A War Worth Fighting Part 4
Heero reached into his uniform coat pocket for the key to his office as he headed down the long corridor. Sighing quietly in relief to himself, he thought of how nice it was to not feel the eyes of his men on him as he walked through the prison that morning. It had been a pleasant change from the norm of the last few days.
And yet... something seemed off about the whole thing as well.
Reaching his door, the First Sergeant slid the key into the deadbolt lock and worked his way into the office. The bright, clear sky gave way to ample sunlight that was filling the room. It was enough for Heero to get a clear look at his captive without having to throw the light switch. The sight that greeted him was enough to make him freeze in his steps.
On his feet and glaring heatedly at his captor, Duo's hands were balled into tight fists at his sides. "So I'm going to be used as a fuck toy for someone else?" he gritted. "That's why I'm being treated this way?"
Cobalt eyes wide, Heero straightened stiffly before quickly recovering and glaring back. Slamming the door behind him, he hissed in Japanese, "If the others every got the impression that we have been communicating, we would both be dead. Hold your damned tongue until the door is closed, you idiot."
Overcome by the swirl of thoughts that were running through his head, Heero removed his cap and ran a hand through his unruly hair. A rage slowly began to build in knowing that somehow, his men were involved in his charge's sudden realization of what his fate was going to be. That was why they all seemed so complacent that morning when he arrived.
"Is it true, then?" Duo demanded, folding his arms. "I'm being spared your usual treatment because I'm going to be used as someone's little screw?"
It did not take long for the shock and fear over Duo's surprise visitor to fade and fester into a seething rage as he sat up stewing the matter over. Frustrated over his helplessness to do anything to change his situation, he decided to make his displeasure known.
Somehow, he had a feeling that Heero would be more upset over the invasion of his office than he would be at a prisoner shouting at him.
Raising a finger, the sergeant changed the course of questioning. "What happened last night that made you come to that notion?" he pressed, switching over to English as a means of trying to disarm the irate prisoner. "Did someone tell you that?"
His shoulders slacking a bit, the braided private nodded and replied, "One of your guards- Akio- picked the lock to the room last night and told me the rumor going around Muroran." Heero bit back the scream of frustration that begged to be released in hearing that name.
Of all of his men, Akio had been trouble the moment he was assigned to Muroran. Were it any other name that Duo gave him as the person who'd invaded his office, the sergeant would never have believed him.
But Akio. That was the name given. And it certainly was believable that he would pull such a thing.
Nearly trembling with anger over the fact that he was betrayed in such a way, Heero paced back and forth before the cage. There was no question that he needed to confront Akio for his intrusion and lack of respect. But the question was how to go about it.
A sudden realization struck the sergeant and he froze just before the 'cell' door. Slowly turning to face the braided prisoner, he frowned, "My hands are tied in this. There is nothing that I can do right now."
Violet eyes widening, Duo cried, "What!? You're the commanding officer of this place! What do you mean your hands are tied!? That bastard broke into your space without your permission! Reprimand him!"
Silently thankful that the door was closed and that the sound-proof walls absorbed the shouts, Heero sighed and raised a hand to silence the other soldier. Reluctantly, the private forced himself to bite his tongue against a further outburst.
With a deep breath, the officer explained calmly, "No one else here knows that you understand our language, nor that I comprehend yours. If I go to Akio to accuse him of breaking in here and making threats to you, our little secret is out. Something of this nature could be spun into an accusation that I have been conspiring with an American."
Duo blinked as that logic sunk in. Shoulders slumping, he muttered, "Oh." His head shaking from side to side, he asked, "So you're just going to sit back and let Akio push his weight around here?" 'Or on me,' he thought to himself with a rough swallow.
"No," the sergeant answered as he rubbed his lower chin in thought, "Akio will not go unpunished for this." Raising his head to meet the violet eyes on him, he stated, "And he certainly will not get close enough to you to get his way. Do not dwell on this any longer." That said, he gathered up his briefcase and headed for his desk.
Gripping the metal grates of his cage, the American inquired, "How the hell can I not 'dwell on this'? How am I supposed to trust that you're going to look after me?"
Easily lowering into his chair, Heero opened his briefcase atop his desk and replied, "I am far more worried about eliminating my enemies from within than those who I know are my enemies from afar." Smirking, his eyes looked up to the captive and stated, "Trust me or do not trust me as you wish. But you realize that I am the only person here who can do anything to stop Akio."
'In other words, do not test me,' was left unsaid, but understood perfectly by Duo. Swallowing, he nodded his head firmly that he got the message.
Satisfied, Heero returned the nod and focused on his work. Duo slid down to sit on the floor facing the windows to pass the time watching the sky darken with threatening clouds that seemed to fit his present mood.
Was there any way that he could trust an enemy? He really was not sure. Heero had been right though, it was not as if he had anyone else around that was in any position to help him. Friends certainly were few and far between for him now.
Glancing from the corner of his eye to the simple toilet and sink of the bathroom, the private did take a mental note of the piping. A careful disassembly of the fixture beneath the sink could give way to a pretty hefty weapon, should it come down to him needing to defend himself.
It may not have been known for certain if the sergeant was going to look after him, but Duo knew that he could always count on himself for protection.
Committed to his plan, the American slipped into the bathroom and closed the door, feigning the need for the facilities. While inside, he bore down on the bolts locking the curved pipe beneath the sink. After a few efforts, the first connection finally loosened a touch. Then, the connection at the other end gave way a bit.
Afraid that he was taking too long, Duo quickly rose from his crouched position and flushed the toilet for effect. When he ran the sink to give off the impression that he was washing his hands, he only let a small amount of water run through the faucet. Too much water and it could leak through the loose connections and give him away as trying something. Cupping his hands into the light trickle, he pooled a few servings to drink from.
Meanwhile, out in the office, Heero was far too busy with his work to pay any mind to what his prisoner was up to. It was not as if he could go anywhere.
Still mentally reeling over everything that he had come to know about Akio's little visit to his office, the sergeant felt his anger building once more. While he was respected to his face by his men, he also knew of the growing tension from them.
From the time that he first joined the army, Heero had fought an uphill battle to be accepted. Being half-American, he struggled to find his own place when the war broke out.
He may have been a Japanese citizen, proud and true, but he fought harder for respect than any other. It was expected, considering the upbringing and devout honor that the culture had. And the First Sergeant had taken it all in stride as he rose in his ranks.
There was certainly no hiding the fact that he was not a pure-bred Japanese. His eyes. For the longest time, Heero cursed his eyes as they made it impossible to cover the fact that he was different. They stood out enough for Duo to pick up on them right away, referring to them as his nickname.
Every time he heard 'Blue Eyes' from the captive, it was just another constant reminder of how the others viewed him... not really one of them. Not 'pure'.
His thoughts were cut off by the sound of a knock on the door. Looking up from his paperwork, the officer slipped back to his native tongue and called, "Enter." Just as the door to his office opened, Duo reemerged from the bathroom and sat back on the floor to gaze out the windows.
Heero couldn't help but admit to himself how impressed he was with the American. By looking bored and uninterested, he kept up the appearance that he could not understand anything that would be said. He was infallible in slipping back to that act.
Focusing back on the guard entering the room, the sergeant rose from his seat and joined in a respective bow at the waist. As he straightened, the Japanese private advised, "Sir, two of our original prisoners have passed on overnight. I wanted to advise before we began burning the remains as a warning should the smell carry here."
"I see," the officer nodded without any emotion in his voice or on his face. Peering past his solider to his charge, Heero noted a brief slip from Duo as he cast his wide eyes in their direction. Quick to recover, he put on a dull look and glanced to the windows again.
For Heero, death was simply a part of life. In war, there were casualties and losses. Long gone were the days when he thought of a lost soldier's family and friends. Long gone were the days when he allowed news like this to affect him. To allow even a moment of grief-whether for an ally or enemy-killed during the war, he could have crumbled by then.
Sitting in his cell, Duo could not help but think of those poor souls and their grieving loved ones. No matter how long he had been fighting and witnessed 'brother' and foe alike struck down, he could not help but feel at least some compassion for them. While not taking on so much to have him fall apart, it was enough to keep him from losing his humanity.
His braided head resting against the metal wall he leaned on, Duo closed his eyes and said a silent prayer for the deceased and their families. At the very least, it was good to know that at least two more were no longer suffering from this hell.
With a deep breath, Heero returned to his seat and told his visitor, "Thank you for informing me. Have the men carry on with disposing of the bodies. And let the kitchen staff know that I will be around to collect my 'guest's' morning rations."
Blinking his brown eyes in confusion, the stocky soldier asked, "Would it not be easier on you if I just went and brought that ration back here? Surely you are far too busy to look out for that pest, yourself." Duo's fists clenched and unclenched at the reference used for him.
At that, Heero smirked, "Thank you for the offer, private. However, I would feel better being the one to collect his rations so that I may inspect them to be certain it had not been tampered with. I will sample each ration from here on out."
Stricken, Maxwell looked out the corner of his eye to the sergeant. He had never taken into consideration the possibility of someone poisoning his food. Whenever his meager portions came, while not physically appealing, he was too starved to think and would finish it off in seconds.
He had been lucky that no one up until then had gotten the thought in their head. Now that word would spread that Heero would be testing the food, if anyone had been considering such a thing they would be quickly changing their minds.
Wide-eyed, the Japanese soldier stammered, "Y-yes, sir. I will let the staff know." Hurriedly bowing at the waist, he spun and all but ran from the room while closing the door behind him.
There was a long silence in the office before Heero finally went back to writing notes in his files of reports on how the war was going.
Slowly turning his head to watch his captor, Duo bit his lip before saying quietly, "You know... you never did answer my question. Is that rumor true about me being looked after because I am going to be handed over to someone for their... gratification?"
His hand pausing in its writing, Heero looked up to meet the gaze watching him. After a brief consideration on how to respond, he finally decided on the truth. It certainly was not as though the American could do anything about his fate. "Yes," he answered simply.
Duo sat frozen for a heartbeat. Swallowing, he whispered roughly, "Thanks for the honesty." Nearly drowning in his fears, but not showing a hint of it, he turned his head back to gaze out the windows.
Outside, the sky was completely dark with clouds. Before long, a light rain began to patter against the windows and the heavens gave way to a heavy downpour mixed with thunder and lightning.
Carried on the wind was the distinct smell of burning flesh from the sheltered cremation area on the grounds just north of the prison.
* * * * * *
It had been a long journey to reach his destination of the Montana ranges. Tired as he was from his travels, he was anxious.
Anxious to finally be where he truly belonged. Even the air was different- more pleasant here. This was home.
Making his way up the front porch two steps at a time, he finally reached the front door and gave three loud knocks to announce his arrival.
Footsteps approached the other side and the latch was undone as the door opened enough for a pair of eyes to inspect who was paying a visit. Those icy blues widened with a sharp gasp and the entrance was thrown open the rest of the way to an exclaimed, "Mister Merquise!"
Chuckling deeply, the political sponsor wrapped his arms around the young woman that latched onto him. "Hello, Dorothy," he greeted kindly. "And you know that you can just call me Zechs."
With a light blush on her cheeks as she pulled back, the maid nodded, "Right. I'm still just getting used to referring to someone as influential as you are by your first name. It seems rather disrespectful."
"I assure you that I would never consider you disrespectful," Zechs smiled warmly. "I may work at the Senate in the wings, but that does not make me any better than the next person. You have my request and permission to call me by my first name."
Dorothy returned the smile and stepped aside. "Well make yourself at home, Zechs. I'll go tell Lady Une you're here and start a pot of tea." As the tall, long-haired man entered, she took his light coat.
Not sure exactly how to broach the subject, Zechs simply frowned in worry, "Any word from the army regarding Duo's missing status?" The moment he had learned of the boy's disappearance, he wanted to be here in Montana to see to his lover. But the war had tied him to his post in Washington.
In the instant he was given leave, he was off to be with the woman he loved to be of any assistance he could.
A down-hearted look marring her face, Dorothy shook her head, "I am afraid not." Looking deeper back into the house, she commented quietly, Lady Une refuses to give up hope that he is still alive. But I know that she needs all of the support that she can get and your company will be most appreciated."
Gently resting a hand on the girl's shoulder, the politician winked when she looked up to him with shimmering eyes. "I also am clinging to the hope that Duo is still alive. Until there is proof to tell us differently, I am not about to crush that glimmer she is holding on to."
Chuckling deeply, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and shrugged, "Knowing your 'brother', he is proving to his captors just how stubborn he is. He will not go down without a fight."
Instantly brightening at that, Dorothy wiped the dampness from her eyes and nodded, "You're right."
Lady Une suddenly appeared in the doorway and froze with a sharp gasp as she breathed, "Zechs." When he looked over to her, the tall man could not help the wide, loving grin on his face. Just seeing her lover's face, those eyes and that smile of his had all of the young woman's walls crumbling.
Sniffling as tears filled her eyes, she quickly closed the distance between them to throw her arms around his neck. Returning the tight embrace, Zechs rubbed the back of Lady Une's head while whispering quiet reassurances.
Dorothy smiled and bowed at the waist with a quiet, "I will go see to that tea, now." Quietly, she slipped from the room to allow the couple a moment alone.
Her body trembling, the lady of the house pulled back to dry the tears from her face. Gazing up to her partner, she breathed, "I'm so glad you're here."
Swallowing roughly, Zechs responded, "I just wish that I could have been here sooner. If the world was not going to hell with this war, I'd-" He was quieted when his beloved's lips fell over his own.
"I know," Lady Une smiled as she pulled away. "All that matters is that you are here now. I will take whatever time you can spare me in your busy life."
At that, the politician smirked, "Well, I certainly hope that you will be up to seeing quite a bit of me, then. I have cleared my time to work from here for the duration of the war and then some, if need be. However long it takes and whatever strings I have to pull to get the answers to Duo's disappearance, I will not be leaving until we have them."
Brown eyes widening, the young woman gasped. Fighting another wave of tears, she wrapped her arms tightly around Zechs' neck once more in a desperate embrace. She paid no mind to her clouded vision as she took his hand in hers and led him towards the living room. "Come," she urged. "We have much to catch up on from these last two weeks."
Letting himself be pulled along, Zechs smiled and nodded.
Things were certainly different here without Duo's laughter present. But it was still home.
TBC...
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