16-Jun-2000
Title: Reclaiming Quatre ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() Notes: 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.
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com)
Archive: GW Addiction
Category: yaoi, AU
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Various
Spoilers: Series
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here.
A thinly veiled excuse for LEMONade (that means graphic sex stuff). Zechs completely OOC. Possibly other characters OOC - People having sex with more than one other person... implied Non-Consensual (in flashbacks and references), Also LANGUAGE. Watch out! I really mean it this time!!!And now... SAP WARNING!!!
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This is set in an Alternate Universe. The premise is the same as the original series universe up to a point. The point is that at the time of the final confrontation between White Fang and the Alliance (and the Gundams), Libra's big cannon goes out of whack and instead of ramming Earth with Libra, Zechs decides on an extended guerilla war with Earth. Peacemillion becomes the base for a small group from the Colonies opposing White Fang, including (of course) the Gundam pilots. This has been dragging on for some weeks. Things have gotten a bit weird. Zechs is totally out there in this one, we know, we're sorry, sort of, and we'll try to make it up to him. He's just so pretty... This is NOT an epic!! Just may have a couple more parts after this.
"Trowa, will you lend me a shirt?" Quatre said, getting dressed in Heero's pants again. Zechs' shirt lay on the floor. I could go to my cabin, and get one of my own, he thought. But he wanted the comfort of something that felt and smelled like Trowa.
Trowa nodded. "Sure," he said, standing and executing a perfect somersault to his trunk. Dropping to one knee, he opened it and pulled out a couple of shirts and some pants for himself. He then walked over to Quatre and handed one of the shirts to him.
"This comes free of charge, care of Oz military," Trowa said with a smile.
Quatre smiled back, putting on the shirt. He didn't tuck it in. "Trowa, you said you were.... watching... I guess that's the reason there was always someone there were I woke up and looked around?"
"Well, not exactly," Trowa said, pulling the shirt on over his head. "The reason you weren't alone had to do with Duo's plan. In fact, I have a lot to thank him for, because he was the one who called us all to attention when Heero said that you'd asked him to kill you. See, Duo's had it pretty rough and he brought it to our attention that if we let you go, then what kind of friends would we be, for one and also that Zechs would win. He also said that you belonged to us and that we could, collectively, be a much stronger influence and bring you back if we all were there for you and showed you how we felt... and how much we all loved you. Duo can be pretty amazing sometimes." He took Quatre's face in his hands. "So, I'm not the only one who loves you, Reberba Winner. I'm just the only one around here with balls enough to attach you to my hip... That is if you still want my hip." Trowa finished and then kissed Quatre deeply.
Quatre smiled and placed his hands on said hips. "Still and always," he said simply. "I owe all of you so much. Thank you for telling me about Duo. Oh Trowa, you all gave me so much of yourselves. I feel as if I have a part of each of you inside me. It's..." he hesitates, thinking. "When I got back here, I felt as if I had Zechs inside me... and it wasn't a good feeling. So much pain and hate and need... But the things you've all given me..." Quatre stops. "I should be saying this to everyone."
Quatre goes to the ship's comm in Trowa's room. "This is Quatre Winner for Duo Maxwell," he said firmly.
"Quatre!" the answer came immediately. Just the voice conveyed Duo's reaction to hearing Quatre's firm tone.
"Duo, I would like to ask for a Gundam pilots conference, as soon as possible," Quatre said.
At his duty station, Duo grinned widely. "Sure thing. I'll round everybody up. You with Trowa?"
"Yes. We can use the small briefing room," Quatre said.
"I'll have everybody there in five minutes or less," Duo said smartly. "Quat... good to hear you... back."
"Thanks Duo," Quatre said quietly, smiling.
"So, I guess I'd better put on pants, huh?" Trowa said, looking down at his bare lower half.
"I don't mind either way," Quatre said, grinning.
Trowa nodded. "Ok, that's good to know. Think I'll put 'em on anyway. Something will come up and it could get very distracting for all." he said and pulled on the pants. Trowa tucked the shirttails in and pulled his boots on. He then looked up at Quatre and said, "You have no idea how good it is to have you back.."
Quatre smiled. "I am more grateful than I can ever say, to be here." He walked over and hugged Trowa tightly. Looking up, he said, "We can finish this Trowa. This war doesn't have to drag on. The answer is simple - the same one he tried to use. Take one piece off the board. Quinze will never be able to hold the rebels together."
Trowa wrapped his arms around Quatre, holding him. "That is true," he said. "Just point me where you want me to shoot. This is your dance. Reaching back, Trowa took Quatre's arms lowering them to where Quatre's hand could cup around his hips.
Quatre sighed, squeezing the slim curve.
"Come on," Quatre said.
Duo, Heero and Wufei were waiting in the small conference room.
Quatre came in, looked at all their faces and felt an incredible throb of love in his chest that almost took his breath away. His partners... his team mates... his lovers... those who loved and cared for him enough to share their most intimate selves so unselfishly. He blinked tears of joy away quickly.
Duo felt a lump in his throat forming as he saw Quatre walk in with Trowa, his step firm, his eyes bright and clear... there were still differences. There were new depths in those wide aqua eyes. Still faint bruises around them. But the difference was astounding.
Quatre went straight to Duo and put his arms around the braided boy, hugging him tightly. He held him for a long moment.
Duo was briefly startled, but hugged back, his face beaming, and his eyes sparkling with unshed tears of happiness and relief.
"Trowa told me... it was you, Duo, who pulled everyone together to help me. I am so humbly grateful. I love you, Duo," Quatre said softly, still embracing him.
Duo squeezed Quatre, his cheeks flushing. "Aww.. it wasn't just me, everyone wanted to find a way to save you," Duo said. "We all love you, Quatre."
"Shut up and accept the compliment. Don't make him say it twice," Heero said.
Duo shut up, but he was still grinning happily.
Quatre kissed Duo's cheek. Then he turned to Heero. Coming up to the Japanese boy, Quatre simply hugged him tightly also. "Oh, Heero," he said softly. "I'm so sorry I asked you to do what I did. I am so glad you didn't do it. I knew I could trust you, Heero, and I was right... you kept me safe. And you showed me part of you... I never knew... helped me see myself." He kissed the Wing pilot tenderly.
Heero blinked a little, but kissed Quatre back. Then he took Quatre's shoulders and hugged the blond pilot very tightly and Quatre could tell that there was some relief in his touch. "Don't...ever.. do that again," Heero said against Quatre's ear. "You're very convincing, Quatre. I'm glad I didn't kill ya," he said. Leaning back, he looked into Quatre's eyes with genuine affection and love, even though the rest of his body remained all business.
Quatre looked into the other boy's deep blue eyes. "I must not be that convincing," he said simply. "You didn't do it. But I promise I will never do it again. On my heart."
Heero nodded. "Hn," he remarked.
Quatre turned to Wufei.
Wufei, who had done his own visual inspection of Quatre Winner when he came through the door, was looking down at the floor. The displays of affection were obviously meant to be personal and Wufei did not wish to intrude with prying eyes. Glancing up when Quatre turned to him, he looked up into the aqua eyes, which still held remnants of the former sorrow, but were definitely clearer.
Quatre took Wufei's hands and held them for a moment. "Thank you, Wufei," he said softly. Then he put his arms around the Chinese boy and held him for several long moments.
Wufei stood still for a moment, but finally, he reached up and hugged Quatre back. "No thanks are necessary, Quatre Reberba Winner. You would have done for us, if we had need," he said, and tried hard to remember the moment and the touch.
"Thanks may not be necessary," Quatre said softly, "But they are heartfelt. You showed me what courage was, Wufei. You showed me how to find in by having it yourself. You opened a part of yourself to me that I needed to feel. I know it wasn't easy for you, it would not be easy for anyone. I felt your courage, and found my own," he said, blinking a tear away impatiently. "I love you, Wufei," he said, and kissed the Chinese boy on the cheek, then on the mouth.
Wufei felt his body flush and then he looked up at Quatre. "I love you, too Quatre," he said, very, very softly.
Quatre tightened his arms, then released Wufei. Wiping his eyes impatiently, he sat down in one of the chairs at the conference table. "My friends, it's time to end a war."
Zechs lay in the dark for a long time. He didn't want to think, he didn't want to speak or have to explain his actions. He simply wanted to die... cease to exist.
As long has Zechs had been alive, he had tried to do the right thing. Instilled with a sense of fair play, honor and justice from an early age, Zechs Merquise knew how unforgiving life could be. After all, his world had been destroyed the second that fire rained down from the sky. Explosions and death changed him. His Father, King of the Sank Kingdom, had been an exacting man. "You are of noble birth, Miliardo. You are born to privilege and as such, you are morally obligated to care for and protect those who serve you. It is your life-long duty to fulfill. You are a strong boy. Some day you will be a strong man. When it is your call to serve, you must do this to the exclusion of all else. Even when you might marry, the paramount thing in your life is to support the people. They rely on you and your judgment. They depend on your protection. Therefore, your behavior must be beyond reproach. Use what you learn of war to promote peace. Use your forces to protect those under your care from those who would strike to harm," the King had said.
"Oh Father, I have sinned," Zechs said into the emptiness. Closing his eyes he saw the image of the young blond pilot before him and felt his touch and his soft skin in his hands. He heard the soft moans and passionate cries and they made Merquise shiver.
He curled into a tight ball and opened his eyes in the darkness. 'Alone...in the silence,' he thought.
'You were wrong,' he thought, hearing the voice inside say. 'You broke your vow and destroyed your birthright before, but this... this is the ultimate treason.'
'God will never forgive you, Milliardo,' Zechs heard the sweet voice of his sister say, once more.
Raising his head, Zechs unfolded his long body and started to dress. With each layer of clothing, he felt doors closing in his heart. "The so be it," he said in the darkness. "I will accept damnation, but * never * surrender."
Standing, he walked out of the door and left the memories of ecstasy with the golden haired boy and the voices in the darkness. It was time to fight. The war awaited him. This would be the final battle.
The whole ship was quiet. Zechs moved down the corridors of Libra, his face set. He neither saw nor acknowledged the few crewmen who scattered from his path or saluted him as he made his way to the main bridge.
On the bridge, Quinze frowned and plotted the overthrow of their current leader, Zechs Merquise for the fifty third time since the standoff. Always it began with a bullet through the head of Dorothy Catalonia. He turned and saw her sitting in the command chair. He saw her watching the crew and could almost feel her sucking the very life from the room. His eyes quickly fell to her foot and Quinze smiled.
"How's the foot, Miss Dorothy?" he asked.
Dorothy Catolonia looked in Qunize's direction and scowled. Mentally, she pictured him being sucked out into the void of space. She gasped slightly and stood on the foot that Zechs had shot in frustration. Wincing slightly, she drifted away from the chair and held her tongue.
Zechs moved to the command chair and sat. "Get Epyon ready to take out. Dorothy, you'll be in charge of the mobile dolls. Everyone, it is time to prepare for battle. We launch in one hour," he said, evenly.
Both Qunize and Dorothy looked at the tall, blond leader in surprise.
"But, the odds of success were much better when we had the Gundam...." Dorothy said, forgetting her silence.
For once, Qunize agreed with her, but he'd be damned if he would cross the commander. In Zechs' present state of mind, it would be no telling what he would do. He'd already shot Dorothy in the foot when she had commented on something one too many times. Still the girl had been correct. With the two Gundam pilot's captured, it had tilted the balance in their favor. It was a pity that she had brought up the Gundam pilots as well. It was clear that the commander had a particular fondness for one of them and it was something that Qunize refused to think about at all.
"The Gundam pilots will no longer be a threat," Zechs said, seeing the sweet face of Quatre Winner before him. The memory created a pain in his chest and he welcomed it. He would need that pain to sustain him through this.
"Why wouldn't they be a threat?" Dorothy asked.
Qunize smiled, grateful to the girl for making herself a target.
"They have been compromised." Zechs replied.
"All stations are in preparation as we speak," Qunize said, before Dorothy could ask another question. 'If she has a brain in her head, she'd drop it now,' he thought.
"I will prepare," Dorothy said and then turned to limp away.
TBC
Comments eagerly welcomed, flames accepted. Although as time has proven, I will whine about it and cry and make everyone feel sorry for me... er... ah.... ^_^
bonnejeanne & vonceia
Please send comments to: bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com