Chapter 11 / 37
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
Zechs stared at Duo in a mixture of shock and bewilderment as he dropped his hand into his lap. His heart twinged painfully as he realized that this beautiful creature that had come to mean so much to him was afraid. Of him.
Duo withdrew a bit, his arms wrapping around himself tightly and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying desperately not to cry. // Boys don't cry... // Zechs wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around Duo and hold him close, though he had the sense to realize that that probably would not be a very good idea and would only make the problem worse.
With a deep, shuddering breath, Duo calmed down visibly. He wiped his eyes quickly with his sleeve and stood up, pasting a somewhat wobbly smile on his face. "We...we probably should be getting back or they WILL think you escaped. Can't have that if you want to make a good impression."
Zechs stood to follow him inside, his own thoughts spinning crazily. // Why are you so afraid of letting me close to you? What has so hurt your heart that you can't let me in? You seem so open and affectionate, and yet it's only a front...you're hiding behind thick walls. //
~ * ^ * ~
Dinnertime came and, as he said, Quatre was back to join them for the meal. He almost immediately noticed that they both seemed a bit distracted, but he figured if they wanted to talk about it, they would. Quatre decided that since neither of them - amazingly enough, in Duo's case - was overly talkative, he'd start up a conversation. "So, Zechs...how is it that you came to be injured in the first place?"
Duo smirked. "Oh, you aren't gonna believe this one."
Quatre arched an eyebrow. "Really. Try me."
Zechs shrugged. "A dragon dropped out of the sky and ripped up Epyon and forced me into a nasty crash that almost killed me."
Quatre stared slack-jawed at Zechs for a moment before setting down his fork. "A...dragon."
Zechs shrugged. "I don't believe it any more than you do, really. But I'm telling you that Treize has a dragon in his containment room."
"I...see."
Zechs paused for a moment. "May I put a call in to Treize? Perhaps I can find something out."
Quatre looked at Duo nervously, but Duo gave him a grin. "Eh, he's cool, Q. No worries."
The Arabian nodded and excused himself, returning a moment later with a video screen. "Alright...if Duo trusts you, I will too."
Zechs nodded as he punched in the code for Treize's personal line. It took a few moments but Treize finally answered. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Milliardo! What a surprise...how are you?"
"Hello, Treize, I'm fine."
"Your bandages are off. It's very good to see you in one piece again. How is your eye?"
"My sight has returned. I've suffered no lasting damage."
"Milliardo, you look uneasy. Is there something you want to tell me?"
Zechs sighed. "Yes, Treize. I want to formally announce my resignation from OZ."
Treize closed his eyes, steepling his fingers before nodding. "In all honesty, I had expected it to happen eventually. OZ no longer can no longer provide a means to the ends you wish to achieve."
"I'm sorry Treize."
"Don't be sorry, my dear Milliardo. You need to follow your heart. And if joining the Gundam pilots in achieving your ideals is what you need, then I wish you well in your quest. I only wish for you to be happy."
Zechs flicked his eyes to Duo over the monitor for a moment before returning his gaze to Treize. "I never said a word about joining the other Gundam pilots."
Treize chuckled softly. "You didn't need to. Who else would be able to break into our most secure base undetected and manage to escape with you in tow? And judging from the opulence of the room you're sitting in, I'll assume you're not entirely under containment. That's no jail room. Thus you've found a common ground with people whom you can respect and will respect you in return. You appear casual and relaxed, even happy. There are no other people that would fit that description with the ability to capture you in the first place, or for whom the risk of kidnapping you would outweigh the benefits."
Zechs smirked a bit. "You've always been shrewd, Treize." Zechs could only chuckle as Treize continued, looking at the expressions of mixed awe and shock growing on Quatre and Duo's faces.
"Indeed. I can also see the room you're in. Few have the wealth for the sort of artistry and furnishings around you. That's an original painting to your left, and the vase on your right would cost an average man three years' salary. Out the window I can see that you're located in a small oasis and beyond that the desert. The only homes of any great wealth I know of located in a desert setting belong to the Winner family. Give young Master Quatre my regards."
Quatre looked completely at a loss, utterly flabbergasted.
Duo shook his head and muttered. "Damn, and this guy is the enemy? No wonder he's got such a following. If everyone in OZ was like you two..."
Treize chuckled. "I thank you for the compliment."
Zechs smiled before his expression turned a bit more serious. "Would it be untoward for me to inquire about the dragon-boy?"
Treize frowned a bit. "He is severely injured, but we have found a way to contain him."
"Injured?"
"It was inadvertent. He escaped.'
"Escaped? How? You had him in a reinforced concrete room with a steel door as thick as my hand."
"He broke through the door. It's nearly bent in half. Apparently, he was not lying that he drew energy from the dark."
Quatre finally walked around the viewscreen and gave Treize an incredulous look. "You're comfortable discussing this even though you KNOW I'm right here and not alone?"
Treize chuckled. "Ah, Mr. Winner. Greetings. No, I'm not worried. If you knew half of what I've learned about this creature, you'd stay as far away from him as possible. If I was not worried about the effect he may have on the earth, I would release him. However, I cannot in good conscience release a monster of his strength that has no regard for human life at all. Nor can I order his execution. His attack on Milliardo was out of self defense, and his coming to our world was an accident."
Quatre blinked, somewhat startled by Treize's wisdom and compassion.
"Did you think I was a monster, Mr. Winner?" Treize asked with a soft chuckle.
Quatre merely gave Treize a faintly amazed smile and shook his head.
Duo finally couldn't take it any more and bounded in front of the screen, grabbing it. "So you're sayin' this kid's really a dragon?"
"Ah! You were the one that liberated Milliardo from my facility. But in answer to your question, yes. As far as I can tell, he is."
Duo flopped down in the chair next to Zechs. "Damn, dude...a real live dragon."
Zechs eyed Treize for a long moment. "So what is this dragon-boy's story?"
Treize frowned slightly. "He claims he wants nothing more than to return to his home. He says he is the sole caretaker of his crippled brother, whom is likely to die without him. I do not have any idea how to send him back home, however, nor does he."
Quatre frowned. "If it's true...that's awful."
Treize nodded. "He has my sympathies, but there is nothing I can do for him." Treize returned his gaze to Zechs. "I'm afraid I have to go, Milliardo. Duty calls. But I am glad you've found a way to follow your heart, even if this may put us on a path to confrontation. I accept your resignation and wish you only the best, my dear friend."
Zechs nodded stiffly and saluted, then smiled. "Thank you, Treize."
Treize smiled and clicked off the communicator.
"Damn, man..." Duo said with a weak chuckle. "I can see why so many people are willing to follow him at least. Talk about charisma. And damn, he's pretty sharp. I've never...gotten to talk to him, only heard press conferences."
With a smirk, Zechs nodded. "Treize is an amazing individual. It's regrettable that we're destined to be on opposite sides of this conflict."
"So what are we going to do about this dragon-boy?" Quatre asked after a moment.
The other two shrugged slightly. "Eh, Q, I don't know. I'll think about it though. Treize might actually be right about this one though. If we can't help him and he's dangerous, what else can we do for him?"
"We can talk about this when the other three are back from Mission. For now, let's just wait and see."
"Words of wisdom, Q-man." Duo chirped, standing up and stretching. "Alright. C'mon Zechsy, time for me to tuck you in."
Zechs chuckled and stood up. "Thank you for dinner, Quatre. And for trusting me enough to allow me to talk with Treize...though that may have been a bit more revealing than I had intended."
"It's alright. I have a feeling Treize will keep it to himself. Or even if he wasn't inclined to...I don't think we could have hidden it from him forever. Well...good night, you two."
"Night, Q."