04:
He sat as still as death on
the wooden chair, staring at his untouched meal of fried fish and boiled peas.
Fading sunlight drifted through the narrow windows in the kitchen, casting long
shadows of orange and black on the furniture and appliances. The low whirr of
the refrigerator and the cooling system filled the silence with only the faint
sound of the grandfather clock ticking in the living room as company. Somehow
he knew what was coming. Even as the hour hand struck at twelve and the
undeniable sound of the car pulling up the driveway was heard, Heero Yuy knew
what news awaited him. The door to the green military vehicle was opened and
then shut firmly. There were the crunching sounds of boots walking up the
gravel driveway, the small flight of stairs and finally the jarring sound of
the doorbell which jerked him from his deep reverie. He rose slowly to his feet
to open the door, already knowing who waited for him. It would be Lt. Draco,
one of his father’s closest friends, sent to deliver the heart-wrenching news
of Odin’s death. But as Heero opened the door, it wasn’t the tall, white-haired
man standing there, but Agent 002 in full combat gear with a wide grin on his handsome
countenance.
“Hiya doc,” he greeted with a
firm salute and to Heero’s faint horror, the hand raised was completely soaked
in blood. In fact, the path Duo had walked from the car to the door was covered
with the dark liquid and it now seemed to be pouring from the very pores of the
unit’s flesh.
“What’s the matter, doc?” Duo
asked in that same pleasant voice. “It’s a beautiful day outside and I think we
should take a walk, don’t you? Sorry to hear about your daddy’s death but it
happens. In this world where no one gives a fuck about anyone else, you know
what I mean, right? So, why don’t you come with me, Heero?”
He held out a hand,
thankfully, not stained with blood. However, it was now made of only gundanium
for the flesh no longer existed. In the dying sunlight, the metal joints shone
like molten gold and the fingers creaked as he motioned for Heero to move
closer.
“I…I can’t…” Heero muttered
thickly, trying to shut the door against the ghastly sight. He felt sick with
an incomprehensible fear of the unknown – of something he couldn’t quite put
his finger on. However, he knew without a doubt, that leaving this place - his
sanctuary – was going to be the death of him.
“I…I…can’t come outside. You
know I can’t.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, doc,”
Duo chided. He was still grinning as he stuck out a boot-clad foot to prevent
Heero from closing the door. “Of course you can get out of here. You just need
to follow me and I’ll set you free.”
“Free…what are you talking
about?” Heero screamed in growing anger. What did Duo know about anything?! How
could this unit understand what he was going through?! “I can’t get out! You
know I can’t! Just leave me the fuck alone!”
With a small cry, his lashes
flew open and he sat up quickly, his breathing harsh and uneven as he tried to
steady his rapid heartbeat. His gaze remained unfocused for a second or two,
before he blinked slowly to gain some semblance of control as well as focus on
his surroundings.
Wha…where…how…?
He wasn’t in his apartment
that was certain. The whiteness of the room alone should have told him that
something was out of place. He felt panic well up in his throat at the notion
that they must have finally sent him
into one of the ante-chambers for Investigation – the dreaded ritual most
doctors faced when it was decided that they could no longer work for the
Organization to their full potential. He shivered at the thought and began to
swing his legs off the bed only to blink in mild surprise as he met Duo’s
amused gaze across the room.
Oh yes…that’s right. I came in here to check up on the
unit and…
“…passed out,” Duo finished
with a small smile. He was still sitting on the chair, his toes peeking out
from beneath the gown as he wiggled them slowly.
He had been watching Heero
all this time – about half an hour in all – and had even noticed the troubled
look that had come on the doctor’s features at some point. Whatever the doctor
had been dreaming about, Duo hadn’t been able to tap into his mind. He deduced
that the mind-reading technique he had acquired could work only when Heero was
awake. But he was curious and itching to ask a million and one questions. He
could only hope that Heero would be more willing to answer them than the psychotic
other doctor. However, he knew he’d have to be careful with his interrogation.
He had no intentions of losing Heero now or he’d never get to the bottom of his
new existence.
“Scared the shit out of me,
I’ll tell you that,” he added with a light shrug.
Heero, who was still trying
to get rid of the image of the Duo in his dream, nodded softly in
understanding. “I must have been more tired than I thought,” he finally
mumbled.
“No shit, Sherlock.”
Heero raised a brow at the
smart-assed remark and then smiled. “So you carried me to bed?”
Duo, who had picked up the
‘book’ - which was actually a manual of sorts as it contained everything one
needed to know about the Organization, its objectives (for the promotion of a
better life for all), rules and regulations (and there seemed to be a million
of them) as well as military lingo necessary for all units - lowered it and
shrugged again.
“No big deal, doc. You’re not
that heavy but I will say that you definitely need more meat on your bones.”
“Thanks for the advice, 002,”
Heero replied, trying not to be sarcastic. He got off the bed and after making
sure he wasn’t going to collapse again, he made his way to his tools of trade
and began the ritual again. “Please step to the bed…”
“You’re not going to go digging
in my ass again like that Doc C and C are you?” Duo suddenly asked with a light
frown. Not that he would have minded Heero doing the probing…
Heero looked bemused at the
random question although the sudden image of burying his fingers in Duo’s ass...
He cleared his throat and
asked instead, “Doc C and C?”
“Yah, the guy with the greasy
black hair who quarantined me before the…” He didn’t finish the sentence as a
dark look filled his eyes for a moment before disappearing quickly. “Anyway,
he’s the guy who’s been coming in here and giving me shots the past few days.”
“Oh…Patini,” Heero mumbled as
he prepared the syringe. He had never really liked the other doctor and hadn’t
really appreciated the news that Patini would be in charge of Duo in his
‘absence’. In medical school, they had taken the same classes and it seemed
like each and every time, Patini would do his best to get in Heero’s way. He
always volunteered to be paired up with Heero in practical examinations and
once or twice, he had blamed Heero for getting them a less than stellar grade
afterwards. Since their membership into the Organization, Heero had done his
best to steer clear of the other man. However, he knew that Patini was still
upset because he had not been promoted to level of surgeon yet and was willing
to do anything to get there someday – even if it meant getting in Heero’s way
again.
Sighing inwardly, he motioned for Duo to come closer, which the long-haired man did
willingly enough.
“Want me to take off my
clothes?” Duo asked and Heero, who wasn’t really sure why his cheeks suddenly felt
hot at the innocuous question…
For crying out loud, I’ve seen him naked before!
…nodded curtly without
turning around to look Duo in the face. The unit noticed this and smirked
lightly as he stepped out of the gown before lying flat on his back on the
narrow bed. With Patini, Duo had felt revulsion and disgust each time he had to
do this but with this man…
(My creator)
…he felt something warm within
the pit of his stomach. It was a sensation that wasn’t all that bad and it made
him feel rather tingly all over. In fact it was a good feeling – a rare thing to experience these days.
After what seemed like an
eternity, Heero finally turned to face his patient, dark eyes unreadable as he
began a series of routine check-up procedures. He didn’t wear any gloves like
Patini and Duo could feel and welcomed the warmth of Heero’s fingers against
his temple as it was massaged gently.
“Any lingering headaches?”
Heero asked in a quiet voice which was professional and yet soothing in tone.
“No…” Duo began but stopped
himself from going any further. He did not want to admit that he was still
having nightmares about his fight with Wufei. In his dreams, he was the one
defeated, bleeding, dying and begging for a chance to survive. It always left
him feeling cold and empty when he awakened. But even more disturbing were the
dreams he kept having about the blond guy with the long hair…
“Aaah…” He let out a soft
breathless sound which had Heero’s cheeks flushing with more color as he
continued prodding gently. He had brushed his fingers against Duo’s nipples,
hence the noise from the unit. The wounds he had suffered from the fight had
healed as expected and even Heero had to commend Patini for a job well done.
“Normally you won’t need to
go through surgery for your metal replacements,” Heero began, in order to break
the sudden --
(sexual)
-- tension-filled
silence between them. There was a look in Duo’s eyes now that he couldn’t get
himself to meet. Neither could Heero trust himself to turn around completely to
face the unit for he was sure Duo would notice the rising tent in his pants. He
cursed himself inwardly for allowing his emotions to get the best of him.
But this is what you get when you do not plant a chip
in the unit, Yuy. He feels everything and,
of course, it’s bound to affect you as well. What the hell do you expect?
“Everything all right, doc?”
Duo’s voice sounded thick – like a husky drawl filled with…
Fuck.
“You look fine to me,” Heero
replied with more bite than he would have liked. “At least your upper body’s in
perfect condition…”
(That’s the understatement of the century. He’s
fucking perfect all over!)
He took a deep breath and
moved his hands lower, down Duo’s torso and towards the hard flesh jutting from
the light brown hair between his legs. It lay against Duo’s stomach at a rather
tantalizing angle. Its swollen tip was now wet with milky drops of Duo’s semen
and Heero swallowed tightly, feeling his throat constricting painfully at the
sight. He was aware that Duo was now watching him carefully even as he
deliberately ignored that section of his body to work on the powerful thighs
and legs below it. He wasn’t sure if Duo groaned but Heero was again glad that
his face was turned away. Light beads of sweat dotted his brow and he wiped it
away quickly before stepping back with a small sigh of relief.
“All clear,” he croaked and
then cleared his throat. “Please turn around.”
He picked up the syringe as
he listened to the rustle made from Duo’s movement.
“Ready for you, doc,” came
the muffled but cheeky response which had Heero almost dropping the equipment
again. He glared at the mischievous unit, a part of him almost wanting to drive
the needle brutally into that smooth and taut …
Good grief!
He shook his head and with a
fierce determination to get this over and done with, he rubbed the alcohol on
the upper left cheek of Duo’s buttocks and promptly drove the needle into the
prepared flesh. Duo shuddered a little but otherwise remained perfectly still
until it was done. Heero rubbed the alcohol again and then allowed himself to
take a really good look at the agent. On Duo’s lower back, was the faint
remains of what must have once been a tattoo. Heero wasn’t sure of what had
been drawn or written, since all units were required to be devoid of any body
art or piercing once sent to the Organization. Without thinking, he reached out
to caress the pale flesh gently, unaware of Duo’s low moan or the fact that the
unit was biting hard into his hand to prevent himself from crying out with
pleasure at the touch. His cock was a throbbing mass that needed to be relieved
and soon.
“Hey…doc…”
“Hmm?”
“Think you can let me go to
the bathroom or something? I need a little help…if you know what I mean.”
Heero jerked his hand away
quickly, his visage now as red as a tomato as he barely caught Duo’s pained but
amused glance. “Sor…sorry about that…”
“No big deal,” Duo replied,
rising gingerly to his feet, while trying not to laugh as Heero suddenly seemed
preoccupied with his briefcase. “I’ll be back in a few.”
Once Duo was out of the room
and safely in the restroom – which was nothing more than a tiny space
consisting of a single toilet and sink - Heero slumped into the chair with a
low groan, aware that he too needed to find himself a restroom and fast. He
closed his eyes and began to think of the most horrible things to kill his
erection – mutilated bodies, the surgery room with a vast amount of blood
drained from the units as their metal bones were being replaced…
…and Duo’s beautiful, or in
the words of Zechs Merquise – magnificent,
physique. Heero felt something bitter on his tongue and he was faintly
aware that he was jealous. Jealous of the look in Zechs’s eyes as the match had
progressed. Jealous of the way the blond had licked his lips slowly as if
appraising a succulent meal to be feasted on. But then again, wasn’t that Duo’s
role to begin with? Wasn’t he simply a machine created to appease the
higher-ups’ insatiable desires? Heero had heard stories about officials using
units for their personal pleasures and Heero had been revolted by the idea. The
very notion of sleeping with one of those half-machines was just…
But weren’t you just thinking of that a few minutes
ago, doc Yuy? You’re not so innocent yourself, are you?
Yes, but he had never been
attracted to a unit, no matter how handsome or beautiful they might be. However,
he knew that argument held no water. If he had planted the chip in Duo, would
he still feel this way for the unit? The only reason he was responding so much
to 002 was because Duo was able to feel as well. Every sensation was heightened
with a touch or sound and it was going to only make things more complicated
between them. He opened his eyes and stared at the manual on the table, knowing
that it was only a matter of time before Duo would be launched into the Outside
to partake in dangerous or even suicide missions.
One day, he’ll be gone and won’t return. Destroyed
beyond repair…and then what will you do, Yuy?
/You just need to follow me and I’ll set you free./
In his dream…Duo had said
those words to him and he was almost ashamed to admit that a part of him wanted to believe that. Was there
something Duo knew that he didn’t? There was still the fact that Duo could read
his mind - that had been established during the fight. He had willed Duo to heed his warning about
Wufei’s legs as well as his plea for Duo to fight back. For his part, he
couldn’t get into Duo’s head even though he had tried. It seemed like the unit
had a rather good mental blocking capability going for him and that was
rather…aggravating to say the least.
A slight noise had him
lifting his head quickly. Duo was back in the room and he was dressed in his
gown again. The unit was sitting on the bed and watching Heero with those
unreadable violet eyes, which was rather disquieting to the doctor.
“How long have you been
here?” he asked in a slightly accusatory tone. “Why didn’t you tell me you had
returned?”
“It’s called stealth, doc,”
Duo replied with a light smirk. “It’s part of the instructions in the manual
right in front of you. I’ve been practicing walking into a room without making
a sound. Of course it helps when the other party’s so lost in thought. Geez, it’s
making my head spin.”
“What have you managed to read
so far?” Heero asked coolly, sitting back on the chair to eye his patient with increased
curiosity.
Duo furrowed his brow in
thought and then shook his head slowly. “It’s all a jumble. It’s like images
thrown into my mind from your head. Kinda funny the way it works. I see some
things and then the others are just blank pictures. Can’t poke through them.”
“Hn…”
“How’s that, doc? Did you put
some kind of mind reading machine inside of me?”
“No, not really,” Heero
replied with a slight shake of his head. “Although it’s not uncommon for some
units to gain some sort of new ability after surgery. You can consider them
mutations if you want. Some find they can levitate while some can move objects
with their mind, in other words psychokinesis. In your case, you are a mind-reader…and
I’d hate to have to say telepath since we haven’t really established any real
connection yet. But I’ll have to say that I have yet to see any unit display
this particular phenomenon. It makes you all the more interesting, 002.”
“So tell me, are you able to read
anyone else’s mind or just mine?” Heero asked, now pulling out a small notepad
and pencil to scribble on.
The unit swung his legs back
and forth slowly as he thought again while trying to digest all the information
just thrown at him. “I…don’t think I’m very good at it…yet. I think if I stay
long enough in a person’s presence I can sense a few things. Like that Patini
guy. I couldn’t read him at first but as of yesterday, I could pick up a few
things here and there…wanna know what I heard?” he added with a cheeky grin.
Heero shrugged his shoulders,
appearing as nonchalant about it as possible even though he was extremely
curious. He knew the cameras were trained on them and Duo’s ability – if known
– would become a liability in the long run. He couldn’t afford to have Duo
taken away to become Classified. He would never be heard from again.
Or I’m just being selfish and want him all to myself.
“Being greedy now, aren’t
you?” Duo said with a laugh, causing Heero’s cheeks to darken in embarrassment.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it. You’re too easy to read anyway.”
“I really wish you wouldn’t
do that,” Heero mumbled. “I’m going to have to start protecting my head from
being picked apart.”
“Aww, come on,” Duo whined
and then placed a hand against his chest. “You’re breaking my heart, doc. Then
I won’t get to listen to all your deepest darkest fantasies about you wishing
to fuck my brains out.”
“Agent 002! You...!”
“Eh? So you mean I was
right?” Duo asked in genuine surprise as he watched Heero flush a dark shade of
red and lower his lashes. His eyes widened at the sight and then he laughed in
amazement - although he felt that tingle of awareness creep down his spine
again. To think that the doctor would want him, a machine, it was too much.
“Anyway,” Heero demanded
roughly, forcing the conversation to deviate from any more sexual references.
“You could hear Patini…anyone else?”
Duo managed to stifle his
laughter to giggles and then scratched his head lightly. “Hmm…that blond guy.”
“Blond guy…?”
“Yeah…long hair…funny mask…”
Duo’s voice trailed off and he flushed, lowering his gaze to stare at the white
floor as if fascinated. Heero watched this with curiosity and that searing heat
of jealousy flared through him again. He struggled to curb that particular
emotion, forcing himself to sound pleasant enough.
“What about him, 002?”
Duo started and still not
looking at Heero, he mumbled. “He just smelled funny…”
Hot.
Incredibly hot and downright delicious.
It was a dangerous smell that appealed to something carnal within Duo’s body.
And when the guy had licked his cheek, it had caused such a deep reaction
within him that Duo had been unable to stop himself from sudden ejaculation. It
was embarrassing to admit but that was the potency of the Mystery Guy and Duo
had been able to read a little of his thoughts which all boiled down to one
thing.
He wanted Duo.
“Smelled funny,” Heero
replied tightly, his brows furrowing with growing irritation.
Duo finally lifted his head
and there was now a cruel smile on his visage. “What’s the matter, doc? You’re
not jealous, are you?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,”
Heero retorted coldly as he rose to his feet. He knew he was acting envious but damn it, this happened all the time,
didn’t it? He had little to no power against his superiors and Zechs Merquise
was literally the second-in-command of the most powerful military group on
Earth and amongst the colonies. What chance did he, a mere surgeon, have
against a man like that? He might as well try climbing
“Hey now,” Duo began, feeling
his heartbeat quickening with mild panic as he realized that Heero was about to
leave again. He had been cooped up in this room for the past two days with no
one to talk to. Patini was about as communicative as a dead fish and Heero was
the only semblance to normalcy he had had in a long time. He couldn’t afford to
lose him now.
“Are…are you going?” he asked
meekly, as he got off the bed to walk tentatively towards the doctor. “I’m
sorry if I upset you or anything. I was just kidding.”
And besides, I still need some answers!
“Never mind,” Heero replied
with a shake of his head as he packed up his things carefully but quickly. “I
won’t be here to see you again until your first mission is over.”
“Ah…”
“I’m sure you’ll begin
training tomorrow and subsequently sent on some missions. So you should be
prepared. You’ve healed well enough to be a part of the active units.”
“Listen, I…”
Heero snapped his briefcase
closed and spun around to face Duo…and promptly wished he hadn’t. There was a
blatant look of longing on the unit’s face and Heero would have been a fool not
to realize what it meant. He had seen it a hundred times before with the
soldiers. Duo was lonely and miserable in this place. Heero was sure that in
his past life, Duo had been the kind of person who loved life and all it had to
offer. This wasn’t a place for a person like him.
But you brought him here, didn’t you? You should have
just left him to die like the doctors suggested, but you brought him to this
hell hole, didn’t you? What’s the deal, doc? You wanted someone to suffer the
same things you go through? Is that really why you didn’t put the chip inside
of him?
“I’m sorry,” he finally
muttered thickly and for a moment he wasn’t sure of what he was apologizing
for. Perhaps for everything. Oh, god, I’m
so sorry, Duo.
The unit nodded softly and
managed a weak smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “No problem, doc. I know
you’ve got other things to take care of. But at least answer this for me,
okay?”
“Okay…I’ll try…”
“What is this place?” Duo
asked fervently, his eyes a brilliant shade of purple as they burned in
earnest. “Who was I before coming here, huh? How did I get here?”
“I can’t…”
“Oh come on, for fuck’s
sake!” Duo yelled in clear frustration. “You’ve got to give me something, doc!
I can’t keep living like this! This is fucking torture!”
Don’t you think I know that?! Heero screamed helplessly.
Duo gasped in shock and took
a staggered backwards as if mentally slapped. His eyes widened slowly as
comprehension dawned. “You…”
“I’m sorry, Duo,” Heero
continued aloud, trying to gain some semblance of control again. “But I cannot
give you the answers you want right now. I will be putting your life and mine
in danger if I do. So please reserve your hate for a later date. Good day.”
And without a second look
back, the young doctor stepped out of the room, where he felt he had aged a
million lifetimes.
__
As predicted, he was kept
away from Duo for the next two weeks and instead, sent back on trips to the
devastated colonies in search of more survivors. Work was slow and tedious –
most bodies found were either too burnt or damaged beyond repair. There was a low
rumble of discontent within the ranks, many of the higher-ups now concerned
that they would never be able to meet the demands of the Organization. Too many
units were being dispatched all over the colonies and on Earth and it was a
great surprise that many did not make it back. The worry that the Opposition
had finally found a way to get rid of the supposedly indestructible machines
was becoming tangible. And with the increase of failed missions, the medical
staff was being stretched to its limits as the number of damaged soldiers they
had to take care of each and every day grew to a rather staggering amount. To
make matters worse, the stress had begun to get to some of the doctors and over
the past few days, several names on the daily roster had disappeared without a
trace. The doctors were never seen or heard from again and those that remained
could only keep their mouths shut and continue with their duties without
showing their disgruntlement.
With the way things were
going, Heero was lucky to get even an hour’s worth of complete and
uninterrupted sleep. His pager seemed to ring constantly and he had found
himself taking short naps in the doctor’s lounge or at his desk whenever he
could afford some time off. Although he had been banned from being with 002,
Heero was aware of his training and deployment to several troubled areas
already. In his opinion, Duo hadn’t been given enough time, but he was also
aware that 002 was a special case. They were determined to stretch the unit to
his limits and if he died in the process, it was no great loss.
Just the other day, Heero had
met (and with great reluctance) Patini in the hallway. He had to suck in the
bitter acidic taste that rose to his throat, forcing himself to maintain a
polite smile as the other doctor flashed a smug smile at him.
“Yuy,” he greeted with a curt
nod.
“Patini,” came the calm
reply. “I believe 002 was brought in for repairs today?”
The smug grin widened. “Yes,
he was, Yuy.” He folded his arms before his chest and deliberately fell silent,
knowing full well that Heero was curious to know more about the unit.
“I see,” Heero replied, still
managing to keep his tight smile in place. “What was the extent of the
damage…?”
“I’m at no liberty to tell
you that, Yuy. You know protocol…”
“He’s my unit in case you have forgotten,” Heero replied icily. “While you’re
just a doctor sent to keep him running. But if you’re going to be a tight ass
about this, I think I’ll request for someone more competent to be put in charge
of him.”
For a moment, Patini’s eyes
widened with surprise at the statement, before they narrowed and a cruel smirk
formed on his lips. “You don’t want to fuck with me, Yuy,” he began slowly. “Oooh,
you do not want to fuck with me. I know what you did to 002 and I can write you
up and send the report to our superiors faster than you can blink those baby
blues of yours.”
Heero felt his heart skip a
beat, although he still kept his features as blank as he could. “Is that
supposed to be some kind of a threat, Patini?”
“Oh you bet your ass it’s a
threat,” the man replied, stepping closer to his slightly taller opponent. “You
want to stay out of my way, Yuy. You keep that in mind.”
So as it stood, Patini was
now a member of the Suspect Club – a growing number of people who were on the
lookout for any anomalies in Agent 002.
(Major fuck up, Yuy.)
As he lay in bed that night,
listening to Bach’s Cantata Number Four – Christ lag in Todes Baden - Heero
cursed himself a million times over, wondering, and for the umpteenth time,
just what had possessed him to do what he did. He also entertained the thought
of shoving Patini’s acne-ridden face into a brick wall while choking the smug
bastard at the same time. And as he found himself drifting off to fitful sleep,
his pager buzzed steadily beside him, jerking him awake and back to his cold
reality.
He stared with bleary eyes at
the message on the tiny screen - sure it would be G or J telling him to get his
ass down to the Operating Room - and promptly sat up as the letters glared back
at him.
‘Meet Me ASAP If You Can – Informant.’
Howard! Howard had finally
gotten the answers to the questions he had asked! With his heart racing a
mile-a-minute, Heero swung his legs out of bed and slipped into civilian
clothes quickly. The small clock on his wall showed that it was only
As expected, the corridors of
the building were empty and eerily quiet and to his mild surprise, there was
only one sentry at the main doors leading outside. The soldier was half-asleep
as Heero walked past, but dutifully shook himself awake to give the doctor a
half-hearted salute.
“Just taking a walk to clear
my head,” Heero said with a light wave.
“Okay, sir.”
And that was that. Heero
looked back and noticed that the man was already slumped against the wall again
in weariness. Shaking his head softly, he walked across the lawns quickly,
being careful to stay away from the blaring searchlights which illuminated the
grounds at specific intervals. He kept to the shadows, noticing several other
officers on patrol. These ones looked much more alert and ready to shoot down
any trespassers at the drop of a hat. Shuddering at the thought, Heero finally
got to Howard’s building and wondered if he ought to knock or…
The gate slid open silently
as if expecting him and Heero walked in quickly before he could be detected.
The office was even stuffier
than he last remembered it and even though it had been cool outside, in here,
the heat was unbearable.
“Sorry about that,” Howard
explained as he shuffled a few more papers into the crackling fire he had built
in what looked like a steel bucket. “Have to get rid of some useless documents,
you know.”
Heero nodded in understanding
although he wondered if there was any such thing as ‘useless documents’ in
Howard’s world. He had a feeling that the older man was getting rid of some
evidence of some sort but he would keep his opinions to himself for now.
However, the odd thing about the fire was that there was no smoke emanating from
it at all. It was just an incredible heat that seemed to radiate off the very
walls of the room. Heero began to peel out of his jacket when Howard stalled
him with a wave of his hand.
“Don’t get too comfy, son,”
he said curtly. “I’m only going to give you the folder and you’ve got to get
out of here.”
“But if I have a question…?”
“Ask me no questions and I’ll
tell you no lies,” Howard said around a small smile. “Ever heard of that one,
Yuy?”
The doctor looked perplexed.
“I might have…”
“Never mind,” Howard
interrupted with a wave of his hand. “Everything you want to know is in there.
God forgive me for what I did.” Suddenly he sighed, a low and sad sound that
had Heero staring at the older man again.
“You knew Duo didn’t you?”
Heero asked, now definitely sure about this theory. “You knew him back on L2.
You said you were born there so…”
“Listen, Doctor Yuy,” Howard
cut in and now there was an angry and impatient look in those gray eyes. “Whether
I knew Duo Maxwell or not is no concern of yours. What you’ve got to be
worrying about is your position in this Organization. They’re on to you and
just being in this office is bad enough as it is. If you know what’s good for
you, you’ll never return.”
Heero gritted his teeth at
the sharp words. “I know that, Howard. You don’t have to…”
“No, I don’t think you
understand what the fuck’s going on here, Yuy. Merquise wants 002 gone. Do you
catch my drift, boy? He’s been sending Duo on suicide missions, deliberately
ignoring backup calls whenever Duo sends for one. He’s using 002 to get to you
and you know it. The fact that the kid isn’t completely brain dead is the worst
thing you could have ever done to him.”
Heero sucked in a harsh
breath, his fingers tightening around the folder in his hands.
“You should have let him die,
Yuy,” Howard continued mercilessly. “You’ve subjected him to a life of pain,
loneliness and suffering and he’s going to feel every damn thing because you
failed to kill his humanity. The bottom line is that Duo won’t have long to
live at this rate. It’s only a matter of time before he’s de-commissioned and
then you’ll be sent in for Investigation.”
He turned away and continued
to tend to his documents. “I’m through here, Yuy. Good luck.”
Mumbling something that
sounded like a ‘thank you’, Heero shoved the folder within his jacket and stumbled
out of the office on legs that felt unsteady, sucking in huge gulps of the
cool, crisp air to try to clear his guilt-ridden mind. He couldn’t remember
making his way back to his apartment, but he managed somehow and soon found
himself sitting at his desk and staring at the plain manila folder with growing
trepidation.
What was he going to find?
What good would it do to know Duo’s past? Did he hope to redeem himself in the
eyes of the unit by telling him what he so desperately needed to know?
/Who was I before coming to this place? /
“Who were you, Duo Maxwell?”
he asked in a trembling whisper, rubbing the light stubble around his jaw in
contemplation. He knew he had little to no time left and Howard’s bitter words
were a rude wake-up call. He wasn’t sure of what he planned to do, but Heero
had the feeling that telling Duo about his past would be a good start. He had
no plans to let Zechs take Duo away from him; neither was he going to let
himself be eliminated like so many others before him. He was going to have to
fight back in some form or another and Duo was going to be the key to his…their victory.
“Who are you, Duo Maxwell?”
he asked himself again. “Let’s find out, shall we?”
He began to reach for the
switch on the desk lamp, but stilled his movements as he remembered the hidden
cameras in the room. He doubted they would know what kind of documents he was
reading and he hoped that they would only assume he was going through some
medical files.
Can’t…can’t take any chances, he thought quickly as he rose to his feet and walked
as casually as he could into the bathroom – the only place where privacy was
assured. He shut the door behind him carefully and sat upon the toilet seat,
realizing a light sheen of sweat had broken out on his brow. He closed his eyes
and tried to steady his rapid heartbeat and when he was sure he could begin, he
opened them again. And with a flick of the switch on the wall beside him, Heero
opened the cover page carefully and began to read.