tami informed him with great amusement when he showed up one afternoon during the second week. “It's never good to see instructors break down in tears.”

“It was that bad?”

“You'd have thought it was their first time out. One student actually shot himself in the foot.”

Treize stared at her.

“I'm not kidding. He stumbled with his finger on the trigger and blew a whole in his right foot. He tripped one of his teammates on the way down.”

“That's not good.”

Tami shook her head and laughed. “You can say that again. I thought their instructor, Jody Neilson, was going to have a stroke. We were all laughing so hard we couldn't see, but we had to hold her back from running out onto the course and berating him right there on the spot, while the exercise was still going on.”

Treize knew Jody and could easily envision her outrage. He couldn't help smiling. “I hope it didn't get any worse.”

“No, but in one of the other sessions, both teams dug in and spent about twenty minutes firing at each other until they ran out of ammo.”

“It was a draw?”

“Mostly, except one student decided she wasn't going to just sit there with nothing to shoot, so she ran across and tried clubbing one of her opponents into submission with the butt of her rifle.”

Treize had to stifle a guffaw at the image this invoked. “Did she succeed?”

“I think she would have, but both instructors were so disgusted, they halted the session. Overall, it was a pretty bad day for the freshman class.”

“Sounds like it. It also sounds like I got my request to use the course in just in time.”

Tami nodded. “That you did. Several instructors are already talking about when they can get their students back on the course.”

“Who's training today?” Treize tried to sound casual. “I kind of want to see that fellow you told me about: Zechs Merquise.”

“You're in luck, then. Zechs' team fights today. They're in the second session.”

“Oh, good.” Treize glanced away to hide a shiver of excitement. No one was on the course yet, but the mobile suits for the students in the first session were already ranked along the edge of the course. The students themselves stood in two groups, receiving last minute instructions. From the animated gesturing of the instructors, they were no doubt being reminded of the previous day's disastrous contests.

“It looks like I have a few minutes,” Treize said. “I'll be right back.”

The viewing area for the training course was not too far from the mobile suit hangers. Treize entered the hanger where the mobile suits used by the freshmen were stored and strolled down between the parked suits. The hanger was nearly empty and Treize was a little surprised. He had expected the students for the second session to be here. When he finally found a suit with its cockpit open, Treize was not surprised to see Zechs kneeling on the lowered door, his upper body partly concealed as he leaned inside the access panel behind the door.

“Don't you trust the mechanics, Zechs?” Treize called.

Zechs sat back on his heels and smiled down at Treize. “I just like to take a look before I fight. If there's a mechanical failure, it's my butt out there, not the mechanic's.”

“A man after my own heart,” Treize replied. “I'm surprised more of your fellow students aren't in here doing the same.”

Zechs shrugged. “They've gone to watch the first session.” He wiped his hands on a rag and closed the access panel. “Most people think I'm too obsessive.” He smiled as he spoke. He obviously didn't take the criticism seriously.

There was a service lift next to Zechs' suit, but it was lowered, indicating that Zechs had not used it to reach the cockpit. Treize smiled to himself. He often just climbed the side of his suit himself, too, rather than use the lift. Now he stepped onto the service lift and let it carry him up level with Zechs. “How does it look?”

“Pretty good.” Zechs stood up, climbed into the cockpit and settled into the pilot seat. He flipped on the controls, watching the readouts as the suit went through its startup diagnostics. “I shouldn't have any problems.”

Treize stepped onto the door and crowded into the cockpit beside Zechs, twisting so he could see the displays as well. His face was within inches of Zechs' and he could feel the soft rush of Zechs' breath on his cheek. He could also smell the aromatic scent of the cream Zechs had used to shave, although it did not quite mask the faint, musky scent of his skin. Treize experienced a sudden, heart-stopping surge of desire. He turned and looked into Zechs' eyes. Zechs went still and he stared back at Treize without blinking.

“You are the most beautiful man I have ever seen,” Treize whispered. Zechs' lips parted soundlessly. “I wish I had never set eyes on you,” Treize murmured, and he leaned close and touched his lips to Zechs'. The kiss sent a blaze of heat through Treize's body and he closed his eyes. His lips parted and he felt Zechs' tongue brush against his. He leaned closer, letting the kiss grow deeper as desire flooded him. Zechs kissed him back, his long hair brushing against Treize's face.

Treize wanted the kiss to last forever. It filled him with a longing like nothing he had ever known. Zechs did nothing to stop him; he did not resist at all. Only the growing ache of his need made Treize realize what was happening. It took all of his strength and will power to pull himself away, to draw his mouth away from Zechs'. He stared at Zechs, fighting the urge to kiss him again.

“We can't do this,” Treize whispered. “Fraternization between upper and lower classmen is forbidden.”

“I know,” Zechs answered, his face flushed. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…”

“It wasn't your fault,” Treize interrupted. He stepped back, moving outside the cockpit. “I should know better.” He stepped onto the lift and turned to look at Zechs as he exited the cockpit behind Treize. “Let's agree not to speak of it. Nothing else has changed. I still mean to consider you for my team for the alumni games.”

Zechs appeared both surprised and relieved. “Thank you, Lord Kushranada. I promise I won't disappoint you.”

“I know you won't,” Treize answered. “We'll speak again after the exercise.” He thumbed the switch and looked down as the lift dropped him back to the main floor.

-o-o-o-o-

Zechs was glad he had the upcoming training exercise to focus his attention and take his mind off of what had just happened between him and Treize Kushranada. Zechs was accustomed to people being attracted to him. He knew his appearance and manner were appealing, but he had never expected to draw the attention of someone as important as the young Duke of Luxembourg. Since the fall of the Sanc Kingdom, Zechs' title was more honor than substance. He had little of the wealth and power enjoyed by nobles of healthy nations. The fact that he choose not to go by his given name was taken by many of those who knew his real identity as an admission of shame. But it was not that. Becoming a soldier was against the teachings of his father and the tenets by which he was raised. Zechs refused to sully his family's great name when the time came for him to fight and kill in the name of duty.

So Zechs focused his attention on the job ahead and tried to push all thoughts of Treize and that thrilling kiss out of his mind. Treize was right, anyway. Fraternization was against Academy policy, especially between upper and lower classmen. Violating that rule could get them both kicked out.

His equipment check complete, Zechs decided to observe the first combat session with the rest of his team. It never hurt to see what techniques other people used in combat situations. He found his teammates clustered on top of one of the storage sheds. The view wasn't quite as good as what one had from the viewing area adjacent to the training course, but it would do. Zechs couldn't help gazing toward the viewing area, however. Treize was there, along with several instructors and a few other upperclassmen.

Why did he kiss me? Zechs wondered. He could still taste Treize on his lips, and if he closed his eyes, he could still smell Treize's subtle, masculine odor. His body grew warm in response, and it had nothing to do with the sun overhead. That kiss had aroused Zechs more than he wanted to admit. He had not been involved with anyone for a long time and he was unused to dealing with this kind of attraction. He dragged his eyes away from Treize and back to the training course in front of him. The first session was about to get underway.

“Who do you think will win, Zechs?” Les asked. She shielded her eyes with one hand, balancing excitedly on the balls of her feet. Les loved combat, whether she was in it or watching it.

“Red Team,” Zechs replied offhandedly.

“Really?” Les turned to him in surprise. “How come?”

“Because Juno Cain is in charge of Blue Team and she's so overconfident, she'll make a stupid mistake. Kirby LeGrange on Red Team knows that and he'll take advantage of her. Just watch.”

Each of the training sessions was essentially the same. The Red Team was assigned to protect a concrete bunker simulating a command headquarters. The Blue Team was supposed to take the bunker. If the Blue Team succeeded in inflicting significant damage on the bunker, they won. If the Red Team disabled all the Blue Team members before this happened, they won. Of course, the students were not graded solely on whether or not their team won. The Red Team was also graded on their defensive plan and the Blue Team on their assault plan.

Each team consisted of five students piloting Leo mobile suits armed with a single large-caliber machine gun. The ammunition was designed to not impart significant damage to the mobile suits, but it could disable them if the right spots were targeted. Of course, suits were always getting damaged during live fire exercises, but you didn't want to be the pilot of a suit that had to be carted back to the hanger.

As the Red Team formed their perimeter and the Blue Team moved into position, Les Javi began bouncing up and down on her toes.

“I hope this goes better than the ones yesterday,” Les said. “I want to see a good fight.”

“You'll be in one later this afternoon, Les!” Corbin Dowl, one of their teammates, said with a laugh. “Have a little patience!”

The starting horn sounded and the Blue Team moved in, rifles blazing. The Red Team fired back. The Blue Team formed a wedge and began advancing on the bunker. The Red Team pulled together, presenting a solid line of defense.

“Why doesn't Blue Team spread out?” Les demanded. “What do they think they're doing?”

“Oh, I'm sure Juno has some clever idea she's about to execute,” Zechs replied.

A moment later, two of the Blue Force flankers broke off and dashed to either side, clearly intending to try to end-run the Red Force defensive line. Within a half-dozen strides, however, it was obvious they had made their break too soon and they were too far away. Without moving, the Red Team members on either end turned to fire on them, while the others continued to fire toward the remaining Blue Team members in the middle. The central Blue Team member, who was taking the brunt of the firing, went down, followed a moment later by one of the two flankers. The other three did not last long after that.

The ending horn sounded and the Red Team ceased fire.

“You called that one, Zechs,” Les said.

Zechs chuckled. “Yeah. I expect Juno won't sleep with a guy the night before she's about to fight him next time.”

Les' eyes went round. “No way!”

Zechs nodded and grinned. “Kirby's room is next to mine. I was coming back from the restroom when she came out this morning.”

“That was pretty stupid.”

“I said she'd make a stupid mistake. I didn't say it would be during the fight.” Zechs walked to the edge of the roof. “We'd better get going. Instructor Jandy will want to brief us before our fight.” He hopped to the ground. The rest of his team followed.

Instructor Carl Jandy did indeed want to brief them before the fight. “The freshman class is looking pretty bad right now,” he growled. “Yesterday's fights were complete disasters, and that one just now left something of a bitter taste. I expect a lot better from you.” He fixed his eyes on Zechs. “You're Blue Team leader, Zechs. Make me proud.”

Zechs saluted sharply. “Mount up, boys and girls!” Once everyone was sealed into their suits, Zechs moved them into formation. Each instructor had his or her own techniques and tricks that they imparted to their students and Zechs always found these simulated combats instructive on a variety of levels.

The Red Team moved into position around the bunker, their guns leveled at Zechs' team.

Zechs thumbed on his radio. “All right, Blue Team, let's see how quickly we can reduce that command post to rubble,” he commanded. “Blue 2 and 3, break left and come in with the sun behind you. Blue 4, go straight in and cut left to draw their fire. Blue 5, you and I will start to circle around to the right to get behind them. We should draw at least two defenders. Once we get them looking in different directions, we'll get an opening.”

A chorus of “Right, Blue 1” and “Roger that, Blue 1” chirped out of the speaker, and then they fell silent, waiting for the starting horn. When the horn blared, Zechs raised his gun and started firing, charging forward at the same time.

The battle went quickly, as Zechs' fights always did. He pushed the suit to its limits, forcing every ounce of speed and maneuverability out of it that he could. The readouts always showed the suit controls close to burning out, but he knew exactly how far he could push it. Even knowing how fast he was, the defenders facing him were never quite ready to counter him. As they turned to maintain fire on his team as they separated, as he knew they would have to, he circled to the right with Blue 5 for only seconds, before cutting back in mid-stride, spinning on one foot with his machine gun blazing, and charging straight in on a startled defender. Les Javi, a little ahead of him in Blue 5, spun too and began firing at the same mobile suit from the side and he went down. She began taking fire and turned to defend herself, but the damage was done. Zechs, moving faster than any of the defenders, leaped over the fallen Leo and sprayed the bunker with machine gun fire. Three of the remaining defenders turned to fire at him in an attempt to save the bunker, but this put their backs to Blues 2, 3 and 4. All three went down and the fifth, seeing it was pointless, dropped his gun in surrender.

The entire battle had taken less than a minute.

“Well done, Blue Team.” Carl Jandy's voice sounded almost smug. He was clearly pleased that his students had made the best showing so far. “I'll expect you all for a post-exercise debriefing in Classroom 3A in one hour.”

He keyed off, not waiting for their replies. None was really required.

Zechs rounded up his team and started them back toward the mobile suit hanger. None of them was too damaged to return under their own power, unlike the Red Team. Two of their suits were still down and the pilots were standing outside the open cockpits.

“I'm glad I'm not them,” Les announced with a laugh. “They'll be getting their debriefing, and an ass-whuppin', right there, I betcha!”

“They already had their ass-whuppin'!” Corbin Dowl, in Blue 3, chimed in. “They got it Lightning Count-style! Hoo-ya!”

The other team members echoed the shout and Zechs grinned.

In the hanger, he started the diagnostics as he climbed out of the cockpit. The mechanic, waiting on the lift outside for the door to open, grinned at him. “You didn't burn it out again did you, Sir?” she asked good-naturedly.

“Not this time.” They traded places and Zechs rode the lift down. Treize was waiting for him on the main floor.

“I am very impressed, Count,” he said as Zechs stepped off the lift. “I think the mobile suit is actually limiting your abilities.”

Zechs was startled. Although everyone knew his reflexes were fast, he didn't think anyone realized that he could move faster than the suit could perform. Most people believed mobile suit technology exceeded the capacity of human beings. That was why scientists were working on computer programs that could pilot the mobile suits and operate them at maximum efficiency.

“I do have to watch that I don't burn out the suit's systems,” he answered carefully.

Treize studied him for a moment, his dark eyes boring intently into Zechs'. “Perhaps I will have to build a suit one day that can keep up with you, Lightning Count.” He continued to gaze at Zechs for several heartbeats. “I definitely want you on my team for the games. The two of us together will be unstoppable.”

“I am at your disposal, Lord Kushranada.”

“Call me Treize. We'll start training together next week. I'll speak to your instructors to make time in your schedule.” He turned on his heel and walked away.

Zechs watched him go until he was out of sight. Suddenly, he could remember exactly what it felt like to have Treize's mouth pressed against his. A coil of warm desire began to unwind in his loins. He looked around, wondering if anyone had seen him staring after Treize. Quickly, he headed for the barracks, hoping he had time for a cold shower before the debriefing.