29-June-2000
Title: The Hunt ()()()()()()()() Notes: This is a *direct sequel* to our previous fic, ESO, and picks up about two weeks or so after the conclusion of that story. This is the most recent entry in what I am now dubbing the Frozen Colony Arc (whoo hoo, we have an Arc!!! Doesn't that sound impressive? ^_~). Many references are made to events in the previous fics. I would like to think this would not be annoying to anyone who hasn't read the previous stories, but I might be on crack. In the event that anyone is interested, the *chronological* order of these stories is as follows, and all can be found at GW Addiction. [Discoveries: Her Fallen Count; The Frozen Colony; Down Time in Hell; The Rematch; The Future; The Power of Goodbye; and E.S.O.] ESO SPOILER: for those of you who read ESO or don't mind being spoiled, Wufei revealed to Zechs at the end of that story that Treize was still alive, which events actually happened in The Future. We do not know at this time how many other characters will come into the story. This is a multi-parter, but will definitely NOT be anything like the length of ESO (sigh of relief heard all around).
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com>
Archive: GW Addiction http://www.oocities.org/fenris_wolf0/ and if she chooses, Darkflame http://members.xoom.com/riouka/gwpage.html
Category: yaoi, angst
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 6x5/5x6 so far, mentions of 1x2 and 5x1x2
Spoilers: Series, Endless Waltz, fics of ours
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here. As with all our fics so far, while our goal is to stay as in character as possible, any discrepancies are our mistakes.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Warnings: Yaoi, LEMON (graphic sex). No one is intentionally bastardized, but we do not guarantee that our interpretations of characters will agree with yours, so a general OOC warning.
()()()()()()()()
Early the next morning, Wufei woke, finding himself in a big, unfamiliar bed, tangled in long arms and legs and strands of silver-blond hair.
He smiled, looking at the sleeping face of the man called Zechs Merquise. It was smoothed of conflicts, incredibly beautiful, the ice-blue eyes lidded and hidden. Allowing himself a silent sigh, Wufei remembered many things from the afternoon and evening before. They'd made love the rest of the day, forgetting to eat lunch or even dinner.
After a while, he began carefully extracting himself, with not a little regret. Let the tall man sleep. Managing to free himself, Wufei bent and planted the lightest of kisses on Zechs' cheek and then went into the adjoining bathroom and began running water for a shower. His body was sore... but the ache was a delicious reminder of the blond.
In the warm water of the shower, Wufei guided his thoughts finally back to the other reason for his return to Earth. Treize. Cleaning himself quickly, he then turned the water temperature to cold and let it wash over him for a few seconds before turning it off. Stepping out, he dried himself with one of the large plush towels there and paused, looking in the mirror that hung over the wide sink.
What he saw was nothing new, nothing special. A young man or older boy, Chinese features neither beautiful nor ugly, to his mind. His body was in good shape, a bit more muscular than one might expect for someone his age. There were battle scars here and there as well. No, there was nothing special here. Nothing to explain many things that had happened to him in the past year.
Staring in the mirror, he no longer saw his own image. Instead, the image of Treize filled itself in, an image so familiar. Tall, fully grown, classic features and reddish blond hair.... Wufei put the image of Zechs next to the image of Treize in his mind. That was a picture that made sense. He shook his head. Once again, Wufei knew that his affair with Zechs would probably be short-lived. Treize and Zechs... long time lovers, longer friends. When they came together again... he shrugged at his reflection. He knew Zechs was angry but also knew how hard it would be to keep that anger in the face of Treize's magnetism. So he, Wufei, would do everything in his power to make the hunt a quick one. Even though he might be longing to delay, to make this last, his honor forbade it.
I created this mess, he thought. I must do whatever can be done to give it an ending.
Ice blue eyes opened slowly. Zechs blinked, looking through the fringe of platinum bangs as he tried to orient himself. He knew that he was in the guest room. He had been dreaming about riding a mythical fire-breathing beast and fighting Treize in a mobile suit. He shook his head to clear it. Then the flood of memories from the previous afternoon and evening filled his mind and he smiled. Turning his head to one side, he saw... no one. He made a face. Well, shit, he thought.
Wufei came back into the bedroom from the bath, rubbing his hair dry. He stopped, seeing Zechs' eyes open - blue! - and smiled. "Hi," he said softly. "I didn't want to wake you up."
Zechs felt a few things hit him immediately. The first was relief that the previous afternoon and evening had not been a Wild Turkey induced hallucination. The second was a pleasurable ache in his groin at the sight of Wufei naked. The soft accented greeting caused another ache and as his half erect shaft stood to full attention under the sheets. "Good morning," he replied, as his eyes tracked Wufei's every movement. "That's ok," he added, thinking that it was far too late to be concerned about being woken up. One part of me is definitely awake, he thought. Taking a deep breath, he pulled himself to a seated position. Zechs yawned and stretched like a giant cat. Putting his fingers in his long hair he fluffed it out and threw the mass behind him, knowing that he would have to deal with the daily hair-rats later on.
Wufei came and sat on the bed. "Do you get tired of being told how incredibly beautiful you are? It must be a bore hearing it all the time..." he said, with a little smile.
"Thank you, Wufei," Zechs replied, "But the soldiers never gave me compliments like that, so this is kind of new."
"The soldiers?" Wufei said, reaching out to capture a stray strand of silver hair. "Even Treize never told you...?"
"Ah, yes, Treize did compliment me. Although I did not doubt his sincerity, I learned not to let it go to my head. His Excellency dealt affection with one hand and death with the other. Treize's Puppet, Lightning Count, The General's Bitch, The Prick, those are the names I am familiar with," Zechs said.
Wufei looked into those blue eyes. "You're very bitter," he said softly. "But we all dealt death in those days, didn't we? Who are you angry with - Treize, or yourself?"
"Myself," Zechs answered. "It's hard to let go of things."
Wufei nodded. "It is," he agreed. "But if you can... it helps." He leaned forward and kissed Zechs tenderly.
Zechs slid his hand to the back of Wufei's head, deepening the kiss. He felt himself ache again and reached under the bed covers to touch himself, to relieve some of the pressure. Afterwards, he looked into Wufei's dark eyes, breaking the kiss and said, "I am trying to do that. Quatre says I suffer from low self-esteem."
Wufei smiled. "That was me," he said. "I consider myself an authority. But you know, it's only partially true, for both of us. Put us in a battle and we have no lack of confidence. Isn't that true?"
"That is true," Zechs said. "You know. You have the most incredible eyes."
Wufei blinked. Then he smiled and a faint flush tinged his cheeks. "I need to make some calls," he said, taking Zechs hand and giving it a warm squeeze.
Turning his hand over, Zechs contented himself with kissing and tasting Wufei's palm, vowing an unspoken promise of 'Later'. "I will shower and find some food," he said. As well as employ the services of the widow Thumb and her four daughters, he thought. "We can meet in the front room," he said, brushing Wufei's cheek. He yawned again and then stood to go to the shower. Time to focus on Treize, he thought, then shook his head. No, time to.. hell. Tsuberov, naked on a winter's day, he thought and felt an instant drop in pressure and desire. It was enough to get him to the shower. Once under the warm, steamy water, Wufei rose in his thoughts again and Zechs smiled as he curled his fingers around his aching flesh.
Wufei watched Zechs walk through the room, making sure he could keep the picture clear and focused in his memory for later. He sighed softly and got up, going to his bag to begin getting dressed.
When Zechs emerged from the shower, Wufei was dressed, his hair back in the ponytail, and the bed was carefully made. Wufei was sitting on the edge of the small desk, with his comm plugged into the dataport, downloading Preventer encryption keys.
The first call he made was to Sally Po. He knew she'd learn of his presence on Earth and didn't want to insult her by not calling. They talked for a few minutes, and he explained that he was working on a classified mission with Zechs. After a few more remarks, they ended the call with an agreement to meet at some unspecified time in the near future.
Then he began working in earnest. He began making calls to people both on Earth and in the colonies, gathering what information he could as a preliminary. There wasn't much information in this initial search. However, Wufei was surprised to actually find that one or two of the leads did seem to indicate there had been recent movement and contact from the man known as Tianrui. This surprised him. He'd expected to have to dig much harder for even a trace.
Wondering what this meant, he left the bedroom and made his way through the house to the front, hoping he could find the room Zechs had mentioned.
"In here!," Zechs called as he placed the last of the dishes on the table. "There is some tea and warm bread." he said, pointing the general direction of the covered dishes. "Did you find anything?"
Wufei nodded, pouring tea. "More than I expected. There's a man who used to live in the colonies, who did some things for Treize. I gave Treize the name Tianrui, and that is how he has continued to call himself, as nearly as I can tell. This man moved to Earth about four months ago. It seems he was contacted by Tianrui as recently as the last two weeks."
Zechs listened carefully as he sipped some hot tea. "So, we need to contact this man." he said. "It is interesting that he continues with the name. That places Treize Khushrenada among the dead still."
Wufei looked down at his teacup. "I asked him to do that," he said. "I also asked him not to come back to Earth, but to live in the Colonies. For the most part, he did that. If he's returned to Earth..." Wufei shrugged. "I can't guess what it means, if anything at all. He has every right to live his life."
Zechs nodded and tried to answer the questions that Wufei had asked. He thought of the years he had spent with Treize and how the General's mind had worked. "He is honoring one of your requests, because he finds it to his advantage," Zechs said. "Did you tell him that you had told someone that he still lived?"
Wufei looked up. "I haven't talked to him since I told you, Zechs."
"If he has returned to Earth, then it is for some purpose that is known only to him. He has not contacted anyone in the government yet, but it does not mean that he won't. We are at peace without a full military force, so his purpose might be to regain power or something else.. perhaps even personal?" Zechs said.
Wufei shook his head. "I can't guess. You know him... better than I. I want to go and talk to a couple of people I know who will only speak about this in person. One's in Brussells, the other here. We should be able to make the trip and return today."
"Then, let's finish eating and go," Zechs said.
The interview with the man was, again, more fruitful that Wufei had really expected. He had a strange feeling about this. As if he were picking up breadcrumbs...
The man told him that he had talked to Tianrui, although he would not say if it were in person of my transmission. He indicated that the man had been seeking someone and had asked for help in locating this person. All he had been able to do was come up with an old address.
The man gave Wufei the name of the one Tianrui had been seeking. Wufei thanked him and they left. On the trip back to the office, Wufei asked Zechs if the name of the person Treize had been asking after was familiar to him. Aldo Rameus.
At first, the name sounded familiar to Zechs, but it didn't surface immediately. He had the feeling it was something he'd heard, but some time ago.
Then, as they reached the Preventers office, it hit him like a bolt. Rameus was a mobile suit designer.
"I remember the name," Zechs said. "Rameus designed the latest updated mobile suits for OZ. He was brilliant. At some point, I remember Treize pulling him from that assignment for a special project. So there is a chance that he is creating a mobile suit. Frightening and illegal."
Wufei considered this. "That seems... odd to me," he said softly, not quite sure what he was thinking about it. "I guess we need to try and find this man as well."
"Yes," Zechs agreed. "Is this feeling a bit strange to you? We seemed to have picked up quite a lot of information for just starting out. Nothing overwhelming, but as far as investigations go..."
Wufei nodded. "I'd been thinking something similar. But we must follow it through, wherever it leads."
Zechs shrugged. "The only way out is through." he said. What do you want now, Treize? he thought, standing up from his desk and stretching. He looked down at Wufei and it struck him for the first time that there was a chance that this entire mission could end in Wufei returning to Treize. He, above all, could understand Treize's power. Zechs recalled the days and nights he had spent either cursing or calling out Treize's name. Finally, he sighed. "Eventually, we will see him. I had not thought about that before... not realistically speaking anyway. Now that it seems more inevitable, I am wondering how we will fare. For myself, I know that our friendship was severed by me during the war. There came a time when the Foundation called for my surrender and punishment or my death for assisting the Gundam pilots. That is when I met Howard, after a battle with the troops. Treize had wanted me to return to the ranks or die in glory. I became a liability. So, I saw an opportunity for escape and threw myself to fate. I reasoned that if I did not die and the mask I wore would shatter, then I could no longer be bound by OZ and Treize. I didn't die, the mask shattered and put Zechs Merquise to rest and resurrected Milliardo Peacecraft. That was also the time that I felt for certain that the war would never end unless one of us did. Of course, now that Milliardo attacked the Earth, that name is a target."
Wufei tilted his head, listening to Zechs' tone as well as his words. He nodded in acknowledgement.
"You know of our duel? How he spared my life... my honor was crushed. But there was more to it than that. I've been fighting something all my life... the knowledge that I was attracted to my own sex. He was..." Wufei shook his head, "So far above and beyond me... and he was the enemy. But I am a Gundam pilot. Once I managed to deal with some of that, I went back. He was in exile, after he'd stepped down from the leadership of Romefeller. We... talked. I left. The war continued. Then I found him in the last battle...and killed him... so I thought," Wufei shrugged. "It wasn't till afterwards that I had... my third conversation with him. The one that lasted almost a year."
He looked at Zechs. "I'm not doing this for me, but for you. Maybe even for him. I don't need anything he has any more. I know that sounds remarkably arrogant but I don't mean it that way. I don't need him. I have people who truly care for me. I'll go back to them when this is done, if it turns out I have no where else to go. I won't be alone."
Zechs listened to Wufei's words letting each of them imprint themselves into his consciousness. There was something commanding in his soft tone that never failed to captivate Zechs. As Wufei spoke, he thought of Heero and Duo and felt momentary streak of jealousy. He recognized it as the same feeling he'd had on the Mantasail when he found himself Heero Yuy's room. He clearly remembered the feeling going from hot, loving and easy with Trowa and Quatre to cautious, chilled and odd. He saw Heero and Duo protecting Wufei and felt the mask slowly rise to shield him. It had been an imperfect one, however, only managed to get him out of the room. It had no impact on his heart or what he had felt.
Zechs moved to Wufei and touched his cheek. "Wufei, as long as I breathe, you will have a place to go," he said, feeling the words ring through him as true. "You have made me aware of something important. I had thought that I was doing this on your behalf. It is always easier to fight a battle for someone else than for yourself. Now, I'm finding that I have done some running myself. It is time for me to stand and face Treize. Thank you for doing this."
Zechs shook his head a little, stroking Wufei's cheek with his fingers. A thought occurred to him that was made him smile, flattered and held him in wonder. "When you say that you are doing this for me and for him, do you believe that there is a chance that Treize and I will come together in some way? My god." He leaned forward and kissed Wufei tenderly. "The purity of the Gundam pilots lives on." he said softly, looking into the deep, dark eyes. "You honor me, Chang Wufei and I will try to live up to that honor. If I am understanding you correctly, I think you are telling me that my heart is not as dead as I thought it was. Are you giving me...hope?" Zechs took a deep breath. "I now find myself very envious of Heero and Duo."
Leaning forward, he kissed Wufei's mouth.
Wufei sighed softly into the kiss and returned it in full measure.
Looking up, he touched Zechs' cheek. "Don't be..." he said softly. "Not envious. I've learned it's not about ownership, Zechs, or beautiful Milliardo Peacecraft. It's about accepting love and faith. I'll say it one more time, so you will hear it. I came here for you. For no other reason but for you. I had to. If I hadn't, my heart would have vacated my chest and come on its own."
Zechs' brow crinkled slightly. Reaching out, he touched Wufei's chest. "Let's try and keep your heart in your chest." he said. "And thank you again. I actually understand what you were saying... Let's find Treize. This might not turn out as I had expected."
Wufei nodded, knowing enough to be content with that for the moment,
The address they had for Aldo Rameus was in Luxembourg. They flew there and found the place, with some difficulty. It was in an old part of the city that had been partially demolished during the war and not completely rebuilt. They found the building and had to go inside, since there was no bell to ring individual apartments. The one they were seeking was on the third floor and the building had no elevator but it didn't matter, both young men were in excellent condition and hardly thought twice about the stairs.
Looking on the piece of paper, Wufei checked apartment numbers and realized that the door they wanted, at the end of the hall, was opening. A man in a trenchcoat and hat was leaving, his manner furtive as he locked the door. Wufei glanced up at Zechs wondering if he would be able to recognize the man. Or if... no, it couldn't possibly be...
Zechs' eyes narrowed as he focused on the man in the trenchcoat. His hand went into his jacket and long fingers curled around the gun inside. Glancing down at Wufei for a second, he saw the same question echoed in the dark eyes. Taking a quick breath, he looked back to the man. "Rameus," he called out.
The man started and whirled around. When he recognized Zechs (it would have been impossible not to), he paled. He looked from side to side but the only way out was past the two blocking the hall. He straightened.
"Merquise," he acknowledged grudgingly. "I was just leaving."
"We need to speak to you a moment and then you're free to go," Zechs replied, not taking his eyes off of the man.
It was clear from the expression on the man that he didn't like the idea at all. He was a tall man, about Zechs' height, in his early forties. His dark hair was peppered with silver and his face, particularly around the eyes, showed fine lines from years of squinting at plans and computer readouts.
His hand made a little movement, reaching inside the coat, and Wufei crossed the distance in a leap, kicking out. The man yelled in pain and grabbed his wrist and the small gun he'd tried to pull hit the floor of the hallway.
Wufei scooped it up neatly and pointed at the man.
"Bad move," Zechs said, walking over, training his own gun down at the man. "Now we talk. I suggest you make it worth my while, now that you've put me in a cranky mood." Zechs frowned. "We got your name on our list. What do you know about a man called Tianrui?" he asked.
Rameus sneered slightly. "Forget it, Merquise. We both know that's not really his name. You looking for Tianrui? You just missed him - by about a week. You will never catch him unless he wants you to."
Zechs growled. He placed the gun at the man's temple. "That doesn't make me happy," he said. "Tell me more."
The man blanched further, not looking so defiant now. "What, you gonna shoot me? In cold blood? You're a Preventer..."
"And I'm also the guy who blew a hole in the Earth," Zechs countered. "What's one more insect?"
Wufei had to use a lot of self-control not to laugh or otherwise react to this.
Rameus blinked, now looking really scared. "Yeah... you should be the one hiding, not him. No justice... alright alright... let's take it inside, shall we?" he said, holding up his key.
Zechs nudged him with the working end of the gun. "You first," he said.
"Yeah of course," Rameus said, turning to unlock the door. He opened it wide and went in. The room beyond was all but empty. A few boxes stacked in a corner and some furniture that looked like it went with the room were the only things inside.
Wufei glanced around. "You moving out?"
The man looked at the Chinese boy and frowned. "No I just like living like this - yeah I was leaving. Not soon enough, obviously."
He looked back at Zechs. "I don't *know* where he is."
"What *do* you know?" Zechs said, firming his grip on the gun. "You've got sixty seconds."
Rameus blinked. Then he decided he'd better find something to say. "He contacted me... a little over a week ago - not long after the news of the space battle broke. He wanted to ask me about a piece of work I did for him a while back. What I remembered."
"What work did you do?" Zechs asked.
Rameus looked at Zechs narrowly. "What do you think? Made him a suit. The most advanced mobile suit ever made. You should know."
"Epyon," Zechs said, looking for confirmation or denial.
Rameus nodded, and smiled. "My greatest work."
Zechs' frowned deepened slightly. His body could still remember the controls and the feel of the mobile suit. "What did you tell him?" he asked.
The man looked at Zechs and his eyes narrowed. "What you already know. That the suit could survive almost anything. He asked if I could locate it. I told him no." Rameus smiled a small smile. "You could though, couldn't you, Lightning Count?"
Zechs' lip curled slightly at the name. "He left you breathing.. why?" Zechs said, trying to stay focused.
Rameus' head lifted. "Why would he kill me? He owed me. He could never have paid me enough for the work I did on that suit. And... it wouldn't surprise me if he had plans... I might be needed for."
Zechs nodded slowly. "Mobile suit construction is illegal.. or hadn't you got that?" Zechs said.
Rameus scowled. "My life's work - outlawed. Yeah. What else am I gonna do? Why do you think I'm living like this?" he said, indicating his surroundings with disgust. "He asked me if I could repair any damage to the Epyon. I said yes. If it still exists... it's as much your crime as anyone's, Merquise."
Zechs' took a breath. "Yeah, but I'm a good boy now," he said, "Is that all?"
The man looked at Zechs and then he seemed to make a decision. "No... that's not all. He asked me if I still had the frequency of the tracer I buried in the suit. I gave it to him. Then I erased my records of it. You are fucked, Lightening Count."
Zechs stood up straight, feeling every nerve in his body flare. "If *anything* happens with that mobile suit, there will be no patch of ground you can slither under, Rameus. That is the Lightening Count's promise to you. Perhaps you can find meaningful employment in another career. I suggest it."
Rameus sneered at the threat, although he did not look comfortable or happy. "That's all I know," he said. "Now leave me alone."
"We will go, Rameus," Zechs said, moving the gun a fraction back. "But leave you alone... in your dreams. You have just given a Preventer ample information to bury you for the rest of your life. Remember that." Ice blue eyes, moved to Wufei, then back to Rameus. "I feel ... better."
Rameus snarled, "Preventer? You're just a murderer, Merquise, same as you ever were. How are you finding the new world order? Boring? Bet it doesn't suit you. Peace... ain't it a bitch."
Zechs smiled. "Yes," he said. "But you're keeping me very stimulated. Let's go." he added, looking down at Wufei.
Wufei nodded, exiting first but keeping and eye on the man as Zechs followed him. Once Zechs exited the room, Wufei pocketed the man's gun and led the way down the stairs.
Once they got to the street, he looked up at Zechs. "That was interesting."
"Yes," Zechs said, "But my arrogance at keeping the Epyon might cost us." The thought of anyone, let alone the man once known as Treize Khushrenada in that suit was not very comforting.
Wufei frowned, nodding. "Zechs... you hid it somewhere?"
Zechs nodded, getting into the car. He turned the key and pointed the vehicle towards his home. "Yes. I did," he said. "Time for a road trip."
End of Part 5 - TBC
Sure would like to hear what you think of this!
bonnejeanne & vonceia
Please send comments to: bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com