Gundam Wing: Angel and the Dragon

Part 7

"What should we do, Heero?" Quatre said, his blue eyes wide. "How can we find out where he is?"

"We can't. He's either stayed in Luxembourg so they don't have to risk moving him, or he's been moved to Nepal so he can be held with increased security. Either is likely."

"Kisama! They're trying to fool with our minds!" exclaimed Wufei irritably.

"What if neither of them are true?" Quatre asked.

"One *must* be true. In order for Oz to know where he is, they have to have it recorded somewhere in their network, Quatre," said Trowa quietly. Heero nodded.

Wufei got to his feet. "We should attack both simultaneously, hopefully they won't be as prepared for that."

"For some reason, Duo's exact location within the bases is not recorded anywhere." Heero added. "We must go in covertly if we expect to get him out without accidentally blowing him away."

"Then we'll need a computer/security expert in each team. Trowa, you come with me to Nepal. Quatre, you and Heero can go after Luxembourg," said Wufei. The other three pilots nodded assent.

"The Maguaranacs will arrange for our transport to Luxembourg and Nepal. We can get there by tomorrow," Quatre piped up.

"All right, we'll leave as soon as possible," said Heero. "Contact your people, Quatre."

"Ninmu ryoukai," the Arab replied.

It was close to midnight in Nepal. Two shadows approached the supply entrance, guns cocked and ready. They took out the four guards with quick, brutal, efficiency. Trowa started working on the electronic lock.

"Since when did they post four guards at a supply entrance?" Wufei whispered.

Trowa only grunted, concentrating on the lock. When it sprang free he straightened up and entered the base. "They're expecting us. Be careful."

"We'd better get out of here as quickly as possible, then."

"Let's split up."

Wufei nodded. "I'll search the prison level. If we don't meet up again inside, we'll meet outside within three hours."

"Suit yourself."

Trowa searched every level he could get to without taking out too many guards, which was most of the base. He started on the command level and worked his way down as systematically as he could. He marveled at the level of security he encountered, and it was only with a great deal of luck and ingenuity that he managed to avoid getting shot.

When he was almost done searching the floor above the prison level - the last level on his list - he heard the sounds of a commotion. He crept towards it in time to witness Wufei execute a perfect roundhouse kick, crushing a soldier's nose and chin. There were at least ten guards in the hallway, but Wufei was holding his own splendidly. Trowa readied his gun, trying to decide what to do.

Suddenly, a commanding voice rang out from the opposite end of the hallway. "Wufei!" Trowa looked up and felt his jaw drop in shock. :Treize Kushrenada!:

Wufei whirled at the sound of his name and froze. He stared, seemingly paralyzed, at the General of Oz.

:Damnit, Wufei, what's wrong with you?: Trowa had time to think.

Before he could do anything, and before Wufei could recover from the spell that seemed to have come over him, one of the conscious soldiers leveled a gun and fired. Wufei crumpled to the ground without a sound.

:Kuso!:

Still cursing mentally, Trowa turned--

--and found himself nose-to-barrel with a gun.

"Don't move!" said the soldier.

Without batting an eye, Trowa kicked him in the stomach, simultaneously moving the gun aside and ducking in case it should go off accidentally. He shot the gasping guard in the head.

Then he ran like hell.

Heero preceded Quatre off of the helicopter. It had landed in a field a few miles from Luxembourg so hopefully it wouldn't be seen. Then, he turned and faced Quatre.

"Now, go back to the safehouse and wait for Trowa and Wufei, Quatre."

"Nani? What are you talking about, Heero?"

"Go," Heero said this in a dead tone that brooked no argument.

"Why?"

"I don't need you, you'll only be in the way. Go home."

Quatre knew he couldn't really argue with him. He didn't have the kind of training in covert ops that Heero and the others did, and if Heero thought he was only going to be in the way, he was probably right. He did have one nagging fear, though.

"Demo, Heero, when you find Duo..."

"I won't kill him unless I have to kill us both to prevent us from falling back into the enemy's hands." Heero's eyes seemed to soften imperceptibly. "I promise, Quatre. You have nothing to worry about."

Quatre gazed at him for a while, then nodded. "All right, Heero. If you think it's best." He turned and reentered the helicopter. Heero hopped on the motorcycle the Maguaranacs had provided them with and sped off without another word.

Like Wufei and Trowa, he encountered an almost ridiculous amount of security in the base, especially considering the time of night. After overcoming the prison level guards and finding only a beefy man in one of the cells, he systematically worked skyward, until he had to acknowledge the truth: either Duo wasn't there, or he was on the command level.

:I have to know.: He set to work overriding the security locks in the elevator.

He turned a corner on the command level and encountered confirmation of his suspicion. Three techs sat at a table in the middle of the hallway, and two guards flanked the door to one of the suites.

Heero couldn't waste time. He threw a tear gas grenade and went in shooting, taking out the two guards, the techs, and most of the electronic equipment, then he retreated, listening to the air recyclers redouble their efforts to clear the air. Thirty seconds later he plunged back into the dissipating cloud and started picking the lock. The door sprang open and he leapt in.

"Duo-" His words were cut off as Zechs Marquise leveled a gun at his chest and fired. A numb, tranquilizing feeling spread quickly through his whole body. He caught a glimpse of Duo sitting motionless on the bed behind the Lightning Count, clad in an Oz uniform, before he lost consciousness.

"Kuso!" Wufei punctuated the word with a kick that dented the wall of the prison cell. "Kuso!" Now he punched the wall hard enough tear open his hand and leave a bright blotch of blood on the wall. "Kisama!" This time the force of his kick left the room echoing for a full minute. His ankles were in pain from being jarred against hard surfaces, and both sets of knuckles were torn and bleeding. :Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! How could you let your feelings betray Duo like that! Traitor!:

"Kuso!!" Another dent appeared in the wall.

"Please, dragon, stop destroying my prison."

Wufei whirled and went into a defensive crouch, squaring himself off in front of Treize. "Why should I, you traitor!"

"Traitor?" Treize smiled with amusement. "And don't worry, little dragon, the guards aren't listening."

"Then if I brutally murder you, they won't be able to stop me!" Wufei yelled and launched himself at the General. Treize danced out of the way at the last moment with the light step of a fencer and Wufei smashed headfirst into the door. He bounced off, rubbing his forehead. "Itai..."

"Stop this, little dragon. Calm down."

Wufei turned to face him again, satisfied that, at least now, he was between the General and the door. Treize couldn't escape now. "You enemy of justice! You did that on purpose, kisama!"

"Dragon, think for a moment about what you're saying." Treize said, still unruffled. "I had no way to know that you would be the one to come here."

"You knew I would react that way, kisama! You distracted me!"

"As I said, I didn't know it was you who had breached our security until I saw you there. If anything, you should have stayed away, if you were going to react like that. You knew I was here."

Wufei wilted slightly, then turned and punched the door. "I'm an idiot. You're right; I shouldn't have come here. I should have gone to Luxembourg with Heero."

Treize came up behind him, laying a hand on Wufei's shoulder that was shrugged off. "It would have made no difference. Heero's been captured as well."

"Nani?!" Wufei turned around to face the General. "Who else do you have?"

"None, just you, Duo, and Heero. If the others came, they escaped." Wufei let out a sigh of relief. :At least Trowa and Quatre are safe and free. All hope isn't lost, then.:

"Now," Treize began, producing a pair of handcuffs. "There's no sense in leaving you in inferior living conditions to Duo, is there? You can come with me. Your suite is prepared, unless," he smiled wickedly. "You wish to share my suite, little dragon."

"Won't your people think that's a little suspicious?"

"If the General of Oz wishes to make his prisoner his plaything, and seems to have cowed said prisoner, who are his subordinates to question it?"

Wufei glared at the handcuffs. "Well, no thanks anyway."

"Your choice, my darling. Now, let's put these on you. We must keep up appearances, after all."

Wufei took a step back, bumping into the door. "No! I'm not putting those things on."

"Come now, I'll take them off the minute we get to your suite, dragon."

Wufei yelled directly into Treize's face. "No!" Treize jerked back.

"If you won't let me put them on, I'll summon guards to put them on. Be reasonable, dragon."

Wufei grumbled, then a thought hit him. "Why do you want to move me, anyway? Why can't I just stay here if I want to?"

Treize looked around in distaste. "Because I'll be visiting you often, dragon, and I'd rather ravish you in more comfortable surroundings."

The blood rushed to Wufei's face so quickly he felt dizzy for a moment. He sighed and presented his wrists to Treize. "Make no mistake, General, I intend to escape."

The handcuffs closed with a click. "I wouldn't dream of doubting your sincerity, Wufei."

Duo gazed with mournful eyes as Heero was unceremoniously hoisted up by two guards and carried from the room. :Damnit! Why didn't I do anything? If I'd just attacked Zechs I might have knocked him out without getting shot and been able to get Heero out of here.:

He curled up on his side on the bed, hugging his knees to his chest and tried not to cry. :Boys don't cry. Boys don't cry.: He felt the mattress shift as Zechs sat down. A gentle hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"Duo, angel, I'm sorry."

"Don't say that," Duo said miserably. "You're not sorry at all. You stayed in here with that gun just in case Heero made it here, and he did, and you shot him, that's all."

"No, that's not all. First of all, that was just a strong tranquilizer. He's fine."

"I know that."

"Secondly, I *am* sorry. I never want to cause you pain, angel..." Duo wanted to yell at him, to throw things, to tell him never to call him 'angel' again. Instead he buried his head in Zechs' lap and cried.

"Why can't Heero be like you?" he sobbed. "Why do you have to be my enemy, Milliard?"

"I don't know, dear angel. I don't know." Zechs held the sobbing boy in his arms until he got some semblance of control back.

"Milliard?" Duo said softly.

"Yes, angel?"

"Could I be alone for a little while?"

"Of course." Zechs rose to leave, but Duo grasped onto his sleeve.

"And Milliard?"

"Yes?"

"Could, could I see Heero at some point?"

Zechs turned to look at him, his masked face serious. "On one condition."

"What?"

"Promise me that you won't try to escape with him, or make any plans with him to escape, and I'll let you see him as often as you like."

Duo looked down. :It's all right, Maxwell. He didn't say you couldn't try to escape, just not try to break out with him or something. Just be good when you're with him and you'll get to see him again.: "All right. I promise."

"Okay, I'll let you see him as soon as I can."

"Okay." And Zechs left.

Duo threw himself back down on the bed, but his eyes were dry now. :Forgive me, Heero. This is all my fault.:

When Heero had recovered from whatever tranquilizer had been in the bolt Zechs had shot him with, he had discovered that he was lying on a bed in crew quarters. His room was much more cramped then Duo's had been, but he figured they were trying to keep them apart. :Assuming Duo is even one of us anymore,: he thought.

He didn't take well to confinement.

Soon after he awoke, a guard came in with breakfast on a tray. That guard died from a thrown butterknife in the throat. After that, only plastic utensils had been given to him, and those didn't fly well, so the next guard who came in got his trachea crushed by a foot. He probably died as well, but Heero had been sedated by some kind of gas added to the air in his room before seeing what happened. When he awoke, his hands and feet had been bound securely to the bed. He was sitting up, and reasonably comfortable, but he could barely move. His next meal was fed to him, which he submitted to without verbal comment.

After the meal was finished, the door slid open to admit Duo and Zechs. Heero glared at both of them as fiercely as he could. Duo was not handcuffed, and still clad in a uniform, though the top two buttons were undone, revealing a white shirt underneath. His face was a little puffy, as though he'd been crying recently, though the signs had almost faded. The fading marks of bruises could be seen on his cheeks and forehead. Heero's chest twisted. :It's as I thought; he's been broken.:

Zechs turned to leave, squeezing Duo's shoulder as he did so. "Remember your promise, Duo." Duo nodded, his eyes fixed on Heero's face. "I'm sorry, but we have to monitor your conversation. Heero's been very violent and uncooperative." He nodded again. Zechs squeezed his shoulder again and left.

Duo took a step toward the bed, but was stopped short by the harshness of Heero's voice. "So, you've turned against us, then."

"W-what?"

Heero sneered at him. "Come on, Duo. You're in an Oz uniform, Zechs Marquise treats you like his latest boytoy, and Wufei and I have both been captured trying to rescue you. How else could this have happened except if you've betrayed us?"

Duo's hands started shaking and he looked like his legs might give out under him. "No, Heero, you've got it all wrong. I swear."

"Do I?"

"Please, Heero, listen to me. Onegai?"

"I'm listening." Duo took a few steps forward and sat down gingerly on the bed, watching Heero for signs that he was about to break the chains holding him down and go for his throat. He looked down at his hands.

"When I got here I was pretty sick. Then this guy came in and raped me. He kept it up for a couple of days, I don't know how long." He glanced up, searching Heero's face, but he schooled it into impassivity. This fit in with his theory, however brutal their methods had been, they were effective. "Then Zechs came to check on me, and it turns out that Treize Kushrenada had handed down orders not to hurt me, that this guy had violated." Heero started slightly, that explained the man he'd found in the prison. So far, this added up. Duo continued his narrative. "So, Zechs was pretty pissed, right? And I was really sick again, and my clothes were all ripped up and stuff, so he took me to the room where you found me, and they didn't have any other clothes to give me so they gave me this uniform. Zechs took care of me while I was feverish, and he's been really nice. He feels really bad about what happened, 'cause I wasn't supposed to get hurt, and his man betrayed him. He feels responsible, so he's spent a lot of time with me making sure I'm okay." Duo looked up, an earnest look imprinted on his face. "So, you see, that's why I'm wearing the uniform, and why Zechs is treating me so nicely." He looked away again. "As for why I didn't do anything when you burst in, well, for one thing I was really surprised, and for another thing, I guess I'm still really grateful to Zechs, and I didn't want to hurt him, so I hesitated. Then it was too late. I'm sorry, Heero." He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists in his lap. Two fat droplets exploded on his knuckles. "I feel like such a fool for letting all this happen. If I hadn't gotten sick, or if I hadn't been such a baka when you came in. This is all my fault."

"No, not completely your fault." Heero said. "I was stupid not to consider the fact that you might have guards in your room with you. I let my guard down."

Duo looked at him, his eyes shining. "You believe me, then? And you don't hate me?"

"Baka."

Duo attacked him, landing on top of Heero and burying his head in the Japanese pilot's chest. "Thank God! Heero, I was so worried that you'd be pissed at me. I swear, I haven't told them anything, except what I might have said when I was delirious, and I think I only told them I'd slept with you, so that's why they know your name. As for why they know Wufei's, I don't know, but I don't think it's my fault-"

"Shut up, Duo."

"Shutting up." Duo sighed and breathed in Heero's scent for a while, before Heero spoke again.

"What promise did you make?"

Duo groaned. "I promised that while I was with you I wouldn't talk about escaping or try to escape. It was the only way Mi - Zechs would let me see you."

"Hn," Heero grunted. A few seconds later, Duo looked up at him with a devilish glint in his eye.

"You know, Heero," he said.

"What?"

"I've been going mental since I recovered from my fever. I've been horny for days and it's driving me nuts."

"What are you getting at, baka?"

Duo's grin widened and he slipped his hand under Heero's shirt, teasing one of his nipples until it went hard.

"What are you doing, you idiot? They're watching, you know! And I can't exactly do anything tied down like this!"

Duo's hand walked down to his groin, feeling through the fabric of his spandex shorts that, yes, Heero was hard as a rock.

"That doesn't seem to be bothering you *that* much." Heero groaned as he rubbed lightly. "In fact, I'd say you're enjoying this even more then you did in that warehouse. Are you a danger junkie, Heero? Or are you into bondage?"

"Kuso!" Heero said through clenched teeth, though his head was thrown back and he was panting. "I haven't exactly had the chance to experiment, remember?"

"Now's the perfect time, don't you think?" Duo's voice was low and husky from crying, and it sounded incredibly sexy. :I love him.: Heero realized suddenly, almost as an afterthought. He found himself giving a mental 'fuck you' to the guards watching and sinking into the sensations. At some point, Duo slipped off his shorts and he felt only a twinge of reservation.

Even that quickly flew out of his head as Duo's mouth closed over his cock. After that, he just lost himself in the pleasure of Duo's tongue laving him, of that warm, wet cave enveloping him and pumping, up and down. He clenched his fists so hard his fingernails bit into his palms and cried out as he came into Duo's mouth.

Duo quickly swallowed with the ease of practice and lapped up everything else that had escaped him, an action that almost made Heero come again. Then he crawled on hands and knees up to curl around Heero.

"Well, how was that, koibito?"

"It, it was wonderful, Duo." Duo looked surprised.

"Good to hear it."

They lay in silence for a few minutes, and then Zechs' voice intruded. "Duo, it's time for you to leave, now." Zechs' voice was rough, Heero noted, and he wondered if the Lightning Count had been watching. Duo kissed Heero on the cheek and got up.

"All right, Zechs," he said agreeably. He turned to Heero. "I'll be back soon, I promise." He paused,as if trying to remember something, then. "Oh yeah, and if you promise to stop killing guards and stuff, they'll let you out of those restraints. It must be a real pain in the ass to go to the bathroom like that." He grinned. "So to speak."

Heero regarded him for a moment. "All right."

"Yes! Score one for the good guys! Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." He turned to go.

"Baka!" Heero yelled. Duo stopped in his tracks as the door opened, and turned meekly.

"W-what?"

"Put my pants back on, you idiot!" Duo blushed so hard and so suddenly that Heero thought it was a wonder his nose didn't start bleeding.

"Ohmygod! Gomen, Heero!" He grinned evilly. "Or maybe I should just leave you that way..."

"Duo..." Heero said dangerously. Duo reacted with mock terror.

"Okay, okay, I'll do it! Just don't give me the Death Glare!" He pulled Heero's shorts up and gave him a rub for good measure. "It's not as though they haven't all seen it, now. I'll bet the recorded image will be seen by every high-ranking member of Oz!"

"..."

"Okay, okay, going now!" He gave one last grin. "I'll miss you!" The door closed behind him.

Heero dropped his head back against the pillow. "Kono bakayaro!" Inwardly, he smiled.

Zechs and Duo walked back to the command level in silence. Zechs had been monitoring their entire conversation, of course, mostly to ensure that Duo kept his promise and that Heero didn't hurt the boy somehow. Instead of what he'd feared, though, he'd been treated to a first-hand exposition of the two pilots' relationship. He'd never been much a voyeur, but he had forced - well, forced was a *bit* strong - himself to watch anyway. Just in case, of course.

:I will not be jealous. I have no right to be jealous. I will *not* be jealous.: The words ran in a litany in his mind. It didn't help.

When they arrived at Duo's room, Zechs accompanied him in, but didn't let the door close behind him. When Duo turned to him, a question on his expressive face, Zechs forced a smile to his face, grateful for the mask that hid his eyes from the boy.

"I have some work to do, Duo. I'll see you later, if you like." He turned away.

"Wait!" Duo called. Zechs looked back at him. "Just, just close the door for a sec, okay?" Zechs gestured at the tech on duty to shut down the equipment and obeyed, stepping inside the room just enough for the door to close. Zechs regarded Duo with a dispassionate expression on his face, fighting the urge to cross the room, to beg Duo to give up the Japanese pilot.

"What is it, Duo?" he asked as the silence lengthened, wincing at the roughness of his voice. He felt like every word was grating against the back of his throat.

Duo shifted from foot to foot. "Are you all right? I know you were watching..."

"Yes, Duo, I'm fine."

"Bullshit," he shot back. Zechs didn't allow so much as a muscle to twitch. He remained silent. Duo peered at him. "Jeez, you're looking at me like I'm some kind of drill sergeant. 'Get down and give me twenty, dirtbag!'" he cried, trying to force his voice to sound mean and grating.

Zechs didn't smile. "Is that all, Duo?"

Duo dropped the attitude and stared at the floor. "You really, really care about me, don't you? I mean, more then friends." Zechs didn't trust himself to speak, so he didn't comment. It was obvious what the answer was, anyway.

The long-haired angel looked up, anguish in his violet eyes. He walked toward Zechs, who tensed, but didn't try to withdraw. When he was toe to toe with the Lightning Count, the short pilot stood on tiptoes, reached up to encircle Zechs' neck with his arms, and kissed him.

Zechs closed his eyes, wavered, and then gently placed his hands on Duo's shoulders, pushing him away. The other boy made a small, confused sound in the back of his throat. "No, Duo. Don't do this to yourself," Zechs said quietly. "You have no obligation to me. *I'm* the one horning in on an established relationship. You don't need to do this out of some misguided feeling that it will make me feel better. If you want to be with Heero, that's what you should do. It's not as though I'm alone, I'll always have Treize."

"Demo..." Duo protested, but Zechs placed a hand gently over his mouth.

"No angel, I'm going now." He turned away and signaled for the door to be opened before he could change his mind, and escaped.

Duo threw himself down on the bed, burying his head under the pillow and cramming his fist into his mouth to quiet the shuddering sobs that tried to burst out of him.

:But, I *wanted* to do it...:

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