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Part 6 C & C always welcome.
The hallways were annoyingly quiet and devoid of life as Wraith paced through them. Not a single person appeared for her to work out her frustrations on. How bothersome. And those dratted littermates (1) of hers had run out as well. She frowned deeply, finger combing her curling auburn hair. In all honestly, Wraith wasn't overly fond of Lynx or Kitten, not in a friendship way at least. But she would defend either to the death if need be. Besides, being around them or working with them simply felt right, in a very basic sense. And they weren't here! She let out an explosive breath, running her nails along one white and gray painted wall. The curved, sharp, implanted claws left little marks in the cheap paint job. [At least,] She thought wryly, [They let me out of my cage.] Do to her rather…. unpleasant response to the modifications, Wraith had been kept regulated to her own private section of the complex. For a long time, not even the threat of drugs or punishment had gotten through the primal, all-consuming rage she experienced. Finding out about the other two cat-human hybrids had not helped matters much. They both looked so human! A few framed pictures decorated the hall and Wraith paused by one, examining her reflection in the glass. Over large iridescent green eyes lacked any whites, marked only by round pupils, giving the impression of madness. She could see perfectly in near complete darkness. The lower part of her face was pushed out more then was standard, like a short blunted muzzle; the most prominent aspect her large squashed cat-like nose. (2) She could distinguish the difference between Pepsi and Coke at 100 yards. When she lifted her upper lip, the sharp teeth within her mouth were exposed, the incisures slimming down the razor points that rested ever-so-lightly on her thin lower lip. With the enhanced strength in her jaws, she could break human bones. It was a face that was decidedly other then human. The rest of her body appeared normal, for all it had been toned down to muscle and sinew and moved as though she had bones where no one else did. The only other abnormality was the talons. Put in place after her body had adjusted to its new state, the white semi-translucent nails had been fashioned from her own bones, extending from the tips of her fingers to end lethal dagger-like points. [And by the time they made me those, the idiots had already given up worrying as to whether or not I looked human. Of course, that's what Kitten and Lynx are for,] with a snarl, Wraith yanked the picture free from its moorings, feeling pleased at the sound of shattering glass. Un-hurriedly, she left the scene, not interested to found destroying things. The doctors had the nasty habit of upping her meds when she got violent. They just had no sense of fun. Well. She was just going to have to find *someone* to entertain her. After all, the boys wouldn't be back for a while. [Lucky bastards, they can go out without having to wear a mask to hide their lower face. Jerks, wish they would hurry home so that I have someone to play with.] Wraith paused suddenly, tearing away little chips of paint. Weren't the Wolves using the gym today? With a delighted, childish laugh, Wraith took off down the hall. No one would get upset she if happened to beat someone up during training, after all.
Lynx smiled brightly watching as the lovely Chinese boy was hauled off by his friends. He took a few deep breaths, firmly recording the angel's scent in his mind. When the small, delicate seeming blonde brushed near him, Lynx picked up a familiar odor amidst the already suspicious smell of gunpowder and metal. Kitten. He blinked, cocking his head at the small group has they vanished rapidly into the crowd. Hmm. Not overly surprising, this was a very touchy-feely place. More then likely the two had danced or even just brushed against each other. Still... With a slight frown, Lynx once again began to circulate the building, keeping half an eye and nose out for Kitten.
"I don't care." "Hidoi!!" (3) Heero snorted at Duo's protest and began studying the pavement intently, keeping the braided one in corner of his eye in case the idiot decided to run for it. Somehow, strange has it seemed, having Duo around again made everything feel…right. It was annoying as hell, but he couldn't place it. And it wasn't just Duo's physical presence either. Heero knew that if Duo decided to run off again he would still feel the same…. that is, as long has he knew Duo was alive and had a general idea of his whereabouts. He snorted again, this time in response to his own idiocies. Duo muttered to himself (something degrading towards Heero's parentage) and played with his braid, shifting uneasily from foot to foot. Abruptly he paused, head turning toward the entrance to the club. "The others are coming back." Duo announced, voice caught between annoyance and nervousness. Heero turned his gaze to the doorway, but failed to find anyone familiar. "I don't see…" A moment later Quatre and Trowa, with Wufei in tow, came out of the club. "Oh." Wufei spotted Duo and frowned at him. "Do you have any idea the mess you have caused?" He demanded, somewhat unsteadily. "No, should I?" Duo responded brightly. Wufei glared. "Lets go." Heero interrupted flatly. He stalked over to Duo and snagged his arm. "You're riding with me." Those violet eyes, oddly dulled by the contact-why the hell was he wearing those anyways? ---widened in protest. "Nani??" he snapped, hauling back on Heero's grip and breaking it with a supple arm twist. "Don't I have a say in the matter?" "No." Heero responded. "Duo, do you have another way to get to the safe-house?" Quatre interrupted swiftly, before Duo had the chance to speak. The braided one's mouth opened and closed a few times before his slender shoulders slumbed in defeat. "No, I don't." Heero nodded curtly, as if Duo had just admitted his own stupidity in even thinking of disagreeing with Heero. He made a grab for Duo's arm, only to be neatly evaded. "I think I'll ride with Wufei," Shinigami announced brightly, "Better yet, I'll drive." "WHAT??" "Sorry man, you look wasted." "I'm driving." Trowa said diffidently, "We came together, Heero came by himself." "Cool, then I'll ride with guys. See ya at the safe house, Heero." With that jaunty declaration, Duo snagged Quatre's arm and hauled the slightly tipsy boy off, calling for Trowa to 'lead the charge'. Heero stood on the sidewalk and seethed. [That, that, that…baka!] Some part of him was certain that Duo would try to escape without him there to watch and monitor him. Not a chance! Duo was staying until Heero had a play-by-play run down on where the hell he had been the past three months *and* a written-in-blood promise never to do it again. With a quick farewell to the (stolen) motorcycle he had ridden in on and followed the others to the car.
Duo was going to die. This was torture Being squashed against a car door by Heero Yuy was difficult enough all by itself and that's _without_ the hypersensitive senses. From this position, Duo could easily detect Heero's own natural musk under the life smells that gathered on everyone. Food, dirt, cleaning solvents, oil, metal, other people. Then there were the natural ones. Sweat, musk, saliva, the concentration of scent was…there… Oh God. Franticly killing that line of thought, Duo focused his sense of smell on the door next to him-it's amazing how much a door can smell---and his mind on the less pleasant thoughts of what he was going to tell the others. [Secret mission? That might work. But it requires details. Lots of details that I have to keep track of. Kuso.] Duo pressed his forehead against the glass window and determinedly ignored the way Heero's hip kept on pressing into his, despite the blue-eyed boy's attempts to prevent it. [Of course, I could always tell them I was kidnapped by aliens….] And if the situation became too desperate, he could always tell the truth…but only as a last resort.
Wufei shoved open the door to the safe house, wove his way around the pile of pizza boxes waiting for someone to take them out, and through the worn down living room. "Where are you going?" Trowa questioned, subtly leading Quatre in with a slight pressure on the shoulder. Heero and Duo followed behind, Heero's hand once again having become attached to Duo's upper-arm. "Bed." The black-haired pilot snapped, "And keep the music down Maxwell, if you keep up all night I'll shoot you over breakfast." He stomped into the hall and was later followed by the sound of a door slamming closed. "Boy, does he know how to make guy feel missed." Duo said deadpan, looking rather put out. Heero snorted and shoved him hard in the direction of the couch. Startled, Duo stumbled into it. "Ugh!" He protested, recoiling from the sofa, hand coming up to cover his nose. "Gross! Didn't you guys wash that or something?" "Its not that bad," Quatre said vaguely, brushing his fingers over the faint stain on the arm. In truth, he thought it was vile, but they had lived in worse. "Well, it is a little musty…but we really can't get it cleaned…" "Enough." Heero broke in, annoyance clear in his voice (if not his face). He fixed Duo with razor glare. "You. Talk. Now." [Oh Heero, I just love it when you get all forceful and manly.] Duo forced the words down with a swallow. Not the best time to piss his sometimes-partner off. He took a second to filter-out the offensive smells in the room and get his thoughts in order before perching on the edge of the coffee table. The quickly thrown together story rose easily to his lips. "I joined up with this group that's been working on the sidelines of the war. Most of it is undercover work, stealing and destroying information, killing off high officials in OZ companies and organizations," A partial truth, they had been hired out to bring down OZ and Romefeller owned businesses several times, "The whole nine yards. The organization is very secretive; I am under orders not to contact anyone I knew from the 'outside' or anyone not approved in general until my business with them is done. Orders that I just broke." He shot Heero an annoyed look. Inwardly, he was very pleased. It was close enough to the truth that he would have to worry more about hiding information (which is easy) than remembering manufactured information. Of course, the part about orders was perfect and something Heero would understand. And better yet, not question. [Ha, take that Perfect Solider.] "Another group working against OZ?" Quatre spoke up eagerly, displaying his wonderful grasp of the obvious, "Who are they, what are they called?" Duo spread his hand helplessly. "Sorry, man, I can't tell you. Believe me," He insisted sincerely, "I would if I could." "It could be to our benefit and theirs. If we know who their operatives are, we can assist them in their work." Trowa spoke up with calm logic. Duo could have hit him. "Indeed." Heero crossed his arms and stared at some point beyond Duo's right shoulder. It seemed now that his curiosity was satisfied, he had no more interest in Duo's well being. [Ah, my team. I can just feel the love flowing.] "In fact, wouldn't they be interested in knowing about the rest of us? More Gundam pilots assisting them would speed their efforts." Heero continued, his expression neutral. For some reason, it sparked Duo's suspicion. [What do you care? You like your fighting right up front where you can see it. No, Heero Yuy, you just aren't the kind to take to the background.] Heero's eyes flicked briefly to Duo's face, before shifting seamlessly back to the wall. [He doesn't believe me.] The thoughts clicked into place suddenly. Duo had never been one ignore his intuition and knew it was time to vacate. "That's not a bad idea, Heero. I'll bring it up in my next report. Speaking of which," Duo bounced to his feet with faked enthusiasm, "I have to go, my play time is over." He checked his watch out of the corner of his eye. Still six hours to go. An hour of that would be spent walking and hitching rides back to the club, where the others might follow, but he didn't know if Lynx was still there or at the hotel room they rented. What a mess. "What?" Quatre demanded, "Now? We haven't seen you in months and you're *leaving*? What about you're duty has a Gundam pilot?" "Hey, I'm doing my duty! Just different from the rest of you. And look, like I told Heero-and I wasn't kidding-I had someone with me and if I don't report back to him soon I'm going to be in deep kimchee. And that's without him knowing I talked to you guys in the first place." He was up moving before they could get it in their head to keep him there. Not that they could, but he didn't want to be reduced to fighting them. "So report and come back." Heero stated firmly. "Better yet, I'll contact you soon has I'm free. Which should be soon, seriously." Duo moved backwards to the door, trying to look reluctant to leave instead of wary. [Please guys, give me a break…] Trowa started to stand up, only to pause when Heero shot him a quick look. He lowered himself back down and placed a soothing hand on Quatre's lower back, quieting the smaller blonde. Duo missed the look. "Look, honestly, its good to see you guys again. I have missed you and…it won't be that long, really." Duo realized he was pleading and despite his desperation, he really didn't want to go. He forced a deep breath. "So, buy now." "The number here 366-5190, it's protected so you can use it anywhere." Heero announced in a monotone, already standing up and turning towards the kitchen to tend to other business. "Call when you have reported in." "Heero!" Duo snapped, "I told you…" "Call." He finished, making it an order. Duo bristled, then assumed a cheerful smile. "Ja." Duo said at the others, pulling the door open behind him and vanishing beyond it. Five seconds later, Quatre surged out of his seat. "I can't believe you! After all the fit you throw and that protective caveman crap, and the damned obsessions of the last three *freaking* months and you LET him walk out the door?!?!" It occurred to Trowa that it was time to take his lover to bed and away from the nearest sharp objects. "No." Heero replied over his shoulder, causally tossing the tracking device from hand to hand.
Duo was snarling to himself by the time he returned to the Complex. After walking half the way to the Hotel room-so upset he missed several rides that would have shortened the time-he found that Lynx was not there and did not show up there in the following two-and-half hours. Finally he just headed back to the Complex on his own. Thankfully they'd left some money in the room so he was able to rent a taxi. He still had to walk some of the way (not can't let anyone else to close the entrance to sub-terrain building), but it was better then nothing. He showed his pass to Security and went through the quick DNA scan, the only thing on his mind his bed and the hope of shutting out the world for the next few hours. "Mr. Maxwell?" The soft, slightly worried voice of one of his doctors broke into Duo's internal raging and guilt fest. "What?!" He snarled out loud, instinctively baring his teeth. The habitual worried, helpless look on the older man's face didn't shift a bit. "We wish to discuss something with you." "Well, what is it?" Duo demanded, reaching up to scratch at his nose, which was feeling weirdly clogged. "I am sorry." The man insisted gently, making patting motions with his hands as if to soothe a panicky child. "About what?" This was getting down right frustrating! And what the hell was wrong with his nose?!? Pain exploded in the back of his head, so sharp and sudden that all he could feel was shock before the floor rose up to greet him. "That." The doctor said belatedly.
(1) All three are pretty close in age and I just couldn't think of any other words besides littermates that would fit. Sadie needs bigger vo-cab-u-lary.
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