1x2
Under Pressure
It was like breathing. That easy. That ingrained. That reflexive. Dodge, turn, duck, fire, fire, fire, drop the clip, slam in another, crouch, fire, run, run, run, fire, roll, come up, fire again... But then it was time for the hard part, to use the skills that had been learned at the knee of a madman; a mad scientist who had cared more about outcome than his life.
The gun went into it's holster, hot and heavy, as Duo slammed up tight against a wall and jerked out tools. Unscrewing the panel, while bullets ricocheted off of metal walls, barely inches from his face, took rock steady nerve.He let the panel drop with a clang, barking his foot, even in it's steel toed leather boot,and thrust his hands inside, screwdriver between gritted teeth.
When the bullet hit his shoulder,he rocked with it, letting the screw driver drop on top of the panel, as he gasped. His hands paused only briefly, before they were working frantically again.
Success. The rebels were locked down in their hanger, the hatch over ridden, and their plan to swarm a small colony, thwarted. He doubted that they were going to be pleased by that.
Turning, he drew his gun again and began firing. One shot, two, three, four, pop the clip out, reload, and ignore the bullet that whipped past his cheek, as the empty clip skittered across the floor.
He couldn't abandon the panel. He had to guard it now, and possibly give up his life to keep the rebels locked down until Preventers moved into position.Only a slight curve in the hallway shielded him, kept the rebels from firing all at once, but his one clip was all he had, and then he would be defending with only a knife.
He went down on one knee, blood loss beginning to sap his strength. His hand shook as he took his time, using his precious bullets effectively.When he was down to the last one, he stuck the barrel into the panel and let off the round inside.
Ducking down tight, the explosion and shower of sparks went over his head as sealed gases and delicate electrical boards mated. Bits of electronics bounced off the further wall and came back to embed themselves into his skin like razors. The concussion of the blast alone, though, was enough to knock him out cold.
He came back briefly to find a military style boot kicking him viciously. He
opened one eye blearily and found a rifle barrel swinging into view. A shot
between the eyes, he thought,was going to paint the rebels red with his gore.
It made him laugh softly, the image of it, but that hurt too much and he fell
into unconsciousness again.
_____________________________
Duo Maxwell blinked open his eyes, after what seemed only moments, and felt drugs in his system, IVs in his arms,and a sense that he might still be alive.
"How long?" he recognized Wu Fei's voice.
"The hearing is next week." That was Commander Une, sounding displeased.
"The charges are ridiculous," Wu Fei growled. "They won't stick."
"It's procedure," Une replied. "This isn't the war.You can't take down rebels in such a... bloodthirsty manner."
"He had reason," Wu Fei pointed out, with an assured arrogance in his voice. "It was justice served."
"You didn't see the bodies," Une told him. "Yuy was... brutal."
"He thought that they had killed Duo," Wu Fei reminded her. "That fool is the world to him, though I can't understand why."
Duo wondered if it was the drugs, making him hallucinate. As far as he had known, Heero had barely tolerated him. Wu Fei had to be wrong.
Duo reached out, ignoring the pull of needles, and gripped what he thought was Wu Fei's arm. "Heero did something bad... for me?"
There was a long silence and then a noise of irritation. It was clear that Wu Fei hadn't wanted to divulge that information."He is a great man, a top agent, and it is my honor to be his partner," he replied at last,"but he is a fool over you. If that disgust you, I warn you not to dishonor his name in my presence. I won't allow it, especially since he rushed a troop of rebels to save your life."
"For me?" Duo had a hard time wrapping his head around that. His face was bruised and cut, but his smile wouldn't be stopped by pain."I guess we can't work together anymore, then."
Wu Fei's anger was heat personified. "Then it is your loss, to feel that way."
"No." Duo struggled against the drugs to make himself clearer. "I meant... no fraternization, right? Couples can't work together in Preventers... especially not when one can bend steel with his hands and gets that pissed... when someone he cares about gets hurt, right? I'd have the same problem... I think."
Une sounded exasperated. "I'll file the paperwork, as soon as Yuy gets out of lock up."
Duo let go then, and let the drugs take his pain and consciousness away. His smile didn't leave him, though, and it was still there after his release from the hospital, and when Heero Yuy was released and came to visit him a week later.
_____________________________________________
"You look better," Heero said as he stood on Duo's doorstep and eyed him critically.
"Well, not mission ready yet," Duo replied as he motioned Heero inside his very small apartment and closed the door. "In fact... There's something I need to tell you..."
"Why are you smiling like that?" Heero wanted to know as he turned to face Duo.
Duo forced himself to look more serious. "It's just that it's good to see you."
Heero frowned, as if confused. "I haven't been on any lengthy mission and my incarceration in Preventer lock up was only a week long."
Duo ran a nervous hand through his hair as he motioned to the couch. As Heero sat down he replied, "Seems a long time, considering..."
"Considering?" Heero prompted when Duo seemed not ready to go on.
Duo wiped sweaty palms along the sides of his jeans and then said, "Heero... I thought you of all people should know... the doctors only give me a few more days to live."
Heero's eyes widened in unconcealed shock and pain and then it smoothed over into confusion again. "I was told that you were recovering, here, at your home..."
Duo paced as he talked, shooting looks at Heero at he said, "It was my choice, to come home...and not tell anyone."
"Why are you dying?" Heero wanted to know.
"Nick in a heart valve," Duo replied. "Slow blood loss....They can't stop it."
Heero looked even more concerned and confused, "But... you don't look pale. You're walking... I don't understand why they would allow you..."
"I told you, it was my choice," Duo snapped. "They gave me a big transfusion before I left... but it won't hold for long..."
Heero's eyes swept over him, "But, Duo.... This isn't making sense... You are limping from your healing wounds, and bruised, but you don't have any signs of major blood loss. I think you should-"
"Work with me here, Heero!" Duo snapped as he rounded on the man.
"I would if you were a better liar!" Heero snapped back. They stared at each other intently as a hot blush crept over Duo's face, and then Heero asked, "Why?"
Duo turned away from him, jamming his hands into his pockets and hunching his shoulders. "I wanted to see... if you really... Wu Fei said... Shit, Heero!" He blew an exasperated breath through his bangs and rubbed a hand behind his neck. "I wanted to see if you really felt something for me! I... Hell, I suppose a man doesn't take out a whole rebel troop of armed men, without feeling something for the guy he's saving, right?"
"It was necessary," Heero replied in a tightly controlled voice. "I didn't know that you had disabled the panel. I needed to reach it and defend it."
Duo frowned and then turned to glare at Heero. "You're an even worse liar than I am, Heero Yuy."
Heero was pale, looking like a man ready to do anything to escape that situation.
"Why won't you be straight with me?" Duo wanted to know.
"Because... I'm not... straight...," Heero replied, and then stood up. "I'm gay... and... I feel... attracted to you." He started for the door, head tucked down into his collar as he growled, "I'll tell Une... I'll tell her that we can't work together any longer... that my personal feelings are an issue..."
"I've already told her that we can't work together," Duo said, and saw Heero's shoulders tighten as he reached out for the door knob. "After all... two people, who feel for each other, like we do, have... relationships, right?.... That's against Preventer policy."
Heero turned abruptly, shocked and wide eyed.
Duo smiled again and held out his hand. "Yeah," he affirmed. "I'm... gay... too. Why don't you stay, so we can figure this out... together?"
Heero slowly stepped back and took Duo's hand. His was shaking. "You were lying, about dying?" he needed to affirm.
"Yeah," Duo replied apologetically.
Heero pulled Duo closer and clasped their hands together. He looked down at them, Duo's broad, blunt fingered hand and his own, browner, long fingered ones."I thought my heart had stopped, when you said that," he said.
"Sorry." Duo stared at their hands as well and then looked up into Heero's eyes. "I just didn't know how to tell a guy, who took out an entire troop of rebels, and then did jail time, that I've always... really... wanted to get closer to him. Seemed kind of dangerous not to make sure... that he felt the same way."
"I was having the same problem," Heero told him. "You're always quick with a gun or a knife.... and you do have a temper."
Duo snickered. "I guess love isn't easy between two dangerous guys like us."
Heero started and held Duo's hand tighter. "No, love isn't easy," he affirmed.
Duo smiled warmly as he pulled Heero back to the couch. "So, let's put away the weapons and figure this relationship out."
Heero began pulling two glocks out of their holsters under his coat. Duo cocked an eye at him with a grimace. "I was kidding, Yuy."
End