Gundam Wing: Angel and the Dragon

The Angel and the Dragon

Part 4

Heero didn't think he'd ever get to sleep. Between Duo's moaning and tossing and periodic waking up toinclude Heero in his delusions, not to mention his anxiety over the soldiers outside, he lay awake for what seemed like hours.

At what must have been close to dawn, Heero could hear the unmistakable sounds of the search coming closer. Duo had fallen into a deeper sleep a little while ago, though he was still burning with fever. Heero checked his gun, slung his and Duo's packs onto his back, and shook Duo roughly awake.

"Huh? Whatcha want, Heero?" Duo asked sleepily.

"Wake up, bakayarou! They're getting closer. We have to shoot anyone who comes in here and try to make a break for it."

That roused Duo enough to sit up. He fumbled with his shoes for a few seconds until Heero, cursing, pushed his shaking hands away and put his shoes on him.

"I'm sorry, Heero. I'm going to get you killed. You should leave me here."

"No, you're not," Heero stated, his voice dead and distant as he tried to convince himself that the boy was wrong. "I'm going to get you out of here." He helped Duo to his feet and handed him his gun. As Duo took a few steps toward the door, his determination crystallized and he seemed to gain strength. His hands stopped shaking quite so badly, and his eyes, still gleaming from fever, focused. The two boys flanked the door and held their guns ready.

Suddenly, the sounds of screaming and explosions ripped into the pre-dawn air. Three soldiers burst through the door, abandoning caution in the face of whatever threat had just materialized. Two were felled by bullets in the head before they'd taken two steps, and the last lived only an instant longer.

Heero waited for a count of 10, slow and steady, aware that Duo was steadily getting weaker with each wasted second. On 10, Heero ducked his head through the door, scanning quickly for soldiers, and then retreated back into the relative safety of the building. As he did so, he caught a glimpse of Shenlong spearing a Mobile Suit, towering over the warehouses and small abandoned buildings, but still far in the distance.

Heero tried to catch Duo's eye, but he was staring at the ground, breathing heavily, sweat dripping off his face. "Duo!" he hissed, and was rewarded by a jerk from Duo, who looked up at him. "The others are here. We're going to run for it. Are you up to it?"

Duo nodded, gripping his gun tighter.

"All right, when I go, come after me. Just keep your eyes on my back and run, all right." Another nod. Heero took a deep breath, and bolted from the warehouse.

The gunfire started when he was halfway down the street. He ducked into a side alley, forgetting - even if he'd had the time - to make sure Duo followed him, and started firing. Every bullet found a mark, and dead soldiers littered his path. He caught sight of Sandrock only two blocks away and headed for it, dropping soldiers as he went.

Quatre seemed to see him coming and lowered a hand for him to clamber onto even as he felled two more Mobile Suits. Only then did Heero realize that Duo was nowhere in sight.

"Kuso!!"

Duo knew he was falling behind. He couldn't keep up with the Perfect Soldier's inhuman speed, and he knew it. How Heero had failed to realize it, he didn't know. :Kuso, Heero! Do you even remember that I'm here or not?: Dimly, through the sweat stinging his eyes, he saw Heero duck into an alley as the air was torn by gunfire. He tried to follow, but was felled by a tackle just as he slowed to allow his fever-weakened body to make the turn.

He fought back, but knew he had no chance. Someone batted his gun away and he heard it clatter on the pavement somewhere, out of reach. Then the cold barrel of a gun was placed against his forehead.

"Now, you'll come along quietly, won't you, colonist scum?" Duo never answered, as he lost his tenuous grip on consciousness.

Treize smiled at the blonde-haired, masked image staring out of his office console. "You must have realized that they would attack if you left them too long, Milliard."

"Well, perhaps, sir," Zechs replied, grimacing. "But in any case, we've captured one of them."

"Which one?"

"He should be in the midst of interrogation as we speak, sir. We should have some answers, soon."

"Very good, Milliard. I'm expecting a visitor in the next few days, but I should be leaving within a week."

"We will be expecting you, sir."

Treize nodded and was halfway toward cutting off the transmission when he checked. "And, Milliard?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Don't hurt him too much. Get as much information you can, but it's not necessary to resort to such… methods. Consider that an order."

"Thank you, sir. I'll pass on the word to my men."

"You do that. Out." He clicked off the screen and leaned back in the chair. :I should get out of here as quickly as possible and get back to my house,: he thought. :How long before you come to see me, dragon?:

Heero strode into the safehouse and dropped the two packs off in his room. He strode back to the common room. The comforting smell of coffee was already filling the room, wafting in from the kitchen where Quatre could be heard clattering dishes. Trowa and Wufei were sitting on the couch and an armchair, respectively. Heero planted himself in the middle of the room.

"We have to rescue him."

Trowa looked at him from under his bangs. "If he's still alive."

Heero's snort and shaken fist showed what he thought of that possibility. At that moment, Quatre swept in from the kitchen, carrying cream and sugar on a tray.

"So, Heero. It finally happened, did it?"

"What?"

Quatre glanced at him, pinked, and then pointedly gave Trowa a kiss on the cheek before going back into the kitchen.

"And what if I did sleep with him?" Heero said heatedly. "It's none of your business."

The sound of pouring coffee was his only response. Heero maintained his glare until Quatre had returned with four steaming cups, smiled at him, and sat down on the couch beside Trowa. At that point, he started pacing.

That only lasted a few seconds before Wufei broke into his reverie. "For God's sake, Yuy, sit down. You're not helping."

Heero glared at him, but threw himself into the other chair. "He's feverish, from some kind of infection. Even if he's alive, he may not be for long."

Trowa shook his head. "I can't believe Oz would go to so much trouble to capture you two and then not treat him. He's better off with them, in that respect, at least."

"And how long would a delusional man last against torture, Trowa?" Heero said bitingly. Wufei clenched his fist on the arm of the chair and looked like he might rise, but then seemed to think better of it.

"It doesn't matter, Heero. That's all the more reason to go after him, as soon as possible," Trowa replied.

"Hn." There was a moment of silence, then Heero jumped to his feet and headed upstairs.

"Where are you going, Heero?" Quatre called after him.

"I'm going to find out where he is. We can't do anything until we know that." He said, and then was gone.

Quatre looked at Trowa. "What is he going to do if we find out he's dead?"

Trowa grunted, but caressed the back of Quatre's neck comfortingly. Wufei got to his feet, snorting.

"I'm going out. Page me if something happens." Trowa and Quatre nodded and Wufei threw on a leather jacket and headed out.

Duo swam in a sea of poking doctors and unfamiliar voices for a long time. Finally, the activity around him lessened and he became conscious that he was alone. He opened his eyes and took in the prison; the stark metal walls, the thin mattress and coverlet covering his shivering body. His hands were handcuffed together behind his back and had long ago gone numb. He shifted and repressed a scream as cramped back muscles protested.

The door opened as the echoes of pain were still reverberating through his body. A man, some middle-ranking soldier judging by the uniform, swaggered into the room.

"Well, well, the pretty-boy's awake. What's your name, pretty-boy?"

"Maxwell," Duo bit off the word and glared up at the man balefully.

"You got another name to go with that one?"

Duo shook his head, ignoring the way the room swam when he did that, and summoned his best 'Maxwell grin'. "Huh uh, I answered a question, already. It's your turn, now."

"Sorry, bitch, that's not the way things work here. I won't be answering any questions."

"Well, doesn't that just suck," Duo said languidly. "I guess I can't answer any more questions, then."

Duo was totally unprepared for the man to slam a fist into his gut. He doubled over as far as he could with his protesting back and pins-and-needles-plagued arms and retched. "Wha-What was that for?" he wheezed. The soldier got down on one knee beside the shelf Duo was lying on and put his face right up to the pilot's.

"Oh, you'll be answering questions, pretty-boy. In fact, soon you'll be doing whatever I fucking well tell you to do."

"Just do me one favour?" Duo said, startling the other man into responding.

"What?"

"Stop calling me 'pretty-boy'. It's just soooo unhip."

The man grinned, his lips pulling back from his teeth in a way that made the expression *decidedly* unfriendly. "But, that's what you are, baby." He grasped Duo by the chin and forced him to look at him. "And I can call you whatever I want."

Those words were said harshly, punctuated by him grasping Duo by the neck and slamming the back of his head against the hard metal wall. Duo cried out and slumped, dazed.

"You gonna ask me for any more favours, pretty-boy?" Duo groaned, trying to hold onto consciousness. He was rudely brought back to wakefulness as he was grasped by the neck again and lifted off the bed. :Fuck, this guy is strong!: Duo thought as he tried desperately to breathe.

He drew in a breath sharply as he was dropped to the floor in a heap, but he didn't have much time to recover as the man's meaty hand gripped him by the back of the head and smashed his face into the bed. Dazed again, he tried to sort out what the hell was going on.

He was kneeling beside the bed, face pressed to the thin mattress. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a zipper and his breath caught in his throat. :Oh shit-: his thought was interrupted by the man kneeling behind him.

"I'll teach you to be smart with me, you little shit," his breath tickled his ear, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

"So you want me to be smart with you-" his rejoinder was cut off by another blow to the back of the head. :Crap, is he following orders or what?: Duo thought through the stars. :Isn't anyone watching him do this to me?:

The man reached around and undid the catch on his pants, sliding them down to puddle around his knees. Next, off came his underwear. Duo clenched his fists and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. He knew what came next and he retreated into himself, walling himself off from the pain he knew was coming...

Treize looked up from the book he was reading at the slight shuffling sound at his window. At first, his visitor had been able to get in without even Treize detecting him, but the general had become attuned to him in the months since their first encounter and Wufei couldn't sneak up on him anymore. At least, he didn't *think* he could.

He placed a scrap of silk in the book to mark the page and stood, crossing to the window. He unlocked and opened them, tumbling the surprised youngster, who had been concentrating on the stubborn lock, into his arms. Treize smiled, he had designed that lock.

"What a surprise!" he said, steadying Wufei as he got his feet under him. "I didn't expect to see you back here again so soon, little dragon."

Wufei glared at him, so Treize deftly pulled the elastic from his hair, allowing the silk strands to fall to frame his face. Wufei responded to this by pulling back sharply and brushing madly at his face to get the tickling strands out of his nose.

"What are you doing?" he cried.

Treize ignored the question, saying instead. "And it's not even dark yet. I had begun to wonder what you looked like in the sun, my dragon."

"Stop changing the subject!"

Treize smiled at the boy. "What subject?" He took a step towards the Chinese pilot and mentally sighed as he backed up a step, bumping into the wall. He took another step and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. "I know why you came here." He leaned down and kissed him.

Wufei sputtered, then surrendered to the kiss, but the moment Treize drew away his eyes lit with anger. "I didn't come for that! I came for Maxwell!"

"Maxwell? Oh, so that is the pilot's name, is it?" Wufei winced and reddened. "Tut tut, dragon, you're usually more careful than that. Do you forget you're talking to the leader of your greatest enemy?"

"I never forget that," Wufei said quietly.

"Is that so?" Treize responded, an amused smile lighting his face. He leaned down to kiss the boy again, but Wufei ducked under his arm and backed into the centre of the room.

"No! I won't let you seduce me this time. I'm here as a Gundam pilot."

"If you were here as a Gundam pilot, you would have your sword out by now, dragon." Treize's smile widened. "The metal one."

Wufei sputtered again. :Ah, little one, I do know how to get a rise out of you.:

"Well," he clenched his fists and looked at the floor. "I'm here to get Duo back."

"No, dragon. You mustn't do this."

"Why not?" Wufei looked up, his eyes afire with determination.

"You know very well that we cannot bring our private lives into this relationship. If we poisoned it with the war, we would never be able to meet as anything but general and pilot again."

"I-I know that, but..." Wufei struggled for words. "Duo is more important than my relationship with you!"

Treize sighed and approached the pilot, who, this time, didn't retreat. He laid a hand on Wufei's shoulder then, without warning, he scooped the smaller boy into his arms. Wufei cried out in surprise, a sound that was cut off as he was dumped unceremoniously onto the huge bed. Treize lay down beside him, propping his head up on one arm and cupping Wufei's face in his hand.

"Would it make you feel better if I told you that he is not going to be harmed?"

Wufei sniffed derisively. "So long as it's true."

"It is. Zechs Marquise is personally overseeing his treatment, and I have given orders that no harm is to come to him."

"Why?"

Treize was visibly startled by that question and he gazed at Wufei for a moment. "What kind of man do you think I am, dragon?"

"Better men then you have ordered the torture of prisoners in order to gain valuable information."

"I'm flattered."

All he got for that was a grunt. Treize sighed and allowed his hand to travel lightly down the front of Wufei's shirt, tracing lazy patterns that caused Wufei to curse and squirm.

"The truth is, dragon, you're right. I could get a lot of information out of that boy, and I know he won't give in without a fight." His hand stopped its motion and he turned sapphire eyes to the other boy's black ones. "I did it for you, little dragon."

"What are you talking about, Treize?"

"I gave the order so you wouldn't have to worry about your friend, my dear. I have to make this effort to end the war. It's my duty, and I firmly believe that I am right to do it, but I am still your lover, and have obligations to you. So, I have made this compromise. I hope this is good enough."

Wufei was silent a long time, then. "I suppose I should thank you, not be angry with you, then."

"My opinion exactly," Treize replied, moving in to kiss Wufei. Wufei glared at the amusement in his voice.

"Damn you-" Whatever else he was going to say was swallowed by Treize's lips.

Duo had long since given up on getting his pants and underwear back on. His hands were still numb, no matter now much he tried to flex them, and it was really hard to put pants on when your hands were tied behind your back, and had no feeling in them anyway. He huddled in the corner, knees up to maximize the amount of body heat being contained in his body and shivered.

When the man came back, he just turned his head to the wall and said nothing. He bit his lip against the pain and tried to keep his rape as boring as possible.

Usually all that got him were a few bruises to add to his collection.

He could feel the fever, which had seemed like it was going away when he woke up that first time, starting to overtake him again. When he caught a few hours of sleep, the nightmares made him wake up within minutes, a scream still echoing in the small, dark chamber. All the time he was awake, he felt like he was either going to sweat out every drop of water in his body, or he shook with cold that permeated him to his bones.

He hoped he infected his tormentor. He hoped it was some kind of horrible terminal disease that that man would have to suffer through for weeks, months, years, before he expired, pissing and shitting himself. All Duo would have to suffer through were a few days or weeks of rape before he died, nothing like what the lieutenant would suffer.

He knew it wasn't true.

:Goddamnit! Why is it always me?:

He prayed, and cursed, but mostly he just tried to sleep, racked by dreams.

:Heero... You'll rescue me won't you, you heartless bastard?:

:Ai shiteru...:

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