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Strength of Will - Prologue
Heero, Wufei, and Trowa straightened up simultaneously from where they had been reading the mission briefing on Heero's computer and looked at each other in consternation. Wufei met Trowa's green eyes only briefly before flicking an impatient look at the door for the fiftieth time in ten minutes. He had been forcibly pried from Duo's side when the mission had come through and seemed to be certain that something terrible would surely befall his lover if he weren't there to watch over him. The fact that Quatre was sitting beside the boy was little comfort, as was the fact that Duo was really only banged up, with his most serious injury being a few broken ribs from an impact with one of his control consoles in DeathScythe. Heero's voice sounded in the small room, breaking the silence. "I think you'll both agree that Quatre's involvement is out of the question, and that Duo is too injured at the moment to pull it off." "You're damned right Duo's not getting involved in this! Kuso!" was Wufei's angry retort. He glanced at Trowa and suddenly looked a little abashed. "And neither is Quatre. It's just not right," he said, more quietly. "The question is, who should do it?" said Trowa quietly. Heero and Wufei both looked uncomfortable and he nodded, the decision already made. "Of course, neither of you have the experience necessary. I will do it." Heero glared down at the laptop as if the force of his gaze would be enough to banish the mission back to the void from whence it had come. "If it weren't necessary, Trowa..." his voice trailed off. Of course it was necessary. It was a mission, and it would be completed. Wufei clenched his fists. "The injustice! How can they ask this of anyone?" Trowa's green eyes glimmered faintly at the show of caring from his comrades; people who had been total strangers only a few short months before. The glimmer faded after only a moment, leaving them dead and blank. Determined. Heero looked steadily at Trowa, though he addressed his words to Wufei. "They ask it because it is an effective weapon they have at their disposal. Winning is not only about killing the enemy, Wufei, it is about gaining information and power over that enemy." There was a pause as the three boys each digested that in their own way. "Heero, Wufei," Trowa began. The other two looked back at him, Wufei's head jerking up suddenly as though he was startled from his thoughts. "Promise me something. Promise me that you will not reveal the details of this assignment to Quatre. Tell him I will be gone for a while, make up some convenient lie, but do not tell him what I'm really doing. Please." Though Trowa was certain the blonde wanted nothing more than friendship from him, he couldn't bear the thought that he one he loved would know what he was doing. Heero nodded once, curtly, his efficient mind filing the promise away and already coming up with a believable excuse for Trowa's absence. Wufei also nodded. "Of course Trowa, we understand," the Chinese pilot said. At that, he put his hand on the doorknob, clearly intending to return to *his* love. "Wufei," Trowa's voice caused him to pause. "If you tell Duo, ensure he promises as well." Wufei turned, an incredulous 'what do you take me for' on his lips, that died the moment he saw the pain and worry behind Trowa's normally blank eyes. Instead, he nodded gravely. "Of course. I will make sure that motor-mouth knows to keep his mouth shut. Trust me, Trowa." Then he was gone, back to his lover's side. Trowa stared at the door for a moment, attempting to get his thoughts in order. Heero's voice broke into his concentration. "When will you leave? I can be ready with altered records and orders within a few hours." Trowa's decision crystallized. "I'll leave immediately. Mail them to me. I'll keep in touch." Without giving the surprised Heero a chance to respond, he strode out of the room. He packed quickly and slipped out of the safehouse without seeing anyone. He knew he couldn't bear to see Quatre now, though he grieved for making the kind pilot worry and wonder why he had left so suddenly. He walked down the road towards the nearest town, not looking back, as he headed boldly into his nightmare. | |
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|Prologue| |Part 1| |Part 2| |Part 3| |Part 4| |Part 5| |Epilogue| |