Title: ESO
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com)
Archive: GW Addiction
Category: yaoi, AU? Epic Saga...
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, ?

E.S.O. - by bonnejeanne and vonceia -

Part Six: Heero & Duo catch up.... Zechs ponders....

Quatre led the way to the quadrangle, suspecting that both Heero and Duo could have found it on their own - both of them had appeared unannounced and had obviously been exploring on their own. He gestured to the doors that faced the inner court. "Trowa and I are there .... Wufei has taken that one... the rest are empty."

Heero nodded. "Thanks, Quatre." he said. "Maybe we can all get together in a few hours. I'm glad to see you're okay."

Quatre simply smiled and nodded.

Duo looked around and picked a door, one with neither of the adjoining units occupied. He opened the door and gestured to Heero. "This one?"

Heero nodded and walked past Duo into the room. As he went by, he grabbed Duo by the wrist and pulled him inside. Then Heero closed and locked the door. Without another word, he took Duo's arms, pushed him against the door and plastered his body against the braided pilot's as his mouth covered Duo's in a melting kiss.

After a long while, Heero moved back inches. "That's what I really wanted to do back there," he said as he placed his hands around Duo's face. His eyes searched Duo's for the fear that he had seen earlier.

All he saw were violet-blue eyes, so wide that they took up about half of Duo's face... the only thing in their depths was surprise, affection, and lust.

Swallowing, Duo said, "You've... loosened up a lot these days, you know?" He was breathing hard from the emotions and physical reactions to Heero's moves. His arms, which had wrapped around the other boy during the kiss, held him securely, keeping their bodies pressed together.

"So, that's what it is?" Heero asked as his eyes dropped to Duo's slightly swollen lips. Leaning over, Heero kissed his lower lip. He traced the outline of Duo's mouth with his tongue and kissed him again, briefly. "You should have seen me a few hours ago."

Duo shivered, feeling the sensations of Heero's tongue on his lips. He tried hard to keep him mind collected in some kind of random order. "Uh... not loose, huh?"

Heero leaned back just enough to slide a hand between their bodies. He grasped the bulge of Duo's pants, squeezing him a little. "Tight," he said. "Very... tight."

"Ohhh mannnn," Duo said, whimpering slightly, as his eyes started to cross. "Heero... uh... " Duo realized he could not think of one damn coherent thing to say while Heero was pressed against him, squeezing him that way.

Heero looked up at Duo as he heard his name. "Yeah?" he said, feeling his own body ache.

Duo swallowed, looking into those eyes so close to his own. Looking into those eyes he felt warm, safe secure... and hot, bothered and bad, all at the same time. Duo's mouth twitched, and pulled up a little at one side, and suddenly he hooked his leg around Heero's and pulled back, dropping them both to the floor in a tangle, with Duo on top. Grinning like a cheshire cat, he bent over Heero and kissed him thoroughly, grinding himself against the other boy. Leaning back, his grin was, if possible, wider and he looked like a kid who had just hit the home run that won the game.

Finding himself on the floor with Duo above him, Heero smiled. He settled his hands around Duo's waist. "Ok, so I guess it doesn't matter where we are huh? I mean it's still going to happen..." he said, stroking Duo's back.

Duo wrinkled his nose. "*It*? What is this *it*, my good man? You mean whereever we are, we're going to rut like jackals in heat? Horrors! Don't say it!" he said, holding one hand over his face dramatically.

Heero laughed. His hand slid down and around Duo's rear. "Yes!" he said. "That is exactly it!"

Duo wiggled, leaning back to straddle the other boy, "Well, as long as we're clear..." he said, rubbing himself against Heero's bulge. "Damn, Yuy! I don't know what happened on that trip to Brussels, but I'm glad it did..."

Heero groaned, closing his eyes for a moment. He felt the exquisite pleasure and aching wash over his body in waves. When he opened his eyes again, he pulled Duo down to him. "It wasn't the trip to Brussels. It was coming back, seeing that message, the tea set and knowing you were gone without knowing where to find you," he said.

Duo kissed him, then looked down, his expression looking a bit guilty. "I'm sorry. I had all these plans... I was going to meet you at the transport, bring you into my place, shower you, dress you in a silk kimono, sit you down and impress you with a real Japanese tea ceremony... I been practicing for a week. Then all this stuff came up. Kind blew my big evening." He sighed, tracing Heero's features with reverent fingers. "I was afraid for *you*. I can't tell you how much. I know, I know, she didn't do anything or say anything to try and get you... but I was afraid she would anyway. And she... kind of freaked me out..."

"It's ok," Heero said. "You want me to go and beat her?"

"No *thank* you," Duo said, shivering. "If there is one thing I never want to see, it's the two of you, going after it. Geez. It's bad enough seeing you both in the same room, for pete's sake. It's uncanny."

"It's all pretty weird." Heero said. "But I don't want to talk about her right now. I want to tell you what happened. I think you would understand."

Duo smiled, turning to lay on his side next to Heero, keeping one leg and arm draped over him possessively. "I'm listening," he said.

"Duo," he said with a sigh. "When I couldn't find you, and then I found out that everyone else was missing too, I kinda switched back into automatic. But, it was different this time." he said, leaning over to kiss Duo briefly before continuing. "I've fought to protect the colonies, to dull the memories of that little girl and to protect Relena and what she stood for. This was the first time I felt as though I was fighting for something that was like a part of me. I got very angry and cold, because I thought that somebody had hurt you and made you afraid."

Duo listened, recognizing 'that little girl' from a story Heero had told him once about his past. He nodded slowly. "I think I get it," he says. "The truth is... the truth is that I *was* afraid. Not of some outer space menace or anything. But she... look we can't talk about this without it coming up. The minute I saw her, I knew she was connected with you in some really important way. It didn't take long before I suspect how, even though it seemed crazy. When Howard said she was really old enough... to be... " Duo took a deep breath. "I... I know it's crazy but I thought... if anything could... take you away from me... maybe..."

Heero chuckled. "No way in Hell, God of Death." he said. Heero listened carefully and thought about what Duo said. He reached up and placed a finger on Duo's mouth. "Take me away from you," he repeated. "I don't think that will be possible, Duo. Yes, I think that she is related to me, but I just met her... if you call that a meeting. She's got a life of her own and it hasn't included me until now. It's like I can feel we're connected, but that's about it. I certainly don't feel for her the way I do you."

Duo sighed. "I know... that's not what I meant.... oh, forget it. I'm not sure what I meant. It's all about potentials...so it was probably dumb to worry about it. It's just... we've all... have so many, um, unpleasant surprises... I guess I was expecting this to be another one." He turned his face and kissed Heero's fingers briefly. Shaking his head, he said softly. "You've blown me away, yet again, you know."

"How?" Heero said, as his fingers unfastened Duo's clothing.

Duo swallowed, finding Heero's simple action enough to completely drive whatever he was thinking out of his head and replace it with something... else. "I don't remember," he said, reaching out to lift the tank top off of Heero's body. He ran his hands over the smooth, muscled chest and shoulders before him. "Oh, man...."

Heero closed his eyes briefly as he shivered at the touch of Duo's fingers on his skin. "That feels good," he said as he felt himself relax even further. "You know, I was thinking about things like you and me talking and spending time together to get things worked out. I guess this is the time we have to do that. What do you think?"

"Mmmm... yeah, sure," Duo said, moving his hands down to Heero's waist, letting his fingers slide just inside the waistband of the soft, tight-fitting jeans Heero was wearing. "Uh... whaddo we need to work out?"

Heero moaned a little as he felt Duo's hands inside of his jeans. "Ummm, I don't know. I thought it sounded like a good idea, but it was your idea." he said. "Of course, it's getting kinda hard to think."

Duo laughed, " 'Getting', he says." He fingered the top snap, and then pulled it open. "Okay, here's what we work out..." then he began slowly unzipping the fly, following it with his fingers. "We work it out that I go wherever you go... and I get to do this on a regular basis.... and... um... that about does it for me..."

Heero's back arched slightly as he listened and felt Duo touch him. "Agreed," he managed. Looking up at Duo above him, Heero reached up and pulled him down for a deep kiss.

Duo submersed himself in the kiss, while his hands stayed busy, infiltrating the jeans of Heero Yuy still further, and exploring thoroughly what he found there.

Heero moved his hands into Duo's clothing, pushing the top of the suit down. Released from the kiss, he moved in Duo's hands, feeling his body flush with heat. "Aren't you hot in those clothes?" he said, breathlessly and moved up a little to further undress Duo.

"Yeah... now that you mention it," Duo said, shrugging out of the layers of material. Soon he was bare-chested. His face took on an expression of anticipation, and maybe a little timidity, and he watched Heero's face closely as he bared his skin.

There, on Duo's right bicep, was a tattoo, about four or five inches across. It was a deep red heart, with a dagger through it and a pair of white wings coming from either side. There was a banner wrapped around it that had the letters "Heero" across them.

Heero stopped. He took Duo's arm, gently so as not to hurt him. For a moment, he just looked at the tattoo on Duo's bicep and said nothing. Finally, he looked back at Duo with a totally open and vulnerable expression. He swallowed hard and then hugged Duo to him hard. "Shit," he said. "Mission accepted."

Duo laughed, and said, "So, does that mean you don't... dislike it? Don't think it's stupid?"

"No, I think I'm jealous," Heero said. Then, "I like it. I love it, Duo... not as much as I love you, but it's cool."

Duo sighed, kissing Heero's neck. "Cool... I guess I can live with that. You know, it means something. It's permanent. The dagger symbolizes fidelity, and the wings of course are for you... the heart is mine..."

"Damn, Duo," Heero whispered, as he held on to Duo. "You've done things for me and taught me things from the start. Now this and it's incredible. By just being you, you've managed to get to me. I didn't understand it before, I think I do now. You honor me. "

Duo pulled Heero to him and kissed him deeply. "I love you," he said simply. "I've loved you for a long time. I didn't want to... in fact I fought it. But you did as much for me as I ever did for you - you opened up my inner prison. Just be being you, you gave me something to have faith in, when I thought the whole idea of faith was a lie and a joke. I never dared to dream I'd be so lucky as to have you return any feelings at all. After the last fiasco..." he grimaced slightly, "I realized that you might leave... I mean, you finally had a chance to get away from all the craziness and try and have a normal life... and maybe I was a part of the craziness. So I decided that whatever happened when you came back from Brussels, I'd have this... a reminder to myself not to loose faith... even if I couldn't have you."

Heero nodded. "I understand." he said. "So, you got the tattoo and you got me. I don't love Relena Peacraft... not like this anyway and I don't think she loves me either. I'm not normal and I'm not unhappy about it. In fact, you are about the only person I can tolerate for long periods of time." he added, tugging a little at Duo's braid.

Duo wrinkled his nose, grinning. "I wasn't worried about Relena, baka. I knew you'd never stay with her for more than two minutes at a stretch. But the world is big. There are many beautiful men and women in it, and you deserve better than one crazy ex-terrorist... Not that I'm complaining... Everything I want in is your eyes... and of course, what's in your pants is pretty special too!" he said, tugging the material down over Heero's rear.

"Crazy ex-terrorist," Heero said, fully naked. "Sounds perfect, because I don't do this twice in one lifetime," he continued and then stood. Pulling Duo up, he finished undressing him. "And as far as the pants... I can say the same," he added as he kissed Duo and pulled him to the bed.

Zechs stood in the hangar watching the group of Gundam pilots leave. Glancing around, he noticed that most of the others had left also and that he had little idea of what was actually going on. 'Hn,' he thought to himself. 'You have just volunteered for to help these people without getting the reason they are out here in the first place. You are slipping.' He placed his hands on his hips. 'And just what did she mean by the mobile suits were not meant for war? If not war, then what for?'

Taking a deep breath, he saw Alfa speaking to Wufei and bowed to the inevitable. He would have to go over and speak to her and he knew that she did not like him. He asked himself why that would be since they did not know each other. At first, he thought it was because of his reputation. A new thought occurred to him as he came closer. 'She hates you because you built mobile suits and used them to kill people. She is a pacifist like your father. "

As if she could feel him thinking about her, Zechs noticed Alfa looking at him.

Setting his jaw, Zechs looked at Alfa and Wufei. "Will you tell me what I just offered to do? Why are you out here?" he asked, bracing himself for anything.

Alfa continued to look at the tall Preventers agent. He was a nice piece of scenery, she thought.

"I'm not sure what you offered to do," she said. "Or why you offered. But as to what we're doing out here... let's see if they taught you anything useful at the academy. How's your history? Know anything about the Prometheus Project?"

A small frown appeared on Zechs' brow. "Yes," he replied, "It was mentioned at the academy, but I know more about it from independent study. It was a derivative of the stellar listening study."

Alfa raised one eyebrow. "How about the Draconis Pulse?"

Zechs thought a moment as he recalled what he had learned. "That was the alleged answering signal near Draconis Major rumored to be from deep space. It looked good at the time, but it turned out to be another bounced signal." he replied as he felt gooseflesh break out on his arms.

"That was the story that was given to the public," Alfa said. "Misdirection by the Alliance, designed to quieten public alarm. The signal was genuine. It sparked the mobile suit project among others." Scowling, she continued. "However, once the mobile suit project was underway and almost completed, a secret organization within the Alliance discredited the signal internally, and co-opted the mobile suit project... for military purposes."

Zechs suddenly felt all of the air leave his lungs as the implications of what she was saying sank into his mind. The part of him that was arguing with everything Alfa said began to slowly wither in the face of the things Zechs had experienced and knew to be true. First of all, misdirection was the norm in most military organizations and second, the mobile suit project changed the face of war and how it was fought. The creation of the mobile suit changed economies, strategies and politics forever. To learn now that the plans for the suits was to fight a threat to all mankind from the unknown, dealt a blow to all that Zechs had come to know and think of himself for most of his life. He looked up at Alfa. "I think I understand," he said, knowing that it was too little for all he had done and all of the lives lost because of his actions.

Alfa looked at him and the temperature of the glance was frigid. "Think so? For refusing to accept the 'new policy', I was fired, then had my competency questioned, then was incarcerated as insane. Those who tried to help me were harassed, or murdered. Even more than the suits, they wanted the Pilot Project. They never got it. But they took everything else... everything. And the strange thing about that is... none of it matters beside the final thing they may have succeeded in taking... the future."

Zechs heard Alfa's words and they fell like granite blocks on his soul. He looked back at her and then frowned deeply. 'Shiva? First test pilot?' he thought. "You?" he said, "How can that be? You don't look old enough."

Alfa grimaced slightly. "That's ok, I feel twice old enough. The Pilot Project was genetics engineering."

Zechs' blue eyes widened slightly as a million things raced through his mind at once. He thought of his first experience in the Tallgeese and how he learned that the weakest part of the mobile suit was the human pilot. He remembered that the mechanism was geared to do what it had to in order to achieve victory in battle. Zechs swallowed and followed the conclusions. "You experimented on yourself," he said. "If they did not take the project, then you still have it." A question died on his lips as his heart speeded up. He looked down at the small woman with awe, fear and a great deal of respect. It seemed logical that the image of his father filled his mind.

"Experiment is the wrong word," Alfa said grumpily. "The correct word is 'tested'. Experiment implies a lack of predictability that would be inaccurate." She narrowed her eyes. "And for the record, the Pilot Project dies with me. After what the so called world leaders did with the mobile suits, it would be a crime against humanity to allow anyone to use my work now." Then her expression shifted to one not quite so hostile. "You actually did quite well, learning to use Tallgeese effectively. It proves what I've always said about the adaptability of the human species."

The shift in tone was a little startling to Zechs as was the compliment. At any other time, he would have felt a great deal of pride in it, but not so much now. "ESO," he said. "So that's what you are fighting."

"We're not fighting anything yet," Alfa said. "But we'd damn well better be prepared if we have to."

She took a breath and released it, still calming herself after the ordeal of facing her son. "Do you see why I despise you gentleman warriors with your crazed notions of the nobility of war? There's nothing noble about war. The people who promote it are profiting from it, nothing more, or less."

"Yes," Zechs replied. "I understand. I also understand why the Pilot Project will not end with your death or with you."

Alfa glared at the tall blond. "It will. Why would you say otherwise?"

"Because you were not the only test." Zechs replied, looking into her eyes.

Alfa looked back - and smiled. "I *was* the test. There were no other tests. Think about it. Every suit is not a prototype. But the project will end. I am the only one who knows how to continue it. The existence of other... parts of the project does not ensure it's continuance. My medium is flesh, not metal."

 Zechs nodded. "Yes, I know that. I understand. I was not thinking about metal. I was thinking about flesh." he replied.

Alfa narrowed her eyes. "Then suffice to say my work is copy-protected."

Zechs nodded again and his face showed a little relief. "Then I am glad," he said. "For their sakes." He then took a breath as well. "Because of what I have done and who I am, I will look after them and prevent those who would exploit them for their own personal gain." he added.

"They don't need protecting," she said. "Thanks to your wars, they know how to protect themselves. But thank you... if you still want to protect my work, have a care for where you spread your own favors. I spent time in the Peacecraft household when I was first on the run."

Then she stood away from the wall she'd been leaning on. "There are rooms where you can rest. The hall there, to the left, fourth corridor. Take any empty room, there are several."

"Thank you," Zechs replied. "Would it be possible for me to contact base and let them know that you pose no threat?"

"Think they'll believe you? This was no accident. Someone does not want us to succeed. Is it possible for you to contact? Anything's possible. But think carefully about it." Alfa smiled, a slight, ironic smile. "You now have the fate of humanity shared in your hands as well. You did as you saw fit with it once before. Have you enough courage to make such decisions again?"

Nodding to Wufei, she left the hangar.

Zechs felt the tension drain from his body as Alfa walked away. 'Courage,' he thought and then looked up at Wufei.

Wufei returned his look calmly, arms crossed over his chest. Then the Chinese pilot smiled, and turned to leave as well.

Mustering what energy he had left, Zechs turned and walked in the direction of the rooms. He found an empty one and walked inside, locking the door behind him. He sat down on the bed and then stretched out face down. His mind replayed everything that had just happened as well as the things his ears caught that he did not hear the first time. "I spent time in the Peacecraft household... fate of humanity in your hands... have you the courage?" He felt tired and shattered, but he understood what he had to do. Instead of developing a theory, or devising a plan, Zechs Merquis/Milliardo Peacecraft turned to face it... to face himself. He barely realized that his arms were wet with tears. He did not feel weak or strong. He only took what was his to take and accepted his own responsibility.

Next... Sabotage...

Comments eagerly welcomed!

bonne & von

Comments? Email bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com

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